《君主论·第二十六章·奉劝将意大利从蛮族手中解放》第2节
Although lately some spark may have been shown by one, which made us think he was ordained by God for our redemption, nevertheless it was afterwards seen, in the height of his career, that fortune rejected him; so that Italy, left as without life, waits for him who shall yet heal her wounds and put an end to the ravaging and plundering of Lombardy, to the swindling and taxing of the kingdom and of Tuscany, and cleanse those sores that for long have festered. It is seen how she entreats God to send someone who shall deliver her from these wrongs and barbarous insolencies. It is seen also that she is ready and willing to follow a banner if only someone will raise it. Nor is there to be seen at present one in whom she can place more hope than in your illustrious house, with its valour and fortune, favoured by God and by the Church of which it is now the chief, and which could be made the head of this redemption. This will not be difficult if you will recall to yourself the actions and lives of the men I have named. And although they were great and wonderful men, yet they were men, and each one of them had no more opportunity than the present offers, for their enterprises were neither more just nor easier than this, nor was God more their friend than He is yours.
注释摘要
这一节中马基雅维利的情感色彩在全书中显得极为突出，而此处所指的那一线曾经燃起后来又熄灭的“火花”，学界多认为是指切萨雷·博尔贾。在本书第七章里，马基雅维利曾把博尔贾塑造成凭借命运与自身能力建立起权力、几乎统一罗马涅的新君主标本。然而，切萨雷的成功在他父亲教皇亚历山大六世于1503年去世后急转直下，他本人很快被剥夺一切，最终在流亡中死去。在这里，“命运抛弃了…