《君主论·第二十六章·奉劝将意大利从蛮族手中解放》第5节
And although Swiss and Spanish infantry may be considered very formidable, nevertheless there is a defect in both, by reason of which a third order would not only be able to oppose them, but might be relied upon to overthrow them. For the Spaniards cannot resist cavalry, and the Switzers are afraid of infantry whenever they encounter them in close combat. Owing to this, as has been and may again be seen, the Spaniards are unable to resist French cavalry, and the Switzers are overthrown by Spanish infantry. And although a complete proof of this latter cannot be shown, nevertheless there was some evidence of it at the battle of Ravenna, when the Spanish infantry were confronted by German battalions, who follow the same tactics as the Swiss; when the Spaniards, by agility of body and with the aid of their shields, got in under the pikes of the Germans and stood out of danger, able to attack, while the Germans stood helpless, and, if the cavalry had not dashed up, all would have been over with them. It is possible, therefore, knowing the defects of both these infantries, to invent a new one, which will resist cavalry and not be afraid of infantry; this need not create a new order of arms, but a variation upon the old. And these are the kind of improvements which confer reputation and power upon a new prince.
注释摘要
在这一段里，马基雅维利转向了一个非常具体的军事技术问题：如果意大利要出现一位能把蛮族赶出去的解放者，他手里必须有一支能打赢的军队。他用当时欧洲最令人畏惧的两种步兵——瑞士步兵和西班牙步兵——作为对照，来论证完全可能创造出一种兼顾二者之长、克服二者之短的新型步兵。这不仅仅是纸上谈兵，而是他整个论证链条里的关键一环：意大利不是没有好兵苗子，缺的只是一个懂得军事…