《君主论·第二十六章·奉劝将意大利从蛮族手中解放》第6节
This opportunity, therefore, ought not to be allowed to pass for letting Italy at last see her liberator appear. Nor can one express the love with which he would be received in all those provinces which have suffered so much from these foreign scourings, with what thirst for revenge, with what stubborn faith, with what devotion, with what tears. What door would be closed to him? Who would refuse obedience to him? What envy would hinder him? What Italian would refuse him homage? To all of us this barbarous dominion stinks. Let, therefore, your illustrious house take up this charge with that courage and hope with which all just enterprises are undertaken, so that under its standard our native country may be ennobled, and under its auspices may be verified that saying of Petrarch: Virtu contro al Furore Prendera l’arme, e fia il combatter corto: Che l’antico valore Negli italici cuor non e ancor morto. Virtue against fury shall advance the fight, And it i’ th’ combat soon shall put to flight: For the old Roman valour is not dead, Nor in th’ Italians’ brests extinguished. Edward Dacre, 1640.
注释摘要
这是《君主论》全书的最后一段，也是一通极不寻常的演说式的收束。马基雅维利在前面二十五章里像个解剖师一样把权力一层层剖开，到了这里却忽然换上近乎布道的热忱，把全书的论证能量都聚拢到一个具体的呼唤上：让意大利终于看见她的解放者现身，而且这一刻不容错过。他并不是在泛泛地抒发爱国感慨，而是把之前的全部逻辑——机会由命运提供、德性能抓住机会、必须依靠自己的军队、新君…