Machiavelli, inhis "HistoryofFlorence," : "Theywerefreerthantheirforefathersindressandliving, andspentmoreinotherkindsofexcesses, consumingtheirtimeandmoneyinidleness, gaming, andwomen; theirchiefaimwastoappearwelldressedandtospeakwithwitandacuteness, whilsthewhocouldwoundothersthemostcleverlywasthoughtthewisest." InalettertohissonGuido, Machiavellishowswhyyouthshouldavailitselfofitsopportunitiesforstudy, : "Ihavereceivedyourletter, whichhasgivenmethegreatestpleasure, especiallybecauseyoutellmeyouarequiterestoredinhealth, thanwhichIcouldhavenobetternews; forifGodgrantlifetoyou, andtome, Ihopetomakeagoodmanofyouifyouarewillingtodoyourshare." Then, writingofanewpatron, hecontinues: "Thiswillturnoutwellforyou, butitisnecessaryforyoutostudy; since, then, youhavenolongertheexcuseofillness, takepainstostudylettersandmusic, , myson, ifyouwishtopleaseme, andtobringsuccessandhonourtoyourself, dorightandstudy, becauseotherswillhelpyouifyouhelpyourself."
OFFICE — Aet.25-43—1494-1512
ThesecondperiodofMachiavelli'slifewasspentintheserviceofthefreeRepublicofFlorence, whichflourished, asstatedabove, , 'slife, forduringthistimehetookaleadingpartintheaffairsoftheRepublic, andwehaveitsdecrees, records, anddispatchestoguideus, , andsuppliesthesourcesfromwhichhedrewtheexperiencesandcharacterswhichillustrate "ThePrince."
Hisfirstmissionwasin1499toCatherinaSforza, "myladyofForli" of "ThePrince," , andisurgedbyhiminmanywaysasamatterofvitalimportancetoprinces.
