The "littlebook" ; itstitleandpatronwerechanged; andforsomeunknownreasonitwasfinallydedicatedtoLorenzode' , thereisnoevidencethatLorenzoeverreceivedorevenreadit: 'slifetime, "ThePrince" wasneverpublishedbyhim, anditstextisstilldisputable.
MachiavelliconcludeshislettertoVettorithus: "Andastothislittlething [hisbook], whenithasbeenreaditwillbeseenthatduringthefifteenyearsIhavegiventothestudyofstatecraftIhaveneithersleptnoridled; , becausehavingalwayskeptfaithIcouldnotnowlearnhowtobreakit; forhewhohasbeenfaithfulandhonest, asIhave, cannotchangehisnature; andmypovertyisawitnesstomyhonesty."
BeforeMachiavellihadgot "ThePrince" offhishandshecommencedhis "DiscourseontheFirstDecadeofTitusLivius," whichshouldbereadconcurrentlywith "ThePrince." Theseandseveralminorworksoccupiedhimuntiltheyear1518, whenheacceptedasmallcommissiontolookaftertheaffairsofsomeFlorentinemerchantsatGenoa.In1519theMediceanrulersofFlorencegrantedafewpoliticalconcessionstohercitizens, andMachiavelliwithotherswasconsulteduponanewconstitutionunderwhichtheGreatCouncilwastoberestored; butononepretextoranotheritwasnotpromulgated.
