正在阅读《INTRODUCTION》
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NoonecansaywherethebonesofMachiavellirest, butmodernFlorencehasdecreedhimastatelycenotaphinSantaCroce, bythesideofhermostfamoussons; recognizingthat, whateverothernationsmayhavefoundinhisworks, -wideandevilsignificationofhisname, itmaybepointedoutthattheharshconstructionofhisdoctrinewhichthissinisterreputationimplieswasunknowntohisownday, "unholynecromancer," whichsolonghauntedmen'svision, hasbeguntofade.

Machiavelliwasundoubtedlyamanofgreatobservation, acuteness, andindustry; notingwithappreciativeeyewhateverpassedbeforehim, , norishedepictedbyhiscontemporaries, asatypeofthatrarecombination, thesuccessfulstatesmanandauthor, , ignoredbyLouisXII, overawedbyCesareBorgia; severalofhisembassieswerequitebarrenofresults; hisattemptstofortifyFlorencefailed, -serving; hedarednotappearbythesideofSoderini, towhomheowedsomuch, forfearofcompromisinghimself; hisconnectionwiththeMediciwasopentosuspicion, andGiulianoappearstohaverecognizedhisrealfortewhenhesethimtowritethe "HistoryofFlorence," , andtherealone, thatwefindnoweaknessandnofailure.

Althoughthelightofalmostfourcenturieshasbeenfocusedon "ThePrince," itsproblemsarestilldebatableandinteresting, , itsethicsarethoseofMachiavelli'scontemporaries; .