"IfIcouldhavebelievedthatFortunewouldhavecutmeoffinthemidstofthecareerwhichwasleadingtothatglorywhichallmysuccessespromised, Ishouldhavelabouredless, andIshouldhaveleftthee, ifasmallerstate, atleastwithfewerenemiesandperils, , , andIshouldhavelived, ifnolonger, atleastmorepeacefully, andhaveleftyouastatewithoutadoubtsmaller, , whoinsistsuponhavingthearbitramentofhumanaffairs, didnotendowmewithsufficientjudgmenttorecognizethisfromthefirst, , formanyhavetoldthee, andIhaveneverconcealedit, howIenteredthehouseofthyfatherwhilstyetaboy—astrangertoallthoseambitionswhicheverygeneroussoulshouldfeel—andhowIwasbroughtupbyhim, andlovedasthoughIhadbeenbornofhisblood; howunderhisgovernanceIlearnedtobevaliantandcapableofavailingmyselfofallthatfortune, , hecommittedtheeandallhispossessionstomycare, andIhavebroughttheeupwiththatlove, andincreasedthyestatewiththatcare, , butalsothatwhichmyfortuneandabilitieshavegained, Ihavenevermarried, , ofwhichIamwellcontent, butIamdeeplyconcerned, , , wherethemenareofnaturechangeableandunreliable, who, althoughtheymaybesometimesheldinsubjection, , , injuredbyusinathousandways, butnotutterlydestroyed, , fortheyarefardistant, slow, , thouhastnohopeinanythingbutinthineownabilities, andinthememoryofmyvalour, andintheprestigewhichthislatestvictoryhasbroughtthee; which, asthouknowesthowtouseitwithprudence, willassisttheetocometotermswiththeFlorentines, who, astheyaresufferingunderthisgreatdefeat, , becauseIbelievedthatwarwiththemwouldconducetomypowerandglory, thouhasteveryinducementtomakefriendsofthem, , andthemeasureofhisownstrengthandmeans; , andtolearninthiswaytoenjoywhatmylife-workanddangershavegained; , inthatIhavelefttheethisrealmandhavetaughttheehowtokeepit."
