Therefore, lethimwhohasnodesiretoconquermakeuseofthesearms, fortheyaremuchmorehazardousthanmercenaries, becausewiththemtheruinisreadymade; theyareallunited, allyieldobediencetoothers; butwithmercenaries, whentheyhaveconquered, moretimeandbetteropportunitiesareneededtoinjureyou; theyarenotallofonecommunity, theyarefoundandpaidbyyou, andathirdparty, whichyouhavemadetheirhead, , inmercenariesdastardyismostdangerous; inauxiliaries, , therefore, hasalwaysavoidedthesearmsandturnedtohisown; andhasbeenwillingrathertolosewiththemthantoconquerwiththeothers, notdeemingthatarealvictorywhichisgainedwiththearmsofothers.
, takingthereonlyFrenchsoldiers, andwiththemhecapturedImolaandForli; butafterwards, suchforcesnotappearingtohimreliable, heturnedtomercenaries, discerninglessdangerinthem, andenlistedtheOrsiniandVitelli; whompresently, onhandlingandfindingthemdoubtful, unfaithful, anddangerous, , whenhehadtheFrench, whenhehadtheOrsiniandVitelli, andwhenhereliedonhisownsoldiers, onwhosefidelityhecouldalwayscountandfounditeverincreasing; hewasneveresteemedmorehighlythanwheneveryonesawthathewascompletemasterofhisownforces.
IwasnotintendingtogobeyondItalianandrecentexamples, butIamunwillingtoleaveoutHiero, theSyracusan, , asIhavesaid, madeheadofthearmybytheSyracusans, soonfoundoutthatamercenarysoldiery, constitutedlikeourItaliancondottieri, wasofnouse; anditappearingtohimthathecouldneitherkeepthemnotletthemgo, hehadthemallcuttopieces, andafterwardsmadewarwithhisownforcesandnotwithaliens.
