You perceive that these republics are commercial,--are traders; they esteem wealth, they despise valour, they cultivate all trades save that of the armourer.

Accordingly, how do they maintain themselves in war: by their own citizens?
Not a whit of it! Either they send to some foreign chief, and promise, if he grant them his protection, the principality of the city for five or ten years in return; or else they borrow from some hardy adventurer, like myself, as many troops as they can afford to pay for.

Is it not so, Lord Adrian ?" Adrian nodded his reluctant assent.
"Well, then, it is the fault of the foreign chief if he do not make his power permanent; as has been already done in States once free by the Visconti and the Scala: or else it is the fault of the captain of the mercenaries if he do not convert his brigands into senators, and himself into a king.

These are events so natural, that one day or other they will occur throughout all Italy.

And all Italy will then become monarchical.