He spoke to me about my works, and expressed a great desire to see them, particularly my 'Treatise on Illustrious Men.' I told him that I had not yet put my last hand to it, and that, before I could do so, I required to have leisure and repose.
He gave me to understand that he should be very glad to see it appear under his own patronage, that is to say, dedicated to himself.

I said to him, with that freedom of speech which Nature has given me, and which years have fortified, 'Great prince, for this purpose, nothing more is necessary than, virtue on your part, and leisure on mine.' He asked me to explain myself.

I said, 'I must have time for a work of this nature, in which I propose to include great things in a small space.

On your part, labour to deserve that your name should appear at the head of my book.

For this end, it is not enough that you wear a crown; your virtues and great actions must place you among the great men whose portraits I have delineated.