NICCOLO MCHIAVELLI,
CITIZEN AND SECRETARY OF FLORENCE,
TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS
Lorenzo De medicis,
DUKE OF URBINO, &c. &c.[1]
THOSE who are solicitous of acquiring the favour of a prince, generally present him with whatever they possess that is most rare, curious, or valuable; as horses, arms, precious stones, &c. of a value commensurate with the dignity of the personage to whom they pay homage. For my part, my anxiety to present myself before you, with the best proof of my devotion, has not enabled me to discover, amongst all
I possess, any thing that I esteem more, or ac-
A
- ↑ He was the father of Catherine de Medicis, Queen of France, and died in 1519.
