and a thousand dangers he arrived at the sovereignty; in which he maintained himself by resorting to measures as daring as they were dangerous. Yet there is no virtue in massacreing ones fellow citizens and sacrificing ones friends; in being without faith, pity, or religion. These qualities may lead to sovereignty, but not to glory.
Considering the intrepidity of Agathocles in braving dangers, his skill in extricating himself from them, his firmness of soul in supporting or surmounting adversity, we do not see how he can be deemed inferior to the greatest warriors: nevertheless, his inhumanity, his ferocious cruelty, and the infinity of crimes which he committed, have prevented his being ranked amongst celebrated men; we cannot therefore attribute to his fortune or his virtue what he succeeded in acquiring without either of them.
In our days under Pope Alexander VI. Oliverotto da Fermo, having in his infancy lost both his parents, was educated by his maternal uncle John Fogliani, and while yet very young, he was placed under Paul Vitelli to learn the art of war, and arrive at some distinguished rank. After the death of Paul he served under his brother Vitellozzo, and in a very short time afterwards, on account of his courage and ability, he became the first warrior of his day; but finding it beneath him to serve, he resolved, with the aid of a few citizens,
