Our ancestors, and those most particularly who were deemed wise, were of opinion that Pistoia should be restrained by domestic factions, and Pisa by fortresses. It was therefore but seldom they neglected to foment divisions in the cities and towns where the people were suspected. This policy was very well understood, considering the state of uncertainty in which the affairs of Italy at that epoch fluctuated. But it would at this moment be scouted, because a town divided against itself can never hold out against an enemy, who would not fail to allure one of the two factions to its cause, and so become master of the place.
The Venetians, adopting this very policy, favoured alternately the Guelphs and the Gibilines in the cities subjeçted to their sway; and although they never suffered them to come into each other's power, they incessantly fomented divisions, which prevented them from thinking of revolt; but this republic did not derive from this conduct the benefit which they expected; for their armies having been defeated at Vaila, one of these factions had the audacity to aspire at dominion, and was successful in the attempt. This policy is ever the resort of weakness, and a powerful prince will never permit such divisions, which in times of peace are unquestionably attended with less inconvenience, because
