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Discourses on Livyis the founding document of modern republicanism, and Harvey C. Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov have provided the definitive English translation of this classic work. Faithful to the original Italian text, properly attentive to Machiavelli's idiom and subtlety of thought, it is eminently readable. With a substantial introduction, extensive explanatory notes, a glossary of key words, and an annotated index, theDiscoursesreveals Machiavelli's radical vision of a new science of politics, a vision of "new modes and orders" that continue to shape the modern ethos. "[Machiavelli] found in Livy the means to inspire scholars for five centuries. Within theDiscourses, often hidden and sometimes unintended by their author, lie the seeds of modern political thought. . . . [Mansfield and Tarcov's] translation is careful and idiomatic."—Peter Stothard,The Times "Translated with painstaking accuracy—but also great readability."—Weekly Standard "A model of contemporary scholarship and a brave effort at Machiavelli translation that allows the great Florentine to speak in his own voice."—Choice
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THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS, CHICAGO 60637 THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS, LTD, LONDON © 1996 by The University of Chicago All rights reserved Published 1996 Paperback edition 1998 Printed in the United States of America 05 04 03 02 01 5 4 3 ISBN 0-226-50035-7 (cloth) ISBN 0-226-50036-5 (paperback) ISBN 978-0-226-50033-1 (e-book) The Press acknowledges the generous contribution of The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation toward the publication of this book Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469–1527 [Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio English] Discourses on Livy / Niccolò Machiavelli; translated by Harvey C Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov p cm Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 0-226-50035-7 (cloth alk paper) 1 Livy 2 Political science—Early works to 1800 I Mansfield, Harvey Clafin, 1932– II Tarcov, Nathan III Title JC143.M16313 1996 320 973—dc20 95-50910 CIP The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39 48-1992
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI
DISCOURSES ON LIVY Translated by
Harvey C. Mansfield and Nathan Tarcov
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS Chicago & London
CONTENTS List of Abbreviations Introduction Suggested Readings A Note on the Translation Translators’ Acknowledgments Dedicatory Letter FIRST BOOK Preface 1. What Have Been Universally the Beginnings of Any City Whatever, and What Was That of Rome 2. Of How Many Species Are Republics, and Which Was the Roman Republic 3. What Accidents Made the Tribunes of the Plebs Be Created in Rome, Which Made the Republic More Perfect 4. That the Disunion of the Plebs and the Roman Senate Made That Republic Free and Powerful 5. Where the Guard of Freedom May Be Settled More Securely, in the People or in the Great; and Which Has Greater Cause for Tumult, He Who Wishes to Acquire or He Who Wishes to Maintain 6. Whether a State Could Have Been Ordered in Rome That Would Have Taken Away the Enmities between the People and the Senate 7. How Far Accusations May Be Necessary in a Republic to Maintain It in Freedom 8. As Much As Accusations Are Useful to Republics, So Much Are Calumnies Pernicious 9. That It Is Necessary to Be Alone If One Wishes to Order a Republic Anew or to Reform It Altogether outside Its Ancient Orders 10. As Much As the Founders of a Republic and of a Kingdom Are Praiseworthy, So Much Those of a Tyranny Are Worthy of Reproach 11. Of the Religion of the Romans 12. Of How Much Importance It Is to Take Account of Religion, and How Italy, for Lacking It by Means of the Roman Churc