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EARLY CRITICISM OF 'THE PRINCE.' 6i
Finally, some were found to believe that The Prince had no
serious purpose at all, but was thrown off in a moment of
cynicism, 'per sfogarsi,' as a bitterjeu d' esprit.
The variety of these theories is a sufficient proof of their inadequacy.
Indeed if they were to be accepted, it would be difficult to
understand how Machiavelli could deserve any better treatment
than that meted out to him by his worst opponents. None of
these apologetic interpretations have found favour with modern
critics who have seriously studied Machiavelli, except with
Gaspar Amico; but they were none the less, in one or two
cases, advanced by men whose writings prove that they had
devoted much attention to the subject, and whose great and
splendid abilities fully entitle them to a respectful hearing.
Among these the most celebrated is Bacon, who summed up
his opinion in the oft-quoted words from the 'de Augmentis
Scientiarum':--'Gratias agamus Machiavello et hujusmodi scriptoribus
qui aperte et indissimulanter proferunt quid homines
facere solebant, non quid debeant.' It is impossible to read
Bacon's works without feeling how largely he was influenced
by the study of Machiavelli ; he frequently quotes him by name,
and often goes out of his way to praise him1; and it is this
study of Machiavelli's works which gives its value to Bacon's
opinion. Though it cannot be accepted as a complete account
of The Prince, it is with some reservations true as far as it goes,
and is considerably more just and reasonable than the majority of
criticisms which had appeared before his time. It was a popular
theory, and was forcibly stated in detail by Boccalini in his
'Ragguagli di Parnaso,' in a remarkable and interesting passage 2.
1 See notes to eh xviii, and xxv.
De' Ragguagli dt Parnaso : di Traiano Boccahni ; Milan, x6i 3 ; Rag 89, page
418 Machiavelli is supposed to be on his trial, he appears before the Quarantla
Crlminale in person, and says :--' Eceo 6 Sire de' Letteratb quel Nicolo Machiavelli,
the _ stato condennato per seduttore, e corruttore del genere Humano, e per
seminatore di scandalosi precetti politici. Io in tanto non mtendo difendere gli
scritti mini, ehe pubbheamente gh accuso, e condanno per empi, per pienl dl
crudeli, et esecrandi Doeumenti da governare gh Staff. D1 modo chese quella,
the h6 pubbhcata alla stampa_ _ dottrina mventata dl rnio capo, e sono Preeetti
nuovi, dlmando, ehe pur hora contro dl me irremlsslbllmente si eseguisca la
sentenza, che a' Giudici _ piacuto darmi contro : ma se gli scntti miel altro non
eontengono, che quei Precettl Politic1, e quelle Regole di Stato, che h6 cavate
dalle attiom di aieuni Prenclpi, chese rostra Maestk ml dar_ hcenza nominar6 m
questo luogo, de' quali _ pena la vita dil male_ qual gmstmia, qual raglone vuole,