Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen

Brother Timoteo came on time for dinner.Machiavelli told Serafina to buy some of the best food that could be found in the city.The priest didn't see anything, and let go of his belly to eat.Machiavelli had been taking care to fill the priest's glass.After drinking and eating, Machiavelli took the priest into the drawing room, where they could have an undisturbed conversation.Machiavelli ordered a servant to bring another jug ​​of wine. "Now let's get down to business," he said. Father Timoteo told Machiavelli that he had carefully considered Machiavelli's request and mentioned the names of three priests who had some reputation for preaching in Imola.With sincerity he describes the merits of each of these individuals, but with great skill he adds a pejorative or two to his admiration of each which effectively overturns what he has made. recommend.Machiavelli could not help secretly admiring his ingenuity in making these introductions and comments.Machiavelli smiled kindly.

"You have introduced these fine clergymen with the sincerity and impartiality which we hope you should. But, my lord, you have left out the name of a man whose talents and Piety goes far beyond those you mention." "Then who could this person be, my lord?" "Father Timoteo." A deliberate, but very realistic expression of astonishment appeared on the priest's face. "A good actor," thought Machiavelli to himself. "A preacher must have the ability to perform. If the ruling group really entrusts me to find such a person, I guess more than half of them will be inclined to choose this rogue priest."

"You are joking, my lord." "What makes you think I'm joking about something so important, my lord? I'm not idle either. I understand that you've made such an impression during this latest Lent that in Iraq No preacher in the history of Mora has ever equaled you. I have learned that you are eloquent, and I have noticed that your voice is melodious. You are very handsome, and I have only spoken a few words with you to find You are very intelligent, tactful, and well-bred. I am quite sure that you know as much about the Christian sages as you do about the classics."

"Your Excellency, you have indeed confused me. The Consulate wants a respectable clergyman, and I am but a poor priest in a poor remote town. I come from a poor background and have no distinguished friends. As for you Generous high praise I appreciate from the bottom of my heart, but I don't deserve the honor you've suggested." "Sometimes, the bystanders are clear and the authorities are in the dark, and this is the case now." Machiavelli was very pleased. Although he admired the priest's affection for the chapel, he could still see the greed and ambition of the man with his sharp eyes.Faced with such a bait, Machiavelli was convinced he could make him do anything.

"I think I should tell you honestly that I am of no importance in the government of Florence. I have only the right to advise, and in the end it is up to the adults of the Consulate to decide." "I can't imagine that they would lightly ignore the advice of the envoys they sent to Duke Romania and Valentino." Father Timoteo said with a flattering smile. "Indeed, our new consul for life, Piero Soderini, is a friend of mine. I think I may also say without vanity that his brother, bishop of Volterra, There's still a little confidence in honesty and good judgment."

From this topic Machiavelli naturally told the priest that he accompanied the cardinal, who was then a bishop, to Urbino to Cesare Borgia, on a mission to protest against the latter. Vitellozzo's attack on Arezzo.From this incident he naturally introduced to the priest his own activities in the Pisa War and his mission to France.He was careful not to overshadow his role in those events, but still managed to suggest to the priest that he was the one behind the scenes.He talks easily, laughs, speaks of kings, cardinals, princes, and generals in a familiar manner, and subtly and unobtrusively convinces his listeners that he has deep ties in Italy and France. Well-connected and well-informed.State secrets are not secrets at all to him.Only a fool would think that he is not a man with all-hands and eyes.Father Timoteo was completely overwhelmed.

"My lord, you don't know what it means to me to talk to a man of your wit and experience. It's like opening my eyes to a world full of hope. We live in this dull little In the city, nothing is known about the outside world. In all of Imola there is not a single man of culture or talent. Our wits, if we have any, are rusted from long lack of use. . . . it takes a man as patient as Job to deal with the folly of the crowd, and to spend his life among them." "My lord priest, I must admit that, based on what I know of you and what I've heard others say about you, I think it's a pity that a man of your talent should waste his time in this place. You should not It takes me to remind you of the call of the parable of the ten silvers."

"I have often thought of this, too. I have buried my silver in the ground. If the Lord should ask me what I have put my silver for, I shall have nothing to answer him." "My lord priest, there is no better way to help a person than to give a person a chance. The person who gets the chance must know how to use it." "Who would give an obscure monk a chance?" "I am your friend, my lord, and if I have any influence, it is entirely at your disposal. When I mention you to the Bishop of Volterra, you will not be completely unpopular." Understood. It is inappropriate for a man with habits like yours to introduce himself. But I think I can consult with Bartholomew on this matter. I have no doubt that I can persuade him to write willingly To his influential friends in Florence."

Father Timoteo laughed. "Our dear Bartholomew! He is the embodiment of goodness himself. But he is undeniably simple-minded. He has not yet managed to combine the strategy of a snake with the purity of a dove." In this way, Machiavelli directed their conversation towards the target he had been aiming at.He filled the empty glass with wine.The warmth brought by the brazier is very comforting. "Bartholomew is a nice guy. I often think of businessmen who are very successful in business but have absolutely no brains about other things in the world. But I don't respect him any less for that reason. I I am willing to do my best to increase his actual income. My lord priest, you still have a lot of influence on Bartolomeo."

"He's not bad, and he finally appreciates some of the suggestions and advice I gave him." "He showed good judgment in many places. But it is a sad thing that a man as remarkable and as deserving as he is should not be able to live up to his greatest wishes." Father Timoteo looked at Machiavelli inquiringly. "You must be like me, knowing that if he can have a son, he is willing to donate half of his property." "It just became his heart disease, and he talked about it all day long, and we pleaded for him before the miraculous Mother, but to no avail. He was very displeased with us, because our prayers did not produce what he expected effect. But he actually has no reason, since he himself is barren."

"My lord, I have a small estate in a place called Cassiano, not far from Florence. To supplement the meager salary I receive from the Consulate, I have been selling wood from the forest and cultivating my I have some cows, and sometimes I get a bull for breeding, which looks strong and healthy, but for some reason has the same ailments as our dear friend Bartholomew. In In this case, all you can do is kill the bull, sell its meat for money, and use the money to buy a new bull.” Priest Timoteo smiled. "It's not feasible to copy people to do the same." "It's not necessary. But the words are not rough." The priest stood there for a long time before he fully understood what Machiavelli meant.When he understood, he smiled again. "Ms. Aurelia is a chaste wife, and she is also very strict. She is guarded by her mother and husband. Of course, the motives of these two people are different. Bartolomeo will not be so stupid as to not understand His young and pretty wife will surely provoke the dissolute youths of the town, and Lady Caterina will be careful to see that her hard-earned comfort is not lost through her daughter's imprudent behavior." "But an act of imprudence can also become an act of great caution. Ms. Catalina's position would be much safer and more secure if she could have a grandson on her knees." "I don't deny this. Now that the Duke has given him the property, plus a title. Bartolomeo wants to have a son even more. Two women in his family found out that Bartolomeo was considering Adopted his two nephews. He has a widowed older sister who lives in Fuli. She is very happy to let her brother raise her two children, but she is unwilling to separate from them, so she made a condition, In other words, Bartholomew must also take her in and live under the same roof." "It's also natural for a mother not to want to be separated from her child." "Of course it's a perfectly natural thing to do. But the prospect is very disheartening for Ms. Caterina and Ms. Aurelia. They suspect that if this happens, it will be very difficult for them. Ole Leah came here without a dowry. Lady Constanza, mother of Bartolomeo's adopted son, would seriously jeopardize Aurelia's position as a wife, since her position had long been precarious - Bartholomew Out of vanity, Thoromeo has always insisted that his wife is infertile. It is conceivable that Constanza will soon be the mistress of the house. Madame Caterina once begged me to persuade Bartolomeo to give up this idea. , obviously, from Katerina's point of view, this matter is too dangerous for her and her daughter." "Did Bartolomeo ask your opinion?" "Of course I did." "And what advice did you give him?" "I stalled for as long as I could. His sister's confessor at Foley was a Dominican. If she came, she might pick a confessor from the sect. The Dominicans weren't Our friend, we are greatly favored by Bartolomeo, and if Madame Constanza uses Bartolomeo's disappointment at our failure to obtain an heir for him, to make him turn his favor to the Dominicans. , that would be too bad." "No one sees your difficulty better than I, my lord. The only feasible solution is that which I propose." "My lord, have you ever thought that if we do this, we will have some sins?" "It was but a small sin. Many good things will come out of it. You can make a wonderful woman happy, and two pious women who deserve your help secure a stable position, More importantly, it will also allow you to retain the constant support of Brother Bartholomew as a generous benefactor. It would be presumptuous of me to quote the Bible at you, but I would venture to remind you that that Sarah If the women of Mary had not committed adultery, the founder of our religion would never have had the opportunity to expound his teachings of tolerance and forgiveness, which are of inestimable value to us miserable sinners .” "Such an incisive statement, my lord." "I'm a mortal, my lord. I don't want to hide from you that Lady Aurelia's beauty has set me ablaze with lust, and I'll either have her or I'll burn." "I never imagined that you cared so much about Bartolomeo's interests, and that the happiness of the two ladies was entirely out of your kindness," said the priest calmly. "Your monastery is not rich, and no doubt you will have many people asking you to pay for various things. My lord, I hereby offer you twenty-five gold ducats for your kindness." Machiavelli caught a greedy look in the priest's dark eyes. "when?" "Right now." He took out a bag of coins from the inside pocket of his clothes and casually threw it on the table.The gold coins made a pleasant clacking sound as they fell on the wooden table. "My lord, you have won my goodwill by your charming conversation and unsurpassed grace," said the priest. "But I don't know how I can help you." "I will not ask you to do anything that would disturb your conscience. I would like you to take the trouble to arrange a private meeting with Ms. Caterina." "I don't think it will do any harm. But it won't help you. Bartolomeo is a fool, but he is also a shrewd businessman who doesn't take unnecessary risks. If he has business to go out, he Her servants are always there to watch Aurelia, and strictly guard against the entanglement of some loose and lustful men." "I'm well aware of that. But our dear Bartolomeo has an unspoken and well-deserved trust in you. He took Aurelia to the thermal baths, and he took I wish her to go on a pilgrimage to those famous holy places, so that barren women can bear children. I suggest you say to our dear Bartholomew, if he can take his servant, go to Ravenna , and spend an evening in meditation before the sarcophagus containing the bones of Saint Vitale, you can assure him that Lady Aurelia will conceive." "Saint Vitale was evidently a great saint, or the church would not have erected a church in his honor; but what makes you speculate that his bones would have such potency as to heal men's ills? Education?" "The name of the saint itself clearly implies this. Neither Bartolomeo nor you nor I may know whether this saint has such great powers. A drowning man will try to catch Any straw. Ravenna is only twenty miles from Imola, and for Bartolomeo, making such a short trip to achieve the result he longed for, you would think he would Do you hesitate?" "My lord, let me also ask you a question. What reason do you have to think that Madame Aurelia, a chaste and timid woman, will respond to your pursuit of her? Have you told her your wish?" "I haven't said a few words to her. But unless she's different from other women, she should be able to see that I mean that to her. Women are prone to two mistakes, curiosity and vanity." "Small sins that can be forgiven." "But these petty sins are often more likely than passion to make them abandon the path of integrity." "There are too many such small flaws, and I have always been used to turning a blind eye." "When one day you are promoted to a high position because of your outstanding talents, you will realize that if you want to gain power, it is not by cultivating people's moral character, nor by condoning their evil, but by forgiving their little things. defect." "Your plan is ingenious. I have no doubt that you will be able to persuade Lady Caterina to help you. She will do anything to prevent Bartholomew from adopting his nephew. But I know O'Reilly very well. Ms. Ya, she will not be persuaded by you or her mother to commit a sin from which she must die." "It's certainly possible. There are many things that seem foreign and terrifying from a distance, but come closer and become natural, easy and reasonable to you. I have no reason to assume that O'Reilly Ms. Ya is much smarter than most of those women. You should explain to her that if something will definitely bring about good results, but it is not certain whether it will bring about bad results, if we only rely on this It must be a wrong choice to fear the bad consequences and not do that good thing. Here, the good thing I can be sure of is that she will get pregnant and give birth to an immortal soul, and the bad result is that she will be killed found. But if some precautionary measures were taken, these bad results would not be possible. As for sin, I think it is just a worry. For here, it is only the will of man that produces sin, not man. of the flesh. It is a wife's sin only to make her husband angry, and in this case she can only please him. When we consider all things, we have the end in mind. And here the end The goal is to add another seat in heaven where a husband can fulfill his wish." Father Timoteo looked at Machiavelli without answering.It seemed to Machiavelli that the priest had taken great pains not to laugh.The priest looked away, and his eyes fell on the bag of gold coins on the table. "I am now convinced that the ruling group did not make a mistake in sending you to the Duke. My lord," he finally replied. "I may condemn your intentions, but I cannot but admire your sophistication." "You've won the prize," Machiavelli replied. "You should give me some time to think about it." "My lord priest, I believe the first impression is right. But I have to excuse you, I'm going to the yard to make it easier. The wine here seems to have a diuretic effect, I'm thinking about it." When Machiavelli returned, the priest was still sitting where he had been, but the bag of gold coins on the table had disappeared. "Ms. Caterina brings her daughter to confession on Friday," said the priest, looking at his own well-kept hands. "While Ms. Aurelia is in the confessional, you will have the opportunity to speak to Ms. Catalina."