Discourses (Discorsi)

INTRODUCTION

Notes on the Text

by Jon Roland, digital editor

This rendition of Machiavelli's Discourses is taken from a translation attributed to Henry Neville, first published in 1675, and reprinted in 1772. We have corrected obvious typographical errors and misspellings that would have been considered misspellings in the 18th century. Where words or word roots are spelled inconsistently, the most modern spelling was chosen for all instances. A few words have their original spellings preserved, that have usages slightly different from the modern usage of the words: We retain virtu rather than changing it to virtue, and combatting is spelled with two t's. The word seige and words based on it have been changed to siege throughout.

Clarifications of a word, and alternative translations of it, are shown in single parentheses, and words elided in the original are supplied in double parentheses.

The footnotes have been converted into endnotes within each book, and numbered.