An Endorsement of The Man of the Renaissance by Ralph Roeder

This is a book that deserves to be read by all students of real politics. It is a comparative study of the leading lawgivers of the Renaissance, and despite the author's occassional injections of foolish expostulatory commentary, provides accurate portrayals of these leading lights of the age.

Savonarola: Nitwit fanatic that feared life and failed miserably, and only came close to succeeding when he resorted to schemes Machiavelli might have endorsed had they not been so ill conceived and ineptly executed. The account of his attempt to perform last rites for Lorenzo de' Medici is priceless. The sage patriarch had already been given the last rites; however, he knew the man who performed them so he called Savonarola, who in those last maudlin moments Lorenzo considered to be the only honest priest. Savonarola, sentimental lout that he was agreed to perform last rites on the following three conditions:

"First, a great and living faith in God's mercy," Magnifico agreed. "Second, that you restore, or direct your heirs to restore, all your ill-gotten gains," again Lorenzo consented. "Thirdly, that you restore the freedom of Florence." There was a long pause, "the grandson of Cosimo de' Medici stared at him incredulously; then he slowly rolled over and died."

In the realm of the sane, expediency always beats whimsy. In the end, the rack dispensed with the silly old dotard.

Machiavelli: Clear philosophical victor and leading light of the Renaissance. Far from being afraid of life, he sought to ally himself with its forces and his expedient system continues to inspire. The lessons Cesare Borgia taught him were never forgotten and are immortalized in The Prince. When he wasn't busy as a diplomat intriguing, as well as seeking to understand the intrigues around him, and when he wasn't bantering with his inferior associates, he sated his animal passions on ladies of the night. His immortal work was refined, crystallized and set down during a forced retirement. The imposed nature of his vocational repose would have been quite a set back to the development of the species had he not taken the time to systematize his observations.

Castiglione: Convivial courtier and Papal servant. His work helped phase out archaic views of chivalry and bore a significant influence on our modern conception of the learned gentleman. History would have been different had Machiavelli's influence over the Papacy been greater than Baldassare's, instead Nicollo's Political talents were rejected in favor of his drama.

The juxtaposition is striking: both Machiavelli and Castiglione wrote books dealing with power. Niccolo's separation from Power chafed him whereas with Baldassare it was just the opposite. Castiglione orbited the rarefied atmosphere of de' Medici, a realm Machiavelli lusted after, ultimately in vain. Machiavelli's aretology is grounded in prudence, cunning, and force; Castiglione's in grace, conviviality, and poise. Machiavelli taught how to exercise Power; Castiglione, how to serve it. Machievelli was a confident failure at attaing meaningful influence, whereas Castiglione was a success plagued by doubts. One philosophy focused on the martial and political sphere of influence, the other on culture and sociability; they are complementary, yet rotationally removed views.

Aretino: "Living symbol of the disintegration of society" and the spirit of Pasquino. Animal-virtue driven mockery is always an entertaining combination. Aretino teaches us how to feed off Power.

The syphilitic leaders of Italy ignored Machiavelli and thereby presided over the sunset of its Renaissance. These were the men of the Italian Renaissance: the idealist who squandered Power; the genius who tried in vain to save Italy, but whose immortal works have nevertheless revolutionized the world of Power; the jovial and genteel massager of Power; and the literary pornographer, blackmailer, and journalist. I rate them in this order: Machiavelli, Aretino, Castiglione and Isabella d'Este, the First Lady of the Renassaince--Savonarola is unworthy of even being ranked.

A remarkable tome, gratifyingly edifying for the student and servant of Power.