Signor Ottaviano: ‘I maintain, that since nowadays rulers are so corrupted by evil living, by ignorance and by false conceit, and it is so difficult to give them an insight into the truth and lead them to virtue, and since men seek to win their favor through lies and flattery and other wicked means, the courtier easily can and should seek to gain the goodwill of his prince by means of the noble qualities given to him.’

Said signor Gaspare: ‘I think that if you lack any of the accomplishments attributed to the courtier, they are music and dancing and such things of little importance rather than those which concern the education of the ruler and this aspect of courtiership.’ To this, signor Ottaviano replied: ‘They are none of them of little importance, all those things that help the courtier gain the favor of his prince, which he must do, as we have said, before he may venture to teach him the virtue of true knowledge; and this I think I have demonstrated can be learned and is as beneficial as ignorance is harmful. Then the Duchess replied: ‘The more you exceed your promise, so much the more we shall be indebted to you for your courtesy. So I hope you will say what you think and tell us everything you would teach your prince if he needed instruction and assuming you had completely won his favor and could therefore speak your mind freely.’

Signor Ottaviano smiled and said: ‘If I had the favor of some of the rulers I know, and were to speak my mind freely, I imagine I would soon lose it again. In my opinion princes should lead both kinds of life, though especially the contemplative since for them there are two aspects to this. The first entails clear insight and judgement; the other, issuing lawful commands in the proper manner, concerning things that are reasonable and within their authority, and having these carried out at appropriate times and places by those who have cause to obey. Of this Duke Federico was speaking when he said that the man who knows how to command is always obeyed. Giving commands, then, is the chief duty of a ruler, who very often, however, also has to be present and see them being carried out himself, and in certain circumstances sometimes has to perform himself. All these are concerned with action; but the active life should be designed to lead to the contemplative life, just as war is meant to lead to peace, and toil to rest.