without money, activity, and good fortune.
A Frenchman, of whom you ask a service, considers first whether he can turn it to his own advantage.
The first engagements with them are the surest.
If it is out of their power to oblige you, they will load you with promises; and if it is to serve you, they do it with ill-will.
More than modest in adversity, but insolent in prosperity.
They recount their defeats as if they were victories.
A successful general is frequently with the king, therefore the grand point at court is, less to court the favour of the king than the conqueror. This doctrine was well appreciated by Duke Valentino, who thus got the command of the army sent to Florence.
They have a very exaggerated idea of their own honour, and a very contemptuous one of that of other nations. It is well known how sensibly hurt they were at the
