NOTES TO THE SECOND BOOK OF THE COURTIER

uses mrtd. in the sense of our " virtue," he more often gives it its etymological meaning of " manliness," which the present translator has generally rendered by "worth." In considering a word like this, we must take into account the character of him who uses it. To Machiavelli, as no doubt to most of his contemporaries in Italy, mrtU meant simply that combination of strength, courage, tenacity and cunning that enables a man to achieve his ends, — whether good or bad. 385