[2] A lucid criticism of the three forms of government is
contained in Guicciardini's Comment on the second chapter of
the first book of Machiavelli's _Discorsi_ (_Op. Ined._ vol. i.
p. 6): 'E non è dubio che il governo misto delle tre spezie,
principi, ottimati e popolo, è migliore e più stabile che uno
governo semplice di qualunque delle tre spezie, e massime
quando è misto in modo che di qualunque spezie è tolto il buono
e lasciato indietro il cattivo.' Machiavelli had himself, in
the passage criticised, examined the three simple governments
and declared in favor of the mixed as that which gave stability
to Sparta, Rome, and Venice. The same line of thought may be
traced in the political speculations of both Plato and
Aristotle. The Athenians and Florentines felt the superior
stability of the Spartan and Venetian forms of government, just
as a French theorist might idealize the English constitution.
The essential element of the Governo Misto, which Florence had
lost beyond the possibility of regaining it, was a body of
hereditary and patriotic patricians. This gave its strength to
Venice; and this is that which hitherto has distinguished the
English nation.

[3] Compare _Ricordi Politici e Civili_, No. clxxxix., for a
lament of this kind over the decrepitude of kingdoms, almost
sublime in its stoicism.

The _Istoria Fiorentina_ is a succinct narrative of the events of
Italian History, especially as they concerned Florence, between the
years 1378 and 1509. In other words it relates the vicissitudes of the
Republic under the Medici, and the administration of the Gonfalonier