nother, he ought, if the occasion allow, to leave him no time to
deliberate, but should so contrive that the other may see the need of
resolving at once; as he will, if he perceive that refusal or delay in
complying with what is asked of him, will draw upon him a sudden and
dangerous resentment.

This method we have seen employed with good effect in our own times by
Pope Julius II. in dealing with France, and by M. de Foix, the general
of the French king, in dealing with the Marquis of Mantua. For Pope
Julius desiring to expel the Bentivogli from Bologna, and thinking that
for this purpose he needed the help of French troops, and to have
the Venetians neutral, after sounding both and receiving from both
hesitating and ambiguous answers, determined to make both fall in with
his views, by giving them no time to oppose him; and so, setting forth
from Rome with as strong a force as he could get together, he marched on
Bologna, sending word to the Venetians that they must stand aloof, and
to the King of France to send him troops. The result was that in the
brief time allowed them, neither of the two powers could make up their
mind to thwart him; and knowing that refusal or delay would be violently
resented by the Pope, they yielded to his demands, the king sending him
soldiers and the Venetians maintaining neutrality.

M. de Foix, again, being with the king's army in Bologna when word came
that Brescia had risen, could not rest till he had recovered that town.
But, to get there he had to choose between two routes, one long and
circuitous leading through the territories of the king, the other short
and direct. In taking the latter route, however, not only would he have
to pass through the dominions of the Marquis of Mantua, but also to make
his way into these through the lakes and marshes wherewith that country
abounds, by following an embanked road, closed and guarded by the
marquis with forts and other defensive works. Resolving, nevertheless,
to take the shortest road at all hazards, he waited till his men were
already on their march before signifying to the marquis that he desired
leave to pass through his country, so that no time might be left him to
deliberate. Taken aback by the unexpected demand, the marquis gave the
leave sought, which he never would have given had De Foix acted with
less impetuosity. For he was in league with the Venetians and with the
Pope, and had a son in the hands of the latter; all which circum