Yet there were in the duke such boldness and ability, and he knew so well how men are to be won or lost, and so firm were the foundations which in so short a time he had laid, that if he had not had those armies on his back, or if he had been in good health, he would have overcome all difficulties.
Et era nel duca tanta ferocia e tanta virtù e sí bene conosceva come li uomini si hanno a guadagnare o perdere, e tanto erano validi e' fondamenti che in sí poco tempo si aveva fatti, che, se non avessi avuto quelli eserciti addosso, o lui fussi stato sano, arebbe retto a ogni difficultà.