The Venetians, if their achievements are considered, will be seen to have acted safely and gloriously so long as they sent to war their own men, when with armed gentlemen and plebians they did valiantly. This was before they turned to enterprises on land, but when they began to fight on land they forsook this virtue and followed the custom of Italy.
Viniziani, se si considerrà e' progressi loro, si vedrà quelli avere securamente e gloriosamente operato mentre ferono la guerra loro proprii: che fu avanti che si volgessino con le loro imprese in terra: dove co' gentili uomini e con la plebe armata operorono virtuosissimamente; ma, come cominciorono a combattere in terra, lasciorono questa virtù, e seguitorono e' costumi delle guerre di Italia.