There is first to note that, whereas in other principalities the ambition of the nobles and the insolence of the people only have to be contended with, the Roman emperors had a third difficulty in having to put up with the cruelty and avarice of their soldiers, a matter so beset with difficulties that it was the ruin of many; for it was a hard thing to give satisfaction both to soldiers and people; because the people loved peace, and for this reason they loved the unaspiring prince, whilst the soldiers loved the warlike prince who was bold, cruel, and rapacious, which qualities they were quite willing he should exercise upon the people, so that they could get double pay and give vent to their own greed and cruelty.
Et è prima da notare che dove nelli altri principati si ha solo a contendere con la ambizione de' grandi et insolenzia de' populi, l’imperatori romani avevano una terza difficultà, di avere a sopportare la crudeltà et avarizia de' soldati. La qual cosa era sí difficile che la fu cagione della ruina di molti; sendo difficile satisfare a' soldati et a' populi; perché e' populi amavono la quiete, e per questo amavono e' principi modesti, e li soldati amavono el principe d’animo militare, e che fussi insolente, crudele e rapace.