Authors: Jonathan Rabb
The Overseer (78 page)
These are but the beginning, most Holy Father. Indeed, it is best to try a first trial of conjecture by experience, some few incidences within one city of worth— Venice is perhaps the wisest choice—to ensure that the climate is rip for the chaos. Once tried, let go the reins and allow chaos her way with the continent.
I have kept the other events on the schedule with me so that we may together conceive and execute this most daring of plans. Do not chastize me for keeping them hidden. A poor man must keep something for himself. I shall remind you, though, that the final act will be the death of the Devil himself, this Luther who stands between mankind and salvation. It is the schedule I have devised that will make that possible.
There are those who stand ready to rule the three realms; those I have trained to understand the subtleties within each realm and to look to you as their guide, their Lord, their Overseer in the days to come. Let them be your servants. Let them remove the pestilence and use this Luther as an excuse to alter the very nature of supremacy. These men, once boys without vision and passion, now realize that the realms are everywhere the same—in every town, every city, every nation. Let them grant you command of them all.
God has conferred upon you an opportunity in the guise of a religious monster. He offers you this sacrifice so that you may exert your will and share in His glory. None would deny the righteousness of your actions were you to act now, swiftly, and with the vengeance such evil inspires. Power claws at the door, ready to leap forward and swallow up this demon. God Himself offers you the key to set power free. Take it, my Lord, and create for our Savior a world of perfect order and stability here on earth.
*
Although Machiavelli does not expressly detail this transition, Eisenreich is right to conclude that to make such an argument is perhaps the surest way to find consistency between Machiavelli’s
Prince
and
Discourses
.
*
This was by far the most difficult term in the translation. Eisenreich uses the words
communitas
and
humanitas,
sometimes together, often interchangeably when describing this realm. It is difficult to believe that he would have recognized this as a “social sphere” in the modern sense, but he is certainly hinting at it. I have chosen the word
social
because it seems to capture the expansiveness of his usage. Moreover, the term is consistent with the realm he describes—one where educational and cultural manipulation take place. That the term as we know it only appears in works of political philosophy 250 years later should only confirm Eisenreich’s extraordinary talents as a student of statecraft.
A first book carries many debts, but I must single out:
Rob Roznowski, Rob Tate, and Dan Elish for their insights on early drafts, but more so for their friendship.
Peter Spiegler and Mark Weigel, whose knowledge of the working of markets was invaluable.
Rob Cowley and Byron Hollinshead, whose wise counsel was eclipsed only by their encouragement.
Doug Hertz, who set the manuscript on the road to William Morris.
Matt Bialer of William Morris, whose enthusiasm, judgment, and
expertise
turned this first-time author’s introduction to the world of publishing into a real pleasure.
Kristin Kiser of Crown, who made both the process of editing and my instruction in the craft of writing fiction a delight.
Professors Anthony Grafton and Theodore Rabb of Princeton
University
, who cast scholarly eyes on
On Supremacy.
The likes of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Hegel, and Mill, the true inspirations.
And, of course, my family—they know why.
FOR MOM AND DAD
This ebook published in Great Britain by
Halban Publishers Ltd
22 Golden Square
London W1F 9JW 2012Originally published in Great Britain by Halban Publishers, 2006
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Publishers.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978 1 905559 43 5
Copyright © 1998 by Jonathan Rabb
Jonathan Rabb has asserted his right under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
Originally printed in Great Britain
by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall