Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Book 3: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Book 3, credited to Niccolò Machiavelli, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Book 3 by Niccolò Machiavelli. (Translated by Ninian Hill Thomson.) Read in English by Josh Kibbey; Rita Boutros; Maria de Fátima da Silva; Linda Johnson; Mayah; Kassie Yang; Shasta; Kristine Bekere; merendo07 In "Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius", posthumous work by the author of The Prince, Machiavelli discusses the useful lessons that could be learnt from the past for the present. As the title mentions, the subject of the work is the first ten books of Livy's Ab urbe condita, which cover the expansion of Rome from the legendary monarchy of Romulus to the end of the Third Samnite War (293 BCE). The whole work contains three books, with 142 numbered chapters - perhaps not a coincidence, since Livy's history also contained 142 books. In the third book, the author discusses how the actions of particular men made Rome great. - Summary by Leni

Recording facts

• Recording title: Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Book 3
• Author credits: Niccolò Machiavelli
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 49
• Listed recording duration: 5:47:35

Catalogue topics

• Florence
• republic
• livy

Opening tracks: first 24 of 49

1. 01 - CHAPTER I.—For a Sect or Commonwealth to last long, it must often be brought back to its Beginnings. — 11:29
2. 02 - CHAPTER II.—That on occasion it is wise to feign Folly. — 3:59
3. 03 - CHAPTER III.—That to preserve a newly acquired Freedom we must slay the Sons of Brutus. — 3:43
4. 04 - CHAPTER IV.—That an Usurper is never safe in his Princedom while those live whom he has deprived of it. — 2:43
5. 05 - CHAPTER V.—How an Hereditary King may come to lose his Kingdom. — 3:52
6. 06 - CHAPTER VI.—Of Conspiracies. — 55:43
7. 07 - CHAPTER VII.—Why it is that changes from Freedom to Servitude, and from Servitude to Freedom, are sometimes made without Bloodshed, but at other times reek with Blood. — 2:24
8. 08 - CHAPTER VIII.—That he who would effect Changes in a Commonwealth, must give heed to its Character and Condition — 8:21
9. 09 - CHAPTER IX.—That to enjoy constant good Fortune we must change with the Times. — 6:33
10. 10 - CHAPTER X.—That a Captain cannot escape Battle when his Enemy forces it on him at all risks. — 11:20
11. 11 - CHAPTER XI.—That one who has to contend with many, though he be weaker than they, will prevail if he can withstand their first onset. — 6:19
12. 12 - CHAPTER XII.—A prudent Captain will do what he can to make it necessary for his own Soldiers to fight, and to relieve his Enemy from that necessity. — 9:54
13. 13 - CHAPTER XIII.—Whether we may trust more to a valiant Captain with a weak Army, or to a valiant Army with a weak Captain. — 5:57
14. 14 - CHAPTER XIV.—Of the effect produced in Battle by strange and unexpected Sights or Sounds. — 7:49
15. 15 - CHAPTER XV.—That one and not many should head an Army: and why it is harmful to have more Leaders than one. — 4:55
16. 16 - CHAPTER XVI.—That in Times of Difficulty true Worth is sought after; whereas in quiet Times it is not the most deserving, but those who are recommended by Wealth or Connection who are most in favour. — 7:52
17. 17 - CHAPTER XVII.—That we are not to offend a Man, and then send him to fill an important Office or Command. — 3:30
18. 18 - CHAPTER XVIII.—That it is the highest Quality of a Captain to be able to forestall the designs of his Adversary. — 7:29
19. 19 - CHAPTER XIX.—Whether Indulgence or Severity be more necessary for controlling a Multitude. — 4:12
20. 20 - CHAPTER XX.—How one humane act availed more with the men of Falerii, than all the might of the Roman Arms. — 3:47
21. 21 - CHAPTER XXI.—How it happened that Hannibal pursuing a course contrary to that taken by Scipio, wrought the same results in Italy which the other achieved in Spain. — 7:32
22. 22 - Chapter XXII.—That the severity of Manlius Torquatus and the gentleness of Valerius Corvinus won for both the same Glory. — 15:08
23. 23 - CHAPTER XXIII.—Why Camillus was banished from Rome. — 3:39
24. 24 - CHAPTER XXIV.—That prolonged Commands brought Rome to Servitude. — 4:38

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This is a record from LibriVox's official Internet Archive collection, with a public-domain licence recorded in its metadata. LibriVox's policy includes its catalogue summaries as well as its recordings. Its public-domain assessment follows United States law; copyright status can differ elsewhere. The summary and track facts are reproduced and reformatted from that record. Dates attached to the archive upload are not treated as original book publication dates.