Destitute of political morality. A term derived
from the name of Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian statesman and writer
(1469-1527), who, in a treatise on government entitled "The Prince,"
advocated, or was interpreted to advocate, the disregard of moral
principle in the maintenance of authority. In this sentence
discriminate between the apparent synonyms _dissimulation_,
_hypocrisy_, _perfidy_.
6 15. Elizabeth Petrowna. Daughter of Peter the Great and Catharine
I. Empress of Russia 1741-1762.
6 28. Tcherkask. An important city of the Cossacks, near the mouth
of the Don.--tents. A common method of counting families among
nomads. What figure of speech does this illustrate?
7 25. roubles. A rouble is the Russian unit of value, worth
seventy-seven cents. The word is etymologically connected with the
Indian _rupee_.
7 28. Thus far, etc. Notice the care with which De Quincey analyzes
the situation.
8 19. mercenary. Look up origin of the word. How is it appropriate
here?
8 29. romantic. What are the qualities indicated by this adjective?
How did the word, derived from _Roman_, get its present significance?
8 34. A triple vengeance. Compare with the similar analysis p. 2, l. 13.
9 11. behemoth. A Hebrew word meaning "great beast." It was used
probably of the hippopotamus. See _Job_, xl, 15-24. In the work by
Bergmann, which furnished De Quincey with much of his material, the
figure used is that of a giant and a dwarf.--Muscovy. An old name of
Russia, derived from Moscow.
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