"
"Twenty scudi is fair enough; still I'm afraid even at one
hundred and seven francs a head you won't get picked men.
Now, you will allow, Monsignore, a peasant must be badly off
indeed when a bounty of twenty scudi tempts him to put on a
uniform which is universally despised? But if you want to
attract more recruits round every barrack than there were
suitors at Penelope's gate, endow the army, offer the Roman
citizens--pardon me, I mean the Pope's _subjects_--such a
bounty as is really likely to tempt them. Pay them down a
small sum for the assistance of their families, and keep the
balance till their period of service has expired. Induce
them to re-engage after their discharge by promises
honourably and faithfully observed; arrange that with every
additional year of service the savings which the soldier has
left in the hands of the state shall increase. Believe me,
when the Romans know that a soldier, without assistance,
without education, without any brilliant action, or any
stroke of good fortune, by the mere faithful performance of
his duty, can, after twenty-five years' service, secure an
income of L20 or L25 a year, they will snatch at the
advantage of entering the ranks; and I warrant you, the
personal interest of each will attach them more firmly to
the Government, as the depository of their savings.
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