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The Marriage of Belphegor (1762 translation)

Niccolò Machiavelli · 1762

An English translation of Machiavelli's satirical short story about a devil sent to marry a troublesome wife, first published decades after his death.

A translated edition of a satirical story written by Machiavelli himself, showing his literary and comic talents.

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About this source

What it is

This is an English translation, made in 1762 by Ellis Farneworth, of a short satirical story written by Niccolò Machiavelli. The tale tells of a devil named Belphegor who is sent from the underworld to marry a human wife and finds married life unbearable.

Why it matters

Machiavelli is best known for his political writing, but this story shows his skill as a storyteller and his sharp, sometimes dark sense of humour. It reveals a lighter, more playful side of a man usually remembered for serious political advice.

  • What does the humour in this story suggest about attitudes toward marriage in Machiavelli's time?
  • Why might a serious political thinker also write comic fiction?
  • How does translation, over two centuries later, change the way we experience Machiavelli's original words?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Niccolo Machiavelli on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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