按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
assistance from Milan； and thus recover her state； and the posture of
affairs was such at that time that the foreigners could not assist the
people。 But fortresses were of little value to her afterwards when
Cesare Borgia attacked her； and when the people； her enemy； were allied
with foreigners。 Therefore it would have been safer for her； both then
and before； not to have been hated by the people than to have had the
fortresses。 All these things considered then； I shall praise him who
builds fortresses as well as him who does not； and I shall blame
whoever； trusting in them； cares little about being hated by the people。
CHAPTER XXI
HOW A PRINCE SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF SO AS TO GAIN RENOWN
NOTHING makes a prince so much esteemed as great enterprises and setting
a fine example。 We have in our time Ferdinand of Aragon； the present
King of Spain。 He can almost be called a new prince； because he has
risen； by fame and glory； from being an insignificant king to be the
foremost king in Christendom； and if you will consider his deeds you
will find them all great and some of them extraordinary。 In the
beginning of his reign he attacked Granada； and this enterprise was the
foundation of his dominions。 He did this quietly at first and without
any fear of hindrance； for he held the minds of the barons of Castile
occupied in thinking of the war and not anticipating any innovations；
thus they did not perceive that by these means he was acquiring power
and authority over them。 He was able with the money of the Church and of
the people to sustain his armies； and by that long war to lay the
foundation for the military skill which has since distinguished him。
Further； always using religion as a plea； so as to undertake greater
schemes； he devoted himself with a pious cruelty to driving out and
clearing his kingdom of the Moors； nor could there be a more admirable
example； nor one more rare。 Under this same cloak he assailed Africa； he
came down on Italy； he has finally attacked France； and thus his
achievements and designs have always been great； and have kept the minds
of his people in suspense and admiration and occupied with the issue of
them。 And his actions have arisen in such a way； one out of the other；
that men have never been given time to work steadily against him。
Again； it much assists a prince to set unusual examples in internal
affairs； similar to those which are related of Messer Bernabo da Milano；
who； when he had the opportunity； by any one in civil life doing some
extraordinary thing； either good or bad； would take some method of
rewarding or punishing him； which would be much spoken about。 And a
prince ought； above all things； always to endeavour in every action to
gain for himself the reputation of being a great and remarkable man。
A prince is also respected when he is either a true friend or a
downright enemy； that to say； when； without any reservation； he declares
himself in favour of one party against the other； which course will
always be more advantageous than standing neutral； because if two of
your powerful neighbours e to blows； they are of such a character
that； if one of them conquers； you have either to fear him or not。 In
either case it will always be more advantageous for you to declare
yourself and to make war strenuously； because； in the first case； if you
do not declare yourself； you will invariably fall a prey to the
conqueror； to the pleasure and satisfaction of him who has been
conquered； and you will have no reasons to offer； nor anything to
protect or to shelter you。 Because he who conquers does not want
doubtful friends who will not aid him in the time of trial； and he who
loses will not harbour you because you did not willingly； sword in hand；
court his fate。
Antiochus went into Greece； being sent for by the Aetolians to drive out
the Romans。 He sent envoys to the Achaeans； who were friends of the
Romans； exhorting them to remain neutral； and on the other hand the
Romans urged them to take up arms。 This question came to be discussed in
the council of the Achaeans； where the legate of Antiochus urged them to
stand neutral。 To this the Roman legate answered： 〃As for that which has
been said； that it is better and more advantageous for your state not to
interfere in our war； nothing can be more erroneous； because by not
interfering you will be left； without favour or consideration； the
guerdon of the conqueror。〃 Thus it will always happen that he who is not
your friend will demand your neutrality； whilst he who is your friend
will entreat you to declare yourself with arms。 And irresolute princes；
to avoid present dangers； generally follow the neutral path； and are
generally ruined。 But when a prince declares himself gallantly in favour
of one side； if the party with whom he allies himself conquers； although
the victor may be powerful and may have him at his mercy； yet he is
indebted to him； and there is established a bond of amity； and men are
never so shameless as to bee a monument of ingratitude by oppressing
you。 Victories after all are never so plete that the victor must not
show some regard； especially to justice。 But if he with whom you ally
yourself loses； you may be sheltered by him； and whilst he is able he
may aid you； and you bee panions in a fortune that may rise again。
In the second case； when those who fight are of such a character that
you have no anxiety as to who may conquer； so much the more is it
greater prudence to be allied； because you assist at the destruction of
one by the aid of another who； if he had been wise； would have saved
him； and conquering； as it is impossible that he should not with your
assistance； he remains at your discretion。 And here it is to be noted
that a prince ought to take care never to make an alliance with one more
powerful than himself for the purpose of attacking others； unless
necessity pels him； as is said above； because if he conquers you are
at his discretion； and princes ought to avoid as much as possible being
at the discretion of any one。 The Venetians joined with France against
the Duke of Milan； and this alliance； which caused their ruin； could
have been avoided。 But when it cannot be avoided； as happened to the
Florentines when the Pope and Spain sent armies to attack Lombardy； then
in such a case； for the above reasons； the prince ought to favour one of
the parties。
Never let any Government imagine that it can choose perfectly safe
courses； rather let it expect to have to take very doubtful ones；
because it is found in ordinary affairs that one never seeks to avoid
one trouble without running into another； but prudence consists in
knowing how to distinguish the character of troubles； and for choice to
take the lesser evil。
A prince ought also to show himself a patron of ability； and to honour
the proficient in every art。 At the same time he should encourage his
citizens to practise their callings peaceably； both in merce and
agriculture； and in every other following； so that the one should not be
deterred from improving his possessions for fear lest they be taken away
from him or another from opening up trade for fear of taxes； but the
prince ought to offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and
designs in any way to honour his city or state。
Further； he ought to entertain the people with festivals and spectacles
at convenient seasons of the year； and as every city is divided into
guilds or into societies； he ought to hold such bodies in esteem； and
associate with them sometimes； and show himself an example of courtesy
and liberality； nevertheless； always maintaining the majesty of his
rank； for this he must never consent to abate in anything。
CHAPTER XXII
CONCERNING THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES
THE choice of servants is of no little importance to a prince； and they
are good or not according to the discrimination of the prince。 And the
first opin