the prince-第18部分

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ed　by　the　people；　because；　although　you　may　hold　the　fortresses；　yet　they　will　not　save　you　if　the　people　hate　you；　for　there　will　never　be　wanting　foreigners　to　assist　a　people　who　have　taken　arms　against　you。　It　has　not　been　seen　in　our　times　that　such　fortresses　have　been　of　use　to　any　prince；　unless　to　the　Countess　of　Forli；＇*＇　when　the　Count　Girolamo；　her　consort；　was　killed；　for　by　that　means　she　was　able　to　withstand　the　popular　attack　and　wait　for　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。

＇*＇　Catherine　Sforza；　a　daughter　of　Galeazzo　Sforza　and　Lucrezia　　　　　Landriani；　born　1463；　died　1509。　It　was　to　the　Countess　of　Forli　　　　　that　Machiavelli　was　sent　as　envy　on　1499。　A　letter　from　Fortunati　　　　　to　the　countess　announces　the　appointment：　〃I　have　been　with　the　　　　　signori；〃　wrote　Fortunati；　〃to　learn　whom　they　would　send　and　　　　　when。　They　tell　me　that　Nicolo　Machiavelli；　a　learned　young　　　　　Florentine　noble；　secretary　to　my　Lords　of　the　Ten；　is　to　leave　　　　　with　me　at　once。〃　Cf。　〃Catherine　Sforza；〃　by　Count　Pasolini；　　　　　translated　by　P。　Sylvester；　1898。



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　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　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　is　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　come　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　become　a　monument　of　ingratitude　by　oppressing　you。　Victories　after　all　are　never　so　complete　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　become　companions　on　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　do　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　purposes　of　attacking　others；　unless　necessity　compels　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　commerce　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。

＇*＇　〃Guilds　or　societies；〃　〃in　arti　o　in　tribu。〃　〃Arti〃　were　craft　or　　　　　trade　guilds；　cf。　Florio：　〃Arte　。　。　。　a　whole　company　of　any　trade　　　　　in　any　city　or　corporation　town。〃　The　guilds　of　Florence　are　most　　　　　admirably　described　by　Mr　Edgcumbe　Staley　in　his　work　on　the　　　　　subject　（Methuen；　1906）。　Institutions　of　a　somewhat　similar　　　　　character；　called　〃artel；〃　exist　in　Russia　to…day；　cf。　Sir　　　　　Mackenzie　Wallace's　〃Russia；〃　ed。　1905：　〃The　sons　。　。　。　were　　　　　always　during　the　working　season　members　of　an　artel。　In　some　of　　　　　the　larger　towns　there　are　artels　of　a　much　more　complex　kind　　　　　permanent　associations；　possessing　large　capital；　and　pecuniarily　　　　　responsible　for　the　acts　of　the　individual　members。〃　The　word　　　　　〃artel；〃　despite　its　apparent　similarity；　has；　Mr　Aylmer　Maude　　　　　assures　me；　no　connection　with　〃ars〃　or　〃arte。〃　Its　root　is　that　　　　　of　the　verb　〃rotisya；〃　to　bind　oneself　by　an　oath；　and　it　is　　　　　generally　admitted　to　be　only　another　form　of　〃rota；〃　which　now　　　　　signifies　a　〃regimental　company。〃　In　both　words　the　underlying　　　　　idea　is　that　of　a　body　of　men　united　by　an　oath。　〃Tribu〃　were　　　　　possibly　gentile　groups；　united　by　common　descent；　and　included　　　　　individuals　connected　by　marriage。　Perhaps　our　words　〃septs〃　or　　　　　〃clans〃　would　be　most　appropriate。



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　opinion　which　one　forms　of　a