《马基雅维里 君主论英文prince》

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马基雅维里 君主论英文prince- 第17部分


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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 opinion which one forms of a prince; and of his understanding; is

by observing the men he has around him; and when they are capable and

faithful he may always be considered wise; because he has known how to

recognize the capable and to keep them faithful。 But when they are

otherwise one cannot form a good opinion of him; for the prime error

which he made was in choosing them。



There were none who knew Messer Antonio da Venafro as the servant of

Pandolfo Petrucci; Prince of Siena; who would not consider Pandolfo to

be a very clever man in having Venafro for his servant。 Because there

are three classes of intellects: one which prehends by itself;

another which appreciates what others prehend; and a third which

neither prehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is

the most excellent; the second is good; the third is useless。 Therefore;

it follows necessarily that; if Pandolfo was not in the first rank; he

was in the second; for whenever one has judgment to
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