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the prince(王子)-第31章

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contented   under   the   former   government;   and   are   therefore   his   enemies; 

than of those who; being discontented with it; were favourable to him and 

encouraged him to seize it。 

     6。 It has been a custom with princes; in order to hold their states more 

securely; to build fortresses that may serve as a bridle and bit to those who 

might design to work against them; and as a place of refuge from a first 

attack。   I   praise   this   system   because   it   has   been   made   use   of   formerly。 

Notwithstanding that; Messer Nicolo Vitelli in our times has been seen to 

demolish two fortresses in Citta di Castello so that he might keep that state; 

Guido Ubaldo; Duke of Urbino; on returning to his dominion; whence he 

had    been    driven   by   Cesare    Borgia;    razed    to  the  foundations      all  the 

fortresses in that province; and considered that without them it would be 

more   difficult   to   lose   it;   the   Bentivogli   returning   to   Bologna   came   to   a 

similar    decision。    Fortresses;    therefore;    are  useful   or  not   according     to 



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circumstances; if they do you good in one way they injure you in another。 

And this question can be reasoned thus: the prince who has more to fear 

from the people than from foreigners ought to build fortresses; but he who 

has more to fear from foreigners than from the people ought to leave them 

alone。 The castle of Milan; built by Francesco Sforza; has made; and will 

make; more trouble for the house of Sforza than any other disorder in the 

state。 For this reason the best possible fortress isnot to be hated 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。 



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                            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 



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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 
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