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the prince(王子)-第7章

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exasperated; because the whole state is injured; through the shifting of the 

garrison      up   and   down     all  become      acquainted      with   hardship;     and    all 

become   hostile;   and   they   are   enemies   who;   whilst   beaten   on   their   own 

ground; are yet able to do hurt。 For every reason; therefore; such guards 

are as useless as a colony is useful。 

     Again; the prince who holds a country differing in the above respects 

ought     to   make     himself    the   head    and    defender     of   his  less   powerful 

neighbours; and to weaken the more powerful amongst them; taking care 

that   no   foreigner   as   powerful   as   himself   shall;   by   any   accident;   get   a 

footing there; for it will always happen that such a one will be introduced 



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by    those    who    are   discontented;     either    through    excess    of   ambition     or 

through   fear;   as   one   has   seen   already。   The   Romans   were   brought   into 

Greece by the Aetolians; and in every other country where they obtained a 

footing they were brought in by the inhabitants。 And the usual course of 

affairs   is   that;   as   soon   as   a   powerful   foreigner   enters   a   country;   all   the 

subject   states   are   drawn   to   him;   moved   by   the   hatred   which   they   feel 

against the ruling power。 So that in respect to those subject states he has 

not to take any trouble to gain them over to himself; for the whole of them 

quickly rally to the state which he has acquired there。 He has only to take 

care that they do not get hold of too much power and too much authority; 

and then with his own forces; and with their goodwill; he can easily keep 

down the more powerful of them; so as to remain entirely  master in the 

country。 And   he   who   does   not   properly   manage   this   business   will   soon 

lose what he has acquired; and whilst he does hold it he will have endless 

difficulties and troubles。 

     The   Romans;   in   the   countries   which   they   annexed;   observed   closely 

these     measures;     they    sent   colonies     and   maintained       friendly    relations 

with'*'   the   minor   powers;   without   increasing   their   strength;   they   kept 

down   the   greater;   and   did   not   allow   any   strong   foreign   powers   to   gain 

authority。 Greece appears to me sufficient for an example。 The Achaeans 

and Aetolians were kept friendly by them; the kingdom of Macedonia was 

humbled; Antiochus   was   driven   out;   yet   the   merits   of   the Achaeans   and 

Aetolians never secured for them permission to increase their power; nor 

did   the   persuasions   of   Philip   ever   induce   the   Romans   to   be   his   friends 

without first humbling him; nor did the influence of Antiochus make them 

agree   that   he   should   retain   any   lordship   over   the   country。   Because   the 

Romans did in these instances what all prudent princes ought to do; who 

have to regard not only present troubles; but also future ones; for which 

they must prepare with every energy; because; when foreseen; it is easy to 

remedy   them;   but   if   you   wait   until   they   approach;   the   medicine   is   no 

longer in time because the malady has become incurable; for it happens in 

this; as the physicians say it happens in hectic fever; that in the beginning 

of the malady it is easy to cure but difficult to detect; but in the course of 

time;    not   having     been    either   detected    or   treated    in  the   beginning;     it 



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becomes easy to detect but difficult to cure。 This it happens in affairs of 

state;   for   when   the   evils   that   arise   have   been   foreseen   (which   it   is   only 

given   to   a   wise   man   to   see);   they   can   be   quickly   redressed;   but   when; 

through not having been foreseen; they have been permitted to grow in a 

way that every one can see them; there is no longer a remedy。 Therefore; 

the   Romans;   foreseeing   troubles;   dealt   with   them   at   once;   and;   even   to 

avoid a war; would not let them come to a head; for they knew that war is 

not   to   be   avoided;   but   is   only   to   be   put   off   to   the   advantage   of   others; 

moreover they wished to fight with Philip and Antiochus in Greece so as 

not to have to do it in Italy; they could have avoided both; but this they did 

not wish; nor did that ever please them which is for ever in the mouths of 

the wise ones of our time:Let us enjoy the benefits of the timebut rather 

the benefits of their own valour and prudence; for time drives everything 

before it; and is able to bring with it good as well as evil; and evil as well 

as good。 

     '*' See remark in the introduction on the word 〃intrattenere。〃 

     But let us turn to France and inquire whether she has done any of the 

things mentioned。 I will speak of Louis'*' (and not of Charles'+') as the 

one whose conduct is the better to be observed; he having held possession 

of   Italy   for   the   longest   period;   and   you   will   see   that   he   has   done   the 

opposite to those things which ought to be done to retain a state composed 

of divers elements。 

     '*' Louis XII; King of France; 〃The Father of the People;〃 born 1462; 

died 1515。 

     '+' Charles VIII; King of France; born 1470; died 1498。 

     King   Louis   was brought   into   Italy  by  the   ambition   of the Venetians; 

who desired to obtain half the state of Lombardy by his intervention。 I will 

not blame the course taken by the king; because; wishing to get a foothold 

in   Italy;   and   having   no   friends   thereseeing   rather   that   every   door   was 

shut to him owing to the conduct of Charleshe was forced to accept those 

friendships which he could get; and he would have succeeded very quickly 

in his design if in other matters he had not made some mistakes。 The king; 

however; having acquired Lombardy; regained at once the authority which 

Charles had lost: Genoa yielded;   the Florentines became his friends;   the 



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Marquess of Mantua; the Duke of Ferrara; the Bentivogli; my lady of Forli; 

the Lords of Faenza; of Pesaro; of Rimini; of Camerino; of Piombino; the 

Lucchese;   the   Pisans;   the   Sieneseeverybody   made   advances   to   him   to 

become   his   friend。   Then   could   the  Venetians   realize   the   rashness   of   the 

course taken by them; which; in order that they might secure two towns in 

Lombardy; had made the king master of two…thirds of Italy。 

     Let   any   one   now   consider   
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