to give men some security, and gaine their affections
by doing them some courtesies. Hee that carries
it otherwise, either for fearefullnesse, or upon evill
advice, is alwayes constraind to hold his sword drawne
in his hand; nor ever can hee rely upon his subjects,
there being no possibility for them, because of his
daily and continuall injuries, to live in any safety:
for his injuries should bee done altogether, that
being seldomer tasted, they might lesse offend; his
favours should bee bestowd by little, and little to
the end they might keep their taste the better; and
above all things a Prince must live with his subjects
in such sort, that no accident either of good or evill
can make him vary: for necessity comming upon
him by reason of adversities, thou hast not time given
thee to make advantage of thy cruelties; and the favours
which then thou bestowest, will little help thee, being
taken as if they came from thee perforce, and so yeeld
no returne of thanks.
CHAP. IX
Of the Civill Principality.
But comming to the other part, when a principall Citizen,
not by villany, or any other insufferable violence,
but by the favour of his fellow-citizens becomes Prince
of his native countrey: which we may terme a
Civill Principality; nor to attaine hereunto is Vertue
wholly or Fortune wholly necessary, but rather a fortunate
cunning: I say, this Principality is climb’d
up to, either by the peoples help, or the great mens.
For, in every City we finde these two humours differ;
and they spring from this, that the people desire
not to be commanded nor oppressed by the great ones,
and the great ones are desirous to command and oppresse
the people: and from these two several appetites,
arise in the City one of these three effects, either
a Principality, or Liberty, or Tumultuary licentiousnesse.
The Principality is caused either by the people, or
the great ones, according as the one or other of these
factions have the occasion offerd; for the great ones
seeing themselves not able to resist the people, begin
to turne the whole reputation to one among them, and
make him Prince, whereby they may under his shadow
vent their spleenes. The people also, not being
able to support the great mens insolencies, converting
the whole reputation to one man, create him their
Prince, to be protected by his authority. He that
comes to the Principality by the assistance of the
great ones, subsists with more difficulty, than he
that attaines to it by the peoples favour; for he
being made Prince, hath many about him, who account
themselves his equalls, and therefore cannot dispose
nor command them at his pleasure. But he that
gaines the Principality by the peoples favor, finds
himselfe alone in his throne, and hath none or very
few neare him that are not very supple to bend:
besides this, the great ones cannot upon easie termes
be satisfied, or without doing of wrong to others,
where as a small matter contents the people:
Copyrights
Machiavelli, Volume I from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
