the prince(王子)-第18章
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deaths of the Roman emperors that many of them would be an example
contrary to my opinion； seeing that some of them lived nobly and showed
great qualities of soul； nevertheless they have lost their empire or have
been killed by subjects who have conspired against them。 Wishing；
therefore； to answer these objections； I will recall the characters of some
of the emperors； and will show that the causes of their ruin were not
different to those alleged by me； at the same time I will only submit for
consideration those things that are noteworthy to him who studies the
affairs of those times。
It seems to me sufficient to take all those emperors who succeeded to
the empire from Marcus the philosopher down to Maximinus； they were
Marcus and his son Commodus； Pertinax； Julian； Severus and his son
Antoninus Caracalla； Macrinus； Heliogabalus； Alexander； and Maximinus。
There is first to note that； whereas in other principalities the ambition
of the nobles and the insolence of the people only have to be contended
with； the Roman emperors had a third difficulty in having to put up with
the cruelty and avarice of their soldiers； a matter so beset with difficulties
that it was the ruin of many； for it was a hard thing to give satisfaction
both to soldiers and people； because the people loved peace； and for this
reason they loved the unaspiring prince； whilst the soldiers loved the
warlike prince who was bold； cruel； and rapacious； which qualities they
were quite willing he should exercise upon the people； so that they could
get double pay and give vent to their own greed and cruelty。 Hence it arose
that those emperors were always overthrown who； either by birth or
training； had no great authority； and most of them； especially those who
came new to the principality； recognizing the difficulty of these two
opposing humours； were inclined to give satisfaction to the soldiers； caring
little about injuring the people。 Which course was necessary； because； as
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princes cannot help being hated by someone； they ought； in the first place；
to avoid being hated by every one； and when they cannot compass this；
they ought to endeavour with the utmost diligence to avoid the hatred of
the most powerful。 Therefore； those emperors who through inexperience
had need of special favour adhered more readily to the soldiers than to the
people； a course which turned out advantageous to them or not；
accordingly as the prince knew how to maintain authority over them。
From these causes it arose that Marcus； Pertinax； and Alexander； being
all men of modest life； lovers of justice； enemies to cruelty； humane； and
benignant； came to a sad end except Marcus； he alone lived and died
honoured； because he had succeeded to the throne by hereditary title； and
owed nothing either to the soldiers or the people； and afterwards； being
possessed of many virtues which made him respected； he always kept both
orders in their places whilst he lived； and was neither hated nor despised。
But Pertinax was created emperor against the wishes of the soldiers；
who； being accustomed to live licentiously under Commodus； could not
endure the honest life to which Pertinax wished to reduce them； thus；
having given cause for hatred； to which hatred there was added contempt
for his old age； he was overthrown at the very beginning of his
administration。 And here it should be noted that hatred is acquired as much
by good works as by bad ones； therefore； as I said before； a prince wishing
to keep his state is very often forced to do evil； for when that body is
corrupt whom you think you have need of to maintain yourselfit may be
either the people or the soldiers or the noblesyou have to submit to its
humours and to gratify them； and then good works will do you harm。
But let us come to Alexander； who was a man of such great goodness；
that among the other praises which are accorded him is this； that in the
fourteen years he held the empire no one was ever put to death by him
unjudged； nevertheless； being considered effeminate and a man who
allowed himself to be governed by his mother； he became despised； the
army conspired against him； and murdered him。
Turning now to the opposite characters of Commodus； Severus；
Antoninus Caracalla； and Maximinus； you will find them all cruel and
rapacious men who； to satisfy their soldiers； did not hesitate to commit
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every kind of iniquity against the people； and all； except Severus； came to
a bad end； but in Severus there was so much valour that； keeping the
soldiers friendly； although the people were oppressed by him； he reigned
successfully； for his valour made him so much admired in the sight of the
soldiers and people that the latter were kept in a way astonished and awed
and the former respectful and satisfied。 And because the actions of this
man； as a new prince； were great； I wish to show briefly that he knew well
how to counterfeit the fox and the lion； which natures； as I said above； it is
necessary for a prince to imitate。
Knowing the sloth of the Emperor Julian； he persuaded the army in
Sclavonia； of which he was captain； that it would be right to go to Rome
and avenge the death of Pertinax； who had been killed by the praetorian
soldiers； and under this pretext； without appearing to aspire to the throne；
he moved the army on Rome； and reached Italy before it was known that
he had started。 On his arrival at Rome； the Senate； through fear； elected
him emperor and killed Julian。 After this there remained for Severus； who
wished to make himself master of the whole empire； two difficulties； one
in Asia； where Niger； head of the Asiatic army； had caused himself to be
proclaimed emperor； the other in the west where Albinus was； who also
aspired to the throne。 And as he considered it dangerous to declare himself
hostile to both； he decided to attack Niger and to deceive Albinus。 To the
latter he wrote that； being elected emperor by the Senate； he was willing to
share that dignity with him and sent him the title of Caesar； and； moreover；
that the Senate had made Albinus his colleague； which things were
accepted by Albinus as true。 But after Severus had conquered and killed
Niger； and settled oriental affairs； he returned to Rome and complained to
the Senate that Albinus； little recognizing the benefits that he had received
from him； had by treachery sought to murder him； and for this ingratitude
he was compelled to punish him。 Afterwards he sought him out in France；
and took from him his government and life。 He who will； therefore；
carefully examine the actions of this man will find him a most valiant lion
and a most cunning fox； he will find him feared and respected by every
one； and not hated by the army； and it need not be wondered at that he； a
new man； was able to hold the empire so well； because his supreme
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renown always protected him from that hatred which the people might
have conceived against him for his violence。
But his son Antoninus was a most eminent man； and had very
excellent qualities； which made him admirable in the sight of the people
and acceptable to the soldiers； for he was a warlike man； most enduring of
fatigue； a despiser of all delicate food and other luxuries； which caused
him to be beloved by the armies。 Nevertheless； his ferocity and cruelties
were so great and so unheard of that； after endless single murders； he
killed a large number of the people of Rome and all those of Alexandria。
He became hated by the whole world； and also feared by those he had
around him； to such an extent that he was murdered in the midst of his
army by a centurion。 And here it must be noted that such… like deaths；
which are deliberately inflicted with a resolved and desperate courage；
cannot be avoided by princes； because any one who does not fear to die
can inflict them； but a prince may fear them the less because they are very
rare； he has only to be careful not to do any grave injury to those whom he
employs or has around him in the service of the state。 Antoninus had not
taken this care； but had contumeliously killed a brother of that centurion；
whom also he daily threatened； yet retained in his bodyguard； which； as it
turned out； was a rash thing to do； and proved the emperor's ruin。
But let us come to Commodus； to whom it should have been very easy
to hold the empire； for； being the son of Marcus； he had inherited it； and he
had only to follow in the footsteps of his father to please his people and
soldiers； but； being by nature cruel and brutal； he gave himself up to
amusing the soldiers and corrupting them； so that he might indulge his
rapacity upon the people； on the other hand； not maintaining his dignity；
often descending to the theatre to compete with gladiators； and doing other
vile things； little worthy of the imperial majesty； he fell into contempt with
the soldiers； and being hated by one party and despised by the other； he
was conspired against and was killed。
It remains to discuss the character of Maximinus。 He was a very
warlike man； and the armies； being disgusted with the effeminacy of
Alexander； of whom I have already spoken； killed him and elected
Maximinus to the throne。 This he did not possess for long； for two things
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made
