the prince(王子)-第19章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
82
… Page 83…
The Prince
made him hated and despised； the one； his having kept sheep in Thrace；
which brought him into contempt （it being well known to all； and
considered a great indignity by every one）； and the other； his having at the
accession to his dominions deferred going to Rome and taking possession
of the imperial seat； he had also gained a reputation for the utmost ferocity
by having； through his prefects in Rome and elsewhere in the empire；
practised many cruelties； so that the whole world was moved to anger at
the meanness of his birth and to fear at his barbarity。 First Africa rebelled；
then the Senate with all the people of Rome； and all Italy conspired against
him； to which may be added his own army； this latter； besieging Aquileia
and meeting with difficulties in taking it； were disgusted with his cruelties；
and fearing him less when they found so many against him； murdered him。
I do not wish to discuss Heliogabalus； Macrinus； or Julian； who； being
thoroughly contemptible； were quickly wiped out； but I will bring this
discourse to a conclusion by saying that princes in our times have this
difficulty of giving inordinate satisfaction to their soldiers in a far less
degree； because； notwithstanding one has to give them some indulgence；
that is soon done； none of these princes have armies that are veterans in
the governance and administration of provinces； as were the armies of the
Roman Empire； and whereas it was then more necessary to give
satisfaction to the soldiers than to the people； it is now more necessary to
all princes； except the Turk and the Soldan； to satisfy the people rather the
soldiers； because the people are the more powerful。
From the above I have excepted the Turk； who always keeps round
him twelve thousand infantry and fifteen thousand cavalry on which
depend the security and strength of the kingdom； and it is necessary that；
putting aside every consideration for the people； he should keep them his
friends。 The kingdom of the Soldan is similar； being entirely in the hands
of soldiers； it follows again that； without regard to the people； he must
keep them his friends。 But you must note that the state of the Soldan is
unlike all other principalities； for the reason that it is like the Christian
pontificate； which cannot be called either an hereditary or a newly formed
principality； because the sons of the old prince are not the heirs； but he
who is elected to that position by those who have authority； and the sons
83
… Page 84…
The Prince
remain only noblemen。 And this being an ancient custom； it cannot be
called a new principality； because there are none of those difficulties in it
that are met with in new ones； for although the prince is new； the
constitution of the state is old； and it is framed so as to receive him as if he
were its hereditary lord。
But returning to the subject of our discourse； I say that whoever will
consider it will acknowledge that either hatred or contempt has been fatal
to the above…named emperors； and it will be recognized also how it
happened that； a number of them acting in one way and a number in
another； only one in each way came to a happy end and the rest to
unhappy ones。 Because it would have been useless and dangerous for
Pertinax and Alexander； being new princes； to imitate Marcus； who was
heir to the principality； and likewise it would have been utterly destructive
to Caracalla； Commodus； and Maximinus to have imitated Severus； they
not having sufficient valour to enable them to tread in his footsteps。
Therefore a prince； new to the principality； cannot imitate the actions of
Marcus； nor； again； is it necessary to follow those of Severus； but he ought
to take from Severus those parts which are necessary to found his state；
and from Marcus those which are proper and glorious to keep a state that
may already be stable and firm。
84
… Page 85…
The Prince
CHAPTER XX
ARE FORTRESSES； AND MANY OTHER THINGS TO WHICH
PRINCES OFTEN RESORT； ADVANTAGEOUS OR HURTFUL？
1。 Some princes； so as to hold securely the state； have disarmed their
subjects； others have kept their subject towns distracted by factions； others
have fostered enmities against themselves； others have laid themselves out
to gain over those whom they distrusted in the beginning of their
governments； some have built fortresses； some have overthrown and
destroyed them。 And although one cannot give a final judgment on all of
these things unless one possesses the particulars of those states in which a
decision has to be made； nevertheless I will speak as comprehensively as
the matter of itself will admit。
2。 There never was a new prince who has disarmed his subjects； rather
when he has found them disarmed he has always armed them； because； by
arming them； those arms become yours； those men who were distrusted
become faithful； and those who were faithful are kept so； and your
subjects become your adherents。 And whereas all subjects cannot be
armed； yet when those whom you do arm are benefited； the others can be
handled more freely； and this difference in their treatment； which they
quite understand； makes the former your dependents； and the latter；
considering it to be necessary that those who have the most danger and
service should have the most reward； excuse you。 But when you disarm
them； you at once offend them by showing that you distrust them； either
for cowardice or for want of loyalty； and either of these opinions breeds
hatred against you。 And because you cannot remain unarmed； it follows
that you turn to mercenaries； which are of the character already shown；
even if they should be good they would not be sufficient to defend you
against powerful enemies and distrusted subjects。 Therefore； as I have said；
a new prince in a new principality has always distributed arms。 Histories
are full of examples。 But when a prince acquires a new state； which he
adds as a province to his old one； then it is necessary to disarm the men of
that state； except those who have been his adherents in acquiring it； and
these again； with time and opportunity； should be rendered soft and
85
… Page 86…
The Prince
effeminate； and matters should be managed in such a way that all the
armed men in the state shall be your own soldiers who in your old state
were living near you。
3。 Our forefathers； and those who were reckoned wise； were
accustomed to say that it was necessary to hold Pistoia by factions and
Pisa by fortresses； and with this idea they fostered quarrels in some of
their tributary towns so as to keep possession of them the more easily。 This
may have been well enough in those times when Italy was in a way
balanced； but I do not believe that it can be accepted as a precept for to…
day； because I do not believe that factions can ever be of use； rather it is
certain that when the enemy comes upon you in divided cities you are
quickly lost； because the weakest party will always assist the outside
forces and the other will not be able to resist。 The Venetians； moved； as I
believe； by the above reasons； fostered the Guelph and Ghibelline factions
in their tributary cities； and although they never allowed them to come to
bloodshed； yet they nursed these disputes amongst them； so that the
citizens； distracted by their differences； should not unite against them。
Which； as we saw； did not afterwards turn out as expected； because； after
the rout at Vaila； one party at once took courage and seized the state。 Such
methods argue； therefore； weakness in the prince； because these factions
will never be permitted in a vigorous principality； such methods for
enabling one the more easily to manage subjects are only useful in times
of peace； but if war comes this policy proves fallacious。
4。 Without doubt princes become great when they overcome the
difficulties and obstacles by which they are confronted； and therefore
fortune； especially when she desires to make a new prince great； who has a
greater necessity to earn renown than an hereditary one； causes enemies to
arise and form designs against him； in order that he may have the
opportunity of overcoming them； and by them to mount higher； as by a
ladder which his enemies have raised。 For this reason many consider that a
wise prince； when he has the opportunity； ought with craft to foster some
animosity against himself； so that； having crushed it； his renown may rise
higher。
5。 Princes； especially new ones； have found more fidelity and
86
… Page 87…
The Prince
assistance in those men who in the beginning of their rule were distrusted
than among those who in the beginning were trusted。 Pandolfo Petrucci；
Prince of Siena； ruled his state more by those who had been distrusted than
by others。 But on this question one cannot speak generally； for it varies so
much with the individual； I will only say this； that those men who at the
commencement of a princedom have been hostile； if they are of a
description to need assistance to support themselves； can always be gained
over with the greatest ease； and they will be ti
