the prince(王子)-第21章
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himself for the purposes of attacking others； unless necessity compels him；
as is said above； because if he conquers you are at his discretion； and
princes ought to avoid as much as possible being at the discretion of any
one。 The Venetians joined with France against the Duke of Milan； and this
alliance； which caused their ruin； could have been avoided。 But when it
cannot be avoided； as happened to the Florentines when the Pope and
Spain sent armies to attack Lombardy； then in such a case； for the above
reasons； the prince ought to favour one of the parties。
Never let any Government imagine that it can choose perfectly safe
courses； rather let it expect to have to take very doubtful ones； because it
is found in ordinary affairs that one never seeks to avoid one trouble
without running into another； but prudence consists in knowing how to
distinguish the character of troubles； and for choice to take the lesser evil。
A prince ought also to show himself a patron of ability； and to honour
the proficient in every art。 At the same time he should encourage his
citizens to practise their callings peaceably； both in commerce and
agriculture； and in every other following； so that the one should not be
deterred from improving his possessions for fear lest they be taken away
from him or another from opening up trade for fear of taxes； but the prince
ought to offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and designs in
any way to honour his city or state。
Further； he ought to entertain the people with festivals and spectacles
at convenient seasons of the year； and as every city is divided into guilds
or into societies；＇*＇ he ought to hold such bodies in esteem； and associate
with them sometimes； and show himself an example of courtesy and
liberality； nevertheless； always maintaining the majesty of his rank； for
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this he must never consent to abate in anything。
＇*＇ 〃Guilds or societies；〃 〃in arti o in tribu。〃 〃Arti〃 were craft or trade
guilds； cf。 Florio： 〃Arte 。 。 。 a whole company of any trade in any city or
corporation town。〃 The guilds of Florence are most admirably described
by Mr Edgcumbe Staley in his work on the subject （Methuen； 1906）。
Institutions of a somewhat similar character； called 〃artel；〃 exist in Russia
to…day； cf。 Sir Mackenzie Wallace's 〃Russia；〃 ed。 1905： 〃The sons 。 。 。 were
always during the working season members of an artel。 In some of the
larger towns there are artels of a much more complex kind permanent
associations； possessing large capital； and pecuniarily responsible for the
acts of the individual members。〃 The word 〃artel；〃 despite its apparent
similarity； has； Mr Aylmer Maude assures me； no connection with 〃ars〃 or
〃arte。〃 Its root is that of the verb 〃rotisya；〃 to bind oneself by an oath； and
it is generally admitted to be only another form of 〃rota；〃 which now
signifies a 〃regimental company。〃 In both words the underlying idea is that
of a body of men united by an oath。 〃Tribu〃 were possibly gentile groups；
united by common descent； and included individuals connected by
marriage。 Perhaps our words 〃sects〃 or 〃clans〃 would be most appropriate。
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CHAPTER XXII
CONCERNING THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES
The choice of servants is of no little importance to a prince； and they
are good or not according to the discrimination of the prince。 And the first
opinion which one forms of a prince； and of his understanding； is by
observing the men he has around him； and when they are capable and
faithful he may always be considered wise； because he has known how to
recognize the capable and to keep them faithful。 But when they are
otherwise one cannot form a good opinion of him； for the prime error
which he made was in choosing them。
There were none who knew Messer Antonio da Venafro as the servant
of Pandolfo Petrucci； Prince of Siena； who would not consider Pandolfo to
be a very clever man in having Venafro for his servant。 Because there are
three classes of intellects： one which comprehends by itself； another which
appreciates what others comprehended； and a third which neither
comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others； the first is the most
excellent； the second is good； the third is useless。 Therefore； it follows
necessarily that； if Pandolfo was not in the first rank； he was in the second；
for whenever one has judgment to know good and bad when it is said and
done； although he himself may not have the initiative； yet he can recognize
the good and the bad in his servant； and the one he can praise and the other
correct； thus the servant cannot hope to deceive him； and is kept honest。
But to enable a prince to form an opinion of his servant there is one
test which never fails； when you see the servant thinking more of his own
interests than of yours； and seeking inwardly his own profit in everything；
such a man will never make a good servant； nor will you ever be able to
trust him； because he who has the state of another in his hands ought never
to think of himself； but always of his prince； and never pay any attention
to matters in which the prince is not concerned。
On the other hand； to keep his servant honest the prince ought to study
him； honouring him； enriching him； doing him kindnesses； sharing with
him the honours and cares； and at the same time let him see that he cannot
stand alone； so that many honours may not make him desire more； many
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riches make him wish for more； and that many cares may make him dread
chances。 When； therefore； servants； and princes towards servants； are thus
disposed； they can trust each other； but when it is otherwise； the end will
always be disastrous for either one or the other。
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CHAPTER XXIII
HOW FLATTERERS SHOULD BE AVOIDED
I do not wish to leave out an important branch of this subject； for it is a
danger from which princes are with difficulty preserved； unless they are
very careful and discriminating。 It is that of flatterers； of whom courts are
full； because men are so self…complacent in their own affairs； and in a way
so deceived in them； that they are preserved with difficulty from this pest；
and if they wish to defend themselves they run the danger of falling into
contempt。 Because there is no other way of guarding oneself from
flatterers except letting men understand that to tell you the truth does not
offend you； but when every one may tell you the truth； respect for you
abates。
Therefore a wise prince ought to hold a third course by choosing the
wise men in his state； and giving to them only the liberty of speaking the
truth to him； and then only of those things of which he inquires； and of
none others； but he ought to question them upon everything； and listen to
their opinions； and afterwards form his own conclusions。 With these
councillors； separately and collectively； he ought to carry himself in such a
way that each of them should know that； the more freely he shall speak；
the more he shall be preferred； outside of these； he should listen to no one；
pursue the thing resolved on； and be steadfast in his resolutions。 He who
does otherwise is either overthrown by flatterers； or is so often changed by
varying opinions that he falls into contempt。
I wish on this subject to adduce a modern example。 Fra Luca； the man
of affairs to Maximilian；＇*＇ the present emperor； speaking of his majesty；
said： He consulted with no one； yet never got his own way in anything。
This arose because of his following a practice the opposite to the above；
for the emperor is a secretive manhe does not communicate his designs
to any one； nor does he receive opinions on them。 But as in carrying them
into effect they become revealed and known； they are at once obstructed
by those men whom he has around him； and he； being pliant； is diverted
from them。 Hence it follows that those things he does one day he undoes
the next； and no one ever understands what he wishes or intends to do； and
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no one can rely on his resolutions。
＇*＇ Maximilian I； born in 1459； died 1519； Emperor of the Holy
Roman Empire。 He married； first； Mary； daughter of Charles the Bold；
after her death； Bianca Sforza； and thus became involved in Italian
politics。
A prince； therefore； ought always to take counsel； but only when he
wishes and not when others wish； he ought rather to discourage every one
from offering advice unless he asks it； but； however； he ought to be a
constant inquirer； and afterwards a patient listener concerning the things of
which he inquired； also； on learning that any one； on any consideration；
has not told him the truth； he should let his anger be felt。
And if there are some who think that a prince who conveys an
impression of his wisdom is not so through his own ability； but through the
good advisers that he has around him； beyond doubt they are deceived；
because this is an axiom which never fails： that a prince who is not wise
himself will never take good advice； unless by chance he has yielded his
affairs entirely to one person who happens to be a very prudent man。 In
this case indeed he may be well governed； but it would not be for long；
because such a governor would in a short time take away his state from
him。
But if a prince who is not inexperienced sh
