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Chapter XXI.
Chapter XXI.
How a Prince Should Bear Himself So As to Acquire Reputation
Nothing makes a Prince so well thought of as to undertake great
enterprises and give striking proofs of his capacity.
Among the Princes of our time Ferdinand of Aragon, the present King of
Spain, may almost be accounted a new Prince, since from one of the
weakest he has become, for fame and glory, the foremost King in Christendom.
And if you consider his achievements you will find them all great and some
extraordinary.
In the beginning of his reign he made war on Granada, which enterprise
was the foundation of his power. At first he carried on the war leisurely,
without fear of interruption, and kept the attention and thoughts of the
Barons of Castile so completely occupied with it, that they had no time to
think of changes at home. Meanwhile he insensibly acquired reputation among
them and authority over them. With the money of the Church and of his subjects
he was able to maintain his armies, and during the prolonged contest to lay
the foundations of that military discipline which afterwards made him so
famous. Moreover, to enable him to engage in still greater undertakings,
always covering himself with the cloak of religion, he had recourse to what
may be called pious cruelty, in driving out and clearing his Kingdom of the
Moors; than which exploit none could be more wonderful or uncommon. Using the
same pretext he made war on Africa, invaded Italy, and finally attacked
France; and being thus constantly busied in planning and executing vast
designs, he kept the minds of his subjects in suspense and admiration, and
occupied with the results of his actions, which arose one out of another in
such close succession as left neither time nor opportunity to oppose them.
Again, it greatly profits a Prince in conducting the internal government
of his State, to follow striking methods, such as are recorded of Messer
Bernabo of Milan, whenever the remarkable actions of any one in civil life,
whether for good or for evil, afford him occasion; and to choose such ways of
rewarding and punishing as cannot fail to be much spoken of. But above all, he
should strive by all his actions to inspire a sense of his greatness and
goodness.
A Prince is likewise esteemed who is a stanch friend and a thorough foe,
that is to say, who without reserve openly declares for one against another,
this being always a more advantageous course than to stand neutral. For
supposing two of your powerful neighbours come to blows, it must either be
that you have, or have not, reason to fear the one who comes off victorious.
In either case it will always be well for you to declare yourself, and join
in frankly with one side or other. For should you fail to do so you are
certain, in the former of the cases put, to become the prey of the victor to
the satisfaction and delight of the vanquished, and no reason or circumstance
that you may plead will avail to shield or shelter you; for the victor
dislikes doubtful friends, and such as will not help him at a pinch; and the
vanquished will have nothing to say to you, since you would not share his
fortunes sword in hand.
When Antiochus, at the instance of the Aetolians, passed into Greece in
order to drive out the Romans, he sent envoys to the Achaians, who were
friendly to the Romans, exhorting them to stand neutral. The Romans, on the
other hand, urged them to take up arms on their behalf. The matter coming
to be discussed in the Council of the Achaians, the legate of Antiochus again
urged neutrality, whereupon the Roman envoy answered-`Nothing can be less to
your advantage than the course which has been recommended as the best and most
useful for your State, namely, to refrain from taking any part in our war, for
by standing aloof you will gain neither favour nor fame, but remain the prize
of the victor.` And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will
invite you to neutrality, while he who is your friend will call on you to
declare yourself openly in arms. Irresolute Princes, to escape immediate
danger, commonly follow the neutral path, in most instances to their
destruction. But when you pronounce valiantly in favour of one side or other,
if he to whom you give your adherence conquers, although he be powerful and
you are at his mercy, still he is under obligations to you, and has become
your friend; and none are so lost to shame as to destroy with manifest
ingratitude, one who has helped them. Besides which, victories are never so
complete that the victor can afford to disregard all considerations
whatsoever, more especially considerations of justice. On the other hand, if
he with whom you take part should lose, you will always be favourably regarded
by him; while he can he will aid you, and you become his companion in a cause
which may recover.
In the second case, namely, when both combatants are of such limited
strength that whichever wins you have no cause to fear, it is all the more
prudent for you to take a side, for you will then be ruining the one with the
help of the other, who were he wise would endeavour to save him. If he whom
you help conquers, he remains in your power, and with your aid he cannot but
conquer.
And here let it be noted that a Prince should be careful never to join
with one stronger than himself in attacking others, unless, as already said,
he be driven to it by necessity. For if he whom you join prevails, you are at
his mercy; and Princes, so far as in them lies, should avoid placing
themselves at the mercy of others. The Venetians, although they might have
declined the alliance, joined with France against the Duke of Milan, which
brought about their ruin. But when an alliance cannot be avoided, as was the
case with the Florentines when the Pope and Spain together led their armies to
attack Lombardy, a Prince, for the reasons given, must take a side. Nor let it
be supposed that any State can choose for itself a perfectly safe line of
policy. On the contrary, it must reckon on every course which it may take
being doubtful; for it happens in all human affairs that we never seek to
escape one mischief without falling into another. Prudence therefore consists
in knowing how to distinguish degrees of disadvantage, and in accepting a less
evil as a good.
Again, a Prince should show himself a patron of merit, and should honour
those who excel in every art. He ought accordingly to encourage his subjects
by enabling them to pursue their callings, whether mercantile, agricultural,
or any other, in security, so that this man shall not be deterred from
beautifying his possessions from the apprehension that they may be taken from
him, or that other refrain from opening a trade through fear of taxes; and he
should provide rewards for those who desire so to employ themselves, and for
all who are disposed in any way to add to the greatness of his City or State.
He ought, moreover, at suitable seasons of the year to entertain the
people with festivals and shows. And because all cities are divided into
guilds and companies, he should show attention to these societies, and
sometimes take part in their meetings; offering an example of courtesy and
munificence, but always maintaining the dignity of his station, which must
under no circumstances be compromised.
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