of minde But to those which of their proper nature are very timerous it would fall out to be a great help to them to be full of courage and audacitie for that for the most parte all those whose states depend vpon stéele and weapons by despising perilles couragiously they haue oftentimes become victorious WE maye more easilye breake and kill those that of things already doone haue carried away the victorie if peradueÌ„ture they are puffed vp made proud thereby then those that without thinking vpon the same be fallen downe from the same although they procéed with their enemies in time to come more timerously and doubtfully for negligence and basenes doo corrupt also those thinges that are excellently well ordered but trauaile accompanied with care and diligence hath aided greatly vnto manye although Fortune hath béene contrarye vnto them for that those that with slothe and follye take in hand any enterprise are accustomed oftentimes to weaken themselues and to faile in their forces but those that proceed in the same with care and with diligence are accustomed to encreace marueilously TO all those that are borne the selfe-same ende of life dooth not followe neither the very same chaunce and qualitie of death as in many things it comes to passe men are disagréeing amongst themselues for those that are Cowards and not apt for the warre hauing first receiued many iniuries and giuen occasion to cause themselues to be â—â—outed of the enemy according to the yéeres that God hath most ordained they finishe and make an end of their destinie the which for al that ought not to chaunce to worthye and valiant men who with vertue and with great glory ought to finde the meanes to end their liues THose that be rashe doo much more easilye obtaine the name of couragious then those that be politicke and prudent for that he that dooth take vpon to performe anye enterprise ouer and beside his duetie through the beneuolence of any one vnto whome peraduenture he seeme to be a valiant wise man obtaines honor but he that prudently and with iudgement doth auoide any perrill neither for all that hath well performed those things according to his desire he shal be without doubt accounted capable through the occurrence of the thing and if it fall out according to his minde and iudgement it will not seeme vnto the ignorant that he hath doone any thing of himselfe HUmaine thinges are sometimes accustomed to deceiue much for that euery man being mortall and it séeming to euery one to be hardly apt for the rash disgraces of fortune it is necessarye as reason will that he cléerly and manifestly sée his grosenes and insolence and neuertheles although he will not yet he must needes be subiect to the necessitie of fortune WE maye easilye fight with those that are halfe dead with hunger and much sooner ouercome the enemye with dearth and famine then with weapons neither can we cast more sharpe dartes neither shoote more swift arrowes against our aduersaries then those of long abstinence and fasting the which being a disease that consumeth force it is not nourished with any other meat then with want of things to eate and the penury of meate doth cast to the ground and ruinate the force of weapons THere is no Captaine so farre out of his right sences or simple Souldiour so rash that being able to fight with securitie aduauntage will rather to his losse and perrill attempt the chaunce of battaile and that maye without blowes or wounds receiue victorie will rather with blood put his health and safetie in doubtfull hazard EUery one knows how slolie and without trauaile they doo handle their weapons whose armes are consumed with fasting and can with great paine rule themselues and he cannot very well perfourme any thing with them in battaile that in other exercises hath consumed his forces and there victory is spéedilye obtained where he that is whole dooth fight with the sicke the strong with the weak and the aflicted with labour with him that hath neuer tasted of any trauaile IT is an extreame follye to abandon with the base minde of a woman and to despise with a childish feare that which is gained with the minde of a man and with the valour of a Souldier and to giue into the hands of the enemye that which he hath as yet not gayned together with riches not hoped for and therefore what hope can be had in them or how maye we beléeue that they are to behaue themselues in armes who making the profession of Souldiours are onely made afraide with thinking vpon warres and with the imagination of battailes therefore is it better to take a glorious death then to desire to liue to lead a shamefull and vile life for in a short space of time life dooth leaue vs but shame dooth neuer leaue vs euen after death but dooth rather make our shame so much the longer and the greater by how much our death hath beene shamefull and infamous WHat signe of victorie can we receiue more certaine then before the battaile to possesse the spoyle and to occupye the enemies lodginges before we come to fight with them and it is much better to ouercome securely by putting the enemy in feare then to put in doubt and hazard his safetie with making proofe experience of armes THere is nothing more swéet to him that is in calamitie then death and that death is most happie which is hoped for and desired for that she dooth not take awaye the delights of time but doth consume the vnplesant taste of bitter and noysome things and as in prosperous things it is good to desire life so in aduersitie it is fit we call after death IT is the parte and duetye of a good Citizen that he doo preserue himselfe for the benefite of the Common-weal and beware that he doo not harme without some fruit and he ought not to leaue off and to slippe any fit saying or act for the commodity of his Countrie yea if moreouer he could no otherwise then with his blood preserue it THose which haue a desire to furnish and to obtaine any thing are accustomed to differ in their words and their déeds forsomuch as they faine all thinges to obtain their intent but after they haue once obtained it they do not in any sorte abstaine from the fulfilling of their desires and besides this those that come after doo alwaies force themselues to ouerpasse their auncestours in audacitie thinking that the like is small for that befoore it hath beene committed they choose that which is vnaccustomed as if it weâ—e a thing fit and worthy for them because it is behinde the opinion and exspectation of men THose that hunt after and desire the gifts of liberalitie it is necessarye that they prouide and force themselues that they doo not lose the same at the beginning forsomuch as seruitude doth alwaies giue the firste and chéefest molestation It is a iust thing to moue warres
when he dooth flatter them and dooth vse a contrarye course he maye doo it without any trouble in the world THe counsells of Captains oftentimes fall out to be full of fallacies vnlesse they be fauoured by the force of fortune And although they be diligent and prudent yet for all that they become vnprofitable when the execution of their enterprises procéedes with negligence and imprudence A Politick Generall and Captain wil rather to the intent he may with securitie obtaine the victorie haue little or no respect to the length of the time neither to the taking of too much toyle and trauaile either to proceed in the spare of expences without much prouision rather thē by obteining glorye by ouercomming with facilitye and speed to put in perill and hazard together with his armie the euent of his quarrell and action IT almost comes euer to passe through the corrupt iudgment of men that prodigalitie is more praised in a King although thereunto rapine be annexed then sparing ioyned to forbearing from other mens goods NO sollicitations no benefites no knot of coniunction is sufficient to remoue from the brest of Princes the smal confidence and mistrust they haue one with an other and although it be fit and proper for them alwaies to preferre in their deliberations profit and beneuolence before hate and other couetous humours yet neuerthelesse it is the office and duety of a wise Prince to the intent he may shame the greater to imbrace for profitable for good and for the very best the election of the lesse euill neither ought he to frée him selfe from one perill and one disorder to run into an other of more importance and of greater infamie HOnestye maye sometimes and in some respectes giue place to profit rather then by maintaining with obstinate pertenacie the giuen faith to perseuer in molestations Men kéep longer in memory an iniury then a receiued benefite for when they call to minde the benefite in their imagination they make it lesse then it is reputing themselues to haue merited much more The contrarye doth arise of iniuries for it gréeues euery one more then of reason they ought to be agréeued therefore where the bad estate and degree is alike keep thee from doing those pleasures which of necessitie worke displeasures to auoid losse and damage A Tirant doth enforce himselfe to performe thrée things to maintain his estate the first is to kéep down and to kéep the mindes of his citizens weak and feeble for he that is of smal courage doth neuer rise vp against a tirant The second is to procure that the most mightye Citizens doo liue in discorde amongst themselues to the intent they shall not conspire against him being vnited together The third is to kéepe them disarmed and in idlenes for he that neither can nor knowes how to doo any thing will not be enflamed neither once enter into thought to assault him that is of great power THat place is not called a Cittie which hath a great number of men to inhabite it but rather that which is furnished with such Citizens which are of sufficiencye to liue well and happily for Lordship and Signorie is maintained with prudence and with valour and with him that is a good man and a good gouernour and good he cannot be vnlesse he be prudent ALl these things for the which men do toyle themselues in this world are reduced and drawne into two heads and titles that is to say to profit and to honor vnder the title of profit is to be vnderstood all that which appertains to the body vnder the title of honor al that which belongs to the minde A Prince ought to be graue not in hautines of countenance but in the order of his life gouerning him selfe moderately in all his affaires and actions and obseruing those promises he hath made let him be rather affraide not to doo euill then that euill should be doon vnto him and let him remember that being a man as others are he hath graunted him by God almost deuine power to the intent he may place in his gouernment thinges that be iust and honest THat Citizen that dooth begin to manage the affaires of the Common-wealth dooth liue according to the customes vsed of the other Citizens and dooth accommodate himselfe to their nature and with art and prudence doth leane to those things that are wonted to bring pleasures and delight to the people and by the which they are accustomed to be taken into a snare to the intent that by so doing gayning an opinion of valour and faith he maye obtaine authoritie THose that manage the affaires of a frée state ought to haue in minde two precepts of Plato the one that they defend and maintaine the profit of their Citizens in such sort that whatsoeuer they doo may tend to that end setting aside their own commodities the other that they haue an eye to the whole body of the Common-wealth to the intent that whilste they haue care of one parte they doo not abandon another for euen as in the Tuter of a ward so the gouernment of a Common-wealth is to be handled and ordered to the benefite of those for whome it is committed and recommended and not for thē to whom it is committed IT is the proper charge of a Magistrate to vnderstand that he carries vpon him and dooth exercise the person of the Cittie and that he ought to maintain his decorum and his dignitie to obserue the lawes and to be mindefull of those things that are committed to his fidelitie and not only to look into that which is doon but also to prouide for that which ought to be doone and to vse all possible indeuours to prouide that the Common-wealth after his death may be no lesse rightly administred thē it is during the gouernment of his life LIberty is nothing else but full power to doo as a man will And that man liues as he will the which doth follow those things that be right and well doon and which dooth reioyce in him selfe to doo pleasures and benefites to others and that in his liuing is aduised and prudent and that dooth obey the lawes not through feare but doth honor and obserue them like others and who neither dooth think nor doo any thing but fréelye and with a good will whose councelles and whose operations doo arise and take end in him selfe not hauing any thing that maye accomplish more in him then his will and his iudgement and vnto which likewise fortune her selfe may giue place THat warre is iust that is necessarye and those armes and weapons are godly and happye in the which there resteth no other hope thē in the said weapons and armes And that warre is iust which is commaunded of y e Prince either in respect to recouer that which is lost or to defend himselfe from other mens iniuries but that is an vnhappy and wicked warre in the which it is necessarye that he to liue in seruitude since
well ordered Common-weale ought to proceede faire and easily to banish a man foorth of his house and to send him into exile who through his vertue or through his fauour either with his owne or with forraine strangers may be embraced of his enemies and that may more hurt them being banished then he could benefite being at home in his owne house FOr that it is a perrillous thing to tell the trueth vnto Princes and speciallye in those thinges that they are resolutely determined to doo esteeming them for good therefore it silâ—ome comes to passe that they are well councelled and as they ought to be forasmuch as if they tell the trueth he becomes their enemy if they flatter he obtaines their grace and flatterye is more secure then veritie IF the opinion and iudgements that be contrary amongst themselues be not well examined and discussed we cannot so easily make choise of the best parte but it is conuenient to vse that which is first reported but when many do alleadge that which euery one dooth beléeue to be best we maye make choice thereof as we would doo of golde that dooth glister of it selfe and being put to the touch is discearned whither it be pure or not ALl the gaine of great enterprises dooth consist in good counsell and although some froward hap doo chaunce against all counsell this comes to passe for that Fortune dooth ouercome our prouidence but hee that dooth take naughty counsell although it succeede happily is woorthy of blame for verye sildome to the deuices of euill counsell dooth succeed prosperous endes A Good counsellour ought neuer to hide the trueth although it turn to the preiudice of his life for it is better for him to loose his life then to kéepe secret a good counsell for that the end of things will make manifest of what minde he was that did wiselye giue counsell and who did speak things to please the Prince to flatter him and it wil then followe that the good counsellour will be better beloued being so dead then the flatterer shall be esteemed that remaines liuing MAnye chaunces in warrefare make men beleeue that men constrained of necessitie procéed much farther theÌ„ their proper courage and naturall force dooth beare and héerby it comes to passe that many after the ouer-throwe constrained to begin a new battaile haue ouerthrown the vanquishours THose which haue their life in gifte of the enemye and accustomed oftentimes to dye with miserie and with shame and contrariwise all those that consider that the law of death is common to all without hauing to fighting combate or any other perrill they goe to encounter an honorable death such as those haue I euer seene arriue to a goodly olde age and during their life alwaies to manage honorable enterprises and such as were ful of great praise and fame IT sildom comes to passe that any good counsel should not generally be accepted of all for that our vnderstanding being by nature giuen to settle and staye it selfe in true thinges or that haue great apparence of trueth it is requisite that they should embrace right counselles for good and true THe speach of a light and of an inconstant person is reputed vnprofitable and vaine who dooth vnconsideratly runne here and there without any reputation or honor Contrariwise when it is knowne that any one dooth carry greate respecte to his faith his speache when he dooth desire praye or make request is much more woorth then the force of any other And the same chanceth when he would cause any one to returne to his obedience he dooth farre more basely obtaine his desire with woordes then an other with déedes and his threatnings haue more force then other meanes executions and punishments and he dooth bring foorth greater frute by promising then any other by giuing NO man that dooth gouerne and rule others can haue neither a more godlye neither a more honourable riches then vertue iustice and the magnanimitie of minde The which if any one haue hauing together with the same greate numbers of frâ—endâ—â— and trustie faithfull persons hâ—e can not but be verye rich neither shall he want anye persons that shall reioyce with him in his prosperitie and who in y e time of aduersse fortune will conuersse with him helpe him and succour him IT is no doubte but that the couetousnes of Princes Officers be apte and sufficient to make their goodnes and bountie infamous For that Princes when they make warres not béeing able for the moste parte to be there in personne of force they must put trust in their Officers and Commissaryes of their Campe. Who beleeuing that the Souldiours may be driuen off and entertayned with fayre woordes and greate hopes retaines those payes which Princes doo send to the Armye to paye the Souldiours NOt onely the Common-weales but also priuate men ought of necessitie by how much the more they florish in forces by so much the more to procure themselues those things which at some time maye turne to their profit to the intent that when occasion and néed requires they may haue a defence wherewithall to help themselues HE that desires to ouercome ought not to put himselfe in flight for victorie is not gained with our shoulders but with our hands euery victorie merites to be praised in euery place but that which is shewed séene in warres is woorthy to be celebrated and lift vp euen vnto heauen for that the same is visible and doth shine in the middest of so many perrilles no lesse then golde in the midst of a hot flaming fire FRom the beginning of the world it hath béen instituted for a lawe that Cities taken by warres should appertaine to the conquerours and besides this the men the money and what thing soeuer else is within the Citie to be a reward of the victorie MEn estéeme it a great thing to gaine Empire but much greater it is to kéepe it after that it is gotten for that we oftentimes sée that manye through audacitye and fortune may take a Kingdome but not maintain it whilste it is gained with much diligence and care without Prudence and Temperance THe proportion or the name dooth not make anye man freend or enemye but the good or euill which we reap of things dooth make theÌ„ freends or enemies louing thâ—se that bring vs good and hating those that bring vs euill neither haue men planted this lawe neither haue we taken it from any of our predicessours but nature doth teach it vs and for this rispect we leaue our fréendes when they offend vs and embrace our enemies when they doo benefite vs and that Citie which hath engendred vs we loue it when it dooth well and dispraise it when it shewes the contrarie and dooth euill and this falles not out by reason of the place where it is set but through the damage or through the proffite which chaunceth to be perfourmed by the same neither dooth it chaunce only to priuate persons to
and perrils hath gained but much more he is to be reprehended which doth it through a fearefull and base minde then he that doth it through generositie and greatnes IT comes by nature that aâ—ter suspect followes hate after hate followes harmes after harmes followes the familiaritie and confederations with the enemies of him that hath offended and the determination not onely to assure himselfe but to gaine Moreouer with the ruine of the endamaged the memory of the iniurye greater without doubt and more displeasant in him that dooth it then in him that receiues it THe principall grounds in determining vpon any enterprise be the iustice and right of the cause the facilitie and easines to ouercome the fruit and commodity of the victorie THe desire of liberty almost a thing naturall in al men ought to consist in the equall proportion of the conditions artes and qualities of the Citizens a most necessary foundation in populare gouernment AS the distribution of Magistrates and the determination of the lawes dependes vpon the arbitriment of fewe the Citizens then being intentiue not about publike profites but about couetous and priuate affaires there dooth arise particular sects and conspiracies with the which the deuisions of the Cittie doo ioyne themselues a most assured plague and death to the Common-weaâ—â—hâ—s of empires and gouernments IT was neuer accounted wisdome to determin vpon any matter of moment without long consultation and without reuoluing and disgesting the same in our mindes â—n infinite number of times OF his owne nature nothing is more shorte nothing doth liue a lesse while then the memory of benâ—â—ites and so much the greater they be so much the more they aâ—e paid with the partes of ingratitude for he that cannot nor will not blot them out with requitalles dooth oftentimes goe about to deface them by perswading himselfe that they haue not been so great as they were and those which become ashamed that they were brought into such tearms that they haue had néed of benefites growe to be displesed that they haue receiued them in such sorte that hate is of more effect in them through the auntient memory of their necessitie into which they did fall then the bond of the obligation through the confederation of the curtesie which hath béen vsed vnto them WHere insolence is there is blindenes where vaine lightnes is there is no knowledge of vertue no iudgement to discearne the actions of others neither no grauitie to measure that which is conuenient to him selfe THe practises the preparations and the opperations of confederates are differred interrupted broken off and varied according to the forces according to the ends and according to the counselles of Princes whereby it is not easie to make an assured and firme knotte and vnion where there be diuersities of mindes variety of wils and change of conditions and qualities PRinces that bend of their owne proper inclination to preferre vtilitie before fidelitie are easilye perswaded the selfesame that other Princes are THe common people of his nature is couetous alwaies of new things who are easie to be filled 〈…〉 errours and with false perswaisions euen as 〈◊〉 waues of the Sea are rouled forward with the blast◠〈◊〉 winde AS of an vnexpert and vncapable iudge we cannot look for a right sentence so of a people that is full of confusion and ignoraunce we cannot look for but by meare chaunce an election and deliberation of reason and discretion IT is the nature of men when they departe from one extreme in the which they haue béene holden violentlye to runne voluntarily without staying in the meane into other extremeties THe successe of warres depend for the most parte of reputations the which when they decline the valour and vertue of the Souldiers likewise decline the fidelitye of the people deminishe the reuenues appointed to sustain the warres grow to be nothing contrariwise the minde of the enemies encrease doubts are nourished and al sorts of difficulties doo augment infinitely IN all humaine actions it is oftentimes requisite to accommodate and frame our counsell to our necessitie neither for the desire we haue to obtaine that part which is ouer difficile and almost impossible to put all to the hazard of manifest perrilles THose leages wherin there chaunceth to be many potentates are not so firme or of such concord but that we may hope that they wil become colder or some of them to dis-vnite himselfe from the rest IT is the nature of men that those things which in the beginning present themselues verye teriblye doo in such sorte canâ—ell and diminish the same from day to day that if no newe accidents doo arise that may make freshe and quicken the terrour and feare they haue They make themselues in the processe of small time almost assured EUery one that dooth perceiue and smelles out that there is no account made of him becomes angry anger makes him bolde or else somtimes to applye himselfe to thinke moste perrillous thinges the which oftentimes comes to passe and cheefely if to audacitie any authority be ioyned to some singular quality that is in the person of him that is growne so audatious PErrillous determinations and practises so much the more they are considered of so much the vnwillinglye they are taken in hand wherupon it dooth alwaies come to passe that those commorations and rebellions that giue space of time to the execution of them are discouered THe name of liberty is so woorthy a thing that no force can tame it no time can consume it and no merite can counterpese it in so much as to go about to maintain seruilitie in a frée Citie forrain forces are not sufficient and of those within the same a man can put no confidence for those that be now freendes and comfort others to take vpon them the Signorie when they haue by the authoritie of their new Lord ouerthrowen their enemies they go about afterwardes as they can or maye to thrust out the Prince and make themselues Lords TO one that is accustomed to liue lose and at libertye euery chaine is waighty and euery bond dooth pinch although to finde a violent state with a good Prince is almost impossible for of necessitie it is conuenient either that they become like or else that spéedilye the one or the other doo ruinate THat Cittie that would maintaine it selfe more by sects and factions then by lawes when one sect doth remain at home without opposition of necessity it comes to passe that it deuide it selfe for from these priuat meanes it cannot defend it self the which for her safetie she had firste ordained TIme is not euer altogether commodious to woorke a thing in in such sort that whosoeuer doth expect all the commodities or else dooth neuer attempt any thing or if he doo attempt it doth performe it for the most parte to his disaduauntage AS Erâ—onices which otherwise should be smal become in warres capitall hauing against him a prepared enemy which giues no time
suspected that he goes about by some secret and hid way to reape the same againe POuerty makes some men full of audacitie others by riches couetous store are made ambitious and proud and to others doth chaunce other occasions according as euery man doth possesse either ire or some other vnbridled accident y ◠doth moue him the which doo all of thē make vs to put our selues in perill aboue all things hope and loue dooth greatly prick vs forward the one going before and the other following after and the one despising deceites and the other propounding vnto vs the prosperitie of fortune doo bring great damage IT appertains to Princes and Common-weales to take care that their Captaine Generals do nat fall in suspect and if the same doo chaunce they ought by cutting the occasion spéedilye off to prouide and prepare for those damages and for those ruines that therby might hang ouer their State SUspition dooth spring vp sometimes in our mindes either of those thinges that be likely or of any violence that hath falne out or else through a certaine folly and ignorance of men that which doth arise of likely-hoods it is necessarie to examine it well forsomuch as it behoues to haue iustification and he that dooth iustifie himselfe dooth merite no punishment That which dooth arise of any violence that is doon or that is to be doon ought not so stricktly to be examined for that already it is rather an offence then a suspition offences ought to be punished The last which dooth arise of follye and ignorance ought not to be admitted of any person of qualitie but rather reiected and left aparte WRath disdain being nothing else but a passion conceiued in the minde either through anye iniurie receiued or through that which it séemes we shall receiue either offew or of many no person of qualitie ought to giue place vnto the said passion without reasonable occasion and chéefely in those iniuries which it séemes he receiues of many one perticular man being more apt to erre then any vniuersall people PRinces ought to haue care not to prouoke to disdaine their vassailes but aboue all things a multitude or an vniuersall people forsomuch as such a violence is much more headlong is of greater importance and dooth cause more spéedie and perrilous effects for Princes MEn that are strong and of great magnanimitie are not to be afraide of their liues in glorious enterprises but rather ought to account death for most glorious whē either for the benefite of their Cuntry or for their Prince the same should chaunce in some woorthie and hautye enterprise desiring rather to dye gloriouslye then to liue beastly ALthough the actions of men are grounded not onelye vpon honour honesty or iustice but also vpon firme and stable faith wherewithall they are pricked forward to put things in action in such sorte that they may be approued and found good by the consent of all and to the intent when they be doon we growe not to repent vs forsomuch as by repentance what action soeuer although it be well doone is spoyled and defamed FOrtitude is truely the supportation of great thinges wherein there is perrill of death but not in respect of himselfe alone that dooth put himselfe into the same but in respect of the vniuersall and publick benefit either of his country or of his Prince whome he dooth serue TRue fortitude is to moderate feare and audacitie and to be not able to be ouercome with trauailes stout and strong in perrilles seuere against pleasures and to be an enemye to couetousnes is proper to a man that possesseth right fortitude And to be such a one to defend our country and our Prince from barberous inuations and at home the weak and not able with weapons or abroad his companion from théeues or the hye waye from rapines is as I haue saide to accomplishe an ample and full iustice THe fortitude of minde is knowne two waies the one is when being in perrils he dooth no otherwise estéeme and repute of the partes of the body but as superfluous and to be despised the other is when he dooth perseuer to follow those things which are most principall in the enterprise and in them goes forward still pursuing of honour and following that which doth leade to the true and honest way with an vnspotted and excellent intent and minde vntill such time as he hath obtained the effect or the desired end IF Fortitude do principally appertaine vnto man as his proper due and the principall partes dueties of Fortitude is not to be afraid of death neither of gréefe Whosoeuer desires to be a man ought likewise to consider well of the true properties of a man and to haue in memorye that to suffer himselfe to be possessed with feare to be ouercome by his owne will and pleasures or drawne by a couetous desire to gaine money and riches be partes of lightnes and instabilitie contrarye to all fortitude THose thinges which are vniuersallye desired doo sildome come to passe the reason is for that there be fewe that giue beginning or motion to those thinges at the ende whereof there be sundry contrarye to the appetites of many THe arte of clemencye and of pardoning although for the most parte it benefites neuerthelesse sometimes it is hurtfull and damageable but this comes to passe when thou doost pardon a perticular person equall or like vnto thy selfe whereas to pardon or to vse clemencie towards a multitude for the moste parte dooth benefite for that it is almost impossible that a multitude which hath receiued any benefite should all of them be willing to be malignant or ingratefull whereas a perticular person either through his euill nature or through some other vnreasonable desire dooth oftentimes fall into this vice of ingratitude THe true intent of good men and men of iudgement ought neuer to be other then to endeuour themselues to obtaine fame glorye and honour in the sight of men for that all perrilles toyles trauailes discommodities and gréefes which we beare in the exercise or in the managing of great causes is doone with this principall intent to benefite so many as we can or are able and to be hurtfull to none A Wise man ought too consider that he is borne not somuch for himselfe as to benefite others and by how much he findes himself in greater degrée then others or by how much he knowes himselfe to haue more knowledge more vertue or more gifts of God then others by so much he ought to iudge that God hath graunted him the same to the intent he may imparte the same to the benefite of others and in this we ought infinitely to reioyce that he hath opened vnto him so large so plaine and so apparent a way to make him selfe immortall SOddaine determinations when as commoditie is not left to consulte they drawe perrilles oftentimes after them and oftentimes also when a man for feare of a great perrill dooth
diuersitie of honours all those other thinges that disturbe the Common-weale take their nourishment THat Citie which would maintain it selfe rather with factions then with Lawes when any one faction doth remaine in the same without any that oppose themselues it is conuenient of necessitie that the same deuide it selfe within it selfe for that it cannot defend it selfe from these priuate procéedinges the which the same for his safety had first instituted WHere many doo erre none are corrected small factes are punished the great and gréeuous are rewarded and when manye do suffer fewe do goe about to reuenge them selues for that vniuersall iniuries are supported with greater patience then those that are perticular FOr the moste parte all those that attaine to riches and great power either with fraude either with force doo attaine vnto the same And after they haue either with violence or with deceite vsurped those thinges to hide the filthynes of their getting they doo make honest the same vnder a false tytle of gaine And those that through lack of prudence or through folly doo shun and flie these meanes are alwaies ouer-whelmed in slauerye and pouertie For that faithfull seruants are alwaies conserued and good men alwaies are poore and none there be that at any time doo issue out of seruitude but those that be vnfaithfull and shamelesse-hardye and forth of pouertie but those that are rauenous and fraudulent for nature hath placed all the fortune of men in the midst of them the which are subiecte and exposed more to rapine then to industrie and more to the wicked then the good Héerof it procéedes that men eate one an other and he that may least goes to the woorst WHere necessitie contraryes audacitie is iudged prudence and couragious men neuer make account of perrill in greate matters for that alwayes those enterprises that begin with perril doo end with rewarde and foorth of one perrill we can neuer issue without an other perrill WEl ordered Cities that are administred vnder y â— name of Common weales doo oftentimes varie and change their gouernmentes and their states not by the meanes of libertye and seruitude as manye thinke but by the meanes of seruitude and licence For of libertie the name of the ministers of licence which are the people is celebrated and that of seruitude which are the Nobilitye is celebrated euerye one of those desire not to be subiect neither to the Lawes neither vnto men True it is that when for all that it chaunceth that when through the good fortune of the Citie there dooth arise in the same a wise good and mightye Cittizen by whome Lawes are instituted by whom these humours of the nobilitie and of the populare sorte are quieted or are restrained in such sort that they cannot woorke any euill then it comes to passe that this Citie may be called free and that â—ate maye be called stable and firme for being grounded vpon good lawes and good orders it hath no such necessiâ—ie of the vertue of one man as the others haue that doo maintaine the same manye auntient Common-weales were endowed with like lawes and orders all those that often in their gouernement haue changed and doo change from a tiranicall state to a licentious state and from the one to the other haue failed in this and for that in them through the mightye enemies that euerye one hath there neither is nor can be any stabilitie for that the one dooth not please good men the other doth displease wise men the one may easily doo euill the other may doo good but with great difficultie in the one insolent men haue ouer-great authoritie in the other those that be foolish And it is conâ—enient that both the one and the other â—e maintained by one man through vertue and fortune which either through death maye become lesse or by trauaile become vnprofitable A Wise man ought euer little to estéeme to liue in a Citie where lawes are of lâ—sse account then men for that Country is to be desired in the which we may safelye enioye our substaunce and our fréends not that where other men may easily take from vs that which is ours and our â—â—â—ends for feare of their proper state doo abandon vs in 〈◊〉 most necessitie PRouinces for the most parte are accustomed in the chaunges they make from order to come to disorder and afterwards againe from disorder to passe to orders for that the affaires of this worlde being not firme by nature where they arriue at their last profession not hauing wher-vpon to ascend higher it falles out of necessitie that they discend and after they be discended and being come by disorder to the last step not being able of necesitie to discend lower it is conuenient that they climbe vp againe and so alwaies from the good we discend to euill and from the euill we ascend to good for that warres bringes quietnes quietnes brings idlenes idlenes engenders disorder disorder dooth ruinate vs and likewise of â—uine doth spring orders of orders come vertue of vertue ariseth glorye and good fortune wherefore of prudent persons it is obserued as letters come after weapons and that in Prouinces and Cities Captaines are borne before Philosophers for that the good and well ordered wepons hauing brought forth victories and victories brought quietnes the fortitude and strength of armed mindes cannot be corrupted with a more honest idlenes then which that of leâ—ters neither can idlenes enter into a well ordered Citie with a greater or more perrilous deceite then by letters Prouinces therefore come by these meanes to ruine whereinto being arriued men by blowes being made wise returne to orders if that alreadye through extraordinarye forces they remaine not choked and deuoured THere is not any thing more hard then that obedience the which we call the denying of our selues wherupon I cannot sée the occasion wherfore we flée from performing towards God that which dooth carrie our health and procure our selues to do it towards men in things which doth promise vncertaine and small benefites if we will not saye that this comes to passe through the commonoccasion of al euils that is through our great ignorance malice which dooth estéeme of nothing but these present and these earthly goods beyond all measure and together with the pleasure that many take to deceiue others but through whatsoeuer occasion it dooth rise it is a great enemye to reputation AN Armie being vanquished the warres are vanquished but the townes being vanquished and leauing the Armye entire the warres begin to be more hotte forsomuch as that Armie which is entire maye recouer the Townes the which when they holde in their handes the warres is not ouercome HE is not wise that dooth attempt to defend a thing that in any case is to be lost he may with lesse infamy and with lesse damage loose any state alone then to loose both the state and his monye THere is no man so prudent neither any man so learned vpon the earth