the prince(王子)-第14节
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them； and the states； although unguarded； are not taken from them； and the
subjects； although not ruled； do not care； and they have neither the desire
nor the ability to alienate themselves。 Such principalities only are secure
and happy。 But being upheld by powers； to which the human mind cannot
reach； I shall speak no more of them； because； being exalted and
maintained by God； it would be the act of a presumptuous and rash man to
discuss them。
Nevertheless； if any one should ask of me how comes it that the
Church has attained such greatness in temporal power； seeing that from
Alexander backwards the Italian potentates （not only those who have been
called potentates； but every baron and lord； though the smallest） have
valued the temporal power very slightlyyet now a king of France
trembles before it； and it has been able to drive him from Italy； and to ruin
the Venetiansalthough this may be very manifest； it does not appear to
me superfluous to recall it in some measure to memory。
Before Charles； King of France； passed into Italy；＇*＇ this country was
under the dominion of the Pope； the Venetians； the King of Naples； the
Duke of Milan； and the Florentines。 These potentates had two principal
anxieties： the one； that no foreigner should enter Italy under arms； the
other； that none of themselves should seize more territory。 Those about
whom there was the most anxiety were the Pope and the Venetians。 To
restrain the Venetians the union of all the others was necessary； as it was
for the defence of Ferrara； and to keep down the Pope they made use of
the barons of Rome； who； being divided into two factions； Orsini and
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Colonnesi； had always a pretext for disorder； and； standing with arms in
their hands under the eyes of the Pontiff； kept the pontificate weak and
powerless。 And although there might arise sometimes a courageous pope；
such as Sixtus； yet neither fortune nor wisdom could rid him of these
annoyances。 And the short life of a pope is also a cause of weakness； for in
the ten years； which is the average life of a pope； he can with difficulty
lower one of the factions； and if； so to speak； one people should almost
destroy the Colonnesi； another would arise hostile to the Orsini； who
would support their opponents； and yet would not have time to ruin the
Orsini。 This was the reason why the temporal powers of the pope were
little esteemed in Italy。
＇*＇ Charles VIII invaded Italy in 1494。
Alexander the Sixth arose afterwards； who of all the pontiffs that have
ever been showed how a pope with both money and arms was able to
prevail； and through the instrumentality of the Duke Valentino； and by
reason of the entry of the French； he brought about all those things which I
have discussed above in the actions of the duke。 And although his
intention was not to aggrandize the Church； but the duke； nevertheless；
what he did contributed to the greatness of the Church； which； after his
death and the ruin of the duke； became the heir to all his labours。
Pope Julius came afterwards and found the Church strong； possessing
all the Romagna； the barons of Rome reduced to impotence； and； through
the chastisements of Alexander； the factions wiped out； he also found the
way open to accumulate money in a manner such as had never been
practised before Alexander's time。 Such things Julius not only followed；
but improved upon； and he intended to gain Bologna； to ruin the Venetians；
and to drive the French out of Italy。 All of these enterprises prospered with
him； and so much the more to his credit； inasmuch as he did everything to
strengthen the Church and not any private person。 He kept also the Orsini
and Colonnesi factions within the bounds in which he found them； and
although there was among them some mind to make disturbance；
nevertheless he held two things firm： the one； the greatness of the Church；
with which he terrified them； and the other； not allowing them to have
their own cardinals； who caused the disorders among them。 For whenever
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these factions have their cardinals they do not remain quiet for long；
because cardinals foster the factions in Rome and out of it； and the barons
are compelled to support them； and thus from the ambitions of prelates
arise disorders and tumults among the barons。 For these reasons his
Holiness Pope Leo＇*＇ found the pontificate most powerful； and it is to be
hoped that； if others made it great in arms； he will make it still greater and
more venerated by his goodness and infinite other virtues。
＇*＇ Pope Leo X was the Cardinal de' Medici。
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CHAPTER XII
HOW MANY KINDS OF SOLDIERY THERE ARE； AND
CONCERNING MERCENARIES
Having discoursed particularly on the characteristics of such
principalities as in the beginning I proposed to discuss； and having
considered in some degree the causes of their being good or bad； and
having shown the methods by which many have sought to acquire them
and to hold them； it now remains for me to discuss generally the means of
offence and defence which belong to each of them。
We have seen above how necessary it is for a prince to have his
foundations well laid； otherwise it follows of necessity he will go to ruin。
The chief foundations of all states； new as well as old or composite； are
good laws and good arms； and as there cannot be good laws where the
state is not well armed； it follows that where they are well armed they
have good laws。 I shall leave the laws out of the discussion and shall speak
of the arms。
I say； therefore； that the arms with which a prince defends his state are
either his own； or they are mercenaries； auxiliaries； or mixed。 Mercenaries
and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous； and if one holds his state based
on these arms； he will stand neither firm nor safe； for they are disunited；
ambitious； and without discipline； unfaithful； valiant before friends；
cowardly before enemies； they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to
men； and destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is； for in peace
one is robbed by them； and in war by the enemy。 The fact is； they have no
other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend；
which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you。 They are ready
enough to be your soldiers whilst you do not make war； but if war comes
they take themselves off or run from the foe； which I should have little
trouble to prove； for the ruin of Italy has been caused by nothing else than
by resting all her hopes for many years on mercenaries； and although they
formerly made some display and appeared valiant amongst themselves； yet
when the foreigners came they showed what they were。 Thus it was that
Charles； King of France； was allowed to seize Italy with chalk in hand；＇*＇
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and he who told us that our sins were the cause of it told the truth； but they
were not the sins he imagined； but those which I have related。 And as they
were the sins of princes； it is the princes who have also suffered the
penalty。
＇*＇ 〃With chalk in hand；〃 〃col gesso。〃 This is one of the bons mots of
Alexander VI； and refers to the ease with which Charles VIII seized Italy；
implying that it was only necessary for him to send his quartermasters to
chalk up the billets for his soldiers to conquer the country。 Cf。 〃The
History of Henry VII；〃 by Lord Bacon
