the prince(王子)-第16节
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support many soldiers； and a few infantry did not give them any authority；
so they were led to employ cavalry； with a moderate force of which they
were maintained and honoured； and affairs were brought to such a pass
that； in an army of twenty thousand soldiers； there were not to be found
two thousand foot soldiers。 They had； besides this； used every art to lessen
fatigue and danger to themselves and their soldiers； not killing in the fray；
but taking prisoners and liberating without ransom。 They did not attack
towns at night； nor did the garrisons of the towns attack encampments at
night； they did not surround the camp either with stockade or ditch； nor
did they campaign in the winter。 All these things were permitted by their
military rules； and devised by them to avoid； as I have said； both fatigue
and dangers； thus they have brought Italy to slavery and contempt。
＇*＇ Alberigo da Conio。 Alberico da Barbiano； Count of Cunio in
Romagna。 He was the leader of the famous 〃Company of St George；〃
composed entirely of Italian soldiers。 He died in 1409。
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CHAPTER XIII
CONCERNING AUXILIARIES； MIXED SOLDIERY； AND
ONE'S OWN
Auxiliaries； which are the other useless arm； are employed when a
prince is called in with his forces to aid and defend； as was done by Pope
Julius in the most recent times； for he； having； in the enterprise against
Ferrara； had poor proof of his mercenaries； turned to auxiliaries； and
stipulated with Ferdinand； King of Spain；＇*＇ for his assistance with men
and arms。 These arms may be useful and good in themselves； but for him
who calls them in they are always disadvantageous； for losing； one is
undone； and winning； one is their captive。
＇*＇ Ferdinand V （F。 II of Aragon and Sicily； F。 III of Naples）； surnamed
〃The Catholic；〃 born 1542； died 1516。
And although ancient histories may be full of examples； I do not wish
to leave this recent one of Pope Julius the Second； the peril of which
cannot fail to be perceived； for he； wishing to get Ferrara； threw himself
entirely into the hands of the foreigner。 But his good fortune brought about
a third event； so that he did not reap the fruit of his rash choice； because；
having his auxiliaries routed at Ravenna； and the Switzers having risen
and driven out the conquerors （against all expectation； both his and others）；
it so came to pass that he did not become prisoner to his enemies； they
having fled； nor to his auxiliaries； he having conquered by other arms than
theirs。
The Florentines； being entirely without arms； sent ten thousand
Frenchmen to take Pisa； whereby they ran more danger than at any other
time of their troubles。
The Emperor of Constantinople；＇*＇ to oppose his neighbours； sent ten
thousand Turks into Greece； who； on the war being finished； were not
willing to quit； this was the beginning of the servitude of Greece to the
infidels。
＇*＇ Joannes Cantacuzenus； born 1300； died 1383。
Therefore； let him who has no desire to conquer make use of these
arms； for they are much more hazardous than mercenaries； because with
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them the ruin is ready made； they are all united； all yield obedience to
others； but with mercenaries； when they have conquered； more time and
better opportunities are needed to injure you； they are not all of one
community； they are found and paid by you； and a third party； which you
have made their head； is not able all at once to assume enough authority to
injure you。 In conclusion； in mercenaries dastardy is most dangerous； in
auxiliaries； valour。 The wise prince； therefore； has always avoided these
arms and turned to his own； and has been willing rather to lose with them
than to conquer with the others； not deeming that a real victory which is
gained with the arms of others。
I shall never hesitate to cite Cesare Borgia and his actions。 This duke
entered the Romagna with auxiliaries； taking there only French soldiers；
and with them he captured Imola and Forli； but afterwards； such forces not
appearing to him reliable； he turned to mercenaries； discerning less danger
in them； and enlisted the Orsini and Vitelli； whom presently； on handling
and finding them doubtful； unfaithful； and dangerous； he destroyed and
turned to his own men。 And the difference between one and the other of
these forces can easily be seen when one considers the difference there
was in the reputation of the duke； when he had the French； when he had
the Orsini and Vitelli； and when he relied on his own soldiers； on whose
fidelity he could always count and found it ever increasing； he was never
esteemed more highly than when every one saw that he was complete
master of his own forces。
I was not intending to go beyond Italian and recent examples； but I am
unwilling to leave out Hiero； the Syracusan； he being one of those I have
named above。 This man； as I have said； made head of the army by the
Syracusans； soon found out that a mercenary soldiery； constituted like our
Italian condottieri； was of no use； and it appearing to him that he could
neither keep them not let them go； he had them all cut to pieces； and
afterwards made war with his own forces and not with aliens。
I wish also to recall to memory an instance from the Old Testament
applicable to this subject。 David offered himself to Saul to fight with
Goliath； the Philistine champion； and； to give him courage； Saul armed
him with his own weapons； which David rejected as soon as he had them
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on his back； saying he could make no use of them； and that he wished to
meet the enemy with his sling and his knife。 In conclusion； the arms of
others either fall from your back； or they weigh you down； or they bind
you fast。
Charles the Seventh；＇*＇ the father of King Louis the Eleventh；＇＋＇
having by good fortune and valour liberated France from the English；
recognized the necessity of being armed with forces of his own； and he
established in his kingdom ordinances concerning men…at…arms and
infantry。 Afterwards his son； King Louis； abolished the infantry and began
to enlist the Switzers； which mistake； followed by others； is； as is now
seen； a source of peril to that kingdom； because； having raised the
reputation of the Switzers； he has entirely diminished the value of his own
arms； for he has destroyed the infantry altogether； and his men…at…arms he
has subordinated to others； for； being as they are so accustomed to fight
along with Switzers； it does not appear that they can now conquer without
them。 Hence it arises that the French cannot stand against the Switzers；
and without the Switzers they do not come off well against others。 The
armies of the French have thus become mixed； partly mercenary and partly
national； both of which arms together are much better than mercenaries
alone or auxiliaries alone； but much inferior to one's own forces。 And this
example proves it； for the kingdom of France would be unconquerable if
the ordinance of Charles had been enlarged or maintained。
＇*＇ Charles VII of France； surnamed 〃The Victorious；〃 born 1403； died
1461。
＇＋＇ Louis XI； son of the above； born 1423； died 1483。
But the scanty wisdom of man； on entering into an affair which looks
well at first； cannot discern the poison that is hidden in it； as I have said
above of hectic fevers。 Therefore； if he who rules a principality cannot
recognize evils until they are upon him； he is not truly wise； and this
insight is given to few。 And if the first disaster to the Roman Empire＇*＇
should be examined； it will be found
