the prince(王子)-第20节
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adopt the beast； ought to choose the fox and the lion； because the lion
cannot defend himself against snares and the fox cannot defend himself
against wolves。 Therefore； it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares
and a lion to terrify the wolves。 Those who rely simply on the lion do not
understand what they are about。 Therefore a wise lord cannot； nor ought
he to； keep faith when such observance may be turned against him； and
when the reasons that caused him to pledge it exist no longer。 If men were
entirely good this precept would not hold； but because they are bad； and
will not keep faith with you； you too are not bound to observe it with them。
Nor will there ever be wanting to a prince legitimate reasons to excuse this
non…observance。 Of this endless modern examples could be given；
showing how many treaties and engagements have been made void and of
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no effect through the faithlessness of princes； and he who has known best
how to employ the fox has succeeded best。
＇*＇ 〃Contesting；〃 i。e。 〃striving for mastery。〃 Mr Burd points out that
this passage is imitated directly from Cicero's 〃De Officiis〃： 〃Nam cum
sint duo genera decertandi； unum per disceptationem； alterum per vim；
cumque illud proprium sit hominis； hoc beluarum； confugiendum est ad
posterius； si uti non licet superiore。〃
But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic；
and to be a great pretender and dissembler； and men are so simple； and so
subject to present necessities； that he who seeks to deceive will always
find someone who will allow himself to be deceived。 One recent example
I cannot pass over in silence。 Alexander the Sixth did nothing else but
deceive men； nor ever thought of doing otherwise； and he always found
victims； for there never was a man who had greater power in asserting； or
who with greater oaths would affirm a thing； yet would observe it less；
nevertheless his deceits always succeeded according to his wishes；＇*＇
because he well understood this side of mankind。
＇*＇ 〃Nondimanco sempre gli succederono gli inganni （ad votum）。〃 The
words 〃ad votum〃 are omitted in the Testina addition； 1550。
Alexander never did what he said； Cesare never said what he did。
Italian Proverb。
Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities
I have enumerated； but it is very necessary to appear to have them。 And I
shall dare to say this also； that to have them and always to observe them is
injurious； and that to appear to have them is useful； to appear merciful；
faithful； humane； religious； upright； and to be so； but with a mind so
framed that should you require not to be so； you may be able and know
how to change to the opposite。
And you have to understand this； that a prince； especially a new one；
cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed； being often
forced； in order to maintain the state； to act contrary to fidelity；＇*＇
friendship； humanity； and religion。 Therefore it is necessary for him to
have a mind ready to turn itself accordingly as the winds and variations of
fortune force it； yet； as I have said above； not to diverge from the good if
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he can avoid doing so； but； if compelled； then to know how to set about it。
＇*＇ 〃Contrary to fidelity〃 or 〃faith；〃 〃contro alla fede；〃 and 〃tutto
fede；〃 〃altogether faithful；〃 in the next paragraph。 It is noteworthy that
these two phrases； 〃contro alla fede〃 and 〃tutto fede；〃 were omitted in the
Testina edition； which was published with the sanction of the papal
authorities。 It may be that the meaning attached to the word 〃fede〃 was
〃the faith；〃 i。e。 the Catholic creed； and not as rendered here 〃fidelity〃 and
〃faithful。〃 Observe that the word 〃religione〃 was suffered to stand in the
text of the Testina； being used to signify indifferently every shade of belief；
as witness 〃the religion；〃 a phrase inevitably employed to designate the
Huguenot heresy。 South in his Sermon IX； p。 69； ed。 1843； comments on
this passage as follows： 〃That great patron and Coryphaeus of this tribe；
Nicolo Machiavel； laid down this for a master rule in his political scheme：
'That the show of religion was helpful to the politician； but the reality of it
hurtful and pernicious。'〃
For this reason a prince ought to take care that he never lets anything
slip from his lips that is not replete with the above…named five qualities；
that he may appear to him who sees and hears him altogether merciful；
faithful； humane； upright； and religious。 There is nothing more necessary
to appear to have than this last quality； inasmuch as men judge generally
more by the eye than by the hand； because it belongs to everybody to see
you； to few to come in touch with you。 Every one sees what you appear to
be； few really know what you are； and those few dare not oppose
themselves to the opinion of the many； who have the majesty of the state
to defend them； and in the actions of all men； and especially of princes；
which it is not prudent to challenge； one judges by the result。
For that reason； let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding
his state； the means will always be considered honest； and he will be
praised by everybody； because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing
seems to be and by what comes of it； and in the world there are only the
vulgar； for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground
to rest on。
One prince＇*＇ of the present time； whom it is not well to name； never
preaches anything else but peace and good faith； and to both he is most
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hostile； and either； if he had kept it； would have deprived him of reputation
and kingdom many a time。
＇*＇ Ferdinand of Aragon。 〃When Machiavelli was writing 'The Prince'
it would have been clearly impossible to mention Ferdinand's name here
without giving offence。〃 Burd's 〃Il Principe；〃 p。 308。
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CHAPTER XIX
THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID BEING DESPISED AND HATED
Now； concerning the characteristics of which mention is made above； I
have spoken of the more important ones； the others I wish to discuss
briefly under this generality； that the prince must consider； as has been in
part said before； how to avoid those things which will make him hated or
contemptible； and as often as he shall have succeeded he will have
fulfilled his part； and he need not fear any danger in other reproaches。
It makes him hated above all things； as I have said； to be rapacious；
and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects； from both
of which he must abstain。 And when neither their property nor their honor
is touched； the majority of men live content； and he has only to contend
with the ambition of a few； whom he can curb with ease in many ways。
It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle； frivolous；
effeminate； mean…spirited； irresolute； from all of which a prince should
guard himself as from a rock； and he should endeavour to show in his
actions greatness； courage； gravity； and fortitude； and in his private
dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are irrevocable；
and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can hope either to
deceive him or to get round him。
That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself；
and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against； for；
provided it is well known that he is an excellent man and revered by his
people； he can only be attacked with difficulty。 For this reason a prince
ought to have two fears； one from within； on account of his subjects； t
