太子爷小说网 > 传记电子书 > 马基雅维里 君主论英文prince >

第4节

马基雅维里 君主论英文prince-第4节

小说: 马基雅维里 君主论英文prince 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




making one from amongst themselves; and they do not know how to govern

themselves。 For this reason they are very slow to take up arms; and a

prince can gain them to himself and secure them much more easily。 But in

republics there is more vitality; greater hatred; and more desire for

vengeance; which will never permit them to allow the memory of their

former liberty to rest; so that the safest way is to destroy them or to

reside there。



CHAPTER VI



CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED BY ONE'S OWN ARMS AND

ABILITY



LET no one be surprised if; in speaking of entirely new principalities

as I shall do; I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of

state; because men; walking almost always in paths beaten by others; and

following by imitation their deeds; are yet unable to keep entirely to

the ways of others or attain to the power of those they imitate。 A wise

man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men; and to imitate

those who have been supreme; so that if his ability does not equal

theirs; at least it will savour of it。 Let him act like the clever

archers who; designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far

distant; and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow

attains; take aim much higher than the mark; not to reach by their

strength or arrow to so great a height; but to be able with the aid of

so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach。



I say; therefore; that in entirely new principalities; where there is a

new prince; more or less difficulty is found in keeping them;

accordingly as there is more or less ability in him who has acquired the

state。 Now; as the fact of being a prince from a private station

presupposes either ability or fortune; it is clear that one or other of

these two things will mitigate in some degree many difficulties。

Nevertheless; he who has relied least on fortune is established the

strongest。 Further; it facilitates matters when the prince; having no

other state; is pelled to reside there in person。



But to e to those who; by their own ability and not through fortune;

have risen to be princes; I say that Moses; Cyrus; Romulus; Theseus; and

such like are the most excellent examples。 And although one may not

discuss Moses; he having been a mere executor of the will of God; yet he

ought to be admired; if only for that favour which made him worthy to

speak with God。 But in considering Cyrus and others who have acquired or

founded kingdoms; all will be found admirable; and if their particular

deeds and conduct shall be considered; they will not be found inferior

to those of Moses; although he had so great a preceptor。 And in

examining their actions and lives one cannot see that they owed anything

to fortune beyond opportunity; which brought them the material to mould

into the form which seemed best to them。 Without that opportunity their

powers of mind would have been extinguished; and without those powers

the opportunity would have e in vain。



It was necessary; therefore; to Moses that he should find the people of

Israel in Egypt enslaved and oppressed by the Egyptians; in order that

they should be disposed to follow him so as to be delivered out of

bondage。 It was necessary that Romulus should not remain in Alba; and

that he should be abandoned at his birth; in order that he should bee

King of Rome and founder of the fatherland。 It was necessary that Cyrus

should find the Persians discontented with the government of the Medes;

and the Medes soft and effeminate through their long peace。 Theseus

could not have shown his ability had he not found the Athenians

dispersed。 These opportunities; therefore; made those men fortunate; and

their high ability enabled them to recognize the opportunity whereby

their country was ennobled and made famous。



Those who by valorous ways bee princes; like these men; acquire a

principality with difficulty; but they it with ease。 The difficulties

they have in acquiring it arise in part from the new rules and methods

which they are forced to introduce to establish their government and its

security。 And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more

difficult to take in hand; more perilous to conduct; or more uncertain

in its success; than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order

of things。 Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done

well under the old conditions; and lukewarm defenders in those who may

do well under the new。 This coolness arises partly from fear of the

opponents; who have the laws on their side; and partly from the

incredulity of men; who do not readily believe in new things until they

have had a long experience of them。 Thus it happens that whenever those

who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like

partisans; whilst the others defend lukewarmly; in such wise that the

prince is endangered along with them。



It is necessary; therefore; if we desire to discuss this matter

thoroughly; to inquire whether these innovators can rely on themselves

or have to depend on others: that is to say; whether; to consummate

their enterprise; have they to use prayers or can they use force? In the

first instance they always succeed badly; and never pass anything;

but when they can rely on themselves and use force; then they are rarely

endangered。 Hence it is that all armed prophets have conquered; and the

unarmed ones have been destroyed。 Besides the reasons mentioned; the

nature of the people is variable; and whilst it is easy to persuade

them; it is difficult to fix them in that persuasion。 And thus it is

necessary to take such measures that; when they believe no longer; it

may be possible to make them believe by force。



If Moses; Cyrus; Theseus; and Romulus had been unarmed they could not

have enforced their constitutions for long  as happened in our time to

Fra Girolamo Savonarola; who was ruined with his new order of things

immediately the multitude believed in him no longer; and he had no means

of keeping steadfast those who believed or of making the unbelievers to

believe。 Therefore such as these have great difficulties in consummating

their enterprise; for all their dangers are in the ascent; yet with

ability they will overe them; but when these are overe; and those

who envied them their success are exterminated; they will begin to be

respected; and they will continue afterwards powerful; secure; honoured;

and happy。



To these great examples I wish to add a lesser one; still it bears some

resemblance to them; and I wish it to suffice me for all of a like kind:

it is Hiero the Syracusan。 This man rose from a private station to be

Prince of Syracuse; nor did he; either; owe anything to fortune but

opportunity; for the Syracusans; being oppressed; chose him for their

captain; afterwards he was rewarded by being made their prince。 He was

of so great ability; even as a private citizen; that one who writes of

him says he wanted nothing but a kingdom to be a king。 This man

abolished the old soldiery; organized the new; gave up old alliances;

made new ones; and as he had his own soldiers and allies; on such

foundations he was able to build any edifice: thus; whilst he had

endured much trouble in acquiring; he had but little in keeping。



CHAPTER VII



CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED EITHER BY THE ARMS OF

OTHERS OR BY GOOD FORTUNE



THOSE who solely by good fortune bee princes from being private

citizens have little trouble in rising; but much in keeping atop; they

have not any difficulties on the way up; because they fly; but they have

many when they reach the summit。 Such are those to whom some state is

given either for money or by the favour of him who bestows it; as

happened to many in Greece; in the cities of Ionia and of the

Hellespont; where princes were made by Darius; in order that they might

hold the cities both for his security and his glory; as also were those

emperors who; by the corruption of the soldiers; from being citizens

came to empire。 Such stand simply upon the goodwill and the fortune of

him who has elevated them  two most inconstant and unstable things。

Neither have they the knowledge requisite for the position; because;

unless they are men of great worth and ability; it is not reasonable to

expect that they should know how to mand; having always lived in a

private condition; besides; they cannot hold it because they have not

forces which they can keep friendly and faithful。



States that rise unexpectedly; then; like all other things in nature

which are born and grow rapidly; cannot have their foundations and

relations with other states fixed in such a way that the first storm

will not overthrow them; unless; as is said; those who unexpectedly

bee princes are men of so much ability that they know they have to be

prepared at once to hold that which fortune has thrown into their laps;

and that those foundations; which 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 2

你可能喜欢的