the prince-第11章
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e 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 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 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 to have commenced only with the enlisting of the Goths； because from that time the vigour of the Roman Empire began to decline； and all that valour which had raised it passed away to others。
＇*＇ 〃Many speakers to the House the other night in the debate on the reduction of armaments seemed to show a most lamentable ignorance of the conditions under which the British Empire maintains its existence。 When Mr Balfour replied to the allegations that the Roman Empire sank under the weight of its military obligations； he said that this was 'wholly unhistorical。' He might well have added that the Roman power was at its zenith when every citizen acknowledged his liability to fight for the State； but that it began to decline as soon as this obligation was no longer recognized。〃Pall Mall Gazette； 15th May 1906。
I conclude； therefore； that no principality is secure without having its own forces； on the contrary； it is entirely dependent on good fortune； not having the valour which in adversity would defend it。 And it has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain or unstable as fame or power not founded on its own strength。 And one's own forces are those which are composed either of subjects； citizens； or dependents； all others are mercenaries or auxiliaries。 And the way to make ready one's own forces will be easily found if the rules suggested by me shall be reflected upon； and if one will consider how Philip； the father of Alexander the Great； and many republics and princes have armed and organized themselves； to which rules I entirely commit myself。
CHAPTER XIV
THAT WHICH CONCERNS A PRINCE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE ART OF WAR
A prince ought to have no other aim or thought； nor select anything else for his study； than war and its rules and discipline； for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules； and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes； but it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank。 And； on the contrary； it is seen that when princes have thought more of ease than of arms they have lost their states。 And the first cause of your losing it is to neglect this art； and what enables you to acquire a state is to be master of the art。 Francesco Sforza； through being martial； from a private person became Duke of Milan； and the sons； through avoiding the hardships and troubles of arms； from dukes became private persons。 For among other evils which being unarmed brings you； it causes you to be despised； and this is one of those ignominies against which a prince ought to guard himself； as is shown later on。 Because there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed； and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him who is unarmed； or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants。 Because； there being in the one disdain and in the other suspicion； it is not possible for them to work well together。 And therefore a prince who does not understand the art of war； over and above the other misfortunes already mentioned； cannot be respected by his soldiers； nor can he rely on them。 He ought never； therefore； to have out of his thoughts this subject of war； and in peace he should addict himself more to its exercise than in war； this he can do in two ways； the one by action； the other by study。
As regards action； he ought above all things to keep his men well organized and drilled； to follow incessantly the chase； by which he accustoms his body to hardships； and learns something of the nature of localities； and gets to find out how the mountains rise； how the valleys open out； how the plains lie； and to understand the nature of rivers and marshes； and in all this to take the greatest care。 Which knowledge is useful in two ways。 Firstly； he learns to know his country； and is better able to undertake its defence； afterwards； by means of the knowledge and observation of that locality； he understands with ease any other which it may be necessary for him to study hereafter； because the hills； valleys； and plains； and rivers and marshes that are； for instance； in Tuscany； have a certain resemblance to those of other countries； so that with a knowledge of the aspect of one country one can easily arrive at a knowledge of others。 And the prince that lacks this skill lacks the essential which it is desirable that a captain should possess； for it teaches him to surprise his enemy； to select quarters； to lead armies； to array the battle； to besiege towns to advantage。
Philopoemen；＇*＇ Prince of the Achaeans； among other praises which writers have bestowed on him； is commended because in time of peace he never had anything in his mind but the rules of war； and when he was in the country with friends； he often stopped and reasoned with them： 〃If the enemy should be upon that hill； and we should find ourselves here with our army； with whom would be the advantage？ How should one best advance to meet him； keeping the ranks？ If we should wish to retreat； how ought we to pursue？〃 And he would set forth to them； as he went； all the chances that could befall an army； he would listen to their opinion and state his； confirming it with reasons； so that by these continual discussions there could never arise； in time of war； any unexp
