the prince(王子)-第17章
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'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； the
other from without； on account of external powers。 From the latter he is
defended by being well armed and having good allies； and if he is well
armed he will have good friends； and affairs will always remain quiet
within when they are quiet without； unless they should have been already
disturbed by conspiracy； and even should affairs outside be disturbed； if he
has carried out his preparations and has lived as I have said； as long as he
does not despair； he will resist every attack； as I said Nabis the Spartan
did。
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But concerning his subjects； when affairs outside are disturbed he has
only to fear that they will conspire secretly； from which a prince can easily
secure himself by avoiding being hated and despised； and by keeping the
people satisfied with him； which it is most necessary for him to
accomplish； as I said above at length。 And one of the most efficacious
remedies that a prince can have against conspiracies is not to be hated and
despised by the people； for he who conspires against a prince always
expects to please them by his removal； but when the conspirator can only
look forward to offending them； he will not have the courage to take such
a course； for the difficulties that confront a conspirator are infinite。 And as
experience shows； many have been the conspiracies； but few have been
successful； because he who conspires cannot act alone； nor can he take a
companion except from those whom he believes to be malcontents； and as
soon as you have opened your mind to a malcontent you have given him
the material with which to content himself； for by denouncing you he can
look for every advantage； so that； seeing the gain from this course to be
assured； and seeing the other to be doubtful and full of dangers； he must be
a very rare friend； or a thoroughly obstinate enemy of the prince； to keep
faith with you。
And； to reduce the matter into a small compass； I say that； on the side
of the conspirator； there is nothing but fear； jealousy； prospect of
punishment to terrify him； but on the side of the prince there is the majesty
of the principality； the laws； the protection of friends and the state to
defend him； so that； adding to all these things the popular goodwill； it is
impossible that any one should be so rash as to conspire。 For whereas in
general the conspirator has to fear before the execution of his plot； in this
case he has also to fear the sequel to the crime； because on account of it he
has the people for an enemy； and thus cannot hope for any escape。
Endless examples could be given on this subject； but I will be content
with one； brought to pass within the memory of our fathers。 Messer
Annibale Bentivogli； who was prince in Bologna （grandfather of the
present Annibale）； having been murdered by the Canneschi； who had
conspired against him； not one of his family survived but Messer
Giovanni；＇*＇ who was in childhood： immediately after his assassination
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the people rose and murdered all the Canneschi。 This sprung from the
popular goodwill which the house of Bentivogli enjoyed in those days in
Bologna； which was so great that； although none remained there after the
death of Annibale who was able to rule the state； the Bolognese； having
information that there was one of the Bentivogli family in Florence； who
up to that time had been considered the son of a blacksmith； sent to
Florence for him and gave him the government of their city； and it was
ruled by him until Messer Giovanni came in due course to the
government。
＇*＇ Giovanni Bentivogli； born in Bologna 1438； died at Milan 1508。
He ruled Bologna from 1462 to 1506。 Machiavelli's strong condemnation
of conspiracies may get its edge from his own very recent experience
（February 1513）； when he had been arrested and tortured for his alleged
complicity in the Boscoli conspiracy。
For this reason I consider that a prince ought to reckon conspiracies of
little account when his people hold him in esteem； but when it is hostile to
him； and bears hatred towards him； he ought to fear everything and
everybody。 And well…ordered states and wise princes have taken every
care not to drive the nobles to desperation； and to keep the people satisfied
and contented； for this is one of the most important objects a prince can
have。
Among the best ordered and governed kingdoms of our times is France；
and in it are found many good institutions on which depend the liberty and
security of the king； of these the first is the parliament and its authority；
because he who founded the kingdom； knowing the ambition of the
nobility and their boldness； considered that a bit to their mouths would be
necessary to hold them in； and； on the other side； knowing the hatred of
the people； founded in fear； against the nobles； he wished to protect them；
yet he was not anxious for this to be the particular care of the king；
therefore； to take away the reproach which he would be liable to from the
nobles for favouring the people； and from the people for favouring the
nobles； he set up an arbiter； who should be one who could beat down the
great and favour the lesser without reproach to the king。 Neither could you
have a better or a more prudent arrangement； or a greater source of
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security to the king and kingdom。 From this one can draw another
important conclusion； that princes ought to leave affairs of reproach to the
management of others； and keep those of grace in their own hands。 And
further； I consider that a prince ought to cherish the nobles； but not so as to
make himself hated by the people。
It may appear； perhaps； to some who have examined the lives and
deaths of the Roman emperors that many of them would be an example
contrary to my opinion； seeing that some of them lived no
