the prince(王子)-第5章
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lose what he has acquired； and whilst he does hold it he will have endless
difficulties and troubles。
The Romans； in the countries which they annexed； observed closely
these measures； they sent colonies and maintained friendly relations
with＇*＇ the minor powers； without increasing their strength； they kept
down the greater； and did not allow any strong foreign powers to gain
authority。 Greece appears to me sufficient for an example。 The Achaeans
and Aetolians were kept friendly by them； the kingdom of Macedonia was
humbled； Antiochus was driven out； yet the merits of the Achaeans and
Aetolians never secured for them permission to increase their power； nor
did the persuasions of Philip ever induce the Romans to be his friends
without first humbling him； nor did the influence of Antiochus make them
agree that he should retain any lordship over the country。 Because the
Romans did in these instances what all prudent princes ought to do； who
have to regard not only present troubles； but also future ones； for which
they must prepare with every energy； because； when foreseen； it is easy to
remedy them； but if you wait until they approach； the medicine is no
longer in time because the malady has become incurable； for it happens in
this； as the physicians say it happens in hectic fever； that in the beginning
of the malady it is easy to cure but difficult to detect； but in the course of
time； not having been either detected or treated in the beginning； it
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becomes easy to detect but difficult to cure。 This it happens in affairs of
state； for when the evils that arise have been foreseen （which it is only
given to a wise man to see）； they can be quickly redressed； but when；
through not having been foreseen； they have been permitted to grow in a
way that every one can see them； there is no longer a remedy。 Therefore；
the Romans； foreseeing troubles； dealt with them at once； and； even to
avoid a war； would not let them come to a head； for they knew that war is
not to be avoided； but is only to be put off to the advantage of others；
moreover they wished to fight with Philip and Antiochus in Greece so as
not to have to do it in Italy； they could have avoided both； but this they did
not wish； nor did that ever please them which is for ever in the mouths of
the wise ones of our time：Let us enjoy the benefits of the timebut rather
the benefits of their own valour and prudence； for time drives everything
before it； and is able to bring with it good as well as evil； and evil as well
as good。
＇*＇ See remark in the introduction on the word 〃intrattenere。〃
But let us turn to France and inquire whether she has done any of the
things mentioned。 I will speak of Louis＇*＇ （and not of Charles＇＋＇） as the
one whose conduct is the better to be observed； he having held possession
of Italy for the longest period； and you will see that he has done the
opposite to those things which ought to be done to retain a state composed
of divers elements。
＇*＇ Louis XII； King of France； 〃The Father of the People；〃 born 1462；
died 1515。
＇＋＇ Charles VIII； King of France； born 1470； died 1498。
King Louis was brought into Italy by the ambition of the Venetians；
who desired to obtain half the state of Lombardy by his intervention。 I will
not blame the course taken by the king； because； wishing to get a foothold
in Italy； and having no friends thereseeing rather that every door was
shut to him owing to the conduct of Charleshe was forced to accept those
friendships which he could get； and he would have succeeded very quickly
in his design if in other matters he had not made some mistakes。 The king；
however； having acquired Lombardy； regained at once the authority which
Charles had lost： Genoa yielded； the Florentines became his friends； the
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Marquess of Mantua； the Duke of Ferrara； the Bentivogli； my lady of Forli；
the Lords of Faenza； of Pesaro； of Rimini； of Camerino； of Piombino； the
Lucchese； the Pisans； the Sieneseeverybody made advances to him to
become his friend。 Then could the Venetians realize the rashness of the
course taken by them； which； in order that they might secure two towns in
Lombardy； had made the king master of two…thirds of Italy。
Let any one now consider with what little difficulty the king could
have maintained his position in Italy had he observed the rules above laid
down； and kept all his friends secure and protected； for although they were
numerous they were both weak and timid； some afraid of the Church；
some of the Venetians； and thus they would always have been forced to
stand in with him； and by their means he could easily have made himself
secure against those who remained powerful。 But he was no sooner in
Milan than he did the contrary by assisting Pope Alexander to occupy the
Romagna。 It never occurred to him that by this action he was weakening
himself； depriving himself of friends and of those who had thrown
themselves into his lap； whilst he aggrandized the Church by adding much
temporal power to the spiritual； thus giving it greater authority。 And
having committed this prime error； he was obliged to follow it up； so much
so that； to put an end to the ambition of Alexander； and to prevent his
becoming the master of Tuscany； he was himself forced to come into Italy。
And as if it were not enough to have aggrandized the Church； and
deprived himself of friends； he； wishing to have the kingdom of Naples；
divides it with the King of Spain； and where he was the prime arbiter in
Italy he takes an associate； so that the ambitious of that country and the
malcontents of his own should have somewhere to shelter； and whereas he
could have left in the kingdom his own pensioner as king； he drove him
out； to put one there who was able to drive him； Louis； out in turn。
The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common； and men
always do so when they can； and for this they will be praised not blamed；
but when they cannot do so； yet wish to do so by any means； then there is
folly and blame。 Therefore； if France could have attacked Naples with her
own forces she ought to have done so； if she could not； then she ought not
to have divided it。 And if the partition which she made with the Venetians
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in Lombardy was justified by the excuse that by it she got a foothold in
Italy； this other partition merited blame； for it had not the excuse of that
necessity。
Therefore Louis made these five errors： he destroyed the minor powers；
he increased the strength of one of the greater powers in Italy； he brought
in a foreign power； he did not settle in the country； he did not send
colonies。 Which errors； had he lived； were not enough to injure him had he
not made a sixth by taking away their dominions from the Venetians；
because； had he not aggrandized the Church； nor brought Spain into Italy；
it would have been very reasonable and necessary to humble them； but
having first taken these steps； he ought never to have consented to their
ruin； for they； being powerful； would always have kept off others from
designs on Lombardy； to which the Venetians would never have consented
except to become masters themselves there； also because the others would
not wish to take Lombardy from France in order to give it to the Venetians；
and to run counter to both they would not have had the courage。
And if any one should say： 〃King Louis yielded the Romagna to
Alexander and the kingdom to Spain to avoid war； I answer for the reasons
given above that a blunder ought never to be perpetrated to avoid war；
because it is not to be avoided； but is only deferred to your disadvantage。
And if another should allege the pledge which the king had given to the
Pope that he would assist him in the enterprise； in exchange for the
dissolution of his marriage＇*＇ and for the cap to Rouen；＇＋＇ to that I reply
what I shall write later on concerning the faith of princes； and how it ought
to be kept。
＇*＇ Louis XII divorced his wife； Jeanne； daughter of Louis XI； and
married in 1499 Anne of Brittany； widow of Charles VIII； in order to
retain the Duchy of Brittany for the crown。
＇＋＇ The Archbishop of Rouen。 He was Georges d'Amboise； created a
cardinal by Alexander VI。 Born 1460； died 1510。
Thus King Louis lost Lombardy by not having followed any of the
conditions observed by those who have taken possession of countries and
wished to retain them。 Nor is there any miracle in this； but much that is
reasonable and quite natural。 And on these matters I spoke at Nantes with
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Rouen； when Valentino； as Cesare Borgia； the son of Pope Alexander； was
usually called； occupied the Romagna； and on Cardinal Rouen observing
to me that the Italians did not understand war； I replied to him that the
French did not understand statecraft； meaning that otherwise they would
not have allowed the Church to reach such greatness。 And in fact is has
been seen that the greatness of the Church and of Spain in Italy has been
caused by France； and her ruin may be attributed to them。 From this a
general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails： that he who is the cause
of another becoming powerful is ruined； because that predominancy has
been brought about either by astuteness or else by force； and both are
distrusted by him who has been raised to power。
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