the prince(王子)-第16部分
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！
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 unexpected circumstances that
he could not deal with。
＇*＇ Philopoemen； 〃the last of the Greeks；〃 born 252 B。C。； died 183
B。C。
But to exercise the intellect the prince should read histories； and study
there the actions of illustrious men； to see how they have borne themselves
in war； to examine the causes of their victories and defeat； so as to avoid
the latter and imitate the former； and above all do as an illustrious man did；
who took as an exemplar one who had been praised and famous before
him； and whose achievements and deeds he always kept in his mind； as it
is said Alexander the Great imitated Achilles； Caesar Alexander； Scipio
Cyrus。 And whoever reads the life of Cyrus； written by Xenophon； will
recognize afterwards in the life of Scipio how that imitation was his glory；
63
… Page 64…
The Prince
and how in chastity； affability； humanity； and liberality Scipio conformed
to those things which have been written of Cyrus by Xenophon。 A wise
prince ought to observe some such rules； and never in peaceful times stand
idle； but increase his resources with industry in such a way that they may
be available to him in adversity； so that if fortune chances it may find him
prepared to resist her blows。
64
… Page 65…
The Prince
CHAPTER XV CONCERNING THINGS FOR WHICH MEN；
AND ESPECIALLY PRINCES； ARE PRAISED OR BLAMED
It remains now to see what ought to be the rules of conduct for a
prince towards subject and friends。 And as I know that many have written
on this point； I expect I shall be considered presumptuous in mentioning it
again； especially as in discussing it I shall depart from the methods of
other people。 But； it being my intention to write a thing which shall be
useful to him who apprehends it； it appears to me more appropriate to
follow up the real truth of the matter than the imagination of it； for many
have pictured republics and principalities which in fact have never been
known or seen； because how one lives is so far distant from how one
ought to live； that he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done；
sooner effects his ruin than his preservation； for a man who wishes to act
entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him
among so much that is evil。
Hence it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know
how to do wrong； and to make use of it or not according to necessity。
Therefore； putting on one side imaginary things concerning a prince； and
discussing those which are real； I say that all men when they are spoken of；
and chiefly princes for being more highly placed； are remarkable for some
of those qualities which bring them either blame or praise； and thus it is
that one is reputed liberal； another miserly； using a Tuscan term （because
an avaricious person in our language is still he who desires to possess by
robbery； whilst we call one miserly who deprives himself too much of the
use of his own）； one is reputed generous； one rapacious； one cruel； one
compassionate； one faithless； another faithful； one effeminate and
cowardly； another bold and brave； one affable； another haughty； one
lascivious； another chaste； one sincere； another cunning； one hard； another
easy； one grave； another frivolous； one religious； another unbelieving； and
the like。 And I know that every one will confess that it would be most
praiseworthy in a prince to exhibit all the above qualities that are
considered good； but because they can neither be entirely possessed nor
observed； for human conditions do not permit it； it is necessary for him to
be sufficiently prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of
65
… Page 66…
The Prince
those vices which would lose him his state； and also to keep himself； if it
be possible； from those which would not lose him it； but this not being
possible； he may with less hesitation abandon himself to them。 And again；
he need not make himself uneasy at incurring a reproach for those vices
without which the state can only be saved with difficulty； for if everything
is considered carefully； it will be found that something which looks like
virtue； if followed； would be his ruin； whilst something else； which looks
like vice； yet followed brings him security and prosperity。
66
… Page 67…
The Prince
CHAPTER XVI
CONCERNING LIBERALITY AND MEANNESS
Commencing then with the first of the above…named characteristics； I
say that it would be well to be reputed liberal。 Nevertheless； liberality
exercised in a way that does not bring you the reputation for it； injures you；
for if one exercises it honestly and as it should be exercised； it may not
become known； and you will not avoid the reproach of its opposite。
Therefore； any one wishing to maintain among men the name of liberal is
obliged to avoid no attribute of magnificence； so that a prince thus
inclined will consume in such acts all his property； and will be compelled
in the end； if he wish to maintain the name of liberal； to unduly weigh
down his people； and tax them； and do everything he can to get money。
This will soon make him odious to his subjects； and becoming poor he will
be little valued by any one； thus； with his liberality； having offended many
and rewarded few； he is affected by the very first trouble and imperilled by
whatever may be the first danger； recognizing this himself； and wishing to
draw back from it； he runs at once into the reproach of being miserly。
Therefore； a prince； not being able to exercise this virtue of liberality
in such a way that it is recognized； except to his cost； if he is wise he
ought not to fear the reputation of being mean； for in time he will come to
be more considered than if liberal； seeing that with his economy his
revenues are enough； that he can defend himself against all attacks； and is
able to engage in enterprises without burdening his people； thus it comes
to pass that he exercises liberality towards all from whom he does not take；
who are numberless； and meanness towards those to whom he does not
give； who are few。
We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who
have been considered mean； the rest have failed。 Pope Julius the Second
was assisted in reaching the papacy by a reputation for liberality； yet he
did not strive afterwards to keep it up； when he made war on the King of
France； and he made many wars without imposing any extraordinary tax
on his subjects； for he supplied his additional expenses out of his long
thriftiness。 The present King of Spain would not have undertaken or
67
… Page 68…
The Prince
conquered in so many enterprises if he had been reputed liberal。 A prince；
therefore； provided that he has not to rob his subjects； that he can defend
himself； that he does not become poor and abject； that he is not forced to
become rapacious； ought to hold of little account a reputation for being
mean； for it is one of those vices which will enable him to govern。
And if any one should say： Caesar obtained empire by liberality； and
many others have reached the highest positions by having been liberal； and
by being considered so； I answer： Either you are a prince in fact； or in a
way to become one。 In the first case this liberality is dangerous； in the
second it is very necessary to be considered liberal； and Caesar was one of
those who wished to become pre…eminent in Rome； but if he had survived
after becoming so； and had not moderated his expenses； he would have
destroyed his government。 And if any one should reply： Many have been
princes； and have done great things with armies； who have been
considered very liberal； I reply： Either a prince spends that which is his
own or his subjects' or else that of others。
