conquered¡¡by¡¡Titus¡¡Quintius£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡much¡¡territory¡¡pared¡¡to¡¡the
greatness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Romans¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Greece¡¡who¡¡attacked¡¡him£»¡¡yet¡¡being¡¡a
warlike¡¡man¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡to¡¡attract¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡secure¡¡the¡¡nobles£»¡¡he
sustained¡¡the¡¡war¡¡against¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end
he¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡dominion¡¡of¡¡some¡¡cities£»¡¡nevertheless¡¡he¡¡retained¡¡the
kingdom¡£
Therefore£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡let¡¡our¡¡princes¡¡accuse¡¡fortune¡¡for¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡their
principalities¡¡after¡¡so¡¡many¡¡years'¡¡possession£»¡¡but¡¡rather¡¡their¡¡own
sloth£»¡¡because¡¡in¡¡quiet¡¡times¡¡they¡¡never¡¡thought¡¡there¡¡could¡¡be¡¡a¡¡change
£¨it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mon¡¡defect¡¡in¡¡man¡¡not¡¡to¡¡make¡¡any¡¡provision¡¡in¡¡the¡¡calm
against¡¡the¡¡tempest£©£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡afterwards¡¡the¡¡bad¡¡times¡¡came¡¡they
thought¡¡of¡¡flight¡¡and¡¡not¡¡of¡¡defending¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡hoped¡¡that
the¡¡people£»¡¡disgusted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡insolence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conquerors£»¡¡would¡¡recall
them¡£¡¡This¡¡course£»¡¡when¡¡others¡¡fail£»¡¡may¡¡be¡¡good£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡very¡¡bad¡¡to
have¡¡neglected¡¡all¡¡other¡¡expedients¡¡for¡¡that£»¡¡since¡¡you¡¡would¡¡never¡¡wish
to¡¡fall¡¡because¡¡you¡¡trusted¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡find¡¡someone¡¡later¡¡on¡¡to
restore¡¡you¡£¡¡This¡¡again¡¡either¡¡does¡¡not¡¡happen£»¡¡or£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡does£»¡¡it¡¡will
not¡¡be¡¡for¡¡your¡¡security£»¡¡because¡¡that¡¡deliverance¡¡is¡¡of¡¡no¡¡avail¡¡which
does¡¡not¡¡depend¡¡upon¡¡yourself£»¡¡those¡¡only¡¡are¡¡reliable£»¡¡certain£»¡¡and
durable¡¡that¡¡depend¡¡on¡¡yourself¡¡and¡¡your¡¡valour¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XXV
WHAT¡¡FORTUNE¡¡CAN¡¡EFFECT¡¡IN¡¡HUMAN¡¡AFFAIRS£»¡¡AND¡¡HOW¡¡TO¡¡WITHSTAND¡¡HER
IT¡¡is¡¡not¡¡unknown¡¡to¡¡me¡¡how¡¡many¡¡men¡¡have¡¡had£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡have£»¡¡the
opinion¡¡that¡¡the¡¡affairs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡are¡¡in¡¡such¡¡wise¡¡governed¡¡by
fortune¡¡and¡¡by¡¡God¡¡that¡¡men¡¡with¡¡their¡¡wisdom¡¡cannot¡¡direct¡¡them¡¡and
that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡can¡¡even¡¡help¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡because¡¡of¡¡this¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡us
believe¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡labour¡¡much¡¡in¡¡affairs£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡let
chance¡¡govern¡¡them¡£¡¡This¡¡opinion¡¡has¡¡been¡¡more¡¡credited¡¡in¡¡our¡¡times
because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡changes¡¡in¡¡affairs¡¡which¡¡have¡¡been¡¡seen£»¡¡and¡¡may
still¡¡be¡¡seen£»¡¡every¡¡day£»¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡human¡¡conjecture¡£¡¡Sometimes
pondering¡¡over¡¡this£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡in¡¡some¡¡degree¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡their¡¡opinion¡£
Nevertheless£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡extinguish¡¡our¡¡free¡¡will£»¡¡I¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡to¡¡be¡¡true¡¡that
Fortune¡¡is¡¡the¡¡arbiter¡¡of¡¡one¡half¡¡of¡¡our¡¡actions£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡she¡¡still
leaves¡¡us¡¡to¡¡direct¡¡the¡¡other¡¡half£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡little¡¡less¡£
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overflows¡¡the¡¡plains£»¡¡sweeping¡¡away¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡buildings£»¡¡bearing¡¡away
the¡¡soil¡¡from¡¡place¡¡to¡¡place£»¡¡everything¡¡flies¡¡before¡¡it£»¡¡all¡¡yield¡¡to
its¡¡violence£»¡¡without¡¡being¡¡able¡¡in¡¡any¡¡way¡¡to¡¡withstand¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡yet£»
though¡¡its¡¡nature¡¡be¡¡such£»¡¡it¡¡does¡¡not¡¡follow¡¡therefore¡¡that¡¡men£»¡¡when
the¡¡weather¡¡bees¡¡fair£»¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡make¡¡provision£»¡¡both¡¡with¡¡defences
and¡¡barriers£»¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡manner¡¡that£»¡¡rising¡¡again£»¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡may¡¡pass
away¡¡by¡¡canal£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡force¡¡be¡¡neither¡¡so¡¡unrestrained¡¡nor¡¡so
dangerous¡£¡¡So¡¡it¡¡happens¡¡with¡¡fortune£»¡¡who¡¡shows¡¡her¡¡power¡¡where¡¡valour
has¡¡not¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡resist¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡thither¡¡she¡¡turns¡¡her¡¡forces¡¡where
she¡¡knows¡¡that¡¡barriers¡¡and¡¡defences¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡raised¡¡to¡¡constrain
her¡£
And¡¡if¡¡you¡¡will¡¡consider¡¡Italy£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡these¡¡changes£»¡¡and
which¡¡has¡¡given¡¡to¡¡them¡¡their¡¡impulse£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡see¡¡it¡¡to¡¡be¡¡an¡¡open
country¡¡without¡¡barriers¡¡and¡¡without¡¡any¡¡defence¡£¡¡For¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been
defended¡¡by¡¡proper¡¡valour£»¡¡as¡¡are¡¡Germany£»¡¡Spain£»¡¡and¡¡France£»¡¡either
this¡¡invasion¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡made¡¡the¡¡great¡¡changes¡¡it¡¡has¡¡made¡¡or¡¡it
would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡e¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡And¡¡this¡¡I¡¡consider¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡say¡¡concerning
resistance¡¡to¡¡fortune¡¡in¡¡general¡£
But¡¡confining¡¡myself¡¡more¡¡to¡¡the¡¡particular£»¡¡I¡¡say¡¡that¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡may¡¡be
seen¡¡happy¡¡to¡day¡¡and¡¡ruined¡¡to¡morrow¡¡without¡¡having¡¡shown¡¡any¡¡change
of¡¡disposition¡¡or¡¡character¡£¡¡This£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»¡¡arises¡¡firstly¡¡from¡¡causes
that¡¡have¡¡already¡¡been¡¡discussed¡¡at¡¡length£»¡¡namely£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡who
relies¡¡entirely¡¡upon¡¡fortune¡¡is¡¡lost¡¡when¡¡it¡¡changes¡£¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡also
that¡¡he¡¡will¡¡be¡¡successful¡¡who¡¡directs¡¡his¡¡actions¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the
spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡whose¡¡actions¡¡do¡¡not¡¡accord¡¡with¡¡the
times¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡successful¡£¡¡Because¡¡men¡¡are¡¡seen£»¡¡in¡¡affairs¡¡that¡¡lead
to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡which¡¡every¡¡man¡¡has¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡namely£»¡¡glory¡¡and¡¡riches£»¡¡to
get¡¡there¡¡by¡¡various¡¡methods£»¡¡one¡¡with¡¡caution£»¡¡another¡¡with¡¡haste£»¡¡one
by¡¡force£»¡¡another¡¡by¡¡skill£»¡¡one¡¡by¡¡patience£»¡¡another¡¡by¡¡its¡¡opposite£»
and¡¡each¡¡one¡¡succeeds¡¡in¡¡reaching¡¡the¡¡goal¡¡by¡¡a¡¡different¡¡method¡£¡¡One
can¡¡also¡¡see¡¡of¡¡two¡¡cautious¡¡men¡¡the¡¡one¡¡attain¡¡his¡¡end£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡fail£»
and¡¡similarly£»¡¡two¡¡men¡¡by¡¡different¡¡observances¡¡are¡¡equally¡¡successful£»
the¡¡one¡¡being¡¡cautious£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡impetuous£»¡¡all¡¡this¡¡arises¡¡from
nothing¡¡else¡¡than¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡they¡¡conform¡¡in¡¡their¡¡methods¡¡to¡¡the
spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times¡£¡¡This¡¡follows¡¡from¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡that¡¡two¡¡men
working¡¡differently¡¡bring¡¡about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡effect£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡two¡¡working
similarly£»¡¡one¡¡attains¡¡his¡¡object¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡does¡¡not¡£
Changes¡¡in¡¡estate¡¡also¡¡issue¡¡from¡¡this£»¡¡for¡¡if£»¡¡to¡¡one¡¡who¡¡governs
himself¡¡with¡¡caution¡¡and¡¡patience£»¡¡times¡¡and¡¡affairs¡¡converge¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a
way¡¡that¡¡his¡¡administration¡¡is¡¡successful£»¡¡his¡¡fortune¡¡is¡¡made£»¡¡but¡¡if
times¡¡and¡¡affairs¡¡change£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡ruined¡¡if¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡change¡¡his¡¡course
of¡¡action¡£¡¡But¡¡a¡¡man¡¡is¡¡not¡¡often¡¡found¡¡sufficiently¡¡circumspect¡¡to¡¡know
how¡¡to¡¡acmodate¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡change£»¡¡both¡¡because¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡deviate
from¡¡what¡¡nature¡¡inclines¡¡him¡¡to£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡because£»¡¡having¡¡always
prospered¡¡by¡¡acting¡¡in¡¡one¡¡way£»¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡persuaded¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡well
to¡¡leave¡¡it£»¡¡and£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡the¡¡cautious¡¡man£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡is¡¡time¡¡to¡¡turn
adventurous£»¡¡does¡¡not¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡hence¡¡he¡¡is¡¡ruined£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡he
changed¡¡his¡¡conduct¡¡with¡¡the¡¡times¡¡fortune¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡changed¡£
Pope¡¡Julius¡¡II¡¡went¡¡to¡¡work¡¡impetuously¡¡in¡¡all¡¡his¡¡affairs£»¡¡and¡¡found
the¡¡times¡¡and¡¡circumstances¡¡conform¡¡so¡¡well¡¡to¡¡that¡¡line¡¡of¡¡action¡¡that
he¡¡always¡¡met¡¡with¡¡success¡£¡¡Consider¡¡his¡¡first¡¡enterprise¡¡against
Bologna£»¡¡Messer¡¡Giovanni¡¡Bentivogli¡¡being¡¡still¡¡alive¡£¡¡The¡¡Venetians
were¡¡not¡¡agreeable¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡nor¡¡was¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of¡¡Spain£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the
enterprise¡¡still¡¡under¡¡discussion¡¡with¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of¡¡France£»¡¡nevertheless
he¡¡personally¡¡entered¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡with¡¡his¡¡accustomed¡¡boldness
and¡¡energy£»¡¡a¡¡move¡¡which¡¡made¡¡Spain¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Venetians¡¡stand¡¡irresolute
and¡¡passive£»¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡from¡¡fear£»¡¡the¡¡former¡¡from¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡recover¡¡all
the¡¡kingdom¡¡of¡¡Naples£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡after¡¡him¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of
France£»¡¡because¡¡that¡¡king£»¡¡having¡¡observed¡¡the¡¡movement£»¡¡and¡¡desiring¡¡to
make¡¡the¡¡Pope¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡humble¡¡the¡¡Venetians£»¡¡found¡¡it
impossible¡¡to¡¡refuse¡¡him¡¡soldiers¡¡without¡¡manifestly¡¡offending¡¡him¡£
Therefore¡¡Julius¡¡with¡¡his¡¡impetuous¡¡action¡¡acplished¡¡what¡¡no¡¡other
pontiff¡¡with¡¡simple¡¡human¡¡wisdom¡¡could¡¡have¡¡done£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡waited
in¡¡Rome¡¡until¡¡he¡¡could¡¡get¡¡away£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡plans¡¡arranged¡¡and¡¡everything
fixed£»¡¡as¡¡any¡¡other¡¡pontiff¡¡would¡¡have¡¡done£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have
succeeded¡£¡¡Because¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of¡¡France¡¡would¡¡have¡¡made¡¡a¡¡thousand
excuses£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡others¡¡would¡¡have¡¡raised¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡fears¡£
I¡¡will¡¡leave¡¡his¡¡other¡¡actions¡¡alone£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡alike£»¡¡and¡¡they
all¡¡succeeded£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡shortness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡¡did¡¡not¡¡let¡¡him¡¡experience
the¡¡contrary£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡circumstances¡¡had¡¡arisen¡¡which¡¡required¡¡him¡¡to¡¡go
cautiously£»¡¡his¡¡ruin¡¡would¡¡have¡¡followed£»¡¡because¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have
deviated¡¡from¡¡those¡¡ways¡¡to¡¡which¡¡nature¡¡inclined¡¡him¡£
I¡¡conclude¡¡therefore¡¡that£»¡¡fortune¡¡being¡¡changeful¡¡and¡¡mankind¡¡steadfast
in¡¡their¡¡ways£»¡¡so¡¡long¡¡as¡¡the¡¡two¡¡are¡¡in¡¡agreement¡¡men¡¡are¡¡successful£»
but¡¡unsuccessful¡¡when¡¡they¡¡fall¡¡out¡£¡¡For¡¡my¡¡part¡¡I¡¡consider¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is
better¡¡to¡¡be¡¡adventurous¡¡than¡¡cautious£»¡¡because¡¡fortune¡¡is¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡and
if¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡under¡¡it¡¡is¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡beat¡¡and¡¡ill¡use¡¡her£»
and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡she¡¡allows¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡mastered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡adventurous
rather¡¡than¡¡by¡¡those¡¡who¡¡go¡¡to¡¡work¡¡more¡¡coldly¡£¡¡She¡¡is£»¡¡therefore£»
always£»¡¡woman¡like£»¡¡a¡¡lover¡¡of¡¡young¡¡men£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡are¡¡less
cautious£»¡¡more¡¡violent£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡more¡¡audacity¡¡mand¡¡her¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XXVI
AN¡¡EXHORTATION¡¡TO¡¡LIBERATE¡¡ITALY¡¡FROM¡¡THE¡¡BARBARIANS
HAVING¡¡carefully¡¡considered¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡the¡¡above¡¡discourses£»¡¡and
wondering¡¡within¡¡myself¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡present¡¡times¡¡were¡¡propitious¡¡to¡¡a
new¡¡prince£»¡¡and¡¡whether¡¡there¡¡were¡¡the¡¡elements¡¡that¡¡would¡¡give¡¡an
opportunity¡¡to¡¡a¡¡wise¡¡and¡¡virtuous¡¡one¡¡to¡¡introduce¡¡a¡¡new¡¡order¡¡of
things¡¡which¡¡would¡¡do¡¡honour¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡good¡¡to¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡this
country£»¡¡it¡¡appears¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡so¡¡many¡¡things¡¡concur¡¡to¡¡favour¡¡a¡¡new
prince¡¡that¡¡I¡¡never¡¡knew¡¡a¡¡time¡¡more¡¡fit¡¡than¡¡the¡¡present¡£
And¡¡if£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡should¡¡be
captive¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡make¡¡manifest¡¡the¡¡ability¡¡of¡¡Moses£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Persians
should¡¡be¡¡oppressed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Medes¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡the¡¡greatness¡¡of¡¡the
soul¡¡of¡¡Cyrus£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡should¡¡be¡¡dispersed¡¡to¡¡illustrate
the¡¡capabilities¡¡of¡¡Theseus£º¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡present¡¡time£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to
discover¡¡the¡¡virtue¡¡of¡¡an¡¡Italian¡¡spirit£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡that¡¡Italy
should¡¡be¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡extremity¡¡she¡¡is¡¡now¡¡in£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡be
more¡¡enslaved¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Hebrews£»¡¡more¡¡oppressed¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Persians£»¡¡more
scattered¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Athenians£»¡¡without¡¡head£»¡¡without¡¡order£»¡¡beaten£»
despoiled£»¡¡torn£»¡¡overrun£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡have¡¡endured¡¡every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡desolation¡£
Although¡¡lately¡¡some¡¡spark¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡shown¡¡by¡¡one£»¡¡which¡¡made¡¡us
think¡¡he¡¡was¡¡ordained¡¡by¡¡God¡¡for¡¡our¡¡redemption£»¡¡nevertheless¡¡it¡¡was
afterwards¡¡seen£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡his¡¡career£»¡¡that¡¡fortune¡¡rejected¡¡him£»
so¡¡that¡¡Italy£»¡¡left¡¡as¡¡without¡¡life£»¡¡waits¡¡for¡¡him¡¡who¡¡shall¡¡yet¡¡heal
her¡¡wounds¡¡and¡¡put¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ravaging¡¡and¡¡plundering¡¡of¡¡Lombardy£»¡¡to
the¡¡swindling¡¡and¡¡taxing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Tuscany£»¡¡and¡¡cleanse
those¡¡sores¡¡that¡¡for¡¡long¡¡have¡¡festered¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡seen¡¡how¡¡she¡¡entreats¡¡God
to¡¡send¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡shall¡¡deliver¡¡her¡¡from¡¡these¡¡wrongs¡¡and¡¡barbarous
insolencies¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡seen¡¡also¡¡that¡¡she¡¡is¡¡ready¡¡and¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡a
banner¡¡if¡¡only¡¡someone¡¡will¡¡raise¡¡it¡£
Nor¡¡is¡¡there¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡at¡¡present¡¡one¡¡in¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡can¡¡place¡¡more¡¡hope
than¡¡in¡¡your¡¡illustrious¡¡house£»¡¡with¡¡its¡¡valo