《君主论-the prince(英文版)》

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君主论-the prince(英文版)- 第5部分


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orm which seemed best to them。 Without that opportunity theirpowers of mind would have been extinguished; and without those powersthe opportunity would have e in vain。It was necessary; therefore; to Moses that he should find the people ofIsrael in Egypt enslaved and oppressed by the Egyptians; in order thatthey should be disposed to follow him so as to be delivered out ofbondage。 It was necessary that Romulus should not remain in Alba; andthat he should be abandoned at his birth; in order that he should beeKing of Rome and founder of the fatherland。 It was necessary that Cyrusshould find the Persians discontented with the government of the Medes;and the Medes soft and effeminate through their long peace。 Theseuscould not have shown his ability had he not found the Atheniansdispersed。 These opportunities; therefore; made those men fortunate; andtheir high ability enabled them to recognize the opportunity wherebytheir country was ennobled and made famous。Those who by valorous ways bee princes; like these men; acquire aprincipality with difficulty; but they it with ease。 The difficultiesthey have in acquiring it arise in part from the new rules and methodswhich they are forced to introduce to establish their government and itssecurity。 And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing moredifficult to take in hand; more perilous to conduct; or more uncertainin its success; than to take the lead in the introduction of a new orderof things。 Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have donewell under the old conditions; and lukewarm defenders in those who maydo well under the new。 This coolness arises partly from fear of theopponents; who have the laws on their side; and partly from theincredulity of men; who do not readily believe in new things until theyhave had a long experience of them。 Thus it happens that whenever thosewho are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it likepartisans; whilst the others defend lukewarmly; in such wise that theprince is endangered along with them。It is necessary; therefore; if we desire to discuss this matterthoroughly; to inquire whether these innovators can rely on themselvesor have to depend on others: that is to say; whether; to consummatetheir enterprise; have they to use prayers or can they use force? In thefirst instance they always succeed badly; and never pass anything;but when they can rely on themselves and use force; then they are rarelyendangered。 Hence it is that all armed prophets have conquered; and theunarmed ones have been destroyed。 Besides the reasons mentioned; thenature of the people is variable; and whilst it is easy to persuadethem; it is difficult to fix them in that persuasion。 And thus it isnecessary to take such measures that; when they believe no longer; itmay be possible to make them believe by force。If Moses; Cyrus; Theseus; and Romulus had been unarmed they could nothave enforced their constitutions for long …… as happened in our time toFra Girolamo Savonarola; who was ruined with his new order of thingsimmediately the multitude believed in him no longer; and he had no meansof keeping steadfast those who believed or of making the unbelievers tobelieve。 Therefore such as these have great difficulties in consummatingtheir enterprise; for all their dangers are in the ascent; yet withability they will overe them; but when these are overe; and thosewho envied them their success are exterminated; they will begin to berespected; and they will continue afterwards powerful; secure; honoured;and happy。To these great examples I wish to add a lesser one; still it bears someresemblance to them; and I wish it to suffice me for all of a like kind:it is Hiero the Syracusan。 This man rose from a private station to bePrince of Syracuse; nor did he; either; owe anything to fortune butopportunity; for the Syracusans; being oppressed; chose him for theircaptain; afterwards he was rewarded by being made their prince。 He wasof so great ability; even as a private citizen; that one who writes ofhim says he wanted nothing but a kingdom to be a king。 This manabolished the old soldiery; organized the new; gave up old alliances;made new ones; and as he had his own soldiers and allies; on suchfoundations he was able to build any edifice: thus; whilst he hadendured much trouble in acquiring; he had but little in keeping。CHAPTER VIICONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED EITHER BY THE ARMS OFOTHERS OR BY GOOD FORTUHOSE who solely by good fortune bee princes from being privatecitizens have little trouble in rising; but much in keeping atop; theyhave not any difficulties on the way up; because they fly; but they havemany when they reach the summit。 Such are those to whom some state isgiven either for money or by the favour of him who bestows it; ashappened to many in Greece; in the cities of Ionia and of theHellespont; where princes were made by Darius; in order that they mighthold the cities both for his security and his glory; as also were thoseemperors who; by the corruption of the soldiers; from being citizenscame to empire。 Such stand simply upon the goodwill and the fortune ofhim who has elevated them …… two most inconstant and unstable things。Neither have they the knowledge requisite for the position; because;unless they are men of great worth and ability; it is not reasonable toexpect that they should know how to mand; having always lived in aprivate condition; besides; they cannot hold it because they have notforces which they can keep friendly and faithful。States that rise unexpectedly; then; like all other things in naturewhich are born and grow rapidly; cannot have their foundations andrelations with other states fixed in such a way that the first stormwill not overthrow them; unless; as is said; those who unexpectedlybee princes are men of so much ability that they know they have to beprepared at once to hold that which fortune has thrown into their laps;and that those foundations; which others have laid before they becameprinces; they must lay afterwards。Concerning these two methods of rising to be a prince by ability orfortune; I wish to adduce two examples within our own recollection; andthese are Francesco Sforza and Cesare Borgia。 Francesco; by proper meansand with great ability; from being a private person rose to be Duke ofMilan; and that which he had acquired with a thousand anxieties he keptwith little trouble。 On the other hand; Cesare Borgia; called by thepeople Duke Valentino; acquired his state during the ascendancy of hisfather; and on its decline he lost it; notwithstanding that he had takenevery measure and done all that ought to be done by a wise and able manto fix firmly his roots in the states which the arms and fortunes ofothers had bestowed on him。Because; as is stated above; he who has not first laid his foundationsmay be able with great ability to lay them afterwards; but they will belaid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building。 If;therefore; all the steps taken by the duke be considered; it will beseen that he laid solid foundations for his future power; and I do notconsider it superfluous to discuss them; because I do not know whatbetter precepts to give a new prince than the example of his actions;and if his dispositi

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