《君主论-the prince(英文版)》the prince(英文版)-第2章


s would be that he should go and reside there。This would make his position more secure and durable; as it has madethat of the Turk in Greece; who; notwithstanding all the other measurestaken by him for holding that state; if he had not settled there; wouldnot have been able to keep it。 Because; if one is on the spot; disordersare seen as they spring up; and one can quickly remedy them; but if oneis not at hand; they heard of only when they are one can no longerremedy them。 Besides this; the country is not pillaged by yourofficials; the subjects are satisfied by prompt recourse to the prince;thus; wishing to be good; they have more cause to love him; and wishingto be otherwise; to fear him。 He who would attack that state from theoutside must have the utmost caution; as long as the prince residesthere it can only be wrested from him with the greatest difficulty。The other and better course is to send colonies to one or two places;which may be as keys to that state; for it necessary either to do thisor else to keep there a great number of cavalry and infantry。 A princedoes not spend much on colonies; for with little or no expense he cansend them out and keep them there; and he offends a minority only of thecitizens from whom he takes lands and houses to give them to the newinhabitants; and those whom he offends; remaining poor and scattered;are never able to injure him; whilst the rest being uninjured are easilykept quiet; and at the same time are anxious not to err for fear itshould happen to them as it has to those who have been despoiled。 Inconclusion; I say that these colonies are not costly; they are morefaithful; they injure less; and the injured; as has been said; beingpoor and scattered; cannot hurt。 Upon this; one has to remark that menought either to be well treated or crushed; because they can avengethemselves of lighter injuries; of more serious ones they cannot;therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such akind that one does not stand in fear of revenge。But in maintaining armed men there in place of colonies one spends muchmore; having to consume on the garrison all ine from the state; sothat the acquisition turns into a loss; and many more are exasperated;because the whole state is injured; through the shifting of the garrisonup and down all bee acquainted with hardship; and all bee hostile;and they are enemies who; whilst beaten on their own ground; are yetable to do hurt。 For every reason; therefore; such guards are as uselessas a colony is useful。Again; the prince who holds a country differing in the above respectsought to make himself the head and defender of his powerful neighbours;and to weaken the more powerful amongst them; taking care that noforeigner as powerful as himself shall; by any accident; get a footingthere; for it will always happen that such a one will be introduced bythose who are discontented; either through excess of ambition or throughfear; as one has seen already。 The Romans were brought into Greece bythe Aetolians; and in every other country where they obtained a footingthey were brought in by the inhabitants。 And the usual course of affairsis that; as soon as a powerful foreigner enters a country; all thesubject states are drawn to him; moved by the hatred which they feelagainst the ruling power。 So that in respect to these subject states hehas not to take any trouble to gain them over to himself; for the wholeof them quickly rally to the state which he has acquired there。 He hasonly to take care that they do not get hold of too much power and toomuch authority; and then with his own forces; and with their goodwill;he can easily keep down the more powerful of them; so as to remainentirely master in the country。 And he who does not properly manage thisbusiness will soon lose what he has acquired; and whilst he does hold ithe will have endless difficulties and troubles。The Romans; in the countries which they annexed; observed closely thesemeasures; they sent colonies and maintained friendly relations with theminor powers; without increasing their strength; they kept down thegreater; and did not allow any strong foreign powers to gain authority。Greece appears to me sufficient for an example。 The Achaeans andAetolians were kept friendly by them; the kingdom of Macedonia washumbled; Antiochus was driven out; yet the merits of the Achaeans andAetolians never secured for them permission to increase their power; nordid the persuasions of Philip ever induce the Romans to be his friendswithout first humbling him; nor did the influence of Antiochus make themagree that he should retain any lordship over the country。 Because theRomans did in these instances what all prudent princes ought to do; whohave to regard not only present troubles; but also future ones; forwhich they must prepare with every energy; because; when foreseen; it iseasy to remedy them; but if you wait until they approach; the medicineis no longer in time because the malady has bee incurable; for ithappens in this; as the physicians say it happens in hectic fever; thatin the beginning of the malady it is easy to cure but difficult todetect; but in the course of time; not having been either detected ortreated in the beginning; it bees easy to detect but difficult tocure。 Thus it happens in affairs of state; for when the evils that arisehave been foreseen (which it is only given to a wise man to see); theycan 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 theme to a head; for they knew that war is not to be avoided; but is onlyput off to the advantage of others; moreover they wished to fight withPhilip and Antiochus in Greece so as not to have to do it in Italy; theycould have avoided both; but this they did not wish; nor did that everplease them which is for ever in the mouths of the wise ones of ourtime:…… Let us enjoy the benefits of the time …… but rather the benefits oftheir own valour and prudence; for time drives everything before it; andis able to bring with it good as well as evil; a
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