《君主论-the prince(英文版)》the prince(英文版)-第27章


d get away; with his plans arranged and everythingfixed; as any other pontiff would have done; he would never havesucceeded。 Because the King of France would have made a thousandexcuses; and the others would have raised a thousand fears。I will leave his other actions alone; as they were all alike; and theyall succeeded; for the shortness of his life did not let him experiencethe contrary; but if circumstances had arisen to gocautiously; his ruin would have followed; because he would never havedeviated from those ways to which nature inclined him。I conclude therefore that; fortune being changeful and mankind steadfastin 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 isbetter to be adventurous than cautious; because fortune is a woman; andif 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 adventurousrather than by those who go to work more coldly。 She is; therefore;always; woman…like; a lover of young men; because they are lesscautious; more violent; and with more audacity mand her。CHAPTER XXVIAN EXHORTATION TO LIBERATE ITALY FROM THE BARBARIANSHAVING carefully considered the subject of the above discourses; andwondering within myself whether the present times were propitious to anew prince; and whether there were the elements that would give anopportunity to a wise and virtuous one to introduce a new order ofthings which would do honour to him and good to the people of thiscountry; it appears to me that so many things concur to favour a newprince 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 becaptive so as to make manifest the ability of Moses; that the Persiansshould be oppressed by the Medes so as to discover the greatness of thesoul of Cyrus; and that the Athenians should be dispersed to illustratethe capabilities of Theseus: then at the present time; in order todiscover the virtue of an Italian spirit; it was necessary that Italyshould be reduced to the extremity she is now in; that she should bemore enslaved than the Hebrews; more oppressed than the Persians; morescattered 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 usthink he was ordained by God for our redemption; nevertheless it wasafterwards seen; in the height of his career; that fortune rejected him;so that Italy; left as without life; waits for him who shall yet healher wounds and put an end to the ravaging and plundering of Lombardy; tothe swindling and taxing of the kingdom and of Tuscany; and cleansethose sores that for long have festered。 It is seen how she entreats Godto send someone who shall deliver her from these wrongs and barbarousinsolencies。 It is seen also that she is ready and willing to follow abanner if only someone will raise it。Nor is there to be seen at present one in whom she can place more hopethan in your illustrious house; with its valour and fortune; favoured byGod and by the Church of which it is now the chief; and which could bemade the head of this redemption。 This will not be difficult if you willrecall to yourself the actions and lives of the men I have named。 Andalthough they were great and wonderful men; yet they were men; and eachone of them had no more opportunity than the present offers; for theirenterprises were neither more just nor easier than this; nor was Godmore their friend than He is yours。With us there is great justice; because that war is just which isnecessary; and arms are hallowed when there is no other hope but inthem。 Here there is the greatest willingness; and where the willingnessis great the difficulties cannot be great if you will only follow thosemen to whom I have directed your attention。 Further than this; howextraordinarily the ways of God have been manifested beyond example: thesea is divided; a cloud has led the way; the rock has poured forthwater; it has rained manna; everything has contributed to yourgreatness; you ought to do the rest。 God is not willing to doeverything; and thus take away our free will and that share of glorywhich belongs to us。And it is not to be wondered at if none of the above…named Italians havebeen able to acplish all that is expected from your illustrioushouse; and if in so many revolutions in Italy; and in so many campaigns;it has always appeared as if military virtue were exhausted; this hashappened because the old order of things was not good; and none of ushave known how to find a new one。 And nothing honours a man more than toestablish new laws and new ordinances when he himself was newly risen。Such things when they are well founded and dignified will make himrevered and admired; and in Italy there are not wanting opportunities tobring such into use in every form。Here there is great valour in the limbs whilst it fails in the head。Look attentively at the duels and the hand…to…hand bats; how superiorthe Italians are in strength; dexterity; and subtlety。 But when it esto armies they do not bear parison; and this springs entirely fromthe insufficiency of the leaders; since those who are capable are notobedient; and each one seems to himself to know; there having never beenany one so distinguished above the rest; either by valour or fortune;that others would yield to him。 Hence it is that for so long a time; andduring so much fighting in the past twenty years; whenever there hasbeen an army wholly Italian; it has always given a poor account ofitself; as witness Taro; Alessandria; Capua; Genoa; Vaila; Bologna;Mestre。If; therefore; your illustrious house wishes to follow those remarkablemen who have redeemed their country; it is necessary before all things;as a true foundation for every enterprise; to be provided with your ownforces; because there can be no more faithful; truer; or bettersoldiers。 And although singly they are good; altogether they will bemuch better when they find themselves manded by their prince;honoured by him; and maintained at his expense。 Therefore it isnecessary to be prepar
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