the prince(王子)-第27节
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！
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
common 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
97
… Page 98…
The Prince
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。
98
… Page 99…
The Prince
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。
＇*＇ Frederick the Great was accustomed to say： 〃The older one gets the
more convinced one becomes that his Majesty King Chance does three…
quarters of the business of this miserable universe。〃 Sorel's 〃Eastern
Question。〃
I compare her to one of those raging rivers； which when in flood
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 becomes 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
99
… Page 100…
The Prince
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 come 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 on 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
accommodate himself to the change； both because he cannot deviate from
what nature inclines him to do； 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。
100
… Page 101…
The Prince
Pope Julius the Second 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 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。
Therefore Julius with his impetuous action accomplished 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； b
