And, toreducethematterintoasmallcompass, Isaythat, onthesideoftheconspirator, thereisnothingbutfear, jealousy, prospectofpunishmenttoterrifyhim; butonthesideoftheprincethereisthemajestyoftheprincipality, thelaws, theprotectionoffriendsandthestatetodefendhim; sothat, addingtoallthesethingsthepopulargoodwill, , inthiscasehehasalsotofearthesequeltothecrime; becauseonaccountofithehasthepeopleforanenemy, andthuscannothopeforanyescape.
Endlessexamplescouldbegivenonthissubject, butIwillbecontentwithone, , whowasprinceinBologna (grandfatherofthepresentAnnibale), havingbeenmurderedbytheCanneschi, whohadconspiredagainsthim, notoneofhisfamilysurvivedbutMesserGiovanni,[1] whowasinchildhood: ; whichwassogreatthat, althoughnoneremainedthereafterthedeathofAnnibalewhowasabletorulethestate, theBolognese, havinginformationthattherewasoneoftheBentivoglifamilyinFlorence, whouptothattimehadbeenconsideredthesonofablacksmith, senttoFlorenceforhimandgavehimthegovernmentoftheircity, anditwasruledbyhimuntilMesserGiovannicameinduecoursetothegovernment.
ForthisreasonIconsiderthataprinceoughttoreckonconspiraciesoflittleaccountwhenhispeopleholdhiminesteem; butwhenitishostiletohim, andbearshatredtowardshim, -orderedstatesandwiseprinceshavetakeneverycarenottodrivethenoblestodesperation, andtokeepthepeoplesatisfiedandcontented, forthisisoneofthemostimportantobjectsaprincecanhave.
