Butconfiningmyselfmoretotheparticular, , Ibelieve, arisesfirstlyfromcausesthathavealreadybeendiscussedatlength, namely, , , inaffairsthatleadtotheendwhicheverymanhasbeforehim, namely, gloryandriches, togettherebyvariousmethods; onewithcaution, anotherwithhaste; onebyforce, anotherbyskill; onebypatience, anotherbyitsopposite; , theotherfail; andsimilarly, twomenbydifferentobservancesareequallysuccessful, theonebeingcautious, theotherimpetuous; , thattwomenworkingdifferentlybringaboutthesameeffect, andoftwoworkingsimilarly, oneattainshisobjectandtheotherdoesnot.
Changesinestatealsoissuefromthis, forif, toonewhogovernshimselfwithcautionandpatience, timesandaffairsconvergeinsuchawaythathisadministrationissuccessful, hisfortuneismade; butiftimesandaffairschange, , bothbecausehecannotdeviatefromwhatnatureinclineshimtodo, andalsobecause, havingalwaysprosperedbyactinginoneway, hecannotbepersuadedthatitiswelltoleaveit; and, therefore, thecautiousman, whenitistimetoturnadventurous, doesnotknowhowtodoit, henceheisruined; buthadhechangedhisconductwiththetimesfortunewouldnothavechanged.
PopeJuliustheSecondwenttoworkimpetuouslyinallhisaffairs, , , norwastheKingofSpain, andhehadtheenterprisestillunderdiscussionwiththeKingofFrance; neverthelesshepersonallyenteredupontheexpeditionwithhisaccustomedboldnessandenergy, amovewhichmadeSpainandtheVenetiansstandirresoluteandpassive, thelatterfromfear, theformerfromdesiretorecoverthekingdomofNaples; ontheotherhand, hedrewafterhimtheKingofFrance, becausethatking, havingobservedthemovement, anddesiringtomakethePopehisfriendsoastohumbletheVenetians, ; forifhehadwaitedinRomeuntilhecouldgetaway, withhisplansarrangedandeverythingfixed, asanyotherpontiffwouldhavedone, , andtheotherswouldhaveraisedathousandfears.
Iwillleavehisotheractionsalone, astheywereallalike, andtheyallsucceeded, fortheshortnessofhislifedidnotlethimexperiencethecontrary; butifcircumstanceshadarisenwhichrequiredhimtogocautiously, hisruinwouldhavefollowed, becausehewouldneverhavedeviatedfromthosewaystowhichnatureinclinedhim.
Iconclude, thereforethat, fortunebeingchangefulandmankindsteadfastintheirways, solongasthetwoareinagreementmenaresuccessful, , becausefortuneisawoman, andifyouwishtokeepherunderitisnecessarytobeatandill-useher; , therefore, always, woman-like, aloverofyoungmen, becausetheyarelesscautious, moreviolent, andwithmoreaudacitycommandher.
[1]FredericktheGreatwasaccustomedtosay: "TheolderonegetsthemoreconvincedonebecomesthathisMajestyKingChancedoesthree-quartersofthebusinessofthismiserableuniverse." Sorel's "EasternQuestion."
