Aprinceisalsorespectedwhenheiseitheratruefriendoradownrightenemy, thatistosay, when, withoutanyreservation, hedeclareshimselfinfavourofonepartyagainsttheother; whichcoursewillalwaysbemoreadvantageousthanstandingneutral; becauseiftwoofyourpowerfulneighbourscometoblows, theyareofsuchacharacterthat, ifoneofthemconquers, ; because, inthefirstcase, ifyoudonotdeclareyourself, youwillinvariablyfallapreytotheconqueror, tothepleasureandsatisfactionofhimwhohasbeenconquered, andyouwillhavenoreasonstooffer, ; andhewholoseswillnotharbouryoubecauseyoudidnotwillingly, swordinhand, courthisfate.
AntiochuswentintoGreece, , whowerefriendsoftheRomans, exhortingthemtoremainneutral; , : "Asforthatwhichhasbeensaid, thatitisbetterandmoreadvantageousforyourstatenottointerfereinourwar, nothingcanbemoreerroneous; becausebynotinterferingyouwillbeleft, withoutfavourorconsideration, theguerdonoftheconqueror." Thusitwillalwayshappenthathewhoisnotyourfriendwilldemandyourneutrality, , toavoidpresentdangers, generallyfollowtheneutralpath, , ifthepartywithwhomheallieshimselfconquers, althoughthevictormaybepowerfulandmayhavehimathismercy, yetheisindebtedtohim, andthereisestablishedabondofamity; , , youmaybeshelteredbyhim, andwhilstheisablehemayaidyou, andyoubecomecompanionsonafortunethatmayriseagain.
