Uponthisaquestionarises: whetheritbebettertobelovedthanfearedorfearedthanloved? Itmaybeansweredthatoneshouldwishtobeboth, but, becauseitisdifficulttounitetheminoneperson, itismuchsafertobefearedthanloved, when, ofthetwo, , thattheyareungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, andaslongasyousucceedtheyareyoursentirely; theywillofferyoutheirblood, property, life, andchildren, asissaidabove, whentheneedisfardistant; , relyingentirelyontheirpromises, hasneglectedotherprecautions, isruined; becausefriendshipsthatareobtainedbypayments, andnotbygreatnessornobilityofmind, mayindeedbeearned, buttheyarenotsecured, andintimeofneedcannotbereliedupon; andmenhavelessscrupleinoffendingonewhoisbelovedthanonewhoisfeared, forloveispreservedbythelinkofobligationwhich, owingtothebasenessofmen, isbrokenateveryopportunityfortheiradvantage; butfearpreservesyoubyadreadofpunishmentwhichneverfails.
Neverthelessaprinceoughttoinspirefearinsuchawaythat, ifhedoesnotwinlove, heavoidshatred; becausehecanendureverywellbeingfearedwhilstheisnothated, , hemustdoitonproperjustificationandformanifestcause, butaboveallthingshemustkeephishandsoffthepropertyofothers, , pretextsfortakingawaythepropertyareneverwanting; forhewhohasoncebeguntolivebyrobberywillalwaysfindpretextsforseizingwhatbelongstoothers; butreasonsfortakinglife, onthecontrary, , andhasundercontrolamultitudeofsoldiers, thenitisquitenecessaryforhimtodisregardthereputationofcruelty, forwithoutithewouldneverholdhisarmyunitedordisposedtoitsduties.
AmongthewonderfuldeedsofHannibalthisoneisenumerated: thathavingledanenormousarmy, composedofmanyvariousracesofmen, tofightinforeignlands, nodissensionsaroseeitheramongthemoragainsttheprince, , which, withhisboundlessvalour, madehimreveredandterribleinthesightofhissoldiers, butwithoutthatcruelty, , thatmostexcellentman, notonlyofhisowntimesbutwithinthememoryofman, againstwhom, nevertheless, hisarmyrebelledinSpain; thisarosefromnothingbuthistoogreatforbearance, , , yettheywerenotavengedbyhim, norwastheinsolenceofthelegatepunished, , wishingtoexcusehim, , ifhehadbeencontinuedinthecommand, wouldhavedestroyedintimethefameandgloryofScipio; but, hebeingunderthecontroloftheSenate, thisinjuriouscharacteristicnotonlyconcealeditself, butcontributedtohisglory.
Returningtothequestionofbeingfearedorloved, Icometotheconclusionthat, menlovingaccordingtotheirownwillandfearingaccordingtothatoftheprince, awiseprinceshouldestablishhimselfonthatwhichisinhisowncontrolandnotinthatofothers; hemustendeavouronlytoavoidhatred, asisnoted.
[1]DuringtheriotingbetweentheCancellieriandPanciatichifactionsin1502and1503.
[2]...againstmywill, myfateAthroneunsettled, andaninfantstate, Bidmedefendmyrealmswithallmypow'rs, Andguardwiththeseseveritiesmyshores.
