第11部分(第1/7 页)

d　even　shouldaffairs　outside　be　disturbed；　if　he　has　carried　out　his　preparations　andhas　lived　as　I　have　said；　as　long　as　he　does　not　despair；　he　will　resistevery　attack；　as　I　said　Nabis　the　Spartan　did。But　concerning　his　subjects；　when　affairs　outside　are　disturbed　he　hasonly　to　fear　that　they　will　conspire　secretly；　from　which　a　prince　caneasily　secure　himself　by　avoiding　being　hated　and　despised；　and　bykeeping　the　people　satisfied　with　him；　which　it　is　most　necessary　forhim　to　acplish；　as　I　said　above　at　length。　And　one　of　the　mostefficacious　remedies　that　a　prince　can　have　against　conspiracies　is　notto　be　hated　and　despised　by　the　people；　for　he　who　conspires　against　aprince　always　expects　to　please　them　by　his　removal；　but　when　theconspirator　can　only　look　forward　to　offending　them；　he　will　not　havethe　courage　to　take　such　a　course；　for　the　difficulties　that　confront　aconspirator　are　infinite。　And　as　experience　shows；　many　have　been　theconspiracies；　but　few　have　been　successful；　because　he　who　conspirescannot　act　alone；　nor　can　he　take　a　panion　except　from　those　whom　hebelieves　to　be　malcontents；　and　as　soon　as　you　have　opened　your　mind　toa　malcontent　you　have　given　him　the　material　with　which　to　contenthimself；　for　by　denouncing　you　he　can　look　for　every　advantage；　so　that；seeing　the　gain　from　this　course　to　be　assured；　and　seeing　the　other　tobe　doubtful　and　full　of　dangers；　he　must　be　a　very　rare　friend；　or　athoroughly　obstinate　enemy　of　the　prince；　to　keep　faith　with　you。And；　to　reduce　the　matter　into　a　small　pass；　I　say　that；　on　the　sideof　the　conspirator；　there　is　nothing　but　fear；　jealousy；　prospect　ofpunishment　to　terrify　him；　but　on　the　side　of　the　prince　there　is　themajesty　of　the　principality；　the　laws；　the　protection　of　friends　and　thestate　to　defend