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yourself； you will invariably fall a prey to the conqueror； to the pleasure
and satisfaction of him who has been conquered； and you will have no
reasons to offer； nor anything to protect or to shelter you。 Because he who
conquers does not want doubtful friends who will not aid him in the time
of trial； and he who loses will not harbour you because you did not
willingly； sword in hand； court his fate。
Antiochus went into Greece； being sent for by the Aetolians to drive
out the Romans。 He sent envoys to the Achaeans； who were friends of the
Romans； exhorting them to remain neutral； and on the other hand the
Romans urged them to take up arms。 This question came to be discussed
in the council of the Achaeans； where the legate of Antiochus urged them
to stand neutral。 To this the Roman legate answered： 〃As for that which
has been said； that it is better and more advantageous for your state not to
interfere in our war； nothing can be more erroneous； because by not
interfering you will be left； without favour or consideration； the guerdon
of the conqueror。〃 Thus it will always happen that he who is not your
friend will demand your neutrality； whilst he who is your friend will
entreat you to declare yourself with arms。 And irresolute princes； to avoid
present dangers； generally follow the neutral path； and are generally ruined。
But when a prince declares himself gallantly in favour of one side； if the
party with whom he allies himself conquers； although the victor may be
powerful and may have him at his mercy； yet he is indebted to him； and
there is established a bond of amity； and men are never so shameless as to
become a monument of ingratitude by oppressing you。 Victories after all
are never so complete that the victor must not show some regard；
especially to justice。 But if he with whom you ally yourself loses； you may
be sheltered by him； and whilst he is able he may aid you； and you become
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companions on a fortune that may rise again。
In the second case； when those who fight are of such a character that
you have no anxiety as to who may conquer； so much the more is it greater
prudence to be allied； because you assist at the destruction of one by the
aid of another who； if he had been wise； would have saved him； and
conquering； as it is impossible that he should not do with your assistance；
he remains at your discretion。 And here it is to be noted that a prince ought
to take care never to make an alliance with one more powerful than
himself for the purposes of attacking others； unless necessity compels him；
as is said above； because if he conquers you are at his discretion； and
princes ought to avoid as much as possible being at the discretion of any
one。 The Venetians joined with France against the Duke of Milan； and this
alliance； which caused their ruin； could have been avoided。 But when it
cannot be avoided； as happened to the Florentines when the Pope and
Spain sent armies to attack Lombardy； then in such a case； for the above
reasons； the prince ought to favour one of the parties。
Never let any Government imagine that it can choose perfectly safe
courses； rather let it expect to have to take very doubtful ones； because it
is found in ordinary affairs that one never seeks to avoid one trouble
without running into another； but prudence consists in knowing how to
distinguish the character of troubles； and for choice to take the lesser evil。
A prince ought also to show himself a patron of ability； and to honour
the proficient in every art。 At the same time he should encourage his
citizens to practise their callings peaceably； both in commerce and
agriculture； and in every other following； so that the one should not be
deterred from improving his possessions for fear lest they be taken away
from him or another from opening up trade for fear of taxes； but the prince
ought to offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and designs in
any way to honour his city or state。
Further； he ought to entertain the people with festivals and spectacles
at convenient seasons of the year； and as every city is divided into guilds
or into societies；＇*＇ he ought to hold such bodies in esteem； and associate
with them sometimes； and show himself an example of courtesy and
liberality； nevertheless； always maintaining the majesty of his rank； for
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this he must never consent to abate in anything。
＇*＇ 〃Guilds or societies；〃 〃in arti o in tribu。〃 〃Arti〃 were craft or trade
guilds； cf。 Florio： 〃Arte 。 。 。 a whole company of any trade in any city or
corporation town。〃 The guilds of Florence are most admirably described
by Mr Edgcumbe Staley in his work on the subject （Methuen； 1906）。
Institutions of a somewhat similar character； called 〃artel；〃 exist in Russia
to…day； cf。 Sir Mackenzie Wallace's 〃Russia；〃 ed。 1905： 〃The sons 。 。 。 were
always during the working season members of an artel。 In some of the
larger towns there are artels of a much more complex kind permanent
associations； possessing large capital； and pecuniarily responsible for the
acts of the individual members。〃 The word 〃artel；〃 despite its apparent
similarity； has； Mr Aylmer Maude assures me； no connection with 〃ars〃 or
〃arte。〃 Its root is that of the verb 〃rotisya；〃 to bind oneself by an oath； and
it is generally admitted to be only another form of 〃rota；〃 which now
signifies a 〃regimental company。〃 In both words the underlying idea is that
of a body of men united by an oath。 〃Tribu〃 were possibly gentile groups；
united by common descent； and included individuals connected by
marriage。 Perhaps our words 〃sects〃 or 〃clans〃 would be most appropriate。
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CHAPTER XXII
CONCERNING THE SECRETARIES OF PRINCES
The choice of servants is of no little importance to a prince； and they
are good or not according to the discrimination of the prince。 And the first
opinion whic