CHAPTER X.

CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH THE STRENGTH OF ALL PRINCIPALITIES OUGHT TO

BE MEASURED

It is necessary to consider another point in examining the character of

these principalities: that is, whether a prince has such power that, in

case of need, he can support himself with his own resources, or whether

he has always need of the assistance of others. And to make this quite

clear I say that I consider those who are able to support themselves by

their own resources who can, either by abundance of men or money, raise

a sufficient army to join battle against any one who comes to attack

them; and I consider those always to have need of others who cannot

show themselves against the enemy in the field, but are forced to

defend themselves by sheltering behind walls. The first case has been

discussed, but we will speak of it again should it recur. In the second

case one can say nothing except to encourage such princes to provision

and fortify their towns, and not on any account to defend the country.

And whoever shall fortify his town well, and shall have managed the

other concerns of his subjects in the way stated above, and to be often

repeated, will never be attacked without great caution, for men are

always adverse to enterprises where difficulties can be seen, and it

will be seen not to be an easy thing to attack one who has his town

well fortified, and is not hated by his people.

The cities of Germany are absolutely free, they own but little country

around them, and they yield obedience to the emperor when it suits

them, nor do they fear this or any other power they may have near them,

because they are fortified in such a way that every one thinks the

taking of them by assault would be tedious and difficult, seeing they

have proper ditches and walls, they have sufficient artillery, and they

always keep in public depots enough for one year’s eating, drinking,

and firing. And beyond this, to keep the people quiet and without loss

to the state, they always have the means of giving work to the

community in those labours that are the life and strength of the city,

and on the pursuit of which the people are supported; they also hold

military exercises in repute, and moreover have many ordinances to

uphold them.

Therefore, a prince who has a strong city, and had not made himself

odious, will not be attacked, or if any one should attack he will only

be driven off with disgrace; again, because that the affairs of this

world are so changeable, it is almost impossible to keep an army a

whole year in the field without being interfered with. And whoever

should reply: If the people have property outside the city, and see it

burnt, they will not remain patient, and the long siege and

self-interest will make them forget their prince; to this I answer that

a powerful and courageous prince will overcome all such difficulties by

giving at one time hope to his subjects that the evil will not be for

long, at another time fear of the cruelty of the enemy, then preserving

himself adroitly from those subjects who seem to him to be too bold.

Further, the enemy would naturally on his arrival at once burn and ruin

the country at the time when the spirits of the people are still hot

and ready for the defence; and, therefore, so much the less ought the

prince to hesitate; because after a time, when spirits have cooled, the

damage is already done, the ills are incurred, and there is no longer

any remedy; and therefore they are so much the more ready to unite with

their prince, he appearing to be under obligations to them now that

their houses have been burnt and their possessions ruined in his

defence. For it is the nature of men to be bound by the benefits they

confer as much as by those they receive. Therefore, if everything is

well considered, it will not be difficult for a wise prince to keep the

minds of his citizens steadfast from first to last, when he does not

fail to support and defend them.