صفحة 121 من 310

This will soon make him odious to his subjects, and becoming poor

he will be little valued by any one; thus, with his liberality,

having offended many and rewarded few, he is affected by the very

first trouble and imperilled by whatever may be the first danger;

recognizing this himself, and wishing to draw back from it, he

runs at once into the reproach of being miserly.

Therefore, a prince, not being able to exercise this virtue of

liberality in such a way that it is recognized, except to his

cost, if he is wise he ought not to fear the reputation of being

mean, for in time he will come to be more considered than if

liberal, seeing that with his economy his revenues are enough,

that he can defend himself against all attacks, and is able to

engage in enterprises without burdening his people; thus it comes

to pass that he exercises liberality towards all from whom he

does not take, who are numberless, and meanness towards those to

whom he does not give, who are few.