صفحة 26 من 310

The contrary happens in kingdoms governed like that of France,

because one can easily enter there by gaining over some baron of

the kingdom, for one always finds malcontents and such as desire

a change. Such men, for the reasons given, can open the way into

the state and render the victory easy; but if you wish to hold it

afterwards, you meet with infinite difficulties, both from those

who have assisted you and from those you have crushed. Nor is it

enough for you to have exterminated the family of the prince,

because the lords that remain make themselves the heads of fresh

movements against you, and as you are unable either to satisfy or

exterminate them, that state is lost whenever time brings the

opportunity.