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He who has annexed them, if he wishes to hold them, has only to

bear in mind two considerations: the one, that the family of

their former lord is extinguished; the other, that neither their

laws nor their taxes are altered, so that in a very short time

they will become entirely one body with the old principality.

But when states are acquired in a country differing in language,

customs, or laws, there are difficulties, and good fortune and

great energy are needed to hold them, and one of the greatest and

most real helps would be that he who has acquired them should go

and reside there. This would make his position more secure and

durable, as it has made that of the Turk in Greece, who,

notwithstanding all the other measures taken by him for holding

that state, if he had not settled there, would not have been able

to keep it. Because, if one is on the spot, disorders are seen as

they spring up, and one can quickly remedy them; but if one is

not at hand, they are heard of only when they are great, and then

one can no longer remedy them. Besides this, the country is not

pillaged by your officials; the subjects are satisfied by prompt

recourse to the prince; thus, wishing to be good, they have more

cause to love him, and wishing to be otherwise, to fear him.