Pagina 123 di 310

And if any one should say: Caesar obtained empire by liberality,

and many others have reached the highest positions by having been

liberal, and by being considered so, I answer: Either you are a

prince in fact, or in a way to become one. In the first case this

liberality is dangerous, in the second it is very necessary to be

considered liberal; and Caesar was one of those who wished to

become pre-eminent in Rome; but if he had survived after becoming

so, and had not moderated his expenses, he would have destroyed

his government. And if any one should reply: Many have been

princes, and have done great things with armies, who have been

considered very liberal, I reply: Either a prince spends that

which is his own or his subjects' or else that of others. In the

first case he ought to be sparing, in the second he ought not to

neglect any opportunity for liberality.