Pagina 161 di 310

And here it must be noted that such-like deaths, which are

deliberately inflicted with a resolved and desperate courage,

cannot be avoided by princes, because any one who does not fear

to die can inflict them; but a prince may fear them the less

because they are very rare; he has only to be careful not to do

any grave injury to those whom he employs or has around him in

the service of the state. Antoninus had not taken this care, but

had contumeliously killed a brother of that centurion, whom also

he daily threatened, yet retained in his bodyguard; which, as it

turned out, was a rash thing to do, and proved the emperor's

ruin.