Pagina 41 di 310

Those who solely by good fortune become princes from being

private citizens have little trouble in rising, but much in

keeping atop; they have not any difficulties on the way up,

because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.

Such are those to whom some state is given either for money or by

the favour of him who bestows it; as happened to many in Greece,

in the cities of Ionia and of the Hellespont, where princes were

made by Darius, in order that they might hold the cities both for

his security and his glory; as also were those emperors who, by

the corruption of the soldiers, from being citizens came to

empire. Such stand simply elevated upon the goodwill and the

fortune of him who has elevated them-two most inconstant and

unstable things.