Pagina 40 di 310

To these great examples I wish to add a lesser one; still it

bears some resemblance to them, and I wish it to suffice me for

all of a like kind: it is Hiero the Syracusan.[1] This man rose

from a private station to be Prince of Syracuse, nor did he,

either, owe anything to fortune but opportunity; for the

Syracusans, being oppressed, chose him for their captain,

afterwards he was rewarded by being made their prince. He was of

so great ability, even as a private citizen, that one who writes

of him says he wanted nothing but a kingdom to be a king. This

man abolished the old soldiery, organized the new, gave up old

alliances, made new ones; and as he had his own soldiers and

allies, on such foundations he was able to build any edifice:

thus, whilst he had endured much trouble in acquiring, he had but

little in keeping.

[1] Hiero II, born about 307 B.C., died 216 B.C.

CHAPTER VII. CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED

EITHER BY THE ARMS OF OTHERS OR BY GOOD FORTUNE