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And since the matter demands it, I must not fail to warn a

prince, who by means of secret favours has acquired a new state,

that he must well consider the reasons which induced those to

favour him who did so; and if it be not a natural affection

towards him, but only discontent with their government, then he

will only keep them friendly with great trouble and difficulty,

for it will be impossible to satisfy them. And weighing well the

reasons for this in those examples which can be taken from

ancient and modern affairs, we shall find that it is easier for

the prince to make friends of those men who were contented under

the former government, and are therefore his enemies, than of

those who, being discontented with it, were favourable to him and

encouraged him to seize it.