Pagina 1 van 310

CHAPTER III. CONCERNING MIXED PRINCIPALITIES

But the difficulties occur in a new principality. And firstly, if

it be not entirely new, but is, as it were, a member of a state

which, taken collectively, may be called composite, the changes

arise chiefly from an inherent difficulty which there is in all

new principalities; for men change their rulers willingly, hoping

to better themselves, and this hope induces them to take up arms

against him who rules: wherein they are deceived, because they

afterwards find by experience they have gone from bad to worse.

This follows also on another natural and common necessity, which

always causes a new prince to burden those who have submitted to

him with his soldiery and with infinite other hardships which he

must put upon his new acquisition.