Strona 136 z 310

If men were entirely good this precept would not hold, but

because they are bad, and will not keep faith with you, you too

are not bound to observe it with them. Nor will there ever be

wanting to a prince legitimate reasons to excuse this

non-observance. Of this endless modern examples could be given,

showing how many treaties and engagements have been made void and

of no effect through the faithlessness of princes; and he who has

known best how to employ the fox has succeeded best.

[2] "Contesting," i.e. "striving for mastery." Mr Burd points out

that this passage is imitated directly from Cicero's "De

Officiis": "Nam cum sint duo genera decertandi, unum per

disceptationem, alterum per vim; cumque illud proprium sit

hominis, hoc beluarum; confugiendum est ad posterius, si uti non

licet superiore."