[Sidenote:  The Lesson.]

It seems worth while to sketch the strange tempestuous career of Caesar Borgia because in the remaining chapters of The Prince and elsewhere in his writings, it is the thought and memory of Valentinois, transmuted doubtless and idealised by the lapse of years, that largely inform and inspire the perfect Prince of Machiavelli.  But it must not be supposed that in life or in mind they were intimate or even sympathetic.  Machiavelli criticises his hero liberally and even harshly.  But for the work he wanted done he had found no better craftsman and no better example to follow for those that might come after.  Morals and religion did not touch the purpose of his arguments except as affecting policy.  In policy virtues may be admitted as useful agents and in the chapter following that on Caesar, entitled, curiously enough, ’Of those who by their crimes come to be Princes,’ he lays down that ’to slaughter fellow citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of honour, pity and religion cannot be counted as merits, for these are means which may lead to power but which confer no glory.’  Cruelty he would employ without hesitation but with the greatest care both in degree and in kind.  It should be immediate and complete and leave no possibility of counter-revenge.  For it is never forgotten by the living, and ’he deceives himself who believes that, with the great, recent benefits cause old wrongs to be forgotten.’  On the other hand ’Benefits should be conferred little by little so that they may be more fully relished.’  The cruelty proper to a Prince (Government, for as ever they are identical) aims only at authority.  Now authority must spring from love or fear.  It were best to combine both motives to obedience but you cannot.  The Prince must remember that men are fickle, and love at their own pleasure, and that men are fearful and fear at the pleasure of the Prince.  Let him therefore depend on what is of himself, not on that which is of others.  ’Yet if he win not love he may escape hate, and so it will be if he does not meddle with the property or women-folk of his subjects.’  When he must punish let him kill.  ’For men will sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their estate.’  And moreover you cannot always go on killing, but a Prince who has once set himself to plundering will never stop.  This is the more needful because the only secure foundation of his rule lies in his trust of the people and in their support.  And indeed again and again you shall find no more thorough democrat than this teacher of tyrants.  ’The people own better broader qualities, fidelities and passions than any Prince and have better cause to show for them.’  ’As for prudence and stability, I say that a people is more stable, more prudent, and of better judgment than a Prince.’  If the people go wrong it is almost certainly the crime or negligence of the Prince which drives or leads them astray.  ’Better far than any number of fortresses is not to be hated by your people.’  The support of the people and a national militia make the essential strength of the Prince and of the State.