then necessary; for the Princes not being able to
escape the hatred of every one, ought first endeavour
that they incurre not the hatred of any whole universality;
and when they cannot attaine thereunto, they are to
provide with all industry, to avoyd the hatred of those
universalities that are the most mighty. And
therefore those Emperors, who because they were but
newly call’d to the Empire, had need of extraordinary
favours, more willingly stuck to the soldiers, than
to the people; which neverthelesse turnd to their
advantage, or otherwise, according as that Prince
knew how to maintaine his repute with them. From
these causes aforesayd proceeded it, that Marcus Pertinax,
and Alexander, though all living modestly, being lovers
of justice, and enemies of cruelty, courteous and
bountifull, had all from Marcus on ward, miserable
ends; Marcus only liv’d and dy’d exceedingly
honoured: for he came to the Empire by inheritance,
and was not to acknowledge it either from the soldiers,
nor from the people: afterwards being accompanyed
with many vertues, which made him venerable, he held
alwayes whilst he liv’d the one and the other
order within their limits, and was never either hated,
or contemnd. But Pertinax was created Emperour
against the soldiers wills, who being accustomed to
live licentiously under Commodus, could not endure
that honest course that Pertinax sought to reduce them
to: Whereupon having gotten himself hatred, and
to this hatred added contempt, in that he was old,
was ruind in the very beginning of his government.
Whence it ought to be observed, that hatred is gaind
as well by good deeds as bad; and therefore as I formerly
said, when a Prince would maintaine the State, he
is often forced not to be good: for when that
generality, whether it be the people, or soldiers,
or Nobility, whereof thou thinkst thou standst in
need to maintain thee, is corrupted, it behoves thee
to follow their humour, and content them, and then
all good deeds are thy adversaries. But let us
come to Alexander who was of that goodnesse, that
among the prayses given him, had this for one, that
in fourteen yeers wherein he held the Empire, he never
put any man to death, but by course of justice; neverthelesse
being held effeminate, and a man that suffered himselfe
to be ruled by his mother, and thereupon fallen into
contempt, the army conspird against him. Now
on the contrary discoursing upon the qualities of Commodus,
Severus, Antonius, Caracalla, and Maximinus, you shall
find them exceeding cruell, and ravinous, who to satisfie
their soldiers, forbeare no kinde of injury that could
be done upon the people; and all of them, except Severus,
came to evill ends: for in Severus, there was
such extraordinary valour, that while he held the
soldiers his freinds, however the people were much
burthend by him, he might alwayes reigne happily:
for his valour rendred him so admirable in the souldiers
and peoples sights; that these in a manner stood amazd
and astonishd, and those others reverencing and honoring