第15部分(第1/7 頁)

ether　or　not　they　conform　in　their　methods　to　thespirit　of　the　times。　This　follows　from　what　I　have　said；　that　two　menworking　differently　bring　about　the　same　effect；　and　of　two　workingsimilarly；　one　attains　his　object　and　the　other　does　not。Changes　in　estate　also　issue　from　this；　for　if；　to　one　who　governshimself　with　caution　and　patience；　times　and　affairs　converge　in　such　away　that　his　administration　is　successful；　his　fortune　is　made；　but　iftimes　and　affairs　change；　he　is　ruined　if　he　does　not　change　his　courseof　action。　But　a　man　is　not　often　found　sufficiently　circumspect　to　knowhow　to　acmodate　himself　to　the　change；　both　because　he　cannot　deviatefrom　what　nature　inclines　him　to；　and　also　because；　having　alwaysprospered　by　acting　in　one　way；　he　cannot　be　persuaded　that　it　is　wellto　leave　it；　and；　therefore；　the　cautious　man；　when　it　is　time　to　turnadventurous；　does　not　know　how　to　do　it；　hence　he　is　ruined；　but　had　hechanged　his　conduct　with　the　times　fortune　would　not　have　changed。Pope　Julius　II　went　to　work　impetuously　in　all　his　affairs；　and　foundthe　times　and　circumstances　conform　so　well　to　that　line　of　action　thathe　always　met　with　success。　Consider　his　first　enterprise　againstBologna；　Messer　Giovanni　Bentivogli　being　still　alive。　The　Veianswere　not　agreeable　to　it；　nor　was　the　King　of　Spain；　and　he　had　theenterprise　still　under　discussion　with　the　King　of　France；　neverthelesshe　personally　entered　upon　the　expedition　with　his　accustomed　boldnessand　energy；　a　move　which　made　Spain　and　the　Veians　stand　irresoluteand　passive；　the　latter　from　fear；　the　former　from　desire　to　recover　allthe　kingdom　of　Naples；　on　the　other　hand；　he　drew　after　him　the　King　ofFrance；　because　that　king；　having　observed　the　movement；　and　desiring　tomake　the　Pope　his　friend　so　as　to