第13部分(第4/7 頁)

ich　would　be　much　spoken　about。　And　aprince　ought；　above　all　things；　always　to　endeavour　in　every　action　togain　for　himself　the　reputation　of　being　a　great　and　remarkable　man。A　prince　is　also　respected　when　he　is　either　a　true　friend　or　adownright　enemy；　that　to　say；　when；　without　any　reservation；　he　declareshimself　in　favour　of　one　party　against　the　other；　which　course　willalways　be　more　advantageous　than　standing　neutral；　because　if　two　ofyour　powerful　neighbours　e　to　blows；　they　are　of　such　a　characterthat；　if　one　of　them　conquers；　you　have　either　to　fear　him　or　not。　Ineither　case　it　will　always　be　more　advantageous　for　you　to　declareyourself　and　to　make　war　strenuously；　because；　in　the　first　case；　if　youdo　not　declare　yourself；　you　will　invariably　fall　a　prey　to　theconqueror；　to　the　pleasure　and　satisfaction　of　him　who　has　beenconquered；　and　you　will　have　no　reasons　to　offer；　nor　anything　toprotect　or　to　shelter　you。　Because　he　who　conquers　does　not　wantdoubtful　friends　who　will　not　aid　him　in　the　time　of　trial；　and　he　wholoses　will　not　harbour　you　because　you　did　not　willingly；　sword　in　hand；court　his　fate。Antiochus　went　into　Greece；　being　sent　for　by　the　Aetolians　to　drive　outthe　Romans。　He　sent　envoys　to　the　Achaeans；　who　were　friends　of　theRomans；　exhorting　them　to　remain　neutral；　and　on　the　other　hand　theRomans　urged　them　to　take　up　arms。　This　question　came　to　be　discussed　inthe　council　of　the　Achaeans；　where　the　legate　of　Antiochus　urged　them　tostand　neutral。　To　this　the　Roman　legate　answered：　〃As　for　that　which　hasbeen　said；　that　it　is　better　and　more　advantageous　for　your　state　not　tointerfere　in　our　war；　nothing　can　be　more　erroneous；　because　by　notinterfering　you　will　be　left；　without　favour　or　consideration；　theguerdon　of　the　conqueror。〃　Thus　it　will　alwa