第13部分(第5/7 頁)

ys　happen　that　he　who　is　notyour　friend　will　demand　your　neutrality；　whilst　he　who　is　your　friendwill　entreat　you　to　declare　yourself　with　arms。　And　irresolute　princes；to　avoid　present　dangers；　generally　follow　the　neutral　path；　and　aregenerally　ruined。　But　when　a　prince　declares　himself　gallantly　in　favourof　one　side；　if　the　party　with　whom　he　allies　himself　conquers；　althoughthe　victor　may　be　powerful　and　may　have　him　at　his　mercy；　yet　he　isindebted　to　him；　and　there　is　established　a　bond　of　amity；　and　men　arenever　so　shameless　as　to　bee　a　monument　of　ingratitude　by　oppressingyou。　Victories　after　all　are　never　so　plete　that　the　victor　must　notshow　some　regard；　especially　to　justice。　But　if　he　with　whom　you　allyyourself　loses；　you　may　be　sheltered　by　him；　and　whilst　he　is　able　hemay　aid　you；　and　you　bee　panions　in　a　fortune　that　may　rise　again。In　the　second　case；　when　those　who　fight　are　of　such　a　character　thatyou　have　no　anxiety　as　to　ore　is　itgreater　prudence　to　be　allied；　because　you　assist　at　the　destruction　ofone　by　the　aid　of　another　who；　if　he　had　been　wise；　would　have　savedhim；　and　conquering；　as　it　is　impossible　that　he　should　not　with　yourassistance；　he　remains　at　your　discretion。　And　here　it　is　to　be　notedthat　a　prince　ought　to　take　care　never　to　make　an　alliance　with　one　morepowerful　than　himself　for　the　purpose　of　attacking　others；　unlessnecessity　pels　him；　as　is　said　above；　because　if　he　conquers　you　areat　his　discretion；　and　princes　ought　to　avoid　as　much　as　possible　beingat　the　discretion　of　any　one。　The　Veians　joined　with　France　againstthe　Duke　of　Milan；　and　this　alliance；　which　caused　their　ruin；　couldhave　been　avoided。　But　when　it　cannot　be　avoided；　as　happened　to　theFlorentines　when　the　Pope　and　Spain　sent　armies　to　attack　Lombardy；　thenin　such　a　c