ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 249 



enough to the will of their masters. Lastly, there is no virtue 

 but has its shade, wherewith the minds of kings are offended ; 

 but despatch alone in executing their commands has nothing 

 displeasing to them. Besides, the motions of the minds of 

 kings are swift and impatient of delay ; for they think them- 

 selves able to effect anything, and imagine that nothing more 

 is wanting but to have it done instantly. Whence despatch is 

 to them the most grateful of all things. 



Aphorism 20 



I saw all the living which walk under the sun, with the succeed- 

 ing young prince that shall rise up in his stead a 



This aphorism points out the vanity of those who flock about 

 the next successors of princes. The root of this is the folly nat- 

 urally implanted in the minds of men ; viz. their being too fond 

 of their own hopes : for scarce anyone but is more delighted 

 with hope than with enjoyment. Again, novelty is pleasing and 

 greedily coveted by human nature ; and these two things, hope 

 and novelty, meet in the successor of a prince. The aphorism 

 hints the same that was formerly said by Pompey to Sylla, and 

 again by Tiberius of Macro, that the sun has more adorers ris- 

 ing than setting.^ Yet rulers in possession are not much af- 

 fected with this, or esteem it any great matter, as neither Sylla 

 nor Tiberius did ; but rather laugh at the levity of men, and 

 encounter not with dreams ; for hope, as was well said, is but 

 a waking dream.f 



Aphorism 21 



There was a little city manned but by a few, and a mighty king 

 drew his army to it, erecting bulwarks against it, and in- 

 trenched it round: now there was found within the walls a 

 poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; but 

 none remembered the same poor man d 



This parable describes the corrupt and malevolent nature of 

 men, who, in extremities and difficulties, generally fly to the 

 prudent and the courageous, though they before despised them ; 

 and as soon as the storm is over, they show ingratitude to their 

 preservers. Machiavel had reason to put the question, 

 " Which is the more ungrateful towards the well-deserving, 

 the prince or the people ?" though he accuses both of ingrati- 



