The Second Book 203 



number obtain good fortunes by diligence in a plain way, 

 little intermeddling, and keeping themselves from gross 

 errors. 



44. But as Cicero, when he setteth down an idea of a perfect 

 orator, doth not mean that every pleader should be such; 

 and so likewise, when a prince or a courtier hath been 

 described by such as have handled those subjects, the 

 mould hath used to be made according to the perfection 

 of the art, and not according to common practice: so I 

 understand it, that it ought to be done in the description 

 of a pohtic man, I mean politic for his own fortune. 



45, But it must be remembered all this while, that the 

 precepts which we have set down are of that kind which 

 may be counted and called BoncB Artes. As for evil arts, 

 if a man would set down for himself that principle of 

 Machiavel,^ that a man seek not to attain virtue itself, but the 

 appearance only thereof ; because the credit of virtue is a 

 help, but the use of it is cumber : or that other of his 

 principles, that he presuppose, that men are not fitly to be 

 wrought otherwise but by fear ; and therefore that he seek to 

 have every man obnoxious, low, and in strait, which the 

 Italians call seminar spine, to sow thorns: or that other 

 principle, contained in the verse which Cicero citeth, 

 Cadant amici, dummodo inimici intercidant,^ as the trium- 

 virs, which sold, every one to other, the lives of their 

 friends for the deaths of their enemies: or that other pro- 

 testation of L. Catilina, to set on fire and trouble states, to 

 the end to fish in droumy waters, and to unwrap their 

 fortunes, Ego si quid infortunis meis excitatum sit incendium, 

 id non aqua sed ruina restinguam : ^ or that other principle 

 of Lysander, that children are to be deceived with comfits, and 

 men with oaths : * and the like evil and corrupt positions, 

 whereof, as in all things, there are more in number than of 

 the good : certainly with these dispensations from the laws 

 of charity and integrity, the pressing of a man's fortune 

 may be more hasty and compendious. But it is in hfe as 

 it is in ways, the shortest way is commonly the foulest, 

 and surely the fairer way is not much about. 



» Prince, c. 17, 18. » Pro Reg. Deiot. ix. 25. 



» Cic. pro Mur. xxv. (51). 



• Plut. Lys. — Toi>j fiiy iraidai iffTpaydXois, T»i/i Sk AySpas BpKois 



