50 TRANSACTIONS. 1906-7. 



right for a Prince to be a Scoundrel" has been thought to be an 

 improvement upon the original caption. Let us hear the sub- 

 stance of it : 



" How honourable it is for a prince to keep his word, and act 

 rather with integrity than collusion, I suppose everybody under- 

 stands; nevertheless, experience has shown in our times that those 

 princes who have not pinned themselves up to that punctuality 

 and preciseness have done great things, and by their cunning and 

 subtility not only circumvented and darted the brains of those 

 with whom they had to deal, but have overcome and been too 

 hard for those who have been so superstitiously exact. For 

 further explanation you must understand there are two ways of 

 contending: by law and by force; the first is proper to men; the 

 second to beasts; but because many times the first is insufficient 

 recourse must be had to the second. It belongs, therefore, to a 

 prince to understand both, when to make use of the rational and 

 when of the brutal way ; * * * * A prince, therefore, who is 

 wise and prudent, cannot or ought not to keep his parole, when 

 the keeping of it is to his prejudice, and the cause for which he 

 promised removed. Were men all good, this doctrine was not to 

 be taught, but because they are wicked and not likely to be punc- 

 tual with you, you are not obliged to any such strictness with 

 them; nor was there ever any prince that wanted lawful pretence 

 to justify his breach of promise. * * * * Nevertheless, it 

 is of great consequence to disguise your inclination, and to play 

 the hypocrite well; and men are so simple in their temper and so 

 submissive to their present necessities, that he that is neat and 

 cleanly in his collusions shall never want people to practise them 

 upon. * * * 



"A prince therefore, is not obliged to have all the foremen- 

 tioned good qualities in reality, but it is necessary he have them 

 in appearance; nay, I will be bold to affirm that, having them 

 actually, and employing them upon all occasions, they are ex- 

 tremely prejudicial; whereas, having them only in appearance, 

 they turn to better account. It is honourable to seem mild and 

 merciful, and courteous, and rehgious, and sincere, and indeed to 

 be so, provided your mind be so rectified and prepared that you 

 can act quite contrary upon occasion. * * * It is convenient 

 his mind be at his command, and flexible to all puffs and variations 

 of fortune, not forbearing to be good whilst it is in his choice, but 

 knowing how to be evil when there is a necessity. A prince, then. 



