OF AMBITION 93 



not stopped. But if it be stopped, and cannot have 

 his way, it becometh adust, and thereby malign and veno- 

 mous. So ambitious men, if they find the way open for 

 their rising, and still get forward, they are rather busy 

 than dangerous ; but if they be checked in their desires, 

 they become secretly discontent, and look upon men and 

 matters with an evil eye, and are best pleased when things 

 go backward ; which is the worst property in a servant of 

 a prince or state. Therefore it is good for princes, if they 

 use ambitious men, to handle it so as they be still progres- 

 sive and not retrograde ; which because it cannot be without 

 inconvenience, it is good not to use such natures at all. 

 For if they rise not with their service, they will take order 

 to make their service fall with them. But since we have 

 said it were good not to use men of ambitious natures, 

 except it be upon necessity, it is fit we speak in what cases 

 they are of necessity. 



Good commanders in the wars must be taken, be they 

 never so ambitious ; for the use of their service dispenseth 

 with the rest ; and to take a soldier without ambition is to 

 pull off his spurs. There is also great use of ambitious 

 men in being screens to princes in matters of danger and 

 envy ; for no man will take that part, except he be like a 

 seeled dove, that mounts and mounts because he cannot 

 see about him. There is use also of ambitious men in 

 pulling down the greatness of any subject that overtops ; 

 as Tiberius used Macro in the pulling down of Sejanus. 

 Since therefore they must be used in such cases, there 

 resteth to speak how they are to be bridled, that they 

 may be less dangerous. There is less danger of them if 

 they be of mean birth, than if they be noble ; and if they 

 be rather harsh of nature, than gracious and popular : and 

 if they be rather new raised, than grown cunning and 

 fortified in their greatness. It is counted by some a weak- 

 ness in princes to have favourites ; but it is of all others 

 the best remedy against ambitious great-ones. For when 

 the way of pleasuring and displeasuring lieth by the favou- 

 rite, it is impossible any other should be over-great. 

 Another means to curb them, is to balance them by others 



