of a small number of citizens: if the whole people had been his enemy, the means he used could never have succeeded.
Nor is the proverb good authority, “that he who relies on the people builds on a sandy foundation." It may be true with respect to a single citizen opposed to powerful enemies, or oppressed by the magistrates, as happened to the Gracchi at Rome, and to George Scali at Florence; but a prince who is not wanting in courage, nor in a certain address, and who, far from suffering himself to be dejected by ill fortune, knows how by his firmness as well as by wise regulations to preserve order in his states, will never repent having laid his foundation on the people's affection.
A prince in wishing to be absolute hastens to ruin, especially if he does not govern by himself; for then he becomes dependant on those to whom he has confided his authority, who on the first disturbance either refuse to obey him, or even rebel against him, and then it is no longer time to think of making himself absolute; for whether it be that the prince knows not whom he can trust, or that the subjects and citizens are accustomed to obey the magistrates, and will not acknowledge any other authority; the situation of a prince in such conjunctures is so much the more lamentableę, as he cannot regulate his con-
