CHAP. X.
How we ought to estimate the Strength of Governments.
It is also important in the study of the different governments of which I have just spoken, to examine if the prince in time of need be powerful enough to defend himself by his own forces without having recourse to the assistance of his allies. To place this point in the clearest view, I will observe that those only can so defend themselves who have men and money enough to bring an army into the field, and give battle to the power who shall attack them. On the contrary, lamentable indeed is the situation of a prince reduced to the necessity of shutting himself up in the city of his residence, and therein to await the enemy's approach. I have already treated of the first point, and shall have occasion to return to it.
As to the second, I cannot but warn princes to fortify and provision the city in which they reside, and not to trouble themselves about the rest: for if as I have said, and shall again say in the sequel, they have learned how to manage the people's affection, I think they will have nothing
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