not to be always good, but to be such as circum- stances and the interests of his preservation may demand of him.
Thus laying aside the false ideas which have been formed as to princes, and resting only on those which are true, I say, that we never speak of a man, and above all of a prince, as to what he is, without attributing to him some merit or demerit— some bad or good quality. One mah iş liberal—anotber parsimonious; honourable or dishonourable; effeminate and pusillanimous, or courageous and enterprising; humane or cruel; affable or haughty; wise or debauchhed; honest or dishonest; good tempered or surly; sedate or inconsiderate; religious or impious, &.
It would, doubtless, be very bappy for a prince to unite in himself all good qualities; but as our nature does not allow so great a perfection, it is necessary to have prudence enough to preserve himself from those defects and vices which may ruin him; and as ta those which can only compromise his safety and the possession of his dominions, he ought, if in his.power, to guard himself against them; but if that is beyond his strength, he should not embarrass himself about them, but watch entirely those which may cause his ruin. He should pot fear to encounter some blame for vices which are important to. the support of his states; because;
