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INTRODUCTION.
liii
ever contriving that the people should be induced to press upon him those honours to which he aspired[1].
Our author, in the next place, treats of new states which a prince acquires
- ↑ "One of the greatest faults of Appius was the changing his manner and character too suddenly. His finesse in deceiving the people by assuming popular manners, was no doubt well judged; nothing was more adroit than his conduct to renew the decemvirs; or his audacity in publicly nominating himself against the will of the nobles; or, his attention in choosing colleagues devoted to him. But nothing was more misplaced or improper than changing his character on a sudden, and shewing himself the enemy of the people whose friend he had appeared, and becoming proud and difficult of access, instead of being affable and easy of access as heretofore; and that so rapidly, that the least attentive could perceive his falsehood without being able to make any excuse for him. Whoever, from being good, wishes to become bad in principle, ought to proceed towards it by the gentlest shades and gradations. He must manage the change so skilfully, and with such regard to circumstances, that the old friends whom he must of necessity lose, may be advantageously replaced by new ones, so that his authority is never weakened; for if it is strip-
