cerning the magistrate's power ought to be
superfluous; for that it is certainly founded upon his commission
from God, and for the most part sufficiently fortified with all
humane advantages. There are few soveraign princes so abridged, but
that, if they be not contented, they may envy their own fortune. But
the modester question (if men will needs be medling with matters
above them) would be, how far it is advisable for a prince to exert
and push the rigour of that power which no man can deny him; for
princes, as they derive the right of succession from their ancestors,
so they inherit from that ancient and illustrious extraction a
generosity that runs in the blood above the allay of the rest of
mankind. And being moreover at so much ease of honour and fortune,
that they are free from the gripes of avarice and twinges of
ambition, they are the more disposed to an universal benignity
toward their subjects. What prince that sees so many millions of men,
either labouring industriously toward his revenue, or adventuring
their lives in his service, and all of them performing his commands
with a religious obedience, but conceives at the same time a
relenting tenderness over them, whereof others out of the narrowness
of their minds cannot be capable? But whoever shall cast his eye
thorow the history of all ages, will find that nothing has alwayes
succeeded better with princes then the clemency of government; and
that those, on the contrary, who have taken the sanguinary course,
have been unfortunate to themselves and the people, the consequences
not being separable. For whether that royal and magnanimous
gentleness spring from a propensity of their nature, or be acquired
and confirmed by good and prudent consideration, it draws along with
it all the effects of Policy. The wealth of a shepherd depends upon
the multitude of his flock, the goodness of their pasture, and the
quietness of their feeding; and princes, whose dominion over mankind
resembles in some measure that of men over other creatures, cannot
expect any considerable increase to themselves, if by continual
terrour they amaze, shatter, and hare their people, driving them into
woods, and running them upon precipices. If men do but compute how
charming an efficacy one word, and more, one good action has from a
superior upon those under him, it can scarce be reckon'd