owing them, they will
lead the to thy destruction; whereas some others that shall as much
seeme vice, if we take the course they lead us, shall discover unto us
the way to our safety and well-being.

The second blemish in this our Authours book, I find in his
fifteenth Chapter: where he instructs his Prince to use such an
ambidexterity as that he may serve himselfe either of vertue, or
vice, according to his advantage, which in true pollicy is
neither good in attaining the Principality nor in securing it
when it is attaind. For Politicks, presuppose Ethiques, which
will never allow this rule: as that a man might make this small
difference between vertue, and vice, that he may indifferently
lay aside, or take up the one or the other, and put it in
practise as best conduceth to the end he propounds himselfe. I
doubt our Authour would have blamd Davids regard to Saul when 1
Sam. 24. in the cave he cut off the lap of Sauls garment, and
spared his head; and afterwards in the 26. when he forbad
Abishai to strike him as he lay sleeping. Worthy of a Princes
consideration is that saying of Abigal to David 1 Sam. 25. 30.

'It shall come to passe when the Lord shall have done to my Lord
according to all that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall
have appointed thee Ruler over Israel, that this shall be no
grief to thee, nor offence of heart unto my Lord, that thou hast
forborne to shed blood, etc.'

For surely the conscience of this evill ground whereupon they
have either built, or underpropped their tyranny, causes men, as
well _metus_ as _spes in longum projicere_, which sets them a
work on further mischiefe.

CHAP. XVI

Of Liberality, and Miserablenesse.

Beginning then at the first of the above mentioned qualities, I say that
it would be very well to be accounted liberall: neverthelesse,
liberality used in such a manner, as to make thee be accounted so,
wrongs thee: for in case it be used vertuously, and as it ought to be,
it shall never come to be taken notice of, so as to free thee from the
infamie of its contrary. And therefore for one to hold the name of
liberal among men, it were needfull not to omit any sumptuous quality,
insomuch that a Prince alwayes so dispos'd, shall waste all his
revenues, and at the end shall be forc'd, if he will still maintaine
that reputation of liberality, heavily to burthen his s