vertue as was Germany, Spain or France;
this inundation would never have causd these great alterations it hath,
or else would it not have reach'd to us: and this shall suffice to have
said, touching the opposing of fortune in generall. But restraining my
selfe more to particulars, I say that to day we see a Prince prosper and
flourish and to morrow utterly go to ruine; not seeing that he hath
alterd any condition or quality; which I beleeve arises first from the
causes which we have long since run over, that is because that Prince
that relies wholly upon fortune, runnes as her wheele turnes. I beleeve
also, that he proves the fortunate man, whose manner of proceeding meets
with the quality of the time; and so likewise he unfortunate from whose
course of proceeding the times differ: for we see that men, in the
things that induce them to the end, (which every one propounds to
himselfe, as glory and riches) proceed therein diversly; some with
respects, others more bold, and rashly; one with violence, and th'other
with cunning; the one with patience, th'other with its contrary; and
every one of severall wayes may attaine thereto; we see also two very
respective and wary men, the one come to his purpose, and th'other not;
and in like maner two equally prosper, taking divers course; the one
being wary the other head-strong; which proceeds from nothing else, but
from the quality of the times, which agree, or not, with their
proceedings. From hence arises that which I said, that two working
diversly, produce the same effect: and two equaly working, the one
attains his end, the other not. Hereupon depends the alteration of the
good; for if to one that behaves himself with warinesse and patience,
times and affaires turne so favourably, that the carriage of his
businesse prove well, he prospers; but if the times and affaires chance,
he is ruind, because he changes not his manner of proceeding: nor is
there any man so wise, that can frame himselfe hereunto; as well because
he cannot go out of the way, from that whereunto Nature inclines him: as
also, for that one having alwayes prosperd, walking such a way, cannot
be perswaded to leave it; and therefore the respective and wary man,
when it is fit time for him to use violence and force, knows not how to
put it in practice, whereupon he is ruind: but if he could change his
disposition with the times and the affaires, he should not change his
fortune. Pope Julius the second proceeded in