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can be quickly redressed； but when； through not having been foreseen；
they have been permitted to grow in a way that every one can see them。
there is no longer a remedy。 Therefore； the Romans； foreseeing troubles；
dealt with them at once； and； even to avoid a war； would not let them
e to a head； for they knew that war is not to be avoided； but is only
put off to the advantage of others； moreover they wished to fight with
Philip and Antiochus in Greece so as not to have to do it in Italy； they
could have avoided both； but this they did not wish； nor did that ever
please them which is for ever in the mouths of the wise ones of our
time： Let us enjoy the benefits of the time but rather the benefits of
their own valour and prudence； for time drives everything before it； and
is able to bring with it good as well as evil； and evil as well as good。
But let us turn to France and inquire whether she has done any of the
things mentioned。 I will speak of Louis ＇XII＇ （and not of Charles
＇VIII＇） as the one whose conduct is the better to be observed； he having
held possession of Italy for the longest period； and you will see that
he has done the opposite to those things which ought to be done to
retain a state posed of divers elements。
King Louis was brought into Italy by the ambition of the Venetians； who
desired to obtain half the state of Lombardy by his intervention。 I will
not blame the course taken by the king； because； wishing to get a
foothold in Italy； and having no friends there seeing rather that
every door was shut to him owing to the conduct of Charles he was
forced to accept those friendships which he could get； and he would have
succeeded very quickly in his design if in other matters he had not made
some mistakes。 The king； however； having acquired Lombardy； regained at
once the authority which Charles had lost： Genoa yielded； the
Florentines became his friends； the Marquess of Mantua； the Duke of
Ferrara； the Bentivoglio； my lady of Forli； the Lords of Faenza； of
Pesaro； of Rimini； of Camerino； of Piombino； the Lucchesi； the Pisans；
the Sienese everybody made advances to him to bee his friend。 Then
could the Venetians realize the rashness of the course taken by them；
which； in order that they might secure two towns in Lombardy； had made
the king master of two…thirds of Italy。
Let any one now consider with what little difficulty the king could have
maintained his position in Italy had he observed the rules above laid
down； and kept all his friends secure and protected； for although they
were numerous they were both weak and timid； some afraid of the Church；
some of the Venetians； and thus they would always have been forced to
stand in with him； and by their means he could easily have made himself
secure against those who remained powerful。 But he was no sooner in
Milan than he did the contrary by assisting Pope Alexander to occupy the
Romagna。 It never occurred to him that by this action he was weakening
himself； depriving himself of friends and those who had thrown
themselves into his lap； whilst he aggrandized the Church by adding much
temporal power to the spiritual； thus giving it great authority。 And
having mitted this prime error； he was obliged to follow it up； so
much so that； to put an end to the ambition of Alexander； and to prevent
his being the master of Tuscany； he was himself forced to e into
Italy。
And as if it were not enough to have aggrandized the Church； and
deprived himself friends； he； wishing to have the kingdom of Naples；
divides it with the King of Spain； and where he was the prime arbiter of
Italy he takes an associate； so that the ambitious of that country and
the malcontents of his own should have where to shelter； and whereas he
could have left in the kingdom his own pensioner as king； he drove him
out； to put one there who was able to drive him； Louis； out in turn。
The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and mon； and men always
do so when they can； and for this they will be praised not blamed； but
when they cannot do so； yet wish to do so by any means； then there is
folly and blame。 Therefore； if France could have attacked Naples with
her own forces she ought to have done so； if she could not； then she
ought not to have divided it。 And if the partition which she made with
the Venetians in Lombardy was justified by the excuse that by it she got
a foothold in Italy； this other partition merited blame； for it had not
the excuse of that necessity。
Therefore Louis made these five errors： he destroyed the minor powers；
he increased the strength of one of the greater powers in Italy； he
brought in a foreign power； he did not settle in the country； he did not
send colonies。 Which errors； if he had lived； were not enough to injure
him had he not made a sixth by taking away their dominions from the
Venetians； because； had he not aggrandized the Church； nor brought Spain
into Italy； it would have been very reasonable and necessary to humble
them； but having first taken these steps； he ought never to have
consented to their ruin； for they； being powerful； would always have
kept off others from designs on Lombardy； to which the Venetians would
never have consented except to bee masters themselves there； also
because the others would not wish to take Lombardy from France in order
to give it to the Venetians； and to run counter to both they would not
have had the courage。
And if any one should say： King Louis yielded the Romagna to Alexander
and the kingdom to Spain to avoid war； I answer for the reasons given
above that a blunder ought never be perpetrated to avoid war； because it
is not to be avoided； but is only deferred to your disadvantage。 And if
another should allege the pledge which the king had given to the Pope
that he would assist him in the enterprise； in exchange for the
dissolution of his marriage and for the hat to Rouen； to that I reply
what I shall write later on concerning the faith of princes； and