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A prince ought also to show himself a patron of ability, and to

honour the proficient in every art. At the same time he should

encourage his citizens to practise their callings peaceably, both

in commerce and agriculture, and in every other following, so

that the one should not be deterred from improving his

possessions for fear lest they be taken away from him or another

from opening up trade for fear of taxes; but the prince ought to

offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and designs in

any way to honour his city or state.

Further, he ought to entertain the people with festivals and

spectacles at convenient seasons of the year; and as every city

is divided into guilds or into societies,[1] he ought to hold

such bodies in esteem, and associate with them sometimes, and

show himself an example of courtesy and liberality; nevertheless,

always maintaining the majesty of his rank, for this he must

never consent to abate in anything.