Pagina 147 de 310

And, to reduce the matter into a small compass, I say that, on

the side of the conspirator, there is nothing but fear, jealousy,

prospect of punishment to terrify him; but on the side of the

prince there is the majesty of the principality, the laws, the

protection of friends and the state to defend him; so that,

adding to all these things the popular goodwill, it is impossible

that any one should be so rash as to conspire. For whereas in

general the conspirator has to fear before the execution of his

plot, in this case he has also to fear the sequel to the crime;

because on account of it he has the people for an enemy, and thus

cannot hope for any escape.