CHAP. LI.
A Prince or Commonwealth that is constrained to do a thing, is to seem to do it frankly, and without any compulsion.
A Wise man orders his affairs so, that whatever he does, seems rather voluntary and gracious, than done by force and compulsion, be his necessity of doing it never so great, which point of wisdom being well observed by the Romans, got them great reputa∣tion among the people, especially when they decreed stipends to the Soldiers out of the publick Treasury, who before were obliged to serve at their own proper charges; for seeing their Wars were like to be tedious, and their Armies to be carried into far Countries, before they could be finished, they found neither the first could be continued, nor the latter per∣form'd but at the publick expence, wherefore the Senate was forced and necessitated to pay the Soldiers out of the publick stock; yet they did it so slyly, and with that artifice, that though compelled by necessity, it was received as a grace, and gain'd them exceed∣ingly the affections of the people, who had never so much as mention'd it by their Tri∣bunes, or thought of it themselves: So that never any thing was received with more