The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XXXI.

How dangerous it is to believe Exiles too far.

I Think it not amiss in this place to shew how much it imports all persons not to give too much credit to those who are banished, for many times they are but the practices and stratagems of Princes and States. We have a memorable example of their inconstancy in Livy, though something improper. When Alexander the Great passed into Asia with his Army, Alexander of Epirus his Kinsman and Unckle passed with another into Italy, invi∣ted by the Exiles of Lucca, who put him in hopes that by their means he should be Master of that whole Province: but when he was come into Italy, instead of assisting him, they conspir'd against him, and slew him, upon promise of indempnity, and restitution of their Estates. From whence we may learn what faith is to be given to such as are banished out of their own Country: for as to their engagements, they are nothing; it is not to be doubted but when ever they can return by any other means, they will leave you, and be∣take themselves to any body else, notwithstanding any promise or engagement to you; and that which makes their promises and confidence the less to be trusted, is, because their ex∣treme passion and desire to come home, make them believe many things that are impossible, and pretend many things that they do not believe: so that betwixt what they believe, and what they pretend, they feed you with fair hopes, but if you depend upon them, you are undone, your expence is all lost, and your whole enterprize miscarries; I shall only give you an instance in the aforesaid Alexander, and Themistocles the Athenian; Themistocles being in rebellion against the Athenians, fled into Asia to Darius, whom he solicited with large promises to an expedition into Greece. Darius was persuaded, and passed into Greece, but Themistocles being unable to make his promises good, either for shame of what he had done, or fear of punishment for what he had not, he poisoned himself; and if Themistocles a man of that Excellence and Virtue could delude the King, and promise more than he could

perform, how little are they to be trusted, who having no such thing to restrain them, give themselves up wholly to their passion and desires? Princes therefore and States ought to be very tender of undertaking any enterprize upon the encouragement of an Exile, for they seldom succeed. And because it seldom happens that Towns are taken by intelligence within, I shall discourse of it in my next Chapter, and add what variety of ways the Romans used to come by their Conquests.