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CHAP. IV.
A Prince is never safe in his new Conquests, whilst they are in being whom he dispossessed.
THe death of Tarquinius Priscus by the Sons of Ancus, and the death of Servins Tullius by Tarquinius Superbus shews how dangerous it is to disposses any man of a King∣dom, and suffer him to live, though you endeavour by all means possible to cares him. Tarquinius Priscus thought his Title unquestionable, being made King by the People, and confirmed by the Senate; nor could it enter into his thoughts that the malice and indig∣nation of the Sons of Ancus should be so great, as to keep them from submitting to that wherewith the whole City of Rome was contented. Servius Tullius was mistaken in the same manner, in thinking with new favours and obligations to have pacified the Sons of Tarquin. So that from the first example, a Prince may take warning, and not delude him∣self with an opinion he is safe, whilst any of them are living whom he dispossessed; and from the second he may inform himself, that old injuries are never cancelled by new fa∣vours, especially if the favours be not equivalent to the injury. And without doubt Ser∣vius Tullius was ill advised to believe that the Sons of Tarquin would be content to be his Sons-in-Law, when it was their due to be his King. And this ambition, and impatience to govern, is so great and insatiable in mankind, that it not only affects those persons who have some right and expectation to govern, but those likewise who in reason can have no such expectancy, as in the example of Tullia the Daughter of Servius, but married to one of the Tarquins: which Tullia was so enflamed with a desire of governing, that not con∣tented with being a King's Daughter, transported with rage, contrary to all silial duty and affection, she incited her Husband against her Father, and forc'd him into a conspiracy, not only against his Kingdom, but Life. Whereas if Tarquinius Priscus and Servius Tullius had known how to have secured themselves against those they had supplanted, they had neither lost their Kingdoms nor Lives. But Tarquinius Superbus was expell'd for not ob∣serving the Laws and Practices of the ancient Kings his Predecessors, as shall appear in the next Chapter.