repeat；　it　is　necessary　for　a　prince　to　have　the　peoplefriendly；　otherwise　he　has　no　security　in　adversity。Nabis；　Prince　of　the　Spartans；　sustained　the　attack　of　all　Greece；　andof　a　victorious　Roman　army；　and　against　them　he　defended　his　country　andhis　government；　and　for　the　overing　of　this　peril　it　was　onlynecessary　for　him　to　make　himself　secure　against　a　few；　but　this　wouldnot　have　been　sufficient　if　the　people　had　been　hostile。　And　do　not　letany　one　impugn　this　statement　with　the　trite　proverb　that　'He　who　buildson　the　people；　builds　on　the　mud；'　for　this　is　true　when　a　privatecitizen　makes　a　foundation　there；　and　persuades　himself　that　the　peoplewill　free　him　when　he　is　oppressed　by　his　enemies　or　by　the　magistrates；wherein　he　would　find　himself　very　often　deceived；　as　happened　to　theGracchi　in　Rome　and　to　Messer　Giorgio　Scali　in　Florence。　But　granted　aprince　who　has　established　himself　as　above；　who　can　mand；　and　is　aman　of　courage；　undismayed　in　adversity；　who　does　not　fail　in　otherqualifications；　and　who；　by　his　resolution　and　energy；　keeps　the　wholepeople　encouraged　……　such　a　one　will　never　find　himself　deceived　inthem；　and　it　will　be　shown　that　he　has　laid　his　foundations　well。These　principalities　are　liable　to　danger　when　they　are　passing　from　thecivil　to　the　absolute　order　of　government；　for　such　princes　either　rulepersonally　or　through　magistrates。　In　the　latter　case　their　governmentis　weaker　and　more　insecure；　because　it　rests　entirely　on　the　goodwillof　those　citizens　who　are　raised　to　the　magistracy；　and　who；　especiallyin　troubled　times；　can　destroy　the　government　with　great　ease；　either　byintrigue　or　open　defiance；　and　the　prince　has　not　the　chance　amidtumults　to　exercise　absolute　authority；　because　the　citizens　andsubjects；　accustomed　to　receive　order