The waters of the surface, the waters that flow underground, rainwater, well-situated mountains, and strong fortifications, these are indispensable to every country.
Wealth, richness of yield, happiness, immunity from diseases, and safety from invasions, these five are the ornaments of a kingdom.
That alone deserveth to be called country which produceth abundantly without the labour of the people: that which yieldeth only unto labour deserveth not that name.
Even if a country hath all these blessings it is worth nothing if it is not blessed in its ruler.
LXXV
Fortresses
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Fortresses are helpful to the weak who are thinking only of their defence: but they are also no less helpful to the strong and powerful.
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Watercourses, deserts, mountains, and thick jungles, all these constitute various kinds of defensive barriers.
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Height, thickness, strength, and impregnability, these are the four requisites that Science demandeth of fortresses.
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That is the best fortress which is vulnerable in very few places but at the same time is spacious, and which is capable of breaking the assaults of those that attempt to take it.
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Impregnability, facility of defence for the garrison, and abundance of provisions inside, these are the essential requisites of the fortress.
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That is the real fortress which is filled with stores of every kind and which is garrisoned by men that will make a brave defence.
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That is the veritable fortress which cannot be reduced whether by a regular siege or by storm or even by mining.
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That is the veritable fortress which enableth the garrison to defeat the besiegers even when they exert their utmost against it.
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That is the veritable fortress which hath been rendered impregnable by works of various kinds, and which enableth the defenders to fell down their adversaries even at the outermost enceintes.
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But however strong a fortress may be, it will avail nothing if the defenders show not vigour in action.
LXXVI
The Acquisition of Wealth
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There is nothing like wealth to lend so much consequence to men of no consequence.
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The indigent are decried by all: but everyone exalteth the man of substance.
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The unflickering light called wealth lighteth up all dark places unto him that possesseth it.
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Behold the substance that is acquired by means that are not evil: righteousness floweth therefrom and happiness also.
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Affect not the substance that is divorced from mercy and kindliness, and touch it not with thy hands.
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Escheats and derelicts, customs duties, and prize acquired in war, all these contribute to build up the wealth of the prince.
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Compassion which is the child of Love requireth for tending it the kindly nurse called Wealth.
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Behold the wealthy man who taketh an enterprise on hand: he is like one who watcheth an elephant-fight from the top of a hill.30
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Amass wealth: for there is no sharper steel to cleave thy foeman’s pride.
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Behold the man that hath laid up for himself wealth in great profusion: both the other objects of life31 are within his reach.
LXXVII
The Characteristics of the Army
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A well-organised and puissant army that feareth not danger is the first among the possessions of the prince.
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It is only veterans that can hold out in desperate situations with grim determination, regardless of decimating attacks.
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What though they roar even like the ocean? an army of rats will be annihilated at a single whiff of the cobra’s breath.
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That alone deserveth the name of army which knoweth no defeat, which is incapable of being corrupted, and which hath a long tradition of valour behind it.
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That alone deserveth the name of army which can face valiantly even the God of Death if he should advance against it in all his fury.
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Valour, honour, a clear head, and a thorough acquaintance with the history of the great wars of the past, these four are the armours of protection for an army.
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That which deserveth the name of army always goeth for the enemy: for it is confident of overcoming him when he offereth battle.
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Superiority of armament is a compensation when the army is lacking in dash or steadiness.
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The army will always win provided that it is not inferior in numbers, hath no implacable jealousies, and is not left to starve without pay.
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Even if there is no lack of troops of the line, there is no army when there are no chiefs to lead.
LXXVIII
The Self-Abandon of the Warrior
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Face not my master in battle, O ye foes! for many are the men that challenged him and are now lying in stone-marked graves.
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The javelin that is aimed at a tusker but misseth bringeth more glory than the arrow that is aimed at a hare and even hitteth.
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The furious courage that striketh hard, that is what they call valour: but it is chivalrous generosity to the fallen that giveth it its edge.
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The warrior hurled his spear at the elephant and was hurrying back to look for another: but he noticed the spear buried in his own body and smiled with joy as he plucked it out.32
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Is it not a shame to the hero if his eye doth so much as wink when the lance is hurled at him?
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The hero counteth those days as wasted on which he receiveth not deep gashes on his body.
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Behold the men that care not for their lives but yearn for the fame that encompasseth the earth about: the anklet that they wear round their foot is a very feast to the eye.
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Behold the men of valour that fear not for their lives on the battlefield: they forget not their discipline even when their chief is severe upon them.
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Who hath the right to blame the men who lose their lives in the attempt to accomplish that which they have undertaken?
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If one can die so as to draw tears from the eyes of one’s chief, one may even go a-begging in order to obtain for oneself such a death.
LXXIX
Friendship
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What is there in the world that is so
