Page:The Prince.djvu/126

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THE PRINCE.
11

ever acquires this kind of states and wishes to preserve them, he has only to attend to two considerations; the one, to extinguish entirely the family of their ancient sovereigns, the other, not to alter their laws nor increase their taxes; and in a little time the new states will mingle and unite with the old one, so as to become one and the same.

But when a prince acquires the sovereignty of a country differing from his own both in language, manners, and intellectual organization, it is there the difficulties lie; and in order to maintain the possession of it, good fortune must unite with superior talent.

One of the readiest and most effective methods. which a new prince can employ, is to go thither and inhabit it, which cannot fail to render the possession more certain and durable. This was the conduct of the Turk in respect to Greece; for, notwithstanding every precaution which human foresight could suggest, he would never have been able to retain that country under his domination if he had not gone to and dwelt in it. By being on the spot, a prince sees the commencement of disorder, and remedies it immediately; when he is absent, he is only apprised of it when it has attained such force and extent that no remedy can reach it. Besides, this new state cannot be pillaged by those who command there in