he outset, been
plainly shown.

CHAPTER XLI.--_That it is unwise to pass at a bound from leniency to
severity, or to a haughty bearing from a humble._

Among the crafty devices used by Appius to aid him in maintaining his
authority, this, of suddenly passing from one character to the other
extreme, was of no small prejudice to him. For his fraud in pretending
to the commons to be well disposed towards them, was happily contrived;
as were also the means he took to bring about the reappointment of the
decemvirate. Most skilful, too, was his audacity in nominating himself
contrary to the expectation of the nobles, and in proposing colleagues
on whom he could depend to carry out his ends. But, as I have said
already, it was not happily contrived that, after doing all this, he
should suddenly turn round, and from being the friend, reveal himself
the enemy of the people; haughty instead of humane; cruel instead of
kindly; and make this change so rapidly as to leave himself no shadow of
excuse, but compel all to recognize the doubleness of his nature. For he
who has once seemed good, should he afterwards choose, for his own ends,
to become bad, ought to change by slow degrees, and as opportunity
serves; so that before his altered nature strip him of old favour,
he may have gained for himself an equal share of new, and thus his
influence suffer no diminution. For otherwise, being at once unmasked
and friendless, he is undone:

CHAPTER XLII.--_How easily Men become corrupted._

In this matter of the decemvirate we may likewise note the ease
wherewith men become corrupted, and how completely, although born good
and well brought up, they change their nature. For we see how favourably
disposed the youths whom Appius gathered round him became towards his
tyranny, in return for the trifling benefits which they drew from it;
and how Quintus Fabius, one of the second decemvirate and a most worthy
man, blinded by a little ambition, and misled by the evil counsels
of Appius, abandoning his fair fame, betook himself to most unworthy
courses, and grew like his master.

Careful consideration of this should make those who frame laws for
commonwealths and kingdoms more alive to the necessity of placing
restraints on men's evil appetites, and depriving them of all hope of
doing wrong with impunity.

CHAPTER XLIII.--_That Men fighting in their own Cause make good and
resolute Soldiers._

From what has been touched upon abov