the
circumstances of the country other than they are these communities would
be forced to make attempts to extend their dominions, and be constrained
to relinquish their present peaceful mode of life. And since the same
conditions are not found elsewhere, other nations cannot adopt this way
of living, but are compelled to extend their power either by means of
leagues, or else by the methods used by the Romans; and any one who
should act otherwise would find not safety but rather death and
destruction. For since in a thousand ways, and from causes innumerable,
conquests are surrounded with dangers, it may well happen that in
adding to our dominions, we add nothing to our strength; but whosoever
increases not his strength while he adds to his dominions, must needs
be ruined. He who is impoverished by his wars, even should he come off
victorious, can add nothing to his strength, since he spends more than
he gains, as the Venetians and Florentines have done. For Venice has
been far feebler since she acquired Lombardy, and Florence since she
acquired Tuscany, than when the one was content to be mistress of the
seas, and the other of the lands lying within six miles from her walls.
And this from their eagerness to acquire without knowing what way to
take. For which ignorance these States are the more to be blamed in
proportion as there is less to excuse them; since they had seen what
methods were used by the Romans, and could have followed in their
footsteps; whereas the Romans, without any example set them, were able
by their own prudence to shape a course for themselves.

But even to well-governed States, their conquests may chance to occasion
much harm; as when some city or province is acquired abounding in luxury
and delights, by whose manners the conqueror becomes infected; as
happened first to the Romans, and afterwards to Hannibal on taking
possession of Capua. And had Capua been at such a distance from Rome
that a ready remedy could not have been applied to the disorders of
the soldiery, or had Rome herself been in any degree tainted with
corruption, this acquisition had certainly proved her ruin. To which
Titus Livius bears witness when he says, "_Most mischievous at this time
to our military discipline was Capua; for ministering to all delights,
she turned away the corrupted minds of our soldiers from the remembrance
of their country_." And, truly, cities and provinces like this, avenge
themselves on their conqueror