《君主论·第五章·如何治理原有自由传统的城邦》第2节
But when cities or countries are accustomed to live under a prince, and his family is exterminated, they, being on the one hand accustomed to obey and on the other hand not having the old prince, cannot agree in making one from amongst themselves, and they do not know how to govern themselves. For this reason they are very slow to take up arms, and a prince can gain them to himself and secure them much more easily. But in republics there is more vitality, greater hatred, and more desire for vengeance, which will never permit them to allow the memory of their former liberty to rest; so that the safest way is to destroy them or to reside there.
注释摘要
在这一段里，马基雅维利开始比较两种不同政治传统的被征服地区。刚刚他还在讨论如何统治那些习惯于自由生活的城邦，现在他话锋一转，审视那些习惯了生活在君主之下的城市和国家。他的核心问题是：哪一种更容易被外来者占有和长久控制？他的判断非常明确，也完全是来自他对局势的经验观察。 他的逻辑链很简单。如果一个地方原本有世袭的君主，后来的征服者已经把原来的君主的亲族整个消…