--Alexander magnus.--If men did know what
shining fetters, gilded miseries, and painted happiness thrones and
sceptres were there would not be so frequent strife about the
getting or holding of them; there would be more principalities than
princes; for a prince is the pastor of the people. He ought to
shear, not to flay his sheep; to take their fleeces, not their the
soul of the commonwealth, and ought to cherish it as his own body.
Alexander the Great was wont to say, "He hated that gardener that
plucked his herbs or flowers up by the roots." A man may milk a
beast till the blood come; churn milk and it yieldeth butter, but
wring the nose and the blood followeth. He is an ill prince that so
pulls his subjects' feathers as he would not have them grow again;
that makes his exchequer a receipt for the spoils of those he
governs. No, let him keep his own, not affect his subjects'; strive
rather to be called just than powerful. Not, like the Roman
tyrants, affect the surnames that grow by human slaughters; neither
to seek war in peace, nor peace in war, but to observe faith given,
though to an enemy. Study piety toward the subject; show care to
defend him.
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