Xxi.—: There was a little city manned but by a few, and a mighty king drew his army to it, erecting bulwarks against it,

This parable describes the corrupt and malevolent nature of men, who, in extremities and difficulties, generally fly to the prudent and the courageous, though they before despised them; and as soon as the storm is over, they show ingratitude to their preservers. Machiavel had reason to put the question, “Which is the more ungrateful toward the well-deserving, the prince or the people”? though he accuses both of ingratitude. The thing does not proceed wholly from the ingratitude either of princes or people, but it is generally attended with the envy of the nobility, who secretly repine at the event, though happy and prosperous, because it was not procured by themselves. Whence they lessen the merit of the author and bear him down.