Liber III, Pars II — Quot et quae sunt illa quae debet operari verus rex, et quod eadem simulat se facere Tyrannus. Cap. IX.

Liber III, Pars II — Quot et quae sunt illa quae debet operari verus rex, et quod eadem simulat se facere Tyrannus. Cap. IX.

We can describe ten things that a good king should do, and what a tyrant pretends to do. Although these ten can be contained in a general way in the sayings, it is better to narrate them individually, because, as has been said many times, universal statements are less effective regarding moral matters. First, it is essential for a true king to ensure the common good and to spend the revenues of the kingdom for the benefit of the community or the good of the realm; however, tyrants pretend to do this but do not actually follow through, as the philosopher says, they instead give it to prostitutes, flatterers, and other useless people. Secondly, a rightful ruler of the kingdom should not only arrange revenues and offerings for the common good of the realm, but also must diligently protect and observe the common goods and rights of the kingdom. Thirdly, a king and a prince should not show themselves to be overly fearsome or severe, nor should they appear too familiar; rather, they should present themselves as a person of greater gravity and respect, which cannot be done appropriately without virtue: therefore, a true king is truly virtuous; however, a tyrant is not, but pretends to be. Fourthly, it is important for a king not to despise any of his subjects, nor to do them any injustice, whether against daughters, wives, or anyone else; and if it should happen that someone from the kingdom must be punished, it should not be for insult or to satisfy some lustful desire, but for the common good and for justice. Fifthly, tyrants, although they pretend to act in this way, do not actually do so; rather, they seize the goods of others and do not respect the rights of the kingdom. Lastly, tyrants do not act in this way, because they seek only wealth and pleasure, and they wrong citizens in their wives and daughters, and they seize their goods. Fifth, it's fitting for kings and princes not only to have close friends and to love the nobles and barons, and others through whom the good state of the kingdom can be maintained, but also, as the Philosopher says in Politics, to do so. They should encourage their wives to be friendly and kind to the wives of those mentioned above, for women greatly incline men toward their own desires, since everyone is very inclined not to upset their own pleasures. For if the wives of the nobles and others through whom the good state of the kingdom is maintained see themselves being disregarded by the wife of the king or prince, they would incite men to stir up seditions in the kingdom or principality. Thus, a good ruler of the kingdom or city should conduct himself in this way. However, a tyrant does not conduct himself this way; rather, he, being arrogant, despises others, for which reason neither he nor those associated with him are kind to others. Therefore, what a true king possesses, although it may seem that a tyrant possesses the same, in reality, he lacks those things. Sixth, a true king should be moderate in food and pleasures, so that he is not held in contempt by his subjects, for as it is said. A true king should not only be moderate in food and pleasures, so that he is not held in contempt by his subjects, as it is said in the Politics. He is not held in contempt who is sober, but he who is drunk. However, tyrants do not act this way, for they only seek their own advantage as a valuable and pleasurable good, where the greatest sensual delight is found in food and pleasures, and they indulge in those pleasures without restraint. Indeed (which is worse), as the philosopher narrates. Politics. Many tyrants are not only not moderate, but they do not even want to appear to be moderate. They think they will be regarded as happy by people if they are seen every day indulging in banquets, drunkenness, and lavish feasts; however, they should not behave this way. For it is said that if they lacked moderation, they should not show their intemperance, for sobriety and temperance are praised, but greed and gluttony are condemned. Seventh, a true king should adorn and fortify the cities and camps within his kingdom, so that he may appear more as a steward of the common good than as a tyrant seeking his own advantage. Eighth, a true king, as the philosopher says, should honor wise and good people, even outsiders, so that it may be thought they are not so honored by their own citizens if they were among them. This is not what tyrants do; for wise and good people, as will be shown later, are not honored by them, but rather destroyed. Ninth, a true king should not expand his domain through usurpation and injustice. For as it is said in politics, It is better to rule over a few than over many. This is especially true if such a civil multitude is acquired through usurpation and injustice. The philosopher also states this. As it is said in Politics. When a certain king had relinquished part of his kingdom because he was holding it unjustly, he was rebuked by his wife, who said he should feel ashamed for leaving his children less of a kingdom than he had received from his father; the king replied that if he were to give them less in quantity, he would still be giving them a greater and longer-lasting kingdom. However, tyrants do not do this; for although they always pretend to act justly, they unjustly expand their dominion in many ways and usurp the inheritances of others without reason. Tenth and finally, it is fitting for true kings to conduct themselves well regarding divine matters. For the people are, as the Philosopher states, entirely subject to the king whom they believe to be a friend of God, and they think that he always acts justly and does nothing unjust. However, we can present another better reason for this, saying that if a king has God as his friend, with divine providence knowing all things, and with divine power that no one can resist, it will happen that he will prosper in his actions for his own salvation as is fitting. Indeed, because of the king's holiness, God often bestows many good things upon those who exist in that kingdom. Lastly, we have said that it is fitting for royal majesty to conduct itself well regarding divine matters, for this should be the end and complement of others; for all things are to be ordered for this purpose. A true king, therefore, acts rightly toward the divine; however, a tyrant is not like this, but pretends to be such.