§ XVI
Limits on Rewards for Ministers and Favorites
The prince must not give excessive rewards to ministers or favorites, ensuring that their fortunes do not surpass those of the highest rank or burden the people.
Haven't you given your ministers, or let them take, excessive profits that their services hadn't earned? The rewards a prince gives to those who serve the State under him must always have certain limits. It's not permitted to give them fortunes that surpass those of people of the highest rank, or that are out of proportion to the state's current strength. No matter what services a minister has rendered, he must not suddenly come into immense wealth while the people are suffering and the princes and lords of the highest rank are in need. It's even less permissible to give such fortunes to favorites who, as a rule, have served the state even less than the ministers have.
Read the original French
N'avez-vous point donné, ou laissé prendre à vos ministres, des profits excessifs que leurs services n'avoient point mérités ? Les récompenses que le prince donne à ceux qui servent sous lui l'Etat, doivent toujours avoir certaines bornes.
Il n'est point permis de leur donner des fortunes qui surpassent celles des gens de la plus haute condition, ni qui soient disproportionnées aux forces présentes de l'Etat. Un ministre, quelques services qu'il ait rendus, ne doit point parvenir tout-à-coup à des biens immenses, pendant que les peuples souffrent, et que les princes et les seigneurs du premier rang sont nécessiteux. Il est encore moins permis de donner de telles fortunes à des favoris, qui, d'ordinaire, ont encore moins servi l'Etat que les ministres.
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