pare her to one of those raging rivers； which when in floodoverflows the plains； sweeping away trees and buildings； bearing awaythe soil from place to place； everything flies before it； all yield toits violence； without being able in any way to withstand it； and yet；though its nature be such； it does not follow therefore that men； whenthe weather bees fair； shall not make provision； both with defencesand barriers； in such a manner that； rising again； the waters may passaway by canal； and their force be neither so unrestrained nor sodangerous。 So it happens with fortune； who shows her power where valourhas not prepared to resist her； and thither she turns her forces whereshe knows that barriers and defences have not been raised to constrainher。And if you will consider Italy； which is the seat of these changes； andwhich has given to them their impulse； you will see it to be an opencountry without barriers and without any defence。 For if it had beendefended by proper valour； as are Germany； Spain； and France； eitherthis invasion would not have made the great changes it has made or itwould not have e at all。 And this I consider enough to say concerningresistance to fortune in general。But confining myself more to the particular； I say that a prince may beseen happy to…day and ruined to…morrow without having shown any changeof disposition or character。 This； I believe； arises firstly from causesthat have already been discussed at length； namely； that the prince whorelies entirely upon fortune is lost when it changes。 I believe alsothat he will be successful who directs his actions according to thespirit of the times； and that he whose actions do not accord with thetimes will not be successful。 Because men are seen； in affairs that leadto the end which every man has before hi