humble the Veians； found itimpossible to refuse him soldiers without manifestly offending him。Therefore Julius with his impetuous action acplished what no otherpontiff with simple human wisdom could have done； for if he had waitedin Rome until he could get away； with his plans arranged and everythingfixed； as any other pontiff would have done； he would never havesucceeded。 Because the King of France would have made a thousandexcuses； and the others would have raised a thousand fears。I will leave his other actions alone； as they were all alike； and theyall succeeded； for the shortness of his life did not let him experiencethe contrary； but if circumstances had arisen to gocautiously； his ruin would have followed； because he would never havedeviated from those ways to which nature inclined him。I conclude therefore that； fortune being changeful and mankind steadfastin their ways； so long as the two are in agreement men are successful；but unsuccessful when they fall out。 For my part I consider that it isbetter to be adventurous than cautious； because fortune is a woman； andif you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill…use her；and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered by the adventurousrather than by those who go to work more coldly。 She is； therefore；always； woman…like； a lover of young men； because they are lesscautious； more violent； and with more audacity mand her。CHAPTER XXVIAN EXHORTATION TO LIBERATE ITALY FROM THE BARBARIANSHAVING carefully considered the subject of the above discourses； andwondering within myself whether the present times were propitious to anew prince； and whether there were the elements that would give anopportunity to a wise and virtuous one to introduce a new order ofthings which would do honour to him and good to th