Page 190 - the-prince

proportioned. He was of a gracious presence, and he wel-
comed men with such urbanity that those who spoke with
him rarely left him displeased. His hair was inclined to be
red, and he wore it cut short above the ears, and, whether it
rained or snowed, he always went without a hat. He was de-
lightful among friends, but terrible to his enemies; just to
his subjects; ready to play false with the unfaithful, and
willing to overcome by fraud those whom he desired to sub-
due, because he was wont to say that it was the victory that
brought the glory, not the methods of achieving it. No one
was bolder in facing danger, none more prudent in extricat-
ing himself. He was accustomed to say that men ought to
attempt everything and fear nothing; that God is a lover of
strong men, because one always sees that the weak are chas-
tised by the strong. He was also wonderfully sharp or biting
though courteous in his answers; and as he did not look for
any indulgence in this way of speaking from others, so he
was not angered with others did not show it to him. It has
often happened that he has listened quietly when others
have spoken sharply to him, as on the following occasions.
He had caused a ducat to be given for a partridge, and was
taken to task for doing so by a friend, to whom Castruccio
had said: ‘You would not have given more than a penny.’
‘That is true,’ answered the friend. Then said Castruccio to
him: ‘A ducat is much less to me.’ Having about him a flat-
terer on whom he had spat to show that he scorned him, the
flatterer said to him: ‘Fisherman are willing to let the waters
of the sea saturate them in order that they make take a few
little fishes, and I allow myself to be wetted by spittle that I

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