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62 to fear. Men don't like to embark in difficult enterprises without some appearance of success, and it is never prudent to attack a prince who keeps the city of his residence in a good state of defence, and is not hated by the people.

The cities of Germany enjoy a very extensive liberty; they have a territory of inconsiderable extent, and obey the emperor when they please, not fearing to be attacked either by him or by others, because they all have strong walls, deep ditches, artillery and provisions for a year, so that the siege of these cities would be long and painful. Added to this, they have always in reserve labour to employ the people during the same space of time, in order to support them without having recourse to the public purse: besides, their troops are regularly exercised in military evolutions, and their regulations in that respect are as wise as they are well observed.

A prince therefore who possesses a well fortified city, the inhabitants of which are attached to him, cannot be attacked with advantage, because the affairs of this world are so liable to change, that it is almost impossible for an enemy to keep the field a year before a place so defended.

I may perhaps be asked whether the people who have property outside the walls, and who see their lands ravaged, will not lose their