will； therefore； carefullyexamine the actions of this man will find him a most valiant lion and amost cunning fox； he will find him feared and respected by every one；and not hated by the army； and it need not be wondered at that he； thenew man； well； because his supreme renown always protected him from thathatred which the people might have conceived against him for hisviolence。But his son Antoninus was a most eminent man； and had very excellentqualities； which made him admirable in the sight of the people andacceptable to the soldiers； for he was a warlike man； most enduring offatigue； a despiser of all delicate food and other luxuries； whichcaused him to be beloved by the armies。 Nevertheless； his ferocity andcruelties were so great and so unheard of that； after endless singlemurders； he killed a large number of the people of Rome and all those ofAlexandria。 He became hated by the whole world； and also feared by thosehe had around him； to such an extent that he was murdered in the midstof his army by a centurion。 And here it must be noted that such…likedeaths； which are deliberately inflicted with a resolved and desperatecourage； cannot be avoided by princes； because any one who does not fearto die can inflict them； but a prince may fear them the less becausethey are very rare； he has only to be careful not to do any grave injuryto those whom he employs or has around him in the service of the state。Antoninus had not taken this care； but had contumeliously killed abrother of that centurion； whom also he daily threatened； yet retainedin his bodyguard； which； as it turned out； was a rash thing to do； andproved the emperor's ruin。But let us e to modus； to whom it should have been very easy tohold the empire； for； being the son of Marcus； he had inherited it； andhe had
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