1No one will be able to devise anything more becoming to a ruler than clemency, in whatever way and by whatever right he has been set over others. 1We shall admit, of course, that it is the more beautiful and splendid the greater the power in which it is displayed, a power which ought not to be harmful if it is ordered according to the law of nature. 2For nature devised the king, as may be learned both from other animals and from bees; 2their king has the most spacious chamber, in the middle and safest place; 2besides, he is free from labour, the overseer of the labours of others, and when the king is lost the whole swarm falls apart; they never tolerate more than one, and seek out the better by fighting; 2besides, the king has a distinguished form, unlike the others both in size and in sheen.
2But he is distinguished most of all by this: bees are very irritable and, for the size of their bodies, very pugnacious, and leave their stings in the wound, but the king himself is without a sting; 3nature did not wish him to be savage or to seek a vengeance that would cost him dear, and so took away his weapon and left his anger unarmed. 3This is a mighty model for great kings; 3for it is nature's way to exercise herself in small things and to bestow the tiniest proofs of the greatest matters. 4Let us be ashamed not to take our ways from tiny creatures, since the mind of men ought to be as much more restrained as it does more violent harm.
4Would that the same law held for man, and anger were broken along with its weapon, and it were not permitted to harm more than once, nor to work out hatreds with the strength of others! 4For fury would easily tire if it satisfied itself by its own means and poured out its force at the risk of death. 5But even as things are its course is not safe; 5for it must fear as much as it wished to be feared, and watch everyone's hands, and even at a time when it is not being attacked judge itself the target, and have no moment free from fear. 5Does anyone endure to lead this life, when he might, harmless to others and therefore secure, wield the beneficent right of power to the joy of all?
5For a man is mistaken if he thinks a king is safe where nothing is safe from the king; 5security must be bargained for with security in return. 6There is no need to build citadels raised on high, nor to fortify hills steep to climb, nor to cut away the sides of mountains, or to fence oneself in with manifold walls and towers: clemency will keep a king safe in the open. 6The one impregnable fortification is the love of the citizens. 7What is more beautiful than to live while all pray for your life and offer their vows with no one watching over them? 7than, if your health has faltered a little, to rouse not men's hope but their fear?
7than that no one should hold anything so precious that he would not wish it exchanged for the safety of his protector? 8O truly blessed is he whose lot it is that he must live for himself as well; 8in this he has proved by constant evidence of his goodness that the commonwealth is not his, but he is the commonwealth's. 8Who would dare to plot any danger against him? 8Who would not wish, if he could, to turn even fortune away from him, under whom justice, peace, chastity, security and dignity flourish, under whom a wealthy state abounds in plenty of all good things? 8The state looks upon its ruler with no other feeling than that with which we would gaze upon the immortal gods, worshipping and revering them, if they granted us the power to see them.
8And what then? 9Does he not hold the place next to them who conducts himself according to the nature of the gods, beneficent and generous and powerful for good? 9This it is fitting to aim at, this to imitate: to be regarded as the greatest only in such a way that you are regarded at the same time as the best.