Read the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince. And that prince who, relying entirely on their promises, has neglected other precautions, is ruined; because friendships that are obtained by payments, and not by greatness or nobility of mind, may indeed be earned, but they are not secured, and in time of need cannot be relied upon; and men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails. In the context of the passage, what is the connotation of beloved and love?

B. They suggest weakness, since Machiavelli argues the bonds of love are easily broken.

Explanation:

Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince" is a political treatise that he wrote about how a prince or any head of state may retain power over hie state. he suggests ways in which power may be maintained and successfully kept without any loss of power. This "handbook" of manuals for which rulers can take take examples to keep their people in check and thus ensure his authority over the people, became one of the most influential yet dangerous piece of 'advice' among the many political powers in the world.

The given passage from Chapter 17 talks of how personal bonds such as love can be a weakness in any pans of achieving authority over people. He states that "men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared", thus being feared upon is the better option if one is to keep his power over the others. He further states that bonds made through loyalty is different from one that is "obtained by payments". Love, being of the emotional bond, acts as the weak link to ruin a person  for they are easily broken irrespective of any type of promise made. So, according to him, love / beloved suggest weakness in a person for they are bonds that can and are easily broken.

i think the first one, it makes the most sense.