Arthashastra
न च मध्यम उदासीनयोर् मण्डलस्य वा परित्यक्तः, भवांस् तु परित्यक्तः यत्त्वा समुद्युक्तम् उपप्रेक्षन्ते "भूयः क्षय व्ययाभ्यां युज्यताम्, मित्राच् च भिद्यताम्, अथ एनं परित्यक्त मूलं सुखेन उच्छेत्स्यामः" इति ॥
that king has not lost his influence over the Circle of the madhyama and neutral States; but you have lost that power over them who are, therefore, waiting for an opportunity to fall upon you; patiently bear the loss of men and money again; break peace with that friend; then we shall be able to remove him from that stronghold over which he has lost his influence.
english translation
na ca madhyama udAsInayor maNDalasya vA parityaktaH, bhavAMs tu parityaktaH yattvA samudyuktam upaprekSante "bhUyaH kSaya vyayAbhyAM yujyatAm, mitrAc ca bhidyatAm, atha enaM parityakta mUlaM sukhena ucchetsyAmaH" iti ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscript