Chapter 31

[The First Point of Policy. Truth.]vii.Moribus ornatus regit hic qui regna moderna,Cercius expectat ceptra futura poli.Et quia veridica virtus supereminet omnes,Regis ab ore boni fabula nulla sonat.To every man behoveth lore,1070Bot to noman belongeth moreP. iii. 143Than to a king, which hath to ledeHic secundum Policiam tractare intendit precipue super quinque regularum Articulis, que ad Principis Regimen obseruande specialius existunt,1071quarum prima veritas nuncupatur. Per quam veridicus fit sermo Regis ad omnes.The poeple; for of his kinghedeHe mai hem bothe save and spille.And for it stant upon his wille,It sit him wel to ben avised,And the vertus whiche are assissed1072Unto a kinges Regiment,To take in his entendement:1720Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde,Hierafterward nou woll I fonde.Among the vertus on is chief,And that is trouthe, which is liefTo god and ek to man also.And for it hath ben evere so,Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe,To Alisandre, hou in his youtheHe scholde of trouthe thilke graceWith al his hole herte embrace,1730So that his word be trewe and plein,Toward the world and so certeinThat in him be no double speche:For if men scholde trouthe secheAnd founde it noght withinne a king,It were an unsittende thing.The word is tokne of that withinne,Ther schal a worthi king beginneTo kepe his tunge and to be trewe,So schal his pris ben evere newe.1740Avise him every man tofore,And be wel war, er he be swore,P. iii. 144For afterward it is to late,If that he wole his word debate.1073For as a king in specialAbove all othre is principalOf his pouer, so scholde he beMost vertuous in his degre;And that mai wel be signefied1074Be his corone and specified.1750Nota super hiis que in corona Regis designantur.1075The gold betokneth excellence,That men schull don him reverenceAs to here liege soverein.The Stones, as the bokes sein,Commended ben in treble wise:Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisseBetokneth in a king Constance,So that ther schal no varianceBe founde in his condicion;And also be descripcion1760The vertu which is in the stonesA verrai Signe is for the nonesOf that a king schal ben honesteAnd holde trewly his behesteOf thing which longeth to kinghede:The bryhte colour, as I rede,Which in the stones is schynende,Is in figure betoknendeThe Cronique of this worldes fame,1076Which stant upon his goode name.10771770The cercle which is round abouteIs tokne of al the lond withoute,P. iii. 145Which stant under his Gerarchie,That he it schal wel kepe and guye.And for that trouthe, hou so it falle,Is the vertu soverein of alle,That longeth unto regiment,A tale, which is evidentOf trouthe in comendacioun,Toward thin enformacion,1780Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiereOf a Cronique in this matiere.[King, Wine, Woman and Truth.]As the Cronique it doth reherce,A Soldan whilom was of Perce,Hic narrat, qualiter Darius filius Ytaspis Soldanus Percie a tribus suis Cubiculariis, quorum nomina Arpaghes, Manachaz et Zorobabel dicta sunt, nomine questionis singillatim interrogauit, vtrum Rex aut mulier aut vinum maioris fortitudinis vim obtineret: ipsis vero varia opinione respondentibus, Zorobabel vltimus asseruit1082quod mulier sui amoris complacencia tam Regis quam vini potenciam excellit. Addidit insuper pro finali conclusione dicens, quod veritas super omnia vincit. Cuius responsio ceteris laudabilior acceptabatur.Which Daires hihte, and YtaspisHis fader was; and soth it isThat thurgh wisdom and hih prudenceMor than for eny reverenceOf his lignage as be descente1078The regne of thilke empire he hente:1790And as he was himselve wys,1079The wisemen he hield in pris1080And soghte hem oute on every side,1081That toward him thei scholde abide.Among the whiche thre ther wereThat most service unto him bereAs thei which in his chambre lyhen1083And al his conseil herde and syhen.Here names ben of strange note,Arpaghes was the ferste hote,10841800And Manachaz was the secounde,Zorobabel, as it is foundeP. iii. 146In the Cronique, was the thridde.This Soldan, what so him betidde,To hem he triste most of alle,1085Wherof the cas is so befalle:This lord, which hath conceiptes depe,Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe,As he which hath his wit desposed,Touchende a point hem hath opposed.1810The kinges question was this;Of thinges thre which strengest is,The wyn, the womman or the king:And that thei scholde upon this thingOf here ansuere avised be,1086He yaf hem fulli daies thre,And hath behote hem be his feithThat who the beste reson seith,He schal resceive a worthi mede.Upon this thing thei token hiede1820And stoden in desputeison,That be diverse opinionOf Argumentz that thei have holdeArpaghes ferst his tale tolde,And seide hou that the strengthe of kingesIs myhtiest of alle thinges.For king hath pouer over man,And man is he which reson can,As he which is of his natureThe moste noble creature1830Of alle tho that god hath wroght:And be that skile it semeth noght,P. iii. 147He seith, that eny erthly thingMai be so myhty as a king.A king mai spille, a king mai save,A king mai make of lord a knave1087And of a knave a lord also:The pouer of a king stant so,That he the lawes overpasseth;What he wol make lasse, he lasseth,1840What he wol make more, he moreth;And as the gentil faucon soreth,1088He fleth, that noman him reclameth;Bot he al one alle othre tameth,And stant himself of lawe fre.Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he,So as his reson can argue,Is strengest and of most value.Bot Manachaz seide otherwise,That wyn is of the more emprise;1850And that he scheweth be this weie.The wyn fulofte takth aweieThe reson fro the mannes herte;The wyn can make a krepel sterte,And a delivere man unwelde;It makth a blind man to behelde,And a bryht yhed seme derk;It makth a lewed man a clerk,And fro the clerkes the clergieIt takth aweie, and couardie1860It torneth into hardiesse;Of Avarice it makth largesse.P. iii. 148The wyn makth ek the goode blod,In which the Soule which is goodHath chosen hire a resting place,Whil that the lif hir wole embrace.And be this skile ManachasAnsuered hath upon this cas,And seith that wyn be weie of kindeIs thing which mai the hertes binde1870Wel more than the regalie.Zorobabel for his partieSeide, as him thoghte for the beste,That wommen ben the myhtieste.The king and the vinour alsoOf wommen comen bothe tuo;And ek he seide hou that manhedeThurgh strengthe unto the wommanhedeOf love, wher he wole or non,Obeie schal; and therupon,1880To schewe of wommen the maistrie,A tale which he syh with yhe1089As for ensample he tolde this,—1090Nota hic de vigore amoris, qui inter Cirum Regem Persarum et Apemen Besazis filiam ipsius Regis Concubinam spectante tota Curia experiebatur.Hou Apemen, of Besazis1091Which dowhter was, in the paleisSittende upon his hihe deis,Whan he was hotest in his ireToward the grete of his empire,Cirus the king tirant sche tok,And only with hire goodly lok1890Sche made him debonaire and meke,And be the chyn and be the chekeP. iii. 149Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste,That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste,And doth with him what evere hir liketh;Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh,And whan sche gladeth, he is glad:And thus this king was overladWith hire which his lemman was.Among the men is no solas,1900If that ther be no womman there;For bot if that the wommen were,1092This worldes joie were aweie:Thurgh hem men finden out the weieTo knihthode and to worldes fame;Thei make a man to drede schame,And honour forto be desired:Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyredThe Dart of which Cupide throweth,Wherof the jolif peine groweth,1910Which al the world hath under fote.A womman is the mannes bote,His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel;And this thing mai be schewed wel,Hou that wommen ben goode and kihde,For in ensample this I finde.[Tale of Alcestis.]Whan that the duk Ametus layNota de fidelitate Coniugis, qualiter Alcesta vxor Ameti, vt maritum suum viuificaret, seipsam morti spontanee subegit.Sek in his bedd, that every dayMen waiten whan he scholde deie,Alceste his wif goth forto preie,1920As sche which wolde thonk deserve,With Sacrifice unto Minerve,P. iii. 150To wite ansuere of the goddesseHou that hir lord of his seknesse,Wherof he was so wo besein,Recovere myhte his hele ayein.Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide,Til ate laste a vois hir seide,That if sche wolde for his sakeThe maladie soffre and take,1930And deie hirself, he scholde live.Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive1093Unto Minerve gret thonkinge,So that hir deth and his livingeSche ches with al hire hole entente,And thus acorded hom sche wente.Into the chambre and whan sche cam,Hire housebonde anon sche namIn bothe hire Armes and him kiste,And spak unto him what hire liste;1940And therupon withinne a throweThis goode wif was overthrowe1094And deide, and he was hool in haste.So mai a man be reson taste,Hou next after the god aboveThe trouthe of wommen and the love,In whom that alle grace is founde,Is myhtiest upon this groundeAnd most behovely manyfold.Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told1950The tale of his opinion:Bot for final conclusionP. iii. 151What strengest is of erthli thinges,The wyn, the wommen or the kinges,He seith that trouthe above hem alleIs myhtiest, hou evere it falle.The trouthe, hou so it evere come,Mai for nothing ben overcome;It mai wel soffre for a throwe,Bot ate laste it schal be knowe.1960The proverbe is, who that is trewe,Him schal his while nevere rewe:For hou so that the cause wende,The trouthe is schameles ate ende,Bot what thing that is troutheles,It mai noght wel be schameles,And schame hindreth every wyht:So proveth it, ther is no myhtWithoute trouthe in no degre.And thus for trouthe of his decre1970Zorobabel was most commended,Wherof the question was ended,And he resceived hath his medeFor trouthe, which to mannes nedeIs most behoveliche overal.Forthi was trouthe in specialThe ferste point in observanceBetake unto the governance1095Of Alisandre, as it is seid:For therupon the ground is leid10961980Of every kinges regiment,As thing which most convenientP. iii. 152Is forto sette a king in eveneBothe in this world and ek in hevene.[The Second Point of Policy. Liberality.]viii.Absit Auaricia, ne tangat regia corda,Eius enim spoliis excoriatur humus.1097Fama colit largum volitans per secula Regem,Dona tamen licitis sunt moderanda modis.Next after trouthe the secounde,In Policie as it is founde,Hic tractat de regie maiestatis secunda Policia, quam Aristotiles largitatem vocat: cuius virtute non solum propulsata Auaricia Regis nomen magnificum extollitur, set et sui subditi omni1098diuiciarum habundancia iocundiores efficiuntur.Which serveth to the worldes fameIn worschipe of a kinges name,Largesse it is, whos privileggeTher mai non Avarice abregge.1990The worldes good was ferst comune,Bot afterward upon fortuneWas thilke comun profit cessed:For whan the poeple stod encrescedAnd the lignages woxen grete,Anon for singulier beyeteDrouh every man to his partie;Wherof cam in the ferste envieWith gret debat and werres stronge,And laste among the men so longe,2000Til noman wiste who was who,Ne which was frend ne which was fo.Til ate laste in every londWithinne hemself the poeple fondThat it was good to make a king,Which mihte appesen al this thingAnd yive riht to the lignagesIn partinge of here heritagesP. iii. 153And ek of al here other good;And thus above hem alle stod2010The king upon his Regalie,As he which hath to justifieThe worldes good fro covoitise.So sit it wel in alle wiseA king betwen the more and lesse1099To sette his herte upon largesseToward himself and ek alsoToward his poeple; and if noght so,That is to sein, if that he beToward himselven large and fre2020And of his poeple take and pile,1100Largesse be no weie of skileIt mai be seid, bot Avarice,Which in a king is a gret vice.A king behoveth ek to fleThe vice of Prodegalite,That he mesure in his expenceSo kepe, that of indigenceHe mai be sauf: for who that nedeth,In al his werk the worse he spedeth.2030Nota super hoc quod Aristotiles Alexandrum exemplificauit de exaccionibus Regis Chaldeorum.As Aristotle upon ChaldeeEnsample of gret AuctoriteUnto king Alisandre tauhteOf thilke folk that were unsauhteToward here king for his pilage:Wherof he bad, in his corageThat he unto thre pointz entende,Wher that he wolde his good despende.P. iii. 154Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod,That al were of his oghne good2040The yiftes whiche he wolde yive;So myhte he wel the betre live:And ek he moste taken hiede1101If ther be cause of eny nede,Which oghte forto be defended,Er that his goodes be despended:He mot ek, as it is befalle,Amonges othre thinges alleSe the decertes of his men;And after that thei ben of ken2050And of astat and of merite,He schal hem largeliche aquite,Or for the werre, or for the pes,That non honour falle in descres,Which mihte torne into defame,Bot that he kepe his goode name,So that he be noght holde unkinde.For in Cronique a tale I finde,Which spekth somdiel of this matiere,Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere.2060[Tale of Julius and the poor Knight.]In Rome, to poursuie his riht,Ther was a worthi povere kniht,Hic secundum gesta Iulii exemplum ponit, qualiter Rex suorum militum, quos probos agnouerit, indigenciam largitatis sue beneficiis releuare1102tenetur.Which cam al one forto seinHis cause, when the court was plein,Wher Julius was in presence.And for him lacketh of despence,Ther was with him non advocatTo make ple for his astat.P. iii. 155Bot thogh him lacke forto plede,Him lacketh nothing of manhede;2070He wiste wel his pours was povere,Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere,And openly poverte alleide,To themperour and thus he seide:‘O Julius, lord of the lawe,Behold, mi conseil is withdraweFor lacke of gold: do thin office1103After the lawes of justice:1104Help that I hadde conseil hiereUpon the trouthe of mi matiere.’2080And Julius with that anonAssigned him a worthi on,Bot he himself no word ne spak.This kniht was wroth and fond a lakIn themperour, and seide thus:‘O thou unkinde Julius,Whan thou in thi bataille wereUp in Aufrique, and I was there,Mi myht for thi rescousse I dedeAnd putte noman in my stede,2090Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde:Bot hier I finde thee so badde,That thee ne liste speke o word1105Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hordTo yive a florin me to helpe.Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpeFro this dai forth of thi largesse,Whan such a gret unkindenesseP. iii. 156Is founde in such a lord as thou?’This Julius knew wel ynou2100That al was soth which he him tolde;And for he wolde noght ben holdeUnkinde, he tok his cause on honde,And as it were of goddes sonde,He yaf him good ynouh to spendeFor evere into his lives ende.1106And thus scholde every worthi kingTake of his knihtes knowleching,Whan that he syh thei hadden nede,For every service axeth mede:2110Bot othre, whiche have noght deservedThurgh vertu, bot of japes served,A king schal noght deserve grace,Thogh he be large in such a place.[Antigonus and Cinichus.]It sit wel every king to haveDiscrecion, whan men him crave,Hic ponit exemplum de Rege Antigono, qualiter dona regia secundum maius et minus equa discrecione moderanda sunt.So that he mai his yifte wite:Wherof I finde a tale write,Hou Cinichus a povere knihtA Somme which was over myht 2120Preide of his king Antigonus.The king ansuerde to him thus,1107And seide hou such a yifte passethHis povere astat: and thanne he lasseth,And axeth bot a litel peny,If that the king wol yive him eny.The king ansuerde, it was to smalFor him, which was a lord real;1108P. iii. 157To yive a man so litel thingIt were unworschipe in a king.2130Be this ensample a king mai lere[Discretion in Giving.]That forto yive is in manere:For if a king his tresor lassethWithoute honour and thonkles passeth,Whan he himself wol so beguile,I not who schal compleigne his while,Ne who be rihte him schal relieve.Bot natheles this I believe,To helpe with his oghne londBehoveth every man his hond11092140To sette upon necessite;Nota hic quod Regius status a suis fidelibus omni fauore supportandus est.And ek his kinges realteMot every liege man conforte,With good and bodi to supporte,Whan thei se cause resonable:For who that is noght entendableTo holde upriht his kinges name,Him oghte forto be to blame.[Prodigality of Kings.]Of Policie and overmoreTo speke in this matiere more,2150Nota hic secundum Aristotilem,1110qualiter Principum Prodegalitas paupertatem inducit communem.So as the Philosophre tolde,A king after the reule is holdeTo modifie and to adresceHise yiftes upon such largesceSeneca.1111Sic aliis benefacito, vt tibi non noceas.That he mesure noght excede:For if a king falle into nede,It causeth ofte sondri thingesWhiche are ungoodly to the kinges.1112P. iii. 158What man wol noght himself mesure,Men sen fulofte that mesure2160Him hath forsake: and so doth heThat useth Prodegalite,Which is the moder of poverte,Wherof the londes ben deserte;And namely whan thilke viceAboute a king stant in officeAnd hath withholde of his partieThe covoitouse flaterie,Which many a worthi king deceiveth,Er he the fallas aperceiveth2170Of hem that serven to the glose.For thei that cunnen plese and glose,Ben, as men tellen, the norricesUnto the fostringe of the vices,Wherof fulofte nathelesA king is blamed gulteles.[Flatterers.]A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere,Nota qualiter in principum curiis adulatores triplici grauitate offendunt.Spak to a king of this matiere,And seide him wel hou that flatoursCoupable were of thre errours.2180Primo contra deum.On was toward the goddes hihe,That weren wrothe of that thei siheThe meschief which befalle scholdeOf that the false flatour tolde.Secundo contra Principem.Toward the king an other was,Whan thei be sleihte and be fallasOf feigned wordes make him weneThat blak is whyt and blew is greneP. iii. 159Touchende of his condicion:For whanne he doth extorcion2190With manye an other vice mo,Men schal noght finden on of thoTo groucche or speke therayein,Bot holden up his oil and seinThat al is wel, what evere he doth;And thus of fals thei maken soth,So that here kinges yhe is blentAnd wot not hou the world is went.1113Tercio contra populum.1114The thridde errour is harm comune,With which the poeple mot commune2200Of wronges that thei bringen inne:And thus thei worchen treble sinne,That ben flatours aboute a king.Ther myhte be no worse thingAboute a kinges regalie,Thanne is the vice of flaterie.And natheles it hath ben used,That it was nevere yit refusedAs forto speke in court real;For there it is most special,2210And mai noght longe be forbore.Bot whan this vice of hem is bore,That scholden the vertus forthbringe,And trouthe is torned to lesinge,It is, as who seith, ayein kinde,Wherof an old ensample I finde.[Tale of Diogenes and Aristippus]Among these othre tales wiseOf Philosophres, in this wiseP. iii. 1601115Hic contra vanitates adulantum loquitur, et narrat quod cum Arisippus de Cartagine Philosophus scole studium relinquens sui Principis obsequio in magnis adulacionibus pre ceteris carior assistebat, accidit vt ipse quodam die Diogenem Philosophum nuper socium suum, virum tam moribus quam sciencia probatissimum, herbas ad olera sua collectas lauantem ex casu ad ripam inuenit: cui ait, ‘O Diogenes, vere si tu sicut et ego Principi tuo placere scires, huiusmodi herbas aut colligere aut lauare tibi minime indigeret.’ Cui alter respondit, ‘O Arisippe, certe et si tu sicut et ego olera tua colligere et lauare scires, principem tuum ob inanis glorie cupiditatem blandiri nullatenus deberes.’I rede, how whilom tuo ther were,And to the Scole forto lere2220Unto Athenes fro CartageHere frendes, whan thei were of Age,Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe,Til thei such lore have underfonge,That in here time thei surmonteAlle othre men, that to acompteOf hem was tho the grete fame.The ferste of hem his rihte nameWas Diogenes thanne hote,In whom was founde no riote:2230His felaw Arisippus hyhte,Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte.Bot ate laste, soth to sein,Thei bothe tornen hom ayeinUnto Cartage and scole lete.This Diogenes no beyeteOf worldes good or lasse or moreNe soghte for his longe lore,Bot tok him only forto duelleAt hom; and as the bokes telle,2240His hous was nyh to the rivereBesyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere.Ther duelleth he to take his reste,1116So as it thoghte him for the beste,To studie in his Philosophie,As he which wolde so defieThe worldes pompe on every syde.Bot Arisippe his bok asideP. iii. 161Hath leid, and to the court he wente,Wher many a wyle and many a wente2250With flaterie and wordes softe1117He caste, and hath compassed ofteHou he his Prince myhte plese;And in this wise he gat him eseOf vein honour and worldes good.The londes reule upon him stod,The king of him was wonder glad,And all was do, what thing he bad,Bothe in the court and ek withoute.With flaterie he broghte aboute2260His pourpos of the worldes werk,Which was ayein the stat of clerk,1118So that Philosophie he lefteAnd to richesse himself uplefte:Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille.Bot Diogenes duelte stilleAt home and loked on his bok:He soghte noght the worldes crokFor vein honour ne for richesse,Bot all his hertes besinesse2270He sette to be vertuous;And thus withinne his oghne housHe liveth to the sufficanceOf his havinge. And fell per chance,This Diogene upon a day,And that was in the Monthe of May,Whan that these herbes ben holsome,He walketh forto gadre someP. iii. 162In his gardin, of whiche his joutesHe thoghte have, and thus aboutes2280Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh,He satte him thanne doun and pyketh,1119And wyssh his herbes in the flodUpon the which his gardin stod,Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er.And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther,Cam Arisippes be the streteWith manye hors and routes grete,And straght unto the bregge he rod,Wher that he hoved and abod;2290For as he caste his yhe nyh,His felaw Diogene he syh,And what he dede he syh also,Wherof he seide to him so:1120‘O Diogene, god thee spede.It were certes litel nedeTo sitte there and wortes pyke,If thou thi Prince couthest lyke,So as I can in my degre.’‘O Arisippe,’ ayein quod he,2300‘If that thou couthist, so as I,Thi wortes pyke, trewelyIt were als litel nede or lasse,That thou so worldly wolt compasseWith flaterie forto serve,Wherof thou thenkest to deserveThi princes thonk, and to pourchaceHou thou myht stonden in his grace,P. iii. 163For getinge of a litel good.If thou wolt take into thi mod2310Reson, thou myht be reson deemeThat so thi prince forto queemeIs noght to reson acordant,Bot it is gretly descordantUnto the Scoles of Athene.’Lo, thus ansuerde DiogeneAyein the clerkes flaterie.[Flattery.]Bot yit men sen thessamplerie1121Of Arisippe is wel received,And thilke of Diogene is weyved.2320Office in court and gold in cofreIs nou, men sein, the philosophreWhich hath the worschipe in the halle;Bot flaterie passeth alleIn chambre, whom the court avanceth;For upon thilke lot it chancethTo be beloved nou aday.*I not if it be ye or nay,Bot as the comun vois it telleth;1122Bot wher that flaterie duelleth11232330

[The First Point of Policy. Truth.]vii.Moribus ornatus regit hic qui regna moderna,Cercius expectat ceptra futura poli.Et quia veridica virtus supereminet omnes,Regis ab ore boni fabula nulla sonat.

[The First Point of Policy. Truth.]

vii.Moribus ornatus regit hic qui regna moderna,

Cercius expectat ceptra futura poli.

Et quia veridica virtus supereminet omnes,

Regis ab ore boni fabula nulla sonat.

To every man behoveth lore,1070Bot to noman belongeth moreP. iii. 143Than to a king, which hath to ledeHic secundum Policiam tractare intendit precipue super quinque regularum Articulis, que ad Principis Regimen obseruande specialius existunt,1071quarum prima veritas nuncupatur. Per quam veridicus fit sermo Regis ad omnes.The poeple; for of his kinghedeHe mai hem bothe save and spille.And for it stant upon his wille,It sit him wel to ben avised,And the vertus whiche are assissed1072Unto a kinges Regiment,To take in his entendement:1720Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde,Hierafterward nou woll I fonde.Among the vertus on is chief,And that is trouthe, which is liefTo god and ek to man also.And for it hath ben evere so,Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe,To Alisandre, hou in his youtheHe scholde of trouthe thilke graceWith al his hole herte embrace,1730So that his word be trewe and plein,Toward the world and so certeinThat in him be no double speche:For if men scholde trouthe secheAnd founde it noght withinne a king,It were an unsittende thing.The word is tokne of that withinne,Ther schal a worthi king beginneTo kepe his tunge and to be trewe,So schal his pris ben evere newe.1740Avise him every man tofore,And be wel war, er he be swore,P. iii. 144For afterward it is to late,If that he wole his word debate.1073For as a king in specialAbove all othre is principalOf his pouer, so scholde he beMost vertuous in his degre;And that mai wel be signefied1074Be his corone and specified.1750Nota super hiis que in corona Regis designantur.1075The gold betokneth excellence,That men schull don him reverenceAs to here liege soverein.The Stones, as the bokes sein,Commended ben in treble wise:Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisseBetokneth in a king Constance,So that ther schal no varianceBe founde in his condicion;And also be descripcion1760The vertu which is in the stonesA verrai Signe is for the nonesOf that a king schal ben honesteAnd holde trewly his behesteOf thing which longeth to kinghede:The bryhte colour, as I rede,Which in the stones is schynende,Is in figure betoknendeThe Cronique of this worldes fame,1076Which stant upon his goode name.10771770The cercle which is round abouteIs tokne of al the lond withoute,P. iii. 145Which stant under his Gerarchie,That he it schal wel kepe and guye.And for that trouthe, hou so it falle,Is the vertu soverein of alle,That longeth unto regiment,A tale, which is evidentOf trouthe in comendacioun,Toward thin enformacion,1780Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiereOf a Cronique in this matiere.

To every man behoveth lore,1070

Bot to noman belongeth more

P. iii. 143

Than to a king, which hath to lede

Hic secundum Policiam tractare intendit precipue super quinque regularum Articulis, que ad Principis Regimen obseruande specialius existunt,1071quarum prima veritas nuncupatur. Per quam veridicus fit sermo Regis ad omnes.

The poeple; for of his kinghede

He mai hem bothe save and spille.

And for it stant upon his wille,

It sit him wel to ben avised,

And the vertus whiche are assissed1072

Unto a kinges Regiment,

To take in his entendement:1720

Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde,

Hierafterward nou woll I fonde.

Among the vertus on is chief,

And that is trouthe, which is lief

To god and ek to man also.

And for it hath ben evere so,

Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe,

To Alisandre, hou in his youthe

He scholde of trouthe thilke grace

With al his hole herte embrace,1730

So that his word be trewe and plein,

Toward the world and so certein

That in him be no double speche:

For if men scholde trouthe seche

And founde it noght withinne a king,

It were an unsittende thing.

The word is tokne of that withinne,

Ther schal a worthi king beginne

To kepe his tunge and to be trewe,

So schal his pris ben evere newe.1740

Avise him every man tofore,

And be wel war, er he be swore,

P. iii. 144

For afterward it is to late,

If that he wole his word debate.1073

For as a king in special

Above all othre is principal

Of his pouer, so scholde he be

Most vertuous in his degre;

And that mai wel be signefied1074

Be his corone and specified.1750

Nota super hiis que in corona Regis designantur.1075

The gold betokneth excellence,

That men schull don him reverence

As to here liege soverein.

The Stones, as the bokes sein,

Commended ben in treble wise:

Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisse

Betokneth in a king Constance,

So that ther schal no variance

Be founde in his condicion;

And also be descripcion1760

The vertu which is in the stones

A verrai Signe is for the nones

Of that a king schal ben honeste

And holde trewly his beheste

Of thing which longeth to kinghede:

The bryhte colour, as I rede,

Which in the stones is schynende,

Is in figure betoknende

The Cronique of this worldes fame,1076

Which stant upon his goode name.10771770

The cercle which is round aboute

Is tokne of al the lond withoute,

P. iii. 145

Which stant under his Gerarchie,

That he it schal wel kepe and guye.

And for that trouthe, hou so it falle,

Is the vertu soverein of alle,

That longeth unto regiment,

A tale, which is evident

Of trouthe in comendacioun,

Toward thin enformacion,1780

Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiere

Of a Cronique in this matiere.

[King, Wine, Woman and Truth.]As the Cronique it doth reherce,A Soldan whilom was of Perce,Hic narrat, qualiter Darius filius Ytaspis Soldanus Percie a tribus suis Cubiculariis, quorum nomina Arpaghes, Manachaz et Zorobabel dicta sunt, nomine questionis singillatim interrogauit, vtrum Rex aut mulier aut vinum maioris fortitudinis vim obtineret: ipsis vero varia opinione respondentibus, Zorobabel vltimus asseruit1082quod mulier sui amoris complacencia tam Regis quam vini potenciam excellit. Addidit insuper pro finali conclusione dicens, quod veritas super omnia vincit. Cuius responsio ceteris laudabilior acceptabatur.Which Daires hihte, and YtaspisHis fader was; and soth it isThat thurgh wisdom and hih prudenceMor than for eny reverenceOf his lignage as be descente1078The regne of thilke empire he hente:1790And as he was himselve wys,1079The wisemen he hield in pris1080And soghte hem oute on every side,1081That toward him thei scholde abide.Among the whiche thre ther wereThat most service unto him bereAs thei which in his chambre lyhen1083And al his conseil herde and syhen.Here names ben of strange note,Arpaghes was the ferste hote,10841800And Manachaz was the secounde,Zorobabel, as it is foundeP. iii. 146In the Cronique, was the thridde.This Soldan, what so him betidde,To hem he triste most of alle,1085Wherof the cas is so befalle:This lord, which hath conceiptes depe,Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe,As he which hath his wit desposed,Touchende a point hem hath opposed.1810The kinges question was this;Of thinges thre which strengest is,The wyn, the womman or the king:And that thei scholde upon this thingOf here ansuere avised be,1086He yaf hem fulli daies thre,And hath behote hem be his feithThat who the beste reson seith,He schal resceive a worthi mede.Upon this thing thei token hiede1820And stoden in desputeison,That be diverse opinionOf Argumentz that thei have holdeArpaghes ferst his tale tolde,And seide hou that the strengthe of kingesIs myhtiest of alle thinges.For king hath pouer over man,And man is he which reson can,As he which is of his natureThe moste noble creature1830Of alle tho that god hath wroght:And be that skile it semeth noght,P. iii. 147He seith, that eny erthly thingMai be so myhty as a king.A king mai spille, a king mai save,A king mai make of lord a knave1087And of a knave a lord also:The pouer of a king stant so,That he the lawes overpasseth;What he wol make lasse, he lasseth,1840What he wol make more, he moreth;And as the gentil faucon soreth,1088He fleth, that noman him reclameth;Bot he al one alle othre tameth,And stant himself of lawe fre.Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he,So as his reson can argue,Is strengest and of most value.Bot Manachaz seide otherwise,That wyn is of the more emprise;1850And that he scheweth be this weie.The wyn fulofte takth aweieThe reson fro the mannes herte;The wyn can make a krepel sterte,And a delivere man unwelde;It makth a blind man to behelde,And a bryht yhed seme derk;It makth a lewed man a clerk,And fro the clerkes the clergieIt takth aweie, and couardie1860It torneth into hardiesse;Of Avarice it makth largesse.P. iii. 148The wyn makth ek the goode blod,In which the Soule which is goodHath chosen hire a resting place,Whil that the lif hir wole embrace.And be this skile ManachasAnsuered hath upon this cas,And seith that wyn be weie of kindeIs thing which mai the hertes binde1870Wel more than the regalie.Zorobabel for his partieSeide, as him thoghte for the beste,That wommen ben the myhtieste.The king and the vinour alsoOf wommen comen bothe tuo;And ek he seide hou that manhedeThurgh strengthe unto the wommanhedeOf love, wher he wole or non,Obeie schal; and therupon,1880To schewe of wommen the maistrie,A tale which he syh with yhe1089As for ensample he tolde this,—1090Nota hic de vigore amoris, qui inter Cirum Regem Persarum et Apemen Besazis filiam ipsius Regis Concubinam spectante tota Curia experiebatur.Hou Apemen, of Besazis1091Which dowhter was, in the paleisSittende upon his hihe deis,Whan he was hotest in his ireToward the grete of his empire,Cirus the king tirant sche tok,And only with hire goodly lok1890Sche made him debonaire and meke,And be the chyn and be the chekeP. iii. 149Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste,That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste,And doth with him what evere hir liketh;Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh,And whan sche gladeth, he is glad:And thus this king was overladWith hire which his lemman was.Among the men is no solas,1900If that ther be no womman there;For bot if that the wommen were,1092This worldes joie were aweie:Thurgh hem men finden out the weieTo knihthode and to worldes fame;Thei make a man to drede schame,And honour forto be desired:Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyredThe Dart of which Cupide throweth,Wherof the jolif peine groweth,1910Which al the world hath under fote.A womman is the mannes bote,His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel;And this thing mai be schewed wel,Hou that wommen ben goode and kihde,For in ensample this I finde.[Tale of Alcestis.]Whan that the duk Ametus layNota de fidelitate Coniugis, qualiter Alcesta vxor Ameti, vt maritum suum viuificaret, seipsam morti spontanee subegit.Sek in his bedd, that every dayMen waiten whan he scholde deie,Alceste his wif goth forto preie,1920As sche which wolde thonk deserve,With Sacrifice unto Minerve,P. iii. 150To wite ansuere of the goddesseHou that hir lord of his seknesse,Wherof he was so wo besein,Recovere myhte his hele ayein.Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide,Til ate laste a vois hir seide,That if sche wolde for his sakeThe maladie soffre and take,1930And deie hirself, he scholde live.Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive1093Unto Minerve gret thonkinge,So that hir deth and his livingeSche ches with al hire hole entente,And thus acorded hom sche wente.Into the chambre and whan sche cam,Hire housebonde anon sche namIn bothe hire Armes and him kiste,And spak unto him what hire liste;1940And therupon withinne a throweThis goode wif was overthrowe1094And deide, and he was hool in haste.So mai a man be reson taste,Hou next after the god aboveThe trouthe of wommen and the love,In whom that alle grace is founde,Is myhtiest upon this groundeAnd most behovely manyfold.Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told1950The tale of his opinion:Bot for final conclusionP. iii. 151What strengest is of erthli thinges,The wyn, the wommen or the kinges,He seith that trouthe above hem alleIs myhtiest, hou evere it falle.The trouthe, hou so it evere come,Mai for nothing ben overcome;It mai wel soffre for a throwe,Bot ate laste it schal be knowe.1960The proverbe is, who that is trewe,Him schal his while nevere rewe:For hou so that the cause wende,The trouthe is schameles ate ende,Bot what thing that is troutheles,It mai noght wel be schameles,And schame hindreth every wyht:So proveth it, ther is no myhtWithoute trouthe in no degre.And thus for trouthe of his decre1970Zorobabel was most commended,Wherof the question was ended,And he resceived hath his medeFor trouthe, which to mannes nedeIs most behoveliche overal.Forthi was trouthe in specialThe ferste point in observanceBetake unto the governance1095Of Alisandre, as it is seid:For therupon the ground is leid10961980Of every kinges regiment,As thing which most convenientP. iii. 152Is forto sette a king in eveneBothe in this world and ek in hevene.

[King, Wine, Woman and Truth.]

As the Cronique it doth reherce,

A Soldan whilom was of Perce,

Hic narrat, qualiter Darius filius Ytaspis Soldanus Percie a tribus suis Cubiculariis, quorum nomina Arpaghes, Manachaz et Zorobabel dicta sunt, nomine questionis singillatim interrogauit, vtrum Rex aut mulier aut vinum maioris fortitudinis vim obtineret: ipsis vero varia opinione respondentibus, Zorobabel vltimus asseruit1082quod mulier sui amoris complacencia tam Regis quam vini potenciam excellit. Addidit insuper pro finali conclusione dicens, quod veritas super omnia vincit. Cuius responsio ceteris laudabilior acceptabatur.

Which Daires hihte, and Ytaspis

His fader was; and soth it is

That thurgh wisdom and hih prudence

Mor than for eny reverence

Of his lignage as be descente1078

The regne of thilke empire he hente:1790

And as he was himselve wys,1079

The wisemen he hield in pris1080

And soghte hem oute on every side,1081

That toward him thei scholde abide.

Among the whiche thre ther were

That most service unto him bere

As thei which in his chambre lyhen1083

And al his conseil herde and syhen.

Here names ben of strange note,

Arpaghes was the ferste hote,10841800

And Manachaz was the secounde,

Zorobabel, as it is founde

P. iii. 146

In the Cronique, was the thridde.

This Soldan, what so him betidde,

To hem he triste most of alle,1085

Wherof the cas is so befalle:

This lord, which hath conceiptes depe,

Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe,

As he which hath his wit desposed,

Touchende a point hem hath opposed.1810

The kinges question was this;

Of thinges thre which strengest is,

The wyn, the womman or the king:

And that thei scholde upon this thing

Of here ansuere avised be,1086

He yaf hem fulli daies thre,

And hath behote hem be his feith

That who the beste reson seith,

He schal resceive a worthi mede.

Upon this thing thei token hiede1820

And stoden in desputeison,

That be diverse opinion

Of Argumentz that thei have holde

Arpaghes ferst his tale tolde,

And seide hou that the strengthe of kinges

Is myhtiest of alle thinges.

For king hath pouer over man,

And man is he which reson can,

As he which is of his nature

The moste noble creature1830

Of alle tho that god hath wroght:

And be that skile it semeth noght,

P. iii. 147

He seith, that eny erthly thing

Mai be so myhty as a king.

A king mai spille, a king mai save,

A king mai make of lord a knave1087

And of a knave a lord also:

The pouer of a king stant so,

That he the lawes overpasseth;

What he wol make lasse, he lasseth,1840

What he wol make more, he moreth;

And as the gentil faucon soreth,1088

He fleth, that noman him reclameth;

Bot he al one alle othre tameth,

And stant himself of lawe fre.

Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he,

So as his reson can argue,

Is strengest and of most value.

Bot Manachaz seide otherwise,

That wyn is of the more emprise;1850

And that he scheweth be this weie.

The wyn fulofte takth aweie

The reson fro the mannes herte;

The wyn can make a krepel sterte,

And a delivere man unwelde;

It makth a blind man to behelde,

And a bryht yhed seme derk;

It makth a lewed man a clerk,

And fro the clerkes the clergie

It takth aweie, and couardie1860

It torneth into hardiesse;

Of Avarice it makth largesse.

P. iii. 148

The wyn makth ek the goode blod,

In which the Soule which is good

Hath chosen hire a resting place,

Whil that the lif hir wole embrace.

And be this skile Manachas

Ansuered hath upon this cas,

And seith that wyn be weie of kinde

Is thing which mai the hertes binde1870

Wel more than the regalie.

Zorobabel for his partie

Seide, as him thoghte for the beste,

That wommen ben the myhtieste.

The king and the vinour also

Of wommen comen bothe tuo;

And ek he seide hou that manhede

Thurgh strengthe unto the wommanhede

Of love, wher he wole or non,

Obeie schal; and therupon,1880

To schewe of wommen the maistrie,

A tale which he syh with yhe1089

As for ensample he tolde this,—1090

Nota hic de vigore amoris, qui inter Cirum Regem Persarum et Apemen Besazis filiam ipsius Regis Concubinam spectante tota Curia experiebatur.

Hou Apemen, of Besazis1091

Which dowhter was, in the paleis

Sittende upon his hihe deis,

Whan he was hotest in his ire

Toward the grete of his empire,

Cirus the king tirant sche tok,

And only with hire goodly lok1890

Sche made him debonaire and meke,

And be the chyn and be the cheke

P. iii. 149

Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste,

That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste,

And doth with him what evere hir liketh;

Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh,

And whan sche gladeth, he is glad:

And thus this king was overlad

With hire which his lemman was.

Among the men is no solas,1900

If that ther be no womman there;

For bot if that the wommen were,1092

This worldes joie were aweie:

Thurgh hem men finden out the weie

To knihthode and to worldes fame;

Thei make a man to drede schame,

And honour forto be desired:

Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyred

The Dart of which Cupide throweth,

Wherof the jolif peine groweth,1910

Which al the world hath under fote.

A womman is the mannes bote,

His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel;

And this thing mai be schewed wel,

Hou that wommen ben goode and kihde,

For in ensample this I finde.

[Tale of Alcestis.]

Whan that the duk Ametus lay

Nota de fidelitate Coniugis, qualiter Alcesta vxor Ameti, vt maritum suum viuificaret, seipsam morti spontanee subegit.

Sek in his bedd, that every day

Men waiten whan he scholde deie,

Alceste his wif goth forto preie,1920

As sche which wolde thonk deserve,

With Sacrifice unto Minerve,

P. iii. 150

To wite ansuere of the goddesse

Hou that hir lord of his seknesse,

Wherof he was so wo besein,

Recovere myhte his hele ayein.

Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide,

Til ate laste a vois hir seide,

That if sche wolde for his sake

The maladie soffre and take,1930

And deie hirself, he scholde live.

Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive1093

Unto Minerve gret thonkinge,

So that hir deth and his livinge

Sche ches with al hire hole entente,

And thus acorded hom sche wente.

Into the chambre and whan sche cam,

Hire housebonde anon sche nam

In bothe hire Armes and him kiste,

And spak unto him what hire liste;1940

And therupon withinne a throwe

This goode wif was overthrowe1094

And deide, and he was hool in haste.

So mai a man be reson taste,

Hou next after the god above

The trouthe of wommen and the love,

In whom that alle grace is founde,

Is myhtiest upon this grounde

And most behovely manyfold.

Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told1950

The tale of his opinion:

Bot for final conclusion

P. iii. 151

What strengest is of erthli thinges,

The wyn, the wommen or the kinges,

He seith that trouthe above hem alle

Is myhtiest, hou evere it falle.

The trouthe, hou so it evere come,

Mai for nothing ben overcome;

It mai wel soffre for a throwe,

Bot ate laste it schal be knowe.1960

The proverbe is, who that is trewe,

Him schal his while nevere rewe:

For hou so that the cause wende,

The trouthe is schameles ate ende,

Bot what thing that is troutheles,

It mai noght wel be schameles,

And schame hindreth every wyht:

So proveth it, ther is no myht

Withoute trouthe in no degre.

And thus for trouthe of his decre1970

Zorobabel was most commended,

Wherof the question was ended,

And he resceived hath his mede

For trouthe, which to mannes nede

Is most behoveliche overal.

Forthi was trouthe in special

The ferste point in observance

Betake unto the governance1095

Of Alisandre, as it is seid:

For therupon the ground is leid10961980

Of every kinges regiment,

As thing which most convenient

P. iii. 152

Is forto sette a king in evene

Bothe in this world and ek in hevene.

[The Second Point of Policy. Liberality.]viii.Absit Auaricia, ne tangat regia corda,Eius enim spoliis excoriatur humus.1097Fama colit largum volitans per secula Regem,Dona tamen licitis sunt moderanda modis.

[The Second Point of Policy. Liberality.]

viii.Absit Auaricia, ne tangat regia corda,

Eius enim spoliis excoriatur humus.1097

Fama colit largum volitans per secula Regem,

Dona tamen licitis sunt moderanda modis.

Next after trouthe the secounde,In Policie as it is founde,Hic tractat de regie maiestatis secunda Policia, quam Aristotiles largitatem vocat: cuius virtute non solum propulsata Auaricia Regis nomen magnificum extollitur, set et sui subditi omni1098diuiciarum habundancia iocundiores efficiuntur.Which serveth to the worldes fameIn worschipe of a kinges name,Largesse it is, whos privileggeTher mai non Avarice abregge.1990The worldes good was ferst comune,Bot afterward upon fortuneWas thilke comun profit cessed:For whan the poeple stod encrescedAnd the lignages woxen grete,Anon for singulier beyeteDrouh every man to his partie;Wherof cam in the ferste envieWith gret debat and werres stronge,And laste among the men so longe,2000Til noman wiste who was who,Ne which was frend ne which was fo.Til ate laste in every londWithinne hemself the poeple fondThat it was good to make a king,Which mihte appesen al this thingAnd yive riht to the lignagesIn partinge of here heritagesP. iii. 153And ek of al here other good;And thus above hem alle stod2010The king upon his Regalie,As he which hath to justifieThe worldes good fro covoitise.So sit it wel in alle wiseA king betwen the more and lesse1099To sette his herte upon largesseToward himself and ek alsoToward his poeple; and if noght so,That is to sein, if that he beToward himselven large and fre2020And of his poeple take and pile,1100Largesse be no weie of skileIt mai be seid, bot Avarice,Which in a king is a gret vice.A king behoveth ek to fleThe vice of Prodegalite,That he mesure in his expenceSo kepe, that of indigenceHe mai be sauf: for who that nedeth,In al his werk the worse he spedeth.2030Nota super hoc quod Aristotiles Alexandrum exemplificauit de exaccionibus Regis Chaldeorum.As Aristotle upon ChaldeeEnsample of gret AuctoriteUnto king Alisandre tauhteOf thilke folk that were unsauhteToward here king for his pilage:Wherof he bad, in his corageThat he unto thre pointz entende,Wher that he wolde his good despende.P. iii. 154Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod,That al were of his oghne good2040The yiftes whiche he wolde yive;So myhte he wel the betre live:And ek he moste taken hiede1101If ther be cause of eny nede,Which oghte forto be defended,Er that his goodes be despended:He mot ek, as it is befalle,Amonges othre thinges alleSe the decertes of his men;And after that thei ben of ken2050And of astat and of merite,He schal hem largeliche aquite,Or for the werre, or for the pes,That non honour falle in descres,Which mihte torne into defame,Bot that he kepe his goode name,So that he be noght holde unkinde.For in Cronique a tale I finde,Which spekth somdiel of this matiere,Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere.2060

Next after trouthe the secounde,

In Policie as it is founde,

Hic tractat de regie maiestatis secunda Policia, quam Aristotiles largitatem vocat: cuius virtute non solum propulsata Auaricia Regis nomen magnificum extollitur, set et sui subditi omni1098diuiciarum habundancia iocundiores efficiuntur.

Which serveth to the worldes fame

In worschipe of a kinges name,

Largesse it is, whos privilegge

Ther mai non Avarice abregge.1990

The worldes good was ferst comune,

Bot afterward upon fortune

Was thilke comun profit cessed:

For whan the poeple stod encresced

And the lignages woxen grete,

Anon for singulier beyete

Drouh every man to his partie;

Wherof cam in the ferste envie

With gret debat and werres stronge,

And laste among the men so longe,2000

Til noman wiste who was who,

Ne which was frend ne which was fo.

Til ate laste in every lond

Withinne hemself the poeple fond

That it was good to make a king,

Which mihte appesen al this thing

And yive riht to the lignages

In partinge of here heritages

P. iii. 153

And ek of al here other good;

And thus above hem alle stod2010

The king upon his Regalie,

As he which hath to justifie

The worldes good fro covoitise.

So sit it wel in alle wise

A king betwen the more and lesse1099

To sette his herte upon largesse

Toward himself and ek also

Toward his poeple; and if noght so,

That is to sein, if that he be

Toward himselven large and fre2020

And of his poeple take and pile,1100

Largesse be no weie of skile

It mai be seid, bot Avarice,

Which in a king is a gret vice.

A king behoveth ek to fle

The vice of Prodegalite,

That he mesure in his expence

So kepe, that of indigence

He mai be sauf: for who that nedeth,

In al his werk the worse he spedeth.2030

Nota super hoc quod Aristotiles Alexandrum exemplificauit de exaccionibus Regis Chaldeorum.

As Aristotle upon Chaldee

Ensample of gret Auctorite

Unto king Alisandre tauhte

Of thilke folk that were unsauhte

Toward here king for his pilage:

Wherof he bad, in his corage

That he unto thre pointz entende,

Wher that he wolde his good despende.

P. iii. 154

Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod,

That al were of his oghne good2040

The yiftes whiche he wolde yive;

So myhte he wel the betre live:

And ek he moste taken hiede1101

If ther be cause of eny nede,

Which oghte forto be defended,

Er that his goodes be despended:

He mot ek, as it is befalle,

Amonges othre thinges alle

Se the decertes of his men;

And after that thei ben of ken2050

And of astat and of merite,

He schal hem largeliche aquite,

Or for the werre, or for the pes,

That non honour falle in descres,

Which mihte torne into defame,

Bot that he kepe his goode name,

So that he be noght holde unkinde.

For in Cronique a tale I finde,

Which spekth somdiel of this matiere,

Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere.2060

[Tale of Julius and the poor Knight.]In Rome, to poursuie his riht,Ther was a worthi povere kniht,Hic secundum gesta Iulii exemplum ponit, qualiter Rex suorum militum, quos probos agnouerit, indigenciam largitatis sue beneficiis releuare1102tenetur.Which cam al one forto seinHis cause, when the court was plein,Wher Julius was in presence.And for him lacketh of despence,Ther was with him non advocatTo make ple for his astat.P. iii. 155Bot thogh him lacke forto plede,Him lacketh nothing of manhede;2070He wiste wel his pours was povere,Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere,And openly poverte alleide,To themperour and thus he seide:‘O Julius, lord of the lawe,Behold, mi conseil is withdraweFor lacke of gold: do thin office1103After the lawes of justice:1104Help that I hadde conseil hiereUpon the trouthe of mi matiere.’2080And Julius with that anonAssigned him a worthi on,Bot he himself no word ne spak.This kniht was wroth and fond a lakIn themperour, and seide thus:‘O thou unkinde Julius,Whan thou in thi bataille wereUp in Aufrique, and I was there,Mi myht for thi rescousse I dedeAnd putte noman in my stede,2090Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde:Bot hier I finde thee so badde,That thee ne liste speke o word1105Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hordTo yive a florin me to helpe.Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpeFro this dai forth of thi largesse,Whan such a gret unkindenesseP. iii. 156Is founde in such a lord as thou?’This Julius knew wel ynou2100That al was soth which he him tolde;And for he wolde noght ben holdeUnkinde, he tok his cause on honde,And as it were of goddes sonde,He yaf him good ynouh to spendeFor evere into his lives ende.1106And thus scholde every worthi kingTake of his knihtes knowleching,Whan that he syh thei hadden nede,For every service axeth mede:2110Bot othre, whiche have noght deservedThurgh vertu, bot of japes served,A king schal noght deserve grace,Thogh he be large in such a place.

[Tale of Julius and the poor Knight.]

In Rome, to poursuie his riht,

Ther was a worthi povere kniht,

Hic secundum gesta Iulii exemplum ponit, qualiter Rex suorum militum, quos probos agnouerit, indigenciam largitatis sue beneficiis releuare1102tenetur.

Which cam al one forto sein

His cause, when the court was plein,

Wher Julius was in presence.

And for him lacketh of despence,

Ther was with him non advocat

To make ple for his astat.

P. iii. 155

Bot thogh him lacke forto plede,

Him lacketh nothing of manhede;2070

He wiste wel his pours was povere,

Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere,

And openly poverte alleide,

To themperour and thus he seide:

‘O Julius, lord of the lawe,

Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe

For lacke of gold: do thin office1103

After the lawes of justice:1104

Help that I hadde conseil hiere

Upon the trouthe of mi matiere.’2080

And Julius with that anon

Assigned him a worthi on,

Bot he himself no word ne spak.

This kniht was wroth and fond a lak

In themperour, and seide thus:

‘O thou unkinde Julius,

Whan thou in thi bataille were

Up in Aufrique, and I was there,

Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede

And putte noman in my stede,2090

Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde:

Bot hier I finde thee so badde,

That thee ne liste speke o word1105

Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord

To yive a florin me to helpe.

Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe

Fro this dai forth of thi largesse,

Whan such a gret unkindenesse

P. iii. 156

Is founde in such a lord as thou?’

This Julius knew wel ynou2100

That al was soth which he him tolde;

And for he wolde noght ben holde

Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde,

And as it were of goddes sonde,

He yaf him good ynouh to spende

For evere into his lives ende.1106

And thus scholde every worthi king

Take of his knihtes knowleching,

Whan that he syh thei hadden nede,

For every service axeth mede:2110

Bot othre, whiche have noght deserved

Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served,

A king schal noght deserve grace,

Thogh he be large in such a place.

[Antigonus and Cinichus.]It sit wel every king to haveDiscrecion, whan men him crave,Hic ponit exemplum de Rege Antigono, qualiter dona regia secundum maius et minus equa discrecione moderanda sunt.So that he mai his yifte wite:Wherof I finde a tale write,Hou Cinichus a povere knihtA Somme which was over myht 2120Preide of his king Antigonus.The king ansuerde to him thus,1107And seide hou such a yifte passethHis povere astat: and thanne he lasseth,And axeth bot a litel peny,If that the king wol yive him eny.The king ansuerde, it was to smalFor him, which was a lord real;1108P. iii. 157To yive a man so litel thingIt were unworschipe in a king.2130Be this ensample a king mai lere[Discretion in Giving.]That forto yive is in manere:For if a king his tresor lassethWithoute honour and thonkles passeth,Whan he himself wol so beguile,I not who schal compleigne his while,Ne who be rihte him schal relieve.Bot natheles this I believe,To helpe with his oghne londBehoveth every man his hond11092140To sette upon necessite;Nota hic quod Regius status a suis fidelibus omni fauore supportandus est.And ek his kinges realteMot every liege man conforte,With good and bodi to supporte,Whan thei se cause resonable:For who that is noght entendableTo holde upriht his kinges name,Him oghte forto be to blame.[Prodigality of Kings.]Of Policie and overmoreTo speke in this matiere more,2150Nota hic secundum Aristotilem,1110qualiter Principum Prodegalitas paupertatem inducit communem.So as the Philosophre tolde,A king after the reule is holdeTo modifie and to adresceHise yiftes upon such largesceSeneca.1111Sic aliis benefacito, vt tibi non noceas.That he mesure noght excede:For if a king falle into nede,It causeth ofte sondri thingesWhiche are ungoodly to the kinges.1112P. iii. 158What man wol noght himself mesure,Men sen fulofte that mesure2160Him hath forsake: and so doth heThat useth Prodegalite,Which is the moder of poverte,Wherof the londes ben deserte;And namely whan thilke viceAboute a king stant in officeAnd hath withholde of his partieThe covoitouse flaterie,Which many a worthi king deceiveth,Er he the fallas aperceiveth2170Of hem that serven to the glose.For thei that cunnen plese and glose,Ben, as men tellen, the norricesUnto the fostringe of the vices,Wherof fulofte nathelesA king is blamed gulteles.[Flatterers.]A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere,Nota qualiter in principum curiis adulatores triplici grauitate offendunt.Spak to a king of this matiere,And seide him wel hou that flatoursCoupable were of thre errours.2180Primo contra deum.On was toward the goddes hihe,That weren wrothe of that thei siheThe meschief which befalle scholdeOf that the false flatour tolde.Secundo contra Principem.Toward the king an other was,Whan thei be sleihte and be fallasOf feigned wordes make him weneThat blak is whyt and blew is greneP. iii. 159Touchende of his condicion:For whanne he doth extorcion2190With manye an other vice mo,Men schal noght finden on of thoTo groucche or speke therayein,Bot holden up his oil and seinThat al is wel, what evere he doth;And thus of fals thei maken soth,So that here kinges yhe is blentAnd wot not hou the world is went.1113Tercio contra populum.1114The thridde errour is harm comune,With which the poeple mot commune2200Of wronges that thei bringen inne:And thus thei worchen treble sinne,That ben flatours aboute a king.Ther myhte be no worse thingAboute a kinges regalie,Thanne is the vice of flaterie.And natheles it hath ben used,That it was nevere yit refusedAs forto speke in court real;For there it is most special,2210And mai noght longe be forbore.Bot whan this vice of hem is bore,That scholden the vertus forthbringe,And trouthe is torned to lesinge,It is, as who seith, ayein kinde,Wherof an old ensample I finde.

[Antigonus and Cinichus.]

It sit wel every king to have

Discrecion, whan men him crave,

Hic ponit exemplum de Rege Antigono, qualiter dona regia secundum maius et minus equa discrecione moderanda sunt.

So that he mai his yifte wite:

Wherof I finde a tale write,

Hou Cinichus a povere kniht

A Somme which was over myht 2120

Preide of his king Antigonus.

The king ansuerde to him thus,1107

And seide hou such a yifte passeth

His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth,

And axeth bot a litel peny,

If that the king wol yive him eny.

The king ansuerde, it was to smal

For him, which was a lord real;1108

P. iii. 157

To yive a man so litel thing

It were unworschipe in a king.2130

Be this ensample a king mai lere

[Discretion in Giving.]

That forto yive is in manere:

For if a king his tresor lasseth

Withoute honour and thonkles passeth,

Whan he himself wol so beguile,

I not who schal compleigne his while,

Ne who be rihte him schal relieve.

Bot natheles this I believe,

To helpe with his oghne lond

Behoveth every man his hond11092140

To sette upon necessite;

Nota hic quod Regius status a suis fidelibus omni fauore supportandus est.

And ek his kinges realte

Mot every liege man conforte,

With good and bodi to supporte,

Whan thei se cause resonable:

For who that is noght entendable

To holde upriht his kinges name,

Him oghte forto be to blame.

[Prodigality of Kings.]

Of Policie and overmore

To speke in this matiere more,2150

Nota hic secundum Aristotilem,1110qualiter Principum Prodegalitas paupertatem inducit communem.

So as the Philosophre tolde,

A king after the reule is holde

To modifie and to adresce

Hise yiftes upon such largesce

Seneca.1111Sic aliis benefacito, vt tibi non noceas.

That he mesure noght excede:

For if a king falle into nede,

It causeth ofte sondri thinges

Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges.1112

P. iii. 158

What man wol noght himself mesure,

Men sen fulofte that mesure2160

Him hath forsake: and so doth he

That useth Prodegalite,

Which is the moder of poverte,

Wherof the londes ben deserte;

And namely whan thilke vice

Aboute a king stant in office

And hath withholde of his partie

The covoitouse flaterie,

Which many a worthi king deceiveth,

Er he the fallas aperceiveth2170

Of hem that serven to the glose.

For thei that cunnen plese and glose,

Ben, as men tellen, the norrices

Unto the fostringe of the vices,

Wherof fulofte natheles

A king is blamed gulteles.

[Flatterers.]

A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere,

Nota qualiter in principum curiis adulatores triplici grauitate offendunt.

Spak to a king of this matiere,

And seide him wel hou that flatours

Coupable were of thre errours.2180

Primo contra deum.

On was toward the goddes hihe,

That weren wrothe of that thei sihe

The meschief which befalle scholde

Of that the false flatour tolde.

Secundo contra Principem.

Toward the king an other was,

Whan thei be sleihte and be fallas

Of feigned wordes make him wene

That blak is whyt and blew is grene

P. iii. 159

Touchende of his condicion:

For whanne he doth extorcion2190

With manye an other vice mo,

Men schal noght finden on of tho

To groucche or speke therayein,

Bot holden up his oil and sein

That al is wel, what evere he doth;

And thus of fals thei maken soth,

So that here kinges yhe is blent

And wot not hou the world is went.1113

Tercio contra populum.1114

The thridde errour is harm comune,

With which the poeple mot commune2200

Of wronges that thei bringen inne:

And thus thei worchen treble sinne,

That ben flatours aboute a king.

Ther myhte be no worse thing

Aboute a kinges regalie,

Thanne is the vice of flaterie.

And natheles it hath ben used,

That it was nevere yit refused

As forto speke in court real;

For there it is most special,2210

And mai noght longe be forbore.

Bot whan this vice of hem is bore,

That scholden the vertus forthbringe,

And trouthe is torned to lesinge,

It is, as who seith, ayein kinde,

Wherof an old ensample I finde.

[Tale of Diogenes and Aristippus]Among these othre tales wiseOf Philosophres, in this wiseP. iii. 1601115Hic contra vanitates adulantum loquitur, et narrat quod cum Arisippus de Cartagine Philosophus scole studium relinquens sui Principis obsequio in magnis adulacionibus pre ceteris carior assistebat, accidit vt ipse quodam die Diogenem Philosophum nuper socium suum, virum tam moribus quam sciencia probatissimum, herbas ad olera sua collectas lauantem ex casu ad ripam inuenit: cui ait, ‘O Diogenes, vere si tu sicut et ego Principi tuo placere scires, huiusmodi herbas aut colligere aut lauare tibi minime indigeret.’ Cui alter respondit, ‘O Arisippe, certe et si tu sicut et ego olera tua colligere et lauare scires, principem tuum ob inanis glorie cupiditatem blandiri nullatenus deberes.’I rede, how whilom tuo ther were,And to the Scole forto lere2220Unto Athenes fro CartageHere frendes, whan thei were of Age,Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe,Til thei such lore have underfonge,That in here time thei surmonteAlle othre men, that to acompteOf hem was tho the grete fame.The ferste of hem his rihte nameWas Diogenes thanne hote,In whom was founde no riote:2230His felaw Arisippus hyhte,Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte.Bot ate laste, soth to sein,Thei bothe tornen hom ayeinUnto Cartage and scole lete.This Diogenes no beyeteOf worldes good or lasse or moreNe soghte for his longe lore,Bot tok him only forto duelleAt hom; and as the bokes telle,2240His hous was nyh to the rivereBesyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere.Ther duelleth he to take his reste,1116So as it thoghte him for the beste,To studie in his Philosophie,As he which wolde so defieThe worldes pompe on every syde.Bot Arisippe his bok asideP. iii. 161Hath leid, and to the court he wente,Wher many a wyle and many a wente2250With flaterie and wordes softe1117He caste, and hath compassed ofteHou he his Prince myhte plese;And in this wise he gat him eseOf vein honour and worldes good.The londes reule upon him stod,The king of him was wonder glad,And all was do, what thing he bad,Bothe in the court and ek withoute.With flaterie he broghte aboute2260His pourpos of the worldes werk,Which was ayein the stat of clerk,1118So that Philosophie he lefteAnd to richesse himself uplefte:Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille.Bot Diogenes duelte stilleAt home and loked on his bok:He soghte noght the worldes crokFor vein honour ne for richesse,Bot all his hertes besinesse2270He sette to be vertuous;And thus withinne his oghne housHe liveth to the sufficanceOf his havinge. And fell per chance,This Diogene upon a day,And that was in the Monthe of May,Whan that these herbes ben holsome,He walketh forto gadre someP. iii. 162In his gardin, of whiche his joutesHe thoghte have, and thus aboutes2280Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh,He satte him thanne doun and pyketh,1119And wyssh his herbes in the flodUpon the which his gardin stod,Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er.And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther,Cam Arisippes be the streteWith manye hors and routes grete,And straght unto the bregge he rod,Wher that he hoved and abod;2290For as he caste his yhe nyh,His felaw Diogene he syh,And what he dede he syh also,Wherof he seide to him so:1120‘O Diogene, god thee spede.It were certes litel nedeTo sitte there and wortes pyke,If thou thi Prince couthest lyke,So as I can in my degre.’‘O Arisippe,’ ayein quod he,2300‘If that thou couthist, so as I,Thi wortes pyke, trewelyIt were als litel nede or lasse,That thou so worldly wolt compasseWith flaterie forto serve,Wherof thou thenkest to deserveThi princes thonk, and to pourchaceHou thou myht stonden in his grace,P. iii. 163For getinge of a litel good.If thou wolt take into thi mod2310Reson, thou myht be reson deemeThat so thi prince forto queemeIs noght to reson acordant,Bot it is gretly descordantUnto the Scoles of Athene.’Lo, thus ansuerde DiogeneAyein the clerkes flaterie.[Flattery.]Bot yit men sen thessamplerie1121Of Arisippe is wel received,And thilke of Diogene is weyved.2320Office in court and gold in cofreIs nou, men sein, the philosophreWhich hath the worschipe in the halle;Bot flaterie passeth alleIn chambre, whom the court avanceth;For upon thilke lot it chancethTo be beloved nou aday.*I not if it be ye or nay,Bot as the comun vois it telleth;1122Bot wher that flaterie duelleth11232330

[Tale of Diogenes and Aristippus]

Among these othre tales wise

Of Philosophres, in this wise

P. iii. 160

1115Hic contra vanitates adulantum loquitur, et narrat quod cum Arisippus de Cartagine Philosophus scole studium relinquens sui Principis obsequio in magnis adulacionibus pre ceteris carior assistebat, accidit vt ipse quodam die Diogenem Philosophum nuper socium suum, virum tam moribus quam sciencia probatissimum, herbas ad olera sua collectas lauantem ex casu ad ripam inuenit: cui ait, ‘O Diogenes, vere si tu sicut et ego Principi tuo placere scires, huiusmodi herbas aut colligere aut lauare tibi minime indigeret.’ Cui alter respondit, ‘O Arisippe, certe et si tu sicut et ego olera tua colligere et lauare scires, principem tuum ob inanis glorie cupiditatem blandiri nullatenus deberes.’

I rede, how whilom tuo ther were,

And to the Scole forto lere2220

Unto Athenes fro Cartage

Here frendes, whan thei were of Age,

Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe,

Til thei such lore have underfonge,

That in here time thei surmonte

Alle othre men, that to acompte

Of hem was tho the grete fame.

The ferste of hem his rihte name

Was Diogenes thanne hote,

In whom was founde no riote:2230

His felaw Arisippus hyhte,

Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte.

Bot ate laste, soth to sein,

Thei bothe tornen hom ayein

Unto Cartage and scole lete.

This Diogenes no beyete

Of worldes good or lasse or more

Ne soghte for his longe lore,

Bot tok him only forto duelle

At hom; and as the bokes telle,2240

His hous was nyh to the rivere

Besyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere.

Ther duelleth he to take his reste,1116

So as it thoghte him for the beste,

To studie in his Philosophie,

As he which wolde so defie

The worldes pompe on every syde.

Bot Arisippe his bok aside

P. iii. 161

Hath leid, and to the court he wente,

Wher many a wyle and many a wente2250

With flaterie and wordes softe1117

He caste, and hath compassed ofte

Hou he his Prince myhte plese;

And in this wise he gat him ese

Of vein honour and worldes good.

The londes reule upon him stod,

The king of him was wonder glad,

And all was do, what thing he bad,

Bothe in the court and ek withoute.

With flaterie he broghte aboute2260

His pourpos of the worldes werk,

Which was ayein the stat of clerk,1118

So that Philosophie he lefte

And to richesse himself uplefte:

Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille.

Bot Diogenes duelte stille

At home and loked on his bok:

He soghte noght the worldes crok

For vein honour ne for richesse,

Bot all his hertes besinesse2270

He sette to be vertuous;

And thus withinne his oghne hous

He liveth to the sufficance

Of his havinge. And fell per chance,

This Diogene upon a day,

And that was in the Monthe of May,

Whan that these herbes ben holsome,

He walketh forto gadre some

P. iii. 162

In his gardin, of whiche his joutes

He thoghte have, and thus aboutes2280

Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh,

He satte him thanne doun and pyketh,1119

And wyssh his herbes in the flod

Upon the which his gardin stod,

Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er.

And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther,

Cam Arisippes be the strete

With manye hors and routes grete,

And straght unto the bregge he rod,

Wher that he hoved and abod;2290

For as he caste his yhe nyh,

His felaw Diogene he syh,

And what he dede he syh also,

Wherof he seide to him so:1120

‘O Diogene, god thee spede.

It were certes litel nede

To sitte there and wortes pyke,

If thou thi Prince couthest lyke,

So as I can in my degre.’

‘O Arisippe,’ ayein quod he,2300

‘If that thou couthist, so as I,

Thi wortes pyke, trewely

It were als litel nede or lasse,

That thou so worldly wolt compasse

With flaterie forto serve,

Wherof thou thenkest to deserve

Thi princes thonk, and to pourchace

Hou thou myht stonden in his grace,

P. iii. 163

For getinge of a litel good.

If thou wolt take into thi mod2310

Reson, thou myht be reson deeme

That so thi prince forto queeme

Is noght to reson acordant,

Bot it is gretly descordant

Unto the Scoles of Athene.’

Lo, thus ansuerde Diogene

Ayein the clerkes flaterie.

[Flattery.]

Bot yit men sen thessamplerie1121

Of Arisippe is wel received,

And thilke of Diogene is weyved.2320

Office in court and gold in cofre

Is nou, men sein, the philosophre

Which hath the worschipe in the halle;

Bot flaterie passeth alle

In chambre, whom the court avanceth;

For upon thilke lot it chanceth

To be beloved nou aday.

*I not if it be ye or nay,

Bot as the comun vois it telleth;1122

Bot wher that flaterie duelleth11232330

Back to Index Next