Chapter XI: Front Matter (11)

[Sidenote: [CAESAR’S ANSWER.]]
Cesar upon his real throne
[Sidenote: Hic inter alia gesta Cesaris narrat vnum
exemplum precipue contra illos qui, cum in aspectu
principis aliis sapienciores apparere vellent, quandoque
tamen simulate sapiencie talia committunt, per que ceteris
stulciores in fine comprobantur.]
Wher that he sat in his persone 2450
And was hyest in al his pris,
A man, which wolde make him wys,
Fell doun knelende in his presence,
And dede him such a reverence,
As thogh the hihe god it were:
Men hadden gret mervaille there
Of the worschipe which he dede.
This man aros fro thilke stede,
And forth with al the same tyde
He goth him up and be his side[1144] 2460
He set him doun as pier and pier,[1145]
And seide, ‘If thou that sittest hier
Art god, which alle thinges myht,
Thanne have I do worschipe ariht[1146]
As to the god; and other wise,
If thou be noght of thilke assisse,
Bot art a man such as am I,
Than mai I sitte faste by,
For we be bothen of o kinde.’[1147]
Cesar ansuerde and seide, ‘O blinde, 2470
Thou art a fol, it is wel sene
Upon thiself: for if thou wene
I be a god, thou dost amys
To sitte wher thou sest god is;
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 169=]
And if I be a man, also
Thou hast a gret folie do,
Whan thou to such on as schal deie
The worschipe of thi god aweie
Hast yoven so unworthely.
Thus mai I prove redely, 2480
Thou art noght wys.’ And thei that herde
Hou wysly that the king ansuerde,
It was to hem a newe lore;
Wherof thei dradden him the more,
And broghten nothing to his Ere,
Bot if it trouthe and reson were.[1148]
So be ther manye, in such a wise
That feignen wordes to be wise, (2500*)
And al is verray flaterie
To him which can it wel aspie. 2490
[Sidenote: [FLATTERERS OF A KING.]]
The kinde flatour can noght love
Bot forto bringe himself above;
[Sidenote: Nota, qualiter isti circa Principem adulatores
pocius a Curia expelli, quam ad regie maiestatis munera
acceptari, Policia suadente deberent.]
For hou that evere his maister fare,
So that himself stonde out of care,
Him reccheth noght: and thus fulofte
Deceived ben with wordes softe
The kinges that ben innocent.
Wherof as for chastiement
The wise Philosophre seide,
What king that so his tresor leide 2500
Upon such folk, he hath the lesse,
And yit ne doth he no largesse,
Bot harmeth with his oghne hond
Himself and ek his oghne lond,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 170=]
And that be many a sondri weie.
Wherof if that a man schal seie,
As forto speke in general,
Wher such thing falleth overal
That eny king himself misreule,
The Philosophre upon his reule 2510
In special a cause sette,
Which is and evere hath be the lette
In governance aboute a king
Upon the meschief of the thing,
And that, he seith, is Flaterie.
Wherof tofore as in partie
What vice it is I have declared;
For who that hath his wit bewared
Upon a flatour to believe,
Whan that he weneth best achieve 2520
His goode world, it is most fro.
And forto proeven it is so
Ensamples ther ben manyon,
Of whiche if thou wolt knowen on,
It is behovely forto hiere
What whilom fell in this matiere.

[Sidenote: [AHAB AND MICAIAH.]]
Among the kinges in the bible
I finde a tale, and is credible,
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur vlterius de consilio adulantum,
quorum fabulis principis aures organizate veritatis auditum
capere nequiunt. Et narrat exemplum de Rege Achab, qui
pro eo quod ipse prophecias fidelis Michee recusauit
blandiciisque adulantis[1150] Zedechie adhesit, Rex Sirie
Benedab in campo bellator ipsum diuino iudicio deuictum
interfecit.]
Of him that whilom Achab hihte,
Which hadde al Irahel to rihte;[1149] 2530
Bot who that couthe glose softe
And flatre, suche he sette alofte
In gret astat and made hem riche;
Bot thei that spieken wordes liche
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 171=]
To trouthe and wolde it noght forbere,
For hem was non astat to bere,
The court of suche tok non hiede.
Til ate laste upon a nede,
That Benedab king of Surie
Of Irahel a gret partie,[1151] 2540
Which Ramoth Galaath was hote,
Hath sesed; and of that riote
He tok conseil in sondri wise,
Bot noght of hem that weren wise.
And natheles upon this cas
To strengthen him, for Josaphas,[1152]
Which thanne was king of Judee,
He sende forto come, as he
Which thurgh frendschipe and alliance
Was next to him of aqueintance; 2550
For Joram Sone of Josaphath
Achabbes dowhter wedded hath,
Which hihte faire Godelie.
And thus cam into Samarie
King Josaphat, and he fond there
The king Achab: and whan thei were
Togedre spekende of this thing,
This Josaphat seith to the king,
Hou that he wolde gladly hiere
Som trew prophete in this matiere,[1153] 2560
That he his conseil myhte yive
To what point that it schal be drive.[1154]
And in that time so befell,
Ther was such on in Irahel,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 172=]
Which sette him al to flaterie,
And he was cleped Sedechie;
And after him Achab hath sent:
And he at his comandement
Tofore him cam, and be a sleyhte
He hath upon his heved on heyhte 2570
Tuo large hornes set of bras,
As he which al a flatour was,
And goth rampende as a leoun
And caste hise hornes up and doun,
And bad men ben of good espeir,
For as the homes percen their,
He seith, withoute resistence,
So wiste he wel of his science
That Benedab is desconfit.
Whan Sedechie upon this plit 2580
Hath told this tale to his lord,
Anon ther were of his acord
Prophetes false manye mo
To bere up oil, and alle tho
Affermen that which he hath told,
Wherof the king Achab was bold
And yaf hem yiftes al aboute.
But Josaphat was in gret doute, (2600*)
And hield fantosme al that he herde,
Preiende Achab, hou so it ferde, 2590
If ther were eny other man,
The which of prophecie can,
To hiere him speke er that thei gon.
Quod Achab thanne, ‘Ther is on,[1155]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 173=]
A brothell, which Micheas hihte;
Bot he ne comth noght in my sihte,
For he hath longe in prison lein.
Him liketh nevere yit to sein[1156]
A goodly word to mi plesance;
And natheles at thin instance 2600
He schal come oute, and thanne he may
Seie as he seide many day;
For yit he seide nevere wel.’
Tho Josaphat began somdel
To gladen him in hope of trouthe,
And bad withouten eny slouthe
That men him scholden fette anon.
And thei that weren for him gon,
Whan that thei comen wher he was,[1157]
Thei tolden unto Micheas 2610
The manere hou that Sedechie
Declared hath his prophecie;
And therupon thei preie him faire
That he wol seie no contraire,
Wherof the king mai be desplesed,
For so schal every man ben esed,
And he mai helpe himselve also.
Micheas upon trouthe tho
His herte sette, and to hem seith,[1158]
Al that belongeth to his feith 2620
And of non other feigned thing,
That wol he telle unto his king,[1159]
Als fer as god hath yove him grace.
Thus cam this prophete into place
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 174=]
Wher he the kinges wille herde;
And he therto anon ansuerde,
And seide unto him in this wise:
‘Mi liege lord, for mi servise,
Which trewe hath stonden evere yit,
Thou hast me with prisone aquit: 2630
Bot for al that I schal noght glose
Of trouthe als fer as I suppose;
And as touchende of this bataille,[1160]
Thou schalt noght of the sothe faile.
For if it like thee to hiere,
As I am tauht in that matiere,
Thou miht it understonde sone;[1161]
Bot what is afterward to done
Avise thee, for this I sih.
I was tofor the throne on hih, 2640
Wher al the world me thoghte stod,[1162]
And there I herde and understod
The vois of god with wordes cliere
Axende, and seide in this manere:
“In what thing mai I best beguile
The king Achab?” And for a while
Upon this point thei spieken faste.
Tho seide a spirit ate laste,
“I undertake this emprise.”
And god him axeth in what wise. 2650
“I schal,” quod he, “deceive and lye
With flaterende prophecie
In suche mouthes as he lieveth.”
And he which alle thing achieveth
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 175=]
Bad him go forth and don riht so.
And over this I sih also
The noble peple of Irahel[1163]
Dispers as Schep upon an hell,
Withoute a kepere unarraied:
And as thei wente aboute astraied, 2660
I herde a vois unto hem sein,
“Goth hom into your hous ayein,
Til I for you have betre ordeigned.”’
Quod Sedechie, ‘Thou hast feigned
This tale in angringe of the king.’
And in a wraththe upon this thing
He smot Michee upon the cheke;
The king him hath rebuked eke,
And every man upon him cride:
Thus was he schent on every side, 2670
Ayein and into prison lad,
For so the king himselve bad.
The trouthe myhte noght ben herd;
Bot afterward as it hath ferd,
The dede proveth his entente:
Achab to the bataille wente,
Wher Benedab for al his Scheld
Him slouh, so that upon the feld
His poeple goth aboute astray.
Bot god, which alle thinges may, 2680
So doth that thei no meschief have;
Here king was ded and thei ben save,
And hom ayein in goddes pes
Thei wente, and al was founde les
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 176=]
That Sedechie hath seid tofore.
So sit it wel a king therfore
To loven hem that trouthe mene;
For ate laste it wol be sene (2700*)
That flaterie is nothing worth.[1164]
Bot nou to mi matiere forth, 2690
As forto speken overmore[1165]
After the Philosophres lore,
The thridde point of Policie
I thenke forto specifie

[Sidenote: [THE THIRD POINT OF POLICY. JUSTICE.]]
ix. _Propter transgressos leges statuuntur in orbe,_
_Ut viuant iusti Regis honore viri._
_Lex sine iusticia populum sub principis vmbra_
_Deuiat, vt rectum nemo videbit iter._

What is a lond wher men ben none?
What ben the men whiche are al one
[Sidenote: Hic tractat de tercia Principum regiminis[1166]
Policia, que Iusticia nominata est, cuius condicio legibus
incorrupta vnicuique quod suum est equo pondere distribuit.]
Withoute a kinges governance?
What is a king in his ligance,
Wher that ther is no lawe in londe?
What is to take lawe on honde, 2700
Bot if the jugges weren trewe?
These olde worldes with the newe
Who that wol take in evidence,
Ther mai he se thexperience,
What thing it is to kepe lawe,
Thurgh which the wronges ben withdrawe
And rihtwisnesse stant commended,
Wherof the regnes ben amended.
For wher the lawe mai comune
The lordes forth with the commune,[1167] 2710
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 177=]
Ech hath his propre duete;
And ek the kinges realte
Of bothe his worschipe underfongeth,
To his astat as it belongeth,
Which of his hihe worthinesse
Hath to governe rihtwisnesse,
As he which schal the lawe guide.
And natheles upon som side
His pouer stant above the lawe,
To yive bothe and to withdrawe 2720
The forfet of a mannes lif;
But thinges whiche are excessif
Ayein the lawe, he schal noght do
For love ne for hate also.
The myhtes of a king ben grete,
Bot yit a worthi king schal lete
[Sidenote: Imperatoriam maiestatem non solum armis, set
eciam legibus oportet esse armatam.]
Of wrong to don, al that he myhte;
For he which schal the poeple ryhte,
It sit wel to his regalie
That he himself ferst justefie 2730
Towardes god in his degre:
For his astat is elles fre
Toward alle othre in his persone,
Save only to the god al one,
Which wol himself a king chastise,
Wher that non other mai suffise.
So were it good to taken hiede
That ferst a king his oghne dede
Betwen the vertu and the vice
Redresce, and thanne of his justice 2740
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 178=]
So sette in evene the balance
Towardes othre in governance,
That to the povere and to the riche
Hise lawes myhten stonde liche,
He schal excepte no persone.
Bot for he mai noght al him one
In sondri places do justice,[1168]
He schal of his real office
With wys consideracion
Ordeigne his deputacion[1169] 2750
Of suche jugges as ben lerned,
So that his poeple be governed
Be hem that trewe ben and wise.
For if the lawe of covoitise
Be set upon a jugges hond,
Wo is the poeple of thilke lond,
For wrong mai noght himselven hyde:
Bot elles on that other side,
If lawe stonde with the riht,
The poeple is glad and stant upriht. 2760
Wher as the lawe is resonable,
The comun poeple stant menable,[1170]
And if the lawe torne amis,
The poeple also mistorned is.
[Sidenote: [JUSTICE OF MAXIMIN.]]
And in ensample of this matiere
[Sidenote: Nota hic de iusticia Maximini Imperatoris, qui
cum alicuius prouincie custodem sibi substituere volebat,
primo de sui nominis fama proclamacione facta ipsius
condicionem diligencius inuestigabat.]
Of Maximin a man mai hiere,
Of Rome which was Emperour,
That whanne he made a governour
Be weie of substitucion
Of Province or of region, 2770
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 179=]
He wolde ferst enquere his name,
And let it openly proclame
What man he were, or evel or good.
And upon that his name stod
Enclin to vertu or to vice,[1171]
So wolde he sette him in office,
Or elles putte him al aweie.
Thus hield the lawe his rihte weie,
Which fond no let of covoitise:
The world stod than upon the wise, 2780
As be ensample thou myht rede;
And hold it in thi mynde, I rede.

[Sidenote: [GAIUS FABRICIUS.]]
In a Cronique I finde thus,
Hou that Gayus Fabricius,
Which whilom was Consul of Rome,
[Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum de iudicibus incorruptis. Et
narrat qualiter Gayus Fabricius nuper Rome Consul aurum
a Sampnitibus sibi oblatum renuit, dicens quod nobilius
est aurum possidentes dominio subiugare, quam ex auri
cupiditate dominii libertatem amittere.]
Be whom the lawes yede and come,
Whan the Sampnites to him broghte
A somme of gold, and him besoghte (2800*)
To don hem favour in the lawe,
Toward the gold he gan him drawe, 2790
Wherof in alle mennes lok
A part up in his hond he tok,[1172]
Which to his mouth in alle haste
He putte, it forto smelle and taste,[1173]
And to his yhe and to his Ere,
Bot he ne fond no confort there:
And thanne he gan it to despise,
And tolde unto hem in this wise:
‘I not what is with gold to thryve,
Whan non of all my wittes fyve 2800
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 180=]
Fynt savour ne delit therinne.
So is it bot a nyce Sinne
Of gold to ben to covoitous;
Bot he is riche and glorious,
Which hath in his subjeccion
Tho men whiche in possession[1174]
Ben riche of gold, and be this skile;
For he mai aldai whan he wile,
Or be hem lieve or be hem lothe,
Justice don upon hem bothe.’ 2810
Lo, thus he seide, and with that word
He threw tofore hem on the bord
The gold out of his hond anon,
And seide hem that he wolde non:[1175]
So that he kepte his liberte
To do justice and equite,
Withoute lucre of such richesse.
Ther be nou fewe of suche, I gesse;
For it was thilke times used,
That every jugge was refused 2820
Which was noght frend to comun riht;
Bot thei that wolden stonde upriht
For trouthe only to do justice
Preferred were in thilke office
To deme and jugge commun lawe:
Which nou, men sein, is al withdrawe.
To sette a lawe and kepe it noght
Ther is no comun profit soght;
Bot above alle natheles
The lawe, which is mad for pes, 2830
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 181=]
Is good to kepe for the beste,
For that set alle men in reste.

[Sidenote: [THE EMPEROR CONRAD.]]
The rihtful Emperour Conrade
[Sidenote: Hic narrat de iusticia nuper Conradi
Imperatoris, cuius tempore alicuius reuerencia persone,
aliqua seu precum interuencione quacunque vel auri
redempcione, legum Statuta commutari seu redimi nullatenus
potuerunt.]
To kepe pes such lawe made,
That non withinne the cite
In destorbance of unite
Dorste ones moeven a matiere.
For in his time, as thou myht hiere,
What point that was for lawe set
It scholde for no gold be let,[1176] 2840
To what persone that it were.
And this broghte in the comun fere,
Why every man the lawe dradde,
For ther was non which favour hadde.

[Sidenote: [THE CONSUL CARMIDOTIRUS.]]
So as these olde bokes sein,
I finde write hou a Romein,
[Sidenote: Nota exemplum de constancia iudicis; vbi narrat
de Carmidotiro Rome nuper Consule, qui cum sui statuti
legem nescius offendisset, Romanique super hoc penam sibi
remittere voluissent, ipse propria manu, vbi nullus alius
in ipsum vindex fuit, sui criminis vindictam executus est.]
Which Consul was of the Pretoire,
Whos name was Carmidotoire,
He sette a lawe for the pes,
That non, bot he be wepneles,[1177] 2850
Schal come into the conseil hous,
And elles as malicious
He schal ben of the lawe ded.
To that statut and to that red
Acorden alle it schal be so,
For certein cause which was tho:
Nou lest what fell therafter sone.[1178]
This Consul hadde forto done,[1179]
And was into the feldes ride;
And thei him hadden longe abide, 2860
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 182=]
That lordes of the conseil were,
And for him sende, and he cam there
With swerd begert, and hath foryete,[1180]
Til he was in the conseil sete.
Was non of hem that made speche,
Til he himself it wolde seche,
And fond out the defalte himselve;
And thanne he seide unto the tuelve,
Whiche of the Senat weren wise,
‘I have deserved the juise, 2870
In haste that it were do.’
And thei him seiden alle no;
For wel thei wiste it was no vice,
Whan he ne thoghte no malice,
Bot onliche of a litel slouthe:
And thus thei leften as for routhe
To do justice upon his gilt,
For that he scholde noght be spilt.
And whanne he sih the maner hou
Thei wolde him save, he made avou 2880
With manfull herte, and thus he seide,
That Rome scholde nevere abreide
His heires, whan he were of dawe,
That here Ancestre brak the lawe.
Forthi, er that thei weren war,
Forth with the same swerd he bar
The statut of his lawe he kepte,[1181]
So that al Rome his deth bewepte. (2900*)

[Sidenote: [EXAMPLE OF CAMBYSES.]]
In other place also I rede,
Wher that a jugge his oghne dede 2890
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 183=]
[Sidenote: Nota quod falsi iudices mortis pena puniendi sunt.
Narrat enim qualiter Cambises Rex Persarum quendam iudicem
corruptum excoriari viuum fecit, eiusque pelle cathedram
iudicialem operiri constituit: ita quod filius suus super patris
pellem postea pro tribunali cessurus iudicii equitatem euidencius
memoraretur.]
Ne wol noght venge of lawe broke,
The king it hath himselven wroke.
The grete king which Cambises
Was hote, a jugge laweles
He fond, and into remembrance
He dede upon him such vengance:
Out of his skyn he was beflain
Al quyk, and in that wise slain,
So that his skyn was schape al meete,[1182]
And nayled on the same seete[1183] 2900
Wher that his Sone scholde sitte.
Avise him, if he wolde flitte
The lawe for the coveitise,
Ther sih he redi his juise.
Thus in defalte of other jugge
The king mot otherwhile jugge,
To holden up the rihte lawe.
And forto speke of tholde dawe,
To take ensample of that was tho,
I finde a tale write also, 2910
Hou that a worthi prince is holde
The lawes of his lond to holde,
Ferst for the hihe goddes sake,
And ek for that him is betake
The poeple forto guide and lede,
Which is the charge of his kinghede.

[Sidenote: [LYCURGUS AND HIS LAWS.]]
In a Cronique I rede thus
Of the rihtful Ligurgius,
[Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum de Principibus illis, qui[1184]
non solum legem statuentes illam conseruant, set vt commune
bonum adaugeant, propriam facultatem diminuunt. Et narrat
quod, cum Ligurgius Athenarum princeps subditos suos[1185] in
omni prosperitatis habundancia divites et vnanimes congruis
legibus stare fecisset, volens ad vtilitatem rei publice
leges illas firmius obseruari, peregre proficisci se
finxit; set prius iuramentum solempne a legiis suis sub hac
forma exegit, quod ipsi vsque in reditum suum leges suas
nullatenus infringerent: quibus iuratis peregrinacionem
suam in exilium absque reditu pro perpetuo delegauit.[1186]]
Which of Athenis Prince was,
Hou he the lawe in every cas, 2920
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 184=]
Wherof he scholde his poeple reule,
Hath set upon so good a reule,
In al this world that cite non
Of lawe was so wel begon
Forth with the trouthe of governance.
Ther was among hem no distance,
Bot every man hath his encress;
Ther was withoute werre pes,
Withoute envie love stod;
Richesse upon the comun good 2930
And noght upon the singuler
Ordeigned was, and the pouer
Of hem that weren in astat
Was sauf: wherof upon debat
Ther stod nothing, so that in reste
Mihte every man his herte reste.
And whan this noble rihtful king
Sih hou it ferde of al this thing,
Wherof the poeple stod in ese,
He, which for evere wolde plese 2940
The hihe god, whos thonk he soghte,
A wonder thing thanne him bethoghte,
And schop if that it myhte be,
Hou that his lawe in the cite
Mihte afterward for evere laste.
And therupon his wit he caste
What thing him were best to feigne,
That he his pourpos myhte atteigne.
A Parlement and thus he sette,
His wisdom wher that he besette 2950
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 185=]
In audience of grete and smale,[1187]
And in this wise he tolde his tale:
‘God wot, and so ye witen alle,
Hierafterward hou so it falle,
Yit into now my will hath be
To do justice and equite
In forthringe of comun profit:
Such hath ben evere my delit.
Bot of o thing I am beknowe,
The which mi will is that ye knowe: 2960
The lawe which I tok on honde,
Was altogedre of goddes sonde
And nothing of myn oghne wit;
So mot it nede endure yit,
And schal do lengere, if ye wile.
For I wol telle you the skile;
The god Mercurius and no man[1188]
He hath me tawht al that I can
Of suche lawes as I made,
Wherof that ye ben alle glade; 2970
It was the god and nothing I,
Which dede al this, and nou forthi
He hath comanded of his grace
That I schal come into a place
Which is forein out in an yle,
Wher I mot tarie for a while,
With him to speke, as he hath bede.[1189]
For as he seith, in thilke stede
He schal me suche thinges telle,
That evere, whyl the world schal duelle, 2980
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 186=]
Athenis schal the betre fare.
Bot ferst, er that I thider fare,
For that I wolde that mi lawe
Amonges you ne be withdrawe
Ther whyles that I schal ben oute,
Forthi to setten out of doute
Bothe you and me, this wol I preie,
That ye me wolde assure and seie (3000*)
With such an oth as I wol take,[1190]
That ech of you schal undertake 2990
Mi lawes forto kepe and holde.’
Thei seiden alle that thei wolde,
And therupon thei swore here oth,[1191]
That fro the time that he goth,
Til he to hem be come ayein,
Thei scholde hise lawes wel and plein
In every point kepe and fulfille.
Thus hath Ligurgius his wille,
And tok his leve and forth he wente.
Bot lest nou wel to what entente[1192] 3000
Of rihtwisnesse he dede so:
For after that he was ago,
He schop him nevere to be founde;[1193]
So that Athenis, which was bounde,
Nevere after scholde be relessed,[1194]
Ne thilke goode lawe cessed,
Which was for comun profit set.
And in this wise he hath it knet;
He, which the comun profit soghte,
The king, his oghne astat ne roghte; 3010
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 187=]
To do profit to the comune,
He tok of exil the fortune,
And lefte of Prince thilke office
Only for love and for justice,
Thurgh which he thoghte, if that he myhte,
For evere after his deth to rihte
The cite which was him betake.
Wherof men oghte ensample take
The goode lawes to avance
With hem which under governance[1195] 3020
The lawes have forto kepe;
For who that wolde take kepe
Of hem that ferst the lawes founde,
Als fer as lasteth eny bounde
Of lond, here names yit ben knowe:
And if it like thee to knowe
Some of here names hou thei stonde,
Nou herkne and thou schalt understonde.
[Sidenote: [THE FIRST LAW-GIVERS.]]
Of every bienfet the merite
The god himself it wol aquite; 3030
[Sidenote: Hic ad eorum laudem, qui iusticie causa leges
primo statuerunt, aliquorum nomina specialius commemorat.]
And ek fulofte it falleth so,
The world it wole aquite also,
Bot that mai noght ben evene liche:
The god he yifth the heveneriche,
The world yifth only bot a name,
Which stant upon the goode fame
Of hem that don the goode dede.
And in this wise double mede
Resceiven thei that don wel hiere;
Wherof if that thee list to hiere[1196] 3040
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 188=]
After the fame as it is blowe,
Ther myht thou wel the sothe knowe,
Hou thilke honeste besinesse
Of hem that ferst for rihtwisnesse
Among the men the lawes made,
Mai nevere upon this erthe fade.
For evere, whil ther is a tunge,
Here name schal be rad and sunge
And holde in the Cronique write;
So that the men it scholden wite, 3050
To speke good, as thei wel oghten,
Of hem that ferst the lawes soghten
In forthringe of the worldes pes.
Unto thebreus was Moïses
The ferste, and to thegipciens
Mercurius, and to Troiens
Ferst was Neuma Pompilius,
To Athenes Ligurgius
Yaf ferst the lawe, and to Gregois
Foroneüs hath thilke vois,[1197] 3060
And Romulus to the Romeins.
For suche men that ben vileins
The lawe in such a wise ordeigneth,[1198]
That what man to the lawe pleigneth,
[Sidenote: [KINGS MUST KEEP THE LAWS.]]
Be so the jugge stonde upriht,
He schal be served of his riht.
And so ferforth it is befalle
That lawe is come among ous alle:
God lieve it mote wel ben holde,
As every king therto is holde; 3070
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 189=]
For thing which is of kinges set,
With kinges oghte it noght be let.
What king of lawe takth no kepe,
Be lawe he mai no regne kepe.
Do lawe awey, what is a king?
Wher is the riht of eny thing,
If that ther be no lawe in londe?
This oghte a king wel understonde,
As he which is to lawe swore,
That if the lawe be forbore 3080
Withouten execucioun,
It makth a lond torne up so doun,
Which is unto the king a sclandre.
Forthi unto king Alisandre
The wise Philosophre bad,
That he himselve ferst be lad[1199]
Of lawe, and forth thanne overal
So do justice in general,[1200] (3100*)
That al the wyde lond aboute
The justice of his lawe doute, 3090
And thanne schal he stonde in reste.
For therto lawe is on the beste
Above alle other erthly thing,
To make a liege drede his king.
Bot hou a king schal gete him love
Toward the hihe god above,
And ek among the men in erthe,
This nexte point, which is the ferthe
Of Aristotles lore, it techeth:
Wherof who that the Scole secheth, 3100
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 190=]
What Policie that it is
The bok reherceth after this.

[Sidenote: [THE FOURTH POINT OF POLICY. PITY.]]
x. _Nil racionis habens vbi velle tirannica regna_
_Stringit, amor populi transiet exul ibi._[1201]
_Set Pietas, regnum que conseruabit in euum,_
_Non tantum populo, set placet illa deo._

It nedeth noght that I delate
The pris which preised is algate,
[Sidenote: Hic tractat de quarta Principum regiminis
Policia, que Pietas dicta est; per quam Principes erga
populum misericordes effecti misericordiam altissimi
gracius[1202] consequuntur.]
And hath ben evere and evere schal,
Wherof to speke in special,
It is the vertu of Pite,
Thurgh which the hihe mageste
Was stered, whan his Sone alyhte,
And in pite the world to rihte 3110
Tok of the Maide fleissh and blod.
Pite was cause of thilke good,
Wherof that we ben alle save:
Wel oghte a man Pite to have
And the vertu to sette in pris,
Whan he himself which is al wys
Hath schewed why it schal be preised.
Pite may noght be conterpeised
Of tirannie with no peis;
For Pite makth a king courteis 3120
Bothe in his word and in his dede.
[Sidenote: Nota.[1203]]
It sit wel every liege drede
His king and to his heste obeie,
And riht so be the same weie
It sit a king to be pitous
Toward his poeple and gracious
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 191=]
Upon the reule of governance,
So that he worche no vengance,
Which mai be cleped crualte.
Justice which doth equite 3130
Is dredfull, for he noman spareth;
Bot in the lond wher Pite fareth
The king mai nevere faile of love,
For Pite thurgh the grace above,
So as the Philosophre affermeth,[1204]
His regne in good astat confermeth.*

* * * * *

*Thapostle James in this wise[1205]
Seith, what man scholde do juise,[1206] 3150*
And hath not pite forth with al,
The doom of him which demeth al
He may himself fulsore drede,
That him schal lakke upon the nede
To fynde pite, whan he wolde:
For who that pite wol biholde,--
It is a poynt of Cristes lore.
And for to loken overmore,
It is bihovely, as we fynde,
To resoun and to lawe of kynde. 3160*
[Sidenote: Cassodorus. Vbi regnat pietas, consolidatur regnum.]
Cassodre in his apprise telleth,
‘The regne is sauf, wher pite duelleth.’
[Sidenote: Tullius. Qui pietate vincitur scutum victorie
merito gestabit.]
And Tullius his tale avoweth,[1207]
And seith, ‘What king to pite boweth
And with pite stant overcome,
He hath that schield of grace nome,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 192=]
Which to the kinges yifth victoire.’
[Sidenote: Valerius narrat quod cum rex Alexander in
ira sua quendam militem morti condempnasset, et ille
appellauit, dixit rex, ‘In terra nullus maior me est: ad
quem ergo appellas?’ Respondit miles, ‘Non a maiestate
tua, set a sentencia ire tue tantum ad pietatem tuam
appello.’ Et sic rex pietate motus ipsum in misericordiam
benignissime suscepit.]
Of Alisandre in his histoire
I rede how he a worthi knight
Of sodein wraththe and nought of right 3170*
Forjugged hath, and he appeleth.
And with that word the king quereleth,
And seith, ‘Non is above me.’
‘That wot I wel my lord,’ quoth he;
‘Fro thy lordschipe appele I nought,
But fro thy wraththe in al my thought
To thy pitee stant myn appeel.
The king, which understod him wel,
Of pure pite yaf him grace.
And eek I rede in other place, 3180*
Thus seide whilom etc. (_as_ 3137 ff.)

* * * * *

[Sidenote: Constantinus Imperator ait: ‘Vere se dominum
esse comprobat, qui seruum pietatis se facit.’]
Thus seide whilom Constantin:[1208]
‘What Emperour that is enclin
To Pite forto be servant,
Of al the worldes remenant 3140
He is worthi to ben a lord.’
[Sidenote: Troianus ait, quod ipse subditos suos solite
pietatis fauore magis quam austeritatis rigore regere,
eorumque benevolenciam pocius quam timorem penes se
attractare proponebat.[1209]]
In olde bokes of record
This finde I write of essamplaire:[1210]
Troian the worthi debonaire,
Be whom that Rome stod governed,
Upon a time as he was lerned (3190*)
Of that he was to familier,
He seide unto that conseiller,[1211]
That forto ben an Emperour
His will was noght for vein honour, 3150
Ne yit for reddour of justice;
Bot if he myhte in his office
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 193=]
Hise lordes and his poeple plese,
Him thoghte it were a grettere ese
With love here hertes to him drawe,
Than with the drede of eny lawe. (3200*)
For whan a thing is do for doute,
Fulofte it comth the worse aboute;
Bot wher a king is Pietous,[1212]
He is the more gracious, 3160
That mochel thrift him schal betyde,
Which elles scholde torne aside.*

* * * * *

[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE JEW AND THE PAGAN.]]
*To do pite support and grace,[1213]
The Philosophre upon a place
[Sidenote: Hic in pietatis exemplum prout Aristotiles
Regi Alexandro nuper rettulit, declarans scribit qualiter
Iudeus pedester cum quodam pagano asinum equitante per
desertum itinerando ipsum de secta et fide sua strictius
interrogauit. Qui respondens ait: ‘Paganus sum et
fides mea hec est, vt omnes vno animo diligam et penes
vnumquemque tempore necessitatis pietatem[1214] pro posse
meo excerceam.’[1215] Cui Iudeus: ‘Permitte me ergo,
qui lassatus itinere deficio, aliquantulum equitare, et
tu respectu pietatis ob meam recreacionem pedibus pro
tempore[1216] incedas.’ Et ita factum est, vnde postea
paganus infra breue lassatus asino suo restitui[1217] a
Iudeo postulauit. At ille ait: ‘Nequaquam: quia fides mea
est, vt illi qui sectam meam non credit, nocumentum[1218]
absque pietate prouocare debeo.’ Et hiis dictis asellum
veloci passu coegit, et paganum a dorso illusum reliquit.
Quod videns paganus in terram dolens corruit, extensisque
in celum manibus summam iusticiam inuocabat. Postque a
terra exurgens, cum paulisper deambulasset, respexit in
quamdam vallem[1219] Iudeum a leone in mortis articulo
prostratum; et sic asinum suum cum gaudio resumens,
pietatem magis quam austeritatem laudabilem decreuit.[1220]]
In his writinge of daies olde
A tale of gret essample tolde 3210*
Unto the king of Macedoine:
How betwen Kaire and Babeloine,[1221]
Whan comen is the somer heete,
It hapneth tuo men forto meete,
As thei scholde entren in a pas,
Wher that the wyldernesse was.
And as they wenten forth spekende
Under the large wodes ende,
That o man axeth of that other:
‘What man art thou, mi lieve brother?[1222] 3220*
Which is thi creance and thi feith?’
‘I am paien,’ that other seith,
‘And be the lawe which I use
I schal noght in mi feith refuse
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 194=]
To loven alle men aliche,
The povere bothe and ek the riche:
Whan thei ben glade I schal be glad,
And sori whan thei ben bestad;
So schal I live in unite
With every man in his degre. 3230*
For riht as to miself I wolde,
Riht so toward alle othre I scholde[1223]
Be gracious and debonaire.
Thus have I told thee softe and faire
Mi feith, mi lawe, and mi creance;
And if thee list for aqueintance,
Now tell what maner man thou art.’
And he ansuerde upon his part:
‘I am a Jew, and be mi lawe
I schal to noman be felawe 3240*
To kepe him trowthe in word ne dede,
Bot if he be withoute drede[1224]
A verrai Jew riht as am I:
For elles I mai trewely
Bereve him bothe lif and good.’
The paien herde and understod,
And thoghte it was a wonder lawe.
And thus upon here sondri sawe
Talkende bothe forth thei wente.
The dai was hoot, the sonne brente, 3250*
The paien rod upon an asse,
And of his catell more and lasse
With him a riche trusse he ladde.
The Jew, which al untrowthe hadde,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 195=]
And wente upon his feet beside,
Bethoghte him how he mihte ride;[1225]
And with his wordes slihe and wise
Unto the paien in this wise
He seide: ‘O, now it schal be seene
What thing it is thou woldest meene: 3260*
For if thi lawe be certein
As thou hast told, I dar wel sein,
Thou wolt beholde mi destresse.
Which am so full of werinesse,
That I ne mai unethe go,[1226]
And let me ride a Myle or tuo,
So that I mai mi bodi ese.’
The paien wolde him noght desplese
Of that he spak, bot in pite
It list him forto knowe and se 3270*
The pleignte which that other made;
And for he wolde his herte glade,
He lihte and made him nothing strange.
Thus was ther made a newe change,
The paien goth, the Jew alofte
Was sett upon his asse softe:
So gon thei forth carpende faste
Of this and that, til ate laste[1227]
The paien mihte go nomore,
And preide unto the Jew therfore 3280*
To suffre him ride a litel while.
The Jew, which thoghte him to beguile,
Anon rod forth the grete pas,[1228]
And to the paien in this cas
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 196=]
He seide, ‘Thou hast do thi riht,
Of that thou haddest me behiht
To do socour upon mi nede;
And that acordeth to the dede,
As thou art to the lawe holde.
And in such wise as I thee tolde, 3290*
I thenke also for mi partie
Upon the lawe of Juerie[1229]
To worche and do mi duete.
Thin asse schal go forth with me
With al thi good, which I have sesed;
And that I wot thou art desesed,
I am riht glad and noght mispaid.’
And whanne he hath these wordes said,
In alle haste he rod aweie.
This paien wot non other weie, 3300*
Bot on the ground he kneleth evene,
His handes up unto the hevene,
And seide, ‘O hihe sothfastnesse,
That lovest alle rihtwisnesse,
Unto thi dom, lord, I appele;[1230]
Behold and deme mi querele,
With humble herte I thee beseche;
The mercy bothe and ek the wreche
I sette al in thi juggement.’
And thus upon his marrement 3310*
This paien hath made his preiere:[1231]
And than he ros with drery chiere,[1232]
And goth him forth, and in his gate
He caste his yhe aboute algate,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 197=]
The Jew if that he mihte se.
Bot for a time it mai noght be;
Til ate laste ayein the nyht,
So as god wolde, he wente ariht,
As he which hield the hihe weie,
And thanne he sih in a valleie 3320*
Wher that the Jew liggende was,
Al blodi ded upon the gras,
Which strangled was of a leoun.
And as he lokede up and doun,
He fond his asse faste by
Forth with his harneis redely
Al hol and sound, as he it lefte,[1233]
Whan that the Jew it him berefte:
Wherof he thonketh god knelende.
Lo, thus a man mai knowe at ende, 3330*
How the pitous pite deserveth.
For what man that to pite serveth,
As Aristotle it berth witnesse,
God schal hise foomen so represse,
That thei schul ay stonde under foote.
Pite, men sein, is thilke roote
Wherof the vertus springen alle:
What infortune that befalle
In eny lond, lacke of pite[1234]
Is cause of thilke adversite; 3340*
And that aldai mai schewe at yhe,
Who that the world discretly syhe.[1235]
Good is that every man therfore
Take hiede of that is seid tofore;
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 198=]
For of this tale and othre ynowhe
These noble princes whilom drowhe
Here evidence and here aprise,
As men mai finde in many a wise,[1236]
Who that these olde bokes rede:
And thogh thei ben in erthe dede, 3350*
Here goode name may noght deie
For Pite, which thei wolde obeie,
To do the dedes of mercy.
And who this tale redily
Remembre, as Aristotle it tolde,
He mai the will of god beholde
Upon the point as it was ended,
Wherof that pite stod commended,
Which is to charite felawe,
As thei that kepen bothe o lawe.[1237] 3360*

* * * * *

[Sidenote: [TALE OF CODRUS.]]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 198=, l. 17]
Of Pite forto speke plein,
Which is with mercy wel besein,
Fulofte he wole himselve peine
[Sidenote: Nota hic de Principis pietate erga populum,
vbi narrat quod, cum Codrus Rex Athenarum contra Dorences
bellum gerere deberet, consulto prius Appolline responsum
accepit, quod vnum de duobus, videlicet aut seipsum in
prelio interfici et populum suum saluari, aut populum
interfici et se[1238] saluum fieri, eligere oporteret.
Super quo Rex pietate motus plebisque sue magis quam
proprii corporis salutem affectans, mortem sibi preelegit;
et sic bellum aggrediens pro vita multorum solus interiit.]
To kepe an other fro the peine:
For Charite the moder is
Of Pite, which nothing amis
Can soffre, if he it mai amende.
It sit to every man livende 3170
To be Pitous, bot non so wel
As to a king, which on the whiel (3370*)
Fortune hath set aboven alle:
For in a king, if so befalle[1239]
That his Pite be ferme and stable,
To al the loud it is vailable
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 199=]
Only thurgh grace of his persone;
For the Pite of him al one
Mai al the large realme save.
So sit it wel a king to have 3180
Pite; for this Valeire tolde,
And seide hou that be daies olde (3380*)
Codrus, which was in his degre
King of Athenis the cite,
A werre he hadde ayein Dorrence:
And forto take his evidence[1240]
What schal befalle of the bataille,
He thoghte he wolde him ferst consaille
With Appollo, in whom he triste;
Thurgh whos ansuere this he wiste, 3190
Of tuo pointz that he myhte chese,
Or that he wolde his body lese (3390*)
And in bataille himselve deie,
Or elles the seconde weie,
To sen his poeple desconfit.
Bot he, which Pite hath parfit
Upon the point of his believe,
The poeple thoghte to relieve,[1241]
And ches himselve to be ded.
Wher is nou such an other hed, 3200
Which wolde for the lemes dye?
And natheles in som partie (3400*)
It oghte a kinges herte stere,
That he hise liege men forbere.
And ek toward hise enemis
Fulofte he may deserve pris,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 200=]
To take of Pite remembrance,
Wher that he myhte do vengance:
For whanne a king hath the victoire,
And thanne he drawe into memoire 3210
To do Pite in stede of wreche,
He mai noght faile of thilke speche
Wherof arist the worldes fame,
To yive a Prince a worthi name.

[Sidenote: [POMPEIUS AND THE KING OF ARMENIA.]]
I rede hou whilom that Pompeie,
To whom that Rome moste obeie,
[Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum de victoriosi Principis
pietate erga aduersarios suos. Et narrat quod, cum Pompeius
Romanorum Imperator Regem Armenie aduersarium suum in
bello victum cepisset, captumque vinculis alligatum Rome
tenuisset, tirannidis iracundie stimulos postponens,
pietatis mansuetudinem operatus est. Dixit enim quod
nobilius est Regem facere quam deponere: super quo dictum
Regem absque vlla redempcione non solum a vinculis
absoluit, set ad sui regni culmen gratuita voluntate
coronatum restituit.[1244]]
A werre hadde in jeupartie
Ayein the king of Ermenie,[1242]
Which of long time him hadde grieved.
Bot ate laste it was achieved 3220
That he this king desconfit hadde,
And forth with him to Rome ladde
As Prisoner, wher many a day
In sori plit and povere he lay,
The corone of his heved deposed,[1243]
Withinne walles faste enclosed;
And with ful gret humilite
He soffreth his adversite.
Pompeie sih his pacience
And tok pite with conscience, 3230
So that upon his hihe deis
Tofore al Rome in his Paleis,
As he that wolde upon him rewe,
Let yive him his corone newe
And his astat al full and plein[1245]
Restoreth of his regne ayein,
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 201=]
And seide it was more goodly thing
To make than undon a king,
To him which pouer hadde of bothe.
Thus thei, that weren longe wrothe, 3240
Acorden hem to final pes;
And yit justice natheles
Was kept and in nothing offended;
Wherof Pompeie was comended.[1246]
Ther mai no king himself excuse,
Bot if justice he kepe and use,
Which for teschuie crualte
He mot attempre with Pite.
[Sidenote: [CRUELTY.]]
Of crualte the felonie
Engendred is of tirannie, 3250
Ayein the whos condicion
God is himself the champion, (3450*)
Whos strengthe mai noman withstonde.
For evere yit it hath so stonde,
That god a tirant overladde;
Bot wher Pite the regne ladde,
Ther mihte no fortune laste
Which was grevous, bot ate laste
The god himself it hath redresced.
Pite is thilke vertu blessed 3260
Which nevere let his Maister falle;
Bot crualte, thogh it so falle
That it mai regne for a throwe,
God wole it schal ben overthrowe:
Wherof ensamples ben ynowhe
Of hem that thilke merel drowhe.

[Sidenote: [CRUELTY OF LEONTIUS.]]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 202=]
Of crualte I rede thus:
Whan the tirant Leoncius
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur contra illos, qui tirannica
potestate principatum obtinentes in[1247] iniquitatis sue
malicia gloriantur. Et narrat exemplum,[1248] qualiter
Leoncius tirannus pium Iustinianum non solum a solio
imperatorie maiestatis fraudulenter expulit, set vt ipse
inhabilis ad regnum in[1249] aspectu plebis efficeretur,
naso et labris abscisis, ipsum tirannice mutulauit. Deus
tamen, qui super omnia pius est, Tiberio superueniente
vna cum adiutorio Terbellis Bulgarie Regis, Iustinianum
interfecto Leoncio ad imperium restitui misericorditer
procurauit.]
Was to thempire of Rome arrived,
Fro which he hath with strengthe prived[1250] 3270
The pietous Justinian,[1251]
As he which was a cruel man,
His nase of and his lippes bothe
He kutte, for he wolde him lothe
Unto the poeple and make unable.
Bot he which is al merciable,[1252]
The hihe god, ordeigneth so,
That he withinne a time also,
Whan he was strengest in his ire,[1253]
Was schoven out of his empire. 3280
Tiberius the pouer hadde,
And Rome after his will he ladde,
And for Leonce in such a wise
Ordeigneth, that he tok juise
Of nase and lippes bothe tuo,
For that he dede an other so,
Which more worthi was than he.
Lo, which a fall hath crualte,
And Pite was set up ayein:
For after that the bokes sein, 3290
Therbellis king of Bulgarie
With helpe of his chivalerie
Justinian hath unprisoned
And to thempire ayein coroned.

[Sidenote: [CRUELTY OF SICULUS.]]
In a Cronique I finde also
Of Siculus, which was ek so
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 203=]
[Sidenote: Hic loquitur vlterius de crudelitate Siculi
tiranni,[1254] necnon et de Berillo eiusdem Consiliario, qui
ad tormentum populi quendam taurum eneum tirannica coniectura
fabricari constituit; in quo tamen ipse prior, proprio crimine
illud exigente, vsque ad sui interitus expiracionem iudicialiter
torquebatur.]
A cruel king lich the tempeste,
The whom no Pite myhte areste,--[1255]
He was the ferste, as bokes seie,
Upon the See which fond Galeie 3300
And let hem make for the werre,--
As he which al was out of herre (3500*)
Fro Pite and misericorde;
For therto couthe he noght acorde,
Bot whom he myhte slen, he slouh,
And therof was he glad ynouh.
He hadde of conseil manyon,
Among the whiche ther was on,
Be name which Berillus hihte;
And he bethoghte him hou he myhte 3310
Unto the tirant do likinge,
And of his oghne ymaginynge
Let forge and make a Bole of bras,
And on the side cast ther was
A Dore, wher a man mai inne,
Whan he his peine schal beginne
Thurgh fyr, which that men putten under.
And al this dede he for a wonder,
That whanne a man for peine cride,
The Bole of bras, which gapeth wyde, 3320
It scholde seme as thogh it were
A belwinge in a mannes Ere,
And noght the criinge of a man.
Bot he which alle sleihtes can,
The devel, that lith in helle fast,
Him that this caste hath overcast,[1256]
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 204=]
That for a trespas which he dede
He was putt in the same stede,
And was himself the ferste of alle
Which was into that peine falle[1257] 3330
That he for othre men ordeigneth;
Ther was noman which him compleigneth.[1258]
Of tirannie and crualte
Be this ensample a king mai se,
Himself and ek his conseil bothe,
Hou thei ben to mankinde lothe
And to the god abhominable.
Ensamples that ben concordable[1259]
I finde of othre Princes mo,
As thou schalt hiere, of time go.[1260] 3340

The grete tirant Dionys,
Which mannes lif sette of no pris,[1261]
[Sidenote: [DIONYSIUS AND HIS HORSES.]]
Unto his hors fulofte he yaf
The men in stede of corn and chaf,
[Sidenote: Nota hic de Dionisio tiranno, qui mire
crudelitatis seueritate eciam hospites suos ad deuorandum
equis suis tribuit: cui Hercules tandem superueniens victum
impium in impietate sua pari morte conclusit.]
So that the hors of thilke stod
Devoureden the mennes blod;
Til fortune ate laste cam,
That Hercules him overcam,
And he riht in the same wise
Of this tirant tok the juise: 3350
As he til othre men hath do,
The same deth he deide also, (3550*)
That no Pite him hath socoured,
Til he was of hise hors devoured.

[Sidenote: [LICHAON.]]
Of Lichaon also I finde
Hou he ayein the lawe of kinde
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 205=]
[Sidenote: Nota hic de consimili Lichaontis tirannia, qui carnes
hominum hominibus in suo hospicio ad vescendum dedit; cuius
formam condicioni similem Iupiter[1262] coequans ipsum in lupum
transformauit.]
Hise hostes slouh, and into mete
He made her bodies to ben ete
With othre men withinne his hous.
Bot Jupiter the glorious, 3360
Which was commoeved of this thing,
Vengance upon this cruel king
So tok, that he fro mannes forme
Into a wolf him let transforme:
And thus the crualte was kidd,
Which of long time he hadde hidd;
A wolf he was thanne openly,
The whos nature prively
He hadde in his condicion.
And unto this conclusioun, 3370
That tirannie is to despise,
I finde ensample in sondri wise,
And nameliche of hem fulofte,
The whom fortune hath set alofte
Upon the werres forto winne.
Bot hou so that the wrong beginne
Of tirannie, it mai noght laste,
Bot such as thei don ate laste
To othre men, such on hem falleth;
For ayein suche Pite calleth 3380
Vengance to the god above.
For who that hath no tender love
In savinge of a mannes lif,
He schal be founde so gultif,
That whanne he wolde mercy crave
[Sidenote: [NOBLENESS OF THE LION.]]
In time of nede, he schal non have.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 206=]
Of the natures this I finde,[1263]
[Sidenote: Nota qualiter Leo hominibus stratis parcit.]
The fierce Leon in his kinde,
Which goth rampende after his preie,
If he a man finde in his weie, 3390
He wole him slen, if he withstonde.
Bot if the man coude understonde
To falle anon before his face
In signe of mercy and of grace,
The Leon schal of his nature
Restreigne his ire in such mesure,
As thogh it were a beste tamed,[1264]
And torne awey halfvinge aschamed,
That he the man schal nothing grieve.
Hou scholde than a Prince achieve 3400
The worldes grace, if that he wolde
Destruie a man whanne he is yolde (3600*)
And stant upon his mercy al?
Bot forto speke in special,
Ther have be suche and yit ther be
Tirantz, whos hertes no pite
Mai to no point of mercy plie,
That thei upon her tirannie
Ne gladen hem the men to sle;
And as the rages of the See 3410
Ben unpitous in the tempeste,
Riht so mai no Pite areste[1265]
Of crualte the gret oultrage,
Which the tirant in his corage
Engendred hath: wherof I finde
A tale, which comth nou to mynde.
[Sidenote: =P. iii. 207=]