Epe, 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, If 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 Of Lawe, And Forth Thanne Overal So Do Justice In General, 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 What Policie That It Is The Bok Reherceth After This. It Nedeth Noght That I Delate The Pris Which Preised Is Algate, 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. 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 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 Philosphre Affermeth, His Regne In Good Astat Confermeth. Thus Seide Whilom Constantin: "What Emperour That Is Enclin To Pite Forto Be Servant, Of Al The Worldes Remenant 3140 He Is Worthi To Ben A Lord." In Olde Bokes Of Record This Finde I Write Of Essamplaire: Troian The Worthi Debonaire, Be Whom That Rome Stod Governed, Upon A Time As He Was Lerned Of That He Was To Familier, He Seide Unto That Conseiller, 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 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. For Whan A Thing Is Do For Doute, Fulofte It Comth The Worse Aboute; Bot Wher A King Is Pietous, He Is The More Gracious, 3160 That Mochel Thrift Him Schal Betyde, Which Elles Scholde Torne Aside. Of Pite Forto Speke Plein, Which Is With Mercy Wel Besein, Fulofte He Wole Himselve Peine 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 Fortune Hath Set Aboven Alle: For In A King, If So Befalle That His Pite Be Ferme And Stable, To Al The Lond It Is Vailable 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 Codrus, Which Was In His Degre King Of Athenis The Cite, A Werre He Hadde Ayein Dorrence: And Forto Take His Evidence 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 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, 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 It Oghte A Kinges Herte Stere, That He Hise Liege Men Forbere. And Ek Toward Hise Enemis Fulofte He May Deserve Pris, 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. I Rede Hou Whilom That Pompeie, To Whom That Rome Moste Obeie, A Werre Hadde In Jeupartie Ayein The King Of Ermenie, 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, 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 Restoreth Of His Regne Ayein, 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. Ther Mai No King Himself Excuse, Bot If Justice He Kepe And Use, Which For Teschuie Crualte He Mot Attempre With Pite. Of Crualte The Felonie Engendred Is Of Tirannie, 3250 Ayein The Whos Condicion God Is Himself The Champion, 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. Of Crualte I Rede Thus: Whan The Tirant Leoncius Was To Thempire Of Rome Arrived, Fro Which He Hath With Strengthe Prived 3270 The Pietous Justinian, 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, The Hihe God, Ordeigneth So, That He Withinne A Time Also, Whan He Was Strengest In His Ire, 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. In A Cronique I Finde Also Of Siculus, Which Was Ek So A Cruel King Lich The Tempeste, The Whom No Pite Myhte Areste,- 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 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, 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 3330 That He For Othre Men Ordeigneth; Ther Was Noman Which Him Compleigneth. 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 I Finde Of Othre Princes Mo, As Thou Schalt Hiere, Of Time Go. 3340 The Grete Tirant Dionys, Which Mannes Lif Sette Of No Pris, Unto His Hors Fulofte He Yaf The Men In Stede Of Corn And Chaf, 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, That No Pite Him Hath Socoured, Til He Was Of Hise Hors Devoured. Of Lichaon Also I Finde Hou He Ayein The Lawe Of Kinde 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 In Time Of Nede, He Schal Non Have. Of The Natures This I Finde, 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, 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 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 Of Crualte The Gret Oultrage, Which The Tirant In His Corage Engendred Hath: Wherof I Finde A Tale, Which Comth Nou To Mynde. I Rede In Olde Bokes Thus: Ther Was A Duk, Which Spertachus Men Clepe, And Was A Werreiour, A Cruel Man, A Conquerour 3420 With Strong Pouer The Which He Ladde. For This Condicion He Hadde, That Where Him Hapneth The Victoire, His Lust And Al His Moste Gloire Was Forto Sle And Noght To Save: Of Rancoun Wolde He No Good Have For Savinge Of A Mannes Lif, Bot Al Goth To The Swerd And Knyf, So Lief Him Was The Mannes Blod. And Natheles Yit Thus It Stod, 3430 So As Fortune Aboute Wente, He Fell Riht Heir As Be Descente To Perse, And Was Coroned King. And Whan The Worschipe Of This Thing Was Falle, And He Was King Of Perse, If That Thei Weren Ferst Diverse, The Tirannies Whiche He Wroghte, A Thousendfold Welmore He Soghte Thanne Afterward To Do Malice. The God Vengance Ayein The Vice 3440 Hath Schape: For Upon A Tyde, Whan He Was Heihest In His Pride, In His Rancour And In His Hete Ayein The Queene Of Marsagete, Which Thameris That Time Hihte, He Made Werre Al That He Myhte: And Sche, Which Wolde Hir Lond Defende, Hir Oghne Sone Ayein Him Sende, Which The Defence Hath Undertake. Bot He Desconfit Was And Take; 3450 And Whan This King Him Hadde In Honde, He Wol No Mercy Understonde, Bot Dede Him Slen In His Presence. The Tidinge Of This Violence Whan It Cam To The Moder Ere, Sche Sende Anon Ay Wydewhere To Suche Frendes As Sche Hadde, A Gret Pouer Til That Sche Ladde. In Sondri Wise And Tho Sche Caste Hou Sche This King Mai Overcaste; 3460 And Ate Laste Acorded Was, That In The Danger Of A Pass, Thurgh Which This Tirant Scholde Passe, Sche Schop His Pouer To Compasse With Strengthe Of Men Be Such A Weie That He Schal Noght Eschape Aweie. And Whan Sche Hadde Thus Ordeigned, Sche Hath Hir Oghne Bodi Feigned, For Feere As Thogh Sche Wolde Flee Out Of Hir Lond: And Whan That He 3470 Hath Herd Hou That This Ladi Fledde, So Faste After The Chace He Spedde, That He Was Founde Out Of Array. For It Betidde Upon A Day, Into The Pas Whanne He Was Falle, Thembuisschementz Tobrieken Alle And Him Beclipte On Every Side, That Fle Ne Myhte He Noght Aside: So That Ther Weren Dede And Take Tuo Hundred Thousend For His Sake, 3480 That Weren With Him Of His Host. And Thus Was Leid The Grete Bost Of Him And Of His Tirannie: It Halp No Mercy Forto Crie To Him Which Whilom Dede Non; For He Unto The Queene Anon Was Broght, And Whan That Sche Him Sih, This Word Sche Spak And Seide On Hih: "O Man, Which Out Of Mannes Kinde Reson Of Man Hast Left Behinde 3490 And Lived Worse Than A Beste, Whom Pite Myhte Noght Areste, The Mannes Blod To Schede And Spille Thou Haddest Nevere Yit Thi Fille. Bot Nou The Laste Time Is Come, That Thi Malice Is Overcome: As Thou Til Othre Men Hast Do, Nou Schal Be Do To Thee Riht So." Tho Bad This Ladi That Men Scholde A Vessel Bringe, In Which Sche Wolde 3500 Se The Vengance Of His Juise, Which Sche Began Anon Devise; And Tok The Princes Whiche He Ladde, Be Whom His Chief Conseil He Hadde, And Whil Hem Lasteth Eny Breth, Sche Made Hem Blede To The Deth Into The Vessel Wher It Stod: And Whan It Was Fulfild Of Blod, Sche Caste This Tirant Therinne, And Seide Him, "Lo, Thus Myht Thou Wynne 3510 The Lustes Of Thin Appetit. In Blod Was Whilom Thi Delit, Nou Schalt Thou Drinken Al Thi Fille." And Thus Onliche Of Goddes Wille, He Which That Wolde Himselve Strange To Pite, Fond Mercy So Strange, That He Withoute Grace Is Lore. So May It Schewe Wel Therfore That Crualte Hath No Good Ende; Bot Pite, Hou So That It Wende, 3520 Makth That The God Is Merciable, If Ther Be Cause Resonable Why That A King Schal Be Pitous. Bot Elles, If He Be Doubtous To Slen In Cause Of Rihtwisnesse, It Mai Be Said No Pitousnesse, Bot It Is Pusillamite, Which Every Prince Scholde Flee. For If Pite Mesure Excede, Kinghode May Noght Wel Procede 3530 To Do Justice Upon The Riht: For It Belongeth To A Knyht Als Gladly Forto Fihte As Reste, To Sette His Liege Poeple In Reste, Whan That The Werre Upon Hem Falleth; For Thanne He Mote, As It Befalleth, Of His Knyhthode As A Leon Be To The Poeple A Champioun Withouten Eny Pite Feigned. For If Manhode Be Restreigned, 3540 Or Be It Pes Or Be It Werre, Justice Goth Al Out Of Herre, So That Knyhthode Is Set Behinde. Of Aristotles Lore I Finde, A King Schal Make Good Visage, That Noman Knowe Of His Corage Bot Al Honour And Worthinesse: For If A King Schal Upon Gesse Withoute Verrai Cause Drede, He Mai Be Lich To That I Rede; 3550 And Thogh That It Be Lich A Fable, Thensample Is Good And Resonable. As It Be Olde Daies Fell, I Rede Whilom That An Hell Up In The Londes Of Archade A Wonder Dredful Noise Made; For So It Fell That Ilke Day, This Hell On His Childinge Lay, And Whan The Throwes On Him Come, His Noise Lich The Day Of Dome 3560 Was Ferfull In A Mannes Thoght Of Thing Which That Thei Sihe Noght, Bot Wel Thei Herden Al Aboute The Noise, Of Which Thei Were In Doute, As Thei That Wenden To Be Lore Of Thing Which Thanne Was Unbore. The Nerr This Hell Was Upon Chance To Taken His Deliverance, The More Unbuxomliche He Cride; And Every Man Was Fledd Aside, 3570 For Drede And Lefte His Oghne Hous: And Ate Laste It Was A Mous, The Which Was Bore And To Norrice Betake; And Tho Thei Hield Hem Nyce, For Thei Withoute Cause Dradde. Thus If A King His Herte Ladde With Every Thing That He Schal Hiere, Fulofte He Scholde Change His Chiere And Upon Fantasie Drede, Whan That Ther Is No Cause Of Drede. 3580 Orace To His Prince Tolde, That Him Were Levere That He Wolde Upon Knihthode Achillem Suie In Time Of Werre, Thanne Eschuie, So As Tersites Dede At Troie. Achilles Al His Hole Joie Sette Upon Armes Forto Fihte; Tersites Soghte Al That He Myhte Unarmed Forto Stonde In Reste: Bot Of The Tuo It Was The Beste 3590 That Achilles Upon The Nede Hath Do, Wherof His Knyhtlihiede Is Yit Comended Overal. King Salomon In Special Seith, As Ther Is A Time Of Pes, So Is A Time Natheles Of Werre, In Which A Prince Algate Schal For The Comun Riht Debate And For His Oghne Worschipe Eke. Bot It Behoveth Noght To Seke 3600 Only The Werre For Worschipe, Bot To The Riht Of His Lordschipe, Which He Is Holde To Defende, Mote Every Worthi Prince Entende. Betwen The Simplesce Of Pite And The Folhaste Of Crualte, Wher Stant The Verray Hardiesce, Ther Mote A King His Herte Adresce, Whanne It Is Time To Forsake, And Whan Time Is Also To Take 3610 The Dedly Werres Upon Honde, That He Schal For No Drede Wonde, If Rihtwisnesse Be Withal. For God Is Myhty Overal To Forthren Every Mannes Trowthe, Bot It Be Thurgh His Oghne Slowthe; And Namely The Kinges Nede It Mai Noght Faile Forto Spede, For He Stant One For Hem Alle; So Mote It Wel The Betre Falle 3620 And Wel The More God Favoureth, Whan He The Comun Riht Socoureth. And Forto Se The Sothe In Dede, Behold The Bible And Thou Myht Rede Of Grete Ensamples Manyon, Wherof That I Wol Tellen On. Upon A Time As It Befell, Ayein Judee And Irahel Whan Sondri Kinges Come Were In Pourpos To Destruie There 3630 The Poeple Which God Kepte Tho,- And Stod In Thilke Daies So, That Gedeon, Which Scholde Lede The Goddes Folk, Tok Him To Rede, And Sende In Al The Lond Aboute, Til He Assembled Hath A Route With Thritti Thousend Of Defence, To Fihte And Make Resistence Ayein The Whiche Hem Wolde Assaille: And Natheles That O Bataille 3640 Of Thre That Weren Enemys Was Double Mor Than Was Al His; Wherof That Gedeon Him Dradde, That He So Litel Poeple Hadde. Bot He Which Alle Thing Mai Helpe, Wher That Ther Lacketh Mannes Helpe, To Gedeon His Angel Sente, And Bad, Er That He Forther Wente, Al Openly That He Do Crie That Every Man In His Partie 3650 Which Wolde After His Oghne Wille In His Delice Abide Stille At Hom In Eny Maner Wise, For Pourchas Or For Covoitise, For Lust Of Love Or Lacke Of Herte, He Scholde Noght Aboute Sterte, Bot Holde Him Stille At Hom In Pes: Wherof Upon The Morwe He Les Wel Twenty Thousend Men And Mo, The Whiche After The Cri Ben Go. 3660 Thus Was With Him Bot Only Left The Thridde Part, And Yit God Eft His Angel Sende And Seide This To Gedeon: "If It So Is That I Thin Help Schal Undertake, Thou Schalt Yit Lasse Poeple Take, Be Whom Mi Will Is That Thou Spede. Forthi Tomorwe Tak Good Hiede, Unto The Flod Whan Ye Be Come, What Man That Hath The Water Nome 3670 Up In His Hond And Lapeth So, To Thi Part Ches Out Alle Tho; And Him Which Wery Is To Swinke, Upon His Wombe And Lith To Drinke, Forsak And Put Hem Alle Aweie. For I Am Myhti Alle Weie, Wher As Me List Myn Help To Schewe In Goode Men, Thogh Thei Ben Fewe." This Gedeon Awaiteth Wel, Upon The Morwe And Everydel, 3680 As God Him Bad, Riht So He Dede. And Thus Ther Leften In That Stede With Him Thre Hundred And Nomo, The Remenant Was Al Ago: Wherof That Gedeon Merveileth, And Therupon With God Conseileth, Pleignende As Ferforth As He Dar. And God, Which Wolde He Were War That He Schal Spede Upon His Riht, Hath Bede Him Go The Same Nyht 3690 And Take A Man With Him, To Hiere What Schal Be Spoke In His Matere Among The Hethen Enemis; So Mai He Be The More Wys, What Afterward Him Schal Befalle. This Gedeon Amonges Alle Phara, To Whom He Triste Most, Be Nyhte Tok Toward Thilke Host, Which Logged Was In A Valleie, To Hiere What Thei Wolden Seie; 3700 Upon His Fot And As He Ferde, Tuo Sarazins Spekende He Herde. Quod On, "Ared Mi Swevene Ariht, Which I Mette In Mi Slep To Nyht. Me Thoghte I Sih A Barli Cake, Which Fro The Hull His Weie Hath Take, And Cam Rollende Doun At Ones; And As It Were For The Nones, Forth In His Cours So As It Ran, The Kinges Tente Of Madian, 3710 Of Amalech, Of Amoreie, Of Amon And Of Jebuseie, And Many An Other Tente Mo With Gret Noise, As Me Thoghte Tho, It Threw To Grounde And Overcaste, And Al This Host So Sore Agaste That I Awok For Pure Drede." "This Swevene Can I Wel Arede," Quod Thother Sarazin Anon: "The Barli Cake Is Gedeon, 3720 Which Fro The Hell Doun Sodeinly Schal Come And Sette Such Ascry Upon The Kinges And Ous Bothe, That It Schal To Ous Alle Lothe: For In Such Drede He Schal Ous Bringe, That If We Hadden Flyht Of Wynge, The Weie On Fote In Desespeir We Scholden Leve And Flen In Their, For Ther Schal Nothing Him Withstonde." Whan Gedeon Hath Understonde 3730 This Tale, He Thonketh God Of Al, And Priveliche Ayein He Stal, So That No Lif Him Hath Perceived. And Thanne He Hath Fulli Conceived That He Schal Spede; And Therupon The Nyht Suiende He Schop To Gon This Multitude To Assaile. Nou Schalt Thou Hiere A Gret Mervaile, With What Voisdie That He Wroghte. The Litel Poeple Which He Broghte, 3740 Was Non Of Hem That He Ne Hath A Pot Of Erthe, In Which He Tath A Lyht Brennende In A Kressette, And Ech Of Hem Ek A Trompette Bar In His Other Hond Beside; And Thus Upon The Nyhtes Tyde Duk Gedeon, Whan It Was Derk, Ordeineth Him Unto His Werk, And Parteth Thanne His Folk In Thre, And Chargeth Hem That Thei Ne Fle, 3750 And Tawhte Hem Hou They Scholde Ascrie Alle In O Vois Per Compaignie, And What Word Ek Thei Scholden Speke, And Hou Thei Scholde Here Pottes Breke Echon With Other, Whan Thei Herde That He Himselve Ferst So Ferde; For Whan Thei Come Into The Stede, He Bad Hem Do Riht As He Dede. And Thus Stalkende Forth A Pas This Noble Duk, Whan Time Was, 3760 His Pot Tobrak And Loude Ascride, And Tho Thei Breke On Every Side. The Trompe Was Noght Forto Seke; He Blew, And So Thei Blewen Eke With Such A Noise Among Hem Alle, As Thogh The Hevene Scholde Falle. The Hull Unto Here Vois Ansuerde, This Host In The Valleie It Herde, And Sih Hou That The Hell Alyhte; So What Of Hieringe And Of Sihte, 3770 Thei Cawhten Such A Sodein Feere, That Non Of Hem Belefte There: The Tentes Hole Thei Forsoke, That Thei Non Other Good Ne Toke, Bot Only With Here Bodi Bare Thei Fledde, As Doth The Wylde Hare. And Evere Upon The Hull Thei Blewe, Til That Thei Sihe Time, And Knewe That Thei Be Fled Upon The Rage; And Whan Thei Wiste Here Avantage, 3780 Thei Felle Anon Unto The Chace. Thus Myht Thou Sen Hou Goddes Grace Unto The Goode Men Availeth; But Elles Ofte Time It Faileth To Suche As Be Noght Wel Disposed. This Tale Nedeth Noght Be Glosed, For It Is Openliche Schewed That God To Hem That Ben Wel Thewed Hath Yove And Granted The Victoire: So That Thensample Of This Histoire 3790 Is Good For Every King To Holde; Ferst In Himself That He Beholde If He Be Good Of His Livinge, And That The Folk Which He Schal Bringe Be Good Also, For Thanne He May Be Glad Of Many A Merie Day, In What As Evere He Hath To Done. For He Which Sit Above The Mone And Alle Thing Mai Spille And Spede, In Every Cause, In Every Nede 3800 His Goode King So Wel Adresceth, That Alle His Fomen He Represseth, So That Ther Mai Noman Him Dere; And Als So Wel He Can Forbere, And Soffre A Wickid King To Falle In Hondes Of His Fomen Alle. Nou Forthermore If I Schal Sein Of My Matiere, And Torne Ayein To Speke Of Justice And Pite After The Reule Of Realte, 3810 This Mai A King Wel Understonde, Knihthode Mot Ben Take On Honde, Whan That It Stant Upon The Nede: He Schal No Rihtful Cause Drede, Nomore Of Werre Thanne Of Pes, If He Wol Stonde Blameles; For Such A Cause A King Mai Have That Betre Him Is To Sle Than Save, Wherof Thou Myht Ensample Finde. The Hihe Makere Of Mankinde 3820 Be Samuel To Sa L Bad, That He Schal Nothing Ben Adrad Ayein King Agag Forto Fihte; For This The Godhede Him Behihte, That Agag Schal Ben Overcome: And Whan It Is So Ferforth Come, That Sa L Hath Him Desconfit, The God Bad Make No Respit, That He Ne Scholde Him Slen Anon. Bot Sa L Let It Overgon 3830 And Dede Noght The Goddes Heste: For Agag Made Gret Beheste Of Rancoun Which He Wolde Yive, King Sa L Soffreth Him To Live And Feigneth Pite Forth Withal. Bot He Which Seth And Knoweth Al, The Hihe God, Of That He Feigneth To Samuel Upon Him Pleigneth, And Sende Him Word, For That He Lefte Of Agag That He Ne Berefte 3840 The Lif, He Schal Noght Only Dye Himself, Bot Fro His Regalie He Schal Be Put For Everemo, Noght He, Bot Ek His Heir Also, That It Schal Nevere Come Ayein. Thus Myht Thou Se The Sothe Plein, That Of Tomoche And Of Tolyte Upon The Princes Stant The Wyte. Bot Evere It Was A Kinges Riht To Do The Dedes Of A Knyht; 3850 For In The Handes Of A King The Deth And Lif Is Al O Thing After The Lawes Of Justice. To Slen It Is A Dedly Vice, Bot If A Man The Deth Deserve; And If A King The Lif Preserve Of Him Which Oghte Forto Dye, He Suieth Noght Thensamplerie Which In The Bible Is Evident: Hou David In His Testament, 3860 Whan He No Lengere Myhte Live, Unto His Sone In Charge Hath Yive That He Joab Schal Slen Algate; And Whan David Was Gon His Gate, The Yonge Wise Salomon His Fader Heste Dede Anon, And Slouh Joab In Such A Wise, That Thei That Herden The Juise Evere After Dradden Him The More, And God Was Ek Wel Paid Therfore, 3870 That He So Wolde His Herte Plye The Lawes Forto Justefie. And Yit He Kepte Forth Withal Pite, So As A Prince Schal, That He No Tirannie Wroghte; He Fond The Wisdom Which He Soghte, And Was So Rihtful Natheles, That Al His Lif He Stod In Pes, That He No Dedly Werres Hadde, For Every Man His Wisdom Dradde. 3880 And As He Was Himselve Wys, Riht So The Worthi Men Of Pris He Hath Of His Conseil Withholde; For That Is Every Prince Holde, To Make Of Suche His Retenue Whiche Wise Ben, And To Remue The Foles: For Ther Is Nothing Which Mai Be Betre Aboute A King, Than Conseil, Which Is The Substance Of All A Kinges Governance. 3890 In Salomon A Man Mai See What Thing Of Most Necessite Unto A Worthi King Belongeth. Whan He His Kingdom Underfongeth, God Bad Him Chese What He Wolde, And Seide Him That He Have Scholde What He Wolde Axe, As Of O Thing. And He, Which Was A Newe King, Forth Therupon His Bone Preide To God, And In This Wise He Seide: 3900 "O King, Be Whom That I Schal Regne, Yif Me Wisdom, That I My Regne, Forth With Thi Poeple Which I Have, To Thin Honour Mai Kepe And Save." Whan Salomon His Bone Hath Taxed, The God Of That Which He Hath Axed Was Riht Wel Paid, And Granteth Sone Noght Al Only That He His Bone Schal Have Of That, Bot Of Richesse, Of Hele, Of Pes, Of Hih Noblesse, 3910 Forth With Wisdom At His Axinges, Which Stant Above Alle Othre Thinges. Bot What King Wole His Regne Save, Ferst Him Behoveth Forto Have After The God And His Believe Such Conseil Which Is To Believe, Fulfild Of Trouthe And Rihtwisnesse: Bot Above Alle In His Noblesse Betwen The Reddour And Pite A King Schal Do Such Equite 3920 And Sette The Balance In Evene, So That The Hihe God In Hevene And Al The Poeple Of His Nobleie Loange Unto His Name Seie. For Most Above All Erthli Good, Wher That A King Himself Is Good It Helpeth, For In Other Weie If So Be That A King Forsueie, Fulofte Er This It Hath Be Sein, The Comun Poeple Is Overlein 3930 And Hath The Kinges Senne Aboght, Al Thogh The Poeple Agulte Noght. Of That The King His God Misserveth, The Poeple Takth That He Descerveth Hier In This World, Bot Elleswhere I Not Hou It Schal Stonde There. Forthi Good Is A King To Triste Ferst To Himself, As He Ne Wiste Non Other Help Bot God Alone; So Schal The Reule Of His Persone 3940 Withinne Himself Thurgh Providence Ben Of The Betre Conscience. And Forto Finde Ensample Of This, A Tale I Rede, And Soth It Is. In A Cronique It Telleth Thus: The King Of Rome Lucius Withinne His Chambre Upon A Nyht The Steward Of His Hous, A Knyht, Forth With His Chamberlein Also, To Conseil Hadde Bothe Tuo, 3950 And Stoden Be The Chiminee Togedre Spekende Alle Thre. And Happeth That The Kinges Fol Sat Be The Fyr Upon A Stol, As He That With His Babil Pleide, Bot Yit He Herde Al That Thei Seide, And Therof Token Thei Non Hiede. The King Hem Axeth What To Rede Of Such Matiere As Cam To Mouthe, And Thei Him Tolden As Thei Couthe. 3960 Whan Al Was Spoke Of That Thei Mente, The King With Al His Hole Entente Thanne Ate Laste Hem Axeth This, What King Men Tellen That He Is: Among The Folk Touchende His Name, Or Be It Pris, Or Be It Blame, Riht After That Thei Herden Sein, He Bad Hem Forto Telle It Plein, That Thei No Point Of Soth Forbere, Be Thilke Feith That Thei Him Bere. 3970 The Steward Ferst Upon This Thing Yaf His Ansuere Unto The King And Thoghte Glose In This Matiere, And Seide, Als Fer As He Can Hiere, His Name Is Good And Honourable: Thus Was The Stieward Favorable, That He The Trouthe Plein Ne Tolde. The King Thanne Axeth, As He Scholde, The Chamberlein Of His Avis. And He, That Was Soubtil And Wys, 3980 And Somdiel Thoghte Upon His Feith, Him Tolde Hou Al The Poeple Seith That If His Conseil Were Trewe, Thei Wiste Thanne Wel And Knewe That Of Himself He Scholde Be A Worthi King In His Degre: And Thus The Conseil He Accuseth In Partie, And The King Excuseth. The Fol, Which Herde Of Al The Cas That Time, As Goddes Wille Was, 3990 Sih That Thei Seiden Noght Ynowh, And Hem To Skorne Bothe Lowh, And To The King He Seide Tho: "Sire King, If That It Were So, Of Wisdom In Thin Oghne Mod That Thou Thiselven Were Good, Thi Conseil Scholde Noght Be Badde." The King Therof Merveille Hadde, Whan That A Fol So Wisly Spak, And Of Himself Fond Out The Lack 4000 Withinne His Oghne Conscience: And Thus The Foles Evidence, Which Was Of Goddes Grace Enspired, Makth That Good Conseil Was Desired. He Putte Awey The Vicious And Tok To Him The Vertuous; The Wrongful Lawes Ben Amended, The Londes Good Is Wel Despended, The Poeple Was Nomore Oppressed, And Thus Stod Every Thing Redressed. 4010 For Where A King Is Propre Wys, And Hath Suche As Himselven Is Of His Conseil, It Mai Noght Faile That Every Thing Ne Schal Availe: The Vices Thanne Gon Aweie, And Every Vertu Holt His Weie; Wherof The Hihe God Is Plesed, And Al The Londes Folk Is Esed. For If The Comun Poeple Crie, And Thanne A King List Noght To Plie 4020 To Hiere What The Clamour Wolde, And Otherwise Thanne He Scholde Desdeigneth Forto Don Hem Grace, It Hath Be Sen In Many Place, Ther Hath Befalle Gret Contraire; And That I Finde Of Ensamplaire. After The Deth Of Salomon, Whan Thilke Wise King Was Gon, And Roboas In His Persone Receive Scholde The Corone, 4030 The Poeple Upon A Parlement Avised Were Of On Assent, And Alle Unto The King Thei Preiden, With Comun Vois And Thus Thei Seiden: "Oure Liege Lord, We Thee Beseche That Thou Receive Oure Humble Speche And Grante Ous That Which Reson Wile, Or Of Thi Grace Or Of Thi Skile. Thi Fader, Whil He Was Alyve And Myhte Bothe Grante And Pryve, 4040 Upon The Werkes Whiche He Hadde The Comun Poeple Streite Ladde: Whan He The Temple Made Newe, Thing Which Men Nevere Afore Knewe He Broghte Up Thanne Of His Taillage, And Al Was Under The Visage Of Werkes Whiche He Made Tho. Bot Nou It Is Befalle So, That Al Is Mad, Riht As He Seide, And He Was Riche Whan He Deide; 4050 So That It Is No Maner Nede, If Thou Therof Wolt Taken Hiede, To Pilen Of The Poeple More, Which Long Time Hath Be Grieved Sore. And In This Wise As We Thee Seie, With Tendre Herte We Thee Preie That Thou Relesse Thilke Dette, Which Upon Ous Thi Fader Sette. And If Thee Like To Don So, We Ben Thi Men For Everemo, 4060 To Gon And Comen At Thin Heste." The King, Which Herde This Requeste, Seith That He Wole Ben Avised, And Hath Therof A Time Assised; And In The While As He Him Thoghte Upon This Thing, Conseil He Soghte. And Ferst The Wise Knyhtes Olde, To Whom That He His Tale Tolde, Conseilen Him In This Manere; That He With Love And With Glad Chiere 4070 Foryive And Grante Al That Is Axed Of That His Fader Hadde Taxed; For So He Mai His Regne Achieve With Thing Which Schal Him Litel Grieve. The King Hem Herde And Overpasseth, And With These Othre His Wit Compasseth, That Yonge Were And Nothing Wise. And Thei These Olde Men Despise, And Seiden: "Sire, It Schal Be Schame For Evere Unto Thi Worthi Name, 4080 If Thou Ne Kepe Noght The Riht, Whil Thou Art In Thi Yonge Myht, Which That Thin Olde Fader Gat. Bot Seie Unto The Poeple Plat, That Whil Thou Livest In Thi Lond, The Leste Finger Of Thin Hond It Schal Be Strengere Overal Than Was Thi Fadres Bodi Al. And This Also Schal Be Thi Tale, If He Hem Smot Wit