The
preceptes
of
Agapetus
to
the
emperour
Iustinian
.
COnsyderynge
o
myghty
Emperour
thou
hast
the
highest
and
honorableste
dignite
of
all
dignites
:
thou
shuldest
honour
&
worshyp
him
aboue
all
other
/
whiche
hath
reputed
the
worthy
of
suche
honour
.
For
why
/
god
in
likenes
of
his
celestiall
empere
/
hath
delyuered
to
the
/
the
sceptre
and
gouernaunce
of
this
worlde
/
to
instructe
and
teache
thy
subiectes
to
kepe
iustice
/
and
to
punyshe
them
/
whiche
persuade
the
contrary
/
folowynge
and
obeyenge
his
lawes
and
his
preceptis
/
and
orderynge
thy
subiectes
as
right
and
equite
requirethe
.
ii
.
As
the
gouernour
of
a
shyppe
in
tempest
doth
watche
diligently
bothe
for
his
owne
sauegarde
and
his
:
so
an
emperour
muste
kepe
suche
diligent
watche
/
that
equite
and
iustice
be
in
surete
:
and
so
strongely
repelle
the
vehement
wawes
of
iniquite
/
that
the
●●ot
of
his
worldly
commonwelth
be
nat
frushed
and
broken
with
the
wawes
of
wickednes
.
iii.
Therfore
we
mortal
men
specially
are
taught
and
instructed
with
holy
scripture
/
to
knowe
our selfe
.
For
who
that
knoweth
hym selfe
/
shall
knowe
god
:
and
he
that
knoweth
god
/
shall
be
likened
to
god
:
truly
he
shal
be
likened
to
god
/
that
is
goddis
seruant
:
he
is
goddis
seruant
/
that
doth
nothyng
contrary
to
goddis
commandement
/
but
that
he
thynketh
be
ꝑteynynge
to
god
:
he
speketh
as
he
thynketh
/
and
dothe
as
he
speketh
:
whiche
thynge
no
man
may
do
effectually
/
with
out
perpetuall
contynuance
in
goodnes
.
iiii
.
No
man
shulde
glorifie
or
delite
in
the
nobilite
of
his
kyndrede
.
For
why
/
both
riche
and
poure
be
ingendred
of
erthe
.
Therfore
no
man
ought
to
exalte
and
prayse
his
vile
&
erthly
kyndrede
/
but
onely
glorifie
and
reioyce
in
good
and
godly
maners
.
v.
O
man
loke
and
knowe
thou
/
that
the
higher
thou
art
by
goddis
helpe
in
dignite
:
so
moche
thou
arte
more
in
his
dette
:
therfore
thanke
thy
benefactour
therof
/
whiche
acceptethe
that
is
due
to
him
as
merite
/
and
for
frendshyppe
doth
frendshyppe
:
god
is
always
the
first
that
gyueth
/
and
yet
as
he
were
our
detter
/
he
quiteth
agayn
our
goodnes
to
hym
shewed
.
onely
requirynge
for
his
gentylnes
and
kyndenes
to
vs
/
effectuall
loue
and
thankes
.
vi
.
Truly
ther
is
nothyng
that
maketh
a
man
so
commendable
or
preyse
worthy
/
as
to
do
/
that
he
desyreth
to
do
:
and
to
wyll
and
do
/
that
is
good
and
rightous
.
Consyderynge
than
that
this
power
is
gyuen
the
by
almighty
god
/
of
the
whiche
in
our
be
halfe
thou
haddest
great
nede
:
thou
shalte
wyll
and
do
nothynge
/
but
as
god
(
that
hath
gyuen
the
suche
faculte
and
power
)
wylleth
and
commaundeth
.
For
truely
nothynge
is
more
pleasant
both
to
god
and
man
/
than
to
do
iustice
.
7.
The
vnstedfastnes
of
these
worldly
riches
ensue
and
folowe
the
cours
of
flowyng
waters
/
whiche
ryches
he
shall
possesse
&
enioye
but
a
while
that
thynketh
him
selfe
of
them
most
sure
.
For
shortely
after
/
with
the
fallyng
water
/
they
wyll
leue
hym
and
enriche
some
other
.
Therfore
good
and
mercifull
dedes
be
to
man
most
sure
and
stedfaste
:
for
the
merite
of
them
returneth
euermore
to
the
profite
of
the
good
dede
doers
.
viii
.
Bicause
of
this
high
&
worldly
empere
thou
art
harde
to
be
spoken
with
all
:
and
yet
by
reason
of
suche
power
thou
shuldest
humiliate
thy selfe
:
and
therfore
the
spedilier
admyt
poure
men
to
thy
speche
and
presence
.
Thou
shalte
therfore
the
sooner
(
folowing
goddis
rules
)
listen
to
poure
men
/
that
god
maye
in
thy
necessite
bothe
kyndly
harken
to
the
/
and
also
helpe
the.
For
loke
howe
we
order
other
/
so
of
god
we
shal
be
ordred
.
ix
.
The
pens
;
iful
and
troubled
mynde
of
an
emperour
muste
be
euermore
as
pure
as
the
glas
/
that
so
hit
may
by
diuine
and
godly
lyght
/
continually
glyster
&
shyne
:
and
also
that
he
by
quietnes
of
mynde
may
lerne
distincte
and
true
knowelege
of
thynges
.
For
truely
there
is
nothynge
that
causeth
man
so
wel
to
marke
and
be
holde
what
is
to
be
done
/
as
a
quiete
mynde
and
clere
conscience
.
x.
Lyke
as
the
mariner
/
a
lytell
goynge
out
of
cours
/
hurteth
&
is
noyfull
to
those
that
sayle
with
hym
:
&
as
the
shyppe
by
negligence
of
the
gouernour
peryssheth
and
goeth
to
wracke
:
euen
so
do
the
citees
.
For
if
a
subiecte
do
amys
/
he
hurteth
hym selfe
more
greuously
than
the
welth
publyke
:
but
whan
the
ruler
/
the
gouernour
/
or
prince
mysdoeth
/
he
hurteth
the
holle
communalte
:
Therfore
for
as
moche
as
he
must
gyue
a
strayte
counte
if
he
rule
nat
well
:
hit
were
nedefull
that
he
with
exquysite
diligence
both
speke
&
do
euery
thynge
/
and
so
auoyde
all
danger
.
xi
The
cercle
&
whele
of
these
worldly
thynges
be
often
tymes
turned
/
the
whiche
are
turned
somtime
this
way
somtyme
that
way
.
Truely
in
these
thynges
is
no
equalite
:
for
in
them
is
neither
constance
nor
yet
any
sure
fūdacion
.
Therfore
o
most
mighty
emperour
amonge
these
changeable
mouynges
/
and
vnstedynes
of
thynges
/
loke
that
thou
haue
a
stedfaste
thought
and
mynde
/
with
true
feythe
and
pitie
.
xii
.
Thou
shalt
flie
and
withstande
the
entycyng
communicacion
of
flatterers
/
as
thou
woldeste
eschewe
a
sort
of
rauening
crowes
.
For
crowes
pecke
out
the
corporal
eies
:
but
flatterers
blinde
the
vnderstandynge
of
mans
soule
/
whan
they
wyll
nat
suffre
hym
to
perceyue
the
trouthe
of
thynges
:
for
either
they
preyse
thynges
that
are
worthy
to
be
dispreised
/
or
els
dispreise
thinges
most
worthy
to
be
preysed
:
so
that
one
of
these
two
must
nedes
folowe
/
that
is
/
either
the
commendacion
and
laude
of
yll
and
wicked
caytyues
/
orels
the
contempt
and
dispreyse
of
good
men
.
xii
.
An
emperours
mynde
must
alway
be
constant
.
For
why
/
to
change
with
euery
waueryng
and
vnstedfast
thinge
/
is
a
token
of
an
inconstaunt
minde
.
Therfore
thou
shuldest
cleue
and
affixe
thy selfe
to
good
and
vertuous
men
/
whiche
shall
stablishe
&
make
stedfaste
thy
kyngdome
&
empere
.
Nor
thou
shuldest
nat
proudly
eleuate
thy selfe
/
nor
yet
without
reson
to
moche
submytte
thy selfe
:
but
prudently
after
the
vse
and
custome
of
wise
men
/
surely
to
grounde
the
inconstance
.
For
who
so
euer
grondely
thynkethe
vpon
the
disceitfulnes
of
this
lyfe
:
and
wyll
also
beholde
the
vilenes
and
shortnes
therof
:
consyderynge
farthermore
the
bodily
fylthines
/
he
wyll
neuer
waxe
proude
/
be
he
in
neuer
so
high
a
dignite
.
xiiii
.
Aboue
all
other
precious
ornamentis
that
any
kyngdome
hath
/
the
crowne
of
pite
and
of
diuyne
seruice
dothe
most
hight
and
ornate
a
kyngis
and
an
emperours
maieste
.
For
why
/
erthely
richesse
/
fauour
of
the
communalte
/
laude
&
preyse
do
soone
vanishe
away
/
but
the
glorie
of
good
and
vertuous
life
/
is
immortall
/
and
shall
neuer
be
forgotte
.
xv
.
Me
thynketh
hit
moche
vnconuenient
/
that
the
poore
man
and
the
riche
shulde
suffre
like
harme
by
contrarye
and
dyuers
causes
:
the
riche
by
abundance
and
great
welfare
are
corrupted
:
the
poure
perishe
through
famyne
and
scarsite
.
Farther
more
the
riche
possesseth
al
the
worlde
/
the
poure
man
hath
nat
where
he
maye
set
his
foote
.
Therfore
/
to
the
entent
that
they
bothe
may
be
holpe
/
they
must
be
ruled
by
deduction
/
that
is
/
the
riche
muste
gyue
to
the
poure
:
&
so
the
inequalite
shall
be
brought
to
equalite
.
xvi
.
The
tyme
and
season
of
prosperous
life
/
whiche
certeyne
olde
prophettis
dyd
pronosticate
shulde
come
/
whan
wyse
men
shulde
gouerne
and
rule
/
or
kynges
waxe
philosophers
/
is
nowe
manifested
and
opened
:
for
truely
you
gyuynge
nowe
and
appliyng
your selfe
to
philosophie
&
wysedome
/
are
estemed
worthy
to
be
rulers
:
but
specially
whan
in
your
auctorite
and
gouerning
/
ye
decline
nat
from
reason
&
wysedome
.
For
if
to
loue
wisedome
maketh
the
philosopher
/
and
the
begynnyng
of
wisedome
is
the
fere
of
god
/
whiche
ye
must
euer
more
remember
:
who
can
say
/
but
my
writing
is
true
/
&
as
clere
as
true
?
xvii
.
For
certeyne
we
affirme
the
to
be
an
emperour
/
seinge
thou
wylt
ouercome
&
subdue
thy
voluptuous
pleasures
.
and
than
thou
arte
crowned
with
the
●●●deme
of
Chastite
/
&
than
thou
shewest
thy selfe
arayed
with
the
●urpul
robe
of
Iustice
.
As
for
al
other
thinges
vanishe
away
:
these
vertues
be
immortall
:
al
other
pleasures
and
worldly
dignites
peryshe
:
but
as
these
vertues
be
fer
from
al
perell
/
so
they
be
euerlastyng
.
xviii
.
If
thou
wylt
be
beloued
&
honored
of
all
men
/
loke
thou
helpe
all
men
.
For
certeynly
ther
is
nothyng
that
causeth
a
man
to
be
beloued
and
honored
so
soone
/
as
to
helpe
and
succour
poure
men
:
for
the
capping
&
knelyng
that
is
done
for
feare
/
is
fucate
&
figured
flattery
of
feyned
honour
.
xix
.
Thy
empere
by
all
right
&
reason
is
therfore
the
more
worthy
to
be
honored
and
preysed
/
that
it
feareth
and
kepeth
his
ennemies
vnder
:
and
shewing
to
his
subiectis
al
kyndnes
kepeth
them
in
good
prosperite
.
Therfore
as
it
ouercometh
his
ēnmies
by
strengthe
of
armes
/
so
his
subiectes
by
charite
and
good
loue
surmount
&
ouercome
his
gentylnes
&
goodnes
:
truly
betwene
these
.ii.
kyndes
of
humanite
&
loue
is
no
more
difference
/
than
is
betwene
the
tame
shepe
and
other
wylde
beastis
.
xx
.
Though
an
emperour
in
body
be
like
all
other
/
yet
in
power
he
is
lyke
god
/
&
maister
of
al
men
.
For
in
erthe
he
hath
no
pere
.
Therfore
as
god
be
thou
neuer
chafed
or
angry
/
as
man
be
thou
neuer
proude
.
For
though
thou
be
like
god
in
face
/
yet
for
al
that
thou
art
but
erthe
:
whiche
thing
techeth
the
to
be
egall
to
euery
man
.
xxi
.
Accept
and
fauour
them
the
gyue
the
good
counsaile
/
but
nat
those
that
flatter
the
:
good
counseilers
consyder
what
ought
to
be
done
:
flatterers
consyder
what
may
please
men
of
might
:
whiche
flatterers
are
like
mens
shadowes
:
for
they
gaynesay
nothyng
/
but
alowe
&
preise
what
euer
is
said
.
xxii
.
Be
so
to
thyne
/
as
thou
woldest
that
god
shulde
be
to
the.
For
as
we
here
other
/
so
we
shall
be
harde
/
&
as
we
fauour
other
/
so
god
wyll
fauour
vs
.
Therfore
let
vs
fyrst
shewe
mercy
and
be
mercifull
/
that
in
lyke
maner
we
may
opteyne
mercy
.
xxiii
.
As
a
fayre
glasse
expresseth
the
very
true
fisnomy
of
man
/
that
is
of
goodly
&
beutifull
persons
theyr
beutifulnes
:
and
of
yll
fauored
theyr
yl
fauour
:
so
the
rightousnes
&
equite
of
god
is
likened
to
our
dedes
.
For
after
our
dedes
/
god
wyll
rewarde
vs
.
xxiiii
.
Do
that
y●e
entende
coldly
/
but
yet
do
hit
spedily
that
ye
purpose
to
do
.
For
folishe
hastynes
in
euery
thinge
is
very
perillous
.
Truly
who
that
marketh
diligentely
/
what
mischiefe
ryseth
of
hastynes
/
shal
soone
perceyue
&
like
wise
vnderstande
the
commodite
of
good
counseile
/
as
sicke
folke
aft
theyr
sickenes
vnderstande
the
pleasure
of
helthe
.
Therfore
most
prudent
prince
with
sage
counseile
and
deuoute
prayers
made
to
god
/
loke
thou
diligently
serche
and
inquere
what
shal
be
profitable
for
the
/
to
rule
and
gouerne
this
worlde
.
xxv
.
Thou
shalt
best
gouerne
thy
noble
empere
/
if
thou
ouerse
al
thinges
thy selfe
/
&
suffre
nothing
negligently
to
passe
.
Nor
it
is
nat
a
small
thinge
in
the
/
that
in
comparison
of
thy
subiectes
appereth
to
be
smalle
.
For
the
leest
worde
of
an
emperour
/
is
among
all
folkes
right
highly
estemed
/
and
of
great
auctorite
.
xxvi
.
Bicause
ther
is
no
erthly
man
that
can
constraine
the
to
obserue
and
kepe
thy
lawes
/
enforce
thy selfe
to
vse
&
kepe
them
.
For
if
thou
diligently
obserue
them
/
thou
shalt
manifestly
shewe
/
that
the
lawe
is
worthy
to
be
obserued
/
and
the
breker
of
hit
/
worthy
to
be
punyshed
.
xxvii
.
It
is
one
thinge
to
syn
/
&
nat
to
chastise
synners
.
For
who
so
euer
dwelleth
in
a
cite
/
&
ther
in
suffreth
wicked
liuers
/
before
god
he
is
an
yl
lyuer
.
Therfore
if
thou
wylt
be
estemed
to
be
indifferent
/
honor
them
that
do
well
/
&
punyshe
them
that
do
yll
.
xxviii
.
I
thynke
hit
very
expedient
to
eschewe
yl
company
.
For
who
that
is
conuersant
with
yll
lyuers
/
shall
eyther
suffre
harme
/
or
lerne
some
yll
.
But
he
that
leadeth
his
lyfe
amonge
good
&
honest
company
/
eyther
he
shal
lerne
to
folowe
honestie
/
orels
to
diminishe
his
fautes
and
vices
.
xxix
.
Sith
it
is
so
that
god
hath
gyuen
to
the
rule
of
al
the
worlde
/
loke
thou
vse
no
yl
officers
.
For
he
that
promoteth
them
shal
answere
for
theyr
offences
.
Therfore
great
offices
must
be
deligently
gyuen
/
&
wel
&
wisely
bestowed
.
30.
I
esteme
these
two
thinges
to
be
lyke
yll
/
to
be
chafed
with
the
leude
deling
of
our
ennemie
/
or
to
be
mollified
with
the
plesant
swete
wordis
of
our
frendes
.
For
we
ought
to
resist
&
with
stande
them
bothe
/
that
is
/
neuer
to
decline
from
comelines
/
nother
in
reuengyng
the
vnresonable
yll
wyll
of
our
foos
/
nor
in
rewarding
the
feyned
beniuolence
of
our
frende
and
louer
.
31.
Esteme
nat
those
thy
feythful
frendes
/
that
wyl
preyse
al
thinges
that
thou
spekest
:
but
those
/
whiche
with
out
any
feyning
/
do
all
that
they
can
for
the
:
and
be
glad
&
reioyce
/
whan
thou
sayest
or
dost
any
thynge
well
/
&
agayne
be
sory
&
heuy
/
if
thou
do
or
say
yll
.
For
certayne
these
betokens
of
frendship
aborryng
all
fraude
.
32.
Let
nat
the
greatnes
&
might
of
this
thy
erthly
empere
change
thy
noble
mynde
/
but
ruling
thy
frayle
empere
/
and
subiect
to
diuers
fortunes
/
haue
amonge
these
mutable
thinges
a
stedfast
and
immutable
mynde
/
nat
lyfting
vp
thy selfe
by
to
moche
ioy
/
nor
yet
hurtyng
thy selfe
by
to
moche
heuynes
&
sorowe
.
For
lyke
as
golde
though
it
by
crafte
&
wytte
of
man
be
turned
nowe
thus
nowe
other
wise
/
&
wrought
in
diuers
fashions
of
ornamentes
:
yet
hit
remayneth
golde
styl
nor
wyl
nat
be
changed
from
his
nature
:
so
thy selfe
most
noble
emperour
/
though
from
grice
to
grice
haste
borne
one
office
after
an
other
/
&
arte
come
to
the
most
highest
honor
/
yet
thou
remaynest
the
same
thinge
thou
were
.
Kepe
thou
therfore
amonge
these
diuersites
of
thinges
an
inalterable
and
a
constant
mynde
/
the
whiche
from
this
worldly
empere
/
shal
bringe
the
to
perpetuall
blys
&
ioye
euerlastinge
.
33.
If
thou
wylt
haue
the
dominion
of
thy
empere
commended
/
deme
thyne
owne
offences
as
worthy
punysshement
as
the
defautes
of
thy
subiectis
.
For
in
this
worlde
no
man
/
but
only
thyn
owne
conscience
can
punishe
the.
34.
He
that
opteyneth
high
power
and
dignite
shulde
ensue
&
folowe
as
nere
as
he
may
/
the
gyuer
therof
.
For
if
th
emperour
represent
god
/
lorde
of
al
thinge
/
and
by
his
liberalite
hath
the
gouernance
of
euery
thinge
:
he
than
(
but
namely
in
this
poynt
)
shall
folow
hym
/
&
esteme
no
erthly
thyng
so
precious
/
or
so
moche
of
man
to
be
desired
/
as
to
be
mylde
&
mercifull
.
35.
Aboue
golde
and
precious
stone
we
shuld
lay
vp
as
treasure
the
riches
of
well
doing
.
For
they
in
this
present
lyfe
/
through
hope
of
the
fruicion
to
come
wyll
delite
vs
:
and
in
the
lyfe
to
come
/
by
experience
and
tast
of
euerlasting
ioy
/
they
shal
be
to
vs
swete
&
pleasant
.
These
worldly
thinges
/
the
seme
to
vs
pleasant
/
shuld
be
eschewed
and
vtterly
auoyded
/
as
vnmete
/
and
nothing
ꝑteyninge
to
vs
/
that
they
by
enticement
disceyue
vs
nat
.
36.
Loke
thou
quite
them
with
gay
rewardes
/
whiche
with
good
wyl
do
thy
commandementes
.
For
by
the
meane
thou
shalt
encreace
the
corage
of
good
men
/
and
teache
the
yldoers
to
lament
theyr
offences
.
For
it
were
to
moche
vniuste
deling
to
reward
alike
aswel
them
the
deserued
nat
as
deserued
it
.
37.
Than
truly
the
empere
excedeth
all
other
thinges
/
whan
the
ruler
therof
enclyneth
nat
to
vndiscrete
cruelnes
/
but
to
amiable
equite
&
iustice
/
fleynge
beastly
cruelnes
/
and
ensuyng
godly
kyndnes
.
38.
Aswel
thou
shalt
iuge
rightfully
thy
ennemy
as
thy
frende
/
nat
fauoryng
thy
frende
for
frendshyp
/
nor
hurtyng
thy
ennemy
for
hatred
.
For
it
is
a
like
inconuenience
and
offence
/
to
helpe
thy
frende
desiryng
that
is
agaynst
eqte
/
as
it
is
to
hurte
thy
ennemy
demaunding
iustice
:
the
misdede
in
both
cases
is
like
/
though
the
persones
be
dyuers
.
39.
Iuges
must
diligently
harken
to
their
causes
.
For
hit
is
a
very
harde
thinge
breuely
to
perceyue
the
trouthe
/
the
whiche
from
negligent
persons
soone
skapeth
.
But
if
a
rightful
iuge
wyll
leaue
the
feyned
eloquence
of
attourneis
/
and
considering
the
true
entēcion
wyl
flie
the
likelyhod
of
causes
/
he
shal
shortly
perceyue
the
trouth
.
And
farthermore
auoyde
.ii.
diuers
fautes
/
that
is
/
they
shal
neither
do
/
nor
yet
ꝑmit
any
other
to
do
agaynst
honestie
.
xl
.
Though
thou
haue
as
many
vertues
/
as
be
sterris
in
the
firmament
/
yet
thou
shalt
neuer
ouercome
the
goodnes
of
god
.
For
what
so
euer
we
offer
to
god
/
we
offer
to
him
but
his
owne
.
And
as
no
man
can
go
fro
or
before
his
shadowe
in
the
son
/
alway
going
afore
or
nere
folowing
hym
:
so
the
goodnes
of
god
is
insuperable
/
and
can
nat
be
exceded
with
good
warkes
of
any
man
.
xli
.
The
treasure
of
liberalite
is
infinite
.
For
who
that
liberally
spendeth
getteth
/
and
spending
his
goodes
other
gether
them
.
Loke
than
most
liberal
emperour
:
that
thou
mynde
those
thinges
:
and
that
thou
gyue
largely
to
poure
men
.
For
whan
the
tyme
of
rewardes
and
thankes
shall
come
/
than
for
this
thy
liberalite
/
thou
shalt
haue
infinite
thankes
&
great
luker
.
xlii
.
Seing
thou
haste
opteyned
and
gotten
thy
kyngdome
by
god
/
folow
thou
hym
in
all
good
warkes
/
that
men
may
knowe
thy
liberalite
.
For
thou
art
of
the
numbre
of
them
that
may
do
good
/
&
nat
of
poure
men
and
those
that
couet
to
be
holpen
.
For
god
therfore
hath
gyuen
the
so
abundant
riches
to
helpe
&
succour
poure
men
.
xliii
.
An
emperour
is
no
otherwise
ordeyned
to
rule
the
worlde
/
than
mans
eies
to
rule
and
watche
for
the
sauegarde
of
his
body
.
He
is
deputed
of
god
to
ministre
those
thynges
/
that
may
be
profitable
for
man
.
Therfore
an
emperour
ought
to
do
none
otherwise
for
al
men
/
than
he
wolde
do
for
hym selfe
:
that
so
by
his
tuicion
they
may
auoyde
al
dangers
/
and
prospere
in
goodnes
.
xliiii
.
Thynke
thou
the
most
sure
defence
of
thy
prosperite
/
to
hurte
nor
to
iniury
no
man
.
For
he
that
offendeth
no
man
/
suspecteth
no
man
.
If
than
to
iniury
no
man
dothe
cause
good
custody
and
sauegarde
:
then
truely
by
liberalite
thou
shalt
the
soner
opteyne
hit
.
For
as
liberalite
getteth
and
engendreth
defence
:
so
it
conserueth
good
and
honest
loue
.
For
if
we
do
that
is
honest
/
men
wyl
loue
and
kepe
vs
.
xlv
.
Be
thou
(
o
moste
mekest
emperoure
)
to
thy
subiectes
through
thy
excellent
power
/
terrible
:
and
by
thy
liberalite
and
goodnes
be
thou
amiable
.
Nor
thou
shuldest
nat
by
to
moche
fauour
/
set
at
light
and
nothynge
regard
thy
high
power
:
nor
yet
regarding
to
moche
thy
power
/
despise
fauour
.
But
kepyng
a
mean
/
thou
shalt
as
well
shewe
louely
kyndnes
to
thy
subiectes
/
as
by
asperite
&
sharpnes
chastise
to
great
familiarite
.
xlvi
.
Suche
thinges
as
thou
by
worde
dost
prescribe
to
thy
subiectes
/
loke
by
example
of
pure
life
thou
accomplishe
.
For
if
thou
do
reason
/
and
with
reason
doste
lyue
as
thou
sayest
/
euery
man
shall
greatly
commende
the.
xlvii
.
Loue
them
moste
noble
emperour
/
that
mekely
desyre
thy
gyftes
/
more
than
those
/
whiche
diligently
desire
to
gyue
the
gyftes
.
For
these
thou
art
bounde
to
thanke
/
&
also
to
rewarde
them
:
the
other
truly
shal
assine
god
to
thanke
the
/
whiche
reputeth
to
be
gyuen
to
hym
/
&
for
his
loue
/
what
so
euer
is
gyuen
or
done
for
poure
men
.
xlviii
.
The
vertue
of
the
son
is
to
illuluminate
the
worlde
/
th
emperours
vertue
is
to
be
mercyfull
/
&
to
helpe
poure
men
.
Truly
a
meke
&
a
merciful
prince
excedeth
the
brightnes
of
the
son
:
for
the
son
gyueth
place
to
the
night
but
a
good
vertuous
prince
suffreth
no
extorcion
/
but
by
the
light
of
trouthe
and
iustice
/
he
castiseth
iniquite
.
xlix
.
Thy
predecessours
haue
gretly
ornated
theyr
empere
/
but
thou
truly
by
thy
humanite
&
affabilite
/
nat
esteming
thy
ryal
&
mighty
power
/
hast
moche
more
greatly
ornated
it
.
Wherfore
al
they
that
nede
mercy
runne
to
thy
grace
/
whiche
delyuered
from
theyr
pouerte
&
aduersite
/
do
highly
thanke
the.
l.
Loke
how
moche
thou
excellest
al
other
in
power
&
dignite
/
so
moche
the
more
thou
shuldst
endeuer
the
/
by
noble
&
vertuous
dedes
to
excelle
&
shyne
aboue
all
other
.
For
high
power
reqreth
great
honestie
.
God
also
wyl
require
/
thou
helpe
(
after
thy
power
)
nedefull
and
honest
persons
.
Therfore
if
thou
desire
to
be
truly
preysed
/
&
to
be
by
god
/
as
it
were
bi
a
trompeter
declared
a
conqueror
:
ioyne
thou
to
the
crowne
of
thy
inuincible
empere
/
by
helping
the
poure
)
the
crowne
of
euerlasting
ioye
.
li.
Er
thou
commande
that
right
and
equite
ꝑsuadeth
/
loke
thou
wel
vpon
it
.
For
verily
so
thou
shalt
euermore
commande
that
right
is
.
Mans
tonge
is
a
very
slippery
instrument
/
the
whiche
hath
brought
many
one
in
to
gret
perill
&
danger
.
Therfore
if
thou
prefixe
to
the
forsaid
instrument
that
is
goodly
&
honest
/
hit
shall
sounde
only
that
is
pleasant
/
&
right
to
be
executed
&
done
.
lii
.
A
prince
in
al
thinges
must
be
subtile
&
wise
/
but
namely
in
iuginge
of
great
&
weighty
causes
/
seldome
angry
/
and
nat
to
be
angry
without
a
great
cause
.
But
bicause
neuer
to
be
angry
is
nat
laudable
/
an
emperour
to
refrayne
the
furiousnes
of
misdoers
/
and
that
men
may
purge
theyr
fautes
/
shall
measurably
vse
his
anger
.
liii
.
Loke
thou
be
diligent
to
knowe
ꝑfetly
the
maners
&
condicions
of
thy
seruantes
/
&
of
all
those
/
whiche
charite
enforceth
the
to
loue
.
And
also
be
thou
diligent
to
knowe
those
/
whiche
disceitfully
do
flatt
thee
.
For
oft
tymes
disceitful
louers
&
flaterers
do
great
hurt
.
liiii
.
Whan
so
euer
thou
herest
suche
communicacion
or
counsaile
/
the
may
profite
/
do
nat
only
here
hit
/
but
also
folowe
it
.
For
truly
the
emperours
maieste
is
than
ornated
/
whan
he
hym selfe
considereth
/
what
is
necessary
to
be
done
:
and
despiseth
nat
other
mens
profitable
inuecions
&
counsayle
/
and
is
nat
ashamed
to
lerne
/
and
quickely
executeth
that
he
hath
lerned
.
55
As
a
castell
/
whiche
by
reason
of
his
stronge
walles
is
inuincible
/
and
setteth
light
by
his
ennemies
:
so
thy
empere
/
wel
walled
with
liberalite
&
fortified
with
deuoute
prayer
/
is
inuincible
/
and
by
goddis
helpe
shal
triumphe
of
his
aduersares
&
ennemes
.
lvi
.
Vse
so
this
inferior
kyngdome
/
that
it
may
be
to
the
a
way
to
the
kyngdome
of
heuen
.
For
who
so
euer
gouerneth
well
this
erthly
kingdome
/
is
estemed
worthy
to
opteyne
celestial
ioye
and
pleasure
.
He
ruletth
this
worlde
rightfully
/
that
charitably
loueth
his
subiectes
/
and
of
his
subiectes
is
duely
honored
&
dredde
/
and
whan
he
procureth
/
that
none
occasion
of
yll
be
amonge
them
.
lvii
.
Liberalite
&
charitable
dedes
is
a
perpetual
&
incorrupt
garment
.
Therfore
who
so
euer
wyl
raygne
charitably
/
must
ornate
and
clothe
his
soule
with
suche
goodly
vesture
and
apparaile
.
For
who
that
helpeth
the
poure
men
/
shal
opteyne
ioye
euerlastinge
.
lviii
.
Considring
that
god
hath
gyuen
the
/
the
imperial
sceptre
/
loke
thou
endeuer
thy selfe
vtterly
to
please
him
.
And
bicause
he
hath
preferd
the
aboue
al
other
:
thou
must
honor
him
aboue
al
other
.
Truly
god
estemeth
hit
the
most
singularst
benefite
that
thou
canst
do
hym
/
to
defende
his
creatures
as
thy selfe
/
and
liberally
to
helpe
them
as
bounde
therto
.
lix
.
Euery
man
that
desireth
his
helthe
must
call
vpon
god
/
but
specially
the
emperour
/
whiche
laboureth
for
the
welth
of
al
men
.
And
he
defended
by
god
/
shal
as
well
ouercome
his
ennemies
as
defende
his
subiectes
.
lx
.
God
nedeth
nothing
.
An
emperor
hath
onely
nede
of
god
.
Therfore
folow
him
that
hath
no
nede
/
&
shew
mercy
abundantly
to
them
that
aske
it
.
nat
rekening
straitly
thy
expenses
of
house
hold
:
but
rather
helpe
euery
man
that
desireth
to
liue
.
For
it
is
better
to
helpe
the
vnworthi
for
honest
mens
sakis
than
for
the
vice
of
the
vnworthy
to
defraude
the
worthy
of
that
they
deserued
.
lxi
.
As
thou
woldest
haue
forgyuenes
of
thy
synnes
/
so
forgyue
other
that
the
offende
.
God
forgyueth
them
that
forgiue
.
&
where
forgiuenes
is
/
there
is
god
.
lxii
.
A
prince
that
wold
demene
him
fautlesly
/
must
diligently
take
hede
/
that
his
peple
be
virtuous
/
&
that
he
be
ashamed
to
syn
/
&
that
he
giue
no
open
example
to
other
to
do
am●s
/
&
that
he
absteyne
priuatly
lest
he
offend
openly
.
For
if
subiectis
be
ashamed
to
do
amys
/
moche
more
their
ruler
ought
to
be
ashamed
.
lxiii
.
It
is
a
priuat
mans
vice
to
do
yll
&
liue
viciously
/
but
a
prince
to
forget
his
owne
welth
&
honestie
is
moche
more
vicious
.
For
the
abstinence
from
yll
dothe
nat
iustifie
man
/
but
the
doyng
of
honestie
&
goodnes
.
Therfore
no
man
shulde
only
absteyne
from
yll
/
but
also
endeuer
him
to
do
iustice
.
lxiiii
.
Deth
dredeth
neither
kyng
nor
emperor
/
but
egally
deuoureth
euery
man
.
Therfore
before
his
fearefull
comyng
/
let
vs
gether
our
riches
in
heuen
.
For
no
man
can
cary
worldly
ryches
thither
/
but
all
left
in
ertthe
/
he
shal
ther
naked
giue
acompt
of
his
life
lxv
.
As
an
emperor
is
lorde
of
al
men
/
so
with
all
other
he
is
goddis
seruant
.
And
shall
than
be
called
a
lorde
/
whan
he
by
vtue
of
chastite
ouercometh
his
sensual
lustis
/
&
with
an
inuincible
mynde
despiseth
the
transitory
pleasures
&
ioyes
of
this
worlde
.
lxviii
.
As
mans
shadow
foloweth
the
body
/
so
syn
foloweth
the
soule
:
whiche
soule
ones
seperated
from
the
mortal
body
/
shal
giue
arekening
to
god
of
his
good
&
yl
dedes
.
Nor
than
is
no
tyme
to
deny
any
thyng
.
For
euery
mans
dede
shal
beare
witnes
/
nat
bi
worde
but
representinge
&
openinge
euery
mans
dede
/
as
he
dyd
hit
.
lxix
.
As
a
shyp
hauing
winde
at
wyl
bringeth
the
passagers
oft
times
into
the
hauen
soner
than
they
wold
a
thought
so
the
swift
time
of
this
mortal
life
passeth
away
/
&
we
aproche
to
our
ende
:
Therfore
let
vs
leue
to
loue
worldly
thinges
/
whiche
this
world
estemeth
so
moche
/
&
let
vs
studi
how
to
get
to
the
port
of
heuen
/
where
is
no
wayling
/
but
eternal
ioye
and
pleasure
.
lxx
.
No
man
bi
reason
of
his
dignite
shuld
be
haute
&
proude
/
but
considering
the
substance
of
the
fleshe
/
shulde
represse
the
swelling
pride
of
hart
.
For
though
he
be
made
a
prince
in
erthe
/
yet
he
must
mynde
/
he
was
engendred
of
erthe
:
&
that
from
erthe
he
asended
to
the
seate
royal
/
&
from
the
seate
roial
he
shal
agayne
descende
to
vilem
erth
&
ashes
.
lxxi
.
Be
neuer
careles
prince
most
excellent
.
&
as
they
that
go
vp
a
ladder
stint
nat
til
they
come
to
the
highest
ronge
or
grice
:
so
thou
desiring
to
haue
vtu
/
shuldest
neuer
cesse
tyl
thou
come
to
the
kingdome
of
heuen
.
Whiche
thing
Christe
/
the
keper
and
encrecer
of
all
thing
(
whose
name
men
shall
glorifie
&
preise
etnally
)
grant
the
&
the
empresse
thy
wife
.