74 THE KING'S MIRROR 



and worthy men, who, being present, had heard my 

 questions and his wise and truthful answers, requested 

 me to note down all our conversations and set them in 

 a book, so that our discussions should not perish as soon 

 as we ceased speaking, but prove useful and enjoyable 

 to many who could derive no pastime from us who were 

 present at these conversations. 



So I did as they advised and requested. I searched my 

 memory and pondered deeply upon the speeches and 

 set them all in a book, not only for the amusement or 

 the fleeting pastime of those who may hear them, but 

 for the help which the book will offer in many ways to 

 all who read it with proper attention and observe care- 

 fully everything that it prescribes. It is written in such 

 a way as to furnish information and entertainment, as 

 well as much practical knowledge, if the contents are 

 carefully learned and remembere.d. But whoever has 

 clear and proper insight will realize that, if a book is to 

 develop these subjects fully, it will have to be a much 

 larger work than this one. 



The book has been given a handsome title : it is called 

 Speculum Regale, not because of pride in him who wrote 

 it, but because the title ought to make those who hear 

 it more eager to know the work itself; and for this rea- 

 son, too, that if any one wishes to be informed as to 

 proper conduct, courtesy, or comely and precise forms 

 of speech, he will find and see these therein along with 

 many illustrations and all manner of patterns, as in a 

 bright mirror. And it is called King's Mirror, because in 

 it one may read of the manners of kings as well as of 

 other men._A king, moreover, holds the highest title and 



