THE KING'S MIRROR 179 



important that those who wish to bear a comely and 

 honorable title in the royal presence should be well in- 

 formed as to what is becoming or unbecoming. For one 

 cannot hope for great honors from a king, if he has at 

 any time disgraced him where many honorable men 

 were assembled and where it seemed very important to 

 maintain the king's honor, which is every where, 3or a 7 

 king must nowhere suffer shame .jHeedlessness and evil j 

 conduct are therefore ill becoming to a man, if they 

 bring him shame and enmity and cause him to lose his 

 honorable name, his good repute, and his fair service, 

 even though life and limb be spared. And he can even 

 bring such deep dishonor upon his king that with many 

 of his kindred he will be made to suffer a well deserved 

 but ignominious death. Such grades there are both in 

 the duties and in the titles at the royal court as you 

 have now heard described. But if it seems to you that 

 V everything has not yet been thoroughly examined, you 

 may inquire further, if you like. 



XXX 



HOW A MAN WHO WISHES TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO 



THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD SERVICE 



SHOULD APPROACH THE KING 



Son. It seems to me that we should not fail to con- 

 tinue this discussion and I shall now direct my remarks 

 and questions toward some theme that may help me to 

 see more clearly how one, who comes to seek honors, 

 should appear in the king's presence and how he must 

 afterwards demean himself in order to attain all those 



