186 THE KING'S MIRROR 



before kings. For that custom has since led to greater 

 security against secret treason which could easily be 

 hidden under the cloak, if it were worn. The custom 

 has also promoted fair dealing and concord among men, 

 for in this matter they all enjoy the same rights; and 

 this being the accepted custom, one is not suspected or 

 searched more than others. 



XXXII 



RULES OF SPEECH AND CONVERSATION 

 IN THE KING'S HALL 



Son. Although this custom seemed strange to me be- 

 fore I heard your comment, it now looks as if it were 

 founded on good sense and is not to be dispensed with; 

 and therefore it will be well if you will continue to re- 

 count and point out to me all the forms of speech and 

 conduct which one needs to observe in the presence of 

 kings and other great men. 



Father. Keep carefully in mind, while in the king's 

 presence, that you ought not to engage in conversation 

 with other men and thus fail to pay heed to everything 

 that the king says, lest it happen, if he addresses a re- 

 mark to you, that you have to ask what he said. For it 

 always looks ill for one to be so inattentive that the 

 words spoken to him must be repeated before he can 

 hear; and it looks particularly bad in the presence of 

 important men. Still, it can very often come to pass, 

 when one is in a lord's presence, that other men crowd 

 about him and ask questions of many sorts; Sometimes 

 this is due to the stupidity of those who do thus, but 



