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THE KING'S MIRROR 



When each one looks only to his own tricks and wiles, 

 great misfortunes of all kinds will come upon the land. 

 Murder and quarrels will multiply; many women will 

 .) be carried off as captives of war and violated, while 

 vd others will be ensnared and seduced into fornication; 

 children will be begotten in adultery and unlawful co- 

 habitation. Some take their kinswomen or sisters-in-law, 

 while others seduce wives away from their husbands; 

 and thus all forms of whoredom are committed and de- 

 generacy will come to light in all the generations that 

 are begotten in such immorality. Every form of crime 

 will be committed. Peasants and subjects become de- 

 fiant and disobedient; they are not careful to avoid 

 crimes, and though they commit many, they atone for 

 few only. Trusting in their own strength and numbers, 

 they attend seditious meetings; and they choose as 



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their part what is likely to bring a dangerous outcome, 

 4 ffor they place all men on the same leveOthe discreet 

 and decent ones with the coarse and stupid, and they 

 screen foolish and iniquitous men from punishment, 

 though these deserve it every day. And this they do 

 either by swearing falsely and giving false witness in 

 their behalf, or by making a foolhardy and crafty de- 

 fence at the court of trial, so that the guilty have to 

 answer for nothing before the kingsmen who assist the 

 king in carrying out the law. [For the unthinking mob 

 seem to imagine that the king was appointed to be their 

 opponent ;jand a foolish man regards himself fortunate 

 and highly favored in the eyes of thoughtless people, if 

 he can maintain himself for some time in opposition to 

 royal authority and the prescriptions of law. And if 



