208 THE KING'S MIRROR 



that your lord wishes to keep to himself, unless he sum- 

 mons you to share knowledge with him. But if anything 

 should come up that your lord confides to you but wishes 

 to have kept secret, keep it carefully in discreet silence; 

 do not babble about such affairs as should be hidden in 

 your fidelity. 



You must also make a habit of going to the royal 

 apartments early in the morning before the king has 

 arisen; but be sure to come carefully washed and bathed 

 and wearing your best raiment; and wait near the king's 

 chamber until he has arisen. Go into the king's cham- 

 ber if he calls you, but at no other time; but wherever 

 it is that the king summons you, you must come into 

 his presence without your mantle. If it is early in the 

 morning and you have not seen him before, wish him 

 a good day in the words that I have already taught you ; 

 but approach only so near as to leave him sufficient 

 room to confer with the men who are nearest to him, 

 and remain standing there. But if he calls you to come 

 nearer, wishing to speak with you in private, then kneel 

 before him but only so near that you can readily hear 

 f his words; and come without your mantle. (Ho wever,Jf 

 vi ~ he invites you to be seated, you may put on your cloak, 



C if you like, and be seated where he indicates/] 



Now when it happens that the king goes out to seek 

 diversion, whether it be in town or in the country, or 

 wherever he is sojourning, and you and your comrades 

 accompany him, the retinue looks best, whether you 

 are armed or not, if you walk in equal numbers on either 

 side of the king, though never in compact groups. 

 Wherever you go he should walk in your midst, and 



