THE KING'S MIRROR 



No one can attain to all these virtues which we have 

 now enumerated as belonging to courtesy and good 

 breeding, unless he is also endowed with wisdom. These 

 gifts will accompany wisdom: elegance in speech, elo- 

 quence, insight into proper conduct, and ability to dis- 

 criminate between good manners and what passes for 

 such in the sayings of foolish men, though they are in 

 fact bad manners. It is also wisdom, when one is present 

 at the law court, or some other place where men congre- 

 gate, and hears the speeches and the suits of men, to be 

 able to discerndearly what suits or what speeches de- 

 livered^ there are based on reason and which ones are 

 merely glib palaver and senseless verbosity. It is also 

 wisdom to have a clear appreciation, when decrees are 

 rendered in the disputes of men, of how these are stated, 

 so that not a word will be added or taken away, if one 

 should need to know them at some later time. It is also 

 wisdom to keep faithfully in mind what facts were dis- 

 cussed and what agreements were reached. It is wisdom 

 to know the law thoroughly, to have clear perceptions 

 of what is actual law and what is merely called law, 

 being nothing but quibble and subterfuge. It is also 

 wisdom, if one has a request to make, to be able to de- 

 termine what he may ask for that will prove serviceable 

 and is proper for the other to grant; also, if one meets 

 a request, to know precisely what he may grant with 

 propriety and in what matters he must be careful not to 

 bind himself or those who come after him, such things, 

 namely, as may prove a disgrace to him rather than a 

 distinction. Finally, it is wisdom not to be strait-handed 



