THE KING'S MIRROR 233 



whether it be the death of men whom you have hated, 

 or other happenings in which you might seem to find 

 pleasure. But if you should happen to hear of the death 

 of a man whom you counted an enemy and to whom 

 you had planned to do evil, if opportunity should be 

 found, rejoice much more in that God has saved you 

 from a threefold sin than in the death of him who has 

 departed. For you should be glad that God has pre- 

 vented your hands from committing the sinful deed 

 that was in your purpose, and has relieved your mind 

 of the long-continued wrath and bitterness which you 

 cherished against your enemy while he lived. 



Likewise, if high honors and dignities should come 

 to you from a king or from other magnates, it is im- 

 portant that you should know how to receive them with 

 modesty, lest what befalls so many an indiscreet man 

 should also happen to you. For it is often the case that 

 when one who is lacking in good sense receives any 

 preferment from great men, he will rate himself so high 

 in his pride and avarice that he counts no other man 

 his equal. But such pretension leads to the downfall of 

 everyone who behaves in this way; inasmuch as it is 

 God's purpose to strike down immoderate pride with 

 sacred humility; and everyone who is too proud and 

 greedy in his behavior will surely find God a constant 

 opponent LNow if you should be so fortunate as to re- 

 ceive preferments from a king or other princes, remem- 

 ber it is God's method and purpose, by prompting them 

 (for He holds the minds and hearts of chiefs in His hand), 

 to elevate such men as He wishes to honor and dignity. 

 On the other hand, it is also the duty of every man to 





