234 THE KING'S MIRROR 



assist all those who have less strength than he. Keep in 

 mind, then, if God should raise you up to any place of 

 honor, that it must be to the profit of all who are less 

 capable than yourself, except such as hate morality and 

 right counsel; to them it should be a hindrance for a just 

 man to be given power and authority. If God gives you 

 wisdom and clear insight and you have also the good 

 fortune to be awarded honors by great men, there are 

 certain vices which you need especially to guard against : 

 arrogant self-esteem,^avarice that yearns for bribes, and 

 forgetful neglect of the needs of men who are less capable 

 than yourself. Keep constantly before your eyes as a 

 warning the misfortunes of those who have fallen into 

 disgrace because of immoderate pride. Also keep in 

 mind, as a comforting hope, the careers of men who have 

 received constant honors because of their steadfast jus- 

 tice and humility. 



XLII 



A DISCUSSION OF HOW GOD REWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS, 



HUMILITY, AND FIDELITY, ILLUSTRATED BY EXAMPLES 



DRAWN FROM SACRED AND PROFANE HISTORY 



Son. I see clearly that God creates men unequal in 

 power and wisdom because He wishes to see how each 

 one is going to use what He has endowed him with, 

 whether in high living for the glorification of self, or in 

 bountiful kindness toward those who have need of him 

 and have not received such gifts from God. And now I 

 want to ask you to cite a few examples both of men 

 whose good sense and humility have brought them 

 honor and of such as have suffered destruction through 

 vain pride. 



