246 THE KING'S MIRROR 



in you that I am not likely to overlook anything that 

 my mind is eager to know. Indeed, it seems to me that 

 this subject opens up such a wide field, that there must 

 be many things left which one needs to know and dis- 

 cern fully, if one wishes to be rated a worthy man by 

 kings or other great lords; and I am eager to hear you 

 talk further about these matters. 



But for this once I wish to inquire about men of 

 greater importance than those who have to serve the 

 mighty. I see clearly that those who serve are in duty 

 bound to strive after the best manners, knowledge, wis- 

 dom, and righteousness; but it would seem that those, 

 who are chiefs and rulers and whom all others must 

 serve, owe an even greater duty to seek both knowledge 

 and insight; above all it must be their duty to love 

 every form of righteousness, since they have authority 

 to punish all others who are not righteous. Therefore I 

 wish to ask with your permission what customs the king 

 himself should observe which would accord with his 

 regal dignity. Tell me clearly so that I can understand 

 what business or conduct is demanded of him early in 

 the morning and what affairs he is later occupied with 

 the day; for [he is so highly honored and 



exalted upon earth that all must bend and bow before 

 him as before God A So great is his power that he may 

 dispose as he likes of the lives of all who live in his king- 

 dom: he lets him live whom he wills and causes him to 

 be slain whom he wills. But I have observed this, that 

 if a man becomes another's banesman, all upright men 

 from that time on have an aversion for him as for a 

 heathen; since to slay a man is counted a great sin for 



