THE KING'S MIRROR 299 



observed in what glory and splendor he sat. Next he 

 began to ponder in what way he must occupy this glori- 

 ous high-seat, so as not to be driven from it with dis- 

 honor in spite of his exalted position either because of 

 injustice or malice, indiscretion or folly, inordinate am- 

 bition, arrogance, or excessive timidity. Now it looks 

 most reasonable to me that, whereas kingship was origi- 

 nally established in this way as we have just pointed 

 out, a king should continue to maintain the arrangement 

 which was made in the beginning. And as soon as the 

 king comes into this seat which we have just mentioned 

 and has reflected upon all those things which we have 

 just told about, it becomes his duty to pass judgment 

 in the suits and on the needs of his people, if they are 

 presented to him. But when there is no official business 

 brought before him, he should meditate on the source 

 of holy wisdom and study with attentive care all its 

 ways and paths. 



LVI 



THE SPEECH OF WISDOM 



Son. I beg you, sire, not to be displeased with me, 

 though I ask thoughtless and stupid questions; but it 

 looks to me like a difficult task to search out the v 

 sources of wisdom and learn its ways and paths. And 

 therefore I wish to ask you to tell me something about 

 this form of study, so that I may, if possible, derive 

 some insight from it. 



Father. It ought not to cause displeasure to have one 

 inquire closely into subjects which one is not likely to 

 understand without some direction. But God's mercy 



