THE KING'S MIRR0R 3t5 



should weigh the judgments that he renders in the dis- 

 putes of men; but I have given a brief reply to that 

 question in an earlier talk, when I told how God passed 

 judgment after His covenant with Adam was broken, 

 and what judges He brought with Him to the judg- 

 ment seat. I also gave many examples to show how 

 God ordered His verdicts in certain cases of a later 

 time, those of King Pharaoh and all the others who 

 were named later in that conversation; and every king 

 ought surely to weigh what is found in those examples. 

 He must also consider with care whether a case calls 

 for severity and punishment or whether the doom 

 should be tempered; for the judgments ought not to be 

 equally severe in all cases. And every sentence should 

 be kept within the bounds of justice and fairness; and 

 here I may cite another example, if you like. 



There is something told of a certain king, which I 

 find most fitting to illustrate this point. This king was 

 a man of fame and power, thoroughly learned in all 

 knowledge and just in all his decisions. Every day there 

 came before him a large number of men whose diffi- 

 culties he had to settle; and every day he sat a long 

 time on the judgment seat to determine the suits of 

 his people, and with him sat the wise men, whom he 

 had found to be the most discreet and best prepared 

 for such duties. [But whenever the king sat in this 

 assembly with the wise men whom he had summoned 

 to serve with him, armed knights stood about the 

 house to make sure that he could sit in perfect' security. J 

 The king had many sons, one of whom, however, was 

 the dearest of all; for this son loved especially to be 



