Part 44 (1/2)

[Footnote 189: writen.]

[Sidenote: Per me Reges regnant et gloriam sapiencie possidebunt.]

[Sidenote: Et nunc Reges intelligite et erudimini qui iudicatis terram.]

Be me thei regne, and moost in joye endure, For thorugh myn helpe, and my besy cure, To encrese ther glorie and high renone, They shull of wisdome have ful possession.

And in the front of this tabernacle, Sapiens, a scripture gan devyse, Able to be reed withoughten a spectacle,

To yonge kynges seying in this wyse, Undirstondith and lernyth of the wyse, On right remembryng the highe lord to queme, Sith ye be juges other folk to deme; Forthermore the matir doth devyse.

The kyng procedyng forth upon his way, Com to the Condyte mad in sercle wyse;

[Sidenote: Domina misericord' a dextris et domina veritat' a sinistris et c.u.m clemencia roborabit' thronus eius.]

Whom to resceyve, ther was mad no delay, And myddys above in ful riche aray, There sat a child of beute procellyng, Middys of a[190] trone raid like a kyng, Whom to governe, there were a.s.sygned tweyne, A lady, Mercy, sat on his right syde; On his lefte honde yf y shall nought feyne,

[Footnote 190: the.]

[Sidenote: Misericordia et Veritas custodiunt Regem.]

The lady Trouthe, his domys to provyde; The lady Clemence on loft dyd a byde, Of G.o.d ordeyned in the same place, The kynges throne strongly to enbrace; For be the sentence of prudent Salamon, Mercy and Right kepen every kyng, And Clemence kepit be reson,

[Sidenote: Iudiciu' et Iusticiam.]

His myghti throne from myschief and fallyng, And makith it strong with longe abydyng; For y dar say these ladies thre, A kyng preserve in long felicite.[191]

Thanne stod afore[192] also[193] the sayd kyng, Two juges, with ful highe n.o.blesse; Viij^{te} seriauntes ich on representyng;

[Footnote 191: prosperytee.]

[Footnote 192: _Transposed._]

[Footnote 193: _Transposed._]

[Sidenote: Honor Regis iudiciu' dilig^{t}. Deus iudiciu' tuum Regi da, et justiciam tuam filio Regis.]

For comon profith doom and right wisnesse: Withe this scripture, whiche shalle expresse,[194]

Honour of kyng is in every mannys sight,[195]

Of comone custom lovyth equyte and right, Kyng Davyd wrot, the sawter berith witnes, Lord G.o.d, quod he, thi dome yif us[196] to the kyng, And yif thi trouthe, and thi right wysnes,

[Footnote 194:

Honour of kyng which I shall expresse, With this scripture in every manys sight.]

[Footnote 195:

Honour of kyng which I shall expresse, With this scripture in every manys sight.]

[Footnote 196: _Omitted._]

To the kynges sone here in his levynge, To us declaryng, as be ther wrightyng, That kynges, prynces, sholde aboughte hym drawe, Folk that ben trewe, and wel expert in lawe.

The kyng forthe rydyng entred Chepe anone, A l.u.s.ty place, a place of alle delitis, Com to the Condyte, wher as cristalle ston,