Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

DCCVII.
Seruicium. Seruire Deo est vtile.

We rede in 'Libro de Dono Timoris' how som tyme þer was a kyng þat had a baillay, & he servid̛ hym̛ alway trewlie. So on̛ a tyme hym̛ happend̛ faƚƚ seke, and þe kyng come & visit hym̛ & offerd̛ hym̛ þat what þing at he wold̛ aske, he sulde hafe it. And he ansswerd̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛; "I wulde beseke you at ye wulde delyver me of þis sekenes, for I am̛ gretlie turment þer-with." And þe kyng ansswerd̛ hym̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛ þat he wold̛ do it with gude wiƚƚ and he myght, bod he sayd̛ þat he myght nott. Than̛ þe seke man̛ ansswerd̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛; "Sen̛ ye may not delyver me of my sekenes, here I promytt to Hym̛ þat may delyver me, þat & He wiƚƚ delyver me þerof, ffrom hens furtℏ I shaƚƚ seryff Hym̛ alone, & nevur no man̛." And onone he coverd̛ & tuke hym̛ to þe serves of almyghti God, & wold̛ nevur seruff man̛ after.

• ...Seruilis timor inicium est boni. Infra de timore et voto.
• ...Seueritas. Seuerus iudex. Supra de iudice, iij.