(338)
¶ Quintilian seith, þat vn-to hygh degre, [¶ Quintili|anus dicit, iurare nisi vbi neccesse est, grani viro,—id est, nobili & fa|moso,—pa|rum conuenit; verbum enim satis simplex in Rege vel in principe firmior sit quam iura|mentum in mercatore.]
Line 2360
Vnsittynge is to swere in any wise,
Bút it be causid of necessite;
ffor, as he seiþ, and othir clerkis wise,
A kyng or princes word oghtë suffise
Line 2364
Wel morë than, oghte a marchántes oth,
And to go ther ageyn be morë loth.
Line 2366
(339)
¶ And syn a princes oth, or his promesse,
Line 2367
Whan þei nat holden ben, him dishonure, [An instance of Hoccleve's false ryme of -oure -ure. See p. 21 above, and 'Minor Poems,' I, p. xxxix.]
His lettre and seel, whiche more open witnesse
Beren than þei, good is take hede and cure [An instance of Hoccleve's false ryme of -oure -ure. See p. 21 above, and 'Minor Poems,' I, p. xxxix.]
That þei be kept; writingë wil endure; [[R] Litera scripta ma|net.]
Line 2371
What a man is, it prest is for to preue;
Outhir, honure it shal him, or repreue.
Line 2373
(340)
¶ Now if it happe, as it haþ happed ofte,
Line 2374
A kyng in nedë borwe of his marchántis,
Greet wisdom were it tretë faire & softe,
And holde hem truëly her couenantis;
ffor trust it wel, whan hir couénant is
Line 2378
Nat to hem kept, as þat hir bonde requerith,
The kyng haþ schame, and eke it hem mys-cherith.
(341)
¶ Loth wolde hem ben eft-sonës for to lene;
Line 2381
He þat is brent, men seyn, dredith þe fire.
Be his day kept, he rekkeþ nat a bene,
But elles, siker, "don is in þe myre." [Cp. 'Chaucer' and 'Towneley Plays,' &c.]
Wiþ-outen dowte, a Marchantës desir [folio 42a]
Line 2385
Is with good herte his kyng honour and plese,
And, to his myght, refresche & doon him ese.
