(562)
¶ Right as we seen by reson and natúre,
Line 3928
Part of mannys body diffendeth al;
As an arme putteþ him in áuenture
ffor þe body, þat nat perische it schal,
Right so a kyngës chertë special,
Line 3932
If he god loue, and his peple, & his [his, om. R.] land,
Whan nede is, mot diffende hem wiþ his hande.
(563)
¶ Thoruȝ grete [grete R, om. H.] emprises wonne is hy renoun;
Line 3935
Renoun is callëd glorie & honour;
Magnanimite haþ þis condicïoun,
That in bataile, how scharp þat be þe stour,
Hym leuere is to suffre dethës schour,
Line 3939
Than cowardly and schamëfully flee,
So manly of curáge and herte is he.
Line 3941
(564)
¶ He medleth neuere but of þingës grete, [folio 69a]
Line 3942
And hye, and vertuous; he neuere is meeved
With smalë thingës, as the bookës trete;
And swiche a drede haþ for to be repreued,
That vnto þing þat may be knowe or preued
Line 3946
ffor vilonous, or foul, or répreeuáble,
He neuere obeieþ, þis knyȝt honuráble.
Line 3948
(565)
¶ Thane I rede of oon clepet [I haue yredde of one clept R.] Coadrus, [¶ De mag|nanimitate Coadri Prin|cipis excer|citus athe|niensis.]
Line 3949
That was prince of þe oost of Athinyens,
How in þe feeld a lawë made was þus
Twixt his host and hem of Polipolens—
With triumphë schuldë [shulde R, schuld H.] þat part go þens,
Line 3953
Whos duc or Princë were vnarmëd slawe
In habit straungë; lo! swiche was þe lawe.
Line 3955
