(630)
¶ What kyng þat dooth more éxcessif despenses [¶ Aristoteles de regimine, capitulo de vicio super|fluitatis. "O Alexander, firmiter dico tibi, quod quis rerum superflue con|tulerit domi|naciones, vl|tra quod reg|num suum possit suffi|cere, talis Rex procul dubio destruit & destruitur.']
Line 4404
Than his land may to suffice or atteyne,
Schal be destruëd, after þe sentences
Of Aristotle; he schal naght fle þe peyne.
ffoolë [Foole R, Fool H.] largésse and avarice, þo tweyne,
Line 4408
If þat a kyng eschue, & largë be,
Reioyse he schal his rëal dignite.
Line 4410
(631)
¶ How fool largesse a kyng destroyë may, [folio 77b]
Line 4411
As blyuë wole I vnto yow declare:
ffool largessë yeueþ so moche a-way,
That it þe kyngës cofres makeþ bare,
And þanne awakiþ poorë peples care;
Line 4415
ffor al þat sche dispendid haþ & wastid,
They moot releuë, therto be þey hastid.
Line 4417
(632)
¶ The Tylere [tilyer R.] with his porë cote and land,
Line 4418
That may vnnethës gete his sustenance,
And he þat naght haþ but labóur of hand,
Ben often put vnto ful smert nusance.
Good is be-ware of goddës long suffrance;
Line 4422
Thogh he to venge hym tarie, & be suffráble,
Whan his strook cometh, it is importáble.
Line 4424
(633)
¶ Naght speke I ageyn eidës [dysmes (tenths) R.] vttirly,
Line 4425
In sum cas þey ben good and necessárie;
But whan þey goon to custumáblely,
The peple it makiþ for to curse and warie:
And if þey ben despended in contrárie
Line 4429
Of þat þey graunted of þe peple were,
The morë grucchen þey þe cost to bere.
Line 4431
