[6-text p 322]
And euer the hyer/ he is of estaat
The moore / is he holden desolaat
If that a Prynce / vseth hasardrye
In alle gouernance and policye
Line 600
He is / as by commune opinion
Yholde the lasse / in reputacion
¶ Stilbon / that was a wys embassadour
Was sent to Corynthe / in ful greet honour
Line 604
ffro Lacidomye / to maken hire Alliaunce
And whan he cam / hym happed[e] par chaunce
That alle the gretteste / that were of that lond
Pleyynge atte hasard / he hem fond
Line 608
ffor which / as soone / as it myghte be
He stal hym hoom agayn / to his contree
And seyde / ther wol I nat lese my name
Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame
Line 612
Yow for to allie / vn-to none hasardours
Sendeth / othere wise Embassadours
ffor by my trouthe / me were leuere dye
Than I yow sholde / to hasardours allye
Line 616
ffor ye that been / so glorious in honours
Shul nat allyen yow / with hasardours
As by my wyl / ne as by my tretee
This wise Philosophre / thus seyde hee
Line 620
¶ Looke eek that the kyng Demetrius
The kyng of Parthes as the book seith vs
Sente him / a paire of dees of gold in scorn
ffor he hadde vsed / hasard ther-biforn
Line 624
ffor which / he heeld his glorie / or his renoun
At no value / or reputacioun
Lordes may fynden / oother maner pley
Honeste ynough / to dryue the day awey
Line 628
Now wol I speke / of othes false and grete [¶ Of sweryng & forsweryng]
A word or two / as olde bookes trete
Gret sweryng is a thyng abhominable
And fals sweryng is yet moore repreuable
Line 632
