¶ Certys ye remembriþ wel as I trowe þat þilke dignitee þat men clepiþ þe emperie of {con}sulers þe whiche þat somtyme was bygynnyng 1364 of fredom. ¶ Ȝoure eldres coueiteden to han don a-wey þat dignitee for þe p{r}ide of þe conseilers. [Linenotes: 1355 _seyne_--seye 1358 _come_--comen 1359 _don_--MS. done, C. don _[as] greet[e]_--as grete 1360 _distruccioun_--destrucciou{n}s _doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth _flamme_--flaumbe 1361 _flamme_--flawmbe _wit_--omitted 1362 _doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth 1363 _clepiþ_--clepyn 1364 _whiche_--whych _somtyme_--whilom 1366 _for_--MS. of, C. for] [[pg 52]] [Headnote: HONOURS NOT INTRINSICALLY GOOD,] ¶ And ryȝt for þe same p{r}ide ȝoure eldres byforne þat tyme hadden don awey out of þe Citee of rome þe 1368 kynges name. þat is to seien. þei nolden haue no lenger no kyng ¶ But now yif so be þ{a}t dignitees {and} powers ben ȝeuen to goode men. þe whiche þing is ful ȝelde. what agreable þi{n}ges is þer in þo dignitees. 1372 or powers. but only þe goodenes of folk þat vsen hem. [Linenotes: 1368 _don_--MS. done, C. don 1369 _seien_--seyn 1370 _lenger_--lenger{e} _kyng_--kynge 1371 _whiche_--which 1373 _folk_--foolkys] [Headnote: FOR THEY FALL TO THE LOT OF THE WICKED.] [Sidenote: Virtue is not embellished by dignities, but dignities derive honour from virtue.] ¶ And þerfore it is þus þat hono{ur} ne comeþ nat to vertue for cause of dignite. but aȝeinward. hono{ur} comeþ to dignite by cause of vertue. [Sidenote: But what is this power, so much celebrated and desired?] but whiche is 1376 ȝoure derworþe power þat is so clere {and} so requerable [Sidenote: What are they over whom you exercise authority?] ¶ O ȝe erþelyche bestes considere ȝe nat ouer whiche þing þat it semeþ þat ȝe han power. [Sidenote: If thou sawest a mouse assuming command over other mice, wouldst thou not almost burst with laughter?] [Sidenote: [* fol. 13 _b_.]] ¶ Now yif þou say[e] a mouse amo{n}g{us} *oþer myse þat chalenged[e] to 1380 hymself ward ryȝt {and} power ouer alle oþer myse. how gret scorne woldest þou han of hit. ¶ _Glosa._ ¶ So fareþ it by men. þe body haþ power ouer þe body. [Sidenote: What is more feeble than man, to whom the bite of a fly may be the cause of death?] For yif þow loke wel vpon þe body of a wyȝt what 1384 þing shalt þou fynde moore frele þan is mannes kynde. þe whiche ben ful ofte slayn wiþ bytynge of smale flies. or ellys wiþ þe entryng of crepyng wormes in to þe priuetees of mennes bodyes.