If eny pite may be founde. The king, which seth hem go to grounde, Hath axed hem what is the fere, Why thei be so despuiled there. His brother seide: ‘Ha lord, mercy! I wot non other cause why,[428] Bot only that this nyht ful late The trompe of deth was at my gate 2210 In tokne that I scholde deie; Thus be we come forto preie That ye mi worldes deth respite.’ ‘Ha fol, how thou art forto wyte,’ The king unto his brother seith, ‘That thou art of so litel feith, That only for a trompes soun Hast gon despuiled thurgh the toun, Thou and thi wif in such manere Forth with thi children that ben here, 2220 In sihte of alle men aboute, For that thou seist thou art in doute [Sidenote: =P. i. 117=] Of deth, which stant under the lawe Of man, and man it mai withdrawe,[429] So that it mai par chance faile. Now schalt thou noght forthi mervaile That I doun fro my Charr alihte, Whanne I behield tofore my sihte In hem that were of so gret age Min oghne deth thurgh here ymage, 2230 Which god hath set be lawe of kynde, Wherof I mai no bote finde: For wel I wot, such as thei be, Riht such am I in my degree,[430] Of fleissh and blod, and so schal deie. And thus, thogh I that lawe obeie Of which the kinges ben put under, It oghte ben wel lasse wonder Than thou, which art withoute nede For lawe of londe in such a drede, 2240 Which for tacompte is bot a jape, As thing which thou miht overscape. Forthi, mi brother, after this I rede, sithen that so is That thou canst drede a man so sore, Dred god with al thin herte more: For al schal deie and al schal passe, Als wel a Leoun as an asse, Als wel a beggere as a lord, Towardes deth in on acord 2250 Thei schullen stonde.’ And in this wise[431] The king hath with hise wordes wise [Sidenote: =P. i. 118=] His brother tawht and al foryive. [Sidenote: Confessor.] Forthi, mi Sone, if thou wolt live In vertu, thou most vice eschuie, And with low herte humblesce suie, So that thou be noght surquidous. [Sidenote: Amans.] Mi fader, I am amorous, Wherof I wolde you beseche That ye me som ensample teche,[432] 2260 Which mihte in loves cause stonde.[433] [Sidenote: Confessor.] Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, In love and othre thinges alle If that Surquiderie falle, It may to him noght wel betide[434] Which useth thilke vice of Pride, Which torneth wisdom to wenynge[435] And Sothfastnesse into lesynge Thurgh fol ymaginacion.