And after that thei ben of ken 2050 And of astat and of merite, He schal hem largeliche aquite, Or for the werre, or for the pes, That non honour falle in descres, Which mihte torne into defame, Bot that he kepe his goode name, So that he be noght holde unkinde. For in Cronique a tale I finde, Which spekth somdiel of this matiere, Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere. 2060 [Sidenote: [TALE OF JULIUS AND THE POOR KNIGHT.]] In Rome, to poursuie his riht, Ther was a worthi povere kniht, [Sidenote: Hic secundum gesta Iulii exemplum ponit, qualiter Rex suorum militum, quos probos agnouerit, indigenciam largitatis sue beneficiis releuare[1102] tenetur.] Which cam al one forto sein His cause, when the court was plein, Wher Julius was in presence. And for him lacketh of despence, Ther was with him non advocat To make ple for his astat. [Sidenote: =P. iii. 155=] Bot thogh him lacke forto plede, Him lacketh nothing of manhede; 2070 He wiste wel his pours was povere, Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere, And openly poverte alleide, To themperour and thus he seide: ‘O Julius, lord of the lawe, Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe For lacke of gold: do thin office[1103] After the lawes of justice:[1104] Help that I hadde conseil hiere Upon the trouthe of mi matiere.’ 2080 And Julius with that anon Assigned him a worthi on, Bot he himself no word ne spak. This kniht was wroth and fond a lak In themperour, and seide thus: ‘O thou unkinde Julius, Whan thou in thi bataille were Up in Aufrique, and I was there, Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede And putte noman in my stede, 2090 Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde: Bot hier I finde thee so badde, That thee ne liste speke o word[1105] Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord To yive a florin me to helpe. Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe Fro this dai forth of thi largesse, Whan such a gret unkindenesse [Sidenote: =P. iii. 156=] Is founde in such a lord as thou?’ This Julius knew wel ynou 2100 That al was soth which he him tolde; And for he wolde noght ben holde Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde, And as it were of goddes sonde, He yaf him good ynouh to spende For evere into his lives ende.[1106] And thus scholde every worthi king Take of his knihtes knowleching, Whan that he syh thei hadden nede, For every service axeth mede: 2110 Bot othre, whiche have noght deserved Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served, A king schal noght deserve grace, Thogh he be large in such a place.