[Sidenote: [ANTIGONUS AND CINICHUS.]] It sit wel every king to have Discrecion, whan men him crave, [Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum de Rege Antigono, qualiter dona regia secundum maius et minus equa discrecione moderanda sunt.] So that he mai his yifte wite: Wherof I finde a tale write, Hou Cinichus a povere kniht A Somme which was over myht 2120 Preide of his king Antigonus. The king ansuerde to him thus,[1107] And seide hou such a yifte passeth His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth, And axeth bot a litel peny, If that the king wol yive him eny. The king ansuerde, it was to smal For him, which was a lord real;[1108] [Sidenote: =P. iii. 157=] To yive a man so litel thing It were unworschipe in a king. 2130 Be this ensample a king mai lere [Sidenote: [DISCRETION IN GIVING.]] That forto yive is in manere: For if a king his tresor lasseth Withoute honour and thonkles passeth, Whan he himself wol so beguile, I not who schal compleigne his while, Ne who be rihte him schal relieve. Bot natheles this I believe, To helpe with his oghne lond Behoveth every man his hond[1109] 2140 To sette upon necessite; [Sidenote: Nota hic quod Regius status a suis fidelibus omni fauore supportandus est.] And ek his kinges realte Mot every liege man conforte, With good and bodi to supporte, Whan thei se cause resonable: For who that is noght entendable To holde upriht his kinges name, Him oghte forto be to blame. [Sidenote: [PRODIGALITY OF KINGS.]] Of Policie and overmore To speke in this matiere more, 2150 [Sidenote: Nota hic secundum Aristotilem,[1110] qualiter Principum Prodegalitas paupertatem inducit communem.] So as the Philosophre tolde, A king after the reule is holde To modifie and to adresce Hise yiftes upon such largesce [Sidenote: Seneca.[1111] Sic aliis benefacito, vt tibi non noceas.] That he mesure noght excede: For if a king falle into nede, It causeth ofte sondri thinges Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges.[1112] [Sidenote: =P. iii. 158=] What man wol noght himself mesure, Men sen fulofte that mesure 2160 Him hath forsake: and so doth he That useth Prodegalite, Which is the moder of poverte, Wherof the londes ben deserte; And namely whan thilke vice Aboute a king stant in office And hath withholde of his partie The covoitouse flaterie, Which many a worthi king deceiveth, Er he the fallas aperceiveth 2170 Of hem that serven to the glose. For thei that cunnen plese and glose,