In eny lond under the Sonne,[1126] Ther is ful many a thing begonne Which were betre to be left; That hath be schewed nou and eft. Bot if a Prince wolde him reule[1127] Of the Romeins after the reule, In thilke time as it was used,[1128] This vice scholde be refused, Wherof the Princes ben assoted. Bot wher the pleine trouthe is noted, 2340 Ther may a Prince wel conceive, That he schal noght himself deceive, Of that he hiereth wordes pleine; For him thar noght be reson pleigne, That warned is er him be wo. And that was fully proeved tho, Whan Rome was the worldes chief, The Sothseiere tho was lief, Which wolde noght the trouthe spare, Bot with hise wordes pleine and bare 2350 To Themperour hise sothes tolde, As in Cronique is yit withholde,[1129] Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere Acordende unto this matiere. [Sidenote: [THE ROMAN TRIUMPH.]] [Sidenote: =P. iii. 165=] To se this olde ensamplerie, That whilom was no flaterie [Sidenote: [1130]Hic narrat super eodem, qualiter nuper Romanorum Imperator, cum ipse triumphator in hostes a bello Rome rediret, tres sibi laudes in signum sui triumphi precipue debebantur: primo quatuor equi albissimi currum in quo sedebat veherent, secundo tunica Iovis pro tunc indueretur, tercio sui captiui prope currum ad vtrumque latus cathenati deambularent. Set ne tanti honoris adulacio eius animum in superbiam extolleret, quidam scurra linguosus iuxta ipsum in curru sedebat, qui quasi continuatis vocibus improperando ei dixit, ‘Notheos,’ hoc est nosce teipsum, ‘quia si hodie fortuna[1133] tibi prospera fuerit,[1134] cras forte[1135] versa rota mutabilis aduersabitur.’] Toward the Princes wel I finde; Wherof so as it comth to mynde, Mi Sone, a tale unto thin Ere, Whil that the worthi princes were 2360 At Rome, I thenke forto tellen. For whan the chances so befellen That eny Emperour as tho[1131] Victoire hadde upon his fo, And so forth cam to Rome ayein, Of treble honour he was certein, Wherof that he was magnefied. The ferste, as it is specefied, Was, whan he cam at thilke tyde, The Charr in which he scholde ryde 2370 Foure whyte Stiedes scholden drawe; Of Jupiter be thilke lawe The Cote he scholde were also; Hise prisoners ek scholden go Endlong the Charr on eyther hond, And alle the nobles of the lond[1132] Tofore and after with him come Ridende and broghten him to Rome, In thonk of his chivalerie And for non other flaterie. 2380 And that was schewed forth withal; Wher he sat in his Charr real, Beside him was a Ribald set, Which hadde hise wordes so beset,[1136]