And forto proven it is so, A tale which befell in dede In a Cronique of Rome I rede. [Sidenote: [CAESAR’S ANSWER.]] Cesar upon his real throne [Sidenote: Hic inter alia gesta Cesaris narrat vnum exemplum precipue contra illos qui, cum in aspectu principis aliis sapienciores apparere vellent, quandoque tamen simulate sapiencie talia committunt, per que ceteris stulciores in fine comprobantur.] Wher that he sat in his persone 2450 And was hyest in al his pris, A man, which wolde make him wys, Fell doun knelende in his presence, And dede him such a reverence, As thogh the hihe god it were: Men hadden gret mervaille there Of the worschipe which he dede. This man aros fro thilke stede, And forth with al the same tyde He goth him up and be his side[1144] 2460 He set him doun as pier and pier,[1145] And seide, ‘If thou that sittest hier Art god, which alle thinges myht, Thanne have I do worschipe ariht[1146] As to the god; and other wise, If thou be noght of thilke assisse, Bot art a man such as am I, Than mai I sitte faste by, For we be bothen of o kinde.’[1147] Cesar ansuerde and seide, ‘O blinde, 2470 Thou art a fol, it is wel sene Upon thiself: for if thou wene I be a god, thou dost amys To sitte wher thou sest god is; [Sidenote: =P. iii. 169=] And if I be a man, also Thou hast a gret folie do, Whan thou to such on as schal deie The worschipe of thi god aweie Hast yoven so unworthely. Thus mai I prove redely, 2480 Thou art noght wys.’ And thei that herde Hou wysly that the king ansuerde, It was to hem a newe lore; Wherof thei dradden him the more, And broghten nothing to his Ere, Bot if it trouthe and reson were.[1148] So be ther manye, in such a wise That feignen wordes to be wise, (2500*) And al is verray flaterie To him which can it wel aspie. 2490 [Sidenote: [FLATTERERS OF A KING.]] The kinde flatour can noght love Bot forto bringe himself above; [Sidenote: Nota, qualiter isti circa Principem adulatores pocius a Curia expelli, quam ad regie maiestatis munera acceptari, Policia suadente deberent.] For hou that evere his maister fare, So that himself stonde out of care, Him reccheth noght: and thus fulofte Deceived ben with wordes softe The kinges that ben innocent. Wherof as for chastiement The wise Philosophre seide, What king that so his tresor leide 2500 Upon such folk, he hath the lesse, And yit ne doth he no largesse, Bot harmeth with his oghne hond Himself and ek his oghne lond, [Sidenote: =P. iii.