170=] And that be many a sondri weie. Wherof if that a man schal seie, As forto speke in general, Wher such thing falleth overal That eny king himself misreule, The Philosophre upon his reule 2510 In special a cause sette, Which is and evere hath be the lette In governance aboute a king Upon the meschief of the thing, And that, he seith, is Flaterie. Wherof tofore as in partie What vice it is I have declared; For who that hath his wit bewared Upon a flatour to believe, Whan that he weneth best achieve 2520 His goode world, it is most fro. And forto proeven it is so Ensamples ther ben manyon, Of whiche if thou wolt knowen on, It is behovely forto hiere What whilom fell in this matiere. [Sidenote: [AHAB AND MICAIAH.]] Among the kinges in the bible I finde a tale, and is credible, [Sidenote: Hic loquitur vlterius de consilio adulantum, quorum fabulis principis aures organizate veritatis auditum capere nequiunt. Et narrat exemplum de Rege Achab, qui pro eo quod ipse prophecias fidelis Michee recusauit blandiciisque adulantis[1150] Zedechie adhesit, Rex Sirie Benedab in campo bellator ipsum diuino iudicio deuictum interfecit.] Of him that whilom Achab hihte, Which hadde al Irahel to rihte;[1149] 2530 Bot who that couthe glose softe And flatre, suche he sette alofte In gret astat and made hem riche; Bot thei that spieken wordes liche [Sidenote: =P. iii. 171=] To trouthe and wolde it noght forbere, For hem was non astat to bere, The court of suche tok non hiede. Til ate laste upon a nede, That Benedab king of Surie Of Irahel a gret partie,[1151] 2540 Which Ramoth Galaath was hote, Hath sesed; and of that riote He tok conseil in sondri wise, Bot noght of hem that weren wise. And natheles upon this cas To strengthen him, for Josaphas,[1152] Which thanne was king of Judee, He sende forto come, as he Which thurgh frendschipe and alliance Was next to him of aqueintance; 2550 For Joram Sone of Josaphath Achabbes dowhter wedded hath, Which hihte faire Godelie. And thus cam into Samarie King Josaphat, and he fond there The king Achab: and whan thei were Togedre spekende of this thing, This Josaphat seith to the king, Hou that he wolde gladly hiere Som trew prophete in this matiere,[1153] 2560 That he his conseil myhte yive To what point that it schal be drive.[1154] And in that time so befell, Ther was such on in Irahel, [Sidenote: =P. iii. 172=] Which sette him al to flaterie, And he was cleped Sedechie; And after him Achab hath sent: And he at his comandement