What is a lond wher men ben none? What ben the men whiche are al one [Sidenote: Hic tractat de tercia Principum regiminis[1166] Policia, que Iusticia nominata est, cuius condicio legibus incorrupta vnicuique quod suum est equo pondere distribuit.] Withoute a kinges governance? What is a king in his ligance, Wher that ther is no lawe in londe? What is to take lawe on honde, 2700 Bot if the jugges weren trewe? These olde worldes with the newe Who that wol take in evidence, Ther mai he se thexperience, What thing it is to kepe lawe, Thurgh which the wronges ben withdrawe And rihtwisnesse stant commended, Wherof the regnes ben amended. For wher the lawe mai comune The lordes forth with the commune,[1167] 2710 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 177=] Ech hath his propre duete; And ek the kinges realte Of bothe his worschipe underfongeth, To his astat as it belongeth, Which of his hihe worthinesse Hath to governe rihtwisnesse, As he which schal the lawe guide. And natheles upon som side His pouer stant above the lawe, To yive bothe and to withdrawe 2720 The forfet of a mannes lif; But thinges whiche are excessif Ayein the lawe, he schal noght do For love ne for hate also. The myhtes of a king ben grete, Bot yit a worthi king schal lete [Sidenote: Imperatoriam maiestatem non solum armis, set eciam legibus oportet esse armatam.] Of wrong to don, al that he myhte; For he which schal the poeple ryhte, It sit wel to his regalie That he himself ferst justefie 2730 Towardes god in his degre: For his astat is elles fre Toward alle othre in his persone, Save only to the god al one, Which wol himself a king chastise, Wher that non other mai suffise. So were it good to taken hiede That ferst a king his oghne dede Betwen the vertu and the vice Redresce, and thanne of his justice 2740 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 178=] So sette in evene the balance Towardes othre in governance, That to the povere and to the riche Hise lawes myhten stonde liche, He schal excepte no persone. Bot for he mai noght al him one In sondri places do justice,[1168] He schal of his real office With wys consideracion Ordeigne his deputacion[1169] 2750 Of suche jugges as ben lerned, So that his poeple be governed Be hem that trewe ben and wise. For if the lawe of covoitise Be set upon a jugges hond, Wo is the poeple of thilke lond, For wrong mai noght himselven hyde: Bot elles on that other side, If lawe stonde with the riht, The poeple is glad and stant upriht. 2760 Wher as the lawe is resonable, The comun poeple stant menable,[1170]