[Sidenote: [LYCURGUS AND HIS LAWS.]] In a Cronique I rede thus Of the rihtful Ligurgius, [Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum de Principibus illis, qui[1184] non solum legem statuentes illam conseruant, set vt commune bonum adaugeant, propriam facultatem diminuunt. Et narrat quod, cum Ligurgius Athenarum princeps subditos suos[1185] in omni prosperitatis habundancia divites et vnanimes congruis legibus stare fecisset, volens ad vtilitatem rei publice leges illas firmius obseruari, peregre proficisci se finxit; set prius iuramentum solempne a legiis suis sub hac forma exegit, quod ipsi vsque in reditum suum leges suas nullatenus infringerent: quibus iuratis peregrinacionem suam in exilium absque reditu pro perpetuo delegauit.[1186]] Which of Athenis Prince was, Hou he the lawe in every cas, 2920 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 184=] Wherof he scholde his poeple reule, Hath set upon so good a reule, In al this world that cite non Of lawe was so wel begon Forth with the trouthe of governance. Ther was among hem no distance, Bot every man hath his encress; Ther was withoute werre pes, Withoute envie love stod; Richesse upon the comun good 2930 And noght upon the singuler Ordeigned was, and the pouer Of hem that weren in astat Was sauf: wherof upon debat Ther stod nothing, so that in reste Mihte every man his herte reste. And whan this noble rihtful king Sih hou it ferde of al this thing, Wherof the poeple stod in ese, He, which for evere wolde plese 2940 The hihe god, whos thonk he soghte, A wonder thing thanne him bethoghte, And schop if that it myhte be, Hou that his lawe in the cite Mihte afterward for evere laste. And therupon his wit he caste What thing him were best to feigne, That he his pourpos myhte atteigne. A Parlement and thus he sette, His wisdom wher that he besette 2950 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 185=] In audience of grete and smale,[1187] And in this wise he tolde his tale: ‘God wot, and so ye witen alle, Hierafterward hou so it falle, Yit into now my will hath be To do justice and equite In forthringe of comun profit: Such hath ben evere my delit. Bot of o thing I am beknowe, The which mi will is that ye knowe: 2960 The lawe which I tok on honde, Was altogedre of goddes sonde And nothing of myn oghne wit; So mot it nede endure yit, And schal do lengere, if ye wile. For I wol telle you the skile; The god Mercurius and no man[1188] He hath me tawht al that I can Of suche lawes as I made, Wherof that ye ben alle glade; 2970 It was the god and nothing I,