Which dede al this, and nou forthi He hath comanded of his grace That I schal come into a place Which is forein out in an yle, Wher I mot tarie for a while, With him to speke, as he hath bede.[1189] For as he seith, in thilke stede He schal me suche thinges telle, That evere, whyl the world schal duelle, 2980 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 186=] Athenis schal the betre fare. Bot ferst, er that I thider fare, For that I wolde that mi lawe Amonges you ne be withdrawe Ther whyles that I schal ben oute, Forthi to setten out of doute Bothe you and me, this wol I preie, That ye me wolde assure and seie (3000*) With such an oth as I wol take,[1190] That ech of you schal undertake 2990 Mi lawes forto kepe and holde.’ Thei seiden alle that thei wolde, And therupon thei swore here oth,[1191] That fro the time that he goth, Til he to hem be come ayein, Thei scholde hise lawes wel and plein In every point kepe and fulfille. Thus hath Ligurgius his wille, And tok his leve and forth he wente. Bot lest nou wel to what entente[1192] 3000 Of rihtwisnesse he dede so: For after that he was ago, He schop him nevere to be founde;[1193] So that Athenis, which was bounde, Nevere after scholde be relessed,[1194] Ne thilke goode lawe cessed, Which was for comun profit set. And in this wise he hath it knet; He, which the comun profit soghte, The king, his oghne astat ne roghte; 3010 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 187=] To do profit to the comune, He tok of exil the fortune, And lefte of Prince thilke office Only for love and for justice, Thurgh which he thoghte, if that he myhte, For evere after his deth to rihte The cite which was him betake. Wherof men oghte ensample take The goode lawes to avance With hem which under governance[1195] 3020 The lawes have forto kepe; For who that wolde take kepe Of hem that ferst the lawes founde, Als fer as lasteth eny bounde Of lond, here names yit ben knowe: And if it like thee to knowe Some of here names hou thei stonde, Nou herkne and thou schalt understonde. [Sidenote: [THE FIRST LAW-GIVERS.]] Of every bienfet the merite The god himself it wol aquite; 3030 [Sidenote: Hic ad eorum laudem, qui iusticie causa leges primo statuerunt, aliquorum nomina specialius commemorat.] And ek fulofte it falleth so, The world it wole aquite also, Bot that mai noght ben evene liche: The god he yifth the heveneriche, The world yifth only bot a name, Which stant upon the goode fame Of hem that don the goode dede. And in this wise double mede Resceiven thei that don wel hiere;