[Sidenote: [CYRUS AND THE LYDIANS.]] To mochel ese is nothing worth, For that set every vice forth[1356] [Sidenote: Hic loquitur qualiter regnum lasciuie voluptatibus deditum de facili vincitur.[1357] Et ponit exemplum de Ciro Rege Persarum, qui cum Liddos mire[1358] probitatis strenuissimos sibique in bello aduersantes nullo modo vincere potuit, cum ipsis tandem pacis tractatum dissimilans concordiam finalem stabiliri[1359] finxit. Super quo Liddi postea per aliquod tempus armis insoliti sub pacis torpore[1360] voluptatibus intendebant: quod Cirus percipiens in eos armatus subito irruit, ipsosque indefencibiles[1361] vincens sub imperio tributarios subiugauit.] And every vertu put abak, Wherof priss torneth into lak, As in Cronique I mai reherse: Which telleth hou the king of Perse, That Cirus hihte, a werre hadde Ayein a poeple which he dradde, Of a contre which Liddos hihte; Bot yit for oght that he do mihte 4370 As in bataille upon the werre, He hadde of hem alwey the werre. [Sidenote: =P. iii. 239=] And whan he sih and wiste it wel, That he be strengthe wan no del, Thanne ate laste he caste a wyle This worthi poeple to beguile, And tok with hem a feigned pes, Which scholde lasten endeles, So as he seide in wordes wise, Bot he thoghte al in other wise. 4380 For it betidd upon the cas,[1362] Whan that this poeple in reste was, Thei token eses manyfold; And worldes ese, as it is told, Be weie of kinde is the norrice Of every lust which toucheth vice. Thus whan thei were in lustes falle, The werres ben foryeten alle; Was non which wolde the worschipe Of Armes, hot in idelschipe 4390 Thei putten besinesse aweie And token hem to daunce and pleie; Bot most above alle othre thinges Thei token hem to the likinges Of fleysshly lust, that chastete[1363] Received was in no degre, Bot every man doth what him liste. And whan the king of Perse it wiste, That thei unto folie entenden, With his pouer, whan thei lest wenden, 4400 Mor sodeinly than doth the thunder He cam, for evere and put hem under.[1364] (4600*) [Sidenote: =P. iii. 240=] And thus hath lecherie lore The lond, which hadde be tofore The beste of hem that were tho. [Sidenote: [THE COUNSEL OF BALAAM.]] And in the bible I finde also A tale lich unto this thing, [Sidenote: Nota hic[1365] qualiter fata bellica luxus infortunat. Et narrat quod cum Rex Amalech Hebreis sibi insultantibus resistere nequiit, consilio Balaam mulieres regni sui pulcherrimas in castra Hebreorum misit; qui ab