Part 13

¶ I axe ȝif þat in þe haboundaunce of alle þilk[e] rycchesses 1908 þou were neuer anguissous or sory in þi corage of any wrong or greuau{n}ce þat by-tidde þe on any syde.

[Linenotes: 1889 [_yowre bygynnynge_]--from C. _al_--MS. as, C. Al 1891 _from_--fram _til þilk_--to thylke 1892 _þe_--omitted 1893 _þilk_--thylke 1895 _be_--by 1896 _gete_--geten 1899 _swiche_--swych _goode_--good 1900 _wil_--wole _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te 1904 _many_--manye _clerely_--clerly _fals_--false 1905 _knowe_--knowen 1908 _þilk[e]_--thylke]

[Headnote: NONE ARE FREE FROM CARE.]

[Sidenote: _B._ I must confess that I cannot remember ever being wholly free from some trouble or other.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d I it remembreþ me nat þat euere I was so free of my þouȝt. þat I ne was al-wey in anguysh{e} of 1912 somwhat.

[Sidenote: _P._ That was because something was absent which you did desire, or something present which you would fain be quit of.]

þ{a}t was þat þou lakkedest þat þou noldest han lakked. or ellys þou haddest þat þou noldest han had.

[Sidenote: _B._ That’s quite true.]

ryȝt so is it q{uod} I þan.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then you did desire the presence of the one and the absence of the other?]

desiredest þou þe p{re}sence of þat oon {and} þe absence of þat oþer. 1916

[Sidenote: _B._ I confess I did.]

I graunt[e] wel q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Every man is in need of what he desires.]

for soþe q{uod} she þan nediþ þer somwhat þat euery man desireþ.

[Sidenote: _B._ Certainly he is.]

ȝe þer nediþ q{uod} I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If a man lack anything can he be supremely happy?]

¶ Certis q{uod} she {and} he þat haþ lakke or nede of a wyȝt nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self. 1920

[Sidenote: _B._ No.]

no q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Did you not in your abundance want for somewhat?]

{and} þou q{uo}d she in alle þe plente of þi rycchesse haddest þilke lak of suffisaunce.

[Sidenote: _B._ What then if I did?]

¶ what ellis q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ It follows that riches cannot put a man beyond all want, although this was what they seemed to promise.]

¶ þanne may nat rycchesse maken þat a man nis nedy. ne þat he be suffisaunt to hym self. {and} 1924 þat was it þ{a}t þei byhyȝten as it semeþ.

[Sidenote: Money may part company with its owner, however unwilling he may be to lose it.]

¶ and eke certys I trowe þat þis be gretly to consydere þat moneye ne haþ nat in hys owen kynde þat it ne may ben by-nomen of hem þat han it maugre hem.

[Sidenote: _B._ I confess that’s true.]

¶ I by-knowe 1928 it wel q{uod} I

[Sidenote: _P._ It ought to be confessed when every day we see _might_ prevailing over _right_.]

¶ whi sholdest þou nat by-knowen it q{uod} she. whan euery day þe strenger folke by-nymen it fram þe febler maugre hem.

[Sidenote: From whence springs so much litigation, but from this, that men seek to recover their own of which they have been unjustly deprived?]

¶ Fro whennes comen ellys alle þise foreine compleintes or quereles of 1932 plety{n}g{us}. ¶ But for þat men axen aȝeine her moneye þat haþ be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle. {and} alwey maugre hem.

[Sidenote: _B._ Nothing is more true.]

¶ Ryȝt so it is q{uod} I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then a man needs the assistance of others in order to keep his riches.]

þan q{uo}d she haþ a man nede to seke{n} hym foreyne helpe by 1936 whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nay q{uod} .I.

[Linenotes: 1913 _þat----lakkedest_--And was nat þ{a}t q{uod} she for þ{a}t the lacked som-what 1915 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had 1917 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te 1919 _haþ_--MS. haþe _a wyȝt_--awht 1921 _alle_--al 1922 _rycchesse_--Rychesses _lak_--lakke 1923 _rycchesse_--Rychesses 1927 _haþ_--MS. haþe _owen_--owne 1930 _strenger folke by-nymen_--strenger{e} folk by-nemyn 1931 _fram_--fro _febler_--febeler{e} _Fro_--for 1933 _aȝeine_--ayeyn 1934 _haþ_--MS. haþe _be_--ben 1936 _haþ_--MS. haþe _helpe_--help 1937 _say_--sey]

[[pg 71]] [Headnote: RICHES BRING ANXIETIES.]

[Sidenote: If he had no money to lose he would not stand in need of this help?]

¶ Certis q{uod} she {and} hym nediþ no helpe yif he ne hadde no moneye þat he myȝt[e] leese.

[Sidenote: _B._ That is beyond all doubt.]

¶ þat is doutles q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then the very reverse of what was expected (from riches) takes place? For riches add to a man’s necessities.]

þanne is þis þi{n}g turned in to þe contrarie 1940 q{uod} she ¶ For rycchesse þat men wenen sholde make suffisau{n}ce. þei maken a man raþer han nede of foreine helpe.

[Sidenote: Tell me how do riches drive away necessity? Are not rich men liable to hunger, thirst, and cold?]

¶ whiche is þe manere or þe gise q{uod} she þat rycches may dryuen awey nede. ¶ Riche folk 1944 may þei neiþer han hungre ne þrest. þise ryche men may þei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter.

[Sidenote: You will say that the rich have wherewithal to satisfy these wants.]

¶ But þou wilt answere þat ryche men han y-nouȝ wher wiþ þei may staunchen her hunger. {and} slaken her þrest 1948 {and} don awey colde.

[Sidenote: By riches indigence may be alleviated, but they cannot satisfy every want.]

¶ In þis wise may nede be co{n}forted by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al out{er}ly be don awey.

[Sidenote: Even if gaping and greedy necessity be filled with riches, yet some cravings will remain.]

for þouȝ þis nede þat is alwey gapyng {and} gredy be fulfilled wiþ rycchesses. {and} axe 1952 any þing ȝit dwelleþ þanne a nede þat myȝt[e] ben fulfilled.

[Sidenote: A little suffices for nature, but avarice never has enough.]

¶ I holde me stille {and} telle nat how þat litel þing suffiseþ to nature. but certys to auarice ynouȝ ne suffiseþ no þinge.

[Sidenote: If riches, then, add to our wants, why should you think that they can supply all your necessities?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 17.]]

*¶ For syn þat rychesse ne may nat 1956 al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may it þanne be þat ȝe wenen þat rychesses mowen ȝeue{n} ȝow suffisau{n}ce.

[Linenotes: 1938 _nediþ no helpe_--nedede non help 1939 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 1940 _doutles_--dowteles 1941 _rycchesse_--Rychesses 1943 _helpe_--help _whiche_--whych 1944 _rycches_--Rychesse _dryuen_--dryue 1945 _hungre_--hungyr _þrest_--thurst 1946 _þei_--the _colde_--coold _in_--on 1947 _wilt answere_--wolt Answeren _y-nouȝ_--y-now 1948 _þrest_--thurst 1949 _colde_--coold 1950 _nat_--omitted 1951 _outerly_--vtrely 1953 _myȝt[e] ben_--myhte be 1957 _rychesse_--Rychesses]

QUAMUIS FLUENTER DIUES.

[Sidenote: [The 3^de Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: The rich man, had he a river of gold, would never rest content.]

++Al were it so þat a ryche couetous man hadde riuer 1960 fletynge alle of golde ȝitte sholde it neuer staunche hys couetise.

[Sidenote: Though his neck be loaded with precious pearls, and his fields be covered with innumerable herds, yet shall unquiet care never forsake him; and at his death his riches shall not bear him company.]

¶ And þouȝ he hadde his nekke I-charged wiþ p{re}ciouse stones of þe rede see. {and} þouȝ he do erye his feldes plentiuo{us} wiþ an hundreþ oxen neuere 1964 ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while he lyueþ. ne þe lyȝt[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym [[pg 72]] compaignie whanne he is dede.

[Linenotes: 1960 _riuer_--a Ryu{er} 1961 _alle_--al _golde_--gold _ȝitte_--yit _staunche_--stau{n}chyn 1962, 1963 _þouȝ_--thow 1964 _erye_--Ere _hundreþ_--hundred 1965 _while_--whyl 1966 _lyȝt[e]_--lyhte _shal_--shol 1967 _dede_--ded]

[Headnote: OF DIGNITIES.]

SET DIGNITATIB{US}.[4]

[Footnote 4: Read _dignitates_.]

[Sidenote: [The 4^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: It may be said that _dignities_ confer honour on their possessors.]

++Bvt dignitees to whom þei ben comen make þei hym 1968 honorable {and} reuerent.

[Sidenote: But have they power to destroy vice or implant virtue in the heart?]

han þei nat so grete strengþe þat þei may putte vertues in þe hertis of folk. þat vsen þe lordshipes of hem. or ellys may þei don awey þe vices.

[Sidenote: So far from expelling vicious habits, they only render them more conspicuous.]

Certys þei [ne] ben nat wont to don awey wikkednesses. 1972 but þei ben wont raþer to shew[en] wikkednesses.

[Sidenote: Hence arises the indignation when we see dignities given to wicked men.]

{and} þer of comeþ it þat I haue ryȝt grete desdeyne. þat dignites ben ȝeuen ofte to wicked men.

[Sidenote: Hence Catullus’ resentment against Nonius, whom he calls the botch, or impostume of the State.]

¶ For whiche þing catullus clepid a consul of Rome þat 1976 hyȝt noni{us} postum. or boch. as who seiþ he clepiþ hy{m} a congregac{i}ou{n} of uices in his brest as a postum is ful of corrupc{i}ou{n}. al were þis noni{us} set in a chayere of dignitee.

[Sidenote: The deformities of wicked men would be less apparent if they were in more obscure situations.]

Sest þou nat þan how gret vylenye 1980 dignitees don to wikked men. ¶ Certys vnworþines of wikked men shold{e} ben þe lasse ysen yif þei nere renomed of none hono{ur}s.

[Sidenote: Would you free yourself from peril by accepting a magistracy along with Decoratus a buffoon and informer?]

¶ Certys þou þi self ne myȝtest nat ben brouȝt wiþ as many p{er}ils as þou 1984 myȝtest suffren þat þ{o}u woldest bere þi magistrat wiþ decorat. þat is to seyn. þat for no p{er}il þat myȝt[e] bifalle{n} þe by þe offence of þe kyng theodorik þou noldest nat ben felawe in gouernaunce w{i}t{h} decorat. whanne 1988 þou say[e] þat he had[de] wikkid corage of a likerous shrewe {and} of an acusor.

[Sidenote: Honours do not render undeserving persons worthy of esteem.]

¶ Ne I ne may nat for swiche honours Iuge{n} hem worþi of reuerence þat I deme {and} holde vnworþi to han þilke same hono{ur}s.

[Sidenote: If you find a man endowed with wisdom you deem him worthy of respect and of the wisdom which he professes.]

¶ Now yif 1992 þou saie a man þat were fulfilled of wisdom. certys þou ne myȝtest nat demen þ{a}t he were vnworþi to þe [[pg 73]] hono{ur}. or ellys to þe wisdom of whiche he is fulfilled.

[Sidenote: _B._ I could not do otherwise.]

No q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Virtue has her proper worth, which she ever transfers to her votaries.]

¶ Certys dignitees q{uod} she app{er}tienen 1996 p{ro}perly to vertue. {and} uertue transporteþ dignite anon to þilke man to whiche she hir self is conioigned.

[Linenotes: 1969 _make_--maken 1969 _grete_--gret 1972 [_ne_]--from C. _ben_--be 1972, 1973 _wikkednesses_--wykkydnesse 1973 _to_--omitted _shew[en]_--shewen 1974 _comeþ_--comth _grete desdeyne_--gret desdaign 1976 _whiche_--which 1977 _hyȝt_--hyhte _nonius_--MS. vonn{us}, C. nomy{us} _boch_--MS. boþe, C. boch _clepiþ_--clepyd 1979 _nonius_--MS. uonn{us}, C. nomy{us} _set_--MS. sette, C. set 1980 _Sest þou_--Sesthow _þan_--thanne _vylenye_--fylonye 1981 _vnworþines_--vnworthynesse 1982 _ben_--be _ysen_--MS. ysene, C. I-sene 1984 _many_--manye 1985 _bere_--beren 1986 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 1987 _þe_ (2)--omitted 1988 _whanne_--whan 1989 _say[e]_--saye _had[de]_--hadde 1994 _demen_--deme 1995 _whiche_--which 1996 _quod she_--omitted 1997 _vertue_--vertu _uertue_--vertu 1998 _whiche_--whych]

[Headnote: DIGNITIES APPERTAIN TO VIRTUE.]

[Sidenote: Honours conferred by the populace do not make men worthy of them, for they have no intrinsic merit to bestow.]

¶ And for as moche as hono{ur}s of poeple ne may nat maken folk digne of hono{ur}. it is wel seyn clerly þat 2000 þei ne han no p{ro}pre beaute of dignite. ¶ And ȝit men auȝten take more hede in þis.

[Sidenote: Dignities conferred upon shrews only make their vices the more conspicuous.]

¶ For if it so be þat he is most out cast þat most folk dispisen. or as dignite ne may nat maken shrewes worþi of no reuerences. þan 2004 makeþ dignites shrewes more dispised þan p{re}ised. þe whiche shrewes dignit[e] scheweþ to moche folk

[Sidenote: Nor do dignities themselves escape without injury; for worthless men take their revenge upon them, and defile them by their contagious villanies.]

¶ {and} for soþe nat vnpunissed. þat is forto sein. þat shrewes reuengen hem aȝeinward vpon dignites. for þei ȝelden 2008 aȝein to dignites as gret gerdou{n} whan þei byspotten {and} defoulen dignites wiþ hire vylenie.

[Sidenote: These shadowy honours have nothing in their nature to procure respect; for if a man, having borne the honours of the consulate, should go among barbarians would this honour gain him their respect?]

¶ And for as moche as þou mow[e] knowe þat þilke verray reuerence ne may nat comen by þe shadewy t{ra}nsitorie dignitees. 2012 vndirstonde now þis. yif þat a man hadde vsed {and} hadde many manere dignites of consules {and} were come{n} p{er}auenture amonges straunge nac{i}ou{n}s. sholde þilke hono{ur} maken hym worshipful {and} redouted of 2016 straunge folk

[Sidenote: If respect were an attribute of honour it would infallibly bring esteem everywhere, just as heat is ever an attribute of fire.]

¶ Certys yif þat honour of poeple were a naturel ȝifte to dignites. it ne myȝte neuer cesen nowher amonges no maner folke to done hys office.

[Linenotes: 2000 _clerly_--MS. clerkly, C. clerly 2002 _auȝten----hede_--owhten taken mor heed 2002-3 _For----dignite_--For yif so be þ{a}t a wykkyd whyght be so mochel the fowler{e} {and} the moore owt cast þ{a}t he is despised of most folk so as dignete 2004-2007 _maken----soþe_--maken shrewes digne of Reu{er}ence the whych shrewes dignete sheweth to moche foolk thanne makith dignete shrewes rather so moche mor{e} despised than preysed {and} forsothe 2008 _ȝelden_--yilden 2009 _byspotten_--by-spetten 2010 _hire_--hyr 2011 _moche_--mochel _mow[e]_--mowe 2012 _þe shadewy_--thyse shadwye 2013 _vndirstonde_--vndyrstond _þis_--thus 2014 _hadde_--had 2018 _ȝifte_--yift 2019 _folke_--foolk _done_--don]

[Headnote: DIGNITIES DO CONFER ESTEEM.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 17 _b_.]]

¶ Ryȝt as fire i{n} euery contre ne stinteþ nat to 2020 enchaufen {and} *to ben hote.

[Sidenote: Honours arise from the false opinions of men, and vanish when they come among those who do not esteem them, that is, among foreign nations.]

but for as myche as forto be holden honorable or reuerent ne comeþ nat to folk of hir p{ro}pre strengþe of nat{ur}e. but only of þe fals[e] [[pg 74]] opiniou{n} of folk. þat is to sein. þat wenen þat dignites 2024 maken folk digne of hono{ur}. An on þerfore whan þat þei comen þer as folk ne knowe{n} nat þilke dignites. her hono{ur}s vanissen awey {and} þat on oon. but þat is a-mong straung folk. maist þou sein.

[Sidenote: Do they always endure in those places that gave birth to them?]

but amo{n}g{us} 2028 hem þat þei weren born duren þilk[e] dignites alwey.

[Sidenote: The Prætorate was once a great honour, but now it is only an empty name and a heavy expense.]

¶ Certys þe dignite of þe p{ro}uostrie of Rome was somtyme a grete power. now is it no þing but an ydel name. {and} þe rente of þe senatorie a g{r}et charge. 2032

[Sidenote: What is more vile than the office of the superintendency of provisions?]

{and} yif a whiȝt somtyme hadde þe office to taken he[de] to þe vitailes of þe poeple as of corne {and} what oþer þinges he was holden amonges grete. but what þing is more nowe out cast þanne þilke p{ro}uostrie

[Sidenote: That which hath no innate beauty must lose its splendour or value according as popular opinion varies concerning it.]

¶ And as I haue 2036 seid a litel here byforne. þat þilke þing þat haþ no p{ro}pre beaute of hym self resceyueþ somtyme pris {and} shinynge {and} somtyme lesiþ it by þe opiniou{n} of vsaunces.

[Sidenote: If dignities cannot confer esteem, if they become vile through filthy shrews, if they lose their lustre by the change of times, if they become worthless by the change of popular opinion, what beauty do they possess which should make them desirable, or what dignity can they confer on others?]

¶ Now yif þat dignites þanne ne mowen 2040 nat maken folk digne of reuerence. {and} yif þ{a}t dignites wexen foule of hir wille by þe filþe of shrewes. ¶ and yif þat dignites lesen hir shynynge by chaungyng of tymes. and yif þei wexen foule by estimac{i}ou{n} of 2044 poeple. what is it þat þei han in hem self of beaute þat auȝte ben desired. as who seiþ none. þanne ne mowen þei ȝiuen no beaute of dignite to none oþer.

[Linenotes: 2020 _enchaufen_--eschaufen 2021 _myche_--mochel 2022 _be_--ben 2023 _fals[e]_--false 2024 _þat_ (2)--omitted 2027 _her_--hyr _vanissen_--vanesshen 2028 _a-mong_--amonges _straung_--strau{n}ge _but_--ne 2029 _þat_--ther _duren þilk[e]_--ne duren nat thylke 2030 _somtyme_--whylom 2031 _grete_--gret 2032 _þe_ (2)--omitted 2033 _somtyme_--whylom _þe_--MS. þe þe 2034 _corne_--corn _what_--omitted 2035 _more nowe_--now more 2036 _cast_--MS. caste, C. cast 2037 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd _here byforne_--her by-forn _haþ_--MS. haþe 2042 _filþe_--felthe 2043 _þat_--omitted 2046 _auȝte_--owhte _none_--non 2047 _þei_--MS. ȝe, C. they _none_--non]

QUA{M}UIS SE TIRIO.

[Sidenote: [The 4^the Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Nero, though invested with the purple and adorned with pearls, was hated by all men.]

++Al be it so þat þe proude nero wiþ al his woode luxurie 2048 kembed hym {and} apparailed hym wiþ faire purp{er}s of Tirie {and} wiþ white perles. Algates ȝitte throf he hateful to alle folk ¶ þis is to seyn þat al was he by-hated [[pg 75]] of alle folk.

[Sidenote: Yet he had lordship, and gave to the senators the dishonoured seats of dignity.]

¶ ȝitte þis wicked Nero hadde gret 2052 lordship {and} ȝaf somtyme to þe dredeful senatours þe vnworshipful setes of dignites. ¶ vnworshipful setes he clepiþ here fore þat Nero þat was so wikked ȝaf þo dignites.

[Sidenote: Who then can think that felicity resides in honours given by vicious shrews?]

who wolde þanne resonably wenen þat blysfulnesse 2056 were in swiche hono{ur}s as ben ȝeuen by vicious shrewes.

[Linenotes: 2048 _al_ (2)--alle 2049 _kembed_--kembde _apparailed_--MS. apparailen, C. a-paraylede 2050 _ȝitte_--yit 2053 _lordship_--lorshippe _ȝaf somtyme_--yaf whylom _dredeful_--reu{er}encȝ 2055 _fore_--for _ȝaf_--yaf]

[Headnote: KINGDOMS DO NOT MAKE A MAN MIGHTY.]

AN UERO REGNA.

[Sidenote: [The 5^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _P._ Do kingdoms and a familiarity with princes make a man mighty?]

++Bvt regnes {and} familarites of kynges may þei maken a ma{n} to ben myȝty.

[Sidenote: _B._ Why should they not if they are durable?]

how ellys. ¶ whanne hir 2060 blysfulnesse dureþ p{er}petuely

[Sidenote: _P._ Past ages, as well as the present, furnish us with many examples of princes who have met with dismal reverses of fortune.]

but certys þe olde age of tyme passeþ. {and} eke of p{re}sent tyme now is ful of ensau{m}ples how þ{a}t kynges þat han chaunged in to wrechednesse out of hir welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: O then how noble and glorious a thing is power that is too weak to preserve itself!]

¶ O a noble þing 2064 {and} a cler þing is power þat is nat founden myȝty to kepe it self.

[Sidenote: If dominion brings felicity, then misery will follow if it be defective.]

¶ And yif þat power of realmes be auctour {and} maker of blisfulnesse. yif þilke power lakkeþ on any side. amenusiþ it nat þilke blisfulnesse {and} bryngeþ 2068 in wrechednesse.

[Sidenote: But human rule has its limits, therefore wherever power ceases there impotence enters, bringing misery along with it.]

but yif al be it so þat realmes of mankynde stretchen b{r}oode. ȝit mot þer nede ben myche folk ouer whiche þat euery kyng ne haþ no lordshipe no comaundement ¶ and certys vpon þilke syde þat 2072 power failleþ whiche þat makiþ folk blisful. ryȝt on þat same side nou{n}power entriþ vndirneþ þat makeþ hem wreches.

[Sidenote: Kings, therefore, have a larger portion of misery than of felicity.]

¶ In þis manere þanne moten kynges han more porciou{n} of wrechednesse þan of welefulnesse. 2076

[Linenotes: 2060 _myȝty_--MS. vnmyȝty, C. myhty 2062 _passeþ_--passed _of_ (2)--omitted 2063 _kynges þat han_--kynges ben 2066 _kepe_--kepen 2067 _maker_--maker{e} 2069 _yif_--yit _realmes_--the Reaumes 2070 _stretchen_--strechchen _myche_--moche 2071 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2073 _whiche_--whych 2074 _vndirneþ_--vndyr-nethe]

[Headnote: POWER DOES NOT DRIVE AWAY CARE.]

[Sidenote: Dionysius of Sicily, conscious of this condition, exhibited the fears and cares of royalty by the terror of a naked sword hanging over the head of his friend and flatterer Damocles.]

¶ A tyraunt þat was kyng of sisile þat had[de] assaied þe p{er}il of his estat shewid[e] by similitude þe dredes of realmes by gastnesse of a swerde þat heng ouer þe heued of his familier.

[Sidenote: What then is this thing called Power, which cannot do away with care or fear?]

what þing is þan þis power þat 2080 may nat don awey þe bytynges of besines ne eschewe [[pg 76]] þe prikkes of drede.

[Sidenote: Men would live in security but cannot, and yet they glory in their power.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 18.]]

and certys ȝit wolden þei lyuen *in sykernesse. but þei may nat. and ȝit þei glorifien hem in her power

[Sidenote: Is he powerful who cannot do what he wishes?]

¶ Holdest þou þan þat þilk[e] man 2084 be myȝty þat þ{o}u seest þat he wolde don þat he may nat don.

[Sidenote: Is he a mighty man who goes surrounded with an armed guard, to terrify those whom he himself fears, and whose power depends solely upon his numerous retinue?]