,
The kynges throne strongly to enbrace;
For be the sentence of prudent Salamon,
Mercy and Right kepen every kyng,
And Clemence kepit be reson,

[Sidenote: Iudiciu' et Iusticiam.]

His myghti throne from myschief and fallyng,
And makith it strong with longe abydyng;
For y dar say these ladies thre,
A kyng preserve in long felicite.[191]
Thanne stod afore[192] also[193] the sayd kyng,
Two juges, with ful highe noblesse;
Viij^{te} seriauntes ich on representyng;

[Footnote 191: prosperytee.]

[Footnote 192: _Transposed._]

[Footnote 193: _Transposed._]

[Sidenote: Honor Regis iudiciu' dilig^{t}. Deus iudiciu' tuum Regi da,
et justiciam tuam filio Regis.]

For comon profith doom and right wisnesse:
Withe this scripture, whiche shalle expresse,[194]
Honour of kyng is in every mannys sight,[195]
Of comone custom lovyth equyte and right,
Kyng Davyd wrot, the sawter berith witnes,
Lord God, quod he, thi dome yif us[196] to the kyng,
And yif thi trouthe, and thi right wysnes,

[Footnote 194:

Honour of kyng which I shall expresse,
With this scripture in every manys sight.]

[Footnote 195:

Honour of kyng which I shall expresse,
With this scripture in every manys sight.]

[Footnote 196: _Omitted._]

To the kynges sone here in his levynge,
To us declaryng, as be ther wrightyng,
That kynges, prynces, sholde aboughte hym drawe,
Folk that ben trewe, and wel expert in lawe.
The kyng forthe rydyng entred Chepe anone,
A lusty place, a place of alle delitis,
Com to the Condyte, wher as cristalle ston,

[Sidenote: Thetis est dea aquar'.]

[Sidenote: Bachus est deus vini.]

The water ran, like welles of Paradys:
The holsome licour, ful riche and of gret pris,
Lik to the water of Archedeclyne,
Whiche be meracle were turnyd to[197] wyn:
Thetes, which that is of waters chief goddesse,
Hadde of the wellys power non nor myght,
For Bachus shewyd ther his fulsomnesse,

[Footnote 197: into.]

Of holsome wynes, to every maner wight:
For wyn of nature makith hertys light,
Wherfore Bachus, atte reverence of the kyng,
Shedde out his plente at his hom comyng.
Wyn is a lycour of[198] recreacione,
That day presentyd in tokne of[199] gladnes,
Into the kyngges famous highe renone,

[Footnote 198: of grete.]

[Footnote 199: of alle.]

From[200] to exile al maner hevynes,
For with his comyng, the dede berith witnes,
Out of this[201] lond he put away al trowble,
And made of newe oure joyes to b