aying men to tell them true.

King Ladislaus--our Lord absolve his soul!--used much this manner
among his servants. When one of them praised any deed of his or any
quality in him, if he perceived that they said but the truth he
would let it pass by uncontrolled. But when he saw that they set a
gloss on it for his praise of their own making besides, then would
he shortly say unto them, "I pray thee, good fellow, when thou
sayest grace at my board, never bring in a _Gloria Patri_ without a
_sicut erat._ Any act that ever I did, if thou report it again to
mine honour with a _Gloria Patri,_ never report it but with a
_sicut erat_--that is, even as it was and none otherwise. And lift
me not up with lies, for I love it not." If men would use this way
with them that this noble king used, it would diminish much of
their false flattery.

I can well approve that men should commend such things as they see
praiseworthy in other men--keeping them within the bounds of
truth--to give them the greater courage to the increase of them.
For men keep still in that point one quality of children, that
praise must prick them forth. But better it were to do well and
look for none. Howbeit, those who cannot find it in their hearts to
commend another man's good deed show themselves either envious or
else of nature very cold and dull. But without question, he who
putteth his pleasure in the praise of the people hath but a foolish
fancy. For if his finger do but ache of a hot blain, a great many
men's mouths blowing out his praise will scantly do him, among them
all, so much ease as to have one boy blow on his finger!

XI

Let us now consider likewise what great worldly wealth ariseth unto
men by great offices and authority--to those worldly-disposed
people, I say, who desire them for no better purpose. For of those
who desire them for better, we shall speak after anon.

The great thing that they all chiefly like therein is that they may
bear a rule, command and control other men, and live uncommanded
and uncontrolled themselves. And yet this commodity took I so
little heed of, that I never was aware it was so great, until a
good friend of ours merrily told me once that his wife once in a
great anger taught it to him. For when her husband had no desire to
grow greatly upward in the world, nor would labour for office of
authority, and beside that forsook a right worshipful office when
it was offered him, she fell in hand with him, he told