Page:Disciplina Clericalis (English translation) from the fifteenth century Worcester Cathedral Manuscript F. 172.djvu/52

  either seriously or in sport, lest it befall thee as it befell the two jesters before the king." To this the son: "Tell me about that father, I pray thee." The father: "All right. A certain jester once came to the king, whom the king made to sit at meat with another jester. But the latter began to be envious of the new comer after his arrival because the king had favored him more than himself and all those about the court. And in order that this state of things might not last long he planned to put him in disgrace so that he would have to run away. Therefore while the others were eating the first jester put the bones together and placed them before his companion; and when the meal was finished he showed the king the pile of bones, arranged for the disgrace of his companion, saying sharply: 'My companion has eaten the covering of all those bones.' And the king looked at him with an angry scowl. But the accused said to the king: 'Master I did it because my nature, as is human, required me to eat the flesh and throw away the bones; and my companion did what his nature, apparently that of a dog, demanded, in eating both flesh and bones'."

The philosopher said: "Honor thyself as the lesser person and give him of thy substance, just as thou wishest that the greater honor thee and give thee of his substance." Another: "It is indeed base for a rich man to be avaricious, but it is beautiful for man of moderate means to be liberal."

The disciple saide to the Maister: "Write thow to me the diffinicioun of the largesse, the Auarous, and the Prodogus; that is to say, the large or free man, the Covetous man, and the wastour." [The fader]: "Whiche yevith to whom it is to yeve and withholdith and reteyneth to whom it is to withold, is large; and [whiche] forbedith to whom it is forboden and to whom it is nat forboden [is] covetous. And who that yevith to whom it is nat to yeve is a wastour."

"Do not engage in a business that is failing, and do not delay to become associated with a growing business." Another: "A little happiness is of more worth than a house full of gold and silver." Another: "Strive for the useful with great care, not with great haste." Another: "Do not look upon one richer than thyself lest thou sin against him, but upon one who is poorer than thyself and then thank God." Another: "Do not deny God because of poverty, and do not be proud because of riches," Another: "He who desires much is always consumed with hunger for more." Another: "If you only wish to have as much in this world as will suffice for