Page:Disciplina Clericalis (English translation) from the fifteenth century Worcester Cathedral Manuscript F. 172.djvu/64



Forsoth proverbialy thei seyn that Socrates eschewid the tumult and the multitude of worldly people and a fieldly lif coveited, chase hym to the woode and to a place of sikernes to dwelle in half a Tonne; of whiche the bottum he sette agenst the wynde and the shadewe, and that was open gladly agenst the Sonne. Whom the kynges hunters, whan they had founden scornede hym sleyng his life, bigan to turne awey the myrry beames of the sonne. To whom he with a glad chiere [saide]: 'That ye may nat yeve me presume nat to take awey.' To that thei wrathed and hym to delaie that hym nedid wolden have compelled and out of the wey han led, lest that the eyen of men passyng by and of their lord so vile a persone shuld have offended. That nat the threatis or manaces of worthy men [saide]: 'Avoide and go, lest of thy long studie and busynes any evil vnto the happene, forwhi our kyng with his seruaunt and meyne is to passe this wey.' Thei forsoth in hym berkyng and threateyng the philosopher biholdyng saide: 'Yowre lord is nat my lord but my seruaunt.' That heryng and with a newly chiere hym biholdyng, sum decre thei purposiden of lasse Reproef and threate til thei herden the sentence of the kyng thei decreeden. Forsoth while thei thus decreeden the kyng cam with his meyne, and what was the cause of (f. 134) the strif askyng, what deedis wern don or saide, the kynges seruauntis rehercyng he knewe it. The kyng therfor willyng to knowe what of tho foule thynges to hym reherced wern aught feyned, to the philosopher than he went and inquiryng what the philosopher saide of hym. So as bifore vnto his meyne, so hym assured to be seruaunt of his seruauntis. The sentence of whiche wordis the kyng benyngly and with a dili- gent trust asked hym to tel and shewe. To whom the philosopher bihielde the face and chiere of his dignite lightly saide: 'Suche wil is seruaunt vnto me and to me servith and I nat to hym. And thow in the contrarie art subiect vnto wil and to hym thow servist, and