Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour,
Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour,
Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. 605
And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce,
That alle the grettest that were of that lond,
Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. (280)
For which, as sone as it mighte be,
He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, 610
And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name;
Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame,
Yow for to allye un-to none hasardours.
Sendeth othere wyse embassadours;
For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, 615
Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye.
For ye that been so glorious in honours
Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours (290)
As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’
This wyse philosophre thus seyde he. 620
606. Cm. Cp. Hl. happede; _rest_ happed. 612. Hn. Ny; Cm. Nay (_both
put for_ Ne I) _which shews the scansion._ Hl. I nyl not. 614. _So
all_.
Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius
The king of Parthes, as the book seith us,
Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn,
For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn;
For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun 625
At no value or reputacioun.
Lordes may finden other maner pley
Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey. (300)