The Secret of Secrets and Other Philosophical Treatises

...the crown of his glory will lack honor. What then shall I say? There is no sin; there is no treasure better than what one would wish to purchase for oneself than a good reputation original: "bona fama." As established on the previous page, this refers to a ruler's public moral standing.. Furthermore, it becomes a king to honor lawmakers, to venerate the religious, and to honor the wise or those in high positions, and to confer with them; he should raise doubtful questions, ask questions honorably, and respond discreetly; he should honor the wiser and more noble more greatly, according to the status of each.

4.

On the foresight of the king.

It is necessary, moreover, for the king to think ahead to the future and prudently meet future events, so that he may bear unforeseen circumstances more easily. It also becomes him to have piety original: "pietatem." This implies not just religious devotion, but a sense of duty and mercy toward his subjects., and to restrain the movement of his soul, lest an unforeseen emotion proceed into action without deliberation. He should rationally recognize his own error and wisely revoke it, because the highest wisdom in a king is to rule himself. When the king wishes to do something good or useful, let him do it with deliberation—neither too slowly nor too quickly—lest he seem impulsive or negligent.

5.

On the king's clothing.

Many things suit the royal dignity in terms of honorable dress, and he should always appear with a beautiful array, or excel others in beauty. Therefore, it is fitting for him to be adorned in expensive, beautiful, and foreign garments. It is indeed proper for the king to surpass all others in a certain prerogative original: "prerogativa." Here used to mean a visible distinction or privilege of rank. of appearance, so that through this his dignity may be honored,

his power is not harmed, and due reverence is paid. It becomes the king, therefore, to be eloquent and affable, and to have a clear voice, which is very useful in battles.

6.

On the king's self-restraint.

Alexander, it is graceful and honorable in a king to abstain from excessive talking original: "multiloquio." Loquacity or speaking too much was considered a sign of a weak mind in medieval leadership manuals., unless necessity demands it. For it is better that the ears of men should always be thirsting for his eloquence than that they be saturated with his speeches; for once their ears are sated, they are made weary, and they will not care much to see the king.

7.

On the custom of the king.

It is also necessary for the king to abstain from and not frequently join the company of his subjects, and especially of low-born persons, because too much familiarity among men breeds contempt for honor. Therefore, here is a beautiful custom of the Indians regarding the arrangement of kingdoms and the arrangement of a king: they established that the king should appear only once a year before everyone with royal finery and an armed army, sitting most nobly on his war-horse original: "dextrario." A destrier, the highly-valued mount of knights and royalty. in his armor, most beautifully adorned and decorated. They make the common people stand a little distance away, with the nobles and barons around him. Then he is accustomed to settle difficult business, to declare various past events, and to show the care and work he has undertaken regarding the commonwealth original: "rem publicam." Not a republic in the modern sense, but the 'public matter' or the collective well-being of the kingdom.. They are accustomed, moreover, on that day to distribute gifts.

Moreover, on that day to distribute gifts.