The Secret of Secrets of Aristotle

through his beautiful appearance and to excel others in decorum. It befits the king, therefore, to use dear, beautiful, and foreign garments; indeed, it befits the king to surpass others by a certain prerogative, so that through this his dignity may be adorned, his power not injured, and due reverence attributed. It befits the king, therefore, to be eloquent and affable, to have a clear voice, which is very useful in the time of battles.

Concerning the taciturnity of a king.

Alexander, it is a specious and honorable thing in a king to abstain from too much talk, unless necessity demands it; for it is better that the ears of men should always be thirsty for his speech than that they should be satiated with his affections, for when ears are satiated, the minds also are satiated, and they do not view the king with much pleasure. It also befits the king to abstain from frequently keeping company with subjects, and especially with vile persons, for excessive familiarity with men breeds a contempt of honor. And because of this, there is the beautiful custom of the Indians in the disposition of the kingdom and the ordering of the king, who established that the king should appear before men only once a year with royal attire and an armed army, sitting most nobly on his dextrarius war horse/steed, beautifully adorned with the ornament of arms. And they make the common people stand at a distance, but the nobles and barons stand around him; and then they are accustomed to expedite arduous business, to avert various and impending outcomes, and to show the care and work that he has faithfully performed concerning the republic. Indeed, he is accustomed on that day to distribute gifts, to emancipate lesser criminals from prisons, to relieve heavy burdens, and to perform many pious works. The speech ended, the king will sit, and immediately one of the collateral princes, who is reputed to be wiser and more eloquent than all, will rise and will speak to his honor and commendation, giving thanks to the glorious God who has so well ordered the kingdom of the Indians that He has adorned the country with such a wise king, and that He has confirmed the praiseworthy people of the Indians to be obedient and unanimous. And after long praises and royal commendations, he will turn himself to the praises of the people, commemorating good morals, capturing benevolence, inducing them by examples and reasons to humility, obedience, reverence, and love of the king; which done, all the people will strive to extol the royal praises, their good