I. Neither leaf nor flower nor warm weather nor cold makes me sing or takes away my desire (to do so), but then I sing when I hear people say that good must come to him who indeed foresees for himself (God!) all good fortune from peace! A duke, who is a count and a marquis — and a peace of clerics and Frenchmen!
II. Peace, provided it is good and strong and sure, a peace of friendship which is just to each one, a peace made fairly by an honorable man, a peace such as one can love without rancor, a good peace pleases me, when it lasts; but a forced peace does not please me: from an evil peace comes more harm than good.
III. In a king’s court one ought to find uprightness, and in the church, mercy and indulgence and free forgiveness of mortal sin, according to the words of Holy Scripture. And a king should show moderation, for if he does not show it he is worse off; it would be right that harm should come to him.
IV. Just as one dies of mortal sin, so he should be exalted in rank who serves a good lord willingly and long, to the best of his ability. A good lord gives increase to his people and improves their lot, and an evil man grows much worse. Therefore it would please me greatly if one aided the good and harmed the bad.
V. A king should love and honor his own kind, and increase the dominions and the honors of him who is best; and he should guard his court against excess. A king who has concern for true merit (or perhaps, for his own reputation) should heed the valiant, the courtly, the most honored, and the most learned.
