I. I offer a counsel to the Emperor, since he conducts all his affairs by council, and would do nor more nor less than his councillors would have him say and do. And I counsel him, if he aims at excellence, to give hence. forth without counsel; and, without consulting the barons’ council, let him hearken to the counsel of the worthiest man, for such is a counsel befitting an Emperor.
II. Since I counsel what will bring him honour, let him heed me, if he would, or let him give no thought to it. And if the Seneschal and Conon of the Grand Council be not wroth, I shall be a good counsellor, and shall counsel them both, when they counsel their suzerain, to counsel him to bestow rich gifts; but I know not if these two will hearken to me, nor do I in the least compel them to do so.
III. And if there be no improvement in the blossom, the fruit might well be rotten; and let him beware lest he decline, to his own hurt, for he has risen to great honour, and he is a goodly person and of noble lineage. And if he would heed my words, then indeed there will be no shame and no hurt, but there will be great honour and profit, for if he abandons those who stand with him, men will be slow to become his servants.
IV. And let him not fear cold or heat, nor linger in palatial ease, for he has placed on his neck a burden of such weight that, if he be not of great valour, it will be hard for him to bear it to the end. For the Wallachiaos and the Cumans and the Russians and the Turks and the Pagans and the Persians will be against him, with the Greeks; and if he does not endure toil for glory’s sake, he may undo all he has done.
V. For he and we alike bear guilt for the burning of the churches and the palaces, wherein I see both clerics and laymen sin; and if he does not succour the Holy Sepulchre and if the conquest does not advance, then our guilt before God will be greater still, for the pardon will turn to sin, But if he be liberal and brave, he will lead his battalions to Babylonia and Cairo with the greatest ease.
VI. All his power and strength must he display to the Turks beyond Roais (Edessa), for all the sultans and the cadis and the emirs and the caliphs are hoping to wield lances and hurl missiles. And Nevelon will be denounced, and the twelve electors will be blamed, if the Sepulchre remains in captivity; and the Doge will be accused of deception if he is minded to turn him aside from this succour.
VII. I wish to make my counsel known to the Marshal, for he is loyal and true, But I will blame him, and Milon of Brabant, if the Emperor be not most valiant ..................... and liberal and noble.
