And next they fell to war thereon,
And each man kept whate’er he won
By force and fraud, and thus the strong
Beat back the weak—if right or wrong.10050
But if awhile they left their lands,
Arose some idle roving bands
Of rascals, who would forge within
Their dwellings, and their warnestore win.
And so among them ’twas agreed
To choose out one who might give heed
To all men’s surety, and adjudge
Each plaint of fraud, misdeed, or grudge
With upright, fair, impartial voice;
So gathered they to fix their choice.10060
LIV
Herein behold the manner how
Men first agreed their necks to bow
Beneath a king, and how he sware
The sceptre loyally to bear.
Kings first chosen
Then, from the host men set apart
A sturdy peasant, bold of heart,
Of mighty strength, and towering height,
Called him their lord, and gave him right
Above the rest. He stoutly sware
To guard them all with watchful care;10070
But each of ye, quoth he, must give
Dimes of your goods that I may live.
E’en as he asked it so befell,
As ancient books and records tell,
And many a year this compact he
Fulfilled, but robbers presently
