Assembled, seeing him alone,
And fell on him with stick and stone,
With will his goods to rob and steal.
And then men met and made appeal,10080
Each unto each, a tax to pay,
Whereby their king from disarray
To guard, and all the people vowed
From out their lands should be allowed
A fair and wide domain, and thus
Began the burden onerous
Of kings and princes, as ye see
Writ plain in many a history.
And in these scriptures are we told
The ways and works of men of old,10090
And unto those through whom we get
Such knowledge, owe we deepest debt
Of thanks and praise.
With toil past measure
Men’s avarice
Men then began to heap up treasure,
Winning, from out the rich stored earth,
Silver and gold and stones of worth,
And soon thereof with toil they coined
Round pieces, and of metals, joined
With gems, they fairest jewels made,
Vessels, and rings; and many a blade10100
For sword and dagger of bright steel,
And arms and axes wrought, to deal
Death blows, and well-knit coat and helm
’Neath which to fight and overwhelm
Their fellows, and then towers they placed
Around with high-built walls encased,
And cities fair, and palaces,
Wherein they looked to dwell at ease,
{rh|VOL. II.||G}}
