Peter Alphonse

“ This fellow tried to exasperate the king against the boy by some such words as these: 'Master, your majesty's moderation towards the son of your former counsellor, whose father left him an inexhaustible supply of money was very weak, not to say foolish; for now neither you nor he have the money, because he, silly youth, has squandered it.' The king, moved to anger by such words, sent a messenger for the young man, to whom he spoke as follows: "Foolish son of a wise man, idle and lavishly extravagant, why hast thou wasted the wealth acquired by wisdom which was entrusted to thy keeping?" ”

“ Again the disciple said to his master: "Since worldly things are so transitory, why should we make just as great preparations as if they were lasting?" The master: "Because the end of life is uncertain." ”

“ The Wise Merchant and the Improvident King
"Forsoth it is saide that suche a kyng of the Scites [2] bi the comune assent of his nobles to suche on of his seruauntis whom thei cald Anne [3] to be prudent and wise in seculier and worldly thynges; al the bridels and Rulis of his Realme to hym he commytted, whiche al the Revenues and Rentis of the Realme he Received and plesauntly and pesibly entreatid, the house and the household meyne and Ministres seruauntis and their dispenses ordeyned. A Riche Marchaunt his brother in a Citee fer of indwellid. ”