The world stod than upon the wise, 2780
As be ensample thou myht rede;
And hold it in thi mynde, I rede.
[Gaius Fabricius.]
In a Cronique I finde thus,
Hou that Gayus Fabricius,
Which whilom was Consul of Rome,
Hic ponit exemplum de iudicibus incorruptis. Et narrat qualiter Gayus Fabricius nuper Rome Consul aurum a Sampnitibus sibi oblatum renuit, dicens quod nobilius est aurum possidentes dominio subiugare, quam ex auri cupiditate dominii libertatem amittere.
Be whom the lawes yede and come,
Whan the Sampnites to him broghte