Of the many sayings of certain merry women, some have already been related and others may yet be told as they come into the memory. But now will I relate a story which may welt furnish an ensample unto many. There was once a Duke of Burgundy, a most excellent prince, who prepared, as was often his custom, to journey throughout the greater part of his territory and visit his officers who were in those places, but more especially his treasurers, and to see what they did and how they fared. And coming to the mansions of six of his treasurers who were in divers places, by the first five he was received richly and honour-ably in very fine palaces, but by the sixth, who was the oldest and had been there the longest time, he was received very meanly in a little house. Seeing this, the Duke mar-veiled, and unto this treasurer he described the palaces of the others and the honour they had done him, and asked what was the reason why he acted thus. Then the treasurer answered
"Monseigneur, if I had wished to steal and cheat, as the others may happen to have done, I should also have a rich arid beauteous mansion; but I have lived with perchance too much loyalty to desire to live richly, as do those of whom ye tell me."
Said the Duke: "But now I desire that thou shouldst steal and do as the others do, in order that I may find thee in a fine mansion when next I come hither."
Then answered the treasurer: "Since that is your pleasure, I will do it."
Upon the next day the Duke departed and returned unto his own house. And after the space of a year and a half, or more, he went again in the same manner to visit his treasurers. And when he came to the house of the sixth treasurer, after having seen all the others, he found that none was to be compared with this one, and so likewise with the life that he led. Wherefore the Duke called the treasurer and said:
"I now understand that thou knowest how to obtain both fine palaces and a fine life with the permission which I gave thee; but, reflecting that such a thing may be to the hurt of many, and perchance more to my hurt than that of others, I desire that henceforth thou stealest no more nor gettest thee more things. Thou hast a fine mansion and art more rich than any of the others; with this thou canst rest content, and with this, as my treasurer, thou canst receive me richly at all times."
Replied the treasurer: "Monseigneur, formerly I led the life which now ye desire I should lead, and it was your pleasure that I should lead that life no longer, but that I should do just the contrary1 to this in a short time have I become so accustomed that now I could not by any manner of means return unto my former life."
So then the Duke said that he desired that he would at least no longer cheat or steal, but the treasurer answered that lie could not promise that. He prayed, however, that it might please the Duke to take from him his palace and all the treasures and possessions which he had, and appoint another treasurer, because he was grown old and was no 1onger fitted to serve him. And, notwithstanding all that the Duke could say, lie turned hot from his resolve, so that the Duke dismissed him and let him depart by himself with few possessions, and took another treasurer.
Thus did the wise treasurer withdraw from the game, and perchance willingly, that he might not lose his soul for sake of the Duke. And he would have been exceeding virtuous had he not followed the advice given him, thus leaving the just and unjust profit unto the Duke. Or per-chance he had so tasted of the fruits of cheating and robbery that he had no mind to live otherwise, and this would have been a great sill. And no reader must marvel thereat, because it is commonly said that whosoever commenceth to defraud never leaveth off. But enough of these two opinions1 the one good and the other evil, of the treasurer. The same thing is seen in these modern times. Those who make or who possess either great riches or great palaces, in what manner or whence did they have their beginning? Surely the greater number were founded upon theft or fraud, though verily everything is called gain nowadays; and most persons take liberties with the interpretation of this word and cook their broth according to their own liking. But there is one thing sure, that He who seeth all things serveth out to each one his portion, and giveth according as He thinketh each deserveth.