“This hand was sent from God, that on the wall Wrote Mane, tekel, phares , trustë me; Thy reign is done; thou weighest naught at all; Divided is thy regne, and it shall be To Medës and to Persians giv’n,” quoth he. And thilkë samë night this king was slaw; 4093 And Darius occupied his degree, Though he thereto had neither right nor law.

Lordings, example hereby may ye take, How that in lordship 4094 is no sickerness; 4095 For when that Fortune will a man forsake, She bears away his regne and his richéss, And eke his friendës bothë more and less. For what man that hath friendës through fortúne, Mishap will make them enemies, I guess; This proverb is full sooth, and full commúne.