Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, 1490-1555 > Volume 4, 1936

NOTES TO ANE SATYRE OF THE THRIE ESTAITIS 187
" The world shapes itself after its ruler’s pattern, nor can edicts sway
men’s minds so much as their monarch’s life : the unstable crowd ever
changes along with the prince " [Loeb text and trans.]. The advice of
Theodosius was not infrequently called upon to supply material for
the De Regimine Principum literature, and the actual line quoted by
Lindsay may be found, in longer or shorter quotations from Claudian,
in John of Salisbury [fnSo], Polycraticus, IV. iv., in Giraldus
Cambrensis [ii46-?i22o], De Principis Instructione, Distinctio I., in
Opera, Rolls Series, 8 vols., VIII. 141, and in George Buchanan, De
Jure Regni apud Scotos (1579), c. xxxvii. It was thus a not uncommon
quotation in the literature of the Prince and of statecraft before and
after Lindsay’s time.
The advice given by Veritie in the lines which follow may be a pert
rendering of lines 296-299 of Claudian’s panegyric :
In commune iubes si quid censesque tenendum,
primus iussa subi: tunc observantior aequi
fit populus nec ferre negat, cum viderit ipsum
auctorem parere sibi.
" If thou make any law or establish any custom for the general good,
be the first to submit thyself thereto ; then does a people show more
regard for justice nor refuse submission when it has seen their author
obedient to his own laws."
1052-1053. Chalmers, I. 422, " If you would that your subjects were
given to well-doing, then virtuously set them a good example [set them
a good example in your own virtue]/’
1060. Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus vt videant opera vestra bona :
" Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
[and glorify your father which is in heaven]."—Matthew v. 16.
1061. ^e Princes of the Preistis : principes sacerdotum. Cf., Mon., 28.
1080. Be Buiks and bels : by books and bells, here a mild oath, or
exclamation revealing anticipation of ultimate defeat. Note that
Veritie is recognised, and feared, by Flattrie (Devotioun). Cf. line
1258, " with Buik and bell,” and see note. Cf. Satyre, 2085, 3718.
1091. Dame Veritie hes lychtit now of lait: Dame Veritie has lately
arrived. For Lindsay Veritie symbolises religious truth, and for a
time she will be rejected by both King and Spiritualitie (= Church
and State). The rejection of Verity was a mediaeval allegory, without
religious specialisation. Cf. Dunbar, Quhome to sail I complene, S.T.S.,
II. xoi, lines 38-39 :
And trewth standis barrit at the dure,
And exul is of the toun. [MSS. M and R read " Exylit
is honour of the toun,” which may be correct.]
W. Gregor, notes to the S.T.S. Dunbar, III. 175, quotes in illustration
Satyre, 3588-90, and Walter Mapes, De Palpone et Assentatore [Latin