The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is
made up of very hard read more

The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is
made up of very hard but very polished people.
[Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire
qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]

'Tis so much to be a king, that he only is so by being so.
- Michael read more

'Tis so much to be a king, that he only is so by being so.
- Michael Eyquen de Montaigne,

Every citizen is king under a citizen king.
[Fr., Tout citoyen est roi sous un roi citoyen.]

Every citizen is king under a citizen king.
[Fr., Tout citoyen est roi sous un roi citoyen.]

I shall be an autocrat: that's my trade. And the good Lord will
forgive me: that's his.
[Fr., read more

I shall be an autocrat: that's my trade. And the good Lord will
forgive me: that's his.
[Fr., Moi, je serai autocrate: c'est mon metier. Et le bon Dieu
me pardonnnera: c'est son metier.]

In that fierce light which beats upon a throne.

In that fierce light which beats upon a throne.

Many a crown
Covers bald foreheads.

Many a crown
Covers bald foreheads.

O, how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors!
There is betwixt that smile read more

O, how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors!
There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have;
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again.

I give this heavy weight from off my head
And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand,
The read more

I give this heavy weight from off my head
And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand,
The pride of kingly sway from out my heart.
With mine own tears I wash away my balm,
With mine own hands I give away my crown,
With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,
With mine own breath release all duty's rites.

The first art to be learned by a ruler is to endure envy.
[Lat., Ars prima regni posse te read more

The first art to be learned by a ruler is to endure envy.
[Lat., Ars prima regni posse te invidiam pati.]