To know how to dissemble is the knowledge of kings.
[Fr., Savoir dissimuler est le savoir des rois.]

To know how to dissemble is the knowledge of kings.
[Fr., Savoir dissimuler est le savoir des rois.]

The king-becoming graces,
As justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness,
Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,
Devotion, patience, read more

The king-becoming graces,
As justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness,
Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,
Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,
I have no relish of them, but abound
In the division of each several crime,
Acting in many ways.

Ah! vainest of all things
Is the gratitude of kings.

Ah! vainest of all things
Is the gratitude of kings.

He who knows how to dissimulate knows how to reign.
[Fr., Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare.]

He who knows how to dissimulate knows how to reign.
[Fr., Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare.]

I am the State.
[Fr., L'etat c'est moi.]

I am the State.
[Fr., L'etat c'est moi.]

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.]

As ourselves your empires fall,
And every kingdom hath a grave.

As ourselves your empires fall,
And every kingdom hath a grave.

Ten poor men sleep in peace on one straw heap, as Saadi sings,
But the immensest empire is too read more

Ten poor men sleep in peace on one straw heap, as Saadi sings,
But the immensest empire is too narrow for two kings.

Here lies our sovereign lord, the king,
Whose word no man relives on,
Who never said a read more

Here lies our sovereign lord, the king,
Whose word no man relives on,
Who never said a foolish thing,
And never did a wise one.