1. Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,
2. O sirs, do not men excel in strength, that bear rule over the sea and land, and all things in them?
3. But yet is the king stronger: and he is their lord, and has dominion over them; and in whatever he commands them they obey him.
4. If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: and if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and overcome mountains, walls, and towers.
5. They kill and are slain, and transgress not the king’s commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else.
6. Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbandry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute to the king.
7. And he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare;
8. if he command to strike, they strike; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they build;
9. if he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant.
10. So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lies down, he eats and drinks, and takes his rest:
11. and these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in anything.