Thy self-
praise does not aid thee a whit to increase in any one's esteem;
indeed, I hold thee in less esteem. Son, I chasten thee; but to
what end? It is of little use to advise a fool. He only wastes
his strength in vain who tries to cure the madness of a fool, and
the wisdom that one teaches and expounds is worthless, wasted and
unemployed, unless it is expressed in works." Then Meleagant was
sorely enraged and furious. I may truly say that never could you
see a mortal man so full of anger as he was; the last bond
between them was broken then, as he spoke to his father these
ungracious words: "Are you in a dream or trance, when you say
that I am mad to tell you how my matters stand? I thought I had
come to you as to my lord and my father; but that does not seem
to be the case, for you insult me more outrageously than I think
you have any right to do; moreover, you can give no reason for
having addressed me thus." "Indeed, I can." "What is it, then?"
"Because I see nothing in thee but folly and wrath. I know very
well what thy courage is like, and that it will cause thee great
trouble yet. A curse upon him who supposes that the elegant
Lancelot, who is esteemed by all but thee, has ever fled from
thee through fear. I am sure that he is buried or confined in
some prison whose door is barred so tight that he cannot escape
without leave.
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