with Nestor into the depth of all civil government; and to make his
wisdom more gracious, he had that _salem ingenii_ and pleasant
eloquence that was so highly commended in Ulysses: his valor was no
less than his wit, nor the stroke of his lance no less forcible than
the sweetness of his tongue was persuasive; for he was for his courage
chosen the principal of all the Knights of Malta. This hardy knight,
thus enriched with virtue and honor, surnamed Sir John of Bordeaux,
having passed the prime of his youth in sundry battles against the
Turks, at last (as the date of time hath his course) grew aged. His
hairs were silver-hued, and the map of age was figured on his
forehead: honor sat in the furrows of his face, and many years were
portrayed in his wrinkled lineaments, that all men might perceive his
glass was run, and that nature of necessity challenged her due. Sir
John, that with the Phoenix knew the term of his life was now expired,
and could, with the swan, discover his end by her songs, having three
sons by his wife Lynida, the very pride of all his forepassed years,
thought now, seeing death by constraint would compel him to leave
them, to bestow upon them such a legacy as might bewray his love, and
increase their ensuing amity. Calling, therefore, these young
gentlemen before him, in the presence of all his fellow Knights of
Malta, he resolved to leave them a memorial of all his fatherly care
in setting down a method of their brotherly duties. Having, therefore,
death in his looks to move them to pity, and tears in his eyes to
paint out the depth of his passions, taking his eldest son by the
hand, he began thus:

SIR JOHN OF BORDEAUX' LEGACY HE GAVE TO HIS SONS

"O my sons, you see that fate hath set a period of my years, and
destinies have determined the final end of my days: the palm tree