Chapter 3. The King Is Praised for His Virtues, Not His Garments

¹ Do not imagine that a gilded, purple-bordered robe will bring the servants of Ares—men of fierce and lion-like bearing—under your sway, unless they also see you clad in bronze armor and waging war with your own hands. For the barbarian is not struck with awe at the sight of a man decked out like a bridegroom; rather, he laughs at a gilded boy, and mocking him as childish and weak, thinks it justly true that he will not even need a single blow of his fist to kill him.