When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, [saying], Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and [let] this ruin [be] under thy hand:
Ver. 6. When a man shall take hold of his brother.] This is a further mischief that government shall go a-begging, and scarce one be found that shall hold it worth having. The Venetians have magistrates called Proegadi, because at first men were prayed to take the office, and not many would accept of it; this was the case here. Men are naturally ambitious of ruledom - the bramble thinks it a goodly thing to reign over the trees - but they may soon have enough of it, and be forced to cry out, as he once did of his diadem, O rills pannus! O base rag, not worth taking up at a man's feet!
Thou hast clothing.] Fit for a prince; some badge of honour, and such apparel as may procure thee respect; for
“ Hunc homines decorant, quem vestimenta decorant. ”
Let this ruin be under thy hand.] That is, by a hypallage, a let thy hand be under this ruin, that is, under this desolate and ruined State, to raise it up and repair it.
a A figure of speech in which there is an interchange of two elements of a proposition, the natural relations of these being reversed.