The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 201]

[¶ C^m.xx^m.] Here bygynneþ Chauceres tale of Melibe and his wyf Prudence and his doughter Sapience

[There are no line-numbers or breaks between the paragraphs in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here to prevent slight differences in the Six Texts throwing out many lines.]

[Corpus MS, on leaf 217, back.]

[2157] A Ȝong man whilom called Melibe mighty & riche bigate vpon his wyf þat called was Prudence. a doughter which þat cleped was Sapience

[2158] ¶ vpon a day felle þat he for his disporte is went in to þe feeldes him to pleye [2159] his wyf and eek his doughter haþ he lefte wiþinne his hous of which þe dores weren faste schette. [2160] ffoure of his olde foos han it aspyed. and setten ladderes to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben y-entred [2161] ¶ and beeten his wyf and wounded his doughter with fyue mortaille woundes in .v. sondry places. [2162] þis is to say in hire feet in hire hand. in hire eeres in hire nose in hire mouþ ¶ and laften hire for deed and wenten here wey

[2163] ¶ When Melibeus retourned was aȝein in-til his hous and sawe al þis meschief ¶ he y-like a mad man rendyng his cloþes gan to weepe and crye

[2164] ¶ Prudence his wyf as ferforþ as sche dorste bysought him of his weepyng for to stynte [2165] ¶ but nouȝt for-þy he gan to wepe and crye euer lenger þe more

[2166] ¶ This noble wyf prudence remembred hire on þe sentence of Ovide in his bok þat cleped is þe remedy of loue where he saiþ [2167] he is a fool þat distourbeþ þe mooder for to wepe in þe deþ of hire childe til sche haue wepte hire fille as for a certein tyme [2168] Then schal man don his diligence with amyable wordes hire to comforte and to preye hire of

[6-text p 202] hire wepyng for to stynte [2169] ¶ ffor which resoun þis noble prudence suffred hire housbond for to weepe and crye as for a certeyn space [2170] ¶ And when sche saugh hire tyme sche seyde him in þis wyse ¶ Allas my lord quod sche why make ȝe ȝoure self for to be ylike a fool [2171] ffor soþe it apertyneþ nouȝt to a wise man to maken such a sorwe [2172] ¶ ȝoure doughter wiþ þe grace [folio 218a] of god schal be warisshed and askape [2173] ¶ And alle were it so þat sche right now were deed; ȝe oughte nouȝt as for hire deþ ȝoure self to destryue [2174] ¶ Senek saiþ þe wiseman schal nouȝt take to gret discomfort for þe deþ of his children [2175] but certes he schulde suffre it in pacience as wel as he abydeþ þe deþ of his owen propre persone

[2176] ¶ This Melibeus answerde anon and sayde ¶ What man quod he schulde of his wepyng stynte þat haþ so gret a cause for to weepe [2177] ¶ Ihesus crist oure lord himself wepte for þe deþ of lazarus his freend [2178] ¶ Prudens answerde ¶ certes wel I woot a-tempre weepyng is nouȝt defendid vnto him þat sorwful is among folk in sorwe ¶ But it is raþer y-graunted him to wepe [2179] ¶ The apostel Poule. vnto þe Romayns writeþ. Man schal reioyse wiþ hem þat maken ioye ¶ And weepen wiþ suche folk as wepen [2180] ¶ But þough a-tempre wepynge be y-graunted Outragous weepyng certes is defended [2181] ¶ Mesurable wepyng schulde be considered after þe lore þat techeþ vs Senek [¶ Senek/] [2182] ¶ Whan þat þi freend is deed let nought þin yen to moyste ben of teeres ne to druye ¶ Al þough þe teeres comen of þin eyen let hem nouȝt fallen [2183] ¶ And whan þou hast forgon þi frende I rede þou do þy diligence to gete þe anoþer. and þis is more wiser þan for to wepe for þyn freend þe which þat þou hast lore ¶ ffor þer-in is no boote [2184] ¶ And þerfore if þou lust gouerne þe by Sapience; putte awey sorwe of ȝoure herte. [2185] ¶ Remembreþ ȝou þat Ihesus Cyrak / seiþ [¶ Ihesus Cyrak/]

[6-text p 203] a man þat is Ioyous and glad in herte hit him con|serueþ florisching in his age ¶ But soþly sorwful herte makeþ his bones dryue [2186] ¶ he saiþ eek þus ¶ þat sorwe in herte sleþ ful many a man [2187] Sa|lamon. [¶ Salomon] seiþ þat right as moughtes in þe schepes flees annoyeþ to þe cloþes and þe smale wormes of þe trees ¶ Right so anoyeþ sorwe to þe herte [2188] ¶ Wherfore we ouȝt as wel in þe deþ of oure children as in þe losse of oure good haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembreþ ȝow vpon þe pacient Iob. [¶ Iob] whan he hadde lost his children and his temperel sub|stance / In his body endured and suffred many a greuous temptacion ¶ ȝet sayde he þus [2190] ¶ Oure lord quod he haþ ȝoue it me ¶ Oure lord haþ byreft it me Right so as oure lord haþ wolde right so be it don. y-blessed be þe name of oure lord [2191] ¶ To þese afore þinges Melibeus answerde to his wyf dame Prudence / Alle þine wordes quod he ben soþe and þerto pro|ffitable ¶ But trewly myn herte is troubled wiþ þis sorwe so greuously þat I not what to done [2192] ¶ let calle quod Prudence þin trewe frendes alle and þin lynage whiche þat ben wise Telle hem þyn [caas] [folio 218b] and herkne what þay say in counseillynge and ȝou gouerneth þer after here sentence [2193] Salomon saiþ werk alle þing by counseil [Salomon] and þou schalt neuer repente þe

[2194] ¶ Thenne by þe counseil of his wyf dame Pru|dence; Melibeus let callen a gret congregacion of folk [2195]. . . . . [no gap] olde and ȝonge and some of his olde enemys reconsiled as by here semblant in to his loue and in to his grace [2196] ¶ And þer-wiþ-al þer come somme of his olde neyghebours and þat deden him reuerence more for drede þan for loue as it happeþ ofte [2197] ¶ Ther comeþ also ful many subtile flaterers and wyse aduocatis lerned in þe lawe

[2198] And whan þis folk / togidre assembled were; This Melibeus in sorwful wise schewed hem þis caas

[6-text p 204] [2199] ¶ And by þe manere of þis speche he bar in his herte a cruel yre redy to don venge|aunce vpon his foos And sodeynly desired þat þe werre schulde begynne [2200] ¶ But naþeles ȝit asked he here counseil vpon þis matere [2201] A Surgien by licence and assent of suche as were wyse vp ros vn|to Melibeus and sayde as ȝe may heere

[2202] Sire quod he as to vs surgiens aperteyneþ to euery wight þe beste þat we can were as we ben wiþholde ¶ And to oure paciences þat we do no damages [2203] þerfore it happeþ many tymes and ofte þat when tuo men haue euerich wounded oþer O same Surgien heleþ hem boþe [2204] ¶ Wherfore vnto oure art it nys nouȝt pertynent to norische werre ne parties to supporte [2205] ¶ But certes as to þe warisshyng of ȝour doughter be it so þat sche is perilously wounded; we schulde do so ententyfly busynes fro day to night þat wiþ þe grace of god sche schal be sound and hool as sone as it is possible [2206] ¶ Alle men in þis same wyse answerden and þe Phisiciens. saue þat þay sayden a fewe wordes more [2207] þat right as maladies ben heled by þe contraries Right so schal men warissche werre by vengaunce [2208] his neyghe|burs fulle of enuye his feynede freendes þat semed reconsiled his flaterers [2209] maden semblaunt of wepyng enpeyred and engregged meche of his matiere in preysynge gretly Melibeus of might of power of riches and of frendes despysynge þe power of his aduersaries [2210] and sayden outrely þat he anon schulde awreken him on his enemys and begynne werre

[2211] ¶ Vp ros þanne an aduoket þat was wys and sayde by leue and by counseil of oþere þat were wyse ¶ And sayde [2212] lordynges the neede for þe which we ben as|sembled in þis place is a ful heuy þing and an heigh matiere [2213] by cause of þe wrong and of þe wikkednesse þat haþ ben don and eeke by resoun of þe grete damage /

[6-text p 205] in tyme comynge ben possible to [folio 219a] falle for þis same cause [2214] and eek by resoun Of þe grete richesse and power of þe parties boþe [2215] ¶ ffor þe whiche resouns it were a gret perile for to erren in þis matiere // [2216] wherfore melibeus þis is oure sentence we counseile ȝou abouen alle þinges þat right anon þou do þi diligence in kepyng of þi propre persone in suche a wyse þat þou ne wante none aspye ne wacche þi body for to saue [2217] ¶ And after þat we counseile þat þou sette in þin hous suffisaunt garnysoun ¶ So þat þey may as wel þy body and þin hous defende [2218] ¶ But certes for to meve werre ne sodeinly for to do vengeance ¶ We may nouȝt deme in so litel tyme þat it were profit|able [2219] wherfore we asken leysir and space to haue deliberacion in þis cas to deme [2220] for þe commune prouerbe saiþ þus. he. þat sone demeþ sone schal repente [2221] ¶ And eek men say þus þat þilke Iuge is wys þat sone vnderstandeþ a matiere and Iugeþ by leysyr [2222] ¶ ffor al be it so þat alle taryynge be anoyful; algates it nys nouȝt to reproue in ȝeuyng of Iuggementz ne in vengaunce takynge whanne it is suffisaunt and resonable. [2223] and þat schewed oure lord ihesus crist by en|sample ¶ ffor when þat þe womman was taken in aduoutrye was brought in his presens to knowe what schal ben don with hire persone ¶ Al be it so þat he wiste wel himself what þat he wolde answere; ȝit ne wolde he nouȝt answere sodeinly but he wolde haue deliberacion and in þe grounde he wrot twyes [2224] ¶ And by þis cause we axen deliberacion And we schullen þanne by þe grace of god counseile þe þinge þat schal be profitable

[2225] ¶ Vp sterte þenne þe ȝonge folk atones; and þe moste partye of þat company haue scorned þis olde wise man and bygonne to make noyse and sayden [2226] right so ¶ as whiles þat yren is hoot men schulden smyte ¶ Right so men schulden wreken here wronges whiles

[6-text p 206] þay ben freissche and newe ¶ And with lowde voys þey cryden werre werre

[2227] vp ros þe on of þe olde wise and with his hande he made a contynaunce þat þey schulde halden hem stille and ȝiuen hem audience [2228] ¶ lordynges quod he þer is ful many a man þat crieþ werre werre þat wot ful litel what þat werre amounteþ [2229] ¶ werre at his bygynnyng haþ so gret an enteryng and so large ¶ That euery wight may entre when him likeþ. and lightly fynde werre [2230] ¶ But certes to what ende þat schal þer-of bifalle it nys nouȝt lightly to knowe [2231] ¶ whan þat werre is ones bygonne þer is ful many a childe vnborne of his moder þat schal sterue ȝong by cause of þilke werre Oþer elles lyue in sorwe and deye in wrecchednesse [2232] ¶ And þerfore er þat eny werre be bygonne men mosten [folio 219b] han gret counseil and good deliberacion [2233] ¶ And when þis olde man wende to enforcen his tale by reson wel neih alle at ones bygonne for to ryse for to breken his tale / and beden him fuloften of his wordes for to abregge [2234] ¶ ffor soþly he þat precheþ to hem þat luste nought his wordes ne his sermon hem annoyeþ [2235] ¶ ffor Ihesus Cirak saiþ þat musyke in wepynge is [¶ Ihesus Cirak/] annoyous þing þus moche is to sayn as moche annoyeþ to speke bifore folk to whiche his speche annoyeþ; as it is for to syngen byforn him þat wepeþ [2236] ¶ And when þis wise man saugh þat him wantede audience; al schamfast he sette him doun aȝein. [2237] ffor Salomon seiþ. þer [¶ Salomon] as þou mayst haue non audience; enforce þe nouȝt to speke [2238] ¶ I se wel quod þis wyse man þat þe commune prouerbe is soþ þat good counseil wanteþ. whan it is most nede

[2239] ¶ Ȝit hadde þis Melibeus in his counseille many folk þat priuely in his eere counseled him certein þing. and counseilled him þe contrary in general audience

[2240] ¶ When Melibeus hadde herd þat þe gretteste

[6-text p 207] party of his counseil were acorded þat he schulde make werre; anon he consentede to here counseilyng ¶ and fully affermed to here sentence [2241] ¶ Thanne dame Prudence whan þat sche saugh how þat hire housbonde schope him for to wreke him on his foes and to begynne werre ¶ Sche in ful humble wyse whan sche saugh hire tyme / seyde him in þise wordes [2242] ¶ My lord quod sche I ȝou beseche as hertely as I dar and can ¶ Ne haste ȝou nouȝt to faste ¶ And afore alle guerdouns ȝif me audience [2243] ¶ ffor Pieres Alphons. saiþ ¶ O who so doþ to þe good oþer harme haste þe nought to quyten hit ¶ ffor in þis wise þy frend wole abyde and þin enemy schal þe lengere lyue in drede [2244] ¶ The prouerbe saiþ þat he hasteþ him wel þat wisly can abyde ¶ and in wicked haste is no profyte

[2245] ¶ This mely be answerde to his wijf ¶ ¶ Prudence I purpose nought quod he to werke by þy counseille for many causes and resons ¶ ffor certes euery wight wolde halde me þenne a fool [2246] ¶ This is for to say ¶ If I for þy counseillyng wolde chaunge þinges þat ben ordeynt and affermed by so many wyse [2247] ¶ Sec|oundly I say þat alle wommen ben þikke and none goode of hem alle ffor of a þousend men saiþ Salomon I fand a good man But certes of alle wommen fond I neuer good womman [2248] ¶ And also certes if I gouerned me by þy counseil it schulde seme þat I hadde ȝoue to þe ouer me þe maystrie ¶ and god forbede þat it so were [2249] ¶ ffor Ihesus Cyrak [folio 220a] saiþ. þat if þin wijf haue maistrie; sche is contrarious to hire housebonde [2250] ¶ and Salomon saiþ ¶ Neuer in þy lyf to þy wyf ne to þy childe ne to þy freende ne ȝiue no power ouer þi self ¶ ffor bettre it were þat þin children asken of þy persone þinges þat hem needeþ ¶ þen þou [be] þi self in þe handes of þin children [2251] ¶ And also if I wole wirche by þi counseylyng; certes my counseille moste som tyme be secree til it were tyme þat it moste be

[6-text p 208] knowe and þis ne may nought be doo [2252. For it is written, 'þe Iangelry of wommen can huyde þinges þat þey wot nouȝt' [2253] Furthermore, the philosopher saith, 'in wikked counseil, wommen venquyssheþ men;' and for these reasons I ought not to make use of thy counsel. (See Prudence's answers to Reasons 4 & 5, below.)]

[2254] ¶ When dame Prudence ful debonerly and wiþ alle pacience hadde herde alle þat hire housbonde liked for to say: Then asked sche of him licence for to speke and sayde in þis wise [2255] ¶ My lord quod sche. as to ȝoure ferste resoun it may lightly ben answerde ¶ ffor I say þat it nys foly to chaunge counseille when þe þing is chaunged Oþer elles when þe þing semeþ oþer weyes þenne it semeþ aforn [2256] ¶ And more ouer I say þay þat ȝe haue sworn and behight to parfourme ȝoure emprise [et tu la laissoies a faire (Le Ménagier de Paris, i. 193)] by iuste cause; men schulde nouȝt seyn þerfore þat ȝe were a lyere ne forsworn [2257] ¶ ffor þe book seiþ þat þe wise man makeþ no lesynge when he torneþ his corage / to þe bettre [2258] ¶ And if it be so þat ȝoure emprise be establissht and ordeyned by gret multitude of folk ¶ ȝet þar þe nought acomplyse þilke ordynaunce but ȝou like [2259] ¶ ffor þe trouþe of þinges and for profite ben raþer founde. in fewe folk þat ben wise / and fulle of reson þen by gret multitude of folk þer euery man cryeþ and clatereþ when him likeþ ¶ soþly such multitude nys nought honeste [2260] and as to þe secounde reson wher as ȝe sayn þat alle wommen ben wikke; Saue ȝoure grace ffor certes ȝe despyseþ alle wommen in þis wise. and he þat alle despiseþ all dispyseþ as seiþ þe book [2261] ¶ And Senek seiþ þat who so wole haue sapi|ence. schal no man dispreyse ¶ But he schal gladly teche þe science þat he can wiþouten presumpsioun or pryde [2262] and suche þinges þat he nought ne can he schal nouȝt be asshamed to lere him and to enquere of lasse

[6-text p 209] folk þan of himself [2263] ¶ And sire þat þer haþ ben ful many a good womman may lightly be proued [2264] ¶ certes sire oure lord ihesu crist nolde neuer han descendet to be borne of a womman if alle wommen hadde be wicke [2265] ¶ And after þat for þe grete bounte þat is in wommen oure lord Ihesus when he was rysen fro deþ to lyfe appered raþer to womman þan to his apostels [2266] ¶ and þough þat Salomon saiþ þat he ne fond neuer womman good it [folio 220b] folweþ nought þerfore þat alle wommen ben wikke [2267] ¶ For þough þat he ne fonde no good womman Certes many anoþer man haþ founden many a womman ful good and trewe [2268] Or elles perauenture þe entent of Salamon was þus þat as in souereyn bounte he fande no womman [2269] This is to say þat þer nys no wight þat haþ parfyt bounte saue god allone as he himself recordeþ in his euaun|gelist [2270] ¶ For þer nys no creature so good that him ne wanteþ som what/ of þe perfeccion of god þat is his makere [2271] ¶ The þridde resoun is þis ȝe say þat if ȝe gouerne ȝou by my counseil hit schulde seme þat ȝe hadde ȝoue me þe maystry And þe lordschip of ȝoure persone // [2272] Sire saue ȝoure grace hit nys nought so ¶ For if so were þat no man schulde be counseled but oonly of hem þat hadde lorschipe and maystrye of his persone men nolde nought be counseiled so ofte. [2273] For soþly þilke men þat askeþ counseil of a purpos ¶ ȝet haþ he free wille wheþer he wol do after þat counsel or no [2274] ¶ And as to ȝoure fourþe reson þer as ȝe sayn þat þe Iangelry of wommen can huyde þinges þat þey wot nouȝt ¶ As who saiþ þat a womman can nought huyde what sche wot [2275] ¶ Sire þese wordes ben vnder|stonde of wommen þat ben Iangleresses and wicked [2276] of whiche wommen men sayn þat þre þinges dryueþ a man out of his hous. That is to say Smoke droppyng of Rayn and wickidde wyfes [2277] And

[6-text p 210] swiche wommen saiþ Salamon þat he were bettre to dwelle in desert þan with a womman þat is ryetous [2278] And sire by ȝoure leue þat am nought I [2279] ¶ For ȝe haue ful ofte assayed my grete Cilence and my grete pacience and eek how wel þat he can huyde and hele þinges þat men oughten secrely to huyden [2280] ¶ and soþ as to ȝoure fifte reson wher as ȝe say þat in wikked coun|seil wommen venquyssheþ men ¶ God wot þilke reson stant heere in no stede [2281] ¶ For vnderstandeth now ȝe axeth counseil for to do wikkednes [2282] and if ȝe wolen werke wikkednesse and ȝoure wijf restreyneþ þilke wikked purpos and ouercome ȝou by reson and by good counseil; [2283] certes ȝoure wyf oughte raþer to be preysed þen to be blamed [2284] ¶ This scholde ȝe vnder|stande þe philosophre þat saiþ In wicked counseil wommen venquysshen here housebondes [2285] ¶ and þere as ȝe blamen alle wommen & here resons; I schal schewe ȝou by many ensamples þat many wommen han ben ful goode and ȝet ben and here counsel holsome and profitable [2286] ¶ eeke some men han sayde þat þe counselyng of wommen is eyþer to deere or elles to lytel of pris [2287] ¶ But al be it so þat ful [folio 221a] many womman is badde and here counseil vile & nouȝt worþ; ȝet han men founde many a good womman and ful discret and wys in counselyng // [2288] lo Iacob þurgh þe goode counseil of his moder Rebekka wan þe benyson of his fader and þe lordschipe ouer alle his breþeren . [2289] Iudith þurgh hire goode counseil delyuered þe Cite of Buphelye in which sche dwelte out of þe lande of Olyuerne þat hadde it al byseged and wolde han al destruyet it [2290] ¶ Abegayle delyuered Nabal hir housbonde fro Dauid þe king þat wolde han slayn him and appaysede þe yre of þe king by hire witte and by hire goode counseil|yng [2291] ¶¶ Ester by hire counceil enchaunced gretly þe poeple of god in þe Regne of Assueres þe king [2292] and þe same bounte. in good counseiling of

[6-text p 211] many a womman may men telle [2293] ¶ And furþermore whan þat oure lord had created Adam oure forme fader; he sayde in þis wise / [2294] It nys nought good to be a man allone ¶ Make we an helper semblable to him|self. [2295] ¶ Here may ȝe see þat if þat womman were nouȝt good and hire counseil good and profytable; [2296] Oure lord god of heuene ne wolde neuer han y-wrouȝt hem ne called hem þe helper of man . . . . . [no gap.] [2297] ¶ And þer sayde ones a clerk in tuo vers / what is bettre þan a good Iaspre . . . . . [no gap.] wisdom [2298] And what is bettre þan wisdam womman and what is bettre þan womman þat is a good womman no þing [2299] ¶ And sire by many of oþer resons may ȝe seen þat many wommen ben goode and eek here counseil good and profitable [2300] ¶ And þerfore sire if ȝe wiln truste to my counseil; I schal restore ȝou ȝoure doughter hool and sound [2301] ¶ And eek þat I wol to ȝou don so moche þat ȝe schuln haue honour in þis caas

[2302] ¶ When melybe had herde þe wordes of his wijf Prudence; he sayde þus [2303] þat þe wordes of Salamon is soþ ¶ For he saiþ þat wordes þat ben' spoken discretly by ordynaunce ben hony combes ffor þey ȝiuen swetnesse to þe soule and holsomnes to þe body [2304] ¶ And wyf by cause of þine swete wordes and eeke for I haue y-proued and sayd þin grete sapience and þin grete trouþe I wol gouerne me by þyn counseyl in alle þing

[2305] ¶ Now sire quod dame Prudence and seþenes ȝe fouche sauf to be gouerned by my counseil; I wol enforme ȝou how þat ȝe schuln gouerne ȝoure self in chesyng of ȝoure counseilours [2306] ¶ ȝe schuln ferst fourme alle ȝoure wekes mekely byseken to þe hihe god þat he wol ben ȝour counseilour [2307] And schapeþ ȝou to such entent þat he ȝiue ȝou counseil and confort as taughte Thobye [folio 221b] to his sone [2308] at alle tymes. thou schalt/ blesse

[6-text p 212] god and preyen him to dresse / þine weyes. and loke also þat þine counseiles ben in him for euermore [2309] ¶ Seint Iame saiþ ¶ If any of ȝou haue neede of Sapience; aske it of god [2310] ¶ And afterward þenne schullen ȝe take counsel in ȝoure self and examyn wel ȝoure owne þouȝtes of swiche þinges as ȝou þenkeþ þat is best for ȝoure profyt [2311] ¶ And þenne schulle ȝe dryue fro ȝoure hertes þinges þat ben contrarious to good counseil [2312] þat is to say. Ire. Coueytise. and hastynes.

[2313] ffirst he þat askeþ counseil of himself; certes he moste be wiþouten Ire . . . . .[2314] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] and wraþþe in himself he weneþ alwey þat he may do þing þat he may not do [2315] ¶ And secoundly he þat is Irous and wroþ he . . . . .[2316] [no gap in the MS.] may nought wel counseille [2317] ¶ The þridde is þis. þat he þat is Irous and wroþ as saiþ Senek ne may nought speke but blameful þinges [2318] And with þilke vicious wordes he stereþ oþer folk to anger and to Ire [2319] And eek sire ȝe moste drede coueytise out of ȝoure herte. [2320] ffor þe apostel seiþ þat coueytise is þe roote of alle harmes. [2321] And trusteth right wel þat a coueytous man ne can nought deme ne þenke but only to fulfille þe ende of his coueytise. [2322] and certes þat ne may neuer be acomplised. ffor euer þe more habundance þat he haþ of richesse; þe more he desireþ [2323] ¶ And sire ȝe moste also driue out of ȝour hertes hastynes [2324] ¶ For certes ȝe may nouȝt deme for þe beste a sodeyn þought þat falleþ in ȝoure herte ¶ But ȝe moste avise ȝou on hit ful ofte [2325] ¶ ffor as ȝe haue herd here biforn þe comune proverbe is þis That he þat sone demeþ sone repenteþ //

[2326] Sire ȝe ne be nouȝt alwey in ylike disposicion [2327] ffor certes som þing þat some tyme semeþ to ȝou þat is good for to do. Anoþer tyme it semeþ to ȝou þe contrarie. [[A great bit is now omitted in Corpus.]]

[6-text p 213]

[2328] [When ye han taken counseile in your self And [Laud MS 600 folio 233a] han demed bi good deliberacion siche þing as you semiþ best [2329] ¶ þanne rede I / you that ye kepe it secre / [2330] bewrie not your counseile to no persone. bot it so be. þat ye wene sikerli þat þurgh your bewrieng / your condicion shal be to you þe more profitable [2331] ¶ For Ihesus Sirac saiþ ¶ Neiþer to þi foo ne to þi frende. discouer not þi secre ne þi foli. [2332] for þai wol yeue you audience and loking and supportacion in þi presence and scorne in þi absence. [2333] ¶ Anoþer clerc saiþ þat scarsli shalt þou [nota] finde any persone þat mai kepe counseil secreli. [2334] ¶ The book saiþ while þou kepest þi counsail in þin hert þou kepist it in þi prison / [2335] and whan þou bewriest þi counsaile to any wight / he holdeþ þe in his snare ./ [2336] And þerfore you is better hide your counsaile. in your hert / þan praien him to whom ye haue bewried your counseil þat he wol kepe it clos and stille. [2337] ¶ For Seneca saiþ if so be. þat þou ne maist not. þin owne counseile hide. How darst þou praien any oþer wight / þi counseil secreli to kepe. [2338] ¶ Bot naþeles if þou wene sicurli / þat þi bewriyng of þi counsaile to a persone wol make þi condicion to stonde in a better plite. Then shalt þou tellen him þi counseil in þis wise [2339] ¶ First þou shalt make no semblant / where þe were leuer werre or pees. or þis. or þat. ne shew him not þi wille / and þin entent [2340] ¶ For trust wel þat comunli þise counseilours. ben flaterers And [2341] namely þe counseil|lours of grete lordes. [2342] for þei enforcen hem alwei. raþer to speke plesant wordes. enclynyng to þe lordes lust þan wordes þat ben trewe. and profitable. [2343] [Laud MS 600 folio 233b] ¶ And þerfore men sai þat þe riche man haþ selden good coun|saile / bot he haue it of himself [2344] ¶ And aftir þat þou shalt considre þi frendes and þi enemyes ./ [2345] And as touching þi frendes. þou shalt con|sidre

[6-text p 214] whiche of hem beth most faiþful and most [[Laud MS 600]] wise. and eldest and most approued in counseilyng [2346] and of hem shalt þou axe þi counsaile as þe caas requireth

[2347] ¶ I / sai þat first ye shul clepe to youre coun|saile / youre frendes þat ben trewe ./ [2348] For Salamon saiþ / for right as þe hert of a man delitiþ in sauour. þat is soote / right so þe counsaile of your trewe frendes / yeueþ swetnes to þe soule [2349] ¶ He saiþ also þer mai noþing be likned to þe trewe frende / [2350] ¶ For certes gold ne siluer be not so moche worþ. as þe good wille of a trewe frende / [2351] and eke he saiþ þat a trewe frende. is a stronge defence / who þat it findeþ. certis he findeþ a gret tresour [2352] ¶ þene shul ye eke considre / if þat youre trewe frendes ben discrete and wise / for þe book saiþ. axe þi counsaile alwai of hem þat ben wise. [2353] And bi þis same resoun. shul ye clepe to youre counsaile of youre frendes þat ben age. siche as haue sai sightes and ben expert in mony þinges. and ben approued in counseiling. [2354] for þe book saiþ þat in olde men is þe sapience. and in longe time þe prudence [2355] ¶ And tullius saiþ þat grete þinges ben not aye accompleed bi strengþe ne bi delyuernes of bodi. bot bi good counsail. bi auctorite of persones and bi science. þe whiche þre þinges ben not feble bi age ./ bot certes þai enforcen to en|cresen dai by dai. [2356] and þan shul ye kepe þis for a general rewle ¶ First shul ye clepe to youre counsaile a fewe of your frendes þat ben especial [2357] ¶ For Salamon saiþ mony frendes haue þou. bot among a þousand chese þe on to be þi conseil|lour / [2358] For al be it so þat þou first ne telle þi counseil bot to a fewe. þou maist aftirward telle it to moo folk / if it be nede. [2359] bot loke alwey þat þi counseilours haue þi[l]k þre condiciouns. þat I / haue said

[6-text p 215] before. þat is to sai þat þei be trewe and olde. and [[Laud MS]] of wis experience. [2360] ¶ And wirke not alwey in euery nede / bi on counseilour allone. For somtyme behoueþ it be counseilid bi many. [2361] ¶ For Salamon saiþ. Saluacion of þinges is. where as þer ben many counselers.] [[Laud MS ex|tract ends]]

[2362] Now haue I tolde ȝou of which folk [Corpus MS, on leaf 221, back] ȝe scholde be counseled NOw wol I teche ȝou which counseil ȝe owe to eschewe [2363] fferst ȝe schuln eschewe þe counseilyng of fooles. Salomon saiþ take no coun|seil of a fool ffor he wol counseile but after his owne luste and his affections [2364] ¶ The book/ saiþ þat þe proprete of a fool is þis ¶ he troweþ lightly harme of euery wight and lightly troweþ a bounte in himself [2365] ¶ Thou schalt eke eschewe þe counseiling of alle flaterers whiche enforcen hem raþer to preysen ȝoure persone by flaterye þan for to telle ȝou þe soþ|fastnesse of þinges

[2366] ¶ Wherfore Tullius saiþ among alle þe pestilence [folio 222a] þat ben in frendschipe þe grettest is flaterie ¶ And þerfore is it more nede þat þou eschewe and drede flaterers þan any oþer poeple / [2367] The book saiþ þou schalt raþer [drede and] fle fro þe swete wordes of flaterynge & preysyng þen fro þe egre wordes of þy frend þat saiþ þe þin soþes [2368] Salomon saiþ þat þe wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacche Innocence [2369] ¶ he saiþ also. he þat spekeþ to his frend wordes of swetnes and of plesance; setteþ a nette biforn his feet to cacche him [2370] ¶ And þerfore Tullius saiþ Enclyne nouȝt þin eeres to flaterers Ne take no counseil of wordes of flaterie / [2371] and Caton saiþ ¶ Avise þe wel and eschewe þe wordes of swetnes and of plesaunce [2372] ¶ And eek þou schalt eschewe þe counsellyng of þine olde enemys þat be reconsiled [2373] The book saiþ þat no wight retourneþ saufly in to þe

[6-text p 216] grace of his olde enemy [2374] ¶ And Isope saiþ ¶ Ne truste nouȝt to hem to whiche som tyme þou hast had werre / or enmyte ne telle hem nouȝt þi counseille [2375] ¶ And Senek telleþ þe cause why it may nought be saith he þat where long tyme fuyr haþ endured þat þer dwelleþ som tyme vapour of hete [2376] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon in þin olde foo truste þou neuere [2377] ffor sikerly þough þin enemy be reconsiled and makeþ þe chere of humilite and lowteþ to þe wiþ his heed ne truste him neuere [2378] ffor certes he makeþ þilke feyned humilite more for his profyt þan for eny humilite or for eny loue of þin persone by . . . . . [no gap] such feyned contynance The which victory he might haue by stryf or werre [2379] And Petre Alfouns saiþ. make no felaschipe wiþ þine olde enemyes; ffor if þou do hem bounte þey wollen peruerten hit to wickednesse [2380] And eeke þou most eschewe þe counseilyng of hem þat ben þin seruantz and beren the gret reuerence ffor perauenture þey seyn it more for drede þan for loue [2381] ¶ And þerfore saiþ a Philosophre in þis wise ¶ Ther nys no wight parfytly trewe to him þat he to sore dredeþ [2382] ¶ And Tullius saiþ ¶ Ther nys no wight so gret of eny emperour þat longe may endure / but if he haue loue of þe poeple and drede [2383] ¶ Thow schalt eschewe also þe counseiling of folk þat ben drunkelewe for þey ne can no counselle huyde. [2384] Salamon saiþ þer nys no pryuyte þer as regneþ drunkenes [2385] ¶ ȝe schullen han also in suspecte to þe counseling of such folk as counseile ȝow a þing priuily and counseile ȝou a þing þat is contrarie openly [2386] ffor Cassidory saiþ þat it is a maner sleighte to hyndre his enemy when [folio 222b] he scheweþ to don a þing openly and werkeþ priuily þe contrarie [2387] ¶ Thou schalt haue also in þin suspecte þe conselynge of wikked folk . . . . . [no gap] þat is alwey ful

[6-text p 217] of fraude [2388] and Dauid saiþ þat blisful is þe man þat haþ nought folwed þe counseling of schrewes [2389] ¶ Thow schalt also eschewe þe counseilling of ȝong folk ffor here counseilyng nys nought rype as Salomon saiþ

[2390] ¶ Now sire siþenes I haue schewed ȝou of which folk ȝe schuln take counsel and of which folk ȝe schuln folwe þe counsel / [2391] Now wol I teche ȝou how ȝe schuln examyn ȝoure counsel after the doctrine of Tullius [2392] in þe examynyng þenne of ȝoure counseilour ȝe schuln considere many þinges [2393] ¶ Alþer first þou schalt considere þilke þing þat þou purposest and vpon what þing þou wolt han counsell þat verray trouþe be sayde and conserued þis is to say telle trewly þin tale [2394] ¶ For he þat saiþ fals may [not] wel be counseiled in þat caas of which [he lyeth] [2395] ¶ And after þis þou schalt consideren þe þinges þat acorden to þat þou purposest for to be by þin counseil|ours if reson acordeþ þerto [2396] ¶ And eek if þi might may atteyne þerto ¶ And if þe more part and þe bettre part of ȝoure counseilours acorden þerto or no. [2397] þen schalt þou considere what þing schal folwe of here counseilinge. as hate pees werre grace profyt other damage and many oþer þinges [2398] And in alle þinges þou schalt chese þe beste and weyfe alle oþer þinges [2399] ¶ Thenne schalt þou considere of what roote it is engendred þe matier of þin counseil and what fruyt it may conceyue and engendre [2400] þou schalt eek considre alle þese causes for þe whiche þey ben spronge [2401] ¶ and whan ȝe haue examyned ȝoure counseil as I haue sayde and which partie is þe bettre and more profitable and hast aproued it by many wise folk and olde [2402] þanne schalt þou considere if þou mayst performe hit and make of hit a good ende [2403] ¶ For certes reson wol nouȝt þat any man schal begynne a þing but if he mighte performe hit as him owȝte [2404] ¶ Ne no wight schulde

[6-text p 218] taken vpon him so heuy a charge þat he mighte [not] bere it [2405] ¶ For þe prouerbe saiþ he þat to mochel enbraceþ distreyneþ litel [2406] ¶ And Caton saiþ ¶ Assay such þing as þou hast power to done leste þe charge oppresse þe to sore þat þe bihoueþ to weyue þing þat þou hast bygonne [2407] ¶ And if so be þat þou be in doute. wher þou maist performe a þing or non; chese raþer for to suffre þan for to bygynne [2408] ¶ And Pieres alphouns saith If þou hast might to don a þing of which þou most repente it is bettre . . . . .[2409] . . . . . [no gap] halde þi tunge [folio 223a] stille þan for to speke [2410] ¶ Then may I vnderstonde by strenger resouns þat if þou hast power to performe a werk of which þou schalt repente þe ¶ Thenne is it bettre þat þou suffre þan bygynne [2411] wel seyn þey þat defenden euery wight to assaye a þing of which he is in doute wher he may performe it or non [2412] ¶ And after when ȝe haue examynd ȝoure conseill as I haue sayd biforn and knowe wel þat ȝe may per|forme ȝoure emprise; conferme it þenne sadly til it be at an ende

[2413] ¶ Now is it reson and tyme þat I schewe ȝou whenne and where-fore þat ȝe may chaunge ȝoure counsel|ours wiþouten ȝoure reprofe [2414] ¶ Soþly man may chaunge his purpos and his counseill if þe cause cesseth or whan a newe cause betydeþ [2415] ¶ For þe lawe seiþ vpon þinges þat newely betyden bihoueþ newe conseill [2416] ¶ And Senek saiþ ¶ If þin counseil come to þe eeres of þin enemys; chaunge þi conseill [2417] [Après, l'en peut changier son conseil] if so be þou fynde þat by errour or by ony oþer cause harme or damage may betyde [2418] ¶ Also of þin counsel be dishoneste oþer elles come of dishoneste cause; chaunge þin counsel [2419] ¶ For þe lawe saiþ/ þat alle bihestes þat ben dishoneste ne ben of no value.

[6-text p 219] [2420] and eek if so be þat it be impossible oþer may nouȝt gladly be performed oþer kepte

[2421] And take þis for a general reule / þat euery counsel þat is enformed so strongly þat it may nought be chaunged for no condicion þat may betyde; I say þat ilke consel is wicked.

[2422] ¶ Melibeus whan he hadde herd þe doctrine of his wijf dame prudence; he answerde in þis wyse. [2423] Dame quod he as ȝet vnto þis tyme ȝe han wel taught me as in generalle how I schal gouerne me and in þe chesyng and in þe wiþholdyng of my counseilours. [2424] But now wolde I fayn þat ȝe wolde condescende in special [2425] and telle me how þat likeþ ȝou or how þat semeþ ȝou by oure counseil|lours þat we haue chose in þis present neede

[2426] ¶ My lord quod sche I beseche ȝou in al humbles þat ȝe wolde nought wilfully reproeuen aȝein myn resons ne distempre ȝoure herte þough I speke þing þat ȝou displese [2427] ¶ ffor god woot as in myn entent I speke it as for þe beste for ȝoure honour and for ȝour profyt eeke [2428] ¶ And soþly I hope þat ȝoure be|nignite wol take it in pacience [2429] ¶ and trusteþ to me wel þat ȝoure counsel in þis cas ne scholde nouȝt as to speke proprely be called a counselynge but a mocioun or a meuyng of folye [2430] In which counseil ȝe haue herde in many a sondry wise

[2431] ¶ fferst and forþward ȝe han herd in þe assem|blyng of ȝour counsellours [2432] ¶ ffor ferst ȝe schulde haue cleped [folio 223b] a fewe folk to ȝoure counseille ¶ And after þat ȝe might haue schewed it to mo folk if it hadde be neede. [2433] But certes sodeinly ȝe han cleped to ȝoure coun|seil a gret multitude of poeple fulle chargaunt and ful annuyous for to heere [2434] ¶ And also ȝe haue herde furthere as ȝe schulde only haue cleped to ȝoure counselle ȝoure trewe frendes olde & wise [2435] ¶ ȝe han cleped also straunge folk ȝong folk fals flaterers and enemys

[6-text p 220] reconsiled and folk þat don ȝou reuerence wiþouten loue / [2436] and eek also ȝe haue herd for ȝe han brought wiþ ȝou to ȝoure counseil. Ire. coueytise and hastines [2437] þe whiche þre þinges ben contrary to euery good counseil and honest & profitable [2438] þe whiche þre þinges ȝe han nouȝt anyntesched oþer destruyed hem neyþer in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure / counceillours as ȝe aughte [2439] ¶ Ȝe han herde also for ȝe han schewed to ȝoure counseillours ȝoure talent ȝoure affeccion to make werre anon for to do vengeaunce [2440] And þey haue aspied by ȝoure wordes to what þing ȝe ben enclyned [2441] ¶ and þerfore haue þey raþer counseled ȝou to ȝoure talent þan to ȝoure profyt [2442] ȝe han herde also for semeþ it / sufficeþ to han ben coun|celed by þis counceillours oonly and wiþ litel auyse [2443] where as in so grete and in so heih a neede it haþ be necessarye mo counselours and mo deliberacions to parforme ȝoure emprise [2444] ¶ Ȝe han herd also for ȝe han herd nought ȝoure counsel in þe forseyde manere ne in dewe manere as þe cas requyreþ [2445] ¶ ȝe haue herd also for ȝe haue maad no dyuysion betwixe . . . . . [no gap] ȝoure trewe frendes and ȝoure feyned concelours [2446] ¶ Ne ȝe haue nouȝt knowe þe wille of ȝoure trewe freendes olde and wise. [2447] but ȝe haue cast alle here wordes in an hoche potte and enclyned ȝoure herte to þe more part and to þe grettere nombre . . . . .[2448] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] of fooles þenne of wise men. [2449] ¶ And þerfore þe counselynge þat ben at congregacions and mul|titudes of folk þer as men take more reward to þe nombre þen to Sapience of persones; [2450] ȝe seen wel þat in suche councelynges fooles haue þe maystrie [2451] ¶ Melybe answerde and sayde aȝein I graunte wel þat I haue herd [2452] ¶ But þer as þou hast tolde me þer biforn þat he nys nought to blame þat chaungeþ his coun|ceiloures

[6-text p 221] for certein caas and for certein and iuste cause [2453] I am al redy to chaunge myne counceilours right as þou woldest deuyse [2454] ¶ ffor þe prouerbe saith þat for to don synne is mannyssch But certes for to perseueren longe in synne is werkes of þe deuel.

[2455] [folio 224a] To þis sentence answered anon dame Pru|dence and sayde. [2456] examyneþ quod sche ȝoure con|selle and let vs se þe which of hem haþ spoke more resonably and taught ȝou best conseil [2457] ¶ And for as moche as þat examinacion is necessary. let vs begynne at surgiens and at phisiciens þat first spaken of þis matiere [2458] ¶ I say þat Phisiciens & surgiens haue sayd ȝou in ȝoure consel discretly as hem oughte [2459] & in here speche sethens ful wisly þat to þe office of hem apperteyneþ to don to euery wight honour and profyt and nouȝt for to ennoye [2460] and after here crafte to don gret diligence vnto þe cure of hem whiche þat þey haue in here gouern|aunce [2461] and sir right as þey han answered wisly and discretly; [2462] Right so rede I þat þey ben heighly and souereynly guerdount for here noble speche [2463] and eek for þey schullen more do þe ententyf busynes in þe curacion of þin doughter deere [2464] ¶ ffor al be it so þat þei ben ȝoure freendes; þerfore schuln ȝe nouȝt suffre þat þey serue ȝou for nought [2465] ¶ But ȝe aughte þer after guerdon hem and payen hem here largesse [2466] ¶ and as touchynge þe proporcion which þat þe phisiciens encreseden in þis caas ¶ This is to sayn [2467] þat in maladyes is þat a contrary is warisshed by anoþer contrarie [2468] ¶ I wolde fayn knowe how ȝe vnderstode þilke text and what is ȝoure sentence [2469] ¶ Certes quod Mellibeus I vnderstande it in þis wise. [2470] Right as þey haue done me a contrary; so schuld I don hem anoþer [2471] ¶ ffor right as þey haue venged hem vpon me; and don me wrong; Right so wol I venge me vpon hem

[6-text p 222] and don hem wrong [2472] and þenne haue I cured a contrary by anoþer

[2473] ¶ lo lo quod dame prudence how lightly is euery man enclyned to his owne desir to his plesaunce [2474] ¶ Certes quod sche þe wordes of þe phisicien ne schulde nouȝt be vnderstande in þat wise [2475] ffor certes wikkednesse is nouȝt contrary to wickednes ne vengeance is nouȝt contrary to veng|aunce ne wrong to wrong [mais sont semblables. [2476] Et pour ce, vengence par vengence, ne injure par in|jure, n'est pas curé (Men. i. 206-7)] [2477] But euery of hem encreseþ and engreggeþ oþer [2478] ¶ But certes þe wordes of þe phisicien schullen ben vnder|stonde in þis wise [2479] ¶ ffor good and wicked|nesse ben tuo contrarious ¶ And pees and werre venge|ance and sufferance discord and acord and many oþer þinges [2480] ¶ But certes wickednesse schal ben y-warisched by goodnes. discord by acord. werre by pees and so forþ and oþer þinges [2481] ¶ And herto acordeþ seint Poule þe appostel and in many place [2482] he saiþ ¶ Ne ȝeldeþ nouȝt harm for [folio 224b] harm ne wicked speche [pour mesdit] [2483] But do wel to hem þat don þe harme and blesse hem þat saiþ to þe harme [2484] And many oþer places he amonysscheþ pees and acord [2485] ¶ But now wol I speke of þe coun|seil which was y-ȝoue vnto ȝou by men of lawe þe wise folk and olde folk [2486] þat sayden alle by on acorde as ȝe haue herde biforn [2487] ¶ That ouer alle þinges ȝe schullen don ȝoure diligence to kepe ȝoure persone and to warmstore ȝoure hous [2488] ¶ And þay sayden also þat in þis caas ȝe oughten to wirchen ful avisily and wiþ gret deliberacion [2489] ¶ And sir as to þe first poynt þat toucheþ vnto þe kepyng of ȝoure persone [2490] ȝe schullen vnderstande þat he þat haþ werre schal euermore deuoutely and mekely preyen biforn alle þinges [2491] þat Ihesus crist of his mercy wole

[6-text p 223] haue him in his proteccion and ben his souerein helpynge at his neede [2492] ffor certes in þis world nys no wight þat may be counseled ne kepte sufficiauntly wiþ|outen þe kepyng of oure lord ihesus crist [2493] To þis sentence accordeþ þe prophete dauid þat saiþ. [2494] If god ne kepe þe cite in ydel wakeþ he þat it kepeþ [2495] ¶ Now sir þenne schulle ȝe quyte þe kepyng of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendes þat ben aproved and y-knowe [2496] and of hem schuln ȝe asken helpe ȝoure persone for to kepe ¶ ffor Caton saiþ ¶ If þou hast neede of helpe; aske it of þin frendes [2497] ffor þer nys non so good a phisicien as þin trewe freend [2498] and after þis þenne schulle ȝe kepe ȝou fro alle straunge folk and fro lyeres And haue alway in suspecte here companye [2499] ¶ ffor pieres alphouns saiþ ¶ Ne take no companye by þe way of straunge man but it so be þou haue knowe him of lengere tyme. [2500] and if so be þat he falle in to þin company per|aduenture wiþouten þin assent [2501] enquere þenne as subtilly as þou canst of his conuersacion and of his lyf byfore and feyne þy way seynge þou woldest go þider as þou woldest nouȝt go. [2502] and if he bereþ a spere holde þe on þe right syde of him . and if he bereþ a swerde holde þe on þe left syde of him. [2503] and þenne schul ȝe kepe ȝou wisly fro alle such manere of poeple as Ihaue sayde ȝou here bifore and hem and here coun|sel eschewe [2504] And after þis þenne schulle ȝe kepe ȝou in such manere [2505] þat for any presumpcioun of ȝoure bodily strengþe þat ȝe ne dispise nought ne accounte nouȝt þe might of ȝoure aduersary so lyte þat ȝe lete þe kepynge of ȝoure persone for ȝoure presumpcion [2506] ffor euery wysman dredeþ his enemy [2507] ¶ And Salamon saiþ wel fool is he þat of al haþ drede [2508] ¶ ffor [folio 225a] certes he þat þurgh hardynesse of his herte and þurgh þe hardynes of himself haþ so gret presumpcion him schal yuele betyde [2509] ¶ Thenne

[6-text p 224] schuln ȝe euermore encountrewayte enbusschementȝ and alle espyaile. [2510] ffor as saiþ þe wise man . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [2511] he ne falleþ in to no periles þat periles escheweþ [2512] ¶ And al be it/ so þat þou seme þat þou be in secre place ȝet schalt þou alwey don diligence in the kepynge of þin persone [2513] þis is to say. Ne be nouȝt necligent to kepe þin persone nought only fro þin grettest enemy . but only fro þin leste enemy [2514] Senek saiþ a man þat is wel auysed he dredeþ his leste enemy [2515] Ovide seiþ þat þe lytel wesel wol sle þe grete bole and þe wilde hert [2516] And þe prouerbe saiþ þat a luytel þorne may greeue a king ful sore ¶ And a litel hound wol holde þe wilde bore [2517] ¶ But naþeles I say nought þou schalt be so coward þat þou doute wher as is no drede [2518] ¶ The bok saiþ that some men haue gret lust to disceyue but ȝit þey drede to be de|sceyued [2519] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And kepe þe fro þe company of Scorners [2520] ¶ ffor þe book saiþ þat scorners ne makeþ no companye but flee here word as venym

[2521] ¶ Now as to þe secounde poynt where as ȝoure wise counceilours counseiled ȝou to warmstore ȝoure houses wiþ gret diligence [2522] ¶ I wolde fayn knowe how þat ȝe vnderstande þilke wordes and what is ȝoure sentence.

[2523] Mellibeus answerde and sayde Certes I vnder|stande in þis wise þat I schal warmstore myn hous wiþ toures suche as haue castelles and oþer maner of edifices & armure and archers [2524] betwen which þing if I may my persone and myn hous so kepe and defende þat myn enemys schuln be in drede myn hous for to approche.

[2525] to þis sentence answerde anon prudence warnysshing quod sche of heihe toures and of heihe edifices appertyneþ somtyme to pryde [2526] And eek men make heihe toures [et les grans édifices à grant travail et à grans

[6-text p 225] despens, et quant elles sont faites, elles ne vallent riens se elles ne sont defendues par sages et par bons amis loyaux, et à grans missions (Le Ménagier, i. 209)] [2527] ¶ And vnderstande wel þat þe grettest and þe strengest garnyson þat riche man may haue / as wel to kepen his persone and his goodes is [2528] þat he [be] biloued wiþ his subiectes and with his neihebours [2529] ¶ ffor [¶ Tullius] þus saiþ Tullius That þer is a maner garnyson þat no man may venquysschen ne discomfite and þat is [2530] a lord to be loued of his citeȝeins and of his poeple

[2531] ¶ Now sire as to þe þridde poynt where as ȝoure olde and wise counseiloures sayden ¶ þat ȝou ne oughte nouȝt sodeinly ne hastely proceden in þis neede [2532] But þat ȝe oughten purueyen and apparayle ȝou in þis caas wiþ gret diligence and with gret deliberacion [2533] ¶ Trewely I trowe þat þay sayden right wisly and right soþ [2534] ¶ ffor Tullius saiþ In euery [¶ Tullius.] neede er þou begynne it apparayle þe with gret diligence. [2535] þenne say I þat in vengaunce takyng in werre in [folio 225b] bataille and in warnestoringe [2536] er þou bygynne ¶ I rede þat þou apparayle þe þer to ¶ And do it wiþ gret deliberacion [2537] ¶ ffor Tullius saiþ. þat lange apparaylinge biforn þe bataile [¶ Tullius.] makeþ schort victory [2538] ¶ And Cassidorus saiþ þe [¶ Cassidorus] garnyson is strenger whan it is long tyme avised

[2539] But now lete vs speke of þe counseil þat was acorded by oure neyheboures suche as don ȝou reuerence wiþouten loue [2540] ȝoure olde enemys recon|siled ¶ ȝoure flaterers [2541] þat counceleden ȝou cer|teyn þinges priuely and openly counseileden ȝou þe contrarie [2542] ¶ The ȝonge folk also þat counseiled ȝou to vengen ȝou and to maken werre anon. [2543] ¶ And certes sire as I haue sayde byforn; ȝe haue gretly y-erred to han y-cleped suche maner of folk to ȝoure counselle [2544] ¶ Whiche counseiloures / ben ynough reproued by þe resons aforn sayde [2545] ¶ But naþeles let vs now descende to

[6-text p 226] þe special ȝe schuln ferst proceden after þe doctrine of Tullius [2546] ¶ Certes the trouþe of þis matier eyþer of þis counseil nedeþ not diligently enqueren [2547] ¶ ffor it is wel wiste whiche þey ben þat doon ȝou þis trespas & vilenye [2548] and how many trespasoures and in what manere þey han don to ȝou al þis wronge and alle þis vilanye [2549] ¶ And after þis þanne schullen ȝe examine ȝe secounde condicion þe which þat Tullius addeth in þis matiere [2550] ¶ ffor Tullius putteþ a þing which þat he clepeþ consentynge þis is to say [2551] who ben þay and whiche ben þay and how many þat consenten to þin counseil in þin willefulnesse to don hasty vengeance [2552] ¶ And let vs concidre also who ben þay and how many ben þay . . . . . [no gap] þat consenten to ȝoure aduersaries [2553] And certes as to þe ferste poynt ¶ hit is wel knowen whiche ben þay þat consenten to oure hastyf wilful|nesse [2554] ¶ ffor trewely alle þo þat counselen ȝou to maken sodeyn werre ne ben nought ȝoure frendes [2555] ¶ let se now whiche ben þey þat ȝe holden so gretly ȝoure frendes as to ȝoure persone [2556] ¶ ffor al be it so þat ȝe ben mighty and ryche; certes ȝe ben but allone [2557] ¶ ffor certes ȝe ne han no childe but a doughter [2558] ne ȝe han no breþeren ne cosyns germayns ne non oþer neih kynrede [2559] ¶ Wherfore ȝoure enemys scholden stinte to plede wiþ ȝou ne to destruye ȝoure persone. [2560] ȝe knowen also þat ȝoure richesse moot ben dispended in diuerse partyes [2561] & when þat euery wight haþ his parte; þey woln take but litel rewarde to vengen þy deþ [2562] ¶ But þin enemys ben þre and þey haue many children breþeren cosyns and oþer neyh kynrede [2563] ¶ And þough so were þat þou haddest slayn of hem two oþer .iij. ȝet dwellen þere ynowe to [folio 226a] awreken here deþ and to slen þin persone [2564] ¶ And þeih so be þat ȝoure kynrede be more siker and stedefast þen

[6-text p 227] þe kyn of ȝoure aduersary [2565] ¶ ȝet neuer þe les ȝoure kynrede is but after kynrede þey ben but litel sibbe to ȝou [2566] ¶ And þe kyn of ȝoure enemys ben neigh sibbe to hem ¶ And certes as in þat he condicion is bettre þen is ȝoures [2567] ¶ þenne let vs consideren also of þe counseilynge of hem þat counseleden ȝou to taken sodeyn vengeance wheþer it acorde to reson or non. [2568] and certes ȝe knowen wel nay. [2569] ffor as by right and reson þer may no man take vengaunce of no wight ¶ But þe Iugge þat haþ Iurdixion of hit [2570] whan it is graunted him to take þilke vengeaunce hastely or at|temperelly as þe lawe requyreþ [2571] ¶ And ȝet more ouer of þilke worde þat Tullius clepeþ consenting; [2572] þou schalt consente if þin mighte & þin power may consente and suffice to þin wilfulnesse and to þin counseiloures [2573] ¶ And certes þou mayst wel say þat nay [2574] ¶ ffor sikerly as for to speken proprely we may do no þing but oonly such þing as we may doon rightfully [2575] ¶ And certes rightfully ne may ȝe take no vengaunce as of ȝoure propre auctorie [2576] ¶ Then may ȝe seen þat ȝoure power ne consenteþ nouȝt ne acordeþ nouȝt with ȝour willefulnesse [2577] Now lete vs examine þe þridde poynt þat Tullius clepeþ consequent [2578] Thou schalt vnderstanden þat þe vengaunce þat þou purposest for to take is conse|quent [2579] And þerfore falleþ anoþer vengaunce. Peril. and werre and oþre damages withouten nombre of whiche we ben nouȝ warre as at þis tyme [2580] ¶ And as touchinge þe forþe poynt/. þat Tullius clepeþ en|gendrynge [2581] ¶ þou schalt considere þat þis wrang which þat is don to þe is engendred of þe hate of þin enemys [2582] and of þe vengeance takynge ¶ And vpon þat wolde engendre anoþer vengeance and mochel sorwe and wastyng of richesse as I sayde er

[2583] ¶ Now sir as touchinge to þe poynt þat Tullius clepeþ causes which þat is þe laste poynt [2584] ¶ Thou

[6-text p 228] schalt vnderstande þat þe wrong þat þou hast receyued haþ certein causes [2585] whiche þat clerkes clepen Oriens et Officiens and causa longinqua and causa propinqua ¶ This is to sayn þe ferre cause [et la prou|chaine; [2586] la loingtaine est Dieu qui est cause de toutes causes [2587] la prouchaine est tes trois ennemis (Le Mén. i. 212)] [2588] accidental was hate [2589] The causes material ben þe .v. woundes of þin douȝter [2590] ¶ The cause formale is þe maner of here worchinge þat brouȝten laddres and clomben in at þine wyndowes / [2591] ¶ The cause final was for to slee þin douȝter it latted nought in as moche as in hem was [2592] ¶ But for to speken of þe ferre cause as [folio 226b] what ende þey schullen come Or what schal betyden of hem in þis caas ne can I nouȝt deeme. but by coniectyng and by supposynge [2593] ffor we schuln suppose [qu'ils avendront] to a wicked ende. [2594] by cause þe book of decrees saith ¶ Selden or wiþ gret peyne ben causes brouȝt to an ende when þey ben baldly bygonne

[2595] Now sir if men asked me why þat ȝe suffren men to don ȝou þis vilenye Certes I can not wel answere as for no soþfastnes [2596] ffor þe appostel saiþ þat þe sciences and þe Iuggementz of oure lord god ben mighty and deepe [2597] ¶ Ther may no man comprehende ne serche hem sufficiently [2598] ¶ Naþeles by certeins presumpcions & coniectynges I halde and bileeue [2599] þat god þat is ful of Iustice and of rightwisnesse haþ suffred þis bytyde by iuste cause resonable

[2600] ¶ þin name is mellibe þis is to say a man þat drinkeþ hony [2601] ¶ Thou hast y-drunke so meche hony of þe swete temperel richesses and delices & hon|ures of þis world [2602] þat þou art drunken and hast forȝeten oure lord ihu crist þin creatour [2603] ¶ Thou hast nouȝt don to him such honour as þe oughte [2604] ¶ Ne þou hast nouȝt wel take heede to

[6-text p 229] þe wordes of Ovide þat saiþ [2605] vnder þe hony of þe goodes of þin body is hyd þe venym þat sleeþ þe soule [2606] ¶ And Salomon saiþ ¶ If þou hast founden hony ete of hit what sufficeþ [2607] ¶ ffor if þou ete of hit out of mesure / þou schalt spewe and be needy and pore [2608] ¶ And peraduenture crist hath þe in spite and haþ turned away fro þe his face and his eres of misericorde [2609] and also he haþ suffred þat þou hast ben y-punyssht/ in þe maner þat þou hast y-trespast [2610] ¶ Thow hast don synne aȝeins oure lord ihu crist [2611] ¶ ffor certes þe þre enemys of man|kynde þat is to say þe fleissch. þe ffeend. and þe worlde [2612] ¶ þou hast suffred hem to entre in þin herte wilfully by þe wyndowes of þy body [2613] and hast nouȝt defended þe sufficeantly aȝeins here defautes and here temptacions So þat þay haue wounded þi soule in fyue place. [2614] ¶ this is to sayn þe deedly synnes þat ben entrede in to þin herte by þine .v. wittes [2615] And in þe same manere oure lord ihesu crist haþ and wolde and haþ suffred þat þine þre enemys ben entred in to þin hous by þe wyndowes [2616] and han wounded þine doughtres in þe forseyde manere

[2617] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe I se wel þat þat ȝe en|force ȝou mochel by wordes to ouercome me in such a manere þat I schal now vengen me of myn enemys [2618] Schewynge me þe periles and þe eueles þat mighten ffalle of þis vengeance [2619] ¶ But who so wolde considere in alle vengances [folio 227a] þe periles and eueles þat mighte sewe of vengance takynge; [2620] a man wolde neuere take vengance and þat were harme; [2621] ffor by þe veng|aunce takynge ben þe wickede men disseuered fro þe goode men [2622] ¶ And þo þat han wille to don wicked|nesse restreynen here wickede purpos whan þey seen þe punysschyng and þe chastysing of trespasours

[2623] [And to this answered dame Prudence: 'Certes,' said she, 'I grant you that from vengeance come many

[6-text p 230] benefits as well as many evils: [2624] yet vengeance be|longeth not to "a singuler persone," but only to the judges, and to those who have jurisdiction over evil-doers.'] [2625] ¶ And ȝit say I more þat right as a singuler persone synneþ in takinge vengance of anoþer man; [2626] Right so synneþ þe Iugge if he take no vengance of hem þat it han desserued // [2627] ffor Senek saiþ þus þat mayster is good þat reproeueþ schrewes [2628] ¶ And as Cassidory saiþ. A man dredeth to don outrages; whan he woot and knoweþ þat it displeseþ þe Iuge and þe soueraignes [2629] ¶ And anoþer saiþ þe Iugge þat dredeth do don right makeþ schrewes [2630] ¶ And seint Poul þe appostel saiþ in his epistle whan he writeþ vnto þe Romayns that þe Iuges beren nought þe spere wiþouten cause. [2631] but þay beren it to punysschen þe schrewes and þe mysdoers and for to de|fende þe goode men [2632] ¶ If ȝe woln þenne take vengance of ȝoure enemys; ȝe schuln retourne or haue ȝoure recours to þe Iuge þat haþ þe Iurdexion vpon him [2633] & he schal punyssche hem as þe lawe axeþ and requyreþ

[2634] ¶ A quod Mellibe þis vengance likeþ me noþing [2635] ¶ I beþinke me now how fortune haþ norisched me fro my childhode and haþ holpen me to passe many a straunge pas [2636] ¶ Now wol I assayen here trowynge with goddes grace and helpe þat sche schal helpe me my schame for to venge

[2637] ¶ Certes quod Prudence if ȝe woln worche by my counseille; ȝe schuln nouȝt assaye fortune by no way. [2638] Ne ȝe schuln nought lene ne borwe vnto hire after þe word of Senek [2639] ffor þinges þat ben folily doon and þat ben in hope of ffortune schuln neuere come to a good ende [2640] ¶ and as þe same senek seiþ ¶ The more clere and þe more schynynge þat fortune is; þe more brutel and þe sonnere y-broke sche is [2641] ¶ trusteþ nouȝt in hire for sche nys noþing stedefast ne stable [2642] ffor when þou trowest to be most siker or seure of hire

[6-text p 231] helpe; sche wol fayle þe and disceyue þe [2643] ¶ And wher as ȝe sayn þat fortune haþ norisshed ȝou fro ȝoure childhode [2644] I say ȝou þat in so mochel schuln ȝe þe lasse trusten in hire and in hire witte [2645] ¶ ffor Senek saiþ that what man is norisched by fortune; sche makeþ him to gret a fool [2646] ¶ Now þenne seþens ȝe desire and aske vengance ¶ And þe vengance þat is doon after þe lawe and biforn þe Iugge ne likeþ [folio 227b] ȝou nought [2647] and þe vengance þat is don in hope of fortune is peril|ous and vncerteyn [2648] ¶ Thenne haue ȝe non oþer remedye but for to haue ȝoure recours vnto þe soueraign Iuge þat vengeþ alle vilanyes and wronges [2649] ¶ And he schal venge ȝou after þat þin self witnesseþ [ . . . . . ] [2650] leueþ þe vengance to me and I schal don hit

[2651] ¶ Mellibe answerde ¶ If I ne venge me nouȝt of þe wrong þat men han doon to me [2652] ¶ I schal sompne or warne hem þat han don þis vilanye to me and alle oþre to don me anoþer vilanye [2653] ¶ ffor it is writen ¶ If þou take no vengance of an olde vilanye; þou somp|nest þin aduersarie to don þe a newe vylanye [2654] [Et ainsi, par souffrir l'en me feroit tant de villenies de toutes pars] þat I mighte neyþer bere it ne sus|tene [2655] and so schulde I be ouersette and halden ouer lowe [2656] ¶ ffor men sayn ¶ In mochil suffrynge schullen many þinges falle vnto þe whiche þou schalt not mowe suffre

[2657] ¶ Certes quod Prudence I graunte þat ouer mochil suffrance / is nought good [2658] ¶ But ȝet ne folweþ it nouȝt þer-of þat euery persone to whom men don vilanye take of it vengance [2659] ffor þat apper|teneþ and longeþ al only to þe Iuges ffor þey schuln venge þe vilenyes and þe iniuries [2660] and þerfore þo tuo auctoritees þat ȝe han sayde aboue ben oonly vnderstanden in þe Iuges [2661] ¶ ffor whan þey suffren ouer mochil þe wronges and vilanyes ben don

[6-text p 232] wiþouten punysschinge [2662] þay sompne nouȝt a man only for to do newe wronges but þay comaunden it [2663] ¶ Also a wise man saiþ þat þe Iuge þat cor|recteþ nouȝt þe synnere comaundeþ and biddeþ him to do synne [2664] ¶ And þe souerains and þe Iuges / mighten in here lande so mochel suffren of þe schrewes and mysdoers [2665] þat þey schulden by such suffraunce / by proces of tyme wexen of suche power and might þat þey schulde putte oute þe Iuges and þe soueraignes from here places [2666] and at þe laste maken hem leesen here lordschipes

[2667] ¶ But let vs now putte þat ȝe han leue to vengen ȝou [2668] ¶ If ȝe ben nouȝt of might and power as now to vengen ȝou [2669] ffor if ȝe woln maken comparison vnto þe might of ȝoure aduersaries ¶ ȝe schullen fynden in many þinges þat I haue schewed ȝou ben þis þat here condicion is bettre þan ȝoures [2670] ¶ And þerfore say I þat it is good as now þat ȝe suffre and be pacient

[2671] ¶ fferþermore ȝe knowen þat after þe commune sawe it is a woodnesse a man to streyne [[ (margin) stryue]] aȝeins a strenger or a more mighty man þen is himself [2672] ¶ And for to stryue wiþ a man of euene strengþe þat is to say [folio 228a] wiþ a strong man as he is it is peril [2673] ¶ And for to stryue wiþ a waykare man it is folye. [2674] and þerfore schulde a man fle stryuyng/ as mochel as he mighte [2675] ¶ As Salomon saith ¶ It is a gret worschipe to kepyn him fro noyse and stryf [2676] ¶ And if it so bifalle or happe þat a man of grettere might and strengþe þan þou art do þe greuaunce [2677] study and busy þe raþer to stille þe same greuaunce þan for to venge þe [2678] ¶ ffor Senek saiþ þat he putteþ him in gret perile þat stryueþ wiþ a gretter man þan he is himself [2679] ¶ And Catoun saiþ if a man of heyer astate or degre or more mighty þen þou do þe annoye or greuance Suffre him [2680] for he þat ones haþ greued þe

[6-text p 233] may anoþer tyme releue þe and helpe þe [2681] ¶ ȝit sette I cas ȝe han boþe might and licence to vengen ȝou [2682] I say þat þer ben many þinges þat schuln restreynen ȝou of vengannce takinge [2683] and make ȝou for to encline and for to suffre and for to haue pacience in þe wronges þat han be don to ȝou [2684] ¶ ffirste and forþward if ȝe woln concider þe defautes þat ben in ȝoure owne persone [2685] for whiche defautes god haþ suffred ȝou to haue þis tribulacion as I haue sayde ȝou here byforn. [2686] ¶ ffor þe Poete saiþ þat we oughten paciently taken þe tribu|lacions þat comeþ / to vs when we þenken and consydren þat we han disserued to han hem [2687] ¶ And seint Gregory saiþ ¶ þat whan a man considereþ wel þe nombre of his defautes and of his synnes [2688] þe peynes and þe tribulacions þat he suffreþ semen þe lasse vnto him [2689] ¶ And in als mochel as him þenk|eþ his synnes þe more heuy and greuous. [2690] ¶ In so moche semeþ his peyne þe lighter and þe esyer vnto him [2691] ¶ Also ȝe owen to encline and to bowen ȝoure herte to taken þe pacience of oure lord Ihesu crist as saiþ seint Petre in his Epistles [2692] ¶ Ihesu crist he saiþ haþ suffred for vs and ȝeuen ensample vnto euery man to folwe and to sewe him [2693] ffor he dede neuer synne ne neuere ne came a vileyns word out of his mouþ [2694] when men cursed him he cursed hem nought ¶ And when men beten him he manased hem nought [2695] ¶ Also þe grece pacience whiche seintes þat ben in paradys. han had in tribulacions þat þey han suffred wiþouten eny desert or gilte [2696] aughte mochel to stere ȝou to pacience [2697] [Après, moult te doit encliner à patience] [2698] considerynge þat þe tribulacions of þis worlde but litel while endureþ and soone passed ben and goon [2699] ¶ And þe Ioye þat man sekeþ to haue by pacience in tribulacion is perdurable / after þat þe

[6-text p 234] apostel saiþ in þe epistle [2700] ¶ The ioye of god he seiþ is perdurable þat is to sayn [folio 228b] euer lastynge [2701] ¶ Also troweþ and belieueþ stedefastly þat he is nought wel ynorissht ne wel y-taught þat can nouȝt haue pacience . . . . . [no gap] [2702] ¶ ffor salamon saiþ þat þe doctrine of þe witte of man is knowen by pacience [2703] ¶ And in anoþer place he saiþ ¶ he þat is pacient gouerneþ him by gret prudence [2704] ¶ And ȝet Salamon saiþ þe angry and þe wraþful man makeþ noyse ¶ And þe pacient man attempereth him and stilleþ him. [2705] he saiþ also ¶ It is more worþ to be pacient þen to be right strong [2706] And he þat may haue þe lordschipe of his owne herte is more to prayse þen he þat by his force and strengþe takeþ grete cites [2707] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seint Iame in his Epistle þat pacience is a gret vertu of perfection

[2708] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe I graunte ȝou dame Prudence and pacience is a gret vertu of perfeccion [2709] ¶ But euery man may not haue þe perfection þat ȝe sechen [2710] ne I am nought of þe nombre of right par|fyt men [2711] ¶ ffor myn herte may neuer ben in pees vnto þe tyme it be venged [2712] ¶ and al be it so þat it was gret peril to myn enemys to don a vilanye in takinge vengaunce vpon me [2713] ¶ ȝet token þey non heede of þe perille ¶ But fulfilleden here wikkede wille and here corage. [2714] and þerfore me þenkeþ þat men ouȝten not to reproue me þough I putte me in-to a litel peril for to auenge me [2715] ¶ And þough I do a gret excesse þat is to say þough I do a vengance outrage by anoþer

[2716] ¶ A quod dame prudence ȝe seyn ȝoure wille and as ȝou likeþ [2717] ¶ But in no caas of þe world a man ne scholde nouȝt don outrage ne excesse for to vengen him [2718] ¶ ffor Cassidory saiþ þat as euel doþ he þat auengeþ him by outrage as he þat doþ þe

[6-text p 235] outrage [2719] and þerfore ȝe schullen vengen ȝou after þe ordre of right þat is to sayn by þe lawe and [nought] by excesse ne by outrage [2720] ¶ Also if ȝe woln vengen ȝou of þe outrage of ȝoure aduersaries in oþer manere þenne right comaundeþ; ȝe synnen [2721] ¶ Therfore saiþ Senek þat a man schal neuer vengen schrewedenesse [by schrewedenesse] // [2722] And if ȝe say þat right axeþ to defende violence by violence and fightynge by fyghtynge [2723] ¶ Certes ȝe say soþ when þe defens is don right anon wiþouten interualle or wiþouten taryenge or delay [2724] for to defenden him and nought for to vengen him [2725] ¶ And it bihoueþ þat a man putte such attemperance in his defense [2726] þat men han no cause ne matier to reproeuen him þat defendeþ him of excesse and of outrage . . . . . [no gap.] [2727] ¶ Par de ȝe knowe wel þat ȝe maken non deffense / as now for to defende ȝou But for to venge ȝou [2728] and so seweþ it þat ȝe haue no wille to do ȝoure deede attemperelly [2729] and þerfore me þenkiþ [folio 229a] þat pacience is good ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ þat he þat is nought pacient schal haue gret harme

[2730] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe ¶ I graunte wel þat whan a man is vnpacient and wroþ of þat þat toucheþ him nouȝt and þat appertieneþ nought vnto him þough hit harme him it is no wonder [2731] ¶ ffor þe lawe saiþ þat he þat is coupable þat entermeteþ him or medeleþ him wiþ suche þing as apperteyneþ nouȝt vnto him [2732] ¶ And Salomon saith þat he þat entremeteþ him of þe noyse or þe stryf of anoþer man is ylike to him þat takeþ an hound by þe eeres [2733] ¶ ffor right as he þat takeþ a straunge hounde by þe eeres is oþerwhile y-byten wiþ þe hounde / [2734] Right in þe same wyse is þe reson þat he haue harme þat by his inpacience medleþ him of þe noyse of anoþer man wher as it apperteyneþ nouȝt vnto him [2735] ¶ But ȝe knowen wel þat þis dede þat

[6-text p 236] is to sayn my grief and myn disese toucheþ me right neigh [2736] and þerfore þough I be wroþ and in|pacient it is no meruaylle [2737] ¶ And sauynge ȝoure grace I can nouȝt se þat it mighte gretly harme þough I toke vengance [2738] ¶ ffor I am richer and more mighty þen myn enemys ben [2739] ¶ And wel knowe ȝe þat by monye and by hauyng grete posses|sions ben alle þe þinges of þis world gouernede [2740] ¶ And Salamon saiþ. alle þinges obeyen to moneye

[2741] ¶ Whan Prudence hadde herd hire housbande to auaunten him of his richesse and of his moneye and dispreys|inge of power and his aduersaries ¶ ¶ Sche spake and sayde on þis wise [2742] ¶ Certis deere sir I graunte ȝou þat ȝe ben riche and mighty [2743] ¶ And þat þe richesses ben goode to hem þat han wel y-geten hem and þat wel can vsen hem [2744] ¶ ffor right as þe body of man may nought lyue wiþoute þe soule ¶ No more may it lyue withouten temperele goodes [2745] and by rich|esse may a man geten him grace [2746] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Pamphilles If eny gaddes doughter he saiþ be riche. Sche may cheese he saiþ of a þousand men [which she will for her husband [2747] and of the thousand] ¶ oon wol nought forsaken hire ne refusen hire [2748] ¶ And þis Pamphilles saith also ¶ If þou be riȝt happy ¶ þat is to say. If þou be right riche þou schalt fynden a gret nombre of felawes and frendes [2749] ¶ And if þin fortune chaungeþ þat is if þou wexe pore; ffare wel frendschipe and felaschipe [2750] ¶ ffor þou schalt ben allone wiþouten any companye but if it be þe companye of good folk [2751] ¶ And ȝit saiþ þis Pamphilles more ouer / þat þey þat ben þralle & bonde of linage schuln ben maad worþy and noble by þe richesses. [2752] ¶ And right so as by richesses þer comen many goodes ¶ Right so by pouert comeþ many harmes and eueles. [2753] ffor gret pouert con|streigneþ

[6-text p 237] [folio 229b] a man to don many eueles. [2754] And þer|fore clepeþ Cassidore Pouert. þe mooder of ruyne [2755] þat is to say þe moder of ouerþrowing or fallyng doun [2756] ¶ And þerfore saith Pieres alphouns ¶ On of þe grettest aduersary of þis world is [2757] when a freo by kynde or of birþe is constreigned by pouert to eten þe almes of his enemy [2758] ¶ And þe same saiþ Innocent in oon of his bookes. þat sorwfulle and myshappy is þe condicion of a pouere begger [2759] ¶ ffor if he axe nought his mete he deyeþ for hunger [2760] ¶ And if he axe he deyeþ for schame ¶ And algates necessite constreigneþ him to axe [2761] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon þat bettre is to deye þan to haue such pouert [2762] ¶ ȝet saiþ Sala|mon þat bettre is to deye of bitter deþ þan for to lyue in suche wyse [2763] ¶ By þese resons þat I haue sayde vnto ȝou and by many oþer resons þat I kouþe say [2764] ¶ I graunte ȝou þat richesse ben good to hem þat geten hem wel and to hem þat wel vsen þe richesses [2765] ¶ And þerfore wol I schewe ȝow how ȝe schuln haue ȝou [en acquerant Richesses et en amassant icelles [Reg. 19 C vii folio 140b] ]

[2766] ¶ fferst ȝe schuln geten hem wiþouten gret desire by good leysir sokyngly and nouȝt ouer hastily [2767] ¶ ffor a man þat is to desyringe to gete richesse; abandoneþ him ferst to þefte and to alle oþer eueles [2768] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon ¶ he þat hasteþ him ouer busyly to waxe ryche schal ben non Innocent [2769] ¶ he saiþ also þat þe richesse þat hastely comeþ to a man ¶ sone and lightly goþ and passeþ fro a man [2770] ¶ But þat richesse þat comeþ lytel and litel waxeþ alwey and multiplieþ [2771] And sir ȝe schuln gete richesse ynough by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauayle vnto ȝoure profyt/ [2772] and þat wiþouten wrang or harme doynge to ony oþer persone [2773] ¶ ffor þe lawe

[6-text p 238] saiþ þat þer makeþ no man himself ryche if he do harm to anoþer wight [2774] [car la loy dit que nul ne se face riche au dommage d'autruy (Le Ménagier de Paris, tome i. page 222)] [2775] ¶ And Tullius saiþ ¶ þat no sorwe ne no drede of deþ ne no þing þat may falle vnto man [2776] is so mochil aȝeins nature ¶ as a man to encresce his owne profyt to þe harme of anoþer man [2777] ¶ And þouȝ þe grete men and þe riche men geten richesse more lightly þen þou [2778] ȝet schalt þou nouȝt ben ydel ne slowe to don þin profyt ¶ ffor þou schalt in alle wise flee ydelnesse [2779] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ þat ydelnesse techeþ man to don many eueles [2780] ¶ And eek he saiþ þat he þat trauayleþ and busyeþ him to tylyen his lande schal eten breed [2781] but he þat is ydel and casteþ him nought to no busynesse ne occupacion schal falle in-to pouert and deye for hunger [2782] ¶ and he þat is ydel & slowh can neuer fynde couenable tyme for to doon his profyte [2783] ffor [folio 230a] þer is a versifiour þat saiþ þat þe ydel man excuseþ him in wynter by cause of þe grete colde ¶ And in somer by cause of þe grete hete [2784] ¶ ffor þise causes saiþ Caton ¶ wakeþ and enclyneþ ȝou nought ouer mochil for to slepe ¶ ffor ouermoche reste norissheþ and causeþ many vices [2785] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Seint Ierom ¶ Doþ some goode deedes þat þe deuyl which is oure enemy · ne fynde ȝou vnoccupied [2786] ¶ ffor þe deuel ne takeþ nouȝt lightly vnto his worch|inge suche as he fyndeþ y-occupyed in goode werkes

[2787] ¶ Thenne þus ¶ In getynge riches; ȝe mosten flee ydelnesse [2788] ¶ and afterwarde ȝe schuln vse þe richesses þe whiche ȝe han geten by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauayle [2789] in suche a manere þat men halden ȝou not to scars ne to sparynge ne to fool large þat is to say ouer large a spender [2790] ¶ ffor right as men blamen an auerous man by cause of his skarste and þinking [2791] in þe same wyse is he to blame

[6-text p 239] þat spendeþ ouer largely [2792] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Caton ¶ vse þine riches þat þow hast y-geten [2793] in such manere þat men han no matiere ne cause to clepe þe wrecche ne chynche [2794] ¶ ffor it is gret schame to a man to haue a pouere herte and a riche purse [2795] ¶ he saiþ also þe goodes þat þou haste y-geten vse hem by mesure þat is to sayn spende mesurably [2796] ¶ ffor þey þat folily wasten and dispenden þe goodes þat þey han [2797] whan þay haue no more propre of here owne; þey schapen hem to take þe goodes of anoþer man [2798] ¶ I say þanne þat he schal flee auarice [2799] vsynge ȝoure richesse in suche a manere that men say not þat ȝoure richesses ben y-buried [2800] but þat ȝe han hem in ȝoure might and in ȝoure weldynge [2801] ffor a wise man reproueþ þe auerous man and saiþ þus in tuo vers [2802] ¶ wherto and why burieþ a man his goodes by his auarice and knoweþ wel þat needes moste he dye [2803] ¶ ffor deþ is þe ende of euery man as in þis present lyf [2804] ¶ And for what cause or encheson ioigneþ he him or knetteþ he hem so faste vnto his goodes [2805] þat alle his wittes mowen nouȝt disseueren him or departen him fro his goodes. [2806] and knoweþ wel or owghte to knowe þat whan he is deed he schal nouȝt bere out of þe world wiþ him [2807] ¶ and þerfore saiþ seint Austyn þat þe auerous man is likned vnto helle [2808] ¶ þat þe more it cheweþ þe more desir it haþ to swelwe and deuoure [2809] ¶ And as wel alle ȝe wolde eschewe to ben y-cleped an auerous man or a chynche [2810] ¶ As wel schulde ȝe gouerne ȝou and kepe ȝou in such a wyse þat men clepe ȝou nouȝt to large [2811] ¶ þerfore Tullius [folio 230b] saiþ ¶ The goodes he saiþ of þin hous schulde not ben hydde ne kepte in cloos but þat þay mighte ben opened wiþ pitee and with debonairtee [2812] þat is to say to ȝeuen hem part þat han gret neede [2813]

[6-text p 240] ¶ Ne þine goodes schullen not ben so opene to ben euery mannes goodes [2814] ¶ afterward in getynge of ȝour richesses ¶ And in vsynge hem ȝe schuln alway haue þre þinges in ȝoure herte [2815] [c'est assavoir, Dieu, conscience, et bonne fame, et renommée. [2816] Tu dois doncques avoir Dieu en ton cuer (Le Ménagier, i. 224)] [2817] ¶ And for no richesse ȝe schuln doon no þing þat may be displesaunce to god þat is ȝoure creatour and ȝoure maker [2818] ¶ ffor after þe word of Salamon ¶ hit is bettre to haue a luytel good wiþ þe loue of god. [2819] þan to haue mochil good and tresour and lese þe loue of his lord god [2820] ¶ And þe prophete saiþ. þat better it is to ben a good man and haue lytel good and tresour. [2821] þan to be halden a schrewe and to haue gret richesse [2822] ¶ ȝet say I forþermore þat ȝe schuln don ȝoure busynesse to geten ȝou richesse [2823] So þat ȝe geten hem wiþ good conscience [2824] ¶ And þe appostel saiþ þat þer is no þing in þis world of which we schulden haue so gret ioye; as when oure conscience bereþ vs good witnesse [2825] ¶ And þe wise man saiþ ¶ The substaunce of a man is ful good when synne is nought in mannes conscience [2826] ¶ Aftirward in getyng of ȝoure Richesses and in vsynge of hem; [2827] ȝe moste haue gret busynesse and gret diligence that ȝoure goode name be alwey kepte and conserued [2828] ¶ ffor Sala|mon saiþ ¶ þat better it is and more auayleþ a man to haue good name þen to haue grete richesses [2829] ¶ And þerfore he saiþ in anoþer place ¶ Do gret diligence saiþ Salamon in kepyng of þin frende and of þin goode name [2830] ¶ ffor it schal lenger abyde with þe þan eny tresour be it neuer so precious [2831] ¶ And certes he schulde nouȝt be cleped a gentil man þat after god and good conscience alle þinges lefte þat he ne doþ his busynesse ne diligence to kepen his good name [2832] ¶ And Cassidorie saiþ þat it is signe of a good herte whan a man loueþ and desyreþ to haue a good name

[6-text p 241] [2833] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seint austyn þat þer ben tuo þinges þat ben necessary and needfulle [2834] ¶ And þat is good consciens [2835] to þin owne persone inward and good loos ffor þin neyhebour outward [2836] ¶ And he þat trusteþ him so mechel in his goode conscience [2837] þat he displeseþ and setteþ it at nouȝt his good name or loos and rekkeþ nouȝt þat he kepeþ nouȝt his good name nys but a cruel cherle

[2838] ¶ Sire now haue I schewed ȝow how ȝe schuln doon in getynge of richesse and how ȝe schuln vsen hem [2839] ¶ And I se wel þat for þe truste þat ȝe han in richesse ȝe wollen moeue bataile [folio 231a] and werre [2840] ¶ I counsele ȝou þat ȝe begynne no werre in truste of ȝoure richesses ¶ ffor þey sufficen nouȝt werres to meyn|tene [2841] ¶ And þerfore saiþ a Philosophre ¶ That a man desireþ and wol algates han werre schal neuer haue sufficaunce [2842] ¶ ffor þe richere þat he is þe gretter despenses moot he make if he wole haue wor|schipe and victory [2843] ¶ And Salamon saith þat þe grettere richesse þat a man haþ þe more dispendoures he haþ [2844] ¶ And deere sir al be it so þat for ȝoure richesses ȝe may han moche folk [2845] ¶ ȝet byhoueþ it nought ne it is nouȝt good to begynne werre wher as ȝe may in oþer manere haue pees vnto ȝoure worschipe and profyt [2846] ¶ ffor þe victories of Batailles þat ben in þis world liþ nouȝt in gret nombre of multitude of poeple ne in þe vertu of man; [2847] but it lith in þe wille and in þe hande of our lord ihesu crist // [2848] And þerfore Iudas Makabeus which was goddes knight [2849] when he schulde fighten aȝeins his aduersaries þat hadde a gretter nombre & a gretter mul|titude of folk and strenger þen was þe poeple of Macha|bee [2850] ¶ ȝet he recomforted his litel companye and sayde right in þis wise [2851] ¶ As lightly quod he may our lord god almighty ȝeue victory to fewe folk

[6-text p 242] as to many folk [2852] ¶ ffor þe victory of bataile comeþ nouȝt by gret nombre of poeple; [2853] but it comeþ fro oure lord of heuene // [2854] ¶ And deere sire for as mochil as þer is no man certein if it be worþy þat god ȝeue him victory . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] or nouȝt. after þat Salomon seiþ [2855] ¶ þerfore euery man schulde gretly drede werres to begynne [2856] ¶ And by cause þat in batailles schuln fallen many periles [2857] ¶ And happeþ oþerwhile þat as sone is þe grete man slayn as þe litel man [2858] ¶ And as it is writen in þe seconde book of kynges ¶ The deedes of batailles ben aduenturous and vncertein [2859] ffor as lightly as is oon y-hurt wiþ a spere as anoþer. [2860] and þerfore is gret perile in werre ¶ Therfore schulden men flee and eschewe werre in as mechel as a man may goodly [2861] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ ¶ he þat loueþ perill; schal falle in perille

[2862] ¶ After þat dame prudence hadde spoken in þis manere ¶ Mellibe answerde and sayde [2863] ¶ I se wel dame Prudence þat by ȝoure faire wordes and by ȝoure resons þat [vous mettez avant, que] þe werre lykeþ ȝou noþing [2864] ¶ But I haue not ȝit herde ȝoure wyse coun|sel how I schal do in þis neede.

[2865] Certes quod sche I counseile ȝou þat ȝe acorde wiþ ȝoure aduersaries and þat ȝe haue pees wiþ hem [2866] ¶ ffor seint Iame saiþ in his Epistles þat by concord and pees þat smale richesses waxen grete [2867] ¶ And by debat and discord þe grete richesses fallen [folio 231b] doun [2868] ¶ And ȝe knowen þat oon of þe grettest and most souerayn þing þat is in þis world is vnite and pees [2869] ¶ And þerfore sayde oure lord Ihesu crist to his appostles in þis wyse [2870] ¶ Wel happy and blessed ben þay þat louen and purchacen pees ffor þey ben cleped þe children of god [2871] ¶ A quod Mellibe now I se wel þat ȝe louen nouȝt myn honour ne my worschipe [2872] ¶ ȝe knowe wel þat myn

[6-text p 243] aduersaries han bygonne þis debaat and brigge by here outrage [2873] ¶ And ȝe seen wel þat þey neuer queren ne preyen me nought of pees Ne þey asken me nouȝt to be recon|silede [2874] ¶ Wole ȝe þanne þat I go meke me and obeye me to hem . and crye hem mercy; [2875] ffor soþe þat were not my worschipe [2876] ¶ ffor right as men sayn þat ouer gret homlynesse [[corrected]] engendreþ despysyng So fareþ it by to gret humilite and mekenesse

[2877] ¶ Then bygan dame prudence to make sem|blaunt of wraþþe and sayde [2878] ¶ Certez sire saue ȝour grace ¶ I loue ȝour honour and ȝour profyt as I do myn owne and euer haue doon [2879] ne ȝe ne noon oþer ne saugh neuer þe contrarye [2880] ¶ And ȝet if I hadde sayd ȝe schulde haue purchaced þe pees and þe reconsiliacion; I nad nought mochel mystaken me ne y-sayde amys [2881] ¶ ffor þe wise man saith. þe dis|sencion bygynneþ by anoþer man and þe reconsilynge begynneþ by þinself [2882] ¶ And þe prophete saiþ ¶ fflee schrewednesse and do goodnesse [2883] ¶ Seche pees and folwe it as mechil as in þe is / [2884] ¶ ȝet saiþ he nought ¶ ȝet schuln ȝe raþer pursewe to ȝour aduersaryes for pees þan þey schuln to ȝou [2885] ¶ ffor I knowe wel þat ȝe ben so harde y-herted þat ȝe wolen don no þing for me [2886] ¶ And Salamon saiþ ¶ þat he þat haþ euer an hard herte; atte laste he schal myshappe and mystryde

[2887] ¶ Whan Mellibe hadde herde dame Prudence make semblant of wraþþe ¶ he sayde in þis wyse [2888] ¶ Dame I pray ȝou þat ȝe ben nouȝt displesed of þinges þat I say ȝou [2889] ffor ȝe knowe wel þat I am angry and wroþ and þat is no wonder [2890] ¶ and þo þat ben wroþ witen not wel what þey doon ne what þay sayn [2891] ¶ Wherfore þe prophete saiþ þat / troubled eyen han no cleer sight [2892] ¶ But sitteþ and counseileþ me right as ȝow liste. ffor I am redy to doon right as ȝe woln desire [2893] ¶ And if ȝe reproeuen me of my folye ¶ I am þe more halden to loue ȝow and to preysen

[6-text p 244] ȝou [2894] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ ¶ he þat reproueþ him þat dooþ folye; [2895] he schal fynden grettere grace þan he þat disceyueþ him by wordes

[2896] ¶ Then sayde dame Prudence ¶ I make no semblaunt of wraþþe / ne of anger but for ȝoure owne profyt [2897] ¶ ffor Salomon saiþ ¶ he is [folio 232a] more worþ þat re|proueþ or chideþ a fool for his folye schewing him semblant of wraþþe; [2898] þan he þat supporteþ him / . . . . [no gap] in his mysdoynge & laugheþ at his folye [2899] ¶ And þis same Salomon saiþ afterward þat by þe sorwful visage of man þat is to say by sory and heuy contynaunce of a man [2900] þe folk correcteþ and amendeþ him self

[2901] ¶ Than sayde Mellibe ¶ I schal nouȝt konne an|swere vnto so many resons as ȝe putteþ to me and scheweþ [2902] Sayeþ schortly ȝour wille and ȝoure coun|seil and I am al redy to fulfille and parforme

[2903] ¶ Thenne dame Prudence discouered al hire wille vnto him and sayde [2904] ¶ I counseile ȝou quod he abouen alle þing þat ȝe maken pees betwixen god and ȝou [2905] and beþ reconsiled vnto him and vnto his grace [2906] ¶ ffor as I haue sayde ȝou here-byforn god haþ suffred ȝou to haue þis tribulacion and disese for ȝoure synnes [2907] and if ȝe doon as I say ȝou god wol sende ȝoure aduersaries vnto ȝou [2908] and maken ȝoure aduersaries fallen at ȝoure feet . redy to doon ȝour wille and ȝoure comaundement [2909] ¶ ffor Salomon saiþ whan þe con|dicion of man is plesaunt and likinge vnto god // [2910] he chaungeþ þe hertes of mannes aduersaries and con|streigneþ hem to besechen him of pees and of grace [2911] ¶ And I pray ȝou let me speke wiþ ȝour aduersaries in priue place [2912] ¶ ffor þey schuln nouȝt knowe þat it be ȝoure wille or ȝoure assent [2913] and þenne whan I knowe here wille and here assent ¶ I may counsel ȝou þe more seurly

[2914] ¶ Dame quod Mellibe doþ ȝoure wille and

[6-text p 245] ȝoure likynge [2915] ¶ ffor I putte me holly in ȝoure disposicion and ordinance

[2916] ¶ Thenne dame Prudence whan sche saugh þe goode wille of hire housbonde sche delyuered and took a-vys in hire self [2917] þenking how sche mighte bringe þis neede. vnto a good conclusion and to a good ende [2918] ¶ And whan sche saugh hire tyme sche sente for þe aduersaries to come vnto hire in-to a priue place [2919] and schewed wysely vnto hem þe grete goodnesse þat comeþ of pees [2920] and þe grete harmes and periles þat ben in werre [2921] ¶ And sayde to hem in a goodly manere hou þat hem ¶ aughte to haue gret re|pentaunce [2922] of þe Iniury and wrong þat þey hadden doon to Mellibe hire lord and vnto hire and vnto hire doughter

[2923] ¶ And when þey herden þe goode wordes of dame Prudence. [2924] þey weren so supprised and rauysscht and hadden so gret ioye of hire þat wonder was to telle [2925] ¶ A lady quod þay ȝe han schewed vnto vs þe blessyng of swetnesse after þe sawe of dauid þe prophete [2926] ¶ ffor þe reconsilyng which we ne ben nouȝt worþy to haue in no manere [2927] ¶ But we oughten requiren hit wiþ gret contricion & [folio 232b] humilite [2928] ȝe of ȝoure grete goodnesse han presented vnto vs [2929] ¶ Now se we wel þat þe science and þe connynge of Salamon is ful trewe. [2930] ffor he saiþ þat swete wordes multiplyen and encrescen freendes and maken schrewes to be debonaire and meeke

[2931] ¶ Certes quod þay we putten oure dede and all oure matiere and cause al holly in ȝoure goode wille [2932] and ben redy to obeye to þe speche of þe comaunde|ment of my lord Mellibe [2933] ¶ And þerfore deere and benigne lady we preyen ȝou and besechen ȝou as mekely as we conne and mowen [2934] þat it like vnto ȝoure grete goodnesse to fulfille in dede ȝoure goode wordes [2935] ¶ ffor we considren and knowlechen

[6-text p 246] þat we han offended and y-greued my lord Mellibe out of reson and mesure [2936] so ferforþ þat we be nouȝt of power to maken him amendes [2937] ¶ And þerfore we oblige vs and oure frendes for to don alle his wille and his comaundement [2938] ¶ But perauenture he haþ such heuynesse and such wraþþe to vs ward by cause of oure offense [2939] ¶ That woln enioygne vs such peyne þat we may not bere ne sustene [2940] ¶ And þerfore noble lady we beseche to ȝoure wommanly pite [2941] to taken such avisement/ in þis neede þat we ne oure freendes ne ben nouȝt disherited þurgh oure folye

[2942] ¶ Certes quod Prudence ¶ It is an hard þing and right perilous [2943] þat a man putte him al outrely in þe arbitracion and Iuggement and in þe might & power of his enmys [2944] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ ¶ leeueþ me and ȝeueþ credence to þat þat I schal sayn ¶ I say yeuere peple and gouernours of holy chirche [2945] to þin sone to þin wyf [à ton frère] and to þin freende [2946] [ne donne puissance sur toy en toute ta vie [2947] Se il a doncques deffendu que l'en ne donne . . . à frère ne à ami (Le Ménagier, i. 230)] þe might of his body [2948] ¶ By a strenger reson he defendeþ and forbedeþ a man to ȝiue himself vnto his enemy [2949] ¶ And naþe|les I counseile ȝou þat ȝe mystruste nouȝt my lord [2950] ¶ ffor I wot wel and knowe wel þat he is debonaire and meke large & courteys [2951] and no þing desirous of good ne coueytous to haue richesse [2952] ¶ ffor þer is no þing in þis world þat he desireþ saue worschipe and honour [2953] ¶ fforþermore I knowe wel and I am right seur þat he schal noþing do in þis neede withouten my counseil [2954] ¶ And I schal so worchen in þis cause by þe grace of oure lord god þat ȝe schuln ben reconsiled vnto vs

[2955] ¶ þenne sayden þey wiþ oo voys ¶ Worschipful

[6-text p 247] lady we putten vs and oure goodes al fully in ȝoure wille and disposicion [2956] and [been] redy to come what [day] ȝou likeþ vnto ȝoure noblesse to lymyten vs or to assignen vs [2957] for to maken oure obligacion and bond as strong as it likeþ vnto ȝoure goodnesse [2958] þat we may fulfille þe wille of ȝou and of my lord Mellibe

[2959] ¶ Whan dame Prudence hadde herd þe an|sweres of þese men; sche bad hem gon ayayn pryuyly [2960] ¶ And sche [folio 233a] retourned aȝein to hire lord Mellybe and tolde him how sche fond his aduersaries ful repentaunt [2961] and knowlechinge ful reuerently and lowely here synnes and here trespaces and how þey weren redy to suffre alle peyne. [2962] requyrynge and preyng him of mercy and pite

[2963] ¶ Thenne sayde Mellibe: he is wel worþy to haue pardon and forȝeuenesse [qui ne excuse point son péchié, [2964] mais le recongnoist et s'en repent et demande indulgence; [2965] car Sénèque dit là est rémission (Le Ménagier, i. 231)] wher as confession is [2966] ¶ ffor confession is neighebor to Innocence [2967] ¶ And he saith in anoþer place ¶ he þat haþ schame for his synne and knowlecheþ it . . . . . [no gap] ¶ And þerfore I assente and conferme to haue pees [2968] ¶ But it is good þat we do it nouȝt wiþouten þe assente and wille of oure freendes

[2969] ¶ Then was Prudence right glad and Ioyeful and sayde [2970] ¶ Certes sire quod sche ¶ ȝe han goodly and wel answered [2971] ¶ ffor right as by counseil assent and helpynge of ȝoure frendes ȝe han ben styred to vengen ȝou and make werre; [2972] Right so wiþ|outen here counseil schulle ȝe nought acorde þough ȝe ne haue pees wiþ ȝoure aduersaries [2973] ¶ ffor þe lawe saith ¶ þer is no þing so good by way of kynde as þing to ben vnbounden by hym þat it was y-bounde

[2974] ¶ And þenne dame Prudence wiþouten delay or taryinge sent anon messagers for hire kyn and for hire olde frendes whiche þat were trewe and wyse [2975]

[6-text p 248] ¶ and tolde hem by ordre in þe presence of Mellybe al þe matiere as it is abouen expressed and declared [2976] ¶ and preyden hem þat þey wolden yeuen hire a wyse coun|seille ¶ what best were to doon in þis matiere [2977] ¶ And whan mellibeus counseil hadde taken here avys and good de|liberacion of þe forsayde matiere [2978] and hadden examyned it by gret busynesse and gret diligence [2979] þey ȝeuen ful counseil for to haue pees and reste [2980] And þat Mellibe schulde receyue hit with good herte of his aduersaries to forȝiuenes and mercy

[2981] ¶ And whan dame Prudence hadde herde þe assent of hire lord Mellibe and þe counseil of hire frendes [2982] acorded wiþ hire wille and entencion [2983] sche was wonderly glad in herte and sayde [2984] ¶ Ther is an olde prouerbe quod sche saiþ þat þe goodnesse þat þu mayst do þis day do it [2985] and abyd it/ nought ne delay it nought til to morwe [2986] ¶ And þerfore I counseile þat ȝe sende ȝoure messagers whiche þat ben discrete and wise [2987] vnto ȝoure aduersaries / tellynge hem in ȝoure bihalue [2988] if þey wolen trete of pees and acorde [2989] þat þey schapen hem wiþouten delay or taryynge comynge to vs [2990] ¶ which þing performed was in dede [2991] and whan þese trespasoures and repentynge folk of here folyes þat is to say þe aduersaries of Mellibe [2992] hadden herde what þese messangeres [folio 233b] sayden vnto hem; [2993] þey weren ful glad and ioyfulle and answerden ful mekely and benygnely [2994] ȝeldynge graces and þankes to here lord Mellibe and to alle his companye [2995] ¶ and schopen hem wiþouten delay to go wiþ þe messangeres and obeye to þe comaundement of here lord Mellibe

[2996] ¶ And right anon þey token here wey to Mellibe [2997] ¶ And toke þe somme of here trewe wordes and frendes to maken feiþ for hem and for to ben here borwes [2998] ¶ And whanne þey comen to

[6-text p 249] þe presence of Mellibe ¶ he seyde hem þese wordes [2999] ¶ It stant þus quod Mellibe and soþ it is þat ȝe [3000] causeles and wiþouten skile and reson [3001] han don grete Iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf Dame Prudence and to myn doughter also [3002] ¶ ffor ȝe han entred in-to myn hous by vyolence [3003] and han doon suche outrage þat alle men knowen wel þat ȝe han disserued þe deþ [3004] ¶ And þerfore wil I knowen and wyten of ȝou [3005] wheþer þat ȝe wollen putte þe punysschement and chastisyng and þe vengaunce of þis outrage in þe wille of me and my wyf dame Prudence or ȝe woln nouȝt

[3006] ¶ Thenne þe wisest of hem þre answerde for hem alle and sayde [3007] sir quod he we knowen wel þat we ben vnworþy to come to ȝoure court of so gret a lord and of so worþy as ȝe ben [3008] ffor we han so gretly mystaken vs and han offended and agult in such a wise aȝeins ȝour heighe lordschipe. [3009] þat trewly we han deserued þe deth [3010] ¶ But ȝit for þe grete goodnesse and debonairte þat alle þe world witnesseþ of ȝoure persone [3011] ¶ we submitten vs to þe excellence and benignite of ȝoure gracious lordschipe [3012] and ben redy to obeye to alle ȝour comaundementz [3013] besechynge ȝou þat of ȝoure mercyable pite. ȝe woln considre oure grete repentaunce and lowe submission [3014] and to graunte vs forȝeuenesse of oure outragous trespas and offence [3015] ¶ ffor wel we knowe þat ȝoure liberalle grace & mercy streccheþ ferþer in-to good nesse þan don oure outrageous gultes and trespaces in-to wickednesse. [3016] al be hit. þat cursedly and damp|nably we han gult aȝeins ȝoure heyhe lordschipe

[3017] ¶ Thenne Mellibe took him vp fro þe grounde ful benygnely [3018] and receyued here obligacions and here bandes by here oþes vppon here plegges and here borwes [3019] and assigned hem a certeyn day to retournen vnto his courtes [3020] ¶ ffor to accepte and receyue þe sentences and

[6-text p 250] þe Iuggementes þat Mellibe wolde comande to ben don on hem by þe causes a-forn sayde / [3021] whiche þinges ordeyned; euery man retournede [folio 234a] to his hous

[3022] ¶ And when þat dame Prudence saugh hire tyme sche f[r]eyned and axede hire lord mellibe [3023] what vengance he þouȝt to take of his aduersaries

[3024] To which mellibe answerde and sayde ¶ Certez quod he I þenke and purpose fully [3025] to dis|herite hem of al þat þay han ¶ And for to putten hem in exile for euere

[3026] ¶ Certes quod Dame Prudence þis were a cruel sentence and mochel aȝeins reson [3027] ¶ ffor ȝe ben riche ynough and han no neede of oþer mennes good [3028] and ȝe mighte lightly geten ȝou a coueytous name [3029] which is a vicious þing and oughte [be] eschewed of euery man [3030] ¶ ffor after þe sawe of þe appostel Coueitise is roote of alle harmes [3031] ¶ And þerfore it were bettre to lese so mochel good of ȝoure owne þan for to take of here good in þis manere [3032] ¶ ffor better it is to leese good wiþ worschipe þenne it is good to wynne worschipe wiþ vilanye and schame [3033] ¶ And euery man oughte to don his busynesse and to geten him a good name [3034] ¶ and ȝet schal he nouȝt only kepen him in kepyng of his good name [3035] ¶ But he schal also enforcen him alwey to don som þing by which he may renouelle his good name [3036] ¶ ffor it is write þat þe olde goode loos or good name of a man is sone goon and passed when it is nouȝt newed and re|nouelled [3037] ¶ And as touchinge þat ȝe sayn þat ȝe woln exile ȝoure aduersaries [3038] þat þenkeþ me mochil aȝeins reson and out of mesure [3039] ¶ Con|sidereþ þe power þat ȝe han ȝouen ȝou vpon hemself [3040] and it is writen. þat he is worþy to lesen his priuilege þat misvseþ it ¶ The might and þe power þat is ȝouen him. [3041] And I sette caas þat ȝe might annoye hem þat peyne by right and by lawe [3042] which I

[6-text p 251] trowe ȝe may nouȝt do [3043] I say ne ne mighte nouȝt putte it to execucion perauenture [3044] and þenne were it likly to retorne to þe werre as it was byforn [3045] ¶ And þerfore if ȝe woln þat men do ȝou obeis|sance; ȝe moste deme more curteisly [3046] þis is to sayn ȝe moste ȝiue more esy sentences and Iugementz [3047] ¶ for it is writen þat he þat most courteisly comaundeth; to him men most obeyen [3048] ¶ And þer|fore I pray ȝou þat in þis necessite and in þis neede; ȝe casten þerfore to ouercome ȝoure herte [3049] ¶ ffor Senek saiþ ¶ he þat oones ouercomeþ his herte; ouercomeþ twyes [3050] ¶ And Tullius saiþ ¶ Ther is no þing so comendable in a gret lord [3051] as whan he is debon|aire and meeke and appeseþ him meekely [3052] ¶ And I pray ȝou þat ȝe woln forbere now to do vengance [3053] in such a manere. þat ȝoure goode name may be kepte and conserued [3054] and þat man may haue [folio 234b] cause and matiere to preyse ȝou of pite and of mercy [3055] and þat ȝe han no cause to repente ȝou of þing þat ȝe doon [3056] ¶ ffor Senek seiþ; he ouercomeþ in euel manere þat repenteþ him of his victory [3057] ¶ Wher|fore I pray ȝou let mercy be in ȝoure herte [3058] to þeffecte and þe entent þat god almighty haue mercy vpon ȝou in his laste Iuggement [3059] [Car saint Jacques dit en son épistre: jugement [[Le Mén. i. 235]] ] ¶ wiþ|outen mercy schal be to him þat haþ no mercy of anoþer wight

[3060] ¶ Whan mellibe had herde þe grete skiles and resons of Dame Prudence and of hire wise informacions and techinges; [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þe wille of his wyf consyderyng to þe trewe entent [3062] con|formed him anon ¶ And assented fully to worchen after hire counseil. [3063] and þankeþ god of/ whom procedeth all goodnesse þat him sente a wyf of so gret discrecion [3064] ¶ And when þe day came þat his aduer|saries schulde apperen in his presence; [3065] he spake

[6-text p 252] to hem ful goodly and sayde to hem in þis wise/ [3066] ¶ Al be it so þat of ȝoure pruyde and by presumpcion and folye ¶ and of ȝoure necligence and vnkunnynge [3067] ȝe han mysborn ȝou and trespassed to me /./ [3068] ȝet for as meche as I se and byholde ȝoure grete humilite [3069] and þat ȝe ben sory and repentaunt of ȝoure gultes; [3070] it constreigneth me to do ȝou grace and mercy [3071] ¶ Wherfore I receyue ȝou vnto my grace/ [3072] and forȝiue ȝou outrely alle þe offenses Iniuries and wronges þat ȝe han doon aȝeins me and myne [3073] to þis effecte and to þis ende / þat god of his endeles mercy [3074] wol at þe tyme of oure deyinge forȝiuen oure gultes þat we han trespast vnto him in þis wrecchede world // [3075] ¶ ffor douteles if we ben sory and repentaunt of þe synnes and gultes þe whiche we han trespassed in þe sight of oure lord god; [3076] he is so fre and so mercy|ful [3077] þat he wol forȝiuen vs oure gultes [3078] and bryngen vs to þilke blisse þat neuer haþ ende. To which blisse he vs bringe That blood on crosse for vs gan springe Qui cum patre /

¶ Here endeþ Chaucers tale of Mellibe //