The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 201]

[There are no line-numbers or paragraph-breaks in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here, as they were in the Six-Text, to prevent slight differences in the Texts throwing out many lines.]

[2157] A ȝong man called Melibeus mighty and riche [folio 207a] bygat vpon his wif þat called was prudens. a doughter; which þat called was Sophie //

[2158] Vpon a day byfel þat for his desport he is went in to þe feldes him to / play. [2159] his wif and his douȝter eek haþ he laft in-with his hous of which þe dores were fast I-schitte. [2160] þre of his olde foos han it espyed. and setten laddres to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben entred [2161] and beetyn his wyf and woundid his douȝter wiþ fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places [2162] þat is to sayn in here feet in here hondes in here eeres in here nose and in here mouth and lafte her for deed and went away

[2163] ¶ whan Melibeus retourned was in to his hous and seigh al þis meschief he lik a man mad rendyng his cloþes gan wepe and crie.

[2164] Prudens his wyf as ferforth as sche dorste bisouȝt him of his wepyng to stynte / [2165] But not for þi he gan to crie euer lenger þe more

[2166] ¶ this noble wyf prudence remembred hire vpon þe sentens of Ovide in his book that cleped is þe remedy of loue / wher as he seiþ [2167] ¶ he is a fool [¶ Ouidius de remedio amoris] þat destourbeþ þe moder to wepe in þe deth of hir childe til sche haue I-wept hir fille as for a certeyn tyme [2168] and þan schal man doon his diligence as with amyable wordes hire to recomforte and praye hire of

[6-text p 202] hire wepyng to stinte [2169] ¶ For which resoun þis noble wif prudens suffred hir housbonde for to wepe and crie / as for a certeyn space. [2170] and whan sche seigh hir tyme; sche sayd him in þis wise ¶ Allas my lord quod sche why make ȝe ȝoure self for to be lik a fool. [2171] For soþe it apperteyneþ not to a wys man to make such sorwe. [2172] Ȝoure douȝter wiþ þe grace of god schal warischt be and eschape. [2173] and al were it so þat sche right now were deed; ȝe ne oughte nouȝt as for hir deþ ȝoure silf destroye [2174] ¶ Senec saiþ. þe wise man schal not take to gret discomfort for þe deth of his children; [2175] but certes he schulde suffren it in pacience as wel as he abydeþ þe deþ of his owne persone

[2176] ¶ This melibeus answerde anoon & sayde ¶ what man quod he schuld of his wepynge stynte þat haþ a cause for to wepe [2177] ¶ Ihū crist [¶ Qualiter ihe christus fleuit propter mortem lazari] oure lord himself wepte for þe deth of laȝarus his frend [2178] ¶ Prudens answerde Certes wel I wot/ attemperel wepyng is no þing defended to him þat sorwful is. amonges folk in sorwe. But it is raþer graunted him to wepe / [2179] þe apostel poule vnto þe [Apostolus ad romanos] Romayns writeþ. A man schal reioyce with hem þat maken ioye / And wepe with such folk as wepen [2180] ¶ But þough attemperel [folio 207b] wepyng be graunted; Outrageous wepynge certes is defended // [2181] Mesure of wepynge be conserued. after þe lore of crist þat techeþ vs senec [2182] ¶ whan þat þi frend is deed quod he; let nought þin yen to moyste ben of teres ne to moche drye ¶ Al þough the teeres come out of þine eyȝen; let he not falle [2183] ¶ And whan þou hast forgon þy frend; do dili|gence to gete anoþer frende ¶ And þis is more wisedom þan to wepe for þy frend which þat þou hast lorn. For þer in is no boote [2184] ¶ And þerfore if ȝe gouerne ȝow by sapience put away sorwe out of ȝoure hert [2185] ¶ Remembreth ȝow þat Ihc Sirac saiþ

[6-text p 203] ¶ A man þat is ioyous and glad in herte; it him con|serveth florischinge in his age ¶ But soþly sorweful herte makeþ his boones drye [2186] ¶ he saiþ eek þus. þat sorwe in herte sleþ ful many a man [2187] ¶ Sa|lamon saiþ þat right as motthes in schepes flees annoyeth þe clothes. and þe smale wormes to þe tre; Right / so annoyeþ sorwe to þe herte [2188] ¶ wherfore vs oughte as wel in þe deþ of oure children as in þe losse of oure goodes temporales haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembreth ȝow vpon þe pacien Iop ¶ whan he hadde lost his children and his temporal sub|stance and in his body endured and receyued ful many a greuous tribulacioun; ȝit sayde he þus [2190] ¶ Oure lord it/ sent/ vnto me Oure lord it haþ raft fro me. Right so as oure lord wil; riȝt so be it doon ¶ I-blessed be þe name of oure lord [2191] To þese forsayde þinges answerith Melibeus vnto his wif Prudens Alle þine wordes ben soþ quod he and þerto pro|fytable ¶ But soþly myn herte is so troubled wiþ þis sorwe; þat I noot/ what to doone [2192] ¶ Let calle quod prudence þy trewe frendes alle and þy linage whiche þat ben trewe & wise. telleth hem ȝoure greuaunce and herken what þay say in counseilynge. and ȝow gouerne after here sentence. [2193] ¶ Salomon saith ¶ werke al þi þing by counseil and þe þar neuer rewe

[2194] ¶ Þan by þe counseil of his wyf prudens this melibeus let calle a gret congregacioun of peple [2195] as Surgiens. phisiciens olde and ȝonge and some of his olde enemyes recounsiled as by her semblaunt to his loue and to his grace. [2196] and þer wiþ al þer come some of his neighebours þat deden him reuerence more for drede þan for loue as happeþ ofte [2197] ¶ Ther comen also ful many subtil flaterers and wise aduoketes lerned in þe lawe

[2198] ¶ And whan þese folk togidere assemblid were; This melibeus in sorwful wyse schewed hem his caas.

[6-text p 204] [2199] and by þe maner of his speche; it semed þat in [folio 208a] herte he bar a cruel Ire redy to do venge|ance vpon his foos. and sodeynly desirede þat þe werre schulde bygynne. [2200] but natheles ȝit axed he her counseil in þis matier. [2201] ¶ A Sirurgien by licens and assent of suche as were wyse vp ros and to melibeus sayde as ȝe may hiere

[2202] ¶ Sire quod he as to vs Sirurgiens appertieneth þat we do to euery wight þe beste þat we can wher as we ben withholde and to oure pacient þat we do no damage [2203] ¶ wherfore it happeþ many tyme and ofte þat whan tweye han euerich wounded oþer; oo. same surgien heleþ hem boþe. [2204] where vnto oure art it is not perteyned to norische werre ne parties to supporte; [2205] but certes as to warisching of ȝoure douȝter al be it so þat sche perilously be woundid; we schullen do so tentyf besynes fro day to night þat with þe grace of god sche schal be hool and sound als soone as it is possible [2206] ¶ Almost right in þe same wise þe phisiciens answerden; saue þat þay sayden a fewe wordes more [2207] ¶ That ryght as maladies ben cured by her contraries; Right so schal men warissch werre by vengeaunce [2208] ¶ His neyhe|boures ful of enuye his feyned freendes þat semede recounsiled his flatereres [2209] maden semblaunt of wepyng and appaired and aggregged moche of þis matiere in preisyng gretly melibe of might. of power of Riches. and of frendes despisinge þe power of his aduersaries [2210] and sayden outerly þat he anoon schulde wreke him on his aduersaries be bygynnynge of werre

[2211] vp roos þanne an aduocate þat was wys. by leue and by counseil of oþere þat were wise and sayde / [2212] ¶ Lordynges. þe needes for whiche we ben assemblit in þis place is ful heuy þing and an heigh matier [2213] by cause of þe wrong & of þe wikkednes þat haþ ben doon and eek of þe grete damages þat

[6-text p 205] in tyme comyng ben possible to falle for þe same [2214] and eek by cause of þe grete richesse and power of þe partes bothe [2215] for þe whiche resouns it were a ful gret peril to erren in these materes [2216] ¶ wherfore melibeus þis is oure sentence ¶ we counseile ȝow abouen alle þinges þat riȝt anoon þou do diligence in kepyng of þy body in such a wyse þat þou ne wante noon espye ne wacche þy body for to saue [2217] ¶ And after þat we counseile þat in þin hous þou sette sufficaunt garnisoun So þat þay may as wel þy body as þin hous defende [2218] ¶ But certes for to moeue werre ne sodeynly for to do vengeance; we may not deme in so litel tyme þat it were profit|able [2219] ¶ wherfore we axen leysir [folio 208b] and a space [. . . .] in þis caas to demen [2220] ¶ For þe comune prouerbe saiþ þis ¶ he þat soone demeþ soone schal repente [2221] ¶ And eek men sayn þat þilke Iuge is wys þat soone vnderstondeþ a matier and Iuggeþ by leysir. [2222] ¶ For al be it so þat / alle taryinge is anoyful; algates it is no reproef in ȝeuynge of Iuggement. ne of ve[n]gaunce takyng whan it is suffisaunt and resonable [2223] and þat schewed oure lord ihū crist by en|sample ¶ For whan þat þe womman þat was I-take in aduoutrie was brouȝt in his presence to knowen what schulde be doon of hir persone Al be it þat he wist him self what þat he wolde answere; ȝit wolde he not answere sodeynly. but he wolde haue deliberacioun and in þe ground hem wrot twyes. [2224] and by þese causes we axe deliberacioun. and we schul þanne by þe grace of god counseile þe þing þat schal be profytable

[2225] ¶ Vpstarten þenne þe ȝonge folkes anoon at oones; and þe moste part of þat companye han skorned þese olde wise men and bygonne to make noyse and sayden [2226] ¶ Right so as whil þat/ Iren is hoot men scholden smyte; Right so schulde men wreke here wronges whil

[6-text p 206] þat þay ben freische and newe ¶ And with lowde vois þay cryde. werre. werre.

[2227] ¶ Vproos þo oon of þese olde wise and with his hond made countenaunce þat men schulde holde hem stille and ȝiuen him audience [2228] ¶ lordyngs quod he ther is ful many a man þat crieth werre werre wot ful litel what werre amounteth. [2229] werre at his bygynnyng haþ so greet and entre and so large þat euery wight may entre whan him likeþ and lightly fynde werre [2230] ¶ But certes what ende schal falle þerof; it is not lightly to knowe [2231] For soþly whan þat werre is oones bygonne; þer is ful many a child vnbore of his mooder þat schal sterue ȝong by cause of þilke werre or elles lyue in sorwe and deye in wrecchidnes [2232] ¶ & þerfore er þat eny werre be bygonne. men moste haue gret counseil and gret deliberacioun. [2233] ¶ And whan þis olde man wende to enforce his tale by resouns wel neigh alle at oones bygonne þay to rise for to breke his tale and beden him fulofte his wordes to abrigge. [2234] For soþly he þat precheþ to hem that liste not to heere his wordes his sermoun hem anoyeth [2235] ¶ For Ihesus Sirac saith þat wepyng in musik is a noyous þing. þis is to say ¶ As moche auayleþ to speke tofore folk/ to whiche his speche annoyeþ; as it is to synge byfore hem whiche þat wepith [2236] [folio 209a] ¶ And whan þis wise man saugh him wanted audience; al schamefast he sette him doun agayn [2237] ¶ For Salamon saith. ther as þou may haue noon audience; enforce þe not to speke [2238] ¶ I se wel quod þis wise man þat þe comune prouerbe is soþ ¶ That good counseil wantith whan it is most neede

[2239] ¶ Ȝit hadde þis melibeus in his counseil many folk þat priuely in his eere han counseled him certein þinges and counseled him þe contrarie in general audience

[2240] ¶ whan melibeus hadde herd ȝet þe grettest

[6-text p 207] party of his counseil were accorded þat he schulde make werre. Anoon he consented to here counseilyng and fully affermed here sentence [2241] ¶ Thanne dame Prudence whan þat sche saugh þat hir housbonde schop him to wreke him of his enemyes and to gynne werre; / Sche in ful humble wise whan sche saugh hire tyme sayde him þese wordes [2242] ¶ My lord quod sche I ȝow biseche as hertily as I dar and kan ne haste ȝow nought to faste and for alle guerdouns as ȝeue me audience [2243] ¶ For Peres Alfons saith ¶ who þat doþ to þe ouþer good or harm; haste þe nought to quyten him. For in þis wise þy freend wil abyde; and þin enemy schal þe lenger lyue in drede [2244] ¶ The prouerbe saiþ ¶ he hastith wel þat wisly can abyde and in wikked haste is no profyt

[2245] ¶ This melibeus answerde vn to his wyf prudens ¶ I purpose not quod he to werke by þy counseil for many causes and resouns ¶ For certes euery wight wolde holde me þanne a fool [2246] ¶ þis is to sayn ¶ If I for þy counseil wolde chaunge þinges þat affermed ben by so many wise; [2247] I say þat alle wommen be wikked and noon good of hem alle ¶ For of a þousand men saiþ Salomon I fond oon good man; But certes of alle wommen good womman fond I neuer noon [2248] ¶ And also certes if I gouernede me by þy counseil it schulde seme that I hadde ȝiuen to þe ouer me þe maistry and god forbeede er it so were [2249] ¶ For Ihc Syrac saiþ þat if a wif haue maistrie sche is contrarious to hir housbond [2250] ¶ and Salomon saith ¶ Neuer in þy lif to þy wyf ne to þy child ne to þy freend ne ȝeue no power ouer þiself ¶ For better it were þat þy children axen of þy persone þinges þat been needful to hem þan þou se þiself in þe hondes of þy children [2251] ¶ And also if I wolde werke by þy counselynge certes it most som tyme be secre til it were tyme þat it moste be

[6-text p 208] knowe and þis ne may not be [2252] . . . . .[2253] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[2254] whan dame Prudence ful debonerly and with gret pacience hadde herd al þat hir housbonde liked for to seye ¶ Than axed sche of him licence [folio 209b] for to speke and sayde in þis wise [2255] ¶ My lord quod sche as to ȝoure firste resoun certes it may lightly be answered. For I say it is no foly to chaunge counsel whan þe þing/ is chaungid. For elles whan þe þing semeþ oþerwise þan it was biforn [2256] And moreouer I say þough þat ȝe han sworn and I-hight to parforme ȝoure emprise And naþeles ȝe wayue to parforme þilke same emprise by iuste cause men schulde not say þerfore þat/ ȝe were a lyere ne forsworn [2257] For þe book/ seiþ þat þe wise man makeþ no lesyng whan he torneth his corrage to þe better [2258] ¶ And al be it so þat ȝoure emprise be establid and ordeyned by gret multitude of poeple; ȝit thar ȝe not accomplise þilke same ordinaunce but ȝou like / [2259] For þe trouþe of þing and þe profyt ben rather founde in fewe folk þat ben wise and ful of resoun þan by gret multitude of folk þat euery man crieth and clatereþ what þat him likeþ soþely such multitude is not honest [2260] ¶ An to þe secounde resoun wher as ȝe sayn þat alle wommen ben wikke; Saue ȝoure grace. Certis ȝe despise alle wommen in þis wise and þat alle despysith saiþ þe book / [2261] And senec saith who-so wil haue Sapi|ence schal no man desprayse but he schal gladly teche þe science þat he can wiþoute presumpcioun of pryde [2262] and suche þinges as he nought can he schal not ben aschamed to lerne hem and enquere of lasse

[6-text p 209] folk þan himself [2263] ¶ And sire þer haþ be ful many a good womman . . . . .[2264] . . . . .if alle wommen hadde ben wikke [2265] after þat for þe grete bounte þat is in wommen; Oure lord ihu crist/ whan he was risen fro deþ to lyue apperede raþer to a womman þan to his apostles. [2266] ¶ And þough þat Salamon say he fond neuer good womman It folwith nouȝt þerfore þat alle wommen ben wikke. [2267] For þough þat he fonde noone goode wommen certes many a noþer man haþ founden many a womman ful goode and trewe [2268] ¶ Or elles parauenture þentent of Salamon was þis as in souereyn bounte. he fond no womman [2269] þis is to say þat þer is no wight þat haþ souerein bounte saue god aloone as he himself recordeþ in his euaun|gelie. [2270] For þer nys no creature so good þat him wantith som-what of þe perfeccioun of god þat is his makere [2271] ¶ Ȝoure þridde resoun is þis. ȝe seyn. þat if ȝe gouerned ȝow by counsel of me it schulde seme þat ȝe hadde yeue me the maystry and þe lordschipe ouer ȝoure persone. [2272] sire saue ȝoure grace it is not so. For if so were þat no man schulde be counseiled but by hem þat hadde maystrie and lordschipe of his persone; men wolde nought be counseiled so ofte [2273] ¶ For soþly þilke man þat axeth [folio 210a] counseil of a purpos. ȝet haþ he fre chois wheþer he wil werke by þat purpos or noon [2274] ¶ And so to ȝoure ferþe resoun þer ȝe sayn þat the ianglerie of wommen can hyde þinges þat þey wot not of as who saith þat a womman can nought hyde þat at sche woot; [2275] Sire þese wordes ben vnder|stonde of wommen þat ben iangelers and wikke. [2276] of whiche wommen men sayn þat þre þinges dryuen a man out of his oughne hous þat is to say. smoke. droppyng of reyn and wikked wyfes. [2277] of

[6-text p 210] suche wommen saiþ salomon þat it were better to a man to dwelle in desert þan with a womman þat is riotous [2278] and sire by ȝoure leue þat am not I [2279] ¶ For ȝe han ful ofte assayed my grete scilence and my grete pacience and eek how wel þat I can hyde and hele þinges þat ben secrely to hyde [2280] ¶ And soþly as to ȝoure fyfte resoun wher as ȝe sayn þat in wikkede coun|seil wommen venquisscheth men. god wot þilke resoun stont here in no stede / [2281] For vnderstondith now ȝe aȝein counseil to do wickidnes [2282] and if ȝe wil wirke wickidnes and ȝoure wyf restreyne þilke wicked purpos and ouercome ȝou by resoun and by good counseil; [2283] Certes ȝoure wyf oweth raþer be preised than y-blamed / [2284] ¶ Thus schulde ȝe vnder|stonde þe philosopher þat seiþ in wicked counseil wommen venquyschen her housbondes [2285] ¶ And þer as ȝe blame alle wymmen and here resouns; I schal schewe by many resouns and ensamples þat many a womman hath ben ful good and ȝit been and here counseiles ful holsome and profitable [2286] ¶ Eke some men han sayd þat þe counseilyng of wommen is ouþer to dere or to litel of pris [2287] But al be it so þat ful many a womman is badde and hir counseil vile and not worþ; ȝet han men founde many a ful good womman and ful discret and wys in counseilyng [2288] ¶ lo Iacob by counseil of his moder Rebecca wan þe blessyng of his fader ysaak and þe lordschipe of alle his breþeren [2289] ¶ Iudith by hire goode counseil delyuered þe Citee of Bethulie in which sche dwellid out of þe hous of Olophernus þat had it byseged and wolde it al destroye [2290] ¶ Abigayl deliuered Nabal hir housbond fro Dauid þe king þat wolde haue I-slayn him and appesed þe Ire of þe kyng by hir witte and by hir good counseil|ynge [2291] ¶ Hester by good counseil enhaunsed gretly þe poeple of god In þe regne of assuerus þe kyng [2292] and þe same bounte in good counseilyng of many

[6-text p 211] a good womman may men rede and telle [2293] And more ouer whan oure lord had creat adam oure forme fader; he sayde in þis wise [2294] ¶ Hit is not goode to be a man aloone. make we to him an help semblable to him self [2295] ¶ here may ȝe se þat if þat a womman were not [folio 210b] good and hir counseil good and profytable; [2296] oure lord god of heuen wolde neither haue wrouȝt hem ne called hem help of man but raþer confusioun to man [2297] ¶ And þer sayde oones a clerk in tuo versus ¶ what is better than gold. Iasper. And what is better þan Iasper; wisedom. [2298] and what is better than wisedom; womman. and what is better than good womman; No þing [2299] ¶ And sire by many oþer resouns may ȝe se þat many wommen ben goode and . . . [no gap in MS.] profitable [2300] and þerfore if ȝe wil truste to my counseil; I schal restore ȝou ȝoure douȝter hool and sound [2301] ¶ and eek I wil doon ȝou so moche þat ȝe schul haue honour in þis cause

[2302] ¶ whan Melibe had herd þese wordes of his wif prudens; he seide þus. [2303] ¶ I se wel þat þe word of Salomon is soþ ¶ he seith þat þe wordes þat ben spoken discretly by ordinaunce been hony combes. For þay ȝeuen swetnes to þe soule. and holmes to þe body [2304] ¶ And wyf bycause of þy swete wordes and eek for I haue assayed and proued þi grete sapiens & þi grete trouþe; I wil gouerne me by þy counseil in alle þinges

[2305] ¶ Now sire quod dame prudens and syn ȝe vouchen sauf to be gouerned by my counseilyng; I wil enforme ȝou how ȝe schul gouerne ȝoure self in chesyng of ȝoure counseil [2306] ¶ ȝe schul first/ in alle ȝoure werkes mekely biseche to þe hihe god þat he wol be ȝour counseilour [2307] & schape ȝou to þat entent þat he ȝiue ȝou counseil and confort as taughte Toby his sone [2308] ¶ At alle tymes þou schalt blesse

[6-text p 212] god and pray him to dresse þy wayes. and loke þat alle þi counseiles be in him for euermore [2309] ¶ Seint Iame eek saith ¶ If eny of ȝow haue neede of sapiens axe it of god. [2310] and aftirward þanne schul ȝe take counseil in ȝoure self. and examine wel ȝoure þouȝtes of suche þinges as ȝou þinkiþ þat is best for ȝoure profyt [2311] and þanne schul ȝe dryue fro ȝoure hertes þo þat ben contrarie to good counseil. [2312] þat is to say . Ire . coueytise . and hastynes

[2313] ¶ First he þat axeþ counseil of himself . certes he moste be wiþoute Ire . for many cause [2314] ¶ The first is þis ¶ He þat haþ gret Ire and wraþþe in himself . he weneth alwey he may do þing þat he may not doo [2315] ¶ And secoundly he þat is Irous and wroþ . he may not wel deme [2316] ¶ and he þat may not wel deme; may nought wel counseile [2317] ¶ The þridde is þis . þat he þa is Irous and wroth as saiþ Senec may not speke but blameful þinges [2318] and with his vicious wordes he stireþ oþer folk to anger and to Ire [2319] ¶ And eek sire ȝe moste dryue coueitise out of ȝoure herte / [2320] ¶ For þapostil saith þat coueytise is roote of alle harmes. [2321] And trusteth wel þat a coueitous man ne can not deme ne þinke [folio 211a] but oonly to fulfille þe ende of his coueitise [2322] ¶ And certes þat may neuer ben accomplised ¶ For euer þe more abundaunce þat he hath of riches . þe more he desireth [2323] And sire ȝe moste also dryue out of ȝour herte hastynes . [2324] For certes ȝe may nought deme for þe beste a sodein þouȝt þat falleþ in ȝoure herte ¶ But ȝe moste auyse ȝou on it ful ofte [2325] ¶ For as ȝe herde here biforn þe comune prouerbe is þis; þat he þat soone demeth soone repentith;

[2326] ¶ Sire ȝe ben not alway in lik disposicioun [2327] For certis som þing þat som tyme semeþ to ȝow þat it is good for to doo; anoþer tyme it semeþ to ȝou þe contrarie

[6-text p 213]

[2328] whan ȝe han taken counseil in ȝoure seluen . and han demed by good deliberacioun such þing as ȝow semeþ best [2329] ¶ þanne rede I ȝou þat ȝe kepe it secre . [2330] Bywreye nought ȝoure counseil to no persone but it so be þat ȝe wene sicurly that þurgh ȝoure bywreyinge ȝoure condicioun schal be to ȝow þe more profytable [2331] ¶ For Ihc Syrac saiþ ¶ Neiþer to þi foo ne to þi freend discouere not þy secre ne þy foly [2332] ¶ For þey wil ȝiue ȝou audience and lokyng and supportacioun in þi presence and scorn in thin absence [2333] ¶ anoþer clerk saiþ þat skarsly schalt þou fynde eny persone þat may kepe counseil secreely [2334] ¶ The book saith ¶ whil þou kepist þi counsail in þin herte þou kepest it in þi prisoun [2335] ¶ and whan þou bywreyest þi counseil to any wight; he holdeþ þe in his snare [2336] ¶ And þerfore ȝow is better hyde ȝoure counseil in ȝoure herte þan prayen him to whom ȝe haue bywryed ȝoure counseil þat he wol kepe it clos and stille [2337] ¶ For Seneca seith ¶ If so be þat þou ne maist not þin owne counsel hyde; how darst þou preven any oþer wight þi counseil secreely to kepe; [2338] ¶ But naþeles if þou wene securly þat þy bywreying of þy counsel to a persone wol make þy condicioun stonde in þe better plite; þanne schalt þou telle him þy counsel in þis wise [2339] ¶ First þou shalt make no semblaunt wher þe were leuer werre or pees . or þis or þat . ne schewe him not þi wille and þin entent . [2340] For truste wel þat comunly þese counseilours ben flaterers [2341] and namely þe counselours of grete lordes [2342] ¶ For þay enforcen hem alway raþer to speke plesaunt wordes enclynyng to þe lordes lust þan wordes þat been trewe and profitable [2343] ¶ And þerfore men say þat þe riche man haþ selden good coun|seil. but if he haue it of him self [2344] ¶ And after þat þou schalt consider þy frendes and þine enemyes . [2345] And as touching þy frendes; þou schalt con|sidere

[6-text p 214] which of hem beþ most faithful and most wise and eldest and most approuyd in counsaylinge [2346] ¶ And of hem schalt þou axe þy counsail as þe caas [folio 211b] requireth

[2347] ¶ I say þat first ȝe schul clepe to ȝour coun|seil ȝoure frendes that ben trewe [2348] ¶ For Salomon saiþ For right as þe hert of a man delitith in sauour þat is soote; Right so . þe counseil of trewe frendes ȝeueþ swetnes to þe soule [2349] ¶ he saith also ther may no þing be likened to þe trewe freend [2350] ¶ For certes gold ne siluer beþ nought so moche worþ as þe goode wil of a trewe freend . [2351] ¶ And eek he sayde þat a trewe frend is a strong defens who þat it fyndeþ certes he fyndeþ a gret tresour [2352] ¶ þanne schul ȝe eek considere if þat ȝoure trewe frendes ben discrete and wyse For þe book saith . axe þi counseil alwey of hem þat ben wyse . [2353] and by þis same resoun shul ȝe clepe to ȝoure counseil of ȝoure frendes þat ben of age suche as haue I-seye sightes and ben expert in many þinges and ben approuyd in counseylinges [2354] ¶ For þe book saith þat in olde men is þe sapience and in longe tyme þe prudence [2355] ¶ And tullius saiþ þat grete þinges ben not ay accompliced by strengþe ne by delyuernes of body; but by good counseil by auctorite of persones and by science . the whiche þre þinges ne been not feble by age; but certis þay enforsen and en|cresen day by day [2356] and thanne schul ȝe kepe þis for a general reule ¶ First schul ȝe clepe to ȝoure counseil a fewe of ȝoure frendes þat ben especial [2357] For Salomon saiþ ¶ Many frendes haue þou but among a þousand chese þe oon to be þy counseil|our . [2358] For al be it so þat þou first ne telle þy counseil but to a fewe; þou mayst afterward telle it to mo folk if it be neede [2359] But loke alwey þat þy counseilours haue þilke þre condiciouns þat I haue sayd

[6-text p 215] bifore þat is to say þat þay ben trewe and olde and of wys experiens [2360] ¶ And werke nouȝt alwey in euery neede by oon counseilour alloone ¶ For som tyme byhoueþ it be counseiled by many [2361] ¶ For Salomon saith ¶ Saluacioun of þinges is wher as þere beþ many counseilours.

[2362] Now siþ þat I haue told ȝow of which folk ȝe schul be counseled ¶ Now wil I telle ȝow which counseil ȝe ought eschiewe. [2363] First ȝe schal espie þe counseil of fooles ¶ For Salomon seiþ take no coun|seil of a fool For he ne can not counseile but after his oughne lust and his affeccioun [2364] ¶ The book seiþ þat þe proprete of a fool is þis he troweþ lightly harm of euery wight & lightly troweþ alle bounte in himself [2365] ¶ Thow schalt eschiewe eek þe counseil of alle flaterers suche as enforcen hem raþere to prayse ȝoure persone by flaterie þan for to telle ȝow þe soþ|fastnesse of þinges

[2366] ¶ wherfore Tullius saith Amonges alle pestilences þat [folio 212a] ben in frendschipe þat is þe grettest flaterie. ¶ And þerfore is it more neede þat þou eschiewe and drede flaterers more þan eny oþer peple [2367] ¶ The book saiþ. Þou schalt raþer drede and flee fro þe swete wordes of flaterers. þen fro þe egre wordes of þy frend þat saiþ þe þi soþes [2368] ¶ Salamon saiþ þat þe wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacche in Innocentȝ [2369] ¶ He saiþ also. he þat spekeþ to his frend wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce setteþ a nette byfore his feet to cacchen him [2370] and þerfore saiþ Tullius ¶ Encline not þin eeres to flaterers ne tak no confort of þe wordes of flaterers [2371] ¶ And Catoun saiþ Auyse the wel and eschiewe wordes of swetnes and of plesaunce [2372] and eek þou schalt eschiewe þe counselyng of þin olde enemyes þat ben recounsiled. [2373] Þe book saiþ. that wight retorneth soone in to þe

[6-text p 216] grace of his olde enemyes [2374] ¶ And ysope saith. Ne truste not to hem wiþ which þou hast had som tyme werre or enmyte. ne telle not hem þy counseil [2375] And Seneca telleþ þe cause why it may not be saith he þat wher as a greet fuyr haþ longe tyme endured; þat þere ne leueþ som vapour of hete [2376] ¶ And þerfore saith Salomon ¶ In þin olde enemy truste þou neuere [2377] ¶ For sicurly þough þin enemy be reconsiled and make þe cheer of humilite and lowteþ to þe his heed; ne trist him neuer [2378] For certes he makiþ þilke feyned humilite more for his profyt þan for eny loue of þi persone by cause he dem|yth to haue victorie ouer þi persone ¶ By such feyned countynaunce the whiche victorie he might nouȝt haue by stryf and werre [2379] ¶ And Petir Alfons saiþ ¶ Make no felaschipe with þine olde enemyes. for if þou do hem bounte; þey wil peruerten it in to wikkednes [2380] & eek þou most eschiewe þe counseilynge of hem þat ben þy seruauntȝ and beren þe gret reuerence. For par auenture þai say it more for drede þan for loue [2381] And þerfore saith a philosophre in þis wise ¶ Ther is no wight parfytly trewe to him þat he to sore dredeth [2382] ¶ And Tullius saith ¶ þer is no wight so gret of eny emperour þat onge may endure but if he haue more loue of þe peple than drede [2383] ¶ Thow also eschiewe þe counseil of folk þat ben dronkelewe For þay ne can no counsel hyde [2384] ¶ For Salomon saith ¶ Ther regneþ no priuete þer as is dronkenesse [2385] ¶ ȝe schul also haue in suspect þe counseil of such folk as counseileþ ȝou oon þing priuely and counseile ȝow þe contrarie openly [2386] ¶ For Cassiodorie saith it is a maner sleighte to hindre whan he schewiþ to doon oon þing openly and werkith priuely þe contrarie. [2387] ¶ þou schalt also [folio 212b] eschiewe þe counseil of wikked folkes ¶ For þe book saith. ¶ The counselyng of wikked folk is alway ful

[6-text p 217] of fraude [2388] ¶ and Dauid saith ¶ Blisful is þat man þat haþ not folwed þe counseilyng of wikked men or schrewes [2389] ¶ Thow schalt also eschiewe þe counseilynge of ȝonge folkes for here counseil is nought/ rype

[2390] ¶ Now sire syn I haue schewed ȝou of what folk ȝe schul take ȝoure counsail and of whiche folk ȝe schullen folwe þe counseil [2391] ¶ Now schal I teche ȝow how ȝe schul examyne ȝoure counseil after þe doctrine of tullius [2392] ¶ In the examynyng of ȝoure counseiloures; ȝe schul considre many þinges [2393] ¶ Al-thir first ȝe schul considre þat in þilke þing that þou proposist and vp what þing þou wilt haue counseil that verray trouthe be sayd and considerid. þis is to sayn. telle trewely þy tale [2394] ¶ For he þat saith fals may not wel be counseled in þat cas of which he lyeth [2395] ¶ And after þis þou schalt considere the þinges þat accorden to þat purpos. for to do by þy counseil if resoun accorde þer to [2396] ¶ and eek if þy might may accorde þer to. and if þe more part and þe better part of þy counseilours accorde þer-to or noon [2397] ¶ Thanne schalt þou considere what þing schal folwe of þat counsailynge. as hate. pees. werre. grace. profyt/. or damage and many oþer þinges [2398] ¶ And in alle þese þinges þou schalt chese þe beste and weyue alle oþer þinges [2399] Þanne schalt þou considre of what roote engendred is þy matier of þy counseil and what fruyt may conserue and engendre / [2400] ¶ Thow schalt also consider alle þese causes from whens þai ben spronge. / [2401] And whan ȝe haue examined ȝoure counseil as I haue said and which party is þe better and more profitable and han approued by many wise folkes and olde; [2402] Than schalt thow considre if þou maist performe it and make of it a good ende [2403] ¶ For resoun wol nought þat any man schuld bygynne a thing; but if he mighte parforme it and make þer-of a good ende. [2404] ne no wight

[6-text p 218] schulde take vpon him so heuy a charge þat he mighte not bere it [2405] ¶ For þe prouerbe seiþ ¶ He þat moche embrasith destroyeþ litel [2406] ¶ And Catoun seiþ Assay to do such þing as þou hast power to doon. lest þat þy charge oppresse þe so sore. þat þe bihoue to wayue þing þat þou hast bygonne [2407] ¶ And if so be þat þou be in doubte [folio 213a] wher þou maist parforme a þing or noon chese rather to suffre þan bygynne [2408] ¶ And petre alfons saith If þou hast might to doon a þing of which þou most repente it is better nay þan ȝee / [2409] þis is to sayn þat þe is better holde þy tongue stille þan to speke [2410] ¶ Than may ȝe vnderstonde by strenger resouns. þat if þou hast power to parforme a werk of which þou schalt repente; þanne is it better þat þou suffre þan bigynne. [2411] wel seyn þay þat defenden euery wight to assaie þing of which he is in doute wheþir he may parforme it or noon [2412] ¶ And after whan ȝe han examyned ȝoure counseil as I haue sayd biforn and knowen wel ȝe may par|forme ȝoure emprise; conferme it þanne sadly til it be at an ende

[2413] ¶ Now is it tyme and resoun þat I schewe ȝow whanne and wherfore þat ȝe may chaunge ȝoure coun|seil wiþouten reproef / [2414] ¶ Sothly a man may chaunge his purpos and his counseil if þe cause cesseþ or whan a newe cause bytydeþ [2415] ¶ For þe lawe seith ¶ vpon þinges þat newely bitydeþ bihoueþ newe counseil. [2416] and Seneca seith ¶ If þy counseil be comen to þe eeres of þin enemy; chaunge þy counsail [2417] ¶ Thow maist/ also chaunge þy counseil if so be þat þou fynde þat by errour or by oþer processe harm or damage may bytyde [2418] ¶ Also þou chaunge þy counseil if þay be dishonest or elles comuneth of dishoneste. [2419] For þe lawes sayn ¶ That alle þe hestes þat ben dishoneste ben of no valieu

[6-text p 219] [2420] and eek if it so be þat it be impossible. or may not goodly be parformed or kept

[2421] and take þis for a general reule ¶ That euery counseil þat is affermed or strengþed so strongly þat it may not be chaunged for no condicioun þat may bitide ¶ I say þat þilke counseil is wikked

[2422] ¶ þis melibeus whan he had herd þe doctrine of his wyf dame prudens answerde in þis wise [2423] ¶ Dame quod he ȝit as in to þis tyme ȝe han wel and couenably taught me as in general how I schal gouerne me in chesynge and in wiþholdynge of my counseiloures [2424] ¶ But now wold I fayn ȝe wolde condescende as in especial [2425] & telleþ me what semeþ or how likeþ ȝow by oure counseiloures þat we han chosen in oure present neede

[2426] ¶ My lord quod sche I byseke ȝow in al hum|blesce þat ȝe wil not wilfully repplye aȝeinst my resouns ne distempre ȝoure herte þough I say or speke þing þat ȝow displesith [2427] ¶ For god woot þat as in myn entent I speke it for ȝoure beste. for ȝoure honour. and for ȝour [folio 213b] profyt eek [2428] ¶ And soþly I hope þat ȝour be|nignite wol take it in to pacience [2429] ¶ For trusteþ me wel quod sche þat ȝoure counseil as in þis caas ne schulde not as for to speke propurly be called a counseilyng; but / a mocioun or a moeuynge of foly [2430] in which counseil ȝe han erred in many a sondry wise

[2431] ¶ First and forward ȝe han erred in þe gader|yng of ȝoure counseilours [2432] For ȝe schulde first han cleped a fewe folkes . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] if it hadde be neede [2433] ¶ But certes ȝe han sodeinly cleped to ȝour coun|seil a gret multitude of poeple ful cha[r]geous and ful anoyous for to hiere [2434] ¶ Also ȝe han erred for þer as ȝe schulde oonly haue clepid to ȝoure counseil ȝoure trewe frendes olde and wise; [2435] ȝe haue I-cleped straunge folk ȝonge folk. false flatereres and enemyes

[6-text p 220] reconsiled and folk þat doon ȝow reuerence wiþoute loue [2436] ¶ Eke also ȝe han erred; For ȝe han brouȝt with ȝow to ȝoure counseil. Ire. Coueitise and Hastynes. [2437] þe whiche þre þinges ben contra|rious to euery counsail honest and profitable [2438] ¶ The whiche þre þinges ȝe haue nought annentissched or destroyed neyþer in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure counseiloures as ȝe oughte [2439] ¶ Also ȝe haue erred. For ȝe haue schewed to ȝoure counseilours ȝoure talent and ȝoure affeccioun to make werre and for to doon vengeaunce anoon [2440] ¶ þay han espyed by ȝoure wordes to what þinge ȝe ben enclined [2441] and þerfore haue þay counseiled ȝow rather to ȝoure talent þan to ȝoure profyt [2442] ¶ Ȝe haue erred also; For it semeþ þat ȝow sufficeþ to haue been coun|seiled by þese counseilours only and wiþ litel auys [2443] wher-as in so gret and so heigh a neede it hadde be necessarious mo counseilours and more deliberacioun to parforme ȝoure emprise [2444] ȝe have erred also ¶ For . . . . .[2445] . . . . . [no gap] ȝe haue maked no diuisioun bytwixe ȝoure counsailours þis is to seyn bitwix ȝoure frendes and ȝoure feyned counseilours. [2446] ne ȝe ne haue nought I-knowe þe wille of ȝoure frendes olde and wise. [2447] But ȝe haue cast alle here wordes in an hochepoche / and enclyned ȝoure herte to þe more part and to þe gretter nombre and þere be ȝe condescendid [2448] ¶ And syn ȝe wot wel men schal alway fynde a gretter nombre of fooles þan of wyse men; [2449] and þerfore þe counsailes þat ben at congregaciouns and mul|titudes of folk. þer as men taken more reward to þe [folio 214a] nombre þan to þe sapience of persones. [2450] ȝe se wel þat in suche counseilynges fooles haue maystrie [2451] ¶ Melibeus answerde agayn and sayde ¶ I graunte wel þat I haue erred; [2452] But þere as þou hast told me toforn þat he is nought to blame þat chaungeþ his coun|seilours

[6-text p 221] in certeyn caas and for certeyn iuste causes [2453] ¶ I am al redy to chaunge my counseilours right as þou wilt deuyse [2454] ¶ The prouerbe saith þat for to do synne is mannysch. But/ certes for to perseuere longe in synne is werk of þe deuyl

[2455] ¶ To þis sentence anoon answerde dame pru|dens and saide [2456] ¶ Examineth quod sche ȝoure coun|sail and let vs se which of hem haþ spoke most resonably and taught ȝou best counsail [2457] And for as moche as þe examinacioun is necessarie; let vs byginne at þe Surgiens and at þe phisiciens þat first speken in þis matiere [2458] ¶ I say ȝou þat þe surgiens and þe physiciens han sayd ȝow in ȝoure counseil discretly as hem ought [2459] and in here speche sayden ful wisely þat to þe office of hem appendith to doon to euery wight honour and profyt. and no wiȝt to annoye [2460] and after here craft to do gret diligence vn to þe cure of hem which þat þay haue in here gouern|aunce [2461] And sire right as þay answerde wisely and discretly; [2462] Right so rede I þat þay be heihly and soueraignly guerdoned for here noble speche / [2463] and eek for þey schullen do þe more ententyf besynes in þe curyng of ȝoure douȝter dere [2464] ¶ For al be it so þat þai be ȝoure frendes; þerfore schul ȝe nought suffre þat þay schul serue ȝow for nouȝt / [2465] But ȝe oughte þe raþere to guerdoune hem and schewe hem ȝoure largesse [2466] ¶ & as touchynge þe proposiciouns whiche þe phisiciens han schewed ȝou in þis caas þis is to sayn [2467] þat in maladyes oon contrarie is warisshed by anoþer contrarie. [2468] I wolde fayn knowe þilke text and how þay vnderstonde it and what is ȝoure entente [2469] ¶ Certes quod Melibeus vnderstonden it is in þis wise [2470] þat right as þay han do me a contrarie; right so schold I do hem anoþer [2471] ¶ For right as þai han venged hem on me and doon me wrong; Right so schal I venge me vp on hem

[6-text p 222] and doon hem wrong [2472] and þanne haue I cured oon contrarie by anoþer

[2473] ¶ lo lo quod Dame prudence how lightly is euery man enclyned to his oughne plesaunce and to his oughne desir [2474] ¶ Certes quod sche þe wordes of þe phisiciens [folio 214b] ne schulde nouȝt haue ben vnderstonde sone in þat wise [2475] ¶ For certes wikkednesse is no contrarie to wickednesse. ne vengauns to vengeaunce. ne wrong to wrong; but þai ben semblable [2476] And þer|fore on vengeaunce is nouȝt warisshed by anoþer venge|aunce. ne oon wrong by anoþer wrong. [2477] but euerych of hem encreseth and engreggith oþer [2478] ¶ But certes þe wordes of þe phisiciens schul ben vnderstonde in þis wise. [2479] For good and wikked|nesse ben tuo contraries. and pees and werre. venge|aunce & sufferaunce. Discord and accord and many oþer þinges [2480] ¶ but certes wikkednes schal be warrisshed by goodnesse. Discord by accord. werre by pees and so forth of oþer þinges [2481] ¶ And her-to accordith seint paul þe apostil in many places [2482] ¶ He saith . ne ȝeldith nouȝt harm for harm. ne wikked speche for wikked speche [2483] ¶ But do wel to him þat doþ þe harm and blesse him that doþ þe harm [2484] and in many oþer places he amonesteth pees and accord [2485] ¶ But now wil I speke to ȝow of þe coun|seil which was ȝiue to ȝow by þe men of lawe & þe wise folkes [2486] þat sayde alle by oon accord as ȝe haue herd byfore [2487] That ouer alle þinges ȝe schal do ȝoure diligence to kepe ȝoure persone and to warmstore ȝoure hous. [2488] and seyden also þat in þis ȝow aughte for to wirche ful auysily and with gret deliberacioun. [2489] ¶ And sire as to þe firste poynt þat touched to þe kepinge of ȝoure persone; [2490] ȝe schul vnderstonde. þat he þat haþ werre; schal euermore deuoutly and mekely prayen biforn alle þinges [2491] þat Ihū crist wil of his mercy

[6-text p 223] haue him in his proteccioun and ben his souerayn helpyng at his neede / [2492] ¶ For certes in þis world þer nys no wight þat may be counseiled or kept sufficaun[t]ly wiþ|oute þe kepinge of oure lord ihū crist [2493] ¶ To þis sentence accordeþ þe prophete Dauid þat seith [2494] ¶ If god ne kepe not þe citee. in ydel wakith he þat kepith hit [2495] ¶ Now sire þanne schul ȝe committe þe keping of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendes þat ben approued and y-knowe [2496] and of hem schul ȝe axen help ȝoure persone to kepe ¶ For Catoun saith ¶ If þou haue neede of help; axe it of þy freendes. [2497] For þer is noon so good a phisicien at neede; as is a trewe frend. [2498] ¶ And after þis; þan schal ȝe kepe ȝou fro alle straunge folkes and fro lyeres and haue alway in suspect/ here compaignye [2499] ¶ For Pieres alfons saith ¶ Ne take no compaignie by the [folio 215a] way of a straunge man. but/ so be þat þou knowe him of a lenger tyme [2500] And if so be he falle in to þy compaignye par auenture wiþouten þin assent; [2501] enquere þanne as subtilly as þou maist of his conuersacioun and of his lyf bifore and feyne þy way and say þat þou wilt go þider as þou wolt nought goon [2502] ¶ And if he bere a spere ¶ hold þe on the right syde ¶ And if he bere a swerd; holde þe on þe lyft syde. [2503] and so after þis. þanne schul ȝe kepe ȝou wisely from al such peple as I haue sayd bifore / and hem and here counseil eschiewe [2504] ¶ And after þis. þanne schul ȝe kepe ȝow in such manere [2505] þat for eny presumpcioun of ȝoure strengþe þat ȝe despise not þe might of ȝoure aduersarie so lite þat ȝe lete þe kepinge of ȝoure persone for ȝoure presumpcioun. [2506] For eny wis man dredeþ his enemy [2507] ¶ And Salomon saith ¶ weleful is he þat of alle haþ drede. [2508] For certes he þat þurgh hardynes of his herte and þurgh þe hardinesse of himself. haþ to gret presumpcioun; him schal euyl bitide [2509] ¶ þanne

[6-text p 224] schal ȝe euermore counterwayte enbusshementȝ and alle espiaille [2510] ¶ For Senec saith þat þe wise man þat drediþ harmes / eschiewith harmes. [2511] ne he ne falliþ in to noone perils þat perils eschieweþ [2512] ¶ And al be it so þat þe seme þat þou art in sikur place; ȝit schaltow alway do þy diligence in kepyng of þy persone [2513] ¶ This is to say ¶ Be not necgligent to kepe þy persone nought oonly for þy gretteste enemyes; but fro þy lest enemyes [2514] ¶ Senec saith ¶ A man þat is wel auysed; he drediþ his lest enemy [2515] ¶ Ovide seiþ þat þe litel wesil wol sle þe grete bole and þe wilde hert. [2516] ¶ And þe book saiþ. a litel þorn wol prikke a þing ful sore. ¶ And an hound wol holde þe wilde boore [2517] ¶ But naþeles I say not þat ȝe schul be so moche a coward þat ȝe doute where is no neede or drede [2518] ¶ þe book saiþ þat som folk haue gret lust to disceyue ¶ but ȝit þay dreden hem to be de|ceyued [2519] ¶ Ȝet schal ȝe drede to ben empoisoned ¶ And kepe þe fro þe companye of scorners [2520] For þe book saith with scorners make no compaignye but flee hem and here wordes as venym

[2521] ¶ Now as to þe secounde poynt where as ȝoure wise counseilours warnede ȝow to warmstore ȝoure hous with gret diligence; [2522] I wolde fayn wite [folio 215b] how þat ȝe vnderstoode þilke wordes what is ȝoure sentence

[2523] ¶ Melibeus answerde and saide ¶ Certes I vnder|stonde it in þis wise þat I schal warmstore myn hous with toures suche as han castiles and oþer maner edifices and armure and artilries [2524] by suche þinges I may my persone & myn hous so kepen and edifien and defenden þat myn enemyes schul be in drede myn hous to approche

[2525] ¶ To þis sentence answerde dame prudence ¶ warmstorynge quod sche of heihe toures and grete edifices . . . . .[2526] . . . . . [no gap] wiþ grete

[6-text p 225] costages and gret trauaile and whan þat þay ben accomplised ȝit beþ þay nouȝt worth a straw but if þey be defended by trewe frendes þat beþ olde and wise [2527] ¶ And vnderstondeþ þat þe grettest strength or garnisoun that þe riche man may haue as wel to kepe his persone as his goodes is [2528] þat he be biloued wiþ his subgites and wiþ his neighebours [2529] ¶ For þus saith tullius ¶ That þer is a maner garnisoun þat no man may venquisshe ne discomfite and þat is [2530] a lord to be biloued with his citeȝeins and of his peple

[2531] ¶ Now þanne as to ȝoure þridde poynt where as ȝoure olde and wyse counseillours sayde. ȝe oughte nought sodeinly ne hastily procede in þis neede. [2532] but þat ȝe oughte purueyen ȝow and apparaile ȝow in þis caas wiþ greet diligence and gret deliberacioun; [2533] trewely I trowe þat þay sayden soþ and right wisely [2534] ¶ For Tullius saith ¶ In euery nede er þou bigynne it/ apparaile þe wiþ gret diligence [2535] ¶ Thanne say I þat in vengeance takinge in werre in bataile and in warmstoringe of þin hous [2536] er þou bygynne I rede þat þou apparaille þe þerto and do it with gret deliberacioun. [2537] For tullius saith ¶ That long apparaylyng byfore þe bataille; makeþ schort victorie [2538] ¶ And Cassidorus saiþ ¶ The garnisoun is strenger whan it is long tyme auysed

[2539] ¶ But now let vs speke of þe counseil þat was accorded by ȝoure neighebours suche as doon ȝou reuerence wiþoute loue. [2540] ¶ Ȝoure olde enemyes recoun|siled [2541] þat counseile ȝow cer|teyn þinges pryuely and openly counseile ȝow þe contrarie [2542] ¶ Þe ȝonge also þat counsaile ȝow to make werre and venge ȝow anoon [2543] ¶ And certes sire as I haue sayd byforn ȝe haue gretly erred to haue cle [folio 216a] ped such maner folk to ȝoure counseil [2544] whiche be now repreued by þe resouns byfore sayd [2545] ¶ But naþeles let vs now descende to

[6-text p 226] þe purpose special ¶ Ȝe schul first procede after þe doctrine of Tullius [2546] ¶ Certes þe trouþe of þis or þis counseil nedeþ nought diligently enquere [2547] For it is wel wist whiche it ben þat doon to ȝow þis trespas and vilonye [2548] & how many trespasoures and in what maner þay han to ȝow doon al þis wrong and al þis vilonye [2549] ¶ And after þat schul ȝe examyne þe secounde condicioun which Tullius addiþ þer to in þis matier [2550] ¶ Tullius put a þing which þat he clepeth couetynge. þis is to sayn [2551] who ben þay and whiche ben þay and how many þat consentid to þis matiere and to þy counsail in þy wilfulnesse to do hasty vengeaunces [2552] & let vs considere also who ben þo and how many ben þo . . . . . [no gap] þat ben counseilours to ȝoure aduersaries. [2553] and certes as to þe first poynt it is wel knowen whiche folk ben þay þat consentid to ȝoure first/ wilful|nes. [2554] For trewly alle þo þat counsailled ȝow to make sodeyn werre beþ nouȝt ȝoure frendes [2555] ¶ let vs considre whiche ben þo þat ȝe holde so gretly ȝoure frendes as to ȝoure persone [2556] ¶ For al be it so þat ȝe be mighty and riche; certes ȝe been alloone. [2557] for certes ȝe haue no childe but a douȝter. [2558] ne ȝe haue no breþeren ne cosins germayns ne noon oþer neigh kynrede / [2559] wherfore þat ȝoure enemyes for drede schulden stynte for to plede wiþ ȝou and stryue ȝoure persone [2560] ¶ Ȝe knowe also þat ȝoure richesses mooten in diuers parties be departed. [2561] and whan euery wight haþ his part; þay wol take but litel reward to venge þy deth [2562] ¶ But þyne enemyes ben þre and haue many children breþeren. cosynes and oþere neigh kynrede. [2563] and þough it so were ȝe hadde slayn of hem tuo or thre; ȝet dwellen þere ynowe to wreke here deth and sle þi persone [2564] ¶ And þough so were þat ȝoure kynrede were more sekir and stedefast þan

[6-text p 227] þe kynrede of ȝoure aduersaries; [2565] ȝit naþeles ȝoure kynrede nis but litel kinrede and litel sib to ȝow [2566] and þe kyn of ȝoure enemyes ben neigh sibbe to hem. and certes as in þat here condicioun is bet þan ȝoures [2567] ¶ Þanne let vs considere also if þe counseilynge of hem þat counseiled ȝow to take sodein vengeance wheþir it accorde to resoun [2568] & certes [folio 216b] ȝe knowe wel nay [2569] ¶ For as by right and resoun þer may no man take vengeaunce vpon no wight but þe Iugge þat/ haþ iurediccioun of it [2570] whan it is y-graunted him to take þilke vengeaunce hastily or at|temperelly as þe lawe requireth. [2571] and ȝit more|ouer of þilke word þat Tullius clepith consentynge [2572] þou schalt considre if þy might and þy power may consente and suffice to þy wilfulnes and to þy counseilours. [2573] and certes þou maist/ wel say þat nay / [2574] For sicurly as for to speke properly we may doo no þing but oonly oon þing/ which we may do rightfully [2575] ¶ And certes rightfully may ȝe take no vengeance as of ȝoure owne auctorite [2576] ¶ Than may ȝe se þat ȝoure power consentith not ne accordith not wiþ ȝoure wilfulnesse [2577] ¶ let vs now examyne þe þridde poynt þat Tullius clepeþ consequente. [2578] þou schalt vnderstonde þat þe vengeance þat þou purposiddest for to take is conse|quent. [2579] and þer of folweþ anoþer vengeaunce. peril and werre and oþer damages wiþoute nombre of whiche we be not war as at þis tyme [2580] ¶ And as touching þe fourþe poynt that tullius clepeþ en|gendrynge; [2581] þou schalt considre þat þis wrong which þat is doon to þe is engendred of þe hate of þin enemyes [2582] and of þe vengeaunce takinge vp þat wolde engendre anoþer vengeaunce & moche sorwe and wastyng of riches as I sayde

[2583] ¶ Now sire as to þe poynt þat Tullius clepith causes whiche þat þe laste poynt [2584] þou

[6-text p 228] schalt vnderstonde þat þe wrong þat þou hast receyued haþ certeyn causes [2585] whiche þat clerkes calle Orience and Officience. and causa longinqua. and causa propinqua. þis is to say. þe fer cause. and þe neigh cause. [2586] for þe fer cause is almighty god þat is cause of alle þinges. [2587] þe nere cause is þe þre enemyes. [2588] þe cause accidental was hate. [2589] þe causes materiales been þe fyue woundes of þy doughter. [2590] the cause formal is þe maner of here werkyng þat brought in laddres and clombe in at þin wyndowes. [2591] þe cause final was for to sle þy doughter hit letted nouȝt in as moche as was in hem [2592] ¶ But for to speke of þe fer cause as to what ende þay schal come or what schal finally betyde of hem in þis cause. can I not deme but by comittyng and by supposyng. [2593] For we schul suppose þat þay schul come to a wikked ende [2594] by cause þat þe book of degrees saith ¶ Seelden or wiþ gret peyne ben causes I-brought to [folio 217a] a good ende. whan þay ben euyl bygonne

[2595] Now sire if men wolde axe me why þat ȝe suffrede men to do ȝow þis wrong and vilonye; Certes I can not wel answere as for no soþfastnes [2596] For þe apostil saith. þat þe sciences and þe Iuggements of oure lord god almyghty ben ful deepe [2597] ¶ Ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem sufficiauntly [2598] ¶ Natheles by certeyn presumpciouns and coniectinges I holde and bilieue [2599] þat god which þat is ful of iustice and of rightwisnesse haþ suffred þis to betyde by iuste cause resonable

[2600] ¶ Thy name Melibe is to say a man þat drynkeþ hony. [2601] þou hast y-dronke so moche hony of sweete temperel richesses and delices and hon|ours of þis world [2602] þat þou art dronke and hast forȝete Ihū crist þy creatour. [2603] þou hast not doon him such honour and reuerence as þe oughte to doone. [2604] ne þou hast nouȝt wel taken keep to

[6-text p 229] þe wordes of Ovide þat saith [2605] ¶ vnder þe hony of þy goodes of þy body is hid þe venym þat sleeþ þi soule [2606] ¶ And Salomon saith ¶ If þou haue fouunde hony. ete of it þat sufficeþ. [2607] For if þou ete of it out of mesure; þou schalt spewe and be nedy and pouere. [2608] and perauenture crist haþ þe in despit. and hath torned away fro þe his face and his eeres of misericorde [2609] ¶ And also he haþ suffred þat þou hast ben punysshed in þe maner þat þou hast I-trespassed [2610] ¶ Thou hast doon synne aȝeinst oure lord crist. [2611] for certes þi þre enemyes of man|kinde þat is to say þy flessch þe feend and þe world. [2612] þou hast y-suffred hem to entre in to þin herte wilfully by þe wyndow of þy body [2613] and hast nouȝt defended þiself sufficiently agayns here asceutis and here temptaciouns So þat þay haue woundid þi soule in fyue places [2614] This is to sayn þe dedly synnes þat ben entred in to þin herte by þy fyue wyndowes [2615] ¶ And in þe same maner oure lord crist hath wolde and suffred þat þy þre enemyes ben entred in to þin hous by þo wyndowes [2616] and haue I-woundid þi doughter in þe forsayde maner

[2617] ¶ Certes quod Melibeus I se wel þat ȝe en|force ȝow moche by wordes to ouercome me. in such manere þat I schal not venge me on myn enemyes [2618] schewynge me þe perils and þe yueles þat mighten falle of þis vengeaunce [2619] ¶ But who-so wolde considre in alle vegeaunces þe periles and þe yueles þat mighten folwe of vengeaunces takynge. [2620] a man wolde neuer take vengeaunce and þat were harm. [2621] For by venge|aunce takynge be [folio 217b] wikked men destruyed and disseuered fro þe goode men. [2622] and þay þat haue wille to wikked|nes restreignen here wikked purpos whan þay seen þe punysshyng and þe chastisyng of trespasours [2623] . . . . .

[6-text p 230] [2624] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [2625] ¶ And ȝit say I more þat right so as a sengle persone synneþ in taking of vengeaunce; [2626] Right so þe Iugge synneþ if he doo no vengeaunce on him þat it haþ deserued [2627] ¶ For Senec saith þus ¶ he þat maister is he saith good to reproue schrewes [2628] And as Cassoder saith ¶ A man dredeþ to doon outrage whan he woot and knoweþ þat it displeseþ to þe Iugges and þe soueraynes. [2629] and anoþer saith ¶ The Iugge þat dredeþ to demen right makeþ schrewes // [2630] And seint poul þappostoil saith in his epistil whan he writeþ to þe romayns ¶ The Iugges bere not þe spere wiþoute cause. [2631] but þay beren it to punysshe þe schrewes and mys doers and for to defende wiþ þe goode men. [2632] If ȝe wol take vengeaunce on ȝoure enemyes ȝe schul retourne or haue recours to þe Iugges þat haue iurediccioun vpon hem [2633] and he schal pun[i]ssche hem as þe law axeþ and requireþ

[2634] ¶ A quod melibeus þis vengeaunce likeþ me no þing [2635] I byþenke me now and take heed how fortune haþ norissched me fro my childhode and haþ holpe me to passen many a strayt passage [2636] ¶ Now wol I aske her þat sche schal wiþ goddes help helpe me my schame for to venge

[2637] ¶ Certes quod prudence if ȝe wil wirche by my counseil. ȝe schul not assaye fortune by no maner way [2638] ne schul not lene ne bowe vnto hire after þe word of Senec [2639] ¶ For þinges þat beþ folye and þat beþ in hope of fortune schul neuer come to good ende [2640] ¶ And as þe same Senek saiþ ¶ The more cleer· and þe more schynynge þat fortune is þe more brutil and þe sonner brekeþ sche. [2641] so trusteþ nought in hire For sche is nouȝt stedefast ne stable [2642] ¶ For whan þou wenest or trowest to be most seur of hir

[6-text p 231] help. sche wol fayle þe and deceyue þe. [2643] And wher as ȝe say þat fortune haþ norisshed ȝow fro ȝoure childhode [2644] I say þat in so mochel ȝe schul þe lasse truste in hire and in hire witte [2645] ¶ For Senek saith ¶ what man þat is norissched by fortune; sche makeþ him to gret a fool [2646] ¶ Now siþþe ȝe desire and axe vengeaunce and þe vengeaunce þat is doon . . . . .[2647] . . . . . [no gap] in hope of fortune is peril|ous and vncerteyn [2648] þanne haueþ noon [folio 218a] oþer remedye but for to haue recours vnto þe soueraigne Iugge þat vengith alle vilonies and wronges [2649] and he schal venge ȝow after þat himself witnesseþ where as he saith [2650] ¶ leueþ þe ve[n]geaunce to me and I schal ȝelde it

[2651] ¶ Melibeus answerd. If I ne venge me nouȝt of þe vilonye þat men haue doon vnto me. [2652] I schal sounere warne hem þat han doon to me þat vilonye and alle oþere to doo me anoþer vilonye [2653] For it is writen ¶ Tak no vengeaunce of an old vilonye þou suf|frest þin aduersarie do þe a newe vilonye. [2654] and also for my suffraunce men wolde do me so moche vilonye þat I mighte neither bere it ne sus|teyne it. [2655] and so schulde I be put over lowe [2656] For men say In moche sufferynge schal many þinges falle vnto whiche þou schal nouȝt mowe suffre

[2657] ¶ Certes quod prudence I graunte ȝow wel þat ouer mochil suffraunce is nouȝt good; [2658] but ȝit folwiþ it nought þerof þat euery persone to whom men doon vilonye take of it vengeaunce. [2659] For it apper|tieneþ and longeþ al oonly to þe Iugges. For þay schul venge þe vilonyes and þe iniuries. [2660] and þerfore þe auctoritees þat ȝe haue sayd aboue been oonly vnderstonden in þe Iugges [2661] ¶ For whan þay suffre to mochil þe wronges and þe vilonyes that ben doon

[6-text p 232] wiþoute punysshyng [2662] þay somne not a man oonly to doo newe wronges; but þay comaunde hit. [2663] also þe wise man saith ¶ The Iugge þat correct|eþ not þe synnere comaundith him and byddith him doon anoþer synne [2664] ¶ And þe Iugges and souereignes mighten in here lond so mochil suffren of þe schrewes and mys-doeres [2665] þat þay schulde by such suffraunce by proces of tyme wexen of such power and might þat þay schulde put out þe Iugges and þe souereignes from here places [2666] & atte laste do hem lese here lordschipes

[2667] But lete vs now putte þat ȝe han leue to venge ȝow. [2668] I say ȝe ben nouȝt of might ne power as now to venge ȝou [2669] ¶ For if he wolde make comparisoun as to þe might ¶ Of ȝoure aduersaries ȝe schulde fynde in many þinges þat I haue I-schewed ȝow er þis þat here condicioun is bettre þan ȝoures [2670] And þerfore say I þat it is good as now þat ȝe suffre and be pacient

[2671] ¶ Forþermore ȝe knowe þat after [folio 218b] þe comune sawe it is a woodnesse a man to stryue with a strenger or a more mighty man þan him-seluen is [2672] And for to stryue wiþ a man of euene strengþe þat is to say with as strong a man as he is. it is peril. [2673] and for to stryue with a weykere it is folye [2674] and þerfore schulde a man fle stryuynge as moche as he mighte [2675] ¶ For Salomon seith ¶ It is a gret worschipe a man to kepe him fro noyse and stryf [2676] ¶ And if it so bifalle or happe þat a man of gretter might and strengthe þan þou art do þe greuaunce [2677] stude and busye þe raþer to stille þe same greuaunce þan for to venge þe [2678] ¶ For Senec saith. he putteþ him in a gret peril þat stryueth wiþ a gretter man þan he himseluen is [2679] ¶ And Catoun saith ¶ If a man of heiher estat or degre or more mighty þen þou do þe anoþer grieuaunce; Suffre him. [2680] For he þat haþ oones don þe a grieuaunce

[6-text p 233] may anoþer tyme relieue þe and helpe þe. [2681] Ȝit sette I a caas ȝe haue bothe might and licence to venge ȝow; [2682] I say þer ben ful many þinges þat schulde restreinge ȝow of vengeaunce takynge [2683] and make ȝow to encline to suffre and to haue pacience of þe wronges þat han ben doon to ȝow. [2684] First and forward ȝe wol considre þe defautes þat been in ȝoure owne persone. [2685] for whiche defautes god haþ suffred ȝow to haue þis tribulacioun as I haue sayd ȝow her byfore [2686] ¶ For þe poete saith // we oughten paciently to suffre þe tribu|lacioun þat cometh to vs whan þat we þenken and consideren þat we han deserued to haue hem [2687] ¶ And seint poul saith þat whan a man considereþ wel þe nombre of his defautes and of his synnes: [2688] þe peynes and þe tribulaciouns þat he suffereþ semen þe lasse vnto him [2689] ¶ and in as moche as him þenk|ith his synnes þe more heuy and greuous; [2690] in so moche his peyne is þe lighter and þe more esier vn-to him [2691] ¶ Also ȝe oughten to encline and bowe ȝoure herte to take þe pacience of oure lord ihū crist. as seiþ seint peter in his epistles [2692] ¶ Ihū crist he seiþ haþ suffred for vs and ȝiuen ensample vnto euery man to folwe and sewe him. [2693] For he dede neuer synne ne neuer cam vileyns worde out of his mouþ [2694] whan men cursed him; he cursed hem not ¶ And whan men beete him; he manased hem not. [2695] ¶ Also þe grete pacience which þat seintes þat been in paradys [folio 219a] han had in tribulaciouns þat þay haue had and suffred withoute desert/ or gult [2696] oughte moche stire ȝow to pacience [2697] ¶ Forþer|more ȝe schul enforce ȝow to haue pacience [2698] consideringe þat þe tribulaciouns of þis world but litel while enduren & soone passed ben and goon [2699] ¶ And þe ioye þat a man secheþ to haue by pacience in tribulaciouns is perdurable after þat þe

[6-text p 234] apostil seiþ in his epistil [2700] ¶ The ioye of god he saiþ is perdurable þat is to say euer-more lastynge [2701] ¶ Also troweth and bilieueþ stedefastly þat he is not wel norisched and taught þat can nought haue pacience or wil nouȝt receyue pacience [2702] ¶ For Salomon saith þat þe doctrine and þe witte of a man is I-knowe by pacience [2703 ¶ And in anoþer place he seiþ ¶ he þat hath pacience; gouerneþ him by gret prudence [2704] ¶ And þe same salamon seiþ. þat þe wraþful and þe angry man makeþ noyses. and þe pacient man attempereth and stilleþ him. [2705] he seiþ also ¶ It is more worth to be pacient þan for to be right strong. [2706] And And he þat may haue his lordschipe of his oughne herte; is more worþ and more to preise þan he þat by his force & by his strengthe takeþ grete citees [2707] ¶ And þerfore saith seint Iame in his epistil þat pacience is a gret vertu of perfeccioun.

[2708] . . . . . [no gap] [2709] but euery man may not haue þe perfeccioun þat ȝe seekyn [2710] ne I am not of þe nombre of right par|fyte men; [2711] For myn herte may neuer be in pees vnto þe tyme it be venged [2712] ¶ And al be it/ so that it was a gret peril to myne enemyes to don me a vilonye in takinge vengeaunce vpon me; [2713] ȝit tooken þay noon heede of þe peril but filden here wikked desir and her corrage. [2714] and þerfore me þenkith men oughten nought repreue me þough I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me [2715] ¶ And þough I do a gret excesse þat is to say þat I venge oon outrage by anoþer

[2716] ¶ A quod dame prudence ȝe say ȝoure wille and as ȝow likith. [2717] but in noon caas in þe world a man ne schulde nouȝt doon outrage ne excesse for to venge him. [2718] ¶ For Cassidore saiþ. as euel doþ he þat auengith him by outrage as he þat doth þe

[6-text p 235] outrage / [2719] and þerfore ȝe schul venge ȝow after þe ordre of right þat is to sayn by þe lawe and nouȝt by excesse ne by outrage [2720] ¶ And also if ȝe wil venge ȝow of þe outrage of ȝoure aduersaries in oþer maner þan right comaundeþ; ȝe synnen [2721] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Senec / that [folio 219b] a man schal neuer venge schrewednes by schrewednes. [2722] ¶ And if ȝe say þat axeþ a man to defende violence by vyolence. and fightyng by fightynge [2723] ¶ Certes ȝe say soþ whan þe defence is doon anoon wiþouten interualle or wiþouten taryinge or dilay [2724] for to defenden him and nought for to venge him [2725] ¶ And it bihoueþ a man putte such attemperance in his defence; [2726] þat men haue no cause ne matiere to repreuen him that defendith him of excesse and outrage . . . . . [no gap] [2727] ¶ Parde ȝe knowe wel þat ȝe make no defence as now for to defende ȝow but for to venge ȝow [2728] and so semeþ it / þat ȝe haue no wille to do ȝoure wille attemperelly [2729] & þerfore me þenkiþ þat pacience is good ¶ For Salamon saith þat he þat is not pacient schal haue gret harm.

[2730] ¶ Certes quod melibeus I graunte ȝou wel þat whan a man is inpacient and wroth. . . . . [no gap] [2731] for þe lawe saith þat he is coupable þat entremettith him or mellith him with such þing as aperteyneþ not vnto him [2732] ¶ Dan Salamon saiþ. he þat entremetteþ him of þe noyse or stryf of anoþer man. is lik him þat takith þe hound by þe eeres. [2733] For right as he þat takiþ þe strong hound by þe eeres is oþer while biten with þe hound; [2734] riȝt in þe same wise it is resoun þat he haue harm þat by his impacience melleþ him of þe noise of anoþer man where it aperteyneþ not to him [2735] ¶ But/ ȝe schul knowe wel þat þis dede þat

[6-text p 236] is to sayn myn disease and my grief toucheþ me right neigh. [2736] and þerfore þough I be wroþ; it is no meruayle. [2737] and sauynge ȝour grace I can not see þat it mighte gretly harme me þough I toke vengeaunce. [2738] For I am richer and more mighty þan myne enemyes been / [2739] And wel knowe ȝe þat by money and by hauynge of grete posses|siouns ben alle þe þinges of þis world gouernede [2740] ¶ And Salamon saith þat alle þinges obeyen to moneye / dispraisynge þe power of his aduersaries

[2741] . . . . . [no gap] ¶ Tho sche spak and sayde in þis wyse [2742] ¶ Certes deere sire I graunte ȝow þat ȝe ben riche and mighty [2743] and þat richesse is good to hem þat wel haue geten it/ and þat wel conne vse it [2744] For right as þe body of a man may not be wiþoute þe soule; no more may a man lyue wiþoute temperel goodes [2745] and by rich|esse may a man gete him greet frendschipe / [2746] [folio 220a] ¶ And þerfore saith Pamphilles. If a neet-hurdes douȝter he saiþ be riche; sche may cheese of a þousand men which she wol take to hir housbonde [2747] ¶ For of a þousand men oon wil not forsake hir ne refuse hire [2748] ¶ And þis pamphilles seiþ also ¶ If þou be right happy þat is to sayn if þou be right riche; þanne schalt þou fynde a gret nombre of felawes and frendes [2749] ¶ And if þy fortune chaunge þat þou wax pore; fare wel frendschipe. [2750] For þou schalt ben aloone wiþouten eny companye but if it be þe compaignye of pore folk // [2751] And ȝit saith þis pamphillus more ouer ¶ That þey þat/ ben þral and bonde of linage schullen ben maad worþy and noble by richesse [2752] ¶ And right so as by richesse þer come many goodes; Right so by pouert comen þer many harmes.[. . . .] [2753] . . . . .

[6-text p 237] . . . . . [no gap] [2754] And þer|fore clepeþ Cassidore pouert. . . . .] ruyne. [2755] þat is to sayn þe moder of ouerþrowyng or fallynge doun [2756] ¶ & þerfore Pieres alphons oon of þe grettest aduersites of þis world is; [2757] whan a free man by kyn or burthe is constreigned by pouert to eten þe almes of his enemyes [2758] ¶ And þe same seiþ Innocent in oon of his bookes ¶ þat sorweful & vnhappy is þe condicioun of a pouere begger. [2759] for if he axe nouȝt his mete; he deyeth for hungir; [2760] and if he axe; he deyeþ for schame. And algates þe necessite constreigneþ hym to axe. [2761] And þerfore saiþ Salamon þat bettre it is to deye þan to haue such pouert [2762] And as þe same Sala|mon saith Bettir is to deye on bitter deth þan for to lyue in such a wyse [2763] ¶ By þese resouns þat I haue sayd vnto ȝow and by many anoþer resoun þat I knowe and couþe say [2764] I graunte ȝow þat richesses ben goode to hem þat gete hem wel. & to hem þat hem wel vsen [2765] ¶ And þerfore wol I schewe ȝow how ȝe schulde bere ȝow in getyng of riches and in what maner ȝe schulde vse hem

[2766] ¶ First ȝe schulde gete hem wiþoute gret desir by good leysir sokyngly and nought ouer hastily [2767] ¶ For a man þat is to desirynge for to gete riches abandoneth him first to þefte and to alle oþere yueles [2768] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon ¶ he þat hastith him to bisyly to waxe riche; schal ben noon Innocent [2769] ¶ He saiþ also þat þe riches þat hastily comeþ to a man; soone & lightly goth and passeth fro a man [2770] ¶ But þat richesse þat [folio 220b] comeþ alway litel and litel waxeþ alway and multiplieþ [2771] ¶ And sire ȝe schal gete richesse by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauayle vnto ȝoure profyt [2772] and þat wiþoute wrong or harm doynge to eny oþer persone [2773] ¶ For þe lawe

[6-text p 238] saith þat no man makeþ himself riche þat doþ harm to anoþer wight. [2774] þis is to say. þat nature defendeþ and forbedith by right þat no man make himself riche vnto þe harm of anoþer persone. [2775] Tullius saith. þat no sorwe ne drede of deth. ne thought þat may falle to a man [2776] is so moche aȝeinst nature as a man to encresce his oughne profyt to þe harm of anoþer man [2777] ¶ And þough þe grete men and þe riche men gete richesse more lightly þan þou; [2778] ȝit schalt þou not be ydil ne slowe to þy profyt/ For þou schalt in alle wise flee ydil|nes. [2779] For Salamon saith þat ydelnesse techiþ a man to do many yueles [2780] ¶ And þe same salamon saiþ þat he þat trauaileth and besieþ him to tilye þe lond schal ete þe breed. [2781] But he þat is ydil and casteþ him to no busynesse ne occupacioun schal falle in to pouert and deye for hunger [2782] ¶ And he þat is ydel and slough can neuer fynde him tyme for to do his profyt [2783] ¶ For þer is a versifiour saith; þe ydel man excuseþ him in wynter by cause of þe grete colde. And in somer by enchesoun of þe grete hete. [2784] ¶ For þese causes saith Catoun ¶ waketh and enclineþ ȝow nouȝt ouer moche for to slepe. For ouermoche reste norischeþ and causeþ many vices [2785] ¶ And þerfore saith seint Ierom; Doþ some goode deedes þat þe deuel which þat is oure enemy ne fynde ȝow vnoccupied [2786] ¶ For þe deuel ne takiþ not lightly vnto his werkes suche as he fyndeth occupied in goode werkes

[2787] ¶ þanne þus in getynge of riches ȝe moot flee ydelnesse / [2788] ¶ and afterward ȝe schul vse þe richesses þe whiche ȝe han geten by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauaile [2789] in such a maner þat men holde ȝow not skarce / ne to sparynge ne to fool large þat is to say ouer large a spender [2790] For right as men blamen an auerous man by cause of his skarsete and chyncherie [2791] in þe same manere is he to blame

[6-text p 239] þat spendeth ouer largely [2792] ¶ And þerfore saith Catoun ¶ Vse he saith þi richesses þat þou hast y-geten [2793] in such a manere þat þay haue no matier ne cause to calle þe neiþer wrecche ne chynche [2794] ¶ For it is gret schame to a man to [folio 221a] haue a pouer herte and a riche purse [2795] ¶ He saith also þe goodes þat þou hast I-geten vse hem by mesure þat is to say spende hem mesurably [2796] For þay þat folily wasten and spenden þe goodes þat þay haue; [2797] whan þay haue no more propre of here oughne; þay schape hem to take þe goodes of anoþer man [2798] ¶ I say thanne ȝe schul flee auarice [2799] vsynge ȝour richesse in such manere þat . . . [no gap] ȝoure [. . . .] be buried. [2800] but þat ȝe haue þanne in ȝoure might and in ȝoure weldynge. [2801] For þe wise man reproueþ þe auerous man and saith þus in tuo versus [2802] ¶ wher-to and why burieth a man his goodes by his auarice and knowiþ wel þat needes most he deye. [2803] for deth is þe ende of euery man as in this present lif. [2804] And for what cause or enchesoun ioyneþ he him or knetteþ him so fast vnto his goodes [2805] þat alle his wittes mowe nought disseuer him or departe him fro his goodes [2806] & knowiþ wel or oughte knowe wel þat whan he is deed he schal no þing bere with him out of þis world. [2807] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seint/ Austyn þat þe auerous man is likned vnto helle. [2808] þat þe more þat it swolwith þe more it desireþ to swolwe and deuoure [2809] ¶ And as wel as ȝe wolde eschewe to be cleped an auerous man or chinche; [2810] as wel schulde ȝe kepe ȝow and gouerne ȝow in such a wise þat men cleped ȝow nouȝt fool large [2811] ¶ Therfore saiþ Tullius ¶ The goodes he saiþ of þin hous schulde nought ben hidde ne kepte so clos; but þat þay might ben opened by pite and by bonairete [2812] þat is to sayn to ȝiue hem part þat han gret neede. [2813]

[6-text p 240] ne þy goodes schul not be so open to be euery mannes goodes [2814] ¶ Aftirward in getynge of ȝoure richesses and in vsynge hem ȝe schul alway haue þre þinges in ȝoure herte [2815] þat is to say Oure lord god. Conscience. and good name. [2816] First ȝe schul haue god in ȝoure herte [2817] and for no riches ȝe schul in no manere doo no þing which might displese god þat is ȝour creatour and ȝoure maker. [2818] For after þe word of Salamon. It is better to haue litil good wiþ loue of god. [2819] þan to haue mochil good and tresor and lese þe loue of his lord god. [2820] And þe prophete saith. Better is to ben a good man and haue litel good þan tresore [2821] þe to ben holden a schrewe and haue gret riches [2822] ¶ And ȝit say I forþer more þat ȝe schuln alway doon ȝoure businesse to gete ȝow riches. [2823] so þat ȝe gete hem with good conscience [2824] ¶ And þe apostil seith. ther [folio 221b] nys þing in þis world of which we schuln haue so gret ioye as whan oure conscience bereþ vs good witnes [2825] ¶ And þe wise man saith substaunce of a man is ful good whan synne is not in his conscience. [2826] Afterward in getynge of ȝoure richesses and in vsynge of hem [2827] þou most haue gret busynesse & gret diligence þat ȝoure good name be alway kept and conserued [2828] ¶ For Sala|mon saiþ. better it is and more abelith a man for to haue a good name þan for to haue gret riches [2829] and þerfore he saith in anoþer place. Do gret diligence saiþ Salamon in kepyng of þy frend and of þy good name. [2830] For it schal lenger abyde wiþ þe þan eny tresor be it neuer so precious [2831] ¶ And certes he schulde nouȝt be cleped a gentil man þat after god and good conscience alle þinges left ne doþ his diligence and busynesse to kepe his good name. [2832] And Cassidore saith þat it is signe of a good man & a gentil or of a gentil herte whan a man loueþ or desireþ to

[6-text p 241] haue a good name . [2833] and þerfore saith seint augustyn þat þer ben tuo þinges þat ben necessarie and needful [2834] and þat is good conscience and good loos [2835] þat is to sayn. good conscience in þin oughne persone inward. and good loos of þin neghebor outward. [2836] and he þat trusteþ him so moche in his good conscience [2837] þat he displeseþ and settiþ at nought his good name or loos and rekkeþ nought þough he kepe not his good name; nys but a cruel churl

[2838] ¶ Sire now haue I schewed ȝow how ȝe schulde doon in getyng of good and riches and how ȝe schuld vse hem [2839] I see wel þat for þe trust þat ȝe haue in ȝoure riches; ȝe wolde meue werre and bataile [2840] ¶ I counseile ȝow þat ȝe bygynne no werre in trust of ȝoure riches. for thanne suffisen not werres to mayn|tene [2841] ¶ And þerfore saith a philosophre ¶ That man þat desireþ and wol algate haue werre; schal neuer haue sufficeaunce. [2842] For þe richere þat he is; þe gretter dispense most he make if he wol haue wor|schipe or victorie [2843] ¶ And Salamon saith. þe gretter riches þat a man haþ; þe moo despendours he haþ. [2844] And deere sire al be it so þat for ȝoure riches ȝe mowe haue moche folk; [2845] ȝit byhoueþ it not ne it is not good to bygynne werre þer as ȝe may in oþer maner haue pees vnto ȝoure worschipe and profyt. [2846] For þe victorie of batailles þat ben in þis world lith not in gret nombre or multitude of poeple ne in vertu of man; [2847] but it [folio 222a] lith in þe wille & in þe hond of oure lord god almighty [2848] And Iudas machabeus which was goddes knight [2849] whan he schulde fighte aȝeinst his aduersaries þat hadde a gretter nombre & a gretter mul|titude of folk and strengere þan was þe poeple of þis macha|be. [2850] ȝit he reconforted his litel poeple / and sayde ryȝt in þis wise [2851] ¶ As lightly quod he may oure lord god almighty ȝiue victory to fewe folk.

[6-text p 242] . . [no gap] [2852] For þe victorie of batailles comeþ nouȝt by þe grete nombre of poeple; [2853] but it comeþ fro oure lord god of heuen [2854] ¶ And dere sire for as moche as þer is no man certeyn if it be worþi þat god ȝiue him victorie . . . . . [no gap] or nouȝt after þat þat Salamon saiþ. [2855] þerfore euery man schulde gretly drede werres to bygynne . [2856] And by cause þat in batailles falle many meruayles and periles [2857] and happeþ oþer while þat as soone is þe grete man slayn as þe litel man . [2858] and as it is writen in þe secounde book of kynges þe deedes of batayles be auenturous and no thing certeyn [2859] For as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as anoþer. [2860] and þerfore is gret peril in werre . þerfore schulde a man flee and eschewe werre in as moche as a man may goodly [2861] ¶ For Salamon saith . ¶ he þat loueth peril schal falle in peril

[2862] ¶ After þat dame prudens hadde spoke in þis maner; Mellibe answerde and sayde [2863] ¶ I se wel dame þat by ȝoure faire wordes and by ȝoure resouns þat ȝe haue schewed me þat þe werre likeþ ȝow no þing . [2864] but/ I haue not/ ȝit/ herd ȝoure coun|seil how I schal doo in þis neede

[2865] ¶ Certes quod sche I counseile ȝow þat ȝe accorde wiþ ȝoure aduersaries and þat ȝe haue pees with hem [2866] ¶ For seint Iame saiþ in his epistles þat by concord and pees þe smale ryches wexen grete . [2867] and by debaat and discord þe gret richesses fallen doun [2868] ¶ And ȝe knowe wel þat oon of þe moste grettest and soueraign þinges þat is in þis world is vnite & pees [2869] ¶ And þerfore saith oure lord ihū crist to his aposteles in þis wise [2870] ¶ wol happy and blessed be þay þat louen and purchacen pees . for þay ben called children of crist [2871] ¶ A quod Melibe. Now se I wel þat ȝe louen not myn honour ne my worschipe [2872] and knoweþ wel þat myne

[6-text p 243] aduersaries han bygonne þis debate and brige by here outrage [2873] And ȝe see wel þat þay require ne praye me not of pees. ne þay askyn nouȝt to be recounseild; [2874] wol ȝe þanne þat I goo & [folio 222b] meke me vnto hem and crie hem mercy . [2875] for soþe þat were not my worschipe [2876] ¶ For right as men seyn þat ouer gret pryde engendreþ despisyng. so fareþ it by to gret humblete or mekenesse

[2877] ¶ Thanne bygan dame prudence to make sem|blant of wraþþe and sayde. [2878] Certes sire saue ȝoure grace. I loue ȝoure honour and ȝoure profyt as I doo myn owne and euer haue doon [2879] ȝe ne mowe noon oþer seyn [2880] ¶ And ȝit if I hadde sayd ȝe scholde haue purchaced pees and þe reconsiliacioun. I ne hadde not moche mys-take me ne seyd amys; [2881] For þe wise man saith. þe dis|cencioun bigynneþ by anoþer man and þe reconsilynge bygynneþ by þyself [2882] ¶ And þe prophete saith ¶ Flee schame and schrewednesse and doo goodnesse. [2883] Seeke pees and folwe it as moche as in þe is. [2884] Ȝet seiþ he not þat ȝe schul raþer pursewe to ȝoure aduersaries for pees þan þei schul to ȝow. [2885] For I knowe wel þat ȝe be so hard-herted þat ȝe wil doo no þing for me [2886] ¶ And salamon saith . he þat is ouer hard herted atte laste he schal mys happe and my[s]-tyde

[2887] ¶ whan melibe had seyn dame prudence make semblaunce of wraþþe; he sayde in þis wise . [2888] dame I pray ȝow þat ȝe be not displesed of þinges þat I say [2889] For ȝe knoweth wel þat I am angry and wroþ and þat is no wonder. [2890] and þay þat ben wroþ wot not wel what þay doon ne what þay say [2891] þerfore þe prophete saiþ þat troublit eyen haue no cleer sight [2892] ¶ But sayeth and counsaileþ me forþ as ȝow likeþ For I am redy to doo right as ȝe wol desire. [2893] and if ȝe reproue me of my folye; I am þe more holde to loue ȝow and to prayse

[6-text p 244] ȝow [2894] ¶ For Salamon saiþ þat he þat repreueþ him þat doth folie; [2895] he schal fynde gretter grace þan he þat deceyueth him by swete wordes

[2896] ¶ Thanne sayde dame prudence I make no semblant of wraþþe ne of anger but for ȝoure grete profyt [2897] ¶ For Salamon saith . he is more worth þat re|proueþ or chydeþ a fool for his folie schewynge him semblant of wraþþe [2898] þan he þat supporteþ him and prayseþ him in his mysdoyng . and laugheþ at his folie [2899] ¶ And þis same Salomon saiþ afterward þat by þe sorweful visage of a man þat is to sayn by sory and heuy countenaunce of a man [2900] þe fool correcteþ himself and amendeþ

[2901] ¶ þanne sayde Melibeus. I schal not conne an|swere to so many resouns as ȝe putten to me and schewen. [2902] sayeth schortly ȝoure wille and ȝoure [folio 223a] coun|seil. and I am al redy to fulfille and parfourme it

[2903] ¶ Thanne dame prudence discouered al here coun|sail and hire wille vn-to him and sayde [2904] ¶ I counseile ȝow quod sche aboue alle þinges þat ȝe make pees bitwen god and ȝow [2905] and beþ reconsiled vnto him and to his grace. [2906] for I haue sayd ȝow her biforn. God hath suffred ȝow haue þis . . . [no gap] disease for ȝoure synnes [2907] and if ȝe do as I say ȝow god wol sende ȝoure aduersaries vnto ȝow [2908] and make hem falle at ȝoure feet al redy to doo ȝoure wille and ȝoure co|maundement [2909] ¶ For Salamon saith. whan þe con|dicioun of man is plesant and likyng to god; [2910] he chaungeþ þe hertes of þe mannes aduersaries and con|streigneþ hem to biseke him of pees & of grace. [2911] and I pray ȝow let me speke wiþ ȝoure aduersaries in priue place [2912] for þay schul not knowe it by ȝoure wille or ȝoure assent [2913] ¶ And þanne whan I knowe here wille and here assent; I may counseile ȝow þe more seurly

[2914] ¶ Dame quod Melibeus doþ ȝoure wille and

[6-text p 245] ȝoure likyng [2915] For I putte me holly in ȝoure disposicioun and ordinaunce

[2916] ¶ Thanne Dame prudence whan sche seih þe good wille of hir housbond . sche deliuered and took a vis by hir self [2917] þenkynge how sche mighte bringe þis neede vnto a good conclusioun and to a good ende [2918] ¶ And whan sche saugh hire tyme; sche sente for þese aduersaries to come vnto hire in to a priue place [2919] and schewed wysly vnto hem þe grete goddes þat comen of pees [2920] and þe grete harmes and perils þat ben in werre [2921] and sayde to hem in goodly manere how þat hem aughte to haue gret re|pentaunce [2922] of þe iniurie & wrong þat þay hadde doon to Melibe hire lord and vnto hire and hire douȝter.

[2923] and whan þay herden þe goodly wordes of dame prudence [2924] þey were þo surprised and rauyssched and hadden so gret ioye of hire þat wonder was to telle [2925] ¶ A lady quod thay . ȝe haue schewed vnto vs þe blessyng of swetnes after þe sawe of Dauid þe prophete [2926] for þe recounsilyng which we be nouȝt worþy to haue in no manere. [2927] But we oughten require it wiþ gret contricioun and humilite. [2928] ȝe of ȝoure grete goodnes haue presented vnto vs [2929] ¶ Now we se wel þat þe science of Salamon is ful trewe [2930] he saith þat swete wordes multiplien and encrescen frendes and maken schrewes to ben debonaire and meke.

[2931] certes quod þay we putten oure deede and al oure matier and cause al holly in ȝoure good wille [2932] and ben redy to obeye to þe speche [folio 223b] and to þe comaundement of my lord Melibe. [2933] and þerfore deere & benigne lady we pray ȝow and byseke ȝow as meekely as we conne and may [2934] þat it like to ȝowre grete goodnes to fulfille in deede ȝoure good|liche wordes. [2935] For we considere and knowleche wel

[6-text p 246] þat we haue offended and greued my lord Melibe out of resoun and out of mesure [2936] so ferforth þat we ben nouȝt/ of power to make his amendes. [2937] and þerfore we oblie vs and bynde vs and oure frendes for to doo al his wille and his comaundementȝ. [2938] But perauenture he haþ such heuynes & such wraþþe to vs ward by cause of oure offence; [2939] þat he wol enioyne vs such peyne as we mow not bere ne susteyne [2940] ¶ and þerfore noble lady we biseke to ȝoure wommanly pite [2941] to take such auysement in þis neede þat we ne oure frendes ben not disherited and destroyed þurgh oure folye

[2942] ¶ Certes quod dame prudence it is an hard þing and right a perilous [2943] þat a man put him al outrely in þe arbitracioun and Iuggement and þe might and power of his enemyes [2944] ¶ For Salamon saiþ leeueþ and ȝiueth credence to þat þat I schal say. I say quod he ȝeue poeple and gouernours of holy chirche [2945] to þy sone to þi wyf/. and to þy frend ne to þy brother [2946] ne ȝeue þou neuer might ne maystry of þy body whil þou lyuest [2947] ¶ Now sith he defendith a man schulde not ȝiue to his broþer ne to his frend þe might of his body. [2948] by a strenger resoun he defendeþ and forbedith a man to ȝiue his body to his enemye. [2949] but naþe|les I counseile ȝow þat ȝe mystruste nouȝt my lord. [2950] For I wot wel and knowe verraily þat he is debonaire and meke. large curteys [2951] and no þing desirous ne coueytous of good ne richesse. [2952] For þer nys no þing in þis world þat he desireth saue oonly worschipe and honour. [2953] Forþermore I knowe and am right seure þat he wol no þing doo in þis neede wiþoute counsail of me [2954] and I schal so worche in this cause þat by þe grace of oure lord god ȝe schul be recounsiled vnto vs

[2955] ¶ Thanne sayde þay with oon voys worschipful

[6-text p 247] lady we putte vs and oure goodes al fully in ȝoure wille and disposicioun [2956] and ben redy to come what day þat it like ȝow and vnto ȝoure noblesse / to limite vs or assigne vs [2957] for to make oure obligacioun and bond as strong as it likeþ to ȝoure goodnes [2958] þat we mowe fulfille þe wille of ȝow and of my lord Melibe

[2959] ¶ whan dame prudence had [folio 224a] herd þe an|sweres of þise men. sche bad hem go agayn pryuely [2960] and sche retourned to hir lord Melibe and tolde him how sche fond his aduersaries ful repentant [2961] knowlechinge ful lowely here synnes and trespasses and how þay were redy to suffre alle peyne [2962] requiring and praying him of mercy and pite

[2963] ¶ þanne saide Melibeus. he is wel worþy to haue pardoun and forȝeuenes of his synne þat excusith not his synne [2964] but knowlecheþ and repentith him axinge indulgence. [2965] For Senek saith. þere is þe remissioun and forȝeuenesse wher as þe confessioun is [2966] ¶ For confessioun is neighebor to Innocence [2967] And he saith in anoþer place. he þat hath schame of his synne knowlechith it/ . . . . . [no gap] and þerfore I assente and conferme me to haue pees. [2968] but it is good þat we doo it nouȝt wiþoute assent & þe wille of oure frendes

[2969] ¶ Thanne was prudence right glad & iolyf and sayde. [2970] Certes sire quod sche ȝe ben wel and goodly auysed. [2971] for right as by þe counsail and assent and help of ȝoure frendes ȝe haue be stired to venge ȝow & make werre; [2972] Right so wiþ|oute here counseil schul ȝe nought acorde ȝow ne haue pees wiþ ȝoure aduersaries. [2973] For þe lawe saith. Ther nys no þing so good by way of kinde as þing to be vnbounde by him þat it was bounde

[2974] And þanne dame prudence wiþoute delay or taryinge sente anoon messageres for here kyn and for here olde frendes whiche þat were trewe and wyse [2975]

[6-text p 248] and tolde hem by ordre in þe presence of Melibe of þis matier as it is aboue expressed and declared [2976] and praide hem þat þay wolde ȝiue here avys and coun|seil what best were to doon in þis matiere [2977] ¶ And whan melibeus frendes hadde take here auys and deliber|acioun of þe forsayde matier [2978] and hadden examyned it by greet besynes and gret diligence [2979] þey ȝafe him ful counsail to haue pees and reste. [2980] and þat Melibeus schulde wiþ good hert resceyue his aduersaries to forȝiuenes and mercy

[2981] ¶ And whan dame prudence had herd thassent of hir lord Melibeus and counseil of his frendes [2982] accorde wiþ hire wille & hire entencioun; [2983] sche was wonderly glad in herte and sayde [2984] ¶ Ther is a noble prouerbe þat saith ¶ The goodnesse þat þou maist do þis day; [2985] abyde not ne delaye it nouȝt/ vnto to morwe. [2986] and þerfore I counseile ȝow ȝe sende ȝoure messageres [folio 224b] whiche þat ben discrete and wise [2987] vnto ȝoure aduersaries tellynge hem on ȝoure bihalue [2988] þat if þay wol trete of pees and of accord [2989] þat þay schape hem wiþoute dilay or taryinge to come vnto vs. [2990] which þing was parformed in dede [2991] and whan þese trespasours and repentynge folk/ of here folies þat is to sayn þe aduersaries of Melibe [2992] hadden herd what þe messangeres sayden vnto hem; [2993] þay were right glad and iolif and answerden ful mekely and benignely [2994] ȝeldynge graces & þankinges to here lord Melibe and to al his compaignye [2995] and schope hem wiþout delay to go wiþ þe messangeres and obeye hem to þe comaundement of here lord Melibe

[2996] ¶ And right anoon þay token here way to þe court of Melibe / [2997] and token wiþ hem some of here trewe frendes to make faith for hem and for to ben here borwes [2998] ¶ And whan þay were comen to

[6-text p 249] þe presence of Melibeus he seyde hem þise wordes [2999] ¶ It stondith þus quod Melibeus and soþ it is þat ȝe [3000] causeles and wiþouten skile and resoun [3001] haue doon gret iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf prudence and to my douȝter also. [3002] For ȝe haue entred in to myn hous by violence [3003] and haue doon such outrage þat alle men knowe wel þat ȝe haue deserued þe deth. [3004] And þerfore wil I knowe and wite of ȝow [3005] wheþer ȝe wol putte þe punyschment and þe chastisement and þe vengeaunce/ of þis outrage in þe wille of me and of my wif dame prudence or ȝe wil not

[3006] ¶ Þanne þe wisest of hem þre answerde for hem alle & sayde [3007] ¶ Sire quod he we knowe wel þat we be vnworþy to come to þe court of so gret a lord and so worþy as ȝe be [3008] ¶ For we han so gretly mystake vs and haue offendid and giltid in such a wise ageins ȝoure heighe lordschipe [3009] þat trewely we haue deserued þe deþ [3010] ¶ But ȝit/ for þe greete goodnes and debonairete þat al þe world witnesseþ of ȝoure persone; [3011] we submitten vs to þin excellence and benignite of ȝoure gracious lordschipe [3012] and ben redy to obeye to alle ȝoure comaundementȝ [3013] bisekynge ȝow þat of ȝoure merciable pite ȝe wol considre oure grete repentaunce and lowe submissioun [3014] and graunte vs forȝiuenes of oure outrage trespas and offence. [3015] For wel ȝe knowen þat ȝoure liberal grace and mercy strechen forþere in to good|nesse þan doþ oure outrage gilt and trespas in to wikkednes [3016] al be it þat cursedly & damp|nably we [folio 225a] haue agilt aȝeinst ȝoure highe lordschipe

[3017] ¶ Thanne Melibe took hem vp fro þe ground ful benignely [3018] and resceyued here obligaciouns and here londes by here oþes vpon here plegges & borwes [3019] and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne vnto his court [3020] for to accepte and receyue þe sentence and

[6-text p 250] iuggement þat Melibe wolde comaunde to be doon on hem by þese causes aforn sayde. [3021] which þing ordeyned; euery man retourned home to his hous

[3022] ¶ And whan þat Dame prudence saugh hire tyme; sche feyned and axed hire lord Melibe [3023] what vengeance he þoughte to take vpon his aduersaries.

[3024] to which Melibeus answerd and saide. Certes quod he I þenke and purpose me fully [3025] to dis|herite hem of al þat euer þay haue and for to putte hem in exil for euermore

[3026] Certes quod dame prudence þis were a cruel sentence and mochil aȝeinst resoun [3027] For ȝe ben riche ynough & haue noon neede of oþer mennes good [3028] and ȝe mighte lightly gete ȝow a coueitous name [3029] which is vicious þing and oughte to ben eschewed of euery man [3030] for after þe sawe of þe word of þapostil; Couetise is roote of alle harmes. [3031] And þerfore it were bettre for ȝow to lese so moche good of ȝoure oughne þan for to take of here good in þis manere. [3032] For bettir it is to lese good wiþ worschipe þan it is to wynne good with vilonye and schame. [3033] and euer a man oughte to do his diligence and his busynesse to gete him a good name. [3034] . . . . . [no gap] [3035] but he schulde enforce him alway to do som þing by which he may renouele his good name. [3036] for it is writen þat þe olde goode loos of a man is soone doon or goon and passed whan it is not newed ne re|noueled. [3037] And as touchinge þat ȝe sayn þat ȝe wol exile ȝoure aduersaries; [3038] þat þinketh me mochil aȝeinst resoun and out of mesure [3039] con|sideriþ þe power þat þay han ȝyue to ȝow vpon here body and on hemself [3040] ¶ And it is writen þat he is worþy to lese his priuelege þat mys vseth þe might and þe power þat is ȝeue to him [3041] ¶ And ȝit I sette þe caas ȝe mighte en|ioyne hem þat peyne by right and lawe [3042] which I

[6-text p 251] trowe ȝe mow nouȝt do [3043] I say ȝe mighte nouȝt putte it to execucioun perauenture [3044] and þanne were it likly to torne to þe werre as it was biforn [3045] And þerfore if ȝe wol þat men do ȝow obeis|saunce; ȝe moste deme more curteisly [3046] þis is to sayn. ȝe moste ȝiue more esyere sentence & iuggement [3047] ¶ For [folio 225b] it is writen. he þat most curteysly comaundeth to him men most obeyen. [3048] and þer|fore I pray ȝow þat in þis necessite and in þis neede ȝe caste ȝow to ouercome ȝoure herte [3049] ¶ For Senek saiþ. he þat ouercomeþ his herte ouercomeþ twyes [3050] ¶ And thullius saith. þer is no þing so comendable in a gret lord [3051] as whan he is debon|aire and meeke and appesith him liȝtly [3052] ¶ And I pray ȝow þat ȝe wol forbere now to do vengeaunce [3053] in such a manere þat ȝoure goode name may be kept/ & conserued. [3054] and þat men mowe haue cause / and matiere to prayse ȝow of pite and of mercy [3055] and þat ȝe haue noon cause to repente ȝow of þing þat ȝe doon [3056] ¶ For senec saith ¶ he ouercomeþ in an euel manere þat repenteþ him of his victorie [3057] ¶ wher|fore I pray ȝow let mercy be in ȝoure herte [3058] to theffect and thentent þat god almighty haue mercy and pite vpon ȝow in his laste iuggement [3059] ¶ For seint Iame saith in his Epistil; Iuggement wiþ oute mercy schal be doon to him þat haþ no mercy vpon another wight

[3060] whan Melibe had herd þe grete skiles and resouns of dame prudens and wys informacioun and techynge; [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þe wille of his wyf consideryng hir trewe entent; [3062] con|fermed him anoon and consented fully to werke after hir reed and counseil [3063] ¶ And þankid god of whom pro|cedeth al goodnes þat him sente a wif of so gret discrecioun [3064] ¶ And whan þe day cam þat his aduer|saries schulden appere in his presence; [3065] he spak

[6-text p 252] ful goodly and sayde in þis wise. [3066] ¶ Al be it so þat of ȝoure pryde and heigh presumpcioun and folye and of ȝoure negligence/ and vnconnynge [3067] ȝe haue mys-bore ȝow and trespassed vnto me; [3068] ȝit/ for as moche as I se and biholde ȝoure humilite [3069] þat ȝe ben sory and repentaunt of ȝoure giltes; [3070] hit constreigneth me to do ȝow grace. and mercy. [3071] wherfore I receyue ȝow to my grace [3072] and forȝeue ȝow outerly alle þe offenses iniuries and wronges þat ȝe haue don to me and agayns me and myne / [3073] this is þeffect & to þis ende þat god of his endeles mercy [3074] wole at þe tyme of oure deyinge forȝiue vs oure giltes þat we haue trespased to him in þis wrecched world. [3075] for douteles & we ben sory & repentaunt of þe synnes & giltes whiche we haue trespassed Inne in þe sight of oure lord god; [3076] he is so free and [folio 226a] so merci|able [3077] þat he wil forȝiue vs oure gultes [3078] and bringe vs to þe blisse þat neuer haþ ende AmeN

¶ Here endith Chaucer his tale of Melibe