CAP. XXVI.
[verse 1] The hosebonde of a good womman is blessid; for whi the noumbre of her ȝeeris is double. [verse 2] A strong womman [A strong womman; that is, aȝenus synnes. Lire here. C.] [womman aȝenus synnes V.] delitith hir hosebonde; and shal fille in pees the ȝeeris of his lijf. [verse 3] A good womman is a good part [a good part; that is, of ma|trymonye. Lire here. C.] ; in the good part of hem that dreden God, sche schal be ȝouun to a man for goode dedis. [verse 4] Forsothe the herte of a riche man and of a pore [of a riche man and of a pore, etc.; that is, if he hath a good wiyf. Lire here. C.] man is good [that is, if thei han goode wyues. V marg.] ; in al tyme her cheer is glad. [verse 5] Myn herte dredde of thre thingis, and my face dredde in the fourthe thing. [verse 6] Bitraiyng of a citee, [verse 7] and the gadering togidere of puple [the gadering togidere of pu|ple; that is, conspiring of the puple aȝe|nus the prince. C.] , and fals chaleng; alle thingis greuouse on deth. [verse 8] The sorewe of herte, and moren|yng is a ielouse womman [a gelouse womman; is a contynuel so|rewe to hir hosebonde, of whom sche sup|posith to be disseyued, and so sche yma|gyneth conty|nuely aȝenus him. beting of tunge; aȝenus hir hosebonde. comynyth with alle men; that is, settith forth hirsilf to othere men. a scor|pioun; that makith fair semelaunt with the face, and prickith with the tail; so a wickid wom|man drawith by flateryngis, and prickith til to deth, as Dalida dide to Sampson, in xvij. co. of Ju|dicum. greet ire; that is, cause of greet ire to hir hose|bonde, for sche wastith hise goodis, and schewith hise priuytes. not turnyng awey; fro ȝonge men dissolute, and vnonest specta|clis. occasioun; that is, leiser. Lire here. C.] . [verse 9] In a gelouse womman is betyng of tunge, and sche comyneth with alle men. [verse 10] As a ȝok of oxis which is mouyd, so and a wickid womman; he that holdith hir, is as he that takith a scorpioun. [verse 11] A drunkelew womman is greet ire, and dispisyng; and hir filthe schal not be hilid. [verse 12] The forny|cacioun of a womman is in the reisyng of yȝen; and schal be knowun in the iȝe liddis of hir. [verse 13] Make thou sad kepyng [the kepyng I.] in a douȝtir not turnynge a wei hir silf; lest sche mysvse hir silf, if sche fyndith oc|casioun. [verse 14] Be thou war of al vnreuerence of hir iȝen; and wondre thou not, if sche dispisith thee. [verse 15] As a weiegoere thirstynge schal opene the mouth at a welle, and schal drynke of ech watir next; and the forseid douȝtir schal sitte aȝens ech pale [ech pale; that is, ech place couenable to fornycacioun. opene the arowe caas, etc.; that is, schal schewe hir schamefast membris to ech that axith; mannus ȝerde is clepid an arowe at Ebreys. faile; til to hir deth. a lerned soule; that is, of a lerned hose|bonde, for he nolde chaunge hir for ony thing. Lire here. C.] , and schal opene the arowe caas aȝens ech arowe, til sche faile. [verse 16] The grace of a bisi womman schal delite hir hosebonde; and schal make fat hise boonus. [verse 17] The kun|nyng of hir is the ȝifte of God. [verse 18] A wijs womman and [and a I.] stille is not chaungyng of
