[6-text p 218] take vp on hym so heuy charge / þat he myghte nat beren it ‖ [2405] ffor the prouerbe seith /. he þat to muche embraceth / destreyneth litel ‖ [2406] And Caton seith / Assay to do swich thyng as thow hast power to doon / lest þat the charge / oppresse thee so soore / þat thee bihoueth / to weyue thyng þat thow hast bigonne ‖ [2407] And if so be / þat thow be in doute / wheither thow mayst parfourne a thyng / or noon; chees rather to suffre / than bigynne / [2408] ‖ And Peter Alfonce seith ¶ If thow hast myght to doon a thyng of which thow most repente / it is bettre / nay / than ye / [2409] this is to seyn / þat thee is bettre / to holde thy tonge stille / than for to speke [2410] ¶ Thanne may ye vnderstonde by strenger resons / þat if thow hast power / to [folio 222b] parforme a werk of which thow shalt repente / thanne is it bettre þat thow suffre / than bigynne ‖ [2411] wel seyn they / þat defenden euery wight to assaye / a thyng of which he is in doute / wheither he may parforme it or no [2412] ¶ And after / whan ye haue examyned youre conseil / as I haue seyd biforn / & knowen wel þat ye may par|forme youre emprise / conferme it thanne sadly / til it be at an ende
[2413] ¶ Now it is reson and tyme / þat I shewe yow / whanne & wherfore / þat ye may chaunge youre conseil|lours / with oute youre reproue ‖ [2414] Soothly / man may chaungen his purpos / and his conseil / if the cause cesseth / or whan a newe cas bitideth ‖ [2415] for the lawe seith / þat vp on thynges / þat newely bitideth / bihoueth newe conseil [2416] ¶ And Seneca seith ‖ If thy conseil is come / to the erys of thyn enemy / chaunge thy conseil [2417] ¶ Thow mayst also chaunge thy conseil / if so be þat thou fynde þat by errour / or by oother cause / harm / or damage / may bityde [2418] ¶ Also / if thy conseil be deshoneste / or ellis cometh of deshoneste cause / chaunge thy conseil ‖ [2419] for the lawes seyn / that alle bihestes / þat ben deshoneste / ben of no value /
