Of þyngës past, and ben, & þat schul be:
The endë seeþ, and eek mesúreth, sche.
Line 4767
(682)
There is no wight þat sche schapiþ disceyue,
Line 4768
And, thogh men casten hem [men casten hem R, man cast hym H.] hire to begile, [folio 84a]
Naght wole it be; by wit sche wole it weyue.
Eek sche obserueth so wele trouthës style,
And þerto can so wel her tonge affyle,
Line 4772
That, lest þe fauour of frendschipës corde,
Othir þan trouthë can sche not recorde.
Line 4774
(683)
¶ Sche bý-heetith by good avisëment,
Line 4775
And ȝeueth morë þan hir list promette;
Scho yeueth tó men eek commandëment
'Naght in fortune truste, or by hir sette;
And al þe truste, out of hir hertë schette,
Line 4779
Of myght of worldly dominacïoun:'
Vertu gyeth hir operacïoun.
Line 4781
(684)
¶ Prudence hath leuer louëd be þan drad;
Line 4782
Ther may no prince in his estate endure,
Ne ther-yn any whilë standë [endure R.] sad,
But he be louëd; fór loue is armure
Of seurëte. o! take on yow þe cure,
Line 4786
Excellent princë, louë to embrace,
And þan your herte is sette in siker place.
Line 4788
(685)
¶ Now, if þat ye graunten by your patente
Line 4789
To your seruauntës a yeerly guerdoun,
Crist scheeldë þat your wil or your entente
Be sette to maken [make H R.] a restriccioun [retraccioun R.]
Of paiëment; for þat condicïoun
Line 4793
Exileþ þé peples beneuolence,
And kyndeleþ hate vndir priue scilence.
Line 4795
