(740)
¶ ffor she was bothë [both H R.] two; and syn she had
Line 5174
So long of hir housbondë þe maystrie,
Women, I trowë, [trowe R, trow H.] be nat now so mad
Þat stylë to for-go; nay, swich folye,
What man þat can in a womán espye,
Line 5178
Is worthi shrynëd be; god saue hem alle,
And graunt hir hyë corage nat to palle! [This is a faint imitation of Chaucer.]
Line 5180
(741)
¶ Holy writ seith, 'if women souereynte [¶ Ecclesi|astici. 25o. Mulier, si primatum habeat, con|traria est viro suo.]
Line 5181
Of hir housbondës haue, how þat þei
Vnto housbondës [her husbondes R.] contrarïous be:' [folio 91b]
Þe text is such, [is such I wote wele R, I woot wel is schuch H.] I woot wel, but what þei?
That text I vndir-stondë þus al-wey:
Line 5185
Whan þat housbondës hem mys-take and erre,
Ageyn þat vicë wyuës maken werre.
Line 5187
(742)
¶ Thogh a woman hir housbonde contrarie
Line 5188
In his oppynyoun erroneous,
Shul men for þat deme hir his aduersarie?
Straw! be he neuer so harrageous, [outrageous R.]
If he & she shul dwellen in on house,
Line 5192
Goode is he suffre; therby pees may spring;
Housbondës pees is pesible suffryng.
Line 5194
(743)
¶ By concorde, smalë [smale R, smal H.] þingës multiplien;
Line 5195
And by discorde, hate, ire, and rancour,
Perysshen þingës grete, & wast & dyen.
Pees hath þe fruyt of eese [oseese H, ese R.] in his fauour;
To getë pees holsóme is þe labour,
Line 5199
And kepe it wel, whan a [that a R, a rubd out of H.] man hath it cauȝt,
That ire ne discórde bannysshe it naght.
Line 5201
