[6-text p 449]
Or for that ech of hem / sholde helpen oother
In meschief / as a suster shal the brother
And lyue in chastitee / ful holily
But sires by youre leue / that am nat I
Line 1456
ffor god be thanked / I dar make auaunt
I feele my lymes / stark/ and suffisaunt
To do / al that a man bilongeth to
I woot my seluen best what I may do
Line 1460
Though I be hoor / I fare as dooth a tree
That blosmeth / er þat fruyt ywoxen bee
And blosmy tree / nys neither drye ne deed
I feele me / nowhere hoor / but on myn heed
Line 1464
Myn herte / and alle my lymes been as grene
As laurer / thurgh the yeer / is for to sene
And syn þat ye / han herd al myn entente
I prey yow / to my wyl / ye wole assente
Line 1468
Diuerse men / diuersely hym tolde
Of mariage / manye ensamples olde
Somme blamed it / somme preysed it certeyn
But atte laste / shortly for to seyn
Line 1472
As al day / falleth altercacion
Bitwixen freendes in disputison
Ther fil a stryf / bitwixe hise bretheren two
Of whiche / that oon was cleped Placebo
Line 1476
Iustinus soothly / called was that oother
¶ Placebo seyde / o Ianuarie brother [¶ Placebo]
fful litel nede / hadde ye my lord so deere
Conseil to axe / of any that is heere
Line 1480
But þat ye been / so ful of sapience
That yow ne liketh / for youre heighe prudence
To weyuen / fro the word of Salomon
This word seyde he / vn to vs euerychon
Line 1484
Wirk alle thyng by conseil / thus seyde he
And thanne / shaltow nat repente thee
But though þat Salomon / spak swich a word
Myn owene deere brother / and my lord
Line 1488
