[6-text p 246] þat we han offendid & greued / my lord Melibe / out of mesure / [2936] so ferforth / þat we been nat of power / to maken his amendes ‖ [2937] & ther-fore / we oblige & bynde vs & oure freendes / for to do al his wyl & his comandementz ‖ [2938] but perauenture / he hath swich heuynesse & swich wrathe to vsward / by cause of oure offense / [2939] þat he wole enioyne vs / swich peyne / as we mowe nat bere / ne sustene ‖ [2940] And ther-fore noble lady / we biseken to youre wommanly pitee / [2941] to taken swich auisement in this nede / þat we ne oure freendes / be nat desherited & destroyed / thurgh oure folie
[2942] ¶ Certes quod Prudence / it is an hard thyng & right perilous / [2943] þat a man putte hym al outrely in the arbitracion & Iuggement/ and in the myght & power of hise enemys ‖ [2944] ffor Salomon seith; leeueth me / & yeueth credence / to that þat I shal seyn ¶ I seye quod he / ye peple / & gouernours / & gouernours of holy chirche / [2945] to thy sone / to thy wyf / to thy freend / ne to thy brother / [2946] ne yeue thow neuere myght ne maistrie of thy body / whil yow lyuest ‖ [2947] Now / sithen he defendeth / þat man sholde nat yeue to his brother / ne to his freend / the myght of his body; [2948] by a strenger reson / he defendeth & forbedeth a man / to yeue hym self to his enemy / [2949] And nathe|lees I conseille yow / þat ye mystruste nat my lord / [2950] for I woot wel & knowe verraily / þat he is debonaire & meke / large / curteys / [2951] & no thyng desirous / ne coueitous / of good / ne richesse / [2952] for ther nys no thyng in this world þat he desireth / saue oonly / worshipe & honour [2953] ¶ fforther moore I knowe wel & am right seur / þat he shal no thyng do in this nede / with-outen my conseil / [2954] and I shal so werken in this [folio 233a] cause / þat by the grace of oure lord god / ye shul be reconsiled vn-to vs
[2955] ¶ Thanne seyden they with o voys ‖ Worshipful
