[There are no line-numbers or breaks between the paragraphs in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here to prevent slight differences in the Six Texts throwing out many lines.]
MS Reg. 18 C II, on leaf 197.]
[2157] A Yong man whilom celled Melibe myghti and ryche bygat vpon his wyf þat called was prudence a doughter whiche þat cleped sapience.
[2158] vpon a day fel þat he for his disport is went in to þe feldes him to pleye / [2159] his wyf and eke his doghter hath he left with-ynne his hous of whiche þe dores were faste I-schet // [2160] ffoure of his olde foos han hit aspyed. and . setten laddres to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben entred [2161] and betyn hys wyf and wounded his doughter with fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places / [2162] This is to sayn in here feet in here hond and in here eres in hire nose and in here mouth & laften her for deed and wenten here way //
[2163] When Melibeus retorned was aȝeyn vntil his hous and sawh all þis meschief // And he I-lyke a mad man rend|yng his clothes gan to wype and crye euerlenger þe more //
[2164] Prudence his wyf as ferforth as sche durste by-soght him of his wepyng for to stynte [2165] but noght for-thi he gan to wipe & crye euer the lenger þe more //
[2166] This noble wyf prudence remembred here on þe sentence of Ovide in his book þat cleped is þe [Ovidius] remedye of loue / where he saith: [2167] he is a fool þat desturbeth þe moder for to wipe in þe deeth of hire child til sche haue wepte her fille for a certeyn tyme: [2168] Then schal man don his diligence with amyable wordes hire to conforte and [MS Reg. 18 C II folio 197b] to preye hire of
