[6-text p 213]
[2328] ¶ Whan ȝe han takyn conseyl in ȝoure self / & han demyd by good deliberacioun / swych thyng as ȝow semyth best / [2329] thanne rede I ȝow [folio 332a] that ȝe kepe it secree / [2330] bewreye not ȝoure conseyl to no persone / but if so be that ȝe wenyn sekyrly / that thorw ȝoure bewreyinge / ȝoure condycioun schal ben to ȝow the moore profitable // [2331] ffor Ihesus Syrak seyth neythir to thyn fo ne to thyn frend / discouere not thyn secre ne thyn folye / [2332] for they wele ȝeue ȝow audyence & lokynge & supportacioun in ȝoure presence / & skorne ȝow in ȝoure absence / [2333] A nothir clerk seyth / that skarsely schalt thow fyndyn ony persone / that may kepe conseyl secrely / [2334] the bok seyth / whil that thow kepist thyn conseyl in thyn herte thow kepist it in thyn prysoun / [2335] And whan thow bewreyist thyn conseyl to ony whit he holdyth the in his snare [2336] And therfore ȝow is betere / to hyde ȝoure conseil in ȝoure herte; than preyen hym to whom ȝe han bewreyed ȝoure conseyl; that he wele kepe it clos & stylle [2337] ¶ ffor Seneca seyth If so be that thow ne mayst / not thyn owene conseyl hyde; how mayst thow preye ony othir whit thyn conseyl secrely to kepyn / [2338] But natheles ȝif thow wene sekyrly that thyn bewreyinge of thyn conseyl to a persone wele make thyn condycioun stondyn in the betere plyt thanne schat thow telle hym tyn conseyl in this wyse [2339] ffyrst thow schat make no semblaunt whethir the were leuere pes or werre / or this or that / ne shew hym nat thyn wil ne thyn entent / [2340] for troste weel that comounly these / conseylourys been flatererys [2341] namely the conseylourys of greete lordis / [2342] for they enforse hem alwey rathere to speke plesaunte wordis enclynynge to othere lordys lust; than othere that been trewe / & profitable / [2343] And therfore men seyn / that ryche men / han selde good con|seyl / but if he haue it of hym self / [2344] and aftyr that thow schat considere thyne frendys / & thynne enemyis. [2345] And as touchinge thyne frendys / thow schat con|sideryn
