[6-text p 214] whiche are most feythful / & most wys & oldeste & most apreuid in conseylynge / [2346] & of hem schalt thow axe thyne conseyle; as the caas requiryth /
[2347] I seyde that fyrst [folio 332b] ȝe schul clepyn to ȝoure con|seyl ȝowre frendis that been trewe // [2348] ffor Salomon seyth that ryȝt as the herte of a man delythth in sauour that is sote / ryȝt so the conseyl of trewe frendys ȝeuyth swetnesse to the soule / [2349] & he seyth also theere may no thyng [be] to the trewe frend / [2350] for certis gold ne syluyr ben not so meche worth; as the goode wyl of a trewe frend [2351] ¶ And ek he seyth that a trewe frend / is a strong defens / who so that it fyndyth; sertis he fyndyth a greet tresor [2352] ¶ Thanne schul ȝe ek considere If that ȝoure trewe frendis; been descreete / & wise ffor the bok seyth / Axse alwey thyn conseyl of hem that been wyse / [2353] And by this same resoun / schul ȝe clepyn to ȝoure conseyl / of ȝoure frendis / that been of age / Sweche as han seyn / & been expert in manye thyngis And been apreuyd in manye thyngis conseilynge / [2354] ffor the bok seyth that in olde men is the sapience / & in long tyme the prudence // [2355] And tullius seyth / that greete thyngis ne ben not ay accompliced / be strenthe ne be delyuerenesse of body / But by conseyl be autoritee of personys / & by science / the whiche thre thyngis ben not feblid by age / but certys they enforsyn & en|cresyn day be day // [2356] And thanne schal ȝe keepe this for a general reule / ffyrst schal ȝe clepe to ȝoure conseyl a fewe of ȝoure frendys that been especial [2357] ffor Salomon seyth / Manye frendis haue thow / but a-mong a thousent cheese the on to been thyn conseyl|our [2358] ffor al be it so / that thow ne telle thyn conseyl but to a fewe / thow mayst aftyrward tellyn it to mo yf it be neede / [2359] but loke alwey that thyn conseylouris haue thilke thre condiciounnys / that I haue seyd
