[6-text p 218] take vp-on hym / so heuy charge / that he myȝte not bere it / [2405] for the prouerbe seyth / he that to meche enbraset distreynyth lityl / [2406] And catoun seyth / Assay to don swich thyng as thow hast power to don / lest that the charge appresse the not so sore / that the be-houith to weyue thyng that thow hast begunne [2407] & ȝif so be that thow be endoute / wheþer thow mayȝt perforne it or non chese rathere to suffere than begynne / [2408] And Petyr Alfonce seyth / ȝir thow hast myȝt to doon a thyng / of whiche thow muste repente; it is betere // ȝa // than nay / [2409] this is to seyne the is betere to helde thyn tunge stylle; than for to spekyn / [2410] Thanne may ȝe vnderstonde by strongere resonys / that ȝif thow hast power / to perforne a werk of whiche thow auht repente; thanne is it betere / that thow suffere / than begynne / [2411] weel seyn they that defendyn euery wiȝt to asay a thyng of whiche he is endoute / whethir he may perforne it or no [2412] And aftyr whan ȝe han examynyd ȝoure [folio 334b] conseyl as I haue seyd beforn / & knowyn weel that ȝe may per|forne ȝoure emprise conforme it thanne sadli til it be at an ende— [2413]
NOw is it resoun & tyme that I schewe ȝow whanne & wherfore / that ȝe may chaunge ȝoure con|seylourys with-outyn repreve / [2414] Sothly a man may chaungyn hise [conseil et son] purpos ¶ ȝif the cause cesseth or whanne a new cas betydyth [2415] ¶ ffor the lawe seyth that vp-on thyngis / that newely betydyn / byhouyth newe conseyl / [2416] & seneca seyth / ȝif thyn conseyl is come to the eeris of thynne enemy / chaunge thyn conseyl. [2417] Thow mayst also chaunge thyn conseyl; ȝif so be that thow fynde that be errour / or be othere cause / harm or damage / may betyde / [2418] Also ȝif thyn conseyl [est déshonneste, ou vient de cause déshonneste, [2419] car les lois dient que toutes pro|messes that] be dishonest. been of no value /
