[6-text p 219] [2420] And ek ȝif it so be / that it be inpossible / or may not been goodly performyd or kept //
[2421] And take this for a general rewle / that euery conseyl þat is affermyd so strongely that it may not been chongit for no condicioun that may betyde / I seye that thilke conseyl is wikke [2422]
THis Melibeus whan he hadde herd the doctryne / of his wyf / Dame Prudence; answerede in this wise [2423] Dame quod he as ȝit into this tyme / ȝe han weel & conabely tauȝt me as in general / how I schal gouerne me in chesynge & in wotholdynge of myne conseylouris [2424] ¶ But now wolde I fayn that ȝe woldyn condessendyn in especial / [2425] & tellyn how ȝow lykyth or what semyth ȝow by oure conseylouris that we han chosyn in oure present neede / [2426]
MYn lord quod sche I beseke ȝow in alle humblesse that ȝe wele nat wilfully repleye // a-ȝen myne resonys / ne distempare ȝoure herte thow I speke thyng that ȝow displese / [2427] ffor god wot that as in myn entent / I speke it for ȝoure beste. for ȝoure honour & for ȝoure profit ek / [2428] And sothly I hope that ȝoure be|nyngnete wele takyn it in pacience / [2429] Trustith me weel / quod sche that ȝoure conseyl / as in this cas [folio 335a] ne schulde nat as to spekyn propirly / been callyd a conseylynge / But a mocioun or a meuynge of foly [2430] in whiche conseyl ȝe han erred / [en moult de manière]
[2431] [Premièrement, tu as erré] in the assem|blynge of ȝoure conseylouris / [2432] ffor ȝe schulde ferst a clepid a fewe folk / [et puis après plusieurs] if it hadde been neede / [2433] But certis ȝe han clepid sodeynly to ȝoure con|seyl / a greet multitude of peple ful chargeaunt & ful anoyous for to heere [2434] ¶ Also ȝe han errid for theere as ȝe schulde only haue clepid to ȝoure conseyl ȝoure trewe frendis olde & wyse / [2435] ȝe han I-clepid straunge folk. ȝonge folk. false flatereris / & enemyis
