[6-text p 229] the wordis of Ouide that seyth [2605] vndyr the hony of the goodis / of the body is hid the venym that sleth the soule / [2606] And salomon seyth ȝif thow hast foundyn hony / ete of it that suffyseth / [2607] ffor ȝif thow ete of it out of meseur / thow schalt spewe / & been nedy / & poure / [2608] & perauenture / cryst hat the in dispyt and hath turnede awey from the hys face & hise eeris of mysericorde / [2609] And also he hath sufferede / that thow hast been ponyschid / in the maneere that thow hast trespased / [2610] Thow hast doon synne a-geyn oure lord Ihesu cryst / [2611] ffor certis the thre enemyis / of mankynde that is to seyne / the flesch the feend & the world / [2612] thow hast suf [folio 339b] fred hem to entre in-to thyn herte wilfulli by the wyndowys / of thyn body / [2613] & hast not defendit thyn self sufficiauntly a-geyn here assautis / & here temptaciouns So that they han woundede thyn soule in fyue placis [2614] this is to seyne; the dedly synnys that been entered in-to thyn herte / by thynne fyue wittis / [2615] And in the same manere / oure lord crist hath wold & suffered that thyne .iij. enemyis been entrede in-to thyn hous by the wyndowys [2616] And han I-wounded thynne douȝtyr / in the forseyde manere / [2617]
CErtis quod Melibee I se wel that ȝe enforce ȝow mechel by wordis to ouyrcome me in swich manere; that I schal nat venge me of myne enemyis / [2618] Schewynge me the perilis & the euell that myȝtyn fallyn of this vengeaunce // [2619] But who so wolde considere / in alle vengeauncis the perilis & the yuyllys that myȝte sewe of vengeaunce takynge / [2620] a man wolde neuere take vengeaunce / & that were harm / [2621] for by the venge|aunce takynge; been the wikkede men disseuered from the goode men / [2622] And thei that han wil to doon wikkede|nesse; restreyne here wikkede purpos / whan they seen the ponyschynge & the chastisynge of the trespasourys / [2623]
[Ad ce respont dame prudence Certes dist elle Ie te ottroie que de vengance vient moult de biens
