[6-text p 243] aduersaryis han begunne this debaat & brige / by here outrage [2873] & ȝe seen weel that they ne requiryn ne preyen me nat of pees / ne they axsyn nat to been reconsylid / [2874] wele ȝe thanne that I goo and meeke / me & obeye me to hem / & crye hem mercy / [2875] for sothe that weere nat myn worschepe / [2876] ffor ryȝt as men [folio 346a] seyn / that oure greete homelynesse / engenderyth dispressynge so faryth it / by too gret humilte or meeknesse [2877]
Thanne bygan Daame Prudence / to makyn sem|blaunt of wrethe & seyde [2878] Certis sire saue ȝoure grace / I loue ȝoure honour & ȝoure profyt as I do myn owene / & euere haue do / [2879] ne ȝe ne noon othir seyen neuere the contrarye / [2880] And ȝit If I hadde seyd / that ȝe schulde / han purchasyd / the pees & the reconsyliacyoun / I ne hadde nat meche mystake me / ne sayd a-mys // [2881] ffor the wise man seyth / The dis|sencioun begynnyth by a-nothir man / & the reconsylyng bygynnyth by thi self / [2882] And the prophete seyth ffle schrewedenesse & do goodnesse / [2883] Seeke pees & folwe it in-asmeche as ȝe may / [2884] ȝit seye I nat / that ȝe schul rathere / pursewe to ȝoure aduersarye / for pees / than they schul to ȝow / [2885] ffor I knowe weel that ȝe been so hard hertid / that ȝe weele doon no thyng for me // [2886] And Salomon seyth / that he that hath ouyr hard an herte / that he at the laste schal myshappe or mystyde.
Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence makyn semblaunt / of wrathe / he seyde in this wise / [2888] Dame I preye ȝow that ȝe been nat displesid / of thyngis that I seye / [2889] ffor ȝe knowe weel / that I am angery & wroth / & that is no wondyr / [2890] & they that been wrothe; wetyn nat weel what they doon / ne what they seyn / [2891] Therfore the prophete seyth / that troublede eyen han no cleer syȝt / [2892] but seyth & conseylyth me / as ȝou lykyth / for I am redy to do / ryght as ȝe wele desire / [2893] and ȝif ȝe repreue me of myn folye / I am the moore holdyn for to loue ȝow & to preyse
