[6-text p 248] & tolde hem bi ordere in the presence of Melibee / al this matieere as it is a-boue expressid / & declared / [2976] And preyede hem that they wolde ȝeue hire a-vis & con|seyl / what best were to don in this neede // [2977] And whanne Melibees frendis haddyn takyn hire auys / & deliber|acioun of the forseyde matieere [2978] & hadde examynede it bi greet auysement & besynesse & greet diligence / [2979] they ȝeve ful conseyl / for to haue pees & reste / [2980] And that melibee schulde resseyue with good herte hise aduer|saryis / to forȝeuenesse & mercy
[2981] ¶ And whanne dame Prudence / hadde herd thassent of hire lord / Melibee & the conseyl of hise frendis / [2982] acord / with hire wil / & hyre entencioun [2983] sche was wondirly glad / in hire herte / & seyde / [2984] there is an old prouerbe / quod sche / that seyth That the goodnesse that thow mayght don this day do it / [2985] & abyde not ne delaye it not til tomorwe / [2986] & therfore I conseyle that ȝe sende ȝoure massagis / sweche as been discreete / & wyse. [2987] vn-to ȝoure aduersaryis / tellynge [folio 348b] hem on ȝoure behalue / [2988] that ȝif they wele trete of pees / & of acord / [2989] that they schape hem with-outyn delay or tarynge to comyn vn-to vs / [2990] whiche thing perfornede was / in deede [2991] & whanne these trespasouris & repentynge folk of here folyis / that is to seyne the aduersaryis of Melibee / [2992] haddyn herd what these messageris seydyn vn-to hem / [2993] they weere right glad & ioyeful / & answeredyn ful mekely & benygnely [2994] ȝeldynge gracis / & thankyngis to here lord Melibee & to alle his cumpaynye / [2995] & schopyn hem with-outyn delay to gon with the massangeris / & obeye to the comaundement of here lord Melibee //
[2996] & ryȝt a-noon they toke here woye to the court / of Melibee / [2997] & tokyn with hem summe of here trewe frendis to make feith for hem / & for to been here borwys / [2998] And whanne they were come to
