[6-text p 217] of fraude [2388] and Dauid saiþ þat blisful is þe man þat haþ nought folwed þe counseling of schrewes [2389] ¶ Thow schalt also eschewe þe counseilling of ȝong folk ffor here counseilyng nys nought rype as Salomon saiþ
[2390] ¶ Now sire siþenes I haue schewed ȝou of which folk ȝe schuln take counsel and of which folk ȝe schuln folwe þe counsel / [2391] Now wol I teche ȝou how ȝe schuln examyn ȝoure counsel after the doctrine of Tullius [2392] in þe examynyng þenne of ȝoure counseilour ȝe schuln considere many þinges [2393] ¶ Alþer first þou schalt considere þilke þing þat þou purposest and vpon what þing þou wolt han counsell þat verray trouþe be sayde and conserued þis is to say telle trewly þin tale [2394] ¶ For he þat saiþ fals may [not] wel be counseiled in þat caas of which [he lyeth] [2395] ¶ And after þis þou schalt consideren þe þinges þat acorden to þat þou purposest for to be by þin counseil|ours if reson acordeþ þerto [2396] ¶ And eek if þi might may atteyne þerto ¶ And if þe more part and þe bettre part of ȝoure counseilours acorden þerto or no. [2397] þen schalt þou considere what þing schal folwe of here counseilinge. as hate pees werre grace profyt other damage and many oþer þinges [2398] And in alle þinges þou schalt chese þe beste and weyfe alle oþer þinges [2399] ¶ Thenne schalt þou considere of what roote it is engendred þe matier of þin counseil and what fruyt it may conceyue and engendre [2400] þou schalt eek considre alle þese causes for þe whiche þey ben spronge [2401] ¶ and whan ȝe haue examyned ȝoure counseil as I haue sayde and which partie is þe bettre and more profitable and hast aproued it by many wise folk and olde [2402] þanne schalt þou considere if þou mayst performe hit and make of hit a good ende [2403] ¶ For certes reson wol nouȝt þat any man schal begynne a þing but if he mighte performe hit as him owȝte [2404] ¶ Ne no wight schulde
