[6-text p 224] schuln ȝe euermore encountrewayte enbusschementȝ and alle espyaile. [2510] ffor as saiþ þe wise man . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [2511] he ne falleþ in to no periles þat periles escheweþ [2512] ¶ And al be it/ so þat þou seme þat þou be in secre place ȝet schalt þou alwey don diligence in the kepynge of þin persone [2513] þis is to say. Ne be nouȝt necligent to kepe þin persone nought only fro þin grettest enemy . but only fro þin leste enemy [2514] Senek saiþ a man þat is wel auysed he dredeþ his leste enemy [2515] Ovide seiþ þat þe lytel wesel wol sle þe grete bole and þe wilde hert [2516] And þe prouerbe saiþ þat a luytel þorne may greeue a king ful sore ¶ And a litel hound wol holde þe wilde bore [2517] ¶ But naþeles I say nought þou schalt be so coward þat þou doute wher as is no drede [2518] ¶ The bok saiþ that some men haue gret lust to disceyue but ȝit þey drede to be de|sceyued [2519] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And kepe þe fro þe company of Scorners [2520] ¶ ffor þe book saiþ þat scorners ne makeþ no companye but flee here word as venym
[2521] ¶ Now as to þe secounde poynt where as ȝoure wise counceilours counseiled ȝou to warmstore ȝoure houses wiþ gret diligence [2522] ¶ I wolde fayn knowe how þat ȝe vnderstande þilke wordes and what is ȝoure sentence.
[2523] Mellibeus answerde and sayde Certes I vnder|stande in þis wise þat I schal warmstore myn hous wiþ toures suche as haue castelles and oþer maner of edifices & armure and archers [2524] betwen which þing if I may my persone and myn hous so kepe and defende þat myn enemys schuln be in drede myn hous for to approche.
[2525] to þis sentence answerde anon prudence warnysshing quod sche of heihe toures and of heihe edifices appertyneþ somtyme to pryde [2526] And eek men make heihe toures [et les grans édifices à grant travail et à grans
