[6-text p 207] partie of his counseile were accorded þat he schold make werre. A-none he consentid to here counselynge. And full affermed to he[re] sentence [2241] ¶ Than dame Prudence sauhe howe þat hire hosband schope hime for to wreke him on his foos; & to be-ginne werre Sche in full humble wise whan sche sauhe hire time Saide him in þis wordes [2242] ¶ Mi lorde quod sche .I. ȝowe beseche as hertly as .I. dar & can / ne haste ȝowe nouht to fast And Afore al guerdouns ȝeuef me audience. [2243] For Pers Amphons saiþe .O. who so doþe þe goode oþer harme haste þe nouht to qwyten it. For in þis wise þi frende wil abide And þine ennemy schal þe langere leue in drede; [2244] The prouerbe seiþe þat he hasteþe him wele þatte wele can abide. And in wikked hast is no profite.
[2245] This Melibe ansewerd to his wyf prudence; I. purpos nouht quod he to wirke be þi counseile ffor mony causes & resons; For certes euery wight wold hold me þan a foole; [2246] ¶ This is for soothe. If .y. for þin counsellynge wolde chaunge þinges þat buen ordeined & affermed be so mony a wyse; [2247] Sec|undly .I. saie þat al wemmen bien þikke & none goode of hem alle. ffor of a. þousand men as seiþe Salomon [¶ Salomon] .I. fonde o good man bot certes of alle wemmen fonde .I. neuere good womman [2248] ¶ And Also certes if .I. gouerned me be þi counseile it schold seme þat .I. hadde .y.-ȝif to þe ouer me þe maistre. And god forbede þat it so were [2249] ¶ For Ihesus Sirake. seiþe. If þe wif haþe þe maistre sche is contrarius to hir husbonde. [2250] ¶ And Salomon. seiþe. neuere in þi lif. to þi wif ne to þi childe ne to þi frende ne ȝeue none powere ouer. þine selfe; For better it were þat þine childern asken of þine persone þinges þat hem nedeþ. þan þou þi self in þe handes of þine childerne. [2251] And also if .I. wil worche be þi conseillynge. Certes my conseil most som time be secre til it wer time þat it must be
