[6-text p 213]
[2328] [Whan ye han taken counseil vnto youre self and [MS Reg. 17 D xv folio 246b] han demed bi goode deliberacioun suche thyng as yow semyth best [2329] than rede I yow that ye kepe it secre [2330] bewry youre counseil to no persone. but if so be that ye wene sikerly that thurgh yowre be-wreyeng your condicion shalbe to youre more profitable [2331] ffor Ihesus Syrak seyth neyther to thy foo ne to thy friend discouere nat thi secree ne thi folye [2332] for they wil yeve the audience and lokyng and supportacioun in thi presence and scorn in thy absence [2333] Another clerk seyth that scarsly thow shalt fynde any persone that may kepe thy counsaile secretly [2334] The booke seyth while that thow kepest thy coun|seil in thyn hert thow kepist it in thy prison [2335] and when thow bewryest thy counseil to any wight he holdith the in his snare [2336] And therfor yow is better to hide youre counseile in yowre hert than pray hym to whom ye have bewreyed youre counseil that he wil kepe it close and stille [2337] ffor Senek seyth if so be that thow ne mayst thyn owne counseil hide / how darstow pray any other wight thy counseil secretely to kepe / [2338] But natheles if thow wene sikerly that thy bewreyeng of thi counseil to a persone wil make thy condicion to stande in the better plite than shalt thow telle hym thy counseyl in this wise [2339] ffirst thow shalt make no semblaunt whether the were leuere pes than werre or this or that ne shewe hym nat thy wil and thyn entent. [2340] for trust wele that comunely thise counsellours bien flaterers [2341] namely the counseillours of grete lordes [2342] for they enforcen hem alwey rather to speke plesaunt wordis enclyneng to the lord his lust. than wordis that bien trewe or profitable [2343] and therfor men [MS Reg. 17 D xv folio 247a] seyn that the riche man hath sielde goode coun|seil. but if he have it of hym self [2344] and after that thow shalt considre thy friendis and thyn enemyes [2345] And as towchyng thy friendis thow shalt con|sidre
