[6-text p 251] trowe ȝe mow nouȝt do [3043] I say ȝe mighte nouȝt putte it to execucioun perauenture [3044] and þanne were it likly to torne to þe werre as it was biforn [3045] And þerfore if ȝe wol þat men do ȝow obeis|saunce; ȝe moste deme more curteisly [3046] þis is to sayn. ȝe moste ȝiue more esyere sentence & iuggement [3047] ¶ For [folio 225b] it is writen. he þat most curteysly comaundeth to him men most obeyen. [3048] and þer|fore I pray ȝow þat in þis necessite and in þis neede ȝe caste ȝow to ouercome ȝoure herte [3049] ¶ For Senek saiþ. he þat ouercomeþ his herte ouercomeþ twyes [3050] ¶ And thullius saith. þer is no þing so comendable in a gret lord [3051] as whan he is debon|aire and meeke and appesith him liȝtly [3052] ¶ And I pray ȝow þat ȝe wol forbere now to do vengeaunce [3053] in such a manere þat ȝoure goode name may be kept/ & conserued. [3054] and þat men mowe haue cause / and matiere to prayse ȝow of pite and of mercy [3055] and þat ȝe haue noon cause to repente ȝow of þing þat ȝe doon [3056] ¶ For senec saith ¶ he ouercomeþ in an euel manere þat repenteþ him of his victorie [3057] ¶ wher|fore I pray ȝow let mercy be in ȝoure herte [3058] to theffect and thentent þat god almighty haue mercy and pite vpon ȝow in his laste iuggement [3059] ¶ For seint Iame saith in his Epistil; Iuggement wiþ oute mercy schal be doon to him þat haþ no mercy vpon another wight
[3060] whan Melibe had herd þe grete skiles and resouns of dame prudens and wys informacioun and techynge; [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þe wille of his wyf consideryng hir trewe entent; [3062] con|fermed him anoon and consented fully to werke after hir reed and counseil [3063] ¶ And þankid god of whom pro|cedeth al goodnes þat him sente a wif of so gret discrecioun [3064] ¶ And whan þe day cam þat his aduer|saries schulden appere in his presence; [3065] he spak
