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Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
EDITED BY FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL.
LONDON: PUBLISHT FOR THE CHAUCER SOCIETY BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE HILL. 1868-1879.
CLAY AND TAYLOR, THE CHAUCER PRESS, BUNGAY
¶ Ceptra pharonei fratrum discordia thebe ¶ fflammam phetentis deutalionis aque ¶ In stellis priami. species audacia turni ¶ Sensus vlixeus herculies que vigor
[Chaucer's addition to the Tale.]
[There are no line-numbers or breaks between the paragraphs in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here to prevent slight differences in the Six Texts throwing out many lines. Some of the omissions in the MS are supplied from the print of the French original in Le Ménagier de Paris, ed. 1847, i. 186, as that proves the omissions to be such.]
[Petworth MS, on leaf 227, back.]
[2157] A Ȝong man called Melebius myȝty and riche bygate vpon his wiff þat called was Prudence a doughter which þat called was Sophie.
[2158] Vpon a day byfelle; þat he for his disporte is went into þe feldes. him to play; [2159] his wif and his doughtere he haþ bylaft in-with his hous. of which þe doores weren fast shette. [2160] Ther of his olde fooen had espied. and satten ladders to þe walles of his hous. and by þe wyndowes bene entred. [2161] and bete his wiff and wounded his douȝter wiþ .v. mortal woundes in .v. sondry places. [2162] This is to sayn in her feete. in her hondes. in her ceres. in her nose. and in her mouþe. and laften her for dede. and wenten her way
[2163] Whan Melebius retourned was into his hous and segh al þis meschief. He like a mad man reending his cloþes gan to wepe and crie.
[2164] ¶ Prudence his wiff as ferforþ as she durst. bysouȝt hym of his weping for to stynt. [2165] but not forþi. he gan wepe and crye euere lenger þe more.
[2166] This noble wif prudence remembred her vpon þe sentence of Ovide in his booke þat cleped is þe remedy of loue. sembler fol? [2171] Il n'appartient pas à sage homme de] maken such a sorowe. [2172] ȝoure douȝtere with þe grace of god shal warissh and scape. [2173] And al were is so? þat she riȝt nowe were dede. ȝe ne auȝt not as for her deth ȝour self destroie. [2174] ¶ Senec seiþ / þe wise man shal not take to gret discomfort for þee deeþ of his children. [2175] but certes he shuld suffre it in pacience / as wel as he abideþ þe deeþ of his owne propre persone.
[2176] ¶ This Melebius answerd anon and sayde. What man quod he shulde of his weping stent. Þat haþ so grete a cause as I haue. [2177] .Ihesu our lord him self wepte for þe deeþ of lazarus his frende ¶ Qualiter Ihesus christus fleuit propter mortem Lazari. [2178] ¶ Pru|dence answerde. Certes wel I woot attempre wepinge is no þinge defended to him þat soroweful is. amonges folk in sorowe. but it is rather graunted hym to wepe. [2179] The Appostel paul vnto þe Romayns. Apostolus a Ro|manos writeþ. Man shal reioyse wiþ hem þat maken Ioie. and wepe with suche folk as wepen: [2180] But þouȝe attempre wepinge be graunted. certes outrage wepinge is defended. [2181] ¶ Mesure of wepinge shulde be con|sidered aftere þe loor þat techeþ vs senec [2182] ¶ Whan þat þi frende is dede seiþ he. lat not þine eyen to moist bene of teeres. commynge to þine eyen. lat hem nat falle. [2183] And whan þowe hast forgoon þi freende. Do diligence to geten anoþer. and þis is more wisdome þan forto wepe for þi frende which þat þow hast lorne. for þer-in nys no boote. [2184] And þer-fore ȝif ȝe gouerne ȝou by sapience. putte away sorowe from ȝoure hertes. [2185] Remembreþ þat Ihesus Sirak seiþ.
e herte [2188]
[2189] Remembreþ ȝowe vpon pacient Iob. Whan he had lost his childere and his temporell sub|staunce and in his body endured mony a greuous tribulacion Ȝit saide he þus. [2190] Our lorde haþ [ȝeue it me / our lorde haþ] byraft it me Riȝt so as our lord wolde riȝt so is it done. yblessed be þe name of our lord [2191] ¶ To þise forseide þingges answered Melebius vnto his wif Prudence All þise wordes quod he bene trewe. and þerto pro|fitable. But trewly myn hert is troubled soo. wiþ þis sorowe. so grisly þat I note what to doon. [2192] Lat calle quod prudence þi trewe frendes alle. and þine lynage which þat bene wise. telleþ ȝour caas and herkeneþ what þei say in counsailinge And ȝou gouerne aftere her sentence. [2193] Salomon seiþ wirk al þi þing by counsail and þou shalt neuere repent
[2194] ¶ Than by þe counsaile of [his wif Pru|dence] [Mellibée appella moult de] folk. [2195] as Sirurgyens. Phisiciens. olde folk and ȝonge. and som of his olde enemyes reconsiled as by her countenaunce to his loue and into his grace. [2196] And þerwiþal þer commen somme of his neiȝboures þat didden him reuerence. more for drede þan for loue as it happeþ oft [2197] ¶ Ther commen also ful mony subtile flaterers and wise aduocates lered in þe lawe.
[2198] And whan þise folk to-gydere were assembled. this Melebius in sorowful wise shewed hem his caas
[2202] ¶ Sir quod he as to vs Syrurgience appenteþ þat we doo to euery wight þe best þat we can · wher as we bene wiþholden. and to our pacience þat we do no damage. [2203] Wherfore it happeþ mony tyme and oft þat whan þat twey men had euerich wounded oþere oon Sirurgien heleþ hem boþe. [2204] Wherfore vnto our art it is not appertenent to norsshe werre ne parties to supporte / [2205] But certes as to þe warisshing of ȝoure doghtere al be it so þat she perilously be wounded we shullen do so ententif bysynes fro day to nyght That wiþ þe grace of god she shal be hool and sounde as sone as is possible [2206] ¶ Almost riȝt in þe same wise þe Phisicien answerd saue þat þei seiden a fewe woordes moore. [2207] That riȝt as maladies
[2211] ¶ Vp roos þan an aduocate þat was wise. by leue and by counsaile of oþere þat were wise. and saide. [2212] ¶ Lordingges þe nede for þe which we bene assembled in þis place is ful heuy þinge. and a grete matere [2213] by cause of þe wronge and of þe wikkednesse þat haþ bene doon. and eke by reson of a grete damage þat
toutesvoies il ne respondi pas] sodeynly. but he wolde haue deliberacion. And in þe grounde he wroot threse. [2224] and by þise causes we axe deliberacion. And we shul þan by grace of good counsaile doo þinge that shal be profitable
[2225] ¶ Vp sterten þen þe ȝonge folk at onys
[2227] .Vp roos þoo oon of þise olde wise and wiþ his hondes made countenaunce þat men shulde holden hem stille and ȝeuen hym audience. [2228] ¶ Lordingges quod he þer is ful mony a man / þat crien werre werre þat woten ful litel what werre amounteþ. [2229] Werre at his bygynnynge haþ so grete an entre and so large þat euery wiȝt may entre whan him likeþ and liȝtly fynde werre. [2230] But certes what ende shal falle it is nat liȝt to knowe. [2231] ffor soþely whan þat werre is onys bygonne. þer is ful mony a childe vnborn of his modere. þat steruen. ȝonge by cause of þilk werre or ellys lye in swowe and dye in wrecchednesse. [2232] And þerfore er þat eny werre be bygonne; men most han grete counsaile and grete deliberacion [2233] And whan þis olde man had wende to enforsen his tale by resons. wel nygh all at onys bygonne to rise forto breken his tale. and beden hym ful oft his wordes forto abrigge. [2234] ffor soþly he þat precheþ to hem þat list nat here his wordes his sermon availeþ not. [2235] ffor Ihesus Sirak. seiþ. þat musike in wepinge is noyous þinge. This is to saien as moch availeþ to speke to-fore folk to which his speche availlėþ not. as it is to synge byfore hym þat wepeþ. [2236] And whan þis wise man segh þat hym wanted audience al shamefast he sette hym doune ageyne. [2237] ffor Salomon seiþ. Ther as þou ne maist not haue audience. enforce þe nat to speke [2238] ¶ I se wel quod þis wise man þat þe comon prouerbe is soþe. þat good counsaile whan it is most nede availleþ
[2239] ¶ Ȝit had þis Melebius in his counsaile moche folk þat prively in his eere counsailed hym moche þinge and counsailed hym þe contrarye in general audience
[2240] ¶ Whan Melebius had herd þe grettest
[2245] ¶ This Meleby answerd to his wiff Prudence I. purpoos not quod he to wirken after þi counsaile ffor mony causes and resons. ffor certes euery wiȝt wolde holde me þan a fooll [2246] ¶ This is to sayne If I for þi counsailing wold chaunge þingges þat aren affermed by so mony wise men. [2247] Sec|oundly I saye þat alle wommen bene wicke. and non good of hem all. for of a thowsande men saiþ Salomon .I. foond oon good man. But certes of alle wommen good womman fonde I neuer one. [2248] And also certys ȝif I gouerned me by þi counsaille it shuld seme þat I had ȝeue þe euere þe maistrie as god forbede þat it so were. [2249] ffor Syrak seiþ þat if þe wif haue þe maistrie she is contrarious [à son mary]. [2250] And Salomon seiþ Neuere in þi lif to þi wif ne to þi childe ne to þi frende ne ȝeue no power ouer þi self. ffor bettere it were þat þi children asken of þi persone þinge þat hem nedeþ þan þou sese þi self in þe hondes of þi children [2251] ¶ And also ȝif I wolde wyrk by þi counsaillinge. Certes my counsaile most somtyme be secree. til it were tyme þat it most be
See l. 2274, 2280, p. 209, 210, below.)]
[2254] ¶ Dame Prudence ful debonairly and wiþ grete pacience had harde all þat her husbonde liked to say. þan axed she of hym licence forto speke and saide in þis wise. [2255] ¶ My lord quod she as to ȝoure furst reson certes it may liȝtly be answerde. for I say þat it nys no foly to chaunge counsaille whan þe þinge is chaunged. ffor ellis whan þe þinge semeþ oþer wise þan it was byforn [2256 Après, je dy encores plus, car se tu avoies promis et juré de faire] ȝoure emprise. And naþelees ȝe wayn to [per]foreme þilk same emprise. by iust cause. Men shuld not seyn þat ȝe were a lyer or forsworne. [2257] ffor þe booke seiþ The while man makeþ no lesinge; whan he turneþ his corage to þe better. [2258] And al be it soo þat ȝoure emprise be establed and ordeyned by grete multitude of folk. ȝit ther ȝou not acomplise þilk same ordynaunce but ȝou like. [2259] ffor þe trouþe of þingges and þe profite bene raþer founden. in fewe l'en le puet prouver légièrement. [2264] Premièrement, car nostre Seigneur Ihésu-Crist ne se fust oncques daigné descendre en femme] ȝif alle wommen had be wikke. [2265] but for þat grete bounte þat is in wommen; our lorde Ihesus crist whan he was risen from deþe to lyf appered raþer to a womman þan to his apostels. [2266] And þouȝe þat Salomon say. þat he ne fonde neuer no good womman; It foloweþ not þerfore þat alle wommen bene wikke. [2267] ffor þouȝe. þat he ne foonde noon good Certes mony an oþere man haþ founde mony a womman ful good and trewe. [2268] Or ellis perauenture þe entent of Salomon þis. as in souereyn bounte he saide no womman. [2269] This to sayn þat þer is no wiȝt þat haþ souereyne bounte sauf god allone. as he hym self recordeþ in his euaun|gely. [2270] ffor þer nys no creature so good þat hym ne wanteþ somwhat of þe perfeccioun of god þat is his [maker] [2271] ¶ Ȝoure iij. reson is þis. ȝe seyne þat if ȝe gouerned ȝou by counsaile of me it shulde seme þat ȝe had ȝeue me þe maistrie and þe lordship Ouer ȝoure person. [2272] sire saue ȝoure grace; it is not soo. ffor ȝif it so were þat man shulde be counsailed but only of hem þat had maistrie and lordship ouer his persone. men wold nat be counsailled so oft. [2273] ¶ ffor soþly þilk man þat axeþ counsaile of a purpoos. ȝit haþ he free chois wheþer he wil wirk by þat counsaile or nōōn. [2274] ¶ And as to ȝoure ferþe reson þer as ȝe sayn þat þe Iangelarie of wommen can hide þingges þat þei woote nouȝt as who seiþ. þat a womman can not hide. [2275] Sire Thise woordes bene vnder|stonde of wommen þat bene Iangelers and wicked [2276] of which womme men seiyn þat þre þingges dryuen a man out of his hous. That is to seyn Smoke. dropping of Reyn/ and wicked wyues [2277] ¶ And
roy qui le voloit occire, et appaisa] þe kinge by her witte and by þe good counsail|inge [2291] ¶ Hester By hure good consaile enhaunsed gretly þe puple of god in þe regne of Assuerus. The kinge [2292] and þe same bunte in good counsailynge of
et leur conseil bon] and profitable. [2300] And þerfore ȝif ȝe wil trest to my counsaile I shal restore ȝou ȝoure douȝtere hool
[2302] ¶ Whan meleby harde þe wordes of his wiff Prudence he saide þus. [2303] I see wel þat þe wordes of Salomon bene soþe. He seiþ þat wordes þat bene spoken discretely by ordinaunce. bene hony combes for þei ȝeuen swetnesse to þe soule and hoolsomnesse to þe body [2304] And wif by cause of þi swete wordes and eke for I haue assaied and preued þi grete sapience and þi grete trouþe I wil gouerne me by þi counsaile in al þinge
[2305] ¶ Now sire quod dame prudence and siþen ȝe vouche sauf to be gouerned by my counsaile I wol enforme ȝowe howe ȝe shul gouerne ȝoure selfe in chesing of ȝoure counsaile. [2306] ȝe shal first in al ȝoure werkes mekely bysechen to þe hiȝe god þat he wil be ȝoure counseilour [2307] and shapeþ as to such entent þat he ȝeue ȝou counsaile and comforte as tauȝt Thebye his sone. [2308] At al tymes þow shalt blesse
[2313] ffurst he þat askeþ counsaile of hym self certys he most bene wiþ-out Ire. for many causes [2314] ¶ Þe furst is þis. He þat haþ grete Ire and wreþe in hym self he weneþ alway þat he may doo þat he may nat doo [2315] ¶ And secoundly he þat is Irous and wroth. he ne may nat wel deme. [2316] [and he þat] may nat wel [deme may nat wel] counsaile [2317] ¶ The iij. is this þat he þat is Irous and wroþe as saiþ Senec ne may nat speke but blameful þingges / [2318] and wiþ his vicious wordes he stireþ oþer folk to angre and to Ire. [2319] And eke sir ȝe most dryue Coueitise out of ȝoure hert. [2320] ffor þe appostel seiþ þat Couetise is roote of alle harmes. [2321] And trusteþ wel þat a couetous man ne can nat deme [ne thinke] but only to fulfille þe eende of his couetise [2322] and certes þat may neuer ben accompliced. ffor euer more þe habundance þat he haþ of Ricchesse þe more he desireþ. [2323] ¶ And sire ȝou most also dryue
[2326] Sire ȝe bene not alway in like disposicion [2327] for certes some þinge þat semeþ somtyme to ȝou good to do. Anoþer tyme it semeþ to ȝou þe contrarie
[2328] ¶ Whan ȝe han taken counsaile in ȝoure self and so han demed by good deliberacion such þingges as ȝou semed best / [2329] þan rede I ȝou þat ȝe kepe it Secre [2330] Bywrey nat ȝoure counsaile to no persone. but if so be þat ȝe wenen þat sikerly þat þorgh ȝoure bewreying ȝoure condicion shal be þe more profitable. [2331] ffor Ihesus Cirak seiþ. neiþere to þi ffoo ne to þi freende diskeuere not þi secre ne þi folye [2332] for þei wil ȝeue þe audience and lokinge and supportacion in þi presence and scorne þe in þine absence [2333] ¶ Anoþer clerk seiþ þat scarcely shalt þow fynden eny persone þat may kepe counsaile secrely. [2334] Þe boke saiþ. Whilst þat þou kepest þi counsaile in þine herte þou kepest it in þi prison. [2335] And whan þou bywreyest þi counsaile to eny wight he holdeþ þe in his snare [2336] And þerfore it is better hide þi counsaile in þine hert. þan preien hym to whoom ȝe han bywreieþ ȝoure counsaile þat he wil kepen it clooce and stille [2337] ¶ ffor Senec saiþ. If so be þat þou ne may þine owne counsaile hide. how maist þou preien eny oþer wiȝt þi secree counsaile to kepe [2338] ¶ But naþelees ȝif þou wene sikerly þat þi bewriyng of þi counsaile to a persone wil make þi condicion stonden in a better plite. þan shalt þou telle him þi counsaile in þis wise [2339] ¶ ffurst þou shalt make no semblant whedere þe were leuer pees or werre. or þis or þat. ne schewe hym not þi wille and þine entent. [2340] ffor trest wel þat comonly þise counsailours bene flaterers [2341] and namely þe counseilours of grete lordys. [2342] ffor þei enformen hem alway raþer to speke plesannt wordys enclynynge to þe lordes lust þan woordes þat bene trewe and profitable [2343] ¶ And þerfore men sayne þat þe riche man haþ seelden good coun|saile. but ȝif he haue it of hym self [2344] And aftere þat þow shalt considere þi frendes and þine enemyes. [2345] and as touchinge þi freendes þou shalt con|sidere
[2347] I say not furst ȝe shul clepe to ȝoure coun|saile ȝoure frendes þat bene trewe [2348] ¶ ffor Salomon seiþ. Þat riȝt as þe hert of a man deliteþ in Sauour þat is swete. riȝt so þe counsaile of trewe frendes ȝeueþ swetnesse to þe sowle. [2349] He seiþ also þat þer may no þing be likned to þe trewe frende. [2350] ffor certes gold ne siluer bene not so moch worþ as þe good wille of a trewe frende. [2351] ¶ And eke he saiþ þat a trewe frende is a grete defence / who so þat it fyndeþ. certis he fyndeþ a grete tresoure. [2352] Than shul ȝe eke considere if þat ȝoure trewe frendes bene discrete and wise. for þe boke seiþ Aske alway þi counsaile of hem þat bene wise. [2353] And by þis same reson shulde ȝe clepen to ȝoure counsaile of ȝoure frendys þat bene of age such as han sayn moch and bene expert in mony þingges and bene approued in counsailinge. [2354] ffor þe boke seiþ þat in olde men is þe sapience [et en moult de temps est prudence] [2355] ¶ And Tullius saiþ þat grete þingges ne ben not accomplised by strenght ne by delyuernesse of body but by good counsaile By auctorite of persones and be science þe which iij. þinges ne bene not feble by age but certes þei cnforsen and en|cresen day by day. [2356] And þan shal ȝe kepe þis for a general rewle ¶ ffurst shal ȝe kepe to ȝoure counsaile a fewe of ȝoure frendes þat especial bene [2357] ffor Salomon seiþ Mony frendes haue þowe but among a thousand chese þe oon to be þi counseil|our. [2358] ffor al be it soo þat þowe furst ne telle þi counsaile but to a fewe. þou maist afterward telle it to more folk. ȝif it be nede. [2359] But loke alway þat þi counsailers haue þilk thre condiciouns Þat I haue saide
[2362] ¶ Nowe seeþ what I haue tolde ȝou of which folk ȝe shuld be counsailed. Now wil I telle ȝou which counsaile ȝe auȝt eschewe [2363] ¶ ffirst ȝe shul eschewe þe counsaile of foolis. So seiþ Salomon. Take no coun|saile of a foole ffor he can no counsaile. but aftere his owne affeccion [2364] ¶ The boke saiþ. þat þe proprete of a fool is þis. He troweth liȝtly harme of euery wiȝt. and liȝtly troweþ all bounte
[2366] ¶ Therfore Tullius seiþ ¶ Amonge alle þe pestilences þat ben in frendship þe grettest is fflatery. And þerfore is moor nede. þat þowe eschewe and drede and flee from þe swete wordes of flaterers þan of eny oþer puple [2367] ¶ The booke seiþ. Thow shalt raþer drede and fflee from þe swete wordes of flaterers and preisers þan fro þe eger wordes of þi frende þat saiþ þe þi soþes. [2368] ¶ Salomon seiþ; That þe wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacchen innocentes wiþe. [2369] He seiþ also þat he þat spekeþ to his freende. wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce setteþ a nett byfore his foote to cacchen him [2370] And þerfore seiþ Tullius ¶ Encline nat þine eeres to fflaterers. ne take no counsaile to wordes of fflatery [2371] And Caton seiþ ¶ Auise þe wel and eschewe wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce. [2372] And eke þou shalt eschwe þe counsaile of þine olde enemyes [qui sont reconciliés, [2373] car il est escript: nul ne retourne seurement en la
grâce de son ennemy.] [2374] ¶ And Isope seiþ. Ne trest not to hem to þe which þow hast hadde somtyme werre or enemyte. ne telle not hem þi counsaile [2375] ¶ And senec telleþ · þe cause whi · it may nat be. He seiþ where þat grete fuyre haþ longe endured. þat þer dwelleþ somme vapour of warmnesse [2376] ¶ And þerfore seiþ Salomon./ In þine olde foo trest neuere. [2377] ffor sikerly þouȝe þine enemye be reconsiled and makeþ þe chere of humilite. and lowteþ to þe his hede. ne trust him neuere. [2378] for certes he makeþ þilk fayned humilite more for his profite þan for eny loue. of þi persone. [afin qu'il puisse avoir victoire de toi] by swich feyned counten|aunce. þe which victory he myȝt not haue wiþ stryf or werre [2379] ¶ And Peter Alfons seiþ ¶ Make noon felawship wiþ þine olde enemyes. for ȝif þowe doo hem bounte. þei wil peruerten it into wykkednesse [2380] ¶ And eke þou most eschwe þe counsaile of ham þat ben þi se[r]uauntes. and beren þe grete reuerence. for perauenture þei sayn it more for drede þan for loue [2381] ¶ And þerfore seiþ a Philosophre in þis wise; Ther nys no wiȝt perfitly trwe to hym þat he to fore dredeþ [2382] ¶ And Tullius saiþ ¶ Ther is noo myȝt so grete of noon Emperour that longe may endure but ȝif he haue more loue of þe puple þan drede [2383] ¶ Thow shalt also e[s]cheu þe counsaillynge of folk þat bene dronklewe. for þei ne can no counsaile hide [2384] ¶ ffor Salomon seiþ ¶ Ther is no counsaile þer as regneþ dronknesse [2385] ¶ Ȝe shul also haue in suspecte þe counsaile of such folk as counsaile ȝowe prively. oon.
[2390] ¶ Now Sire siþ I haue shewde ȝou of such folk ȝe shuld take ȝoure counsaille And of which folk ȝe shul take ȝoure counsaile. and of which folk ȝe shul folowe þe counsaille [2391] ¶ Now shal I telle ȝou howe ȝe shul examyne ȝoure counsaile. after þe doctrine of Tullius [2392] in examynynge. þan of ȝoure counseillour. ȝe shul considere mony þingges [2393] ¶ Alþer furst ȝe shul considere þat in þilk þinge þat þowe purposest. and vppon what þinge þow wolt haue counsaille þat verrey trouþe be saide and considered. This is to sayn telle trewly þi tale. [2394] for he þat seiþ fals may not wel be counsailed in þat tale [in which he lyeth] [2395] And after This þou shalt considere þoo þingges þat accorden to þat þou purposest forto doo by þi counsail|lours. ȝif reson. accorde þerto. [2396] & eke ȝif þi myght may atteyne þerto. And ȝif þe more party and þe better part of þi counsailours accorde þerto anoon. [2397] þan shalt þou considere þat þinge þat shal folowe of þat counsailleng. as. pees. werre. grace. profite or damage and mony oþer þingges. [2398] [et en toutes ces choses] þow shalt chese þe best and wayue all oþer. [2399] ¶ Than shalt þow considere of what roote is engendred þi matere of þi counsaile and whatt fruyte may be conseyued and engendred þer-of [2400] ¶ Thow shalt also considere all þise cases from whannes þei bene sprongen [2401] And whan ȝe han examyned ȝoure counsaille as I haue saide. which parte is þe better and more profitable and haue approued it by mony wise folk and eelde. [2402] Than shalt þow considere if þow maist performe it and make of it a good ende. [2403] ffor reson wil not þat eny man shuld bygynne a þinge but ȝif he myght performe it as hym lest or auȝt [2404] Ne no wiȝt shuld
[2413] ¶ Nowe is it reson and tyme. þat I shewe when and wherfore þat ȝe may chaunge ȝoure counsail|lours wiþ-out repreef [2414] ¶ Soþely a man may change his counsaille. and his purpoos if þe cause seseþ. or whan a newe cause byndeþ. [2415] ffor þe lawe seiþ þat vpon þingges þat newly betiden byhoueþ newe consaille. [2416] And Senec seiþ / ȝif þi counsaile be commen to þe eeres of myn enemye; chaunge þi counsaille [2417] ¶ Thow maist also chaunge þi counsaille. ȝif so be þat þou fynde þat by errour or by oþer cause harme or damage may be-tide [2418] ¶ Also ȝif þi counsaille be dishonest. or ellis commeþ of dishonest cause chaunge þi consaille [2419] ffor þe lawes sayn · þat al byheestes þat bene dishonest bene of no valewe.
[2421] And take þis for a general rewle þat euery counsaile þat is affermed so strongly þat it may nat be chaunged for no condicion þat may be-tide I saye þat þilk counsayle is wikked
[2422] ¶ This Melebius whan he had herde þis doctrine of his wiff Dame Prudence. Answerde in þis wise. [2423] ¶ Dame quod he as ȝit into þis tyme ȝe han wel and connably tauȝt me. as in generall howe I shal gouerne as in chesinge and in wiþholding of my counsaillours [2424] But nowe wolde I fayn þat ȝe wolden condescenden in especiall. [2425] and tel me howe likeþ. or what semeþ ȝowe by our counsaillours þat we haue chosen in our present nede
[2426] ¶ My lord quod she I biseche ȝowe in alle hum|blesse þat ȝe wil not wilfully replie aȝeinst my resons / and mystemper nat ȝour hert þouȝe I en moult de manières]
[2431] [Premièrement, tu as erré] in þe assem|blyng of ȝoure counsaillers. [2432] ffor ȝe shuld first haue cleped a fewe folk [et puis après plusieurs] ȝif it had bene nede. [2433] But certes ȝe han sodeynly cleped to ȝoure counsaille a grete multitude of puple. fful chargeant and ful noyous forto here [2434] Also ȝe han erred. for þere as ȝe shuld oonly haue cleped to ȝoure counsaille ȝoure trewe freendes olde and wise [2435] ȝe haue ycleped straunge folk. ȝonge folk. fals flaterers and enemyes
sont contraires à conseil, et] [2438] ȝe han not avyncesed or destroyed hem / neiþer in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure counsaillours as ȝe ouȝt [2439] ¶ Ȝe haue erred also for ȝe han shewed to ȝoure counsailers ȝoure talent and ȝoure affection to make werre anoon and forto do vengeance. [2440] þei han espied by ȝoure wordes to what þing ȝe bene enclined. [2441] & þerfore han þei counsailled ȝou raþer to ȝoure talent þan to ȝoure prophete [2442] ¶ Ȝe haue erred also. ffor it semed þat ȝou suffised to haue bene coun|sailled by þise counsailloures oonly & with þat litel avice./ [2443] Where as in so grete and so highe a nede it had ben necessarie moo counsaillours and more deliberacion to performe ȝoure emprise [2444] ¶ ȝe haue erred also. for ȝe haue nat examened ȝoure counsaile in þe forseide matere ne in dwe manere. as þe cace requireþ [2445] ¶ ȝe han erred also for ȝe han maked no dyuysion bytwix ȝoure counsaillours. Þis is to sayn bytwix ȝoure frendes & ȝoure fayned counsaillours [2446] ne ȝe han not knowe þe wille of ȝoure trewe frendes. olde and wise [2447] But ȝe han cast all her wordes in an hochepote and enclyned ȝoure herte to þe more parte and to þe gretter nombre and þer by ȝe condescended. [2448] And siþ ȝe wote wele þat men shal fynde a gretter multitude of fooles þan of wise men. [2449] and þerfor þe counsaillours þat ben at congregacions and mul|titudes of folk þer as men take more reward to þe nombre þan to þe sapience of persones [2450] ¶ Ȝe se wel þat
[2455] ¶ To þis sentence anoon answered dame pru|dence and saide [2456] Examyneþ quod þan she ȝoure coun|saile. and lat vs see whiche of hem haþ spoken moost resonable & taught ȝou best counsaile. [2457] And for as moche as þat þe examynacion is necessarie lat vs bygynne at Cirurgiens and at þe phisicience þat furst speken in þis matere. [2458] I say ȝou þat þe Cirurgiens and þe phisiciens haue seiden ȝou in ȝoure coun|saile discretly as hem auȝte. [2459] and in her speche seiden ful wisely as to þe office þat hem appenteþ to done to euery wight honoure and profite and no wiȝt to anoye [2460] and aftere her craft to doon grete diligence vnto þe cure of hem which þat þei han in gouern|aunce. [2461] And sir riȝt as þei han answered wisely and discretely [2462] riȝt so rede I þat þei bene heghly and souereynly guerdoned for her noble speche. [2463] and eke for þei shuld do þe more ententif bysynes in þe Curacion of ȝoure douȝter / [2464] ffor al be it soo þat þei bene ȝoure freendes þerfore shal ȝe not suffre þat þei serue ȝou for nouȝt [2465] But ȝe auȝt þe raþer to gerdone hem and shewe hem ȝour largesse. [2466] And as tochinge þe proposicion þe which þe phisiciens encresden in þis caas. þis is to sayn [2467] þat in maladies. þat oon contrarieþ is warshed by anoþer contrarie [2468] .I wold fayn knowe how þei vnderstonde þilk text And what is her sentence [2469] ¶ Certes quod Melebius vnderstonden it in þis wise. [2470] þat riȝt as þei han [m'(ont) fait un contraire, que je leur face un autre, [2471] et pour ce qu'ils (se) sont] venged ham on me and done me wronge Riȝt so shal I venge me vpon hem.
[2473] ¶ lo lo quod dame Prudence. how liȝtly is euery man enclyned to his owne desire and to his awne plesaunce [2474] Certes quod she. wordes of þe phisiciens ne shulden nat haue bene vnderstonden in þis wise. [2475] ffor certys wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wicknesse. ne vengeance to vengeaunce. ne wrong to wronge. but þei bene semblable [2476] and þer|for on vengeaunce is not warisshed by anoþer venge|aunce. ne oon wrong by a noþer saint Pol] þe appostel in mony places [2482] He seiþ. ne ȝeldeþ nouȝt harme for harme ne wikked speche for wikked speche. [2483] but doþ wel to hem þat don ȝou harme. and blesse hem þat sayn to þe harme [2484] and in mony oþer places he amonesteþ pees and accorde. [2485] ¶ But now wil I speke to ȝou of þe coun|saile which þat was ȝeuen to ȝou by þe men of lawe and þe wise folk [2486] þat seiden all by oon acorde as ȝe han herd bifore. [2487] That ouer alle þingges ȝe shal do ȝoure diligence to kepe ȝoure persones and to warnestore ȝoure hous [2488] and saiden also. þat in þis ȝe ouȝt forto worchen ful wisely and bisily and wiþ grete deliberacion [2489] And sire as to þe furst poynt þat toucheþ to þe keping of ȝour persone [2490] ȝe shul vnderstonde þat he þat haþ werre shal euermore deuoutely and mekely preien by-forn alle þingges [2491] þat Ihesu crist of his mercy. wol
la garde] of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendes þat bene appreued and yknowe [2496] and of hem shul ȝe asken helpe ȝoure body forto kepe ffor caton seiþ ¶ Ȝif þou hast nede of helpe aske it of þi frendes [2497] ffor þer is noon so good a phisicien as þi trewe frende [2498] ¶ After þis þan shal ȝe kepe ȝou from al straunge folk and fro leers and haue alway in suspecte her companye [2499] ¶ ffor Pers Alfons seiþ þus ne take no company by þe waye of a straunge mon. but ȝif so be þat þowe knowe him of a lenger tyme. [2500] And ȝif so be þat he falle to þi companye per|auenture wiþ-outen þine assent [2501] enquere þan as sotilly as euer þou maist of his conuersacion and of his lyf byfore and feyne þi way. Say þow wolt goo þidere as þou wilt not goo. [2502] and ȝif he bere a spere holde þe on þe riȝt side. And ȝif he bere
[2521] Now as to þe secounde poynt when as ȝoure wise counsailours counsailed ȝow to warnstore ȝoure hous wiþ grete diligence. [2522] I wold fayn knowe how þat ȝe vnderstonden þilk wordys and what is ȝoure Sentence.
[2523] Melebius Answerd and saide. Certes I vnder|stonde it in þis wise þat I shal warnstore myn hous wiþ towres such as haue castels and oþer manere edifi[c]es and armure and arcelries [2524] by such þingges as I may my persone and my hous kepe and defende. þat myn enemyes shul be in drede myn hous to approche.
[2525] To þis sentence anon answerd Dame Prudence ¶ Warnstoringe quod she of hegh toures and grete edifices [appertaineth sometimes to pride [2526] Men make towers and great edifices] with grete
[2531] Now sir as to þe iij. poynt where as ȝoure olde and wise counsaillours. seiden þat ȝowe ne auȝt not sodeynly ne hastely proceden in þis nede. [2532] but þat ȝou auȝt purveien and apparailen ȝou in þis caas wiþ grete diligence and grete deliberacion. [2533] trewly I trowe þat þei seiden riȝt wisely and riȝt soþe. [2534] ffor Tullius seiþ ¶ In euery nede er þow bygynne it apparaille þe wiþ grete diligence [2535] Than say I þat in vengeance takinge in werre in bataile and in warne-storinge. [2536] er þan þou bygynne. I rede þat þou apparaile þe þerto. and do it with grete deliberacion. [2537] ffor Tullius saiþ; ¶ That longe apparaylinge to-forn þe bataile; makeþ shorte victorie. [2538] And so Cassidorus saiþ. ¶ The garneson is strenger whan it is longe tyme avised.
[2539] But now lat vs speke more of þe counsaile. þat was accorded by ȝoure neighbours which as doon ȝou reuerence wiþ-out loue [2540] ȝoure olde enemyes recon|siled. ȝoure flaterers [2541] þat counsailden ȝou cer|teyn þingges prively. and openly counsailden ȝou þe contrarie [2542] ¶ The ȝonge folk also þat counsailed ȝou to venge ȝou / and make werre anoon [2543] ¶ And certes sire as I haue saide byforn ȝe haue gretly erred to han cleped Such manere folk to ȝoure counsaile. [2544] which counsailours bene nowe repreued. by þe resons to-fore saide. [2545] But naþelees lat nowe descende to
Or véons doncques qui tu es et qui sont ceulx que tu tiens tant à ennemis.] as to ȝoure persone. [2556] ffor al be it soo þat ȝe bene myghty and riche. certes ȝe bene but alloon. [2557] for certes ȝe ne haue no childe but a douȝtere. [2558] ne ȝe ne haue no breþeren ne Cosyns Germaynns ne noon oþer nygh kynrede./ [2559] wherfore þat ȝoure enemyes for drede shulden stent to plede with ȝowe ne destroye ȝoure persone [2560] ¶ Ȝe knowe also þat ȝoure richesses mosten be dalt in diuers parties. [2561] and whan þat euery wiȝt haþ his parte þei ne wol not take but litel reward to venge þi deth. [2562] but þine enemyes bene Þre. And þei han mony children. breþeren Cosynes and oþer nygh kinrede. [2563] And þouȝe it so were þow haddest sclayn of hem twoo or þree. ȝit dwellen þer ynowe to wreke her deeth. and to slee þi persone [2564] And þouȝe so were þat ȝoure kynrede were more siker and stedfast þan
Tu dois doncques savoir que à vengence que tu veulx faire, est conséquent] [2579] And þerof foloweþ a-noþer vengeaunce perile and werre. and oþer damages wiþ-out nombre of which we bene litel warre as at þis tyme./ [2580] ¶ And as touþing þe fourte poynt þat Tullius clepeþ en|gendringe [2581] þou shalt considere þis wronge which þat is done to þe is engendred of þe hate of þine enemyes [2582] and of þe
[2583] ¶ Now sire as þan touchinge to þe poynt. That Tullius causes which þat is þe last poynte [2584] þou
[2595] ¶ Now sire ȝif men wold aske me whi þat ȝe suffred men to doo ȝou þis wronge and vilenye. Certes I can nat wel answere as for no soþfastnesse. [2596] ffor þe apostell saiþ. þat þe sciences and þe Iugementes of our lord god almyȝty. bene ful depe. [2597] þer may no man conprehende ne Serchen hem suffisantly [2598] ¶ Naþelees by certeyne presumpcions of coniectyngges I holde and bileue [2599] þat god which þat is ful of iustice. and of riȝtwisnesse haþ suffred þis bitidde by Iustise ¶ cause resonable
[2600] ¶ Thi name is Melebye ¶ This is to sayne a man þat drynkeþ hony. [2601] thow hast ydronke so moche hony of which swete temporell richesses / and delicious hon|oures of þis world [2602] þat þou art dronken. and hast forȝeten Ihesu crist þine creature [2603] Thow ne hast not doon to hym such honoure and reuerence as þe auȝt [2604] ne þou ne hast nat wel taken kepe to
[2617] ¶ Certes quod Melebius I se wel þat ȝe en|force ȝou moche by wordis to ouercome me in suche a manere þat I shal not venge me on myn enemyes. [2618] shewing me þe periles and þe eueles þat myghten falle of þis vengeaunce [2619] But who so wold considere in all vengeances þe periles and euels þat myȝten swe of vengeance takinge [2620] a mon wold neuere take vengeance and þat were harme [2621] ffor by þe venge|aunce takinge. bene þe wikked men disseuered from þe good men. [2622] And þei þat han wille to do wikked|nesse restreynen her wikked purpoos whan they sene þe punshynge and chastising of trespasoures.
[2623] [And to this answered dame Prudence: 'Certes,' said she, 'I grant you that from vengeance come many
[2634] ¶ A quod Melebies þis vengeance likeþ me no þinge [2635] I by-þenk me nowe and take hede. howe fortune haþ norsshed me fro my childhode. and haþ hulpen me to passe mony a stronge paas [2636] ¶ Now wil I assaien her trowinge wiþ goddes helpe þat he shal helpe me my shame forto
[2637] ¶ Certes quod Prudence ȝif ȝe wil wirk by my counsaill ȝe shul not assaien fortune by no way [2638] ne ȝe shul not lene ne bowe vnto hire. after þe wordes of Senec. [2639] ffor þingges þat bene folily done. and þat bene in hope of fortune shullen neuere come to good eende. [2640] ¶ And as þe same senc saiþ . þe more clere and þe more shynynge þat fortune is. þe more brotel and þe sonner brekeþ she. [2641] tresteþ not on her for she nys nat stedfast. [2642] ffor whan þowe wenest or trowest to be more swre or siker of her
selon l'ordre de droit et devant le juge ne te plaist, [2647] et la vengence qui se fait] in hope of fortune is peril|ous and vncerteyn. [2648] þen haue noon oþer remedy. but forto haue ȝoure cours vnto þe souereyn Iuge þan vengeþ all vilanyes and wrongges. [2649] and he shal venge ȝou. After hym self witnesseþ; where as he saiþ [2650] ¶ leueþ þe vengeance to me./ & I shal doo it
[2651] ¶ Melebius answered. Ȝif I ne venge me noȝt of þe vilanye þat men han done to me. [2652] I shal somne or warne hem þat han do to me þoo vilanyes and al oþer to doo me anoþer vilanye. [2653] ¶ ffor it is writen. ȝif þou take no vengeaunce of an olde vilanye / þow somn|est þine aduersaries to doo an newe vilanye. [2654] And also for my suffraunce men wolden doo me so moche vilanye þat I myȝt neiþer bere it ne sus|teyne it. [2655] And so þan I shulde be kept ouer lawe [2656] ¶ ffor men sayn In mochel suffringe shul mony þingges vnto þe which þow shalt not mow suffre
[2657] ¶ Certes quod prudence I graunte ȝow þat ouer mochel suffraunce is not good [2658] But ȝit ne foloweþ it not þer-of. That euery persone to whome men doo vilany take of it vengeaunce. [2659] ffor þat apper|teneþ & longeþ oonly to the Iuges. ffor þei shul venge vilanyes and Iniuries. [2660] And herfore þoo two autoritees þat ȝe han saide aboue ben oonly vnderstonden in þe Iuges [2661] for whan þei suffre ouer ¶ mykel þe wrongges and vilenyes to be done
[2667] ¶ I put caas riȝt nowe ȝe had leue to venge ȝou. [2668] I say þat ȝe ben nouȝt of myght ne power as nowe to venge ȝou. [2669] ffor ȝif we wil make comparison vnto þe myȝt of ȝour aduersaries. ȝe shul fynde in many þingges þat I haue shewed ȝou er þis þat her condicion is better þan ȝoure. [2670] And þerfore say I þat it is good as nowe þat ȝe suffre and be pacient
[2671] ¶ fferþer more ȝe knowen wel þat after þe comon Sawe it is a woodenesse a man to stryue wiþ a strenger. or wiþ a more myȝty man þan hym self. [2672] And forto stryue wiþ a man of euen strength þat is to say wiþ as stronge a man as he is it is perile. [2673] And forto stryue wiþ a waikere man it is foly [2674] And þerfore shuld a man flee stryuynge as mochel as he myȝt [2675] ¶ ffor Salomon saiþ. It is a grete worship a man to kepe hym from noyse and stryf. [2676] And ȝif it so byfalle or happe þat a man of gretter myȝt and strenger þan þou art do þe greuaunce. [2677] stody and byse þe raþer to stille þe same greuaunce þan forto venge þe [2678] ¶ ffor Senec saiþ That he putteþ hym in grete perile. þat stryueþ wiþ a gretter man þan he is him self [2679] And Caton saiþ. Ȝif a man of hier astate or of degre or more myȝty þan þou. do þe an oþer greuaunce suffre hym [2680] for he þat onys haþ greued þe
[2708] [Certes, dit Mellibée, je vous ottroye, dame Prudence, que patience est une grant vertu,] [2709] But euery man may nat haue þe perfection þat we seken. [2710] ne I. am not of þe nombre of riȝt per|fit men. [2711] for myn hert may neuer be in pees; vnto þe tyme it be venged [2712] ¶ And al be it so þat it was grete perile to myne ¶ ennemyes to done me a vilanye in takinge vengeance vpon me. [2713] ȝit token þei noon hede vppon þe perile. but fulfilleden her wik¶ked wille and her corage [2714] And þer-for me þenkeþ men ouȝt not repreue me þouȝe I putte me in a litel perile to venge me. [2715] and þouȝe I doo a grete excesse. þat is to say þouȝe I venge oon outrage by a noþere
[2716] ¶ O quod dame prudence ȝe say ȝoure wille. and as ȝou likeþ. [2717] But in no caas of þe world a man shuld not do outrage ne excesse forto venge hym [2718] ¶ ffor Cassidore seiþ þat as euel doþ he þat auengeþ him by outrage. as he þat doþ þe
car autrement ce seroit contre droit et contre raison (Le Mén.)] [2727] ¶ Parde ȝe knowen well þat ȝe maken noon defence as nowe forto defende ȝou but forto venge ȝou [2728] And so sweþ it þat ȝe han no wille to doo ȝoure dede attemperally. [2729] and þerfore me þenkeþ þat pacience is goode ¶ ffor Salomon seiþ; þat he þat is nat pacient shal haue grete harme
[2730] ¶ Certes quod meleby I graunte ȝou þat whan a man is impacient and wrooþ of þat þat toucheþ hym nat and of þat þat perteneþ not to hym. þouȝe it harme him it is no wondere [2731] ¶ ffor þe lawe saiþ. þat he is coupable. þat entermeteþ hym or melleþ hym wiþ suche þinge as apperteyneþ nat to hym [2732] ¶ And Salomon saiþ. That he þat entermeteþ hym of þe noise or of þe strif of an oþer man is like to hym. þat takeþ þe hounde by þe eeres [2733] and [aussi comme cellui qui prent le chien par les oreilles] is oþer while biten wiþ þe hounde. [2734] ¶ Riȝt in þe same wise is it reson þat he haue harme þat by his impacience medleþ him of þe noise of an oþer man. wher þat it apperteneþ not to him [2735] ¶ But ȝe knowe wel þat þis dede and
[2741] [Prudence, quant elle oy son mary vanter de sa richesse et de sa puissance, et soy esjouir, et] dispreis|ing þe poor of his aduersaries. Tho she spak and seide in þis wise. [2742] Certes dere sire I graunt ȝou þat ȝe bene riche and myȝty. [2743] and þat richesses ben good to hem þat han wel goten hem. and þat wel can vsen hem [2744] ffor riȝt as þe body of a man; may not lyue wiþ-out þe saule. no more may it live wiþ-out temporal goodes. [2745] And by rich|esse may a lequel qu'elle veult pour son mary [2747] car (Le Ménagier, tome i)] . . et se ils demandent, ils meurent de honte;] Necessite constreyneþ hym to aske. [2761] And þerfore seiþ Salomon. That better is to dye þan forto haue suche pouerte [2762] ¶ And as þe Same Salo|mon seiþ Better is to dye a bitter deeþ þan forto lyuen in swich wise [2763] ¶ By þise resons þat .I haue seide vnto ȝowe and by mony resons þat I coude saie [2764] I graunte þat richesses bene good to hem þat geten hem well And vsen hem wel. [2765] And þerfore wil I shewe ȝow how ȝe shul haue ȝou. and howe ȝe shal bere ȝou in gaderinge of richesses. and in what manere ȝe shul vsen hem
[2766] ffirst ȝe shul geten hem with-out grete desire. by good leisere sokingly. and not ouerhastely. [2767] ffor a man þat is to desiringe to geten richesse. abandoneþ hym to þeft and to all oþer evels [2768] ¶ And þerfore seiþ Salomon ¶ he þat hasteþ hym to bysily to wexe ricche; shal be noon Innocent [2769] ¶ He saiþ also þat þe Richesse þat hastely commeþ to a man. sone and liȝtly gooþ and passeþ from hym [2770] ¶ But þat richesse þat commeþ alway litel and litel. wexeþ alway and multiplieþ [2771] ¶ And sire ȝe shul gete richesse by ȝoure witte. and by ȝoure travaile. vnto ȝoure profite [2772] and þat wiþ-outen wronge or harme doynge to eny oþere persone. [2773] ffor þe lawe
[2787] ¶ Than þus in geting of Richesse ȝe moten flee ydelnesse / [2788] ¶ and afterward ȝe shul vse þe richesse which ȝe han geten by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure travaile [2789] in such a manere þat men holde ȝou nat to scarce. ne to sparinge. ne to fool large. þat is to sayn ouer large a spendere [2790] ¶ ffor riȝt as men blamen an Auarous man by cause of his scarsete and chyncherie [2791] In þe same manere is he blamed
[2838] ¶ Sire now haue I schewed ȝou how ȝe shuld doo in kepinge rychesse and howe ȝe shuld vsen hem [2839] ¶ I see wel þat for þe trust þat ȝe haue in ȝoure ricchesse. ȝe wil meuen werre and bataille [2840] I counsaile þat ȝe bygynne no werre. in trest of ȝoure Richesse. ffor þei ne suffisen not werres to Mayn|tene [2841] ¶ And þerfore saiþ a Philosophre. That man þat desireþ and wil algates haue werre. shal neuere haue suffisaunt. [2842] ffor þe Richer þat he is þe gretter dispence mote he make ȝif he wil haue wor|ship or victorie [2843] ¶ And Salomon saiþ þat þe gretter richesse þat a man hath. þe gretter dispendours he haþ. [2844] And dere sir al be it soo. þat for ȝoure richesse ȝe mowe haue mochel folk. [2845] ȝit byhoueþ it not. ne it is not good to bygynne werre. þer as ȝe may in oþer manere haue pees vnto ȝoure worship and profite [2846] ¶ ffor þe victorie of batailles þat bene in þis world lith not in grete nombre or multitude of puple. ne in vertue of man. [2847] but it lith in þe wille and in þe hand of our lord god almyȝty [2848] ¶ And þerfore Iudas makabeus which was goddys knyȝt [2849] whan he shuld fiȝt aȝeinst his aduersarie þat had a gretter nombre and a gretter mul|titude of folk And strenger þan was þis puple of Maka|be. [2850] Ȝit he recomforte his lytel
[2862] After þat dame prudence had spoken in þis manere Melebius answerd and saide. [2863] I see wel dame þat by ȝoure faire wordes and by ȝoure resons þat ye han schewed me. þat þe werre likeþ ȝou no þinge. [2864] But I haue not ȝit herde ȝoure coun|saile howe I shal doo in þis nede.
[2865] Certes quod she I counsaile ȝou þat ȝe ac|corde wiþ ȝoure aduersaries and þat ȝe haue pees with hem [2866] ¶ ffor seint Iame seiþ in his Epistell ¶ That by concord and pees þe smale richesses wexen grete [2867] And by debate and discord þe grete richesse fallen doun. [2868] And ȝe knowe wel þat oon of þe grettest and most souereyn þinge þat is in þis world is vnite and pees [2869] And þerfore saiþ our lord Ihesu crist to his apostel in þis wise [2870] ¶ Wel happy and blessed bene þei þat louen and pu[r]chasen pees for þei bene called children of god [2871] ¶ A quod Meleby nowe se I wel þat ȝe loue not myn h[o]noure and my worship. [2872] Ȝe knowen wel þat myne
[2877] ¶ Than bygan dame prudence to make sem|blaunt of wreth and saide. [2878] Certes sire sauf ȝoure grace I loue ȝour honoure and ȝoure profite as I doo myn owne and euere ha
[2887] ¶ Whan Melebius had seye dame prudence make semblaunt of wreth he saide in þis wise [2888] ¶ Dame I prey ȝou þat ȝe be not displesed of þingges þat I saye. [2889] ffor ȝe knowe wel þat I am angry and wrooþ and þat is no wondere. [2890] and þei þat bene wrooþ. weten not wel what þei doon ne what þei seyn [2891] ¶ And þerfore the prophete seiþ. That trowbled eyen haue no clere siȝt. [2892] But saiþ on and counsaile me as ȝe likeþ. for I am redy to doo riȝt as ȝe wil desire. [2893] and if ȝe repreue me of my foly .I am þe more holden to loue ȝou and to preise
[2896] Than said Dame prudence. I make no semblant of wreþe ne of anger but for ȝoure grete profite [2897] ¶ ffor Salomon seiþ; he is more wrooþ þat re|preueth or chideþ a foole for his folye schewing him semblant of wreþe [2898] þan he þat supporteþ hym or preiseþ him in his mysdoynge at laugheþ at his foly [2899] ¶ And þis same Salomon seiþ afterward þat by þe soriful vese of a man þat is to sayn by sory and heuy countenaunce of a man [2900] þe foole correcteþ and amendeþ him self
[2901] ¶ Than sayde Meleby I shal not conne an|swere to so mony resons as ȝe putten to me and shewen / [2902] saiþ shortely ȝoure wille. and ȝoure coun|saile and I am al redy to fulfille and performe it
[2903] ¶ Than Dame prudence diskeuered al her wille vnto hym and saide [2904] I counsaile ȝou þat ȝe abouen al þinge maken pees bytwene god and ȝowe [2905] and beþ reconsailled vnto him and to his grace. [2906] ffor I haue seid ȝow here byfore ¶ God haþ suffred ȝou to haue þis tribulacion and dissese for ȝoure synnes. [2907] And if ȝe doo as I say ȝowe
[2914] ¶ Dame quod Meleby doþ ȝour will and
[2916] ¶ Than dame prudence whan [she] segh þe wille of her husbonde and she delyuered her and toke avice by hure self [2917] þenkinge by her self how she myȝt bringe þis nede vnto a goode conclusion and a good eende [2918] ¶ And whan she seeȝe her tyme she sent for þise aduersaries to come vnto her into a pryvy place [2919] and schewed wisely vnto hem þe greet goodnesse þat commeþ of pees. [2920] and þe grete harmes and periles þat ben in werre. [2921] and saide to hem in a goo[d]ly manere howe þat hem ouȝten to haue grete re|pentance [2922] of þe Iniurie and wronge þat þei hadden ydone. to Meleby her lorde and vnto her and vnto her douȝter.
[2923] And whan þei herden þe goodly wordes of dame Prudence [2924] þei weren so supprised and rauisshed and hadden so gret Ioie of her þat wondere was to telle [2925] ¶ O lady quod þei ȝe ¶ han schewed vnto vs þe blissinge of swetnesse aftere þe Sawe of dauid þe prophete. [2926] ffor þe reconsilinge which we ne bene not worþi to haue in no manere. [2927] but we ouȝt to requiren it wiþ grete contricion and humilite [2928] ȝe as ȝoure grete goodnesse haþ presented vnto us [2929] Now se we wel þe science and þe konyng of Salomon is ful trewe [2930] for he seiþ þat swete wordes multiplien and encresen freendes. and maken schrewes to be debonayre and meke
[2931] Certes quod þei we putten oure dede and al our matere. and cause alhoolly in ȝoure good wille [2932] and bene redy to obeye to þe speche and þe comaunde|ment of my lord Melebye [2933] ¶ And þerfore our dere and benigne lady we preien ȝou and bysechen ȝou as mekely as we conne or mowen [2934] ¶ Þat
[2942] Certis quod Prudence it is an harde þinge and riȝt perilous [2943] þat man put him al vtterly in þe arbitracion and Iugement and in þe myght and power of his enemyes [2944] ¶ ffor Salomon seiþ Leueþ and ȝeueþ credence to þat I shal sayn ¶ I say quod he ȝif puple and gouernours of holy church · [2945] to þi sone. to þi wif and þi frende. ne to þi broþer. [2946] ne ȝeue þou neuere myȝt ne maistrie of þi body while þou lyuest [2947] ¶ Nowe sith þat he forfendeþ. þat man shuld not ȝeue to his broþer ne to his freende þe myȝt of his body [2948] Than by a strenger reson he forfendeþ and forbedeþ. a man to ȝeue hym self vnto his enemye [2949] ¶ And naþe|les I counsaile ȝowe þat ȝe ne mystrest not my lorde [2950] for I woote wel and knowe verrely þat he is debonaire and meke. large and curtays. [2951] and no þinge desirous ne coueitous of good ne ricchesse. [2952] ffor nys no þinge in þis world þat he desireþ. saue oonly worship and honour [2953] ¶ fferþermore I knowe wel and I am riȝt swre þat he wil no þinge doo in þis nede wiþ-out counsaile of me. [2954] And I shal so worche in þis cause þat by þe grace of our lorde god ȝe shul be recounsailled vnto vs.
[2955] Than seide þei wiþ oon vois. Worshipful
[2959] And whan dame prudence had ¶
[2963] ¶ Þan saide Meleby he is wel worþ to haue pardone and forȝeuenesse of his synne. þat excuseþ nat his synne. [2964] but knowleccheþ and repenteþ hym asking Indulgence [2965] ¶ ffor Senec say. There is þe remyssion and forȝeuenes; wher as þe confession is. [2966] ffor confession is neighbour to Innocence. [2967] ¶ And he saþ in an oþer place; þat he þat haþ shame of his synne and knowlecheþ it; is worþi remyssion. And þerefor I assent and conferme me to haue pees. [2968] But it is good þat we doo it not wiþ-out þassent of oure frendes
[2969] Than was prudence riȝt glad and Ioyful and saide þis [2970] ¶ Certes sire quod she ye han wel and goodly answerd. [2971] ffor riȝt as by the counsaile of assent and helpe of ȝoure frendes ȝe haue ben stired to venge ȝou. and make werre. [2972] Riȝt so wiþ|outen her counsaile shal ȝe not accorde ȝou ne haue pees wiþ ȝoure aduersaries [2973] ¶ ffor þe lawe saiþ. Ther nys no þing so good by way of kynge as þinge to bene vnbounde by hym þat it was ybounde
[2974] And þan Dame prudence wiþ-outen delay or tarynge sent anoon Massagers for her kynne and for her olde frendes which þat were trewe and wise [2975]
[2981] ¶ And whan dame prudence had herd þassent of her lord Melebius and þe counsaile of his frendes [2982] accorde wiþ her wille and her entencion [2983] she was wonderly glad in hert and saide [2984] Ther is and olde prouerbe quod She seiþ; þat þe goo[d]nesse þat thou maist doo þis day do it [2985] and abyde nat til [le soir ne] to morowe. [2986] And þerfor
[2996] ¶ And riȝt anoon þei token her way to þe courte of Meleby [2997] and token to hem some of her trewe frendys to make feiþ for hem and forto bene her borowes [2998] ¶ And whan þei were commen to
[3006] Than þe wisest of hem þre answerd for hem alle and seide [3007] ¶ Sire quod he we knowe wel þat we bene vnworþi to come vnto þe Suerte vnto so grete [a lord] and so worþi as ȝe bene. [3008] ffor we han so gretely mystaken vs and haue offended and gilted in such a wise. ageyn ȝoure hegh lordship. [3009] þat trewly we han deserued þe deeþ. [3010] But ȝit for þe grete goodnesse and debonairte þat all men don witnesse of ȝoure persone / [3011] We submytten vs to ȝour excellence and benygnyte of ȝoure gracious lordship. [3012] for we bene redy to obey to all ȝoure comaundementes [3013] bysekinge ȝou þat of ȝoure merciable pite ȝe wil considere our grete repentaunce and lowe submyssion [3014] and graunt us forȝeuenesse of oure outrageous trespas and offence. [3015] ffor wel we knowen þat ȝoure liberall grace and mercie streccheþ forþere into good|nesse þan doþ our outrageous trespas into wikked|nesse. [3016]
[3017] ¶ Than Melebye toke hem vp fro þe grounde ful benygnely [3018] and receyued her oblacions and her londes by her oþes vpon her plegges and borowes. [3019] And assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne vnto his courte [3020] forto accepte and to receyue þe sentence and
[3022] ¶ And whan þat Dame Prudence segh her tyme. she f[r]ayned and asked her lorde [3023] what vengeaunce he þouȝt to take on his aduersaries
[3024] To which Melebius answerd and saide. Certys quod I I thenk and purpoos me fully [3025] to dis|herite hem and al þat euere þei haue and forto putte hem in exile for euere moo
[3026] ¶ Certis quod dame Prudence þis were a cruel sentence and mochel aȝeinst reson. [3027] ffor ȝe bene riche ynouȝe and haue no nede of oþer mennys good / [3028] and ȝe myȝten lightely gete ȝou a coueitous name [3029] Whiche is a vicious þinge and ouȝte to bene eschewed of euery man [3030] ¶ ffor aftere þe sawe of þe word of þe apostel Coueityse is roote of alle harmes [3031] And þerfore it were better to ȝou to lese so mochel good of ȝoure owne. þan forto take of her good in þis manere. [3032] ffor bettere it is to lese good with Worship þan it is to wynne good wiþ vileny and shame./ [3033] And euery man ouȝt to doo his diligence of his bysynesse to geten hym a good name. [3034] And ȝit shal he not oonly bysyen him in kepinge his good name [3035] But he shal also enforsen him alway to doon somme þinge by which he may renouelle his good name [3036] ¶ ffor it is written ¶ The olde good lose or good name of a man · is sone done or goon or passed whan it is not newed ne re|nouelled [3037] And as touching þat ȝe sayn ȝe wil exile ȝoure aduersaries [3038] þat þenkeþ me moch aȝeinst reson. and out of mesure [3039] con|sidered. þe power þat þei han ȝeuen ȝou vpon hem self [3040] ¶ And it is writen ¶ that he is worþi to lesen his privelegge þat mysvseþ þe myȝt and þe power þat is ȝeuen hym [3041] And I sette caas ȝe myȝt enioyne hem þat peyne by riȝt and lawe [3042] which I
[3060] Whan Melebius had herd þe grete skilles and resons of dame · Prudence and her wise enformaciōn and techinge. [3061] His hert gan enclyne to þe wille of his wif. considerynge her trewe entent. [3062] Con|fermed. hym anōn and contened fully to worchen aftere her counsaile [3063] and þonked god of whome procedeþ al goodnesse þat hym sent a ¶ wif of so grete discreciōn [3064] And whan þe day come þat his aduer|saries shuld apperen · in his presence [3065] he speke
[This is really a link between some unwritten Tale and the Parson's. It has been made into the Manciple-Parson Link (or Yeoman-Parson by the Christ-Church MS) by Chaucer's copiers, though not meant for it.]
[Petworth MS, on leaf 272, back.]
[There are no breaks in the MS. Tyrwhitt's are kept here to prevent slight differences in the texts throwing the Six-Text out of gear.]
¶ State super vias & videte & interrogate de Semitis / antiquis que sit/ via bona & ambulate in ea & inuenietis refrigerium animabus vestris;
[75] OWre swete lord god of heuene þat no man wil perisshe but wil þat we commen all to the knowlecch of hym and to þe blisful lif þat is perdurable [76] ammossheþ vs by þe prophet Ieremye þat seiþ in þis wise [77] ¶ Stondeþ vp-on þe wayes and seeþ and askeþ of olde Patthes þat is to sayne of olde sentences which is þe good way [78] and walkeþ in þat way and ȝe shul here refresshyng for ȝoure saules. &c [79] ¶ Mony bene þe waies espiritual þat leden folk to oure lord Ihesu crist and to þe regne of glorie. [80] Of which way þer is a ful / noble waye and a ful couenable which may not faile to man / ne to womman þat þourgh synne haþ mysgoon from þe riȝt
[84] ¶ Seynt Ambrose seiþ. That penitence is þe1What is peny|tence11_1 A sidenote copied into the text.]gregorie. Vnneþes ariseþ he out
[95] And now siþens I haue declared ȝou what þinge is penitence ¶ Now shul ȝe vnderstond þat þera. aocio.a. accio.a. accio./
[102] ¶ The spices of penaunce bene þre. þat oone spices of penaunce
[107] e prophet seiþ. I haue loued þi lawe and hated
[128] In þis penitence or contriciōn man shal vn|derstonde .iiij. þingges. þat is to seyn what is contriciōn and whiche bene þe causes þat meuen a man to con|triciōn and howe he shuld be contrite. and what con|tricion availed to þe soule. [129] Than is it þus. þat contricion is þe verrey sorowe þat a man receyueþ in his hert for his synnes with sad purpoos to schryuen hym and to do penaunce and neuere more to do synne. [130] And þis sorowe shal be in þis manere as seith seint Bernard ¶ It shal be greuous and hevie and ful
[142] ¶ The ij. cause þat ouȝt to /
[158] ¶ The iij cause þat ouȝt to meuen a / man to contricion and drede of þe day of dome. and of þe / horrible peynes of helle. [159] ffor as seint Ierom seiþe
[231] ¶ The iiij. poynte þat aught make a man
[255] ¶ The .v. þinge þat ouȝt to meue a man to contricion is remembraunce of þe passion of our Lord Ihesu crist suffred for oure synnes [256] ffor as seiþ seynt Bernard whiles þat I lyue ¶ I shal haue remem|braunce
[292] ¶ Now shal man vnderstonde in which
[308] ¶ The last þing þat men shal vnderstond in contricion is þis. wherof availeþ contricion ¶ I say þat somtyme contricion delyuereþ man fro synne. [309] of which þat dauid seiþ. I say (quod dauid)
[316]
¶ THe seconde parte of penitence is confession þat is signe of contricion [317] ¶ Now shul ȝe vnderstonde what is confession. and whedere it ouȝt nedes to be or noon. and which þingges bene conable to verrey confession
[318] ¶ ffirst shalt þou vnderstonde þat confession is verrey shewinge of synnes to þe preest [319] þis is to sey verrey. ffor he mot confessen hym of al þe condicions þat bylongen to his synne as ferforþ as he can. [320] al mote be seide and no þing excused ne hid ne forwrapped. and nouȝt auaunte him of his good werkes. [321] ¶ And forþer ouer. It is necessary to vnder|stonde whennes þat synne springeþ and how þei encresen. And which þer bene
[322] in spryngynge of synnes. as seiþ seint poule in þis wise. / ¶ That riȝt as by a man. synne entred furst into þe ¶ worlde. and þorghe þat synne deide. Riȝt so þilk deeþ entreþ into al men þat synden. [323] And þis man was // Adam by whom þat synne entred into þis world whan he brak þe comaundement of god. [324] and þerfore he þat first was so myghty þat he shuld not haue deyde. bycame suche oon þat he most nedys dye whedere he ¶
[337] ¶ Now as to speke of þe furst Coueitise þat is concupiscence After þe lawe of our membres þat weren lawfully maked and by rightful Iugge|ment of god. [338] I say for as moche as man is not obeysaunt to god þat is his lord þerfo is his fleissh to hym disobeisaunt þorghe concupiscens . . . . . [339] . . . . .
[350] Now for ct or cc]
[358] ffor soþe synne is in two maners / eiþer it is venial synne or dedly synne. ¶ Soþly whan man loueþ eny creature more þan Ihesu crist our creature þan is it dedly synne And venial synne it is if man loue Ihesu crist lasse þan hym ouȝte. [359] for soþ þe dede of þis venial synne is ful perilous. ffor it amenuseþ þe loue þat man shuld haue to god more and more [360] And þerfor if a man charge more hym self wiþ mony such venyal synnes. certes but if it so be þat he som|tyme discharge hym of hem by shrift þei may ful liȝthly amenuse in hym al þe loue þat he haþ to Ihesu crist [361] and þis scipped venial into dedly synne. ffor certes þe more þat a man chargeþ his saule wiþ venial synnes. þe more is he enclyned to falle in dedly synne [362] And þerfor lat vs nat be negligent to discharge vs of venyal synnes. ffor þe prouerbe seiþ þat mony smale makeþ a grete. [363] And harken þis ensample A grete wawe of the See commeþ somtyme wiþ so grete a violence þat it drencheþ þe shippe and þe same harme doon somtyme þe smale dropes of water þat entreþ þorgh a litel creues into þe thorrok and into þe botme of þe shipp. if men be so necligent þat men ne
[371] ¶ Now siþens a man vnderstondeþ generally which is venyal synne. þan is it conable to tellen of special synnes which þat mony a man parauenture ne demeþ hem not synnes ne schryuen hem nat of þe same þingges and ȝit naþelees þei bene synnes [372] and soþly as clerkes writen þis is to say þat euery tyme þat a man eteþ or drinkeþ more þan suffiseth to þe sustinaunce of his body in certeyn he doþ synne [373] ¶ And eke whan he spekeþ more þan it nedeþ. it is synne. eke whan he harkeneþ not mekely þe complaynt of þe poore. [374] eke whan he is in hele of body and wil not fast whan oþere men fast withouten cause resonable. Eke whan he sclepeþ more þan nedeth or whan he commeþ by þilk encheson late to church or to oþere workys of charite. [375] Eke whan he vseþ his wiff wiþ-outen souereyne desire of engendrure to honure of god. Or for þe entent to ȝeelde to his wiff þe dette of his body. [376] Eke whan he wil not visite þe seke or þe prisoners when he maye.
[382] ¶ Now shul men vnderstonde þat al be it soo þat noon / erþely man may eschwe all venial synnes. ȝit may he refreyn hym by þe brennyng loue þat he haþ to our lord Ihesu crist and by preiers and confessioun and oþer good werkes so þat it shal but litel greue. [383] ffor as seiþ seynt Austyne. If a man loue god
[387]
¶ Now is it bihouely þinge to tellen which bene dedly synnes þat is to say Caytifnesse of synnes al þei renne in cooles. but in dyuers manere ¶ Now bene þei cleped Caytif for as moche as þei bene cheef. and spryngen of all oþer synnes [388] Of þe roote of þise vij. synnes. pride is þe general rote of al harmes. ffor of þis roote springen certeyn braunches. as Ire. Envie. Accidie. or scloweth. Auarice. or couetise to comon vnderstondinge. Glotenye. and lechery. [389] And euerich of þise chief synnes haþ his braunches and his twigges. as shal be declared in her chapiters folowynge.
[390] And þouȝe so be þat no man can / telle vtterly þe nombre of þe twigges and of þe harmes þat commeþ of pride. ȝit wil I shewe a party of hem as ȝe shul vnderstond. [391] Ther is Inobedience Auauntinge. Ypocresie. Despite. arro
[407] and ȝit is þer a privey spice of pride þat waiteþ first to be halowed or he wil be salwed al be he lasse worþi þan þat oþere is parauenture and eke he waiteþ or desireþ to sitte or to goo aboue hym in þe way or kys paxe or bene ensensed or goon / to offringe byforn his neighbour [408] and such . . . . .
[409] ¶ Nowe ben þere twoo maners of pride. þat oon of hem is wiþ-in þe herte
[416] as to þe furst synne þat is in superfluyte of cloþinge which þat makeþ it so dere to harme of þe puple [417] þat only þe cost of enbrawdynge. þe degyse endentynge or barringe. owdyng palynge. or bendinge. and semblable waast of cloþinge in vanyte [418] But þer is also costlewe furringe in her gownes / so moch pownsenynge of Chisels to maken holes. so mochel daggyng of sheres [419] forþwith the Superfluyte in length of þe forseide gownes tral|ynge in þe dunge and in þe myre on hors and eke on foote as wel of man as of womman þat al þilk traillyng is verrely as in effecte waasted. consumed. thred|bare and roten wiþ dunge raþer þan it is ȝeuen to þe poor to grete damage of þe forseid poor folk [420] and þat in sondrie wise This is to seyn. þe more þat clooþ is waasted þe more mote it cost to þe puple for þe scarcenesse [421] ¶ And ferþerouere if it so be þat þei wolde ȝeue suche pounsoned and
[464] ¶ Nowe bene þere general þingges of gentilnesses. as schewyng of vices or ribawdry and seruage of synne. in worde. in werk. in contenaunce [465] & vsyng vertu. Curtesie. and clennesse and to be liberal þat is to sayn / large by mesure. ffor þilk þat passen mesure is foly and synne [466] ¶ A noþer is to remembre hym of bounte þat he of oþere folk haþ receyued. [467] Anoþere is to be benigne of his sogette. wher-fore as seiþ Senek. Ther is no þinge more* see after 474 and Hengwrt and Petworth MSS.*470] Now certys a man
[476] Now shal ȝe vnderstonde which is þe remedy aȝeinstcontra
[484]
Aftere pride wil I speke of þe foule synne of envie which þat is as by þe word of þe philisophre sorow of oþere mannys prosperite And aftere þe word of seynt Austyne. it is sorowe of oþer mennes wele and Ioie of oþer mennys harme [485] ¶ This foule synne is platly aȝeinst þe holy goost. al be it so þat euery synne be aȝeinst þe holy goost. ȝit for as moche as bounte apperteneþ proprely to þe holy goost. and envie commeþ proprely of malice þer|fore is proprely aȝenist þe bounte of þe holy goost [486] ¶ Now haþ malice ij. spices. þat is to sayn hardnes of herte. And wikkednesse or ellis þe flessh of a man is so blynde þat he
[515] ¶ Now wil I speke of þe remedie aȝeinst þis foule synne of Envie ¶ ffirst is þe loue of god principal and louyng of hym self and of his neighbour. ffor soþly þat oon ne may not be wiþouten þat oþer [516] And trust wel þat in þe name of þi neighbour þou shalt vnderstonde þe name of þi broþer ffor certes al we han oo fader flesshly. and oo Modere
[533]
Aftere Envie wil I declare þe synne of Ire ffor soþly who þat haþ Enuye vpon his neiȝbour anoon comonly he wil fynde hym matere of wreth in worde or in dede aȝeinst hym to whoom he haþ envie [534] And as wel commeþ Ire of pride
[535]
This synne of Ire aftere þe descriuynge of seint Austyne is wikked will to bene auenged. by
[554] ¶ In þis forsaide deuels fornays þer foorgen. thre shrewes Pride þat all bloweþ and encreseþe þe fire by pride and wikked wordes. [555] Than stant Envie and holdeþ þe hote yren vppon þe hertes of man wiþ a peire of longe tongges of longe Rancour [556] and þan stant þe synne of contynnynge or strif and þeest and batereþ and forgeþ by vileyns reprouyngges [557] ¶ Certes þis cursed synne annoyeþ boþe þe man hym self and eke to his neighbour. ffor soþly al ¶ most al þe harme þat eny man doþe to his neighboure commeþ of wrath. [558] ffor certes outrageous wraþe doþ all þat euer the deuel hym comaundeþ for he ne spareþ neiþer crist ne his swete modere [559] And in his out|rageous angre & Ire allas allas ful mony one at þat tyme feleþ in his / herte ful wikkedly
[562]
¶ Of Ire commen þise stynkinge engendrures. ffirst hate þat is olde wreþe discord þorgh which a man forsakeþ his olde frende þat he haþ loued ful longe. [563] and þan commeþ werre and euery manere of wronge þat man doth to his neighbour in body or in catell [564] ¶ Of þis cursed. to. capitulo. . . . .same side-note and quotation in the Sompnour's Tale. MS. leaf 219, back]o. Non est aliud nomen sub cœlo. Ther nys non oþer name seiþ seint Peter vnder heuene yȝeuen to men in which þei mote be saued þat is to seyn but in þe name of Ihesu crist [598] ¶ Take kepe eke how þat þe precious name of Ihesu crist as seiþ seynt paule Ad philipenses 2o In nomine Ihesu &cetera. That in þe
[600] ¶ Now certes siþens þat swerynge but it be doo al lawfully is holy defended me The wors is forswering falsly. and ȝit nedelees.
[601] What say
[605] What say we of hem þat byleuen on dyuynales as by fliȝt or by noys of briddes or of beestes or of sorte by Egrimauncye. by dremes. by chirking of doores by gnewyng of rattye or crakinge of howses and such maner wrecchednesse [606] Certes al þis thynge is defended by god and by holy churche for // which þei bene acursed to þei come to amendement þat on such filþe setten her byleue [607] ¶ Charmes for woundes and maladies of men or of beestes if þei taken eny effecte it bene perauenture þat god suffreþ it for folk shuld ȝeue þe more faiþe and reuerence to his name
[608] ¶ Now wil I speke of lesyngges which gener|ally is fals signyfiaunt or woord in entent to deceyuen his euen cristen [609] ¶ Some lesing is of which þer commeþ noon auauntage to no wiȝt and somme lesyng turneþ to þe ease eiþer profit of a man and to
[612] ¶ Lat vs nowe touche þe vice of fflaterie which ne commeþ not gladly but for drede or for coueityse. [613] fflatery is generally wrongfull presinge. fflater|ers bene þe deuel norrces þat norsheþ his chylldren wiþ mylk of losengry. [614] ffor soþ seiþ Salomon;
[619] Speke we now of such cursyng as commeþ out of yrous herte ¶ Malisoun may be seide generally Euery maner power of harme such cursyng byreueþ man fro þe regne of god. as seiþ seynt paule [620] And oft
[622] Lat vs þan speke of chidynge and reproche which bene grete woundes in mannys hert ffor þei vnsewen þe semes of ffrendship in mannys hert. [623] ffor certes vnneþes may a man pleynly ben accorded wiþ hym þat haþ hym openly revyled and reproued and disclaundred þis is a ful grisly synne ¶ And crist seiþ in þe gospell [624] ¶ And take kepe noweo.
[635] ¶ Afterward speke we of scornynge which is a wikked synne And namely whan he scorneþ a man for his good werkes. [636] for certes suche scorners faren like þe foule tode þat may not endure to smell þe swete sauour of þe vyne what it florssheþ [637] ¶ Thise scorners bene partyng felawes wiþ þe deuell. for þei han Ioie whan þe deuel wynneþ and sorowe whan he leseþ [638] ¶ They bene aduersaries to Ihesu crist for þei haten þat he loueþ þat is to say sauacion of saule
[639] ¶ Speke we nowe of wikked counsaille. ffor he þat wikked counsaille ȝeueth is a traitour. ffor he disceyueþ hym þat trusteþ in hym Vt Achitofel de Absolonem ¶ But naþelees ȝit is it wikked counsaile ffirst aȝeinst hym self [640] for as seiþ þe wise man Euery fals lyuyng haþ his propre in hym self þat he þat will anoy anoþer man he annoyeþ furst hym self. [641] And men shullen vnderstonde þat man shal not take his counsaille of fals folk ne of to angry folk or greuous folk ne of folk þat louen specialy to moche her owne profite ne to moch worldly folk namely in counsailling of saules
[642] ¶ Now commeþ þe synne of hem þat maken discorde amonges / folk which is a synne þat
[644] ¶ Now commeþ þe synne of double tunge. such as speken faire to-fore folk and wikkedly behynde or ellis þei / maken semblaunt as þouȝe þei speken of good entencion or ellis in game and pley and ȝit þei speke of wikked entent
[645] ¶ Now commeþ bywreying of counsaille þorgh which a man is defamed vnneþes may he restore þe damage
[646] ¶ Now commeþ manace þat is an open foly ffor he þat open manaseþ he treteþ more þan he may performe ful often tyme
[647] ¶ Now commeþ ydel wordes þat is wiþ-outen profite of hym þat spekeþ þe wordes. and eke of hym þat harkeneþ þoo wordes // or ellis ydel wordes. ben / þoo þat bene nedelees or wiþ-outen entent of naturel profite. [648] and al be it þat ydel wordes be som|tyme venial synne ȝit shuld men doute hem. for we shullen ȝeue rekenyng of hem to-fore god
[649] ¶ Now commeþ Iangelynge þat may not come wiþ|oute synne. And as seiþ Salomon ¶ It is signe of a-pert
[651] ¶ After þis commeþ þe synne of Iapes. þat bene deuels apes. for þei maken folk to lauȝe at her Iaprie as folkes doon at þe gaudes of an ape. Suche Iapes defendeþ seint Poule [652] ¶ Loke how þat vertuous wordes and hooly conforten hem
[654] ¶ The remedye aȝeinst Ire is a vertue þat men clepen mansuetude þat is debonairete and eke a nother vertue þat men clepe pacience . . . . .
[655] ¶ Debonairte wiþdroweþ and refreyneþ þe styryngges and þe meuyngs of mannys corage in his hert and such manere þat þei ne skippe not out by anger ne by Ire [656] suffraunce suffreþ swetly al þe annoyaunces and þe wrongges þat men doon to a man outward [657] ¶ Seint Ierom seiþ þus of debonairte
[659] ¶ Pacience þat is anoþer remedye aȝeinst Ire is a vertue þat suffreþ swetely euery mannys goodnesse and is not worþ for non harme þat is doon to hym [660] ¶ The philisofre seiþ þat pacience is þilk vertue þat suffreþ debonairly all þe outrages of aduersite and euery wikked worde. [661] This vertue makeþ a man like to god. and makeþ hym his owne dere childe as seiþ crist. This vertu discomfiteþ þine enemye And þerfore seiþ þe wise man If þou wilt venquyssh þine / ennemye. lerne to suffre [662] And þou shalt vnderstonde þat a / man suffreth four maner
[663] ¶ The furst greuaunce is of wikked wordes. þilk greuaunce suffreþ Ihesu crist wiþ-outen grucchinge ful paciently whan þe Iwes despised hym and reproueden hym ful oft [664] Suffre þou þerfore paciently. ffor þe wise man eke seiþ ¶ If þou stryue wiþ a fool þoughe
[670] A philisophre vpon a tyme þat wolld haue
[677]
Aftere þe synnes of Envie I wil speke of þe synne of Accidie. ffor Envie blyndeþ þe hert of a man. And Ire troubleth a man. and accidy makeþ hym hevye þouȝtful and wrowe [678] ¶ Envie and Ire maken bitternesse in hert which bitternesse is / modere of accide and bynymeþ hym þe loue of al goodnes þat is accyde þe angwissh of a trouble hert and seynt Austyne seiþ it is anoye of goodnesse and anoy of harme. [679] / Certes þis is a dampnable synne for it dooþ wronge to Ihesu crist in as moch as he nymeþ þe seruice þat men ouȝt to doo Ihesu crist wiþ al diligence as seiþ salomon /
[686] The iiij. þinge is þat accidie is like hem þat bene in þe peyne of helle by cause of her sclouþe and of her heuynesse. for þei þat bene dampned bene so bounde þat þei ne may wel do ne wel þenk. [687] Of accidy commeþ first þat a man is anoied and encombred to doon eny goodnesse and makeþ þat god haþ abhomynacion of such accidye as seith seynt Iohn
[688] ¶ Now commeþ scleuth þat wil not suffre noon hardnesse ne no penaunce ffor soþ sclouþe is so tendere and so delicate as seiþ Salomon þat he wil not
[693] ¶ Now commeþ wanhope þat is despeire of þe mercy of god þat commeþ somtyme of to moch out|rageous sorowe and somtyme of moche drede ymagyn|ynge þat he haþ do so moch synne þat it wil not auaille hym þouȝe he wolde repent hym and forsake synne and doon good [694] þorȝe which dispeire or drede he boundeneþ his hert to euery maner synne as seiþ seint Austyne [695] ¶ Which dampnable synne if þat1and seiþ creaunt11_1 repeated in MS.]o. Where as crist seiþ þat as wel shalo.o. Hou þat þe þeef þat was hongedo
[712] ¶ Of þe remedie of þise two synnes as seiþ þe wise / man þat he þat dredeþ god spareþ not
[718] ¶ Than commeþ þe synne þat men clepen tarditas as was a man is so lattred and so tarying er he wil turne to god. and certes þat is a grete foly. he / is like hym þat falleþ in þe diche and wil not arise. [719] And / þis vice commeþ of fals hope. þat he þenkeþ he shal lyue longe. but þat hope failleth ful oft
[720] Than commeth lacchesse þat is he þat whan he bygynneþ eny good werk. anoon / he wil forlete it and stynt. as done þei þat han eny wiȝt to gouerne and ne taken of hym no more kepe anoon as þei / fynden eny contrary or eny anoye [721] ¶ Thise ben þe newe shipardes þat laten her shepe wetyngly go rennen to þe / wolf þat is in þe breres or doon no force of her owne gouernaunce [722] ¶ Of þis commeþ pouerte and distruction boþ of spirituel and of temporel þingges. Than commeth a manere of coldnesse þat freseþ all þe hert of a man [723] ¶ Than commeth vndeuocion þorghe which a man is so blent. And as seiþ seint Bernard haþ such langour in
[728] ¶ Aȝeinst þis horrible Synne of Accide and þe braunches of þe same Ther is a vertue þat is called ffortitudo or strenght þat is an affeccion þorgh
[731] ¶ This vertue haþ mony spyces ¶ The furst is cleped magnanimitas. þat is to / saye grete corage. ffor soþly þer byhoueþ grete corage aȝeinst Accidye lest þat it swelowe þe soul by þe synne of sorowe. or destroy it by wanhope. [732] This vertu makeþ folk vndertake harde þingges. and greuous þingges by her owne wille wisely and resonably [733] And for as moch as the deuel fighteþ aȝeinst man. more by queynteyse & by scleight þan by strenghth þerfore a man shal withstonde hym by witte and by reson and by dis|crecion [734] ¶ Then ben / þer þe vertues of feiþ and hope in god and in his seyntes to atcheuen and accomplise þe good werkes in which he purposeþ feermely to contynue [735] ¶ Than commeþ suerte or sikernesse and þat is whan a man ne douteþ no travaile in tyme commynge of þe good werk þat a man / haþ bygonne [736] ¶ Than commeþ Magnificence. and þat is to sayn whan a man doþ and perfourmeþ grete werkes of goodnesse þat he haþ bygonne. and þat is þe ende whi þat men shuld doo good werkes. ffor in þe accomplesing of good werkes lith þe grete guerdoun [737] ¶ Than is þer constaunce þat is stablenesse of corage and þis shulde be in hert by stedfast feiþ and in mouþe and in
[739]
Aftere Accidie wil I speke of avarice and ofo Capitulo. [740] ffor trewly . whan þat þe hert of
[741] ¶ Auarice aftere þe scripcion of seynt Austyneo capituloo. That auerous man / haþ more hope in his þraldome of ydolatrie
[749] ¶ What difference is ytwix an ydolastre and an auarous man but þat an ydolastre and an auarous man ne haþ but a mawmet or twoo; and þe auaricious man haþ monye ffor certes euery floreyn in his Coffre is his mawmet [750] And certes þe synne of Maumetrie is þat god in þe ten / comaundmentes o. capitulo./o. [751] Thou / shalt haue no fals goddes byforn me. Ne þou shalt make to þe no grauen þinge. Thus as is an Auaricious man . . .oo. [755] ¶ Sooþ is þat þe condicion of þraldome and þe furst to/to.
[756] Thus may ȝe seen þat þe gilt deserueth thraldom
[761] ¶ Thenk eke þat suche sede as churles ¶ springen; of suche seed springgen lordes. as wel may þe cherle be saued as þe lorde. [762] þe same deþ þat takeþ þe cherle. þe same deeþ takeþ þe lorde. wherfore I rede do riȝht so wiþ þi cherle as þou woldest þi lorde did wiþ þe if þou were in his plite [763] Euery synful man is a cherle to synne ¶ I rede þe Certes þat þou lorde worche in suche wise þat þi cherles raþer loue þe than drede þe [764] ¶ I woote wel þer is degree aboue degre as reson is and skill is þat men / done her devoyre þer as it is dwe But certes extorcions and despites of ȝoure vnderlyngges is dampnable.
[765] And forther ouer vnderstonde well þat conquerours or tyrauntz maken ful often þralles of hem þat bene born of as Royal blood as bene þei þat hem conqueren. [766] This name of thraldome was neuere knowe erst til þat Noe seid þat his sone2þe synne of lucifer22_2 repeated in MS.]
[804] ¶ Now shul ȝe vnderstonde þat þe releuyng of
[813] ¶ But for as moche as some folk bene vnmesur|able men ouȝten eschewe fool largesse þat men clepen waast [814] Certes he þat is fool large ne ȝeueth not his catell. but he leseþ his catell. Sooþly what þinge þat he ȝeueþ for veyn glorie as to Mynstralles and to folk forto byreuen his renoun in þe world he haþ do / [synne and non] almesse. [815] ce[r]tes he leseþ foule his good þat he ne sekeþ no þinge of his good but synne. [816] he is like to an hors þat sekeþ raþer to drink drovy or troubly watere þan of þe clere welle [817] And for as moche as þei ȝeue þere as þei shuld not ȝeue to hem apperteyneþ þilk malyson þat criste shal ȝeuen at þe day of dome to hem þat shul be dampned. /
[818]
Aftere Auarice commeþ glotenye which is expresse eke
[828] ¶ In oþer manere bene distincte of vices & spices of glotenye aftere seint Gregorie ¶ The furst is forto ete by|fore
[831] ¶ Aȝeinst glotenye is the remedy abstinence of his
[833] ¶ The felowes of abstynence. bene attemper|aunce þat haldeþ þe mene in alle
[836]
Aftere Gloteny commeþ lecherye. ffor þise
[840] ¶ Nowe lat vs speke þan of þilk stynkinge synne of lechery. þat men clepen aduoutrie of wedded folk þat is to say if þat oon of hem be wedded or ellis booþ [841] ¶ Seint Iohn seiþ þat þe aduoutrers
[852] this is þat oþer hand of þe deuel wiþ .v. fyngres to cacche þe puple to his vilanye [853] ¶ The first fynger is þe foolissh lokinge of the foolyssh man or the folissh womman þat scleeþ riȝt as þe basilicok scleeþ folk by þe venyme of his / sight. ffor þe Coueityse of þe eyen foloweþ þe couetise of þe herte [854] ¶ That oþer fynger is þe vileyns touchynge in wicked maner And þerfore seiþ Salomon. þat who so toucheþ and handleþ a womman. he fareþ like hym þat handleþ þe scorpion þat styngeþ and sodeynly scleeþ þourgh his enuenemynge. As who so toucheþ warme picch. he shent his fyngres [855] ¶ The iij is foolissh wordes þat fareþ lich fire þat brenneþ. þat riȝt anoon brenneþ þe herte. [856] ¶ The iiij. is þe kissynge. And soþly he were a grete fool þat wolde kysse þe mouþ of a brennyng ouen or of a forneys. [857] And / more fooles bene þei þat kissen in vileynye for þat mouþ is þe mouþe of helle. And namely þise olde dotardes holours ȝit wil þei kisse þouȝe þei may not do. and smatere hem [858] ¶ Certes þei bene like to houndes. ffor an hounde whan he commeþ by þe Rosere or by oþer bewtees þouȝe he may not pisse. ȝit wil he heuene vp his legge and make coun|tenaunce to pisse. [859] And for þat mony man weneth þat he may noȝt synne for no likerousnesse þat he doþ with his wiff Certes þat opynyon is fals ¶ God woote a man / may scle hym self wiþ his owne knyff. And maken hym drunke wiþ his owne tunge [860] Certes be it wif or childe or eny worldly þing þat he loueth to-fore god it is his mameut and he is his ydolastre [861] ¶ A man shuld loue his wiff by discrecion paciently and temperally And þan is she as it
[915] ¶ Now commeþ þe remedy aȝeinst leccherie and þat is generalli chaastite and contynence at re|freyneþ al þe disordeyne meuyngges þat commen of flesshly talentes [916] And euere þe gretter merite shal he haue þat most restreyneþ þe wikked enchaw|finge of ordure of þis synne and this is in two maners / þat is to sayn. chaastite of mariage and chastite of widowhede [917] ¶ Now shalt þou here þat matrimoyne is leeful assemblyng of man and woman þat resceyuen by þe vertue of þe sacrement þe boond þorgh which þei may not bene departed in all hir liff þat is to say. þe whiles þei lyuen boþ. [918] this is as / seiþ þe book a ful grete sacrament. god made it as I haue saide in paradis and wold hym|self be born in maryage. [919] and for [to] halowe mariage he was at a weddinge. Where as he turned water into wyne which was þe furst myracle þat he wrouȝt in erþe byforn his disciples. [920] Trewe effecte of mariage clenseþ fornicacion & replenyssheþ holy church in good lynage. ffor as þe ende of mariage as it chaungeþ dedly synne into venial ytwix hem þat bene wedded / and makeþ þe hertys allon of hem þat bene ywedded as wel as the bodies [921] þis is verrey mariage þat is established by god er þat synne bygan. whan naturel lawe was in his riȝt poynt in paradys. And it was ordeyned þat oo man shuld haue but oo womman and oo womman but oo man as seiþe seynt Austyne by mony resons
[922] ffurst for þat mariage is figured bitwix man. and
[925] ¶ Nowe commeth how þat a man shuld bere hym wiþ hys wiff. and/ namely in two þingges þat is to say in suffrannce and in reuerence and þat shewed first crist whan he made furst womman [926] ffor he ne made her nouȝt of þe hede of Adam. for / she shulde not haue to grete lordship. [927] ffor þer as þe womman haþ þe maistrie she makeþ to mochel disaraye þer neden noon ensamples of þis. The experience of þis auȝt suffise [928] ¶ Also certes god ne made not womman of þe foote of Adam for she shuld not be holden to lowe for she can not pacyently suffre But god made womman of the ribbe of Adam for womman shulde be felawe vnto man [929] ¶ Man shulde bere hym to his wiff in feiþ. in trouþe an in loue. as seiþ seint paule that a man shal loue his wiff as crist loued
[930] ¶ Now how þat a womman shuld be subiecte to her husbond þat telleþ seint Peter / . . .
[944] ¶ The secounde maner of chastite is to be a clene wydowe and to eschewe þe enbrasing of man and to desire þe enbrasing of Ihesu crist. [945] Thise bene þoo þat han ben wyues and han forgoon her hus|bondes And eke wommen þat han / doon lecherye and bene releued by penaunce [946] And certes if þat a wiff couþe kepe her al chaast by licence of her husbonde so þat she ner noon occasion þat he a-gilt it were to hir a grete merite [947] Thise maner of wommen þat obseruen chaastitee most be clene in herte as wel as in body and in þouȝt and mesurable in cloþinge and in contynaunce ¶ Abstynent in etynge and drynkynge in spekinge and in dede and þan is she þe vessell of þe boyst of þe blessed Mawdeleyne þat fulfilleþ holy church ful of good odure [948] ¶ The iij. maner of chaastite is virgynyte. And it byhoueþ þat she be holy in hert and clene of body þan is she spouse to Ihesu crist and she is þe lif of aungels. [949] She is þe preysyng of þis world And she is as þise marters in regalite
[951] ¶ Another remedy aȝeinst lecherye is specialy to wiþdrawe such þingges as ȝeuen occasion to þilk vilanye as ease and etynge and drinkinge. ffor certes whan þe potte boyleþ strongly þe best remedy is to wiþ|drawe þe fuyre [952] ¶ Scleping longe in grete quiete is eke a grete norice to leccherie
[953] ¶ Another remedye aȝeinst lecherie is þat a womman or a man eschewe companye of hem by which he douteþ to be tempted. for al be it soo þat þe dede be wiþ-stonde ȝit is þere grete temptacion
[956] ¶ Now after þat I haue declared ȝou as I can of þe vij. dedly synnes and some of her braunches and her remedies. soþly if I couþe I wold telle ȝowe þe ten Comaundementz. [957] but so hiȝe a doctrine I lete to devynes. Naþelees I hope to god þei bene touched in þis tretys euerech of hem alle
[958]
NOW for as moche as þe secounde part of penitence
[963] ¶ That other circumstaunce is this. Whedere it be doon in fornicacion or noon. or in aduoutrie. or in incest. or noon maiden / or noon in maner of homicede or noon horrible grete synne or smale. and how longe þou
[969] ¶ The .v. is of how mony tymes þat he haþ synned and / it be in his mynde. and howe oft þat he haþ falle. [970] ffor he þat oft falleþ in synne he despiseþ þe mercy of god and encreseþ his synne and is vnkynde to god and he wexeþ þe more feble to wiþstonde synne. and synneþ þe more liȝtlier [971] and þe latter ariseþ. and is þe more eschewe for to schryuen hym and namely to hym þat haþ bene his con|fessoure. [972] ffor which þat folk whan þei falle aȝein in her old folies. ouȝt þei forleten her confessours al vtterly or ellis þei departen her shrift in dyuers place But soþly such departed shrift deserueþ no mercy of god of his synnes. [973] ¶ The sext circum|stannce is þis why þat a man synneþ as by whiche temptacion And if hym self procure þilk temptacion or by ex|cityng of oþer folk. or if þou synne with a womman by force or by hure owne assent [974] /Or if þe womman Maugre her hede haþ bene enforsed or noon. þis shal she telle for coueityse or for pouert. And if it were her procurynge or noon and such manere
[982] Than shal man loke and considere if he wil make a trewe and a profitable confession. Ther most be 4. condiciōns [983] ¶ ffirst it most be in sorowful bitternes of herte as seide þe kyng Ezechiell to god ¶ I wil remembre all þe ȝeeres of my liff in bitternesse of myn herte [984] ¶ This condycion of bitter|nesse haþ .v. signes. The furst is þat confession most be shamefast not forto keueren ne to hiden his synne but for he haþ agilt his god and defoiled/ his soule [985] And here of seiþ seynt Austyne ¶ The herte
[998] ¶ The secounde condicion of verrey confessiona condicio./
[1012] ¶ Also þe verrey shrift askeþ certeyn con|dicions. ffurst þat þou shryue þe by þi free wille not constreyned ne for shame of folk ne for maladie or such þingges ffor it is reson þat he þat trespaseþ by his ffree wille / . . .
[1019] ¶ Thowe þe shalt not eke make no lesing in þine confession for humilite parauenture to say þat þou hast doon synnes of which þou were neuere gylty [1020] ¶ ffor seint Austyn seiþ if
[1028]
NOw haue I tolde of verrey confession þat is þe Secounde part of penytence
[1029] ¶ The iij. parte of penytence is Satisfaccion and
[1034] ¶ Thise almesses shuldest þou doon of þine owne propre þingges and hastely and / prively if þou maist [1035] But naþelees if þow maist not doon it prively þou shalt not forbere almesse þouȝe men it See. So þat it be not ydo for þonke of þe worlde. but oonly forto haue þe þonke of oure / lorde Ihesu crist [1036] ¶ ffor as witnesseþ seint Mathewe .vo. A. Cite may not be hido.
[1038] ¶ Now as to speken of bodily peyne. It stont in preiers. in wakingges and in fastingges and in vertuous
[1045] This preiere most be trewly saide in verrey feiþ and þat men prey to god ordynatly & discretely and deuoutly. Alway a man shal putt his will to be subiecte to þe wille of god [1046] This orison most eke be saide wiþ gret humblesse and ful pure honesty and not to annoyance of eny man or womman. It most nedes be contynued with þe werkes of charite [1047] it availleþ eke aȝeinst þe vices of þe saule. ffor as seiþ seynt Ierom ¶ By fastyng ben saued þe vices of
[1048] ¶ Aftere þis þou shalt vnderstonde þat bodily peyne stant in wakinge. ffor Ihesu crist seiþ.
[1050] And þow shalt vnderstonde eke þat god ordayned fastyngges And to fastyng apperteneth four þingges. [1051] largenesse to poor folk. Gladnes of hert espirituell nouȝt to be angred nor anoyed ne to gruch for he fasteth and also resonable houre forto ete by mesure. þat is to say þat a man shuld not eten in vntyme. ne sitte þe lenger at his table for he fasteþ.
[1052] Than shalt þou vnderstonde þat bodily peyne stant. in disciplyne or techynge. by word or by // writynge or by ensample Also in weryng of heires. eiþer of stamyne eiþer of haberion on her naked flessh for cristes sake and such manere penaunces [1053] ¶ But ware þe wel þat such manere penaunces ne make not þine hert bitter or angry. anoyed of hym self. ffor better is to cast away þine heire. þan forto cast away þe swetnesse of our lord Ihesu Crist [1054] And þerfore seiþ seint Poule
[1055] Then is disciplyne eke in knokkynge of þi brest. in scourgyng wiþ ȝeerdes. in knelynge in tribulacions [1056] in suffryng paciently wrongges þat bene doon to hym. and eke in pacient suffraunce of maladies or lesyngges. of worldly Catell of wiff or childe or oþer
[1057] Than shalt þow vnderstonde which þingges distrowben penaunce as þis is in þre maners. þat is drede. Shame. and hope. And whanhope þat is desperacion. [1058] And forto speken / furst of drede for whiche he
[1060] ¶ Now aȝeinst þe shame þat a man haþ to shryuen hym . . . . .
[1065] ¶ Now forto speke of þe hope of hem þat bene so negligent and sclowe to shryuen hem it stant in two maners. [1066] That oon is þat he hopeþ to lyve longe and forto purchase mochel Richesse for his delite and þan he wil shryuen hym as he seiþ he may as hym semeþ tymely ynowe come to shrift [1067] ¶ Anoþer is of þe Surquidrye þat he haþ in cristes mercye. [1068] And aȝeinst þe first he shal þenk that our liff is in no sikernesse And eke þat alle þe richesse of þe world bene in aduenture and passinge as a shadowe on a walle [1069] ¶ And as seiþ seynt gregorie
[1070] ¶ Whan-hope is in two maners ¶ þe furst whan|hope
[1076] ¶ Than shullen men vnderstonde what is þe
To þilk liff he vs bringe þat bouȝt vs wiþ his pre|cious blood./ Amen./
[1081]
NOwe prey I to hem alle þat harken þis litel tretise. or rede þat ȝif þer be eny þing in it þat likeþ hem þat þerof þei þonk our lord Ihesu crist of whom procedeþ al witte and al goodnes. [1082] And ȝif þer be eny þing þat displese hem./ I prey hem also þat þei arette it to þe defaute of myne vnkonnynge and not to my wille þat wold ful fayn haue seide better ȝif þat I had hade connynge. [1083] ffor our boke seiþ ¶ All þat is writen is writen for our doctrine & þat is myn entent [1084]