The Tale of Melibeus Folio 172v 9 of 40 folios
the Ire of the kyng bi hir wit and hir good counseilyng
hir good counseil enhaunced gretely the peple of god in the regne
of Assuerus the kyng
many a good womman may men telle
that our lord had creat Adam our forme fader he seide in this
wise
semblable to him self
han wroght hem ne called hem helpe of man but rather con-
fusioun of man
What is better than gold Iasper what is better than Iaspre /
wisdom
is better than good womman no thing
resons may ye seen that many wommen ben good and hir conseil
good and profitable
I shal restore yow your doughter hool and sound
doon to yow so moche that ye shul haue honour in this cause.
he seide thus
seith that wordes that ben spoken discretely bi ordinance
beth honycombes for thei yeue swetnesse to the soule and hol-
somnesse to the bodye
and eek for I haue assayde and proued thi gret sapience and
thi gret trouth
gouerned bi my counseil I wol enforme yow how ye shul go-
uerne yourself in chesing of your counseil /
your werkes mekely beseken beseken to the high god that he
wol be your counseillour
that he yeue yow counseil and confort as taught Thoby his
sone
dresse thi weyes / and look that alle thi counseilles ben in him.
for euermore.
nede of sapience axe it god
conseil in your self and examine wel your thoghtes of which
thinges as yow thenketh that is best for your profit /
shal ye dryue fro your herte thre thinges that ben contrarious
to good counseil