The Tale of Melibeus Folio 169r 2 of 40 folios
and crye euer the lenger the more
membred hir vpon the sentence of Ouyde in his book
ped is the remedye of loue
fool that destourbeth the moder to wepe
childe. til she haue wepte hir fille as for a certeyn tyme /
thanne shal man doon
hir to reconforte and preyen hir of hir wepyng for to stynte
which reson this noble wif prudence
to wepe and crie as for a certeyn space
tyme she seide him in this wise .
make ye your self for to be lik a fool
nat to a wise man to maken swich sorwe
the grace of god shal warisshe and escape.
so that she right now were deed / ye ne oght nat as for hir deth
your self destroy
to gret disconfort for the deth of his children /
shulde suffren it in pacience as wel as he abideth the deth of
his owne propre
seide
that hath so grete a cause for to wepe
wept for the deth of lazarus his freend.
certes wel I woot attempre wepyng is no thing defended to
him that sorweful is amonges folk in sorowe but it is graunted
rather him to wepe
Man shal reioysse with hem that maketh ioy / and wepe with
swich folk as wepen
sholde be considerid after the lore that techeth vs Senec.
that thi frend is deed quod he / lat nat thyn eyn to moiste ben
of tiers ne to moche drye.
eyen lat hem nat falle
Do thi diligence to geten a nother frend / and this is more wise-
dom than for to wepe for thi frend which that thow hast lorn
sapience / put away sorwe out of your herte