þat it like vnto ȝoure grete goodnesse to ful fille in dede ȝoure good
wordes
775
¶ For we considern & knowenleche þat we haue offended & gre-
ued my lorde Mellibe oute of reson & mesure
so fer forþe þat we be
nouht of Pouere to maken him amendes ;
And þere fore we oblige vs
& oure frendes for to done al his wille & cōmandement
Bot peraduen-
ture he haþe suche heuynesse & suche wraþþe to vs warde because of our
offense ;
þat wil enioyne vs suche peyne as we maie nouht bere ne susteme
780
¶ And þerfore noble lady ; we be sechen ȝoure wōmanly pyte
to take suche
avisemen in þis nede þat we ne oure frendes be nouht disherited þorwhe
oure folye
¶ Certes qd Prudence it is it is an harde þinge & riht perilous
þ a man putte him in þe arbitracionce & Iugement al vtterly ; & in þe myht
& pouere of his ennemys ;
¶ For Salamon seiþe ; Leueþ me & ȝif credence
to þat .I. schal seine ; I. saie Ne ȝeue neuere þi soñe ne þi wif . þi frende
ne þi self vn to þe hondes ne myht of þine ennemye ; And Napeles
.I. counsel ȝowe
By a stronger resone he defendeþ & for bedeþe aman to
ȝeue him selfe vn to his ennemye
¶ And naþeles .I counsel ȝowe þat
ȝe mustrust nouht my lorde ;
790
for .I. wote wele & knowe wele þat he is
debonaire & meke large & curteise
& no þinge desirous of good ne Couy-
tous to haue richesse ;
For þere is no þinge in þis werlde þat he desireþ
saue worschipe & honor ;
For þermore .I. knowe wele & .I. am riht sure þat
He schal no þinge do in þis nede ; wiþ oute myne counsel ;
And .I. schal
so werchen in þis cause be þe grace of oure lorde god þat ȝe scholne be recō-
siled vnto vs ;
795
Then seiden þei wiþ o voyce ¶ Worschipful lady we
putten vs & oure good al fully in ȝoure wille & disposicioū
& bene redy
to cōme whan it likeþ vnto ȝoure noblesse ; to lemete vs or to assigne
vs
for maken oure obligacion ; & bynde vs as stronge as it lykeþ vnto
ȝoure goodnesse
þat we maie fulfiƚƚ þe wil of ȝoue & of my lorde Mel-
lybe
¶ Whan dame Prudence had herde þe onsewers of þes men ȝe
badde hem gone aȝeine piuelye ;
800
& sche retourned aȝeine to hire lorde
Mellibe . and tolde him howe sche fande his aduersaries repentaunt
and knowlecheinge ful reuerently & lowly her sinnes & trespas ; & howe
þei were redy to suffur alpeine ;
Requreinge him & preyinge him of
Mercy & pytee
¶ Then seide Mellibe he is wele worþi to haue pardone &
forȝeuenesse
805
wher as confession is ;
For confession is neyhbor to Inno-
cence
¶ And þe wiseman seiþe in anoþer place ; he þat haþ schame of his
sinne & knowleche it is worþi haue mercy /./ And þere fore .I. assent & con-
ferme to haue pees
¶ Bot it is good þat we do it nouht wiþ outen
þe wil & assent of oure frendes
¶ þan was Prudence riht gladde
& ioyful & seide ;
810
Certes ser qd sche ȝe haue goodely & wele ansewarde
¶ For riht as be counsel assent & helpeinge of ȝoure frendes ȝe haue
be stired to venge ȝowe & maake werre
Riht so wiþ outen hir coun-
sel schol ȝe nouht accor ; þowhe ȝe ne haue pees wiþ ȝour aduersa-
ries ;