THE TALE（第1页）

ayoungmancalledmeliboeus，mightyandrich，begatuponhiswife，thatcalledwasprudence，adaughterwhichthatcalledwassophia.uponadaybefell，thatheforhisdisportwentintothefieldshimtoplay.hiswifeandekehisdaughterhathheleftwithinhishouse，ofwhichthedoorswerefastshut.threeofhisoldfoeshaveitespied，andsetladderstothewallsofhishouse，andbythewindowsbeentered，andbeatenhiswife，andwoundedhisdaughterwithfivertalwounds，infivesundryplaces;thatistosay，inherfeet，inherhands，inherears，inhernose，andinheruth;andleftherfordead，andwentaway.whenmeliboeusreturnedwasintohishouse，andsawallthismischief，he，likeamanmad，rendinghisclothes，ganweepandcry.prudencehiswife，asfarforthasshedurst，besoughthifhisweepingfortostint:butnotforthy[notwithstanding]hegantoweepandcryeverlongerthere.

thisnoblewifeprudencerememberedheruponthesentenceofovid，inhisbookthatcalledisthe"remedyoflove，"

wherehesaith:heisafoolthatdisturbeththethertoweepinthedeathofherchild，tillshehaveweptherfill，asforacertaintime;andthenshallamandohisdiligencewithamiablewordshertorefortandprayherofherweepingfortostint[cease].forwhichreasonthisnoblewifeprudencesufferedherhusbandfortoweepandcry，asforacertainspace;andwhenshesawhertime，shesaidtohiminthiswise:"alas!mylord，"quothshe，"whymakeyeyourselffortobelikeafool?forsoothitappertaihnottoawisemantomakesuchasorrow.yourdaughter，withthegraceofgod，shallwarish[becured]andescape.andall[although]wereitsothatsherightnowweredead，yeoughtnotforherdeathyourselftodestroy.senecasaith，thewisemanshallnottaketoogreatdisfortforthedeathofhischildren，butcertesheshouldsufferitinpatience，aswellasheabideththedeathofhisownproperperson."

meliboeusansweredanonandsaid:"whatman，"quothhe，"shouldofhisweepingstint，thathathsogreatacausetoweep?jesuschrist，ourlord，himselfweptforthedeathoflazarushisfriend."prudenceanswered，"certes，welliwot，attempered[derate]weepingisnothingdefended[forbidden]tohimthatsorrowfulis，angfolkinsorrowbutitisrathergrantedhimtoweep.theapostlepau露ntotheromanswriteth，manshallrejoicewiththemthatmakejoy，andweepwithsuchfolkasweep.butthoughtemperateweepingbegranted，outrageousweepingcertesisdefended.measureofweepingshouldbeconserved，afterthelore[doctrine]thatteachethusseneca.whenthatthyfriendisdead，quothhe，letnotthineeyestooistbeoftears，nortoomuchdry:althoughthetearsetothineeyes，letthemnotfall.andwhenthouhastforgone[lost]thyfriend，dodiligencetogetagainanotherfriend:andthisisrewisdomthantoweepforthyfriendwhichthatthouhastlorn[lost]forthereinisnoboot[advantage].andthereforeifyegovernyoubysapience，putawaysorrowoutofyourheart.rememberyouthatjesussirachsaith，amanthatisjoyousandgladinheart，ithimconservethflourishinginhisage:butsoothlyasorrowfulheartmakethhisbonesdry.hesaidekethus，thatsorrowinheartslaythfullmanyaman.solonsaiththatrightasthsinthesheepsfleeceannoy[doinjury]totheclothes，andthesmallwormstothetree，rightsoannoyethsorrowtotheheartofman.whereforeusoughtaswellinthedeathofourchildren，asinthelossofourgoodstemporal，havepatience.rememberyouuponthepatientjob，whenhehadlosthischildrenandhistemporalsubstance，andinhisbodyenduredandreceivedfullmanyagrievoustribulation，yetsaidhethus:ourlordhathgivenittome，ourlordhathbereftitme;rightasourlordwould，rightsobeitdone;blessedbethenameofourlord."

totheseforesaidthingsansweredmeliboeusuntohiswifeprudence:"allthywords，"quothhe，"betrue，andthereto[also]profitable，buttrulymineheartistroubledwiththissorrowsogrievously，thatiknownotwhattodo.""letcall，"quothprudence，"thytruefriendsall，andthylineage，whichbewise，andtelltothemyourcase，andhearkenwhattheysayincounselling，andgovernyouaftertheirsentence[opinion].solonsaith，workallthingsbycounsel，andthoushallneverrepent."then，bycounselofhiswifeprudence，thismeliboeusletcall[sentfor]agreatcongregationoffolk，assurgeons，physicians，oldfolkandyoung，andsomeofhisoldenemiesreconciled（asbytheirsemblance）tohisloveandtohisgrace;andtherewithalthereesomeofhisneighbours，thatdidhimreverencerefordreadthanforlove，ashappehoft.thereealsofullmanysubtleflatterers，andwiseadvocateslearnedinthelaw.andwhenthesefolktogetherassembledwere，thismeliboeusinsorrowfulwiseshowedthemhiscase，andbythemannerofhisspeechitseemedthatinhearthebareacruelire，readytodovengeanceuponhisfoes，andsuddenlydesiredthatthewarshouldbegin，butneverthelessyetaskedhetheircounselinthismatter.asurgeon，bylicenceandassentofsuchaswerewise，uprose，andtomeliboeussaidasyemayhear."sir，"quothhe，"astoussurgeonsappertaih，thatwedotoeverywightthebestthatwecan，whereaswebewithholden，[employed]andtoourpatientthatwedonodamage;whereforeithappehmanyatimeandoft，thatwhentwomenhavewoundedeachother，onesamesurgeonhealeththemboth;whereforeuntoourartitisnotpertinenttonursewar，norpartiestosupport[takesides].butcertes，astothewarishing[healing]ofyourdaughter，albeitsothatperilouslyshebewounded，weshalldosoattentivebusinessfromdaytonight，that，withthegraceofgod，sheshallbewholeandsound，assoonasispossible."alstrightinthesamewisethephysiciansanswered，savethattheysaidafewwordsre:thatrightasmaladiesbecuredbytheircontraries，rightsoshallmanwarishwar（bypeace）.hisneighboursfullofenvy，hisfeignedfriendsthatseemedreconciled，andhisflatterers，madesemblanceofweeping，ed[aggravated]muchofthismatter，reatlymeliboeusofmight，ofpower，ofriches，andoffriends，despisingthepowerofhisadversaries:andsaidutterly，thatheanonshouldwreakhinhisfoes，andbeginwar.

uprosethenanadvocatethatwaswise，byleaveandbycounselofotherthatwerewise，andsaid，"lordings，theneed[business]forwhichwebeassembledinthisplace，isafullheavything，andanhighmatter，becauseofthewrongandofthewickednessthathathbeendone，andekebyreasonofthegreatdamagesthatintimeingbepossibletofallforthesamecause，andekebyreasonofthegreatrichesandpowerofthepartiesboth;forwhichreasons，itwereafullgreatperiltoerrinthismatter.wherefore，meliboeus，thisisoursentence[opinion];wecounselyou，aboveallthings，thatrightanonthoudothydiligenceinkeepingofthybody，insuchawisethatthouwantnoespynorwatchthybodytosave.andafterthat，wecounselthatinthinehousethousetsufficientgarrison，sothattheymayaswellthybodyasthyhousedefend.but，certes，tovewarorsuddenlytodovengeance，wemaynotdeem[judge]insolittletimethatitwereprofitable.whereforeweaskleisureandspacetohavedeliberationinthiscasetodeem;forthenproverbsaiththus;hethatsoondeemethsoonshallrepent.andekemensay，thatthatjudgeiswise，thatsoonunderstandethamatter，andjudgethbyleisure.foralbeitsothatalltarryingbeannoying，algates[nevertheless]itisnoreproof[subjectforreproach]ingivingofjudgement，norinvengeancetaking，whenitissufficientand，reasonable.andthatshewedourlordjesuschristbyexample;forwhenthatthewomanthatwastakeninadulterywasbroughtinhispresencetoknowwhatshouldbedonewithherperson，albeitthathewistwellhimselfwhathewouldanswer，yetwouldhenotanswersuddenly，buthewouldhavedeliberation，andinthegroundhewrotetwice.andbythesecausesweaskdeliberationandweshallthenbythegraceofgodcounselthethingthatshallbeprofitable.

upstartedthentheyoungfolkanonatonce，andthestpartofthatpanyhavescornedtheseoldwisemenandbeguntomakenoiseandsaid，"rightaswhilethatironishotmenshouldsmite，rightsomenshouldwreaktheirwrongswhilethattheybefreshandnew:"andwithloudvoicetheycried."war!war!"uprosethenoneoftheseoldwise，andwithhishandmadecountenance[asign，gesture]thatmenshouldholdthemstill，andgivehimaudience."lordings，"quothhe，"thereisfullmanyamanthatcrieth，war!war!thatwotfulllittlewhatwaraunteth.warathisbeginninghathsogreatanenteringandsolarge，thateverywightmayenterwhenhimliketh，andlightly[easily]findwar:butcerteswhatendshallfallthereofitisnotlighttoknow.forsoothlywhenwarisoncebegun，thereisfullmanyachildunbornofhisther，thatshallsterve[die]youngbycauseofthatwar，orelseliveinsorrowanddieinwretchedness;andtherefore，erethatanywarbebegun，menmusthavegreatcounselandgreatdeliberation."andwhenthisoldmanweened[thought，intended]toenforcehistalebyreasons，well-nighallatoncebegantheytorisefortobreakhistale，andbidhimfullofthiswordsabridge.forsoothlyhethatpreachethtothemthatlistnothearhiswords，hissernthemannoyeth.forjesussirachsaith，thatmusicinweepingisanoyous[troublesome]thing.thisistosay，asmuchavailethtospeakbeforefolktowhomhisspeechannoyeth，astosingbeforehimthatweepeth.andwhenthiswisemansawthathimwantedaudience，allshamefasthesathimdownagain.forsolonsaith，whereasthoumayesthavenoaudience，enforcetheenottospeak."iseewell，"quoththiswiseman，"thatthenproverbissooth，thatgoodcounselwanteth，whenitisstneed."yet[besides，further]hadthismeliboeusinhiscouncilmanyfolk，thatprivilyinhisearcounselledhimcertainthing，andcounselledhimthecontraryingeneralaudience.orded[inagreement]thatheshouldmakewar，anonheconsentedtotheircounselling，andfullyaffirmedtheirsentence[opinion，judgement]

（dameprudence，seeingherhusbandsreso露tionthustaken，infullhumblewise，whenshesawhertime，beginstocounselhimagainstwar，byawarningagainsthasteinrequitalofeithergoodorevil.meliboeustellsherthathewillnotworkbyhercounsel，becauseheshouldbeheldafoolifherejectedforheradvicetheopinionofsomanywisemen;becauseallwomenarebad;becauseitwouldseemthathehadgivenherthemasteryoverhim;andbecauseshecouldnotkeephissecret，ifheresolvedtofollowheradvice.tothesereasonsprudenceanswersthatitisnofollytochangecounselwhenthings，ormensjudgementsofthem，change—especiallytoalterareso露tiontakenontheimpulseofagreatmultitudeoffolk，whereeverymancriethandclatterethwhathimliketh;thatifallwomenhadbeenwicked，jesuschristwouldneverhavedescendedtobebornofawoman，norhaveshowedhimselffirsttoawomanafterhisresurrectionandthatwhensolonsaidhehadfoundnogoodwoman，hemeantthatgodalonewassupremelygood;

thatherhusbandwouldnotseemtogiveherthemasterybyfollowinghercounsel，forhehadhisownfreechoiceinfollowingorrejecit;andthatheknewwellandhadoftentestedhergreatsilence，patience，andsecrecy.andwhereashehadquotedasaying，thatinwickedcounselwomenvanquishmen，sheremindshimthatshewouldcounselhimagainstdoingawickednessonwhichhehadsethismind，andcitesinstancestoshowthatmanywomenhavebeenandyetarefullgood，andtheircounselwholesomeandprofitable.lastly，shequotesthewordsofgodhimself，whenhewasabouttomakewomanasanhelpmeetforman;andpromisesthat，ifherhusbandwilltrusthercounsel，shewillrestoretohimhisdaughterwholeandsound，andmakehimhavehonourinthiscase.meliboeusanswersthatbecauseofhiswifessweetwords，andalsobecausehehasprovedandassayedhergreatwisdomandhergreattruth，hewillgovernhimbyhercounselinallthings.thusencouraged，prudenceentersonalongdiscourse，fulloflearnedcitations，regardingthemannerinwhichcounsellorsshouldbechosenandconsulted，andthetimesandreasonsforchangingacounsel.first，godmustbebesoughtforguidance.thenamanmustwellexaminehisownthoughts，ofsuchthingsasheholdstobebestforhisownprofit;drivingoutofhisheartanger，covetousness，andhastiness，whichperturbandpervertthejudgement.thenhemustkeephiscounselsecret，unlessconfidingittoanothershallbereprofitable;but，insoconfidingit，heshallsaynothintobiasthemindofthecounsellortowardflatteryorsubserviency.afterthatheshouldconsiderhisfriendsandhisenemies，choosingoftheformersuchasbestfaithfulandwise，andeldestandstapprovedincounselling;andevenoftheseonlyafew.thenhemusteschewthecounsellingoffools，offlatterers，ofhisoldenemiesthatbereconciled，ofservantswhobearhimgreatreverenceandfear，offolkthatbedrunkenandcanhidenocounsel，ofsuchascounselohingprivilyandthecontraryopenly;andofyoungfolk，fortheircounsellingisnotripe.then，inexamininghiscounsel，hemusttrulytellhistale;hemustconsiderwhetherthethingheproposestodobereasonable，withinhispower，eptabletotherepartandthebetterpartofhiscounsellors;hemustlookatthethingsthatmayfollowfromthatcounselling，choosingthebestandwaivingallbesides;hemustconsidertherootwhencethematterofhiscounselisengendered，whatfruitsitmaybear，andfromwhatcausestheybesprung.andhavingthusexaminedhiscounselandapproveditbymanywisefolkandold，heshallconsiderifhemayperformitandmakeofitagoodend;ifhebeindoubt，heshallchooserathertosufferthantobegin;butotherwiseheshallprosecutehisreso露tionsteadfastlytilltheenterprisebeatanend.astochanginghiscounsel，amanmaydosowithoutreproach，ifthecausecease，orwhenanewcasebetides，orifhefindthatbyerrororotherwiseharrdamagemayresult，orifhiscounselbedishonestoreofdishonestcause，orifitbeimpossibleormaynotproperlybekept;andhemusttakeitforageneralrule，thateverycounselwhichisaffirmedsostrongly，thatitmaynotbechangedforanyconditionthatmaybetide，thatcounseliswicked.meliboeus，admitthathiswifehadspokenwellandsuitablyastocounsellorsandcounselingeneral，prayshertotellhiminespecialwhatshethinksofthecounsellorswhomtheyhavechosenintheirpresentneed.prudencerepliesthathiscounselinthiscasecouldnotproperlybecalledacounselling，butavementoffolly;andpointsoutthathehaserredinsundrywiseagainsttheruleswhichhehadjustlaiddown.granthathehaserred，meliboeussaysthatheisallreadytochangehiscounselrightasshewilldevise;for，astheproverbruns，todosinishuman，buttoperseverelonginsinisworkofthedevil.prudencethenminutelyrecites，analyses，andcriticisesthecounselgiventoherhusbandintheassemblyofhisfriends.shemendstheadviceofthephysiciansandsurgeons，andurgesthattheyshouldbewellrewardedfortheirnoblespeechandtheirservicesinhealingsophia;andsheasksmeliboeushowheunderstandstheirpropositionthatonecontrarymustbecuredbyanothercontrary.meliboeusanswers，thatheshoulddovengeanceonhisenemies，whohaddonehimwrong.prudence，however，insiststhatvengeanceisnotthecontraryofvengeance，norwrongofwrong，butthelike;andthatwickednessshouldbehealedbygoodness，ord，warbypeace.sheproceedstodealwiththecounselofthelawyersandwisefolkthatadvisedmeliboeustotakeprudentmeasuresforthesecurityofhisbodyandofhishouse.first，shewouldhaveherhusbandprayfortheprotectionandaidofchrist;thenmitthekeepingofhispersontohistruefriends;thensuspectandavoidallstrangefolk，andliars，andsuchpeopleasshehadalreadywarnedhimagainst;thenbewareofpresumingonhisstrength，ortheweaknessofhisadversary，andneglectoguardhisperson—foreverywisemandreadethhisenemy;thenheshouldeverrebeonthewatchagainstambushandallespial，eveninwhatseemsaplaceofsafety;thoughheshouldnotbesocowardly，astofearwhereisnocausefordread;yetheshoulddreadtobepoisoned，andtherefores混♂scorners，andflytheirwordsasvenoastothefortificationofhishouse，shepointsoutthattowersandgreatedificesarecostlyandlaborious，yetuselessunlessdefendedbytruefriendsthatbeoldandwise;andthegreatestandstrongestgarrisonthatarichmanmayhave，aswelltokeephispersonashisgoods，is，thathebebelovedbyhissubjectsandbyhisneighbours.warmlyapprovingthecounselthatinallthisbusinessmeliboeusshouldproceedwithgreatdiligenceanddeliberation，prudencegoesontoexamiheadvicegivenbyhisneighboursthatdohimreverencewithoutlove，hisoldenemiesreconciled，hisflatterersthatcounselledhimcertainthingsprivilyandopenlycounselledhimthecontrary，andtheyoungfolkthatcounselledhimtoavengehimselfandmakewaratonce.sheremindshimthathestandsaloneagainstthreepowerfulenemies，whosekindredarenumerousandclose，whilehisarefewerandreteinrelationship;thatonlythejudgewhohasjurisdictioninacasemaytakesuddenvengeanceonanyman;ordwithhisdesire;andthat，ifhedidtakevengeance，itwouldonlybreedfreshwrongsandcontests.astothecausesofthewrongdoohim，sheholdsthatgod，thecauserofallthings，haspermittedhimtosufferbecausehehasdrunksomuchhoney

ofsweettemporalriches，anddelights，andhonoursofthisworld，thatheisdrunken，andhasforgottenjesuschristhissaviour;thethreeenemiesofmankind，theflesh，thefiend，andtheworld，haveenteredhishearbythewindowsofhisbody，andwoundedhissoulinfiveplaces—thatistosay，thedeadlysinsthathaveenteredintohisheartbythefivesenses;andinthesamemannerchristhassufferedhisthreeenemiestoenterhishousebythewindows，andwoundhisdaughterinthefiveplacesbeforespecified.meliboeudemurs，thatifhiswifesobjectionsprevailed，vengeancewouldneverbetaken，andthencegreatmischiefswouldarise;butprudencerepliesthatthetakingofvengeancelieswiththejudges，towhomtheprivateindividualmusthaverecourse.meliboeusdeclaresthatsuchvengeancedoesnotpleasehim，andthat，asfortunehasnourishedandhelpedhimfromhischildhood，hewillnowassayher，trus，withgodshelp，thatshewillaidhimtoavengehisshame.prudencewarnshimagainsttrustofortune，allthelessbecauseshehashithertofavouredhim，ountsheistherelikelytofailhim;andshecallsonhimtoleavehisvengeancewiththesovereignjudge，thatavengethallvillainiesandwrongs.meliboeusarguesthatifherefrainsfromtakingvengeancehewillinvitehisenemiestodohimfurtherwrong，andhewillbeputandheldoverlow;butprudencecontendsthatsucharesultcanbebroughtaboutonlybytheneglectofthejudges，notbythepatienceoftheindividual.supposingthathehadleavetoavengehimself，sherepeatsthatheisnotstrongenough，andquotesthensaw，thatitismadnessforamantostrivewithastrongerthanhimself，periltostrivewithoneofequalstrength，andfollytostrivewithaweaker.but，consideringhisowndefaultsanddemerits，—rememberingthepatienceofchristandtheundeservedtribulationsofthesaints，thebrevityofthislifewithallitstroubleandsorrow，thediscreditthrownonthewisdomandtrainingofamanwhocannotbearwrongwithpatience—heshouldrefrainwhollyfromtakingvengeance.meliboeussubmitsthatheisnotatallaperfectman，andhisheartwillneverbeatpeaceuntilheisavenged;andthatashisenemiesdisregardedtheperilwhentheyattackedhim，sohemight，withoutreproach，incursomeperilinattackingtheminreturn，eventhoughhedidagreatexcessinavengingonewrongbyanother.prudencestronglydeprecatesalloutrageorexcess;butmeliboeusinsiststhathecannotseethatitmightgreatlyharmhimthoughhetookavengeance，forheisricherandmightierthanhisenemies，andallthingsobeyney.prudencethereuponlaunchesintoalongdissertationontheadvantagesofriches，theevilsofpoverty，themeansbywhichwealthshouldbegathered，andthemannerinwhichitshouldbeused;andconc露desbycounsellingherhusbandnottovewarandbattlethroughtrustinhisriches，fortheysufficenottomaintainwar，thebattleisnotalwaystothestrongorthenumerous，andtheperilsofconflictaremany.meliboeusthencurtlyasksherforhercounselhowheshalldointhisneed;andsheanswersthatcertainlyshecounselshimtoagreewithhisadversariesandhavepeacewiththemeliboeusonthiscriesoutthatplainlyshelovesnothishonourorhisworship，incounsellinghimtogoandhumblehimselfbeforehisenemies，cryingmercytothemthat，havingdonehimsogrievouswrong，askhimnottobereconciled.thenprudence，makingsemblanceofwrath，retortsthatsheloveshishonourandprofitasshelovesherown，andeverhasdone;shecitesthescripturesinsupportofhercounseltoseekpeace;andsaysshewillleavehimtohisowncourses，forsheknowswellheissostubborn，thathewilldonothingforher.meliboeusthenrelents;admitsthatheisangryandcannotjudgearight;andputshimselfwhollyinherhands，promisingtodojustasshedesires，andadmitthatheisthereheldtoloveandpraiseher，ifshereproveshifhisfolly）

thendameprudencediscoveredallhercounselandherwil露ntohim，andsaid:"icounselyou，"quothshe，"aboveallthings，thatyemakepeacebetweengodandyou，andbereconcileduntohimandtohisgrace;for，asihavesaidtoyouherebefore，godhathsufferedyoutohavethistribulationanddisease[distress，trouble]foryoursins;andifyedoasisayyou，godwillsendyouradversariesuntoyou，andmakethemfallatyourfeet，readytodoyourwillandyourmandment.forsolonsaith，whentheconditionofmanispleasantandlikingtogod，hechangeththeheartsofthemansadversaries，andconstraihthemtobeseechhifpeaceofgrace.andiprayyouletmespeakwithyouradversariesinprivyplace，fortheyshallnotknowitisbyyourwilloryourassent;andthen，wheniknowtheirwillandtheirintent，imaycounselyoutheresurely.""dame，"quothmeliboeus，"doyourwillandyourliking，foriputmewhollyinyourdispositionandordinance."

thendameprudence，whenshesawthegoodwillofherhusband，deliberatedandtookadviceinherself，thinkinghowshemightbringthisneed[affair，emergency]untoagoodend.andwhenshesawhertime，shesentfortheseadversariestoeintoherintoaprivyplace，andshowedwiselyintothemthegreatgoodsthateofpeace，andthegreatharmsandperilsthatbeinwar;andsaidtothem，ingoodlymanner，howthattheyoughthavegreatrepentanceoftheinjuriesandwrongsthattheyhaddoomeliboeusherlord，anduntoherandherdaughter.andwhentheyheardthegoodlywordsofdameprudence，thentheyweresurprisedandravished，andhadsogreatjoyofher，thatwonderwastotell."ahlady!"quoththey，"yehaveshoweduntoustheblessingofsweetness，afterthesayingofdavidtheprophet;forthereconcilingwhichwebenotworthytohaveinnomanner，butweoughtrequireitwithgreatcontritionandhumility，yeofyourgreatgoodnesshavepresenteduntous.nowseewewell，thatthescienceandconning[knowledge]ofsolonisfulltrue;forhesaith，thatsweetwordsmultiplyandincreasefriends，andmakeshrews[theill-naturedorangry]tobedebonair[gentle，courteous]andmeek.certesweputourdeed，andallourmatterandcause，allwhollyinyourgoodwill，andbereadytoobe玉ntothespeechandmandmentofmylordmeliboeus.andtherefore，dearandbenignlady，weprayyouandbeseechyouasmeeklyaswecanandmay，thatitlikeuntoyourgreatgoodnesstofulfilindeedyourgoodlywords.forweconsiderandacknowledgethatwehaveoffendedandgrievedmylordmeliboeusoutofmeasure，sofarforththatwebenotofpowertomakehimamends;andthereforeweobligeandbindusandourfriendstodoallhiswillandhismandment.butperadventurehehathsuchheavinessandsuchwrathtousward，[towardsus]becauseofouroffence，thathewillenjoinussuchapain[penalty]aswemaynotbearnorsustain;andtherefore，noblelady，webeseechtoyourwomanlypitytotakesuchadvisement[consideration]inthisneed，thatwe，norourfriends，benotdisinheritedanddestroyedthroughourfolly."

"certes，"quothprudence，"itisanhardthing，andrightperilous，thatamanputhimal露tterlyinthearbitrationandjudgementandinthemightandpowerofhisenemy.forsolonsaith，believeme，andgivecredencetothatthatishallsay:tothyson，tothywife，tothyfriend，nortothybrother，givethounevermightnormasteryoverthybody，whilethoulivest.now，sincehedefendeth[forbiddeth]thatamanshouldnotgivetohisbrother，nortohisfriend，themightofhisbody，byastrongerreasonhedefendethandforbiddethamantogivehimselftohisenemy.andnevertheless，icounselyouthatyemistrustnotmylord:foriwotwellandknowverily，thatheisdebonairandmeek，large，courteousandnothingdesirousnorenviousofgoodnorriches:forthereisnothinginthisworldthathedesirethsaveonlyworshipandhonour.furtherreiknowwell，andamrightsure，thatheshallnothingdointhisneedwithoutcounselofme;andishallsoworkinthiscase，thatbythegraceofourlordgodyeshallbereconcileduntous."

thensaidtheywithonevoice，""worshipfullady，weputusandourgoodsallfullyinyourwillanddisposition，andbereadytoe，whatdaythatitlikeuntoyournoblenesstolimitusorassignus，fortomakeourobligationandbond，asstrongasitliket混♂toyourgoodness，thatwemayfulfilthewillofyouandofmylordmeliboeus."

whendameprudencehadheardtheanswerofthesemen，shebadethemgoagainprivily，andshereturnedtoherlordmeliboeus，andtoldhimhowshefoundhisadversariesfullrepentant，acknowledgingfulllowlytheirsinsandtrespasses，andhowtheywerereadytosufferallpain，requiringandprayinghifmercyandpity.thensaidmeliboeus，"heiswellworthytohavepardonandforgivenessofhissin，thatexcusethnothissin，butacknowledgeth，andrepentethhim，askingindulgence.forsenecasaith，thereistheremissionandforgiveness，wheretheconfessionis;forconfessionisneighbourtoinnocence.andthereforeiassentandconfirmmetohavepeace，butitisgoodthatwedonaughtwithouttheassentandwillofourfriends."thenwasprudencerightgladandjoyful，andsaid，"certes，sir，yebewellandgoodlyadvised;forrightasbythecounsel，assent，andhelpofyourfriendsyehavebeenstirredtoavengeyouandmakewar，ordyou，norhavepeacewithyouradversaries.forthelawsaith，thereisnothingsogoodbywayofkind，[nature]asathingtobeunboundbyhimthatitwasbound."

andthendameprudence，withoutdelayortarrying，sentanonhermessengersfortheirkinandfortheiroldfriends，whichweretrueandwise;andtoldthembyorder，inthepresenceofmeliboeus，allthismatter，asitisaboveexpressedanddeclared;andprayedthemthattheywouldgivetheiradviceandcounselwhatwerebesttodointhisneed.andwhenmeliboeusfriendshadtakentheiradviceanddeliberationoftheforesaidmatter，andhadexamineditbygreatbusinessandgreatdiligence，theygavefullcounselfortohavepeaceandrest，andthatmeliboeusshouldwithgoodheartreceivehisadversariestoforgivenessandmercy.andwhendameprudencehadheardtheassentofherlordmeliboeus，andthecounselofhisfriends，aordwithherwillandherintention，shewaswondrousgladinherheart，andsaid:"thereisanoldproverbthatsaith，thegoodnessthatthoumayestdothisday，doit，andabidenotnordelayitnottillto-rrow:andthereforeicounselyouthatyesendyourmessengers，suchasbediscreetandwise，untoyouradversaries，tellingthenyourbehalf，ord，thattheyshape[prepare]them，withoutdelayortarrying，toeuntous."whichthingperformedwasindeed.andwhenthesetrespassersandrepenfolkoftheirfollies，thatistosay，theadversariesofmeliboeus，hadheardwhatthesemessengerssaiduntothem，theywererightgladandjoyful，andansweredfullmeeklyandbenignly，racesandthankstotheirlordmeliboeus，andtoallhispany;andshapedthemwithoutdelaytogowiththemessengers，andobeytothemandmentoftheirlordmeliboeus.andrightanontheytooktheirwaytothecourtofmeliboeus，andtookwiththemsomeoftheirtruefriends，tomakefaithforthem，andfortobetheirborrows[sureties].

andwhentheywereetothepresenceofmeliboeus，hesaidtothemthesewords;"itstandsthus，"quothmeliboeus，"andsoothitis，thatyecauseless，andwithoutskillandreason，havedonegreatinjuriesandwrongstome，andtomywifeprudence，andtomydaughteralso;foryehaveenteredintomyhousebyviolence，andhavedonesuchoutrage，thatallmenknowwellthatyehavedeservedthedeath:andthereforewilliknowandweetofyou，whetheryewillputthepunishingandchastising，andthevengeanceofthisoutrage，inthewillofmeandofmywife，oryewillnot?"thenthewisestofthemthreeansweredforthemall，andsaid;"sir，"quothhe，"weknowwell，thatwebeiunworthytoetothecourtofsogreatalordandsoworthyasyebe，forwehavesogreatlymistakenus，andhaveoffendedandaguilt[incurredguilt]insuchwiseagainstyourhighlordship，thattrulywehavedeservedthedeath.butyetforthegreatgoodnessanddebonairte[courtesy，gentleness]thatalltheworldwitnessethofyourperson，wesubmitustotheexcellenceandbenignityofyourgraciouslordship，andbereadytoobeytoallyourmandments，beseechingyou，thatofyourmerciable[merciful]pityyewillconsiderourgreatrepentanceandlowsubmission，andgrantusforgivenessofouroutrageoustrespassandoffence;forwellweknow，thatyourliberalgraceandmercystretchthemfartherintogoodness，thandoouroutrageousguiltandtrespassintowickedness;albeitthatcursedly[wickedly]anddamnablywehaveaguilt[incurredguilt]againstyourhighlordship."thenmeliboeustookthemupfromthegroundfullbenignly，andreceivedtheirobligationsandtheirbonds，bytheiroathsupontheirpledgesandborrows，[sureties]eptsentenceandjudgement，thatmeliboeuswouldmandtobedoneonthem，bythecausesaforesaid;whichthingsordained，everymanreturnedhometohishouse.