袋鼠小说

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。