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Previous: From The Tale of Melibee, paragraph 60-62: Prudence explains that wealth and richness should be used wisely |
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© Librarius All rights reserved. |
| § 63 After that dame Prudence hadde spoken in this manere, Melibee answerde, and seyde: "I see wel, Dame Prudence, that by youre faire wordes, and by youre resouns that ye han shewed me, that the werre liketh yow no thyng; but I have nat yet herd youre conseil, how I shal do in this nede." | § 63 After Dame Prudence had spoken in this manner, Melibee answered and said, "I see well, dame Prudence, that by your fair words and by your reasons that you have showed me, that the war not at all pleases you; but I have not yet heard your advice, how I shall act in this urgent matter." |
| § 64 "Certes," quod she, "I conseille yow that ye accorde with youre adversaries and that ye have pees with hem. For Seint Jame seith in his Epistles that 'by concord and pees the smale richesses wexen grete, and by debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen doun.' And ye knowen wel that oon of the gretteste and moost sovereyn thyng that is in this world is unytee and pees. And therfore seyde oure lord Jhesu Crist to his apostles in this wise: 'wel happy and blessed been they that loven and purchacen pees, for they been called children of god.'" | § 64 "Certainly," said she, "I advise you that you agree with your adversaries and that you have peace with them. For Saint James says in his Epistles that `by agreeent and peace the small riches become great, and by debate and discord the great riches fall down.' And you know well that one of the greatest and most excellent things that is in this world is unity and peace. And therefore said our Lord Jesus Christ to his apostles in this manner: `Well happy and blessed are they that love and bring about peace, for they are called children of God.'" |
| § 65 "A," quod Melibee, "now se I wel that ye loven nat myn honour ne my worshipe. Ye knowen wel that myne adversaries han bigonnen this debaat and bryge by hire outrage, and ye se wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat of pees, ne they asken nat to be reconsiled. Wol ye thanne that I go and meke me and obeye me to hem, and crie hem mercy? For sothe, that were nat my worshipe. For right as men seyn that 'over-greet hoomlynesse engendreth dispreisynge,' so fareth it by to greet hymylitee or mekenesse." | § 65 "A," said Melibee, "now see I well that you love not my honour nor my worthiness. You know well that my adversaries have begun this debate and strife by their outrage, and you see well that they neither require nor pray me for peace, nor they ask not to be reconciled. Will you then that I go and humble myself, and be subject to them, and beg them for mercy? Indeed, that would not be to my honour. For just as men say that `over-great familiarity engenders contempt,' so fares it by too great humility or meekness." |
| § 66 Thanne bigan dame Prudence to maken semblant of wratthe, and seyde: "certes, sire, sauf youre grace, I love youre honour and youre profit as I do myn owene, and evere have doon; ne ye, ne noon oother, seyn nevere the contrarie. And yit if I hadde seyd that ye sholde han purchaced the pees and the reconsilacioun, I ne hadde nat muchel mystaken me, ne seyd amys. For the wise man seith, 'the dissensioun bigynneth by another man, and the reconsilyng bygynneth by thyself.' And the prophete seith, 'flee shrewednesse and do goodnesse; seke pees and folwe it, as muchel as in thee is.' Yet seye I nat that ye shul rather pursue to youre adversaries for pees than they shuln to yow. For I knowe wel that ye been so hard-herted that ye wol do no thyng for me. And Salomon seith, 'he that hath over-hard an herte, atte laste he shal myshappe and mystyde.' | § 66 Then began dame Prudence to make the outward appearance of wrath and said: "Certainly, sir, with all due respect to you, I love your honour and your well-being as I do my own, and ever have done; nor you, nor any other, can say never the contrary. And yet if I had said that you should have brought about the peace and the reconciliation, I had not much mistaken me nor said amiss. For the wise man says, `The dissension begins by another man, And the prophet says, `Flee shrewdness and do goodness; seek peace and follow it, as much as in thee is.'Yet say I not that you should rather sue to your adversaries for peace than they should (offer peace) to you. For I know well that you are so hard-hearted that you will do nothing for me. And Solomon says, `He that has over-hard a heart, at the last he shall have bad luck and suffer misfortune.'" |
| § 67 Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence maken semblant of wratthe, he seyde in this wise: "dame, I prey yow that ye be nat displesed of thynges that I seye, for ye knowe wel that I am angrey and wrooth, and that is no wonder; and they that been wrothe witen nat wel what they don, ne what they seyn. Therfore the prophete seith that 'troubled eyen han no cleer sighte.' But seyeth and conseileth me as yow liketh, for I am redy to do right as ye wol desire; and if ye repreve me of my folye, I am the moore holden to love yow and to preyse yow. For Salomon seith that 'he that repreveth hym that dooth folye, he shal fynde gretter grace than he that deceyveth hym by sweete wordes.'" | § 67 When Melibee had heard dame Prudence make the appearance of wrath, he said in this manner: "Dame, I pray you that you be not displeased by things that I say, for you know well that I am angry and wrathful, and that is no wonder; and they that are wrathful know not well what they do nor what they say. Therefore the prophet says that `troubled eyes have no clear sight.' But say and advise me as you like, for I am ready to do just as you will desire; and if you reprove me for my folly, I am the more obligated to love you and to praise you. For Solomon says that `he that reproves him who does folly, he shall find greater grace than he who deceives him by sweet words.'" |
| § 68 Thanne seide dame Prudence, "I make no semblant of wratthe ne anger, but for youre grete profit. For Salomon seith, 'he is moore worth that repreveth or chideth a fool for his folye, shewynge hym semblant of wratthe, than he that supporteth hym and preyseth hym in his mysdoynge, and laugheth at his folye.' And this same Salomon seith afterward that 'by the sorweful visage of a man, 'that is to seyn by the sory and hevy contenaunce of a man, 'the fool correcteth and amendeth hymself.'" | § 68 Then said dame Prudence, "I make no outward appearance of wrath nor anger, but for your great advantage. For Solomon says, `He is more worthy that reproves or chides a fool for his folly, showing him the outward appearance of wrath, than he who supports him and praises him in his misdoing and laughs at his folly.' And this same Solomon says afterward that `by the sorrowful visage of a man,' that is to say by the sorry and heavy countenance of a man, `the fool corrects and amends himself.'" |
| § 69 Thanne seyde Melibee, "I shal nat koone answere to so manye faire resouns as ye putten to me and shewen. Seyeth shorthly youre wyl and youre conseil, and I am al redy to fulfille and parfourne it." | § 69 Then said Melibee, "I shall not know how to answer to so many fair reasons as you set forth and show to me. Say shortly your will and your advice, and I am all ready to fulfill and perform it." |
| § 70 Thanne dame Prudence discovered al hir wyl to hym, and seyde, "I conseille yow," quod she, "aboven alle thynges, that ye make pees bitwene God and yow; and beth reconsiled unto hym and to his grace. For, as I have seyd yow heer biforn, God hath suffred yow to have this tribulacioun and disese for youre synnes. And if ye do as I sey yow, God wol sende youre adversaries unto yow, and maken hem fallen at youre feet, redy to do youre wyl and youre comande mentz. For Salomon seith, 'whan the condicioun of man is plesaunt and likynge to god, he chaungeth the hertes of the mannes adversaries and constreyneth hem to biseken hym of pees and of grace.' And I prey yow lat me speke with youre adversaries in privee place; for they shul nat knowe that it be of youre wyl or of youre adsent. And thanne, whan I knowe hir wil and hire entente, I may conseille yow the moore seurely. | § 70 Then dame Prudence uncovered all her will to him and said, "I advise you," said she, "above all things , that you make peace between God and you, and are reconciled unto him and to his grace. For, as I have said to you here before this, God has allowed you to have this tribulation and suffering for your sins. And if you do as I tell you, God will send your adversaries unto you and make them fall at your feet, ready to do your will and your commandments. For Solomon says, `When the condition of man is pleasant and pleasing to God, he changes the hearts of the man's adversaries and constrains them to beseech him for peace and for grace.' And I pray you let me speak with your adversaries in a private place, for they must not know that it is of your will or of your assent. And then, when I know their will and their intent, I can advise you the more surely." |
| § 71 "Dame," quod Melibee, "dooth youre wil and youre likynge; for I putte me hoolly in youre disposicioun and ordinaunce." | § 71 "Dame," said Melibee, "do your will and your pleasure; for I put me wholly in your disposition and ordinance." |
| § 72 Thanne dame Prudence, whan she saugh the goode wyl of hir housbonde, delibered and took avys in hirself, thinkinge how she myghte brynge this nede unto a good conclusioun and to a good ende. And whan she saugh hir tyme, she sente for thise adversaries to come unto hire into a pryvee place, and shewed wisely unto hem the grete goodes that comen of pees, and the grete harmes and perils that been in werre; and seyde to hem in a goodly manere hou that hem oughten have greet repentaunce of the injurie and wrong that they hadden doon to Melibee hir lord, and unto hire, and to hire doghter. | § 72 Then dame Prudence, when she saw the good will of her husband, considered and pondered in herself, thinking how she might bring this urgent matter unto a good conclusion and to a good end. And when she saw her time, she sent for these adversaries to come unto her into a private place and showed wisely unto them the great goods that come of peace and the great harms and dangers that are in war, and said to them in a goodly manner how that they ought to have great repentance for the injury and wrong that they had done to Melibee her lord, and unto her, and to her daughter. |
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Next: From The Tale of Melibee, paragraph 73-76: Prudence secretly talks to the enemies of her husband |
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