1   In a cle&yogh;y ston shal ben stoned the slowe; and alle shuln speke of the grete dispising of hym. 2   Of the drit of oxen stoned is the slowe; and eche that toucheth hym, shal shaken out hondes. 3   The confusioun of the fader is of the vndisciplyned sone; forsothe a fool do&yogh;tir in gret mynushing shal be. 4   A prudent do&yogh;tir eritage to hir husbonde; for she that confoundith, in repref is mad of the

getere. 5   The fader and man she fool hardi confoundeth, and of the vnpitous man she shal not be lassid; of either forsothe she shal be vnwrshipid. 6   Melodie in weiling vnkouenable telling; scourges and doctrine in alle tyme wisdam. 7   Who techeth a fool, as that glueth togidere a sherd. 8   He that telleth a wrd to the not herende, as that rereth a slepende man fro an heuy slep. 9   With the slepende he speketh, that telleth to the fool wisdam; and in the ende of the telling he shal sey, Who is this? 10   Ouer the deade weepe thou, forsothe the li&yogh;t of hym failede; and ouer the fool weepe thou, forsothe he failede wit. 11   A litil weep vp on the deade, for he restede. 12   Forsothe of the most wicke most wicke lif, on the deth of a fool. 13   The weiling of the deade seuene da&yogh;es; of the fooll forsothe and of the vnpitous alle the da&yogh;es of the lif of hem. 14   With a fool ne speke thou myche, and with a mys felende go thou not awey. 15   Kep thee fro hym, that thou haue not greef; and thou shalt not ben defoulid in the synne of hym. 16   Boowe awei fro hym, and thou shalt finde reste; and thou shalt not be maad sorewi slo&yogh; in the folie of hym. 17   Ouer leed what shal ben heuy? and what othir name to hym than a fool? 18   Li&yogh;tere is to bern grauel, and salt, and a gobet of iren, than an inprudent man, and a fool, and vnpitous. 19   As ioynyng of tres, bounde togidere to the foundement of the bilding, shal not ben vnloosid, so and the herte fastned togidere in the thenking of counseil. 20   The thenking of the wel felende in alle tyme, or drede, shal not be beshrewid. 21   As chaf in he&yogh;e thingus, and morter withoute due cost, sett a&yogh;en the face of the wynd, shul not abide; 22   so and the dredeful herte in the thenking of a fool a&yogh;en the bure of drede a&yogh;en stont not. 23   As grauely enournyng

in a bri&yogh;t wal, so and the tremblende herte in the thenking of a fool, alle time he shal not dreden; so and that in the hestis of God abit stille euermor. 24   The prickende the e&yogh;e leteth out teres; and that pricketh the herte, bringeth forth wit. 25   Throwende a ston in to foules, `schal throwe hem doun; so and that putteth reprof to a frend, looseth frenshipe. 26   To the frend and if thou bringe forth a swerd, thou shalt not dispeiren; ther is forsothe a&yogh;eengoyng to a frend. 27   If he shul opene a drery mouth, ne drede thou; ther is forsothe acording, out take putting to of vice, and dispit, and pride, and openyng of priuyte, and treccherous veniaunce; in alle these thingus shal flee awei a frend. 28   Feith welde thou with a frend `in the porenesse of hym, that and in the goodis of hym thou glade. 29   In tyme of tribulacioun of hym abid stille to hym feithful, that and in the eritage of hym thou be togidere eir. 30   Biforn fir of the chymnee, moiste issue, and the smoke of fyr, is enhauncid; so and befor blod cursis, and wrongis, and thretes. 31   A frend to saluten I shal not be confoundid, and fro the face of hym I shal not hiden me; and if eueles schulen comen to me bi hym, I shal suffre. 32   Eche that shal heren, shal shonen hymself fro hym. 33   Who shal &yogh;yue to my mouth warde, and vpon my lippis a certeyn marke, that I falle not fro them, and my tunge leese me?

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