Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/148

she was diffamed, and by her brawlyng she dyd to knowe to many one that whiche they wyst ne knewe not. She resembled not to the wyse Sarra, whiche made no grete ansuere to the wordes of her godsep. For otherwhyle one put hym self fro his good ryght by his owne wordes in to grete wronge. And also dishonest thynge is to ony gentylle womä to braule with ony man, wherfor I shalle telle yow thexample of the propriete of certayne beestes. Loke and behold these grete dogges that men calle mastyns: they shalle barke and shewe theyr tethe, but a gentylle dogge shalle not do so. And also in lyke wyse shold be of the gentylle men and wymmen, wherfore I shalle reherce to yow thexample of themperour of Constantynople, whiche was a man moche felon and cruel, but neuer he chydde to no body. It byfell ones that he founde his two doughters chydynge and brawlynge to gyder, wherfore he wold bete them, but the quene wente bytwene hym & them. And thenne sayd themperour that none gentyll herte shold neuer chyde ne say ony vylony, for by the courage and herte ben the gentylmen knowen fro the other. For he is a chorle and a vylayne that of his mouthe sayth ony vylonye. And therfore they that haue pacyence and saye no vylonye, shewen theyr gentyll courage and noblesse. And for certayne oftyme hit befelle that one fowle word spoken engendreth other suche wordes, whiche afterward bereth shame and dishonour. And therfore, my fayre doughters, take ye here good ensample, for the foole whiche is of hyghe courage shalle saye moche euylle, and thynges that neuer were thougt, for to auenge his grete yre. And also ought wel euery good woman to kepe her self that she nothynge ansuere to her lord before the folke for many causes, for in holdynge her pees she may have and receyue but grete worship, and yf she answere hym she shalle haue the euylle wylle of her husbond, wherof no good may come to her, but grete shame and dishonour.