The Booke of Thenseygnementes and Techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his Doughters/Chapter 34
THENSAMPLE OF EUE OURE FIRST MODER.
HE first ensample of euyll and of synne, wherby the deth is come and entred in to this world, cam by Eue our first moder, that lytell kepte the commaundement of god, and the worship wherin he had enhaunced and put her. For he hadde made her lady of alle thynges lyuyng that were vnder the heuen, whiche al were obeyeng to her. And yf she had not falle in to the synne of inobedyence, there had be no fysshe in the see, ne beest on therthe, ne byrde in thayer, but that they had al be vnder her obeisaunce & at her will myght haue take them, and dyuyse & haue them where someuer she wold. Also she shold haue had children without ony dolour or peyne, & neuer she shold haue had honger ne thurst, nother cold ne hete, trauaylle ne sekenesse, tristesse or heuynesse of herte, ne erthely deth. No water myght haue drouned her, ne fyre myght haue conbusced or brente her, ne glauye or wepen myght haue hurte her, no thyng myght ennoye her. Thenne loke we and thynke how a synne alone withoute ony more was cause to putt her fro thys grete honoure and worshyp and make her falle so lowe and in suche seruage. For she lost all, that is before rehercyd only for the synne of inobedyence. Loke ye wel thenne that ye kepe yow fro it, as I trust in god ye shall, remembrynge this Ensample. And knowe ye that the synne of oure first moder Eue, cam by euylle and shrewed aqueyntaunce by cause she helde parlement with the serpente, whiche as the Hystorye sayth, hadde a face ryght fayre lyke the face of a woman and spack ryght mekely. She herd hym with alle her wylle and pryuely, where inne she dyde lyke a foole. For yf at the begynnynge she hadde not herde hym, but hadde come to her lord, she hadde dyscomfyted and ouercome hym to grete shame. And soo the foole, herynge of hym, tourned her in to grete losse & damage. And therfore, my faire doughters, it is not good to here folke that ben in theyr speche blandysshynge and castynge many flaterynge wordes, for they bene fulle of decepcion. The Serpente fould Eue ferre froo her lord and allone, wherfore atte his beste leyser he shewed her his deceyuable purpos and false langage, for the whiche cause it is not good to be. alone with ony other withoute he be of his next parente or kynrede. Not withstandynge, I saye not but men may wel bere honoure to euery one after he is worthy, but men put more his honoure and worship in jeopardy and daunger by answere to moche, than by fewe and short answere, for one word bryngeth in another.