The Booke of Thenseygnementes and Techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his Doughters/Chapter 60
HOW NO WOMAN OUGHT TO CHYDEN OR BRAWLE WITH FOLK WHICHE BEN BRAYNLES.
SHALLE reherce and telle vnto yow another ensample of a lady whiche was named Sarra, of the whiche ye haue wel herd to fore, how she had seuen husbondes, the whiche al seuen the deuylle slewe by cause they wold haue vsed her in vntrewe maryage. And also how her godsep repreued her of that none of her husbondes myght abyde with her. But the good lady that sawe that this foole wold chyde with her, sayd moche humbly and as sage and wyse, "Fayre frend, to the, neyther to me, apperteyneth not to speke of the jugementes of god," and nothynge more she sayd to her. She resembled not to the doughter of a Senatour of Rome, whiche was so felon & so hyghe of herte that she dyd chyde in playn strete with one of her neyghbours. And so moche grewe & went vp her wordes that the other sayd to her that she was not hole ne clene of body, wherof befelle that this word wente so fer, were it trouthe or lesynge, that she therby lost her maryage. Therfor it is grete folye to euery woman to chyde ne ansuere folkes that ben fooles and cruels of theyr tongue, wherof I shalle telle yow an ensample that I sawe of a gentyll womā that brawled with a man that had an euylle heed. I sayd vnto her, "My lady, I praye yow that ye answere not this foole, for he is well shapen to saye more euylle than good." She wold not byleue me, but chyd more than she dyd to fore, sayenge to hym that he was nought. And he ansuerd to her that he was as good for a man as she was for a woman. And so ferforth wente theyr wordes that he sayd for certayne he wyste and knewe wel a man that dyd kysse her bothe daye and nyght whanne that he wold. And thenne I called her a syde and told her that it was but folye to take hede to the wordes of a foole and to answere and speke with hym. The wordes were foule and dishonest, and herd of many one, wherfore 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.