HERE BEGINNETH THE FOUR AND SEVENTIETH CHAPTER
How that the matter of this book is never more read or spoken, nor heard read or
spoken, of a soul disposed thereto without feeling of a very accordance to the
effect of the same work: and of rehearsing of the same charge that is written in
the prologue.
AND if thee think that this manner of working be not according to thy
disposition in body and in soul, thou mayest leave it and take another, safely
with good ghostly counsel without blame. And then I beseech thee that thou wilt
have me excused, for truly I would have profited unto thee in this writing at my
simple cunning; and that was mine intent. And therefore read over twice or
thrice; and ever the ofter the better, and the more thou shalt
conceive thereof. Insomuch, peradventure, that some sentence that was full hard
to thee at the first or the second reading, soon after thou shalt think it easy.
Yea! and it seemeth impossible to mine understanding, that any soul that is
disposed to this work should read it or speak it, or else hear it read or
spoken, but if that same soul should feel for that time a very accordance to the
effect of this work. And then if thee think it doth thee good, thank God
heartily, and for God's love pray for me.
Do then so. And I pray thee for God's love that thou let none see this book,
unless it be such one that thee think is like to the book; after that thou
findest written in the book before, where it telleth what men and when they
should work in this work. And if thou shalt let any such men see it, then I pray
thee that thou bid them take them time to look it all over. For peradventure
there is some matter therein in the beginning, or in the midst, the
which is hanging and not fully declared there as it standeth. But if it be not
there, it is soon after, or else in the end. And thus if a man saw one part and
not another, peradventure he should lightly be led into error: and therefore I
pray thee to work as I say thee. And if thee think that there be any matter
therein that thou wouldest have more opened than it is, let me wit which it is,
and thy conceit thereupon; and at my simple cunning it shall be amended if I
can.
Fleshly janglers, flatterers and blamers, ronkers and ronners, and all manner of
pinchers, cared I never that they saw this book: for mine intent was never to
write such thing to them. And therefore I would not that they heard it, neither
they nor none of these curious lettered nor unlearned men: yea! although they be
full good men in active living, for it accordeth not to them.
our kind sponsors.
