§ 46. Now comth the sinne of double tonge; swiche as speken faire biforn
folk, and wikkedly bihinde; or elles they maken semblant as though they
speke of good entencioun, or elles in game and pley, and yet they speke of
wikked entente. /
644. E. speeke (_1st time_); Hn. Hl. speke; Cm. spoke; Pt. speken; Ln.
spake.
§ 47. Now comth biwreying of conseil, thurgh which a man is defamed;
certes, unnethe may he restore the damage. /645
Now comth manace, that is an open folye; for he that ofte manaceth, he
threteth more than he may perfourne ful ofte tyme. /
Now cometh ydel wordes, that is with-outen profit of him that speketh tho
wordes, and eek of him that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been
tho that been nedelees, or with-outen entente of naturel profit. / And
al-be-it that ydel wordes been som tyme venial sinne, yet sholde men douten
hem; for we shul yeve rekeninge of hem bifore god. /