without
which no virtue may be had nor governed. But what wonder though this
virtue be late gotten, when we may not win to the perfection of
discretion without much custom and many travails of these other
affections coming before? For first behoveth us to be used in each
virtue by itself, and get the proof of them all serely,[101] ere we
may have full knowing of them all, or else can deem sufficiently of
them all. And when we use us busily in these feelings and beholdings
before said, oft times we fall and oft times we rise. Then, by our
oft falling, may we learn how much wariness us behoveth have in the
getting and keeping of these virtues. And thus sometime, by long
use, a soul is led into full discretion, and then it may joy in the
birth of Joseph. And before this virtue be conceived in a man's
soul, all that these other virtues do, it is without discretion. And
therefore, in as much as a man presumeth and enforceth him in any of
these feelings beforesaid, over his might and out of measure, in so
much the fouler he falleth and faileth of his purpose. And therefore
it is that, after them all and last, is Dinah born; for often, after
a foul fall and a failing, cometh soon shame. And thus after many
failings and failings, and shames following, a man learneth by the
proof that there is nothing better than to be ruled after counsel,
the which is the readiest getting of discretion. For why, he that
doth all things with counsel, he shall never forthink[102] it; for
better is a sly man than a strong man; yea, and better is list than
lither strength,[103] and a sly man speaketh of victories. And here
is the open skill why that neither Leah nor Zilpah nor Bilhah might
bear such a child, but only Rachel; for, as it is said before, that
of reason springeth right counsel, the which is very discretion,
understanden by Joseph, the first son of Rachel; and then at the
first bring we forth Joseph in our reason when all that we are
stirred to do, we do it with counsel. This Joseph shall not only
know what sins we are most stirred unto, but also he shall know the
weakness of our kind, and after that either asketh, so shall he do
remedy, and seek counsel at wiser than he, and do after them, or
else he is not Joseph, Jacob's son born of Rachel. And also by this
foresaid[104] Joseph a man is not only learned to eschew the deceits
of his enemies, but also oft a man is led by him to the perfect
knowing of himself; and all after that a man k