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ENGLISHT    FROM 

BOETHIUS'S 


EDITED    FROM 

THE  ADDITIONAL  MS.  10,340  IN  THE  BRITISH  MUSEUM, 

COLLATED  WITH  THE  CAMBRIDGE  UNIV.  LIBR.  MS.  li.  3.  21 

(FOR  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  TEXT  SOCIETY  IN  1868 

AND  NOW  REPRINTED) 


BY 


THE  REY,  RICHARD  MORRIS,  M.A.  LL,D. 


LONDON : 

PUBLISHT  FOR  THE  CHAUCER  SOCIETY 

BY  N.  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  57  &  59,  LUDGATE  HILL 

1886. 


gems, 

LXXVI. 


R.  CLAY   AND  SONS,    CHAUCER   PRESS,   SUNDAY. 


EDITED    FROM 

THE  ADDITIONAL  MS.  10,340  IN  THE  BKITISH  MUSEUM. 
COLLATED  WITH  THE  CAMBRIDGE  UNIV.  LIBR.  MS.  li.  3.  21. 


BY 


RICHARD  MORRIS, 


EDITOR  OP  CHAUCER'S  POETICAL  WORKS,  SPENSER'S  WORKS,  DAN  MICHEL'S  AYENBITE 
OP  nrwYT,  ETC.;  MEMBER  OP  COUNCIL  OP  THE  PHILOLOGICAL  AND 

EARLY  ENGLISH  TEXT  SOCIETIES. 


LONDON: 

PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  TEXT  SOCIETY, 

BY  N.  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  57  &  59,  LUDGATE  HILL. 

MDCCCLXVIII. 


SEP261959 


INTRODUCTION. 


WHEN  master  hands  like  those  of  Gibbon  and  Hallam  have 
sketched  the  life  of  Boethius,  it  is  well  that  no  meaner  man  should 
attempt  to  mar  their  pictures.  They  drew,  perhaps,  the  most- 
touching  scene  in  Middle-age  literary  history, — the  just  man  in  prison, 
awaiting  death,  consoled  by  the  Philosophy  that  had  been  his  light 
in  life,  and  handing  down  to  posterity  for  their  comfort  and  strength 
the  presence  of  her  whose  silver  rays  had  been  his  guide  as  well 
under  the  stars  of  Fortune  as  the  mirk  of  Fate.  With  Milton  in  his 
dark  days,  Boece  in  prison  could  say, — 

'  I  argue  not 

Against  Heaven's  hand  or  will,  nor  bate  a  jot 
Of  heart  or  hope  ;  but  still  bear  up  and  steer 
Right  onward.     What  supports  me,  dost  thou  ask  ? 
The  conscience,  friend,  to  have  lost  them  overplied 
In  liberty's  defence,  my  noble  task, 
Of  which  all  Europe  rings  from  side  to  side.' 

For,  indeed,  the  echoes  of  Boethius,  Boethius,  rang  out  loud  from 
every  corner  of  European  Literature.  An  Alfred  awoke  them  in 
England,  a  Chaucer,  a  Caxton  would  not  let  them  die  j  an  Elizabeth 
revived  them  among  the  glorious  music  of  her  reign.1  To  us,  though 
far  off,  they  come  with  a  sweet  sound.  *  The  angelic '  Thomas 
Aquinas  commented  on  him,  and  many  others  followed  the '  saint's 
steps.  Dante  read  him,  though,  strange  to  say,  he  speaks  of  the 

1  Other  translations  are  by  John  Walton  of  Osney,  in  verse,  in  1410  (Reg. 
MS.  18,  A  13),  first  printed  at  Tavistock  in  1525,  and  to  be  edited  some  time 
or  other  for  the  E.  E.  T.  S.  An  anonymous  prose  version  in  the  Bodleian. 
George  Coluile,  alias  Coldewel,  1556  ;  J.  T.  1609  ;  H.  Conningesbye,  1664 ;  Lord 
Preston,  1695,  1712;  W.  Causton,  1730;  Redpath,  1785;  R.  Duncan,  1789; 
anon.  1792  (Lowndes). 


11  INTRODUCTION. 

Consolation  as  'a  book  not  known  by  many.'1  Belgium -had  her 
translations — both  Flemish2  and  French3;  Germany  hers,4  France 
hers,5  Italy  hers.6  The  Latin  editors  are  too  numerous  to  be 
catalogued  here,  and  manuscripts  abound  in  all  our  great  libraries. 

No  philosopher  was  so  bone  of  the  bone  and  flesh  of  the  flesh 
of  Middle-age  writers  as  Boethius.  Take  up  what  writer  you  will, 
and  you  find  not  only  the  sentiments,  but  the  very  words  of  the  dis- 
tinguished old  Eoman.  And  surely  we  who  read  him  in  Chaucer's 
tongue,  will  not  refuse  to  say  that  his  full-circling  meed  of  glory  was 
other  than  deserved.  Nor  can  we  marvel  that  at  the  end  of  our 
great  poet's  life,  he  was  glad  that  he  had  swelled  the  chorus  of 
Boethius'  praise ;  and  *  of  the  translacioun  of  Boece  de  Consolacioun,' 
thanked  '  oure  Lord  Ihesu  Crist  and  his  moder,  and  alle  the  seintes 
in  heuen.' 

The  impression  made  by  Boethius  on  Chaucer  was  evidently 
very  deep.  Not  only  did  he  translate  him  directly,  as  in  the  present 
work,  but  he  read  his  beloved  original  over  and  over  again,  as 
witness  the  following  list,  incomplete  of  course,  of  passages  from 
Chaucer's  poems  translated  more  or  less  literally  from  the  De  Con- 
solatione  : 

I.    LOVE. 

Wost  thou  nat  wel  the  olde  clerkes  sawe, 
That  who  schal  yeve  a  lover  eny  lawe, 
Love  is  a  grettere  lawe,  by  my  pan, 
Then  may  be  yeve  to  (of)  eny  erthly  man  ? 

(Knightes  Tale,  Aldine  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  36,  37.) 

Btat  what  is  he  ]>at  may  ^eue  a  lawe  to  loueres.  loue  is  a  gretter 
lawe  and  a  strengere  to  hym  self  fan  any  lawe  J?at  men  may  ^euen. 

(Chaucer's  Prose  Translation,  p.  108.) 

Quis  legem  det  amantibus  f 

Major  lex  amor  est  sibi. — (Boeth.,  lib.  iii.  met.  12.) 

1  Dante,  in  his  Convito,  says,  "  Misimi  a  legger  quello  non  conosciuto  da 
molti  libro  di  Boezio,  nel  quale  captivo  e  discacciato  consolato  s'  avea." 

Printed  at  Ghent,  1485. 

By  Reynier  de  Seinct  Trudon,  printed  at  Bruges,  1477. 

An  old  version  of  the  llth  cent.,  printed  by  Graff,  and  a  modern  one 
printed  at  Nuremberg,  1473. 

By  Jean  de  Meiing,  printed  at  Paris,  1494. 

By  Varchi,  printed  at  Florence,  1551 ;  Parma,  1798. 


INTRODUCTION.  ill 


II.    A  DRUNKEN  MAN. 

A  dronke  man  wot  wel  he  hath  an  hous, 
But  he  not  *  which  the  righte  wey  is  thider. 

(Knightes  Tale,  vol.  ii.  p.  39.) 

as  a  dronke  man  not  natz  by  whiche  pdfye  he  may  retourne  home 
to  hys  house. — (Chaucer's  Trans.,  p.  67.) 

Sed  velut  ebrius,  domum  quo  tramite  revertatur,  ignorat. 

(Boeth.,  lib.  iii.  pr.  2.) 

III.    THE    CHAIN  OF   LOVE. 

The  firste  moevere  of  the  cause  above, 
Whan  he  first  made  the  fayre  cheyne  of  love, 
Gret  was  theffect,  and  heigh  was  his  entente  ; 
Wel  wist  he  why,  and  what  therof  he  mente  ; 
For  with  that  fair 'e  cheyne  of  love  he  bond 
Thefyr,  the  watir,  the  eyr,  and  eek  the  lond 
In  certeyn  boundeSj  that  they  may  not  flee. 

(Knightes  Tale,  p.  92.) 

That  J>e  world  with  stable  feith  /  varieth  acordable  chaungynges  //  fat 
the  contraryos  qualite  of  element}  holden  amonge  hem  self  aliaunce  per- 
durable /  J>at  phebus  the  sonne  with  his  goldene  chariet  /  bryngeth  forth 
the  rosene  day  /  J)at  the  mone  hath  commaundement  ouer  the  nyhtes  // 
whiche  nyhtes  hesperus  the  eue  sterre  hat[h]  browt  //  J>at  j?e  se  gredy 
to  flowen  constreyneth  with  a  certeyn  ende  hise  floodes  /  so  Jjat  it  is 
nat  l[e]ueful  to  strechche  hise  brode  termes  or  bowndes  vp-on  the  erthes 
//  ]>at  is  to  seyn  to  couere  alle  the  erthe  //  Al  this  a-cordaunce  of  thinges 
is  bownden  with  looue  /  ]?at  gouerneth  erthe  and  see  /  and  [he]  hath  also 
commaundement}  to  the  heuenes  /  and  yif  this  looue  slakede  the  brydelis 
/  alle  thinges  j?at  now  louen  hem  to-gederes  /  wolden  maken  a  batayle 
contynuely  and  stryuen  to  fordoon  the  fasoun  of  this  worlde  /  the  which 
they  now  leden  in  acordable  feith  by  fayre  moeuynges  //  this  looue  halt 
to-gideres  poeples  /  ioygned  with  an  hooly  bond  /  and  knytteth  sacre- 
ment  of  mar-yages  of  chaste  looues  //  And  loue  enditeth  lawes  to  trewe 
felawes  //  0  weleful  weere  mankynde  /  yif  thilke  loue  fat  gouerneth 
heuene  gouerned  yowre  corages  /. — (Chaucer's  Boethius,  bk.  ii.  met.  8.) 

Quod  mundus  stabili  fide 
Concordes  variat  vices, 
Quod  pugnantia  semina 
Fcedus  perpetuum  tenent, 
Quod  Phoebus  roseum  diem 
Curru  provehit  aureo, 
Ut  quas  duxerit  Hesperus 

1  The  Harl.  MS.  reads  not  nat,  to  the  confusion  of  the  metre. 

2  =  ne  wot  nat  =  knows  not. 


PR 


INTRODUCTION. 

Phoebe  noctibus  imperet, 

Ut  fluctus  avidura  mare 

Certo  fine  coerceat, 

Ne  terris  liceat  vagis 

Latos  tundere  terminos ; 

Hanc  rerum  seriem  ligat, 

Terras  ac  pelagus  r  eg  ens, 

Et  ccelo  imperitans  amor. 

Hie  si  frana  remiserit, 

Quicquid  nunc  amat  invicem, 

Bellum  continue  geret : 

Et  quam  nunc  socia  fide 

Pulcris  motibus  incitant, 

Certent  solvere  machinam. 

Hie  sancto  populos  quoque 

Junctos  foedere  continet, 

Hie  et  conjugii  sacrum 

Castis  nectit  amoribns, 

Hie  fidis  etiam  sua 

Dictat  jura  sodalibus. 

0  felix  hominum  genus, 

Si  vestros  animos  amor, 

Quo  caBlum  regitur,  regat. — (Boeth.,  lib.  ii.  met.  8.) 

Love,  that  of  erth  and  se  hath  governaunee ! 
Love,  that  his  hestes  hath  in  hevene  hye  ! 
Love,  that  with  an  holsom  alliaunce 
Halt  peples  joyned,  as  hym  liste  hem  gye  ! 
Love,  that  knetteth  law  and  compaignye, 
And  couples  doth  in  vertu  for  to  dwelle ! 

(Troylus  &  Cryseyde,  st.  243,  vol.  iv.  p.  296.) 

That,  that  the  world  with  faith,  which  that  is  stable 

Dyverseth  so,  his  stoundes  concordynge  ; — 

That  elementz,  that  ben  so  discordable, 

Holden  a  bond,  perpetualy  durynge  ; — 

That  Phebus  mot  his  rosy  carte  forth  brynge, 

And  that  the  mone  hath  lordschip  overe  the  nyghte  ; — 

Al  this  doth  Love,  ay  heryed  be  his  myght ! 

That,  that  the  se,  that  gredy  is  to  flowen, 
Constreyneth  to  a  certeyn  ende  so 
Hise  flodes,  that  so  fiersly  they  ne  growen 
To  drenchen  erth  and  alle  for  everemo  ; 
And  if  that  Love  aught  lete  his  brydel  go, 
Al  that  now  loveth  asonder  sholde  lepe, 
And  lost  were  al  that  Love  halt  now  to  kepe. 

(Ibid.  st.  244,  245.) 


INTRODUCTION. 

IV.    MUTABILITY  DIRECTED   AND  TJMITED    BY    AN    IMMUTABLE    AND 
DIVINE    INTELLIGENCE. 

That  same  prynce  and  moevere  eek,  quod  he, 
Hath  stabled,  in  this  wrecched  world  adoun, 
Certeyn  dayes  and  duracioun 
To  alle  that  er  dngendrid  in  this  place, 
Over  the  whiche  day  they  may  nat  pace, 
Al  mowe  they  yit  wel  here  dayes  abregge ; 


Than  may  men  wel  by  this  ordre  discerae 
That  thilke  moevere  stabul  is  and  eterne. 

And  therfore  of  his  wyse  purveaunce 
He  hath  so  wel  biset  his  ordonaunce, 
That  spices  of  thinges  and  progressions 
Schullen  endure  by  successiouns 
And  nat  eterne  be,  withoute  any  lye. 

(Knightes  Tale,  vol.  ii.  p.  92,  93.) 

J)e  engendrynge  of  alle  Jjinges  quod  she  and  alle  Jje  progressiouns 
of  muuable  nature,  and  alle  Jjat  moeuejj  in  any  manere  takijj  hys  causes, 
hys  ordre.  and  hys  formes,  of  Jje  stablenesse  of  Jje  deuyne  Jjou^t  [and 
thilke  deuyue  thowht]  Jjat  is  yset  and  put  in  Jje  toure.  Jjat  is  to  seyne 
in  Jje  hey3t  of  Jje  simplicite  of  god.  stablisij>  many  manere  gyses  to 
Jjinges  Jjat  ben  to  don. — (Chaucer's  Boethius,  bk.  iv.  pr.  6,  p.  134.) 

V.    THE   PART    IS    DERIVED    FROM    THE   WHOLE,   THE   IMPERFECT 
FROM    THE    PERFECT. 

Wel  may  men  knowe,  but  it  be  a  fool, 
That  every  partye  dyryveth  from  his  hool. 
For  nature  hath  nat  take  his  bygynnyng 
Of  no  partye  ne  cantel  of  a  thing, 
But  of  a  thing  that  parfyt  is  and  stable, 
Descendyng  so,  til  it  be  corumpable. 

(Knightes  Tale,  vol.  ii.  p.  92.) 

For  al  Jjing  Jjat  is  cleped  inperfit  .  is  proued  inperfit  by  Jje 
amenusynge  of  perfeccioun  .  or  of  Jjing  Jjat  is  perfit  .  and  her-of  comejj 
it  .  Jjat  in  euery  Jjing  general .  yif  Jjat  .  Jjat  men  seen  any  jjing  Jjat  is 
inperfit  .  certys  in  jjilke  general  per  mot  ben  somme  J)ing  Jjat  is  perfit. 
For  yif  so  be  Jjat  perfeccioun  is  don  awey  .  men  may  nat  Jjinke  nor  seye 
fro  whennes  Jjilke  Jnng  is  Jjat  is  cleped  inperfit  .  For  Jje  nature  of  Jjinges 
ne  token  nat  her  bygynnyng  of  Jjinges  amenused  and  inperfit  .  but  it 
procedijj  of  Jjingus  Jjat  ben  al  hool  .  and  absolut  .  and  descendejj  so 
doune  iii-to  outerest  Jjinges  and  in-to  Jjingus  empty  and  wijj-oute  fruyt . 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

but  as  I  haue  shewed  a  litel  her  byforne  .  J>at  yif  jjer  be  a  blisfulnesse 
Jjat  be  frele  and  vein  and  inperfit  .  J?er  may  no  man  doute  .  J?at  J?er  nys 
som  blisfulnesse  Jjat  is  sad  stedfast  and  perfit.' — (bk.  iii.  pr.  10,  p.  89.) 

Omne  enim  quod  imperfectum  esse  dicitur,  id  deminutione  perfect! 
imperfectum  esse  perhibetur.  Quo  fit  ut  si  in  quolibet  genere  imper- 
fectum quid  esse  videatur,  in  eo  perfectum  quoque  aliquod  esse  necesse 
sit.  Etenim  perfectione  sublata,  unde  illud,  quod  imperfectum  perhibe- 
tur, extiterit,  ne  fingi  quidem  potest.  Neque  enim  db  diminutis  incon- 
summatisque  natura  rerum  cepit  exordium,  sed  db  integris  absolutisque 
procedens  in  hcec  extrema  atque  effmta  dildbitur.  Quod  si,  uti  paulo  ante 
monstravimus,  est  quasdam  boni  fragilis  imperfecta  felicitas,  esse  aliquam 
eoHdam  perfectamque  non  potest  dubitari. — (Boeth.,  lib.  iii.  pr.  10.) 

VI.    GENTILITY. 

For  gentilnesse  nys  but  renome 

Of  thin  auncestres,  for  her  heigh  bounte 

Which  is  a  straunge  thing  to  thy  persone. 

(The  Wyf  of  Bathes  Tale,  vol.  ii.  p.  241.) 

For  if  J?e  name  of  gentilesse  be  referred  to  renoun  and  clernesse  of 
linage.  Jjaii  is  gentil  name  but  a  foreine  Jring. 

(Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  78.) 

Quce  [nobilitas],  si  ad  claritudinem  refertur,  aliena  est. 

(Boethius,  lib.  iii.  pr.  6.) 

vn.  NERO'S  CRUELTY. 

No  teer  out  of  his  eyen  for  that  sighte 
Ne  cam  ;  but  sayde,  a  fair  womman  was  sche. 
Gret  wonder  is  how  that  he  couthe  or  mighte 
Be  domesman  on  hir  dede  beaute. 

(The  Monkes  Tale,  vol.  iii.  p.  217.) 

Ne  no  tere  ne  wette  his  face,  but  he  was  so  hard-herted  Jjat  he 
my^te  ben  domesman  or  iuge  of  hire  dede  beaute. 

(Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  55.) 

Ora  non  tinxit  lacrymis,  sed  esse 
Censor  extincti  potuit  decoris. 

(Boethius,  lib.  ii.  met.  6. ) 

VIII.    PREDESTINATION    AND    FREE-WILL. 

In  'Troylus  and  Cryseyde'  we  find  the  following  long  passage 
taken  from  Boethius,  book  v.  prose  2,  3. 

Book  iv.  st.  134,  vol.  iv.  p.  339. 

(1)  Syn  God  seth  every  thynge,  out  of  doutaunce, 
And  hem  dispoueth,  thorugh  his  ordinauuce, 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

In  hire  merites  sothely  for  to  be, 
As  they  shul  comen  by  predesteyne 

136 

(2)  For  som  men  seyn  if  God  seth  al  byforne, 
Ne  God  may  not  deseyved  ben  parde ! 

Than  moot  it  fallen,  theigh  men  hadde  it  swome, 
That  purveyaunce  hath  seyn  befor  to  be , 
Wherfor  I  seye,  that,  from  eterne,  if  he 
Hathe  wiste  byforn  our  thought  ek  as  oure  dede, 
We  have  no  fre  choys,  as  thise  clerkes  rede. 

137 

(3)  For  other  thoughte,  nor  other  dede  also, 
Myghte  nevere  ben,  but  swich  as  purveyaunce, 
Which  may  nat  ben  deceyved  nevere  moo, 
Hath  feled  byforne,  withouten  ignoraunce  ; 
For  if  ther  myghte  ben  a  variaunce, 

To  wrythen  out  fro  Goddes  purveyinge, 
Ther  nere  no  prescience  of  thynge  comynge  ; 

138 

(4)  But  it  were  rather  an  opinyon 
Uncertein,  and  no  stedfast  forseynge  ; 
And  certes  that  were  an  abusyon 

That  God  shold  han  no  parfit  clere  wetynge, 
More  than  we  men,  that  han  douteous  wenynge, 
But  swich  an  erroure  upon  God  to  gesse 
Were  fals,  and  foule,  and  wikked  corsednesse. 

139 

(5)  They  seyn  right  thus,  that  thynge  is  nat  to  come, 
For  that  the  prescience  hath  seyne  byfore 

That  it  shal  come  ;  but  they  seyn  that  therfore 
That  it  shal  corne,  therfor  the  purveyaunce 
Woot  it  bifore,  withouten  ignorance. 

140 

(6)  And  in  this  manere  this  riecessite 
Retourneth  in  his  part  coritrarye  agayn  ; 
For  nedfully  byhoveth  it  not  to  be, 
That  thilke  thynges  fallen  in  certeyn 

That  ben  purveyed  ;  but  nedly,  as  they  seyne, 
Bihoveth  it  that  thynges,  which  that  falle, 
That  thei  in  certein  ben  purveied  alle. 


viii  INTRODUCTION. 

141 

(7)  I  mene  as  though  I  labourede  me  in  this, 

To  enqueren  which  thynge  cause  of  whiche  thynge  be  ; 

(8)  As,  whether  that  the  prescience  of  God  is 
The  certein  cause  of  the  necessite 

Of  thynges  that  to  comen  ben,  parde  ! 
Or,  if  necessite  of  thynge  comynge 
Be  cause  certein  of  the  purveyinge. 

142 

(9)  But  now  nenforce  I  me  nat  in  shewynge 
How  the  ordre  of  causes  stant ;  but  wel  woot  I 
That  it  bihoveth  that  the  bifallynge 

Of  thynges,  wiste  bifor  certeinly, 
Be  necessarie,  al  seme  it  nat  therby 
That  prescience  put  fallynge  necessaire 
To  thynge  to  come,  al  falle  it  foule  or  faire. 

143 

(10)  For,  if  ther  sit  a  man  yonde  on  a  see,  [seat] 
Than  by  necessite*  bihoveth  it, 

That  certes  thyn  opinioun  soth  be, 

That  wenest  or  conjectest  that  he  sit ; 

And,  further  over,  now  ayeinwarde  yit, 

Lo  right  so  is  it  on  the  part  contrarie, 

As  thus, — nowe  herkene,  for  I  wol  nat  tarie  : — 

144 

(11)  I  sey,  that  if  the  opinion  of  the 

Be  soth  for  that  he  sit,  than  seye  I  this, 

That  he  moot  sitten  by  necessite  ; 

And  thus  necessite  in  either  is, 

For  in  hym  nede  of  sittynge  is,  ywis, 

And  in  the,  nede  of  soth  ;  and  thus  forsoth 

Ther  mot  necessite  ben  in  yow  bothe. 

145 

(12)  But  thow  maist  seyne,  the  man  sit  nat  therfore, 
That  thyn  opinioun  of  his  sittynge  sothe  is  ; 
But  rather,  for  the  man  sat  there  by  fore, 
Therfor  is  thyn  opinioun  soth,  ywys  ; 

And  I  seye,  though  the  cause  of  soth  of  this 
Cometh  of  his  sittynge,  yet  necessite 
Is  inter cli aim ged  both  in  hym  and  the. 


INTRODUCTION. 


146 

(13)  Tims  in  the  same  wyse,  out  of  doutaunce, 
I  may  wel  maken,  as  it  semeth  me, 

My  resonynge  of  Goddes  purveiaunce, 
And  of  the  thynges  that  to  comen  be  ;  ... 

147 

(14)  For  although  that  for  thynge  shal  come,  ywys, 
Therfor  it  is  purveyed  certeynly, 

Nat  that  it  cometh  for  it  purveied  is  ; 
Yet,  natheles,  bihoveth  it  nedfully, 
That  thynge  to  come  be  purveied  trewly  ; 
Or  elles  thynges  that  purveied  be, 
That  they  bitiden  by  necessite. 

148 

(15)  And  this  sufficeth  right  ynough,  certeyn, 
For  to  distruye  oure  fre  choys  everydele. 

(1)  Quas  tamen  ille  ab  asterno  cuncta  prospiciens  providential  cernit 
intuitus,  et  suis  quaaque  meritis  praedestinata  disponit  .....  (Boethius, 
lib.  v.  pr.  2.)     .................. 

(2)  Nam  si  cuncta  prospicit  Deus  neque  falli  ullo   modo  potest, 
evenire  necesse  est,  quod  providentia  futurum  esse  praaviderit.     Quare 
si  ab  aaterno  non  facta  hominum  modo,  sed  etiam  consilia  voluntatesque 
praanoscit,  nulla  erit  arbitrii  libertas  ; 

(3)  Neque  enim  vel  factum  aliud  ullum  vel  quaalibet  existere  poterit 
voluntas,  nisi  quam  nescia  falli  providentia  divina  praesenserit.     Nam 
si  res  aliorsum,  quam  pro  visas  sunt  detorqueri  valent,  non  jam  erit 
futuri  firma  praescientia  ; 

(4)  Sed  opinio  potius  incerta  ;  quod  de  Deo  nefas  credere  judico. 

(5)  Aiunt  enim  non  ideo  quid  esse  eventurum  quoniam  id  provi- 
dentia futurum  esse  prospexerit  ;  sed  e  contrario  potius,  quoniam  quid 
futurum  est,  id  divinam  providentiam  latere  non  possit. 

(6)  Eoque  modo  necessarium  est  hoc  in  contrariam  relabi  partem  ; 
neque  enirn  necesse  est  contingere  quaa  providentur,  sed  necesse  est 
quaa  futura  sunt  provideri. 

(7)  Quasi  vero  quaa  cujusque  rei  causa  sit, 

(8)  Praescientiane  futurorum  necessitatis   an  futurorum   necessitas 
providentia3,  laboretur. 

(9)  At  nos  illud  demonstrare  nitamur,  quoquo  modo  sese  habeat 
ordo  causarum,  necessarium  esse  eventum  praascitarum  rerum,  etiam  si 
praescientia  futuris  rebus  eveniendi  necessitatem  non  videatur  inferre. 

(10)  Etenim  si  quispiam  sedeat,  opinionem  qua)  eum  sedere  conjectat 
verara  esse  necesse  est  :  at  e  converse  rursus, 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

(11)  Si  de  qnopiam  vera  sit  opinio  quoniam  scdet  euin  sedere  necesse 
est.     In  utroque  igitur  necessitas  inest  :  in  hoc  quidem  sedendi,  at  vero 
in  altero  veritatis. 

(12)  Sed  non  idcirco  quisque  sedet,  quoniam  vera  est  opinio  :  sed 
ha3c  potius  vera  est,  quoniam  quempiam   sedere  praecessit.     Ita  cum 
causa  veritatis    ex   altera  parte   procedat,  inest  tamen   communis   in 
utraque  necessitas. 

(13)  Similia  de  providentia  futurisque  rebus  ratiocinari  patet. 

(14)  Nam  etiam  si  idcirco,  quoniam  futura  sunt,  providentur :  non 
vero  ideo,  quoniam  providentur,  eveniunt:  nihilo  minus  tameu  a  Deo  vel 
ventura  provided,  vel  provisa  evenire  necesse  est : 

(15)  Quod  ad  perimendam  arbitrii  libertatem  solum  satis  est. 

(lib.  v.  pr.  3.) 
See  Chaucer's  Boethius,  pp.  154-6. 

IX.    THE    GRIEF    OF   REMEMBERING    BYGONE   HAPPINESS. 

For,  of  fortunes  scharp  adversit^, 
The  worste  kynde  of  infortune  is  this, 
A  man  to  han  ben  in  prosperite, 
And  it  remembren,  when  it  passed  is. 

(Troylus  and  Cryseyde,  bk.  iii.  st.  226,  vol.  iv.  p.  291.) 

Sed  hoc  est,  quod  recolentem  me  vehementius  coquit.  Nam  in  omni 
adversitate  fortunas  infelicissimum  genus  est  infortunii,  fuisse  felicem.1 — 
(Boethius,  lib.  ii.  pr.  4.) 

X.    VULTURES   TEAR   THE    STOMACH    OF    TITYUS   IN    HELL. 

Syciphus  in  Helle, 

Whos  stomak  fowles  tyren  everemo, 
That  hyghten  volturis. 

(Troylus  and  Cryseyde,  book  i.  st.  113,  p.  140.) 

jpe  fowel  Jjat  hy^t  voltor  J>at  etij?  J?e  stomak  or  J>e  giser  of  ticius. 

(Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  107.) 

XI.    THE    MUTABILITY    OF    FORTUNE. 

For  if  hire  (Fortune's)  whiel  stynte  any  thinge  to  torne 
Thanne  cessed  she  Fortune  anon  to  be. 

(Troylus  and  Cryseyde,  bk.  i.  st.  122,  p.  142.) 

If  fortune  bygan  to  dwelle  stable,  she  cesed[e]  fan  to  ben  fortune. 

(Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  32.) 

1  Of.  Dante,  Inferno,  V.  121. 

Nessun  maggior  dolore 
Che  ricordarsi  del  tempo  felice 
Nella  iniseria ;  e  cid  sa  '1  tuo  Dottore. 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 

(Compare  stanzas  120,  121,  p.  142,  and  stanza  136,  p.  14G,  of 
'Troylus  and  Cryseyde'  with  pp.  31,  33,  35,  and  p.  34  of  Chaucer's 
Boethius.) 

At  omnium  mortalium  stolidissime,  si  manere  incipit,  fors  esse 
desistit. — (Boethius,  lib.  ii.  prose  1 .) 

XII.    WORLDLY    SELYNESSE 


Imedled  is  with  many  a  bitternesse. 

Ful  angwyshous  than  is,  God  woote,  quod  she, 

Condicion  of  veyn  prosperite  ! 

For  oyther  joies  comen  nought  yfeere, 

Or  elles  no  wight  hath  hem  alwey  here. 

(Troylus  and  Cryseyde,  bk.  iii.  st.  110,  p.  258.) 

Jpe  swetnesse  of  mannes  welefulnesse  is  yspranid  wij)  many[e]  bitter- 
nesses. —  (Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  42.) 

—  ful   anguissous   J>ing  is   J>e   condicioun   of  mans   goodes.      For 
eyber  it  come])  al  to-gidre  to  a  wy^t.  or  ellys  it  lastej?  not  perpetuely. 

(Ib.  p.  41.) 

Quam  multis   amaritudinibus   humanas  felicitatis  dulcedo   respersa 
est  !  —  (Boethius,  lib.  ii.  prose  4.) 

Anxia  enim  res  est  humanorum  conditio  bonorum,  et  qua3  vel  nun- 
quam  tota  proveniat,  vel  nunquam  perpetua  subsistat.  — 


0,  brotel  wele  of  mannes  joie  unstable  ! 

With  what  wight  so  thow  be,  or  how  thow  pleye, 

Oither  he  woot  that  thow  joie  art  muable, 

Or  woot  it  nought,  it  mot  ben  on  of  tweyen  : 

Now  if  he  woot  it  not,  how  may  he  seyen 

That  he  hath  veray  joie  and  selynesse, 

That  is  of  ignoraunce  ay  in  distresse  ? 

Now  if  he  woote  that  joie  is  transitorie, 
As  every  joie  of  worldly  thynge  mot  fle, 
Thanne  every  tyme  he  that  hath  in  memorie, 
The  drede  of  lesyng  maketh  hyrn  that  he 
May  in  no  parfyte  selynesse  be  : 
And  if  to  lese  his  joie,  he  sette  not  a  myte, 
Than  semeth  it,  that  joie  is  worth  ful  lite. 

(Troylus  and  Cryseyde,  bk.  iii.  st.  Ill,  112,  vol.  iv.  p.  258.) 

(1)  What  man  Jjat  bis  toumblyng  welefulnesse  leedib,  eiber  he  woot 
bat  [it]  is  chaungeable.    or  ellis  he  woot  it  nat.     And  yif  he  woot  it 
not.   what  blisful  fortune  may  ber  be  in  be  blyndenesse  of  ignoraunce. 

(2)  And  yif  he  woot  bat  it  is  chaungeable.  he  mot  alwey  ben  adrad 
bat  he  ne  lese  ]>at  ]>ing.  bat  he  ne  doutejj  nat  but  bat  he  may  leesen  it. 


Xii  INTRODUCTION. 

For  whiche  Jje  continuel  dredc  ]>at  he  haj)  nc  sufirij)  hym 

nat  to  ben  weleful.  Or  ellys  yif  he  leese  it  he  wene[f>]  to  be  dispised  and 
forleten  hit.  Certis  eke  Jjat  is  a  ful  lytel  goode  J>at  is  born  wij?  euene 
hert[e]  whan  it  is  loost. — (Chaucer's  Boethius,  pp.  43,  44.) 

(1)  Quern  caduca  ista  felicitas  vehit,  vel  scit  earn,  vel  nescit  esse 
mutabilem.      Si    nescit,    qusenam   beata   sors    esse   potest   ignorantiso 
in  csecitate? 

(2)  Si  scit,  metuat  necesse  est,  ne  amittat,  quod  amitti  posse  non 
dubitat ;    quare  continuus  timor  non  sinit  esse  felicem.      An  vel  si 
amiserit,  negligendum  putat?     Sic  quoque  perexile  bonum  est,  quod 
sequo  animo  feratur  amissum. — (Boethius,  lib.  ii.  prose  4.) 


XIII.    FORTUNE. 

Fortune 

That  semeth  trewest  when  she  wol  bigyle, 


And,  when  a  wight  is  from  hire  whiel  ithrowe, 
Than  laugheth  she,  and  maketh  hym  the  mowe. 

(Troylus  and  Cryseyde,  bk.  iii.  st.  254,  vol.  iv.  p.  299.) 

She  (Fortune)  vsejj  ful  flatryng  familarite  wijj  hem  Jjat  she  enforce]} 
to  bygyle. — {Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  30.) 

She  lau^ej?  and  scorne]?  J?e  wepyng  of  hem  Jje 

whiche  she  haj)  maked  wepe  wij>  hir  free  wille     ....     Yif  J)at  a 
wy^t  is  seyn  weleful  and  ouerfrowe  in  an  houre. — (Ib.  p.  33.) 

In  book  v.,  stanza  260,  vol.  v.  p.  75,  Chaucer  describes  how  the 
soul  of  Hector,  after  his  death,  ascended  'up  to  the  holughnesse  of  the 
seventhe  spere.'  In  so  doing  he  seems  to  have  had  before  him  met. 
1,  book  4,  of  Boethius,  where  the  'soul'  is  described  as  passing  into 
the  heaven's  utmost  sphere,  and  looking  down  on  the  world  below. 
See  Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  110,  111. 

^tas  Prima  is  of  course  a  metrical  version  of  lib.  ii.  met.  5. 

Hampole  speaks  of  the  wonderful  sight  of  the  Lynx  ;  perhaps  he 
was  indebted  to  Boethius  for  the  hint. — (See  Boethius,  book  3,  pr.  8, 
p.  81.) 

I  have  seen  the  following  elsewhere  : 

(1)  Value  not  beauty,  for  it  may  be  destroyed  by  a  three  days'  fever. 

(See  Chaucer's  Boethius,  p.  81.) 

(2)  There  is  no  greater  plague  than  the  enmity  of  thy  familiar  friend. 

(See  Chaucer 's  translation,  p.  77.) 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

Chaucer  did  not  English  Boethius  second-hand,  through  any 
early  French  version,  as  some  have  supposed,  but  made  his  trans- 
lation with  the  Latin  original  before  him. 

Jean  de  Me"ung's  version,  the  only  early  French  translation,  per- 
haps, accessible  to  Chaucer,  is  not  always  literal,  while  the  present 
translation  is  seldom  free  or  periphrastic,  but  conforms  closely  to  the 
Latin,  and  is  at  times  awkwardly  literal.  A  few  passages,  taken 
haphazard,  will  make  this  sufficiently  clear. 

Et  dolor  cetatem  jussit  inesse  mam.  And  sorou  haj>  comaunded  his 
age  to  be  in  me  (p.  4). 

Et  ina  douleur  commando,  a  vieillesse 
Entrer  en  moy  /  ains  quen  fust  hors  ieunesse. 

MOTS  hominum  felix,  quce  se  nee  dulcibus  annis 
Inserit,  et  mcestis  scepe  vocata  venit. 

}?ilke  dee])  of  men  is  welful  Jjat  ne  come)}  not  in  ^eres  J)at  ben  swete 
(i.  mirie).  but  come)}  to  wrecches  often  yclepid.  (p.  4.) 
On  dit  la  mort  des  homes  estre  eureuse 
Qui  ne  vient  pas  en  saisow  plawtureuse 
Mais  des  tristes  mowlt  souuewt  appellee 
Elle  y  affuit  nue  /  seche  et  pelee. 

Querimoniam  lacrymdbilem.  Wepli  compleynte  (p.  5).  Fr.  ma 
complainte  moy  esmouuant  a  pleurs. 

Styli  officio.  WiJ)  office  of  poyntel  (p.  5).  Fr.  (que  ie  reduisse)  par 
escript. 

Inexhaustus.  Swiche  .  .  .  Jjat  it  ne  myjt[e]  not  be  emptid  (p.  5). 
Fr.  inconsumptible. 

Scenicas  meretriculas.  Comune  strumpetis  of  siche  a  place  jjat  men 
clepen  Jje  theatre  (p.  6).  Fr.  ces  ribaudelles  fardees. 

Prcecipiti  profundo.      In  ouer-jjrowyng  depnesse  (p.  7). 
[L]As  que  la  pensee  de  lomme 
Est  troublee  et  plongie  comme 
En  abisme  precipitee 
Sa  propre  lumiere  gastee. 

Nee  pervetusta  nee  ineelebris.  Neyjjer  ouer-oolde  ne  vnsolempne  (p. 
11).  Fr.  desquelz  la  memoire  nest  pas  trop  ancienne  ou  now  recitee. 

Inter  secreta  otia.  Among  my  secre  restyng  whiles  (p.  14).  Fr. 
entre  mes  secrettes  et  oyseuses  estudes. 

Palatini  canes.  j?e  houndys  of  Jje  palays  (p.  15).  Fr.  les  chiens  du 
palais. 

I 


Xiv  INTRODUCTION. 

Masculcc  prolis.  Of  J)i  masculyn  children  (p.  37).  Fr.  de  ta  lignie 
masculine. 

Ad  singularem  felicitatis  tuce  cumulum  venire  delectat.  It  delitej)  me  to 
comen  now  to  J>e  singuler  vphepyng  of  Jri  welefulnesse  (p.  37).  Fr.  II 
me  plait  venir  au  singulier  monceau  de  ta  felicite. 

Consulare  imperium.  Emperie  of  consulers  (p.  51).  Fr.  1  empire  con- 
sulaire. 

Hoc  ipsum  brevis  habitaculi.  Of  Jjilke  litel  habitacle  (p.  57).  Fr. 
de  cest  trespetit  habitacle. 

Late  patentes  plagas.     })e  brode  shewyng  contreys  (p.  60). 
QVicowques  tend  a  gloire  vaine 
Et  le  croit  estre  souueraine 
Voye  les  regions  pateutes 
Du  ciel 

Ludens  hominum  cura.     J)e  pleiyng  besines  of  men  (p.  68). 
Si  quil  tollist  par  doulz  estude 
Des  homines  la  solicitude     .     . 

Hausi  ccelum.     I  took  heuene  (p.  10).     Fr.  ie  .  .  .  regarday  le  ciel. 

Certamen  adversum  prcefectum  prcetorii  communis  commodi  ratione 
suscepi.  I  took  strif  a^eins  Jje  prouost  of  Jje  pretorie  for  comune  profit 
(p.  15).  Fr.  ie  entrepris  lestrif  a  lencontre  du  prefect  du  parlement  royal 
a  cause  de  la  commune  vtilite. 

At  cujus  criminis  arguimur  summam  quceris?  But  axest  J>ou  in 
somme  of  what  gilt  I  am  accused  ?  (p.  17).  Fr.  Mais  demandes  tu  la 
somme  du  pechie  duquel  pechie  nous  sommes  arguez  ? 

Fortuita  temyritate.  By  fortunouse  fortune  (p.  26).  Fr.  par  fortuite 
folie. 

Quos  premunt  septem  gelidi  triones.  Alle  J)e  peoples  J>at  ben  vndir 
Jje  colde  sterres  Jjat  hy3ten  Jje  seuene  triones  (p.  55).  Fr.  ceulx  de 
septentrion. 

Ita  ego  quoque  tibi  veluti  corollarium  dabo.  Ry^t  so  wil  I  ^eue  J?e 
here  as  a  corolarie  or  a  mede  of  coroune  (p.  91).  Fr.  semblablement 
ie  te  donneray  ainsi  que  vng  correlaire. 

In  stadio.  In  J>e  stadie  or  in  Jje  forlonge  (p.  119).  Fr.  ou  (for  au) 
champ. 

Conjecto.     I  coniecte  (p.  154).     Fr.  ie  coniecture. 

Nimium  .  .  .  adversari  ac  repugnare  videtur.  It  semej?  ...  to  re- 
pugnen  and  to  contrarien  gretly.  Fr.  Ce  semble  chose  trop  contraire  et 
repugn  ante. 

Universitatis  ambitum.  Envirounynge  of  ]>e  vniuersite  (p.  165).  Fr. 
lauironnement  dc  luniuersalite. 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

Rationis  universum.  Vniuersite  of  resouii  (p.  165).  Fr.  luniucrsalitc 
de  Raison. 

Scientiam  nunquam  deficientis  instantice  rectius  cestimabis.  jpou  shalt 
demen  [it]  more  ry^tfully  Jjat  it  is  science  of  presence  or  of  instaunce 
Jjat  neuer  ne  faylej?  (p.  174).  Fr.  mais  tu  la  diras  plus  droittement  et 
mieulx  science  de  instante  presentialite  non  iamais  defaillant  mais 
eternelle. 

Many  of  the  above  examples  are  very  bald  renderings  of  the 
original,  and  are  only  quoted,  here  to  show  that  Chaucer  did  not 
make  his  translation  from  the  French. 

Chaucer  is  not  always  felicitous  in  his  translations  : — thus  he 
translates  davus  atque  gubernaculum  by  keye  and  a  stiere  (p.  103), 
and  compendium  (gain,  acquisition)  by  abreggynge  (abridging,  curtail- 
ment), p.  151.  Many  terms  make  their  appearance  in  English  for 
the  first  time, — and  most  of  them  have  become  naturalized,  and  arc 
such  as  we  could  ill  spare.  Some  few  are  rather  uncommon,  as 
gouernaile  (gubernaculum),  p.  27  ;  arbitre  (arbitrium),  p.  154.  As 
Chaucer  takes  the  trouble  to  explain  inestimable  (insestimabilis),  p. 
158,  it  could  not  have  been  a  very  familiar  term. 

Our  translator  evidently  took  note  of  various  readings,  for  on  p. 
31  he  notes  a  variation  of  the  original.  On  p.  51  he  uses  armurers 
( —  armures)  to  render  arma,  though  most  copies  agree  in  reading 
arva. 

There  are  numerous  glosses  and  explanations  of  particular  pas- 
sages, which  seem  to  be  interpolated  by  Chaucer  himself.  Thus  he 
explains  what  is  meant  by  the  heritage  of  Socrates  (p.  10,  11);  he 
gives  the  meaning  of  coemption  (p.  15) ;  of  Euripus  (p.  33) ;  of  the 
porch  (p.  166).1  Some  of  his  definitions  are  very  quaint;  as,  for 
instance,  that  of  Tragedy — '  a  dite  of  a  prosperite  for  a  tyme  \at 
endi\  in  wrecliednesse '  (p.  35).  One  would  think  that  the  following 
definition  of  Tragedian  would  be  rather  superfluous  after  this, — ( a 
maker  of  dites  \at  hytfen  (are  called)  tregedies '  (p.  77). 
Melliflui  .  .  .  oris  Homerus 

is  thus  quaintly  Englished :  Homer  wi\  J>e  hony  mou^e,  ]>at  is  to 
seyn.  homer  wi\  \e  swete  dites  (p.  153). 

1  See  pages  39,  50,  61,  94,  111,  133,  149,  153,  159. 


XVi  INTRODUCTION. 

The  present  translation  of  the  De  Consolatione  is  taken  from 
Additional  MS.  10,340,  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  oldest  manu- 
script that  exists  in  our  public  libraries.  After  it  was  all  copied  out 
and  ready  for  press,  Mr  Bradshaw  was  kind  enough  to  procure  me, 
for  the  purpose  of  collation,  the  loan  of  the  Canib.  University  MS.  li. 
3.  21,  from  which  the  various  readings  at  the  foot  of  the  pages 
are  taken. 

Had  I  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  Cambridge  MS.  care- 
fully throughout  before  the  work  was  so  far  advanced,  I  should  cer- 
tainly have  selected  it  in  preference  to  the  text  now  given  to  the 
reader.  Though  not  so  ancient  as  the  British  Museum  MS.,  it  is 
far  more  correct  in  its  grammatical  inflexions,  and  is  no  doubt  a  copy 
of  an  older  and  very  accurate  text. 

The  Additional  MS.  is  written  by  a  scribe  who  was  unacquainted 
with  the  force  of  the  final  -e.  Thus  he  adds  it  to  the  preterites  of 
strong  verbs,  which  do  not  require  it ;  he  omits  it  in  the  preterites 
of  weak  verbs  where  it  is  wanted,  and  attaches  it  to  passive  participles 
(of  weak  verbs),  where  it  is  superfluous.  The  scribe  of  the  Cam- 
bridge MS.  is  careful  to  preserve  the  final  -e  where  it  is  a  sign  (1)  of 
the  definite  declension  of  the  adjective ;  (2)  of  the  plural  adjective ; 
(3)  of  the  infinitive  mood  ;  (4)  of  the  preterite  of  weak  verbs  ;  (5)  of 
present  participles ;  *  (6)  of  the  2nd  pers.  pret.  indie,  of  strong  verbs ; 
(7)  of  adverbs  ;  (8)  of  an  older  vowel  ending. 

The  Addit.  MS.  has  frequently  thilk  (singular  and  plural),  and 
-nes  (in  wrechednes,  &c.),  when  the  Camb.  MS.  has  thilJce2  and  -nesse. 

For  further  differences  the  reader  may  consult  the  numerous 
collations  at  the  foot  of  the  page. 

If  the  Chaucer  Society  obtains  that  amount  of  patronage  from  the 
literary  public  which  it  deserves,  but  unfortunately  has  yet  not  suc- 
ceeded in  getting,  so  that  it  may  be  enabled  to  go  on  with  the  great 
work  which  has  been  so  successfully  commenced,  then  the  time  may 
come  when  I  shall  have  the  opportunity  of  editing  the  Camb.  MS. 
of  Chaucer's  Boethius  for  that  Society,  and  lovers  of  Early  English 
Literature  will  have  two  texts  instead  of  one. 

1  In  the  Canterbury  Tales  we  find  participles  in  -ynge. 
•  It  is  nearly  always  thilke  in  the  Canterbury  Tales. 


XV11 


APPENDIX  TO  INTRODUCTION. 


THE  last  of  the  ancients,  and  one  who  forms  a  link  between  the  class- 
ical period  of  literature  and  that  of  the  middle  ages,  in  which  he  was  a 
favourite  author,  is  Boethius,  a  man  of  fine  genius,  and  interesting  both 
from  his  character  and  his  death.  It  is  well  known  that  after  filling  the 
dignities  of  Consul  and  Senator  in  the  court  of  Theodoric,  he  fell  a  victim 
to  the  jealousy  of  a  sovereign,  from  whose  memory,  in  many  respects 
glorious,  the  stain  of  that  blood  has  never  been  effaced.  The  Consolation 
of  Philosophy,  the  chief  work  of  Boethius,  was  written  in  his  prison. 
Few  books  are  more  striking  from  the  circumstances  of  their  production, 
Last  of  the  classic  writers,  in  style  not  impure,  though  displaying  too 
lavishly  that  poetic  exuberance  which  had  distinguished  the  two  or  three 
preceding  centuries,  in  elevation  of  sentiment  equal  to  any  of  the  philo- 
sophers, and  mingling  a  Christian  sanctity  with  their  lessons,  he  speaks 
from  his  prison  in  the  swan-like  tones  of  dying  eloquence.  The  philoso- 
phy that  consoled  him  in  bonds,  was  soon  required  in  the  sufferings  of  a 
cruel  death.  Quenched  in  his  blood,  the  lamp  he  had  trimmed  with  a 
skilful  hand  gave  no  more  light  ;  the  language  of  Tully  and  Virgil  soon 
ceased  to  be  spoken  ;  and  many  ages  were  to  pass  away,  before  learned 
diligence  restored  its  purity,  and  the  union  of  genius  with  imitation 
taught  a  few  modern  writers  to  surpass  in  eloquence  the  Latinity  of 
Boethius. — (Hallam's  Literature  of  Europe,  i.  2,  4th  ed.  1854.) 

The  Senator  Boethius  is  the  last  of  the  Romans  whom  Cato  or  Tully 
could  have  acknowledged  for  their  countryman.  As  a  wealthy  orphan, 
he  inherited  the  patrimony  and  honours  of  the  Anician  family,  a  name 
ambitiously  assumed  by  the  kings  and  emperors  of  the  age  ;  and  the 
appellation  of  Manlius  asserted  his  genuine  or  fabulous  descent  from 
a  race  of  consuls  and  dictators,  who  had  repulsed  the  Gauls  from  the 
Capitol,  and  sacrificed  their  sons  to  the  discipline  of  the  Republic.  In  the 
youth  of  Boethius  the  studies  of  Rome  were  not  totally  abandoned  ;  a 
Virgil  is  now  extant,  corrected  by  the  hand  of  a  consul ;  and  the  pro- 
fessors of  grammar,  rhetoric,  and  jurisprudence,  were  maintained  in  their 
privileges  and  pensions  by  the  liberality  of  the  Goths.  But  the  erudition 
of  the  Latin  language  was  insufficient  to  satiate  his  ardent  curiosity ;  and 


Xviii  APPENDIX    TO    INTRODUCTION. 

Boethius  is  said  to  have  employed  eighteen  laborious  years  in  the  schools 
of  Athens,  which  were  supported  by  the  zeal,  the  learning,  and  the  dili- 
gence of  Proclus  and  his  disciples.  The  reason  and  piety  of  their  Roman 
pupil  were  fortunately  saved  from  the  contagion  of  mystery  and  magic, 
which  polluted  the  groves  of  the  Academy,  but  he  imbibed  the  spirit,  and 
imitated  the  method,  of  his  dead  and  living  masters,  who  attempted  to 
[reconcile  the  strong  and  subtle  sense  of  Aristotle  with  the  devout  con- 
Jtemplation  and  sublime  fancy  of  Plato.  After  his  return  to  Rome,  and 
his  marriage  with  the  daughter  of  his  friend,  the  patrician  Symmachus, 
Boethius  still  continued,  in  a  palace  of  ivory  and  [glass]  to  prosecute  the 
same  studies.  The  Church  was  edified  by  his  profound  defence  of  the 
orthodox  creed  against  the  Arian,  the  Eutychian,  and  the  Nestorian 
heresies  ;  and  the  Catholic  unity  was  explained  or  exposed  in  a  formal 
treatise  by  the  indifference  of  three  distinct  though  consubstantial  persons. 
For  the  benefit  of  his  Latin  readers,  his  genius  submitted  to  teach  the 
first  elements  of  the  arts  and  sciences  of  Greece.  The  geometry  of 
Euclid,  the  music  of  Pythagoras,  the  arithmetic  of  Nicomachus,  the 
mechanics  of  Archimedes,  the  astronomy  of  Ptolemy,  the  theology  of 
Plato,  and  the  logic  of  Aristotle,  with  the  commentary  of  Porphyry,  were 
translated  and  illustrated  by  the  indefatigable  pen  of  the  Roman  senator. 
And  he  alone  was  esteemed  capable  of  describing  the  wonders  of  art,  a 
sun-dial,  a  water-clock,  or  a  sphere  which  represented  the  motions  of  the 
planets.  From  these  abstruse  speculations,  Boethius  stooped,  or,  to  speak 
more  truly,  he  rose  to  the  social  duties  of  public  and  private  life  :  the  in- 
digent were  relieved  by  his  liberality  ;  and  his  eloquence,  which  flattery 
might  compare  to  the  voice  of  Demosthenes  or  Cicero,  was  uniformly  ex- 
erted in  the  cause  of  innocence  and  humanity.  Such  conspicuous  merit 
was  felt  and  rewarded  by  a  discerning  prince  :  the  dignity  of  Boethius  was 
adorned  with  the  titles  of  consul  and  patrician,  and  his  talents  were  use- 
fully employed  in  the  important  station  of  master  of  the  offices.  Not- 
withstanding the  equal  claims  of  the  East  and  West,  his  two  sons  were 
created,  in  their  tender  youth,  the  consuls  of  the  same  year.  On  the 
memorable  day  of  their  inauguration,  they  proceeded  in  solemn  pomp 
from  their  palace  to  the  forum  amidst  the  applause  of  the  senate  and 
people ;  and  their  joyful  father,  the  true  Consul  of  Rome,  after  pronounc- 
ing an  oration  in  the  praise  of  his  royal  benefactor,  distributed  a  tri- 
umphal largess  in  the  games  of  the  circus.  Prosperous  in  his  fame  and 
fortunes,  in  his  public  honours  and  private  alliances,  in  the  cultivation 
of  science  and  the  consciousness  of  virtue,  Boethius  might  have  been 
styled  happy,  if  that  precarious  epithet  could  be  safely  applied  before  the 
last  term  of  the  life  of  man. 

A  philosopher,  liberal  of  his  wealth  and  parsimonious  of  his  time, 
might  be  insensible  to  the  common  allurements  of  ambition,  the  thirst  of 
gold  and  employment.  And  some  credit  may  be  due  to  the  asseveration 
of  Boethius,  that  he  had  reluctantly  obeyed  the  divine  Plato,  who  enjoins 
every  virtuous  citizen  to  rescue  the  state  from  the  usurpation  of  vice  and 
ignorance.  For  the  integrity  of  his  public  conduct  he  appeals  to  the 


APPENDIX    TO    INTRODUCTION.  xx 

memory  of  his  country.  His  authority  had  restrained  the  pride  and  op- 
pression of  the  royal  officers,  and  his  eloquence  had  delivered  Paulianus 
from  the  dogs  of  the  palace.  He  had  always  pitied,  and  often  relieved, 
the  distress  of  the  provincials,  whose  fortunes  were  exhausted  by  public 
and  private  rapine  ;  and  Boethius  alone  had  courage  to  oppose  the  ty- 
ranny of  the  Barbarians,  elated  by  conquest,  excited  by  avarice,  and,  as 
he  complains,  encouraged  by  impunity.  In  these  honourable  contests  his 
spirit  soared  above  the  consideration  of  danger,  and  perhaps  of  prudence  ; 
and  we  may  learn  from  the  example  of  Cato,  that  a  character  of  pure 
and  inflexible  virtue  is  the  most  apt  to  be  misled  by  prejudice,  to  be 
heated  by  enthusiasm,  and  to  confound  private  enmities  with  public 
justice.  The  disciple  of  Plato  might  exaggerate  the  infirmities  of  nature, 
and  the  imperfections  of  society  ;  and  the  mildest  form  of  a  Gothic  king- 
dom, even  the  weight  of  allegiance  and  gratitude,  must  be  insupportable 
to  the  free  spirit  of  a  Roman  patriot.  But  the  favour  and  fidelity  of 
Boethius  declined  in  just  proportion  with  the  public  happiness  ;  and  an 
unworthy  colleague  was  imposed  to  divide  and  control  the  power  of 
the  master  of  the  offices.  In  the  last  gloomy  season  of  Theodoric,  he 
indignantly  felt  that  he  was  a  slave  ;  but  as  his  master  had  only  power 
over  his  life,  he  stood  without  arms  and  without  fear  against  the  face  of 
an  angry  Barbarian,  who  had  been  provoked  to  believe  that  the  safety  of 
the  senate  was  incompatible  with  his  own.  The  Senator  Albinus  was 
accused  and  already  convicted  on  the  presumption  of  hoping,  as  it  was 
said,  the  liberty  of  Rome. 

"  If  Albinus  be  criminal,"  exclaimed  the  orator,  "  the  senate  and  my-  ' 
self  are  all  guilty  of  the  same  crime.  If  we  are  innocent,  Albinus  is 
equally  entitled  to  the  protection  of  the  laws."  These  laws  might  not 
have  punished  the  simple  and  barren  wish  of  an  unattainable  blessing ; 
but  they  would  have  shown  less  indulgence  to  the  rash  confession  of 
Boethius,  that,  had  he  known  of  a  conspiracy,  the  tyrant  never  should. 
The  advocate  of  Albinus  was  soon  involved  in  the  danger  and  perhaps 
the  guilt  of  his  client ;  their  signature  (which  they  denied  as  a  forgery) 
was  affixed  to  the  original  address,  inviting  the  emperor  to  deliver  Italy 
from  the  Goths  ;  and  three  witnesses  of  honourable  rank,  perhaps  of  in- 
famous reputation,  attested  the  treasonable  designs  of  the  Roman  patri- 
cian. Yet  his  innocence  must  be  presumed,  since  he  was  deprived  by 
Theodoric  of  the  means  of  justification,  and  rigorously  confined  in  the 
tower  of  Pavia,  while  the  senate,  at  the  distance  of  five  hundred  miles,  pro- 
nounced a  sentence  of  confiscation  and  death  against  the  most  illustrious 
of  its  members.  At  the  command  of  the  Barbarians,  the  occult  science 
of  a  philosopher  was  stigmatized  with  the  names  of  sacrilege  and  magic. 
A  devout  and  dutiful  attachment  to  the  senate  was  condemned  as  criminal 
by  the  trembling  voices  of  the  senators  themselves  ;  and  their  ingratitude 
deserved  the  wish  or  prediction  of  Boethius,  that,  after  him,  none  should 
be  found  guilty  of  the  same  offence. 

While  Boethius,  oppressed  with  fetters,  expected  each  moment  the 
sentence  or  the  stroke  of  death,  he  composed  in  the  tower  ol  Pavia  the 


XX  APPENDIX    TO    INTRODUCTION. 

Consolation  of  Philosophy  ;  a  golden  volume  not  unworthy  of  the  leisure 
of  Plato  or  Tully,  but  which  claims  incomparable  merit  from  the  barbar- 
ism of  the  times  and  the  situation  of  the  author.  The  celestial_guide, 
whom  he  had  so  long  invoked  at  Rome  and  Athens,  now  condescended 
to  illumine  his  dungeon,  to  revive  his  courage,  and  to  pour  into  his 
wounds  her  salutary  balm.  Sh£  taught  him  to  compare  his  long  pros- 
perity and  his  recent  distress,  and  to  conceive  new  hopes  from  the  incon- 
stancy of  fortune.  Reason  had  informed  him  of  the  precarious  condition 
of  her  gifts ;  experience  had  satisfied  him  of  their  real  value  ;  he  had  en- 
joyed them  without  guilt ;  he  might  resign  them  without  a  sigh,  and 
calmly  disdain  the  impotent  malice  of  his  enemies,  who  had  left  him 
happiness,  since  they  had.  left  him  virtue.  From  the  earth,  Boethius 
ascended  to  heaven  in  search  of  the  SUPREME  GOOD  ;  explored  the  meta- 
physical labyrinth  of  chance  and  destiny,  of  prescience  and  free-will,  of 
time  and  eternity ;  and  generously  attempted  to  reconcile  the  perfect 
attributes  of  the  Deity  with  the  apparent  disorders  of  his  moral  and  phy- 
sical government.  Such  topics  of  consolation,  so  obvious,  so  vague,  or 
so  abstruse,  are  ineffectual  to  subdue  the  feelings  of  human  nature.  Yet 
the  sense  of  misfortune  may  be  diverted  by  the  labour  of  thought  ;  and 
the  sage  who  could  artfully  combine  in  the  same  work  the  various  riches 
of  philosophy,  poetry,  and  eloquence,  must  already  have  possessed  the 
intrepid  calmness  which  he  affected  to  seek.  Suspense,  the  worst  of  evils, 
was  at  length  determined  by  the  ministers  of  death,  who  executed,  and 
perhaps  exceeded,  the  inhuman  mandate  of  Theodoric.  A  strong  cord 
was  fastened  round  the  head  of  Boethius,  and  forcibly  tightened  till  his 
eyes  almost  started  from  their  sockets  ;  and  some  mercy  may  be  dis- 
covered in  the  milder  torture  of  beating  him  with  clubs  till  he  expired. 
But  his  genius  survived  to  diffuse  a  ray  of  knowledge  over  the  darkest  ages 
of  the  Latin  world  ;  the  writings  of  the  philosopher  were  translated  by 
the  most  glorious  of  the  English  kings,  and  the  third  emperor  of  the  name 
of  Otho  removed  to  a  more  honourable  tomb  the  bones  of  a  Catholic 
saint,  who,  from  his  Arian  persecutors,  had  acquired  the  honours  of  mar- 
tyrdom and  the  fame  of  miracles.  In  the  last  hours  of  Boethius,  he 
derived  some  comfort  from  the  safety  of  his  two  sons,  of  his  wife,  and  of 
his  father-in-law,  the  venerable  Symmachus.  But  the  grief  of  Symma- 
chus  was  indiscreet,  and  perhaps  disrespectful  ;  he  had  presumed  to  la- 
ment, he  might  dare  to  revenge,  the  death  of  an  injured  friend.  He  was 
dragged  in  chains  from  Rome  to  the  palace  of  Ravenna ;  and  the  suspi- 
cions of  Theodoric  could  only  be  appeased  by  the  blood  of  an  innocent 
and  aged  senator. — Gibbon's  Decline  and  Fall,  1838,  vol.  vii.  p.  45 — 52 
(without  the  notes). 


xxi 


INDEX 

(Giving  the  first  line  of  each  Metre,  the  first  words  of  each  Prose, 
and  the  corresponding  page  of  the  translation). 

Book     Metre     Prose  Page 

II      —     Carmina  qui  quondam  studio  florente  peregi   ...  ^ 

„      —      1      Haec  dum  mecum  tacitus  ipse  reputarem          . . ,  5 

,,2      —     Heu,  quam  praecipiti  mersa  profundo  ...          ...  7 

„  —  2  Sed  medicinae,  inquit,  potius  tempus  est  ...  8 

„  3  —  Tune  me  discussa  liquerunt  nocte  tenebrae  ...  9 
„  —  3  Haud  aliter  tristitiae  nebulis  dissolutis,  hausi 

coelum  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  10 

,,4  —  Quisquis  composite  serenus  aevo  12 

„  —  4  Sentisne,  inquit,  haec,  atque  animo  illabuntur 

tuo?  13 

„       5      —     0  stelliferi  conditor  orbis          ...          ...          ...  21 

„      —      5      Haec  ubi  continuato  dolore  delatravi    ...         ...  23 

,,6      —     Cum  Phoebi  radiis  grave            ...          ...         ...  25 

„  —  6  Primum  igitur  paterisne  me  pauculis  rogationibus  26 

,,7  —  Nubibus  atris 29 

II     —      1      Posthaec  paulisper  obticuit        ...         ...          ...  29 

„       1      —     Haec  cum  superba  verterit  vices  dextra            ...  33 

„      —      2      Vellem  autem  pauca  tecum  fortunae  ipsius      ...  33 

„       2      —     Si  quantas  rapidis  flatibus  incitus         ...          ...  35 

„      —      3      His  igitur  si  pro  se  tecum  fortuna  loqueretur  ...  36 

„       3      —     Cum  polo  Phoebus  roseis  quadrigis       ...          ...  39 

,,,  —  4  Turn  ego,  Vera,  inquam,  commemoras  ...  39 

„  4  —  Quisquis  volet  percnnem  ...  ...  ...  44 


XXli  INDEX. 

Book     Metre  Prose  Page 

II  —     5  Sed  quoniam  rationum  jam  in  te  mearuni  fo- 

menta         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  45 

,,5  —  Felix  minium  prior  setas           ...         ...         ...  50 

„      —      6  Quid  autem  de  dignitatibus,  potentiaque  disseram  51 

,,6  —  Novimus  quantas  dederit  ruinas           ...          ...  55 

„      —      7      Turn  ego,  Scis,  inquam,  ipsa     56 

,,7  —  Quicumque  solam  mente  pnecipiti  petit           ...  60 

„     —      8  Sed  ne  me  inexorabile  contra  fortunam  ...  61 

,,8  —  Quod  mundus  stabili  fide          ...         ...         ...  62 

III  —      1      Jam  cantum  ilia  finierat            63 

,,1  —     Qui  serere  ingenuum  volet  agrum         64 

„      —      2-  Turn  defixo  paululum  visu        ...         ...         ...  64 

„       2  —     Quantas  rerum  flectat  habenas 68 

„      —      3  Vos  quoque,  o  terrena  animalia  ...         ...  69 

„       3  —  Quamvis  fluente  dives  auri  gurgite       ...         ...  71 

„      —      4  Sed  dignitates  honorabilem  reverendumque     ...  72 

,,4  —  Quamvis  se  Tyrio  superbus  ostro          ...          ...  74 

„      —  5  An   vero   regna   regumque   familiaritas   efficere 

potentem  valent  ?  ...          ...  ...          ...  75 

,,5  —  Qui  se  volet  esse  potentem        ...         ...         ...  77 

„     —  6  Gloria  vero  quam  fallax  saepe,  quam  turpis  est !  77 

„       6  —  Omne  homirmm  genus  in  terris             ...          ...  78 

»      —  7  Quid  autem  de  corporis  voluptatibus  loquar  1  79 

,,7  —  Habet  omnis  hoc  voluptas         ...          ...          ...  80 

„      —  8  Nihil  igitur  dubium  est,  quin  ...          ...          ...  80 

,,8  —  Eheu,  quam  miseros  tramite  devio        ...          ...  81 

„      -  9  Hactenus  mendacis  formam  felicitatis  ostendisse  82 

,,9  —  0  qui  perpetua  mundum  ratione  gubernas        ...  87 

„      —  10  Quoniam  igitur  quse  sit  imperfecti        ...          ...  88 

„      10  —     Hue  omnes  pariter  venite  capti            94 

„      —  11  Assentior,  inquam.         ...          ...          ...          ...  95 

„      11  —  Quisquis  profunda  mente  vestigat  verum         ...  100 

„      —  12  Turn  ego,  Platoni,  inquam,  vehementer  assentior  101 

„      12  —  Felix  qui  potuit  boni    ...          ...          ...          ...  106 

IV  —      1      Haec  cum  Philosophia,  dignitato           108 


INDEX.  XX111 

Book     Metro     Prose  Page 

IV      1  —  Sunt  etenim  penna3  volucres  mihi        ...         ...   110 

„      —  2  Turn  ego,  Papa),  inquam,  ut  magna  promittis  !      112 

,,2  —  Quos  vides  sedere  celso  ...         ...         ...   118 

„  —  3  Videsne  igitur  quanto  in  cceno  probra  volvantur  119 

?>  3  _  Vela  Neritii  ducis  122 

n  —  4  Turn  ego,  Fateor,  inquam,  nee  injuria  dici  video  123 

tj  4  —  Quid  tantos  juvat  excitare  motus  130 

„  —  5  Hie  ego,  Video,  inquam,  qua3  sit  vel  felicitas  ...  131 

,,5  —  Si  quis  Arcturi  sidera  nescit  ...  ...  ...  132 

„  —  6  Ita  est,  inquam.  133 

tt       6  —  Si  vis  celsi  jura  tonantis  ...          ...          ...   143 

„  —  7  Jamne  igitur  vides,  quid  ha3C  omnia  qua3  diximus, 

consequatur?          ...          ...          ...         ...   144 

,,7  —  Bella  bis  quinis  operatus  annis  ...          ...   147 

V  —  1  Dixerat,  orationisque  cursum  ad  alia  quaadam  149 

„  1  —  Rupis  AchaBmeniae  scopulis,  ubi  versa  sequentum  151 

„  —  2  Animadverto,  inquam,  idque  uti  tu  dicis,  ita  esse 

consentio.  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  152 

,,2  —  Puro  clarum  lumine  Phcebum 153 

n  —  3  Turn  ego,  En,  inquam,  difficiliori  rursus  am- 

biguitate  confundor.  ...          ...          ...   154 

„       3  —  Qusenam  discors  fbedera  rerum  ...         ...   159 

„  —  4  Turn  ilia,  Vetus,  inquit,  haec  est  de  Providentia 

querela       ...          ...          ...          ...          ...   161 

,,4  —  Quondam  portions  attulit          ...          ...          ...   166 

tt  —  5  Quod  si  in  corporibus  sentiendis,  quamvis  ...  168 

,,5  —  Quam  variis  terras  animalia  permeant  figuris  !  170 

9t  —  6  Quoniam  igitur,  uti  paulo  ante  monstratum  est  171 

Appendix. — ^Etas  Prima  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  180 

„  Balades  de  Vilage  sanz  Peinture 182 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


[J1NCIPIT  TABULA  LIBRI  BOICII  DE  CON- 
LAj         SOLAC/CWE  PHILOSOPHIE. 

[Additional  MS.  10,340,  fol.  3.] 

LIBER   PRIMUS. 

1  Carmina  qui  quondam  studio  florewte  peregi. 

2  Hie  dum  mecura  tacitus. 

3  Heu  q«am  precipiti. 

4  Set  medicine  inquit  tempus. 

5  Tune  me  discussa. 

6  Haut !  aliter  tristicie.  '  MS.  hanc. 

7  Quisquis  composite. 

8  Sentis  ne  inquit. 

9  0  stelliferi  conditor  orbis. 

10  Hie  ubi  continuato  dolore. 

11  Cum  phebi  radijs. 

12  Prinium  igitwr  pateris  rogac^owibws. 

13  Nubibz^s  atris  condita. 

EXPLICIT   LIBER   PRIMUS. 

LIBER   SECUKDUS. 

1  Postea  paulisper  2  conticuit.  2  MS.  mper. 

2  Hec  cum  superba. 

3  Uellem  autem  pauea. 

4  Si  quantas  rapidis. 

5  His  igitur  si  et  pro  se. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

6  Cum  primo  polo. 

7  Tune  ego  uera  inq?/am. 

8  Contraqwe. 

9  Quisqm's  ualet  perhennem  cantus. 

10  Set  cum  racionum  iam  in  te. 

1 1  Felix  in  mirura  iam  prior  etas, 

12  Quid  autem  de  dignitatibws. 

13  !N"ouinms  quantos  dederat. 

14  Turn  ego  scis  inquam. 

15  Quicuwqwe  solam  mente. 

16  Set  ne  me  inexorabile. 

17  Qwod  muftdus  stabile  fide. 

EXPLICIT    LIBER    StfCEWDUS. 

LIBER  TERCIUS. 

1  Iam  tantum  ilia. 

2  Qui  sererft  ingeniuw. 

3  Tune  defixo  paululum. 

4  Quantas  rerum  flectat. 

5  Uos  quoqwe  terrena  awimalia. 

6  Quamuis  fluenter  diues. 

7  Set  dignitatib^s. 

8  Quamuis  se  tirio. 

9  An  uero  regna. 

10  Qui  se  ualet  esse  potentem. 

1 1  Gloria  uero  quam  fallax. 

1 2  Omne  hominuw  genus  in  terris. 

1 3  Quid  au#em  de  corporibws. 

1 4  Habet  hoc  uoluptas. 

15  Nichil  igit^r  dubium  est. 

16  Heu  que  miseros  tramite. 

17  Hacten?^  memlacio  forma??^. 

18  0  qui  perpetua. 

1 9  Quoniam  igitur  qui  scit. 

20  Nunc  omnes  pariter. 

N  21  Assencior  inq?/am  cuncta. 


TABLE   OF    CONTENTS. 

22  Quisqwe  profunda. 

23  Tune  ego  platoni  inqwam. 

24  Felix  qui  poterit. 

EXPLICIT   LIBER   T^JZCIUS. 

LIBEE  QUARTUS. 

1  Hec  cum  philosophia. 

2  Sunt  etenira  penne. 

3  Tune  ego  pape  inq?/-am. 

4  Quos  uides  sedere  celsos. 

5  Uides  ne  igitur  quanto. 

6  U[e]la  naricij  ducis. 

7  Tune  ego  fateor  inquam. 

8  Quid  tantos  iuuat. 

9  Huic  ego  uideo  inquam. 

10  Si  quis  arcturi l  sydera.  »  Ms.aritun. 

1 1  Ita  est  inquam. 

12  Si  uis  celsi  iura. 

13  lam  ne  igitur  uides. 

14  Bella  bis  quinis. 

EXPLICIT    LIBER   QUARTUS. 

INCIPIT  LIBER  QUIETUS. 

1  Dixerat  oracwnis  que  cursum. 

2  Rupis  achemenie. 

3  Animaduerto  inquam. 

4  Puro  claru?^  lumine. 

5  Tamen  ego  en  inquam. 

6  Que  nam  discors. 

7  Tamen  ilia  uetus. 

8  Quondam  portions  attulit. 

9  Quod  si  in  corporibws. 

10  Quam  uarijs  figuris. 

11  Quoniam  igiiur  uti  paulo  ante. 

EXPLICIT   LIBER   QUIETUS    ET  ULTIMU3. 


BOETHIUS   DEPLORES    HIS    MISFORTUNES. 


fBOOK  1. 

LMET.  i. 


[*fol.3b.] 


*  LIBER  PRIMUS. 

INCIPIT    LIBER   BOICII    DE   COJVSOLAC/OJVE   PHILOSOPHIE. 

Carrairca  qui  qiKmdam  studio  florercte  peregi. 

Boethius  deplores    (  Has  I  wepyng  am  constreined  to  bygynne  vers  of 
eticeie  y~  wv.^^,**   ++MWLV.  )}at   whilom   in  flory selling 


[The  fyrste 
Metwr.] 


his  misfortunes 
in  the  following 


A1 


antithesis 


Laments  his 
immature  old 
age. 


sorouful   matere. 

studie  made  delitable  ditees.     For  loo  rendyng  muses 
4  of  poetes  enditen  to  me  pinges  to  be  writen.   and  drery 
vers  of  wrecchednes  weten  my  face  wip  verray  teers. 
•jf  At  pe  leest  no  drede  ne  my3t[e]  ouer-come  po  muses. 
7  pat  pei  ne  were/a  felawes  and  folweden  my  wey.  pat  is 
to  seyne  when  I  was  exiled,  pei  pat  weren  glorie  of 
my  you3th  whilom  weleful  and  grene  cowforten  now  pe 
sorouful  werdes  of  me  olde  man.  for  elde  is  comen  vn- 
warly  vpon  me  hasted  by  pe  harmes  pat  I  haue.  and 
12  sorou  hap  comau^ded  his  age  to  be  in  me.     ^[  Heeres 
hore  ben  schad  ouertymelyche  vpon  myne  heued.  and 
pe  slak[e]  skyn  tremblep  vpon  myn  emty  body.   pilk[e] 
Death  turns  a       deeb  of  men  is  welful  bat  ne  comeb  not  in  seres  bat 

deaf  ear  to  the  J 

wretched.  })Qn   swete  (.i.   mirie.)  but   comep   to  wrecches  often 

17  yclepid. 

^T   Alias  alias  wip   how  deef  an  eere   deep   cruel 

to?4rnep  awey  fro  wrecches  and  naiep  to  closen  wep- 

when  Fortune      vj\cr  even.     1T  While  fortune  vnfeibful  fauoredfel  me 

was  favourable         * 

Bc2thiusme  near    wip  Iy3te  goodes  (.s.  temporels.)  pe  sorouful  houre  pat 

22  is  to  seyne  pe  deep  had[de]  almost  dreynt  myne  heued. 

but  in  his  1f  But  now  for  fortune  clowdy  hap  chaunged  hir  dis- 

adversity  life  is  ..  ..  ,..„   , 

unpleasantly        cevuable  chere  to  me  warde.  myn  vnpitouse  lilt  drawep 

protracted. 

a   long   vnagreable   dwellynges  in  me.      H  0   30  my 


1  of—  MS.  of  of. 

2  florysching — floryssyngo 

3  rendyng— rendynge 

4  be— ben 

5  torecchednes  —  wrecched- 

nesse 
teers— teeres 

6  leest— leeste 

w»?/3^[«]  ouer-come — xnyhte 

ouercomen 

8  seyne  whvn—seyn  whan 
!>  youith— MS.  J>03t,C.yowthe 
10  sorouful  werdes  —  sorful 

w ionics  [i.  fata] 
12  sorou—  sorwe 


12  ha\>— MS.  haj>e 
be — ben 

13  hore — hoore 
ben— arn 
mi/ne — myn 

14  «teft[e]— slake 
vpon — of 
emty— empty  d 
i>t^[e]— thilke 

15  welful — weleful 
come\>  not— comth  nat 

16  ,i.  mirie — omitted 
19  tourne\> — torneth 

naie}> — nayteth 
wepyng — wepynge 


20  While-Whil 
fauored[_e\ — fauorede 

21  lyite— lyhte 

.s.  temporels — oraittod 
sorouful  houre  —  sorvvful 
how  re 

22  seyne — seyn 
had[de']— hadde 
myne — myn 

23  ha\>— MS.  ha)»e 
chaunged     htr     disceyu- 

able — chaungyd  hyrc  de- 
ceyuable 

24  vnpitouse  lijf—  vnpietous 

lyf 


BOOK  1.  1 
PROSE  l.J 


PHILOSOPHY    APPEARS    TO    BOETIIIUS. 


frendes  what  or  wherto  auauntedfel  *e  me  to  be  wele-  why  did  his 

friends  call 

ful :  for  he  pat  hap  fallen  stood  not  in  stedfast  degree.    Jj  j 


not 

firm  that  hath 
thus  fallen. 


HIC   BUM    MECUM   TACITUS. 


TN  pe  mene  while  pat  I  stille  recorded [e]  pise  pinges  [The  firste 
-*•  wip  my  self,  and  markede  my  wepli  compleynte  wip  29 
office  of  poyntel.  I  saw  stondyng  aboue  pe  hey3t  of  my  philosophy 
heued  a  woman  of  ful  greet  reuerence  by  semblaunt  Boetkius, 
hir  eyen  brennyng  and  clere  seing  ouer  pe  comune  like  a  beautiful 

..  woman, 

my3t  of  men.  wip  a  lijfly  colowr  and  wip  swiche  vigoure  33 

and  strenkep  pat  it  ne  my3t[e]  not  be  emptid.     ^[  Al 

were  it  so  pat  sche  was  ful  of  so  greet  age.    pat  men  ne  and  of  great  age. 

wolde  not  trowe  in  no  manere  pat  sche  were  of  oure  36 

elde.   pe  stature  of  hir  was  of  a  doutous  iugement.  for  Her  height  could 

not  be  determined, 

suratyme  sche  constreyned[e]  and  schronk  hir  seluerc 

lyche  to  pe  comune  mesure  of  men.  and  suratyme  it 

semed[e]  pat  sche  touched[e]  pe  heuene  wip  pe  hey3te  40 

of  hir  heued.  and  when  sche  hef  hir  heued  heyer  sche  for  there  were 

times  when  she 


perced[e]  pe  selue  heuene.  so  pat  pe  sy3t  of  men  lokyng 
was  in  ydel.     ^[  Hir  elopes  weren  maked  of  ry3t  delye  h< 
predes  and  subtil  crafte  of  perdurable  matere.  pe  wyche  44 
elopes  sche  hadde  wouen  wip  hir  owen  hondes  :  as  I  Her  clothes  were 
knew  wel  aftir  by  hir  selfe.  declaryng  and  schewyng  and  indissoluble, 
to  me  pe  beaute.  ^  pe  wiche  elopes  a  derkenes  of  a  for-  47 
leten  and  dispised  elde  had[de]  duskid  and  dirkid  as 
it  is  wont  to  dirken  by-smoked  ymages.     lft  In  pe  ne- 


usyo 

besmoked  images. 


26  auaunted[e}— auauntede 
fie— ben 

27  lia\>— MS.  ha>e 
not— nat 
stedfast— stidefast 

28  In  \>e  mene — omitted 
recordedle]— recordede 

30  saw— MS.  sawe,  C.  sawh 
stondyng  above — MS.  stu- 

diyng  aboue,  C.  stond- 

inge  abouen 
hey$t — heyhte 
my— myn 

31  greet — gret 

32  brennyng — brennynge 
clere  seing— deer  seynge 

33  s wiche — swych 

31  strerike\> — strengthe 
it emptid  —  it  myhtc 


nat  ben  em  ted 
34  Al— alle 

36  wolde trowe — wolden 

nat  trowen 

37  iugement— luggement 

38  sumtyme — somtyme 
oonstreyned[e]     —      con- 

streynede 

schronk  —  MS.  schronke, 
C.  shronk 

39  lyche— lyk 

40  semed[e\ — semede 
touched[e] — towchede 

41  when— whan 

hef—  MS.  heued,  C.  hef 
heyer — hyere 

42  perced[e]— percede 
si/^t — syhte 
lokyng— lookyngc 


44  crafte— craft 

45  wouen — MS.  wonnen,  C. 

wouen 

owen      hondes    —    owne 
handes 

46  knew  —  MS.  knewe,    C. 
knewh 

selfe  declaryng  —  self  de- 

clarynge 
schewyng— shewynge 

47  derkenes — dirknesse 
forleten — forletyn 

48  dispised— despised 
hadide']    duskid  —  haddo 

dusked 
dirkid— derked 

49  by-smoked — the  smokedc 
ne}>erest[e}— nethereste 


A   DESCRIPTION    OF    PHILOSOPHY. 


raoOK  l. 
LPKOSE  i. 


On  the  lower  hem 
of  her  garment 
was  the  letter  n 
and  on  the 
upper  e. 


Between  the 
letters  were 
steps  like  a 
ladder. 


53 


56 


torn,  and  pieces 
had  been  carried 
violently  off. 

60 

In  her  right  hand 
she  bore  her 
books,  and  in  her 
left  a  sceptre. 


64 

Philosophy  bids 
the  Muses  leave 
Boethius, 

[*  fol.  4.] 

68 

as  they  only 
increase  his 
sorrow  with  their 
sweet  venom. 


72 

They  may 
accustom  the 
mind  to  bear 
grief,  but  cannot 
free  it  from  ita 


)>erest[e]  hem  or  bordure  of  fese  clones  -men  redden 
ywouen  in  swiche  a  gregkysche  .P.  fat  signifief  f  e  lijf 
actif.  And  abouen  fat  lettre  in  f  e  hey3est[e]  bordure 
a  grekysche  T.  fat  signifief  fe  lijf  contemplatif. 
•fl"  And  by-twene  fese  two  letties  fere  weren  seien  de- 
grees nobly  wrou^t  in  manere  of  laddres.  By  wyche 
degrees  men  my3t[en]  clymbe  fro  f  e  nef  emast[e]  lettiQ 
to  fe  ouermast[e].  ^[  Nafeles  hondes  of  sum  men 
hadde  korue  fat  clof  e  by  vyolence  and  by  strenkef . 
fl  And  eueryche  man  of  hem  hadde  born  away  syche 
peces  as  he  my^te  geetfe].  ^f  And  forsof  e  f  is  forsaide 
woman  her  bookes  in  hir  ry3t  honde.  and  in  hir  lefte 
honde  sche  ber  a  ceptre.  ^f  And  when  sche  sau^  fese 
poetical  muses  aprochen  aboute  my  bedde.  and  endyt- 
yng  wordes  to  my  wepynges.  sche  was  a  lytel  ameued 
and  glowed[e]  wif  cruel  eyen.  ^[  "Who  quod,  sche  haf 
suffred  aprochen  to  f  is  seek[e]  man  f  ise  comune  struin- 
petis  of  siche  a  place  fat  *men  clepen  fe  theatre. 
H  ]>Q  wyche  only  ne  asswagen  not  his  sorowes.  wif  no 
remedies,  but  fei  wolde  fecle  and  norysche  hem  wif 
swete  venym.  ^[  Forsofe  fise  ben  f o  fat  wif  f ornes 
and  prykkynges  of  talent}  or  affecciou?*s  wiche  fat 
ben  no  f  ing  frutefiyng  jior  profitable  destroyen  fe 
comes  plenteuouse  of  frutes  of  reson.  ^[  For  fei 
holden  f  e  hertes  of  men  in  usage,  but  fei  ne  delyuere 
not  folk  fro  maladye.  but  if  36  muses  hadde  wif  drawen 


50  \>ese— thise 

51  swiche — omitted 
gregkysche — grekysshe 

_•   ...'J*    i  _-!t»_i-i_ 


thise 
pere— ther 
seien — seyn 

55  nobly  wrourf— nobely  y- 

wroght 
wyche—  whiche 

56  myit[eri]  clymbe— myhten 

clymbyn 
ne\>emast[_e']— ^nethereste 

57  ouerma,st\e\ — vppcruste 
sum — some 

58  hadde   korue  —  hadden 
koruen 


58  clo\>e—  cloth 
strenke]?—  strengthe 

59  born—  MS.  borne,  C.  born 
away  syche  —  awey  swiche 

60  geet\_e\—  geten 
forsaide  —  forseide 

61  ber—  MS.  bere,  C.  bar 
bookes  —  smale  bookes 
honde  —  hand 

lefte  honde—  left  hand 

62  ber—  MS.  bere,  C.  baar 
sau  3  bese—  say  thise 

63  bedde-bed 


64  ameued—  amoued 

65  glowed[e\  —  glowodt; 
Ua\>—  MS.  liape,  C.  hath 

66  seek\e~\—  sike 
pise—  the 


66  strumpetis — strompetes 

67  siche — swich 
clepen — clepyn 

68  only  ne — nat  ponly  ne 
not  his — nat  hise 

no — none 

69  wolde fede — wolden  feeden 
norysche  hem  —  noryssyn 

hym 

72  ben—ne  ben 
frutefiyng— fructefiynge 

73  comes  plenteuouse — corn 

plcntyuos 

74  \>e  and  ne — both  omitted 

75  not— nat 

if  5e-MS.  if  pe,  C.  yif  yc 
hadde — hadderi 


BOOK  l.-\ 
MET,  2.  J 


PHILOSOPHY    REBUKES    THE    MUSES. 


fro  me  wif  }oure  flateries.  any  vnkonnyng  and  vnprofit- 
able  man  as  men  ben  wont  to  fynde  conmnely  amonges 
fe  peple.  I  wolde  wene  suffre  fe  lasse  greuously. 
^f  For-why  in  syche  an  vnprofitable  man  myne  ententes 
weren  no  f  ing  endamaged,  ^f  But  30  wif  drawen  me 
f  is  man  fat  haf  ben  norysched  in  studies  or  scoles  of 
Eleaticis  and  of  achademicis  in  grece.  ^[  But  gof  now 
rafer  awey  36  meremaydenes  wyche  ben  swete  til  it 
be  at  f  e  laste.  and  suftref  f  is  man  to  be  cured  and 
heled  by  myne  muses,  fat  is  to  say  by  notful  sciences. 
^[  And  f  us  f  is  compaygnie  of  muses  I-blamed  casten 
wrof  ely  f  e  chere  adourcward  to  f  e  erf  e  and  schewyng 
by  redenesse  hir  schame  f  ei  passeden  sorowfuly  f  e 
f  reschefolde.  ^[  And  I  of  whom  f  e  sy^t  plonged  in 
teres  was  derked  so  fat  I  ne  my^t[e]  not  knowe  what 
fat  woman  was  of  so  imperial  auctorite.  ^[  I  wex  al 
a-besid  and  astoned.  and  caste  my  sy3t  adoune  in  to  f  e 
erf  e.  and  bygan  stille  forto  abide  what  sche  wolde  dotf 
afterwarde.  ^[  J)o  come  sche  nere  and  sette  hir  doun 
vpon  f  e  vterrest[e]  corner  of  my  bedde.  and  sche  by- 
holdyng  my  chere  fat  was  cast  to  f  e  erf  e  heuy  and 
greuous  of  wepyng.  compleinede  wif  f ise  wordes  fat  I 
schal  sey  f  e  perturbaciovin  of  my 


Philosophy  is 
deeply  grieved, 
because  they  have 
not  seduced  one 
of  the  profane, 


80 

but  one  who  has 
been  brought  up 
in  Eleatic  and 
Academic  studies. 


84 

She  bids  the 
syren»  begone. 


87 

Blushing  f0r 
uhame  they  pass 
the  threshold. 


91 

Boethius  is 
astonished  at  the 
presence  of  the 
august  dame. 


95 

Philosophy 
expresses  her 
concern  for 
Boethius. 

98 


HEU    QUAM   PBECIPITI  MERSA    PROFUNDO. 

lias  how  f  e  f  ou3t  of  man  dreint  in  ouer  f  rowyng  [The  2de  Metur.] 
depnesse   dulleb    and   forletib   hys    propre   clere-  Drowned  in 

the  depth  of  cares 

nesse.  myntynge  to  gone  in  to  foreyne  derknesses  as  JJ1®  ^"er10868 
ofte  as  hys  anoious  bisines  wexif  wif-outerc  mesure.  clearness- 


A 


76  vnkonnyng — vnkunnyuge 

78  peple — poeple 

79  syche— swhiche 
myne — myn 

80  weren— ne  weeren 

81  Aaf-MS.  hape,  C.  hath 
ben — be 

scoles— schooles 

82  go\>— MS.  gppe,  C.  goth 

83  wyche— whiche  pat 
85  say — scyn 

85  notful— noteful 


86  I-blamed^- Iblamyd 

87  wro]>ely — wrothly 
adounward — downward 

88  redenesse — rednesse 
sorowfuly— sorwfully 

89  \>reschefolde— thresshfold 
sy-tf— syhte 

90  derked— dyrked 
iny^t[e'] knowe — myhte 

nat  knowen 

91  wex— wax 

92  a-besid—  abaysshed 
caste— cast 


92  adoune  in  to— down  to 

93  don—  MS.  done 

95    vterrestfje]  corner— vt- 

tereste  cornere 
bedde— bed 

97  compleinede    —    com- 
pley[n]de 

98  sey— seyen 

101  gone— goon 

102  bisines — bysynessc 
outen— owte 


8  PHILOSOPHY  ADDRESSES   BOETHIUS.  [THOSE  a. 

Man  in  his  bat  is  dryuen  to  and  fro  wib  worldly  wyndes.     ^T  bis 

freedom  knew 

gch  region  of       man  jjat  suratyme  was  fre  to  whom  J?e  heuene  was  open 

105  and  knowen  and  was  wont  to  gone  in  heuenelyche 

pajjes.  and  sau$  Jje  ly^tnesse  of  J>e  rede  sunne.  and  sau$ 

}>e  sterres  of  J>e  colde  moone.    and  wyche  sterre  in 

the  motions  of      heuene  vseb  wandryng  risorses  yflit  by  dyuerse  speres. 

the  planets,  and 

was  wont  to          H  bis  man  ouer  comere  hadde  comprehendid  al  bis  by 

investigate  the  J 

causes  of  storms,    noumbre.  of  accountyng  in  astronomye.     *J[  And  ouer 

J)is  he  was  wont  to  seche  J?e  causes  whennes  fe  soun- 

112  yng  wyMes  moeuen  and  bisien  Jje  smojje  water  of  Jje 

see.   and  what   spirit  turnej)   Jje   stable  heuene.   and 

whi  Jje  sterre  ry,sej>   oute  of  Jje  reede  eest.  to  falle 

the  nature  and      in  be  westren  wawes.  and  what  attemprib   be   lusty 

properties  of  the 

seasons,  houres  of  Jje  fyrste  somer  sesoim   Jjat  hi^tejj  and  ap- 

117  parailej?    Jje   erjje   wij?   rosene   floures.      ^[   And   who 

make]?  J?at  plenteuouse  autumpne  in  fulle  3eres  fleti]) 

wi]>  heuy  grapes.     ^[  And  eke  fis  maw  was  wont  to 

SosMofnatSe     ^G   $Q   dyuerses   causes  of  nature  pat  weren  yhid. 

121  ^f  Alias  now  liejj  he  emptid  of  ly^t  of  hys  J>ou3t.  and 

But  now,  alas,       hyS  nekke  is  pressid  wij)  heuy  cheynes  and  berej)  his 

to  fhepground!e     chere  cnclined  adoune  for  )>e  greetfe]  wey^t.  and  is 

124  constreyned  to  loke  on  foule  erpe. 

SET   MEDICINE    INQUIT  TEMPUS. 

[The  ijde  prose.]   T) vt  tyme  is  now  quod,  sche  of  medicine  more  ]?en  of 
More  need  of        **  compleynte.      IT  Forsobe   ben   sche  entendyng  to 

medicine  than  of 

complaint.  me  warde  wij)  al  pe  lokyng  of  hir  eyen  saide.     ^[  Art 

128  not  ]?ou  he  quod  sche  J>at  sumtyme  I-norschid  wi])  my 

Philosophy          mylke  and  fostrefd]  wib  my  meetes  were  ascaped  and 

addresses 

Boethius.  comen  to  corage  of  a  perfit  man.     *fi  Certys  I  3af  ]?e 


103  worldly— wordely 

104  sumtyme — whilom 

105  gone — goon 

106  pa\>es— paathes 
saw  3 — sawn 

ly  ^tnesse— lythnesse 

sunne— sonne 

saw?— MS.  sue,  C.  sawgh 

107  wyche — which 

108  risorses— recourses 
111  seche — seken 

sounyng— sownyngc 


114  ryse\>  oute— aryseth  owt 
falle— fallen 

115  westren — westrene 

116  fyrste— fyrst 

119  eke—ek 

120  dyuerses— diuerse 
yhid-MS.  yhidde 

121  lieb-~\ith 
emptid^-emted 

123  adoune — adown 
greet\e\     weytf  —   grete 
weyhte 


124  loke foule— lookeu  on 

the  fool 
125, 126  >e»— than 

127  al— alle 
saide — seyde 

128  sumtyme — whilom 
I-norschid  —  MS.    I-nor- 

schide,  C.  noryssed 

129  fostre[_d~]— fostered 
my — myne 

130  Certys— Certes 


BOOK  l.T 
MET.  3.  J 


PHILOSOPHY    ENLIGHTENS   BOETHIUS. 


syche  armures  pat  pf  pou  pi  self  ne  haddest  first  caste 
hem  away.  J)ei  schulden  haue  defendid  pe  in  sykernesse 
pat  may  not  be  ouer-comen.  ^f  Knowest  pou  me  .not. 
*  Why  art  pou  stille.  is  it  for  schame  or  for  astonynge. 
It  were  me  leuer  pat  it  were  for  schame.  but  it  semep 
me  pat  astonyrage  hap  oppressed  pe.  ^f  And  whan 
sche  say  me  not  oonly  stille.  but  wip-outen  office  of 
tonge  and  al  doumbe.  sche  leide  hir  honde  softely  vpon 
my  brest  and  seide.  *[[  Here  nis  no  peril  quod  sche. 
^f  He  is  fallen  in  to  a  litargie.  whiche  pat  is  a  comune 
sekenes  to  hertes  pat  ben  desceiued.  ^f  He  hap  a  litel 
for^eten  hym  self,  but  certis  he  schal  ly^tly  remerabren 
hym  self.  ^[  3i£  so  be  pat  he  hap  knowerc  me  or  now. 
and  pat  he  may  so  done  I  wil  wipe  a  litel  hys  eyen. 
pat  ben  derked  by  pe  cloude  of  mortel  pinges  ^[  }?ise 
wordes  seide  sche.  and  wip  pe  lappe  of  hir  garment 
yplitid  in  a  frounce  sche  dried[e]  myn  eyen  pat  were 
ful  of  pe  wawes  of  my  wepynges. 


132 


[•  fol.  4  b.] 
She  fears  bis 
silence  proceeds 
from  shame 
rather  than  from 
stupidity. 

137 

She  finds  him, 
however,  in  a 
lethargy,  the 
distemper  of  a 
disordered  mind. 

141 

To  make  his  re- 
covery an  easy 
matter,  she  wipes 
his  eyes,  which 
were  darkened  by 
the  clouds  of 
mortal  things, 

146 

and  dries  up  bis 
tears. 


TUNG    ME    DISCUSSA. 

T%us  when  pat  ny^t  was  discussed  and  chased  awey.    [The  &*•  Metwr.] 

Ix      ,     ,  Her  touch  dispels 

J     derknesses  iorleiten  me.   and  to  myn  eyen  repeyre  the  darkness  of 

his  soul, 

a^eyne  her  firste  strenkep.  and   ry^t  by  ensample  as  151 

pe  sonne  is  hid  when  pe  sterres  ben  clustred.  pat  is  to  just  as  the  heavy 

..  vapours,  that 

sey  whe/j  sterres  ben  eouered  wib  cloudes  by  a  swifte  darken  the  skies 

and  obscure  the 

wynde  pat  hy3t  chorus,   and  pat  pe  nrmame?^t  stont  sunlight,  are 


chased  away  by 

clerked  by  wete  ploungy  cloudes.  and  pat  pe  sterres  not  the  north  wim*' 
apperen  vporc  heuene.     ^[  So  pat  pe  ny^t  semep  sprad  156 
vpon   erpe.      ^[  Yif   pan   pe   wynde   pat   hy^t  borias 


131  syche  —  swiche 


caste—  C.  cast 

132  away  —  awey 
schulden  haue  —  sholdeii 

ban 

133  not  be  —  nat  ben 
Knowest  bou  —  knowestow 

134  art  bou  —  artow 
136  hab—  MS.  babe 
138  tonge  —  tunge 

doumbe  —  dowmb 
honde  —  hand 


139 

140  litargie  whiche— litarge 
which 

141  sekenes— sykenesse 
141, 143  hab— MS.  babe 
144  done — doon 

wil  wipe— viol  wypen 

146  garment — garnement 

147  drie<Ke\— dryede 
were — weeren 

148  ful— fulle 

149  w hen — whan 

150  myn — mync 


150  repeyre — repeyrede 

151  a^eyne — omitted 
herfirste—h\T  fyrst 

152  hid— MS,  hidde,  C.  hid 
when — whan 

153  sey— seyn 
when — whan 

154  hy}t— heyhte 
chorus— MS.  thorus 
stont— MS.  stonde,  C.  stant 

157  ban — thanne 
wynde— wynd 
hy$t — hyhte 


10  BOETHIUS    RECOGNIZES    HIS    PHYSICIAN.  ' 


FKOSES. 


158  sent  out  of  pe  kaues  of  pe  contre  of  Trace  betip  pis 


nuwinfj  the  return  ny^t.  bat  is  to  seyn  chasip  it  away  and  descouereb  be 

of  the  hidden  day, 

*&•       ^  ^an    schinep    phebws   yshaken   wij> 


hLr  Ziden  Mght*h  Sode7ne  ly#  «wd  smytep  wip  hys  bemes  ire  memelyrcg 
162  eyen. 

iMS.hanc.  HAUT  l    ALITER   TRISTICIE. 


[The  3d*  prose.]  "Dy^  so  ari(^  none  oper   wyse  pe  cloudes  of  sorowe 

The  clouds  of  ||j     -,  .        -,        , 

Borrow  being  dis-  J      aissolued  ana  (ion  &WQV.     V  1  took  heuene.  and 

pelled,  Boethius 

recollects  the  recevueae  mynde  to   knowe  be  face  of  my  fyciscien. 

features  of  his  J      J 

Physician,  ^  gQ  j,at  J  gette  myne    eyen   Qn   j^   and  festned[e]  my 


lokyn^.     I   byholde  my  norice  philosophic,  in   whos 

covers  to  be 


Philosophy.         houses  I  hadde  conuersed  and  haunted  fro  my 

169  and  I  seide  Jjus.     ^f  0  J?ou  maistresse  of  alle  uertues 

He  addresses  her.  descendid  fro  J?e  souereyne  sete.     Whi  art  ]?ou  ccmen 

in  to  fis  solitarie  place  of  myn  exil.     ^f  Art  })ou  comen 

172  for  J?ou  art  mad  coupable  wij)  me  of  fals[e]  blames. 

she  expresses  her  IT  0  quod  sche  my  norry  scholde  I  forsake  be  now.  and 

concern  for  him, 

scholde  I  not  parte  wij?  J>e  by  comune  trauaille  Jje  charge 

pat  J?ou  hast  suffred  for  envie  of  my  name.     ^[  Certis 

176  it  nar[e]  not  leueful  ne  sittyng  to  philosophic  to  leten 

and  tells  him  that  wib-outen  compaignie  be  wey  of  hym  bat  is  iwnocent. 

slie  is  willing  to  ' 

tunes  his  misfor"    IT  Scholde  I  pan  redoute  my  blame  and  agrisen  as 


179  per  were   byf  alien   a   newe   ping.    q.  d.    non.     ^f  For 
she  fears  not  any  trowest  pou  pat  philosophi  be  now  alperfirst  assailed 

accusation,  as  if 

new       \n  perils  by  folk  of  wicked[e]  maneres.     ^f  Haue  I  not 


For  before  the  age  stryuen  wip  ful  greet  strife  in  olde  tyme  byf  ore  pe 
tended  against      age  of  my  plato   a3eins  pe  foolhardines  of  foly  and 
184  eke    pe    same    plato    lyuyng.    hys    maistre    socrates 
socrateshtri-help     deserued[e]  victorie  of  vnry^tful  deep  in  my  presence. 
^]"  )5e  heritage  of  wyche  socrates.  pe  heritage  is  to  seyne 


158  sent— isent 

160  \>an — thanne 

161  sodeyne — sodeyn 

163  none  oper— non  oother 
sorowe — sorwe 

165  knowe — knowen 

166  myne—myn 
festned[e\ — fastnede 

170  fro— from 

170, 171  art  pott— artow 


172  mad—  MS.  made,  C.  mak- 
fals[e±—  false  [ed 

174  parte—  parten 

176  nar[_e]  —  nere 
sittyng—  sittingc 

178  pan—  thanne 

179  \>ing—  thing 
q.d.  wow—  omitted 

180  trowest  \>ou  —  trowestow 
al  \>erfirst—  alderlirst 


181  wicked[e]—  wikkede 

182  strife—  strif 

183  aieins  —  ayenis 
foolJiardines  —  foolhardi- 

nesse 
foly—  folie 

184  eke—  ek 

185  deserued[e]  —  desseruede 

186  wyche—  the  which 
seyne—  scyn 


rtooK  i.  1 

I'KOSE  3.J 


THE   TRIALS    OF    PHILOSOPHY    AND    PHILOSOPHERS. 


11 


be  doctrine  of  be  whiche  socrates  in  hys  oppinioim  of  or  the  inheritance 

of  Socrates  the 

felicite  bat  I  clepe  welfulnesse     ^  Whan  bat  be  people  J^gSSftSH 
of  epicuriens  and  stoyciens  and  many  ober  enforceden  to  get  a  part* 
hem  to  go  rauische  eueryche  man  for  his  part  bat  is  190 

to  seyne.  bat  to  eueryche  of  hem  wolde  drawen  to  be  Philosophy  with- 

stood them, 
defence  of  his  oppinioim  be  wordes  of  socrates.     ^[  )3ei 

as  in  partie  of   hir   preye  todrowew  me  criynge  and 
debatyng  ber  a^eins.  and  tornen  and  torente?*  my  clobes  194 
bat   I   hadde  wouew  wib   myn   handes.    and  wib    be 
cloutes  bat   bei  had  den  arased  oute  of  my  clobes.    bei  imagined  that 

Y        they  had  got 

wenten  awey  wenyng  bat  I  hadde  gon  wib  hew  euery  possession  of  her. 
dele.      In   whiche   epicuryens   and  stoyciens.    for   as  198 
myche  as  ber  semedfel  somme  traces  and  steppes  of  Thus,  clothed 

with  her  spoils, 

myne   habit,    be  folye  of  men  wenyng  bo  epicuryens 


and  stoyciens  my  *familers  peruertede  (.s.  persequendo)        p  foi.  5.3 
somme  boru}  be  errour  of  be  wikked[e]  or  vnkunn-  202 
yngfel  multitude  of  hem.     •!]"  bis  is  to  seyne  for  bei  Philosophy 

adduces 

semeden  philosophres  :  bei  weren  pursued  to  be  deeb  examples  of  wise 
and  slayn.     f  So  yif  bou  hast  not  knowen  be  exilynge  Choired  under 
of  anaxogore.   ne  be  empoysenyng  of  socrates.  ne  be  206 
towrmento  of  seno  for  bei  fweren]  straungers.     ^T  3it  difficulties  on 

account  of  being 

my^test  bou  haue  knowen  be  senectiens  and  be  Canyos  her  disciples. 
and  be  sorancis  of  wyche  folk  be  renou^  is  neyber  ouer 
oolde  ne  vnsolenrpne.     ^f  })e  whiche  men  no  bing  ellys  210 
ne  brou3t[e]  hem  to  be  deeb  but  oonly  for  bei  weren 
enfourmed  of  my  maneres.    and  semedew  moste  vnlyke 
to  be  studies  of  wicked  folk.     ^[  And  forbi  bou  au^test 
not  to  wondre  bou}  bat  I  in  be  bitter  see  of  bis  lijf  be  214 


188  welfulnesse  —  wcleful- 

189  o\>er — oothre          [nesse 

190  go— gon 
eueryche — euerich 

191  seyne — seyn 
to — omitted 
eueryche — euerich 

194  tornen — read  coruen,  C. 
koruen 

195  wouen — MS.  wonnow,  0. 
woueu 

196  arased — arraoed 

197  gon— MS.  gone,  C.  gon 

198  dele— del 


199  semed[e] — semede 
and — or 

200  myne — myn 
wenyng— MS.  wevyng,  C. 

weninge 

202  \>orui,— thorw 
wikked\e\— wikkede 
vnkunnyng[_e~]  —  vnkunn- 

203  seyne — seyn  \>ai      [ynge 

204  semeden — semede 
pursued  —  MS.  pursuede, 

C.  pursued 

205  slayn  —  MS.  slayne,  C. 
slayu 

207  [«wiv»] — weercn 


208  myrfest    \>ou     haue  — 
myhtestow  han 

209  sorancis — sorans 
wyche — which 

is — nis 

210  oolde— MS.  colde,  C.  old 

211  brou^t\e\— browhte 

212  enfourmed  —  MS.  vn- 
fourmed,  C.  enforuiyd 

my— myne 
vnlyke — vnlyk 

213  wicked  folk  —  wikkodo 
an^test — owhtest     [foolke 

214  ivondre — wondrcn 
bitter— bittrc 


12 


THE   AIM    OF    PHILOSOPHY. 


[BOOK  1 
MET.  1. 


It  is  the  aim  of 
Philosophy  to 
displease  the 
wicked, 

217 

who  are  more  to 
be  despised  than 
dreaded,  for  they 
have  no  leader. 

220 


If  Philosophy  is 
attacked  by  the 
wicked,  she  re- 
tires within  her 
fortress, 

225 

leaving  the  enemy 
busy  among  the 
useless  baggage, 
and  laughing  to 
scorn  such  hunt- 
ers of  trifles. 


fordryuen  wip  tempestes  blowyng  aboute.  in  pe  whiche 
tempeste  pis  is  my  most  pwrpos  pat  is  to  seyn  to  dis- 
plese  to  wikked[e]  men.  ^[  Of  whiche  schrews  al  be 
pe  oost  neuer  so  grete  it  is  to  dispyse.  for  it  nis  gouerned 
wip  no  leder  of  resoune.  but  it  is  rauysched  only  by 
flityng  errour  folyly  and  ly^tly.  ^f  And  if  J)ei  somtyme 
makyrcg  an  ost  a^eynest  vs  assaile  vs  as  strengere.  oure 
leder  drawep  to  gedir  hys  rycchesse  in  to  hys  toure. 
and  pei  ben  ententif  aboute  sarpulers  or  sachels  vn- 
profitable  forto  taken,  but  we  pat  ben  hey^  abouen  syker 
fro  al  tumulte  and  wode  noise,  ben  stored  and  enclosed 
in  syche  a  palays.  wliider  as  pat  chateryng  or  anoying 
folye  ne  may  not  attayne.  ^f  We  scorne  swiche 
rauiners  and  honters  of  foulest[e]  pinges. 


[The  ferthe 

Meter.] 

He  who  hath 

triumphed  over 

fate,  and  remained 

insensible  to  the 

232 

changes  of  For- 
tune, shall  not  be 
moved  by  storms, 
nor  by  the  fires 
of  Vesuvius, 
nor  by  the  fiercest 
thunderbolts. 

236 


Fear  not  the 
tyrant's  rage. 

He  who  neither 
fears  nor  hopes 


QUISQtTIS  COMPOSITO. 

TTTho  so  it  be  pat  is  clere  of  vertue  sad  and  wel  ordinat 
of  lyuyng.  pat  hap  put  vnderfote  pe  pro  wed  [e] 
wierdes  and  lokip  vpry^t  vpon  eyper  fortune,  he  may 
holde  hys  chiere  vndiscomfited.  ^[  )pe  rage  ne  pe  manace 
of  pe  coramoeuyng  or  chasyng  vpwarde  hete  fro  pe 
botme.  ne  schal  not  rnoeue  pat  man.  ne  pe  vnstable 
mountaigne  pat  hy^t  veseuus.  pat  wirchep  oute  poru} 
hys  broken[e]  chemineys  smokyng  fires.  ^[  !N"e  pe  wey 
of  ponder  Iy3t  pat  is  wont  to  smyte  hey^e  toures  ne 
schal  not  mouene  pat  man.  ^[  Wherto  pen  wrecches 
drede  36  tyrauntes  pat  ben  wode  and  felownes  wip-outen 
ony  strenkep.  ^[  Hope  after  no  ping  ne  drede  nat.  and 


216  displese— displesen 

217  wikkedle]— wikkede 
schrews — shrewes 

218  oost— glossed  odes  in  C. 
grete— gret 

219,  222  leder— ledere  ] 

220  flityng— fleetyuge 

te«f-ktuj 

«/— yif 

221  aieynest— ayenis 

222  to rycchesse,  to  gy- 

dere  hise  rychesses 

toure — towr 
23-4  hey$ — heye 


225  al— alle 
ben— omitted 
stored — warnestored 

226  syche— swich. 
]?at— omitted 

227  scorne — schorne 

228  rauiners fringes  — 

rauyneres  &  henteres  of 
fowleste  thinges 

229  clere— cleer 

230  lyuyng— leuynge 
ha\>— MS.  liab<^ 
vnderfole — v  1 1  dir-  foot 
pr.jwed\e]— prowde 


231  may chiere— -may  his 

cheere  holde 

232  manace — manesses 

233  \>e—  be  see 

235  /i|/3Z— hihte 
veseuus — MS.  veseuus 
iairche\> — writith 

236  broken^— brokene 
smokyng— s  m  oky  n  ge 

237  smyte — smyten 

238  Wherto  pen  —  wharto 
thanne 

239  fel-owncs ony — felo- 

nus  withowtc  any 


BOETHIUS  SPEAKS  OF  HIS  TROUBLES.  13 

so  schalt  bou  desarmen  be  ire  of  bilke  vnmysty  tyraunt.  for  anytime  dis- 

arms thb  tyrant. 
^[  But  who  so  fat  quakyng  dredef  or  desire])  f  ing  fat  HO  whose  heart 

nis  not  stable  of  his  ry^t.  fat  man  fat  so  dof  haf  cast  jf^™8^  h. 
awey  hys  schelde  and  is  remoeued  fro  hys  place,   and  own  fetters- 
enlacef  hym   in  fe  cheyne   wif  whiche   he   may  be  245 
drawen. 

SENTIS   NE   INQUIT. 

FElest  f  ou  quod  sche  f  ise  f  inges  and  entren  f  ei  ou^t  [The  verthe 
prose.] 
in  bi  corage.     *R"  Art  bou  like  an  asse  to  be  harpe.  Philosophy  seeks 

to  know  the 

Whi  wepest  f  ou  whi  spillest  fou  teres.     *fi  Yif  fou 


abidest  after  helpe  of  fi  leche.  fe  byhouef  discouere  fi  250 

wounde.     IT  bo  .1.  bat  hadde  gadered  strenkeb  in  my  BoetMus  com- 

J  plains  of  For- 

corage  answeredfe]  and  seide.  and  nedef  it  jitte  quod  J^e's  unrelenting 

.1.  of  rehersyng  or  of  amonic/ouw.   and  sche  we]?  it  not  253 

ynom  by  hym  self  be  scharpnes  of  fortune  bat  wexeb  is  not  she  moved, 

J  J      J  Y  he  asks,  with  the 


woode  a3eynes  me.     ^f  NQ  moeue})  it  nat  fe  to  seen  J?e 

face  or  Jje  manere  of  fis  place  (.i.  prisouw.).     ^[  Is  ])is 

fe  librarie  wyche  J?at  ]?ou  haddest  chosen  for  a  ry^t  257 

certeyne  sege  to  ]?e  in  myne  house.     ^[  )?ere  as  J>ou  His  library,  MS 

desputest  of  [te]  wi])  me  of  J?e  sciences  of  finges  touch- 


ing  diuinitee  and  touchyng  mankynde.     ^f  Was  fan  , 

myn  habit  swiche  as  it  is  now.  was  fan  my  face  or  261 

quasi  dtccret  non. 

my  chere  swiche  as  now.  ^f  Whan  I  sou^tfe]  wif  J?e 
secretys  of  nature,  whan  fou  enfowrmedest  my  maners 
and  fe  resouw  of  al  my  lijf.  to  fe  ensaumple  of  fe  ordre  264 

ironice 

of  heuene.     ^[  Is  nat  bis  be  gerdouri  bat  I  refere  to  be  is  this,  he  asks, 

-     r      the  reward  of  his 

to  whom  I  haue  be  obeisaunt.     II   Certis  Jjou  enfo^?'-  fidelity? 
inedist  by  be  moube  of  plato  bis  sentence,     bat  is  to  piato  (de  ReP.  v.) 

says  that  those 

seyne    fat    commune   finges   or    comunabletes   weren  Commonwealths 


241   schalt  \>ou  desarmen— 
shaltow  deseruien 

243  rfop-MS.  dope,  C.  doth 
ftap-MS.  hape,  C.  hath 
cast— MS.  caste,  C.  cast 

244  schelde— sheld 
remoeued  fro  —  rcmwed 

from 

245  whiche— the  which 
be— ben 

247  Felest  \>ou— Felistow 
ou^t — awht 


248  art  \>ou  —  artow 

249  wepest  po«—  V7epistow 


wep 

spillest  ]pou  —  spillestow 
252    answered[e]  —  answer- 

ede 
255  woode  —  wood 

257  wyche—  which 

258  myne  house  \ere  —  myn 
hows  ther 

259  desputest  of\te}—  des- 
putedest  ofte 

260  ban—  thanne 


261  it  and  paw—  both  omitted 
261,  262  sieiche—  swich 

262  sou-$t[_e~]—  sowhte 

ret 


_ 

263  secretys  —  secret? 
me,  C.  my 


y 
S. 


264  aZ-alle 

265  gerdoun  —  p:erdouns 

266  enfourmedist  —  conform- 
edest 

267  mou\>e  —  mowht 

268  comunabletes  —  comuna- 
litces 


14 


PHILOSOPHERS    TO   BE    POLITICIANS. 


TTiOOK  1. 

[PROSE  4. 


are  most  happy 
tliat  are  governed 
by  philosophers, 
or  by  those  wlio 
study  to  be  so. 
[•  fol.  5  b.] 

272 

The  same  Plato 
urged  philoso- 
phers to  take 
upon  them  the 
management  of 
public  affairs, 

276 

lest  it  should  fall 
into  the  hands  of 
unprincipled 
citizens. 

270 

Uoethius  declares 
that  he  desired  to 
put  in  practice 
(in  the  manage- 
ment of  public 
affairs)  what  he 
had  learnt  in  his 
retirement. 

284 

He  sought  to  do 
good  to  all,  but 
became  involved 
in  discord  with 
the  wicked. 


288 

Consciousness  of 
integrity  made 
him  despise  the 
anger  of  the  most 
powerful. 

292 

He  opposed 
Conigastus, 
and  put  a  stop  to 
the  doings  of 
Triguilla. 


296 

He  put  his  au- 


"blysful  yif  fei  fat  haden  studied  al  fully  to  wisdom 
gouerneden  f  ilke  f  inges.  or  ellys  yif  it  so  by-felle  fat 
f  e  gouernours  *of  coramunalites  studieden  in  grete  wis- 
domes.  ^[  ))ou  saidest  eke  by  f  e  mouf  e  of  fe  same 
plato  fat  it  was  a  necessarie  cause  wyse  men  to  taken 
and  desire  f  e  gouernaiiftce  of  comune  fiwges.  for  fat  f  e 
gouernementes  of  comune  citees  y-left  in  f  e  hondes  of 
felonous  towrnientowrs  Citi^enis  ne  scholde  not  brynge 
inne  pestilence  and  destrucczouw,  to  goode  folk.  ^[  And 
f erfore  I  folowynge  f  ilk  auctoritee  (.s.  platonis).  desiryng 
to  put[te]  furfe  in  execusiouw  and  in  acte  of  comune 
a,dministracio\in  f  o  finges  fat  .1.  hadde  lerned  of  f  e 
among  my  secre  restyng  whiles.  ^[  J3ou  and  god  fat 
put[te]  fee  in  f e  f ou3tis  of  wise  folk  ben  knowen  wif 
me  fat  no  fing  brou^tfe]  me  to  maistrie  or  dignite  :  but 
f  e  comune  studie  of  al  goodenes.  ^[  And  f  er-of  comef 
it  fat  by-twixen  wikked  folk  and  me  han  ben  greuouse 
discordes.  fat  ne  my^ten  not  be  relesed  by  prayeres. 
^f  For  f  is  libertee  haf  fredom  of  conscience  fat  f  e  wraf  f  e 
of  more  my^ty  folk  haf  alwey  ben  despised  of  me  for 
saluac^ouft  of  ry^t.  ^f  How  ofte  haue  .1.  resisted  and 
wifstonde  filk  man  fat  hy^t[e]  conigaste  fat  made 
alwey  assautes  a^eins  f  e  propre  fortunes  of  poure  feble 
folke.  ^[  How  ofte  haue  .1.  jitte  put  of.  or  cast  out 
hym  trigwille  p?fouost  of  f  e  kynges  hous  bofe  of  f  e 
wronges  fat  he  hadde  bygonfne]  to  done  and  eke  fully 
performed,  ^f  How  ofte  haue  I  couered  and  defended 
by  f  e  auctorite  of  me  put  a^eins  perils,  fat  is  to  seine  put 
myne  auctorite  in  peril  for  f  e  wreched  pore  folke.  fat 


270 

271  in  grete  wisdomes — to 
geten  wysdom 

272  e&e-ek 

275  comune— omitted 
y-left— MS.  yleftc,  C.  yleft 

270  Citi^enis— citeseues 
brynge  inne — bryngen  in 

278  per/ore— therfor 
\>ilk— thilke 
desiryng— desired 

279  put[tel  fur\>e  —  putten 


forth 
280  bo—  thilke 
282  vut\te]—  putte 
283  brou}t[e}—  ne  browhte 
284  be—  omitted 
al  goodenes  —  alle  good- 
nesse 
cnw.e\>  —  comth 
287,  288  7i«b—  MS.  habe 
289  saluacioun  —  sauacioun 
290  \>ilk—  thilke 

290  conigaste  —  MS.  coniu- 
gaste 
292  ofte—  ofte  ek 
litte—  omitted 
294  bygon\ne~]—  bygunne 
done—  Aon 
295  couered  —  MS.  couerede, 
C.  couered 
296  put—  MS.  putte,  C.  put 
seine  —  seyn 
297  myne  —  ruyn 

BOOK  1.   1 
PHOSE  4.J 


BOETIIIUS    DEFENDS    HIS    OWN    CONDUCT. 


15 


f  e  couetise  of  straungeres  vnpunyschedtarmentid  alwey 
wif  myseses  and  greuaunces  oute  of  noumbre.  ^[  JSTeuer 
man  drow  me  ^itte  fro  ry^t  to  wrong.  When  I  say  f  e 
fortunes  and  f  e  rychesse  of  f  e  people  of  f  e  prouinces 
ben  harmed  eyfer  by  priue  rauynes  or  by  comune 
tributis  or  cariages.  as  sory  was  I  as  fei  fat  sufFred[e] 
f  e  harme.  Glosa.  ^[  Whan  fat  theodoric  f  e  kyng  of 
gothes  in  a  dere  ^ere  hadde  hys  gerners  ful  of  corne 
and  comaundede  fat  no  maw  ne  scholdfe]  bie  no  corne 
til  his  corne  were  solde  and  fat  at  a  dere  greuous  pris. 
^[  But  I  wzt&stod  fat  ordinaunce  and  ouer-com  it 
knowywg  al  f  is  f  e  kyng  hym  self.  ^[  Coempciouw  fat 
is  to  seyn  comune  achat  or  bying  to-gidere  fat  were 
establissed  vpon  poeple  by  swiche  a  manere  imposiciouw 
as  who  so  bou3t[e]  a  busshel  corn  he  most[e]  ^eue  fe 
kyng  f  e  fifte  part.  Textus.  ^[  Whan  it  was  in  f  e 
soure  hungry  tynie  fere  was  establissed  or  cried  greuous 
and  inplitable  coempcioura  fat  men  seyn  wel  it  schulde 
greetly  towrmewtyn  and  endamagen  al  f  e  prouince  of 
compaigne  I  took  strif  a^eins  f  e  prouost  of  fe  pretorie 
for  comune  profit.  ^[  And  fe  kyng  knowyng  of  it  I 
ouercom  it  so  fat  f e  coempciou?e  ne  was  not  axed  ne 
took  effect,  ^[  Paulyn  a  counseiller  of  Rome  f  e  rychesse 
of  f  e  whyche  paulyn  f  e  houndys  of  f  e  palays.  fat  is  to 
seyn  fe  omceres  wolde  han  deuoured  by  hope  and 
couetise. .  ^[  3it  drow  I  hym  out  of  f  e  lowes  .s.  faucib?^ 
of  hem  fat  gapederc.  ^[  And  for  as  myche  as  f  e  peyne 
of  f  e  accusac^oura  aiuged  byforn  ne  scholde  not  sodeynly 
henten  ne  punischen  wrongfuly  Albyn  a  counseiller  of 


thority  in  peril 
for  the  defence  of 
poor  folk. 

I  never  deviated, 
he  says,  from  the 
path  of  justice. 

302 

I  felt  for  those 
that  were  wrong- 
fully oppressed. 


306 


310 


313 

I  opposed  success- 
fully Coemption 
in  Campania. 

316 


I  saved  Paulinus 
out  of  the  hands 
of  the  hounds  of 
the  palace 
(Patatini  canes). 

321 


324 

I  defended 
Albinus  against 
Cyprian. 


298  vnpunysched — vnpunys- 
sed 

299  myseses— myseyses 

300  drow  — MS.   drowe,  C. 
weth  drowh 

%itte — yit 
wrong — wronge 

301  rycliesse — richesses 
\>e  (2)— omitted 

302  Jiarmed  ey\>er— harmyd 
or  amenused  owther 

303  tributis— tribute 
suffred[e}— suffreden 


304  harme — harm 

305  yre— yer 

305  tiys— hise 

305,  306,  307  corne— corn 

306  sclwldte]   bie  —  sholde 
byen 

308  But  I  withstod  —  Booco 
withstood    (MS.    with- 
stode) 
com— MS.  come,  C.  com 

311  swiche — swich 

312  bouit[_e~}— bowhte 
busshel— bossel 


312  most[e]  ^eue — mosteyeue 
315  inplitable— ^vnplitable 


319  ouercom  —  MS.    ouer- 
come,  C.  ouer  com 

320  counseiller — consoler 
rychesse — rychesses 

321  whyche— which 

322  wolde — wolden 

323  drow— MS.    drowe,    C. 
drowh 

321  myche — moche 

326  punischen— punisso 


1.6  THE  ACCUSERS  OP  BOETHIUS. 

Eome.  I  put[te]  me  a^enis  f  e  hates  and  indignaci'ouws 

328  of  f  e  accuse  w  Ciprian.    ^[  Is  it  not  fan  ynought  yseyn 

For  the  love  of      bat  I  haue  purchased  greetfe]  discordes  aaeins  mv  self. 

justice  I  forfeited    '  J 


t  our  at         kut  *  augnte  be  more  asseured  a3enis  alle  of  er  folk  fat 
for  Jje  loue  of  ry^twisnesse  .1.  ne  reserued[e]  neuer  no 
332  f  ing  to  my  self  to  hem  ward  of  f  e  kynges  halle  .s.  officers. 
by  f  e  whiche  I  were  f  e  more  syker.     ^[  But  f  oru}  f  e 
Boethius  makes     same  accusows   accusyng  I  am   cowdempned.     ^T  Of 

mention  of  his 


j,e  noumbre  of  whiche  accusowrs  one  basilius  fat  som- 
tlus>  tyme  was  chased  out  of  f  e  kynges  seruice.  is  now  com- 

337  pelled  in  accusyng  of  my  name  for  nede  of  foreine 
moneye.     ^f  Also  opilion  and  Gaudenci^s  han  accused 
me.  al  be  it  so  fat  f  e  Justice  regal  hadde  suwtyme  demed 
340  hem  bof  e  to  go  in  to  exil.  for  her  treccheries  and  fraud  es 
wif-outen  noumbre.     ^f  To  whiche  iugement  J?ei  wolde 
not  obeye.    but  defendedfe]  hem  by  sykernesse  of  holy 
[*  foi.  6.]       houses.  *J?at  is  to  seyne  fledden  in  to  seyntuaries.  and 
Kn  Smmanded   wnan  I3^  was  aperceiued  to  fe  k}Tig.  he  comaundedfe] 
onSooeunteority    but  fat  fei  voided  [e]  f  e  citee  of  Rauenne  by  certeyne 
crime*.  day  assigned  fat  men  scholde  merken  hem  on  f  e  for- 

347  heued  wif  an  hoke  of  iren  and  chasen  hem  out  of  toune. 
Bat,  on  the  day     ^T  Now  what  bing  semef  f  e  my^tfe]  be  lykned  to  bis 

this  sentence  was  p 

to  be  executed,      cruelte.     For  certys  bilk  same  day  was  receyued  be  ac- 

they  accused  him, 

mony'agaS1"      cusyng  of  my  name  by  f  ilk[e]  same  accusowrs.  ^f  What 

ecepted*  may  be  seid  herto.    haf  my  studie  and  my  konnyng 

352  deserued  fus.  or  ellys  f  e  forseide  dampnaciouw  of  me. 

made   fat  hem   ry^tful   accusowrs   or   no    (q.d.    now). 

Fortune,  if  not      f[  "Was  not  fortune  asshamed  of  bis.  FCertes  alle  hadde 

ashamed  at  this, 

biuih'for  the8'       na^  fo^^ie  ben  asshamyd]  fat  i?inocence  was  accused. 
accusers3.  °ithe      ^it  aujtfe]  sche  haue  had  schame  of  fe  filfe  of  myn  ac- 


327  <put\te']— putte 


p\r 
MS. 


yseyne 


329  greet\_e\ — grete 

330  aughte  be— owhte  V>e  the 
o\>er — oothre 

333  by  \>e  whiche — by  which 
bor«?  \>e— thorw  tho 

335  whiche— the  whiche 
one — oon 
somtyme — whil  om 

339  sumtyme — whilon 

340  po-^ron 
her-hir 


341  wi\>-outen— withowte 
wolde  not — nolden  nat 

342  defended[_e] — defendedyn 
by — by  the 

343  seyne — spyn 
seyntuaries — seutuarye 

344  was — omitted 
comaunded[e]  —  comaun- 

dede 

345  voided[e~\ — voidede 
certeyne— certeyu 

346  men— me 
merken — marke 


347  hoke  of  iren — hootyren 

348  \>e— omitted 
myrf^e]  be — myhte  ben 

349  'bilk— thilke 

350  bilkte]— thilke 

351  be— ben 

seid— MS.  seide,  C.  seyd 
ha\>-MS.  haj>e 

354,  355   [Certes assha- 

myd~]— from  C. 
356  au-$[e~\— owte 
haue  had— han  had,  MS. 
hadde 


TIIE   ACCUSATIONS    AGAINST    BOETHIUS.  17 

cusours.     ^[  But  axest  fou  in  somme  of  what  gilt  .1.  357 

am  accused,  men  seyne  bat  I  wolde  sauen   be  com-  Boethius  says  he 

is  accused  ol  try- 

paignie  of  f  e  senatowrs.     ^[  And  desirest  fou  to  here 

in  what  manere  .1.   am  accused  fat  I  scholde  han  dis- 

tourbed  f  e  accuso&r  to  beren  levies,  by  whiche  ho  tEeenate!n 

scholde  han  maked  fe  senatours  gilty  a3eins  fe  kynges  362 

Eeal  maieste.     ^[  0  meistresse  what  demest  fou  of 

f  is.  schal  .1.  forsake  f  is  blame  fat  I  ne  be  no  schame  to 

fe  (q.  d.  now).     ^[  Certis  .1.  haue  wold  it.  fat  is  to  365 

seyne  be  sauuaciouw  of  be  senat.  ne  I  schal  neuer  leten  it  is  true  that  he 

tried  to  save  the 

to  wilne  it.  and  fat  I  confesse  and  am  a-knowe.  but 

f  e  entent  of  f  e  accusour  to  be  destourbed  schal  cese. 

^f  For  schal  I  clepe  it  a  felonie  fan  or  a  synne  fat  I  369 

haue  desired  f  e  sauuaciouw  of  f  e  ordre  of  f  e  senat* 

and  certys  $it  hadde  f  ilk  same  senat  don  by  me  f  oru$ 

her  decret^  and  hire  iugementys  as  f  ou}  it  were  a  synne 

or  a  felonie  fat  is  to  seyne  to  wilne  }>e  sauuaciouw  of  373 

he?rz  (.s  senates),     f"  But  folye  bat  lieth  alwey  to  hym  (Foiiy  cannot 

J         change  the  merit 

self  may  not  chaunge  J)e  merit  of  Jnnges.     ^f  NQ  .1.  of  things. 

trowe  not  by  J>e  iugement  of  socrates  fat  it  were  leue-  376 

ful  to  me  to  hide  be  sobe.  ne  assentfel  to  lesynges.  According  to 

L  J  J    5          Socrates' judg- 

•Jj"  But  certys  how  so  euer  it  be  of  fis  I  put[te]  it  to  gessen 
or  preisen  to  fe  iugement  of  fe  and  of  wise  folk.    ^  Of 
whiche  fing  al  fe  ordinaunce  and  fe  sop e  for  as  moche  380 
as  folk  fat  ben  to  comen  aftir  oure   dayes   schollew 

knowen  it.     ^[  I  haue  put  it  in  scripture  and  remem-  Boethius  deter- 
mines to  transmit 
braunce.    ior   touching    be    lecrres    ialsly   maked.     by  an  account  of  his 

J    prosecution  to 

whiche  le^fres  I  am  accused  to  han  hooped  f  e  fredom  of  p°sterity- 
Rome.     What  appertenef  me  to  speken  fer-of.     Of  385 
whiche  leftres  f  e  fraude  hadde  ben  schewed  apertly  if 


357  axest  \>ou— axestow 

358  seyne — seyn 
sauen — saue 

359  desirest   \>ou—  desires 
thow 

here — hereen 

362  maked— MS.  maken,  C. 
makyd 

363  demest  \>ou — deincstow 
365     wold—M.$.   wolde,   C. 


wold 

366  seyne— seyn 

367  \>at — omitted 
am— I  am 

368  be— ben 

369  it— it  thanne 
\>an— omitted 

372  her— hir 
hire— hir 

2 


372  J>o«3— thogh 

373  or— and 
seyne — seyn 

374  lieth—  MS.  liej>e,  C.  lieth 
377  assent[_e~]— assente 

381  schollen— shellen 

382  and— and  in 

385  speken— speke 

of lettres — C.  omits 

386  if— yif 


18 


BOETHIUS    COMPLAINS    TO    PHILOSOPHY. 


FBOOK  1. 

LPKOSE  4. 


noethius  says 
that  he  could 
have  defeated  his 
accusers  had  he 
been  allowed  the 
use  of  their  con- 
fessions. 


391 


But  there  is  now 
110  remains  of 
liberty  to  be 
hoped  for. 


396 

It  is  not  strange 
that  the  wicked 
should  conspire 
against  virtue. 


400 


The  will  to  do  ill 
proceeds  from  the 
defects  of  human 
nature. 

404 


It  is  a  marvel 
how  such  evil 
acts  can  be  done 
under  the  eye  of 
an  Omniscient 
God. 

409 

If  there  be  a  God, 
whence  proceeds 
evil?    If  there  is 
none,  whence 
arises  good  ? 

413 


I  hadde  had  libertee  forto  han  vsed  and  ben  at  fo 
cowfessioim  of  myn  accusowrs.  ^[  ]?e  whiche  f  ing  in 
alle  nedys  haf  grete  strenkef .  1f  For  what  of  er  fredo?tt 
may  men  hopen.  Certys  I  wolde  fat  some  of  er  fredom 
my^tfe]  be  hoped.  IT  I  wolde  fan  haue  answered  by 
f  e  wordes  of  a  man  fat  hy3t[e]  Canius.  for  whan  he  was 
accused  by  Gayus  Cesar  Germeins  son  fat  he  (caniws) 
was  knowyng  and  consentyng  of  a  coniurace'ouw  maked 
a^eins  hym  (.s.  Gains).  ^|  j?is  Canius  answered [e] 
fus.  ^f  Yif  I  had[de]  wist  it  fou  haddest  not  wist 
it.  In  whiche  f  ing  sorwe  haf  not  so  dulled  my  witte 
fat  I  pleyne  oonly  fat  schrewed[e]  folk  apparailen 
folies  a^eins  vertues.  ^f  But  I  wondre  gretly  how  fat 
]>ei  may  performe  f  inges  fat  J>ei  had[de]  hoped  forto 
done.  For  why.  to  wylne  schrewednesse  fat  comef 
parauenture  of  oure  defaute.  ^[  But  it  is  lyke  to  a 
monstre  and  a  meruaille.  ^[  How  fat  in  f e  present 
sy$t  of  god  may  ben  acheued  and  performed  swiche 
f inges.  as  euery  felonous  man  haf  conceyued  in  hys 
f oii3t  a^eins  innocent.  ^[  For  whiche  fing  oon  of  fi 
familers  not  vnskilfully  axed  f  us.  ^J  3if  god  is.  whennes 
comen  wikked[e]  f  inges.  and  yif  god  ne  is  whennes 
comen  goode  f  inges.  but  al  hadde  it  ben  leueful  fat 
felonous  folk  fat  now  desiren  fe  bloode  and  f  e  deef  of 
alle  goode  men.  and  eke  of  al  f  e  senat  han  wilned  to 
gone  destroien  me.  whom  f  ei  han  seyn  alwey  batailew 
and  defenden  goode  men  and  eke  al  fe  senat.  3it 
haddo  I  not  desserued  of  f  e  fadres.  fat  is  to  seyne  of 
f  e  senatours  fat  fei  scholde  wilne  my  destruccwu-w. 


387  had— MS.  hade,  C.  had 

388  myn— myne 

389  /tab-MS.  haRC.hath 
grete — gret 

wliat — omitted 

390  some — som 

391  mii\t[e\  be — myhte  hon 
\>an  haue — Ihanne  han 

392  A^O]-hyhte 
301  maked—, ymaked 

395  ans werecKe] — answcrede 
?— luiddc 


397  whiclie— which 
sorwe — sorvv 
ha]>— MS.  habe 
witte — wit 

398  schrewed\e~\ — shrcwede 

399  folies— felonies 
vertues — vertu 

400  hadlde']— han 

401  done— don 
come}> — comth 

402  lyke  to  a— lyk  a 
lot  suit— syhte 


405  ha}>— MS.  habe 

406  innocent— innocent3 
whiche — which 

408  wikkedle'}— wykkede 

410  bloode— blod 

411  eke— ck 

412  gone—  gon  and 
seyn — soyen 

413  eke— ek 

414  seyne — seyn 

415  scholde— sh olden 


OF    HIS    FALSE   ACCUSERS.  •  19 

fl"  bou  remcmbrest  wele  as  I  gesse  bat  whan  I  wolde  Boethius  defends 

11     '  the  integ-ity  of 

don  or  *seyn  any  bing.  bou  bi  self  alwey  present  re-    .  r;foi.6b.] 

liis  lifo. 

weledest  me.     ^[  At  be  citee  of  verone  wha?i  bat  be  He  defended  the 

1        f      Senate  at  Verona. 

kyng  gredy  of  comune  slau^ter.  caste  hym  to  trans- 

porten  vpon  al  be  ordre  of  be  senat.  be  gilt  of  his  real  420 

maieste  of  be  whiche  gilt  bat  albyn  was  accused,  wib 

how  grete  sykernesse  of  pe?*il  to  me  def  ended  [e]  I  al  422 

be   senat.     ^[  bou  wost  wel  bat  I  seide  sobe.    ne  I  He  spake  only 

the  truth,  and  did 

auaunted[e]   me  neuer  in  preysyng  of  my  self,     ^f  For  not  boast- 
alwey  when  any  wyat  resceiueb  preciouse  renoura  in  (Boasting  lessens 

m  the  pleasure  of  a 

auauntyng  hym  self  of  hys  werkes  :    he  amenusij)  be 


secre  of  hys  conscience,     ^f  But  now  bou  mayst  wel  427 

seen  to  what  ende  I  am  comen  for  myne  innocence. 

I  receiue  peyne  of  fals  felonie  in  gerdouw  of  verray  But  as  the  reward 

of  his  innocence 

vertue.     IT    And    what    open    confessions   of  felonie  he  is  made  to 

suffer  the  punish- 

had[de]  euer  iugis  so  accordaunt  in  cruelte.   bat  is  to  jJS^t  crime8 

seyne  as  myne  accusyng  hab.     If  Jjat  ober  errour  of  432 

manswitte  or  ellyscorcdicioun  of  fortune  bat  is  vncerteyne 

to  al  mortal  folk  ne  submytted[e]  su?7zme  of  hem.  bat  is 

to  seyne  bat  it  ne  cheyned[e]  summe  iuge  to  han  pitee  435 

or  compassions.     ^[  For  al  bou2  I  had  [del  ben  accused  Had  he  been 

accused  of  a  de- 

bat  I  wolde  brenne  holy  houses,  and  strangle  prestys  sign  *j|  kijjj^ 
wij>  wicked  swerde.     ^[  or  bat  .1.  had[de]  gray  bed  deeb 


to  alle  goode   men   algatis   be  sentence    scholde   han 

punysched  me  present  confessed  or  conuict.     ^f  But  440 

now  I  am  remewed  fro  be  Citee  of  rome  almost  fyue-  But  now  this  is 

-          ,  n  ..    denied  him,  and 

hundreb  bousand  pas.  I  am  wib  outen  defence  dampned  he  is  proscribed 

and  condemned 

to  proscr/pcioim  and  to   be  deeb.   for  be  studie  and  to  death, 
bountees  bat  I  haue  done  to  be  senat.     ^f  But  o  wel  ben  444 
Jjei  worbi  of  mercye  (as  who  seib  nay.)  ber  my^tfe]  neuer 

434  submytte&\e\  —  subrait- 

435  seyne— seyn  [tede 
cheyned[e\ — encl  Inede 

436  had\de\— hadde 


416  wele — wel 

417  don— MS.  done,  C.  doon 
seyn — seyen 

418  \>e  (1)— omitted 

419  s^f$ter — slawhtre 

420  transporten    vpon  — 
trail  spor  vp 

422  grete — gret 
defended\_e]— deffendede 

423  seide  so\>e — soye  soth 

424  aiiaunted[e\ — auainitedc 


425  when— whan 
preciouse — presious 

429  in— for 

430  vertue— vertu 

431  hadlde']— htulde 

432  seyne — seyn 
myne— myn 
/*«>— MS.  hahe 

433  witte—wti 
vncerteyne— vncerteyn 

434  al— alle 


d\de\— hadde 
438  wicked— wykkede 

Uad\_de\— hadde 
441  almost — almest 
412  \>ousand — MS.  J>ousas 

iui\>  ouien — withowte 
441  done — doon 
415  myrtle']— inyh'.e 


20 


BOETIIIUS   ACCUSED   OP   SORCERY. 


fBOOJ 

[mot 


IK  1. 

LPKOSE  4. 


446  }it  non  of  hem  ben  conuicte.  Of  swiche  a  blame  as 
voethins  says  myn  is  of  swiche  trespas  myn  accusowrs  seyen  ful  wel 

that  his  enemies 

accused  him  of  f  e  dignitee.  f  e  wiche  dignite  for  fei  wolde  derken  it 
wif  medelyng  of  some  felonye.  fei  beren  me  on  honde 

450  and  lieden.  fat  I  hadde  polute  and  defouled  my  con- 
science wif  sacrelege.  for  couetise  of  dignite.  ^f  And 
certys  f  ou  f  i  self  fat  art  plaunted  in  me  chacedest  oute 
fe  sege  of  my  corage  al  couetise  of  mortal  f inges.  ne 

454  sacrilege  ne  had[de]  no  leue  to  han  a  place  in  me  byforne 
fine  eyen.  ^f  For  f  ou  drouppedest  euery  day  in  myn 
eeres  and  in  my  f  ou}t  f  ilk  comaundement  of  pictogoras. 
fat  is  to  seyne  men  schal  seruen  to  god.  and  not  to 

458  goddes.  ^f  Ne  it  was  no  couenaunt  ne  no  nede  to 
taken  helpe  of  f  e  foulest  spirites.  ^f  I  fat  f  ou  hast 
ordeyned  or  set  in  syche  excellence  fat  [f ou]  makedest 

461  me  lyke  to  god.  and  ouer  fis  fe  ry^t  clene  secre 
His  family  and  chaumbre  of  myn  house,  bat  is  to  seye  my  wiif  and  be 

friends  could  clear 

•  co?«paignie  of  myn  honeste  frendis.    and  my  wyues 


He  affirms  that 
he  has  always 


Pythagoras,— 
fitov  Oeif. 


•eery. 


ag 


]-)eil  peuerenced 


465  hys  owen  dedis.  defenden  me  of  al  suspecciouw  of  syche 

blame,     ^f  But  o  malice.     ^  For  ]?ei  fat  accusen  me 

Because  he  has      taken  of  be  philosophic  feibe  of  so  ejrete  blame.     5T  For 

given  himself  up 

fei  trowen  fat  .1.  haue  had  affinite  to  malyfice  or  en- 
chawztement^  by  cause  fat  I  am  replenissed  and  ful- 

470  filled  wif  f  i  techy  nges.  and  en  formed  of  f  i  maners. 
^f  And  f  us  it  sufficef  not  only  fat  f  i  reuerence  ne  auayle 
me  not.  but  $if  fat  f  ou  of  f  i  fre  wille  raf  er  be  blemissed 
wif  myne  offensiouw.  ^f  But  certys  to  f  e  harmes  fat  I 

474  haue  fere   bytydef   3it  fis  encrece  of  harme.   fat  fe 


446  ben—  be 
swiche  —  swich 
44,7  myn  (both)—mynQ 
swiche  —  whiche 
seyen  —  sayen 
448  wolde  —  wolden 
449  some  —  som 
beren  —  baren 
on  honde—  an  hand 
4T>0  polute—  polut 
451    sacrelege  —  C.  has   sor- 
ccrie  as  a  gloss  to  sacri- 
lege 
453  al—  alle 

454  had[_de']—  hadde 
byforne  —  by  forn 
455    dronppedest  —  dropped- 
est 
myn  —  myne 
456  }>ilk—  thilke 
457  seyne—  seyn 
seruen  —  serue 
god  —  godde 
459  helpe—  help 
spirites  —  spirite 
460  set—  MS.  sette,  C.  set 
syche  —  swiche 
[pow]  —  thovv 

461  lyke—lyk 
462  house  —  hows 
seye—  seyn 
463  myn—  my 
465  owen  —  owne 
of  al  —  from  alle 
syche  —  swich 
467  philosophic  —  philosophre 
/eipe-feyth 
grete—  gret 
468  had-MS.  hadde,  C.  had 
473  myne  —  myn 
474  \>ere—  thcr 
harme  —  harm 

BOETHIUS  DEPLORES  THE  POPULAR  CENSURE..         21 

gessinge  and  fe  iugement  of  myche  folk  ne  loken  no  475 
bing  to  befdelsertys  of  binges  but  only  to  be  auewtwre  Most  people 

imagine  that  that 

of  fortune,     ^f  And  iugen  fat  only  swiche  finges  ben 


pwrueied   of  god.    whiche   Jjat   temporel  welefulnesse 
commeiidif.     Glosa.     ^  As  Jms  fat  yif  a  wy$t  haue 
prosperite.  he  is  a  good  man  and  wor)>i.  to  haue  fat  480 
prosperite.  and  who  so  haf  aduersite  he  is  a  wikked 
man.  and  god  hab  forsake  hym.   and  he  is  worbi  to  The  unfortunate 

lose  the  good 

haue  fat  aduersite.     ^f  jjis  is  fe  opiniouw  of  somme  ^^n  of  the 
folke.  *and  f  er  of  comef  fat  good  gessyng.     ^[  Fyrste  of  [•  Text  begina 
al  f  ircg  forsakef  wrecches  certys  it  greuef  me  to  f  ink[e]  485 
ry$t  now  f  e  dyuerse  sentences  fat  fe  poeple  seif  of 
me.  •  If  And  fus  moche  I  seye  fat  f  e  laste  charge  of  487 
contrarious  fortune  is  f  is.  f  fat  whan  fat  ony  blame  is       [t  foi.  7.] 
laid  vpon  a  caytif.  men  wenen  bat  he  hab  deserued  bat  Boethms  laments 

1        the  loss  of  his 

he  suffref  .     If  And  I  fat  am  put  awey  from  goode  men  JjJJJjjItSJ1"1 

and  despoiled  from  dignitees  and  defoulid  of  my  name 

by  gessyng  haue  suffred  torment  for  my  goode  dedis.  492 

^f  Certys  me  semef  fat  I  se  fe  felonus  couines  of 

wikked  men  abounden  in  ioie  and  in  gladnes.     5F  And  The  wicked,  he 

says,  gin  with 

I  se  fat  euery  lorel  shapif  hym  to  fynde  oute  newe  impunity, 
fraudes  forto  accusen  goode  folke.  and  I  se  fat  goode  496 
men  ben  ouerf  rowen  for  drede  of  my  peril,     ^f  and 
euery  luxurious  tcmrmentour  dar  don  alle  felonie  vn- 
punissed  and  ben  excited  ferto  by  ^iftes.  and  innocent}  499 
ne  ben  not  oonly  despoiled  of  sykernesse  but  of  de-  while  the  inno- 

cent are  deprived 


fence  and  f  erfore  me  list  to  crien  to  god  in  f  is  manere. 

defence. 


O  STELLIFERI  CONDITOR  ORBIS. 


0 


fou  maker  of  fe  whele  fat  beref  fe  sterres.  whiche  [The  fifthe  met«r.] 
fat   art   fastned   to   fi   perdurable   chayere.    and 


475  myche—  moche 


476  }>e[de]sertys— the  desert  3 
479  Glosa — elose 


480  good— MS.    goode,    C. 
t  eood 

haue — nan 

481  so— omitted  in  C. 
481,  -182  hab— MS.  hapc 
483  haue— hail 


484  Fyrste— fyrst 

485  a?— alle 
J>»n*M— thiuke 

488  ony— any 

489  laid— MS.  laide,  C.  leyd 
ftap— MS.  hape 

490  put— MS.  putte,  C.  put 

491  from— of 

494  abounden— habowudcu 


494  gladnes — gladnesse 

495  oute— owt 

496  accusen— accuse 

497  ben— beth 

501  manere — wise 

502  whele — wliel 
whiche — which 

503  fastned— yfastned 
chayere— chaycr 


22 


THE    CRUEL    CHANGES    OF    FORTUNE 


FBOOK  1. 

LMET.  5. 


seated  on  high,  turnest  be  heuene  wif  a  rauyssyng  sweighe  and  con- 

turnest  the 

spheres,  and  strcinest  be  sterres  to  suffren  bi  lawe.     ^[  So  bat  be 

imposest  laws 

andVanetst™  mone  somtyme  schynyng  wif  hir  ful  homes  metyng 

507  wif  alle  f  e  bemes  of  f  e  sonne.     ^[  Hir  broker  hidef  f  e 

The  sun  obscures  sterres  bat  ben  lasse.    and  somtyme   whan    be   mone 

the  lesser  lights, 

and  quenches  pale  wib  hir  derke  homes  approcheb  be  sonne.  leesith 

' 

hir  ly^tes.     ^[  And  fat   f  e  euesterre   esperus  whiche 

511  fat  in  fe  first[e]  tyme  of  fe  ny3t  bryngef  furfe  hir 

Thou  raisest  colde  arysynges  comef  eft  aaeynes  hir  vsed  cours.  and 

Hesperus  to  usher  . 

in  the  shades  of  is  pale  by  be  morwe  at  be  rysynge  of  be  sonne.  and  is 

night,  and  again  * 


even'  the  moon's 


nameWLuciferhi8 


fan  clePe(^  lucifer.  ^[  Jpou  restreinest  f  e  day  by  schorter 
dwellyng  in  f)e  tyme  of  colde  wynter  ]?at  make])  J>e 
516  leues  to  falle.     ^f  )?ou  diuidest  ]?e  swifte  tides  of  J?e 
ny3t  when  J>e  hote   somer  is  comen.     ^f  ])\  mj^i  at- 
Thou  controuest    tempre[b]    bo    variauTita     sesons    of   be   aere.    so    bat 

the  changing  ,_ 

seasons  of  the       ^epherus  ]?e  deboneire  wynde  bringej)  a^ein  in  ]?e  first[e] 

520  somer  sesoim  fe  leues  fat  f>e  wynde  fat  hy^t[e]  boreas 

haj>  reft  awey  in  autu?/zpne.  fat  is  to  seyne  in  fe  laste 

eende  of  somer.  and  f  e  sedes  fat  f  e  sterre  fat  hy^t  arc- 

523  turws  saw   ben  waxen  hey[e]  comes   whan  fe   sterre 

AU  nature  is         sirius  eschaufef  hym.     ^[  })ere  nis  no  fing  vnbounde 

bound  by  thy 

eternal  law.          from  hys  olde  lawe  no  forletef  hym  of  hys  propre  estat. 

526  ^[  0  f  ou  gouernowr  gouernyng  alle  finges  by  certeyne 

why,  then,  leavest  ende.  why  refusest  bou  oonly  to  gouerne  be  werkes  of 

thou  man's  ac- 

troifed  ?c°n"         men  ^  ^ewe  manere-     1T  Whi  suffrest  f  ou  fat  slid- 
why  should         yng  fortune  turneb  to  grete  vtter  chaungynges  of  finges. 

fickle  fortune  be  . 

allowed  to  work     so  i>at  anoious  peyne  bat  scholde  duelly  pumssne  fel- 

such  mighty  •• 

in  the  And  folk  of  wikked[e] 


ouns  pnnissit3  innocent3. 
532  maneres   sitten  in  hei3e   chaiers.    and   anoienge   folk 


504  sweighe—  sweyh 
constreinest,     MS.     oon- 
treuiest,  C.  constreynest 
606  hir—  here 
608  lasse  —  lesse 
510    esperus   whiclw  —  hQs- 
perus  which 
511  first[e~}—  fyrste 
fur\>e  —  forth 
512  eft—  est 
514.    restreinest  —  MS.   re- 
strenicst 
516  to—  omitted 
018  attemprefy]  \>o—  atemp- 

reth  the 
518  sesons—  sesoun 
•$ere  —  yer 
619    wynde  bringe]>  —  wynd 
brerigeth 
620  wynde  —  wynd 
%?*[>]—  hihte 
521  re/^-MS.  refte,  C.  reft 
seyne  —  seyn 
522  hytf—  hihte 
arcturus—  MS.  aritums 
523    saw  —  MS.    bawej>,    C. 
sawt;h 
heyW—  hyye 

524  hym—  hem 
bere  —  ther 
ping—  thin  ge 
525  from—  fram 
forletef  hym  of—  forleet- 
heth  be  werke  of 
527   refusest  \>ou—  refows- 
estow 
529    to  binges—  so  grete 
entrechaunginges         of 
thynges 
531  punissit}—  punysshe 
wikked[n~]  —  wykkede 
532  hei^e  —  heer«^ 

FU08E6.]  CONTRASTED   WITH   THE   ORDER   OF   NATURE.  23 

treden  and  Jjat  vnry^tfully  in  )>e  nekkes  of  holy  men.   533 

^F  And  vertue  clere  and  schynyng  naturely  is  hid  in  The  wicked  are 

prosperous,  while 

dirke  dirkenesses.  and  J>e  ry^tful  man  berij)  J>e  blame 


and  ]>e  peyne  of  J>e  felowne.     ^[  Ne  J>e  forsweryng  ne  536 

J?e  fraude  couered  and  kembd  wij>   a  fals   colowr   ne 

a-noyej)  not  to  schrewes.     ^f  \)e  whiche  schrewes  whan 

hem   lyst   to   vsen  her  strengbe   ]>ei  reioisen  hem  to 

puttew  vndir  hem  Jje  souerayne  kynges.    whiche   J>at  540 

poeple  wib[outen]  noumbre  dreden.    ^[  0  J>ou  \vhat  so  o  thou  that  bind- 

euer  bou  be  bat  knyttesft]  alle  bondes  of  binges  loke  ing  elements,  look 

J  upon  this  wreteh- 

on   J>ise   wrecched[e]    erbes.    we    men   )>at   ben  nat  a  ed  earth, 

foule  party  but  a  faire  party  of  so  grete  a  werke  we  544 

ben  turmentid  in  be  see  of  fortune.     ^[  ))ou  gouernowr 

wibdraw  and  restreyne  ]>e  rauyssinge  flodes  and  fastne  and,  as  thou  dost 

govern  th6 

and  forme    bise  erbes    stable    wib    bilke   rbondel  wib  spacious  heavens, 

J          'so  let  the  earth 

whiche  J?ou  gouernest  J>e  heuene  pat  is  so  large.  **  firmly  bound- 


HIG   UBI   CONTINUATO   DOLORE. 


TTT 
"  ' 


han  I  hadde  wi])   a    continuel  sorwe  sobbed   or  [The  fvfthe 


broken  out  bise  binges  sche  wib  hir  chere  peisible  Philosophy  con- 

soles  Boethius. 

and  no  tying  amoeued.  wi|>  my  compleyntes  seide  tyiis.  551 

whan  I  say  Jje  quod  sche  sorweful  and  wepyng  I  wistfe] 

on-one   fat  J?ou  were   a  wrecche   and  exiled,    but  I 

wist[e]  neuer  how  fer   Jjine  exile  was  :  $if  )?i  tale  ne 

hadde  sche  wed  it  to  me.  but  certys  al  be  J>ou  fer  fro  J>i  555 

contre.    j>ou  nart  *  nat  put  out  of  it.    but  j?ou  hast       [-  f0i.  7  &.] 

fayled  of  tyi  weye  and  gon  amys.     ^f  and  yif  J?ou  hast 

leuer  forto  wene  ban  bou  be  put  out  of  bi  contre.  ban  she  speaks  to  him 

/         of  his  country. 

hast  )>ou  put  oute  tyi  self  rajjer  fen  ony  ofer  wy3t  ha]>. 

^[  For  no  wy^t  but  J?i  self  ne  my3t[e]  neuer  haue  don  560 


633  in— oon. 
534  and— omitted 

536  Ne  \>e  forsweryng— Ttv 
forswerynge 

537  kembd— MS.  kenabde,  C. 
kembd 

541   wi\>[puteri\— withhowt- 

yn 

5-12  Unyttes\f\— kriyttest 

543  wrecched[_e]— wrecchcdu 

544  a  (2)— omitted 


545  j>e_ this 

546  wi\>draw  —  MS.  wij>- 
drawe,  C.  withdrawh 

be— thei 

547  forme— ferme 
[bonde] — from  C. 
wib — by 

550  broken— borken 

552  wist[e] — wyste 

553  on-one — anon 

554  wistle}— wystc 


554  fer—terre 

555  ne  hadde— nadde 

557  gon — MS.  gone,  C.  gon 

558  letter — leuere 

558,  559  put— MS.  putte,  C. 
)Ut 


559  fcaf^MS.  ha>e 
>]— myhte 


haue — ban 

don— MS.  done,  C.  don 


24  PHILOSOPHY   CONSOLES   BOETHIUS,  [PROSE*. 

561  fat  to  fe.     ^[  For  }if  fou  remembre  of  what  contre  fou 
she  reminds  him   art  born,  it  nis  not  gouerned  by  emperoures.  ne  bv 

that  he  is  a  citi-  °  * 

zen  of  a  country    gouernement  of  multitude,  as  weren  be  centres  of  hem 

not  governed  by  a   °  • 

buffr^Sa"ot'    of  athenes.     f  But  o  lorde  and  o  kyng  and  fat  is  god 

/&7ff!\e£.  fat  is  lorde  of  f  i  contree.  whiche  fat  reioisef  hym  of 

566  )>e  dwellyng  of  hys  Cite^enis.  and  not  forto  putte  hem 

in  exile.     Of  f  e  whiche  lorde  it  is  a  souerayne  fredom 

to  be  gouerned  by  f  e  bridel  of  hym  and  obeie  to  his 

iustice.     ^[  Hast  fou  for^eten  f  ilke  ry^t  olde  lawe  of  f  i 

570  Citee.  in  f  e  wkiche  Citee  it  is  ordeyned  and  establissed 

The  common-       bat  what  wvit  bat  hab  leuer  fomiden  ber  i??ne  hys  sete 

wealth  of  Boe- 

thius-  or  hys  house.  fen  ellys  where  :  he  may  not  be  exiled 

573  by  no  ry3t  fro  fat  place,     ^f  For  who  so  fat  is  corctened 

in-wif  J>e  paleis  [and  the  clos]  of  f  ilke  Citee.  f  er  nis 

no  drede  fat  he  may  deserue  to  ben  exiled.     ^[  But 

who  jjat  lettej)  ]?e  wille  forto  enhabitfe]  fere,  he  for- 

577  letej)  also  to  deserue  to  ben  Cite^ein  of  filke  Citee. 

^  ^°  ?at  *  Se^e  ^  J56  ^aCG  °^  ^S  P^aCe  n6  amoeue]J  me 

nat  so  niyche  as  fine  owen  face.     NQ  .1.  ne  axe  not 


°°my       rafer  fe  walles  of  fi  librarie  apparailled  and  wrou^t 


wif  yvory  and  wif  glas  fan  after  f  e  sete  of  f  i 

582  In  whiche  I  putte  nat  somtyme  bookes.  but  .1.  putte 

Books  are  to  be     fat  fat  makef  bookes  worf  i  of  pn's  or  precious  fat  is 

they  content      *°  se"1  J76  sentence  of  my  books,     ^  And  certeinly  of 

585  fi  decertes  by-stowed  in  commune  good,  fou  hast  seid 

sof  e  but  after  f  e  multitude  of  f  i  goode  dedys.  fou  hast 

seid  fewe.  and  of  f  e  vnhonestee  or  falsnesse  of  f  inges 

588  fat  ben  opposed  a3eins  f  e.  fou  hast  remembred  finges 

Boethiushas         ijat  beft  knowe  to  alle  folk,   and  of  be  felonies  and 

rightfully  and          " 

KaudsThis1    fraudes  of  fine  accusoura.  it  semef  f  e  haue  I-touched 
it  forsofe  ry3tfully  and  schortly.      *fi   Al  my3ten  fo 


662    born— MS.    borne,    C. 

born 

566  hys— hise 
putte— put 
668  be— ben 

571  7tab-MS.  hajie 

572  home— hows 

574  [and clos]— from  C. 


576  wille— wyl 
erihabit[e} — enhabyte 


578 
amoeue\>— moueth 

579  myclie — mochel 
owen — owne 
ne  (2) — omitted 

582  putte  (both}— put 


582  somtyme— whilom 

585  decertes — desertes 
seid— MS.  seide,  C.  seydc 

586  so\>e— soth 

587  seed— MS.  seide,  C.  seyd 

588  opposed— aposyd 

589  knowe — knowyu 


AND    PROPOSES    TO    ADMINISTER   REMEDIES.  26 

same  f  inges  bettere  and  more  plentiuousely  be  couth  592 

in  f  e  mouf  e  of  f  e  poeple  fat  knowef  al  J)is.     ^[  J^ou 

hast  eke  blamed  gretly  and  compleyned  of  f  e  wrongful 

dede  of  be   senat.      IT  And  fou  hast  sorwed  for  my  Thou  hast,  said 

Philosophy,  be- 

blame.    and  fou  hast  wepen  for  f  e  damage  of  f  i  re-  ^^go^^me 
noune  fat  is  appaired.  and  fi  laste  sorwe  eschaufed  597 

aseins  fortune  and  compleinest  bat  gerdourcs  ne  ben  not  thou  hast  com- 
plained against 
euenliche  3olde  to  f  e  desertes  of  folk,  and  in  f  e  la^re 


ende  of  f  i  woode  muse  fou  priedest  fat  f  ilke  pees  fat 

gouernef   fe  heuene  scholde  gouerne  fe  erfe     ^[  But  andpun 

for  fat  many  tribulaci'ouras  of  arTemouws  han  assailed  602 

fe.    and   sorwe    and   Ire  and  wepyng  todrawen   fee 

dyuersely     ^[  As  bou  art  now  feble  of  boust.  mystyer  strong  medicines 

are  not  proper  for 

remedies  ne  schullen  not   ait  touchen  be  for  whiche  theenow,  dis- 

*  traded  by  grief, 

we  wil[e]  vsen  somedel  Iy3ter  medicines.  So  fat  filk[e]  SSSU!1"1 
passiourcs  fat  ben  woxen  harde   in  swellyng  by  per-  607 
tmloacioun  folowyng  in  to  fi  bouzt  mowen  woxe  esy  Light  medicines 

must  prepare 

and  softe  to  receyue^  f  e  strenkef  of  a  more  my^ty  and  tnee  for  sharper 
more  egre  medicine  by  an  esier  touchyng.  010 

CUM   PHEBI   RADIIS    GRAVE   CA.NCRI  SIDffS  ENESTUAT. 

TIThan  fat  f  e  heuy  sterre  of  f  e  cancre  eschaufef  by  [The  sixte 

f  e  beme  of  phebws.  fat  is  to  seyne  whan  fat  pheb?t£  He  who  sows  MS 
fe  sonne  is  in  fe  signe  of  fe  Cancre.   Who  so  3euef  sun  is  in  the 
fan  largely  hys  sedes   to    fe  feldes  fat  refuse  to  re- 


ceiuen  hem.    lete   hym  gon  bygyled  of  trust  fat  he  615 
hadde  to  hys  corn,   to  acorns  or  okes.  yif  bou  wilt  Think  not  to  in- 

*  gather  violets  in 

gadre  yiolett3.  ne  go  f ou  not  to  fe  purper  wode  whan 
f  e  felde  chirkynge  agrisef  of  colde  by  f  e  felnesse  of 
fe  wynde  fat  hy3t  aquilon  ^[  Yif  fou  desirest  or  619 


592  be  couth— MS.be  couthe, 
C.  ben  cowth 

596  wepen — wopen 

597  laste— last 
eschaufed — eschaufede 

598  not— omitted 

599  wide— yolden 
602  many — manye 

601  mmtiier— niyhtyere 
605  whiche— which 


606  wil{e\— wol 
ly$ter — lyhtere 
\>illt\e\— thilke 

607  harde— hard 

608  folowyng — Flowyng 
woxe — wexen 

610  esier— esyere 
612  beme — beemes 


Gil 


jyne — seyn 
hys — liisc 


614  rqfuse— refuseu 

615  after   hem  C.  adds  [ 
corn] 

lete  hym  gon  (MS.  goiie} 
lat  hym  gon 

616  or— of 

wilt  ffadre—wolt  gadcry 

618  felde— feeld 

fel  n  csse — felnesses 

619  hytf— hyhte 


26 


PHILOSOPHY    QUESTIONS    BOETH1US. 


[BOOK  1. 
PHOSE  6. 


If  you  wish  for 
wine  in  autumn 
let  the  tendrils  of 
the  vine  be  free 
in  the  spring. 

623 

[*  fol.  8.] 
To  every  work 
God  assigns  a 
proper  time, 
nor  suffers  any- 
thing to  pass  its 
bounds. 

Success  does  not 
await  him  who 
departs  from  the 
appointed  order 
of  things. 


wolt  vsen  grapes  ne  seke  f  ou  nat  wif  a  glotowis  hande 
to  streine  and  presse  f  e  stalkes  of  f  e  vine  in  J)e  first 
somer  sesouw.  for  bachus  fe  god  of  wyne  haf  raf  er 
^euen  his  3iftes  to  autumpne  f  e  latter  ende  of  sonier. 
^f  God  tokenif  and  assignef  *fe  tymes.  ablyng  hem 
to  her  propre  offices.  ^[  Ne  he  ne  suffref  not  stoundes 
whiche  fat  hym  self  haf  deuided  and  corcstreined  to 
be  medeled  to  gidre  ^[  And  forfi  he  fat  forletef 
certeyne  ordinaunce  of  doynge  by  ouerfrowyng  wey. 
he  ne  haj)  no  glade  issue  or  ende  of  hys  werkes. 


[The  syxte  prcse.] 

Philosophy  prr. 
i  to  question 


633 

P.  Is  the  world 
governed  by 
Chance  ? 

636 

B.  By  no  means. 
The  Creator  pre- 
sides over  his 
own  works. 


640 

I  shall  never 
swerve  from  this 
opinion. 

643 

P.  Yes!    Thou 
didst  say  as  much 
when  thou  didst 
declare  man 
alone  to  be 
destitute  of 
divine  care. 
Still  thou  seemest 
to  labour  under 
some  defect  even 
in  this  conviction. 


PRIMUaf   IGITUR   PATERI9  ROGACIONIBTO. 

Thirst  wolt  f  ou  suffice  me  to  touche  and  assaie  f  e  stat 
-"-  of  fi  fo^t  by  a  fewe  demaundes.  so  fat  I  may 
vnderstonde  what  be  f  e  manere  of  fi  curaczouw.  ^[  Axe 
me  quod  .1.  atte  fi  wille  what  fou  wilt,  arid  I  schal 
answers.  ^[  J?o  saide  sche  f  us.  whef  er  wenest  fou  c^od 
sche  J?at  pis  worlde  be  gouerned  by  foolisshe  happes 
and  fortunes,  or  elles  wenest  )>ou  fat  fer  be  in  it  any 
gouernemewt  of  resouw.  Certes  quod  .1.  ne  trowe  not 
in  no  manere  fat  so  certeyne  f inges  scholde  be  moeued 
by  fortunouse  fortune,  but  I  wot  wel  fat  god  maker 
and  mayster  is  gouernowr  of  f  is  werk.  Ne  neuer  nas 
}it  day  fat  my^tfe]  putte  me  oute  of  f e  sof enesse  of 
fat  sentence.  ^J  So  is  it  quod  sche.  for  f  e  same  f  ing 
songe  f ou  a  lytel  here  byforne  and  byweyledest  and 
byweptest.  fat  only  men  weren  put  oute  of  f  e  cure  of 
god.  ^[  For  of  alle  of  er  f  inges  f  ou  ne  doutest  nat 
fat  fei  nere  gouerned  by  leson.  but  how  (.i.  pape.). 
I  wondre  gretly  certes  whi  fat  f  ou  art  seek,  sif  en  fou 
art  put  in  to  so  holesom  a  sentence,  but  lat  vs  seken 


620  hande— bond 
622  ha\>— MS.  hape 

625  her  propre—heere  pro- 
pres 

not— nat  the 

626  ha\>— MS.  hape 

627  be  medeleil—bim  I-mcdlcd 

628  certeyne — ccrteyri 


629  Jia\>— MS.  hape 

630  wolt  \>ou— woltow 
stat — estat 

633  atte— at 
wilt — wolt 

635  worlde — world 
foolisshe— f 6ol  y  ssh 

636  fortunes — fortunows 


638  scholde— sholden 

639  wot— MS.  wote,  C.  woot 
641  myd{_e~\  putte — myhtc  put 

644  put— MS.  putte 

645  doutest— dowtedest 

646  how— owh 

617  seek  si\>en— syke  syn 
648  put— MS.  putte,  C.  put 


"ROSE  6.]  DISCOVERS    THE    CAUSE    OF    HIS    DISTEMPER.  27 

depper.    I  coniecte  fat  fere  lakkef  I  not  what,    but  649 

sey  me  bis.  siben  bat  bou  ne  doutest  nat  bat  bis  worlde  Ten  me  how  the 

world  is 

be  gouerned  by  god    ^f  wif  swycche  gouernailes  takest  governed. 
fou  hede  fat  it  is  gouerned.     ^f  vnnef  quod  .1.  knowe  652 
.1.  be  sentence  of  bi  q^estiourc.  so  bat  I  ne  may  nat  B.  i  do  not 

thoroughly  corn- 

ait  answeren  to  bi  demaundes.     ^T  I  nas  nat  deceiued  pwh«w  your 

question. 

quod  sche  fat  fere  ne  failef  suwwhat.  by  whiche  fe  f^Ji^8  "hen 
maladie  of  perturbac^ouw  is  crept  in  to  fi  fou^t.   so 


as  f  e  strengf  e  of  f  e  paleys  schynyng  is  open.     ^[  But  sentiment.17 

„  Tell  me  what  is 

seye  me  bis  remerabrest  bou  oujt  what  is  be  ende  of  thecWefendof 

all  things;  and 

f  i  f  inges.  whider  fat  f  e  entenc/ourc  of  al  kynde  tendef  . 


^f  I  haue  herd  told  it  somtyme  qiwd  .1.  but  drery-  660 
nesso  haf  dulled  my  memorie.     ^f  Certys  quod  sche 
fou  wost  wel  whewnes  fat  alle  f  inges  ben  comen  and  662 
preceded.    I  wot  wel  quod  .1.   and  anseweredfel   fat  B.  God  is  the 

,  „,„..,,  V-      i       betfnningofall 

god  is  f  e  bygynnyng  of  al.     ^[  And  how  may  f  is  be  things. 

quod  sche   fat  sif  en   fou  knowest  f  e  bygynnyng  of  P.  HOW,  then,  art 

thou  ignorant  of 

f  inges.  fat  fou  ne  knowest  not  what  is  fe  endyng  of  their  end? 
f  inges.  but  swiche  ben  fe  customes  of  perturbac/ourcs.  667 
and  f  is  power  f  ei  han.  fat  f  ei  may  moeue  a  maw  fro 
hys  place,  fat  is  to  seyne  from  f  e  stablenes  and  per- 


„  ,          ,  ,      .  ,    .  ,    endurest)  to  un- 

of  hys  knowyng.  but  certys  fei  may  not  al  settle  men's 

minds. 

arace  hym  ne  alyene  hyra  in  al.     ^f  But  I  wolde  fat  671 
fou  woldest  answere  to  fis.     ^[  Remembrest  fou  fat 


mr    r*    •         mr  TTTI  •       t     i  i      T  thou  art  a  man  ? 

fou  art  a  man     ^]  Boice.  ^|  Wm  scholde  1  nat  remem-  B.  certainly  i  do. 

bre  fat  quod  .1.    Philosophie.  If  Maiste  fou  not  telle  J;  ^yoVLk  me? 

71  i/  A   «•         •  MT    A  j.  whether  I  am  a 

me  fan  quod  sche  what  f  ing  is  a  man.     ^f  Axest  not  rational  and 

me  auod  I.  whebir  bat  be  a  resonable  best  mortel.  I  i  know  and  con- 

f  fess  I  am. 

wot  wel  and  I  confesse  wel  fat  I  am  it.     ^  Wistest  £;t  kno^that'0" 

fou  neuer  3it  fat  fou  were  ony  ofer  fing  quod  she.  San  this1?0™ 


649  depper — deppere 

not  what— not  nere  what 

650  sfyen— syn 
worlde — world 

651  takest  \>ou — takestow 

658  seye— say 
remembrest     \>ou  —   re- 

menbres  thow 
ou  5  ^—omitted 

659  «Z— allo 


660  herd  foW  —  MS.  herde 
tolde 

herd  told  ^-herd  yt  toold 

661  ha\>— MS.  ha>e 

663  preceded — procedeth 
ansewered[e]— answeredo 

661  \>e— omitted 
al— alle 

665  si]>en — syn 

668  fro— owt  of 


669  seyne  from — seyn  fro 
672  Remembrest  \>ou—  Ee- 
menbresthow 

674  Maiste  \>ou— Maystliow 

675  ]>an — J>aTine 
\>ing — thinge 
Axest — Axestow 

677  Wistest  \>ou  —  wystcst- 
liow 

678  \>ing— thinge 


DOETIIIUS    NEEDS   LIGHT   REMEDIES. 


FBOOK  i. 
LPKOSE  e. 


B.  NO.  No  qiiod  .1.  now  wot  I  quod  she  oper  cause  of  pi 

680  maladie  and  pat  ry^t  grete      If   Jjou  hast   left  forto 

p.  NOW  i  know     knowe  pi  self  what  pou  art.  poru}  whiche  I  haue  pley- 

thc  principal 

Smpe?fthydi8"    netycne  knowen  pe  cause  of  pi  maladie.    or  ellis  pe 

683  entre  of  recoueryng  of  pin  hele.     "If  Forwhy  for  pou 

Thou  hast  lost      art  co-founded  wib  foroetyng  of  bi  self,   forbi  sorwest 

the  knowledge  of 

thyself,  jjOU  j,at  pou  art  exiled  of  pi  propre  goodes.     ^  And 

tiion  knowest  not  for  pou  ne  wost  what  is  pe  ende  of  pinges.  forfpi]  demest 
'      011]  J^  fel°nous  and  wikked  men  ben  my3ty  and  weleful 
f°r  fou  hast  for^eten  by  whiche  gouernement}  pe  worlde 
689  is  gouerned.     ^[  Forpi  wenest  pou  fat  J>ise  mutac/ou^s 
°^  ^ortune  fleten  wij?  onten  goueruowr.  fise  ben  grete 
causes  not  oonly  to  maladie.  but  certes  grete  causes  to 


governed. 


i  thank  God  that    deeb     IT  But  I  banke  be  auctour  and  be  makere  of 

Reason  hath  not 
wholly  deserted 
tliee. 


heele  pat  native  hap  not  al  forleten  pe.  and  I  haue 
694  g[r]ete  norissinges  of  pi  hele.  and  pat  is  pe  sope  sen- 
tence of  goumiaurcce  of  pe  worlde.    pat  pou  byleuest 
pat  pe  goueniynge  of  it  nis  nat  subgit  ne  vnderput 
to  pe  folie  *of  pise  happes  auenterouses.   but  to  pe 
rescue  of  god     ^[  And  per  fore  doute  pe  noping.     For 
of  pis  litel  spark  pine  heet  of  lijf  schal  shine.     ^[  But 
700  for  as  muche  as  it  is  not  tyme  3itte  of  fastere  remedies 
^[  And  pe  nature  of  pou^tes  disseiued  is  pis  pat  as  ofte 
as  pei  casten  aweye  sope  opyniourcs :  pei  clopen  hem  in 
fals[e]  opinions,  [of  whiche  false  opyniouws]  pederknesse 
of  perturbac^ourc  wexep  vp.  pat  comfoundep  pe  verray 
fromwheencee'       insy^t.    and    pat  dcrkenes  schal    .1.   say  somwhat  to 

that  darkens  the    maken  pi/me  and  wayk  by  ly^t  and  meenelyche  re- 
understanding, 
i  shall  endeavour  medies.    so   bat  after  bat  be  derknes  of   desseyuynge 

therAfm-p  tn  Hia.  •»  FT  J      J 

desyrynges  is  don  awey.    pou  mow[e]  knowe  pe  schyn- 
of  verray  ly^t. 
haste 


I  have  some 
hope  of  thy 
recovery  since 
thou  believest 
that  the  world  is 

[*  fol.  8  6.] 
tinder  Divine 
Providence, 
for  this  small 
spark  shall  pro- 
duce vital  heat. 


But  as  this  is  not 

the  time  for 

stronger 

remedies, 

and  because  it  is 

natural  to  em- 

brace false 


therefore  to  dis- 

vTPao^rshseoethat 


680  hast  left— MS. 
lefte,  C.  hast  left 

681  Tcnowe — knowen 
pleynelyche      knowen    — 

pleynly      fwonde      [  = 
founde] 
684  sorwest  \>ou — sorwistow 

686  /o>-[pi]  demest  [_\>ou~]  — 
For  thy  di-mesUiow 

687  wikked-MS.  wilkcd,  C. 


wykkyd 

688  worlde— world 

689  wenest  \>ou — wenestow 

690  outen— owte 

693  ha}>— MS.  habe 
al— alle 

694  pi— thin 

696  vnderput — vndyrputte 

697  to  (2)— omitted 

698  fore— for 


698  noting— uothinge 

699  spark  ]>ine  heet— sparke 

700  muche — meche  [thin  hete 

702  aweye— away 

703  [pf opyniouns~] — from 

705  insytf— insyhte          [C. 
say — assaye 

706  lytf— lyhte 
708  don— MS.  done 

mow[e] — uiowc 


HE   IS   NOT   TO   TAKE   HIS   LOSSES   TO   HEART.  29 


NUBIBttS   ATRIS   CONDITA. 

"p%E  sterres  couered  wif  blak[e]  cloudes  ne   mo  wen  [Theseuende 
y  geten  a  douw  no  ly$t.    3if  be  trouble  wywde  bat  Black  clouds 

obscure  the  light 

hy^t  auster  stormynge  and  walwywg  f  e  see  medlej)  f  e  of  the  stars. 

heete  fat  is  to  seyne  fe  boylyng  vp  from  J>e  botme  713 

1"  J?e  wawes   J>«t  somtyme   weren  clere   as   glas  and  if  the  south  wind 

renders  the  sea 

lyke   to   fe   fair[ej  bry^t[e]  dayes  wi]?stant   anon   fe  tempestuous,  the 

sy^tes  of  men.  by  jje  filf  e  and  ordure  fat  is  resolued.  SSX^gjJJy 

and  f  e  fletyng  streme  fat  roylef  dourc  dyuersely  fro  clearness- 
hey^e  mou/itaignes  is  arestid  and  resisted  ofte  tyme 

by  ]?e  encountrynge  of  a  stoon  J>at  is  departid  and  719 

fallen  from  some  roche.      ^F  And  forbi  yif  bou  wilt  ifthouwouidst 

see  truth  by  the 

loken  and  demen  sobe  wib  clere  ly^t.   and  holde   be  clearest  light, 

*       pursue  the  path 

weye  wij>  a  ry3t  pafe.  1"  Weyue  fou  ioie.  drif  fro  }e  Afwrjh^ithioy> 
drede.  fleme  J>ou  hope,  ne  lat  no  sorwe  aproche.  ]>at  is  sorrow?1*6' and 
to  sein  lat  noon  of  )>ise  four  passiouws  ouer  come  fe. 
or  blynde  ]>e.  for  cloudy  and  dirke  is  Jjilk  fou^t  and 

,  i  'it    t     •  it  i  »•»•  *r<Tk/»    things  control, 

bounde  with  bridles,  where  as  bise  binges  regnen.    726  the  soui  is  bound 

by  strong  fetters. 
EXPLICIT   LIBER   PRIMUS. 


INCIPIT  LIBER  SECUNDUS. 


A 


POSTEA  [PAU]LISPER  CONTICUIT. 

fter  Jjis  she  stynte  a  litel.  and  after  )?at  she  hadde  [The  fyrst  prose.] 
gadred  by  atempre  stillenesse  myn  attenciouTi  she  728 


seide  bus.     ^[  As  who  so  nmtfel  seye  bus.     After  bise  Philosophy  ex- 

J:>   L   J        J      Y  horts  Boethius 


J)inges  she  stynt[e]   a   lytel.    and  whanne    she  aper- 
ceiued[e]  by  atempre  stillenesse  fat  I  was  ententif  to  f0cs0s°els"tofhi 
herkene  hire,  she  bygan  to  speke  in  fis  wyse.     ^f  Yif  732 


710  Uak[_e]— blake 

712  stormynge— turnyng 

713  from— fro 

714-  somtyme — whilom 

715  lyke— lyk 

faiiie] wfystant  (MS. 

wijistante) — fayre  cleere 
dayes  and  brilite  with- 
stand 


716  syytes— syhtes 

717  streme — strem 

718  Tiey^e—hy 

720  from  some—frs\m  som 
wilt — wolt 

721  so\>e— soth 
clere — cleer 
holde — holden 

722  weye—wey 


722  pa\>e— paath 

724  come— comen 

725  blynde— blende 
bilk— thilke 

727  slie  (2)— I 

729  my$t[e~\  seye — myhte  seyn 

730  styntle-}— stynte 


732  hire— here 


30  PHILOSOPHY   EXHIBITS   TO   BOETHIUS                     [pHolE*'i. 

733  I  quod  she  haue  vnderstonde?z  and  knowe  vtterly  fe 

Thou  art,  she  causes  and  be  habit  of  bi  maladie.  bon  languissed  and 

says,  affected  by 


art  deffete(i  for  talent  and  desijr  of  fi  rafer  fortune. 
736  ^f  She  fat  like  fortune  only  fat  is  chaunged  as  fou 
it  hath  perverted   feinest  to  be  ward,  hab  peruerted  be  clerenesse  and  be 

thy  faculties. 

i  am  weii  ac-        astat    of   fi    corage.      ^F   I   viiderstonde    be   felefolde 

quainted  with  all 

Prodigy^f/.11^     *dw  and  deceites  of  filke  merueillous  monstre  for- 

tune. and  how  she  vsef  ful  flatryng  familarite  wif  hem 

741  fat  she  enforce])  to  bygyle.  so  longe  til  fat  she  con- 

founde  wif  vnsuffreable  sorwe  hem  fat  she  haf  left 

743  in  despeir  vnpurueyed.     ^f  and  if  f  ou  remembrest  wel 

Though  she  has     f  e  kynde  be  manors  and  be  desert  of  bilke  fortune,  bow 

left  thee,  thou 

thTnVofSify7"  snalt  wel  knowe  as  in  nir  ]>ou  neuer  ne  haddest  ne 

or  of  worth.  ^^   ylost   &ny   f&^   j^     But   ag    j   ilQWQ   j    shal   ^ 

747  gretly  trauaile  to  don  fe  remembren  of  fise  finges. 
Thou  were  once     *l  For  bou  were  wont  to  hurtlen  land  despvsenl  hir 

proof  against  her 

allurements.         wif  manly  wordes  whan  she  was  blaundissinge  and 

presente  and  pwrsewedest  hir  wif  sentences  fat  were 

751  drawe/z  oute  of  myne  entre.    fat  is  to  seyne  out  of 

But  sudden          myn  iftformac^ouw     ^[  But  no  sudeyne  mutacioura  ne 

change  works  a 

fn  thVSSS?011     "y*1^6!1  nat  W^  °uten  a  maner  chauwgyng  of  curages. 


itf  ™thkththou  art  and  so  is  ^  ^yfallen  fa*  fou  art  departed  a  litel  fro 
J76  Pees  °f  M  foujt.  but  now  is  tyme  fat  f  ou  drynke 


But  with  some  cind  atast[e]  some  softe  and  delitable  finges.  so  fat  whan 

gentle  emollients  __.  .   -  ,         .,      . 

i  shall  prepare  bei  ben  entred  wib  i?zne  be.    it  mow  make  weye  to 

thee  for  stronger  r 

medicines.  stronger  drynkes  of  medycynes.     ^F  Com  nowe  furbe 

Approach  then, 


ferfore  fe  suasiouw   of  swetnesse  Eethoryen.   whiche 
seh8 


andstheerewlth8iet  fat  gof  oonly  f  e  ry3t  wey  whil  she  forsakef  not  myne 

Music  also  draw  .       ,        .       _      . 

near.  estatut^.     ^|  And  wif  Kethonce  com  forfe  niusice  a 

762  damoisel  of  cure  house  fat  syngef  now  ly^ter  moedes 


733  knowe  vtterly— knowen 
owtrely 

734  languissed — languyssest 

737  Jia\>— MS.  hape 

738  astat— estat 
felefolde— feeiefold 

739  colour — colours 
deceites  (MS.  decrites)  — 


742 


dcceytes 

merueillous  —  ineruayles 
'  ' 


746  any  (MS.  my) — any 
'  ^ng— thinge 

trauaile — travaylen 
don — do 
remembren  of—  remenbre 


pi 

747  i 


on 


748  land  despyseri]—from  C. 

749  was — omitted 

750  were — wereri 

751  myne — myn 
seyne — sayn 


43  if— yif  i  752  sudeyne— sodeyn 


753  outen-^owte 

757  inne — in 

mow  weye  —  mowe 

maken  wey 

758  strenger — strengere 
Com   nowe  fur\>e  —  MS. 
Come;  C.  Com  now  forth 

760  go})— MS.  gope 

761  com— MS.  come,  C.  com 

762  house — hows 
lyiter— lyhtere 


HOOK  2. 
PKOSE  1 


THE    WILES    OP    FORTUNE. 


31 


or  prolaGiouns  now  heuyer.   *what  aylep  pe  man.  what       [*  foi.  9.] 

is  it  pat  hap  cast  pe  in  to  murnyng  and  in  to  wepyng.  764 

I  trow[e]  pat  pou  hast  sen  some  newe  ping  and  un-  ^a?Fortun?is 

coupe.     ^  J)ou  wenest  pat  fortune  be  chaunged  a3eins  Ranged  towards 

pe     ^f  But  pou  wenest  wrong,   yif  pou  [pat]  wene.  Buuhouart 

Alwey  po  ben  hire  maners.  she  hap  raper  [kept]  as  to  768 

be  ward  hire  propre  stablenes  in  be  chaungyng  of  hyre  in  this  misad- 

J        venture  of  thine 

self,      ^f  Ry3t  swyche  was  she  whan  she  flatered[e] 
pe.    and  desseiued[e]    pe  wip  vnleueful    lykynges  of 
false  welefulnesse.  pou  hast  now  knowen  and  ataynt  772 
pe  doutous  or  double  visage  of  pilke  blynde  goddesse 
fortune.     ^  She  pat  }it  couerep  hir  and  wymplep  hir 
to  oper  folk,  hap  shewed  hir  euerydel  to  pe.      ^[  3if 
pou  approuest  hir  and  penkest  pat  she  is  good,   vse  776 
hir  maners  and  pleyne  be  nat.     IT  And  if  bou  agrisest  ifthoudost 

abhor  her  pern  ly 

hir  fals[e]   trecherie.   dispise  and  cast  aweye  hir  pat 


pleyep  so  harmefully.  for  she  pat  is  now  cause  of  so  danserous- 

myche  sorwe  to  pe.  sholde  be  to  pe  cause  of  pees  and  780 

[of]  ioie.     If  she  hap  forsaken  pe  forsope.  pe  whiche 

pat  neuer  man  may  be  syker  pat  she  ne  shal  forsake 

hym.     Glose.  ^[  But  napeles  some  bookes  han  pe  text 

pus.    For  sope  she  hap  forsaken  pe  ne  per  nis  no  man  784 

syker  pat  she  ne  hap  not  forsaken.      ^[  Holdest  pou  is  that  happiness 

pan  pilke  welefulnesse  preciouse  to  pe  pat  shal  passen.  transient? 

and  is  present  fortune  derworpi  to  pe.  whiche  pat  nis  is  the  attendance 

of  Fortune  so  dear 


not  feipful  forto  dwelle.  and  whan  she  gop  aweye  pat 
she  bryngep  a  wy^t  in  sorwe  *fi  For  syn  she  may  nat 
be  wipholdera  at  a  mans  wille.  she  makep  hym  a  wrecche 

she  departep  fro  hym.     ^J  What  oper  ping  is  791 


763  prolaciouns  —  probasy- 

769  'stablenes  in  pe—  stabyl- 

ons 

nesse  standeth  in  the 

heuyer  —  heuyere 

770  swyche—  swich 

ayle\>—  eyleth 

771  vnleueful—  vnlcfful 

765  trow[_e\  —  trowe 

775  lia\>—  MS.  had,  C.  hat 

sen—NLS.  sene,  C.  seyn 

776  good—  MS.  goode,  C.  god 

some  —  som 

777  agrisest—  MS.  agrised,  C. 

\>ing—  thinge 
uncou\>e  —  vnkowth 

agrysyst 
778  f  als[_e-]—  false 

766  aieins—  ayein 

780  myche  —  mochel 

767  wenest  —  weenes 
CM]—  C.  that 
768  ha\>—  MS.  hape 
[kept]—  from  0. 

781  [o/]—  from  C. 
7mp—  MS.  hape 
783  text—  texte 
784  /tap-MS.  haj>e 

785  forsaken—  forsake 
Holdest  \>ou  —  holclestow 

736  \>an—  thanne 
preciouse  —  presyes 

787  derworpi  —  dereworthe 
whiche  —  which 

788  feipful—  fevthfulle 
go\>  —  MS.  gope 
aweye  —  awey 

790  mans—  mannys 

791  wlien  —  wan 
\>ing—  thinge 


32  PHILOSOPHY   EXPOSTULATES   WITH   BOETHIUS.  PBOS 


PBOSE  1. 

what  is  she         flittircg  fortune  but  a  maiiere  shewynsj  of  wrycchednesse 

(Fortune)  but  the  J    ' 

En1t°?ffuture    fat  *s  to  comen-  ne  l*  ne  suffri)*  nafc  oo[n]ly  to  loken 

794  of  ping  fat  is  present  byforne  pe  eyen  of  man.   but 

wisdom  lokep  and  mesurep  pe  ende  of  Binges,  and  pe 

796  same  charwgyng  from  one  to  an  oper.  pat  is  to  seyne 

Her  mutability     fro  aduersite  to  prospcrite  makeb  bat   be  manaces  of 

should  make  men 

threat!  SOT  desire  f°rtune  ne  ^en  not  f°rto  dreden.  ne  pe  flatrynges  of 

her'favours.         hir  to  beu  Desired.     ^  £us  atte  J>6  last  it  byhouep  pe 

to  suffren  wij?  euene  wille  in  pacience  al  pat  is  don 

801  inwip  ]?e  noor  of  fortune,  pat  is  to  seyne  in  pis  worlde. 

if  you  submit  to    ff  Syben  bou  hast  oones  put  bi  nekke  vnder  be  2okke 

her  yoke  you 

enaSureaherntly      °^  ^^r*  ^or  ^  f011  w^  wr^e  a  lawe  °^  "wendyng  and  of 

dwellyng  to  fortune  whiche  pat  pou  hast  chosen  Jrely 

805  to  be  pi  lady     ^f  Art  pou  nat  wrongful  in  pat  and 

impatience  win     makest  fortune  wrope  and  aspere  by  pin  inpacience. 

your  loss.  an<%  jfo  jjOU  mayst  not  chaungen  hir.     <f  Yif  pou  com- 


YOU  cannot  mittest  \and~\  bitakest  bi  sayles  to  be  wynde.  bou  shalt 

choose  your  port 

1vfesseitoatheyour  ^e  s^1011611  not  fi&ei  pat  pou  woldest(:)  but  whider  pat 

mei-cy  of  the  ^e  wyw(je  ^Q^  ^Q    ^y  yif  pou  castest  pi  seedes  in  pe 

811  feldes  pou  sh  oldest  haue  in  mynde  pat  pe  ^eres  ben 

YOU  have  given  oper  while  plenteuous  and  oper  while  bareyne.    ^f  J)ou 

fortune;  it  be-  hast    bytaken   piself   to    pe    gouernaunce   of   fortune. 

comes  yon  there-  * 

commands7  her  an^  ^orM  ^  byhouep  pe  to  ben  obeisaunt  to  pe  manere 

would  you  stop  of  bi  lady,   and  enforcest  bou  be  to  aresten  or  wib- 

the  rolling  of  her  * 

wheel?  stonden  pe  swyftnesse  and  pe  sweyes  of  hir  towmyng 


T  °  J>OU  foo1  of  alle  mortel  fooles  if  fortune 
to  dwelle  stable,  she  cesed[e]  pan  to  ben  fortune. 


793  suffri\>— suffiseth 

794  of^ing—on  thynge 
byforne — MS.  byforne  by- 
forne 

man — a  man 

795  mesure\> — amesureth 

796  from  one— tram  oon 
seyne — seyn 

797  fro— from 
to— into 

799  atte  \>e  last—at  the  laste 


801  seyne — seyn 
worlde — wor  1  d 

802  Sy\>en—Syn 
lokke — yoke 

803  if— yif 
write — wryten 

804  whiche— which 

805  lady— ladye 
Art  \>ou — Artow 

806  wro\>e— wroth 
\>in — thine 


807  channgen — chaunge 

808  [and]— from  C. 

809  \>ider— thedyr 
whider — whedyr 

811  haue— han 

814  manere— maneres 

815  and — omitted 
wfystonden— withholden 

816  sweyes — sweyj 
818  cesed[e\—  cesede 


PROSE 


2.]      THE  INCONSTANCY  OF  FORTUNE.  33 


w 


HEC    CUM    SUPERBA. 

han  fortune  wip  a  proud  e  ry^t  hande  hap  tumid 

Fortune  is  as  in- 

hir  chauwgyng  stoundes  she  fareb  lyke  be  maners  constant  as  the 

ebb  and  flow  of 


of  pe  boillyng  eurippe.     Glose.     Eurippe  is  an  arme  of 

pe  see  pat  ebbith  and  flowip.  and  somtyme  pe  streme  823 

is  on  one  syde  and  somtyme  on  bat  ober.    Texte    H  She  she  hurls  kings 

from  their 

cruel  fortune  kastep  adoune  kynges  pat  somtyme  weren 

ydred.    and  she  deceiuable  enhauwseth  vp  pe  humble  tlve< 

chere  of  hym  pat  is  discomfited,  and  she  neyper  here]?  826 

ne  reccheb  of  wrecchedfe]  wepynges.  and  she  is  so  harde  she  turns  a  deaf 

ear  to  the  tears 

pat  she  Iau3ep  and  scornep  pe  wepyng  of  hem  pe  whiche 


she  hab  niaked  wepe  wib  hir  free  wille.     IT  bus  she  Thus  she  sports 

and  boasts  her 

pleyep  and  \us  she  p?*euep  hir  strengpe  and  shewep  a 
grete  wondre  to  alle  hir  seruauwt^.     1T  Yif  pat  a  wy3t  i^ 

.     '  _  an  hour,  a  man  is 

is  seyn  weleful  and  oue/'prowe  in  an.houre.  o<32  hurled  from 

happiness  into 
adversity. 

VELLEM    AUTEAf   PAUCA. 

I  wolde  plete  wij)  fee  a  fewe  Jiinges  vsynge  [Thesecunde 


be  wordes  of  fortune  tak  heede  now  bi  self,  yif  bat  Philosophy  ex- 

postulates with 
she  axej>  ry3t.     *  IT  0  ]?ou  man  wher  fore  makest  J?ou  -    Jjje 


me  gilty  by  pine  euerydayes  pleynynges.  what  wronges  "y™6^  1^irtune- 


haue  I  don  J?e.  what  goocles  haue  I  byreft  pe  pat  weren 
pine,  stryf  or  plete  wip  me  by  fore  what  iuge  pat  pou 
wilt  of  pe  possessions  of  rycchesse  or  of  dignites  ^f  And  Off?ep 
yif  pou  maist  shewe  me  pat  euer  any  mortal  man  hap  840 

.  Can  you  prove 

recevued  any  oi  bese  binges  to  ben  his  in  pvopre.  ban  that  ever  any 

J  J  r          r      &  irr          man  had  a  fixed 


wol  I  graunt[e]  frely  pat  [alle]  pilke  pinges  werew  pine 

whiche  bat  bou  axest.    ^[  "Whan  bat  nature  broii2t[el  be  YOU  came  naked 

'  L  J  Y      into  the  world, 

forpe  out  of  pi  moder  wombe.    I  receyued[e]  pe  naked 


819  proude — prowd 
Jiifinde — hand 
Jia\>— MS.  ha^e 

820  lyke— lik 

822  streme — strem 
8-23  one—o 

824  adoune — adpwn 
somtyme — whilom 

825  ydred  (MS.  ydredde)  — 
humble — vmble        [ydrad 

827  recche\> — rekkej) 


827  wrecclied[e] — wrecchede 
harde — hard 

828  lau^e\>— lyssheth 
wepyng— wepynges 

830  streng\>e— strengthes 

833  plete— pleten 

834  tak— MS.  take,  C.  tak 

835  makest  ]>ou— makes  thow 

836  wronges — wrcmge 

837  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
byreft  —  MS.   byrefte,  C. 


byreft 


838  stryf—  MS.  stryue.C.  stryf 
plete— pleten 

by  fore — by  forn 

839  wilt— wolt 
rycchesse— rychesses 

840  shewe — shewyn 
euer — euere 
ha\>— MS.  haj>e 

841  \>ese— tho 
his — hise 

842  graunt\e\ — graiwte 
[alle]— from  C. 


3 


34 


rROSPEBTTY    DOES    NOT    CONSTITUTE    FELICITY. 


n>roK  2. 
LPIIOSE  2. 


and  I  cherished 
you 

847 

and  encompassed 
you  with 
affluence. 
Now  that  I  have 
a  mind  to  with- 
draw my  boun'y, 
be  thankful  and 
complain  not. 


853 

Riches  and 
honours  are  sub- 
ject to  me. 
They  are  my 
servants,  and 
come  and  go  with 
me. 


858 

Shall  I  alone  be 
forbidden  to  use 
my  own  right  ? 
Doth  not  heaven 
give  us  sunny 
days  and  obscure 
the  same  with 
dark  nights  ? 
Is  not  the  earth 
covered  with 
frost  as  well  as 
with  flowers  ? 

865 

The  sea  some- 
times appears 
calm,  and  at 
other  times 
terrifies  us  with 
its  tempestuous 
waves. 

Shall  I  be  bound 
to  constancy  by 
the  covetousness 
of  men  ? 

871 

I  turn  my  rolling 
wheel  and  amuse 
myself  with 
exalting  what 


and  nedy  of  al  fing.  and  I  norysshed[e]  fe  wif  my 
rychesse.  and  was  redy  and  ententif  f  on/}  my  fauowr  to 
sustene  f  e.  1T  And  fat  make])  f  e  now  ircpacient  a^eins 
me.  and  I  envirounde  f  e  wif  al  f  e  habundaunce  and 
shinyng  of  al  goodes  fat  ben  in  my  ry3t.  IT  Now  it 
lykef  me  to  wif  drawe  myne  hande.  f  ou  hast  had  grace 
as  he  fat  haf  vsed  of  foreyne  goodes.  f  ou  hast  no  ry^t  to 
pleyne  fe.  as  £0113  fou  haddest  vtterly  lorn  alle  fi 
Binges,  whi  pleyiiest  fou  fan.  I  haue  don  f  e  no  wrong. 
Eicches  honowres  and  swyche  ofer  finges  ben  of  my 
ry^t.  IF  My  seruauntes  knowen  me  for  hir  lady.  f  ei 
comen  wif  me  and  departen  whan  I  wende.  I  dar  wel 
affermen  hardyly.  fat  yif  fo  finges  of  whiche  fou 
pleynest  fat  fou  hast  forlorn  hadde  ben  fine,  fou  ne 
haddest  not  lorn  hem.  11  shal  I  fan  only  be  defended 
to  vse  my  ry^t.  H  Certis  it  is  leueful  to  f  e  heuene  to 
make  clere  dayes.  and  after  fat  to  keuere  f  e  same  dayes 
wif  derke  ny^tes.  ^[  ])Q  erf  e  haf  eke  leue  to  apparaile 
fe  visage  of  fe  erfe  now  w^'t7i  floures  and  now  wif 
fruyt.  and  to  eonfounde  hem  somtyme  wif  raynes  and 
wif  coldes.  1F  })e  see  haf  eke  hys  ry^t  to  be  som- 
tyme calme  and  blaundyshing  wif  smofe  water,  and 
somtyme  to  be  horrible  wif  wawes  and  wif  tempestes. 
If  But  f  e  couetyse  of  men  fat  may  not  be  staunched 
shal  it  bynde  me  to  be  stedfast.  syn  fat  stedfastnesse 
is  vnkouf  to  my  maneres.  ^[  Swyche  is  my  strengf  e. 
and  f  is  pley.  I  pley[e]  cowtinuely.  I  tourne  f  e  whirlywg 
whele  wif  f  e  tournyng  cercle  11  I  am  glade  to  chaunge 
f  e '  lowest  to  f  e  heyeste.  and  f  e  heyest  to  f  e  loweste. 


845  al  \>ing— alle  thinges 
norysshed  \_e] — nory  ssede 

846  rychesse — rychesses 
848,  849  a?— alle 

848   habundaunce — abouwd- 
aimee 

850  wip hande  —  with- 

drawen  myn  hand 

had— MS.  hadde,  C.  had 

851  ha\>— MS.  hape 

852  vtterly— outrely 

lorn  —  MS.  lorne,  C.  for 
lorn 


853  donr- MS.  done,  C.  don 

854  Ricches — Rychesses 

858  forlorn— MS.  forlorne, 
C.  forlorn 

859  lorn— MS.  lorne,  C.  lorn 

860  vse — vsen 

861  keuere  \>e — coeueryn  tho 

862  derke— dirk 
erpe— yer 
ha\>— MS.  hape 

864  eonfounde — ccmfownden 

865  ha\>— MS.  ha>6 

866  calme — kalra 


867  (2nd)  wi\>— omitted 
869  stedfast— stidefast 
stedfastnesse  —  stidefast- 


870  vnkou\>— MS.  vnkoupe, 
C.  vnkowth 

Sicyche—Swych 

871  pley[e}— pleye 

872  whele — wheel 
glade — glad 
chaunge— chaungyw 


BE  SUBJECT  TO  FORTUNE'S  CHANGES.  35 

worbe  vp  yif  bou  wilt,  so  it  be  by  bis  lawe.   bat  bou  was  low,  and 

r          1     J        r  f        I          bringing  dow 

ne  holde  not  pat  I  do  pe  wronge  $011-$  pou  descende 

doiw  whanne  resoura  of  my  pleye  axep  it.    Wost  pou 

not  how  Cresus  kyng  of  lyndens  of  whiche  kyng  Cirws  8port  require8  "• 

was  fill  sore  agast  a   litel  byforne   pat  bis  rewlyche  878 

Cresus  was  cau3t   of  Cirus  and  lad  to  be  fijr  to  be  Jf 

brent,   but  pat  a  reyne  desce?ided[e]  douw  from  heuene 

pat  rescowed[e]  hym     IF  And  is  it  out  of  pi  niynde  bow 

pat  Paulus  consul  of  Rome  whan  he  hadde  take  pe 

kyng  of  perciens  weep  pitou[s]ly  for  pe  captiuitee  of  pe  883 

selffe]  kyng.    What  oper  pinges  bywaylen  pe  criinges  of  what  else  does 

Tragedies,   but  only  pe  dedes  of  fortune,  pat  wip  an  jj^^biJiuhlJ1' 

vnwar  stroke  ouert?/rnep  pe  realmes  of  grete  nobley  kinSml  by 

11"  Glose.  Tragedie  is  to  seyne  a  dite  of  a  prosperite  for  ate  strokes™111" 

a  tyme  bat  endib  in  wrechednesse.     Lernedest  nat  bou  Did  you  not  ieam 

whilst  a  youth, 

in  grek  whan  bou  were  songe  bat  in  be  entre  or  in  be  that  at  the  gates 

r      of  Jove's  palace 

seler  of  luppiter  ber  ben  couched  two  tunnes.   bat  on  stan£  two  vessels, 

'  one  lull  of  bless- 

is  ful  of  good  pat  oper  is  ful  of  harme.     f  What  ry3t  S?ie( 


hast  bou  to  pleyne.  yif  bou  hast  taken  more  plenteuously  what  if  you  have 

drunk  too  deep  of 

of  pe  goode  syde  pat  is  to  seyne  of  my  rycchesse  and  the  first  vessel  ? 
prosperites.  and  what  eke.  yif  I  be  nat  departed  fro  pe.  894 
What  eke.  yif  my  mutabilitee  siuep  pe  rystful  cause  of  My  mutability 

gives  thee  hope 

hope  to  han  }it  better  pmges.     ^1   JNapeles  desmaie  pe  of  happier  days, 
nat  in  pi  pou3t.  and  pou  pat  art  put  in  comune  realme  Desire  not  to  be 

. .   r  -,  ,      ^  i         •  i  ,      exempted  from 

of  alle  :  ne  desiir  e  nat  to  lyue  by  bine  oonly  propre  ryst.  the  vicissitudes  of 

humanity. 
SI    Q!7^NTAS    RAPIDIS. 

T}On-3  pleiitee  pat  is  gocldesse  of  rycches  hielde  adoim 
Jr  wip  ful  horn,  and  wipdrawep  nat  hir  hand.  IT  As 
many  recches  as  pe  see  turnep  vpwardes  saiides  whan  it 

874  wor\>e— worth 
wilt — wolt 

876  doun — adoiw 
whanne — wan 
pleye— pley 

Wost  \>ou— wistesthow 

877  kyng  (1)— the  kyng 
lyndens — lydyens 

878  byforne— byforn 

880    reyne    descended^ 


rayn  dessendede 

880  from— fro 

881  rescowed[je] — rescowede 

882  take— takyn 

885  an — a 

886  pe-omitted 

887  seyne — seyn 

890  tiinnes — tonnes 

891  harme — harm  i     vpwardes — vpward 

892  hast  \>ou— hasthow 


893  seyne — seyn 
rycchesse— rychesses 

894  /  be  nat— I  ne  be  nat  al 
896  better— betere 

898  lyue— lyuen 
\>ine — thin 

899  rycches— rychesses 
901  recches — rychesses 


36  THE    COVETOUS    ARE    EVER   DISCONTENTED.  F52™A 

LrMxUbr*  «J 

worK?  Sere      *s  moeue(l  ™ty  rauysshing  blastes.    or  ellys  as  many 
post  shore,  "or  lfl    rycches  as  f  er  shynen  bry^t[e]  sterres  on  heuene  on  fc 

stars  in  heaven,  ^.      „ 

mankind  would     sterry  nyst.  3it  lor  al  bat  mankynde  nolde  not  cesce  to 
not  cease  to  com- 
plain* fo1'  10']       wope  wrecched[e]  pleyntes.     H  And  al  be  it  so  *fat 

906  god  receyuef  gladly  her  prayers  and  3011  ef  hem  as  ful 

Tiiough^Heaven    large  muche  golde  and  apparailef  coueytous  folk  wif 

vu&fflair  teT  noble  or  clere  honours.  $it  semef  hem  haue  I-gete  no- 

f  ing.  but  alwey  her  cruel  ravyne  deuourynge  al  fat  f  ei 

910  han  geten  she  wif  ofer  gapinges.  fat  is  to  seye  gapen 
what  rein  can       and  desiren  sit  after  moo  rycchesse.     H  What  brideles 

restrain  unbound- 
ed avarice  v         my^ten  wifholde  to  any  certeyne  ende  fe  desordene 

He  who  thinks      coueitise  of  men    II  Whan  euere  be  raber  bat  it  fletib  in 
himself  poor, 

ricllfdothtraiy     ^aroe  3^s  :  fe  more  av  krennef  in  hem  fe  frest  of 

ptSymder        hauyng.     H  Certis  he  fat  quakyng  and  dredeful  wenef 

916  hym  seluen  nedy.  he  ne  lyuef  n euere  mo  ryche. 


HIIS  IGITUR   SI    PRO    SE. 

[The  thrydde  ~fa  erfore  yif  fat  fortune  spake  wif  f  e  for  hir  self  in 
if  Fortune  spake  -*  fis  manere.  For  sof  e  f  ou  ne  haddest  [nat]  what 

thus  to  you,  you 

could  not  defend    fcou  mutest  answere.  and  if  bou  hast  any  biwcr  Avher- 

your  complaint.       ' 

wrif.  fou  mayist  ry3tfully  tellen  fi  compleynt.     H  It 

921  byhouef  fe  to  shewen  it.  and  .1.  wol  }eue  fe  space  to 

B.  what  you       tellen   it.     H  Certeynely  quod  I  fan   fise   ben  faire 

have  said  is  very 

.s]>ecious,  but        binges  and  enoyntid  wib  hony  swetnesse  of  rethorike 

such  discourses        ' 

whiie'tficy strike  an^'  musike.  and  only  while  f  ei  ben  herd  f  ei  ben  de- 
They^annot  Hciouse.  H  But  to  wrecches  is  a  deppere  felyng  of 
hnp?essk)nsethat  harme.  f  is  is  to  seyn  fat  wrecches  felen  f  e  harmes  fat 

misery  has  made  , .  -IT, 

in  the  heart.         f  ei  suilrcn  more  greuously  fan  f  e  remedies  or  f  e  delites 
928  of  fise  wordes  mowc  gladen  or  comforten  hem.  so  fat 


902  ranyssMng— rauyssynge  |  908  liaue— hauon 


!)<«  ri/cches  —  ryohcsses 


on  (i)—  in 
t  nj/it—  nyhtos 
."}  wope  wrccched[c~\  —  wepe 
vreccbede 


ful—  fool 

907  mnclir-   inoche 
folk—  men 


I-gete — I  -getyn 

909  her— hir 

910  seye — seyn 

911  rycchesse — ryehosscs 

912  wi\>liolde— wytholdcn 
certeyne— certcyn 

914  \>rest— tliuvst, 
!»!.-»  dredeful— clvodful 
9ir.  fyrueb—leutit.l\ 
918  [natl— from  C. 


919  (/'—yif 

920  mayist—  mayst 


tellen  —  defendyn 

921  ieue  —  yenyn 

922  pan—  thaiine 
ben—  bet  (=  both) 

923  swetnesse  —  swetenosse 

924  while—  whil 
lien/.—  MS.  horde 

92G  harme—  harm 
928  mowe—  mowen 


?S!osK3.1  BOBTHIU8    IS    NOT    UNHAPPY.  37 

whan  f  ise  f  inges  stynten  forto  soiw[e]  in  cres.  f  e  sorwe  929 

fat  is  inset  greuef  f  e  f  ou^t.     Ry3t  so  is  it  quod  she.  P.  Jo  ^  i8Jto- 

IT  For  f  ise  ne  ben  $it  none  remedies  of  f  i  maladie.  but  tStSSp&& 
f  ei  ben  a   manere   norissinges  of  fi  sorwe  ^it  rebel  ° 


•  MT    1  1  T  •      T      i     i    When  time 

aieyne  f  i  curaczourc.     IT  For  whan  bat  tyme  is.  I  shal  SCrves,  i  win 

administer  those 

moue  swiche  f  inges  fat  percen  hem  self  depe.     51  But  things  that  shall 
nabeles   bat    fou  shalt   not   wilne   to  leten  bi  self  a  youVdisea^ 

f  f          *  But  you  are  not 

wrecche.     IF  Hast   fou   for^eten  fe  noumbre  and  fe 


manere  of  f  i  welefulnesse.     I  holde  me  stille  how  fat  x  shal]  no't  Bpeak 

f    *        r^.'L        ±   t  •  j  of  your  happiness 

be  soueravn  men  of   be   Citee  tokerc  be  in  cure  and  in  being  provided 

for  (in  your 

kepynge  whan  bou  were  orphelyn  of  fadir  and  modir.  orphanage)  by 

the  chief  men  of 

and  were  chosen  in  affinite  of  princes  of  J>e  Citee.  thecity; 
IF  And  j>ou  byguwne  rafer  to  ben  leef  and  deere  J?an  941 
forto  ben  a  ney^bowr.  ))e  whiche  jjing  is  J)e  most  pre- 
ciouse  kynde  of  any  propinquitee  or  aliauwce  |?at  may 
ben.     IF  Who  is  it  fat  ne  seide  f  ou  nere  ryjt  weleful  944 
wib  so  grete  a  nobley  of  bi  fadres  in  la  we.     IF  And  wib  nor  of  your 

'    virtuous  wife, 

fe   chastite   of  fi  wijf.    and  wif  fe    oportunite   and  and  raanly  sons- 
noblesse  of  fi  masculyn  children,    fat  is  to  seyne  fi 
sones  and  ouer  al  f  is  me  lyst  to  passe  of  comune  f  inges.  948 
IF  How  fou  haddest  in  fi  fou^t  dignitees  fat  weren 
warned  to.olde  men.  but  it  delitef  me  to  comen  now  to 
f  e  singuler  vphepyng  of  f  i  welefulnesse.     1F  Yif  any 
fruyt  of  mortal  f  inges  may  han  any  wey^te  or  price  of  952 
welefulnesse.     IF  Myztest  bou  euere  forzeten  for  any  can  you  ever  for- 

J  "  J    get  the  memor- 

charge  of  harme  fat  my3t[e]  byfallen.  f  e  remembrau?^ce 


of  filke  day  fat  fou  sey[e]  fi  two  sones  maked  con- 


seillers.  and  ylad  to  gidre  from  fin  house  vndir  so  gret 
assemble  of  senatours.  and  vndir  f  e  blyf  enesse  of  poeple.  957 
and  whan  fou  say[e]  hem  sette  in  fe  court  in  her 


929  soun\e~\— sowne 

930  inset  —  MS.  insette,  C. 
inset 

932  sorwe — sorwes 

933  a^eyne— ayein 

934  moue  swiche  —  moeue 
swych 

938  souerayn — souerane 
942  neyfiour — neysslieboztr 


9-i4.  nere — were 


945  nobley—  nobleye 
fadres — fadyr-is 

947  seyne— seyn 

948  lyst— lyste 
passe  of—  passen  the 

949  \>ouit— yowthe 

950  warned— werncd 

952  fruyt— frute 
price — pris 

953  My^test   \>ou  —  myhtcs- 


thow 
954  har  me—  harm 


bufallen  —  niyhtc 


955  sey[e\—  saye 

956  from—  fro 
rrret—MS.  grcte,  C.  grot 

958  say[e\  —  sayo 
sette—  set 
her  —  hccre 


38 


ADVERSITY    IS    BUT    TRANSIENT. 


FflOOK  2. 

LPIIOSE  3 


when  in  the        chaieres  of  dignites.     IT  bou  rethorien  or  pronourccere 

circus  you  satis- 

^ectint  mum-  °^  kynges  P^ysinges.  descruedest  glorie  of  wit  and  of 
triumphal8  eloquence,  whan  fou  sittyng  bytwix  fi  two  sones  con- 

seillers  in  fe  place  fat  hy3t  Circo.  and  fulfildest  fe 
963  abydyng  of  multitude  of  poeple  fat  was  sprad  about  f  e 

wif  large  praysynge  and  laude  as  mew  syngen  in  vie- 
By  your  expres-  tories.  bo  sauc  bou  wordes  of  fortune  as  I  trowe.  bat 

sions  you 

is    to  seyne.    fo  feffedest  fou   fortune   wif    glosynge 
wordes  and  desseiuedest  hir.  whan  she  accoied[e]  fe 
and  norsshed[e]  fe  as  hir  owen  delices.     IT  Jpou  hast 
969  had  of  fortune  a  ^ifte  fat  is  to  seyn  swiche  gerdoiw 

Wilt  fou  f  erfore 


private  person, 


win  you  there-  bat  she  neuferle  saf  to  preue  man 

fore  call  Fortune  J 

to  account?  leye  a  rekenynsr  wib  fortune,   she  hab  now  twynkeled 

She  now  begins,          * 

unkind!0  look  ^rs^  vPon  lPQ  ^t  a  wykked  eye.     IF  Yif  fou  considere 

SrftheUnmnber  J76  nou??ibre  and  f  e  manere  of  fi  blysses.   and  of  fi 

°fFUfoiblieoS6.]g8'  sorwes.  *fou  maist  nat  forsake  fat  fou  nart  $it  blysful. 

you  must  confess  _..-  ,  .        ,„  ,    ,,   ,  f       ,  . 

that  you  are  still  For  if  f  ou  f  erfore  wenest  f  i  self  nat  welef  ul  for  f  inges 

happy. 

976  fat  fo  semeden  ioyful  ben  passed.     IT  ]?er  nis  nat  whi 

These  evils  that  f  ou  sholdest  wene  f  i  self  a  wrecche.  for  f  inges  fat  now 

you  suffer  are  but  .  „      , 

transitory.  semen  soory  passen  also.     T!  Art  fou  now  comen  nrste 

979  a  sodeyne  gest  in  to  fe  shadowe  or  tabernacle  of  fis 

Can  there  be  any  liif.  or  trowest  bou  bat  any  stedfastnesse  be  in  mannis 

stability  in 

human  affairs,  binges.     IT  Whan  ofte  a  swifte  houre  dissoluef  f  e  same 

when  the  life  of  * 


The  last  day  of 
life  puts  an  end 
to  Prosperity. 
What  matters  it 
then,  whether 
you  by  death 
leave  it,  or  it 
(Fortune)  by 


man-    fat   is   to 

body.  For  al  f  ou}  fat  yelde  is  f  er  any  feif  fat  for- 
tunous  f  inges  willen  dwelle.  3it  naf  eles  fe  last[e]  day 
of  a  marmis  lijf  is  a  manere  deef  to  fortune,  and  also 
to  f  ilke  fat  haf  dwelt,  and  f  erfore  what  wenist  fou 
far  recche  yif  fou  forlete  hir  in  dey/zge  or  ellys  fat  she 
flight  doth  leave  fortune  foriete  fe  in  fleenge  awey. 

979  shadowe—  shadwe 

980  stedfastnesse  —  stedofnst- 

981  swi/te—  swyft         [nose 
dissolue])  —  dyssoluede 

983  al  Jwtt?   pat  —  al    J>at 
thowgh 

fortunous  —  fortune 

984  willen  dwelle  —  wolon 
last[_e]  —  laste         [dwellyn 

986  ha\>—  MS.  ha|>e 
wenist  \>ou  —  weoi  i  est  o  w 

987  \>ar  recche—  dar  rcckt- 

988  a  we  a    away 


961  bytwix—  bytwyen 
962  Uyd—  hihte 
963  of  (I)—  of  the 
about  —  abowten 
964  wi\>-^-\vith  so 
965  wue—  MS.  ban,  C.  yaue 
of—  to 
9(i(i  seyne  —  seyn 
967  accoied[el  —  acoyode 
968  norsshcd{_e]  —  norysscde 
owen  —  owne 
\>ou  of  —  tlunv   bar 
away  of 

069  had—  MS.  hadde 
swiche  —  swich 
970  preue—  pvyue 
971  leye—  lye 
ha\>—  MS.  ha}?e 
972  wylcked—  wyckede 
973  blysses  —  blysse 
974  forsake—  forsakyn 
nart  —  art 
blysful—  blysseful 
978  soory  —  sorye 
Jirste—  fyrst 
979  sodeyne  —  sodoyn 

4.]  MANY    BLESSINGS    STILL    REMAIN.  39 

CUM    PRIMO    POLO. 

TI7"han  phebus  fe  sonne  bygynnej)  to  spreden  his  clere-  [The  .iij.  Metwr.i 
*  '    nesse  with  rosene  chariettes.  ban  be  sterre  ydimmyd  The  stars  paie  i.c- 

J       fore  the  li-litot 

palef  hir  white  cheres.  by  fe  flamus  of  J)e  sowne  fat  the  rising  sun 
ouer  come]?  f  e  sterre  Iy3t.     1F  Jpis  is  to  seyn  whan  f  e 
sonne  is  risen  fe  day  sterre  wexif  pale  and  lesijj  hir  993 
lyst  for  be  grete  brystnesse  of  be  sonne.     IT  Whan  be  westerly  winds 

^  J)  r      deck  the  wood 

with  roses,  but 

easterly  winds 

the 


wode  wexeb  redy  of  rosene  floures  in  be  first  somer  with  roses  imt 

*  f  easterly  winds 

sesouw  f  oru$  ])e  bref  e  of  f  e  wynde  Zephirus  fat  wexef  beautyto'tade. 


warme.     IF  Yif  ]>e  cloudy  wynde  auster  bio  we  felliche.  997 

ban  gob  awey  be  fayrnesse  of  bornes.     Ofte  be  see  is  NOW  the  sea  is 

calm,  and  again 

clere  and  calme  wifoute  moeuywg  floodes.     And  ofte  it  is  tempestuous. 

fe  horrible  wynde  aqwilon  moeuef  boylyng  tempestes  1000 

and  ouer  whelweb  be  see.    IF  Yif  be  forme  of  bis  worlde  if  ail  things  thus 

1    '  vary,  will  you 

is  so  [jeelde]   stable,  and  yif  it  towrnif  by  so  many  gj»y « transitory 

entrechauwgynges.  wilt  fou  ]pan  trustee  in  Jje  trublynge 

fortunes  of  mew.  wilt  J?ou  trowren  in  flittyng  goodes.  1004 

It  is  certeyne  and  establissed  by  lawe  perdurable  bat  no  AH  here  below  is 

unstedfast  and 

Jnwg  ]>at  is  engendred  nys  stedfast  no  stable.  unstable. 


TUNG    EGO    UERA    INQIMM. 

"KAnne  seide  I  ]ms.     0  norice  of  alle  uertues  ]?ou  [Thefertheprose.] 
*     seist  ful  sobe.     1T  Ne  I  may  nat  forsake  be  ry^tfel  s.  i  cannot  deny 

J    my  sudden  and 

swifte  cours  of  my  prosperitee.    pat   is  to  seine,    fat  early  prosperity, 
prosperitee  ne  be  comen  to  me  wondir   swiftly  and  1010 
soone.  but  bis  is  a  bing  bat  gretly  smertib  me  whan  it  it  is  the  re-nem- 

J  brance  of  former 

remembre])  me.     IF  For  in  alle  aduersitees  of  fortune  ]?e  JS^^tto11* 
most  vnsely  kynde  of  contrariouse  fortune  is  to  han  man'8  mfelicity- 
ben  weleful.     IF  But  fat  \  ou  qwod  she  abaist  fus  ]?e  p.  Recollect  that 
towrment  of  Jji  fals[e]  opiniouw  fat  maist  f  ou  not  ry^t-  much  affluence. 


989  Ms— hyr 

990  \>an— thanne 

991  Jtamus — flarubes     ' 
995  redy—rody 

rosene — rosyn 

997  warme — warm 

998  go]>— MS.  gope,  C.  goth 


fayrnesse — fayrcnosse 
99  clere — cleer 
caltnc — kahri 


1000  wynde— wynd 

1001  whelwefy — welueeth 

1002  beelde]— from  C. 
1003, 1004  wilt  \>ou— wolthow 

1003  paw— thanne 
trublynge— towmblywge 

1004  in  flittyng  —  on  llot- 

1005  It  is— is  it  [tyuge 

1006  wo— no 
stable — cstable 


1008  so\>e— soth 

Ne  Imay—Ne  I  ne  may 

1009  seine — seyn 

1011  a— omitted 
gretly—gretely 

1012  aduersilees — adnrrsvtc 

1013  most— moosto 

1014  abaist — abyest 
1015 


40 


MUCH    TO    BE    THANKFUL    FOR. 


rnooK  2. 


Symmachus,  dear   kynde. 
to  you  as  life, 


fully  blamen  ne  aretten  to  pinges.  as  who  seip  for  pou 

hast  3itte  many  habundaunces   of  pinges.     f  Textm. 

1018  For  al  be  it  so  pat  pe  ydel  name  of  auenterouse  wele- 

what  you  fulnesse  moeuep  pe  now.   it  is  leueful  pat  bou  rekene 

esteemed  most 

EapCprdSayns,yy°S    w^  me  of  how  many[e]  pinges  pou  hast  3it  plentee. 
still  retain,'         ^  And  j,erfore  yif  j,at  j,ilke  j,ing  jat  pou  haddest  for 

most  precious  in  alle  pi  rycchesse  of  fortune  be  kept 
1023  to  pe  by  pe  grace  of  god  vnwemmed  and  vndefouled. 
and  ought  there-    Mayst  pou  paft  pleyne  ry^tfully  vpon  pe  myschief  of  for- 
piain.  tune,  syn  pou  hast  3it  pi  bestfe]  pinges.     IT  Certys  3it 

1026  lyuep  in  goode  poynt  pilke  precious  honowr  of  man- 
1T  Symacus  pi  wyues  fadir  whiche  pat  is  a 
man  maked  al  of  sapience  and  of  vertue.  pe  whiche 
1029  man  pou  woldest  b[i]en  redely  wip  pe  pris  of  f>in  owen 
lijf.  he  byweylep  pe  wronges  pat  men  don  to  pee.  and 
not  for  hym  self,  for  he  liuep  in  sykernesse  of  any 
Your  wife  sentence  put  aseins  hym.     1F  And  sit  lyueb  bi  wif  bat 

Kusticiana  is  also 

alive>  is  attempre  of  witte  and  passyng  oper  women  in  clennes 

1034  of  chastitee.  and  for  I  wol  closen  shortly  her  bountes 

and  bewails  her     she  is  lyke  to  hir  fadir.     I  telle  be  welle  bat  she  lyueb 

separation  from 

y°u-  loop  of  hir  life,  and  kepip  to  pee  oonly  hir  goost.  and 

is  al  maat  and  ouer-comen  by  wepyng  and  sorwe  for 

1038  desire  of  pe     IF  In  \>Q  whiche  ping  only  I  mot  graimten 

why  need  i  men-  pat  pi  welefulnesse  is  amenused.     11  What  shal  I  seyn 

tion  your  two 

sons,  in  whom  so   eke  of  bi  two  sones  conseillours  of  whiche  as  of  chil- 

much  of  the  wit 

[*  M.  11.]       dren  of  hir  age  per  shinep  *be  lyknesse  of  pe  witte  of 

and  spirit  of  their 

sire  do?hgsMne?  ^r  ^^  an^  °^  nir  eldefadir.  and  sipen  pe  souereyn 
«5dchtefcareof  cure  °^  a^e  inor^e-'-  f°Hie  ig  to  sauen  hir  owe?»  lyues. 
uiHiCuSm  IF  0  how  weleful  art  pou  pou3  pou  knowe  pi  goodes. 


is  safe  and  in 
health. 


1016  mJ?-MS.seiRC.seyh 

1017  ytte— yit 

1019  leueful— leefful 

1020  many[_e\  \>inges — manye 
grete  thinges 

1022  alle— al 

1023  \>e  by— the  yit  by 

1024  myschief—  meschef 

1025  bestle']— beste 

1026  lyue\>— leucth 
goode— -rood 

1027  wltii-hc— which 

1028  aJ— alle 


1028  of  (2)— omitted 

1029  b\f\en— byen 
owen — owne 

1030  byweyle\> — bewaylcth 
dow— MS.  done,  C.  don 

1031  liue\>— leueth 

1033  witte— wyt 
women — wymmen 

1034  shortly— shortely 

1035  lyke— lik 
welle— wol 

1030  hir  life—t\A*  lyf 
1037  maat— maud 


1038  wliiclie— weche 

1039  amemised — am enysscd 
seyn—(M£.  seyne)  seyn    . 

1041  lyknesse — lykenesse 

witte— wyt 
1042"  and  (1)— or 

eldefadir — cldyr  fa'Jyr 

si\>en— syn 
1043  folke— folk 
10JH  art  \>ou  }>OUT, — arthow 

yif 


l>iiosE24.]  THE   CONDITION    OF   HUMAN   BLISS.  41 

1F  Eut  sittc  ben  ber  binges  dwellywg  to  be  wardes  bat  no  most  happy  in 

the  possession  of 

man  doutef  bat  bei  ne  ben  more  derworf  o  to  be  ben  alfmeif  \-aiuich 


fine  owen  lijf.     IT  And  forfi  drie  J)i  teres  for  $itte  nys 

nat  eueriche  fortune  al  hateful  to  be  warde.  ne  oner 

greet  tempest  haf  nat  3it  fallen  vpon  be.  whan  bat  fin  f2£re  fe5°ity.°f 

ancres  cliue  fast[e]  bat  neiber  wole  suffre  be  comfort  of  bis  1050 

tyme  present,  ne  be  hope  of  tyme  comynge  to  passen 

ne  to  falle?i.     1F  And  I  preie  quod  I  bat  fastfel  motfen]  B.  i  hope  these 

J    will  never  tail  me. 

bei  holden.    1F  For  whiles  fat  f  ei  halden.  how  so  euere 

fat  finges  ben,  I  shal  wel  fleten  furfe  and  eschapen.  1054 

IF  But  bou  mayst  wel  seen  how  greetfe!  apparailes  and  But  do  you  not 

see  how  low  I  am 

aray  bat  me  lakkeb  bat  ben  passed  awey  fro  me.     IF  I  falle»  ? 

P.  I  should  think 

haue  sum  what  auau^ced  and  forfered  fe  quod  she.  if  ^5*  Je$^f™j£e 
fat  fou  anoie  nat  or  forfenke  nat  of  al  fi  fortune.     As       "          e  s° 


who  seib.     ^F  I  haue  somwhat  comforted  be  so  bat  bou  it  grieves  me  to 

•          •  hear  you  com- 

tempest  nat  be  fus  wif  al  fi  fortune,   syn  fou  hast  jJjS^Sy 
3it  fi  best[e]    finges.      IF  But  I  may  nat  suffre  fin  comforts- 
delices.  bat  pleinst  so  wepyng.  and  anguissous  for  fat  1062 

ober  lakkeb  somwhat  to  bi  welefulnesse.     1F  For  what  Every  one,  how- 

ever happy,  has 


man  is  so  sad  or  of  so  perfit  welefulnesse.  fat  he  ne 

stryuef  or  pleynef  on  some  half  a^eine  fe  qualitee  of  1065 

his  estat.     IT  For  whi  ful  anguissous  bing  is  be  con-  The  condition  of 

human  enjoy- 

diciouw  of  mans  goodes.     IF  For  eyfer  it  cbmef  al  to 
gidre   to  a   wy^t.  or   ellys    it   lastef  not   perpetuely. 


MT  -r\  i     .  i  i      ,     i  tay  when 

IF  For  som  man  haf  grete  rycchesse.    but   he   is   as-  it  does  come. 

One  man  is  very 

shamed  ot  nys  vngentu  lynage.    and  som  man  is  re-  wealthy,  hut  ins 

birth  is  obscure. 

nomed  of  noblesse  of  kynrede.  but  he  is  enclosed  in  so  Another  is  con- 

spicuous for 
grete  angre  for  nede  of  finges.  fat  hym  were  leuer  fat 


he  were  vnknowe.   and  som  ma?*  habundef  bofe  in  in5[gence!d  by 
rychesse  and  noblesse,  but  }it  he  bywailcf  hys  chast[e]  wUh  both  ad-st 


1045  But  iitte—for  yit 
dwellyng— dwellyd 
wardes — ward 

1046  \>at— than 
derwor\>e — dereworthe 
\>en  \>ine — than  thin 

1047  *itte— yit 

1049  ha}>— MS.  hapc 
\>in— thyne 

1050  cliue  fast\e\  —  cleucn 
faste 

wolc  suffre — wolen  suifrcn 


1052  fallen— faylen 

1052  fast\e\  mot\en\  —  faste 
moten 

1053  holden— halden 

1054  fur\>e— forth 

1055  mayst— mayste 
greet\e] — grete 


1058  forfenke— forthinke 
1061  best[e~]— beste 
suffre  \>in — suffren  thi 

1063  o\>er— ther 

1064  perfit— parfyt 


1065  or — and 

some  half  a^eine  —  som 
halue  ayeii 

1067  mans— mannes 
comeb  al — comth  nat  al 

1068  tosfep-last 
perpetuely — perpetuei 

1069  rycchesse — Rychesses 

1070  renamed — renowned 
1072  angre  for — Angwysshc 

leuer— I  euere  [of 

1074  chast[c]— caste 


42 


HAPPINESS   ARISES    FROM    CONTENTMENT. 


vantages,  but  is 

unmarried. 

This  man  is 

happy  in  a  wife, 


mortified  by  their 

evil  ways. 

Thus  we  see  that 

no  man  can  agree 

easily  with  the 

fortune""8 

1082 
The  senses  of  the 

happy  are  refined 

and\teyaareeim. 


on1trifleds!pend8 
1089 

How  many  would 

think  themselves 

in  heaven  if  they 


art  miserable. 
Every  lot  may  be 
happy  to  the  man 
who  bears  his 
condition  with 
equanimity  and 
courage. 

1097 


lijf.  for  he  hab  no  wijf.  IF  and  som  man  is  wel  and 
selily  maried  but  he  hab  no  children,  and  norissheb  his 
ricchesse  to  be  heires  of  straunge  folk.  IF  And  som 
man  is  gladded  wib  children,  but  he  wepib  ful  sory  for 
be  trespas  of  his  son  or  of  his  doi^tir.  IF  and  for  bis 
ber  accordeb  no  wy^t  ly^tly  to  be  condicioura  of  his  for- 
tune, for  alwey  to  euery  man  bere  is  in  mest  somwhat 
bat  vnassaieb  he  ne  wot  not  or  ellys  he  dredib  bat  he 
hab  assaied.  IF  And  adde  bis  also  bat  euery  weleful 
man  hab  a  wel  delicat  felyng.  IF  So  bat  but  yif  alle 
binges  fallen  at  hys  owen  wille  for  he  inpacient  or  is 
nat  vsed  to  han  none  aduersitee.  an-oone  he  is  browe 
adoune  for  euery  lytel  bing.  ^F  And  ful  lytel  binges 
ben  bo  bat  wibdrawen  be  sorame  or  be  perfecc^ourc  of 
blisfulnesse  fro  hem  bat  ben  most  fortunat.  IF  How 
many  men  trowest  bou  wolde  demen  hem  self  to  ben 
almost  in  heuene  yif  bei  my^ten  atteyne  to  be  leest[e] 
partie  of  be  remenaunt  of  bi  fortune.  IF  )?is  same  place 
bat  bou  clepist  exil  is  centre  to  hem  bat  enhabiten 
here,  and  forbi.  Nobing  wrecched.  but  whan  bou 
wenest  it  IF  As  who  seib.  bou^  bi  self  ne  no  wy^t 
ellys  nys  no  wrecche.  but  whan  he  weneb  hym  self  a 
wrecche  by  reputac^ou?*  of  his  corage. 


CONTRAQ  UE. 

1098    A  nd  a^einewarde  al  fortune  is  blisful  to  a  man  by  be 

•**•  agreablete  or  by  be  egalite  of  hym  bat  suffreb  it. 

when  patience  is   IF  What  man  is  bat.   bat  is  so  weleful  bat  nolde 

lost  then  a 

change  of  state  is   his  estat  whan  he  hab  lorn  pacience.  be  swetnesse  of 

desired.  •  J 

1102  mannes  welefulnesse  is  yspranid  wib  many[e]  bitternesses. 


1075, 1076  ha})— MS.  hape 

1076  marled— ymaryed 
feis — hise 

1077  ricchesse— Rychesses 
lieires — eyres 

folk— foolkys 
10SO  \>er—\>cr  ne 

1081  mest— omittod 

1082  miassaie\> — vnassaicd 
wot— MS.  wotc,  C.  wot 


1083, 1084  ha\>— MS.  hape 

1084  weZ— ful 

1085  fallen— byfalle 
w^Ze — wyl 

1086  none — noil 
an-oone — Anon 
pro  we— thro  wen 

1087  adoune— adouw 
1090  wolde— \voldcu 
1095  i£— hyt 


1095  w7io— ho 

1096  wo— a 

1098  a^einewarde  al — ayein- 
ward  alle 

1099  it— hyt 

1101  ivJian — what 
ha\>— MS.  hape 
?or«— MS.  lorne,  C.  lost 

1102  yspranid — Bpraynyd 
bitternesses — bctcri  H  -s  s<  •  s 


4.]  THE    SOURCE   OF    TRUE    HAPPINESS.  43 

be  whiche  welefulnesse   al   bom  it    seme   swete   and  HOW  much  is 

human  felicity 

ioyeful  to  hym  bat  vseb  it.  $it  may  it  not  be  wib-holden  embittered 
bat  it  ne  gob  away  whan  it  wol.     IF  ban  is  it  wel  sen  it  win  not  stay 

J  with  those  that 

how  wrecched  is  be  blisfulnesse  of  mortel  binges,  bat 

neiber  it  dwellib  perpetuel  wib  hem  bat  euery  fortune 

receyuen  agreablely  or  egaly.     1F  Ne  it  ne  deliteb  not  in 

al.  to  hem  bat  ben  anguissous.     1F  0  ye  mortel  folkes  1109 

what  seke  *2e  ban  blisfulnesse  oute  of  2oure  self,  whiche      [*  foi.  h  &.] 

mortals,  do  ye 

bat  is  put  in  ^oure  self.     Errowr  and  folie  cowfourcdeb 

1F  I  shal  shewe  be  shortly,  be  poynt  of  souereyne  found 


ii.    P. i  T     ,  i  •         i.      i  •  i          yourselves? 

blisfulnesse.     Is  ber  any  Jjmg  to  be  more  preciouse  ban  Nothing  is  more 
bi  self    IF  pou  wilt  answere  nay.     1F  pan  if  it  so  be  bat  ffiysSt8 

If  thou  hast  com- 

bou  art  rnyaty  ouer  bi  self  bat  is  to  seyn  by  tranquillitee  mand  over  thy- 
self, Fortune  can- 
of  bi  soule.  ban  hast  bou  bing  in  bi  power  bat  bou  "^deprive  t.hee 

noldest  neuer  lesen.  ne  fortune  may  nat  by-nyme  it  be.  1117 
and  bat  bou  inayst  knowe  bat  blisfulnesse   [ne]   may  Happiness  does 

J    not  consist  in 

nat   standen   in   binges    bat   ben  fortunous   and  tern-  things  transitory, 
perel.     ^F  Now  vndirstonde  and  gadir  it  to  gidir  bus 
yif  blisfulnesse  be  be  souereyne  goode  of  nature  bat  1121 
liueb  by  resouw    IF  Ne  bilke  bing  nis  nat  souereyne  if  happiness  be 

.  .  the  supreme  good 

goode  bat  may  be  taken  awey  in  any  wyse.  for  more  «f] 
worbi  bing  and  more  digne  is  bilke  bing  bat  may  nat  be 
taken  awey.  IF  pan  shewib  it  wele  bat  be  vnstable- 
nesse  of  fortune  may  nat  attayne  to  receyue  verray 
blisfulnes.  1F  And  3it  more  ouer.  IF  What  man  bat 
bis  touinblyng  welefulnesse  leedib.  eiber  he  woot  bat 

'        that  it  is  change- 
fit]  is  chaungeable.  or  ems  he  woot  it  nat.     II  And  yii  abieor  does  not 

he  woot  it  not.  what  blisful  fortune  may  ber  be  in  be  if  he  knows  it 

*       not,  what  happi- 

blyndenesse  of  ignorau?ice.  and  yif  he  woot  bat  it  is  SBfi^offl?* 
chaungeable.  he  mot  alwey  ben  adrad  bat  he  ne  lese  i^^now's  it  is 
bat  bing.  bat  he  ne  douteb  nat  but  bat  he  may  leesen  JeaSd SnSg 

1104  hym—  hem  I  1112  shortly— shortcly  1125  wele— wel 

#— hyt  !  1114  wilt— MS.wilte.C.  wolt     1126  receyue— resscyuen 

be— b'eu  if— yif  1129  [if]— from  C. 

it— hyt 

1130  be — ben 

1131  blyndenesse  —  blynd- 
nesse 


1105  .<70>-MS.  gepe 
wol  —  woole 
sen  —  MS.  sene 
1107  dwMl\>—  dureth 
\\Mfolkes—  folkc- 


1117  by-nyme — be-neme 

1118  blisfulnesse     \_ne\   — 
blyssefuluesse  ue 

1120  to  gidir — to  gidere 
1121, 1122  souereyne  goode— 


1110  o«fi?  —  owfc  I         souereyii  good 


44 


RICHES    DO    NOT    CONSTITUTE    HAPPINESS. 


["HOOK  2. 

[MET.  i. 


it,  and  this  fear 
will  not  suffer 
him  to  be  happy. 

1136 


1140 

Since  thou  art 
convinced  of  the 
soul's  im- 
mortality, thou 
canst  not  doubt 
that  if  death  puts 
an  end  to  human 
felicity,  that  all 
men  when  they 
die,  are  plunged 
into  the  depths  of 
misery. 

1147 

But  we  know  that 
many  have 
sought  to  obtain 
felicity, 

.  by  undergoing 
'  not  only  death, 
but  pains  and 
torments. 
How  then  can 
this  present  life 
make  men  truly 
happy,  since 
when  it  is  ended 
they  do  not  be- 
come miserable  ? 


it.  IF  As  whoo  seif  he  mot  ben  alwey  agast  lest  lie 
leese  fat  he  wot  wel  he  may  leese.  1F  For  whiche  f  e 
continuel  drede  fat  he  haf  ne  suffrif  hym  nat  to  "ben 
welefuL  1F  Or  ellys  yif  he  leese  it  he  wene  to  be 
dispised  and  forleten  hit.  IF  Certis  eke  fat  is  a  ful 
lytel  goode  fat  is  born  wif  euene  hert[e]  whan  it  is 
loost.  1F  jpat  is  to  seyne  fat  men  don  no  more  force, 
of  f  e  lost  fan  of  f  e  hauynge.  IF  And  for  as  myche  as 
f ou  f  i  self  art  he  to  whom  it  haf  ben  shewid  and  proued 
by  ful  many[e]  demonstrac^ourcs.  as  I  woot  wel  fat  f e 
soules  of  men  ne  mowen  nat  dien  in  no  wise,  and  eke 
syn  it  is  clere.  and  certeyne  fat  fortunous  welefulnesse 
endif  by  f  e  deef  of  f  e  body.  1F  It  may  nat  ben  douted 
fat  yif  fat  deef  may  take  awey  blysfulnesse  fat  al  f  e 
kynde  of  mortal  tyingus  ne  descend  if  in  to  wrecched- 
nesse  by  f  e  ende  of  f  e  deef.  1F  And  syn  we  knowen 
wel  fat  many  a  man  haf  soi^t  f  e  fruit  of  blisfulnesse 
nat  only  wif  sunryng  of  deef.  but  eke  wif  suffryng  of 
peynes  and  towrmentes.  how  my^t[e]  fan  fis  present 
lijf  make  men  blisful.  syn  fat  whanne  filke  selffe] 
lijf  is  endid.  it  ne  makef  folk  no  wrecches. 


*  MS.  ualet. 

[The  fertb.e 
metttr.] 
He  who  would 
have  a  stable  and 
lasting  seat  must 
not  build  upon 
lofty  hills ;  nor 
upon  the  sands, 
if  he  would  escape 
the  violence  of 
winds  and  waves. 

1160 


QUISQUIS    UOLET*    P-EJ2HENNEM    CAUTUS. 

What  maner  man  stable  and  war  fat  wil  founden  hym 
a  perdurable  sete  and  ne  wil  not  be  cast  doune 
wif  f  e  loude  blastes  of  f  e  wynde  Eurus.  and  wil  dispise 
f  e  see  manassynge  wif  floodes  IF  Lat  hym  eschewe  to 
bilde  on  f  e  cop  of  f  e  mourctaywgne.  or  in  f  e  moyste 
sandes.  IF  For  f  e  fel[le]  wynde  auster  towrmentef  f  e  cop 
of  f  e  mouwtayngne  wif  alle  his  strengf  es.  IF  and  f  e 


1134  it— hyt 

sei\>— MS.  seibe,  C.  seyth 

1135  wot— MS.  wote,  C.  wot 
leese  (2)— leese  it 
whicJie — which 

1136  ha\>— MS.  habe 

1137  ellys— omitted. 
wene — wen  nth 

1138  hit— omitted 

1139  Qooil*— good 

born— MS.  borne,  C.  born 
he  rt[e\ — lierte 


1140  seyne— seyn 
don— MS.  done,  C.  do 
force — fors 

1142  Ua\>— MS.  ha}>e 

1143  many\e~\ — rnanye 

1144  mowen — mowe 
dien— deyen 

1145  clere — cleer 
certeyne— certeyn 

1147  al— alle 
1150  ha\>—  MS.  habe 
fruit— frut 


1152  myrtle]— myhte 

1153  make— maken 
self[e~] — selue 

1155, 1156, 1157  wil— wole 

1156  be  cast— MS.  be  caste, 
C.  ben  cast 

1157  wynde— wynd 

1158  escJiewe — eschewen 

1160  fel\le\— felle 

1161  his— hise 


PE08E\]  RICHES    HAVE    NO    INTRINSIC    VALUE.  45 

lowe  see  sandes  refuse  to  beren  be  heuy  wey^te.  and  1162 
forbi  yif  bou  wolt  flee  be  perilous  auenture  bat  is  to 
seine  of  be  worlde   IT  Haue  mynde  certeynly  to  ficchyn 

-.••  n  -t  mr   ~r*          1    firmer  stone,  so 

bi  house  01  a  myne  site  in  a  lowe  stoone.     II  .b  or  al  that  thou  mayst 

grow  old  in  thy 

bou}   be  wynde   troublyng  be   see   bondre  wib  ouere-  stronghold, 
browynges     IT  J?ou  bat  art  put  in  quiete  and  welful  by 
strengbe  of  bi  palys  shalt  leden  a  cleer  age.  scornyng 
be  wodenesses  and  be  Ires  of  be  eir.  1169 

SET   CUM   RACIONUM   IAM    IN   TE. 


But  for  as  moche  as  be  noryssinges  of  my  resouws  [The  fyfthe  prose.] 
descenden  now  in  to  be.  I  trowe  it  were  tyme  to  it  5«  now  tin™  t,n 
vsen  a  litel  stronger  medicynes.     ^[  Now  vndirstonde 
here  al  were  it  so  bat  be  ^iftis  of  fortune  nar[e]  nat 


brutel  ne  transitorie.  what  is  ber  in  hem  bat  may  be  tunegthat0LFn°ot" 

„  .  vile  and  despic- 

bine  *in  any  tyme.    or  ems  bat  it  nys  foule  it  bat  it  be       c*  foi.  12.] 
considered  and  lokid  perfitely.     f   Eichesse  ben  bei  1176 

„    ,  ,  „  , ,         ,  Are  riches 

preciouse  bv  be  nature  of   hem  sell,    or  ellys  by   be  precious  in  them- 
selves, or  in  men's 
nature  of  be.     What  is  most  worbi  of  rycchesse.  is  it  estimation? 

What  is  most 

nat  golde   or  iny^t  of  moneye  assembled.     H  Certis  I'JJ^J8  Jj  thcm» 
bilke  golde  and  bilke  moneye  shineb  and  3eueb  better 
renou7^  to  hem  bat  dispenden  it.  ben  to  bilke  folke  bat  g 
mokeren  it.     For  auarice  makeb  alwey  mokeres  to  be  Avarice  is  always 

1  hateful,  while 


hated,    and    largesse    makeb    folke    clere   of    renouw 
^1  For  syn  bat  swiche  biwg  as  is  transfered  from  o 
man  to  an  ober  ne  may  nat  dwellen  wib  no   man.  1185 
Certis  ban  is  bilke  moneye  precious,  whan  it  is  trans-  Money  cannot  be 

more  precious 

lated   in   to  ober  folk,    and  stynteb  to  ben   had  by  jj^^"^}8 
vsage  of  large  ^euyrcg  of  hym  bat  hab  ^euen  it.  and  aUy  to  others- 
also  yif  al  be  moneye  bat  is  ouer-al  in  be  world  were 

1162  lowe — lavse 
see — omitted 
refuse — refusen 
weyrte— wyhte 

1163  flee— fleen 

1164  seine — seyn 

1165  \>i— thin 

lowe  stoone — lowh  stoon 
1167  welful— welefnl 
1109      ^vodenesses  —  wood- 


1172  strenger— strengere 
vndirstonde — vndyrstond 

1173  nar^e] — ne  weere 

1174  be  \>ine— ben  thyn 

1175  foule— fowl 

1176  Richesse— Rychessis 
1178  ri/cchcsse — rychesses 
1179,  1180  golde— 'gold 
1180  iefter—betere 


1181  \>en— thanne 

1182  mokeres — mokovoros 

1183  folke  clere— folk  cler 

1184  stviche — swich 
from — fram 

1187 .  stynte\>—stenteth 

1188  ha\>— MS.  hn>e 

1189  world— worlde 


4G  GLORY    NOT    IN    RICHES; 

the  money  in  the    gadered  towarfd]  o  man.  it  sholde  maken  al  ober  men 

world,  every  one 

wsuitwofui!?   in  to  ^en  ne(*y as  °^  ^'   ^  ^n(*  certys  a  v°ys  ai  n°°i 

1192  fat  is  to  seyn  wif-oute  amenusynge  fulnllef  to  gyder 
Riches  cannot  be    be  heryng  of  myche  folke.  but  Certys  soure  rycchesse 

dispensed  without    "  J     '  J 

diminution.          ne  mowen  nat  passen  vnto  myche  folk  wif-oute  amen- 

1195  ussyng    ^[  And  whan  fei  ben  apassed.  nedys  fei  maken 

o  the  poverty  of    hem  pore  bat  forgon  be  rycchesses.     ^T  0  streite  and 

riches,  that  can- 
many6  aTElme  ne(ty  c^ePe  ^-  Mse  rycchesses.  syn  fat  many  folke  [ne] 
pressed  bynone    may  nat  han  it  al.  ne  al  may  it  nat  comen  to  on  man 

without  impover-        .  .,,  „  ,,  _.    .      ,  , 

ishing  others !       wif -oute  pouerte  of  al  of  er  folke.     IF  And  f  e  shynynge 

1200  of  gemmes  fat  I  clepe  preciouse  stones,  drawef  it  nat 

f  e  eyen  of  folk  in  to  hem  warde.   fat  is  to  seyne  for  f  e 

Thehenutyof       beaute.     If  ~Foi  certys  yif  ber  were  beaute  or  bounte 

precious  stones 

*n  snynyno  °^  stones,  f  ilke  clerenesse  is  of  f  e  stones 

nem   se^-    an^  nat    °f  men-       ^   ^or   whiche    I   WOndre 
admire  that  which  ,,  .,  .    ,         .  .  MT    T> 

is  motionless,        gretly  bat  men   merueilen  on  swiche  binges.     II   Jbor 

lifeless,  and  irra- 

tionai.  -whi  what  f  ing  is  it  fat  yif  it  wawtef  moeuyng  and 

1207  ioynture  of  soule  and  body  fat  by  ry^t  my3t[e]  semen 

a   faire  creature  to  hym  fat  haf  a  soule  of  resouw. 

Precious  stones      If  For  al  be  it  so  fat  ge?ttnies  drawen  to  hem  self  a 

are  indeed  the 

workmanship  of  }itel  Of  je  iaste  beaute  of  fe  worlde.  Jjoru}  fe  entent 
°^  nip  creatowr  and  foru3  fe  distincc?ouw  of  hem  self, 
^it  for  as  myche  as  fei  ben  put  vndir  3oure  excellence. 
1213  fei  han  not  desserued  by  no  weye  fat  $e  shullen 

Doth  the  beauty    merueylen  on  hem.     ^T  And  be  beaute  of  feeldes  deliteb 

of  the  field  delight 

thee  ?  it  nat  mychel  vnto  2ow.     Boyce.  ^F  Whi  sholde  it  nat 

B.  Why  should  it 

be'utiftu^artofa  ^eli^en  vs-  sJn  ^  ^  ^s  a  ry3^  ^ayr  porciou?2  of  fe 
beautiful  whole.  fair  werk.  fat  is  to  seyn  of  fis  worlde.  H  And 
Tfence,  we  admire  so  ben  we  gladed  somtyme  of  be  face  of  b6  see  whan 

the  face  of  the  f  ' 

sea,  the  heavens,    ^  js  clere.     And  also  merueylen  we  on  f  e  heuene  and 


1100  al—  alle 

1191  al  hool—  omitted 

1193  myche  folke  —  moche 
folke 

ryccliesse  —  ry  ch  esses 

1194  myche  —  nioche 

1196  forgon—  MS.  forgone 

1197  \>isc—  this 
rycchesses  —  rychesse 
\ne~\-  from  C. 


1198 

1199  wify-oute  —  with-owtcn 


1199  al— alle 
folke- folke 

1200  preciouse — presyous 

1201  in— omitted 
warde — ward 
seyne — seyn 

1202  beaute  (1)— beautes 
For— but 

1203  in— in  the 

1204  ^vh^che— \v\\ich 

1207  ioynture — loyngture 

1208  faire— fayr 


1208  Jia\>— MS.  ha>e 
1210  Iaste— last 
worlde — world 

1212  myche— mochpl 

1213  desserued  —  MS.  des- 
seyued,  C.  desseruyd 

wene — wey 

shullen — sholden 
1215  mychel — mochel 
1217  fair  werk — fayre  vverke 

worlde — world 
1219  clere— cler 


l'K08E\]  THEY    ADD    NOTHING    TO    VIRTUE.  47 

on  be  stcrres.    and  on   be  sonne.    and   on   be  mone.  as  wcu  as  the  nun, 

moon,  and  stars. 

Philosophic.     IF   Apperteineb  qwod  she  any  of  bilke  jjDottiMetMiiga 

binges  to  be.  whi  darst  bou  glorifie  be  in  be  shynynge  fnart^h?ou  glory 
of  any  swiche  binges.     Art  bou  distingwed  and  eni-  1223 

„  Do  the  flowers 

belised   by    be   spryngyng   noures    of    be  first    somer  adorn  you  with 

their  variety  ? 

sesorw.   or  swellib  bi  plente  in  fruytes  of  somer.  whi  why  embracest 

J  thou  things 

art  bou  rauyshed  wib  ydel  ioies.  why  enbracest  bou 
straunge  goodes  as  bei  weren  bine.  Fortune  shal  neuer 
maken  bat  swiche  binges  ben  bine  bat  nature  of  binges 
maked  foreyne  fro  be.  IF  Syche  is  bat  wib-oute?z 
doute  be  fruytes  of  be  erbe  owen  to  ben  on  be 
norssinge  of  bestes.  IF  And  if  bou  wilt  fulfille  bi  if  you  seek  only 

the  necessities  of 

nede  after  bat  it  sumseb  to  nature  ban  is  it  no  nede  nature,  the  afflu- 

ence of  Fortune 

bat  bou  seke  after  be  superfluite  of  fortune.      IF  For  win  be  useless. 

•         •  Nature  is  content 

wib  ful  fewe  binges  and  mtfc   ful  lytel   bing  nature 

halt  hire  appaied.    and  yif  bou  wilt  achoken  be  ful- 

ttllyng   of   nature   wib   supe?*fluites      IF    Certys    bilke  1236 

binges   bat  bou  wilt  bresten   or   pouren  in  to  nature 

shullcn  ben  vnioyeful  to  be  or  ellis  anoies.     IF  Wenest  Does  it  add  to  a 

man's  worth  to 

bou  eke  bat  it  be  a  fair  binge  to  shiiie  wib  dyuerse 
clobing.  of  whiche  clobing  yif  be  beaute  be  agreable 
to  loken  vpon.  I  wol  merueylen  on  be  nature  of  be  Jtnff  orthWorl- 

manshipofit. 

matere  ol  bilke  clobes.    or  ellys  on  be  werkeman  bat  Doth  a  great 

retinue  make  thee 


wrou}t[e]  hem.  but  al  so  a  longe  route  of  meyne.  makib 

bat  a  blisful  *man.    be  whiche  seruauntes  yif  bei  ben  vici[°.u^itl{fba]re 

vicious  of  condic^oufts  it  is  a  greet  charge  and  a  de-  KioLe^and  to 

pernicious  ene- 

strucc^ou/i  to  be  house,  and  a  greet  enmve  to  be  lorde  mies  to  the  mas- 

ter of  it. 


hym  self  IF  And  yif  bei  ben  goode  men  how  shal 
straungfe]  or  foreyne  goodenes  ben  put  in  be  noumbre  he°putytofthyier8 
of  bi  rycchesse.  so  bat  by  alle  bise  forseide  binges,  it  is  upon  the  whole, 
clerly  shewed  bat  neuer  none  of  bilke  binges  bat  bou  those  enjoyments 

*  Y  if         which  thou  didst 

accou?wptedest  for  bin  goodes  nas  nat  bi  goode.    1F  In 
be  whiche  binges  yif  ber  be  no  beaute  to  ben  desired, 


1222    darst    \>ou   glorifie  — 

darsthow  gloryfyen 
1225  in— in  the 
1229  Syclie— Soth 
12:50  on— to 
12:31,  1235,  1237  wilt— wolt 


1238  shullen— shollen 

1239  fair— fayre 

1240  whiche— which 

1242  werkeman — werkman 
1246  house— hows 
lorde — lord 


1249  goodenes — goodnesse 

1250  shewed — I-shewyd 
none — 0011 

1251  \>in— thine 
goode— good 


48 


RICHES    BRING    ANXIETIES. 


[PK.OSE\ 


8  why 


by  nature,  what 

is  that  to  thee  ? 

They  would  be 


They  are  not  to 
precious  because 

they  are  counted 


didst  desire  to 

possess  them. 

What,  then,  is  it 


Fs°ittltedrive 


by 

IJut  the  very 

^ 


They  want  most 

things  who  have 


Mt  the 

their 

abundance  by  the 

necessities  of 

nature,  and  not 

by  the  superfluity 

of  their  desires. 


abroad  to  seek  it  P 

Are  things  so 

changed  and  in- 
verted, that  god- 
like  man  should 


animate  objects  P 

Inferior  things 

theiraowneendow- 


God)  seeks  to 

adorn  his  nature 


w^  sholdest  bou  be  sory  yif  bou  leese  hem.  or  win 
sholdest  bou  reioysen  be  to  holden  hem.  IF  For  if  bei 
ben  fair  of  hire  owen  kynde.  what  apperteneb  bat  to 
be.  for  as  wel  sholde  bei  han  ben  faire  by  hem  self. 

'  '  J 

>OU3  >ei  wereft  departid  from  alle  bin  rycchesse.  IF  Eor- 
why  faire  ne  precious  ne  weren  J>ei  nat.  for  bat  bei 
comen  amonges  bi  rycchesse.  but  for  bei  semeden  fair 
and  Preci°us-  J>erfore  bou  haddest  leuer  rekene  hem. 
amonges  bi  rycchesse.  but  what  desirest  bou  of  fortune 

., 

wib  so  greet  B,  noyse  and  wib  so  greet  a  fare 

T 

trowe  J>ou  se^e  to  dryue  awey  nede  wib  habundaunce 
°f  Binges.  IF  But  certys  it  turneb  to  3ow  al  in  be 
contiarie.  for  whi  certys  it  nedib  of  ful  many  [el  help- 
ynoes  ^°  kepen  ])e  dyuersite  of  preciouse  ostelment^. 
and  so>e  it  is  tat  of  many[e]  binges  han  bei  nede  ]>at 
many[e]  binges  han.  and  a^eyneward  of  litel  nedib 
hem  bat  mesureii  hir  fille  after  be  nede  of  kynde  and 
na^  a^er  i76  outrage  of  couetyse  1F  Is  it  ban  so  bat  ye 
men  ne  ^ian  no  p^opre  goode.  I-set  in  pw.  For 

-i  •    r  i  -\  i    *     « 

whicne   36  moten  seken   outwardes    2oure   goodes   in 

. 

foreine  and  subgit  binges.  iF  bo  is  ban  be  condlc^ou?^ 
°^  t^S68  turned  vpso  dourc.  bat  a  man  bat  is  a  de- 
vyne  beest  by  merit  of  hys  resourc.  binkeb  bat  hym 

,  ,,  «  .  -•  ••         T      ,      .f     .,      -. 

sell  nys  neyber  fair  ne  noble,  but  if  it  be  boru^ 
possessions  of  ostelmentes.  bat  ne  nan  no  soules. 
^  ^nd  certys  al  °]>er  tinges  ben  appaied  of  hire  owen 
beautes.  but  36  men  bat  ben  semblable  to  god  by  3oure 
resonable  bou^t  desiren  to  apparaille  ^oure  excellent 
kynde  of  be  lowest  [e]  binges,  ne  36  ne  vndirstonde  nat 
how  gret  a  wrorcg  30  don  to  301110  creatowr.  for  he 

nl  -i-7-iip 

wolde  bat  man  kynde  were  moost  worpi  ana  noble  01 


1255  fair— fayre 

hire  owen — hyr  owne 

1256  sholde — shoklen 
self—  selue 

12j7   \>in  rycchesse  —  thyne 

rycliCNsi  s 

1 2  .">'. »  a.mnnges — amnnge 
12:>!»,  12(51  ruccJtesse— Rych- 


1259  fair— fayre 

1260  leuer    rekene  —  leuere 
rekne 

1232  greet  (2)— grete 

1265,  1267  many[jB]— manye 

1267  so]pe— soth 

1272  outwardes— owtward 


1276  fair— fayre 

1278  hire,  owen— hir  owne 
1281  ne  (2)— omitted 
vndirstonde — vndyrstond- 

yn 
1232  gret— MS.  grete,  C.  gret 


PKQ8E\]  IGNORANCE   CRIMINAL    IN    MAN.  49 

any  ober  erbely   binges.    and  20  bresten   adouw  soure  with  thins*  i«- 

J  finitely  below  him, 

dignitees  by-nef  en  f  e  lowest[e]  f  inges.     IT  For  if  fat  al  jjj 
fe  good  of  euery  fing  be  more  preciouse  fan  is  f  ilk 

,  ,  ,  God  intended 

fmg   whos    bat    be   good   is.    syn   2e   demen    bat    be  man  to  excel  ail 

earthly  creatures, 

foulestfe]  binges  ben  soure  goodes.  banne  summytten  yet  you  debase 

L   J    '  your  dignity  and 

30  and  putten  3oure  self  vndir  f  o  foulest[e]  Binges  by 


estimaciourc.     1T  And  certis  |)is  bitidif  nat  wif 

,  T,       '  .   ,        .      .  ,  .    .  despicable  trifles, 

out  soure  desert.     Jb  or  certys  swiche  is  be  coradicioura  you  acknowledge 

yourselves  of  less 

of  al  man  kynde  fat  oonly  whan  it  haf  knowyng  of  it 


self,  fan  passef  it  in  noblesse  alle  ofer  f  inges.  and  be  Jo°  esteemed0 
whan   it   forletif    J>e   knowyng  of  it  self,    fan  it   is 


brouat  byneben  alle  beestes.      1T   For-  why  alle  ober  himself. 

J       r  When  he  ceases 


rieuyngel  beestes  han  of   kynde   to   knowe  not  hem  t°,  d<>  80> 

L        J     °  J  »  below  beasts. 

self,  but  whan  fat  men  leten  fe  knowyng  of  hem  self.  1297 

it  comef  hem  of  vice,  but  how  brode  shewef  f  e  errow-r  nSurSnS  beasts, 

but  in  men  it  is 

and  be  folie  of  aow  men  bat  wenen  bat  ony  bmg  may  unnatural  and 

•     criminal. 

ben  apparailled  wif  straunge  apparaillement}     IT  but  Jo?ws^t  to  Sieve 
for-sof  e  fat  may  nat  be  don.  for  yif  a  wy3t  shynef  wif 


ments  alone.   The 


,.  i.t.\,  L    i.      i,  -f>   .  -i  -t        i  •  nature  can  be  an 

•fmges  fat  ben  put  to  nym.   as  fus.    yif  filke  fmges  ornament  to  it. 

If  a  thing  appear 

shynen  wib  whiche  a  man  is  apparailled.     1F  Certis  beautiful  on 

account  of  its 

filke  finges  ben  commendid  and  preised  wif  whiche  f 
he    is   apparailled.     IT    But    nafeles   fe    fing    fat   is 

,  ,  .  . 

couered  ana  wrapped  vndir  bat  dwelleb  in  his  hlbe.  thing  covered 

Y       still  continues  in 

and  I  denye  fat  filke  fing  be  good  fat  anoyef  hym 
fat  haf  it.  IF  Gabbe  I  of  fis.  fou  wolt  seye  nay. 
1F  Certys  rycchesse  han  anoyed  ful  ofte  hem  fat  han  fe  Sr!  to  its 

_    ~  Am  I  deceived  in 

rycchesse.      H  feyn  fat  euery  wicked  shrew  and  for  this?  YOU  win 

say  no  ;  for  riches 

hys  wickednesse  fe  more  gredy  aftir  ofer  folkes  rycch-  ^j»  often  hurt 
esse  wher  so  euer  it  be  in  any  place,   be  it  golde  or 


1284    o\>er  er\>ely  —  oothre 

wordly 

\>resten — threste 
12S5  b\j-ne\>en— by-nethe 


1286   good  —  MS.  goode,  C. 

good 
\>incj— thinge 


1289  foiilest[_el— fowleste 

1290  Utidi^—  tydeth 

1291  out— owte 
desert — desertes 

1292  al— alle 

1293  self—  selue 

1294  it  is— is  it 

1296  ileuynge] — from  C. 


Jreciouse— presyos  hem— hym 

ilk  \>ing— thilke  thinge      i  1297  bat— omitted 
7  \>e  (2)— tlio  j  1298  come])— comth. 

1288  summytten— submitten     1299  b*n?-4hinge 
12S9  self—  seluen  I  1302  put— MS.  putte,  C.  put 

4 


1303  whiche— which 

1306  fil\>e— felthe 

1307  }>ing— thinpe 
good— MS.  goode,  C.  good 

1308  fcat>-MS.  haj>e 

1309  rycchesse — Bvchesses 
\>e— tho 

1310  rycchesse — Rycliesses 
shrew — shrewe 

1311  rycchesse—  rychesses 
1312 


50 


THE    GOLDEN    AGE. 


[BOOK  2. 
MiiX.  6. 


r*  foi.  is.]       precious  stones,  and  wenib  hym  *only  most  worbi  bat 

another's  wealth,    * 

and  esteems  him    haj,  hem   ^[  jjOU  han  bat  so  besy  drcdest  now  be  swerde 

alone  happy  who  " 

is  in  possession     anfl  ^Q  spere.  yif  pou  haddest  entred  in  pe  pape  of  pis 
lijf  a  voide  wayfaryng  man.  pan  woldest  pou  syngfe] 

dread  the  instru-    ,/,  i»       «r    *          -i  •.  1.1.1 

ments  of  assassin-  by-fore  be  beef.     T!  As  who  seib  a  poure  man  bat  bereb 

ation,  if  you  had        J  * 

been  born  apoor   no  rycchesse  on  hym  by  pe  weye.  may  boldly  syng[e] 
em|ty  purse*11     hyforne  peues.  for  he  hap  nat  wher-of  to  ben  robbed. 


1F  0   preciouse  and  ryjt  clere  is   pe  blysfiilnesse  of 

O  the  transcend-  ,    •,  •,  i  -,  i 

ant  felicity  of       mortal  rycchessc.  pat  whan  pou  hast  geten  it.  pan  hast 
sooner  have  you     i,ou  iorn  j>i  sykelYlnesse. 

obtained  them,        *  '       J       L  J 

than  you  cease  to 
be  secure. 

FELIX    IN    MIRUM   PRIOR   ETAS. 


"Dlysful  was  J>e  first  age  of  men.  ]>ei   helden  hem 
•*^  apaied  wij>  ]?e  metes  pat  pe  trewe  erpes  brou^tcn 


[The  fyilhe 
metttr.j 
Happy  was  the 
first  age  of  men. 

cwhat  ^>urj)e'    ^  }**•  ne  destroyed  [e]  ne  desceyued[e]  not  hem 
earth  self  wip  outerage.     IT  pei  weren  wont  lyjtly  to  slaken 
her  hunger  at  euene  wip  acornes  of  okes     IT  pei  ne 
They  knew  not      coube  nat  medle  pe  aift  of  bacus  to  pe  clere  hony. 

Hypocras  nor 

Hydromei.  jjat  is  to  seyn.    pei  coupe  make  no  piment  of  clarre. 

They  did  not  dye  ne  bei  coube  nat  medle  be  bri^tfel  flies  of  be  centre 

the  Sedan  fleece 

in  Tyrian  purple.  of  siriens  wip  pe  venym  of  tirie.  pis  is  to  seyne.  pei 

1332  coupe   nat   dien  white  flies   of  sirien   contre  wip  pe 

blode  of  a  manar  shelfysshe.  pat  men  fynden  in  tyrie. 

dSnkSthed       ^ty  whiche  blode  men  deien  purper.     ^  pei  slepen 

andnrecfinedeam'    holesom  slepes  vpon  pe  gras.  and  dronken  of  pe  ryn- 

under  the  shadow  .  - .  ,      ,  *  .       i 

of  the  taii  pine,     nyng  watres.  and  laien  vndir  be  snadowe  ot  be  neyie 

No  man  vet  f 

PY116  trees.     IF  Ne  no  gest  ne  no  straunger  [ne]  karf 
see  wij>  oores  or  wty  shippes.   ne  pei  ne 


1314  ftab— MS.  habe,  C.  hat 
besy — bysy 

swerde — swerd 

1315  pabe— paath 

1316  waufaryng—vr&yfcrynge 
syng\_e]— synpre 

1317  by-fore— by-forn 

sei\> — MS.  seibe,  C.  seyth 
pnure — pore 
bere\>—  berth 

1318  boldly  syng[e~]— boldely 
mice 

1319  ha})— MS.  habe 

1320  preciouse — precyos 
clere — cler 

1321  rycchessc— rychesses 


1322  lorn— MS.  lorne,  C.  lorn 
1321  er\>es— fecldes 
1325  fur\>e— forth 
destroy <ed{e\ — dystroycde 

1327  tier— hyr 
at— MS.  as,  C.  at 
cuene— euen 

1328  COM  be— cowde 
medle—^medly 
lift — yifte 
clere — cleer 

1329  cow  be— cowde 
of— nor 

1330  cou\>e— cowde 
bri^t[_e']  Jlics— V)ryhte  fleejcs 

1331  sirians— Seryens 


1331  seyne— seyn 
J332  cou\>e— cowde 

dien — deyen 

flies— fle?es 

1333  blode— blood 
shelfysshe —  shy  llefy  ssh 

1334  blode— blood 

1335  holesom — holsom 
rynnyng   watres  —  renn- 

yn^e  wateres 
sliadowe—  shadwes 
hey$e — heye 
1337  pyne— pyn 
no  (2) — omitted 
[we]— from  C. 
karf—  karue 


OF    DIGNITIES    AND    POWERS.  51 


liadden  seyne  ^itte  none  newe  strondes  to  ledcn  mer-  1339 
chaimdyse  in  to  dyuerse  cowtres.     1T  bo  weren  be  cruel 

J 

clariouras  ful  whist  and  ful  stille.  ne  blode  yshed  by 
egre  hate  ne  hadde  nat  deied  }it  afmurers.  for  wherto 


or  whiche  woodenesse  of  enmys  wolde  first  moeuen  Nothing  could 

stimulate  their 

armes.  whan  bei  seien  cruel  woundes  ne  none  medes  rage  to  engage  in 

war,  when  they 

ben  of  blood  yshad     IT  I  wolde  fat  oure  tymes  sholde 
turne  a^eyne  to  f  e  oolde  maneres.    IT  But  f  e  anguissous 

would  come 

loue  of  hauyng  brennef  in  folke  moore  cruely  fan  fe  again! 
fijr  of   fe   Mourctaigne    of   Ethna   fat   euer  brennef. 


IT  Alias  what  was  he  fat  first  dalf  vp  fe  gobets  or 
fe  wey3tys  of  gold  couered  vndir  erfe.  and  fe  precious  w"Sch  who^rst 
stones  fat  wolden  han  ben  hid.    he  dalf  vp  precious  Sght?ht 
perils,  fat  is  to  seyne  fat  he  fat  hem  first  vp  dalf.  he  1352 
dalf  vp  a  precious  peril,  for-whi.  for  f  e  preciousnesse  it  has  since 

proved  perilous 

of  swyche  haf  many  man  ben  in  peril.  to  many  a  man- 


QUID    AUTEM   DE    DIGNITATIBUS    ET   CETERA. 

[The  sixte  prose.] 

But  what  shal  I  seyne  of  dignitees  and  of  powers.  But  why  should  i 
discourse  of  dig- 
fe  whiche  [ye]  men  fat  neifer  knowen  verray  dig-  JJlJJ  "though  "^ 
nitee   ne  verray  power  areysen   hem  as  heye   as    fe 


•i  .   1        ••  •       •  ,  .  /,   .     .  and  real  power) 

heuene.  f  e  whiche  dignitees  and  powers  yif  f  ei  come  you  extol  to  the 
to  any  wicked  man  f  ei  don  [as]  greet[e]  damages  and  when  they  fail 
distracczouw  as  dof  f  e  flamme  of  f  e  Moimtaigne 
Ethna  whan  f  e  flamme  wit  walwif  vp  ne  no  deluge 


.  ,    eruption  of  ^Etna, 

ne  dob  so  cruel  harmes.     TI  Certys  ye  remembrib  wel  or  the  most  im- 

petuous deluge. 
as  I  trowe  bat  bilke  dignitee  bat  men  clepib  be  em-  YOU  remember 

that  your  an- 

perie  of  co?^sulers  fe  whiche  fat  somtyme  was  by- 
gynnyng  of  fredom.  IT  3oure  eldres  coueiteden  to  han 
don  a-wey  fat  dignitee  for  fe  pride  of  fe  conseilers. 


1339    hadden  seyne  }itte— 

hadde  seyn  yit 
1341  whist— bust 

blode  yshed—blod  I-shad 
1343    whiche   woodenesse  — 

whych  wodnesse 
1341  seien — say 
1316    turne  a^eyne  —  tome 

ayein 

1347  folke— folk 

1348  be— omitted 


1348  euer— ay 

1351  hid— MS.  hidde,  C.  hydd 

1352  seyne — seyn 
he  (2)— omitted 

1354  swyche— swych  thinge 
ha\>— MS.  habe 

ben— be 

1355  seyne— seye 

1358  come — comen 

1359  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
[as]  greet\J\ — as  grete 


1360  distruccioun— destruc- 
ciouws 

dob— MS.  dobe,  C.  doth 
flamme — flaumbe 

1361  flamme— flawmbe 
wit — omitted 

1362  do]>— MS.  dobe,  C.  doth 

1363  clepi\>— clepyn 

1364  whiche— whych 
somtyme— whilom 

1366  for— MS.  of,  G.  for 


52 


HONOURS    NOT    INTRINSICALLY    GOOD, 


FBOOK  2 
U'KOSE  6. 


because  of  the 
pride  of  the 
Consuls;  as  their 
ancestors  before 
for  the  same 
consideration 
had  suppressed 
the  title  of  King. 

1371 

Virtue  is  not 
embellished  by 
dignities,  but 
dignities  derive 
honour  from 
virtue. 

Hut  what  is  this 
power,  so  much 
celebrated  and 
desired  ? 
What  are  they 
over  whom  you 
exercise  au- 
thority ? 

1378 

If  thou  sawest  a 
mouse  assuming 

[»  fol.  13  ft.] 
command  over 
other  mice, 
wouldst  thou  not 
almost  burst  with 
laughter  ? 

1383 

What  is  more 
feeble  than  man, 
to  whom  the  bite 
of  a  fly  may  be 
the  cause  of 
death  ? 

1387 

But  how  can  any 
man  obtain  do- 
minion over 
another,  unless 
it  be  over  his 
body,  or,  what  is 
inferior  to  his 
body,— over  his 
possessions,  the 
gifts  of  Fortune  ? 
Can  you  ever 
command  a  free- 
born  soul  ? 
Can  you  disturb 
a  soul  consistent 
with  itself,  and 
knit  together  by 
the  bond  of 
reason  ? 


IF  And  ry^t  for  f  e  same  pride  ^oure  eldres  byforne  fat 
tyme  hadden  don  awey  out  of  fe  Citee  of  rome  fe 
kynges  name,  fat  is  to  seien.  fei  nolden  haue  no 
lenger  no  kyng  IF  But  now  yif  so  be  fat  dignitees 
and  powers  ben  ^euen  to  goode  men.  f  e  whiche  f  ing 
is  ful  3elde.  what  agreable  f  mges  is  f  er  in  f  o  dignitees. 
or  powers,  but  only  f  e  goodenes  of  folk  fat  vsen  hem. 
^F  And  ferfore  it  is  f  us  fat  honowr  ne  comef  nat  to 
vertue  for  cause  of  dignite.  but  a^einward.  honour 
comef  to  dignite  by  cause  of  vertue.  but  whiche  is 
3oure  derworf e  power  fat  is  so  clere  and  so  requerable 
IT  0  $Q  erf  elyche  bestes  considere  36  nat  ouer  whiche 
f  ing  fat  it  semef  fat  36  han  power.  1F  Now  yif  f  ou 
say[e]  a  mouse  amongus  *of er  myse  fat  chalengedfe]  to 
hymself  ward  ry^t  and  power  ouer  alle  of  er  myse.  how 
gret  scorne  woldest  f  ou  han  of  hit.  IF  Glosa.  1F  So 
faref  it  by  men.  fe  body  haf  power  ouer  fe  body. 
For  yif  f  ow  loke  wel  vpon  f  e  body  of  a  wy3t  what 
f  ing  shalt  f  ou  fynde  moore  frele  fan  is  mannes  kynde. 
fe  whiche  ben  ful  ofte  slayn  wif  bytynge  of  smale 
flies,  or  ellys  wif  f  e  entryng  of  crepyng  wormes  in  to 
fe  priuetees  of  mennes  bodyes.  IF  But  wher  shal 
men  fynden  any  man  fat  may  exercen  or  haunten  any 
ry3t  vpon  an  of  er  marc  but  oonly  vpon  hys  body,  or 
ellys  vpon  f  inges  fat  ben  lower  fen  f  e  body,  whiche 
I  clepe  fortunous  possessions  1F  Mayst  f  ou  euer  haue 
any  comaundement  ouer  a  fre  corage  IF  Mayst  fou 
remuen  fro  f  e  estat  of  hys  propre  reste.  a  f  ou3t  fat  is 
cleuyng  to  gider  in  hym  self  by  stedfast  resouw.  IF  As 
somtyme  a  tiraunt  wende  to  cowfounde  a  freeman  of 


1368  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 

1369  seien— seyn 

1370  lenger— lengere 
kyng — kynge 

1371  whiche— which 

1373  /ota-foolkys 

1374  cojwep— conith 
1375, 1376  vertue— vertu 
1376  cowiep— cointh 

by — for 
whiche— which 


1377  demvor\>e — dereworthe 
clere — cleer 

1378  whiche— which 

1379  han  —  MS.   hanne,  C. 
han 

1380  say[e\— saye 

mouse    amongus  —  mons 

iimonges 
myse— urns? 

1382  scorne— scorn 

1383  ft«b-MS.  habe 


1385  mannes— man 

1386  \>e  slayn   —   the 

whiche    men     wel    offce 
ben  slayn 

1388  mennes  bo  dyes— mannes 

body 
1391  lower — lowere 

ivhiche — the  which 
131)5  stedfast— stidefast 
1396  somtyme — wh.vlom 


]         FOB   TIIEY    FALL   T0   THE   LOT   OF   TIIE   WICKED.  53 

corage     IF  And  wendc  to  ccwstreyne  hym  by  townnent  1397 

to  inaken  hym  dyscoueren  and  acusen  folk  fat  wisten 

of  a  coniuractoutt.  whiche  I  clepe  a  confederate  fat 

was  cast  aieins  bis  tyraunt     IT  But  bis  free  man  boot  Have  you  not 

'  *  read  how  Anux- 

of  hys  owen  tunge.  and  cast  it  in  fe  visage  of  filke 
woode    tyraurcte.      IF  So    fat   fe   towrment3    fat    fis 
tyraiwt  wende  to  ban  maked  matere  of  cruelte.    fis  1403 
wyse  man  makedfe  it]  matere  of  vertues.     1F  But  wliat  what  is  it  that 

•>  L         J  one  man  can  do 

fing  is  it  pat  a  man  may  don  to  an  ofer  man.  fat  lie  fejf^^g 
ne  may  receyue  f  e  same  fing  of  ofer  folke  in  hym 
self,  or  Jms.    1F  What  may  a  man  don  to  folk,  fat  folk  1407 

ne  may  don  hym  be  same.     IF  I  haue  herd  told  of  Bush-is  used  to 
J  J        r  ki      s  guest8, 


busirides  fat  was  wowt  to  sleen  hys  gestes  fat  her- 

burghden  in  hys  hous.  and  he  was  slayn  hym  self  of  gL"?rcule8'  his 

ercules  bat  was  hys  gest     IF  Regulus  hadfdel  taken  in  Reguius  put  ins 

Carthaginian 

bataile  many  men  of  affrike.  and  cast  hem  in  to  fet-  £Sserbsutnwas 

teres.    but  sone  after  he  most[e]  31110  hys  handes  to  obug^to3  submit 

ben  bounden  w/t/i  f  e  cheynes  of  hem  fat  he  had[de]  KnemS8  Ol 

somtyme  ouercomen.     IT  Wenest  bou  ban  bat  he  be  is  he  mighty  that 

J  dares  not  inflict 

myjty.    fat  may  nat  don  a  fing.    fat  ofer  ne  may  don       JJ^ir 
hym.    fat  he  dof  to  ofer.  and  yb  more  ouer  yif  it  so 


,,      ..  TIT  honours  were 

were  bat  bise  dmmtes  or  poweres  hadden  any  propre  intrinsically  gooa, 

they  would  never 

or   naturel   goodnesse  in  hem  self  neuer   nolden  bei  be  attained  hy 

'        the  wicked. 

comen  to  shrewes.     IF  For  contrarious  binges  ne  ben  An  union  of 

things  opposite 

not  wont  to  ben  yfelawshiped  togidres.     H  Nature  re- 
fusef  fat  contra[r]ious  finges  ben  yioigned.     IF  And  so  1422 
as  I  am  in  certeyne  fat  ry^t  wikked  folk  han  dignitees 


ofte  tymes.  ban  sheweb  it  wel  bat  dignitees  and  powers  honours,  it  is 

clear  that  honours 

ne  ben  not  goode  of  hir  owen  kynde.  syn  fat  f  ei  suf-  J™5  J£t  j^116111" 
fren  hem  self  to  cleuerc  or  ioynen  hem  to  shrewes.  wouiTaot'fSfto 
1F  And  certys  f  e  same  fing  may  most  digneliche  lugen 


1399  whiclie— which 

1101  owen — owne 

1406  receyue — resseyuen 

ober — oothre 
1-408  herd  told-MS.  herde 

tolde,  C.  herd  told 
1409  hys— hise 
herburghden    —    herbcr- 
wedeii 


1410  slayn — sleyn 


1411  ftod[<fa>- hadde 

1413  most[e] — moste 

1414  bounden — bownde 
cheynes  —  M§.   penes,   C. 

cheynes 
Jiad[de] — hadde 

1415  somtyme — whylom 

1416  \>at \>ing— that  hath 


no  power  to  don  a  thinge 

o\»er — oothre 
1417  hym— in  hym 

do\>— MS.  dof>e,  C.  doth 

to  ober — in  oothre 
1421  togidres— to-gideiv 

1423  certeyne — certeiu 

1424  tymes— tyme 
1125  owen — owne  - 


54 


POWER   DOES    NOT    CONFER   GOODNESS. 


FROOK  2. 
LPHOSE  6. 


The  worst  of  men  and  seyen  of  alle  be  aiftis  of  fortune  bat  most  plcn- 

have  often  the 

rSne8'sagrfft0s!  teuously  comen  to  shrewes.  11  Of  f  e  whiche  jiftys  I 
X  Variant  who  ***  trowe  fat  it  au}t[e]  ben  considered  fat  no  man  doutif 
deuce  of  his  bat  he  nis  strong,  in  whom  he  seeb  strengbe.  and  in 

fortitude. 

1432  whom  fat  swiftnesse  is     11"  Sofe  it  is  fat  he  is  swyfte. 
so  music  maketh  Also  musyk  makeb  musiciens.   and  fysik  makeb  phi- 

a  musician,  &c. 
The  nature  of 
everything  con- 
sists in  doing 
what  is  peculiar 
to  itself,  and  it 
repels  what  is 
contrary  to  it. 


siciens.  and  rethorik  rethoriens.  1F  For  whi  fe  na- 
ture of  etiery  f  ing  maki])  his  propretee.  ne  it  is  nat 
entermedled  wif  fe  effect-^  of  cowtrarious  finges, 
11  And  as  of  wil  it  chase))  oute  f  inges  fat  to  it  ben 
contrarie  H  But  certys  rycchesse  may  nat  restreyne 
auarice  vnstaunched  1T  Ne  power  [ne]  make])  nat  a 
my^ty  ouer  hym  self,  whiche  fat  vicious  lustis 


Riches  cannot 
restrain  avarice. 
Power  cannot 
make  a  man 
master  of  him- 
self if  he  is  the 

slave  of  his  lusts.   no}(jen  destreined  wif  cheins  fat  ne  mowen  nat  ben 
Dignities  con-       vnbounden.  and  dignitees  bat  ben  seuen  to  shrewed  Tel 

ferred  upon 


at  oonly  ne  makif  hem  nat  digne.  but  it  shewef 
ShCTcxpSse        raj>er  a*   openly  fat   fei  ben   vnworfi   and  vndigne. 

their  want  of  *r     *      j        i  •     •       *.L  mr    n     i.-      *  i 

merit.  IF  And  whi  is  it   bus,      IF  Certis  lor  20  han  loye  to 

Why  is  it  so  > 

•Tis  because  yon    clepen  f  inges  wif  fals[e]  names,  fat  beren  hem  al  in 


fe  cowtrarie.  f e  whiche  names  ben  ful  ofte  reproued 
by  f  e  effect  of  f  e  same  f  inges.  so  fat  *f  ise  ilke  rycch- 


give  false  names 
to  things.    You 
dignify  riches, 
power,  and 

[*  fol.  14.] 
honours,  with  ..  , 

names  they  have    esse   ne  au^ten  nat  by  ry^t  to  ben  cleped  rycchesse. 

no  title  to. 

1450  ne  whiche  power  ne  au}t[e]  not  ben  cleped  power,  ne 
whiche  dignitee  ne  au^tfel   nat  ben  cleped  dkmitee. 

In  fine,  the  same 

may  be  said  of      IT  And  at  f  e  laste  I  may  conclude  f  e  same  f  inge  of 


all  the  gifts  of 

nothing  al  f6  3iftes  of  fortune  in  whiche  f  er  nis  no  f  ing  to 
ben  desired,  ne  fat  haf  in  hym  self  naturel  bounte. 

good  in  them, 

since  they  are  not  If  as  it  is  ful  wel   sene.    for  neyber   bei  ne  loygiiew 

always  allotted 

malcTthem"'  ool    ^em  na^  a^weJ  *°  goode  men.  ne  maken  hem  alwey 
ai3Sd.theyare  goode  to  whom  fei  berc  y-ioigned. 


1429  whiche— which 
1130  au^t[e]— owhte 
1432  So\>e— soth 
swyfte— swyft 

1435  is— nis 

1436  effectis— effect 

1437  oute— owt 


1441  ben—be 

1442  shrewed[e]— shrewede 

1446  f  aisle]— false 
air-  alle 

1447  whiche— which 
1449  auyten — owhten 

rycchesse— rychesses 


1450  wliiclie—  swich 


1451  whiche  —  swich 
auit[e]—  owht 

1453  al—  alle 

1454  ha]>—  MS.  liape 

1455  sene  —  i-seene 


BOOK  2.~l 
MET.  6.  J 


NERO'S  CRUELTY. 


55 


NOUIMUS  QUANTOS  DEDERAT. 

"TT7"E  han  wel  knowen  how  many  greet  [e]  harmes  and 
destrucczoufis  weren  don  by  f  e  Emperoure  Nero. 
1F  He  letee  brenne  f  e  citee  of  Rome  and  made  slen  f  e 
senatowrs.  and  he  cruel  somtyme  slou^  hys  brof  er.  and 
he  was  maked  moyst  wif  f  e  blood  of  hys  modir.  fat  is 
to  seyn  he  let  sleen  and  slittew  f  e  body  of  his  modir  to 
seen  where  he  was  concerned,  and  he  lokedfe]  on  euery 
half  vpon  hir  colde  dede  body,  ne  no  tere  ne  wette 
his  face,  but  he  was  so  hard  herted  fat  he  my^tfe]  ben 
domesman  or  luge  of  hire  dede  beaute.  IT  And  3itte 
neuerf  eles  gouerned[e]  fis  Nero  by  Ceptre  al  f  e  peoples 
fat  phebus  f  e  sonne  may  seen  comyng  from  his  outerest 
arysyng  til  he  hidde  his  bemes  vndir  f  e  wawes.  1T  fat 
is  to  seyne.  he  gouerned[e]  alle  f  e  peoples  by  Ceptre  im- 
perial fat  f  e  soTme  gof  aboute  from  est  to  west  IT  And 
eke  fis  Nero  goueyrende  by  Ceptre.  alle  f  e  peoples  fat 
ben  vndir  f  e  colde  sterres  fat  hy^ten  f  e  seuene  triones. 
fis  is  to  seyn  he  gouernedfe]  alle  f  e  poeples  fat  ben  vndir 
f  e  parties  of  f  e  norf  e.  U  And  eke  Nero  gouerned[e] 
alle  f  e  poeples  fat  f  e  violent  wynde  Nothus  scorchif 
and  bakif  f  e  brennynge  sandes  by  his  drie  hete.  fat 
is  to  seyne.  alle  fe  poeples  in  f  e  soufe.  [but  yit  ne 
myhte  nat  al  his  heye  power  tome  the  woodnesse  of 
this  wykkyd  nero  /  Alias  it  is  greuous  fortune  it  is],  as 
ofte  as  wicked  swerde  is  ioygned  to  cruel  venym.  fat  is 
to  sein.  venimous  cruelte  to  lordshipe. 


[ThesixteMetwrO 

we  know  what 

ruin  Nero  did. 

1459 

HC  burnt  Rome, 

he  slew  the  con- 


b 


mother's 


He  looked  un- 

moved  upon  his 


1467 

Yet  tins  parricide 


ofethe°peoie?gu 
1472 


1475 


tornd  zolie- 
1478 


'  th?' 


It  is  a  grievous 

thing  when 

power  strength- 


prompts  him  to 
deeds  of  cruelty. 


1458  greet\e\— grete 

1460  letee— let 

1461  somtyme  slou^ — whilom 
slow 

1463  let— lette 

1464  where — wher 

1465  half—  halue 

1466  my  \t[e\— myhte 

1467  hire— hyr 

146  S  neuerfyeles— riatheles 
ffouerned[el — gouernede 


1468  a?— alle 

1469  from— fram 
outerest — owtereste 

1470  hidde— hide 

1471  seyne — seyn 

1472  go\>— MS.  go>e,  C.  goth 

1473  goueyrende — gouemyd 

1474  triones — tyryones 

1475  gouerned\ei]— goucrncde 

1476  parties — party 
nor\>e — north 


1476  gouerned[e]  —  goueni- 
ede 

1477  wynde  —  wynd 
scorchif  —  scorklith 

1479  seyne—  seyn 

sou]>e  —  sowth 
1479-81    [but  -  it   is]—  MS. 

has:  hut  lie  how  greuous 

fortune  is 
1482  swerde—  swera 


56  THE   LOVE   OF    GLORY. 


[Theseuende  T™   EGO    SCIS 

B.  Thou  knowest  l^Anne   seide   I    bus.     bou   wost   wel    biself  bat    be 

that  I  did  not  I/ 

covet  mortal  and    -I     couetise  of  mortal  binges  ne  hadden  neuer  lord- 

transitory  things.  *      ° 

I  only  wished  to    shipe  of  me.  but  I  haue  wel  desired  matere  of  binges 

exercise  my 

to  done*    as  who  8e'   *  degirede    to  han  matere  of 


goueniaunce  ouer  comunalites.     IT  Fox  vertue  stille  ne 
sholde  not  elden.  bat  is  to  seyn.  bat  list  bat  or  he  wex 
U90  olde     IT  His  uertue  bat  lay  now  M  stille.  ne  sliolde 
nat  perisshe  vnexcercised  in  gouernaunce  of  comune. 
1F  For  whiche  men    my^ten  speke  or  writer  of  his 
p.  A  love  of        goode  gouernement.     f  Philosopliie.     IF  For  sobe  quod 

lory  is  one  of 

she.  and  bat  is  a  bing  bat  may  drawen  to  gouernaunce 


gnrlnat\nuattnotlly    8wiche  hertes  as  ben  worbi  and  noble  of  hir  nature. 

the  pSct^n  of    but  nabeles  it  may  nat  drawen  or  tollen  swiche  hertes  as 

ben  y-brou3t  to  be  fulfle]  perfecciouw  of  vertue.  bat  is 

But  consider  how  to   seyn  couetyse   of  glorie   and  renouw   to  han  wel 

small  and  void  of 

weight  is  that      administred  be  comune  binges,  or  doon  goode  decertes 

1500  to  p?'0fit  of  be  comune.  for  se  now  and  considere  how 

Astronomy          litel  and  how  voide  of  al  prise  is  bilke  glorie.     ^T  Cer- 

teaches  us  that 

this  globe  of  earth  teine  bing  is  as  bou  hast  lerned  by  demonstrac^ourc  of 

is  but  a  speck  *      °  •*  » 

astronomye  bat  al  be  envyronynge  of  be  erbe  aboute 


ing  ne  halt  but  be  resouw  of  a  prykke  at  regard  of  be  gret- 

if  compared  with 

the  magnitude      HQSSG  of  heuene.  bat  is  to  seye.  bat  yif  bat  ber  were 

sphere.  maked   coraparisoura   of  be   erbe    to    be    gretnesse   of 

1507  heuene.  men  wolde  lugen  in  alle  bat  erbe  [ne]  helde 

ptoiemy  shows      no  space    H  Of  be  whiche  litel  regiourc  of  bis  worlde 

that  only  one-  .    .  r 

fourth  of  this        be  ferbe  partie  is   enhabitid   wib  lyuyng  beestes  bat 

earth  is  inhabited    "  *       J    J    ( 

fures!ing  °rea"      we  knowen.  as  bou  hast  bi  self  lerned  by  tholome  bat 
Deduct  from  this   prouith  it.     1F  yif  bou  haddest  wib  drawen  and  abated 

the  space  occupied 

by^  seas,  marshes,   in  bi  bou^te  fro  bilke  ferbe  partie  as  myche  space  as  be 
see  and  [the]  mareys  contenen  and   ouergon   and  as 
16  myche  space  as  be  regiowa  of  dioughte  oue/'streccheb. 

1497  ful\_le\— fulle  |  1510  lerned— ylerned 
1501  al  prise— alle  prys  1512  \>ouT,te— thowht 

1505  seye — seyn  myche — inoche 

1507  looldc— woldyn  I  1513  [the]— from  C. 

_.         alle — al  1514    mycJte  space  —  mocho 

tollcn  [we]— from  C. 


1487  desired[_e]— dosyre 
1489  wex  olde — wax  old 
1492  whiclie— which 
speke— spekvn 

tolleii— MS.  tcllcn,   C. 


PROSE8?.]  FAME    IS    CIRCUMSCRIBED.  57 

fat  is  to  scyc  sandes  and  desertes  wel  vnnef  sholde  1515 

*f  er  dwellen  a  ry^t  streite  place  to  f  e  habitaciouw  of      [*  foi.  14  &.] 

men.  and  20  ban  bat  ben  environed  and  closed  wib  And  do  you,  who 

'      •          *  '     are  confined  to 

iwne  f  e  leest[e]    prikke  of   filk   prikke  fenke   36   to 
manifesten  2oure  renourc  and  don  301110  name  to  ben 

wide  your  name 

born  forbe.  but  soure  glorie   bat  is  so  narwe  and  so  and  reputation  ? 

*  What  is  there 

streyt  yfronge?i   in  to  so  litel  boundes.    how  myche  fo^rcumsmSd? 
conteinfe  it  in  largesse  and  in  greet  doynge.     And  also  1522 
sette  bis  ber  to  bat  many  a  nacs'oim  dyuerse  of  tonge  Even  in  this 

0      contracted  circle, 

and  of  maneres.  and  eke  of  resorw  of  hir  lyuyng  ben  ^rietyof  Ens, 
enhabitid  in  f  e  cloos  of  f  ilke  litel  habitacle.     IF  To  f  e 
whiche  naciouws  what  for  difficulte  of  weyes.  and  what  ]J[  *£jJJJ  ofota0rnly 
for   diuersite   of  langages.   and  what   for   defaute   of 


vnusage  entercomunynge  of  marchauwlise.  nat  only  f  e  etend?1"11 

names  of  singler  men  ne  may  [nat]  strecchen.  but  eke  1529 

fe  fame  of  Citees  ne  may  nat  strecchen.      IT  At  f  e  inttietimeof 

last[e]    Certis  in  fe  tyme  of  Marcus  tulyus  as  hym  JJSS?^h°me 

self  write])  in  his  book  fat  fe  renou?^  of  pe  comune  of  Caucasus!0" 
Rome  ne  hadde  nat  3itte  passed  ne  clou?7zben  ouer  fe 
moufttaigne  Jjat  hy^t   Caucasus,    and   3itte   was   J)ilk 

tyme  rome  wel  wexen  and  gretly  redouted  of  pe  parthes.  1535 

and  eke  of  ober  folk  enhabityn^  aboute.     IF  Sest  bou  HOW  narrow, 

*         then,  is  that 

nat  fan  how  streit  and  how  compressed  is  Jrilke  glorie  f^^pr/011 
fat  30  trauailerc  aboute  to  shew  and  to  multiplie.  May  IS  the  glory  of 
ban  be  glorie  of  a  singlere  Romeyne  strecchen  bider  reacTthos'e  ii^-es 

where  the  name 

as  be  fame  of  be  name  of  Rome  may  nat  clymben  ne  even  of  Rome  waa 

never  heard  ? 

passen.     IF  And  eke  sest   bou  nat    bat  be  maners  of  customs  and 

institutions  differ 

diue?*se  folk  and  eke  hir  lawes  ben  discordau/zt  amonge  jjjjijjjjj111 

hem  self,  so  Ipai  bilke  bing  bat  so??raien  iugen  worbi  of  what  is  praise- 

worthy in  one  is 


pr^ysynge.  ofer  folk  iugen  fat  it  is  worfi  of  torment. 

IF  and  fer  of  comef   fat  fou3  a  man  delite  Iryrn  in  1545 


1515  seye—  seyn 
1516  streite—  streyt 
1517  \>an  —  thanne 
1518  inne—  in 
leest[_e\—  leste 
bilk—  thilke 
}>enke  ^e—  thinken  ye 
1520  bornfor}>e—  MS.  borne, 
C.  born,  forth 

1520  narwe—  narvvh 
1521  streyt—  streyte 
myche—  mochel 
1522  contein}>e  —  coucyteth 
1525  habitacle  —  MS.   habit- 
ache,  C.  habytacule 
1529  [nat]—  from  C. 
1531  last\e\—  laste 
1532  wriie]>—  writ 

1533  hadde-hadden 
$itte  —  omitted 
1534  hy-it—  hyhto 
\>ilk—  thikke 
1535  wexen  —  waxen 
1536  Sest  \>ou—  scstow 
1538  sJiew  —  sliowe 
1539  singlere  —  sin^lcr 
1515  come\>  —  comth  ii 

58 


FAME    IS    NOT    ETERNAL. 


It  is  not  the 
interest  of  any 
man  who  desires 
renown  to  have 
his  name  spread 
through  many 
countries. 
He  ought,  there- 
fore, to  be  satis- 
fied with  the 
glory  he  lias 
acquired  at  home. 
But  of  how  many 
personages, 
illustrious  in 
their  times,  have 
the  memorials 
been  lost  thiongh 
fie  carelessness 
and  neglect  of 
writers. 

But  writings  do 
hot  preserve  the 
names  of  men  for 
ever. 

1557 

But  perhaps  you 
suppose  that  you 
shall  secure  im- 
mortality if  your 
names  are  trans- 
mitted to  future 
ages. 

If  you  consider 
the  infinite  space 
of  eternity  you 
will  have  no  rea- 
son to  rejoice  in 
this  supposition. 
If  a  moment  be 
compared  with 
10,000  years, 
there  is  a  pro- 
portion between 
them,  though  a 
very  small  one. 
But  this  number 
of  years,  multi- 
plied by  whatever 
sum  you  please, 
vanishes  when 
compared  with 
the  infinite  extent 
of  eternity. 
There  may  be 
comparison  be- 
tween finite 
things,  but  none 
between  the  in- 
finite and  finite. 
Hence  it  is,  that 
Fame  (however 
lasting),  com- 
pared with 
eternity,  will 
seem  absolutely 
nothing. 


preysyng  of  his  renoim.  he  ne  may  nat  \n  no  wise 
bryngen  furf  e  ne  spredew  his  name  to  many  manere 
peoples.  IT  And  f erfore  euery  maner  man  au^te  to  ben 
paied  of  hys  glorie  fat  is  puplissed  among  hys  owen 
ney^bores.  IT  And  filke  noble  renourc  shal  be  re- 
streyned  wif  -iftne  f  e  boundes  of  o  maner  folk  but  how 
many  a  man  fat  was  ful  noble  in  his  tyme.  haf  f  e 
nedy  and  wrecched  for^etynge  of  writers  put  oute  of 
mynde  and  don  awey.  IT  Al  be  it  so  fat  certys  filke 
writyiiges  profiten  litel.  f  e  whiche  writywges  longe  and 
derke  elde  dof  aweye  bof  e  hem  and  eke  her  autowrs.  but 
$e  men  semen  to  geten  ^ow  a  perdurablete  whan  30 
f  enke  fat  in  tyme  comyng  3oure  fame  shal  lasten.  H  But 
naf  eles  yif  f  ou  wilt  maken  coraparisou?i  to  f  e  endeles 
space  of  eternite  what  f  ing  hast  f  ou  by  whiche  pou 
maist  reioysen  f  e  of  long  lastyng  of  fi  name.  H  For 
if  f er  were  maked  coraparysoura  of  fe  abidyng  of  a 
moment  to  ten  f  ousand  wynter.  for  as  myche  as  bof  e 
f  o  spaces  ben  endid.  IT  For  }it  haf  f  e  moment  some 
porciouw  of  hit  al  f  ou}  it  a  litel  be.  1F  But  naf  eles 
filke  self  noumbre  of  ^eres.  and  eke  as  many  3eres  as 
f  er  to  may  be  multiplied,  ne  may  nat  certys  be  com- 
parisou/zd  to  f  e  perdurablete  fat  is  een[de]les.  IT  For  of 
f inges  fat  han  ende  may  be  mad  comparison  [but  of 
thinges  that  ben  w/t/i-owtyn  ende  to  thinges  fat  han  ende 
may  be  maked  no  co??zparysouw].  IT  And  for  f  i  is  it  al 
f  ou}  renou??  of  as  longe  tyme  as  euer  f  e  lyst  to  f  inken 
were  f  ou^t  by  f  e  regard  of  eternite.  fat  is  vnstaunche- 
able  and  infinit.  it  ne  sholde  nat  oonly  semen  litel.  but 
pleinliche  ry^t  nou^t.  1F  But  36  men  certys  ne  konne 


1547  fur]>e—  forth 
manere  —  maner 

1548  per/ore—  ther-for 


1549  paied  —  apayed 
hys  owen  —  hise  owne 

1550  ney->bores  —  nesshcbours 
be  —  ben 

l.V>2/mb—  MS.hape  [putowt 
1533  put  (MS.  putte]  oute— 


1556  derke— derk 

rfop  aweye— MS.  doj>e,  C. 

doth  a-wey 
her  autours — hir  actorros 

1557  36— yow 
semen — semetn 

1558  comyng— to  eomynge 

1559  wilt— wolt 
15KD  whiche— which 
1,3(53  myche — mochcl 


|  1564  po— the 
haf—  MS.  hape 
some — som. 

1566  self—  selue 

1567  be  (2)— ben 

1568  een\_de~\les — endeles 

1569  mad  —  MS.    made,  C. 
maked 

[but eomparytioun]  — 

i  1573  by— to  [from  C. 


p2o*B1.3  VANITY    REPROVED.  59 

don  no  f  ing  ary^t.  but  ^if  it  be  for  f  e  audience  of  poeple.  But  yet  you  do 

and  for  ydel  rumowrs.  and  30  forsaken  f  e  grete  worf  i-  ^'^e5  the  empty 
nesse  of  conscience  and  of  vertue.  and  30  sekew  ^oure 


gerdouras  of  be  smale  wordes  of  strange  folke.    IF  Haue  good  conscience 

in  order  to  have 

now  here  and  vndirstonde  in  be  lystnesse  of  whiche  the  insignificant 

f       J>  praises  of  other 

pride  and  veyne  glorie.  how  a  man  scorned[e]  festiualy  H^iiiy  vanity 


,  .-i  .   i  .1    was  once  thus 

and  myrily  swiche  vanite.  somtyme  bere  was  a  man  bat  ingeniously  and 

pleasantly  rallied. 

had[de]  assaied  wif  striuyng  wordes  an  of  er  marc.     II  f  e  A  certain  man, 

whiche  nat  for  vsage  of  verrey  vertue.  but  for  proude 

veyne  glorie  hadfde]  takew  vpon  hym  falsly  fe  name 

of  a  philosopher.     1F  bis  raber  man   bat  I  speke  of  man  of  humour 

that  he  could 

f  ou3t[e]  he  wolde  assay[e]  where  he  f  ilke  were  a  philo- 

sopher  or  no.  fat  is  to  seyne  yif  he  wolde  han  suffred 

ly^tly  in   pacience  f  e  wrorcges  *f  at  weren  don  vnto       [*  f0i.  15.] 

hym.     IT  fis   feined[e]   philosophre  took   pacience   a  1590 

litel  while,  and  whan  he  hadde  receiued  wordes  of  After  counterfeit- 

ing patience  for  a 


outerage  he  as  in  strytiynge  a3eine  and  reioysynge  of  JJ 
hym  self  seide  at  fe  last[e]  ryjt  f  us.     1F  vndirstondest 
fou  nat  fat  I  am  a  philosophers  fat  ofer  man  an-  a 
sweredfel  a^ein  ful  bitvnsly  and  seide.     IT  I  hadrdc]  'i  might  have 

L      J    believed  it,'  said 

wel  vndirstonden  [yt].  yif  f  ou  haddest  holder  f  i  tonge 
stille.  IT  But  what  is  it  to  fise  noble  worfi  men. 
For  certys  of  swyche  folk  speke  .1.  fat  seken  glorie  wif  worthy  men  to  be 


vertue.  what  is  it  quod  she.   what   atteinif   fame   to 

swiche  folk  whan  fe  body  is  resolued  by  fe  deef.  atte  1600 

be  lastfel.     IT  For  vif  so  be  bat  men  dien  in  al.  bat  is  ifbodyandsoui 

die,  then  there 

to  seyne  body  and  soule.  be  whiche  bing  oure  resouw  can  be  no  glory  ; 

*  <f  nor  can  there  be 

defendif  vs  to  byleuen  fanne  is  fere  no  glorie  in  no 
wyse.     For  what  sholde  filke  glorie  ben.    for  he  of 
who?ft  fis  glorie  is  seid  to  be  nis  ry3t  nou3t  in  no  wise.  1605 
and  3if  f  e  soule  whiche  fat  haf  in  it  self  science  of 


1580  whiche — swych 

1581  scorned[c]— scornedo 

1582  swiche—  swych 
somtyme — whilom 

1583  had[de\— hacldc 
158t  whiche — which 

proude — prowd 

1586  speke— ypak 

1587  powjiO]— tliowhte 


1587  assay[e] — assaye 

1588  seyne—  seyn 

1599  feined[_e']— feyuede 

1592  a^eine — ayein 

1593  la^t[e']— laste 
vndirstondest    \>ou  —  vii- 

dyrstondow 

1594  answeredlc'] — answcrdo 

1595  had(ilt]  -haddo 


1596  [y€]— from  C. 

1601  lastie-]— laste 

1602  seyne — seyn 

1604  for  (2) — whan 

1605  \>is— thilke 

seid— MS.  seide,  C.  soyd 
mm^t — n:\wht 
160U  ha\>— MS.  hal'c 


60  DEATH  TUTS  AN  END  TO  RENOWN. 

But  if  the  soul      goode  wcrkes   vnbounden  fro   be  prisoiw  of  be   erbe 

is  immortal  when 

jt  Jeaves^the  body,  wendej)  frely  to  J?e  heuene.  dispise]?  it  nou^t  J?an  alle 
joysof  thfsthe  erj?ely  occupaci'ourcs.  and  beynge  in  heuene  reioise)>  ]?at 

it  is  exempt  from  alle  erjjely  Binges  [as  wo  seith  / 
1611  thanne  rekketh  the  sowle  of  no  glorye  of  renouw  of  this 

world]. 

SOLAM    MENTE. 


Sinfwho^6'1   Who  so  fat  wiJ>  ouerj?rowyng  foi^t  only  sekejj  glorie 

seeks  fame,  think-      ¥?<»•«  j         '      "L          i.     -j     i_  i 

ing  it  to  be  the  ot   lame,    and  wemb   bat  it   be  souereyne    good 

sovereign  good, 

b°roadTn?verte      ^  Lvie  hym  loke  vpon  jje  brode  shewyng  contreys  of 


I56  neuew-  an^  vP07i  )>e  streite  sete  of  Jns  erjje.    and 
he  shal  be  ashamed  of  ]?e  encres  of  his  name.  J?at  may 
such  a  confined     nat  fulfille  be  Htel  compas   of  be   erbe.     H    0  what 

space.  ' 

1619  coueiten  proude  folke  to  liften  vpon  hire  nekkes  in 
win  splendid       ydel  and  dedely  2ok  of  bis  worlde.      IT  For  al  bou2 

titles  and  renown   J 

fife1?01^  a  man  8     \$a^\  renoune  y-spradde  passynge  to  feme  poeples  gc>|) 

by  dyuerse  tonges.  and  al  £0113  grete  houses  and  kyn- 

1623  redes   shyne  wij>  clere  titles  of  honowrs.    ^it  najjeles 

in  the  grave         deeb  dispiseb  al  heye  glorie  of  fame,  and  deeb  wrappeb 

there  is  no  dis- 

hig'ifand^w6611    to  §^re  f  e  keve  heuedes  and  J)e  lowe  and  make)?  egal 
where  is  the  good  and  euene   be  heyestfe]  to   be  lowest  [e].      IT   where 

Fabricius  now  ? 

where  the  noble    wonew    now    be    bones    of  trewe   fabricius.     what   is 

Brutus,  or  stern 

now  brutus  or  stiern  Caton  J>e  ]?inne  fame  3it  lastynge 

1629  of  hir  ydel  names  is  markid  wij>  a  fewe  lettres.  but 

Their  empty        al  bou?  we  han  knowew  be  faire  wordes  of  be  fames  of 

names  still  live, 

bersonshwerknow   nem*  ^  ^s  na^  3euen  to  knowe  hem  fat  ben  dede  and 

consumpt.     Liggif  fanne  stille  al  vtterly  vnknowable 

Fame  cannot        ne  fame  ne  makeb  2ow  nat  knowe.   and  yif  }e  wene 

make  you  known. 

to  lyuen  )>e  lenger  for   wynde  of  3oure  mortal  name. 

1635  whan  o  cruel  day  shal  rauyshe  ^ow.  J?an  is  J?e  secunde 

deef  dvvellyng  in  3ow.     Glosa.  }?e  first  deep  he  clepij) 


1608  nou^t  \>an — nat  thanne 
1010  from— fro 

1610—1612  rag world']  — 

from  C. 

1615  Lete—  Lat 
loke — look  en 
JfilO  sete— Cyte 
1U17  be— ben 


1619  vpon — vp 

Ifi20  and  dedely— hi  the  dedly 

1621  y-spradde — ysprad 
[pa;!]— from  C. 

feme  -MS.  serue,  C.  feme 
(jo\> — MS.  gope,  C.  goth 

1622  and  (2)— or 

1623  shyne — shynen 


1623  clere— cler 

1624  al— alle 

1626  heyest[e] — heyostc 

lowestle]— loweste 
1628  stiern— MS.  sciern,  C. 

stierne 

1632  consumpt — cowsunji>to 
1634  linger— lon^ere 


VH08E28.]  ADVERSE   FORTUNE    IS   BENEFICIAL.  Gl 

hero  be  departynge  of  be  body  and  be  soule.     IF  and  it  win  be  effaced 

by  conquering 

fe  secunde  dee]?  he  clepef  as  here.  )>e  styntynge  of 


f  e  ronoune  of  fame.*  doubly  victoriou8' 


*  The  next  tliree 
chapters  are  from 
the  Camb.  MS. 


[SET    NE    ME    INEXORABILE    CONTRA. 


B 


Vt  for-as-mochel  as  thow  shalt  nat  wenen  quod  she  [The  viij  prose.] 

'  But  do  not 


fat  I  bere  vntretable  batayle  ayenis  fortune  //  yit  JJjgjLS**,^ 
som-tyme  it  by-falleth  fat  she  desseyuable  desserueth 
to  han  ryht  good  thank  of  men  //  And  fat  is  whan  she 


hire  self  opneth  /  and  whan  she  descouereth  hir  frownt  /  deserves  weii  of 
and    sheweth    hir    maneres    par-auenture    yit   vndir-  Jn'\™/t 
stondesthow  nat  jjat  .1.  shal  seye  //  it  is  a  wondyr  fat  .1.  A°n(dUwhat  T 


desyre  to  telle  /  and  forthi  vnnethe  may  I.  vnpleyten  my  SS  Jarxi 

That  is,  that 

sentense  with  wordes  for  I.  deme  bat  contraryos  fortune  adverse  fortune 

is  more  beneficial 

profiteth  more  to  men  than  fortune  debonayre  //  For  ^n)er.08perou8 
al-wey  whan  fortune  semeth  debonayre  than  she  lyeth  1650 
falsly  in  by-hetynge  the  hope  of  welefulnesse  //  but  for-  The  latter  lies 

'  '  and  deceives  us, 

sothe  contrary  os  fortune  is  alwey  sothfast  /  whan  she  th®  f°j™rerndtui.al 
sheweth  hir  self  vnstable  thorw  hyr  chaurcgynge  //  the  mconstancy- 
amyable  fortune  desseyueth  folk  /  the  contrarye  fortune  That  deceives  us, 

this  instructs  us  ; 

techeth  //  the  amyable  fortune  byndeth  with  the  beaute 

of  false  goodys  the  hertes  of  folk  fat  vsen  hem  /  the  the  miend; 

contrarye  fortune  vnbyndeth  hew  by  be  knowynge  of  knowledge  of  her 

fickleness,  frees 

freele  welefulnesse  //  the  amyable  fortune  maysthow  sen  ?tnd  absolves 


alwey  wyndynge  and  flowynge  /  and  euere  mysknowynge  fngml  Incapable 


of  hir  self  //  the  contrarye  fortune  is  a-tempre  and  re-  other  is  staid  and 

wise  through 

streynyd  and  wys  thorw  excersyse  of  hir  aduersyte  //  at  J55J£jj£oeof 
the  laste  amyable  fortune  with  hir  flaterynges  draweth 
mys  wandrynge  men  fro  the  souereyne  good  //  the  con- 


traryos  fortune  ledith  ofte  folk  ayein  to  sothfast  goodes  /  real  happiness 

,  consists. 

and  haleth  hem  ayein  as  with  an  hooke  /  weenesthow 
thanne  fat  thow  owhtest  to  leten  this  a  lytel  thing  /  fat 
this  aspre  and  horible  fortune  hath  discoueryd  to  the  /  the 
thowhtes  of  thy  trewe  frendes  //  For-why  this  ilke  for-  16G8 

1637  \>e  (1)—  omitted  1639  renoune—  renou» 


62 


ALL   THINGS    BOUND    BY    THE    CHAIN    OF    LOVE. 


rnoox  2. 
LMET.  a. 


1672 

At  what  price 
would  you  not 
liave  bought  this 
knowledge  in 
your  prosperity  ? 


Complain  not, 
then,  of  loss  of 
wealth,  since 
tliou  hast  found 
infinitely  greater 
riches  in  your 
ti-ue  friends. 


[The  viij  Metw.l 
This  world,  by 
an  invariable 
order,  suffers 
change. 

Elements,  that  by 
nature  disagree, 
are  restrained  by 
concord. 


1684 

The  sea  is  thus 
kept  within  its 
proper  bounds. 

1687 

This  concord  is 
produced  by  love, 
which  governeth 
earth  and  sea, 
and  extends  its 
influence  to  the 
heavens. 


If  this  chain  of 
love  were  broken 
all  things  would 
be  in  j>erpetual 
strife,  and  the 
world  would  go 
to  ruin. 
Love  binds 
nations  together, 
it  ties  the  nuptial 
knot,  and  dictates 
binding  laws  to 
friendship. 

Men  were  truly 
blest  if  governed 
by  this  celestial 
love ! ' 


1669  tune  hath  departyd  and  vncoueryd  to  the  bothe  the 
certeyn  vysages  and  ek  the  dowtos  visages  of  thy 
felawes  //  wharc  she  departyd  awey  fro  the  /  she  took 
awey  hyr  frendes  and  lafte  the  thyne  frendes  //  now 
whan  thow  were  ryche  and  weleful  as  the  semede  /  with 
how  mochel  woldesthow  han  bowht  the  fulle  know- 
ynge  of  this  //  J?at  is  to  seyn  the  knowynge  of  thy 
verray  freendes  //  now  pleyne  the  nat  thanne  of  Eychesse 
.I.-lorn  syn  thow  hast  fowndyn  the  moste  presyos  kynde 
of  Rychesses  J>at  is  to  seyn  thy  verray  frendes. 

QUOD   MUxVDUS   STABILI   FIDE. 

fTlHat  J)e  world  with  stable  feith  /  varieth  acordable 
J-  chaungynges  //  fat  the  contrary os  qualite  of  element} 
holden  amonge  hem  self  aliaurcce  perdurable  /  fat  phebws 
the  sonne  with  his  goldene  chariet  /  bryrfgeth  forth  the 
rosene  day  /  fat  the  nione  hath  commau^dement  ouer  tlie 
nyhtes// whiche  nyhteshespemstheeue  sterrehatbrowt// 
fat  fe  se  gredy  to  flowen  constreyneth  with  a  certeyn  ende 
hise  floodes  /  so  fat  it  is  nat  l[e]ueful  to  strechche  hise 
brode  termes  or  bowndes  vp-on  the  erthes  //  fat  is  to  seyn 
to  couere  alle  the  erthe  //  Al  this  a-cordau^ce  of  thinges 
is  bownden  with  looue  /  fat  gouerneth  erthe  and  see  /and 
hath  also  wmmauMement}  to  the  heuenes  /  and  yif 
this  looue  slakede  the  brydelis  /  alle  thinges  fat  now 
louen  hem  to  gederes  /  wolden  maken  a  batayle  contyn- 
uely  and  stryuen  to  fordoon  the  fasoim  of  this  worlde  / 
the  which  they  now  leden  in  acordable  feith  by  fayre 
moeuynges  //  this  looue  halt  to  gideres  poeples  loygned 
with  an  hooly  bond  /  and  knytteth  sacrement  of  mar- 
yages  of  chaste  looues  //  And  loue  enditeth  lawes  to 
trewe  felawes  //  0  weleful  weere  mankynde  /  yif  thilke 
loue  fat  gouerneth  heuene  gbuerned[e]  yowre  corages  / 

EXPLICIT    LIBER    2US. 


1690  hath- II.  he  hath 


BOETHIUS    IS    COMFORTED    BY   PHILOSOPHY'S    SONG.  G3 


INCIPIT  LIVER  &f 

IAM    CANTUAT   ILLA    FINIERAT. 

By  this  she  hadde  endid  hire  songe  /  whan  the  swetnesse 
of  hire  ditee  hadde  thorw  perced  me  fat  was  desirous 
of  herkninge  /  and  .1.  astoned  hadde  yit  streyhte  myn 
Eres  /  fat  is  to  seyn  to  herkne  the  bet  /  what  she  wolde  speaking. 
seye*//  so  fat  a  litel  here  after  .1.  seyde  thus  //  0  thow  At  last  T  said) 
fat  art  souereyn  comfort  of  Angwissos  corages  //  So  thow  forter  oTa^ertoT 

minds,  how  much 

hast  remounted  and  norysshed  me  wim  the  weyhte  of  thy  hast  thou  re- 

J    freshed  me  with 


sentenses  and  with  delit  of  thy  syngynge  //  so  fat  .  I.  trowe 
nat  now  fat  .1.  be  vnparygal  to  the  strokes  of  fortune  /  as 

who  seyth.    I.  dar  wel  now  suffren  al  the  assautes  of  for-  m™tcn  for  For- 

tune and  able  to 
tune  and  wel  denende  me  fro  hyr  //  and  tho  remedies  resist  her  blows. 

I  fear  not,  there- 

whyche  fat  thow  seydest  hire  byforn  weren  ryht  sharpe 
Nat  oonly  fat  .1.  am  nat  agrysen  of  hem  now  //  but  .1.  de- 
siros  of  heryrige  axe  gretely  to  heeren  tho  remedyes  //  1713 
than  seyde  she  thus  //  bat  feelede  .1.  ful  we!  quod  she  //  ?•  When  J  Per- 

'  '   Y  'I    ceived  that,  silent 

whan  fat  thow  ententyf  and  stylle  rauysshedest  my 
woides//and  .1.  abood  til  fat  thow  haddest  swych  habyte 
of  thy  thowght  as  thow  hast  now  //  or  elles  tyl  bat  .1.  you,  or  rather,  i 

created  in  you 

my  self  had  [del  maked  to  the  the  same  habyt  /  which  JH*/"8"*    f 

L      J  J      I  What  remains  to 

fat  is  a  moore  verray  thinge  //  And  certes  the  remenau-wt 
of  thinges  fat  ben  yit  to  seye  /  ben  swyche  //  fat  fyrst 


whan  men  tasten  hem  they  ben  bytynge  /  but  whan  pleasant,  but 

when  once  swal- 

they  ben  resseyuyd  w^t/i-inne  a  whyht  than  ben  they 

swete  //  but  for  thow  seyst  fat  thow  art  so  desirous  to 

herkne  hem  //  wit[h]  how  gret  brennynge  woldesthow  say  yo^would11 

glowen  /  yif  thow  wystest  whyder  .1.  wol  leden  the  //  with  what  desire 

J  '  I    would  you  burn 

whydyre  is  fat  quod  .1.  //  to  thilke  verray  welefulnesse 


lgto 


quod  she  //  of  whyche  thynge  herte  dremeth  //  but  flSl-r 

,  ,  ,  '       ,        B.  Whither  is 

tor  as  moche  as  thy  syhte  is  ocupied  and  distorbed  /  by  that,  i  pray  ? 

J    P.  To  that  true 

Imagynasyon  of  herthely  thynges  /  thow  mayst  nat  yit 


sen  thilke  selue  welefulnesse  //  do  quod  .1.  and  shewe  Sea/aint  fore~ 

1702  streyUe—R.  strenghed    I  1718  liad\de\—  H.  hade 
1712  am  nat  —  II.  nam  nought  J 


64 


AWAY    WITH    FALSE   FELICITY 


H500K  3. 

LMKT.  i.  PROSE  2. 


But  vour  sight  is 
clouded  with 
false  forms,  so 
that  it  cannot 
yet  behold  this 
same  felicity. 
B.  Show  me,  I 
pray,  that  true 
happiness  with- 
out delay. 
P.  I  will  gladly 
do  so  at  your 
desire,  but  I  will 
first  describe  that 
false  cause  (of 
happiness),  so 
that  you  may  be 
better  able  to 
comprehend  the 
exact  model. 
•  Here  the  Add. 
MS.  begins  again. 
[The  fyrst  meter.] 
He  who  would 
sow  seed  must 
first  clear  the 
ground  of  useless 
weeds,  so  that  he 
may  reap  an 
abundant  harvest. 
Honey  tastes  all 
the  sweeter  to  a 
palate  disgusted 
by  offensive 
flavours. 
The  stars  shine 
all  the  clearer 
when  the  southern 
showery  blasts 
cease  to  blow. 
When  Lucifer 
has  chased  away 
the  dark  night, 
then  Phoebus 
mounts  his  gay 
chariot. 

So  you,  beholding 
the  false  felicity, 
and  withdrawing 
your  neck  from 
the  yoke  of 
earthly  affections, 
will  soon  see  the 
sovereign  good. 
[The  2<»e  prose.] 
Philosophy,  with 
a  serious  air,  and 
appearing  to  re- 
collect herself, 
and  to  rouse  up 
all  her  faculties, 
thus  began. 
All  the  cares  and 
desires  of  men 
seek  one  end — 
happiness. 
[*  fol.  15&.] 


me  /  what  is  thilke  verray  welefulnesse  /  .1.  preye  the 
WftA-howte  tarynge  //  fat  wole  .1.  gladly  don  quod  she  / 
for  the  cause  of  the  //  but  .1.  wol  fyrst  marken  the  by 
wordes  /  and  I  wcl  enforcen  me  to  enformen  the  // 
thilke  false  cause  of  blysfulnesse  fat  thow  more  know- 
est  /  so  f  «t  whan  thow  hast  fully  by-holden  thilke  false 
goodes  and  torned  thyne  eyen  to  fat  oother  syde  /  thow 
mowe  knowe  the  clernesse  of  verray  blysfulnesse  //] 

*QUI    SERERE   ItfGENIUM. 

IF  Who  so  wil  so  we  a  felde  plentiuous.  lat  hym  first 
delyuer  it  of  f  ornes  and  kerue  asondre  wif  his  hooke 
f  e  bushes  and  f  e  feme  so  fat  f  e  corne  may  comew  heuy 
of  eres  and  of  greins.  hony  is  f  e  more  swete  yif  mouses 
han  firste  tastid  sauoures  fat  ben  wikke.  IT  f  e  sterres 
shynen  more  agreably  whan  f  e  wynde  No#ms  letif  his 
ploungy  blastes.  and  aftir  fat  lucifer  J>e  day  sterre  haj> 
chased  awey  J>e  derke  nyjt.  f  e  day  f  e  feirer  ledif  ]>e 
rosene  horse  of  f  e  sonne.  IT  Ry^t  so  f  ou  byholdyng 
first  f  e  fals[e]  goodes.  bygyniie  to  wif  drawe  f  i  nek[ke] 
fro  fe  $ok  of  erfely  affecc/ourcs.  and  afterwarde  fe 
verrey  goodes  shollew  entre  in  to  fi  corage.  1750 

TUNG    DEFIXO   PAULULIIflf. 

fastned[e]  she  a  lytel  f  e  sy^t  of  hir  eyen  and  wif- 
drow  hir  ry^t  as  it  were  in  to  J>e  streite  sete  of  hir 
.  and  bygan  to  speke  ry^t  ]>us.  Alle  J>e  cures 
quod  she  of  mortal  folk  whiche  fat  trauaylen  hem  in 
many  manere  studies  gon  certys  by  diuerse  weies. 
1F  But  nafeles  fei  enforced  hem  *to  comen  oonly  to  on 


1734  wol—B..  shalle 

1739  ?eiZ— wole 
felde— feeld 

1740  delyuer — delyuere 
of—  fro 

hooke — hook 
1711  bushes— bosses 

feme — fern 

corne — korn 
1743  firste— fyrst 


1743  wikke— wyckyd 

1744  wynde— wynd 
his — hise 

1745  ha\>— MS.  hape 

1746  feirer — fayrere 

1747  horse — hors 
Rytf— And  Ryht 

1748  fals\_e~\— false 
bygynne—bygyn 
wipdrawe— wtt/i  drawcn 


|  1748  neklJce']— nekke 

1749  afterwarde  —  affter- 
wjird 

1750  entre— entren 

1751  fastned[e'}— fastnede 
wipdrow    -•     MS.     wip- 

drowen,  C.  with  drowh 

1752  sete—  Cyte 

1756  enforced— enforsen 


HOOK  3.  1 
THOSE  2.^ 


THE  DESIUE  OF  THE  TRUE  GOOD. 


6f> 


ende  of  blisfulnesse  [And  blysfulnesse]  is  swiche  a  goode 
pat  who  so  hap  geten  it  lie  ne  may  ouer  fat  no  J>ing  more 
desiire.  and  pis  ping  for  sope  is  pe  souereyne  good  pat  con- 
teinip  in  hym  self  al  manere  goodes.  to  pe  whiche  goode 
yif  pere  failed[e]  any  ping,  it  my}t[e]  nat  ben  souereyne 
goode.  ^[  For  Jjan  were  pere  som  goode  out  of  pis  ilke  soue- 
reyne goode  pat  my^t[e]  ben  desired.  Now  is  it  clere  and 
certeyne  pa?z  pat  blisfulnesse  is  a  perfit  estat  by  pe  con- 
gregaczou?i  of  alle  goodes.  1F  pe  whiche  blisfulnesse  as 
I  haue  seid  alle  mortal  folke  enforcen  hem  to  geten  by 
dyuerse  weyes.  IF  For-whi  pe  couetise  of  verray  goode 
is  naturely  y-plaunted  in  pe  hertys  of  men.  IF  But  pe 
myswandryng  emmr  mysledip  hem  in  to  fals[e]  goodes. 
IT  of  J>e  whiche  men  some  of  hem  wenen  pat  soue- 
reygne  goode  is  to  lyue  wip  outen  nede  of  any  ping. 
and  tmueilQft  hem  to  ben  habundaunt  of  rycchesse. 
and  some  oper  men  demew.  pat  souerein  goode  be  forto 
be  ry^t  digne  of  reuerences.  and  enforces  hem  to  ben 
reuerenced  among  hir  ney^bows.  by  pe  honours  pat  pei 
han  ygeten  IF  and  some  folk  per  ben  pat  halden  pat 
ry3t  hey3e  power  to  be  souereyn  goode.  and  enforcen 
hem  forto  regnen  or  ellys  to  ioigneri  hem  to  hem  pat 
regnen.  1F  And  it  semep  to  some  oper  folk  pat  noblesse 
of  renourc  be  pe  souerein  goode.  and  hasten  hem  to 
geten  glorious  name  by  pe  artes  of  werre  or  of  pees, 
and  many  folke  mesuren  and  gessen  pat  souerein  goode 
be  ioye  and  gladnesse  and  wenen  pat  it  be  ry^t  blisful 
[thynge]  to  ploungen  hem  in  uoluptuous  delit.  IF  And 
per  ben  folk  pat  enterchaungen  pe  causes  and  pe  endes 

1757  [And    blysfulnesse]  — 
goode — good  [from  C. 

1758  so— so  \>a\> 
ha\>— MS.  habe 

1759  souereyne — souereyn 

1760  al— alle 


True  happiness  is 
that  complete 
good  which,  once 
obtained,  leaves 
nothing  more  to 
be  desired. 
It  is  the  sovereign 
good,  and  com- 
prehends all 
others.    It  lacks 
nothing,  other- 
wise it  could  not 
be  the  supreme 
good.   Happiness 
is,  therefore,  that 
perfect  state,  in 
which  all  other 
goods  meet  and 
centre.    It  is  the 
object  which  all 
men  strive  after. 
A  desire  of  the 
true  good  is  a 
natural  instinct, 
but  error  misleads 
them  to  pursue 
false  joys. 

1769 

Some,  imagining 
the  supreme  good 
to  consist  in  lack- 
ing nothing,  la- 
bour for  an  abund- 
ance of  riches ; 
others,  supposing 
that  this  good  lies 
in  the  reverence 
and  esteem  of 
their  fellow  men, 
strive  to  acquire 
honourable 
positions. 
There  are  some, 
again,  who  place 
it  in  supreme 
power,  and  seek 
to  rule,  or  to  be 
favoured  by  the 
ruling  powers. 
There  are  those 
who  fancy  fame 
to  be  the  height 
of  happiness,  and 
seek  by  the  arts 
of  war  or  peace  to 
get  renown. 
Many  there  are 
who  believe  no- 
thing to  be  better 
than  joy  and 
gladness,  and 
think  it  delightful 
to  plunge  into 
luxury. 


1761  \>ere— ther 
failed[e\— faylyde 
imyi>t{e\ — myhte 
souereyne  goode— souereyn 

good 

1762  \>an— thanne 
\>ere— ther 


1762  goode  —  good 

1773  some  —  som 

souereyne—  souereyn 
1763  goode  —  good 

goode  be—  good  ben 
1774  be—  ben 

'<nyit\_e~\  —  myhte 
1764  certeyne—  certein 

1775  ney-fiours—  nesshebors 
1776  halden—\\  olden 

1766    seid  —  MS.   seide,  C. 
folke—  foolk                [seyd 

1777  hey^e  —  heyh 
to  —  omitted 

1767  goode—  good 
1769  /otoM—  false 

goode  —  good 
1780  goode—  good 

1770   souereygne  goode  is  — 

1781  or  —  and 

souereyn  good  be 
1771  lyue  wi\>  outen  —  lyuen 

1782  folke—  folk 
goode  —  good 

-with  owte 

1783  be—  by 

1772  rycchesse—  Rychesses 

1784  \_thynge~}—  front  C. 

5 

66 


FRIENDSHIP    A    SACRED    THING. 


TBOOK  3. 

LPROKE  2. 


Some  there  are 

who  use  these 

causes  and  ends 

interchangeably 


pcwerj°o?wholg 

desire  power  in 

order  to  get 

money  or  renown. 

in  aii  they  do  they 

have  a  particular 

§obi5t3?«md 


By  others,  wives 


among  the  goods 

of  fortune,  but 

among  those  of 


The  goods  of  the 

body  fail  under 

the  same  pre- 


of  bise  forseidc  goodes  as  bei  bat  desimz  rycchesse  to 
han  power  and  deuces.  Or  ellis  bei  desiren  power  forto 
nan  moneye  or  for  cause  of  renouw.  IF  In  fise  Binges 
and  in  swyche  of  er  f  inges  is  to?/rned  al  f  e  entenc?'ouw 

»•••  7    r   ^n  i  e  «r     A 

of  desirynges  and  [oij  werkes  ot  mew.  IF  As  bus. 
^  Noblesse  and  f&iwur  oi  poeple  whiche  bat  2iueb  as  it 
semef  a  manere  clernesse  of  renoura.  11  and  wijf  and 
children  fat  men  desiren  for  cause  of  delit  and  miri- 
nesse.  If  But  forsobe  frendes  ne  shollen  nat  ben  rek- 
kened  among  J76  goodes  of  fortune  but  of  vertue.  for  it 
is  a  ^  holy  manere  Jjing.  alle  }>ise  o]?er  Binges  forsofe 
ben  taken  for  cause  of  power,  or  ellis  for  cause  of 

,,-r.^,.  T1  «  IP 

delit.  IF  Certis  now  am  I  redy  to  reieren  be  goodes  of 
f6  "^°^J  to  Mse  fo^eide  Jjinges  abouen.  ^f  For  it  seme}) 
ta^  strengfe  and  gretnesse  of  body  ^enen  power  and 
worj)inesse.  1F  and  fat  beaute  and  swiftenesse  }euen 
1802  noblesse  and  glorie  of  renourc.  and  hele  of  body  semej) 

_   T         ,.         .  .  , 

2iuen  delit.  IF  In  alle  bise  \>\ngus  it  semeb  oonly  bat 
blisfulnesse  is  desired.  1F  For-whi  filke  fing  fat  euery 
man  desiref  moost  ouer  alle  finges.  he  demij)  fat  be  f  e 


Beauty  and  swift-  souereyne  goode.     IF  But  I  haue  diffined  fat  blisful- 

ness  give  glory 

heauhmivesnd      nesse  is  I56  souereyne  goode.    for  whiche  euery  wy^i 
uhese  hap-    demif  fat  f  ilke  estat  fat  he  desiref  ouer  alle  f  inges  fat 
it  be  fe  blisfulnesse.     IF  Now  hast  foil  fan  byforne 


What  a  man  most    _,  _n  ,  ,    „  f  .  -\i>  i 

wishes  for, that     fthv  even]  almost  al  be  purposed  forme  oi  be  wellul- 

he  esteems  the         L      J      J       J  T 

nesse  of  mawkyMe.  fat  is  to  seyne  rycchesse.  honours, 
power,  glorie.  and  deify  fe  whiche  delit  oonly  con- 
sidered Epicurus  luged  and  establissed.  fat  delit  is  f  e 

of  human  felicity  . 

(falsely  so  called),  souerevne  goode.  for  as  mycne  as  alle  oper  binges  as 

that  is,  riches, 

honours^power,     ]1yni  f0u^t[e]  by-refte  awey  ioie  and  myrfe  from  fe 
ight,  which  last    herte>     ^f  But  I  retowrne  a^eyne  to  f  e  studies  of  meen. 

1811   seyne  rycchesse— seyn 
Rychesses 

1814  sowereyne  goode — soue- 
reyn  good 

myche — moche 
o\>er — oothre 

1815  po«3/[e]— thowhte 
from — train 


Epicurus 

1786  rycchesse— rychesses 

1787  delices— delytes 

1789  oper— oothre 
al— alle 

1790  [o/]-from  C. 

1794  shollen— sholden 

1795  pe— tho 

1796  oper— oothre 

1801  swiftenesse — sweftnesse 
1803  liuen—  MS.    siuep,  C. 


yeuen 
1806, 1807  souereyne  goode — 

souereyn  good 
1807  whiche — whych 

1809  \>e— omitted  [fom 
\>an  byforne — thanne  by- 

1810  \_Uiy  eyeri]  —  from  C.  ; 
MS.  has  3011011  a?eyne 

almost—  almost 
welfulnesse — welefulnesse 


PROSE3  2.]  ALL    SEEK    THE    CHIEF    GOOD.  67 

of  whiche  men  be  corage  alwey  rehersib  and  seekejj  be  considered  asu.e 
souereyne  goode  of  alle  be  it  so  bat  it  be  wib  a  derke 
memorie  [but  he  not  by  whiche  paath].     IF  Ry}t  as  a 
dronke  man  not  nat  by  whiche  pabe  he  may  retowrne  1820 
home  to  hys  house.     ^  Semeb  it  banne  fat  folk  folyen 


and  erren  bat  enforcen  hem  to  haue  nede  of  no  bing  areeevfr  seeking 

0   it  with  a  dark- 

1F  Certys  ber  nys  non  ober  bing  bat  may  so  weel  per-  fnediikedar8tand" 
fourny  blisfulnesse  as  an   estat    plenteuow-9  *of  alle  dru\*\oimi6n] 
goodes  bat  ne  hab  nede  of  none  ober  bing.  but  bat  it  is  jS°w?y  hoinJ!d 
suffisant   of   hyra   self,    vnto   hym  self,    and   foleyen  who  strive  to  keep 

themselves  from 

swyche  folk  banne.  bat  wenen  bat  bilk  bing  bat  is 
ryjt  goode.  fat  it  be  eke  ry$t  worbi  of  honour  and  of 
reuerence.  ^f  Certis  nay.  for  bat  bing  nys  neyber  foule 

.  independent  of 

ne  worm  to  ben  dispised  bat  al  be  entencsoura  01  mortel  others. 

Are  they  guilty  of 


folke  trauaille  forto  geten  it.     H  And  power  au$t[e] 

nat  bat  eke  to  be  rekened  amonges  goodes  what  ellis.  NO*  for  that  is 

„         .,  .  .    not  contemptible 

tor  it   nys  nat  to  wene   bat    bilke    bmg  bat  is  most  for  which  aft  men 
worbi  of  alle  binges  be  feble  and  wib  out  strengbe  and  is  not  power  to  be 

reckoned  amongst 

clerriesse  of  renou/i  au^te  bat  to  ben  dispised.    IT  Certys  wnyanot  ?go<For? 
ber  may  no  man  forsake  bat  al  bing  bat  is  ryat  excellent  £gnificantngood 

which  invests  a 

and  noble,   bat  it  ne  semeb  to  be  ry^t  clere  and  re-  man  with  author- 

ity and  command. 

nomed.     f  For  certis  it  nedib  nat  to  seie.  bat  blisful- 
nesse  be  anguissous  ne  dreri  ne  subgit  to  greua?aces  ne 


to  sorwes,  syn  bat  in  ryjt  litel  bmgws  folk  seken  to  we 

say  that  happi- 

haue  and  to  vsen  bat  may  deliten  hem.     IT  Certys  bise  ness  is  not  an 

unjoyous  and 

ben  be  bilges  bat  men  wolen  and  desyren  to  geten. 


and  for  bis  cause  desiren  bei  rycches.  dignites.  regnes. 

glorie  and  delices     11  For  berby  wenen  bei  to  han  sum-  Hence  iu^that 

mankind  seek 

sauftce  nonowr  power,  renou^  and  gladnesse.      IF  banne  riches,  &c.,  be- 

cause by  them 

is  it  goode.  bat  men  seken  bus  by  so  many  dyuerse  [J 
studies.     In  whiche  desijr  it  may  ly^tly  be  shewed. 


1818  souereyne  goode — soue- 
reyn  good 

of— omitted 
alle— al 
derke — dirkyd 

1819  [but— paath']— from  C. 

1820  dronke— dronken 
pa\>e — paath 

1821  home — hym 


1823  perfourny — performe 
1825  ha\>— MS.  ha>e 
none — non 

1827  ]>ilk— thilke 

1828  goode— good 

1829  foule— fowl 

1830  al— welneyh  alle 

1831  trauaille—  trauaylen 


1832  be— ben 

1834  out— owte 

1835  au-de— owhte 

1836  al- alle 

1837  be— ben 
clere— cleer 

1843  rycches — Ryehesses 

1846  ffoode— good 

1847  'be— ben 


68 


OP  NATURE'S  LAWS. 


However"ariou8 

men's  opinions 

are  respecting 

agree  in  pursuing 
it  as  the  end  of 


i  will  now  sing' 


govemed. 


rji  The  Punic  lion  may  nat  be  vnbounden. 

submits  to  man,  J 


now  S^0  is  J>c  strengpe  of  nature.  IT  For  how  so  pat 
m^n  han  dyuerse  sentences  and  discordyng  algates  men 
accordyn  allc  in  lyuynge  pe  ende  of  goode.  1850 

QIMNTAS    RERMf    FLECTAT. 

TT  like]?  me  to  shew[e]  by  subtil  songe  wip  slakke  and 
delitable  souw  of  strenges  how  pat  nature  my^ty  en- 
clmep  and  flittej)  gouernement}  of  pinges     IT  and  by 
whiche  lawes  she  pwrueiable  kepi])  J)e  grete  worlde.  and 
1855  how  she  bindynge  restreinej)  alle  pingws  by  a  bonde  ])at 

11  Al  be  it  so  bat  be  liourcs  of 

J>e  contree  of  pene  beren  pe  fair[e]  cheines.  and  taken 
metes  of  ])e  handes  of  folk  pat  $euen  it  hem.    and 
1859  dreden  her  sturdy  maystres  of  whiche  J)ei  ben  wont  to 
Se  wood™6       suffren  [betinges].  yif  pat  hir  horrible  moupes  ben  bi- 
bled.  pat  is  to  sein  of  bestes  devoured.     IT  Hir  corage 
of  tyme  passep  pat  hap  ben  ydel  and  rested,  repairep 
ins  savage  in-       a^ein  bat  bei  roren  greuously.  and  reme?rabren  on  hir 

stincts  revive, 

1864  nature,  and  slaken  hir  nekkes  from  hir  cheiris  vn- 
bounden.  and  hir  maistre  first  to-teren  wip  blody  tope 
assaiep  pe  woode  wrappes  of  hem.  1F  pis  is  to  sein  pei 
freten  hir  maister.  IF  And  be  laneland  brid  pat  syngib 
on  J56  neye  braunches.  pis  is  to  sein  in  pe  wode  and 
after  is  inclosed  in  a  streit  cage.  IF  al  pou3  [pat]  pe 

1870  pleiyng  besines  of  men  }euep  hem  honied[e]  drinkes 
and  large  metes,  wip  swete  studie.  IT  3it  napeles  yif 
pilke  brid  skippynge  oute  of  hir  streite  cage  seep  pe 
aOTeable  shadewes  of  be  wodes.  she  defoulep  wib  hir 
^ete  k""  meties  yshad  and  sekep  mournyng  oonly  pe 
wode  and  twitrip  desirynge  pe  wode  wip  hir  swete 


keeper 

falls  a  victim  to 

his  fury. 


if 


the  caged  bird 

though  daintily 


she  win  spurn 

her  food,  and 


voys. 


1848  grete— gret 

1849  algates— Allegates 

1850  goode — good 

1851  shew\_e\— sh»we 

1854  whiche— MS.  swiche,  C. 
whyehe 

worlde — world 
1856  be— b<m 

vnbounden — vnbo\vnde 


^erde  of  a  tree  pat  is  haled  adou/a  by  my^ty 

1870  pleiyng—MS.  pleinyng, 
C.  pleyynge 


1857  fair[e\— fayre 

1860  [betinges] — from  C. 
1862  passep— passed 

1861  from— frani 
vnbounden — vnbownde 

1865  to-teren — to-torn 

t«\*i— toth 

1867  Taut/land — langelynge 
1869  streit— stroylit 


besines— -oysynesse 
honied[e] — hoi  lyede 

1872  oute—  owt 

1873  ayreable— agroables 
1S71  I'.-lc— feet 

1875  twitri\>— twitcrith 


•3J  THE    SEARCH    AFTER   FELICITY.  69 


HOOK  X 

I'KOSE 

strengbe  bowib  redely  be  croppe  adou?i.  but  yif  bat  be 
hande  of  hym  bat  it  bente  lat  it  gon  a3ein.     IF  An  oon 

force  is  removed. 

be  crop  lokeb  vp  ryn  to  heuene.       I  be  sonne  pnebus  ruij] 

Thoug^the  sun 

bat  failleb  at  euene  in  be  westrene  wawes  retornib  a3ein 
eftsones  his  cart  by  a  priue  pabe  bere  as  it  is  wont 

mr     mi       .•  •>  •  i  '  wonted  journey 

aryse.      IT  Alle  binges  seken  aaem  in  to  hir  propre  toward  the  east. 

All  things  pursue 

cours.  and  alle  binges  reioisen  hem  of  hir  retournynge  their  proper 
a3ein  to  hir  nature  ne  noon  ordinaunce  nis  bytaken  to  Jj^1® 80urce  of 
bmges  but  bat.  bat  hab  ioignynge  be  endynge  to  be  SanSe  wor!fh" 

.  i  •  -I   .  />  •  j         IP.TT      entire  stability  is 

bygynnynge.  and  hab  makid  be  cours  ol  it  sell  stable  found,  for  ail 

J&J  things,  having 

bat  it  chaungeb  nat  from  hys  propre  kynde.  1887  ^jJtlJcJjJIe*?^. 

turn  from  whence 
VOSQUE   TERRENA    ANIMALIA.  they  came. 

[The  3de  prose.] 

*  /^Ertis  also  36  men  bat  ben  erbeliche  bestes  dremen 
^  alwey  [yowre  bygynnynge]  al  bou3  it  be  wib  a  5,afej 

,    .  ,    ,        . .    ception  of  your 

bmne  ymagmacioiw.  and  by  a  maner  boun  al  be  it  beginning,  and 

you  have  ever  the 


nat  cleiiy  ne  perfitly  30  looken  from  a  fer  til   bilk 
verray  fyn  of  blisfulnesse.  and  berfore  be  nature!  en- 
tencioun    ledeb    $ow   to    bilk    verray    good      1T   But 
many  manere  errours  mistowrnib  ^ow  ber  fro.     11  Con-  chan      t 
sidere  now  yif  bat  be  bilke  binges  by  whiche  a  man 


wenib  to  gete  hym  blysfulnesse.  yif  bat  he  may  comen      a   pS!t°of 

happiness  ? 

to  bilke  ende  bat  he  weneb  to  come  by  nature     IT  For  if  riches  and 

f  *  '  honours  and  the 

yif  bat  moneye  or  honours  or  bise  ober  forseide  binges  happm,aso  SSt 

•   i  ,.          ,     ,  -i  p-n      they  shall  want 

bryngen  to  men  swiche  a  bmg  bat  no  goode  ne  lame  for  nothing,  then 
hem.  ne  semeb  faille.     H  Certys  ban  wil  I  grauntfel  beprotSmTSy 

L  J    theseacquisitions. 

bat  bei  ben  maked  blisful.  by  bilke  binges  bat  bei  han  1901 

geten.  IT  but  yif  so  be  bat  bilke  bmges  ne  mo  we  nat 

perftmrmen  bat  bei  by-heten  and  bat  ber  be  defaute  of 

many  goodes.     H  Sheweb  it  nat  ban  clerely  bat  fals  something  to  be 

beaute  of  blisfulnesse  is  knowe  and  a-teint  in   bilke 

binges.     IT  First  and  forward  bou  bi  self  bat  haddest 


1877  croppe — crop 

1878  hande— hand 
ftewfe — bent 

1880  faille}>— falleth 

1881  cart— carte 
« — omitted 
•pa\>e — paath 

1883  of—  MS.  of  of 
1885  1w\>— MS.  ha)>e 


1885  ioiffnynye—Ioyned. 

1886  &aj?—  MS.  ha)>e  [fromC. 
1889  [yowre  bygynnynge]— 

al—  MS.  as,  C.  Al 

1891  from—  fram 

«l  biZfc—  to  tliylke 

1892  ]>e—  omitted 


1893  >i;/fc—  tliylke 
1895  be—  by 


1896  ijrefe— geten 

1899  swiche — swych 
goode— good 

1900  w^— wole 
<7ra«w<[>] — gravmte 

1904  many — manye 
clerely — clerly 
fals—  false 

1905  knowe— knowcu 


70  NONE   ARE    FREE    FROM    CARE.  [pRofE\ 

in  your  pros-        haboundauuces  of  rycchesses  nat  long  agon.     11 1  axe 

perity  were  you 

byV8eomaenw°oni  or  3^  ^  *n  $Q  haboundauiice  of  alle  filk[e]  rycchesses 

fou  were  neuer  anguissous  or  sory  in  f i  corage  of  any 

1910  wrong   or   greuau?«;e   fat   by-tidde    fe   on   any   syde. 

B.  i  must  confess  5f  Certys  quod  I  it  remembreb  me  nat  bat  euere  I  was 

that  I  cannot 

£tagmwhoiiey  free  so  ^ree  °^  my  J> OU3*-  fa*  *  ne  was  al'wey  in  anguyshe  of 
or0Sh8e°rmetrouble  somwhat.  fat  was  fat  fou  lakkedest  fat  fou  noldest 
cause  something  han  lakked.  or  ellys  fou  haddest  fat  fou  noldest 

was  absent  which 

you  did  desire,      han  frd^    jyjfj  so  js  it  quod  I   ban.    desiredest  bou 

or  something 

youTo'uTd^fahi  f e  presence  of  fat  oon  and  f  e  absence  of  fat  of  er.  I 
B.  Thais'  quite  grauntfe]  wel  quod  .1.  for  sofe  quod  she  fan  nedif  fer 

true. 

p.  Then  you  did  somwhat  fat  euery  man  desiref .  36  fer  nedif  quod  I. 
amuhf absence  IF  Certis  quod  she  and  he  fat  haf  lakke  or  nede  of  a 
s^^confessidid.  wy3t  nis  nat  in  euery  way  suffisaunt  to  hym  self,  no 

P.  Every  man  is  a      <•'•''    11  »  .« 

in  need  of  what     ouod  .1.    and  bou  Quod  she  in  alle  be   plente  of  bi 

he  desires. 

p'^f^maniack'  rycchesse  haddest  filke  lak  of  suffisaunce.  *j[  what 
beysuprfmeSrhe  ellis  quod  .1.  ^[  fanne  may  nat  rycchesse  maken  fat  a 
jKo.  man  nis  nedy.  ne  bat  he  be  suffisaunt  to  hym  self,  and 

P.  Did  you  not 

inyourabund-      jjat  was  it  bat  bei  byhy^ten  as  it  semeb.  1]  and  eke 

ance  want  for  «/     J  ? 

^whaftLnif    certys  I  trowe  fat  fis  be  gretly  to  consydere  fat  moneye 

pd  idt?foiiows  that  ne  haf  nat  in  hys  owen  kynde  fat  it  ne  may  ben  by- 
riches  cannot  put 
a  man  beyond       nomen  oi  hem  fat  han  it  maugre  hem.     1  1  by-knowe 

all  want,  although  . 

SI8  leemSrfo  ^  we^  (lwo<^  I  IF  w^i  sholdest  f  ou  nat  by-knowen  it 
Keymay  part  quod  she.  whan  euery  day  f  e  stronger  folkc  by-nymen 

company  with  its    .  1  mr   T<  i 

owner,  however     it  fram  be  febler  maugre  hem.      IT  I1  ro  whennes  comen 

unwilling  he  may 

be  ¥  Sess  ellys  alle  fise  foreine  complemtes  or  quereles  of 
pait8iughttobe  plety^gM5.  ^[  But  for  fat  men  axen  a3eine  her  moneye 
evSrTdeayw5see  fat  haf  be  by-nomen  hem  by  force  or  by  gyle,  and 

might  prevailing  _.  .     .  T 

over  right.  alwey  maugre  hem.     H  Kyat  so  it  is  quod  L   fan  q^od 

From  whence 

iufilaS>n°Sitdl  S^e  ^f  a  man  ne(^e  ^°  seke^  hym  foreyne  helpe  by 
mTn  s^ek'to're-  whiche  he  may  defende  hys  moneye.  who  may  say  nay 


1908  J>ittM—  thylke 
1913  \>at  -  lakkedest-Anti 
was  nat  bat  qtwd  she  for 


bat  the  lacked  som-what 
1915  fcttrf—  MS.  hadde,  C.  had 
1917  graunt\_e]  —  grau»te 
1919  fcab—  MS.  habe 

a  wu^t  —  awht 
1IJ21  alle—  al 


1922  rycchesse— Rychesses 
lak— lakke 

1923  rycchesse— Rychesses 
1927  ha\>— MS.  ha|>e 

owen — owne 

1930  strengerfolke  by-nymen 
—  strerigere  folk  by-uo 
myn 

1931  fram— fro 


1931  febler— febelere 
Fro— For 

1933  a^eine— ayeyn 

1934  ha\>— MS.  habe 
be — ben 

1936  ha\>— MS.  habe 
helpe — help 

1937  say— sey 


RICHES    BRING    ANXIETIES.  71 


quod  .1.     If  Certis  quod  she  and  hym  nedif  no  helpe 

yif  he  ne  hadde  no  moneye  fat  he  my^t[e]  leese.    f  fat  jl^icprived 

is  doutles  quod  .1.  banne  is  bis  bmg  turned  in  to  be  con-  1940 

j     i         mr  ^  V   1J      *  Nothing  is 

trarie  qwoa  she    TI  Jbor  rycchesse  bat  men  wenen  sholae  more  true. 

P.  Then  a  man 

make  suffisauwce.  bei  maken  a  man  raber  han  nede  of  neerls  *he  • 

»  ance  of  o 

foreine  helpe.     ^[  whiche  is  fe  manere  or  fe  gise  qwod  S 

she  bat  rycches  may  dryuen  awey  nede.     ^f  Eiche  folk  he  wouT/not  °8< 

_  stand  in  need  of 

may  bei  neiber  han  hungre  ne  brest.  bise  ryche  men  this  help? 

B.  That  is  beyond 

may  f  ei  feele  no  colde  on  hir  lymes  in  wynter.     H  But  jji  T£-the  very 
J>ou  wilt  answere  fat  ryche  men  han  y-nouj  wher  wif 


e  •  asswt- 

thers  m 


bei  may  staunchen  her,  hunger,  and  slaken  her  frest   aS  J!5jp  For 

riches  add  to  a 

and  don  awey  colde.      II  In  bis  wise  may  nede  be  con-  man's  necessities. 

Tell  me  how  do 

forted  by  rycchesses.  but  certys  nede  ne  may  nat  al 
outerly  be  don  awey.  for  £0113  f  is  nede  fat  is  alwey 

•t       -t        n  tntt     t       'i  t  7  and  cold  ?  You 

gapyng  and  gredy  be  fulfilled  wif  rycchesses.  and  axe  wm  sav  that 


any  fing  }it  dwellef  fanne  a  nede  fat  my3t[e]  ben  ful- 
filled.  IT  I  holde  me  stille  and  telle  nat  how  fat  litel 
fing  suffisef  to  nature,  but  certys  to  auarice  ynoua  ne 

..    . 


tisfy  every  want. 

suffisef  no  f  inge.     *1T  For  syn  fat  rychesse  ne  may  nat       [*.foi.  17.] 


al  don  awey  nede.  but  rychesse  maken  nede.  what  may 
it  fanne  be  fat  $e  wenen  fat  rychesses  mowen  aeuera 

-.^K^    main.    A  little 

20  W  SUmsaiWCe.  1959    suffices  for  nature, 

but  avarice  never 
has  enough. 
If  riches,  then, 

QUAMUIS    PLUENTER   DIUES.  add  to  our  wants, 

why  should  you 

Al  were  it  so  bat  a  ryche  couetous  man  hadde  riuer  cannsuppiy  aiiy 
your  necessities  ? 
fletynge  alle  of  golde  2itte  sholde  it  neuer  staunche  [The  ^  Metur.] 

.  The  rich  man, 

hys  couetise.  1F  And  boua  he  hadde  his  nekke  1-charged  had  he  a  river  of 

*        '  gold,  would  never 

wif  preciouse  stones  of  f  e  rede  see.  and  f  ou}  he  do  ^houjKJneck 
erye  his  feldes  plentiuows  wif  an  hundref  oxen  neuere  previous  plaris, 

and  his  fields  be 

ne  shal  his  bytyng  bysynesse  forleten  hym  while  he  covered  with  in- 


1938  nedi\>  no  kelpe— nedede 
non  help 

1939  my$t[e}— myhte 

1940  doutles— dowteles 

1941  rycchesse— Rychesses 

1943  helpe-help 
whiche — whych 

1944  rycches— Rychesse 
dryuen — dryue 

1945  Imngre — hungyr 
\>rest— thurst 


1946  \>ei— the 
colde — coold 
in— on 

1947  wilt   answere  —  wolt 
Answeren 

y-nou}— y-now 

1948  \>rest— thurst 
1.949  colde— coold 

1950  nat— omitted 

1951  outerly — vtrely 

1953  myrtle]  ben— uiyhtc  be 


1957  rychesse— Ryehesses 

1960  riuer — a  Ryuer 

1961  alle— al 
golde — gold 
litte— yit 

s  taunche—stfmnchyn 
1962,  1963  Jxw3— thow 

1964  erye— Ere 
liundre\> — hundred 

1965  while— whyl 


72 


OF    DIGNITIES. 


BOOK  3. 

PllOSE  4. 


care  never  forsake 
him ;  and  at  his 
death  his  riches 
shall  not  bear 
him  company, 
i  Read  dignitates. 
[The  4th8  prose.] 
It  may  be  said 
that  dignities 
confer  honour  on 
their  possessors. 
But  have  they 
power  to  destroy 
vice  or  implant 
virtue  in  the 
heart  ? 
So  far  from  ex- 


ne  pe  Iy3t[e]  ry chesses  ne  shal  nat  beren  hym 
compaignie  whanne  he  is  dede.  1967 

SET   DIGNITATIBTO.1 

ri  dignitees  to  whom  pei  ben  comen  make  pei  hym 
honorable  and  reuerent.  han  pei  nat  so  grete  strengpe 
pat  pei  may  putte  vertues  in  pe  hertis  of  folk,  pat  vsen 
pe  lordshipes  of  hem.  or  ellys  may  pei  don  awey  pe 
vices.     Certys  pei  [ne]  ben  nat  wont  to  don  awey  wik- 

pelling  vicious         .      ,  .          r      ..        .,  ,      , 

habits,  they  only    kednesses.  but  bei  ben  wont  raber  to  shew  I  en   wikked- 

render  them  more 

nesses,  and  per  of  comep  it  pat  I  haue  ry^t  grete  des- 
deyne.   pat  dignites   ben   $euen  ofte  to  wicked  men. 
IF  For  whiche  ping  catullus  clepid  a  consul  of  Rome  pat 
nonius  postum.    or  boch.    as  who  seip  he  clepip 
a  congregac^ourc  of  uices  in  his  brest  as  a  postum 
is  ful  of  corrupczouft.     al  were  pis  nonius  set  in  a 
1980  chayere  of  dignitee.    Sest  pou  nat  pan  how  gret  vylenye 
dignitees  don  to  wikked  men.     *j[  Certys  vnworpines  of 

ss 

Certys  pou  pi  self  ne 


Hence  Catullus' 


sjnius 
t^°£tch,(Sr1im. 
Etate.me 


The  deformities 

of  wicked  men  . 

would  be  less        wikked  men  sholde  ben  be  lasse  ysen  yif  bei  nere  re- 
apparent  if  they 
were  in  more  ob- 
scure situations. 

ylurseif  fromee     n^test  nat   ben   bro^t  wij?  as   many  perils  as   J>ou 
a  magistracy        my?test  sufFren  bat  bou  woldest  bere  bi  masistrat  wib 

along  with  De- 

Snformef  P0"     decorat-    ^  is  to  sevn-    fat  for  n°  Peril   J>at  my3t[e]    bi' 

1987  fallen  fe  by  J?e  offence  of  ]?e  kyng  theodorik  fou  noldest 
nat  ben  felawe  in  gouernaunce  with  decorat.  whanne 
pou  say[e]  pat  he  had[de]  wikkid  corage  of  a  likerous 
shrewe  and  of  an  acusor.  ^[  ISTe  I  ne  may  nat  for  swiche 
honours  Iuge?z  hem  worbi  of  reuerence  bat  I  deme  and 

Now  yif 


Honours  do  not 

render  undeserv- 

ing persons 
worthy  of  esteem 

if  you  find  a  man  holde  vnworbi  to  han  bilke  same  honours. 

endowed  with  r 

wisdom  you         JJQU  saie  a  man  pat  were  fulfilled  of  wisdom,  certys  J>ou 


1966 


66  Z03fl>]—  lyhte 
shal—  shol 


1967  dede—  ded 

1968  make  —  maken 

1969  grete—  gret 

1972  [we]—  from  C. 
ben  —  he 

1972,  1973    wikkednesses  — 
wykkydnessi! 

1973  to—  omitted 
tihew[eri]  —  shewen 

197i  comeb  —  comtli 


1974  grete  desdeyne  —  gret 
desdaign 

1976  whiche— which 

1977  hytf— hyhte 

nonius  —  MS.  \ormus,  C. 

nomyus 

boch— MS.  bobe,  C.  boch 
clepi]>— clepyd 

1979  nonius— MS  uonims,  C. 
noxnyiM 

set— MS.  sette,  C.  set 

1980  Sest  \>ou— Scstliow 


1980  \>an— thanne 
vylenye— fylonye     [ynesse 

1981  vnworlpines — vnworth- 

1982  ben— be 

ysen — MS.  ysene,  C.  I-sene 

1984  many— manye 

1985  bere— beren 

1986  my^t[e~\ — myhte 

1987  }>e  (2)— omitted 

1988  whanne — whan 

1989  sny[e]— say(> 
had[de] — hadde 


BOOK  3. 
P11O8E  4 


DIGNITIES   APPERTAIN    TO    VIRTUE. 


73 


ne   mvatest   nat   demen  bat   he  were  vnworbi  to   be  deem  him  worthy 

of  resect  and  of 

lionoz/r.  or  ellys  to  be  wisdom  of  whiche  he  is  fulfilled. 


No  quod  .1.     ^[  Certys  dignitees  quod  she  appertienen  B.  i  could  not  do 
properly  to  vertue.  and  uertue  transporteb  dignite  anon  her 

to  bilke  man  to  whiche  she  hir  self  is  conioigned. 
IT  And  for  as  moche  as  honowrs  of  poeple  ne  may  nat  Honours  confer- 

red by  the  popu- 

maken  folk  digne  of  honowr.  it  is  wel  seyn  clerly  bat  lace  do  not  make 

J  J    *         men  worthy  of 

bei  ne  han  no  propre  beaute  of  dignite.  f  And  jit  men 
aujten  take  more  hede  in  bis.  ^  For  if  it  so  be  bat  he 
is  most  out  cast  bat  most  folk  dispisen.  or  as  diguite  ne  shrews  only 

make  their  vices 

may  nat  maken  shrewes  worbi  of  no  reuerences.  ban  the  more  con- 

»  •  *  SplCUOUS. 

makeb  dignites  shrewes  more  dispised  ban  preised.  be 
whiche  shrewes  dignit[e]  scheweb  to  moche  folk  IF  and  fo 

.  .  take  their  revenge 

lor  sobe  nat  vnpunissed.  bat  is  torto  sein.   bat  shrewes  upon  them,  and 

defile  them  by 


reuengen  hem  a^einward  vpon  dignites.  for  bei  jelden  ' 
ajein  to  dignites  as  gret  gerdouw  whan  bei  byspotten  2009 
and  defoulen  dignites  wib  hire  vylenie.     IT  And  for  as  These  shadowy 

honours  have 


moche  as  bou  mowfel  knowe  bat  bilke  verray  reuerence  nothing  in  their 

•  nature  to  procure 

ne  may  nat  comen  by  be  shade wy  tremsitorie  dignitees.  manrhavLng1* a 

,.      .  ,  •  -r>  ,  111  7   borne  the  honours 

yndirstonde  now  bis.  yii  bat  a  man  hadde  vsed  and  of  the  consulate, 

should  go  among 

hadde   many   manere   dignites  of  consules  and  were  barbarians  would 

this  honour  gain 

comen  perauenture  amonges  straunge  naci'ourcs.  sholde  wm  their  respect? 
bilke  honour  maken  hym  worshipful  and  redouted  of  2016 
straunge  folk     "If  Certys  yif  bat  honour  of  poeple  were  if  respect  were  an 
a  naturel  jifte  to  dignites.    it  ne  myjte  neuer  cesen 
nowher  amonges  no  maner  folke  to  done  hys  office. 

fr   -r>  r>         •  !•!-,  heat  is  ever  an 

^f  Kyjt  as  fire  in  euery  contre  ne  stmteb  nat  to  en-  attribute  of  fire, 
chaufen  and  *to  ben  hote.  but  for  as  myche  as  forto  [*  foi.  17  6.] 
be  holden  honorable  or  reuerent  ne  comeb  nat  to  folk  of 

1994  demen — deme 

1995  whiche— which 

1996  quod  she— omitted 

1997  vertue — vertu 
uertue — vertu 

1998  whiche— whych 

2000  clerly— MS.  clerkly,  C. 

clerly 
2002   aurfen    hede  — 

owhten  taken  mor  heed 
2002-3    For dignite— For 

yif  so  be  J?at  a  wykkyd 

whyght  be  so  mochel  the 

fowlere  and  the  inoore 


owt  cast  )>at  he  is  de- 
spised of  most  folk  so  as 
dignete 

2004-2007  maken so\>e— 

maken  shrewes  digne  of 
Reuerence  the  whych 
shrewes  dignete  sheweth 
to  raoche  foolk  thanne 
makith  dignete  shrewes 
rather  so  moche  more 
despised  than  prcysed 
and  forsothe 

2008  widen— yilden 

2009  byspotten — by-spetteu 


2010  hire— hyr 

2011  moche — mochel 
mow[e]— mowe 

2012  \>e    shadewy  —  thyse 
shadwye 

2013  vndirstonde  —  vndyr- 
\>is— thus  [stond 

2014  hadde-h^ 

2018  lifte— yift 

2019  folke— foolk 
done — don 

2020  enchaufen  —  eschaufeu 

2021  myche— mochel 

2022  be— ben 


74 


DIGNITIES    DO    CONFER    ESTEEM. 


rnooK 
LMKT.  i 


opinions  of  men, 

ami  vanish  when 

theJe°who  S^nof 


2027 

DO  they  always 

endure  in  those 

places  that  gave 

birth  to  them  ? 

The  pruBtorate 

was  once  a  great 

it°i8°oni  bllow 


what  is  more 

vile  than  the 

office  of  the 
of  provisions? 

That  which  hath 

no  innate  beauty 


value  according 
as  popular 
opinion  varies 
concerning  it. 

If  dignities  can- 
not confer  esteem, 
if  they  become 
vile  through 
filthy  shrews,  if 
they  lose  their 

change  of  times, 
worthless  by  the 

change  of  popular 
opinion,  what 
beauty  do  they 
possess  which 
should  make 
them  desirable, 

or  what  dignity 

can  they  confer 
on  others  ? 


[The  4the  Met«r.] 
Nero,  though  in- 
vested with  the 
purple  and 
adorned  with 
pearls,  was  hated 
by  all  men. 


hir  pwpre  strengfe  of  natwe.  but  only  of  fe  fals[e] 
opinioim  of  folk,  fat  is  to  sein.  fat  wenen  fat  dignites 
maken  folk  digne  of  honowr.  An  on  f  erfore  whan  fat 
f  ei  comen  f  er  as  folk  ne  knowew  nat  f  ilke  dignites. 
her  honowrs  vanissen  awey  and  fat  on  oon.  but  fat  is 
a-mong  straung  folk,  maist  fou  sein.  but  amo/zgws 
hem  fat  f  ei  weren  born  duren  f  ilk[e]  dignites  alwey. 
Tf  Certys  f  e  dignite  of  f  e  prouostrie  of  Rome  was  som- 
tyme a  grete  power,  now  is  it  no  fing  but  an  ydel 
name,  and  f  e  rente  of  f  e  senatorie  a  gret  charge,  and 
yif  a  whi^t  somtyme  hadde  f  e  office  to  taken  he[de]  to 
f  e  vitailes  of  f  e  poeple  as  of  corne  and  what  of  er  f  inges 
he  was  holden  amonges  grete.  but  what  fing  is  more 
nowe  out  cast  f  anne  f  ilke  prouostrie  IT  And  as  I  haue 
seid  a  litel  here  byforne.  fat  filke  fing  fat  haf  no 
propre  beaute  of  hym  self  resceyuef  somtyme  pris  and 
shinynge  and  somtyme  lesif  it  by  fe  opinions  of 
vsaunces.  ^f  Now  yif  fat  dignites  fanne  ne  mowen 
nat  maken  folk  digne  of  reuerence.  and  yif  fat  dignites 
wexen  foule  of  hir  wille  by  f  e  filf  e  of  shrewes.  1F  and 
yif  fat  dignites  lesen  hir  shynynge  by  chaungyng  of 
tymes.  and  yif  fei  wexen  foule  by  estimaczouw  of 
poeple.  what  is  it  fat  fei  han  in  hem  self  of  beaute 
fat  au^te  ben  desired,  as  who  seif  none,  fanne  ne 
mowen  fei  ^iuen  no  beaute  of  dignite  to  none  of  er.  2047 

QUA.MUIS    SE    TIRIO. 

A  1  be  it  so  fat  f  e  proude  nero  wif  al  his  woode  luxurie 
•**•  kernbed  hym  and  apparailed  hym  wif  faire  purpers 
of  Tirie  and  wif  white  perles.  Algates  ^itte  throf  he 


2023  falsW— false 

2024  bat  (2)— omitted 

2027  her— hyr 
vanissen — vanesshen 

2028  a-mong — amonges 
strau  ng — straiwge 
but — ne 

2029  bat— ther 

duren   ]>ilk[_e]  —  ne  duren 
nat  thylke 

2030  somtyme—  whylom 


2031  grete— gret 

2032  be  (2)— omitted 

2033  somtyme — whylom 
J>^MS.  be  be 

2034  corne— corn 
what — omitted 

2035  more  nowe— now  more 

2036  cast— MS.  caste,  C.  cast 

2037  seid— MS.  seide,  C.  seyd 
here  byforne — her  by-forn 
7mb-MS.  habe 


2043  barf—omitted 

2046  antfe— owhte 
none — non 

2047  bei— MS.  je,  C,  they 
none — non 

2048  al  (2)— alle 

2049  Jcembed— kembde 
apparailed — MS.  apparuil 

on,  C.  a-paraylede 

2050  }itte—yit 


KINGDOMS   DO    NOT    MAKE   A    MAN    MIGHTY. 


75 


hateful  to  alle  folk   IF  pis  is  to  seyn  pat  al  was  he  by-  2051 

hated  of  alle  folk.  IF  aitte  bis  wicked  Nero  hadde  gret  Yet  he  had  lord- 

ship, and  gave  to 

lordship  and  }af  somtyme  to  pe  dredeful  senatours  pe  ^B 
vnworshipful  setes  of  dignites.     IF  vnworshipful  setes 


.  -_  .,  ,      ,         ,,    ,       think  that  felicity 

he  clepib  here  fore  bat  .Nero  bat  was  so  wikked  aat  bo  resides  in  honours 

'        *       given  by  vicious 

dignites.  who  wolde  J>anne  resonably  wenen  pat  blysful-  shrews  ? 
nesse  were  in  swiche  honowrs  as  ben  ^euen  by  vicious  2057 
shrewes. 


AN    UERO    REGNA. 

T)vt  regnes  and  familarites  of  kynges  may  pei  maken  a 
-^  maw  to  ben  my^ty.  how  ellys.  ^f  whanne  hir 
blysfulnesse  durep  perpetuely  but  certys  pe  olde  age  of 
tyme  passep.  and  eke  of  present  tyme  now  is  ful  of  en- 
saumples  how  pat  kynges  pat  han  chaunged  in  to 
wrechednesse  out  of  hir  welefulnesse.  ^F  0  a  noble  ping 
and  a  cler  ping  is  power  pat  is  nat  founden  my3ty  to 
kepe  it  self.  1F  And  yif  pat  power  of  realmes  be  auctour 
and  maker  of  blisfulnesse.  yif  pilke  power  lakkep  on 
any  side,  amenusip  it  nat  pilke  blisfulnesse  and  bryngep 
in  wrechednesse.  but  yif  al  be  it  so  pat  realmes  of  man- 
kynde  stretchen  broode.  }it  mot  per  nede  ben  myche 
folk  ouer  whiche  pat  euery  kyng  ne  hap  no  lordshipe 
ne  comaundement  ^  an(i  certys  vpon  pilke  syde  pat 
power  faillep  whiche  pat  makip  folk  blisful.  ry^t  on  pat 
same  side  nourapower  entrip  vndirnep  pat  makep  hem 
wreches.  IF  In  pis  manere  panne  moten  kynges  hail 
more  porciouw  of  wrechednesse  pan  of  welefulnesse. 
^[  A  tyraunt  pat  was  kyng  of  sisile  pat  hadfde]  assaied 
pe  peril  of  his  estat  shewid[e]  by  similitude  pe  dredes 
of  realmes  by  gastnesse  of  a  swerde  pat  heng  ouer  pe 
heued  of  his  familier.  what  ping  is  pan  pis  power  pat 


[The  5H"  prose.] 


mighty  ? 
B.  Why  should 
they  not  if  they 
are  durable  ? 
P.  Past  ages,  as 


who  have  met 

with  dismal  re- 
verses of  fortune. 


Satgi8i8top0°^ak 
i?  KeEltM 

brings  felicity, 

then  misery  wm 

follow  if  it  be  de- 


therePhnpptencees 
misery  ai^nl1"8 

2074 

Kings,  therefore, 

have  a  larger  por- 


Sicily,  conscious 

of  tins  condition, 

exhibited  the 


JJJJJJ  hinging6*1 


2053  lordship— lorshippe 
^af  somtyme — yaf  why  lorn 
dredeful— - reuerericj 

2055  fore— for ;  \af— yaf 

2060   my}ty— MS. 
C.  myhty 

2062  <passe\)— passed 
of  (2)— omitted 


\>at    han  — 
kynges  ben 

2066  kepe— kepen 

2067  maker — makere 

2069  y//—yit 

realmes — the  Reaumes 

2070  stretchen— strechchen 
myche — moche 


2071  ha\>— MS.  ha>e 

2073  whiche— whych 

2074  vndirnep— vndyr-nethe 

2077  hadlde]— hadde 

2078  shewidie]— shewedc 

2079  realmes— Reaumes 
swerde — swerd 

heng— MS.  hcnge,  C.  ht-ng 


76 


POWER    DOES    NOT    DRIVE    AWAY    CARE. 


rnooK  3. 
LPROSE  5. 


iiiTfHcnd  and0* 
c\aesteiewhauh~en 

is  this  tiling  called 

L*  foi.  is.] 
cannot  do  away 


not,  and  yet  they 
glory  in  their 
power.    Is  he 
powerful  who  can- 
not do  what  he 
wish.es  ?  Is  he  a 
mighty  man  who 
goes  surrounded 
with  an  armed 
guard,  to  terrify 
those  whom  he 
himself  fears,  and 
whose  power  de- 
pends solely  upon 
his 


havingpthusedi8- 

played  the  imbe- 
cility of  kings  ! 
Their  prosperity 
is  affected  by  the 
caprice  of  their 


adversity  to  which 

2098 
Neroorfi  "allowed 


ner  of  his  death. 

Antonius  (Cara- 

calla)  commanded 


slain  by  the  swords 


possessedallseSa 
and  exile.  But  re- 

lentless  fortune 


awey  f  e  bytynges  of  besines  ne  eschewe 
f  e  prikkes  of  drede.  and  certys  }it  wolden  fei  lyuen 
*iu  sykernesse.  but  fei  may  nat.  and  3it  fei  glorifien 
hem  in  her  power  ^[  Holdest  f  ou  fan  fat  f  ilk[e]  man 
be  my^ty  fat  f  ou  seest  fat  he  wolde  don  fat  he  may 
nat  don.  ^f  And  holdest  f  ou  fan  hym  a  my^ty  man 
fat  haf  environed  hise  sydes  wif  men  of  armes  or 
seruaimtes  and  dredef  more  [hem]  fat  he  makef  agast. 
fen  fei  dreden  hym.  and  fat  is  put  in  f  e  handes  of  hise 
seruaunt^.  for  he  sholde  seme  nry^ty  but  of  familiers 
[or]  seruaunt}  of  kyrages.  IF  what  sholde  I  telle  fe 

hem  self  ben  ful  of  gret  feblenesse.  f  e  whiche  familiers 
certis  f  e  real  power  of  kynges  in  hool  estat  and  in  estat 
abated  ful  [ofte]  frowef  adourc.  IF  Nero  co?zstreined[e] 
his  familier  and  his  maistre  seneca  to  chesen  on  what 
deef  he  wolde  deien.  IF  Antonius  comau^didfe]  fat 
kny^tis  slowen  wif  her  swerdis  Papinian  his  familier 
whiche  Papinian  had[de]  ben  long  tyme  ful  my^ty 
a-monges  hem  of  f  e  courte.  and  }it  certis  fei  wolde  bof  e 
han  renounced  her  power,  of  whiche  [two]  senek  en- 
forced [e]  hym  to  jiuen  to  Nero  his  rychesses.  and  also 
to  han  gon  in  to  solitarie  exil.  ^[  But  whan  f  e  grete 
wey^t.  fat  is  to  sein  of  lordes  power  or  of  fortune 
drawef  hem  fat  sholden  falle.  neyfer  of  hem  ne 


tahedm  to^ttsT"6   POWer  J>at   J>OU3  men   han  ^    J>at  J>ei    D6n  agast'      ^   and 

thenisapeower, iat  whan  fou  woldest  han  it  f  ou  nart  nat  siker.     IF  And 

which  terrifies  its 

possessors,  and     yif  jjou  woldest  iorleten  it  bou  mayst  nat  eschewen  it. 

which  cannot  be 

RieaIm-e?aNoad-  ^  ^u^  wnefir  swiche  men  ben  frendes  at  nede  as  ben 
3by  friend-  conseiled  by  fortune  and  nat  by  vertue.    Certys  swiche 

hadde  ben  longe 

2100  courte— court 
wolde — wolden 

2101  [two]— tromC. 
enforced{e\  —en  f orcedo 

2102  jiuen — yeuen 
his — hyse 

2101  weyit— weyhtu 

2105  sholden— sholcn 

2106  •>uy$t[c']— ujylite 


2081  besines  —  bysynesse 
2083  }it—  yif 
glorijien  —  gl  ory  fye 

' 


fc[e]—  thvlke 
—  MS.  h 


20S7  ftap—  MS.  ha>e 
environed  —  onuyrowncde 

2088  {lieiri]—  from  C. 

2089  (lew—  than 

2  M  [or]—  from  C 
2002  realities— 


2094  real— Eyal 

2095  \ofte\- from  C. 
constreined\e\      —      con- 

2096  his  (1)— hyr   [streynede 
seneca — Senek 

2097  comaundid[e]  —  com- 

2098  her— hyr         [auwdede 

2099  whiche— which 
had[de~]    ben    long  —  pat 


5    PROSE  6.]  GLORY    IS   DECEPTIVE.  77 

folk  as  weleful  fortune  make))  frendes.  contrarious  for- 

tune  make]?  hem  enmyse.     1T  And  what  pestilence  is  Adversity  win' 

/»       «i  •  turn  this  sort  of 

more  my^ty  lorto  anoye  a  wi}t  fan  a  lamilier  enemy.       friendship  into 

what  greater 

,  plague  can  there 

QUI    SE    UALET1    ESSE   POTENTEM.     LiReaduoZei]      fee  than  the 

enmity  of  thy 

"\T7ho  so  wolde  ben  my^ty  he  mot  dauwten  hys  cruel  Se^Jj??^.] 

W  V  ...      He  who  would 

corage.  ne  putftel  nat  his  nekke  ouercomen  vndir  obtain  sovereign 

power  must  ob- 

fe  foule  reines  of  lecherie.  for  al  be  it  so  fat  J)i  lord- 


ship[e]  strecche  so  fer  fat  fe  centre  Inde  quakif  at  fi  JJJaS?.  Though 
coinaundement.  or  at  bi  lawes.  and  bat  be  leest  isle  in 


to  Thule,  yet  if 

f  e  see  fat  hy^t  tile  be  f  ral  to  f  e  ^f  jit  yif  f  ou  mayst 
nat  putew  awey  fi  foule  derk[e]  desijres  and  dryuew 
oute  fro  fe  wreched  co?wpleyntes.  Certis  it  nis  no 
power  fat  fou  hast.  2123 

GLORIA    UERO    QUAJf   FALLAX. 

[The  f>the  prose.] 

Bvt  glorie  how  deceiuable  and  how  foule  is  it  ofte.  for  HOW  deceptive 
and  deformed  a 
whiche  fing  nat  vnskilfully  a  tregedien  fat  is  to  wSfiS/871 
sein  a  maker  of  dites  fat  hyjten  tregedies  cried  [e]  and  Ci3m—  1Ml 
seide.     IF  0  glorie  erlorie  quod  he.   bou  nart  no  bing  'UWMM  '4  , 

0    ppor&v,  oMf-v 

ellys  to  f  ousandes  of  folkes.  but  a  gret  sweller  of  eres.  KSS^fSZ^ 
for  many[e]  han  had  ful  gret  renouw  by  f  e  falsfe]  op-  serving  have  been 
pinioiw  of  poeple.  and  what  fing  may  ben  f  ou^t  fouler  fcopiUa/and™" 
fen  swiche  preisynge  for  filk[e]  folk  fat  bew  preised  whafcan  be"' 
falsly.   bei  moten  nedes  han  shame  of  hir  preisynges.  than  renoun 

founded  on  the 

and  yif  fat  folk  han  gete?i  hem  fank  or  preysyng  by 
her  desertes.  what  fing  haf  filk  pris  echid  or  en-  SS 


cresed  to  f  e  conscience  of  wise  folk  fat  mesurew  hire  biu 

If  a  wise  man 

good,  not  by  be  rumour  of  be  poeple.  but  by  be  sobe-  gets  wen-merited 

¥       praise  it  does  not 

fastnesse  of  conscience,  and  yif  it  seme  a  fair  fing  a 
man  to  han  encresid  and  sprad  his  name,  fan  folwef 

2115  wolde  ben — wole  be          \  2122  oute — owt 


2116  ftut\te\— putte 

2117  lordship\_e] — lordshype 

2119  comaundement  —  co- 
maimdementj 

leest  isle — last  lie 

2120  liy-fr— hyhte 

2121  puten— putten 
derk\_e\ — dyrke 


2124  foule— fowl 

2125  whiche— whych 

2126  maker — makere 
cried\_e}— cryde 

2127  he— she 

2128  sweller— swellore 

2129  many[e\— rnariye 
had— MS.  hadde,  C.  had 


se 


2130  fouler—  fowlere 

2131  ben  —  thanne 


2133  or—  of 

2134  7mp—  MS.  liabe 


78  GENTILITY   IS   FOREIGN   TO    RENOWN. 

abroad  one's  it.  bat  it  is  demed  to  ben  a  foule  binge  vif  it  ne  be 

fame,  it  must  be 

fosdo  so"rable  not  y'sPra(l  ne  encresed.  but  as  I  seide  a  litel  her  byforne. 


fat  syn  bcr  mot  nedes  ben  many  folk  to  wliiche  folk  be 
s-1      renouft  of  a  man  ne  may  nat  comen.  it  byfalleb  bat  he 

trious  names 

must  be  unknown  bat  bou  wenest  be  glorious  and  renomed.  semib  in  be 

to  the  greatest         *        * 

part  of  the  world.  nexte  parties  of  be  erbe  to  ben  wib  out  glorie.  and  wib 
tile6  feo°i"risf  ou^  renoim-  ^  an(i  certis  amowges  bise  binges  I  ne  trowe 
Is^t  Vseidom6  nat  bat  be  pris  and  grace  of  be  poeple  nis  neiber  worbi 

judicious  and  -  -i     •  i  r> 

r*foi.  i8&.]      *to  ben  remembnd  ne  comeb  of  wise  mgement.  ne  is 

never  permanent. 

HOW  empty  and     ferm  perdurably.    IF  But  now  of  bis  name  of  gentilesse. 

transitory  are  .  , 

titles  of  nobility!   what  man  is  it  bat  ne  may  wel  seen  how  veyne  ana 

2150  how  flittyng  a  bing  it  is.     ^f  For  if  be  name  of  gentil* 

whouy'foreign  to  esse  be  referred  to  renoim  and  clernesse  of  linage,   ban 

renown,  and  to        .  ..-.  -,  i»     r  n*          <  •  j    • 

those  who  boast     is  gentil  name  but  a  lor  e  me  pmg.   bat  is  to  sem  to 

of  noble  birth. 

Nobility  is  fame    hem  bat  glonfien  hem  of  hir  Image.     IF  For  it  semeb 

derived*  from  the 

merits  of  one's  bat  gentilesse  be  a  maner  preysynge  bat  comeb  of  decert 
if  praise  can  give  of  auncestres.  1F  And  yif  preysynge  makeb  gentilesse 

nobility  they  are  .  ' 

noble  who  are       ban  moten  bei  nedes  be  gentil  bat  ben  preysed.     i  or 
iii?°fth  *  wn^cne  ^n8  ^  folweb.  bat  yif  bou  ne  haue  no  gentilesse 


of  ^  self-  J>at  is  to  sein  Pris  J>^  come>  of  f1  deserte 
?Eeemtriifof  m  foreine  gentilesse  ne  makeb  be  nat  gentil.  IF  But  certis 
if  there  be  any  yif  ber  be  any  goode  in  gentilesse.  I  trowe  it  be  in  al 

good  in  nobleness 

oonty  J"s-  ^  ^  semeb  as  bat  a  maner  necessitee  be  im- 
posed  to  gentil  men.  for  bat  bei  ne  sholden  nat  outraien 
erate  n°    or  forliuen  fro  be  uertues  of  hire  noble  kynrede.     2163 

from  the  virtues 
of  their  ancestors. 

OMNE    HOMINtLflf    GENUS    IN    TERRIS. 
[The  6«i  Metre.] 

°f  men     at  bei1  iU  BTQ  ben  °f 


Shlrhaandeonee      -*  burbe.     On  al  one  is  fadir  of  binges.     On  alone 
minystfrleb  alle  binges.     ^F  He  aaf  to  be  sonne  hys 


moon  her  horns, 

"m£i5?hforayfl   bemes-  ^e  3^  to  lPQ  moone  nir  homes,  he  ^af  be  men  to 
j56  erfe-  ne  3a^  J36  sterres  to  be  heuene.    IF  he  encloseb 


2139  foule  \>inge— fowl  thing 

2140  ne—and 
byforne — byforn 

2141  parties— partye 
erpe — Brthes 

ow^ — owte 
2145  out— owhte 


2148  ferm—  ferme 

2149  veyne—  veyn 

2150  */—  yif 

2154  eowaej)  o/—  comth  of  the 


2157  whicte—  which 

2158  pris  —  preys 

}?  —  corath 


2160 


goode— good 
(2)— omitted 


2161  maner—  manere 

2166  hys— hyse 

2167  Mr— hyse 


rKOSE\]  SENSUAL    PLEASURES    FULL    OF    ANXIETY.  79 


wib  membres  be  soules  bat  comen  fro  hys  heye  sete.  and  a 

'  •  .sky  w 

IT  banne  comen  alle  mortal  folk  of  noble  seed,    whi 


and  adorned  the 
ith  stars. 


' 


noysen  36  or  bosten  of  3oure  eldris     1T  For  yif  bou  Aii'men  spring 

ni  ,  ..  ,   from  this  illustri- 

lookre]  soure  bygyrcnywg.  and  god  2oure  auctowr  ana  ous  source. 

JbJ        J  .  Why  then  do  they 

makere.  Jjan  is  ber  no  forlyued  wy^t  but  }if  he  ^e 


,        ,  OT7«    forgets  his  noble 

bUl'  pe.  Z  1  /  0    origin. 


norisse  his  corage  vnto  vices  and  forlete  his  propre 

QUID    AUTEM    DE    CORPORIBUS.1 

ut  what  shal  I  seie  of  delices  of  body,  of  whic[h]e  Bat  what  itudi  I 

delices  be  desiringes  ben  ful  of  anguisse.  and  J>e  to  sensua'i^ieu- 
fulfillinges  of  hem  ben  ful  of  penaunce.     11  How  grete  2l™  °I  whi.ch  is 

full  of  anxiety, 

sekenesse  and  how  grete  sorwes  vnsuffrable  ry^t  as  a 


T) 
•^ 


ntance  ? 


r>     •  ,       *      •  -I      ^  i          ,  -it         i   T  o  repentance 

manere  fruit  ot  wickednesse  ben  bilke  delices  wont  to  what  diseases 

and  intolerable 

bryngen  to  be  bofdlies  of  folk  bat  vsen  hem.     ^F  Of  pains  (the  merited 

J     °  fruits  of  vice)  are 

whiche  delices  I  not  what  ioye  may  ben  had  of  hir 


moeuyng.     ^f  But  bis  woot  I  wel  bat  who  so  euere  wil  enjoy  them  Tho 
remembren  hym  of  hys  luxuries,  he  shal  wel  vndir-  see  whatW  is  to 

.  be  found  in  the 

stonde.    bat  be  issues  of  delices  ben  sorowful  and  sory.  gratification  of 

»      thm 


11  And  yif  Jjilke  delices  mowen  make  folk  blisful.  Jjan 
by  be  same  cause  moten  bise  bestes  ben  clepid  blisful. 
IF  Of  whiche  bestes  al  be  entenc'iou^  hasteb  to  fulftlle  if  such  things 

make  men  happy, 

hire  bodyly  iolyte.   and   Jje  gladnesse  of  wijf  [and'] 


children  were  [an]  honest  bing.  but  it  haj)  ben  seid.  SXSey  are"1" 

urged  to  satisfy 

bat  it  is  ouer  myche  a^eins  kynde  bat  children  han  ben  their  bodily  de- 


fouwden  tormentours  to  hir  fadres   I  not  how  many. 

11  Of  whiche  children  how  bitynge  is  enery  condic/ouw.  J 

It  nedeb  nat  to  tellen  it  ]?e  jjat  hast  or  bis  tyme  assaied  SSftSn  their 

own  offspring. 

it.  ana  art  ait  now  ammyssows.     In  bis  approue  I  be  i  approve  of  this 

opinion  of  Euri- 

sentence  of  my  disciple  Euridippus.    bat  seide  bat  he 
bat  haj?  no  children  is  weleful  by  ircfortune.  2197 


2169  fro  hys— from  hyse 

2170  seed — sede 

2171  bosten— MS.  voscen,  C. 
bosten 

2172  ZoofcM— loke 

2173  is— nis 


2179  sekenesse— sykenesse 
grete  sorwes— gret  soruwes 

2180  fruit— frut 

2182  had  —  MS.  hadde,  C. 
had 

2183  wil— wole 


2176  delices— dclites  I  2184.  hys— hyse 
body— bodye  [  2185  sorowful — sonvful 

2177  antjuisse— Angwyssh  snry— sorye 

2178  grete— gret  I  2186  make— makyu 


2189  [and]— from  C. 

2190  [an]— from  C. 
ha)>— MS.  ha^c 

seid — MS.  seide,  C.  seyd 

2191  myche — mochel 

2192  many — manye 

2196  Euridippus  —  Bury- 
d.vppys;  reodEurjpid.es 

2197  /tab— MS. 


80  NO    HAPPINESS    IN    EXTERNAL    THINGS.      [MET/??'  PROSE8 

HABET    HOG    UOLUPTAS. 
[The  7de  Metur.] 

pleasure  leaves  a     F?uery  delit  hab  bis.   bat  it  anguisseb  hem  wib  prikkes 

paiu  behind  it.          H          J 

2199  -^  bat  vsen  it.     IF  It  resemblib  to  bise  flying  flyes  bat 
The  bee  gives  us    we  clepen  been,  bat  aftre  bat  be  bee  hab  shed  hys  agre- 

agreeable  honey,  J 

andtitytuick°ildit'  a^e  nonies  ^ie  neej>  awey  and  styngeb  be  hertes  of  hem 
bat  ben  ysmyte  wijj  bytynge  oner  longe  holdynge.  2202 


NICHIL    IGITUR    DUBIUM    EST. 

[The  8the  prose.]     -.-.-  .       .,  ,  ,.  , 

it  appears  then      \  ow  ms  it  no  doute  ban   bat  bise  weyes  ne  ben  a 

that  happiness  is        \ 

not  to  be  found  in  -*•*    maner  mysledywg  to   bhsfulnesse.  ne  bat  bei  ne 

the  above-men-  '         * 

!i!inedexternal      mowe  nat  leden  folke  bider  as  bei  byheten  to  ledew 
[*  foi.  19.]       hem.   IT  But  wib  how  grete  harmes  bise  *forseide  weyes 

These  false  ways 

withpmanyeeviis,    ^en  enlaced.     IT  I  shal  shewe  be  shortly.     IT  For  whi 
yif  bou  enforcest  be  to  assemble  moneye.   bou  most  by- 


Do  you  want  to  ,        .          ,     .„  ., 

amass  wealth,  reuen  hym  his  moneye  bat  hab  it.   and  yif  bou  wilt 

then  you  must 

n^htours1  your  s^ynen  wty  dignites.   bou  most  bysechen  and  supplien 

^didniu°e",8thh?n  hem  bat  ^iuew  bo  dignitees.     IT  And  yif  bou  coueitest 

tor  by  honowr  to  gon  by-fore  ober  folk  bou  shalt  defoule  bi 


g   y  self  by  hu?7iblesse  of  axing,    yif  bou  desiryst  power. 

supplication. 

amb(itVionbyJuOUr  J3011  s^a^  ^  awaites  °^  Yl  subgit3  anoyously  be  cast 

the0SnearesUofelfto  vndir  many  periles.    axest  bou  glorie  bou  shalt  ben  so 

DO  you  ask  for  destrat  by  aspre  binges  bat  bou  shalt  forgone   syker- 

glory,  to  be  dis- 

^   I5011 


i)osyouprefer  a     euery  whi^t  shal  dispisen  be  and  forleten  be  as  bou  bat 

voluptuous  life?  ,    .      ,  .  ,.  ,   f      •,  7,        i    -i  ,     •     r,    -\ 

Think  then  that     art  bral  to  bing  bat  is  ryat  foule  ana  brutel.  bat  is    to 

all  men  will  de- 

spise him  who  is    sein  seruauwt  to  bi  body,     f  Now  is  it  ban  wel  vseen 

a  thrall  to  his 

They  build  upon    now  lytel  and  how  brutel  possession??-  bei  coueiten  bat 
E^iacendat  n  putten  be  goodes  of  be  body  abouen  hire  owe/i  resou?^. 

bodily  delights  ,  .          ,  .  „    _        . 

above  their  own     IT  For  mayst  bou  sourmounten  bise  olilunt^  in  gretnesse 
OT  weJ$  °^  ^>°^J'     Or  mayst  bou  ben  stronger  ban  be 


bole.     Mayst  bou  ben  swifter  ban  be  tigre.  biholde  be 


2198  Euery—MS.  Query,  C.  '  2209  wilt—  wolt 

Every  2211  jiwew—  yeuen 

2198,  2200  ftap—  MS.ha>e        |  2212  gon—  MS.  gone,  C.  gon 
shed  hys  —  shad  hyse  by-fore  —  byforn 


by-fo 
shalt 


220:5  nix—  is  shalt—  shal 
2204    mysledyng  —  mysled-  I  2213  by—  thorw 

y  lures  2214  by—  be 

2205/oZAe—  folk  6e—  ben 

2208     enforcest  —  MS.  eu-     2216  destrat—  MS.  destralle, 

forced,  C.  enforcest  C.  destrat 

22  )!»  li,i\>—  MS.  hape  I     forgone—  forgoon 


2217  wilt— wolt 

2218  whiit— wyht 

2219  foule— fowl 
[to] — from  C. 

2220  yseen — seen 

2221  brutel— brotel 

2222  oiven — owne 

2224  wcyrf— weyhty 
strenger — strengere 

2225  swifter— svryttere 
biholde — by-hold 


!']  MEN    ARE    LED    ASTRAY    BY    IGNORANCE.  81 

spaces  and  fe  stablenesse  and  fe  swyfte  cours  of  fe 
heuene.    and   stynte   somtyme   to   wondren   on   foule 

the  lieuvens  and 

binges,   be  whicne  heuene  certys  nis  nat  raber  for  bise  cease  to  admire 

vile  or  lesser 


binges  to  ben  wondred  vpon.    ban  for  be  resourc  by  what  is 

whiche  it  is  gouerned.  but  be  shynynge  of  f  i  forme  bat  aiJie. 


.     ,  .        .      ,  j»  f  v     j        i  -fit  •      mate  wisdom  that 

is  to  seien  be  beaute  of  bi  body,  now  swiftly  passyng  is  governs  them. 

How  fleeting  is 

it  and  now  transitone.     IT  Certis  it  is  more  fnttynge  beauty! 

It  fades  sooner 

fan  be  mutabilite  of  floures  of  f  e  somer  sesouw.  For  so  fl^nejg  e  vernal 
as  aristotil  tellef  fat  yif  fat  men  hadden  eyen  of  a  S^ft  maf6 
beest  bat  hist  lynx,  so  bat  be  lokyng  of  folk  myatfel  and  could  look 

JJ   L_J    into  the  entrails 

percen  f  orn^  f  e  f  inges  fat  wif  stonden  it.  who  so  lokid  ^Swardi  o° 
fan  in  f  e  entrailes  of  f  e  body  of  alcibiades  fat  was  j^SS?1 
fill  fayr  in  fe  superfice  wif  oute.    it  shulde  seme  ry3t  2238 
foule.  and  for  bi  yif  bou  semest  faire.    bi  nature  ne  Thy  nature  does 

not  make  thee 

makif  nat  fat.  but  f  e  desceiuaurcce  of  f  e  fieblesse  of  f  e  {J™^^1^,; 
eyen  fat  loken.     IF  But  preise  fe  goodes  of  fi  body  as  Srs!  thy>aa~ 
moche  as  euer  be  list,  so  bat  bou  knowfel  algates  bat  peJfection's^s 

much  as  you  will, 

what  so  it  be.   bat  is  to  seyn  of  be  goodes  of  bi  body  yet  a  three  days' 

*    fever  will  de- 

whiche  fat  f  ou  wondrest  vpon  may  ben  destroied  or  8trov  them- 

dessolued  by  f  e  hete  of  a  feuere  of  f  re  dayes.     1F  Of 

alle  whiche  forseide  finges  I  may  reduces  f  is  shortly  in  2246 

a  somme.     1T  bat  bise  worldly  goodes  whiche  bat  ne  worldly  goods  do 

*  ^  not  give  what 

mowen  nat  ^iuen  fat  f  ei  byheten.  ne  ben  nat  perfit  by  JJ^P™™^'  do 
f  e  congregacz'ouft  of  alle  goodes.  fat  f  ei  ne  ben  nat  notThe'pathl'To 
weyes  ne  pafes  fat  bryngen  men  to  blysfulnesse  ne  of  them'sei°vesan 
maken  men  to  ben  blysful.  2251 


HEU  qUE   MISEROS   TRAMITE. 

[The  8the  Metttr.] 

Alias  whiche  folie  and  whiche  ignoraurcee  mysledib  Aias  i  how 
r    through  folly  and 
wandryng  wrecches  fro  fe  pafe  of  verrey  good, 

f  Certis  30  ne  seken  no  golde  in  grene  trees,  ne  30  ne 


2227  stynte— stynt 

2228  ^vhiclle — whych 

2230  whiche — wych 

2231  seien— seyn 

2234  as— omitted 

2235  hirf— hyhte 
•my}t[.e]— myhte 

2237  alcibiades— MS.  ali-idi- 

2238  fayr—fayre  [ades 


2238  ]>e— omitted 
shulde — sholde 

2239  foule— fowl 
faire — fayr 
ne — omitted 

2240  desceinaunce    of    \>e 
fieblesse — deceyuable    or 
the  feblesse 

2212  moche — mochel 


2212  know[_e\— knowe 

2213  be— omitted 

\>i  body  whiche  —  the  body 

whych 
2217  a— omitted 

2252  whiche  (both)— whych 

2253  pa\>e— paatli 
flood — Roode 

2254  golde— gold 


82  MEN  PURSUE  FALSE  JOYS. 

Ye  do  not  seek      gadren  fnatl  precious  stones  in  be  vines,    ne  se  ne 

gold  upon  trees 


frorm  the  vine        n^en  nat  ^uiG  gynnes  in  hey3e  mouwtaignes  to  kachen 
fisshe  of  whiche  30  may  maken  ryche  festes.  and  yif 


upon  th  lofty  lykef  to  hunte  to  roos.  30  ne  gon  nat  to  be  foordes 

The  hunter  goes 

not  to  the  Tyr-      of  be  water  bat  hyst  tyrene.  and  oner  bis  men  knowen 

rhene  waters  to 


e*  J36  CI^es  an^  f  e  cauernes  of  f  e  see  yhidd  in  f  e 

peari?afndfor  the  floodes.  and  knowen  eke  whiche  water  is  most  plentiuows 

fish  that  yields  the  «       ,  ..  ,  ,  , 

purple  dye.  oi  white  perles.  and  knowen  whiche  water  habundef 

2263  most  of  rede  purpre.  fat  is  to  seyen  of  a  maner  shel- 

They  know  where  fisshe  "with  whiche  men   dien  purpre.    and  knowen 

the  most  delicate  . 

of  the  finny  race  whiche  strondes  habounden  most  ol  tendre  nsshes  or 

Abound  and  where 

£eif  toTeefounCd"  °f  snarPe  fisshes  fat  hy3ten  echynnys.  but  folk  suffren 

soUvere1ignGloeod  l^m  self  to  ben  so  blynde  fat  hem  ne  recchif  nat  to 

mortals  never  knowe  where  bilkfel  goodes  ben  yhidd  whiche  bat  bei 

know,  but  plunge 

into  the  earth  coueiten   but  ploungen  hem  in  erbe  and  seken  bere 

below  to  look  for 

SiTn"Chihtheits  fi^Q  goode  fat  sowrmoimtef  f  e  heuene  fat  beref  f  e 

hea[*efoi.  19  &.]  gterres.  ^T  what  *preyere  may  I  make  fat  be  digne  to 

What  doom  do  the  ..  .•/»  I^T  »•  -j. 

silly  race  deserve?  be  nice  bou^tis  of  men.   but  I  preye  bat  bei  couelte7^ 

May  they  pursue  * 

such  false  joys,  rycches  and  hono?/rs  so  bat  whan  bei  ban  geten  bo 

and  having  ob-  J  * 

latefili^out'tife0  ^a^se  goodes  wif  greet  trauayle  fat  ferby  fei  mowe 

value  of  the  true.  knowen  ^  yerray  goodeg>  2275 


HACTENUS   MENDACIS    FORMA  Jf. 

pThaye  beeT'     JT  suffisif  fat  I  haue  shewed  hider  to  fe  forme  of 
form  of  counter-    -^  false  wilfulnesse.  so  bat  yif  bou  lookFel  now  clerely 

feit  happiness,  and 

if  you  have  con-     ije  or(jre  Of  mvn  entenczouw  requerib  from  hennes  forbe 

siQGrGQ  it  at*  *  v  •*•          f 

p1wseedyto  gil?1     *°  shewew  f  e  Arerray  wilfulnesse.     IF  For  qnod .  I.    (b)  [I.] 
of  the?Jue.ct         se  wel  now  fat  suffisauwce  may  nat  comen  by  richesse.  ne 

B.  I  now  see  that 

there  is  no  suffi-    power  by  realmes.  ne  reuereftce  by  digmtees.  ne  gentil- 

ciencyinriches.no    *  JO 

power  in  royalty,    esse  ^y  orlorie.  ne  ioye  by  delices.  and  (p)  hast  bou  wcl 

no  esteem,  in  »/    o  «/          «/  vir/ 

SiiJtyVre-       knowen  q^^od  she  f  e  cause  whi  it  is.     Certis  me  semef 


2256  liey-ie— the  hyye  I  2263  shelfisshe— shelle  fysh 

1  2264,  2265  whiche— whych 

2264  dien— deyen 

2265  of— with 

2266  echynnys  —  MS.    eth- 
ynnys,  C.  Echynnys 

"  yhidd— MS.  yhidde,  C. 


nrsso 


kachen — kachohe 

2257  fisshe— fyssh 

2258  hunte— honte 
roos— Rooes 

2259  hytf— hyhte 

2260  crikes— brykes 
yhidd— MS.  yhidde,  C.  I- 

2261,  2262  whiche— whych       i  2271  make— maken  i  2281  realmes— Reames 


2273  ryceJies— Rychesse 
2277    wilfulnesse  —  we.lcful- 


look\_e] — loke 

clerely— clerly  [nesse 

279   wilfulnesse  —  weleful- 
For— For-sothe 


I-hydd  [/.]— from  C. 

2270  goode— good  |  2280  richesse— Rych esses 


J?OOK  3. 

ruo.sii  9 


.]  THE    INSUFFICIENCY    OF    WORLDLY    BLISS.  83 


quod  .1.  bat  .1.  sc  hem  173  1  as  J>ou3  it  were  J)oru3  a  litcl 
clifte.  but  me  were  leuer  knoweu  hem  more  openly  of 

~.      ,  ,       ,  •          t          i          mr     -rt        cause  of  all  this, 

be.     Lertys  quod   she   be  resouw   is   al  redy      I    Jbor  but  i  should  like 

T  a  more  distinct 

bilk    bing    bat   symply   is    on    bing   wib    outen    ony  ™ 
diuisiouw.   be  errour  and  folie  of  mankynde  departeb 
and  diuidib  it.  and  misledib  it  and  transporteb  from 


7  /-,.  -,  ,  ,    i  P  -i  -,  ates  and  divides, 

verray  ana  penit  goode.  to  goodes  bat  ben  false  and  and  reverses  the 

true  order  of 

inpemt.    11  But  seye  me  bis.  wenest  bou  bat  he  bat  hab  things,  noes  that 
nede  of  power  bat  hym  ne  lakkeb  no  bing.     Nay  quod. 
.1     1F  Certis  quod  she  bou  seist  ary3t.     For  yif  so  be      1 


no. 

.  .  .  i-ir»ii          o  That  which  wants 

bat  ber  is  a  bmg  bat  in  any  partie  be  neble  of  power,  power  needs  ex- 

ternal aid.  B.  That 
Certis  as  in  bat  it  mostFe]  nedes  be  nedy  of  foreine  is  true  !  *•  Suffi- 

L  J  ciency  and  power 

helpe.     IF  Ei3t  so  it  is  quod  .1.    Suffisaunce  and  power  *£S£^£  It 
ben  ban  of  on  kynde     IT  So  semeb  it  quod  I.     IT  And  °  indeed' 

demyst  bou  qwod  she  bat  a  bing  bat  is  of  bis  manere. 
bat  is  to  seine  sumsau?^t  and  my3ty  au3t[e]  to  ben  dis-  fhly^ot  rather 
pised.  or  ellys  bat  it  be  ry3t  digne  of  reuerences  abouen  ^e°rsaiyresp"ct"? 
alle  binges.  IF  Certys  quod  I  it  nys  no  doute  bat  it  &mbtto»iiighiy 

estimable.  P.  Add 

nis  ry3t  worbi  to  ben  reuerenced.  ^f  Lat  vs  quod  she  ban 
adden  reuerence  to  sumsaunce  and  to  power     IF  So  bat  Si 
we  demen  bat  bise  bre  binges  ben  alle  o  bing.    IF  Certis  A 

_   _  _  tion  to  that  view. 

quod  1  lat  vs  adden  it.   yif  we  willen  graunten  be  sobe.  P.  But  can  that  i.e 

*        obscure  and  ig- 

what  demest  bou  ban  quod  she  is  bat  a  dirke  birig  and  J^lltiSSmS 
nat  noble  bat  is  suffisaurct  reue?-ent  and  my^ty.  or  ellys  ifc 


bat  is  ry3t  clere  a?^  ry3t  noble  of  celebrete  of  renou/z.  mgr  reputation'? 

_.  .  He  who  is  most 

1    Considere  ban  quod  she  as  we  nan  grauwtid  her  by-  powerful  and 


forne.  bat  he  bat  ne  hab  ne[de]  of  no  bing  and  is  most 
my3ty  and  most  digne  of  honour  yif  hym  nedib  any  jj}™ 
clernesse  of  renoura  whiche  clernesse  he  my3t[e]  nat 
graunten  of  hym  self.     If  So   bat  for  lakke  of  bilke  He  that  is  sum-' 

J  ciently  mighty 

clerenesse  he  my3t[e]  seme  febler  on  any  syde  or   be 

2287  \>ilk — thylke 
on — o 

2290  goode— good 

2291  seye—sey 
ha\> — MS.  habe 

2294  Jieble— feblere  2304  alle— a"l  i  231 1"  clerenesse— clernesse 

2295  most[e] — mot  2305  willen — wolen  mii\t{e\ — myhte 

2296  helpe— help  2306  dirke— dyrk  febler— the  febelere 

2297  on— o  230S  clere— cler 


2298  demyst  \>ou—  d(3inesthow     2308   of  celebrete—  by  cele- 

2299  seine—  seyn  bryte 

hte  2310  /tab—  MS.  habe 


2300  reuerences  —  Reuerence     2312  wMcJie  —  whycii 
2302  nis  ryit—\*  ryht  my^t\_e\—  myhte 


84  THE    UNITY    OF    TRUE    FELICITY. 

an  illustrious        more  outcastc.     Glosa.  bis  is  to  soyne  nay.    IT  For  who 

name.    B.  I  can-  * 

so  }**&  ^s  suffisauwt  Hiy^ty  and  reuerent.   clernesse  of 
renouw  folweb  of  be  forscide  binges,  he  hab  it  alredy  of 

you  have  just 

mentioned.          hys  suffisaunce.     boice.  I  may  nat  Quod  I  denye  it. 

P.  Tlierefore  J  J 

SK^fti     ^  Eut  J  mot  graunten  as  it  is.  fat  fis  fing  be  ry3t 
2320  celebrable  by  clernesse  of  renou?a  and  noblesse.     IF  ban 

the  three  above- 

bute«io!Andaifan    f°lwef  &  quod  she  fat  we  addon  clernesse  of  renoiw  to 
nSdoffioextemli  f  e  f  re  forseide  f  inges.  so  fat  f  er  ne  be  amonges  hem 

aid,  can  have  all  he  ..„,  7       .  IT** 

wants,  and  is  iiius-  no  difference.  and  bis  is  a  consequente  quod  .1.   bis 

triousandrespect- 

ditionverhia8  ree-    ^n^  fan   ^^  sne  fa*    ne    ^af    no    nede   of  HO    foreine 

Bblicannotacon-t?  J5"1^  aw<^  fa^  may  don  alle  jjinges  by  his  strong  J>es. 

ceive  how  such  a  ,-II-FI  11- 

one  can  have  grief  and  bat  is  noble  and  honourable,  nis  nat  bat  a  myrie 

or  trouble.    P.  It 

must  then  be  a      »,jncr  and  a  ioyful.    lotce.  but  wenest  auod  I  b«t  any 

state  of  happiness;    *  J  » 

affidrmetffiuffi.°    sorow  my3t[e]  comen  to  fis  Jjing  fat  is  swiche.  IT  Certys 
ndbluity^dTffer       I  may  nat  binke.  P.  IF  banne  moten  we  grauntfel  quod 

only  in  name,  but 

2330  she  fat  f  is  f  ing  be  ful  of  gladnesse  yif  f  e  forseide  finges 
SVtis^nSes?'    be  sofe.     1F  And  also  certys  mote  we  graunten.  fat 

sary  consequence.          rv»  i  i  i     *i     i  t 

p.  The  depravity  sumsaunce  power  noblesse  reuerence  and  gladnesse  ben 

of  mankind  then 

divides  that  which  oniy  dyuerse   bynames,    but   hir   substaunce   hab   no 

is  essentially  in- 

seekS^apart  diuersito.    Boice.  It  mot  nedely  be  so  quod  .1.  P.  f  ilke 
nop!irtSheyinilss  f  inge  fan  qwod  she  fat  is  oon  and  simple  in  his  nature. 

the  entire  thing  -111  f  i  ^-.      •.     *T     •  T,      -L 

[*foi.  20.]       be  wikkednesse  of  men  departib  it  *dmidib  it.   and 

which  they  so          r 

much  desire.         whan  f  ei  enforcen  hem  to  gete  partie  of  a  f  ing  fat  ne 

2338  haf  no  part,  fei  ne  geten  hem  neif  er  f  ilk[e]  partie  fat 

B.  HOW  is  that?     nis  none,  ne  be  bing  al  hole  bat  bei  ne  desire  nat.    .b. 

P.  He  that  seeks 


avod  vcy  is  -  wni°ne  manere  qiiod  .1.  p.  filke  man  quod,  she  fat 
ab,>utnpowen  he  sekef  rychessG  to  fleen  pouerte.  he  ne  trauaylef  hym 
and  obscurity,  and  nat  to  for  to  gete  power  for  he  hab  leuer  ben  dirk  and 

denies  himself 


2315  seyne— seyn 
2317  hab— MS.  habe 
2321  ^p— MS.  ha>e 

2325  his— hyse 

2326  myrie— rnery 

2327  wenest — vvhennes 

2328  sorow  my$t[_e}  —  sorwe 


2  ;2i> 

2331 


invlid 


.  and  eke  wif  drawcf  from  hym  selfe  many  naturel 
n  delit}  for  he  nolde  lesen  fe   moneye  fat  he  haf   as- 

2331  also  certys— certes  also 
2333  /tab— MS.  habe 
2331  ncdely— nedly 
2335  \>inge— thing 
2337  cjcte — geten 
233S  \a\>— MS.  habe 

|'/7/,-i^]— thilke 
23:5! »  none— non 

linli'    -hoo] 

2310  whicke — whych 


2341  rychesse — Rychossos 
fleen—  MS.  sleen,  C.  Hen 

2312  leiiei — leuer 

2313  vile— vyl 
selfe—  self 

2311  dclity— delices 
lexen — Icse 
//»*)— MS.  habe 


?$!««!%.]  OF    FALSE    FELICITY.  85 

semblcd.  but  certis  in  f  is  manere  he  ne  getif  hym  nat  poVIr!°is  pricked 
suffisaunce  fat  power  forletif.  and  fat  moleste  prekef .  rendVreTmf'out- 
and  bat  filbe  makeb  outcaste.  and  bat  derknesse  hideb.  by  his  sordid 

*  ways,  does  not 

and  certis  he  fat  desiref  only  power  he  wastif  and  P£^SS  8  j5J"wllo 

scatrif  rychesse  and  dispisef  delices  and  eke  honow 

fat  is  wif  out  power,  ne  he  ne  preisef  glorie  no  fing.  55*3 

1F  Certys  bus  seest  bou  wel  bat  many  \>in%us  failen  to  compared  by 

power.  Such  a 

hym.  for  he  haf  somtyme  faute  of  many  necessites. 
and  many  anguysses  biten  hym  1F  and  whan  he  may 


onours  unac- 

a 

power. 


,      ,  ,    ,,  i        />     i    .L  i  evils  he  ceases  to 

iiat  don  bo  defautes  awey.  he  forleteb  to  ben  nmty.  have  what  he  most 

desired—  power. 

and  fat  is  f  e  fing  fat  he  most  desiref.  and  ry$t  fus  in^ 


may  I  make  semblable  rescues  of  honours  and  of  glorie 
and  of  delices.     IF  For  so  as  euery  of  fise  forseide 

will  fail  to  obtain 

finges  is  fe  same  fat  fise  ofer  fmges  ben.  fat  is  to  ins  desires.     .f 
sein.  al  oon  fing.  who  so  fat  euer  sekef  to  geten  fat  3S"rJ 
oon  of  fise  and  nat  fat  ofer.  he  ne  getef  nat  fat  he  ^H 


desiref.    Botce.   IF  what  seist  f  ou  fan  yif  fat  a  man  2 


coueitcf  to  geten  alle  fise  finges  to  gider.     P.  Certys  SiJjfy^ut  can 
she  .1.  wolde  seie  fat  he  wolde  geten  hym  soue- 


.  quisitions  above 

reyne  blisfulnes.  but  bat  snal  ne  nat  lynde  in  bo  binges  mentioned,  which 

do  not  perform 

fat  .1.  haue  shewed  fat  ne  mo  we  nat  $euen  fat  f  ei  by-  Jjjjj^ 
heten.    boice.  Certys  no  qwod  .1.    IF  fan  quod  she  ne  f;  ThenlKroi- 

,  t  i  i      p  i  •       ness  is  not  to  be 

sholden  men   nat  by  no  weye  seken   blysiulnesse  in  sought  in  these 

things  which  are 

swiche   binges    as    men    wenen    bat    bei    ne    mowe  falsely  supposed 

capable  of  satisfy- 

3euen  but  o  fing  senglely  of  alle  fat  mew  seken.     I 


graunt[e]  wel  q?wd  .1.  ne  no  sofer  fing  ne  may  nat  S 

n      .  affirmed  than  this. 

ben  said.     P.  IF  JN  ow  hast  f  ou  fan  qtioa  she  f  e  forme  Turn  your  mind's 

and  f  e  causes  of  false  welefulnesse.     5F  Now  turne  and  "JjJ"8^^11  tllis 

flitte  f  e  eyen  of  f  i  f  ou$t.  for  fere  shalt  f  ou  seen  an  oon  perceive 


bilk  verray  blysfulnesse  bat   I   haue  byhyat  bee.    I.  jsT/uTveVy  clear, 

and  1  had  a  com- 

Certys  qiiod  .1.  it  is  cler  and  opyn.  f  0113  fat  it  were  to  JjjJJ^JJ^!  \\-m 
a  blynde  man.  and  fat  shewedest  fou  me  [ful  wel]  a 


2346  preke}>— prykketh 
2317  derknesse— dyrkenesse 
23 19  scatri \> — schatereth 

delices— delyc? 
2'!5()  wi\>  out—\viih  owtc 
2  $51  mam/ — numye 
2352  ha\>— MS.  hape 


2352  faute—  defaute 

2353  may  —  nc  may 

2351  don—  MS.  done,  C.  don 


2356  mote—  maken 

2357  forseide—  MS.  sorseide 
23(53  souereync  —  souercyn 
2365  mowe—  uioweu 


2368  weiien— wene 
mowe — mowen 

2370  graunt[e] — 
so\>er — sotht-re 

2371  said— MS.  saide,  C.  sayd 
2376  [ful  wel]-fro\£  C. 


8G 


IX    SEEKING    SUPREME    FELICITY 


er  byforne.  whan  pou  enforcedest  pe  to  shewe  me 
fe  causes  of  J>e  false  blysfulnesae  1F  For  but  yif  I  be  by- 

-i    j      «_         •     «.«n  r>        •>• 

gileo.  pan  is  pilke  be  verray  pernt  blisfulnesse  bat  per- 
fitly  makip  a  man  suffisaurct.  nmty.  honourable  noble. 
and  M  of  #•*»•»  and  f°r  >ou  shalt  wel  knowe  pat  I 
haue  wel  vndirstonden  pise  pinges  wip  iraie  myne  herte. 
in  reality  all  one  I  knowe  wel  pilke  blisfulnesse  bat  may  verrayly  seuen 

and  the  same. 

ng>  on  of  ^e  forseide  finges  syn  pel  ben  al  oon  .1.  knowe 


°f 

honour  —  as  well 

as  of  a  shining 

reputation  and 

every  desirable 

pleasure  :  and  I 


2385  douteles  pat  pilke  ping  is  pe  fulle  of  blysfulnesse.     P. 

you  in  this  con- 

J'SfSi^rt  CM*  mv  nurry  ^uod  she  ^y  J^8  oppiniouft  quod,  she  I 
|mwhl°tnisthat?  seyW  >at  f011  ^  Wisful  yif  pou  putte  pis  per  to  pat  I 
snal  seine-  wnat  is  pat  qwod  .1  1T  Trowest  pou  pat 


i  his  world  can  -,  ,  .         •,•         ,1  11,  TT 

confer  this  happi-  per  be  any  ping  in  pis  erpely  mortal  toumblyng  pingea 
^at  may  t)iynSei1  ^  estat-  Certys  quod.  I  trowe  it  nat. 
and  J*011  hast  snewecl  me  wel  pat  ouer  pilke  goode  per 

perfe?tSnte  °f       is  no  ping  more  to  ben  desired.     P.  pise  pinges  pan 

P.  These  imper-  ,     .  ,    .     J  '   . 

feet  things  above    qwoi  she.  pat  is  to  seyne  erpely  sumsaunce  and  power. 

mentioned  only 

of  "hi  supreme  and  swiclie  finges  eyper  pei  semen  likenesse  of  verray 
g°ode-  or  ellys  {i  seme>  fat  fei  3euen  to  mortal  folk  a 
maner  of  goodes  pat  ne  ben  nat  pernt.  1T  But  pilke 

j  .    • 

goode  pat  is  verray  and  pernt.  pat  may  pei  nat  3euen. 
^ce-  !•  accorde  me  wel  quod.  .1.  pan  qwod  she  for  as 
moche  as  pou  hast  knowen  whiche  is  pilke  verray  blis- 
fulnesse.  and  eke  whiche  bilke  binges  ben  bat  lien 


true  and  perfect 

iness. 
'  know. 


happness. 


must  now  leam* 

where  to  look  for 

2401  falsly   blisfulnesse.    pat   is   to   seyne.    pat  by  desceit 
feiicityreme        semera  verray  goodes.     If  Now  byhouep  pe  to  knowe?* 

P.  But,  as  Plato 

[*foi.  2o&.]  *wnennes  and  where  bou  mowe  seeklel  bilke  verray 
t>lisfulnesse.  1F  Certys  quod  I  pat  desijr  I  gretly  and 
haue  abiden  longe  tyme  to  herkene  it.  1F  But  for  as 

ought  we  do,  to  ,  ,,  -,TI  ,..,         , 

render  us  worthy  mocne  quoa  she  as  it  likep  to  my  disciple  plato  in  his 

of  so  important  a 

'    tnimeo-     at  in  r          tel    H»68  men  sholde 


says  that  even 


seat  of  the  sove-       Tw«r>n>iPTi 

reign  good?          oysccnen 

2377  bfiforne  —  bv-forn 
2378      blysfulnesse   —    MS. 
blyridenesse,  C.  blysful- 
nesse 
2385  of—  omitted 
2:*H(>  nurry  —  norye 
2387  sey{e\—  seye 

pe  helpe  of  god.    1T  \\ 

2388  seine—  seyn 
2389  \>is—  thise 
2390  nat—  nawht 
2393  seyne—  sey 
2395  $euen—  yeue 
2397  goode—  good 
2399  whiche—  which 

hat  iugest  pou  pat  be 

2401  seyne  —  seyn 
2402  knowen—  knowe 
2403  seek[e\—  seke 
2405  herkene—  herknen 
2407  sholde—  sholdon 
2408  bysechen  —  by-ahechcii 
helpe  —  help 

MET^l  TIIE    DIVINE   AID    IS    TO    BE    INVOKED.  87 


[now]  to  done  so  bat  we  may  deserue  to  fynde  be  sete  of 
bilke  souereyne  goode.     B.  IT  Certys  qwod  .1.  I.  deme  tigs-  • 
bat  we  shulle  clepen  to  be  fadir  of  aUe  goodes.     IT  For 

.   , 

wib  outen  hvm  nis  ber  no  bmg  founden  ary?t.  bou  seist  Maker  of  heaven 

and  earth,  by 

a-ry^t  quod  she.  and  bygan  on-one  to  syngen  ry3t  bus. 


is  governed,  and 
by  whose  supreme 


O    QUI    PERPETUA. 

flows  from  the 

A  bou  fadir  creatour  of  heuene   and   of  erbes   bat  «£*Sp£S| 
^  gouernest  bis  worlde  by  perdurable  resouw  bat  com-  ^i  things  'eTse  to* 

,      ,  r  ,    n    move  !  Thy  sove- 

aundist  be  tymes  for  to  gon  from  tyme  bat  age  naa|_dej  reign  win  to  float- 
bygywnywg.  bou  bat  dwellest  bi  self  ay  stedfast  and  j 
stable  and  ^iuest  alle  ober  binges  to  ben  moeued.  ne  !£ 
forein  causes  necesseden  be  neuer  to  compoune  werke  t  in  thy  great 
of  floterynge  mater,  but  only  be  forme  of  souereyne 


r,    -I       •.  .      .  jr  i    Fairest  thyself 

goode  y-set  wib  mne  [be]  wib  outen  envie  bat  moeued[e]  bearing  the 

world's  figure  in 


be  frely.  bou  bat  art  alberfairest  beryng  be  faire  worlde  JJ 
in  bi  bou3t.    formedest   bis   worlde   to   be   likkenesse 
semblable  of  bat  faire  worlde  in  bi  bou^t.  bou  drawest 

,     .  .        image  of  the  fair 

alle  binges  of  bi  souereyne  ensampler.  and  comaundedist  supreme,  and  dost 

command  that 

bat    bis   worlde   perfitlyche   ymaked    haue   frely   and  this 
absolut  hyse  perfit  parties,     f  bou  byndest  be  element^ 
by   noumbres   proporcionables.    bat    be    colde    binges 


,  .  T  ,  .  there  is  no  dis- 

mowen  accorde  wib  be  note  binges.  «ma  be  drye  biTzges  cordance  between 

things  cold  and 

wib  be  moyst  binges,   bat  be  fire  bat  is  purest  ne  fleye  f 
nat  ouer  heye.  ne  bat  be  heuynesse  ne  drawe  nat  adouw  ^JJ, 
ouer  lowe  be  erbes   bat  ben  plounged  in  be  watres. 


11  bou  knvttest  to-oridre  be  mene  soule  of  treble  kynde 

J  than  they  are  now 

moeuyng  alle  binges,  and  diuidest  it  by  membres  ac-  Pj 
cordynge.     f  And  whan  it  is  bus  diuided  it  hab  as-  fg1 
sembled  ti  moeuyng  in  two  roundes.    ^f  It  gob  to  towrne  thfnbyhagfeeingd 

2422    alberfairest  —  alder- 


2 109  [wow]— from  C. 

2410  souereyne  goode— verray 
good 

2411  shulle— shollen 
to — omitted 

2413  on-one — anon 

2415  worlde— world 

2416  from age— from  syn 

pat  age 

had[de~]— haddc 


d[_de]— 
steiffa 


ober^- oothre 
forein — foreyne 


2418 
2419 
werke — werk 

2420  souereyne  goode— soue- 
reyri  good 

2421  y-set— MS.  y-sette,  C. 
Iset 

wib  inne — with  in 

[be]— the 

wi\>  outen — \vit7i  owte 


_ 
2417  steiffast—  stodefast          I      <inocued[e}—  mocuudo 


fayrest 
2432-24-26  worlds—  world 
2423  likkenesse—  lyknesse 

2426  and  absolut  —  C.  omits 

2427  hyse—  hys 

2430  fire—fyr 
fleye—  fie 

2431  drawe  —  drawen 

2435  hab—  MS.  haj>c 

2436  go\>—  MS.  go^c 


88 


GOD    IS    THE    FOUNTAIN    OF    FELICITY. 


FKOOK  3. 

U'KOSE  10 


numbers  didst  re- 
solve it.    When 
that  is  done,  cut 
into  two  orbs,  it 
moves  about  re- 
turning to  itself, 
and  then  en- 
compassing the 
profound  mind 
doth  by  that  fair 
idea  turn  the 
heaven.    Thou 
by  such  causes 
dost  raise  all  souls 
and  lesser  lives, 
and  adaptestthem 
to  their  light 
vehicles.    Thou 
sowest  them  in 
heaven  and  earth, 
and  they  return 
to  thee  by  thy 
kind  law  like  a 
recoiling  flame. 
O  Father,  elevate 
our  souls  and  let 
them  behold  thy 
august  throne. 
Let  them  behold 
the  fountain  of  all 
good.    Dispel  the 
mists  of  sense,  re- 
move the  weights 
of  earth-born 
cares,  and  in  thy 
splendour  shine 
(m  our  minds). 
For  thou  art  ever 
clear,  and  to  the 
[The  lOthe  prose.] 
good  art  peace 
and  rest.   He  who 
looks  on  thee  be- 
holds beginning 
support,  guide, 
path  and  goal, 
combined ! 
Now  that  thou 
hast  had  a  faith- 
ful representation 
of  future  felicity 
as  well  as  of  the 
true  happiness,  I 
shall  show  thee  in 
what  the  Perfec- 
tion of  Happiness 
consists. 

Our  best  plan  will 
be  to  inquire 
whether  there  be 
in  nature  such  a 
good  as  thou  hast 
lately  defined,  lest 
we  be  deceived  by 
the  vanity  of 
Imagination  and 
be  carried  beyond 
the  truth  of  the 
matter  subjected 
to  our  inquiry. 


a^ein  to  hym  owen  self,  and  environep  a  fullc  deep 
pou^t.  and  towmip  pe  heuene  by  semblable  ymage.  pou 
by  euewlyk  causes  enhauwsest  pe  soules  and  pe  lasse 
Hues  and  ablynge  hem  heye  by  lyjtfe]  cartes.  pou 
sewest  hem  in  to  heuene  and  in  to  erpe.  and  whan  pei 
ben  conuertid  to  pe  by  pi  benigne  la  we.  ^[  pou  makest 
hem  retorne  a^eine  to  pe  by  a^ein  ledyng  fijr.  ^[  0 
fadir  yif  pou  to  pi  pou^t  to  stien  vp  in  to  pi  streite  sete. 
and  graunte  [hym]  to  enviroune  pe  welle  of  good,  and 
pe  Iy3te  yfounde  graunte  hym  to  ficchen  pe  clere  sy^tes 
of  hys  corage  in  pe.  ^f  And  scatre  pou  and  to-breke 
[thow]  pe  wey3tes  and  pe  cloudes  of  erpely  heuynesse. 
and  shyne  pou  by  pi  bry^tnes.  for  pou  art  clernesse  pou 
art  peisible  to  debonaire  folke.  ^[  pou  pi  self  art  by- 
gywnywge.  berere.  ledere.  pap  and  tfirme  to  loke  on  pe 
[pat]  is  oure  ende.  Glose.  2452 

QUONIAM    IGITUR    QUI    SCIT.1        [»  Read  que  sit.] 

T?0r  as  moche  pan  as  pou  hast  seyn.  whiche  is  pe 
•*•  forme  of  goode  pat  nys  nat  perfit.  and  whiche  is  pe 
forme  of  goode  pat  is  perfit.  now  trowe  I  pat  it  were 
goode  to  shewe  in  what  pis  perfecczoura  of  blisfulnesse  is 
set.  and  in  pis  ping  I  trowe  pat  we  sholden  first  enquere 
forto  witen  yif  pat  any  swiche  manere  goode  as  pilke 
goode  pat  pou  hast  diffinissed  a  lytel  her  byforne.  pat 
is  to  seine  souereyne  goode  may  be  founden  in  pe  nature 
of  pinges.  For  pat  veyne  ymaginaczourc  of  poi^t  ne 
desceiue  vs  nat.  and  putte  vs  oute  of  pe  sopefastnesse 
of  pilke  pinge  pat  is  suwrnyttid  to  vs.  pis  is  to  seyne. 
but  it  may  nat  ben  denoyed  pat  pilke  goode  ne  is. 
11  and  pat  it  nis  ry^t  as  a  welle  of  alle  goodes.  ^[  For 


2437  owen—  C.  omits 

2438  tournfy— MS.  tcwrni)>e 

2439  euenl>/k — euene  lyke 

2440  lwt[e]— lyhte 

2412  benigne— bygyrmynge 
2414  yif—  yiue 

\>i  streite — the  strcyte 
2145  \1iyni\-  from  C. 


2448  \fhow]— from  C. 

2449  bry^tnes — bryhtnesse 

2451  pa\>— MS.  paj^e  ;  paath 

2452  [\>af]— that 

2453  whiche—  which      [prood 

2454  -55-56-58-59  goode— 
24  ")i  tvhiclie— whych 

24.57  set— MS.  sette,  C.  set 
2400  seine — scyii 


2460  souereyne  goode — soue- 
reyn  good 

be  founden—  ben  fownde 

2461  veyne — veyn 

2iH3  Ipisistoseyne—C.  oinits 
21(51  denoyed— VL&.  deuoyd- 

<•(!,  C.  denoyed 
goode — u'ood    ' 
I  210f>  of—  MS.  of  of 


PKOSE3k]  GOD   THE   SUPREME   GOOD.  89 

al  fing  fat  is  cleped  iwperfit.  is  proued  iwperfit  by  f  e 


amenusynge  of  perfecc-iowi.  or  of  f  ing  fat  is  perfit.  and  source  of  ail  other 

her  of  comef  it.  fat  in  euery  f  ing  general,  yif  fat.  fat  say  that  a  thing 

men  seen  any  f  ing  fat  is  iwperfit  *certys  in  filke  general  J^  ft1,;^ 
f  er  mot  ben  sowme  fing  fat  is  perfit.     f  For  yif  so 


-  .    ,        Nature  takes  not 

be  bat  perfemoun  is  don  awey.  men  mav  nat  finke  her  origin  from 

things  diminish- 

nor  seye  fro  whennes  filke  fing  is  fat  is  cleped  inperfit. 
f  For  f  e  nature  of  f  inges  ne  token  nat  her  bygynnyng 
of  binges  amenused  and  iwperfit.  but  it  procedib  of  SSothe  remotest 

and  most  fruitless 

biizgu*  fat  ben  al  hool.  and  absolut.  and  descendef  so  things,  if  there 

be  an  imperfect 

douno  in  to  outerest  f  inges  and  in  to  fingw*  empty  and 
wif  oute  fruyt.  but  as  I  haue  shewed  a  iitel  her  byforne. 
bat  yif  ber  be  a  blisfulnesse  bat  be  frele  and  vein  and  thfcfeiidty  »• 

sides.  That  God  is 

inperfit.  f  er  may  no  man  doute.  fat  f  er  nys  som  blis-  SjJJS*j?nor<Jjf11 
Mnessefatissadstedfastawdperfit.  b.  f  is  is  concludid  ^| 
qwod   I  fermely   and   sofefastly.      P.    But   cowsidere  %$ 

.      ,,.,.,  IT-.,  conceived  better 

also  quod.  she  in  wham  fis  blisiulnesse  enhabitef.  fe  2482 
co?ttmune  acordaunce  and  conceite  of  f  e  corages  of  men  jfe  w 


proueb  and  graunteb  fat  god  prince  of  alle  Ipingus  is  mu^t  be  food 

Reason  clearly  de- 

good.     ^T  For  so  as  no  bing  ne  may  ben  fouat  bettre  fan 


mu^t  be  food"6 

Reason  clearly  de- 

moirtrateejijthat 

God  is  good,  and 


god.  it  may  nat  ben  douted  fan  fat  [he  fat]  no  fing  is 

bettre.  fat  he  nys  good.     ^  Certys  resourc  shewef  fat  wer"not  so  He 

„  _      could  not  be  the 

god  is  so  goode  bat  it  proueb  by  verray  iorce  fat  perlit  Ruler  of  aii  things 

for  there  would 

goode  is  in  hym.     ^  For  yif  god  ne  is  swiche.  he  ne  jJi 


may  nat  ben  prince  of  alle  f  inges.  for  certis  som  fing 

,  ,/.  r>.  i        111-1  and  who  must 

possessyng  in  hym  self  perfit  goode  sholde  ben  more  have  existed 

before  Him.    And 

fan  god.  and  [it]  sholde  seme  fat  filke  fing  were  first  J 


and  elder  fan  god.     If  For  we  han  shewed  apertly  fat 
alle  f  inges  fat  ben  pe/-fit.  ben  first  or  f  inges  fat  ben  in- 

,  r  .       -,  may  no   run 

perfit.     ^T  And  for  bi  for  as  moche  as   that    my  resou?^  with  infinity, 

we  must  confess 

or  my  proces  ne  go  nat  awey  wif  oute  an  ende.    we  Q 


may  not  run  on 


ou^tfe]  to  graunten  fat  f  e  souereyne  god  is  ry^t  ful  of  ft 


2466  al  \>mg— alle  thing 
2:1(58  her  of  come\> — ther  of 

comht 

2470  somme— som 
2171  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
2473  token— took 
21.75  hool— hoole 
2470  dounc — down 


2177   wi\>  oute  fruyt—  with 

owten  frut 

2iSO  stedfast—siydefotA 
2481  fenncly—7*\&.   fennely, 


1  fe 
C.  fe 


rmely 
sofefastly  —  sothfastly 
24S(5  [lie  \>a(]—  from  C. 
is  bettre—  nis  bettre 


mate  good. 

2488-89-91  goode— good 
2489  swiche— s\vych 
2492  [#]— from 


vyc 
C. 


seme  —  semen 


2  193  elder—  eldore 
2t95  [tltaf]—  from  C. 


2i97 


90  GOD   THE   SOURCE   OF   TRUE   FELICITY.                    [pKOSE3'io. 

And  as  we  have  souerevne  perfit  goode.  and  we  han  establissed  bat  be 

seen  that  the  per- 

foSpSw^iff  souereyne  goode  is  verrey  blisfulnesse.  ban  mot  it  nedes 

feiidty  resides™!0  ben  [bat  verray  blysfulnesse  is]  yset  in  souereyne  god. 

the  Supreme  Di-  r>     .  •     ,    i       T         i            JT            ,  •                             .LI                   -i 

vimty.  Uutietus  B.  bis  take  1  wel  quod  .1.  ne  bis  ne  may  nat  be  wibseid 

see  how  we  can  ^ 

firmly  and  irre-  in  no  manere.     ^T  But  I  preie  be  q?/od  she  see  now  how 

fragamy  prove 

God*  SntSSfn™6  f011  majst  pieuen  holily  and  wib-outew  corrupciourc  bis 

his  own  nature  &  ,     i     T    i                   *iij_»                                       i    •             .L  _*>   i      .£» 

plenitude  of  per-  bat  I  haue  seid.    bat  be  souereyne  god  is  ry^t  ml  of 

feet  and  consum-  ' 

ifatougthink  that  souereyne  goode.  [In  whych  manure  quod  I.J  wenest 

Ssgoodrfromed  )>ou  OU3*  ^^  she  fat  fis  prince  of  alle  binges  haue 

mast°"eiieventff  ytake  bilke  souereyne  good  any  where  ban  of  hym  self. 

the  giver  of  this  .                                                                                                   . 

2508  1T  °f  wnicne  souereyne  goode  men  proueb  bat  he  is  ful 


the  receiver. 


^73*  as  ]JOU  my^test  binken.  bat  god  bat  hab  blisfulnesse 

e       ev.  ,  ,„  _         i     *n        i  i>    <>   i  j«"i 

But  we  have  con-  in  hym  sell,  and  bat  like  blisiulnesse  bat  is  in  nym 

eluded  that  there 

is  nothing  more    were  diuers  in  substaunce.     ^F  For  yif  bou  wene  bat 

excellent  than 

°&  ^aue  receyue(i  filke  good  oute  of  hym  self,  bou 


mayst  wene  bat  he  bat  jaf  bilke  good  to  god.  be  more 

less  of  a  different  .,  .  ,  _.     ,   T 

substance,  we       goode  ban  is  god.     T|  But  I  am  byknowen  and  confesse 

cannot  conceive, 

fithe     an^  J3^  T^  ^S^^J  lp^  g0(i  ^s  ry^  worbi  abouen  alle 


fmges.  [  And  yif  so  be  bat  bis  good  be  in  hym  by 
differing  one  from  nature,  but  bat  it  is  diuers  from  [hym]  by  wenyng 
e88eiitfairhidiffen'  resouw>  syn  we  sPe^e  °f  g0(i  prince  of  alle  binges  feyne 
notbe  the^aine11"  w^°  so  feyne  may.  who  was  he  bat  [hath]  cowioigned 

bise  diuers  binges   to-gidre.    and  eke  at  be  last[e]  se 


consequently/      wel  bat  o  bing  bat  is  diuers  from  any  bing.  bat  bilke 

what  in  its  nature 

2522  bing  nis  nat  bat  same  bing.  fro  whiche  it  is  vndir- 
chiefgoodmcannot  stondew  to  ben  diuers.  ban  folweb  it.   bat  bilke  Iping  bat 

be  the  supreme 

w°o°u1d  tJtoioQi  ^  ^S  nature  ^S  dyuers  from  souereyne  good,  bat  bat 
toconceiveofGod,  ^ng  nys  nat  souereyne  good,  but  certys  bat  were  a 
S  mSTn  can  felonous  corsednesse  to  binken  bat  of  hym.  bat  no  bing 
worth.  nis  more  worbe.  For  alwey  of  alle  binges,  be  natwre 


2498  goode— good 
2199  souereyne  goode-^soue- 
reyn  good 

2500  [Pa£ is]— from  C. 

yxet— MS.  ysette,  C.  set 

2501  fie— ben 

wibseid  —  MS.  wipseide, 

C.  withseid 
2503  wib-outen — wit/i-owte 

2501  seid— MS.  seidc,C.  scyd  , . ,. 

2505  souereuiie  yvudv— suue-  '  2511  goode— worth 


reyn  good 

2505  [i»  -  /]—  from  C. 

2506  outf—  awht 

2507  paw  o/—  owt  of 

2508  whiche  —  whych 
souereyne  goode—  souereyn 

good 

2509  ha]>—  MS.  hape 


2511  were  —  weron 


2517  from—  fro 
[hym]—  from  C. 

2518  feyne  —  faigrie 

2519  feyne  —  feigne 
[hath}—  from  C. 

2520  to-iJM—  laste 


2521  o—  a 

2522  whiche—  whych 
2524  from—  fro 
2527  wis—  is 


I-KOSE'IO.]  THERE   CANNOT   BE   TWO   CHIEF   GOODS.  91 


of  hem  ne  may  nat  ben  better  ban  his  bygywnyng. 
^[  For  whiehe  I  may  concluden  by  ry^t  uerray  resouw. 

e  may  tereor 

bat  bilke  bat  is  bygynnyng  of  alle  binges,  bilke  same  conclude  that  the 

Author  of  all 

bing  is  good  in  his  substaunce.     B.  bou  hast  seid  ry^t- 


fully  quod  I.     P.  But  we  han  graunted  qiiod  she  bat  ^ 
souereyne  good  is  blysfulnes.   bat  is  so  be  quod  .1.  ban  p.  Butyouhave 

owned  that  true 

quod  she  mote  we  nedes  graunten  and  confessen  bat  felicity  is  the  sove- 

•        reign  good  ;  then 

bilke  same  souereyne  goode  be  god.     ^[  Certys  *quod  f"pS?ffe 

IT  ,     -,  .  ,  -.  grant  that  God  is 

.  1  ne  may  nat  denye  ne  wibstonde  be  resourcs  pur-  that  true  felicity. 

B.  Your  conclu- 

posed.  and  I  see  wel  bat  it  folweb  by  strengbe  of  be  sums  follow  from 

r      your  premises. 

premisses,     ^f  Loke  nowe  quod  she  yif  bis  be  proued 


[yit]  more  fermely  bus.     ^[  bat  ber  ne  mowen  nat  ben 

.    ,  ,  .  r    _  ,  by  considering  it 

two  souereyne  goodes  bat  ben  diuerse  amo  n  ges  hem  in  this  view,  that 

J  L    ;fe  there  cannot  be 

self,  bat  on  is  nat  bat  bat  ober  is.    ban   Fne  1  mowen  two  sovereign 

goods  which  differ 

neiber  of  hem  ben  perfit.  so  as  eyber  of  hem  lakkib  to 


,  .       ,  .  ^.  ,  .1      of  the  goods  that 

obir.  but  bat  bat  nis  nat  pernt  men  may  seen  apertly  differ  one  cannot 

J    be  what  the  other 

bat   it   nis    nat   souereyne.    be    binges    ban    bat   ben  is  ;  wherefore 

neither  of  them 

souereynely  goode  ne  mowen  by  no  wey  ben  diuerse.  2545 

^T  But  I  haue  wel  conclude  bat  blisfulnesse  and  god  ben  where  one  wants 

the  other.    That 

[the]  souereyne  goode.    For  whiche  it  mot  nedes  be  bat  which  is  not  per- 

*        feet  cannot  be  the 

souereyne  blisfulnesse  is  souerey[ne]  dyuynite.     ^f  No  She^ca^the 

bing  qjiod  I  nis  more  sobefast  ban  bis  ne  more  ferme  by  eSentlaUy  differ- 

ent.   But  it  has 
resouw.  ne  a  more  worbi  bing  ban  god  may  nat  ben  been  shown  that 

God  and  hai- 

concluded.     P.  vpon  bise  binges  ban  quod  she.  ry^t  as 
bise  geometriens  whan  bei  han  shewed  her  proposiciouras 


-,  LI  .,.  1  .  Supreme  Divinity 

ben  wont  to  brynge?>,  in  binges  bat  bei  clepen  ponsmes  are  one  and  the 

,      ,  „    „          .  -,       ,  .  .,    T  same.    Following 

or  declarac^ou7^s  ot  lorseide  binges,  ryn  so  wil  I  2eue  then  the  examples 

J->  of  geometricians 

be  here  as  a  corolarie  or  a  mede  of  coroune.     For  wlii.  who  deduce  their 

consequences 

for  as  moche  as  by  be  getynge  of  blisfulnesse  men  ben 


maked  blysful.  and  blisfulnesse  is  diuinite.     ^[  ban  is  somethmg^ke  a 

corollary  as  fol- 

it  manifest  and  open  bat  by  be  gety/zg  of  diuinite  men  io\vs:-Becauseby 

the  attainment  of 

ben  makid  blisful.    ry$t  as  by  be  getynge  of  iustice  .  .  . 


2528  better— bettre 

2529  whiche — whych 

2531  seid— MS.  seide,C.  seyd 
2533  so]>e— soth 
2531  mote— moten 
2539  [yif]— from  C. 
2511  is  (1)— nis 


2541  o\>er— othre 
[ne'] — from  C. 

2546  conclude — concluded 

2547  [the]  from  C. 

goode — good  be — ben 

2549  so\>efast— sothfast 
ferme  —  MS.    forme,    C. 


ferme 

2552  proposiciouns  —  MS. 
proporsiouws,  C.  propo- 
sicunms 

2553  porismes  —  MS.  poeis- 
niHs,  C.  porysmes 

2554  wil — wole 


92  THE   HAPPY    MAN    IS   A   GOD. 

and  ^J  1>Q  8e^JnS  of  sapience  pei  ben  maked  wise. 

so  nedes  by  pe  semblable  resowz  whaw  pei  ban  getyn 

of  Divinity  men        ..     .     .  .     . 

are  made  happy,    diuniite   pei   ben  maked  todays,    ban  is  euery  blisiul 

But  as  by  the  par- 

man  °°d<    ^  -^ut  cer^s  %  nature,  per  nys  but  oon  god. 
but  ty  J>e  paHicipac-i'ouws  of  diuinite  fere  ne  lettep  ne 
theymu8tIn1ece8-ty  disturbep  no  ping  bat  per  ne  ben  many  goddes.     1f  bis 

sarily,  and  by          .  . 

parity  of  reason,    is  qwod  .1.  a  faire  ping  and  a  precious.     ^[  Clepe  it  as 
f011  wo*k  ^e  '*  corolarie  or  porisme  or  mede  of  coroune 
?  or  declarynges     ^[  Certys  quod  she  no  fing  nis  fairer. 

participation  of  Di-  .  • 

vine  essence  there  ban  is  be  bing  bat  by  resouw  snolde  ben  added  to  bise 

may  be  manygods. 

f°rseide  finges.  what  Jring  quod  .1.     ^f  So  quod  sbe  as 
aw!y  it  seme)?  pat  blisfulnesse  contenip  many  pinges.  it  were 

not  to  consider        f     .  .,  ,     .  .       r,     . -,       ,,       .  .          _  .  , 

whether  these       lorto  witen  wlicbir     bat    alle  bise    binges   maken   or 

several  things 

Si11  the  tody  of  coni°ignen  as  a  maner  body  of  blysfulnesse  by  diuersite 

2574  of  parties  or  [of]  membris.     Or  ellys  yif  any  of  alle 

whether  there  ia    bilke  bmgws  be  swvche  bat  it  acomplisc  by  hym  self  be 

not  some  one  of 

twngsP£cSay  substaunce  of  blisfulnesse.  so  pat  alle  pise  oper  pinges 
sunceeS  essence"  ^en  referred  and  bro^t  to  blisfulnesse.  pat  is  to  seyne 

of  it,  and  to  which  I-OPT  mr    T  i  -i  IT, 

aii  the  rest  have  a  as  to  be  cniei  oi  hem.          1  wolde  qwod  1  bat  bou 

relation  ? 

B.  illustrate         makedest  me  clerly  to  vndirstonde  what  bou  seist.  and 

this  matter  by  J 

31^  f011  recordest  me  pe  forseide  pinges.     ^f  Haue  I  nat 
sa?  iuged  quod  she.  pat  blisfulnesse  is  goode.  3is  forsope 

the  same  of  all  the  1T  T^TATI  T 

other  goods ;  for  quod  .1.  and  pat  souereyne  goode.  ^|  Adde  pan  qiiod 
is  identical  with  slie  pilke  goode  pat  is  maked  blisfulnes  to  alle  pe  for- 
powerTk'eTise '  seide  pinges.  t  For  pilke  same  blisfulnesse  pat  is 
inghrerputatiaon!im"  denied  to  ben  souereyne  sumsaunce.  pilke  self  is 

and  perfect 

pleasure,  what  souereyne  power,  souereyne  reuerence.  souereyne  cler- 
sufficfeicy^plTwer  nesse  or  noblesse  and  souereyne  delit.  what  seist  pou 
considered8^0  ^  Pan  of  alle  pise  pinges.  pat  is  to  seyne.  suffisance  power 


principal  ? 

2563  oon—o 
2561  lette\>—let 

2566  faire— fayr 

2567  porismc— MS.  pousme, 
C.  porisuie 

2572  [po£l— from  C. 
^.">7:J  iiitiner — 11 
6# — be 


or  are  and  bise  ober  binges,  ben  bei  ban  as  membris  of  blisful- 

they  to  be  referred 

to  the  sovereign     nesse.  or  ben  bei  referred  and  brou^t  to  souereyne  good. 

good  as  their  " 

as  alle  pinges  pat  ben  broa^t  to  pe  cliief  of  hem. 

2583  goode—  good 
2585  self—  selue 

2588  \>ise— C.  omits 
seyne — seyn 

2589  ofyer— oothro 
25'Jl  brouit— MS.  v 

browht 


2574  [o/]— from  C. 

2575  swyche— swych 

2576  o\>er— oothre 

2577  seyne— s'eyn 

2578  chief-~chcf 

2581  goode  %is — good  ys 

2582  souereyne  youde — soue- 
reyu  good 


PROSED.]     GOOD,  THE   RULE   AND    SQUARE    OF   THINGS   DESIRABLE.  93 

b.  I  vndirstonde  wel  quod.  .1.  what  bou  p?/rposest  to  B.  i  sec  what 

you  are  aiming  at, 

seke.  but  I  clesijrfe]  to  herkene  fat  fou  shewe  it  me. 
p.  Take  now  f  us  ])e  discressiouw  of  f  is  questions  quod, 
she.  yif  al  bise  binges  quod  she  weren  rnembris  to 

felicity,  they 

ielicite.  ban  weren  bei  dmerse  bat  0011  fro  bat  ober.  would  diner  one 

•  •          from  another,  for 

^f  And  swiche  is  f  e  natwre  of  parties  or  of  membris. 
pat  dyuerse  mewbris  compounen  a  body,  ^f  Certis 

T>1  ..  ,  ,  -i/.  well  shown  that 

q  uod  1  it  nab  wel  ben  shewed  her  byforne.  bat  alle  bise  ail  these  things 

T  are  the  same  and 

f  inges  ben  alle  on  f  ing.  fan  ben  f  ei  none  membris  qwod  thereforfthel-  are 
she.  for  elly's  it  sholde  seme  fat  blisfulnesse  were  theV'weVVham.i- 
conioigned  *  al  of  one  membre  alone,  but  bat  is  a  bircg  ness  might  be 

made  up  of  one 

fat  may  nat  ben   doon.    fis  fing  quod  .1.  nys   nat  member—  which 
doutous.  but  I  abide  to  herkene  fe  remenaunt  of  fe 
question?*.  fis  is  open  and  clere  qitod  she.  fat  alle  ofer 


7    .  ,  __    T1  P.  All  the  thinirs 

binges  ben  referred  ana  brou^t  to  goode.      IF  Jbor  per-  above-mentioned 

must  be  tried  by 

fore  is  suffisaunce  requered.     For  it  is  denied  to  ben  2607 
good,  and  forfi  is  power  requered.  for  men  trowen  also  2SiJe.e  " 

_  .  .  Sufficiency,povvcr, 

bat  it  be  goode.  and  bis  same  bmg  mowe  we  binken  and  &c.,  are  an  desir- 

*  f  '  ed,  because  they 

coueiten  of  reuerence  and  of  noblesse  and  of  delit.  fan 
is  souereyne  good  fe  soume  and  f  e  cause  of  alle  fat  thh 

J|--IT        T      •       IP         i  •    i  "ii         i  •  "i   i     -i  t    i  For  that  which 

amt  e  I  be  desired,  forwhi  bilke  bmcj  bat  wib-holdeb  no  contains  no  good, 

either  in  reality  or 

good  in  it  self  ne  semblaunce  of  goode  it  ne  may  nat  appearance,  can 

never  be  desired. 

wel  in  no  manere  be  desired  ne  requered.  and  fe  con- 
trarie.  For  f  0113  fat  f  inges  by  hir  nature  ne  ben  nat 
goode  algates  yif  men  wene  bat  bei  bew  goode  nt  ben  real  goods. 

r        r  Hence,  Good  is 

f  ei  desired  as  f  ou^  [fat]  f  ei  were  verrayly  goode.  and 


f  erf  ore  is  it  fat  men  au^tew  to  wene  by  ry^t  fat  bounte 

P  ,  .  j?      n      «•  j.  i  That  which  is  the 

be  souereyne  lyn  and  be  cause  oi  alle  binges  bat  ben  to  cause  of  our  de- 

J  J  siring  any  thing 

requeren.     ^[  But  certis  bilke  bat  is  cause  for  whiche  is  itself  what  we 

*  *  *  chiefly  want.     If 

men  requeren  any  fing.     ^f  it  semef  fat  filke  same  rideaondac8count  of 

..-,  ii-i  -PI  iij      health—  it  is  not 

f  ing  be  most  desired,  as  f  us  yit  fat  a  wy3t  wolde  ryde  the  ride  he  wants 

so  much  as  its 

for  cause  of  hele.    he  ne  desiref  nat  so  mychel  fe  salutary  effects. 


2593  rfe,sy 

shr  for  to  herkne 

2594  Take— tak 
2596  fro— from 

25!>7  siviclie— swhych 
2600  on  \>ing— othing 

2602  one— on 

2603  ben  doon— be  don 


260i  herkene— herknen 

2605  clere — cler 
o\>er — oothre 

2606  goode— good 
2609  goode — good 

mowe— mowen 
2617  \\nxft- from  C. 
were   verrayly  —  weeren 


verraylyche 
2618  \>erfore—  thorfor 


2619  alle—  alle  the 

2620  wMclie—  whych 
20^3  mychel  —  nioclit-1 


GOD    A    HAVEN    OF    REST. 


THOOK  3. 

LMKT.  10. 


Since  all  things 
are  sought  after 
for  the  sake  of 
Good,  they  cannot 
be  more  desirable 
than  the  good  it- 
self.   It  has  been 
shown  that  all  the 
aforesaid  things 
are  only  pursued 
for  the  sake  of 

2629 

happiness — hence 
it  is  clear  that 
good  and  happi- 
ness are  essen- 
tially the  same. 
B.  I  see  no  cause 
to  differ  from  you. 
P.  It  has  been 
proved  that  God 
and  happiness  are 
identical  and 
inseparable. 
B.  That  is  true. 
Therefore  the  sub- 
stance of  God  is 
also  the  same  as 
that  of  the 
Supreme  Good. 

[ThelOtheMetwr.] 
Come  hither,  all 
ye  that  are 
captives— bound 
and  fettered 
with  the  chains 
of  earthly 
desires ; — come 
to  this  source  of 
goodness,  where 
you  shall  find  rest 
and  security. 
[Chaucer's  gloss 

2642 

upon  the  Text. ' 
Not  the  gold  of 
Tagus  or  of  Her- 
mus,  nor  the 
gems  of  India, 
can  clear  the 
mental  sight  from 
vain  delusions, 
but  rather 
darken  it. 
Such  sources  of 
our  delight  are 
•found  in  the 
earth's  gloomy 
caverns, — 
but  the  bright 
light  that  rules 
the  heavens 
dispels  the  dark- 
ness of  the  soul. 
He  who  has  seen 
this  light  will 
confess  that  the 
beams  of  the  sun 
are  weak  and  dim. 


2R24  moeuynrj — moeuynge 
262fi  [nafl— rirom  C. 
2623  o}>er— oothre 

2630  clerely— clerly 

good  and  blisfulnesse — of 
good  and  of  blysfulnesse 

2631  none — oon 

2«32  myit[_eri}— xnyhten 
2634  oon— oo 


moeuyng  to  ryden  as  f  e  effect  of  his  heele.  Now  fan 
syn  fat  alle  f inges  ben  requered  for  fe  grace  of  good, 
f ei  ne  ben  [nat]  desired  of  alle  folk  more  fan  f e  same 
good  ^T  But  we  han  graunted  fat  blysfulnesse  is  fat 
f  ing  for  whiche  fat  alle  f  ise  of  er  finges  ben  desired, 
fan  is  it  f  us  fat  certis  only  blisfulnesse  is  requered  and 
desired  ^[  By  whiche  f  ing  it  shewef  clerely  fat  good 
and  blisfulnesse  is  al  oone  and  fe  same  substaunce. 
T[  I  se  nat  quod.  I  wher  fore  fat  men  my3t[en]  discordcn 
in  f  is.  p.  and  we  han  shewed  fat  god  and  verrey  blys- 
fulnesse is  al  oon  fing  ^f  fat  is  sofe  quod  .1.  fan 
mo  we  we  conclude  sikerly  fat  f  e  substaunce  of  god  is 
set  in  filke  same  good  and  in  noon  of  er  place.  2636 

NUNC    OMNES   PARITER    ETC. 

A  Comef  alle  to-gidre  now  36  fat  ben  yca^t  and 
**  ybounde  wif  wickedfe]  cheines  by  fe  deceiuable 
delit  of  erf ely  finges  inhabytynge  in  ^oure  f ou^t.  here 
shal  ben  f  e  reste  of  $oure  laboures.  here  is  f  e  hauene 
stable  in  peisible  quiete.  f  is  al  oone  is  f  e  open  refut  to 
wreches.  Glosa.  fis  is  to  seyn.  fat  30  fat  ben  corn- 
bred  and  deceyued  wif  worldly  affecc^ourcs  comef  now 
to  fis  souereyne  good  fat  is  god.  fat  is  refut  to  hem  fat 
wolen  come  to  hyni.  Textus.  ^f  Alle  f  e  finges  fat  f  e 
ryuere  Tagus  3iuef  ^ow  wif  his  golden[e]  grauels.  or 
ellys  alle  f  e  f  ynges  fat  f  e  ryuere  hermws.  3iuef  wif  his 
rede  brynke.  or  fat  yndus  3iuef  fat  is  nexte  f  e  hote 
pariiQ  of  fe  worlde.  fat  medelef  fe  grene  stones 
(smaragde)  wif  fe  white  (margarits).  ne  sholde  nat 
cleren  f  e  lokynge  of  3oure  f  o^t.  but  hiden  raf  er  3oure 
blynde  corages  wif  i/me  hire  dirkenesse  IF  Alle  fat 
likef  3ow  here  and  excitif  and  moeuef  joure  f  ou3tes. 


2634  so\>e— soth 

2635  mowe — mowen 

2636  set— MS.  sette,  C.  set 
2638  wicked[e]— wyckyde 
2639,  2640  here— hpr 

2640  hauene  —  MS.  heuene, 
C.  hauene 

2641  al  oone — allonfi 
2643  worldly— worldely 


2645  come — comyn 

2646  (jolden[_e\    grauels  — 
goldene  srraunylcs 

2647  bynr/es— MS.'rynges,  C. 
thinges 

hermits — MS.   herinws,  C. 
herynus 

2648  nexie— noxt 
2G49  worlde— world 


?2oSE8ii.]  MEN    D0    NOT    SEEK   TRUE  ELICIT  Y  95 

bo  erbe  hab  noryshed  it  in  hys  lowe  caues.    but  be  B.  i  assent,  and 

'      am  convinced  by 

shynyng  by  pe  whiche  pe   heuene   is   gouerned   and  ]Jel[^<J|t°fyour 
whennes  pat  it  hap  hys  strengpe  pat  chasej)  pe  derke  $*3SSS& 
ouerprowyng  of  pe  soule.     f  And  who  so  euer  may  LnwdwStfffi 
knowen  bilke  lyjt  of  blisfulnesse.  he  shal  wel  seine  bat  &  i  should  value 

J:>  it  infinitely  if  at 

])e  white  bemes  of  pe  sonne  ne  ben  nat  cleer.  2659  f£JJJea{{J}||  to 

the  knowledge  of 

A.SSENCIOR   INQtf^M    CUNCTA.      BoiCG.  Srdgn"  good! 

[The  11  prose.] 

I  assent  [el    me  quod.   .1.     For   alle  bise  binges  ben  P.  i  shau  eluci- 
date this  matter 
strongly   bounden  wip    ry$t    ferme    resouws.    how      "^4" 

mychel  wilt  pou  pmsen  it  quod  she.   yif  pat   pou 


i  -i         ,  MI  i      •       -r         i  •         -i  T-ri        which  I  have 

knowe  what  bilke  goode  is.  1  wol  preise  it  quod  1  by  before  laid  down 

0  .      .  as  conclusions. 

price  wip  outen  ende.     ^[  yif  it  shal  bytyde  me  to  B^I  grant  them 
knowe  also  to-gidre  god  pat  is  good,    ^f  certys  quod  she 


pat  shal  I  do  pe  by  verray  resouw.  yif  pat  po  pinges  pat  majority  of  man- 
I  haue  concludefdl  a  litel  her  by  *forne  dwellen  oonly      [*  foi.  22  y 

pursue  are  not 

in  hir  firstfe]  grauntyreg.     Boice.  pei  dwellen  graunted  2668 
to  pe  quod  .1.  pis  is  to  seyne  as  who  seip  .1.  graunt  pi 
forseide  conclusion's.     ^[  Haue  I  nat  shewed  pe  qiiod 


because  where 

she  pat  pe  pinges  pat  ben  requered  of  many  folke.  ne  one  of  them  is 
ben  nat  verray  goodes  ne  perfit.  for  pei  ben  diuerse  pat  gSVaTptneS" 
oon  fro  pat  oper.  and  so  as  eche  of  hem  is  lakkyng  to  i°nof(shown,  to^6 

-.•i  Ll  i»j-j>i    that  the  true  and 

oper.  pei  ne  han  no  power  to  bryngen  a  good  pat  is  ful  chief  good  is  made 
and  absolute.     IT  But  ban  atte  arst  ben  bei  verray  good  wage  of  aii  the 

goods  in  such  a 

whan  pei  ben  gadred  to-gidre  al  in  to  a  forme  and  in 
to  oon  wirchywg.  so  pat  pilke  ping  pat  is  suffisaunce. 

,.„  ,  ,  ,         ,  ,  ,   sa 

pilk  same  be  power  and  reuerence.  and  noblesse  and  2678 

mirpe.     ^  And  forsope  but  alle  pise  pirages  ben  alle  o  j^ 

same  ping  pei  ne  han  nat  wher  by  pat  pei  mowen  ben  S£»T^hy  ih^dd 

they  be  classed 

put  in  pe  nou?ttbre  ot  pinges.  pat  ai^ten  ben  requered  among  desirable 
or  desired,     b.  ^  It  is  shewed  quod  .1.  ne  her  of  mav  w.hile  'I1.6"6  , 

t/     things  diner  from 

per  110  man  douten.  p.  pe  pinges  pan  quod  she  pat  ne 


2654,  2656  ha\>—  MS.  ha}>e 
2654  hys—  hyso 
2656  chase\>   \>e  derke  —  es- 
chueth  the  dyrke 
2657  euer  —  C.  oraits 
2658  seine  —  sevn 
2660  assent^e]—  assente 
2662  mychel  —  mochel 

2663  qoade—  good 
2664  price—  prys 
2669  is—  omitted 
seyne—  seyn 
2671  /oZ&e—  folkes 
2673  o\>er—  oothre 
eche  —  ech 
2675  absolute—  absolut 

2675  atte  arst  —  at  erste 
2676  oJ—  alle 
a-0 
2677  to—  omitted 
wirchyng—  wyrkyiige 
2678  |>i/&—  thilke 
2681  put—  MS.  putto,  0.  put 
au^ten—  owhteri 

96 


UNITY   NECESSARY   TO   EXISTENCE. 


stance  of  those 


^en  none  goodes  whan  bei  ben  diuerse.  and  whan  bei 
.-  bygynnen  to  ben  al  o  J>ing.   ban  ben  bei  goodes.    ne 

Do  not  they  owe  ..    .,   ,  ,   .         ,       ,  „        ..  .  . 

their  being  good    comib  it  hem  nat  ban  by  be  getynge  of  unite  bat  bei  ben 

to  their  unity  ? 

R.  so  it  appears,    niaked  goodes.  b.  so  it  seineb  quod  .1.  but  alle  bing  bat 

P.  Do  you  confess 

that  iesVgoodhbe?     *s  8°°^-  ^od  she  grauntest  bou  bat  it  be  good  by  par- 
thepartSin    ticipacioiw  .  of  good  or  no.     ^[  I  graunt[e]  it  quod  .1. 

of  the  sovereign  r      ..  . 

good  or  no?  [[  ban  mayst  bou  graunt[en]  it  quod  she  by  sembleable 

/.'.    It  Is  SO. 

resou72  f8^  oon  a1l<^  g°od  ben  o  same  bing.     ^[  For  of 
Binges  [of]  whiche  bat  be  effect  nis  nat  naturely  diuerse 

,     .  .    ,  ,  .  T 

nedys  be  substaunce  mot  ben  o  same  binge.  1  ne  may 

the  same,  whose 

effects  do  not  na-   nat  denve  it  quod  I.    Tf  Hast  bou  nat  knowen  wel  quod 

turally  differ).  S.I 

^"Doyo^notiJr-  sne-  t^  a^  fillo  fat  ^s  ^f  so  l°nge  I"8  dwellyng  and 
thingwhichvex^"    his  substaunce.  as  longe  is  it  oone.     ^f  but  wliaw  it 

ists  is  permanent     »•,.•,,      i  ..  ,.,.  7 

BO  long  as  it  pre-    forlotib  to  ben  oone  it  mot  nedis  dien  and  corrumpe  to- 

serves  its  unity— 

t?i^re'     1T  -^n  wni°ne  manere  quod  .T.     ^[  Ry3t  as  in 
nd  anni"    beestes  quod  she.    whan  be  soule  and  be  body  ben 
co?zioigned  in  oon  and  dwellen  to-gidre  it  is  cleped  a 
n<^  whan  hire  vnite  is  destroied  by  disseueraunce 
oon  fram  bat  obir.  ban  sheweb  it  wel  bat  it  is  a 


B  HOW 


one  tMs°beien<*m    dede  biwg.  awe?  bat  it  is  no  lehger  no  beste.  and  be 

is  called  an  animal 

or  beast,  but 
when  the  union 


body  of  a  wyzt  while  it  dwelleb  in  oon  forme  by  con- 
of  ythe  iuncc^oura  of  membris  it  is  wel  seyn  bat  it  is  a  figure  of 
mankynde.    and  yif  be  partyes  of  be  body  ben  [so] 


The  same  may  be'  diuide[d]  and  disseuered  bat  oon  fro  bat  obir  bat  bei 
^estr°ien  vnite.  be  body  forletib  to  ben  bat  it  was  by- 
forne.  IF  And  who  so  wolde  renne  in  be  same  manere 

thS  themselves  by  alle  binges  he  sholde  seen  bat  wib  outen  doute  euery 

lose  their 

existence.  binge  is  in  his  substaunce  as  longe  as  it  is  oon.  and 

B.  I  believe  we        ' 

SwSeverycase  wnan  ^  forletib  to  ben  oon  it  dieb  and  perissib.  boice. 
ttiing  wiuchTcts    whan  I  considre  quod  I  many  binges  I  see  noon  ober. 

naturally  that  for-    -,.  T     ,  1-1  i      i        t     •     •  ^ 

goes  this  desire  of  IF  Is  ber  any  bing  banne  quod  she  bat  in  as  moche  as 

existence  and  .  f  .. 

^for  death    it  lyueb  naturely.    bat  forletib  be  appetit  or  talent  of 


2684  none — no 

2685  al  o— alle  oon 
26S6  comi\>— comth 
2Gsi)  grauntle']— grannie 
2690  mayst  \>ou  (irawnt[eri] 

most  how 
269^  [<;/]— from  0. 


2695  a?— alle 
ha\>— MS.  haj>e 

2696,  2697  oone— oon 

2698  whiche— which 

2703  dede— <le<l 
lenger — lenjrere 
beste— beest 


2704  while— whil 

OOM — OO 

2706    O]  diiiide^—so  de- 

uyclyrl 

2709  so— omitted 
2713  many — manye 


]  NATURE   SUSTAINS    VEGETATION.  97 

hys  beynge.  and  desire])  to  come  to  dee]?  and  to  cor- 


rupczourc.    ^[  yif  I  considere  quod  I  febeestes  fat  han       f  which,  of  it- 

«...  /.        -11  T  self  and  without 

any  manere  nature  ot  willywge  or  ot   nmynge  1   ne  constraint,  re- 

nounces or  de- 
fynde  no  ping,    but  yif  it  be  constreyned  fro  wif  out 

forfe.    fat  forletif  or  dispisef  to  lyue  and  to  durew 
or  fat  wole  his  fankes  hasten  hyra  to  dien.     ^[  For 

am  doubtful  whe- 

euery  beest  trauaylef  hy?ft  to  defende  and  kepe  fe  2722 

sauuac^ourc  of  lijf.  and  eschewef  deef  and  destruccfoim. 

b.  but  certys  I  doute  me  of  herbes  and  of  trees,  fat  is  forThey  hav 

sensitive  soul,  nor 

to  seyn  bat  I  am  in  a  doute  of  swiche  binges  as  herbes  any  natural  voij- 

J       r  tion  like  animals. 

or  trees  fat  ne  han  no  felyrcg  soule.    ne  no<  naturel  Jus^for  doubt  in 
wirchynges  seruywg  to  appetite  as  beestes  han  whef  er 

first  choose  a  con- 

bei  han  appetite  to  dweller  and  to  duren.     1  Certis  venient  place  to 

grow  in.  where, 

10  the 


qwod  she  ne  f  er  of  far  f  e  nat  doute.     IF  Now  look       ^tive10  their 

vpon  fise  herbes  and  fise  trees,    fei  waxen  firste  in 

swiche  place  as  bera  couenable  to  hem.  in  whiehe  place 

bei  ne  mowen  nat  sone  dien  ne  dryen  as  longe  as  hire  plains,  some  on 

*  mountains,  &c.  ; 

nature  may  defenden  hem.     ^  For  some  of  hem  waxen 
in  feldes  and  some  in  mouwtaignes.  and  of  ir  waxen  in 


some  grow  on 


mareis.     \A  leaf  lost  here,  and  supplied  from  (7.1    2735  thing  that  vege- 

tates, nature  gives 


[and  oothre  cleuyn  on  Roches  /  and  soume  waxen  plenty- 

uos  in  sondes  /  and  yif  fat  any  wyht  enforce  hym  to 

beryn  hem  in  to  oother  places  /  they  wexen  drye  //  For 

nature  yeueth  to  euery  thing  fat  /  fat  is  comienient  to  piantsyare  nour 

hym  and  trauaylith  fat  they  ne  dye  nat  as  longe  as  they 

han  power  to  dwellyn  and  to  lyuen  //  what  woltow  seyn 

of  this  /  fat  they  drawen  alle  hyr  norysshynges  by  hyr  0uteithewhoieUgl] 

rootes  /  rvht  as  they  haddyn  hyr  Mowthes  I.  -p  lounged  SeS-  marrow  P 

'  J  And  further,  it  is 

in  the  erthes  /  and  shedyn  by  hyr  maryes  (i.  me- 
hyr  wode  and  hyr  bark  /  and  what  woltow  seyn 


of  this  fat  thilke  thing  /  fat  is  ryht  softe  as  the  marye  (i.  the  middle  of  the 

trunk,  suiTound- 

sapp)  is  /  bat  is  alwey  hidd  in  the  feete  al  with  inne  and  ed  with  hard  and 

rr/         i    *  solid  wood,  and 

fat  it  is  defendid  fro  with  owte  by  the  stidefastnesse  of 
wode  //  and  fat  the  vttereste  bark  is  put  ayenis  the  des- 

2718  loillynge — wylnynge 

or — and 
27M)  \>ing — beest  2726  soule — Bowles  I  2733,  2734  some — som    [1'yrst 

outfor\>e — owte  forth  2727  appetite — appetites          I  2734  o\>ir — oothre 

7 


2720  lyue— lyuen  I  2729  look— loke 

2723  qflijf— of  hys  lyf  2730   waxen  firste  —  wexen 


98  THE   LOVE    OF   LIFE    IS    INSTINCTIVE.  R>2osK3ii 

Admire,  too,         temprauwce  of  the  heuene  /  as  a  defendowr  myhty  to  suf- 
2751  fren  harm  /  and  thus  certes  may  stow  wel  sen  /  how  gret  is 


pa^tin?p{antT    the  diligence  of  nature  /  For  alle  thinges  renouelen  and 

by  a  multiplicity 

of  seeds,  which      pupllisen  hem  with  seed  .  I.  -multiplyed  /  ne  ther  ms  no  man 


t  ever*8    edyficefor  to  duren  /  nat  only  for  a  tyme  /  but  ryht  asforto 
duren  perdurablely  by  generacyouw  //  and  the  thinges  ek 

most  suitable  to  . 

their  beings,  and    bat  men  wenennehauennonesowles/nedesire  they  nat  ecn 

to  preserve  con-       J 

whySSuidPttIe  °^  ^em  ^  sem[b]lable  resouw  to  kepyn  fat  that  is  Mrs  /  fat 
is  to  seyn  fat  is  acordynge  to  hyr  nature  in  conseruacioim 
of  hyr  beynge  and  endurynge  //  For  wher  for  elles  berith 
2761  lythnesse  the  flaumbes  vp  /  and  the  weyhte  presseth  the 

thelfmotSr     erthe  a-dourc  //  but  For  as  moche  as  thilke  places  and 

were  agreeable  to  .. 

their  respective      thilke  moeuvnges  ben  couenable  to  euerich  01  hem  // 

natures?    What-  J     ' 

toetheSnSeeaofea  an^  fr>rsothe  euery  thing  kepith  thilke  fat  is  acordynge 
so'whatTs^n-14'  and  propre  to  hym  //  ryht  as  thinges  fat  ben  contraryes 
destroy  8\t!nDense  and  encmys  corompen  hem  //  and  yit  the  harde  thinges 

bodies,  such  as 

stones,  resist  an     as  stoones  clyuen  and  holden  hyr  partyes  to  gydere 

easy  separation  of 

the'  paYtTdefo;  rJht  faste  and  narde  /  and  deffenden  hem  in  withstond- 
tSnS^uchaaSr  enge  fat  they  ne  departe  nat  lyhtly  a  twyne  //  and  the 
siiy  Sarated  aiid  thinges  fat  ben  softe  and  fletynge  as  is  water  and  Eyr 

soon  reunited. 

2771  they  departyn  lyhtly  //  and  yeuen  place  to  hem  fat 
utterf/refusesany  brekyn  or  deuyden  hem  //  but  natheles  they  retornerc 

such  division.    I 

am  not  now  treat-  sone  avein  in  to  the  same  thinges  fro  whennes  they  ben 

ing  of  thevolun- 

arraced  //but  fyr  [fleeth]  and  refuseth  alle  deuysyourc/ 
ne  I.  ne  trete  nat  heere  now  of  weleful  moeuynges  of  the 

stinct.    We  swal-  ..  .  ,  _  „  .-.  , 

low  our  meat  with-  sowle  bat  is  knowynge  //  but  ol  the  naturel  entenciou?z 

out  thinking  of  it, 

and  we  draw  our    Of  thinees  //  As  thus  rvht  as  we  swolwe  the  mete  bat  we 

breath  in  sleep  '  / 

tion!OUTheToevPe"of  rcsseyuen  and  ne  thinke  nat  on  it  /  and  as  we  drawen 
not  derived1  from  o  wre  breth  in  slepyngo  fat  we  wite  it  nat  whil  we  slepy  t  // 

an  intellectual  ,t  •    i  n  i          i  * 

will,  but  from        For  certes  in  the  beestys  the  loue  ol  hyr  lyuynges  ne  ol 

natural  principles 

2781  hyr  beeinges  ne  comth  nat  of  the  wilnynges  of  the  sowle  // 
implanted  ni^e      ^  ^  ^  tyaynnyiLgis  of  nature  //  For  certes  thorw 

will,  induced  by  ,  _ 

powerful  reasons,    constreynynge  causes  /  wil  desireth  and  embraceth  iul 


2753    pupllisen—  H.    publis- 

slicn) 
2755  edyfice—M$.  edyfite 


2755  a  tyme — H.  oon)  tyiuc 
2758  that—H.  omits 
hirs — H.  his 


2774  tflcethl—from  H. 

2775  tveleful—H.  wilfulle 
2779  slepy  t— H.  slepcn 


ROOK  3. 
!•  ROSE  11. 


THE   WILL    IS    SUPERIOR   TO    INSTINCT. 


99 


ofte  tynie  /  the  deth  bat  nature  dredith'//  that  is  to  scyn 

as  thus  that  a  man  may  ben  constreynyd  so  by  som  though  Store  " 

,  .    ,      dreads  and  abhors 

cause  that  his  wil  desireth  and  taketh  the  deth  which  it.  And,  on  the 

contrary,  we  see 

bat  nature  hateth  and  dredeth  ful  sore  //  And  som  tyme 
we  seeth  the  contrarye  /  as  thus  that  the  wil  of  a  wight  / 
destorbeth  and  constreyneth  bat  bat  nature  desireth  /  and  strained  by  tho 

will.    Self-love 

requereth  al-wey//that  is  to  sein  the  werk  of  generaciourc/  ^S^notS 
by  the  whiche  generaciouw  only  /  dwelleth  and  is  sus-  2791 

product  of  voli- 

tenyd  the  longe  durablete  of  mortal  thinges  //  And  thus  tion,  but  proceeds 
this  charite  and  this  Loue  J?at  euery  thing  hath  to  hym  ten" 

self  ne  comth  nat  of  the  moeuynge  of  the  sowle  /  but  of 

...  ni    created  things  an 

the  entenciouw  01  nature  //    I1  or  the  pumyance  01  god  instinct,  for  the 

'  '  purpose  of  self- 

hat  yeuen  to  thinges  j)at  ben  creat  of  hym  /  this  bat  is 
a  ful  gret  cause  /  to  lyuen  and  to  duren  /  for  which  they 

,      .  ,,      .          ,     „         ,  .,  ,,    limits.  Doubt  not, 

desiren  naturelly  hyr  lyi  as  longe  as  euer  they  mowen  //  therefore,  that 

"     everything  which 

For  w[h]ych  thou  maist  nat  drede  by  no  man  ere  /  that  2799 

alle  the  thinges  /  that  ben  anywhere  /  that  they  ne  re-  Stence  Suvoids 

queren  naturelly  /  the  ferme  stablenesse  of  perdurable  B*  YOU  We  made 
dwellynge  /  and  ek  the  eschuynge  of  destruccyoiw  //  B  //  ' 


now  confesse  I.  wel  quod  I.  that  I.  see  wel  now  certeynly/ 
vrith  owte  dowtes  /  the  thinges  that  whylom  semeden 
vneerteyn  to  me  /  P.//  but  quod  she  tliilke  thynsj  bat  retainsits  unity 

J    '  for  if  this  be  tak 

desireth  to  be  and  to  dwellyn  perdurablely  /  he  desireth 


s 


to  ben  oon  //  For  yif  j^at  that  oon  weere  destroied  //  certes  2807 
beinge  ne  shulde  ther  non  dwellyn  to  no  wiht  //  that  true  i 

P.  All  things  then 

is  soth  quod  I.  //  Thaiine  quod  she  desirin  alle  thinges  Jj"™  one  thins— 
oon  //  .1.  assente  quod  .1.  //  and  I  haue  shewyd  quod  she  p\  unitVthen  is 
that  thilke  same  oon  is  thilke  that  is  irood  //  B  //  ye  for-  a.  IS?*  a 

P.  Thus  all 

sothe  quod  I.  //    Alle  thinges  thanne  quod  she  requyren  things  desire  good 

1  —and  it  is  one 

good  //  And  thilke  good  thanne  [bow]  maist  descryuen  2813 

ryht  thus  //    Good  is  thilke  thing  bat  euery  wyht  de-  that  au  creatures 

sireth  //    Ther  ne  may  be  thowht  quod  .1.  no  moore  -B-  Nothing  is 

more  true.    For 


verray  thing  /  for  either  alle  thinges  ben  referred  and 

browht  to  nowht  /  and  floteryn  "with  owte  gouernour  ^Je  no  "elation 


2788  secth— II.  seen) 

wil—  H.  wille 
2792  And—H.  as 


2796  liat—  H.  haue 

2800  the—H.  j>o 

2806  perdurablely— H.  per- 


durably 

2807  destroied— H.  destrued 
2811  thilke  (1)— H.  ittte 


100  THE    END    OF    ALL   THINGS.  [MET*!!. 

Despoiled  °$  oon  /  as  °f  hir  propre  heiied  /  or  elles  yif 
ther  be  aiiy  Blunge  /  to  which  fat  alle  thinges  tendon 
tea%!tMngtoere  and  hyen  /  that  thing  moste  ben  the  souereyn  good  of 
tend,  that  must  be  alle  goodes  /  P  /.  thanne  seyde  she  thus  //  0  my  norry 

the  supreme  good.  '         '  II  J  J 

\   me£  St  yP0^  S^e  *  naue  £ret   gla(inesse  of   the  //   For  thow 


hast  fichched  in  thin  herte  the  myddel  sothtfastnesse  // 
bat  jtut  now  TOO    that  is  to  seyn  the  prykke  //  but  this  thing  hath  ben 

were  ignorant. 

2825  descouered  to  the  /  in  that  thow  seydyst  fat  thow 
u.whatwasthat?  wystest  nat  a  lytel  her  by-forn  //  what  was  that  quod 
p.  The  End  of  aii  I.  //  That  thow  ne  wystest  nat  quod  she  whych  was 

things.    And  this 

the  ende  of  tninges  //  an(i  Certes  that  is  the  thing  fat 
wiht  desireth  //  and  for  as  mochel  as  we  han 


esired  by  all,  i      •  t    i          j  i         i     T    in  •  i    •      ,1  --11         •>  • 

therefore  Good  is    gaderid  /  and  comprenendyd  that  good  is  thilke  thing 

the  End  of  all  '  J 

things.  that  is  desired  of  alle  /  thanne  moten  we  nedes  con- 

2832  fessun  /  that  good  is  the  fyn  of  alle  thinges, 

QUISQUIS   P2JOFUNDA   MENTE. 
[The.ll.Metrwin.J 

so   ^iat  sekitn  sot^   ^7  a  deep  thoght  And 


coueyteth  nat  to  ben  deseyuyd  by  no  mys-weyes  // 
'ids°sium-     lat  hym  rollen  and  trenden  vrii/i  Inne  hym  self  /the  Lyht 

bering  thoughts,  .      . 

j\n  J  turn  the  inner  oi  his  inward  syhte  //   And  lat  hym  gadere  ayem  en- 
eoui  itself.  clynynge  in  to  a  compas  the  longe  moeuynges  of  hys 

The  knowledge      thowhtes  /  And  lat  hym  techen  his  corage  that  he  hath 

that  he  seeks  ' 


encl°se(l  and  hyd  /  in  his  tresors  /  al  fat  he  compaseth  or 
sekithfrowMowte//  And  thanne  thilke  thing  that  the 
2841  blake  cloude  of  errour  whilom  hadde  y-couered  /  shal 
The  light  of  Truth  lyhtcn  more  clerly  thawne  phebw.s  hym  self  ne  shy  neth  // 

G1°Sa  //  Wn°  S°  W°le  Sekei1  the  deP[e]  g^OUnde  /  of  SOth 

in  nig  thowht  /  and  wol  nat  be  deceyuyd  by  false  pro- 


]  posiciouws  /  that  goon  amys  fro  the  trouthe  //  lat  hym  wel 
examine  /  and  rolle  vfith  inne  hym  self  the  nature  and 
2847  the  propretes  of  the  thing  //  and  lat  hym  yit  eft  sones 
examine  and  rollen  his  thowhtes  by  good  deliberaciouw 


2818  hcued  or  elles- -H.  hede 

or  els 

2820  hi>en—'R.  hyen)  to 
moste— H.  must 


2838  his—fl.  his 

that—K.  and  bat 
2841  blake— H.  blak 

hadde  y-couered — II.  had 


couered 

2842  lifli ten— 1ft.  light 

2843  rfeplVj]— C.  (lop,  II.  «lcp« 
2847  thing- II.  b\uSes 


?S2sE3«.]  TRUTH   INTUITIVE.  101 

or  that  he  deme  //  and  lat  hym  tcchen  his  sowle  that  it  2849 

hat  hy  naturel  pryncyplis  kyndeliche  y-hyd  with  in 

it  self  alle  the  trowthe  the  whiche  he  ymagynith  to  ben  [Chaucer's  gloss  ] 

in  thinges  with  owte  //  And  thanne  alle  the  dyrknesse  of 

his  mysknowynge  shal   seen   more  euydently  to  [fe] 

syhte  of  his  vndyrstondynge  thanne  the  sonne  ne  semy  th  2854 

to  [be]   syhte  with  owte  forth  /   For  certes  the  body  For  when  the  body 

17     enclosed  the  soul 

bryngynge  the  weyhte  of  foryetynge  /  ne  hath  nat  chasyd 
owtof  yowre thowhte  al  the  clernesseof yowreknowyng// 

•n  tit  -i       /»  itiiTii  ^      i          ,1     heaven-born  light. 

For  certeynly  the  seed  ot  sooth  haldith  ana  clyuetn  The  germs  of  truth 

were  latent  with- 

with  in  yowre  corage  /  and  it  is  a-waked  and  excited  by  *"•  «»d  were 

J  J    fanned  into  action 

the  wynde  and  by  the  blastes  of  doctryne  //  For  where  breath  ff  learning. 
for  elles  demen  ye  of  yowre  owne  wyl  the  ryhtes  whan  2861 
ye  ben  axed  //  but  yif  so  were  fat  the  noryssynges  of  were  not  truth 
resoim  ne  lyuede  .I.-plowngyd  in  the  depthe  of  yowre 


herte  //  this  [is]  to  seyn  how  sholden  men  demen  f  e 

sooth  of  any  thing  fat  weere  axed  /  yif  ther  neere  a 

Eoote  of  sothfastnesse  fat  weere  yplowngyd  and  hyd  in  2866 

the   naturefl]    pryncyplis  /  the   whiche   sothfastnesse 

lyued  with  in  the  depnesse  of  the  thowght  //  and  yif  so,  if  what  Plato 

J        taught  is  true, 

so  be  fat  the  Muse  and  the  doctryne  of  plato  syngyth  ot^^thanto^e 
sooth  //  al  fat  euery  whyht  lerneth  /  he  ne  doth  no  been'befOTe^ had 
thing  elles  thanne  but  recordeth  as  mere  recordyn  thinges 
fat  ben  foryetyn.  2872 

TUM   EGO    PLATONI    INQCT^M. 

[The  .12.  prose.] 

rFHanne  seide  I  thus  // 1  acorde  me  gretly  to  plato  /  for  piaL^opSif 
•*•  thow  remenbrist  and  recordist  me  thise  thinges  vit]  a  swond  tSe"?? 

0       •*     J    called  these  things 

*  f  e  seconde  tyme.  fat  is  to  seyn.  first  whan  I  lost[e]  my  " 
memorie  by  f  e  contagious  coniuncc/oun  of  fe  body  wif 

f  e  soule.  and  eftsones  afterward  whan  I  lost[e]  it  con- 
tagious union  of 
iounded  by  be  charge  and  by  pe  burden  01  my  sorwe.  soul  and  body, 

J  and  afterwards  by 

If  And  fan  sayde  she  fus.     1T  If  fou  look[e]  qwod  she  ^JSJJJ^0*111* 
firste  fe  finges  fat  fou  hast  graunted  it  ne  shal  nat  fectuponUiccSi- 


2863  deptlie—H..  depe 
28(34  [«*]— from  II. 
sholden— H.  slmldc 


2867  nature[l~\— II.  imtztrello  I  2879  ZooA-[c]— looke 
2875,  2877  lost[e\— loste  |  2880  Jirstc—fyrst 

2878  burden — burdciie 


102 


THE   WORLD    GOVERNED    BY   GOD. 


rnooi 
[PROS 


)K  3. 
[PROSE  12. 


J>ou  ne  shalfr  remembren  pilke  ping  Jjat 
pou  seidest  pat  pou  nistest  nat.    what   ping  q««od  I. 

of  which  you  late-    _.,  ,  .  ,  ,       ,  .  .  i  i       • 

ly  confessed  your    Tl  by  wniche  gouermewt  quod  she  pat  pis  worlde  is 

I  con- 


ji.  what  is  that  ?  gouerned.     Me  remembrip  it  wel  quod  I. 

fesse  wel  J>at  I  ne  wist[e]  it  nat     f  But  al  be  it  so  pat 
I  sc  now  from  afer  what  pou  pwrposest    1F  Algates  I 


fessed  my  ignor- 

ance, but  though    desire  ait  to  herkene  it  of  be  more  pleynely.      IT  bou  ne 

I  now  remotely 

wen(^est  nat  <1MO(1  she  a  Htel  here  byforne  pat  men 
sholden   doute   pat   pis   worlde    is  gouerned   by  god. 
ledged  a  little  "     IT  Certys  auod  I  ne  sitte  doute  I  it  namt.  ne  I  nil 

while  ago  that  this  ' 

world  was  govera-  neuer  wene  bat  it  were  to  doute.  as  who  seib.  but  I 

6CI  Dy  (rOQ  r  •*  * 

gjsr«ffi2SS    wot  wel  pat  god  gouernep  pis  worlde.     IT  And  I  shal 
re1asonsefor°tm^y    shortly  answere  be  by  what  resou7^s  I  am  bromt  to  bis. 

belief.    The  dis- 

cordant elements    ^[  jjis  worlde  quod  I  of  so  many  dyuerse  and  cowtrarious 
2895  parties  ne  my^ten  neuer  han  ben  assembled  in  o  forme. 

would  never  have  .  „  .    .          ,  r 

assumed  their       but  yif  bere  ne  were  oon   bat  comoigned  so  many  e 

present  form  un- 

diuerse]  pinges.  ^[  And  pe  same  diuersite  of  hire 
natures  pat  so  discordeden  pat  oon  fro  pat  oper  most[e] 
depaHen  and  vnioigne7^  pe  pircges  pat  ben  coTiioigned. 

..  r  -,          ,     ,        - 

yif  bere  ne  were  oon  bat  contened  e     bat  he  ha'b  co?z- 

J        r 

ioigned  and  ybounde.  ne  be  certein  ordre  of  nature  ne 
^olde.  nat  brynge  furpe  so  ordinee  moeuynge.  by 
places,  by  tymes.  by  doynges.  by  spaces,  by  qualites. 

reigns  throughout  „ 

nature  could  not    yif  here  ne  were  oon  pat  were  ay  stedlast  dwellynge. 

proceed  so  regular- 

Jy  if  therewere"  ^    or(ieyned[e]    and    disposedfe]    pise   diuersites    of 

chan^Sbifknd"  moeuynges.     1"  and  pilke  pinge  what  so  euer  it  be.  by 

and  dfspose^o  er  whiche  pat  alle  pinges  ben  maked  and  ylad.  I  clepe 

of  changes.  This  hym  god  bat  is  a  worde  bat  is  vsed  to  alle  folke.  ban 

Being,  the  creator       J 

sne-    I 


th?jo1ni5gaofmon> 

such  opposites 

would  have  dis- 

united  and  ruined 

the  fabric  made 

up  of  them,  had 


meMs  SntbSe1" 


trowe  pat  I  haue  lytel  more  to  done,  pat  pou  my3ty  of 


2883  whiche— which 

gouerment — gouernement 

worlde — wordyl 
2885  wist[_e\— wiste 

2887  pleynely— pleynly 

2888  here  byforne— her  by- 
forn 

2889  worlde  is— world  nis 

2890  }Ute  doute  —  yit  ne 
dowte 

nil — nel 
2892  wot— MS.  wotc,  C.  wot 


2892,  2894  worlde— world 

2893  answere — answeren 

2894  many — manye 

2895  my^ten — myhte 

2896  \>ere—  ther 
many\e\— manye 

2897  \diuerse\- from  C. 
hire — hir 

2898  most[e']— moste 
2900  \>ere—  ther 

contened\_e] — contenedc 
IM\>— MS.  habe 


2902  fur\>e— forth 
ordinee  moeuynge — ordene 
moeuynges 

2904  \>ere— ther 
stedfast — stidefast 

2905  ordeyned\je}— ordeynedo 
disposed  ^e~\ — disponede 

2907  whiche— which 
ben — be 

ylad— MS.yladdc,  C.  I-ladd 

2908  worde — word 
folke— foolk 


PROSE3'l2.]  GDD    IS    ALL-SUFFICIENT.  103 

wilfulnesse  hool  and  sounde  ne  se  eftsones  fi  contre. 
If  But  lat  vs  loken  f  e  finges  fat  we  han  pwposed  her- 

.  .        happy  and  secure, 

byforn.     ^f  Haue  I  nat  noumbred  and  seid  qwoa  she  and  revisit  thy 

own  country.  But 

fat  suffisaunce  is  in  blisfulnesse.  and  we  han  accorded 
fat  god  is  and  filke  same  blisfulnesse.  IF  yis  forsofe  quod 
I.  and  bat  to  gouerne  bis  worlde  quod  she.  ne  shal  he 

„  true  happiness? 

neuer  han  nede  of  none  helpe  fro  wifoute.  for  ellys  yif  And  have  we  not 

J       J        seen  that  God  is 

he  had[de]  nede  of  any  helpe.  he  ne  sholde  not  haue 
[no]  ful  suffisauwce.  $is  fus  it  mot  nedes  be  quod  I. 


r 

For  if  lie  should, 


,,,  itt     i  11      i  •  -i 

n  ordeynef  he  by  hym  sell  al  oon  alle  fmges  quod,  he  would  not  be 


she.   fat  may  nat  ben  denied  quod,  I.     ^  And  I  haue 

shewed  fat  god  is  fe  same  good.     1F  It  remerabref  me  #01it  cannot  be 


wel  quod  I.     1F  fan  ordeinef  he  alle  finges  by  filke  p^TiTa™  shown 

~          ,  ,  .   .  ,  -i     -i     ,       that  God  is  the 

goode  quod  she.     Syn  he  whiche  we  han  accorded  to  chief  f?ood;  God 

must.therefore.di- 

ben  good  gouernef  alle  f  ingus  by  hym  self,  and  he  is  a 


keys'  and  a  stiere  by  whiche  fat  fe  edifice  of  fis  worlde 

is  ykept  stable  and  wif  oute  corumpynge     ^f  I  accorde 

me  gretly  quod  I.  and  I  aperceiuede  a  litel  here  byforn  2928* 

fat  f  ou  woldest  seyne  fus.     Al  be  it  so  fat  it  were  by  bSnSnd^fler, 

i  it  mr  -n  ^y  which  this  ma- 

a  bmne  suspecioim.  I  trowe  it  wel  quod  she.     ¥  J^or  as  chine  of  the  world 

is  steadily  and  se- 

I  trowe  f  ou  leedest  nowe  more  ententifly  fine  eyen  to 

loken  f  e  verray  goodes     1F  but  naf  eles  f  e  finges  fat  I  *°nt 

shal  telle  fe  ?it  ne  shewef  nat  lasse  to  loken.  what  is  Suevei8t;  for  your 

eyes  are  now  more 

fat  quod  I.     IT  So  as  men  trowen  quod  she  and  fat 
ry^tfully  fat  god  gouernef  alle  finges  by  f  e  keye  of  his 

«r     i       i       11       .  •  ,  •  T    n  n    lamgroingtosayis 

goodnesse.     IF  And  alle  f  ise  same  binges  as  I  [haue]  not  less  open  to 

your  view. 

tamt  be.  hasten  hem  by  naturel  entencioun  to  comen  ^.  what  is  that? 

7      f  P.  As  we  believe 

to  goode  fer   may   no   man   douterc.  fat  fei   ne   ben 
gouerned  uoluntariely.  and  fat  fei  ne  conuerten  [hem] 

natural  tendency 

nat  of  her  owew  wille  to  be  wille  of  hire  ordenoiir.  as  towards  the  good, 

can  it  be  doubted 

fei  fat  ben  accordyng  and  enclinynge  to  her  gouernowr 


2911  wilfulnesse  —  weleful- 
nesse 

2912  han— ha 

2913  seid— MS.  seide,  C.  seyd 

2916  worlde— world 

2917  none  helpe — non  help 

2918  had[fle~}— hadde 
helpe — help 

2919  [wo]— from  C. 


2921  ben  denied — be  denoyed 
2921,  2926  whiche— which 

2925  ben— be 

2926  worlde— world 
2928  gretly— gretely 

here — her 


2929 

2931  nowe — now 

2932  na]>eles— nat[h]lcs 


2920  al  oon— allouo  I  2935  ry^fttlly—TA&,  on  ryjt- 


fully 
2936  [haue\— from  C. 

2938  goode — good 

2939  [tern]— from  C. 
2910  nat— omitted 

her — hir 
owen — owne 
wille  (both)—\vi\ 


hire — hyr 
2941  her— hyr 


104  ALL    THINGS    SUBMIT   TO    GOD.  [PROSED. 

[*  Foi.  23  &.]     and  her  kyng.    IF  It  mot  nedys  be  so  quod.  I.    *  IT  For 

mit  to  the  will 


f  e  realme  ne  sholde  not  seme  blisful  3if  fere  were  a  3ok 
of  mysdrawynges  in  diuerse  parties  ne  f  e  sauynge  of 
fortes! whoafety  obedient  f inges  ne  sholde  Hat  be.  ban  is  bere  no  bing 

obey,  if  the  discord  ,      ,  ,    .        .      , 

of  a  portion  were    quod  she  fat  kepif  hys  nature  f  fat  enforcef  hym  to 

thatefffiwh/the     gone  a3eyne  gQ(i-  1T  No  <\uo&>  !•  ^  And  if  fat  any  fiwg 
2948  enforced[e]  hym  to  wif  stonde  god.  my^tfe]  it  auayle  at 

dictates  of  nature     ,       ,  . 

that  seeks  to         f  e  laste  a3eyns  hym  fat  we  han  graunted  to  ben  al 

counteract  the  will   T  . 

wiKotJri'  outerly  it  ne  my3t[e]  nat  auaylen  hym.  fan  is  fere  no 
hTni.'who  \s  su-  f  ing  q  uod  she  bat  eyber  wol  or  may  wibstonde  to  bis 

premely  happy 

and  consequently   souereyne  good.     *K  I  trowe  nat  quod.    .      *fi  ban  is 

omnipotent. 

nothlngthat8  filke  fe  souereyne  good  quod  she  fat  alle  Dingus 
wHhesrt3tMsean  gouernef  strongly  and  ordeynef  hem  softly,  farc  seide  I 
SPNSS°  '  bus.  I  delite  me  quod  I  nat  oonly  in  be  endes  or  in  be 

certainly. 


sommes  of  [the]  reso^s  fat  fou  hast  concludid  and 
2958  proued.     IF  But  filke  wordes  fat  fou  vsest  deliten  me 
orSaiHiiings    nioche  more.     IF  So  at  be  lastfe]  fooles  bat  so?wtvme 

-"werfully  and 


renden  greet  [e]   f  inges  a^te^  ben  asshamed  of  hem 
self.     ^"  fat  is  to  seyne  fat  we  fooles  fat  reprehenden 

more  with  your  .   ,      ..,  . 

language ;  so  that  wickedly  f  e  f  ingus  fat  touchen  goddes  gouernaunce  we 
obSons^he  au3tew  ^en  asshamed  of  oure  self.  As  I  fat  seide  god 
mint! govem"  refusef  oonly  fe  werkes  of  men.  and  ne  entremetif  nat 
p.  Youeiiave  read  of  hem.  p.  fou  hast  wel  herd  quod  she  be  fables  of  be 

the  Poets'  fables, 

2966  poetes.    how  fe  geauntes  assailden  fe  heuene  wif  fe 
stored  hSn-  goddes.  but  for  sof  e  f  e  debonaire  force  of  god  disposedFe] 

how  they  were  re- 
pulsed and  hem  so  as  it  was  worbi.   bat  is  to  seyne  distroiedfel    be 

punished  accord- 

delerts^lutmay   geauntes-     as    ^    was    WOrfi.       ^    But    wilt    fOU    fat   W6 

ou6r  reasTn^  to-e     ioygnen  togedre  filke  same  rescues,  for  perauenture  of 

gether,  for  by  so  .,  .  /,  .  ,     , 

doing  some  clear    swiche  coJlluncc^ou?^  may  sterten  vp  some  faire  sperkele 

spark  of  truth  may 

ahine  forth  ?        of  sof  e     IF  Do  quod  I  as  f  e  list,  wenest  fou  quod  she 


2943  realme — Reaume 

seme — semen 
2945  \>ere— ther 

2947  gonea^eyne — goonayein 

2948  enforced\e~\— enforcede 
my$t\_e~] — myhte 
auayle — auaylen 

2949  a^eyns— a-yenis 
2951  outerly — owtrely 

my$l{_e\— myhte 

auaylen  —  MS.   aualeyne, 


C.  aiiaylen 
hym—  hem 
\>ere—  ther 
2952  wol—  vvole 


2960,  2963  autfen—  owliten 
2961  seyne—  seyn 
2965  of  hem—  of  it 
herd—  MS.  herde,  C.  herd 


.  ,    . 

wibstonde  —  wity^-stondyn      2967   disposed{_e]  —  desposede 
\)is  souereyne  —  his  soue-  i  2963  seyne  distroied[e']  —  seyn 
2955  softly—  softtely      [reyn  j          destroyede 
2957  sommes—  sorame  j  2971  swiche  —  swych 

[the~\  —  from  C.  some  —  som 

2959  last[e]—  laste  I  2972  so^^soth 

2960  greet[c]—  grete  I      list—  liste 


rKOSE3'i2.]  EVIL   HAS   NO    EXISTENCE.  105 

bat  god  no  is  almysty.  no  man  is  in  doute  of  it.    Certys  B.  AS  you  please. 

P.  IsGodomnipo- 

quod  I  no  wy$t  ne  defendib  it  if  he  be  in  hys  mynde.  gntN?o  one  doubts 
but  he  quod  she  bat  is  al  my^ty  bere  nis  no  bing  bat  he  £  if  he  is  ai- 
ne  may  do.  bat  is  so  be  qwod  I.     May  god  done  yuel 


quod  she.  nay  for  sobe  quod.  I.     ^f  ban  is  yuel  no  bing  B.  He  can  doubt- 

'  °   less  do  all  things. 


quod  she.     IT  Syn  bat  he  ne  may  not  done  yuel  bat 

may  done  alle  binges,  scornest  bou  me  quod.  I.  or  ellys  5nSo3i,n!!S?£' 

i  i  •,  almighty,  cannot 

pleyest  bou  or  decemest  bou  me.   bat  hast  so  woueii  me  do  it  ? 

.B.  Dost  thou  mock 


.         . 

wib  bi  rescues.  be  house  of  didalus  so  entrelaced.  bat  it 

me,  leading  me 

is  vnable  to  ben  vnlaced.  bou  bat  ober  while  entrest 
bere  bou  issest  and  ober  while  issest  bere  bou  entrest. 
ne  f  coldest  bou  nat  to  gidre  by  replicaczou^  of  wordes  a 


vine  Simplicity? 

maner  wondirful  cercle  or  envirounynge  of  symplicite 
deuyne.  IF  For  certys  a  litel  her  byforne  whan  bou  by- 
guraie  atte  blisfulnesse  bou  seidest  bat  it  is  souereyne 
good,  and  seidest  bat  it  is  set  in  souereyne  god.  and  bat  then,  that  God  was 

*        that  Good  and  the 

god  is  be  ful[le]  blisfulnesse.  for  whiche  bou  $af[e]  me  2989 

,,.„...  .      perfection  of 

as  a  couenable  ante,  bat  is  to  seyne  bat  no  wyu  nis  happiness;  and, 

hence,  thou  didst 

blisful.  but  yif  he  be  good  al  so  ber  wib  and  seidest  infer  that  nobody 

could  be  happy 

eke  bat  be  forme  of  goode  is  be  substaunce  of  god.  and  nk 


of  blisfulnesse.  and  seidest  bat  bilke  same  oone  is  bilke 

same  goode  bat  is  requered  and  desired  of  al  be  kynde  substance  whereof 

God  and  happiness 

of  binges,  and  bou  proeuedest  in  disputynge  bat  god 
gouerneb  alle  [the]  binges  of  be  worlde  by  be  gouerne- 


„  ,  ,  ,  ,,       ,  .  i         in  nature.    Thou 

mentys  ot  bouiitee.  and  seydest  bat  alle  binges  wolen  didst  prove  that 

J  J  God  rules  the 


ybeyen  to  hym.  and  seidest  bat  be  nature  of  yuel  nis  wor 

ness,  and  that  all 

no  bing.  and  bise  binges  ne  shewedest  bou  nat  wib  no 
rescues  ytake  fro  wiboute  but  by  proues  in  cercles  and 
homelyche  knowen.  H  be  whiche  proeues  drawen  to  hem 

and  natural  ar^u 

self  Mr  feib  and  Mr  accorde  eueriche  [of]  hem  of  ober.  ban  JJ^J^^^"0 
seide  she  bus.  I  ne  scorne  be  nat  ne  pleye  ne  desseyue  fetched  r^ons' 

2992,  2994  goode— good 

2993  oone— oon 

2994  aZ— alle 

2996  [the}— from  C. 

2998  ybeyen— obeyen 

2999  no  (2) — none 

3000  ytake — I-taken 

3001  homelyche— hoomlich 


2973  is  (l)-be 
man — omitted 
is  (2)— nis 

2974  defendfy— dowtcth 

2975  \>ere— ther 

2976  do— C.  omits 
so]?e — soth 
done— don 

2978,  2979  done— don 

2930  woucn— MS.  wonnen,  C. 


wouen 

2981  house— hows 
2983  \>ere  (both)—ther 

2987  atte— at 

2988  set— MS.  sette,  C.  set 
L989  ful\le\— fulle 

whiche — wh  ich 

2999  yfte— yit't 
seyne — seyn 


yce— 
3002  eueriche — euerich 
[of]— from  C. 


106 


P.  I  have  not  de- 
luded you,  for  by 
the  Divine  aid  we 
have  accomplish- 
ed our  chief  task. 
I  have  proved  to 
you  that  it  is  an 
essential  property 
of  the  Divine 
nature  not  to  go 
out  of  itself,  nor 
to  receive  into 
itself  anything 
extraneous.    Par- 
menides  says  of 
the  Deity  that 
God  is  like  a  well- 
rounded  sphere. 

3012 

[*  fol.  24.] 
He  causes  the 
moving  globe 
to  revolve,  but  is 
himself  immov- 
able.   If  I  have 
chosen  my  argu- 
ments from  the 
subjects  within 
range  of  our  dis- 
cussion, do  not  let 
that  surprise  you, 
for,  as  Plato  has 
taught  us,  there 
ought  to  be  an  alli- 
ance between  the 
words  and  the  sub- 
ject of  discourse. 


[The  .12.  Mc-twr.] 
Happy  is  he  that 
hath  seen  the  lucid 
spring  of  truth ! 
Happy  the  man 
that  hath  freed 
himself  from  ter- 
restrial chains ! 
The  Thracian 
poet,  consumed 
with  grief  for 
the  loss  of  his  wife, 
sought  relief  from 
music.    His 
mournful  songs 
drew  the  woods 
along;  the  rolling 
rivers  ceased  to 
flow  ;  the  savage 
beasts  became 
heedless  of  their 
prey ;  the  timid 
hare  was  not 
aghast  at  t  lie 
hound.    But  the 


GOD    IS    LIKE    A    SPHERE. 


FROOK  3. 
(.MET.  12. 


f  e.  but  I  haue  shewed  to  f  e  f  inge  fat  is  grettest  ouer 
alle  f  inges  by  f  e  }ifte  of  god  fat  we  some  tyme  prayden 
IF  For  f  is  is  f  e  forme  of  [the]  deuyne  substaunce.  fat 
is  swiche  fat  it  ne  slydef  nat  in  to  outerest  foreine 
f  inges.  ne  ne  rec[e]yuef  no  strange  f  inges  in  hym.  but 
ry^t  as  parmaynws  seide  in  grek  of  f  ilke  deuyne  sub- 
staunce. he  seide  fus  fat  filke  deuyne  substaunce 
tome])  f  e  worlde  and  filke  cercle  moeueable  of  f  inges 
while  j)ilke  dyuyne  substaurcce  kepi])  it  self  wij)  outen 
moeuynge.  ]>at  *  is  to  seyne  ])at  it  ne  moeui])  neuere  mo. 
and  $itte  it  moeuef  alle  o])er  Binges,  but  na-f  eles  yif  I 
[haue]  stered  resou/is  fat  ne  ben  nat  taken  fro  wif  oute 
f  e  compas  of  ])e  f  inge  of  whiche  we  treten.  but  resouras 
fat  ben  bystowed  wi])  i/me  fat  compas  fere  nis  nat  whi 
fat  fou  sholde[st]  merueylen.  sen  fou  hast  lerned  by 
f  e  sentence  of  plato  fat  nedes  f  e  wordes  moten  ben 
cosynes  to  f  o  f  inges  of  whiche  f  ei  speken.  3020 


FELIX   QUI    POTERIT.    ET 

"niisful  is  fat  man  fat  may  seen  f  e  clere  welle  of  good. 
^  blisful  is  he  fat  may  vnbynde  hym  fro  f  e  bonde  of 
heuy  erf  e.  1T  f  e  poete  of  trace  [orphez/s]  fat  somtyme 
hadde  ry^t  greet  sorowe  for  f  e  deef  of  hys  wijf.  aftir  fat 
he  hadde  maked  by  hys  wepely  songes  f  e  wodes  meue- 
able  to  rennen.  and  hadde  y  maked  f  e  ryueres  to  stonden 
stille.  and  maked  fe  hertys  and  hyndes  to  ioignen 
dredles  hir  sides  to  cruel  lyourcs  to  herkene  his  songe. 
and  had[de]  maked  fat  fe  hare  was  nat  agast  of  fe 
hounde  whiche  fat  was  plesed  by  hys  songe.  so  fat 
whane  f  e  mostfe]  ardaunt  loue  of  hys  wijf  brende  f  e 


300i  \>e  \>inge— the  the  thing 

3005  lifte— yift 

some    tyme    prayden   — 
whilom  preyeden 

3006  [the~\— from  C. 

3007  swiche— swich 

3009    parmaynws  —  a   par- 
manides 

3011  worlde— world 

3012  while— wliil 

tvi\>  outen — \viih  owto 


3013  seyne— seyn 

3014  ittte— vit 
o\>er — ootnre 

3015  [haue']— from  C. 

3016  whicJie— which 

3017  ivi\>  inne — with  in 
3020  cosynes — MS.conccyucd, 

C. cosynes 
]po — pe 

whiche — which 
3022  vnbynde— vnbyndyn 


3022  bonde— boncles 

3023  [orpheus]— from  C. 
somtyme — whi  1  om 

3024  sorowe — sorwe 

3028  dredles— dredelcs 

to  herkene— for  to  herkticn 

3029  had[_de~]— had  do 

3030  \>at  (2)— omitted 

3031  most[e\— inostc 


BOOK  3.1 
MET.  12.  J 


THE    POWER   OF    MUSIC. 


107 


entrailes  of  his  brest.  ne  fe  songes  fat  hadde  oner 
comeii  alle  finges  ne  my^ten  nat  assuage  hir  lorde 
orpheus.  IF  He  pleyned[e]  hym  of  f  e  godes  fat  werew 
cruel  to  hym.  he  wente  hym  to  f  e  houses  of  helle  and 
fere  he  tempredfe]  hys  blaundissyng  songes  by  re- 
sounyng  of  hys  strenges.  ^[  And  spak  and  song  in 
wepynge  alle  fat  euer  he  hadde  resceyued  and  laued 
oute  of  fe  noble  welles  of  hys  modir  calliope  J>e  god- 
desse.  and  he  song  wif  as  mychel  as  he  my^tfe]  of 
wepynge.  and  wif  as  myche  as  loue  fat  doubled[e]  his 
sorwe  my^tfe]  ^eueii  hym  and  teche  hy??^  in  his  seke 
herte.  ^[  And  he  commoeuede  f  e  helle  and  requeredfe] 
and  sou^te  by  swete  preiere  f  e  lordes  of  soules  in  helle 
of  relesynge.  fat  is  to  seyne  to  3elden  hym  hys  wif. 
H  Cerberus  f  e  porter  of  helle  wif  his  fre  heuedes  was 
cau^t  and  al  abaist  for  fe  new[e]  songe.  and  fe  fre  god- 
desses furijs  and  vengerisse  of  felonies  fat  toi^rmentew 
and  agastew  f  e  soules  by  anoye  wexen  sorweful  and  sory 
and  wepen  teres  for  pitee.  fan  was  nat  f  e  heued  of 
Ixione  y  tormented  by  f  e  ouerf  rowiw-g  whele.  ^[  And 
tantalus  fat  was  destroied  by  f  e  woodnesse  of  longe 
frust  dispisef  fe  nodes  to  drynke.  fe  fowel  fat  hy^t 
voltor  fat  etif  f e  stornak  or  f e  giser  of  ticius  is  so  ful- 
filled of  his  songe  fat  it  nil  etyn  ne  tyren  no  more. 
IF  Atte  f  e  laste  f  e  lorde  and  luge  of  soules  was  moeued 
to  misericordes  and  cried  [e]  we  ben  ouer  comen  quod. 
he.  yif[e]  we  to  orpheus  his  wijf  to  bere  hym  com- 
paignye  he  haf  welle  I-bou^t  hir  by  his  faire  songe  and 

3032  hadde— hadden 

3033  assuage — asswagen 
lorde — lord 

3034  pleyned[e]— pleynede 
godes — heuene  goodes 

3035  wente— MS.  wenten,  C. 
wente 

3036  tempred[e\  hys — tem- 
prede  hise 

3037  of  hys— C.  omits 

spak — MS.  spakke,  C.  spak 
song— MS.  songe,  C.  soonge 

3038  alle-al 

3039  oute— owt 
f/oddcsse — goddcs 

304.0   song  —  MS.   songe,   C. 


songs  that  did  all 
things  tarae.could 
not  allay  tlieir 
master's  ardent 
love.  He  bewailed 
the  cruelty  of  the 
gods  above,  and 
descended  to 
Pluto's  realm. 

3036 

There  he  struck 
his  tuneful  strings 
and  sang,  ex- 
hausting all  the 
harmonious  art 
imparted  to  him 
by  his  mother 
Calliope. 

In  songs  dictated 
both  by  grief  ami 
love,  he  implored 
the  infernal 
powers  to  give 
him  back  his 
Eurydice. 

3044 


Cerberus,  Hell's 
three-headed 
porter,  stood 
amazed ; 
the  Furies,  tor- 
mentors of  guilty 
souls,  did  weep; 

3049 

Ixion,  tormented 
by  the  revolving 
wheel,  found  rest ; 
Tantalus,  suffer- 
ing from  a  long 
and  raging  thirst, 
despised  the 
stream ; 
and  the  greedy 
vulture  did  cease 
to  eat  and  tear  the 
growing  liver  of 
Tityus.  At  length 
Pluto  him  sell  re- 
lented, crying 
out,  'We  are 
overcome !    Let 
us  give  him  back 
liis  wife,  he  hath 
well  won  her  by 
his  song. 


soonge 

3049   anoye  sorweful 

mychel  —  mochel 

anoy  woxen  soruful 

3041  myche—  moche 
doubled[e~\—  dowblede 

3050  \>an—  tho  ne 
3051  whele—  wheel 

3042  myrtle-]—  niyhte 

3053  \>rust—  thurst 

^euen—  yeue 

hyrf—  hihte 

teche—  thechen 

3054,  fulfilled—  fulfyld 

in  herte  —  omitted 

3055  songe—  song 

3043  commoeuede  —  MS.com- 

3056  Atte—  At 

aunded,  C.  cowmoeuede 

lorde  —  lord 

3044  souyte  —  by-sowhte 

3057  cried[_e~]  —  cryde 

3045  zelden—  yilden 
3046  his—  hise 

3058  yif\e\—  yiue 
3059  ha]>—  MS.  ha^e 

3047   cautf—  MS.  caujtc,  C. 

welle—  wel 

cawht 

faire—  C.  omits 

new[e]  songe  —  ncwo  song 

songe  —  song 

108  FIX   NOT    THE   THOUGHTS    ON    EARTHLY    THINGS. 

But  we  will  lay      his  ditco.  but  we  wil  putter  a  lawe  in  bis.  and  eouen- 

this  injunction 

at    til   ne   ^e    Out    °f 


ucast8'ahe  fcelle  yif  lie  loke  byhynden  hym  |Jat]  hys  wijf  shal 

backward  look.*  .         ,                 _.  .      .        ,          .      , 

But,  who  shall  comew  aaeine  to  vs     IT  but  what  is  he  bat  may  seue  a 

give  a  lover  any 

law  ?  Love  is  a  lawe  to  loueres.  loue  is  a  gretter  lawe  and  a  strengere  to 

greater  law  than 

hy111  self  J>an  any  lawe  bat  men  may  3euen.     H  Alias 

left  whan  Orpheus  aw^  his  wijf  were  al  most  at  J?e  termes  of 


be  nv^t.  bat  is  to  seyne  at  be  lastfel  boundes  of  helle. 

and  lost  his  too-      f 

much-iov^d  Eurf-  Orpheus  lokedfe]  abakwarde  on  Erudice  his  wijf  and 
who"!  mhiasyou>  lost[e]  hir  and  was  deed»     IF  bis  fable  apperteinef  to 

would  view  the  ni         .  ,      .  .  .  -    ,      ,  . 

sovereign  Good,    ^ow  alle  who  so  euer  desirep  or  sekib  to  lede  his  Jjou^te 
3071  in  to  J>e  souereyne  day.  bat  is  to  seyne  to  clerenes[se] 
°f  souereyne  goode.    IT  For  who  so  jjat  euere  be  so  ouer 
conie?i  bat  he  fycche  hys  eyen  in  to  J>e  put[te]  of  helle. 


. 

imparted  Good.     J>at  is  to  seyne  who  so  settej)  his  bou^tes  in  er]>ely 
binges,  al  bat  euer  he  ha]?  drawen  of  J?e  noble  good 
3076  celestial  he  lesib  it  whan  he  lokej>  be  helles.  bat  is  to 
seyne  to  lowe  jjinges  of  be  erjje. 

EXPLICIT   LIBER   TERCIUS. 


*INCIPIT  LIBEE  QUARTUS. 

HEC   CUM   PHILOSOPHIA   DIGNITATE    UULTTO. 
[The  \ma  prose.] 

when  P.  with       TT7"hanne  philosophic  hadde  son^eTz  softly  and  delita- 

grace  and  dignity       V  V  • 

her  8po°nUrsedif0no?  ^^  ^Q  ^orse^e  finges  kepynge  be  dignitee  of  hir 


choere  in  be  wey^te  of  hir  wordes.  I  J?an  bat  ne  hadde 
nat    al   outerly  for^eten    be   wepyng    and  mournyng 

ing  her  discourse. 

3082  bat  was  set  in  rnyne  herte  for-brek  be  entencz'ourc  of  hir 
AH  your  dis-         bat  entendedfel  aitte  to  seyne  ober  binges.     IF  Se  quod 

courses,  O  my 

conductress  to  the  I.  bou  bat  art  gideresse  of  verray  Iy3te  be  binges  bat  bou 


3060  toil  putten—vfol  putte 
3062  byhynden—  by-hynde 


3063  to—  vn-to 

3064  gretter—  gret 

3066  were  al   most—wcren 
almest 

3067  lastW—  laste 

3068  lokedle]  abakwarde  — 


lookede  abacward 

3069  lost[_e]—  loste 

3070  Tpouite—  thowht 

3071  clerenes[se]—  cleniesse 

3072  souereyne  goode  —  soue- 


reyn 


god 
t[.te~] 


3073  put[.te~]—  puttc 

3074  setteb—  setto 

3075  lia\>—  MS.  haj>c 


3078  softly—  softely 


softly 
choere 


3080  choere  in  —  cheere  and 

3082  set—  MS.  sette,  C.  set 
myne  —  Myn 
for-brek—  MS.  for-brcke,  C. 

Forbrak 

3083  entended\e\  —  entcndcde 

3084  lytfe—  lyht 


BOOK  4.    1 
P1108E  l.J 


THE    EXISTENCE    OF   EVIL. 


109 


hast  seid  [me]  hider  to  ben  to  me  so  clere  and  so  shew- 
yng  by  f  e  deuyne  lokyng  of  hem  and  by  f  i  resouws  fat 
f  ei  ne  mowe  nat  ben  ouercomen.  IT  And  f  ilke  Dingus 
fat  f  ou  toldest  me.  al  be  it  so  fat  I  hadde  som  tyme 
fo[r]}eten  hem  for  [the]  sorwe  of  J)e  wronge  fat  haf  ben 
don  to  me.  }it  naf  eles  f  ei  ne  were  nat  alouterly  vn- 
knowen  to  me.  but  f  is  same  is  namly  a  gret  cause  of 
my  sorwe.  fat  so  as  f  e  gouernoure  of  finges  is  goode. 
yif  fat  yuelys  mowen  ben  by  any  weyes.  or  ellys  yif 
fat  yuelys  passen  wif  outen  punyssheinge.  f e  whiche 
f inge  oonly  how  worfi  it  is  to  ben  wondred  vpon.  foil 
considerest  it  weel  fi  self  certeynly.  but  3itte  to  f  is 
f  ing  fere  is  an  of  er  f  ing  y-ioigned  more  to  ben  ywon- 
dred  vpon.  ^[  For  felonie  is  emperisse  and  flowref  ful  of 
rycchesse.  and  vertues  nis  nat  al  oonly  wif  outen  medes. 
but  it  is  cast  vndir  and  fortroden  vndir  f  e  feet  of  fe- 
lonous  folk,  and  it  abief  fe  towrmewtes  in  sted  of 
wicked  felourcs  ^f  Of  al[le]  whiche  f  ing  f  er  nis  no  wy$t 
fat  [may]  merueyllen  ynou}  ne  compleyne  fat  swiche 
f  inges  ben  don  in  f  e  regne  of  god  fat  alle  f  inges  woot. 
and  alle  finges  may  and  ne  wool  nat  but  only  goode 
f  inges.  ^[  fan  seide  she  fus.  certys  quod  she  fat  were 
a  grete  meruayle  and  an  enbaissynge  wif  outen  ende. 
and  wel  more  horrible  fan  alle  monstres  yif  it  were  as 
f  on  wenest.  fat  is  to  sein.  fat  in  fe  ry^t  ordeyne  house 
of  so  mochel  a  fader  and  an  ordenour  of  meyne.  fat  f  e 
vesseles  fat  ben  foule  and  vyle  sholde  ben  honoured 
and  heried.  and  fe  precious  uesseles  sholde  ben  de- 
fouled  and  vyle.  but  it  nis  nat  so.  For  yif  f  e  finges 


true  light !  have 
been  very  clear  and 
unanswerable, 
both  by  the  divine 
testimony  which 
they  carry  along 
with  them,  and 
by  thy  irrefrag- 
able arguments. 
Through  the  op- 
pression of  grief 
I  had  forgotten 
these  truths,  but 
was  not  wholly 
ignorant  of  them. 
The  principal 
cause  of  my 
trouble  is  this— 
that,  whilst  the 
absolute  Ruler  of 
all  things  is  good- 
ness itself,  evil 
exists  and  is  al- 
lowed to  pass  un- 
punished.   This, 
to  say  the  least,  is 
astonishing. 

3097 

Moreover,  while 
vice  flourishes 
virtue  is  not  only 
unrewarded,  but 
trampled  under 
foot  by  base  and 
profligate  men, 
and  suffers  the 
puniShment  due 
to  impiety.    Here 
is  cause  for 
wonderment, 
since  such  things 
are  possible  under 
the  government  of 
an  omniscient  and 
omnipotent  God, 
who  wills  nothing 
but  what  is  the 
best. 

3107 

P.  It  were  in- 
deed, not  only 
marvellous,  but 
also  horribly 
monstrous,  if,  in 
the  well-regulated 
family  of  so  groat 
a  master,  the 
worthless  vessels 
should  be 
honoured  ami  the 
precious  ones  be 
despised :— but  it 
is  not  so.    For  if 


30S5  seid— MS.  seide,  C.  seid 
[me] — from  C. 

3086  fi— the 

3087  mowe — mowen 

3088  som  tyme— whilom 

3089  [they— from  C. 
wronge — wrong 
Tia\>— MS.  habe 

3090  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
were — weeren 

3091  nattily — namely 

3092  goode— good 

3094  wfy  outen— with  owte 


3095  binge—  thing 

3097  \>ere—  ther 

ben  y  wondred—  be  won- 
di-yd 

3098  flowrelp  —  MS.  folwet>, 
C.  flowrith 

3099  ryccJiesse—Ry  chesses 
vertues—  vertu 

wi]>  outen  —  with  owte 

3101  in  sted—  in  stide 

3102  wicked—  wikkede 


\>ing—  thinges 


3103  [may] — from  C. 

3104  don— MS.  done,  C.  doon 

3105  wool — wole 
goode— good 

3107  grete— gret 
enbaissynge — enbasshhure 

3108  alle— al 

3109  ordeyne  house— ordenee 
hows 

3111,3113  vyle— vyl 

3112  hericd—  he  h'eryed 
sholde — sholdeu 

3113  he— tho 


110 


VIRTUE    NEVER    GOES    UNREWARDED. 


rBOOK  4. 
L.VIET,  i. 


the  conclusions 
we  have  come  to, 
be  sound  and 
irrefi  arable,  we 
must  confess  that 
under  God's  rule 
the  good  are  al- 
ways powerful 
and  mighty,  and 
the  wicked  weak 
and  contemptible; 
that  vice  never 
passes  unpunish- 
ed, nor  virtue  goes 
\in  rewarded;  that 
happiness  attends 
good  men,  and 
misfortune  falls 
to  the  lot  of  the 
wicked.    These 
and  many  other 
truths  of  like 
nature  shall  be 
proved  to  thee, 
and  shall  put  an 
end  to  thy  com- 
plaints, and 
strengthen  thee 
with  firmness  and 
solidity.    Having 
shown  you  a  pic- 
ture of  true  felici- 
ty, and  wherein  it 
resides,!  shall  now 
trace  out  the  way 
which  will  lead 
you  to  your  home. 
I  will  give  your 
soul  wings  to  soar 
aloft,  so  that  all 
tribulation  being 
removed,you  may, 
under  my  guiding, 
by  my  road,  and 
with  my  vehicle, 
return  whole  and 
sound  into  your 
own  country. 
(The  fyrste 
metwr.] 
I  have  nimble 
wings  that  enable 
the  mind  to  rise 
from  earth  to 
heaven,  to  leave 
the  clouds  behind, 
to  pass  the  region 
of  perpetual  flame, 
and  to  reach  the 
etarry  mansion, 
journeying  either 
by  Phoebus' 

3139 


fat  I  haue  concluded,  a  litel  here  byforne  ben  kept  hoole 
and  vnraced.  f  ou  shalt  wel  knowe  by  f  e  auctorite  of 
god.  of  f  e  whos  regne  I  speke  fat  certys  f  e  good[e] 
folk  ben  alwey  my^ty.  and  shrewes  ben  alwey  yuel  and 
feble.  ne  f  e  vices  ben  neuere  mo  wif  outen  peyne  i  ne 
f  e  vertues  ne  ben  nat  wif  outen  mede.  and  fat  blisful- 
nesses  comen  alwey  to  goode  folke.  and  infortnne  come]) 
alwey  to  wicked  folke.  IF  And  f  ou  shalt  wel  knowe 
many[e]  J>inges  of  f  is  kynde  fat  sholle  cessen  f  i  pleyntes. 
and  stedfast  f  e  wif  stedfast  saddenesse.  IF  And  for  f  ou 
hast  seyn  f  e  forme  of  f  e  verray  blisfulnesse  by  me  fat 
[haue]  somtyme  I-shewed  it  f  e.  And  f  ou  hast  knowen 
in  whom  blysfulnesse  is  set.  alle  f  inges  I  treted  fat  I 
trowe  ben  nessessarie  to  put[te]  furf  e  IF  I  shal  shewe 
f  e.  f  e  weye  fat  shal  brynge  f  e  a^eyne  vnto  f  i  house 
and  I  shal  ficche  fef eres  in  f  i  f  ou^t  by  whiche  it  may 
arysen  in  hey^te.  so  fat  al  tribulaciourc  don  awey.  f  ou 
by  my  gidyng  &  by  my  paf  e  and  by  my  sledes  shalt 
mowen  retourne  hool  and  sounde  in  to  ])i  centre.  3132 

SUJVT    ETENIM    PENNE.    ET   CETERA. 

I  Haue  for  sof  e  swifte  fef  eres  fat  surmouwten  f  e  hey3t 
of  f  e  heuene  whan  f  e  swifte  f  ou^t  ha])  closed  it  self. 
in  fo  feferes  it  dispise])  fe  hat[e]ful  erfes.  and  sur- 
mour^te])  J)e  hey^enesse  of  ])e  greet[e]  eyir.  and  it  seif  fe 
cloudes  by-hynde  hir  bak  and  passe])  ])e  hey^t  of  ])3 
regioura  of  _f»e  fire  fat  eschaunf  by  fe  swifte  moeuyng  of 
fe  firmament,  til  fat  she  a-reisif  hir  in  til  fe  houses  fat 


3114  here  byforne — her  by- 

forn 
kept— MS.  kepte,  C.  kept 

3116  good[e\ — goode 

3117  alwey  (2) feble  —  al- 
wey owt  cast  and  feble 

3118,  3119  wi\>  outen  —  with 

owte 

3119  vertues— vertuus 
3122  many{_e\ — matiye 
sholle     cessen  —  shollen 

cesen 
8123  stedfast stedfast— 

strengthyn     the     with 

stidfast 


3124  seyn  —  MS.  seyne,  C. 
seyn 

3125  \haue~]— from  C. 
somtyme — whilom 

3126  set— MS.  sette,  C.  I-set 

3127  puttfelfurbe  —  putten 
forth 

3128  weye—wey 
brynge — bryngen 

\>i  house — thin  hows 

3129  ficche— fycchen 

3130  arysen — areysen 
don— MS.  done,  C.  ydou 

3131  pa\>e— paath 

shalt  mowen— shal  inowe 


3132  sounde — sownd 

3133  heyrf  of  J 
heyhte  of  heuene 

3134  ha\>— MS.  habe 

3136  hey^enesse eyir  — 

Rovmdnesse  of  the  grete 
ayr 

sei\>— seth 

3137  Mr— his 

3138  fire— Fyr 
eschauji])— MS.  eschaufibe 

3139  she— he 
hir— hym 


HOOK  4.n 
MET.  l.J 


VICE    IS    ALWAYS    PUNISHED. 


Ill 


beren  f  e  sterres.  and  ioygnef  Mr  weyes  wif  f  e  sonne 
phebus.  and  felawshipef  fe  weye  of  fe  olde  colde 
saturnus.  and  she  ymaked  a  kny^t  of  f  e  clere  sterre. 
fat  is  to  seyne  fat  f  e  soule  is  maked  goddys  kny3t  by 
f  e  sekyng  of  treuf  e  to  comen  to  f  e  verray  knowlege  of 
god.  and  filke  soule  renne[J>]  by  fe  cercle  *of  fe  sterres 
in  alle  f e  places  fere  as  f e  shynyng  ny3t  is  depeynted. 
fat  is  to  seyne  f  e  ny3t  fat  is  cloudeles.  for  on  ny3tes  fat 
ben  cloudeles  it  semef  as  f  e  heuene  were  peynted  wif 
dyuerse  ymages  of  sterres.  and  whan  f  e  soule  haf  gon 
ynou3  she  shal  forleten  f  e  last[e]  poynt  of  f  e  heuene. 
and  she  shal  p?v?ssen  and  wenden  on  f  e  bak  of  f  e  swifte 
firmament,  and  she  shal  ben  maked  perfit  of  f  e  drede- 
fulle  clerenesse  of  god.  •fl  fere  haldef  f  e  lorde  of  kynges 
f  e  ceptre  of  his  my3t  and  attemperef  f  e  gouernementes 
of  f  is  worlde.  and  f  e  shynynge  iuge  of  f  inges  stable  in 
hy??^  self  gouernef  f  e  swifte  carte,  fat  is  to  seyne  f  e 
circuler  moeuyng  of  [the]  sonne.  and  yif  fi  weye  ledef 
f  e  a3eyne  so  fat  f  ou  be  brou3t  f  ider.  fan  wilt  f  ou  seye 
now  fat  fat  is  f  e  centre  fat  f  ou  requeredest  of  whiche  f  ou 
ne  haddest  no  mynde.  but  now  it  remenbref  me  wel 
here  was  I  born,  here  wil  I  fastne  my  degree,  here  wil 
I  dwelle.  but  yif  f  e  lyke  fan  to  loken  on  f  e  derkenesse 
of  f  e  erf  e  fat  f  ou  hast  for-leten.  fan  shalt  f  ou  seen  fat 
.f  ise  felonous  tyrauntes  fat  f  e  wrecchedfe]  poeple  dredef 
now  shule  ben  exiled  from  f  ilke  faire  contre. 


radiant  path,  or 
accompanying 

cold  and  nged 
Saturn,  or  riding, 

3142 

as  a  soldier,  with 
Mars.    [Chaucer's 
Gloss.]     Through 
every  sphere  she 
(the  mind)  runs 

[*  fol.  25.] 
where  night  is 
most  cloudless  and 
where  the  sky  is 
decked  with  stars, 
until  she  reaches 
the  heaven's 
utmost  sphere — 
then  pressing  on 
she  shall  be  pre- 
pared to  see  the 
true  Source  of 
Light,  where  the 
great  King  of 
kings  bears  his 
mighty  sceptre, 
and  holds  the 
reins  of  the 
universe.    Here 
the  great  Judge, 
standing  in 
shining  robes, 
firmly  guides  his 
winged  cnariot, 
and  rules  the 
tumultuous  afTairs 
of  the  world. 

If  you  at  length 
shall  arrive  at 
this  abode,  you 
will  say  this  is 
my  country — here 
I  was  born— and 
here  will  I  abide. 


3161 

And  should  you 
deign  to  look  on 
the  gloomy  earth, 
you'll  see  those 
tyrants,  the  fear 
of  wretched  folk, 
banished  from 
those  fair  realms. 


3140  Mr— his 

3141  weye — wey 

be saturnus  —  MS.  sa- 
turnus be  olde  colde 

3142  saturnus— sat«rnis 
she— he 

3143  soule— thowght 

3144  treu\>e— trowthe 
knowlege — knoleche 

3145  soule— thoght 

3146  depeynted— painted 
3149-50  and  whan sliesnal 


—and  whanne  he  hath 
I-doon  there  I-nowh  he 
shal 

3149  Mb— MS.  habe 

3150  be  last[_e] heuene— 

the  laste  henene 

3151-2  she—  he 

3152-3  of  be of  god— of  the 

worshipful  lyht  of  god 
3153  bere  Jtalde\>—ther  halt 

3155  pis  worlde — the  world 

3156  carte— cart  or  wayn 


3157  [the}- from  C. 
3159  whiche— which 

3161  here  (1,  2,  3)— her 
born — MS.  borue,  C.  born 
wil  (1)— wol 

wil  (2) — wole 

3162  lyke— liketh 
derkenesse— dyrkne  *ses 

3164  wrecched[e]  —  wrecch- 
ede 

3165  shule— shollen 
from — fro 


112  THE    GOOD    ARE    ALWAYS    STRONG.  [?SosE*2. 

TUNC   EGO    PAPE   INQEMM.    ET   CETERA. 
[The  2e  prose.] 

B.  Ah!  thoupro-  "I*  Anne  seide  I  bus.  [own]  I  wondre  me  bat  bou  by- 

misest  me  great        I/ 

totnwithnouTdd7v  hetest  me  so  grete  Binges,  ne  I  ne  doute  nat  bat  bou 
ation?yoluhavect~  ne  mayst  wel  performe  jjat  J>ou  by-hetest.  but  I  preie  j>e 
p1SYou  must  first  oonly  bis.  bat  bou  ne  tarie  nat  to  telle  me  bilke  binges 

be  convinced  that 

the  good  are  ai-     bat  bou  hast  meoued.  first  quod  she  bou  most  nedes 

ways  strong  and 

SSSSddeartftSe    knowen.   ]>at   goodfe]  folk  ben  al  wey  strong[e]  and 
ty.  and  f  e  shrewes  ben  feble  and  desert  and  naked 
3173  of  alle  strengbes.  and  of  Jrise  Binges  certys  eueryche  of 
r.  hem  is  declared  and  shewed  by  ober.    ^F  For  so  as  good 

For  since  good  J 

and  evil  are  con-    ana  yuel  ben  two  contraries.  yif  so  be  bat  goode   oe 

trary,  if  good  be  J 

stedfast.  ]>&n  shewej)  J)e  fieblesse  of  yuel  al  openly,  and 
yif  >ou  knowe  clerely  fe  freelnesse  of  yuel.   be  stedfast- 


of  good    nesse  of  goode  is  knowen.  but  for  as  moche  as  be  fey  of 

must  also  be 

known  to  you.       my  sentence  shal  be  be  more  ferme  and  habou^daunt.  I 

But  to  convince  J 

ceed  to  rl-ov^it     w^  goon  hy  j?at  oon  wey  and  by  ]>at  ofer  and  I  wil  con- 
ferme  Jie  Binges  ])at  ben  purposed  now  on  j)is  side  and 


trutiis,  by  argu-     now  on  bat  syde.     IT  Two  binges  ber  ben  in  whiche  be 

ments  drawn  first  -     . 

from  one  of  these    effect  of  alle  be  dedes  of  man  kynde  standib.  bat  is  to 

topics  and  then  ,J 

^J10-  w^  ana  power,  and  yif  ]?at  oon  of  ))ise  two  faylej) 
fere  nis  no  Jjing  ]?at  may  be  don.  for  yif  Jmt  wil  lakkejj 


if  either  be  want-   here  nys  no  wyat  bat  vndirtakeb  to  done  bat  he  wol  not 

ing,  nothing  can 

be  effected.  A  man  don.  an(i  yif  power  fayleb  be  wille  nis  but  in  ydel  and 

can  do  nothing  *  .  ,  *  *.     r  *  * 

stant  for  nau3t-  and  fer  of  come>  ii;  >at  yif  >ou  se  a 


will,  and  if  power  ,   •, 

faiieththewiiiis    wyat  bat  wolde  getew  bat  he  may  nat  geten.  bou  mayst 

of  no  effect. 

Hence,  if  you  see    nat  douten  bat  power  ne  fayleb  hyw  to  haue^  bat  he 

a  person  desirous 

3191  wolde.     IF  bis  is  open  and  clere  quod  I.  ne  it  may  nat 

of  getting  what        -i  i  -i    •  -i       •  r>  ,  T 

he  cannot  procure,  ben  denycd  in  no  manere.  and  yif  bou  se  a  wyst  quod 

you  are  sure  he 

lacks  power  to       she.  bat  hab  don  bat  he  wolde  don  bou  nilt  nat  douten 

obtain  it.  *  ' 

anotner'downat     fa^  ^e  ne  naf  nad  power  to  done  it.  no  quod.  I.  and  in 
do/canySdoubt  fat.  fat  euery  wy3t  may.  in  fat  fat  men  may  holden 

3189    mayst  —  MS.  mayste, 
C.  mayst 

3191  clere— cler 

3192  dem/ed— denoycd 
3193-4  ha\>— MS.  hnpe 

3193  don  (both)— MS.  done, 
C.  doon 

3194  had— MS.  hadde,  C.  had 
done — doon 


nesse 


3166  _ 

3171  ~good{e\— goode  3178  goode—good 
strangle] — stronge  3180  oon — oo 

3172  desert— dishert  wil  (2)— wole 

3173  eueryche — euerich  3185-6  \>ere — ther 


3175  goode— good 

3176  stedfast— stidefast 

3177  freelnesse — frulennsse 
stedfastnesse  —  stidefast- 


3185  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 

3186  done — don 

3187  wille— wil 

3188  come]?— coraht 


ruosE42.]  TIIE    IMPOTENCY    OF    THE    WICKED.  113 

hyni  my^ty.  as  wlio  seib  in  as  moche  as  a  man  is  mysty  that  he  had  tho 

J  power  to  do  it  '< 

to  done  a  f  ing.    in  so  moche  men  halden  hym  my^ty.  j*-  jj'm*"n£c;n 
and  in  fat  ])at  he  ne  may.  in  fat  men  demen  hym  to 


re- 
ben  feble.  I  confesse  it  wel  quod  I.  Remembrif  fe  quod  liable  todo,  and 

weak  in  relation 

she  bat  1.  haue  gadred  and  shewed  by  forseide  resourcs  to  what  he  is  un- 

able  to  perform. 

fat  al  f  e  entenczoiro  of  J>e  wil  of  marakynde  whiche  fat  j*-  JJ 
is  lad  by  diuerse  studies  hastif  to  comen  to  blisfulnesse. 


1F  It  reme?ftbref  me  wel  quod  I  bat  it  hath  ben  shewed,  foiiowingdiffcrent 

pursuits,  seeks 

and  recordeb  be  nat  ban  quod  she.  bat  blisfulnesse  is  happiness  only  ? 

'     f  Do  you  recol- 

f  ilke  same  goode  fat  men  requeren.  so  fat  whan  fat 
blisfulnesse  is  requered  *of  aUe.  fat  goode  [also]  is  re- 
quered  and  desired  of  al.  It  recordeb  me  wel  quod  I.  of  nSC  and  an° 

desire  this  good, 

for  haue  it  gretly  alwey  ficche[d]  in  my  memorie.  alle  since  aii  seek 
folk  fan  quod  she  goode  and  eke  badde  enforcen  hem 


wif  oute  difference  of  entenc?'ou^  to  come/a  to  goode.  And'Tus  certain 

that  when  men 

fat  is  a  uerray  consequence  quod  I.  and  certeyne  is  quod  obtain  good  they 
she  fat  by  f  e  gety?ig  of  goode  ben  men  ymaked  goode.  3212 

...  i      T         mr   ,  ^  -      .     JS.  It  18  most 

f  is  is  certeyne  quod.  1.    1  fan  geten  goode  men  fat  f  ei  certain. 
desiren.  so  semeb  it  auod  I.  but  wickedfe]  folk  quod  then,  pet  what 

they  desire  P 

she  yif  fei   geten   fe  goode  fat  fei   desires  fei  [ne]  J  {5^^^^. 
mo  wen  nat  ben  wicked,  so  is  it  quod  .1.     IT  fan  so  as  they  om^no 
fat  oon  and  fat  of  er  [quod  she]  desiren  good,  and  f  e  B.  it  is  so. 
goode  folk  geten  good  and  nat  be  wicked  folk     IF  ban  both  parties 

*         pursue  the  good, 

iiis  it  no  doute  fat  f  e  goode  folk  ne  ben  my^ty  and  f  e 
wicked  folk   ben  feble.     ^  who  so  fat  euer  quod   I 

_       .        ,  .,  powerful,  and  tliat 

douteb  of   bis.  he  ne  may  nat  eonsidre  be  nature  of  the  wicked  are 

weak  and  feeble  ? 

f  irages.  ne  f  e  consequence  of  resourc.  and  ouer  f  is  quod  S-S^?"1 
she.     1F  yif  fat  f  er  ben  two  f  inges  fat  han  o  same  considerenoter 
pwrpos  by  kynde.  and  fat  one  of  hem  pwrsuef  and  per-  ofthima,  orare™ 

incapable  of  com- 

formeb  bilke  same  binge  by  nature!  office,  and  bat  ober  prehenmng  the 

force  of  any 

ne  may  nat  done  filk  naturel  office,    but  folwef  by 
of  er  manere  fan  is  couenable  to  nat?«re     ^[  Hym  fat 


3196  as  moche — so  moche 

3197  done— doon 
moche — m  ochel 
halden — halt 

8201  whiche— which 

3202  tod— MS.  ladde,  C.  lad 

3203  it  hath  ben— MS.  I  herde 


1C.  it  hath  ben 
goode—  good 
3206  [aZso]—  from  C. 


]—  f 
lle 


3207  al—  alle 
It  -  /—it  nerecordeth  me 

nat  quod  I 
3210-12(1)-15  goode-good 

8 


3214  wickedfe']— wikkcdo 

3215  [we]— from  C. 

3216  mowen — mowe 

3217  [quod  she]— from  C. 

3218  tvicked— wilke  (?\vikke) 
3220  wicked— wikkcdo 

3226 


114 


THE   WICKED    DO    NOT    SEEK 


PROSE  2. 


and  one  of  them 
accomplishes  his 
purpose  by  the 
use  of  natural 
means,  while  the 
other  not  using 
legitimate  means 
does  not  attain  his 
end— which  of 
these  two  is  the 
most  powerful  ? 
B.  Illustrate  your 
meaning  more 
clearly. 

P.  The  motion 
of  walking  is 
natural  to  man  ? 
And  this  motion 
is  the  natural 
office  of  the  feet? 
Do  you  grant  this  ? 
B.  I  do. 
P.  If,  then,  he 
who  is  able  to  use 
his  feet  walks, 
whilst  another 
lacking  this  power 
creeps  on  his 
hands — surely  he 
that  is  able  to 
move  naturally 
upon  his  feet  is 
more  powerful 
than  he  who 

3243 

cannot. 

P.  The  good  and 
bad  seek  the 
supreme  good : 
i  he  good  by  the 
natural  means  of 
virtue— the 
wicked  by  gratify- 
ing divers  desires 
of  earthly  things 
(which  is  not  the 
natural  way  of  ob- 
taining it).    Do 
you  think  other- 
wise? 

B.  The  con- 
sequence is  plain, 
and  that  follows 
from  what  has 
been  granted — 
that  the  good  are 
powerful,  while 
the  wicked  are 
feeble. 

P.  You  rightly 
anticipate  me ; 
for  it  is  a  good 
sign,as  physicians 
well  know,  when 
Nature  exerts  her- 
self and  resists 
the  malady.   But, 
as  you  are  so 
quick  of  appre- 


acomplisif  hys  pwrpos  kyndely.  and  }it  he  ne  acom- 
plisif  nat  hys  owen  purpos.  whej)er  of  fise  two  demest 
fou  for  more  my3ty.  IF  yif  fat  I  coniecte  quod  .1.  fat 
fou  wilt  seye  algates.  }it  I  desire  to  herkene  it  more 
pleynely  of  f  e.  fou  nilt  nat  fan  denye  quod  she  fat  f  e 
moeueme?it3  of  goynge  nis  in  men  by  kynde.  no  for  sof  e 
quod  I.  ne  fou  ne  doutest  nat  quod  she  fat  filke  na- 
turel  office  of  goynge  ne  be  f  e  office  of  feet.  I  ne  doute 
it  nat  quod  .1.  fan  quod  she  yif  fat  a  wy^t  be  my^ty  to 
moeue  and  go])  vpon  hys  feet,  and  anof  er  to  whom 
filke  naturel  office  of  feet  lakkef .  enforce])  hym  to  gone 
crepynge  vpo/z  hys  handes.  ^f  whiche  of  fise  two  ai^te 
to  ben  holden  more  my^ty  by  ry^t.  knyt  furf  e  f  e  re- 
menaunt  quod  I.  If  For  no  wy^t  ne  doutef  fat  he  fat 
may  gone  by  nat?«-el  office  of  feet,  ne  be  more  my3ty 
fan  he  fat  ne  may  nat  ^[  but  f e  souerejne  good  quod 
she  fat  is  euenlyche  purposed  to  f  e  good  folk  and  to 
badde.  fe  good  folke  seken  it  by  naturel  office  of 
uertues.  and  f  e  shrewes  enforcen  hem  to  geten  it  by 
dyuerse  couetise  of  erfely  finges.  whiche  fat  nis  no 
naturel  office  to  geten  filke  same  souereyne  goode. 
trowest  f  ou  fat  it  be  any  of  er  wyse.  nay  quod  .1.  for  f  e 
coftsequeft.ce  is  open  and  shewynge  of  finges  fat  I  haue 
graunted.  ^f  fat  nedes  goode  folk  moten  ben  my3ty. 
and  shrewes  feble  and  vnmy^ty.  ^f  f  ou  rennest  ary3t 
byfore  me  qwod  she.  and  f  is  is  f  e  iugement  fat  is  to 
seyn.  H  I  iuge  of  f  e  ry3t  as  f  ise  leches  ben  wont  forto 
hopen  of  seke  folk  whan  f ei  aperceyuen  fat  nature  is 
redressed  and  wif  stondef  to  f  e  maladie.  ^f  But  for  I 
see  f  e  now  al  redy  to  f  e  vndirstandynge  I  shal  shewe 
f  e  more  filke  and  continuel  resouws.  IT  For  loke  now 


3229  owen — o\vne 

3231  wilt— wolt 
herkene — hcrkne 

3232  pleynely— pleynly 
denye — denoye 

3233  moeuement}  —  Mocue- 
ment 

3237  go\> — MS.  goj>e 


hys— hise 

3238  gone— goon 

3239  hys— hise 
whiche — which 

3240  wore— the  Moore 
fur\>e— forth 

3212  gone— gon 
3245  good— goode 


3246  uertues — vertuus 

3247  whiche— which 

3248  goode— good 

3253  byfore-by-t'orn 

3254  forto— to 

3255  seke— sike 


PUOSE4aJ  ARIGHT    THE    SUPREME    GOOD.  115 

how  gretly  shewib  be  feblesse  and  infirmite  of  wicked  henMon,  i  shall 

J  continue  this 

folke.  fat  ne  mowen  nat  come  to  fat  hire  naturel  en-  m°de 
tenczouft   ledef    hem.    and   $itte    almost    filk   naturel  ufco 

they  cannot  attain 

entenczourc  constremeb  hem.    il  and  what  were  to  deme  the'end  to  which 

their  natural  dis- 

f  an  of  shrewes.    yif  f  ilke  naturel  helpe  hadde  for-leten 

hem.     1T  f  e  whiche  naturel  helpe  of  entenciouw  gof  al- 

wey  byforne  hem.  and  is  so  grete  fat  vnnef  it  may  be  natural  promnt- 

ouercomen.    IT  Considre  ban  how  gret  defaute  of  power  and  irresistible  ? 

Consider  how 

and  how  gret  feblesse  fere  is  in  grete  felonous  folk  as  |£tence  Seti?" 
who  seif  f  e  gretter  f  ittges  fat  ben  coueited  and  f  e  desire 


,.,„,,  ,     .      -,  ••«•.!_   desired,  but  un- 

nat  accomplissed  of  be  lasse  myat  is  he  fat  coueitef  it  accomplished, 

the  less  is  the 

and  may  nat  acomplisse.     *|f  And  forfi  philosophic  seif  power  of  him  that 
f  us  by  souereyne  good.     IT  Sherewes  ne  requere  nat 


ly}t[e]  medes  ne  veyne  gaines  whiche  f  ei  ne  may  nat  nofrfviaf  thin"8er 
folwen  ne  holden.  but  bei  fayle^  of  bilke  some  of  be  to^btain  ;  but 

they  aspire  in 

hey3te  of  f  inges  fat  is  to  seyne  souereyne  good,  ne  fise  3275 


wrecches  ne  comen  nat  to  fe  effect  of  souereyne  good. 

,  they  endeavour 

*be  whiche  bei  eniorcen  hem  oonly  to  geteft  by  nyates       [*foi.  26.1 

J  day  and  night 

and  by  dayes.     ^[  In  fe  getynfg]  of  whiche  goode  fe 

strengf  e  of  good  folk,  is  ful  wel  ysen.     For  ry3t  so  as 

fou  my^test  demen  hym  my3ty  of  goynge  fat  gof  on  SJSStS!  "FW 

hysfeet  til  he  my^tfe]  come  to  filke  place  fro  fe  whiche  ajjood  walker  t».at 

place  fere  ne  lay  no  wey  forf  er  to  be  gon.     By3t  so 


most  fou  nedes  demen  hym  for  ry^t  my^ty  fat  getif 
and  atteinif  to  f  e  ende  of  alle  f  inges  fat  ben  to  desire. 

nothing  to  desire. 

by-^onde  be  whiche  ende  bat  ber  nis  no  bmg  to  desire,  wicked  men, 

then,  are  destitute 

^[  Of  whiche  power  of  good  folk  men  may  conclude  fat  wVich*thPe°g7od  so 
wicked  men  semen  to  ben  bareyne  and  naked  of  alle  vKS 


-r,  ,  .     /,     -,    ,  .  ini  leave  virtue,  and 

strengf  e.     lor   whi   iorleten   fei   vertues   and  folwen  follow  vice?  is  it 

because  they  are 

vices,  nis  it  nat  for  fat  fei  ne  knowen  nat  fe  goodes.  ignorant  of  good? 


3259  wicked  —  wikkede 

3260  come  —  comyri 

3261  \nlk-  thilke 

3262  deme  —  demen 
3263-4  helpe—  hel 

3264  whiche—  w 
ffo\>—  MS.  gope 

3265  grete—  gret 
vnne\>  —  vnnethe 

be  ouercomen—ben  oner- 

come 
3267  \>ere—  ther 


elp 
hich 


grete — wikkede 
3268  Binges— thing 
ben — is 

3271  Sherewes  ne  requere — 
ne  shrewes  ne  requeren 

3272  lyit[e]— lyhte 
veyne— veyn 
nat — omitted 

3276  whiche— which 

3277  getyn[g~\— getinge 
whiche  goode — which  good 

3278  ysen— MS.  and  C.  ysene 


3279  go\>— MS.  gobe 

3280  MfafttMnybfee 

3281  here— ther 
lay— laye 
former— forthere 
be — ben 

3283  desire— desired 

3284  \>at— omitted 

3285  whiche— the  which 
\>at— pat  the 

3286  ben— be 


116  THE   WICKED    HAVE    NO    REAL    EXISTENCE.  [?2o!iE%. 


feble  and  more  caitif  ban  is  bo 

e5  blyndenesse  of  ignoraunce.  or  ellys  bei  knowen  M  wel 
way  they  ought  to  whiche  binges  bat  bei  an?  ten  to  folwen    1[  but  lecherye 

follow,  but  arc  led  . 

astray  by  inst  and  ana  couetise  ouerbroweb  hem  mysturned.     ¥  and  certis 

covctousness  ? 

weak8min!£iemen  so  (^°J)  distemperaunce  to  feble  men.  bat  ne  mowe/i  nat 
byeinIeemP°eSde,  wrastle  a3eins  be  vices  f  Ne  knowen  bei  nat  ban  wel 
resist  Vicious01  bat  bei  forcletcn  be  good  wilfully.  ewc#  turnen  hem  vil- 
they  wiiiingW  de-  fully  to  vices.  ^[  And  in  bis  wise  bei  ne  forleten  nat 
oonly  to  ben  my3ty-  but  fei  forleten  al  outerly  in  any 
wise  forto  ben  If  For  bei  bat  forleten  be  comune  fyn  of 


even  cease  to  n       •  •  ,    i  .    •     t>      -i    ,  i  •  •,       -i    c     ± 

exist.  For  those    alle  binges  bat  ben.   bei  ior-leten  also  berwib  al  lorto 

who  neglect  the 

common  end  of     ben.  and  pcrauenture  it  sholde  semen  to  som  folk  bat 

all  beings,  cease  to 

marvel  that Tay    fa  were  a  merueile  to  seyne  bat  shrewes  whiche  bat 
wTcked!  thV  e      contienen  be  more  partie  of  me%  ne  ben  nat.  ne  han  no 

majority  of  the        ,  .  •     .  • 

human  race,  have  beynge.     ¥  but  nabeles  it  is  so.  and  bus  stant  bis  bmg 

no  existence-  J    ' 

3304  for  bei  bat  ben  shrewes  I  denye  nat  bat  bei  ben  shrewes. 
ever,  most  true,     but  I  denye  and  seyfel  symplely  and  pleynly  bat  bei 

That  the  wicked 

are  bad  i  do  not     |ne  1  ben  nat.  ne  han  no  beynge.  for  ryat  as  bou  mystest 

deny— but  I  do         LJ  J6  J:>  J:> 

they^aveJnf         Se3rn  °^  f6  careyne  °f   a    man    ^    &    were    a    ^Q^    man- 

Youmay^-uia      If  but  bou  ne  my3test  nat  symplely  callen  it  a  man. 
man',  but  you  can-  H  So  grauntfe]  I  wel  for  sobe   bat   vicious  folk  ben 

not  with  pro- 
priety call  it  a       wicked,  but  I  ne   may  nat   graunten    absolutely  and 

man.    So  the  * 

symplely  bat  bei  ben.  ^f  For  bilk  bing  bat  wib 
they°absoiuteiy  holdeb  ordre  and  kepib  nature,  bilk  bing  is  and  hab 
exists  that  pre-  beynge.  but  bat  bing  bat  faileb  of  bat.  bat  is  to  seyne 
S&Xf '  "bo*00"  ^e  fat  ^O1'leti]3  naturel  ordre  he  for-letib  bilk  beyng 
tiles"  esSiais  it  J>at  is  set  in  hys  nature,  but  bou  wolt  sein  bat  shrewes 

ceases  to  be.   But,  mr  r^      i  i  T  «r  T_    j 

you  may  say  that  mowen.     ^[  Certys  bat  ne  denye  1  nat.     H  but  certys 

the  wicked  have  a 


dokn  &'•  but          power  ne  descendeb  nat  of  strengbe  but  of  feblesse. 
effect oTweakne*".  for    fei   mowen   cl°n  wickednesses,   be  whiche  bei  ne 
my^tcn  nat  don  yif  bei  my$tGn  dwelle  in  be  forme  and 


3291    ftuyten    to  folwen  — 
owhten  folwe 

3293  do\>— MS.doJ>e,  C.  doth 

3294  wrastle — wrastlcn 

3295  vttfully— wilsfully 
3297  outerly— owtrely 
3301  seyne—  seyen 
3304-5  denye — denoye 


3305  sey[e]  symplely  —  seye 
uympeli 

3306  [we]— from  C. 
31307  seyn— seyon 

3309  qraunt[e] — graunte 
3311-12  bilk— tliilke 

3312  fcaf>-MS.  ha^e 

3313  \>at  (1)— what 


3313  seyne—  seyn 

3314  \>ilk—  tliilke 


3315  set—  MS.  sette,  C.  sot 

3316  denye  —  denoye 

3318  don—  MS.  done,  C.  don 

3319  myiten  (1)—  myhte 
dwelle  —  dvvellin 


POWER,    AN    ATTRIBUTE    OF    THE    CHIEF    GOOD.  117 

in  be   doynge  of  goode  folke.     fl"  And    bilke   power  not  do,  if  they  re- 

taincd  the  power 

sheweb  ful  euydently  bat  bei  ne  mowen   ryjt   naiut.  of  doing  good. 

J  J     •         *  »*  This  power,  then, 

^f  For  so  as  I  haue  gadered  and  proued  a  lytel  her  by-  tf 


forn  bat  yuel  is  naust.  and  so  as  shrewes  mowen  oonly  tiftne'uia  clear" 

,  ,  _.  ,      .  .          ,       ,  ,    that  while  the 

but   shrewednesse.     bis   conclusions   is    al   clere.     bat  wicked  can  only 

*         do  evil  they  can 

shrewes  ne  mowen  ry^t  nat  to  ban  power,  and  for  as  d°n^inuTnde?Jiafc 
moche  as  J)ou  vndirstonde  whiche  is  pe  strengpe  pat  is  Jw™  powerli'have 
power  of  shrewes.  I  haue  diffinised  a  lytel  here  byforn 


powerful  than  the 

pat  no  Jjing  nis  so  my^ty  as  souereyne  good     11  J>at  is  sovereign  good. 
sope  quod.  .1.  [and  thilke  same  souereyn  good  may  don  ^pre^'good  can 
non  yuel  //  Certes  no  quod  I]     1F  Is  per  any  wy$t  pan  £  SSfiiy  not. 


,     ,  ..  J  11      «•  P.  Is  there  any 

quod  she  bat  wemb  bat  men  mowen  don  alle  binges,  one  who  thinks 

f  that  man  can  do 

No  man  quod.  .1.  but  yif  he  be  out  of  hys  witte.   IT  but  an  things? 

J  B.  No  sane  man 

certys  sherewes  mowen  don  yuel  quod  she.    IT  $e  wolde 
god  quod  I  pat  pei  ne  my^terc  don  none.   pat  quod  she 


so  as  he  bat  is  mysty  to  done  oonly  but  good  [el  binges  p.esm°ce  hehat 

can  do  good,  uau 

may  don  alle  Jnnges.  and  J?ei  J>at  ben  my^ty  to  done  3336 
yuelfe]  jjinges  ne  mowen  nat  alle  J>inges.  fan  is  pis  open 


.,,.  ...  i  11  »todo  evil  cannot 

and  mamiest  bat  bei  bat  mowew  don  yuel  ben  01  do  aii  things, 

therefore  the  evil- 

lasse  power,    and  aitte  to  proue  bis  conclusiouw   bere  doers  are  less 

powerful.   Let  me 

helpej?  me  pis  pat  I  haue  shewed  here  byforne.  pat  al  JJJ^'JSJ  of 
power  is  to  be  noumbred  amonge  pinges  pat  men  au3ten  de8ired"nnd0t!iat 

71  ,  i   ,     L     n      ,•  i  all  such  things  it  re 

requere.  and  haue  shewed  bat  alle  bmges  bat  amten  ben  to  be  referred  to 

the  chief  good 

desired  ben  referred  to  good  ryat  as  to  a  manere  heyate  (th<?  perfection  of 

J'  J^        their  nature).  Ikit 

of  hyr  nature,     f  But  for  to  mowen   don  yuel   and 
felonye  ne  may  nat  ben  referred  to  good,  pan  nis  nat 


yuel  of  be  noumbre  of  binges  bat  arotera.  *  be  desired,  but      [*'foi.  k  &.] 

all  power  is  de- 

al power  amt  [el  ben  desired  and  requered.     ^[  ban  is  arable,  it  is  clear 

that  the  ability  to 

it  open  and  cler  pat  pe  power  ne  pe  moeuyng  of  shrewes  jJj^JJl  18j"  cLariy 
nis  no  powere.  and  of  alle  pise  pinges  it  shewep  wel  pat  "1  ' 


3320  goode— good 

3321  shrewednesse  —  shrevv- 
ednesses 

clere — cleer 

3325  nat power  —  nawht 

ne  nan  no  power 

3326  whiche— which 
\>at  is— of  this 

3327  here— her 

3328  nis— is 
332'J  so\>e— soth 


3329,  3330    \and  thilke  

quod  /] — from  C.. 

3334  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
none  \>at — non  thanne 

3335  done — doon 
good[e]— poode 

3336  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
done — don 

3337  ywel\e}— yucle 
\ns— it 

3338  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 


3339 

\>ere — ther 

3340  shewed  here  bjiforne — 
Ishewed  her  by-Torn 

al — alle 

3341  amonge — among 

33J4  don—  MS.  done,  C.  don 
3316  autfen  be— owliti:  ben 
3347  a?— alle 


118  THE    WICKED    ARE    UNHAPPY.  [ME?-/' 

areatpowefSw°i±  J>e  goode  folk  ben  ccrteynly  my^ty.  and  be  shrewes  ben 
feeebiVed°Andre      douteles  vnmy^ty   IF  And  it  is  clere  and  open  bat  Hike 

Plato's  opinion  is  _     _    ,      . 

hereby  verified  sentence  of  plato  is  uciray  and  sobe.  bat  seyb  bat  oonly 
wiseme?*  may  [doon]  bat  bei  desiren.  and  shrewes 
mowen  haunten  bat  hem  lykeb.  but  bat  bei  desiren  bat 


lusu,  but  their      is  to  seyne  to  comen  to  souereyne  good  bei  ne  han  no 

great  aim  and  de-  ,  . 

sire,  i  e.  HAPPI-     power  to  acomplissen  bat.    ^[  For  shrewes  don  bat  hem 

NESS,  they  can 

The  ^st  wnan  ^J  ]>0  Binges  in  whiche  bei  deliten  bei  wencn 
to  atteyne  to  bilke  good  bat  bei  desiren.  but  bei  ne  geteh 


good  (for  which     ne  atteynen  nat  ber  to.     IF  for  vices  ne  comen  nat  to 

they  wish),  but       _  _.    .  , 

they  can  never         bllSIulneSSe.  3360 

possess  it,  for  im- 

piety and  vice  can 

wTh%p?n0ered  QUOS    UIDES    SEVERE    CELSOS. 

[The  ijd«  Meter.]     TTru 

whosoever  might    \\  no  so    bat    be   cotiertures  oi   her  veyn  apparailes 

strip  of  their  VV  r  ,  ' 

purple  coveringa,  niystre]  strepen  of  bise  proude  kynges   bat  bou 

proud  kings,  who, 

surrounded  by      seest  sitten  on  hey^e  in   her  chayeres  glyterynge  in 

3364  shynynge    purpre    envyroned   wib    sorweful    arm?^res 

thrones,  and         manasyng  wib  cruel  moube.  blowyng  by  woodnesse  of 

whose  storn  looks  J 

wear  fierce  threat-  herte.     IF  He  sholde  so  ban  bat  ilke  lordes  beren  wib 

enmgs,  and  boil- 

corages  ftd  streyte  cheynes  for  leccherye  tor- 


-  mentib  hem  on  bat  oon  syde  wib  gredy  venyms  and 

by  troublable  Ire  bat  araiseb  in  hem  be  floodes  of  troublynges 

lust,  passion, 

grief,  and  delusive  tourmentib  vpon  bat  ober  side  hir  bou^t.  or  sorwe  halt 

3371  hem  wery  or  ycau3t.  or  slidyng  and  disseyuyng  hope 

Since,  then,  so  ,  .  ,    ,  «  ,        , 

many  tyrants  tourmentib  hem.     And  berfore  syn  bou  seest  on  heed. 

bear  sway  over 

oon  tyraunt  bere  so  many[e]  tyrauntis. 


Paw   ne   (^OJ7   f^5  tyraunt  nat  bat  he  desirib.  syn  he 
is  cast  doune  wib  so  many[e]  wicked  lordes.  bat  is  to 

actions  are  not  .  r  -. 

obedient  to  his      seyn  wib  so  many[ej  vices,  bat  han  so  wicked  lordsmpea 
ouer  hym.  3377 


3351  clere  —  cler 

3352  so\>e—  soth 

\>at  sey\>—  MS.  but  sipe,  C. 
pat  seyth 

3353  [_doon\—  from  C. 
3355  seyne—  seyn 
3357  whiche—  which 
3361-63  her—  hir 


33(52  my&ey-  myhte 


3363  hey^e— heygh 

3364  sorweful— sorwful 

3365  mou\>e— Mowth 

3366  se— seen 
ilke— thilke 

3368  on— in 

3369  hem— hym 

3371    disseyuyng  —  deceyu- 
ynge 


3373  seyne— seyn 

bere-~  beeren 
3373-75-76  many[_e\— inanye 

3373  tyrauntis — tyranycs 

3374  dob— MS.  do  be 
bilk— thilke 

3375  doune — down 
wicked — wikkede 

3376  wicked- wikkedly 


THEY  DO  NOT  ESCAPE  PUNISHMENT.  119 


VIDES    NE    IGITUR    QUANTO.  [The  iij.-e  prose.] 

SEest  bou  nat  ban  in  how  gret  filbe  bise  shrewes  ben  inhowUgreat and 
filthy  a  mire  the 
y wrapped,    and  wib  whiche   cleernesse    bise   good  wicked  waiiow? 

This  is  a  proof 

folk  shynen.     In  fis  shewef  it  wel  fat  to  good  folk  ne  JjJ 


lakkef   neuer  mo  hir  medes.    ne   shrewes   ne   lakken 
neuer  mo  towrmentis.  for  of  alle  finges  fat  ben  ydon  ment.epEve8ry"ac- 
f  ilke  f  ing  for  whiche  any  f  ing  is  doon.  it  seme])  as  by  certain  end,  and 
ry^t  fat  f  ilke  f  ing  be  f  e  mede  of  fat.  as  f  us.     f  yif  a  5^1™?^? 
man  rennef  in  f  e  stadie  or  in  fe  forlonge  for  fe  corone.  whk!T2i  things 
ban  lieb  be  mede  in  be  corone  for  whiche  he  renneb.  fore  happiness  JT 

...  the  reward  which 

1F  And  I  haue  shewed  bat  blisfulnesse  is  filke  same  an  the  human 

*  race  seek  as  the 

good  for  whiche  fat  alle  f  ingus  ben  don.  fan  is  f  ilke  JJJjJjJ  ofTh?sr 
same  good  purposed  to  f  e  werkes  of  mankynde  ry^t  as  S 


a  comune  mede.  whiche  mede  ne  may  ben  disseuered  virtue  canrneTeer 

want  its  reward. 

fro  good  folk,  for  no  wy3t  as  by  ry^t  fro  f  ennes  forf  e  Evil  men^may 
fat  hym  lakkif  goodnesse  ne  shal  ben  cleped  good.  3392 


For  whiche  bing  folk  of  goodfel  maneres  her  medes  ne 

crown  of  the  wise 

forsaken  hem  neuer  mo.     For  al  be  it  so  fat  sherewes  shall  not  fail  nor 

fade.  The  wicked- 

Waxen  as  wood  as  hem  list  a3eynes  good[e]  folk.  }itte 
neuer  f  e  les  f  e  corone  of  wise  men  ne  shal  nat  fallen 
ne  faden.  IT  For  foreine  shrewednesse  ne  bynymef 

possession  of  an 

nat  fro  f  e  corages  of  good[e]  folk  hire  propre  honoure. 


but  yif  fat  any  wy3t  reioisef  hem  of  goodnesse  fat  f  ei  S  topSveS  ont, 
had[de]  taken  fro  wifoute.  as  who  seif  yif  [fat]  any  Sw?o?byothere. 
wy7t  hadfdel  hys  goodnesse  of  any  ober  man  ban  of  ward  of  the 

J>  L      J       J  virtuous  is  derived 

hym   self,  certys  he  fat  3af  hym   filke  goodnesse  or 
ellys  som  ofer  wy3t  my}t[e]  bynym[e]  it  hym.  but  for 

•>  i     r  r.  virtuous.    Lastly. 

as  mocne  as  to  euery  wy3t   hys  owen  propre  bounte  since  a  reward  is 

desired  because  it 

aeueb  hym  hys  mede.    ban  at  arst  shal  he  faylen  of  is  supposed  to  be 

a  good,  can  we  be- 

mede  whan  he  forletif  to  ben  good,  and  at  fe  laste  so 
as  alle  medes  bew  requered  for  men  wenen  fat  f  ei  ben 


3379  whiche— which 

3380  good— goode 

3381  ne  (2)— omitted 
3383  whiche— which 
3385  forlonge— forlong 
3386-88-90  whiche— \vh 
3391  for\>e— forth 
3393  whiclie— which 


ich 


3393  goodie]— goode 
3395  woodr- woode 

e] — goode 
les — leese 
ne — omitted 
3398  good[e~]— goode 


]— goo 
;p — rei 


399  rw0M0J> — reioyse 
Item — hym 


3399  \>ei  Jiadldey-he  hadde 

3400  [_\>af]— from  C. 

3401  had\de\— hadde 

3402  self—  MS.  selk 

3403  my}t[e]     bynym[d]  — 


myhte  be-nyme 
3404,  owen— ovvne 
3406  laste— last 


120  THE    REWARD    OF    THE    GOOD.     .  Rnnfiz4' 


PROSE  3. 


2uS*he  receive?    g°°^[e]-  w^°  is-he  fat  wolde  deme  fat  he  fat  is  ry^t 


certainly  th^       my^ty  of  goode  were  parties  of  mede.  *and  of  what 

fairest  and  richest  i     i    i        T 

of  aii  rewards.       mede  shal  he  be  gerdoned.  certys  of  ry^t  faire  mede 

P^ll    t^  TV.ir.rl   fV.0*  °  J  J  ? 


e  medes.     IT  Remembre  f  e  of 
noble  corolarie  fat  I  30?  f  e  a  lytel  here  byforne. 

Since  the  supreme  7         ,        •  ,    .         •  i        •       ,  •  11  •>  * 

good  is  happiness,  and  gooie  it  to  gidre  in  bis  manere.  so  as  god  hym  sell 

it  follows  that  all     . 

good  men  are       is  blisf  ulnesse.  ban  is  it  clere  and  certevn.  bat  alle  good 

happy  in  as  much 

butifethaeyeagre°a5  folk  ben  makid  blisful  for  fei  ben  good[e].  and  filke 
&opmeta7itmwue'rte  folk  fat  ben  blisful  it  accordif  and  is  couenable  to  ben 
ward  (ie.  divin-  goddefsl.  ban  is  be  mede  of  goode  folk  swiche.  bat  no 

ity)oftherighte-  °  L  J      * 

enPeyren  &  ne  no  wickednesse  shal  en- 


dirken  it.  ne  power  of  no  wy^t  ne  shal  nat  ainemisen  it 
bat  is  to  seyn  to  ben  maked  goddes.   IF  and  syn  it  is 

scureit.    Since, 

men  ne  falen  neuer  mo  of  hire  medes. 


^  certys  no  wise  .man  ne  may  doute  of  f  e  vndepartable 
peyne  of  shrewes.     1T  fat  is  to  seyn  fat  fe  peyne  of 

and  evil  are  con-       ,  «  ,  .  -, 

3424  snrewes   ne   departip   nat   irom   hem   self  neuer  mo. 


so  as  goode  and  yuel  and  peyne  and  medes  ben 

punishments.    It  . 

is  evident  that      contrane  it  mot  nedes  ben  bat  ry^t  as  we  seen  by-tiden 

rewards  follow 

in  ger(iouw  °^  goode.  fat  also  mot  fe  peyne  of  yuel 
answere  by  fe  contrarie  partye  to  shrewes.  now  fan  so 


self  is  the  reward  ,  .  ,       „  ,, 

of  the  virtuous,      as  bounte  and  prowesse  ben  be  medes  to  goode  folk. 

so  vice  is  the  .  *          .  f 

punishment  of      also  is  shrewednesse  it  self  torment  to  shrewes       I   fan 

the  vicious.    He  y 

wno  so  l7^  euer  ^s  entecched  and  defouled  wif  yuel. 
yif  shrewes  wolen  fan  preisen  hem  self  may  it  semen 


.h  wicked    to  hem  bat  bei  ben  wib  oute?z  partye  of  tourment.  syn 

did  rightly  under- 

stand  themselves    fjei  ben  swiche  bat  be    vtteriste  wikkednesse  /  bat  is  to 

they  would  per-       • 

seyn  wikkede  thewes  /  which  fat  is  the]  outereste  and 
f  e  w[or]ste  kynde  of  shrewednesse  ne  defoulif  nat  ne 

extreme  and  _  .  •*•«'•"«.•« 

worst  kind  of  evil,  entecemb  nat  hem  oonly  but  imectib  ana  enuenemyb 

not  only  afflicts 

so  l°^e  on  shrewes  fat  ben  f  o 


3408  good[_e 


de— nolde 
3409  goode— good 
of  (2)— of  the 

3111  greet— grete 

3112  here  byforne — her  by- 
forn 

3tl3  god— good 
3114  is  (1)— his 


3414  clere—  cleer 

3415  good[e]  —  goode 

3417  godde[_s]—  goddes 
swiche  —  swich 

3418  [ne]—  from  C. 
endirken—  derkcn 

3422  wise  man  —  vvysmau 


\>e  —  omitted 


vndir- 


partable,  C.    vndepart- 

aBlo 

3423  o/(l)—  of  the 
3428  answers  —  auswery 

\>e  —  omitted 
3434   [vtteriste  -  is  the']  — 


3438 


from  C. 


{•HOSE'S.]  VIRTUE    EXALTS   MANKIND.  121 

contrarie  party  e  of  goode  men.  how  grete  peync  felaw-  pollutes  them. 

x         J  Hut  contemplate 

shipej)  and  folwef  hem.     1T  For  fou  hast  lerned  a  litel 
here  byforn  fat  al  fing  fat  is  awd  haf  beynge  is  oon. 


.        .  ,    wmtj/  is  essential 

and  f  like  same  oon  is  good,  fan  is  f  is  consequence  pat  to  being  and  is 
it  semef  wel.  fat  al  fat  is  and  haf  beyrage  is  good,  f  is  3443 


is  to  seyne.   as  who  sei]>  fat  beynge  and  vnite  and 

.      „  .  soever,  then,  fails 

goodnesse  is  al  oon.  and  in  bis  manere  it  iolwef  fan.  to  be  good  ceases 

r    r          to  exist.    So  that 

fat  al  f  ing  fat  failef  to  ben  good,  it  styntif  forto  be.  ^ 
and  forto  haue  any  beynge.  wher  fore  it  is  fat  shrewes  tJ 


stynten  forto  ben  bat  bei  weren.  but  filke  ofer  forme 

,  .      form  of  the  body, 

of  mankynde.  fat  is  to  seyne  f  e  forme  of  f  e  body  wif  which  stiu  re- 

1    mains,  clearly 

oute.  shewif  $it  fat  f  ise  shrewes  were  somtyme  men.  Sefwhe 
IT  wher  fore  whan  f  ei  ben  peruerted  and  torned  in  to 
malice,  certys  fan  han  fei  forlorn  fe  nature  of  man-  3452 

lose  their  human 

kynde.  but  so  as  oonly  bounte  and  prowesse  may  en-  nature.  But  as 

virtue  alone  ex- 

hawnse  euery  man  ouer  ofer  men.  fan  mot  it  nedes  be  ^HS  men 
fat  shrewes  whiche  fat  shrewednesse  haf  cast  out  of  f  e  v^'wiS  that 
condicz'ouft  of  mankynde  ben  put  vndir  f  e  merite  and  hls'^ureTmust 

sink  him  below 

be  deserte  of  men.  ban  bitidib  it  bat  yif  fou  seest  a  humanity.  YOU 

cannot,  therefore, 

wy^t  fat  be  transformed  in  to  vices,  fou  ne  mayst  nat  |8 
wene  fat  he  be  a  man.     IT  For  3if  he  [be]  ardaunt  in 


auarice.    and   fat   he   be  a  rauynowr   by  violence   of  robb8eV,Tyougwmdy 

say,  is  like  a  wolf. 

foreine  rychesse.   fou  shalt  seyn  fat  he  is  lyke  to  a  3461 

wolf,   and  yif  he  be  felonous  and  wif  out  reste  and  SJtSh^aSSJe 

exercise  hys  tonge  to  chidynges.  fou  shalt  lykene  hym  {SSTto  a°JoSS 

to  f  e  hounde.  and  yif  he  be  a  preue  awaitow  yhid  and  SSulandfrfck- 

T      ,  ,  11,  er.y  ?  tnen  ifi  ne 

reioyseb  hym  to  rauysshe  by  wyles.  fou  shalt  seyne  like  young  foxes. 

J      i       J  js  he  intemperate 

hym  lyke  to  f  e  fox  whelpes.     ^  And  yif  he  be  dis-  ft^*  ™,f  ^ 
tempre  and  quakif  for  ire  men  shal  wene  fat  he  beref 


f  e  corage  of  a  lyou?i.  and  yif  he  be  dredeful  and  fleynge  3468 

.    _  ,       ,  be  a  coward,  he 

and  dredef  fmges  fat  ne  au3ten  nat  ben  area,  men  wm  be  likened  to 


3139  greto— gret 
3441  al— alle 

ha\>— MS.  ha)?e 
3143  al— nlle 

/mb— MS.  ha>c 
3t«i  a?— alle 
3147  haue— han 
oti8  stynten— MS.  styutout 


3450  were  somtyme— weeren 
whilom 

3452  forlorn— MS.  forlome, 
C.  forlorn 

3453  as — omitted 
enhawnse— enhawscn 

3455  whiche — which 
Mb-MS,  habe 


3459  [fie]— from  C. 

3464  yhid— MS.   yhidde,  C. 
I-hidd 

3465  seyne — seyn 

3468  dredeful— dredful 
3169  ben— to  ben 
dred  —  MS.    dredde,    C. 
dredd 


122 


HE    WHO    CEASES    TO    BE   VIRTUOUS 


snal  k°lde  hym  lyke  to  f  e  herte.  and  yif  he  be  slowe 
like  MOM.  a  to  and  astoned  and  lache.  he  lyueb  as  an  asse.  and  yif  he 

fickle  and  incon- 

is 


divinity,  he  is 

turned  into  a 

beast. 


vnstedfast  of  corage  and  chaungef  ay  his 
studies,  he  is  lickened  to  briddes.  1T  and  yif  he  be 
plounged  in  foule  and  vnclene  luxuries,  he.  is  wifholden 

.  „      ,       -    ,  . 

in  f  e  foule  delices  of  be  foule  soowe.  IT  ban  folweb  it 
^  ^  ^  forletif  bountee  and  prowesse.  he  forletif  to 
^en  a  man-  sjn  ne  ne  may  nat  passe  in  to  f  e  condicwurc 

n         -,     -,       .      ,  n   .  •, 

of  god.  he  is  tourned  in  to  a  beest.  3478 


C*  foi.  27  &•] 


Ulysses  was 


transformed  them 

into  divers  shapes 


llon; 


3486 


some  into  howl- 

ing  wolves, 

indianhSr8ersto 
But  Mercury,  the 

Arcadian  god, 

from  the^roSn 
maSs,  having 
fectedd°rinks,were 

changed  to  swine, 

and  fed  on  acorns, 
3496 


*V[E]LA  NARICII  DUCIS. 

17  vrus  ])&  wynde  aryue])  j>e  sayles  of  vlixes  due  of  J>e 
contre  of  naiice.  and  hys  wandryng  shippes  by  J?e 
see  ^n  *°  fe  ^s^e  J7616  as  Circe  J>e  fayre  goddesse  doubter 
of  >e  sonne  dwellej)  fat  medlyj?  to  hir  newe  gestes 
drvnkes  bat  ben  touched  and  maked  wib  enchaurct- 
ment3-  an^  a^ter  ^  ^  hande  my3ty  of  |?e  herbes 
hadfde]  chauwged  hir  gestes  in  to  dyuerse  maneres.  fat 
oon  of  hem  is  couered  his  face  wi]>  forme  of  a  boor.  j)at 
oj>er  is  chaurcged  in  to  a  lyouw  of  |je  contre  of  mar- 
morike.  and  his  nayles  and  his  te]>e  wexen.  ^f  fat 
ober  of  hem  is  newliche  chaunged  in  to  a  wolf,  and 
how^]7  whan  he  wolde  wepe.  fat  ofer  go]?  debonairly 
in  be  house  as  a  tigre  of  Inde.  but  al  be  it  so  bat  be 
g°dlied  of  mercurie  fat  is  cleped  fe  bride  of  arcadie  haf 
na(i  mercie  of  fe  due  vlixes  byseged  wi]>  diuerse  yueles 
and  haf  vnbounden  hym  fro  fe  pestilence  of  hys 
oosteresse  algates  fe  rowers  and  fe  maryners  hadden  by 
f  is  ydrawen  in  to  hir  mouf  es  and  dronken  f  e  wickedfe] 


3470  holde—  holden 
lyke—lyk 
herte  —  hert 
slowe  —  slowh 
3472  vnstedfast-*—vnstifafast 
his  —  hise 
3475  pan—  MS.  pat,  C.  than- 
ne 
3477  passe—  passen 
3479  aryue\>  —  aryuede 
vlixes  —  MS.    vluxies,    C. 

vlixes 
3481  Circe—  Circes 
3483    enchauntment}  —  en- 
chauntementj 
3484  hande—  hand 
of—ouer 
3485  hadtdel—  hadde 
gestes  —  MS.  goostes,  C. 
gestes 
3486  boor—  bocre 
3488  his  (1)—  hise 

his  te\>e— hise  teth 

3489  newliche— neweliche 

3490  go\>— MS.  go>e 

3491  house— hows 

3492  bride— bryd 
ha\>— MS.  ha>e 

3493  mercie— MS.  mercuric, 
C.  mercy 

3494  ha\>— MS.  ha>e 

3495  oosteresse — oostesse 

3496  wickedle]— wikkede 


1UIO!SE44.  CEASES    TO    BE   A   MAN.  123 


1UIO!SE4. 


drynkcs    fei  fat  were  woxen  swyne   hadden   by  fis 

chaurcged  hire  mete  of  brede  forto  ete  acorns  of  ookes.  3498 

non   of  hlr   lymes   ne   dwell!  b   wib   he?w    hoole.    but  AH  traces  of  the 

human  form  we 

fei  ban  lost  be  voys  and  be  body.     Oonly  hire  f  ou^t  J^J^  ^jj^f^ 
dwellef  wif  hem  stable   bat  wepif  and  bywailif   f  e 
monstruous  chaungynge  fat  fei  suffren.     11  0  ouer  ly}t 


hand,    as  who  seib.     1T  0  feble  and  lyat  is  be  hand  of  o  most  weak,  are 

Circe's  powers 

Circes  be  enchaunteresse  bat  chaungef  f  e  bodies  of  folk 


in  to  bestes  to  regarde  and  to  comparisons  of  mutactouw 

bat  is  makid  by  vices,  ne  be  herbes  of  circes  ne  ben  nat  Circe's  herbs  may 

•  change  the  body, 

my^ty.  for  al  be  it  so  fat  fei  may  chauwgen  f  e  lymes 

of  fe  body.    IT  algates   }it  fei   may  nat  chausge  fe 

hertes.  for  wif  inne  is  yhid  fe  strengfe  and  f  e  vigour  3509 

of  mew  in  f  e  secre  toure  of  hire  hertys.  fat  is  to  seyn 

be  strengbe  of  resouw.  but  bilke  uenyms  of  vices  to-  But  vice  is 

more  potent  than 

drawen  a  man  to  hem  more  my^tily  fan  f  e  venyin  of  gn^8poi80"OU8 

circes.     1F  For  vices  ben  so  cruel  fat  fei  percen  and 

f  oru$  passen  f  e  corage  wif  iraie.  and  f  ou^  fei  ne  anoye  Though 

nat  be  body.  sitte  vices  wooden  to  distroien  men  by  whole,  it  pieras 

J    the  inner  man, 

wounde  of  f  ou3t.  3516  £^^0^ 

upon  the  soul. 

TUNG   EGO    FATEOB   INQC7.4M. 

[The  ferthe  prose.  ] 

seide  I  f  us  I  confesse  and  am  aknowe  qiiod.  I.  ne  B.  i  confess  that 

vicious  men  are 

ne  se  nat  fat  men  may  seyn  as  by  ry$t.  fat 
shrewes  ne  ben  nat  chaunged  in  to  beestes  by  f  e 
qualite  of  hir  soules.  IT  Al  be  it  so  fat  fei  kepen  }itte 
be  forme  of  be  body  of  mankynde.  but  I  nolde  nat  of  i  wish,  however, ' 

*  f     .  that  the  wicked 

shrewes  of  whiche  be  bouit  cruel  woodeb  alwey  in  to  were  without  the 

power  to  annoy 

destrum'ous  of  good[e]  men.  fat  it  were  leueful  to  hem  m1ednhurt  good 
to  done  bat.     1T  Certys  quod  she  ne  it  nis  nat  leueful  P.  They  have  no 

power,  as  I  shall 

to  hem  as  I  shal  wel  shewen  fe  in  coueiiable  place,  presently  show 
^[  But  naf eles  yif  so  were  fat  f ilke  fat  mes  wenes  ben  3526 


3497  were  woxen  swyne  — 
weeren  wexen  swyu 

3498  chaunged — Ichaunged 
brede — bred 

forto — MS.  and  forto 

cte  acorns — eten  akkornes 

3499  hoole— hool 


3501  wepi}>— MS.  kepib,  C. 
weepith 

3502  monstruous— MS.  mon- 
stronous,  C.  Monstruos 

3504  Circes— MS.  Cirtes 
folk— folkys  [I- 


3509   y/iirf-MS.  yhiddc,  C. 


3515  wooden— MS.  wolden, 
C.  wooden 

3517  aknowe— aknowe  it 

3518  seyn — sayn 

3523  goodie']—  goode 

3524  done— don 
3526  ben-bv 


124 


THE    WICKED    ARE    TORMENTED 


rnooK  4. 

U'KOSE  4. 


But  were 
tliis  power,  which 
men  ascribe  to 
them,  taken  away 
from  the  wicked, 
they  would  be  re- 
lieved of  the 
greatest  part  of 
their  punishment. 
The  wicked  are 
more  unhappy 
when  they  have 
accomplished 
their  evil  designs 
than  when  they 
fail  to  do  so.     If 
it  is  a  miserable 
thing  to  will  evil, 
it  is  a  greater  un- 
happiness  to  have 
the  power  to  exe* 
cute  it,  without 
which  power  the 
wicked  desires 
would  languish 
without  effect. 
Since,  then,  each 
of  these  three 
things  (i.  e.  the 
will,  the  power, 
and  the  accom- 
plishment of  evil) 
hath  its  misery, 
therefore  a  three- 
fold wretchedness 
afflicts  those  who 
both  will,  can,  and 
do  commit  sin. 

3544 

B.  I  grant  it—but 
still  I  wish  the 
viciouswere  with- 
out this  mis- 
fortune. 

[*  foL  28.] 
P.  They  shall  be 
despoiled  of  it 
sooner  than  you 
wish  perhaps,  or 
than  they  them- 
selves imagine. 
In  the  narrow 
limits  of  this  life, 
nothing,  however 
tardy  it  appears, 
can  seem  to  an 
immortal  soul  to 
have  a  very  long 
duration.    The 
great  hopes,  and 
the  subtle  machi- 
nations of  the 
wicked,  are  often 
suddenly  frustrat- 
ed, by  which  an 
end  is  put  to 
their  wickedness. 
If  vice  renders 


leucful  for  shrewes  were  bynomcn  hem.  so  fat  fei  ne 
my^ten  nat  anoyen  or  don  harme  to  goode  men.  ^f  Certys 
a  gret  party  of  f  e  peyne  to  shrewes  shulde  ben  allegged 
and  releued.  IF  For  al  be  it  so  fat  Jus  ne  seme  nat 
credible  fing  perauentz^re  to  sorame  folk  3  it  mot  it 
nedes  be  fat  shrewes  ben  more  wrecches  and  vnsely. 
whan  f ei  may  don  and  performe  fat  f ei  coueiten  [than 
yif  they  myhte  nat  complyssen  fat  they  coueyten].  ^f  For 
yif  so  be  fat  it  be  wrecchednesse  to  wilne  to  don  yuel  i 
fan  is  it  more  wrecchednesse  to  mowen  don  yuel. 
wif  oute  whiche  moeuyng  fe  wrecched  wille  sholde 
languisshe  wif  oute  effecte.  1F  fan  syn  fat  eueryche  of 
f ise  f inges  haf  hys  wrecchednesse.  fat  is  to  seyne  wil 
to  done  yuel.  and  moeuynge  to  done  yuel.  it  mot  nedes 
be.  fat  f  ei  (shrewes)  ben  constreyned  by  f  re  vnsely- 
nesses  fat  wolen  and  mowen  and  pe?'formen  felonyes 
and  shrewednesses.  IF  I  accorde  me  qwod  I.  but  I 
desire  gretely  fat  shrewes  losten  sone  f ilke  vnselynesses. 
fat  is  to  seyne  fat  shrewes  were  despoyled  of  moeuyng 
to  don  yuel.  IF  so  shullera  fei  quod,  she.  sonnere 
perauenture  fen  fou  woldest  *or  sonnere  fen  fei  hem 
self  wenen  to  lakken  mowynge  to  done  yuel.  ^  For 
fere  nis  no  f  ing  so  late  in  so  short  bourades  of  f  is  lijf 
fat  is  longe  to  abide,  namelyche  to  a  corage  inmortel. 
Of  whiche  shrewes  f  e  grete  hope  and  f  e  heye  cora- 
passyrcgws  of  shrewednesse  is  often  destroyed  by  a 
sodeyne  ende  or  fei  ben  war.  and  fat  f  ing  establif  to 
shrewes  fe  ende  of  hir  shrewednesse.  ^F  For  yif  fat 
shrewednesse  makife  wrecches.  fan  mot  he  nedes  be 
most  wrecched  fat  lengest  is  a  shrewe.  fe  whiche 
wicked  shrewes  wolde  ydemen  aldirmost  vnsely  and 


3527  for— to 

3528  my\ten— myhte 

don — MS.  done,  C.  doon 
harme — harm 

3529  gret— MS.  grete,  C.  gret 
3533-36   don— MS.  done,  C. 

doon 
3533-34  [tlian coueyten]— 

from  C. 
3537  mucuyny — mowynge 


3537  wille — wil 

3539  ha\>— MS.  ha)>e 
seyne — seyn 

3540  done  (1)— doon 
moeuynge  to  done — Mow- 
ynge to  don 

mot— MS.  mote,  C.  mot 

3544  gretely— xrutly 

3545  seyne— seyn 
were—  weereu 


3545  moeuyng— mowynge 

3548  wenen — weene 

to  lakken yuel— omit- 
ted 

3549  \>ere— ther 
so  (2)— the 

3550  longe — long 

3552  shrewednesse  —  shrew- 

ednessi's 
often— ofte 


PK08E44.]  BY   A    THREEFOLD    WRETCHEDNESS.  125 

caytifs  yif  fat  hir  shrewednes  no  were  yfinissed.  at  f  e 
leste  weye  by  f  e  outerest[e]  dee]),  for  [yif]  I  haue  con- 


eluded  sobe  of  be  vnselynesseof  shrewednesse.  ban  shewef  the*  would  b*  In- 

..      ,        ,  t-ii          i  i  •  j  finitely  wretched 

it  clerely  bat  bilke  shrewednesse  is  wib  outen  ende  be  if  death  did  not 

*      put  an  end  to 

whiche  is  certeyne  to  ben  perdurable,    ^f  Certys  quod.  I  [J  ci 

f  is  [conclusion]  is  harde  and  wonderful  to  graunte.  IT  But 

I  knowe  wel  bat  it  accordef  moche  to  [the]  f  ircges  bat  I  S*  iKccM*1 

quence  appears  to 

haue  graunted  her  byforne.  IF  J)ou  hast  qttoa  she  f  e  ry^t  be  just, 

of  f  is.  but  who  so  euere  wene  fat  it  be  an 
harde  f  ing  to  acorde  hym  to  a  conclusions.   it  is  ry^t  toUmyn"o°nduskm 

.  „  ,  you  ought  to  show 

bat  he  shewe  bat  sorame  01  be  premisses  ben  ials.  or  that  the  premises 

are  false,  or  that 

ellvs  he  mot  shewe  bat  be  colasiouw  of  preposici'ourcs  the  consequences 

»  T  •     f  are  unfairly  de- 

nis  nat  spedful  to  a  necessarie  conclusions.  ^[  and  yif  it  precn^Jeg°breif  the 
be  nat  so.  but  fat  f  e  premisses  ben  ygranted  jjer  nis  not"§ectyt°he  i'n-"" 
nat  whi  he  sholde  blame  be  argument,  for  bis  bing  bat  theem?e8wrha1t  i 

am  about  to  say 

I  shal  telle  be  nowe  ne  shal  not  seme  lasse  wondirful.  is  not  less  wonder- 

ful, and  it  follows 

but  of  be  J>inges  fat  ben  taken  al  so  it  is  necessarie  as  3574 

necessarily  from 

who  so  seif  it  folwef  of  fat  whiche  fat  is  purposed  the  same  pre- 


byforn.  what  is  fat  quod.  I.  f  certys  quod  she  fat  is 

fat  fat  f  ise  wicked  shrewes  ben  more  blysful  or  ellys  JJ^Sedfo!  been 

,  .     .  ,     ,     .    .    -,  their  crimes,  a'-e 

lasse  wrecches.    fat  byen  fe  tourmentes  fat  fei  han  happier  than  if 

_   justice  had  allow- 

deserued.   ban  yif  no  peyne  of  Justice  ne  chastied  e    ed  them  to  go 

L  J    unpunished.   I  do 

hem.  ne  f  is  ne  seye  I  nat  now  for  fat  any  man  my3t[e]  JJ3J°!J^. 
fenk[e]   fat  fe  maneres  of  shrewes  ben  coriged  and  ^SSmSSeor. 

i        ,  •       i   i  •  f       T    i    A.    i     •    r.          T-  i-      rects  yice>  N'ut 

chastised  by  vemaunce.  and  bat  bei  ben  brou^t  to  be  the  fear  of  chas- 

tisement leads 
ry^t  wey  by  f  e  drede  of  f  e  tourment.  ne  for  fat  f  ei  them  to  take  the 

J*  J        J    *  T         r        right  path,  and 

^euen  to  of  er  folk  ensample  to  fleyen  from  vices.  IT  But  Jha*  ^" 
I  vndirstonde  ^itte  [in]  an   of  er  manere  fat   shrewes  vf 
ben  more  vnsely  whan  fei  ne  ben  nat  punissed  al  be  it 
so  bat  bere  ne  ben  had  no  resouw  or  lawe  of  correc^ou?i.  unhappy  in 

*       *  another  way. 

ne  none  ensample  of  lokynge.     ^[  And  what  manere  3588 


come  much  more 


3558  sJirewednes  —  shrewed- 
nesse 

yfinissed—  fynyshed 

3559  weye — wey 
outerest[e~\— owtteryste 
[yif  ]— from  C. 

85(50  so\>e— soth 
3561  clerely— cleerly 
3563  [conchtsiori]— from  C. 


3563  harde— hard 

3564  [the]— from  C. 

3567  harde— hard 

3568  fals— false 
3573  nowe — now 

3575  who  so  sei]> — ho  seyth 
wliiclie — which 

3578  byen — a-byen 

3579  chastied[.e~\— chastysede 


3580  my^t[_e']— myhte 


3581  \>enkle]—  thinke 

3584  ^euen—  MS.  3euene,  C. 

yeuen 
fayen  —  flen 
35S5 


5  i 

in]  — 


[in]  —  from  C. 
3588  none—  non 


126 


THE   WRETCHEDNESS    OF    THE   WICKED 


fHOOK  4. 

LPKOSE  4 


B.  In  what  way 
do  you  mean  ? 
P.  Are  not  good 
people  happy,  and 
evil  folk  miser- 
able? 
B.  Yes. 
P.  If  good  be 
added  to  the 
wretchedness  of  a 
man,  will  not  he 
be  happier  than 
another  whose 
misery  has  no 
element  of  good 
in  it? 

B.  It  seems  so. 
P.  And  if  to  the 
same  wretched 
being  another 
misery  be  an- 
nexed, does  not 
he  become  more 
wretched  than  he 
whose  misery  is 
alleviated  by  the 
participation  of 
some  good  ? 

3602 

B.  He  does. 
P.  When  evil 
men  are  punished 
they  have  a  de- 
gree of  good  an- 
nexed to  their 
wretchedness,  to 
wit,  the  punish- 
ment itself,  which 
as  it  is  the  effect 
of  justice  is  good. 
And  when  these 
wretches  escape 
punishment 
something  more 
of  ill  (i.  e.  exemp- 
tion from  punish- 
ment) is  added  to 
their  condition. 
B.  I  cannot  deny 
it. 

P.  Much  more 
unhappy  are  the 
wicked  when  they 
enjoy  an  unmerit- 
ed impunity  than 
when  they  suffer 
a  lawful  chastise- 
ment.   It  is  just 
to  punish  evil- 
doers, and  unjust 
that  they  should 
escape  punish- 
[*fol.  286.] 
ment. 

B.  Nobody  denies 
that. 

P.  Everything, 
too,  which  is  just 

3589 


shal  fat  ben  q?/od  I.  oufer  fan  ha]?  ben  told  here 
byforn  IT  Haue  we  nat  graunted  fan  quod  she  fat 
good[e]  folk  ben  blysful.  and  shrewes  ben  wrecches. 
}is  quod  L  [thanne  qiiod  she]  3if  fat  any  good  were 
added  to  f  e  wrecchenesse  of  any  wy^t.  nis  he  nat  more 
blisful  fan  he  fat  ne  haj?  no  medelyng  of  goode  in  hys 
solitarie  wrecchednesse.  so  seme]?  it  quod  I.  and  what 
seyst  f  ou  fan  quod  she  of  f  ilke  wrecche  fat  lakkef  alle 
goodes.  so  fat  no  goode  nis  medeled  in  hys  wrecched- 
nesse. and  }itte  ouer  alle  hys  wickednesse  for  whiche 
he  is  a  wrecche  fat  f  er  be  }itte  anof  er  yuel  anexid  and 
knyt  to  hym.  shal  not  men  demen  hym  more  vnsely 
fan  f  ilke  wrecche  of  whiche  f e  vnselynesse  is  re[le]ued 
by  f  e  participacz'oim  of  som  goode.  whi  sholde  he  nat 
quod  I.  ^f  fan  certys  quod  she  han  shrewes  whan  f ei 
ben  punissed  somwhat  of  good  anexid  to  hir  wrecched- 
nesse. fat  is  to  seyne  f  e  same  peyne  fat  f  ei  suffren 
whiche  fat  is  good  by  f  e  resoiw  of  Justice.  And  whan 
f ilke  same  shrewes  ascapen  wif  outen  tourment.  fan 
han  f  ei  somwhat  more  of  yuel  $it  ouer  f  e  wickednesse 
fat  fei  han  don.  fat  is  to  seye  defaute  of  peyne. 
whiche  defaute  of  peyne  f  ou  hast  graunted  is  yuel. 
1T  For  f  e  desert  of  felonye  I  ne  may  nat  denye  it  quod 
I.  II  Moche  more  fan  quod  she  ben  shrewes  vnsely 
whan  fei  ben  wrongfully  delyuered  fro  peyne.  fan 
whan  fei  bef  punissed  by  ry^tful  vengeaunce.  but  f  is  is 
open  fircg  and  clere  fat  it  is  ry^t  fat  shrewes  ben 
punissed.  and  it  is  wickednesse  and  wrong  fat  fei 
escapin  vnpunissed.  IF  who  my^tfe]  denye  *f at  quod  I. 
but  quod  she  may  any  marc  denye.  fat  al  fat  is  ry^t  nis 
good,  and  also  f  e  contrarie.  fat  alle  fat  is  wrong  nis 


ber— oother 
MS.  habe 
ben — be 

told^- MS.  tolde,  C.  told 
351)1  //oodO]— goode 

3592  {thanne shfi]— from 

C. 
3594  blisful— weleful 

/tab— MS.  habe 
3594-97  goode— good 


3598  alle— al 
whiche — which 

3600  knyt— knytte 

3601  re\le]ued— releued 

3602  goode— good 

3605  seyne— scyn 

3606  whiche— which 

3607  outen— owte 
3609  don— MS.  done 

seye— seyn 


3610  whiche— which 

3611  desert— deserte 

3614  be\>— MS.  bebe,  C.  ben 

3615  clere— cler 

3617  myit[_e}— myhte 

3618  is  rytf  nis— MS.    nis 
ry3t  is 

3619  alle-s\ 

nis  wicked— is  wykke 


IS    DIMINISHED    BY    PUNISHMENT.  127 

wicked,  certys  quod  I  bise  binges  ben  clere  ynoi^.  and  is  good;  and,  on 
bat  we  han  concludid  a  litel  here  byforne.  but  I  preye 
be  bat  bou  telle  me  yif  bou  accordest  to  leten  no  tour-  §fe! 
ment  to  be  soules  aftir  bat  be  body  is  dedid  by  be  debe. 

r.  i  there  any  punish- 

bis   is   to  seyn.  vndirstondest  bou  oust  bat  soules  han  ment  for  the  soui 

r       L    J  after  death  of  the 

any  towrment  after  be  debe  of  be  body.     ^[  Certis  qwod  ^y^  and  great 
she  30  and  bat  ry3t  grete.  of  whiche  soules  quod  she  I 


,  ,.-11  «  rigorous  and 

trowe   bat   sorame   ben   towrmentid   by   asprenesse   of  eternal,  others 

have  a  corrective 

peyne.  and  sorame  soules  I  trowe  be  excercised  by  a  and  purifying 

J        force,  and  are  of 


purging  raekenesse.  but  my  coriseil  nys  nat  to  deter- 

myne  of  bis  peyne.  but  I  haue  trauayled  and  told  it  to  our  purpose' 

hider  to.     IT  For  bou  sholdest  knowe  bat  be  mowynge  i  want  you  to  see 

..  ,;-  that  the  power  of 

.1.  myght    of  shrewes  whiche  mowynge  be  semeb  to  the  wicked  is  in 

J    j  reality  nothing, 

ben.  vnworbi  nis  no  mowynge.  and  eke  of  shrewes  of         he'(ked 


whiche  bou  pleynedest  bat  bei  ne  were  nat  punissed.  tSacence  to  do 

evil  is  not  of  lo 

duration,  and 

that  the  wicked 


.  .  .  evil  is  not  of  long 

bat  bou  woldest  seen  bat  bei  ne  weren  neuer  mo  wib  duration,  and 

* 


outen  be  torment  of  hire  wicked  nesse.  and  of  be  licence 
of  mowynge   to   done  yuel.    bat    bou   preidest   bat   it 


my3t[e]  sone  ben  endid.  and  bat  bou  woldest  fayne  toiwMfarever™" 

lerne.    bat   it  ne  sholde   nat   longe  endure,    and   bat  3639 
shrewes  ben  more  vnsely  yif  bei  were  of  lenger  duryng. 

and  most  vnsely  yif  bei  weren  perdurable,  and  after  After  tins  i 

showed  that  evil 

bis  I  haue  shewed  be  bat  more  vnsely  ben  shrewes  men  are  more  un- 

f  >        *  •  happy,  having 

whan  bei  escapen  wib  oute  ry3tful  peyne.  ban  whan  bei  mcnt,ethannifsh" 
ben  punissed  by  ry3tful  uengeaunce.  and  of  bis  sentence  Wherefore8 wh°en 

they  are^supposod 

folweb  it  bat  ban  nen  shrewes  constreyned  atte  laste  wib 

most  greuous  tourment.  whan  men  wene  bat  bei  ne  ben  grievously- 

nat  ypunissed.  whan  I  considre  bi  rescues  quod  I.  I.  B.  Your  reason- 
ing appears  con- 

ne  trowe  nat  bat  men  seyn  any  bing  more  verrely.  and  Jjjjj^s  a£jtco"[u. 
yif  I  touriiQ  a3eyn  to  be  studies  of  men.  who  is  [he]  to  opIoSS  cur- 
whom  it  sholde  seme  bat  [he]  ne  sholde  nat  only  leuew  and  wooid  hardly 

command  assent, 

bise  binges,  but  eke  gladly  herkene  hem.     Certys  quod  or  even  a  hearing. 

3621  here — her  I  3629  determyne — determenye 

3623  dedid— endyd  |  3630  peyne— peynes 


de\>c— deth 

3624  [is}— from  C. 
ouyt — awht 

3625  de\>e— deth 
3(526  grete— gret 
3628  be— ben 


told— MS.  tolde 

3632  [.i.  mygJifl—frmn  C. 
3632-34  whiche— which 

3633  eke— ek 
3635  seen— seyn 
3637  done— don 


hte 


ajn  lerncn 
3639  endure— dure 
3645  atte—nt  the 

feufe— MS.  >ast,  C.  laste 
3647  resouns — resonn 
3649-50  [Ae]— from  C. 
3651  efce— ek 


128  VIRTUE    ITS    OWN    REWARD.  [ 


* 


fto2  accuston?!,!    she  S0  **  is«    but  men  maJ  nat-    for  H  Kan  hire  QJQIL    SO 

Srorecaunotehsx°f  wont  to  (lerkenesse  of  erfely  finges.   ]>at  fei  may  nat 


t  ofepe°rspicu-  liftcn  hem  vp  to  be  lyst  of  clere  sobefastnes.     1T  But 

truth,  like 


i  ben  tyke  to  briddes  of  whiche  f  3  ny3t  Iy3tnef  hyre 
aSf  lookyng.  a/u2  fe  day  blyndef  hem.  for  whan  menloken 
SSof  SS?hS;  nat  f  e  ordre  of  binges  but  hire  lustes  cwd  talent  j.  bei 


they  think  there  is 

happiness  in  the    wene  bat  obir  be  leue  or  be  mowynge  to  done  wicked- 
liberty  of  doing 


nesse  or  ellys  ^e  escaPiwg  wi)>  oute  peyne  be  weleful. 
but  cowsidere  J>e  iugement  of  ]>e  perdurable  lawe.  for  if 
ten  i'nyo^wi      J>ou  coiiferme  ])i  corage  to  ]>e  beste  jjinges.  pou  ne  hast 

heart.    Conform  , 

your  mind  to        no  nede  to  no  luge  to  imen  be  pns  or  meede.  for  bou 

wliat  is  good,  and 

nTnSdol  and  ™  "^  loigned  ])i  self  to  jje  most  excellent  Jnng.  and  yif 
ieifrdtoUP°onfeyrou  >ou  naue  enclined  J)i  studies  to  J>e  wicked  Binges,  ne 
-  seek  no  foreyn  wrekere  out  of  bi  self,  for  bou  bi  self 


joymentofthe 

best  of  things 

virtue).    If  you 


enoe 

best  of  things  (i.e.  hast  brest  be  in  to  wicked  binges,  ryjt  as  bou  mvztest 

e).    If  you  '  *•'  J  •> 


loken  b^  djTtteise  tynies  |)e  foule  er]?e  and  J?e  heuene. 
3668  and  J>at  alle  o]?er  Binges  stynten  fro  wijj  oute.  so  fat 

chastisement—  r  .         .      .  _     _ 

you  have  degraded  bou   nere  nevther  in  heuene  ne  in  erthe  |  ne  sav|e|  no 

yourself  into  a         r         L 

more-  t3^  sholde  it  semen  to  J>e  as  by  only  resoiw 


mui- 

^  lokynge.  J?at  J>ou  were  in  J?e  sterres.  and  now  in  J>e 

What  then?  Shall        .         ,      .  ,  IT,  ..••-• 

we  take  them  as    erbe.   but  be  poeple  ne  lokeb  nat  on  bise  bingesr.  what 

our  models  who 

resemble  beasts?    ban  shal  we   ban    approchen  vs  to  hem  bat  I  haue 

If  a  man  who  had   ' 

^^   W   H   ben   lyke   to  fe  bestes.    (q.  d.  norc) 
IT  And  what  wilt  fou  seyne  of  J>is  ^  yif  fat  a  man 


faculties  were  all  hadde  al  forlorn  hys  sy$t.  and  had[de]  for^eten  fat  he 
iLVeTffithTse  euer  saw  an^  Wien(ie  ta^  no  fing  ne  fayled[e]  hym  of 
sight'Sribifnd1?  perfocciowi  of  marckynde.  now  we  fat  my^ten  sen  f  e 

The  vulgar  will  ..  ,  ,  ,   ,  111/1 

not  assent  to  what  same  bmg  wolde  we  nat  wene  bat  he  were  blyme  (q.  d. 

I  am  going  to  say,  P 

though  supported  sic),  ne  also  ne  accordef  nat  fe  poeple  to  fat  I  shal 
seyne.  f  e  whiche  f  ing  is  susteyned  by  a  stronge  founde- 
ment  of  rescues,  fat  is  to  seyn  fat  more  vnsely  ben  fei 


3653  ferkenesse — derk nesse 

3654  clere so\>efastnes— cleer 
sothfastnesse 

3655  whiche— which 

3658  opir— eyther 
done — don 

3659  escaping— schapynge 
3662  to  (1)— of 

36fio  foreyn— foreyne 
3666  \>rest— thryst 


3666  wicked— wikke 

3669  [nere erthe']— fromC. 

heuene — C.  heuenene 

say[e]—G.  saye 
3b72  on— in 

3674  lyke— lyk 

q.  d. — MS.  qwod 

3675  unit  \>ou  seyne— woltow 

3676  forlorn— MS.  forlorne, 


C.  for-lorn 
sytf— syhte 
had[de}— hadde 
3677  saw— MS.  sawe, C.  sawh 


—  MS.  sene,  C.  sen 


3679  }>inff—  thinges 

q.  d.  —  MS.  quod 
3681  whiche—  which 


i'll?)SE%.]  TITE    WICKED    NEED    PITY.  129 

bat  don  wrong  to   ober  folk,    ben    bei   bat   be  wrong  than  those  who 

0  '  °    sufter  wroiiR. 

sufFren.     IF  I  wolde  lieren  bilke  *same  resoiws  quod  I  R  fVouia  wm- 
1T  Deniest  fou  quod  she  bat  alle  shrewes  ne  ben  worfi  SnSe^y°ur 
to  han  townnent.  nay  quod  I.  but  quod  she  I  am  cer-  that  every  wicked 

man  deserves 

tbvne  by  many  resoims  bat  shrewes  ben  vnsely.  it  ac-  punishment? 

*  B.  No,  1  do  not. 

cordef  quod.  I.  ban  [ne]  dowtest  bou  nat  qwod  she  bat 
bilke  folk  bat  ben  worbi  of  torment  bat  beine  ben 
\vrecches.  It  accordeb  wel  quod  I.  yif  bou  were  ban  p'.  Then  those*' 

that  deserve 

quod  she  yset  a  luge  or  a  knower  of  binges,  wheber  punishment  are 

u  J  T  •     r        miserable. 

trowest  bou  fat  men  sholde  towrmentfe]  hym  fat  haf  j*-  {/JjJJJjJj,  a 
don  fe  wronge.  or  hym  fat  haf  suffred  fe  wronge.  I  3^y??iSK? 

ne  doute  nat  quod  I.  fat  I  nolde  don  suffissaunt  satis-  upon  the  wrong- 

doer, or  upon  the 
faccioUTt  to  hym  fat  had[de]  suffred  fe  wrong  by  fe  injured? 

sorwe  of  hym  fat  had[de]  don   f  e  wronge.     IT   fan  SfStoS?!??1 
semef  it  quod  she  fat  f  e  doar  of  wrong  is  more  wrecche  011 


ban  he  bat  hab  suffred  be  wrong,   bat  folweb  wel  quod  would  oeemthe 

*  injuring  person 

m.   ban  quod  she  by  bise  causes  and  by  ober  causes  more  unhappy 

J   f  J        r  than  he  who  had 

fat  ben  enforced  by  f  e  same  roate  fat  filf  e  or  synne  by 
f  e  propre  nature  of  it  makef  men  wrecches.   and  it 

11,  ,  then,  and  other 

shewef  wel   fat  fe   wrong  fat   mew  don  nis  nat  fe  reasons  of  like 

nature,  it  seems 

wrecchenesse  of  hym  fat  receyuef  fe  wrong,  but  fe  3703 


wrecchednesse  of  hym  fat  dof  f  e  wronge    11"  but  certys     en 

quod  she  bise  oi&tours  or  aduocat:  don  al  be  contrarie  done  to  any  man 

is  the  misery  of 

for  fei  enforcen  hem  to  co?^moeue  f  e  iuges  to  han  pite  t'>e  doer,  and  not 
of  he??^  fat  han  suffred  and  resceyued  f  e  f  inges  fat  ben  fhfnJ 


7  7      •,,  TIT  i      ly—  they  try  to  ob- 

greuous  and  aspre.  and  mte  men  sholden  more  ryat-  tain  pity  for  those 

that  have  suffered 

fully  han  pitee  on  hem  fat  don  f  e  greuaunces  and  f  e  c"elgg-onan(\op~ 
wronges.  fe  whiche  shrewes  it  were  a  more  couenable  JSiSJ  duVto  the 
f  ing  fat  f  e  accusowrs  or  aduocat3  not  wrof  e  but  pitous 


and  debonaire  ladden  be  shrewes  bat  han  don  wrorcg  to  ment  as  the  sick 

are  to  the  physi- 

fe  lugement.  ry3t  as  men  leden  seke  folk  to  fe  leche.  cian>nb>tJ'-£ 


for  fat  fei  sholden  sek 

3683  don—  MS.  done,  C.  don 
o\>er  —  oothre 
3688  fne]—  from  C. 
3691    yset  —  MS.  ysette,   C. 
yset 
whe\>cr—  omitted 
3692   tourment[e]  —  torment- 
3692-3  /tap-MS.  ha)>e      [en 

sn  out  f  e  maladies  of 

3693  ivronrje  (2)—  wrong 
3695  had\de]—  hadde 
3696  Jiadfde]—  hadden 
wronge  —  wrong 
3697  doar  —  doere 
3698  ha\>—  MS.  liape 
3699  [/]—  from  C. 
3700  ben  -ben  of 

evrmo    Tvir  merciful  and  kind 
Synne    Dy   accusers,  so  that, 

3700  roate—  Roote 
3703-4  but  toronge  —  omit- 
ted 
3704  dop-MS.  do  be 
3711  vrrobe  —  wroth 
3712  \>e—  tho 
don  —  MS.  done,  C.  don 
3713  seke—  syke 

130  THE    DUTY    OF    ADVOCATES.                                      [£8*4?' 

by  the  physic  of  tourmxmtj.  and  by  bis  couenaunt  eyber  J>e  entent  of  be 

they  may  be  cured  defeiido^/'s  or  aduocato  sholde  fayle  and  cesen  in  al.  or 

of  their  vices.    I  J 


office  of  aduocat^  wolde  bettre  profiten  to 
ad\U(Stesy  4Their  men.  it  sholde  be  towrned  in  to  be  habit  of  accusaczouw. 

duty  is  to  accuse,  .     _  _  . 

and  not  to  excuse    bat  is   to    s  e  vn  pel  sholdeTi  accuse  shrewcs.  and  nat 

offenders.    Were     T 

3720  excuse  hem.  and  eke  Jje  shrewes  hem  self,  jit  it  were 
leueful  to  hem  to  seen  at  any  clifte  be  vertue  fat  J>ei 
han  forleten.  and  sawen  bat  bei  sholde  putten  adourc 

which  they  have  . 

forsaken,  and        be  nlbes  of  hire  vices  by  [the]  torment}  of  peynes.   bei 
fyieeffectlseofuri"  ne  au3ten  nat  ty^  f°r  J>e  recowpensiewmi  forto  geten 
nem  ^ounte  <^  prowesse  whiche  bat  bei  han  lost  demen 
no  holden  bat  bilke  peynes  weren  tow?-mentes  to  hem. 
'3727  and  e^e  fei  wolden  refuse  be  attendau?ice  of  hir  aduo- 

g^eth^SL  Cat3  aw^  taken  nem  self  to  nire  iuSes  «w^  to  nir  ac- 
ref«2e  the  ?efenoe  cusours.  for  whiche  it  bytideji  [bat]  as  to  be  wise  folk 

of  their  advocates. 

The  wise  hate       ber  nis  no  place  ylete  to  hate,   bat  is  to  seyn.   bat  hate 

nobody,  only  a        Y 

men1-1<and'iU8  as  ne  ^^  no  P^ace  amonges  wise  men.  ^[  For  no  wy^t 
theUw?ckedto  hvice  wolde  haten  gode  men.  but  yif  he  were  ouer  moche  a 
thesoui"and°  fole.  ^[  and  forto  haten  shrewes  it  nis  no  resourc. 

needs  our  com- 

3734    »  Jborry^tso  as  languissmg  is  maladie  of  body,  ry^t 
ourSSe,afor  ?he     so  ben  vices  and  syraie  maladies  of  corage.  IT  and  so  as 

distempers  of  the 

soul  are  more       we  ne  deme  nat  bat  bei  bat  ben  seek  of  hire  body  ben 

deplorable  than 

wor)>i  to  ^en  ^ted.  but  rajjer  worbi  of  pite.  wel  more 
worbi  nat  to  ben  hated,  but  forto  ben  had  in  pite  ben 
bei  of  whiche  be  bou^tes  ben  constreined  by  felonous 
3740  wickednesse.  bat  is  more  cruel  bara  any  languissinge  of 
body. 

ITheferthe  QUID    TANTOS    IUUAT. 

Met-/,/-.] 

what  frenzy         lYThat  deliteb  it  2ow  to  exciten  so  grete  moewynges  of 

causes  man  to  VV 

Ikaat\s,°byhwaraor'  hatredes  and  to  hasten  and  bisien  [the]  fatal  dis- 

fda-th  posic^ouw  of  ^oure  deej)  wij>  ^oure  propre  handes.  bat  is 
3745  to  seyn  by  batailes  or  [by]  contek.  for  yif  30  axen  be 


3715  tourmentt,—  torment 
&  (2)—  omitted 
{tfi]  s[>]i/M—  to  seyn 
3722  sawen  —  sawh 
sholde  —  sholden 
3723  \_the~]—  from  C. 
3721  autfen—  owhte 

3725-29  wUclie—  which 
3729  bytide\>—  MS.  byndep, 
C.  bvtidith 
Lpa£]—  from  C. 
3730  ylete—  I-leten 
3731  ha\>—  MS.  hape 
3732  wolde—  nyl 

3732  moche  —  mochel 
3733  /o?e—  fool 
3736  seek—  syke 
3743  [#»*]—  from  C. 
3745  [6?/]—  from  C. 

VKOSE45.]  TIIE    FOLLY    OF    WAR.  131 

dciib  it  hastisib  hym  of  hys  owcn  wille.    nc  decb  no  lays  not  to  come. 

Y       J  J  Why  do  they  who 

nat  hys  swifte  hors.  and  [the]  men  J)at  J?e  ser- 


pent}  and  J?e  lyourcs.  and  ]>e  tigre.  and  ]>e  beere  and  JJG 

-,  .,     ,  ..     _  .,,  seek  to  slay  each 

ooore  seken  to  sleen  wib  her  tebe.  at  bilke  same  men  other  with  the 

'    „  _  -.in       sword.    Lo  !  their 

seken  to  sleen  eueryche  ot  hem  ober  wib  swerde.  loo  lor  manners  and 

opinions  do  not 

her   maners   ben  *   diuerse   and    discordaunt      IT    bei      [*  foi.  29  &.] 

accord,  wherefore 

moeucn  vnry^tful  oostes  and  cruel  batailes.  and  wilno  ^^ 
to  perisse  by  enterchaungynge  of  dartes.  but  f  e  resourc 


of  cruelte  nis  nat  ynou*  ryatful.  wilt  bou  ban  selden  a  no  just  reason  for 

J  '     J*  shedding  blood. 

couenable  gerdouri  to  be  desertes  of  men     IT  Lone  ryit-  Wouidst  thou  rc- 

17  '  ward  each  as  lie 

fully  goode  folk!  and  haue  pite  on  shrewes.  3756 


they  deserve,  and 
HINC    EGO    UIDEO   INQH4M.    ET  CETJSBA. 


have  pitv  upon 
the  wicked. 


[The  fyfthe  prose.] 

s  see  I  wel  quod.  I.  eyber  what  blisfulnesse  or  ellys  B.  i  see  plainly 

the  nature  of  that 

what  vnselinesse  is  estab[l]issed  in  ]?e  desertys  of  [en 
goode  men  and  of  shrewes.     ^[  but  in  bis  ilke  fortune 


of  poeple  I  see  somwhat  of  goode.  and  somwhat  of  the°wickedJlcieuit 

in  Fortune  I  see  a 

yuel.  for  no  wise  man  hab  nat  leuer  ben  exiled  pore  mixture  of  good 

J  and  evil.    The 

and  nedy  and  nameles.  jjan  forto  dwellen  in  hys  Citee  5JJfe™3£  plj0fer8 
and  flouren  of  rychesses.  and  be  redoutable  by  honoure.  3763 

„  f        .      ,  .  n        -.  j  poverty,  &c.  And 

and  stronge  oi  power  lor  m  bis  wise  more  clerely  ana  wisdom  appears 

more  illustrious, 

more  witncsfully  is  be  onice  of  wise  men  ytretid  whan  when  wise  men 

are  governors  and 

fo  blisfulnes  and  [the]  pouste  of  gouernowrs  is  as  it  ^ 
were  yshad  amonges  peoples  bat  ben  ney3boures  and  J 


-     ..  i  i  7    I.-  ment,  torture,  &c., 

submit*,    syn  bat  namely  prisou/z  lawe  ana  bise  ober  are  inflicted  only 

upon  bad  citizens. 

of  lawful  peynes  ben  raber  owed  to  felonous 


Cite^eins.  for  be  whiche  felonous  Cite^eins  J?o  peynes  3770 
ben  establissed.  ban  for  goode  folk.     IT  ban  I  merueile  why,  then, 

should  things 

me  gretly  qwod  I.  whi  [bat]  be  binges  ben  so  mys  en-  ^H 


trechaun^ed.    bat  toz^rment;   of  felounes  pressen  and  why  should  the 

worthy  suffer  and 

confounden  goode  folk,  and  shrewes  rauyssen  medes  of  the  vicious  re- 


37-16  hastisi\>— hasteth 

owen  wille — owne  wyl 
3747  [the]— from  C. 

3749  boore— boor 
te\>e— teth 

3750  swerde — swerd 

3751  her— hir 

3752  wilne — wylnen 

3753  enterchaungynge  —  eri- 


trechaungyn  j?es 

3760  goode — pood 

3761  ha\>— MS.  hape 
nat — omitted 
leuer— leuere 

3762  bare— MS.  pat,  C.  than 

3763  redoutable  —  MS.    re- 
dentable,  C.  redowtable 

3764  stronge— strong 


3764  clerely— clerly 

3766  [the]— from  C. 

3767  neyfioures  —  nesshe- 
bors 

3769  lawful— lavveful 

3771  goode — good 

3772  [baft— from  C. 


132 


THE    OPERATIONS    OF    CHANCE. 


ceivc  the  reward    vertuc  and  ben  in  honowrs.  and  in  grete  cstatis.  and  I 

of  virtue?    I 

heir  therlalon  of  Desire  eke  to  witzn  of  be.  what  seme})  be  to  ben  be 
resouT*  of  bis  so  wrongful  a  confusions     IT  For  I  wolde 


a  is" 


chif  SS»     wondre  wel  be  lasse  yif  I  trowedfel  bat  alle  bise  binges 

were  the  cause  of 

aii  tins  confusion,  were  medeled  "by  fortuouse  hap.      IT  But  now  hepeb 

But  I  am  oer- 


encresef  rnyne  astonyenge  god  gouernow  of  binges. 
fat  so  as  god  3euef  ofte  tymes  to  good[e]  men  goodes 

rector  of  all 

things  thus  un-     and  myrbes.    and  to  shrewes  yuel  and  aspre   binges. 

equally  distri-  J    *  J 

bnnishraentsS  and  an^  3euef  a^eynewarde  to  goode  folk  hardnesse.  and  to 
iYthere!?hei^mi-  shrewes  [he]  grauntef  hem  her  wille  and  bat  bei  de- 

less  we  know  the       .  i_    i    TIT  ^      -i  •*.     • 

cause,  between      siren,  what  difference  ban  may  for  be  bitwixen  bat  bat 

God's  proceedings 

and  the  opera-       god  dob.  and  be  hap  of  fortune,  yif  men  ne  knowe  nat 

i  ons  of  Chance? 

prisiiiS  ttiat  ^  fe  cause  wn^  J7^  P*]  ^s<  ^  n^s  no  merueile  quod,  she  bou^ 
fat  men  wenen  bat  ber  be  somwhat  folysche  and  confus 
whan  be  resou7^  of  be  order  is  vnknowe.  5T  But  alle 
j,ou3  bou  ne  know  nat  be  cause  of  so  gret  a  disposic^oiu^. 
^J36!68  f°r  as  nioche  as  god  be  good[e]  gouernour  at- 
tempreb  and  gouerneb  be  world,  ne  doute  be  nat  bat 

,,  .  ,  ni-r\o 

alle  binges  ne  ben  doon  aryu.  6rJ6 


order  by  which 

God  proceeds 


things  are  done 

rightly  and  as 

they  ought  to  be 
done. 


[*  MS.  aritnri] 
[The  fyf 


. 
e  fyfthe 


81    QUIS   ARCTURI  *    SYDERA. 

so   fa*  ne   knowe   nat   be   sterres   of    arctour 

-,  •    ± 

ytowrned  neye  to  be  souereyne  contre  or  point. 


He  who  knows  not 

that  the  Bear  is 

seen  near  the 

Pole,  nor  has 

observed  the  path  bat  is  to  scyne  ytowmed  neye  to  be  souereyne  pool  of  _be 

SppreVaer1antceheir      firmament  and  woot  nat  win  be  sterre  boetes  passeb  or 

3798  gaderib  his  wey[n]es.  and  drencheb  his  late  flaumbes  in 

be  see.  and  whi  bat  boetes  J?e  sterre  vnfoldib  his  ouer 

The  vulgar  are      swifte  aiisynges.  fan  shal  he  wondien  of  be  lawe  of  be 

alarmed  when  .  , 

shadows  heye  eyre.  <md  eke  if  bat  he  ne  knowe  nat  why  bat  be 

terrestrial  obscure         J        J 

h°rnes  °f  fe  ^l[le]  moene  waxen  pale  and  infect  by  be 


piayd?bedi8"      bouwdes  of  be  derke  ny3t     ^  and  how  be  moene  dirk 


3775  grete — gret 

3776  to  witfn—forto  weten 

3778  trowed[_e\— trovvcde 
alle-al 

3779  were — weoren 
fortuouse — fortunous 

3780  mijne — myn 

3781  (jood[_e\— goode 

3782  'uuel—; yiiclis 

3783  hardncsse— hardnesses 


3784  [he}— from  C. 
wille — wyl 

3785  difference— MS.  differ- 

3786  do\>— MS.  doj?e     [enee 
/tap — happe 

3787  [#]— from  C. 
«— ne  it 

3788  ennfus — confuse 

3789  alle— ftl 

3791  f/oodlc']— goode 


3793  we— omitted 

3791  arctour — MS.  aritour 

3795  neye — neygli 

3796  seyne— seyn 
neye — nygh 

3797-99  boetes— MS.  boeces, 

C.  boetes 
3798  his  (1)— hise 

wey\_n~\cft — weynes 
3802  'fulfle]— fnilu 


T11E    HIDDEN    CAUSES   OP   THINGS.  133 

and   confuse   discoucrcb    be   stcrres.     bat  she   hadfdel  Thinking 

L      J    the  eclipse  the  re- 

ycouered  "by  hir  clere  visage.  J?e  commune  errour  moeuej?  J^fff^S^»A 
folk  and  makif   wery  hir  bacines  of  bras  by  J>ikke  S^SS^iS 
strookes.  J>at  is  to  seyne  fat  J>er  is  a  maner  poeple  bat  te£f  brtt7'en 


,        .r  T          .,         ,  ,  .  cymbals.    Yet 

hyn  e   coribandes  bat  wenen  bat  whan  be  moone  is  m  none  shar**!  when 

the  nortn-west 

be  eclips  bat  it  be  enchauwtid.  and  berfore  forto  rescowe  wind  renders  the 

sea  tempestuous  ; 

be  moone  bei  betyn  hire  basines  wij>  bikke  strokes. 
^]  TSe  no  man  ne  wondreb  whan  he  blastes  of  be  wynde 
chorus  betyn  be  strondes  of  be  see  by  q  uakynge  floodes.  cause  the  causes 

are  apparent. 

ne  no  man  ne  wondrej?  whan  be  wey^te  of  be  snowe  3813 
yhardid  by  be  colde.  is  resolued  by  j)e  brennynge  hete  CBB*M  an  un6- 

Known  disquiet 

of  phebus  be  sonne.     1T  For  here  seen  men  redyly  be  the  human  mind. 
causes,  but  be  *  causes  yhid  bat  is  to  seye  in  heuene       £*  f0i.  30.] 
trouble  fe  brestes  of  men.     11  j>e  moeueable  poeple  is  The  fickle  mob 

stands  amazed  at 

a-stoned  of  alle  binges  hat  comen  selde  and  sodeynely  in  every  rare  or 

J         J          sudden  phcnome- 

oure  age.  but  yif  be  troubly  errour  of  oure  ignorance 
departid[e]  from  vs.  so  bat  we  wisten  be  causes  whi  bat 

.-,..  1-.-1  i     •     i     i  -i  place  to  certain 

swiche  bmges  bitiden.  certys  bei  sholderc  cesse  to  seme  knowledge. 
wondres.  3822 

ITA   EST    INQtMM. 

"Uvs  is  it  qwod  I.    but  so  as  bou  hast  3euen  or  byhy^t 

Vs  IT-IT  f  i  •  mr          ias  tnou  hast  pro- 

*     me  to  vn  wrapper  be  hidde  causes  ot  bmges     ^[  and  mised  to  untold 

1  the  hidden  causes 

to  discoueren  me  be  resouws  couered  mt»  dirknesses  I  oftmngs,  an.iun- 

veil  things  wrapt 

p?'eye  be  pat  bou  diuise  and  luge  me  of  bis  matere.  and 
bat  bou  do  me  to  vndrestondera  it.  1F  For  pis  miracle  p 

7,1  Jty>  anrt  explain 

or  bis  wondre  troubleb  me  ry^t  gretely.  and  ban  she  a  the  mystery  i 

r  mentioned  to  you. 

litel  [what]  smylyng  seide.  ^f  bou  clepest  me  quod. 
she  to  telle  bing.  bat  is  grettest  of  alle  J>inges  bat  mowen 


_  IMTAIJ.I  i'i-  j.'  i  r  ~\  which  I  am  afraid 

ben  axed.     ^[  And  to  be  whiche  questiouw  vnneb[ejs  is  can  scarce  be 

answered. 

bere  au3t  ynow  to  lauen  it.  as  who  seib.  vnnefes  is  ber 
suffisauntly  any  bing  to  answere  perfitly  to  bi  questiouTi.  3833 


3804  Tiad^de']—  hadde 
3806  bacines—  MS.  batines 

\>ikke—  MS.  J>ilke,  C.  thilke 
3S07  seyne  —  seyn 
3308  hy&e']—  hihte 
3809  eclips—  cc 


cclypse 
—  MS.  th 


3812  chorus—  MS.  thorus,  C. 
chorus 

3813  snowe  —  sonwh  =  snowh 


3815  here—her 
redyly—  redely 

3816  yhid—  MS.  yhidde,  C. 


y 


seye—  seyn 

3817  trouble—  trowblcn 
3820  departid[c]  from  —  dc- 

partede  fro 
3823  byliy^t—  by-hyhte 


3821  7iidde—}iyd 

3826  preye—preey 
diuise— deuyse 

3827  do— don 

3828  gretely— gretly 


gret 

[whi 


what] — from  C. 
3832  \>ere  antf— ihor  awlit 


^|    4^^v    ^pW   4Rv 


^;^  fc«  ;  mi  Hh  l^r. 


:-;.:    -  -     >--•:-.- 


13G 


PROVIDENCE    CONTROLS    FATE. 


rnooK  4. 
LPIIOSE  G. 


' 


w',atchemhasshe9     ^undi).  or  ellys  by  al  nature  seruynge  to  god.  or  ellys 
awTtShat'Sr  by  f  e  celestial  moeuyng  of  sterres.  or  ellys  by  be  vertue 

and  that  time.  So 

then,  however       oi  aungels.  or  eilys  by  f  e  dyuerse  subtilite  of  deueles. 
or  ellvs  bv  any  of  hem-  or  ellys  by  hem  alle  f  e  destynal 
thescpntraorieo1fnder  ordynawice  is  ywouen  or  accomplissed.  certys  it  is  open 

Providence,  which      . 

disposes  Destiny,    ping  pat  be  pwrueaunce  is  an  vnmoeueable  and  svmple 

But  some  things  J      x 

arnedLmptVfdome  *orm&  of  )>inges  to  done,  and  f  e  moeueable  bonde  and 
FateT£!g0f8ta-    J76  temporel  ordynaunce  of  f  inges  whiche  fat  f  e  deuyne 

bly  fixed  near  to  -,.    .,         /.  , 

tiie  Divinity  him-  simplicite  oi  pwrueaunce  nab  ordeyned  to  done,   bat  is 

self,  and  beyond 

destine.     For  wniche  it  is  fat  alle  f  inges  fat  ben  put 
yndir   destine   ben  certys  subgitj   to  pwrueaunce.    to 
moncenntre!°Sat    whiche  pw?Tieaunce  destine  it  self  is  subgit  and  vndir. 

which  is  inner- 

^f  But  somme  finges  ben  put  vndir  purueaunce  fat 
sow^Tiiounten  f  e  ordinaunce  of  destine,  and  f  o  ben 
f  ilke  fat  stably  ben  yficched  ney  to  f  e  first  godlied  f  oi 
sowrmouftten  be  ordre  of  destinal  moeuablite.  ^F  For 


which  the  out- 
ward ones  re- 
volve; whilst  the 

3912  ry^t  as  cercles  fat  townen  aboute  a  same  Centre  or 

outermost,  revolv-     ,  ,  .,,  ,  ,    .     . 

ing  in  a  wider       about  a  poynt.  filke  cercle  fat  is  inrest  or  moost  wib- 

circumference, 
the  further  it  is 
from  the  centre 


th1ing1eiseberany"  siboutQu  hym. 

joined  to  the 


ynne  ioinef  to  f  e  symplesse  of  f  e  myddel  and  is  as  it 
were  a  Centre  or  a  poynt  to  fat  of  er  cercles  fat  tournew 
and  filke  fat  is  outerest  compased  by 

middle  point,  it  is  larger  envyronnynge  is  vnf olden  by  larger  spaces  in  so 
p™rityVofreasS  mocnel  as  ^  is  forf  est  fro  fe  my  del  symplicite  of  fe 
thmfg2hremaoved  poynt.  and  yif  f  er  be  any  fiwg  fat  knyttef  and  felaw- 
teiiimnoe,  so  ™'  shippef  hym  selfe  to  bilke  mydel  poynt  it  is  constreyned 

much  the  more  is  f 


intemgeSRp°e,  the 


fat  is  to  seyn  in  to  [vnjmoeueablete. 

and  &  ceseth  to  ben  shact  and  to  fletiw  dyuersly.    IF  Ey^t 
so  by  semblable  resouw.   bilke  binpje  bat  dep(?rtib  firbest 

J  J  T 


centre  of  all 

things,  the  more    fro  he  first  bouat  of  erod.  it  is  vnfoldew  and  summittid 

stable  it  becomes, 

Sndentuplde"     to  gretterc  bondes  of  destine,  and  in  so  moche  is  fe 
fing  more  free  and  lovs  fro  destyne  as  it  axef  and 


3806  a?— alle 

3897  moeuyng — moeuynges 

3900  ywouen— MS.  ywonnen, 

C.  ywouen 
or — and 

30(12  bonde— bond 
:5:i.|  7,,/|>— MS.  habc 
13905  whiche— which 


3912  as— as  of 

3913  about — a-bowte 
inrest — innerest 

3917  larger  (1) — a  largo 

3918  mochel — moche 
for  \>est — ferthere 

3920  sclfc— self 

3921  \vri\moeucablete  —  vn- 


moeuablete 

3922  cescth  —  MS.  fle>e,  C. 
cesitb 

3923  binge— tiling 

3924  of—  MS.  to,  C.  of 
3926  lovs— laus 


K&SKG.]  DESTINY    RULES    NATURE.  137 

holdef  hym  ncr  to  filke  Centre  of  binges,   bat  is  to  And  if  we 

*       •  r  suppose  .that 

seyne  god.     IF  and  if  f  e  f  inge  cleuef  to  f  e  stedfastnesse  SSiKntoBJR?" 
of  fe  fou^t  of  god.  and  be  wif  oute  moeuyng  certys  it  f  he  supreme  °f 

,    ,    ,  . .          „    ,  .   .        mind,  it  then  be- 

soMrmountep  be  necessite  ot  destyne.  ban  ryzt  swiclie  comes  immov- 

.       .  J  J'  able,  and  is  be- 

cornparisouft  as  [it]  is  of  skilynge  to  vndirstondyng  and 
of  f  ing  fat  is  engendred  to  f  ing  fat  is.  and  of  tyme  to 

...  7     /»  i  s*  .  understanding,  as 

eternite.  and  01  be  cercle  to  be  Centre,  ryst  so  is  be  that  which  is  pro- 

^  *      ducedtothat 

ordre  of  moeueable  destine  to  be  stable  symplicite  of  winch  exists  of 

J      *  itself,  as  time  to 

pwrueaunce.     ^T  filke  ordinaunce   moeuef   fe  heueiie  §? 
and  be  sterres  and  attempreb   be   elyment^   to   gider 

Fate  to  the  stable 

amonges  nem  self,    and   transformef   hem   by  enter-  simplicity  of 
chaurcgable  mutac^ourc.     f  and  bilke  same  ordre  newef  Jjjjjy  7tlecson. 
a^ein  alle  finges  growyng  and  fallyng  a-doune  by  sem- 


,  ,      ,  ,  .  „  ,  ,    .      dissoluble  chain 

bleables  progression's  ot  seedes  and  of  sexes,    bat  is  of  causes,  and 

is,  like  their 

to  sein.  male  and  female,  and  fis  ilke  ordre  corcstreynef  3941 


fe  fortunes  and  fe  dedes  of  men  by  a  bonde  of  causes 

nat  able  to  ben  vnbouwden  (indissolubili).  be  which  e  things  well  con- 

ducted, since  that 

destinal  causes  whanne   f  ei   passen   oute  fro   fe   by-  0fV 


gynnynges  of  fe  vnmoeueable  purueaunce  it  mot  nedes 

be  bat  bei  ne  be  nat  mutable,  and  bus  ben  be  binges  ful  by  it*  inherent"1 

1  m  immutability  ex- 

Avel  ygouerned.  yif  fat  f  e  symplicite  dwellywge  *  in  f  e       [*  foi.  si.] 

,     ,  TP  ercises  a  restraint 

deuyne  bomt  sneweb  lurpe  be  ordre  01  causes,  vnable  to  upon  mutable 

things,  and  pre- 

be  I-bowed.    and  f  is  ordre  constreynef  by  hys  propre 


stablete  fe  moeueable  finges.  or  ellys  fei  sholde  fleten 
folily  for  whiche  it  is  fat  alle  finges  semen  to  be  confus 

nevertheless,  the 

and  trouble  to  vs  men.  for  we  ne  mowe  nat  co?zsidere  proper  condition 
filke  ordinaunce.  IF  Naf  ele's  fe  propre  manere  of  ciineCst8itTodthe"ir 
euery  f  ing  dressynge  hem  to  goode  disponit  hem  alle.  there^otiS 

done  for  the  sake 

lor  bere  nis  no  binge  don  for  cause  of  yuel.  ne  bilke  of  evil,  not  eve 

r       '  by  the  wicked, 

f  ing  fat  is  don  by  wickedfe]  folk  nis  nat  don  for  yuel 
f  e  whiche  shrewes  as  I  haue  shewed  [ful]  plentiuously 


3927  ner — nere 

3928  seyne— seyn 

\>inge     cleuelp    —     thing 
omtelh 

stedfastnesse  —  stydefast- 
ncsse 


3937  enter chaung able  —  MS. 

enterchauMgyngable,   C. 

entrechaungeable 
3939  a-doune — a-down 

sembleables — semblable 
3912  bonde— bond 


393»  swiclie — swych  ]  39-43  ben  vnbounden — be  vn- 

3931  [if]— from  C.  bownde 

3932  to  (2)— MS.  of,  C.  to  3944  oute— owt 


3948  fur\>e— forth 

3949  I-bmved— MS.vnbound- 
en,  C.  I-bowed 

3950  sholde— sholden 

3951  whiche— which 

3952  mowe — mowen 

3956  wicked^— wykkedo 

3957  [.ful']— from  C. 


138 


NOTHING   DONE   FOR    EVIL*S    SAKE. 


FBOOK  4. 
LPKOSE  e. 


But  the  order 
proceeding  from 
the  centre  of 
supreme  good- 
ness does  not 
mislead  any.    But 
you  may  say, 
what  greater  con- 
fusion can  there 
be  than  that  both 
prosperous  and 
adverse  things 
should  at  times 
happen  to  good 
men,  and  that  evil 
men  should  at 
one  time  enjoy 
their  desires 
and  at  another 
be  tormented  by 
hateful  things. 
Are  men  wise 
enough  to  dis- 
cover, whether 
those  whom  they 
believe  to  be 
virtuous  or 
wicked,  are  so  in 
reality  ?  Opinions 
differ  as  to  this 
matter.    Some 
who  are  deemed 
worthy  of  reward 
by  one  person,  are 
deemed  unworthy 
by  another.     But, 
suppose  it  were 
possible  for  one 
to  distinguish 

3975 

with  certainty 
between  the  good 
and  the  bad  ? 
Then  he  must 
have  as  accurate 
a  knowledge  of 
the  mind  as  one 
has  of  the  body. 
It  is  miraculous 
to  him  who  knows 
it  not,  why  sweet 
tilings  are  agree- 
able to  some 
bodies,  and  bitter 
toothers;  why 
some  sick  persons 
are  relieved  by 
lenitives  and 
others  by  sharper 
remedies.    J  t  is 
no  marvel  to  the 
leech,  who  knows 
the  causes  of 
disease,  and  their 
cures.  .  What  con- 
stitutes the  health 
of  the  mind,  but 
goodness  ?    And 
what  are  its 
maladies,  but 
vice?    Who  is  the 
preserver  of  good, 

3958-9  goodc— good 

3960  decline^— MS.e«cline)>, 

C.  declynyth 
3061  wors — worse 
:<!'<i2  tiomme  tame — somtyme 
3!><>.'>  swit'Jie — swycll 
3UU7 


sekcn  goode.  but  wicked  errour  mystozmiif  hem.  IF  Ne 
f  e  ordre  comynge  fro  f  e  poynt  of  souereyne  goode  ne 
decline]?  nat  fro  hys  bygynnynge.  but  f  ou  mayst  sein 
what  vnreste  may  ben  a  wors  co?ifusiou?i  fan  fat  goode 
men  han  somme  tyme  aduersite.  and  somtyme  pro- 
sperite.  1F  and  shrewes  also  han  now  f  inges  fat  f  ei 
desiren.  and  now  f  mges  fat  f  ei  haten  IT  whef  er  men 
lyuen  now  in  swiche  hoolnesse  of  f  ou}t.  as  who  seif . 
ben  men  now  so  wise,  fat  swiche  folk  as  f  ei  demen  to 
ben  goode  folk  or  shrewes  fat  it  mot  nedes  ben  fat  folk 
ben  swiche  as  f  ei  wenen.  but  in  f>is  manere  f  e  domes 
of  men  discorden.  fat  f  ilke  men  fat  somme  folk  demen 
worf  i  of  mede.  of  er  folk  demen  hem  worf  i  of  towrment. 
but  lat  vs  grauntfe]  I  pose  fat  som  man  may  wel  demen 
or  knowen  f  e  goode  folk  and  f  e  badde.  May  he  fan 
knowen  and  seen  f  ilke  inrest  attempe?-aunce  of  corages. 
as  it  haf  ben  wont  to  be  said  of  bodyes.  as  who  saif 
may  a  man  speken  and  determine  of  attemperaunce  in 
corages.  as  men  were  wont  to  demen  or  speken  of  com- 
plexiouws  and  attemperaunces  of  bodies  (q'  non).  ne 
it  [ne]  is  nat  an  vnlyke  miracle  to  hem  fat  ne  knowew 
it  nat.  IF  As  who  seif.  but  is  lyke  a  merueil  or  a 
miracle  to  hem  fat  ne  knowew  it  nat.  whi  fat  swete 
f inges  [ben]  couenable  to  some  bodies  fat  ben  hool  and 
to  some  bodies  bittre  f  inges  ben  couenable.  and  also 
whi  fat  some  seke  folk  ben  holpen  with  ly^t  medicines 
[and  some  folk  ben  holpen  with  sharppe  medicynes]  but 
naf  eles  f  e  leche  fat  knowef  f  e  manere  and  f  e  attemper- 
aunce  of  heele  and  of  maladie  ne  merueilef  of  it  no 
f  ing.  but  what  of  er  fing  semef  hele  of  corages  but 
bounte  and  prowesse.  and  what  of  er  fing  semef  maladie 
of  corages  but  vices,  who  is  ellys  kepere  of  good  or 


3967  mot— moste 

3971  graunt[e] — graunte 

3973  inrest — Inneryste 

3974  7iab— MS.  ha>e 
said— MS.  saide,  C.  seyd 

3975  determine— determine!! 
3978  [we]— from  C. 


3978  vnlyke— vn-lyk 

3979  lyke—Vk 

3981  [ben]— from  C. 
hool — hoole 

3984   [and medicynes]  - 

from  C. 


HOOK   4. 
1'KOSK  6. 


GOD    THE    SOUL'S    PHYSICIAN.  139 


dryucre  awcy  of  yuul  but  god  goucrnowr  and  lecclier  of  o?  evnd»)ta  (V,',!!'^ 
bo^tes.  f  o  whichc  god  wlum  ho  hab  by-holden  from  )>o  SSl£iS?Sowi 

_    _  -i      ,      •      what  is  necessary 

heye   tourc    ot    hys   p?/rueaunce    lie   knoweb   what   is  for  men,  and 

bestows  it  upon 

couenable  to  euery  wyjt.  and  leneb  hem  bat  he  wot  Jj£™^  ^j™"  this 


[bat]   is  couenable  to  hem.     Loo  here  of  comeb  and  i 

„    .       ,  ,          ,       .  .       ,      destiny—  wrought 

here  ot  is  don  bis  noble  miracle  of  be  ordre  destinal.  by  the  wisdom  of 

r  t  God,  and  marvel- 

whan  god  bat  alle  knoweb  dob  swiche  bing.  of  whiche  j^1  b{|J["°[JJJ!  fc 
bing  [bat]  vnknowyng  folk  ben  astoned  but  forto  con-  feVthlSSwm- 
streine  as  who  seib     ^[  But  forto  cowiprehende  and  telle  S"h"  DivSie  c|lt 

«  .  .  „  ,       ,  ,  ,  .   ,  knowledge  which 

a  lewe  binges  ot  be  deuyne  depnesse  be  whiche  bat  mans  human  reason 

may  comprehend. 

resoim  may  vnderstonde.  ^f  bilk  man  bat  bou  wenest 
to  ben  ry^t  luste  and  ry^t  kepyng  of  eqwite.  be  contrarie 
of  bat  seme))  to  be  deuyne  pwrueaunce  bat  al  woot.  when  you 

mr     A      i    i  f       -T        L   TI    ,  ...  apparent  irregu- 

II  And  lucan  my  famiher  telleb  bat   be  victories  cause  larities—  unex- 

pected and  un- 
likedfe]  to  be  goddes  and  causes  ouercomen  liked[e]  to  4004 

i      .  ,    .      -.  wished  for—  deem 

catown.    ban  what  so  euer  bou  mayst  seen  bat  is  don  in  them  to  be  rightly 

done.    Let  us 

bis  [world]  vnhoped  or  vnwened.  certys  it  is  be  ry^t  el  suppose  a  man  so 

1        L  <J  J   \-  J    wen  behaved,  as 

ordre  of  binges,  but  as  to  bi  wickedfe]  oppinioun  it  is  a 
co?if  usiouw.  but  I  suppose  bat  som  man  be  so  wel  ybewed. 
bat  be  deuyne  lugement  and  be  Iugeme?it  of  mankynde  reverses  of  for- 

tune will  cause 

accorden  hem  to  gidre  of  hym.  but  he  is  so  vnstedfast  wm  to  forgo  his 

J  probity,  since  with 

of  corage  [bat]  yif  any  aduersite  come  to  hym  he  wolde 
for-leten  perauenture  to  continue  i?inocence  by  J>e 

,  .   ,        ,  -.111          j-     j  that  adversity 

whiche  he  ne  may  nat  wibholden  fortune.     T[  ban  be  might  destroy 

this  man's  in- 


wise   dispensac/ouw   of   god   spareb    hym    be   whiche 

manere  aduersite  *  my3t[e]  enpeyren.     ^f  For  bat  god  aj*rgfotj;  J^.] 

wil  nat  suffren  hym  to  trauaile.  to  whom  bat  trauayl 

,-,  mr     \  »  •  J2±     •          n      man  is  thorouglily 

nis  nat  couenable.     IT  An  oper  man  is  pernt  in  alle  virtuous,  and 

approaches  to  the 

uertues.  and  is  an  holy  man  and  neye  to  god  so  bat  be  purity  of  the  AV\  iy 

J  J  '       —him  Providence 

pwrueaunce  of  god  wolde  demen  bat  it  were  a  felony  t 
bat  he  were  touched  wib  any  aduersites.  so  bat  he  ne 


3990  whiche—  which 
3997  [M]—  from  C. 


3991  1ia\>— MS.  habe 

3993  wot— MS.  wote,  C.  wot 

3991  [bafl— from  C. 

3995  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 

miracle — MS.  mirachc,  C. 
myxacta 

ordre — MS.  ordre  of 
39!»6  rt/fr-al  ryyt[e]— rvlite 

do\>- MS.  dobo  I  4007  wicked(.c]— w.ykkcde 


3999  mans  —  maimes 

4000  biik—tbilke 

4004  liked[_e]  (both}—  lykede 

4005  is  don—  MS.  is  to  dou 


4010  vnstedfast—  vnstydefast 

4011  [ba^j— from  C. 
wolde — wol 

4015  manere — man 
my^t[ie] — myhte 
4010  wil— wol 


4006— [world}— from  C.  4018  neye— negh 


140 


HOW   PROVIDENCE 


rnooK  4. 
[PROBE  e. 


him  even  from 
Ixxlily  disease. 
Providence  often 
gives  tlie  direc- 
tion of  public 
affairs  to  good 
men,  in  order  to 
curb  and  restrain 
the  malice  of  the 
wicked.    To  some 
is  given  a  mix- 
ture of  good 
and  evil,  accord- 
ing to  what  is 
most  suitable  to 
the  dispositions 
of  their  minds. 
Upon  some  are 
laid  moderate 
afflictions,  lest 
they  wax  proud  by 
too  long  a  course 
of  prosperity. 
Others  suffer 
great  adversities 
that  their  virtues 
may  be  exercised, 
and  strengthened 
by  the  practice  of 
patience.    Some 
fear  to  be  afflicted 
with  what  they 
are  able  to  endure. 
Others  despise 

4036 

what  they  are 
unable  to  bear; 
and  God  punishes 
them  with  calam- 
ities, to  make 
them  sensible  of 
their  presump- 
tion.   Many  have 
purchased  a  great 
name  by  a  glori- 
ous death.  Others 
by  their  unshaken 
fortitude,  have 
shown  that  virtue 
cannot  be  over- 
come by  adversity. 
These  things  are 
done  justly,  and 
in  order,  and  are 
for  the  good  of 
tho*e  to  whom 
they  happen. 
From  the  same 
causes  it  happens, 
that  sometimes 
adversity  and 
sometimes  pros- 
perity falls  to  the 
lot  of  the  wicked. 
None  are  surpris- 
ed to  see  bad  men 
afflicted— they  get 


wil  nat  suffre  fat  swiche  a  man  be  moeucd  wif  any 
mancro  maladie.  IF  But  so  as  scide  a  philosophre  [the 
moore  excellent  by  me],  fe  aduersites  comen  nat  (he 
seide  in  grec  f )  fere  fat  uertues  han  edified  f e  bodie 
of  fe  holy  man.  and  ofte  tynie  it  bitidef  fat  fe 
sowme  of  f inges  fat  ben  to  don  is  taken  to  good  folk 
to  gouerne.  for  fat  f  e  malice  habundaunt  of  shrewes 
sholde  ben  abatid.  and  god  }euef  and  dep«?'tif  to  of  er 
folk  prosp[er]ites  and  aduersites  ymedeled  to  hepe  aftir 
f  e  qualite  of  hire  corages  and  remordif  som  folk  by 
aduersites.  for  fei  ne  sholden  nat  wexen  proude  by 
longe  welefulnesse.  and-  ofer  folk  he  suifref  to  ben 
trauayled  wif  harde  f  inges.  f  For  fat  fei  sholden  con- 
forme  f  e  vertues  of  corage  by  f  e  vsage  and  exercitacioun 
of  paciewce.  and  ofer  folke  dreden  more  fen  fei  au^ten 
f  e  wiche  fei  my3t[en]  wel  beren.  and  f  like  folk  god 
ledif  in  to  experience  of  hem  self  by  aspre  and  sorwe- 
ful  f  inges.  IT  And  many  ofer  folk  han  bou^t  honor- 
able renoune  of  fis  worlde  by  fe  pris  of  glorious  deef . 
and  som  men  fat  ne  mowen  nat  ben  ouer-comen  by 
tourment  han  ^euen  ensample  to  ofer  folk  fat  vertue  ne 
may  nat  be  ouer-comen  by  aduersites.  IT  and  of  alle 
f  ise  f  inges  f  er  nis  no  doute  fat  fei  ne  ben  don  ry^t- 
fully  and  ordeinly  to  f  e  profit  of  hem  to  whom  we 
seen  fise  finges  bitide.  1T  For  certys  fat  aduersite 
comef  some  tyme  to  shrewes.  and  some  tyme  fat  fei 
desiren  it  comef  of  fise  forseide  causes  and  of  sorweful 
finges  fat  bytyden  to  shrewes.  Certys  no  man  ne 
wondref .  For  alle  me/z  wenen  fat  fei  han  wel  de- 
serued  it.  and  fei  ben  of  wicked  merite  of  whicho 


4021 
swiche — swych 

4022  manere— bodyly 
4022-3  [the me]— from  C. 

4023  \>e  aduersites nat 

— omitted 

4024  pere— omitted 
4026  don— done 

to  (2)— MS.  so 

to   good gouerne  —  to 

Kouerue  to  ^oode  folk 


4028  o\>er— oothre 

4030  som — some 

4031  sliolden— sholde 

4033  conferme — confermen 

4034  corage — corapes 

4036  my^i\en\ — myhton 

4037  hem— hym 
snrwefuTr-  sorwful 

4038  o\>er— oothre 
J03H  wo r Ide— world 

of  (2)— of  the 


4041  o\>er — othre 

4046  come])— comth 
some  (both] — som 

\>at  \>ei— MS.  bei  >at,  C. 
pat  that  they 

4047  come\> — comth 
sorweful — sorwfnl 

4050  wicked— wykkodo 
merite  —  MS.     ucritc.    C. 
meryte 


ru?>SE\]  DEALS   WITH    MANKIND.  141 

shrewes  be  tozmnent  som  tyme  agasteb  ober  to  done  what  they  deserve. 

Their  punish- 

folics.  and  som  tyme  it  amendef  hem  fat  suffren  f  e 
tottrnicntis.  H  And  fe  prosperite  fat  is  3euen  to 
shrewes  sheweb  a  grete  argument  to  goodFe]  folk  what  wicked  enjoy 

felicity— the  good 

bing  bei  sholde  demen  of  bilk  wilfulnesse  be  whiche  should  learn  how 

little  these  exter- 

prosperite  men  seen  ofte  serue  to  shrewes.  in  fe  whiche  tobe'Szedt68^6 
f  ing  I  trowe  fat  god  dispensif.  for  perauenture  f  e  nature  the1!?!  ofTh?11 ' 

most  worthless. 

ot  som  man  is  so  ouerf  rowyng  to  yuel  and  so  vncouen-  Another  reason 

for  dispensing 

able  fat  fe  nedy  pouerte  of  hys   house-hold   my^tfe]  ^wKdTs10 
raf  er  egren  hym  to  done  felonies,  and  to  f  e  maladie  wo^prompt 

naturally  violent 

of  hym  god  puttib  remedie  to  amen  hym  rychesse.  and  and  rapacious 

minds  to  commit 

som  ofer  man  byholdif  hys  conscience  defouled  wif  JJSSies*  Their 
synnes  and  makif  comparisons  of  his  fortune  and  of 
hym  self  <[[  and  dredif  perauenture  fat  hys  blisfulnesse 

to  do  wrong  for 

of  whiche  f  e  vsage  is  loyful  to  hym  fat  f  e  lesynge  of  fear,  lest  their 
filke  blisfulnesse  ne  be  nat  sorweful  to  hym.  and  fer-  4066 
fore  he  wol  chaunge  hys  maneres.   and  for  he  dredif  Smell1*" 


to  lese  hys  fortune,    he  forletib  hys  wickednesse.    to  happ          con- 

ferred, which  at 
ober  folk  is  welefulnesse  y^euew  vnworbily  be  whiche  last  precipitates 

J  >  f     J    >  them  into  de- 

ouerfrowef  hem  in  to  destruccz'ouw  fat  fei  han  de- 
serued.    and    to    som   ofer   folk   is    ^euen    power   to 


r>  -   •,      T     T  -i  fl  ,•  •  T  ment,  in  order 

pumsse^.  tor  bat  it  shal  be  cause  of  contmuac^ou?^  and  both  to  exercise 

the  virtues  of  the 

exercisinge  to  goodfe]  folk,  and  cause  of  towrment  to  1^^° 
shrewes.     H  For  so  as  fer  nis  none  alyaunce  bytwixe  Serifs'  ncfaiii-8 
goodfe]  folke  and  shrewes.  ne  shrewes  ne  mo  wen  nat  good  and  bad,  so 

neither  can  the 

accorded  amoftges  hem  self  and  whi  nat.  for  shrewes  yici»us  agreAe  , 

together.    And 

discorded  of  hem  self  by  her  vices  f  e  whiche  vices  al  to  Their 
renden  her  consciences,  and  don  oft[e]  tyme  finges  f  e 
whiche  finges  whan  fei  han  don  hern,  fei  demen  fat  inp  their  c<m- 
f  o  finges  ne  sholde  nat  han  ben  don.  for  whiche  f  inge 
filke  souereyne   pzwueaunce   haf   maked   oft[e]   tyme 


4051  oper— oothre 
done— don 

4052  folies— felonies 

4054  rjrete—gret 
(joo(1\_e\ — f<ood« 

4055  sholde—  sholden 
H?*— thllke 

4'J5G  serue — semen 

wliiche — which 
4057  dispcnsi\>— MS.  dispis- 


i>,  C.  dispensith 

4059  my*>,t[e\—  myhte 

4060  done—  don 

4061  rychesse—  Rychesses 
4065  whiche—  which 

4068  MS.  wrongly  in  sorts 
welefulnesse  after  wick- 
ednesse 


4069-71 

4073  good[_e]—  goode 


4074  none — non 

4075  good\e~\ — goode 

4076  accorden — acordy 

4078  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
oft[e}—  ofte 

4079  do*— MS.  done,  C.  don 

4080  sholde— shold«-n 
whiclif  \>inge — which  thing 

4081  fc*f>— MS.  habe 

' 


142  EVIL    IS    OVERRULED    FOR   GOOD.  [PKOSE'G. 


arises  fsi-na"06  [faire]  miracle  so  frtt  slircwcs  hail  maked  oftyme 
""out  by  Pnn-id-  slirewes  to  ben  good[e]  men.  for  whan  fat  som  slirewes 
'[*  foi.  82.]  *  seen  fat  f  ei  suffren  wrongfully  felonies  of  of  er  slirewes 
made  wicked  men  ^e{  wexen  escliaufed  in  to  hat[e]  of  hem  fat  anoien 
havingsuffS  hem.  and  retournen  to  f  e  fruit  of  uertue.  when  fei 

injuries  from  the  ,  .  ,  ,    - 

former,  have        stuuien   to   ben   vnlyke   to   hem    bat   bei  nan  hated. 

become  virtu- 

4088  IT  Certys  f  is  only  is  f  e  deuyne  my^t  to  f  e  whiche  my^t 
S  theTmTght     yueles  ben  fan  good,  whan  it  vsef  f  o  yueles  couenably 

not  resemble 

those  whom  they    ana  draweb  out  be  enect  01  any  eood.  as  who  seib  bat 

so  detested. 

vuel  is  g°0(1  °°nly  °y  J>e  my3t  °f  s°^-  for  )*  my$t  of 


S°d  ordeynej)  J>ilk  yuel  to  good.     For  oon  ordre  en- 
brasij?  alle  ])inges.  so  J)at  what  wyat  [batl  departib  fro 

hing  occurs  by 

the  caprice  of        be  rcsouw  of  be  ordre  whiche  bat  is  assigned  to  hym. 

chance  in  the  r  J 

rro\™5e5ifcc>ivlne    a^Sa^es  3^  ne  slidejj  in  to  an  ojjer  ordre.  so  Jmt  noting 


nig  leueful  to  folye  in  fe  realme  of  J?e  deuyne  pume- 

thinsrs,  it  is  not  .,            ,  .             .                                    ... 

lawful  to  man  to  aunce.  as  who  seib  no  bmg  nis  wibouten  ordmaunce  in 

attempt  to  com- 

pre'iendthe  whole  ]?e  realme  of  jje  deuyne  pumeaunce.     ^[  Syn  J>at  }?e  ry^t 

expiSun*0  strong[e]  god  gouerni]?  alle  Binges  in  J>is  worlde  for  it 

sumce  to^cnow-  nis  nat  leueful  to  no  man  to  co??zp?'ehenden  by  witte  ne 

an'  tilings  for  the  vnfolden  by  worde  alle  be  subtil  ordinaunces  and  dis- 

best. 

4102  posici'ouTis  of  ]?e  deuyne   entent.  for   oonly  it  au^t[e] 

retains  uSngs  suffice  to  han  loked  J?at  god  hym  self  makere  of  alle 

created  after  his 

own  likeness  con-  natures  ordeymb  and  dressib  alle  binges  to  good,  while 

formably  to  his 

ban?shess'evu  by  t3^  ne  ^as^t  to  wi]?halden  ]je  J>inges  fat  he  haf  maked 

destinySou°fof  his  in  to  hys  semblaunce.  J?at  is  to  seyn  forto  wijjliolden 


binges  in  to  good,  for  he  hym  self  is  good  he  chaseb 

which  you  seem 

to  see  are  only      oute  al  yuel  of  be  boundes  of  hys  communalite  by  be 

imaginary. 

exiiausted^uid       ordre  of  necessite  destinable.     For  whiche  it  folwej?  fat 
prolixity  of  mv      yif  foil  loke  fe  p?«Tieaunce  ordeynynge  fe  finges  fat 

reasoning,  and  .  -11, 

look  for  relief       men  wenen  ben  haboundaunt  in  erbes.  bou  ne  slialt  riot 

from  the  harmony 

of  my  verse.  geen  jn  no  p}ace  no  Jjing  Of  yuel.       IF  but  I  S6   nOW    fat 


40S2  \_faire]— from  C. 

oftyme — omitted 
4083  goodie]— goode 
4085  Jiat{e\— hate 

anoien — anoy  ed  en 
4087  studien— omitted 

vnlyke — vnlyk 
4089-90  good— goode 
4092  ]>ilk— thilke 


4093  \\>af}— from  C. 

4094  }>e  (2)— thilke 
whiche — which 

4096  realme— Renme 

4099  strangle']— stronge 
worlde — world 

4100  wo— omitted 
witte — wit 

4101  worde  alle— word,  al 


4102 

4104  f/ood  while — goode  wyl 

4105  /tab— MS.  ha>e 

4108  o/(l)— fro 

4109  whiche— which 

4111  ben  haboundaunt — ben 
outraious  /  or  habownd- 
ant 


K4' 


MKTKG4']  LOVE    TEMPERS    ALL    THINGS.  143 

bou  art  charged  wib  bo  wcyjtc  of  be  Questioufnl  and  Take,  then,  tins 

draught,  witli 


wery  wijj  lengjjc  of  my  resouw.  and  ]?at  J>ou  abidest  sora 
swetnesse  of  songe.  tak  ]>MI  Jns  drau;t  and  whan  Jjou 


art  wel  refresshed  and  refet  Jjou  shalt  ben  more  stedfast  " 
to  stye  in  to  hey  ere  questioiws.  4117 

SI    UIS    CELSI    IURA.  ^he  syxte 

Yif  bou  wolt  demen  in  bi  pure  boint  be  ryites  or  be  If  thai  would* 
^  *      explore  the  laws 

lawes  of  J>e  heye  ]mnd[ere]re.  J?at  is  to  seyne  of  god.  of  the  high  Timn- 

loke  J>ou  and  bihold  J?e  hey^tes  of  souereyne  heuene. 


IT  fere  kepen  }?e  sterres  by  ry^tful  alliaunce  of  Jnnges 

hir  olde  pees,   be  sonne  ymoeued  by  hys  rody  fire,  ne  rareth  rosy 

Sun  does  not  'in- 

destourbib  nat  be  colde  cercle  of  be  moone.     1T  Ne  be  vade  the  moon's 

*       colder  sphere. 

sterre  yclepid   j?e   bere.  J>at  enclinij?   hys   rauyssynge  2eaV\°tray  from 
courses  abouten  be  souereyne  hey^t  of  be  worlde.  ne  be  boumis(°td  qwncfi 

his  light  in  the 

same   sterre  vrsa  nis  neuer   mo   wasshen  in  be  depe  western  main. 

Vesper  always 

westerne  see.  ne  coueitij)  nat  to  dy^en  hys  flaumbes  in  "^arance^at'e^e1 
])e  see  of  [the]  occian.    al  fou^  he  see  ojjer  sterres  y-  4128 

,     ,  Lucifer  ushers  iu 

plounged  in   to   be  see.      IT  And   nesperus    be   sterre  the  mom.  so 

mutual  love 

bodib  and  tellib  alwey  be  late  ny^tes.     And  lucifer  be  moves  an  things, 

F      and  from  the 

sterre  brynge]?  a^eyne  ]je  clere  day.     11  And  Jms  makij)  JJSS,JJSf  Jtrife 
loue  enterchaungeable  ]?e  perdurable  courses,   and  Jms 


is  discordable  bataile  yput  oute  of  J?e  centre  of  be  sterres.  mSS,r  so  Act  the 

moist  atoms  war 

Jjis  accordaunce  attempre]?  by  euene-lyke  manere[s]  ]?e  »°  m«re  with  the 
elementes.    J?at  J>e  moyste  jjinges  striueii  nat  wij>  ]?e 
drye  finges.  but  3iuen  place  by  stoundes.  and  J?at  ])e 


i  «      .  •  •  i  ir>-,  TJ»-  7   down  the  heavy 

colde  binges  loynen  hem  by  leib  to  be  note  binges,  and  earth  descends. 

r      °  "  By  these  same 

jjat  j)e  Iy3t[e]  fyre  arist  in  to  hey^te.  and  ]?e  heuy  er]?es 
aualen  by  her  wey^tes.     U  by  ])ise  same  cause  J>e  floury  t 
yere  ^eldej?  swote  smellys  in  J>e  fyrste  somer  sesouw 

,  the  corn.  Autumn 

warmynge.  and  J>e  hote  somer  drye])  ]?e  comes,   and  comes  crowned 


4115  tak— MS.  take,  C.  tak 

4116  refet— refect 
shalt  ben — shal  be 
stedfast— stydefast 

4118  \>ou  wolt— )>ou  wys  wilt 

4119  ])und[ere]re  —  thon- 
seyne—f>eyn  [derere 

4120  bihold— MS.  biholde,C. 
by  hold  [rody 

4122    rody  —  m.    redy,  C. 


4122  fire—Vyr 

4123  cercle— clerke 
4125  courses — cours 

heyjt— heyhte 

4127  westerne — westrene 
dy-^en — deeyn 

4128  [the']— from  C. 

he  see— MS.  it  sewe,  C.  he 

see 
o\>er — oothre 


4131  a^eyne — ayeiu 

4133  oute— owt 

4134  euene-lyke  manerc[ti] — 
eueiielyk  nianeres 

4135  striuen — strynynge 
nat — omitted 

4136  but— omitted 

4138  ly)t(_e\fyre  arist— lyhte 

fyr  arysith 
4140  yere— 3er 


144 


ALL    FORTUNE    IS    BENEFICIAL. 


[ROOK  4 
l'HOSE7. 


with  plenty,  and 
winter  wets  the 
earth  with 
showers. 
These  changes 
give  lite  and 
growth  to  all  that 
breathe ;  and  at 
last  by  death 
efface  whatever 
lias  had  birth. 
[*  fol.  32  ft.] 
Meanwhile  the 

4148 

world's  Creator, 
the  Source  of  all, 
the  Lawgiver,  the 
wise  Judge,  sits 
above  equitably 
directing  all 
things.    Those 
tilings  which 
have  been  set  in 
motion  by  him 
are  also  checked 
and  forced  to 
move  in  an  end- 
less round,  lest 
they  go  from 
their  source,  and 
become  chaotic. 


4157 

This  love  is 
common  to  all 
things,  and  all 
things  tend  to 
good ;  so,  urged 
by  this,  they  all 
revert  to  that 
First  Cause  that 
gave  them  being. 


autumpne  conic])  apyne  licuy  of  apples,  and  f  e  fletyng 
reyne  bydewef  f  e  wynter.  fis  attemperaunce  noryssif 
and  brynggef  furfe  al  finge  fat  bredi])  lyfe  in  fis 
worlde.  IF  and  f  ilk  same  attemperaunce  rauyssyng  hide]) 
and  bynymef  and  drenchej)  vndir  ]>e  last[e]  de])e  allo 
*f  inges  yborn.  ^f  Amonges  ])ise  Binges  sitte])  f  e  heye 
makere  kyng  and  lorde.  welle  and  bygynnynge.  lawc 
and  wise  luge,  to  don  equite  and  gouerni])  and  enclini]) 
])e  bridles  of  f  inges.  and  f  o  Binges  fat  lie  stire])  to  don 
by  moeuynge  lie  wif  drawef  and  aresti])  and  affermij)  f  e 
moeueable  or  wandryng  f  inges.  IF  For  $if  J)at  he  ne 
clepij)  nat  a^ein  fe  ry^t  goynge  of  f  inges.  and  }if  ])at  he 
lie  constreyned[e]  hem  nat  eftesones  in  to  roundenesse 
enclined  ])e  f  inges  fat  ben  now  continued  by  stable 
ordinaunce.  |)ei  sholde  deperten  from  hir  welle.  ])at  is 
to  sein  from  hir  bygynnynge  and  fail  en.  J)at  is  to  sein 
townen  in  to  nai^t.  IF  ])is  is  f  e  commune  loue  of  alle 
J)inges.  and  alle  f  mges  axen  to  be  holden  by  f  e  fyn  of 
good.  For  ellys  ne  my3ten  ])ei  nat  lasten  yif  ])ei  ne 
come  rat  eftesones  a^eine  by  loue  retourned  to  J)e  cause 
fat  ha])  $euen  hem  beynge.  fat  is  to  seyn  to  god.  4162 


[The  seuende 
prose.  J 

P.  Do  you  see 
what  follows 
from  our  argu- 
ments e 

B.  What  is  it  ? 
P.  That  all  for- 
tune is  good. 
B.  How  can  that 
be? 

P.  Since  all  for- 
tune, whether 
prosperous  or 
adverse,  is  for 
the  reward  of  the 
good  or  the 
punishment  of 


4142  come])  a^eyne  —  comth 
ayein 

4143  reyne— reyn 

41-1-1  fu,r\>e  al  \>inge— forth 

alle  thing 

bredi])  lyfe— berith  lyf 
4145  worlde — world 

pita-thilke 
4110  la*t[e\  de\>e— laste  deth 

4147  yborn— MS.  yborne,  C. 
I-horii 

4148  lorde— lord 


IAM    NE    IGITUR    UIDES. 

Qest  fou  nat  fan  what  f ing  folwef  alle  f e  f inges  fat  I 
^  haue  seid.  what  f  ing  qwod  I.  IF  Certys  q?«od  she 
outerly  fat  al  fortune  is  good,  and  how  may  fat  be 
q?/od  .1.  1F  ISTow  vndirstand  quod,  she  so  as  [alle 
fortune  wheyther  so  it  be  loyeful  fortune  /  or  aspre] 
fortune  is  3iuen  eif  er  by  cause  of  gerdonynge  or  ellys  of 
oxercisynge  of  goode  folk  or  ellys  by  cause  to  punissen. 


4149  wise— wys 

4150  stire\>— sterith 
din — gon 

4151  pe— omitted 

4153  clepfy— klepede 

4154  constrcyned\e\  —  con- 
streynede 

roundenesse    —    Rownd- 

nesses 

4156  sholds— sholden 
4158  tnurnen — tome 

of—  to 


4150  be— ben 

4161  eftesones  a^eine  —  eft 
sones  ayein 

4162  ftap— MS.  hape 

4163  \>ing— thinge 

4165  outerly — al  owtrely 
al— alle 

4166-7  [alle aspre']— from 

C. 
4169  goode— good 


PKOSK7.]  PUNISHMENT    IS   BENEFICIA.L.  145 

or  ellys  to  chastysen  shrewes.     IT  ban  is  alle  fortune  the  bad,  an  for- 

tune is  good 

good.  f  e  whiche  fortune  is  certeyne  fat  it  be  eif  er  iyjt-  yftfZfff 
ful  or  profitable.  IT  For  sofe  fis  is  a  ful  verray  resoura  SopinfonUt 
quod.  I.  and  yif  I  considere  be  pwrueauwce  and  be  pSSSons^ich 

.  .  thou  saidst  wer 

destine  bat  bou  taustest  me  a  litel  here  byforne  bis  sen-  not  commonly 

believed  by  the 

tence  is  susteyned  by  stedfast  rescues,  but  yif  it  like 
vnto  fe  lat  vs  noumbre  hem  amonges  J>ilk[e]  finges  of 


whiche  bou  seidest  a  litel  here  byforne  bat  bei  ne  were  fune  o/'mch  a  one 

*         '  is  bad. 

nat  able  to  ben  ywened  to  fe  poeple.     IT  whi  so  quod.  m-e*J  J0°nuf^mh 
she.  for  J>at  f  e  comune  worde  of  men  mysusif  quod.  I.  fan^mgeofthe16 
fis  manere  speche  of  fortune,  and  sein  ofte  tymes  [fat]  should  seemto 

depart  too  much 

be  fortune  oi  som  wyst  is  wicked,  wilt  bou  ban  quod  from  the  popular 

mode  of  expres- 

she  fat  I  proche  a  litel  to  f  e  wordes  of  f  e  poeple  so  it  jonA?g  ou  leage 
seme  nat  to  hem  fat  I  be  ouer  moche  departid  as  fro  f  e  pVofiLweYhat'if 
vsage  of  man  kynde.  as  bou  wolt  quod  I.  IF  Demest  fTVes,  certainly. 

P.  That  which 

f  ou  nat  quod  she  j?at  al  ])ing  ]?at  profiti]?  is  good,  ^is  exetrsc^es  °£  c<^" 

quod  I.     certis  Jjilk  J)ing  jjat  exercisi]?  or  corigij)  pro-  4186 

fitib.   I  confesse  it  wel  quod  I.   ban  is  it  good  quod  she.  P!  Therefore  it  is 

good  ?    B.  Yes. 

whi  nat  quod  I.  but  bis  is  be  fortune  \quod  she]  of  £•  This  «  ^e  . 

f  *  L^-  J  fortune  of  the  vir- 

hem  fat  ei]?er  ben  put  in   vertue  and  batailen  a3eins 
aspre  Jjinges.  or  ellys  of  hem  Jjat  eschewen  and  declinen 

ing  vice,  pursue 

fro  vices  and  taken  be  weye  of  vertue.     5T  bis  ne  may  thepath  of  virtue? 

*  *.  J     B.  It  is. 

nat  I  denye  qiiod  I     IT  But  what  seist  J?ou  of  J>e  myrye 
fortune  ]?at  is  ^euen  to  good  folk  in  gerdouw  deuinij) 

-,  .....,,  _  reward  on  the 

omt  be  poeples  bat  it  is  wicked,  nay  forsobe  quod  I.  but  good  to  be  bene- 

ficial, and  they 

J?ei  demen  as  it  so]?e  is  J?at  it  is  ry^t  good.   IF  And  what  J^iamitiesT 
seist  J)ou  of  fat  ofer  fortune  quod.  she.  fat  al  £0113  it  ^£f!ef  ased 
be  aspre  and  restreinij)  f  e  shrewes  by  ry3tful  tourment.  JweSS^St 

can  be  imagined. 

wenip  ou^t  be  poeple  bat  it  be  sjood.  nay  quod  I.  1F  P>ut  «ut  in  following 

the  popular 

f  e  poeple  demif  fat  it  be  most  wrecched  of  alle  f  inges 
fat  may  ben  f  ou3t.  war  now  and  loke  wel  quod  she 


T...  f  -.  .  „  ,,  ble  consequence. 

lest  fat  we  in  iolwyng  f  e  opymourc  oi  poeple  naue  con- 


4174  here  byforne— her  by- 
forn 

4175  tfayfat—Bby&ettat 

4176  noumbre — nowmbren 
ilk[_e]— thilke 

1  here  byforne — her  by- 
forn 


H 

4177 


4178  ywened — weened 

4179  worde — word 

4180  \_\>af]— from  0. 

4181  wicked — wykkede 

4182  proche — aproche 

4185  al—  alle 

4186  \>ilk— thilke 

10 


4188  [quod  she]— from  C. 
4191  weye — wey 

4193  deuini\>— demyth 

4194  ou^t— awht 

4195  so\>e— soth 

4198  ou\t—  awht 

4199  be— is 


146  THE   FORTUNE    OF    THE    VIRTUOUS    IS    GOOD.  [PKOSE*? 

p  w?haved5?  fessec*  an&  concluded  bing  bat  is  vnable  to  be  wened  to 
J>e  P°ePle-  wh^t  is  bat  quod  I  1T  Certys  quod  she  it 
folwef  or  comeb  of  binges  fat  ben  graunted  bat  alle 


needs  be  good —  „                      . 

but  that  the  for-  fortune  what  so  euer  it  be.  of  hem  bat  eyber  ben  in 

tune  of  the  wic-  J  ' 

wereSdtbem°8t  Possessiouw  of  vertue.  [or  in  the  encresof  vertu]  or  ellys 
in  be  purchasynge  of  vertue.  fat  bilke  fortune  is  good. 
1F  And  bat  alle  fortune  is  ryat  wicked  to  hem  bat 

The  wise  man 

ought  not  to  be  dwellen  in  shrewednesse.  as  who  seib.  and  bus  weneb 

cast  down,  when 

waJwithSrSne,  nat  fa  P™P^-     ^  fat  is  sofa  quod  I.     IF  Al  be  it  so 

vaiiantnian11  *  *  fat  nomaft  dar  confesses  it  ne  byknowen  it.     1F  whi  so 

ought  to  be  dis- 

mayed  on  hearing  quod  she.     For  jyit  B,s  no  strong  man  ne  semeb  nat  to 

the  noise  of  the 

[*  foi  33.]  abassen  or  disdaignew  as  *ofte  tyme  as  he  hereb  be  noise 

battle.    The 

enaffih?  one  to  °^  fa  bataile.  ne  also  it  ne  semeb  nat  to  fa  wyse  man  to 

JSr^lSuhe  beren  it  greuously  as  oft[e]  as  he  is  lad  in  to  fa  strif  of 

difficulties  of  the  *     ,              ,,       ,                                                            ,      .. 

other  aid  him  to  lortune.  tor  Dope  to  bat  on  man  and  eke  to  bat  ober 

confirm  and  im- 

4217  bilke  difficulte  is  be  matere  to  bat  oon  man  of  encrese 

prove  his  wisdom.  i?  r-        i      •                                     7  • 

Thus  virtue,  in  its  oi  ms  glorious  renouw.  and  to  bat  oberman  to  conferme 

literal  accepta- 

tion,  is  a  power  hys  sapience,  fat  is  to  seine  fa  asprenesse  of  hys  estat. 
IF  For  berfore  is  it  called  uertue.  for  bat  it  sustenib  and 
enforceb  by  hys  strengbes  fat  it  nis  nat  ouer-comew  by 

much  progress  in  T           • ,             irr  -»T 

virtue,  are  not  to  aduersites.     II  JN  e  certys  bou  bat  art  put  in  be  encrese 

be  carried  away 

by  delights  and  or  in  be  heyat  of  uertue  ne  hast  nat  comen  to  fleten  wib 

bodily  lusts.   You 

fierce  coStiuh  delices  and  forto  welken  in  bodyly  lust.     IF  bou  sowest 

X2?ady5tyi  or  plauntest  a  ful  egre  bataile  in  bi  corage  a3eins  euery 

you— with  pros-  fortune,  for  bat  be  sorweful  fortune  ne  coftfourcde  be  nat. 

perity,  lest  it  cor- 
rupt you.  seize  ne  fat  be  myrye  fortune  ne  corrumpe  be  nat.  IF  Occupy 

strengthf0 Tn  fa  m^ne  by  stedfast  strengbes.  for  al  fat  euer  is  vndir 

thisTinei^  Tom-  be  mene.  or  ellvs  al  bat  ouer-passeb  be  mene  despiseb 

temptible  and  a  * 

thankless  felicity,  welefulnesses.     IF  As  who  seib.  it  is  vicious  and  ne  hab 

The  choice  of  for- 

ow"n  himdsn  butr  no  me(^e  °^  n7s  trauaile.     IF  For  it  is  set  in  ^oure  hand, 

evfn  averse  for-  as  wno  SQty  it  Heb  in  ^oure  power  what  fortune  ^ow  is 

exercises ThV  leuest.  bat  is  to  seyne  good  or  yuel.     IF  For  alle  fortune 


4204  come\> — comth 

4206  lor vertu']  from  C. 

4208  wicked— wykkede 

4210  so\>e— soth 

4211  confessen — ccmfesse 

4212  no  strong — the  stronge 

4213  abassen—  abaysscri 


4215  oft[e]— ofte 
4219  seine — scyn 

4223  heytf— heyhte 

4224  welken — wellen 

4226  confounde  —  MS.  cow- 
founded,  C.  confownde 

4227  Occupy— Ocupye 


4228  stedfast— stydefast 

4230  ha]>— MS.  hajie 

4231  set— MS.  sette,  C.  set 

4232  lie\>— lith 

4233  seyne— seyn 


HOOK  4 
MET.  7. 


WE    CHOOSE    OUR    OWN    FORTUNE. 


147 


bat  semcb  sharpe  or  aspre  yif  it  nc  exercise  nat  be  good  virtues  of  the 

J  good  or  chastises 

4235    tne  wicked,  is  a 
punishment. 


folk,  ne  chastisij?  be  wicked  folk,  it  punissej). 


BELLA   BIS    QUENIS.    ET   CETERA. 

wrekere  attrides  1T  J>at  is  to  seyne  agamenon  bat 
wrou3t[e]  and  continued[e]  be  batailes  by  ten  ^ere 
recouered[e]  and  pwrgedfe]  in  wrekyng  by  J?e  destruc- 
cioun  of  troie  be  loste  chambres  of  mariage  of  hys  brober 
bis  is  to  seyn  ]>at  [he]  agamenon  wan  a3ein  Eleine  bat 
was  Menelaus  wif  his  brober.  In  J>e  mene  while  bat 
bilke  agamenon  desired[e]  to  ^euen  sailes  to  be  grek- 
ysshe  nauye  and  bou$t[e]  a^ein  be  wyndes  by  blode.  he 
vnclobedfe]  hym  of  pite  as  fader,  and  j)e  sory  prest 
3iuej>  in  sacrifiynge  be  wreched  kuyttyng  of  brote  of  )>e 
doubter.  IF  bat  is  to  sein  J?at  agamenon  lete  kuyttera  J>e 
J?rote  of  hys  dorter  by  be  prest.  to  maken  alliaunce  wif 
hys  goddes.  and  for  to  haue  wynde  wij?  whiche  he 
my3t[e]  weiide  to  troie.  IF  Itakus  fat  is  to  sein  vlixies 
by  wept  [e]  hys  felawes  ylorn  fe  whiche  felawes  fe 
fiers[e]  pholifenms  ligginge  in  his  grete  Caue  had[de] 
freten  and  dreint  in  hys  empty  wombe.  but  naf  eles 
polifemws  wood  for  his  blinde  visage  ^eld  to  vlixies  ioye 
by  hys  sorowful  teres.  bis  is  to  seyn  fat  vlixes  smot 
oute  be  eye  of  poliphemws  bat  stod  in  hys  forhede.  for 
whiche  vlixes  hadde  ioie  whan  he  saw  poliphemz^ 
wepyng  and  blynde.  IT  Hercules  is  celebrable  for  hys 
hard[e]  trauaile  he  dawntede  J?e  proude  Centauris  half 
hors  half  man.  and  he  rafte  be  despoylynge  fro  Jje 


[The  seuende 
Metwr.] 

Atrides  carried  on 
a  ten  years'  war  to 
punish  the  licen- 
tious Paris. 


4239 


With  blood 
he  purchased 
propitious 
gales  for  the 
Grecian  fleet,  by 
casting  off  all 
fatherly  pity,  and 
sacrificing  his 
daughter 
Iphigenia  to  the 
vengeance  of 
Diana. 


4247 


Ulysses  bewailed 
his  lost  mates, 
devoured  by 
Polyphemus, 
but,  having  de- 
prived the  Cyclop 
of  his  sight,  he 
rejoiced  to  hear 
the  monster's 
roar. 


4255 


Hercules  is 
renowned  for  his 
many  labours,  so 
successfully  over- 
come.   He  over- 
threw the  proud 
Centaurs ; 


4234  sJiarpe  —  sharp 

4236  seyne  —  seyn 

4237  wroti3t[e~]  —  wrowhte 
continued[e]—  continuede 
^e 


4238  y>urged\e\—  purgede 
4240  [>e]-from  C. 
wan  —  MS.  warme,  C.  wan 

4242  desired[e]—  desirede 

4243  bou^e']—  bowhte 
blode  —  blod 

42  11  vnclo  >ed[e]-vnclothedc 

as  —  of 
4215    kuyttyng—  MS.    knyt- 


tyng,  C.  kuttynge 
4246  lete-let 
kuytten—M$.  knytte»,  C. 
kuttyn 

4248  Jiaue— hail 

4249  myit[_e]  wende — myhte 
wenden 

4250  bywept[e\— by-wepte 
ylorn — MS.  ylorne,  C.  y- 

lorn 

4251  fiers[e}— feerse 
had[de] — hadde 

4253  $eld— yald 

4254  sorowful — sorwful 


4254  smot  —  MS.  smote,  C. 
smot 

4255  oute— owt 

stod— MS.  stode,  C.  stood 
forhede— forehed 

4256  saw — say 

4258  ~hard[je\  trauaile— harde 
trauayles 

dawntede — MS.  dawnded, 
C.  dawntede 

4259  half-MS.  hals 
rafte— byrafte 
fro — from 


148 


THE    LABOURS    OP    IIERCi 


I  HOOK   V 
|  Ml.  I     - 


he  slew  the 
Nuinean  lion  and 
wore  his  skin  as 
a  trophy  of  his 
victory ;  he  smote 
the  Harpies  with 
his  arrows ;  he 
carried  off  the 
golden  apples  of 
the  Hesperides, 
and  killed  the 
watchful  dragon ; 
he  hound  Cer- 
IKTUS  with  a 
threefold  chain ; 
he  gave  the  l>ody 
of  proud  Dlomede 
a*  food  for  the 
tyrant's  horses ; 

he  slew  the  ser- 
pent Hydra; 
he  canned 
Arhelons  to  hide 
hi*  Mushing 
head  within 
hi.  banks; 


4273 


IK-  left.  An  terns 
de.-id  tipon  the 
f*  fol.  :!:;/*.) 
1/yhian  shore ; 
he  a]>j>ea*ed 
Kvimder's  wrath 
hy  killing  Cacus; 

he  slew  the 
Krymanthean 


nii'l  hore  the 
weight  of  Atlas 
•  i|.'.n  his 
shoulder*. 

These  Intxiiir* 
justly  raised  him 
nk  of  a 


<;<,  tlii-ii.  yc 
souls,  nnd  follow 

th«  |.:ifh  ofthlH 

great  exnmpl''. 

4288 


cruel  lyoutt  pat  is  to  soync  he  slou$  pe  lyoun  and 
rafte  hym  hys  skyn.  he  smot  pe  brids  pat  hy^tcw 
arpijs  [in  )>e  palude  of  lyrne]  wip  certeyne  arwcs. 
he  rauyssed[e]  applis  fro  pe  wakyng  dragouw.  and 
hys  hand  was  J>e  more  heuy  for  pe  goldefne] 
metal.  He  drou;  Cerberus  )>e  hound  of  hello  by 
hys  treble  cheyne.  he  ouer-comer  as  it  is  acid  h,i)> 
put  an  vnmeke  lorde  fodre  to  hys  cruel  hors  H  fis  is 
to  sein.  )>at  hercules  slou$  diomedes  and  made  his  hors 
to  etyn  hym.  and  he  hercules  sloii}  Idra  Jje  serpent  and 
brend[e]  ]>e  venym.  and  achelaus  J>e  flode  defouled[e]  in 
his  forhede  dreint[e]  his  shamefast  visage  in  his 
strondes.  J>is  is  to  sein  pat  achelaus  coupe  transfigure 
hym  self  in  to  dyuerse  lykenesse.  and  as  he  fau3t  \vi]> 
orcules  at  pe  laste  he  twrnid[c]  hym  in  to  a  bole,  and 
hercules  brak  of  oon  of  hys  homes,  and  achelaus  for 
shame  hidde  hym  in  hys  ryuer.  IF  And  [he]  hercules 
*ca.st[o]  adou/i  Anthcus  pe  geaunt  in  pe  strondes  of 
libye.  and  kacus  apaised[e]  pe  wrappes  of  euander.  pis 
is  to  sein  pat  hercules  slou^  po  Monstre  kacus  and 
apais(;d[e]  \vip  pat  deep  pe  wrappe  of  euander.  1F  And 
pc,  hriftled[e]  boor  matked[e]  wip  scomes  po  sholdn-s  of 
In  imlcM.  pc.  whidio  eholdres  pe  heye  cerclo  of  hciicnc, 
slioldc.  prcKtc..  and  po  ]a.-l»-  «>!'  ln's  l;il)o///\s  was  pat  In- 
HiiHtcncd|c|  p».  liciicnc.  VJHI/A  his  nckkc  vulioxvcd.  and  he 
nn-.rl|«..|  cHsnucs  p»>,  liciicno  to  ben  pe  pris  of  his 
tr.maylo  IF  (lop  now  pan  y,  strongo  men  pero  as 
Ji.'  licyc  wcyc.  <>f  pc  ^ivtc,  <']i«a.iii|)If.  lc«lcp  3011.  IF  0  nice 
\vlii  n;ikc  ;••  v1"'1'  'i:|l  •'•I'"  '^'''1-  1F  0  0 


42«0  noynf-  i 

««il       «»!/!/            M 

rrotn  c 

I'-.-.         <-/          MS.     .....l.-.     C. 
//'()•      MS    luij.c 

li-ll 

Mil 

1   ,/,/;,„/,,/,      M,,-,,I 

l|'-|<iWl'   l|' 

1U71   /<>/•/"  -A    '//•/  '/(' 

bed  tin 

•127:1    hlli  H,  **<         I.V'.i 

IIClll- 

I    ./.        MS.     bl 

.in   C 

1  ', 

J.  It-ill- 
ui'ii-l.i  <l  ' 

•  /.      Hi  i  !.<• 

i  •    :    |  ,  . 

.IcMTIir-lll- 
',u\.          MS      (,(l|.|- 

[..  /•-      ll.i-r 
"•••in-     \viiy 
L"-i-'     inih,          MS.    innl.c,    C. 

T  :-.;•..-• 


:,; 


¥ 
••• 


QH3ETI  UBBO  QUIKIUB 


S  .._._.  .    ;.,";•"..'".'.   ,,"_ 


-'    r     •  •  •     --•  :  •     l 


••'•  --••    -  •  .....  i 


148  THE   LABOURS    OF    HERCULES.  [MET* 7*' 

he  slew  the          cruel  lyourc   fat  is  to  seyne  he    slous    be   lyouw   and 

Nemean  lion  and  '     '         J 

rS^SSj"  rafte  hym  hys  skyn.  he  smot  fe  brids  fat  hy^tera 
t^HarVbsTith6  arpijs  [in  f  e  palude  of  lyrne]  wif  certeyne  arwes. 
carriedTffthe6  he  rauyssedfe]  applis  fro  fe  wakyng  dragourc.  and 

golden  apples  of 

andSdthe5'  "&*    ^^    was    f6    more    **$«£    for     be    golde[ne] 

hfboundcS?0"5  metal-      He   drou3   Cerberus   fe   hound   of    helle   by 

tKfoid  chaain ;  hys  treble  cheyne.   he   ouer-comer   as  it   is   seid  haf 

of  proud  Diomede  put  an  vnmeke  lorde  fodre  to  hys  cruel  hors     IF  bis  is 

as  food  for  the 

tyrant's  horses;     to  sein.  fat  hercules  slou}  diomedes  and  made  his  hors 

hent  CH  dra  ***'     ^°  etvn  ^Y1^'  an(^  ^ie  hercules  slou$  Idra  f  e  serpent  and 

Aci5iouesdto  hide    ^renc^[e]  $Q  venym.  and  achelaus  f  e  node  defouled[e]  in 

hlldwlJhS         his   forhede    dreint[e]    his    shamefast    visage    in    his 

strondes.  fis  is  to  sein  fat  achelaus  couf  e  transfigure 

4273  hym  self  in  to  dyuerse  lykenesse.  and  as  he  fau^t  wif 

orcules  at  f  e  laste  he  twnid[e]  hym  in  to  a  bole,  and 

hercules  brak  of  oon  of  hys  homes,   and  achelaus  for 

he  left  Antaeus       shame  hidde  hym  in  hys  ryuer.     IF  And  [he]  hercules 

C*  foi.  33  6.]      *cast[el  adouw  Antheus  be    geaunt  in  be  strondes  of 

Lybian  shore ;  f 

he  appeased         lib  ye.  and  kacus  apaisedfe]  be  wrabbes  of  euander.  bis 

Evander's  wrath 

by  killing  cacus ;  js   ^0   sejn   jja^  hercules  slou^   fe  Monstre  kacus  and 

Fr8manthean  apaisedfe]  wif  fat  deef  fe  wraffe  of  euander.     IF  And 

boar;  fe  bristled[e]  boor  marked[e]  wif  scomes  fe  sholdres  of 

and  bore  the  hercules.  f  e  whiche  sholdres  f  e  heye  cercle  of  heuene 

weight  of  Atlas 

shoulders  sholde  freste.  and  f  e  laste  of  his  labours  was  fat  he 

These  labours       sustenedfe]  be  heuene  vpo?^  his  nekke  vnbowed.  and  he 

justly  raised  him  L  J  r 

todherank°fa  deseruedfe]  eftsones  fe  heuene  to  ben  fe  pris  of  his 
GO  then,  ye  noble  laste  trauavle  IF  Gob  now  ban  ae  stronge  men  bere  as 

souls,  and  follow 

*  reataexam  'Je 8     f6  neye  We7e  °^  J76  grete  ensample  ledcf  3ou.    IF  0  nice 
4288  men  whi  nake  30  ^oure  bakkes.  as  who  seif.     IF  0  ^e 


4260  seyne — seyn 

4261  smot—  MS.  smote,  C. 
smot 

4262  [in lyrne']— from  C. 

4263  rauyssed[e]  —  rauyssh- 
ede 

4266    seid  —  MS.    seido,    C. 
sayd 


ha}>e 
4267  lorde—  lord 

4269  etyn—  freten 

4270  brend[e]—  brende 


4270  flode  defoulcd^—  Hood 


0  flo 
defo 


fowleoe 

4271  forhede  dreint^—for- 
hed  dri!.ynte 

4273  lykenesse  —  lyknesses 

4274  turnid[_e\—  tornede 

4275  brak  —  MS.   brake,   C. 
brak 

7/?/s  —  hise 

4276  \he\-  from  C. 
4278-80   a<paised[e]  —  apay- 


4281  -bristled^e]— brystclede . 

iH(irkwl(_e] — markede 
\-l^-l  cfi-cle—  clerke 
4^s:i  \>reste— thriste 

4285  descrned[d] — deseruodc . 

4286  .Go\>— MS.  Go)je 
\>ere — ther 

4287  weye — way 

4288  nake  —  MS.  make,  C. 
nake 


KSSA]  THE    EXISTENCE   OF    CHANCE.  149 

slowe  and  delicat  men  whi  fley  ae  aduersites.  and  ne  o  ye  slothful 

ones,  wherefore 

fy^ien  nat  a^eins  hem  by  vertue  to  wynnen  be  mede  of  do  ye  basely  fly ! 
be  heuene.    for  be  erbe  ouer-comew   ^eueb  be   sterres.   4291 
11  bis  is  to  seyne  bat  whan  fat  erbely  lust  is  ouer-comen.   He  who  conquers 
a  man  is  maked  worbi  to  be  heuene.  the  neavens- 

EXPLICIT   LIBER   QUARTUS. 


INCIP1T  LIBER  QUINTUS. 

DIXERAT    ORACIONISQtf-tf    CURSUM. 

O  he  hadde  seid  and  towrned[e]  be  cours  of  hir  resouw  to  when 

^  somme  ober  binges  to  ben  tretid  and  to  ben  ysped. 

ban  seide  I.    Certys  ryjtful  is  bin  amonestyng  and  ful 

digne  by  auctorite.  but  bat  bou  seidest  som  tyme  bat  tion  is  just  and 

'          worthy  of  thy 


[The  fyrste  prose.] 

when  ri^io-^ 


be  questions  of  be  deuyne  pwrueaunce  is  enlaced  wib 
many  ober  questiourcs.  I  vndir-stonde  wel  and  prove  it 

.  ,      .    T  .n-  ,  i  Superintendence 

by  be  same  binge,  but  1  axe  yii  bat  bou  wenest  bat  nap  or  Providence  is 

J   '  *    involved  with 

be  any  bing  in  any  weys.  and  if  bou  wenest  bat  hap  be  many  others— 

and  this  I  believe. 

any  [thing]  what  is  it.  ban  quod  she.  I  haste  me  to  J^^fg^. 
3elden  and  assoilen  be  to  be  dette  of  my  byheste  and  JhfrlKch  a 


,  ,  ,  ,  .   -,  .    ,     thing  as  Chance, 

to  shewen  and  opnen  be  wey  by  wmche  wey  bou  maist  and  what  thou 

thinkest  it  is. 


come  a3ein  to  bi  contre.  1F  but  al  be  it  so  bat  be  binges 
whiche  bat  bou  axest  ben  ry}t  profitable  to  knowe. 
jitte  ben  bei  diuers  somwhat  fro  be  pabe  of  my  purpos.  though"  the?  a 

n  -  ,        things  you  ques- 

And  it  is  to  douten  bat  bou  ne  be  maked  weery  by  tion  me  about  are 

J       J       rofitable  to 


mysweys  so  bat  bou  ne  mayst  nat  suffise  to  mesurera  be 

ry^t  weye.     1T  Xe  doute  be  ber-of  no  bing  quod  I.  for  by^rayhTg  from 

forto  knowen  bilke  binges  to-gidre  in  be  whiche  binges 


I  dclite  me  gretly.  bat  shal  ben  to  me  in  stede  of  reste.  right  road. 

B.  Don't  be 

Syn  it  nis  nat  to  douten  of  be  binges  folwyrcge  whan  afraid  of  that,  for 

it  will  refresh  me 

euery  side  of  bi  disputisou^  shal  be  stedfast  to  me  by  JJ  ™jj£j  {^es?* 
vndoutous  feib.     ban  seide  she.  bat  manere  wol  I  don  ^"delightfully  l 


4289  slowe  —  MS.  slouj,  C. 
slowe 

fley— flee 
4292  seyne— seyn 
4291  seid—M.S.  seide,  C.  sevd 

)>e-by 

4297  som  tyinc— whilom 

4298  \>e  (2)— thy 


4300  J 

4302  [thing']— from  C. 

4303  telden— vildeii 
assoilen— MS.  assailen,  C. 

assoylen 
byheste — byliest 
4304-0  whicJici— which 
4300  ben— MS.  beue 


4307  pa\>e— pnnth 
4312  sto/e— styde 
4314  diKputisoun  —  disjiuta- 

he— han  ben 

a  ted.  fast — sty  defas  t 


150 


DEFINITION    OF    CHANCE. 


[PROSE*  1. 


j,e.  and  bygara  to  speken  ry$t  bus     IT  Certys  quod  she 
if  wcy    Jif  an7  ^73*  dlffinisse  hap  in  bis  manere.  bat  is  to  seyn. 
Saneeventpero°    J>at    hap    is    bytidynge    y-brou^t    forbe    by   foelyshe 

duced  by  an  un-  7   ..  .. 

intelligent  mo-      moeuynge.  and  by  no  knyttyng  of  causes.     IT  I  con- 

tion,  and  not  by  a 


affirmthathchance 
empty  sound!  *" 

What  room  is 

there  for  foiiy  and 

disorder  where  all 

Btramedrbyrorder 
ordina?cJof  God  ? 

For  it  is  a  great 

tmththatno- 

thing  can  spring 

Sowfi?  anhitifin 
operation  of  a*  the 


But  If  this  is  im- 

possible,  then 

4331 

such  a  thing  as 

chance,  as  we 

have  defined  it. 

B.  is  there  no- 

thing,  then,  that 

Sice  o 


inghid 

the  vulgar)  to 

which  these 

words  may  be 
pPPArist?otle  de- 

"e 


outerly  fat  hap  nis  ne  dwellib  but  a  voys.  IT  As  who 
selb.  but  an  ydel  worde  wib  outen  any  signincac^fouw  of 
bmg  summittid  to  bat  vois.  for  what  place  mystfe]  ben 

r  «/7   L  J 

^  or  c^wellynge  to  folie  and  to  disordinauftce.  syn  bat 
g°&  lQ&ty  an^  streynib  alle  binges  by  ordre.  1T  For  bis 

.  ,  -          n  . 

sentence  is  verray  and  sobe  bat  no  bmsre  ne  hab  his 
^eynge  °^  ^011$.  to  [the]  whiche  sentence  none  of  bise 
olde  folk  ne  wibseide  neuere  al  be  it  so  bat  bei  ne 
vndirstoden  ne  moeueden  it  nau^t  by  god  prince  and 
gynner  of  wirkyng.  but  bei  casten  as  a  manere  founde- 
ment  of  subgit  material,  bat  is  to  seyn  of  [the]  nature 

,,     ,,  ,     .„ 

ot  alle  resouw.  and  211  bat  ony  binge  is  woxen  or  comen 
of  no  causes,  ban  shal  it  seme  bat  bilke  binge  is  comen 

» 

or  woxen  of  nou3t.  but  yif  bis  ne  may  nat  ben  don. 
ban  is  it  nat  possible  bat  bere  hab  ben  any  swiche  bing 
as  I  haue  diffinissid  a  litel  here  byforne.  IT  How  shal 


[*foi.84.] 

probability. 

B'  F0^ 

P.  So  often  as  a 


thingy  andCan- 

other  thing  than 

what  he  intended 

to  do  is  produced 


^e  cleped  eyber  happe  or  ellis  auenture  of  fortune,  or  is 
ber  omt  al  *be  it  so  bat  it  is  hidd  fro  be  poeple  to 
whiche  bise  wordes  ben  couenable.  Myn  aristotul  quod 

J 

she-  in  \>Q  book  of  his  Phisik  diffinisseb  bis  bing  by 
short  rescue  and  ney^e  to  be  sobe.  IF  In  whiche  manere 
quod  I.  11"  As  ofte  q  uod.  she  as  men  don  any  bing  for 

* 


thaMngpro- 

cSon«?  CAseif  a 

man  trench  the 

ground  for  tillage 


fing  Ip&t  men  ententen  to  doon  by  tide  b  by  som[e]  causes 

.,.          ,          ni  «r-i-«  IIP, 

it  is  ycleped  happe.     II  Ky3t  as  a  man  dalt  be  erbe  by 


4317  seyn — seyng 

4318  /orpe-forth 

4322  worde — word 

4323  my?<[e]— myhte 
432i  left— Ipfte 

4:325  sireyni\> — constreyiiyth 
432<5  so\>e— soth 
no  \>in<ie — nothing 
hape 


4327  [the]— from  C. 

4330  ffynner—bygyrmere 

4331  \fhe\- from  C. 

4332  5z/— MS.  5it,  C.  yif 
\>inge — thins? 

4335  fat ben— pat  hap  be 

ha\>— MS.  h;ipe 
swiche — swych 

4333  happe— hap 


4339  hidd  —  'SSS.  hidde,  C. 
hidd 

4340  whicJie— which 

4342  ney^e — nehg 
whiche — which 

4343  don— MS.  done,  C.  don 
4314  \>inge— thing 

i'<  !•">  ,svj?;i[6'] — some 
4310  happe— hap 


ROOK  5.T 
MET.  1.  J 


DEFINITION    OF    CHANCE. 


151 


FoT  ifth  un 

had  not  ploughed 

thefleid.andlfthe 

hider  of  the  gold 


fortuitous  acqui- 

sition  which  pro- 
ceeds from  a  con- 


K 

tSntimof  the"" 
the  wder  of  the 

gold  nor  the  hus- 

Sandman  intend- 

ed or  understood 


cause  of  tylienge  of  be  felde.  and  fond  fere  a  gobet  of 
golde  by-doluen.  ban  wenen  folk  bat  it  is  fallen  by  for- 
tunous  bytydyng.  but  for  sobe  it  nis  nat  for  nau^t  for 

.  ,  />        1  •   i 

it  nab  hys  p?*opre  causes  oi  whiche  causes  be  cours  vn- 
forseyn  and  vnwar  senrib  to  han  maked  happe.  11"  For 
yif  be  tilier  in  be  erbe  ne  delue  nat  in  be  felde.  and  yif 
be  hider  of  be  golde  ne  hadde  hidd  be  golde  in  bilke 

,      -,r  i   -i  ^          -i         ,  •        i 

place.  be  golde  ne  had  de  nat  ben  founde.  bise  ben 
ban  be  causes  of  be  abreggynge  of  fortune  hap.  be  whiche 
abreggynge  of  fortune  hap  comeb  of  causes  encountrynge 
and  flowyng  to-gidre  to  hem  selfe.  and  nat  by  be  en- 

J     '  J   r 

tenciouw  of  be  doer.  1l  For  neiber  be  hider  of  be  gold, 
ne  be  deluer  of  be  felde  ne  vndirstanden  nat  bat  be 
golde  sholde  han  be  founde.  but  as  I  seide.  it  bytidde 

i      i  -\     -I'-ii 

and  ran  to-gidre  bat  he  dalf  bere  as  bat  ober  hadde  hidd 

1 

be  golde.  Now  may  I  bus  dimmssen  hap/>e.  11  Hap/;e 
is  an  vnwar  bytydyng  of  causes  assembled  in  binges  bat 
ben  don  for  som  ober  binge,  but  bilke  ordre  p?*ocedynge 
by  an  vneschewable  byndynge  to-gidre.  whiche  bat 

* 

descendeb  fro  be  wel  of  purueaunce  bat  ordeineb  alle 
binges  m  hire  places  and  in  hire  tymes  makeb  bat  be 

7  -uii'i  AOfiO 

causes  rennen  and  assemblen  to-gidre.  4obo 

EUPIS    ACHEMENIE. 

is  [and]  eufrates  resoluen  and  spryngen  of  a  welle  in 
be  kragges  of  be  roche  of  be  centre  of  achemenye  bere  flyingeparthian 

doth  pierce  his 

as  be  fleenge  fbataylel  ficchib  hire  dartes  retowrnid  in  pursuers  with  his 

J      -1  shafts  there  fr 

be  brestes  of  hem  bat  folwen  hem.  IF  And  sone  aftre 
be  same  ryueres  tigris  and  eufrates  vnioygne7^  and  de- 


?$£  coK-ed 

rence  of  these  two 

causes  that  the 

one  did  dig  where 

the  ad 


anSon  de^ 

signed  for  a  par- 


which  flows  from 

the  fountain  of 

Providence  and 
disposes  all  things 


shafts,  there  from 


4347  of  (I)— to 

fond  —   MS.    foude,    C. 
fownde 

4348  golde— gold 
fallen — by  fall  e 

4349  for  (2)— of 

4350  hab— MS.  hape 
hys— hise 

4351  Jiappe— hap 

4352  tilier— tylyere 
delue— dolue 

4353  hider— hydcre 
golde — srolcl 
Mdd—ltL8.  hiddc 


4353-4  golde— gold 

4354  Tiad{_de\— hadde 

4355  fortune- ^fortuit 
whiche — which 

4356  fortune— fortuit 
come]> — comth 

4357  flowyng— MS.  folwyng, 
C.  flowynge 

selfe — self 

4358  doer— doere 
hider — hidere 

4359  deluer— deluere 
felde— feeld  [en 
vndirstanden — vndirstod- 


—VS.  hidde,   C. 


4360  golde—  gold 

4361  U 
hyd 

4362  happe  (both]  —  hap 

4365  whiche—  which 

4366  descended—  MS.defend- 
ep,  C.  descendith 


4369  [and]— from  C. 

4371  \batayle\- from  C. 
4373  be— tho 


152  ON    FREE   WILL. 

ciivideSSdIflow  Parten  nire  watres.  and  yif  pei  coinen  to-gidre  and  ben 
assembled  and  clepid  to-gidre  in  to  o  cours.  fan  moten 
pilke  pinges  fletyn  to-gidre  whiche  pat  pe  water  of  be 

petuous  stream, 

S  wJufd'bTaii  entrecnaimoyng  ^°^Q  brywgep  pe  shippes  and  pe  stokkes 
araced  wip  pe  flood  moten  assemble,  and  pe  watres 
ymedlyd  wrappip  or  impliep  many  fortimel  happes  or 

the  current's  1-1  t  i 

course.  But  the    maneres.   pe  wnicne  wandryng  nappes  nabeles  bilke  en- 

sloping  earth, 

the  laws  of  fluids,  clmyng  lowenes  of  be  erbe.  and  be  flowynge  ordre  of 

govern  these  J     J 

J>e  slid7ng  water  gouernip.     IF   Ey3t   so   fortune    pat 
semep  as  [pat]  it  fletip  wip  slaked  or  vngouerned[e] 
curbed  and  re-      bridles.     It  suffrib  bridles  bat  is  to  sevn  to  ben  eouerned 

strained  by  J 

Divine  Provid-  and  passep  by  pilke  lawe.  pat  is  to  sein  by  be  deuyne 
tTh'e.  2de.proSe.]  °rdinaunce.  4386 

B.  Is  there  any 

c&taS  Cohering  AJTUfADUBRTO    INQ^M. 

causes?    Or  doth 

s  vndirstonde  I  wel  quod  I.  and  accorde  wel  pat  it 
is  ry^t  as  pou  seist.  but  I  axe  yif  per  be  any  liberte 
freedom  of  the      or  fre  wil  in  bis  ordre  of  causes  bat  cliuew  bus  to-tcidre 

will  possessed  by 

bdng  ^A  raUonal    ™    ^em    S6^'       ^    OT     e^^S    ^    W0^e    Wlten    yif    pat    pC 

Sent  to^ujgeof  destinal  cheine  co?istreinip  pe  moeueuynge  of  pe  corages 
ihing^'oflimsdf  of  mew.  yis  quod  she  per  is  liberte  of  fre  wille.  ne  per 

he  knows  what  he 

is  to  avoid  or  to     ne  was  neuer  no  nature  of  resou^  bat  it  ne  nadde  liberte 

desire.    He  seeks 

dehsiJabieJUalgdehe  °^  ^re  w^e-  ^  ^or  enery  ping  pat  may  naturely  vsen 
deems  Souidbe  resouTi.  it  hap  doom  by  whiche  it  discernip  and  demip 
StiMiai  being  euery  bing.  ^T  pan  knowep  it  by  it  self  pinges  pat  be?^ 

possesses,  then,  ' 

the  liberty  of        to  fleen.    and  binges  bat  ben  to  desiren.    and  bilk  bmg 

choosing  and  re-  '  ' 

Ifbertf  'is  not8  J^  ^J  w^  demej?  to  ^en  desired  pat  axep  or  desirep 
Sgsinfn  he  and  fleep  [thilke]  ping  pat  he  trouep  ben  to  fleen. 

heavenly  sub-  «r    -  '  «   '      A    "    •    '     11      .'•  •        •      i  i- 

stances,  as  spirits,  Tl  wher-tore  in  alle  pinges  pat  resourc  is.  in  liem  also  is 

&c.  judgment  is 

°f  nillynge.    f  But  I  ne  ordeyne 


nat-  as  who  sei^'  J  ne  graunte  nat  pat  pis  libertee  be 
euene  like  in  alle  pinges.  forwhi  in  pe  souereyns  deuynes 

which  are  desired.  .  .   .  _    _  . 

[*  foi.  34  &.]      substauwces.  pat  is  to  *seyn  in  spirit^     ^1   lugement  is 


4374  to-gidre— to-?yderes 

4376  whiche — which 

4377  flode—fioA 

4378  assemble— asserablyn 
4JM)  enclinjjng — dcclynyuge 
4381  lowcnca— lowuesso 


4383  [J>afl— from  C. 
vngouerned[e] — vngouem- 

ede 
,1385  pe— thilke 

4389  or— of 

4390  hern— hyta 


4392  yif— MS.  yif,  C.  yis 
4392-94  wille— wil 
4395  whiche—  which 
4397  \>illt— thilke 
4399 


and  still 

when 

d  con- 


PROVIDENCE    SEES    ALL    THINGS.  153 

more  clere  and  wil  nat  be  corumped.  and  hab  my  it  The  souls  of  men 

•*  7      must  needs  be 

redy  to  speden  finges  fat  ben  desired.  1F  But  f  e  soules 
of  men  moten  nedes  ben  more  free  whan  fei  loken  hem 
in  f  e  speculac/ouw  or  lokynge  of  )>e  deuyne  f  ou3t.  and  they  en 

lasse  free  whan  bei  sliden  in  to  be  bodies,  and  ait  lasse  ^ss  fVee'wfien  en- 
closed and  < 
free  whan  jjei  ben  gadred  to-gidre  and  cowprehendid  in 

erf  ely  membris.  but  f  e  last[e]  seruage  is  whan  fat  fei 

ben  2eue?z  to  vices,  and  han  yfalle  fro  be  possessions  of  over tovfcTand 

wholly  fallen  from 

hire  propre  resous     IF  For  after  bat  bei  han  cast  aweye  their  proper  rea- 

'        f  *       son.    For  at  once 

hir  eyen  fro  f  e  ly^t  of  f  e  souereyn  sof  efastnesse  to  lowe 
finges  and  dirke  IF  Anon  fei  dirken  by  J?e  cloude  of 
ignoraunce  and  ben  troubled  by  felonous  talento.  to  be  by  yielding  to 

f  J  r      which  they  aid 

whiche  talent}  whan  fei  approchen  and  assenten.  fei 
hepen  and  encresen  f  e  seruage  whiche  fei  han  ioigned 
to  hem  self,  and  in  f  is  manere  fei  ben  caitifs  fro  hire 


,.,  ,  .   ,       .  .  .    ,        .      ,    ,  „  proper  to  them, 

propre  libertee.  be  whiche  binges  nabeles  be  lokynge  01  they  remain 

captives.    Yet  the 


f  e  deuyne  purueaunce  seef  fat  alle  finges  byholdef 

and  seef  fro  eterne.  and  ordeynef  hem  eueryche  in  her  etemtyes  ail 


merites.  as  fei  ben  prodestinat.  and  it  is  seid  in  grek.  according  tothS- 

bat  alle  binges  he  seeb  and  alle  binges  he  hereb.      4424  **  they  are  pre- 

destinated. He, 

as  Homer  says 
of  the  sun,  sees 
and  hears  all 
PURO    CLARUJf   LUMINE.  things. 

[The  .2<»e.  Hetwr.] 

Omer  wib  be  bony  moube.  bat  is  to  seyn.  homer  The  sweet- 

tongued  Homer 

wif  f  o  swete  dites  syngef  fat  f  e  sonne  is  cleer  by  8i"r|81?f1"ie  SY"t's 


H 


pure  ly^t.  nabeles  ^it  ne  may  it  nat  by  f  e  inferme  ly$t 
of  hys  bemes  brekeTi  or  perc&n  ]?e  inwarde  entrailes  of 

into  the  depths 

be  erbe.  or  ellys  01  be  see.    l  so  ne  seeb  nat  god  makere  of  the  sea.  But 

r         r  God,  the  world's 

of  f  e  grete  worlde  to  hym  fat  lokef  alle  finges  from  on 
heye  ne  wif  standif  nat  no  finges  by  heuynesses  of  erf  e. 
ne  fe  ny^t  ne  wifstondef  nat  to  hym  by  fe  blake  At  a 
cloudes.     IT  bilke  god  seeb  in  o  strook  of  bomt  alle  present,  past,  and 
finges  fat  ben  or  weren  or  schullen  come.     IF  and  filke 


future. 


4405  hab—  MS.  habe 
4411  fcwtfe]—  laste 


4412  fro—  from 

4M5  cloude  —  clowdcs 

4413  whlclie—  which 


4423  seid— MS.  seide,  C.  seyd 

4425  m<m\e— Mowth 

4428   percen  —  MS.    pertew, 

C.  percen 
inwarde— inward 


4430  worlde— world 
on  heye — an  he?di 

4431  nat— omitted 

4434  schwllen  come — shollen 
covuyu 


154  GOD'S    FOREKNOWLEDGE  [PROSE%* 


see]>  a^e  fi^gCS  al  OOH.    f  OU 

seyn  fat  he  is  f  e  verray  sonne.  4436 

true  Sun. 

TAMEN    EGO    EN    INQZMM. 
[The  .8*>.  prose.] 

s.  i  am  distract-    ~l+  An  seide  I  now  am  I  ccwfoiwded  by  a  more  harde 

ed  by  a  more  I/ 

WaS'     what    doute    is      at    <WO(i    slle- 


Sge%feermksToW"  ^  F°r  certys  I  coniecte  now  by  whiche  finges  f  ou  art 

with  mail's8  free-  troubled.     It  semeb  quod  I  to  repugnen  and  to  con- 

will.    For  if  God 

foresees  all  things,  trarien  gretly  fat  god  knowef  byforn  alle  finges.  and 

Sww'cSo-  >at  J>er  is  any  fredom  of  liberte.  for  yif  so  be  fat  god 

vidence  hath  fore-  i   i     •       u      M.I  i      />  i  -i 

seen  must  needs  lokef  alle  f  mges   bvlom.    ne   god   ne   may  nat   ben 

happen.    If  God 

from  eternity  desseiuid  in  no  manere.  ban  mot  it  nedes  ben  bat  alle 

doth  foreknow 

work?Kt  the  f  inges  bytyden  f  e  whiche  fat  f  e  purueaunce  of  god  haf 

ofSm^n,atherecan  sein  byforn   to   comen.     IT   For  whiche   yif  fat  god' 

be  no  liberty  of 

will—  nor  can  knoweb  by-forn  nat  oonly  be  werkes  of  men.  but  also 

there  be  any  other 

than  tiutwhich  a  n^r  conseils  an<^  nir  willes.    fan  ne  shal   fer   be  no 

Smbie  Provid-  liberte  of  arbitre.  ne  certys  fer  ne  may  ben  noon  of  er 

seen.  For  if  dede  ne  no  wille  but  bilke  whiche  be  deuyne  purueaunce 

things  fall  out 

4451  fat  ne  may  nat  ben  desseiued  haf  feled  byforn     IF  For 

contrary  to  such 

foreseeing,  and  yif  fat  bei  nmten  wryf  en  awey  in  of  er  manere  fan  f  01 

are  wrested  an-  *  '  r  ' 

scienrcIof'GodPin"  ^en  Purue7e(i-  )?an  ne  sholde  f  er  ben  no  "stedfast  pre- 

wouidnotfbeusrm-e  science   of  finge   to    comen   but   rafer   an   vncerteyn 
oppiniouw.  f  e  whiche  finge  to  trowen  on  god  I  deme  it 


but  an  uncertain 

opinion  of  them;  felonie  and  vnleueful.     11   !Ne  I  ne  proeue  nat   bilk 

but  I  take  it  to  be 

impious  and  un-  saine  rescue,  as  who  seib  I  ne  allowe  nat.  or  I  ne  preise 

lawful  to  believe  *  * 

do  i  approve  of  or  na^  f  ilke  same  resouw  by  whiche  fat  som  men  wenen 


by  fat  f  Qi  mowen  assoilen  and  vnknytten  f  e  knot  of  f  is 

some.    For  they 

say  that  a  tiling  questions.     1  1  or  certys  f  ei  seyn  fat  f  ing  nis  nat  to 

GoKth1  foresee^  come  ^or  ^  f6  Purueaunce  of  god  haf  seyn  it  byforne. 

Subwti™t81£be"  fat  is  to  comen  but  rafer  fe  contrarie.     1f  And  fat 

be  wcuJom  the0t  is   bis    fat  for   fat  fe  fing  is   to   comen   fat   ferfore 

Divine  Provid- 

ence. ne   may  it   nat  ben  hyd  fro   f  e  purueaunce  of  god. 


4435  al  oon — alone 
4437  harde— hard 
4445  ha\>— MS.  haj>e 
4416  wliiche — which 
4450  wille— wil 
whiche — which  \>ai 


4451  ha})— MS.  hape 
4453  stedfast— stydcfast 
4454-55  \>inge— thing 

4455  on— of 

4456  \>ilk— thilke 
4r458  whiche— which 


4459  knot— knotte 
4461  come — comyn 

ha]>— MS.  hape 
446-1  hyd  —  MS.  hydde,  C. 
hiddo 


AND    MAN'S    FREE    WILL.  155 

*and  in  bis  mancrc  bis  necessite  slydib  a^ein  in  to  be       [*  foi.  ss.] 

J  ™      Now  by  this 

contrarie  partie.  ne  it  ne  byhouej)  [nat]  nedes  fat  f  inges 
bytiden  fat  ben  ypurueid.  [but  it  by-houeth  nedes  / 
fat  thinges  fat  ben  to  comyn  ben  yporueyid]  but  as  it  Sing7whfch  are 

foreseen  should 

were  ytrauailed.  as  who  seif.  bat  filke  answere  pro-  happen,  but  it  is 

*  necessary  that  the 

cedif  ry^t  as  fou$  men  trauailden  or  wereii  bysy  to  S 


enqueren  f  e  whiche  f  ing  is  cause  of  whiche  f  inges.  as  Aslfthe  ques- 

tion was,  which 

whef  er  f  e  prescience  is  cause  of  f  e  necessite  of  binges  to  was  the  cause  of 
comen.  or  ellys  fat  f  e  necessite  of  f  ircges  to  comen  is 


cause  of  f  e  purueaurace.    IT  But  I  ne  enforce  me  nat  now  JSsf  o7theture 


,  .  it.L'1  r>   i  •  -J.IP          •      necessity  the  cause 

to  snewew  it  bat  be  bytidyng  of  binges  y-wist  byiorn  is  of  the  prescience 

of  future  events  ? 

necessarie.  how  so  or  in  what  manere  bat  be  ordre  of  Bnt  Ilwi11  Provi 

1         J  that,  however  the 

causes  haf  it  self,  al  f  ou3  fat  it  ne  seme  nat  fat  f  e 
prescience  brynge  in  necessite  of  bytydynge  of  f  inges 


to  comen.     IF  For  certys  yif  bat  any  wyst  sitteb  it  by-  prefcience°dotn 

'  '  not  seem  to  im- 

houef  by  necessite  fat  f  e  oppiniouw  be  sof  e  of  hym  P00^af  "teucreeS8ity 
bat  coniectib  bat  he  sitteb.  and  a^einward.  al  so  is  it  of  4481 

...  things  to  fall  out. 

f  e  contrarie.  yif  f  e  oppmiou/i  be  sof  e  01  any  wy^t  lor  For  if  a  man  sit— 
fat  he  sittef  it  byhouef  by  necessite  fat  he  sitte    11  fan 
is  here  necessite  in  fat  oon  and  in  fat  ofer.  for  in  fat 


../»...  7  -ij.1          •      sitting,  he  must 

oon  is  necessite  of  sittynge.  and  certys  in  fat  ofer  is  needs  sit.  in  both 

cases  there  is  a 

necessite  of  sof  e  but  f  erfore  ne  sittef  nat  a  wy^t  for  fat  JJjSJjte"]?  the 
f  e  oppiniouw  of  sittyng  is  sof  e.  but  f  e  oppiniourc  is  ^rfonmr'that 
rafer  sofe  for  fat  a  wy3t  sittef  by-forn.  and  fus  al  Srn"ngtheCo°ther 

-,  t>    r,    -i  -i    is  true.    But  the 

bom  bat  be  cause  of  sofe  comef  ol   [  f  e]  syttyng.  and  man  does  not  sit 

because  the  opin- 

nat  of  f  e  trewe  oppinioufk     Algates  ^itte  is  f  er  comune  •J' 

necessite  in  fat  oon  and  in  fat  ofer.     f  fus  shewef  it 

fat  I  may  make  semblable  skils  of  f  e  pwrueauwce  of  god 

and  of  f  inges  to  come.    1F  For  al  f  ou^  for  fat  fat  f  inges  although  the 

ben  to  comen.  f  er-fore  ben  f  ei  pwrueid.  nat  certys  for  JJHJJ  ^ereHa  a 

fei  ben  pwrueid.  f  er-fore  ne  bytide  fei  nat.  $it  nafeles  ^bZnnTifusity 

,     ,  ..    ,  ..  ..  ..  may  we  reason 

byhoueb  it  by  necessite  fat  eif  er  f  e  f  inges  to  comen  concerning  Pro- 

vidence :md 
ben  ypwrueied  of  god.  or  ellys  fat  f  e  f  inges  fat  ben  future  events. 


4466  \naf\- from  C. 

W67-8   [but yporueyid]— 

from  C. 

4471  \>ingcs — thins 
1477  ha\>— MS.  1m  be 
4-1SO-82  su]>e— both 


4486  sobe— sooth 

4487  sobe— soth 

4488  so  \>e— sooth 

4489  so\>e    come\>  —  sooth 
comth 

r>]— from  C. 


4490  comune—  MS.  comme, 
C.  comune 

4493  come— comyn 

4494  to — omitted 

4494-95   purueid— MS.  \mr- 
ucide,  C.  ptuaieyid 


156  FREEDOM    OF  [?KOSE%. 


Pwrueied  of  g0(i  bitiden  [.s.]  by  ncccssite.     1F  And  fis 
J>ing  oonly  suffisef  I-nou^  to  distroien  f  e  fredomc  of 
not  befaii  because  cure  aibitre.  fat  is  to  seyn  of  oure  fre  wille     1F  But  now 

they  are  foreseen,    _ 

it  is  necessary       fceites  |  sheweb  it  wel  how  fer  fro  be  sobe  and  how  VD 

that  future  events    " 

S0    d°UW    ls     318     >ing      at   We    Sen  e   btidine    of 


ppn      temporel  finges  is  fe  cause  of  f  e  eterne  prescience. 

and  this  alone  is      _  ^        „  •  ..   m     •»  ,  • 

sufficient  to  de-     II  But  forto  wenen  bat  god  pwrueib  tnel  binges  to  comen. 

stroy  all  idea  of 

*°r      6*    ken    t0    C0men- 


-  wene  )>at  >ilke  finges  fat  bitiden  som  tyme  ben  causes 

al  things  the  cause      «   ,  --n  ...  , 

of  eternal  presci-   oi  f  like  souereyne  pwucaunce  bat  is  iTi  god.     II  And 

ence,  which  we 

go  Ji  imagining    her-toJ  adde  ^itte  fis  fmg  fat  ry^t  as  whan  fat  I  woot 
S  fat  °  >inS  is  &  byhouef  by  necessite  fat  f  ilke  self  f  ing 
^>e-  an&  G^-Q  f  a^  whan  I  haue  knowe  fat  any  f  mge  shal 


know  that  any-       ,  .,  .  ,  ,     ,  .      ..    ,  .. 

thing  exists,  it  is    bitiden  so    bvnoueb  it  by  necessite  bat  bilk  To  i   same 

necessary  for  my  K 

should  be*  "so      ^™^  bytide.  so  folwef  it  fan  fat  f  e  bytydynge  of  f  e 
4513  finge  Iwist  by-forn  ne  may  nat  ben  eschewed.     IF  And 

SS2Sifnow  at  J36  last[el  yif  fat  any  wy^  wene  a  l>^g  to  ben  °>er 

pass!  it°must  weyes  fan  it  is.  it  nys  nat  oonly  vnscience.  but  it  is  de- 
The  event,  there-  ceiuable  oppiniouw  ful  diuerse  and  fer  fro  be  sobe  of 

fore,  of  a  thing 

foreseen  ^must  ^  science.  IF  whei-fore  yif  any  f  ing  be  so  to  comen  so  fat 
ti/Stoie^ffer-  >e  bytydynge  of  it  ne  be  nat  certeyne  ne  necessarie. 

ent  to  what  it  is  —   fr       t  n     j»        T   i          i  *TT        «  • 

ti.is  is  not  know-   IF  who  may  weten   byfom    bat  bilke  bmg  is  to  come. 

ledge,  but  a  false 

opinion  of  it,  and  TF  For  ivat  as  science  ne  may  nat  be  medelyd  wib  fals-  • 

fHr  from  the  true  J  > 

therefore^a  thing  nesse-  as  wno  SBty  J3^  yi^  I  w°°t  a  fing.  it  ne  may  nat 
thTth0eheventnof  be  fals  fat  I  ne  woot  it.  ^F  Ry3t  so  filk  fing  fat 

it  is  neither  .  ,     n  r       .  -,     , 

necessary  nor       is   conceyuecl   by    science    TIG    may     nat  I    ben  noon 

certain,  how  can  J  . 

^o^  foresee  of  Gr  weyes  fan  [as]  it  is  concerned.  For  fat  is  f  e  cause 
pure  knowSge19  wni  J>at  science  wa?ztif  lesynge.  as  who  seif  .  whi  fat 
itaofnfaisSod!  so  witynge  ne  receyuef  nat  lesynge  of  fat  it  woot.  IF  For 

what  is  compre- 

hended by  true      it  byhoueb  by  necessite  bat  euery  bmge  be  ry:t  as  science 

knowledge  can- 

mpre8-6    comprehendif  it  to  be.  what  shal  1  fan  sein.     IF  In 
that  troT6    whiche  •  manere  knowef  god  byforn  fe  finges  to  comen. 


44Q8  [.si]— from  C. 
4499  fredome— freedom 
,4500  wille— wil 
4501  [certes]— from  C. 
4504  purueib — MS.  nwrueibe 

[<A<3]— from  C. 
4506  bitiden— bytydden 

som  tyme — whiloui 


4509  o— a 
self—  selue 

4510  binge — thing 

4511  bilk[_e]— thilke 
4513  binge — thing 
4511  last[e] — laste 
4515  nys — is 

4518  it— hit 


4519  \hyforri\- from  C. 


fe' 


4522  fals— false 

4523  \nat~\- from  C. 
ben— MS.  by,  C.  ben 

4524  ban  [as]  it  is— MS.  ban 
it  is  be 

4527  [be]— from  C. 
452'J  whicliG— which 


i'HosES3.]  TIIE   HUMAN   WILL.  157 

<!F  yif  fei  no  be  nat  certeyne.     IF  For  yif  fat  he  deme 

fat  fei  ben  to  comen  vneschewably.  and  so  may  be  fat  ci"oiy  beui 

...  .-,  i  .     .  T      11          jt  -i     •      true  knowledge 

it  is  possible  bat  bei  ne  shulle?i  *nat  comen.  god  is      [*  ibi.  :;5  &.] 

perceives  it  to  be. 

desseiued.  but  nat  only  to  trowen  fat  god  is  desseiued.  what  follows, 

but  for  to  speke  it  wif  moufe  it  is  a  felonous  sy/me.   4534 

1F  But  yif  fat  god  woot  fat  ry^t  so  as  finges  ben  to  foreknow  these 

r  ..  uncertain  con- 

comen.  so  shulle  bei  comen.  so  bat  he  wit  e    egaly.  as  tingencies? 

For  if  he  thinks 

who  seif  indifferently  fat  finges  mowen  ben  don  or 


ellys  nat  don.  what  is  f  ilke  prescience  fat  ne  compre-  J 
hendif  no  certeyne  f  inge  ne  stable,  or  ellys  what  differ-  thiai*  i 
ence  is  f  er  bytwixe  f  e  prescience,  and  f  ilke  iape-worfi  4540 


dyuynynge  of  Tiresie  f  e  diuinowr  fat  seide.     IF  Al  fat 

I  seie  quod  he  eyber  it  shal  be.  or  ellys  it  ne  shal  nat  come  they  shuii 

come;  if  he 

be.     Or  ellis  how  moche  is  worbe  be  diuyne  prescience  knows  that  they 

may  or  may  not 

more  fan  f  e  oppiniourc  of  mankynde  yif  so  be  fat  it 


demef  f  e  finges  vncerteyne  as  men  don.  of  f  e  whiche 

domes  of  men  be  bytydynge  nis  nat  certeyne.     1F  But  invariable  ?  "" 

Or  how  does 

yif  so  be  fat  noon  vncerteyne  finge  may  ben  in  hym  ^" 
fat  is  ryjt  certeyne  welle  of  alle  finges.    fa??  is  fe 
bytydynge  certeyne  of  f  ilke  finges  whiche  he  haf  wist  ffiS,6  whereof 

T      P          p  ,  T-,  1-i'ipi  the  events  are  un- 

byforn  fermely  to  corner.     For  whiche  it  folwef  fat  f  e  certain  and  un- 
fredom  of  fe  coriseils  and  of  fe  werkes  of  mankynde  nis  4551 
non  syn  fat  fe  fou3t  of  god  seef  alle  finges  with  outen 


tainty  in  his 

erro?/r  of  falsnesse  byndeb  and  co?^streimb  hem  to  a  knowledge,  who 

is  the  source  of 

bitidynge  by  necessite.  and  yif  [this]  fircg  be  on-is 
grauTitid  and  receyued.  fat  is  to  seyn.  fat  f  er  nis  no 
fre  wille.  ban  sheweb  it  wel  how  gret  distrucc^outt  and  evttaUe. 

Whence  it  fol- 

how  grete.  damages  fer  folwen  of  finges  of  mankynde.  lows  that  men 
11  For  in  ydel  ben  fer  fan  purposed  and  byhy3t  niedes 
of  goode  folk,  and  peynes  to  badde  folk,  syn  fat  no 

_  „  ,  ,  ,     ,  ,    endowed  Aviili  an 

moeuvnge  of  free  cora^e  uoluntane  ne  hab  nat  desenied  infallible  fore- 

sight, constrains 
hem.  bat  is  to  sevn  neiber  mede  nor  peyne.     Tl  And  it  and  binds  them 

f  to  a  certain  event. 

sholde  seme  fan  fat  filke  finge  is  alfer  worste  whiche  4562 


4534  mou\>e— Mowth 
4536  shulle — shullyn 

^ult{_e} — wite 
4538  don— MS.  done,  C.  y- 

doon 
4543  moche— mochel 


4543  wor\>e — worth 

4549  Tia\>— MS.  hape 

4550  wkiclie — which 

4551  manl-ynde — man-kynd 
4551  [this]— from  C. 

4555  grauntid — ygraunted 


4558  medes  of—  Meedes  to 


of 
MS 


4560  ha})—  MS.  ha>e 
4562  al\>er  wnrste  whiche  — 
aldorworst  which 


.158 


FATE    UNDER    THE 


Rewards  and 

punishments 


fat  is  nowe  denied.   for  alber  moste  iustc  and  moste 

•*  f 

]>at  is  to  seyn  fat  shiewes  Iben  punyssed.  or 


moltbunj)unstdered  ellys  fat  good[e]  folk  ben  ygerdoned.  f  e  whiche  folk 

•when,  it  is 

allowed,  that        syn  bat  be  propre  wille   ne  sent  hem  nat  to  bat  oon  rie 

J       '         ' 


mankind  are  not 


to 


is  to 


ne>er  to 


ne  to 


harme.  but  constreinef  hem  certeyne  necessite  of  f  inges 

their  actions  are  _..  ,  -in 

impelled  by  a       to  comen.      H  banne  ne  shollew  ber  neuer  ben  ne  neuer 

fatal  necessity. 

4570  weren  vice  ne  vertue.  but  it  sholde  raf  er  ben  confusioun 
°f  alle  desertes  medlid  wif  oute  discresiou?*.     f  And 


but  such  a  medley  sitte  ber  folweb  an  ober  iwcownenient  of  be  whiche  ber 

of  the  one  and 

the  other  as 


would  be  pro- 


ne  may  ben  bomt  ne  more  felonous  ne  more  wikke.  and 

fat  is  J>is  fat  so  as  fe  ordre  of  >inges  is  yledd  and 
come]?  of  J?e  purueaunce  of  god.  ne  fat  no  J>ing  nis 
leueful  to  be  conseils  of  mankvnde.  as  who  seib  bat 
men  han  no  power  to  done  no  bing.  ne  wilne  no  bing. 
J58-11  folwej)  it  fat  oure  vices  ben  refferred  to  fe  mak[er]e 
of  alle  good,  as  who  seib  ban  folweb  it,  bat  god  au^tfel 

author  of  all  good    . 

—which  is  a  most  han  be  blame  of  oure  vices,    syn   he  corcstreimb  by 

impious  opinion. 

tohope8foruasn}e-ss  necessite  to  don  vices,  fan  nis  fer  no  resourc  to  han 
.  hopen  in  god.   ne  forto  preien  to  god.     IT  For  what 


this  it 

order  comes  of 

Divine  Provid- 
ence, and  that 
there  is  no  free- 


men  do  either,      sholde  any  wy^t  hopen  to  god.  or  whi  sholde  he  preien 

when  all  they  can 

to  god.  syn  fat  f  e  ordenaunce  of  destine  whiche  fat  ne 


HoS  and  prayer    ma7  nat  ^en  enclined.  knyttef  and  streinif  alle  f  inges 

being  thus  in-  ,.  j      •  -T.  iiit  -11 

effectual,  aii  in-     fat  men  may  desirew.     H  fan  sholde  fere  be  don  awey 

tercourse  is  cut 

off  between  God     Hike  oonly  alliaunce  bytwixen  god  and  men.  bat  is  to 

and  man. 

4588  seien  to  hopen  and  to  preien.  but  by  f  e  preis  of  ry^t- 
humbTc7uppSa-    fulnesse  and  of  veray  mekenesse  we  deserue  f  e  gerdoura 

tion  we  earn 

divine  grace,  a      Of  be  deuyne  grace  whiche  bat  is  inestimable,  bat  is  to 

most  inestimable  J 


selves  to  the  in- 

accessible  light, 


S0  g166  j5  ne 

cmd  f  is  is  oonly  f  e  manere.  fat  is  to  seyen  hope  and 

„  .  .   ,        ..  , 

prayeres.  lor  whiche  it  semef  fat  [men]  mowen  speken 


4563  novae  —  MS.newe,C.no\v 
al\>er  moste  iuste  —  alder 

moost  lust 
moste  —  most 


45fi6  wille—  wil 
[we]  —  from  C. 
4571  wi\)oute  —  wtt/t-owti-n 
4573  bo«3<—  thoght 


4574  yled&- MS.  yledde,  C. 
yled 

4575  comep— comth 

4577  done— doon 

4578  mak{_er]e — makere 

4579  auit[_e]— owhte 
4584  whiche— vvhi(;b 
4588  preis — prys 

rysffulnesse  —  Rihtwesse- 


nesse 

4589  deserue — desseruyn 

4590  deuyne — MS.  deny  lies, 
C.  dyuyne 

4590-93  whiche— which 

4591  grete— gret 
4593  [men]— from  C. 

speken — speke 


METK35']  CONTROL    OF    PROVIDENCE.  159 

wib  god.  and  by  resoiw  of  supplicaciouw  "ben  conioigned  JJ. 
to   bilk  clernesse  bat  nis  nat  approched  no  raber  or 
bat  men  byseken  it  and  emprenten  it.     And  yif  men 


r  .,  .,  what  other  way 

ne  wene  [natl  bat    nope   ne  preiers  ne  nan  no  strengpes.  can  we  be  united, 

L        J  '         L      r    J  '          and  hold  fast  to 


^ 

by  be  necessite  of  binges  to  com  en  y-resceiued.    what     rdotn  s? 

biwg  is  ber  ban  by  whiche  we  mo  wen  be  cowioygned  4599 

and  clyuen  to  bilke  souereyne  prince  of  binges.     IT  For  SmSKs- 

,    _  ,  „  severed  and  dis- 

whiche  it  byhoueb  by  necessite  bat  be  lynage  ot  man-  united  from  the 

J  Y      J  source  of  its  ex- 

kynde  as  *bou  songe  a  litel  here  byforne  ben  departed 

and  vnioyned  from  hys  welle  and  faylen  of  hys  bygyn-  'g^ 

nynge.  bat  is  to  seien  god.  4604 

QUE   NAM    DISCOR8 

What  discordable  cause  hab  to-rent  and  vnioigned  be  say  what  discord- 
ant cause  looses 
byndyng  or  be  alliaunce  of  binges,  bat  is  to  seyne  the  bonds  of 

be  coniunm'ouw  of  god  and  of  man.     IF  whiche  god  4607 

iii-         i  L     -L    J.    -I      T--.L     •  t-  What  power  doth 

hab  establissed  so  grete  bataile  bitwixeTi  bise  two  sobe-  make  tiiese  two 

great  truths  (i.  e. 

fast  or  verray  binges,  bat  is  to  sein  bytwixen  be  p?^-ue-  fj^fj^.*1 
aiince  of  god  and  fre  wille.  bat  bei  ben  synguler  and  Sj^SSiSS 
diuided.  ne   bat  bei   ne   wolen   nat  ben  medeled   ne  unitedeappear 

dark  and  per- 

coupled  to-gidre.  but  ber  nis  no  discorde  to  [tho]  verray  piexed  ? 
binges,  but  bei  cleuen  certeyne  al  wey  to  hem  self,  but  4613 

The  mind  of  man 


be  bou^t  of  man  confounded  and  cuerbrowen  by  be  dirke 

membris  of  be  body  ne  may  nat  by  fir  of  his  dirkfed]  ^n  cSy  light, 


,,  i-j  T  •  PI-  i'i      discover  the 

lokynge.  bat  is  to  seyn  by  be  vigoz^r  ot  nys  msy^t  while  subtle  and  close 

bonds  of  things. 

be  soule  is  in  be  body  knowen  be  binne  subtil  knyt-  4617 


tynges  of  finges.     IF  But  wherfore  eschaufib  it  so  by  so 

_  _  ,  .  ardour  to  learn 

grete  Joue  tofynden  bilke  note[sj  of  sobey-couered.  (glosa)  the  hidden  notes 

bat  is  to  sein  wherfore  eschaufib  be  bou^t  of  man  by  so  wrh£egknowshnot 

grete  desir  to  knowen  bilke  notincac^ouws  bat  ben  yhidd  None  seek  to 

...      ,  ,     .,  i  -n        i_-  know  what  is 

vndir  be  couertowrs  of  sobe.  woot  it  ou^t  bilke  binges  known. 


4595  \>ilk— ^thilke 

4596  emprenten— impetrent 

4597  \nat~}— from  C. 
[hope]—  from  C. 

4R01  wliiclie— wliich 
4602  byforne — by- torn 
4605  ha\>— MS.  ha>e 
4006  seyne — seyn 
4607  whiche— which 


4608  ha\>— MS.  haj>e 

grete— gret 

so  \>efast— soothfast 
4610  wille— wil 

4612  discorde — discord 
Ithoj— from  C. 

4613  cleuen — clyuen 

4615  dirkled]— dcrkyd 

4616  while— whil 


4617  knowen— knowe 
4619-21  grete— {zret 

note[s~] — notes 
4619  so\>e— soth 

4621  yhidd—  MS.  yhidde,  C, 
Ihyd 

4622  so\>e— sooth 
\>inges — thing 


160 


THE    UNKNOWN    CANNOT    BE    DESIRED. 


if  he  knows          bat  it  anguissous  desireb  to  knowe.  as  who  seib  nay. 

them  not,  what 

S?16  s°  blindly  ^  For  no  man  ne  trauaileb  forto  witen  binges  bat  lie  woot. 
4625  and  berfore  be  texte  seib  bus.   IF  [Glosa]  Si  enim  arwrca 

Who  wishes  for       •  .  i  •  -i  •  -i 

things  he  hath      ignorat  istas  subtiles  cownexiones.  re,9»onde.  vnc?e  est 

never  known  ? 

desiderat  scirc  cu?7i  nil  ignotu??i  possit  desiderare. 
,  how      But  wno  traua[i]leb  to  wyten  binges  y-knowe.  and  yif 
that  he  has  found  bat  he  ne  knoweb  hem  nat.  what  sekib  bilke  blynde 

what  he  sought 

for  ?  The  pure     boust.  what  is  he  bat  desireb  any  bin^e  of  whiche  he 

soul  that  sees  the  *    ™  * 


things."  u 


as  W°  se      w-°  so 
nedis  som  what  he  knoweb  of  it.  or  ellys  he  ne  coube 

4633  nat  desire  it.  or  who  may  folwen  binges  bat  ne  ben  nat 
ywist  1F  and  boii2  fbatl  he  seke  bo  binges  where  shal 

* 


fleshly  members, 

it  hath  some  re-    he  fyndew  hem.  what  wy^t  bat  is  al  vnknowynge  and 

memhrance  of  its  J 

taine8Stthetu"msrof   ignoraunt  may  knowe  be  forme  bat  is  yfounde.     1F  But 
SsTfheir'par^8     whan-bo  soule  byholdeb  and  seeb  be  heye  bou^t.  bat  is 

ticulars.    He  who 

seeks  truth  is  not  to  seyn  prod,  ban  knoweb  it  to-gidre  be  so?rane  and  be 

in  either  circum- 

seyn  be  principles  and  eueryche 

e  S0ule  i 


nOW 


n 


ng8' 


hathhe          cloude  and  in  be  derknesse  of.  be  membris  of  be  body. 

wliolly  forgotten 

aii.  it  ne  hab  nat  al  for^eten  it  selfe.  but  it  wibholdeb  be 

4643  somme  of  binges  and  lesib  be  singularites.  ban  who  so 
bat  sekeb  sobenesse.  he  nis  in  neiber  noubir  habit,  for 
he  not  nat  alle  ne  he  ne  hab  nat  alle  for-2eten.  IF  But 
3^^G  ^Jm  remembrib  be  somme  of  binges  bat  he  wib- 
holdeb  and  axeb  couwseil  and  tretib  depelyche  bilges 
ysein  byforne.  [Glosa]  bat  is  to  sein  be  grete  somme  in 
hys  mynde.  [textus]  so  bat  he  mowe  adden  be  parties 
bat  he  hab  for^eten.  to  bilke  bat  he  hab  wibholden. 


i?ut  he  ponders 

on  what  he 


re't°ams.a 


4625  \_Glosa]— from  C. 

4630  \>inge — thing 
whiche — which 

4631  woot— not 
nat— nawht 

4632  cov\>e— kowde 
4631  [M]—  from  C. 

where — wher 


4635  what— MS.  >at,  C.  what 
vnknowynffe—vnkunnynge 

4639  eueryche — euerych 

4640  while— whil 
J>e— MS.  be  }>e 

toe?— MS.  hidde,  C.  hidde 

4641  derknesse — derkenesse 

4642  ha\>— MS.  ha]?e 


selfe—  self 

4644  ??cm}nr 
habite 

4645  alle  (both)—al 
hab—  MS.  ha  be 

- 


—  nother 


4618 


from  C. 


4649  \Jtextu8}—  from  0. 
4650 


PROSE5!.]         ANSWERS    TO    OBJECTIONS    AGAINST   PROVIDENCE.  161 

TAMEN    ILLA    UETUS    INQtfTT   HEC    EST. 

[The  4the  prose.] 

anne  seide  she.  bis  is  qwod  she  be  olde  questions  of  P.  This  is  the 

old  objection 

fe  pwrueauiice  of  god.  and  marcus  tulius  whan  he  J{J5Jn!oaWyid" 
deuided[e]  fe  deuinac^ouws.  fat  is  to  sein  in  hys  booke  Sfs^fco/*™ 

„     ,       .  ,  ir  -i  ,1      ,  '      Divination  ;  and 

bat  he  wroot  of  deulnac^ou?^s.  he  moeued  e    gretly  bis  you  yourself  have 

J    "        anxiously  dis- 

questiou?i.  and  fou  fi  self  hast  sou^t  it  mochel  and  4655 
outerly  and  kwg[el.  but  ait  ne  haf  it  nat  ben  determined  SSthe/of  you* 

have  offered  a 

ne  yspedd  fermely  and  diligently  of  any  of  yow.  satisfactory  soiu- 
1T  And  fe  cause  of  fis  derkenesse  and  [of  this]  difficulte  xheCcauseofthi8 
is  for  fat  fe  moeuynge  of  fe  rescue  of  mankynde  ne  Eumar/ui? 

,    .      ,  •  i  •  .  derstanding  can- 

may  nat  moeue?i  to.  bat  is  to  sem  applien  or  loygnen  to  not  conceive  the 

simplicity  of  the 

be  simphcite  of  be  deuyne  prescience.       I   be  whiche  divine  prescience, 

for  if  it  were  pos- 

symplicite  of  f  e  deuyne  prescience  3if  fat  men  [myhten 
thinkenit  inanymanere/  fat  istoseyn/f  atyif  men]my3te 

.    ,  ,         ,  .  .  ,  .     ,     '        I  shall,  therefore, 

Jjinken  and  comprehenden  pe  pmges  as  god  seep  hem.  trv  to  explain  and 
jjan  ne  sholde  J?er  dwellen  outerly  no  doute.  J>e  whiche  4665 
resoim  and  cause  of  difficulte  I  shal  assaie  at  J>e  laste  JK!  why  yoSo 
to   she  wen   and,   to   speden.     IT  whan   I  haue  *firste  "°[*Pfpi.  36b.'] 

reasoning  of  such 

[yspendyd  /  and]  ansewered  to  }>o  resouws  by  whiche  J>ou 
art  ymoeued.  1[  For  I  axe  whi  j>ou  wenest  fat  >ilk[e] 
rescues  of  hem  fat  assoilen  f  is  questions  ne  ben  nat 

„-    .  .  cause  of  future 

spedeful  ynou?  ne  sutncient  be  whiche  soluc^ou7^  or  be  events  ?  DO  you 

draw  an  argu- 

whiche  resouw  for  fat  it  demif  fat  f  e  prescience  nis  nat  ™«j*t  °^'  j«  ™^ 
cause  of  necessite  to  f  inges  to  comen.  fan  ne  wenef  it  otheft'opivthaY 
nat  fat  fredom  of  wille  be  distourbed  or  ylett  by  pre-  thlngTwhich'  are 

foreknown  must 

science,  for  ne  drawest  fou  nat  argumentes  from  ellys  4675 


where  of  f  e  necessite  of  f  inges  to  comen.     As  who  seif 

i         i  i_    j.  i    j.  i-'n       f         rn«_j.»  divine  prescience 

any  of  er  wey  fan  f  us.  but  fat  f  like  f  ingel  si  fat  f  e  pre-  imposes  no  neces- 

sity upon  future 

science  woot  byforn   ne  |  mowen  nat  vnbitide.    bat  is  to  tilings,  must  not 

J  the  issue  of  thinu-s 

seyn  fat  f  ei  moten  bitide.    1T  But  fan  yif  fat  p/'escience 
ne  puttef  no  necessite  to  f  inges  to  comen.  as  fou  f  i  self 


4653  deuided{e\—  deuynede 
booke  —  book 
4654  moeued[e]  —  moeuede 
4655  soutf—  I-sowht 
4656  lonq[e\—  longe 
7iap-MS.  hape 
4657   yspedd—  MS.  yspedde, 
C.  Isped 
fermely  —  MS.   feruently, 

C.  fermely 
4658  derkenesse—  dirknesse 
[of  this]—  from  C. 
•4662-3  [mi/Men  men]  — 
from  C. 
4663  my$te  —  myhten 
1667  firste—  fyrst 
4668  [yspendyd  and]  —  from 
C. 

4668  po—  the 
whiche  —  which 
4669  art—M8.  arte 
}>ilk[e]—  thilke 
4671  spedeful—  spedful 
4672  whiche—  which 
4674  wille—  wyl 
4677  ]?ingc[s]—  thinprcs 

11 


162 


NECESSITY    AND    PRESCIENCE. 


[HOOK  5. 
I  VKOSE  4. 


For  argument 
sake  let  us  sup- 
pose there  is  no 
prescience,  would, 
then,  the  events 
which  proceed 
from  free-will 
alone  be  under 
the  power  of 
necessity  ? 
B.  No. 

P.  Let  us,  then, 
admit  Prescience, 
but  that  it  im- 
poses no  necessity 
on  what  is  to 
happen;  the 
freedom  of  the 
will  would  still 
remain  entire 
and  absolute. 
But  although 
Prescience,  you 
may  say,  is  not 
the  necessary 
cause  of  future 
events,  yet  it  is  a 
sign  that  they 
shall  necessarily 
happen,  and  hence 
it  follows  that, 
although  there 

4695 

were  no  pre- 
science, future 
events  would  still 
be  an  inevitable 
necessity.    For 
the  sign  of  a 
thing  is  not 
really  the  thing 
itself,  but  only 
points  out  what 
the  individual  is. 
Wherefore,  it 
must  be  first 
proved  that  every- 
thing happens  by 
necessity  before 
we  can  conclude 
that  prescience  is 
a  sign  of  that 
necessity.    For  if 
there  be  no  ne- 
cessity, prescience 
cannot  be  the 
sign  of  that 
which  has  no 
existence.    The 
assertion  that 
nothing  happens 
but  by  necessity, 
must  be  proved 
by  arguments 
drawn  from 
causes  connected 

with  this  ne- 
cessity, and  not 
from  signs  or 
foreign  causes. 


hast  confessed  it  and  byknowenalitel  herbyforne.  IF  what 
cause  [or  what]  is  it.  as  who  seif  fere  may  no  cause  be. 
by  whiche  fat  f  e  endes  (exitus)  uoluntarie  of  fringes 
my^ten  be  constreyned  to  certeyne  bitydyng.  IF  For 
by  grace  of  possessions,  so  fat  f  ou  mowe  f  e  better  vn- 
dirstonde  f  is  fat  folwef .  IF  I  pose  (inpossibile)  fat 
f er  ne  be  no  prescience,  fan  axe  I  qwod  she  in  as 
moche  as  appertenif  to  fat.  sholde  fan  finges  fat 
comen  of  frewille  ben  constreined  to  bytiden  by 
necessite.  Boicius.  nay  qwod  I.  fan  a^einward  quod. 
she.  I  suppose  fat  fere  be  prescience,  but  fat  ne  puttef 
no  necessite  to  finges.  fan  trowe  I  fat  f  ilk  self  fredom 
of  wille  shal  dwelles  al  hool  and  absolut  and  vn- 
bounden.  but  f ou  wolt  sein  fat  al  be  it  so  fat  prescience 
nis  nat  cause  of  fe  necessite  of  bitidynge  to  finges  to 
comen.  If  Algates  ^itte  it  is  a  signe  fat  f e  finges  ben 
to  bytiden  by  necessite.  by  f  is  manere  fan  al  f  ou^  f  e 
prescience  ne  hadde  neuer  yben.  ^it  algate  or  at  f  e 
lest[e]  wey.  it  is  certeyne  fing  fat  fe  esdys  and  fe 
bitydynges  of  finges  to  comes  sholde  ben  necessarie. 
IT  For  euery  sygne  shewef  and  signifief  oonly  what  f  e 
fing  is  IF  but  it  ne  makif  nat  f  e  fing  fat  it  signifief. 
IF  For  whiche  it  byhouef  firste  to  shewen  fat  no  fing 
ne  bitidif  [fat  it  ne  bytydith]  by  necessite.  so  fat  it 
may  apere  fat  fe  prescience  is  signe  of  f  is  necessito 
IF  or  ellys  yif  fere  nere  no  necessite.  certys  f ilke  pre- 
science ne  my3t[e]  nat  ben  signe  of  f inge  fat  nis  nat. 
1F  But  certys  it  is  nowe  certeyne  fat  f  e  preue  of  f  is 
sustenif  by  stedfast  resous  ne  shal  nat  ben  ladd  ne 
proued  by  signes  ne  by  argumentys  ytaken  fro  wif  oute. 
but  by  causes  couenable  and  necessarie  ^F  But  f  ou 
mayst  sein  how  may  it  be  fat  f  e  finges  ne  bitiden  nat 


4683  whiche— which 
46S5  better— betere 
4BSS  moche — mochel 
46-^9  frewille— free  wyl 
4691  hat  nc—  bat  is  ne 
M)2  M-MS.  ban 
\>ilk  self—  Ihilke  scluc 


4693  wille— wil 

4699  lest[e]— leoste 

4700  sholde— sholden 

4703  whiche— which 
firste — fyrst 

4704  [\>at bytydith]  — 

from  C. 


4707  myrtle]— myhte 
\>inge — thing; 

4708  notoe — now 

4709  susteni\> — ysustcnyd 
stert.  ffi  st— sty  c  t<  •  f ast 
latld-m.  ladde,  C.  lad 


ruosE\]  NOT    ALL    THINGS    CONTROLLED    BY    NECESSITY.  1G3 

fat  ben  ypurueyed  to  comen.  but   certys   ry3t  as  we 
trowen  fat  f  o  finges  whiche  fat  f  o  ptt/'ueaurace  woot  by-  our  eyes/ 
forn  to  comen.  ne  ben  nat  to  bitiden.  but  [bat]  ne  sholde  ing  his  chariot, 

'  and  other  things 

we  nat  demon,  but  rafer  al  foua  [fat]  fei  schal  bitiden.  of  like  nature. 

r  f       7  Lf      J  i  Now,  is  there  any 

jit  ne  haue  fei  no  necessite  of  hire  kynde  to  bitiden. 
and  fis  maist  f  ou  Iy3tly  aperceyuew  by  fis  fat  I  shal 

..         ,          things  were 

seyn.  but  we  seen  many  binges  whan  bei  ben  don  by-  moved  by  com- 
pulsion—the 

forn  oure  eyen  ry3t  as  men  seen  fe  karter  worken  in  fe  JJJjJJibJjJJn  and 
towrnynge  and  in  attempryng  or  in  adressywg  of  hys 
kartes  or  chariottes.     H  and  by  fis  manere  as  who  seif 

no  necessity  that 

mayst  bou  vnderstowde  01  alle  manere  obir  werkemew.  they  should  be 

done ;  then  first 

1F  Is  fere  f anne  any  necessite  as  who  seif  in  oure  lok- 
ynge  [fat]  constreinef  or  compellif  any  of  f  ilke  finges 

to  ben  don  so.    b.  nay  quod  I     IF  For  in  ydel  and  in  somethings  hap- 
pen, the  event  of 
veyne  were  alle  fe  effect  of  crafte  yif  fat  alle  finges  which  is  uncon- 

weren  moeued  by  constreynynge.  fat  is  to  seyn  by  con- 
streynynge  of  oure  eyen  or  of  oure  sy3t.  P.  f  ise  f  ingus 

,      .  111  known,  have  free 

ban  quod  she  bat  whan  men   don   hem   ne   han  non  events:  for  as 

the  knowledge 

necessite  fat  men  don  hem.  eke  fo  same  finges  first  or  4731 

fei  be  don.  fei  ben  to  comen  wif  out  necessite.  for  whi  u^pTe^n?-^ 

ber  ben  somme  binges  to  bytide  of  whiche  fe  endys  Sings  which  are 

now  done,  so 

and  f  e  bitidynges  of  hem  ben  absolut  *and  quit  of  alle 
necessite.  for  certys  I  ne  trowe  nat  fat  any  man  wolde  seyn 
fis.  fat  f  o  finges  fat  men  don  now  fat  fei  ne  weren  ^J 

i  mr          i    i  MI  come.    But  you 

to  bitiden.    first  or  bei  were  ydon     Tl  and  bilk  same  may  doubt 

whether  there 

finges  al  fou3  fat  men  hadderc  ywyst  hem  by-forn. 
3itte  fei  han  fre  bitidynges.  for  ry3t  as  science  of 

•i  ,      .  .,  .  •  necessitated:  for 

fmges  present  ne  bryngef  m  no  necessite  to  finges  here  there  seems 
[fat  men  doon  //  Eyht  so  the  prescience  of  thinges  to  contradiction,  if 
comen  ne  bryngeth  in  no  necessite  to  thinges]  to  bytiden 
but  f  ou  mayst  seyn  fat  of  f  ilke  same  it  is  ydouted.  as 

/>  ,  «ii        i  •  •,  -,  7    their  event  is  not 

whef  er  fat  of  f  ilke  finges  fat  ne  han  non  endes  and  necessary, 


4714  whiche— which 

4715  [)>a£l— from  C. 
sholde— sholclen 

4716  demen— MS.  denyen 
Cl>a^]— from  C. 

4717  necessite— MS.  necessi- 
4721  hys— hise  [tes 


4725  [_\>a£]— from  C. 
4727  veyne— veyn 

alle—al 

crafte— craft  [the 

4729  }>ise— MS.  J?ise  )>ise,  C. 

4732  wi\>  out—with-ov/te 

4733  bytide— bytyden 


4733  whiche— which 

4737  were— weeren    [I-doon 

ydon  —  MS.    ydone,    C. 

}>ilk— thilke 

4741-2  [\>at thinges]  — 

from  C. 
4744  endes— issues 


164 


THE    NATURE    OF    TRUE    KNOWLEDGE. 


TBOOK  S. 

[PROSE  A. 


they  cannot  be 
foreseen,  because 
true  knowledge 
can  comprehend 
nothing  but  what 
is  absolutely 
certain.    And  if 
things  uncertain 
in  their  events 
are  foreseen  as 
certain,  this 
knowledge  is 
nothing  more 
than  a  false 
opinion.    For  it 
is  very  remote 
from  true  know- 
ledge to  judge  of 
things  otherwise 
than  they  really 
are.    The  cause 
of  this  error  is 
that  men  imagine 
that  their  know- 
ledge is  wholly 

nature  of  the 
things  known, 
whereas  it  is 
quite  the  reverse. 
Things  are  not 
known  from  their 
inherent  proper- 
ties, but  by  the 
faculties  of  the 
observer. 

4761 

The  roundness  of 
a  body  affects 
the  sight  in  one 
way,  and  the 
touch  in  another. 
The  eye,  from 
afar,  darts  its 
rays  upon  the 
object,  and  by  be- 
-holding  it  com- 
prehends its  form. 
But  the  object  is 
not  distinguished 
by  the  touch  un- 
less the  hand 
comes  in  contact 
with  it  and  feels 
it  all  round. 
Man  himself  is 
surveyed  in 
divers  ways — by 
the  senses,  by  the 
imagination,  by 
reason,  and  by 
the  intelligence 
(of  the  Deity). 
The  senses  take 
note  of  his 
material  figure— 
the  imagination 
considers  the  form 
alone,  exclusive  of 
the  matter. 


bytidynges  nccessaryes  yif  fer-of  may  ben  any  pre- 
science 1T  For  certys  fei  seme  to  discorde.  for  fou 
wenest  J>at  yif  fat  f inges  ben  yseyn  byforn  fat  necessite 
folwef  hem.  and  yif  (et  putas)  necessite  failef  hem  f  ei  ne 
my^ten  nat  ben  wist  byforn.  and  fat  no  f inge  ne  may 
ben  comprehendid  by  science  but  certeyne.  and  yif  f  o 
f  inges  fat  ne  han  no  certeyne  bytidynges  ben  ypurueied 
as  certeyn.  it  sholde  ben  dirkenesse  of  oppiniouw  nat 
sof  efastnesse  of  science  [and  fou  weenyst  fat  it  be  diuerse 
fro  the  hoolnesse  of  science  /  fat  any  man  sholde  deme 
a  thing  to  ben  oother  weys  thanne  it  is  it  self],  and  f  e 
cause  of  f  is  errour  is.  fat  of  alle  f  e  f  inges  fat  euery 
wy^t  haf  yknowe.  f  ei  wenen  fat  f  o  f  inges  ben  y-knowe 
al  oonly  by  f  e  strengf  e  and  by  f  e  nature  of  f  e  f  inges 
fat  ben  ywyst  or  yknowe.  and  it  is  al  f  e  contrarie.  for 
alle  fat  euere  is  yknowe.  it  is  raf er  Cv/mprehendid  and 
yknowerc  nat  after  his  strengef  and  hys  nature,  but  after 
f  e  faculte  fat  is  to  seyn  f  e  power  and  [the]  nature  of 
hem  fat  knowen.  and  for  fat  fis  shal  mo  we  shewen  by 
a  short  ensample  fe  same  roundenes  of  a  body  .0.  ofer 
weyes  f  e  sy^t  of  pe  eye  knowef  it.  and  ofer  weyes  f  e 
touchi?zg.  f  e  lokynge  by  castynge  of  his  bemes  waitef 
and  seef  fro  afer  alle  f  e  body  to-gider  wif  oute  mouynge 
of  it  self,  but  f  e  touchinge  cliuif  and  conioignef  to  f  e 
rounde  body  (orbi)  and  mouef  abouten  f  e  environynge. 
and  comprehendif  by  parties  f  e  roundenesse.  H  and 
fe  man  hym  self  ofer  weies  wyt  byholdif  hym.  and 
oferweyes  ymaginaciouw  and  ofer  weyes  resourc.  and 
ofer  weyes  intelligence.  IF  For  f  e  wit  cowprehe?2dif 
fro  wif  outen  furf  e  f  e  figure  of  f  e  body  of  f  e  man.  fat 
is  establissed  in  f  e  matere  subiect.  But  f  e  ymaginac^ou^ 
[f-omprehendith  only  the  figure  wiih  owte  the  matere  / 


474*5  seme — semyn 

discorde — discordcn 
474$)  ]>eU—yif 
4753-5  land self]  —  from 

4757  "ha\>— MS.  habe 
4760  alle-ti 


4763  motve — mo  wen 

4764  roundenes  —  Rownd- 
nesse 

4765  sin*— sihte 
4767  alle— al 

4769  abouten — abowte 

4770  roundenesse  —  Rownd- 


nosse 
4774  fro  wi}>  outen  fur\>e — 

wit/t  owt«  forth 
4776-7    [comprehendith • 

ymaginaciouri] — from  C, 


165 

Resou/i  surmouwteth  ymaginacioura]  and  coraprehendep 


,  .  T    i    !  /  •        \    imaginations,  and 

by  an  vnmersel  lokynge  be  commune  spcce  (spec*em)  examining  exist- 

ences in  general 

bat  is  in  be  simmler  pcces.  IT  But  be  eye  of  intelligence  discover*  the  par- 

ticular species, 

is  hey3er  for   it  sowmountep  pe  envirounynge  of  j)e  J 
vniuersite  and  lookej)  ouer  fat  by  pure  subtilite  of  pou^t. 

...  .  .         .,       .      '         bounds  of  what  is 

bilk  same  symple  lorme  oi  man  bat  is  pe?*durably  in  be  general,  it  surveys 

1  *  the  simple  forms 

dcuyne  poujt.  in  whiche  pis  au$t[e]  gretely  to  ben  con- 
sidered  pat  pe  heyest  strengpe  to  coraprehenden  pinges 


,  r  i     j  PL    j     J.-L       chiefly  to  be  con- 

enbracep  and  conteynep  pe  lower[e]  strengpe  [but  the  sidered,  that  the 

lowere  strengthe  ne  arysith  nat  in  no  manere  to  heyere  perception  em- 

braces the  lower  ; 

strengthe].  for  wit  ne  may  no  pinge  comprehende  oute  of 
matere.  ne  pe  ymagynac/oira  ne  lokep  nat  pe  vniuerseles 


...  i     j>  senses  cannot  go 

speces.  ne  resoun  ne  takeb  nat  be  symple  iorme.  so  as  beyond  the  per- 

ITT    ception  of  matter; 

intelligence  takep  it.   but  pe  intelligence  pat  lokep  al  the  imagination 
abouen  whan  it  hap  eomprehendid  pe  forme  it  knowep 
and  demeb  alle  pe  pinges  pat  bew  vndir  pat  forme,  but 


.  .  form.    But  the 

she  knoweb  liem  vndir  puke  manere  in  pe  whiche  it  intelligence  look- 
ing down  (as  from 

comprehendip  pilke  same   symple  forme  pat  ne  may  4794 

_  .  above)  and  hav- 

neuer  be  knowen  to  non  ot  bat  ober.  bat  is  to  seyn  to  ing  conceived  the 

form,  discerns  all 

non  of  po  pre  forseide  strengpes  of  pe  soule.   for  it 
knowep  pe  vniuersite  of  resou?z  and  pe  figure  of  pe  yma- 

.,  ,  .   ,  T  ,    .  in  the  reach  of 

gm&ciovLn.  and  be  sensible  matmal  conseiued.  and  DDU  the  other  faculties 

r  of  the  mind. 

wenest  bat  it  be  diuerse  fro  be  hoolnesse  of  science,  bat  without  the  aid 

*  of  those  faculties 

any  man  sholde  deme  a  ping  to  ben  operweyes  pan  it  is 
it  self  and  pe  cause  of  pis  errowr  efc\  vt  supx&.   by  wit. 


p  „  .          .  simple  forms)  by 

ne  it  ne  vsep  nat  nor  of  rescue  ne  of  ymagmaczoura  ne  one  effort  of 

mind.    Reason, 


of  wit  wip  oute  forpe  but  it  byholdep  alle  pinges  so  as  I 

shal  seye.  by  a  strok  of  pou^t  formely  wip  oute  discowrs  Srtn^things  in 

,,.  *r  /-^      i  i  '.Lilt  !-•          general,  compre- 


,,.  *r  /-^      i  i  '.Lilt  !-•          genera,  cop- 

or  collacioiuz     IT  Certys  resoun  whan  it  lokep  any  ping  fiends  aii  imagin- 

able and  sensible 

vniuersel  it  no  vseb  nat  of  ymagmaciouft  nor  of  wit  ana  things.  For  in- 

•  stance,  reason  clo- 


algates  3it  [it]  co?rcprendip  pe  pinges  ymaginable  and 

sensible,    for  resouw  is  she  pat  *diffinissep  pe  vniuersel  th|V  M.  37  6i] 


4777  comprehended  —  MS. 
comprehendynge 

4778  an — omitted 

4780  hey^er— heyore 
4783  whiche— which 

auit[_e] — owhte 

4781  heyest— heyiste 


4785  lower\_e] — lowere 

4785-7  [but strengthe]— 

from  C. 
4787  icit— witte 

oute — owt 

4791  /tab— MS.  habe 
4793  whiche— which 


4795-6  non — none 
4796  strengpes — thinges 
4798-4801  and  \>ou vt  su- 
pra— omitted 

4805  collaciouu— MS.   calla- 
ctovm,  C.  collaciouu 

4806  wit— witte 


166  HOW   OUR   KNOWLEDGE   OF 

Man  is  a  rational    of  hir  conseitc  iv^t  bus.     IT  Man  is  a  resonable  tFwlo- 

tw-footed 


footid  beest.  and  how  so  fat  fis  knowynge  [is]  vniuersel. 
vet  SSrone        fo  nys  f61  no  WJ^  J>at  ne  woot  WCL  fat  a  maw  is  [a  thing] 


thusWdefmed  is       ymaginable  and  sensible  IF  and  bis  same  corasidereb  wel 

perceived  both  by 

the  imagination     resou/i.  but  bat  nis  nat  by  ymaginaczouw.  nor  by  witte. 

and  the  senses,  J    J 

kilt  **  lokty  it  by  [a]  resonable  concepczourc.  1F  Also  yma- 
ginacioim  al  be  it  so.  }>at  it  take]?  of  wit  fe  bygynywgwa 
to  seen  and  to  formen  be  figures,  algates  al  bous  bat  wit 

her  own  rational 

also   ne  ware  no^  P^sent.  }it  it  envirounif  and  coraprehendif 
lSr  of  alle  finges  sensible,  nat  by  resoim  sensible  of  demynge. 
ng  fiures  from     but  by  resoiw  ymaginatif.     ^  sest  bou  nat  ban  bat  alle 

the  senses,  yet  in 

the  absence  and     >je  binges  in  knowynge  vsen  more  of  hir  faculte  or  of  hir 

without  the  use       r     * 

power,  fan  })ei  don  of  [the]  faculte  or  of  power  of  ]>inges 
fat  ben  yknowen.  ne  fat  nis  no  wronge.  for  so  as  euery 
ative  power.  DO   iugement  is  be  dede  or  be  doynge  of  hym  bat  demeb.  It 

not  you  see  that 

4824  byhouef  fat  euery  wy^t  performe  f  e  werke  and  hys  en- 

men  attain  to  the    .  P  P  ,    ,  „  , 

knowledge  of        tenczouft  nat  ot  torein  power  :  but  01  hys  propre  power. 

things  more  by 
their  own  facul- 

mheSVrope^ty  QUONDAM    PORTICUS  ATTULIT. 

of  things? 

[The  .4the  Metwr.j  1%E  porche  fat  is  to  sein  a  gate  of  f  e  toune  of  athenis 
unreasonable  -T  f  er  as  philosophres  hadde  hir  congregac?'ouw  to  dis- 
and  f  ilke  porche  brou3t[e]  somtyme  olde  men  ful 


person  juging;  derke  in  hire  sentences,  fat  is  to  sein  philosophers  fat 

needs  do  his  own  hy^ten  stoiciens.  f  at  wenden  f  atymages  [and]  sensibilites 

tfe^anTnofb111"  ^  ^s  ^°  S6"1  sensiD^e  yniaginaczou?zs.  or  ellys  ymagin- 

powerdofforeign  actou^  of  sensible  finges  wererc  iwprentid  in  to  soules 

obscure"vaanthe  fro  bodies  wif  oute  forfe.     IF  As  who  seif  fat  filke 

who  "aught  tSS"  stoicicns  wenden  fat  f  e  soule  hadde  ben  naked  of  it 

images  of  things 

obvious  to  the  SQ\£  as  a  mirour  or  a  clene  parchemyn.  so  fat  alle 

mi?dnby°extcriwii  fygures  mosten  [fyrst]  comen  fro  finges  fro  wif  oute  in  to 

SKouilslt^flrst  soules.  and  ben  inprentid  in  to  soules.     Textus.  Ry^t 

like  a  mirror  or  a 

clean  parchment,  as  we  ben  wont  some  tyme  by  a  swift  poyntel  to  ficchen 

free  from  figures 

and  letters.  le^fres  emprentid  in  f  e  smof  enesse  or  in  f  e  plainesse  of 


4810  [is]— from  C. 
4813  witte— wit 

4821  dow^-MS.  done,  C.  doon 
[#«?]— from  C. 

4822  yknowcn — Iknowe 


4822  no  wronge — nat  wrong 

4824  werke — werk 

4825  forein— foreyne 
482?  hadde— hadden 

dispoytertf— desputeu 


4828  broui,t\_e]—  browlite 
4830  [awd]—  from  C. 


4S37  inprentid  —  aprcntyd 
4838  some  tyme—  somtymc 
swift—  swyfte 


MKTK4?J  OUTWARD    THINGS    IS    GAINED.  167 


ind  is 

ve  in  remv- 


be  table  of  wex.  or  in  parchemyn  bat  ne  hab  no  figure  But  if  the  mi 

passive  in  re 

[ne]  note  in  it.  Glosa.  But  now  arguib  boece  ajeins  bat 
oppiniouw  and  seib  bus.  but  yif  be  briuyng  soule  ne 
vnplitib  no  bing.  bat  is  to  sein  ne  dob  no  bing  by  hys 

comprehends  all 

propre  moeuynges.  but  suffrib  and  lieb  subgit   to   be  things? 
figures  and  to  be  notes  of  bodyes  wib  oute  forbe.  and  4845 

-,    t  i  .  n         Whence  its  force 

seldeb   ymages   ydel   and  veyne   in  be   manere   ot   a  to  conceive  indi- 

Y    J  vidual  existences, 

mirour.  whennes    briueb   ban  or  whennes  comeb  ban  to  separate  those 

*    *          things  when 

bilke  knowyng  in  oure  soule.   bat  discernib  and  by-  ^"3  fhin"ltc 
holdeb  alle  binges,  and  whennes  is  bilke  strengbe  bat  change  ts°paeth,nd 

soaring  to  the 

bvholdeb  be  syngulere  binges,  or  wnennes  is  be  strengbe  highest  and  de- 

scending to  the 

bat  dyuydeb  binges  yknowe.  and  bilke  strewgbe  bat 
gadereb  to-gidre  be  binges  deuided.  and  be  strengbe  bat 
cheseb  hys  entrechaurcged  wey.  for  som  tyme  it  heueb 
vp  be  heued.  bat  is  to  sein  bat  it  heueb  vp  be  entew-  4854 

.  ,  ,.  .,    j.  j«.   •       This  cause  is 

ctoun  to  ry^t  heye  binges,  and  som  tyme  it  discendib  in  more  efficacious 
to  ry$t  lowe  binges,  and  whan  it  retournib  in  to  hym 
self,  it  repreuib  and  destroieb  be  false  binges  by  be 
trewe  binges.  ^  Certys  bis  strengbe  is  cause  more 
efficient  and  mochel  more  my3ty  to  seen  and  to  knowe 
binges,  ban  bilke  cause  bat  suffrib  and  resceyueb  be  4860 

7  ,      ~  .  ,    .  „  ,     Yet  the  sense  in 

notes  and  be  figures  inpressed  in  manere  of  matere  al-  the  living  body 

excites  and  moves 


gates  be  passiouw  bat  is  to  seyn  be  suffraunce  or  be  wit         ,g8  when 
in  be  quik[e]  body  gob  byforne  excitynge  ara<£.  moeu- 
yng  be  strengbes  of  be  bou^te.    ry^t  so  as  whan   bat 


into  the  ear  ex 

clerenesse  smyteb  be  eyen  and  moeuib  hem  to  seen,  or  cites  hearing. 


so  as  voys  or  soune  hurtlib  to  be  eres  and  com-  4866 
moeuib  hem  to  herkne.  ban  is  be  strewgbe  of  be  bou^t 
ymoeuid  and  excitid  and  clepeb  ftirbe   be  semblable  forth  the  i 

,  „  ,   within  itself,  and 

moeuynges  be  speces  bat  it  halt  wib  mne  it  self,  and  adds  to  them  the 

outward  forms, 

addib  bo  speces  to  be  notes  and  to  be  binges  wib  out 
forbe.  and  medeleb  be  ymages  of  binges  wib  out  forbe 
to  be  forme[s]  yhid  wib  iwne  hym  self.  4872 


4840  ha\>— MS.  ha>e 
4843  vnplitfy— vnpleyteth 

do\>— MS.  do)>e 
4845  pe— tho 
4803  gttift[o]— qwykc 


4863  go\>— MS.  gope 

4864  pow?te— thoght 

4865  clerenesse — clcerncssc 

4866  soune— sown 
48G8  furfye—  forth 


4870  o«^ — owte 

4871  o«i/or)>e — owte  forth 

4872  formers] — formes 
yhid — I-iiiddo 


168                               INTELLIGENCE  A   DIVINE   ATTRIBUTE. 

Q170D    SI  IN    CORPORIBC/S   SENCIEND/S. 

[*fol.S8.]  *QUESTIO. 

Although  there  "Dut  what  fyif]  bat  in  bodies  to  ben  feelid   bat  is 

are  in  objects  f\ 

certain  qualities  -^  to  sein  in  be  takynge  of  knowelechmge  of  Dodylv 

which  strike  ex-                                        *  J    i  J  J 


Binges,  and  al  be  it  so  fat  f  e  qualites  of  bodies  fat  ben 
inemotionr;US-ents  obiect  fro  wif  oute  forf  e  moeuen  and  entalenten  f  e  in- 
strumentes  of  be  wittes.  and  al  be  it  so  bat  be  passioim 


upon  the  body 

precedes  the  ac-     Of  he  body  bat  is  to  sevn  be  witte  for  the]  suffrauwce 

tion  of  the  mind, 

the   [goth  to-forn  the  strengthe  of  the  workynge  corage  /  the 
which  passiouw  or  suffrauncel  clepib  furbe  be  dede  of 


tion  of  boily 

things,  the  soul  he  bomt  in  hym  sen.  and  moeueb  and  exiteb  in   bis 

is  not  by  the  im-  '      '       •> 

ternftings*"  Hiene  while  J)e  formes  fat  resten  wij)  in  forfe.  and  yif 

these  tMngs/but  fat  in  sensible  bodies  as  I  haue  seid  oure  corage  nis  nat 

by  its  own  power  , 

eth  of  these  ytauat  or  enp?'entid  by  passiouw  to  knowe  bise  binges. 

impres- 

4885  but  demif  and  knowef  of  hys  owen  strengfe  f  e  passiouw 


or  suffraiwce  subiect  to  be  body.    Moche  more  ban  boo 

pure  spiritual 

"  talent^   01 


of  ttSrundei0'    an?ecci'ouws  of  bodies,  as  god  or  hys  aungels  ne  folwen 
ySSouftheSciof  nat  in  discernynge  finges  obiect  from  wif  oute  forfe. 

impressions  from  .  _.  _  ,  ii/»i« 

external  objects?   but  bei  accomplissen  and  speden  be  dede  of  hir  bou^t 

For  this  reason,  Y      > 

^  ^s  resouw-     ^  f9-11  )'ere  comen  many  manere  know- 
Ynges  ^°  dyuerse  and  differy/zg  substaunces.  for  f  e  wit 
FO"  sensee(ofs'      of  be  body  be  whiche  witte  is  naked  and  despoyled  of 

sensation)  desti- 

kntowied1e?8her  a^e  °^&I  ^nowynges.  Jrilke  witte  comef  to  bestes  fat  ne 
mowen  nat  moeuen  hem  self  here  ne  fere,  as  oystres 
and  muscles  and  ofer  swiche  shelle  fysshe  of  f  e  see. 

JJiveirto  such8       hat  cliue?i  and  ben  norissed  to  roches.  but  be  ymagina- 

brutes  capable  of    r 

motion,  and  i  hav-   cioun  comeb  to  remuable  bestes  fat  semen  to  han  talent 

ing  in  some  degree  *  * 

sirinpg°  OTrefusing.  to  neen  or  to  desiren  any  f  inge.  but  resouw  is  al  only  to 
S?he  attri°buteer>  f  e  lynage  of  mankynde  ry^t  as  intelligence  is  oonly  f  e 

of  man  alone,  as      '  ••'«»•  --11 

intelligence  is       deuvne  nature,  of  whiche  it  folweb  bat  bilke  knowyny 

that  of  God.  T         * 

4902  is  more  worf  e  fan  [th]is[e]  ofer.  syn  it  knowef  by  hys 


4373  (.yif}— from  C. 
4878  [or  the]— from  C. 
suffraunce  —  MS.    suffi- 

»au»ce,  C.  suffraunce 
4879-80  [ffoth suffraunce] 

—from  C. 


4883  seid— MS.  seide,  C.seyd 

4887  quit— quite 

4888  hys— hise 

4889  discernynge  —  MS.  dis- 
cryuyng,  C.  discernynge 
from— fro 


4893-94  witte— wit 
4895  mowen— mowe 
here  ne  \>ere — her  and  thor 

4901  whiche— which 

4902  [<*]i«M  o\>er  —  thisc 
oothre 


PKOSE\]  THE   TOWERS   OF    SENSE   AND    IMAGINATION.  169 

propie  nature  nat  only  hys  subiect.  as  who  seif  it  ne 
knowef  nat  al  oonly  fat  apperteinif  proprely  to  hys 
knowyn^e.  but  it  knoweb  be  subgit*  of  alle  ober  know-  wha*  belongs  to 

His  own  nature, 

ynges.  but  how  shal  it  fan  be  yif  fat  wit  and  ymagina- 
cioun  stryuen  a3eins  resonynge  and  sein  fat  of  f  ilke  i 


,       .  ,     .  ,        .      be  then,  if  sense 

vniuersel  binges,  bat  resouw  wenef  to  seen  bat  it  nis  and  imagination 

oppose  reason, 

ry^t  nau}t.  for  wit  and  ymagmaczouw  seyn  fat  fat.  fat  ainrminp  thattho 
is  sensible  or  ymaginable  it  ne  may  nat  ben  vniuersel.  JSaSS'thillSit 
ban   is   eiber   be   iugement  of  resourc  [soth].    ne    bat  i8s°  nothing  ?  See8> 

For  what  falls 

ber  nis  no  binge  sensible,  or  ellys  for  bat  resourc  woot  under  the  cogni- 

sance of  the  ' 

wel  fat  many  f  inges  ben  subiect  to  wit  and  to  ymagin- 
acioun.  fan  is  f  e  consepcioun  of  resourc  veyn  and  fals 
whiche  bat  lookeb  and  coraprehendib.  bat  bat  is  thfs—  that^he? 

idea  of  what  la 

sensible  and  synguler  as  uniuersele.  and  211  bat  resouw  general  she 

comprehends 

wolde  answeren  a^ein  to  fise  two  fat  is  to  sein  to  wit  ^£eeransd  ima. 
and  to  ymaginacfc'ourc.  and  sein  fat  sofely  she  hir  self.  g'SUnS  and 
bat  is  to  seyn  bat  resourc  lokef  and  comprehendif  by  Sot  XSn  toey 

the  knowledge  of 

resouw  of  vniuersalite.  bobe  bat  bat  is  sensible  and  bat  what  is  general, 

J         since  their  know- 

fat  is  ymaginable.  and  fat  f  ilke  two  fat  is  to  seyn  wit  4921 

ledge  is  confined  to 

and  yma2inaciou?i   ne   mo  weft   nat  strecchen   ne   en-  material  figures  ; 

J  and  therefore  in 

haunsen  hem  self  to  knowynge  of  vniuersalite  for  fat  aiireai  knpw- 

*        ledge  or  things  we 

f  e  knowyrcg  of  hem  ne  may  exceden  nor  sourmounten  "elteft'credit  to 
fe  bodyly  figurefs]  1T  Certys  of  f  e  knowyng  of  f  inges  Sj'ifScSf  !££ 

,  ,   fast  and  perfect 

men  amten  raber  2eue  credence  to  be  more  stediast  and  judgment  of 

things.    In  a  con- 

to  f  e  more  perfit  iugement.  In  f  is  manere  stryuynge  Sn^do^ghtSt 
fan  we  fat  han  strengfe  of  resonynge  and  of  ymagin-  JKfoS  of  ssei 
ynge  and  of  wit  fat  is  to  seyn  by  resourc  and  by  ymagin-  si?d^0withCrea?on 

and  espouse  her 

aci'ouft  and  by  wit.    and\  we  sholde  raber  p?'eise  be  cause  cause  ?  The  case 

J  is  entirely  similar 

of  resouft,  as  who  seif  fan  f  e  cause  of  wit  or  ymagina-  ^ealSnh"wnk8  the 
c^ouw.  semblable  f  inge  is  it  fat  f  e  resourc  of  mankynde  Sncecannot  be- 

hold  future  events 

ne  weneb  nat  bat  be  deuyne  intelliarence  byholdeb  or  in  any  other  way 

r         '  than  she  herself 

knowef  f  inges  to  comen.  but  ry^t  as  f  e  resouw  of  man- 
kynde  knowef  hem.  for  f  ou  arguist  and  seist  f  us.  fat 


4907  a^eins — ayein 

4908  vniuersel — vmuerscls 
4911  Isoth']— from  C. 
4914/ate  whiclie— false  which 


4917  wit— witte 

4918  so\>ely—  soothly 
4923  knowynge — knowy 
4926  %eue — yeueii 


4926  stedfast—stidefast 

4930  [and']— from  C. 

4931  or— and  of 


THE   WORLD    IS    NOT    ETERNAL. 


[HOOK  5. 
I'KOSE  6 


Whatever,  there- 
fore, is  subjected 
to  a  temporal 
condition,  as 
Aristotle  thought 
of  the  world, 
may  be  without 
beginning  and 
without  end ;  and 
although  its  dura- 
tion may  extend 

[*  fol.  39.] 
to  an  infinity  of 
time,  yet  it  can- 
not rightly  be 
called  eternal : 
for  it  doth  not 
comprehend  at 
once  the  whole 
extent  of  its  in- 
finite duration, 
having  no  know- 
ledge of  things 
future  which  are 
not  yet  arrived. 
For  what  is 
eternal  must  be 
always  present  to 
itself  and  master 
of  itself,  and  have 
always  with  it 
the  infinite  suc- 
cession of  time. 
Therefore  some 
philosophers,  who 
had  heard  that 

5011 

Plato  believed 
that  this  world 
had  neither  be- 
ginning nor  end, 
falsely  concluded, 
that  the  created 
universe  was 
coeternal  with  its 
Creator.    Hut  it 
is  one  thing  to  be 
conducted 
through  a  life  of 
infinite  duration, 
which  was  Plato's 
opinion  of  the 
world,  and  an- 
other thing  to 
comprehend  at 
once  the  whole 
extent  of  this 
duration  as  pre- 
sent which,  it  is 
manifest,  can  only 
belong  to  the 
Divine  mind. 
Nor  ought  it  to 
seem  to  us  that 
God  is  prior  to 
and  more  ancient 
than  his  creatures 
by  the  space  of 


of  f  is  day  30  ne  lyuen  no  more  but  ryjt  as  in  f  is  moeue- 
able  and  transitorie  moment,  fan  f  ilke  f  inge  fat  suffrif 
temporel  condic^oim.  a[l]foughe  fat  [it]  bygan  neuer 
to  be.  ne  f oughe  it  neuere  cese  forto  be.  as  aristotle 
demde  of  f  e  worlde.  and  al  f  ou$  fat  J>e  lif  of  it  be 
strecchid  wif  infinite  of  tyme.  }it  al*gates  nis  it  no 
swiclie  f  ing  fat  men  my^ten  trowen  by  ry^t  fat  it  is 
eterne.  for  al  £0113  fat  it  comprehende  and  embrace  f  c 
space  of  life  infinite,  ^it  algates  ne  [emjbraccf  it  nat  f  e 
space  of  f  e  lif  alto-gidre.  for  it  ne  ha])  nat  f  e  futwres 
fat  ne  ben  nat  3it.  ne  it  ne  ha]>  no  lenger  f  e  preterit} 
fat  ben  ydon  or  ypassed.  but  f  ilke  f  ing  fan  fat  haf 
and  comprehendif  to-gidre  alle  f  e  plente  of  f  e  lif  in- 
terminable.  to  whom  fere  ne  failif  nat  of  f  e  future. 
and  to  whom  for  nis  nat  of  f  e  preterit  escapid  nor 
ypassed.  f ilk[e]  same  is  ywitnessed  or  yproued  by  ry^t 
to  ben  eterne.  and  it  byhouef  by  necessite  fat  f ilke 
f  inge  be  alwey  present  to  hym  self  and  competent,  as 
who  seif  alwey  present  to  hym  self  and  so  my}ty  fat  al 
by  ry^t  at  hys  plesaunce.  and  fat  he  haue  al  present 
f  e  infinit  of  fe  moeuable  tyme.  wherfore  som  men 
trowerc  wrongefully  fat  whan  f ei  heren  fat  it  semidfe] 
to  plato  fat  f  is  worlde  ne  had[de]  neuer  bygynnynge 
of  tyme.  ne  fat  it  neuere  shal  haue  faylynge.  f  ei  wenen 
in  f  is  manere  fat  f  is  worlde  ben  maked  coeterne  wif 
his  makere.  as  who  seif.  f  ei  wenen  fat  f  is  worlde  and 
god  ben  maked  to-gidre  eterne.  and  it  is  a  wrongful 
wenynge.  for  of  er  f  ing  is  it  to  ben  yladd  by  lif  in- 
terminable as  plato  graunted[e]  to  fe  worlde.  and  ofer 
f  ing  is  it  to  embracen  to-gidre  alle  f  e  presence  to  f  e  lif 
interminable,  f  e  whicho  f  ing  it  is  clere  and  manifest 


4967 

[if]— from  C. 
4999  worlde— world 

6001  sivicJie — swych 

6002  eterne—  from  C.,  MS. 
etornite 

5003  life— lyf 

6004-6-6  7*ap— MS.  hapc 

5006  ydon— MS.  ydone,  C.  I- 


doon 

5007  alle— al 
5008-9  nat—  nawht 
5010  JnttfcO]— thilke 

or — and 
5014  by— be 

5016  semid[e] — scmede 

5017  worlde — world 


5018  haue — ban 
5019-20  worlde— world 

5022  yladd—  MS.  yladde,  C. 
I-lad 

5023  worlde— world 

5024  embracen — enbrace 
alle— al 

presence  to — present  of 

5025  clere— clecr 


PHOi»ES6.]  GOD    IS   ETERNAL.  173 

bat  it  is  proprc  to  be  deuinc  bomt.  no  it  ne  sholde  nat  time,  but  rather 

by  the  simple  and 

semen  to  vs  bat  god  is  elder  ban  binges  bat  ben  ymaked 

by  quantite  of  tyme.  but  raber  by  be  proprete  of  hys  j^' 

symple  nature,  for  bis  ilke  infmitfe]  moeuyng  of  temporel 

.  the  ever-present 

binges  folwib  bis  p?>esentarie  estat  ol  be  liii  iwmoeue-  condition  of  an 

f  immovable  life  : 

able,  and  so  as  it  ne  may  nat  contrefeten  it  ne  feynew  and  since  it  can- 

**  ^  not  copy  nor 

it  ne  ben  euene  lyke  to  it.  for  be  inmoeueablete.  bat  is  SSoIib 
to  seyn  bat  is  in  be  eternite  of  god.    IT  it  faileb  and 

... 

faileb  m  to  moeuynge  fro  be  simplicite  ol  [thej  pre-  into  an  infinite 
sence  of  god.  and  disencresib  to  be  infinite  quantite  of  gjj 
future  and  of  preterit,  and  so  as  it  ne  may  nat  ban  to- 

,  ,  P  ,      T/»       i  •!!      r>  i  extent  of  its  dura- 

gidre  al  be  plente  of  be  lif.  algates  sitte  for  as  mocne  as  tion,  yet,  as  it 

never  ceases 

it  ne  cesib  neuere  forto  ben  in  som  manere  it  semeb 
somde[l]  to  vs  bat  it  folwij?  and  resemblib  bilke  bing 


#  in-n  j  -L        -i    i    -j.    neither  attain  nor 

bat  it  ne  may  nat  attayne  to.  ne  lulfille.  and  byndeb  it  express,  by  at- 

taching itself  to 
self  to  som  manere  presence  of  bis  litel  and  swifte  5041 

moment,  be  wbiche  presence  of  bis  lytele  and  swifte  ing  moment,  ee 

which,  because  it 

moment,  lor  bat  it  bereb  a  manere  ymage  or  lykenesse  resembles  the 

durable  present 

of  be  ay  dwellynge  presence  of  god.    it  graunteb  to 
swiche  manere  binges  as  it  bitidib  to  bat  it  semeb  hem 


bat  bise  binges  ban  ben  and  ben  and  for  fbatl  be  pre-  as  Tt  cannot  stop 

or  abide  it  pur- 

sence  of  swiche  litel  moment  ne  may  nat  dwelle  ber-for  sues  its  course 

through  infinite 

[it]  rauyssidfe]  and  took  be  innnit[e]  wey  of  tyme.  bat 
is  to  seyn  by  successiouw.  and  by  bis  manere  it  is  ydon. 
for  bat  it  sholde  continue  be  lif  in  goynge  of  be  whiche  which  it  oooid 

not  comprehend, 

lif  it  ne  nrntrel  nat  embrace  be  plente  in  dwellynge.  by  abiding  in  a 

permanent  stale. 

and  for  bi  yif  we  willen  putte  worbi  namefs]  to  binges  Jj 
and  folwen  plato.  lat  vs  seyn  ba?i  sobely  bat  god  is  S 
eterne.  and  bat  be  worlde  is  perpetual  ban  syn  bat  is  eternal  and  th 

f         world  perpetiial. 

euery  iugeme/it  knoweb  and  comprehendib  by  hys  owen  His  kns9"rlea1fee> 
nature  binges  bat  ben  subiect  vnto  hym.  bere  is  sobely 
al-wey  to  god  an  eterne  and  presentarie  estat.  and  be 


5032  lyke— 

5034  [the']— from  C. 


lyk 
-i'rot 


5039  soindetl]— somrlel 

5040  fulji lie-  -fullfyllon 

5041  litel— fr-m  C.,  MS.  lykly 

5042  whiche- -\\}\\ch 
lytele— from  C.,  MS.  lykly 


50tfi  ben  (1)—  ybeu 

[\>af]—  from  C. 
5017  swiche  —  swvch 
5048  [if]—  from  C. 

5051  w?/3/[e]—  myhte 

5052  willen  putte  —  wollen 
putten 


5052  name[s]—  names 
r.053  .wpeZ?/—  sothly 

5054  worlde — world. 

5055  owen— owne 

5056  solely— sothly 

5057  al-wey— al-weys 


174  DEFINITION    OF    PRESCIENCE. 

of  past  and  future  science  of  hym  bat  ouer-passeb  alle  temporel  moe[ue]- 
cta??iisiIhtau     men^>  dwellij)  in  be  symplicite  of  bys  presence  and  em- 


kraceb  awd  considereb  alle  be  infinit  spaces  of  tymes 
ence  fs,  then,  a      preterit^  and  futures  and  lokeb  in  bis  symple  knowynge 
e  ^noes  °f  preterit  ry^t  as  bei  weren  ydoon  presently 


^    flf    J>OU    Wolt    J""1 

(ui^wiuch  God^      prescience  by  whiche  it  knoweb  al[le]   bircges  *bou  ne 

sees  all  things  as 

if  immovably        snalt  nat  demen  it  as  prescience  of  binges  to  conuoi. 

present).     There-  * 


J5011  sna^  deme«  [it]  more  ry^tfully  bat  it  is  science 
e—  nn  of  presence  or  of  instaunce  bat  neuer  ne  fayleb.  for 

for  God  looks  ,.,...  ,          ,  .,  ,      .   ..     ,     ,  , 

down  upon  ail       wmche  it  nis  nat  ycleped  prouidence  but  it  snolde  raber 

things  from  the 

summit  of  the       be  cleped  purueaunce  bat  is  establissed  ful  fer  fro  rvat 

universe.   Do    ou  J' 

l°we  binges,  and  byholdeb  from  a-fer  alle  binges  ry^t  as 


it  were  fro  be  heye  hey^te  of  binges,  whi  axest  bou  ban 

It  is  not  so  in  IT  ,  -n       ,  •  i  i          i 

human  affairs.       or  why  disputest  bou  ban  bat  bilke  binges  ben  don  by 

Does  your  view 

5073  necessite  whiche  bat  ben  yseyen  and  yknowen  by  be 


any  necey^     deuyne  sv^t.  syn  bat  for  sobe  men  ne  maken  nat  bilke 

upon  it?    B.  No.  r 

p.  By  parity  of     bmges  neccssarie.    whiche  bat  be[i]  seen  be  ydoon  in 

son  it  is  clear     J 

i  byholdynge  any  necessite  to  bilke 


reason 


binges  bat  bou  byholdest  present.     IT  Nay  quod  I.  p. 
-prefent1    Certys  ban  yif  men  my^te  maken  any  digne  comparisons 

time.    His  Divine  .    .  - 

prescience  there-  Or  collac«ou?z  of  be  presence  diuine.  and  of  be  presence 
of  thfngsh-buture  °^  mankynde.  ry^t  so  as  30  seen  somme  binges  in  bis 
temporel  presente.  ry^t  so  seeb  god  alle  binges  by  hys 


confusedly  of 


shaiHnWtime  be     eterne  present.     IF  wherfore  bis  dyuyne  prescience  ne 

duced.    Nor  . 

es  he  judge        chaunaeb  nat  be  nature  ne  be  pwprete  ol  binges  but 

fusedly  of 

w  wTat  byholdeb  swyche  binges  present  to  hym  ward,  as  bei 
shollen  bytiden  to  30  w  ward  in  tyme  to  come,  ne  it  ne 
cowfoundeb  nat  be  Iugement3  of  binges  but  by  of 


sedn^aii  thing's,    of  hvs  bouit  he  knoweb  be   binges  to  comen  as  wel 

doth  not  alter  the  J 

properties  of        necessarie  as  nat  necessarie.  ry^t  so  as  whan  ^e  seen  to- 

tliin^s,  for  every- 

gidre  a  man  walke  on  be  erbe  and  be  sonne  aryseii  in 
[the]  heuene.  al  be  it  so  bat  36  seen  and  byholden  bat 


5058  alle— al 

moe\ue\ment —  m  oeuemewt 
60fi3  \>enke— thinken 

ainsen — auyse 
5064  whiche— which 


5060  shalt— shal 

[if]— from  C. 
5068  whiche — which 
5074-76  syrf— syhte 
5075  whiche — which 

)>e[t]— they 


5085  come — comyii 

5086  ofsyit—O  syhte 

5087  neA;woweb— MS.  repeats 
5090  Hhe]~ from  C. 


TIIE    NATURE    OF   DIVINE    PRESCIENCE.  175 

oon  and  bat  ober  to-gidre.  ait  nabeles    ae  demcn  and  when  God  knows 

'     m     J  that  any  thing  is  to 

discerne  fat  fat  oon  is  uolurctarie  and  fat  of  er  is  neces-  8am^kim7t8httthe 
sario.     1F  Ry$t  so  fan  [the]  deuyne  lokynge  byholdynge  JJeJUSfyof  being 

,  ,    .  ,.,          „   —  but  this  is  not 

alle  bmges  vndir  hym  ne  troubleb  nat  be  quaiite  ol  conjecture,  but 

'  certain  knowledge 

f  inges  fat  ben  certeynely  present  to  hym  ward,  but  as  (^"hded,"po01u  in. 
to  f  e  condiciouw  of  tyme  for  sof  e  f  ei  ben  futwre,  for  ^S^^SSSd 

,  must  happen  ;  and 

whiche  it  folwib  bat  bis  nis  non  oppmioim.  but  raber  a  that  which  cannot 

'   •        r  do  other-wise  than 

stedfast  knowyng  ystrengefed  by  sofenes.   fat  whan  JSE^J 

,  ,  .  .  ,       ,  ...    and  so  bind  me  to 

bat  god  knowef  any  binge  to  be  he  ne  vnwoot  nat  bat  admit  a  necessity, 

I  must  confess 

bilke  binge  wanteb  necessite  to  be.   bis  is  to  seyn  bat  that  things  are 

1         under  such  a  re- 

whan  fat  god  knowef  any  f  inge  to  bitide.  he  woot  wel 


° 


jjat  it  ne  ha])  no  necessite  to  bitide.  and  yif  f  mi  seist  JSen? 

,  ••      ,  .  ••       .  .  we  be  acquainted 

here  bat  bilke  binge  bat  god  seeb  to  bytide  it  ne  may  with  the  Divine 

counsels.    For  I 

nat  vnbytide.  as  who  sei)>  it  mot  bitide.     IT  and  jjilke  J^^JJJt  tS 
Jjinge  ]?at  jjat  ne  may  nat  vnbytide  it  mot  bitide  by  5105 

-,  .  .  n  thing  which  is  to 

necessite.  and  bat  bou  streine  me  to  bis  name  of  neces-  happen  in  relation 

„   to  the  Divine 

site,  certvs  I  wol  wel  confessen  and  byknowe  a  binge  ol  knowledge  is 

*      l  necessary;  but, 

ful  sadde  troupe,  but  vnne])  shal  J>ere  any  wy^t  [mowe]  ownnsinaturein  ite 


seen  it  or  comen  fer-to.  but  yif  J?at  he  be  byholder  of  >e 

,  *TJ»TI  it-ii        are  two  kinds  of 

deuvne  bouate.     II  for  I  wol  answere  be  bus.   bat  bilke  necessity-one 

J         y  simple  ;  as  men 

])inge  Jjat  is  future  whan  it  is  referred  to  J?e  deuyne  SJ^ 
knowywg  pan  is  it  necessarie.  but  certys  whan  it  is  vn- 
dirstonden  in  hys  owen  kynde  mew  sen  it  [is]  vtterly  fre 
and  absolut  from  alle  necessite.  for  certys  ber  ben  two  is  known  cannot 

be  otherwise  than 

maneres  of  necessites.  bat  oon  necessite  is  symple  as  what  it  is  appre- 

hended to  be.  But 

pus.  J?at  it  byhouejj  by  necessite  fat  alle  men  be  mortal  5S£S>iStf  tl)e 
or  dedely.  an  oper  necessite  is  condicionel  as  fus.  yif  sity^fw  tlfe68" 
bou  wost  bat  a  man  walkib.  it  byhoueb  by  necessite  bat  thing  itself  does 

-         not  here  cmisti- 

he  walke.  filke  finge  fan  fat  any  wy^t  haf  yknowe  to 
be.  it  ne  may  ben  non  ofer  weyes  fan  he  knowef  it  to 
be.  IF  but  fis  condicioun  ne  drawef  nat  wif  hir  filke 


,  _,,  .  ,  .    .         ,      compels  a  man  to 

necessite  symple.     1  or  certys  f  is  necessite  condicionel.  walk  who  does  so 


5092  discerne— discernen 

5093  [the]— from  C. 

5097  whiche— which 

5098  stedfast— stidefast 
so\>enes — sothuesse 

5102  ha]>— MS.  haj>e 


a\>— M 
itide- 


6104  bitide-bitle 


5108  sadde— sad 
vnne\> — vnnethe 
[mowe] — from  C. 

5109  comen — come 

5110  \>ou-$te— thoght 
answere — ansvvercn 

5113  sen— MS.  sene,  C.  sen 


5113  [is]— from  C. 
5117  dedely—  dertly 
5119  /jab— MS.  ha>o 
5121  condicioun  —  from   C., 
MS.  necessite 


176 


PRESCIENCE    AND    NECESSITY. 


L  PROSE  a. 


willingly,  but  it 
must  be  necessary 
that  he  walk 
when  he  does 
step  forward. 
So  everything 
that  is  present  to 
the  eye  of  Pro- 
vidence must 
assuredly  be,  al- 
though there  is 

[*  fol.  40.] 
nothing  in  its 
own  nature  to 
constitute  that 
necessity.    Since 
God  beholds  all 
future  events  pro- 
ceeding from  free- 
will as  actually 
present — these 
events  in  relation 
to  Divine  sight 
are  necessary — 


es  thy 

are  absolutely 

free.  AII  things 

which  God 

foresees  shall 

surely  come 


though  they  hap- 

5139 


their  nature,  as 

before  they  hap- 

pened  they  had  it 

0* 


whether  things 

are  necessary  in 

their  own  nature 


edg  they  ftSf*" 

0$;  as  if  they  were 

necessitated. 

.  The  differ- 


event  of  the16 

former  was  neces- 

sary  before  it  be- 

felt,  whereas  that 


be  propre  nature  of  it  ne  makeb  it  nau^t.  but  be  adiem'oiw 
of  be  condiczouft  makib  it.  for  no  necessite  ne  constreyneb 
a  man  to  [gon  /  bat]  goob  by  his  propre  wille.  al  be  it 
so  bat  whan  he  goob  bat  it  is  necessarie  bat  he  goob. 
1F  Ry3t  on  bis  same  manere  ban.  yif  bat  be  pwrueaunce 
of  god  seeb  any  bing  present,  ban  mot  bilke  *binge  be 
by  necessite.  al  bou3  bat  it  ne  haue  no  necessite  of  hys 
owen  nature,  but  certys  be  futw?*es  bat  bytyden  by  fre- 
dom  of  arbitre  god  seeb  hem  alle  to-gidre  present3.  bise 
binges  ban  [yif]  bei  ben  referred  to  be  deuyne  sy3t. 
ban  ben  bei  maked  necessarie  to  be  condic?ou?i  of  be 
deuyne  knowynge.  but  certys  yif  bilke  binges  ben  con- 
sidred  by  hem  self  bei  ben  absolut  of  necessite.  and  ne 
forleten  nat  ne  cesen  nat  of  be  liberte  of  hire  owe?* 
nature,  ban  certys  wijj  outen  doute  alle  be  fingtti 
shollen  be  doon  whiche  bat  god  woot  by-forn  bat  be£ 
ben  to  comen.  but  so?ftme  of  hem  comen  and  bitiden  of 
[free]  arbitre  or  of  fre  wille.  bat  al  be  it  so  bat  bei  by- 
tiden.  3it  algates  ne  lese  bei  nat  hire  propre  nature  ne 
beynge.  by  be  whiche  first  or  bat  bei  were  doon  bei 
hadden  power  nat  to  han  bitidd.  Boece.  what  is  bis 
to  seyn  baft  qwod  I.  bat  binges  ne  ben  nat  necessarie  by 
hire  propre  nature,  so  as  bei  comen  in  alle  maneres  in 
be  lykenesse  of  necessite  by  be  condicibun  of  be  deuyne 
science.  P/iilosophi'e.  bis  is  be  difference  quod.  she.  bat 
bo  binges  bat  I  pwposed[e]  be  a  litel  here  byforn.  bat 
is  to  seyn  be  sonne  arysynge  and  be  man  walkynge  bat 
berwhiles  bat  bilke  binges  ben  ydon.  bei  ne  my3ten  nat 
ben  vndon.  nabeles  bat  oon  of  hem  or  it  was  ydon  it 
byhoued[e]  by  necessite  bat  it  was  ydon.  but  nat  bat 
ober.  ry3t  so  it  is  here  bat  be  binges  bat  god  hab  present. 


5123  naurf— nat 

5125  [ffon  \>at]— from  C. 

wille — wil 
5128  mot— MS.  mote,  C.  mot 

5131  present* — present 

5132  [2/z/]-fromC. 
sy^i— syhte 

513?  wi\>  outen — wit/i-owte 
5138  whiche—  which 


5139  somme — som 

5140  [free]— from  C. 

5141  ne  (2)— €.  in 

5142  whiche — which 

ivere  doon — weeryn  Idoon 

5143  bitidd— MS.  bitidde,  C. 
bityd 

5148    purposed^    —    pur 
posede 


5150  ydon—  MS.  ydone,   Ct 
I-  doon 

my^ten  —  myhte 

5151  vndon,—  MS.  vridone,  C. 
viuloon 

5151-2  ydon—  MS.  ydone,  C, 
I-doon 

5152  lnjTioued\e\—  honyd 

5153  ha\>—  MS.  hn>e 


PJSS&J  PROVIDENCE    AND    HUMAN    INTENTIONS.  177 

wib  outen  doute  bei  simile  ben.  but  sowme  of  hem  de-  troth  when  r  said 

f  that  some  things 

scendif  of  jje  nature  of  finges  as  f  e  sonne  arysynge.  Dj'vl'.'T  knowledge 
and  so?ttme  descend!))  of  f  e  power  of  J)e  doers  as  f  e  man 


_  ,  .  -      T  •/.,,•        in  themselves 

walkynge.     1T  ban  seide  I.  no  wronge  bat  yil  bat  bise  they  are  not  under 

r        r      .   thebondofneces- 

binges  ben  referred  to  be  deuyne  knowynge  ban  ben  bei  sity.  in  the  same 

J  *       way  e\ery  thing 

necessarie.  and  yif  f  ei  ben-  considered  by  hem  selfe  fan 

ben  bei  absolut  from  f  e  bonde  of  necessite.  ry3t  so  [as] 

alle  f  inges  fat  appieref  or  shewef  to  f  e  wittes  yif  J>ou  ticuiar  when  con- 

referre  it  to  resoim  it  is  vniuersel.  and  yif  fou  referre  ^f^ 

it  or  look[e]  it  to  it  self,  fan  is  it  sywguler.  but  now  j 

yif  fou  seist  bus  bat  yif  it  be  in  my  power  to  chauiige 

which  she  hath 

my  purpose,  fan  shal  I  voide  be  pwrueaunce  of  god.  foreseen  i  would 
whan  bat  pe?'auenture  I  shal  han  chau?2ged  fo  binges 
bat  he  knoweb  byforn.    fan  shal  I  answere   fe   fus 

.  .  takes  note  of  your 

II  Certys  fou  maist  wel  chaungen  fi  pwrpos  but  ior  as  5168 
mochel  as  f  e  present  sof  enesse  of  f  e  deuyne  pwrueaunce 
byholdef   fat   fou   mayst   chaungQn  fi  purpose,    and 

divine  prescience 

whebir  bou  wolt  chaun^e  it  or  110.  and  winder-  ward  though  you  have 

the  power, 

fat  fou  tourne  it.  fou  maist  nat  eschewen  f  e  deuyne  S^var^atd 
prescience  ry3t  as  fou  ne  mayst  nat  fleen  f  e  sy3t  of  f  e  JJSSly  7SS 
present  eye.  al  bom  bat  bou  tourne  bi  self  by  bi  fre  IBS  divine 

,    Y  knowledge  be 

wille  in  to  dyuerse  acczouw^     51  But  bou  mayst  seyn  changed  accord- 

J       ing  to  the  muta- 

hoAv  shal  it  fan  be.  shal  nat  f  e  dyuyne  science  ^^  ,™nddthe 


ben  chaunged  by  my  disposicz'oiw  whan  fat  I  wol  o 

ated  with  my 

fmg  now  and  now  an  ofer.  and  filke  prescience  ne  changing  Pur- 
semef  it  nat  to  enterchau??ge  stoundes  of  knowynges.  «f  the  D^ity  forl- 
as  who  seif.  ne  shal  it  nat  seme  to  vs  fat  fe  deuyne  eventfln?  bring! 
p?*escience  enterchaungef  hys  dyuers  stoundes  of  know-  presence  of  his 

own  knowledge, 

ynge.  so  fat  it  knowe  so?mne  tyme  o  bing  and  sowme  tyme  wi»ch  does  not 
f  e  contrarie.  IF  No  for  sof  e.  [qtwd  I]  for  f  e  deuyne  scy^i  to       °C0n 
rennef  to-forne  and  seef  allefutwres  and  clepef  hem  a^ein 


5154  tvi\>  outen — with-ovvte 
shulle— shollen 

5156  doers — doeres 

5157  wronge — wrong 

5159  selfe— self 

5160  from— fro 
bonde — bond 
[a*]— from  C. 


5163  look[e~\— loke 
5166  po— the 

5169  so\>enesse — sothnesse 

5170  chaungen — chaunge 
5173  sy^t— syhte 

5175  wille— wyl 
5177  wol — wole 
5179  enterchaunge — MS.  en- 

12 


terchatwgyng,  C.  entre- 
cbatMoe 

5181  hys— hise 

5182  somme  (l)—s\\m 
somme  (2) — som 

5183  sy  •$— syhte 

5184  to-forne— to-forn 


178 


GOD'S    KNOWLEDGE   FIXED   AND    UNCHANGED. 


[HOOK  5. 
PltOSE  6. 


foresees  and  com- 
prehends all  your 
changes.    This 
faculty  of  com- 
prehending and 
seeing  all  things 
as  present,  God 
does  not  receive 
from  the  issue  of 
futurities,  but 
from  the  simpli- 
city of  his  own 
nature.    Here, 
then,  is  an  answer 
to  your  former 
objection— that  it 
is  folly  to  think 
that  our  future 
actions  and  events 
are  the  causes  of 
the  prescience  of 
God.    For  the 
Divine  mind,  em- 

[*  fol.  41  ft.] 
bracing  and  com- 
prehending all 
things  by  a 


plans  and  directs 
all  things  and  is 
not  dependent 
upon  futurity. 
Since  no  neces- 
sity is  imposed 

5200 

upon  things  by 
the  Divine  pre- 
science, there  re- 
mains to  men  an 
inviolable  free- 
dom of  will.  And 
those  laws  are 
just  which  assign 
rewards  and 
punishments  to 
men  possessing 
free-will.    More- 
over, God,  who 
sits  on  high,  fore- 
knows all  things, 
and  the  eternal 
presence  of  his 
knowledge  con- 
curs with  the 
future  quality  of 
our  actions,  dis- 
pensing rewards 
to  good  and  pun- 
ishments to 
evil  men. 
Nor  are  our  hopes 
and  prayers  re- 
posed in,  and  ad- 
dressed to  God  in 
vain,  which  when 
they  are  sincere 
cannot  be  ineffi- 
cacious nor  un- 
successful. Resist 
and  turn  from 
vice— honour  and 


and  retowrnif  hem  to  f  e  presence  of  hys  propre  know- 
ynge.  ne  he  ne  entrechaungef  nat  [so]  as  f  ou  wenest  f  e 
stoundes  of  forknowyng  [as]  now  fis  now  fat.  but  he 
ay  dwellynge  comif  byforn  and  eiibracef  at  o  strook 
alle  f  i  mutaci'ouws.  and  fis  presence  to  comprehenden 
and  to  sen  alle  f  inges.  god  ne  haj>  nat  taken  it  of  f  e 
bitydynge  of  f  inges  forto  come,  but  of  hys  propre  sym- 
plicite.  1T  and  her  by  is  assoiled  filke  fing  fat  fou 
puttest  a  litel  her  byforne.  fat  is  to  seyne  fat  it  is  vn- 
worj>i  f  inge  to  seyn  fat  oure  futures  ^euen  cause  of  f  e 
science  of  god  IT  For  certys  *f  is  strengf  e  of  f  e  deuyne 
science  whiche  fat  enbracef  alle  f inge  by  his  present- 
arie  knowynge  establissef  manere  to  alle  fingus  and  it 
ne  awif  nat  to  lattere  f  inges.  and  syn  fat  f ise  f inges 
ben  fus.  fat  is  to  seyn  syn  fat  necessite  nis  nat  in" 
f  inges  by  f  e  deuyne  prescience,  fan  is  f  er  fredom  oi 
arbitre.  fat  dwellef  hool  and  vnwemmed  to  mortal  men. 
ne  f  e  lawes  ne  pwrpose  nat  wikkedly  meedes  and  peynes 
to  f  e  willynges  of  men  fat  ben  vnbounde  and  quit  of 
alle  necessite.  IT  And  god  byholder  and  forwiter  of 
alle  f  inges  dwellif  aboue  and  f  e  present  eternite  of  hys 
sy^t  rennef  alwey  wif  f  e  dyuerse  qualite  of  oure  dedes 
dispewsyng  and  ordeynynge  medes  to  good[e]  men.  and 
tourment^  to  wicked  men.  ne  in  ydel  ne  in  veyn  ne  ben 
f  er  nat  put  in  god  hope  and  prayeres.  fat  ne  mowen 
nat  ben  vnspedful  ne  wif  oute  effect  whan  f  ei  ben  ry^t- 
ful  ^F  wif stond  fan  and  eschewe  foil  vices,  worshippe 
and  loue  f  ou  vertus.  areise  f  i  corage  to  ry^tful  hoopes. 
^elde  fou  humble  p?*eiers  an  heyje.  grete  necessite  of 
prowesse  and  vertue  is  encharged  and  comaunded  to 
30 w  yif  }e  nil  nat  dissimulen.  IT  Syn  fat  30  worchen 
and  doon.  fat  is  to  seyn  ^oure  dedes  and  ^oure  workes 


6186  [so]— from  C. 

5187  [as]— from  C. 

5188  comip — comth 
6190  ha})— MS.  hape 
5193  seyne— seyn 
5196  whiche—  which 
6198  amp— oweth 


5199    \>at    is    to  pre- 
science— om  itted 
6203  vnbounde— vnbownden 

quit — quite 
52()6  gy}t— sihte 
5207  good[c}— goode 
5211    wiWond  —  MS.   wip- 


stonde,  C.  withstand 
5213  an  lieys,c — a  heygh 
jrete — Grot 

5215  worchen — workyn 

5216  and  (2)— or 


HOOK  r>.  1 

1'li.OsK  6.J 


AN    ANSWER    TO    FORMER   OBJECTIONS. 


179 


by-fore  J>e  eycn  of  )>e  luge  J?at  see))  and  demej)  alle 
j)inges.  [To  whom  be  goye  and  worshipe  bi  Infynyt 
tymes  /  AMEN.]  5219  ESSSyTV  you 

are  sincere  you 

will  feel  that  you  are  under  an  obligation  to  lead  a  good  and  virtuous  life,  inasmuch  as  all  your 
actions  and  works  are  done  in  the  presence  of  an  all-discerning  Judge. 


EXPLICIT   LIBER   QUINTUS.    ET   VLTIMl/S. 


5217  by-fore— by-torn 

6218  \To  whom Amen}  — 

from  C. :  MS.  reads  et 
cetera  after  '  jnuges.'  C. 


ends  with  the  following 
rubric: 

Explicit   expliceat  ludere 
scriptor  eat 


Finite    librq   sit  laus    et 

gloria  Christo 
Corpore      scribentis      sit 

gratia,  cunctipotentis 


180  JETAS    PRTMA. 


APPENDIX, 


[Camb.  Univ.  MS.  li.  3.  21,  fol  52  I.] 
Chawcer  vp-on  this  fyfte  metur  of  the  second  book 

A    Blysful  lyf  a  paysyble  and  a  swete 
•**•  Ledden  the  poeples  in  the  former  age 
They  helde  hem  paied  of  the  fructes  jjat  J>ey  ete 
Whiche  J?at  the  feldes  yaue  hem  by  vsage  4 

They  ne  weere  nat  forpampred  w/t/i  owtrage 
Onknowyn  was  J>e  quyerne  and  ek  the  melle 
They  eten  mast  hawes  and  swych  pownage 
And  dronken  water  of  the  colde  welle  8 

^T  Yit  nas  the  grownd  nat  wowiided  with  j>e  plowh 

But  corn  vp-sprong  vnsowe  of  mannes  hond 

}3e  which  they  gnodded  and  eete  nat  half  .I.-nowh 

No  man  yit  knewe  the  forwes  of  his  lond  12 

No  man  the  fyr  owt  of  the  flynt  yit  fonde 

Vn-koruen  and  vn-grobbed  lay  the  vyne 

No  man  yit  in  the  morter  spices  grond 

To  clarre  ne  to  sawse  of  galentyne  1 6 

^T  No  Madyr  welde  or  wod  no  litestere 

Ne  knewh  /  the  fles  was  of  is  former  hewe 

No  flessh  ne  wyste  offence  of  egge  or  spere 

No  coyn  ne  knewh  man  which  is  fals  or  trewe  20 

No  ship  yit  karf  the  wawes  grene  and  blewe 

No  Marchauwt  yit  ne  fette  owt-landissh  ware 

No  batails  trompes  for  the  werres  folk  ne  knewe 

Ne  towres  heye  and  walles  rownde  or  square  24 


.ETAS    TRIM  A.  181" 

IT  What  sholde  it  han  avayled  to  werreye 

Ther  lay  no  profyt  ther  was  no  rychesse 

But  corsed  was  the  tyme  .1.  dar*  wel  seye  [fo1-  53-l 

fiat  men  fyrst  dede  hir  swety  bysynesse  28 

To  grobbe  vp  metal  lurkynge  in  dirkenesse 

And  in  j>e  Ryuerys  fyrst  gemmys  sowhte 

Alias  than  sprong1  vp  al  the  cursydnesse 

Of  coueytyse  ]>at  fyrst  owr  sorwe  browhte  32 

IT  Thyse  tyraurat}  put  hem  gladly  nat  in  pres 

No  places  wyldnesse  ne  no  busshes  for  to  wynne 

Ther  pouerte  is  as  seith  diogenes 

Ther  as  vitayle  ek  is  so  skars  and  thinne  36 

])ai  nat  but  mast  or  apples  is  ther  Inne 

But  \er  as  bagges  ben  and  fat  vitaile 

Ther  wol  they  gon  and,  spare  for  no  synne 

al  hir  ost  the  Cyte  forto  a-sayle  40 


1T  Yit  was  no  paleis  chaumbres  ne  non  halles 

In  kaues  and  wodes  softe  and  swete 

Sleptin  this  blyssed  folk1  with-ovrte  walles 

On  gras  or  leues  in  parfyt  loye  reste  and  quiete         44 

No  down  of  fetheres  ne  no  bleched  shete 

Was  kyd  to  hem  but  in  surte  they  slepte 

Hir  hertes  weere  al  on  wit/i-owte  galles 

Euerych  of  hem  his  feith  to  oother  kepte  48 

1T  Vnforged  was  the  hawberke  and  the  plate 

}?e  lambyssh  poeple  voyded  of  alle  vyse 

Hadden  no  fantesye  to  debate 

But  eche  of  hem  wolde  oother  wel  cheryce  52 

No  pride  non  enuye  non  Auaryce 

No  lord  no  taylage  by  no  tyranye 

Vmblesse  and  pes  good  feith  the  empmce 

..............  56 


39,  40  MS.  transposes  the  lines  44  On—  MS.  Or 

56  A  line  omitted,  but  no  pap  left  for  one. 


182  BALADES   DE   VILAGE    SANZ    PEINTUIIE. 

IT  Yit  was  nat  luppiter  the  lykerous 

))at  fyrst  was  fadyr  of  delicasie 

Come  in  this  world  ne  nembroth  desyrous 

To  regne  had  nat  maad  his  towres  hye  60 

Alias  alias  now  may  [men]  wepe  And  crye 

For  in  owre  dayes  nis  but  couetyse 

Dowblenesse  and  tresouw  and  enuye 

Poyson  and  manslawhtre  and  mordre  in  sondry  wyse 

BALADES  DE  VILAGE  SANZ  FEINT  UME 

5T  This  wrecched  worlde-is  transmutacioiw 

As  wele  /  or  wo  /  now  poeere  and  now  honow?  * 

"WVt/i-owten  ordyr  or  wis  descresyouw 

Goueraed  is  by  fortunes  errour  4 

But  natheles  the  lakke  of  hyr  fauowr* 

Ne  may  nat  don  me  syngen  thowh  I.  deye 

lay  tout  perdu  mouw  temps  et  mouw  labour  [foi.  ss  &.j 

For  fynaly  fortune  .1.  the  deffye  8 

1T  Yit  is  me  left  the  lyht  of  my  resouw 

To  knowen  frend  fro  foo  in  thi  merowr* 

So  mochel  hath  yit  thy  whirlynge  vp  and  down 

I-tawht  me  for  to  knowe  in  an  howr  12 

But  trewely  no  fors  of  thi  reddowr1 

To  hym  J?at  oner  hym  self  hath  the  maystrye 

My  suffysauwce  shal  be  my  socouij 

For  fynaly  fortune  I.  thee  deffye  16 

IT  0  socrates  fou  stidfast  chaumpyouw 

She  neuer  myhtfe]  be  thi  tormentowr 

Thow  neuer  dreddest  hyr  oppressyouw 

Ne  in  hyr  chere  fownde  thow  no  sauoui-'  20 

Thow  knewe  wel  the  deseyte  of  hyr  colour1 

And  \a\>  hir1  mostfe]  worshipe  is  to  lye 

I  knew  hir  ek  a  fals  dissimuloui0 

For  fynaly  fortune  .1.  the  deffye  -4 


BALADES   DE    VILAGE    8ANZ    PEINTURE.  183 

LE   RESPOU^CB    DE    FORTUNE   A   PLEINTIF. 

1T  No  man  ys  wrechchyd  but  hym  self  yt  wene 

And  he  J?at  hath  hym  self  hat  suffisaunce 

Whi  seysthow  thawne  y  am  [to]  the  so  kene 

])at  hast  thy  self  owt  of  my  gouemaurcce 

Sey  thus  grauwt  mercy  of  thyn  habouralaurace 

That  thow  hast  lent  or  this  why  wolt  J>ou  stryue 

What  woost  thow  yit  how  y  the  wol  auauwce 

And  ek  thow  hast  thy  beste  frende  a-lyue  32 

1T  I  haue  the  tawht  deuisyouw  by-twene 

Frend  of  effect1  and  frende  of  cowntenauwce 

The  nedeth  nat  the  galle  of  no  hyene 

])ai  cureth  eyen  derkyd  for  penauwce  36 

Now  se[st]  thow  cleer  fat  weere  in  ignorauwce 

Yit  halt  thin  ancre  and  yit  thow  mayst  aryue 

Ther  bownte  berth  the  keye  of  my  substaiwce 

And  ek  jjou  hast  thy  beste  frende  alyue  40 

1T  How  manye  haue  .1.  refused  to  sustigne 

Syn  .1.  the  fostred  haue  in  thy  plesauTwse 

Wolthow  thanne  make  a  statute  on  J?y  quyene 

])a\,  .1.  shal  ben  ay  at  thy  ordynauwce  44 

Thow  born  art  in  my  regne  of  varyauwce 

Abowte  the  wheel  with  oother  most  thow  dryue 

My  loore  is  bet  than  wikke  is  thi  greuauwce 

And  ek  J?ou  hast  thy  beste  frende  a-lyue  48 

LE  KESPOILZVCE  DU  PLEINTIF  COUJVTRK  FORTUNE. 

1F  Thy  loore  y  dempne  /  it  is  aduersyte  IfoL  54.] 

My  frend  maysthow  nat  reuen  blynde  goddesse 

\)at  .1.  thy  frendes  knowe  .1.  thanke  to  the 

Tak  hem  agayn  /  lat  hem  go  lye  on  presse  52 

The  negardye  in  kepynge  hyr  rychesse 

Prenostik  is  thow  wolt  hif  towr1  asayle 


37  se[sf]—  partly  erased  and  ist  written  on  it  in  a  later  hand. 
41  igne  of  sustigne  is  in  a  later  hand. 


184  BALADES   DE    VILAGE    S4NZ   FEINTURE. 

Wikke  appetyt  comth  ay  before  sykenesse 

In  general  this  rewle  may  nat  fayle  56 

LE   RESPOUJVCE   DE    FORTUNE    COU-^TR-E   LE   PLEINTIF 

11  Thow  pynchest  at  my  mutabylyte 

For  .1.  the  lente  a  drope  of  my  rychesse 

And  now  me  lykyth  to  w?M-drawe  me 

Whi  sholdysthow  my  realte  apresse  60 

The  see  may  ebbe  and  flowen  moore  or  lesse 

TJie  welkne  hath  myht  to  shyne  reyne  or  hayle 

Ryht  so  mot  .1.  kythen  my  brutelnesse 

In  general  this  rewle  may  nat  fayle  64 

LE  PLEINTIF 

IT  Lo  excussyoim  of  the  maieste 

J}at  al  purueyeth  of  his  ryhtwysnesse 

That  same  thinge  fortune  clepyn  ye 

Ye  blynde  beestys  fill  of  lewednesse  68 

The  heuene  hath  proprete  of  sykyrnesse 

This  world  hath  euer  resteles  trauayle 

Thy  laste  day  is  ende  of  myn  inter[e]sse 

In  general  this  rewele  may  nat  fayle  72 

LENUOY  DE  FORTUNE 

IT  Prynses  .1.  prey  yow  of  yowre  gentilesses 

Lat  nat  this  man  on  me  thus  crye  and  pleyne 

And  .1.  shal  quyte  yow  yowre  bysynesse 

At  my  requeste  as  thre  of  yow  or  tweyne  76 

J)at  but  yow  lest  releue  hym  of  hys  peyne 

Preyeth  hys  best  frend  of  his  noblesse 

That  to  som  betere  est.it  he  may  atiayne 


185 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


ABAIST  =  ABYEST,   sufferest,    en- 

durest,  39/1014 
ABAIST,  abashed,  107/3047 
ABASSBN,to  be  abashed,  dismayed, 

146/4213 
ABESID  (=  ABAYSSHED),  abashed, 

7/92 
ABIDE,  to  await,  7/93.     'ABIDE 

after  '  =  look    after,    expect,   13/ 

250  ;  p.p.  ABIDEN,  waited,  86/2405 

Abief,  suffers,  109/3101 
ABLYNGE,    enabling,  fitting   (ap- 

tan*\  26/624,  88/2440 
Abood,  abode,  63/1716 
Aboven,  above,  6/52 
Abreggynge,    curtailing  ;    hence 

gain  obtained  by  curtailment  (com- 
pendium), 151/4355 
Accoie,  to  soothe,  quiet  (demul- 

cere\  38/967 
Accordaunce,     agreement,     143/ 

4134 
Accordaunt,  agreeing,  unanimous, 

19/431 

Accorde,  to  agree,  42/1080 
Accoumpte,  account,  47/1251 
Accountyng,  calculation,  8/110 
Achat,  purchase,  15/310 
Achcve,  to  achieve,  accomplish, 

18/404 
Achoken,  to  choke,  47/1235 


Acomplise,  Acomplisse,  to  accom- 
plish, 92/2575,  118/3356 

Acordable,  agreeing,  62/1694 
Acusor,  informer,  72/1990 
Addre  (Nadre),  adder,  170/4959 
Adoune,  down,  downward,  7/92 
Adounward,  downwards,  7/87 
Adrad,  in  fear,  afraid,  43/1132 
Adresse,  to  direct,  control,  163/ 

4721 

Afer,  afar,  164/4767 
Agast,    aghast,    frightened,    76/ 

2107 
Agaste,  to  terrify,  frighten,  1417 

4051 

Agon,  ago,  70/1907 
Agreablete,  goodwill,  42/1099 
Agrisen,  to  be  afraid,  dread,  10/ 

178,  31/777 

Ajuge,  to  adjudge,  15/325 
Aknowe,  acknowledged,  17/367 
Aldirmost,  most  of  all,  124/3557 
Algates,  Algate,  yet,  nevertheless, 

19/439,   68/1849,   81/2242,   162/ 

4696,  4698 
Allegge,  to  alleviate,  124/3529 

Alouterly,  utterly,  entirely,  109/ 

3090 
Alj>erfairest,    fairest   of  all,    87/ 

2422 


186 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Atyerfirst,  first  of  all,  10/180 
AlJ>ermoste,  most  of  all,  158/4563 

Alperworste,  worst  of  all.   157/ 

4562 
Alyene,  to  alienate,  27/671 

Amenuse,  to  lessen,  diminish,  19/ 
426,  40/1039 

Amenusynge,  diminution.  46/ 
1192 

Ameve,  Amoeve,  Amove,  to  move, 
6/64,  23/551 

Amoneste,  to  admonish,  171/4971 

Amonestyng,  admonition,  exhort- 
ation, 149/4296 

Amongus,  amongst,  52/1380 

Amonicioun,  admonition,  13/253 

Amynistre,  to   administer,    135/ 

3891 

Ancre,  anchor,  41/1050 
Angre,  grief,  misery,  41/1072 

Anguisse,  Angysse,  anguish,  79/ 
2177 ;  to  torment,  SO/2198 

Anguissous,  anxious,  sorrowful, 
41/1062,  1606 

Anoie,  to  be  grieved,  be  sorry, 
41/1058 

Anoienge,  22/532 

Anoies,  hurtful,  47/1238 

Anoious,  annoying,  hurtful,  7/ 
102 

An-oone,  anon,  42/1086 

Anoyously,  dangerously,  hurt- 
fully,  80/2214 

Apaise,  to  appease,  148/4278 

Apasse,  to  pass  away,  go,  46/1195 

Aperceive,   to  perceive,  16/344, 

134/3845 

Apertly,  plainly,  17/386,  91/2543 
Appaie,  to  please,  satisfy,  47/1235 
Appaire,  to  impair,  25/597 
Apparaile,  to  clothe,  adorn,  8/116 

Apparaillement,  clothing,  orna- 
ment, 49/1300 


Appertiene,  to  appertain,  73/1996 
Applien,  bend  to,  join,  161/4660 
Apresse,  to  oppress,  184/60 
Aprochen,  to  approach,  6/63,  66 
Arace,  Arase,  Arrace,  to  tear,  tear 

from,   separate,    11/196,    27/671, 

98/2774, 152/4278 

Araise,  Areise,  Areyse,  to   raise, 

51/1357,  118/3369, 178/5212 
Arbitre,  will,  free  will,  156/4500 
Ardaunt,  ardent,  106/3031 
Aresten,  to  stop,  arrest,  32/815 

Aretten,  to  ascribe  to,  impute  to, 
40/1016 

Arist,  arises,  143/4138 

Armurers,  armours,  arms,  5 1/1 342 

Armures,  armour,  9/131 

Arst,  first,  95/2675 

Arwe,  arrow,  148/4262 

Arysynge,  rising,  22/512 

Aryve,  to  bring  to  shore,  122/ 
3479 

Asayle,  to  assail,  181/40 

Ascape,  to  escape,  8/129 

Asondre,  asunder,  64/1740 

Aspre,  sharp,  rough,  32/806, 
80/2216 

Asprenesse,  sharpness,  127/3627 

Assaie,  to  essay,  42/1083 

Assemble,  to  gather  together, 
amass  (money),  80/2208 

Asseure,  to  assure,  16/330 

Assoilen,  to  absolve,  pay,  unloose, 
dissolve,  149/4303,  154/4459 

Astat,  estate,  state,  30/738 

Astoned,  astonished,  7/92,  63/ 
1702  ;  slupidus,  122/3471 

Astonynge,  Astonyenge,  astonish- 
ment, 9/134,  132/3780 

Ataste,  to  taste,  30/756 

Ataynt,  Ateint,  attained,  know- 
ing, experienced,  31/772,  69/1905 


GLOSSAR1AL   JNDEX. 


187 


Attayne,  to  reach,  12/227 

Atte,  at  the,  95/2675 

Attemperaunce,  tempering,  tem- 
perament, 138/3973,  144/4145 

Attempre,  to  temper,  moderate, 
8/115,  111/3154;  control,  163/ 
4721;  (adj.)  modest,  29/728,  40/ 
1033 

Atteyne,  to  attain,  118/3358 
Atwyne,  in  two,  98/2769 
Avalen,  to  fall  down,  143/4139 
Avaunce,  to  advance,  further,  4 1/ 

1057 

Avaunte,  to  boast,  5/26,  19/426 
Auctorite,  authority,  7/91 

Aventerouse,  fortuitous,  28/697, 
40/1018 

Aventure,  event,  21/476 
Autour,  author,  58/1556 
Au^te,  ought,  11/213 
Avisen,  to  consider,  174/5063 
Awaite,  snare,  80/2214 

Awaitour,  one  who  lies  in  wait, 
121/3463 

AwiJ)  =aweb,  oweth  (delet),  17 S/ 

5198 
Ay,  ever,  184/55 

Ay-dwellynge,  ever-dwelling,  17  3/ 

5044 

Ayenis,  against,  97/2749 
Axe,  to  ask,  17/357,  24/579 
A^eins,       A^eynes,       A^eynest, 

against,   10/183,  11/194,  12/221, 

13/255 

A^einewarde,  on  the  contrary,  on 
the  other  hand,  42/1098 

Bacine,  basin,  133/3806 

Batailen,  to   war   on,   do   battle 

against,  18/412 
Been,  bees,  80/2200 
Ber,  did  bear,  6/61 
Bere,  Bear,  143/4124 


Beren  on  hond,  to  accuse  falsely, 

20  449 
Bet,  better,  63/1703 

Bibled.  covered  over  with  blood, 
48/1860 

Bisien,  to  trouble,  8/112 

Bitake.     See  Bytake. 

Bitidd,  happened,  176/5143 

Bitwixen.     See  Bytwixen. 

Blaundissinge,  nattering,  30/749 

Blaundyshincr,  flattery,  blandish- 
ment, 34/866 

Bleched,  bleached,  181/45 

Blemisse,     to     blemish,     abuse 

(lacero\  20/472 
Blyssed,  blessed,  181/43 
Blyj>enesse,  joyfulness,  37/957 
Boch,  botch,  blain,  sore,  72/1977 
Bode,  to  foretell,  143/4130 
Bole,  bull,  148/4274 
Boot,  did  bite,  53/1400 
Bordure,  border,  hem,  6/50 
Bosten,  to  boast,  79/2171 
Botme,  bottom,  12/234 

Bounte,  Bownte,  goodness,  kind- 
ness, 19/444,  46/1202,  183/39 
Brenne  ('pret.  Brende),  to  burn, 

19/437, 106/3031 
Brid,  bird,  68/1867 
Bristlede,  bristly,  148/4281 
Brode,  broadly,  plainly,  49/1298 
Brutel,  brittle,  fragile,  45/1174 

Brutelnesse,    brittleness,   frailty, 
•f  184/63 

BurJ>e,  birth,  78/2165 
Busshel  (corn),  15/312 

Bydolven  (p.p.),  buried,  15 1/ 
4348 

Byen  (for  alyen),  suffer,  125/ 
3578 

Byforen,  BYFORN,  BYFORNE,  be- 
fore, 20/454 


186 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Alperfirst,  first  of  all,  10/180 
Atyermoste,  most  of  all,  158/4563 

Aljjerworste,  worst  of  all.  157/ 
4562 

Alyene,  to  alienate,  27/671 

Amenuse,  to  lessen,  diminish,  19/ 
426,  40/1039 

Amenusynge,  diminution,  46/ 
1192 

Ameve,  Amoeve,  Amove,  to  move, 
6/64,  23/551 

Amoneste, to  admonish,  171/4971 

Amonestyng,  admonition,  exhort- 
ation, 149/4296 

Amongus,  amongst,  52/1380 

Amonicioun,  admonition,  13/253 

Amynistre,  to   administer,    135/ 

3891 

Ancre,  anchor,  41/1050 
Angre,  grief,  misery,  41/1072 
Anguisse,  Angysse,  anguish,  79/ 

2177 ;  to  torment,  80/2198 
Anguissous,    anxious,    sorrowful, 

41/1062,  1606 

Anoie,  to   be   grieved,  "be  sorry, 

41/1058 

Anoienge,  22/532 
Anoies,  hurtful,  47/1238 

Anoious,    annoying,    hurtful,    7/ 

102 
An-oone,  anon,  42/1086 

Anoyously,  dangerously,  hurt- 
fully,  80/2214 

Apaise,  to  appease,  148/4278 
Apasse,  to  pass  away,  go,  46/1195 

Aperceive,   to  perceive,  16/344, 

134/3845 

Apertly,  plainly,  17/386,  91/2543 
Appaie,  to  please,  satisfy,  47/1235 
Appaire,  to  impair,  25/597 
Apparaile,  to  clothe,  adorn,  8/116 

Apparaillement,  clothing,  orna- 
ment, 49/1300 


Appertiene,  to  appertain,  73/1996 
Applien,  bend  to,  join,  161/4660 
Apresse,  to  oppress,  184/60 
Aprochen,  to  approach,  6/63,  66 
Arace,  Arase,  Arrace,  to  tear,  tear 

from,  separate,    11/196,    27/671, 

98/2774, 152/4278 

Araise,  Areise,  Areyse,  to   raise, 

51/1357,  118/3369,  178/5212 
Arbitre,  will,  free  will,  156/4500 
Ardaunt,  ardent,  106/3031 
Aresten,  to  stop,  arrest,  32/815 

Aretten,  to  ascribe  to,  impute  to, 

40/1016 

Arist,  arises,  143/4138 
Armurers,  armours,  arms,  5 1/1 342 
Armures,  armour,  9/131 
Arst,  first,  95/2675 
Arwe,  arrow,  148/4262 
Arysynge,  rising,  22/512 

Aryve,  to  bring  to  shore,   122/ 

3479 

Asayle,  to  assail,  181/40 
Ascape,  to  escape,  8/129 
Asondre,  asunder,  64/1740 

Aspre,     sharp,     rough,     32/806, 

80/2216 

Asprenesse,  sharpness,  127/3627 
Assaie,  to  essay,  42/1083 
Assemble,    to    gather    together, 

amass  (money),  80/2208 
Asseure,  to  assure,  16/330 

Assoilen,  to  absolve,  pay,  unloose, 
dissolve,  149/4303,  154/4459 

Astat,  estate,  state,  30/738 

Astoned,  astonished,  7/92,  63/ 
1702  ;  slupidus,  122/3471 

Astonynge,  Astonyenge,  astonish- 
ment, 9/134,  132/3780 

Ataste,  to  taste,  30/756 

Ataynt,  Ateint,  attained,  know- 
ing, experienced,  31/772,  69/1905 


GLOSSARIAL   INDEX. 


187 


Attayne,  to  reach,  12/227 

Atte,  at  the,  95/2675 

Attemperaunce,  tempering,  tem- 
perament, 138/3973,  144/4145 

Attempre,  to  temper,  moderate, 
8/115,  111/3154;  control,  1(>3/ 
4721;  (adj.-)  modest,  29/728,  40/ 
1033 

Atteyne,  to  attain,  118/3358 
Atwyne,  in  two,  98/2769 
Avalen,  to  fall  down,  143/4139 
Avaunce,  to  advance,  further,  4 1/ 

1057 

Avaunte,  to  boast,  5/26,  19/426 
Auctorite,  authority,  7/91 

Aventerouse,  fortuitous,  28/697, 

40/1018 

Aventure,  event,  21/476 
Autour,  author,  58/1556 
Au^te,  ought,  11/213 
Avisen,  to  consider,  174/5063 
Awaite,  snare,  80/2214 

Awaitour,  one  who  lies  in  wait, 
121/3463 

AwiJ)  =  aweb,  oweth  (debet),  17 S/ 
5198 

Ay,  ever,  184/55 

Ay-dwellynge,  ever-dwelling,  1 73/ 

5044 

Ayenis,  against,  97/2749 
Axe,  to  ask,  17/357,  24/579 
A^eins,       A^eynes,       A^eynest, 

against,   10/183,  11/194,  12/221, 

13/255 

A^einewarde,  on  the  contrary,  on 
the  other  hand,  42/1098 

Bacine,  basin,  133/3806 

Batailen,  to   war   on,   do   battle 

against,  18/412 
Been,  bees,  80/2200 
Ber,  did  bear,  6/61 
Bore,  Bear,  143/4124 


Beren  on  hond,  to  accuse  falsely, 

20  449 
Bet,  better,  63/1703 

Bibled.  covered  over  with  blood, 
48/1860 

Bisien,  to  trouble,  8/112 

Bitake.     See  Bytake. 

Bitidd,  happened,  176/5143 

Bitwixen.     See  Bytwixen. 

Blaundissinge,  flattering,  30/749 

Blaundyshin?,  flattery,  blandish- 
ment, 34/866 

Bleched,  bleached,  181/45 

Blemisse,     to     blemish,     abuse 

(lacero\  20/472 
Blyssed,  blessed,  181/43 
BlyJ>enesse,  joyfulness,  37/957 
Boch,  botch,  blain,  sore,  72/1977 
Bode,  to  foretell,  143/4130 
Bole,  bull,  148/4274 
Boot,  did  bite,  53/1400 
Bordure,  border,  hem,  6/50 
Bosten,  to  boast,  79/2171 
Botme,  bottom,  12/234 

Bounte,  Bownte,  goodness,  kind- 
ness, 19/444,  46/1202,  183/39 
Brenne  (pret.  Brende),  to  burn, 

19/437, 106/3031 
Brid,  bird,  68/1867 
Bristlede,  bristly,  148/4281 
Brode,  broadly,  plainly,  49/1298 
Brutel,  brittle,  fragile,  45/1174 

Brutelnesse,    brittleness,   frailty. 
,  184/63 

Burbe,  birth,  78/2165 
Busshel  (corn),  15/312 

Bydolven  (p.p.),  buried,  15 17 
4348 

Byen  (for  dbyen),  suffer,  125/ 
3578 

Byforen,  BYFORN,  BYFORNE,  be- 
fore, 20/454 


188 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Bygunne,  didst  begin,  37/941 
Bygyle,  to  beguile,  25/615 
Byhate,  to  hate,  75/2051 
Byheste,  promise,  149/4303 

Byhete,  to  promise,  61/1651,  69/ 
1903 

Byhynde,  Byhynden,  behind, 
108/3062, 110/3137 

Byhy3t,  promised,  70/1925,  85/ 
2374,  157/4558 

Byknowen,  Byknowe,  to  acknow- 
ledge, 146/4211,  175/5107;  p.p. 
B.ykuowen,  90/2514 

Byleve,  believe,  28/695 

Byname,  an  additional  name,  84/ 

2333 

Bynejjen,  beneath,  49/1295 
Bynomen  (p.p.\  taken  from,  124/ 

3527 
Bynyme,  to  deprive  of,  take  away, 

43/1117,  70/1930 
Byreft,  bereft,  33/837 
Byseche,  to  beseech,  86/2408 
Bysmoked,  besmoked,  5/49 
Byspotte,  to  defile,  73/2009 
Bystowe,  to  bestow,  24/585 
Bysynesse,  toil,  184/75 
Bytake,  to  entrust,  32/808 

Bytide  (pret.  BYTIDDE,  p.p.  BY- 
TID),   to    befall,  happen,   20/474, 
151/4360,  155/4467 
Bytwene,  between,  6/54 
Bytwixen,  betwixt,  132/3785 
Bytynge,  biting,  sharp,  63/1721 
Bywepe,  to  weep  for,  26/644 
Byweyle,  to  bewail,  26/643 

Caitif,  Caytif,  wretched,  21/489, 

116/3289 
Careyne,    carcase,    corpse,    116/ 

3307     - 
Cariages,    taxes   (vectigalia),   15/ 

303 


Celebrable,  commendable,  noted, 

84/2320,  147/4257 
Certein,  certain,  170/4952 
Cese,  to  cease,  36/904,  130/3716 
Cesse,  to  cease,  133/3821 
Chalenge,  to  claim,  52/1380 

Chastie,    Chastysen,  to    chastise, 

125/3579, 145/4170 
Chayere,  chair;  seat,  21/503 

Cheminey,  furnace  (caminus),  1 2/ 

236 

Cheryce,  to  cherish,  181/52 
Chesen,  to  choose,  76/2096 
Cheyn,  chain,  8/122 

Chiere,  CHERE,  CHOERE,  face, 
countenance,  8/123,  12/232,  108/ 
3080 

Chirkynge,    groaning    (stridens), 

25/618 

Claire,  a  kind  of  wine,  50/1329 
Cleer,  serene,  45/1168 

Clepe,  to  call,  4/17,  11/188,  17/ 

369 

Clifte,  fissure,  cleft,  130/3721 
Cliven,  CLIVE,  to  stick,  cling,  ad- 
here to,  41/1050,  101/2858,  159/ 
4600 

Cloumben  =  CLOMBEN,    climbed, 

ascended,  57/1533 
Coempcioun,  coemption,  15/309 
Coeterne,  coeternal,  172/5019 
Colasioun,  collation,  125/3569 
Collacioun,  comparison,  165/4805 
Coinbred,  troubled,  94/2642 
Commoeve,  to  move,  107/3043 
Commoevyng,  moving  (excitans), 

12/233 
Communalite,  commonwealth,  14/ 

271,  142/4108 
Comparisoune,  to    compare,    58/ 

1567 
Complyssen,  to  accomplish,  124/ 

3534 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


189 


Competent,  having   the  mastery 

(compos\  172/5012 
Compoune,  to  compose,  form,  87/ 

2419,  93/2598 
Comprende,    comprehend,     165/ 

4807 
Comunablete,  commonwealth,  1 3/ 

268 

Comune,  common,  9/140,  15/310 
Confederacie,  conspiracy,  53/1399 
Confus,  confused,  132/3788 

Conjecte,  to  conjecture,  27/649, 

114/3230 
Conjoignen,  to  join,  92/2573 

Conjuracioun,  conspiracy,  18/394, 
53/1399 

Consequente,  consequence,  84/ 
2323 

Constreyne,  to  constrain,  con- 
tract, 5/38 

Consuler  (CONSEILER),  consul,  5 1/ 
1364,  1366 

Consumpt  (consumptus),  con- 
sumed, 60/1632 

Contek,  contest,  strife,  130/3745 

Contene,  Contienen,  to  contain, 
comprehend,  24/573,  116/3302 

Contrarien,  to  be  opposed  to,  ad- 
verse to,  154/4440 

Contrarious,  adverse,  opposite, 
21/488,  53/1420 

Contrefeten,  to  counterfeit,  173/ 
5031 

Convenably,  fitly,  conveniently, 
142/4089 

Convict,  convicted,  19/440 

Cop,  top,  summit,  44/1159 

Corage,  mind,  spirit,   118/3367, 

119/3398 
Corige,  to  correct,  125/3581 

Corompe,  Corrumpe,  to  become 
corrupt,  98/2766,  96/2697 

Corone,  Coroune,  a  crown,  119/ 
3385.91/2555 


Corsed,  cursed,  181/27 
Corsednesse,  cursedness,  90/2526 
Corumpynge,    corruption,     103/ 

2927 

Cosyne,  cousin,  106/3020 
Couche,  to  lay,  set,  35/890 
Coupable,  guilty,  10/172 
Couth,  known,  25/592 
Coveite,  to  covet,  51/1365 

Covenable,  fit,  convenient,  97/ 
2731 

Covertour,  Coverture,  covering, 
118/3361,  159/4622 

Covetise,  Coveytyse,  covetous- 
ness,  20/451,  181/32 

Covine,  deceit,  collusion,  21/493 

Coyn,  money,  180/20 

Great,  created,  99/2796 

Crike,  creek,  82/2260 

Croppe,  top,  69/1877 

Curacioun,    cure    (curatio),    26/ 

632 

Curage,  30/753.     See  Corage. 
Cure,  care,  64/1753 

Dalf  (pret.  of  delven),  dug,  delved, 

51/1349 
Damoisel,  damsel,  30/762 

Dampnacioun,  condemnation,  1 6/ 

352 
Daunten,    Dawnte,    to    subdue, 

daunt,  77/2115,  147/4258 

Debonairly,  mildly,  122/3490 

Deboneire,  gentle  (mitis),  22/519 ; 
good,  88/2450 

Deceivable,  deceptive,  77/2124 

Dede,  did,  181/28 

Dedid,  made  dead,  127/3623 

Deef,  deaf,  4/18 

Deere,  dear,  37/941 

Deef,  death,  4/15 


190 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Defautc,  fault,  defect,  18/402 
Defende,  to  forbid,  34/859 
Deffcted,    enfeebled,    weakened 

30/735 
Defoule,  to   defile,   21/491,    68/ 

1873 

Degrees,  steps,  6/54 
Delices,    delight,    delights    (deli- 

citB\  38/968,  41/1062,  66/1787 
Delitable,  delectable,  30/756 
Delitably,  delightfully,  108/3078 
Delve,  should  dig,  151/4352 
Delver,  a  digger,  151/4359 
Delye,  thin,  fine,  5/43.    Fr.  delie. 
Dempne,  to  condemn,  183/49 
Denoye,  to  deny,  88/2464 
Departe,  to  separate,  29/719 
Depelyche,  deeply,  160/4647 
Depeynte,  to  depict,  111/3146 
Depper,  deeper,  27/649 

Derke,  Derken,  to  darken,  7/90, 

20/448 
Derworbe,Derworbi,  precious,  31/ 

787,  41/1046 

Desarmen,  disarm,  13/241 
Desceivaunce,  deception,  81/2240 
Desceive,    Desseive,   to   deceive, 

9/141,  38/967 

Descryven,  to  describe,  99/2813 
Desmaie,  to  dismay,  35/896 
Desordene,  inordinate,  36/912 
Despoylynge,    spoil,    prey,    147/ 

4259 
Destempraunce,      severity,      97/ 

2749 

Destinal,  fatal,  135/3884 
Destourbe,  disturb,  143/4123 
Destrat,  distracted,  80/2216 
Destreine,  to  constrain,  bind.  54/ 

1441 
Diffinisse,    to    define,    88/2459, 

165/4808 


Digne,    worthy,    just,    43/1124, 

149/4297 

Digneliche,  worthily,  53/1427 
Dirke,  dark,  83/2306 

Dirke,    Dirken,   to    make   dark, 

darken,  5/48,  49 
Dirkenesse,  darkness,  23/535 
Disceyvable,  deceptive,  4/23 
Discardable,  discordant,  1 43/41 33 

Discorde,  to  disagree,  94/2632, 
102/2898 

Discordyng,  disagreeing,  discord- 
ant, 68/1849 

Discours,  judgment,  reason,  165/ 
4804 

Discressioun,  discretion,  93/2594 

Discussed,  dispersed,  scattered,  9/ 

149 
Disdaignen,    to    disdain    (indig- 

nari),  146/4213 

Disencrese,  to  decrease,  173/5035 
Disordinaunce,  disorder,  150/4324 

Dispenden,  to  spend,  expend,  45/ 

1181 
Dispone,  to  dispose,  135/3864 

Disputisoun,  disputation,  1 49/ 
4314 

Disseveraunce,     separation,     96/ 

2701 
Dissimulen,  to  dissemble,  178/ 

5215 
Distempre,  intemperate,  1 21/3466 

Distingwed,    distinguished,    47/ 

1223 

Dite,  ditty,  134/3850 
Divinour,  diviner,  157/4541 
Domesman,  judge,  55/1467 
Doom,  judgment,  152/4395 
Doumbe,  dumb,  9/138 
Doutous,  Dowtos,  doubtful,  5/37 
Dowblenesse,  duplicity,  182/63 
Drede,  dread,  21/497 


CLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


191 


Dredeful,  timid,  121/3468 
Dredles,  fearless,  106/3028 
Dreint,  Dreynt,  drowned, 

drenched,  4/22,  7/99,  148/4271 
Dresse,  to  direct,  order,  137/3954, 

142/4104 

Drouppe,  to  drop,  20/455 
Drow,  drew,  15/300 
Duelly,  duly,  22/530 
Dulle,  to  become  dull,  7/100 
Dure,  Duren,  to  last,  98/2755 
Duske,  to  make  dusk  or  dim,  5/ 

48 

Dy verses  (pl.)9  divers,  8/120 
Dyvynynge,  divination,  15 7/45 41 

Echid,  increased,  77/2134 
Echynnys,  sea-urchins,  82/2266 

Egalite,    equality,    evenness   (of 

mind),  42/1099 
Egaly,  equally,  evenly,  43/1108, 

157/4536 

Egge,  edge,  180/19 
Egre,  sharp,  25/610 
Egren,  to  urge,  excite,  141/4060 
Eir,  air,  45/1169 
Ek,  Eke,  also,  40/1040,  181/36 
Elde,  old  age,  5/48 
Eldefadir,  grandfather,  40/1042 
Elder,  older,  89/2493 
Embelise,  to  embellish,  47/1223 
Emperie,  government,  51/1363 
Emperisse,  empress,  109/3098 
Empoysenyng,  poisoning,  11/206 


Emprente,  to  imprint,  166/4839 
Emprenten,  obtain  (translates  the 
Latin,  impetrent\  159/4596.    Per- 
haps a  mistake  for  empetren. 
Emptid,  exhausted,  5/34 
Enbaissynge,  a  debasing,  109/3107 
Enbrase,  embrace,  142/4092 


Enchaufen,  to  make  hot,  chafe, 

73/2020 
Encharge,  to  impose,  178/5214 

Enchaunteresse,  enchantress,  1 23/ 

3504 

Endamagen,  to  damage,  15/316 
Endirken,  to  obscure,  120/3418 
Enditen,  to  indite,  4/4 

Enfourme,  to  inform,  instruct,  ll/ 
212,  13/263 

Enhaunse,  Enhawnse,  to  raise, 
exalt  (enhance),  33/825 

Enlace,  to  bind,  entangle,  enter- 
twine,  perplex,  13/245,  80/2207, 
149/4298 

Enoynte,  to  anoint,  36/923 
Eripeyren,  to  impair,  120/3418, 

139/4015 

Ensample,  example,  9/151 
Entalenten,  to  excite,  168/4876 

Entecche,    defile,    pollute,    120/ 

3431 
Entendyng,  intent,  looking  sted- 

fastly  on,  8/126 
Entente,  to  intend,  150/4345 

Ententes,  endeavours,  labours,  7/ 

79 
Ententif.    attentive,   intent,    12/ 

223,  29/731 
Ententifly,  attentively,  103/2931 

Enterchaimge,  to  interchange,  65/ 
1785,  131/3753 

Entercomunynge,  commerce,  com- 
munication, 57/1528 

Entermedle,  to  intermix,  54/1436 

Entre  (adytum),  30/751 

Entrechaunge,  to  interchange,  39/ 
1003 

Entrelaced,  intermingled,  en- 
tangled, 105/2981 

Entremete,  intermeddle,  104/ 
2964 

Enveneme,  to  poison,  infect,  1 20/ 
3437 


192 


GLOSSAR1AL    INDEX. 


Envirounc,  to  surround,  34/848, 

88/2437 
Environynge,  circumference,  164/ 

4769 
Erjjeliche,  Erpelyche,  earthly,  52/ 

1378,  69/1888 

Erye,  to  plough,  ear,  71/1964 
Eschapen,  to  escape,  41/1054 

Eschaufe,  to  become  hot,  to  burn, 

22/524 
Eschewen,  to  avoid,  escape,  177/ 

5172 

Eschuynge,  eschewing,  99/2802 
Establisse,  to  establish,  15/311 

Eterne, eternal;  fro  eterne  =  from 

eternity,  153/4422 
Eternite,  eternity,  171/4986 
Evenliche,  evenly,  25/599 
Everyche,  every,  11/190;    each, 

181/48 

Evesterre,  evening  star,  22/510 
Excussyoun,  execution,  184/65 

Exercen,  to  exercise,  practise,  52/ 

1389 

Exercitacioun,  exercise,  140/4034 
Exilynge,  banishment,  11/205 
Exite,  to  excite,  168/4881 
Eyen,  eyes,  183/36 
Eyer,  air,  170/4962 

Fader,  father,  18/414 
Familarite,  familiarity,  30/740 
Familers,  familiars,  18/407 

Fantesye,  fancy,  inclination,  18 1/ 

51 

Fasoun,  fashion,  62/1693 
Feffe,  (?)  38/966 
Fel,  felle,  fierce 
Felawschipe,  to  accompany,  111/ 

3141 

Felefold,  manifold,  30/738 
Felliche,  fiercely,  39/997 


Felnesse,  fierceness,  25/618 

Felonous,  wicked,  depraved,  IS/ 
405 

Felonye,  crime,  124/3542 
Fer,  far,  23/554 
Ferm,  firm,  78/2148 
Fermely,  firmly,  157/4550 
Feme,  fern,  64/1741 
Feme,  distant,  60/1621 
Ferfe,  fourth,  56/1509 
Festivaly,  gaily,  59/1581 
Festne,  to  fasten,  fix,  10/166 
Fette,  fetched,  180/22 
Fey,  faith,  truth,  112/3178 

Ficchen,  to  fix,  fasten,  45/1164, 

88/2446 
Fieblesse,    feebleness,     81/2240, 

112/3176 

Fille,  abundance,  48/1269 
Flaumbe,  flame,  98/2761 
Fleme,  to  banish,  29/723 
Fles,  fleece,  180/18 

Flete,  Fleten,  to  float,  flow,  pass 
away,  abound,  8/118,  28/690, 146/ 
4223,  152/4376 

Fletynge,  flowing,  71/1961 
Fley,  flee,  149/4289 
Fleyen,  to  flee,  125/3584 
Flies,  fleece,  50/1330 
Flitte,  to  remove,  68/1853 

Flittyng,    changing,    fickle,    78/ 

2150 

Flityng,  flitting,  12/220 
Flotere,  to  float,  99/2817 
Floterynge,  floating,  87/2420 
Flouren,  to  flourish,  131/3763 
Fodre,  fodder,  148/4267 
Foleyen,  Folyen,  to  act  foolishly, 

67/1821,  1826 
Folyly,  foolishly,  12/220 
Fooldest,  foldest,  105/2984 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


193 


Forbrek,  broke,  interrupted,  108 / 

3082 
Fordoon,   to  undo,   destroy,   62/ 

1693 

Fordryven,  driven  about,  12/215 
Foreyne,  foreign,  34/851 
Forghe,  furrow,  170/4959 
Forheved,  forehead,  16/346 
Forknowyng,  foreknowledge,  178 

/5187 
Foiieften,  left   (pret.  of  forleve, 

linqvo),  9/150 
Forlete,  to  cease,  96/2697  ;  leave, 

forsake,  22/525 

Forleten   (p.p.),    neglected,    for- 
saken, 5/47 
Forliven,    degenerate    from    (de- 

genero],  78/2163 

Forlorn,  lost,  34/858,  121/3452 
Forme,  an  error  for /erne,  to  make 

firm,  23/547 

ForpampredjOverpampered,  180/5 
Fors,  force  ;  '  no  fors,'  no  matter, 

182/13 

Forsweryng,  perjury,  23/536 
Forpenke,  to   be    sorry,  grieved, 

41/1058 
Forbere,  to  further,  promote,  41/ 

1057 

Forjjest,  farthest,  136/3918 
Forjji,  therefore,  28/689 

Fortroden,        trodden         upon, 

trampled,  109/3100 
Fortunel,  fortuitous,  152/4379 

Fortunause,  Fortuouse,  fortuitous, 

26/639,  38/983,  132/3779 
Forwes,  furrows,  180/12 
Forwiter,  forekiiower,  178/5204 
Foryetyn,  forgotten,  101/2872 
Fouiidement,  foundation,  98/2754 
Fowel,  bird,  107/3053 
Fram,  from,  70/1931 
Freele,  frail,  61/1658 


Frete,  to  eat,  devour,  147/4252 
Frounce,  flounce,  9/147 
Fructe,  fruit,  180/3 

Frutefiyng,   fructifying,    fruitful, 

6/72 

Fulfilling,  satisfying,  79/2178 

Fycche,     fix,     108/3073.       See 

Ficchen. 
Fyn,  end,  69/1892 

Gabbe, '  gabbe  If  am  I  deceived  ? 
49/1308 

Galentyne,  a  dish  in  ancient 
cookery  made  of  sopped  bread  and 
spices  (Halliwell),  180/16 

Galles,  galls,  181/47 

Gapen,  to  desire,  be  greedy  for, 

15/324,  36/910 
Gapinge,  desire,  36/910 
Gastnesse,  terror,  fear,  75/2079 
Geaunt,  giant,  104/2966 
Gentilesse,  nobility,  78/2154 

Geometrien,     geometrician,     9 1/ 

2552 

Gerdoned,  rewarded,  120/3410 
Gerdoun,  reward,  13/265 
Gerner,  garner,  15/305 

Gesse,  Gessen,  to  deem,  suppose, 
estimate,  17/378,  19/416,  65/1782 
Gessinge,  opinion,  21/475 
Gest,  guest,  38/979 
Gideresse,  a  female   guide,  108/ 

3084 

Gise,  guise,  mode,  71/1943 
Giser,  gizzard,  107/3054 
Glotonus,  greedy,  26/620 
Gnodded,  pounded,  180/11 
Gobet,  a  bit  (of  gold),  51/1349 
Godhed,  divinity,  122/3492 
Goost,  spirit,  ghost,  40/1036 
Governaile,    government    (guber- 
i,  27/651 


13 


196 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Malice,  nefas,  wickedness,  20/466 
Malyfice,  mdleficium,  20/468 
Manace,  menace,  12/232 
Manase,  to  menace,  118/3365 
Manassynge,  threatening,  44/1 158 

Mareis,  Mareys,  marsh,  56/1513, 

97/2735 

Margarits,  pearls,  94/2650 
Marye,  pith,  marrow,  97/2744 
Maugre,  in  spite  of,  70/1928 
Mede,  meed,  reward,  91/2555 

Medle,  to  mix,  Medefyng,  mixing, 
mixture,  20/449,  122/3482,  126/ 
3594 

Meenelyche,  moderate,  28/706 
Meistresse,  mistress,  17/363 
Melle,  mill,  180/6 

Mene,  the  mean  or  middle  path, 

146/4228 

Meremaydenes,  mermaids,  7/83 
Merken,  to  mark,  16/346 

Mervaille,  Merveile,  marvel,  18/ 

403, 132/3787 

Merveilen,  to  marvel,  46/1205 
Mervelyng,  wondering,  10/161 
Mest,  most,  42/1081 
Mesuren,  to  measure,  65/1782 

Meyne,  servants,   domestics,  47/ 

1243 

Mirie,  pleasant,  sweet,  4/16 
Mirinesse,  pleasure,  66/1793 
Misericorde,   mercy,    pity,    1077 

3057 
Mistourne,  to   misturn,  mislead, 

69/1894 

Mochel,  great,  62/1674, 109/3110 
Moeveable,   mobile,  fickle,    133/ 

3817 
Moeven,    to   move,   8/112,    150/ 

4329 
Moewyng,  moving,  motion,  130/ 

3742 


Mokere,  to  hoard  up,  45/1182 

Mokere,  miser,  45/1182.     A  mis- 
take for  mokerere. 
Moleste,  trouble,  grief,  85/2346 
Monstre,  prodigy,  18/403 
More,  greater,  129/3697 
Morwe,  morning,  22/513 
Mosten  (pi),  must,  166/4836 
Mot,  must,  40/1038 
Mowen,  be  able,  25/608 

Mowynge,    ability,    power,    124/ 

3548 

Myche,  much,  21/475 
Mychel,  much,  46/1215 
Myntynge,  purposing,  endeavour- 
ing, 7/101 

Myrie,  pleasant,  45/1165 
Myrily,  pleasantly,  59/1582 
Myrj>es,  pleasures,  132/3782 
Mys,  badly,  wrongly,  131/3772 

Mysese,   grievance,   trouble,   157 

299 

Mysknowynge,  ignorant,  61/1659 
Mysweys,  wrong  paths,  149/4309 

Naie,  to  refuse,  4/19 

Nake,  to  make  naked,  148/4288 

Nameles,  unrenowned,  131/3762 

Namelyche,    Namly,    especially, 

124/3550 

Nare,  were  not,  10/176 
Nart,  art  not,  23/556 
Narwe,  narrow,  57/1520 
Nas,  was  not,  180/9 
Najjeles,  nevertheless,  6/57 
Nat,  not,  23/556 
Necesseden,  necessitated,  8 7/2 419 
Nedely,  of  necessity,  84/2334 
Negardye,  («&.)  misers,  183/53 
ISTere,  were  not,  26/646 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


197 


Nejjemaste,    lowest,    nethermost, 

6/56 

Nejjereste,  lowest,  6/50 
Newe,  to  renew,  137/3938 
Newliche,  recently,  122/3489 
Nice,  foolish,  148/4287 
Nil,  will  not,  107/3055 
Nillynge,   being    unwilling,    97/ 

2718 

Nilt,  wilt  not,  112/3193 
Ms,  is  not,  12/218 
Niste,  knew  not,  102/2882 
Noblesse,  nobleness,  37/947 

Nobley,  nobility,  nobleness,  37/ 

945 

Nolden,  would  not,  52/1369 
Norice,  nurse,  10/167 
Norisse,  to  nourish,  79/2174 
Norry,  nursling,  pupil,  10/173 
Norssinge,  nourishment,  support, 

47/1231 ;  nutriment,  37/932 
Not,   know  not  (1st  pers.),   27/ 

649 

Notful,  useful,  7/85 
Nounpower,  impotence,  75/2074 
Noujjir,  neither,  160/4644 

Noyse,  to  make  a  noise  (about  a 

thing),  to  brag,  79/2171 
Nurry  (see  Norry),  86/2386 
Nys,  is  not,  45/1175 

0,  one,  24/564 

Obeisaunt,  obedient,  13/266,  32/ 

814 

Object,  presented,  168/4889 
Occupye,  to  seize,  146/4227 
Offence,  hurt,  damage,  180/19 
Offensioun,  offence,  20/473 
Olifuntj,  elephants,  80/2223 
Onknowyn,  unknown,  180/6 
Onlyche,  only,  171/4968 


Onone,    Onoon,    at    once,    anon, 

23/553,  74/2027 
Ony,  any,  21/488 
Ooned,  united,  135/3879 
Oor,  oar,  50/1338 
Oosteresse,  hostess,  122/3495 
Or,  ere,  before,  9/143 
Ordeinly,  orderly,  140/4044 
Ordenour.  ordainer,  109/3110 
Ordeyne,  orderly,  109/3109 
Ordinat,  ordered,  settled,  12/229 
Ordinee,  orderly,  102/2902 
Ordure,  filth,  29/716 
Ostelment},  furniture,  goods,  48/ 

1266 
Ojjerweyes,     otherwise     (aliter), 

164/4772 

Outerage,  excess,  50/1326 
Outerest,  extremest,  remotest,  55/ 

1469,  89/2476 

Outerly,  utterly,  108/3081 
Outraien,  do  harm  (?),  78/2162 
Over-comere,  conqueror,  8/109 
Overmaste,    highest,   uppermost, 

6/57 
Overmyche,  overmuch,  very  much, 

79/2191 

Overoolde,  very  old,  11/209 
Overjjrowen,  prostrate,  21/497 

Overjjrowyng,      forward,      head- 
strong, 7/99,  141/4058 
Overtymelyche,  untimely,  4/13 

Owh,    an    exclamation    (papcv), 

112/3166 
Owtrage,  excess,  180/5 

Paied,  satisfied,  58/1549 
Paleis,  pale,  24/574 
Palude,  marsh,  148/4262 
Paraventure,    peradventuip,     1 8/ 

402 
Parchemyn,  parchment,  166/4835 


198 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Parsoners,      sharers,      partakers, 

170/4942 
Parties,    without    a   share,    120/ 

3409 
Pas,  paces,  19/442 

Paysyble,     peaceable,     peaceful, 

180/1 
Peisible,    quiet,   placid,    23/550, 

88/2450 

Percen,  to  pierce,  81/2236 
Perdurable,     lasting,     perpetual, 

5/44,  21/503 
Perdurablete,    immortality,    58/ 

1557 
Perfitlyche,    Perfitly,    perfectly, 

87/2426, 133/3833 
Perfourny,  to  afford,  furnish,  67/ 

1823 

Perisse,  to  perish,  96/2712 
Perturbacioun,  perturbation,  7/98 
Perverte,  to  destroy,  11/201 
Peyne,  punishment,  121/3439 
Piment,  a  kind  of  drink,  50/1329 
Plent6,  fulness,  173/5037 
Plentevous,  affluent,  67/1824 
Plentivous,  yielding  abundantly, 

fertile,  64/1739 

Plentivously,  abundantly,  25/592 
Plete,  argue,  plead,  33/833 

Pletyngus,     pleadings,      debates 

(at  law),  70/1933 

Pleyne,  to  complain,  31/777     , 
Pleynelyche,  plainly,  28/681 
Pleynt,  complaint,  110/3122 

Plonge,  Ploungen,  to  plunge,  7/ 
89,  65/1784 

Ploungy,  wet,  rainy   (imbrifer), 
64/1745 

Polute,  polluted,  20/450 

Pose,    to   put  a  case,   cf.   put  a 
poser,  162/4686 

Poustc,  power,  131/3765 


Pownage,  pasturage,  180/7 
Poyntel,  style,  166/4838 
Preiere,  prayer,  107/3044 
Preisen,  to  estimate,  judge,  7/379 
Preisynge,  praising,  77/2131 
Preke,  to  prick,  85/2346 
Prenostik,  prognostic,  183/54 
Presentarie,  present,  178/5196 
Preterit,  preterite,  past,  171/4990 
Pretorie,  the  imperial  body-guard, 

15/317 

Preve,  secret,  121/3464 
Preven,  to  prove,  90/2503 
Prie,  to  pray,  25/600 

Pris,  value  ;  '  worjri  of  pris,'  pre- 
cious, 24/583 

Proche,  to  approach,  145/4182 
Proeve,  to  approve,  154/4456 
Punisse,  to  punish,  22/531 

Puplisse,  to  publish,  spread,  pro- 
pagate, 58/1549,  98/2753 
Purper,  purple,  25/617 
Purpose,  to  propose,  176/5148 

Purveaunce,     providence,     134/ 

3863 
Purveiable,  provident,  foreseeing, 

68/1854 

Purveie,  to  ordain,  order,  21/478 
Purvyance,  providence,  99/2795 

Quereles,  complaints,  70/1932 
Quik,  living,  134/3839 
Quyene,  queen,  183/43 
Quyerne,  a  mill,  180/6 

Eafte,  bereft,  147/4259 
RaJ>er,  earlier,  former,  30/735 
Raviner,  a  plunderer,  12/228 
Ravische,  to  snatch,  11/190 
Ravyne,  plunder,  rapine.  15/302, 
36/909 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


199 


Ravynour,  plunderer,  121/3460 
Ravysse,  to  carry  off,  131/3774 
Real,  royal,  19/420 
Recche,  to  care,  reck,  33/827,  38 

987 
Recompensacioun,      recompense, 

130/3724 
Recorde,  to  recount,  recall,  92/ 

2580,  101/2871 

Reddowr,  severity,  rigour,  182/13 
Redenesse,  redness,  flushing,  7/88 
Redoutable,  venerable,  131/3763 
Redoute,  to  fear,  10/178,  57/1535 
Redy  =  rody,  red,  ruddy,  39/995 
Refet,  refreshed,  143/4116 
Reft  (away),  carried  off,  22/521 
Refut,  refuge,  94/2644 
Regne,  kingdom,  67/1843 
Regnen,  to  reign,  rule,  29/726 
Remewe,  to  remove,  19/441 
Remorde,   to  vex,   trouble,   140/ 

4030 
Remuable,  able  to  remove  from 

one  place  to  another,  168/4898 
Remuen,  to  remove,  52/1394 
Renomed,  renowned,  41/1070, 

78/2143 

Renovele,  to  renew,  98/2752 
Replenisse,  to  replenish,  20/469 
Repreve,  to  reprove,  167/4857 
Repugnen,  to   be   repugnant  to, 

154/4440 

Requerable,  desirable,  52/1377 
Requere,  to  require,  99/2790 
Rescowe,  to  recover,  133/3809 
Rescowe,  to  rescue,  35/881 
Resolve,  to  loosen,  melt,  1 33/381 4 
Resoune,  to  resound,  107/3036 
Rethoryen,  rhetorical,  30/759 

Rewlyche,     pitiable,     sorrowful, 

35/878 


Risorse  =  recourse       (recursus), 

course,  8/108 
Rody,  ruddy,  143/4122 
Roos,  roes,  82/2258 
Rosene,  roseat,  8/117 
Route,  company,  47/1243 
Royle,  to  run,  roll,  29/717 
Rynnyng,  running,  50/1335 
Ry^twisnesse,  righteousness, 

equity,  16/331 

Sachel,  satchel,  sack,  12/223 
Sad,  stable,  41/1064 
Saddenesse,  stability,  110/3123 
Sarpuler,  a  sack  made  of  coarse 

cloth  (Sarcinula\  12/223 
Sauuacioun,     safety,     salvation, 

97/2723 

Sau3,  Say,  saw,  8/106,  9/137 
Saye,  sawest,  37/958 
Schad,  shed,  4/13 
Schrew,    a     wicked     person,    a 

wretch,  12/217 
Schrewed,  wicked,  18/398 
Schrewednesse,   wickedness,   18/ 

401, 117/3324 
Schronk,  shrunk,  5/38 
Schulden  (pi.),  should,  9/132 
Schullen  (pi.),  shall,  25/605 
Scorn,  foam,  froth,  148/4281 
Scripture,  writing,  17/382 
Sege,  seat,  13/258 
Seien  (pi.),  saw,  51/1344 
Seien  (p.p.),  seen,  6/54 
Selde,  seldom,  133/3818 
Seler,  cellar,  35/890 
Selily,  happily,  blissfully,  42/1 076 
Selve,  very,  5/42 
Semblable,  like,  48/1279 
Semblaunce,  likeness,  142/4106 
Semblaunt,  appearance,  counten- 
ance, 5/31 


200 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Senglely,  singly,  85/2369 
Sensibilites,  sensations,  166/4830 
Servage,  servitude,  153/4411 
Sewe,  to  follow,  88/2441 
Seye,  sawest,  37/955 
Seyntuaries,  sanctuaries,  16/343 
Shad,  divided,  spread,  136/3922 
Sholdres,  shoulders,  148/4281 
Sich,  such,  6/67 
Sikerly,  certainly,  94/2635 

Singler,    individual,    single,    577 

1529 

Singlerly,  singly,  135/3890 
Sittyng,  fitting,  becoming,  10/176 
Skilynge,  reason,  137/3931 

Slaken,   to   slake    (hunger),    50/ 

1326 

Slede,  sledge,  110/3131 
Sleen,    Slen,   to   slay,    53/1409, 

55/1460 

Slou},  slew,  55/1461 
Smaragde,  emerald,  94/2650 
Smerte,  to  smart,  pain,  39/1011 
Smot,  smote,  147/4254 
SmoJ>e,  smooth,  8/112 
Sodeyn,  sudden,  10/161 
Somedel,  somewhat,  25/606 
Somer,  summer,  22/517 
Songen  (p.p.),  sung,  108/3078 
Soory,  sorry,  grievous,  38/978 
So]>e,  true,  17/377,  118/3352 
So]?efastly,  truly,  89/2481 
Sojjely,  truly,  169/4918 
Sojjenesse,  truth,  26/641 
Sothfast,  true,  61/1652 
Soun,  sound,  68/1852 
Soune,  to  sound,  37/929 

Sounyng,  sounding,   roaring,    87 

111 
Sovereyne,  supreme,  90/2508 


Sovereynely,  supremely,  91/2545 
Sourmounte,  to  surpass,  80/2223 
Spece,  species,  165/4789 

Speculacioun,    looking,    contem- 
plation, 153/4408 
Spedeful,     Spedful,     efficacious, 

conducive,  125/3570,  161/4671 
Speden,  to  make  clear,  explain, 

161/4667 

Spere,  sphere,  8/108 
Sperkele,  spark,  104/2971 
Sprad,  spread  (p.p.),  9/156 
Stablete,  stability,  137/3950 
Stablise,  to  establish,  134/3860 
Stably,  firmly,  135/3890 
Stappe,  step,  170/4963 
Staunche,    to    satisfy,    71/1948, 

1961 
Stere,   to   move   (agitare),    106/ 

3015 

Sterre,  star,  36/903 
Sterry,  starry,  36/904 
Sterten,  to  start,  104/2971 
Stidefastnesse,  stability,  strength, 

97/2748 

Stidfast,  steadfast,  182/17 
Stien,  to  ascend,  88/2444 
Stiere,  steer,  rudder  (gulernacu- 

lum),  103/2926 
Stiern,  stern,  60/1628 
Stoon,  stone,  45/1165 
Stormynge,  making  stormy,   29/ 

712 

Stont,  stands,  9/154 
Stoundes,  times,  178/5187 
Strait,  stretched,  extended,  170/ 

4957 

Strengere,  stronger,  12/221 
Strenke]},  strength,  12/240 
Streyhte,  stretched,  63/1702 
Streyne,  to  restrain,  150/4325 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


201 


Strond,  strand,  51/1339 
Strook,  stroke,  153/4433 
Strumpet,  6/66 
Stye,  to  ascend,  143/4117 
Stynte,  to  stop,  37/929 
Styntynge,  stopping,  ceasing,  6 1/ 

1638 
Suasioun,    persuasion    (suadela), 

30/759 

Subgit,  subject,  48/1273 
Submytte,  to  compel,  force  (sum- 

mitto^  19/434 
Sudeyn,  sudden,  30/752 
Suffisaunce,  sufficiency,  70/1922 
Suffisaunt,  sufficient,  70/1924 

Suffisauntly,     sufficiently,     133/ 

3833 
Summitte,  Summytte,  to  submit, 

49/1288,136/3924 
Superfice,  surface,  81/2238 
Supplien,  to  supplicate,  80/2210 
Surte,  security,  181/46 
Sustigne,  to  sustain,  183/41 

Sweighe,  whirl,   circular  motion 

(turbo\  22/504 
Swerd,  sword,  19/438 
Swety,  sweaty,  181/28 
Sweyes,  whirlings,  32/816 
Swich,  such,  20/446 
Swolwe,  to  swallow,  98/2777 
Syker,  secure,  safe,  12/224,  16/ 

333 
Sykernesse,    security,    safety,    9/ 

132 

Symplesse,  simplicity,  136/3914 
Syn,  since,  31/789 
Syjjen,  since,  32/802 

Talent,  affection,  desire,  will,  6/ 

71,  168/4887 

Taylage,  tollage,  181/524 
fear,  need,  38/987 


Jperwhiles,  whilst,  176/5150 
feilke,  the  same,  that,  99/2814 
feo,  feoo  (pZ.),the,l  1/200, 1 68/4886 
feondre,  thunder,  45/1166 
]5oru3,  through,  11/202 
jpreschefolde,  threshold,  7/89 
fcrest,  thirst,  36/914,  71/1945 

fereste,  feresten,  thrust,  47/1237, 

148/4283 

Throf,  throve,  flourished,  74/2050 
Jprust,  thirst,  107/3053 
Til,  to,  69/1891 
Tilier,  a  tiller,  151/4352 
To-breke,  break  in  pieces,  88/2447 

Todrowen    (pl.)t   drew    asunder, 

11/193 

Toforne,  before,  177/5184 
Togidres,  together,  53/1421 
To  hepe,  together,  140/4029 
Tokene,  to  token,  26/624 
Tollen,  to  draw,  56/1496 
Torenten  (pL),  rent  asunder,  ll/ 

194 
To-teren,  tear  in  pieces,  68/1865 

Traas,  Trais,  trace,   track,    170/ 

4958,  4963 
Transporten,    throw    on    (trans- 

ferre),  19/419 

Travaille,  labour,  toil,  10/174 
Travayle,  to  toil,  labour,  64/1754 
Travayle,  labour,  148/4286 
Tregedie,  tragedy,  77/2126 
Tregedien,  tragedian,  77/2125 
Trenden,  to  roll,  turn,  100/2835 
Troublable,     troublesome,     IIS/ 

3369 
Trouble,  turbid,  stormy,  29/711 

Troubly,  troubled,  cloudy  (nubi- 

lus},  133/3819 
Trowen,  to  trow,  believe,  20/46B, 

152/4399 


202 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Twitre,  to  twitter,  68/1875 
Twynkel,  to  wink,  38/971 
Tylienge,  tilling,  151/4347 
Tyren,  to  tear,  107/3055 

Umblesse,  humility,  181/55 
Unagreable,  unpleasant,  disagree- 
able, 4/25 

UnassaieJ?,  untried,  42/1082 
Unbitide,   not   to   happen,   16 1/ 

4678 

Unbowed,  unbent,  148/4284 
Uncovenable,    unmeet,    importu- 
nate {importnnus),  141/4058 
Undefouled,  undefiled,  40/1023 
Undepartable,  inseparable,    120/ 

3422 
Underput,    put    under,    subject, 


Understonde,  to  understand,  30/ 

733,  43/1120 

Undigne,  unworthy,  54/1444 
UndirneJ),  underneath,  75/2074 

Undiscomfited,    not    discomfited 

(inmctus),  12/232 
Undoutous,     indubitable,      1 49/ 

4315 
Uneschewably,  unavoidably,  157/ 

4531 

Ungentil,  ignoble,  41/1070 
Ungrobbed,  ungrubbed,  180/14 
Unhonestee,  disreputableness,  24/ 

587 

Unhoped,  unexpected,  139/4006 
Universite,  whole,  165/4797 
Unjoynen,  Unjoygnen,  to  separ- 
ate, 151/4373 
Unknowyng,  ignorant,  139/3997 

Unknytten,  to  unloose  (dissolvere), 
154/4459 

Unkonnyng,  Unkunnynge,  un- 
knowing, ignorant,  7/76,  11/202 

Unkorven,  uncut,  180/14 


UnkouJ),  unknown,  foreign,  34/ 

870 
Unlace,  to  disentangle,  105/2982 

Unleveful,  illicit,  unlawful,  154/ 

4456 
Unmeke,  fierce,  cruel,  148/4267 

Unmoeveable,  immovable,    136/ 

3901 
Unmoeveablete,  immobility,  136/ 

3921 
Unmysty,    weak,    impotent,    13/ 

241 

Unne]?,  scarcely,  27/652 
Unparygal,  unequal,  63/1708 
Unpitouse,  cruel,  4/24 
Unpleyten,  to  explain,  61/1647 
Unplite,    explain,   unfold,     167/ 

4843 

Unpunissed,  unpunished,  21/498 
Unpurveyed,  unforeseen,  30/743 

Unraced,  unbroken,  whole,  110/ 

3115 
Unry3tful,  unjust,  10/185 

Unry^tfully,  unrightfully,  un- 
justly, 23/533 

Unscience,  unreal  knowledge,  no 
knowledge,  156/4515 

Unsely,  wretched,  39/1013 

Unselynesse,  wretchedness,  124/ 
3544 

Unskilfuly,  unwisely,  improperly, 
18/407 

Unsolempne,  not  famous,  not 
celebrated,  11/210 

Unsowe,  unsown,  180/10 

Unspedful,  unsuccessful,  178/ 
5210 

Unstauncheable,  unlimited,  in- 
finite, 58/1573 

Unstaunched,  uncurbed,  unre- 
strained, 54/1439 

Unsuitable,  intolerable,  79/2179 

Unusage,  unfrequency,  57/1528 


OLOSSAR1AL    INDEX. 


203 


Untretable,     inexorable,     impla- 
cable, 61/1641 

Unwar,  unexpected,  35/886 
Unwarly,  unaware,  unexpectedly, 

4/10 
Unwemmed,  inviolate,   40/1023, 

178/5201 

Unwened,  unexpected,  139/4006 
Unwoot,  knows  not,  175/5099 
Unworshipful,  dishonoured,   75/ 

2054 

Uphepyng,  heaping  up,  37/951 
Upsodoun,  upside  down,  48/1274, 

156/4501 

Upsprong,  upsprung,  180/10 
Used,   accustomed,  wonted,  22/ 

512 
Uterreste,    extremest,  outermost, 

7/95 

Vanisse,  to  vanish,  74/2027 
Variaunt,  varying,  22/518 
Vengerisse,  a   she-avenger,    107/ 

3048 

Verray,  Verrey,  true,  19/429 
Vilfully     (Wilsfully),     wilfully, 

116/3295 
Voide,   having   an   empty  purse 

(vacum\  50/1316 
Voyded    (of),   emptied    of,    free 

from,  181/50 

Wakyng,  watchful,  148/4263 
Walwe,  to  toss,  51/1361 
Walwyng,  tossing,  29/712 
Wan,  did  win,  147/4240 
War,  be  aware,  take  care,  145/ 

4200 

Warne,  to  refuse,  deny,  37/950 
Wawe,  a  wave,  8/115 
Wayk,  weak,  28/706 
Weep  (pret.),  wept,  35/883 
Welde,    wild,    180/17.     It   may 


mean  boiled,   since  another  copy 
reads  wellyd. 

Weleful,  Welful,  prosperous,  joy- 
ful, 4/15 

Welefulnesse,  Welfulnesse,  pros- 
perity, felicity,  11/188,  21/478 
Welken,   to   wither,   fade,    146/ 

4224 

Welkne,  welkin,  184/62 
Welle,  well,  source,  157/4548 
Wende,    weened,    thought,    53/ 

1397 

Wenge,  wing,  170/4961 
Wenynge,  opinion,  172/5022 
Wepen  (p.p.),  wept,,  25/596 
Wepli,  tearful,  5/29 
Werdes,  fates,  destinies,  4/10 
Werreye,  to  make  war,  181/25 
Weten,  to  know,  156/4519 
Wex,  wax,  167/4840 
Weyve,  to  waive,  forsake,  29/722 
Wham,  whom,  89/2482 
Whelwe,  to  toss,  roU,  39/1001 
Whiderward,  whither,  177/5171 
Whist,  hushed,  51/1341 
Wierdes,  fates,  destinies,  12/231 
Wikke,  wicked,  bad,  64/1743 
Willynge,  desire,  178/5203 
Wilne,  to  desire,  17/367 
Wilnynge,  desire,  98/2781 
Wirche,  to  work,  12/235 
Wirchyng,    working,    operation, 

95/2677 

Wist,  known,  170/4937 
Witen,  to  know,  learn,  88/2458, 

132/3776,  160/4624 
WiJ>drow,  withdrew,  64/1751 
Wi)>halden,   to    withhold,    142/ 

4105 
Wiboute  forjje,  outwardly,   165/ 

4803 
WiJ?seid,  denied,  90/2501 


204 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Wijjstant,  withstand,  29/715 

Wijjstonde  (p.p.),  withstood,  14y 
290 

Witnesfully,  attestedly,  publicly. 

131/3765 

Witynge,  knowledge,  156/4526 
Wod,  woad,  180/17 
Wod,  Wode,  mad,  raging,  12/225 
Wode,  wood,  39/995 

Wodenesse,  rage,   madness,    45/ 

1169,  107/3052 
Wolen  (pi),  wiU,  94/2645 
Woltow,  wilt  thou,  97/2741 
Wone,  to  dwell,  60/1627 

Woode,  Wode,  furious,  mad,  25  / 
600 

Woode,  to  rage,  123/3515 

Woodnesse,  rage,  madness,  107/ 
3052 

Woot,  knows,  43/1128 
Wope,  to  weep,  36/905 
Worchen,  to  work,  178/5215 
Wost,  knowest,  19/423 

Woxe,  to   increase,   wax,    grow, 

25/608 

Woxen  (p.p.),  grown,  25/607 
Wrekere,  avenger,  128/3665 
Wrekyng,  vengeance,  147/4238 
Wropely,  grieved,  sad,  7/87 

Wry  fen,  twist,  turn,  wrest,  154/ 

4452 
Wymple,  to  cover  with  a  veil  or 

wimple,  31/774 
Wyt,  sense,  164/4771 
Wy^t,  wight,  person,  19/425 

Yave  (pi),  gave,  180/4 
Yben,  been,  162/4698 
Ybeyen,  to  obey,  105/2998 
Ycau^t,    caught,   captured,    118/ 

3371 
Ycleped,  caUed,  150/4346 


Ydel,  « in  ydd]  in  vain,  5/43 
Ydred,  feared,  33/825 

Yfelawshiped,  associated,  united, 
53/1421 

Yficched,  fixed,  136/3910 
Yfinissed,  finished,  125/3558 
Yflit,  flitted,  removed,  8/108 
Ygeten,  gotten,  65/1776 
Yhardid,  hardened,  133/3814 
Yheuied,  made  heavy,  171/4974 
Ylad,  led,  37/956,  172/5022 
Ylete,  permitted,  130/3730 
Ylett,  hindered,  161/4674 
Ylorn,  lost,  147/4250 

Ymaginable,  possessing  imagina- 
tion, 166/4812 
Ymaked,  made,  87/2426 
Ymedeled,  mixed,  140/4029 
Ynou3,  enough,  71/1947 
Yplitid,  pleated,  folded,  9/147 
YPORVEYID,  YPURVEID,  foreseen, 

155/4467,  4468 
Ysen,  seen,  72/1982 
Yshad,  shed,  scattered,  68/1874 
Yshet,  shut,  170/4955 
Ysmyte,  smitten,  80/2202 
Yspedd,  made  clear,  determined. 
161/4657  ;  despatched,  149/4295  ' 
Yspendyd,  examined  (expediero), 

161/4668 
Ysprad,  spread,  78/2140 

Yspranid,  sprinkled,  .mixed,  42/ 
1102.     .Zfctffi?  ysprairid. 

Ystrengebed,  strengthened,   175/ 

5098 
Yjjewed,  behaved,  139/4008 

Yjjrongen,  pressed,  squeezed,  57/ 
1521 

Ytravailed,  laboured,  155/4469 

Ytretid,  handled,  performed,  13 1/ 
3765 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


205 


Yvel,  evil,  105/2976 
Ywened,  believed,  145/4178 
Ywist,  known,  155/4475 
Ywoven,  woven,  6/51 
Ywyst,  known,  164/4759 
Y^even,  given,  141/4069 

3af,  gave,  8/130 

3eelde,   3elde,    seldom,    39/1002, 

52/1372 
3eld,  yielded,  147/4253 


3elden,  to  yield,  149/4303 

3eve,  to  give,  149/4291 

3evyng,  giving,  45/1188 

3if,  if,  9/131 

3is,  yes,  103/2919 

3isterday,  yesterday,  171/4994 

3itte,  yet,  156/4508 

3ok,  3okke,yoke,  32/802,  60/1620 

3olde  (p.p.),  yielded,  25/599 

3onge,  young,  35/889 

3ouJ>e,  youth,  10/168 


RICHARD  CLAY  &  SONS, 

BREAD  STREET  HII.L,  LONDON, 

Bnngay,  Suffolk. 


Morris,  R.  -  Chaucer's  "Boece11 


PONTIFICAL  INSTITUTE  OF  MEDIAEVAL  STliulFS 
.       59  QUEEN'S  PARK  CRESCENT 
TORONTO— 5,    CANADA 

21179