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EDITED FROM
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RICHARD MORRIS,
OP CHAUCER'S POETICAL WOBKS, SPENSER'S WOSKS, DAN MICHEL'S ATENBITE
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INTRODUCTION,
WHEN master hands like those of Gibbon and Hallam have
sketched the life of BoetMus, 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 ; 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).
ii INTRODUCTION.
Consolation as 'a book not known by many.' 1 Belgium had her
translations both Flemish 2 and French 3 ; 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 Roman. 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.)
But what is he fat may ^eue a lawe to loueres. loue is a gretter
lawe and a strengere to hym self pan any lawe jjat men may ^euen.
(Chaucer's Prose Translation, p. 108.)
Quis legem det ainantibus f
Major lex amor est sibi. (Boeth., lib. iii. met. 12.)
1 Dante, in his Contito, says, " Misimi a legger quello non cmiosciuto ila
molti libro di Boezio, nel quale captivo e discacciato consolato s'avea."
2 Printed at Ghent, 1485.
1 By Reynier de Seinct Trudon, printed at Bruges, 1477.
4 An old version of the llth cent., printed by Graff, and a modern one
printed at Nuremberg, 1473.
4 By Jean de Meting, 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 nat 2 by whichepa^te 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.)
HI. 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 thatfaire cheyne of love he bond
Thefyr, the watir, the eyr, and eek the lond
In certeyn boundes, that they may not flee.
(Knightes Tale, p. 92.)
That f e world with stable feith / varieth acordable chaungynges // fat
the contraryos qualite of element^ holden amonge hem self aliaunce per
durable / fat phebus the sonne with his goldene chariet / bryngeth forth
the rosene day / fat the mone hath commaundement ouer the nyhtes //
whiche nyhtes hesperus the cue sterre hat[h] browt // fat f e 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-cordaunce of thinges
is bownden with looue / fat gouerneth erthe and see / and [he] hath also
commaundement^ to the heuenes / and yif this looue slakede the brydelis
/ alle thinges fat 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
tp-gideres poeples / ioygned with an hooly bond / and knytteth sacre-
ment of maryages of chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to trewe
felawes // 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
Foadus 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.
JV INTRODUCTION.
Phoebe noctibus imperet,
Ut fluctus aviduru mare
Certo fine coerceat,
Ne terns liceat vagia
Latos tundere terminos ;
Hanc rerum seriem ligat,
Terras ac pelagus regens,
Et ccelo imperitans amor.
Hie si fraena 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 amoribus,
Hie fidis etiam sua
Dictat jura sodalibus.
felix hominum genus,
Si vestros animos amor,
Quo cselum regitur, regat. (Boeth., lib. ii. met. 8.)
Love, that of erth and se hath governauneel
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 LIMITED BY AN IMMUTABLE AND
DIVINE INTELLIGENCE.
That same prynce and moevere eek, quod lie,
Hath stabled, in this wrecched world adoun,
Certeyn dayes and duracioun
To alle-that er e'ngeridrid 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 discerne
That thilke moevere stabul is and eterne.
And therfore of his wyse purveaunce
He hath so wel biset his ordenauuce,
That spices of thinges and progressiouns
Schullen endure by successiouns
And nat eterne be, withoute any lye.
(Knightes Tale, vol. ii. p. 92, 93.)
Jje engendrynge of alle binges qupd she and alle j)e progressiouns
of inuuable nature, and alle J>at moeueb in any manere takij) hys causes,
hys ordre. and hys formes, of be stablenesse of be deuyne bou^t [and
thilke deuyne thowht] bat is yset and put in be toure. bat is to seyne
in J>e hey^t of be simplicite of god. stablisij) many manere gyses to
binges bat ben to don. (Chaucer's Boethius, bk. iv. pr. 6, p. 134.)
V. THE PART IS DERIVED FROM THE WHOLE, THE I M PER" 1 ROT
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 DO 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 bing bat is cleped inperfit . is proued inperfit by be
amenusynge of perfeccioun . or of bing bat is perfit . and her-of comeb
it . j?at in euery bing general . yif bat . bat men seen any bing bat is
inperfit . certys in bilke general ber mot ben somme bing bat is perfit.
For yif so be bat perfeccioun is don awey . men may nat binke nor seye
fro whennes bilke bing is bat is cleped inperfit . For be nature of binges
ne token nat her bygynnyng of binges amenused and inperfit . but it
procedijj of bingus bat ben al hool . and absolut . and descendeb so
doune in-to outcreat binges and in -to bingus empty and wib-oute fruyt .
VI INTRODUCTION.
but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne . Jjat yif Jjer be a blisfulnesse
|>at be frele and vein and inperfit . J>er may no man doute . J>at jjer nys
som blisfulnesse }>at is sad stedfast and perfit.' (bk. iii. pr. 10, p. 89.)
Omne enim quod imperfectum esse dicitur, id deminutione perfecti
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 ab diminutis incon-
summatisque natura rerum cepit exordium, sed ab integris absolutisque
procedens in hcec extrema atque effc&ta dilabitur. Quod si, uti paulo ante
monstravimus, est quaedam boni fragilis imperfecta felicitas, esse aliquam
solidam perfectamque non potest dubitari. (Boeth., lib. iii. pr. 10.)
VI. GENTILITY.
For gentilnesse nys but renoine
Of thin auncestres, for her heigh bounte
Which is a straunge thing to thy persone.
(The W^f of Bathes Tale, vol. ii. p. 241.)
For if J>e name of gentilesse be referred to renoun and clernesse of
linage. J?an is gentil name but a foreine }>ing.
(Chaucer's Boethius, p. 78.)
Quce [nobilitas], si ad claritudinem refertur, aliena est.
(Boethius, lib. iii. pr. 6.)
vii. NERO'S CRUELTY.
No teer out of his eyen for that sighte
Ne cam ; but sayde, a fair worn man 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
myjte 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 disponeth, thorugh his ordinaunce,
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 8wore,
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 thiee 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 variauuce,
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 gesso
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 come, therfor the purveyaunce
Woot it bifore, withouten ignorance.
140
(6) And in this manere this necessite
Retourneth in his part coutrarye 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.
ii 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 com en 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 wool 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 byfore,
Therfor is thyn opinioun soth, ywys ;
And I seye, though the cause of soth of this
Cometh of his sittynge, yet necessite
IB iiiterchaunged both in hym and the.
INTRODUCTION. ix
146
(13) Thus 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) Quae tamen ille ab aaterno cuncta prospiciens providentiae cernit
intuitus, et suis quaeque meritis prasdestinata disponit (Boethius,
lib. v. pr. 2.)
(2) Nam si cuncta prospicit Deus neque falli ullo modo potest,
evenire necesse est, quod providentia futurum esse prasviderit. Quare
si ab aeterno non facta hominum modo, sed etiam consilia voluntatesque
prsenoscit, nulla erit arbitrii libertas ;
(3) Neque enim vel factum aliud ullum vel quselibet existere poterit
voluntas, nisi quam nescia falli providentia divina preesenserit. Nam
si res aliorsum, quam provisae 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 providentiara latere non possit
(6) Eoque modo necessarium est hoc in contrariam relabi partem ;
neque enirn necesse est contingere quae providentur, sed necesse est
quae futura sunt provided.
(7) Quasi vero quse cuj usque rei causa sit,
(8) Praescientiane futurorum necessitatis an futurorum necessitas
providentiae, laboretur.
(9) At nos illud demonstrare nitamur, quoquo modo sese habeat
ordo causarum, necessarium esse eventum prasscitarum rerum, etiam si
praescientia futuris rebus eveniendi necessitatem non videatur inferre.
(10) Etenim si quispiam sedeat, opinionem quae eum sedere conjectat
veram esse necesse est : at e converso rursus,
X INTRODUCTION.
(11) Si de quopiam vera sit opinio quoniam sedet eum 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
haec potius vera est, quoniam quempiam sedere pracessit. 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 tameii 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 adversite",
The worste kynde of infortune is this,
A man to han ben in prosperite,
And it remembren, when it passed is.
(Troylus and Oryseyde, bk. iii. st. 226, vol. iv. p. 291.)
Sed hoc est, quod recolentem me vehementius coquit. Nam in omni
adversitate fortunae infelicissimum genus est inf ortunii, fuisse felicem. 1
(Boethius, lib. ii. pr. 4.)
X. VULTURES TEAR THE STOMACH OF TITTUS IN HELL.
Syciphus in Helle,
Whos stomak fowles tyren everemo,
That hyghten volturis.
(Troylus and Cryseyde, book i. st. 113, p. 140.)
})e fowel Jjat hy^t voltor Jjat etij? j?e storaak 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 tome
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] ]>an to ben fortune.
{Chaucer's Boethius, p. 32.)
1 Cf. Dante, Inferno, V. 121.
Nessun maggior dolore
Che ricordarsi del tempo felice
Nella miseria ; e cio sa '1 tuo Dottore.
INTRODUCTION". XI
(Compare stanzas 120, 121, p. 142, and stanza 136, p. 146, of
'Troylus and Cryseyde' with pp. 31, 33, 35, and p. 34 of Chaucer's
Boethius.)
At omnium mortalium stolidissime, si manere incipit, fors ease
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.)
J)e swetnesse of mannes welefulnesse is yspranid wij) many[e] bitter
nesses. (Chaucer's Boethius, p. 42.)
ful anguissous jjing is J>e coudicioun of mans goodes. For
eyper it come)) al to-gidre to a wy^t. or ellys it lastej) not perpetuely.
(Ib. p. 41.)
Quam multis amaritudinibus humanae felicitatis dulcedo respersa
est ! (Boethius, lib. ii. prose 4.)
Anxia enim res est humanorum conditio bonorum, et quaa vel nun-
quam tota proveniat, vel nunquam perpetua subsistat. (Ib.)
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 hym 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 j)is toumblyng welefulnesse leedijj, eijjer he woot
J?at [it] is chaungeable. or ellis he woot it nat. And yif he woot it
not. what blisful fortune may jjer be in J>e blyndenesse of ignoraunce.
(2) And yif he woot Jjat it is chaungeable. he mot alwey ben adrad
Jjat he ne lese fat J>ing. Jjat he ne doutej) nat but Jjat he may lecsen it.
Xl'i INTRODUCTION.
For whiche J>e continuel drede Jjat he hajj ne suffrijj hyni
nat to ben weleful. Or ellys yif he leese it he wene[J>] to be dispised and
forleten hit. Certis eke J>at is a ful lytel goode J>at is born wijj eueue
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, quasnam beata sors esse potest ignorantiae
in CEecitate?
(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
aequo 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) vsef ful flatryng familarite wij? hem Jjat she enforce]?
to bygyle. (Chaucer's Boethius, p. 30.)
She lau^ej) and scornejj J?e wepyng of hem J>e
whiche she ha)> maked wepe wij) hir free wille .... Yif fat a
wy^t is seyn weleful and ouerjjrowe in an houre. (76. 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 Cliaucer's Boethius, p. 110, 111.
^Etas 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 Meung'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 suam. And sorou haj) comaunded his
age to be in ine (p. 4).
Et ma douleur commanda a vieillesse
Entrer en moy / ains quen fust hors ieunesse.
Mors 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 jjut ben swete
(i. mirie). but come}) to wrecches often yclepid. (p. 4.)
On dit la moil des homes estre eureuse
Qui ne vient pas en saison plawtureuse
Mais des tristes mowlt souuent appellee
Elle y affuit nue / seche et pelee.
Qucrimoniam lacrymabilem. Wepli compleynte (p. 5). Fr. rna
complainte moy esmouuant a pleurs.
Styli qfficio. WiJ) office of poyntel (p. 5). Fr. (que ie reduisse) par
escript.
Inexhaustus. Swiclie . . . pat it ne my^t[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 pro/undo. 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 incelebris. 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.
eutre mes secrettes et oyseuses estudes.
Palatini canes. )3e houndys of J>e palays (p. 15). Fr. les chrens du
palais.
b
XIV INTRODUCTION.
MasculcB prolis. Of bi masculyn children (p. 37). Fr. de ta lignie
masculine.
Ad singularem felititatis tuce cumulum venire delectat. It delitej) me to
comen now to be singuler vphepyng of J)i welefulnesse (p. 37). Fr. II
me plait venir au singulier monceau de ta felicite.
Consulate imperium. Emperie of consulers (p. 51). Fr. lempire con-
sulaire.
Hoc ipsum brevis habitaculi. Of bilke litel habitacle (p. 57). Fr.
de cest trespetit habitacle.
Late patentee plagas. Jje brode shewyng contreys (p. 60).
QVicowques tend a gloire vaine
Et le croit estre souueraine
Voye les regions patentee
Du ciel
Ludens hominum cura. J3e 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 be prouost of be 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 sowimes arguez ?
Fortuita tem^ritate. By fortunouse fortune (p. 26). Fr. par fortuite
folie.
Quos premunt septem gelidi triones. Alle Jje peoples bat ben vndir
be colde sterrea bat hy^ten be seuene triones (p. 55). Fr. ceulx de
septentrion.
Ita ego quoque tibi veluti corollarium dabo. Ry3t so wil I ^eue be
here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune (p. 91). Fr. semblablement
ie te donneray ainsi que vng correlaire.
In stadio. In be studio or in be forlonge (p. 119). Fr. ou (for au)
champ.
Conjecto. I coniecte (p. 154). Fr. ie coniecture.
Nimium . . . adversari ac repugnare videtur. It semeb ... to re-
pugnen and to contrarien gretly. Fr. Ce semble chose trop contraire et
repugn ante.
Universitatis ambitum. Envirounynge of be vniuersite (p. 165). Fr.
lauironnement de luniuersalite.
INTRODUCTION. XV
Rationis universum. Vniuersite of resoun (p. 165). Fr. luniuersalite
de Raison.
Scientiam nunquam defieientis instantice rectius cestimabis. )?ou shalt
detnen [it] more ry^tr'ully fat it is science of presence or of instaunce
Jjat neuer ne faylejj (p. 174). Fr. mais tu la diras plus droittement et
mieulx science de instante presentialite non ianiais 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 clavus 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 are
such as we could ill spare. Some few are rather uncommon, as
gouemaile (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
ana.
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 icrechednesse ' (p. 35). One would think that the following
definition of Tragedian would be rather superfluous after this, ' a
maker of dites \at hyjten (are called) tregedies ' (p. 77).
Melliflui . . . arts Homerus
is thus quaintly Englished : Homer wty \e hony moufe, \at is to
seyn. homer wi\> \>e swefe dites (p. 153).
1 See pages 30, 50, 61, 94, 111, 133, 149, 153, 159.
XVI INTRODUCTION.
The present translation of the De Consolations 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 thilke 2 and-nessc.
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 -yng'f.
* It is nearly always th'dlie in the Canterbury Talcs.
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 ; aud
/>*
xviii APPENDIX TO INTRODUCTION.
Boetliius 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
templation 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 Ariau, 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 wras 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
APL'KXDIX TO INTRODUCTION*. XIX
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 rnagic.
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 of 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. She 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 ; arid
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 awl Full, 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 ... 4
1 Hsec dum mecum tacitus ipse reputarem ... 5
,,2 Heu, quam prsecipiti 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
ccelum ... ... ... -... ... 10
,,4 Quisquis composite serenus aevo ... ... 12
4 Sentisne, inquit, haec, atque animo illabuntur
tuo? 13
5 stelliferi conditor orbis ... ... ... 21
5 Haec ubi con tinuato dolore delatravi ... ... 23
,,6 Cum Phoebi radlis grave ... ... ... 25
,, 6 Primum igitur paterisne me pauculis rogationibus 26
,,7 N"ubibus atris ... ... ... ... ... 29
II 1 Posthaec paulisper obticuit ... ... ... 29
,, 1 Haec cum superba verterit vices dextra ... 33
,, 2 Vellem autem pauca tecum fortunes 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 perennem ... ... ... 44
xxii INDEX.
Hook Metre Prose Page
II 5 Sed quoniam rationum jam in te mearuin fo-
menta ... ... ... ... ... 45
5 Felix nimium 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 prsecipiti 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 terreua 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 ssepe, quam turpis est ! 77
,,6 Omne hominum genus in terris ... ... 78
7 Quid autem de corporis voluptatibus loquar ? 79
7 Habet omnis hoc voluptas ... ... ... 80
8 Nih.il igitur dubium est, quin ... ... ... 80
8 Eheu, quam miseros tramite devio ... ... 81
,, 9 Hactenus mendacis formam felicitatis ostendisse 82
,,9 qui perpetua mundum ratione gubernas ... 87
,, 10 Quoniam igitur quae 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 qni potuit boni ... ... ... ... 106
IV 1 Haec cum Philosophia, dignitate ... ... 108
INDEX. XX111
Book Metre Prose Page
IV 1 Sunt etenim pennae volucres mihi ... ... 110
2 Turn ego, Papse, inquam, ut magna promittis ! 112
,,2 Quos vides sedere celso ... ... ... 118
3 Videsne igitur quanto in coeno probra volvantur 119
3 Vela Neritii ducis 122
4 Turn ego, Fateor, inquam, nee injuria dici video 123
,,4 Quid tantos juvat excitare motus ... ... 130
5 Hie ego, Video, inquam, quse sit vel felicitas ... 131
,,5 Si quis Arcturi sidera nescit ... ... ... 132
6 Ita est, inquam. ... ... ... ... 133
,,6 Si vis celsi jura tonantis ... ... ... 143
7 Jamne igitur vides, quid hsec omnia quae diximus,
consequatur ? ... ... ... ... 144
,,7 Bella "bis quinis operatus annis ... ... 147
V 1 Dixerat, orationisque cursum ad alia quaedam 149
,,1 Eupis Achsemeniae scopulis, ubi versa sequentum 151
2 Animadverto, inquam, -idque uti tu dicis, ita esse
consentio. ... ... ... ... ... 152
,,2 Puro clarum lumine Phoebum ... ... ... 153
3 Turn ego, En, inquam, difficiliori rursus am-
biguitate confundor. ... ... ... 154
3 Quaenam discors fcedera rerum ... ... 159
4 Turn ilia, Vetus, inquit, hsec est de Providentia
querela ... ... ... ... ... 161
,,4 Quondam porticus attulit ... ... ... 166
-5 Quod si in corporibus sentiendis, quamvis ... 168
,,5 Quam variis terras animalia permeant figuris ! 170
6 Quoniam igitur, uti paulo ante monstratum est 171
Appendix. ^Etas Prima 180
Balades de Vilage sanz Peinture 182
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
rj]NCIPIT TABULA LIBEI BOICII DE CON-
SOLAC/CWE PHILOSOPHIE.
[Additional MS. 1 0,340, fol. 3.1
LIBER PRIMUS. [..]
1 Carmina qui quondam studio florente peregi.
2 Hie dum mecum tacitus.
3 Heu quam precipiti.
4 Set medicine inquit tempus.
5 Tune me discussa.
6 Haut ' aliter tristicie. MS. hanc.
7 Quisquis composito.
8 Sentis ne inquit.
9 stelliferi conditor orbis.
10 Hie ubi continuato dolore.
11 Cum phebi radijs.
12 Primum igitwr pateris rogactombw*.
13 Nubibs atris condita.
EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.
LIBER SECUNDUS.
1 Postea paulisper 2 conticuit. MS. itjper.
2 Hec cum superba.
3 Uellem autem pauea.
4 Si quantas rapidis.
5 His igitur si et pro se.
TABLE OP CONTENTS.
6 Cum primo polo.
7 Tune ego uera inqz/m.
8 Contraqwe.
9 Quisqm's ualet perhennem cantxis.
10 Set cum racionum iam in te.
1 1 Felix in mirum iam prior etas.
12 Quid autem de dignitatibws.
13 Xouimws quantos dederat.
14 Turn ego scis inqwam.
15 Quicunqwe solam niente.
16 Set ne me inexorabile.
17 Q?<od muwdus stabile fide.
EXPLICIT LIBER
LIBER TEECIUS.
1 Iam tantum ilia.
2 Qui serere ingeniuTW.
3 Tune defixo paululum.
4 Quantas rerum flectat.
5 Uos quoqwe terrena awimalia.
6 Quamuis fluenter diues.
7 Set dignitatibz^.
8 Qua?uis se tirio.
9 An uero regna.
10 Qui se ualet esse potentem.
11 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 igitwr dubiim est.
16 Heu qwe miseros tramite.
17 Hactenws me?idacio formaw.
18 qui perpetua.
19 Quoniam igitur qui scit.
20 Nunc omnes pariter.
21 Assencior inqitam cuncta.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
22 Quisq?/,e profunda.
23 Tune ego platoni inquam.
24 Felix qui poterit.
EXPLICIT LIBER T.EBCIUS.
LIBER QUAETUS.
1 Hec cum philosophia.
2 Sunt etenim penne.
3 Tune ego pape inqwam.
4 Quos uides sedere celsos.
5 Uides ne igitur quanto.
6 U[e]la naricij ducis.
7 Tune ego fateor inqwam.
8 Quid tantos iuuat.
9 Huic ego uideo inqwam.
10 Si quis arcturi ' sydera. ' MS.
11 Ita est inqwam.
12 Si uis celsi iura.
13 lam ne igitwr uides.
14 Bella bis quinis.
EXPLICIT LIBER QUARTUS.
INCIPIT LIBER QUINTUS.
1 Dixerat orac^onis qiie cursum.
2 Rupis achemenie.
3 Animaduerto inqwam.
4 Puro clarum lumine.
5 Tamen ego en inqwam.
6 Que nam discors.
7 Tamen ilia uetus.
8 Quondam portions attulit.
9 Quod si in corporibws.
10 Quam uarijs figuris.
1 1 Quoniam igiiur uti paulo ante.
EXPLICIT LIBER QUIETUS ET Uf-TIMUS.
BOETHIUS DEPLORES HIS MISFORTUNES.
ritOOK 1.
LMKT. i.
[*foL 36.]
[The fyrste
Metur.]
Roethius deplores
his misfortunes
in the following
pathetic elegy.
Laments his
immature old
age.
Death turns a
deaf ear to the
wretched.
When Fortune
was favourable
Death raine near
lioethius,
but in his
adversity life is
protracted.
* LIBER PRIMUS.
INCIPIT LIBER BOICII DE CO-ZraOLAC/OJVE PHILOSOPHIE.
Carmina qui qiiondam studio florente peregi.
A lias I wepyng ain constreined to bygynne vers of
** sorouful matere. ^[ Jjat whilom in florysching
studie made delitable ditees. For loo rendyng muses
4 of poetes enditen to me f inges to be writen. and drery
vers of wrecchednes weten my face wijj verray teers.
T[ At f e leest no drede ne my^t[e] ouer-come f o muses.
7 fat f ei ne weren felawes and folweden my wey. fat is
to seyne when I was exiled. f ei fat weren glorie of
my you^th whilom weleful and grene cowforten now f e
sorouful werdes of me olde man. for elde is comen vn-
warly vpon me hasted by f e harmes fat I haue. and
12 sorou haf comau/zded his age to be in me. ^f Heeres
bore ben schad ouertymelyche vpon myne heued. and
f e slak[e] skyn tremble]? vpon myn emty body. J>ilk[e]
deep of men is welful fat ne comef not in ^eres fat
ben swete (.i. mirie.) but comef to wrecches often
17 yclepid.
^f Alias alias wif how deef an eere deef cruel
kwmef awey fro wrecches and naief to closen wep
yng eyen. ^[ While fortune vnfeifful fauored[e] me
W ^ ^J3^ e gdes (.s. temporels.) f e sorouful houre fat
22 is to seyne fe deef had[de] almost dreynt myne heued.
IF But now for fortune clowdy haf chaunged hir dis-
,11 i . T / j
ceyuable chere to me warde. myn vnpitouse liji drawef
a long vnagreable dwellynges in me. ^T O je my
1 nf MS. of of.
J //<> rifxi-li i >if/ lloryssjTige
:i /< lulling rendynge
4 be ben
6 wrecchednes wrecched-
11CNSO
teers teercs
6 leest leeste
mj/i([f] ouer-come myhte
ouercomen
5 ejfne ichenseyn whan
'.i ,,,,,,-th MS.)>ojt,C.yowthe
in snrrmful werdes sorful
wierdes [i. fata]
12 toro* sorwe
12 ha\> MS. ha)>e
be ben
13 hore hoorc
ben arn
myne myn
14 slak(.e~\ slake
( vpon nf
emty -emptyd
J>i7*[e]-tliiikc
15 welful wclcful
cnme\> not comth nat
It! .'. mirie omitted
19 toume\> torneth
n a ie \> n a.v t e 1 1 1
wepyng wepynge
20 While-'Wbti
fauored[e'] fauorede
21 lyite lyhte
... temporels omitted
soroiiful houre sorwful
howr*
22 seyne seyn
had[de~\ hadde
myne mvn
23 ha\> Mfe. haj>e
chaunged hir iJiaci-iiii-
able chaungyd hyre de-
ceyuable
21 vnpitouse lijf vupietous
lyf
HOOK 1. "1
PKOSE l.J
PHILOSOPHY APPEARS TO BOETHIUS.
frendes what or wherto auauntedfel ?e me to be wele- why did his
friends call
ful : for he bat hab fallen stood not in stedfast degree.
He stood not
firm that hath
thus fallen.
HIC BUM MECUM TACITUS.
~TN be mene while bat I stille record ed[e] bise binges
* wib my self, and markede my wepli compleynte wib
office of poyntel. I saw stondyng aboue be hey^t of my
heued a woman of ful greet reuerence by semblaunt
hir eyen brennyng and clere seing ouer be comune
myjt of men. wib a lijfly colour and wib swiche vigours
and strenkeb bat it ne my^tfe] not be emptid. ^[ Al
were it so bat sche was ful of so greet age. bat men ne
wolde not trowe in no man ere bat sche were of oure
elde. be stature of hir was of a doutous iugement. for
suwtyuie sche constreyned[e] and schronk hir seluen
lyche to be comune mesure of men. and stmtyme it
semed[e] bat sche touched[e] be heuene wib be hey^te
of hir heued. and when sche hef hir heued heyer sche
perced[e] be selue heuene. so bat be sy^t of men lokyng
was in ydel. ^[ Hir clobes weren maked of ry^t delye
bredes and subtil crafte of perdurable matere. be wyche
clobes sche hadde wouen wib hir owen hondes : as I
knew wel aftir by hir selfe. declaryng and schewyng
to me be beaute. be wiche clobes a derkenes of a for-
leten and dispised elde had[de] duskid and dirkid as
it is vfont to dirken by-smoked ymages. ^[ In be ne-
[The firste
prose.]
29
Philosophy
appears to
Boethius,
like a beautiful
woman,
33
and of great age.
36
Her height could
not be determined,
40
for there were
times when she
raised her head
higher than the
heavens.
44
Her clothes were
finely wrought
and indissoluble,
hut dark and
dusky, like old
hesm'oked images.
26 aiiaunted[e] auauntede
be ben
27 fcap MS. hape
not nat
stedfast stidefast
28 In \>e mene omitted
recorded[e~\ recordede
30 saw MS. sawe, C. sawh
stondyng above MS. stu-
diyng aboue, C. stond-
inge abouen
hey)t heyhte
/?/ myn
31 greet gret
32 hrennyng brennynfte
clere seiny cleer seynjce
3: swiche swych
31 strcnkc\> strcnprthe
it emptid it myhte
nat ben emted
34 Al alle
36 wolde trowe wolden
nat trowen
37 iugement luggement
38 sumtyme somtyme
constreyned[e] con-
streynede
schronk MS. schronke,
C. shronk
39 lyche lyk
40 semed[_e\ semede
touched[e\ to>wchede
41 when whan
hef MS. heued, C. hef
heyer hyere
42 perced\_e\ percede
sint syhte
lokipin lookynge
44 crafte craft
45 wouen MS. wonuen, C.
wouen
owen hmides owne
handes
46 knew MS. knewe, C.
knewh
selfe declaryng self dc-
clarynge
schewyng slicwynpi-
47 derkenes dirknesse
forleten forletyn
48 dispised despised
had[de~\ duskid haddo
dusked
dirkid derked
49 by-smoked the smokede
neperest[e] nethereste
A DESCRIPTION OF PHILOSOPHY.
I HOOK 1 .
LFROBE i.
On the lower hem
of her garment
was the letter n
and on the
upper e.
53
Between the
letters were
steps like a
ladder.
56
Philosophy's
garments were
I uttered and
torn, and pieces
had been carried
violently off.
60
In her right hand
she bore her
hooks, 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.
They may
accustom the
iiiiinl in lit-ar
f, r riot', but cannot
five it from its
malady.
J>erest[e] hem or bordure of fese clofes men redden
ywouen in swiche a gregkysclie .P. fat signifief f e lijf
actif. And abouen fat lethe in f e hey3est[e] bordure
a grekysche T. fat signifief fe lijf contemplatif.
*f[ And by-twene Jjese two lefties fere weren seien de
grees nobly wrou^t in manere of laddres. By wyclie
degrees men my3t[en] clymbe fro f e nef emast[e] lethe
to fe ouermast[e]. ^[ Nafeles hondes of sum men
hadde konie fat clof e by vyolence and by strenkef .
^j And eueryche man of hem hadde born away syche
peces as he my^te geet[e]. ^f And forsof e f is forsaide
woman her bookes in hir ry^t honde. and in hir lefte
honde sche ber a ceptre. ^[ And when sche sauj 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. ^f Who quod, sche haf
sufFred aprochen to f is seek[e] man f ise comune strum-
petis of siche a place fat *men clepen fe theatre.
^[ J)e wyche only ne asswagen not his sorowes. wif no
remedies, but fei wolde fede and norysche hem wif
swete venym. ^[ Forsof e J>ise ben f o fat wif fornes
and prykkynges of talent3 or affecciou?s wiche fat
ben no fing fruteliyng nor profitable destroyen fe
comes plenteuouse of frutes of reson. ^[ For fei
holden fe hertes of men in usage, but fei ne delyuere
not folk fro maladye. but if 36 muses hadde wif draAven
i>0 pese thise
" 1 xiriche omitted
f/regkysche grt^kysshe
xiim ijie\> syngiiifleth
.J li<'ir,est[e] heyeste
..4 by-tweue ]>ese bytwixen
thise
pere ther
seien seyn
55 nobly wrou^t nobely y-
wroght
wyche whichc
56 myit[eri] clymbe inyhten
clymbyn
ne]>emast[e] nothi-rcst c
67 ouermast[e] vpj)crcste
sum some
> limlili' knrue huddcn
koruun
58 c.'ope cloth
strenke\> strengthe
59 born MS. borne, C. born
away syche awey swiche
60 geet\e] geten
forsaide forseide
61 her MS. bere, C. bar
bookex smale bookes
1i a a ilr -hand
lefts lionde left hand
62 her MS. bere, C. baar
sain bese say thise
tin ln-,l<lc bed
endytyng enditynge
6t ameued amoued
(i.'i r//oived[e'] (tlowodc
ha\> ^1S li:i|.c. C. lintli
66 ,eAr[e] sikc
\>ixe- Ilic
66 strumpetis strompetes
67 siche svvich
clepen clepyn
68 only ne nat ponly ne
not hisi\nt hisc
no nfnic
6( wnltlefede wolden IVcdt n
norysche hem noryssyn
liyin
72 ben ne ben
7:i eomts plenteuouse cum
plentyiKis
74 \>e and ne both omitted
75 not nat
.//I* MS. if pe, C. yif.vr
iiinldc hadden
BOOK 1.1
MET. 2. J
PHILOSOPHY REBUKES THE MUSKS.
fro me wip ^oure flateries. any vnkonnyng and vnprofit-
able man as men ben wont to fynde comunely amonges
pe peple. I wolde wene suffre pe lasse greuously.
^f For-why in syche an vnprofitable man myne ententes
weren no ping endamaged, ^f But ^e wipdrawen me
pis man fat hap ben norysched in studies or scoles of
Eleaticis and of achademicis in grece. ^[ But gop now
raper awey 30 meremay denes wyche ben swete til it
be at pe laste. and suffrej) pis man to be cured and
heled by myne muses, fat is to say by notful sciences.
^[ And Jms pis compaygnie of muses I-blamed casten
wropely pe chere adounward to pe erpe and schewyng
by redenesse liir schame pei passeden sorowfuly pe
preschefolde. ^f And I of whom pe sy$t plonged in
teres was derked so pat I ne myjt[e] not knowe wbat
pat woman was of so imperial auctorite. ^f I wex al
a-besid and astoned. and caste my sy^t adoune in to pe
erpe. and. bygan stille forto abide wbat sche wolde doff
afterwarde. ^[ ])o come sche nere and sette Mr doun
vpon pe vterrest[e] corner of my bedde. and sche by-
holdyng my chere pat was cast to pe erpe heuy and
greuous of wepyng. cowpleinede wip pise wordes pat I
schal sey pe pertw/bacioura of my pou^t.
Philosophy is
deeply grieved,
localise 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
tyren* begone.
87
Blushing for
shame they pass
the threshold.
91
Boethius is
astonished at the
presence of the
august dame.
95
Philosophy
expresses Jier
concern for
Boethius.
98
HEU QUAM PRECIPITI MERSA PROFUNDO.
A lias how pe pou^t of man dreint in ouer prowyng [The2deMetr
* depnesse dulleb and forletib hys propre clere- Drowned in
the depth ofraiv-
nesse. myntynge to gone in to foreyne derknesses as |j5f " e ' r loses
ofte as hys anoious bisines wexip wip-outew mesure. clearness -
76 vnkonnyng vnkunnynge
78 peple poeple
79 syche swhiche
myne myn
80 weren lie weeren
je ye
81 hap MS. haj>e, C. hath
ben be
scoles schooles
82 gob MS. gobe, C. goth
-whiche '
say seyn
83 wyclie whiche )>at
85 notful rioteful
86 I-blamed Iblamyd
87 wrofyely wrothly
adounward downward
88 redenesse redncssc
sorowfuly sorwfully
89 \>reschefolde thresshfold
sy\t syhte
90 derked dyrked
"?<[] knowe myhte
nat knowen
91 wex wax
92 a-6e*('</ abaysshed
caste cast
92 adoune in to down to
93 don MS. done
95 vterrest[e] corner-- vt-
tereste cornere
bedde \m\
97 compleinede coin-
pley[n]de
98 sey seyen
101 gone goon
102 bisines bysync-^c
outen owto
PHILOSOPHY ADDRESSES BOETHIUS. [FKOSEZ.
Man in his bat is drvuen to and fro wib worldly wyndes. ^T bis
freedom knew Y J J
tne h sk egio " f man f a ^ suw tyme was fre to vfhom be heuene was open
105 and knowen and was woiit to gone in heuenelyche
pabes. and sau$ be lyjtnesse of be rede sunne. and sau^
be sterres of be colde moone. and wyche sterre in
the motions of heuene vseb wandryng risorses yflit by dyuerse speres.
the planets, and
was wont to u bis man ouer comere hadde comprehendid al bis by
investigate the
causes of storms, noumbre. of accountyng in astronomye. ^[ And ouer
bis he was wont to seche be causes whennes be soun-
112 yng wyndes moeuen and bisien be smobe water of be
see. and what spirit turneb be stable heuene. and
whi be sterre ryseb oute of be reede eest. to falle
the nature and in be westren wawes. and what attemprib be lusty
properties of the
seasons, houres of be fyrste somer sesourc bat hi^teb and ap-
117 paraileb be erbe wib rosene floures. ^[ And who
makeb bat plenteuouse autumpne in fulle }eres fletib
wib heuy grapes. ^[ And eke bis mare was wont to
and the hidden telle be dyuerses causes of nature bat weren yhid.
causes of nature.
121 ^[ Alias now lieb he emptid of ly^t of hys bo^t. and
But now, alas, hy s nekke is pressid wib heuy cheynes and bereb his
lie is constrained *
to the^round? chere enclined adoune for be greet[e] wey^t. and is
124 constreyned to loke on foule erbe.
SET MEDICINE INQUIT TEMPUS.
[The ij<> prose.] T> vt tyme is now quod sche of medicine more ben of
More need of ^ compleynte. If Forsobe ben sche entendyng to
medicine than of
complaint. me warde wib al be lokyng of hir eyen saide. ^[ Art
1 28 not bou he quod, sche bat sumtyme I-norschid wib my
Philosophy mylke and fostrefdl wib my meetes were ascaped and
addresses
Boethius. comen to corage of a perfit man. ^[ Certys I 3af be
103 worldly wordely
104 sumtyme whilom
105 gone goon
108 pa\>es paathes
*an-$ sawn
lyitnesse lytluiRsse
t unne sonnn
aj MS. SUP, C. sawgh
107 noyche which
108 risorses recourses
111 seche sekcn
sounyny
114 ryse\> oute aryseth owt
Jalle fallen
115 icestrenviestreiie
116 fyrste fyrst
119 eke ek
120 dyuerses dinerse
yhid MS. yhidde
121 lie\> lith
emptid em ted
123 adoune adown
greetW v>e/r,t grete
we.vhtr
12 1 loke foule lookeuon
the fool
125, 126 bew than
127 at alle
aide seyde
128 sumtt/me whilom
I-norschid MS. I-nor-
schide, C. noryssed
129 fostreld} fostered
my myne
130 Certys Crrt i s
BOOK 1.1
MET. u. J
PHILOSOPHY ENLIGHTENS - BOETHiUS.
syche armures fat }if bou bi self ne haddest first caste
hem away, bei schulden haue defendid be in sykernesse
fat may not be ouer-comen. ^[ Knowest bou me not.
* Why art J)ou stille. is it for schame or for astonynge.
It were me leuer bat it were for schame. but it semeb
*
me bat astony/zge hab oppressed be. ^[ And whan
sche say me not oonly stille. but wib-outen office of
tonge and al doumbe. sche leide hir honde softely vpon
my brest and seide. ^[ Here nis no peril quod sche.
Tf He is fallen in to a litargie. whiche bat is a comune
sekenes to hertes bat ben desceiued. ^f He hab a litel
foneten hym self, but certis he schal Iy3tly remembren
hym self. ^1 3if so be bat he hab knowew me or now.
and bat he may so done I wil wipe a litel hys eyen.
bat ben derked by be cloude of mortel binges f Jpise
wordes seide sche. and wib be lappe of hir garment
yplitid in a frounce sche dried[e] myn eyen bat were
ful of be wawes of my wepynges.
132
[ foi. 4 &.]
She fears his
silence proceeds
from shame
fto **
TUNC ME DISCU8SA.
s when bat ny^t was discussed and chased awey.
derknesses forleften me. and to myn eyen repeyre
a^eyne her firste strenkeb. and ryjt by ensample as
be sonne is hid when be sterres ben clustred. bat is to
sey when sterres ben eouered wib cloudes by a swifte
wynde bat hy^t chorus, and bat be firmamewt stont
derked by wete ploungy cloudes. and bat be sterres not
apperen vpo?z heuene. ^[ So bat be ny3t semeb sprad
vpon erbe. ^f Yif ban be wynde bat hy^t borias
137
she finds him,
however, in a
lethargy, the
distemper of a
disordered mind -
141
TO make his re
covery an easy
matur, she wipes
his eyes, which
j^d^'* 1 by
mortal thing8 '
146
and dries up his
[The S<i Metwr.]
Her touch dispels
the darkness of
his si ml,
151
just as the heavy
vapours, that
darken the skies
and obscure the
sunlight, are
chased away by
the north wind,
156
131 syche swiche
$if yif
cante C. cast
132 away awey
scli nlden haue sholdeii
han
133 not be nat bn
Knowest pow knowestow
134 art bou artow
136 hab MS. hape
138 tonge tunRe
clnumbe rlowmb
honde hand
139 Here^- her
140 litargie whictie litarge
which
141 sekenes svkenesse
141, 143 hab MS. hape
144 done doon
wil wipe wol wypen
146 garment earnemeiit
147 dried[e] dryede
were weeren
148 ful fulle
149 when whan
150 myn myne
150 repeyre repeyrede
151 a^eyne omitted
her firste hir fyrst
152 hid MS. hidde, C. hid
when whan
153 sey seyn
when whan
164 fiy$t heyhte
chorus MS. thorns
stont MS. stonde, C. slant
157 ban thai me
wynde wynd
hy^t hyhte
]0
BOETHIUS RECOGNIZES HIS PHYSICIAN*.
THOOK i.
LPKOSE a.
158 sent out of be kaues of be contre of Trace betip bis
. bat is to seyn chasib it away and descouereb be
I" Jjan schineb phebws yshaken wib
sodeyne ly^t and smyteb wib hys bemes in meruelyng
162 eyen.
rausinir tin 1 return
of the hidden day,
when the sun closed day.
smites our won-
i MS. hanc.
HAUT ' ALITER TRISTICIE.
[The 3"ie prose.]
The clouds of
sorrbw heine dis
pelled, Boethius
recollects the
features of his
Physician,
whom he dis
covers to be
Philosophy.
jt so and none ober wyse be cloudes of sorowe
dissolued and don awey. ^[ I took heuene. and
receyuede mynde to knowe be face of my fyciscien.
^[ So fat I sette myne eyen on hir and festned[e] my
lokyng. I byholde my norice philosophic, in whos
houses I hadde conuersed and haunted fro my ^oube.
169 and I seide bus. ^j bou maistresse of alle uertues
He addresses her. descendid fro be souereyne sete. Whi art bou comen.
in to J)is solitarie place of myn exil. ^[ Art fou comen
172 for Jwu art mad coupable wij> me of fals[e] blames,
she expresses her *[ O quod sche my norry scholde I forsake J>e now. and
concern for him,
scholde I not parte wij? )?e by coinune trauaille ]?e charge
pat )>ou hast suffred for envie of my name. ^[ Certis
176 it nar[e] not leueful ne sittyng to philosophie to leten
and teiis him that wib-outen compaignie be wey of hym bat is innocent.
she is willing to
share his misfor- ^[- Scholde I ban redoute my blame and agrisen as bou}
179 ber were byfallen a newe bing. q. d. non. ^f For
she fears not any trowest bou bat philosophi be now alberfirst assailed
accusation, as if _ .. TT
it were a new m perils by folk of wicked[e] maneres. ^[ Hane I not
For before the age stryuen wib ful greet strife in olde tyme byfore be
of Plato she con
tended against age of my plato a^eins be foolhardines of foly and
184 eke be same plato lyuyng. hys maistre socrates
socrates h tri- help deserued[e] victorie of vnryjtful deeb in my presence.
unjSst e dea V th r . "" IT J 36 ner itage of wyche socrates. be heritage is to seyne
158 sent isent
1HO J)on tlianne
161 sodeyne sodcyn
163 none o\>er non oother
soro we sorwe
165 kno we kno wen
166 myne myn
festned[e] ftistnede
170/ro from
17<), 171 art \>mi nHinv
172 mad MS. made, C. mak-
/aZs[e] false [ed
174 parte partcn
176 nar[e] iicrc
sittyng sittinire
178 ban thanne
179 ping thin^
q.d. non omitted
180 trowest ]>ou trowc-stow
alberfirst alderflrst
181 v}icTced[e] wikkede
182 strife strif
183 a\eins ayenia
foolha'f dines foolhardi-
nesse
foly folie
181 eke ek
185 deserued[_e~\ desserucde
186 wyche the which
seyne seyn
"ROSE'S.] THE TRIALS OF PHILOSOPHY AND PHILOSOPHERS.
11
f e doctrine of f e whiche soc?'ates in hys oppiniouw of
felicite fat I clepe welfulnesse ^| Whan fat f e people
of epicuriens and stoyciens and many of er enforceden
hem to go rauische eueryche man for his part fat is
to seyne. fat to eueryche of hem wolde drawen to fe
defence of his oppinioim f e wordes of socrates. *f[ Jpci
as in partie of hir preye todrowere me criynge and
debatyng f er ajeins. and tornen and torente?* my clones
fat I hadde wouew wif myn handes. and wif fe
cloutes fat fei had den arased oute of my clofes. fei
wenten awey wenyng fat I hadde gon wif he/re euery
dele. In whiche epicuryens and stoyciens. for as
myche as fer semed[e] sorame traces and steppes of
myne habit, fe folye of men wenyng fo epicuryens
and stoyciens my *familers peruertede (.s. persequendo)
somme foru} fe orrour of fe wikked[e] or vnkunn-
yng[e] multitude of hem. ^[ ])is is to seyne for fei
semeden philosophres : fei weren pwrsued to f e deef
and slayn. ^[ So yif f ou hast not knowen f e exilynge
of anaxogore. ne fe empoysenyng of socrates. ne f e
towment} of ^eno for fei [weren] straungers. ^[ 3it
my^test f ou haue knowew f e senectiens and f e Canyos
and f e sorancis of wyche folk f e renoun is neyf er ouer
oolde ne vnsolempne. 1[ J)e whiche men no fing ellys
ne broujtfe] hem to f e deef but oonly for fei weren
enfourmed of my maneres. and semede/z moste vnlyke.
to f e studies of wicked folk. ^[ And forf i f ou au^test
not to wondre f ou^ fat I in f e bitter see of f is lijf be
Of the inheritance
of Socrates the
rout of Epicureans
and Stoics wanted
to get a part.
190
Philosophy with
stood them,
whereupon they
tore her robe,
and, departing
with the shreds,
194
imagined that
they had got
possession of her.
198
Thus, clothed
with her spoils,
they deceived
many.
[ fol. f,.]
202
Philosophy
adduces
examples of wise
men, who had
laboured under
206
difficulties on
account of being
her disciples.
210
214
iss m-lfiihit'sne wcleful-
189 o\>er oothre [uessts
190 go jron
eueryche euerich
191 seyne seyn
to omitted
eueryche euerich
194 tornen read coruen, C.
koruen
195 wouen MS. wonnew, C.
WOUIM1
19 arased arraeed
197 gon MS. ROMC, C. gon
1!^ ,./<. del
l!i iiii/che nioclie
199 semed[e] semede
and or
200 myne myn
wenyng MS. wevyng, C.
weninge
202 \>oru\ thorw
wikked\_e] wikkede
vnkunnyng[e] vnkiuin-
20:3 seyne seyn \>at [i'nge
204 semeden scincilo
pursued MS. pursue lc,
C. pursued
205 slayn MS. slaync, C.
slayn
207 [wereri] weeren
208 myilest ]>ou haue
myhtestow ban
209 sorancis sorans
wyche whicli
is nis
210 oolde MS. colrle, C. old
211 brou^t[_e'] browhte
212 enfourmed MS. vn-
fourmed, C. enfonnyd
my inyrir
ml nke vnlyk
218 loickei folk wikk(>d<-
au^test owhtest [foolke
214 wondre wondreu
blttei bittre
12
THE AIM OF PHILOSOPHY.
I '''
L.U
It is the aim of
l'liilos.>])liy to
displease the
wicked,
217
who are more to
he despised than
dreaded, for they
have no leader.
220
If Philosophy is
attacked by the
wicked, she re-
tin>s within her
fortress,
225
leaving the enemy
busy among the
useless baggage,
and laughing to
scorn such hunt
ers of trifles.
fordryuen wif tempestes blowyng aboute. in f e whiehe
tewpeste f is is ray most pwrpos fat is to seyn to dis-
plese to wikked[e] men. ^[ Of whiehe schrews al be
f e oost neuer so grete it is to dispyse. for it nis gouerned
wif no leder of resoune. but it is rauysched only by
flityng errour folyly and ly^tly. ^[ And if fei somtyme
makyng an ost a^eynest vs assaile vs as strengere. oure
leder drawef to gedir hys rycchesse in to hys toure.
and fei ben ententif aboute sarpulers or sachels vn-
profitable forto taken, but we fat ben hey} abouen syker
fro al tumulte and wode noise, ben stored and enclosed
in syche a palays. whider as fat chateryng or anoying
folye ne may not attayne. ^[ We scorne swiche
rauiners and honters of foulest[e] f inges.
The ferthe
Mettir.]
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
QUISQJ7/S COMPOSITO.
"TTTho so it be fat is clere of vertue sad and wel ordinat
of lyuyng. fat baf put vnderfote fe prowed[e]
wierdes and lokif vpryjt vpon eyf er fortune, he may
bolde hys chiere vndiscomfited. ^[ Jje rage ne f e manace
of fe commoeuyng or chasyng vpwarde hete fro fe
botme. ne schal not rnoeue fat man. ne fe vnstable
mountaigne fat hy^t veseuus. fat wirchef oute f oru^
hys broken[e] chemineys smokyng fires. ^[ !N"e fe wey
of fonder ly^t fat is wont to sinyte hey^e toures ne
schal not mouene fat man. ^[ Wherto fen wrecches
drede 36 tyrauntes fat ben wode and felownes wif -outen
ony strenkef. ^f Hope after no f ing ne drede nat. and
216 displese displesen
217 wikked[e] wikkecJe
schrews shrewes
218 oost glossed odes in C.
flrete gret
219, 222 ltder ledore
220 flityng fleetynge
lintly lythly
/ yif
2'Jl aieynest ayenis
222 to rycchesse, to gy-
di'T(> his,, ryfli esses
toure towr
-21 /IC.'/-, lll'.VC
225 al alle
ben omitted
stored warnestored
226 syche ^wich
\>at omitted
227 scorne schortio
228 rauiners fringes
rauynere.s i lientcres of
t'owleste thinges
229 clere cleer
230 lyuyng leuynge
ha\> MS. ha)>H
vnderfote vndir-foot
/>; nced[e] jirowdc
231 may chwre may his
cheere holde
232 manace manesses
233 J>e \>\\ see
2;j5 hyit hihte
veseuus MS. vrsenus
icir<-li<'\> writith
'i'.W liroktn[e] brokene
xnttiktitifi smok.VTige
237 smi/^-sinytcn
238 Wlierto \>en wliarto
thiiinic
239 feUiwiies ony fclo
nos withowte any
HOOK 1. "1
PKOSK 4 J
BOETH1US SPEAKS OF HIS TROUBLES.
13
so schalt bou desarmen be ire of bilke vnniyaty tyraunt. for anytinn-r dis
arms the tyrant.
^T But who so bat quakyng dredeb or desireb bing bat He whose heart
r fails him, yields
nis not stable of his ry?t. bat man bat so dob nab cast i> arm*,
J > ' ' and forges his
awey hys schelde and is remoeued fro hys place, and own fetlers -
enlace]) hym in be cheyne wij> whiche he may be 245
drawen.
SENTIS NE INQUIT.
FElest bou quod sche bise binges and entren bei ou?t [The vertue
. prose.]
in bi corage. ^[ Art bou like an asse to be harpe. Philosophy seei.s
to know the
Win wepest bou whi spillest bou teres. IT Yif bou malady of
Boethius.
abidest after helpe of bi leche. be byhouef discouere J>i 250
wounde. IT bo .1. bat hadde gadered strenkeb in my Boethius com-
J plains of For-
corage answered[e] and seide. and nedej) it 3itte quod June's unrelenting
.1. of rehersyng or of amoniciourc. and schewej) it not 253
ynouj by hym self be scharpnes of fortune bat wexeb is not she mn\-<n\,
Y he asks, with the
woode ajeynes me. ^f N"e moeue]) it nat Jje to seen ]>e ^f^ f hi ''
face or )>e manere of j>is place (.i. p>isouw.). ^f Is Jris
be librarie wyche bat bou haddest chosen for a ry$t 257
certeyne sege to be in myne house. ^[ )3ere as bou His library, his
habit, and his
desputest of[te] wijj me of fe sciences of binges touch- countenance are
ing diuinitee and touchyng mankynde. ^[ Was ban
iiiyu habit swiche as it is now. was ban my face or 261
quasi di'rrrct non.
my chere swiche as now. ^f Whan I soujt[e] wib J>e
secretys of nature, whan bou enfowrmedest my maners
and be resoun of al my lijf. to be ensaumple of fe ordre 264
ironice
of heuene. ^[ Is nat j)is fe gerdouw bat I refere to J>e is this, he asks,
the reward of his
to whom I haue be obeisaunt. IT Certis bou enfowr- fidelity?
inedist by )>e moube of plato bis sentence, bat is to piato (de Rep. v.)
says that those
soyne bat coTwmune finges or comunabletes weren commonwealths
241 schalt \>ou desarmen
shallow dcscruien
2 rto\> MS. dope, C. doth
ha\> MS. hape, C. hath
cast MS. caste, C. cast
21-1 .ichclde sheld
remoeued fro romwed
from
2t5 whichr the which
be hen
217 Felest bowFelUtOV
ou-yt awiit
248 art \>ou artow
249 wepest \>ou wepistow
spillest \>vu. spillestow
252 answered[e~] answer-
ede
255 woode wood
257 wyche which
258 myne house \ere myn
hows ther
259 desputest of[te'] des-
nutedest ofte
260 Jxtn thanne
201 if mid pan both omitted
261, 2(>2 sttriche swioh
262 sou^t[e] sowhte
263 secretys secret 5
my MS. me, C. my
264 al alle
265 gerdoun Kerdouiis
266 enfourmedist conform-
edest
267 mou\>e mowht
268 comunabletes comuna-
litees
14
PHILOSOPHERS TO BE POLITICIANS.
| HOOK 1.
LPKOKE
are most happy
llmt :irc x'ovci ni'd
by philosopher*,
nr liy those who
stmiv t" be so.
[fol. 56.]
272
The same Plato
urged pliiloso-
)I|HTS to take
upon them the
management of
public affairs,
276
lest it should fall
into the hands of
unprincipled
citizens.
279
Boethius declares
that lie 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 inost
powerful.
292
He opposed
Conigastus,
and put a stop to
the doings of
Trignilla.
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 communalites studieden in grete wis-
domes. ^[ )3ou saidest eke by fe moufe of fe same
plato fat it was a necessarie cause wyse men to taken
and desire fe gouernau/zce of comune f mges. for fat f e
gouernementes of comune citees y-left in f e hondes of
felonous townnentowrs Citi^enis ne scholde not brynge
inne pestilence and destrucczoun to goode folk. ^[ And
f erf ore I folowynge f ilk auctoritee (.s. platonis). desiryng
to put[te] furf e in execusiouw and in acte of comune
admiwi'strac/ouw fo finges fat .1. hadde lerned of fe
among my secre restyng whiles. ^[ Jjou and god fat
put[te] fee in f e f ou^tis of wise folk ben knowen wif
me fat no f ing brou}t[e] 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 ban ben greuouse
discordes. fat ne my^ten not be relesed by prayeres.
^ For f is libertee haf fredom of conscience fat f e wraf f e
of more niyjty folk haf alwey ben despised of me for
saluactouw 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. ^f How ofte haue .1. 3itte put of. or cast out
hym trigwille prouost of fe kynges hous bofe of fe
wronges fat he hadde bygon[ne] to done and eke fully
performed, ^f How ofte haue I couered and defended
by f e auctorite of me put ajeins perils, fat is to seine put
myne auctorite in peril for f e wreched pore folke. fat
270 by-felle byfllle
271 t grete wisdomes to
geten wysdom
272 eke ek
275 comune omitted
y-l<-ft MS. ylefte, C. yleft
27G Citi^enis citesenes
brunge inne bryngen in
278 berfore therfor
\>ilk thilke
de&iri/nff desired
27! put'Je] fur\>e putton
forth
280 po thilke
282 W[fol putte
283 brou)t[e] ne browhte
284 pe omitted
al goodenes alle good-
llcssc
cnn>e\> conith
287, 288 ha\> MS. hape
289 stiluactoun sauacioun
290 pi/A thilke
hyhte
290 cnnigaste MS. coniu-
gaste
292 ofte ofte ek
yitte omitted
294 bygon\ne\ bygunne
done don
295 couered^- MS. couerede,
C. couered
296 put MS. putte, C. put
seine seyn
J07 myne myn
BOOK 1. T
PROSE 4.J
BOETHIUS DEFENDS HIS OWN CONDUCT.
If.
fe couetise of straungeres vnpunyschedtozmnentid alwey
wif myseses and greuaunces oute of noumbre. *J[ Neuer
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 f ei 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 schold[e] bie no corne
til his corne were solde and fat at a dere greuous pris.
^[ But I wt7istod fat ordinaunce and ouer-com it
knowyrcg 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 imposicioim
as who so bou3t[e] a busshel corn he most[e] jeue fe
kywg fe fifte part. Textus. ([ Whan it was in fe
soure hungry tyme fere was establissed or cried greuous
and inplitable coempciouw fat men seyn wel it schulde
greetly tourmentyn. and endamagen al f e p?-ouince of
compaigne I took strif a^eins f e prouost of f e pretorie
for comune profit. ^[ And f e kyng knowyng of it I
ouercom it so fat f e coemption?/, 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 officeres wolde ban deuoured by hope and
couetise. . ^[ }it drow I hym out of f e lowes .s. faucrtws
of hem fat gapeden. ^[ And for as myche as f e peyne
of f e accusacioum ainged 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
(Palatini canes).
321
324
I defended
Albinus against
Cyprian.
298 vnnunysched vnpunys-
sed
299 myseses myseyses
300 drow MS. drowe, C.
weth drowh
litte yit
wrong wron^e
301 ryc/iessfr-richesses
\>e (2) omitted
302 harmed ey\>er harmyd
or amenused owther
303 tributis trihuts
suffred[e\ suft'reden
304 Jiarme harm
305 3 ere yer
305 hys hise
305, 306, 307 corne corn
306 schold[e~] bie sholde
by en
308 But I withstod Boece
withstood (MS. with-
stodp)
com MS. come, C. com
311 swiche swich
312 6oMj^[e] bowhte
busshel bossel
312 most[f] \eue- mosteyeue
316 inplitaole vnplitable
seyn sayen
319 ouercom MS. ouer-
come, C. ouer com
320 counseiller consoler
rychesse ry cl leases
321 whyche which
322 wolde wolden
323 droivWS. ilrowe, C.
drowh
32-i myche moche
326 punischen punisse
If]
THE ACCUSERS (">!' BOETHIU8.
FBOOK i.
LI-HOSE .
328
Kor the love of
justice I forfeited
all favour at
Court.
332
Bocthius makes
mention of his
:i<ruscrs, llnsilius,
Opilio, Gauden-
tius,
337
340
[ fol. 6.]
mn who had
been commanded
to leave the city
on account of
their many
crimes.
347
lint, on the day
this sentence was
to be executed,
they accused him,
and their testi
mony against
him was accepted.
352
Fortune, if not
ashamed at this,
might at least
blush for the
baseness of the
accusers.
327 imt\le\ putte
329 yseyn MS. yseyue
329 reete rete
Home. I put[te] me a^enis fe hates and indignac/ouns
of f e accuscmr Ciprian. ^[ Is it not fan ynought yseyn
fat I haue p?/rchased greet[e] discordes a3eins my self,
but I aughte be more asseured a^enis alle of er folk fat
for fe loue of ry^twisnesse .1. ne reserued[e] neuer no
f ing to my self to hem ward of fe kynges halle .s. officers,
by f e whiche I were fe more syker. ^[ But f oru^ fe
same accusorws accusyng I am corcdempned. ^[ Of
fe noumbre of whiche accusowrs one basilius fat som-
tyme was chased out of f e kynges seruice. is now co?n-
pelled in accusyng of my name for nede of foreine
moneye. ^[ Also opilion and Gaudenciws han accused
me. al be it so fat f e Justice regal hadde sivwtyme denied
hem bof e to go in to exil. for her treccheries and fraudes
wif-outen noumbre. ^f To whiche iugement fei wolde
not obeye. but defended[e] hem by sykernesse of holy
houses. *f at is to seyne fledden in to seyntuaries. and
whan f is was aperceiued to f e kyng. he comaunded[e]
but fat fei voided[e] fe citee of Rauenne by certeyne
day assigned fat men scholde merken hem on f e for-
heued wif an hoke of iren and chasen hem out of toune.
^[ Now what fing semef fe my^t[e] be lykned to f is
cruelte. For certys filk same day was receyued f e ac
cusyng of my name by f ilk[e] same accusowrs. ^[ What
may be seid herto. haf my studie and my konnyng
deserued fus. or ellys fe forseide dampnacioun of me.
made fat hem ry3tful accusowrs or no (q.d. now).
^f Was not fortune asshamed of f is. [Certes alle hadde
nat fortune ben asshamyd] fat innocence was accused,
ait au}t[e] sche haue had schame of f e filfe of myn ac-
.
329 greet\_e\ fcrete
330 aughte be owhte he the
o\>er oothre
333 by \>e whiche hy whicli
t>orj be thorw tho
335 whiche the whiche
one oon
somtyme whilom
^39 sumtyme whilon
^U) go fon
her\iir
341 wi^-outen withowte
wolde not nolden nat
342 defended\e} defendedyn
by by the
343 seyne seyn
seyntuaries sentuarye
344 was omitted
comaunded[e] comaun-
dede
345 voided\_e'] voidede
certeyne certeyu
346 men me
merken marke
317 Jiokeofiren hootyren
3-W \>e omitted
(/;<[e] be myhte ben
349 bilk thilke
350 bilk[e] thilke
351 be ben
seid MS. seide, C. seyd
ha\> MS. ha^e
354, 355 [Certes assha-
myd] from C.
356 rt3<[>] owte
haue had han had, MS.
hadde
THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BOETH1US.
17
cusows. ^[ But axest bou in somme of what gilt .1. 357
am accused, men seyne bat I wolde sauen be co?n- Boetwus says he-
is accused of try-
paignie of be senatowrs. ^[ And desirest bou to here g^teTnVof 6
in Avhat manere .1. am accused bat I scholde han dis- rasV^cfiuHn^
tourbed be accuso?/r to beren le^res. by whiche he thTsJim'te!"*
scholde han maked be senatours gilty a^eins be kynges 362
Real maieste. ^f O meistresse what demest bou of
bis. schal .1. forsake bis blame bat I ne be no schame to
be (q. d. now). ^[ Certis .1. haue Avoid it. bat is to 365
seyne be sauuacioun of be senat. ne I schal neuer leten it is true that he
tried to save the
to wilne it. and bat I confesse and am a-knowe. but senate for he has
and will have its
be entent of be accusour to be destourbed schal cese. !away"^t e heart.
^[ For schal I clepe it a felonie ban or a synne bat I 369
haue desired be sauuaciouw of be ordre of be senat.
and certys ^it hadde bilk same senat don by me boru}
her decret^ and hire iugementys as bou} it were a synne
or a felonie bat is to seyne to wilne be sauuaciouw, of 373
hem (.s senatws). ^[ But folye bat lieth alwey to hym (Foiiy cannot
change the merit
self may not chaunge be merit of binges. ^[ Ne .1. ofthm-s.
trowe not by be iugement of socrates bat it were leue- 376
fui to me to hide be sobe. ne assentfel to lesynges. According to
L J Socrates' judg-
^[ But certys how so euer it be of bis I put[te] it to gessen {*"{;/* k h "d* the
or preisen to be iugemewt of be and of Avise folk. ^ Of K.'JSS*
whiche bing al be ordinaunce and be sobe for as moche 380
as folk bat ben to comen aftir oure dayes schollew
knowen it. ^f I haue put it in scripture and remern- Boethms deter-
, , , mines to transmit
braunce. tor touching be letrres falsly maked. by an account of ins
prosecution to
Avhiche leftres I am accused to han hooped be fredom of p sterit y.
Eome. What apperteneb me to speken ber-of. Of 385
whiche le^res be fraude hadde ben schewed apertly if
357 axest \>ou axestow
358 seyne seyn
sauen saue
359 desirest \>nu desires
tliow
here hereen
362 maked MS. maken, C.
makyd
363 demest \><m demestow
3t>"> wold MS. woldc, C.
wold
366 seyne scyn
367 \>at omitted
am I am
368 be ben
369 it it thanne
\>an omitted
371 bilk thilke
372 her hir
hire hir
372 J>oj thogh
373 or and
seyne spyii
374 lieth- US. lie)>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.
I BOOK 1 .
Ll'KObE 4.
I hadde had libertee forto han vsed and ben at be
hoped for.
ule'of their 'con- 6 a ^ e nedys hab grete strenkeb. ^ For what of er fredom
may men hopen. Certys I wolde bat some of er fredom
391 my^t[e] be hoped. 1T I wolde fan haue answered by
f e wordes of a man fat hy3t[e] Canius. for whan he was
But there is now accused by Gayus Cesar Germeins son fat he (caniws)
uo remains of
liberty to be wa s knowyng and consentyng of a coniuraciouw maked
a^eins hym (.s. Gains), ^| Jjis Canius answered [e]
396 fus. ^[ Yif I had[de] wist it fou haddest not wist
it is not strange it. In whiche bing sorwe hab not so dulled my witte
that the wicked
sh ainst C virtSe re J"^ ^ P^ e y ne oii\.y fat schrewed[e] folk apparailen
folies a^eins vertues. ^[ But I wondre gretly how fat
400 fei may performe finges fat fei had[de] hoped forto
done. For why. to wylne schrewednesse fat comef
The win to do ni parauenture of oure defaute. ^[ But it is lyke to a
proceeds from the
defects of human monstre and a meruaille. IT How bat in be present
nature.
404 sy$t of god may ben acheued and performed swiche
finges. as euery felonous man haf conceyued in hys
it is a marvel fou^t a^ems imiocent. ^[ For whiche fing oon of fi
how such evil
acts can be done familers not vnskilfully axed bus. 11 >if god is. whennes
under the eye of
zui omniscient comen wikked[e] binges, and yif god ne is whennes
409 comen goode finges. but al hadde it ben leueful fat
if there be a God, felonous folk fat now desiren fe bloode and fe deef of
whence proceeds
eviir if there is alle goode men. and eke of al be senat han wilned to
none, whence
arises good ? g 0ne destroien me. whom fei han seyn alwey batailen
413 and defenden goode men and eke al fe senat. }it
hadde I not desserued of f e fadres. fat is to seyne of
f e senatours fat fei scholde wilne my destrucczouw.
387 had MS. hade, C. had
388 myn myne
389 /tap MS. nape, C. hath
grete gret
what omitted
390 some som
391 OTjn<|>] be myhte bon
paw haue thanne han
392 /<j/3<[>] hyhte
391 makedr yinakcd
:',(!."> mix wered[<-l a?i swerede
396 hadldel liadde
397 w/tze/te which
sorwe sorw
ha\) MS. hape
witte wit
398 schrewed[e\ shrewede
399 folies felonies
vertues vertu
400 had[de'} han
401 done don
come)>- comth
402 lyke to a lyk a
404 sy$t syhte
405 ha\> MS. hape
40ti innocent innocent;
whiche which
408 wikked[e} wykkede
410 bloode blod
411 eke ek
412 gone gon and
seyn soyen
413 eke ek
414 seyne seyn
i!5 scholde shoklcn
HOOK 1. 1
1-H.OSE 4.J
OF HIS FALSE ACCUSERS.
19
fl" bou remembrest wele as I gesse bat whan I wolde Boethms defends
the integrity of
don or *seyn any bing. bou bi self alwey present re- [;foi. e&.j
hi> life.
weledest me. ^f At be citee of verone \v~han bat be He defended the
Senate at Vernnu.
kyng gredy of comune slaujter. 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 peril to me defended[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 wyjt resceiueb preciouse renourz in (Boasting lessens
the pleasure of a
auauntyng hyrn self of hys werkes : he amenusib be self approving
J ' ' conscience.)
secre of hys conscience. ^[ 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. And what open coniessiouw of felonie ^ i made to
suffer the punish-
hadfde] euer iugis sc accordaunt in cruelte. bat is to "jent due to the
L - * blackest crime.
seyne as myne accusyng hab. ^[ bat ober errour of 432
manswitte or ellyscowdiciourc of fortune bat is vncerteyne
to al mortal folk lie submytted[e] siunme of hem. bat is
to seyne bat it ne cheyned[e] suwme iuge to han pitee 435
or compassion/*. ^[ For al bou} I had[de] ben accused Had he been
accused of a de-
HI wolde brenne holy houses, and strangle prestys sign to bum
" temples, mas-
wib wicked swerde. f or bat .1. had[de] gray bed deeb ^ O c u t d p have 8 be h en
to alle goode men algatis be sentence scholde han fron'tws'aVcusers.
punysched me present confessed or co??Aiict. ^[ But 440
now I am remewed fro be Citee of rome almost fyue- n u t now this is
. , . , . , , denied him, and
hundreb bousand pas. 1 am wib outen defence dampned he is prosc-ribo.i
and condemned
to proscr/pciouw and to be deeb. for be studie and to death,
bountees bat I haue done to be senat. ^[ But o wel ben 444
bei worbi of mercye (as who seib nay.) ber my^t[e] neuer
416 wele wel
417 don MS. done, C. doon
seyn seyen
418 pe (1) omitted
419 slauiter slawhtre
420 transporten vpon
transpor vp
422 grete gret
defendedie] deffendede
423 seide $o]>e st-ye soth
424 auauntedlc] auauntede
425 when whan
preciouse presious
429 in for
430 vertue vertu
431 had\_de} hadde
432 seyne seyn
myne rnyn
ftap MS. hape
433 witte wit
vncerteyne vncerl eyn
434 al alle
434 submytted[e] submit-
435 seyne sc.vn [tede
cfieyned[e]- enclinedc
436 had[de\ hadde
438 wicked wykkede
had[de} hadde
Hi a/ most almest
442 \i'insiiinl MS. pousti-t
wi\> outen withowte
HI /I nne doon
4-J5 my)t[e] myhte
20
130ETIIIUS ACCUSED OF SORCEHY.
niooK i.
Ll'KOSK I.
446
Boethius says
that his enemies
accused him of
sorcery.
450
454
He affirms that
lie has always
followed the
golden maxim (if
Pythagoras,
tJTOU Qtlf.
458
461
His family and
friends could clear
him from all sus
picion of the
crime of sorcery.
465
Because he has
given himself up
to Philosophy,
his enemies accuse
him of using un
lawful arts.
470
474
$it non of hem ben conuicte. Of swiche a blame as
myn is of swiche trespas myn accusowrs seyen ful wel
fe dignitee. f e wiche dignite for f ei wolde derken it
wif medelyng of some felonye. fei beren me on honde
and lieden. fat I hadde polute and defouled my con
science wif sacrelege. for couetise of dignite. ^[ And
certys J)ou f i self fat art plaunted in me chacedest oute
f e sege of my corage al couetise of mortal f ihges. ne
sacrilege ne had[de] no leue to lian a place in me byforne
fine eyen. ^[ For ]jou drouppedest euery day in myn
eeres and in my f ou^t f ilk comaundement of pictogoras.
fat is to seyne men schal seruen to god. and not to
goddes. ^[ Ne it was no couenaunt ne no nede to
taken helpe of }>e foulest spirites. ^[ I fat f ou hast
ordeyned or set in syche excellence fat [f ou] makedest
me lyke to god. and ouer fis fe ry$t clene secre
chaumbre of myn house, fat is to seye my wijf and fe
co?paignie of myn honeste frendis. and my wyties
fadir as wel holy as worfi to ben reuerenced foru^
hys owen dedis. defenden me of al suspecciourc of syche
blame, ^f But o malice. ^[ For f ei fat accusen me
taken of f e philosophie feif e of so grete blame. ^[ For
fei trow en fat .1. haue had affinite to inalyfice or en-
chamztement} by cause fat I am replenissed and ful
filled wif fi techynges. and enformed of fi maners.
^[ 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
haue fere bytydef ^it fis encrece of harme. fat fe
446 ben be
454 had\_de\ liadde
461 lyke lyk
swiche swich
byforne by fi in i
462 house hows
4-17 myn [both] myne
455 drov-ppedest dropped-
seye seyn
sioicJte wliiche
est
463 myn my
seyen sayen
myn myne
465 owen owne
418 wolde wolden
456 }>ilk thilke
of al from alle
419 some som
457 seyne seyn
syche swich
beren baren
semen serue
467 philosophie philosophn
on honde an hand
god godde
fei\>e feyth
450 polute | HI! ui
459 helpe help
grete gret
451 sacrelege C. has sor-
spirites spirite
468 had MS. hadde, C. had
cerie as a gloss to sacri
460 set MS. sette, C. set
473 myne myn
lege
syche swiohe
474 pere ther
453 ai alle
[pou] thow
harme harm
HOOK 1.1
MET. 5. J
BOETH1US DEPLORES THE POPULAR CENSURE.
21
gessinge and be iugement of myclie folk ne loken no 475
bing to be[de]sertys of binges but only to be a\ienture Most people
imagine that that
of fortune. T[ And mgen bat only swiche binges ben only should be
J judged to be un-
p?<rueied of god. whiche bat temporel welefulnesse p?^ n e t n foresight
commendib. Glosa. ^ As bus bat yif a wyjt haue wilh 1 8uc< : e8 Wnea
prosperite. he is a good man and worbi. to haue bat 480
p?'osperite. and who so hab aduersite he is a wikked
man. and god hab forsake hym. and he is worbi to The unfortunate
lose the good
haue bat aduersite. ^F )?is is be opinioura of sowme opinion of the
folke. *and ber of comeb bat good gessyng. f[ Fyrste of [ Text begins
again.]
al bing forsakeb wrecches certys it greueb me to bink[e] 485
ry^t now be dyuerse sentences bat )>e poeple seib of
me. ^[ And bus moche I seye bat be laste charge of 487
contrarious fortune is bis. f bat whan bat ony blame is [t foi. 7.1
laid vpon a caytif. men wenen bat he hab deserued bat Boethius laments-
r the loss of his >
he suffreb. ^[ And I bat am put awey from goode men dign j^ s and
and despoiled from dignitees and defoulid of my name
by gessyng haue suffred torment for my goode dedis. 492
^[ Certys me semeb bat I se be felonus couines of
wikked men abounden in ioie and in gladnes. ^T And The wicked, he
says, in with
I se bat euery lorel shapij) hy?/i to fynde oute newe impunity,
fraudes forto accusen goode folke. and I se bat goode 496
men ben ouerbrowen for drede of my peril, ^f and
euery luxurious towrrnentour dar don alle felonie vn-
punissed and ben excited berto by ^iftes. and innocent^ 499
ne ben not oonly despoiled of sykernesse but of de- wwie the inno
cent are deprived
fence and berfore me list to crien to god in bis manere. of security, pro
tection, and
defence.
O 8TELLIFERI CONDITOR ORBIS.
bou maker of be whele bat bereb be sterres. whiche [The fltthe metr.]
bat art fastned to bi perdurable chayere. and ftarry r sky, th Thou,
475 myche moche
476 \>e[de~\sertys the desertj
479 Glosa gloae
480 goad MS. goode, C.
good
haue ban
481 so omitted in C.
481, 4S2 hab MS. haj>e
483 haue hail ,
484 Fyrste fyrst
485 ai alle
\>ink[e] thinke
488 ony any
489 laid MS. laide, C. leyd
ha\> MS. haj>e
490 put MS. putte, C. put
491 from of
494 abounden habownden
494 gladnes pladnessc
495 oute owt
496 accusen accuse
497 ben beth
501 manere wise
502 whele whel
whiche which
503 fastned yfastned
chayere chayer
Till: CRUEL CHANGES OP FORTUNE
[HOOK 1.
[MET. s.
seated on high,
tiiniest the
sphere*, and
imposes! laws
.ipon the stars
and planets.
507
The sun obscures
the lesser lights,
and quenches
even the moon's
light.
511
Thou raises!
Hesperus to usher
in the shades of
night, ami again
eauscst him to he
the harbinger of
day, whence his
name Lucifer.
516
Thou controlled
the changing
seasons of the
year.
520
523
All nature is
bound by thy
eternal law.
526
Why, then, leavest
thou man's ac
tions uncon-
trolled ?
Why should
fickle fortune lie
allowed to work
such mighty
changes in the
world ?
532
turnest fe heuene wijj a rauyssyng sweighe and con-
streinest fe sterres to suffren fi lawe. ^[ So fat fe
mone somtyme schynyng wif hir ful homes metyng
wif alle f e bemes of f e sonne. ^[ Hir brof er hidejj f e
sterres fat ben lasse. and somtyme whan J>e mone
pale wif hir derke homes approchef fe sonne. leesith
hir lyjtes. *|f And fat fe euesterre esperus whiche
fat in fe first[e] tyme of fe ny^t bryngef furfe hir
colde arysynges come] eft a^eynes hir vsed cours. and
is pale by ]>e morwe at f e rysynge of f e sonne. and is
fan cleped lucifer. ^[ }?ou restreinest f e day by schorter
dwellyng in fe tyme of colde wynter fat makef fe
leues to falle. ^[ j?ou diuidest fe swifte tides of fe
ny^t when fe hote somer is comen. ^[ )5i my3t at-
tempre[]>] fo variauntj sesons of fe ^ere. so fat
^epherus f e deboneire wynde bringef a^ein in f e first[e]
somer sesovm fe leues fat fe wynde fat hy^t[e] boreas
haf reft awey in autu?npne. fat is to seyne in fe laste
eende of somer. and f e sedes fat f e sterre fat hy^t arc-
turus saw ben waxen hey[e] comes whan fe sterre
sirius eschaufef hym. ^f jjere nis no fing vnbounde
from hys olde lawe ne forletef hym of hys p?-opre estat.
[ f ou gouernottr gouernyng alle finges by certeyne
ende. why refusest f ou oonly to gouerne f e werkes of
men by dewe manere. ^[ Whi suifrest f ou fat slid-
yng fortune turnef to grete vtter chaungynges of finges.
so fat anoious peyne fat scholde duelly punisshe fel-
ouns punissit^ innocent^, ^f And folk of wikked[e]
maneres sitten in hei^e chaiers. and anoienge folk
504 sweighe sweyh
constreinest, MS. oon-
triMiiest, C. eonstreynest
506 hir here
508 lasse lesse
610 esperus whiche hes-
perus which
511 Jlrst[e\ fvrste
fur\>e forth
512 eft est,
514 restreinest MS. re-
strenicst
516 to omittoil
u!8 attemprefy] ]>o atemp-
reth the
518 sesons sesoun
*ere yer
519 wynde bringe\> wynd
brengeth
520 wynde wynd
hy}t[.e'] hihte
521 reft MS. refte. C. reft
seyne seyn
522 hy$t hihte
arcturus MS. aritiuvf.s-
523 saw MS. snwrj>, C
sawgh
heyto liyy,-
524 hym hem
bere ther
ping thinge
525 from fram
forletefr hym of forlcet-
heth pe werke of
527 refusest \>ou rcfows-
estow
529 to fringes so givto
entrechaunginges of
tliynges
531 punissit} punysxlni
vjikked\_e\ wykkede
532 hei^e hcr'iv
BOOK 1. 1
PROSE 5.J
CONTRASTED WITH THE ORDER OF NATURE.
treden and bat vnry^tfully in be nekkes of holy men. 533
^[ And vertue clere and schynyng naturely is hid in The wicked are
prosperous, while
dirke dirkenesses. and be ryjtful man berib be blame the righteous are
in adversity.
and be peyne of be felowne. ^[ !N"e be forsweryng ne 536
be fraude couered and kembd wib a fals colour ne
a-noyeb not to schrewes. ^[ Jje whiche schrewes whan
hem lyst to vsen her strengbe bei reicisen hem to
putten vndir hem be souerayne kynges. whiche bat 540
poeple wib[outen] noumbre dreden. ^[ bou what so o thou that bind-
_ i -i est t ' ie disagree-
euer bou be bat knyttes t alle bondes of binges loke ing elements, look
J upon this wreteh-
on bise wrecched[e] erbes. we men bat 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. ^[ Jjou gouernozw
wibdraw and restreyne be rauyssinge nodes and fastne and, as thou dost
govern the
and forme bise erbes stable wib bilke [bonde] wib spacious heavens,
J ' so let the earth
whiche bou gouernest be heuene bat is so large. ^ firml y bound -
HIC UBI CONTINUATO DOLORE.
an I hadde wib a continuel sorwe sobbed or [The fyfihe
prose.]
broken out bise binges sche wib hir chere peisible Philosophy con
soles Boethius.
and no bing amoeued. wib my compleyntes seide \>us. 551
whan I say be quod sche sorweful and wepyng I wist[e]
on-one bat bou were a wrecche and exiled, but I
wist[e] neuer how fer bine exile was : jif bi tale ne
hadde sche wed it to me. but certys al be bou fer fro bi 555
contre. bou nart * nat put out of it. but bou hast [ foi. 7 &.]
fayled of bi weye and gon amys. ^[ and yif bou hast
leuer forto wene ban bou be put out of bi contre. ban she speaks to hi n
of his country.
hast bou put oute bi self raber ben ony ober wy^t nab.
^f For no wy^t but bi self ne my^tfe] neuer haue don 560
533 in oon
534 and omitted
536 Ne ]>e forsweryng Ne
forswerynge
537 kembd MS. kembde, C.
kembd
541 wi\>[outen\ withhowt-
yn
542 knyttes[_f] knyttest
543 wrecclied[e] wrecchede
5H a (2) omitted
545 pe this
546 wi\>draw MS. wij>-
drawe, C. withdrawh
be thei
547 forme ferme
[bonde] from C.
wi\> by
550 broken borken
552 wist\_e] wyste
553 on-one anon
55 1 ttv'.v<[c] wystc
554 fer ferre
555 ne hadde nadde
657 gon MS. gone, C. gon
558 leuer leuer
558, 559 put MS. putte, C.
559 /wip MS. hape
560 my$t[e~} myhte
haue ban
don, MS. done, C. don
PHILOSOPHY CONSOLES BOETHIUS,
rnooK i.
LFROSE .
561 bat to be. ^[ For jif bou remembre of what contre bou
she reminds him art born, it nis not gouerned by emperoures. ne by
that he is a citi
zen of a country gouernement of multitude, as weren be centres of hem
not governed by a
hu! d Sja" d t e> of athenes. f But o lorde and o kyng and bat is god
Pat*tt. bat is lorde of bi contree. whiche bat reioiseb hym of
566 be dwellyng of hys Cite^enis. and not forto putte hem
in exile. Of be whiche lorde it is a souerayne fredom
to be gouerned by be bridel of hym and obeie to his
iustice. ^[ Hast bou for^eten bilke ry^t olde lawe of bi
570 Citee. in be whiche Citee it is ordeyned and establissed
bat what wyjt bat hab leuer founden ber i??ne hys sete
r
or hys house, ben ellys where : he may not be exiled
573 by no ry3t fro bat place. ^[ For who so bat is cowtened
in-wib be paleis [and the clos] of bilke Citee. ber nis
no drede bat he may deserue to ben exiled, ^f But
who bat letteb be wille forto enhabit[e] bere. he for-
577 leteb also to deserue to ben Cite^ein of bilke Citee.
Philosophy says [ g ij a f; j se y e j, a t ij e f ace O f jjjg place ne amoeueb me
she is moved J ' '
* so myche as bine owen face. Ne .1. ne axe not
The common-
wealth of Boe-
thius -
ty
pri so l n. g ray raber be walles of bi librarie apparailled and wrou^t
wib yvory and wib glas ban after be sete of bi bou^t.
582 In whiche I putte nat somtyme bookes. but .1. putte
Books are to be bat bat makeb bookes worbi of pn's or precious bat is
valued on account *
to se " 1 f e sentence of my books. ^[ And certeinly of
585 bi decertes by-stowed in commune good, bou hast seid
sobe but after be multitude of bi goode dedys. bou hast
seid fewe. and of be vnhonestee or falsnesse of J>inges
588 bat ben opposed a^eins be. bou hast remembred binges
bat ben knowe to alle folk, and of be felonies and
fraudes of bine accusozirs. it semeb be haue I-touched
it forsobe ry3tfuUy and schortly. f Al my^ten bo
rightfully and
662 born MS. borne, C.
born
666 hys hise
putte put
568 fie ben
r,7i hob MS. ha)>e
572 house hows
574 [and clos] from C.
576 wille wyl
enhn bit[e}- enhaby te
578 seye sey
amoeue\> moueth
579 myche mochel
otoen o'ne
ne (2) omitted
582 putte (both} put
582 somtyme whilom
585 decertes desertes
seid MS. >eide, C. seydc
586 so\>e sotli
587 seid MS. seide, C. seyd
588 opposed aposyd
TH knowe knowyn
HOOK 1.1
AND PROPOSES TO ADMINISTER REMEDIES.
25
same binges bettere and more plentiuousely be couth 592
in be moube of be poeple bat knoweb al bis. ^[ jpou
hast eke blamed gretly and compleyned of be wrongful
dede of be senat. IT And bou hast sorwed for mv Thou hast, said
" Philosophy, be-
blame. and bou hast wepen for be damage of bi re- wailed the loss
of thy good name,
noune bat is appaired. and bi laste sorwe eschaufed 597
aieins fortune and compleinest bat gerdou?zs ne ben not thou hast com
plained against
euenliche solde to be desertes of folk, and in be lattre Fortune, and
against the
ende of bi woode muse bou priedest bat bilke pees bat JJo^of^wardB 1 "
, , i 111 i. r T> j. an| l punishments.
gouerneb be heuene scholde gouerne be erbe ^[ But
for bat many tribulaciouns of affeccioims han assailed 602
be. and sorwe and Ire and wepyng todrawen bee
dyuersely ^[ As bou art now feble of bouit. myatyer strong medicines
are not proper for
remedies ne schullen not sit touchen be for whiche tnee now, dis :
tracteu by griet,
we wil[e] vsen somedel ly^ter medicines. So bat bilk[e] sadness 81 " 1
passiourcs bat ben woxen harde in swellyng by per- 607
turbact'oiw folowyng in to bi bou^t mowen woxe esy Light medicines
must prepare
and softe to receyuew be strenkeb of a more mysty and thee for sharper
remedies.
more egre medicine by an esier touchyng. 610
CUJf PHEBI RADIIS GRAVE CAJfCRl SIDZ7S ENESTUAT.
"ITThan bat be heuy sterre of Jje cancre eschaufeb by [The sixte
be beme of phebws. bat is to seyne whan bat pheb?f,<? He who sows his
seed when the
be sonne is in be signe of be Cancre. Who so seueb sun is in the
* Sign of Cancer,
ban largely hys sedes to be feldes bat refuse to re- SSJuuS?* * 110
ceiuen hem. lete hym gon bygyled of trust bat he 615
hadde to hys corn, to acorns or okes. yif bou wilt Think not to in-
gather violets in
gadre violettj. ne go bou not to be purper wode whan the wintry and
stormy season.
be felde chirkynge agriseb of colde by be felnesse of
be wynde bat hy^t aquilon ^[ Yif bou desirest or 619
592 be mta MS. be couthe,
C. ben cowth
596 wepen wopen
597 laste last
eschaufed esohaufede
598 not omitted
599 ^olde ^yolden
602 many manye
604 my^tyer myhtyere
tio.'i whiche which
606 wttle] wol
ly-^ter lyhtere
pilkte] thilke
607 harde hard
608 folowyng Flowyng
woxe wexen
610 esier esyere
612 beme beemes
seyne seyn
fill hys hise
614 refuse refuaeii
615 after hem C. adds [a.
corn]
lete hym gon (MS. gone]
lat hym gon
616 or of
wilt gadre wolt gadery
618 felde feeld
felnesse felnesses
619 hy$t hyhte
2G
PHILOSOPHY QUESTIONS BOETH1US.
I 1!OOK 1
[PROSE H.
if you wish for wolt vsen grapes ne seke bou nat wib a glotonus hande
wine in autumn
thVvmebe^ree f * s t re i ne an ^ P^sse be stalkes of be vine in be first
\esprmg. S omer sesoun. for bachus be god of wyne hab raber
623 ^euen his ^iftes to autmnpne be latter ende of somer.
^[ God tokenib and assigneb *be tymes. ablyng hem
to her propre offices. ^[ Ne he ne suffrej) not stoundes
And forbi he bat forleteb
[ fol. 8.]
To every work
God assigns a
proper time,
nor suffers any- whiche bat hym self hab deuided and cowstreined to
thing to pass its
suc does not be medeled to gidre
await him who , . f .
departs from the ccrteyne ordmaunce of doynge by ouerbrowyng wey.
appointed order
of ti-ings. he ne hab no glade issue or ende of hys werkes.
(
PRIMU-Jf IGITUR PATERIS ROGACIONIBTO.
[The syxte prose.] Thirst Avolt bou suffre me to touche and assaie be stat
Philosophy pr. . of bi boiut by a fewe demaundes. so bat I may
poses to q lestion
Boethius. vnderstonde what be be manere of bi curaciouw. ^[ Axe
633 me quod .1. atte bi wille what fou wilt, and I schal
answers. ^[ ])o saide sche bus. wheber wenest bou quod
sche bat bis worlde be gouerned by foolisshe happes
636 and fortunes, or elles wenest bou bat ber be in it any
gouernemerat of resouw. Certes quod .1. ne trowe not
in 110 manere bat so certeyne binges scholde be moeued
by fortunouse fortune, but I wot wel bat god maker
640 and mayster is gouernowr of bis werk. ~Ne neuer nas
i shall never lit day bat myitfel putte me oute of be sobenesse of
swerve from this 3
opinion. j, a t sentence. ^ So is it quod sche. for be same bing
643 songe bou a lytel here byforne and byweyledest and
dkut'say as h much by weptest. bat only men weren put oute of be cure of
deciare h man ld8 god. Tf For of alle ober binges bou ne doutest nat
alone to be . .
destitute of bat bei nere gouerned by resow. but how (.1. pape.).
divine care.
I Avondre gretly certes whi bat bou art seek, siben bou
art put in to so holesom a sentence, but lat vs seken
p. is the world
governed by
B. By no means.
The Creator pn>-
: des over his
. wn works.
620 hande bond
622 feap MS. habe
625 her propreheere pro-
pres
not nat the
626 JM\> MS. habe
f>27 be medeled ben I-metlled
tB8 certeyne certeyn
629 ha\> MS. habe
630 wolt bow woltow
stal estat
633 atte at
wilt wolt
635 worlde world
fool i suite foolyssh
636 forttautttnuawt
638 scholde sholden
639 wot MS. wote, C. wool
6U my ^[ej putte myhteput
644 put MS. putte
645 doutest dowtedest
646 how owh
647 seek si\>en syke syn
649 put MS. putte, C. put
HOOK 1. "I
PROSE 6.J
DISCOVERS THE CAUSE OF HIS DISTEMPER.
27
depper. I cnniecte bat fere lakkeb I not what, but 649
aey me bis. siben bat bou ne doutest nat bat bis worlde Teii me how the
world is
be gouerned by god ^| wij? swycche gouernailes takest governed.
bou hede bat it is gouerned. ^f vnnejj quod .1. knowe 652
.1. be sente?zce of bi qwestioun. so bat I ne may nat B. i do not
thoroughly corn-
Jit answeren to bi demaundes. ^[ I nas nat deceiued prebend your
question.
qiiod sche bat bere ne faileb suwwhat. by whiche be ^J^ 8 "hln
maladie of perturbaczou/z is crept in to bi bou^t. so There waTsome
, f . i i . MT -r> j. defect in thy
as be strengbe ot be paleys schynyng is open. |[ But sentiment.
Tell me what is
seye me bis remewbrest bou oust what is be ende of the chief end of
all things; and
bi binges, whider bat be entenczoun of al kynde tendeb. ^therau
^[ I haue herd told it somtyme quod .1. but drery- 660
nesse hab dulled my memorie. ^[ Certys quod sche
bou wost wel whennes bat alle binges ben comen and 662
preceded. I wot wel quod .1. a^o 7 anseweredfe] bat B. God is the
' . . , f , m . , , V. , beginning of nil
god is be bygynnyng of al. ^j And how may bis be things.
quod sche bat siben bou knowest be bygynnyng of P. HOW, then, an
thou ignorant of
binges, bat bou ne knowest not what is be endyng of their end : "
binges, but swiche ben be customes of perturbactouws. 667
and bis power bei han. bat bei may moeue a man fro nalUVo/these
hys place, bat is to seyne from be stablenes am? per- fwh^hThou' 8
, , , , . . endurest) to un-
fecc^ouw of hys knowyng. but certys bei may not al settle men's
minds.
arace hym ne alyene hym in al. ^[ But I wolde bat 671
bou woldest answere to bis. ^[ Eemembrest bou bat Semher "h r at
r n r ITTI i_ i i T tnou art a ma " ?
bou art a man ^j Boice. \ W m scholde 1 nat remem- B. certainly i do.
bre bat quod .1. Philosophic. ^ Maiste bou not telle
Tiii.-- T- , whether I am a
me ban qz<oa sche what bmg is a man. ^| Axest not rational and
. TII mortal creature,
me quod I. whebir bat be a resonable best mortel. I i know and con
fess I am.
wot wel and I confesse wel bat I am it. If Wistest p - ? ut do f* tllou
not know that
bou neuer $it bat bou were ony ober bing qiwd she.
649 depper deppere
not what-not nere what
650 s/bewsyii
worlde world
r>5l takest \>ou takestow
remembrest ]>oii
inciibres thow
(;/ omitted
660 A-<f told MS. herde
tolde
Aerd toM it herd yt toold
661 ha\> MS. ha^e
683 proceded procedeth
ansewered[e} answerede
661 \>e omitted
6fio si\>en syii
WiS fro owt of
669 seyne from seyn fro
672 Remembrest \>ou Re-
menbresthovv
674 Maiste \>ou Maystho'.v
675 \>an )>anne
\>ing thingi-
Axest Axestow
677 Wistest \>ou wystot
how
678 \>ing thinge
L>8
BOKTU1US NEEDS LIGHT REMEDIES.
rnooK i.
LPKOSE e.
death itself.
I thank God that
Reason hath not
wholly deserted heele bat nature hab not al iorleten be. and 1
Uiee.
R. NO. ~No quod .1. now wot I quod she ober cause of bi
680 maladie and bat ry^t grete If }?ou hast left forto
p. NOW i know knowe bi self what bou art. boruj whiche I haue pley-
the principal
tem se e? fthydis " ne ty cne knowen be cause of bi maladie. or ellis be
683 entre of recoueryng of bin hele. ^f Forwhy for bou
Thou hast lost art co/zfounded wib foraetyng of bi self, forbi sorwest
the knowledge of
thyself, jj OU j, a t j, ou art exiled of bi propre goodes. ^f And
thou knowest not for bou ne wost what is be ende of binges, forf bi] demest
the end of things, '
a otten a how7he [f ou ] ^ ^ onous ana " wikked men ben my^ty and weleful
governed. f r J* 011 nas ^ for^eten by whiche gouernementj be worlde
689 is gouerned. ^f Forbi wenest bou bat bise mutac/owzs
omj^reaVocca- ^ f r t une fleten wib outen gouernowr. bise ben grete
causes not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes to
But I banke be auctour and be makere of
haue
694 g[r]ete norissinges of bi hele. and bat is be sobe sen
tence of gouernamzce of be worlde. bat bou byleuest
bat be gouernynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput
to be folie *of bise happes auenterouses. but to be
resoure of god ^f And ber fore doute be nobing. For
of bis litel spark bine heet of lijf schal shine. ^[ But
700 for as muche as it is not tyme }itte of fastere remedies
^[ And be nature of bou^tes disseiued is bis bat as ofte
as bei casten aweye sobe opynioims : bei cloben hem in
fals[e] opiniouns. [of whiche false opyniouws] bederknesse
of perturbaciouw. wexeb vp. bat comfoundeb be verray
insyjt. and bat derkenes schal .1. say somwhat to
thauiarkeiTs the maken biwne and wayk by ly^t and meenelyche re-
understanding,
i shall endeavour medies. so bat alter bat be derknes ot desseyuynge
therefore to dis-
desyrynges is don awey. bou mow[e] knowe be schyn-
yng of verray ly^t.
r liave some
hope of thy
recovery since
thou believest
that the world is
[* fol. 8 6.]
under 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
opinions so soon
as we have laid
aside the true,
from whence
sipate these
vapours so that
you may perceiye
the true light.
680 hast left MS. haste
lefte, C. hast left
6S1 knowe knoweii
pleynelyche knowen
pleynly fwonde [ =
roundfi]
684 sorwest bou sorwistow
WgJbrCW aemest [pou]
For thy demeathow
6S7 wikked MS. wilked, C.
wykkyd
688 worlde world
689 wenest bou wenestow
690 outen owte
693 hab MS. hape
nl alle
694 pi thin
696 vnderput vndyrputtc
697 to (2) omitted
698 fore for
698 nobing nothinge
699 spark )>/n.c //of sparko
700 muche medic [thin hetc
702 aweye away
703 [of opyniounsl from
7n."i ins-i/^t insyhte [C.
xn '/ -a>saye
706 lyit lyhte
70S ,/;, .SlS. (lollr
>iMiv[e] ruowc
BOOK 2. 1
1'KOSK l.J
HE IS NOT TO TAKE HIS LOSSES TO HEART.
29
NUBIBJ7S ATRIS CONDITA.
sterres couered wib blakTei cloudes ne mowen [Theseuende
Metyr.]
geten a doun no ly$t. 3if f e trouble wynde fat Black clouds
obscure the light
hy$t auster stormynge and walwyng fe see medlef fe of the stars.
heete fat is to seyne fe boylyng vp from fe botme 713
^[ j?e wawes frtt soratyme weren clere as glas and if the south wind
renders the sea
lyke to fe iair[ej bry^t[ej dayes wifstant anon fe tempestuous, the
sy^tes of men. by f e filf e and ordure fat is resolued. J
rt'Z f e fletyng streme fat royle]) douw dyuersely fro
hey^e mourctaignes is arestid and resisted ofte tyme
by Jje encountrynge of a stoon fat is departid and 719
fallen from some roche. ^T And forbi yif bou wilt ifthou wouidst
' * see truth by the
loken and demen sobe Avib clere lyat. and holde be clearest light,
pursue the path
weye wib a ry3t pabe. 1 Weyue bou ioie. drif fro be Awl
drede. fleme bou hope, ne lat no sorwe apache, fat is sorro
to sein lat noon of f ise four passiou?is ouer come f e. pas's
or blynde f e. for cloudy and dirke is f ilk f ou3t and w^erelhese
H things control,
bounde with bridles, wnere as bise binges regnen. /26 the soul is bound
by strong fetters.
EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.
elcarness -
' and
IXCIPIT LIBER SECUNDUS.
POSTEA [PAUjLISPER CONTICU1T.
A fter f is she stynte a litel. and after fat she hadde [The fyrst prose.]
-^*- gadred by atempre stillenesse myn attencioun she 728
seide bus. ^[ As who so myjtfel seye bus. After bise Philosophy ex
horts Boethius
binges she styntfel a lytel. and whanne she aver- not to torment
L J himself on
ceiued[e] by atempre stillenesse fat I was ententif to fo e u g ntofhls
herkene hire, she bygan to speke in fis wyse. ^[ Yif 732
722 pa\>e paath
724 come comeii
725 blynde blende
%>ilk thilke
727 she (2) 1
729 myit[e] seye myhteseyn
730 stynt[e] stynte
732 hire here
710 WrtAfp] blake
712 stormynge turnyng
713 from fro
714 somtyme whilom
715 lyke lyk
fair[e] uri\>stant (MS.
wi^stantc) fayre cleore
dayes and brilite with
stand
716 suites syhtes
717 streme strem
718 hey$e hy
720 from some f rum som
wilt wolt
721 so\>e soth
clere cleer
holde holden
722 toeyev/ey
30 PHILOSOPHY EXHIBITS TO BOETHIUS [I-KOSK'I.
733 I quod she haue vnderstonde?? and knowe vtterly fe
Thou art, she causes and be habit of bi maladie. bou languissed and
says, affected by
the lo^ of thy ar t deifeted for talent and desijr of bi raber fortune.
former fortune.
736 If She fat ilke fortune only fat is chaunged as fou
it hath perverted feinest to be ward, hab peruerted be clerenesse and be
thy faculties.
i am well ac- astat of bi corage. ^T I vnderstonde be felefolde
quainted with all
p h rodi ile - 8 (< f that C 1 M/ ' ana deceites of filke merueillous monstre for
tune, and how she vsef ful flatryng familarite wif hem
741 fat she enforcef to by gyle, so longe til fat she con-
founde wif vnsuffreable sorwe hem fat she haf left
743 in despeir vnpurueyed. ^f and if fou remembrest wel
Though she has f e kynde be maners and be desert of bilke fortune, bow
left thee, thou ' *
hast not losj; any- shalt wel knowe as in hir bou neuer ne haddest ne
thing or beauty *
hast ylost any fair fing. But as I trowe I shal not
747 gretly trauaile to don fe remembren of fise finges.
Thou wert once *JT For fou were wont to hurtlen [and despysenl hir
proof against her
allurements. w jj, manly wordes whan she was blaundissinge and
presente and pwrsewedest hir wif sentences fat were
751 drawen oute of myne entre. fat is to seyne out of
But sudden myn iwformaciouw ^[ But no sudeyne mutaci'ouri ne
change works a
great alteration bytideb nat wib outew a maner chauwgyng of curages.
in the minds
" f . me P' h nce . and so is it byfallen bat bou art departed a litel fro
it is that thou art J I I
thy u'sua/peace J> e P ees f J"- f ou$t. but now is tyme fat fou drynke
But wttii some ond atast[e] some softe and delitable finges. so fat whan
gentle emollients . . , , .. . ... ,
i shall prepare fei ben entred wif iwne fe. it mow make weye to
thee for stronger
medicines. strenger drynkes of medycynes. ^T Com nowe furbe
Approach then, J
withthv' er- \ erfore fe suasiouw of swetnesse Eethoryen. whiche
and^therewiThVet fat gof oonly f e ryjt wey whil she forsakef not myne
Music also draw . , . -p, ,,
near. estatut3- ^[ And wif Kethorice com lorfe musice a
762 damoisel of oure house fat syngef now ly^ter moedes
733 knowe utterly knowen
owtrely
734 languissetl languyssest
737 fca^-MS. ha)>e
738 astat estat
felefolde fef-lefold
739 colour colours
deceites (MS. decrites)
dcceytes
merueillmts meruayles
742 ha\> MS. haf>e
746 any (MS. my) any
}>ing thinge
747 trauaile travaylen
don do
remembren of remenbre
on
748 [and despi/seri]trom C.
749 was omitted
750 were weren
751 myne myn
seyne sayn
i 752 sudeyne sodeyn
753 owfew-^owte
757 inne in
mow weye mo we
maken wey
758 strenger strengere
Com nowe fur\>e MS.
Come; C. Com now forth
760 pop MS. gope
761 com MS. come, C. com
762 house hows
ly-^tei lyhtere
HOOK :>. 1
PROSE 1 J
THE WILES OF FORTUNE.
31
or prolaciouns now heuyer. *what aylef f e man. what
is it fat haf cast f e in to murnyng and in to wepyng.
I trow[e] fat fou hast sen some newe fing and un-
coupe. ^[ ])ou wenest fat fortune be chaunged a^eins
fe ^[ But fou wenest wrong, yif fou [fat] wene.
Alwey f o ben hire maners. she haf raf er [kept] as to
f e ward hire propre stablenes in f e chaungyng of hyre
self. ^[ Ryjt swyche was she whan she flatered[e]
fe. and desseiued[e] fe wif vnleueful lykynges of
false welefulnesse. f ou hast now knowen and ataynt
fe doutous or double visage of filke blynde goddesse
fortune. ^[ She fat }it coueref hir and wymplef hir
to ofer folk, haf shewed hir euerydel to f e. < |[ }if
fou approuest hir and fenkest fat she is good, vse
hir maners and pleyne f e nat. ^[ And if fou agrisest
hir fals[e] trecherie. dispise and cast aw eye hir fat
pleyef so harmefully. for she fat is now cause of so
myche sorwe to f e. sholde be to f e cause of pees and
[of] ioie. Tf sne haf forsaken fe forsofe. fe whiche
fat ueuer man may be syker fat she ne shal forsake
hym. Glose. ^[ But naf eles some bookes han fe text
fus. For sof e she haf forsaken f e ne f er nis no man
syker fat she ne haf not forsaken. % Holdest fou
fan filke welefulnesse preciouse to f e fat shal passen.
and is present fortune derworf i to f e. whiche fat nis
not feif ful forto dwelle. and whan she gof aweye fat
she bryngef a wy$t in sorwe ^[ For syn she may nat
be wif holderc at a mans wille. she makef hym a wrecche
whew she departef fro hym. ^T What ofer f ing is
[* fol. 9.]
764
Thou tliinkest
that Fortune is
changed towards
thee.
But thoti art
deceived.
768
In this misad
venture of thine
she hath pre
served her con
stancy in
changing.
772
You ha%-e seen
the double face
of this blind
divinity.
776
If thou dost
abhor her perfidy
cast her off, for
her sports are
dangerous.
780
784
Is that happiness
which is so
transient ?
Is the attendance
of Fortune so dear
to thee, whose
stay is so uncer
tain, and whose
removal causes
such grief?
791
763 prolaciouns probasy-
ons
heuyer heuyere
< i >/!<}> eyleth
765 trow[e] trowe
sen MS. sene, C. seyn
some som
biny thinge
uncou \>e v nkowth
766 a^eins ayein
767 wenest weenes
[pofl C. that
768 /)> MS. haj>e
[kept] from C.
769 stablenes in be stabyl-
nesse standeth in the
770 swyche swich
771 vnleueful vnlefful
775 ha\> MS. had, C. hat
776 good MS. goode, C. Rod
777 agrisest MS. agrised, C.
aurvsyst
778 fals[e} false
780 myche mochel
781 [o/] from C.
fe>> MS. ha^e
783 text texte
784 ha^ MS. habe
785 forsaken forsake
Holdest bou holdestow
786 ban thanne
preciouse presyes
787 cterworbt-^-dereworthe
whiche which
788 feibful fevthfulle
gob MS. gope
aweye awey
790 mans mannys
791 (//;,/< wan
bing thinge
PHILOSOPHY EXPOSTULATES WITH DOKTIIIUS.
[HOOK -'.
[PROSE i.
What is slie
(Fortune; Imt the
presage of future
calamity ?
794
796
Her mutability
should make men
neither fear her
threats nor desire
her favours.
801
If you submit to
her yoke you
must patiently
endure her
inflictions.
805
Impatience will
only embitter
your loss.
You cannot
choose your port
if you leave your
vessel to the
mercy of the
winds.
811
You have given
yourself up to
Fortune ; it be
comes you there
fore to obey her
commands.
Would you stop
the rolling of her
wheel?
Fool! if Fortune
once became
stable she would
cease to exist.
flittmg fortune but a manere shewyng of wrycchednesse
fat is to comen. ne it ne suffrif nat oo[n]ly to loken
of f ing fat is present byforne f e eyen of man. but
wisdom lokef and mesuref J>e ende of f inges. and J>e
same chaungyng from one to an of er. fat is to seyne
fro aduersite to prosperite make]? fat fe manaces of
fortune ne ben not forto dreden ne fe flatrynges of
hir to ben desired. *[ Jjus atte f e last it byhouef f e
to suffren wij) euene wille in pacience al fat is don
inwif f e floor of fortune, fat is to seyne in f is worlde.
^[ Syfen f ou hast oones put f i nekke vnder f e ^okke
of hir. for if f ou wilt write a lawe of wendyng and of
dwellyng to fortune whiche fat f ou hast chosen frely
to be fi lady ^[ Art fou nat wrongful in fat and
makest fortune wrofe and aspere by fin inpacience.
and $it fou mayst not chaungen hir. ^[ Yif fou com-
mittest [and] bitakest f i sayles to f e wynde. fou shalt
be shouen not fider fat fou woldest(:) but winder fat
f e wynde shouef f e ^f Yif fou castest fi seedes in f e
feldes fou sholdest haue in mynde fat fe 3eres ben
of er while plenteuous and ofer while bareyne. ^[ )5ou
liast bytaken fiself to fe gouernaunce of fortune.
and forf i it byhouef f e to ben obeisaunt to f e manere
of fi lady, and enforcest fou f e to aresten or wif-
stonden fe swyftnesse and f e sweyes of hir towmyng
whelp. TJ" fou fool of alle mortel fooles if fortune
bygan to dwelle stable, she cesed[e] fan to ben fortune.
793 suffri\> suffiseth
794 offing on thyiige
byforne MS. byforne by
forne
man a. man
795 mesure\> amesureth
796 from one fram oon
seyne seyn
797 fro from
to into
799 atte \>e last Hit the laste
801 seyne seyn
worlde world
802 Sy\>en Syn
\okke yoke
803 if yif
write wryten
804 whiche which
805 lady ladye
Art \>ou Artow
808 wro\>e wroth
thine
807 chaungen chaunge
808 [and] from C.
809 \>ider thedyr
whider whedyr
811 haue hau
814 manere-^maneres
815 and omitted
wi\>stonden withholden
816 sweyes swey?
818 cesed^e] cesede
HOOK 2.
MET. 1. PROSE 2.J
THE INCONSTANCY OF FORTUNE.
33
HBC CUM SUPERBA.
lirhan fortune wif a proude 'ry^t hande haf tumid
hir chauwgyng stoundes she farejj lyke f e maners
of f e boillyng eurippe. Glose. Eurippe is an arme of
f e see fat ebbith and flowif . and somtyme J>e streme
is on one syde and somtyme on fat of er. Texte f She
cruel fortune kastef adoune kynges fat somtyme weren
ydred. and she deceiuable enhaunseth vp fe humble
chere of hym fat is discomfited, and she neyf er here])
ne recchef of wrecched[e] wepynges. and she is so harde
fat she lau^ef and scornef f e wepyng of hem f e whiche
she hajj maked wepe wij) hir free wille. 1T }?us she
pleyej) and ]>u$ she preuef hir strengjje and shewef a
grete wondre to alle hir seruauwtj. V Yif fat a wyjt
is seyn weleful and ouerfrowe in an houre. 832
VELLEM AUTEAf PAUCA.
/^lErtis I wolde plete wif fee a fewe finges vsynge
V: f e wordes of fortune tak heede now f i self, yif fat
she axef ry^t. * IT f ou man wher fore makest fou
me gilty by fine euerydayes pleynynges. what wronges
haue I don f e. what goodes haue I byreft fe fat weren
fine, stryf or plete wif me by fore what iuge fat f ou
wilt of f e possessiowz of rycchesse or of dignites H" And
yif f ou maist shewe me fat euer any mortal man haf
receyued any of fese f inges to ben his in propre. fan
wol I graunt[e] frely fat [alle] filke finges weren fine
whiche fat fou axest. ^[ Whan fat nature brou^t[e] f e
forf e out of fi moder wombe. I receyued[e] f e naked
[Thefyrstmetur.,
Fortune is as in
constant as the
ebb and How of
Euripus.
She hurls kinps
from their
thrones, and
exalts the cap
tive.
826
She turns a deaf
ear to the tears
and cries of the
wretched.
Thus she sports
and boasts her
power and pre
sents a marvel
to her servants
if, in the space of
an hour, a man is
hurled from
happiness into
adversity.
[The secunde
prose.]
Philosophy ex
postulates with
[* fol. 9 i>.]
Boethius in the
name of Fortune.
Why do you
accuse me (For
tune) as guilty ?
What goods or
advantages have
I deprived you
Off
840
Can you prove
that ever any
man had a fixed
property in his
riches ?
You came naked
into the world,
819 proude prowd
li.'ini/i- hand
Juib MS. hape
820 lyke lik
821 armc arm
822 streme strem
828 onv0
824 adoune adown
somtyme whilom
825 ydred (MS. ydredde]
humble vmble [ydrad
827 recche\> rekkp}>
827 wrecched[e] wrecchede
harde hard
828 Jawjep lyssheth
wepyng wepynges
830 streng\>e strengthes
833 plete pleten
834 tak MS. take, C. tak
835 makest pow makes thow
836 wranges wroge
837 don MS. done, C. don
byreft MS. hyrefte, C.
byrrft
3
838 stryf MS. stryue.C.str.vr
plete pleten
by fore by forn
839 wilt wolt
rycchesse rychesses
840 shewe shuwyn
ewer eneru
Jtab MS. hape
841 pesey-tho
his hise
842 graunt\_e\ gravmte
\alle~\ from C.
34
PROSPERITY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FELICITY.
THCIOK 2.
LPROSE 2.
and I cherished
you
847
niul encompassed
you with
affluence.
Now that I luive
a mind to with
draw my boun y,
be thankful and
complain not.
853
Riches and
honours are s..b-
ject to me.
They are my
servants, and
come and go with
me.
858
Shall I alone be
forbidden to use
my own right V
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 flower* ?
865
The sea some
times appears
calm, and at
other times
terrifies us with
its tempestuous
waves.
Shall I be bound
to constancy liy
the covetousness
of men ?
871
I turn my rolling
wheel and amuse
myself with
exalting what
and nedy of al Jjing. and I norysshed[e] Jje wijj my
rychesse. and was redy and ententif Jjon^ my fauowr to
sustene Jje. 1T And Jjat make]? J?e now inpacient ajeins
me. and I envirounde J>e wijj al J?e habundaunce and
shinyng of al goodes Jjat ben in my ry3t. f Now it
lykej? me to wijj drawe myne hande. Jjou bast bad grace
as he fat baj> vsed of foreyne goodes. J>ou hast no ry^t to
pleyne Jje. as Jjou^ Jjou haddest vtterly lorn alle Jji
Jjinges. whi pleynest Jjou Jjan. I haue don Jje no wrong.
Ricches honowres and swyche ojjer Jjinges ben of my
ry^t. IF My seruauntes knowen me for hir lady. J)ei
comen wijj me and departen whan I wende. I dar wel
affermen hardyly. Jjat yif J>o Jjinges of whiche J>ou
pleynest Jjat Jjou hast forlorn hadde ben Jjine. Jjou ne
haddest not lorn hem. f shal I Jjan only be defended
to vse my ry^t. IF Certis it is leueful to J?e heuene to
make clere dayes. and after Jjat to keuere Jje same dayes
wijj derke ny^tes. If )?e erjje hajj eke leue to apparaile
J>e visage of J)e erjje now w/t7i floures and now wij>
fruyt. and to oonfounde hem somtyme wijj raynes and
wijj coldes. 1T )5e see hajj eke hys ry^t to be som-
tyme cahne and blaundyshing Avijj smojje water, and
somtyme to be horrible wijj wawes and wij> tempestes.
IT But J>e couetyse of men J?at may not be staunched
shal it bynde me to be stedfast. syn Jjat stedfastnesse
is vnkoujj to my maneres. ^[ Swyche is my strengjje.
and Jjis pley. I pley[e] cowtinuely. I tourne Jje whirlywg
whele wij) Jje tournyng cercle 11 I am glade to chaunge
Jje lowest to J;e heyeste. and Jje heyest to Jje loweste.
845 al \>lng alle thinges
norysshed\ti} uory ssede
84*J rychesse rychesses
848, 849 air- alle
848 habundaunce abound-
aunce
850 wi\> hande with-
drawen myn hand
fcod-MS. haddis C. had
851 ha\> MS. ha)>e
852 utterly ontrely
lorn MS. lonie, C. for
loni
853 don 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
er\>e yer
tap MS. hape
864 confounde cowfownden
865 ha\> MS. ha)>e
866 calme kalm
867 (2nd) ?tp omitted
869 stedfast stidefast
stedfastnesse stidefast-
nesse
870 vnkou\> MS. vukouj>e,
C. vnkowth
Swyche Swych
871 pley[_e] pleye
872 whele wheel
glade K'ad
chaunge chaungyw
BE SUBJECT TO FORTUNE'S CHANGES. 35
worbe vp yif bou wilt, so it be by bis lawe. bat bou was low, ami
^ J r r bringing down
ne holde not bat I do be wronge bouj bou descends what was high.
Ascend if you
doim whanne resoun of my pleye axeb it. Wost bou do'w'n^'nen'niy
not how Cresus kyng of lyndens of which e kyng C'mis sport
was ful sore agast a litel byforne bat bis rewlyche 878
Cresus was ca^t of Cirus and lad to be fijr to be t ^ e h w j r - y ". t
brent, but bat a reyne desce/*ded[e] doun from heuene paufusjEmmu.s?
bat rescowed[e] hym If And is it out of bi mynde how
bat Paulus consul of Rome whan he hadde take be
kyng of perciens weep pitou[s]ly for be captiuitee of be 883
self[e] kyng. What ober binges bywaylen be criinges of what else does
Tragedies, but only be dedes of fortune, bat wib an muse of Tragedy
deplore but the
vnwar stroke ouertw-neb be realmes of grete nobley kingdoins by
11 Glose. Tragedie is to seyne a dite of a prosperite for atestS'""
a tyme bat endib in wrechednesse. Lernedest nat bou Did you not learn
whilst a youth,
in grek whan bou were ?onge bat in be entre or in be tiiat at the gates
of Jove's palace
seler of luppiter ber ben couched two tunnes. bat on 8Un d two vessels,
one lull of bless-
is ful of good bat ober is ful of harme. IF What ry3t ^? lieo1
hast bou to pleyne. yif bou hast taken more plenteuously what if you have
J drunk too deep of
of be goode syde bat is to seyne of my rycchesse and the first essel ?
prosperites. and what eke. yif I be nat departed fro be. 894
What eke. yif my mutabilitee aiueb be ryatful cause of My mutability
gives thee hope
hope to han }it better bircges. (I .Nabeles desmaie be of happier days,
nat in bi bou^t. and bou bat art put in comune realme Desire not to be
of alle : ne desijr[e] nat to lyue by bine oonly propre ry3t. the^lcitsitudes of
81 QIMNTAS RAPIDIS.
uj plentee bat is goddesse of rycches hielde adouw
wij? ful horn, and wibdraweb nat hir hand. IT As ^m
many recches as be see turneb vpwardes sandes whan it Sown
874 wor\>e worth
wilt wolt
876 doun adoun
whanne wan
pleye pley
Wost pott wistesthow
877 kyng (1) the kyng
lyndens lydyens
878 hyforne byforn
*80 ri'i/nc ilescendfd[e]
rayn dessendede
880 from fro
881 rescowed[e] rescowede
882 take takyn
885 an a.
886 pe omitted
887 seyne seyn
tunnes tonnes
893 teyne seyn
rycchesse rychesses
894 I be nat I ne be nat al
896 better beters
898 lyue lyuen
\>ine thin
899 rycches rychesscv
901 recches ryc-hesscs
891 harme harm i vpwardes vpward
892 hast POM hasthow
THE COVETOUS ARE EVER DISCONTENTED.
HiOOK 3.
LPROSE s
riches on the
world as there
are bands on the
sea-shore, or
stars in heaven,
mankind would
not cease to eom-
[* fol. 10.]
plain.
906
Though Heaven
may grant
every desire, they
will still cry for
more.
910
What rein can
restrain unbound
ed avarice ?
He who thinks
himself poor,
though lie be
rich, doth truly
labour under
poverty.
916
is moeued wijj rauysshing Wastes, or ellys as many
rycclies as f er shynen bry}t[e] sterres on heuene on f e
sterry ny$t. jit for al fat mankynde nolde not cesce to
wope wrecched[e] pleyntes. U And al be it so *fat
god receyuef gladly her prayers and 3euef hem as ful
large muche golde and apparailef coueytous folk wif
noble or clere honows. }it seme]) hem haue I-gete no-
f ing. but alwey her cruel ravyne deuourynge al fat fei
han geten shewij) of er gapinges. fat is to seye gapen
and desiren }it after moo rycchesse. IT What brideles
my^ten wifholde to any certeyne ende fe desordene
coueitise of men IT Whan euere f e raf er fat it fletif in
large ^iftis : f e more ay brennef in hem J>e f rest of
hauyng. IT Certis he fat quakyng and dredeful wenef
hyrn seluen nedy. he ne lyuef neuere mo ryche.
HIIS IGITUR SI PRO SE.
[The thrydde
prose.]
If Fortune spake
thus to you, you
could not defend
your complaint.
921
IS. What you
have said is very
specious, but
such discourses
are only sweet
while they strike
our ears.
They cannot
efface the deep
impressions that
misery has made
in the heart.
928
"V% erfore yif fat fortune spake wif f e for hir self in
J fis man ere. For sofe fou ne haddest [nat] what
fou my^test answere. and if fou hast any f ing wher-
wif. fou mayist ry^tfully tellen fi cowpleynt. IT It
byhouef f e to shewen it. and .T. wol $eue f e space to
tellen it. IT Certeynely quod I fan fise ben faire
finges and enoyntid wif hony swetnesse of rethorike
and musike. and only while f ei ben herd fei ben de-
licipuse. IT But to wrecches is a deppere felyng of
harme. fis is to seyn fat wrecches felen f e harmes fat
fei suifren more greuously fan f e remedies or f e delites
of fise wordes mowe gladen or comforten hem. so fat
902 rauysshing rauyssyn^e
903 rycches rychesses
brW)t[e] l)ryhte
on (I) in
904 ny$t nylttes
905 wope wrecclied [e] wepe
wrecchede
900 her hir
ful fool
907 Mittefte
folk men
908 liaue hauen
I-gete I-getyn
909 her hir
910 eye seyn
911 rycchesse rychesses
912 wi\>holde wytholden
certeyne certeyn
914 \>ret thurst
915 dredqful dredful
916 lyueb~ leueth
918 Inat] from C.
919 if- yif
920 mayist mayst
tellen defeimyn
921 \eue yeuyn
922 pan thanne
ben bet (= beth)
923 swetnesse swetcucs
924 while whil
Jierd MS. herde
926 harme harm
928 mowe moweu
i'KOSE 3 3."| BOETHIUS IS NOT UNHAPPY. 37
\vhan bise binges stynten forto soim[e] in eres. be sorwe 929
bat is inset greueb be bou^t. Ry$t so is it <\uod she. P. so it is in-
1T For fise ne ben }it none remedies of }>i nialadie. but ^"d"^^^
)>ei ben a manere norissinges of bi sorwe $it rebel Stiv-es oniiy. 88
a^eyne bi curacz'oim. IF For whan bat tyme is. I shal serves, rvdii
administer those
moue swiche binges bat percen hem self depe. II But thmes that shall
reach the seat of
nabeles bat bou shalt not wilne to leten bi self a your disease.
But you are not
wrecche. IT Hast bou for^eten be noumbre and be nSIrofthe
manere of bi welefulnesse. I holde me stille how bat ^shaii' not gp eak
/ . /-i-i . i j of your happiness
be souerayn men of be Citee token be in cure and in being pnmded
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 be Citee. thecit y;
IT And bou byguwne raber to ben leef and deere ban 941
forto ben a neyjbowr. be whiche bing is be most pre- norofyoumobie
J y alliance with
ciouse kynde of any propinquitee or aliauwce bat may |y^m a chus;
ben. 1T Who is it bat ne seide bou nere ry^t weleful 944
wib so grete a nobley of bi fadres in la we. 1T And wib nor of your
' virtuous wife,
be chastite of bi wijf. and wib be oportunite and and manly sons,
noblesse of bi masculyn children, bat is to seyne bi
sones and oner al bis me lyst to passe of comune binges. 948
IT How bou haddest in bi boujt diguitees bat weren
warned to olde men. but it deliteb me to comen now to
be singuler vphepyng of bi welefulnesse. IF Yif any
fruyt of mortal binges may ban any wey3te or price of 952
welefulnesse. 1F Myztest bou euere forjeten for any Can you ever for-
' get the memor-
charge of harme bat myjtfe] byfallen. be remembrau?zce "^^^'/""^
of bilke day bat bou sey[e] bi two sones maked con- SS{J d f IUl the
seillers. and ylad to gidre from bin house vndir so gret
assemble of senatours. and vndir be blybenesse of poeple. 957
and whan bou say[e] hem sette in be 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 neyiboui neyssheboKr
944. uere were
945 nobley nobleye
fadres fadyr-is
947 seyne seyn
948 lyst lyste
passe of passen the
949 )>o3< yowthe
* powji yowtne
950 warned wemed
952 fruyt frute ~ -~L-J
price pris sette set
93 My>,test \>ou myhtcs- ! her beer*
thow
954 harme harm
myrtle] byfallen inyhto
befalle
955 sey\_e~] saye
956 from fro
gretMS. grete, C. frret
958 say\_e~\ saye
38
ADVERSITY IS BUT TRANSIENT.
fBOOK 2.
LFUOSE a
VTlieti in the
circus you satis
fied the ex-
liectant multi
tude with a
triumphal
largess ?
963
By your expres
sions you
flattered Fortune,
and obtained
from her a gift
which never be
fore fell to any
private person.
969
Will you there
fore call Fortune
to account ?
She now begins,
I own, to look
unkindly on you ;
but if you con
sider the number
of your blessings,
[ fol. 106.]
you must confess
that you are still
happy.
976
These evils that
you suffer are but
transitory.
979
Can there be any
stability in
human affairs,
when the life of
man is exposed to
dissolution every
hour ?
The last day of
life puts an end
to Prosperity.
What matters it
then, whether
you by death
leave It, or it
(Fortune) by
flight doth leave
you?
961 bytwix bytwyen
962 hytf hihte
963 o/(l) of the
about abowten
961 rtp wttft so
965 iaue MS. pan, C. yaue
of to
906 si i/ni seyn
967 accoied[e} acoyede
968 nin-KKhi'd[e] noryssede
owen owne
\>ou of thow liar
away of
chaieres of dignitcs. IF J5ou rethorien or pnmouncere
of kynges preysinges. deseruedest glorie of wit and of
eloquence, whan fou sittyng bytwix fi two sones con-
seillers in fe place jjat hy^t Circo. and fulfildest fe
abydyng of multitude of poeple fat was sprad about f e
wij) large praysynge and laude as mew syngen in vic
tories. J>o ^aue fou wordes of fortune as I trowe. jjat
is to seyne. fo feffedest )>ou fortune wif glosynge
wordes and desseiuedest hir. whan she accoied[e] fe
and norsshed[e] fe as hir owen delices. 1T Jpou hast
had of fortune a ^ifte fat is to seyn swiche gerdoim
Jjat she neu[er]e ^af to preue man IT Wilt fou f erfore
leye a rekenyng wij) fortune, she haj> now twynkeled
first vpon fe wi]? a wykked eye. IT Yif fou considere
fe nounibre and f e manere of f i blysses. and of J)i
sorwes. *fou maist nat forsake fat Jjou nart }it blysful.
For if fou f erfore wenest J?i self nat weleful for f inges
fat fo semeden ioyful ben passed. IT J3er nis nat whi
]>ou sholdest wene }n self a wrecche. for finges fat now
semen soory passen also. IT Art j?ou now comen firste
a sodeyne gest in to J>e shadowe or tabernacle of J>is
lijf. or troAvest J>ou fat any stedfastnesse be in mannis
finges. IT Whan ofte a swifte houre dissoluef f e same
man. fat is to seyne whan fe soule depa?-tif fro fe
body. For al f ouj fat yelde is fer any feif fat for-
tunous f inges willen dwelle. ^it nafeles fe last[e] day
of a mannis 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 deywge or ellys fat she
fortune forlete fe in fleenge awey.
969 had MS. hadde
swiche swich
970 preue pryue
971 leye lye
ha\> MS\ hape
972 leykked wyckede
973 blysses l>hssr
974 forsake forsakyn
iiurt -art
tili/xfiil hlysspful
117-^ toorg - si'iryc
Jirste- fyrst
soduyn
979 shadowe shadwe
980 stedfastnesse stedefast-
981 swyfe swyft fnosc
dissolue\> dyssoluede
983 al )ww? pat al [vt
\ thowgh
fortunnus fortuni!
981 willen dwelle wolen
lnst[e]~ iHste [dwellyn
!'-M; li,i\> MS. hape
wenist \>ou weencstow
987 \>ar recche dar rccke
P88 awey away
HOOK .!.
SE 1.J
MKT. 3. PROSE 1.
MAXV BLESSINGS STILL REMAIN.
39
W
CUM PRIMO POLO.
han phebus be sonne bygynneb to spreden his clere- [The .iij. Metur.i
nesse vfiih rosene chariettes. ban be sterre ydimmyd The stars pa ie in-
fore the lifjht of
paleb hir white cheres. by be flamus of be sowne bat the risi "8 su "
ouer comeb be sterre ly^t. IF jjis is to seyn whan be
sonne is risen be day sterre wexib pale and lesib hir 993
lyjt for be grete bryjtnesse of be sonne. 1T Whan be westerly winds
J * * deck the wood
wode wexeb redy of rosene floures in be first somer wit . h r . oses ? 1 '. ut
easterly winds
sesoim boru} be brebe of fe wynde Zephirus bat wexe)> Sauty 'to'Lu-.
warme. 1F Yif be cloudy wynde auster blowe felliche. 997
ban gob awey be fayrnesse of bornes. Ofte be see is NOW the sea is
calm, and again
clere and calme wiboute moeuyng floodes. And ofte it is tempestuous.
be horrible wynde aqwilon moeueb boylyng tempestes 1000
and ouer whelweb be see. 1T Yif be forme of bis worlde if an things thus
v.iry, will you
is so [Decide] stable, and yif it towmib by so many r^ 1 " tra " 8itory
entrechaimgynges. wilt bou bara trusten in be trublynge
fortunes of men. wilt bou trowen in flittyng goodes. 1004
It is certeyne and establissed by lawe perdurable bat no AH here below is
unstdfast and
biwg bat is engendred nys stedfast no stable. unstable.
TUNC EGO UERA INQtMM.
T^Anne seide I bus. norice of alle uertues bou [The ferthe prose.]
- seist ful sobe. H ~Ne I may nat forsake be rv}t[e] B. i cannot deny
J J 5 L J ray sudden an,l
swifte cours of my prosperitee. bat is to seine, bat eiir 'y 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 rem-
brance of former
remembreb me. 1T For in alle aduersitees of fortune be "appiness that
* adds most to
most vnsely kynde of contrariouse fortune is to han ma "' 8 " ltell(;it y-
ben weleful. 1F But bat bou q?/od she abaist bus be p. KeooiieH that
. /. i t- y u ' iave y et
toMrment of bi fals[e J opmioure bat maist bou not ry^t- much affluence.
989 his hyr
990 J>aw thanne
991 flamus flambes
995 redy rody
rosene rosyn
997 warme warm
998 go\> MS. gope, C. goth
fayrnesse fayrenesse
999 clere cleer
calme kalin
1000 wynde wynd
1001 whelwe\> wt-lueeth
1002 beelde] from C.
1003, 1004 wilt paw wolthow
1003 ban thanne
trublynge towmblyrage
1004 in flittyng on flct-
1005 It is is it [tynge
1006 no ne
stable estable
1008 sobe soth
Ne Irnayye I no may
1009 seine seyn
1011 a omitted
gretly gretely
1012 adtierxitffx ;icliu csyto
1013 most mooste
1014 abaist abycst
1015 tourmcnt torment;
40
MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
TBOOK 2.
LPKOSE -
1018
esteemed most
precious in yo\ir
nappy days, you
iii retain,
1023
and ought there-
P laln -
1026
symmachus, dear
u as life,
to yo
1029
is safe and in
health.
Your wife
Husticiana is also
alive,
1034
separation from
y u -
1038
\vhy need i men-
i-ons, in whom so
much of the wit
[* foi. n.]
and spirit of their
s!redoth g shine?
And since it is
the chief care of
fully blamen ne aretteii to binges, as who seib for bou
hast jitte many habundaunces of binges. IT Textus.
For al be it so bat be ydel name of auenterouse wele-
fulnesse moeueb be now. it is leueful bat bou rekene
vfith me of how many[e] binges bou hast jit plentee.
II And berfore yif bat bilke bing bat bou haddest for
most precious in alle bi rycchesse of fortune be kept
to be by be grace of god vnwemmed and vndefouled.
Mayst bou ban pleyne ryjtfully vpon be myschief of for
tune, syn bou hast jit bi best[e] binges. 1T Certys jit
lyueb in goode poynt bilke precious honour of man-
kynde. 1T Symacus bi wyues fadir whiche bat is a
man maked al of sapience and of vertue. be whiche
man bou woldest b[i]en redely wib be pris of bin owen
lijf. he byweyleb be wronges bat men don to bee. awd
not for hym self, for he liueb in sykernesse of any
sentence put ajeins hym. IT And jit lyueb bi wif bat
is attempre of witte and passyng ober women in clennes
of chastitee. and for I wol closen shortly her bountes
she is lyke to hir fadir. I telle be welle bat she lyueb
loob of hir life, and kepib to bee oonly hir goost. and
is al maat and ouer-comen by wepyng and sorwe for
desire of be 1T In be whiche bing only I mot graunten
bat bi welefulnesse is amenused. IT What shal I seyn
eke of bi two sones conseillours of whiche as of chil
dren of hir age ber shineb *be lyknesse of be witte of
hir fadir and of hir eldefadir. and siben be souereyn
cure of alle mortel folke is to sauen hir owew lyues.
IT how weleful art bou bouj bou knowe bi goodes.
1016 seifr MS. seiJ>e,C.8eyh
1017 \itte yit
1019 leueful leefful
1020 many[e] fringes manye
grete thinges
1022 alle al
1023 fre by the yit by
1024 in.i/tff^t<;/ t --me8clief
Hii'i l>cxt 0] -beste
1026 Jjw)> leueth
ffoorfeirood.
I'XJ? whiche which
1028 al all<-
1028 of (2) omitted
1029 b\i]en byen
otcew owne
1030 6#tppj/feb bewayleth
don MS. (lone. C. don
1031 liuefr leueth
1033 witte wyt
women wymmeu
1034 shortly shortely
1035 tyke lik.
welle wel
lo:w hir life this lyf
1037 maat maud
1038 whiche weche
1039 amenused amenyssed
# (MS. seyne) seyn
1041 lyknesse lykenesse
witte wyt
1042 and (1) or
eldefadii eldyr fa'Jyr
sifren syu
1043 folke folk
1044 art frou frov} arthow
HOOK -1 ]
PROSE 4.J
THE CONDITION OP HUMAN BLISS.
41
II But sitte ben ber binges dwelly??g to be wardes bat no most happy in
the possession of
man douteb bat bei ne ben more derworbe to be ben blessings winch
ill i i all men value
bine owen lijf. IF And forbi drie bi teres for ?itte nys ^ re UP \ a h " y life '
nat eueriche fortune al hateful to be warde. ne ouer stfirpre^nt^om-
greet tempest hab nat }it fallen vpon be. whan bat bin futureVeiScUy.
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. IF And I preie quod I bat fastfel motfen] B. i hope these
J will never fail me.
bei holden. 1F For whiles bat bei halden. how so euere
bat binges ben. I shal wel fleten furbe and eschapen. 1054
IF But bou mayst wel seen how greetFe] apparailes and But do you not
gee how low I am
aray bat me lakkeb bat ben passed awey fro me. IF I falle ?
P. I should think
haue sumwhat auauwced and forbered be quod she. if that l had made
progress if you
bat bou anoie nat or forbenke nat of al bi fortune. As af ySur fat P e!' e s
who seib. IT I haue somwhat comforted be so bat bou it grieves me to
* * hear you com-
tempest nat be bus wib al bi fortune, syn bou hast p^gg"^^^ 1
jit bi best[e] binges, IF But I may nat suffre bin comforts -
delices. bat pleinst so wepyng. and anguissous for bat 1062
ober lakkeb somwhat to bi welefulnesse. IT For what Every one, how
ever happy, has
man is so sad or of so perfit welefulnesse. bat he ne eomlain^f
stryueb or pleyneb on some half ajeine be qualitee of 1065
his estat. ^F For whi ful anguissous bing is be con- The Condition of
human enjoy-
dicioun of mans goodes. IF For eyber it comeb al to r eithe^it 101 " 1 ;
gidre to a wy?t. or ellys it lasteb not perpetuely, SST^L>
m IT' T-i. 1. -Lii- lon B 8ta y wn e>
IF -bor som man hab grete rycchesse. but he is as- it does come.
One man is very
shamed ot hys vngentu lynage. and som man is re- wealthy, but his
birth is obscure.
nomed of noblesse of kynrede. but he is enclosed in so Another is con
spicuous for
grete angre for nede of binges, bat hym were leuer bat nobility of de-
he were vnknowe. and som maw habundeb bobe in j""^"" ," c d e ed by
rychesse and noblesse, but }it he bywaileb hys chast[e] with'both ad e - st
1045 But titte for yit
dwellyng dwellyd
wardes ward
1046 \>at than
dencor\>e dereworthe
\>en \>ine than thin
101.7 )itte yit
1018 fcap MS. hape
Jnw thyne
1050 ,-tiue fast[e] cleuen
t'asto
wole suffre wolen suft'rcn
1052 fallen faylen
1052 fast[.e~} mot(eri] faste
moten
1053 holden halden
1054 fur\>e forth
1055 mayst mayste
greet[e] grete
1058 for\>enke forthinkc
1061 besfte) beste
suffre \>in suffren thi
10R3 o\>er ther
t parfyt
1065 or and
some half ayeine som
hnlue ayen
1067 mans mannes
cnme\> al comth nat al
1068 laste\> last
perpetuely perpetuei
10fi9 rufchesse Rychcssps
1070 renomed renowned
1072 angre for Angwyssho
leuer- leuere [of
I 1074 fftas<[e] caste
42
HAPPINESS ARISES FROM CONTENTMENT.
I I:t;(IK -'.
LPUOSK 4.
is lijf. for he hab no wijf. 1T and som man is wel and
unmarried.
This man is selilv marled but he hab no children, and norissheb his
nappy in n wife,
wh\il%tat d other ncchesse to be heires of straunge folk. IT And som
oTchiiiTre'n^uf is man is gladded wib children, hut he wepib ful sory for
mortified by their . .
evil ways. be trespas oi his son or of his dou^tir. IF and for bis
Thus we sec that
no man can agree per accordeb no wyjt Ivwy to be condiciouft of his for-
easily with the '
fortune' 8 tune, for alwey to euery man bere is in inest som what
1082 bat vnassaieb he ne wot not or ellys he dredib bat he
The senses of the hab assaied. IT And adde bis also bat euery weleful
happy are refined *
man hab a wel delicat felyng. IT 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
The happiness of adofme for euery lytel bing. IT And ful lytel binges
the most for-
wibdrawen be somme or be perfecctoun of
IT How
happy ar
ana delic
licate,
and tliey are im
patient if any
thing is unto
ward.
oii"tr t ifles ep6nd8
1089 blisfulnesse fro hem bat ben most fortunat.
How many would
think themselves many men trowest bou wolde demen hem self to ben
in heaven if they
a ^ mos ^ * n heuene yif bei my^ten atteyne to be leest[e]
partie of be remenaunt of bi fortune. IF j)is same place
bat bou clepist exil is centre to hem bat enhabiten
here, and forbi. Nobing wrecched. but whan bou
.
wenest it IT As who seib. bouj bi self ne no wyjt
e ijy 8 n y s no -vyrecche but whan he weneb hym self a
J J r J
of the'remnan't'of
Tify Queries
Every lot may be
happy to the man
who bears MS
condition with
equanimity and
courage.
1097 wrecche by reputaci'ouw. of his corage.
CONTRAQPtf.
1098 A nd a^einewarde al fortune is blisful to a man by be
A'
agreablete or by be egalite of hym bat sufFreb it.
when patience i IT What man is bat. bat is so weleful bat nolde chaungen
lost then a
state is }^{ s e stat whan he hab lorn pacience. be swetnesse of
1102 mannes welefulnesse is yspranid wi b many [e] bitternesses.
desired.
1075, 1076 fcap MS. haj>e
1076 marn'ed ymaryed
his hise
1077 ricchesse Rychesses
heires eyres
folk foolkys
1080 \>er )>erne
1081 meat omitted
1082 vnasnaie\> vnassaied
wot MS. wote, C. wot
1083, 1084 ha\> MS. haj>e
1084 wel ful
1085 fallen byfalle
wille wyl
1086 in,, i, non
an-nnne Anon
\>rowe thrmvi'ii
1087 adoune atlouw
1090 wolfo wolden
!<)!.-, If liyt
1095 who ho
1096 wo-^a
1098 aieinewarde al ayein-
ward alle
1099 it hyt
1101 whan what
/tap MS. ha>e
lorn MS. lorne, C. lust
1102 yspranid spniyn;, d
bitternesses beternessfs
BOOK 2.
s \] THE SOURCE OF TRUE HAPPINESS. 43
be whiche welefulnesse al bou; it seme swete and How much is
human felicity
ioyeful to hym pat vsep it. jit may it not be wip-holden embittered!
bat it ne gob away whan it woL 1[ ban is it we! sen it win not stay
with those that
how wrecched is be blisfulnesse of mortel pinges. bat ^Ithequan^nStv
neiber it dwellip perpetnel wip hem bat euery fortune f rt ^anxious"
receyuen agreablely or egaly. 1T Ke it ne delitep not in
al. to hem J>at ben anguissous. 1T ye mortel folkes 1109
what seke *je ban blisfulnesse oute of aoure self, whiche [ foi. h *>.]
mortals, do ye
bat is put in aoure self. Errow/- and folie cowfourcdeb 8eek abroad tor
' that felicity
}ow 1T I shal shewe be shortly. pe poynt of souereyne fouj^ 1 wVhin*
blisfulnesse. Is per any ping to be more preciouse pan ^""ingTsmore
. . -in fr u .1, r u -f -L t i precious than
pi self 11 pou wilt answere nay. II pan if it so be bat thyself.
. If tliou hast com-
bou art my?ty ouer pi sell bat is to seyn by tranquulitee maud over thv-
self, Kortune c:ni-
of J)i soule. pan hast bou bing in fi power bat bou notdepriiethee
noldest neuer lesen. ne fortune may nat by-nyme it J>e. 1117
and bat bou mayst knowe bat blisfulnesse [ne] may Happiness does
not consist in
nat standen in finges bat ben fortunous and tern- things transitory,
perel. 1T Now vndirstonde and gadir it to gidir J>us
yif blisfulnesse be J>e souereyne goode of nature bat 1121
liueb by resou?i If Ne bilke bing nis nat souereyne if happiness be
. the supreme good
coode bat may be taken awey in any wyse. for more of nature, then
J J that thing can-
worbi bing and more digne is j>ilke bing bat may nat be "^ ^ wUhdni'wn
taken awey. 1T ban shewib it wele bat be vnstable- j' n 8 "^J t of
nesse of fortune may nat attayne to receyue verray gu^ptweofVue
blisfulnes. IT And }it more ouer. IF What man bat HTwi' oTs led by
pis toumblyng welefulnesse leedip. eij>er he woot pat etulefknow^'
that it is change-
fit I is chaungeable. or ellis he woot it nat. IT And yif able or does not
know it.
he woot it not. what blisful fortune may ber be in be if he knows it
* not, what happi-
blyndenesse of ignoraunce. and yif he woot pat it is "^"iness'of'iiis' 16
chaungeable. he mot alwey ben adrad pt he ne lese J^know's it i
pat ping, pat he ne doutep nat but pat he may leesen STafrwd offing
1104 hym hem \ 1112 thortlysh<-rtely
it hyt ! 1114 wilt MS.wilte.C. wolt
be ben if yif
1105 flrop MS. gepe ' 1117 by-nyme be-neiue
1118 blisfulnesse [n]
wol woole
w IMS.
blyssefulnesse ne
1107 dw<-lli\> dureth 1120 to gidir to gidere
1109 folkes folkc i 1121, 1122 souereyne goode
1110 o^e owt i soue*eyn good
1125 wele\ne\
1126 receyue ressryuen
1129 [ffl from C.
hyt
1130 6e ben
1131 blyndenesse blynd-
44
RICHES DO NOT CONSTITUTE HAPPINESS.
[ HOOK .'.
LMKT. 4.
it, and this fear
will not suffer
him to be happy.
1136
1140
Since thou art
convinced of the
soul's im
mortality, tbou
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 ?
* MS. ualet.
[The ferthe
metjir.]
He who would
have a stable and
lasting seat must
not build upon
lofty hills ; nor
upon the sands,
it he would escape
the violence of
winds and waves.
1160
it. IT As wlioo sei)> he mot ben alwey agast lest he
leese fat he wot wel he may leese. IT For whiche fe
continuel drede fat he haf ne suffrif hym nat to ben
welefuL 11 Or ellys yif he leese it he wene to be
dispised and forleten hit. IT Certis eke fat is a ful
lytel goode fat is born wif euene hert[e] whan it is
loost. 1T Jjat is to seyne fat men don no more force,
of fe lost fan of fe hauynge. IT And for as myche as
f ou f i self art he to whom it haf ben shewid and proued
by ful many[e] demonstraciouws. as I woot wel fat fe
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 firagws ne descend if in to wrecched-
nesse by f e ende of f e deef. 1T And syn we knowen
wel fat many a man haf soujt f e fruit of blisfulnesse
nat only wif sufiryng of deef. but eke wif suffryng of
peynes and townneutes. how my^tfe] fan fis present
lijf make men blisful. syn fat whanne filke self[e]
lijf is endid. it ne makef folk no wrecches.
QUISQUIS UOLET* PEtfHENNEM 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 Wastes of f e wynde Eurus. and wil dispise
fe see manassynge wif floodes IT Lat hym eschewe to
bilde on f e cop of f e mouwtayngne. or in f e moyste
sandes. IT For f e fel[le] wynde auster to?/rmentef f e cop
of fe mou?itayngne wif alle his strengf es. 1T and f e
1134 it hyt
<tei\> MS. seibe, C. seyth
1136 wot MS. wote, C. wot
leese (2) leese it
whiche which
1136 foib MS. habe
1137 eUys omitted
wene weneth
1138 hit omitted
1139 goode eood
born MS. Dome, C. born
hert[e] herte
1140 seyne seyn
don MS. done, C. do
force fors
1142 foib MS. habe
1143 many[e] man ye
1144 mowen mowe
dien deyen
1145 clere cleer
certeyne certeyn
1147 al alle
1150 7i/ib-M8. habe
fruit frut
! 1152 my*t[e] myhte
1153 make maken
self[e~\ selue
1155, 1156, 1157 w(7 wole
1156 be cast MS. be caste,
C. ben cast
1157 wynde wynd
1158 encheioe eschewen
1160 felUelr- felle
1161 his hise
BOOK 2. 1
PKOSE 5.J
RICHES HAVE NO INTRINSIC VALUE.
45
lowe see sandes refuse to beren )>e heuy wey^te. and 1162
forbi yif bou wolt flee be perilous auenture bat is to if thou wilt flee
perilous fortune,
seine of be worlde IT Haue mynde certeynly to ficchyn tfon^po^'the 8 "
bi house of a myrie site in a lowe stoone. IT For al "haTtho^mayst
grow old in thy
bou} be wynde troublyng be see bondre wib ouere- stronghold.
browynges IT )?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
T)
-^
lighter remedies
SET CUM RACIONUJtf IAM IN TE.
ut for as moche as be noryssinges of my resouras [The fyftheprose.]
descenden now in to be. I trowe it were tyme to it is now time to
use stronger me-
vsen a litel stronger medicynes. H 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 tune^hat^s^Jt
,,. , , .. ,. , ..,., i vile and despic-
bine *m any tyme. or ems bat it nys ioule it bat it be [* foi. 12.]
considered and lokid perfitely. IT Eichesse ben bei 1176
preciouse by be nature of hem self, or ellys by be precious hi them
selves, or in men's
nature of be. What is most worbi of rycchesse. is it estimation?
What is most
nat golde or rnyjt of moneye assembled. *fi Certis precious in them,
quantity or
bilke golde and bilke moneye shineb and ^eueb better <J ualit y ?
renoun to hem bat dispenden it. ben to bilke folke bat f-^ou^
mokeren it. For auarice makeb alwey mokeres to be Avarice is aiwavs
hateful, while *
hated, and largesse makeb folke clere of renouw liberality is
praise-worthy.
fl 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 than when il is
J dispensed liber-
vsage of large ^euyng of hym bat hab ^euen it. and My to others -
also yif al be moneye bat is ouer-al in be world were feVrcomained^n
1162 lowe lavse
see omitt-ed
refuse refusen
wey 3 te wy hte
1163 flee fleen
1164 seine seyn
1165 \n thin
lowe stoone lowh stoon
1167 welful weleful
1169 wndenexses wood-
nesses
1172 strenger strengere
vndirstonde vndyrstond
1173 nar[e~\ ne weere
1174 be ]nne ben ihyn
1175 foule fowl
1176 Richesse R.vchessis
1178 rycchesse rychesses
1179, 1180 golde poltl
1180 better betere
1181 \>en thanne
1182 mokeres mokereres
1183 folke clere-^Mk cler
1184 swiche swich
from fram
1187 stynteb stenteth
1188 hat> MS. habe
1189 world worlae
46
GLORY NOT IN RICHES;
I HOOK '.
[PROSE s.
tiie money in the gadered towarfd] o man. it sholde maken al ober men
world, every one
wMtTtt in to ben ned y ^ of fa*- 1F And cert y s a v y s ai hoi
1192 J?at is to seyn wib-oute amenusynge fulfilleb to gyder
niches cannot be be hervng of myche folke. but Certys soure rycchesse
dispensed without '
ne mowen nat passen vnto myche folk wib-oute amen-
1195 ussyng ^[ And whan bei ben apassed. nedys bei maken
o the poverty of hem pore bat forgon be rycchesses. IT streite and
riches, that ran- r J
rn^aTthTstme ne( ty clepe I bise rycchesses. syn j?at many folke [ne]
J.< wsesse'd t^one may nat han it al. ne al may it nat comen to on man
without impover- .CI..PII r A J i_ t.
ishing others i wib-oute poucrte oi al ober folke. IT And be shynynge
1200 of gewimes J?at I clepe p^eciouse stones, draweb it nat
be eyen of folk in to hem warde. J>at is to seyne for J>e
beaute. ^T For certys yif ber were beaute or bounte
in shynyng of stones, bilke clerenesse is of be stones
hem self, and nat of men. IF For whiche I wondre
gretly bat men merueilen on swiche binges. IT For
whi what bing is it bat yif it wawteb moeuyng and
1207 ioynture of soule and body bat by ry^t my3t[e] semen
a faire creature to hym bat hab a soule of resoun.
IT For al be it so bat ge?wnes drawen to hem self a
\\fa\ O f j, e } as t e beaute of be worlde. boru3 be entent
f ^ii create?/? 1 and boru^ be distincc/ouw of hem self.
1T And be beaute of feeldes deliteb
The beauty of
precious stones
consists only in
their brightness,
wherefore I
marvel that men
admire that which
is motionless,
lifeless, and irra
tional.
IVecious stones
are indeed the
workmanship of
the Creator,
the excellency of .,/> i .i i* n
man's nature. }it for as myche as bei ben put vndir ^oure excellence.
1213 bei han not desserued by no weye bat 30 shullen
Doth the beauty merueylen on hem.
of the field delight
thee ? it nat mychel vnto sow. Boyce. IF Whi sholde it nat
B. Why should it
bMttftd part of deliten vs. syn bat it is a ryjt fayr porciou?? of be
beautiful whole. f a i r wer t. bat is to seyn of fis worlde. IT And
Hence, we admire go ben we gladed somtyme of be face of be see whan
the face of the
sea, the heavens, ft j s c i ere . And also merueylen we on be heuene and
1130 al alle
1191 al hool omitted
1193 myche folke moche
folke
rycchesse ry ch esses
1194 myche moche
1196 forgon MS. forgone
1197 ]>ise this
rycchesses rychesse
[ne'] from C.
1198 o O
1199 wi\>-oute with-owten
1199 ai alle
folke folke
1200 precionse ^presyous
1201 iw omitted
warde ward
seyne seyn
1202 beaute (1) beautes
For but
1203 ii*in the
1204 whiche which
1207 ioyntu
1208 faire fayr
1208 fcab MS. ha)>e
1210 laste last
worlde world
1212 myche mochel
1213 desserued MS. des-
seyued. C. desseruyd
weye wey
shullen sholden
]21"> mi/rhel mochel
1217 fair werkfayre werke
worlde world
1219 clere cler
i'UosE%.] THEY ADD NOTHING TO VIRTUE. 47
on be sterres. and on be sonne. and on be mono, as well as the sun,
moon, and stars.
PMlosophie. IF Apperteineb quod she any of bilke P. DO these things
concern thee ?
binges to be. whi darst bou glorifie be in be shynynge f n a ^ h ? ou glory
of any swiche binges. Art bou distingwed and em- 1223
Do the flowers
Leased by be spryngyng noures oi be first somer adorn you with
their variety ?
sesoun. or swellib bi plente in fruytes of somer. whi why embracest
tliou things
art bou rauyshed wib ydel ioies. why enbracest bou "^St^S*"**
straunge goodes ^ jj e { -weren bine. Fortune shal neuer Fortune can never
make that thine
maken bat swiche binges ben bine bat nature of jjinges onhings^orbid?
mated foreyne fro be. IT Syche is bat wib-outere The fruits of the
, , /. <? , i_ , earth are designed
doute be iruytes oi be erbe owen to ben on be for the support
norssinge of bestes. IT And if bou wilt fulfille bi if yo u seek only
the necessities of
nede after bat it sumseb to nature ban is it no nede nature, the afflu
ence of Fortune
be useless.
ure is content
bat bou seke after be superfluite of fortune. IT For ^ni be useless.
Nat
wib ful fewe binges and vriih ful lytel bing nature ^u
halt hire appaied. and yif bou wilt achoken be ful-
Hllyng of natwre wib superfluites IT Certys bilke 1236
binges bat bou wilt bresten or pouren in to nature
shullen ben vnicyeful to be or ellis anoies. ^T Wenest Does it add to a
man's worth to
bou eke bat it be a fair binge to shine wib dyuerse 8h . ine ' n variety
J of costly clothing?
clobing. of whiche clobing yif be beaute be agreable 5S3Tfc
to loken vpon. I wol merueylen on be nature of be stuff or U tnework-
... manship of it.
matere of 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 h ? I ? >y? .
bat a blisful *man. be whiche seruauntes yif bei ben vlci r U foi tl i| y 6 a ] re
vicious of condiciouws it is a greet charge and a de- th^onse"^" to
. , pernicious ene-
strucciouw to be house, and a greet enmye to be lorde mies to the mas
ter of it.
hym self IF A nd yif bei ben goode men how shal If . the ?; ^ J9? d -
* J r w hy should the
straung[e] or foreyne goodenes ben put in be noumbre be put y to f thy hers
of bi rycchesse. so J?at by alle bise forseide finges. it is up^on'the whole,
then, none of
deny shewed bat neuer none of bilke binges bat bou those enjoyments
* " which thou didst
accoumptedest for bin goodes nas nat bi goode. 1T In ^'^ ^
be whiche binges yif ber be no beaute to ben desired. ^Xe'f bel " g
1222 darst }>OM glorifie
darsthow gloryfyen
1225 in in the
1229 Syche Soth
1230 on to
1231, 1235, 1237 wilt- wolt
1238 ghullen shollen
1239 fair fayre
1240 whiche which
1242 werkeman werkman
1246 tumse hows
lorde lord
1248 goodenes goodnesse
1250 shewed I-shewyd
none 0011
1251 pt thine
goode good
48
UICIIES BRING ANXIETIES.
[HOOK -1.
PKO8E 5.
desirable 6 why w ^ 1 ' sholdest bou be sory yif bou leese hem. or whi
S"ve tr the loss sholdest bou reioysen be to holden hem. IF For if bei
if they are fair ben fair of hire owen kynde. what apperteneb bat to
by nature, what
i* that to thee ?
They would be
be. for as wel sholde bei han ben faire by hem self,
bou^ bei werera departid from alle bin rycchesse. IT For-
why faire ne precious ne weren bei nat. for bat bei
precious because comen amonges bi rvcchesse. but for bei semeden fair
thev are counted
not.
They are not to
be reckoned
precious. J>erfore bou haddest leuer rekene hem
so U b?fore^hou med amonges bi rycchesse. but what desirest bou of fortune
didst desire to . ... -r T
possessthem. wib so greet a noyse and wib so greet a fare H 1
What, then, is it r
we so clamorously trowe bou seke to dryue awey nede wib habundaunce
demand of J J r
Fs[t u to e d ? rive f binges. IT But certys it turneb to }ow al in be
by a abundance? contrarie. for whi certys it nedib of ful manyfel help-
nut the very
reverse of this yuges to kepen be dyuersite of preciouse ostelment^.
and so f e itr is ^ of man y[ e ]
han bei nede bat
variety of valuable r i i t ^ loi-.i T.
goods; 1268 man y[ e ] binges han. and a^eyneward of litel nedib
They want most hem bat mesureii hir fille after be nede of kynde and
things who have
the most na t after be outrage of couetyse IT Is it ban so bat ye
They want the * J
men ne han no propre goode. I-set in ^ow. For
whiche
fewest who
measure their
abundance by the
necessities of
nature, and not .
by the superfluity torcine and su ogit binges.
of their desires.
Is there no good
planted within
propre goode. l-set in ^ow,
moten seken outwardes ^oure goodes in
IT So is ban be condiczour*
of binges turned vpso douw. bat a man bat is a de-
vyne beest by merit of hys resoun. binkeb bat hym
abroad fco seek it ? , . ,, , , . ., ,
Are things so sell nys neyber fair ne noble, but if it be boruj
changed and in- .
verted, that god- possessiou?i of ostelmentes. bat ne han no soules.
possessions
1F And certys al ober Binges ben appaied of hire owen
beautes. but 36 men bat ben semblable to god by
like man should
think that he has
no other worth
but what he de
rives from the
possession of in- .
animate objects ? resonable boujt desiren to apparaille joure excellent
Inferior things
th e ir a own e endow kyM 6 of be lowest[e] binges, ne $e ne vndirstonde nat
(the'ma^e^f 1118 " how gret a wrong ^e don to ^oure creatowr. for he
God) seeKS to ,, ,, ^JT_IJ>
adorn his nature wolde bat man kj r nde were moost worbi and noble ot
1255 fairt&yre
hire owen hyr owne
1256 sholde sholden
self selue
1257 )>'. rycchesse thyne
rjrebeHM
1259 amonges among*?
1259, 1281 rycchetsc Rych-
esses
1259 fair fayre
1260 leuer rekene leuere
rekne
1262 greet (2) grete
1265, 1267 manyle} manye
1267 *ope soth
1272 outwardes owtwnrrt
1276 fair 1'aj re
if-yit
1278 hi
tire owen hir owne
1281 ne (2) omitted
vndirstonde vndyrstond-
yn
1232 gret MS. grete, C. gret
PKOSE%.] IGNORANCE CRIMINAL IN MAX. 49
any ober erbcly binges, and 36 bresten adou/i ^oure
dignitees by-neben be lowest[e] binges. IF For if bat al
be good of euery bing be more preciouse fan is bilk MsMaker ur '
. . , . God intended
bincr whoa bat be good is. syn 2e demen bat be man to excel ail
earthly creatures
foulest[e] binges ben ^oure goodes. banne summytten yet you
30 and putten 301116 self vndir bo foulest[e] binges by
3oure estimacz'oun. IT And certis bis bitidib nat wib hap^fne^in ^
... , . . despicable trifles,
out 2oure desert, r or certys swiche is be condictoun you acknowledge
yourselves of less
of al man kynde bat oonly whan it hab knowyng of it vaiue^t han these
self, ban passe b it in noblesse alle ober binges, and ZX
.. P i ... i j> -, IP . -i Man only excels
whan it forletib be knowyng pi it sen. ban it is other creatures
, , , when he knows
broust byneben alle beestes. I I 1 or- why alle ober himself.
' When he ceases
rieuyngel beestes han of kynde to knowe not hem t, d s > h sinks
L J o J below beasts.
self, but whan bat men leten be knowyng of hem self. 1297
. 1,1 111 Ignorance is
it comeb hem of vice, but how erode shewet be errowr natural to beasts,
but in men it is
and be folie of 2ow men bat wenen bat ony bing may unnatural and
" criminal.
ben apparailled wi|5 straunge apparaillement3 IT but
for-sobe bat may nat be don. for yif a wy3t shyneb wib
. . , . .. . nature can be an
binges bat ben put to hym. as bus. yit bilke binges ornament to it.
If a thing appear
shynen wib whiche a man is apparailled. IT Certis beautiful on
account of its
bilke binges ben commendid and p?-eisod wib whiche Juifm'enul'wl 1 "
,. -njTT>j. LI t.i_- i.i- admire and praise
he is apparailled. II But nabeles be bmg bat is those embeiiish-
. ments alone. The
couered and wrapped vndir pat dwellep in his nlbe. thing covered
still continues in
and I denye bat bilke bing be good bat anoyeb hym jj "j^" 1
bat hab it. IT Gabbe I of bis. bou wolt seye nay. ijSith ^
1T Certys rycchesse han anoyed ful ofte hem bat han be owner.
Am I deceived in
rycchesse. If Syn bat euery wicked shrew and for this? YOU win
say no; for riches
hys wickednesse be more gredj r aftir ober folkes rycch- th^ oft 88esior
esse wher so euer it be in any place, be it golde or mai'deTireT 1
128i ober er\>ely oothre
wordly
Bresten threste
1285 by-ne\>en by-net he
if yif
1286 good MS. goode, C.
good
fnng thinge
1289 foulest[e} fowleste
1290 bitidi\> tydeth
1291 out owte
desert desertes
1292 al alle
1293 self selue
1294 it is is it
1296 \leuynge\- from C.
preciouse prMyoi hem hym
\>ilk \>ing thilke thinge ! 1297 \>at omitted
1287 \>e (2) tho I 1298 c<nne\> comth
1288 summytten submitten 1299 \>ing thing<>
12S9 self selurn I'J'G put MS. putte, C. put
4
1303 whiche which
1306 fil\>e felthe
1307 \>ing thinge
good MS. goode, C. good
1308 ha\> MS. linbe
1309 rycchesse R$ chesses
\>e tho
1310 rycch^s.te Bychesses
shrew shrewe
1311 rycchesse rychesses
1312 golde gold
TUB GOLDEN AGE.
[BOOK 2.
LMJJT. ...
[ fol. IS.]
another's wealth,
and esteems him
alone happy who
is in possession
of riches.
You, therefore,
who now so much
dread the instru
ments of assassin
ation, if you had
been bom a poor
wayfaring man,
might, with an
empty purse,
have sung in the
face of robbers.
O the transeend-
ant felicity of
riches ! No
sooner have you
obtained them,
than you cease to
be secure.
[The fyfthe
mctttr.j
Happy was the
first age of men.
They were con
tented with what
the faithful earth
produced.
With acorns they
satisfied their
hunger.
They knew not
Hypoeras nor
Hydromel.
They did not dye
the Serian fleece
in Tynan purple.
1332
They slept upon
the grass, and
drank of the
running stream,
and reclined
under the shadow
of the tall pine.
No man yet
ploughed thedeep,
nor did the mer
chant traffick with
foreign shores.
1314 ha\> MS. ha>e, C. hat
besy bysy
swerde swerd
1315 -pa\>e paath
1316 wayfaryng wayferynge
s?/n#[e] synge
1317 by-fore by-forn
sei\> MS. seibe, C. seyth
poure pore
bere\> berth
1318 boldly syng[_e] boldely
synge
1319 ha\> MS. hape
1320 preciouse precyos
clere cler
1321 rycchesse rychesses
precious stones, and wenip hym *only most worpi fat
hap hem 1T pou pan pat so besy dredest now pe swerde
and ]?e spere. yif pou haddest entred in pe pape of pis
lijf a voide wayfaryng man. pan woldest pou syng[e]
by-fore pe peef. 11 As who seip a poure man pat berep
no rycchesse on hym by pe weye. may boldly syng[e]
byforne peues. for he hap nat wher-of to ben robbed.
H preciouse and ryjt clere is pe blysfulnesse of
mortal rycchesse. pat whaw pou hast geten it. pan hast
pou lorn pi syke[r]nesse.
FELIX IN MIRUAT PRIOR ETAS.
TMysful was pe first age of men. pei helden hem
*-' apaied wip pe metes pat pe trewe erpes bro^ten
furpe. 1F pei ne destroy ed[e] ne desceyued[e] not hem
self wip outerage. IT pei weren wont lyjtly to slaken
her hunger at euene wip acornes of okes IT pei ne
coupe nat medle pe jift of bacus to pe clere hony.
pat is to seyn. pei coupe make no piment of clarre.
ne pei coupe nat medle pe bri}t[e] flies of pe cowtre
of siriens wip pe venym of tirie. pis is to seyne. pei
coupe nat dien white flies of sirien contre wip pe
blode of a manar shelfysshe. pat men fynden in tyrie.
wip whiche blode men deien purper. 1F pei slepen
holesom slepes vpon pe gras. and dronken of pe ryn-
nyng watres. and laien vndir pe shadowe of pe hey^e
pyne trees. H Ne no gest ne no straunger [ne] karf
jit pe heye see wip oores or wip shippes. ne pei ne
1322 lorn MS. lorne, C. lorn
1324 er\>es feeldes
1325 /wrbe forth
destroy ed[e] dystroyede
1327 her hyr
at MS. as, C. at
euene euen
1328 cou\>e cowde
medle medly
yft yifte
clere cleer
1329 cou\>e cowde
of nor
1330 cowpe cowde
6rt3<[e]^ics-bryhte fleejes
1331 siriens Seryens
1331 seyne seyn
1332 cou\>e cowde
dien deyen
flies flejes
1333 blode blood
shelfysshe shyllefyssh
1334 blode blood
1335 holesom holsom
rynnyng watres renn-
yne wateres
shadowe shadwes
hey^e heye
1337 pyne pyn
no (2) omitted
[w] from C.
karf karue
HOOK a. 1
PU08K G.j
OK lild.NITIES AM) POWKIiS.
51
hadden seyne }itte none newe strondes to leden mer- 1339
chaundyse in to dyuerse cowtres. 1T bo weren be cruel The warlike
trumpet was
clariouras ful whist and ful stille. ne blode yshed by hushed and stiii.
J J Bloodshed had
egre hate ne hadde nat deied }it armurers. for wherto ?hrough a hate"ui
or whiche woodenesse of enrays 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 bat oure tymes sholde saw that wounda
* and scars were
turne a3eyne to be oolde maneres. 1F But be anguissous o'tiiat'thos^days
, ,, , , . ,, would come
loue ot nauyng brenneb in lolke moore cruely ban be again!
J ' The thirst of
fiir of be Mountaigne of Ethna bat euer brenneb. wealth torments
* all ; it rages more
IT Alias what was he bat first dalf vp J>e gobets or ^M
be wey^tys of gold couered vndir erbe. and j>e precious wretch who h first
stones bat wolden han ben hid. he dalf vp precious uJS?
perils, bat is to seyne bat he bat hem first vp dalf. he 1352
dalf vp a precious peril, for-whi. for be preciousnesse it has since
proved perilous
of swyche hab many man ben in peril. t man y a man -
QUID AUTEJf DE DIGNITATIBTO ET CETERA.
[The sixte prose.]
But what shal I seyne of dignitees and of powers. But why should i
discourse of dig-
be whiche Fyel men bat neiber knowen verray dig- nitjesand powers
LJ J J > winch (though
nitee ne verray power areysen hem as heye as be of tru^iimi'our 11 *
i_ tT_-i.j--i j -p i and real power)
heuene. be whiche dignitees and powers yif bei come you extol to the
to any wicked man bei don [as] greetfel damages and when they fail
to the lot of a
distrucczouw as dob be flamme of be Mouwtaigne produce^eat^
Ethna whan ]>e flar/znie wit walwib vp ne no deluge SeTamtng 1 ^"
, . , _. _, -L-.I eruption of .Etna,
ne dob so cruel harmes. II 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?isulers be whiche bat somtyme was by- cestors desired to
J abolish the Con-
gynnyng of fredom. 1F 3oure eldres coueiteden to han ^^commence- 111
don a-wey bat dignitee for be pride of be conseilers. Roman liberty),
1339 hadden seyne y,tte
hadde seyn yit
1341 whist bust
blade yshed blod I-shad
1343 whiche woodenesse
whych wodnesse
1344 seien say
1346 turne a^eyne torne
ayein
1347 folke folk
13-18 be omitted
1348 euer&y
1351 hid MS.hidde.C.hydd
1352 seyne seyn
he (2) omitted
1354 swyche swych thinge
ha)> MS. ha}>e
ben be
1355 seyne seye
1358 come comen
1359 don MS. done, C. don
[as] greet[e}~ as ffrete
1360 distruccioun destruc-
ciouns
do\> MS. doj>e, C. doth
flamme flaumbe
1361 flamme flawmbe
wit omitted
1362 doj> MS. do>e, C. doth
1363 clepib clepyn
1364 whiche whych
somtyme whilom
1366 for MS. of, C. for
HONOURS NOT INTRINSICALLY GOOD,
[HOOK 2
Ll'KOSK 0.
localise of Mie
pride of the
Consuls ; as their
ancestors before
for the same
consideration
liatl suppressed
the title of Kin<,'.
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 tliou s a west a
mouse assuming
[ foL 13 6.]
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
IT And ryjt for Jje same pride 30016 eldres byforne fat
tyme hadden don awey out of f e Citee of rome f e
kynges name, fat is to seien. f ei nolden haue no
lenger no kyng IT But now yif so be fat dignitees
and powers ben ^euen to goode men. f e whiche f ing
is ful jelde. what agreable f iwges is f er in fo dignitees.
or powers, but only J>e goodenes of folk fat vsen hem.
IT And f erfore 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 ;je erf elyche bestes considere 30 nat ouer whiche
f ing fat it semef fat 36 han power. IT Now yif f ou
say[e] a mouse amowgws *of er myse fat chalenged[e] to
hymself ward ry3t and power ouer alle of er myse. how
gret scorne woldest f ou han of hit. IT Glosa. IT 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 wonnes in to
fe priuetees of mennes bodyes. IT But wher shal
men fynden any man fat may exercen or haunten any
ry3t vpon an ofer maw but oonly vpon hys body, or
ellys vpow f inges fat ben lower fen f e body, whiche
I clepe fortunous possession/as IT Mayst f ou euer haue
any comaundement ouer a fre corage 1T 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. IT As
somtyme a tiraunt wende to cowfounde a freeman of
1368 don MS. done, C. don
1309 seien seyn
1370 lengei lengere
kyng kynge
1371 whiche which
1373 folk foolkys
1374 come\> cotntli
1375, 1376 vertue vertu
1370 come\> comth
by for
whiche which
1377 derwor\>e dereworthe
clere <jleer
1378 whiche which
1379 han MS. hanne, C.
han
1380 say[e] sayo
mouse among us mous
amongcs
myse inns;
1382 scorne scorn
1383 /taJ>-MS. liabe
1385 mannes man
1386 \>e slayn the
whiche men wel ofte
ben slayn
1388 mennes bodyes mannes
body
1391 knver lowere
u'hiflu the which
nur, at,, If ast Midi-fast
1390 somtyme whylom
HOOK 2. 1
PK08E 6.J
FOR THEY FALL TO THE LOT OF THE WICKED.
corage IF And wende to costreyne hym by toiwment 1397
to maken hym dyscoueren and acusen folk pat wisten
of a coniuraci'oiw. whiche I clepe a confederacie bat
was cast aieins bis tyraunt IT But bis free man boot Have you not
read how Anax-
of hys owen tunge. and cast it in be visage of bilke toii h ue ami's nt"
woode tyrauwte. 1T So bat be totwmentj bat bis Ni^onf '''
tyraunt wende to han maked matere of cruelte. bis ] 403
wyse man makedfe it] matere of vertues. IT But what what \* it that
one man can do
bing is it bat a man may don to an ober man. bat he j2^Io?i*BU of
ne may receyue be same bing of ober folke in hym r(
self, or bus. IT What may a man don to folk, bat folk 1407
ne may don hym be same. 1T I haue herd told of Busing used to
kill his guests,
busirides bat was wont to sleen hys gestes bat her- but at last him-
J self was killed
burghden in hys hous. and he was slayn hym self of gue"? miles> h ' s
ercules bat was hys gest IT Kegulus had [del taken in Regnius put his
Carthaginian
bataile many men of atYrike. and cast hem in to fet- prisoners in
chains, but was
teres. but sone after he most[e] }iue hys handes to obil^d'to'submit
ben bounden with be cheynes of hem bat he had[de] MS enemies '
somtyme ouercomen. IT Wenest bou ban bat he be is he mighty that
dares not indict
my:ty. bat may nat don a bing. bat ober ne may don what he *' ould ,
J J J J * upon another lor
hym. bat he dob to ober. and jit more ouer yif it so lowers! 1 '' 1
were bat bise dignites or poweres hadden any propre inwns7uiygoo<i,
. they would never
or naturel goodnesse in hem self neuer nolden bei be attained by
* the wicked.
comen to shrewes. IT For contrarious binges ne ben An union of
things opposite
not wont to ben yfelawshiped togidres. IF Nature re- J 1 8 a [S gnant to
fuseb bat contra[r]ious binges ben yioigned. IT And so 1422
as I am in certeyne bat ry^t wikked folk han dignitees men ^obtain
ofte tymes. ban sheweb it wel bat dignitees and powers honoufs^t is
clear that honours
ne ben not goode of hir owen kynde. syn bat bei suf- are n t in them-
J J ' ' selves good,
fren hem self to cleuen or ioynen hem to shrewes. %%*$ Ifot^ufto
IT And certys be same bing may most digneliche lugen unworthy . f '
1399 whiche which
1401 owen owne
1406 receyue resseyucn
o\>er oothre
1408 herd toldMS. herde
toldc, C. herd told
1409 hi/s hise
kerburffkdtn herber-
weden
1410 slayn sle.vn
1411 liadi.de'] hadde
1413 most[e} moste
1414 bounden bownde
cheynes MS. )>eues, C.
cheynes
had[de~} haddc
1415 somtyme whylom
1116 \>at \>ing that hath
no power to don a thiii.
o\>er oothre
1417 hym in hym
do\> MS. doj>e, C. doth
to o^per in oothre
1421 togidres to-gidenj
1423 certej/ne certein
1424 tymes tyme
1425 owen owne
1'OWKK DOES NOT CONFER GOODM-s.N.
ritooK 2.
LPKOSE r,
The worst of men
have often the
largest share of
Fortune's gifts.
We judge him to
he valiant who
has given evi
dence of his
fortitude.
1432
So music maketh
a musician, &c.
The nature of
everything con
sists in doing
what is peculiar
to itself, and it
repels what is
contrary to it.
Riches cannot
restrain avarice.
"Power cannot
make a man
master of him
self if he is the
slave of his lusts.
Dignities con
ferred upon
base men do not
make them
worthy, but
rather expose
their want of
merit.
Why is it so
"f is because you
give false names
to things. You
dignify riches,
power, and
[ fol. 14.]
honours, with
names they have
no title to.
1450
In tine, the same
may be said of
all the gifts of
Fortune,
in which nothing
is desirable,
nothing of natural
good in them,
since they are not
always allotted
to good men, nor
make them good
to whom they are
attached.
and seyen of alle fe ^iftis of fortune fat most plen-
teuously comen to shrewes. IT Of f e whiche jiftys I
trowe fat it au$t[e] ben considered fat no man douti)>
fat he nis strong, in whom he see)) strengfe. and in
whom fat swiftnesse is IT Sof e it is fat he is swyfte.
Also musyk makef musiciens. and fysik makef phi-
siciens. and rethorik rethoriens. IT For whi f e na
ture of euery Jung makij) his propretee. ne it is nat
entennedled wif fe effects of cowtrarious finges.
1T And as of wil it chase)? oute finges fat to it ben
contrarie IT But certys rycchesse may nat restreyne
auarice vnstaunched H Ne power [ne] makef nat a
maw my^ty ouer hym self, whiche fat vicious lustis
holden destreined wif cheins fat ne mowen nat ben
vnbounden. and dignitees fat ben 3euen to shrewed[e]
folk nat oonly ne makif hem nat digne. but it shewef
rafer al openly fat fei ben vnworfi and vndigne.
1T And whi is it f us. 1T Certis for 30 han ioye to
clepen f inges wif fals[e] names, fat beren hem al in
fe co/ztmrie. fe whiche names ben ful ofte reproued
by f e effect of f e same f inges. so fat *f ise ilke rycch
esse ne au^ten nat by ry^t to ben cleped rycchesse.
ne whiche power ne au}t[e] not ben cleped power, ne
whiche dignitee ne aujt[e] nat ben cleped dignitee.
1F And at f e laste I may conclude f e same f inge of
al fe ^iftes of fortune in whiche f er nis no f ing to
ben desired, ne fat haf in hym self naturel bounte.
1F as it is ful wel sene. for neyf er fei ne ioygne/i
hem nat alwey to goode men. ne maken hem alwey
goode to whom fei bew y-ioigned.
l !.!': /<// irlic which
1-130 auit[e] owhte
1432 Sof>e soth
sir/ifte swyft
i i.;"> /. nis
1136 effectis effect
1437 otite owt
1411 ben be
1442 8hrewed[_e~\ shrewede
1446 falsle] false
al alle
1447 whiche which
1149 nn-,/1 a owhten
rycchess
1450 whiclie swich
auntie] owhte
1451 whiche swich
a;t[>J owht
1453 aJ alle
1454 ha]> MS. ha)>e
1455 sene 1-seenc
BOOK 2.1
MET. tt. J
NERO S CRUELTY.
55
NOUIMUS QUANTOS DEDERAT.
T7"E han wel knowen how many greet[e] hariues and
destruccz'ovms weren don by f e Emperoure Nero.
IT He letee brenne fe citee of Eome and made slen f e
senatowrs. and he cruel somtyme slouj 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 loked[e] on euery
half vpon hir colde dede body, ne no tere ne wette
his face, but he was so hard herted fat he myjt[e] ben
domesman or luge of hire dede beaute. IT And }itte
neuerf eles gouerned[e] f is 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. IF fat
is to seyne. he gouerned[e] alle f e peoples by Ceptre im
perial fat f e sowne gof aboute from est to west 1T And
eke f is Nero goueyrende by Ceptre. alle f e peoples fat
ben vndir f e colde sterres fat hy^ten f e seuene triones.
f is is to seyn he gouerned[e] alle f e poeples fat ben vndir
f e parties of fe norf e. H And eke Nero gouerned[e]
alle f e poeples fat f e violent wynde Nothus scorchif
and bakif fe brennynge sandes by his drie hete. fat
is to seyne. alle fe poeples in f e souf e. [but yit ne
myhte nat al his heye power torne 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.
[ThesixteMetKrO
We know what
ruin Nero did.
1459
He burnt Koine,
he slew the con
script fathers,
murdered his
brother, and
spilt his mother's
blood.
He looked un
moved upon his
mother's corpse,
and passed judg
ment upon her
beauty.
1467
Yet this parricide
ruled over all
lands, illumined
by the sun in his
diurnal course,
and controlled
the frozen regions
of the pole.
1472
1475
He governed, too,
the people in the
tornd zone.
1478
But yet Nero's
power could not
tame his ferocious
mind.
It is a grievous
thing when
power strength
ens the arm of
him whose will
prompts him to
deeds of cruelty.
1458 greet\_e\ grete
1460 letee let
1461 somtyme sloui whilom
slow
1463 let lette
1461 where wher
1465 half halue
1466 myit[e] myhte
1467 hire hyr
1463 neuerbeles natheles
gouerned\je\ gouernede
1468 a? alle
1469 from fram
outerest owtereste
1470 hidde hide
1471 seyne seyn
1472 grop MS. gope, C. goth
1473 goueyrende gou^rnyd
1474 triones tyryones
1475 gouerned[e] gouernede
1476 parties party
norj>c north
1476 gouerned[e] goueni-
ede
1477 wynde wynd
scort-hi\> scorklith
1479 neyne sevn
sowpe sowth
1479-81 [but it is] MS.
has: but ne how greuous
fortune is
1482 swerde swera
THE LOVE OF GLORY.
BOOK 2.
PKOSE 7.
[The seucnde T EGO SCIS W**>
a. Thou knowest V%Anne seide I bus. boil wost wel biself bat be
that I did not I/
covet mortal and J couetise of mortal binges ne hadden neuer lord-
transitory things.
i only wished to shipe of me. but I haue wel desired matere of finges
exercise my
virtue in public to done, as who seib. I desiredfe] to han matere of
concerns, lest it L - 1
feebie d bf r nT gouernaunce oner comunalites. IF For vertue stille ne
sholde not elden. fat is to seyn. fat list fat or he wex
1490 olde IF His uertue fat lay now ful stille. ne sholde
nat perisshe vnexcercised in gouernaunce of comune.
IF For whiche men my^ten speke or writew of his
p. A love of goode gouernement. IF Philosophic. IF For sofe quod
glory is one of
those things that she. and bat is a bing bat may drawen to gouernaunce
may captivate
L"e"t 8 b"rt t n' ly sw i c h e hertes as ben worfi and noble of hir nature.
tite perfection of but naf eles it may nat drawen or tollen swiche hertes as
ben y-brou^t to f e ful[le] perfection/a of vertue. fat is
But consider how to seyn couetyse of glorie and renouw to han wel
small and void of
weight is that administred f e comune finges. or doon goode decertes
1500 to profit of fe comune. for se now and considere how
Astronomy litel and how voide of al prise is f ilke glorie. IF Cer-
teaches us that
tins globe of earth teine bing is as bou hast lerned by demonstracMmw of
is but a speck * *
a spec
astronomye fat al fe envyronynge of fe erfe aboute
amUsl's nothing ne halt but f e resouw of a prykke at regard of f e gret-
if compared with
the magnitude nesse of heuene. bat is to seye. bat yif bat ber were
of the celestial * *
sphere. maked comparison?! of fe erfe to fe gretnesse of
1507 heuene. men wolde lugen in alle fat erfe [ne] helde
ptoiemy shows no space IF Of f e whiche litel regiouw of f is worlde
that only one- . . .
fourth of this be fcrbe partie is enhabitid wib lyuyng beestes bat
earth is inhabited
turel ving crea ' we knowen. as fou hast f i self lerned by tholome fat
Deduct from this p? - ouitli it. IF yif f ou haddest wif drawen and abated
the space occupied .... n .,-, n , , i
bv se
lakes, and deserts, *
and there remains 00 & n-nrl
but a small pro
portion left for the i
abode of man. myche Sp
1487 desired[e~\ dcsyrc
1489 wex olde wax old
1402 whiche which
xpeke spekyn
14U6 tollen MS. tellcn, C.
tollen
UC- L\J 1/llIV^ O1 V^ I7CV1 Hit
the] mareys contenen
ace as fe regioura of c
1497 ful\le\ fulle
1501 al prise alle prys
1505 seye seyn
i .">' i7 it-tilde woldyn
alle al
[<] from ('.
0.0 ill v \jii*j ojja.v-^ cio y\j
and ouergon and as
rough te ouerstrecchef.
1510 lerned ylerncd
1512 bowjte thowlit
myche moche
1513 [the] from C.
1514 myche apace moche
SJIIIC'O
rKosE\] I'AME IS CIRCUMSCRIBED. 57
bat is to seye saudes and desertes wel vnneb sholde 1515
*ber dwellen a ry$t streite place to be habitations of [foi. Mb.]
men. and 2e ban bat ben environed and closed wib And do you, who
* are confined to
i/me be leest[e] prikke of bilk prikke benke 36 to thu'w^think*
manifesten joure renouw and don joure name to ben bbuing'fcw-and^
. . wide your name
born forbe. but aoure glorie bat is so narwe and so and reputation ?
What is there
streyt ybronge?? in to so litel boundes. how myche great in a glory
J J i "so circumscribed ?
conteinbe it in largesse and in greet doynge. And also 1522
sette bis ber to bat many a nacou?i dyuerse of tonge Even in this
contracted circle,
and of maneres. and eke of resoura of hir lyuyng ben there is a great
variety of nations,
enhabitid in be cloos of bilke litel habitacle. 1T To be
whiche naciouns what for difficulte of weyes. and what < whom not n 'y
the fame of par-
for diue?-site of langages. and what for defaute of ^'of great 1 ""
f i J i i_ cities, cannot
vnusage entercomunynge of marchaundise. nat only be extend,
names of singler men ne may [nat] strecchen. but eke 1529
be fame of Citees ne may nat strecchen. IT At be in the time of
' Marcus Tullius
last[e] Certis in be tyme of Marcus tulyus as hym ^ Breach 30 " 18
self writeb in his book bat be renou/i of be comune of cwMasua! "
Rome ne hadde nat jitte passed ne clou???ben ouer be
mountaigne bat hy}t Caucasus, and ^itte was bilk
tyme rome wel wexen and gretly redouted of be parthes. 1535
and eke of ober folk enhabityng aboute. IT Sest bou HOW narrow,
T < then, is that
nat ban how streit and hoAV compressed is bilke glorie ? lor y which y u
labour to pro-
bat 36 trauailera aboute to shew and to multiplie. May ^h^uiie glory of
, 1 f i T> T-i--] a Roman citizen
ban be glorie ot a smglere Komeyne strecchen bider reach those places
where the name
as be fame of be name of Rome may nat clymben ne even of Rome was
never heard ?
passen. IF And eke sest bou nat bat be maners of customs and
institutions differ
diuerse folk and eke hir lawes ben discordau/zt amonge in different
1 countries.
hem self, so bat bilke bing bat sommen iujjen worbi of what is praise
worthy in one is
preysynge. ober folk iugen bat it is worbi of torment. J,'JJj! 1 h 8 e Worthy in
H and ber of comeb bat bou^ a man delite hyw in 1545
1515 cj/e seyn
1516 streite streyt
1517 )>an thanne
1518 inne in
leest[e] leste
bilk thilke
\>enke je tliinken ye
152<) homfor\>e MS. borne,
C. born, forth
1520 narwe narwh
1521 streyt streyte
myche mochel
1522 contein\>e coueyteth
1525 habitacle MS. habit-
ache, C. habytacule
1529 [naf] from 0.
1531 last^e} laste
I'l'^'l writep \vr\t,
1533 hadde haddcn
\itte omitted
1534 hyit hyhte
\>ilk thikke
1535 wexen waxen
1536 Sest \>ou sestow
1538 shew she we
1539 singf-ere sinj?lpr
1545 cwne\> comth it
58
FAME IS NOT ETERXAL.
THOOK 2.
LI-ROSE 7.
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 has
acquired at home.
But of how many
personages,
illustrious in
their times, have
the memorials
been lost thiongh
tlie carelessness
and neglect of
writers.
But writings do
not 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 in no wise
bryngen furf e ne spreden his name to many manere
peoples. IT And Jjerfore euery mane?- man au^te to ben
paied of hys glorie fat is puplissed among hys owen
ney^bores. IT And filke noble renoun shal be re-
streyned wif -iwne f e boundes of o maner folk but how
many a man fat was ful noble in his tyme. haf ]je
nedy and wrecched for^etynge of writers put oute of
mynde and don awey. IT Al be it so fat certys filke
writynges profiten litel. f e whiche writywges longe and
derke elde dof aweye bof e hem and eke her autoMrs. but
36 men semen to geten }ow a perdurablete whan 30
f enke fat in tyme comyng joure fame shal lasten. IT But
naf eles yif f ou wilt maken comparisons to f e endeles
space of eternite what f ing hast f ou by whiche f ou
maist reioysen f e of long lastyng of fi name. IT For
if fer were maked comparysoun of fe abidyng of a
moment to ten f ousand wynter. for as myche as bof e
fo spaces ben endid. IF For jit haf f e moment some
porciou?i of hit al f ouj it a litel be. IT But naf eles
filke self noumbre of jeres. and eke as many jeres as
fer to may be multiplied, ne may nat certys be com-
parisound to fe perdurablete fat is een[de]les. IT For of
f inges fat ban ende may be mad comparisoun [but of
thinges that ben w/t/t-owtyn ende to thinges fat ban ende
may be maked no comparysoim]. IF And for f i is it al
f ouj renoun of as longe tyme as euer f e lyst to f inken
were f oujt by f e regard of eternite. fat is vnstaunche-
able and infinit. it ne sholde nat oonly semen litel. but
pleinliche ryjt nou^t. 1F But je men certys ne konne
1547 fwr\>e forth
manere maner
1548 \>erfore ther-for
attjte-^-owhte
1549 paied apayed
hys owen hise owne
1550 ney$bores nesshebours
be ben
1552/tap MS.hape [putowt
1553 put (MS. putte) oute
1556 derke derk
dob aweye MS. doj>e, C.
aoth a-wey
her autours hir actorros
1557 je yow
semen semetn
1558 comyng to comynge
1559 wilt wolt
1560 whiche which
1563 my die mochel
| 1564 po the
ftap MS. ha)>e
some som
1566 self selue
1567 be (2) ben
1568 een\_de]les endeles
1569 mad MS. made, C.
maked
[but comparysounj
i 1573 by to [from C.
KOSE\] VANITY REPROVED. 59
don no )>ing ary^t. but jif it be for be audience of poeple. But yet yon do
and for ydel rumours, and 36 forsaken be grete worbi- to^ave'thewnV
nesse of conscience and of vertue. and }e sekew joure
gerdouws of be smale wordes of strange folke. 11 Haue good conscience
in order to have
now here and vndirstonde in be lyjtnesse of whiche the insignificant
praises of other
pride and veyne glorie. how a man scorned [e] festiualy ^^siiiy vanity
j , i ., , , was once thus
and myrily swiche vanite. somtyme bere was a man bat ingeniously and
, _ pleasantly rallied.
had del assaied wib stnuyng wordes an ober maw. il be A certain man,
who had assumed
whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude
veyne glorie had[de] takera vpon hym falsly be name o/vam-gtoryT
f i, -11 r f i r i f tolifbya
oi a philosopher. bis raber man bat 1 speke ol man of humour
r ' ' _ that he could
boujtfe] he wolde assayfel where he bilke were a philo- P[?. ve he . wa t a
J ^ L j ^LJ i philosopher by
sopher or no. bat is to seyne yif he wolde han sutfred
i . -i > j*. . i offered him.
ly^tly in pacience be wrorcges *bat weren don vnto [* r i. 15.]
hym. IT bis feined[e] philosophre took pacience a 1590
litel while, and whan he hadde receiued wordes of
outerage he as in stryuynge a3eine and reioysynge of
hym self seide at be last[e] ry 3 t bus. f vndirstondest f ^ t
boil nat bat I am a philosophers bat ober man an- a phl osop er '
sweredfel a^ein ful bityngly and seide. IT I hadfdc] 'i might have
L J believed it,' said
wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif bou haddest holdew bi tonge ^t^hefd' 'Jur 1
stille. IT But Avhat is it to bise noble worbi men. whaTadvantage
For certys of swyche folk speke .1. bat seken glorie wib worthy ^nen to 1 be
1 extolled after
vertue. what is it quod she. what atteinib fame to death?
swiche folk whan be bod"y is resolued by be deeb. atte 1600
be lastfel. IT For yif so be bat men dien in al. bat is
die, then there
to seyne body and soule. be whiche bing oure resouw can be no giorr ;
nor can there be
defendib vs to byleuen banne is bere no glorie in no whom^tis
wyse. For what sholde bilke glorie ben. for he of noTexist 5 . *
whom bis glorie is seid to be nis ry$t noujt in no wise. 1605
and jif be soule whiche bat hab in it self science of
1580 whiche swych
1581 8comed[e~\ scornede
1582 swiche swych
somtyme whilom
1583 had!(de\ hadde
1584 whiche which
proude prowd
l.'iSti sprkt- sp;ik
1587 howj^M thowlUr
1587 assay[e] assaye
1589 seyne seyn
1590 feined[e} feytiede
1592 a^eine ayein
1593 last\_e} laste
vndirstondest )pou vn-
dyrstondow
1595 had\de] hadde
ed[e
h
1596 fyfl from C.
1601 lastie} laste
1602 seyne seyn
1604 for (2) whan
1605 big thilke
seid MS. seide, C. seyd
noutf nawht
1594 answered[e] answerdc I 1606 hab MS. habe
GO DEATH PUTS AN END TO RENOWN. [MET*"
But if the soul goode werkes vnbounden fro be prisoim of be erbe
is immortal when
u takefno* b dy> wen dej> frely to be heuene. dispiseb it nou^t ban alle
joys of this" 1 * erbely occupaczouns. and beynge in heuene reioiseb bat
it is exempt from alle erbely binges [as wo seith /
1611 thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renouw of this
world].
QUICUMQUB SOLAM MENTE.
uthimwo ere ' W ho so f at wi f ouerbrowyng boujt only sekeb glorie
seeks fame, think- If,./. , -.i-.i j
ing it to be the of fame, and wemb bat it be souereyne good
sovereign good,
look upon the <fl Lete hym loke vpon be brode shewyng contreys of
broad universe
scrited^arth" f 6 neuew - ar> d vpow be streite sete of bis erbe. and
and he will then iii-i i_ jj?i_ e i_
despise a glorious he shal be ashamed of be encres of his name, bat may
name limited to
such a confined nat fulhlle be litel compas of be erbe. I O what
space.
1619 coueiten proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in
win splendid ydel and dedely 2ok of bis worlde. 11 For al bouj
titles and renown *
Fife 1 ? " 8 a man>s [P a ^\ renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples gob
by dyucrse tonges. and al bou} grete houses and kyn-
1623 redes shyne wib clere titles of homwrs. ^it nabeles
in the grave deeb dispiseb al heye glorie of fame, and deeb wrappeb
there is no dis- J
hi^h'and^ow* 611 ^ gi^ re J 56 ne y e heuedes and be lowe and makeb egal
where is the good and euene be heyestfel to be lowest Pel. IT where
Fubririus now ?
where the noble wonett now be bones of trcwe fabricius. what is
Brutus, or stern
now brutus or stiern Caton be binne fame 3it lastynge
1629 of hir ydel names is markid ^wib a fewe lettres. but
Their empty al bou? we han knowew be faire wordes of be fames of
names still live,
bU rsons h we r know ^- em - ^ ^ na ^ ^euen to knowe hem bat ben dede and
consumpt. Liggib banne stille al vtterly vnknowable
Fame cannot ne fame ne makeb 2ow nat knowe. and yif 2e wene
make you known.
to lyuen be lenger for wynde of joure mortal name.
1635 whan o cruel day shal rauyshe ^ow. ban is be secunde
deeb dwellyng in 3ow. Glosa. be first deeb he clepib
1608 nou-,t \>an nat thanne
1610 from fro
16101612 [o - world]
from C.
1615
loke look en
1616 sete Cyte
1617 be ben
1619 vpon vp
16)9 upon vp
1620 and dedely in the dedly
1621 y-spradde ysprad
[bafl from C.
feme MS. serue, C. feme
pop MS. gop, C. goth
1622 and (2; or
1623 sliyne shyuen
1623 clere cler
1624 al alle
1626 heyest[e] heyoste
lowest{e\ loweste
1628 stiern MS. sciern, C.
stierne
1632 consumpt consumptc
enger longere
rKOSE 2 B.] ADVERSE FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL. 61
here be departynge of be body and be soule. 5F and it win be effaced
by conquering
be secunde deeb he clepeb as here, be styntynge of JJS^*^
n A *. doubly victorious.
be renoune of fame.*
* The next three
chapters are from
the Camb. MS.
[SET NE ME INEXORABILE CONTRA.
BVt for-as-mochel as thow shalt nat wenen quod she [The viij prose.]
' But do not
bat I bere vntretable batayle ayenis fortune // yit *?\ie\'e,' said
Philosophy, that
som-tyme it by-falleth bat she desseyuable desserueth p^MeeSemy
to han ryht good thank of men // And bat is whan she TMsinconstant
, . ., , dame sometimes
hire self opneth / and whan she descouereth hir trownt / deserves well of
and sheweth hir maneres par-auenture yit vndir- h j!; r B t h r u e apI>ears
stondesthow nat bat .1. shal seye // it is a wondyr j?at .1. ^"wnat i say
desyre to telle / and forthi vnnethe may I. vnpleyten my JTear paradoxical.
That is, that
sentense witfl wordes for I. deme bat contraryos fortune adverse fortune
is more beneficial
profiteth more to men than fortune debonayre // For fo 1 r \ n r 8perou>l
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 cowtraryos fortune is alwey sothfast / whan she the f "> ier dis -
* J I plays her natural
sheAveth hir self vnstable thorw hyr chauwgynge // the in
amyable fortune desseytieth folk / the contrarye fortune That deceives us,
this instructs us ;
techeth // the amyable fortune byndeth wftft the beaute iSJ^sho'w ~<>f
of false goodys the hertes of folk bat vsen hem / the u^ni e mf ; axe
f 1111 i f ' n ' 8 > by ^ e
contrarye fortune vnbyndeth he? by b e knowynge of knowledge of her
fickleness, frees
freele welefulnesse // the amyable fortune maysthow sen ? t nd absolves
alwey wyndynge and flowynge / and euere mysknowynge i^and 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 experience of
the laste amyable fortune wit^. hir flaterynges draweth o u t t fo y r 't u ) ne 8 i p as
mys wandrynge men fro the souereyne good // the con- AdvereHy^aches
traryos fortune ledith ofte folk ayein to sothfast goodes / real happiness
consists.
and haleth hem ayein as w/M an hooke / weenesthow it renders us o
inconsiderable
thanne bat thow owhtest to leten this a lytel thing / bat ^ D 'i^ lg n U8 to
this aspre and horible fortune hath discoueryd to the / the troe^Hend "'
tliowhtes of thy trewe frendes // For-why this ilke for- 1668
1637 \>e (1) omitted 1639 renoiine renouu
C2 ALL THINGS BOUND BY THE CHAIN OF LOVE.
1669 tune hath departyd and vncoue-ryd to the bothe the
certeyn vysages and ek the dowtos visages of thy
felawes // whan she departyd awey fro the / she took
1672 awey hyr frendes and lafte the thyne frendes // now
At what price whan thow were ryche and weleful as the semede / with
would you not
'd K e h ln thl8 ^ ow mocne ^ woldesthow han bowht the fulle know-
your prosperity? ynge Q ^ jj ^ j g ^ geyn the knowynge Q f thy
w pleyne the nat thanne of
st fowndyn the moste presyo
to se y n thy verray frendes.
complain not, verray frecndes // now pleyne the nat thanne of Eychesse
then, of loss of "
wealth, since .I.-lorn syn thow hast fowndyn the moste presyos kynde
thou hast found
true friends.
QUOD MUA-DUS 8TABILI FIDE.
[TheviijMetwr.i fTlHat b e world with stable feith / varieth acordable
This world, by
an invariable J- chaungynges // fat the contraryos qualite of element}
Elements that by holden amonge hem self aliauwce perdurable / J?at phebz^
are tu re8train1d e by the sonne with his goldene chariet / bryngeth forth the
rosene day / fat the mone hath cowmauwdement ouer tlie
1684 ny htes // whiche ny htes hesperu s the cue sterre hat bro wt //
The sea is thus bat b e se gredy to flowen constreyneth w^t7i a certeyn ende
kept within its
proper bounds, hise floodes / so bat it is nat l[e]ueful to strechche hise
1687 brode termes or bowndes vp-on the erthes // bat is to seyn
This concord is to couere alle the erthe // Al this a-cordaurtce of thinges
produced by love,
winch govemeth i s bownden with looue / bat gouerneth erthe and see /and
fnfluen^to 8 the ^ atn a ^ so commaundement3 to the heuenes / ana" yif
this looue slakede the brydelis / alle thinges bat now
if this chain of louen hem to gederes / wolden maken a batayle contyn-
love were broken
aii things would ue K- and strvuen to fordoon the fasou?^ of this worlde /
be in |>erpetual
worid w n ouid h |o the which they now leden in acordable feith by fayre
Love'binds moeuynges // this looue halt to gideres poeples loygned
nations together,
it ties the nuptial with an hooly bond / and knytteth sacrement of mar-
knot, and dictates
fn^dsliip ws * y a o es f chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to
Men were truly trewe felawes // weleful weere mankynde / yif thilke
blest if governed
celestial loue bat gouerneth heuene gouerned[e] yowre corages /
EXPLICIT LIBKR 2"*.
1690 hafh H.h-hath
PROSE'I.] BOETHIUS IS COMPORTED BY PHILOSOPHY'S SONG. 63
IXCIPIT IAEER 3
IAM CANTU3f ILLA FINIERAT.
T> y this she hadde endid hire songe / whan the swetnesse
*-* of hire ditee hadde thorw perced me fat was desirous * n
of herkninge / and .1. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn
i 11 8ne were 8t ill
Eres / fat is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde speaking,
seye // so f c/t a litel here after .1. seyde thus // thow At }ast x gaid>
. . . // 01 it. sovereign com
bat art souereyn comfort ot Angwissos corages // bo thow forter of dejected
minds, how much
hast remounted and norysshed me with the weyhte of thy hast thou re-
J freshed me with
sentenses and vriih delit of thy syngynge //so fat.I.trowe d ^%f y f thy
nat now fat .1. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as think a my 8 1 e ( ir
who seyth. I. dar wel now suffren al the assautes of for- match for For*
tune and able to
tune and wel deiiende me fro hyr // and tho remedies resist her blows.
I fear not, there-
whyche fat thow seydest hire byforn weren ryht sharpe ** butearnestiy
Nat oonly fat .1. am nat agrysen of hem now // but .1. de- w e hat e they we.
siros of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes // 1713
than seyde she thus // bat feelede .1. ful wel quod she // p - ^^ l P-
' ' ceived that, silent
whan fat thow ententyf and stylle rauysshedest my ^veTmy 6 ' y u
wordes//and .1. abood til fat thow haddest swych habyte tonnd such p a Cte<
of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl fat .1. you, or rather, i
created in you
my self hadfdel maked to the the same habyt / which ?"<* an one.
J I What remains to
fat is a moore verray thinge // And certes the remenauwt I^ u i r e 8 tn 1 at 8uch
of thinges fat ben yit to seye / ben swyche // fat fyrst uSted'iUs*'
. pungent and un-
whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan pleasant, but
when once swal-
they ben resseyuyd wzt^-inne a whyht than ben they lowed u turns
J sweet, and is
swete // but for thow seyst fat thow art so desirous to fc h tot
herkne hem // witfh] how gret brennynge woldesthow say yotfwould 11
now gladly hear,
glowen / yif thow wystest whyder .1. wol leden the // with what desir
' ' would you bum
whydyre is fat quod .1. // to thilke verray welefulnesse |
qiiod she // of whyche thynge herte dremeth // but i I e ad n y ou 1 ? g *
f U XT, i.^ j j T ,. i. j /i B. Whitherig
tor as mocne as thy syhte is ocupied and distorbed / by that, i pray ?
J P. To that tru
Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit o l u ci ^ r e'm f to h i!
sen thilke selue welefulnesse // do quod .1. and shewe
1702 streyhte H. strenghed I 1718 had[de} H. hade
1712 am nat H. nam nought |
AWAY WITH FALSE FELICITY !
ri)OOK 3.
LMET. i. PROSE 2.
But vour six-lit ia
clouaed 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 metur.]
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* 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 6.]
me / what is tliilke verray welefulnesse / .1. preye the
wftft-howte tarynge // fat wole .1. gladly don quod she /
for the cause of the // but .1. wol fyrst mark en the by
wordes / and I wcl enforcen me to enformen the //
thilke false cause of blysfulnesse fat thow more know-
est / so fat 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 I.VGENIUM.
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 come may comew heuy
of eres and of greina. hony is f e more swete yif mouf es
han firste tastid sauoures fat ben wikke. IT f e sterres
shynen more agreably whan f e wynde Nothus letif his
ploungy blastes. and aftir fat lucifer f e day sterre haf
chased awey fe derke nyjt. fe day f e feirer ledif fe
rosene horse of f e sonne. IT Ry3t so fou byholdyng
first f e fals[e] goodes. bygynue to wif drawe f i nek[ke]
fro fe }ok of erfely affecctourcs. and afterwarde fe
verrey goodes shollen entre in to fi corage. 1750
TUNC DEFIXO PAULULUAf.
fastned[e] she a lytel f e sy^t of hir eyen and wif -
drow hir ryjt as it were in to f e streite sete of hir
foujt. and bygan to speke ryjt Ipus. Alle fe cures
quod she of mortal folk whiche fat trauaylen hem in
many manere studies gon certys by diuerse weies.
1T But nafeles fei enforced hem *to comen oonly to on
1734 wol H. shalle
1739 wit wole
felde feeld
1740 delyuer delyuwe
of fro
hooke hook
1741 bushes bosses
feme fern
corne korn
17 M firste f.vrst
1743 wikke wyckyd
1744 wynde wynd
his hise
1745 ha)) MS. haj>e
1746 feirer fayrere
1747 horse hors
Ry)t And Hyht
1748 falsM false
byqynnebygyn
wipdrawevrith drawen
1748 nek[ke'] nekke
1749 afterwarde affter-
ward
1750 entre entren
1751 fastned[.e~} fastnede
wipdrow MS. wi)>-
arowen, C. with drowh
1752 sete Cyte
1756 enforced enforson
BOOK 3. T
PROSE 2.J
THE DESIRE OF THE TRUE GOOD.
65
ende of blisfulnesse [And blysfulnesse] is swiche a goode
fat who so ha)> geten it he ne may ouer fat no f ing more
desiire. and f is f ing for sof e is f e souereyne good fat con-
teinif in hym self al manure goodes. to f e whiche goode
yif fere failed[e] any f ing. it my^t[e] nat ben souereyne
goode. 1[ For fan were fere som goode out of f is ilke soue
reyne goode fat my3t[e] ben desired. Now is it clere and
certeyne fan fat blisfulnesse is a pevfit estat by f e con-
gregaciouw of alle goodes. IT fe whiche blisfulnesse as
I haue seid alle mortal folke enforcen hem to geten by
dyuerse weyes. IT For-whi f e couetise of verray goode
is naturely y-plaunted in f e hertys of men. IF But f e
myswandryng errowr mysledif hem in to fals[e] goodes.
IT of f e whiche men some of hem wenen fat soue-
reygne goode is to lyue wif outen nede of any f ing.
and traueilere hem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse.
and some ofer men demew. fat souerein goode be forto
be ry^t digne of reuerences. and enforce?! hem to ben
reuerenced among hir ney^bozws. by f e hono?<rs fat f ei
ban ygeten 1T and some folk f er ben fat halden fat
ryjt heyje power to be souereyn goode. and enforcen
hem forto regnen or ellys to ioignera hew to hem fat
regnen. 1T And it semef to some ofer folk fat noblesse
of renouw be fe souerein goode. and hasten hem to
geten glorious name by f e artes of werre or of pees,
and many folke mesuren and gessen fat souerein goode
be ioye and gladnesse and wenen fat it be ry$t blisful
[thynge] to ploungen hem in uoluptuous delit. IT And
f er ben folk fat enterchaungen f e causes and f e endes
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 anil
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.
1757 [And blysfulnesse]
goode food [from C.
1758 so so J>at
ha\> MS. haj>e
1759 souereyne souereyn
1760 n-alle
goode good
1761 bere ther
faued{e\ faylyde
*y?flX) mynte
souereyne goode souereyn
good
1762 \>an than no
]>ere ther
1762 goode good
sotter eyne souereyn
1763 goode pood
"?<[] myhte
1764 certeyne certein
1766 seid MS. seide, C.
folke foolk [seyd
1767 goode good
1769 fals[e\ false
1770 souereygne goode is
souereyn good^ be
1771 lyue v>if> outen Ijrtien
wttft owte
1772 rycchesxe Rychesses
5
1773 some som
goode be good ben
1774 be ben
1775 ney}bours nesshebors
1776 halden holden
1777 hey-)e heyh
to omitted
goode good
1780 ffood^good
ir*i ofemm
1782 fnlke folk
goode good
1783 be by
1784 [fhynge'] from C.
G6
FRIENDSHIP A SACRED THING.
LPROSB -j.
Some there are
who use these
rouses and ends
interchangeably,
as those who
desire riches as a
means of getting
power ; or who
desire power in
order to get
money or renown.
In all they do they
have a particular
end in view.
Nobility and
popular favour
are sought after
by some in order
to become famous.
By others, wives
and children are
only desired as
sources of
pleasure.
Friendship must
not be reckoned
among the goods
of fortune, but
among those of
virtue, for it is a
very sacred thing.
All else are de
sired either for
the power or
pleasure they
M 1802
The goods of the
body fall under
the same pre
dicament.
Strength and a
good stature seem
to give power and
worthiness.
Beauty and swift
ness give glory
and fame ; and
health gives
delight.
In all these hap
piness alone is
sought.
What a man most
wishes for, that
he esteems the
supreme good,
which, as we have
denned, is hap
piness.
Thou hast now
before thee a view
of human felicity
(falsely so called),
that is, riches,
honours, power,
glory, and de
light, which last
Epicurut
1786 rycchesse rychesses
1787 delices delytes
1789 oper oothre
al alle
1790 [of] from C.
1794 shollen sholden
1795 pe tho
1796 o\>er oothre
1801 swiftenesse sweftnesse
1803 jtwen MS. jiuep, C.
of f ise forseide goodes as f ei fat desire?i rycchesse to
han power and delices. Or ellis f ei desiren power forto
han moneye or for cause of renoun. 1T In f ise f inges
and in swyche of er Jjinges is towrned al f e entenc?ouw
of desirynges and [of] werkes of mew. IT As Jms.
IT Noblesse and fauowr of poeple whiche fat jiuef as it
semef a manere clernesse of renoim. IT and wijf and
children fat men desiren for cause of delit and miri-
nesse. ^f But forsof e frendes ne shollen nat ben rek-
kened among f e goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it
is a ful holy manere f ing. alle f ise of er Jjinges forsof e
ben taken for cause of power, or ellis for cause of
delit. IT Certis noAv am I redy to referen J>e goodes of
fe body to fise forseide f inges abouen. ^[ For it semef
fat strengf e and gretnesse of body ^euen power and
worj>inesse. If and fat beaute and swiftenesse ^euen
noblesse and glorie of renoura. and hele of body semej)
^iuen delit. If In alle Jnse Dingus it semej) oonly J>at
blisfuhiesse is desired. IT For-whi Jrilke J)ing J)at euery
man desirej) moost ouer alle Jjinges. he demij) J?at be J>e
souereyne goode. 1T But I haue diffined Jjat blisful-
nesse is J>e souereyne goode. for whiche euery wy3t
demij) J>at Jjilke estat Jjat he desirej) oner alle J)inges J)at
it be J)e blisfulnesso. IT Now hast J)ou fan byforne
[thy even] almost al Jie pswposed forme of J)e welful-
nesse of mankywde. fat is to seyne rycchesse. honoMrs.
power, glorie. and delit}. fe whiche delit oonly con
sidered Epicurus luged and establissed. fat delit is f e
souereyne goode. for as myche as alle of er f inges as
hym fou^tfe] by-refte awey ioie and myrfe from fe
herte. IT But I retowme a^eyne to fe studies of meen.
yeuen
1806, 1807 souereyne goode
souereyn good
1807 whiche whych
1809 pe omitted [torn
pa byforne thantie by-
1810 [thy even] from C. ;
MS. has jeuen ajeyne
almost alines t
welfulnetse welefulnesse
1811 seyne rycchesse seyn
Rychesses
1814 souereyne goode soue-
reyn good
myche moche
oper oothre
1815 po3<[e] thowhte
from fram
1816 a;
PKOSE%.] ALL SEEK THE CHIEF GOOD. C7
of whiche men be corage alwey rehersib ami seekeb be considered as the
* sovereign good.
souereyne goode of alle be it so J>at it be wib a derke JhenViinations
memorie [but he not by whiche paath]. 1F By^t as a mankmd"' s
dronke maw. not nat by whiche pabe he may retowrne 1820
home to hys house, ^f SemeJ) it banne bat folk folyen bwft upon the* re
and erren bat enforcen hem to haue nede of no bine are ever seeking
itwithadark-
1F Certys fer nys non oj>er bing bat may so weel per- encd imdergtand-
fowmy blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuow-s *of alle dru " e foi m i]
1 . , -i, -\ f i 11 i -i who cannot find
goodes bat ne hab nede of none ober bing. but bat it is MS way home.
Do they go astray
suffisant of hym self, vnto hym self, and foleyen who strive to keep
themselves from
swyche folk )>anne. bat wenen Jjat filk Jring bat is R an n ? raeang
ryjt goode. jjat it be eke ry$t worbi of honour and of p\er 8 thlVthat p m
T/^_J.- * i. j. i_- v r i which a man is
reuerence. fl Certis nay. for bat Jnng nys neyber ioule above want, and
independent of
ne worbi to ben dispised bat al be entenczouw of mortel others.
Are they guilty of
folke trauaille forto geten it. IF And power aujt[e] es^^nd^ver-
nat bat eke to be rekened amonges goodes what ellis. Not for that is
not'contemptible
tor it nys nat to wene bat bilke bing bat is most for which aii men
strive.
worbi of alle binges be feble and wib out strengbe and is not power to be
reckoned amongst
clernesse of renoim au3te fat to ben dispised. IF Certys why a not? go For ?
f , , , . ,. iii tnat is not an
ber may no man forsake bat al bing bat is ryjt excellent insignificant good
which invests a
and noble, bat it ne semeb to be ryjt clere and re- man with author
ity and command.
nomed. IF For certis it nedib nat to seie. bat blisful- ^ a t*X! 8 for
nesse be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greuances ne fent^aUoghmTng
,. i TJ. i i_- ^n i and renowned.
to sorwes. syn bat in ryjt litel bmgws folk seken to w e hardly need
say that happi-
haue and to vsen bat may deliten hem. IF Certys bise ness is not an
* unjoyous and
ben J>e fiwges bat men wolen and desyren to geten. for^the'pumut'
and for bis cause desiren Jiei rycches. dignites. regnes. mattersen 8 seek
glorie and delices 1F For berby wenen bei to han suffi- Hence i e tts U thkt
T mankind seek
saunce honowr power, renoun and gladnesse. IF banne riches, &c., be
cause by them
is it goode. fat men seken Jms by so many dyuerse Jnlep'en^ence^ 1
studies. In whiche desijr it may ly^tly be shewed. However varied
1818 souereyne goode soue- [ 1823 perfoumy performe
reyn good
of -omitted
alle al
derke dirkyd
1819 [but paath'] from C.
1820 dronke dronken
a)>e paath
1825 hap MS. haj>e
ttone non
1827 bilk thilke
1828 goode good
1829 foule fowl
1830 oi welneyh alle
1831 trauaille trauavlcn
1821 home hym I aw?[>] owhte
1832 be ben
1834 out owte
ia35 au^te owhte
1836 al alle
1837 be ben
clere cleer
1843 rycches Rychesses
18i6 goode good
1847 be ben
GS
OF NATURE'S LAWS.
rnooK s.
LVKT. 2.
their desire-;,
happiness is their
sole pursuit.
However various
men's opinions
are respecting
happiness, all
agree in pursuing
it as the end of
their actions and
desires.
[The 2<i Metwr.]
I will now sin?
of Nature's laws,
by which the
universe is
governed.
1855
fj] The Punic lion
submits to man,
and dreads the
keeper's lash ;
1859
yet, if he once
taste blood,
his savage in
stincts revive,
1864
and his keeper
falls a victim to
his fury.
[ij]
If the caged bird
though daintily
fed, gets a sight
of the pleasant
grove where she
was wont to sing,
1870
she will spurn
her food, and
pine for the
beloved wood*.
ran
The sapling, bent
down by a mighty
1848 grete wret
1849 algates Allegates
1860 goode good
1851 shew[e] shewe
1954 whiche MS. swiche, C.
whyche
worlde world
1856 be ben
vnbounden vnbownde
how grete is fe strengf e of nature. 1T For how so fat
men han dyuerse sentences and discordyng algates men
accordyn alle in lyuynge fe ende of goode. 1850
QIMNTAS RERffM FLECTAT.
TT like]) me to shew[e] by subtil songe wif slakke and
-*- delitable soun of strenges how fat nature my^ty en-
clinef and flittej? gouernementj of finges IF and by
whiche lawes she pwnieiable kepif f e grete worlde. anil
how she bindynge restreinef alle f ingws by a bonde fat
may nat be vnbounden. IT Al be it so fat f e liouns of
f e contree of pene beren f e fair[e] cheines. and taken
metes of fe handes of folk fat }euen it hem. and
dreden her sturdy maystres of whiche f ei ben wont to
suffren [betinges]. yif fat hir horrible mouf es ben bi-
bled. fat is to sein of bestes devoured. 1T Hir corage
of tyme passef fat haf ben ydel and rested, repairef
a3ein fat f ei roren greuously. and remembren on hir
nature, and slaken hir nekkes from hir cheins vn
bounden. and hir maistre first to-teren wif blody tof e
assaief fe woode wraf fes of hem. IT fis is to sein f ei
freten hir maister. 1T And f e langland brid fat syngif
on f e heye braunches. fis is to sein in f e wode and
after is inclosed in a streit cage. IT al f ouj [fat] f e
pleiyng besines of men ^euef hem honied [e] drinkes
and large metes, wif swete studie. IT 3it nafeles yif
filke brid skippynge oute of hir streite cage seef f e
agreable shadewes of f e wodes. she defoulef wif hir
fete hir metes yshad and sekef mournyng oonly f e
wode and twitrif desirynge fe wode wif hir swete
voys. IT f e ^erde of a tree fat is haled adoun by my^ty
1857 fairie] fayre
1860 \betinges] from C.
1862 passep passed
1864 from fram
vn oounden vnbownde
1865 to-teren to-torn
tofre toth
1867 langland Tangelynge
1869 streit streyht
1870 pleiyng MS. pleinyng,
C. pleyynge
besines -oysynesse
honied\_e~\ honyede
1872 out* owt
1873 agreable agreables
1874 fete feet
1875 tv>itri\> twiterith
PKO*E%.] THE SEARCH AFTER FELICITY. 69
strengbe bowib redely be croppe adorn*, but yif ]at be iS n Mturai re8 si e
hande of hym fat it bente lat it gon a^ein. IT An oon thTrettraTning
, , , _ , , , force is removed.
be crop lokeb vp ryn to heuene. IF be sonne phebus [iiij]
Though the sun
bat failleb at euene in be westrene wawes retornijj a3ein |^ 8 1 j[ a j n M a * e J ve"
eftsones his cart by a priue pabe bere as it is wont patil'he^takeThis
r . 1 1 , i i- wonted journey
aryse. IF Alle binges seken a3em in to hit propre toward the east.
. . All things pursue
cours. and alle binges reioisen hem of hir retournvnge their proper
1 course, obedient
a^ein to hir nature ne noon ordinaunce nis bytaken to j^* source of
biwges but bat. bat hab ioignynge be endynge to be ol?thVwo?uf h "
j 1. r. i -j i. -L. if L. 1.1 entire stability is
bygynnynge. and hab makid be cours of it self stable found, for aii
things, having
bat it chaungeb nat from hys pj'opre kynde. 1887 fulfilled their ap
pointed course, re
turn from whence
VOSQUE TERRENA ANIMALIA. they came.
[The 3<fc prose.]
* /""tErtis also 36 men bat ben erbeliche bestes dremen o J^^- l *W
V alwey [yowre bygynnynge] al bouj it be wib a STlMJSV
binne ymaginac/oxiw. and by a maner boujt al be it beg/nningfand
you have ever the
nat clerly ne perfitly je looken from a fer til bilk trueendofteiicity
in view, but your
verray fyn of blisfulnesse. and berfore be naturel en- are'pwve'rted'by
tencz'oure ledeb 30AV to bilk verray good ^T But ^gOs"
many manere errours mistownib aow ber fro. H Con- Can m en obtain
the end they have
sidere now yif bat be bilke binges by whiche a man m^n7they he
. ii_ -LI e i * i i. t usually employ
wemb to gete hym blystulnesse. yil bat he may comen in the pursuit bf
happiness ?
to bilke ende bat he weneb to come by nature 1T For if riches and
honours and the
yif bat moneye or honozws or bise ober forseide binges happ a so ufa"
I _*- j t />!! they shall want
bryngen to men swiche a bing bat no goode ne faille for nothing, then
, . f .,, ^ , ., T , r -i happiness may
hem. ne semeb faille. (I Certys ban wil 1 graunt e be procured by
L J these acquisitions.
bat bei ben maked blisful. by bilke binges bat bei ban 1901
geten. 1F but yif so be bat bilke binges ne mowe nat jh"^^'^^*
pe?foM?-men bat bei by-heten and bat ber be defaute of they^ronfisMf'
mr n-i i n there stiil l)e
many goodes. Tl oheweb it nat ban clerely bat fals something to be
desired, then
beaute of blisfulnesse is knowe and a-teint in bilke they are de
lusions, and the
binges. If First and forward bou bi self bat haddest f
1877 croppe crop
1878 hande hand
bente bent
1880 faille^ falleth
1881 cart carte
a omitted
pabe paath
1883 0/MS. of of
1885 Aa}>-MS. habe
1885 ioignynge loyned
1888 ha\> MS. ha>e [fromC.
1889 [yowre bygynnynge]
al MS. as, C. Al
1891 from fram
til bilk to tliylke
1892 be omitted
1893 bilk thylke
1895 be by
1896 gete geten
1899 swiche swych
goode good
1900 wil wole
graunt[e] grannie
1904 ni, mi/ manye
clerely clerly
fals false
1905 knowe knovvru
70
NONE ARE FREE FROM CARE.
[BOOK 3.
[PBO8E3.
In your pros-
pi'i-ity \vere you
never annoyed
by some wrong or
grievance?
1910
B. I must confess
that I cannot
remember ever
being wholly free
from some trouble
or other.
P. That was be
cause something
was absent which
you did desire,
or something
present which
you would fain
be quit of.
B. That's quite
true.
P. Then you did
desire the pre
sence of the one
and the absence
of the other ?
B. I confess I did.
P. Every man is
in need of what
he desires.
B. Certainly he is.
P. If a man lack
anything can he
be supremely
happy ?
R. No.
P. Did you not
in your abund
ance want for
somewhat?
ft. What then if
I did?
P. It follows that
riches cannot put
a man beyond
all want, although
this was what
they seemed to
promise.
Money may part
company with its
owner, however
unwilling he may
be to lose it.
B. I confess
that's true.
P. It ought to be
confessed when
every day we see
might prevailing
over right.
From whence
springs so much
litigation, but
from this, that
men seek to re-
haboundauuces of rycchesses nat long agon. IF I axe
}if fat in fe haboundauiice of alle filk[e] rycchesses
fou were neuer anguissous or sory in J>i corage of any
wrong or greuau?*ce fat by-tidde Jje on any syde.
11 Certys quod I it remembref me nat fat euere I was
so free of my f ou^t. fat I ne was al-wey in anguyshe of
somwhat. fat was fat fou lakkedest fat fou noldest
han lakked. or ellys fou haddest fat fou noldest
han had. ry^t so is it quod I fan. desiredest fou
f e presence of fat oon and f e absence of fat of er. I
grannt[e] wel quod .1. for sof e quod she fan nedif fer
somwhat fat euery man desiref . 30 fer nedif quod I.
jf Certis quod she and he fat haf lakke or nede of a
wy^t nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self, no
quod .1. and fou quod she in alle fe plente of fi
rycchesse haddest filke lak of suffisaunce. If what
ellis quod .1. ^[ fanne may nat rycchesse maken fat a
man nis nedy. ne fat he be suffisaunt to hym self, and
fat was it fat fei byhy^ten as it semef. ^j and eke
certys I trowe fat f is be gretly to consydere fat moneye
ne haf nat in hys owen kynde fat it ne may ben by-
nomen of hem fat han it maugre hem. ^f I by-knowe
it wel quod I ^f whi sholdest fou nat by-knowen it
quod she. whan euery day f e strenger folkc by-nymen
it fram f e febler maugre hem. ^[ Fro whennes comen
ellys alle fise foreine compleintes or quereles of
pletywgMS. ^f But for fat men axen a^eine her moneye
fat haf be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle, and
alwey maugre hem. II Eyjt so it is quod I. fan quod
she haf a man nede to seke?i hym foreyne helpe by
whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nay
1908 )>iZ*M thy Ike
1913 \>at lakkedest And
was nat pat quod she for
pat the lacked som-what
1915 had MS. hadde, C. had
1917 graunt[e} frrauwte
1919 Xap MS. hape
a. wi/}t awht
li)Jl alle-ul
1922 rycchesse Eychesses
lak lakke
1923 rycchesse Rychesses
1927 ha\p MS. hape
owen owue
1930 stronger folke by -ny men
strengere folk by-ne-
myn
1931 fram fro
1931 febler febelere
Fro For
1933 a^eine ayeyn
1934 1ia\> MS. hape
be ben
1936 fejp^-MS. hape
helpe help
1937 saywy
BOOK 3.1
MET. 3. J
RICHES BRING ANXIETIES.
71
quod .1. IF Certis quod she and hym nedip no helpe
yif he ne hadde no moneye pat he my^t[e] leese. ^[ pat
is doutles quod .1. panne is pis piwg turned in to pe con-
trarie quod she IT For rycchesse pat men wenen sholde
make suffisaunce. pei maken a man raper han nede of
foreine helpe. ^f whiche is pe manere or pe gise quod
she pat rycches may diyuen awey nede. ^[ Riche folk
may pei neiper han hungre ne prest. pise ryche men
may pei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter. IT But
pou wilt answere pat ryche men han y-nou^ wher wip
pei may staunchen her hunger, and slaken her prest
and don awey colde. IT In pis wise may nede be con-
forted by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al
outerly be don awey. for pou} pis nede pat is alwey
gapyng and gredy be fulfilled wip rycchesses. and axe
any ping }it dwellep panne a nede pat my^tfe] ben ful
filled. IF I holde me stille and telle nat how pat litel
ping suffisep to nature, but certys to auarice ynou$ ne
suffisep no pinge. *1T For syn pat rychesse ne may nat
al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may
it panne be pat 36 wenen pat rychesses mowen ^euew
30 w suffisau?ice. 1959
QUAMUIS FLUENTER DIUES.
A 1 were it so pat a ryche couetous man hadde riuer
^* fletynge alle of golde 3itte sholde it neuer staunche
hys couetise. IT And pou} he hadde his nekke 1-charged
wip preciouse stones of pe rede see. and pou$ he do
erye his feldes plentiuows wip an hundrep oxen neuere
ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while he
cover their own
of which they
have been un
justly deprived ?
1940
B. Notliing is
more true.
P. Then a man
needs the assist
ance of others in
order to keep his
riches. If he had
no money to lose
he would not
stand in need of
this help ?
B. That is beyond
all doubt.
P. Then the very
reverse of what
was expected
(from riches)
takes place ? For
riches add to a
man's necessities.
Tell me how do
riches drive away
necessity? Are
not rich men liable
to hunger, thirst,
and cold ? You
will say that
the rich have
wherewithal to
satisfy these
wants. By riches
indigence may be
alleviated, but
they cannot sa
tisfy every want.
'[* fol. 17.]
Even if gaping
and greedy neces
sity be filled with
riches, yet some
cravings will re
main. A little
suffices for nature,
but avarice never
has enough.
If riches, then,
add to our wants,
why should you
think that they
can supply all
your necessities ?
[The S<><; Metur.]
The rich man,
had he a river of
gold, would never
rest content.
Though his neck
be loaded with
precious pearls,
and his fields be
covered with in-
1938 ned\\> no helpe nedede
non help
1939 my^t[_e] myhto
1940 doutles dowtelea
1941 rycchesse Rychesses
1943 helpe help
whiche whych
1944 rycches Rychesse
dryuen dryue
1946 hungre hungyr
\>rest thurst
1946 \>ei the
colde coold
in on
1947 wilt answere wolt
Answeren
y-nouy y-now
1948 frrest thurst
1949 colde coold
1950 nat omitted
1951 outerly vtrely
1953 myj^O] ben myhte be
1957 rychesse Ryehesses
1960 riuer a Ryuer
1961 alle al
golde pold
jitte yit
staunche staunchyn
1962, 1963 J>o3 thow
1964 erye Ere
hundre\> hundred
1965 while whyl
OF DIGNITIES.
THOOK 3.
Ll'KOSE 4.
numerable herds,
yet shall unquiet
care never forsake
him ; and at his
death his riches
ghall not bear
him company.
) Read dignitates.
[The 4"" 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
pelling vicious
habits, they only
render them more
conspicuous.
Hence arises the
indignation when
we see dignities
given to wicked
men.
Hence Catullus'
resentment
against Nonius,
whom ho calls
the botch, or im
post ume of the
Suite.
1980
The deformities
of wicked men
would be less
apparent if they
were in more ob
scure situations.
Would you free
yourself from
peril by accepting
a magistracy
along with De-
coratns a buffoon
and informer ?
1987
Honours do not
render undeserv
ing persons
worthy of esteem.
If you find a man
endowed with
wisdom you
lyuef. ne fe ly}t[e] rycliesses ne slial nat beren hym
compaignie whanne he is dede. 1967
SET DIGNITATIBP3. 1
T)vt dignitees to whom J>ei ben comen make fei hym
honorable and reuerent. han fei nat so grete strengf e
fat fei may putte vertues in fe hertis of folk. fat vsen
f e lordshipes of hem. or ellys may fei don awey fe
vices. Certys fei [ne] ben nat wont to don awey wik-
kednesses. but fei ben wont rafer to shew [en] wikked-
nesses. and f er of come]? it fat I haue ry^t grete des-
deyne. fat dignites ben ^euen ofte to wicked men.
IT For whiche f ing catullus clepid a consul of Rome fat
hy^t noniws postum. or boch. as who seif he clepif
hym a congregac^ouw of uices in his brest as a postum
is ful of corrupctoun. al were fis noniws set in a
chayere of dignitee. Sest f ou nat fan how gret vylenye
dignitees don to wikked men. ^[ Certys vnworf ines of
wikked men sholde ben f e lasse ysen yif f ei nere re-
nomed of none honours. ^[ Certys fou fi self ne
myjtest nat ben brou^t wif as many perils as fou
my^test suffren fat fou woldest bere f i magistrat wif
decorat. fat is to seyn. fat for no peril fat my^tfe] bi-
fallera f e by f e offence of f e kyng theodorik fou noldest
nat ben felawe in gouernaunce vfiih decorat. whanne
fou say[e] fat he had[de] wikkid corage of a likerous
shrewe and of an acusor. ft Ne I ne may nat for swiche
honours lugera hem worf i of reuerence fat I deme and
holde vnworf i to han f ilke same honours. If Now yif
fou saie a man fat were fulfilled of wisdom, certys fou
1966
shal shol
1967 dede ded
1968 make maken
1969 grete ret
1972 [ne] from C.
ben be
1972, 1973 wikkednesses
wykkydnesse
1973 to omitted
K hew^enl sh e wen
1971 comep comth
1974 grete desdeyne gret
desdaign
1976 whiche which
1977 hyit hyhte
nonius MS. vonnws, C.
.
boch MS. boj>e, C. boch
ciepip-|-clepvd
1979 nonius MS uonnws, C.
nomyrw
set MS. sette, C. set
1980 Sest \>ou Scstliow
19SO paw thanne
vylenye fylonye [ynesse
1981 vnwor\>ines vnworth-
1982 ben be
ysenM.S. ysenfi, C. I-sene
1984 many manye
1985 bere beren
1986 my$t[e'] mylite
1987 ]>e (2) omitted
1988 whanne whan
1989 /W0O1 saye
Uad[_de'] hadde
BOOK 3. -)
THOSE 4.J
DIGNITIES APPERTAIN TO VIRTUE.
73
ne myjtest nat demen fat he were vnworj>i to fe
honour, or ellys to f e wisdom of whiche he is fulfilled.
~No quod .1. ^[ Certys dignitees quod she appertienen
properly to vertue. and uertue transportef dignite anon
to filke man to whiche she hir self is conioigned.
Tf And for as moche as honours of poeple ne may nat
maken folk digne of honour, it is wel seyn clerly fat
f ei ne han no propre beaute of dignite. ^f And }ifc men
au^ten take more hede in f is. ^f For if it so be fat he
is most out cast fat most folk dispisen. or as diguite ne
may nat maken shrewes worf i of no reuerences. fan
makef dignites shrewes more dispised fan preised. f e
whiche shrewes dignit[e] schewef to moche folk IT and
for sof e nat vnpunissed. fat is forto sein. fat shrewes
reuengen hem a3einward vpon dignites. for f ei jelden
a3ein to dignites as gret gerdoura whan f ei byspotten
and defoulen dignites wif hire vylenie. IT And for as
moche as f ou mow[e] knowe fat f ilke verray reuerence
ne may nat comen by f e shadewy transitorie dignitees.
vndirstonde now fis. yif fat a man hadde vsed and
hadde many manere dignites of consules and were
corner perauenture amonges straunge nac/ouns. sholde
filke honour maken hym worshipful and redouted of
straunge folk ^[ Certys yif fat honour of poeple were
a naturel }ifte to dignites. it ne nry^te neuer cesen
nowher amonges no maner folke to done hys office.
^f Ryjt as fire in euery contre ne stintef nat to en-
chaufen and *to ben hote. but for as myche as forto
be holden honorable or reuerent ne comef nat to folk of
1934 demen deme
1995 whiche which
1996 quod she omitted
1997 vertue vertu
uertue vertu
1998 whiche whych
2000 clerly MS. clerkly, C.
clerly
2003 aurfen hede
owhten taken m or heed
2002-3 For dignite for
yif so be pat a wykkyd
whygbtbe so mochel the
fowlere and the inoorc
owt cast )>at he is de
spised of most folk so as
dignete
2004-2007 maken sope
maken shrewes digne of
Reuerence the whych
shrewes dignete sheweth
to moche foolk thanne
makith dignete shrewes
rather so moche more
despised than preysed
and forsothe
200S widen yildon
2'XK) byspotten by-spetten
deem him worthy
of respect and of
the wisdom which
he professes.
B. I could not do
otherwise.
P. Virtue has her
proper worth,
which she ever
transfers to her
votaries.
Honours confer
red by the popu
lace do not make
men worthy of
them, for they
have no intrinsic
merit to bestow.
Dignities con
ferred upon
shrews only
make their vices
the more con
spicuous.
Nor do dignities
themselves escape
without injury ;
for worthless men
take their revenge
upon them, and
defile them by
their contagious
villanies.
2009
These shadowy
honours have
nothing in their
nature to procure
respect ; for if a
man, having
borne the honours
of the consulate,
should go amorv.r
barbarians would
this honour gain
him their respect?
2016
If respect were an
attribute of
honour it would
infallibly bring
esteem every
where, just as
heat is ever an
attnbute of fire.
[* fol. 176.]
Honours arise
from the false
2010 hire hyr
2011 moche mochel
mow[e} mowe
2012 pe shadewy thyso
shad wye
2013 vndirstonde vndyr-
pis thus [stond
2014 liadde had
2018 lifte yift
2019 folke foolk
done don
2020 enchaufen oschaufun
2021
2022 be bt-n
74
DIGNITIES DO CONFER ESTEEM.
TROOK 3.
[MET. 4.
hir propre strengfe of natwe. but only of fe fals[e]
opinioure of folk, fat is to sein. fat wenen fat dignites
maken folk digne of honour. An on f erfore whan fat
fei comen fer as folk ne knowera nat filke dignites.
her honours vanissen awey and fat on oon. but fat is
a-mong straung folk, maist fou sein. but amowgw*
hem fat fei wereu born duren f ilk[e] dignites alwey.
T[ Certys f e dignite of f e prouostrie of Eome was som
tyme a grete power, now is it no f ing 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 f ing is more
nowe out cast fanne filke 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. ^[ 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. IT 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 ofer. 2047
QUAJtfUIS 8E TIRIO.
[The 4"> Metur.]
Nero, though in- A 1 be it so bat be proude nero wib al his woode luxune
fftotar\ ,, itli tl,.i ' 1
** kembed hym and apparailed hym wif faire purpers
of Tirie and wif white perles. Algates }itte throf he
opinions of men,
ami vanish when
they come among
those who do not
esteem them, that
is, among foreign
nations.
2027
Do they always
endure in those
places that gave
birth to them ?
The Prtetorate
was once a great
honour, but now
it is only an
empty name and
a heavy expense.
What is more
vile than the
office of the
Buperintendency
of provisions ?
That which hath
no innate beauty
must lose its
splendour or
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
lustre by the
change of times,
if they become
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 ?
vested with the
purple and
adorned with
2023 /ofcM false
2024 hat (2) omitted
2027 her hyr
vanissen vanesshp7i
2028 a-mong amonges
straung straunge
but ne
2029 \>at thor
duren \>ilk[e] ne duren
nat thylke
2<>30 somtyme whylom
2031 grete gret
2032 \>e (2) omitted
2033 somtyme whylom
\>e MS. pe pe
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
MS. hape
2042 fi!\>e felthe
2043 \>at omitted
2046 a3<e owhte
none non
2047 \>ei MS. je, C. they
none non
2048 al (2) alle
2049 kembed kembde
apparailed MS. apparai}
en, C. a-paraylede
2050 y,tte yit
BOOK 3. 1
PKOSK 5 J
KINGDOMS DO NOT MAKE A MAN MIGHTY.
75
hateful to alle folk ^T bis is to seyn Jjat al was he by- 2051
hated of alle folk. H aitte bis wicked Nero hadde gret Yet he had lord
ship, and gave to
lordship and mf somtyme to be dredeful senatours be the senators the
" dishonoured seats
vnworshipful setes of dignites. IT vnworshipful setes who g then'can
,,., , r -i -i j * i. think that felicity
he clepib here tore bat JNero bat was so wikked 2ai bo resides in honours
* given by vicious
dignites. who wolde banne resonably wenen bat blysful- shrews ?
nesse were in swiche honours as hen $euen by vicious 2057
shrewes.
AN UERO REGNA.
[The 5"" prose.]
B
vt regnes and familarites of kynges may bei maken a f nd D a fam
to ben my^ty. how ellys. ^f whanne hir makVaman
blysfulnesse dureb perpetuely but certys be olde age of B. why should
J J J * they not if they
tyme passeb. and eke of present tyme now is ful of en- ar e durable?
P. Past ages, as
saumples how bat kynges bat han chaunged in to ^'t 'furnfsS'us
wrechednesse out of hir welefulnesse. ^[ a noble bing ampiw o^rfnces
, , ,. , . , , who have met
and a cler ping is power bat is nat tounden myjty to with dismal re
verses of fortune.
kepe it self. ^[ And yif bat power of realmes be auctour 'j 16 " how nobl e
and glorious a
and maker of blisfulnesse. yif bilke power lakkeb on that g is ls t<S) weak
any side, amenusib it nat bilke blisfulnesse and bryngeb ir domfnion' 186
in wrechednesse. but yif al be it so bat realmes of man- then 8 misery w'm
follow if it be de-
kynde stretchen broode. jit mot ber nede ben niyche Active.
But human rule
folk ouer whiche bat euery kyng ne hab no lordshipe ii^fore whe'r-
ne comaundement ^[ and certys vpon bilke syde bat there P impotem-<? s
power failleb whiche bat makib folk blisful. ry^t on bat mise"^' aio'nl"' 8
same side nouwpower entrib vndirneb bat makeb hem 2074
wreches. 1F In bis manere banne moten kynges han Kings, therefore,
have a larger por-
more porciouw of wrechednesse ban of welefulnesse. timn'ofTeiicify.
^[ A tyraunt bat was kyng of sisile bat had [del assaied Dionysiusof
Sicily, conscious
be peril of his estat shewidjel by similitude be dredes of this condition,
exhibited the
of realmes by gastnesse of a swerde bat heng ouer be
heued of his familier. what bing is ban bis power bat
d h f anging ed
2053 lordship lorshippe
)af somtyme yaf why lorn
a redefuf reue renc 3
20.">5 fore for ; ja/ yaf
2060 myity MS. vnmyjty,
C. myhty
ZM'l 7jrt,<ep-^-pnssed
of [2; omitted
2063 kynges }>at Iwtn
kynges ben
2066 kepe kepen
2067 maker tnakere
2069 //-yit
realmes the Beaumes
2070 stretchen strechchen
myche moche
2071 ha\> MS. ha)>e
2073 whiche whych
2074 vndirne\> vndyr-iicthc
2077 /wd[de] hadde
2078 shewid[e~\ shewedo
2079 realmes Beaumes
swerde swprd
fang MS. henge, C. hung
POWER DOES NOT DRIVE AWAY CARE.
THOOK .1.
L.PBO8E 5.
over the head of
his friend and
flatterer Damo
cles. What ihen
is this thing called
t fol. 18.}
Power, which
cannot do away
with care or fear ?
Men would live in
security but can
not, and yet they
glory in their
power. Is he
powerful who can
not do what he
wishes ? 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 numerous
retinue ? Why
need I enlarge
upon the favour
ites of princes
having thus dis
played the imbe
cility of kings !
Their prosperity
is affected by the
caprice of their
fortunate masters
as well as by the
adversity to which
2098
they are incident.
Nero only allowed
his master Seneca
to choose the man
ner of his death.
Antonius (Cara-
calla) commanded
Papinian to be
slain by the swords
of his soldiers. Yet
both would have
given up all they
possessed. Seneca
begged for poverty
and exile. But re
lentless fortune
precipitated them
to destruction,
and did not permit
them to choose
their fate. What
then is Power,
which terrifies its
possessors, and
which cannot be
got rid of at
pleasure? No ad
vantage is to be
gained by friend-
2081 besines bysynesse
2083 } yif
gloriflen glory fye
2084 bi/A:[e] thylke
2087 ftab MS. habe
environed enuyrownede
2088 [hem\ from C.
2089 ben than
2091 [or] from C
2092 realmes Reauu-s
may nat don awey f e bytynges of besines ne eschewe
f e prikkes of drede. and certys jit wolden fei lyuen
*in sykernesse. but fei may nat. and jit fei glorifien
hem in her power ^[ Holdest )>ou fan fat f ilk[e] man
be myjty fat f ou seest fat he wolde don fat he may
nat don. ^[ And boldest f ou fan hym a myjty man
fat haf environed hise sydes wif men of armes or
serua antes and dredef more [hem] fat he makef agast.
fen f ei dreden hym. and fat is put in f e handes of hise
seruauntj. for he sholde seme myjty but of familiers
[or] seruauntj of kynges. IT what sholde I telle f e
any f ing. syn fat I my self haue shewed f e fat realmes
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 adouw. *H Nero constreinedFe]
his familier and his maistre seneca to chesen on what
deef he wolde deien. 1T Antonius comauwdid[e] fat
knyjtis slowen wif her swerdis Papinian his familier
whiche Papinian had[de] ben long tyme ful myjty
a-monges hem of f e courte. and jit certis f ei wolde bof e
ban renounced her power, of whiche [two] senek en
forced [e] hym to jiuen to Nero his rychesses. and also
to ban gon in to solitarie exil. ^[ But whan f e grete
weyjt. fat is to sein of lordes power or of fortune
drawef hem fat sholden falle. neyfer of hem ne
myjt[e] do fat he wolde. what fing is fanne f ilke
power fat f ouj men ban it fat f ei ben agast. IT and
whan f ou woldest ban it f ou nart nat siker. H And
yif f ou woldest forleten it f ou mayst nat eschewen it.
IT But whef ir swiche men ben frendes at nede as ben
conseiled by fortune and nat by vertue. Certys swiche
2093 feblenesse feblesse
2094 real- Ryal
2095 [.ofte] from C.
constreined[e\ cow-
2096 his (1) hyr [streynede
seneca Senek
2097 comaundid[e] com-
2098 her hyr [aumlede
2099 whiche which
had[de] ben long bat
hadde ben longe
2100 courte court
tcoMe wolden
2101 [two] from C.
enforced[e] en f orcede
2102 v '" '' yeuen
his hyse
2104 <oey\t weyhte
2105 sholden sholen
2106 mytf[e} myhtc
BOOK ?
MET. 5. PROSE 6.J
GLORY IS DECEPTIVE.
77
folk as weleful fortune makeb frendes. contrarious for
tune makeb hem enmyse. 11 And what pestilence is
more my^ty forto anoye a wijt ban a familier enemy.
w
QUI SE UALET 1 ESSE POTENTEM. L 1 Read volet]
ho so wolde ben my^ty he mot dauwten hys cruel
turn this sort of
friendship into
enmity. And
what greater
plague can there
be than the
enmity of thy
familiar friend ?
[The 5"" letr.J
He who would
corage. ne put[te] nat his nekke ouercomen vndir obtain sovereign
power must ob-
be foule reines of lecherie. for al be it so bat bi lord- tain Conquest
over himselt, and
ship[e] strecche so fer bat be contre Inde quakib at bi passion 1 ^, though
, . , , i your dominion ex-
comaundement. or at bi lawes. and bat be leest isle in tended from India
to Thule, yet if
be see bat hy^t tile be bral to be ^f ^it yif bou mayst tuouart tor-
nat puten awey bi foule derk[e] desijres and dryue?< thou hast no real
power.
oute fro be wreched corapleyntes.
power bat bou hast.
Certis it nis no
2123
B
GLORIA UERO QUAAf FALLAX.
[The Ctb prose. 1
vt glorie how deceiuable and how foule is it ofte. for Ho . w , d f Cept ^ e
and deformed a
whiche bing nat vnskilfully a tregedien bat is to
' ar
sein a maker of dites bat hy^ten tregedies cried[e] and ciahn- ' a
seide. IT glorie glorie quod he. bou nart no bing m-poi<n ty
ppoTiav, ovdt-v
ellys to bousandes of folkes. but a gret sweller of eres. I^aaf 'u^L,
for manyfel han had ful gret renouw by be falsfel op- serving have been
J L J L J crowned with
pinioure of poeple. and what bing may ben bou3t fouler y Zpuu; r r anu Wn
ben swiche preisynge for bilk[e] folk bat be/2 pmsed whafcan"i>e 0n '
. . more infamous
ialsly. bei moten nedes han shame ot hir preisynges. than renoun
founded on the
and yif bat folk han getew hem bank or preysyng by prejudices of the
her desertes. what bing hab bilk pris echid or en- und^ed?/ 6
j,, . j? f M \_ i_- praised ought to
cresed to be conscience ot wise folk bat mesure/z hire blush for shame.
If a wise man
good, not by be rumowr of be poeple. but by be sobe- sets well-merited
J ' * praise it does not
fastnesse of conscience, and yif it seme a fair bing a Jyf c {;Jl bi8
man to han encresid and sprad his name, ban folweb
2115 wolde ben wole be
2116 put[.te] putte
2117 lordship[e~\ lordshype
2119 comaundement co-
manndementj
leest isle last lie
2120 hytf hyhte
2121 /in/,-, i putten
derk[e]-~ ilyrke
2122 oute owt
2124 foule fowl
2125 whiche whyeh
2126 maker makere
cried[e\ cryde
2127 he she
2128 sweller swellere
2129 many'ie] tnanye
had MS. hadde, 0. had
2129 fals[e} false
2130 fouler fowlere
2131 ben thanne
2133 or of
2134 ftap MS. hape
bilk thylke
78 GENTILITY IS FOREIGN TO RENOWN.
one's it. bat it is demed to ben a foule binge yif it ne be
fame, it must be
dishonourable not ygprad ne cncresed. but as I seide a litel her byforne.
to do so. J * J
fannofpenet^e 6 Jt syn per mot nedes ben many folk to whiche folk be
everywhere, and /> -i i n 11 . t i i
the most iiius- renouw oi a man ne may nat comen. it byialleb bat he
trious names
must be unknown bat bou wenest be glorious and renomed. semib in be
to the greatest *
part of the world. ne xte parties of be erbe to ben wib out glorie. and wib
The fa *".g f out renoim. IT and certis amonges bise binges I ne trowe
asm8 b geidom e nat bat be pris and grace of be poeple nis neiber worbi
[.>.] *to ben remembrid ne comep of wise iugement. ne is
never permanent.
HOW empty and ferm pe?'durably. IT But now of bis name of gentilesse.
transitory are .... , 7
titles of nobility! what man is it bat ne may wel seen how veyne and
2150 h w flittyng a bing it is. ^f For if be name of gentil-
esse ^ e referred to renoim and clernesse of linage, ban
renown, and to . ,., , , __. . ...
those who boast is gentil name but a ior|_ejme ping, bat is to sem to
of noble birth.
Nobility is fame hem pat glonfien hem of hir linage. If For it semeb
derive'd from the
merits of one's bat gentilesse be a maner preysynge bat comep of decert
if praise can give of auncestres. IT And yif preysynge makeb gentilesse
nobility they are . j i .M" \ , > 3 tt
noble who are ban moten bei nedes be gentil bat ben preysed. .bor
praised.
Then if thon hast whiche bing it folweb. bat yif bou ne haue no gentilesse
no nobility of thy * ' J
not n derWea^y St ^ P 1 Se ^' P a ^ ^ S * Se ^ n P" 8 P^ come P of pi deserte
th^me'r^ts of" 1 foreine gentilesse ne makep pe nat gentil. 1T But certis
it there be any yif per be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be in al
good in nobleness ,
of birth, it con- oonly bis. bat it semeb as bat a maner necessitee be im-
sists alone in this,
obHgatioTupon an posed to gentil men. for bat bei ne sholden nat outraien
to^g^nerate n or forliuen fro be uertues of hire noble kynrede. 2163
from the virtues
of their ancestors.
OMNE HOMINUJf GENUS IN TERRIS.
[The e* Metre.]
samTorMn the A ^ P e li na g e f men P a ^ ^ e n in erpe ben of semblable
Sther h a a ndo"e burpe. On al one is fadir of binges. On alone
whcf'gave the minystMeb alle binges. IT He 2af to be sonne hys
moon her horns,
and adorned the "bemes. he saf to be moone hir homes, he aaf be men to
sun with his rays.
ui h e e earth e to*man p e eT ]> e - ne 3 a f P e sterres to pe heucne. 11 he enclosep
2139 foule fringe fowl thing
2140 ne and
byforne-^- byforn
214* parties partye
er\>e Erthes
out owte
2145 out owhte
2148 ferm ferme I 2160 goode good
2149 veyne veyn
2150 if yif
2154 comeb of comth of the
2157 whiclte which
2158 pris preys
comefr comth
in (2) omitted
2161 manei manere
2166 hys \\yse
2167 hir hyse
PROSE\] SENSUAL PLEASURES FULL OF ANXIETY. 79
wib membres be soules bat coraen fro hys heye sete. and adorned the
sky with stars.
1T banne comen aUe mortal folk of noble seed, whi San the'breU'hof
noysen je or bosten of soure eldris IT For yif bou Aii'men spring
, from this illustri-
look[e] ^oure bygywnywg. and god ^oure auctowr ana ous source.
3<nire 'makere. ban is ber no forlyued wy$t but }if he ^ > e as a t 1 ^f gree?
norisse his corage vnto -vices and forlete his prcpre ^" t b t o^eeand"
o l n K. forgets his noble
burbe. ^1<0 origin.
QUID AUTEM DE CORPORIBUS. 1
[The 7 the prose.]
But what shal I seie of delices of body, of whic[h]e But what shall i
. say with respect
delices be desiringes ben ful of anguisse. and be to sensual piea-
T sures, the de-
fulfillinges of he??z ben ful of penaunce. IT How grete f^f^i^iy S
sekenesse and how grete sorwes vnsuffrable ry$t as a ^nt^S" MI
manere fruit of wickednesse ben bilke delices wont to whatdiseases
and intolerable
brvngen to be bofdlies of folk bat vsen hem. If Of pains (the merited
J ' fruits of vice) are
whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir JJ5Sbg
moeuyng. ^f But bis woot I wel bat who so euere wil "njoy themT
remembreu hym of hys luxuries, he shal wel vndir- see what joy is to
be found in the
stonde. bat be issues of delices ben sorowful and sory. gratification of
IT And yif Jilke delices mowen make folk blisful. ban or'criS'in- 1106
. , , , j-LTj'i dulgence brings
l>y be same cause inoten bise bestes ben clepid blisful. with it bitter
remorse.
1T Of whiche bestes al be entencioun hasteb to fulfille if such things
make men happy,
hire bodyly iolyte. and be gladnesse of wijf [and] StSn"^^,
children were [an] honest bing. but it hab ben seid. sunot'theyl're 1 ""
urged to satisfy
pat it is ouer myche ajems kynde bat children han ben their bodily de-
fouwden tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. a l r ^ 1 i do a Sot chil "
IT Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condict'oura. "\^ fo r n 8 omt p "
It nedeb nat to tellen it be bat hast or bis tyme assaied mentors in their
own offspring.
it. and art Jit now anguyssows. In bis approue I be i approve of thu
opinion of Euri-
sentence of my disciple Euridippus. fat seide bat he ^hoVcMidiew
bat haf no children is weleful by iwfortune. 2197 m isfo p r p t une. hU
2169 fro hys fram hyse
2170 seed sede
2171 bosten^- MS. voscen, C.
bosten
2172 looklej loke
2173 is nis
2176 delices delites
body bodye
2177 anguisse Angwyssh ...., _
2178 grete gret I 2186 make makyu
2179 sekenesse sykenesse
grete sorwes gret soruwes
2180 fruit frut
2182 had MS. hadde, C.
had
2183 wil wole
2184 Ays hyse
2185 sorowful sorwful
snry sorye
2189 [awd] from C.
2190 [an] from C.
ha}> MS. ha)>e
seid MS. seide, C. seyd
2191 myche mochel
2192 many manye
2196 Euridippus Eury-
J -'ppys ; read Euripides
2197 ha\> MS. haj>e
80 NO HAPPINESS IN EXTERNAL THINGS. [METVJ?' PROSE S
HABET HOC UOLUPTAS.
[The 7< Metur.]
Pleasure leaves a finery delit hab bis. bat it anguisseb hem wib prikkes
pain behind it.
2199 bat vsen it. 1F It resemblij) to bise flying flyes )>at
The bee gives us we clepen been, bat aftre bat be bee hab shed hys agre-
agreeable honey,
andi^'uicki 1 /"' a ^ e non i es ^ e ^ ee ]p awey and styngeb be hertes of he?.
SftehlSi"' fat ben ysmyte wib bytynge ouer longe holdynge. 2202
NICHIL IGITUR DUBIUM EST.
[The 8'he prose.] AT . . . ,
it appears then \jow ms it no doute ban bat bise weyes ne ben a
that happiness is \
not to be found in -*-' maner mysledyng to blisfulnesse. ne bat bei ne
the above-men-
twngs external mowe nat leden folke bider as bei byheten to ledew
r* foi. 19.] hem. IF But wib how grete harmes bise *forseide weyes
These false ways
wuh p n^ny evils, ten enlaced. IF I shal shewe be shortly. IF For whi
sentiy'showThee. yif fou enforccst be to assemble moneye. J?ou most by-
Do you want to
amass wealth, reuen hym his moneye bat hab it. and yil bou wilt
then you must
^"h'bo 1 " y ur sn y nen w i)> dignites. bou most bysechen and supplien
f l^i 9 then e hem bat 3 iue fo dignitees. 1F And yif bou coueitest
fhenTalid dif- or by honour to gon by-fore ober folk bou shalt defoule bi
grace yourself by
a humiliating se lf by hujwblesse of axing, yif bou desiryst power.
supplication.
amWHon''?'" f 011 shalt by awaites of bi subgit^ anoyously be cast
the8n e a?es l of elft vndir many periles. axest bou glorie bou shalt ben so
Do e you r ask for destrat by aspre binges bat bou shalt forgone syker-
glory, to be dis
tracted by vexa- nesse. IF And yif bou wilt leden bi liif in delices.
tions and so lose
i)o s rou r prefer a euery whi 3 t shal dispisen be and forleten be as bou bat
voluptuous life ? i^,- j.- J.J?T 7i_j.i,j.-riT
Think then that art bral to bing bat is ryjt toule and brutel. bat is to
all men will de
spise him who is se i n seruauTzt to bi body. IF Now is it ban wel vseen
a thrall to his
They build upon how lytel and how brutel possessions bei coueiten bat
th^t a pilce" da " putten be goodes of be body abouen hire owe?i resouw.
bodily delights . ... _ .
above their own ^F For mayst bou sourmoimten bise oliluntj in gretnesse
tif" T ou h 8U1 7 ) . as8 or wey 3 t of body. Or mayst bou ben strenger ban be
I ) n ul sb-e n r g t th e ? bu11 bole. Mayst bou ben swifter ban be tigre. biholde be
2198 Euery MS. Query, C. ' 2209 wilt wolt
Every I 2211 }iuen yeuen
2198, 2200 ha}> MS.hape | 2212 gon^- MS. gone, C. gon
shed hys shad hyse by-fore byforn
2203 nix is shalt shal
2204 mysledyng mysled-
ynges
2205 folke folk
2208 enforcest MS. en
forced, C. enforces!
^>M l,\>~ MS. hape
2213 by thorw
2214 by be
be ben
2216 destrat MS. destralle,
C. destrat
forgo ne forgoon
2217 wilt wolt
2218 whiyt wyht
2219 foute fowl
[to] from C.
2220 yseen seen
2221 brutel brotel
2222 owen owne
2224 wey^t weyhty
strenger strengcTfl
2225 swifter swyt'tore
biholde by-hold
BOOK :i.
MKT. .
MEN AUE LED ASTRAY BY IGNORANCE.
81
spaces and fe stablenesse and fe swyfte cours of fe
heuene. and stynte somtyme to wondren on foule
f inges. f e whiche heuene certys nis nat raj>er for f ise
finges to ben wondred vpon. fan for fe rescue by
whiche it is gouerned. but f e shynynge of f i forme fat
is to seien ]>e beaute of f i body, how swiftly passyng is
it and how transitorie. 1F Certis it is more flittynge
fan f e mutabilite of floures of f e somer sesou?z. For so
as aristotil tellef fat yif fat men hadden eyen of a
beest fat hi^t lynx, so fat f e lokyng of folk my^t[e]
percen f oni} f e f inges fat wif stonden it. who so lokid
fan in f e entrailes of fe body of alcibiades fat was
fill fayr in f e superfice wif oute. it shulde seme ryjt
foule. and fob fi yif f ou semest faire. fi nature ne
makif nat fat. but fe desceiuaunce of fe fieblesse of fe
eyen fat loken. 1T But preise f e goodes of f i body as
moche as euer fe list, so fat fou know[e] algates fat
what so it be. fat is to seyii of f e goodes of f i body
whiche fat fou wondrest vpon may ben destroied or
dessolued by f e hete of a feuere of f re dayes. 1T Of
alle whiche forseide finges I may reducen f is shortly in
a somme. IT fat fise worldly goodes whiche fat ne
mowen nat ^iuen fat fei byheten. ne ben nat pe?'fit by
fe congregactouw of alle goodes. fat fei ne ben nat
weyes ne pafes fat bryngen men to blysfulnesse ne
maken men to ben blysful. 2251
Art thou swifter
than the tiger?
Behold the im
mense extent of
the heavens and
cease to admire
vile or lesser
things.
Admire what is
still more admir
able, the consum
mate wisdom that
governs them.
How fleeting is
beauty !
It fades sooner
than the vernal
flowers.
For, as Aristotle
says, if a man
were lynx-eyed
and could look
into the entrails
of Alcibiades (so
fair outwardly)
he would find all
foul and loath
some.
2238
Thy nature does
not make tliee
seem beautiful,
but the imperfect
view of thy ad
mirers.
Prize bodily
perfections as
much as you will,
yet a three days'
fever will de
stroy them.
2246
Worldly goods do
not give what
they promise, do
not' comprise
every good, are
not the paths to
felicity, nor can
of themselves
make any one
happy.
HEU
MISEROS TRAMITE.
[The 8" Metw.]
A lias whiche folie and whiche ignoraunce mysledib Alas < how
f\ r through folly and
x wandryng wrecches fro fe pafe of verrey good. ^"J-"^^ 6 "
II Certis $e ne seken no golde in grene trees, ne je ne
2227 stynte stynt
2228 whiche whych
2230 whiche wych
2231 seien seyn
2234 as omitted
2235 hirf hyhte
y5<[e] myhte
2237 alcibiades MS. alcidi-
2238 fayr fayre [ades
2238 pe omitted
shulde sholde
2239 foule fowl
faire fayr
ne omitted
22 V) desceinawnce of \>e
fieblesse deceyuable or
the feblesse
2242 moche mochel
6
2242 knotote] knowe
2243 be omitted
pi tody whiche the body
whych
2247 a omitted
2252 whiche (both) whych
2253 j>a\pe paath
good -Roode
2254 golde gold
MEN PURSUE FALSE JOYS.
TBOOK 3.
Ll'KOSL 9.
Ye do not seek
gold upon trees
nor diamonds
from the vine.
Ye lay not your
nets to catch fish
upon the lofty
hills.
The hunter goes
not to the Tyr
rhene waters to
hunt the roe.
Men know where
to look for white
pearls, and for the
fish that yields the
purple dye.
2263
They know where
the 'most delicate
of the finny race
abound and where
the fierce sea-urch
in is to be found.
But where the
Sovereign Good
abides blinded
mortals never
know, but plunge
into the earth
below to look for
that which has its
dwelling in the
heavens.
[* fol. 19 &.]
What doom do the
silly race deserve ?
May they pursue
such false joys,
and having ob
tained them, too
late find out the
value of the true.
gadren [nat] precious stones in fe vines, ne 36 ne
hiden nat ^oure gynnes in hey3e mountaignes to kachen
fisslie of whiche 30 may maken ryche festes. and yif
}ow lykef to hunte to roos. ^e ne gon nat to f e foordes
of f e water fat hy^t tyrene. and ouer f is men knowen
wel f e crikes and f e cauemes of f e see yhidd in f e
floodes. and knowen eke whiche water is most plentiuows
of white perles. and knowen whiche water habundef
most of rede purpre. fat is to seyen of a maner shel-
fisshe vrith whiche men dien purpre. and knowen
whiche strondes haboundeu. most of tendre fisshes or
of sharpe fisshes J>at hy^ten echynnys. but folk suffren
hem self to ben so blynde fat hem ne recchif nat to
knowe where f ilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche fat fei
coueiten but ploungen hem in erfe and seken fere
f ilke goode fat sowmountef fe heuene fat beref f e
sterres. IT what *preyere may I make fat be digne to
f e nice f ou^tis of men. but I preje fat f ei coueitew
rycches and hono?/rs so fat whan fei han geten fo
false goodes wif greet trauayle fat ferby fei mowe
knowen fe verray goodes. 2275
[The 9" prose.]
P. I have been
describing the
form of counter
feit happiness, and
if you have con
sidered it at
tentively I shall
proceed to give
you a perfect view
of the true.
B. I now see that
there is no suffi-
ciencyin riches.no
power in royalty,
no esteem in
dignities, nor
nobility in re-
2256 liey>,e the hyye
kachen kachche
2257 fisslie fyssh
2258 hunte honte
roos Rooes
2259 hyit hyhte
2260 crikes brykes
yhidd MS. yhidde, C. I-
hyd
2261, 2262 whiche whych
HACTENUS MENDACIS FORMAJf.
TT suinsif fat I haue shewed hider to fe forme of
* false wilfulnesse. so fat yif fou look[e] now clerely
f e ordre of myn entenc?!ouw requerif from hennes forf e
to shewera f e verray wilfulnesse. IF For quod . I. (b) [I.]
se wel now fat suffisaunce may nat comen by richesse. ne
power by realmes. ne reuerence by dignitees. ne gentil-
esse by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast fou wel
knowen quod she f e cause whi it is. Certis me semef
2263 shelflsshe shelle fysh
2264, 2265 whiche whych
2264 dien deyen
2265 of with
2266 echynnys "MS. eth-
ynnys, C. Echynnys
2268 yhidd MS. yhidde, C.
I-hydd
2270 goode (rood
i 2271 make maken
2273 rycches Rychesse
2277 wilfulnesse weleful-
nesse
look[e] loke
clerely plerly [nesse
2279 wilfulnesse weleful-
For For-sothe
[/.] from C.
I 2280 richesse Rychesses
i 2281 realmes Reames
nio*E\] THE INSUFFICIENCY OP WORLDLY BLISS. 83
qtiod .1. bat .1. se hem ryjt as bou3 it were boru} a litel "! p?eiwures
clifte. but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of gHmp^ofthe
~ , i -I i *r T< cause of all this,
be. Certys quod she be resourc is al redy Tl or but i should like
a more distinct
bilk bing bat symply is on bin" wib outen ony view - . p - T . he
J r J J cause ig obvious
diuisioura. be errour and folie of mankynde departeb [y r nature o!te h an<i
7T-J-. , j i j*i -A 7^ i j> indivisible human
and diuidib it. and misledib it and transporteb from ignorance separ-
n, i j . , i f i ates and divides,
verray aa pe?iit goode. to goodes bat ben false and and reverses the
J true order of
inpe/*fit. IT But seye me bis. wenest bou bat lie bat hab things. Does that
* state which needs
nede of power bat hym ne lakkeb no bing. Nay quod SS%^ P ta
.1 IT Certis quod she bou seist ary^t. For yif so be no. V^ightT
. That which wants
bat ber is a bins bat in any partie be neble of power, power needs ex-
J t ternal aid. B. That
Certis as in bat it mostfel nedes be nedy of foreine >? true ! , p Suffi -
ciency and power
helpe. IT Ri ? t so it is quod J. Suffisaunce and power SStei?Alt
i. /> ijrci !. 7TrAi seems so indeed.
ben ban 01 on kynde Tl bo semeb it quod I. If And 9297
demyst bou qwod she bat a bing bat is of bis nianere. ^. Are power and
' f i sufficiency to be
bat is to seine suffisaunt and my^ty au}t[e] to ben dis- fhey l not ratiw
pised. or ellys bat it be ry^t digne of reuerences abouen vTrsa/respect?
alle binges. IT Certys quod I it nys no doute bat it doubtless highly
estimable. P. Add
nis ry^t worbi to ben reuerenced. ^f Lat vs qiiod she ban cfe n ^ ct an d 8U *r er
adden reuerence to suffisaunce and to power IT So bat three a8 S one r and
, . . , ,, . mr r> i- the same thing.
we demen bat bise bre binges ben alle o bing. 11 Certis B.I see no objec
tion to that view.
quod I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten be sobe. P. But can that be
* obscure and ig-
what demest bou ban quod she is bat a dirke bing and ",^ Three Ju^i
nat noble bat is suffisaurct reuerent and my^ty. or ellys """^"b^and ' l
bat is ry^t clere and ryjt noble of celebrete of renouw. ing reputation ?
H! who is most
^[ Considere ban qtiod she as we han grauntid her by- powerful and
worthy of renown
forne. bat he bat ne hab ne[de] of no bing and is most "hicJThS"^ 6
my^ty and most digne of hono?<r yif hym nedib any
, i'ii i j.r-ij_ feet) seem in some
clernesse of renoim whiche clernesse he mtLe] nat measure more
eak and abject.
graunten of hym self. ^[ So bat for lakke of bilke He that is suffi
ciently mighty
clerenesse he my^tfe] seme febler on any syde or be n ^/ n ^ c e s e a d ri ' y i1
2287 pajfc thylke
on o
2290 goode good
2291 seyesey
ftap-MS. hape
2294 fieble feblere
2295 mostte] mot
2296 helpe help
2297 on o
2298 demyst \>ou demesthow 2308 of celebrete by ccle-
2299 seine seyn , bryte
aw3<[e] owhte 2310 ha\> MS. hape
2300 reuerences Reuerence 2312 whiche whych
2302 nig ry^tis ryht myrtle] myhte
2304 alle al 2314 clerenesse clernossj
2305 willen wolen ty;<[e] myhte
2306 dirke dyrk ,' febler the febelere
2308 clere cler
THE UNITY OF TRUE FELICITY.
FBOOK 3.
LP&O&E a.
an illusions more outcaste. Glosa. bis is to seyne nay. IF For who
name. B. 1 can- J J
reputSn'se'ems so ba ^ ^ s suffisauwt my^ty and rcuerent. clernesse of
inseparable from /., e- * r> i , TI.-.II n
theadvantases reiiouw. lolwef ol fe lorseide fmges. he haf it alredy of
you have just
mention*!. hys suffisaunce. boice. I may nat quod I denye it.
P. Therefore J J
,rw n i^fr,,m ^ But ! mot graunten as it is. fat fis fing be ryjt
2320 celebrable by clernesse of renou?* and noblesse. IF ban
the three above-
respect
*ut7onver hl a 8 ree-
b 'i can notion - t? fi n g
eive how such a ;
bitesniHpin fl vve ) ) ^ quod she bat we adden clernesse of renoun to
iTe'ed'ofnoexterna! f o f re forseide f inges. so bat f er ne be amonges hem
aid, can have all he ,
wants, and is nius- no difference. and bis is a consequente quod .1. bis
trious and respect-
o lP &n ^.uod she fat ne ha]> no nede of no foreine
fat may don alle binges by his strengbes.
.
one can have grief and bat is noble and honoz<rable. ms nat bat a myrie
or trouble. P. It
Mat 8 e t on?a) b in a s ^ n S an ^ a WJfaH- ^>olc,e. but wenest quod I J?at any
iifflrmtnat^uffl" sorow my3t[e] comen to bis jnng bat is swiche. IT Certys
n'obnft'y.'dTffer I may nat binke. P. IF banne moten we grauntfel quod
only in name, but
2330 she bat )>is fing be ful of gladnesse yif J?e forseide binges
not in substance, i \
ji. it i a neces- be sojje. 11 And also certys mote we graunten. ]>at
sary consequence. , , ,
p. The depravity sumsaunce power noblesse reuerence and gladnesse ben
of mankind then
divides that which only dyuerse bynames, but hir substaunce hab no
is essentially in- J J J
wkfi'(&r"Jprt diuersite. Boice. It mot nedely be so quod .1. P. Jjilke
of that which has , , Jt,i.i- j i i_
noparts,theymiss binge ban quod she j?at is oon and simple in his nature.
the entire thing -111 i i-, , *T T, ,
[*foi. 20.] be wikkednesse ol men departib it *dmidib it. and
which they so '
much desire. whan jjei enforcen hem to gete partie of a bing J?at ne
2338 hab no part, bei ne geten hem neijjer bilk[e] partie fat
B. HOW is that? nis none, ne be bing al hole bat bei ne desire nat. .b.
r. He that geeks
av 3 oSdrpo"erty'i8 ^ n wn iche manere quod .1. p. J>ilke man quod she bat
"bout power* he sekeb rychesse to fleen pouerte. he ne trauaylej) hym
l)refers meanness
and obscurity, and nat to for to gete power for he nab leuer ben dirk and
denies himself
from hym selfe many naturel
for he nolde lesen be moneye fat he haf as-
2315 seyne seyn
2317 hab MS. habe
2324 fojp MS. ha>e
2325 his hyse
2326 myrie mery
2327 wenest whennes
2328 sorow my)t\_e~\ sorwe
myhte
2329 graunt[e\ grauwte
2331 be ben
2331 also certys certes also
2333 fcap MS. habe
2334 nedely nedly
2335 fringe thing
2337 gete fceten
2338 ha\> MS. habe
bitaO] thilke
2339 none uou
hole hool
2340 whiche whych
2341 rychesse Rychesses
fleen MS. sleen, C. flen
2342 leuer leuer
2343 vile\yl
selfe sea
2344 delit^ delices
lesen lese
ha\> MS. habe
BOOK 3. 1
PROSE 9 J
OF FALSE FELICITY.
sembled. but certis in pis manere he ne getip hym nat ^ e w ^ i ] a pri* ke ,i
suffisaunce fat power forletip. and pat moleste prekep. nrtmAmvai
and bat filbe makeb outcaste. and bat derknesse hideb. by his sordid
ways, does not
and certis he bat desireb only power he wastib and possess sum-
* ciency. He who
scatrib rychesse and dispisep delices and eke hono?- ^ U ^ d r 8 s a [,[ 8 ower
,,-. i i. i i_- riches, and
pat is wip out power, ne he ne p?-eisep glorie no ping. despises delight*
., and honours unac-
II Ccrtys bus seest bou wel bat many bingus iailen to companiedby
power. Such a one
hym. for he hap somtyme faute of many necessites. {^*"$!tj' e ,
and many anguysses biten hym 1T and whan he may n" t d g et h ridof e th1se
, j , i^-ij. i_ evils he ceases to
nat don bo deiautes awey. he iorletep to ben my^ty. have what he most
desired power.
and bat is be bing bat he most desireb. and ryat bus Jn the same way
J 7 * honour, glory,
may I make semblable resouns of honours and of glorie JSlm^rabieThe
T /> i i MT r\ f , r- i that seeks one
and oi delices. II .b or so as euery ot bise iorseide without the other
will fail to obtain
binges is be same bat bise ober binges ben. bat is to his desires.
B. What then if a
sein. al oon bing. who so pat euer sekep to geten bat ^gfrl
oon of bise and nat bat oj>er. he ne getejj nat fat he "^He
,., r> rij -x i* . then indeed
desire]). Boice. II what seist pou pan yii pat a man 2361
coueitep to geten alle pise pinges to gider. P. Certys
c\uod she .1. wolde seie pat he wolde geten hym soue- nnd^'in't^ac-'
. . quisitions above
reyne bhsfulnes. but bat shal he nat fvnde in bo binges mentioned, which
do not perform
bat .1. haue shewed bat ne mo we nat jeuen pat pei by- w ^^
heten. boice. Certys no quod .1. IT pan qitod she ne f; Then U hap V P i-
,,, . , ii_i^>i "ess is not to be
sholden men uat by no weye seken blysfulnesse in sought in these
things which are
swiche binges as men wenen bat bei ne mowe falsely supposed
capable of satisfy-
^euen but o bing senglely of alle pat men seken. I g I ^ n d fe ^g r i t sV
graunt[e] wel qwod .1. ue no sober bing ne may nat beln'OTe'trifiy 2 "
i r> r -NT t affirmed than this.
ben said. P. 11 Now hast bou ban quoa she be forme Tum your mind's
eye upon the
and be causes of false welefuluesse. 1T Now turne and reverse of an tins
false felicity
flitte pe eyen of pi pou^t. for pere shalt bou seen an oon ^ c l\^ e ^ tme
bilk verray blysfulnesse bat I haue byhy^t bee. b. sfntefery clear,
J J and I had acom-
Certys quod .1. it is cler and opyn. boiis bat it were to piete view of u
when you explain-
a blynde man. and pat shewedest pou me [ful wel] a ed to me the cailses
y b'ufcan
2346 preke\> prykketh
2347 derknesse dyrkenesse
2349 scatri\> schatereth
delices delycj
2350 wip out with owte
2'<51 many manye
2352 ha)> MS. hape
2352 faute defaute
2353 may ne may
2354 don MS. done, C. don
2356 make maken
2357 forseide MS. sorseide
2383 souereyne souereyn
2365 mowe movven
of its counterfeit.
2363 wenen wene
mowe mowen
2370 (/raunt[_e] graimte
so\>er sothere
2371 said MS.saide, C. sayd
2376 Iful wel] from C.
8G IX SEEKING SUPREME FELICITY
True felicity con- lytel her bvfornc. whan bou enforcedest be to shewe me
M<N 111 a state ot *
powert'and f J> e causes of be false blysfuhiesse IF For but yif I be by-
honour as well -11 -n r*L i i- p i
as of a shining giled. ban is Jnlke be verray pernt blisfulnesse bat per-
reputation and .
I'vi'vy desirable fitly makib a man sumsaunt. mv^ty. honourable noble.
pleasure : and I
must confess that an d f u j O f gladnesse. and for bou shalt wel knowe bat I
true felicity is that f
by'these adv^ ed naue we l vndirstonden bise binges wif i/me myne herte.
iiTreaiifyaUion I knowe wel filke blisfulnesse fat may verrayly ^euen
and the same.
p. o my nursling, on of be forseide binges syn bei ben al oon .1. knowe
how happy are
2385 douteles bat filke fing is be fulle of blysfulnesse. P.
you in this con- . .
viction, provided O my nurry quod she by Jns oppinioura quod she 1
iim wha n i8 that ? se y [ e l )' a *' f ou ar ^ ^lisful 7^ J 5011 putte f is f er to bat I
t I h : at T any k U 1 ingin snal Seine - what is > at ^ d - 1 ^ Trowest >OU J>at
i his world can , ,. *_ .1 iix vi i_-
confer this happi- ber be any bing in bis erbely mortal toumblyng fmges
ness ? (the sove-
reign good). bat may bryngen bis estat. Certys quod 1 trowe it nat.
B. I think not ; '
for nothing can be an( j i, ou ^^ shewed me wel bat ouer bilke goode ber
desirable beyond i > i J
perfection! 6 f is no ]> m o more to ben desired. P. bise binges fan
i'. These imper- , . . , .i/c 7
feet things above quod she. fat is to seyne erbely sumsaunce ana poAver.
mentioned only
confer the shadow and swiche binges eyber bei semen likenesse of verray
i.i' the supreme
oni > y'an r imrfect g 00 ^- or e ^y s ^ semef fat fei ^euen to mortal folk a
!-annorbe8tow iey nianer of goodes fat ne ben nat perfit. 1T But f ilke
true and perfect, . .. .
iiappiness. goode bat is verray and perht. fat may fei nat aeuen.
K. I quite agree
ith you. boice. I. accorde me wel quod .1. ban quod she for as
P. Then, know-
brti^ tSEtSi moche as fou hast knowen whiche is filke verray blis-
must f now t iea^n U fulnesse. and eke whiche filke finges ben fat lien
where to look for n , , , , . P , . 11-
2401 ialsly blislulnesse. fat is to seyne. fat by desceit
frHoity!"* 11 semeTi verray goodes. 1T Now byhouef f e to knowew
P. But', as Plato , , r -. . .
[*foi. 20 b.] *whennes and where fou mowe seeklel filke verray
says that even
in" the least things blisfulnesse. IF Certys quod I bat desijr I gretly and
the Divine assist-
S'mpioTefwh'a^ haue abiden longe tyme to herkene it. 1T But for as
"endeVus worthy moche quod she as it likef to my disciple plato in his
of so important a
discovery as the book of in thimeo. bat in ry^t lytel binges men sholde
true source and
rdgngood? ove bysechen fe helpe of god. IT what ingest fou fat be
2377 byforne by-forn
2378 blytfulnesse MS.
hlyndenesse, C. blysful-
ncsse
2385 of omitted
2:?Rfi nurrj/ norye
2388 seine seyn
2389 pis thise
2390 nat nawht
2393 seyne sey
2395 $euen yeue
2397 goode good
2387 seyle} seye I 2399 wliiclie whicli
2401 seyne seyn
2102 knowen knowe
2403 seek[e] seke
2405 herkene horkucn
24<l~ xholde sholderi
2 l<w bysechen by-shcclicn
helpe help
BOOK 3 1
MET. 9. |
THE DIVINE AID IS TO BE INVOKED.
87
[now] to done so bat we mav deserue to fynde be scte of a- Let us invoke
the Father of all
bilke souereyne goode. B. IT Certys qwod .1. I. deme ^hf ^p,^
bat we shulle clepen to be fadir of alle goodes. IT For S^y*.*"
. , . ,, , . , Father and
wib outen hym nis ber no bmg tounden aryjt. bou seist Maker of heaven
J and earth, by
a-ryjt n uod she. and bygan on-one to syngen mt bus. whose eternal
reason the world
is governed, and
by whose supreme
fThe 9" e Metur.]
command Time
flows from the
n mi i PFnpE'TTTi
O QUI PEBPETUA.
A bou fadir creatour of heuene and of erpes bat SJ
" gouernest bis worlde by perdurable resoura fat com- nse
, r ,-, move ! Thy sove-
aundist be tymes lor to gon from tyme bat age had de reign wui to float-
L J ing matter gave
bygynnywg. bou bat dwellest bi self ay stedfast and ;ts various forms,
JOJ J o J impelled by no ex-
Stable and }iuest alle ober binges to ben moeued. ne tythVTdeTofTne
forein causes necesseden be neuer to compoune werke "*"
Best in thv great
of floterynge mater, but only be forme of souereyne $?%$
goode y-set wib i?me [be] wib outen en vie bat moeued[e] bearing the**
world's figure in
be frely. bou bat art alberfairest beryng be faire worlde thy thought, thou
J r didst create the
in bi bou^t. formedest pis worlde to be likkenesse w ^ t f ler ^A'
semblable of bat faire worlde in pi po^t. bou drawest thmgg r ftmthe
... f . . , jj-. image of the fair
alle binges 01 pi souereyne ensampler. and comaundedist supreme, and dost
command that
bat bis worlde perfitlyche vmaked haue frely and this world should
have perfect parts.
absolut hyse perfit parties. ^[ pou byndest be element^ m ^^ 3 t h i ou 8
by noumbres proporcionables. bat be colde pinges elements! s^thS 6
, .. .,-,,, 7,1 L- there is no dis-
mowen accorde wib be hote binges, and be drye bi??ges cordance between
things cold and
wib be moyst binges, bat be fire bat is purest ne fleye hot, or between
J the moist and the
nat ouer heye. ne pat be heuynesse ne drawe nat adoura JJJ7- not a n y h to re
ouer lowe be erbes bat ben plounged in be watres. wJIght'may'not
^[ bou knyttest to-gidre be mene soule of treble kynde an^waterTower
than they are now
moeuyng alle binges, and diuidest it by membres ac- placed, thou didst
join the Middle
cordynge. ^[ And whan it is bus diuided it hap as- f^ 1 n atttre h mov-
sembled a moeuyng in two roundes. ^[ It gob to toume thenby '^
2109 [now] from C.
2410 scniereyne goode verray
jtood
2411 shulle shollen
to omitted
2413 on-one anon
2415 worlde world
2416 from age hum syn
)' 'i axe
hodldej hadde
2117 stedfast stedcfast
2418 oper oothre
2419 forein foreyne
werke werk
2420 souereyne goode soue-
reyn good
2421 y-set VIS. y-sette, C.
Iset
wib inne with in
[be] the
wib outen with owte
wweued[e] moeuede
2122 alberfairest alder-
fayrest
2422-21-26 worlde world
2423 likkenesse lyknesse
2426 and absolut C. omits
2427 hi/sehys
2430 Jirefyr
fleye fle
2131 drawe (Ira wen
2435 hab MS ha)>e
2436 go\> MS. go)>e
88
GOD IS THE FOUNTAIN OF FELICITY.
fHOOK 3
LPKOSE 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
Srofound mind
oth by that fair
idea turn the
heaven. Thou
by such causes
dost raise all souls
and lesser lives,
and adaptest them
to their light
vehicles. Thou
sowest them in
heaven and earth,
and they return
to thee DV 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
(in our minds).
For thou art ever
clear, and to the
(The 10 prose. J
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
<>t 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.
ajcin to hym owen self, and environef a fulle
f ou}t. and to?rnif f e heuene by semblable ymage. )>ou
by euewlyk causes enhaimsest fe soules and )>e lasse
Hues and ablynge hem heye by ly}t[e] cartes. fou
sewest hem in to heuene and in to erf e. and whan J?ei
ben conuertid to f e by f i benigne la we. ^[ fou makest
hem retorne a3eine to f e by a^ein ledyng fijr. ^[ O
fadir yif fou to j>i f ou^t to stien vp in to f i streite sete.
and graunte [hym] to enviroune f e welle of good. a)id
f e Iy3te yfounde graunte hym to ficchen f e clere sy^tes
of hys corage in J>e. ^[ And scatre fou and to-breke
[thow] jje wey^tes and f e cloudes of erf ely heuynesse.
and shyne J>ou by f i bry^tnes. for Jjou art clernesse fou.
art peisible to debonaire folke. ^[ |>ou f i self art by-
gynnywge. berere. ledere. paj) and terme to loke on f e
[fat] is oure ende. Glose. 2452
QUONIAM IGITUR QUI 8CIT. 1 [' Read que sit.]
T?0r as moche fan as fou hast seyn. whiche is fe
forme of goode fat nys nat perfit. and whiche is f e
forme of goode fat is perfit. now trowe I fat it were
goode to shewe in what f is perfecczoun of blisfulnesse is
set. and in f is f ing I trowe fat we sholden first enquere
forto witen yif fat any swiche manere goode as f ilke
goode fat f ou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. fat
is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in f e nature
of finges. For fat veyne ymaginactoure of fou^t no
desceiue vs nat. and putte vs oute of f e sof efastnesse
of f ilke finge fat is summyttid to vs. fis is to seyne.
but it may nat ben denoyed fat filke goode ne is.
IT and fat it nis ry$t as a welle of alle goodes. ^f For
2437 owen C. omits
2438 toumib MS. torni)>e
2439 eufnljik euenc lyke
2U<> lyjft*} lyhta
2M2 benigne bygynnyngc
244i yif-y'me
fri xtreite the streyte
2tlo [hym ] from C.
2H6 lytfe lyht
2448 [Wow] from C.
2449 brv)tnes bryhtnesse
2161 pap MS. pabe ; paath
2452 [\>af\ that
2453 whiche which [good
2454 -55-66-58-59 goode
2454 whiche whych
2457 set MS. ftette, C. set
2160 seine sc.vn
2460 souereyne goode soue-
reyn good
be founden ben fownde
2461 veyne veyn
2463 \>is is to seyne C. omits
2464 denoyed MS. deuojd-
ed, C. denoyed
goode (food '
2165 nf MS. of of
3
rKOSEio.J GOD THE SUPREME GOOD.
al fing fat is cleped inpertit. is proued inperfii by fe
aiaonusynge of perfeccioun. or of f ing fat is per&t. a(? source of dl other
. , f pood. When we
her ot come)? it. fat in euery Jung general, yif fat. fat say that a thing
Nature takes not
men seen any fing fat is mperfit *certys in filke general
fer mot ben sowme fing fat is pe?-fit. ^f For yif so
. . . 1-1 ue e o
be bat periecczoiw is don awey. men mav nat f inke her origin from
things diminish-
nor seye fro whermes filke fing is fat is cleped inperfit. ^ t and r inip ^ ect;
If For fe nature of f inges ne token nat her bygynnyng SSfififig^
of f inges amenused and iwperfit. but it procedif of LtoTne remotest
and most fruitless
biHgMs fat ben al hool. and absolut. and descendef so things, if there
be an imperfect
doune in to outerest binges and in to \>ingus empty and and fading felicity
there must also
wif oute fruyt. but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne.
f , -, -i T < i i_ i T_ / i 7 j consider wherein
fat yif fer be a bhsfulnesse fat be frele and vein and this felicity re
sides. That God is
inpe? - fit. fer may no man doute. fat fer nys som blis- the governor of ail
things is proved
fulnesse fat is sad stedfast and per&t. b. f is is concludid opinion U of % au r8al
quod I fermely and sofefastly. P. But cowsidere SSita/Svb?
also quod she in wham f is blisfulnesse enhabitef. fe 243 2*
commune acordaunce and conceite of f e corages of men He "-hollas''^"
1 i n 11 . equal in goodness
prouef and grauntef fat god prince ot alle f mgu# is must be good.
Reason clearly de-
crood. If For so as no bmg ne may ben fouat bettre fan monstratesinthat
T ' ' God is good, and
god. it may nat ben douted fan fat [he fat] no fing is (*j ^oolTexists
bettre, fat he nys good. ^[ Certys resouw shewef fat wer e m ot lo He
, . ., , P could not be the
god is so goode fat it prouef by verray force fat pernt Ruierofaiithings,
for there would
goode is in hym. If For yif god ne is swiche. he ne be some other
J being excelling
may nat ben prince of alle finges. for certis som fing tt?MSJSS^SS
, ii> r-i j i i j i and who must
possessyng in hyw sell perfit goode sholde ben more have existed
before Him. And
ban god. and it sholde seme fat filke fing were first we have already
shown that the
and elder fan god. 1 For we han shewed apertly fat ^mp^rfec?* 8
alle finges fat ben peffit. ben first or finges fat ben in- ^reasonings'
c , TAJ.> !_'.> FxliT mS y n(>t rU " n
perrit. ^f And ior f i ior as moche as I that I my resou?z with infinity,
we must confess
or my proces ne go nat awey wiboute an ende. we that the supreme
God is full of i*r-
ou}t[e] to graunten fat f e souereyne god is ryjt ful of ,
2466 al \<ing alle thing
2468 her of come\> ther of
comht
2170 somme som
2471 don MS. done, C. don
3473 token took
J175 hool hoole
2177 wi\> oute fruyt with
owten frut
2480 stedfast stydefast
2481 fermely MS. feunely,
C. fermely
sofefastly sothfastly
i he }>at] from C.
doune down i is bettre his bettre
2488-89-91 goode good
2489 swiche swvch
2492 [] from 0.
seme semen
2193 elder eldere
2195 IthatJ from C.
2496 ftroc.es prf>cesscs
2197
90 GOD THE SOURCE OF TRUE FELICITY.
And as xe have souereyne perfit goode. and we han establissed bat be
seen that the per-
i.'Vp MnewV. souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. ban mot it nedes
felicity 1 resides tr in ft ben [bat veiTay blysfulnesse is] yset in souereyne god.
the Supreme Di- r, . . . i_ -r ' 1 IT ,- -i -i
vmity. Butietus B. bis take 1 wel quod .1. ne bis ne may nat be wibseid
see how we can
firmly and irre- i n no manere. ^f But I preie be quod she see now how
frogably prove ^
God conta^"! 6 J> ou mayst preuen holily and wib-outen corrupciouw bis
his own nature a , , T , j i j- i. f t e
plenitude of per- bat 1 haue seid. bat be souereyne god is ry}t iul 01
feet and consum- '
mate good. souereyne goode. (In whych manure quod Lj wenest
If you think that J I J
this gowTfrom ed f 011 OU 3^ < l uo ^- s ^ e f a t J" 3 pHnce of alle binges haue
without, then you , ,.-1-1 T i . n r TJ?
must believe that ytake bilke souereyne good any where ban of hym sell.
the giver of this
2508 I of whiche souereyne goode men proueb bat he is ful
as bou my^test binken. bat god bat hab blisfalnesse
But we have con- in hym self, and bat ilke blisfulnesse bat is in hym
eluded that there
is nothing more were diners in substaunce. IT For yif bou wene bat
excellent than
s i urfrem 1 e U good t is is Sd haue receyued bilke good oute of hym self, bou
and is'neve'rthe- 6 ' mayst wene bat he bat jaf bilke good to god. be more
less of a different . j mr T> L r 11 J f
substance, we goode ban is god. If But I am byknowen and confesse
cannot conceive,
or 'i abouen alle
finges. ^ And yif so be bat bis good be in hym by
s T.J..J.-J.--I' r- n T-L
differing one from nature, but bat it is diuers from hym] by wenyng
another Lastly, L J J J J I
a thing which resou??. syn we speke of god prince of alle binges feyne
essentially differs
?otbe the8 e ame n " w ^ so f e y ne may. who was he bat [hath] cowioigned
which'iHs^u'p- bise diuers binges to-gidre. and eke at be last[e] se
posed to differ. . .
Consequently, wel bat o bmg bat is diuers from any bmg. bat bilke
what in its nature J '
2522 bing nis nat bat same bing. fro whiche it is vndir-
chiefgoS m cannot stondew to ben diuers. ban folweb it. bat bilke bmg bat
be the supreme
good. But it by hys nature is dvuers from souerevne good, bat bat
would be impious
tocoKcefveofGod, l? ll} S n J s na ^ souereyne good, but certys bat were a
e'xrei mmTn ^ felonous corsednesse to binken bat of hym. bat no bing
goodness and .
worth. ms more worbe. lor alwey of alle binges, be natwe
2 MS goode good
2199 souereyne goode soue-
reyn good
2500 []>at M] from C.
yset MS. ysette, C. set
2501 fie-^ben
wibseid MS. wij>seide,
C. withseid
2503 wi\>-outen witA-owte
2504 geid MS. seide, C. seyd
reyn good
2505 [/ /] from C.
2506 ourf awht
2507 ]>an of owt of
2503 whiche whych
souereyne goode souereyn
good
2509 ha\> MS. habe
2510 }>at ilke thilk
2511 were weren
2505 souereyne goode soue- i 2514 goode worth
2517 from fro
[hym] from C.
2518 feyne faigtie
2519 feyne feigiie
[liath] from C.
2520 lastle] laste
2521 oo.
2522 whiche whych
2521/rom fro
2527 nis is
BOOK 3. T
PROSE 10.J
THERE CANNOT BE TWO CHIEF GOODS.
91
of hem ne may nat ben better fan his bygyxnyng. ^
^[ For whiche I may concluden by ry^t uerray resouw.
We may therefore
pat fuke fat is bygynnyng of alle finges. J>ilke same conclude that the
f ing is good in his substaunce. B. f ou hast seid ryjt- ^fubltairtlSiy
fully quod .1. P. But we ban graunted quod she fat ^Erighu?'
souereyne good is blysfulnes. bat is sobe q-uod .1. ban K But you have
r owned that true
quod she mote we nedes graunten and confessen bat felicity is the sove-
reign good ; then
filke same souereyne goode be god. ^[ Certys *quod you [ m foi t 2i s &.]
I T , . . i grant that God is
. 1 ne may nat denye ne wibstonde be resouns pur- that true felicity.
B. Your eonelu-
posed. and I see wel bat it folweb by strengbe of be s'ons follow from
1 your premises.
premisses. ^[ Loke nowe quod she yif bis be proued whe^her'we 6 ^-
[yit] more fennely bus. ^[ bat ber ne mowen nat ben moreconvmcmgiy
, . -i j r i i- bv considering it
two souereyne goodes bat ben diuerse amolnjges hem m this view, that
there cannot be
self, bat on is nat bat bat ober is. ban fnel mowen two sovereign
goods which differ
neiber of hem ben perfit. so as eyber of hem lakkif to p Ht u^utathat
, . -, . . .-, of the goods that
ofir. but bat bat ms nat pernt men may seen apertly differ one cannot
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
IT But I haue wel conclude bat blisfulnesse and god ben where one wants
the other. That
[the I souereyne goode. For whiche it mot nedes be bat which is not per-
r feet cannot be the
souereyne blisfulnesse is souerey[ne] dyuynite. ^f No Netth e <Mnthe
bing qiiod I nis more sobefast fan fis ne more ferme by
ffer
ent. But it has
resouw. ne a more worbi bing ban god may nat ben been shown that
God and happi-
concluded. P. vpon bise binges ban quod she. rv;t as ness are the chief
f good, wherefore
f ise geometriens whan fei ban shewed her proposiciouws "
, -i . . . i Supreme Divinity
ben wont to brynge?>. in f inges fat f ei clepen ponsmes are one and the
same. Following
or declarac?ouns of forseide binges, ryjt so wil I ^eue then the examples
' of geometricians
be here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune. For whi. who deduee their
consequences
for as moche as by fe getynge of blisfulnesse men ben
maked blysful. and blisfulnesse is diuinite. ^[ fan is
. corollary as fol-
it manifest and open bat by fe getywg of diuinite men iows:-Becauseby
' J ' the attainment of
ben makid blisful. ry3t as by f e getynge of iustice . . . S^d
2523 better bettre
2629 whiche whych
2531 neid MS. seide.C. seyd
2533 so\>e soth
2534 mote motn
2539 [yt<] from C.
2541 is ;i; nis
25 il o\>er othre
[ne} from C.
2546 conclude concluded
2517 [the] from C.
goode good be ben
2548 so\>efast sothfast
ferme MS. forme, C.
ferine
2552 proposiciouns MS.
propontiouns, C. propo-
siciouns
2553 porismes MS. poeis-
mes, C. porysmes
2554 wil wole
THE HAPPY MAN" IS A GOD.
stme^uivinity and ty J 36 g et J n g of sapience bei ben maked wise.
byUie attainment so nedes by be semblable resou/z wha/i bei ban getyn
of Divinity men ,. . . . , . .
are made happy, diumite bei ben maked goddys. ban is euery blisml
But as by the par- Y
ticipation of just- man prod, fl" But ccrtls by nature, ber nys but oon god.
ice or of wisdom ' r J
by f 6 p<wticipaciourcs of diuinite bere ne letteb ne
theymust neces- 1 ' disturbeb no bing bat ber ne ben many goddes. ^f bis
sarily, and by . . .
parity of reason, is quoo. ,L a faire bing ana a precious. 1 Clepe it as
become gods.
uienTs^od "but f 011 wo ^- ^ e ^ corolarie or porisme or mede of coroune
SSoSZ-tSftr o r declarynges ^ Certys quod she no bing nis fairer.
participation of Di- ., LAV -UIJ-L JTJJ.I.-
vine essence there ban is be bing bat by resou/i sholde ben added to bise
may be many gods.
s^m^to a bT i a 1 n 8 a\- f rse ^ e binges, what bing quod .1. If So qwod sbe as
things^ough^ it semeb bat blisfulnesse contenib many binges, it were
not to consider n. . t , r* 1 -n *_ . i
whether these forto witen whebir [batj alle bise binges maken or
several things i_ i i
constitute con- conioignen as a maner body of blysfulnesse by diuersite
2574 of parties or [of] membris. Or ellys yif any of alle
happiness, or
whether there is bilke biwffMs be swvche bat it acomplise by hyra sen be
not some one of Y f T
thints P t a hlt e ma r - substaunce of blisfulnesse. so bat alle bise ober binges
su'nS'or^n'c^ ben referred and brou3t to blisfulnesse. bat is to seyne
Rii'the n rest hLve C a as to be chief of hem. IT I wolde quod I bat bou
relation ?
B. luustrate makedest me clerly to vndirstonde what bou seist. and
this matter by
p r At r yo^rrat' )* at f 011 record est me be forseide binges. ^[ Haue I nat
g'oodl'you'maylaj* iuged quod she. bat blisfulnesse is goode. }is forsobe
the same of all the j r * j i
other goods; for quod .1. ana bat souereyne goode. fl Adde ban qi/od
prfect sufficiency * " '
is identical with she bake goode bat is maked bbsfulnes to alle be for-
supreme felicity;
power U ukew e ise se ide binges. ^[ For ])ilke same blisfulnesse bat is
ing refutation. " demed to ben souereyne suffisaunce. bilke self is
and perfect
pleasure, what souereyne power, souereyne reuerence. souereyne cler-
say you, then ; are
aii these things, nesse or noblesse and souereyne delit. what seist bou
sufficiency, power, *
TOnskiereTas 10 ** ban ^ a ^ e fi se finges. bat is to seyne. suffisance power
constituent parts -, , , ,. -, , . , , . ATI- f i
of felicity? or are and bise ober binges, ben bei ban as membris of bhsiul-
they to be referred .
to the sovereign nesse. or ben bei referred and broujt to souereyne good.
good as their
If Ey^t as alle binges bat ben broujt to be chief of hem.
2563 oon o
2564 lette^ let
2566 fa ire fayr
2567 porisme MS. pousme,
C. porimne
2572 \\>af] from C.
2573 maner manere
by be
2574 [o/] from C.
2575 swyche swych
2576 o\>er oothr
2577 seyne seyn
2578 chitf chef
2581 goode jia ftood ys
2582 souereyne goode soue-
reyu good
2583 goode good
2585 self selue
2588 )f>ise C. omits
seyne seyn
2589 o\>er ootlire
2591 broujt MS. wroujt,
browht
PKOSE 3 lO.] GOOD, THE RULE AND SQUARE OP THINGS DESIRABLE.
93
b. I vndirstonde wel quod .1. what bou p?<rposest to s. i see what
yon are aiming ;it,
seke. but I desiirfel to herkene bat bou shewe it me. ? nd . 1 am desirous
L j II to hear your
p. Take now bus be discressiouw of bis questiouw quod
i (. i !_ JT_ i- things were
she. yif al bise binges quod she weren membns to members of
. . felicity, they
fehcite. ban weren bei diue?'se bat oon fro bat ober. would differ one
* from another, for
If And swiche is be nature of parties or of membris. oVdiverse^rt^to
bat dyuerse menzbris compounen a body. ^[ Certis Buuthw'been 11 '
well shown that
quod I it hab wel ben shewed her byforne. bat alle bise ail these things
* are the same and
binges ben alle on bing. ban ben bei none membris quod aerefore ff the~ are
she. for ellys it sholde seme bat blisfulnesse were theV P w^rVhappi-
conioigned * al of one membre alone, but bat is a bireg ness might be
made up of one
bat may nat ben doon. bis bing quod .1. nys nat member which
J ''is absurd and
doutous. but I abide to herkene be remenaunt of be ^^kJs b i e doubt
questions. bis is open and clere quod she. bat alle ober ^hea^the^uei.
, PJJV J M- 17 i. P. All the things
binges ben referred and broujt to goode. ff .b or ber- above-mentioned
r must be tried by
fore is suffisaunce requered. For it is demed to ben 2607
good, and forbi is power requered. for men trowen also aiTsqtfare. 6 n
, . . . Sufficiency.power,
bat it be goode. and bis same bing mowe we binken and &c., are ail desir
ed, because they
coueiten of reuerence and of noblesse and of delit. ban are ? 8t ^ m ^ d . a , v ,
* good. Good is the
is souereyne good be soume and be cause of alle bat totagVared'esired.
auztfel be desired, forwhi bilke bing 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 be con- ^^ *"^_
trarie. For bou^ bat binges by hir nature ne ben nat de^ired'because
they appear to be
goode algates yif men wene bat bei bew goode Jit ben real goods.
J
bei desired as bou^ [bat] bei were verrayly goode. and
berfore is it bat men au^tew to wene by ry3t bat bounte
,, ,, . , That which is the
be souereyne fyn and be cause of alle binges bat ben to cause of our de
siring any thing
requeren. ^T But certis bilke bat is cause for whiche is itself what we
chiefly want. If
men requeren any bing. ^ i* seme ) J > at M^ 6 same rideZ^lount of
,., j.j'j >_ u j health it is not
bing be most desired, as bus yif bat a wy^t wolde ryde the ride he wants
so much as its
for cause of hele. he ne desireb nat so mychel be salutary effects.
Hence, Good is
2593 desijr[e\ to herkene de
sire for to herkne
259* Take tak
2596 fro from
2597 swiche swhych
2600 on \>ing othing
2602 one on
2603 ben doon be don
2604 herkene herknen
2605 clere cler
o\>er oothre
2606 goode good
2609 goode good
mmce mowen
2617 [M] from C.
were verrayly weeren
verraylyche
2618 \>erfore therfor
au\ten owhteu
2619 alle alle the
2620 whiche whych
2623 mychel mochel
94 GOD A HAVEN OF REST. .
since all tilings moeuyng to rvden as be effect of his heele. Now ban
are sought alter
G^ he they e canot ^ > at alle J> in ges ben requered for f e grace of good.
tha'ntheg^d 8 ^ 6 f e i n e ben [nat] desired of alle folk more ban fe same
shown that aii the good ^[ But we han graunted bat blysfulnesse is bat
aforesaid things i
are only pursued bmg for whiche bat alle bise ober binges ben desired.
for the sake of
2629 fan is it bus bat certis only blisfulnesse is requered and
itTciear 8 that" 06 desired ^[ By whicbe fing it shewef clerely fat good
ness are essen- and blisfulnesse is al oone and be same substaunce.
tially the same.
to d'ifferfronf ^ ^ SQ na ^ <! MO( i ^ wher fore bat men nry r 3t[en] discorden
proved tha?i"od ^ n f i s - > awc ^ we han shewed fat god a?4tZ verrey blys-
and happiness are,,, ., . r . , ?TI
identical and iulnesse is al oon bing IT bat is sobe quod .1. ban
inseparable.
B That is true, mowe we conclude sikerly bat be substaunce of god is
Therefore the sub-
aKe f sne u Set in )> ilke Same g d and in n n f']' 61 ' P laC6 ' 263G
that of the
Supreme Good.
[ThelO-MetarJ NUNC MNES PABITEB ETC '
SaifST'* 11 A Comeb alle to-gidre now 30 fat ben yca^t and
captives bound \ I , . . ir -, , . - j 11
and fettered w vbounde wib wicked e cheines by be decemaole
with the chains L J
delit of erbely binges inhabytynge in ^oure bou^t. here
goodness, U w^ero shal ben be reste of ^oure laboures. here is fe hauene
you shall find rest ,-,, -,-, , , i . / ,
and security. stable in peisible quiete. bis al oone is fe open refut to
[Chaucer's gloss
2642 wreches. Glosa. bis is to seyn. bat 30 fat ben com-
N^the^Iw of bred and deceyued wif worldly affecciouws comef now
Tagus or of Her- . '-*.
mus, nor the ' to f is souereyne good fat is god. fat is refut to hem fat
me n nuTs r $?from wolen come to h l m - Textus. f Alle fe finges fat fe
butVatner' 0118 ' ryuere Tagus 3iuef 3ow wif his golden[e] grauels. or
suchTources of ellys alle f e fynges fat f e ryuere hermiis. 3iuef wif his
our delight are
found in the re( j e brynke. or bat yndus jiueb bat is nexte f e hote
earth's gloomy
b^t e t r he s 'bright partie of fe worlde. fat medelef fe grene stones
th^heavenT 168 (smaragde) wif fe white (margarits). ne sholde nat
dispels the dark- .
ness of the soul, cleren be lokynge of aoure bojt. but niden rafer aoure
He who has seen
this light will blvnde corages wib i/me hire dirkenesse 1T Alle fat
confess that the J
Meweak f Mddim. likef 3ow here and excitif and moeuef 3onre foi^tes.
2821 moeuyng moeuynge
2626 [<] from C.
2628 ober oothre
2630 clerely clerly
2634 sobe soth
2635 mowe mowen
2636 set MS. sette, C. set
2638 wickfd[e] wyckyde
good and blisfiilnesgeot i 2639, 2640 here her
good and of blysfulnesse | 2640 hauene MS. heuene,
2631 oone oon C. hauene
2645 come comyn
2646 goldon[e] grnuels
goldene granayles
2647 bynges MS. rynges, C.
thinges
hermus MS. herin, C.
herynus
2648 nexte next
2a32 myit\_eri] myhten | 2641 al oone allone
2634 oon oo I 2643 worldly worldcly 2649 ipnrWe world
BOOK 3. 1
PHOSE 11 J
MEN DO NOT SEEK TRUE FELICITY
95
be erbe hab noryshed it in hys lowe caues. but be B. \ assent, and
am convinced by
shvnyng by be whiche be heuene is gouerned and the force of your
J J > J r arguments.
whennes bat it hab hys strengbe bat chaseb be derke VouWjTah!e
/ i it. did you fully
ouerjjrowyng of J?e soule. i And who so euer may know what this
good is ?
knowen bilke lyjt of blisfulnesse. he shal wel seine bat B. i should value
it infinitely if at
be white bemes of be sonne ne ben nat cleer. 2659 "^g^ttem to
the knowledge of
-r, . God, who is the
ASSENCIOB INQf/^M CUNCTA. JiOlCe. sovereign good.
[The 11 prose, j
I assent [el me quod .1. For alle bise binges ben P. i shall eluci
date this matter
strongly bounden wib ry^t ferme resouns. how j^e^TiT 1
mychel wilt bou prasen it quod she. yif bat bou me those thta&l
i , , -n i T i -j. j T r. which I have
knowe what bilke goode is. I wol prase it quod 1 by before laid down
as conclusions.
price wib outen ende. ^[ yif it shal bytyde me to ^
knowe also to-gidre god bat is good. ^[ certys quod she
,1-i-ri T ^ . . m. j i_i things which the
bat shal I do be by verray resoun. yil bat bo binges bat majority of man
kind so eagerly
I haue concludefdl a litel her by *forne dwellen oonly [* foi. 2-^6.]
pursue are not
in hir first[e] grauntyng. Boice. bei dwellen graunted 2668
to be quod .1. bis is to seyne as who seib .1. graunt ]?i
that the true and
forseide conclusiou?is. ^[ Haue I nat shewed be quod another; and
because where
she bat be binges bat ben requered of many folke. ne one of them is
absent the othe
ben nat verray goodes ne perfit. for bei ben diuerse bat
oon fro bat ober. and so as eche of hem is lakkyng to
1 ,1 iit'Pi i iiiii LUC i i iir aim
ober. bei ne han no power to bryngen a good bat is nil chief good is made
up of an : i s>t m-
and absolute. IT But ban atte arst ben bei verray good wage of ail the
goods in such a
whan bei ben gadred to-gidre al in to a forme and in ^ency^fan attrf-
to oon wirchyng. so bat bilke bing bat is suffisaunce. ^"must at the"* 1 '
v 7 j VI J same time possess
bilk same be power and reuerence. and noblesse and 2678
mirbe. ^[ And forsobe but alle bise biges ben alle o Jt^if^ybe*'
,... i t_T_i_it-- T_ not one and the
same bing bei ne han nat wher by bat bei mowen ben same, why should
they be classed
put in be nou?nbre of binges, bat au3ten ben requered among desirable
or desired, b. ^ It is shewed qwod .1. ne her of may ^'gt a'urer from
ber no man douten. p. be binges ban qwod she bat ne ^^
2651, 2656 Aap MS. hape 2663 goode good
2651 hys hyse 2664 price prys
2656 chase\> \>e derke es- 2669 is omitted
chueth the dyrke seyne seyn
2657 euer C. omits 2671 folke folkcs
2658 seine seyn 2673 oper oothre
2660 assent[e] assente eche eoh
2662 mychel mochel 2675 absolute absolut
2675 atte arstai erste
2676 al alle
a O
2677 to omitted
wirchyng wyrkynge
2678 J?i;-thilke
2681 put MS. putte, C. put
oilmen owhten
UNITY NECESSARY TO EXISTENCE.
L!
ben none goodes whan )>ei ben diuerse. and whan fei
a^" goods. bygynnen to ben al o bing. ban ben bei goodes. ne
but as soon
as they become
one then they
are ma
Do not they owe .. ., , , ,, ., , . ,
their being good comib it hem nat ban by be getynge of unite bat bei ben
to their unity ? 111 T
B. so it appears, maked goodes. o. so it semeb quod .1. but alle bing bat
P. Do you confess
that i7good h be?
good or no?
* s gd quod she grauntest bou bat it be good by par-
ticipaciouw of good or no. ^ I graunt[e] it quod .1.
^[ ban mayst bou graunt[en] it quod she by sembleable
p. Then you must resou?? bat oon and good ben o same bing. ^[ For of
own that unity f "
r the sub- finges [of] whiche bat be effect nis nat naturely diuerse
j , i i L t . T
nedys be substaunce mot ben o same binge. I ne may
Hast bou nat knowen wel quod
- she - )> at al J^o J 58 -* is ^ty so longe his dwellyng and
stance of those
things must be
the same, whose
effects do not na- nat denye it auod I.
turally differ). B.I
thlngwhiciTex^" his substaunce. as longe is it oone. 5F ^ u ^ whaw it
ists is permanent ,,..,, -. j- j-
so long as it pre- f orletib to ben oone it mot nedis dien and corrumpe to-
serves its unity
but as soon as it gidre. IT In whiche manere quod .1. ^T Rytf as in
loses this, it is dis- J '
solved and anm- fr ees t e s quod she. whan be soule and be body ben
P. In the animal
creation as long as
the soul and the
body are united
and conjoined in
one, this being
is called an animal
or beast, but
when the union
2700 co?ioigned in oon and dwellen to-gidre it is cleped a
. How so ?
beest. and whan hire vnite is destroied by disseueraunce
bat oon frarn bat obir. ban sheweb it wel bat it is a
dede bing. and bat it is no lenger no beste. and be
body of a wy^t while it dwelleb in oon forme by con-
iunmoure of membris it is wel seyn bat it is a figure of
perishes and is 1 mankynde. and yif be partyes of be body ben [so]
no longer a beast. . . _ _
The same may be dmide d and disseuered bat oon fro bat obir bat bei
said of man and L J
aii other things ; destroien vnite. be body forletib to ben bat it was by-
they subsist while J
but'i'scxm^Ihat f rn 6. ^F And who so wolde renne in be same manere
thin 6 g\ "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 *
should find this whan it forletib to ben oon it dieb and perissib. boice.
true in every case. / *
th'tag wiiS^acts whan I considre quod I many binges I see noon ober.
naturally that for- mr -r , ^-t I . . x i
goes this desire of II Is per any bing banne quod she bat in as moche as
existence and
wishes for de
and corruption ?
.
wishes for death it lyueb naturelv. bat forletib be appetit or talent of
2684 none no
2685 al o alle oon
2686 comt)> comth
2689 graunt[e] graunte
2690 mayst pou graunt[eri]
mostliow vraimten
2692 [o/] from C.
2695 al alle
ha\>- MS. haj>e
2696, 2697 oone oon
2698 whiche which
2703 dede ded
lenger lenjfere
beste beest
2704 while whil
oon oo
2706 [so] diuide[d] so de-
uydyd
2709 so omitted
2713 many manye
i'KOSE 3 'ii.] NATURE SUSTAINS VEGETATION'. 07
hys beyngc. and desire]? to come to deej) and to cor- #. i^not^wi
rupczourc. ^[ yif I considere quod I bebeestes bat han tionftwch, of 'it-
n -n * MI T self and without
any manere nature of willynge or of nillynge 1 ne constraint, re
nounces or de-
fvnde no bing. but yif it be constreyned fro wib out spises life and self-
J preservation or
forbe. bat forletib or dispiseb to lyue and to durera 5^^
i-i-.il i T T- -pi But with regard to
or bat wole his bankes hasten hym to dien. ^[ ror herbs and trees, i
am doubtful whe-
euery beest trauayleb hym to defende and kepe be 2722
sauuac^oure of lijf. and escheweb deeb and destruccz'ou/i. h^v
, , PIT. j P . . opinion of them,
o. but certys I doute me ol herbes and of trees, bat is for they have no
sensitive soul, nor
to seyn bat I am in a doute of swiche binges as herbes ar -y natural voli
tion like animals.
or trees bat ne han no felywg soule. ne no naturel ^^7 doubt in
wirchynges seruywg to appetite as beestes han wheber He
t mr r*< first choose a con-
bei han appetite to dwellen and to duren. i Certis venient place to
grow in, where,
q?/od she ne ber of bar be nat doute. IT Now look "K*My to their
respective
vpon bise herbes and bise trees, bei waxen firste in 8^to S thrivc, a and
swiche place as ben couenable to hem. in whiche place of e peri"hins" ? for
some grow on
bei ne mowen nat sone dien ne dryen as longe as hire plains, some on
mountains, &c. ;
nature may defenden he?. ^[ For some of hem waxen tn8 ian7
in feldes and some in mountaignes. and obir waxen in wuiTwittierrad 1 "
mareis. [^4 leaf lost here, and supplied from (7.1 2735 thing that vege
tates, nature gives
\and oothre cleuyn on Roches / and soume waxen plenty- what is needful
J for its subsistence,
uos in sondes / and yif bat any wyht enforce hym to that Je>^ should
heryn hem in to oother places / they wexen drye // For theiMtae^Need
, , . , , . , . . I tell you that
nature yeueth to euerv thing brtt / bat is cowuenient to plants are nour
ished by their
hym and trauaylith bat they ne dye nat as longe as they roots (which are
J so many mouths
han power to dwellyn and to lyuen // what woltow seyn and'dimwe 6 "* 11 ' 1 '
of this / bat they drawen alle hyr norysshynges by hyr ouTthe wiwi K
rootes / ryht as they haddyn hyr Mowthes I.-plounged their marrow?
A ndfurther.it is
Mvith in the erthes / and shedyn by hyr maryes (i. me- admirably con-
J J J J \ trived that the
duller) hyr wode and hyr bark / and what woltow seyn n Vr h partof
of this bat thilke thing / bat is ryht softe as the marye (i. tiie'inid'die'of "he
trunk, surround-
sapp) is / bat is alwey hidd in the feete al vfiih inne and ed with hard and
solid wood, and
bat it is defendid fro wiih owte by the stidefastnesse of $ t b 1 ar a k n u w 'J r ' d oat
wode //and bat the vttereste bark is put ayenis the des- ^thw! onMaml
2718 willynge wyhiynge
or and
27U) \>lng licrst
outfor\>e owte forth
2720 lyue lyueii I 2729 look loko
2723 of lijf of hyslyf 2730 waxen firste weien
2726 *oM?esowl<'.s 2733, 2734 some som [fyrst
^7^7 nppedte appetites 2734 o)?ir oothre
08 THE LOVE OF LIFE IS INSTINCTIVE. ["KOSK'U
Admire, too, temprauwce of the heuene / as a defendowr myhty to suf-
the diligence
2751 fren harm / and thus certes maystow wel sen / hoAv gret is
papating plants the diligence of nature / For alle thinges renouelen and
by a multiplicity
of seeds which puplHsen hem with seed. I. -multiplyed/ nether nis no man
are as a found- A " '
fngnot r to remain J^ ne wo ^ we ^ J 50 ^ * ue y ne ^ >en T J^ as a foundement and
ft were'for ever* 8 edyfice f or to duren / nat only for a tyme / but ry ht as forto
Things inanimate , i 1. 1 i T_ / ; j ii . T
incline to what is duren perdurablely by generacyouw // and the thinges ek
most suitable to J II
their beings, and ba t men weiien ne hauen none so wles / ne desire th ey nat ech
to preserve con- *
f nem by sem[b]lable resoun to kepyn bat that is hirs / bat
is to seyn bat is acordynge to hyr nature in conseruaciouw
ness, and the earth // -n i < -n i i
tend towards its oi hyr bcynge and endurynge /'/ or wher for elles benth
centre by gravity
2761 lythnesse the flaumbes vp / and the weyhte presseth the
(weight), unless ., , // i j -n i ,i-n i i
these motions erthe a-douw // but j or as moche as thilke places and
were agreeable to
their respective thilke moeuynges ben couenable to euerich of hem //
natures ? What-
and forsothe euery thing kepith thilke J>t is acordynge
'*' and propre to hym // ryht as thinges bat ben contrary es
trary to its nature , ,, , . , , , , .
destroys it. Dense and enemys corompen hem // and yit the harde thinges
bodie8,sucha8 J
stones, resist an as stoones clyuen and holden hyr partyes to gydere
easy separation of
aric ^ harde / and deffenden hem in withstond-
tSngs^suchasTir eiige bat they ne departe nat lyhtly a twyne // and the
and water, are ea
sily separated and thinges bat ben softe and fletynge as is water ami Eyr
soon reunited.
2771 they departyn lyhtly // and yeuen place to hem bat
utterly refuses any brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retornew
such division. I
am not now treat- S0 ne ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben
ing of the volun- *
ScToussrifbut arraced // but fyr [fleetn] and refuseth alle deuysyourc /
tentioiTaiio^in- 11 ne I. ne trete nat heere now of weleful moeuynges of the
low ourmeat with- sowle bat is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciouw
out thinking of it,
bre i ath e in I 8iee 0ur ^ ^hi n g es // ^ s * nus 1 J^ as we swolvve the mete bat we
tion h . OU The I i?v 3 e"of resseyucn and ne thinke nat on it / and as we drawen
not derived from owre breth in slepynge bat we wite it nat whil we slepyt//
an intellectual -11
will, but from For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne oi
natural principles
2781 hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle //
them" 1 Forlhe but of the bygynnyngis of nature // For certes thorw
will, induced by
powerful reasons, constreynynge causes / wil desireth and embraceth ful
2753 pupllitenr-H. publis-
.-P
shen)
2755 edyflce MS. edyflte
2755 a tyme B. oon) t yme I 2774 \JleefK\- from H.
2758 tlMt H. omits 2775 weleful H. wilfulle
hirs H. his I 2770 slepyt H. slopen
PEOSE 3 ilj THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT. 99
ofte tyme / the deth bat nature dredith // that is to seyn $Sj?!dem.
1 1 i j i JT_ braces death, al-
as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som though nature
.,,., , , , ,, -I i dreads and abhors
cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which it. And, on the
contrary, we see
]>ai nature hateth and dredeth ful sore // And som tyme JJj^S^ii
we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / tS^S^
destorbeth and constreyneth bat bat nature desireth / and strained by tito
. ' ' will. Self-love
req uereth al-wey // that is to sein the werk of generacioun / possessed by every
' creature is not the
by the whiche generacioun only / dwelleth and is sus- 2791
product of voli-
tenyd the longe durablete of mortal thinges // And thus tion, but proceeds
from a natural im-
this charite and this Loue bat euery thing hath to hym ^of natarc. ten '
self ne comth nat of the moeuynge of the sowle / but of knplantedln^ii
.. created things an
the entenciou ot nature // j or the puruyance of god instinct, for the
purpose of self-
hat yeuen to thinges bat ben creat of hym / this bat is ^feh^h^'desire
a ful gret cause / to lyuen and to duren / for which they mceToltf utmost
, . n i i f i i / limits. Doubt not,
desiren naturelly hyr lyi as longe as ever they mowen // therefore, that
everything which
For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that 2799
alle the thinges / that ben anywhere / that they ne re- "tence androids
queren naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of perdurable a. YOU have made
dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyouw // B //
now confesse I. wel qiwd I. that I. see wel now certeynly /
with owte dowtes / the thinges that whylom semeden rel h to\ubsi8t de ~
vncerteyn to me / P.// but quod she thilke thyng bat reteiTitVunity
J ' forifthisbetalten
desiretn to be and to dwellyn pe/'durablely / lie desireth aw y >* cannot
continue to exist.
to ben oon // For yif bat that oon weere destroied // certes 2807
beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht // that true!
P. All things then
is soth" (\uod I. // Thanne quod she desirin alle thinges de ?'' re one thil> g
oon // .1. assente qund .1. // and I haue shewyd quod she f ; unify "then i
that thilke same oon is thilke that is good // B // ye for- ^Yes* 6 a
sothe quod I. // Alle thinges thanne quod she requyren things desire good
good// And thilke good thanne [bow] maist descryuen 2813
ryht thus // Good is thilke thing bat euery wyht de- tha/au creature?
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
2788 teeth H. seen)
toil H. wille
vm AiulH. as
2796 hat H. haue
2800 the H. >o
2806 perdurabMyH. per-
durably
2807 destroied H. destrued
2811 thilke a) H. like
100 THE END OF ALL THINGS.
to anything cisei, despoiled of con / as of liir propre lieued / or elles yif
and, destitute of a
troi or ther te an 7 thinge / to which ]>at alle thinges tenden
bT^nVthmg to ere and hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of
which all thing*
tend, that must be alle goodes / P /. thanne seyde she thus // O my norry
the supreme good. ' ' J II J J
p. i rejoice great- q UO( i sne j h aue rrj-et gladnesse of the// For thow
ly, my dear pupu, "
ap P rehenTth^ rly hast fichched in thin herte the myddel sothtfastnesse //
b just now you that is to seyii the prykke // but this thing hath ben
2825 descouered to the / in that thow seydyst )>at thow
B. what was that? wystest nat a lytel her by-forn // what was that quod
p. TheEmJo/aH I. // That thow ne wystest nat quod she whych was
tilings. And this
is what every one the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing bat
desires ; but we *
ff^ta^hTtwng euery wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han
gaderid / and cemprehendyd that good is thilke thing
the End of all
things. that is desired of alle / thanne nioten we nedes con-
2832 fessun / that good is the fyn of alle thinges.
QUISQUIS PJJOFUNDA MENTE.
[The.ll.MetrMm.]
He who seeks TITHo so that sekith sotfi by a deep thoght And
truth with deep l/V
u^wlmng^^o coueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes //
ToUect'hls'sium- lat hyin rollen and trenden wiih Inne hym self/ the Lyht
bering thoughts, ,.,.. II.//AJIJ.I, j
and turn the inner oi liis inward syhte // And lat hym gadere ayein en-
light upon the
soul 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 '
without he win enclosed and hyd / in his tresors / al bat he compasetn or
find treasured up J ' '
Ihe^mT 8 * f sekith fro wzUowte// And thanne thilke thing that the
2841 blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal
The light of Truth lyhten more clerly thawne phebw^ hym self ne shyneth //
will disperse
Krror's dark Glosa // who so wole seken the depfel grounde / of soth
clouds, and shine r L J D
tCnu^s'm! i n n ^ s thowht / and wol nat be deceyuyd by false pro-
posiciouns / that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym wel
examine / and rolle with 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 deliberaciou/z
2818 heued or elles H. hede
or els
2820 hyen H. hyen) to
inosteR. must
2838 fcw H. pis
that H. and pat
2841 blake H. blak
luttlile y-couered H. had
con<?red
2812 li/htenH. light
2843 ctepM C. dep, H. depc
2847 thing H. Jjynges
.] TRUTH INTUITIVE. 101
or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it 2849
hat by 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 [be]
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
J enclosed the soul
bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd ^ ^ Jj!^ on
owt of yowre thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng // term1nate the ex ~
For certeynly the seed of sooth haldith and clyueth Tiie germs of truth
were latent with-
-with in yowre corage / and it is a-waked and excited by j. n > "* . were ,
* fanned into action
the wynde and by the blastes of doctryne // For where Breath of "earning.
for elles demen ye of yowre owne wyl the ryhtes whan 2861
ye ben axed // but yif so were bat the noryssynges of were not truth
implanted in the
resoun ne lyuede .I.-plowngyd in the depthe of yowre h eart,how could
J OJ J man distinguish
herte //this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen )>e ri s htfrom wrong?
sooth of any thing fat weere axed / yif ther neere a
Roote of sothfastnesse ]>at weere yplowngyd and hyd in 2866
the nature[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesse
lyued vritk- in the depnesse of the thowght // ana* yif so, ifwhatpiato
J J taught is true,
so be bat the Muse and the doctryne of plato syngyth < t?jr a thantore-
sooth // al bat euery whyht lerneth / he ne doth no bee^before at had
thing elles thanne but recordeth as mew recordyn thinges
bat ben foryetyn. 2872
TUM EGO PLATONI INQK4M.
[The .12. prose.]
rFHanne seide I thus // 1 acorde me gretly to plato / for piato^pin'imi^
-*- thow remenbrist and recordist me thise thinges yit] a^ecomuune"?^
called these things
* be seconde tyme. bat is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] my loiw^w^s'i
memorie by J>e contagious coniunccioun of be body wib braJJ^whfoh luui
be soule. ana" eftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it con- nil" by the co"'-
tagious union of
founded by be charge and by be burden of my sorwe. ul antl body,
and afterwards by
^[ And ban sayde she bus. 1T If )>ou look[e] qzxl she jjjjjjj^^ 1 ' 80 **
firste be fringes bat bou hast graunted it ne shal nat
2863 depthe H. depe 2367 natural} H. natrelle I 2879 lookW -
2864 [is] from H. 2875, 2877 logt[.e] loste | 2830 Jtrstefynt
sholden H. shulde 2878 burden burdene
102
THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD.
rnooK a.
LPKOSE 12.
cessions you have
already made, you
will soon call to
mind that truth,
of which you late
ly confessed your
ignorance.
j>. What is that ?
P. It was, by
what power the
world is governed.
It. With regard to
that, I own I con
fessed my ignor
ance, but though
1 now remotely
see what you in-
ler, yet 1 wish for
further explana
tion from you.
P. You acknow
ledged a little
while ago that this
world was govern
ed by God ?
Ji. 1 still cling to
this opinion, and
will give you my
reasons for this
telief. The dis
cordant elements
of this world
2895
would never have
assumed their
present form un
less there had
been a wise In
telligence to unite
them ; and even
after such a union,
the joining of
such opposites
would have dis
united and ruined
the fabric made
up of them, had
not the same con
joining hand kept
them together.
The order that
reigns throughout
nature could not
proceed so regular
ly and uniform
ly if there were
not a Being, un
changeable and
sK'dtiist, to order
and dispose so
Kreat a diversity
of changes. This
Heing, the creator
and ruler of all
things, I call God.
P. As thy senti
ments on these
2883 whicJie which
gouerment Kouernement
worlde -wordy!
2985 wwfl>] wiste
2887 pleynely pleynly
2888 here buforneher by-
torn
2389 worlde is world nis
2890 jitte doute yit nc
dowte
nil nel
2HH2 wot MS. wotc, C. wot
ben ry^t feer fat fou no shalt remembren filke fing fat
fou seidest fat fou nistest nat. what fing quod L
1T by whiche gouerment quod she fat fis worlde is
gouerned. Me remembrif it wel quod I. and I con-
fesse wel jjat I ne wist[e] it nat ^f But al be it so fat
I se now from afer what fou pwrposest IT Algates I
desire jit to herkene it of Jje more pleynely. IT fou ne
wendest nat quod she a litel here byforne jjat men
sholden doute fat J>is worlde is gouerned by god.
1T Certys quod I ne ^itte doute I it nau^t. ne I nil
neuer wene fat it were to doute. as who seif . but I
wot wel fat god gouernef f is worlde. IF And I shal
shortly answere f e by what resouras I am brou}t to f is.
If f is worlde quod I of so many dyuerse and contrarious
parties ne my^ten neuer han ben assembled in o forme,
but yif fere ne were oon fat conioigned so many[e
diuerse] finges. *|[ And fe same diuersite of hire
natures fat so discordeden fat oon fro fat of er most[e]
departen and vnioignen f e f iwges fat ben conioigned.
yif fere ne were oon fat contened[e] fat he haf con
ioigned and ybounde. ne f e certein ordre of nature ne
sholde. nat brynge furfe so ordinee moeuynge. by
places, by tymes. by doynges. by spaces, by qualites.
yif fere ne were oon fat were ay stedfast dwellynge.
fat ordeyned[e] and disposed [e] fise diuersites of
moeuynges. ^ and f ilke f inge what so euer it be. by
whiche fat alle finges ben maked and ylad. I clepe
hym god fat is a worde fat is vsed to alle folke. fan
seide she. syn fou felest fus fise finges quod she. I
trowe fat I haue lytel more to done, fat fou my^ty of
2892, 2S94 worlde world
2893 answere answeren
2894 many manve
2S95 myyten mynte
2896 \>ere ther
many[e] manye
2897 [.diuerse] from C.
hire Mr
2898 most[e] moste
2900 \>ere ther
f*// tened[e] contenedc
/wrj> MS. ha)>e
2902 far \>e forth
ordinee moeuynge ordene
nioeuyriKes
2904 \>ere ther
stedfast stidefast
2905 ordeyned[_e} ordcvnodi'
clispo.ted[e] uispom-de
2907 whiche which
ben be
ylad MS.yladde, C. I-la<ld
2908 worde word
folke foolk
ROOK s. n
I'KOSJi 12. J
ODD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT.
103
wilfulnesse liool and sounde ne se eftsones fi centre.
*[ But lat vs loken fe f inges fat we han purposed hur-
byforn. ^[ Haue I nat nourabred and seid quod she
fat suffisaunce is in blisfulnesse. and we han accorded
fat god is and f ilke same blisfulnesse. IT yis forsof e quod
I. and fat to gouerne fis worlde qwod! she, ne shal he
neuer han nede of none helpe fro wif oute. for ellys yif
he had[de] nede of any helpe. he ne sholde not haue
[no] ful suffisauftce. 313 f us it mot nedes be quod I.
^[ fan ordeynef he by hym self al oon alle f inges quod
she. fat may nat ben denied quod I. ^[ And I haue
shewed fat god is f e same good. IT It remerabref me
wel quod I. 1T fan ordeinef he alle f inges by f ilke
goode quod she. Syn he whiche we han accorded to
ben good gouernef alle f ingiis by hym self, and he is a
keye and a stiere by whiche fat fe edifice of f is worlde
is ykept stable and wif oute corumpynge ^f I accorde
me gretly quod I. and I aperceiuede a litel here byforn
fat fou woldest seyne f us. Al be it so fat it were by
a f inne suspecioun. I trowe it wel qwod she. ^[ For as
I trowe fou leedest nowe more ententifly fine eyen to
loken f e verray goodes 1T but naf eles f e f inges fat I
shal telle f e }it ne shewef nat lasse to loken. what is
fat quod I. IT So as men trowen quod she and fat
ry^tfully fat god gouernef alle f inges by f e keye of his
goodnesse. IF And alle f ise same f inges as I [haue]
tau^t f e. hasten hem by naturel eniencioun to comen
to goode fer may no man doutera. fat fei ne ben
gouerned uoluntariely. and fat fei ne conuerten [hem]
nat of her owen wille to fe wille of hire ordenour. as
fei fat ben accordyng and enclinynge to her gouernowr
points are so just
I have but little
more to do tor
thoo may cst be
happy and secure,
and revisit thy
own country. But
let us reflect a
little more upon
these matters.
Did we not agree
that Sufficient it is
of the nature of
true happiness
And have we not
seen that God is
that true felicity,
and that He needs
no external aid
nor instruments ?
For if he should,
he would not be
self-sufficient.
And he directs all
things by himself
alone ?
B. It cannot be
gainsaid.
P. I have shown
that God is the
chief good; God
must,therefore,di-
rect and order all
things by good.
since he governs
them by himself,
whom we have
proved to be the
supreme good,
2928
and he is that
helm and rudder,
by which this ma
chine of the world
is steadily and se
curely conducted.
B. I entirely airree
to this, and partly
anticipated your
remarks. P. I
believe it; foryour
eyes are now more
intent upon these
great truths re
lating to true
felicity; but wliat
I am going to say is
not less open to
your view.
S. What is that?
P. As we believe
that God governs
all things liy his
goodness, ami tli. -it
all things have a
natural tendency
towards the good,
can it be doubted
but that they all
voluntarily sub-
2911 wilfu.lnese weleful-
ncsse
2912 han ha
2913 seid MS. seide, C. sey.d
2916 worlde world
2917 none helpe non help
2918 had[_de-( liadde
helpe help
2919 [no] from C.
2920 al oon allone
2921 ben denied be denoyed
2924, 2926 whiche which
2925 ben be
2926 worlde world
2928 gretly gretely
here her
2929 seyne seye
2931 nowe now
29:<2 na\>eles nat[h]les
2935 ry}tfttllyyiS. on ryjt-
fully
2936 [have] from C.
2938 goode good
2939 [tern] from C.
2910 nat omitted
her- hir
ovnen owne
tril/e both}\\\\
hirehyr
2941 her hyr
104
ALL THINGS SUBMIT TO GOD.
[pSSsE 3 'i2.
and her kyng. IT It mot nedys be so 0210 d. I. * 5F For
[* Foi. 23 b.]
mil to the will
and control h e realme ne sholde not seme blisful jif bere were a 2ok
of their ruler ? >
ftherwTse not There
Biysdrawynges in diuerse parties ne f e sauynge of
fbr l thoslwho afety obedient finges ne sholde hat be. fan is fere no f ing
obey, if the discord , , , .
of a portion were qwod. she pat kepif nys nature : bat enforce]) hym to
IT
L ^ And if
premely happy
and consequently souereyne good.
omnipotent.
nnth n in 1 'that 8
withstand 1 this*"
certainly.
2948 enforced [e] hym to wifstonde god. my^tfe] it auayle at
dictates of nature ,
that seeks to be laste ajeyns hvm bat we han graunted to ben al
counteract the will r
of God? s. NO. myjty by be ryjt of blisfulnesse. fl" Certis quod I al
P. It there should J ' J J ' J '
eouwVo^re- outerly it ne myjt[e] nat auaylen hym. fan is J)ere no
bing quod she fat eyjjer wol or may Avijjstonde to bis
f I trowe nat quod. I I ban is
be souerejTie good quod she J>at alle fingus
gouerneb strongly and ordeynej) hem softly, faw seide I
bus. I delite me quod I nat oonly in be endes or in be
.
it is then the soTOmes of the resous bat bou hast concludid and
supreme good that
2958 p?'cmed. H But bilke wordes fat bou vsest deliten me
orders all things moche more. IF So at be lastfe] fooles bat somtyme
]X)werfully and
iwnjgniy. renden greet [e] binges au?ten ben asshamed of hem
B. I am delighted
^butZctT" self. 5[ bat is to seyne fat we fooles fat reprehenden
moi e with your . - , . . .
lantfiuu/e; so that wickedly fe pmgus fat touchen goddes goxiernaunce we
ashamed of their aujtew ben asshamed of oure self. As I bat seide god
objections to the ' *
mln" e govem " refusef oonly f e werkes of men. and ne entremetif nat
IP. Yoifhave read of hem. p. bou hast wel herd quod she be fables of be
the Poets' fables,
2966 poetes. how fe geauntes assailden fe heuene wif fe
itonned heaven goddes. but for sofe fe debonaire force of god disposed[e]
how they were re- . . .
pulsed and hem so as it was worbi. bat is to seyne distroiedfe] be
punished accord-
deserts'^bnt ma g eaun tes. as it was worfi. ^[ But wilt fou fat we
"ur reLon^^ e ioygnen togedre f ilke same resouns. for perauenture of
pether, for by so . f -, ,
doing some clear swiche comuncctouTz may sterten vp some iaire sperkele
spark of truth may
dune forth ? of sof e IF Do quod I as f e list, wenest fou quod she
2943 realme Reaume
seme semen
2945 \>ere ther
2047 gonea^eyne goonayein
2943 enforced[e] enforcede
my>,t{e\ myhte
auayle auaylen
2949 a^eyns a-yenis
2951 outerly owtrely
*".'/3^[ e ] myhte
auaylen MS. aualeyne,
C. auaylen
hym hem
\>ere ther
2952 tool wole
wi \>stonde wit A-stondyn
\>is souereyne his souc-
2955 softly softtely [reyn
2957 sommes somme
[the'] from C.
2959 last[e~\ laste
2960 greetle'] grete
2960, 2963 autfen owhten
2961 seyne seyn
2965 of hem of it
herd MS. herde. C. herd
2967 disposed[e] do^posede
2963 seyne distroied[e]$t;yn
destroyede
2971 stoicne swych
some som
2972 so\>e soih
list liste
HOOK 3. 1
THOSE 12 J
EVIL HAS NO EXISTENCE.
105
bat god ne is almyjty. no man is in doute of it. Certys B. AS you please.
P. IsGodomnipo-
quod I no wyjt ne defendib it if he be in hys mynde. ^nt?
J s f J J B. No one doubts
but he quod she bat is al my^ty fere nis no bing bat he p ifheisai-
j,,. . 3 T -\r j j i mighty, there are,
ne may do. fat is sofe q?/od I. May god done yuel then, no limits to
* .his power ?
quod she. nay for so be quod. I. ^f ban is yuel no bing B. He can dount-
J less do all things.
quod she. IF Syn fat he ne may not done yuel bat ^j^ &y ^^
may done alle finges. scornest fou me quod. I. or ellys rinroG^who'ls'
, j , , almighty, cannot
pleyest bou or deceiuest bou me. bat hast so wouen me do it ?
B. Dost thou mock
wib bi resouws. be house of didalus so entrelaced. bat it meorpiaywith
me, leading me
is vnable to ben vnlaced. fou fat ofer while entrest ment^nitoanin-
f ere fou issest and ofer while issest fere fou entrest. "nthranVencios-
u -j -i T ingmeinawon-
ne fooldest bou nat to gidre by rephcaczouw of wordes a derfui circle of m-
vine Simplicity ?
maner wondirful cercle or envirounynge of symplicite fi 01 ^ "^^
deuyne. 1T For certys a litel her byforne whan foil by- Sfdst'saTtiiaut
, , i T /> i i i -i was the sovereign
guwne atte blisiulnesse fou seidest fat it is souereyne g0 od, and that it
... , resided in God ;
good, and seidest bat it is set in souereyne god. and bat then, that God was
' r that Good and the
god is fe ful[le] blisfulnesse. for whiche fou 3af[e] me 2989
as a couenable jifte. bat is to seyne bat no wyzt nis happiness ; aud,
hence, thou didst
blisful. but yif he be good al so ber wib and seidest inf er that nobody
could be happy
eke fat fe forme of goode is fe substaunce of god. and J a i 1 e e w * 3 e e a 1 God me
of blisfulnesse. and seidest fat f ilke same oone is f ilke tiSuhevery^orni
same goode bat is requered and desired of al be kynde substance whereof
God and happiness
of fiuges. and fou proeuedest in disputynge fat god W 1 ^ e t ^[ ^ l>
gouernef alle [the] finges of f e worlde by f e gouerne- Sesire'of aiu'hings
mentys of bountee. and seydest bat alle binges wolen did"? prove that
. God rules the
ybeyen to hym. and seidest bat be nature of yuel nis world by wsgood-
J J ness, and that all
no f ing. and f ise finges ne shewedest fou nat wif no ^"edT^^and
resouras ytake fro wif oute but by proues in cercles and exfs'tence^rhese
homelyche knowen. 5T f e whiche proeues drawen to hem ushedby forcible
and natural argu-
self hir feib and hir accorde eumche [of] hem of ober. ban ments, and by no
strained and far-
seide she f us. I ne scorne f e nat ne pleye ne desseyue fetched reasons.
2973 is (1) be
man omitted
w (2) nis
2974 defendib dowteth
2075 \>ere ther
2976 do C. omits
oj>e soth
done don
2S78, 2979 done don
2980 icouen MS. woniien, C.
woucn
2981 house hows
2983 \>ere (both)ther
2987 atte at
2988 set MS. sotte, C. set
1.989 fulUe'] fulle
whiclie which
;ct/te] yaue
2990 yfte yift
seyne st-yn
2992, 2994 goode good
2993 oone oon
2994 al alle
2996 \the~} from C.
2998 ybeyen obeyen
2999 no (2) none
3000 ytake I-taken
3001 homelyche hoomlich
3002 eueriehe euerich
[of] from C.
106
GOD IS LIKE A SPHERE.
[MET* 12.
p. i have not de- be. but I haue shewed to be binge bat is grettest ouer
luded you, for by *
have D ^om ai iish- e a ^ e J^o 68 ^J J 56 3^6 f Sd J^t we some tyme prayden
f'haveprJf/ed^to' ^ For fis is fe forme of [the] deuyne substaunce. fat
you that it is an . . . . , ., 11, ,
essential property is swiche bat it ne slydcb nat in to outerest foreine
of the Divine
nature not to go binges. ne ne red e yueb no strange binges in hym. but
out of itself, nor T J
^3* ^ P^niaynws seide in grek of J>ilke deuyne sub-
mentals "ays of """ staunce. he seide Jms fat filke deuyne substaunce
ood is nke a weii- torneb be worlde and bilke cercle moeueable of binges
rounded sphere.
3012 while filke dyuyne substaunce kepij) it self wif outen
[* foi. 24.] moeuynge. bat * is to seyne bat it ne moeuib neuere mo.
He causes the
revo!ve lc> bu > t is tt ' z ^ 3^* e ^ moeue j ) a ^ e of 61 finges. but na-feles yif I
ab^in^ave" [haue] stered resouws fat ne ben nat taken fro wif oute
chosen my argu- . , . ,
ments from the be compas of be binge of whiche we treten. but resou?zs
subjects within
ranireofourdis- bat ben bystowed wib inne bat compas bere nis nat whi
cussion, do not let *
> at f ou sholde[st] merucylen. sen fou hast lerned by
- fe sentence of plato fat nedes f e wordes moten ben
. .
words and the sub- cosynes to bo binges oi whiche bei speken. 3020
ject of discourse.
anoe between the
FELIX QUI POTERIT. ET CETBBA.
Happy i'g h* that D lisful is bat man bat may seen be clere welle of good.
hath seen the lucid
sprin K of truth!
Happy the man
h'imsef/ frontier-
I)
*'
blisful is he bat may vnbynde hym fro be bonde of
neu J ^J 56 - ^ f e P oe ^ e f trace [orphews] fat somtyme
The r Thra^a n n 8! hadde ry$t greet sorowe for f e deef of hys wijf. aftir fat
withKrief'for 6 he hadde maked by hys wepely songes fe wodes meue-
thelossofhiswife,
sought relief from able to rennen. and hadde ymaked be ryueres to stonden
music. His
drev^th^wo^s stille. (wd maked fe hertys and hyndes to ioignen
rive 1 re ; ceas'ed ) to ns dredles hir sides to cruel lyouws to herkene his songe.
flow ; the savage r ,
beasts became and had de maked bat be hare was nat agast oi be
heedless of their L J
harewM e not nid noun( ie whiche fat was plesed by hys songe. so fat
iwund^But the whane f e most[e] 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 siviche swich
3009 parmaynws a par-
roanides
3011 worlde world
3012 while whil
wi\> outen with owtc
3013 seyne seyn
3014 -}itte yit
o\>er oothre
3015 {haue'] from C.
3016 whiche which
3017 >)> inne with in
3020 cosynes MS.conceyued,
C. cosynes
\>o t>e
whiche which
:wt> rnbynde vnbyndyn
3022 bonde bomles
3023 [orpheus
somtyme whilom
3024 sorowe sorwe
3028 dredles dredeles
to herkene forto herknen
3029 had[_de] hadde
3030 ba< (2) omitted
3031 most[e] inoste
BOOK 3.1
MET. .J
THE POWER OF MUSIC.
entrailes of his brest. no fe songes fat liadde ouer
comen alle finges ne my3ten nat assuage hir lorde
orpheus. 1F He pleyned[e] hyni of fe godes fat werera
cruel to hym. he wente hym to f e houses of helle and
fere he tempred[e] hys hlaundissyng songes by re-
sounyng of hys strenges. ^f And spak and song in
wepynge alle fat euer he hadde resceyued and laued
oute of f e noble welles of hys modir calliope f e god-
desse. and he song wif as mychel as he my^tjV] of
wepynge. and wif as myche as loue fat doubled[e] his
sorwe my^t[e] 'euen hym and teche hym in his seke
herte. ^ And he commoeuede f e helle and requered[e]
and sou^te by swete preiere fe lordes of soules in helle
of relesynge. fat is to seyne to ^elden hyni hys wif.
IT Cerberus fe 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 kraanenten
and agasten f e soules by anoye wexen sorweful and sory
and wepen teres for pitee. fan was nat fe heued of
Ixione ykwrmented by f e ouerf rowiwg 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 stomak or f e giser of ticius is so ful
filled of his songe fat it nil etyn ne tyren no more.
IT Atte f e laste f e lorde and luge of soules was moeued
to misericordes and cried [e] we ben ouer comen qz*od
he. yif[e] we to orpheus his wijf to bere hym com-
paignye he haf Avelle I-boujt hir by his faire songe and
songs that did all
tilings tame.could
not allay their
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 and
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 himselt re
lented, crying
out, 'We are
overcome ! Let
us give him back
his wife, he hath
well won her by
his song.
3032 hadde hadden
3033 assuage asswagen
lorde lord
3034 pleynetl[e} pleynede
{index IiKUKtie goodes
3035 wente MS. wenten, C.
wente
3036 tempred[e'] Ays tem-
prede his^
3037 of hys C. omits
spak MS. spakke, C. spak
song MS. songe, C. soonge
SIMS ,,/le al
Mivc.t im'e owt
i/nili/fxse g< nidi's
3'U'i X.HKJ - MS. -nllL'.'. C.
soonge
mychel mochel
3011 myche moche
doubled{e} dowblede
3042 tnyjftej myhte
leuen yeue
teche thechen
in herte omitted
3043 commoeuede MS.com-
aunded, C. cowmoeuede
3044 sou-ite by-sowhte
3045 ylden yilden
3046 his hise
3047 cau^t MS. caujte, C.
cawht
nev}[e] songe newe song
3049 anoye - sorweful
anoy woxen soruful
3050 pan tho ne
3051 whele wheel
3053 \>ritst thurst
hy-}t hihte
3055 songe song
3056 Atte Us,
lorde lord
3057 cried\e\ cryde
3058 yif[e] yiue
3059 ha\> WtS. hapo
welle we!
faire C. omits
songe song
108
FIX NOT THE THOUGHTS ON EARTHLY THINGS.
[HOOK 4.
LI-KOSE i.
But we will lay
this injunction
upon him. Till
he escape the in
fernal bounds, he
shall not cast a
backward look."
liut, who shall
give a lover any
law ? Love is a
greater law than
may be given to
any earthly man.
Alas ! having left
the realms of
night, Orpheus
c.ist a look behind
and lost his too-
much-loved Euri-
dice. This fable
belongs to all you,
whose minds
would view the
Sovereign Good.
3071
For he who fixes
his thoughts upon
c irthlj things and
low, must lose the
imble and lieav en-
imparted Good.
3076
his ditee. but we wil putter a lawe in f is. and eouen-
aunt in f e ^ifte. fat is to seyne. fat til he be out of
helle yif he loke byhynden hyin [f t] hys wijf shal
come/z a^eine to vs IT but what is he fat may ^eue a
lawe to loueres. loue is a gretter lawe and a strengere to
hym self fan any lawe fat men may }euen. 11 Alias
whan Orpheus and his wijf were al most at f e ternies of
fe ny^t. fat is to seyne at fe last[e] boundes of helle.
Orpheus loked[e] abakwarde on Erudice his wijf and
lost[e] hir and was deed. IT f is fable apperteinef to
^ow alle who so euer desiref or sekif to lede his f ou^te
in to f e souereyne day. fat is to seyne to clerenes[se]
of souereyne goode. If For who so fat euere be so ouer
coinew fat he fycche hys eyen in to f e put[te] of helle.
fat is to seyne who so settef his fortes in erfely
f inges. al fat euer he haf drawen of fe noble good
celestial he lesif it whan he lokef f e helles. fat is to
seyne to lowe f inges of f e erf e.
EXPLICIT LIBER TERCIUS.
[* fol. 24 b.]
[The 1 prose.]
When P. with
grace and dignity
had poured forth
her songs, I, not
quite quit of my
load of grief, in
terrupted her as
she was continu
ing I.er discourse.
3082
All your dis
courses, O my
conductress to the
* INCIPIT LIBEE QUARTUS.
HEC CUM PHILOSOPHIA DIGNITATE UULTITS.
Whanne philosophie hadde songew softly and delita-
bly fe forseide f inges kepynge f e dignitee of hir
choere in f e wey^te of hir wordes. I fan fat ne hadde
nat al outerly for^eten fe wepyng and mournyng
fat was set in myne herte for-brek f e entenci'oim of hir
fat entended[e] ^itte to seyne ofer f inges. 1F Se qwod
I. f ou fat art gideresse of verray lyjte f e f inges fat f ou
3060 wil putten wol putte
3062 byhynden by-hynde
[t>afl from C.
3063 to vn-to
3064 gretter gret
3066 were al most weren
alraest
3067 lastiel laste
3068 loked[e] abakwarde
lookede abacward
3069 lost[e"\ loste
3070 \>mi}te thowht
3071 clerenes[se] cleniesse
3072 souereyne goode soue-
reyn god
3073 put\_te'\ puttc
3074 sette\> sette
3075 ha)> MS. haK'
3078 softly softely
3080 choere in clieere and
3082 set MS. sette, C. set
myne Myn
for-brek MS. for-breke, C.
Forbrak
3083 entended{e\ entendede
3084 ly)te lyht
HOOK i. i
PK05*E I.J
THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL.
109
hast seid [me] hitler to ben to me so clere and so shew-
yng by J>e deuyne lokyng of hem and by f i resou/zs fat
)>ei ne mowe nat ben ouercomen. 11 And f ilke Tpingus
fat fou toldest me. al be it so fat I hadde som tyme
fo[r]^eten hem for [the] sorwe of f 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 f inges 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. fou
considerest it weel fi self certeynly. but }itte to fis
f ing fere is an of er fing 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 fe feet of fe-
lonous folk, and it abief fe townnewtes in sted of
wicked felouras 1[ Of al[le] whiche fing f er nis no wy$t
fat [may] merueyllen ynouj 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
fou 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 ttie op
pression of grirf
1 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 ami
profligate men,
and suffers the
punishment due
to impiety. Here
is cause for
wonderment,
since such tliiuu's
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 great
a master, the
worthless vessels
should be
honoured and the
Srecious ones be
espised : but it
is not so. For if
33-fo geidyiS. seide, C. seid
[me] from C.
:M-<> (>/ the
3087 mowe mowen
3088 som tyme whilom
3089 [the] from C.
wronge wrong
ha\> MS. ha)>e
3090 don MS. done, C. don
were weeren
3091 namly namely
3092 goode good
3'.>tn wi\> (mien with owte
3095 binge thing
3097 ]>ere ther
ben y wondred be won-
dryd
3098 flowre\> MS. folwep,
C. flowrith
3099 rycchesxe Ryehesses
vertues vertu
toip outen with owte
3101 in sted in stide
3102 wicked ^
\>lng thinges
3103 [may] from C.
3104 don MS. done, C. doon
3105 wool wole
goode good
3107 arete gret
enbaissynge enbnsshiniro
3108 alte al
3109 ordeynehouse ordenee
hows
3111, 3113 vyle\y\
3112 heried he h'eryed
sholde sholden
3113 pe tho
110
VIRTUE NEVER GOES UNREWARDED.
[BOOK 4.
I. MET. 1.
the conclusions
we have come to,
be sound and
irr0fi arable, we
iii'if runups thiit
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
unrewarded; 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
i emoved ,you may,
under my guiding,
by my road, and
with my vehicle,
return whole and
sound into your
own country.
| The fyrste
metur.]
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
starry 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 myjty. and shrewes ben alwey yuel and
feble. ne f e vices ben neuere mo wijj outen peyne '. ne
f e vertues ne ben nat wif outen mede. and fat blisful-
nesses comen alwey to goode folke. and infortune comef
alwey to wicked folke. IT And f on shalt wel knowe
many[e] f inges of f is kynde fat sholle cessen f i pleyntes.
and stedfast f e wif stedfast saddenesse. H 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 1f I shal shewe
fe. f e weye fat shal brynge f e a^eyne vnto f i house
and I shal ficche feferes in f i f ou^t by whiche it may
arysen in hey^te. so fat al tribulacioure don awey. f ou
by my gidyng & by my paf e and by my sledes shalt
mowen retourne hool and sounde in to fi contre. 3132
SU2VT 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 haf clof ed it self,
in fo feferes it dispisef fe hat[e]ful erfes. and sur-
moufttef f e hey^enesse of f e greet[e] eyir. and it seif f e
cloudes by-hynde hir bak and passef f e heyjt of f e
regioura of f e fire fat eschaufif by f e swifte moeuyng of
f e firmament, til fat she a-reisif hir in til f e houses fat
3114 here byforne her by-
forn
kept MS. kepte, C. kept
3116 goodie] goode
3117 alwey (2) feble al
wey owt cast and feble
3118, 3119 wi]> outen with
owte
3119 vertues vertuus
3122 many[e\ manye
sholle cessen shollen
cesen
3123 steadfast stedfast
strengthyn the with
stidfast
3124 seyn MS. seyiie, C.
seyn
3125 \haue~} from C.
somtyitte whilom
3126 set MS. sette, C. I-set
3127 put[te]fur]>e putten
forth
3128 weye wey
brynge bryngen
J>i house thin hows
3129 ficche fycchen
3130 arysen areysen
don MS. done, C. ydoii
3131 pa\>e paath
shalt mowen shal mowe
3132 sounde sownd
3133 hey^t of \>e heuene
heyhte of heuene
313i ha\> MS. ha^e
3136 hey$enesse eyir
Roiuiduesse of the grete
ayr
seip seth
3137 Air his
3138 fire Pyr
eschaufib MS. eschaufij>e
3139 she tie
hit hym
BOOK 4.1
MKT. l.J
VICE IS ALWAYS PUNISHED.
beren f e sterres. and ioygnef hir weyes wif fe sonne
phebus. and felawshipef fe weye of fe olde colcle
saturnus. and she ymaked a knyjt of f e clere sterre.
fat is to seyne fat f e soule is maked goddys kny^t by
f e sekyng of treuf e to comen to f e verray knowlege of
god. and ]>ilke soule renne[f] by fe cercle *of fe sterres
in alle f e places fere as f e shynyng nyjt is depeynted.
fat is to seyne f e ny$t fat is cloudeles. for on nyjtes fat
ben cloudeles it semef as f e heuene were peynted wif
dyuerse yinages of sterres. and whan f e soule haf gon
ynou} she shal forleten f e last[e] poynt of f e heuene.
and she shal pressen and wenden on f e bak of f e swifle
firmament, and she shal ben maked perfit of f e drede-
fulle clerenesse of god. ^] fere haldef f e lorde of kynges
f e ceptre of his my^t and attemperef fe gouernementes
of f is worlde. and f e shynynge iuge of f inges stable in
hym self gouernef f e swifte carte, fat is to seyne f e
circuler moeuyng of [the] sonne. and yif f i 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 clwelle. but yif f e lyke fan to loken on f e derkenesse
of fe erf e fat fou hast for-leten. fan shalt fou seen fat
f ise felonous tyrauntes fat fe wrecched[e] poeple dredef
now shule ben exiled from f ilke faire centre.
radiant path, or
accompanying
cold and aged
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 Kin.? of
kings hears his
mighty sceptre,
and holds the
reins of the
universe. Here
the great Judge,
standing in
shining rohes,
firmly guides his
winged chariot,
and rules the
tumultuous affairs
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 hir his
3141 weye wey
be saturnus MS. sa
turnus be olde colde
3142 saturnus satwrnis
she he
3143 soule thowprht
3144 treube t.rowthe
knowlege k n ol echo
3145 soule thoftht
3146 depeynted painted
3149-50awrf whan shesnal
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 here halde]>ther halt
3155 pis worlde the world
3166 carte cart or wayn
3157 [the] from C.
3159 whiche which
3161 here (1, 2, 3) her
born MS. borne, C. born
toil (1) wol
wil (2) wole
3162 lyke liketh
derkenesse dyrknessos
3164 wrecehed[e'] wrecch-
ede
3165 shule shollen
from fro
112
THE GOOD ARE ALWAYS STRONG.
I HOOK 4.
1 TKCIM: .
TUNC EGO PAPE INQtUM. ET CETERA.
[The 2 prose.]
it Ah! thou pro- T-%Anne seide I bus. [owh] I wondre me bat bou by-
misest me great I/
things indeed! j hetest me so grete binges. ne I ne doutenat bat bou
but without delay, / /
Sii you iS-e Ct " ne mayst wel performe bat bou by-hetest. but I preie be
p.'Toii 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 anoa she bou most nedes
ways strong and
p< ?T r I u i a '^ t ! ie knowen. bat goodfel folk ben al wey strongfe! and
wicked destitute L J
alsertions h do rhese m J3ty- an( l J> e shrewes ben feble and desert and naked
3173 of alle strengbes. and of bise binges certys eueryche of
strate eacii other, hem is declared and shewed by ober. ^[ For so as good
For since good
an d yu e l "ben two contraries. yif so be bat goode be
go
and evil are con-
trary, if good be
m7st> Sent. stedfast. \nui sheweb be fieblesse of yuel al openly, and
ofevii iVknownf yif bou knowe clerely be freelnesse of yuel. be stedfast-
the strength and
stability of good
must also be
known to you.
Hut to convince
from both these
principles, estab-
truths" by argu-
ments drawn first
from one of these
topics and then
<?j-i T_ . p i_ f r
nesse of goode is knowen. but for as moche as be ley of
m y sentence shal be be more ferme and haboundaunt. I
"
w ^ o on ^} r j 3 ^ oon we J an< ^ ^J \^ ] 5er an ^ ^ W ^ C0n '
/> 111 ^ * -\ ?
ferme be binges bat ben purposed now on bis side and
now on bat syde. IF Two binges ber ben in whiche be
for
effect of alle be dedes of man kynde standib. bat is to
seyn. wil and power, and yif bat oon of bise two fayleb
. . .. i i P /ij.*iiiit
bere ms no bmg bat may be don. for yif bat wil lakkeb
necessarv to every
action-the win
and the Power ; T T
if either be want- bere nys no wyat bat vndirtakeb to done bat he wol not
ing, nothing can ' '
beeflected. A man d on . an< i yif power fayleb be wille nis but in ydel and
can do nothing J J r r
curr'eZVof'hTs' 1 ' stant for naujt. and ber of comeb it bat yif bou se a
will, and if power -, , , , ,
faiieth the win is wyjt bat wolde geten bat he may nat geten. bou mayst
of no effect.
Hence, if you see nat clouteri bat power ne fayleb hyw to haue?? bat he
a person desirous
3191 wolde. *[[ bis is open and clere <\uod I. ne it may nat
of getting what , , . . j -n ,
IH- cannot procure, ben denyeu. in no manere. and yif bou se a wy3t quod
you are sure he
lacks power to she. bat hab don bat he wolde don bou nilt nat douten
obtain it.
anoti'ie/do w*mt ^ ^ e ne na )' ^ iac ^ P ower to done it. no quod. I. and in
do.'ctnyo^'doubt f>at. bat euery wy^t may. in bat bat men may holden
3166 [_owK] from C.
3171 good[e] jtoode
strangle} stronge
3172 desert dishert
3173 euer/fcheeuerich
3175 goodie f?ood
3176 stedfast stidefast
3177 freelnesxe frelennsse
stedfastnesse stidefast-
nesse
3178 goode good
3180 oon oo
wil (2) wole
3185-6 \>ere ther
3185 don MS. done, C. don
3188 done don
3187 wille wil
3188 come\> coinht
3189 mayst MS. mayste,
C. may.st
311 clere cler
3192 denyed denoyrd
3193-4 ha\> MS. ha he
3193 don (both) MS. done,
C. doon
3194 had MS. hadde, C. had
done doon
4
s un-
perform.
B.] THE IMPOTENCY OF THE WICKED. 113
hym myjty. as who seib in as moche as a man is rayaty that he had the
J7 J power to do it?
to done a ping, in so moche men halden hym my^ty. jj- ^^"UK-II
and in fat fat he ne may. in fat men demen hym to p werfuHn re-
ben feble. I confesse it wel quod I. Remembrif fe quod il'abieto'do, and
weak in relation
she bat I. haue gadred and shewed by forseide resouws to what he is
able to perfo
fat al f e entenctoon of f e wil of mawkynde whiche fat *
is lad by diuerse studies hastif to comen to blisfulnesse. ^o^thlTthe
IT It reme?/ibref me wel quod I bat it hath ben shewed, following different
pursuits, seeks
and recordeb be nat ban quod she. bat blisfulnesse is <, happiness only ?
\ Do you recol-
f ilke same goode fat men requeren. so fat whan fat / ^ {^j^n
blisfulnesse is requered *of alle. fat goode [also] is re- "^foKT] is
I 7 i . , T, , T the supreme good
quered and desired 01 al. It recordef me wel q?/od I. of men andaii
, desire this good,
for haue it gretly alwey ficchefd] in my memorie./ alle since an seek
happiness ?
folk fan quod she goode and eke badde enforcen hem j^^ b!!d"seek
wif oute difference of entenc^ouw to comew to goode. AndTis certain''
. that when men
fat is a uerray consequence quod I. and certeyne is quod obtain good they
she fat by fe getywg of goode ben men ymaked goode. 3212
... i T r , , . . It is most
bis is certeyne quod. L if ban geten goode men bat bei certain.
P. Do good men,
desiren. so semeb it quod I. but wickedfe] folk qMod then, get what
* .. they desire?
she yif fei geten fe goode fat fei desirew fei [ne] * {feviune 8 nob-
mowen nat ben wicked, so is it quod .1. IF fan so as they can g bTn'o
bat oon and bat ober [quod she! desiren good, and be B. it is so.
P. Since then
goode folk geten good and nat be wicked folk H ban both parties
* pursue the good,
nis it no doute fat f e goode folk ne ben my^ty and f e ^rtuou^obtain
wicked folk ben feble. ^[ who so fat euer q?^od I
. , . , powerful, and that
douteb of bis. he ne may nat considre be nature oi the wicked are
weak and feeble ?
f iwges. ne f e consequence of resouw. and ouer f is quod B. None can
she. 1T yif fat f er ben two f inges fat han o same '^^^
T-ij j i. i f t- j rightly the nature
pMrpos by kynde. and fat one oi hem pwrsuef and per- of things, or are
incapable of com-
formeb bilke same binge by naturel office, and bat ober prehending the
force of any
ne may nat done filk naturel office, but folwef by p^-'t^ beinKS
of er manere fan is couenable to nat^/e ^[ Hym fat end^n'viet"
3196 as moche so moche
3197 done dooti
moche mochel
halden halt
3201 whiche which
3202 tod-MS. latlde, C. lad
3203 it hath ben MS. I herde
J>e, C. it hath ben
3205-6 goode good
3206 [also'} from C.
3207 al alle
It / itnerecordethme
nat nin i,/ 1
3210-12;i}-15 goode good
8
3214 wick.ed[e~\ wikkede
3215 [we] from C.
3216 mowen mowe
3217 [quod she] from C.
3218 wicked wilke (Pwikke)
3220 wicked wikkede
3226 bilk thilke
1H
and one of them
iirroniplishi-s liis
)iur|)ose by the
use of natural
means, while the
other not using
legitimate means
dues not attain his
end which of
these two is the
most powerful ?
R. Illustrate your
meniiing 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?
K. \ 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 :
t 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. Yon 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-
THE WICKED DO NOT SEEK
rnooK 4.
[PROSE 2.
acomplisif hys pwrpos kyndely. and jit he ne acom-
plisij? nat hys owen purpos. whef er of f ise two demest
fou for more my^ty. IT yif fat I coniecte quod .1. fat
fou wilt seye algates. }it I desire to herkene it more
pleynely of j)e. fou nilt nat fan denye quod she fat f e
moeuement} of goynge nis in men by kynde. no for sof e
qitod 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 qttod .1. fan quod she yif fat a wy^t be my^ty to
moeue and gof vpon hys feet, and anofer to whom
f ilke naturel office of feet lakkef . enforcef hym to gone
crepynge vpon hys handes. ^[ whiche of f ise two aujte
to ben holden more my^ty by ry^t. knyt furf e f e re-
menaunt quod I. ^[ -For no w y?t ne doutef fat he fat
may gone by natwel office of feet, ne be more myjty
fan he fat ne may nat ^[ but f e souereyne 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
conseque/zce is open and shewynge of finges fat I haue
graunted. ^[ fat nedes goode folk moten ben my^ty.
and shrewes feble and vnmy^ty. .^[ fou rennest ary^t
byfore me qitod she. and f is is f e iugement fat is to
seyn. IT I iuge of f e ry^t 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. ^[ But for I
see f e now al redy to f e vndirstandynge I shal shewe
f e more filke and continuel resouws. H For loke now
3229 owen owjie
3231 wilt wolt
herkene herkne
3232 pleynely pleynly
denye-- denoye
3233 moeiiement') Moeue-
ment
3237 go\> MS. goj>e
hys hise
3238 gone goon
3239 hys hise
whiche which
3210 wore the Moore
fur\>e forth
3242 gone icon
3246 good goode
3246 virtues vertuus
3247 whiche which
3248 goode good
3253 byfore- : by-forn
3254 forto to
3255 seke sike
BOOK 4. I
PKOSE 2.J
ARIGHT THE SUPREME GOOD.
nr,
how gretly shewib be feblesse and infirmitu of wicked iiension, i shall
continue this
folke. bat ne mowen nat come to bat hire naturel en- |" de Ti.r^V"
/ / ing. ineweaK-
tencioun ledep hem. and }itte almost pilk naturel ^conspicuous-
. . they cannot attain
entenciouw constreineb hem. II and what were to deme the end to which
their natural di*-
ban of shrewes. yif bilke naturel helpe hadde for-leten position prompts
* and almost com-
hem. 1T pe whiche naturel helpe of entenctouw gop al- w^uid'become'df
, P i 7 . , ., , them without this
wey byf orne hem. and is so grete pat vnnep it may be natural prompt
ing, so powerful
ouercomen. IT Considre ban how gret defaute of power and irresistible : j
Consider how
and how gret feblesse pere is in grete felonous folk as p*^**',"
who seip pe gretter piges pat ben coueited and pe desire gre^'tne'thlngs
... , , . , . ., desired, but iin-
nat accompnssed of pe lasse my^t is he pat coueitep it accomplished,
and may nat acomplisse. *|T And forbi philosophic seib power of him that
* desires, and is
pus by souereyne good. 1T Sherewes ne requere nat h!^' "The"
1 ,r ~i ^ i-ii- i wicked seek at'ti r
ly^t[ej medes ne veyne games whiche bei ne may nat no trivial things
' 111 i_ . P i f .-n which they tui 1
tolwen ne holden. but bei f aylera of bilke some of be to obtain ; but
they aspire in
hey3te of binges pat is to seyne souereyne good, ne pise 3275
i a* i p i vain to the sove-
wrecches ne comen nat to pe effect of souereyne good, reign good, winch
they endeavour
* be whiche bei enforcen hem oonly to getcn by nyjtes [* foi. 26.1
J day and night
and by dayes. ^[ In be getyn[g] of whiche goode pe to ? ta '"j T he
strengpe of good folk, is ful wel ysen. For ry^t so as ^res^nd'therein
pou my^test demen hym my^ty of goynge pat gob on marTifeste" 'Vor
IP,,.,, , r n . . , ,, , . , as you deem him
hysteet til he myn e come to bilke place fro te whiche a good walker that
goes to the end
place bere ne lay no wey forber to be gon. Ry^t so of his journey, so
J ' you must esteem
most bou nedes demen hym for ry^t myjty bat getib ^ attafnshis
and atteinib to pe ende of alle pinges pat ben to desire. w^ch 8 there/8
nothing to desire.
by-jonde be whiche ende bat ber nis no bing to desire, wicked men,
then, are destitute
^[ Of whiche power of good folk men may conclude pat whiciTtiieTood <"
wicked men semen to ben bareyne and naked of alle whereKre^othey
, , -pi -u-rij. -L 7^-1 leave virtue, and
strengpe. .tor whi forleten bei vertues and folwen follow vice? is it
because they are
vices, nis it nat for pat pei ne knowen nat pe goodes. ignorant of good?
3259 wicked wikkede
3260 come comyii
3261 \>ilk thilke
3262 deme demen
3263-4 helpe help
326i whiche which
go\> MS. goj>e
3265 grete gret
rnne\> vnnethe
be ouercomen ben ouer-
comp
3267
grete wikkede
3268 \>inges thing
ben is
3271 Sherewes ne requere
ne shrewes ne requeren
3272 lyitle] lyhte
veyne veyn
nat omitted
3276 whiche which
3277 getyn[jg] getinge
whiche goode which good
3278 ysen MS. and C. ysoue
3279 ffo\> MS. gobt-
3280 my&e] mytite
3281 \>ere ther
lay laye
for\>er forthere
be ben
3283 desire desired
3284 \>at omitted
3285 whiche the which
\>at \>at the
3286 ben be
11G
THE WICKED HAVE NO REAL EXISTENCE.
What is more
weak and base
than the blindness
of ignorance ? Or
do they know the
way they ought to
follow, but are led
astray by lust and
covetousness ?
And so, indeed,
weak-minded men
are overpowered
by intemperance,
for they cannot
resist vicious
temptations. Do
they willingly de
sert Good and
turn to Evil ? If
they do so, they
not only cease to
be powerful, but
even cease to
exist. For those
who neglect the
common end of
all beings, cease to
exist. You may
marvel that I
assert that the
wicked, the
majority of the
human race, have
no existence
3304
but it is, how
ever, most true.
That the wicked
are bad I do not
deny but I do
not admit that
they have any
real existence.
You may call a
corpse a dead
man, but you can
not with pro
priety call it a
man. So the
vicious are pro
fligate men, but I
cannot confess
they absolutely
exist. That thing
exists that pre
serves its rank,
nature, and con
stitution, but
when it loses
these essentials it
ceases to be. I tut ,
you may say that
the wicked have a
power to act, nor
do I deny it ; but
their power is an
effect of weakness.
They can do evil,
but this they could
IT But what fing is more feble and more caitif fan is f e
blyiidenesse of ignoraunce. or ellys fei knowen ful wel
wliiche finges fat fei au^ten to folwen ^[ but leclierye
and couetise ouerf rowef hem mysturned. ^f and certis
so dof distemperaunce to feble men. fat ne mowen nat
wrastle a^eins f e vices ^f Ne knowen fei nat fan wel
fat f ei foreleten f e good wilfully, and turnen hem vil-
fully to vices. ^[ And in fis wise f ei ne forleten nat
oonly to ben nry^ty. but f ei forleten al outerly in any
wise forto ben ^f For f ei fat forleten f e comune fyn of
alle finges fat ben. f ei for-leten also f erwif al forto
ben. and perauenture it sholde semen to som folk fat
fis were a merueile to seyne fat shrewes whiche fat
contienen f e more partie of mew ne ben nat. ne han no
beynge. ^[ but naf eles it is so. and f us stant fis fing
for f ei fat ben shrewes I denye nat fat f ei ben shrewes.
but I denye and sey[e] symplely and pleynly fat f ei
[ne] ben nat. ne han no beynge. for ryjt as f ou myjtest
seyn of f e careyne of a man fat it were a ded man.
*j[ but f ou ne my^test nat symplely callen it a man.
If So graunt[e] I wel for sofe fat vicious folk ben
wicked, but I ne may nat graunten absolutely and
symplely fat fei ben. ^[ For filk fing fat wif
holdef ordre and kepif nature, filk fing is and haf
beynge. but fat fing fat failef of fat. fat is to seyne
he fat forletif naturel ordre he for-letif filk beyng
fat is set in hys nature, but f ou wolt sein fat shrewes
mowen. ^f Certys fat ne denye I nat. 11 but certys
hir power ne descendef nat of strengf e but of feblesse.
for fei mowen don wickednesses, fe whiche fei ne
my^ten nat don yif fei my^tere dwelle in f e forme and
3291 autfen to folwen
owhten folwe
3293 dob MS.do}>e, C. doth
3294 wrastle wrastlen
3295 vilfulln wilsfully
3297 outerly owtrely
3301 seyne seyen
3301-5 denye -denoye
3305 sey[e] symplely seye
sympeli
3306 [we] from C.
3307 seyn seyen
3309 graunl[e] Kraunte
3311-12 bilk thilke
3312 /taf-MS. habe
3313 \>at (l)-what
3313 seyne seyn
3314 \nlk- thilke
3315 set MS. sette, C. set
3316 denye denoye
3318 don MS. done, C. don
3319 myrfen (1) myhte
dwelle dwellin
BOOK 4. 1
PROSE 2.J
POWER, AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE CHIEF GOOD.
n:
in fe doynge of goode folke. ^f And filke power
shewef ful euydently fat fei ne mowen ry$t nau^t.
^[ For so as I haue gadered and proued a lytel her by-
forn fat yuel is naujt. and so as shrewes mowen oonly
but shrewednesse. fis conclusions is al clere. ,fat
shrewes ne mowen ryjt nat to han power, and for as
moche as f ou vndirstonde whiche is f e strengf e fat is
power of shrewes. I haue diffinised a lytel here byforn
fat no f ing nis so my^ty as souereyne good IF fat is
sofe quod. .1. [and thilke same souereyn good may don
non yuel // Certes no quod I] IF Is f er any wy^t fan
quod she fat wenif fat men mowen don alle f inges.
No man quod .1. but yif he be out of hys witte. IF but
certys sherewes mowen don yuel quod she. 1F 30 wolde
god quod I fat f ei ne my^tes don none, fat quod she
so as he fat is myjty to done oonly but good[e] f inges
may don alle f inges. and f ei fat ben my^ty to done
yuel[e] f inges ne mowen nat alle f inges. fan is f is open
f ing and manifest fat f ei fat mowere don yuel ben of
lasse power, and ^itte to p?*oue fis conclusions fere
helpef me fis fat I haue shewed here byforne. fat al
power is to be noumbred amonge f inges fat men aujten
requere. and haue shewed fat alle f iwges fat au$ten ben
desired ben referred to good ryjt as to a manere hey^te
of hyr nature. ^[ But for to mowen don yuel and
felonye ne may nat ben referred to good, fan nis nat
yuel of f e nourabre of f inges fat aujte??. *be desired, but
al power au}t[e] ben desired and requered. ^f fan is
it open and cler fat f e power ne f e moeuyng of shrewes
nis no powere. and of alle f ise f inges it shewef wel fat
not do, if they re
tained the power
of doing good.
This power, then,
clearly shows
their impotence.
For as evil is no
thing, it is clear
that while the
wicked can only
do evil they ran
do nothing. That
you may under
stand the force of
this power, I have
proved that no
thing is more
powerful than the
sovereign good.
ft. That is true.
P. And that
supreme good can
do no evil ?
B. Certainly not.
P. Is there any
one who thinks
that man can do
all things ?
B. No sane man
can think so.
p. But men may
do evil.
B. I would to God
they could not.
P. Since he that
can do good, can
3336
do all things, and
he that has power
to do evil cannot
do all things,
therefore the evil
doers are less
powerful. Let me
add too that
powfr is one of
the things to be
desired, and that
all such things are
to be referred to
the chief good
(the perfection of
their nature). But
the power of doing
evil has no rela
tion to that Good,
therefore it is not
desirable; but as
[ fol. 26 ft.]
all power is de
sirable, it is clear
that the ability to
do evil is not
power. It clearly
follows from this
reasoning,
3320 goode (rood
3321 shrewednesse shrew-
ednesses
clere cleer
3325 nat power nawht
tie han no power
3326 whiche which
\>at is of this
3327 fiere her
3328 nis is
3329 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~\ sroode
3336 don MS. done, C. don
done don
3337 yuel\e\ yuele
\>is it
3338 don MS. done, C. don
3339 jt#e yit
\>ere ther
3340 shewed here byforne
Ishewed her by-forn
al alle
3341 amonge among
3344 don MS. done, C. don
3346 m'-^t, ,i be owhte ben
3347 al alle
whte
118
THE WICKED ARE UNHAPPY.
FBOOK 4.
[MET. 2.
P 6 g ool l e f^ ^ en certeynly myjty. and f e shrewes ben
douteles vnmy^ty IF And it is clere and open fat f ilke
feebie. cl And re
Plato's opinion is , .
hereby verified sentence of plato is uerray and sof e. fat seyf fat oonly
by i
the
that the wise only
have the
do what tl
sire ; the wicked
may follow the
power to wisemett may [doonl bat bei desiren. and shrewes
they de-
mowen haunten fat hem lykef. but fat f ei desiren fat
is to seyne to comen to souereyne good f ei ne han no
For shrewes don fat hem
great aim and de- , .
sire, t. e. HAPPI- power to acomplissen bat.
NESS, they can _
never attain. The Jigt whan by bo binges in whiche bei deliten bei wenen
wicked may J > *
to atteyne to f ilke good fat f ei desiren. but f ei ne geten
g"od n (fpr e which ne atteynen nat f er to. 1F for vices ne comen nat to
they wish), but QQCA
they can never bllSIulneSSC. 3360
possess it, for im
piety and vice can
wHini^p C m D e V s'r d QUOS U1DES SEDERE CELSOS.
[The ij d Metwr.] -.-,-, P , ,
whosoever might \A/ so J 38 ^ j 56 couertures of her veyn apparailes
purple coverings, myjtfe] strepen of fise proude kynges fat f ou
proud kings, who,
surrounded by geest sitten on heyje in her chayeres glyterynge in
their guards,
3364 shynynge purpre envyroned wif sorweful arm^res
thrones , and manasyng wif cruel inoufe. blowyng by woodnesse of
whose stoni looks
wear fierce threat- herte. IT He sholde 86 ban bat like lordes beren wib
enings, and boil-
i"fau r ie a furv * nne ^ cora g es ^l streyte cheynes for leccherye tor-
mighty^ords^n- mentif hem on fat oon syde wif gredy venyms and
ami torment r e e d by troublable Ire fat araisef in hem f e flood es of troublynges
lust, passion,
grief, and delusive tourmentib vpon bat ober side hir bou^t. or sorwe halt
hopes.
3371 hem wery or ycau^t. or slidyng and disseyuyng hope
Since, then, so J.-.T. * j i_ _ 1^1
many tyrants tourmentif hem. And f erfore syn f ou seest on heed.
bear sway over
one head that
lord, oppressed
by so many
masters (i. e.
vices), is weak
actions are not
i 'brilii-nt to his
will.
fat is to seyne oon tyraunt here so many[e] tyrauntis.
fan ne dof f ilk tyraunt nat fat he desirif. syn he
is cast doune wif so many[e] wicked lordes. fat is to
seyn wif so many[e] vices, fat han so wicked lordshipes
ouer hym. 3377
3351 clere cler
3352 so]>e soth
\>at sey\> MS. but sipe, C.
pat seyth
3353 [doow] from C.
:r>r> seyne seyn
3357 whiche which
3361-63 her hir
3362 myrtle'] myhte
3363 hey^e heygh
3364 sorweful sorwful
3365 woMpe Mowth
3366 se seen
like thilke
3368 on in
3369 liem hym
3371 disseyuyng deceyu-
ynge
3373 seyne- seyn
bere beeren
3373-75-76 many\e\ rnanye
3373 tyrauntis tyranyes
3374 dob MS. do>e
bilk thilke
3375 doune down
wicked wikkede
3376 wicked wikkedly
THEY DO NOT ESCAPE PUNISHMENT. 119
VIDES NE IGITUB QUANTO.
[The iij.'' prose.]
SEest bou nat ban in how gret filbe bise shrewes ben m how great ana
filthy a mire the
ywrapped. and wib whiche cleernesse bise good wicked waiiow?
This is a proof
folk shynen. In bis sheweb it wel bat to good folk ne that good toiks
J /do not go unre-
lakkej) neuer mo hir medes. ne shrewes ne lakken ^evfi'-doers"
,. P f 11 -,- I..L-U j escape punish-
neuer mo towrmentis. for of alle binges bat ben ydon ment. Every ac
tion is done for a
bilke bing for whiche any bing is doon. it semeb as by certain end, and
J * J that end is the re-
ry^t bat bilke fing be be mede of bat. as bus. IT yif a ^^S^^
man renneb in be stadie or in be forlonge for be corone. w'hu-h'au 1 things
i . . 3 '*. f T.-T.I. i. are done. There-
ban lieb be mede in jje corone for whiche he rennej). fore happiness is
- .. , . .,-, the reward which
!l And I haue shewed bat blisfulnesse is bilke same aii the human
race seek as the
good for whiche bat alle ]>ingus ben don. Jjan is bilke "uSIw f Thu r
same good purposed to be werkes of mankynde ry^t as f b 1 e d fromTh I e a vir-
a comune mede. whiche mede ne may ben disseuered virtue ean'never
want its reward.
fro good folk, for no w^ r ?t as by ryjt fro bennes forbe Evil men ma y
J * J J y r rage ag they
bt hym lakkib goodnesse ne shal ben cleped good. 3392
-TT> i-- -u v f 11 f jr T please against the
1 or whiche bing folk of good e maneres her medes ne good, but the
L J . crown of the wise
forsaken hem neuer mo. 1 or al be it so bat sherewes sha11 not fa "or
fade. The wicked-
waxen as wood as hem list a3eynes good[e] folk, jitte ^nnofdeprh^a
neuer be les be corone of wise men ne shal nat fallen usTwnVo'nllu /.
ne faden. IT For foreine shrewednesse ne bynymeb himself on the
possession of an
nat fro be corages of good [e] folk hire propre honoure. advantage re
but yif bat any wy 3 t reioiseb hem of goodnesse bat bei S%H il
had[de] taken fro wiboute. as who seib yif [bat] any gh-er'or^y others.
But, as the re-
wytt had|de| hys goodnesse of any ober man ban of ward of the
Jy L J J virtuous is derived
hym self, certys he jjat 3 af hym bilke goodnesse or 1^^!^'!^,
ellys som ober wy ? t my^tfe] bynym[e] it hym. but for SH?
r , T_ -i virtuous. Lastly.
as moche as to euery wy^t hys owen propre bounte since a reward is
,_ 111P-IO desired because it
jeueb hyi hys mede. ban at arst shal he faylen ot is supposed to be
a pood, can we be-
mede whan he forletij) to ben good, and at be laste so j'^a'abieof W ood
as alle medes ben requered for men wenen fat bei ben rec'lnnpem* ?' U "
3379 whiche which
3380 flrood goode
3381 ne (2) omitted
3383 whiche which
3385 forlonge forlong
3386-88-90 whiche which
3391 fur\>e-fnrth
3W3 whiche which
3393 goodie] goode
3395 wood woode
goodie] goode
3396 les leese
ne omitted
3399 bet had[de} ho IwdUo
3400 [\>a(] from C.
3401 hadlde} hiulde
3402 selfW$. sclk
3403
3398 good[e] goode tnyhte bc-nyme
3399 reioixe]> reioyse ! 3401 owen owne
Item hym ! 3406 laste last
120
THE REWARD OF THE GOOD.
rnooK 4.
LPUOSE .
8 OO( l[ e ]-
w lde dome bat he fat is ry^t
ward
receive?
certainly the niyjty of goode were parties of mede. *and of what
fairest and richest ...
of aii rewards. mede shal he be gerdoned. certys ot ryjt faire mede
Call to mind that
excellent corollary an d r yjt greet abouen alle medes. If Remembre be of
I have already '
feason^thu's* Y^ noble corolarie bat I ^af be a lytel here byforne.
Since the supreme 7 i . i i , 11 ir>
good is happiness, and gadre it to gidre in bis manere. so as god hym self
it follows that all
good men are is blisfulnesse. ban is it clere and certeyn. bat alle good
happy in as much
butif they e are d ! fo^ ^ en ma ^id blisful for bei ben good[e]. and bilke
folk bat ben blisful it accordib and is couenable to ben
godde[s], ban is be mede of goode folk swiche. bat no
day [ne] shal enpeyren it. ne no wickednesse shal en-
dirken it. ne power of no wy^t ne shal nat ainenusen it
bat is to seyn to ben maked goddes. If and syn it is
bus bat goode men ne faylen neuer mo of hire medes.
If certys no wise man ne may doute of be vndepartable
F." d since good ea ' peyne of shrewes. If bat is to seyn bat be peyne of
and evil are con-
3424 shrewes ne departib nat from hem self neuer mo.
traries, so are
rewards and
gods. The re
ward (i. e. divin
ity) of the righte
ous is such that
no time can im-
nor can any
wickedness ob
scure it. Since,
then, happiness
belongs to good
men, punishment
inseparably at-
punishments. It
is evident that
IT For so as goode and ynel and peyne and medes ben
contrarie it mot nedes ben bat ryjt as we seen by-tiden
rewards follow
good actions, and j n crerdouw of goode. bat also mot be peyne of ruel
punishments at- w r"J '
answere by be contrarie partye to shrewes. now ban so
self is the reward , , j n n
of the virtuous, as bounte and prowesse ben be medes to goode folk,
also is shrewednesse it self torment to shrewes
BO vice is the
punishment of
the vicious. He
who is punished
with pain and
uneasiness knows
that he is afflicted
with evil. If,
then, the wicked
did rightly under
stand themselves bei ben swiche bat be fvtteriste wikkednesse / bat is to
they would per- ' ' * L
1f ban
who so bat euer is entecched and defouled wib yuel.
yif shrewes wolen ban preisen hem self may it semen
to hem bat bei ben wib outew partye of tourment. syn
se y n w ikkede thewes / which bat is the] outereste and
be w[or]ste kynde of shrewednesse ne defoulib nat ne
"
wne P vice!the ent '
extreme and *..-.,
worst kind of evil, entecehib nat hem oonly but iniectib and enuenemyb
not only afflicts
them, but infects hem gretely IT And al so loke on shrewes bat ben be
and entirely * *
3408 goodie] goode
wolde nolde
3409 goode good
o/(2) of the
3411 greet grete
3412 here byforne her by-
fom
3113 and good
3114 is (1) his
3414 clere cleer
3415 good[e~\ goode
3417 godde\] goddes
.twtche swich
3418 [we] from C.
endirken derken
3422 wise man wysman
\>e omitted
vndepartable MS. vndir-
partable, C. vndepart-
able
3423 of (I) of the
3428 answere answery
\>e omitted
3434 [vtteriste is the]
from C.
3438 gretelygrelly
HOOK 4. 1
VHOSE 3.J
VIRTUE EXALTS MANKIND.
121
contrarie pa/'tye of goode men. how grete peyne felaw-
shipef and folwef hem. IF For fou hast lerned a litel
here byforn fat al f ing fat is and haf beynge is oon.
and f ilke same oon is good, fan is f is consequence fat
it semej) wel. fat al fat is and ha]? beynge is good. f is
is to seyne. as who seif fat beynge and vnite and
goodnesse is al oon. and in Jjis manere it folwef fan.
fat al f ing fat failef to ben good, it styntif forto be.
and forto haue any beynge. wher fore it is fat shrewes
stynten forto ben fat f ei weren. but f ilke of er forme
of mankynde. fat is to seyne f e forme of f e body wif
oute. shewif }it fat fise shrewes were somtyme men.
IT wher fore whan f ei ben pe?-uerted and torned in to
malice, certys fan han f ei forlorn fe nature of man
kynde. but so as oonly bounte and prowesse may en-
hawnse euery man ouer of er men. fan mot it nedes be
fat shrewes whiche fat shrewednesse haf cast out of f e
condici'oure of mankynde ben put vndir f e merite and
fe deserte of men. fan bitidif it fat yif fou seest a
wy^t fat be transformed in to vices, fou ne mayst nat
wene fat he be a man. 1T For }if he [be] ardaunt in
auarice. and fat he be a rauynowr by violence of
foreine rychesse. fou shalt seyn fat he is lyke to a
wolf, and yif he be felonous and wif out reste and
exercise hys tonge to chidynges. fou shalt lykene hym
to f e hounde. and yif he be a preue awaitoz^r yhid and
reioysef hym to rauysshe by wyles. fou shalt seyne
hym lyke to f e fox whelpes. ^] And yif he be dis-
tempre and quakif for ire men shal wene fat he beref
f e corage of a lyoun. and yif he be dredeful and fleynge
and dredef f inges fat ne au^ten nat ben dred. men
pollutes them.
But contemplate
the punishment
of the wicked.
You have been
taiiifht that
unity is essential
to being and is
good and all 1 1 'at
3443
have this unity
are good ; what
soever, then, fails
to be good ceases
to exist. So that
it appears that
evil men must
cease to be what
they were. That
they were once
men, the outward
form of the body,
which still re
mains, clearly
testifies. Where
fore, when they
degenerate into
wickedness they
3452
lose their human
nature. But as
virtue alone ex
alts one man
above other men,
it is evident that
vice, which
divests a man of
his nature, must
sink him below
humanity. You
cannot, therefore,
esteem him to be
a man whom you
see thus trans
formed by his
vices. The greedy
robber, you will
say, is like a wolf.
3461
He who gives no
rest to his abusive
tongue, you may
liken to a hound.
Does he delight
in fraud and trick
ery ? then is he
lik'e young foxes.
Is he Intemperate
in his anger ?
then men will
compare him to a
raging lion. If he
3468
be a coward, he
will be likened to
3439 grete gret
3441 al alle
ha\> MS. hape
3443 al alle
ha\> MS. hape
3416 al alle
:*H7 haue han
3448 stynten MS. styntent
3450 were somiyme weeren
whilom
3452 forlorn MS. forlorne,
C. forlorn
3453 as omitted
enhawnse enhawscn
:f 1 ">."> ii-h ic/ie w liich
/tap MS. hape
3469 [be'] from C.
3464 yhid MS. yhidde, C.
I-hidd
3465 seyne seyn
3468 dredeful dredful
3469 ben to ben
dred MS. dredde, C.
dredd
122 HE WHO CEASES TO BE VIRTUOUS
si^rdunfand* snal holde hy 1 !y ke to J> e herte. and yif he be slowe
ifke 'an'o!! s is 6 he and astoned and lache. he lyueb as an asse. and yif he
fickle and incon
stant? Then is be Ivjt and vnstedfast of corage and chaungeb ay his
he like a bird. ' J
stu(1 ies. he is lickened to briddes. 1F and yif he be
him'ifnn the 1 plounged in foule and vnclene luxuries, he is wibholden
mire like a nasty . / i j T / , /> i r, .-,
sow. it follows, in be foule dehces of be foule soowe. Tl ban folweb it
then, that he who
^l? bountee and prowesse. he forletib to
h^cannot 'attota ^ en a man - 8 J n
divinity, he is /. 3 > , j > < - .
turned 'into a of god. he is tourned in to a beest. 3478
beast.
[foi. 27&.] *V[E]LA NARICII DUCIS.
[TheS'-Metun]
Ulysses was P vius be wynde aryueb be sayles of vlixes due of J?e
dnven by the II , .
eastern winds -*~* contre of nance, and hys wandryng smppes by be
upon the shores of
c'irce'lhveit'who see ^ n ^ I 36 ^ s ^ e f 61 * 6 Q& Circe be fayre goddesse doubter
eTheffnie^ts'with of jjc sonne dwelleb bat medlyb to hir newe gestes
transformed them drynkes bat ben touched and maked wib enchauwt-
into divers shapes
ano'the^intoa *'' men ^- an ^ after bat hir hande my^ty of be herbes
had[de] chauwged hir gestes in to dyuerse maneres. bat
3486 oon of hem is couered his face wib forme of a boor, bat
ober is chauwged in to a lyoura of be contre of mar-
morike. and his nayles and his tebe wexen. ^[ bat
some into howl- ober of hem is newliche chaunged in to a wolf, and
ing wolves,
howelib whan he wolde wepe. bat ober go]) debonairly
But Mercury, the in be house as a tigre of Inde. but al be it so bat be
Arcadian god,
rescued Ulysses godhed of mercuric bat is cleped be bride of arcadie hab
from the Circean o /
maSsJavrng ^^- mercie of be due vlixes byseged wib diuerse yueles
fec'tedd'rinks.were and hab vnbounden hym fro be pestilence of hys
chanKed to swine,
and fed on acorns, oostercsse algates be rowers and be maryners hadden by
3496 bis ydrawen in to hir mouses and dronken ]>e wicked[e]
3470 holde h olden
tyfce-lyk
herte hert
slowe slowh
3*72 vnstedfast vnstidefast
his hise
3175 \>an MS. pat, C. than-
ni>
3477 passe passen
3479 aryue\> arynede
vlixes MS. vluxics, C.
vlixes
3481 Circe Circes
3483 eiichauntment} en-
chauntementj
3484 hande hand
of ouer
3485 had[dey- hadde
gestes MS. goostes, C.
3486 boor bwre
3WS his (1} hise
his <cpe-^-hise teth
3489 newliclte neweliche
3490 crop MS. gope
3491 house hows
3492 bride bryd
ha\> MS. habe
3493 inercie MS. mercurie,
C. mercy
3494 ha\> MS. hape
3495 oosteresse oostossc
3406 wicked[e] wikkcde
HOOK 4. 1
1'KOSK 4.J
CEASES TO BE A MAN.
123
drynkes bei bat were woxen swyne hadden by bis
chaunged hire mete of brede forto ete acorns of ookes. 3498
non of hir lymes ne dwell! b wib he?/? hoole. but AH traces of the
human form were
bei han lost be voys and be body. Oonly hire boujt lost > ^ ^ey
dwelleb wib hem stable bat wepib and bywailib j?e g3?in2^
monstruous chaungynge bat bei suffren. IT ouer ly$t dreadful fate"
hand, as who seib. 1T feble and lyjt is be hand of o most weak, are
Circe's powers
Circes be enchaunteresse bat chaungeb be bodies of folk compared with
' the potency of
in to bestes to regarde and to comparison of mutaczoun the%u^an" 8 hap?!
His makid by vices, ne be herbes of circes ne ben nat Circe's herbs may
change the body,
my3ty. for al be it so bat bei may chauwgen be lymes ^ mSS? the^
of be body. IT algates ^it bei may nat chaunge be man. strengt l '
hertes. for wib inne is yhid be strengbe and )>e vigour 3509
of men in be secre toure of hire hertys. bat 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 myjtily ban be venym of c . irce ' s poisonous
J 7 J i i charms.
circes. 1T For vices ben so cruel bat bei percen and
boruj passen be corage wib iraie. and bou2 bei ne anoye Though
J it leaves the body
nat be body, litte vices wooden to distroien men by whole, it pierces
J the inner man,
wounde of bou 3 t. 351 6 ^ a d d ^ un a d
upon the soul.
TUNG EGO FATEOB
[Thefertheprose.]
in seide I bus I confesse and am aknowe quod I. ne B. \ confess that
vicious men are
I ne se nat bat men may seyn as by ryjt. bat rightly called
/ v /*/// beasts, Tney J*e-
shrewes ne ben nat chaunged in to beestes by be foj^o? man?nut
qualite of hir soules. IT Al be it so bat bei kepen }itte tiilir'sou'i^prove
them to be beasts.
be torme 01 be body of mankynde. but I nolde nat of i wish, however,
that the wicked
shrewes of whiche be boujt cruel woodeb alwey in to w e f e without the
power to annoy
destrucciouw of good[e] men. bat it were leueful to hem ^hurtgood
to done bat. 5T Certys quod she ne it nis nat leueful P. They have no
power, as I shall
to hem as I shal wel shewen be in couenable place, presently show
you.
^[ But nabeles yif so were bat bilke bat mew wenera ben 3526
3-187 were woxen swyne
weeren wexen swyii
3-WS chaunged Ichaunged
brede bred
forto MS. and forto
r/r iicorns etcn akkorncs
3199 hoole hool
3501 wepi\> MS. kepij>, C.
weepith
3502 monstruous MS. mon-
stronous, C. Monstruos
3504 Circes MS. Cirtes
folk folkvs [I-hydd
3509 yhid-yiS. yhidde, C.
3515 wooden MS. wolden,
C. wooden
3517 aknowe aknowe it
3518 seyn sayn
3523 poorf[e] Koode
3524 done doll
3526 ben be
124
THE WICKED ARE TORMENTED
rnooK 4.
LPKOSE 4.
Hut were
this power, which
men ascribe to
them, taken away
from the wicked,
they would be re-
lioved 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
S. I grant it but
still I wish the
vicious were 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
leueful for shrewes were bynomen hem. so fat fei ne
my^ten nat anoyen or don harme to goode men. ^[ Certys
a gret party of )>e peyne to shrewes shulde ben allegged
and releued. IT For al be it so fat f is ne seme nat
credible ping perauentz^re to soTnme folk ^it mot it
nedes be fat shrewes ben more wrecches and vnsely.
whan J>ei may don and performe fat fei coueiten [than
yif they myhte nat complyssen fat they coueyten]. ^f For
yif so be fat it be wrecchednesse to wilne to don yuel '.
fan is it more wrecchednesse to mowen don yuel.
wif oute whiche moeuyng fe wrecched wille sholde
languisshe wif oute effecte. IT 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 fei (shrewes) ben constreyned by fre 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 shullerc fei q?od 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 bouwdes 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 cow-
passywgws 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. IT 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
3327 for to
3529 my\ten myhte
don MS. done, C. doon
harme harm
3529 gret MS. jrrete, C. gret
3533-36 don MS. done, C.
doon
3533-34 [than coueyten]
from C.
3537 moeuyng mowynge
j 3537 wille wil
3539 ha]> MS. babe
seyne seyn
I 3540 done (1) doon
moeuynge to done Mow
ynge to don
mot MS. mote, C. mot
354-1 gretely gretly
3545 seyne seyn
were wecren
3545 moeuyng mowynge
3548 wenen weene
to lakken yuel omit
ted
3549 here ther
so (2) the
3550 longe long
3552 shrewednesse shrew
ednesses
often ofte
BOOK 4. 1
PKOSE 4.J
BY A THREEFOLD WRETCHEDNESS.
125
caytifs yif bat hir shrewednes ne were yfinissed. at be me " wretched,
J J s > the longer they
leste weye by f e outerest[e] deeb. for [yif] I haue con- i a r ,i,^ r t 'm" I s st t they
eluded sof e of f e vnselynesseof shreweclnesse. ban shewef the'y'wouid^in^
. 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. If Certys quod I their crimes, it
is clear, as I have
f is [conclusion] is harde and wonderful to graunte. If But j^et^rnaT"'
IT i , i -i -it i rn i . i T misery is infinite.
knowe wel fat it accordef moche to [tliej f mges fat I B. TWS conse-
quence appears to
haue graunted her byforne. If bou hast quod she be ryjt be just, but diffi-
' J > cult to assent to.
estimacz'ou?i of f is. but who so euere wene bat it be an rig^y.^lJuf
harde f ing to acorde hym to a conclusions. it is 'ry}t to U my n ccmcHisfon
,11 f , T_ r. i you ought to show
bat he shewe bat sorame ol be premisses ben ials. or that the premises
are false, or that
ellys he mot shewe bat be colasiouw of preposiciouns the consequences
are unfairly do-
nis nat spedful to a necessarie conclusion/a, ^f and yif it ^e^'J ^ tlie
be nat so. but bat fe premisses ben ygranted for nis not'rejeVthe in""
nat whi he sholde blame be argument, for bis bing bat them, what i
am about to say
I shal telle be nowe ne shal not seme lasse wondirful. isnot less won. UT-
ful, and it follows
but of jje finges J>at ben taken al so it is necessarie as 3574
..., .Ti.Ji-T.i.4.- j necessarily from
SO Seib it lOlweb OI bat Whiche bat IS purposed the same pre
byforn. what is bat q?wd I. If certys quod she bat is B -
J * - ' . P. That the wick-
]?at J)at bise wicked shrewes ben more blysful or ellys ^^dfor bee "
lasse wrecches. fat byen be tourmentes fat fei han happier than if
T r _ justice had allow-
deserued. ban yif no peyne of Justice ne chastied e ed them to go
L J unpunished. I do
hem. ne bis ne seye I nat now for bat any man my2t[el not a rP eal to
<s ) L J popular argu-
benk[e] fat fe maneres of shrewes ben coriged and "Spent cor-
chastised by veniaunce. and fat fei ben brou^t to fe thefear C ofchas-
. tisement leads
ryjt wey by be drede ot be tourment. ne for bat bei them to take the
right path, and
2euen to ober folk ensample to fleyen from vices. If But f hat l " e s . ufl j r -
ings of evil-doers
I vndirstonde jitte [in] an of er manere fat shrewes ^^fbtt
ben more vnsely whan fei ne ben nat punissed al be it unpunished^- 1 '
come much more
so bat fere ne ben had no resouw or lawe of correcc2ouw. unhappy in
another way.
ne none ensample of lokynge. ^f And what manere 3588
3558 shrewednes shrewed
nesse
yflnisscd fy nyshed
3559 wcj/e wcy
outerest[e~\ owtteryste
[yj/] from C.
35<>(> sope soth
.':.">|>I rli'i-i'/u clccrly
35t>3 [conclusion] from C.
3563 harde hard
3564 [.the] from C.
3567 harde hard
:r>(iS fals false
3573 nowe now
3575 who so sel\> ho seyth
whiche which
.T)",* &//# a-byen
3579 chasticd[_e} chastyscde
3580 my>,i{_e\ myhte
3581 \>enk\e\ thinke
3584 ieuen MS. jeuene, C.
yeuen
fleyen flen
3585 \itte yif
[('] from C.
3588 none noil
120
THE WRETCHEDNESS OF THE WICKED
FBOOK 4.
LFBOBB 4
B. In what way
do you mean ?
P. Are not good
people happy, and
evil folk miser
able?
K. 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
lie 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 111 (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. 28 b.]
ment.
B. Nobody denies
that.
P. Everything,
too, which is just
3589 ouber oother
ha\> MS. nape
ben be
told MS. tolde, C. told
3591 goodie] goode
3592 Ithanne she] from
C.
3594 blisful weleful
ha\> MS. habe
:c>iil-97 goode good
shal fat ben q?;od I. oufer fan haf ben told here
byforn IF Haue we nat graunted fan quod she fat
good[e] folk ben blysful. and shrewes ben wrecches.
$is quod I. [thanne quod she] }if fat any good were
added to f e wrecchenesse of any wy^t. nis he nat more
blisful fan he fat ne haf no medelyng of goode in hys
solitarie wrecchednesse. so semef it qwod I. and what
seyst f ou fan quod she of f ilke wrecche fat lakkef alle
goodes. so fat no goode nis modeled 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 participaczouw of som goode. whi sholde he nat
qwod I. ^[ 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 resoura of Justice. And whan
filke 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 fou hast graunted is yuel.
IT For f e desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it quod
I. 11" 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 fing and clere fat it is ry^t fat shrewes ben
punissed. and it is wickednesse and wrong fat fei
escapin vnpunissed. IT who my3t[e] 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
3598 alle al
whiche w hich
3600 knyt knytte
3601 re[le]ued releued
3602 goode good
3605 seyne seyn
3606 whiche which
3607 outen owte
3609 don MS. done
seye seyn
3610 whiche which
3611 desert deserte
3614 6ep MS. bepe, C. ben
3615 clere cler
3617 myrtle] myhte
3618 is ry}t nis MS. nis
ryjt is
3619 allesd
nis wicked is wykke
BOOK 4. T
PKOSE 4.J
IS DIMINISHED BY PUNISIIMKN ! .
127
wicked. certys quod I bise binges ben clere ynouj. and is good; and, on
the contrary,
bat we han concludid a litel here byforne. but I preye whatsoever is un-
* J just is evil.
J>e bat bou telle me yif J?ou accordest to leten no tour- ?n(mnces*from St
ment to be soules aftir fat be body is dedid by be def e. mtos.'^but'is'
r . -, there any punish-
bis is to seyn. vndirstondest bou oujt bat soules han ment for the soul
after death of the
any towment after f e dej>e of be body. ^[ Certis quod ^^ and t
she 30 and bat ry}t grete. of whiche soules quod she I punlshmente'are
, j i i /. rigorous and
trowe bat somme ben lowrmentid by asprenesse of eternal, others
have a corrective
peyne. and so?wme soules I trowe be excercised by a a d purifying
* force, and are of
purging mekenesse. but my conseil nys nat to deter- Buttw"^'*
myne of fis 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
reality nothing,
ben. vnworf i nis no mowynge. and eke of shrewes of n ever h o un- ked
whiche fou pleynedest fat bei ne were nat punissed. thTir'iiwnce^do
, , . evil is not of long
pat bou woldest seen bat bei ne weren neuer mo wib duration, and
T that the wicked
outen be torment of hire wickednesse. and of be licence would be more
unhappy if it were
of mowynge to done yuel. bat fou preidest fat it JSS&S5&4
my3t[e] sone ben endid. and fat fou woldest fayne tinurfo^ever?"
lerne. J>at 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 this i
showed that evil
bis I haue shewed be bat more vnsely ben slxrewes men are more un
happy, having
whan bei escapen wib oute ry3tful peyne. fan whan bei ^^th^if h "
i -IT. J.PI j t juctly chastised.
ben pumssed by ry3tful uengeaunce. and of Jns sentence Wherefore when
they are supposed
folweb it bat ban oen shrewes constreyned atte laste wib to get off scot-free
' they suffer most
most greuous tourment. whan men wene bat bei ne ben g" 8 ^
nat ypunissed. whan I considre bi resouns quod I. I. B. Your reason
ing appears con-
ne trowe nat bat men seyn any bing more verrely. and vicing and con-
J J T J elusive. But your
yif I toMrne a^eyn to fe studies of men. who is [he] to op
it sholde seme bat [he] ne sholde nat only leuew and would hardly
command assent,
bise binges, but eke gladly herkene hem. Certys quod or even a hearing.
3621 hrre her
3623 dedid -endyd
de\>e deth
3624 [w] from C.
ou}t awht
3625 de\>e deth
3626 grete (irret
Vt628 be ben
3629 determyne determeny e
3630 peyne peynes
<o?d MS. tol'de
3632 [.t. myghtl from C.
3632-34 whiche which
3633 eke k
36*5 seen seyn
3637 done don
3638 my^t[e] myhte
fayne lerne fayn lernen
3639 endure dure
3645 atte &t the
laste MS. past, C. laste
3647 resouns resoun
3649-50 [he] from C.
3651 eke ek
128
VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD.
rnooK 4.
LPHOSE *.
P. It is so. Fur
IIID-I' ari'iistoillt'd
t.i tho darkness of
iMTiir cannot fix
tlu'ir oyes on the
linht of perspicu
ous truth, like
birds of nijrlit
which are blinded
by the full light of
day. Theyconsider
only the gratifica
tion of their lusts,
they think there is
happiness in the
liberty of doing
evil and in ex
emption from
punishment. Do
you attend to the
eternal law writ
ten in your own
heart. Conform
your mind to
what is good, and
you will stand in
no need of a
judge to confer a
reward upon you
for you have it
already in the en
joyment of the
best of things (i.e.
virtue). If you
indulge in vice,
you need no other
3668
chastisement-
yon have degraded
yourself into a
lower order of
beings. The mul
titude doth not
consider this.
What then? Shall
we take them as
our models who
resemble beasts 't
If a man who had
lost his sight,
having even for
gotten his blind
ness, should de
clare that his
faculties were all
perfect, shall
we weakly be
lieve that those
who retain their
sight are blind ?
The vulgar will
not assent to what
I am going to say,
though supported
by conclusive
arguments to
wit, that persons
are more unhappy
that do wrong
3653 derkenesse derknosso
3654 clere so\>efastnes cleer
sothfastncssc
3655 whiche which
3658 obir eyther
done don
3659 escaping schapynge
3662 to (1) of
3685 foreyn foroyne
3066 \>rest thiyst
she so it is. but men may nat. for fei han hire eyen so
wont to derkenesse of erfcly f inges. fat fei may nat
liften hem vp to f e ly^t of clere sof efastnes. H But
fei ben lyke to briddes of whiche fa ny^t ly^tnef hyre
lookyng. and }>e day blyndef hem. for whan men loken
nat f e ordre of finges but hire lustes and talent}, fei
wene fat of ir fe leue or f e mowynge to done wicked-
nesse or ellys fe escaping wif oute peyne be weleful.
but cowsidere f e iugement of f e perdurable lawe. for if
fou conferme fi corage to fe beste finges. f ou ne hast
no nede to no iuge to jiuew f e pris or meede. for fou
hast ioigned f i self to f e most excellent f ing. and yif
fou haue enclined f i studies to f e wicked finges. ne
seek no foreyn wrekere out of f i self, for fou f i self
hast f rest fe in to wicked finges. ryjt as fou my^test
loken by dyuerse tymes f e foule erf e and f e heuene.
and fat alle ofer finges stynten fro wif oute. so fat
fou [nere neyther in heuene ne in erthe] ne say[e] no
f ing more, fan sholde it semen to f e as by only resouw
of lokynge. fat fou were in f e sterres. and now in fe
erf e. but f e poeple ne lokef nat on fise finges. what
fan shal we fan approchen vs to hem fat I haue
shewed fat fei ben lyke to fe bestes. (q. d. now)
IT And what wilt fou seyne of f is ^[ yif fat a man
hadde al forlorn hys sy$t. and had[de] foi^eten fat he
euer saw and wende fat no fing ne fay led [e] hym of
perfecciouw of marckynde. now we fat my^ten sen f e
same fing wolde we nat wene fat he were blywde (q. d.
sic), ne also ne accordef nat f e poeple to fat I shal
seyne. f e whiche fing is susteyned by a stronge founde-
ment of resouns. fat is to seyn fat more vnsely ben fei
3666 wicked wikke
3669 \nere erthe] fromC.
heuene- C. heuenene
<"*//(>] C. saye
:u',7'i mi in
3674 lyke lyk
q. d. MS. quod
3675 wilt )>OM seyne woltow
seyn
3676 forlorn MS. forlornc, i
C. for-lorn
sy^t syhte
Jiadfde] hadde
3677 saw MS. sawe.C.sawh
fnyled[c] faylede
3678 gen MS. sene, C. sen
3679 binfc thinjces
q. a. MS. quod
3681 whiche which
THE WICKED NEED PITY. 120
bat don wrong to ober folk, ben bei bat be wrong than those wim
suffer wrong.
sufTren. IT I wolde heren bilke *same resoiws quod. I fi f*^ui c f j w ni-
IT Deniest J?ou quod she bat alle shrewes ne ben worbi j.eson h s! aryour
to han tozwment. nay quod I. but quod she I am cer- that every wicked
man deserves
tevne by many resou?*s bat shrewes ben vnsely. it ac- punishment?
B. No, I do not.
cordeb quod I. ban [ne] dowtest bou nat quod she bat ^ i 'J"p i 8 a l ^ s m ^ n
bilke folk bat ben worjn of towrment bat beine ben %$$* ways
1 J . 1 JT'I-t. I_ # TllCV are 80 -
wrecches. It accordeb wel quod I. yit bou were ban p. Then those
that deserve
quod she yset a luge or a knower of binges, wheber punishment are
' miserable.
trowest bou bat men sholde to?^nnent[e] hym bat hab * } f a . d ""V^ ea
don be wronge. or hym bat hab suifred J>e wronge. I i"o5dyou n inmct n
ne doute nat quod I. bat I nolde don suffissaunt satis- upo^thTwronff-
doer, or upon the
faccioura to hym bat had|de| suifred be wrong by be injured?
J ' J ' h. I should not
sorwe of hym bat had[de] don be wronge. 1T ban aJflK?^*
semeb it quod she bat be doar of wrong is more wrecche sufferer! 10 "
ban he bat hab suifred be wrong, bat folweb wel qiiod would deem the
injuring person
[I], ban quod she by jjise causes and by ojier causes m / )re 1 " nh! h pp n " d
bat ben enforced by be same roate bat filbe or synne by ^ThatTo'iTmvs
be propre nature of it makeb men wrecches. and it p at From'this
then, and other
sheweb wel bat be A^rong bat me/i don nis nat be reasons pfiike
nature, it seems
wrecchenesse of hym bat receyueb be wrong, but ]?e 3703
wrecchednesse of hym bat dob fe wronge H but certys men m\serab[e7
. andaninjurj"
q uod she bi.se orato/'S or aduocat 3 don al be contrane done to any man
is the misery of
for bei enforceii hem to coramoeue be iuges to han pite the doer, and not
f of the sufferer.
of hem fat han suifred and resceyued be binges bat ben t B h"nk U d r ifferenr- tes
7 7 ~LI_ 111 i 'y they try to ob-
greuous and aspre. and jitte men sholden more ryit- tain pity for those
that have suffered
fully han pitee on hem bat don be greuaunces and be cruelty and op
pression; but the
wronges. be whiche shrewes it were a more couenable J j" a ^ r Jjjf^ the
j_ i T,. t oppressors, who
bmg bat be accuso?rs or aduocatj not wrobe but pitous ought, therefore,
and debonaire ladden be shrewes bat han don wroreg to ment as the sick
are to the phy si-
be lugement. ryjt as men leden seke folk to be leche. cian ' n <* b ?
17 -* * angry but by
for bat bei sholden seken out be maladies of synne by SSSS L
36S3 don MS. done, C. don
o]>er oothre
3688 [ne] from C.
3891 yset MS. ysette, C.
net
omitt*xt
3692 tonrmentfe} torment-
3692-3 AaJ> MS. ha)>e [en
3693 wronrje (2) wrong
3695 hadldel hadde
3696 hcuVde] haddeii
wrontje
-
(Im-iv
3698 Ab MS. haj>e
3699 [/] from C.
3700 ben ben of
9
3700 roate Roote
3703-4 but - wronge omit
ted
3704 do> MS. <lobe
3711 wro\>e\\ru\.\\
3712
do MS. done, C. don
3713 seke syke
130
THE DUTY OF ADVOCATES.
FBOOK 4.
LMET. i.
by the pliy ie of
chastisement,
they may be cured
of their vices. I
would not have
the guilty de
frauded by their
advocates. Tneir
duty is to accuse,
and not to excuse
offenders. Were
3720
it permitted the
wicked to get a
slight view of
virtue's beauty,
which they have
forsaken, and
could they be per
suaded ot'the puri
fying effects of
lawful chastise
ment, they surely
would not con
sider punishment
as an evil, but
3727
would willingly
give themselves
up to justice and
refuse the defence
of their advocates.
The wise hate
nobody, only a
fool hates good
men ; and it is as
irrational to hate
the wicked. Vice
is a sickness of
the soul, and
needs our com-
3734
passion, and not
our hate, for the
distempers of the
foul are more
deplorable than
those of the body,
and have more
claims upon our
compassion.
I The fertile
Metitr.]
What frenzy
causes man to
by strife. If death
is desired he de
towrment}. and by f is couenaunt eyper pe entent of f e
defendowrs or aduocatj sholde fayle and cesen in al. or
ellys yif f e office of aduocat} wolde bettre profiten to
men. it sholde be townied in to f e habit of accusaci'oun.
fat is [to] s[e]yn f ei sholdew accuse shrewes. and nat
excuse hem. and eke fe shrewes hem self. $it it were
leueful to hem to seen at any clifte f e vertue pat pei
han forleten. and sawen pat pei sholde putten adouw
pe filpes of hire vices by [the] towrment} of peynes. pei
ne aujten nat ry^t for pe recompensac^ouw forto geten
hem bounte and prowesse whiche pat pei han lost demen
ne holden pat pilke peynes weren towrmentes to hem.
and eke pei wolden refuse pe attendauwce of hir aduo-
catj and taken hem self to hire iuges and to hir ac-
cusours. for whiche it bytidep [pat] as to pe wise folk
per nis no place ylete to hate, fat is to seyn. fat hate
ne haf no place amonges wise men. ^[ For no wyjt
wolde haten gode men. but yif he were ouer moche a
fole. ^[ and forto haten shrewes it nis no resourz.
^T For ry$t so as languissing is maladie of body, ry^t
so ben vices and syrcne maladies of corage. 1T and so as
we ne deme nat fat f ei fat ben seek of hire body ben
worf i to ben hated, but raf er worf i of pite. wel more
worf i nat to ben hated, but forto ben had in pite ben
f ei of whiche f e f ou^tes ben constreined by felonous
wickednesse. fat is more cruel fan any languissinge of
body.
QUID TANTOS IUUAT.
TTThat delitef it $ow to exciten so grete moewynges of
^' hatredes and to hasten and bisien [the] fatal dis-
posicz'oun of }oure deef wif ^oure propre handes. fat is
3745 to seyn by batailes or [by] contek. for yif 30 axen f e
3740
3715 tourment} torment
\>e (2) omitted
3719 [to] s[e\yn to seyu
3722 sawen sawh
sholde sholden
3723 [the] from C.
3724 aujten owhte
3725-29 whiche which
3729 bytide\> MS. byudep,
C. bytWith
[pa<] from C.
3730 ylete Meten
3731 Aap MS. hape
3732 wolde nyl
3732 moche mochel
3733 fole fool
3736 seek syke
3743 [the'] from C.
3745 [&2/] from C.
BOOK 4. I
PROSE 5.J
THE FOLLY OF WAR.
131
deeb it hastisib hym of liys owen wille. ne deeb ne lays not to come.
Why do they who
tarieb nat hys swifte hors. and [the] men bat be ser- are exposed to the
L -I assaults of beasts
pent} and J>e lyouras. and J?e tigre. ' and )>e beere and be ?enomous d reptiies
I i i , i , , ., ..,! seek to slay each
boore seken to sleen wib her tej>e. }it Jnlke same men other with the
seken to sleen eueryche of hem ober wib swerde. loo for manners and
opinions do not
her manors ben * diuerse and discordaunt ^T bei [* foi. 29 &.]
accord, wherefore
moeuen vnryjtful oostes and cruel batailes. and wilne unjusT^rs 'and
to perisse by enterchaungynge of dartes. but )>e resourc eacn e other^sdes-
, . . ., u tinv - But this is
of cruelte nis nat ynouj ryatfoL wilt bou ban jelden a no just reason for
shedding blood.
couenable gerdoura to be desertes of men IT Loue ry*t- wouidst thou re-
* ' ward each as he
fully goode folkf and haue pite on shrewes. 3756 ^ e er t v h e e 8 ^ h a e 8 n
they deserve, and
have pity upon
HINC EGO UIDEO INQtMM. ET CETERA.
[The fyfthe prose.]
T-*us see I wel q%od I. eyber what blisfulnesse or ellys B. i see plainly
\) J ' 'the nature of that
-* what vnselinesse is estab[l]issed in fe desertys of tend^he'vfrtu'eV
goode men and of shrewes. f but in bis ilke fortune SS^gSj'th'at '
of poeple I see somwhat of goode. and somwhat of thewicked. vl< But
in Fortune I see a
yuel. for no wise man hap nat leuer ben exiled pore mixture of good
J and evil. The
and nedy and nameles. ban forto dwellen in hys Citee J-cifes"!" P to fers
and flouren of rychesses. and be redoutable by honoure. 3763
, , f , i i j poverty, &c. And
and stronge of power tor in Jns wise more clerely and wisdom appears
. -IT more illustrious,
more witnesfully is be office of wise men ytretid whan when wise men
' are governors and
)>e blisfulnes and [the] pouste of gouernowrs is as it }. m ^ t rt to"thei r
were yshad amonges poeples bat ben ney^boures and wh^ntrnprison-
... i . , , _ . merit, torture. &c.,
subgitj. syn bat namely pnsoim lawe and bise ober are innicted only
upon bad citizens.
tow/merit} of lawful peynes ben raber owed to felonous
Citejeins. for be whiche felonous Cite^eins bo 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- ^urdVchMge?
trechaunged. bat towrmentj of felounes pressen and why should the
' worthy suffer and
confounden goode folk, and shrewes rauyssen modes of the vicious re-
3746 hastisi\> hasteth
owen wille owne wyl
3747 \the~] from C.
3749 boore boor
te\>e teth
3750 swerde swerd
3751 her hir
3752 wilne wylnon
3753 enterchaungynge cn-
trechaun^ynees
3760 goode ffood
3761 ha]> MS. haj>e
nat omitted
leuer leuere
3762 \>an MS. J>at, C. than
3763 redoutable MS. re-
deniable, C. redowtable
3764 stronge strong
3764 clerely clerly
3766 [the'] from C.
3767 neyjboures nesshe-
bors
3769 lawful laweful
3771 goode good
3772 [)><*) from C.
132
THE OPERATIONS OF CHANCE.
TBOOK 4.
LMET. 5.
ceive the reward
of virtue? I
should like to
hear the reason of
so unjust a dis
tribution. I
should not marvel
so much if Cluince
were the cause of
all this confusion.
But I am over
whelmed with
astonishment
when I reflect,
that God the di
rector of all
things thus un
equally distri
butes rewards and
punishments.
less we know the
cause, between
God's proceedings
and the opera
tions of Chance ?
P. It is not at all
surprising that
you think you see
irregularities,
when you are
ignorant of that
order by which
God proceeds.
But, forasmuch
over all, rest
assured that all
things are done
rightly and as
they ought to be
done.
[* MS. arituri]
[The fyfthe
Metur.]
He who knows not
that the Bear is
seen near the
Pole, nor has
observed the path
of Bootes, will
3798
The vulgar are
alarmed when
shadows
terrestrial obscure
vertue and ben in honoz/rs. and in grete estatis. and I
desire eke to witera of be. what seme)) be to ben be
resouw of bis so wrongful a confusiouw IF For I wolde
wondre wel be lasse yif I trowed[e] bat alle bise binges
were medeled by fortuouse hap. IF But now hepeb
and encreseb myne astonyenge god gouernow of binges,
bat so as god ^eueb ofte tymes to good[e] men goodes
and myrbes. and to shrewes ynel and aspre binges.
and $eueb a^eynewarde to goode folk hardnesse. and to
shrewes [he] graunteb hem her wille and bat bei de-
siren, what difference ban may ber be bitwixen bat bat
god dob. and be hap of fortune, yif men ne knowe nat
be cause whi bat [it] is. it nis no merueile quod she bou}
bat men wenen bat ber be somwhat folysche and confus
whan be resouw of be order is vnknowe. 1F But alle
bou} bou ne know nat be cause of so gret a disposic/oura.
nabeles for as moche as god be good[e] gouernour at-
tempreb and gouerneb be world, ne doute be nat bat
alle binges ne ben doon aryjt. 3793
SI QUIS ARCTURI * SYDERA.
10 so bat ne knowe nat be sterres of arctour
ytowrned neye to be souereyne contre or point,
bat is to seyne ytowrned neye to be souereyne pool of be
firmament and woot nat whi be sterre boetes passeb or
gaderib his wey[n]es. and drencheb his late flaumbes in
be see. and whi bat boetes be sterre vnfoldib his ouer
swifte arisynges. ban shal he wowdrew of be lawe of be
heye eyre, and eke if bat he ne knowe nat why bat be
homes of be ful[le] moene waxen pale and infect by be
boundes of be derke ny$t ^[ and how be moene dirk
3775 grete Rjot
3776 to witen t'orto woten
3778 trowed{e\ trowcde
' alle al
3779 were weoren
fortuouse forlunous
3780 myne myn
3781 gotxl[e] jcoode
3782 yw.ly\\e\\n
3783 hardnesse hardnesses
3784 [he] from C.
i<-iil,- wyl
3785 difference MS. differ-
3786 dob MS. dope [enee
Aap nappe
3787 [if] from C.
it ne it
3788 confus confuse
3789 alle al
3791 g<xxl[e] goode
3793 ne omitted
3794 arctour MS. aritour
3795 neye neygh
3796 seyne seyn
neye nygli
3797-99 boetes MS. boeccs,
C. boetes
3798 his (1) hise
wey[n~]es weynes
3802 /w/[te]-fiille
BOOK 4. "I
FKOSE 6.J
THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS.
133
and confuse discouereb be sterres. bat she had [del Thinking
the eclipse the re-
ycouered by hir clere visage, be commune errour moeueb ment^the^sou 1 ht
folk and rnakij? wery hir bacines of bras by pikke ^^JbyttTe
, L i I_.L- i _ j. tinkling of brazen
strookes. bat is to seyne bat per is a maner poeple pat vessels or
. cymbals. Yet
hvjt|e| coribandes bat wenen bat whan be moone is m none marvi when
the norm-west
be eclips bat it be enchaimtid. and berfore forto rescowe ^'^enT^stuou's 6 -
be moone bei betyn hire basines wib bikke strokes, helplof^ongeaied
_. j i_ i_ -LI i? _ j snow are melted
^ .Ne no man ne wondreb whan be blastes of be wynde by the warm rays
of the sun, be-
chorus betyn be strondes of be see by quakynge floodes. cause the causes
are apparent.
ne no man ne wondreb whan be wey}te of be snowe 3813
yhardid by be colde. is resolued by be brennynge hete cauTe^
J known disquiet
of phebus be sonne. IT For here seen men redyly be the human mind.
causes, but be * causes yhid bat is to seye in heuene r* f i. so.]
trouble be brestes of men. IT be moeueable poeple is The fickle mob
stands amazed at
a-stoned of alle binges bat comen selde and sodeynely in very rare or
sudden phenome-
oure age. but yif be troubly errour of oure ignorawce ^Aeffiowver,
departid[e] from vs. so bat we wisten be causes whi bat i^oran^gTveT
- . . , . , , , ptece to certain
swiche binges bitiden. certys bei sholden cesse to seme knowledge.
wondres.
3822
ITA EST INQCL1M.
, _ - , i i i [The syxte prose.'
V%vs is it quod I. but so as pou hast jeuen or byhyjt B . So u is. nut'
I/ , i i i P . mr l M thou hast P r -
J me to vnwrappen be hidde causes ot binges ^[ and mised to untold
the hidden causes
to discoueren me be resouns couered w/t/i dirknesses I of things, and un-
* veil things wrapt
p?-eye be pat pou diuise ancZ luge me of pis matere. and i^ray^h^de- 1
n j j-iMTT'i.--! liver me from my
bat bou do me to vndrestondera it. H 1 or bis miracle present perplex
ity, and explain
or bis wondre trouble b me ryjt gretely. and ban she a the mystery i
mentioned to you.
litel [what] smylyng seide. ^f bou clepest me quod f e ' c i l a reto k ou e the
she to telle bing. bat is grettest of aUe binges bat mowen Tques f
, . , . r -i which I am afraid
ben axed. ^[ And to be whiche questiouw vnnepl els is can scarce be
answered.
pere au^t ynow to lauen it. as who seip. vnnepes is per
suffisauntly any ping to answere pertitly to pi questions. 3833
3S01 hadlde] hadde
3806 baclnes MS. hatines
\-ikke MS. Hike, C. thilke
3807 seyne seyn
3808 %3<[e] hihte
3809 eclips eclvpse
3812 chorus M*S. thoms, C.
chorus
3813 snowe son\vh = snowh
3815 here her
redyly redely
3816 yhid MS. yhidde, C.
I-hid
seye seyn
3817 trouble trowblon
3820 departure] from de-
partcde fro
3823 byhytf by-li.vlito
3821 hidde hyd
3826 preyeprecy
diuise deuyse
3827 do don
3828 ffretelyttrctty
3829 [what] from C.
3832 pere autf ther awlit
134
FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS.
("BOOK 4.
LPROSE e.
For the subject
is of such a kind,
t.!i:it when one
doubt is removed,
innumerable
others, like the
Ill-ails of the
hydra, spring up.
Nor would there
be any end of them
unless they were
restrained by a
quick and vigor
ous effort of the
mind. The ques
tion whereof you
want a solution
embraces the five
following points :
1. Simplicity, or
unity of Provid
ence. 2. The order
and course of
Destiny. 3. Sud
den chance.
4. Prescience of
God, and divine
predestination.
5. Free-will. I
will trvto treat of
these things :
Resuming her dis
course as from a
new principle,
3849
Philosophy argu
ed as follows :
The generation of
all things, every
progression of
things liable to
change, and every
thing that moveth,
derive their
causes, order, and
form from the
immutability of
the divine under
standing. Provid
ence directs all
things by a
variety of means.
These means, re
ferred only to the
divine intelli
gence, are called
Providence; but
when contemplat
ed in relation to
the things which
receive motion
and order from
them, are called
Destiny. Reflec
tion on the efficacy
of the one and the
other will soon
^f For pe matere of it is swiche pat whan oon doute is
determined and kut awey per wexcn oper doutes wip-
outen nourabre. ry^t as pe heuedes waxen of ydre pe
serpent pat hercules slouj. 1T Ne pere ne were no
mane re ne noon ende. but yif ]>at a wy^t cowstreined[e]
po doutes. by a ry^t lyuely and a quik fire of pou^t. pat
is to seyn by vigour and strengpe of witte. ^[ For in
pis matere men weren wont to maken questiouns of pe
simplicite of J>e pwrueaunce of god and of pe ordre of
destine, and of sodeyne hap. and of )>e knowyng and
predestinacioun deuine and of pe lyberte of fre wille.
pe whiche ping pou pi self aperceiust wel of what weyjt
pei ben. but for as rnochel as pe knowynge of pise
pinges is a manere porcioun to pe medicine to pe. al be it
so pat I haue lytel tyme to don it. $it napeles I wole
enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it. IT but al pou}
pe norissinges of dite of musike delitep pe pow most
suffren. and forberen a litel of pilk delite while pat I
weue (contexo) to pe resouns yknyt by ordre 1T As it likep
to pe quod I so do. 1T po spak she ry^t a[s] by an oper
bygynnyn[ge] and seide pus. ^[ pe engewdrynge of alle
pinges quod she and alle pe progressions of muuable
nature, and alle pat moeuep in any manere takip hys
causes, hys ordre. and hys formes, of pe stablenesse of pe
deuyne pou^t [and thilke deuyne thowht] pat is yset and
put in pe toure. pat is to seyne in pe hey^t of pe sim
plicite of god. stablisip many manere gyses to pinges pat
ben to don. ^[ pe whiche manere whan pat men loken
it in pilke pure clerenesse of pe deuyne intelligence, it
is ycleped pwrueaunce IT but whan pilke manere is re-
3834 swiche swych
oon o
3835 w'i\>outen noumbre
witA-owte nowmbyr
3S36 waxen wexeu
3837 \>ere ther
3838 constreinedfe] con
st rcynede
3S39 lyuely lyfly
3810 witte wit
3843 hap happe
3845 weyit wyht
3848 wole wol
3850 \pow- MS. now, C. )>ou
most suffren MS. moste
to souereyne ; C. most
suffren
3851 bilk thilke
3853 po so
spak MS. spake, C. spak
3853 a[s] as
3856 alles\
3858 [and thowJif] from
C.
yset MS. ysette, C. yset
3859 toure towr
seyne seyn
hey\t hey lite
3861 don done
3862 clerenesse klcnncsse
B<>OK i. 1
PHOSE 6.J
OF FATE AND PROVIDENCE.
135
ferred by men to binges bat it moeueb and disponeb ban cause us to see
r r their dittemic-i'..
of olde men. it was cleped destine. IT be whiche JJXetaSnt? **
binges yif fat any wy}t lokejj wel in his bov^t. J?e KdSS8
, . jri_i.i.i.-uiii.i of worldly affairs.
strengbe of bat oon and ot bat ober he shal Ivitly mowen Destiny or Fate is
that inherent state
seen bat bise two binges ben diuers. 1F For pwrueatiMce or condition of
movable tilings
is bilke deuyne resoiw bat is establissed in be souereyne oFprov^denc| r rV-
pmice of jjinges. be whiche pwrueaunce disponib alle oTdeViiTwidch 1 " 1
binges, but destine is be disposicz'ouw and ordenaunce them. Provid
ence embraces all
cleuynge to moeuable binges, by J>e whiche disposiw'oiw d ^"^ e '^Jj ^'' 1
be pwrueaunce knyteb alle j)inges in hire ordres. 1T For j^'el motLn'to 3
L till.' i- 11. i. i every individual
pwrueaunce enbraceb alle bmges to hepe. al bou^ bat thing, and in the
place and under
bei ben dyuerse and al bou? bei ben wib outen fyn. but the form appro
priated to it. So
destynie departeb and ordeynej) alle binges singlerly Jl^ "f this P or C dei-
and diuideb. in moeuynges. in places, in formes, in up*^ the dr^ne
j _L-I. r -i . f tJ f A intelligence is
tymes. departib as bus. so bat be vntoldyng ol tern- Providence; and
being unfolded
porel ordenaunce assembled and ooned in be lokyng of according to time
and other circum
be deuyne bou^t IT Is pwrueaunce and bilke same 3880
assemblynge. and oonyng diuided and vnfolden by cUi n ed e Fate. y ^
tymes. la/t bat ben called destine, and al be * it so bat [* foi. soV]
things appear to
bise binges ben dyuerse. aitte nabeles hangeb bat oon differ yet one ot
them depends on
on bat ober. forwhi J>e ordre destinal procedib of be o^ue^ofFatepro-
,..,,. ,, 1 . , ceeds from the
simplicite ot purueaunce. ior ry^t as a workman j>at unity of Provid
ence. For as a
aperceiueb in hys boust be forme of be bing bat he wil workman, wiu,
J * > ' has formed in his
make moeueb be effect of be werke. and ledib bat he 1 a ie ^ork 1 t! > ich he
had[de] loked byforne in hys boujt symply and pre- nnfsh^executes it
afterwards, and
sently by temporel bou:t. II Certys ryit so god dis- produces after a
time all the difler-
ponib in hys p?mieaunce singlerly and stably be binges JJJJSKriiS^L
bat ben to done, but he amynistre); in many maneres God^thepiln o^
j j T. j I.MI i_- I" 8 Providence
and in dyuerse tymes by destyne. bilke same binges disposes every-
' thing to be
bat he hab disponed ban wliebir bat destine be excer- brought about in
a certain order
cised. eyber by sorame dyuyne spirites seruaunte3 to ^ut^m^Kt-
be deuyne pwrueaunce. or ellys by somme soule (awiwa mtn^t'ry^of'Fate,
3872 cleuynge clyuyiige
3875 wi\> outen fyn Infy-
nyte
3876 singlerly synfrulerly
Hs77 in (3) MS. and, C. in
3878 departi\> omitted
[as] from C.
3878 so \>at lat
388* on of
3886 wil wol
3888 hdd^de'] hadde
gymply symploly
3889 \touit ordinaunce
3890 singlerly s.viiirulcrly
3890 stably stablrly
3893 hab MS. lia(>e
3894 ei/per owther
seruaunte} MS.
auuce;
3895 somme som
136
PROVIDENCE CONTROLS FATE.
PliOOK 4.
LPKOSB c.
mundi )- or e % s by al nature seruynge to god. or ellys
ah'ly'to timt'oTder by be celestial moeuyng of sterres. or ellys by be vertue
and that time. So .
oi aungels. or ellys by be dyuerse subtilite of deueles.
or e ^ vs ^ anv ^ nem> or e lly s by hem alle be destynal
ordynauwce is ywouen or accomplissed. certys it is open
then, however
Fate be exercised,
Destiny are under
the control of
Providence, which
disposes Destiny, ping bat be pwueaunce is an vnmoeueable and symplo
But some things ' J
under Providence forme of binges to done, and be moeueable bonde and
are exempt from
Fate n te?ng 0f sta- J> e tempwel ordynaunce of binges whiche bat be deuyne
bly fixed near to ,. ., ,> , , , 1,1
the Divinity him- simplicite ot pwrueaunce hab ordeyned to done, bat is
self, and beyond
the movement of destine.
For whiche it is bat alle binges bat ben put
vndir destine ben certys subgitj to pzwueaunce. to
whiche pzwueaunce destine it self is subgit and vndir.
1F But sorame binges ben put vndir purueaunce bat
soi'mounten be ordinaunce of destine, and bo ben
bilke bat stably ben yficched ney to be first godhed bei
sowrmouwten be ordre of destinal moeuablite. IT For
3912 ry}t as cercles bat towrnen aboute a same Centre or
outermost, revolv- , . .,, 1 , . . ..
n K in a wider about a poynt. bilke cercle bat is mrest or moost wib-
ynne ioineb to be symplesse of be myddel and is as it
were a Centre or a poynt to bat ober cercles bat tournerc
1T and bilke bat is outerest compased by
middle point, it is larger envyronnynge is vnfolden by larger spaces in so
constrained to be J ' J
mochel as it is forbest fro J>e mydel symplicite of be
poynt. and yif ber be any biwg bat knytteb and felaw-
shippeb hym selfe to bilke mydel poynt it is constreyned
in to symplicite. bat is to seyn in to [vn]moeueablete.
and it ceseth to ben shad and to fletiw dyuersly. IF Ry^t
so by semblable resouw. bilke binge bat deprtib firbest
Destiny. For even,
round one com
mon centre, that
which is inner
most approaches
nearest to the
simplicity of the
middle points, and
is, as it were, a
centre, round
which the out
ward ones re
volve ; whilst the
circumference,
the further it is
from the centre
this circle or any- -,
thing else be aboutew hym.
joined to the
imrity v of reasra
twn f gi^ h re r m a o" y ed
t'enSence, so
preaches to this
intelligence, the
centre of all
thinKs, the more fro be first bomt of god. it is vnfoldew and summittid
stable it becomes,
* grettere bondes of destine, and in so moche is be
pendent u
bing more free and lovs fro destyne as it axeb and
3S96 aJ alle
3807 mneuyng moeuynges
3900 ywouen MS. y wonnen,
C. ywouen
or and
3002 bonde bond
3904 lia\> MS. hape
3905 whiche which
3912 as as of
3913 about a-bowte
inrest innerest
3917 larger (1) a large
3918 mochel moche
for\>est ferthere
3920 selfe self
3921 [vn]moeueablete vii-
moeuablete
3922 ceseth MS. fle)>e, C.
cesith
3923 \>inge thing
3924 of MS. to, C. of
3926 lovs laus
HOOK 4. ~|
1'ii.OSE C.J
DESTINY RULES NATURE.
137
holdeb hyra ner to bilke Centre of binges, bat is to And if we
suppose that
seyne god. H and if be binge cleueb to be stedfastnesse ^ '^"^'"J"^"
of be bou^t of god. and be wib oute moeuyng certys it the supreme *
. , mind, it then be-
sowrmounteb be necessite of destyne. ban ryst swiche comes immov-
* ' able, and is be-
comparisouw as [it] is of skilynge to vndirstondyng and ^y^ e "^ of
of bing bat is engendred to bing bat is. and of tyme to sonin"/ig to*tS*"
, ^ . understanding, as
eternite. and ot be cercle to be Centre. ryat so is be that winch is pro-
' duced to that
ordre of moeueable destine to be stable symplicite of w m ' p , h ex l? ts f
J * itself, as time to
pwrueaunce. 11 bilke ordinaunce moeueb be heuene clrcleto'thl 1118
7 . , . - , . j centre, so is the
and be sterres and attempreb be elyments to gider movable order of
Fate to tlie stable
amonges hem self, and transformeb hem by enter- simplicity of
Providence.
chauwgable mutaciourc. 1F and bilke same ordre neweb ^^ y r j u t wn-
TI,. j f -I-, j -i trols the actions
a^em alle binges growyng and lallyng a-doune by sem- O f men by an in
dissoluble chain
bleables progressioii^s of seedes and of sexes, bat is of causes, and
is, like their
to sein. male and female, and bis ilke ordre cowstreyneb 3941
be fortunes and be dedes of men by a bonde of causes abiei"'-^"^, 114 "
then, are all
nat able to ben vnbounden (indissolubili). be whiche things well con
ducted, since that
destinal causes whanne bei passen oute fro be by- of V causehas rder
gynnynges of be vnmoeueable purueaunce it mot nedes rim^ucity'onhe
Divine mind, and
be bat bei ne be nat mutable, and bus ben be binges iul by its inherent
immutability ex-
wel ygouerned. yif bat be symplicite dwellywge* in be [* foi. si.]
ercises a restraint
deuyne boujt sheweb furbe be ordre of causes, vnable to upon mutable
thinps, and pre-
be I-bowed. and bis ordre constreyneb by hys propre j''*^ 1 ,! f "
stablete be moeueable binges, or ellys bei sholde fleten t 8 'Snot > ii,u de "
folily for whiche it is bat alle binges semen to be confus appear confused
nevertheless, the
and trouble to vs men. for we ne mowe nat considers proper condition
of all 1 1 1 i i i--s
bilke ordinaunce. 1T Nabeles be propre manere of cim^itTo u?e"ir
euery bing dressynge hem to goode disponit hem alle. there g is Mthiwc
done for the sake
for bere ms no binge don for cause of yuel. ne bilke ofevii, not eve
by the wicked,
bing bat is don by wicked[e] folk nis nat don for yuel for feUcity e> are g
be whiche shrewes as I haue shewed [ful] plentiuously i^kederror.
3927 ner npre
3928 seyne seyn
\>inge cleue\> tiling
clvueth
stedfastnesse stydufast-
nesse
3A30 gwiche swych
3fl31 [] from C.
3932 to (3) 'MS. of, C. to
3937 enter chaung able MS.
euterchaunttyngable, C.
entrechaungeable
3939 a-doune a-down
sembleables seinblable
3912 bonde Iwnd
3943 ben vnbounden be vn-
bownde
3944 oute owt
39-48 fur]>e forth
3949 I-bowed MS.vnbound-
o, C. I-bowed
3950 sholde sholdon
3951 whiche which
3952 mowe mowen
3956 wicked^e'] wykkedo
3957 \_ful] from C.
138
NOTHING DONE FOR EVIL S SAKE.
("BOOK 4.
L.P&O8JB 6.
Rut the order
proceeding from
the centre of
supreme good
ness does not
mislead any. But
you may say,
what greater con
fusion can there
lie 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
things are agree
able to some
bodies, and bitter
to others ; why
some sick persons
are relieved by
lenitives and
others by sharper
remedies. It is
no man-el 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 goode Rood
3960 decline]? MS.eiiclinep,
C. declynyth
3961 wars worse
3962 smnme tyme somtyme
3965 swiche swych
3967 goode good
seken goode. but wicked errour mystowrnif he?/i.
J)e ordre comynge fro J>e poynt of souereyne goode ne
decline]) nat fro hys bygynnynge. but f ou mayst sein
what vnreste may ben a wors cowfusiouw fan fat goode
men ban somme tyme aduersite. and somtyme pro-
sperite. H and sbrewes also ban now f inges fat f ei
desiren. and now f iwges fat f ei baten 11 whef er men
lyuen now in swicbe 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 graunt[e] 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 attemperaunce 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 knowerc
it nat. 1T 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 wzt7i lyjt medicines
[and some folk ben holpen w?'t7i 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
fing. but what of er f ing 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
39"i graunt[e] praunto
3973 inrest Inneryste
3074 ha\> MS. hape
said MS. saide, C. seyd
3975 determine deternnuen
3978 [we] from C.
3978 vnlyke vn-lyk
3979 lyke lik
3981 [ben] from C.
hool hoole
3984 [and medicynes] -
from C.
BOOK I. 1
PUOSE .J
GOD THE SOUL'S PHYSICIAN.
139
dryuere awey of yuel but god gouernowr and leecher of f evu, d but e God. ay
boujtes. be whiche god whaw he hab by-holden from be gouis.'who'knows
. what is necessary
heye toure of hys pwrueaunce he knoweb what is for men, and
bestows it upon
couenable to euery wy^t. and leneb hem bat he wot
[bat] is couenable to hem. Loo here of comeb and
here of is don bis noble miracle of be ordre destinal. by the wisdom of
God, and marvel-
whan god bat alle knoweb dob swiche bing. of whiche ^ * ^f"" 1 '
bing [bat] vnknowyng folk ben astoned but forto con- f e W u t Vings C con-
pon
F m this
streine as who seib
T> i. f i jj.ii cerning the depth
But lorto comprehende and telle O f the Divine
. . j j v-i.i.j knowledge which
a tewe binges of be deuyne depnesse be whiche bat mans human reason
may comprehend.
resowj may vnderstonde. ^T bilk man bat bou wenest J he man you
J deem just, may
to ben ry^t luste and ry}t kepyng of eqwite. be contrarie HKSBiS
/.., .j i_ i i L eye of Providence.
of bat senieb to be deuyne pwrueaunce bat al woot. when you see
_ . , , ... . . apparent irregu-
1T And lucan my lammer telle b bat be victories cause Unties unex
pected and uii-
liked[e] to be goddes and causes ouercomen liked[e] to 4004
, , , . j wished for deem
catozm. ban what so euer bou mayst seen bat is don in themtobengntiy
done. Let us
bis [world] vnhoped or vnwened. certys it is be ryjtfe] suppose a man so
' L JrJ)LJ well behaved, as
ordre of binges, but as to bi wicked[e] oppinioll?^ it is a ^ > od * a nd P m > an- f
cowfusioura. but I suppose bat som man be so wel y bewed. ^ith"^"^"!*^?
bat be deuyne lugement and be Iugeme?it of mankynde reverses of tor-
tune will cause
accorden hem to gidre of hym. but he is so vnstedfast him _ J fo rs hi ? .
probity, since with
of corage [bat] yif any aduersite come to hym he wolde i a ^ e m s n p r ^" r .
for-leten perauenture to continue innocence by be v'&ence^knowi'ng
.... -.iij P, ' MT , that adversity
whiche he ne may nat wibholden fortune. ^[ ban be might destroy
this man's in-
wise dispensaciouw of god spareb hym be whiche tegrity, averts
* ' J from him that
manere aduersite * myatfe] enpeyren. fl" For bat god , C* fol - 81 , H
J ' L J r J adversity which
wil nat suffren hym to trauaile. to whom bat trauayl
vi
nis nat couenable.
Another
*r A r. .Ci n man is thoroughly
T! An ober man is pemt in alle virtuous, and
approaches to the
uertues. and is an holy man and neye to god so bat be purity of the deity
J J -him Providence
pwrueaunce of god wolde demen bat it were a felony ^^ oppre^Sy"
bat he were touched wib any aduersites. so bat he ne th
3991 ha\> MS. haj>e
3993 wot MS. wote, C. wot
3994 [\>at~\ from C.
3995 don MS. done, C. don
miracle MS. mirache, C.
myracle
ordre MS. ordre of
3996 alle al
t/op- MS. dope
3996 whiche which
3997 [pafl from C.
3999 mans mannes
4000 bilk thilke
4004 liked\_e] (both) lykede
4005 is don MS. is to don
4006 [world] from C.
ry?<[e] ryhte
4007 wicked[e} wykkcde
4010 vnstedfast vnstydefast
4011 [pa<] from C.
wolde wol
4015 manere man
wV3<[e] myhte
4016 wil wol
4018 neye negh
140
HOW PROVIDENCE
TBOOK 4.
LPKOSE 6.
him even from
bodily disease.
Providence often
pives the 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
those 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 moeued wif any
manere maladie. 1T But so as seide a philosophre [the
moore excellent by me]. fe aduersites comen nat (he
seide in grec') fere fat uertues han edified fe bodie
of fe holy man. and ofte tyme 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 departif to ofer
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 suffref to ben
trauayled wif harde f inges. IT For fat fei sholden con-
ferme f e vertues of corage by f e vsage and exercitaciovm
of pacience. and ofer folke dreden more fen fei aujten
f e wiche fei my^tfen] wel beren. and filke 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
fise finges 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 men wenen fat fei han wel de-
serued it. and fei ben of wicked merite of whicho
4021 wiZ wol
swiche swych
4022 manere bodyly
4022-3 [the me] from C.
4023 pe aduersites nat
omitted
4024 pere omitted
4026 don done
to (2)-MS. so
to good gouerne to
goumic to goode folk
4028 oper oothre
4030 som some
4031 slwlden sholde
4033 conferme confermen
4034 corage corages
4036 my y t[en] myhteu
4037 hem hym
sorweful sorwful
4038 o\>er oothre
4039 war Ide world
o/(2)-ofthe
4041 oper othrc
4046 come^> comth
some (both] som
\>at pei MS. pel pat, C.
pat that they
4047 come^ cointh
sorweful sorw f 1 1 1
4050 wicked wykkc-de
merite MS. ucrite, C.
meryte
HOOK i. n
PIIOSK (i.J
DEALS WITH MANKIND.
shrewes pe towrment som tyme agastep oper to done
folies. and som tyme it amende]) hem pat suffren pe
tozirmentis. IT And J>e prosperite pat is ^euen to
shrewes shewej) a grete argument to good[e] folk what
ping pei sholde demen of pilk wilfulnesse pe wliiche
prosperite men seen ofte serue to shrewes. in pe whiche
ping I trowe pat god dispensip. for perauenture pe nature
of som man is so ouerprowyng to yuel and so vncouen-
able Jjat pe nedy pouerte of hys house-hold my^tfe]
raper egren hym to done felonies, and to pe maladie
of hym god puttip remedie to ^iuen hym rychesse. and
som oper man byholdip hys conscience defonled wip
synnes and makij) comparison/?, of his fortune and of
hym self ^[ and dredip perauenture pat hys blisfulnesse
of whiche pe vsage is ioyful to hym pat pe lesynge of
pilke blisfulnesse ne be nat sorweful to hym. and per-
fore he wol chaunge hys maneres. and for he dredip
to lese hys fortune, he forletip hys wickednesse. to
oper folk is welefulnesse y^eue?^ vnworjjily pe wliiche
ouerprowep hem in to destrucciouw pat pei han de-
serued. and to som oper folk is ^euen power to
punissera. for fat it shal be cause of continuaciouw and
exercisinge to good[e] folk, and cause of towrment to
shrewes. IT For so as per nis none alyaunce bytwixe
good[e] folke and shrewes. ne shrewes ne mowen nat
accordew amonges hem self and whi nat. for shrewes
discorden of hem self by her vices J>e whiche vices al to
renden her consciences, and don oft[e] tyme Jringes J>e
whiche Jnnges whan j>ei han don hem. pei demen pat
po pinges ne sholde nat han ben don. for whiche pinge
pilke souereyne p?'iieaunce hap maked oft[e] tyme
what they deserve.
Their punish
ment, too, may
cause amend
ment, or deter
others from like
vices. When the
wicked enjoy
felicity the pood
should learn how
little these exter
nal advantages are
to be prized,
which may fall to
the lot of the
most worthless.
Another reason
for dispensing
worldly bliss to
the wicked is,
that indigence
would prompt
naturally violent
and rapacious
minds to commit
the greatest
enormities. Their
disease God cores
by the medicine
of money. Some
men will cease
to do wrong for
fear, lest their
wealth be lost
4066
through their
crimes. Upon
others unmerited
happiness is con
ferred, which at
last precipitates
them into de
served destruc
tion. To some
there is given the
power of chastise
ment, in order
both to esercise
the virtues of the
good and to
punish the
wicked. For as
there is no alli
ance between
good and bad, so
neither can the
vicious agree
together. And
how should they ?
Their vices make
them at war
with themselves,
rending and teur-
ine their con
sciences, and
there is scarce
anything they do,
but what after
wards they disap-
4051 o\>er oothra
done -don
4052 folies felonies
4054 grete grot
good[_e~\ goode
4055 sliolde sholdeu
UZfe thilke
1'i'iti xi -rue scrucn
whiche which
4057 dispensi\> MS. dispis-
i)>, C. dispensith
4059 my^e] myhte
4000 done don
401 rychesse Rychesses
4065 whiche which
4068 MS. wrongly inserts
welefulnesse after wick
ednesse
4009-71 ober oothre
4073 goodie] goode
4074 none non
4075 good[e~\ goode
4076 accorden acordy
4078 don MS. done, C. don
oft[e] ofte
4079 don MS. done, C. don
4080 sholde sholdcn
whiche binge which thing
4081 Aap-MS. hube
ofl\f\ ofte
142 EVIL IS OVERRULED FOR GOOD. ["ROSE* 6.
fSStiftiiaS** [f a i re ] miracle so bat slirewes lian maked oftyme
"bout \V i'1-ovid- shrewes to ben good[e] men. for whan bat som shrewes
cnee that evil . /> -u P i /> 1 i
[ foi. 32.] * seen bat bei suffren wrongfully felonies 01 ober slirewes
men have often
made wicked men j, e i we xen eschaufed in to hat[e] of hem bat anoien
havin^sntfered hem. and retournen to be fruit of uertue. when bei
injuries from the ,. ., , , , .'-11.1
former, have studien to ben vnlyke to hem bat bei han hated.
become virtu- ' t
4088 IT Certys bis only is be deuyne my}t to be whiche my^t
that theymSght yueles ben ban good, whan it vseb bo yueles couenably
those" whonuhey and draweb out be effect of any good, as who seib bat
so detested. J fc
u is only the y ue l is good oonly by be myat of god. for be myat of
Divine power that J J r J ?
^"oyerroii^ g 0( l ordeyneb bilk yuel to good. For oon ordre en-
mirposes. brasib alle binges, so bat what wyjt [bat] departib fro
Nothing occurs by
the caprice of be resouw of be ordre whiche bat is assigned to hym.
cliance in the r
p r a oJdde < nce )ivine a lg a ^ es 3^ ne slideb in to an ober ordre. so bat nobing
governor'of 8 ^ 6 n i s leueful to folye in be realme of be deuyne pwme-
tliings. it is not , . . , . ... , .
lawful to man to aunce. as who seib no bing nis wibouten ordinaunce in
attempt to com
prehend the whole be realme of be deuyne purueaunce. ^[ Syn bat be ry^t
expYaS^tin* strong[e] god gouernib alle binges in bis worlde for it
suffice' to'know n is na t leueful to no man to comprehenden by witte ne
an things for the vnfolden by worde alle be subtil ordinaunces and dis-
best.
4102 posici'ouws of be deuyne entent. for oonly it au^t[e]
retaingtwngs suffice to han loked bat god hym self makere of alle
created after his .
own likeness con- natures ordeynib and dressib alle binges to good, while
formably to his
Koodness, he j,^ jjg hastib to wibhalden be binges bat he hab maked
destinyoufof his i n to hys semblaunce. bat is to seyn forto wibholden
st P hat'those evils binges in to good, for he hym self is good he chasejj
which you seem
to see are only O ute al yuel of be boundes of hys co?nmunahte by be
imaginary.
d'and ordre of neccssite destinable. For whiche it folweb bat
yif bou loke be pw-ueaunce ordeynynge be binges bat
reasoning, and -IIT i.- T.IJ.
look for relief men wenen ben haboundaunt in erbes. bou ne shalt not
from the harmony
of my verse. seen i n no pi ace no jji n g o f yuel. IT but I se now bat
40S2 [faire] from C.
oftyme omitted
4083 goodie} goode
4085 ha$_e] hate
anoien anoyeden
4087 studien omitted
vnlyke vnlyk
4089-90 good Koode
4092 \nlk- thilko
4093 [>afl from C.
4094 J> (2) thilke
whiche which
4096 realme Reame
4099 strangle] strouge
worlde world
4100 no omitted
witte wit
4101 worde alle word al
410 a3e-<>we
4104 good while (roodc wyl
4105 ha\> MS. haj>e
4108 o/(l) fro
4109 whiche which
4111 ben haboundatint bpn
outraious / or habownd-
BOOK 4.T
MET. 6. J
LOVE TEMPERS ALL THINGS.
143
bou art charged wib be wey^te of be questioufn] and Take, then, tins
draught, with
wery wib lengbe of my resoim. and bat bou abidest som ^^j"*5S ma
swetnesse of songe. tak ba?z. bis drau^t and whan bou pT^
art wel refresshed and refet bou shalt ben more stedfast
to stye in. to hey ere questiouws. 4117
Y
SI UIS CELSI IURA. [The 8yxte
Metur.J
if bou wolt demen in bi pure bomt be ryates or be ifthouwouidst
explore the laws
lawes of be heye bundferelre. bat is to seyne of god. of the high Thun-
J J derer, behold the
loke bou and bihold be hey^tes of souereyne heuene. ^1^^"^
IT bere kepen be sterres by ryjtful alliaunce of binges sure keep their
- . , , j -i i ancient peace.
mr olde pees, be sonne ymoeued by hys rody fire, ne There the rosy
Sun does not ln-
destourbib nat be colde cercle of be moone. IF Ne be vade the moon's
* colder sphere.
sterre yclepid be bere. bat enclinib hys rauyssynge SS^
all things,
and from the
t_ i / , i j his appointed
courses abouten be souereyne neyjt ot be worlde. ne be bounds, to quench
his light in the
same sterre vrsa nis neuer mo wasshen in be depe western main.
Vesper always
westerne see. ne coueitib nat to dyjen hys flaumbes in ak | r ^"j"^
be see of [the] occian. al bou^ he see ober sterres y- 4128
_. . , , Lucifer ushers in
plounged in to be see. II And hesperus be sterre the mom. so
mutual love
bodib and telhb alwey be late nystes. And lucifer be
J r J? r
sterre bryngeb a3eyne be clere day. IT And bus makib
loue enterchaungeable be perdurable courses, and bus Jquai'meMu^e 1 "
is discordable bataile yput oute of be contre of be sterres. menta'so that e the
moist atoms war
bis accordaunce attempreb by euene-lyke manere[s] be no more with the
elementes. bat be moyste binges striuen nat wib be tends^but^he
drye binges, but ^iuen place by stoundes. and bat be soar^atoftrwhiie
,, . . , , . . . down the heavy
colde binges loynen hem by feib to be hote binges, and earth descends.
y J By these same
bat be ly^tfe] fyre arist in to hey3te. and be heuy erbes "
aualen by her wey^tes. f by bise same cause be floury CtSfJita
yere ^eldeb swote smellys in be fyrste somer sesoura 8 ummer e ri P ens
the corn. Autumn
warmynge. and be hote somer dryeb be cornes. and comes crowned
4115 tak MS. take, C. tak
4116 refet refect
shalt ben shal be
stedfast stydefast
4118 pou wolt pou wys wilt
4119 puwd[ere]re thon-
seyne seyn [derere
4120 bilwld MS. biholde, C.
byhold [rody
4122 rody MS. redy, C.
4122 flreFyr
4123 cercle clerke
4125 courses cours
hey)t heyhte
4127 westerne westrene
dyien deeyn
4128 [the] from C.
ho see MS. it sewe, C. he
see
o\>er oothrs
4131 a^eyne ayeiu
4133 oute owt
4134 euene-lyke manere[s]
euenelyk mancrcs
4135 striuen stryuynge
nat omitted
4136 but omitted
4138 lyit[e]fyre arist lyhte
fyr arysith
4140 yere jer
144
ALL FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL.
FHOOK i
LPRORE T.
with plenty, and
winter wets the
earth with
showers.
These changes
K'ive lite and
growth to all that
breathe ; and at
last by death
efface whatever
has had birth.
[ fol. 32 6.]
Meanwhile the
4148
world's Creator,
the Source of all,
the Lawgiver, the
wise Judge, sits
above equitably
directing all
things. Those
things which
have l>een 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.
autumpnc comcjj a^eyne hcuy of apples, and f e fletyng
reyne bydewef fe wynter. f is attemperaunce noryssif
and brynggef furfe al finge fat bredif lyfe in fis
worlde. 1T and J>ilk same attempe?-aunce rauyssyng hide])
and bynymef and drenchef vndir f e last[e] defe alle
*f inges yborn. ^J Amonges f ise finges sittef f e heye
makere kyng and lorde. welle and bygynnynge. lawe
and wise Inge, to don equite and gouernij) and enclinif
f e bridles of f inges. and f o fringes fat lie stiref to don
by moeuynge he wif drawef and arestif and affermijj f e
moeueable or wandryng finges. IT For }if fat he no
clepif nat a^ein f e ry^t goynge of Jringes. and }if fat he
ne constreyned[e] hem. nat eftesones in to roundenesse
enclined f e f inges fat ben now continued by stable
ordinaunce. f ei sholde deperten from hir welle. fat is
to sein from hir bygynnynge and fail en. fat is to sein
tcmmen in to nau^t. IF f is is f e commune loue of allo
f inges. and alle f iwges axen to be holden by f e fyn of
good. For ellys ne my^ten f ei nat lasten yif fei ne
come nat eftesones a^eine by loue retourned to fe cause
fat haf $euen he?w beynge. fat is to seyn to god. 4162
[The seuende
prose.]
P. Do you see
what follows
from our argu
ments r
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
4144 furbe al \>lnge forth
alle thing
bredi\> lyfe herith lyf
4145 worlde world
\>ilk thilke
4146 lastle] debe laste deth
4147 yborn MS. yborne, C.
I-honi
4148 lorde lord
IAM NE IGITUR UIDES.
Oest f ou nat fan what f ing folwef alle f e f inges fat I
U haue seid. what fing qwod I. IT Certys q?od she
outerly fat al fortune is good, and how may fat be
quod .1. 1T Now vndirstand quod she so as [alle
fortune wheyther so it be loyeful fortune / or aspre]
fortune is ^iuen eif er by cause of ge?-donynge or ellys of
exercisynge of goode folk or ellys by cause to punissen.
4149 wise wys
4150 stire\> sterith
d r >n gon
4151 \>e omitted
4153 clepfy klepede
4154 constreyned[e] con-
streyjiede
roundenesse Rownd-
nesses
4156 sholde sholden
4158 tollmen torne
of to
4150 be ben
4161 eftesones a^eine eft
soiies ayein
4162 ha\> MS. hape
4163 \>ing thinge
4165 outerly al owtrely
al alle
4166-7 [alle asprc'] from
C.
4169 goode good
BOOK 4
7 ] PUNISHMENT IS BENEFICIAL. 145
or ellys to chastysen shrewes. IT ban is alle fortune the bad, aii for
tune is Rood
good. be whiche fortune is certeyne bat it be eiber ry^t- J^^^'
ful or profitable. IT For sobe J>is is a ful verray resourc th "s apMUm *
_ araon^' tliose
quod I. and yif I considere be pwueauttce and be positions winch
thou saidst were
destine bat bou tauitest me a litel here byforne bis sen- *S 1 J B "Jj! r
believed by the
tence is susteyned by stedfast resouws. but yif it like p^lvhy so ?
vnto be lat vs noumbre hem amonges bilkfel binges of common mpn>-
... - , . sionthaUte/or-
\vhiche bou seidest a litel here byiorne bat bei ne were tune of such a one
is bad.
nat able to ben ywened to be poeple. IT whi so quod ^ e ^^fo^
she. for bat be comune worde of men mysusib quod I. fan^Igeof the 18
i f f i j CL Ti. xT peopte, lest we
bis manere speche of fortune, and sein otte tymes pat should seem to
;j depart top much
be fortune of som wyjt is wicked, wilt b u ban quod from the popular
mode of expres-
she bat I proche a litel to be wordes of be poeple so it ^" A ? g you pleage
seme nat to hem bat I be ouer nioche departid as fro be p'rofitabie'thaV u'
vsage of man kynde. as bou wolt quod I. 1T Demest H. Yes, certainly.
P. That which
bou nat quod she bat al bing bat profitib is good. $is p e t r s t e p 8 r ^ b 7e?
q?/od I. certis j)ilk bing bat exercisib or corigif pro- 4186
titib- I confesse it wel quod I. ban is it good quod she. f. Therefore it is
good? B. Yes.
whi nat quod I. but bis is be fortune [quod she] of fo rt un e 8 f 8 th h e e vir-
hem bat eiber ben put in vertue and batailen a3eins barwu^ad^ws-
aspre binges, or ellys of hem bat eschewen and declinen wfc^rdinquuh-
ing vice, pursue
fro vices and taken be weye of vertue. H bis ne may thepath of virtue?
nat I denye quod I IT But what seist bou of be myrye fe g ard e tffiros.
fortune bat is 3euen to good folk in gerdoure deuinib bestowed aVa"
. . . i T i reward on the
oujt be poeples bat it is wicked, nay torsobe quod L but pood to be bene
ficial, and they
bei demen as it sobe is bat it is ry^t good. H And what J^^it^y
seist bou of bat ober fortune quod she. bat al bou} it a v r p 1 p 1 U n t ish^d 1C a k s ed
, 7 . . , , i -i , c .-, , , the most miser-
be aspre and restreinib be shrewes by ryjttul tourment. a bie things that
can be imagined.
wenib oujt be poeple bat it be good, nay quod I. 1T But But in ^"'"^
be poeple demib >at it be most wrecched of alle binges ^"Jo^'g in!"
i T i i i i i volved in some
bat may ben bou^t. war now ana loke wel quod she new ami incredi-
. , , , ble consequence.
lest bat we in folwyng be opyniou?z of poeple haue con-
4174 Jiere byforne her by-
forn
4175 stedfast stydefast
4176 noumbre ^nowmbrcn
pj?A[e] thilke
4177 here byforne her by-
fom
4178 ywencd wcfiicd
4179 worde word
4180 [Jwi/] from C.
4181 wicked wykkede
4182 proclie aproche
4185 oJ-alle
4186 \>ilk tliilke
10
4188 [quod she] from C.
4191 weye wey
4193 deuini\> -demytb
4194 OM?< awht
4195 so\>e soth
4198 owjtf awht
4199 be is
14G
THE FORTUNE OF THE VIRTUOUS IS GOOD.
ruooK 4.
LPROBE 7
R. what is that? fussed and concluded bin" bat is vnable to be wened to
P. We have decid-
J" 3 P oe pl e - what is bat quod I 1f Certys quod she it
fohveb or comeb of Jjinges bat ben graunted bat alle
p , i , , i i
loi'tune what so euer it be. of hem bat eyber ben in
ed that the fortune
of the virtuous or
acknowledge it.
P. Why so?
The wise man
ought not to be
cast down, when
no more than the
valiant man
ought to be dis-
mayed on hearing C^UOd She.
the noise of the
needs be good -
but that the for
tune of the wic
ked must be most possessions of vertue. [or in the encres of vertu] or ellys
in be purchasynge of vertue. bat bilke fortune is good.
1F And bat alle fortune is ry^t wicked to hem bat
dwellen in shrewednesse. as who seib. and bus weneb
nat be poeple. IF bat is sobe qiiod I. 1F Al be it so
bat nomaw dar confesses it ne byknowen it. 1F whi so
For ry^t as no strong man ne semeb nat to
r* foi. 33.] abassen or disdaignew as *ofte tyme as he hereb be noise
battle. The
dangers of war O f jj e bataile. ne also it ne semeb nat to be wyse man to
enable the one to ' , F . * <
pinryjlndthe beren it greuously as oft[e] as he is lad in to be strif of
difficulties ot the , , 7 ,
other aid him to lortune. for bobe 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. V i 7x1.1.1. p
Thus virtue, in its of his glorious renouTZ. and to bat ober man to conierme
literal accepta- . . .
tion, is a power hys sapience, pat is to seine be asprenesse ol hys estat.
its own strength, ^[ YOT berfore is it called uertue. for bat it sustenib and
overcomes all *
w^have'made'so enforccb by hys strengbes bat it nis nat ouer-comere by
much progress in n ., rxr i i_ i_ j. i. j. i.
virtue, are not to aduersites. iF JNe certys bou bat art put in be encrese
be carried away . .
by delights and or in be heyst of uertue ne hast nat comen to neten wib
bodily lusts. You
fieri* confl^tllth delices and forto welken in bodyly lust. IF bou sowest
or plauntest a ful egre bataile in bi corage a^eins euery
fortune, for bat be sorweful fortune ne cowfounde be nat.
ne pat be myrye fortune ne corrumpe pe nat. 1F Occupy
pe mene by stedfast strengpes. for al pat euer is vndir
, n . pe mene. or ellys al pat ouer-passeb pe mene despisep
temptible and a ,
thankless felicity, welefulnesses. IF As who seip. it is vicious and ne hap
every fortune
with adversity,
lest it dismay
you with pros
perity, lest it cor
rupt you. Seize
the golden mean
with all your
strength. All
below or above
s is a co
The choice of for
tune lies in your no me de of hys trauaile.
own hands, but
tune, unless it
exercises the
IF For it is set in ^oure hand,
as who seip it liep in ^oure power what fortune ^ow is
leuest. pat is to seyne good or yuel. IF For alle fortune
4204 come\> comth
4206 lor vertu'] from C.
4208 wicked wykkede
4210 so\pc soth
4211 confessen cowfesse
4212 no strong the stronge
4213 abassen abaysseti
4215 oft[e\ ofte
4219 seine seyri
4223 Uey-d heyhte
4224 welken wellen
4226 confounde MS. cow-
fouwdcd, C. confownde
4227 Occupy Ocupye
4228 stedfast stydefast
4230 ha\> MS. ha>e
4231 set MS. sette, C. set
4232 lie]? lith
4233 seyne seyn
HOOK 4.1
MET. 7. J
WE CHOOSE OUR OWN* FORTUNE.
147
bat semeb sliarpe or aspre yif it ne exercise nat be good virtues of the
good or chastises
folk, ne chastisib be wicked folk, it punisseb. 4235 the wicked, is a
' * punishment.
BELLA BIS QUENIS. ET CETERA.
"KE wrekere attrides IF fat is to seyne agamenon bat
* wion^t[e] and continued[e] be batailes by ten $ere
recouered[e] and pwrged[e] in wrekyng by fe destruc-
cioun of troie be loste chambres of mariage of hys brober
bis is to seyn fat [he] agamenon wan ajein Eleine bat
was Menelaus wif his brober. In f e mene while bat
filke agamenon desired[e] to jeuen sailes to be grek-
ysshe nauye and bou$t[e] ajein f e wyndes by blode. he
vnclof ed[e] hym of pite as fader, and f e sory prest
3iuef in sacrifiynge be wreched kuyttyng of f rote of f e
doubter. IT bat is to sein bat agamenon lete kuytterc be
brote of hys doubter by f e prest. to maken alliaunce wif
hys goddes. and for to haue wynde wib whiche he
my^tfe] wende to troie. IT Itakus bat is to sein vljxies
bywept[e] hys felawes ylorn j>e whiche felawes fe
fiers[e] pholifemz/s liggiuge in his grete Caue had[de]
freten and dreint in hys empty wombe. but nabeles
polifenms wood for his blinde visage ^eld to vlixies ioye
by hys sorowful teres. bis is to seyn bat vlixes smot
oute fe eye of poliphermts bat stod in hys forhede. for
whiche vlixes hadde ioie whan he saw poliphenms
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 fe despoylynge fro f e
[The seuende
Metwr.]
Atrides carried on
i ten years
punish the
tious Paris.
a ten years' wur to
punish tlie licen-
4239
With blood
he ourchased
propitious
gales for the
Grecian fleet, by
casting off all
fatherly pity, and
sacrificing his
daughter
Iphigenia to the
vengeance of
Diana.
4247
Ulysses bewai'ed
his lost mates,
devoured by
Polyphemus,
but, having de
prived the Cyclop
of his sight, ne
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 sharpe sharp
4236 seyne seyn
4237 toroMjflVj wrowhte
continued[e\ continuede
}ere jer
4238 j>urged[e] purgede
4240 C/te] from C.
wan MS. wanne, C. wan
4242 desired[e] desirede
42 W 6oMj<[e] bowhte
blode ^blod
42-14 vnclo\>ed[_e] vnclothede
as of
4245 kuyttynffMS. knyt-
tynsr, C. kuttynge
4246 lete let
kuyttenMS. knytte, C.
kuttyn
4248 haue ban
4249 myvt\e~] wende myhte
wendeii
4250 bywept[e] by-wepte
ylorn MS. ylorne, C. y-
lorn
4251 fiers[.e] feerse
had[de] hadde
4253 ield yald
l-i'< t sorowful sorviful
4254 smot MS. smote, C.
smot
4255 oute owt
stod MS. stode, C. stood
forhede forehed
4256 saw say
4258 hard[e] trauaile harde
trauaylcs
dawntede MS. dawnded,
C. dawntede
4259 MA-MS, hals
rafte byrafte
fro from
148
THE LABOURS OF HERCULES.
TBOOK 4.
LMKT. -.
he slew the
Nemean lion and
wore his 8kin 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 bound Cer
berus witli a
threefold chain ;
he gave the body
of proud Uiomede
as food for the
tyrant's horses ;
he slew the ser
pent Hydra ;
he caused
Achelpus to hide
his bihshing
head within
his banks ;
4273
he left Antsens
dead upon the
[ fol. 88 b.]
Lybian shore ;
he appeased
Evander's wrath
by killing Cacus ;
he slew the
Erymanthean
boar;
and bore the
weight of Atlas
upon his
shoulders.
Go then, ye noble
souls, and follow
the path of this
great example.
4288
cruel lyoura fat is to seyne he slou$ fe lyoiw and
rafte hym hys skyn. he smot fe brids fat hy^tere
arpijs [in fe palude of lyrne] wif certeyne arwes.
he rauyssed[e] applis fro f e wakyng dragoim. and
hys hand wate fe more heuy for fe golde[ne]
metal. He drouj Cerberus fe hound of helle by
hys treble cheyne. he ouer-comer as it is seid haf
put an vnmeke lorde fodre to hys cruel hors 1F f is is
to sein. fat hercules slou} diomedes and made his hors
to etyn hym. and he hercules slou^ Idra fe serpent and
brend[e] fe venym. and achelaus f e node defouled[e] in
his forhede dreint[e] his shamefast visage in his
strondes. f is is to sein fat achelaus couf e transfigure
hym self in to dyuerse lykenesse. and as he fau^t wif
orcules at J>e laste he twrnid[e] hym in to a bole, and
hercules brak of oon of hys homes, and achelaus for
shame hidde hym in hys ryuer. IT And [he] hercules
*cast[e] adourc Antheus )>e geaunt in J>e strondes of
libye. and kacus apaised[e] fe wraf fes of euander. f is
is to sein fat hercules slou^ fe Monstre kacus and
apaised[e] wif fat deeji f e wraff e of euander. 1T And
fe bristled[e] boor marked[e] wif scomes fe sholdres of
hercules. Jje whiche sholdres )>e heye cercle of heuene
sholde freste. and fe laste of his labowrs was J>at he
sustened[e] fe heuene vpo?i his nekke vnbowed. and he
deserued[e] eftsones J?e heuene to ben J>e pris of his
laste trauayle 1F GoJ now fan 30 stronge men fere as
J?e heye weye of J>e grete ensample ledef }ou. IF nice
men whi nake 30 ^oure bakkes. as who seif. 1T 30
4260 seyne sevn
4261 smot MS. smote, C.
stnot
4262 [in lyrne'] from C.
4263 rauyssed[e] rauyssh-
ede
4266 seid MS. seide, C.
sayd
ha\> MS. hape
4267 lorde lord
4269 etyn freten
4270 brendle} brende
4270 flode defouled\_e~] flood
defowlede
4271 forhede dreint[e\ for-
hed dreynte
4273 lykenesse lyknesses
4274 turn\d[e\ tornede
4275 brak MS. brake, C.
brak
hys hise
4276 [Ae] from C.
4278-80 apaised[e] apay-
sede
4281 bristledle'] brj'stelede
marked\_e~] markede
4282 cercle clerk e
4283 presfe thriste
4285 deserued{e~\ deseruede
4286 Gop MS. Go>e
\>ere ther
4287 weye\va.y
4288 nake MS. make, C.
nake
THE EXISTENCE OF CHANCE.
149
slowe and delicat men whi fley 20 aduersites. and ne o ye slothful
ones, wherefore
fyjte?* nat ajeins hem by vertue to wynnen fe mede of doye.baseiy y !
fe heuene. for fe erfe ouer-comew 2.euef fe sterres. 4291
IT bis is to seyne bat whan bat erbcly lust is ouer-comen. He who conquers
earth doth gam
a man is maked worfi to fe heuene.
EXPLICIT LIBER QUARTU8.
the heavens.
LNCIP1T LIBER QUINTUS.
DIXERAT ORACIONISQIW CURSUM.
[The fyrstc prose.]
he hadde seid and towmedfel be cours of hir resouw to when Phiio-
JX sophy had thus
^ somme of er binges to ben tretid and to ben ysped. Xut n to a cuscu^
fan seide I. Certys ryjtful is fin amonestyng and ful [^^ted'her.
digne by auctorite. but bat bou seidest som tyme bat tion is just and
r worthy of thy
be questioun of f e deuyne pwrueaunce is enlaced wif thou^aidsuhat
many of er questiouws. I vndir-stonde wel and p?-oue it fth e U Div?ne
1 t - 1-i.T '1.1.1. i.j.i_ Superintendence
by be same binge, but I axe yif bat bou wenest bat hap or Providence is
V involved with
be any bmg in any wevs. and if bou wenest bat hap be many others
and this I believe.
any [thing] what is it. ban qwod she. I haste me to n^^ofknow.
^elden and assoilen fe to be dette of my byheste and ihfrlbf such a
, , i i . . , thing as Chance,
to shewen and opnen be wey by wmcne wey bou maist and what thou
thinkest it is.
come asein to bi contre. IT but al be it so bat be binges ?}. hasten to .
fulfil my promise
whiche fat bou axest ben ryj.t profitable to knowe. roaYto^ro'wn
jitte ben fei diuers somwhat fro be pabe of my purpos. thou^ft* a
, . , . -LIT i things you ques-
And it is to douten pat bou ne be maked weery by tion me about are
J profitable to
mysweys so bat bou ne mayst nat suffise to mesurera be * n w > y e * th , ev
lead us a little out
ry^t weye. IT Ne doute f e f er-of no f ing qriod I. for bystravmg fronf
forto knowen filke f inges to-gidre in fe whiche f inges be^fatf^eduf
return to the
I dehte 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 f i disputisoura shal be stedfast to me by a * "JJ^ *^ e 8t
vndoutous feif . fan seide she. fat manere wol I don anV'dciightfuiiy Z
4289 slowe MS. slouj, C.
slowe
fley flee
4292 seyne seyn
4291 seid MS. seide, C. se.vd
\>e by
Hi',7 miiii ti/nif wliilom
12U8 be (2) thy
4300 \>lnge thing
4302 [thing] from C.
4303 ylden yilden
assoilen IIS. ossailen, C.
sissoylen
hi/hrste h.vhest
HUM; whirhc whicl^
4306 lieu MS. heue
4307 pabe pjiath
4312 stede styde
431 4 disputisoun disputa-
ClOliM
be hnn ben
s/et/fns/ stvdi fast
150
DEFINITION OF CHANCE.
PROOK 5.
LPROSE i.
interested.
J>. I will then
comply with thy
requests. If we
define Chance to
be an event pro
duced by an un
intelligent mo
tion, and not by a
chain or con
nection of causes,
I should then
affirm that Chance
is nothing and an
empty sound.
What room is
tli ere for folly and
disorder where all
things are re
strained by order,
through the
ordinance of God ?
For it is a great
truth that no
thing can spring
out of nothing.
Now, if anything
arises without the
operation of a
cause, it proceeds
from nothing.
J!ut if this is im
possible, then
there can be no
4331
such a thing as
Chance, as we
have defined it.
B. Is there no
thing, then, that
may be called
Chance or For
tune ? Is there
nothing (hid from
the vulgar) to
which these
words may be
applied ?
P. Aristotle de
fines this matter
with much pre
cision and
[ fol. 84.]
probability.
B. How?
P. So often as a
man does any
thing for the sake
of any other
thing, and an
other thing than
what he intended
to do is produced
by other causes,
that thing so pro
duced is called
t'hunce. As if a
man trench the
ground for tillage
fe. and bygan to speken ry^t f us 1F Certys quod she
yif any wyjt diffinisse hap in f is manere. fat is to seyn.
fat hap is bytidynge y-broujt forfe by foelyshe
moeuynge. and by no knyttyng of causes. IF I con-
ferme jjat hap nis ry^t naujt in no wise, and I deme al
outerly fat hap nis ne dwellif but a voys. IF As who
self, but an ydel worde wif outen any significac/oun of
J>ing summittid to fat vois. for what place my^tfe] ben
left or dwellynge to folie and to disordinauwce. syn fat
god ledif and streynif alle f inges by ordre. IF For f is
sentence is verray and sofe fat no finge ne haf his
beynge of nou3t. to [the] whiche sentence none of f ise
olde folk ne wifseide neuere al be it so fat fei ne
vndirstoden ne moeueden it nau}t by god prince and
gynner of wirkyng. but fei casten as a manere founde-
ment of subgit material, fat is to seyn of [the] nature
of alle resoun. and }if fat ony finge is woxen or comen
of no causes, fan shal it seme fat f ilke finge is comen
or woxen of noujt. but yif f is ne may nat ben don.
fan is it nat possible fat fere haf ben any swiche f ing
as I haue diffinissid a litel here byforne. 1F How shal
it fan ben quod I. nis f er fan no f ing fat by ry^t may
be cleped eyf er happe or ellis auenture of fortune, or is
f er ou$t al *be it so fat it is hidd fro f e poeple to
whiche f ise wordes ben couenable. Myn aristotul quod
she. in fe book of his phisik diffinissef fis fing by
short resoun and ney}e to f e sofe. IF In whiche manere
quod I. 1F As ofte quod she as men don any fing for
grace of any ofer fing. and an ofer finge fan filke
fing fat men ententen to doon bytidef by som[e] causes
it is ycleped happe. IF Ryjt as a man dalf f e erf e by
4317 seyn seyng
4318 for be-forth
4.322 worde word
4'VJ3 mjntfX) myhte
4:V2t left If'fte
4.3J5 s^re//ib-constr
4t2 so be sol h
tii' }'i>if/e nothing
Aab-MS. habu
4327 [the] from C.
4330 gynner bygynnere
4331 \the\- from C.
4332 ji/ MS. jit, C. yif
\ringe thing
4335 pat ben bat hap be
ha}> MS. habe
swiche swych
4338 hinppc ii;i]>
4339 hidd MS. hidde, C.
Imkl
4340 whiche which
4342 ney^e nehg
whiche which
4343 don MS. done, C. don
431 1 \tinge thing
4345 sow[e] some
4346 happe hap
3OK 5.1
ET, I.J
HOOK 5.1
MET,
DEFINITION OF CHANCE.
151
cause of tylienge of f e felde. and fond fere a gobet of
golde by-doluen. fan wenen folk fat it is fallen by for-
tunous bytydyng. but for sof e it nis nat for nau^t for
it haf hys propre causes of whiclie causes fe cours vn-
forseyn and vnwar semif to han maked happe. IT For
yif fe tilier in fe erfe ne delne nat in fe felde. and yif
fe hider of fe golde ne hadde hidd fe golde in f ilke
place, fe golde ne had[de] nat ben founde. fise ben
fan f e causes of f e kbreggynge of fortune hap. f e wliiche
abreggynge of fortune hap comef of causes encountrynge
and flowyng to-gidre to hem selfe. and nat by f e en-
tenczoun of f e doer. ^ For neifer f e hider of f e gold,
ne fe deluer of fe felde ne vndirstanden nat fat fe
golde sholde han be founde. but as I seide. it bytidde
and ran to-gidre fat he dalf fere as fat of er hadde hidd
f e golde. Now may I f us diffinissen happe. IT Happe
is an vnwar bytydyng of causes assembled in f inges fat
ben don for som of er f inge. but f ilke ordre procedynge
by an vneschewable byndynge to-gidre. whiche fat
descendef fro f e wel of purueaunce fat ordeinef alle
f inges in hire places and in hire tymes makef fat f e
causes rennen and assemblen to-gidre. 4368
RUPIS ACHEMENIK. 4
[and] eufrates resoluen and spryngen of a welle in Metur y / S ' e
fe kragges of f e roche of f e contre of achemenye fere flying Parthian
doth pierce liis
as be neenge bataylel ncchib hire dartes retowrnid in pursuers win, ins
J shafts, there from
f e brestes of hem fat folwen hem. IT And sone aftre
f e same ryueres tigris and eufrates vnioygnen and de-
and find gold,
then this is be
lieved to happen
by chance, al
though it is not so.
For if the tiller
had not ploughed
the field, andifthc
hider of the gold
had not concealed
it in that spot,
the gold had not
been found.
These, then, are
the causes of a
fortuitous acqui
sition which pro
ceeds from a con
flux of encounter
ing causes, and
not from the in
tention of the
doer. For neither
the hider of the
gold nor the hus
bandman intend
ed or understood
that the gold
should be found.
But it happened
by the concur
rence of these two
causes that the
one did dig where
the other had
hidden the
money. Chance,
then, is an unex
pected event, by
a concurrence of
causes, following
an action de
signed for a par
ticular purpose.
This concurrence
of causes proceeds
from that order
which flows from
the fountain of
Providence and
disposes all things
as to place and
time.
4347 o/(l) to
fond MS. fonde, C.
Ibwitde
ms pofcfo pold
f,iU,-n byfalle
(>)' of
ttfiO Aaln-MS. hpe
hys hise
4^.M happe hap
4352 tutirtyljur*
deluedo\ue
t:r>:? ,'; i/ler hydere
!//ifi/i -cold
hidd MS. hiddo
4353-1 golde (sold
4354 Uad\de~\ "lisiddc
4355 fortune fortuit
whiclie which
4356 fortune fortuit
come]> comth
4157 ftowynr/ MS. folwyng,
C. flowynge
xi //'< self
I3"is doet doere
hitter hidere
rtv.i ,/,-lner deluere
felde ft'old [en
vndirstanden vndirstod-
4360 f/olde gold
4361 hidd MS. hidde, C.
hyd
4362 happe (both)]\np
4365 whiche which
4366 descended MS.defcnd-
e)>, C. descendith
wel wt-llo
43(>9 [and] from C.
a oo
4:171 \hataiile'] from C.
1373 be tho
152
ON FREE WILL.
fHOOK 5.
LFKOSE a.
their streams
divide and flow
into separate
channels. But
should they unite
a^iiiti, in the im
petuous stream,
boats, ships, and
trees would be all
intermingled,
whirled about :
and blind Chance
seems to direct
the current's
course. But the
sloping earth,
the laws of fluids,
govern these
things. So though
Chance seems to
wander unre
strained, it is
nevertheless
curbed and re
strained by
Divine Provid
ence.
[The .2<K prose.]
B. Is there any
free-will in this
chain of cohering
causes? Or doth
the rli a in of
destiny constrain
the motions of
the human mind ?
P. There is a
freedom of the
will possessed by
every rational
being. A rational
being has judg
ment to judge of
and discern every
thing. Of himself
he knows what he
is to avoid or to
desire. He seeks
what he judges
desirable, and he
shuns what he
deems should be
avoided. A
rational being
possesses, then,
the liberty of
choosing and re
jecting. This
liberty is not
equal in all
beings. In
heavenly sub
stances, as spirits,
&c., judgment is
clear, and the
will is incorrupti
ble, and has a
ready and effica
cious power of
doing things
which are desired.
[* fol. 84 6.]
parten hire watres. and yif f ei comen to-gidre and ben
assembled and clepid to-gidre in to o cours. fan moten
f ilke f inges fletyn to-gidre whiche fat f e water of f e
entrechauragyng flode brywgef f e shippes and J>e stokkes
araced wif fe flood moten assemble, and j)e watres
ymedlyd wrappif or implief many fortunel nappes or
maneres. f e whiche wandryng happes nafeles f ilke en-
clinyng lowenes of f e erf e. and f e flowynge ordre of
fe slidyng water gouernif. 11 Ey3t so fortune fat
semef as [fat] it fletif wij) slaked or vngouerned[e]
bridles. It suffrij) bridles fat is to seyn to ben gouerned
and passef by f ilke lawe. fat is to sein by f e deuyne
ordinaunce. 4386
AJVIJtfADUERTO INQIMM.
"pys vndirstonde I wel quod I. and accorde wel fat it
J is ry^t as f ou seist. but I axe yif f er be any liberte
or fre wil in f is ordre of causes fat cliuen f us to-gidre
in hem self. IT or ellys I wolde witen yif fat fe
destinal cheine constreinif f e moeueuynge of f e corages
of mew. yis qzwd she f er is liberte of fre wille. ne f er
ne was neuer no nature of resoure fat it ne hadde liberte
of fre wille. 1T For euery f ing fat may naturely vsen
resouw. it haf doom by whiche it discernif and demif
euery f ing. IT fan knowef it by it self f inges fat ben
to fleen. and f inges fat ben to desiren. and f ilk f ing
fat any wy^t demef to ben desired fat axef or desiref
he and fleef [thilke] f ing fat he trouef ben to fleen.
IT wher-fore in alle f inges fat resouw is. in hem also is
libertee of willyng and of nillynge. 1T But I ne ordeyne
nat. as who seif. I ne graunte nat fat fis libertee be
euene like in alle f inges. forwhi in f e souereyns deuynes
substaurcces. fat is to *seyn in spirit} II lugement is
1374 to-gidre to-gyderes
4376 whiche which
4377 flode flod
4378 assemble assemblyn
43NO enclinyng declyn'ynge
4381 lowenes lowncsse
4333 [\>af\ from C.
vngouemed[e\ vngoucrn-
ele
4385 J>e thilke
4389 or of
4390 hem hym
4392 $is MS. yif. C. yis
4392-94 wille wil
4395 whiche which
4.W bilk thilke
4399 [thilkel-from C.
PROVIDENCE SEES ALL THINGS.
153
more clere and wil nat be corumped. and hab myH The souls of men
must needs be
redy to speden binges bat ben desired. IT But be soules mor free . wh * n
employed m the
of men moten nedes ben more free whan bei loken hem the Du^Mi'ndf
,. ,-, j 7 an( l l ess 8O when
m be speculaczouw or lokynge ot be deuyne bomt. and they enter into a
body, and still
lasse free whan bei sliden in to be bodies, and sit lasse less free when en
closed and con-
free whan bei ben gadred to-gidre and coraprehendid in fined '" earthly
* members ; but
erbely membris. but be last[e] seruage is whan fat bei ^rvUnde u w*
, j T_ r 11 .r i. f they are given
ben jeuew to vices, and nan yialle iro be possessions ot over to vice and
wholly fallen from
hire propre resouw IT For after bat bei han cast aweye their P^P" rea-
* J son. For at once
hjr eyen fro be lyjt of be souereyn sofefastnesse to lowe ^%r a [he e cio e ud p of
, j j i r A i- j i i_t. i j f ignorance and are
binges and dirke II Anon J>ei dirk en by be cloude of troubled by per
nicious desires,
ignoraunce and ben troubled by ielonous talent?, to be by yielding to
J r which they aid
whiche talent? whan bei approchen and assenten. bei a . ml increase that
> i slavery which
hepen and encresen be seruage whiche bei han ioigned upon^he^ives,
to hem self, and in bis manere bei ben caitifs fro hire u'lUerThVuberty
v-u T_- i." i.- t i t i i proper to them,
propre libertee. be Avhiche binges nabeles be lokynge ot they remain
captives. Ye
J>e deuyne purueaunce seeb fat alle binges byholdef be
Yet the
and seeb fro eterne. and ordeyneb hem eueryche in her etennty^
i from
ty, sees all
., - . , j ,. 7 . -j i this and disposes
merites. as bei ben prodestmat. and it is seid in grek. according to their
merit all things
bat alle binges he seeb and alle binges he hereb. 4424 " they are pre
PURO CLARU.U LUMINE.
destinated. He,
ag Homer says
of the sun, sees
and hears all
thinys.
[The .2<>e. Metr.]
[TOmer wib be hony moube. bat is to seyn. homer Thesweet-
tongued Homer
J -- L wib be swete dites syngeb bat be sonne is cleer bv >>'ngs of the sun's
J o r i f " pure light. Yet
pure lyjt. nabeles jit ne may it nat by be inferme lyjt camTpie^.o
of hys bemes brekere or percen be inwarde entrailes of onhe'earth.'nor
be erbe. or ellys of be see. 1T so ne seeb nat god makere of the sea. nut
God, the world's
of be grete worlde to hym bat lokeb alle binges from on ? iaker > beholding
' from on high, has
heye ne wibstandib nat no binges by heuynesses of erbe. pedcd 8 ne"the n r by
..i. i i -,111 earth nor cloud.
ne be nyjt ne wibstondep nat to hy?^ by be blake At a glance he
uees all events,
cloudes. IT bilke god seeb in o strook of bou^t alle present, past, and
binges bat ben or weren or schullen come. 1T and bilke
4405 1ia\> MS. hape
4411 last\_e\ laste
4112 fro from
4tl5 cloude clowdes
4-118 whiche which
4423 seid MS. scide, C. seyd
4425 mou\e Mowth
4428 percen MS. perten,
C. percen
inwarde inward
4430 worlde world
on heye an hegh
4431 nat omitted
4434 schullen come shollen
coniyii
154
GOD S FOREKNOWLEDGE
[HOOK 5.
Ll'HOSE 3
HiMiVs'aii at S 0( ^ ^ or ^ e ^^ e J ) awa " see j ? a ^ e finges al oon. fou maist
deed g be 1 cailed l the seyn fat he is f e verray sonne. 4436
true Sun.
[The .3J. prose.]
B. I am distract
ed by a more
difficult doubt
than ever.
God's foreknow
ledge seems to
me inconsistent
with man's free
will. For if God
TAMEN EGO EN INQC^M.
T-%An seide I now am I cowfouwded by a more harde
doute fan I was. what doute is fat quod she.
11 For certys I coniecte now by whiche finges fou art
troubled. It semef quod I to repugnen and to con-
trarien gretly fat god knowef byforn alle finges. and
fat fer is any fredom of liberte. for yif so be fat god
lokef alle finges byforn. ne god ne may nat ben
desseiuid in no manere. fan mot it nedes ben fat alle
finges bytyden f e whiche fat f e purueaunce of god haf
byforn to comen. 1F For whiche yif fat god
be no liberty of
will nor can knowef by-forn nat oonly f e werkes of men. but also
hir conseils and hir willes. fan ne shal fer be no
liberte of arbitre. ne certys fer ne may ben noon of er
dede ne no wille but f ilke whiche f e deuyne purueaunce
IT For
deceived, then
that which Pro
vidence hath fore
seen must needs
happen. If God
from eternity
doth foreknow
not only the
works, but the
designs and wills
of men, there can S6in
there be any other
action or will
than that which a
Divine and in
fallible Provid
ence hath fore
seen. For if
things fall out
4451 fat ne may nat ben desseiued haf feled byforn
contrary to such . .
foreseeing, and yif fat f ei my^ten wryf en awey in of er manere fan f ei
other way .thepre- i >en purueyed. ban ne sholde ber ben no "stedfast pre
science of God in J r f
science of finge to comen but rafer an vncerteyn
oppiniouw. f e whiche finge to trowen on god I deme it
felonie and vnleueful. IT ~Ne I ne proeue nat filk
same resouw. as who seif I ne allowe nat. or I ne prase
nat f ilke same resouw by whiche fat som men wenen
fat f ei mowen assoilen and vnknytten f e knot of f is
questiouw. IF For certys f ei seyn fat f ing nis nat to
come for fat f e purueaunce of god haf seyn it byforne.
fat is to comen but rafer fe contrarie. 1T And fat
is fis fat for fat fe f ing is to comen fat f erfore
ne may it nat ben hyd fro fe purueaunce of god.
but an uncertain
opinion of them ;
but I take it to be
impious and un
lawful to believe
this of God. Nor
do I approve of
the reasoning
made use of by
some. For they
say that a thing
is not necessarily
it, but rather be
cause it is to
happen it cannot
be hid from the
Divine Provid
ence.
4135 al oon alone
4137 harde hard
4115 1ia\> MS. hape
4116 whiche which
4-150 wille wil
whiche which pat
4451 Twp MS. hape
4453 stecifa.it stydefast
4154-55 \>inge thing
4155 on of
4456 \>ilk thilke
4458 whiclie which
4459 knot knotte
4461 come corny n
ha\> MS. hape
4464 hyd MS. liydde, C.
hiddo
BOOK 5. T
PKOSE 3.J
AND MANS FREE WILL.
155
*and in bis manere bis necessite slydib asein in to be [* foi. ss.]
f Now by this
contrarie partie. ne it ne byhoueb [natl nedes bat binges n neces -
sity appears to
bytiden bat ben ypurueid. [but it by-houeth nedes / J&i/noTne-
, , ,i . , -i , i in i j . cessary that the
bat thmges bat ben to comyn ben yporueyid] but as it tilings which are
. foreseen should
were ytrauailed. as who seib. bat bilke answere pro- happen, but it is
necessary that the
cedib ry3t as bou^ men trauailden or weren bysy to to'b^iTshouidiw
, i- -i v .p i_ -L i foreseen.
enqueren be whiche Jung is cause of wmche binges, as Asiftheques-
, . . tion was, which
wneber be prescience is cause of be necessite of binges to was the cause of
cornen. or ellys bat be necessite of bilges to comen is ^u^ofti^ 6
cause of be purueauace. IT But I ne enforce me nat now e\tsf OTthe ture
v -.L i_ i. i. -U A- i i? !_ -J.T-/- necessity the ca,\i8e
to shewew it bat be by tidy ng of binges y-wist byforn is of the prescience
of future events ?
necessarie. how so or in what manere bat be ordre of But l wil1 P rove
that, however the
causes hab it self, al bou3 bat it ne seme nat bat be m ayVan C d"tht
prescience brynge in necessite of bytydynge of binges foreseen u'neces-
to comen. 1F For certys vif bat any wyjt sitteb it by- prescience doth
J J Y J J> J not seem to im-
houeb by necessite J>at be oppiniouw be so be of hym pose a necessity
bat coniectib fat he sitteb. and a^einward. al so is it of 4481
. . . things to fall out.
be contrarie. yif be oppimouw be sobe of any wy jt ior For if a man sit
J * .* the belief in the
bat he sitteb it byhoueb by necessite bat he sitte 1T ban 8i " in ^ i3 .^ Tue t i
f J r J i and, on the other
is here necessite in bat oon and in J>at ober. for in bat loafs' lrue h ofhi""
.. n ... -, . . sitting, he must
oon is necessite ot sittynge. and certys in bat ober is needs sit. in both
cases there is a
necessite of sobe but berfore ne sitteb nat a wyat for bat necessity-in the
1 latter that the
J>e oppiniourc of sittyng is sobe. but be oppiniouw is Jh^,",^"^],",;
raber sobe for bat a wy^t sitteb by-forn. and Jius al
,, , , ,, r , -. ,s rue. u e
bouj bat be cause of sobe comej> of [be] syttyng. and man does not sit
because the opin-
nat of be trewe opnmonn. Algates aitte is ber comune ion of his sitting
is true, but the
necessite in bat oon and in bat ober. IF bus she web it became the' action
bat I may make semblable skils of be pwrueauwce of god w"s 1 anTecfden i t ed
and of binges to come. IT For al bouj for bat bat binges although the
cu use of truth
ben to comen. ber-fore ben bei pwrueid. nat certys for a . rises fro . m th . e
J sitting, there is a
bei ben pwrueid. ber-fore ne bytide Jjei nat. ^it nabeles inCh nn Th e uf y
V.-L i--i.x. -ivi-i. i_- may we reason
byhoueb it by necessite bat eiber be binges to comen concerning Pro
vidence and
ben ypumeied of god. or ellys bat be binges bat ben future events.
i56 [nat] from C. | S6 sobe sooth
1167-8 [but yporueyid] ' 4187 sobe soth
from C.
H71 \iinges thin?
H77 /xr); -MS. lin|.
4480-82 *o)>e soth
4488 sope sooth
4489 oj> come]> sooth
comth
[J>e] from C.
4180 comune MS. comme,
C. comune
4493 come comyii
4494 to omitted
4404-95 purueid 5IS. ]>-
ueide, C. jiurueyid
156 FREEDOM OF [riiosi?3.
For allowing pwrueied of god bitiden f.s.l by necessite. IF And bis
thinifs are fore- L J J
TFXSEtf* J> in S oonl y suffise > J-nouj to distroien fe fredome of
and that they do ,-, i. i j < f -n MTT>J
not befaii because cure aroitre. fat is to seyn of oure ire wille IF But now
they are foreseen, .
it is necessary | certesl sheweb it wel how fer fro be sobe and how vp
that future events "-
so douw is lP [s P m S f at we se y n bat J 36 tytidinge of
temporel f inges is be cause of f e eterne prescience,
sufficient to de- IF But forto wenen bat god pMrueib [the] binges to comen.
stroy all idea of
/ree-wai But it for bei ben to comen. what ober bing is it but forto
Is preposterous
P^ng onemplTr- wene bat f ilke Binges fat bitiden soni tyme ben causes
al things the cause f ,>> , , . , r A i
of eternal presci- ol f like souereyne pwrucaunce bat is in god. IF And
ence, which we . .
do in imagining her-to I adde 2itte bis bing bat rvjt as whan bat I woot
that God foresees
cau^tneHre^o J^ J 1 ^* is ^ tyhoue]> by necessite bat bilke self bing
inoreover.^hen i ^ e - an ^ e ^ e \^ whan I haue knowe bat any Jnwge shal
know that any- , .,., , , ., , ., .,, r ^
thing exists, it is bitiden so byhoueb it by necessite bat bilk[e] same
necessary for my
b f' ic id t b at St ^ ***& bytide. so folweb it fan fat be bytydynge of be
4513 finge Iwist by-forn ne may nat ben eschewed. IF And
tha In event " w a ^ f e l as ^[e] yif fat any wyjt wene a fing to ben ofer
pass, ITmust weyes fan it is. it nys nat oonly vn science, but it is de-
needs happen. -11 oij- iff r-
The event, there- ceiuable oppimouw tul diuerse and ler iro be sobe oi
fore, of a thing
foreseen must science. IF wher-fore yif any bing be so to comen so bat
befall. Lastly, if
ti.ing to& d differ- be ^jtydynge of it ne be nat certeyne ne necessarie.
ent to what it is r i_ n_ r l i. L i-'n i_- A
this is not know- IF who may weten [byiornj fat f like f mg is to come.
ledge, but a false _ _ . .- 111-. /. i
opinion of it, and 5F For ry^t as science ne may nat be medelyd wib fals-
far from the true
therefore^a thin nesse - as wno se ty J^ J^ ^ woot a fing. it ne may nat
lUYheeZTof be fals fat I ne woot it. 1F Ryjt so filk fing bat
necessary nor is conceyued by science ne may [nat] ben noon
certain, how can
any one foresee o f er weyes fan [as] it is conceiued. For fat is f e cause
pu^nowiedge 88 wn i fa* science wa?itif lesynge. as who seif . whi fat
it a of n faise e Cod, so witynge ne receyuef nat lesynge of fat it woot. 1F For
what is compre- . n n
hended by true it byhouef by necessite fat euery f i??ge [bej ry^t as science
not be otherwise comprehendib it to be. what shal 1 ban sein. IF In
than as compre- ' '
itTg d that traT 06 whiche manere knowef god byforn f e f inges to comen.
8 [..] from C.
4499 fredome freedom
4500 wille wil
4501 [certeal from C.
4504 puruei\> M
[the] from C.
4506 bitiden hytydden
som tyme whilom
4509 o a
self selue
4510 binge thing
4511 bilk[_e] thilkc
4513 binge thing
4514 lastte'} laste
4515 nys is
4518 it hit
4519 [byforn] from C.
4522 fals false
4523 [naf] from C.
ben MS. by, C. ben
4524 paw [a] it is MS. pan
it is be
4527 [6e] from C.
4529 whiclw which
BOOK 5. 1
1'llOSE 3.J
THE HUMAN WILL.
157
1T yif bei ne be nat ccrteyne. IT For yif bat he dcme j^S^wTS?-
bat bei ben to comen vneschewably. and so may be fat dseiy t^whatT
, . .,, .. i. 11 * j true knowledge
it is possible bat bei ne snulle/i *nat comen. god is [* foi. ss &.]
perceives it to be.
dessehied. but nat only to trowen bat god is desseiued. what follows,
then?
but for to speke it wib moube it is a felonous sywne. 4534
mr Tt j. _ t. j _ T. How does Go<l
II But yif bat god woot bat ryjt so as binges ben to foreknow these
. _ uncertain con-
comen. so shulle bei comen. so bat he wit e egaly. as tmgencies?
' For if he thinks
who seib indifferently bat binges mowen ben don or that a thing win
J ' ' inevitably hap-
ellys nat don. what is bilke prescience bat ne compre- IfbV^y^otThe
hendib no certeyne binge ne stable, or ellys what differ- thulTs'hee^bias-
phemy.
ence is ber bytwixe be prescience, and bilke iape-worbi 4540
dyuynynge of Tiresie be diuinowr bat seide. IT Al bat cl'rnl'that 1 ju's't
I seie qwod he eyber it shal be. or ellys it ne shal nat come they shall
' f come ; if he
be. Or ellis how moche is worbe be diuyne prescience knows that they
' * may or may not
more ban be oppiniouw of mankynde yif so be bat it $ I pr es dence 8< u t
demeb be binges vncerteyne as mew don. of be whiche prehen^no^Zg
f , i __ , i . mr T> j. certain, nothing
domes of men be bytydynge nis nat certeyne. I But invariable ?
* J J J ' J Or how does
yif so be bat noon vncerteyne binge may ben in hym divine prescience
J J r J J differ from human
bat is ry3t certeyne welle of alle binges, baw is be ggfS-SiSirfB
bytydynge certeyne of bilke binges whiche he hab wist thmggfwhereof
T- !- \. -i f i the events are un-
byforn fermely to comew. For whiche it folweb bat be certain ana un-
fredom of be conseils and of be werkes of mankynde nis 4551
non syn bat be bou^t of god seeb alle binges \fiih outen be U no f uncer e - cw
. . taint y in his
erroMr of falsnesse byndeb and constreinib hem to a knowledge, who
is the source of
bitidynge by necessite. and yif [this] biwg be on-is
grautttid and receyued. bat is to seyn. bat ber nis no forek^ow^mu's
fre wille. ban sheweb it wel how gret distrucc/oure and evitaw'e an<
Whence it fol-
men
how grete damages ber folwen of binges of mankynde. lows that
1T For in ydel ben ber ban purposed and byhy3t medes ^^8^86-
of goode folk, and peynes to badde folk. syn. bat no IhTiriv^Mind,
, - , endowed with an
moeuvnge of free corage uoluntarie ne hap nat deserued infaUibie fore
sight, constrains
hem. bat is to seyn neiber mede nor peyne. IF And it ""><* binds them
to a certain event.
sholde seme ban bat bilke binge is alber worste whiche 4562
4534 mottbe Mowth
4536 shulle shullyn
wit[_e\ wite
4538 don MS. done, C. y-
doon
45 H moclte mocliel
4543 taor\>e worth
4549 hab MS. hape
4550 whiclw which
4561 mankynde man-kynd
4551 [rtia] from C.
4555 tjrauntiil ygrauntcd
4558 medes of Meedes to
4560 ha\> MS. hape
4562 alper worste whiche
alderworst which
158
FATE UNDER THE
ritooK .'..
Ll'KOSE 3.
li.-wanisan.i bat is nowe demed. for alber moste iuste and moste
punishments
andmitabie USt ^tful. bat is to seyii pat .shrewes ben punyssed. or
moctanjiut, er " ellys bat good[e] folk ben ygerdoned. pe whiche folk
when, it is r _.
allowed, that syn bat be propre wille ne sent hem nat to bat oon ne
mankind are not J ' '
bat ober. bat is to seyn. neber to good [el ne to
viee.'but la^M r harme. but constreineb hem certeyne necessite of binges
their actions are _,. , in i
impelled by a to comen. T| banne ne sholle?i ber neuer ben ne neuer
fatal necessity.
4570 weren vice ne vertue. but it sholde raber ben corafusioim
tesueh u tmjigs r as of alle desertes medlid wipoute discresiouw. IT And
but such a medley sitte ber fohveb an ober inconuenient of be whiche ber
of the one and 7
the other as
would be pro-
gre c ate!tc f on h fus- P at ^ s Y l& P at so as P 6 ordre f pinges is yledd and
ion. And from P , p i ,
this it will follow comep oi pe purueaunce 01 god. ne pat no ping nis
leueful to be conseils of mankynde. as who seib bat
ne may ben bomt ne more felonous ne more wikke. and
order comes of
Divine Provid
ence, and that
there is no free
men han no power to done no ping, ne wilne no ping.
win 1 thatllso'our P an folweb it bat oure vices ben reflferred to be mak[er]e
referred U to the of alle good, as who seib ban fohveb it. pat god au}t[e]
author of all good . , , -i
which is a most han be blame of oure vices, syn he constremib by
impious opinion.
Tnen is it useless necessite to don vices, ban nis ber no resoura to han
to hope for any-
or'ufprayt^mm. hopen in god. ne forto preien to god. IT For what
For why should iii , i j T_--LII-L
men do either, sholde any wy^t hopen to god. or win sholde he praen
when all they can
desire is irrevers- to god. syn bat be ordenauuce of destine whiche bat ne
iblv predes-
Hope and prayer ma y na * ^ en enclined. knyttej? and streinib alle binges
effectuai^aiun- bat men may desire?z. 1T pan sholde bere be don awcy
tercourse is cut .
off between God bilke oonly alliaunce bytwixen god and men. bat is to
4588 seien to hopen and to preien. but by be preis of ry^t-
humMe^upp^ica- fulnesse and of veray mekenesse we deserue be gerdouw
tion we earn
divine (trace, a of be deuyne grace whiche bat is inestimable, bat is to
most inestimable
favour, and are
able to associate
with the Deity,
selves to the in
accessible light.
S0
and bis is oonly be manere. bat is to seyen hope and
prayeres. for whiche it semeb bat [men] mowen speken
4563 novae MS.newe.C.now
al\>er moste iuste alder
moost lust
moste most
4665-67 arood[e] goode
4566 mule wil
[tie] from C.
4571 wi\>oute wttA-owten
4573 \>ou^t thoght
4574 yledd MS. yledde, C.
yled
4575 come]) comth
4577 done doon
4578 mak(er]e makers
4579 au$t[e] owhte
4584 whiche which
4588 preis prys
ryitfuhiesse Rihtwesse-
nesse
4589 deserue desseruyn
4590 deuyne MS. deiiynes,
C. dyuyne
4590-93 whiche which
4591 grete (atrot
4593 [?] from C.
speken spoke
HOOK 5.
MET. 3.
CONTROL OF PROVIDENCE.
159
wip god. and by resoun of supplicac/oun ben conioigned If men believe
to pilk clernesse pat nis nat approched no raper or powe^becau^of
i i , 7 A i the necessity of
pat men byseken it and emprenten it. And yii men f utU ie events, by
ne wene [natl bat [hope! ne preiers ne ban no strengbes. can a we reunited,
and hold fast to
by be necessite of binges to comen y-resceiued. what the sovereign
f T * Lord of all things?
pi?zg is per pan by whiche we mowen be co?iioygned 4599
and clyuen to pilke souereyne p?ince of pinges. IT For
,.,.,,,., ., i p severed and dis-
whiche it byhoueb by necessite bat be lynage ot man- united from the
' Y J source of its ex-
kynde as *bou songe a litel bere byforne ben departed . t* foi.se.]
istence, and
and vnioyned from hys welle and faylen of hys bygyn- ^" ni ng its
nynge. bat is to seien god. 4604
QUE NAM DISCORS
What discordable cause hab to-rent and vnioigned be say what discord-
,,. , . , . , ant cause looses
byndyng or be alliaunce ot binges, pat is to seyne the bonds of
be coiiiunm'oun of god and of man. IT whiche god 4607
hab establissed so grete bataile bitwixerc bise two sobe- m*ketwtwo *
great truths (i. e.
fast or verray pinges. bat is to sein bytwixen pe pwme- Providence and
aunce of god and fre wille. bat pei ben synguler and leparaTe are piatS
diuided. ne pat bei ne wolen nat ben medeled ne u^itedtp'peaY
. , . , r dark and per-
coupled to-gidre. but per nis no discorde to [thoj verray piexed ?
pinges. but pei cleuen certeyne al wey to hem self, but 4613
The mind of man
pe bou^t of man co-founded and ouerprowen by pe dirke encumbered by
membris of pe body ne may nat by fir of his dirk[ed]
11 ix'j t i f i i-i discover the
lokynge. pat is to seyn by pe -vigour of hys insy^t while subtle and dose
bonds of things.
be soule is in pe body knowen pe pmne subtil knyt- 4617
tynges of pinges. IT But wherfore eschaufip it so by so man^urn^itu
grete loue tofynden pilke note[s] of sopey-couered. (glosa) the hidden notes
bat is to sein wherfore eschaufib be boujt of man by so why gropes he
f * * * > for lie knows not
grete desir to knowen pilke notificaci'ou/zs pat ben yhidd None seek to
vndir pe couertowrs of sope. woot it ou^t pilke pinges known" a
4695 \>ilk thilke
4596 emprenten impetrent
4597 [naf} from C.
[h ope] from C.
4601 whiche which
4602 byforne by- torn
4005 /jab MS. haj>e
4006 seyne seyn
4607 whiche which
4608 fcaj> MS. haj>e
grete gret
so\>efast soothfast
4610 wille wil
4612 discorde discord
[<Ao] from C.
4613 cleuen clyuen
4615 dirk[_ed^~ derkyd
4616 while wliil
4617 knowen knowe
4619-21 ffreteftret
note[s] notes
4619 oj>e soth
4621 yhidd MS. yhidde, C,
Ihyd
4622 *oj>e sooth
fringes thing
160
THE UNKNOWN CANNOT BE DESIRED.
rnooK s.
LMET. 3.
If lie knows
them not, what
does he so blindly
seek?
4625
Who wishes for
things he hath
never known ?
Or if he seek,
where shall he
find them ?
Or if he find, how
shall he be sure
that he has found
what he sought
for ? The pure
soul that sees the
divine thought,
knows all the
secret chains of
things.
4633
Yet, though now
hidden in its
fleshly members,
it hath some re
membrance of its
pure state it re
tains the sums of
things, but has
lost their par
ticulars. He who
seeks truth is not
in either circum
stance (i. e. seek
ing for what he
knows or knows
not), he knoweth
not all things,
nor hath he
wholly forgotten
all.
4643
lint he ponders
on what he
knows, that he
may add those
things that he
hath forgotten to
those that lie
retains.
fat it anguissous desire]) to knowe. as who seij> nay.
IT For no man ne trauailef forto witen f inges fat he woot.
and J>erfore f e texte seif f us. IT [Glusa] Si eniw ani?na
ignorat istas subtiles comiexiones. responds, vnde est
quod desiderat scire cum nil ignotu??i possit desiderare.
IT But who traua[i]lef to wyten f inges y-knowe. and yif
fat he ne knowef hem nat. what sekif f ilke blynde
f ou^t. what is he fat desire]) any ])inge of whiche he
woot ry^t nat. as who seif who so desirij) any J)ing
nedis som what he knowe)) of it. or ellys he ne couf e
nat desire it. or who may folwen f inges fat ne ben nat
ywist IT and f ouj [fat] he seke f o f inges where shal
he fyndew hem. what wyjt fat is al vnknowynge and
ignoraunt may knowe f e forme fat is yfounde. ^F But
whan f e soule byholdef and seef f e heye f ou^t. fat is
to seyn god. fan knowef it to-gidre f e so?/ime and f e
singularites. fat is to seyn f e principles attd eueryche
by hym self. IT But now while fe soule is hidd in fe
cloude and in f e derknesse of f e membris of f e body,
it ne haf nat al forjeten it selfe. but it wif holdef f e
somme of f inges and lesif f e singularites. fan who so
fat sekef sof enesse. he nis in neif er nouf ir habit, for
he not nat alle ne he ne haf nat alle for-^eten. IT But
jitte hym remembrif f e so?nme of f inges fat he wif-
holdef and axef couwseil and tretif depelyche f inges
ysein byforne. [G7osa] fat is to sein fe grete somme in
hys mynde. \textus\ so fat he mowe adden f e parties
fat he. haf forjeten. to filke fat he haf wifholden.
4625 [Glosa] from C.
4630 fringe thing
whiche which
4631 woot not
nat nawht
4632 cou\>e kowde
4634 [pof] from C.
where wher
4635 what MS. pat, C. what
vnknowynge vnkunnynge
4639 eueryche euerych
4640 while whil
be MS. be be
hidd MS. hidde, C. hidde
4641 derknesse derkenesse
4642 Aab MS. babe
selfe self
4644 tiou\>ir habit nother
habile
4645 alle (both}al
ftab MS. habe
4648 tGlosa] from C.
4649 \textus\- from C.
4650 ha]> (both) MS. habe
PROSE\] ANSWERS TO OBJECTIONS AGAINST PROVIDENCE. 161
TAMEN ILLA UETUS INQfTIT HEC EST.
[The 4""' prose.]
T^anne seide she. bis is quod she be olde questiouw of P. This is the
|7 old objection
* be pwrueaunce of god. and marcus tulius whan he ence n soaw vid "
deuided[e] be deuinac^ouws. bat is to sein in hys booke i 1 n al iiis e Bo^to/ cero
,. . , ir 1 * J.T !_ Divination; and
bat he wroot of deumaczourcs. he moeued e gretly bis you yourself have
J r anxiously dis-
questiou?&. and bou bi self hast soujt it mochel and 4655
outerly and loreg[e]. but jit ne hab it nat ben determined neither' o'f you
have offered a
ne yspedd fermely and diligently of any of yow. satisfactory soiu-
1F And be cause of bis derkenesse and [of this] difficulte Th^use of this
is for bat be moeuynge of be resoun of mankynde ne JKuman m^
, , . , i . . derstanding can-
may nat moeuere to. bat is to sein applien or loygnen to not conceive the
. . 1-1 simplicity of the
be simplicite of be deuyne prescience. I be whiche divine prescience,
for if it were pos-
symplicite of be deuyne prescience jif bat men [myhten n e b nd t thfsTv > erV
thinkenit inanymanere/ bat istoseyn/batyif menjmyjte at^nc^disapp'elir.
,., , ijti- jii I shall, therefore,
bmken and co?nprehenden be binges as god seeb hem. try to explain ami
solve this difficult
ban ne sholde ber dwellen outerly no doute. be whiche 4665
resoim and cause of difficulte I shal assaie at be laste then!wh'y yoA
, . . mr , T . not approve the
to shewen and to speden. IT whan 1 haue *firste [* ioi. se b.]
reasoning of such
[yspendyd / and] ansewered to bo resouws by whiche bou ^think-that
art ymoeued. IT For I axe whi bou wenest bat bilk[e] "ibtrtyofth
PI.I -it- i- i , because it is not
resouns oi hem pat assoilen pis questions ne ben nat the necessitating
ce> 1-1 i. cause of future
spedeful ynom ne sumcient be whiche somcionn or be events? DO you
1 draw an argu-
whiche resoun for bat it demib bat be prescience nis nat n * t of'f ut n l %
cause of necessite to binges to comen. ban ne weneb it otheSopic^iian 7
nat bat fredom of wille be distourbed or ylett by pre- thlng^ whicii' are
foreknown must
science, for ne drawest pou nat argumentes from ellys 4675
where of pe necessite of pinges to comen. As who seip nlpp^ 8 ?' 1 ^
, , i i. i j. < -11 i TT. divine prescience
any ober wey pan pus. but pat bilke pmge[sj pat be p>-e- imposes no neces-
_ n . . sity upon future
science woot byforn ne mowen nat vnbitide. bat is to things, must not
the issue of things
scvn bat bei moten bitide. IT But ban yif bat prescience ** v ? la "J* r >'' a " a
< f ' j J i *. man s will free
ne putteb no necessite to binges to comen. as bou bi self strained "
46.i3 deuided[e] deuynede
booke book
4654 moeuedte] moeuede
J55 soMj< I-sowht
li (> long[e\ longe
/tap MS. hahe
465" yspedd MS. yspedde,
C. Isped
fermely MS. feruently,
C. ferrnely
4658 derkenease dirknesse
[of this] from C.
4R62-3 [myhten men]
from C.
4663 myite myhten
4667 Jirste fyrst
4668 [yspetulyd and} from
C.
4668 \>o the
whiche which
4669 art MS. arte
ptM-M-thilke
4671 spedeful sped ful
4672 whiche which
4674 wille wyl
4677 )>fflr<>[>] thingcs
11
1G2
NECESSITY AND PRESCIENCE.
FROCK 5.
LPHOSE 4.
For argument
sake let UN 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
causr 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
and agreeing
with this ne
cessity, and not
from signs or
foi e gn causes.
hast confessed it and byknowenalitel herbyforne. IT what
cause [or what] is it. as who seif fere may no cause be.
by whiche fat f e endes (exitus) uoluntarie of finges
niy^ten be constreyned to certeyne bitydyng. IF For
by grace of possessions, so fat fou mowe f e better vn-
dirstonde f is fat folwef. IT I pose (inpossibile) fat
]>er ne be no prescience, fan axe I quod she in as
moche as appertenif to fat. sholde fan Jnnges J>at
comen of frewille ben constreined to bytiden by
necessite. Boicms. nay quod I. fan a^einward quod
she. I suppose fat J>ere be prescience, but fat ne puttejj
no necessite to finges. fan trowe I fat f ilk self fredom
of wille shal dwellew al hool and absolut and vn-
bounden. but fou wolt sein fat al be it so fat prescience
nis nat cause of fe necessite of bitidynge to f inges to
comen. H Algates ^itte it is a signe fat f e f inges ben
to bytiden by necessite. by f is manere fan al f 0113 f e
prescience ne hadde neuer yben. }it algate or at f e
lest[e] wey. it is certeyne fing fat fe ewdys and f e
bitydynges of finges to comen sholde ben necessarie.
IT For euery sygne shewef and signifief oonly what f e
fing is 11 but it ne makif nat f e fing fat it signifief.
IT 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 p?-esciewce is signe of f is necessite
1T or ellys yif fere nere no necessite. certys f ilke pre
science ne my$t[e] nat ben signe of f inge fat nis nat.
1T But certys it is nowe certeyne fat f e preue of f is
sustenif by stedfast resouw ne shal nat ben ladd ne
proued by signes ne by argumentys ytaken fro wif oute.
but by causes couenable and necessarie IT But fou
mayst sein how may it be fat f e finges ne bitiden nat
4683 whiche which
46S5 better betere
4688 moche mochel
46 -19 frewille free wyl
4691 bat ne hat is ne
4692 M MS. ban
bilk self thilke selue
4693 wille wil
4699 lest[e\ leeste
4700 sholde sholden
4703 whiche which
firste fyrst
4704 Ibat bytydith]
from C.
4707 myit[e] myhte
binge thiiif?
4708 nowe now
4709 sustenib ysustenyd
stedfast styaefast
ladd-MS. ladde, C. lad
">OK 5. 1
:K)SE 4.J
NOT ALL THINGS CONTROLLED BY NECESSITY.
1C3
fat ben ypurueyed to comen. but certys ryjt as we thi^iISYnej-
trowen fat )>o finges whiche J?at fe pzmieauce woot by- our eyes j^ucif as
forn to comen. ne ben nat to bitiden. but [bat] ne sholde ing MS chariot,
and other things
we nat demen. but raber al bouj |bat] bei schal bitiden. of uue nature.
Now, is there any
$it ne haue f ei no necessite of hire kynde to bitiden. "ompei^the'se 011
and bis maist J>ou ly}tly aperceyuew by f is fat I shal B. 1I No. t F^r?"au
. things were
seyn. but we seen many binges whan bei ben don by- moved by com-
J pulsion-the
forn oure eyen ryjt as men seen be karter worken in be efforts of art
would be vain and
to?/rnynge and in attempryng or in adressywg of hys ^xhTthings,
kartes or chariottes. IT and by fis manere as who seif don"' are 'under*
no necessity that
mayst bou vnderstowde of alle manere obir werkeme/z. they should be
done ; then first
1T Is bere banne any necessite as who seib in oure lok- !? efore * he y were
f * done, they were
ynge [fat] constreinef or compellif any of f ilke binges ^f r of n ^^\
to ben don so. b. nay qwod I 1T For in ydel and in ^ome ; things imp-
pen, the event of
veyne were alle be effect of crafte yif bat alle binges which is uncon-
J strained by ne-
weren moeued by constreynynge. bat is to seyn by con-
streynynge of oure eyen or of oure sy^t. P. J>ise
,,., j, , known, have free
ban q?/od she fat whan men don hem ne ban non events: for as
the knowledge
necessite bat men don hem. eke bo same fmges first or 4731
bei be don. J>ei ben to comen wij) out necessite. for whi fmpwlesno n"?*
ber ben sowme binges to bytide of whiche be endys thingfw^chare
now done, so
and be bitidynges of hem ben absolut *and quit of alle t* fol - :{7 -J
neither does the
necessite. for certys I ne trowe nat bat any man wolde seyn futurities 1 nicest-
Jus. bat bo finges fat men don now fat f ei ne weren
, .,.-, n , , j MT i i -11 come. But you
to bitiden. first or f ei were ydon II and f ilk same may doubt
whether there
binges al f oui bat men haddew y wyst hem by-forn. < n te an ? cer
tain prescience of
$itte fei han fre bitidynges. for ryjt as science of theTenfiTnot'
finges present ne bryngef in no necessite to finges he^tne^seems
r / / -r i i t be an evident
bat men doon // Kyht so the prescience of thinges to contradiction, if
" things are fore-
comen ne brjTigeth in no necessite to thinges] to bytiden ^SSi^uSr*"*
but f ou mayst seyn fat of f ilke same it is ydouted. as S^nTSId l y
i_ i tip v-n i.' i. 17 their event is not
whef er fat of fake finges fat ne han non endes and necessary,
4714 whiche which
4715 [M] from C.
sholde sholden
4716 demen MS. denyen
[pafl from C.
4717 necessite MS. inrrsM-
4721 hys hise [tes
4725 [)><] from C.
4727 veyne veyn
alle al
crafte craft [the
4729 }>ise MS. pise pise, C.
4732 wrc'p out wttA-owte
4733 bytide bytyden
4733 whiche which
4737 were weeren [I-rto<>u
ydon MS. ydonu, C.
}>ilk thilke
4741-2 [pn thinges^
from C.
4744 endes issues
164
THE NATURE OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE.
FBOOK 5.
LPKOSE 4.
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
derived from the
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.
bytidynges necessaryes yif Jjer-of may ben any pre
science 1T For certys bei seme to discorde. for bou.
wenest bat yif bat binges ben yseyn byforn bat necessite
folweb hem. and yif (et putas) necessite faileb hem bei ne
myjten nat ben wist byforn. and bat no binge ne may
ben comprehendid by science but certeyne. and yif bo
binges bat ne han no certeyne bytidynges ben ypurueied
as certeyn. it sholde ben dirkenesse of oppinknw nat
sobefastnesse of science [and bou weenyst bat it be diuerse
fro the hoolnesse of science / bat any man sholde deme
a thing to ben oother weys thanne it is it self], and fe
cause of bis errour is. bat of alle be binges bat euery
wy^t hab yknowe. bei wenen bat bo binges ben y-knowe
al oonly by be strengbe and by be nature of be binges
bat ben ywyst or yknowe. and it is al be contrarie. for
alle bat euere is yknowe. it is raber c.-mprehendid and
4761 yknowew nat after his strengeb and hys nature, but after
be faculte bat is to seyn be power and [the] nature of
hem bat knowen. and for bat bis shal mo we shewen by
a short ensample be same roundenes of a body .0. ober
weyes be sy^t of be eye knoweb it. and ober weyes be
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-
pTehen^s* tform. touchi?ig. be lokynge by castynge of his bemes waiteb
But the object is r<>n -i i i
not distinguished and seeb fro aler alle be body to-gider wib oute mouynge
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 be man hym self ober weies wyt byholdib hym. and
imagination, by ' J
reason, and by
the intelligence
(of the Deity).
The senses take
material figure- fro wib outen furbe be figure of be body of be man. bat
the imagination , i . . . -, , T> L
considers the form i s establissed in be matere subiect. But be ymagmac?<ou
alone, exclusive of
the matter. [comprehendith only the figure with owte the matere /
of it self, but be touchinge cliuib and conioigneb to be
rounde body (orbi) and moueb abouten be environynge.
and comprehendib by parties be roundenesse. IT and
oberweyes ymaginaciouw and ober weyes resoun. and
ober weyes intelligence. H For be wit comprehewdib
4746 seme semyn
ilixcorde discordcn
4749 \>at yif
4753-5 land selft from
C.
4757 ha}> MS. haj>e
4760 alle-n\
4763 mowe mowen
4764 roundenes Rownd-
nesse
4765 sy\t sihte
4767 altea\
4769 abouten abowte
4770 roundenesse Rownd-
nesse
4774 fro wip outen fur\>e
with owte forth
4776-7 [comprehendith
ymaginacioun] from C,
BOOK 5. 1
PROSE 4.J
SENSE, REASON, AND INTELLIGENCE.
165
Resoim surmou^teth ymaginacioun] and, coraprehen.de]> g^dTtne 1 ""
imaginations, and
i -111 / \ magnato
by an vmuersel lokynge pe commune spece (spectern) examining
ences in general
pat is in be smguler peces. IT But be eye of intelligence discovers the par
ticular species,
is heyjer for it sownnounteb be envirounynge of be
vniuersite and lookeb ouer pat by pure subtilite of boujt.
, .,, , f , . ill- bounds of what is
bilk same symple lornie 01 man pat is perdurably in be general, it surveys
. the simple forms
deuyne boust. in whiche bis aust el gretely to ben con- themselves, by
J its own pure and
sidered pat pe heyest strengpe to co??iprehenden pinges town\chthu lt is
enbracep and conteynep pe lower[e] strengpe [but the sidered, "thauhe
... , higher power of
lowere strengthe ne arysith nat in no manere to heyere perception em
braces the lower ;
strengthe]. for wit ne may no pinge coraprehende oute of bu * th t e ^[ n t r
matere. ne pe ymagynac/oura ne lokep nat pe vniuerseles g^rfor^fo/the
. i , IP senses cannot go
speces. ne resouw ne takeb nat be symple iorme. so as beyond the per-
, . 111 ception of matter;
intelligence takeb it. but be intelligence bat lokeb al the imagination
cannot compre-
abouen whan it hab coraprehendid be forme it knoweb ^"eiS'nor can'"
and demeb alle be pinges pat ben vndir pat forme, but ce'fveThe^impie
, ,. ... . i i , f orm. But the
she knoweb nem vndir biike manere in be whiche it intelligence look-
ini: down (ag from
comprehendip pilke same symple forme pat ne may 4794
, , /, . . , . above) and hav-
neuer be knowen to non ot pat oper. pat is to seyn to ing conceived the
form, discerns all
non of bo bre forseide strengbes of be soule. for it things that are
below it, and com-
knoweb be vniuersite of resouw and be figure of pe yma- SSIg^'faiiwUh.
j , ,-, i -. , , in the reach of
ginactouw. and be sensible material consented, and bou the other faculties
. , ,. , , 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 bing to ben obenveyes ban it is intelligence com-
J r prehends things
it self and pe cause of pis errowr etc 1 , vt sitpra,. by wit. belong theh- y
, P n simple forms) by
ne it ne vsep nat nor ol resou/i ne ol ymaginactouw ne one effort of
mind. Reason,
of wit wib oute forbe but it byholdeb alle binges so as I without the aid of
Imagination and
shal seye. by a strok of boujt formely wib oute disco?*rs ^"rii/g" things in
or collaci'oun 1T Certys resouw whan it lokeb any ping hlnda\ugin-
. i . . . able and sensible
vmuersel it ne vsep nat ot ymagmaciourc nor of wit and things. For in
stance, reason de-
algates }it [it] cowprendib be pinges ymaginable and J^ 1 '"^ 11 * 1 * 1
sensible, for resoun is she pat *diffinissep pe vniuersel th |V"foi. 37 6 .j
4777 comprehended MS.
comprehendynge
4778 on omitted
4780 hey\er heyere
4783 whiche wjiich
auntie] owhte
4784 heyesl hcyistc
4785 lower[e~\ lowere
4785-7 [but
from C.
4787 wit witte
oute owt
471 /<np MS. habe
4793 whiche which
4795-6 wow none
4796 streng\>es thiuges
4798-4801 and }>OH vt su
pra omitted
4805 collacwun MS. callu-
ctoun, C. rollacioiui
4808 wit witte
106
HOW OUR KNOWLEDGE OF
rnooK s.
LICET. 4.
Man is a rational
t-vo- footed
unimal, which,
though it be a
general idea,
yet every one
knows that man
thus defined is
perceived both by
the imagination
and the senses,
notwithstanding
that in this in
stance reason does
not make use of
imagination or
the senses, but of
her own rational
conception. The
imagination also,
although it de
rives its power of
seeing and form
ing figures from
the senses, yet in
the absence and
without the use
of the senses it
considers and
comprenends all
sensible things by
its own imagin
ative power. Do
not you see that
4824
men attain to the
knowledge of
things more by
their own facul
ties, than by the
inherent property
of things?
[The .4<> Metur.]
Nor is it
unreasonable
that it should be
so for since
every judgment is
the act of the
person judging ;
every one must
needs do his own
work by the help
of his own facul
ties, and not by
the aid of foreign
power.
Fallacious and
obscure was the
lore of the Stoics,
who taught that
images of things
obvious to the
senses were im
printed on the
mind by external
objects, and that
the soul is at first
like a mirror or a
clean parchment,
free from figures
and letters.
of hir conseite ryjt f us. IT Man is a resonable t[w]o-
footid beest. and how so fat f is knowynge [is] vniuersel.
31! nys fer no wy^t fat ne woot wel. fat a man is [a thing]
ymaginable and sensible IT and )>is same cowsideref wel
resouw. but fat nis nat by ymaginacz'ouw. nor by witte.
but it lokif it by [a] resonable concepctouw. 11 Also yma-
ginaci'oun al be it so. fat it takef of wit J>e bygynywgws
to seen and to fornien f e figures, algates al f ouj fat wit
ne ware not present, jit it envirounif and comprehendij)
alle f inges sensible, nat by resoure sensible of demynge.
but by resouw ymaginatif. IT sest f ou nat fan fat alle
f e f inges in knowynge vsen more of hir faculte or of hir
power, fan f ei don of [the] faculte or of power of f inges
fat ben yknowen. ne fat nis no wronge. for so as euery
iugement is f e dede or f e doynge of hym fat demef . It
byhouef fat euery wyst performs f e werke and hys en-
tenciouw nat of forein power f but of hys propre power.
QUONDAM PORTICUS ATTULIT.
porche fat is to sein a gate of f e toune of atlienis
fer as philosophres hadde hir congregac/ouw to dis-
poyten. and f ilke porche brou^tfe] so?fttyme olde men ful
derke in hire sentences, fat is to sein philosophers fat
hy^tenstoiciens. f atwenden f at y mages \and~\ sensibilites
fat is to sein sensible yraaginaci'ouws. or ellys ymagin-
ac/oura of sensible finges werew iwprentid in to soules
fro bodies wif oute forfe. 1f As who seif fat filke
stoiciens wenden fat fe soule hadde ben naked of it
self, as a mirour or a clene pa?'chemyn. so fat alle
fygures niosten [fyrst] comen fro f inges fro wif oute in to
soules. and ben inprentid in to soules. Textus. Ry^t
as we ben wont some tyme by a swift poyntel to h'cchen
lettres emprentid in f e smof enesse or in f e plainesse of
4810 [is] from C.
4813 witte wit
4821 don MS. done, C. doon
[the] from C.
4822 yknowen Ikuowe
4822 no vyroncjn nat wrong
4824 werke werk
4825 forein foreyne
4827 hadde hadtten
dlspoyten desputen
4828 browse'] browhte
4830 [and] from C.
4837 inprentid aprentyd
4838 some tyme somtyme
swift swyt'tc
OUTWARD THINGS IS GAINED. 167
be table of vvex. or in parchemyn bat ne hab no figure But if the mind is
passive in receii
[ne] note in it. Glosa. But now arguib boece a^eins bat JgjJjftgJJS^
oppinioure and seib bus. but yif be briuyng soule ne pr
... . . i. . -LI. knowledge by
vnphtib no bmg. bat is to sein ne dob no ping by hys wiiieh the mind
comprehends all
propre moeuynges. but suffrib and lieb subgit to be things?
figures and to be notes of bodyes wip oute forpe. and 4845
,,, j i j i_ f Whence its force
aeldeb ymages ydel and veyne in be manere of a to conceive indi-
. vidual existences,
mirour. whennes briueb ban or whennes comeb ban to separate those
things when
bilke knowyng in oure soule. bat discernib and by- dhMded thin" " e
holdeb alle binges, and whennes is bilke strengbe pat Shanpslt'spath?' 1
. , . soaring to the
by holdeb be ssyngulere binges, or wnennes is be strengbe highest and de
scending to the
bat dyuydeb binges yknowe. and bilke strewgbe bat lowest t^ng 8
gadereb to-gidre be binges deuided. and be strengpe pat ^V^ngT^
chesep hys entrechamzged wey. for som tyme it heueb
vp be heued. bat is to sein bat it heueb vp be enten- 4854
, i .. j j. j., . This cause is
c?ou?i to ry^t heye binges, and som tyme it discendip in more efficacious
and powerful to
to ryjt lowe binges, and whan it retournib m to hym see and to know
J ' * things, than that
self, it repreuib and destroieb be false binges by be ^iv^sti'
trewe binges. IT Certys bis strengbe is cause more i^ e g 7rv
efficient and mochel more my^ty to seen and to knowe
binges, ban bilke cause bat suffrib and resceyneb be 4860
, . ,, . , . -. Yet the sense in
notes and be figures inpressed in manere of matere al- the livm* body
excites and moves
gates be passioure bat is to seyn be suffraunce or be wit t" e mental
powers ; as when
in be quik[e] body gob byforne excitynge and moeu- JhleyesMu^
yng be strengbes of be bou3te. ry^t so as whan bat th^o'tee^Uwi^
. into the ear ex-
clerenesse smytep pe eyen and moemb hem to seen, or cites hearing.
ryjt so as voys or soune hurtlip to pe eres and com- 4866
moeuip hem to herkne. pan is pe strewgbe of be bou3t onhougilTex^ 06
ymoeuid and excitid and clepeb fur be be semblable forth the images
, ., , , ... -.if 7 within itself, and
moeuynges be speces bat it halt wib i/me it self, and adds to them the
outward forms,
addib bo speces to be notes and to be binges wib out blending external
images with the
forbe. and medeleb be ymages of binges wib out forbe
to be forme[s] yhid wib iwne hym self. 4872
res
4840 Tiap MS. haj>e
413 vnpliti}> vupleyteth
do\> MS. do)>e
4845
4863 quik[e~\ qwyke
4863 go\> MS. go^e
4864 \xmite thoght
4866 clerenesse cleernesse
4866 soune sown
4868 fur}>e forth
4870 out owte
4871 outfnr\>e owte forth
4872 forme[s} formes
yhid I-uidde
168
INTELLIGENCE A DIVINE ATTRIBUTE.
rnoox .
LPKOSE 5.
t* tol. 88.]
[The .5* prose.]
Although there
are in objects
certain qualities
which strike ex
ternally upon the
senses, and put
their instruments
in motion ; al
though the pas
sive impression
upon the body
precedes the ac
tion of the mind,
and although the
former rouses the
hitter to action,
yet if in the per
ception of bodily
things, the soul
is not by the im
pression of ex
ternal things
made to know
these things, but
by its own power
judgeth of these
bodily impres-
4885
oions, how much
more shall those
pure spiritual
beings (as God or
angels) discern
things by an act
of their under
standing alone,
without the aid of
impressions from
external objects?
For this reason,
then, there are
several sorts of
knowing distri
buted among
various beings.
For sense (or
sensation) desti
tute of all other
knowledge is
allotted to those
creatures that
have no motion,
as shell-fish. But
imagination is
given to such
brutes capable of
motion, and hav
ing in some degree
the power of de
siring or refusing.
Ueaaon, however,
is the attribute
of man alone, as
Intelligence is
that of i i. nl.
4902
QTOD SI IN CORPORIBPS SENCIEND/S.
*QUESTIO.
T)ut what [yif] fat in bodies to bew feelid fat is
*-' to sein in fe takynge of knowelechinge of bodyly
f inges. and al be it so fat f e qualites of bodies fat ben
obiect fro wif oute forf e moeuen and entalenten f e in-
strumentes of f e wittes. and al be it so fat f e passiouw
of f e body fat is to seyn f e witte [or the] suffraunce
[goth to-forn the strengthe of the workynge corage / the
which passioun or suffraunce] clepif furf e f e dede of
f e f ou^t in hym self, and moeuef and exitef in f is
mene Avhile f e formes fat resten wif in forf e. and yif
fat in sensible bodies as I haue seid oure corage nis nat
yta^t or enp?-entid by passiouw to knowe f ise f inges.
but demif and knowef of hys owen strengf e f e passioun
or suffraiwce subiect to f e body. Moche more fan f oo
f inges fat ben absolut and quit fram alle talent} or
affem'ouns of bodies, as god or hys aungels ne folwen
nat in discernynge finges obiect from wif oute forfe.
but fei accomplissen and speden f e dede of hir f oujt
by f is resouw. IT fan fere comen many manere know-
ynges to dyuerse and differywg substaunces. for f e wit
of f e body f e whiche witte is naked and despoyled of
alle of er knowynges. f ilke 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.
fat cliuen and ben norissed to roches. but f e ymagina-
cioun comef to remuable bestes fat semen to ban talent
to fleen or to desiren any f inge. but resoun is al only to
f e lynage of mankynde ry^t as intelligence is oonly f e
deuyne nature, of whiche it folwef fat f ilke knowyng
is more worf e fan [th]is[e] ofer. syn it knowef by hys
4873 [yifl from C.
4878 [or the] from C.
suffraunce MS. suffi-
saunce, C. suffraunce
4379-80 [goth suffraunce]
from C.
4883 seid MS. seide, C. seyd
4887 quit quite
4888 hys hise
4889 discernynge MS. dis-
cryuynff, C. discernynge
from fro
4893-94 witte wit
4895 mowen mowe
here ne bere her and ther
4901 whiche which
4902 [th]i9[e] ober thise
oothre
BOOK 5. "I
PKOSE o.J
THE POWERS OF SENSE AND IMAGINATION.
1G9
p?'opre nature nat only hys subiect. as who seib it ne God'-s) 2!<>wied'e
knoweb nat al oonly bat apperteinib proprely to hys otherfco'mpre-
knowynge. but it knoweb be subgito of alle ober know- wi'at'beiongs to
His own nature,
ynges. but how shal it ban be yif bat wit and ymagina- and what is com-
J ' * prehended by all
cioun stryuen a^eins resonynge and sein bat of bilke "^"ow^n^u'it*'
i . i -, be then, if sense
vniuersel binges, bat resoura weneb to seen bat it nis and imagination
oppose reason,
ryjt nau^t. for wit and ymagmaczoiw seyn bat bat. bat affirming that the
is sensible or ymaginable it ne may nat ben vniuersel. reason thinks it
ban is eiber be iugement of resouw [soth]. ne bat 1 nothing ? 8ee8>
. .,, ., For what falls
ber nis no binge sensible, or ellys for bat resouw woot under the cogni
sance of the
wel bat many binges ben subiect to wit and to ymagin- sens ? and irna .
gination cannot be
acz'ou/?,. ban is be consepcioun of resourc veyn and fals BuT^reason
whiche bat lookeb and comprehendib. bat bat is this thaUnTier
sensible and synguler as uniuersele. and sif bat resouw general she
comprehends
wolde answeren asein to bise two bat is to sein to wit whatever is
sensible and ima-
and to ymaginac?x)UTO. and sein bat sobely she hir self. Slhe'sensw and
bat is to seyn bat resouw lokeb and comprehendib by cmnot aSn'to^
. ' the knowledge of
resouw of vmuersakte. bobe bat bat is sensible and bat what is general,
' since their know-
bat is ymaginable. and bat bilke two bat is to seyn wit 4921
. ledge is confined to
and yrnagmaczoun ne mowew nat strecchen ne en- material figures ;
haunsen hem self to knowynge of vniuersalite for bat an real know-
ledge of things we
be knowywg of hem ne may excede,n nor sowrmouwte^ "reatest'credit to
be bodyly figure[s] IT Certys of be knowyng of binges ^1 more stead'-
j , , . . fast and perfect
men auaten raber jeue credence to be more stedfast and judgment of
things. In a con-
to be more perfit iugement. In bis manere stryuynge ^
ban we bat han strengbe of resonynge and of ymagin- fec'nuleglrf 81
ynge and of wit bat is to seyn by resouw and by ymagin- sfdewith C rea?on
r _ and espouse her
acioura and by wit. and we sholde raber pmse be cause cause ? The case
is entirely similar
of resouw. as who seib ban be cause of wit or ymagina- re ^" n h thTnk(. the
ct'oun. semblable binge is it bat be resoun of mankynde g^'nc" canncJt'be-
, . ... niii. hold future events
ne wenep nat pat be deuyne intelligence byholdeb or in any other way
knoweb binges to comen. but ry^t as be resoun of man- i. capable of per-
eeiving them.
kynde knoweb hem. for bou arguist and seist bus. bat ar^ue^ y u
4907 a-^etns ayein
4908 vniuersel vinucrscls
4911 [sotK] from C.
4liH/(//aif/u'fft faliH; which
4817 wit witte
4918 solely soothly
l!2:< ktuncynge knowy
4926 ieue yeuen
4926 stedfast stid.>fast
4930 [and] from C.
4931 or and of
170
REASON SHOULD SUBMIT TO INTELLIGENCE.
PBOOK 6.
LMET. 5.
what things are yif it ne seme nat to men bat so?nme binges han certeyne
not necessitated
known -^erefore anc ^ necessarie bytidynges. bei ne mo wen nat ben wist
pre8cienceof byforn certeynely to bytiden. bare nis [ther] no pre-
these things, for, . .,, . 7 .
if there were, science ot bilke binges, and yil we trowen bat pre-
everything would
be fixed by an science ben in bise binges, ban is ber no binge bat it ne
absolute neces-
poBBibilfto enjoy bitidib by necessite. but certys yif we my^tew han be
the intelligence of , /> . -, , , &-, f
[foi IH &] lugement 01 be deuyne bomt as we *ben poisoners of
the Deity, we
should then deem resouw. ryjt so as we han demed. it byhoueb bat yma-
it right that
4944 ginac^ouw and wit ben bynebe resouw. ry^t so wolde
sense and imagin- , , , ., ,/, 1 ..
ation should yield we demew pat it were ry^tiul ping pat maws resouw
to reason, and . t i* * -L t
also judge it au^LeJ to suwmitten it self and to ben bynepe pe de-
pr
hu
roper
;man reason
should submit to
the Divine In
telligence. Let
us, therefore,
strive to elevate
ourselves to the
height of the
supreme intelli-
uyne pou^t. for whiche pat yif we mowen. as who seip.
pat yif pat we mowew I conseil[e] pat we enhanse vs in
to pe hey3t of bilke souereyne intelligence, for bere shal
resouji wel seen bat bat it ne may nat by-holden in it
self, and certys pat is pis in what manere pe prescience
of god seeb alle binges certeins and difinissed al pou^ pei
she cannot dis
cover in herself;
and that is in ... 1,1 ^
what manner the ne han no certein issues or by-tydynges. ne bis is non
prescience of God
sees a. nd defines oppiniouw but it is raper pe simplicite of pe souereyn
and she will see
that this is no
mere conjecture,
but rather simple,
supreme, and un
limited know
ledge.
[The 5> Metr.]
Various are the
science bat nis nat enclosed nor yshet wipiwneno boundes.
QUAM UARII8 FIGURIS.
I bestes passen by pe erbes by ful dyuerse figures
for sorame of hem han hir bodies strau^t and
crepew in be dust and drawen after hem a trais or a
oMcUn! trace forghe contynued. bat is to sein as addres or snakes,
furrows aT they and ober bestes by [the] wandryng lyatnesse of hir
go ; others with
rtot b thr^u''h s the wen g es beteii be wyndes and ouer-swymmeTZ be spaces
theirferimpr'ess of be longe eyer by moist flee[y]nge. and ober bestes
the ground, or-,,-, TI i. i.
tread lightly o'er gladen hem to diggon her traas or her stappes in pe
the meads, or in r n
seek the shady erpe wib hir goynge or wip her leet. or to gone eype[rj
4965 by pe grene feldes or [elles] to walken vnder pe wodes.
4938 Ither} from C.
4939 trowen trowe
4942 parsoners parsoneres
4945 mans marines
4946 auit[e] owte
4947 whiche which
4918 \>at yif yit >at
4949 heytf heihte
}>ere ther
4952 powj MS. Jxmjt
4955 no none
4957 somme som
4959 forghe contynued
forwh Ikonntyiiued
4959 addres nadris
4960 [the] from C.
4963 hem hem self
stappes steppis
4964 or to gone and to gon
ey\>e\r\ eyther
4965 [elles]-hom C.
BOOK 5.
1'HOSE (i
] DEFINITION OF ETERNITY. 171
and al be it so bat bou seest bat bei alle discorden by Though we see
" an endless
dyuerse formes, algate hire [faces] enclini[n]g heuieb hire yet'aiure^rmle';
dulle wittes. Onlyche fe lynage of man heuej) heyest hys ben<i e their took?
increasing the
heyje heued and stondeb lyjt wib hys vpryst body and heaviness of their
r J7 r J rj? dull sense. Man
byholdej) be erbe vndir hym. [and] but-^if bou erbely man aioft^lfnobfe 66
wexest yuel oute of J>i witte. bis figure amonestej? be bat SSMJ^
axest be heuene wif bi ry^t[e] visage, and hast areised art admonished 11
. by this figure
bi forhede to beren vp on heye Jn corage so bat Jn bou^t then, unless by
ne be nat yheuied ne put lowe vndir foot, sen bat J>i b y a t t h y h iift y ta n {fen
body is so heye areised. 4975 gHB^
vate thy mind
lest it sink below
PEOSA VLTlafA. its proper level.
[The 6" prose and
the laste 1
QUONIAJf IQITUR UTI PAULO ANTE. Since everything
which is known is
"p%Er-fore ban as I haue shewed a litel her byforne J>at "hoWn! perceived
- al binge bat is ywist nis nat knowen by hys nature herent properties,
but by the facul-
propre. but by be nature of hem bat comprehenden it. ties of those com
prehending them,
1T Lat vs loke now in as moche as it is leuef ul to vs. as a e m f e " n w ex ~
who seib lat vs loken now as we mowen whiche bat be D^^nature.* 118
...., ,, rl -.All rational crea-
estat is of be deuyne substaunce so bat we mowen ekl tures agree in
. affirming that
knowen what his science is. be comune lugement of alle G d is eternal.
And eternity is
creatures resonables ban is bis bat god is eterne. lat vs p^ect^sMsion
considere ban what is etemite. For certys fat shal shaiineiTer'end.
, . , , , . , This will appear
she wen vs to-gidre be deuyne nature and be deuyne more clearly from
. . . aeomparisonwitli
science If Eternite ban is perfit possessiou?z and al temporal things.
Temporal exist-
togidre of lijf interminable and fat sheweb more clerely from^hTp^t to
by be comparisou?i or collacj'oura of temporel binges, for then^e e tTthe na
.. ii,- -i- T T, f future. And there
al bmg bat lyueb in tyme it is present and procedib fro is nothing under
the law of time,
preterit; in to futwes. bat is to sein. fro tyme passed which ^ * neo
J * comprehend the
in to tyme comynge. ne ber nis no bing establissed in Sstln'c^Hav- 8
T_ . i ,. ,., ,..- ing lost yesterday
tyme bat may enbracen to-gidre al be space of hys lijf. it does not as yet
enjoy to-morrow ;
for certys ^it ne hab it nat taken be tyme of be morwe. f t n ^,JSigg ^f ?"
and it hab lost bat of Bister-day, and certys in be lijf sltory foment"
4967 [faces] from C.
algate-^-nlf&tes
enclini[n]g enclynyd
4068 Onlyche Oonly
heyest heyeste
4970 er\>e erthes
HI71 oute <iwt
witte wit
4972 rytfe] rylite
hast MS. hape, C. hast
4973 forhede forelieuyd
on heye a he.vgh
4974 foot sen foote syn
4977 al \>inge alle thinges
4979 moctemochel
4980 loken loke
4980 whiche which
4981 [efc] from C.
4987 clerely cleerly
4989 al alle
4993-4 ;ip MS. haj>e
4993 be (2) to
4994 \>at the tyine
THE WORLD IS NOT ETERNAL.
TBOOK s.
U'KOSE 6
Whatever, there
fore, is subjected
to a temporal
condition, as
Aristotle thought
of the world,
may be without
beginning and
without end ; find
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. But 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 fis day 30 ne lyuen no more but ry^t as in fis moeue-
able and transitorie moment, fan f ilke f inge fat suffrif
temporal condicz'ovm. a[l]foughe fat [it] bygan neuer
to be. ne foughe it neuere cese forto be. as aristotle
demde of f e worlde. and al f ou$ fat f 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 f 0113 fat it comprehende and embrace f e
space of life infinite, ^it algates ne [emjbracef it nat f e
space of f e lif alto-gidre. for it ne haf nat f e futures
fat ne ben nat }it. ne it ne haf no lenger f e preterit^
fat ben ydon or ypassed. but f ilke f ing fan fat haf
and cowprehendif to-gidre alle f e plente of f e lif in
terminable, to whom fere ne failif nat of fe future.
and to whom fer nis nat of f e preterit escapid nor
ypassed. filk[e] same is y witnessed 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 myjty fat al
by ryjt at hys plesaunce. and fat he haue al present
f e infinit of f e moeuable tyme. wherfore som men
trowew wrongefully fat whan f ei heren fat it semid[e]
to plato fat fis worlde ne had[de] neuer bygynnynge
of tyme. ne fat it neuere shal haue faylynge. f ei wenen
i?& fis manere fat fis worlde ben maked coeterne wif
his makere. as who seif. f ei wenen fat fis worlde and
god ben maked to-gidre eterne. and it is a wrongful
wenynge. for ofer 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 whiche fing it is clere and manifest
4097 a[T]\>nugTie al-lhogh
[if] from C.
499 worlde world
5001 swiche swych
5002 eterne - from C., MS.
etornite
5003 life Ivf
5004-5-B ha}> MS. haf>e
5006 j/don MS. ydone, C. I-
doon
5007 alle al
5008-9 nat nawht
5010 \nlk[e] thilke
or and
5014 by be
5016 semid[e'] seme.de
5017 worlde world
had[_de\ hadde
5018 haue ban
5019-20 worlde world
5022 yladd MS. yladde, C.
I-lad
5023 worlde world
5024 embracen cnbrace
alle al
presence to present of
5025 clere clecr
PKOSE 5 6.] GOD 18 ETERNAL. 173
bat it is propre to be deuine boujt. ne it ne sholde nat time, but ratiier
* by the simple and
semen to vs bat god is elder ban binges bat ben ymaked u "^|^f h ?J"
by quantite of tyme. but raber by be proprete of hys gSkSJJta,
symple nature, for bis ilke infinit[e] moeuyng of temporel things'imitates
binges folwib bis presentarie estat of be liif inmoeue- condition of an
immovable lite :
able, and so as it ne may nat contrefeten it ne feynera ^ 8ince il can-
* not copy nor
it ne ben euene lyke to it. for be inmoeueablete. bat is SJ^oTObtend n
to seyn bat is in be eternite of god. 1T it faileb and sta n te% p p e aw^
,. . . ,. . r , , into motion and
faileb in to moeuynge fro be sunplicite of [the] pre- into an infinite
sence of god. and disencresib to be infinite quantite of *"* g^ncelt can-
futMre and of preterit, and so as it ne may nat ban to- onL P the^hoie
.j 11.1 f t. ^f ^ -ij. f i extent of its dura-
gidre al be plente of be lit. algates 2itte for as mocne as tion, yet, as it
never ceases
it ne cesib rieuere forto ben in som manere it semeb wholly to be, it
faintly emulates
somde[l] to vs bat it folwijj and resemblib bilke bing fotiMnTcan*"
... ,,, 7 i i , , neither attain nor
bat it ne may nat attayne to. ne iulnlle. and byndeb it express, by at
taching itself to
self to som manere presence of bis litel and swifte 5041
moment, be whiche presence of bis lytele and swifte ^ moment? 661
. , 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 J}, 1
swiche manere binges as it bitidib to bat it semeb hem
... .. -i -i -, -, -, # r.iT. existence. But
bat bise binges han ben and ben and for [bat] be pre- as it cannot stop
or abide it pur-
sence of swiche litel moment ne may nat dwelle ber-for sues its course
through infinite
[it] rauyssid[e] and took be infinite] wey of tyme. bat j^^g it
is to seyn by successions, and by bis manere it is ydon. Station 8 the
for bat it sholde continue be lif in goynge of be whiche wWch^t^uid
.,..;, not comprehend,
lit it ne my2tre nat embrace be plente in dwellynge. by abiding in a
J ' permanent state.
and for bi yif we willen putte worbi name[s] to binges ? fw p, wouI m fo -\"
and folwen plato. lat vs seyn ban sobely bat god is rifhfnam'esjet
. , . , us say that God
eterne. ana bat be worlde is perpetuel. ban syn bat is eternal and the
" ' J r world perpetual.
euery iugement knoweb and comprehendib by hys owen His knowledge,
nature binges bat ben subiect vnto hym. bere is sobely P i^f r ^ 8 everpre-
al-wey to god an eterne and presentarie estat. and be u," tofont""^
5032 lyke lyk
fror
6034 [the] from C.
6039 somde\_Y] somdel
6040 fulftUe- -fullfyllen
iVin litel fi-mO.,MS.lykly
5042 whiche- -which
/I/tele from C., MS. lykly
5046 ben {!) ybeu
[pa<]-fromC.
5047 swiche swych
6048 [ifl from C.
5051 myyt(.e} myhte
5052 willen putte wollen
putten
5052 nante^s] names
5053 solely sothly
5054 tcorlde world
6055 owen owne
6056 solely sothly
6057 al-wey al-weys
174
DEFINITION OF PRESCIENCE.
[BOOK 5.
LPKOSE e.
of past and future
tiraes, and em-
acting. Presci
ence is, then, a
foreknow ledge,
not of what is to
come, but of the
(in which God
[ fol. 89 b.]
sees all things as
if immovably
present). There
fore foreknow
ledge is not so
applicable a term
as providence
for God looks
down upon all
things from the
summit of the
universe. Do yon
think that God
imposes a neces
sity on things by
beholding them ?
It is not so in
human affairs.
Does your view
5073
of an action lay
any necessity
upon it ? B. No.
P. By parity of
reason it is clear
that whilst you
see only some
things 'in a limit
ed instant, God
sees all things in
his ever-present
time. His Divine
prescience there
fore does not
change the nature
of things but
to him which
shall in time be
produced. Nor
does he judge
confusedly of
atZe v"ew wlmt
necessarily
happen.
The eye of God,
seeing all things,
doth not alter the
properties of
things, for every
thing is present
to him, though
its temporal
event is future.
science of hym bat ouer-passeb alle temporel inoe[ue]-
ment dwellib in be symplicite of hys presence and em-
braceb and considereb alle be infinit spaces of tymes
pj-eterit} and futures and lokeb in bis symple knowynge
alle binges of preterit ry^t as tei weren ydoon presently
ry^t now ^T yif bou wolt ban benke and avisew be
prescience by whiche it knoweb al[le] binges *bou ne
shalt nat demen it as presiience of binges to comcu.
but bou shalt demew [it] more ry^tfully bat it is science
of presence or of instaunce bat neuer ne fayleb. for
whiche it nis nat ycleped prouidence but it sholde raber
be cleped purueaunce bat is establissed ful fer fro ry^t
lowe binges, and byholdeb from a-fer alle binges ry^t as
it were fro be heye heyjte of binges, whi axest bou ban
or why disputest bou ban bat bilke binges ben don by
necessite whiche bat ben yseyen and ykrowen by be
deuyne syjt. syn bat for sobe men ne maken nat bilke
biwges necessarie. whiche bat be[i] seen be ydoon in
hire sy^t. for addib bi byholdynge any necessite to bilke
binges bat bou byholdest present. IT Nay quod I. p.
Certys ban yif men my^te maken any digne comparisons
or collaci'ouw of be presence diuine. and of be presence
of mankynde. ry^t so as 30 seen sorarue binges in bis
temporel presente. ry^t so seeb god alle binges by hys
eterne present. ^T wherfore bis dyuyne prescience ne
chaungeb nat be nature ne be pn>prete of binges but
byholdeb swyche binges present to hym ward, as bei
shollen bytiden to ^ow ward in tyme to come, ne it ne
eonfoundeb nat be lugementj of binges but by of sy^t
of hys bou^t he knoweb be binges to comen as wel
necessarie as nat necessarie. ry^t so as whan ^e seen to-
gidre a man walke on be erbe and be sonne aryseu in
[the] heuene. al be it so bat 30 seen and byholdew bat
5058 alle al
moe[ue]ment moeuemewt
5063 bete thinken
avisfn auyse
504 whithe which
-alle
6066 shalt shal
[it] from C.
5068 whiche which
5074-76 sy\t syhte
5075 whiche which
5085 come coitiyii
5086 ofsy^tO syhte
50S7 he knowe^ MS. repeats
6090 Uhe] from C.
PROSED.] THE NATURE OF DIVINE PRESCIENCE. 175
oon and bat ober to-gidre. sit nabeles ae demen and when God knows
that any thing is to
discerne bat j>at oon is uolu?ztarie and bat ober is neces- b f n k e e |^rthat the
sarie. IT Ry 3 t so ban [the] deuyne lokynge byholdynge nVcessu/of being
,. , 11 . I'M. * but this is not
alle bwges vndir hym ne troubleb nat be qualite ol conjecture, but
certain knowledge
binges bat ben certeynely present to hym ward, but as [" n Aed if p vo I u in _
to be condici'ouw of tyme for sobe bei ben futwre. for /^"eS^u'eraSf
....... . . . . . must happen ; and
whiche it folwib bat bis nis non oppimoura. but raber a that which cannot
do otherwise than
stedfast knowyng ystrengebed by sobenes. bat whan ^f^i 1 ^'
, i I.-L-LI A i. . an( l 8O bind me to
bat god knoweb 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
J * under such a re;
whan bat god knoweb any binge to bitide. he woot wel a^mh'thafwV 8
bat it ne hab no necessite to bitide. and yif bou seist prehe^'unies's
..,, .. , , .., ., 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 seib it mot bitide. 1T and bilke win answer you
thus. That the
binge bat bat ne may nat vnbytide it mot bitide by 5105
ii, * , e thing which is to
necessite. and bat bou streine me to bis name ol neces- happen in relation
to the Divine
site, certys I wol wel confessen and byknowe a binge of knowledge is
* ' necessary; but,
ful sadde troube. but vnneb shal bere any wyst [mowe] ^'^r in its
seen it or comen ber-to. but yif bat he be byholder of be Absolute. 66 There
fr n T i ,-n are two kinds of
deuyne bouite. II lor I wol answere be bus. bat bilke necessity one
simple; as men
binge bat is future whan it is referred to be deuyne must necessarily
J die the other is
knowywg ban is it necessarie. but certys whan it is vn- ^'know 8 !' ma^
dirstonden in hys owen kynde mew sen it [is] vtterly fre n 7 eceg S sarii l waik
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 u is appre
hended to be. But
bus. bat it byhoueb by necessite bat alle men be mortal dwg^oUnfer the
or dedely. an ober necessite is condicionel as bus. yif su^'ibr* the* 8 "
bou wost bat a man walkib. it byhoueb by necessite bat "hingltseif does
not here consti-
he walke. bilke binge ban bat any wyat hab vknowe to tute the necessity,
* J but the necessity
be. it ne may ben non ober weyes ban he knoweb it to conTunetiemof 6
be. 1T but bis condicioun ne draweb nat wib hir bilke NO necessity'
., i I? . -x j- i compels a man to
necessite symple. 1 or certys bis necessite condicionel. walk who does so
5092 discerne discernen
5093 [the) from C.
6097 whiche which
6098 stedfast stidefast
so\>enes sothnesse
5102 ha}> MS. h
6104 bitide bide
5108 sadde sad
vnne\> vnnethe
[mowe] from C.
5109 comen come
5110 \'ui<-,fi tnoght
answere answeren
5113 sen MS. seiie, C. son i
5113 [M] from C.
6117
5119 Ao> MS. ha
6121 condicioun from C.,
MS. necessite
.
ly
>e
176
PRESCIENCE AND NECESSITY.
CHOOK s.
LPKOSE e.
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
yet in relation to
themselves they
are absolutely
free. All things
which God
foresees shall
surely come
to pass ; but some
of these things
proceed from free
will, which al
though they hap-
5139
pen, yet do not
thereby change
their nature, as
before they hap
pened they.had it
in their power not
to happen. But
it is a thing of no
moment then,
whether things
are necessary in
their own nature
or not, since by
the condition of
the Divine know
ledge they fell
out as if they were
necessitated.
P. The differ
ence is explained
in the instances
lately given you,
of the man walk
ing, &c. The
event of the
former was neces
sary before it be
fell, whereas that
of the latter was
altogether free.
H. Then I did
not go from the
f e propre natureof it ne makef it nau^t. but f e adiecci'ou/z
of f e condicz'oim makif it. for no necessite ne constreynef
a man to [gon / fat] goof by his propre wille. al be it
so fat whan he goo]) fat it is necessarie fat he goof.
IT Ry^t on pis same manere fan. yif fat f e pwrueaunce
of god seef any f ing present, fan mot f ilke *f inge be
by necessite. al f 0113 fat it ne haue no necessite of hys
owen nature, but certys f e futures fat bytyden by fre-
doin of arbitre god seef hem alle to-gidre present^, f ise
finges fan [yif] fei ben referred to f e deuyne sy$t.
fan ben fei maked necessarie to f e eondic/ouw of f e
deuyne knowynge. but certys yif f ilke finges ben con-
sidred by hem self fei ben absolut of necessite. and ne
forleten nat ne cesen nat of f e liberte of hire owew
nature, fan certys wif outen doute alle fe fingws
shollen be doon whiche fat god woot by-forn fat fei
ben to comen. but sorame of hem comen and bitiden of
[free] arbitre or of fre wille. fat al be it so fat fei by-
tiden. }it algates ne lese fei nat hire propre nature ne
beynge. by f e whiche iirst or fat fei were doon fei
hadden power nat to han bitidd. Boece. what is f is
to seyn fare q##d I. fat finges ne ben nat necessarie by
hire propre nature, so as fei comen in alle maneres in
f e lykenesse of necessite by f e condici'ouw of f e deuyne
science. PMlosophie. f is is f e difference quod she. fat
f o finges fat I pwrposed[e] f e a litel here byforn. fat
is to seyn f e sonne arysynge and f e man walkynge fat
f erwhiles fat f ilke finges ben ydon. fei ne my^ten nat
ben vndon. naf eles fat oon of hem or it was ydon it
byhoued[e] by necessite fat it was ydon. but nat fat
of er. Ty$t so it is here fat f e finges fat god haf present.
6123 nau}t nat
6125 [gon }>at] from C.
wille wil
5128 mot MS. mote, C. mot
6131 present* present
6132 [y^-fromC.
sj/3< syhte
6137 wi\> outen witA-owte
6138 whiche which
mme som
5140 {.free} from C.
5141 ne (2) C. in
5142 whiche which
were doon weeryii Idoon
5143 bitidd MS. bitidde, C.
bityd
5148 purposed[e] pur
posede
5150 ydon MS. ydone, C v
I-doon
my^ten mylite
5151 vndon MS. vndone, C.
vndoon
5151-2 ydon MS. ydone, C.
I-doon
5152 bylioued[e] houyd
5153 Aap MS. habe
pSosk'e.] PROVIDENCE AND HUMAN INTENTIONS. 177
wib outen Joute bei shulle ben. but sowme of hem de- t th when i said
that some things
scendij? of Jje nature of jjiuges as be sonne arysynge. Sjffl^S"*"
and so?me descendib of J>e power of be doers as )>e man wwle'conSdered
. , T . . in themselves
walkvn^e. IT ban seide I. no wronge bat yii bat pise they are not under
J ' r T thebondofneces-
binges ben referred to be deuyne knowynge ban ben bei sit y- In the same
r way e\ery thing
necessarie. and yif )>ei ben considered by hem selfe ban jj ^, n | e a " s yerai
ben bei absolut from fe bonde of necessite. ryjt so [as] J^rda^on'to" 1
. reason but par-
alle binges bat appiereb or sheweb to be \vittes yit bou ticuiarwhen con
sidered by itself.
referre it to resoura it is vniuersel. and yif bou refer re But yon may say
If I am able to
it or look[e] it to it self, fan is it sy-wguler. but now
. ,, , . , . p . , -i , providence by
yif bou seist bus bat yit it be in my power to chauuge changing that
1 T which she hath
my purpose, ban shal I voide be pwrueaunce of god. foreseen i would
whan bat pe?-auenture I shal han chau??ged ]?o binges ^r^^,.
bat he knoweb byforn. ban shal I answere be bus ^ r asprovWe^oe
takes note of your
Tl Certys ]?ou maist wel chaungen ]>i p?<?-pos but for as 5168
mochel as be present soj>enesse of be deuyne pw/oieaunce carfnotde 8 ceive
,!,,, , .. , her; for you can-
byholdeb bat bou mayst chaungen bi pz'pose. and not escape the
divine prescience
whebir bou wolt chaunge it or no. and winder-ward though you have
the power,
)>at bou tourne it. bou maist nat eschewen ]>e deuyne w \u"to h v ar lr m'id
prescience ryjt as fou ne mayst nat fleen jje syjt of be actToni!^ y But
present eye. al bouj bat bou tourne bi self by bi fre ihaiuhe' divine
knowledge be
wille in to dyuerse accoun. T But bou mayst seyn changed accord-
" ing to the muta-
ajeyne hoAv shal it ban be. shal nat be dyuyne science ^Hftion'and^he
r. i J-L j' i ^j-T i apprehensions of
ben chaunged by my disposictoun whan bat 1 wol o the Deity nuctu-
ated with my
bmg now and now an ober. and bilke prescience ne changing pur
poses ? No, in-
semeb it nat to enterchauwge stoundes of knowynges. d r2 ! ,, T !l e Y iew
" of the Deity fove-
as who seib. ne shal it nat seme to vs bat be deuyne ^entfamf brings
i ,-!-, i/>i it back into the
prescience enterchaungeb hys dyuers stoundes of know- presence of his
. own knowledge,
ynge. so bat it knowe so?nme tyme o bing and sowme tyme w h'cn does not
be contrarie. IT Xo for sobe. [quod I] for be deuyne syjt ^^'"caTiVeT"
renneb to-forne and seeb allefut ///-cs mxl clepeb hem a^ein fl"^at a on"" >f
6154 wi]> outfit with-owte
shulle shollen
5156 doers doeres
5157 wronge wrong
5159 ftelfe self
5160 from fro
bonde bond
[a] from C.
5163 look[e] lokc I t<!rchaunpyng, C. eiitre-
5166 \>o the chaiunrc
5169 8o\>eness0 sothnesse ' 5181 hys hise
5170 chaungen chaunge
5173 syrf syhte
5175 ii7/0 wyl
5177 wol wole
5179 enterchaunge MS. cn-
12
5182 nomine (1) su>
snmme (2) som
.">!:! .s-.i/;/ syhte
5184 to-forne to-forn
178 GOD'S KNOWLEDGE FIXED AND UNCHANGED.
[?re c tends a an your un ^ retoMnrib hem to fe presence of hys propre know-
Jaculty 8 of com- J^g 6 - ne ne ne entrcchaungeb nat [so] as fou wenest be
prehending and
seeing aii things stouncles ot iorknowyng [as] now bis now bat. but he
as present, God
does not.receive a y dwellynge comib byforn and enbraceb at o strook
Irom the issue of " . I J
frornihe S simpH. a ^ e fi mutacj'ouws. and bis presence to coraprehenden
city of his own , ,, . , .
nature. Here, ew to sen alle binges, god ne nab nat takera it of be
then, is an answer
to your former bitvdynge of binges forto come, but of hys pj'opre sym-
pbjection that it J J ' J J
Ihat'liurfutt^ P licit e- 1T and her by is assoiled bilke bing bat bou
actions and events AA A TA i i. i ^ i j i-i-
are the causes of puttest a litel her byiorne. bat is to seyne bat it is vn-
tlie prescience of
God. For the worpi binge to seyn bat oure iutures jeuen cause of be
Divine mind, em-
[* foi. 4i 6.] science of god 1T For certys *bis strengbe of be deuyne
bracing and com-
preiiending aii science whiclie bat enbraceb alle binge by his present-
tilings by a pre-
ar ^ e ^nowynge establisseb manere to alle bingws and it
ne awib nat to lattcre binges, and syn bat bise binges
, . ., . .
. bat is to seyn syn bat necessite nis nat in
y be deuyne prescience, ban is ber fredom oJ
the'iMvinifpr arbitrc. bat dwelleb hool and vnwemmed to mortal men.
science, there re- .. . ,,
mains to men an ne be lawes ne purpose nat wikkedly meedes and peynes
inviolable free
dom of will. And to be willynges of men bat ben vnbounde and quit of
those laws are
iewaTds iC and 88ign alle necessite. 11 And god byholder and forwiter of
niei! poTs'essing alle binges dwellib aboue and be present eternite of hys
free-will. More
over, God, who syjt renneb alwey wib be dyuerse qtialite of oure dedes
sits on high, fore- J '
andThe a eternaf s> dispensyng and ordeynynge medes to good[e] men. and
kr,ow?e e dge f con- tourmentj to wicked men. ne in ydel ne in veyn ne ben
curs with the , . , , ,
future quality of ber nat put in god hope and prayeres. bat ne mowen
our actions, dis
pensing rewards nat ben vnspedful ne wib oute efiect whan bei ben ryat-
to good and pun-
e S vii m men 8 to ^ u ^ ^ Avibstond ban and eschewe bou vices, worshippe
ati d r prayera re-^ and loue f 011 vertus. areisc bi coragc to ry^tful hoopes.
dressed'to^God'in aelde bou humble p?'eiers an heyse. grete necessite of
vain, which when .
they are sincere prowesse and vertue is encharged and comaunded to
- r
upon futurity. , , . ., . .
since no neces- ben bus. bat is to seyn syn bat necessite nis nat in
sity is imposed
5200 binges by be deuyne prescience, ban is ber fredom oJ
cannot be ineffi-
succe"sfUi or
vice-iionOTr'and and doon. fat is to seyn joure dedes and ^oure workes
" or 3 OW J^ 3 e n ^ na ^ dissimulen. 1T Syn bat 30 worchen
5186 [so] from C.
5187 [a*] from C.
5188 comib comth
5190 fcap MS. ha)>e
5193 seyne so.vn
5196 whiche which
5198 owtp oweth
5199 ]?at is to fre-
sconce omitted
5203 vnbounde vnbowuden
qnil quite
5206 sy$t sihte
5207 good[e} K'oodo
5211 wi\>tfond MS. wij>-
stonde, C. withstand
5213 an hey^e a heyj?h
jrete Gret
5215 worchen workyn
5216 and (2) or
BOOK 5. 1
THOSE 6.J
AN ANSWER TO FORMER OBJECTIONS.
170
by-fore be eyen of 'be luge bat seeb and demeb ulle love virtue, exalt
your mind to God
Junges. [To whom be goye and worshipe bi Infynyt ( t ff e e r t up e your pe; '
tymes / AMEN.] 5^19 ESSSmyT^f 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 QUINTU8. ET VLTIMP5.
5217 by-fore by-forn
5218 [To ichom Amen}
from 0. ; MS. reads et
cetera after ' Binges.' C.
ends with the following
rubric :
Explicit expliceat ludere
scriptor eat
Finite libro sit laus et
gloria Christo
Corpore scribentis sit
gratia cunctipotentis
180 JET AS PRIMA.
[Camb. Univ. MS. li. 3. 21, fol. 52 L]
Chawcer vp-on this fyfte mettw 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 fat fey ete
Whiche fat the feldes yaue hem by vsage 4
They ne weere nat forpampred with owtrage
Onknowyn was f 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 wownded AVi't/i J> e plowh
But corn vp-sprong vnsowe of mannes bond
)3e which they gnodded and eete nat half .I.-nowh
No man yit knewe the forwes of his lond 1 2
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 16
IT 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 Marchavwt yit ne fette owt-landissh" ware
No batails trompes for the werres folk ne knewe
Ne towres heye and walles rownde or square 24
JETAS PRIM A. 181
IT What sholde it lian avayled to werreye
Ther lay no profyt ther was no rychesse
But corsed was the tyme J. dar 1 wel seye [fo1 - 5s - ]
J?at men fyrst dede hir swety "bysynesse 28
To grobbe vp metal lurkynge in dirkenesse
And in }>e Byuerys fyrst gemmys sowhto
Alias than sprong 1 vp al the cursydnesse
Of coueytyse fat fyrst owr sorwe browhte 32
IT Thyse tyrauwtj 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
])a\> nat but mast or apples is ther Inne
But Jjer as bagges ben and fat vitaile
Ther wol they gon and spare for no synne
With 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 folk* witft-owte 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 wz't/t-owte galles
Euerych of hem his feith to oother kepte 48
IT 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 emperice
56
39, 40 MS. transposes the lines 44 On MS. Or
56 A line omitted, but no Rap left for one.
182 BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINTURE.
IT Yit was nat luppiter the lykerous
\)a\> 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
CAUSER / BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINTPBE
1T This wrecched worlde-is transmutaciouw
As wele / or wo / now poeere and now honow
WYt/z-owten ordyr or wis descresyouw
Gouemed is by fortunes errour -i
But natheles the lakke of hyr fauowr'
^N"e may nat don me syngen thowh I. deye
lay tout perdu mouw temps et moun labour [foL 53 &.j
For fynaly fortune .1. the deffye 8
IT Yit is me left the lyht of my resouw
To knowen frend fro foo in thi merowr 1
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 reddowr 1
To hym )>at oner hym self hath the maystrye
My suffysaunce shal be my socour*
For fynaly fortune I. thee deffye 16
5T socrates jjou stidfast chauwpyoun
She neuer myht[e] be thi tormentowr
Thow neuer dreddest hyr oppressyoun
!Ne in hyr chere fownde thow no sauour 1 20
Thow knewe wel the deseyte of hyr colour*
And J?at hir* most[e] worshipe is to lye
I knew hir ek a fals dissimulour*
For fynaly fortune .1. the deffye 24
fiALADES DE VILAGE 8ANZ PEINTURE. 183
Ll! RESPOU^CE DE FORTUNE A PLEINTIF.
IT No man ys wrechchyd but hym self yt wene
And lie fat hath hym self hat suffisaunce
Whi seysthow tharcne y am [to] the so kene
J?at hast thy self owt of my gouemaiwce 28
Sey thus grauwt mercy of thyn habouradauwce
That thow hast lent or this why wolt Jjou 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 deuisyoun by-twene
Trend of effect* and frende of cowntenauwce
The nedeth nat the galle of no hyene
)3at cureth eyen derkyd for penauwce 36
Now se[st] thow cleer J?at weere in ignoraunce
Yit halt thin ancre and yit thow mayst aryue
Ther bownte berth the keye of my substatwce
And ek Jjou hast thy beste frende alyue 40
IT How manye haue .1. refused to sustigne
Syn .1. the fostred haue in thy plesauwce
Wolthow thanne make a statute on J>y quyene
J?at .1. shal ben ay at thy ordynauwce 44
Thow born art in my regne of varyaurcce
Abowte the wheel with oother most thow dryue
My loore is bet than wikke is thi greuauwce
And ek Jjou hast thy beste frende a-lyue 48
LE BESPOU^CE DU PLEINTIF COUATRB FORTUNE.
IF Thy loore y dempne / it is aduersyte Ifoi. M.]
My frend maysthow nat reuen blynde goddesse
Jpat .1. thy frendes knowe .1. thanke to the
Tak hem agayn / lat hem go lye on presse 52
The negardye in kepynge hyr rychesse
Praiostik is thow wolt hir 1 towr 1 asayle
37 se[sf] partly erased and ixt written on it in a later hand.
41 if/ne of sustigne is in u later hand.
184 BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINTURE.
Wikke appetyt comth ay before sykenesse
In general this rewle may nat fayle 56
LE RESPOUJVOE DE FORTUNE COU-^TR-E LE PLEINTIF
IT Thow pynchest at my mutabylyte
For .1. the lente a drope of my rychesse
And now me lykyth to w?'t/*-drawe me
Whi sholdysthow my realte apresse 60
The see may ebbe and flowen moore or lesse
The 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
H Lo excussyouw of the maieste
J)at al purueyeth of his ryhtwysnesse
That same thinge fortune clepyn ye
Ye blynde beestys ful 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 atcayne
185
ABAIST = ABYEST, sufferest, en-
durest, 39/1014
ABAIST, abashed, 107/3047
ABASSEN,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
Abiejj, suffers, 109/3101
ABLYNGE, enabling, fitting (ap-
tans), 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, 1437
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 (Kadre), adder, 170/4959
Adoune, down, downward, 7/92
Adounward, downwards, 7/87
Adrad, in fear, afraid, 43/1132
Adresse, to direct, control, 163/
4721
Afar, afar, 164/4767
Agast, aghast, frightened, 76/
2107
Agaste, to terrify, frighten, 14 1/
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
18G
GLOSSARIAL IXDEX.
Atyerfirst, first of aU, 10/180
Aljjermoste, 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, 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
Ares ten, to stop, arrest 3 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), 80/2203
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 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, 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
A venture, 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 (delwt), 178/
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, Ajeynest,
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
Bihled. covered over with blood,
48/1860
Bisien, to trouble, 8/112
Bitake. See By take.
Bitidd, happened, 176/5143
Bitwixen. See Bytwixen.
Blaundissinge, flattering, 30/749
Blaundyshine, flattery, blandish
ment, 34/866
Bleched, bleached, 181/45
Blemisse, to blemish, abuse
(lacero\ 20/472
Blyssed, blessed, 181/43
Blyjjenesse, 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
Erode, broadly, plainly, 49/1298
Brutel, brittle, fragile, 45/1174
Brutelnesse, brittleness, frailty,
. 184/63
BurJ>e, birth, 78/2165
Busshel (corn), 15/312
Bydolven (p.p.), buried, 151/
4348
Byen (for abyen), suffer, 125/
3578
Byforen, BYFORX, BYFORNE, be
fore, 20/454
188
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Bygunne, didst begin, 37/941
Bygyle, to beguile, 25/615
Bybate, 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.
Byknowen, 90/2514
Byleve, believe, 28/695
Byname, an additional name, 84/
2333
Bynefen, 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, C hasty sen, 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, 1087
3080
Chirkynge, groaning (stridens),
25/618
Clarre, a kind of wine, 50/1329
Cleer, serene, 45/1168
Clepe, to call, 4/17, 11/188, 177
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
Combred, 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, 13/
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
Consular (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, 16/
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
Dee]), death, 4/15
190
GLOSSAIUAL INDEX.
Defaute, fault, defect, 18/402
Defende, to forbid, 34/859
Defteted, enfeebled, Aveakened
30/735
Defoule, to defile, 21/491, 68/
1873
Degrees, steps, 6/54
Delices, delight, delights (deli-
>), 38/968, 41/1062, 66/1787
Delitable, delectable, 30/756
Delitably, delightfuUy, 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, Derworjn, 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
Discordable, discordant, 143/4133
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
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
191
Dredeful, timid, 121/3468
Dredles, fearless, 106/3028
Dreint, Dreynt, drowned,
drenched, 4/22, 7/99, 148/4271
Presse, 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 (pi.), divers, 8/120
Dyvynynge, divination, 157/4541
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
(venenum).
Emprente, to imprint, 166/4839
Emprenten, obtain (translates the
Latin, impetrenf), 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, 123/
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
Enpeyren, 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
Enterchaunge, to interchange, 65/
1785, 131/3753
Entercomunynge, commerce, com
munication, 57/1528
Entermedle, to intermix, 54/1436
Entre (adytum), 30/751
Entrechaunge, to interchange, 397
1003
Entrelaced, intermingled, en
tangled, 105/2981
Entremete, intermeddle, 104/
2964
Enveneme, to poison, infect, 120/
3437
192
GLOSSAR1AL INDEX.
Enviroune, to surround, 34/848,
88/2437
En vironynge, circumference, 164/
4769
Er)>eliche, ErJ>elyche, 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, fane v, 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, 18/
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
Ferjje, 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 foolishlv,
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 *
Forleften, left (pret. of forleve,
linquo), 9/150
Forlete, to cease, 96/2697 ; leave,
forsake, 22/525
Forleten (jt?.p.), neglected, for
saken, 5/47
Forliven, degenerate from (de-
genero), 78/2163
Forlorn, lost, 34/858, 121/3452
Forme, an error forferme, to make
firm, 23/547
Forpampred, over pampered, 180/5
Fors, force ; ' no fors,' no matter,
182/13
Forsweryng, perjury, 23/536
Forbenke, to be sorry, grieved,
41/1058
Forbere, to further, promote, 4 1/
1057
Forbest, farthest, 136/3918
Forbi, therefore, 28/689
Fortroden, trodden upon,
trampled, 109/3100
Fortune!, fortuitous, 152/4379
Fortunouse, Fortuouse, fortuitous,
26/639, 38/983, 132/3779
Forwes, furrows, 180/12
Forwiter, foreknower, 178/5204
Foryetyn, forgotten, 101/2872
Foundement, 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
Gab be, 'gabbe I?' 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,
2552
91/
13
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 (yuhe.r-
naculuni), 27/651
194
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Governaunce, control, 32/813
Goye, joy, 179/5218
Gray)>e, to devise, prepare, 19/438
Grobbe up, to grub up, 181/29
Grond, did grind, 180/15
Gynne, snare, trap, 82/2256
Gynner, beginner, 150/4330
Gyse, guise, mode, 134/3860
Habitacle, habitation, 57/1525
Habunde, to abound, 41/1073
Halden, to hold, 41/1053
Hale, to draw, drag, 61/1665
Halt, holds, 56/1504
Hardnesse, hardship, 132/3783
Hardyly, boldly, 34/857
Hastise, to hasten, 131/3746
Haunten, to frequent, 10/168 ; to
practise, exercise, 52/1389
Heeres, hairs, 4/12
Heet, heat, 28/699
Hef, raised, heaved, 5/41
Hele, health,. 93/2623
Henten, to seize, 15/326
Hepen, to heap up, increase, 153/
4418
Herburghden, harboured, lodged,
53/1409
Herie, to praise, 109/3112
Hert, hart, 106/3027
Herted, hearted, 55/1466
Heve, to raise, heave, 171/4968
Heved, head, 4/13
Hevenelyche, heavenly, 8/105
Hevie, to make heavy, 171/4967
Hey, high, 22/523
Heyere, higher, 143/4117
Hey 3 e, high, 171/4969
Hielde, pour, 35/899
Hi3te, to adorn, 8/116
Hoke, hook, 16/347
Holily, wholly, entirely, 90/2503
Homelyche, homely, 105/3001
Hond, hand, 20/449
Honter, a hunter, 12/228
Hool, whole, 46/1191
Hoolnesse, wholeness, 164/4754
Hoope, to hope, 17/384
Hore, hoary, 4/13
Humblesse, humility, 80/2213
Hungry tyme, time of famine, 15/
314
Hurtlen, to rush against, to
oppose, 30/748, 167/4866
Hyene, hyaena, 185/35
Hyjt, is caUed, 9/154, 25/619
Hy^ten, are called, 77/2126
Iboujt, bought, 157/4540
Ibowed. bent, turned, 137/3949
Icharged, loaded, 71/1962
Igete, gotten, 36/908
Horn, lost, 62/1677
Imperial, august (imperiosus), II
91
Implie, to fold, enclose, 152/4379
Infortune, misfortune, 79/2197
Inmoeveable, immovable, 173/
5030
Inmoeveablete, immobility, 173/
5032
Inorschid, nourished, nurtured, 8
/128
I-nowh, enough, 180/11
Inperfit, imperfect, 83/2291
Inplitable (inezplicabilis), 15/315
Inprente, to imprint, 166/4832
Inpressed, impressed, 167/4861
Inrest, innermost, 136/3913
Instaunce (instantia), presence,
174/5067
GLOSSAR1AL INDEX.
195
Intil, into, 110/3139
Inwi)>, within, 32/801
Issest, issuest, 105/2983
I wist, known, 156/4513
Jangland, chattering, 68/1867
Jape-worthi, ridiculous, 157/4540
Jolyte, pleasure, 79/2189
Jowes, jaws, 15/323
Joygnen, to join, 54/1455
Joynture, juncture, joining, 46/
1207
Juge, a judge, 19/431 ; to judge,
53/1427
Jugement, judgment, 114/3253
Karf (pret. of Kerven), cut, 50/
1337
Kembd, KEMBED, combed, 23/
537
Kerve, to cut, 64/1740
Kevere, cover, obscure, 34/861
Keye, helm (clavus), 103/2926
Knowelechinge, knowledge, 168/
4874
Kny 5 t, soldier, 111/3142
Konnyng, knowledge, 16/351
Korue (p.p.), cut, rent, 6/58
Kuytten, to cut, 147/4246
Kyd, known, 181/46
Kyndeliche, Kyndely, naturally,
101/2850, 114/3228
Kythen, to make known, show,
184/63
Lache, slow, lazy, 122/3471
Lad (p.p.), led, 35/879
Laddre, ladder, 6/55
Lambyssh, lamb-like, 181/50
Languisse, to languish, 30/734,
130/3740
Lappe, flap, 9/146
Largesse, liberality, 45/1183
Lasse, less, 22/508
Leche, Leecher, physician, 13/
250, 114/3254, 139/3990
Leef, dear, 37/941
Leesen, Leese, to lose, 22/509,
43/1133
Lene, to give, 139/3993
Lenger, longer, 52/1370
Lesynge, loss, 141/4066
Lesynge, leasing, lie, 156/4525
Leten, to leave, 10/176; to es
teem, 61/1666
Leve, permission, leave, 128/3658
Leveful, allowable, lawful, 10/
176
Ligge, to lie, 60/1632, 147/4251
Liifly, lively, lifelike, 5/33
Likerous, lecherous, 72/1989
Litargie, lethargy, 9/140
Litestere, a. dyer, 180/17
Lokyng, sight, 10/167
Loos, praise
LooJ>, loath, 40/1036
Lorel, a wretch, 21/495
Lorn, lost, 34/859
Lous, loose, free, 136/3926
Lykynge, pleasure, 31/771
Lymes, limbs, 71/1946
Lynage, lineage, 41/1070
Lythnesse, lightness, 98/2761
Ly^te goodes, temporal goods, 4/
21
Ly}tly, easily, 12/220
Lyjtne, to enlighten, 128/3655
Ly^tnesse, light, brightness, 8/
106
Maat, weary, dejected, 40/1037
Magistrat, magistracy, 72/1985
Maistresse, mistress, 10/169
196
GLOSSARIAL INDEX'.
Malice, nefas, wickedness, 20/466
Malyfice, maleficium, 20/468
Manace, menace, 12/232
Manase, to menace, 118/3365
Manassynge, threatening, 44/1158
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, Medelyng, 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
Meremay denes, 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
Mine, pleasant, sweet, 4/16
Mirinesse, pleasure, 66/1793
Misericorde, mercy, pity, 107/
3057
Mistourne, to misturn, mislead,
69/1894
Mochel, great, 62/1674, 109/3110
Moeveable, mobile, fickle, 133/
3817
Moeven, to move, 8/1J2, 150/
4329
Moewyng, moving, motion, 130/
3742
Mokere, to hoard up, 45/1182
Mokere, miser, 45/1182. Amis-
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
Myrjjes, pleasures, 132/3782
Mys, badly, wrongly, 131/3772
Mysese, grievance, trouble, 15/
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, iNamly, especially,
124/3550
]STare, were not, 10/176
Nart, art not, 23/556
Narwe, narrow, 57/1520
Nas, was not, 180/9
Napeles, nevertheless, 6/57
Nat, not, 23/556
Necesseden, necessitated, 87/2419
Nedely, of necessity, 84/2334
Negardye, (sb.) misers, 183/53
Here, were not, 26/646
GLOSSAIIIAL INDEX.
197
Nejjemaste, lowest, nethermost,
6/56
Nefereste, lowest, 6/50
Newe, to renew, 137/3938
Newliche, recently, 122/3489
Mce, fooHsh, 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
Noufir, 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
Olifunt?, 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
Ostelmentj, furniture, goods, 48/
1266
Oferweyes, otherwise (aliter),
164/4772
Outerage, excess, 50/1326
Outerest, extremest, remotest, 55/
1469, 89/2476
Outerly, utterly, 108/3081
Outraien, do harm (f), 78/2162
Over-comere, conqueror, 8/109
Overmaste, highest, uppermost,
6/57
Ovennyche, overmuch, very much,
79/2191
Overoolde, very old, 11/209
Overjjrowen, prostrate, 21/497
Overprowyng, forward, head
strong, 7/99, 141/4058
Overtyrnelyche, untimely, 4/13
Owh, an exclamation (papca),
112/3166
Owtrage, excass, 180/5
Paied, satisfied, 58/1549
Paleis, pale, 24/574
Palude, marsh, 148/4262
Paraventure, peradventure, 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
Plente, 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
Pouste, 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 ; ' worjn 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
Rafte, bereft, 147/4259
Eaper, earlier, former, 30/735
Eaviner, a plunderer, 12/228
Eavische, to snatch, 11/190
Eavyne, plunder, rapine, 15/302,
36/909
GLOSSAR1AL 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
Reprove, 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, 133/3814
Resoune, to resound, 107/3036
Rethoryen, rhetorical, 30/759
Rewlyche, pitiable, sorrowful,
35/878
Risorse = recourse (re-cursuti),
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
Sauj, 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, 42/1076
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 foUow, 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, 57/
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
Smojje, 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
SoJ>e, true, 17/377, 118/3352
Sofefastly, truly, 89/2481
Sojjely, truly, 169/4918
Sofenesse, truth, 26/641
Sothfast, true, 61/1652
Soun, sound, 68/1852
Soune, to sound, 37/929
Sounyng, sounding, roaring, 8/
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 (gulernacur
/.), 103/2926
Stiern, stern, 60/1628
Stoon, stone, 45/1165
Stormynge, making stormy, 29/
712
Stont, stands, 9/154
Stoundes, times, 178/5187
Strau^t, stretched, extended, 170/
4957
Strengere, stronger, 12/221
StrenkeJ), 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
Suasionn, 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
(iurbo\ 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
Jjerwhiles, whilst, 176/5150
Jjilke, the same, that, 99/2814
\)o, j?oo (pZ.),the,l 1/200, 1 68/4886
jjondre, thunder, 45/1166
J?oru3, through, 11/202
ftreschefolde, threshold, 7/89
Jjrest, thirst, 36/914, 71/1945
Jjreste, ftresten, thrust, 47/1237,
148/4283
Throf, throve, flourished, 74/2050
Jjrust, thirst, 107/3053
Til, to, 69/1891
Tilier, a tiUer, 151/4352
To-breke, break in pieces, 88/2447
Todrowen (pL), 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 (pi.}, 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, 118/
3369
Trouble, turbid, stormy, 29/711
Troubly, troubled, cloudy (nulri-
lus), 133/3819
Trowen, to trow, believe, 20/468,
152/4399
202
GLOSSABIAL 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
Unassaie]?, untried, 42/1082
Unbitide, not to happen, 16 1/
4678
Unbowed, unbent, 148/4284
Uncovenable, unmeet, importu
nate (importunus), 141/4058
Undefouled, undefiled, 40/1023
Undepartable, inseparable, 120/
3422
Underput, put under, subject,
28/696
Understonde, to understand, 30/
733, 43/1120
Undigne, unworthy, 54/1444
UndirneJ?, underneath, 75/2074
Undiscomfited, not discomfited
(invictus), 12/232
Undoutous, indubitable, 149/
4315
Uneschewably, unavoidably, 157/
4531
Ungentil, ignoble, 41/1070
TJngrobbed, ungrubbed, 180/14
Unhonestee, disreputableness, 24/
587
Unhoped, unexpected, 139/4006
Universite, whole, 165/4797
Unjoynen, Unjoygnen, to separ
ate," 15 1/4373
Unknowyng, ignorant, 139/3997
Unkny tten, to unloose (dissolvere),
154/4459
Unkonnyng, Unkunnynge, un
knowing, ignorant, 7/76, 11/202
Uukorven, 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
Unmy^ty, 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
Unry3tfully, 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
Unsuffrable, intolerable, 79/2179
Unusage, unfrequency, 57/1528
QLOSSAU1AL 1XDEX.
203
Untretable, inexorable, impla
cable, 6] / 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,
136/3295
Voide, having an empty purse
(vacuus), 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
Wclde, 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
Wipdrow, withdrew, 64/1751
WiJ>halden, to withhold, 142/
4105
Wijjoute forj>e, outwardly, 165/
4803
Wi|>seid, denied, 90/2501
204
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Wijjstant, withstand, 29/715
Wifstonde (p.p.), withstood, 14/
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), will, 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
Wrojjely, grieved, sad, 7/87
Wryfen, 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, called, 150/4346
Ydel, ' in ydel,' 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
Ynou}, 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 (expediera),
161/4668
Ysprad, spread, 78/2140
Yspranid, sprinkled, .mixed, 42/
1102. Read yspraind.
Ystrengefed, strengthened, 175/
5098
Yjjewed, behaved, 139/4008
Yfrongen, pressed, squeezed, 57/
1521
Ytravailed, laboured, 155/4469
Ytretid, handled, performed, 131/
3765
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
205
Yvel, evil, 105/2976
Ywened, believed, 145/4178
Ywist, known, 155/4475
Y woven, woven, 6/51
Ywyst, known, 164/4759
Y^even, given, 141/4069
3af, gave, 8/130
3eelde, $elde, 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
^isterday, yesterday, 171/4994
Jitte, 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, LIMITED
LONDON & BUXOAY.
of
(Erira Stries.
1868.
o. vi.
DUBLIN: WILLIAM M^GEE, 18, NASSAU STREET.
EDINBURGH : T. G. STEVENSON, 22, SOUTH FREDERICK STREET.
GLASGOW: OGLE & CO., 1, ROYAL EXCHANGE SQUARE.
BERLIN : ASHER & CO., UNTER DEN LINDEN, 20.
NEW YORK : C. SCRIBNER & CO. ; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.
PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
BOSTON, U.S.: DUTTON & CO.
of
RE-EDITED PROM
HENRY H. GIBBS, ESQ., M.A,,
OF EXETEB COLLEGE, OXFOED.
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,
BY K TEUBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW.
MDCCCLXVJII.
fixtra l&jems,
VI.
JOUN CH1LDS AND SON, PRINTERS.
PREFACE.
THIS short alliterative poem has already been edited by Mr Utter-
son, and presented by him in 1820 to the members of the Roxburghe
Club ; but as the few copies then printed are very rare, and as the
work is a curious specimen of unrimed alliterative poetry of a com
paratively late date, it has been thought worth while that it should
be edited again for the Extra Series of the Early English Text Society.
A mere reprint of the former edition would not have been desir
able, both because there are several mistranscriptions, and because
the glossary appended to that edition is excessively meagre, and in
some cases erroneous : but so much advance has been made since the
date of that publication in the knowledge of our ancient tongue, that
however much this edition may leave to be desired, there will be no
great difficulty in correcting the errors of the former one.
"Wherever the new transcript differed from the Roxburghe
edition, I have with especial care compared it with the manuscript,
so as to satisfy myself of the correctness of the new reading.
The poem consists of 370 lines ; and is contained, with other
pieces, in Caligula A. 2 of the Cotton MSS. in the British Museum.
It professes to be taken from some other book (in the 7th line and
elsewhere the author uses the expression, ' as }>e book tellethe '), and
appears to be an epitome of the first 1083 lines of the French poem,
or rather ' lay ' (in the sense in which Scott uses the word), which
forms part of the volume marked 15 E. vj in the Royal Collection
in the same library.
This French Manuscript contains many beautiful illuminations
of excellent workmanship, two of which adorn the head of the first
page (fo. 320) of the ' Chevalier an Signe.' The left-hand picture
represents Queen Bietrix (as she is there called) sitting up in bed and
looking very unhappy, while ' Matebrune' is carrying away a cot (nearly
as big as the Queen's bed) with the seven children in it, clad four in
green and three in purple, placed alternately. The right-hand picture
represents the Knight ' Helyas,' armed, and in his ship alone ; the
! 2
11 PREFACE.
Swan, 'ducally gorged, Or,' as a herald would say, sailing proudly
before him. This picture is very like one of the compartments of tho
Ivory Casket, to Avhich I shall presently refer.
Meanwhile, as this French chanson so its author frequently
calls it ' appears to be the original from whence our English author
drew his poem, I will give an outline of the longer history told in its
6000 lines, comparing it from time to time with the very entertaining
English Prose Romance, printed by Copland early in the 16th cen
tury, and edited in 1858 by Mr Thorns.
THE STORY OF THE KNIGHT OF THE SWAN.
Briefly told it is as follows :
Beatrix, Queen of King Oryens of Lilefort, after some years of
childlessness, conceived seven children at one burden (as a punish
ment for disbelieving the possibility of twins being begotten by one
man) ; and when she is brought to bed, in her husband's absence,
his mother "substitutes seven puppies for the seven children, whom
she consigns to Marques, or Marcon, a serf of hers, with orders for
their murder : when the King returns she shows him the whelps as
the Queen's offspring, and demands her death ; but the King only
allows her to be imprisoned.
The children (who were miraculously born with silver chains
about their necks) are of course not slain, but fed by a hind in the
forest, and tended by a hermit in his cell.
They are unfortunately seen by the Forester Mauquarre, or Mal-
''quarrez, who tells th^Queenj^lnd by her desire he goes back to kill
them and take away their chains. One, however, who is the hero of
*- the tale, has gone out with the hermit to get food for the others ; so
that the forester finds only six of the children, and deprives them of
their chains, upon which they are transformed into swans.
1 The poem begins ' Escoutez seigneurs pour Dieu lespitable
Qne Iltus vont garissc de lamain au Ztyable ; '
and every now and then the minstrel addresses his hearers to call their atten
tion to his song. Thus when Elyas first comes to Nimaye, the next sentence
begins ' Seigneurs ocz cliancon qui moult fait aloer. 1 After the battle with the
friends of the prevost, conies, ' Seigneurs or escoutez cliancon de grant baron-
ftiye ; ' and again, ' Seigneurs or escoutez bonne cliancon ; ' and ' Seigneurs ocz
chuncon dc bonne en lit mince ; ' and ' Sciyncurs oycz cliancon qui est vray.'
PREFACE. 1U
The old Queen questions Marcon, and revenges herself on him
by putting out his eyes.
When the Queen has been 1 1 years in prison, Matebrune prevails
on the King to condemn her to be burnt ; and the day is fixed ac
cordingly, and she is led to the stake.
Meanwhile an angel appears to the hermit and orders that the
child should go to the city, be christened Helyas, and fight for his
mother. He does so, meets the procession, accosts the King, obtains
his consent to the battle, borrows from him horse and armour, slays
Mauquarre, who is the champion on behalf of the accuser, and frees
his mother.
Matebrune flees to a castle ; Helyas prays to God, who restores
Marques's sight. He tells his story to his newly-found father and
mother, and all the court go to the water where the swans are swim
ming, and, their chains being restored to them, they resume their
human form ; all but one, who remains a swan.
Up to this time, as will be seen, the English poem faithfully ac
companies the French one, excepting that as the poet means to make
an end here, he summarily burns Matabryne, and says that the 6th
brother continued always a swan for lack of his chain.
Moreover he makes no mention of the miracle of healing done on
Marcus.
The French story proceeds Avith the abdication of King Oriant
(on the plea that he has now lived a long time plus que c. ans ) in
favour of Helyas ; with the siege of Matebrune's castle, the death of
her champion Hendrys by the hand of Helyas ; her capture, confession,
and burning ; whereafter
' Lame emporterent dyables ; ce fut la destinee.'
The angel then appears to King Helyas and bids him leave his
father and mother, and seek adventures under the guidance of his
brother the swan, who waits for him with ' ung batel.'
He abdicates, and leaves the kingdom to Orions, and divers
governments to his other brothers.
From this differs the English Prose Eomance of the Knight of the
Swan, which makes no mention of King Orycns' great age, but makes
IV PREFACE.
King Helyas surrender the kingdom again into his hands. Neither
does he mention Helyas's departure at the bidding of the angel ; but
makes the swan-brother summon him by ' mervaylous cries,' to come
into the boat which he has brought, and which he guides, without
further adventure, to the city of .Nimaye.
But in the French story he arrives soon at a city of Saracens, who
assault him and his swan ; but he is rescued by 30 galleys under the
guidance of Saint George (qui fat bon cheyal/er) ; and the four winds
also helped, raising a storm and drowning the Saracens.
It then tells how Elyas went on alone in his boat, Avith the swan,
till they came to a castle, called Sauvage, whose master was Agolant,
brother of Matebrune ; how their provisions being exhausted, they
sought help at the castle ; how Agolant received him well, but, after
hearing his story, seizes, imprisons, and promises to burn him eight
days thereafter.
But a page escapes and goes to Lilefort to King Orions, who goes
with a great force to succour his brother. The men arrive when
Helyas is already bound at the stake, and Agolant and all his men
have to go out to repel them ; a friendly hand releases Helyas, Avho
joins his brother's men, and slays Agolant.
Oryons goes back to Lilefort, and Helyas, summoning his brother
the swan, pursues his way to Nimaye.
There, in a tournament, he slays an Earl [of Francbourck, says
Copland], who, in a false plea before the Emperor Otho, is trying to
deprive [Clarysse] Duchess Dabullon [of Bouillon] of her lands ;
and wins for himself the lands of Ardennes [of Dardaigne, in Copland]
belonging to the Earl ; and also gets to Avife Beatrice, the fair daiighter
and heiress of the Duchess, by whom he has a daughter Idein or
Ydain, who in time becomes the mother of Godfrey of Bouillon.
He leaves Nimaye and goes to his duchy of Bouillon, conquering
in the way Asselm le prevost and many partisans of the deceased Earl,
Avho had laid an ambush for him.
Many perilous adventures then befell him in Bouillon, Avhich are
recounted at considerable length ; and afterwards the story tells how
that, his wife having disobeyed his commandment which he laid upon
her, not to inquire concerning his kith and kin, he departs from her,
PREFACE. V
and rides away to Ximaye, to take leave of the Emperor, and bespeak
his protection for Ins wife, daughter, and lands.
Thence, amidst great lamentation of the Emperor and all his barons,
he departs in his boat with his brother the swan, and no more is known
of him.
Oncq ne sceurent quelle part y fu tuurnes.
Then it passes on to tell of Godfrey Earl of Bouillon, his birth
and deeds. How with the leave of the Emperor, Eustace Earl of
' Boulogne sur mer salee ' went a courting to Ydain ' a la frcsce
coulour' (daughter of Helyas), then aged 13 years ; how he married
her ; and how in the three years following she had three fair sons,
Godfrey, Baldwin, and Eustace ; and how that the eldest after many
noble deeds went to Palestine, and took the Holy City. The poem
ends with the assault and capture of Jerusalem and the crowning of
Godfrey as its King.
The English Prose Eomance takes up the story of Helyas where
the French Poem leaves him, and tells how he arrived at Lilefort and
is welcomed by his father and mother after his viij years' absence.
The Queen, it tells us, had a dream, in which she dreams that if
they get the two cups which had been made of the 6th son's chain,
and lay them on two altars, and set the swan on a bed betwixt the
altars, and cause two masses to be said by devout priests who shall
consecrate in the two chalices, the swan shall return to his own form :
and ' Ryght so,' says Copland, ' as the priests consacred the body of
our Lorde at the masse, the swanne retourned into his propre fourme
and was a man,' and he was baptized, and named Emery.
' The whiche sith was a noble knight.'
' And thus,' he says, ' the noble king Oriant and the good queene
Beatrice finabli recovered all their children by the grace of God,
wherfore fro than forthon they lived holyly and devoutly in our
Lorde.'
Now King Oriant had ' made a Eeligion ' at the hermitage where
his son Helyas had been brought up ; and thither, after recounting
his adventures, the good Knight of the Swan betook himself, with a
simple staff in his hand, and made himself a ' Religious.'
And close to the convent he caused to be built a castle like to
Vi PREFACE.
that of Bouillon, and he called it Bouillon, and the forest that was
about it he called Dardayne, after the land that he had won from the
Earl.
The English story here goes on to tell of the marriage of Eustace
Earl of Boulogne and Ydain daughter of Helyas, and of the birth of
her sons Godfrey, Baldwin, and Eustace ; and how that her mother,
the Duchess of Bouillon, lamenting for the loss of her husband Helyas,
sent messengers all over the world to find him ; and how that Ponce,
one of these messengers, went to Jerusalem, and meeting there the
Abbot Girarde of Saincteron, which is nigh to Bouillon, they de
termined as fellow-countrymen to return together. How they lose
their way, and come to the castle of Bouillon le rentaure, and are
struck by the likeness to their own Bouillon ; how they inquire of
the Curate, and hear who it was who built the castle and named the
forest.
And how that they make themselves known to Emery and Helyas,
and also to the King and Queen, who had come to live at the castle,
and how they returned to their country, bearing a token from Helyas
to his wife.
Then it tells how the Duchess and the Countess Ydain, whose
sons were by this time adolescent, set forth to see their husband and
father Helyas, and how they found him lying sick unto death, and
how shortly thereafter ' he desceased in our lorde Jesu Chryst.'
How the ladies returned to .Bouillon, and how the three noble
brethren prepared themselves by a knightly education for the day
when it should please God to give the kingdom of Jerusalem into the
hands of Godfrey of Bouillon, the eldest born. ' And thus,' says
Copland, ' endeth the life and myraculous hystory of the most noble
and illustryous Helyas knight of the swanne, with the birth of the
excellent knyght Godfrey of Boulyon, one of the nyne worthiest, and
the last of the three crysten.'
The English romance, printed by Copland, is in some parts much
fuller even than the French poem, going more into detail as to the
wooing of King Oryens, and the cause of the enmity of Matabryne ;
but here and there the French 'chanson' has details which Cop
land's book does not give ; such as the troublous adventures of
PREFACE. yii
Helyas in his journey between Lilefort and Nimaye, and the acts
and prowess of Godfrey, and his conquest of his kingdom ; but as to
the legendary hero of the story, the Knight of the Swan, the tale of
his deeds until his retirement from the world is mainly the same, in
the English prose and in the French verse.
THE CASKET.
This curious work, of which I have before made mention, is an
ancient ivory one, of 14th-century workmanship, now belonging to Mr
William Gibbs of Tyntesfield, co. Somerset, and formerly to his wife's
family, the Crawley-Boeveys, Baronets, of Flaxley Abbey, co. Glou
cester. It is 8 inches long, 5f deep, and 5 inches high; and in
its thirty-six compartments it gives the history of the Knight of the
Swan ; going no further than our poem, except that -it depicts the
capture of Matabryne's castle and the leave-taking and departure of
Helyas. It is this last compartment that so nearly resembles the
illumination at the head of the French poem.
I now proceed to describe the carvings in the several compart
ments, which are all of them remarkable for their accurate detail of
arms and costume, and some groups, especially in Nos. 23 and 24,
very spirited in their execution.
The top of the casket.
1. The King, Queen, and Matabryne on the wall. Mother and
Twins below.
2. The King and the Queen in bed.
3. The King discovers that the Queen is with child.
4. The Queen asleep in bed : Matabryne carries off the children.
5. Matabryne delivers the children to Marcus.
6. Matabryne drowns the bitch in a well.
7. Matabryne presents the whelps to the King, who wrings his
hands.
8. Marcus exposes the children in the forest.
9. Malkedras (?) thrusts the Queen into prison.
10. The hermit finds the children.
11. A hind suckles them ; and Malkedras finds them.
12. Malkedras tells Matabryne.
V1U PREFACE.
The front of the casket.
13. Malkedras takes the chains from the children's necks.
14. They fly away as swans.
15. Matabryne praises and caresses Malkedras.
16. Matabryne taunts the King, and gets leave to burn the
Queen.
17. A soldier is leading the Queen to execution : she has fallen
on her knees and is praying. See 1. 90, note.
18. The King is on his throne as if to see the burning. Mata
bryne and a man in armour behind him, counselling him.
19. The angel appears to the hermit and the child.
20. The hermit and the child set forth on their way.
The left side of the casket.
21. The King on his throne ; the Queen presents the child as
her champion, and Matabryne Malkedras as hers.
22. Combat between Helyas and Malkedras.
23. Helyas having slain Malkedras, bears away his head.
24. Flight of Matabryne.
The back of the casket.
25. Helyas presents the head of Malkedras to the King.
26. Reconciliation of King Oryens and Queen Beatrice.
27. The King and Queen embrace Helyas.
28. King Helyas with a kneeling figure before him. He seems
to be giving something into his hand ; and perhaps it is a commission
to a captain ' to prepaire a lytle hoste,' as Copland has it.
29. His army march against Matabryne.
30. They prepare to assault
31. The castle and its defenders.
32. Capture of Matabryne.
The right side of the caslcet.
33. Helyas recounts his adventures to his father and mother.
34. The burning of Matabryne.
PREFACE. IX
35. The King and the Queen gazing
36. At Helyas departing in his ship alone, led by his brother the
Swan.
The letter from Mr Dallaway, and extract of a letter from Mi-
Way in the note below, give the opinion of those antiquaries on the
date and artistic value of this casket. 1
1 ' Mr Dallaway's respectful compliments to Sir Thomas Crawley, with the
cabinet he has so long detained. He should have returned it with more
satisfaction had he been able to discover the whole of the history represented,
which is too complicated for him to unravel.
'Upon the upper compartment is evidently shown the well-known Legend
of Isenbard, Earl of Altorf, and Irmentruda his wife, with her supernatural
progeny.
' The two sons, who were preserved, were called Guelfo and Ghibelino, and
their descendants were leaders of the factions by which the Italian States
were distracted in the 12th century.
' He is of opinion that the remainder of their legendary story is described
around the sides of the cabinet, and is not without hopes that, when he can
meet with a very scarce collection of German novels, entitled " Camerarii
Horse Subcesivae," it will furnish him with the whole of the detail.
' The armour and weapons of some of the figures are decidedly those of the
14th century, when elaborate carving was in very general use, and many Greek
artists were encouraged ; which circumstance seems to establish the date of
the specimen.
' The enclosed drawing Mr D. begs that Sir Thomas will accept, with many
thanks, for the permission he has obtained to have it etched. He will take
care that justice be done to it, and hopes that Sir T. will find room in his port
folio for some of the proof impressions.
'Jan. 5, 1793.
' Sir Thomas Crawley.'
' Wonfuini Manor,
' Reigate, Nov. 29, 'GO.
' Dear Sir Martin,
' Your kindness in permitting me to bring home your curious
ivory casket has, as I anticipated, enabled me to ascertain the whole of the
subjects represented upon it. After much fruitless research, and showing the
casket to several learned friends, I have at length got the right clue, and all
difficulty ceases. The subjects are all from one romance, known as the
" Knight of the Swan," and not found in "any of the abstracts of middle-age
romances, by Ellis, Dunlop, or the Italian writer Ferrario. It has, however,
been published, but the volumes containing it are of very great rarity.
' I hope to send you an account of the romance, detailing the subjects as
they occur on the casket
I should almost suggest only to repair the broken por
tions of the metal bauds as they exist, not to renew those which have been
X PREFACE.
ORIGIN OP THE ROMANCE.
Little or nothing can be added, on this head, to what Mr Thorns
has collected in his preface to the Knight of the Swan ; and what I
here write is chiefly drawn from that source.
Mr Uttersbn quotes Mr F. Cohen (Sir Francis Palgrave) for the
opinion that the earliest form in which the story exists is in the
Chronicle of Tongres, written by the Maitre de Guise, and incor
porated in great part into the Mer des Hystoires. There is also,
he says, an Icelandic Saga of Helis, the Knight of the Swan, in
which he is called a son of Julius Caesar ; and a similar legend is
introduced into the German romance of Lohengrin, of which an edition
was printed at Heidelberg as late as 1813. The story is still popular
in Flanders, where a Chap-book, entitled De Eidder Met de Zwaen,
was of frequent occurrence early in this century.
The immediate parent of the English prose romances on the sub
ject appears to be the French folio printed in 1504, and entitled LA
GENEALOGIE AVECQUES LES GESTES ET NOBLES FAITZ DARMES DU TRE8
PREUX ET RENOMME PRINCE GODEFFROY DE BoULION ET DE SES
CHEUALEREUX FRERES BAUDOUIN ET EUSTACE, YSSUS & DESCENDUS DE
LA TRES NOBLE & ILLUSTRE LIGNEE DU VERTUEUX CHEVALIER AU CYNE.
AVECQUES AUSSI PLUSIEURS AUTRES CRONIQUES HYSTOIRES MIRACU-
LEUSES; TANT DU BON EOY SAINCT LOYS COMME DE PLUSIEURS
AULTRES PUISSANS & VERTUEUX CHEVALIERS.
It was the first thirty-eight chapters of this work that were pub
lished in an English form by Robert Copland (which is the version
edited by Mr Thorns) ; and Ames speaks of a translation published
by Wynkyn de Worde, in 1512 ; but it is not now known to exist.
lost It is to be considered that these metal bands are
not original. The ivory dates from about 1380 ; the metal work about 1550.
' Believe me, very sincerely yours,
'ALBERT WAY.'
' Sir Martin Crawley-Boevey.'
Mr Way says in another letter that photographs had been taken of the
casket. These I have never seen, but a set has been prepared expressly for
this edition.
PREFACE. XI
The tradition that the great Godfrey of Bouillon was descended
from the Knight of the Swan, has always been a favourite one, and
one of the most interesting stories in Otmar's Volksagen is founded
on it. Nicolas de Klerc, in order to set right the common opinion
in Flanders,
Om dat van Brabant die Hertoghen
Voormaels, dicke syn beloghen
Alse dat sy quamen metten Svvano
[Forasmuch as the Dukes of Brabant
bave been heretofore much belied
as that they came with a Swan],
professes to tell the truth about it in his Brabandshe Yeesten, written
in 1318; and Marlaent refers to the same belief in his Spiegel
Historiael.
On the other hand (through Godfrey, no doubt,) Robert Copland
claims it as an honour for his patron, Edward Duke of Buckingham,
that from the Knight of the 'Swan ' linially is dyscended my sayde
Lorde.'
As to the portentous birth, which is the basis of the story,
similar tales have been not unfrequently told. Amongst others there
is one in which the house of Guelph is said to take its name from a
like incident.
' Irmentrudes, wife of Isenbard Earl of Altorfe, accused a woman
of adultery for bringing forth three children at a birth ; adding with
al that she was worthy to be sown in a sack, and thrown into the
sea ; and urged it very earnestly. It chanced in the year following,
that she herself conceived, and in the absence of her husband, was
delivered of twelve male children at one birth (though very little).
But she, fearing the impxitation and scandal she had formerly laid on
the poor woman, and the law of like for like, caused her most trusty
woman to make choice of one to be tendered to the father, and to
drown all the residue in a neighbouring river. It fell out that the
Earl Isenbard returning home, met this woman, demanding whither
she went with her pail 1 who answered, " to drown a few baggage
whelps in the river." The Earl would see them ; and notwithstand
ing the woman's resistance, did so, and discovering the children,
pressed her to tell the matter, which she also did ; and he caused
Xll PREFACE.
them all to be secretly nursed ; and, grown great, were brought home
unto him, which he placed in an open hall with the son whom his
wife had brought up, and soon known to be brethren by their likeli
hood in every respect. The Countess confessed the whole matter
(moved with the sting of conscience), and was forgiven. In remem
brance whereof, the illustrious race of the "VVelfes (whelps) got that
name, and ever since hath kept it.'
"Westcote (whose words I transcribe, as his book is a privately
printed one (1845) from his MS. c. 1600) quotes this story from one
Camerarius (he says) of Nuremberg, as a companion to a story of the
wife of a peasant of Chumleigh, co. Devon, who had seven children at
a birth, and whose husband, for fear of having to maintain so many
mouths, resolves to drown them, and declares to the Countess of
Devon, who meets him while on his errand, that they are but
whelps. She rescues them and provides for them.
In French history we have a story somewhat analogous, in the
efforts of the monks to separate Robert Capet and his wife, by per
suading him that she had given birth to a monster.
The after part of the story of our book is the old one told with
many variations from the time of the Shepherd David until now, of
extreme youth, with the aid of the grace of God, vanquishing in
battle the evil-doer, though a man of war from his youth.
THE VERSIFICATION OF THE POEM.
Coming now to the versification of the poem : I have thought it
useful to analyse it so as to ascertain how far the author has kept
himself to the rules of alliterative verse, as collected by Mr Skeat in his
Essay on the subject prefixed to the 3rd volume of the Percy Folio.
The author seems to have contented himself with preserving
generally the ' proper swing of his metre, the accentuated syllables
marking it, in most cases, fairly well : but it often halts, the soft or
unaccentuated syllables being awkwardly and too prodigal^ used,
and the rime-letters very frequently falling on those syllables.
In many couplets the alliteration is utterly irregular, and in 10
couplets ' I can discover none at all.
1 21, 34, 100, 225, 232, 334-0, 343, 3G7.
PIIEFACE. XH1
In 22 otliers 1 he has satisfied himself with a feeble sprinkling of
the same letter through the verse without any regard to the loud
syllables ; as
60. at a chamber dore as she forth sovv^te
sometimes also supplementing the weakness of one alliteration by
adding a second in the same couplet ; as
241. that sfyked styffe in her BRestes {;at wolde }>e qwene BRerene
287. A Any^te /aw^te Hyin by f>e Honde & ladde Hym of f>e route.
The couplets in which there are but two rime-letters are very
many; no less than 143 2 out of the whole number of 370; and
there are eight couplets 3 with four rime-letters.
The other variations from the established rule are : (.) The
occurrence of the chief letter on the second instead of the first loud
syllable of the second line, which is found 64 times, 4 and of these
64, 29 ( 5 ) occur in couplets with but two rime-letters.
(&.) The occurrence of two rime-letters in the second line of the
couplet, and but one in the first, in 37 couplets. 6
(c.) The absence of the chief letter in the second limb of the
couplet occurs 20 times. 7
(d.) The rime-letters occur very often indeed upon unaccentuated
or ' soft ' syllables ; so often, as to lead one to think that the author
must have deemed his task fully done, if only there was any allitera
tion at all. The number is 72, 8 besides three in the next class.
1 13-4, 32, 49, 52, 60, 81, 96, 113, 132, 145, 158, 165, 185, 199, 210-1, 218,
272, 281-2, 351.
2 5, 6, 8, 10-1, 16, 24, 30-1, 40-1, 45-6, 54, 58, 63, 65, 75-6, 80, 82, 88, 90,
95, 99, 101, 103-5, 108, 110, 114-5, 120-1, 127-9, 137, 139, 142, 146, 149-50,
154-5, 160-2, 166-7, 172, 174, 181, 184, 189, 191-2, 195-6, 200-1, 208, 222, 227-9,
231, 240-1, 244, 247, 250-3, 256, 258, 264-5, 268-9, 271, 273, 280, 285-6, 290,
292, 294, 296, 299, 300, 302-6, 309, 314-6, 320-1, 323, 325, 327-8, 338, 353-4,
368-70.
8 2, 35, 42, 91, 152, 183, 239, 360.
4 1, 4, 20, 25-6, 30, 42, 53, 69, 70, 112, 136, 156, 173, 179, 183, 202, 212,
217, 226, 236, 239, 248, 261, 295, 310, 313, 317, 319, 324, 329, 331, 334, 355,
359. (*) 22, 37-8, 48, 56, 64, 86, 123, 140, 144, 164, 177, 182, 187-8, 190, 194,
203, 205-6, 207, 214, 236, 238, 246, 254, 308, 312, 363.
6 1, 12, 17, 23, 51, 78-9, 83-4, 107, 119, 135, 138, 141, 151, 159, 169, 170,
175, 198, 209, 223, 233-5, 237, 243, 255, 291, 293, 326, 340-2, 350, 356-7.
1 19, 50, 59, 67, 125, 153, 157, 163, 215, 219, 257, 259, 277, 279, 289, 332,
346-7, 352, 364.
2, 7, 23, 25-6, 28, 31, 35, 39, 40, 50-1, 66, 70, 73, 77, 79, 82, 102-3, 108-9,
XIV PREFACE.
(e.) Where the chief letter occurs in the initial catch of the
second couplet. 1
There are also ten couplets 2 with separate alliterations in each
line, and
Seven, 3 in which there are no rime-letters in the first line.
And the couplets that appear to conform strictly to the canon of
alliteration which provides that there shall be three rime-letters in
each couplet, viz. two (sub-letters) in the accentuated syllables of the
first line or limb of it, and one (the chief letter) on the first accentu
ated syllable of the second line, are 48 in number ; 4 such as
92. Now Leve we {jis Lady in Langow? 1 & pyne
147. They SToden alle STylle for STere j?ey ne durste
But of these 48, the alliteration is not always perfect, w having to do
duty, with words beginning with Oo (1. 29) ; D being once used as a
rime-letter to T (1. 27), and the G in gladness being once considered
mute, so as to rime the word with 'lay in langour' (1. 57).
The former editor draws attention to the existence of some rime-
endings in this poem, bi\t they seem to me to be accidental rather
than intentional.
Mr Skeat enumerates them in his essay, and I set them down
here, excepting those in lines 2GO-1, where he has been misled by
the former editor's mistaking the long second r in marre, and reading
it marye; and in 28, 29, where the editor has mistaken leue for Icne ;
12-13, where and there
31-32, were and there
158-159, swyde and leyde. This is not a rime at all.
166-167, faste and caste
198-199,)
} swannes and cfieynes. A very doubtful rime.
350-351, j
116, 118, 120, 126-8, 141, 143, 152, 156, 159, 161, 168-9, 175-6, 178, ISO, 186,
191, 195, 202, 204, 209, 217, 220-1, 234-5, 250, 256, 261-2, 267, 270, 274, 278,
280, 283-4, 287-8, 292, 294, 337, 341, 343, 347-8, 357.
1 55, 75, 96.
2 44, 72, 85, 111, 216, 249, 266, 275, 330, 365.
3 117, 198, 245, 318, 345, 350, 362.
4 3, 9, 15, 18, 27, 29, 33, 36, 39, 43, 47, 57, 61-2, 71, 74, 87, 89, 91-4, 97-8,
100, 124, 131, 133-4, 147-8, 171, 193, 197, 213, 260, 263, 276, 297-8, 301, 307,
311, 322, 339, 349, 360-1, 366.
PREFACE. XV
237-238, were and mysfare ;
and I may add 359-60, made and blodde.
But among these there are but three rimes which are at all per
fect ; and it may be observed that in the 370 lines (from 200 to 570)
of William of Palerne, which I have searched cursorily, there are as
many :
As, 210, jjat of home ne of hounde ne mizt he here soicne
236-7, telle and mile
337-8, speclie and riclie
404, as euene as ani wi$t ' schuld attely bi si^t
490-1, wise and nyce
563-4, newe and shewe ;
so the rimes must, I think, be considered as an inadvertence on the
part of the poet, and not as an intended embellishment.
CHARACTER OP THE MS.
The manuscript is neatly written in a handwriting of about 1460 ;
and seemingly with few, if any, errors. At first sight the letter
Thorn appears to be used indiscriminately for Th, but I find that it
is never used at the beginning of a line, and never at the end of a
word, whether it be written, for example, serveth, or servethe. The
Th is used in proper names ; and the few other cases where it is
found are, with one exception (thykke), where the sound occurs be
fore the vowel e. Thus Sythen, Murther, Ferther, Therefore, and
Beetheth, are thus spelt whenever they are found ; and Thefe is only
once spelt }>efe.
The 3 is constantly used, representing gh in the middle of words
and y at the beginning.
In most cases where we write er in our modern speech, and
especially in word-endings, such as after, water, together, &c., the
scribe uses a contraction representing ur, making the words aftur,
watur, &c.
Where the double I is crossed (It), a final e has been assumed.
DATE AND DIALECT OF THE POEM.
The date of our poem in its present form appears to be the latter
XVI PREFACE.
end of the 14th century ; and the dialect in which it is written is
Midland, and probably East Midland, as will be seen by the following
observations.
The present indicative plurals of regular verbs end everywhere
in -en. There appears to be an exception to this in 1. 72, ' hem that
it dvservethe;' but 'hem' may either be mis written for 'her;' or
else perhaps it is used indeterminately, as ' they ' and ' them ' are
sometimes used now-a-days.
It is not West Midland ; for the 3rd sing, indie, almost uni
versally ends in -eth ; the only exceptions being 'lykes' in 1. 134;
' wendes' in 11. 155 and 178 ; ' launces' in 1. 323, and 'furmerknes'
in 1. 362, though this last (see the note on the line) is a doubtful
instance. Robert of Brunne also uses this termination in -es ; but
always, apparently, for the sake of the rime.
The second person sing, in die. ends in -est ; excepting the word
*/ yndes' in 1. 305. ' Thou were' is used in lines 236-7.
In many instances the e final is omitted in the past tense of weak
verbs; as, delyvered, 155 and 178; graunted, 189 and 246. See
also 11. 18, 24, 28, 39, 62, 91, 107, 108, 255, 275, 281, and 339.
There are some terminations in -eth, used instead of -ed for the
perfect participles of regular verbs. See 11. 78, 175, 200, 209, 310.
The plurals of nouns end almost universally in -es ; the only ex
ceptions being lond-is, 1. 16, lyon-ys, 1. 214, and Ml-ys, 1. 272 (which
are perhaps only variations made by the copyist) ; dom-us, 1. 91 ;
and chylderen, 11 20 and 82.
Fader is uninflected in the possessive case, 1. 203. The other
genitives are in -es.
Some nouns of time and measure are uninflected in the plural ;
as $ere, 1. 89, 243 (we say now 'a two-year-old colt'), and myle, 1.
95 (we say now 'it is a two-mile course').
Of the personal pronouns
/ is always used, and not Ic.
All people alike, king and peasant, TJiou and Thee one another,
without the distinction of rank, such as is shown in William of
Palerne, by the use of Ye and You. In one instance, 1. 26, the King
addresses the Queen as Ye. Hym is the objective singular, and Hem
PREFACE. XVU
(in one instance Ham, probably for fam a Northern form) the
plural : Them is never used.
She is the 3rd person fern, nominative, and Here or Her ob
jective, the latter being used 8 times in the poem, and the former 9.
Hit and It are used about equally, the latter rather more fre
quently. They is always used in the plural.
The possessive pronoun of the 3rd person feminine, is Her or
Here. In the plural of all genders it is Here, and once Her.
The negative form of the verb To Be is once used in Nere = ne
were, 1. 3.
The imperfect participles end always in -ynge.
This is contrary to early Midland usage, and seems to show that
the dialect here employed must have been spoken in the Southern part
of the East Midland district, -inge being a Southern form, though it
is used in another East Midland book, 'Body and Soul,' 1. 396
[brennynge], and by Eobert of Brunne ' Ilandlyng Synne ; ' and by
Chaucer. But as the peculiarities of each dialect were no doubt
always understood by the neighbours on the borders of the several
districts, and by degrees became naturalized beyond their ancient
limits; so probably at the time when the Cheualere Assigne was
written, the Southern and Midland dialects at least were beginning
to blend and form a common language.
One peculiarity in this author's style is a strange mixing of past
and present tenses ; i. e. in the same sentence he constantly, as does
also Chaucer sometimes, iises the historical present, and the perfect.
Thus in 1. 229,
' The chylde stryketh hym to, & toJte hym by J;e brydelle.'
See also lines 63, 115-16, 151, 155, 173, 178, 190, 221, 267, 332,
341, 355, 361-2, and 365.
Mr Morris writes, ' The Dialect in its present form is East Mid
land. But as we do not find [other] East Midland writers adopting
alliterative measure in the 14th century, I am inclined to think
that the original English text was written in the N. or N.W. of
England, and that the present copy is a mere modified transcript.
This theory accounts for the es's in the 3rd person [sing.], which arc
XV 111 PREFACE.
not required for the rime, and may be forms belonging to tlie
earlier copy, and unaltered by the later scribe.'
I have to thank Mr Morris, Mr Skeat, and Mr Furnivall for their
kind suggestions during the progress of my work, and I must make
also my acknowledgments to Mr Brock for his faultless transcript.
Although, therefore, I suppose that, from, their uncertain character,
the dialect or grammatical peculiarities of this poem are not of any
particular value in the history of the language, yet as it is at any
rate a contribxition to that history, and as I think that whatever is
worth doing at all, is worth doing thoroughly, I have made the
Glossary as copious and accurate as I could. Besides, there is some
spirit and vigour in the Poem itself; and I hope the reading of the
little book may be as entertaining to the members of the Early
English Text Society, as the editing of it has been to me.
H. H. G.
,;. CHEUELERE .;. ASSIGNS .;,
[Cotton MS. Galifjula A. ii.,/oZ. 1255.]
^[ Alle weldynge god whenne it is his wylle, God Almighty
guards us,
Wele he wereth his * werke with his owne honde :
For ofte harmes were hente fat helpe we ne my^te ;
Nere f e hy^nes of hym fat lengeth in heuene. 4
For this I saye by a lorde was lente in an yle, as we see by the
That was kalled lyor a londe by hym selfe. oryens,
tff*
The kynge hette oryens as f e hook tellethe ;
And his qwene hewtrys fat bry}t was & shene : 8 and Beatrice ins
, _ _ - , queen, and his
Tl His moder hyjte Matabryne fat made moche sorwe ; mother
For she sette her affye in Sathanas of hello. Matabryne.
This was chefe of f e kynde of cheualere assygne ;
And whewne fey sholde in-to a place it seyth fulle
wele where, 12
Sythen aftwr his lykynge dwellede he fere,
Withe his owne qwene fat he lone my^te :
But alle in langowr he laye for lofe of here one,
That he hadde no chylde to cheue?me his londis ; 16 He had nociiiid
f But to be lordeles of his whewne he f e lyf lafte : to 8Ucceed " im>
And fat honged in his herte I heete f e for sothe. ^^ w
Line 5. See note on 1. 23. 11.' This ' must mean ' this King.'
6. lyor. In the French poem it is 12. I cannot make sense of this
Lilefort, and in Copland also. line. ' Sholde '= should go, and 'it'
7 9. The King is called Oriant means the book.
in the French version, and the Queen 18. honged in his herte = weighed
Bietrlx, and the King's mother Mate- upon his mind.
ll'KllC.
THE QUEEN BEARS SEVEN AT A BIRTH.
The King and
the Queen, talk
ing on the wall,
see beneath them
a woman with
her twins,
whereat he weeps.
The Queen says
she disbelieves
in twins. Each
must have a
father.
The King re
bukes her,
and at night
begets on her
reasonably many
children,
As fey wente vp-on a walle pleynge hem one,
Bothe fe kynge & f e qwene hem selfen to-gedere : -d
The kynge loked a-downe & by-helde vnder,
And seyj a pore womman at f e jate Sytte,
Withe two chylderen her by-fore were borne at a
byrthe ;
And he tiirncd hym ferine & teres lette he falle. 24
IT Sythen sykede he on-hyje & to f e qwene sayde,
' Se 50 J>e 3onder pore womman how fat she is pyned
Withe twynlenges two & fat dare I my hedde wedde.'
The qwene nykked hym with nay & seyde ' it is not
to lene : 28
Oon mawne for oon chylde & two wymmen for
tweyne ;
Or ellis hit were vnsemelye f ynge as me wolde f enke,
But eche chylde hadde a fader how manye so fer
were.'
The kynge rebukede here for her worf es ry^te fere ; 32
II And whercne it drowj towarde f e ny^te fey wewten
to bedde ;
He gette on here fat same nyjte * resonabullye manye.
The kynge was witty whene he wysste her -with
chylde,
And fankede lowely our lorde of his loue & his
sonde. 36
19. walle. The French has ' tour.'
23. Chaucer frequently omits the
relative, as is done here.
26. ' is pyned ' must mean ' haa
travailed,' or been in pain.
28. it is not to leue. The edition
of 1820 has lene. In the French it is
rout parlez de neant-
29. This means, ' One man can be
get but one child, nor can one woman
have more than one at a time by the
same man. Two honestly - begotten
children must needs have two mothers.'
Twins were once thought to reflect on
the mother's chastity.
The French poem has
Sa deux hommet ne sett livrce char-
nellement,
31. how manye so = howso[evcr]
many.
32. ry^te there = On the spot.
33 & 37. drow^ and drowse. ' The
correct form is drmv.' R. Morris.
34. He gette, &c. It is printed
gotte in the Eoxb. ed., but the word
is plainly gette in the MS. The French
has
Engetidra lo seigneur en la dame
vaillant
vij enfans celle nuit en ung cngcn-
drement.
MATABRYNE ORDERS MARCUS TO DROWN THEM. 6
But wherane it drowse to be tymc she shuldo be de-
lyueml,
Ther moste no wowman come her nere but she bat
was cursed,
His moder matabryne fat cawsed moche sorowe ;
For she thow^te to do fat byrthe * to a fowle endc. 40
If Wherme god wolde fey were borne Jicrane browjte
she to lionde
Sex semelye sownes * & a dowjter be seueneth, to witi six sons
and a daughter,
.;. MATABRYNE. .;. [Fol. 126.]
Alk safe & alle sounde & a seluer cheyne with silver chains
_, , , i i about their necks.
Lche on ot hem hadde a-bowte his swete swyre. 44
And she lefte hem out & leyde hem in a cowche ;
And bewne she sente after a man bat markus was But Matabryne
sends for her man
Called, Marcus,
That hadde serued her-seluen skylfully longe :
He was trewe of his feyth & loth for to tryfulle ; 48
IT She knewe hym for swych & triste hym fe better ;
And seyde, ' bou moste kepe counselle & helpe what
bou may :
Tlie fyrste grymme watwr bat bou to comeste, 51 and bids him
Looke bou caste hem ber-In & lete hym forthe slyppe : children.
Sythen seche to be courte * as bou now^te hadde sene,
And bou shalt lyke fulle wele yf bou may lyfe aftwr.'
39. 'j^at cawsed moche sorowe.' 49. swych. Wrongly prin ted swyth
These words, and ' the cursede man in in the Roxb. ed.
his feyth,' are, like the Homeric iroSac triste. Wrongly printed trusted, in
wKwc and irot/ztva \aut>, applied as a the same, moste ; the e is superfluous,
sort of verse-tag to fill up the line, and 50. kepe counselle = be secret,
serve as constant epithets respectively 52. hym for hem.
to Matabryne and Malkedras. 53. seche = betake thyself. Com p.
40. do . . to a fowle ende. See 1. 138. Ezekiel xiv. 10, ' him that seeketh
As in Shakespere, Much Ado about unto him.'
Nothing, V. 3 : ' Done to death with 54. lyke full wele = be well-liking
slanderous tongues.' = prosper. Comp. 'fat and well-lik-
45. lefte = lifted. ing,' Ps. xcii. 13; 'worse-liking,' Daniel
46. Markus, called Marques and i. 10. ' I believe the original con-
Marcon in the French poem. struction was, " And it shal like f>c ful
49. knewe, should be knew ; the e wel" = and it shall please thee full
is superfluous ; but it is so in the MS. well. Sec 1. 134.' E. Morris.
THE QUEEN IS SAID TO HAVE BROUGHT FORTH WHELPS.
Marcus grieves,
Imt dares not
disobey.
She takes seven
whelps,
and shows "em to
the King as the
Queen's offspring,
and bids him
have her burnt.
He refuses.
She vituperates.
He says, ' Stow
her where thou
wilt, so that I
see it not.'
She falls foul of
the Queen,
Whewne he herde pat talc hym rewede pe tyme ;
But he durste not werne * what pe qwene wolde. 56
IT The kynge lay in langour * sum gladdenes to here ;
But pe fyrste tale pat he herde were tydynges febulle,
Whe/zne his moder matabryne brow^te hym tydynge.
At a chamber dore as she forthe sow^te, 60
Seuemie whelpes she sawe sowkynge pe damme,
And she kaw^te out a knyfe & kylled pe bycche ;
She caste her pewne in a pytte * & takethe pe welpes,
And sythen come byfore pc kynge & vp on-hy^e she
seyde, 64
1T ' Sone paye pe with J?y qweno & se of her berthe.'
Thewne syketh fie kynge & gynnythe to morne,
And wente wele it were sothe alle pat she seyde.
The?me she seyde, ' lette bre?me her a-none for pat is
pe beste.' 68
' Dame, she is my wedded wyfe fulle trewe as I wene,
As I haue holde her er pis our lorde so me helpe ! '
* A, kowarde of kynde,' cpiod she ' & combred wrecche !
Wolt poti werne wrake to hem pat hit deseruethe 1 '
IT ' Dame, pa?zne take here py selfe & sette her wher pe
lykethe, 73
So pat I se hit nojte what may I seye elles 1 '
Thewne she wente her forthe pt god shalle confounde,
To pat febulle per she laye & felly she bygy?methe, 76
And seyde, ' a-ryse wrecched qwene & reste pe her no
lengw ;
Thow hast by-gylethe my sone it shalle pe werke
sorowe :
Bothe howndes & men haue hadde pe a wylle :
Thow shalt to prisoun fyrste & be brente aftw?-.' 80
60. sowjte. See note on 1. 53.
64. come. The correct form is com.
on-hyje = aloud.
tion in -cth, see Preface, p. xvi.
75. See note on 1. 190.
78. by-gylethe. The final e is un-
68. lette brenne her = have her necessary ; but there is a contraction
burnt.
72. deserueth.
As to this termina-
reprcsenting it in the MS.
THE QUEEN IMPRISONED. THE CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED. 5
IF The/me shrykede f e ^onge qwene & vp on hyj ami, \n spite of
her moans,
cryethe,
' A, lady,' she seyde ' where ar my lefe chylderen ? '
Whenne she myssede hem for grete mone she made.
By fat come tytlye tyrauntes tweyne, 84
And by f e byddynge of matabryne a-non fey her hente,
And in a dymme prysouw fey slongen here deepe, [Foi. 126 .]
has lier thrown
And leyde a lokke on f e dore & leuen here fere : 87 into prison,
Mete fey caste here a-downe & more god sendethe. ^In yews?
5T And fus f e lady lyuede fere elleuen ^ere,
And mony a fayre orysouw vn-to f e fader made,
That saued Susanne fro sorowefulle donws [her] to But God, who
saved Susanna,
Saue als. hears her prayer
Now leue we fis lady- in langowr & pyne, 92
And turne a^eyne to our tale towarde f ese chylderen,
And to f e man markus fat murther hem sholde ;
How he wente f orow a foreste * fowre longe myle, Marcus takes the
mi Hi. I.-L-L -LIT- children to drown
Thylle he come to a watwr f er he hem shulde in them .
drowne ; 96
IT And f er he keste vp f e clothe to knowe hem bettw,
And fey ley & lowje on hym louelye alle at ones : But they look on
' He fat lendethe w?'t,' quod he ' leyne me wyth sorowe, wuL, m
If I drowne ^ou to day thowghe my deth be nyje.' 100 and he won't,
The?me he leyde hem adowne * lappedde in f e mantelle, but leaves them
And lappede hem, & hylyde hem & hadde moche mantle, and
, , commends them
rewthe, to Christ .
That swyche a barmeteme as fat * shulde so be-tyde.
Thewne he takethe hem to criste & a3eyne turnethe. 104
81. See note on 1. 64. bryne's remark thereon being 'fa nc
84. By }>at = by that time, then. vault ting bouton.'
tyrauntes. The French poem has 91. domws. This might be & mis-
Svrs (serfs). writing for ' dom (= doom) nx,' as
86. slongen. Roxb. ed. has flongcn, the former edition reads it; but it is,
which is an error of transcription. no doubt, a plural in iis, the word 7u-r
90. This particular orison, with having slipped out.
Susanna for its example, finds a place 99. wit. Wrongly printed m tj l in the
in the French poem, not at this point, former edition,
but during the procession from the 103. swyche. See note on 1. 49.
city to the place of burning, Mata-
MALKEDRAS SEES THEM, AXD TELLS MATABRYNE.
A hermit hears
them sob,
and cries to
Christ for suc
cour:
a hind comes and
suckles them ;
nnd the hermit
takes them home
and tends them.
Malkedras the
Forester passes
and sees them,
tells Matabryne,
IF But sone f e mantelle was vn-do w/t/i mengynge of
her legges ;
They cryedde vp on-hy^e with a dolefully steuewne,
They chyuered for colde as cheuerynge chyldren,
They ^oskened, & cryde out & fat a man herde, 108
An holy hermyte was by & toAvarde hem comethe :
Whe/me he come by-lore hem on knees ferine he felle,
And cryede ofte vpon cryste for so?nme sokour hym
to sende,
If any lyfe were hem lente in f is world e lengwr. 112
IF Thewne an hynde kome fro f e woode rennywge fulle
swyfte,
And felle be-fore hem adowne fey drowse to fe
pappes ;
The heremyte prowde was f er-of ' & putte hem to
sowke :
Sethen taketh he hem vp & fe hynde folowethe, 116
And she kepte hem fere whylle our lorde wolde.
Thus he noryscheth hem vp & criste hem helpe send-
ethe.
Of sadde leues of f e wode wrow^te he hem wedes.
Malkedras fe fostere fe fende mote hym haue, 120
1F That cursedde man for his feythe he come f er fey
weren,
And was ware in his sy3te * syker of f e chyldren ;
He twraede ajeyn to f e courte & tolde of f e chaunce.
And menede byfore matabryne how mony f er were. 124
' And more merueyle f enne fat Dame, a seluere cheyne
Eche on of hem hath abowte here swyre.'
She seyde, ' holde f y wordes in chaste fat none skape
ferther ;
I wylle soone aske hym fat hath me betrayed.' 128
119. sadde leues of fe wode. Fr.
feuilles Ac loners,
120. Malkedras is called in the
French MS. Malquarrez and Man- be silent.
qnarrc.
124. menede. Wrongly printed
mevede in the Roxb. ed.
]27. holde thy wordes in chaste =
HE ROBS SIX OF THEIR SILVER CHAINS. THEY BECOME SWANS. 7
U The/me she sente aftiir markus pat murther hem who questions
Marcus,
sholde ;
And askede hym, in good feythe what felle of pe
chyldren :
Wherene she hym asked hadde * he seyde, 'here pe
sothe ;
Dame, on a ryueres banke lapped in my mantelle, 132 and, hearing the
i -i c i truth, has his
I lafte hem lyynge there leue pou for sothe : eyes put out;
I my^te not drowne hem for dole do what pe lykes.'
Thewne she made here alle preste & (putt) out bothe
hys yen.
Moche mone was therfore but no man wyte moste. 136
IT ' Wende pou ajeyne malkedras & gete me J>e cheynes, sends Maikedras
.,.,,., p, j j 1. j .-I to take the chains,
And withe pe dynte ot py swerde do hem to dethe ; and slay the
And I shalle do pe swych a t^rne & pou pe tyte
That pe shalle lyke ryjte wele pe terme of py lyue.' 140
The/me pe hatefulle thefe hyed hym fulle faste,
The cursede man in his feythe come per pey were.
By peraie was pe hermyte go in-to pe wode & on of He finds but six,
, ., , one being away
pe Children, wit h the hermit.
For to seke mete for pe other sex, 144
1T Whyles pe cursed man asseylde pe other :
And he out withe his swerde & smote of pe cheynes. He smites off the
_,, , it , n f chains ; and the
1 hey stoden alle stylle ior stere pey ne durste ; children change
And who/me pe cheynes felle hem fro pey flowen vp
swawnes 1 48
To pe ryuere by-syde withe a rewfulle steuenne.
And he takethe vp pe cheynes & to pe cowrte
twrnethe,
And come by-fore pe qwene & here hem bytakethe :
Thenne she toke hem in honde & heelde ham fulle
styUe ; 152
IF She sente aftur a golde-smy^te to forge here a cowpe ;
133. leue. Wrongly printed lene in of the MS. by the original scribe.
the edition of 1820. 138. do. See note on 1. 40.
135. The Koxb. ed. omits putt, 140. See note on 1. 54.
which has been added in the margin
MATABBYNE HAS A CUP MADE OF THE SILVER.
The old Queen
gives the chains
to a goldsmith to
make a cup of.
One chain mul
tiplies so in the
melting-pot, that
half of one
suffices.
The goldsmith
tells his wife, and
asks her counsel.
She says, ' Keep
the rest ! The
Queen has full
weight. What
would she have
more ? '
[Fol. 127 &.]
He gives the old
Queen the cup
and the half
chain.
Aud whemie J>e man was comen berene was be qwene
blythe,
And delyuered liym his wey^tes & he from cowrte
wendes :
She badde be wesselle were made vpon alle wyse : 156
The goldosmy^th goothe & beetheth hym a fyre &
brekethe a cheyne,
And it wexeth in hys honde & multyplyethe swyde :
He toke bt obw fyue & fro be fyer hem leyde,
And made hollye be cuppe of haluendelle fie sixte. 1GO
II And whenne it drcw^e to be ny^te he wendethe to
bedde,
And thus lie scythe to his wyfe in sawe as I telle.
' The olde qwene at be courte hathe me bytaken
Six cheynes in honde & wolde haue a cowpe ; 1G4
And I breke me a cheyne * & halfe leyde in J>e fyer,
And it wexedde in my honde & wellede so faste,
That I toke be obwr fyve & fro be fyer caste,
And haue made hollye be cuppe of halue??.dele be
sixte.' 168
IF ' I rede J>e,' c[uod his wyfe ' to holden hem stylle ;
Hit is forowe J>e werke of god or fey be wronge
wormen ;
For whenne here mesure is made what may she aske
more?' 171
And he dedde as she badde * & buskede hym at morwe ;
He come by-fore J?e qwene & bytaketh here J>e cowpe,
And she toke it in honde & kepte hit fulle clene.
' Xowe lefte ther ony ornir vn-werkethe by fe better
trowthe ? '
And he recheth her forth haluendele a cheyne : 176
162. The conversation between the
goldsmith and his wife is much longer
and more dramatic in our poem than
in the French.
170. jjorowe. Wrongly printed Tlioive
in the Roxb. ed.
170. wronge wonncn=wrongly (i. e.
wrongfully) acquired.
17G. recheth. Misprinted recltrtli.
forth. Misprinted ferth in the
Fioxb. ed.
THE QUEEN DOOMED TO DEATH. 9
1F And she raw^te hit hyni a^eyne & seyde she ne she gives him
the half chain
rOW}te j and his pay.
But delyuered hym his seruyse & he out of cowrte
wendes.
' The curteynesse of criste,' qiwd she ' be vrith bese
ojwr cheynes ! 179
They be delyuered out of bis worlde were be moder eke,
Thenne hadde I bis londe hollye to myne wylle :
Now alle wyles shalle fayle but I here dethe werke.'
At morn she come byfore be kynge & by gawne fulle she scolds the
King for leaving
KBene J lOO his Queen so long
' Moche of ])is worlde sonne * wondrethe on be attone,
^T That thy qwene is vnbrente * so meruelows longe,
That hath serued be dethe if bou here dome wyste :
Lette sommene by folke vpon eche a syde, and bids him
summon his folk.
Ihat fey bene at by syjte be .xj. day assygned. 188
And he here graunted J)at * withe a gry?/zme herte ; He grieves; but
grants it.
And she wendeth here adown & lette hem a-none
warne.
The nyjte byfore be day fat Jje lady shulde brerane, The night before
.,, ^ i t' le burning
An Angelle come to J?e hermyte & askede 11 he slepte : comes an angei
IT The angelle seyde, ' criste sendeth fe worde of Jjese
sixchyldren; 193
And for ]?e sauynge of hem fanke fou haste seruethe :
They were J?e kynges Oriens * wytte fou for sothe,
179. 'Puis dlst entre ses dens assez and 'hy^e' in 1. 141, after the French
bassetement s'en alia. Comp. Shaksp. 2 Gent, of
JBien suis de ceulx delivre alez Ver. IV. 4 : ' I . . goes me to the fel-
sont voirement low.' The phrase in the text seems
Se leur mere estoit arse ne me to make it more probable that this me
cJiauldroit neant. is the personal, and not the indeter-
And then,' she continues, 'by my en- minate pronoun.
chantments I will cause that my son 194. )?anke J>ou haste seruethe =
never marries again, and so I shall thou hast deserved thanks. The final
have all the land at my command.' e is too much. See note on 1. 78.
186. serued. In the Roxb. ed. this 195. They were the kynges Oriens =
is erroneously printed dyserved. They were [the children] of the King
if thou here dome wyste = if thou Oriens. This expression is not unlike
knewest what her sentence ought to be. that in Wm. of Palerne, 1. 5437 : J?em-
190. wendeth here, 'wend 'is here perours moder William.
used reflexively as ' went ' is in 1. 75,
10
THE QUEEN'S sox SENT TO BE HER CHAMPION.
Tells him that the
six swan-children
aresonsofOryens
and Beatrice.
But that Christ
formed the other
child to fight for
his mother.
' How can this
be?'
Take him to
Court and have
him christened
Enyas.'
The hermit tells
the child what
he is to do, what
n mother is,
[Fol. 128.]
By his wyfe Betryce she bere hem at ones, 196
For a worde on f e walle fat she wronge seyde ;
And Bonder in f e ryuer swywmen fey swawnes ;
Sythen Malkedras f e forsworn f efe byrafte hem her
cheynes :
And criste hath formeth f is chylde to fy3te for his
moder.' 200
IT ' Oo-lyuynge god fat dwellest in heuene ' quod f e
hermyte f anne,
' How sholde he serue for suche a f ynge fat neu?/r
none sy^e 1 '
' Go brynge hym to his fader courte & loke fat he be
cristened ; 203
And kalle hym Enyas to name 'for aw^te fat may be-falle,
Ry^te by f e mydday to redresse his moder ;
For goddes wylle moste be fulfylde & f ou most forthe
wende.'
The heremyte wakynge lay & thow3te on his worries :
Soone wherme f e day come to f e chylde he seyde, 208
^F ' Criste hath fbrmeth f e sone to fy^te for f y moder.'
He asskede hymm f awne what was a moder.
' A womman fat bare fe to man so?2ne, & of her reredde : '
*3e, kanste foil, fader, enforme me how fat I simile
fyjte?' 212
' Vpon a hors,' seyde f e heremyte 'as I haue herde seye.'
201. Oo. Wrongly printed To in the
former edition. Oo-lyuynge = ever-
living.
202. Jsynge. Wrongly printed ytigc
in the former edition.
204. Enyas ; not uffinyas, as in the
old edition. The French poem has
JSlyas or Helyax, which latter is the
name given him in the English prose
Romance.
A line seems to he omitted between
204 and 205, such as
'Let hym cair to |?e court J>er ]>Q
kynge dwellethe.'
210. The conversation between the
hermit and the child is more full in
the English than in the French poem.
211. A very cramped line. 'A woman
that bare thee to man, [my] son ; and
[thou wast] by her reared.'
' It means, " bare thee so that thou
becamest a man." Such is the regular
idiom ; [God] wroint me to man =
formed thee so that thou becamest a
man, fashioned thee in man's shape ;
occurs in Piers Plowman, A. Pass. i.
1. 80.' W. W. S.
' Scanfilz cest nnc femme qtien ses
jians te portal
HE MEETS THE PROCESSION, AND ACCOSTS THE KING. 11
'What bcste is bat 1 ?' auod be cliylde ' 'Ivonys wylde? and what a horse,
on which he is to
Or elles wode 1 or water ' quod be chylde bamre. fight.
' I seyje neimr none,' quod be hermyte * ' but by be mater
ofbokes: 216
IF They seyn he hath a feyre hedde & fowre lymes hye ;
And also he is a frely beeste for-thy he man seruethe.'
' Go we forthe, fader,' quod be childe <vpon goddes halfe !' The child is
willing, and they
The grypte eyjwr a staffe in here honde & on here wey go forth on their
straw3te. 220 W
Whenne be heremyte hym lafte an angellehym suwethe. The hermit
J J leaves the child,
Eimr to rede be chylde vpon his ryjte sh older. and an angei goes
with him and
1 he/me he seeth in a felde folke gaderynge faste, counsels him.
,,,,, ,. 111- The child sees a
And a hy} lyre was ber bette bat be qwene sholde in great crowd and
brercne, 224 a fire kindled in a
^[ And noyse was in be cyte felly lowde. and a sr eat tro P
bringing the
With trumpes & tabers whenne bey here vp token ; Queen from the
The olde qwene at here bakke betynge fulle faste ;
The kynge come rydynge a-fore a forlonge & more ; 228 Ti-,e King rides
The chylde stryketh hym to & toke hym by be brydelle :
' What man arte bou 1 ' quod be chylde ' & who is bat 8 nd who are
these?' qnoththe
be svethfi] c i,iid.
215. Or else [a] wood[-beast], or 224. brenne. The final e is illegible,
[a] water[-beast] ? being obliterated by a blot of ink.
219. Comp. William of Paleme, 1. bette. Comp. Sir Aldingar, 1. 53
2803, ' Go we now on goddes halve.' (Percy folio, vol. i. p. 168), ' And fayre
220. The grypte eyjmr = They each fyer there shalbe bette.'
seized. 227. A tant ext Matebrune qiii
221. suwethe. The Eoxb. editor has a-maiue a grant cris
mistaken this for seemcth. Batant la. bonne dame qui eiist nom
221-2. rede. Here we find ride in Bietri.r.
the former edition ; but besides that it 230. Here in the French poem fol-
is not so written, the French original lows, , ,-
shows that it must be as in the text. -rr i *
_,...., , , ronlentvert rn eiist ns mam iron
This incident of the angel does not find , , . ....
.. , , ., f, , dolent estoit.
its place here, in the rrench poem.
There, it is when the child accosts the He then asks the child what his own
King that the author says, name is ; and he answers that he has
Homme fol et samaig'e a merreillet no name, except that with the hermit
srmbloit his name has been always Beau filz.
Lange a dleu le pere $ur lespavle Comp. Libius Disconius, 11. 25 30 and
xeoit 62 66. Percy folio, vol. ii. p. 416
Que cf qnil derolt dire t>-oj> lien I/ti and 418.
enseit/iioit.
12 HE OFFERS TO FIGHT FOR THE QUEEN.
' I am be kynge of bis londe & oryens am kalled,
The King And be ^oiidur is my qwene betryce she hette, 232
answers, and tells _ T ' , ,, i i j i JL i
the story. H In be ^ondere balowe lyre is buskedde to brewne ;
She was sklawnndered on-hy^e bat she hadde takeii
howndes ;
And $yf she hadde so don here harm were not to
charge.'
c Thou dost ill to * Thewne . were bou no^t ry}[t]lye sworne,' quod be
be led by Mata-
chylde ' vpon ry^te luge, 2oo
Whernie bou tokest be by crowne kynge whemie bou
made were,
To done aftwr matabryne for J>ewne fou shalt mysfare ,
sue is fell and For she is fowle felle & fals * & so she shall e be
false, and shall go
to the fiend. fowndefi,
And bylefte with fe fend at here laste ende, 240
IT That styked styffe in here brestes fat wolde j?e
qwene brerane :
i am but 12 I am but lytulle & jonge,' quod be chylde 'leeue bou
years old, but I
will fight for the forsotlie,
Queen.'
Not but twelfe ^ere olde euen at J?is tyme,
And I wolle putte my body to better & to worse, 244
To fy3te for be qwene with whome bat wronge
seythe.'
The King is con- The?nie graunted be kynge & loye he bygywnethe,
If any helpe were ber-Inne bat here clensen my^te.
The old Queen By h a t come be olde qwene & badde hym com
rebukes him.
bewne : 248
233. ^ondere. Misprinted Bonders in Nas pas a droit ivge comme roy loy-
the Roxb. ed. aument.
235. hadde is erroneously printed vpon ry^te luge = [hast not] right-
sliadde in the Roxb. ed. ly judged. These words are evidence
here harm were not to charge = her that the French poem was the original
death would not be a matter of con- of the English one ; our poet having
cern to any one. ' Charge, in Chaucer, apparently taken the word Inge into
= a matter of difficulty, a matter of his text without translating it.
consideration.' R. M. 243. Not but = only. In modern
236-7. The French corresponding to Lancashire, no but, or not but.
this passage is, 245. with whom [soever it be] that
Arse! Dieu dint lenfant, fait as wrong saith [of her].
follc iugement 248. )?enne = thence.
MATABRYNE TEARS HIS HAIR.
13
1T 'To speke with suche on as he bou mayste ry^th
lothe thenke.' 249
' A, dame,' quod be kynge ' thow^te je none synne 1
Thow haste for-sette be jonge qwene J?ou knoweste
welle be sothe :
This chylde bat I here speke withe seyth bat he
wolle preue 252
That bou nother by sawes certeyne be neyther.'
And benne she lepte to hym * & kaw^te hym by be
lokke ;
That ber leued in here honde heres an hondredde.
' A, by lyuynge god,' quod be childe ' bat bydeste in
heuene, 256
IT Thy hedde shalle lye on by lappe for by false twrnes.
I aske a felawe anone a freshe kny^te aftwr,
For to fy3te vrith me to dryue owte be ry^te.'
' A, boy,' quod she, ' wylt bou so bou shalt sone
myskarye ; 260
He speaks up for
his Queen, and
IF O I. 1286.]
tells what the
child says.
Matabryne rushes
at the child and
tears his hair.
' Thy head shall
lie in thy lap ! '
quoth he. 'Give
me a man to fight
with ! '
254. hym, sc. the child. The passage
in the French poem is curious, the
writer exhibiting the rage of the con
tending parties by a furious succession
of rimes in -aige, the Norman pronun
ciation of -age.
Mere ce dlst le roy vous nestes mle
saige
Veez a vng enfant qui bien semble
sanvaige
Qui dit que peclie faictes et ennwy
et hontaige
Que vout la dame a tort vons mettez
tur putaige
Quant la vielle lenient a pou quelle
nenrage
Aux chii-eulx prent lenf ant plus de
c. en arrache
Dleu aide dlst lenf ant ci a mat a
comtaige
Ceste vielle hideuse a en son corps
la raige
Plus fait a redoubter que mil lyon
sauvaige.
La glorletise dame en qui dieu 2 )rin ^
u ml raige
Menroyc en cor vengence de ce
villain Jumtai-ge ;
Ce ne me faisoit mie mon pere en
lermitarge.
Tons ceulx qui lont oy kuc7ient en
leur langaige
Ha: roy de orient ne souffrez tel
hontaige ;
Li enfant dit assez par les sains de
cartaige.
Roy tien a lenf ant droit bien pert
de hault paraige,
Nulz horns ne puet mienlx dire tant
salt de grant langaige,
Dieu te la euvoye pour dire cest
messa ifje.
256. bydeste. Sic in MS. 'It is
probably thrown in parenthetically,
and addressed to God. So in Havelok,
" Ihesu crist, ^at made mone,
pine dremes turne to ioye [sone]
pat wite \j\v that sittes in trone."
It is very abrupt, certainly.' W. W. S.
In Havelok also, there is a Thou in the
former part of the sentence, but here
there is none.
UE IS CHRISTENED ENYAS, AND IS DUBBED KNIGHT.
'Ha! boy! I'll
get me a 111:111
that shall mar
tliee.'
She sends
Mulkedras.
An Abbot
christens the
child Enyas.
The bells ring of
themselves all
the fight through,
betokening that
Christ was well
pleased.
The King dubs
Enyas knight.
The King lends
him his good
steed Feraunce,
and armour, and
a shield with a
cross ou it.
I wylle gete me a man fat shalle f e sone marre.'
She twneth her f e?me to malkedras & byddyth hym
take arnies,
And badde hym bathe his spere * in )>e boyes herte :
And he of suche one gret skornc he fowjte. 264
H An holy abbot was f er-by ' & he hym f eder bowethe,
For to cristen f e chylde frely & feyre ;
The abbot maketh hym a fonte & was his godfader,
The erle of aunthepas he was another, 268
The cou?ites of salamere was his godmoder ;
They kallede hym Enyas to name as f e book tellethe :
Mony was f e ryche 3yfte fat fey $afe hym aftur :
Alle fe bellys of f e close ' rongen at ones 272
^[ Withe-oute ony ma?znes helpe whyle fe fy3te lasted ;
Wherefore fie wyste welle fat criste was plesed with
here dede.
Whe/ine he was cristened frely & feyre,
Aftwr, fe kynge dubbede hym knyjte as his kynde
wolde : 276
Thenne prestly he prayeth f e kynge fat he hym lene
wolde
An hors with his harnes & blethelye he hym grauut-
ethe :
Tliewne was feraunce fette forthe f e kynges price stede,
And out of an hy^e towre armo/' fey halewne ; 280
^[ And a whyte shelde with a crosse vpon f e posse
honged,
And hit was wryten f er-vpon fat to enyas hit sholde :
261. marre. This is written in the
MS. with a long r in the second place ;
and the former editor mistook it for a
y, and wrote the word manje. The
word ' miscarrye ' in the line above
might have undeceived him, for it also
has the long r, followed by a real y.
'2(',2. ^enne. Printed tlience in the
Roxb. ed.
265. An holy abbot. < L'Altbe
Gauticr,' says the French book.
271. }yfte. This is misprinted yjstc
in the 1820 edition.
274. welle. Misprinted icelt in thtf
other edition.
279. Feraunce is Ferrant in the
French poem.
281. posse. Perhaps miswritten for
paste, as Utterson has printed it : it
is, however, so written in the M6.
Ayenbyte of Inwyt.
282. hit sholde [belong].
HE CONSULTS WITH A KNIGIIT OF THE KING'S. 15
And whe/me lie was armed to alle his ry^tes, 283
Thewiie prayde he be kynge bat he hym lene wolde
Oou of his beste menne bat he nioste truste,
To speke with hym but * a speche whyle. Enyas takes
counsel with a
A knyjte kawjte hyrn by be houde & laddo hym of Knight whom
00 the King lends
be rowte : 287 him>
' What beeste is bis,' quod be childe ' bat I shalle on
houe ? '
IT ' Hit is called an hors,' quod be knyjte ' a good & an and leams w:.at
is a horse,
abulle.
* Why etethe he yren ] ' quod be chylde * wylle he ete
elles ?
And \\ r hat is bat on his bakke of byrthe, or on a saddle, a bridle,
_ a hawberk, a
DOUnden { helm, a shield, a
*^ay, bat in his mowthe men kallen a brydelle, 292 . [F O I. 129.]
And that a sadelle on his bakke bat bou shalt in ^e'thTm.^
sytte.'
' And what heuy kyrtelle is bis withe holes so thykke 1
And bis holowe [on] on niy hede I may nojt wele
here.'
'An helme men kallen bat on & an hawberke bat
other.' 296
^T ' But what broode on is bis on my breste hit bereth
adown my nekke.'
' A bry^te shelde & a sheene to shylde be fro strokes.'
' And what longe on is bis that I shalle vp lyfte ? '
'Take bat launce vp in byn honde & loke bou hym 'Seetnoubit
hytte; 300 ^
285. truste, pf. of trust ; it is triste 291. of byrthe = congenital, born
in 1. 49. with him, natural.
286. a speche whyle. Comp. Shaksp. 2^5. wele. This word is added in
Two Gijnt. of Verona, IV. 3. the margin in a later hand. It is
287. of = from out of. omitted in the edition of 1820.
288. houe. The Roxb. editor reads holowe = hollow one : the on has
hone, and takes it to be the O.E. Hon dropped out, because of the preposition
= to hang, but it is doubtless Hove following. See 11. 297, 299.
= abide, be. 296. J>at other. Misprinted \e other
210. The child puts this question to in the 1820 edition.
the King, in the French poem.
16
FIGHTS WITH MALKEDRAS, MATABRYNE's CHAMPION.
' and if we come
to ground t '
' Get up again.
Draw thy sword,
smite him with
the edge, snred
him in pieces.'
' Bat won't he
smite again :- '
' That will he !
never mind !
smite off his
head ! '
They run to
gether, shiver
their spears,
smash their
armour, and up
set each other.
The horses run
round the lists.
And whewne bat shafte is schyuered take scharpelye
another.'
' 3e, what yf grace be we to grownde wenden 1 '
1 A-ryse vp ly^tly on be fete & reste be no lengwr ; 303
And be/me plukke out by swerde & pele on hym faste,
IT Alle-wey eggelynges down on alle fat f ou fyndes ;
His ryche helm nor his swerde rekke f ou of neyjjwr ;
Lete f e sharpe of f y swerde schreden hym smalle.'
' But wolle not he smyte ajeyne whe/me he feleth
smertef 308
' 3ys, I knowe hym fulle wele bothe kenely & faste :
Em- folowe fou on fe flesh tylle fou haste hym
fallethe ;
And sythen smyte of his heede I kan sey fe no
furre.'
' Now f ou haste taw^te me,' quod f e childe ' god I f e
beteche: 312
IT For now I kan of f e crafte more fewne I kowthe.'
Thenne fey maden Raunges & ronnen to-gedere,
That J>e speres in here hondes shyuereden to peces ;
And for [to] rennene a^eyn men raw3ten hem other, 316
Of balowe tymbere & bygge fat wolde not breste ;
And eyther of hem so smer[t]lye smote other, .
That alle fleye in pe felde fat on hem was fastened,
And eyther of hem topseyle tumbledde to Je erthe; 320
1F Thewne here horses rownen forth stftur J?e raunges,
Euwr feraunce by-forne & fat other aftwr ;
302. 36. Misprinted Se in the edition
of 1820.
ally omitted by the scribe.
320. topseyle. Sic in MS. Top =
303. ly^tly. Misprinted lmtinlS20. head, as we say, 'from top to toe.'
305. eggelynges = edgewise. With
the edge. The contrary of 'flatlings.'
307. sharpe = sharp edge.
309. ays = yes. Its use here in
stead of 30, as in 1. 302, is due to the
negative in the question.
310. fallethe = felled.
316. rennene may be rennenge, sb,;
but more probably the line should be
as above, the to having been accident-
Should it be perhaps 'topteyle ' ? Comp.
Wm. of Palerne, I. 2776 :
' Set hire a sad strok so sore in J?e
necke
J?at sche top ouer tail tombled ouer
f>e hacches.'
321. rownen. Misprinted rennen in
the Roxb. ed.
322. Le destrier Elyas vet, lautre
poursuivant.
SLAYS HIM. 17
Forauncc launces vp his fete & lasschethe out his
yen:
The fyrste happe, other hele was bat bat be chylde Femunce lashes
out and blinds
hadde, 324 the other horse.
Whenne bat be chylde bat hym bare * blente hadde his
fere :
The??,ne thei styrte vp on hy with staloworth shankes, E "y as and
Malkedras start
Pulledde out her swerdes & smoten to-gedwr. up and draw
their swords.
' Kepe by swerde fro my croyse quod cheuelrye Beware my
ooo cross!'
assygne : 328
1T 'I charde not by croyse,' quod malkedras ' 'be valwe ' Idon>tcarea
cherry for your
of a cherye ; cross ! '
For I shalle choppe it fulle smalle ere bemie bis werke
ende.'
An edder spronge out of his shelde & in his body An adder strikes
J him from out
Spynnethe ; the cross; and a
fire thereout
A fyre fruscheth out of his croys & [fjrapte out his blinds him.
yen : 332
Therane he stryketh a stroke Cheualere assygne. Eny" 8 cuts him
down and takes
Euen his sholder in twoo & down in -to be herte ; [Foi. 129 b.]
And he bowethe hym down & ^eldethe vp be lyfe.
' I shalle be 3elde,' quod be chylde ' ryjte as be kny^te
me tawjte.' 336
323. yen. The transcriber for the 331. Ung serpent a deux testeg,
Roxb. ed. mistook the curl over the n oncques tel ne vit Iiomme
(n)) for a d, as if it was rd, and wrote .... saillit
yerd, making nonsense of the line. Tout droit a, Mauquarrc a so, veue
324. hele. The Roxb. ed. Ta&sfele; se lance
which is wrong. Les deux testes lui crevent les deux
325. chylde. This word seems to yeulx sans dmtbtance.
have crept in by mistake. The sense 332. rapte, in MS. ; frapte, which
and alliteration would require 'blonk' is a common word enough, would suit
= steed. the alliteration better.
326. Thenne thei. The Roxb. ed. 333. Thewne. Sic in MS. The Eoxb.
has Tlienne ether; the transcriber ed. has mhen-ne.
having mistaken the last e in then for 334. ' Schreding,' 1 or some such word,
the beginning of the word ether. is wanted instead of, or after, Even.
staloworth. Miswritten for stal- 336. I shall jje jelde = I shall render
worth. unto thee = I shall serve thee, I shall
328. cheuelrye. Sic in MS. requite thee.
330. benne = the time when.
18 BURNS MATABRYNE. DISENCHANTS HIS BRETHREN, ALL BUT ONE.
IF He trussetlie his barneys fro be nekke & be hede
wywnethe ;
Sythen he toke hit by be lokkes & in be helm leyde ;
Thoo thanked he our lorde lowely bat lente hym bat
grace.
Matabryiie flees, The/me sawe be qwene matabryne her man so mur-
but the child
overtakes her and dered ; 340
brownasiuis. Turned her brydelle & towarde be towne rydethe ;
The chylde folowethe here aftur fersly & faste,
Sythen brow^te here a^eyne wo for to drye,
And brente here in be balowe fyer alle to browne
askes. 344
The young Queen ^f The 2onge qwene at be fyre by bat was vnbounden ;
is unbound.
Enyas tells his The childe koine by fore be kynge & on-hyje he seyde,
story to the King
and Queen. And tolde hym how he was his sone & o]>ur sex
childeren,
By be qwene betryce she bare hem at ones, 348
For a worde on be walle bat she wronge seyde ;
And Bonder in a ryuere swywimen bey swannes ;
Sythen be forsworne thefe Malkadras byrafte hem her
cheynes.' 351
* By god,' quod be goldsmythe ' I knowe bat ry^th wele ;
The goldsmith IT Fyve cheynes I haue & bey ben fysh hole.'
the 8 chainrat Ve Nowe withe be goldsmy^the goii alle bese kuyjtes,
They an go to Toke bey be cheynes & to J>e watwr turnen, 355
the chains to Uie* ^- n< ^ spoken vp be cheynes ber sterten vp be swannes ;
swans ~Eche on chese to his & turnen to her kynde :
Each choosing
his own, turns to j} u t on was a l w aye a swanne for losse of his cheyne.
his human form.
AII but one. He, Hit was doole for to se be sorowe bat he made;
for want of his
chain, remained He bote hym self with his bylle bat alle his breste
always a swan. 11 u QCf
bledde,
345. by jjat = by that time. has turneden in this place ; but not in
353. fysh hole = ' as sound as a 1. 355.
roach,' as we say. chese to his = chose his own.
356. shoken. Sic in MS. The former 358. alwaye. Sic in MS. Edition of
edition has stroken, 1820 has always.
357. turnen. The former edition
THEY ARE CURISTENED. 19
^[ And alle his feyre federes foniede vpon blode,
And alle formerknes be watw ber be swanne swyra-
methe :
There was ryche ne pore bat my^te for rewthe, 'Twas sad to see
Lengere loke on hym but to be courte wenden. 364
The/me fiey formed a fonte & cristene fie children ; They christen tie
And callen Yryens bat on and Oryens another,
Assakarye be thrydde & gadyfere fie fowrthe ;
The fyfte hette rose for she was a mayden ; 368
The sixte was fulwedde cheuelere assygne.
And fus ]?e botenynge of god brow^te hem to honde . ; . so by God's help
they were
restored.
. ; . EXPLICIT . j .
362. formerknes. If this is v. land -en.
intr., and governed by the sb. water, 366. The names of the children in
it should have been by rights former- the French poein are Orions, Orient,
keneth ; but if it is pi. and tr. governed Zacharlas, Jehan, and llosette.
by federes, it has borrowed the North- 369. was fulwedde = had been bap-
em -es termination instead of the Mid- tized already.
21
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
ABBREVIATIONS.
Adj.
= Adjective.
oy.
= Objective.
Adv.
= Adverb.
O.E.
= Old English, A. D. 500
Allit.
= Early Engl. Alliterative
1200.
Poems.
ff.
= Perfect.
Art.
= Article.
PI.
= Plural.
Comp.
= Comparative.
P.pt.
= Past Participle.
Conj.
= Conjunction.
Pers.
= Personal.
Cp.
= Compare.
Pass.
= Possessive.
Dem.
= Demonstrative.
Prep,
= Preposition.
Fern.
= Feminine.
Pron.
= Pronoun.
Fr.
= French.
Mefl.
= Reflexive.
Gen.
= Genesis and Exodus.
Rel.
= Relative.
Germ.
= German.
Sb.
= Substantive.
Imp.
= Imperative.
Sc.
= Scottish.
Imp. pt.
= Imperfect Participle.
Sing.
= Singular.
Int.
= Interjection.
Tr.
= Transitive.
Intr.
= Intransitive.
V.
= Verb.
Wm. = William of Palerne.
A, inter j. = Ah, 71, 82, 250,
255, 260.
A, art. 5, 6, &c. Perhaps as a
numeral one, 157, 165.
A, prep. = in, or on ; O.E. & 0.
Sc. An. In 1. 79 it means at.
Abbot, sb. 265.
Abowte, prep. 44, 126.
Abulle, adj. = fit, proper, able,
289.
Adowne, adv. =down, 21, 88,
101, 114; adown, 190,297.
Affye, sb. = trust, 10.
Afore, adv. = in front, 228.
Aftur, prep. = along, 321; for,
or in quest of, 46, 129, 153, 342 ;
in accordance with, 13, 238 ; adv.
= afterwards, 54, 80, 258, 271,
276 ; behind, 322.
Alle, adj. 43, 67, 98, &c.; adv. 15.
Alle-weldinge, adj. = Almighty,
1. O.E. Eal-wealdende.
Allewey. See Alwaye.
Allone, adj. = alone, 184.
22
GLOSSARIAL IXDEX.
Als, conj. also, 91.
Also, conj. 218.
Alwaye, adv. 358 ; allewey, 305.
An, art. 5, 331, &c.
And, conj. 8, 18, &c. = an, if,
139.
Angelle, sb. 192, 193, 221.
Anon, adv. 85 ; anone, 68, 190,
258.
Another, adj. 268, 301, 366.
Ar, 3d pi. pres. ind. of v. Be, 82.
Armed, p. pt. of arm, v. tr. 283.
Armes, sb.pl. 262.
Armour, si. 280.
Aryse, v. intr. Idsing. imper. 77,
303.
As, conj. 7, 19, &c. =as though,
53.
Aske, v. tr. 128, 171 ; 3d sing.
pf. askede, 130, 192 ; asskede, 210;
p. pt. asked, 131.
Askes, sb. pi. = ashes, 344.
Asseylde, 3d sing. pf. ind. of
asseyle, v. tr. 145.
Assygne =Fr. an cygne, 11, &c.
Assygyned, p. pt. of assign, v. tr.
188.
At, prep. 23, 60, 98.
Aw^te, sb. =. aught, 204.
Ajeyne, adv. = again, 93, 104,
137,177,343; a^eyn, 123.
Badde. See Bid.
Bakke, sb. = back, 291, 293.
Balowe, adj. O.E. Bealu, or
Bealo ; Balo or Ba lu = deadly,
233, 344, strong (?) 317.
Banke, sb. 132.
Barmeteme, sb. 103. This is the
O.E. Bearnteme, and is miswritten
for barnteme = brood, progeny,
from barne = child, bairn ; and
teme, or teem (O.E. teman) = to
produce, bring forth. See Gen.
954 and 3903. In Chalmers's Life
of James 1. (prefixed to his 'Poetic
Remains of the Scottish kings,'
1824), p. 15, he writes, "The Act
of the former session was renewed
in this ; requiring the clergy to
pray for the king, for the queen,
and their Bairntime, which is now
explained to mean, ' the children
produced between them.'"
Bathe, v. tr. 263.
Bare, 3d sing. pf. ind. of bear, v.
tr. 325, 348.
Be, v. intr. 17, 37, 80 ; 3d pi. pres.
subj. bene (O.E. beon\ 188; 3d
stuff, subj. 100, 302.
Bedde, sb. 33, 161.
Beetheth. See Beta
Befalle, v. intr. 204.
Bene. See Be, v. intr.
Bere, v. tr. 3d sing. ind. bereth,
297; 3d sing. pf. 196. See also
Bare, p. pt. borne, 23, 41.
Berthe. See Byrthe.
Beste, sb. =. beast, 214; beeste,
218, 288.
Beste, adj. 68, 285.
Bete, v. tr. O.E. betan = to pre
pare, to kindle (said of fire); 3d
sing. pres. ind. beetheth, 157 ; p-
pt. bette, 224.
Bete, v. tr. = beat ; imp. pt.
betynge, 227-
Beteche, v. tr. See By take, 312.
Bette. See Bete.
Better, adj. 49, 175 ; bettur,
adv. 97.
Betyde, v. intr. 103.
Betynge. See Bete.
Bid, v. tr. 3d sing. pf. badde,
156, 172, 248, 263 ; 3d 'sing. pres.
byddyth, 262.
Bledde, 3d sing. pf. of bleed, v.
intr. 360.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
23
Blente, p. pt. of blind, v. tr.
O.E. blendian, 325.
Bletliely, adv. = blithely, cheer
fully, '278.
Blode, sb. = blood, 361.
Blythe, adj. 154.
Body, sb. 244.
Book, 6. 7, 270.
Borne. See Bere, v. tfr.
Bote, 3d sing. pf. of bite, v. tr.
360.
Botenning, S?A = remedy, succour,
370 ; from boteu, v. tr. formed from
bote = remedy, from O.E. gebetan
= to mend.
Bothe, conj. 20, 79 ; adj. 135.
Bounden, p. pt. of bind, v. tr.
291.
Boy, sb. 260 ; poss. boyes, 263.
Bowethe, 3d sing. pres. ind. of
bow, v. tr. 335 ; bowethe hym,
265 = turneth him, goeth.
Breke, v. tr. O.E. brecan ; 3d
sing. pr#s. brekethe, 157 ; \xt sing,
pf. ind. breke (now brake, or broke),
165.
Brenne, v. tr. = burn, 68, 241 ;
pf brente, 344 ; p. pt. brente, 80 ;
intransitively, 191, 224.
Breste, sb. 297, 360 ; pi. brestes,
241.
Breste, v. inter. = burst, 317.
Broode, adj. = broad, 297.
Browne, adj. 344.
Browjte, 3d sing. pf. of bring, v.
tr. 41, 49, 343, 370.
BrydeUe, sb. 229, 292, 341.
Brynge, v. tr. 2d sing. imp. 203.
Bry^t, adj. = bright, 8 ; bryjte,
298.
Busk, v. tr. = prepare, make
ready ; 3d sing. pf. ind. buskede,
172; p.pt. buskedde, 233.
But, conj. 15, 17, &c. = except,
38 ; only, 242.
By, prep. 196, 348; = of, con
cerning, 5 ; at, about, 84, 143,
205; through, 85, 216, adv.=
near, 109.
Bycche, sb. =. bitch, 62.
Bydeste = abidest, 256, 2d sing,
ind. of byde, v. Mr.
Byddynge, sb. =. command, 85.
Byddyth. See Bid.
Byfore, .prep. = before, 23, 64,
110, 124, &c., before, 114.
Byforne, adv. = before, 322 (Wm.
biforn. Gen. biforeri).
Bygyleth, p. pt. of beguile, v. tr.
(for beguiled), 78.
Byginne, v. tr. 3d sing. pres. ind.
bygynnethe, 76, 246 ; 3d sing. pf.
byganne, 183.
Byhelde, 3d sing. pf. of byhold =
behold; 21.
Bylefte, p. pt. of byleve, or be-
leave = abandon, 240.
Bylle, sb. = bill, 360.
Byrafte, 3d sing. pf. ind. of by-
reave or bereave. O.E. bereafian ;
199, 351.
Byrthe, sb. birth, 23, 40, 291 ;
berthe, 65.
Byside, adv. = beside. 149.
Bytake (or bitake) = betake, com
mit, deliver. O.E. betoecan ; 3d
sing. pres. ind. bytakethe, 151 ;
bytaketh. 173 ; p.pt. bytaken, 163;
cp. Gen. 212.
Call, v. tr. 3d pi. pres. indie.
callen, 366 ; kallen, 292, 296 ; 3d
pi. pf. called, 46 ; kallede, 270 ; 2?
sing. imp. kalle, 204 ; p. pt. called,
289 ; kalled, 6, 231.
Caste, v. tr. 52 ; 3d pi. pres. ind.
caste, 88 ; 1st sing. pf. caste, 167 ;
3d sing, caste, 63.
Cawsed, 3d sing. pf. ind. of
cause, v. tr. 39
24
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Certeyne, adj. = certain, 253.
Charde, v. intr. = care, 329.
Charge, sb. concern, 235.
Chaste, sb. chest, 127. See
Note.
Chaunce, sb. 123.
Chefe, sb. = chief, 11.
Cherye, sb. = cherry, 329.
Chese, 3d sing. pf. of choose.
Used with the prep, to, 357.
Cheualere, sb. 11,333; cheuelere,
369.
Cheuelrye, sb. miswritten for
cheuelere, 328.
Cheuene, v. tr. quasi chiefen =
to rule over, 16.
Cheuerynge, imp. pt. of cheuer
or cbyuer, q. v.
Cheyne, *6. 43, 125, 137, 146,
148, 150, 157, 164, 165, 176, 179,
199, 351,
Choppe, v. tr. 330.
Chylde, sb. = child, 16, 29, &c.
With chylde, 35 ; pi. chylderen,
23, 82, 93; chyldren, 107, 122,
130, &c. ; children, 143 ; childeren,
347.
Chyuer, v. intr. = shiver , 3d
pi. pf. chyuered, 107 5 imp. pt.
cheuerynge, 107. Cp. Morte Arthur
(Line.) 1. 3392.
Clene, adj. 174.
Clensen, v. tr. = to cleanse, 247.
Close, sb. = an enclosed field, or
space of ground, 272.
Clothe, 6*. = cloth, 97.
Colde, sb. 107.
Combred (p. pt. of combre (cum
ber) = to trouble) = miserable, 71.
Come, v. intr. 38 ; com, 248 ;
Zd sing. pres. indie, comeste, 51 ;
3d sinq. comethe, 109 ; pf. come,
64, 110, 142, 151, 173, 183, 208,
228, 248 ; Kome, 113, 346; p. pt.
comen, 154.
Confounde, v. tr. 75.
Countes, sb. = countess, 269.
Counselle, sb. 50.
Courte, sb. 53, 123, 163, 203;
cowrte, 150, 155, &c.
Cowche, sb. = bed, 45.
Cowpe, sb. = cup, 153, 164, 173,
&c.
Crafte, sb. =. business, 313.
Criste, 104; Cryste, 111.
Cristen, v. tr. = christen, 266 ;
3d pi. pres. ind. cristene, 365 ; p.
pt. cristened, 203, 275.
Crosse, sb. 281.
Crowne, sb. 237.
Croyse, sb. = cross, 328-9 ; croys,
332.
Cry, v. intr. 3d sing. pres. ind.
cryethe, 81 ; 3d pi. pf. cryedde,
106 ; cryde, 108 ; cryede, 111.
Cuppe, sb. 160, 168.
Cursed, p. pt. of curse, v. tr. 38,
145 ; used adjectively, cursede,
142 ; cursedde, 121.
Curteynesse, sb. = courteousness,
179.
Dame, sb. 69, 73, 125, 132, 250.
Damme, sb. = mother, 61.
Dare, v. intr. 1st sing. pres. ind.
27 ; 3^ sing. pf. durste, 56 ; pi. 147.
Day, sb. 188, 191, 208.
Dedde. See Done.
Dede, sb. = deed, 274.
Deepe, adv. 86.
Delyuered, p. pt. of delyuer, v.
tr. 37, 180; 3d sing. pf. 155, 178.
Deseruethe, 3d sing. pres. of de
serve, v. tr. 72.
Deth, sb. 100; dethe, 138, 182,
186.
Do, v. tr. 139 ; done, 238 ; 3d
sing. pf. 172 ; 2d sing, imper. do,
138 p.pt. don, 235.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
25
Dole, sb. = sorrow, compassion,
131 ; doole, 359.
Dolefulle, adj. 106.
Dome, sb. = doom, 186 ; pi.
domus, 91.
Dore, sb. 60, 87.
Down, adv. 305, 334, 335.
Dowjter, sb. = daughter, 42.
Draw, v. tr. O.E. dragon (in
transitively used, as in the phrase
' Draw near ') ; 3d sing, and pi.
drowj, 33 ; and drowse, 37, 114,
161.
Drow3e = drew (Gen. 1. 2360,
dragen. O.E. drog). See Draw.
Drye, v. tr. (O.E. dreogan. Gen.
drec/en ; Allit. dry^e) = to dree, to
suffer, 343.
Dryue, v. tr. dryue out = bring
out, ascertain, 259.
Dubbede, 3d sing. pf. ind. 276.
Durste. See Dare.
Dwellest, 2d sing. pres. ind. of
dwell, v. intr. 201 ; 3d sing. pf.
dwellede, 13.
Dymine, adj. = dim, dark, 86.
Dynte, sb. 138.
Eche, adj. =each, 31, 44, 126;
each a, O.E. ilka = each, every,
187.
Edder, sb. = adder, 331.
Eggelynges, adv. = edgelings,
edgewise, with the edge (O.E. Ecg.
= edge), 305.
Eke, adv. = also, 180.
Elles, adv. = else (Allit.
74, 215, 290 ; ellis, 30.
Elleven, adj. 89.
Ende, sb. 40, 240 ; v. tr. 330.
Enforme, v. tr. 212.
Er, prep. = ere, before, 70.
Erie, sb. 268.
Erthe, sb. 320.
Etethe, 3d sing. pres. 'ind. of etc
(eat), 290.
Euen, 243, 334.
Euur ever, 222, 322.
Eyther = each, 220, 318, 320.
Fader, sb. = father, 90, 212, 219 ;
poss. fader, 203.
Fallethe, p. pt. of. fall = failed,
310. Perhaps miswritten forfeited;
which is the more likely, as the p.
pt. onfall ought to befallen ; while
fell would make felled. We say,
however, sometimes, ' To fall tim
ber.'
False, adj. 257 ; fals, 239.
Faste, adv. 141, 223, 227, 304,
309, 342.
Fastened, p. pt. of fasten, v. tr.
319.
Fayre, adj. 90; feyre, 217, 266,
275, 361,
Febull, adj. = sad, bad, 58 ; used
substantioely, 76.
Feder, sb. = feather ; pi. federes,
361.
Felawe, sb. = fellow, 258.
Felde, sb. = field, 223, 319.
Felle, adj. = severe, stern, cruel,
239.
Felle, pf. of fall, v. intr. 110,
114; 3d pi. 148 ; = befell, 130.
Felly, adv. = sternly, cruelly,
fiercely, 76, 225. The word is
used by Spenser.
Fende, sb. = fiend, devil, 120;
fend, 240.
Fere, sb. =. companion, 325.
Fersly, adv. = fiercely, 342.
Ferther, adv. (comp.) = further,
127.
Fete, sb. (pi. of foot) 303, 323.
Fette, p. pt. of fette, v. tr. =
fetch, 279.
26
GLO3SAIUAL INDEX.
Fey tli, ab. 48; fey the, 121, 130,
142.
Find, v. ir. p. pt. fownden, 239 ;
Rising, indie, fyndes, 305.
Flesh, sb. 310.
Fleye, 3d pi. pf. of fly, v. intr. 319.
Flowen, 3d pi. pf. of the same,
148 ( Allit. /OK*?; Gen. flogen).
Folke, sb. 187, 223.
Folowe, v. tr. 2d sing, impcr.
310 ; '3d sing. pres. ind. foloweth,
116, 342.
Fomede, 3d pi. pf. ind. of fome
(foam), v. intr. 361.
Fonte, sb. 267, 365.
For, conj. 3, 5, &c. ; prep. 15,
29, 49, &c.
Foreste, sb. 95.
Forge, v. tr. 153.
Forlonge, sb. = furlong, 228.
Formed, 3d pi. pf. of form, v. tr.
365 ; p. pt. formeth = formed, 200,
209.
Formerken, v. intr. = darken ;
3d sing, indie, formcrknes, 362.
See Note.
Forsette, v. tr. = beset, entrap,
betray, 251. O.E. forsettan. Cp.
Allit. B. 78.
Forsothe, ado. 18, 195, 242.
Forsworn,^?, pt. of forswear, v. tr.
199 ; forsworne, 351.
206, 275. Cp. Allit. 1>. 162 ; Win.
124.
Freshe, adj. 258.
Fro, prep. 113, 148, 159, 298,
328.
Frusch, v. intr. (properly tr. =.
strike. Fr. froisser) but liere
rush ; 3d sing. ind. fruschetb, 332.
Fulfylde, p. pt. of fulfylle (fulfil),
206.
Fulle, adv. 12, 54, 69, 113, 141,
&c.
Fulwen, v. tr. = baptize. O.E.
fultcian ; p. pt. fulwedde, 369.
Furrc, comp. of fur = further,
311.
Fyfte, adj. = fifth, 368.
Fyiides. See Find, v. tr.
Fyre, *6. 224, 233, 332, 345 ;
fyer, 159, 165, 167, 344.
Fyrste, adj. 51, 58 ; adv. 80.
Fysh, sb. = fish, 353.
Fyue, numeral adj. 159 ; fyve,
167.
, v. intr. = fight, 200, 209,
212, 245, 259 ; sb. 273.
Gader, v. intr. = gather ; imp.
pt. gadcrynge, 223.
Gete, v. tr. = get, 261 ; 3d slny.
pf. bid. gette (properly jet or jat),
34 ; Id sing, imper. gete, 137.
Forthe, adv. 52, 60, 75, &c. i Gladdenes, sb. 57.
Fortb, 176.
Forthy, adv. = wherefore, 218
(O.E.).
Fostere, sb. = forester, 120.
Fowle, adj. 40, 239.
Fownden. See Find.
Fowre, numeral adj. = four, 95.
Fowrth, adj. = fourth, 367.
Fraptc, pf. of frap = strike, 332.
Frcly, adj. = lordly, noble, 218,
Go, v. intr. 3d sing. pres. ind.
gootbe, 157; 3d pi. gon, 354; p.
pt. go, 143.
God, sb. 1, 40, &c. ; pass, godde?,
206, 219.
Godfader, sb. 267.
Godmoder, sb. 269.
Goldsmy^te, sb. 153, 157, 354;
goldsmythe, 352.
Good, adj. 130, 289.
Grace, sb. 302, 339.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Graunt, v. tr. =. grant ; Id sing.
pf. ind. grauntethe, 278 ; 3d sing.
grannted, 389, 246.
Grete, adj. great, 83 ; gret, 264.
Grownde, sb. 302.
Grymme, adj. black, dark, 51 ;
sad, 189. Cp. Allit. A. 1069.
Grypte, 3d sing. pf. of gryp, v.
tr. 220.
Gynnyth, 3d sing. pres. ind. of
gynne, v. (begin), 66.
Hadde. See Haue.
Halen, v. tr. = to haul ; 3d pi.
indie, haleune, 280.
Halfe, si. 165; = side, behalf,
219.
Haluendele = half-deal = half,
176 ; halvendelle, 160.
Ham, pers. pron. obj. = them,
152.
Happe, sb. = hap (good), 324.
Harm, sb. 235 ; harme, 3.
Harnes, sb. = armour, 278 ; har-
neys, 337.
Hast. See Haue.
Hatefulle, adj. 141.
Hath. See Haue.
Haue, v. tr. 120 ; 1st sing. pres.
ind. 70, 353 ; 2d sing, hast, 78 ;
haste, 194, 251, 310; 3d sing.
hath, 128 ; 3d pi. haue, 79 ; 3d
sing. pf. hadde, 16, 44, 47 ; 1st
sing.pf. subj. 181; %d sing. 53; p.
pt. hadde, 79.
Hawberke, sb. 296.
He, pers. pron. 2, 13, &c.
Hedde, sb. = head, 27, 217, 257 ;
hede, 295 ; heede, 311.
Heelde. See Holden, v. tr.
Heete (or Hete), v. tr. = tell;
1st sing. pres. indie. 18.
Hele, sb. = pleasure, advantage,
324. O.E.ffe?/= health.
Hello, sb. 10.
Helme = helmet, sb. 296, 306,
338.
Helpe, sb. 118, 247, 273.
Helpe, v. tr. 50 ; 3d sing. pres.
subj. 70.
Hem, pron. = 'em, them ; 19,
20, 44, 45, 52, 83, 96, 97, 101,
102, 104, 109, 110, 112, 114119,
126, 129, 133, 134, 138, 148, 151,
152, 159, 169, 190, 194, 196, 199,
316, 318320, 348, 351.
Hemselfen = themselves, 20.
Hente, v. tr. = seize, take ; 3dpL
pf. ind. hente, 85 ; p. pt. hente, 3.
Her, poss. pron. fern. 10, 32, 340,
341.
Her, pers. pron. fern. obj. 23, 35,
38, 47, 68, 70, 73, 85, 176, 262.
Her, adv. =here, in this place, 77.
Her = their. See Here.
Here, pou. pron. fern. = her, 171,
182, 240, 255.
Here, pers. pron. fern. obj. = her,
15, 32, 34, 8688, 126, 131, 135,
151, 153, 189, 190, 226, 342344.
Here, poss. pron. pi. = their, 126,
220, 235, 274, 315, 321 ; her, 105,
199, 327.
Here, v. tr. =. hear, 57 ; 1st sing,
pf. ind. herde, 213; 3d sing. 55,
58, 108 ; 3d sing, imper. 131.
Here, sb. = hair ; pi. heres, 255.
Heremyte, sb. 115, 221 ; hermyto,
109, 192, 201.
Herseluen = herself, 47.
Herte, sb. (Germ, herz) = heart,
18, 189, 263, 334.
Hette, 3d sing. pres. indie. = is
called, 232 ; 3d sing. pf. hette, 7 ;
hy;te, 9. (O.E. Aatanto be
called.)
His, poss. pron. masc. 2, 8, 36,
&c. ; hys, 135.
Hit, pers. pron. neut. 30, 72, 74,
&c.
28
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Iloklcn, v. ti: = to hold, 1G9 ;
3d staff, pf. ind. licelde, 152 ; 2<7
sinff. iniper. liolde, 127 ; p. pf.
liolde = accounted, 70.
Hole, sb. 294.
Hole, adj. = whole, 353.
Hollye, adv. = wholly, 160, 168,
181.
Holy, aJj. 109, 265.
Honde, sb.= hand, 2, 41, 152,
158, 104, ICO, 174, 220, 255, 287,
300, 315, 370.
Hondredde = hundred, 255.
Honged, 3d sing. pf. of hongen,
or hangen = bang, 18.
Hors, si. = horse, 213, 289 ; pi.
horses, 321.
Houe, v. intr. ==. to abide still, to
hover, to wait, 288. Cp. Allit. B.
927; and Lancelot, 99G.
How, adv. 26, 31, &c.
Hownde, sb.pl. howndes, 79, 234.
Hy, a#. = high, 326; hye, 217;
by}, 224; hy$e, 280; on hy3e =
aloud,
llylyde, 3d sing, pf. of hylen =
hele = cover, 102.
Hym, pers. pron. masc. obj. =
him, 4, 24, &c.
Hym for Hem = them, 52.
Hynde, sb. 113, 116.
Hytte, v. tr. 300.
Hy^e, adj. See Hy.
Hy^e, v. intr. =* hie, go, 139;
reft. 3d sinff. pf. hyed bym, 141.
Hy^nes, sb. = highness, 4.
Hy^te = was called. See Hette.
I, pers. pron. 5, 18, &c.
If, row/. 192.
In, prep. 4, 5, &c.
Is, 3d sing, pres. ind. of Be, v.
intr. 1, 26, &c.
\i, pers. pron. neut. 1, 12, &c.
Joyc, sb. 246.
Juge = judge, 236. See Note.
Railed, &c. See Call.
Kan, v. tr. can, i. e. know ; 1st
sinff. pres. ind. kan, 311,313; 2d
sing, kanste, 212 ; 1st sing. pf.
kowthe = knew, 313.
Kawjte, 3d sing, pf, ind. of
catch, 287 ; in 1. 62 it = snatched.
Cp. 'caught up.'
Keene, adj. 183; used adverbial?//.
Kenely, adv. 309.
Kepe, v. tr. = keep, 50 ; 3d sivg.
pf. ind. kepte, 117, 174; 2d ti*ff.
impcr. kepe, 328.
Keste, 3d sing. pf. indie, of cast,
97.
Knee, sb. pi. knees, 110.
Knowe, v. tr. 97 ; 1st sing. pres.
ind. 309, 352; 2rf sing, knoweste,
251 ; 3d sing. pf. knewe, 49.
Knyfe, sb. 62.
Kny3te, sb. = knight, 258, 276,
287, 289 ; pi. ki^tes, 354.
Kome. Sec Come.
Kowarde, sb. 71.
Kowth. See Kan.
Kylled, 3d sing. pf. of kylle
(kill) j v. tr. 62.
Kynde, sb. (kind) = nature, con
dition, 71, 276; kin, family. 11.
Cp. Gen. 650.
Kyngc, " sb. 7, 20, &c. ; poss.
kynges, 195.
Kyrtelle, sb. 294.
Ladde. See Lead, v. tr. Spenser
uses this inflection, F. Q., I. i. 4 :
' a milke white lamb she lad.'
Lady, sb. 82, 89, 92, 191.
Lafte. See Leve, v. tr.
Langour, sb. = languor, 15, 57,
92.
Lappe, sb. 257.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
29
Lappe, v. tr. = wrap ; 3d sing,
pf. lappcde, 102 ; p, pt. lapped,
132 ; lappedde, 101.
Lassche, v. tr. = strike (lash out
= kick) ; 3d sing pres. ind. lassch-
eth, 323.
Laste, adj. 240.
Launce, sit. 300.
Launce, v. tr. = launce, dart,
throw ; 3d sing. prcs. ind. launces,
323.
Laye. See Lye, v. intr.
Lead, v. tr. 3d sing. pf. ind.
laddc, 287.
Lefe, adj. = dear, 82.
Lefte, pf. of leve, q. v.
Lefte, 3d sing. pf. ind. of lift
(O.E. Lefari), 45.
Lende, v. intr. a form of long =
tarry, abide ; p. pt. lente, ' was
lente,' 1. 5 = dwelt. Cp. Allit. B.
1084, ' \ra$t lent.'
Lcndeth, 3d sing. pres. ind. of
lend, v. tr. 99.
Lene, v. tr. = lend, grant, 277,
284; p. pt. lente, 112,339.
Leng, v. intr. = tarry, dwell ; 3d
sing. pres. ind. lengeth, 4.
Lengur, adv., comp. of long, 77,
112, 303 ; lengere, 3G4.
Lente. See Lende, v. intr. ; and
Lene, v. tr.
Lepte, 3d sing. pf. ind. of lepe
(leap), v. intr. 254.
Let, v. tr. = allow, cause ; 3d
sing. pf. ind. lette, 24, 190; M
fiiiif/. imper. lette, 187 ; lete, 307 ;
2rf sing. svbj. lete, 52.
Leue, v. tr. = believe, allow, 28,
133 ; leeue, 242.
Leue, v. tr. = leave ; 1st sing. pf.
ind. lafte, 133: 3d sing. 17, 221 ;
\nl pi. imper. leue, 92 ; 3d pi. pres.
ind. leuen, 87. Also intransitively
=. remain ; 3d sing. pf. ind. lefte,
175 ; leued, 255.
Leues, si), pi. of L-fe (leaf), 119.
Ley. See Lye, v. intr.
Leyde, 1st sing. pf. ind. of lay ;
v. tr. 165 ; 3d sing. 87, 101, 159,
338.
Leyne, v. tr. = grant, requite,
reward, 99.
Lofe, sb. = love, 15.
Loke, v. intr. =. look, 3G4 ; 3d
sing. pf. ind. loked, 21 ; 3d sing,
imper. looke, 52 ; loke, 203, 300.
Lokke, sb. of a door, 87 ; of hair,
254; pi. lokkes, 338.
Londe, sb. = land, G, 181, 231 ;
pi. londis, 16.
Longe, adj. 95, 299 ; adv. 47,
185.
Lorde, sb. 5, 36, 70, &c.
Lordeles, adj. = having no lord,
or sovereign, 17.
Losse, sb. 358.
Lothe, adj. 249 ; loth, 48.
Loue, sb. 36.
Loue, v. tr. 14.
Louely, adv. 98.
Lowde, adj. 225.
Lowely, ado. = meekly, humbly,
36, 339.
Low^e, 3d pi. pf. indie, of laje,
v. intr. = laugh, 98.
Lye, v. intr. 257 ; 3d sing. pf.
ind. lay, 57, 207; laye, 76; 3d pi.
ley, 98 ; imp. pt. lyyinge, 133.
Lyf, sb. = lifo, 17; lyfe, 112,
335.
Lyfe, v. intr. = live, 54.
Lyfte, v. tr. 299.
Lyke, v. like, 54 (see Note),
140 ; 3d sing. pres. ind. lykes, 134;
lyketh, 73.
Lykynge, sb. = liking, 13.
Lyme,6^. = liiub ; pi. lymes, 217.
Lyonys, pi. of lyon ; sb. 214.
30
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
LytuUc, adj. 242.
Lyue, v. intr. = live ; 3d sing.
jtf. ind. lyuede, 89.
Lyue, sb. life, 140.
Lyuinge, adj. = living, 256.
Lyjtly, adv. = lightly, 303.
Made. ,, ,
{ See Make.
Maden. )
Make, v. tr. 3d sing. pres. ind.
maketh, 267; 3d sine), pf. made,
9, 83, 90, 135, 359; 3d pi. maden,
314.
Man, sb. 46, 108, &c. ; manne,
29; poss. mannes, 273; pi. men,
79, 94 ; menne, 285.
Mantelle, sb. 101, 105, 132.
Many, adj. 31, 34, &c.
Marre, sb. = mar, v. tr. 261.
Mater, sb. = matter, 216.
May, 1st sing. pres. ind. of mo we
= to be able = can, 74, 295 ; 2d
n>ig. 50, 54 ; also mayste, 249.
Mayden, sb. 368.
Me, indeterm. pron. (Germ, man ;
Pr. on) 30.
Me, pers. pron. obj. 70, 261.
Mene, v. tr. mention ; 3d sing,
pf. ind. menede, 124.
Mengynge, sb. = mingling, twist
ing, 125. Prom menge, v. tr^,
mix.
Meruelows, adj. (used adverbially)
185.
Merueyle, sb. 125.
Mcsure, sb. 171.
Mete, sb. = meat, 88, 144.
Moche, adj. = much, 9, 39, 102,
136 ; su/jstantively, 184.
Moder, sb. = mother, 9, 39, 59,
180,200,205, 209, 210.
Mone, sb. = moan, 83, 136.
Mony,#. 90, 124, 271.
More, adj. 88, 125, 171.
Morn, sb. morning, 183.
Morne, v. intr. =. mourn, 66.
Morwe, sb. =. morrow, 1 72.
Most, v. = must, 2d sing, ind.
of mot, 50, 206; Msing. 136, 206.
See Mote.
Moste, ado. 285.
Mote, 3d sing. pres. subj. of
mot, 120. The word has in this
phrase an optative force. See Most.
Mowthe, sb. = mouth, 292.
Multiplycth, 3d sing. pres. ind.
of multiply ; v. inlr. 158.
Murdered, p. pt. of murder, v.
tr. 340.
Murther, v. tr. 94, 129.
My, poss. pron. 27, 78, 82, 100,
&c
Mydday, sb. 205.
Myle, sb. 95.
Myne, 2^oss. pron. 181.
Mysfare, v. inlr. = go wrong, 238.
Myskarye, v. intr. = miscarry,
260.
Myssede, 3d sing. pf. ind. of
mysse (miss), v. tr, 83.
My^te = might, 1st sing. pf. ind.
of mowe, or mowen, v. 134; 3f/
sing. 14, 247, 363 ; 1st pi. 3.
Name, sb. 204, 270.
Nay, inter j. 28.
Ne = not, 3, 147.
Heltke, sb. 297, 337.
Nere, prep. = near, 38.
Nere, v. ne were, 4.
Neuur, adv. = never, 202, 216.
Neythur, adv. 253 : sb. 306.
No, adj. 16, 38, 77.
None = no one, 127, 216: atfj.
250.
GLOSSA.RIAL INDEX.
31
Noryscheth, 3d sing. pres. ind.
of norysch (nourish) ; v. tr. 118.
Not, adv. 28.
Nother, conj. = nor, 253.
No we, adv. 35-1.
Now^te, sb. = nought, 53.
Noyse, sb. 225.
Nojt, adv. = not, 236, 295 ;
no^te, 74.
Nc^the, s&. = nought, 290 ;
now^te, 53.
Nykke,y. tr.= refuse, contradict ;
= ne (not), ikke (say) ; cognate
with Latin Neyare. With ikke
compare Gothic Aikan ; Sanskrit
Ah = to say, to speak ; Latin Ajp
(agjo). Cp. also the Sanskrit
Ahum = I, with the O.E. Ic.
Ny$e, adj. = nigh, 100.
Nyjte, sb. = night, 33, 34, 161,
191.
Of, prep. 4, 10, &c. = from, out
of, 2S7;=adv. off, 146,311.
Ofte, adv. 3, 111.
Olde, adj. 163, 227, 243, &c.
On, prep. 34, 207.
On, num. = one, 44, 12G, 143,
249, 295, 297, 299, 357, 358 ; oon,
29, 285.
One, num. 264.
One, adj. = alone, 15, 19.
Ones, adv. = at ones = at once,
98, 196, 272, 348.
On-hyje, adv. = aloud, 25, 64,
106, 234, 346; on 1m, 81 ; on-hy
= up, 326.
Ony, adj. = any, 175, 273.
Oo-lyuynge, adj. = overliving,
eternal, 201.
Oon. See On.
Orysoun, sb. = prayer, 90.
Other, adj. 144, 145, 296, &c. ;
otlmr, 159, 167, 347.
Other, conj. = or (Germ, odcr),
324.
Our, poss. pron. 36, 70, 93, 117.
Out, for drew, or pulled out, 146.
Ouur, adv. = over, 175.
Owne, 2, 14, &c.
Pappe, sb. = breast, 114.
Paye, v. tr. = please, 65.
Peces, pi. of pece (piece), 315.
Pele, v. intr. smite, ' let drive,'
304. Cp. peal (of bells), sb. ; also
pelt, v. Mr Skeat writes, " Per
haps this is an instance of the
word Pelle, which occurs in Have-
lok, and nowhere else, unless it is
here. In Havelok it = drive forth,
go ; and seems to be the Lai.
pellere.
The line in Havelok is,
' Shal ich neuere lengf-r dwelle,
To morwen shall ich forth pelle.'
11. 809-10.
[' I shall stay here no longer,
I shall start off to-morrow !
It answers to our expression, 'go
full drive.' "
Place, sb. 12.
Plesed, p. pt. of plcse (please) ;
v. tr. 274.
Plukke, v. tr. 2d sing, impcr.
304.
Pore, adj. = poor, 22, 26, 363.
Posse, sb. Perhaps mis-written
for Poste, 281.
Prayde, 3d sinrj. pf. ind. of pray ;
v. tr. 2S4; 2d sing. pres. prayeth,
277.
Preste, adj. = ready, 135.
Prestly, adv. = readily, quickly,
277.
Preve, v. tr. = prove, 252.
Price, adj. = worthy, noble, 279.
Comp. YVm. 1. 411.
Prisoun, sb. 80 ; prysoun, 86.
32
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Prowde, adj. 115.
Pulledde, 3d pi. pf. of pulle ; c.
tr. 327.
Puttc, v. tr., 3d sing. pf. ind.
putte, 115 ; putt, 135.
Pyne, sb. = suffering, 92. O.E.
pin ; v. tr. = to make to suffer, to
torment, 26. Q.T&.pinan.
Pytte, sb. = pit, 63.
Quod or quoth, 3d sing. pf. ind.
= said, 71, 99, 169, 214-216,
219, 230, 236, 242, 250, 256, 260,
288, 289, 290, 312, 328-29, 336,
352. O.E. cw(E%, of Cwe%an = to
say.
Qwene, sb. =. queen, 8, 14, &c.
Eaunges^sS. pi. = lists, 314, 321.
Cp. 'ringes' in Sir Eglamore, 1.
1121, Percy folio, p. 382, vol. 2.
Eaw^te (Eaught). See Eeche.
Eeasonabullye, adv. = reason
ably, 34.
Eebukede, 3d sing. pf. of rebuke,
32.
Eeche, v. tr. = reach ; 3d sing,
pres. ind. recheth, 176 ; 3d pi. pf.
rawjten, 316.
Eecke, v. intr. = reck, care ; 3d
sing. pf. ind. row^te, 177 ; 2rf sing,
imper. rekke, 306.
Eede, v. tr. = advise, 222 ; 1st
sing. pros. ind. rede, 169.
Eedresse, v. tr. 205.
Eekke. See Eecke.
Eennen, v. intr. = run, 316 (?);
imp.pt. rennynge, 113 ; 3d pi. pf.
ronnen, 314, 321. Rennene, 316,
may be sb. = rennenge or running,
but is more likely the verb above.
Eeredde, p. pt. of rere (rear) ;
v. tr. 211.
Eeste, v. tr. 77 ; 2d sing, imper.
reste, 303.
Eewede, 3d sing. pf. ind. of rewc
(rue) ; v. tr. = repent, be sorry
for ; used impersonally, 55 ; liym
rcwede = lie was sorry.
Eewfulle, adj. 149.
Eewthe, sb. = ruth, sorrow, 102,
363.
Eing, v. intr., 3d pi. pf. ind.
rongen, 272.
Eongen. See Eing.
Eowte, sb. = crowd, 287.
Eow^te. See Eekke, v. intr.
Eyche, adj. 271, 306, 363.
Eydethe, 3d sing. pres. ind. of
ryde (ride); v. intr. 341; rydinge,
. p. ft. 228.
Eyuer, sb. 198 ; ryuere, 149,
350 ; pass, ryueres, 132.
, adj. = right, 222, 236,
336, 352; *b. 259 ; ;;/. 'his mtes,'
283 ; ado. 32, 198, 205, 249.
Ey3[t]lye, adv. = rightly, 236.
Sadde, adj. 119. Perhaps = solid,
massive (Cp. Wm. 1072) ; or else,
and more probably = shed (O.E.
scaden, from scadan, v. tr. Germ.
scheideri). Cp. Gen. 1. 58.
Sadelle, sb. 293.
Safe, adj. 43.
Same, adj. 34.
Saue, v. tr. 91 ; 3d sing. pf. ind.
saued, 91.
Sauinge, sb. 194.
Sawe, sb. = that which is said,
tale, 162, 253. See also Se, v. tr.
Sayde. See Seye.
Saye. See Se, v. tr.
Scharpelye, adv. 301.
Schreden, v. tr. = shred, 307.
Schyuered. See Shyuer.
Se, v. tr. = see, 359 ; 3d sing.
pres. ind. seeth, 223 ; \st sing. pf.
saye, 5 ; seyie, 216; 3d sing, sey},
22 ; sy^e, 202 ; sawe, 61 310 ; 3d
sitig. imper. se, 26 ; used with prep.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
33
of, G5 ; Ixl slug. pres. sulj. 74; p.
pt. sene, 53.
Seche, v. tr. = seek ; 2d sing.
i,:iper. sechc, 53 ; 3d si tiff. j>f. ind.
sow^t.e, 00. Used intransitively in
both places, in the sense of To be
take oneself, go.
Seke, v. tr. = seek, 144.
Selfo, 73.
Selfen or Selven = self, and
selves, 20, 47.
Seiner = silver, 43 ; seluerc, 125.
Semelye, adj. = seemly, 42.
Sende, v. tr. Ill ; 3d sing. pres.
ind. sendethe, 88, 118 ; sendeth,
193 ; 3d sinq. pf. sente, 46, 129,
153.
Serue, v. tr., -intransitively =^ be
of use. 202 ; 3d sing. pres. ind.
scruethe, 218 ; p. pt. serued, 47;=
deserve, p. pt. serued, 186- seru-
ethe, 194.
Seruyse, sb. = pay for service, 178.
Sethen. See Sythen
Sette, v. tr. = set, 73.
Seuenetb, adj. = seventh, 42.
Seuenne, numeral adj. = seven,
61.
Sex, numeral adj. =. six, 42, 144,
347. See also Six.
Sexte, adj. sixth, 160; sixte,
168, 369.
Seyde. See Seye, v. tr.
Seyc, v. tr. say, 74 ; sey, 213;
3d sing. ind. pres. seyth, 252 ;
seythe, 162, 245 ; 3d pi. seyn, 217;
3d sing. pf. sayde, 25 ; seyde, 28,
50, 64, 67-8,77, 82, 127, 131, 177,
193, 197,208,213, 346, 349.
Sey} and Sey^e. See Se, v. tr.
Shafte, sb. 301.
Shake, v. tr. 3d pi. pf. ind.
shoken, 356.
Shall e, v. 1st sing. pres. ind. 75,
78, 139, 212, 239, 261, 288, 299,
330; 2d *ig. shalt, 5i, SO, 238,
260; 3d sing. pf. sholde, 94, 129,
202, 224, 282; shulde, 37, 96,
103,191; 3d pi. sholde, 12.
Shanke, sb., pi. shankes, 32G.
She, pers. pron. 10, 26, &c.
' Shelde, sb. shield, 281, 298,
331.
Shene, adj. = shining, beautiful,
8 ; sheene, 298.
Shoken. See Shake, v. tr.
Sholde = should. See Shalle.
Sholder, si. 222, 334.
Shrykede, 3d sing. pf. ind. of
shryke (shriek), 81.
Shulde = should. See Shalle.
Shylde, v. tr. = shield, 298.
Shyuer, v. tr. = smash, splinter ;
3d pi. pf. ind. shyuereden, 315 ;
p. pt. schyuered, 301.
Shyuereden. See Shyuer.
Six, numeral adj. 164, 193. See
Sex.
Sixte, adj. = sixth, 369. See
also Sexte.
Skape, v. intr. = escape, 127.
Sklawndered, p. pt. of sklawnder
(slander) ; v. tr. defame, accuse,
234.
Skorno, sb. 264.
Skylfully, ado. 47.
Slepte, 3d sing. pf. ind. of sleep ;
v. intr. 192.
Slongen, 3d pi. pf. ind. of sling ;
v. tr. = to throw, 86 ; perhaps in
volving the idea of letting down
by ropes ; as we sling horses in a
transport-ship, or as \ve suspend
an arm in a sling.
j Slyppe, v. intr. = slip, 52.
Small, adj. 307, 330.
Smerte, sb. = smart, 308.
Smertlye, adv. smartly, sharply,
318. It is miswritten smerlye in
the MS.
34
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Smytc, v. t>:, 3d sing, pf. ind.
smote, 146, 313; 3d pi. smoten,
327 ; 2</ sing, imper. smyte, 311.
So, adv. 31, 70, 74, 103.
Sokour, sb. = succour, 111.
Somme, adj. = some, 111.
Soinmene, v. tr. = summon, 187.
Sonde, sb. that which is sent,
gift, 36.
Sone, sb. = son, 65, 78, 209,
347 ; soiine, 184, 211.
Soone, adv. 128, 208; sone, 105,
260-61.
Sorowefulle, adj. 91.
Sorwe, sb. = sorrow, 9 ; sorowc,
39, 78, 99, 359.
Sothe, *&. = truth, 18, 67, 131,
133, &c.
Sounde, adj. 43.
Sowke, v. tr. = suck, 115 ; imp.
pi. sowkynge, 61.
Sow3te. See Seche, v.
Speche, sb. 286.
Speke, v. intr. 249 ; 3d sing.
pres. ind. 252.
Spore, sb. = spear, 263, 315.
Spin, v. intr. = rush quickly ; 3d
ting. pres. indie, spynnethe, 331.
It is still used colloquially.
Spring, v. intr., 3d sing. pf. ind.
spronge, 331.
Spronge. See Spring.
Spynnethe. See Spin.
Staffe, sb. 220.
Stalworth, adj. = stalwart, strong,
326.
Stand, v. intr., 3d pi. pf. ind.
stoden, 147.
Stere, v. intr. = stir, move, 147.
Sterte, v. intr. = start ; 3d pi.
pres. indie, sterten, 356 ; '3d pi. pf.
styrte, 326.
Steuenne, sb. = voice, 106, 149.
Stoden. See Stand.
Straw^te. See Stretch.
Stretch, v. intr., 3d pi. pf. ind.
straw^te, 220.
Strike, v. tr., 3d sing. pres. ind.
stryketh, 333 ; also iidrunsitici'l;/
go ; as \ve sav, ' to strike across
a field,' 229.
Stroke, sb. 333 ; pi strokes, 298.
Stryketh. See Strike.
Styffe, adj. 241.
Styked, 3 d sing. pf. ind. of stick ;
v. intr. 241.
Stylle, adj. 147, 169.
Styrte. See Sterte.
Suche, adj. 202, 249, 264.
Sue, v. tr. = follow ; 3d sing.
pres. ind. suwethe, 221 ; suctli,
230.
Sum, adj. = some, 57.
Swanne, sb. 148, 198, 350, 356,
358, 362.
Swerde, sb. = sword, 138, 146,
304, 306-7, 327-8.
Swete, adj. 44.
Svfom,p.pt. of swear; v. tr. 236.
Swyche, adj. such, 49, 103,
139.
Swyde for Swythe, adv. = quick
ly, 158.
Swyfte, adv. 113.
Swymmen, 3d pi. pf. ind. of
swym (swim), 198, 350 ; 2d sing,
pres. swymmethe, 362.
Swyre, sb. = neck (O.E. siceora),
44, 126.
Syde, sb. 187.
Syken, v. intr.=to sigh; 3d
sing. pres. ind. syketli, 66 ; 3d
sing. pf. sykede, 25.
Syker, adj., used adverbially =
surely, 122.
Synne, sb. = sin, 250.
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Sythcn (SIthen) = since, then,
13, 25, 53, 64, 199; sethen, 116.
Sytte, v. intr. 22, 293.
Syje. See Se, v. tr.
Syjte, sb. = sight, 122, 188.
Taber, sb. = tabor, 226.
Take, v. tr. = betake, commend,
104; also in its usual sense, 262;
2fi? sing, imper. 300 ; 3s? sing. pres.
ind. taketb, 116 ; takethe, 63, 150 ;
1st sing. pf. toke, 167 ; 2</ sing.
tokest, 237; 3</ *zy. toke, 159,
173, 229; Bdpl. 355; token, 226;
;>. pt. taken, 234.
Tale, sb. 55.
Taw^te, p. pt. of teche (teach),
312, 336.
Tellc, v. tr., 1st sing. pres. ind.
162 ; 3d sinrj. tellethe, 7, 270 ; 3d
sing. pf. tolde, 123, 347.
Tere, sb. == tear ; pi. teres, 24.
Terme, 6. 140.
Jjanke, s&. = 194.
Thanke, v. tr., 3d sing. pf. ind.
thanked, 339 ; }>ankede, 36*.
Jeanne, adv. = then, at that time,
73, 210.
J?at, art. = the, 159, 296, 322,
366; rel. pron. 3, 4; dem. pron.
18, 27, &c. ; by ]>at, 248, 345 = by
that time ; conj. 16, 26, &c.
The, art. 7, 11, 17, &c.
The, pers. prvn. obj. =thee, 18,
65, 73, 7779, 134, 139-40, 169,
184, 230, 237, 261, 311, 312, 336.
The, pers. pron. = they, 220, 274.
J)eder, adv. = thither, 265.
Thefe, sb. 141, 199, 351.
Thei, pers. pron. See They.
Thenke, v. = think, 30, 249
(Cp. Wm. 4908) ; Germ, denken ;
2<l sing. pf. ind. thowite, 40, 207,
250, 264.
Jjenne, conj. than, 1 25 ; adv.
= when, 143;= at that time, 24,
41, 63, 67, &c. ; ere thennc, 330 =
before the time when ; by thenue,
143 = by that time; = thence, 248.
Jjerby, adv. = near there, 265.
jjere, adv. 13, 31, 87;=Avhere,
76, 96, 121, 142, 362.
Therfore, adv. on that account,
136.
Jjerin, adv. 52, 247.
jjerof, adv. 115.
jjerupon, adv. 282.
jjese, dem. pron.pl. 93, 179, &c.
J?ey, pers. pron. pi. 12, 19, &c. ;
thei, 326. See also The.
This, dem. pron. 5, 92 ; er )>is,
70 = before now.
Thoo, adv. = then, at that time,
339.
}3orow, prep. = through, 95, 170.
))ou, pers. pron. 50 54, &c. ;
tho\v, 80, 251.
Jjowghe, conj. = though, 100.
Thowjte. See Thenke.
Thrydde, adj. = third, 367.
Jjus, ado. 89, 118.
))y, poss. pron. 65, 73.
Thykke, adj. = thick (closely
covered), 29 i.
Thylle, conj. = till, 96.
Thynge, sb. 30, 202.
To, prep. 16, 17, &c.
Togedere, adv. = together, 20,
314 ; togedur, 327.
Toke
Token
Topseyle, adv. = headlong, 320.
See Note.
Towarde, prep. 33, 93, 109, 341.
Towre, sb. 280.
TreAve, adj. = true, 48, 69.
Trist, v. tr. = trust ; 3d zing. pf.
ind. triste, 49 ; truste, 285.
See Take.
36
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Trowthe, sb. = truth, 175.
Trumpe, sb. = trumpet, 226.
Truss, v. tr. to remove (Cotgrave,
trousser, to trusse, tuck, packe,
bind, or gird in, pluck, or twitch
up) ; 3d sing. pres. ind. trussethe,
327.
Truste, v. tr. 3d sing. pf. ind. 285.
Tryfulle, v. intr. = trifle, 48.
Tumbledde, 3d pi. pf. ind. of
tumble ; v. intr. 320.
Turne, sb. in a good sense (as we
say, ' to do one a good turn '),
139 ; in a bad sense, trick, wile,
257.
Turne, v. tr., 3d sing. pres. ind.
turneth, 262 ; 3d sing. pf. turned,
24, 341 ; intr. 3d pres. ind. 104,
150 ; 3d pi. turncn, 355, 357 ; 3d
sing. pf. turnede, 123 ; 1st pi.
imper. turne, 93.
Twelfe, numeral adj. 243.
Tweyne, numeral adj. = two,
twain, 29, 84.
Two, numeral adj. 23, 27, &c. ;
in two, 334.
Twynleng, sb. = a little twin, 27.
Tydynge, sb. 59 ; pi. tydynges, 58.
Tylle, cow/. 310.
Tymber, sb. 317.
Tyme, sb. =time, 37, 55, 243.
Tyraunte, sb. = wicked, or evil
man, 84. In Allit. the people of
Sodom are called tyrants, B. 943.
Tyte, adj. = quick, 139, It is
used here adverbially.
Tytlye, adv. = quickly, 84.
Unbounden, p. pt. of unbind ;
v. tr. 345.
Unbrente, adj. = unburnt, 185.
Under, adv. 21.
Undo =undone, p. pt. of undone,
v. tr. = undo, 105.
Unsemelye, adj. 30.
Unto, prep. 90.
Unwerkethe, adj. un worked,
175.
Up,jwep. 64, 81, 97, &c.
Upon, prep. 19, 213, 222, 236,
281; = with, 361.
Valwe, sb. = value, 329.
Wakynge, imp. pt. of wako ; v.
intr. 207.
Walk, sb. 19, 349.
Ware, adj. 122.
Warne, v. tr. 190.
Was, 3d sing. pf. ind. of be, 5,
6, &c.
Water, sb. 355, 362 = a piece of
water, 51, 96.
We, pers. pron. $>l- 3, 92, 302.
Wedde, v. tr. = bet, pledge, 27 ;
p. pt. wedded = married, 69.
Wede, sb. = dress, clothing, 119;
pi. wedes.
Wele, adr. = well, 2, 54, 67,
140, 309, 352 ; welle, 251.
Well, v. intr. = to bubble, pour
forth copiously (O.E. welan = <o
boil) ; 3d sing. pf. indie, wellede,
166.
WeUe, adv. 251.
Wende, v. intr. = go, 206 ; 3d
sing. pres. indie, wendes, 155. 178 ;
wendethe, 161; wended), 190 (xre
Note) ; 3d pi. pres. indie, wendcn,
302, 364 ; 20? sing imper. weude,
137.
Wene, v. intr. = ween, thinko
(O.E. wenan~) ; \st sing pres. ind.
wene, 69 ; 3d sing. pf. indie, wente,
67.
Wenten, 3d pi. pf. ind., serving
as past tense of go ; v. intr. 33 ;
wente, 19 ; 3d sing, (reflexively
used) 75.
Were, 3d pi. pf. ind. of be, 41,
58, 142 ; 3d sing. pf. tulj. 30, 67,
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
37
150; 3d pi. 31; used for wast, 2'/
sing. pf. ind. 237 ; 3d pi. pf. ind.
weren, 121.
Weren, v. tr. = defend (O.E. ice-
nan; Germ, wchren) ; 3d sing. pres.
ind. wereth, 2.
Werke, sb. = work, 2, 170,330
(Germ, werke}.
Werke, v. tr. = work, 78, 182
(0. Germ, werken).
Werue, v. tr. = deny, refuse
(O.E. wyrrMn), 56, 72.
Wesselle, *>&. vessel ; or else
silver plate. Er. vaisselle, 156.
Wex, v. intr. = to wax, to grow ;
3d sing. pres. indie, wexeth, 158;
pf. wexedde, 166.
Wey, sb. = way, 220.
Wey^te, sb. = weight, 155.
What, rel.pron. 56 ; inter rog. 74.
Whelps, sb. 61 ; welpo, 63.
Whenne, adv. = when, 1,12, &c.
Where, adv. 12 ; inter rog. 82.
Whyle, adv. 273 ; whyles, 145 ;
whylle, 117 ; sb. 286.
Whyte, adj. 281.
With, prep. 2, 28, &c. ; withe,
14, 23, &c. -, wyth, 99.
Witty, adj. = cheerful (1), 35.
Wo, sb. 343.
Wolle, v. ; ls sm#. pres. ind.
244; 3d sing. 252; 2^ sing, wolt,
72 ; 3</ sing. pf. ind. wolde, 30, 41,
56, 117, 164/276. See Wylle,
Weinman, sb. = woman, 22, 26,
38 ; pi. wymmen, 29.
Wondrethe, 3d sing. pres. ind.
of wonder ; v. intr. 184.
Wonnen. See Wynne, v. tr.
Woode, sb. 113; wode, 119, 143,
215.
Worde, sb. 193, 207, 349 ; pi
worthes, 32.
Worlde, sb. 112, 180, 184.
Worse, adj. 244.
Worthes. See Word.
Wrake, sb. = punishment, 72.
It is coupled with wrecli = venge
ance, in Gen. 552.
Wrecche, sb. = wretch, 71.
Wrecched, adj. = wretched, 77.
Wronge, sb. 2 45 ; adj. used ad
verbially wrongly, 170, 197, 349.
Wrow^te = wrought, 3d sing. pf.
ind. of work, 119.
Wryten, p. pt. of wryte ; v. tr.
282.
Wyfe, sb. = wife, 69, 162, 169,
196.
Wylde, adj. 214.
Wyle, sb. = wile, 182.
Wylle, sb. = will, 1, 79, 181, &c.
Wylle, v. ; 1st sing. pres. ind.
128, 261 ; U sing. 290 j 2ct sing.
wylt, 260. See Wolle.
Wynne, v. tr. = win ; p. pt. won-
nen, 170 ; 3d sing. pres. ind. wyn-
nethe = getteth, taketh, 337; thus
miners speak of winning or get ting
out ores, or coals.
Wyse, sb. = wise, manner, 156.
Wyste. See Wytte.
Wyte, v. tr. = blame, 136.
Wytte, v. tr. = know ; 2d sing,
imper. 195 ; Idsing.pf. ind. wysste,
35 ; 3d pi. pf. wyste, 274 ; U
sing. pf. sttbj. 186.
Yen, sb. = eyen, eyne or eyes,
135, 323, 332.
Yf, conj. = if, 54.
Yle, sb. = isle, 5.
Yren, sb. = iron, 290.
3afe, 3d pi. pf. ind. of give, 271.
3ate, sb. = gate, 22.
3e = yea, 212, 302.
3elde, v. ti: = yield, 335, 336.
See Note.
GLOSSAIUAL INDEX.
3erc, sb. = year, 89, 243.
Bonder, adj. (preceded by an
artide) = yonder, 20 ; ^ondur, 232;
^ondcre, 233 ; ado. 198, 350.
3onge, adj. = young, 81, 242,
251, 345.
| ^osken, #. iutr. = to hiccough, to
sob; 3d pi. pf. ind. joskcncd, 108.
^ou, pers. pron. olj. = you, 100.
3yf, conj. = if, 235.
3yfte,s&.= gift, 271.
3ys = yes, 309.
JOHN GUILDS d\'D SON, TUINTERS.
1 HJK
Early English Text
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