Chapter XVI: Appendix: To Introduction (2)

[Linenotes:
335 _whiche_--the whiche
_one_--oon
_somtyme_--whilom
339 _sumtyme_--whilon
340 _go_--gon
_her_--hir
341 _wiþ-outen_--withowte
_wolde not_--nolden nat
342 _defended[e]_--defendedyn
_by_--by the
343 _seyne_--seyn
_seyntuaries_--sentuarye
344 _was_--omitted
_comaunded[e]_--comaundede
345 _voided[e]_--voidede
_certeyne_--certeyn
346 _men_--me
_merken_--marke
347 _hoke of iren_--hoot yren
348 _þe_--omitted
_myȝt[e] be_--myhte ben
349 _þilk_--thilke
350 _þilk[e]_--thilke
351 _be_--ben
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_haþ_--MS. haþe
354, 355 [_Certes----asshamyd_]--from C.
356 _auȝt[e]_--owte
_haue had_--han had, MS. hadde]

[[pg 17]]
[Headnote:
THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BOETHIUS.]

¶ But axest þou in so{m}me of what gilt .I.
am accused.

[Sidenote: Boethius says he is accused of trying to save the
Senate, and of having embarrassed an informer against the Senate.]

men seyne þat I wolde sauen þe co{m}paignie
of þe senato{ur}s. ¶ And desirest þou to here
in what manere .I. am accused þat I scholde han distourbed 360
þe accuso{ur} to beren l{ett}res. by whiche he
scholde han maked þe senatours gilty aȝeins þe kynges
Real maieste. ¶ O meistresse what demest þou of
þis. schal .I. forsake þis blame þat I ne be no schame to 364
þe (q. d. no{n}).

[Sidenote: It is true that he tried to save the Senate, for he has
and will have its best interests always at heart.]

¶ Certis .I. haue wold it. þat is to
seyne þe sauuaciou{n} of þe senat. ne I schal neuer leten
to wilne it. {and} þat I confesse {and} am a-knowe. but
þe entent of þe accusour to be destourbed schal cese. 368
¶ For schal I clepe it a felonie þan or a synne þat I
haue desired þe sauuaciou{n} of þe ordre of þe senat.
and certys ȝit hadde þilk same senat don by me þoruȝ
her decretȝ {and} hire iugementys as þouȝ it were a synne 372
or a felonie þat is to seyne to wilne þe sauuaciou{n} of
he{m} (.s senat{us}).

[Sidenote: (Folly cannot change the merit of things.]

¶ But folye þat lieth alwey to hym
self may not chaunge þe merit of þinges.

[Sidenote: According to Socrates’ judgment it is not lawful to
hide the truth nor assent to a falsehood.)]

¶ Ne .I.
trowe not by þe iugement of socrates þ{a}t it were leueful 376
to me to hide þe soþe. ne assent[e] to lesynges.
¶ But certys how so euer it be of þis I put[te] it to gessen
or p{re}ise{n} to þe iugeme{n}t of þe {and} of wise folk. ¶ Of
whiche þing al þe ordinaunce {and} þe soþe for as moche 380
as folk þat ben to comen aftir our{e} dayes scholle{n}
knowen it.

[Sidenote: Boethius determines to transmit an account of his
prosecution to posterity.]

¶ I haue put it in scripture {and} remembraunce.
for touching þe l{ett}res falsly maked. by
whiche l{ett}res I am accused to han hooped þe fredom of 384
Rome. What app{er}teneþ me to speken þer-of.

[Sidenote: Boethius says that he could have defeated his accusers
had he been allowed the use of their confessions.]

Of whiche l{ett}res þe fraude hadde ben schewed ap{er}tly if
I hadde had libertee forto han vsed {and} ben at þe [[pg 18]]
co{n}fessiou{n} of myn accuso{ur}s. ¶ Þe whiche þing in 388
alle nedys haþ grete strenkeþ. ¶ For what oþ{er} fredo{m}
may men hopen.

[Sidenote: But there is now no remains of liberty to be hoped
for.]

Certys I wolde þat some oþ{er} fredom
myȝt[e] be hoped. ¶ I wolde þan haue answered by
þe wordes of a man þat hyȝt[e] Canius. for whan he was 392
accused by Gayus Cesar Germeins son þat he (cani{us})
was knowyng {and} consentyng of a coniurac{i}ou{n} maked
aȝeins hym (.s. Gai{us}). ¶ Þis Canius answered[e]
þus. ¶ Yif I had[de] wist it þou haddest not wist it. 396

[Linenotes:
357 _axest þou_--axestow
358 _seyne_--seyn
_sauen_--saue
359 _desirest þou_--desires thow
_here_--hereen
362 _maked_--MS. maken, C. makyd
363 _demest þou_--demestow
365 _wold_--MS. wolde, C. wold
366 _seyne_--seyn
367 _þat_--omitted
_am_--I am
368 _be_--ben
369 _it_--it thanne
_þan_--omitted
371 _þilk_--thilke
372 _her_--hir
_hire_--hir
_þouȝ_--thogh
373 _or_--and
_seyne_--seyn
374 _lieth_--MS. lieþe, C. lieth
377 _assent[e]_--assente
381 _schollen_--shellen
382 {and}--{and} in
385 _speken_--speke
385-86 _of----lettres_--C. omits
386 _if_--yif
387 _had_--MS. hade, C. had
388 _myn_--myne
389 _haþ_--MS. haþe, C. hath
_grete_--gret
_what_--omitted
390 _some_--som
391 _myȝt[e] be_--myhte ben
_þan haue_--thanne han
392 _hyȝt[e]_--hyhte
394 _maked_--ymaked
395 _answered[e]_--answerede
396 _had[de]_--hadde]

[Headnote:
BOETHIUS COMPLAINS TO PHILOSOPHY.]

[Sidenote: It is not strange that the wicked should conspire
against virtue.]

In whiche þing sorwe haþ not so dulled my witte
þ{a}t I pleyne oonly þat schrewed[e] folk apparailen
folies aȝeins vertues. ¶ But I wondre gretly how þat
þei may p{er}forme þinges þat þei had[de] hoped forto 400
done.

[Sidenote: The will to do ill proceeds from the defects of human
nature.]

For why. to wylne schrewednesse þat comeþ
p{ar}auenture of oure defaute. ¶ But it is lyke to a
monstre {and} a meruaille.

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

¶ How þat in þe p{re}se{n}t
syȝt of god may ben acheued {and} p{er}formed swiche 404
þinges. as euery felonous man haþ conceyued in hys
þouȝt aȝeins i{n}nocent. ¶ For whiche þing oon of þi
familers not vnskilfully axed þus.

[Sidenote: If there be a God, whence proceeds evil? If there is
none, whence arises good?]

¶ Ȝif god is. whennes
comen wikked[e] þinges. {and} yif god ne is whennes 408
comen goode þinges. but al hadde it ben leueful þat
felonous folk þat now desiren þe bloode {and} þe deeþ of
alle goode men. {and} eke of al þe senat han wilned to
gone destroien me. whom þei han seyn alwey bataile{n} 412
{and} defenden goode men {and} eke al þe senat. Ȝit
hadde I not desserued of þe fadres. þat is to seyne of
þe senatours þat þei scholde wilne my destrucc{i}ou{n}.

[Sidenote: Boethius defends the integrity of his life.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 6 _b_.]]

¶ Þou remembrest wele as I gesse þat whan I wolde [[pg 19]]
don or *seyn any þing. þou þi self alwey p{re}sent reweledest me. 417

[Sidenote: He defended the Senate at Verona.]

¶ At þe citee of verone wha{n} þat þe
kyng gredy of comune slauȝter. caste hym to t{ra}nsporten
vpon al þe ordre of þe senat. þe gilt of his real 420
maieste of þe whiche gilt þat albyn was accused. wiþ
how grete sykernesse of p{er}il to me defended[e] I al
þe senat.

[Sidenote: He spake only the truth, and did not boast.]

¶ Þou wost wel þat I seide soþe. ne I
auaunted[e] me neuer in preysyng of my self. 424

[Sidenote: (Boasting lessens the pleasure of a self approving
conscience.)]

¶ For
alwey when any wyȝt resceiueþ p{re}ciouse renou{n} in
auauntyng hym self of hys werkes: he amenusiþ þe
secre of hys conscience. ¶ But now þou mayst wel
seen to what ende I am comen for myne i{n}nocence. 428

[Linenotes:
397 _whiche_--which
_sorwe_--sorw
_haþ_--MS. haþe
_witte_--wit
398 _schrewed[e]_--shrewede
399 _folies_--felonies
_vertues_--vertu
400 _had[de]_--han
401 _done_--don
_comeþ_--comth
402 _lyke to a_--lyk a
404 _syȝt_--syhte
405 _haþ_--MS. haþe
406 _innocent_--innocentȝ
_whiche_--which
408 _wikked[e]_--wykkede
410 _bloode_--blod
411 _eke_--ek
412 _gone_--gon {and}
_seyn_--seyen
413 _eke_--ek
414 _seyne_--seyn
415 _scholde_--sholden
416 _wele_--wel
417 _don_--MS. done, C. doon
_seyn_--seyen
418 _þe_ (1)--omitted
419 _slauȝter_--slawhtre
420 _transporten vpon_--transpor vp
422 _grete_--gret
_defended[e]_--deffendede
423 _seide soþe_--seye soth
424 _auaunted[e]_--auauntede
425 _when_--whan
_preciouse_--presious]

[Headnote:
OF HIS FALSE ACCUSERS.]

[Sidenote: But as the reward of his innocence he is made to suffer
the punishment due to the blackest crime.]

I receiue peyne of fals felonie in gerdou{n} of verray
vertue. ¶ And what open co{n}fessiou{n} of felonie
had[de] euer iugis so accordaunt i{n} cruelte. þat is to
seyne as myne accusyng haþ. ¶ Þat oþer errour of 432
mans witte or ellys co{n}diciou{n} of fortune þat is vncerteyne
to al mortal folk ne submytted[e] su{m}me of he{m}. þat is
to seyne þat it ne cheyned[e] su{m}me iuge to han pitee
or compassiou{n}. 436

[Sidenote: Had he been accused of a design to burn temples,
massacre priests, he would have been allowed to confront his
accusers.]

¶ For al þouȝ I had[de] ben accused
þat I wolde brenne holy houses. {and} strangle p{re}stys
wiþ wicked swerde. ¶ or þat .I. had[de] grayþed deeþ
to alle goode men algatis þe sentence scholde han
punysched me p{re}sent confessed or co{n}uict.

[Sidenote: But now this is denied him, and he is proscribed and
condemned to death.]

¶ But 440
now I am remewed fro þe Citee of rome almost fyue-hundreþ
þousand pas. I am wiþ outen defence dampned
to p{ro}sc{ri}pciou{n} {and} to þe deeþ. for þe studie {and}
bountees þat I haue done to þe senat. ¶ But o wel ben 444
þei worþi of mercye (as who seiþ nay.) þer myȝt[e] neuer
ȝit non of hem ben conuicte. Of swiche a blame as [[pg 20]]
myn is of swiche t{r}espas myn accuso{ur}s seyen ful wel þe dignitee.

[Linenotes:
429 _in_--for
430 _vertue_--vertu
431 _had[de]_--hadde
432 _seyne_--seyn
_myne_--myn
_haþ_--MS. haþe
433 _witte_--wit
_vncerteyne_--vncerteyn
434 _al_--alle
_submytted[e]_--submittede
435 _seyne_--seyn
_cheyned[e]_--enclinede
436 _had[de]_--hadde
438 _wicked_--wykkede
_had[de]_--hadde
441 _almost_--almest
442 _þousand_--MS. þousas
_wiþ outen_--withowte
444 _done_--doon
445 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
446 _ben_--be
_swiche_--swich
447 _myn_ (_both_)--myne
_swiche_--whiche
_seyen_--sayen]

[Headnote:
BOETHIUS ACCUSED OF SORCERY.]

[Sidenote: Boethius says that his enemies accused him of sorcery.]

þe wiche dignite for þei wolde derken it 448
wiþ medelyng of some felonye. þei beren me on honde
{and} lieden. þat I hadde polute {and} defouled my conscience
wiþ sacrelege. for couetise of dignite. ¶ And
certys þou þi self þat art plaunted in me chacedest oute 452
þe sege of my corage al couetise of mortal þinges. ne
sacrilege ne had[de] no leue to han a place in me byforne
þine eyen.

[Sidenote: He affirms that he has always followed the golden maxim
of Pythagoras,-- ἕπου Θεῷ.]

¶ For þou drouppedest euery day in myn
eer{e}s {and} in my þouȝt þilk comaundement of pictogoras. 456
þat is to seyne men schal seruen to god. {and} not to
goddes. ¶ Ne it was no couenaunt ne no nede to
taken helpe of þe foulest spirites. ¶ I þat þou hast
ordeyned or set in syche excellence þ{a}t [þou] makedest 460
me lyke to god. and ouer þis þe ryȝt clene secre
chaumbre of myn house.

[Sidenote: His family and friends could clear him from all
suspicion of the crime of sorcery.]

þat is to seye my wijf {and} þe
co{m}paignie of myn honeste frendis. {and} my wyues
fadir as wel holy as worþi to ben reuerenced þoruȝ 464
hys owen dedis. defenden me of al suspecciou{n} of syche
blame. ¶ But o malice. ¶ For þei þat accusen me
taken of þe philosophie feiþe of so grete blame.

[Sidenote: Because he has given himself up to Philosophy, his
enemies accuse him of using unlawful arts.]

¶ For 467
þei trowen þat .I. haue had affinite to malyfice or enchau{n}tementȝ
by cause þat I am replenissed {and} fulfilled
wiþ þi techynges. {and} enformed of þi maners.
¶ And þus it sufficeþ not only þat þi reuerence ne auayle
me not. but ȝif þat þou of þi fre wille raþer be blemissed 472
wiþ myne offensiou{n}. ¶ But certys to þe harmes þat I
haue þere bytydeþ ȝit þis encrece of harme.

[Linenotes:
448 _wolde_--wolden
449 _some_--som
_beren_--baren
_on honde_--an hand
450 _polute_--polut
451 _sacrelege_--C. _has_ sorcerie _as a gloss to_ sacrilege
453 _al_--alle
454 _had[de]_--hadde
_byforne_--byforn
455 _drouppedest_--droppedest
_myn_--myne
456 _þilk_--thilke
457 _seyne_--seyn
_seruen_--serue
_god_--godde
459 _helpe_--help
_spirites_--spirite
460 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
_syche_--swiche
[_þou_]--thow
461 _lyke_--lyk
462 _house_--hows
_seye_--seyn
463 _myn_--my
465 _owen_--owne
_of al_--from alle
_syche_--swich
467 _philosophie_--philosophre
_feiþe_--feyth
_grete_--gret
468 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
473 _myne_--myn
474 _þere_--ther
_harme_--harm]

[[pg 21]]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS DEPLORES THE POPULAR CENSURE.]

þat þe gessinge {and} þe iugement of myche folk ne loken no
þing to þe[de]sertys of þinges but only to þe aue{n}t{ur}e 476
of fortune.

[Sidenote: Most people imagine that that only should be judged to
be undertaken with prudent foresight which is crowned with
success.]

¶ And iugen þat only swiche þinges ben
p{ur}ueied of god. whiche þat temporel welefulnesse
co{m}mendiþ. _Glosa._ ¶ As þus þat yif a wyȝt haue
prosperite. he is a good man {and} worþi to haue þat 480
p{ro}sperite.

[Sidenote: The unfortunate lose the good opinion of the world.]

and who so haþ aduersite he is a wikked
man. {and} god haþ forsake hym. {and} he is worþi to
haue þat aduersite. ¶ Þis is þe opiniou{n} of so{m}me
folke.

[Sidenote: [* Text begins again.]]

*{and} þer of comeþ þat good gessyng. ¶ Fyrste of 484
al þi{n}g forsakeþ wrecches certys it greueþ me to þink[e]
ryȝt now þe dyuerse sentences þat þe poeple seiþ of
me. ¶ And þus moche I seye þat þe laste charge of
contrarious fortune is þis.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 7.]]

*þat whan þat ony blame is 488
laid vpon a caytif. men wenen þat he haþ deserued þat
he suffreþ.

[Sidenote: Boethius laments the loss of his dignities and
reputation.]

¶ And I þat am put awey fro{m} goode men
{and} despoiled from dignitees {and} defoulid of my name
by gessyng haue suffred torment for my goode dedis. 492

[Sidenote: The wicked, he says, sin with impunity, while the
innocent are deprived of security, protection, and defence.]

¶ Certys me semeþ þat I se þe felonus couines of
wikked men abounden in ioie {and} in gladnes. ¶ And
I se þat euery lorel shapiþ hy{m} to fynde oute newe
fraudes forto accusen goode folke. and I se þat goode 496
men ben ou{er}þrowen for drede of my p{er}il. ¶ and
euery luxurious to{ur}mentour dar don alle felonie vnpunissed
{and} ben excited þerto by ȝiftes. and i{n}nocentȝ
ne ben not oonly despoiled of sykernesse but of defence 500
{and} þerfore me list to crien to god in þis manere.

[Linenotes:
475 _myche_--moche
476 _þe[de]sertys_--the desertȝ
479 _Glosa_--glose
480 _good_--MS. goode, C. good
_haue_--han
481 _so_--omitted in C.
481, 482 _haþ_--MS. haþe
483 _haue_--han
484 _Fyrste_--fyrst
485 _al_--alle
_þink[e]_--thinke
488 _ony_--any
489 _laid_--MS. laide, C. leyd
_haþ_--MS. haþe
490 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
491 _from_--of
494 _abounden_--habownden
_gladnes_--gladnesse
495 _oute_--owt
496 _accusen_--accuse
497 _ben_--beth
501 _manere_--wise]

[Headnote:
THE CRUEL CHANGES OF FORTUNE]

O STELLIFERI CONDITOR ORBIS.

[Sidenote: [The fifthe met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Author of the starry sky, Thou, seated on high, turnest
the spheres, and imposest laws upon the stars and planets.]

++O þou maker of þe whele þat bereþ þe sterres. whiche
þat art fastned to þi p{er}durable chayere. {and}
turnest þe heuene wiþ a rauyssyng sweigh{e}
{and} {con}streinest [[pg 22]]
þe sterres to suffren þi lawe. ¶ So þ{a}t þe 505
mone somtyme schynyng wiþ hir ful hornes metyng
wiþ alle þe bemes of þe sonne.

[Sidenote: The sun obscures the lesser lights, and quenches even
the moon’s light.]

¶ Hir broþer hideþ þe
sterres þat ben lasse. {and} somtyme whan þe mone 508
pale wiþ hir derke hornes approcheþ þe sonne. leesith
hir lyȝtes.

[Sidenote: Thou raisest Hesperus to usher in the shades of night,
and again causest him to be the harbinger of day, whence his name
Lucifer.]

¶ And þat þe euesterre esperus whiche
þat in þe first[e] tyme of þe nyȝt bryngeþ furþe hir
colde arysynges comeþ eft aȝeynes hir vsed cours. {and} 512
is pale by þe morwe at þe rysynge of þe sonne. and is
þan cleped lucifer. ¶ Þou restreinest þe day by schorter
dwellyng in þe tyme of colde wynter þat makeþ þe
leues to falle. ¶ Þou diuidest þe swifte tides of þe 516
nyȝt when þe hote somer is comen.

[Sidenote: Thou controllest the changing seasons of the year.]

¶ Þi myȝt attempre[þ]
þo variau{n}tȝ sesons of þe ȝere. so þat
ȝepherus þe deboneire wynde bringeþ aȝein in þe first[e]
somer sesou{n} þe leues þat þe wynde þat hyȝt[e] boreas 520
haþ reft awey in autu{m}pne. þat is to seyne in þe laste
eende of somer. and þe sedes þat þe sterre þat hyȝt arctur{us}
saw ben waxen hey[e] cornes whan þe sterre
sirius eschaufeþ hym. 524

[Sidenote: All nature is bound by thy eternal law.]

¶ Þere nis no þing vnbounde
from hys olde lawe ne forleteþ hym of hys p{ro}pre estat.

[Linenotes:
502 _whele_--whel
_whiche_--which
503 _fastned_--yfastned
_chayere_--chayer
504 _sweighe_--sweyh
_constreinest_, MS. contreuiest, C. constreynest
506 _hir_--her{e}
508 _lasse_--lesse
510 _esperus whiche_--hesperus which
511 _first[e]_--fyrste
_furþe_--forth
512 _eft_--est
514 _restreinest_--MS. restreniest
516 _to_--omitted
518 _attempre[þ] þo_--atempreth the
_sesons_--sesoun
_ȝere_--yer
519 _wynde bringeþ_--wynd brengeth
520 _wynde_--wynd
_hyȝt[e]_--hihte
521 _reft_--MS. refte, C. reft
_seyne_--seyn
522 _hyȝt_--hihte
_arcturus_--MS. aritur{us}
523 _saw_--MS. saweþ, C. sawgh
_hey[e]_--hyye
524 _hym_--hem
_þere_--ther
_þing_--thinge
525 _from_--fram
_forleteþ hym of_--forleetheth þe werke of]

[Headnote:
CONTRASTED WITH THE ORDER OF NATURE.]

[Sidenote: Why, then, leavest thou man’s actions uncontrolled?]

¶ O þou gouerno{ur} gouernyng alle þinges by certeyne
ende. why refusest þou oonly to gouerne þe werkes of
men by dewe manere.

[Sidenote: Why should fickle fortune be allowed to work such
mighty changes in the world?]

¶ Whi suffrest þ{o}u þat slidyng 528
fortune turneþ to grete vtter chaungynges of þinges.
so þat anoious peyne þat scholde duelly punissh{e} felouns
punissitȝ innocentȝ.

[Sidenote: The wicked are prosperous, while the righteous are in
adversity.]

¶ And folk of wikked[e]
man{er}es sitten in heiȝe chaiers. {and} anoienge folk 532
treden {and} þat vnryȝtfully in þe nekkes of holy men. [[pg 23]]
¶ And vertue clere {and} schynyng naturely is hid in
dirke dirkenesses. {and} þe ryȝtful man beriþ þe blame
{and} þe peyne of þe felowne. ¶ Ne þe forsweryng ne 536
þe fraude couered {and} kembd wiþ a fals colo{ur} ne
a-noyeþ not to schrewes. ¶ Þe whiche schrewes whan
hem lyst to vsen her strengþe þei reioisen hem to
putte{n} vndir hem þe souerayne kynges. whiche þ{a}t 540
poeple wiþ[outen] noumbre dreden.

[Sidenote: O thou that bindest the disagreeing elements, look upon
this wretched earth, and, as thou dost govern the spacious
heavens, so let the earth be firmly bound.]

¶ O þou what so
euer þou be þat knyttes[t] alle bondes of þinges loke
on þise wrecched[e] erþes. we men þat ben nat a
foule party but a faire party of so grete a werke we 544
ben turmentid in þe see of fortune. ¶ Þou gouerno{ur}
wiþdraw {and} restreyne þe rauyssinge flodes {and} fastne
{and} forme þise erþes stable wiþ þilke [bonde] wiþ
whiche þou gouernest þe heuene þat is so large. 548

[Linenotes:
527 _refusest þou_--refowsestow
529 _to----þinges_--so grete entrechaunginges of thynges
531 _punissitȝ_--punysshe
_wikked[e]_--wykkede
532 _heiȝe_--heer{e}
533 _in_--oon
534 {and}--omitted
536 _Ne þe forsweryng_--Ne forswerynge
537 _kembd_--MS. kembde, C. kembd
541 _wiþ[outen]_--withhowtyn
542 _knyttes[t]_--knyttest
543 _wrecched[e]_--wrecchede
544 _a_ (2)--omitted
545 _þe_--this
546 _wiþdraw_--MS. wiþdrawe, C. withdrawh
_þe_--thei
547 _forme_--ferme
[_bonde_]--from C.
_wiþ_--by]

[Headnote:
PHILOSOPHY CONSOLES BOETHIUS,]

HIC UBI CONTINUATO DOLORE.

[Sidenote: [The fyfthe p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: Philosophy consoles Boethius.]

++Whan I hadde wiþ a continuel sorwe sobbed or
broken out þise þinges sche wiþ hir chere peisible
{and} no þi{n}g amoeued. wiþ my compleyntes seide þ{us}.
whan I say þe q{uod} sche sorweful {and} wepyng I wist[e] 552
on-one þat þou were a wrecche {and} exiled. but I
wist[e] neuer how fer þine exile was: ȝif þi tale ne
hadde schewed it to me. but certys al be þou fer fro þi
contre.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 7 _b_.]]

þou nart *nat put out of it. but þou hast 556
fayled of þi weye {and} gon amys.

[Sidenote: She speaks to him of his country.]

¶ and yif þou hast
leuer forto wene þan þou be put out of þi contre. þan
hast þou put oute þi self raþer þen ony oþer wyȝt haþ.

[Linenotes:
550 _broken_--borken
552 _wist[e]_--wyste
553 _on-one_--anon
554 _wist[e]_--wyste
_fer_--ferr{e}
555 _ne hadde_--nadde
557 _gon_--MS. gone, C. gon
558 _leuer_--leuer{e}
558, 559 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
559 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote:
AND PROPOSES TO ADMINISTER REMEDIES.]

¶ For no wyȝt but þi self ne myȝt[e] neuer haue don 560
þat to þe. [[pg 24]]

[Sidenote: She reminds him that he is a citizen of a country not
governed by a giddy multitude, but εἷς κοίρανός ἐστιν, εἷς
βασιλεύς.]

¶ For ȝif þou remembre of what contre þou
art born. it nis not gou{er}ned by emp{er}oures. ne by
gouernement of multitude. as weren þe contres of hem
of athenes. ¶ But o lorde {and} o kyng {and} þat is god 564
þat is lorde of þi contree. whiche þat reioiseþ hym of
þe dwellyng of hys Citeȝenis. {and} not forto putte hem
in exile. Of þe whiche lorde it is a souerayne fredom
to be gouerned by þe bridel of hym and obeie to his 568
iustice.

[Sidenote: The Commonwealth of Boethius.]

¶ Hast þou forȝeten þilke ryȝt olde lawe of þi
Citee. in þe whiche Citee it is ordeyned {and} establissed
þat what wyȝt þat haþ leuer founden þer i{n}ne hys sete
or hys house. þen ellys where: he may not be exiled 572
by no ryȝt fro þat place. ¶ For who so þat is co{n}tened
in-wiþ þe paleis [{and} the clos] of þilke Citee. þer nis
no drede þat he may deserue to ben exiled. ¶ But
who þat letteþ þe wille forto enhabit[e] þere. he forleteþ 576
also to deserue to ben Citeȝein of þilke Citee.

[Sidenote: Philosophy says she is moved more by the looks of
Boethius than by his gloomy prison.]

¶ So þat I seye þat þe face of þis place ne amoeueþ me
nat so myche as þine owen face. Ne .I. ne axe not
raþer þe walles of þi librarie apparailled {and} wrouȝt 580
wiþ yvory {and} wiþ glas þan after þe sete of þi þouȝt.

[Sidenote: Books are to be valued on account of the _thoughts_
they contain.]

In whiche I putte nat somtyme bookes. but .I. putte
þat þat makeþ bookes worþi of p{ri}s or p{re}cious þat is
to sein þe sentence of my books. ¶ {And} certeinly of 584
þi dec{er}tes by-stowed in co{m}mune good. þou hast seid
soþe but after þe multitude of þi goode dedys. þou hast
seid fewe. {and} of þe vnhonestee or falsnesse of þinges
þat ben opposed aȝeins þe. þou hast remembred þinges 588
þat be{n} knowe to alle folk.

[Sidenote: Boethius has rightfully and briefly recounted the
frauds of his accusers.]

and of þe felonies {and}
fraudes of þine accuso{ur}s. it semeþ þe haue I-touched
it forsoþe ryȝtfully {and} schortly. ¶ Al myȝten þo
same þinges bettere {and} more plentiuousely be couth [[pg 25]]
in þe mouþe of þe poeple þ{a}t knoweþ al þis. ¶ Þou 593
hast eke blamed gretly {and} compleyned of þe wrongful
dede of þe senat. ¶ And þou hast sorwed for my
blame.

[Sidenote: Thou hast, said Philosophy, bewailed the loss of thy
good name, thou hast complained against Fortune, and against the
unequal distribution of rewards and punishments.]

{and} þou hast wepen for þe damage of þi renoune 596
þat is appaired. {and} þi laste sorwe eschaufed
aȝeins fortune {and} co{m}pleinest þat gerdou{n}s ne ben not
euenliche ȝolde to þe desertes of folk. {and} in þe l{att}re
ende of þi woode muse þou p{r}iedest þ{a}t þilke pees þat 600
gouerneþ þe heuene scholde gou{er}ne þe erþe ¶ But
for þat many tribulac{i}ou{n}s of affecc{i}ou{n}s han assailed
þe. {and} sorwe {and} Ire {and} wepyng todrawen þee
dyuersely

[Sidenote: Strong medicines are not proper for thee now,
distracted by grief, anger, and sadness.]

¶ As þou art now feble of þouȝt. myȝtyer 604
remedies ne schullen not ȝit touchen þe for whiche
we wil[e] vsen somedel lyȝter medicines.

[Sidenote: Light medicines must prepare thee for sharper
remedies.]

So þat þilk[e]
passiou{n}s þat ben woxen harde in swellyng by p{er}turbac{i}ou{n}
folowyng in to þi þouȝt mowen woxe esy 608
{and} softe to receyue{n} þe strenkeþ of a more myȝty {and}
more egre medicine by an esier touchyng.

[Linenotes:
560 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
_haue_--han
_don_--MS. done, C. don
562 _born_--MS. borne, C. born
566 _hys_--hise
_putte_--put
568 _be_--ben
571 _haþ_--MS. haþe
572 _house_--hows
574 [_and----clos_]--from C.
576 _wille_--wyl
_enhabit[e]_--enhabyte
578 _seye_--sey
_amoeueþ_--moueth
579 _myche_--mochel
_owen_--owne
_ne_ (2)--omitted
582 _putte_ (_both_)--put
_somtyme_--whilom
585 _decertes_--desertes
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyde
586 _soþe_--soth
587 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
588 _opposed_--aposyd
599 _knowe_--knowyn
592 _be couth_--MS. be couth{e}, C. ben cowth
596 _wepen_--wopen
597 _laste_--last
_eschaufed_--eschaufede
598 _not_--omitted
599 _ȝolde_--yolden
602 _many_--manye
604 _myȝtyer_--myhtyer{e}
605 _whiche_--which
606 _wil[e]_--wol
_lyȝter_--lyhter{e}
_þilk[e]_--thilke
607 _harde_--hard
608 _folowyng_--Flowyng
_woxe_--wexen
610 _esier_--esyer{e}]

[Headnote:
PHILOSOPHY QUESTIONS BOETHIUS.]

CU{M} PHEBI RADIIS G{RA}UE CA{N}C{R}I SID{US} ENESTUAT.

[Sidenote: [The sixte met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: He who sows his seed when the sun is in the Sign of
Cancer, must look for no produce.]

++Whan þat þe heuy sterre of þe cancre eschaufeþ by
þe beme of pheb{us}. þat is to seyne whan þat pheb{us} 612
þe sonne is in þe signe of þe Cancre. Who so ȝeueþ
þan largely hys sedes to þe feldes þat refuse to receiuen
hem. lete hym gon bygyled of trust þat he
hadde to hys corn. to acorns or okes.

[Sidenote: Think not to ingather violets in the wintry and stormy
season.]

yif þou wilt 616
gadre violettȝ. ne go þou not to þe purp{er} wode whan
þe felde chirkynge agriseþ of colde by þe felnesse of
þe wynde þat hyȝt aquilon

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

Yif þou desirest or
¶ wolt vsen grapes ne seke þou nat wiþ a gloto{n}us hande [[pg 26]]
to streine {and} p{re}sse þe stalkes of þe vine in þe first 621
somer sesou{n}. for bachus þe god of wyne haþ raþer
ȝeuen his ȝiftes to autu{m}pne þe latter ende of somer.

[Sidenote: To every work God assigns a proper time, nor suffers
anything to pass its bounds.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 8.]]

¶ God tokeniþ {and} assigneþ *þe tymes. ablyng hem 624
to her p{ro}pre offices. ¶ Ne he ne suffreþ not stoundes
whiche þat hym self haþ deuided {and} co{n}streined to
be medeled to gidre

[Sidenote: Success does not await him who departs from the
appointed order of things.]

¶ And forþi he þat forleteþ
certeyne ordinaunce of doynge by ou{er}þrowyng wey. 628
he ne haþ no glade issue or ende of hys werkes.

[Linenotes:
612 _beme_--beemes
_seyne_--seyn
614 _hys_--hise
_refuse_--refusen
615 after _hem_ C. adds [s. corn]
_lete hym gon_ (MS. _gone_)--lat hym gon
616 _or_--of
_wilt gadre_--wolt gadery
618 _felde_--feeld
_felnesse_--felnesses
619 _hyȝt_--hyhte
620 _hande_--hond
622 _haþ_--MS. haþe
625 _her propre_--heer{e} propres
_not_--nat the
626 _haþ_--MS. haþe
627 _be medeled_--ben I-medled
628 _certeyne_--certeyn
629 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote:
DISCOVERS THE CAUSE OF HIS DISTEMPER.]

PRIMU{M} IGITUR PATERIS ROGACIONIB{US}.

[Sidenote: [The syxte p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: Philosophy proposes to question Boethius.]

++FIrst wolt þou suffre me to touche {and} assaie þe stat
of þi þouȝt by a fewe demaundes. so þat I may
vnderstonde what be þe manere of þi curac{i}ou{n}. ¶ Axe 632
me q{uod} .I. atte þi wille what þou wilt. {and} I schal
answer{e}.

[Sidenote: _P._ Is the world governed by Chance?]

¶ Þo saide sche þus. wheþer wenest þou q{uo}d
sche þ{a}t þis worlde be gouerned by foolisshe happes
{and} fortunes. or elles wenest þou þat þer be i{n} it any 636
gouerneme{n}t of resou{n}.

[Sidenote: _B._ By no means. The Creator presides over his own
works.]

Certes q{uod} .I. ne trowe not
in no manere þat so certeyne þinges scholde be moeued
by fortunouse fortune. but I wot wel þat god maker
{and} mayster is gouerno{ur} of þis werk.

[Sidenote: I shall never swerve from this opinion.]

Ne neuer nas 640
ȝit day þat myȝt[e] putte me oute of þe soþenesse of
þat sentence.

[Sidenote: _P._ Yes! Thou didst say as much when thou didst
declare man alone to be destitute of divine care.]

¶ So is it q{uod} sche. for þe same þing
songe þou a lytel here byforne {and} byweyledest {and}
byweptest. þat only men weren put oute of þe cure of 644
god. ¶ For of alle oþer þinges þou ne doutest nat
þat þei nere gouerned by reso{n}.

[Sidenote: Still thou seemest to labour under some defect even in
this conviction.]

but how (.i. pape.).
I wondre gretly certes whi þat þou art seek. siþen þou
art put in to so holesom a sentence. but lat vs seken 648
depper. I coniecte þat þere lakkeþ I not what. [[pg 27]]

[Sidenote: Tell me how the world is governed.]

but sey me þis. siþen þat þou ne doutest nat þ{a}t þis worlde
be gouerned by god ¶ wiþ swycche gouernailes takest
þou hede þat it is gouerned.

[Sidenote: _B._ I do not thoroughly comprehend your question.]

¶ vnneþ q{uod} .I. knowe 652
.I. þe sente{n}ce of þi q{ue}stiou{n}. so þat I ne may nat
ȝit answeren to þi demaundes.

[Sidenote: _P._ I was not deceived, then, when I said there was
some defect in thy sentiment.]

¶ I nas nat deceiued
q{uod} sche þat þere ne faileþ su{m}what. by whiche þe
maladie of p{er}turbac{i}ou{n} is crept in to þi þouȝt. so 656
as þe strengþe of þe paleys schynyng is open.

[Sidenote: Tell me what is the chief end of all things; and
whither all things tend.]

¶ But
seye me þis reme{m}brest þou ouȝt what is þe ende of
þi þinges. whider þat þe entenc{i}ou{n} of al kynde tendeþ.
¶ I haue herd told it somtyme q{uod} .I. but drerynesse 660
haþ dulled my memorie. ¶ Certys q{uod} sche
þou wost wel whe{n}nes þat alle þinges ben comen {and}
p{ro}ceded.

[Sidenote: _B._ God is the beginning of all things.]

I wot wel q{uod} .I. {and} ansewered[e] þat
god is þe bygynnyng of al.

[Sidenote: _P._ How, then, art thou ignorant of their end?]

¶ And how may þis be 664
q{uod} sche þat siþen þ{o}u knowest þe bygynnyng of
þinges. þat þou ne knowest not what is þe endyng of
þinges.

[Sidenote: But it is the nature of these perturbations (which thou
endurest) to unsettle men’s minds.]

but swiche ben þe customes of p{er}turbac{i}ou{n}s.
{and} þis power þei han. þat þei may moeue a ma{n} fro 668
hys place. þat is to seyne from þe stablenes {and} p{er}fecc{i}ou{n}
of hys knowyng. but certys þei may not al
arace hym ne alyene hy{m} in al. ¶ But I wolde þat
þou woldest answere to þis.

[Sidenote: Dost thou remember that thou art a man?]

¶ Remembrest þou þat 672
þou art a man

[Sidenote: _B._ Certainly I do.]

¶ _Boice._ ¶ Whi scholde I nat remembre
þat q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ What is man?]

_Philosophie._ ¶ Maiste þou not telle
me þan q{uod} sche what þing is a man.

[Sidenote: _B._ If you ask me whether I am a rational and mortal
creature, I know and confess I am.]

¶ Axest not
me q{uod} I. wheþir þat be a resonable best mortel. I 676
wot wel {and} I confesse wel þat I am it.

[Sidenote: _P._ But dost thou not know that thou art more than
this?]

¶ Wistest
þou neuer ȝit þat þou were ony oþer þing q{uod} she.

[Linenotes:
630 _wolt þou_--woltow
_stat_--estat
633 _atte_--at
_wilt_--wolt
635 _worlde_--world
_foolisshe_--foolyssh
636 _fortunes_--fortunows
638 _scholde_--sholden
639 _wot_--MS. wote, C. woot
641 _myȝt[e] putte_--myhte put
644 _put_--MS. putte
645 _doutest_--dowtedest
646 _how_--owh
647 _seek siþen_--syk{e} syn
648 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
649 _depper_--depper{e}
_not what_--not ner{e} what
650 _siþen_--syn
_worlde_--world
651 _takest þou_--takestow
658 _seye_--sey
_remembrest þou_--remenbres thow
_ouȝt_--omitted
659 _al_--alle
660 _herd told_--MS. herde tolde
_herd told it_--herd yt toold
661 _haþ_--MS. haþe
663 _proceded_--procedeth
_ansewered[e]_--answerede
664 _þe_--omitted
_al_--alle
665 _siþen_--syn
668 _fro_--owt of
669 _seyne from_--seyn fro
672 _Remembrest þou_--Remenbresthow
674 _Maiste þou_--Maysthow
675 _þan_--þanne
_þing_--thinge
_Axest_--Axestow
677 _Wistest þou_--wystesthow
678 _þing_--thinge]

[[pg 28]]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS NEEDS LIGHT REMEDIES.]

[Sidenote: _B._ No.]

No q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Now I know the principal cause of thy distemper.]

now wot I q{uod} she oþer cause of þi
maladie {and} þat ryȝt grete ¶ Þou hast left forto 680
knowe þi self what þou art. þoruȝ whiche I haue pleynelyche
knowen þe cause of þi maladie. or ellis þe
entre of recoueryng of þin hele.

[Sidenote: Thou hast lost the knowledge of thyself, thou knowest
not the end of things, and hast forgotten how the world is
governed.]

¶ Forwhy for þou
art co{n}founded wiþ forȝetyng of þi self. forþi sorwest 684
þou þat þou art exiled of þi p{ro}pre goodes. ¶ And
for þou ne wost what is þe ende of þinges. for[þi] demest
[þou] þat felono{us} {and} wikked men ben myȝty {and} weleful
for þou hast forȝeten by whiche gouernementȝ þe worlde 688
is gouerned. ¶ Forþi wenest þou þat þise mutac{i}ou{n}s
of fortune fleten wiþ oute{n} gouerno{ur}.

[Sidenote: These are not only great occasions of disease, but also
causes of death itself.]

þise ben grete
causes not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes to
deeþ

[Sidenote: I thank God that Reason hath not wholly deserted thee.]

¶ But I þanke þe auctour {and} þe makere of 692
heele þat nat{ur}e haþ not al forleten þe.

[Sidenote: I have some hope of thy recovery since thou believest
that the world is under Divine Providence, for this small spark
shall produce vital heat.]

{and} I haue
g[r]ete norissinges of þi hele. {and} þat is þe soþe sentence
of gou{er}nau{n}ce of þe worlde.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 8 _b_.]]

þat þou byleuest
þat þe gou{er}nynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput 696
to þe folie *of þise happes auenterouses. but to þe
resou{n} of god ¶ And þer fore doute þe noþing.
For of þis litel spark þine heet of lijf schal shine.

[Sidenote: But as this is not the time for stronger remedies, and
because it is natural to embrace false opinions so soon as we have
laid aside the true, from whence arises a mist that darkens the
understanding, I shall endeavour therefore to dissipate these
vapours so that you may perceive the true light.]

¶ But
for as muche as it is not tyme ȝitte of fastere remedies 700
¶ And þe nature of þouȝtes disseiued is þis þat as ofte
as þei casten aweye soþe opyniou{n}s: þei cloþen hem in
fals[e] opiniou{n}s. [of which{e} false opyniou{n}s] þe derknesse
of p{er}turbac{i}ou{n} wexeþ vp. þat comfoundeþ þe verray 704
insyȝt. {and} þat derkenes schal .I. say somwhat to
maken þi{n}ne {and} wayk by lyȝt {and} meenelyche remedies.
so þat after þat þe derknes of desseyuynge
desyrynges is don awey. þou mow[e] knowe þe schynyng 708
of verray lyȝt.

[Linenotes:
680 _hast left_--MS. haste lefte, C. hast left
681 _knowe_--knowen
_pleynelyche knowen_--pleynly fwonde [= founde]
684 _sorwest þou_--sorwistow
686 _for[þi] demest [þou]_--For thy demesthow
687 _wikked_--MS. wilked, C. wykkyd
688 _worlde_--world
689 _wenest þou_--wenestow
690 _outen_--owte
693 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_al_--alle
694 _þi_--thin
696 _vnderput_--vndyrputte
697 _to_ (2)--omitted
698 _fore_--for
_noþing_--nothinge
699 _spark þine heet_--sparke thin hete
700 _muche_--meche
702 _aweye_--away
703 [_of----opyniouns_]--from C.
705 _insyȝt_--insyhte
_say_--assaye
706 _lyȝt_--lyhte
708 _don_--MS. don{e}
_mow[e]_--mowe]

[[pg 29]]
[Headnote:
HE IS NOT TO TAKE HIS LOSSES TO HEART.]

NUBIB{US} ATRIS CONDITA.

[Sidenote: [The seuende Metyr.]]

[Sidenote: Black clouds obscure the light of the stars.]

++ÞE sterres cou{er}ed wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowen
geten a dou{n} no lyȝt.

[Sidenote: If the south wind renders the sea tempestuous, the
waves, fouled with mud, will lose their glassy clearness.]

Ȝif þe trouble wy{n}de þat
hyȝt auster stormynge {and} walwy{n}g þe see medleþ þe 712
heete þat is to seyne þe boylyng vp from þe botme
¶ Þe wawes þ{a}t somtyme weren clere as glas {and}
lyke to þe fair[e] bryȝt[e] dayes wiþstant anon þe
syȝtes of men. by þe filþe {and} ordure þat is resolued. 716
{and} þe fletyng streme þat royleþ dou{n} dyuersely fro
heyȝe mou{n}taignes is arestid {and} resisted ofte tyme
by þe encountrynge of a stoon þ{a}t is dep{ar}tid {and}
fallen from some roche. 720

[Sidenote: If thou wouldst see truth by the clearest light, pursue
the path of right.]

¶ And forþi yif þou wilt
loken {and} demen soþe wiþ clere lyȝt. {and} holde þe
weye wiþ a ryȝt paþe.

[Sidenote: Away with joy, fear, hope, and sorrow.]

¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þe
drede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe ap{ro}che.

[Sidenote: Let none of these passions cloud thy mind.]

þat is
to sein lat noon of þise four passiou{n}s ouer come þe. 724
or blynde þe.

[Sidenote: Where these things control, the soul is bound by strong
fetters.]

for cloudy {and} dirke is þilk þouȝt {and}
bounde w{i}t{h} bridles. where as þise þinges regnen.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.

[Linenotes:
710 _blak[e]_--blake
712 _stormynge_--turnyng
713 _from_--fro
714 _somtyme_--whilom
715 _lyke_--lyk
_fair[e]----wiþstant_ (MS. wiþstante)--fayr{e} cleer{e} dayes
{and} brihte withstand
716 _syȝtes_--syhtes
717 _streme_--strem
718 _heyȝe_--hy
720 _from some_--fram som
_wilt_--wolt
721 _soþe_--soth
_clere_--cleer
_holde_--holden
722 _weye_--wey
_paþe_--paath
724 _come_--comen
725 _blynde_--blende
_þilk_--thilke]

[Headnote:
PHILOSOPHY EXHIBITS TO BOETHIUS THE WILES OF FORTUNE.]

INCIPIT LIBER SECUNDUS.

POSTEA [PAU]LISPER CONTICUIT.

[Sidenote: [The fyrst p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: Philosophy exhorts Boethius not to torment himself on
account of his losses.]

++After þis she stynte a litel. and after þat she hadde
gadred by atempre stillenesse myn attenciou{n} she 728
seide þus.

[Sidenote: Thou art, she says, affected by the loss of thy former
fortune.]

¶ As who so myȝt[e] seye þus. After þise
þinges she stynt[e] a lytel. {and} whanne she ap{er}ceiued[e]
by atempre stillenesse þat I was ententif to
herkene hire. she bygan to speke in þis wyse. ¶ Yif 732
I q{uod} she haue vnderstonde{n} {and} knowe vtterly þe [[pg 30]]
causes {and} þe habit of þi maladie. þou languissed {and}
art deffeted for talent {and} desijr of þi raþer fortune.

[Sidenote: It hath perverted thy faculties.]

¶ She þat ilke fortune only þat is chaunged as þou 736
feinest to þe ward. haþ p{er}uerted þe clerenesse {and} þe
astat of þi corage.

[Sidenote: I am well acquainted with all the wiles of that Prodigy
(_i. e._ Fortune).]

¶ I vnderstonde þe felefolde
colo{ur} {and} deceites of þilke merueillous monstre fortune.
and how she vseþ ful flatryng familarite wiþ hem 740
þat she enforceþ to bygyle. so longe til þat she co{n}founde
wiþ vnsuffreable sorwe hem þat she haþ left
in despeir vnpurueyed.

[Sidenote: Though she has left thee, thou hast not lost anything
of beauty or of worth.]

¶ and if þou remembrest wel
þe kynde þe maners {and} þe desert of þilke fortune. þow 744
shalt wel knowe as in hir þou neuer ne haddest ne
hast ylost any fair þing. But as I trowe I shal not
gretly trauaile to don þe remembren of þise þinges.

[Sidenote: Thou wert once proof against her allurements.]

¶ For þou were wont to hurtlen [{and} despysen] hir 748
wiþ manly wordes whan she was blaundissinge {and}
presente {and} p{ur}sewedest hir wiþ sentences þat were
drawe{n} oute of myne entre. þat is to seyne out of
myn i{n}formac{i}ou{n}

[Sidenote: But sudden change works a great alteration in the minds
of men, hence it is that thou art departed from thy usual peace of
mind.]

¶ But no sudeyne mutac{i}ou{n} ne 752
bytideþ nat wiþ oute{n} a maner chau{n}gyng of curages.
and so is it byfallen þat þou art dep{ar}ted a litel fro
þe pees of þi þouȝt.

[Sidenote: But with some gentle emollients I shall prepare thee
for stronger medicines.]

but now is tyme þat þou drynke
{and} atast[e] some softe {and} delitable þinges. so þat whan 756
þei ben entred wiþ i{n}ne þe. it mow make weye to
strenger drynkes of medycynes.

[Sidenote: Approach then, Rhetoric, with thy persuasive charms,
and therewith let Music also draw near.]

¶ Com nowe furþe
þerfore þe suasiou{n} of swetnesse Rethoryen. whiche
þat goþ oonly þe ryȝt wey whil she forsakeþ not myne 760
estatutȝ. ¶ And wiþ Rethorice com forþe musice a
damoisel of oure house þat syngeþ now lyȝter moedes
or p{ro}lac{i}ou{n}s now heuyer. [[pg 31]]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 9.]]

*what ayleþ þe man. what
is it þat haþ cast þe in to murnyng {and} in to wepyng. 764
I trow[e] þat þou hast sen some newe þing {and} uncouþe.

[Sidenote: Thou thinkest that Fortune is changed towards thee.]

¶ Þou wenest þat fortune be chaunged aȝeins þe

[Sidenote: But thou art deceived.]

¶ But þou wenest wrong. yif þou [þat] wene.

[Sidenote: In this misadventure of thine she hath preserved her
constancy in changing.]

Alwey þo ben hire maners. she haþ raþer [kept] as to 768
þe ward hire p{ro}pre stablenes in þe chaungyng of hyre
self. ¶ Ryȝt swyche was she whan she flatered[e]
þe. {and} desseiued[e] þe wiþ vnleueful lykynges of
false welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: You have seen the double face of this blind divinity.]

þou hast now knowen {and} ataynt 772
þe doutous or double visage of þilke blynde goddesse
fortune. ¶ She þat ȝit couereþ hir {and} wympleþ hir
to oþer folk. haþ shewed hir euerydel to þe. ¶ Ȝif
þou app{ro}uest hir {and} þenkest þat she is good. vse 776
hir maners {and} pleyne þe nat.

[Sidenote: If thou dost abhor her perfidy cast her off, for her
sports are dangerous.]

¶ And if þou agrisest
hir fals[e] trecherie. dispise {and} cast aweye hir þat
pleyeþ so harmefully. for she þat is now cause of so
myche sorwe to þe. sholde be to þe cause of pees {and} 780
[of] ioie. ¶ she haþ forsaken þe forsoþe. þe whiche
þat neuer man may be syker þat she ne shal forsake
hym. _Glose._ ¶ But naþeles some bookes han þe text
þus. For soþe she haþ forsaken þe ne þer nis no man 784
syker þat she ne haþ not forsaken.

[Sidenote: Is that happiness which is so transient?]

¶ Holdest þou
þan þilke welefulnesse p{re}ciouse to þe þat shal passen.

[Sidenote: Is the attendance of Fortune so dear to thee, whose
stay is so uncertain, and whose removal causes such grief?]

{and} is p{re}sent fortune derworþi to þe. whiche þat nis
not feiþful forto dwelle. {and} whan she goþ aweye þat 788
she bryngeþ a wyȝt in sorwe ¶ For syn she may nat
be wiþholde{n} at a mans wille. she makeþ hym a wrecche
whe{n} she dep{ar}teþ fro hym.

[Sidenote: What is she (Fortune) but the presage of future
calamity?]

¶ What oþer þing is
flitti{n}g fortune but a manere shewyng of wrycchednesse [[pg 32]]
þat is to comen. ne it ne suffriþ nat oo[n]ly to loken 793
of þing þat is p{re}sent byforne þe eyen of man. but
wisdom lokeþ {and} mesureþ þe ende of þinges.

[Sidenote: Her mutability should make men neither fear her threats
nor desire her favours.]

{and} þe
same chau{n}gyng from one to an oþer. þat is to seyne 796
fro aduersite to p{ro}sperite makeþ þat þe manaces of
fortune ne ben not forto dreden. ne þe flatrynges of
hir to ben desired. ¶ Þus atte þe last it byhoueþ þe
to suffren wiþ euene wille in pacience al þat is don 800
inwiþ þe floor of fortune. þat is to seyne in þis worlde.

[Linenotes:
727 _she_ (2)--I
729 _myȝt[e] seye_--myht{e} seyn
730 _stynt[e]_--stynte
732 _hire_--here
733 _knowe vtterly_--knowen owtrely
734 _languissed_--languyssest
737 _haþ_--MS. haþe
738 _astat_--estat
_felefolde_--feelefold
739 _colour_--colours
_deceites_ (MS. decrites)--deceytes
_merueillous_--meruayles
742 _haþ_--MS. haþe
743 _if_--yif
746 _any_ (MS. my)--any
_þing_--thinge
747 _trauaile_--travaylen
_don_--do
_remembren of_--remenbre on
748 [_and despysen_]--from C.
749 _was_--omitted
750 _were_--weren
751 _myne_--myn
_seyne_--sayn
752 _sudeyne_--sodeyn
753 _outen_--owte
757 _inne_--in
_mow----weye_--mowe maken way
758 _strenger_--strengere
_Com nowe furþe_--MS. Come; C. Com now forth
760 _goþ_--MS. goþe
761 _com_--MS. come, C. com
762 _house_--hows
_lyȝter_--lyhter{e}
763 _prolaciouns_--p{ro}basyons
_heuyer_--heuyer{e}
_ayleþ_--eyleth
765 _trow[e]_--trowe
_sen_--MS. sene, C. seyn
_some_--som
_þing_--thinge
_uncouþe_--vnkowth
766 _aȝeins_--ayein
767 _wenest_--weenes
[_þat_]--C. that
768 _haþ_--MS. haþe
[_kept_]--from C.
769 _stablenes in þe_--stabylnesse standeth in the
770 _swyche_--swich
771 _vnleueful_--vnlefful
775 _haþ_--MS. had, C. hat
776 _good_--MS. goode, C. god
777 _agrisest_--MS. agrised, C. agrysyst
778 _fals[e]_--false
780 _myche_--mochel
781 [_of_]--from C.
_haþ_--MS. haþe
783 _text_--texte
784 _haþ_--MS. haþe
785 _forsaken_--forsake
_Holdest þou_--holdestow
786 _þan_--thanne
_preciouse_--p{re}syes
787 _derworþi_--dereworthe
_whiche_--which
788 _feiþful_--feythfulle
_goþ_--MS. goþe
_aweye_--awey
790 _mans_--mannys
791 _when_--wan
_þing_--thinge
793 _suffriþ_--suffiseth
794 _of þing_--on thynge
_byforne_--MS. byforne byforne
_man_--a man
795 _mesureþ_--amesureth
796 _from one_--fram oon
_seyne_--seyn
797 _fro_--from
_to_--into
799 _atte þe last_--at the laste]

[Headnote:
PHILOSOPHY EXPOSTULATES WITH BOETHIUS.]

[Sidenote: If you submit to her yoke you must patiently endure her
inflictions.]

¶ Syþen þou hast oones put þi nekke vnder þe ȝokke
of hir. for if þou wilt write a lawe of wendyng {and} of
dwellyng to fortune whiche þat þou hast chosen frely 804
to be þi lady

[Sidenote: Impatience will only embitter your loss.]

¶ Art þou nat wrongful in þat {and}
makest fortune wroþe {and} asp{er}e by þin inpacience.
{and} ȝit þou mayst not chaungen hir.

[Sidenote: You cannot choose your port if you leave your vessel to
the mercy of the winds.]

¶ Yif þou co{m}mittest
[{and}] bitakest þi sayles to þe wynde. þou shalt 808
be shouen not þider þat þou woldest(:) but whider þat
þe wy{n}de shoueþ þe ¶ Yif þou castest þi seedes in þe
feldes þou sholdest haue in mynde þat þe ȝeres ben
oþer while plenteuous {and} oþ{er} while bareyne.

[Sidenote: You have given yourself up to Fortune; it becomes you
therefore to obey her commands.]

¶ Þou 812
hast bytaken þiself to þe gouernaunce of fortune.
{and} forþi it byhoueþ þe to ben obeisaunt to þe manere
of þi lady.

[Sidenote: Would you stop the rolling of her wheel?]

and enforcest þou þe to aresten or wiþstonden
þe swyftnesse {and} þe sweyes of hir to{ur}nyng 816
whele.

[Sidenote: Fool! if Fortune once became stable she would cease to
exist.]

¶ O þou fool of alle mortel fooles if fortune
bygan to dwelle stable. she cesed[e] þan to ben fortune.

[Linenotes:
801 _seyne_--seyn
_worlde_--world
802 _Syþen_--Syn
_ȝokke_--yok{e}
803 _if_--yif
_write_--wryten
804 _whiche_--which
805 _lady_--ladye
_Art þou_--Artow
806 _wroþe_--wroth
_þin_--thine
807 _chaungen_--chaunge
808 [_and_]--from C.
809 _þider_--thedyr
_whider_--whedyr
811 _haue_--han
814 _manere_--maneres
815 {and}--omitted
_wiþstonden_--withholden
816 _sweyes_--sweyȝ
818 _cesed[e]_--cesede]

[[pg 33]]
[Headnote:
THE INCONSTANCY OF FORTUNE.]

HEC CUM SUPERBA.

[Sidenote: [The fyrst met{ur}.]

[Sidenote: Fortune is as inconstant as the ebb and flow of
Euripus.]

++Whan fortune wiþ a proude ryȝt hande haþ turnid
hir chau{n}gyng stoundes she fareþ lyke þe maners 820
of þe boillyng eurippe. _Glose._ Eurippe is an arme of
þe see þ{a}t ebbith {and} flowiþ. {and} somtyme þe streme
is on one syde {and} somtyme on þat oþer. _Texte_

[Sidenote: She hurls kings from their thrones, and exalts the
captive.]

¶ She
cruel fortune kasteþ adoune kynges þat somtyme weren 824
ydred. {and} she deceiuable enhau{n}seth vp þe humble
chere of hym þat is discomfited.

[Sidenote: She turns a deaf ear to the tears and cries of the
wretched.]

{and} she neyþer hereþ
ne reccheþ of wrecched[e] wepynges. {and} she is so harde
þat she lauȝeþ {and} scorneþ þe wepyng of hem þe whiche 828
she haþ maked wepe wiþ hir free wille.

[Sidenote: Thus she sports and boasts her power and presents a
marvel to her servants if, in the space of an hour, a man is
hurled from happiness into adversity.]

¶ Þus she
pleyeþ {and} þ{us} she p{re}ueþ hir strengþe {and} sheweþ a
grete wondre to alle hir seruau{n}tȝ. ¶ Yif þat a wyȝt
is seyn weleful {and} ou{er}þrowe in an houre. 832

[Linenotes:
819 _proude_--prowd
_hande_--hand
_haþ_--MS. haþe
820 _lyke_--lik
821 _arme_--arm
822 _streme_--strem
823 _one_--o
821 _adoune_--adown
_somtyme_--whilom
825 _ydred_ (MS. _ydredde_)--ydrad
_humble_--vmble
827 _reccheþ_--rekkeþ
_wrecched[e]_--wrecchede
_harde_--hard
828 _lauȝeþ_--lyssheth
_wepyng_--wepynges
830 _strengþe_--strengthes]

[Headnote:
PROSPERITY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FELICITY.]

VELLEM AUTE{M} PAUCA.

[Sidenote: [The secunde p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: Philosophy expostulates with Boethius in the name of
Fortune.]

++CErtis I wolde plete wiþ þee a fewe þinges vsynge
þe wordes of fortune tak heede now þi self. yif þ{a}t
she axeþ ryȝt.

[Sidenote: Why do you accuse me (Fortune) as guilty?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 9 _b_.]]

*¶ O þou man wher fore makest þou
me gilty by þine euerydayes pleynynges. what wronges 836
haue I don þe.

[Sidenote: What goods or advantages have I deprived you of?]

what goodes haue I byreft þe þat weren
þine. stryf or plete wiþ me by fore what iuge þat þou
wilt of þe possessiou{n} of rycchesse or of dignites

[Sidenote: Can you prove that ever any man had a fixed property in
his riches?]

¶ And
yif þou maist shewe me þat euer any mortal man haþ 840
receyued any of þese þinges to ben his in p{ro}pre. þan
wol I graunt[e] frely þat [alle] þilke þinges were{n} þine
whiche þat þou axest.

[Sidenote: You came naked into the world, and I cherished you and
encompassed you with affluence.]

¶ Whan þat nature brouȝt[e] þe
forþe out of þi moder wombe. I receyued[e] þe naked 844
{and} nedy of al þing. {and} I norysshed[e] þe wiþ my [[pg 34]]
rychesse. {and} was redy {and} ententif þo{ru}ȝ my fauo{ur} to
sustene þe. ¶ And þat makeþ þe now i{n}pacient aȝeins
me. {and} I envirounde þe wiþ al þe habundaunce {and} 848
shinyng of al goodes þat ben in my ryȝt.

[Sidenote: Now that I have a mind to withdraw my bounty, be
thankful and complain not.]

¶ Now it
lykeþ me to wiþ drawe myne hande. þou hast had grace
as he þat haþ vsed of foreyne goodes. þou hast no ryȝt to
pleyne þe. as þouȝ þou haddest vtterly lorn alle þi 852
þinges. whi pleynest þou þan. I haue don þe no wrong.

[Sidenote: Riches and honours are subject to me.]

Ricches hono{ur}es {and} swyche oþer þinges ben of my
ryȝt.

[Sidenote: They are my servants, and come and go with me.]

¶ My seruauntes knowen me for hir lady. þei
comen wiþ me {and} dep{ar}ten whan I wende. I dar wel 856
affermen hardyly. þat yif þo þinges of whiche þou
pleynest þat þou hast forlorn hadde ben þine. þou ne
haddest not lorn he{m}.

[Sidenote: Shall I alone be forbidden to use my own right?]

¶ shal I þan only be defended
to vse my ryȝt.

[Sidenote: Doth not heaven give us sunny days and obscure the same
with dark nights?]

¶ Certis it is leueful to þe heuene to 860
make clere dayes. {and} after þat to keuere þe same dayes
wiþ derke nyȝtes.

[Sidenote: Is not the earth covered with frost as well as with
flowers?]

¶ Þe erþe haþ eke leue to apparaile
þe visage of þe erþe now w{i}t{h} floures {and} now wiþ
fruyt. {and} to confounde he{m} so{m}tyme wiþ raynes {and} 864
wiþ coldes.

[Sidenote: The sea sometimes appears calm, and at other times
terrifies us with its tempestuous waves.]

¶ Þe see haþ eke hys ryȝt to be somtyme
calme {and} blaundyshing wiþ smoþe water. {and}
somtyme to be horrible wiþ wawes {and} wiþ tempestes.

[Sidenote: Shall I be bound to constancy by the covetousness of
men?]

¶ But þe couetyse of men þat may not be staunched 868
shal it bynde me to be stedfast. syn þat stedfastnesse
is vnkouþ to my maneres. ¶ Swyche is my strengþe.

[Sidenote: I turn my rolling wheel and amuse myself with exalting
what was low, and bringing down what was high.]

{and} þis pley. I pley[e] co{n}tinuely. I tourne þe whirly{n}g
whele wiþ þe tournyng cercle ¶ I am glade to chaunge 872
þe lowest to þe heyeste. {and} þe heyest to þe loweste.

[Linenotes:
833 _plete_--pleten
834 _tak_--MS. take, C. tak
835 _makest þou_--makes thow
836 _wronges_--wro{n}ge
837 _don_--MS. done, C. don
_byreft_--MS. byrefte, C. byreft
838 _stryf_--MS. stryue, C. stryf
_plete_--pleten
_by fore_--by forn
839 _wilt_--wolt
_rycchesse_--rychesses
840 _shewe_--shewyn
_euer_--eu{er}e
_haþ_--MS. haþe
841 _þese_--tho
_his_--hise
842 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
[_alle_]--from C.
845 _al þing_--alle thinges
_norysshed[e]_--noryssede
846 _rychesse_--rychesses
848, 849 _al_--alle
848 _habundaunce_--abou{n}dau{n}ce
850 _wiþ----hande_--withdrawen myn hand
_had_--MS. hadde, C. had
851 _haþ_--MS. haþe
852 _vtterly_--outrely
_lorn_--MS. lorne, C. for lorn.
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 þe_--coeu{er}yn tho
862 _derke_--dirk
_erþe_--yer
_haþ_--MS. haþe
864 _confounde_--co{n}fownden
865 _haþ_--MS. haþe
866 _calme_--kalm
867 (2nd) _wiþ_--omitted
869 _stedfast_--stidefast
_stedfastnesse_--stidefastnesse
870 _vnkouþ_--MS. vnkouþe, C. vnkowth
_Swyche_--Swych
871 _pley[e]_--pleye
872 _whele_--wheel
_glade_--glad
_chaunge_--chaungy{n}]

[[pg 35]]
[Headnote:
BE SUBJECT TO FORTUNE’S CHANGES.]

[Sidenote: Ascend if you will, but come down when my sport
requires it.]

worþe vp yif þou wilt. so it be by þis lawe. þat þou
ne holde not þat I do þe wronge þouȝ þou descende
dou{n} whanne resou{n} of my pleye axeþ it.

[Sidenote: Know you not the history of Crœsus and of Paulus
Æmilius?]

Wost þou 876
not how Cresus kyng of lyndens of whiche kyng Cir{us}
was ful sore agast a litel byforne þat þis rewlyche
Cresus was cauȝt of Cirus {and} lad to þe fijr to be
brent. but þat a reyne desce{n}ded[e] dou{n} from heuene 880
þat rescowed[e] hym ¶ And is it out of þi mynde how
þat Paulus consul of Rome whan he hadde take þe
kyng of p{er}ciens weep pitou[s]ly for þe captiuitee of þe
self[e] kyng.

[Sidenote: What else does the weeping muse of Tragedy deplore but
the overthrow of kingdoms by the indiscriminate strokes of
Fortune?]

What oþer þinges bywaylen þe criinges of 884
Tragedies. but only þe dedes of fortune. þat wiþ an
vnwar stroke ouert{ur}neþ þe realmes of grete nobley
¶ _Glose._ Tragedie is to seyne a dite of a p{ro}sp{er}ite for
a tyme þat endiþ in wrechednesse.

[Sidenote: Did you not learn whilst a youth, that at the gates of
Jove’s palace stand two vessels, one full of blessings, the other
of woes?]

Lernedest nat þou 888
in grek whan þou were ȝonge þat in þe entre or in þe
seler of Iuppiter þer ben couched two tunnes. þat on
is ful of good þat oþer is ful of harme.

[Sidenote: What if you have drunk too deep of the first vessel?]

¶ What ryȝt
hast þou to pleyne. yif þou hast taken more plenteuously 892
of þe goode syde þat is to seyne of my rycchesse {and}
p{ro}sp{er}ites. {and} what eke. yif I be nat departed fro þe.

[Sidenote: My mutability gives thee hope of happier days.]

What eke. yif my mutabilitee ȝiueþ þe ryȝtful cause of
hope to han ȝit better þi{n}ges.