Chapter XVII: Appendix: To Introduction (3)

[Sidenote: Desire not to be exempted from the vicissitudes of
humanity.]

¶ Naþeles desmaie þe 896
nat in þi þouȝt. and þ{o}u þat art put in comune realme
of alle: ne desijr[e] nat to lyue by þine oonly p{ro}pre ryȝt.

[Linenotes:
874 _worþe_--worth
_wilt_--wolt
876 _doun_--adou{n}
_whanne_--wan
_pleye_--pley
_Wost þou_--wistesthow
877 _kyng_ (1)--the kyng
_lyndens_--lydyens
878 _byforne_--byforn
880 _reyne descended[e]_--rayn dessendede
_from_--fro
881 _rescowed[e]_--rescowede
882 _take_--takyn
885 _an_--a
886 _þe_--omitted
887 _seyne_--seyn
890 _tunnes_--tonnes
891 _harme_--harm
892 _hast þou_--hasthow
893 _seyne_--seyn
_rycchesse_--rychesses
894 _I be nat_--I ne be nat al
896 _better_--beter{e}
898 _lyue_--lyuen
_þine_--thin]

[Headnote:
THE COVETOUS ARE EVER DISCONTENTED.]

SI Q{UA}NTAS RAPIDIS.

[Sidenote: [the secu{n}de met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Though Plenty, from her teeming horn, poured down as
many riches on the world as there are sands on the sea-shore, or
stars in heaven, mankind would not cease to complain.]

++ÞOuȝ plentee þat is goddesse of rycches hielde adou{n}
wiþ ful horn. {and} wiþdraweþ nat hir hand. ¶ As 900
many recches as þe see turneþ vpwardes sandes whan it
is moeued wiþ rauysshing blastes. or ellys as many [[pg 36]]
rycches as þer shynen bryȝt[e] sterres on heuene on þe
sterry nyȝt. Ȝit for al þat mankynde nolde not cesce to 904
wope wrecched[e] pleyntes.

[Sidenote: Though Heaven may grant every desire, they will still
cry for more.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 10.]]

¶ And al be it so *þat
god receyueþ gladly her p{ra}yers {and} ȝeueþ hem as ful
large muche golde {and} app{ar}aileþ coueytous folk wiþ
noble or clere hono{ur}s. ȝit semeþ hem haue I-gete noþing. 908
but alwey her cruel ravyne deuourynge al þat þei
han geten shewiþ oþer gapinges. þat is to seye gapen
{and} desiren ȝit after moo rycchesse.

[Sidenote: What rein can restrain unbounded avarice?]

¶ What brideles
myȝten wiþholde to any certeyne ende þe desordene 912
coueitise of men ¶ Whan euere þe raþer þ{a}t it fletiþ in
large ȝiftis: þe more ay brenneþ in hem þe þrest of
hauyng.

[Sidenote: He who thinks himself poor, though he be rich, doth
truly labour under poverty.]

¶ Certis he þat quakyng {and} dredeful weneþ
hym seluen nedy. he ne lyueþ neu{er}e mo ryche. 916

[Linenotes:
899 _rycches_--rychesses
901 _recches_--rychesses
_vpwardes_--vpward
902 _rauysshing_--rauyssynge
903 _rycches_--rychesses
_bryȝt[e]_--bryhte
_on_ (1)--in
904 _nyȝt_--nyhtes
905 _wope wrecched[e]_--wepe wrecchede
906 _her_--hir
_ful_--fool
907 _muche_--meche
_folk_--men
908 _haue_--hauen
_I-gete_--I-getyn
909 _her_--hir
910 _seye_--seyn
911 _rycchesse_--rychesses
912 _wiþholde_--wytholden
_certeyne_--certeyn
914 _þrest_--thurst
915 _dredeful_--dredful
916 _lyueþ_--leueth]

[Headnote:
BOETHIUS IS NOT UNHAPPY.]

HIIS IGITUR SI PRO SE.

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

[Sidenote: If Fortune spake thus to you, you could not defend your
complaint.]

++Þerfore yif þat fortune spake wiþ þe for hir self in
þis manere. For soþe þou ne haddest [nat] what
þou myȝtest answere. and if þou hast any þi{n}g wherwiþ.
þou mayist ryȝtfully tellen þi co{m}pleynt. ¶ It 920
byhoueþ þe to shewen it. {and} .I. wol ȝeue þe space to
tellen it.

[Sidenote: _B._ What you have said is very specious, but such
discourses are only sweet while they strike our ears.]

¶ Certeynely q{uod} I þan þise ben faire
þinges {and} enoyntid wiþ hony swetnesse of rethorike
{and} musike. {and} only while þei ben herd þei ben 924
deliciouse.

[Sidenote: They cannot efface the deep impressions that misery has
made in the heart.]

¶ But to wrecches is a deppere felyng of
harme. þis is to seyn þat wrecches felen þe harmes þat
þei suffren more greuously þan þe remedies or þe delites
of þise wordes mowe gladen or comforten hem. so þat 928
whan þise þinges stynten forto sou{n}[e] in eres. þe sorwe [[pg 37]]
þat is inset greueþ þe þouȝt.

[Sidenote: _P._ So it is indeed; for my arguments are not designed
as remedies, but as lenitives only.]

Ryȝt so is it q{uod} she.
¶ For þise ne ben ȝit none remedies of þi maladie. but
þei ben a manere norissinges of þi sorwe ȝit rebel 932
aȝeyne þi curac{i}ou{n}.

[Sidenote: When time serves, I will administer those things that
shall reach the seat of your disease.]

¶ For whan þat tyme is. I shal
moue swiche þinges þat p{er}cen hem self depe.

[Sidenote: But you are not among the number of the wretched.]

¶ But
naþeles þ{a}t þou shalt not wilne to leten þi self a
wrecche. ¶ Hast þou forȝeten þe nou{m}bre {and} þe 936
manere of þi welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: I shall not speak of your happiness in being provided
for (in your orphanage) by the chief men of the city; nor of your
noble alliance with Festus and Symmachus;]

I holde me stille how þat
þe souerayn men of þe Citee toke{n} þe in cure {and}
kepynge whan þou were orphelyn of fadir {and} modir.
{and} were chosen i{n} affinite of p{r}inces of þe Citee. 940
¶ And þou bygu{n}ne raþer to ben leef {and} deere þan
forto ben a neyȝbo{ur}. þe whiche þing is þe most p{re}ciouse
kynde of any p{ro}pinquitee or aliau{n}ce þat may
ben. ¶ Who is it þat ne seide þou nere ryȝt weleful 944
wiþ so grete a nobley of þi fadres in lawe.

[Sidenote: nor of your virtuous wife, and manly sons.]

¶ {And} wiþ
þe chastite of þi wijf. {and} wiþ þe oportunite {and}
noblesse of þi masculyn children. þat is to seyne þi
sones {and} ou{er} al þis me lyst to passe of comune þinges. 948
¶ How þou haddest in þi þouȝt dignitees þat weren
warned to olde men. but it deliteþ me to comen now to
þe singuler vphepyng of þi welefulnesse. ¶ Yif any
fruyt of mortal þinges may han any weyȝte or price of 952
welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: Can you ever forget the memorable day that saw your two
sons invested with the dignity of Consuls?]

¶ Myȝtest þou euere forȝeten for any
charge of harme þat myȝt[e] byfallen. þe remembrau{n}ce
of þilke day þat þou sey[e] þi two sones maked conseillers.
{and} ylad to gidre from þin house vndir so gret 956
assemble of senatours. {and} vndir þe blyþenesse of poeple.
{and} whan þou say[e] hem sette in þe court in her
chaieres of dignites. ¶ Þou rethorien or p{ro}nou{n}cere [[pg 38]]
of kynges p{re}ysinges. deseruedest glorie of wit {and} of 960
eloquence.

[Sidenote: When in the circus you satisfied the expectant
multitude with a triumphal largess?]

whan þou sittyng bytwix þi two sones conseillers
in þe place þat hyȝt Circo. {and} fulfildest þe
abydyng of multitude of poeple þat was sprad about þe
wiþ large p{ra}ysynge {and} laude as me{n} syngen in victories. 964

[Sidenote: By your expressions you flattered Fortune, and obtained
from her a gift which never before fell to any private person.]

þo ȝaue þou wordes of fortune as I trowe. þat
is to seyne. þo feffedest þou fortune wiþ glosynge
wordes {and} desseiuedest hir. whan she accoied[e] þe
{and} norsshed[e] þe as hir owen delices. ¶ Þou hast 968
had of fortune a ȝifte þat is to seyn swiche gerdou{n}
þat she neu[er]e ȝaf to p{re}ue man

[Sidenote: Will you therefore call Fortune to account?]

¶ Wilt þou þerfore
leye a rekenyng wiþ fortune.

[Sidenote: She now begins, I own, to look unkindly on you; but if
you consider the number of your blessings, you must confess that
you are still happy.]

she haþ now twynkeled
first vpon þe wiþ a wykked eye. ¶ Yif þou considere 972
þe nou{m}bre {and} þe manere of þi blysses. {and} of þi
sorwes.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 10 _b_.]]

*þou maist nat forsake þat þou nart ȝit blysful.

[Linenotes:
918 [_nat_]--from C.
919 _if_--yif
920 _mayist_--mayst
_tellen_--defendyn
921 _ȝeue_--yeuyn
922 _þan_--thanne
_ben_--bet (= beth)
923 _swetnesse_--swetenesse
924 _while_--whil
_herd_--MS. herde
926 _harme_--harm
928 _mowe_--mowen
929 _soun[e]_-sowne
930 _inset_--MS. insette, C. inset
932 _sorwe_--sorwes
933 _aȝeyne_--ayein
934 _moue swiche_--moeue swych
938 _souerayn_--sou{er}ane
943 _neyȝbour_--neysshebo{ur}
944 _nere_--were
945 _nobley_--nobleye
_fadres_--fadyr-is
947 _seyne_--seyn
948 _lyst_--lyste
_passe of_--passen the
949 _þouȝt_--yowthe
950 _warned_--werned
952 _fruyt_--frute
_price_--p{r}is
953 _Myȝtest þow_--myhtes-thow
954 _harme_--harm
_myȝt[e] byfallen_--myhte befalle
955 _sey[e]_--saye
956 _from_--fro
_gret_--MS. grete, C. gret
958 _say[e]_--saye
_sette_--set
_her_--heer{e}
961 _bytwix_--bytwyen
962 _hyȝt_--hihte
963 _of_ (1)--of the
_about_--abowten
964 _wiþ_--w{i}t{h} so
965 _ȝaue_--MS. þan, C. yaue
_of_--to
966 _seyne_--seyn
967 _accoied[e]_--acoyede
968 _norsshed[e]_--noryssede
_owen_--owne
_þou----of_--thow bar away of
969 _had_--MS. hadde
_swiche_--swich
970 _preue_--pryue
971 _leye_--lye
_haþ_--MS. haþe
972 _wykked_--wyckede
973 _blysses_--blysse
974 _forsake_--forsakyn
_nart_--art
_blysful_--blysseful]

[Headnote:
ADVERSITY IS BUT TRANSIENT.]

[Sidenote: These evils that you suffer are but transitory.]

For if þou þerfore wenest þi self nat weleful for þinges
þat þo semeden ioyful ben passed. ¶ Þer nis nat whi 976
þou sholdest wene þi self a wrecche. for þinges þat now
semen soory passen also. ¶ Art þou now comen firste
a sodeyne gest in to þe shadowe or tabernacle of þis
lijf.

[Sidenote: Can there be any stability in human affairs, when the
life of man is exposed to dissolution every hour?]

or trowest þou þ{a}t any stedfastnesse be in mannis 980
þinges. ¶ Whan ofte a swifte houre dissolueþ þe same
man. þat is to seyne whan þe soule dep{ar}tiþ fro þe
body. For al þouȝ þat yelde is þer any feiþ þat fortunous
þinges willen dwelle.

[Sidenote: The last day of life puts an end to Prosperity.]

ȝit naþeles þe last[e] day 984
of a ma{n}nis lijf is a man{er}e deeþ to fortune. {and} also
to þilke þat haþ dwelt.

[Sidenote: What matters it then, whether you by death leave it, or
it (Fortune) by flight doth leave you?]

{and} þerfore what wenist þou
þar recche yif þou forlete hir i{n} dey{n}ge or ellys þ{a}t she
fortune forlete þe i{n} fleenge awey. 988

[Linenotes:
978 _soory_--sorye
_firste_--fyrst
979 _sodeyne_--sodeyn
_shadowe_--shadwe
980 _stedfastnesse_--stedefastnesse
981 _swifte_--swyft
_dissolueþ_--dyssoluede
983 _al þouȝ þat_--al þ{a}t thowgh
_fortunous_--fortune
984 _willen dwelle_--wolen dwellyn
_last[e]_--laste
986 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_wenist þou_--weenestow
987 _þar recche_--dar recke
988 _awey_--away]

[[pg 39]]
[Headnote:
MANY BLESSINGS STILL REMAIN.]

CUM PRIMO POLO.

[Sidenote: [The .iij. Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: The stars pale before the light of the rising sun.]

++Whan phebus þe sonne bygynneþ to spreden his clerenesse
w{i}t{h} rosene chariettes. þan þe sterre ydimmyd
paleþ hir white cheres. by þe flamus of þe so{n}ne þat
ouer comeþ þe sterre lyȝt. ¶ Þis is to seyn whan þe 992
sonne is risen þe day sterre wexiþ pale {and} lesiþ hir
lyȝt for þe grete bryȝtnesse of þe sonne.

[Sidenote: Westerly winds deck the wood with roses, but easterly
winds cause their beauty to fade.]

¶ Whan þe
wode wexeþ redy of rosene floures in þe first somer
sesou{n} þoruȝ þe breþe of þe wynde Zephirus þat wexeþ 996
warme. ¶ Yif þe cloudy wynde auster blowe felliche.
þan goþ awey þe fayrnesse of þornes.

[Sidenote: Now the sea is calm, and again it is tempestuous.]

Ofte þe see is
clere {and} calme wiþoute moeuy{n}g floodes. And ofte
þe horrible wynde aq{u}ilon moeueþ boylyng tempestes 1000
{and} ouer whelweþ þe see.

[Sidenote: If all things thus vary, will you trust in transitory
riches?]

¶ Yif þe forme of þis worlde
is so [ȝeelde] stable. {and} yif it to{ur}niþ by so many
entrechau{n}gynges. wilt þou þa{n} truste{n} in þe trublynge
fortunes of me{n}. wilt þou trowen i{n} flittyng goodes. 1004

[Sidenote: All here below is unstedfast and unstable.]

It is certeyne {and} establissed by lawe p{er}durable þat no
þi{n}g þ{a}t is engendred nys stedfast no stable.

[Linenotes:
989 _his_--hyr
990 _þan_--thanne
991 _flamus_--flambes
995 _redy_--rody
_rosene_--rosyn
997 _warme_--warm
998 _goþ_--MS. goþe, C. goth
_fayrnesse_--fayrenesse
999 _clere_--cleer
_calme_--kalm
1000 _wynde_--wynd
1001 _whelweþ_--welueeth
1002 [_ȝeelde_]--from C.
1003, 1004 _wilt þou_--wolthow
1003 _þan_--thanne
_trublynge_--towmbly{n}ge
1004 _in flittyng_--on flettynge
1005 _It is_--is it
1006 _no_--ne
_stable_--estable]

[Headnote:
MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.]

TUNC EGO UERA INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The ferthe prose.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot deny my sudden and early prosperity.]

++ÞAnne seide I þus. O norice of alle uertues þou
seist ful soþe. ¶ Ne I may nat forsake þe ryȝt[e] 1008
swifte cours of my p{ro}speritee. þat is to seine. þat
p{ro}speritee ne be comen to me wondir swiftly {and}
soone. but þis is a þing þat gretly smertiþ me whan it
remembreþ me.

[Sidenote: It is the remembrance of former happiness that adds
most to man’s infelicity.]

¶ For in alle aduersitees of fortune þe 1012
most vnsely kynde of contrariouse fortune is to han
ben weleful.

[Sidenote: _P._ Recollect that you have yet much affluence.]

¶ But þat þou q{uo}d she abaist þus þe
to{ur}ment of þi fals[e] opiniou{n} þat maist þou not ryȝtfully
blamen ne aretten to þinges. as who seiþ for þou [[pg 40]]
hast ȝitte many habundaunces of þinges. ¶ _Textus._ 1017
For al be it so þat þe ydel name of auenterouse welefulnesse
moeueþ þe now. it is leueful þat þou rekene
w{i}t{h} me of how many[e] þinges þou hast ȝit plentee. 1020

[Sidenote: What you esteemed most precious in your happy days, you
still retain, and ought therefore not to complain.]

¶ And þerfore yif þat þilke þing þat þou haddest for
most p{re}cious in alle þi rycchesse of fortune be kept
to þe by þe grace of god vnwemmed {and} vndefouled.
Mayst þou þa{n} pleyne ryȝtfully vpon þe myschief of fortune. 1024
syn þou hast ȝit þi best[e] þinges. ¶ Certys ȝit
lyueþ in goode poynt þilke p{re}cious hono{ur} of mankynde.

[Sidenote: Symmachus, dear to you as life, is safe and in health.]

¶ Symacus þi wyues fadir whiche þat is a
man maked al of sapience {and} of vertue. þe whiche 1028
man þou woldest b[i]en redely wiþ þe pris of þin owen
lijf. he byweyleþ þe wronges þat men don to þee. {and}
not for hym self. for he liueþ in sykernesse of any
sentence put aȝeins him.

[Sidenote: Your wife Rusticiana is also alive, and bewails her
separation from you.]

¶ And ȝit lyueþ þi wif þat 1032
is attempre of witte {and} passyng oþer women in clennes
of chastitee. and for I wol closen shortly her bountes
she is lyke to hir fadir. I telle þe welle þat she lyueþ
looþ of hir life. {and} kepiþ to þee oonly hir goost. {and} 1036
is al maat {and} ouer-comen by wepyng {and} sorwe for
desire of þe ¶ In þe whiche þing only I mot graunten
þat þi welefulnesse is amenused.

[Sidenote: Why need I mention your two sons, in whom so much of
the wit and spirit of their sire and grandsire doth shine?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 11.]]

¶ What shal I seyn
eke of þi two sones conseillours of whiche as of children 1040
of hir age þer shineþ *þe lyknesse of þe witte of
hir fadir {and} of hir eldefadir.

[Sidenote: And since it is the chief care of man to preserve life;
you are still most happy in the possession of blessings which all
men value more than life.]

and siþen þe souereyn
cure of alle mortel folke is to sauen hir owe{n} lyues.

[Linenotes:
1008 _soþe_--soth
_Ne I may_--Ne I ne may
1009 _seine_--seyn
1011 _a_--omitted
_gretly_--gretely
1012 _aduersitees_--adu{er}syte
1013 _most_--mooste
1014 _abaist_--abyest
1015 _tourment_--tormentȝ
_fals[e]_--false
1016 _seiþ_--MS. seiþe, C. seyh
1017 _ȝitte_--yit
1019 _leueful_--leefful
1020 _many[e] þinges_--manye grete thinges
1022 _alle_--al
1023 _þe by_--the yit by
1024 _myschief_--meschef
1025 _best[e]_--beste
1026 _lyueþ_--leueth
_goode_--good
1027 _whiche_--which
1028 _al_--alle
_of_ (2)--omitted
1029 _b[i]en_--byen
_owen_--owne
1030 _byweyleþ_--bewayleth
_don_--MS. done, C. don
1031 _liueþ_--leueth
1033 _witte_--wyt
_women_--wymmen
1034 _shortly_--shortely
1035 _lyke_--lik
_welle_--wel
1036 _hir life_--this lyf
1037 _maat_--maad
1038 _whiche_--weche
1039 _amenused_--amenyssed
_seyn_--(MS. seyne) seyn
1041 _lyknesse_--lykenesse
_witte_--wyt
1042 {and} (1)--or
_eldefadir_--eldyr fadyr
_siþen_--syn
1043 _folke_--folk]

[Headnote:
THE CONDITION OF HUMAN BLISS.]

¶ O how weleful art þou þouȝ þou knowe þi goodes. 1044
¶ But ȝitte ben þer þinges dwelly{n}g to þe wardes þat no [[pg 41]]
man douteþ þat þei ne ben more derworþe to þe þen
þine owen lijf.

[Sidenote: Dry up thy tears, thou hast still present comfort and
hope of future felicity.]

¶ And forþi drie þi teres for ȝitte nys
nat eueriche fortune al hateful to þe warde. ne ou{er} 1048
greet tempest haþ nat ȝit fallen vpon þe. whan þat þin
ancres cliue fast[e] þat neiþer wole suffre þe comfort of þis
tyme p{re}sent. ne þe hope of tyme comynge to passen
ne to falle{n}.

[Sidenote: _B._ I hope these will never fail me.]

¶ And I p{re}ie q{uod} I þat fast[e] mot[en] 1052
þei holden. ¶ For whiles þat þei halden. how so eu{er}e
þat þinges ben. I shal wel fleten furþe and eschapen.

[Sidenote: But do you not see how low I am fallen?]

¶ But þou mayst wel seen how greet[e] apparailes {and}
aray þat me lakkeþ þat ben passed awey fro me. 1056

[Sidenote: _P._ I should think that I had made progress if you did
not repine so at your fate.]

¶ I haue su{m}what auau{n}ced {and} forþered þe q{uod} she. if
þat þou anoie nat or forþenke nat of al þi fortune. As
who seiþ. ¶ I haue somwhat comforted þe so þat þou
tempest nat þe þus wiþ al þi fortune. syn þou hast 1060
ȝit þi best[e] þinges.

[Sidenote: It grieves me to hear you complain while you possess so
many comforts.]

¶ But I may nat suffre þin
delices. þat pleinst so wepyng. {and} anguissous for þat
oþer lakkeþ somwhat to þi welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: Every one, however happy, has something to complain
of.]

¶ For what
man is so sad or of so p{er}fit welefulnesse. þat he ne 1064
stryueþ or pleyneþ on some half aȝeine þe qualitee of
his estat.

[Sidenote: The condition of human enjoyment is anxious; for either
it comes not all at once, or makes no long stay when it does
come.]

¶ For whi ful anguissous þing is þe condiciou{n}
of mans goodes. ¶ For eyþer it comeþ al to
gidre to a wyȝt. or ellys it lasteþ not p{er}petuely. 1068

[Linenotes:
1044 _art þou þouȝ_--arthow yif
1045 _But ȝitte_--for yit
_dwellyng_--dwellyd
_wardes_--ward
1046 _þat_--than
_derworþe_--dereworthe
_þen þine_--than thin
1047 _ȝitte_--yit
1049 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_þin_--thyne
1050 _cliue fast[e]_--cleuen faste
_wole suffre_--wolen suffren
1052 _fallen_--faylen
_fast[e] mot[en]_--faste moten
1053 _holden_--halden
1054 _furþe_--forth
1055 _mayst_--mayste
_greet[e]_--grete
1058 _forþenke_--forthinke
1061 _best[e]_--beste
_suffre þin_--suffren thi
1063 _oþer_--ther
1064 _perfit_--parfyt
1065 _or_--and
_some half aȝeine_--som halue ayen
1067 _mans_--mannes
_comeþ al_--comth nat al
1068 _lasteþ_--last
_perpetuely_--p{er}petuel]

[Headnote:
HAPPINESS ARISES FROM CONTENTMENT.]

[Sidenote: One man is very wealthy, but his birth is obscure.]

¶ For som man haþ grete rycchesse. but he is asshamed
of hys vngentil lynage.

[Sidenote: Another is conspicuous for nobility of descent, but is
surrounded by indigence.]

{and} som man is renomed
of noblesse of kynrede. but he is enclosed in so
grete angre for nede of þinges. þat hym were leuer þat 1072
he were vnknowe.

[Sidenote: A third is blest with both advantages, but is
unmarried.]

and som ma{n} habundeþ boþe i{n}
rychesse {and} noblesse. but ȝit he bywaileþ hys chast[e]
lijf. for he haþ no wijf. [[pg 42]]

[Sidenote: This man is happy in a wife, but is childless, while
that other man has the joy of children, but is mortified by their
evil ways.]

¶ and som man is wel {and}
selily maried but he haþ no children. {and} norissheþ his 1076
ricchesse to þe heires of straunge folk. ¶ And som
man is gladded wiþ children. but he wepiþ ful sory for
þe trespas of his son or of his douȝtir.

[Sidenote: Thus we see that no man can agree easily with the state
of his fortune.]

¶ and for þis
þer accordeþ no wyȝt lyȝtly to þe condic{i}ou{n} of his fortune. 1080
for alwey to euery man þere is i{n} mest somwhat
þat vnassaieþ he ne wot not or ellys he drediþ þat he
haþ assaied.

[Sidenote: The senses of the happy are refined and delicate, and
they are impatient if anything is untoward.]

¶ {And} adde þis also þat euery weleful
man haþ a wel delicat felyng. ¶ So þat but yif alle 1084
þinges fallen at hys owen wille for he inpacient or is
nat vsed to han none aduersitee. an-oone he is þrowe
adoũne for euery lytel þing.

[Sidenote: The happiness of the most fortunate depends on
trifles.]

¶ And ful lytel þinges
ben þo þat wiþdrawen þe so{m}me or þe p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of 1088
blisfulnesse fro hem þat ben most fortunat.

[Sidenote: How many would think themselves in heaven if they had
only a part of the remnant of thy fortune!]

¶ How
many men trowest þou wolde demen hem self to ben
almost in heuene yif þei myȝten atteyne to þe leest[e]
p{ar}tie of þe remenaunt of þi fortune. ¶ Þis same place 1092
þat þou clepist exil is contre to hem þat enhabiten
here.

[Sidenote: Thy miseries proceed from the thought that thou art
miserable.]

{and} forþi. Noþing wrecched. but whan þou
wenest it

[Sidenote: Every lot may be happy to the man who bears his
condition with equanimity and courage.]

¶ As who seiþ. þouȝ þi self ne no wyȝt
ellys nys no wrecche but whan he weneþ hym self a 1096
wrecche by reputac{i}ou{n} of his corage.

[Linenotes:
1069 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1070 _renomed_--renowned
1072 _angre for_--Angwysshe of
_leuer_--leu{er}e
1074 _chast[e]_--caste
1075, 1076 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1076 _maried_--ymaryed
_his_--hise
1077 _ricchesse_--Rychesses
_heires_--eyres
_folk_--foolkys
1080 _þer_--þ{er} ne
1081 _mest_--omitted
1082 _vnassaieþ_--vnassaied
_wot_--MS. wote, C. wot
1083, 1084 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1084 _wel_--ful
1085 _fallen_--byfalle
_wille_--wyl
1086 _none_--non
_an-oone_--Anon
_þrowe_--throwen
1087 _adoũne_--adou{n}
1090 _wolde_--wolden
1095 _it_--hyt
_who_--ho
1096 _no_--a]

[Headnote:
THE SOURCE OF TRUE HAPPINESS.]

CONTRAQ{UE}.

[Sidenote: When patience is lost then a change of state is
desired.]

++And aȝeinewarde al fortune is blisful to a man by þe
agreablete or by þe egalite of hym þat suffreþ it.
¶ What man is þat. þat is so weleful þat nolde chau{n}ge{n} 1100
his estat whan he haþ lorn pacience. þe swetnesse of
mannes welefulnesse is yspranid wiþ many[e] bitternesses.
þe whiche welefulnesse al þouȝ it seme swete {and} [[pg 43]]
ioyeful to hym þat vseþ it. ȝit may it not be wiþ-holden 1104
þat it ne goþ away whan it wol.

[Sidenote: How much is human felicity embittered!]

¶ Þan is it wel sen
how wrecched is þe blisfulnesse of mortel þinges.

[Sidenote: It will not stay with those that endure their lot with
equanimity, nor bring comfort to anxious minds.]

þat neiþ{er} it dwelliþ p{er}petuel wiþ hem þat euery fortune
receyuen agreablely or egaly. ¶ Ne it ne deliteþ not in 1108
al. to hem þat ben anguissous.

[Sidenote: Why then, O mortals, do ye seek abroad for that
felicity which is to be found within yourselves?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 11 _b_.]]

¶ O ye mortel folkes
what seke *ȝe þan blisfulnesse oute of ȝoure self. whiche
þat is put in ȝoure self. Erro{ur} {and} folie co{n}fou{n}deþ
ȝow ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly. þe poynt of souereyne 1112
blisfulnesse.

[Sidenote: Nothing is more precious than thyself.]

Is þer any þing to þe more p{re}ciouse þan
þi self ¶ Þou wilt answere nay.

[Sidenote: If thou hast command over thyself, Fortune cannot
deprive thee of it.]

¶ Þan if it so be þat
þou art myȝty ouer þi self þat is to seyn by tranquillitee
of þi soule. þan hast þou þing i{n} þi power þat þou 1116
noldest neuer lesen. ne fortune may nat by-nyme it þe.

[Sidenote: Happiness does not consist in things transitory.]

{and} þat þou mayst knowe þat blisfulnesse [ne] may
nat standen in þinges þat ben fortunous {and} te{m}perel.

[Sidenote: If happiness be the supreme good of nature, then that
thing cannot be it which can be withdrawn from us.]

¶ Now vndirstonde {and} gadir it to gidir þus 1120
yif blisfulnesse be þe souereyne goode of nature þat
liueþ by resou{n} ¶ Ne þilke þing nis nat souereyne
goode þat may be taken awey in any wyse. for more
worþi þing {and} more digne is þilke þing þ{a}t may nat be 1124
taken awey.

[Sidenote: Instability of fortune is not susceptive of true
happiness.]

¶ Þan shewiþ it wele þat þe vnstablenesse
of fortune may nat attayne to receyue verray
blisfulnes. ¶ And ȝit more ouer.

[Sidenote: He who is led by fading felicity, either knows that it
is changeable or does not know it.]

¶ What man þat
þis toumblyng welefulnesse leediþ. eiþer he woot þat 1128
[it] is chaungeable. or ellis he woot it nat.

[Sidenote: If he knows it not, what happiness has he in the
blindness of his ignorance?]

¶ And yif
he woot it not. what blisful fortune may þer be in þe
blyndenesse of ignorau{n}ce. and yif he woot þat it is
chaungeable. he mot alwey ben adrad þ{a}t he ne lese 1132
þat þing. þat he ne douteþ nat but þat he may leesen it.

[Linenotes:
1098 _aȝeinewarde al_--ayeinward alle
1099 _it_--hyt
1101 _whan_--what
_haþ_--MS. haþe
_lorn_--MS. lorne, C. lost
1102 _yspranid_--spraynyd
_bitternesses_--beternesses
1104 _hym_--hem
_it_--hyt
_be_--ben
1105 _goþ_--MS. geþe
_wol_--woole
_sen_--MS. sene
1107 _dwelliþ_--dureth
1109 _folkes_--folk{e}
1110 _oute_--owt
1112 _shortly_--shortely
1114 _wilt_--MS. wilte, C. wolt
_if_--yif
1117 _by-nyme_--be-neme
1118 _blisfulnesse [ne]_--blyssefulnesse ne
1120 _to gidir_--to gidere
1121, 1122 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1125 _wele_--wel
1126 _receyue_--resseyuen
1129 [_it_]--from C.
_it_--hyt
1130 _be_--ben
1131 _blyndenesse_--blyndnesse]

[[pg 44]]
[Headnote:
RICHES DO NOT CONSTITUTE HAPPINESS.]

[Sidenote: If he knows it is fleeting he must be afraid of losing
it, and this fear will not suffer him to be happy.]

¶ As whoo seiþ he mot ben alwey agast lest he
leese þat he wot wel he may leese. ¶ For whiche þe
continuel drede þat he haþ ne suffriþ hym nat to ben 1136
weleful. ¶ Or ellys yif he leese it he wene to be
dispised {and} forleten hit. ¶ Certis eke þat is a ful
lytel goode þat is born wiþ euene hert[e] whan it is
loost. ¶ Þat is to seyne þat men don no more force. 1140
of þe lost þan of þe hauynge.

[Sidenote: Since thou art convinced of the soul’s immortality,
thou canst not doubt that if death puts an end to human felicity,
that all men when they die, are plunged into the depths of
misery.]

¶ And for as myche as
þou þi self art he to who{m} it haþ ben shewid {and} p{ro}ued
by ful many[e] demonstrac{i}ou{n}s. as I woot wel þat þe
soules of men ne mowen nat dien in no wise. and eke 1144
syn it is clere. {and} certeyne þat fortunous welefulnesse
endiþ by þe deeþ of þe body. ¶ It may nat ben douted
þat yif þat deeþ may take awey blysfulnesse þat al þe
kynde of mortal þi{n}g{us} ne descendiþ in to wrecchednesse 1148
by þe ende of þe deeþ.

[Sidenote: But we know that many have sought to obtain felicity,
by undergoing not only death, but pains and torments.]

¶ And syn we knowen
wel þat many a man haþ souȝt þe fruit of blisfulnesse
nat only wiþ suffryng of deeþ. but eke wiþ suffryng of
peynes {and} to{ur}mentes.

[Sidenote: How then can this present life make men truly happy,
since when it is ended they do not become miserable?]

how myȝt[e] þan þis p{re}sent 1152
lijf make men blisful. syn þat whanne þilke self[e]
lijf is endid. it ne makeþ folk no wrecches.

[Linenotes:
1134 _it_--hyt
_seiþ_--MS. seiþe, C. seyth
1135 _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot
_leese_ (2)--leese it
_whiche_--which
1136 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1137 _ellys_--omitted
_wene_--weneth
1138 _hit_--omitted
1139 _goode_--good
_born_--MS. borne, C. born
_hert[e]_--herte
1140 _seyne_--seyn
_don_--MS. done, C. do
_force_--fors
1142 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1143 _many[e]_--manye
1144 _mowen_--mowe
_dien_--deyen
1145 _clere_--cleer
_certeyne_--certeyn
1147 _al_--alle
1150 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_fruit_--frut
1152 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
1153 _make_--maken
_self[e]_--selue]

[Headnote:
RICHES HAVE NO INTRINSIC VALUE.]

QUISQUIS UOLET[2] P{ER}HENNEM CAUTUS.

[Footnote 2: MS. ualet.]

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

[Sidenote: He who would have a stable and lasting seat must not
build upon lofty hills; nor upon the sands, if he would escape the
violence of winds and waves.]

++What maner man stable {and} war þat wil founden hym
a p{er}durable sete {and} ne wil not be cast doune 1156
wiþ þe loude blastes of þe wynde Eurus. {and} wil dispise
þe see manassynge wiþ floodes ¶ Lat hym eschewe to
bilde on þe cop of þe mou{n}tay{n}gne. or in þe moyste
sandes. ¶ For þe fel[le] wynde auster to{ur}menteþ þe cop 1160
of þe mou{n}tayngne wiþ alle his strengþes. ¶ and þe
lowe see sandes refuse to beren þe heuy weyȝte. [[pg 45]]

[Sidenote: If thou wilt flee perilous fortune, lay thy foundation
upon the firmer stone, so that thou mayst grow old in thy
stronghold.]

{and} forþi yif þou wolt flee þe p{er}ilous auenture þat is to
seine of þe worlde ¶ Haue mynde certeynly to ficchyn 1164
þi house of a myrie site in a lowe stoone. ¶ For al
þouȝ þe wynde troublyng þe see þondre wiþ ouereþrowynges
¶ Þou þat art put i{n} quiete {and} welful by
strengþe of þi palys shalt leden a cleer age. scornyng 1168
þe wodenesses and þe Ires of þe eir.

[Linenotes:
1155, 1156, 1157 _wil_--wole
1156 _be cast_--MS. be caste, C. ben cast
1157 _wynde_--wynd
1158 _eschewe_--eschewen
1160 _fel[le]_--felle
1161 _his_--hise
1162 _lowe_--lavse
_see_--omitted
_refuse_--refusen
_weyȝte_--wyhte
1163 _flee_--fleen
1164 _seine_--seyn
1165 _þi_--thin
_lowe stoone_--lowh stoon
1167 _welful_--weleful
1169 _wodenesses_--woodnesses]

[Headnote:
GLORY NOT IN RICHES; THEY ADD NOTHING TO VIRTUE.]

SET CUM RACIONU{M} IAM IN TE.

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

[Sidenote: It is now time to use stronger medicines, since lighter
remedies have taken effect.]

++But for as moche as þe noryssinges of my resou{n}s
descenden now in to þe. I trowe it were tyme to
vsen a litel strenger medicynes.

[Sidenote: What is there in the gifts of Fortune that is not vile
and despicable?]

¶ Now vndirstonde 1172
here al were it so þat þe ȝiftis of fortune nar[e] nat
brutel ne t{ra}nsitorie.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 12.]]

what is þer in hem þat may be
þine *in any tyme. or ellis þat it nys foule if þat it be
considered {and} lokid p{er}fitely.

[Sidenote: Are riches precious in themselves, or in men’s
estimation?]

¶ Richesse ben þei 1176
p{re}ciouse by þe nature of hem self. or ellys by þe
nature of þe.

[Sidenote: What is most precious in them, quantity or quality?]

What is most worþi of rycchesse. is it
nat golde or myȝt of moneye assembled.

[Sidenote: Bounty is more glorious than niggardliness.]

¶ Certis
þilke golde {and} þilke moneye shineþ {and} ȝeueþ better 1180
renou{n} to hem þat dispenden it. þen to þilke folke þat
mokeren it.

[Sidenote: Avarice is always hateful, while liberality is
praise-worthy.]

For auarice makeþ alwey mokeres to be
hated. {and} largesse makeþ folke clere of renou{n}
¶ For syn þat swiche þi{n}g as is t{ra}nsfered from o 1184
man to an oþer ne may nat dwellen wiþ no man.

[Sidenote: Money cannot be more precious than when it is dispensed
liberally to others.]

Certis þan is þilke moneye p{re}cious. whan it is translated
in to oþer folk. {and} stynteþ to ben had by
vsage of large ȝeuy{n}g of hym þat haþ ȝeuen it. 1188

[Sidenote: If one man’s coffers contained all the money in the
world, every one else would be in want of it.]

{and} also yif al þe moneye þat is ouer-al in þe world were
gadered towar[d] o man. it sholde maken al oþer men [[pg 46]]
to ben nedy as of þat. ¶ And certys a voys al hool
þat is to seyn wiþ-oute amenusynge fulfilleþ to gyder 1192
þe heryng of myche folke.

[Sidenote: Riches cannot be dispensed without diminution.]

but Certys ȝoure rycchesse
ne mowen nat passen vnto myche folk wiþ-oute amenussyng
¶ And whan þei ben apassed. nedys þei maken
hem pore þat forgon þe rycchesses.

[Sidenote: O the poverty of riches, that cannot be enjoyed by many
at the same time, nor can be possessed by one without
impoverishing others!]

¶ O streite {and} 1196
nedy clepe I þise rycchesses. syn þat many folke [ne]
may nat han it al. ne al may it nat comen to on man
wiþ-oute pouerte of al oþer folke. ¶ And þe shynynge
of ge{m}mes þat I clepe p{re}ciouse stones. draweþ it nat 1200
þe eyen of folk in to hem warde. þat is to seyne for þe
beaute.

[Sidenote: The beauty of precious stones consists only in their
brightness, wherefore I marvel that men admire that which is
motionless, lifeless, and irrational.]

¶ For certys yif þer were beaute or bounte
in shynyng of stones. þilke clerenesse is of þe stones
hem self. {and} nat of men. ¶ For whiche I wondre 1204
gretly þat men merueilen on swiche þinges. ¶ For
whi what þing is it þat yif it wa{n}teþ moeuyng {and}
ioynture of soule {and} body þat by ryȝt myȝt[e] semen
a faire creature to hym þat haþ a soule of resou{n}. 1208

[Sidenote: Precious stones are indeed the workmanship of the
Creator, but their beauty is infinitely below the excellency of
man’s nature.]

¶ For al be it so þat ge{m}mes drawen to hem self a
litel of þe laste beaute of þe worlde. þoruȝ þe entent
of hir creato{ur} {and} þoruȝ þe distincc{i}ou{n} of hem self.
ȝit for as myche as þei ben put vndir ȝoure excellence. 1212
þei han not desserued by no weye þat ȝe shullen
merueylen on hem.

[Sidenote: Doth the beauty of the field delight thee?]

¶ And þe beaute of feeldes deliteþ
it nat mychel vnto ȝow.

[Sidenote: _B._ Why should it not? for it is a beautiful part of a
beautiful whole.]

_Boyce._ ¶ Whi sholde it nat
deliten vs. syn þat it is a ryȝt fayr porciou{n} of þe ryȝt 1216
fair werk. þat is to seyn of þis worlde.

[Sidenote: Hence, we admire the face of the sea, the heavens, as
well as the sun, moon, and stars.]

¶ And ryȝt
so ben we gladed somtyme of þe face of þe see whan
it is clere. And also merueylen we on þe heuene {and}
on þe sterres. {and} on þe sonne. {and} on þe mone. [[pg 47]]

[Sidenote: _P._ Do these things concern thee? darest thou glory in
them?]

_Philosophie._ ¶ App{er}teineþ q{uo}d she any of þilke 1221
þinges to þe. whi darst þou glorifie þe in þe shynynge
of any swiche þinges.

[Sidenote: Do the flowers adorn you with their variety?]

Art þou distingwed {and} embelised
by þe spryngyng floures of þe first somer 1224
sesou{n}. or swelliþ þi plente in fruytes of somer. whi
art þou rauyshed wiþ ydel ioies.

[Sidenote: Why embracest thou things wherein thou hast no
property?]

why enbracest þou
straunge goodes as þei weren þine.

[Sidenote: Fortune can never make that thine which the nature of
things forbids to be so.]

Fortune shal neuer
maken þat swiche þinges ben þine þat nature of þinges 1228
maked foreyne fro þe.

[Sidenote: The fruits of the earth are designed for the support of
beasts.]

¶ Syche is þat wiþ-oute{n}
doute þe fruytes of þe erþe owen to ben on þe
norssinge of bestes.

[Sidenote: If you seek only the necessities of nature, the
affluence of Fortune will be useless.]

¶ And if þou wilt fulfille þi
nede after þat it suffiseþ to nature þan is it no nede 1232
þat þou seke after þe sup{er}fluite of fortune.

[Sidenote: Nature is content with a little, and superfluity will
be both disagreeable and hurtful.]

¶ For
wiþ ful fewe þinges {and} w{i}t{h} ful lytel þing nature
halt hire appaied. {and} yif þou wilt achoken þe fulfillyng
of nat{ur}e wiþ sup{er}fluites ¶ Certys þilke 1236
þinges þ{a}t þou wilt þresten or pouren in to nature
shullen ben vnioyeful to þe or ellis anoies.

[Sidenote: Does it add to a man’s worth to shine in variety of
costly clothing?]

¶ Wenest
þou eke þat it be a fair þinge to shine wiþ dyuerse
cloþing.

[Sidenote: The things really to be admired are the beauty of the
stuff or the workmanship of it.]

of whiche cloþing yif þe beaute be agreable 1240
to loken vpon. I wol merueylen on þe nature of þe
matere of þilke cloþes. or ellys on þe werkeman þat
wrouȝt[e] hem.

[Sidenote: Doth a great retinue make thee happy?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 12 _b_.]]

but al so a longe route of meyne. makiþ
þat a blisful *man.

[Sidenote: If thy servants be vicious, they are a great burden to
the house, and pernicious enemies to the master of it.]

þe whiche seruauntes yif þei ben 1244
vicioũs of condic{i}ou{n}s it is a greet charge {and} a
destrucc{i}ou{n} to þe house. {and} a g{r}eet enmye to þe lorde
hym self

[Sidenote: If they be good, why should the probity of others be
put to thy account?]

¶ {And} yif þei ben goode men how shal
straung[e] or foreyne goodenes ben put in þe nou{m}bre 1248
of þi rycchesse.

[Sidenote: Upon the whole, then, none of those enjoyments which
thou didst consider as thy own did ever properly belong to thee.]

so þ{a}t by alle þise forseide þinges. it is
clerly shewed þat neuer none of þilke þinges þat þou
accou{m}ptedest for þin goodes nas nat þi goode.

[Sidenote: If they be not desirable, why shouldst thou grieve for
the loss of them?]

¶ In
þe whiche þinges yif þer be no beaute to ben desired. 1252

[Linenotes:
1172 _strenger_--strenger{e}
_vndirstonde_--vndyrstond
1173 _nar[e]_--ne weere
1174 _be þine_--ben thyn
1175 _foule_--fowl
1176 _Richesse_--Rychessis
1178 _rycchesse_--rychesses
1179, 1180 _golde_--gold
1180 _better_--betere
1181 _þen_--thanne
1182 _mokeres_--mokereres
1183 _folke clere_--folk cler
1184 _swiche_--swich
_from_--fram
1187 _stynteþ_--stenteth
1188 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1189 _world_--worlde
1190 _al_--alle
1191 _al hool_--omitted
1193 _myche folke_--moche folk{e}
_rycchesse_--rychesses
1194 _myche_--moche
1196 _forgon_--MS. forgone
1197 _þise_--this
_rycchesses_--rychesse
[_ne_]--from C.
1198 _on_--o
1199 _wiþ-oute_--with-owten
_al_--alle
_folke_--folk{e}
1200 _preciouse_--p{re}syous
1201 _in_--omitted
_warde_--ward
_seyne_--seyn
1202 _beaute_ (1)--beautes
_For_--but
1203 _in_--in the
1204 _whiche_--which
1207 _ioynture_--Ioyngture
1208 _faire_--fayr
_haþ_--MS. haþe
1210 _laste_--last
_worlde_--world
1212 _myche_--mochel
1213 _desserued_--MS. desseyued, C. desseruyd
_weye_--wey
_shullen_--sholden
1215 _mychel_--mochel
1217 _fair werk_--fayr{e} werke
_worlde_--world
1219 _clere_--cler
1222 _darst þou glorifie_--darsthow gloryfyen
1225 _in_--in the
1229 _Syche_--Soth
1230 _on_--to
1231, 1235, 1237 _wilt_--wolt
1238 _shullen_--shollen
1239 _fair_--fayre
1240 _whiche_--which
1242 _werkeman_--werkman
1246 _house_--hows
_lorde_--lord
1248 _goodenes_--goodnesse
1250 _shewed_--I-shewyd
_none_--oon
1251 _þin_--thine
_goode_--good]

[[pg 48]]
[Headnote:
RICHES BRING ANXIETIES.]

whi sholdest þou be sory yif þou leese hem. or whi
sholdest þou reioysen þe to holden hem.

[Sidenote: If they are fair by nature, what is that to thee?]

¶ For if þei
ben fair of hire owen kynde. what app{er}teneþ þat to þe.

[Sidenote: They would be equally agreeable whether thine or not.]

for as wel sholde þei han ben faire by hem self. 1256
þouȝ þei were{n} dep{ar}tid from alle þin rycchesse.

[Sidenote: They are not to be reckoned precious because they are
counted amongst thy goods, but because they seemed so before thou
didst desire to possess them.]

¶ For-why
faire ne p{re}cioũs ne weren þei nat. for þat þei
comen amonges þi rycchesse. but for þei semeden fair
{and} p{re}cious. þerfore þou haddest leuer rekene hem 1260
amonges þi rycchesse.

[Sidenote: What, then, is it we so clamorously demand of Fortune?]

but what desirest þou of fortune
wiþ so greet a noyse {and} wiþ so greet a fare

[Sidenote: Is it to drive away indigence by abundance?]

¶ I
trowe þou seke to dryue awey nede wiþ habundaunce
of þinges.

[Sidenote: But the very reverse of this happens, for there is need
of many helps to keep a variety of valuable goods.]

¶ But certys it turneþ to ȝow al in þe 1264
contrarie. for whi certys it nediþ of ful many[e] helpynges
to kepen þe dyuersite of preciouse ostelmentȝ.

[Sidenote: They want most things who have the most.]

and soþe it is þat of many[e] þinges han þei nede þat
many[e] þinges han.

[Sidenote: They want the fewest who measure their abundance by the
necessities of nature, and not by the superfluity of their
desires.]

{and} aȝeyneward of litel nediþ 1268
hem þat mesuren hir fille after þe nede of kynde {and}
nat after þe outrage of couetyse

[Sidenote: Is there no good planted within ourselves, that we are
obliged to go abroad to seek it?]

¶ Is it þan so þat ye
men ne han no p{ro}pre goode. I-set in ȝow. For
whiche ȝe moten seken outwardes ȝoure goodes in 1272
foreine {and} subgit þinges.

[Sidenote: Are things so changed and inverted, that god-like man
should think that he has no other worth but what he derives from
the possession of inanimate objects?]

¶ So is þan þe condic{i}ou{n}
of þinges turned vpso dou{n}. þat a man þat is a devyne
beest by merit of hys resou{n}. þinkeþ þat hy{m}
self nys neyþer fair ne noble. but if it be þoruȝ 1276
possessiou{n} of ostelmentes. þat ne han no soules.

[Linenotes:
1255 _fair_--fayr{e}
_hire owen_--hyr owne
1256 _sholde_--sholden
_self_--selue
1257 _þin rycchesse_--thyne rychesses
1259 _amonges_--among{e}
1259, 1261 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1259 _fair_--fayr{e}
1260 _leuer rekene_--leu{er}e rekne
1262 _greet_ (2)--grete
1265, 1267 _many[e]_--manye
1267 _soþe_--soth
1272 _outwardes_--owtward
1276 _fair_--fayr{e}
_if_--yif]

[Headnote:
IGNORANCE CRIMINAL IN MAN.]

[Sidenote: Inferior things are satisfied with their own
endowments, while man (the image of God) seeks to adorn his nature
with things infinitely below him, not understanding how much he
dishonours his Maker.]

¶ And certys al oþ{er} þi{n}ges ben appaied of hire owen
beautes. but ȝe men þat ben semblable to god by ȝour{e}
resonable þouȝt desiren to apparaille ȝour{e} excellent 1280
kynde of þe lowest[e] pinges. ne ȝe ne vndirstonde nat
how gret a wro{n}g ȝe don to ȝoure creato{ur}.

[Sidenote: God intended man to excel all earthly creatures, yet
you debase your dignity and prerogative below the lowest beings.]

for he
wolde þat man kynde were moost worþi {and} noble of
any oþer erþely þinges. and ȝe þresten adou{n} ȝoure [[pg 49]]
dignitees by-neþen þe lowest[e] þinges.

[Sidenote: In placing your happiness in despicable trifles, you
acknowledge yourselves of less value than these trifles, and well
do you merit to be so esteemed.]

¶ For if þat al 1285
þe good of euery þing be more p{re}ciouse þan is þilk
þing whos þat þe good is. syn ȝe demen þat þe
foulest[e] þinges ben ȝoure goodes. þanne summytten 1288
ȝe {and} putten ȝoure self vndir þo foulest[e] þinges by
ȝoure estimac{i}ou{n}. ¶ And certis þis bitidiþ nat wiþ
out ȝour{e} desert.

[Sidenote: Man only excels other creatures when he knows himself.]

For certys swiche is þe co{n}dic{i}ou{n}
of al man kynde þat oonly whan it haþ knowyng of it 1292
self. þan passeþ it i{n} noblesse alle oþer þinges.

[Sidenote: When he ceases to do so, he sinks below beasts.]

and whan it forletiþ þe knowyng of it self. þan it is
brouȝt byneþen alle beestes.

[Sidenote: Ignorance is natural to beasts, but in men it is
unnatural and criminal.]

¶ For-why alle oþer
[leuynge] beestes han of kynde to knowe not hem 1296
self. but whan þat men leten þe knowyng of hem self.
it comeþ hem of vice.

[Sidenote: How weak an error is it to believe that anything
foreign to your nature can be an ornament to it.]

but how brode sheweþ þe erro{ur}
{and} þe folie of ȝow men þat wenen þat ony þing may
ben apparailled wiþ straunge apparaillementȝ ¶ but 1300
for-soþe þat may nat be don.

[Sidenote: If a thing appear beautiful on account of its external
embellishments, we admire and praise those embellishments alone.]

for yif a wyȝt shyneþ wiþ
þi{n}ges þat ben put to hym. as þus. yif þilke þinges
shynen wiþ whiche a man is apparailled. ¶ Certis
þilke þinges ben commendid {and} p{re}ised wiþ whiche 1304
he is apparailled.

[Sidenote: The thing covered still continues in its natural
impurity.]

¶ But naþeles þe þing þat is
couered {and} wrapped vndir þat dwelleþ in his filþe.

[Sidenote: I deny that to be a good which is hurtful to its
owner.]

and I denye þat þilke þing be good þat anoyeþ hym
þat haþ it.

[Sidenote: Am I deceived in this? You will say no; for riches have
often hurt their possessors.]

¶ Gabbe I of þis. þou wolt seye nay. 1308
¶ Certys rycchesse han anoyed ful ofte hem þat han þe
rycchesse.

[Sidenote: Every wicked man desires another’s wealth, and esteems
him alone happy who is in possession of riches.]

¶ Syn þat euery wicked shrew {and} for
hys wickednesse þe more gredy aftir oþer folkes rycchesse
wher so euer it be in any place. be it golde or 1312
p{re}cious stones. [[pg 50]]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 13.]]

{and} weniþ hym *only most worþi þat
haþ hem

[Sidenote: You, therefore, who now so much dread the instruments
of assassination, if you had been born a poor wayfaring man,
might, with an empty purse, have sung in the face of robbers.]

¶ þou þan þat so besy dredest now þe swerde
{and} þe spere. yif þou haddest entred in þe paþe of þis
lijf a voide wayfaryng man. þan woldest þou syng[e] 1316
by-fore þe þeef. ¶ As who seiþ a poure man þat bereþ
no rycchesse on hym by þe weye. may boldly syng[e]
byforne þeues. for he haþ nat wher-of to ben robbed.

[Sidenote: O the transcendant felicity of riches! No sooner have
you obtained them, than you cease to be secure.]

¶ O preciouse {and} ryȝt clere is þe blysfulnesse of 1320
mortal rycchesse. þat wha{n} þou hast geten it. þan hast
þou lorn þi syke[r]nesse.

[Linenotes:
1278 _hire owen_--hir owne
1281 _ne_ (2)--omitted
_vndirstonde_--vndyrstondyn
1282 _gret_--MS. grete, C. gret
1284 _oþer erþely_--oothre worldly
_þresten_--threste
1285 _by-neþen_--by-nethe
_if_--yif
1286 _good_--MS. goode, C. good
_þing_--thinge
_preciouse_--p{re}syos
_þilk þing_--thilke thinge
1287 _þe_ (2)--tho
1288 _summytten_--submitten
1289 _self_--seluen
_foulest[e]_--fowleste
1290 _bitidiþ_--tydeth
1291 _out_--owte
_desert_--desertes
1292 _al_--alle
1293 _self_--selue
1294 _it is_--is it
1296 [_leuynge_]--from C.
_hem_--hym
1297 _þat_--omitted
1298 _comeþ_--comth
1299 _þing_--thinge
1302 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
1303 _whiche_--which
1306 _filþe_--felthe
1307 _þing_--thinge
_good_--MS. goode, C. good
1308 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1309 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
_þe_--tho
1310 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
_shrew_--shrewe
1311 _rycchesse_--rychesses
1312 _golde_--gold
1314 _haþ_--MS. haþe, C. hat
_besy_--bysy
_swerde_--swerd
1315 _paþe_--paath
1316 _wayfaryng_--wayferynge
_syng[e]_--synge
1317 _by-fore_--by-forn
_seiþ_--MS. seiþe, C. seyth
_poure_--pore
_bereþ_--berth
1318 _boldly syng[e]_--boldely synge
1319 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1320 _preciouse_--p{re}cyos
_clere_--cler
1321 _rycchesse_--rychesses
1322 _lorn_--MS. lorne, C. lorn]

[Headnote:
THE GOLDEN AGE.]

FELIX IN MIRU{M} PRIOR ETAS.

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

[Sidenote: Happy was the first age of men. They were contented
with what the faithful earth produced.]

++Blysful was þe first age of men. þei helden hem
apaied wiþ þe metes þat þe trewe erþes brouȝten 1324
furþe. ¶ þei ne destroyed[e] ne desceyued[e] not hem
self wiþ outerage.

[Sidenote: With acorns they satisfied their hunger.]

¶ þei weren wont lyȝtly to slaken
her hunger at euene wiþ acornes of okes

[Sidenote: They knew not Hypocras nor Hydromel.]

¶ þei ne
couþe nat medle þe ȝift of bacus to þe clere hony. 1328
þat is to seyn. þei couþe make no piment of clarre.

[Sidenote: They did not dye the Serian fleece in Tyrian purple.]

ne þei couþe nat medle þe briȝt[e] flies of þe co{n}tre
of siriens wiþ þe venym of tirie. þis is to seyne. þei
couþe nat dien white flies of sirien contre wiþ þe 1332
blode of a manar shelfysshe. þat men fynden in tyrie.
wiþ whiche blode men deien purper.

[Sidenote: They slept upon the grass, and drank of the running
stream, and reclined under the shadow of the tall pine.]

¶ þei slepen
holesom slepes vpon þe gras. and dronken of þe rynnyng
watres. {and} laien vndir þe shadowe of þe heyȝe 1336
pyne trees.

[Sidenote: No man yet ploughed the deep, nor did the merchant
traffick with foreign shores.]

¶ Ne no gest ne no straunger [ne] karf
ȝit þe heye see wiþ oores or wiþ shippes. ne þei ne
hadden seyne ȝitte none newe strondes to leden merchaundyse [[pg 51]]
in to dyuerse co{n}tres.

[Sidenote: The warlike trumpet was hushed and still.]

¶ þo weren þe cruel 1340
clariou{n}s ful whist {and} ful stille.

[Sidenote: Bloodshed had not yet arisen through hateful quarrels.]

ne blode yshed by
egre hate ne hadde nat deied ȝit armurers.

[Sidenote: Nothing could stimulate their rage to engage in war,
when they saw that wounds and scars were the only meeds.]

for wherto
or whiche woodenesse of enmys wolde first moeuen
armes. whan þei seien cruel woundes ne none medes 1344
ben of blood yshad

[Sidenote: O that those days would come again!]

¶ I wolde þat oure tymes sholde
turne aȝeyne to þe oolde maneres.

[Sidenote: The thirst of wealth torments all; it rages more
fiercely than Ætna’s fires.]

¶ But þe anguissous
loue of hauyng brenneþ in folke moore cruely þan þe
fijr of þe Mou{n}taigne of Ethna þat euer brenneþ. 1348

[Sidenote: Cursed be the wretch who first brought gold to light.]

¶ Allas what was he þat first dalf vp þe gobets or
þe weyȝtys of gold couered vndir erþe. {and} þe p{re}cious
stones þat wolden han ben hid. he dalf vp p{re}cious
perils. þat is to seyne þat he þat hem first vp dalf. he 1352
dalf vp a p{re}cious peril.

[Sidenote: It has since proved perilous to many a man.]

for-whi. for þe p{re}ciousnesse
of swyche haþ many man ben in peril.

[Linenotes:
1324 _erþes_--feeldes
1325 _furþe_--forth
_destroyed[e]_--dystroyede
1327 _her_--hyr
_at_--MS. as, C. at
_euene_--euen
1328 _couþe_--cowde
_medle_--medly
_ȝift_--yifte
_clere_--cleer
1329 _couþe_--cowde
_of_--nor
1330 _couþe_--cowde
_briȝt[e] flies_--bryhte fleeȝes
1331 _siriens_--Seryens
_seyne_--seyn
1332 _couþe_--cowde
_dien_--deyen
_flies_--fleȝes
1333 _blode_--blood
_shelfysshe_--shyllefyssh
1334 _blode_--blood
1335 _holesom_--holsom
_rynnyng watres_--rennynge wateres
_shadowe_--shadwes
_heyȝe_--heye
1337 _pyne_--pyn
_no_ (2)--omitted
[_ne_]--from C.
_karf_--karue
1339 _hadden seyne ȝitte_--hadde seyn yit
1341 _whist_--hust
_blode yshed_--blod I-shad
1343 _whiche woodenesse_--whych wodnesse
1344 _seien_--say
1346 _turne aȝeyne_--torne ayein
1347 _folke_--folk
1348 _þe_--omitted
_euer_--ay
1351 _hid_--MS. hidde, C. hydd
1352 _seyne_--seyn
_he_ (2)--omitted
1354 _swyche_--swych thinge
_haþ_--MS. haþe
_ben_--be]

[Headnote:
OF DIGNITIES AND POWERS.]

QUID AUTE{M} DE DIGNITATIB{US} {ET} C{ETERA}.

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

[Sidenote: But why should I discourse of dignities and powers
which (though you are ignorant of true honour and real power) you
extol to the skies?]

++But what shal I seyne of dignitees {and} of powers.
þe whiche [ye] men þ{a}t neiþer knowen verray dignitee 1356
ne verray power areysen hem as heye as þe
heuene.

[Sidenote: When they fall to the lot of a wicked man, they produce
greater calamities than the flaming eruption of Ætna, or the most
impetuous deluge.]

þe whiche dignitees {and} powers yif þei come
to any wicked man þei don [as] greet[e] damages {and}
distrucc{i}ou{n} as doþ þe fla{m}me of þe Mou{n}taigne 1360
Ethna whan þe fla{m}me wit walwiþ vp ne no deluge
ne doþ so cruel harmes.

[Sidenote: You remember that your ancestors desired to abolish the
Consular government (the commencement of the Roman liberty),
because of the pride of the Consuls; as their ancestors before for
the same consideration had suppressed the title of King.]

¶ Certys ye remembriþ wel
as I trowe þat þilke dignitee þat men clepiþ þe emperie
of {con}sulers þe whiche þat somtyme was bygynnyng 1364
of fredom. ¶ Ȝoure eldres coueiteden to han
don a-wey þat dignitee for þe p{r}ide of þe conseilers.

[Linenotes:
1355 _seyne_--seye
1358 _come_--comen
1359 _don_--MS. done, C. don
_[as] greet[e]_--as grete
1360 _distruccioun_--destrucciou{n}s
_doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth
_flamme_--flaumbe
1361 _flamme_--flawmbe
_wit_--omitted
1362 _doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth
1363 _clepiþ_--clepyn
1364 _whiche_--whych
_somtyme_--whilom
1366 _for_--MS. of, C. for]

[[pg 52]]
[Headnote:
HONOURS NOT INTRINSICALLY GOOD,]

¶ And ryȝt for þe same p{r}ide ȝoure eldres byforne þat
tyme hadden don awey out of þe Citee of rome þe 1368
kynges name. þat is to seien. þei nolden haue no
lenger no kyng ¶ But now yif so be þ{a}t dignitees
{and} powers ben ȝeuen to goode men. þe whiche þing
is ful ȝelde. what agreable þi{n}ges is þer in þo dignitees. 1372
or powers. but only þe goodenes of folk þat vsen hem.

[Linenotes:
1368 _don_--MS. done, C. don
1369 _seien_--seyn
1370 _lenger_--lenger{e}
_kyng_--kynge
1371 _whiche_--which
1373 _folk_--foolkys]

[Headnote:
FOR THEY FALL TO THE LOT OF THE WICKED.]

[Sidenote: Virtue is not embellished by dignities, but dignities
derive honour from virtue.]

¶ And þerfore it is þus þat hono{ur} ne comeþ nat to
vertue for cause of dignite. but aȝeinward. hono{ur}
comeþ to dignite by cause of vertue.

[Sidenote: But what is this power, so much celebrated and
desired?]

but whiche is 1376
ȝoure derworþe power þat is so clere {and} so requerable

[Sidenote: What are they over whom you exercise authority?]

¶ O ȝe erþelyche bestes considere ȝe nat ouer whiche
þing þat it semeþ þat ȝe han power.

[Sidenote: If thou sawest a mouse assuming command over other
mice, wouldst thou not almost burst with laughter?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 13 _b_.]]

¶ Now yif þou
say[e] a mouse amo{n}g{us} *oþer myse þat chalenged[e] to 1380
hymself ward ryȝt {and} power ouer alle oþer myse. how
gret scorne woldest þou han of hit. ¶ _Glosa._ ¶ So
fareþ it by men. þe body haþ power ouer þe body.

[Sidenote: What is more feeble than man, to whom the bite of a fly
may be the cause of death?]

For yif þow loke wel vpon þe body of a wyȝt what 1384
þing shalt þou fynde moore frele þan is mannes kynde.
þe whiche ben ful ofte slayn wiþ bytynge of smale
flies. or ellys wiþ þe entryng of crepyng wormes in to
þe priuetees of mennes bodyes.

[Sidenote: But how can any man obtain dominion over another,
unless it be over his body, or, what is inferior to his
body,--over his possessions, the gifts of Fortune?]

¶ But wher shal 1388
men fynden any man þat may exercen or haunten any
ryȝt vpon an oþer ma{n} but oonly vpon hys body. or
ellys vpo{n} þinges þat ben lower þen þe body. whiche
I clepe fortunous possessiou{n}s

[Sidenote: Can you ever command a freeborn soul?]

¶ Mayst þou euer haue 1392
any comaundement ouer a fre corage

[Sidenote: Can you disturb a soul consistent with itself, and knit
together by the bond of reason?]