Chapter XVIII: Appendix: To Introduction (4)

¶ Mayst þou
remuen fro þe estat of hys p{ro}pre reste. a þouȝt þat is
cleuyng to gider in hym self by stedfast resou{n}. ¶ As
somtyme a tiraunt wende to co{n}founde a freeman of 1396
corage ¶ {And} wende to co{n}streyne hym by to{ur}ment [[pg 53]]
to maken hym dyscoueren {and} acusen folk þat wisten
of a coniurac{i}ou{n}. whiche I clepe a confederacie þat
was cast aȝeins þis tyraunt

[Sidenote: Have you not read how Anaxarchus bit off his tongue and
spat it in the face of Nicocreon?]

¶ But þis free man boot 1400
of hys owen tunge. {and} cast it in þe visage of þilke
woode tyrau{n}te. ¶ So þat þe to{ur}mentȝ þat þis
tyrau{n}t wende to han maked mater{e} of cruelte. þis
wyse man maked[e it] matere of vertues.

[Sidenote: What is it that one man can do to another that does not
admit of retaliation?]

¶ But what 1404
þing is it þat a man may don to an oþer man. þat he
ne may receyue þe same þing of oþer folke i{n} hym
self. or þus. ¶ What may a man don to folk. þat folk
ne may don hym þe same.

[Sidenote: Busiris used to kill his guests, but at last himself
was killed by Hercules, his guest.]

¶ I haue herd told of 1408
busirides þat was wo{n}t to sleen hys gestes þat herburghden
in hys hous. and he was slayn hym self of
ercules þat was hys gest

[Sidenote: Regulus put his Carthaginian prisoners in chains, but
was afterwards obliged to submit to the fetters of his enemies.]

¶ Regulus had[de] taken in
bataile many men of affrike. and cast hem in to fetteres. 1412
but sone after he most[e] ȝiue hys handes to
ben bounden w{i}t{h} þe cheynes of hem þat he had[de]
somtyme ou{er}comen.

[Sidenote: Is he mighty that dares not inflict what he would upon
another for fear of a requital?]

¶ Wenest þou þan þat he be
myȝty. þat may nat don a þing. þat oþer ne may don 1416
hym. þat he doþ to oþer.

[Sidenote: If powers and honours were intrinsically good, they
would never be attained by the wicked.]

{and} ȝit more ou{er} yif it so
were þat þise dignites or poweres hadden any p{ro}pre
or naturel goodnesse in hem self neuer nolden þei
comen to shrewes.

[Sidenote: An union of things opposite is repugnant to nature.]

¶ For contrarious þinges ne ben 1420
not wont to ben yfelawshiped togidres. ¶ Nature refuseþ
þat contra[r]ious þinges ben yioigned.

[Sidenote: But as wicked men do obtain the highest honours, it is
clear that honours are not in themselves good, otherwise they
would not fall to the share of the unworthy.]

¶ And so
as I am in certeyne þat ryȝt wikked folk han dignitees
ofte tymes. þan sheweþ it wel þat dignitees {and} powers 1424
ne ben not goode of hir owen kynde. syn þat þei suffren
hem self to cleue{n} or ioynen hem to shrewes.

[Sidenote: The worst of men have often the largest share of
Fortune’s gifts.]

¶ And certys þe same þing may most digneliche Iugen
{and} seyen of alle þe ȝiftis of fortune
þat most plenteuously [[pg 54]]
comen to shrewes.

[Sidenote: We judge him to be valiant who has given evidence of
his fortitude.]

¶ Of þe whiche ȝiftys I 1429
trowe þat it auȝt[e] ben considered þat no man doutiþ
þat he nis strong. in whom he seeþ strengþe. {and} in
whom þat swiftnesse is ¶ Soþe it is þat he is swyfte. 1432

[Sidenote: So music maketh a musician, &c.]

Also musyk makeþ musiciens. {and} fysik makeþ phisiciens.
{and} rethorik rethoriens.

[Sidenote: The nature of everything consists in doing what is
peculiar to itself, and it repels what is contrary to it.]

¶ For whi þe nature
of euery þing makiþ his p{ro}pretee. ne it is nat
ent{er}medled wiþ þe effect{is} of co{n}trarious þinges. 1436

[Linenotes:
1374 _comeþ_--comth
1375, 1376 _vertue_--vertu
1376 _comeþ_--comth
_by_--for
_whiche_--which
1377 _derworþe_--dereworthe
_clere_--cleer
1378 _whiche_--which
1379 _han_--MS. hanne, C. han
1380 _say[e]_--saye
_mouse amongus_--mous amonges
_myse_--musȝ
1382 _scorne_--scorn
1383 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1385 _mannes_--man
1386 _þe----slayn_--the whiche men wel ofte ben slayn
1388 _mennes bodyes_--mannes body
1391 _lower_--lower{e}
_whiche_--the which
1395 _stedfast_--stidefast
1396 _somtyme_--whylom
1399 _whiche_--which
1401 _owen_--owne
1406 _receyue_--resseyuen
_oþer_--oothre
1408 _herd told_--MS. herde tolde, C. herd told
1409 _hys_--hise
_herburghden_--herberweden
1410 _slayn_--sleyn
1411 _had[de]_--hadde
1413 _most[e]_--moste
1414 _bounden_--bownde
_cheynes_--MS. þeues, C. cheynes
_had[de]_--hadde
1415 _somtyme_--whylom
1416 _þat----þing_--that hath no power to don a thinge
_oþer_--oothre
1417 _hym_--in hym
_doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth
_to oþer_--in oothre
1421 _togidres_--to-gider{e}
1423 _certeyne_--certein
1424 _tymes_--tyme
1425 _owen_--owne
1429 _whiche_--which
1430 _auȝt[e]_--owhte
1432 _Soþe_--soth
_swyfte_--swyft
1435 _is_--nis
1436 _effectis_--effect]

[Headnote:
POWER DOES NOT CONFER GOODNESS.]

¶ And as of wil it chaseþ oute þinges þat to it ben
contrarie

[Sidenote: Riches cannot restrain avarice. Power cannot make a man
master of himself if he is the slave of his lusts.]

¶ But certys rycchesse may nat restreyne
auarice vnstaunched ¶ Ne power [ne] makeþ nat a
ma{n} myȝty ouer hym self. whiche þat vicious lustis 1440
holden destreined wiþ cheins þat ne mowen nat ben
vnbounden.

[Sidenote: Dignities conferred upon base men do not make them
worthy, but rather expose their want of merit.]

{and} dignitees þat ben ȝeuen to shrewed[e]
folk nat oonly ne makiþ hem nat digne. but it sheweþ
raþer al openly þat þei ben vnworþi {and} vndigne. 1444

[Sidenote: Why is it so? ’Tis because you give false names to
things. You dignify riches, power, and honours, with names they
have no title to.]

¶ And whi is it þ{us}. ¶ Certis for ȝe han ioye to
clepen þinges wiþ fals[e] names. þat beren hem al in
þe co{n}t{ra}rie. þe whiche names ben ful ofte reproued
by þe effect of þe same þinges.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 14.]]

so þat *þise ilke rycchesse 1448
ne auȝten nat by ryȝt to ben cleped rycchesse.
ne whiche power ne auȝt[e] not ben cleped power. ne
whiche dignitee ne auȝt[e] nat ben cleped dignitee.

[Sidenote: In fine, the same may be said of all the gifts of
Fortune, in which nothing is desirable, nothing of natural good in
them, since they are not always allotted to good men, nor make
them good to whom they are attached.]

¶ And at þe laste I may conclude þe same þinge of 1452
al þe ȝiftes of fortune in whiche þer nis no þing to
ben desired. ne þat haþ in hym self naturel bounte.
¶ as it is ful wel sene. for neyþer þei ne ioygne{n}
hem nat alwey to goode men. ne maken hem alwey 1456
goode to who{m} þei be{n} y-ioigned.

[Linenotes:
1437 _oute_--owt
1441 _ben_--be
1442 _shrewed[e]_--shrewede
1446 _fals[e]_--false
_al_--alle
1447 _whiche_--which
1449 _auȝten_--owhten
_rycchesse_--rychesses
1450 _whiche_--swich
_auȝt[e]_--owhte
1451 _whiche_--swich
_auȝt[e]_--owht
1453 _al_--alle
1454 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1455 _sene_--I-seene]

[[pg 55]]
[Headnote:
NERO’S CRUELTY.]

NOUIMUS QUANTOS DEDERAT.

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

[Sidenote: We know what ruin Nero did.]

++WE han wel knowen how many g{r}eet[e] harmes {and}
destrucc{i}ou{n}s weren doñ by þe Emp{er}oure Nero.

[Sidenote: He burnt Rome, he slew the conscript fathers, murdered
his brother, and spilt his mother’s blood.]

¶ He letee brenne þe citee of Rome {and} made slen þe 1460
senato{ur}s. and he cruel somtyme slouȝ hys broþer. {and}
he was maked moyst wiþ þe blood of hys modir. þat is
to seyn he let sleen {and} slitte{n} þe body of his modir to
seen where he was conceiued.

[Sidenote: He looked unmoved upon his mother’s corpse, and passed
judgment upon her beauty.]

{and} he loked[e] on euery 1464
half vpon hir colde dede body. ne no tere ne wette
his face. but he was so hard herted þat he myȝt[e] ben
domesman or Iuge of hire dede beaute.

[Sidenote: Yet this parricide ruled over all lands, illumined by
the sun in his diurnal course, and controlled the frozen regions
of the pole.]

¶ And ȝitte
neuerþeles gouerned[e] þis Nero by Ceptre al þe peoples 1468
þat phebus þe sonne may seen comyng from his outerest
arysyng til he hidde his bemes vndir þe wawes. ¶ þat
is to seyne. he gouerned[e] alle þe peoples by Ceptre imp{er}ial
þat þe so{n}ne goþ aboute from est to west ¶ And 1472
eke þis Nero goueyrende by Ceptre. alle þe peoples þat
ben vndir þe colde sterres þat hyȝten þe seuene triones.
þis is to seyn he gouerned[e] alle þe poeples þat ben vndir
þe p{ar}ties of þe norþe.

[Sidenote: He governed, too, the people in the torrid zone.]

¶ And eke Nero gouerned[e] 1476
alle þe poeples þat þe violent wynde Nothus scorchiþ
{and} bakiþ þe brennynge sandes by his drie hete. þat
is to seyne. alle þe poeples in þe souþe.

[Sidenote: But yet Nero’s power could not tame his ferocious
mind.]

[but yit ne
myhte nat al his heye power torne the woodnesse of 1480
this wykkyd nero /

[Sidenote: It is a grievous thing when power strengthens the arm
of him whose will prompts him to deeds of cruelty.]

Allas it is greuous fortune it is]. as
ofte as wicked swerde is ioygned to cruel venym. þat is
to sein. venimous cruelte to lordshipe.

[Linenotes:
1458 _greet[e]_--grete
1460 _letee_--let
1461 _somtyme slouȝ_--whilom slow
1463 _let_--lette
1464 _where_--wher
1465 _half_--halue
1466 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
1467 _hire_--hyr
1468 _neuerþeles_--natheles
_gouerned[e]_--gou{er}nede
_al_--alle
1469 _from_--fram
_outerest_--owtereste
1470 _hidde_--hide
1471 _seyne_--seyn
1472 _goþ_--MS. goþe, C. goth
1473 _goueyrende_--gou{er}nyd
1474 _triones_--tyryones
1475 _gouerned[e]_--gou{er}nede
1476 _parties_--p{ar}ty
_norþe_--north
_gouerned[e]_--gou{er}nede
1477 _wynde_--wynd
_scorchiþ_--scorklith
1479 _seyne_--seyn
_souþe_--sowth
1479-81 [_but----it is_]--MS. _has_: but ne how greuous fortune is
1482 _swerde_--swerd]

[[pg 56]]
[Headnote:
THE LOVE OF GLORY.]

TU{M} EGO SCIS INQ{UA}M.

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

[Sidenote: _B._ Thou knowest that I did not covet mortal and
transitory things.]

++ÞAnne seide I þus. þou wost wel þiself þat þe 1484
couetise of mortal þinges ne hadden neuer lordshipe
of me. but I haue wel desired matere of þinges
to done. as who seiþ.

[Sidenote: I only wished to exercise my virtue in public concerns,
lest it should grow feeble by inactivity.]

I desired[e] to han matere of
gou{er}naunce ouer comunalites. ¶ For vertue stille ne 1488
sholde not elden. þat is to seyn. þat list þat or he wex
olde ¶ His uertue þat lay now ful stille. ne sholde
nat p{er}isshe vnexcercised i{n} gouernaunce of comune.
¶ For whiche men myȝten speke or write{n} of his 1492
goode gouernement.

[Sidenote: _P._ A love of glory is one of those things that may
captivate minds naturally great, but not yet arrived at the
perfection of virtue.]

¶ _Philosophie._ ¶ For soþe q{uo}d
she. {and} þat is a þing þat may drawen to gouernaunce
swiche hertes as ben worþi {and} noble of hir nature.
but naþeles it may nat drawen or tollen swiche hertes as 1496
ben y-brouȝt to þe ful[le] p{er}fecciou{n} of vertue. þat is
to seyn couetyse of glorie {and} renou{n} to han wel
administred þe comune þinges. or doon goode decertes
to p{ro}fit of þe comune.

[Sidenote: But consider how small and void of weight is that
glory.]

for se now {and} considere how 1500
litel {and} how voide of al prise is þilke glorie.

[Sidenote: Astronomy teaches us that this globe of earth is but a
speck compared with the extent of the heavens, and is as nothing
if compared with the magnitude of the celestial sphere.]

¶ Certeine
þing is as þou hast lerned by demonstrac{i}ou{n} of
astronomye þat al þe envyronynge of þe erþe aboute
ne halt but þe resou{n} of a prykke at regard of þe gretnesse 1504
of heuene. þat is to seye. þat yif þat þer were
maked co{m}parisou{n} of þe erþe to þe gretnesse of
heuene. men wolde Iugen in alle þat erþe [ne] helde
no space

[Sidenote: Ptolemy shows that only one-fourth of this earth is
inhabited by living creatures.]

¶ Of þe whiche litel regiou{n} of þis worlde 1508
þe ferþe partie is enhabitid wiþ lyuyng beestes þat
we knowen. as þou hast þi self lerned by tholome þat
p{ro}uitħ it.

[Sidenote: Deduct from this the space occupied by seas, marshes,
lakes, and deserts, and there remains but a small proportion left
for the abode of man.]

¶ yif þou haddest wiþ drawen {and} abated
in þi þouȝte fro þilke ferþe partie as myche space as þe 1512
see {and} [the] mareys contenen {and} ouergon {and} as
myche space as þe regiou{n} of droughte ou{er}streccheþ.

[Linenotes:
1487 _desired[e]_--desyr{e}
1489 _wex olde_--wax old
1492 _whiche_--which
_speke_--spekyn
1496 _tollen_--MS. tellen, C. tollen
1497 _ful[le]_--fulle
1501 _al prise_--alle prys
1505 _seye_--seyn
1507 _wolde_--woldyn
_alle_--al
[_ne_]--from C.
1510 _lerned_--ylerned
1512 _þouȝte_--thowht
_myche_--moche
1513 [_the_]--from C.
1514 _myche space_--moche spaces]

[[pg 57]]
[Headnote:
FAME IS CIRCUMSCRIBED.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 14 _b_.]]

þat is to seye sandes {and} desertes wel vnneþ sholde
*þer dwellen a ryȝt streite place to þe habitaciou{n} of 1516
men.

[Sidenote: And do you, who are confined to the least point of this
point, think of nothing but of blazing far and wide your name and
reputation?]

{and} ȝe þan þat ben environed {and} closed wiþ
i{n}ne þe leest[e] prikke of þilk prikke þenke ȝe to
manifesten ȝoure renou{n} {and} don ȝoure name to ben
born forþe.

[Sidenote: What is there great in a glory so circumscribed?]

but ȝour{e} glorie þat is so narwe {and} so 1520
streyt yþronge{n} in to so litel boundes. how myche
conteinþe it in largesse {and} in greet doynge.

[Sidenote: Even in this contracted circle, there is a great
variety of nations, to whom not only the fame of particular men,
but even of great cities, cannot extend.]

And also
sette þis þer to þat many a nac{i}ou{n} dyuerse of tonge
{and} of maneres. {and} eke of resou{n} of hir lyuyng ben 1524
enhabitid in þe cloos of þilke litel habitacle. ¶ To þe
whiche nac{i}ou{n}s what for difficulte of weyes. {and} what
for diu{er}site of langages. {and} what for defaute of
vnusage entercomunynge of marchau{n}dise. nat only þe 1528
names of singler men ne may [nat] strecchen. but eke
þe fame of Citees ne may nat strecchen.

[Sidenote: In the time of Marcus Tullius the fame of Rome did not
reach beyond Mount Caucasus.]

¶ At þe
last[e] Certis in þe tyme of Marcus tulyus as hym
self writeþ in his book þat þe renou{n} of þe comune of 1532
Rome ne hadde nat ȝitte passed ne clou{m}ben ou{er} þe
mou{n}taigne þat hyȝt Caucasus. {and} ȝitte was þilk
tyme rome wel wexen {and} gretly redouted of þe p{ar}thes.
and eke of oþer folk enhabityng aboute.

[Sidenote: How narrow, then, is that glory which you labour to
propagate.]

¶ Sest þou 1536
nat þan how streit {and} how comp{re}ssed is þilke glorie
þat ȝe t{ra}uaile{n} aboute to shew {and} to multiplie.

[Sidenote: Shall the glory of a Roman citizen reach those places
where the name even of Rome was never heard?]

May þan þe glorie of a singlere Romeyne strecchen þider
as þe fame of þe name of Rome may nat clymben ne 1540
passen.

[Sidenote: Customs and institutions differ in different
countries.]

¶ And eke sest þ{o}u nat þat þe maners of
diu{er}se folk {and} eke hir lawes ben discordau{n}t amonge
hem self.

[Sidenote: What is praise-worthy in one is blame-worthy in
another.]

so þ{a}t þilke þing þat so{m}men iugen worþi of
p{re}ysynge. oþer folk iugen þat it is worþi of torment. 1544

[Linenotes:
1515 _seye_--seyn
1516 _streite_--streyt
1517 _þan_--thanne
1518 _inne_--in
_leest[e]_--leste
_þilk_--thilke
_þenke ȝe_--thinken ye
1520 _born forþe_--MS. borne, C. born, forth
_narwe_--narwh
1521 _streyt_--streyte
_myche_--mochel
1522 _conteinþe_--coueyteth
1525 _habitacle_--MS. habitache, C. habytacule
1529 [_nat_]--from C.
1531 _last[e]_--laste
1532 _writeþ_--writ
1533 _hadde_--hadden
_ȝitte_--omitted
1534 _hyȝt_--hyhte
_þilk_--thikke
1535 _wexen_--waxen
1536 _Sest þou_--sestow
1538 _shew_--shewe
1539 _singlere_--singler]

[Headnote:
FAME IS NOT ETERNAL.]

[Sidenote: It is not the interest of any man who desires renown to
have his name spread through many countries.]

¶ and þer of comeþ þat þouȝ a man delite hy{m} in
p{re}ysyng of his renou{n}. he ne may nat i{n} no wise [[pg 58]]
bryngen furþe ne sprede{n} his name to many manere
peoples.

[Sidenote: He ought, therefore, to be satisfied with the glory he
has acquired at home.]

¶ And þerfore euery man{er} man auȝte to ben 1548
paied of hys glorie þat is puplissed among hys owen
neyȝbores.

[Sidenote: But of how many personages, illustrious in their times,
have the memorials been lost through the carelessness and neglect
of writers.]

¶ And þilke noble renou{n} shal be
restreyned wiþ-i{n}ne þe boundes of o maner folk but how
many a man þat was ful noble in his tyme. haþ þe 1552
nedy {and} wrecched forȝetynge of writers put oute of
mynde {and} don awey.

[Sidenote: But writings do not preserve the names of men for
ever.]

¶ Al be it so þat certys þilke
writynges p{ro}fiten litel. þe whiche writy{n}ges longe {and}
derke elde doþ aweye boþe he{m} {and} eke her auto{ur}s. 1556

[Sidenote: But perhaps you suppose that you shall secure
immortality if your names are transmitted to future ages.]

but ȝe men semen to geten ȝow a p{er}durablete whan ȝe
þenke þat in tyme comyng ȝoure fame shal lasten.

[Sidenote: If you consider the infinite space of eternity you will
have no reason to rejoice in this supposition.]

¶ But
naþeles yif þou wilt maken co{m}parisou{n} to þe endeles
space of eternite what þing hast þou by whiche þou 1560
maist reioysen þe of lo{n}g lastyng of þi name.

[Sidenote: If a _moment_ be compared with 10,000 years, there is a
proportion between them, though a very small one.]

¶ For
if þer were maked co{m}parysou{n} of þe abidyng of a
mome{n}t to ten þousand wynter. for as myche as boþe
þo spaces ben endid. ¶ For ȝit haþ þe moment some 1564
porciou{n} of hit al þouȝ it a litel be.

[Sidenote: But this number of years, multiplied by whatever sum
you please, vanishes when compared with the infinite extent of
eternity.]

¶ But naþeles
þilke self nou{m}bre of ȝeres. and eke as many ȝeres as
þer to may be multiplied. ne may nat certys be comparisou{n}d
to þe p{er}durablete þat is een[de]les.

[Sidenote: There may be comparison between finite things, but none
between the infinite and finite.]

¶ For of 1568
þinges þat han ende may be mad co{m}parisou{n} [but of
thinges that ben w{i}t{h}-owtyn ende to thinges þ{a}t han ende
may be maked no {com}parysou{n}].

[Sidenote: Hence it is, that Fame (however lasting), compared with
eternity, will seem absolutely nothing.]

¶ And for þi is it al
þouȝ renou{n} of as longe tyme as euer þe lyst to þinken 1572
were þouȝt by þe regard of et{er}nite. þat is vnstauncheable
{and} infinit. it ne sholde nat oonly semen litel. but
pleinliche ryȝt nouȝt.

[Sidenote: But yet you do good from no other view than to have the
empty applause of the people, foregoing the pleasures of a good
conscience in order to have the insignificant praises of other
people.]

¶ But ȝe men certys ne konne
don no þing aryȝt. but ȝif it be for þe audience of poeple. [[pg 59]]
{and} for ydel rumo{ur}s. {and} ȝe forsaken þe grete worþinesse 1577
of conscience {and} of vertue. {and} ȝe seke{n} ȝoure
gerdou{n}s of þe smale wordes of st{ra}nge folke.

[Linenotes:
1545 _comeþ_--comth it
1547 _furþe_--forth
_manere_--maner
1548 _þerfore_--ther-for
_auȝte_--owhte
1549 _paied_--apayed
_hys owen_--hise owne
1550 _neyȝbores_--nesshebours
_be_--ben
1552 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1553 _put_ (MS. _putte_) _oute_--put owt
1556 _derke_--derk
_doþ aweye_--MS. doþe, C. doth a-wey
_her autours_--hir actorros
1557 _ȝe_--yow
_semen_--semeth
1558 _comyng_--to comynge
1559 _wilt_--wolt
1560 _whiche_--which
1563 _myche_--mochel
1564 _þo_--the
_haþ_--MS. haþe
_some_--som
1566 _self_--selue
1567 _be_ (2)--ben
1568 _een[de]les_--endeles
1569 _mad_--MS. made, C. maked
[_but----comparysoun_]--from C.
1573 _by_--to]

[Headnote:
VANITY REPROVED.]

[Sidenote: This silly vanity was once thus ingeniously and
pleasantly rallied.]

¶ Haue now here {and} vndirstonde i{n} þe lyȝtnesse of whiche 1580
p{r}ide {and} veyne glorie. how a man scorned[e] festiualy
{and} myrily swiche vanite.

[Sidenote: A certain man, who had assumed the name of a
philosopher through a love of vain-glory, was told by a man of
humour that he could prove he was a philosopher by bearing
patiently the injuries offered him.]

somtyme þere was a man þat
had[de] assaied wiþ striuyng wordes an oþer ma{n}. ¶ þe
whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude 1584
veyne glorie had[de] take{n} vpon hym falsly þe name
of a philosopher. ¶ þis raþer man þat I speke of
þouȝt[e] he wolde assay[e] where he þilke were a
philosopher or no.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 15.]]

þat is to seyne yif he wolde han suffred 1588
lyȝtly in pacience þe wro{n}ges *þat weren don vnto hym.

[Sidenote: After counterfeiting patience for a while, the sophist
said to the other, ‘You must surely confess that I am a
philosopher.’]

¶ þis feined[e] philosophre took pacience a
litel while. {and} whan he hadde receiued wordes of
outerage he as in stryuynge aȝeine {and} reioysynge of 1592
hym self seide at þe last[e] ryȝt þus. ¶ vndirstondest
þou nat þat I am a philosophere.

[Sidenote: ‘I might have believed it,’ said the other, ‘had you
held your tongue.’]

þat oþer man answered[e]
aȝein ful bityngly {and} seide. ¶ I had[de]
wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif þou haddest holde{n} þi tonge 1596
stille.

[Sidenote: What advantage is it to great and worthy men to be
extolled after death?]

¶ But what is it to þise noble worþi men.
For certys of swyche folk speke .I. þat seken glorie wiþ
vertue. what is it q{uo}d she. what atteiniþ fame to
swiche folk whan þe body is resolued by þe deeþ. atte 1600
þe last[e].

[Sidenote: If body and soul die, then there can be no glory; nor
can there be when he (to whom it is ascribed) does not exist.]

¶ For yif so be þat men dien in al. þat is
to seyne body {and} soule. þe whiche þing oure resou{n}
defendiþ vs to byleuen þanne is þere no glorie in no
wyse. For what sholde þilke glorie ben. for he of 1604
who{m} þis glorie is seid to be nis ryȝt nouȝt in no wise.

[Sidenote: But if the soul is immortal when it leaves the body, it
takes no thought of the joys of this world.]

and ȝif þe soule whiche þat haþ in it self science of
goode werkes vnbounden fro þe p{r}isou{n} of þe erþe [[pg 60]]
wendeþ frely to þe heuene. dispiseþ it nouȝt þan alle 1608
erþely occupac{i}ou{n}s. {and} beynge i{n} heuene reioiseþ þat
it is exempt from alle erþely þinges [as wo seith /
thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renou{n} of this
world]. 1612

[Linenotes:
1580 _whiche_--swych
1581 _scorned[e]_--scornede
1582 _swiche_--swych
_somtyme_--whilom
1583 _had[de]_--hadde
1584 _whiche_--which
_proude_--prowd
1586 _speke_--spak
1587 _þouȝt[e]_--thowhte
_assay[e]_--assaye
1588 _seyne_--seyn
1590 _feined[e]_--feynede
1592 _aȝeine_--ayein
1593 _last[e]_--laste
_vndirstondest þou_--vndyrstondow
1594 _answered[e]_--answerde
1595 _had[de]_--hadde
1596 [_yt_]--from C.
1601 _last[e]_--laste
1602 _seyne_--seyn
1604 _for_ (2)--whan
1605 _þis_--thilke
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_nouȝt_--nawht
1606 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1608 _nouȝt þan_--nat thanne
1610 _from_--fro
1610-1612 [_as----world_]--from C.]

[Headnote:
DEATH PUTS AN END TO RENOWN.]

QUICUMQ{UE} SOLAM MENTE.

[Sidenote: [The 7th Metre.]]

[Sidenote: Let him who seeks fame, thinking it to be the sovereign
good, look upon the broad universe and this circumscribed earth;
and he will then despise a glorious name limited to such a
confined space.]

++Who so þat wiþ ouerþrowyng þouȝt only sekeþ glorie
of fame. {and} weniþ þat it be souereyne good
¶ Lete hym loke vpon þe brode shewyng contreys of
þe heue{n}. {and} vpo{n} þe streite sete of þis erþe. {and} 1616
he shal be ashamed of þe encres of his name. þat may
nat fulfille þe litel compas of þe erþe. ¶ O what
coueiten proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in
ydel {and} dedely ȝok of þis worlde.

[Sidenote: Will splendid titles and renown prolong a man’s life?]

¶ For al þouȝ 1620
[þ{a}t] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples goþ
by dyuerse tonges. and al þouȝ grete houses {and} kynredes
shyne wiþ clere titles of hono{ur}s.

[Sidenote: In the grave there is no distinction between high and
low.]

ȝit naþeles
deeþ dispiseþ al heye glorie of fame. {and} deeþ wrappeþ 1624
to gidre þe heye heuedes {and} þe lowe {and} makeþ egal
{and} euene þe heyest[e] to þe lowest[e].

[Sidenote: Where is the good Fabricius now?]

¶ where
wone{n} now þe bones of trewe fabricius.

[Sidenote: Where the noble Brutus, or stern Cato?]

what is
now brutus or stiern Caton þe þinne fame ȝit lastynge 1628
of hir ydel names is markid wiþ a fewe lettres.

[Sidenote: Their empty names still live, but of their persons we
know nothing.]

but al þouȝ we han knowe{n} þe faire wordes of þe fames of
hem. it is nat ȝeuen to knowe he{m} þat ben dede {and}
consumpt.

[Sidenote: Fame cannot make you known.]

Liggiþ þanne stille al vtterly vnknowable 1632
ne fame ne makeþ ȝow nat knowe. and yif ȝe wene
to lyuen þe leng{er} for wynde of ȝoure mortal name.
whan o cruel day shal rauyshe ȝow. þan is þe secunde
deeþ dwellyng in ȝow.

[Sidenote: It will be effaced by conquering Time, so that death
will be doubly victorious.]

_Glosa._ þe first deeþ he clepiþ 1636
here þe dep{ar}tynge of þe body {and} þe soule. ¶ and [[pg 61]]
þe secunde deeþ he clepeþ as here. þe styntynge of
þe renoune of fame.[3]

[Linenotes:
1615 _Lete_--Lat
_loke_--looken
1616 _sete_--Cyte
1617 _be_--ben
1619 _vpon_--vp
1620 _and dedely_--in the dedly
1621 _y-spradde_--ysprad
[_þat_]--from C.
_ferne_--MS. serue, C. ferne
_goþ_--MS. goþe, C. goth
1622 {and} (2)--or
1623 _shyne_--shynen
_clere_--cler
1624 _al_--alle
1626 _heyest[e]_--heyoste
_lowest[e]_--loweste
1628 _stiern_--MS. sciern, C. stierne
1632 _consumpt_--{con}sumpte
1634 _lenger_--longer{e}
1637 _þe_ (1)--omitted
1639 _renoune_--renou{n}]

[Footnote 3: The next three chapters are from the Camb. MS.]

[Headnote:
ADVERSE FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL.]

[SET NE ME INEXORABILE CONTRA.

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

[Sidenote: ‘But do not believe,’ said Philosophy, ‘that I am an
implacable enemy to Fortune.]

++BVt for-as-mochel as thow shalt nat wenen q{uod} she 1640
þ{a}t I bere vntretable batayle ayenis fortune //

[Sidenote: This inconstant dame sometimes deserves well of men,
when she appears in her true colours.]

yit som-tyme it by-falleth þ{a}t she desseyuable desserueth
to han ryht good thank of men // {And} þ{a}t is whan she
hir{e} self opneth / {and} whan she descou{er}eth hir frownt / 1644
{and} sheweth hir maneres p{ar}-auentur{e} yit vndirstondesthow
nat þ{a}t .I. shal seye //

[Sidenote: And what I say may perhaps appear paradoxical.]

it is a wondyr þ{a}t .I.
desyr{e} to telle /

[Sidenote: That is, that adverse fortune is more beneficial than
prosperous fortune.]

{and} forthi vnnethe may I. vnpleyten my
sentense w{i}t{h} wordes for I. deme þ{a}t contraryos fortune 1648
p{ro}fiteth mor{e} to men than fortune debonayr{e} //

[Sidenote: The latter lies and deceives us, the former displays
her natural inconstancy.]

For al-wey whan fortune semeth debonayr{e} than she lyeth
falsly in by-hetynge the hope of welefulnesse // but forsothe
{con}traryos fortune is alwey sothfast / whan she 1652
sheweth hir self vnstable thorw hyr chau{n}gynge //

[Sidenote: That deceives us, this instructs us; that, by a
fallacious show of good, enslaves the mind; this, by the knowledge
of her fickleness, frees and absolves it.]

the amyable fortune desseyueth folk / the contrarye fortune
techeth // the amyable fortune byndeth w{i}t{h} the beaute
of false goodys the hertes of folk þ{a}t vsen he{m} / the 1656
contrarye fortune vnbyndeth he{m} by þ^e knowynge of
freele welefulnesse //

[Sidenote: The one is wavering and incapable of reflection, the
other is staid and wise through experience of adversity.]

the amyable fortune maysthow sen
alwey wyndynge {and} flowynge / {and} eu{er}e mysknowynge 1659
of hir self // the contrarye fortune is a-tempre {and} restreynyd
{and} wys thorw excersyse of hir aduersyte //

[Sidenote: Lastly, prosperous fortune leads men astray. Adversity
teaches them wherein real happiness consists.]

at the laste amyable fortune w{i}t{h} hir flaterynges draweth
mys wandrynge men fro the souereyne good // the contraryos
fortune ledith ofte folk ayein to sothfast goodes / 1664
{and} haleth hem ayein as w{i}t{h} an hooke /

[Sidenote: It renders us no inconsiderable service in enabling us
to recognize our true friends.]

weenesthow
thanne þ{a}t thow owhtest to leten this a lytel thing / þ{a}t
this aspre {and} horible fortune hath discoueryd to the / the
thowhtes of thy trewe frendes // For-why this ilke fortune 1668
hath departyd {and} vncou{er}yd to the bothe the [[pg 62]]
certeyn vysages {and} ek the dowtos visages of thy
felawes // wha{n} she dep{ar}tyd awey fro the / she took
awey hyr frendes {and} lafte the thyne frendes // 1672

[Sidenote: At what price would you not have bought this knowledge
in your prosperity?]

now whan thow wer{e} ryche {and} weleful as the semede / w{i}t{h}
how mochel woldesthow han bowht the fulle knowynge
of this // þ{a}t is to seyn the knowynge of thy
verray freendes //

[Sidenote: Complain not, then, of loss of wealth, since thou hast
found infinitely greater riches in your true friends.]

now pleyne the nat thanne of Rychesse 1676
.I.-lorn syn thow hast fowndyn the moste p{re}syos kynde
of Rychesses þ{a}t is to seyn thy verray frendes.

[Headnote:
ALL THINGS BOUND BY THE CHAIN OF LOVE.]

QUOD MU{N}DUS STABILI FIDE.

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

[Sidenote: This world, by an invariable order, suffers change.]

++THat þ^e world w{i}t{h} stable feith / varieth acordable
chaungynges //

[Sidenote: Elements, that by nature disagree, are restrained by
concord.]

þ{a}t the contraryos qualite of elementȝ 1680
holden among{e} hem self aliau{n}ce p{er}durable / þ{a}t pheb{us}
the sonne w{i}t{h} his goldene chariet / bryngeth forth the
rosene day / þ{a}t the mone hath {com}mau{n}dement ou{er} the
nyhtes // whiche nyhtes hesp{er}us the eue sterre hat browt // 1684

[Sidenote: The sea is thus kept within its proper bounds.]

þ{a}t þ^e se gredy to flowen constreyneth w{i}t{h} a certeyn ende
hise floodes / so þ{a}t it is nat l[e]ueful to strechche hise
brode termes or bowndes vp-on the erthes // þ{a}t is to seyn
to cou{er}e alle the erthe //

[Sidenote: This concord is produced by love, which governeth earth
and sea, and extends its influence to the heavens.]

Al this a-cordau{n}ce of thinges 1688
is bownden w{i}t{h} looue / þ{a}t gou{er}neth erthe {and} see / {and}
hath also {com}mau{n}dementȝ to the heuenes /

[Sidenote: If this chain of love were broken all things would be
in perpetual strife, and the world would go to ruin.]

{and} yif
this looue slakede the brydelis / alle thinges þ{a}t now
louen hem to gederes / wolden maken a batayle contynuely 1692
{and} stryuen to fordoon the fasou{n} of this worlde /
the which they now leden in acordable feith by fayre
moeuynges //

[Sidenote: Love binds nations together, it ties the nuptial knot,
and dictates binding laws to friendship.]

this looue halt to gideres poeples Ioygned
w{i}t{h} an hooly bond / {and} knytteth sacrement of maryages 1696
of chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to
trewe felawes //

[Sidenote: Men were truly blest if governed by this celestial
love!’]

O weleful weer{e} mankynde / yif thilke
loue þ{a}t gouerneth heuene gouerned[e] yowr{e} corages /

EXPLICIT LIB{ER} 2_^us_.

[Linenote:
1690 _hath_--H. he hath]

[[pg 63]]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS IS COMFORTED BY PHILOSOPHY’S SONG.]

INCIPIT LIB{ER} 3^_us_.

IAM CANTU{M} ILLA FINIERAT.

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

[Sidenote: Philosophy now ended her song.]

++By this she hadde endid hir{e} song{e} / whan the swetnesse 1700
of hir{e} ditee hadde thorw p{er}ced me þ{a}t was desirous
of herkninge /

[Sidenote: I was so charmed that I kept a listening as if she were
still speaking.]

{and} .I. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn
Eres / þ{a}t is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde
seye //

[Sidenote: At last I said, O sovereign comforter of dejected
minds, how much hast thou refreshed me with the energy of thy
discourse, so that I now think myself almost an equal match for
Fortune and able to resist her blows.]

so þ{a}t a litel her{e} aft{er} .I. seyde thus // O thow 1704
þ{a}t art sou{er}eyn comfort of Angwissos corages // So thow
hast remou{n}ted {and} norysshed me w{i}t{h} the weyhte of thy
sentenses {and} w{i}t{h} delit of thy syngynge // so þ{a}t .I. trowe
nat now þ{a}t .I. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as 1708
who seyth. I. dar wel now suffren al the assautes of fortune
{and} wel deffende me fro hyr //

[Sidenote: I fear not, therefore, thy remedies, but earnestly
desire to hear what they are.]

{and} tho remedies
whyche þ{a}t thow seydest hir{e} byforn weren ryht sharpe
Nat oonly p{a}t .I. am nat agrysen of hem now // but .I. desiros 1712
of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes //

[Sidenote: _P._ When I perceived that, silent and attentive, you
received my words, I expected to find such a state of mind in you,
or rather, I created in you such an one.]

than seyde she thus // þ{a}t feelede .I. ful wel q{uod} she //
whan þ{a}t thow ententyf {and} stylle rauysshedest my
wordes // {and} .I. abood til þ{a}t thow haddest swych habyte 1716
of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl þ{a}t .I.
my self had[de] maked to the the same habyt / which
þ{a}t is a moore verray thing{e} //

[Sidenote: What remains to be said is of such a nature that when
it is first tasted it is pungent and unpleasant, but when once
swallowed it turns sweet, and is grateful to the stomach.]

And certes the remenau{n}t
of thinges þ{a}t ben yit to seye / ben swyche // þ{a}t fyrst 1720
whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan
they ben resseyuyd w{i}t{h}-inne a whyht than ben they
swete //

[Sidenote: But because you say you would now gladly hear, with
what desire would you burn if you could imagine whither I am going
to lead you?]

but for thow seyst þ{a}t thow art so desirous to
herkne hem // wit[h] how gret brennynge woldesthow 1724
glowen / yif thow wystest whyder .I. wol leden the //

[Sidenote: _B._ Whither is that, I pray?]

whydyr{e} is þ{a}t q{uod} .I. //

[Sidenote: _P._ To that true felicity, of which you seem to have
but a faint foretaste.]

to thilke verray welefulnesse
q{uod} she // of whyche thynge herte dremeth //

[Sidenote: But your sight is clouded with false forms, so that it
cannot yet behold this same felicity.]

but for as moche as thy syhte is ocupied {and} distorbed / by 1728
Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit
sen thilke selue welefulnesse //

[Sidenote: _B._ Show me, I pray, that true happiness without
delay.]

do q{uod} .I. {and} shewe
me / what is thilke verray welefulnesse / .I. preye the [[pg 64]]
w{i}t{h}-howte tarynge //

[Sidenote: _P._ I will gladly do so at your desire, but I will
first describe that false cause (of happiness), so that you may be
better able to comprehend the exact model.]

þ{a}t wole .I. gladly don q{uod} she / 1732
for the cause of the // but .I. wol fyrst marken the by
wordes / {and} I wol enforcen me to enformen the //
thilke false cause of blysfulnesse þ{a}t thow more knowest /
so þ{a}t whan thow hast fully by-holden thilke false 1736
goodes {and} torned thyne eyen to þ{a}t oother syde / thow
mowe knowe the clernesse of verray blysfulnesse //]

[Linenotes:
1702 _streyhte_--H. strenghed
1712 _am nat_--H. nam nought
1718 _had[de]_--H. hade
1734 _wol_--H. shall{e}
1739 _wil_--wole
_felde_--feeld]

[Headnote:
AWAY WITH FALSE FELICITY!]

[Sidenote: * Here the Add. MS. begins again.]

*QUI SERERE I{N}GENIUM.

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

[Sidenote: He who would sow seed must first clear the ground of
useless weeds, so that he may reap an abundant harvest.]

¶ Who so wil sowe a felde plentiuous. lat hym first
delyuer it of þornes {and} kerue asondre wiþ his hooke 1740
þe bushes {and} þe ferne so þat þe corne may come{n} heuy
of eres {and} of greins.

[Sidenote: Honey tastes all the sweeter to a palate disgusted by
offensive flavours.]

hony is þe more swete yif mouþes
han firste tastid sauoures þ{a}t ben wikke.

[Sidenote: The stars shine all the clearer when the southern
showery blasts cease to blow.]

¶ þe sterres
shynen more agreably whan þe wynde Nothus letiþ his 1744
ploungy blastes.

[Sidenote: When Lucifer has chased away the dark night, then
Phœbus mounts his gay chariot.]

{and} aftir þat lucifer þe day sterre haþ
chased awey þe derke nyȝt. þe day þe feir{e}r lediþ þe
rosene horse of þe sonne.

[Sidenote: So you, beholding the false felicity, and withdrawing
your neck from the yoke of earthly affections, will soon see the
sovereign good.]

¶ Ryȝt so þou byholdyng
first þe fals[e] goodes. bygynne to wiþdrawe þi nek[ke] 1748
fro þe ȝok of erþely affecc{i}ou{n}s. {and} afterwarde þe
verrey goodes sholle{n} entre i{n} to þi corage.

[Linenotes:
1740 _delyuer_--delyuere
_of_--fro
_hooke_--hook
1741 _bushes_--bosses
_ferne_--fern
_corne_--korn
1743 _firste_--fyrst
_wikke_--wyckyd
1744 _wynde_--wynd
_his_--hise
1745 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1746 _feirer_--fayrere
1747 _horse_--hors
_Ryȝt_--And Ryht
1748 _fals[e]_--false
_bygynne_--bygyn
_wiþdrawe_--w{i}t{h} drawen
_nek[ke]_--nekke
1749 _afterwarde_--afft{er}ward
1750 _entre_--entren]

[Headnote:
THE DESIRE OF THE TRUE GOOD.]

TUNC DEFIXO PAULULU{M}.

[Sidenote: [The 2^de p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: Philosophy, with a serious air, and appearing to
recollect herself, and to rouse up all her faculties, thus began.]

++ÞO fastned[e] she a lytel þe syȝt of hir eyen {and} wiþdrow
hir ryȝt as it were in to þe streite sete of hir 1752
þouȝt. {and} bygan to speke ryȝt þ{us}.

[Sidenote: All the cares and desires of men seek one
end--happiness.]

Alle þe cures
q{uo}d she of mortal folk whiche þat trauaylen hem i{n}
many manere studies gon certys by diu{er}se weies.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 15 _b_.]]

¶ But naþeles þei enforced hem *to comen oonly to on 1756
ende of blisfulnesse [[pg 65]]

[Sidenote: True happiness is that complete good which, once
obtained, leaves nothing more to be desired.]

[And blysfulnesse] is swiche a goode
þat who so haþ geten it he ne may ouer þat no þing more
desiire.

[Sidenote: It is the sovereign good, and comprehends all others.
It lacks nothing, otherwise it could not be the supreme good.]

and þis þing for soþe is þe souereyne good þat conteiniþ
in hym self al man{er}e goodes. to þe whiche goode 1760
yif þere failed[e] any þing. it myȝt[e] nat ben souereyne
goode. ¶ For þan were þere som goode out of þis ilke souereyne
goode þ{a}t myȝt[e] ben desired.

[Sidenote: Happiness is, therefore, that perfect state, in which
all other goods meet and centre.]

Now is it clere {and}
certeyne þa{n} þat blisfulnesse is a p{er}fit estat
by þe congregac{i}ou{n} 1764
of alle goodes.

[Sidenote: It is the object which all men strive after.]

¶ þe whiche blisfulnesse as
I haue seid alle mortal folke enforcen hem to geten by
dyuerse weyes.

[Sidenote: A desire of the true good is a natural instinct, but
error misleads them to pursue false joys.]

¶ For-whi þe couetise of verray goode
is naturely y-plaunted in þe hertys of men. ¶ But þe 1768
myswandryng erro{ur} myslediþ hem in to fals[e] goodes.

[Sidenote: Some, imagining the supreme good to consist in lacking
nothing, labour for an abundance of _riches_; others, supposing
that this good lies in the _reverence_ and _esteem_ of their
fellow men, strive to acquire honourable positions.]

¶ of þe whiche men some of hem wenen þat souereygne
goode is to lyue wiþ outen nede of any þing.
{and} t{ra}ueile{n} hem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse. 1772
and some oþer men deme{n}. þat sou{er}ein goode be forto
be ryȝt digne of reu{er}ences. {and} enforce{n} hem to ben
reu{er}enced among hir neyȝbo{ur}s. by þe hono{ur}s þat þei
han ygeten

[Sidenote: There are some, again, who place it in supreme _power_,
and seek to rule, or to be favoured by the ruling powers.]

¶ {and} some folk þer ben þat halden þat 1776
ryȝt heyȝe power to be souereyn goode. {and} enforcen
he{m} forto regnen or ellys to ioigne{n} he{m} to hem þat
regnen.

[Sidenote: There are those who fancy _fame_ to be the height of
happiness, and seek by the arts of war or peace to get renown.]

¶ And it semeþ to some oþer folk þat noblesse
of renou{n} be þe sou{er}ein goode. {and} hasten hem to 1780
geten glorious name by þe artes of werre or of pees.

[Sidenote: Many there are who believe nothing to be better than
_joy_ and _gladness_, and think it delightful to plunge into
luxury.]

and many folke mesuren {and} gessen þ{a}t sou{er}ein goode
be ioye {and} gladnesse {and} wenen þat it be ryȝt blisful
[thyng{e}] to ploungen hem i{n} uoluptuous delit.

[Sidenote: Some there are who use these causes and ends
interchangeably, as those who desire riches as a means of getting
power; or who desire power in order to get money or renown.]

¶ And 1784
þer ben folk þat enterchaungen þe causes {and} þe endes
of þise forseide goodes as þei þat desire{n} rycchesse to [[pg 66]]
han power {and} delices. Or ellis þei desiren power forto
han moneye or for cause of renou{n}.

[Sidenote: In all they do they have a particular end in view.]

¶ In þise þinges 1788
{and} i{n} swyche oþer þinges is to{ur}ned al þe entenc{i}ou{n}
of desirynges {and} [of] werkes of me{n}. ¶ As þus.

[Linenotes:
1751 _fastned[e]_--fastnede
_wiþdrow_--MS. wiþdrowen, C. w{i}t{h} drowh
1752 _sete_--Cyte
1756 _enforced_--enforsen
1757 [_And blysfulnesse_]--from C.
_goode_--good
1758 _so_--so þ{a}t
_haþ_--MS. haþe
1759 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1760 _al_--alle
_goode_--good
1761 _þere_--ther
_failed[e]_--faylyde
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
_souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1762 _þan_--thanne
_þere_--ther
_goode_--good
_souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1763 _goode_--good
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
1764 _certeyne_--certein
1766 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_folke_--foolk
1767 _goode_--good
1769 _fals[e]_--false
1770 _souereygne goode is_--sou{er}eyn good be
1771 _lyue wiþ outen_--lyuen w{i}t{h} owte
1772 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1773 _some_--som
_goode be_--good ben
1774 _be_--ben
1775 _neyȝbours_--nesshebors
1776 _halden_--holden
1777 _heyȝe_--heyh
_to_--omitted
_goode_--good
1780 _goode_--good
1781 _or_--{and}
1782 _folke_--folk
_goode_--good
1783 _be_--by
1784 [_thynge_]--from C.
1786 _rycchesse_--rychesses
1787 _delices_--delytes
1789 _oþer_--oothre
_al_--alle
1790 [_of_]--from C.]

[Headnote:
FRIENDSHIP A SACRED THING.]

[Sidenote: Nobility and popular favour are sought after by some in
order to become famous.]

¶ Noblesse {and} fauo{ur} of poeple whiche þat ȝiueþ as it
semeþ a manere clernesse of renou{n}.

[Sidenote: By others, wives and children are only desired as
sources of pleasure.]

¶ and wijf {and} 1792
children þat men desiren for cause of delit {and} mirinesse.

[Sidenote: Friendship must not be reckoned among the goods of
fortune, but among those of virtue, for it is a very sacred
thing.]

¶ But forsoþe frendes ne shollen nat ben rekkened
among þe goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it
is a ful holy man{er}e þing.

[Sidenote: All else are desired either for the power or pleasure
they afford.]

alle þise oþer þinges forsoþe 1796
ben taken for cause of power. or ellis for cause of
delit.

[Sidenote: The goods of the body fall under the same predicament.]

¶ Certis now am I redy to referen þe goodes of
þe body to þise forseide þinges abouen.

[Sidenote: Strength and a good stature seem to give power and
worthiness.]

¶ For it semeþ
þ{a}t strengþe {and} gretnesse of body ȝeuen power {and} 1800
worþinesse.

[Sidenote: Beauty and swiftness give glory and fame; and health
gives delight.]

¶ and þat beaute {and} swiftenesse ȝeuen
noblesse {and} glorie of renou{n}. {and} hele of body semeþ
ȝiuen delit.

[Sidenote: In all these happiness alone is sought.]

¶ In alle þise þi{n}g{us} it semeþ oonly þat
blisfulnesse is desired.

[Sidenote: What a man most wishes for, that he esteems the supreme
good, which, as we have defined, is happiness.]

¶ For-whi þilke þing þat euery 1804
man desireþ moost ouer alle þinges. he demiþ þat be þe
souereyne goode. ¶ But I haue diffined þat blisfulnesse
is þe souereyne goode. for whiche euery wyȝt
demiþ þat þilke estat þat he desireþ ouer alle þinges þat 1808
it be þe blisfulnesse.

[Sidenote: Thou hast now before thee a view of human felicity
(falsely so called), that is, riches, honours, power, glory, and
delight, which last _Epicurus_ considered as the sovereign good.]

¶ Now hast þou þan byforne
[thy eyen] almost al þe p{ur}posed forme of þe welfulnesse
of ma{n}ky{n}de. þat is to seyne rycchesse. hono{ur}s.
power. glorie. {and} delitȝ. þe whiche delit oonly considered 1812
Epicurus Iuged {and} establissed. þat delit is þe
souereyne goode. for as myche as alle oþer þinges as
hym þouȝt[e] by-refte awey ioie {and} myrþe fro{m} þe
herte.

[Sidenote: I now return to the inclinations and pursuits of
mankind.]

¶ But I reto{ur}ne aȝeyne to þe studies of meen. 1816
of whiche men þe corage alwey rehersiþ {and} seekeþ þe [[pg 67]]
souereyne goode of alle be it so þ{a}t it be wiþ a derke
memorie [but he not by whiche paath].

[Sidenote: Their minds are bent upon the chief good, and are ever
seeking it with a darkened understanding, like a drunken man, who
cannot find his way home.]

¶ Ryȝt as a
dronke ma{n} not nat by whiche paþe he may reto{ur}ne 1820
home to hys house.

[Sidenote: Do they go astray who strive to keep themselves from
want?]

¶ Semeþ it þanne þat folk folyen
{and} erren þat enforcen he{m} to haue nede of no þing

[Linenotes:
1794 _shollen_--sholden
1795 _þe_--tho
1796 _oþer_--oothre
1801 _swiftenesse_--sweftnesse
1803 _ȝiuen_--MS. ȝiueþ, C. yeuen
1806, 1807 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1807 _whiche_--whych
1809 _þe_--omitted
_þan byforne_--thanne byforn
1810 [_thy eyen_]--from C.; MS. _has_ ȝeuen aȝeyne
_almost_--almest
_welfulnesse_--welefulnesse
1811 _seyne rycchesse_--seyn Rychesses
1814 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_myche_--moche
_oþer_--oothre
1815 _þouȝt[e]_--thowhte
_from_--fram
1816 _aȝeyne_--ayein
1818 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_of_--omitted
_alle_--al
_derke_--dirkyd
1819 [_but----paath_]--from C.
1820 _dronke_--dronken
_paþe_--paath
1821 _home_--hym]

[Headnote:
ALL SEEK THE CHIEF GOOD.]

[Sidenote: By no means. No state is happier than that in which a
man is above want, and independent of others.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 16.]]

¶ Certys þer nys non oþer þing þat may so weel p{er}fo{ur}ny
blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuo{us} *of alle 1824
goodes þat ne haþ nede of none oþer þing. but þat it is
suffisant of hy{m} self. vnto hym self.

[Sidenote: Are they guilty of folly that seek esteem and
reverence?]

and foleyen
swyche folk þanne. þat wenen þat þilk þing þ{a}t is
ryȝt goode. þat it be eke ryȝt worþi of honour {and} of 1828
reuerence.

[Sidenote: No; for that is not contemptible for which all men
strive.]

¶ Certis nay. for þat þing nys neyþer foule
ne worþi to ben dispised þat al þe entenc{i}ou{n} of mortel
folke trauaille forto geten it.

[Sidenote: Is not power to be reckoned amongst desirable goods?]

¶ And power auȝt[e]
nat þat eke to be rekened amonges goodes

[Sidenote: Why not? For that is not an insignificant good which
invests a man with authority and command.]

what ellis. 1832
for it nys nat to wene þat þilke þing þat is most
worþi of alle þinges be feble {and} wiþ out strengþe {and}
clernesse of renou{n} auȝte þat to ben dispised.

[Sidenote: Fame also is to be regarded, for everything excellent
is also shining and renowned.]

¶ Certys
þer may no man forsake þat al þing þat is ryȝt excellent 1836
{and} noble. þat it ne semeþ to be ryȝt clere {and} renomed.

[Sidenote: We hardly need say that happiness is not an unjoyous
and melancholy state, for in the pursuit of the smallest matters
men seek only pleasure.]

¶ For certis it nediþ nat to seie. þat blisfulnesse
be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greua{n}ces ne
to sorwes. syn þat in ryȝt litel þi{n}g{us} folk seken to 1840
haue {and} to vsen þat may deliten hem.

[Sidenote: Hence it is that mankind seek riches, &c., because by
them they hope to get independence, honour, &c.]

¶ Certys þise
ben þe þi{n}ges þat men wolen {and} desyren to geten.
and for þis cause desiren þei rycches. dignites. regnes.
glorie {and} delices ¶ For þerby wenen þei to han suffisau{n}ce 1844
hono{ur} power. renou{n} {and} gladnesse.

[Sidenote: However varied their desires, _happiness_ is their sole
pursuit.]

¶ þanne
is it goode. þ{a}t men seken þus by so many dyu{er}se
studies. In whiche desijr it may lyȝtly be shew{e}d.
how grete is þe strengþe of nature. [[pg 68]]

[Sidenote: However various men’s opinions are respecting
happiness, all agree in pursuing it as the end of their actions
and desires.]

¶ For how so þat 1848
men han dyuerse sentences {and} discordyng algates men
accordyn alle in lyuynge þe ende of goode.

[Linenotes:
1823 _perfourny_--p{er}forme
1825 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_none_--non
1827 _þilk_--thilke
1828 _goode_--good
1829 _foule_--fowl
1830 _al_--welneyh alle
1831 _trauaille_--trauaylen
_auȝt[e]_--owhte
1832 _be_--ben
1834 _out_--owte
1835 _auȝte_--owhte
1836 _al_--alle
1837 _be_--ben
_clere_--cleer
1843 _rycches_--Rychesses
1846 _goode_--good
1847 _be_--ben
1848 _grete_--gret
1849 _algates_--Allegates
1850 _goode_--good]

[Headnote:
OF NATURE’S LAWS.]

Q{UA}NTAS RER{UM} FLECTAT.

[Sidenote: [The 2^de Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: I will now sing of Nature’s laws, by which the universe
is governed.]

++IT likeþ me to shew[e] by subtil songe wiþ slakke {and}
delitable sou{n} of strenges how þat nature myȝty enclineþ 1852
{and} flitteþ gouernementȝ of þinges ¶ {and} by
whiche lawes she p{ur}ueiable kepiþ þe grete worlde. {and}
how she bindynge restreineþ alle þing{us} by a bonde þat
may nat be vnbounden.

[Sidenote: [j]]
[Sidenote: The Punic lion submits to man, and dreads the keeper’s
lash; yet, if he once taste blood, his savage instincts revive,
and his keeper falls a victim to his fury.]

¶ Al be it so þat þe liou{n}s of 1856
þe contree of pene beren þe fair[e] cheines. {and} taken
metes of þe handes of folk þat ȝeuen it hem. {and}
dreden her sturdy maystres of whiche þei ben wont to
suffren [betinges]. yif þat hir horrible mouþes ben bi-bled. 1860
þat is to sein of bestes devoured. ¶ Hir corage
of tyme passeþ þat haþ ben ydel {and} rested. repaireþ
aȝein þat þei roren greuously. {and} reme{m}bren on hir
nature. {and} slaken hir nekkes from hir cheins vnbounden. 1864
and hir maistre first to-teren wiþ blody toþe
assaieþ þe woode wraþþes of hem. ¶ þis is to sein þei
freten hir maister.

[Sidenote: [ij]]
[Sidenote: If the caged bird though daintily fed, gets a sight of
the pleasant grove where she was wont to sing, she will spurn her
food, and pine for the beloved woods.]

¶ And þe Iangland brid þat syngiþ
on þe heye braunches. þis is to sein in þe wode {and} 1868
after is inclosed in a streit cage. ¶ al þouȝ [þ{a}t] þe
pleiyng besines of men ȝeueþ hem honied[e] drinkes
{and} large metes. wiþ swete studie. ¶ ȝit naþeles yif
þilke brid skippynge oute of hir streite cage seeþ þe 1872
agreable shadewes of þe wodes. she defouleþ wiþ hir
fete hir metes yshad {and} sekeþ mournyng oonly þe
wode {and} twitriþ desirynge þe wode wiþ hir swete
voys.

[Sidenote: [iij]]
[Sidenote: The sapling, bent down by a mighty hand, will resume
its natural position as soon as the restraining force is removed.]

¶ þe ȝerde of a tree þat is haled adou{n} by myȝty 1876
strengþe bowiþ redely þe croppe adou{n}. but yif þat þe [[pg 69]]
hande of hym þat it bente lat it gon aȝein. ¶ An oon
þe crop lokeþ vp ryȝt to heuene.

[Sidenote: [iiij]]
[Sidenote: Though the sun sets in the western main at eve, yet by
a secret path he takes his wonted journey toward the east.]

¶ þe sonne phebus
þat failleþ at euene in þe westrene wawes retorniþ aȝein 1880
eftsones his cart by a priue paþe þere as it is wont
aryse.

[Sidenote: All things pursue their proper course, obedient to the
source of order.]

¶ Alle þinges seken aȝein in to hir p{ro}pre
cours. and alle þinges reioisen hem of hir retournynge
aȝein to hir nature ne noon ordinaunce nis bytaken to 1884
þi{n}ges but þat.

[Sidenote: Hence, throughout the world entire stability is found,
for all things, having fulfilled their appointed course, return
from whence they came.]

þat haþ ioignynge þe endynge to þe
bygynnynge. {and} haþ makid þe cours of it self stable
þat it chaungeþ nat fro{m} hys p{ro}pre kynde.

[Linenotes:
1851 _shew[e]_--shewe
1854 _whiche_--MS. swiche, C. whyche
_worlde_--world
1856 _be_--ben
_vnbounden_--vnbownde
1857 _fair[e]_--fayr{e}
1860 [_betinges_]--from C.
1862 _passeþ_--passed
1864 _from_--fram
_vnbounden_--vnbownde
1865 _to-teren_--to-torn
_toþe_--toth
1867 _Iangland_--Iangelynge
1869 _streit_--streyht
1870 _pleiyng_--MS. pleinyng, C. pleyynge
_besines_--bysynesse
_honied[e]_--honyede
1872 _oute_--owt
1873 _agreable_--agreables
1874 _fete_--feet
1875 _twitriþ_--twiterith
1877 _croppe_--crop
1878 _hande_--hand
_bente_--bent
1880 _failleþ_--falleth
1881 _cart_--carte
_a_--omitted
_paþe_--paath
1883 _of_--MS. of of
1885 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_ioignynge_--Ioyned
1886 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote:
THE SEARCH AFTER FELICITY.]

VOSQ{UE} TERRENA ANIMALIA.

[Sidenote: [The 3^de p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: O earthly animals, you have an indistinct perception of
your beginning, and you have ever the true end of felicity in
view, but your natural instincts are perverted by many errors.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 16 _b_.]]

*++CErtis also ȝe men þat ben erþelich{e} bestes dreme{n} 1888
alwey [yowre bygynnynge] al þouȝ it be wiþ a
þinne ymaginac{i}ou{n}. {and} by a maner þouȝt al be it
nat clerly ne p{er}fitly ȝe looken from a fer til þilk 1891
verray fyn of blisfulnesse. and þerfore þe naturel entenc{i}ou{n}
ledeþ ȝow to þilk verray good ¶ But
many manere errours misto{ur}niþ ȝow þer fro.

[Sidenote: Can men obtain the end they have in view by the means
they usually employ in the pursuit of happiness?]

¶ Considere
now yif þat be þilke þinges by whiche a man
weniþ to gete hym blysfulnesse. yif þat he may comen 1896
to þilke ende þat he weneþ to come by nature

[Sidenote: If riches and honours and the like make men happy, so
that they shall want for nothing, then happiness may be procured
by these acquisitions.]

¶ For
yif þat moneye or hono{ur}s or þise oþer forseide þinges
bryngen to men swiche a þing þat no goode ne faille
hem. ne semeþ faille. ¶ Certys þan wil I graunt[e] 1900
þat þei ben maked blisful. by þilke þinges þat þei han
geten.