Chapter XIX: Appendix: To Introduction (5)

[Sidenote: But if these things cannot make good what they promise,
if there still be something to be desired, then they are
delusions, and the felicity after all is a counterfeit.]

¶ but yif so be þat þilke þi{n}ges ne mowe nat
p{er}fo{ur}men þat þei by-heten {and} þat þer be defaute of
many goodes. ¶ Sheweþ it nat þan clerely þ{a}t fals 1904
beaute of blisfulnesse is knowe {and} a-teint in þilke
þinges. ¶ First {and} forward þou þi self þat haddest
haboundaunces of rycchesses nat long agon. [[pg 70]]

[Sidenote: In your prosperity were you never annoyed by some wrong
or grievance?]

¶ I axe
ȝif þat in þe haboundaunce of alle þilk[e] rycchesses 1908
þou were neuer anguissous or sory in þi corage of any
wrong or greuau{n}ce þat by-tidde þe on any syde.

[Linenotes:
1889 [_yowre bygynnynge_]--from C.
_al_--MS. as, C. Al
1891 _from_--fram
_til þilk_--to thylke
1892 _þe_--omitted
1893 _þilk_--thylke
1895 _be_--by
1896 _gete_--geten
1899 _swiche_--swych
_goode_--good
1900 _wil_--wole
_graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
1904 _many_--manye
_clerely_--clerly
_fals_--false
1905 _knowe_--knowen
1908 _þilk[e]_--thylke]

[Headnote:
NONE ARE FREE FROM CARE.]

[Sidenote: _B._ I must confess that I cannot remember ever being
wholly free from some trouble or other.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d I it remembreþ me nat þat euere I was
so free of my þouȝt. þat I ne was al-wey in anguysh{e} of 1912
somwhat.

[Sidenote: _P._ That was because something was absent which you
did desire, or something present which you would fain be quit of.]

þ{a}t was þat þou lakkedest þat þou noldest
han lakked. or ellys þou haddest þat þou noldest
han had.

[Sidenote: _B._ That’s quite true.]

ryȝt so is it q{uod} I þan.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then you did desire the presence of the one and
the absence of the other?]

desiredest þou
þe p{re}sence of þat oon {and} þe absence of þat oþer. 1916

[Sidenote: _B._ I confess I did.]

I graunt[e] wel q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Every man is in need of what he desires.]

for soþe q{uod} she þan nediþ þer
somwhat þat euery man desireþ.

[Sidenote: _B._ Certainly he is.]

ȝe þer nediþ q{uod} I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If a man lack anything can he be supremely happy?]

¶ Certis q{uod} she {and} he þat haþ lakke or nede of a
wyȝt nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self. 1920

[Sidenote: _B._ No.]

no q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Did you not in your abundance want for somewhat?]

{and} þou q{uo}d she in alle þe plente of þi
rycchesse haddest þilke lak of suffisaunce.

[Sidenote: _B._ What then if I did?]

¶ what
ellis q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ It follows that riches cannot put a man beyond all
want, although this was what they seemed to promise.]

¶ þanne may nat rycchesse maken þat a
man nis nedy. ne þat he be suffisaunt to hym self. {and} 1924
þat was it þ{a}t þei byhyȝten as it semeþ.

[Sidenote: Money may part company with its owner, however
unwilling he may be to lose it.]

¶ and eke
certys I trowe þat þis be gretly to consydere þat moneye
ne haþ nat in hys owen kynde þat it ne may ben by-nomen
of hem þat han it maugre hem.

[Sidenote: _B._ I confess that’s true.]

¶ I by-knowe 1928
it wel q{uod} I

[Sidenote: _P._ It ought to be confessed when every day we see
_might_ prevailing over _right_.]

¶ whi sholdest þou nat by-knowen it
q{uod} she. whan euery day þe strenger folke by-nymen
it fram þe febler maugre hem.

[Sidenote: From whence springs so much litigation, but from this,
that men seek to recover their own of which they have been
unjustly deprived?]

¶ Fro whennes comen
ellys alle þise foreine compleintes or quereles of 1932
plety{n}g{us}. ¶ But for þat men axen aȝeine her moneye
þat haþ be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle. {and}
alwey maugre hem.

[Sidenote: _B._ Nothing is more true.]

¶ Ryȝt so it is q{uod} I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then a man needs the assistance of others in order
to keep his riches.]

þan q{uo}d
she haþ a man nede to seke{n} hym foreyne helpe by 1936
whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nay q{uod} .I.

[Linenotes:
1913 _þat----lakkedest_--And was nat þ{a}t q{uod} she for
þ{a}t the lacked som-what
1915 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
1917 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
1919 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_a wyȝt_--awht
1921 _alle_--al
1922 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
_lak_--lakke
1923 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1927 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_owen_--owne
1930 _strenger folke by-nymen_--strenger{e} folk by-nemyn
1931 _fram_--fro
_febler_--febeler{e}
_Fro_--for
1933 _aȝeine_--ayeyn
1934 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_be_--ben
1936 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_helpe_--help
1937 _say_--sey]

[[pg 71]]
[Headnote:
RICHES BRING ANXIETIES.]

[Sidenote: If he had no money to lose he would not stand in need
of this help?]

¶ Certis q{uod} she {and} hym nediþ no helpe
yif he ne hadde no moneye þat he myȝt[e] leese.

[Sidenote: _B._ That is beyond all doubt.]

¶ þat
is doutles q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then the very reverse of what was expected (from
riches) takes place? For riches add to a man’s necessities.]

þanne is þis þi{n}g turned in to þe contrarie 1940
q{uod} she ¶ For rycchesse þat men wenen sholde
make suffisau{n}ce. þei maken a man raþer han nede of
foreine helpe.

[Sidenote: Tell me how do riches drive away necessity? Are not
rich men liable to hunger, thirst, and cold?]

¶ whiche is þe manere or þe gise q{uod}
she þat rycches may dryuen awey nede. ¶ Riche folk 1944
may þei neiþer han hungre ne þrest. þise ryche men
may þei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter.

[Sidenote: You will say that the rich have wherewithal to satisfy
these wants.]

¶ But
þou wilt answere þat ryche men han y-nouȝ wher wiþ
þei may staunchen her hunger. {and} slaken her þrest 1948
{and} don awey colde.

[Sidenote: By riches indigence may be alleviated, but they cannot
satisfy every want.]

¶ In þis wise may nede be co{n}forted
by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al
out{er}ly be don awey.

[Sidenote: Even if gaping and greedy necessity be filled with
riches, yet some cravings will remain.]

for þouȝ þis nede þat is alwey
gapyng {and} gredy be fulfilled wiþ rycchesses. {and} axe 1952
any þing ȝit dwelleþ þanne a nede þat myȝt[e] ben fulfilled.

[Sidenote: A little suffices for nature, but avarice never has
enough.]

¶ I holde me stille {and} telle nat how þat litel
þing suffiseþ to nature. but certys to auarice ynouȝ ne
suffiseþ no þinge.

[Sidenote: If riches, then, add to our wants, why should you think
that they can supply all your necessities?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 17.]]

*¶ For syn þat rychesse ne may nat 1956
al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may
it þanne be þat ȝe wenen þat rychesses mowen ȝeue{n}
ȝow suffisau{n}ce.

[Linenotes:
1938 _nediþ no helpe_--nedede non help
1939 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
1940 _doutles_--dowteles
1941 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1943 _helpe_--help
_whiche_--whych
1944 _rycches_--Rychesse
_dryuen_--dryue
1945 _hungre_--hungyr
_þrest_--thurst
1946 _þei_--the
_colde_--coold
_in_--on
1947 _wilt answere_--wolt Answeren
_y-nouȝ_--y-now
1948 _þrest_--thurst
1949 _colde_--coold
1950 _nat_--omitted
1951 _outerly_--vtrely
1953 _myȝt[e] ben_--myhte be
1957 _rychesse_--Rychesses]

QUAMUIS FLUENTER DIUES.

[Sidenote: [The 3^de Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: The rich man, had he a river of gold, would never rest
content.]

++Al were it so þat a ryche couetous man hadde riuer 1960
fletynge alle of golde ȝitte sholde it neuer staunche
hys couetise.

[Sidenote: Though his neck be loaded with precious pearls, and his
fields be covered with innumerable herds, yet shall unquiet care
never forsake him; and at his death his riches shall not bear him
company.]

¶ And þouȝ he hadde his nekke I-charged
wiþ p{re}ciouse stones of þe rede see. {and} þouȝ he do
erye his feldes plentiuo{us} wiþ an hundreþ oxen neuere 1964
ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while he
lyueþ. ne þe lyȝt[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym [[pg 72]]
compaignie whanne he is dede.

[Linenotes:
1960 _riuer_--a Ryu{er}
1961 _alle_--al
_golde_--gold
_ȝitte_--yit
_staunche_--stau{n}chyn
1962, 1963 _þouȝ_--thow
1964 _erye_--Ere
_hundreþ_--hundred
1965 _while_--whyl
1966 _lyȝt[e]_--lyhte
_shal_--shol
1967 _dede_--ded]

[Headnote:
OF DIGNITIES.]

SET DIGNITATIB{US}.[4]

[Footnote 4: Read _dignitates_.]

[Sidenote: [The 4^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: It may be said that _dignities_ confer honour on their
possessors.]

++Bvt dignitees to whom þei ben comen make þei hym 1968
honorable {and} reuerent.

[Sidenote: But have they power to destroy vice or implant virtue
in the heart?]

han þei nat so grete strengþe
þat þei may putte vertues in þe hertis of folk. þat vsen
þe lordshipes of hem. or ellys may þei don awey þe
vices.

[Sidenote: So far from expelling vicious habits, they only render
them more conspicuous.]

Certys þei [ne] ben nat wont to don awey wikkednesses. 1972
but þei ben wont raþer to shew[en] wikkednesses.

[Sidenote: Hence arises the indignation when we see dignities
given to wicked men.]

{and} þer of comeþ it þat I haue ryȝt grete desdeyne.
þat dignites ben ȝeuen ofte to wicked men.

[Sidenote: Hence Catullus’ resentment against Nonius, whom he
calls the botch, or impostume of the State.]

¶ For whiche þing catullus clepid a consul of Rome þat 1976
hyȝt noni{us} postum. or boch. as who seiþ he clepiþ
hy{m} a congregac{i}ou{n} of uices in his brest as a postum
is ful of corrupc{i}ou{n}. al were þis noni{us} set in a
chayere of dignitee.

[Sidenote: The deformities of wicked men would be less apparent if
they were in more obscure situations.]

Sest þou nat þan how gret vylenye 1980
dignitees don to wikked men. ¶ Certys vnworþines of
wikked men shold{e} ben þe lasse ysen yif þei nere renomed
of none hono{ur}s.

[Sidenote: Would you free yourself from peril by accepting a
magistracy along with Decoratus a buffoon and informer?]

¶ Certys þou þi self ne
myȝtest nat ben brouȝt wiþ as many p{er}ils as þou 1984
myȝtest suffren þat þ{o}u woldest bere þi magistrat wiþ
decorat. þat is to seyn. þat for no p{er}il þat myȝt[e] bifalle{n}
þe by þe offence of þe kyng theodorik þou noldest
nat ben felawe in gouernaunce w{i}t{h} decorat. whanne 1988
þou say[e] þat he had[de] wikkid corage of a likerous
shrewe {and} of an acusor.

[Sidenote: Honours do not render undeserving persons worthy of
esteem.]

¶ Ne I ne may nat for swiche
honours Iuge{n} hem worþi of reuerence þat I deme {and}
holde vnworþi to han þilke same hono{ur}s.

[Sidenote: If you find a man endowed with wisdom you deem him
worthy of respect and of the wisdom which he professes.]

¶ Now yif 1992
þou saie a man þat were fulfilled of wisdom. certys þou
ne myȝtest nat demen þ{a}t he were vnworþi to þe [[pg 73]]
hono{ur}. or ellys to þe wisdom of whiche he is fulfilled.

[Sidenote: _B._ I could not do otherwise.]

No q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Virtue has her proper worth, which she ever
transfers to her votaries.]

¶ Certys dignitees q{uod} she app{er}tienen 1996
p{ro}perly to vertue. {and} uertue transporteþ dignite anon
to þilke man to whiche she hir self is conioigned.

[Linenotes:
1969 _make_--maken
1969 _grete_--gret
1972 [_ne_]--from C.
_ben_--be
1972, 1973 _wikkednesses_--wykkydnesse
1973 _to_--omitted
_shew[en]_--shewen
1974 _comeþ_--comth
_grete desdeyne_--gret desdaign
1976 _whiche_--which
1977 _hyȝt_--hyhte
_nonius_--MS. vonn{us}, C. nomy{us}
_boch_--MS. boþe, C. boch
_clepiþ_--clepyd
1979 _nonius_--MS. uonn{us}, C. nomy{us}
_set_--MS. sette, C. set
1980 _Sest þou_--Sesthow
_þan_--thanne
_vylenye_--fylonye
1981 _vnworþines_--vnworthynesse
1982 _ben_--be
_ysen_--MS. ysene, C. I-sene
1984 _many_--manye
1985 _bere_--beren
1986 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
1987 _þe_ (2)--omitted
1988 _whanne_--whan
1989 _say[e]_--saye
_had[de]_--hadde
1994 _demen_--deme
1995 _whiche_--which
1996 _quod she_--omitted
1997 _vertue_--vertu
_uertue_--vertu
1998 _whiche_--whych]

[Headnote:
DIGNITIES APPERTAIN TO VIRTUE.]

[Sidenote: Honours conferred by the populace do not make men
worthy of them, for they have no intrinsic merit to bestow.]

¶ And for as moche as hono{ur}s of poeple ne may nat
maken folk digne of hono{ur}. it is wel seyn clerly þat 2000
þei ne han no p{ro}pre beaute of dignite. ¶ And ȝit men
auȝten take more hede in þis.

[Sidenote: Dignities conferred upon shrews only make their vices
the more conspicuous.]

¶ For if it so be þat he
is most out cast þat most folk dispisen. or as dignite ne
may nat maken shrewes worþi of no reuerences. þan 2004
makeþ dignites shrewes more dispised þan p{re}ised. þe
whiche shrewes dignit[e] scheweþ to moche folk

[Sidenote: Nor do dignities themselves escape without injury; for
worthless men take their revenge upon them, and defile them by
their contagious villanies.]

¶ {and}
for soþe nat vnpunissed. þat is forto sein. þat shrewes
reuengen hem aȝeinward vpon dignites. for þei ȝelden 2008
aȝein to dignites as gret gerdou{n} whan þei byspotten
{and} defoulen dignites wiþ hire vylenie.

[Sidenote: These shadowy honours have nothing in their nature to
procure respect; for if a man, having borne the honours of the
consulate, should go among barbarians would this honour gain him
their respect?]

¶ And for as
moche as þou mow[e] knowe þat þilke verray reuerence
ne may nat comen by þe shadewy t{ra}nsitorie dignitees. 2012
vndirstonde now þis. yif þat a man hadde vsed {and}
hadde many manere dignites of consules {and} were
come{n} p{er}auenture amonges straunge nac{i}ou{n}s. sholde
þilke hono{ur} maken hym worshipful {and} redouted of 2016
straunge folk

[Sidenote: If respect were an attribute of honour it would
infallibly bring esteem everywhere, just as heat is ever an
attribute of fire.]

¶ Certys yif þat honour of poeple were
a naturel ȝifte to dignites. it ne myȝte neuer cesen
nowher amonges no maner folke to done hys office.

[Linenotes:
2000 _clerly_--MS. clerkly, C. clerly
2002 _auȝten----hede_--owhten taken mor heed
2002-3 _For----dignite_--For yif so be þ{a}t a wykkyd whyght be
so mochel the fowler{e} {and} the moore owt cast þ{a}t he
is despised of most folk so as dignete
2004-2007 _maken----soþe_--maken shrewes digne of Reu{er}ence
the whych shrewes dignete sheweth to moche foolk thanne
makith dignete shrewes rather so moche mor{e} despised than
preysed {and} forsothe
2008 _ȝelden_--yilden
2009 _byspotten_--by-spetten
2010 _hire_--hyr
2011 _moche_--mochel
_mow[e]_--mowe
2012 _þe shadewy_--thyse shadwye
2013 _vndirstonde_--vndyrstond
_þis_--thus
2014 _hadde_--had
2018 _ȝifte_--yift
2019 _folke_--foolk
_done_--don]

[Headnote:
DIGNITIES DO CONFER ESTEEM.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 17 _b_.]]

¶ Ryȝt as fire i{n} euery contre ne stinteþ nat to 2020
enchaufen {and} *to ben hote.

[Sidenote: Honours arise from the false opinions of men, and
vanish when they come among those who do not esteem them, that is,
among foreign nations.]

but for as myche as forto
be holden honorable or reuerent ne comeþ nat to folk of
hir p{ro}pre strengþe of nat{ur}e. but only of þe fals[e] [[pg 74]]
opiniou{n} of folk. þat is to sein. þat wenen þat dignites 2024
maken folk digne of hono{ur}. An on þerfore whan þat
þei comen þer as folk ne knowe{n} nat þilke dignites.
her hono{ur}s vanissen awey {and} þat on oon. but þat is
a-mong straung folk. maist þou sein.

[Sidenote: Do they always endure in those places that gave birth
to them?]

but amo{n}g{us} 2028
hem þat þei weren born duren þilk[e] dignites alwey.

[Sidenote: The Prætorate was once a great honour, but now it is
only an empty name and a heavy expense.]

¶ Certys þe dignite of þe p{ro}uostrie of Rome was somtyme
a grete power. now is it no þing but an ydel
name. {and} þe rente of þe senatorie a g{r}et charge. 2032

[Sidenote: What is more vile than the office of the
superintendency of provisions?]

{and} yif a whiȝt somtyme hadde þe office to taken he[de] to
þe vitailes of þe poeple as of corne {and} what oþer þinges
he was holden amonges grete. but what þing is more
nowe out cast þanne þilke p{ro}uostrie

[Sidenote: That which hath no innate beauty must lose its
splendour or value according as popular opinion varies concerning
it.]

¶ And as I haue 2036
seid a litel here byforne. þat þilke þing þat haþ no
p{ro}pre beaute of hym self resceyueþ somtyme pris {and}
shinynge {and} somtyme lesiþ it by þe opiniou{n} of
vsaunces.

[Sidenote: If dignities cannot confer esteem, if they become vile
through filthy shrews, if they lose their lustre by the change of
times, if they become worthless by the change of popular opinion,
what beauty do they possess which should make them desirable, or
what dignity can they confer on others?]

¶ Now yif þat dignites þanne ne mowen 2040
nat maken folk digne of reuerence. {and} yif þ{a}t dignites
wexen foule of hir wille by þe filþe of shrewes. ¶ and
yif þat dignites lesen hir shynynge by chaungyng of
tymes. and yif þei wexen foule by estimac{i}ou{n} of 2044
poeple. what is it þat þei han in hem self of beaute
þat auȝte ben desired. as who seiþ none. þanne ne
mowen þei ȝiuen no beaute of dignite to none oþer.

[Linenotes:
2020 _enchaufen_--eschaufen
2021 _myche_--mochel
2022 _be_--ben
2023 _fals[e]_--false
2024 _þat_ (2)--omitted
2027 _her_--hyr
_vanissen_--vanesshen
2028 _a-mong_--amonges
_straung_--strau{n}ge
_but_--ne
2029 _þat_--ther
_duren þilk[e]_--ne duren nat thylke
2030 _somtyme_--whylom
2031 _grete_--gret
2032 _þe_ (2)--omitted
2033 _somtyme_--whylom
_þe_--MS. þe þe
2034 _corne_--corn
_what_--omitted
2035 _more nowe_--now more
2036 _cast_--MS. caste, C. cast
2037 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_here byforne_--her by-forn
_haþ_--MS. haþe
2042 _filþe_--felthe
2043 _þat_--omitted
2046 _auȝte_--owhte
_none_--non
2047 _þei_--MS. ȝe, C. they
_none_--non]

QUA{M}UIS SE TIRIO.

[Sidenote: [The 4^the Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Nero, though invested with the purple and adorned with
pearls, was hated by all men.]

++Al be it so þat þe proude nero wiþ al his woode luxurie 2048
kembed hym {and} apparailed hym wiþ faire purp{er}s
of Tirie {and} wiþ white perles. Algates ȝitte throf he
hateful to alle folk ¶ þis is to seyn þat
al was he by-hated [[pg 75]]
of alle folk.

[Sidenote: Yet he had lordship, and gave to the senators the
dishonoured seats of dignity.]

¶ ȝitte þis wicked Nero hadde gret 2052
lordship {and} ȝaf somtyme to þe dredeful senatours þe
vnworshipful setes of dignites. ¶ vnworshipful setes
he clepiþ here fore þat Nero þat was so wikked ȝaf þo
dignites.

[Sidenote: Who then can think that felicity resides in honours
given by vicious shrews?]

who wolde þanne resonably wenen þat blysfulnesse 2056
were in swiche hono{ur}s as ben ȝeuen by vicious
shrewes.

[Linenotes:
2048 _al_ (2)--alle
2049 _kembed_--kembde
_apparailed_--MS. apparailen, C. a-paraylede
2050 _ȝitte_--yit
2053 _lordship_--lorshippe
_ȝaf somtyme_--yaf whylom
_dredeful_--reu{er}encȝ
2055 _fore_--for
_ȝaf_--yaf]

[Headnote:
KINGDOMS DO NOT MAKE A MAN MIGHTY.]

AN UERO REGNA.

[Sidenote: [The 5^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _P._ Do kingdoms and a familiarity with princes make a
man mighty?]

++Bvt regnes {and} familarites of kynges may þei maken a
ma{n} to ben myȝty.

[Sidenote: _B._ Why should they not if they are durable?]

how ellys. ¶ whanne hir 2060
blysfulnesse dureþ p{er}petuely

[Sidenote: _P._ Past ages, as well as the present, furnish us with
many examples of princes who have met with dismal reverses of
fortune.]

but certys þe olde age of
tyme passeþ. {and} eke of p{re}sent tyme now is ful of
ensau{m}ples how þ{a}t kynges þat han chaunged in to
wrechednesse out of hir welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: O then how noble and glorious a thing is power that is
too weak to preserve itself!]

¶ O a noble þing 2064
{and} a cler þing is power þat is nat founden myȝty to
kepe it self.

[Sidenote: If dominion brings felicity, then misery will follow if
it be defective.]

¶ And yif þat power of realmes be auctour
{and} maker of blisfulnesse. yif þilke power lakkeþ on
any side. amenusiþ it nat þilke blisfulnesse {and} bryngeþ 2068
in wrechednesse.

[Sidenote: But human rule has its limits, therefore wherever power
ceases there impotence enters, bringing misery along with it.]

but yif al be it so þat realmes of mankynde
stretchen b{r}oode. ȝit mot þer nede ben myche
folk ouer whiche þat euery kyng ne haþ no lordshipe
no comaundement ¶ and certys vpon þilke syde þat 2072
power failleþ whiche þat makiþ folk blisful. ryȝt on þat
same side nou{n}power entriþ vndirneþ þat makeþ hem
wreches.

[Sidenote: Kings, therefore, have a larger portion of misery than
of felicity.]

¶ In þis manere þanne moten kynges han
more porciou{n} of wrechednesse þan of welefulnesse. 2076

[Linenotes:
2060 _myȝty_--MS. vnmyȝty, C. myhty
2062 _passeþ_--passed
_of_ (2)--omitted
2063 _kynges þat han_--kynges ben
2066 _kepe_--kepen
2067 _maker_--maker{e}
2069 _yif_--yit
_realmes_--the Reaumes
2070 _stretchen_--strechchen
_myche_--moche
2071 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2073 _whiche_--whych
2074 _vndirneþ_--vndyr-nethe]

[Headnote:
POWER DOES NOT DRIVE AWAY CARE.]

[Sidenote: Dionysius of Sicily, conscious of this condition,
exhibited the fears and cares of royalty by the terror of a naked
sword hanging over the head of his friend and flatterer Damocles.]

¶ A tyraunt þat was kyng of sisile þat had[de] assaied
þe p{er}il of his estat shewid[e] by similitude þe dredes
of realmes by gastnesse of a swerde þat heng ouer þe
heued of his familier.

[Sidenote: What then is this thing called Power, which cannot do
away with care or fear?]

what þing is þan þis power þat 2080
may nat don awey þe bytynges of besines ne eschewe [[pg 76]]
þe prikkes of drede.

[Sidenote: Men would live in security but cannot, and yet they
glory in their power.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 18.]]

and certys ȝit wolden þei lyuen
*in sykernesse. but þei may nat. and ȝit þei glorifien
hem in her power

[Sidenote: Is he powerful who cannot do what he wishes?]

¶ Holdest þou þan þat þilk[e] man 2084
be myȝty þat þ{o}u seest þat he wolde don þat he may
nat don.

[Sidenote: Is he a mighty man who goes surrounded with an armed
guard, to terrify those whom he himself fears, and whose power
depends solely upon his numerous retinue?]

¶ And holdest þou þan hym a myȝty man
þat haþ environed hise sydes wiþ men of armes or
seruauntes {and} dredeþ more [hem] þat he makeþ agast. 2088
þen þei dreden hym. {and} þat is put in þe handes of hise
seruauntȝ. for he sholde seme myȝty but of familiers
[or] seruauntȝ of ky{n}ges.

[Sidenote: Why need I enlarge upon the favourites of princes
having thus displayed the imbecility of kings!]

¶ what sholde I telle þe
any þing. syn þat I my self haue shewed þe þat realmes 2092
hem self ben ful of gret feblenesse.

[Sidenote: Their prosperity is affected by the caprice of their
fortunate masters as well as by the adversity to which they are
incident.]

þe whiche familiers
certis þe real power of kynges in hool estat {and} in estat
abated ful [ofte] þroweþ adou{n}.

[Sidenote: Nero only allowed his master Seneca to choose the
manner of his death.]

¶ Nero co{n}streined[e]
his familier {and} his maistre seneca to chesen on what 2096
deeþ he wolde deien.

[Sidenote: Antonius (Caracalla) commanded Papinian to be slain by
the swords of his soldiers.]

¶ Antonius comau{n}did[e] þat
knyȝtis slowen wiþ her swerdis Papinian his familier
whiche Papinian had[de] ben long tyme ful myȝty
a-monges hem of þe courte.

[Sidenote: Yet both would have given up all they possessed.]

and ȝit certis þei wolde boþe 2100
han renou{n}ced her power.

[Sidenote: Seneca begged for poverty and exile. But relentless
fortune precipitated them to destruction, and did not permit them
to choose their fate.]

of whiche [two] senek enforced[e]
hym to ȝiue{n} to Nero his rychesses. {and} also
to han gon in to solitarie exil. ¶ But whan þe grete
weyȝt. þat is to sein of lordes power or of fortune 2104
draweþ hem þat sholden falle. neyþer of hem ne
myȝt[e] do þat he wolde.

[Sidenote: What then is Power, which terrifies its possessors, and
which cannot be got rid of at pleasure?]

what þing is þanne þilke
power þat þouȝ men han it þat þei ben agast. ¶ {and}
whan þou woldest han it þou nart nat siker. ¶ And 2108
yif þou woldest forleten it þou mayst nat eschewen it.

[Sidenote: No advantage is to be gained by friendship based on
prosperity instead of virtue.]

¶ But wheþir swiche men ben frendes at nede as ben
conseiled by fortune {and} nat by vertue.

[Sidenote: Adversity will turn this sort of friendship into
enmity. And what greater plague can there be than the enmity of
thy familiar friend?]

Certys swiche
folk as weleful fortune makeþ frendes. contrarious fortune [[pg 77]]
makeþ hem enmyse. ¶ And what pestilence is 2113
more myȝty forto anoye a wiȝt þan a familier enemy.

[Linenotes:
2077 _had[de]_--hadde
2078 _shewid[e]_--shewede
2079 _realmes_--Reaumes
_swerde_--swerd
_heng_--MS. henge, C. heng
2081 _besines_--bysynesse
2083 _ȝit_--yif
_glorifien_--gloryfye
2084 _þilk[e]_--thylke
2087 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_environed_--enuyrownede
2088 [_hem_]--from C.
2089 _þen_--than
2091 [_or_]--from C.
2092 _realmes_--Reames
2093 _feblenesse_--feblesse
2094 _real_--Ryal
2095 [_ofte_]--from C.
_constreined[e]_--co{n}streynede
2096 _his_ (1)--hyr
_seneca_--Senek
2097 _comaundid[e]_--comau{n}dede
2098 _her_--hyr
2099 _whiche_--which
_had[de] ben long_--þ{a}t hadde ben longe
2100 _courte_--court
_wolde_--wolden
2101 [_two_]--from C.
_enforced[e]_--enforcede
2102 _ȝiuen_--yeuen
_his_--hyse
2104 _weyȝt_--weyhte
2105 _sholden_--sholen
2106 _myȝt[e]_--myhte]

[Headnote:
GLORY IS DECEPTIVE.]

QUI SE UALET[5] ESSE POTENTEM.

[Footnote 5: Read _uolet_]

[Sidenote: [The 5^the Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: He who would obtain sovereign power must obtain
conquest over himself, and not yield to his passions.]

++Who so wolde ben myȝty he mot dau{n}ten hys cruel
corage. ne put[te] nat his nekke ouercomen vndir 2116
þe foule reines of lecherie.

[Sidenote: Though your dominion extended from India to Thule, yet
if thou art tormented by care thou hast no real power.]

for al be it so þat þi lordship[e]
strecche so fer þat þe contre Inde quakiþ at þi
comaundement. or at þi lawes. {and} þat þe leest isle in
þe see þat hyȝt tile be þral to þe ¶ ȝit yif þou mayst 2120
nat pute{n} awey þi foule derk[e] desijres {and} dryue{n}
oute fro þe wreched co{m}pleyntes. Certis it nis no
power þat þou hast.

[Linenotes:
2115 _wolde ben_--wole be
2116 _put[te]_--putte
2117 _lordship[e]_--lordshype
2119 _comaundement_--comau{n}dementȝ
_leest isle_--last Ile
2120 _hyȝt_--hyhte
2121 _puten_--putten
_derk[e]_--dyrke
2122 _oute_--owt]

[Headnote:
GENTILITY IS FOREIGN TO RENOWN.]

GLORIA UERO QUA{M} FALLAX.

[Sidenote: [The 6^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: How deceptive and deformed a thing is glory! Well did
the Tragedian exclaim--ὦ δόξα δόξα μυρίοισι δὴ βροτῶν, οὐδὲν
γεγῶσι βίοτον ὤγκωσας μέγαν, for the undeserving have been
crowned with glory and renown by popular and erring opinion.]

++Bvt glorie how deceiuable {and} how foule is it ofte. for 2124
whiche þing nat vnskilfully a tregedien þat is to
sein a maker of dites þat hyȝten tregedies cried[e] {and}
seide. ¶ O glorie glorie q{uod} he. þou nart no þing
ellys to þousandes of folkes. but a gret sweller of eres. 2128
for many[e] han had ful gret renou{n} by þe fals[e] oppiniou{n}
of poeple.

[Sidenote: What can be more infamous than renoun founded on the
prejudices of the vulgar?]

and what þing may ben þouȝt fouler
þen swiche p{re}isynge

[Sidenote: Those that are undeservedly praised ought to blush for
shame.]

for þilk[e] folk þat be{n} p{re}ised
falsly. þei moten nedes han shame of hir p{re}isynges. 2132

[Sidenote: If a wise man gets well-merited praise it does not add
to his felicity.]

{and} yif þat folk han gete{n} hem þank or p{re}ysyng by
her desertes. what þing haþ þilk pris echid or encresed
to þe conscience of wise folk þ{a}t mesure{n} hire
good. not by þe rumo{ur} of þe poeple. but by þe soþefastnesse 2136
of conscience.

[Sidenote: If it be a good thing to spread abroad one’s fame, it
must be dishonourable not to do so.]

{and} yif it seme a fair þing a
man to han encresid {and} sprad his name. þan folweþ
it. þat it is demed to ben a foule þinge yif it ne be [[pg 78]]
ysprad ne encresed.

[Sidenote: But a good name cannot penetrate everywhere, and the
most illustrious names must be unknown to the greatest part of the
world.]

but as I seide a litel her byforne. 2140
þat syn þer mot nedes ben many folk to whiche folk þe
renou{n} of a man ne may nat comen. it byfalleþ þat he
þat þou wenest be glorious {and} renomed. semiþ in þe
nexte p{ar}ties of þe erþe to ben wiþ out glorie. {and} wiþ 2144
out renou{n}.

[Sidenote: The favour of the people is worth but little as it is
seldom judicious and never permanent.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 18 _b_.]]

¶ and certis amo{n}ges þise þinges I ne trowe
nat þat þe p{r}is {and} grace of þe poeple nis neiþer worþi
*to ben remembrid ne comeþ of wise iugement. ne is
ferm p{er}durably.

[Sidenote: How empty and transitory are titles of nobility!]

¶ But now of þis name of gentilesse. 2148
what man is it þat ne may wel seen how veyne {and}
how flittyng a þing it is.

[Sidenote: Gentility is wholly foreign to renown, and to those who
boast of noble birth.]

¶ For if þe name of gentilesse
be referred to renou{n} {and} clernesse of linage. þan
is gentil name but a for[e]ine þing. þat is to sein to 2152
hem þat glorifien hem of hir linage.

[Sidenote: Nobility is fame derived from the merits of one’s
ancestors.]

¶ For it semeþ
þat gentilesse be a maner p{re}ysynge þat comeþ of decert
of auncestres.

[Sidenote: If praise can give nobility they are noble who are
praised.]

¶ And yif p{re}ysynge makeþ gentilesse
þan moten þei nedes be gentil þat ben p{re}ysed. 2156

[Sidenote: Then if thou hast no nobility of thy own, thou canst
not derive any splendour from the merits of others.]

For whiche þing it folweþ. þat yif þou ne haue no gentilesse
of þi self. þat is to sein pris þ{a}t comeþ of þi deserte
foreine gentilesse ne makeþ þe nat gentil.

[Sidenote: If there be any good in nobleness of birth, it consists
alone in this, that it imposes an obligation upon its possessors
not to degenerate from the virtues of their ancestors.]

¶ But certis
yif þer be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be i{n} al 2160
oonly þis. þat it semeþ as þat a maner necessitee be imposed
to gentil men. for þat þei ne sholden nat outraien
or forliuen fro þe uertues of hire noble kynrede.

[Linenotes:
2124 _foule_--fowl
2125 _whiche_--whych
2126 _maker_--maker{e}
_cried[e]_--cryde
2127 _he_--she
2128 _sweller_--sweller{e}
2129 _many[e]_--manye
_had_--MS. hadde, C. had
_fals[e]_--false
2130 _fouler_--fowler{e}
2131 _þen_--thanne
_þilk[e]_--thylke
2133 _or_--of
2134 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_þilke_--thylke
2139 _foule þinge_--fowl thing
2140 _ne_--{and}
_byforne_--byforn
2144 _parties_--partye
_erþe_--Erthes
_out_--owte
2145 _out_--owhte
2148 _ferm_--ferme
2149 _veyne_--veyn
2150 _if_--yif
2154 _comeþ of_--comth of the
2157 _whiche_--which
2158 _pris_--preys
_comeþ_--comth
2160 _goode_--good
_in_ (2)--omitted
2161 _maner_--maner{e}]

OMNE HOMINU{M} GENUS IN TERRIS.

[Sidenote: [The 6^th Metre.]]

[Sidenote: All men have the same origin.]

++Al þe linage of men þat ben i{n} erþe ben of semblable 2164
burþe.

[Sidenote: They have one father and one king, who gave the moon
her horns, and adorned the sun with his rays.]

On al one is fadir of þinges. On alone
minyst[r]eþ alle þinges. ¶ He ȝaf to þe sonne hys
bemes. he ȝaf to þe moone hir hornes.

[Sidenote: The same gave the earth to man and adorned the sky with
stars.]

he ȝaf þe men to
þe erþe. he ȝaf þe sterres to þe heuene.

[Sidenote: He breathed into man the breath of life.]

¶ he encloseþ 2168
wiþ membres þe soules þat comen fro hys heye sete. [[pg 79]]

[Sidenote: All men spring from this illustrious source.]

¶ þanne comen alle mortal folk of noble seed.

[Sidenote: Why then do they boast of pedigree?]

whi noysen ȝe or bosten of ȝoure eldris

[Sidenote: He alone is ignoble who submits to vice and forgets his
noble origin.]

¶ For yif þou
look[e] ȝoure bygy{n}ny{n}g. and god ȝoure aucto{ur} {and} 2172
ȝoure makere. þan is þer no forlyued wyȝt but ȝif he
norisse his corage vnto vices {and} forlete his p{ro}pre
burþe.

[Linenotes:
2166 _hys_--hyse
2167 _hir_--hyse
2169 _fro hys_--fram hyse
2170 _seed_--sede
2171 _bosten_--MS. voscen, C. bosten
2172 _look[e]_--loke]

[Headnote:
SENSUAL PLEASURES FULL OF ANXIETY.]

QUID AUTEM DE CORPORIBUS.[6]

[Footnote 6: Read _corporis voluptatibus_.]

[Sidenote: [The 7^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: But what shall I say with respect to sensual pleasures,
the desire of which is full of anxiety, and the enjoyment of them
full of repentance?]

++But what shal I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e 2176
delices þe desiringes ben ful of anguisse. {and} þe
fulfillinges of he{m} ben ful of penaunce.

[Sidenote: What diseases and intolerable pains (the merited fruits
of vice) are these delights wont to bring upon those who enjoy
them!]

¶ How grete
sekenesse {and} how grete sorwes vnsuffrable ryȝt as a
manere fruit of wickednesse ben þilke delices wont to 2180
bryngen to þe bo[d]ies of folk þat vsen hem.

[Sidenote: I am unable to see what joy is to be found in the
gratification of them.]

¶ Of
whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir
moeuyng.

[Sidenote: The remembrance of criminal indulgence brings with it
bitter remorse.]

¶ But þis woot I wel þat who so euere wil
remembren hym of hys luxuries. he shal wel vndirstonde. 2184
þat þe issues of delices ben sorowful {and} sory.

[Sidenote: If such things make men happy, then may brutes attain
to felicity, since by their instinct they are urged to satisfy
their bodily delights.]

¶ And yif þilke delices mowen make folk blisful. þan
by þe same cause moten þise bestes ben clepid blisful.
¶ Of whiche bestes al þe entenc{i}ou{n} hasteþ to fulfille 2188
hire bodyly iolyte.

[Sidenote: A wife and children do not always bring happiness, for
some have found tormentors in their own offspring.]

and þe gladnesse of wijf [{and}]
children were [an] honest þing. but it haþ ben seid.
þat it is ouer myche aȝeins kynde þat children han ben
fou{n}den tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. 2192
¶ Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condic{i}ou{n}.
It nedeþ nat to tellen it þe þat hast or þis tyme assaied
it. {and} art ȝit now anguysso{us}.

[Sidenote: I approve of this opinion of Euripides, that he who is
childless is happy in his misfortune.]

In þis approue I þe
sentence of my disciple Euridippus. þat seide þat he 2196
þat haþ no children is weleful by i{n}fortune.

[Linenotes:
2173 _is_--nis
2176 _delices_--delites
_body_--bodye
2177 _anguisse_--Angwyssh
2178 _grete_--gret
2179 _sekenesse_--sykenesse
_grete sorwes_--gret soruwes
2180 _fruit_--frut
2182 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
2183 _wil_--wole
2184 _hys_--hyse
2185 _sorowful_--sorwful
_sory_--sorye
2186 _make_--makyn
2189 [_and_]--from C.
2190 [_an_]--from C.
_haþ_--haþe
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2191 _myche_--mochel
2192 _many_--manye
2196 _Euridippus_--Eurydyppys; _read_ Euripides
2197 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[[pg 80]]
[Headnote:
NO HAPPINESS IN EXTERNAL THINGS.]

HABET HOC UOLUPTAS.

[Sidenote: [The 7^de Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Pleasure leaves a pain behind it.]

++Euery delit haþ þis. þat it anguisseþ hem wiþ prikkes
þ{a}t vsen it.

[Sidenote: The bee gives us agreeable honey, but try to hold it,
and it quickly flies, leaving its sting behind.]

¶ It resembliþ to þise flying flyes þat
we clepen been. þat aftre þat þe bee haþ shed hys agreable 2200
honies he fleeþ awey {and} styngeþ þe hertes of he{m}
þat ben ysmyte wiþ bytynge ouer longe holdynge.

[Linenotes:
2198 _Euery_--MS. Ouery, C. Every
2198, 2200 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_shed hys_--shad hyse]

[Headnote:
MEN ARE LED ASTRAY BY IGNORANCE.]

NICHIL IGITUR DUBIUM EST.

[Sidenote: [The 8^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: It appears then that happiness is not to be found in
the above-mentioned external things.]

++Now nis it no doute þan þ{a}t þise weyes ne ben a
maner mysledy{n}g to blisfulnesse. ne þat þei ne 2204
mowe nat leden folke þider as þei byheten to lede{n}
hem.

[Sidenote: These false ways are perplexed with many evils, as I
shall presently show thee.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 19.]]

¶ But wiþ how grete harmes þise *forseide weyes
ben enlaced. ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly.

[Sidenote: Do you want to amass wealth, then you must take it from
your neighbours.]

¶ For whi
yif þou enforcest þe to assemble moneye. þou most by-reuen 2208
hym his moneye þat haþ it.

[Sidenote: Would you shine in dignities, then you must beg for
them and disgrace yourself by a humiliating supplication.]

and yif þou wilt
shynen wiþ dignites. þou most bysechen {and} supplien
hem þat ȝiue{n} þo dignitees. ¶ And yif þou coueitest
by hono{ur} to gon by-fore oþer folk þ{o}u shalt defoule þi 2212
self by hu{m}blesse of axing.

[Sidenote: If power be your ambition, you expose yourself to the
snares of inferiors.]

yif þou desiryst power.
þou shalt by awaites of þi subgitȝ anoyously be cast
vndir many p{er}iles.

[Sidenote: Do you ask for glory, to be distracted by vexations and
so lose all security.]

axest þou glorie þ{o}u shalt ben so
destrat by aspre þinges þat þou shalt forgone sykernesse. 2216

[Sidenote: Do you prefer a voluptuous life? Think then that all
men will despise him who is a thrall to his body.]

¶ And yif þou wilt leden þi lijf in delices.
euery whiȝt shal dispisen þe {and} forleten þe as þou þat
art þral to þing þat is ryȝt foule {and} brutel. þat is [to]
sein seruau{n}t to þi body.

[Sidenote: They build upon a weak foundation that place bodily
delights above their own reason.]

¶ Now is it þan wel yseen 2220
how lytel {and} how brutel possessiou{n} þei coueiten þat
putten þe goodes of þe body abouen hire owe{n} resou{n}.

[Sidenote: Can you surpass the elephant in bulk, or the bull in
strength?]

¶ For mayst þou so{ur}mou{n}te{n} þise olifuñtȝ in gretnesse
or weyȝt of body. Or mayst þou ben strenger þan þe 2224
bole.

[Sidenote: Art thou swifter than the tiger?]

Mayst þou ben swifter þan þe tigre.

[Sidenote: Behold the immense extent of the heavens and cease to
admire vile or lesser things.]

biholde þe
spaces {and} þe stablenesse {and} þe swyfte cours of þe [[pg 81]]
heuene. {and} stynte somtyme to wondren on foule
þinges.

[Sidenote: Admire what is still more admirable, the consummate
wisdom that governs them.]

þe whiche heuene certys nis nat raþer for þise 2228
þinges to ben wondred vpon. þan for þe resou{n} by
whiche it is gouerned.

[Sidenote: How fleeting is beauty!]

but þe shynynge of þi forme þat
is to seien þe beaute of þi body. how swiftly passyng is
it {and} how transitorie.

[Sidenote: It fades sooner than the vernal flowers.]

¶ Certis it is more flittynge 2232
þan þe mutabilite of floures of þe som{er} sesou{n}.

[Sidenote: For, as Aristotle says, if a man were lynx-eyed and
could look into the entrails of Alcibiades (so fair outwardly) he
would find all foul and loathsome.]

For so
as aristotil telleþ þat yif þat men hadden eyen of a
beest þat hiȝt lynx. so þat þe lokyng of folk myȝt[e]
percen þoruȝ þe þinges þ{a}t wiþstonden it. who so lokid 2236
þan in þe entrailes of þe body of alcibiades þat was
ful fayr in þe sup{er}fice wiþ oute. it shulde seme ryȝt
foule.

[Sidenote: Thy nature does not make thee seem beautiful, but the
imperfect view of thy admirers.]

{and} for þi yif þou semest faire. þi nature ne
makiþ nat þat. but þe desceiuau{n}ce of þe fieblesse of þe 2240
eyen þat loken.

[Sidenote: Prize bodily perfections as much as you will, yet a
three days’ fever will destroy them.]

¶ But p{re}ise þe goodes of þi body as
moche as euer þe list. so þat þou know[e] algates þat
what so it be. þat is to seyn of þe goodes of þi body
whiche þat þ{o}u wondrest vpon may ben destroied or 2244
dessolued by þe hete of a feuere of þre dayes. ¶ Of
alle whiche forseide þinges I may reduce{n} þis shortly in
a so{m}me.

[Sidenote: Worldly goods do not give what they promise, do not
comprise every good, are not the paths to felicity, nor can of
themselves make any one happy.]

¶ þat þise worldly goodes whiche þat ne
mowen nat ȝiuen þat þei byheten. ne ben nat p{er}fit by 2248
þe congregac{i}ou{n} of alle goodes. þat þei ne ben nat
weyes ne paþes þat bryngen men to blysfulnesse ne
maken men to ben blysful.

[Linenotes:
2203 _nis_--is
2204 _mysledyng_--mysledynges
2205 _folke_--folk
2208 _enforcest_--MS. enforced, C. enforcest
2209 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_wilt_--wolt
2211 _ȝiuen_--yeuen
2212 _gon_--MS. gone, C. gon
_by-fore_--byforn
_shalt_--shal
2213 _by_--thorw
2214 _by_--be
_be_--ben
2216 _destrat_--MS. destralle, C. destrat
_forgone_--forgoon
2217 _wilt_--wolt
2218 _whiȝt_--wyht
2219 _foule_--fowl
[_to_]--from C.
2220 _yseen_--seen
2221 _brutel_--brotel
2222 _owen_--owne
2224 _weyȝt_--weyhty
_strenger_--strenger{e}
2225 _swifter_--swyfter{e}
_biholde_--by-hold
2227 _stynte_--stynt
2228 _whiche_--whych
2230 _whiche_--wych
2231 _seien_--seyn
2234 _as_--omitted
2235 _hiȝt_--hyhte
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
2237 _alcibiades_--MS. alcidiades
2238 _fayr_--fayr{e}
_þe_--omitted
_shulde_--sholde
2239 _foule_--fowl
_faire_--fayr
_ne_--omitted
2240 _desceiuaunce of þe fieblesse_--deceyuable or the feblesse
2242 _moche_--mochel
_know[e]_--knowe
2243 _þe_--omitted
_þi body whiche_--the body whych
2247 _a_--omitted]

[Headnote:
MEN PURSUE FALSE JOYS.]

HEU Q{UE} MISEROS TRAMITE.

[Sidenote: [The 8^the Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Alas! how through folly and ignorance do men stray from
the path of true happiness!]

++Allas whiche folie {and} whiche ignorau{n}ce myslediþ 2252
wandryng wrecches fro þe paþe of verrey good.

[Sidenote: Ye do not seek gold upon trees nor diamonds from the
vine.]

¶ Certis ȝe ne seken no golde in grene trees. ne ȝe ne
gadren [nat] p{re}cious stones in þe vines. [[pg 82]]

[Sidenote: Ye lay not your nets to catch fish upon the lofty
hills.]

ne ȝe ne
hiden nat ȝoure gynnes in heyȝe mou{n}taignes to kachen 2256
fisshe of whiche ȝe may maken ryche festes.

[Sidenote: The hunter goes not to the Tyrrhene waters to hunt the
roe.]

and yif
ȝow lykeþ to hunte to roos. ȝe ne gon nat to þe foordes
of þe water þat hyȝt tyrene.

[Sidenote: Men know where to look for white pearls, and for the
fish that yields the purple dye.]

{and} ouer þis men knowen
wel þe crikes {and} þe cau{er}nes of þe see yhidd in þe 2260
floodes. {and} knowen eke whiche water is most plentiuo{us}
of white perles. {and} knowen whiche water habundeþ
most of rede purpre. þat is to seyen of a maner shelfisshe
w{i}t{h} whiche men dien purpre.

[Sidenote: They know where the most delicate of the finny race
abound and where the fierce sea-urchin is to be found.]

{and} knowen 2264
whiche strondes habounden most of tendre fisshes or
of sharpe fisshes þat hyȝten echynnys.

[Sidenote: But where the Sovereign Good abides blinded mortals
never know, but plunge into the earth below to look for that which
has its dwelling in the heavens.]

but folk suffren
hem self to ben so blynde þat hem ne recchiþ nat to
knowe where þilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche þat þei 2268
coueiten but ploungen hem in erþe {and} seken þere
þilke goode þ{a}t so{ur}mou{n}teþ þe heuene þat bereþ þe
sterres.

[Sidenote: What doom do the silly race deserve?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 19 _b_.]]

¶ what *p{re}yere may I make þat be digne to
þe nice þouȝtis of men.

[Sidenote: May they pursue such false joys, and having obtained
them, too late find out the value of the true.]

but I p{re}ye þat þei coueite{n} 2272
rycches {and} hono{ur}s so þat whan þei han geten þo
false goodes wiþ greet trauayle þat þerby þei mowe
knowen þe verray goodes.

[Linenotes:
2252 _whiche_ (_both_)--whych
2253 _paþe_--paath
_good_--goode
2254 _golde_--gold]

[Headnote:
THE INSUFFICIENCY OF WORLDLY BLISS.]

HACTENUS MENDACIS FORMA{M}.

[Sidenote: [The 9^ne p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _P._ I have been describing the form of counterfeit
happiness, and if you have considered it attentively I shall
proceed to give you a perfect view of the true.]

++IT suffisiþ þat I haue shewed hider to þe forme of 2276
false wilfulnesse. so þat yif þou look[e] now clerely
þe ordre of myn entenc{i}ou{n} requeriþ from hennes forþe
to shewe{n} þe verray wilfulnesse.

[Sidenote: _B._ I now see that there is no sufficiency in riches,
no power in royalty, no esteem in dignities, nor nobility in
renown, nor joy in carnal pleasures.]

¶ For q{uod} .I. (b) [I.]
se wel now þat suffisau{n}ce may nat comen by richesse. ne 2280
power by realmes. ne reuere{n}ce by dignitees. ne gentilesse
by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast þou wel
knowen q{uo}d she þe cause whi it is. Certis me semeþ
q{uod} .I. þat .I. se hem ryȝt as þouȝ
it were þoruȝ a litel [[pg 83]]
clifte.

[Sidenote: I have a glimpse of the cause of all this, but I should
like a more distinct view.]

but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of 2285
þe. Certys q{uod} she þe resou{n} is al redy

[Sidenote: _P._ The cause is obvious--for that which is by nature
one and indivisible human ignorance separates and divides, and
reverses the true order of things.]

¶ For
þilk þing þat symply is on þing wiþ outen ony
diuisiou{n}. þe errour {and} folie of mankynde departeþ 2288
{and} diuidiþ it. {and} mislediþ it {and} t{ra}nsporteþ from
verray {and} p{er}fit goode. to goodes þat ben false {and}
inp{er}fit.

[Sidenote: Does that state which needs nothing stand in need of
power?]

¶ But seye me þis. wenest þou þat he þat haþ
nede of power þat hy{m} ne lakkeþ no þing.

[Sidenote: _B._ I should say no. _P._ Right! That which wants
power needs external aid.]

Nay q{uo}d 2292
.I ¶ Certis q{uo}d she þou seist aryȝt. For yif so be
þ{a}t þer is a þing þat in any p{ar}tie be fieble of power.

[Sidenote: _B._ That is true! _P._ Sufficiency and power therefore
are of one nature. _B._ It seems so indeed.]

Certis as in þat it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine
helpe. ¶ Riȝt so it is q{uo}d .I. Suffisaunce and power 2296
ben þan of on kynde ¶ So semeþ it q{uod} I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Are power and sufficiency to be despised? Are they
not rather worthy of universal respect?]

¶ And
demyst þou q{uo}d she þat a þing þat is of þis manere.
þat is to seine suffisau{n}t {and} myȝty auȝt[e] to ben dispised.
or ellys þ{a}t it be ryȝt digne of reuerences abouen 2300
alle þinges.

[Sidenote: _B._ They are doubtless highly estimable. _P._ Add
respect to sufficiency and power, and consider all three as one
and the same thing.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d I it nys no doute þat it
nis ryȝt worþi to ben reuerenced. ¶ Lat vs q{uo}d she þan
adden reuerence to suffisaunce {and} to power ¶ So þat
we demen þat þise þre þinges ben alle o þing.

[Sidenote: _B._ I see no objection to that view.]

¶ Certis 2304
q{uo}d I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten þe soþe.

[Sidenote: _P._ But can that be obscure and ignoble which
possesses three such attributes? is it not noble and worthy of a
shining reputation?]

what demest þou þan q{uo}d she is þat a dirke þing {and}
nat noble þat is suffisau{n}t reu{er}ent {and} myȝty. or ellys
þat is ryȝt clere {and} ryȝt noble of celebrete of renou{n}. 2308

[Linenotes:
2256 _heyȝe_--the hyye
_kachen_--kachche
2257 _fisshe_--fyssh
2258 _hunte_--honte
_roos_--Rooes
2259 _hyȝt_--hyhte
2260 _crikes_--brykes
_yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hyd
2261, 2262 _whiche_--whych
2263 _shelfisshe_--shelle fysh
2264, 2265 _whiche_--whych
2264 _dien_--deyen
2265 _of_--w{i}t{h}
2266 _echynnys_--MS. ethynnys, C. Echynnys
2268 _yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd
2270 _goode_--good
2271 _make_--maken
2273 _rycches_--Rychesse
2277 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_look[e]_--loke
_clerely_--clerly
2279 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_For_--For-sothe
[_I._]--from C.
2280 _richesse_--Rychesses
2281 _realmes_--Reames
2287 _þilk_--thylke
_on_--o
2290 _goode_--good
2291 _seye_--sey
_haþ_--MS. haþe
2294 _fieble_--febler{e}
2295 _most[e]_--mot
2296 _helpe_--help
2297 _on_--o
2298 _demyst þou_--demesthow
2299 _seine_--seyn
_auȝt[e]_--owhte
2300 _reuerences_--Reu{er}ence
2302 _nis ryȝt_--is ryht
2304 _alle_--al
2305 _willen_--wolen
2306 _dirke_--dyrk
2308 _clere_--cler
_of celebrete_--by celebryte]

[Headnote:
THE UNITY OF TRUE FELICITY.]

[Sidenote: He who is most powerful and worthy of renown--if he
lack fame which he cannot give to himself, must (by this defect)
seem in some measure more weak and abject.]

¶ Considere þan q{uo}d she as we han grau{n}tid her byforne.
þat he þat ne haþ ne[de] of no þing {and} is most
myȝty {and} most digne of hono{ur} yif hym nediþ any
clernesse of renou{n} whiche clernesse he myȝt[e] nat 2312
graunten of hym self. ¶ So þat for lakke of þilke
clerenesse he myȝt[e] seme febler on any syde or þe
more outcaste. _Glosa._ þis is to seyne nay. [[pg 84]]

[Sidenote: He that is sufficiently mighty and esteemed will have
necessarily an illustrious name.]

¶ For who
so þat is suffisau{n}t myȝty {and} reuerent. clernesse of 2316
renou{n} folweþ of þe forseide þinges. he haþ it alredy of
hys suffisaunce.

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot deny it, for reputation seems inseparable
from the advantages you have just mentioned.]

boice. I may nat q{uo}d I denye it.
¶ But I mot graunten as it is. þat þis þing be ryȝt
celebrable by clernesse of renou{n} {and} noblesse.

[Sidenote: _P._ Therefore Renown differs in no wise from the three
above-mentioned attributes.]

¶ þan 2320
folweþ it q{uo}d she þat we adden clernesse of renou{n} to
þe þre forseide þinges. so þat þer ne be amonges hem
no difference. {and} þis is a consequente q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: And if any one then stands in need of no external aid,
can have all he wants, and is illustrious and respected--is not
his condition very agreeable and pleasant?]

þis þing þan q{uo}d she þat ne haþ no nede of no foreine 2324
þing. {and} þat may don alle þinges by his strengþes.
{and} þat is noble {and} hono{ur}able. nis nat þat a myrie
þing {and} a ioyful.

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot conceive how such a one can have grief or
trouble.]

_boice._ but wenest q{uo}d I þ{a}t any
sorow myȝt[e] comen to þis þing þat is swiche. ¶ Certys 2328
I may nat þinke.

[Sidenote: _P._ It must then be a state of happiness; and we may
also affirm that sufficiency, power, nobility, differ only in
name, but not in substance.]

_P._ ¶ þanne moten we graunt[e] q{uod}
she þat þis þing be ful of gladnesse yif þe þorseide þinges
be soþe. ¶ And also certys mote we graunten. þat
suffisaunce power noblesse reuerence {and} gladnesse ben 2332
only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce haþ no
diu{er}site.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is a necessary consequence.]

_Boice._ It mot nedely be so q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ The depravity of mankind then divides that which
is essentially indivisible; and, seeking for a part of that which
has no parts, they miss the entire thing which they so much
desire.]

_P._ þilke
þinge þan q{uo}d she þat is oon {and} simple i{n} his nature.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 20.]]

þe wikkednesse of men departiþ it *diuidiþ it. {and} 2336
whan þei enforcen hem to gete p{ar}tie of a þing þat ne
haþ no part. þei ne geten hem neiþer þilk[e] p{ar}tie þat
nis none. ne þe þing al hole þat þei ne desire nat.

[Sidenote: _B._ How is that?]

_.b._ In whiche manere q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ He that seeks riches in order to avoid poverty, is
not solicitous about power; he prefers meanness and obscurity, and
denies himself many natural pleasures that he may not lessen his
heaps of pelf.]

_p._ þilke man q{uo}d she þat 2340
sekeþ rychesse to fleen pouerte. he ne trauayleþ hym
nat to for to gete power for he haþ leuer ben dirk {and}
vile. {and} eke wiþdraweþ from hym selfe many naturel
delitȝ for he nolde lesen þe moneye þat he haþ assembled. 2344

[Sidenote: He who lacks power, is pricked with trouble, and
rendered an outcast and obscure by his sordid ways, does not
possess sufficiency.]

but certis in þis manere he ne getiþ hym nat [[pg 85]]
suffisaunce þat power forletiþ. {and} þat moleste p{re}keþ.
{and} þat filþe makeþ outcaste. {and} þat derknesse hideþ.

[Sidenote: He who only aims at power squanders his riches, and
despises delights and honours unaccompanied by power.]

and certis he þ{a}t desireþ only power he wastiþ {and} 2348
scatriþ rychesse {and} dispiseþ delices {and} eke hono{ur}
þat is wiþ out power. ne he ne p{re}iseþ glorie no þing.

[Linenotes:
2310 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2312 _whiche_--whych
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
2314 _clerenesse_--clernesse
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
_febler_--the febeler{e}
2315 _seyne_--seyn
2317 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2324 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2325 _his_--hyse
2326 _myrie_--mery
2327 _wenest_--whennes
2328 _sorow myȝt[e]_--sorwe myhte
2329 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
2331 _be_--ben
_also certys_--certes also
2333 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2334 _nedely_--nedly
2335 _þinge_--thing
2337 _gete_--geten
2338 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_þilk[e]_--thilke
2339 _none_--non
_hole_--hool
2340 _whiche_--whych
2341 _rychesse_--Rychesses
_fleen_--MS. sleen, C. flen
2342 _leuer_--leu{er}
2343 _vile_--vyl
_selfe_--self
2344 _delitȝ_--delices
_lesen_--lese
_haþ_--MS. haþe
2346 _prekeþ_--prykketh
2347 _derknesse_--dyrknesse
2349 _scatriþ_--schatereth
_delices_--delycȝ
2350 _wiþ out_--w{i}t{h} owte]

[Headnote:
OF FALSE FELICITY.]

¶ Certys þus seest þou wel þat many þi{n}g{us} failen to
hym. for he haþ somtyme faute of many necessites. 2352

[Sidenote: Such a one must be subject to many anxieties.]

{and} many anguysses biten hym

[Sidenote: And when he cannot get rid of these evils he ceases to
have what he most desired--power.]

¶ {and} whan he may
nat don þo defautes awey. he forleteþ to ben myȝty.
{and} þat is þe þing þat he most desireþ.

[Sidenote: In the same way honour, glory, and pleasure, are all
inseparable; he that seeks one without the other will fail to
obtain his desires.]

{and} ryȝt þus
may I make semblable resou{n}s of hono{ur}s {and} of glorie 2356
{and} of delices. ¶ For so as euery of þise forseide
þinges is þe same þat þise oþer þinges ben. þat is to
sein. al oon þing. who so þat euer sekeþ to geten þat
oon of þise {and} nat þat oþer. he ne geteþ nat þat he 2360
desireþ.

[Sidenote: _B._ What then if a man should desire to gain them all
at once?]

_Boice._ ¶ what seist þou þan yif þat a man
coueiteþ to geten alle þise þinges to gider.

[Sidenote: _P._ He would then indeed desire perfect felicity--but
can he ever expect to find it in the acquisitions above mentioned,
which do not perform what they promise?]

_P._ Certys
q{uo}d she .I. wolde seie þat he wolde geten hym souereyne
blisfulnes. but þat shal he nat fynde in þo þinges 2364
þat .I. haue shewed þat ne mowe nat ȝeuen þat þei by-heten.

[Sidenote: _B._ No, surely!]

_boice._ Certys no q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then happiness is not to be sought in these things
which are falsely supposed capable of satisfying our desires?]

¶ þan q{uod} she ne
sholden men nat by no weye seken blysfulnesse in
swiche þinges as men wenen þat þei ne mowe 2368
ȝeuen but o þing senglely of alle þ{a}t me{n} seken.