Chapter XXI: Appendix: To Introduction (7)

That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was
the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing þ{a}t 2828
eu{er}y wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han
gaderid / {and} co{m}p{re}hendyd that good is thilke thing
that is desired of alle / thanne moten we nedes confessun /
that good is the fyn of alle thinges. 2832

[Linenotes:
2800 _the_--H. þo
2806 _perdurablely_--H. p{er}durably
2807 _destroied_--H. destrued
2811 _thilke_ (1)--H. ilke
2818 _heued or elles_--H. hede or els
2820 _hyen_--H. hyen) to
_moste_--H. must]

[Headnote:
TRUTH INTUITIVE.]

QUISQUIS P{RO}FUNDA MENTE.

[Sidenote: [The .11. Met{ru}m.]]

[Sidenote: He who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling
to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the
inner light upon the soul itself.]

++WHo so that sekith sotħ by a deep thoght And
coueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes //
lat hym rollen {and} trenden w{i}t{h} Inne hym self / the Lyht
of his inward syhte // And lat hym gader{e} ayein enclynynge 2836
in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys
thowhtes /

[Sidenote: The knowledge that he seeks without he will find
treasured up in the recesses of the mind.]

And lat hym techen his corage that he hath
enclosed {and} hyd / in his tresors / al þ{a}t he compaseth or
sekith fro w{i}t{h} owte //

[Sidenote: The light of Truth will disperse Error’s dark clouds,
and shine forth brighter than the sun.]

And thanne thilke thing that the 2840
blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal
lyhten more clerly tha{n}ne pheb{us} hym self ne shyneth //

[Sidenote: [Chaucer’s gloss.]]

Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of soth 2843
in his thowht / {and} wol nat be deceyuyd by false p{ro}posiciou{n}s /
that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym wel
examine / {and} rolle w{i}t{h} inne hym self the natur{e} {and}
the p{ro}pretes of the thing // and lat hym yit eft sones
examine {and} rollen his thowhtes by good deliberaciou{n} 2848
or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it [[pg 101]]
hat by naturel pryncyplis kyndeliche y-hyd w{i}t{h} in
it self alle the trowthe the whiche he ymagynith to ben
in thinges w{i}t{h} owte // And thanne alle the dyrknesse of 2852
his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [þe]
syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semyth
to [þe] syhte w{i}t{h} owte forth /

[Sidenote: For when the body enclosed the soul and cast oblivion
o’er its powers it did wholly exterminate the heaven-born light.]

For certes the body
bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd 2856
owt of yowr{e} thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //

[Sidenote: The germs of truth were latent within, and were fanned
into action by the gentle breath of learning.]

For certeynly the seed of sooth haldith {and} clyueth
w{i}t{h} in yowr{e} corage / {and} it is a-waked {and} excited by
the wynde {and} by the blastes of doctryne //

[Sidenote: Were not truth implanted in the heart, how could man
distinguish right from wrong?]

For wher{e} 2860
for elles demen ye of yowr{e} owne wyl the ryhtes whan
ye ben axed // but yif so wer{e} þ{a}t the noryssynges of
resou{n} ne lyuede .I.-plowngyd in the depthe of yowr{e}
herte // this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen þe 2864
sooth of any thing þ{a}t weer{e} axed / yif ther neer{e} a
Roote of sothfastnesse þ{a}t weer{e} yplowngyd {and} hyd in
the natur{e}[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesse
lyued w{i}t{h} in the depnesse of the thowght //

[Sidenote: So, if what Plato taught is true, ‘to learn is no other
than to remember what had been before forgotten.’]

{and} yif 2868
so be þ{a}t the Muse {and} the doctryne of plato syngyth
sooth // al þ{a}t eu{er}y whyht lerneth / he ne doth no
thing elles tha{n}ne but recordeth as me{n} recordyn thinges
þ{a}t ben foryetyn. 2872

[Linenotes:
2838 _his_--H. þis
_that_--H. {and} þ{a}t
2841 _blake_--H. blak
_hadde y-couered_--H. had cou{er}ed
2842 _lyhten_--H. light
2843 _dep[e]_--C. dep, H. depe
2847 _thing_--H. þyng{es}
2863 _depthe_--H. depe
2864 [_is_]--from H.
_sholden_--H. shulde
2867 _nature[l]_--H. nat{ur}ell{e}]

[Headnote:
THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD.]

TUM EGO PLATONI INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The .12. p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I am quite of Plato’s opinion, for you have now a
second time recalled these things to my remembrance which had been
forgotten, first by the contagious union of soul and body, and
afterwards by the pressure of my afflictions.]

++THanne seide I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / for
thow remenbrist {and} recordist me thise thinges yit]

[Sidenote: [*_Addit. MS. 10,340, fol. 23._]]

*þe seconde tyme. þat is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] my
memorie by þe co{n}tagioũs coniuncc{i}ou{n} of þe body wiþ 2876
þe soule. {and} eftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it co{n}founded
by þe charge {and} by þe burden of my sorwe.

[Sidenote: _P._ If you will reflect upon the concessions you have
already made, you will soon call to mind that truth, of which you
lately confessed your ignorance.]

¶ And þan sayde she þus. ¶ If þou look[e] q{uo}d she
firste þe þinges þat þou hast graunted it ne shal nat 2880
ben ryȝt feer þat þou ne shalt remembren þilke þing þat [[pg 102]]
þou seidest þat þou nistest nat.

[Sidenote: _B._ What is that?]

what þing q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ It was, by what power the world is governed.]

¶ by whiche gouerme{n}t q{uo}d she þat þis worlde is
gouerned.

[Sidenote: _B._ With regard to that, I own I confessed my
ignorance, but though I now remotely see what you infer, yet I
wish for further explanation from you.]

Me remembriþ it wel q{uo}d I. {and} I confesse 2884
wel þat I ne wist[e] it nat ¶ But al be it so þat
I se now fro{m} afer what þou p{ur}posest ¶ Algates I
desire ȝit to herkene it of þe more pleynely.

[Sidenote: _P._ You acknowledged a little while ago that this
world was governed by God?]

¶ þou ne
wendest nat q{uo}d she a litel here byforne þat men 2888
sholden doute þat þis worlde is gouerned by god.

[Sidenote: _B._ I still cling to this opinion, and will give you
my reasons for this belief.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d I ne ȝitte doute I it nauȝt. ne I nil
neuer wene þat it were to doute. as who seiþ. but I
wot wel þat god gouerneþ þis worlde. ¶ And I shal 2892
shortly answere þe by what resou{n}s I am brouȝt to þis.

[Sidenote: The discordant elements of this world would never have
assumed their present form unless there had been a wise
Intelligence to unite them; and even after such a union, the
joining of such opposites would have disunited and ruined the
fabric made up of them, had not the same conjoining hand kept them
together.]

¶ þis worlde q{uod} I of so many dyuerse {and} co{n}trarious
p{ar}ties ne myȝten neuer han ben assembled in o forme.
but yif þere ne were oon þat conioigned so many[e 2896
diu{er}se] þinges. ¶ And þe same diuersite of hire
natures þat so discordeden þat oon fro þat oþer most[e]
dep{ar}ten {and} vnioigne{n} þe þi{n}ges þat ben co{n}ioigned.
yif þere ne were oon þat contened[e] þat he haþ co{n}ioigned 2900
{and} ybounde.

[Sidenote: The order that reigns throughout nature could not
proceed so regularly and uniformly if there were not a Being,
unchangeable and stedfast, to order and dispose so great a
diversity of changes.]

ne þe certein ordre of nature ne
sholde. nat brynge furþe so ordinee moeuynge. by
places. by tymes. by doynges. by spaces. by qualites.
yif þere ne were oon þat were ay stedfast dwellynge. 2904
þat ordeyned[e] {and} disposed[e] þise diuersites of
moeuynges.

[Sidenote: This Being, the creator and ruler of all things, I call
God.]

¶ and þilke þinge what so euer it be. by
whiche þat alle þinges ben maked {and} ylad. I clepe
hym god þat is a worde þat is vsed to alle folke. 2908

[Sidenote: _P._ As thy sentiments on these points are so just I
have but little more to do--for thou mayest be happy and secure,
and revisit thy own country.]

þan seide she. syn þou felest þus þise þinges q{uo}d she. I
trowe þat I haue lytel more to done. þat þou myȝty of
wilfulnesse hool {and} sounde ne se eftsones þi contre.

[Linenotes:
2875, 2877 _lost[e]_--loste
2878 _burden_--burdene
2879 _look[e]_--looke
2880 _firste_--fyrst
2883 _whiche_--which
_gouerment_--gou{er}nement
_worlde_--wordyl
2885 _wist[e]_--wiste
2887 _pleynely_--pleynly
2888 _here byforne_--her byforn
2889 _worlde is_--world nis
2890 _ȝitte doute_--yit ne dowte
_nil_--nel
2892 _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot
2892, 2894 _worlde_--world
2893 _answere_--answeren
2894 _many_--manye
2895 _myȝten_--myhte
2896 _þere_--ther
_many[e]_--manye
2897 [_diuerse_]--from C.
_hire_--hir
2898 _most[e]_--moste
2900 _þere_--ther
_contened[e]_--contenede
_haþ_--MS. haþe
2902 _furþe_--forth
_ordinee moeuynge_--ordene moeuynges
2904 _þere_--ther
_stedfast_--stidefast
2905 _ordeyned[e]_--ordeynede
_disposed[e]_--disponede
2907 _whiche_--which
_ben_--be
_ylad_--MS. yladde, C. I-ladd
2908 _worde_--word
_folke_--foolk
2911 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse]

[Headnote:
GOD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT.]

[Sidenote: But let us reflect a little more upon these matters.]

¶ But lat vs loken þe þinges þat we han
p{ur}posed her-byforn. [[pg 103]]

[Sidenote: Did we not agree that _Sufficiency_ is of the nature of
true happiness?]

¶ Haue I nat nou{m}bred {and} seid q{uod} she 2913
þat suffisaunce is in blisfulnesse.

[Sidenote: And have we not seen that God is that true felicity,
and that He needs no external aid nor instruments?]

{and} we han accorded
þat god is {and} þilke same blisfulnesse. ¶ yis forsoþe q{uo}d
I. {and} þat to gouerne þis worlde q{uod} she. ne shal he 2916
neuer han nede of none helpe fro wiþoute.

[Sidenote: For if he should, he would not be self-sufficient.]

for ellys yif
he had[de] nede of any helpe. he ne sholde not haue
[no] ful suffisau{n}ce. ȝis þus it mot nedes be q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: And he directs all things by himself alone?]

¶ þan ordeyneþ he by hym self al oon alle þinges q{uo}d 2920
she.

[Sidenote: _B._ It cannot be gainsaid.]

þat may nat ben denied q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ I have shown that God is the chief good; God must,
therefore, direct and order all things by _good_, since he governs
them by himself, whom we have proved to be the _supreme good_, and
he is that helm and rudder, by which this machine of the world is
steadily and securely conducted.]

¶ And I haue
shewed þat god is þe same good. ¶ It reme{m}breþ me
wel q{uo}d I. ¶ þan ordeineþ he alle þinges by þilke
goode q{uod} she. Syn he whiche we han accorded to 2924
ben good gouerneþ alle þi{n}g{us} by hym self. {and} he is a
keye {and} a stiere by whiche þat þe edifice of þis worlde
is ykept stable {and} wiþ oute corumpynge

[Sidenote: _B._ I entirely agree to this, and partly anticipated
your remarks.]

¶ I accorde
me gretly q{uod} I. {and} I ap{er}ceiuede a litel here byforn 2928
þat þou woldest seyne þus. Al be it so þat it were by
a þinne suspeciou{n}.

[Sidenote: _P._ I believe it; for your eyes are now more intent
upon these great truths relating to true felicity; but what I am
going to say is not less open to your view.]

I trowe it wel q{uo}d she. ¶ For as
I trowe þou leedest nowe more ententifly þine eyen to
loken þe verray goodes ¶ but naþeles þe þinges þat I 2932
shal telle þe ȝit ne sheweþ nat lasse to loken.

[Sidenote: _B._ What is that?]

what is
þat q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ As we believe that God governs all things by his
goodness, and that all things have a natural tendency towards the
_good_, can it be doubted but that they all voluntarily submit to
the will and control of their ruler?]

¶ So as men trowen q{uo}d she {and} þat
ryȝtfully þat god gouerneþ alle þinges by þe keye of his
goodnesse. ¶ And alle þise same þinges as I [haue] 2936
tauȝt þe. hasten hem by naturel ente{n}c{i}ou{n} to comen
to goode þer may no man doute{n}. þat þei ne ben
gouerned uoluntariely. {and} þat þei ne conuerten [hem]
nat of her owe{n} wille to þe wille of hire ordeno{ur}. 2940

[Linenotes:
2912 _han_--ha
2913 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2916 _worlde_--world
2917 _none helpe_--non help
2918 _had[de]_--hadde
_helpe_--help
2919 [_no_]--from C.
2920 _al oon_--allone
2921 _ben denied_--be denoyed
2924, 2926 _whiche_--which
2925 _ben_--be
2926 _worlde_--world
2928 _gretly_--gretely
_here_--her
2929 _seyne_--seye
2931 _nowe_--now
2932 _naþeles_--nat[h]les
2935 _ryȝtfully_--MS. on ryȝtfully
2936 [_haue_]--from C.
2938 _goode_--good
2939 [_hem_]--from C.
2940 _nat_--omitted
_her_--hir
_owen_--owne
_wille_ (_both_)--wil
_hire_--hyr]

[Headnote:
ALL THINGS SUBMIT TO GOD.]

as þei þat ben accordyng {and} enclinynge to her gouerno{ur}
{and} her kyng. [[pg 104]]

[Sidenote: _B._ It cannot be otherwise. There would be no safety
for those who obey, if the discord of a portion were allowed.]

¶ It mot nedys be so q{uo}d. I.

[Sidenote: [* Fol. 23 _b_.]]

*¶ For þe realme ne sholde not seme blisful ȝif þere were a ȝok
of mysdrawynges in diu{er}se p{ar}ties ne þe sauynge of 2944
obedient þinges ne sholde nat be.

[Sidenote: _P._ Is there anything that follows the dictates of
nature that seeks to counteract the will of God?]

þan is þere no þing
q{uo}d she þ{a}t kepiþ hys nature[;] þat enforceþ hym to
gone aȝeyne god.

[Sidenote: _B._ No.]

¶ No q{uo}d. I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If there should be any such, it could not prevail
against him, who is supremely happy and consequently omnipotent.]

¶ And if þat any þi{n}g
enforced[e] hym to wiþstonde god. myȝt[e] it auayle at 2948
þe laste aȝeyns hym þat we han g{ra}unted to ben al
myȝty by þe ryȝt of blisfulnesse. ¶ Certis q{uo}d I al
outerly it ne myȝt[e] nat auaylen hym.

[Sidenote: Then there is nothing that either will or can withstand
this supreme good?]

þan is þere no
þing q{uo}d she þat eyþer wol or may wiþstonde to þis 2952
souereyne good.

[Sidenote: _B._ Nothing, certainly.]

¶ I trowe nat q{uo}d. I

[Sidenote: _P._ It is then the supreme good that governs and
orders all things powerfully and benignly.]

¶ þan is
þilke þe souereyne good q{uo}d she þat alle þi{n}g{us}
gouerneþ strongly {and} ordeyneþ hem softly.

[Sidenote: _B._ I am delighted with your _conclusions_, but much
more with your _language_; so that fools may be ashamed of their
objections to the divine government.]

þa{n} seide I
þus. I delite me q{uo}d I nat oonly in þe endes or in þe 2956
so{m}mes of [the] resou{n}s þat þou hast concludid {and}
p{ro}ued. ¶ But þilke wordes þat þ{o}u vsest deliten me
moche more. ¶ So at þe last[e] fooles þat so{m}tyme
renden greet[e] þinges auȝte{n} ben asshamed of hem 2960
self.

[Sidenote: [Chaucer’s gloss.]]

¶ þat is to seyne þ{a}t we fooles þat rep{re}henden
wickedly þe þi{n}g{us} þat touchen goddes gouernaunce we
auȝte{n} ben asshamed of oure self. As I þat seide god
refuseþ oonly þe werkes of men. {and} ne entremetiþ nat 2964
of he{m}.

[Sidenote: _P._ You have read the Poets’ fables, how the Giants
stormed heaven--how they were repulsed and punished according to
their deserts; but may we not compare our reasons together, for by
so doing some clear spark of truth may shine forth?]

_p._ þou hast wel herd q{uo}d she þe fables of þe
poetes. how þe geauntes assailden þe heuene wiþ þe
goddes. but for soþe þe debonaire force of god disposed[e]
hem so as it was worþi. þat is to seyne distroied[e] þe 2968
geauntes. as it was worþi. ¶ But wilt þou þat we
ioygnen togedre þilke same resou{n}s. for p{er}auenture of
swiche coniuncc{i}ou{n} may sterten vp some faire sp{er}kele
of soþe

[Sidenote: _B._ As you please.]

¶ Do q{uo}d I as þe list.

[Sidenote: _P._ Is God omnipotent?]

wenest þou q{uo}d she 2972
þat god ne is almyȝty. no man is in doute of it. [[pg 105]]

[Sidenote: _B._ No one doubts it.]

Certys
q{uo}d I no wyȝt ne defendiþ it if he be in hys mynde.

[Linenotes:
2941 _her_--hyr
2943 _realme_--Reaume
_seme_--semen
2945 _þere_--ther
2947 _gone aȝeyne_--goon ayein
2948 _enforced[e]_--enforcede
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
_auayle_--auaylen
2949 _aȝeyns_--a-yenis
2951 _outerly_--owtrely
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
_auaylen_--MS. aualeyne, C. auaylen
_hym_--hem
_þere_--ther
2952 _wol_--wole
_wiþstonde_--w{i}t{h}-stondyn
_þis souereyne_--his sou{er}eyn
2955 _softly_--softtely
2957 _sommes_--somme
[_the_]--from C.
2959 _last[e]_--laste
2960 _greet[e]_--grete
2960, 2963 _auȝten_--owhten
2961 _seyne_--seyn
2965 _of hem_--of it
_herd_--MS. herde, C. herd
2967 _disposed[e]_--desposede
2968 _seyne distroied[e]_--seyn destroyede
2971 _swiche_--swych
_some_--som
2972 _soþe_--soth
_list_--liste
2973 _is_ (1)--be
_man_--omitted
_is_ (2)--nis
2974 _defendiþ_--dowteth]

[Headnote:
EVIL HAS NO EXISTENCE.]

[Sidenote: _P._ If he is almighty, there are, then, no limits to
his power?]

but he q{uo}d she þat is al myȝty þere nis no þing þat he
ne may do.

[Sidenote: _B._ He can doubtless do all things.]

þat is soþe q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ May God do evil?]

May god done yuel 2976
q{uo}d she.

[Sidenote: _B._ No.]

nay for soþe q{uo}d. I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Is evil nothing, since God, who is almighty,
cannot do it?]

¶ þan is yuel no þing
q{uo}d she. ¶ Syn þat he ne may not done yuel þat
may done alle þinges.

[Sidenote: _B._ Dost thou mock me or play with me, leading me with
thy arguments into an inextricable labyrinth, and enclosing me in
a wonderful circle of Divine Simplicity?]

scornest þou me q{uo}d. I. or ellys
pleyest þou or deceiuest þou me. þat hast so wouen me 2980
wiþ þi resou{n}s. þe house of didalus so entrelaced. þat it
is vnable to ben vnlaced. þou þat oþer while entrest
þere þou issest {and} oþer while issest þere þou entrest.
ne fooldest þou nat to gidre by replicac{i}ou{n} of wordes a 2984
maner wondirful cercle or envirounynge of symplicite
deuyne.

[Sidenote: For thou didst first begin with happiness, and didst
say that it was the sovereign good, and that it resided in God;
then, that God was that _Good_ and the perfection of happiness;
and, hence, thou didst infer that nobody could be happy unless he
became likewise a God.]

¶ For certys a litel her byforn{e} whan þou bygu{n}ne
atte blisfulnesse þ{o}u seidest þat it is souereyne
good. {and} seidest þat it is set in souereyne god. {and} þat 2988
god is þe ful[le] blisfulnesse. for whiche þou ȝaf[e] me
as a couenable ȝifte. þat is to seyne þ{a}t no wyȝt nis
blisful. but yif he be good al so þer wiþ

[Sidenote: Again, thou saidst that the very form of good was the
substance whereof God and happiness were composed, and that it was
the object and desire of all things in nature.]

{and} seidest
eke þat þe forme of goode is þe substaunce of god. {and} 2992
of blisfulnesse. {and} seidest þ{a}t þilke same oone is þilke
same goode þat is requered {and} desired of al þe kynde
of þinges.

[Sidenote: Thou didst prove that God rules the world by his
goodness, and that all things willingly obeyed him; and that evil
has no existence.]

{and} þou p{ro}euedest in disputynge þat god
gouerneþ alle [the] þinges of þe worlde by þe gouernementys 2996
of bountee. {and} seydest þat alle þinges wolen
ybeyen to hym. and seidest þat þe nature of yuel nis
no þing.

[Sidenote: These truths you established by forcible and natural
arguments, and by no strained and far-fetched reasons.]

{and} þise þinges ne shewedest þou nat wiþ no
resou{n}s ytake fro wiþoute but by proues in cercles {and} 3000
homelyche knowen. ¶ þe whiche p{ro}eues drawen to hem
self hir feiþ {and} hir accorde eu{er}iche [of] hem of oþer. þan
seide she þus.

[Sidenote: _P._ I have not deluded you, for by the Divine aid we
have accomplished our chief task.]

I ne scorne þe nat ne pleye ne desseyue
þe. but I haue shewed to þe þinge þat is grettest ouer [[pg 106]]
alle þinges by þe ȝifte of god þat we some tyme prayden 3005

[Linenotes:
2975 _þere_--ther
2976 _do_--C. omits
_soþe_--soth
_done_--don
2978, 2979 _done_--don
2980 _wouen_--MS. wonnen, C. wouen
2981 _house_--hows
2983 _þere_ (_both_)--ther
2987 _atte_--at
2988 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
2989 _ful[le]_--fulle
_whiche_--which
_ȝaf[e]_--yaue
2990 _ȝifte_--yift
_seyne_--seyn
2992, 2994 _goode_--good
2993 _oone_--oon
2994 _al_--alle
2996 [_the_]--from C.
2998 _ybeyen_--obeyen
2999 _no_ (2)--none
3000 _ytake_--I-taken
3001 _homelyche_--hoomlich
3002 _eueriche_--eu{er}ich
[_of_]--from C.
3004 _þe þinge_--the the thing
3005 _ȝifte_--yift
_some tyme prayden_--whilom preyeden]

[Headnote:
GOD IS LIKE A SPHERE.]

[Sidenote: I have proved to you that it is an essential property
of the Divine nature not to go out of itself, nor to receive into
itself anything extraneous.]

¶ For þis is þe forme of [the] deuyne substaunce. þat
is swiche þat it ne slydeþ nat in to outerest foreine
þinges. ne ne rec[e]yueþ no st{ra}nge þinges in hym. 3008

[Sidenote: Parmenides says of the Deity that _God is like a
well-rounded sphere_.]

but ryȝt as p{ar}maynws seide in grek of þilke deuyne substaunce.
he seide þus þat þilke deuyne substaunce
torneþ þe worlde {and} þilke cercle moeueable of þinges
while þilke dyuyne substau{n}ce kepiþ it self wiþ outen 3012
moeuynge.

[Sidenote: He causes the moving globe to revolve, but is himself
immovable.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 24.]]

þat *is to seyne þat it ne moeuiþ neuere mo.
{and} ȝitte it moeueþ alle oþer þinges.

[Sidenote: If I have chosen my arguments from the subjects within
range of our discussion, do not let that surprise you, for, as
Plato has taught us, there ought to be an alliance between the
words and the subject of discourse.]

but na-þeles yif I
[haue] stered resou{n}s þat ne ben nat taken fro wiþ oute
þe compas of þe þinge of whiche we treten. but resou{n}s 3016
þat ben bystowed wiþ i{n}ne þat compas þere nis nat whi
þat þou sholde[st] merueylen. sen þou hast lerned by
þe sentence of plato þat nedes þe wordes moten ben
cosynes to þo þinges of whiche þei speken. 3020

[Linenotes:
3006 [_the_]--from C.
3007 _swiche_--swich
3009 _parmaynws_--a p{ar}manides
3011 _worlde_--world
3012 _while_--whil
_wiþ outen_--w{i}t{h} owte
3013 _seyne_--seyn
3014 _ȝitte_--yit
_oþer_--oothre
3015 [_haue_]--from C.
3016 _whiche_--which
3017 _wiþ inne_--w{i}t{h} in
3020 _cosynes_--MS. conceyued, C. cosynes
_þo_--þe
_whiche_--which]

[Headnote:
THE POWER OF MUSIC.]

FELIX QUI POTERIT. {ET} CET{ER}A.

[Sidenote: [The .12. Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Happy is he that hath seen the lucid spring of truth!
Happy the man that hath freed himself from terrestrial chains!]

++Blisful is þat man þat may seen þe clere welle of good.
blisful is he þat may vnbynde hym fro þe bonde of
heuy erþe.

[Sidenote: The Thracian poet, consumed with grief for the loss of
his wife, sought relief from music.]

¶ þe poete of t{ra}ce [orphe{us}] þat somtyme
hadde ryȝt greet sorowe for þe deeþ of hys wijf.

[Sidenote: His mournful songs drew the woods along; the rolling
rivers ceased to flow; the savage beasts became heedless of their
prey; the timid hare was not aghast at the hound.]

aftir þat 3024
he hadde maked by hys wepely songes þe wodes meueable
to rennen. {and} hadde ymaked þe ryueres to stonden
stille. {and} maked þe hertys {and} hyndes to ioignen
dredles hir sides to cruel lyou{n}s to herkene his songe. 3028
{and} had[de] maked þat þe hare was nat agast of þe
hounde whiche þat was plesed by hys songe.

[Sidenote: But the songs that did all things tame, could not allay
their master’s ardent love.]

so þat
whane þe most[e] ardaunt loue of hys wijf brende þe
entrailes of his brest. ne þe songes þat hadde ouer [[pg 107]]
comen alle þinges ne myȝten nat assuage hir lorde 3033
orpheus.

[Sidenote: He bewailed the cruelty of the gods above, and
descended to Pluto’s realm.]

¶ He pleyned[e] hym of þe godes þat were{n}
cruel to hym. he wente hym to þe houses of helle

[Sidenote: There he struck his tuneful strings and sang,
exhausting all the harmonious art imparted to him by his mother
Calliope.]

{and} þere he tempred[e] hys blaundissyng songes by resounyng 3036
of hys strenges. ¶ And spak {and} song in
wepynge alle þat euer he hadde resceyued {and} laued
oute of þe noble welles of hys modir calliope þe goddesse.

[Sidenote: In songs dictated both by grief and love, he implored
the infernal powers to give him back his Eurydice.]

{and} he song wiþ as mychel as he myȝt[e] of 3040
wepynge. {and} wiþ as myche as loue þat doubled[e] his
sorwe myȝt[e] ȝeuen hym {and} teche hy{m} in his seke
h{er}te. ¶ And he commoeuede þe helle {and} requered[e]
{and} souȝte by swete p{re}iere þe lordes of soules in helle 3044
of relesynge. þat is to seyne to ȝelden hym hys wif.

[Sidenote: Cerberus, Hell’s three-headed porter, stood amazed;]

¶ Cerberus þe porter of helle wiþ his þre heuedes was
cauȝt {and} al abaist for þe new[e] songe.

[Sidenote: the Furies, tormentors of guilty souls, did weep;]

{and} þe þre goddesses
furijs {and} vengerisse of felonies þat to{ur}mente{n} 3048
{and} agaste{n} þe soules by anoye wexen sorweful {and} sory
{and} wepen teres for pitee.

[Sidenote: Ixion, tormented by the revolving wheel, found rest;]

þan was nat þe heued of
Ixion{e} yto{ur}mented by þe ou{er}þrowi{n}g whele.

[Sidenote: Tantalus, suffering from a long and raging thirst,
despised the stream;]

¶ And
tantalus þat was destroied by þe woodnesse of longe 3052
þrust dispiseþ þe flodes to drynke.

[Sidenote: and the greedy vulture did cease to eat and tear the
growing liver of Tityus.]

þe fowel þat hyȝt
voltor þat etiþ þe stomak or þe giser of ticius is so fulfilled
of his songe þat it nil etyn ne tyren no more.

[Linenotes:
3022 _vnbynde_--vnbyndyn
_bonde_--bondes
3023 [_orpheus_]--from C.
_somtyme_--whilom
3024 _sorowe_--sorwe
3028 _dredles_--dredeles
_to herkene_--forto herknen
3029 _had[de]_--hadde
3030 _þat_ (2)--omitted
3031 _most[e]_--moste
3032 _hadde_--hadden
3033 _assuage_--asswagen
_lorde_--lord
3034 _pleyned[e]_--pleynede
_godes_--heuene goodes
3035 _wente_--MS. wenten, C. wente
3036 _tempred[e] hys_--temprede hise
3037 _of hys_--C. omits
_spak_--MS. spakke, C. spak
_song_--MS. songe, C. soonge
3038 _alle_--al
3039 _oute_--owt
_goddesse_--goddes
3040 _song_--MS. songe, C. soonge
_mychel_--mochel
3041 _myche_--moche
_doubled[e]_--dowblede
3042 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
_ȝeuen_--yeue
_teche_--thechen
_in----herte_--omitted
3043 _commoeuede_--MS. comaunded, C. co{m}moeuede
3044 _souȝte_--by-sowhte
3045 _ȝelden_--yilden
3046 _his_--hise
3047 _cauȝt_--MS. cauȝte, C. cawht
_new[e] songe_--newe song
3049 _anoye----sorweful_--anoy woxen soruful
3050 _þan_--tho ne
3051 _whele_--wheel
3053 _þrust_--thurst
_hyȝt_--hihte
3054 _fulfilled_--fulfyld
3055 _songe_--song]

[Headnote:
FIX NOT THE THOUGHTS ON EARTHLY THINGS.]

[Sidenote: At length Pluto himself relented, crying out, ‘We are
overcome! Let us give him back his wife, he hath well won her by
his song.]

¶ Atte þe laste þe lorde {and} Iuge of soules was moeued 3056
to misericordes {and} cried[e] we ben ouer comen q{uo}d
he. yif[e] we to orpheus his wijf to bere hym co{m}paignye
he haþ welle I-bouȝt hir by his faire songe {and}
his ditee. [[pg 108]]

[Sidenote: But we will lay this injunction upon him. Till he
escape the infernal bounds, he shall not cast a backward look.’]

but we wil putte{n} a lawe in þis. {and} couenaunt 3060
in þe ȝifte. þ{a}t is to seyne. þat til he be out of
helle yif he loke byhynden hym [þ{a}t] hys wijf shal
come{n} aȝeine to vs

[Sidenote: But, who shall give a lover any law? Love is a greater
law than may be given to any earthly man.]

¶ but what is he þat may ȝeue a
lawe to loueres. loue is a gretter lawe {and} a strengere to 3064
hym self þan any lawe þ{a}t men may ȝeuen.

[Sidenote: Alas! having left the realms of night, Orpheus cast a
look behind and lost his too-much-loved Euridice.]

¶ Allas
whan Orpheus {and} his wijf were al most at þe termes of
þe nyȝt. þat is to seyne at þe last[e] boundes of helle.
Orpheus loked[e] abakwarde on Erudice his wijf {and} 3068
lost[e] hir {and} was deed.

[Sidenote: This fable belongs to all you, whose minds would view
the Sovereign Good.]

¶ þis fable app{er}teineþ to
ȝow alle who so euer desireþ or sekiþ to lede his þouȝte
in to þe souereyne day. þat is to seyne to clerenes[se]
of souereyne goode.

[Sidenote: For he who fixes his thoughts upon earthly things and
low, must lose the noble and heaven-imparted Good.]

¶ For who so þat eu{er}e be so ouer 3072
come{n} þat he fycche hys eyen in to þe put[te] of helle.
þat is to seyne who so setteþ his þouȝtes in erþely
þinges. al þat euer he haþ drawen of þe noble good
celestial he lesiþ it whan he lokeþ þe helles. þat is to 3076
seyne to lowe þinges of þe erþe.

EXPLICIT LIBER TERCIUS.

[Linenotes:
3056 _Atte_--At
_lorde_--lord
3057 _cried[e]_--cryde
3058 _yif[e]_--yiue
3059 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_welle_--wel
_faire_--C. omits
_songe_--song
3060 _wil putten_--wol putte
3062 _byhynden_--by-hynde
[_þat_]--from C.
3063 _to_--vn-to
3064 _gretter_--gret
3066 _were al most_--weren almest
3067 _last[e]_--laste
3068 _loked[e] abakwarde_--lookede abacward
3069 _lost[e]_--loste
3070 _þouȝte_--thowht
3071 _clerenes[se]_--clernesse
3072 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn god
3073 _put[te]_--putte
3074 _setteþ_--sette
3075 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote:
THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 24 _b_.]]

*INCIPIT LIBER QUARTUS.

HEC CUM PHILOSOPHIA DIGNITATE UULT{US}.

[Sidenote: [The 1^ma p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: When P. with grace and dignity had poured forth her
songs, I, not quite quit of my load of grief, interrupted her as
she was continuing her discourse.]

++Whanne philosophie hadde songe{n} softly {and} delitably
þe forseide þinges kepynge þe dignitee of hir
choere in þe weyȝte of hir wordes. I þan þat ne hadde 3080
nat al out{er}ly forȝeten þe wepyng {and} mournyng
þat was set in myne herte for-brek þe entenc{i}ou{n} of hir
þat entended[e] ȝitte to seyne oþ{er} þinges.

[Sidenote: All your discourses, O my conductress to the true
light! have been very clear and unanswerable, both by the divine
testimony which they carry along with them, and by thy
irrefragable arguments.]

¶ Se q{uo}d
I. þou þat art gideresse of verray lyȝte þe þinges þat þou 3084
hast seid [me] hider to ben to me so clere
{and} so shewyng [[pg 109]]
by þe deuyne lokyng of hem {and} by þi resou{n}s þat
þei ne mowe nat ben ouercomen.

[Sidenote: Through the oppression of grief I had forgotten these
truths, but was not wholly ignorant of them.]

¶ And þilke þi{n}g{us}
þat þou toldest me. al be it so þat I hadde som tyme 3088
fo[r]ȝeten hem for [the] sorwe of þe wronge þat haþ ben
don to me. ȝit naþeles þei ne were nat alouterly vnknowen
to me.

[Sidenote: The principal cause of my trouble is this--that, whilst
the absolute Ruler of all things is goodness itself, evil exists
and is allowed to pass unpunished.]

but þis same is namly a gret cause of
my sorwe. þat so as þe gouernoure of þinges is goode. 3092
yif þat yuelys mowen ben by any weyes. or ellys yif
þat yuelys passen wiþ outen punyssheinge.

[Sidenote: This, to say the least, is astonishing.]

þe whiche
þinge oonly how worþi it is to ben wondred vpon. þou
considerest it weel þi self certeynly.

[Sidenote: Moreover, while _vice_ flourishes _virtue_ is not only
unrewarded, but trampled under foot by base and profligate men,
and suffers the punishment due to impiety.]

but ȝitte to þis 3096
þing þere is an oþer þing y-ioigned more to ben ywondred
vpon. ¶ For felonie is emperisse {and} flowreþ ful of
rycchesse. and vertues nis nat al oonly wiþ outen medes.
but it is cast vndir {and} fortroden vndir þe feet of felonous 3100
folk. {and} it abieþ þe to{ur}me{n}tes in sted of
wicked felou{n}s

[Sidenote: Here is cause for wonderment, since such things are
possible under the government of an omniscient and omnipotent God,
who wills nothing but what is the best.]

¶ Of al[le] whiche þing þer nis no wyȝt
þat [may] merueyllen ynouȝ ne compleyne þat swiche
þinges ben don in þe regne of god þat alle þinges woot. 3104
and alle þinges may {and} ne wool nat but only goode
þinges.

[Sidenote: _P._ It were indeed, not only marvellous, but also
horribly monstrous, if, in the well-regulated family of so great a
master, the worthless vessels should be honoured and the precious
ones be despised:--but it is not so.]

¶ þan seide she þus. certys q{uo}d she þat were
a grete meruayle {and} an enbaissynge wiþouten ende.
{and} wel more horrible þan alle monstres yif it were as 3108
þ{o}u wenest. þat is to sein. þat in þe ryȝt ordeyne house
of so mochel a fader {and} an ordenour of meyne. þat þe
vesseles þat ben foule {and} vyle sholde ben hono{ur}ed
{and} heried. and þe p{re}cious uesseles sholde ben defouled 3112
{and} vyle. but it nis nat so.

[Sidenote: For if the conclusions we have come to, be sound and
irrefragable, we must confess that under God’s rule the _good_ are
always powerful and mighty, and the _wicked_ weak and
contemptible;]

For yif þe þinges
þat I haue co{n}cluded a litel here byforne ben kept hoole [[pg 110]]
{and} vnraced. þou shalt wel knowe by þe auctorite of
god. of þe whos regne I speke þat certys þe good[e] 3116
folk ben alwey myȝty. {and} shrewes ben alwey yuel {and}
feble.

[Sidenote: that vice never passes unpunished, nor virtue goes
unrewarded;]

ne þe vices ben neu{e}re mo wiþ outen peyne[;] ne
þe vertues ne ben nat wiþ outen mede.

[Sidenote: that happiness attends good men, and misfortune falls
to the lot of the wicked.]

and þat blisfulnesses
comen alwey to goode folke. {and} infortune comeþ 3120
alwey to wicked folke.

[Sidenote: These and many other truths of like nature shall be
proved to thee, and shall put an end to thy complaints, and
strengthen thee with firmness and solidity.]

¶ And þou shalt wel knowe
many[e] þinges of þis kynde þ{a}t sholle cessen þi pleyntes.
{and} stedfast þe wiþ stedfast saddenesse.

[Sidenote: Having shown you a picture of true felicity, and
wherein it resides, I shall now trace out the way which will lead
you to your home.]

¶ And for þou
hast seyn þe forme of þe verray blisfulnesse by me þat 3124
[haue] somtyme I-shewed it þe. And þou hast knowen
i{n} whom blysfulnesse is set. alle þinges I treted þ{a}t I
trowe ben nessessarie to put[te] furþe ¶ I shal shewe
þe. þe weye þat shal brynge þe aȝeyne vnto þi house 3128

[Sidenote: I will give your soul wings to soar aloft, so that all
tribulation being removed, you may, under my guiding, by my road,
and with my vehicle, return whole and sound into your own
country.]

{and} I shal ficche feþeres in þi þouȝt by whiche it may
arysen in heyȝte. so þat al tribulac{i}ou{n} don awey þou
by my gidyng & by my paþe {and} by my sledes shalt
mowen retourne hool {and} sounde in to þi contre. 3132

[Linenotes:
3078 _softly_--softely
3080 _choere in_--cheere {and}
3082 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
_myne_--Myn
_for-brek_--MS. for-breke, C. Forbrak
3083 _entended[e]_--entendede
3084 _lyȝte_--lyht
3085 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seid
[_me_]--from C.
3086 _þi_--the
3087 _mowe_--mowen
3088 _som tyme_--whilom
3089 [_the_]--from C.
_wronge_--wrong
_haþ_--MS. haþe
3090 _don_--MS. done, C. don
_were_--weeren
3091 _namly_--namely
3092 _goode_--good
3094 _wiþ outen_--w{i}t{h} owte
3095 _þinge_--thing
3097 _þere_--ther
_ben ywondred_--be wondryd
3098 _flowreþ_--MS. folweþ, C. flowrith
3099 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
_vertues_--vertu
_wiþ outen_--w{i}t{h} owte
3101 _in sted_--in stide
3102 _wicked_--wikkede
_al[le]_--alle
_þing_--thinges
3103 [_may_]--from C.
3104 _don_--MS. done, C. doon
3105 _wool_--wole
_goode_--good
3107 _grete_--gret
_enbaissynge_--enbasshinge
3108 _alle_--al
3109 _ordeyne house_--ordenee hows
3111, 3113 _vyle_--vyl
3112 _heried_--he heryed
_sholde_--sholden
3113 _þe_--tho
3114 _here byforne_--her byforn
_kept_--MS. kepte, C. kept
3116 _good[e]_--goode
3117 _alwey_ (2)----_feble_--alwey owt cast {and} feble
3118, 3119 _wiþ outen_--w{i}t{h} owte
3119 _vertues_--vertuus
3122 _many[e]_--manye
_sholle cessen_--shollen cesen
3123 _stedfast----stedfast_--strengthyn the w{i}t{h} stidfast
3124 _seyn_--MS. seyne, C. seyn
3125 [_haue_]--from C.
_somtyme_--whilom
3126 _set_--MS. sette, C. I-set
3127 _put[te] furþe_--putten forth
3128 _weye_--wey
_brynge_--bryngen
_þi house_--thin hows
3129 _ficche_--fycchen
3130 _arysen_--areysen
_don_--MS. done, C. ydoñ
3131 _paþe_--paath
_shalt mowen_--shal mowe
3132 _sounde_--sownd]

[Headnote:
VIRTUE NEVER GOES UNREWARDED.]

SU{N}T ETENIM PENNE. {ET} C{ETERA}.

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

[Sidenote: I have nimble wings that enable the mind to rise from
earth to heaven, to leave the clouds behind, to pass the region of
perpetual flame, and to reach the starry mansion, journeying
either by Phœbus’ radiant path, or accompanying cold and aged
Saturn, or riding, as a soldier, with Mars.]

++I Haue for soþe swifte feþeres þat surmou{n}ten þe heyȝt
of þe heuene whan þe swifte þouȝt haþ cloþed it self.
in þo feþeres it dispiseþ þe hat[e]ful erþes. {and} surmou{n}teþ
þe heyȝenesse of þe greet[e] eyir. {and} it seiþ þe 3136
cloudes by-hynde hir bak {and} passeþ þe heyȝt of þe
regiou{n} of þe fire þat eschaufiþ by þe swifte moeuyng of
þe firmament. til þat she a-reisiþ hir in til þe houses þ{a}t
beren þe sterres. {and} ioygneþ hir weyes wiþ þe sonne [[pg 111]]
phebus. {and} felawshipeþ þe weye of þe olde colde 3141
saturnus. and she ymaked a knyȝt of þe clere sterre.

[Sidenote: [Chaucer’s Gloss.]]

þat is to seyne þat þe soule is maked goddys knyȝt by
þe sekyng of treuþe to comen to þe verray knowlege of 3144
god.

[Sidenote: Through every sphere she (the mind) runs where night is
most cloudless and where the sky is decked with stars, until she
reaches the heaven’s utmost sphere--]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 25.]]

and þilke soule renne[þ] by þe cercle *of þe sterres
in alle þe places þere as þe shynyng nyȝt is depeynted.
þat is to seyne þe nyȝt þat is cloudeles. for on nyȝtes þat
ben cloudeles it semeþ as þe heuene were peynted wiþ 3148
dyuerse ymages of sterres. {and} whan þe soule haþ gon
ynouȝ she shal forleten þe last[e] poynt of þe heuene.

[Linenotes:
3133 _heyȝt of þe heuene_--heyhte of heuene
3134 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3136 _heyȝenesse----eyir_--Rou{n}dnesse of the grete ayr
_seiþ_--seth
3137 _hir_--his
3138 _fire_--Fyr
_eschaufiþ_--MS. eschaufiþe
3139 _she_--he
_hir_--hym
3140 _hir_--his
3141 _weye_--wey
_þe----saturnus_--MS. saturnus þe olde colde
3142 _saturnus_--sat{ur}nis
_she_--he
3143 _soule_--thowght
3144 _treuþe_--trowthe
_knowlege_--knoleche
3145 _soule_--thoght
3146 _depeynted_--painted
3149-50 _and whan----she shal_--{and} whanne he hath I-doon
ther{e} I-nowh he shal
3149 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3150 _þe last[e]----heuene_--the laste heuene]

[Headnote:
VICE IS ALWAYS PUNISHED.]

[Sidenote: then pressing on she shall be prepared to see the true
Source of Light, where the great King of kings bears his mighty
sceptre, and holds the reins of the universe.]

{and} she shal p{re}ssen {and} wenden on þe bak of þe swifte
firmament. and she shal ben maked p{er}fit of þe dredefulle 3152
clerenesse of god. ¶ þere haldeþ þe lorde of kynges
þe ceptre of his myȝt {and} atte{m}p{er}eþ þe gouernementes
of þis worlde.

[Sidenote: Here the great Judge, standing in shining robes, firmly
guides his winged chariot, and rules the tumultuous affairs of the
world.]

{and} þe shynynge iuge of þinges stable i{n}
hy{m} self gouerneþ þe swifte carte. þat is to seyne þe 3156
circuler moeuyng of [the] sonne.

[Sidenote: If you at length shall arrive at this abode, you will
say this is my country--here I was born--and here will I abide.]

{and} yif þi weye ledeþ
þe aȝeyne so þat þou be brouȝt þider. þan wilt þou seye
now þat þat is þe contre þat þou requeredest of whiche þou
ne haddest no mynde. but now it remenbreþ me wel 3160
here was I born. here wil I fastne my degree. here wil
I dwelle.

[Sidenote: And should you deign to look on the gloomy earth,
you’ll see those tyrants, the fear of wretched folk, banished from
those fair realms.]

but yif þe lyke þan to loken on þe derkenesse
of þe erþe þat þou hast for-leten. þan shalt þou seen þat
þise felonous tyrauntes þat þe wrecched[e] poeple dredeþ 3164
now shule ben exiled from þilke faire contre.

[Linenotes:
3151-2 _she_--he
3152-3 _of þe----of god_--of the worshipful lyht of god
3153 _þere haldeþ_--ther halt
3155 _þis worlde_--the world
3156 _carte_--cart or wayn
3157 [_the_]--from C.
3159 _whiche_--which
3161 _here_ (1, 2, 3)--her
_born_--MS. borne, C. born
_wil_ (1)--wol
_wil_ (2)--wole
3162 _lyke_--liketh
_derkenesse_--dyrknesses
3164 _wrecched[e]_--wrecchede
3165 _shule_--shollen
_from_--fro]

[[pg 112]]
[Headnote:
THE GOOD ARE ALWAYS STRONG.]

TUNC EGO PAPE INQ{UA}M. {ET} C{ETERA}.

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

[Sidenote: _B._ Ah! thou promisest me great things indeed!--but
without delay, satisfy the expectations you have raised.]

++ÞAnne seide I þus. [owh] I wondre me þat þou by-hetest
me so grete þinges. ne I ne doute nat þat þ{o}u
ne mayst wel p{er}forme þat þou by-hetest. but I preie þe 3168
oonly þis. þat þou ne tarie nat to telle me þilke þinges
þat þou hast meoued.

[Sidenote: _P._ You must first be convinced that the good are
always strong and powerful and the wicked destitute of strength.]

first q{uo}d she þou most nedes
knowen. þ{a}t good[e] folk ben al wey strong[e] {and}
myȝty. and þe shrewes ben feble {and} desert {and} naked 3172
of alle strengþes.

[Sidenote: These assertions do mutually demonstrate each other.]

and of þise þinges certys eueryche of
hem is declared {and} shewed by oþ{er}.

[Sidenote: For since good and evil are contrary, if good be
powerful evil must be impotent.]

¶ For so as good
{and} yuel ben two cont{ra}ries. yif so be þat goode be
stedfast. þa{n} sheweþ þe fieblesse of yuel al openly. 3176

[Sidenote: And if the frailty of evil is known, the strength and
stability of good must also be known to you.]

and yif þou knowe clerely þe freelnesse of yuel. þe stedfastnesse
of goode is knowen.

[Sidenote: But to convince you I shall proceed to prove it from
both these principles, establishing these truths, by arguments
drawn first from one of these topics and then from the other.]

but for as moche as þe fey of
my sentence shal be þe more ferme {and} habou{n}daunt. I
wil goon by þat oon wey {and} by þat oþer {and} I wil conferme 3180
þe þinges þat ben p{ur}posed now on þis side {and}
now on þ{a}t syde.

[Sidenote: Two things are necessary to every action--the Will and
the Power; if either be wanting, nothing can be effected.]

¶ Two þinges þer ben in whiche þe
effect of alle þe dedes of man kynde standiþ. þat is to
seyn. wil {and} power. and yif þat oon of þise two fayleþ 3184
þere nis no þing þat may be don.

[Sidenote: A man can do nothing without the concurrence of his
will, and if power faileth the will is of no effect.]

for yif þat wil lakkeþ
þere nys no wyȝt þat vndirtakeþ to done þat he wol not
don. and yif power fayleþ þe wille nis but i{n} ydel {and}
stant for nauȝt.

[Sidenote: Hence, if you see a person desirous of getting what he
cannot procure, you are sure he lacks power to obtain it.]

and þer of comeþ it þat yif þou se a 3188
wyȝt þat wolde gete{n} þat he may nat geten. þou mayst
nat douten þat power ne fayleþ hy{m} to haue{n} þat he
wolde. ¶ þis is open {and} clere q{uo}d I. ne it may nat
ben denyed in no manere.

[Sidenote: And if you see another do what he had a mind to do, can
you doubt that he had the power to do it?]

and yif þou se a wyȝt q{uo}d 3192
she. þat haþ don þat he wolde don þ{o}u nilt nat douten
þat he ne haþ had power to done it.

[Sidenote: _B._ No, surely. _P._ A man, then, is esteemed
powerful in respect of what he is able to do, and weak in
relation to what he is unable to perform.]

no q{uo}d. I. and in
þat. þat euery wyȝt may. in þat þat men may holden
hym myȝty. as who seiþ i{n} as moche as a man is myȝty [[pg 113]]
to done a þing. in so moche men halden hy{m} myȝty. 3197
and in þat þat he ne may. in þat men demen hym to
ben feble.

[Sidenote: _B._ That is true.]

I confesse it wel q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Do you remember that I proved that the will of
man, following different pursuits, seeks happiness only?]

Remembriþ þe q{uo}d
she þat I. haue gadred {and} shewed by forseide resou{n}s 3200
þat al þe entenc{i}ou{n} of þe wil of ma{n}kynde whiche þat
is lad by diuerse studies hastiþ to comen to blisfulnesse.
¶ It reme{m}breþ me wel q{uo}d I þat it hath ben shewed.

[Linenotes:
3166 [_owh_]--from C.
3171 _good[e]_--goode
_strong[e]_--stronge
3172 _desert_--dishert
3173 _eueryche_--eu{er}ich
3175 _goode_--good
3176 _stedfast_--stidefast
3177 _freelnesse_--frelenesse
_stedfastnesse_--stidefastnesse
3178 _goode_--good
3180 _oon_--oo
_wil_ (2)--wole
3185-6 _þere_--ther
3185 _don_--MS. done, C. don
3186 _done_--don
3187 _wille_--wil
3188 _comeþ_--comht
3189 _mayst_--MS. mayste, C. mayst
3191 _clere_--cler
3192 _denyed_--denoyed
3193-4 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3193 _don_ (_both_)--MS. done, C. doon
3194 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
_done_--doon
3196 _as moche_--so moche
3197 _done_--doon
_moche_--mochel
_halden_--halt
3201 _whiche_--which
3202 _lad_--MS. ladde, C. lad
3203 _it hath ben_--MS. I herde þe, C. it hath ben]

[Headnote:
THE IMPOTENCY OF THE WICKED.]

[Sidenote: Do you recollect too, that it has been shown that
happiness is the supreme good of men--and all desire this good,
since all seek happiness?]

{and} recordeþ þe nat þan q{uo}d she. þat blisfulnesse is 3204
þilke same goode þat men requeren.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 25 _b_.]]

so þat whan þat
blisfulnesse is requered *of alle. þat goode [also] is
requered {and} desired of al. It recordeþ me wel q{uo}d I.
for haue it gretly alwey ficche[d] in my memorie.

[Sidenote: All men, then, good and bad, seek to acquire good?]

alle 3208
folk þan q{uo}d she goode {and} eke badde enforcen he{m}
wiþ oute difference of entenc{i}ou{n} to come{n} to goode.
þat is a uerray consequence q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: And it is certain that when men obtain good they become
good?]

and certeyne is q{uo}d
she þat by þe gety{n}g of goode ben men ymaked goode. 3212

[Sidenote: _B._ It is most certain.]

þis is certeyne q{uo}d. I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Do good men, then, get what they desire?]

¶ þan geten goode men þat þei
desiren.

[Sidenote: _B._ It seems so.]

so semeþ it q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If evil men obtain the good, they can be no longer
evil?]

but wicked[e] folk q{uo}d
she yif þei geten þe goode þat þei desire{n} þei [ne]
mowen nat ben wicked.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is so.]

so is it q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Since then both parties pursue the good, which
only the virtuous obtain, we must believe that good men are
powerful, and that the wicked are weak and feeble?]

¶ þan so as 3216
þat oon {and} þat oþer [q{uod} she] desiren good. {and} þe
goode folk geten good {and} nat þe wicked folk ¶ þan
nis it no doute þat þe goode folk ne ben myȝty {and} þe
wicked folk ben feble.

[Sidenote: _B._ None can doubt this, save such as either consider
not rightly the nature of things, or are incapable of
comprehending the force of any reasoning.]

¶ who so þat euer q{uo}d I 3220
douteþ of þis. he ne may nat considre þe nature of
þi{n}ges. ne þe consequence of resou{n}. and ouer þis q{uo}d she.

[Linenotes:
3205-6 _goode_--good
3206 [_also_]--from C.
3207 _al_--alle
_It----I_--it ne recordeth me nat q{uod} I
3210-12(1)-15 _goode_--good
3214 _wicked[e]_--wikkede
3215 [_ne_]--from C.
3216 _mowen_--mowe
3217 [_quod she_]--from C.
3218 _wicked_--wilk{e} (? wikke)
3220 _wicked_--wikkede]

[Headnote:
THE WICKED DO NOT SEEK ARIGHT THE SUPREME GOOD.]

[Sidenote: _P._ If two beings have the same end in view--and one
of them accomplishes his purpose by the use of natural means,
while the other not using legitimate means does not attain his
end--which of these two is the most powerful?]

¶ yif þat þer ben two þinges þat han o same 3223
p{ur}pos by kynde. {and} þat one of he{m} p{ur}sueþ {and} p{er}formeþ
þilke same þinge by naturel office. {and} þat oþer
ne may nat done þilk naturel office. but folweþ by
oþer manere þan is couenable to nat{ur}e ¶ Hym þat
acomplisiþ hys p{ur}pos kyndely.
{and} ȝit he ne acomplisiþ [[pg 114]]
nat hys owen purpos. wheþer of þise two demest 3229
þou for more myȝty.

[Sidenote: _B._ Illustrate your meaning more clearly.]

¶ yif þat I coniecte q{uo}d .I. þat
þou wilt seye algates. ȝit I desire to herkene it more
pleynely of þe.

[Sidenote: _P._ The motion of walking is natural to man? And this
motion is the natural office of the feet? Do you grant this?]

þou nilt nat þan denye q{uo}d she þat þe 3232
moeueme{n}tȝ of goynge nis in men by kynde. no for soþe
q{uo}d I. ne þou ne doutest nat q{uo}d she þ{a}t þilke naturel
office of goynge ne be þe office of feet.

[Sidenote: _B._ I do.]

I ne doute
it nat q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If, then, he who is able to use his feet walks,
whilst another lacking this power creeps on his hands--surely he
that is able to move naturally upon his feet is more powerful than
he who cannot.]

þan q{uo}d she yif þat a wyȝt be myȝty to 3236
moeue {and} goþ vpon hys feet. and anoþer to whom
þilke naturel office of feet lakkeþ. enforceþ hym to gone
crepynge vpo{n} hys handes. ¶ whiche of þise two auȝte
to ben holden more myȝty by ryȝt. knyt furþe þe remenaunt 3240
q{uo}d I. ¶ For no wyȝt ne douteþ þat he þat
may gone by nat{ur}el office of feet. ne be more myȝty
þan he þat ne may nat

[Sidenote: _P._ The good and bad seek the supreme good: the good
by the natural means of virtue--the wicked by gratifying divers
desires of earthly things (which is not the natural way of
obtaining it).]

¶ but þe souereyne good q{uo}d
she þat is euenlyche p{ur}posed to þe good folk {and} to 3244
badde. þe good folke seken it by naturel office of
uertues. {and} þe shrewes enforcen hem to geten it by
dyuerse couetise of erþely þinges. whiche þat nis no
naturel office to geten þilke same souereyne goode. 3248

[Sidenote: Do you think otherwise?]

trowest þou þat it be any oþer wyse.

[Sidenote: _B._ The consequence is plain, and that follows from
what has been granted--that the good are powerful, while the
wicked are feeble.]

nay q{uo}d .I. for þe
co{n}seque{n}ce is open {and} shewynge of þinges þat I haue
graunted. ¶ þat nedes goode folk moten ben myȝty.
{and} shrewes feble {and} vnmyȝty.

[Sidenote: _P._ You rightly anticipate me; for it is a good sign,
as physicians well know, when Nature exerts herself and resists
the malady.]

¶ þou rennest aryȝt 3252
byfore me q{uo}d she. {and} þis is þe iugement þat is to
seyn. ¶ I iuge of þe ryȝt as þise leches ben wont forto
hopen of seke folk whan þei ap{er}ceyuen þat nature is
redressed {and} wiþstondeþ to þe maladie.

[Sidenote: But, as you are so quick of apprehension, I shall
continue this mode of reasoning.]

¶ But for I 3256
see þe now al redy to þe vndirstandynge I shal shewe
þe more þilke {and} continuel resou{n}s.

[Sidenote: The weakness of the wicked is conspicuous--they cannot
attain the end to which their natural disposition prompts and
almost compels them; what would become of them without this
natural prompting, so powerful and irresistible?]

¶ For loke now
how gretly shewiþ þe feblesse {and} infirmite of wicked [[pg 115]]
folke. þat ne mowen nat come to þat hire naturel 3260
entenc{i}ou{n} ledeþ hem. {and} ȝitte almost þilk naturel
entenc{i}ou{n} constreineþ hem. ¶ and what wer{e} to deme
þan of shrewes. yif þilke naturel helpe hadde for-leten
hem. ¶ þe whiche naturel helpe of entenc{i}ou{n} goþ alwey 3264
byforne hem. {and} is so grete þat vnneþ it may be
ou{er}comen.

[Sidenote: Consider how great is the impotence of the wicked. (The
greater the things desired, but unaccomplished, the less is the
power of him that desires, and is unable to attain his end.)]

¶ Considre þan how gret defaute of power
{and} how gret feblesse þere is in grete felonous folk as
who seiþ þe gretter þi{n}ges þat ben coueited {and} þe desire 3268
nat accomplissed of þe lasse myȝt is he þat coueiteþ it
{and} may nat acomplisse. ¶ And forþi philosophie seiþ
þus by souereyne good.

[Sidenote: The wicked seek after no trivial things--which they
fail to obtain; but they aspire in vain to the sovereign good,
which they endeavour day and night to obtain.]

¶ Sherewes ne requere nat
lyȝt[e] medes ne veyne gaines whiche þei ne may nat 3272
folwen ne holden. but þei fayle{n} of þilke some of þe
heyȝte of þinges þat is to seyne souereyne good. ne þise
wrecches ne comen nat to þe effect of souereyne good.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 26.]]

*þe whiche þei enforcen hem oonly to gete{n} by nyȝtes 3276
{and} by dayes.

[Sidenote: The good attain the end of their desires, and therein
their power is manifested.]

¶ In þe getyn[g] of whiche goode þe
strengþe of good folk. is ful wel ysen.

[Sidenote: For as you deem him a good walker that goes to the end
of his journey, so you must esteem him powerful that attains his
desires, beyond which there is nothing to desire.]

For ryȝt so as
þ{o}u myȝtest demen hym myȝty of goynge þat goþ on
hys feet til he myȝt[e] come to þilke place fro þe whiche 3280
place þere ne lay no wey forþer to be gon. Ryȝt so
most þou nedes demen hym for ryȝt myȝty þat getiþ
{and} atteiniþ to þe ende of alle þinges þat ben to desire.
by-ȝonde þe whiche ende þat þer nis no þing to desire. 3284