Chapter I

Though she had ended her verse, yet the sweetness of it made me remain
astonished, attentive, and desirous to hear her longer. Wherefore, after
a while, I said: "O most effectual refreshment of wearied minds, how
have I been comforted with thy weighty sentences and pleasing music!
Insomuch that I begin to think myself not unable to encounter the
assaults of Fortune. Wherefore, I am not now afraid, but rather
earnestly desire to know those remedies, which before thou toldest me
were too sharp." To which she answered: "I perceived as much as thou
sayest, when I saw thee hearken to my speeches with so great silence and
attention, and I expected this disposition of thy mind, or rather more
truly caused it myself. For the remedies which remain are of that sort
that they are bitter to the taste, but being inwardly received wax
sweet. And whereas thou sayest that thou art desirous to hear; how much
would this desire increase if thou knewest whither we go about to bring
thee!" "Whither?" quoth I. "To true felicity," quoth she, "which thy
mind also dreameth of, but thy sight is so dimmed with phantasies that
thou canst not behold it as it is." Then I beseeched her to explicate
without delay wherein true happiness consisteth. To which she answered:
"I will willingly do so for thy sake, but first I will endeavour to
declare in words and to give shape to that which is better known unto
thee, that, having thoroughly understood it, by reflecting of the
contrary thou mayest discover the type of perfect blessedness.

I.

Qui serere ingenuum uolet agrum, Liberat arua prius fruticibus, Falce rubos filicemque resecat, Vt noua fruge grauis Ceres eat. Dulcior est apium mage labor, 5 Si malus ora prius sapor edat. Gratius astra nitent ubi Notus Desinit imbriferos dare sonos. Lucifer ut tenebras pepulerit Pulchra dies roseos agit equos. 10 Tu quoque falsa tuens bona prius Incipe colla iugo retrahere. Vera dehinc animum subierint."

I.

He that a fruitful field will sow,
Doth first the ground from bushes free,
All fern and briars likewise mow,
That he his harvest great may see.
Honey seems sweeter to our taste,
If cloyed with noisome food it be.
Stars clearer shine when Notus' blast
Hath ceased the rainy storms to breed.
When Lucifer hath night defaced,
The day's bright horses then succeed.
So thou, whom seeming goods do feed,
First shake off yokes which so thee press
That Truth may then thy mind possess."