*Liber Primus

Incipit Liber Boicii De Co N Solac I O N E Philosophie.

Carmina qui quondam studio florente peregi.

Allas I wepyng am constreined to bygynne vers of
sorouful matere. ¶ Þat whilom in florysching
studie made delitable ditees. For loo rendyng muses
of poetes enditen to me þinges to be writen. and drery
vers of wrecchednes weten my face wiþ verray teers.
¶ At þe leest no drede ne myȝt[e] ouer-come þo muses.
þat þei ne weren felawes and folweden my wey. þat is
to seyne when I was exiled. þei þat weren glorie of
my youȝth whilom weleful and grene conforten now þe
sorouful werdes of me olde man. for elde is comen vnwarly
vpon me hasted by þe harmes þat I haue. and
sorou haþ comaunded his age to be in me. ¶ Heeres
hore ben schad ouertymelyche vpon myne heued. and
þe slak[e] skyn trembleþ vpon myn emty body.
þilk[e] deeþ of men is welful þat ne comeþ not in ȝeres þat
ben swete (.i. mirie.) but comeþ to wrecches often
yclepid.

1 of—MS. of of.

2 florysching—floryssynge

3 rendyng—rendynge

4 be—ben

5 wrecchednes—wrecchednesse
teers—teeres

6 leest—leeste
myȝt[e] ouer-come—myhte ouercomen

8 seyne when—seyn whan

9 youȝth—MS. þoȝt, C. yowthe

10 sorouful werdes—sorful wierdes [i. fata]

12 sorou—sorwe
haþ—MS. haþe
be—ben

13 hore—hoore
ben—arn
myne—myn

14 slak[e]—slake
vpon—of
emty—emptyd
þilk[e]—thilke

15 welful—weleful
comeþ not—comth nat

16 .i. mirie—omitted

¶ Allas allas wiþ how deef an eere deeþ cruel
tourneþ awey fro wrecches and naieþ to closen wepyng
eyen. ¶ While fortune vnfeiþful fauored[e] me
wiþ lyȝte goodes (.s. temporels.) þe sorouful houre þat
is to seyne þe deeþ had[de] almost dreynt myne heued.
¶ But now for fortune clowdy haþ chaunged hir disceyuable
chere to me warde. myn vnpitouse lijf draweþ
a long vnagreable dwellynges in me. ¶ O ȝe my
frendes what or wherto auaunted[e] ȝe me to be weleful:
for he þat haþ fallen stood not in stedfast degree.

19 tourneþ—torneth
naieþ—nayteth
wepyng—wepynge

20 While—Whil
fauored[e]—fauorede

21 lyȝte—lyhte
.s. temporels—omitted
sorouful houre—sorwful howre

22 seyne—seyn
had[de]—hadde
myne—myn

23 haþ—MS. haþe
chaunged hir disceyuable—chaungyd hyre deceyuable

24 vnpitouse lijf—vnpietous lyf

PHILOSOPHY APPEARS TO BOETHIUS.

Hic Dum Mecum Tacitus.

IN þe mene while þat I stille recorded[e] þise þinges
wiþ my self. and markede my wepli compleynte wiþ
office of poyntel. I saw stondyng aboue þe heyȝt of my
heued a woman of ful greet reuerence by semblaunt
hir eyen brennyng and clere seing ouer þe comune
myȝt of men. wiþ a lijfly colour and wiþ swiche vigoure
and strenkeþ þat it ne myȝt[e] not be emptid. ¶ Al
were it so þat sche was ful of so greet age. þat men ne
wolde not trowe in no manere þat sche were of oure
elde. þe stature of hir was of a doutous iugement. for
sumtyme sche constreyned[e] and schronk hir seluen
lyche to þe comune mesure of men. and sumtyme it
semed[e] þat sche touched[e] þe heuene wiþ þe heyȝte
of hir heued. and when sche hef hir heued heyer sche
perced[e] þe selue heuene. so þat þe syȝt of men lokyng
was in ydel. ¶ Hir cloþes weren maked of ryȝt delye
þredes and subtil crafte of perdurable matere. þe wyche
cloþes sche hadde wouen wiþ hir owen hondes: as I
knew wel aftir by hir selfe. declaryng and schewyng
to me þe beaute. þe wiche cloþes a derkenes of a forleten
and dispised elde had[de] duskid and dirkid as
it is wont to dirken by-smoked ymages. ¶ In þe neþerest[e]
hem or bordure of þese cloþes men redden
ywouen in swiche a gregkysche .P. þat signifieþ þe lijf
actif. And abouen þat lettre in þe heyȝest[e] bordure
a grekysche T. þat signifieþ þe lijf contemplatif.

A DESCRIPTION OF PHILOSOPHY.

¶ And by-twene þese two lettres þere weren seien degrees
nobly wrouȝt in manere of laddres. By wyche
degrees men myȝt[en] clymbe fro þe neþemast[e] lettre
to þe ouermast[e]. ¶ Naþeles hondes of sum men
hadde korue þat cloþe by vyolence and by strenkeþ.
¶ And eueryche man of hem hadde born away syche
peces as he myȝte geet[e]. ¶ And forsoþe þis forsaide
woman ber bookes in hir ryȝt honde. and in hir lefte
honde sche ber a ceptre. ¶ And when sche sauȝ þese
poetical muses aprochen aboute my bedde. and endytyng
wordes to my wepynges. sche was a lytel ameued
and glowed[e] wiþ cruel eyen. ¶ Who quod sche haþ
suffred aprochen to þis seek[e] man þise comune strumpetis
of siche a place þat *men clepen þe theatre.
¶ Þe wyche only ne asswagen not his sorowes. wiþ no
remedies. but þei wolde fede and norysche hem wiþ
swete venym. ¶ Forsoþe þise ben þo þat wiþ þornes
and prykkynges of talentȝ or affecciouns wiche þat
ben no þing frutefiyng nor profitable destroyen þe
cornes plenteuouse of frutes of reson. ¶ For þei
holden þe hertes of men in usage. but þei ne delyuere
not folk fro maladye. but if ȝe muses hadde wiþdrawen
fro me wiþ ȝoure flateries. any vnkonnyng and vnprofitable
man as men ben wont to fynde comunely amonges
þe peple. I wolde wene suffre þe lasse greuously.

PHILOSOPHY REBUKES THE MUSES.

¶ For-why in syche an vnprofitable man myne ententes
weren no þing endamaged. ¶ But ȝe wiþdrawen me
þis man þat haþ ben norysched in studies or scoles of
Eleaticis and of achademicis in grece. ¶ But goþ now
raþer awey ȝe meremaydenes wyche ben swete til it
be at þe laste. and suffreþ þis man to be cured and
heled by myne muses. þat is to say by notful sciences.
¶ And þus þis compaygnie of muses I-blamed casten
wroþely þe chere adounward to þe erþe and schewyng
by redenesse hir schame þei passeden sorowfuly þe
þreschefolde. ¶ And I of whom þe syȝt plonged in
teres was derked so þat I ne myȝt[e] not knowe what
þat woman was of so imperial auctorite. ¶ I wex al
a-besid and astoned. and caste my syȝt adoune in to þe
erþe. and bygan stille forto abide what sche wolde don
afterwarde. ¶ Þo come sche nere and sette hir doun
vpon þe vterrest[e] corner of my bedde. and sche byholdyng
my chere þat was cast to þe erþe heuy and
greuous of wepyng. compleinede wiþ þise wordes þat I
schal sey þe perturbacioun of my þouȝt.

26 auaunted[e]—auauntede
be—ben

27 haþ—MS. haþe
not—nat
stedfast—stidefast

28 In þe mene—omitted
recorded[e]—recordede

30 saw—MS. sawe, C. sawh
stondyng above—MS. studiyng aboue, C. stondinge abouen
heyȝt—heyhte
my—myn

31 greet—gret

32 brennyng—brennynge
clere seing—cleer seynge

33 swiche—swych

34 strenkeþ—strengthe
it——emptid—it myhte nat ben emted
Al—alle

36 wolde——trowe—wolden nat trowen

37 iugement—Iuggement

38 sumtyme—somtyme
constreyned[e]—constreynede
schronk—MS. schronke, C. shronk

39 lyche—lyk

40 semed[e]—semede
touched[e]—towchede

41 when—whan
hef—MS. heued, C. hef
heyer—hyere

42 perced[e]—percede
syȝt—syhte
lokyng—lookynge

44 crafte—craft

45 wouen—MS. wonnen, C. wouen
owen hondes—owne handes

46 knew—MS. knewe, C. knewh
selfe declaryng—self declarynge
schewyng—shewynge

47 derkenes—dirknesse
forleten—forletyn

48 dispised—despised
had[de] duskid—hadde dusked
dirkid—derked

49 by-smoked—the smokede
neþerest[e]—nethereste

50 þese—thise

51 swiche—omitted
gregkysche—grekysshe
signifieþ—syngnifieth

52 heyȝest[e]—heyeste

54 by-twene þese—bytwixen thise
þere—ther
seien—seyn

55 nobly wrouȝt—nobely ywroght
wyche—whiche

56 myȝt[en] clymbe—myhten clymbyn
neþemast[e]—nethereste

57 ouermast[e]—vppereste
sum—some

58 hadde korue—hadden koruen
cloþe—cloth
strenkeþ—strengthe

59 born—MS. borne, C. born
away syche—awey swiche

60 geet[e]—geten
forsaide—forseide

61 ber—MS. bere, C. bar
bookes—smale bookes
honde—hand
lefte honde—left hand

62 ber—MS. bere, C. baar
sauȝ þese—say thise

63 bedde—bed
endytyng—enditynge

64 ameued—amoued

65 glowed[e]—glowede
haþ—MS. haþe, C. hath

66 seek[e]—sike
þise—the
strumpetis—strompetes

67 siche—swich
clepen—clepyn

68 only ne—nat oonly ne
not his—nat hise
no—none

69 wolde fede—wolden feeden
norysche hem—noryssyn hym

72 ben—ne ben
frutefiyng—fructefiynge

73 cornes plenteuouse—corn plentyuos

74 þe and ne—both omitted

75 not—nat
if ȝe—MS. if þe, C. yif ye
hadde—hadden

76 vnkonnyng—vnkunnynge

78 peple—poeple

79 syche—swhiche
myne—myn

80 weren—ne weeren
ȝe—ye

81 haþ—MS. haþe, C. hath
ben—be
scoles—schooles

82 goþ—MS. goþe, C. goth

83 wyche—whiche þat

85 say—seyn
notful—noteful

86 I-blamed—Iblamyd

87 wroþely—wrothly
adounward—downward

88 redenesse—rednesse
sorowfuly—sorwfully

89 þreschefolde—thresshfold
syȝt—syhte

90 derked—dyrked
myȝt[e]——knowe—myhte nat knowen

91 wex—wax

92 a-besid—abaysshed
caste—cast
adoune in to—down to

93 don—MS. done

95 vterrest[e] corner—vttereste cornere
bedde—bed

97 compleinede—compley[n]de

98 sey—seyen

PHILOSOPHY ADDRESSES BOETHIUS.

Heu Q Uam Precipiti Mersa Profundo.

Allas how þe þouȝt of man dreint in ouer þrowyng
depnesse dulleþ and forletiþ hys propre clerenesse.
myntynge to gone in to foreyne derknesses as
ofte as hys anoious bisines wexiþ wiþ-outen mesure.
þat is dryuen to and fro wiþ worldly wyndes. ¶ Þis
man þat sumtyme was fre to whom þe heuene was open
and knowen and was wont to gone in heuenelyche
paþes. and sauȝ þe lyȝtnesse of þe rede sunne. and sauȝ
þe sterres of þe colde moone. and wyche sterre in
heuene vseþ wandryng risorses yflit by dyuerse speres.
¶ Þis man ouer comere hadde comprehendid al þis by
noumbre. of accountyng in astronomye. ¶ And ouer
þis he was wont to seche þe causes whennes þe sounyng
wyndes moeuen and bisien þe smoþe water of þe
see. and what spirit turneþ þe stable heuene. and
whi þe sterre ryseþ oute of þe reede eest. to falle
in þe westren wawes. and what attempriþ þe lusty
houres of þe fyrste somer sesoun þat hiȝteþ and apparaileþ
þe erþe wiþ rosene floures. ¶ And who
makeþ þat plenteuouse autumpne in fulle ȝeres fletiþ
wiþ heuy grapes. ¶ And eke þis man was wont to
telle þe dyuerses causes of nature þat weren yhid.
¶ Allas now lieþ he emptid of lyȝt of hys þouȝt. and
hys nekke is pressid wiþ heuy cheynes and bereþ his
chere enclined adoune for þe greet[e] weyȝt. and is
constreyned to loke on foule erþe.

101 gone—goon

102 bisines—bysynesse
outen—owte

103 worldly—wordely

104 sumtyme—whilom

105 gone—goon

106 paþes—paathes
sauȝ—sawh
lyȝtnesse—lythnesse
sunne—sonne
sauȝ—MS. sue, C. sawgh

107 wyche—which

108 risorses—recourses

111 seche—seken
sounyng—sownynge

114 ryseþ oute—aryseth owt
falle—fallen

115 westren—westrene

116 fyrste—fyrst

119 eke—ek

120 dyuerses—diuerse
yhid—MS. yhidde

121 lieþ—lith
emptid—emted

123 adoune—adown
greet[e] weyȝt—grete weyhte

124 loke——foule—looken on the fool

PHILOSOPHY ENLIGHTENS BOETHIUS.

Set Medicine Inquit Tempus.

Bvt tyme is now quod sche of medicine more þen of
compleynte. ¶ Forsoþe þen sche entendyng to
me warde wiþ al þe lokyng of hir eyen saide. ¶ Art
not þou he quod sche þat sumtyme I-norschid wiþ my
mylke and fostre[d] wiþ my meetes were ascaped and
comen to corage of a perfit man. ¶ Certys I ȝaf þe
syche armures þat ȝif þou þi self ne haddest first caste
hem away. þei schulden haue defendid þe in sykernesse
þat may not be ouer-comen. ¶ Knowest þou me not.
*Why art þou stille. is it for schame or for astonynge.
It were me leuer þat it were for schame. but it semeþ
me þat astonynge haþ oppressed þe. ¶ And whan
sche say me not oonly stille. but wiþ-outen office of
tonge and al doumbe. sche leide hir honde softely vpon
my brest and seide. ¶ Here nis no peril quod sche.
¶ He is fallen in to a litargie. whiche þat is a comune
sekenes to hertes þat ben desceiued. ¶ He haþ a litel
forȝeten hym self. but certis he schal lyȝtly remembren
hym self. ¶ Ȝif so be þat he haþ knowen me or now.
and þat he may so done I wil wipe a litel hys eyen.
þat ben derked by þe cloude of mortel þinges ¶ Þise
wordes seide sche. and wiþ þe lappe of hir garment
yplitid in a frounce sche dried[e] myn eyen þat were
ful of þe wawes of my wepynges.

125, 126 þen—than

127 al—alle
saide—seyde

128 sumtyme—whilom
I-norschid—MS. I-norschide, C. noryssed

129 fostre[d]—fostered
my—myne

130 Certys—Certes
ȝaf, yaf

131 syche—swiche
ȝif—yif
caste—C. cast

132 away—awey
schulden haue—sholden han

133 not be—nat ben
Knowest þou—knowestow

134 art þou—artow

136 haþ—MS. haþe

138 tonge—tunge
doumbe—dowmb
honde—hand

139 Here—her

140 litargie whiche—litarge which

141 sekenes—sykenesse

141, 143 haþ—MS. haþe

144 done—doon
wil wipe—wol wypen

146 garment—garnement

147 dried[e]—dryede
were—weeren

148 ful—fulle

BOETHIUS RECOGNIZES HIS PHYSICIAN.

Tunc Me Discussa.

Þus when þat nyȝt was discussed and chased awey.
derknesses forleften me. and to myn eyen repeyre
aȝeyne her firste strenkeþ. and ryȝt by ensample as
þe sonne is hid when þe sterres ben clustred. þat is to
sey when sterres ben couered wiþ cloudes by a swifte
wynde þat hyȝt chorus. and þat þe firmament stont
derked by wete ploungy cloudes. and þat þe sterres not
apperen vpon heuene. ¶ So þat þe nyȝt semeþ sprad
vpon erþe. ¶ Yif þan þe wynde þat hyȝt borias
sent out of þe kaues of þe contre of Trace betiþ þis
nyȝt. þat is to seyn chasiþ it away and descouereþ þe
closed day. ¶ Þan schineþ phebus yshaken wiþ
sodeyne lyȝt and smyteþ wiþ hys bemes in meruelyng
eyen.

149 when—whan

150 myn—myne
repeyre—repeyrede

151 aȝeyne—omitted
her firste—hir fyrst

152 hid—MS. hidde, C. hid
when—whan

153 sey—seyn
when—whan

154 hyȝt—heyhte
chorus—MS. thorus
stont—MS. stonde, C. stant

157 þan—thanne
wynde—wynd
hyȝt—hyhte

158 sent—isent

160 þan—thanne

161 sodeyne—sodeyn

THE TRIALS OF PHILOSOPHY AND PHILOSOPHERS.

Haut1 Aliter Tristicie.

Ryȝt so and none oþer wyse þe cloudes of sorowe
dissolued and don awey. ¶ I took heuene. and
receyuede mynde to knowe þe face of my fyciscien.
¶ So þat I sette myne eyen on hir and festned[e] my
lokyng. I byholde my norice philosophie. in whos
houses I hadde conuersed and haunted fro my ȝouþe.
and I seide þus. ¶ O þou maistresse of alle uertues
descendid fro þe souereyne sete. Whi art þou comen
in to þis solitarie place of myn exil. ¶ Art þou comen
for þou art mad coupable wiþ me of fals[e] blames.
¶ O quod sche my norry scholde I forsake þe now. and
scholde I not parte wiþ þe by comune trauaille þe charge
þat þou hast suffred for envie of my name. ¶ Certis
it nar[e] not leueful ne sittyng to philosophie to leten
wiþ-outen compaignie þe wey of hym þat is innocent.
¶ Scholde I þan redoute my blame and agrisen as þouȝ
þer were byfallen a newe þing. q. d. non. ¶ For
trowest þou þat philosophi be now alþerfirst assailed
in perils by folk of wicked[e] maneres. ¶ Haue I not
stryuen wiþ ful greet strife in olde tyme byfore þe
age of my plato aȝeins þe foolhardines of foly and
eke þe same plato lyuyng. hys maistre socrates
deserued[e] victorie of vnryȝtful deeþ in my presence.
¶ Þe heritage of wyche socrates. þe heritage is to seyne
þe doctrine of þe whiche socrates in hys oppinioun of
felicite þat I clepe welfulnesse ¶ Whan þat þe people
of epicuriens and stoyciens and many oþer enforceden
hem to go rauische eueryche man for his part þat is
to seyne. þat to eueryche of hem wolde drawen to þe
defence of his oppinioun þe wordes of socrates. ¶ Þei
as in partie of hir preye todrowen me criynge and
debatyng þer aȝeins. and tornen and torenten my cloþes
þat I hadde wouen wiþ myn handes. and wiþ þe
cloutes þat þei hadden arased oute of my cloþes. þei
wenten awey wenyng þat I hadde gon wiþ hem euery
dele. In whiche epicuryens and stoyciens. for as
myche as þer semed[e] somme traces and steppes of
myne habit. þe folye of men wenyng þo epicuryens
and stoyciens my *familers peruertede (.s. persequendo)
somme þoruȝ þe errour of þe wikked[e] or vnkunnyng[e]
multitude of hem. ¶ Þis is to seyne for þei
semeden philosophres: þei weren pursued to þe deeþ
and slayn. ¶ So yif þou hast not knowen þe exilynge
of anaxogore. ne þe empoysenyng of socrates. ne þe
tourmentȝ of ȝeno for þei [weren] straungers.
¶ Ȝit myȝtest þou haue knowen þe senectiens and þe Canyos
and þe sorancis of wyche folk þe renoun is neyþer ouer
oolde ne vnsolempne. ¶ Þe whiche men no þing ellys
ne brouȝt[e] hem to þe deeþ but oonly for þei weren
enfourmed of my maneres. and semeden moste vnlyke
to þe studies of wicked folk. ¶ And forþi þou auȝtest
not to wondre þouȝ þat I in þe bitter see of þis lijf be
fordryuen wiþ tempestes blowyng aboute. in þe whiche
tempeste þis is my most purpos þat is to seyn to displese
to wikked[e] men. ¶ Of whiche schrews al be
þe oost neuer so grete it is to dispyse. for it nis gouerned
wiþ no leder of resoune. but it is rauysched only by
flityng errour folyly and lyȝtly. ¶ And if þei somtyme
makyng an ost aȝeynest vs assaile vs as strengere. oure
leder draweþ to gedir hys rycchesse in to hys toure.
and þei ben ententif aboute sarpulers or sachels vnprofitable
forto taken. but we þat ben heyȝ abouen syker
fro al tumulte and wode noise. ben stored and enclosed
in syche a palays. whider as þat chateryng or anoying
folye ne may not attayne. ¶ We scorne swiche
rauiners and honters of foulest[e] þinges.

163 none oþer—non oother
sorowe—sorwe

165 knowe—knowen

166 myne—myn
festned[e]—fastnede

170 fro—from

170, 171 art þou—artow

172 mad—MS. made, C. maked
fals[e]—false

174 parte—parten

176 nar[e]—nere
sittyng—sittinge

178 þan—thanne

179 þing—thing
q.d. non—omitted

180 trowest þou—trowestow
alþerfirst—alderfirst

181 wicked[e]—wikkede

182 strife—strif

183 aȝeins—ayenis
foolhardines—foolhardinesse
foly—folie

184 eke—ek

185 deserued[e]—desseruede

186 wyche—the which
seyne—seyn

188 welfulnesse—welefulnesse

189 oþer—oothre

190 go—gon
eueryche—euerich

191 seyne—seyn
to—omitted
eueryche—euerich

194 tornen—read coruen, C. koruen

195 wouen—MS. wonnen, C. wouen

196 arased—arraced

197 gon—MS. gone, C. gon

198 dele—del

199 myche—moche
semed[e]—semede
and—or

200 myne—myn
wenyng—MS. wevyng, C. weninge

202 þoruȝ—thorw
wikked[e]—wikkede
vnkunnyng[e]—vnkunnynge

203 seyne—seyn þat

204 semeden—semede
pursued—MS. pursuede, C. pursued

205 slayn—MS. slayne, C. slayn

207 [weren]—weeren

208 myȝtest þou haue—myhtestow han

209 sorancis—sorans
wyche—which
is—nis

210 oolde—MS. colde, C. old

211 brouȝt[e]—browhte

212 enfourmed—MS. vnfourmed, C. enformyd
my—myne
vnlyke—vnlyk

213 wicked folk—wikkede foolke
auȝtest—owhtest

214 wondre—wondren
bitter—bittre

216 displese—displesen

217 wikked[e]—wikkede
schrews—shrewes

218 oost—glossed acies in C.
grete—gret

219, 222 leder—ledere

220 flityng—fleetynge
lyȝtly—lythly
if—yif

221 aȝeynest—ayenis

222 to——rycchesse, to gydere hise rychesses
toure—towr

224 heyȝ—heye

225 al—alle
ben—omitted
stored—warnestored

226 syche—swich
þat—omitted

227 scorne—schorne

228 rauiners——þinges—rauyneres & henteres of fowleste thinges

THE AIM OF PHILOSOPHY.

Quisq Ui S Composito.

Who so it be þat is clere of vertue sad and wel ordinat
of lyuyng. þat haþ put vnderfote þe prowed[e]
wierdes and lokiþ vpryȝt vpon eyþer fortune. he may
holde hys chiere vndiscomfited. ¶ Þe rage ne þe manace
of þe commoeuyng or chasyng vpwarde hete fro þe
botme. ne schal not moeue þat man. ne þe vnstable
mountaigne þat hyȝt veseuus. þat wircheþ oute þoruȝ
hys broken[e] chemineys smokyng fires. ¶ Ne þe wey
of þonder lyȝt þat is wont to smyte heyȝe toures ne
schal not mouene þat man. ¶ Wherto þen wrecches
drede ȝe tyrauntes þat ben wode and felownes wiþ-outen
ony strenkeþ. ¶ Hope after no þing ne drede nat. and
so schalt þou desarmen þe ire of þilke vnmyȝty tyraunt.
¶ But who so þat quakyng dredeþ or desireþ þing þat
nis not stable of his ryȝt. þat man þat so doþ haþ cast
awey hys schelde and is remoeued fro hys place. and
enlaceþ hym in þe cheyne wiþ whiche he may be
drawen.

229 clere—cleer

230 lyuyng—leuynge
haþ—MS. haþe
vnderfote—vndir-foot
prowed[e]—prowde

231 may——chiere—may his cheere holde

232 manace—manesses

233 þe—þe see

235 hyȝt—hihte
veseuus—MS. vesenus
wircheþ—writith

236 broken[e]—brokene
smokyng—smokynge

237 smyte—smyten

238 Wherto þen—wharto thanne

239 felownes——ony—felonos withowte any

241 schalt þou desarmen—shaltow deseruien

243 doþ—MS. doþe, C. doth
haþ—MS. haþe, C. hath
cast—MS. caste, C. cast

244 schelde—sheld
remoeued fro—remwed from

245 whiche—the which
be—ben

BOETHIUS SPEAKS OF HIS TROUBLES.

Sentis Ne Inquit.

FElest þou quod sche þise þinges and entren þei ouȝt
in þi corage. ¶ Art þou like an asse to þe harpe.
Whi wepest þou whi spillest þou teres. ¶ Yif þou
abidest after helpe of þi leche. þe byhoueþ discouere þi
wounde. ¶ Þo .I. þat hadde gadered strenkeþ in my
corage answered[e] and seide. and nedeþ it ȝitte quod
.I. of rehersyng or of amonicioun. and scheweþ it not
ynouȝ by hym self þe scharpnes of fortune þat wexeþ
woode aȝeynes me. ¶ Ne moeueþ it nat þe to seen þe
face or þe manere of þis place (.i. prisoun.). ¶ Is þis
þe librarie wyche þat þou haddest chosen for a ryȝt
certeyne sege to þe in myne house. ¶ Þere as þou
desputest of[te] wiþ me of þe sciences of þinges touching
diuinitee and touchyng mankynde. ¶ Was þan
myn habit swiche as it is now. was þan my face or
quasi diceret non.
my chere swiche as now. ¶ Whan I souȝt[e] wiþ þe
secretys of nature. whan þou enfourmedest my maners
and þe resoun of al my lijf. to þe ensaumple of þe ordre
ironice
of heuene. ¶ Is nat þis þe gerdoun þat I refere to þe
to whom I haue be obeisaunt. ¶ Certis þou enfourmedist
by þe mouþe of plato þis sentence. þat is to
seyne þat commune þinges or comunabletes weren
blysful yif þei þat haden studied al fully to wisdom
gouerneden þilke þinges. or ellys yif it so by-felle þat
þe gouernours *of communalites studieden in grete wisdomes.

PHILOSOPHERS TO BE POLITICIANS.

¶ Þou saidest eke by þe mouþe of þe same
plato þat it was a necessarie cause wyse men to taken
and desire þe gouernaunce of comune þinges. for þat þe
gouernementes of comune citees y-left in þe hondes of
felonous tourmentours Citiȝenis ne scholde not brynge
inne pestilence and destruccioun to goode folk. ¶ And
þerfore I folowynge þilk auctoritee (.s. platonis). desiryng
to put[te] furþe in execusioun and in acte of comune
administracioun þo þinges þat .I. hadde lerned of þe
among my secre restyng whiles. ¶ Þou and god þat
put[te] þee in þe þouȝtis of wise folk ben knowen wiþ
me þat no þing brouȝt[e] me to maistrie or dignite: but
þe comune studie of al goodenes. ¶ And þer-of comeþ
it þat by-twixen wikked folk and me han ben greuouse
discordes. þat ne myȝten not be relesed by prayeres.
¶ For þis libertee haþ fredom of conscience þat þe wraþþe
of more myȝty folk haþ alwey ben despised of me for
saluacioun of ryȝt. ¶ How ofte haue .I. resisted and
wiþstonde þilk man þat hyȝt[e] conigaste þat made
alwey assautes aȝeins þe propre fortunes of poure feble
folke. ¶ How ofte haue .I. ȝitte put of. or cast out
hym trigwille prouost of þe kynges hous boþe of þe
wronges þat he hadde bygon[ne] to done and eke fully
performed. ¶ How ofte haue I couered and defended
by þe auctorite of me put aȝeins perils. þat is to seine put
myne auctorite in peril for þe wreched pore folke. þat
þe couetise of straungeres vnpunysched tourmentid alwey
wiþ myseses and greuaunces oute of noumbre.

BOETHIUS DEFENDS HIS OWN CONDUCT.

¶ Neuer man drow me ȝitte fro ryȝt to wrong. When I say þe
fortunes and þe rychesse of þe people of þe prouinces
ben harmed eyþer by priue rauynes or by comune
tributis or cariages. as sory was I as þei þat suffred[e]
þe harme. Glosa. ¶ Whan þat theodoric þe kyng of
gothes in a dere ȝere hadde hys gerners ful of corne
and comaundede þat no man ne schold[e] bie no corne
til his corne were solde and þat at a dere greuous pris.
¶ But I withstod þat ordinaunce and ouer-com it
knowyng al þis þe kyng hym self. ¶ Coempcioun þat
is to seyn comune achat or bying to-gidere þat were
establissed vpon poeple by swiche a manere imposicioun
as who so bouȝt[e] a busshel corn he most[e] ȝeue þe
kyng þe fifte part. Textus. ¶ Whan it was in þe
soure hungry tyme þere was establissed or cried greuous
and inplitable coempcioun þat men seyn wel it schulde
greetly tourmentyn and endamagen al þe prouince of
compaigne I took strif aȝeins þe prouost of þe pretorie
for comune profit. ¶ And þe kyng knowyng of it I
ouercom it so þat þe coempcioun ne was not axed ne
took effect. ¶ Paulyn a counseiller of Rome þe rychesse
of þe whyche paulyn þe houndys of þe palays. þat is to
seyn þe officeres wolde han deuoured by hope and
couetise ¶ Ȝit drow I hym out of þe Iowes .s. faucibus
of hem þat gapeden. ¶ And for as myche as þe peyne
of þe accusacioun aiuged byforn ne scholde not sodeynly
henten ne punischen wrongfuly Albyn a counseiller of
Rome. I put[te] me aȝenis þe hates and indignaciouns
of þe accusour Ciprian. ¶ Is it not þan ynought yseyn
þat I haue purchased greet[e] discordes aȝeins my self.
but I aughte be more asseured aȝenis alle oþer folk þat
for þe loue of ryȝtwisnesse .I. ne reserued[e] neuer no
þing to my self to hem ward of þe kynges halle .s. officers.
by þe whiche I were þe more syker. ¶ But þoruȝ þe
same accusours accusyng I am condempned.

THE ACCUSERS OF BOETHIUS.

¶ Of þe noumbre of whiche accusours one basilius þat somtyme
was chased out of þe kynges seruice. is now compelled
in accusyng of my name for nede of foreine
moneye. ¶ Also opilion and Gaudencius han accused
me. al be it so þat þe Iustice regal hadde sumtyme demed
hem boþe to go in to exil. for her treccheries and fraudes
wiþ-outen noumbre. ¶ To whiche iugement þei wolde
not obeye. but defended[e] hem by sykernesse of holy
houses. *þat is to seyne fledden in to seyntuaries. and
whan þis was aperceiued to þe kyng. he comaunded[e]
but þat þei voided[e] þe citee of Rauenne by certeyne
day assigned þat men scholde merken hem on þe forheued
wiþ an hoke of iren and chasen hem out of toune.
¶ Now what þing semeþ þe myȝt[e] be lykned to þis
cruelte. For certys þilk same day was receyued þe accusyng
of my name by þilk[e] same accusours. ¶ What
may be seid herto. haþ my studie and my konnyng
deserued þus. or ellys þe forseide dampnacioun of me.
made þat hem ryȝtful accusours or no (q.d. non).
¶ Was not fortune asshamed of þis. [Certes alle hadde
nat fortune ben asshamyd] þat innocence was accused.
ȝit auȝt[e] sche haue had schame of þe filþe of myn accusours.

THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BOETHIUS.

¶ But axest þou in somme of what gilt .I.
am accused. men seyne þat I wolde sauen þe compaignie
of þe senatours. ¶ And desirest þou to here
in what manere .I. am accused þat I scholde han distourbed
þe accusour to beren lettres. by whiche he
scholde han maked þe senatours gilty aȝeins þe kynges
Real maieste. ¶ O meistresse what demest þou of
þis. schal .I. forsake þis blame þat I ne be no schame to
þe (q. d. non). ¶ Certis .I. haue wold it. þat is to
seyne þe sauuacioun of þe senat. ne I schal neuer leten
to wilne it. and þat I confesse and am a-knowe. but
þe entent of þe accusour to be destourbed schal cese.
¶ For schal I clepe it a felonie þan or a synne þat I
haue desired þe sauuacioun of þe ordre of þe senat.
and certys ȝit hadde þilk same senat don by me þoruȝ
her decretȝ and hire iugementys as þouȝ it were a synne
or a felonie þat is to seyne to wilne þe sauuacioun of
hem (.s senatus). ¶ But folye þat lieth alwey to hym
self may not chaunge þe merit of þinges. ¶ Ne .I.
trowe not by þe iugement of socrates þat it were leueful
to me to hide þe soþe. ne assent[e] to lesynges.
¶ But certys how so euer it be of þis I put[te] it to gessen
or preisen to þe iugement of þe and of wise folk. ¶ Of
whiche þing al þe ordinaunce and þe soþe for as moche
as folk þat ben to comen aftir oure dayes schollen
knowen it. ¶ I haue put it in scripture and remembraunce.
for touching þe lettres falsly maked. by
whiche lettres I am accused to han hooped þe fredom of
Rome. What apperteneþ me to speken þer-of.
Of whiche lettres þe fraude hadde ben schewed apertly if
I hadde had libertee forto han vsed and ben at þe
confessioun of myn accusours. ¶ Þe whiche þing in
alle nedys haþ grete strenkeþ. ¶ For what oþer fredom
may men hopen. Certys I wolde þat some oþer fredom
myȝt[e] be hoped. ¶ I wolde þan haue answered by
þe wordes of a man þat hyȝt[e] Canius. for whan he was
accused by Gayus Cesar Germeins son þat he (canius)
was knowyng and consentyng of a coniuracioun maked
aȝeins hym (.s. Gaius). ¶ Þis Canius answered[e]
þus. ¶ Yif I had[de] wist it þou haddest not wist it.

BOETHIUS COMPLAINS TO PHILOSOPHY.

In whiche þing sorwe haþ not so dulled my witte
þat I pleyne oonly þat schrewed[e] folk apparailen
folies aȝeins vertues. ¶ But I wondre gretly how þat
þei may performe þinges þat þei had[de] hoped forto
done. For why. to wylne schrewednesse þat comeþ
parauenture of oure defaute. ¶ But it is lyke to a
monstre and a meruaille. ¶ How þat in þe present
syȝt of god may ben acheued and performed swiche
þinges. as euery felonous man haþ conceyued in hys
þouȝt aȝeins innocent. ¶ For whiche þing oon of þi
familers not vnskilfully axed þus. ¶ Ȝif god is. whennes
comen wikked[e] þinges. and yif god ne is whennes
comen goode þinges. but al hadde it ben leueful þat
felonous folk þat now desiren þe bloode and þe deeþ of
alle goode men. and eke of al þe senat han wilned to
gone destroien me. whom þei han seyn alwey batailen
and defenden goode men and eke al þe senat. Ȝit
hadde I not desserued of þe fadres. þat is to seyne of
þe senatours þat þei scholde wilne my destruccioun.
¶ Þou remembrest wele as I gesse þat whan I wolde
don or *seyn any þing. þou þi self alwey present
reweledest me. ¶ At þe citee of verone whan þat þe
kyng gredy of comune slauȝter. caste hym to transporten
vpon al þe ordre of þe senat. þe gilt of his real
maieste of þe whiche gilt þat albyn was accused. wiþ
how grete sykernesse of peril to me defended[e] I al
þe senat. ¶ Þou wost wel þat I seide soþe. ne I
auaunted[e] me neuer in preysyng of my self. ¶ For
alwey when any wyȝt resceiueþ preciouse renoun in
auauntyng hym self of hys werkes: he amenusiþ þe
secre of hys conscience. ¶ But now þou mayst wel
seen to what ende I am comen for myne innocence.

OF HIS FALSE ACCUSERS.

I receiue peyne of fals felonie in gerdoun of verray
vertue. ¶ And what open confessioun of felonie
had[de] euer iugis so accordaunt in cruelte. þat is to
seyne as myne accusyng haþ. ¶ Þat oþer errour of
mans witte or ellys condicioun of fortune þat is vncerteyne
to al mortal folk ne submytted[e] summe of hem. þat is
to seyne þat it ne cheyned[e] summe iuge to han pitee
or compassioun. ¶ For al þouȝ I had[de] ben accused
þat I wolde brenne holy houses. and strangle prestys
wiþ wicked swerde. ¶ or þat .I. had[de] grayþed deeþ
to alle goode men algatis þe sentence scholde han
punysched me present confessed or conuict.
¶ But now I am remewed fro þe Citee of rome almost
fyue-hundreþ þousand pas. I am wiþ outen defence dampned
to proscripcioun and to þe deeþ. for þe studie and
bountees þat I haue done to þe senat. ¶ But o wel ben
þei worþi of mercye (as who seiþ nay.) þer myȝt[e] neuer
ȝit non of hem ben conuicte. Of swiche a blame as
myn is of swiche trespas myn accusours seyen ful wel þe dignitee.

BOETHIUS ACCUSED OF SORCERY.

þe wiche dignite for þei wolde derken it
wiþ medelyng of some felonye. þei beren me on honde
and lieden. þat I hadde polute and defouled my conscience
wiþ sacrelege. for couetise of dignite. ¶ And
certys þou þi self þat art plaunted in me chacedest oute
þe sege of my corage al couetise of mortal þinges. ne
sacrilege ne had[de] no leue to han a place in me byforne
þine eyen. ¶ For þou drouppedest euery day in myn
eeres and in my þouȝt þilk comaundement of pictogoras.
þat is to seyne men schal seruen to god. and not to
goddes. ¶ Ne it was no couenaunt ne no nede to
taken helpe of þe foulest spirites. ¶ I þat þou hast
ordeyned or set in syche excellence þat [þou] makedest
me lyke to god. and ouer þis þe ryȝt clene secre
chaumbre of myn house. þat is to seye my wijf and þe
compaignie of myn honeste frendis. and my wyues
fadir as wel holy as worþi to ben reuerenced þoruȝ
hys owen dedis. defenden me of al suspeccioun of syche
blame. ¶ But o malice. ¶ For þei þat accusen me
taken of þe philosophie feiþe of so grete blame. ¶ For
þei trowen þat .I. haue had affinite to malyfice or enchauntementȝ
by cause þat I am replenissed and fulfilled
wiþ þi techynges. and enformed of þi maners.
¶ And þus it sufficeþ not only þat þi reuerence ne auayle
me not. but ȝif þat þou of þi fre wille raþer be blemissed
wiþ myne offensioun. ¶ But certys to þe harmes þat I
haue þere bytydeþ ȝit þis encrece of harme.

BOETHIUS DEPLORES THE POPULAR CENSURE.

þat þe gessinge and þe iugement of myche folk ne loken no
þing to þe[de]sertys of þinges but only to þe auenture
of fortune. ¶ And iugen þat only swiche þinges ben
purueied of god. whiche þat temporel welefulnesse
commendiþ. Glosa. ¶ As þus þat yif a wyȝt haue
prosperite. he is a good man and worþi to haue þat
prosperite. and who so haþ aduersite he is a wikked
man. and god haþ forsake hym. and he is worþi to
haue þat aduersite. ¶ Þis is þe opinioun of somme
folke. *and þer of comeþ þat good gessyng. ¶ Fyrste of
al þing forsakeþ wrecches certys it greueþ me to þink[e]
ryȝt now þe dyuerse sentences þat þe poeple seiþ of
me. ¶ And þus moche I seye þat þe laste charge of
contrarious fortune is þis. *þat whan þat ony blame is
laid vpon a caytif. men wenen þat he haþ deserued þat
he suffreþ. ¶ And I þat am put awey from goode men
and despoiled from dignitees and defoulid of my name
by gessyng haue suffred torment for my goode dedis.
¶ Certys me semeþ þat I se þe felonus couines of
wikked men abounden in ioie and in gladnes. ¶ And
I se þat euery lorel shapiþ hym to fynde oute newe
fraudes forto accusen goode folke. and I se þat goode
men ben ouerþrowen for drede of my peril. ¶ and
euery luxurious tourmentour dar don alle felonie vnpunissed
and ben excited þerto by ȝiftes. and innocentȝ
ne ben not oonly despoiled of sykernesse but of defence
and þerfore me list to crien to god in þis manere.

247 Felest þou—Felistow
ouȝt—awht

248 art þou—artow

249 wepest þou—wepistow
spillest þou—spillestow

252 answered[e]—answerede

255 woode—wood

257 wyche—which

258 myne house þere—myn hows ther

259 desputest of[te]—desputedest ofte

260 þan—thanne

261 it and þan—both omitted

261, 262 swiche—swich

262 souȝt[e]—sowhte

263 secretys—secretȝ
my—MS. me, C. my

264 al—alle

265 gerdoun—gerdouns

266 enfourmedist—conformedest

267 mouþe—mowht

268 comunabletes—comunalitees

270 by-felle—byfille

271 in grete wisdomes—to geten wysdom

272 eke—ek

275 comune—omitted
y-left—MS. ylefte, C. yleft

276 Citiȝenis—citesenes
brynge inne—bryngen in

278 þerfore—therfor
þilk—thilke
desiryng—desired

279 put[te] furþe—putten forth

280 þo—thilke

282 put[te]—putte

283 brouȝt[e]—ne browhte

284 þe—omitted
al goodenes—alle goodnesse
comeþ—comth

287, 288 haþ—MS. haþe

289 saluacioun—sauacioun

290 þilk—thilke
hyȝt[e]—hyhte

290 conigaste—MS. coniugaste

292 ofte—ofte ek
ȝitte—omitted

294 bygon[ne]—bygunne
done—don

295 couered—MS. couerede, C. couered

296 put—MS. putte, C. put
seine—seyn

297 myne—myn

298 vnpunysched—vnpunyssed

299 myseses—myseyses

300 drow—MS. drowe, C. weth drowh
ȝitte—yit
wrong—wronge

301 rychesse—richesses
þe (2)—omitted

302 harmed eyþer—harmyd or amenused owther

303 tributis—tributȝ
suffred[e]—suffreden

304 harme—harm

305 ȝere—yer
hys—hise

305, 306, 307 corne—corn

306 schold[e] bie—sholde byen

308 But I withstod—Boece withstood (MS. withstode)
com—MS. come, C. com

311 swiche—swich

312 bouȝt[e]—bowhte
busshel—bossel
most[e] ȝeue—moste yeue

315 inplitable—vnplitable
seyn—sayen

319 ouercom—MS. ouercome, C. ouer com

320 counseiller—consoler
rychesse—rychesses

321 whyche—which

322 wolde—wolden

323 drow—MS. drowe, C. drowh

324 myche—moche

326 punischen—punisse

327 putt[e]—putte

328 yseyn—MS. yseyne

329 greet[e]—grete

330 aughte be—owhte be the
oþer—oothre

333 by þe whiche—by which
þoruȝ þe—thorw tho

335 whiche—the whiche
one—oon
somtyme—whilom

339 sumtyme—whilon

340 go—gon
her—hir

341 wiþ-outen—withowte
wolde not—nolden nat

342 defended[e]—defendedyn
by—by the

343 seyne—seyn
seyntuaries—sentuarye

344 was—omitted
comaunded[e]—comaundede

345 voided[e]—voidede
certeyne—certeyn

346 men—me
merken—marke

347 hoke of iren—hoot yren

348 þe—omitted
myȝt[e] be—myhte ben

349 þilk—thilke

350 þilk[e]—thilke

351 be—ben
seid—MS. seide, C. seyd
haþ—MS. haþe

354, 355 [Certes——asshamyd]—from C.

356 auȝt[e]—owte
haue had—han had, MS. hadde

357 axest þou—axestow

358 seyne—seyn
sauen—saue

359 desirest þou—desires thow
here—hereen

362 maked—MS. maken, C. makyd

363 demest þou—demestow

365 wold—MS. wolde, C. wold

366 seyne—seyn

367 þat—omitted
am—I am

368 be—ben

369 it—it thanne
þan—omitted

371 þilk—thilke

372 her—hir
hire—hir
þouȝ—thogh

373 or—and
seyne—seyn

374 lieth—MS. lieþe, C. lieth

377 assent[e]—assente

381 schollen—shellen

382 and—and in

385 speken—speke
of——lettres—C. omits

386 if—yif

387 had—MS. hade, C. had

388 myn—myne

389 haþ—MS. haþe, C. hath
grete—gret
what—omitted

390 some—som

391 myȝt[e] be—myhte ben
þan haue—thanne han

392 hyȝt[e]—hyhte

394 maked—ymaked

395 answered[e]—answerede

396 had[de]—hadde

397 whiche—which
sorwe—sorw
haþ—MS. haþe
witte—wit

398 schrewed[e]—shrewede

399 folies—felonies
vertues—vertu

400 had[de]—han

401 done—don
comeþ—comth

402 lyke to a—lyk a

404 syȝt—syhte

405 haþ—MS. haþe

406 innocent—innocentȝ
whiche—which

408 wikked[e]—wykkede

410 bloode—blod

411 eke—ek

412 gone—gon and
seyn—seyen

413 eke—ek

414 seyne—seyn

415 scholde—sholden

416 wele—wel

417 don—MS. done, C. doon
seyn—seyen

418 þe (1)—omitted

419 slauȝter—slawhtre

420 transporten vpon—transpor vp

422 grete—gret
defended[e]—deffendede

423 seide soþe—seye soth

424 auaunted[e]—auauntede

425 when—whan
preciouse—presious

429 in—for

430 vertue—vertu

431 had[de]—hadde

432 seyne—seyn
myne—myn
haþ—MS. haþe

433 witte—wit
vncerteyne—vncerteyn

434 al—alle
submytted[e]—submittede

435 seyne—seyn
cheyned[e]—enclinede

436 had[de]—hadde

438 wicked—wykkede
had[de]—hadde

441 almost—almest

442 þousand—MS. þousas
wiþ outen—withowte

444 done—doon

445 myȝt[e]—myhte

446 ben—be
swiche—swich

447 myn (both)—myne
swiche—whiche
seyen—sayen

448 wolde—wolden

449 some—som
beren—baren
on honde—an hand

450 polute—polut

451 sacrelege—C. has sorcerie as a gloss to sacrilege

453 al—alle

454 had[de]—hadde
byforne—byforn

455 drouppedest—droppedest
myn—myne

456 þilk—thilke

457 seyne—seyn
seruen—serue
god—godde

459 helpe—help
spirites—spirite

460 set—MS. sette, C. set
syche—swiche
[þou]—thow

461 lyke—lyk

462 house—hows
seye—seyn

463 myn—my

465 owen—owne
of al—from alle
syche—swich

467 philosophie—philosophre
feiþe—feyth
grete—gret

468 had—MS. hadde, C. had

473 myne—myn

474 þere—ther
harme—harm

475 myche—moche

476 þe[de]sertys—the desertȝ

479 Glosa—glose

480 good—MS. goode, C. good
haue—han

481 so—omitted in C.

481, 482 haþ—MS. haþe

483 haue—han

484 Fyrste—fyrst

485 al—alle
þink[e]—thinke

488 ony—any

489 laid—MS. laide, C. leyd
haþ—MS. haþe

490 put—MS. putte, C. put

491 from—of

494 abounden—habownden
gladnes—gladnesse

495 oute—owt

496 accusen—accuse

497 ben—beth

501 manere—wise

THE CRUEL CHANGES OF FORTUNE

O Stelliferi Conditor Orbis.

O þou maker of þe whele þat bereþ þe sterres. whiche
þat art fastned to þi perdurable chayere. and
turnest þe heuene wiþ a rauyssyng sweighe and constreinest
þe sterres to suffren þi lawe. ¶ So þat þe
mone somtyme schynyng wiþ hir ful hornes metyng
wiþ alle þe bemes of þe sonne. ¶ Hir broþer hideþ þe
sterres þat ben lasse. and somtyme whan þe mone
pale wiþ hir derke hornes approcheþ þe sonne. leesith
hir lyȝtes. ¶ And þat þe euesterre esperus whiche
þat in þe first[e] tyme of þe nyȝt bryngeþ furþe hir
colde arysynges comeþ eft aȝeynes hir vsed cours. and
is pale by þe morwe at þe rysynge of þe sonne. and is
þan cleped lucifer. ¶ Þou restreinest þe day by schorter
dwellyng in þe tyme of colde wynter þat makeþ þe
leues to falle. ¶ Þou diuidest þe swifte tides of þe
nyȝt when þe hote somer is comen. ¶ Þi myȝt attempre[þ]
þo variauntȝ sesons of þe ȝere. so þat
ȝepherus þe deboneire wynde bringeþ aȝein in þe first[e]
somer sesoun þe leues þat þe wynde þat hyȝt[e] boreas
haþ reft awey in autumpne. þat is to seyne in þe laste
eende of somer. and þe sedes þat þe sterre þat hyȝt arcturus
saw ben waxen hey[e] cornes whan þe sterre
sirius eschaufeþ hym. ¶ Þere nis no þing vnbounde
from hys olde lawe ne forleteþ hym of hys propre estat.

CONTRASTED WITH THE ORDER OF NATURE.

¶ O þou gouernour gouernyng alle þinges by certeyne
ende. why refusest þou oonly to gouerne þe werkes of
men by dewe manere. ¶ Whi suffrest þou þat slidyng
fortune turneþ to grete vtter chaungynges of þinges.
so þat anoious peyne þat scholde duelly punisshe felouns
punissitȝ innocentȝ. ¶ And folk of wikked[e]
maneres sitten in heiȝe chaiers. and anoienge folk
treden and þat vnryȝtfully in þe nekkes of holy men.
¶ And vertue clere and schynyng naturely is hid in
dirke dirkenesses. and þe ryȝtful man beriþ þe blame
and þe peyne of þe felowne. ¶ Ne þe forsweryng ne
þe fraude couered and kembd wiþ a fals colour ne
a-noyeþ not to schrewes. ¶ Þe whiche schrewes whan
hem lyst to vsen her strengþe þei reioisen hem to
putten vndir hem þe souerayne kynges. whiche þat
poeple wiþ[outen] noumbre dreden. ¶ O þou what so
euer þou be þat knyttes[t] alle bondes of þinges loke
on þise wrecched[e] erþes. we men þat ben nat a
foule party but a faire party of so grete a werke we
ben turmentid in þe see of fortune. ¶ Þou gouernour
wiþdraw and restreyne þe rauyssinge flodes and fastne
and forme þise erþes stable wiþ þilke [bonde] wiþ
whiche þou gouernest þe heuene þat is so large.

502 whele—whel
whiche—which

503 fastned—yfastned
chayere—chayer

504 sweighe—sweyh
constreinest, MS. contreuiest, C. constreynest

506 hir—here

508 lasse—lesse

510 esperus whiche—hesperus which

511 first[e]—fyrste
furþe—forth

512 eft—est

514 restreinest—MS. restreniest

516 to—omitted

518 attempre[þ] þo—atempreth the
sesons—sesoun
ȝere—yer

519 wynde bringeþ—wynd brengeth

520 wynde—wynd
hyȝt[e]—hihte

521 reft—MS. refte, C. reft
seyne—seyn

522 hyȝt—hihte
arcturus—MS. ariturus

523 saw—MS. saweþ, C. sawgh
hey[e]—hyye

524 hym—hem
þere—ther
þing—thinge

525 from—fram
forleteþ hym of—forleetheth þe werke of

527 refusest þou—refowsestow

529 to——þinges—so grete entrechaunginges of thynges

531 punissitȝ—punysshe
wikked[e]—wykkede

532 heiȝe—heere

533 in—oon

534 and—omitted

536 Ne þe forsweryng—Ne forswerynge

537 kembd—MS. kembde, C. kembd

541 wiþ[outen]—withhowtyn

542 knyttes[t]—knyttest

543 wrecched[e]—wrecchede

544 a (2)—omitted

545 þe—this

546 wiþdraw—MS. wiþdrawe, C. withdrawh
þe—thei

547 forme—ferme
[bonde]—from C.
wiþ—by

PHILOSOPHY CONSOLES BOETHIUS,

Hic Ubi Continuato Dolore.

Whan I hadde wiþ a continuel sorwe sobbed or
broken out þise þinges sche wiþ hir chere peisible
and no þing amoeued. wiþ my compleyntes seide þus.
whan I say þe quod sche sorweful and wepyng I wist[e]
on-one þat þou were a wrecche and exiled. but I
wist[e] neuer how fer þine exile was: ȝif þi tale ne
hadde schewed it to me. but certys al be þou fer fro þi
contre. þou nart *nat put out of it. but þou hast
fayled of þi weye and gon amys. ¶ and yif þou hast
leuer forto wene þan þou be put out of þi contre. þan
hast þou put oute þi self raþer þen ony oþer wyȝt haþ.

AND PROPOSES TO ADMINISTER REMEDIES.

¶ For no wyȝt but þi self ne myȝt[e] neuer haue don
þat to þe. ¶ For ȝif þou remembre of what contre þou
art born. it nis not gouerned by emperoures. ne by
gouernement of multitude. as weren þe contres of hem
of athenes. ¶ But o lorde and o kyng and þat is god
þat is lorde of þi contree. whiche þat reioiseþ hym of
þe dwellyng of hys Citeȝenis. and not forto putte hem
in exile. Of þe whiche lorde it is a souerayne fredom
to be gouerned by þe bridel of hym and obeie to his
iustice. ¶ Hast þou forȝeten þilke ryȝt olde lawe of þi
Citee. in þe whiche Citee it is ordeyned and establissed
þat what wyȝt þat haþ leuer founden þer inne hys sete
or hys house. þen ellys where: he may not be exiled
by no ryȝt fro þat place. ¶ For who so þat is contened
in-wiþ þe paleis [and the clos] of þilke Citee. þer nis
no drede þat he may deserue to ben exiled. ¶ But
who þat letteþ þe wille forto enhabit[e] þere. he forleteþ
also to deserue to ben Citeȝein of þilke Citee.
¶ So þat I seye þat þe face of þis place ne amoeueþ me
nat so myche as þine owen face. Ne .I. ne axe not
raþer þe walles of þi librarie apparailled and wrouȝt
wiþ yvory and wiþ glas þan after þe sete of þi þouȝt.
In whiche I putte nat somtyme bookes. but .I. putte
þat þat makeþ bookes worþi of pris or precious þat is
to sein þe sentence of my books. ¶ And certeinly of
þi decertes by-stowed in commune good. þou hast seid
soþe but after þe multitude of þi goode dedys. þou hast
seid fewe. and of þe vnhonestee or falsnesse of þinges
þat ben opposed aȝeins þe. þou hast remembred þinges
þat ben knowe to alle folk. and of þe felonies and
fraudes of þine accusours. it semeþ þe haue I-touched
it forsoþe ryȝtfully and schortly. ¶ Al myȝten þo
same þinges bettere and more plentiuousely be couth
in þe mouþe of þe poeple þat knoweþ al þis. ¶ Þou
hast eke blamed gretly and compleyned of þe wrongful
dede of þe senat. ¶ And þou hast sorwed for my
blame. and þou hast wepen for þe damage of þi renoune
þat is appaired. and þi laste sorwe eschaufed
aȝeins fortune and compleinest þat gerdouns ne ben not
euenliche ȝolde to þe desertes of folk. and in þe lattre
ende of þi woode muse þou priedest þat þilke pees þat
gouerneþ þe heuene scholde gouerne þe erþe ¶ But
for þat many tribulaciouns of affecciouns han assailed
þe. and sorwe and Ire and wepyng todrawen þee
dyuersely ¶ As þou art now feble of þouȝt. myȝtyer
remedies ne schullen not ȝit touchen þe for whiche
we wil[e] vsen somedel lyȝter medicines. So þat þilk[e]
passiouns þat ben woxen harde in swellyng by perturbacioun
folowyng in to þi þouȝt mowen woxe esy
and softe to receyuen þe strenkeþ of a more myȝty and
more egre medicine by an esier touchyng.

550 broken—borken

552 wist[e]—wyste

553 on-one—anon

554 wist[e]—wyste
fer—ferre

555 ne hadde—nadde

557 gon—MS. gone, C. gon

558 leuer—leuere

558, 559 put—MS. putte, C. put

559 haþ—MS. haþe

560 myȝt[e]—myhte
haue—han
don—MS. done, C. don

562 born—MS. borne, C. born

566 hys—hise
putte—put

568 be—ben

571 haþ—MS. haþe

572 house—hows

574 [and——clos]—from C.

576 wille—wyl
enhabit[e]—enhabyte

578 seye—sey
amoeueþ—moueth

579 myche—mochel
owen—owne
ne (2)—omitted

582 putte (both)—put
somtyme—whilom

585 decertes—desertes
seid—MS. seide, C. seyde

586 soþe—soth

587 seid—MS. seide, C. seyd

588 opposed—aposyd

599 knowe—knowyn

592 be couth—MS. be couthe, C. ben cowth

596 wepen—wopen

597 laste—last
eschaufed—eschaufede

598 not—omitted

599 ȝolde—yolden

602 many—manye

604 myȝtyer—myhtyere

605 whiche—which

606 wil[e]—wol
lyȝter—lyhtere
þilk[e]—thilke

607 harde—hard

608 folowyng—Flowyng
woxe—wexen

610 esier—esyere

PHILOSOPHY QUESTIONS BOETHIUS.

Cu M Phebi Radiis G Ra Ue Ca N C R I Sid Us Enestuat.

Whan þat þe heuy sterre of þe cancre eschaufeþ by
þe beme of phebus. þat is to seyne whan þat phebus
þe sonne is in þe signe of þe Cancre. Who so ȝeueþ
þan largely hys sedes to þe feldes þat refuse to receiuen
hem. lete hym gon bygyled of trust þat he
hadde to hys corn. to acorns or okes. yif þou wilt
gadre violettȝ. ne go þou not to þe purper wode whan
þe felde chirkynge agriseþ of colde by þe felnesse of
þe wynde þat hyȝt aquilon ¶ Yif þou desirest or
wolt vsen grapes ne seke þou nat wiþ a glotonus hande
to streine and presse þe stalkes of þe vine in þe first
somer sesoun. for bachus þe god of wyne haþ raþer
ȝeuen his ȝiftes to autumpne þe latter ende of somer.
¶ God tokeniþ and assigneþ *þe tymes. ablyng hem
to her propre offices. ¶ Ne he ne suffreþ not stoundes
whiche þat hym self haþ deuided and constreined to
be medeled to gidre ¶ And forþi he þat forleteþ
certeyne ordinaunce of doynge by ouerþrowyng wey.
he ne haþ no glade issue or ende of hys werkes.

612 beme—beemes
seyne—seyn

614 hys—hise
refuse—refusen

615 after hem C. adds [s. corn]
lete hym gon (MS. gone)—lat hym gon

616 or—of
wilt gadre—wolt gadery

618 felde—feeld
felnesse—felnesses

619 hyȝt—hyhte

620 hande—hond

622 haþ—MS. haþe

625 her propre—heere propres
not—nat the

626 haþ—MS. haþe

627 be medeled—ben I-medled

628 certeyne—certeyn

629 haþ—MS. haþe

DISCOVERS THE CAUSE OF HIS DISTEMPER.

Primu M Igitur Pateris Rogacionib Us .

FIrst wolt þou suffre me to touche and assaie þe stat
of þi þouȝt by a fewe demaundes. so þat I may
vnderstonde what be þe manere of þi curacioun. ¶ Axe
me quod .I. atte þi wille what þou wilt. and I schal
answere. ¶ Þo saide sche þus. wheþer wenest þou quod
sche þat þis worlde be gouerned by foolisshe happes
and fortunes. or elles wenest þou þat þer be in it any
gouernement of resoun. Certes quod .I. ne trowe not
in no manere þat so certeyne þinges scholde be moeued
by fortunouse fortune. but I wot wel þat god maker
and mayster is gouernour of þis werk. Ne neuer nas
ȝit day þat myȝt[e] putte me oute of þe soþenesse of
þat sentence. ¶ So is it quod sche. for þe same þing
songe þou a lytel here byforne and byweyledest and
byweptest. þat only men weren put oute of þe cure of
god. ¶ For of alle oþer þinges þou ne doutest nat
þat þei nere gouerned by reson. but how (.i. pape.).
I wondre gretly certes whi þat þou art seek. siþen þou
art put in to so holesom a sentence. but lat vs seken
depper. I coniecte þat þere lakkeþ I not what. but
sey me þis. siþen þat þou ne doutest nat þat þis worlde
be gouerned by god ¶ wiþ swycche gouernailes takest
þou hede þat it is gouerned. ¶ vnneþ quod .I. knowe
.I. þe sentence of þi questioun. so þat I ne may nat
ȝit answeren to þi demaundes. ¶ I nas nat deceiued
quod sche þat þere ne faileþ sumwhat. by whiche þe
maladie of perturbacioun is crept in to þi þouȝt. so
as þe strengþe of þe paleys schynyng is open. ¶ But
seye me þis remembrest þou ouȝt what is þe ende of
þi þinges. whider þat þe entencioun of al kynde tendeþ.
¶ I haue herd told it somtyme quod .I. but drerynesse
haþ dulled my memorie. ¶ Certys quod sche
þou wost wel whennes þat alle þinges ben comen and
proceded. I wot wel quod .I. and ansewered[e] þat
god is þe bygynnyng of al. ¶ And how may þis be
quod sche þat siþen þou knowest þe bygynnyng of
þinges. þat þou ne knowest not what is þe endyng of
þinges. but swiche ben þe customes of perturbaciouns.
and þis power þei han. þat þei may moeue a man fro
hys place. þat is to seyne from þe stablenes and perfeccioun
of hys knowyng. but certys þei may not al
arace hym ne alyene hym in al. ¶ But I wolde þat
þou woldest answere to þis. ¶ Remembrest þou þat
þou art a man ¶ Boice. ¶ Whi scholde I nat remembre
þat quod .I. Philosophie. ¶ Maiste þou not telle
me þan quod sche what þing is a man. ¶ Axest not
me quod I. wheþir þat be a resonable best mortel. I
wot wel and I confesse wel þat I am it. ¶ Wistest
þou neuer ȝit þat þou were ony oþer þing quod she.

BOETHIUS NEEDS LIGHT REMEDIES.

No quod .I. now wot I quod she oþer cause of þi
maladie and þat ryȝt grete ¶ Þou hast left forto
knowe þi self what þou art. þoruȝ whiche I haue pleynelyche
knowen þe cause of þi maladie. or ellis þe
entre of recoueryng of þin hele. ¶ Forwhy for þou
art confounded wiþ forȝetyng of þi self. forþi sorwest
þou þat þou art exiled of þi propre goodes. ¶ And
for þou ne wost what is þe ende of þinges. for[þi] demest
[þou] þat felonous and wikked men ben myȝty and weleful
for þou hast forȝeten by whiche gouernementȝ þe worlde
is gouerned. ¶ Forþi wenest þou þat þise mutaciouns
of fortune fleten wiþ outen gouernour. þise ben grete
causes not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes to
deeþ ¶ But I þanke þe auctour and þe makere of
heele þat nature haþ not al forleten þe. and I haue
g[r]ete norissinges of þi hele. and þat is þe soþe sentence
of gouernaunce of þe worlde. þat þou byleuest
þat þe gouernynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput
to þe folie *of þise happes auenterouses. but to þe
resoun of god ¶ And þer fore doute þe noþing.
For of þis litel spark þine heet of lijf schal shine. ¶ But
for as muche as it is not tyme ȝitte of fastere remedies
¶ And þe nature of þouȝtes disseiued is þis þat as ofte
as þei casten aweye soþe opyniouns: þei cloþen hem in
fals[e] opiniouns. [of whiche false opyniouns] þe derknesse
of perturbacioun wexeþ vp. þat comfoundeþ þe verray
insyȝt. and þat derkenes schal .I. say somwhat to
maken þinne and wayk by lyȝt and meenelyche remedies.
so þat after þat þe derknes of desseyuynge
desyrynges is don awey. þou mow[e] knowe þe schynyng
of verray lyȝt.

630 wolt þou—woltow
stat—estat

633 atte—at
wilt—wolt

635 worlde—world
foolisshe—foolyssh

636 fortunes—fortunows

638 scholde—sholden

639 wot—MS. wote, C. woot

641 myȝt[e] putte—myhte put

644 put—MS. putte

645 doutest—dowtedest

646 how—owh

647 seek siþen—syke syn

648 put—MS. putte, C. put

649 depper—deppere
not what—not nere what

650 siþen—syn
worlde—world

651 takest þou—takestow

658 seye—sey
remembrest þou—remenbres thow
ouȝt—omitted

659 al—alle

660 herd told—MS. herde tolde
herd told it—herd yt toold

661 haþ—MS. haþe

663 proceded—procedeth
ansewered[e]—answerede

664 þe—omitted
al—alle

665 siþen—syn

668 fro—owt of

669 seyne from—seyn fro

672 Remembrest þou—Remenbresthow

674 Maiste þou—Maysthow

675 þan—þanne
þing—thinge
Axest—Axestow

677 Wistest þou—wystesthow

678 þing—thinge

680 hast left—MS. haste lefte, C. hast left

681 knowe—knowen
pleynelyche knowen—pleynly fwonde [= founde]

684 sorwest þou—sorwistow

686 for[þi] demest [þou]—For thy demesthow

687 wikked—MS. wilked, C. wykkyd

688 worlde—world

689 wenest þou—wenestow

690 outen—owte

693 haþ—MS. haþe
al—alle

694 þi—thin

696 vnderput—vndyrputte

697 to (2)—omitted

698 fore—for
noþing—nothinge

699 spark þine heet—sparke thin hete

700 muche—meche

702 aweye—away

703 [of——opyniouns]—from C.

705 insyȝt—insyhte
say—assaye

706 lyȝt—lyhte

708 don—MS. done
mow[e]—mowe

HE IS NOT TO TAKE HIS LOSSES TO HEART.

Nubib Us Atris Condita.

ÞE sterres couered wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowen
geten a doun no lyȝt. Ȝif þe trouble wynde þat
hyȝt auster stormynge and walwyng þe see medleþ þe
heete þat is to seyne þe boylyng vp from þe botme
¶ Þe wawes þat somtyme weren clere as glas and
lyke to þe fair[e] bryȝt[e] dayes wiþstant anon þe
syȝtes of men. by þe filþe and ordure þat is resolued.
and þe fletyng streme þat royleþ doun dyuersely fro
heyȝe mountaignes is arestid and resisted ofte tyme
by þe encountrynge of a stoon þat is departid and
fallen from some roche. ¶ And forþi yif þou wilt
loken and demen soþe wiþ clere lyȝt. and holde þe
weye wiþ a ryȝt paþe. ¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þe
drede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe aproche. þat is
to sein lat noon of þise four passiouns ouer come þe.
or blynde þe. for cloudy and dirke is þilk þouȝt and
bounde with bridles. where as þise þinges regnen.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.

710 blak[e]—blake

712 stormynge—turnyng

713 from—fro

714 somtyme—whilom

715 lyke—lyk
fair[e]——wiþstant (MS. wiþstante)—fayre cleere dayes and brihte withstand

716 syȝtes—syhtes

717 streme—strem

718 heyȝe—hy

720 from some—fram som
wilt—wolt

721 soþe—soth
clere—cleer
holde—holden

722 weye—wey
paþe—paath

724 come—comen

725 blynde—blende
þilk—thilke

PHILOSOPHY EXHIBITS TO BOETHIUS THE WILES OF FORTUNE.