Incipit Lib Er 3 us

Iam Cantu M Illa Finierat.

By this she hadde endid hire songe / whan the swetnesse
of hire ditee hadde thorw perced me þat was desirous
of herkninge / and .I. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn
Eres / þat is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde
seye // so þat a litel here after .I. seyde thus // O thow
þat art souereyn comfort of Angwissos corages // So thow
hast remounted and norysshed me with the weyhte of thy
sentenses and with delit of thy syngynge // so þat .I. trowe
nat now þat .I. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as
who seyth. I. dar wel now suffren al the assautes of fortune
and wel deffende me fro hyr // and tho remedies
whyche þat thow seydest hire byforn weren ryht sharpe
Nat oonly pat .I. am nat agrysen of hem now // but .I. desiros
of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes //
than seyde she thus // þat feelede .I. ful wel quod she //
whan þat thow ententyf and stylle rauysshedest my
wordes // and .I. abood til þat thow haddest swych habyte
of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl þat .I.
my self had[de] maked to the the same habyt / which
þat is a moore verray thinge // And certes the remenaunt
of thinges þat ben yit to seye / ben swyche // þat fyrst
whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan
they ben resseyuyd with-inne a whyht than ben they
swete // but for thow seyst þat thow art so desirous to
herkne hem // wit[h] how gret brennynge woldesthow
glowen / yif thow wystest whyder .I. wol leden the //
whydyre is þat quod .I. // to thilke verray welefulnesse
quod she // of whyche thynge herte dremeth // but
for as moche as thy syhte is ocupied and distorbed / by
Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit
sen thilke selue welefulnesse // do quod .I. and shewe
me / what is thilke verray welefulnesse / .I. preye the
with-howte tarynge // þat wole .I. gladly don quod she /
for the cause of the // but .I. wol fyrst marken the by
wordes / and I wol enforcen me to enformen the //
thilke false cause of blysfulnesse þat thow more knowest /
so þat whan thow hast fully by-holden thilke false
goodes and torned thyne eyen to þat oother syde / thow
mowe knowe the clernesse of verray blysfulnesse //]

1702 streyhte—H. strenghed

1712 am nat—H. nam nought

1718 had[de]—H. hade

1734 wol—H. shalle

1739 wil—wole
felde—feeld

AWAY WITH FALSE FELICITY!

*Qui Serere I N Genium.

¶ Who so wil sowe a felde plentiuous. lat hym first
delyuer it of þornes and kerue asondre wiþ his hooke
þe bushes and þe ferne so þat þe corne may comen heuy
of eres and of greins. hony is þe more swete yif mouþes
han firste tastid sauoures þat ben wikke. ¶ þe sterres
shynen more agreably whan þe wynde Nothus letiþ his
ploungy blastes. and aftir þat lucifer þe day sterre haþ
chased awey þe derke nyȝt. þe day þe feirer lediþ þe
rosene horse of þe sonne. ¶ Ryȝt so þou byholdyng
first þe fals[e] goodes. bygynne to wiþdrawe þi nek[ke]
fro þe ȝok of erþely affecciouns. and afterwarde þe
verrey goodes shollen entre in to þi corage.

1740 delyuer—delyuere
of—fro
hooke—hook

1741 bushes—bosses
ferne—fern
corne—korn

1743 firste—fyrst
wikke—wyckyd

1744 wynde—wynd
his—hise

1745 haþ—MS. haþe

1746 feirer—fayrere

1747 horse—hors
Ryȝt—And Ryht

1748 fals[e]—false
bygynne—bygyn
wiþdrawe—with drawen
nek[ke]—nekke

1749 afterwarde—affterward

1750 entre—entren

THE DESIRE OF THE TRUE GOOD.

Tunc Defixo Paululu M .

ÞO fastned[e] she a lytel þe syȝt of hir eyen and wiþdrow
hir ryȝt as it were in to þe streite sete of hir
þouȝt. and bygan to speke ryȝt þus. Alle þe cures
quod she of mortal folk whiche þat trauaylen hem in
many manere studies gon certys by diuerse weies.
¶ But naþeles þei enforced hem *to comen oonly to on
ende of blisfulnesse [And blysfulnesse] is swiche a goode
þat who so haþ geten it he ne may ouer þat no þing more
desiire. and þis þing for soþe is þe souereyne good þat conteiniþ
in hym self al manere goodes. to þe whiche goode
yif þere failed[e] any þing. it myȝt[e] nat ben souereyne
goode. ¶ For þan were þere som goode out of þis ilke souereyne
goode þat myȝt[e] ben desired. Now is it clere and
certeyne þan þat blisfulnesse is a perfit estat by þe congregacioun
of alle goodes. ¶ þe whiche blisfulnesse as
I haue seid alle mortal folke enforcen hem to geten by
dyuerse weyes. ¶ For-whi þe couetise of verray goode
is naturely y-plaunted in þe hertys of men. ¶ But þe
myswandryng errour myslediþ hem in to fals[e] goodes.
¶ of þe whiche men some of hem wenen þat souereygne
goode is to lyue wiþ outen nede of any þing.
and traueilen hem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse.
and some oþer men demen. þat souerein goode be forto
be ryȝt digne of reuerences. and enforcen hem to ben
reuerenced among hir neyȝbours. by þe honours þat þei
han ygeten ¶ and some folk þer ben þat halden þat
ryȝt heyȝe power to be souereyn goode. and enforcen
hem forto regnen or ellys to ioignen hem to hem þat
regnen. ¶ And it semeþ to some oþer folk þat noblesse
of renoun be þe souerein goode. and hasten hem to
geten glorious name by þe artes of werre or of pees.
and many folke mesuren and gessen þat souerein goode
be ioye and gladnesse and wenen þat it be ryȝt blisful
[thynge] to ploungen hem in uoluptuous delit. ¶ And
þer ben folk þat enterchaungen þe causes and þe endes
of þise forseide goodes as þei þat desiren rycchesse to
han power and delices. Or ellis þei desiren power forto
han moneye or for cause of renoun. ¶ In þise þinges
and in swyche oþer þinges is tourned al þe entencioun
of desirynges and [of] werkes of men. ¶ As þus.

FRIENDSHIP A SACRED THING.

¶ Noblesse and fauour of poeple whiche þat ȝiueþ as it
semeþ a manere clernesse of renoun. ¶ and wijf and
children þat men desiren for cause of delit and mirinesse.
¶ But forsoþe frendes ne shollen nat ben rekkened
among þe goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it
is a ful holy manere þing. alle þise oþer þinges forsoþe
ben taken for cause of power. or ellis for cause of
delit. ¶ Certis now am I redy to referen þe goodes of
þe body to þise forseide þinges abouen. ¶ For it semeþ
þat strengþe and gretnesse of body ȝeuen power and
worþinesse. ¶ and þat beaute and swiftenesse ȝeuen
noblesse and glorie of renoun. and hele of body semeþ
ȝiuen delit. ¶ In alle þise þingus it semeþ oonly þat
blisfulnesse is desired. ¶ For-whi þilke þing þat euery
man desireþ moost ouer alle þinges. he demiþ þat be þe
souereyne goode. ¶ But I haue diffined þat blisfulnesse
is þe souereyne goode. for whiche euery wyȝt
demiþ þat þilke estat þat he desireþ ouer alle þinges þat
it be þe blisfulnesse. ¶ Now hast þou þan byforne
[thy eyen] almost al þe purposed forme of þe welfulnesse
of mankynde. þat is to seyne rycchesse. honours.
power. glorie. and delitȝ. þe whiche delit oonly considered
Epicurus Iuged and establissed. þat delit is þe
souereyne goode. for as myche as alle oþer þinges as
hym þouȝt[e] by-refte awey ioie and myrþe from þe
herte. ¶ But I retourne aȝeyne to þe studies of meen.
of whiche men þe corage alwey rehersiþ and seekeþ þe
souereyne goode of alle be it so þat it be wiþ a derke
memorie [but he not by whiche paath]. ¶ Ryȝt as a
dronke man not nat by whiche paþe he may retourne
home to hys house. ¶ Semeþ it þanne þat folk folyen
and erren þat enforcen hem to haue nede of no þing

ALL SEEK THE CHIEF GOOD.

¶ Certys þer nys non oþer þing þat may so weel perfourny
blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuous *of alle
goodes þat ne haþ nede of none oþer þing. but þat it is
suffisant of hym self. vnto hym self. and foleyen
swyche folk þanne. þat wenen þat þilk þing þat is
ryȝt goode. þat it be eke ryȝt worþi of honour and of
reuerence. ¶ Certis nay. for þat þing nys neyþer foule
ne worþi to ben dispised þat al þe entencioun of mortel
folke trauaille forto geten it. ¶ And power auȝt[e]
nat þat eke to be rekened amonges goodes what ellis.
for it nys nat to wene þat þilke þing þat is most
worþi of alle þinges be feble and wiþ out strengþe and
clernesse of renoun auȝte þat to ben dispised. ¶ Certys
þer may no man forsake þat al þing þat is ryȝt excellent
and noble. þat it ne semeþ to be ryȝt clere and renomed.
¶ For certis it nediþ nat to seie. þat blisfulnesse
be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greuances ne
to sorwes. syn þat in ryȝt litel þingus folk seken to
haue and to vsen þat may deliten hem. ¶ Certys þise
ben þe þinges þat men wolen and desyren to geten.
and for þis cause desiren þei rycches. dignites. regnes.
glorie and delices ¶ For þerby wenen þei to han suffisaunce
honour power. renoun and gladnesse. ¶ þanne
is it goode. þat men seken þus by so many dyuerse
studies. In whiche desijr it may lyȝtly be shewed.
how grete is þe strengþe of nature. ¶ For how so þat
men han dyuerse sentences and discordyng algates men
accordyn alle in lyuynge þe ende of goode.

1751 fastned[e]—fastnede
wiþdrow—MS. wiþdrowen, C. with drowh

1752 sete—Cyte

1756 enforced—enforsen

1757 [And blysfulnesse]—from C.
goode—good

1758 so—so þat
haþ—MS. haþe

1759 souereyne—souereyn

1760 al—alle
goode—good

1761 þere—ther
failed[e]—faylyde
myȝt[e]—myhte
souereyne goode—souereyn good

1762 þan—thanne
þere—ther
goode—good
souereyne—souereyn

1763 goode—good
myȝt[e]—myhte

1764 certeyne—certein

1766 seid—MS. seide, C. seyd
folke—foolk

1767 goode—good

1769 fals[e]—false

1770 souereygne goode is—souereyn good be

1771 lyue wiþ outen—lyuen with owte

1772 rycchesse—Rychesses

1773 some—som
goode be—good ben

1774 be—ben

1775 neyȝbours—nesshebors

1776 halden—holden

1777 heyȝe—heyh
to—omitted
goode—good

1780 goode—good

1781 or—and

1782 folke—folk
goode—good

1783 be—by

1784 [thynge]—from C.

1786 rycchesse—rychesses

1787 delices—delytes

1789 oþer—oothre
al—alle

1790 [of]—from C.

1794 shollen—sholden

1795 þe—tho

1796 oþer—oothre

1801 swiftenesse—sweftnesse

1803 ȝiuen—MS. ȝiueþ, C. yeuen

1806, 1807 souereyne goode—souereyn good

1807 whiche—whych

1809 þe—omitted
þan byforne—thanne byforn

1810 [thy eyen]—from C.; MS. has ȝeuen aȝeyne
almost—almest
welfulnesse—welefulnesse

1811 seyne rycchesse—seyn Rychesses

1814 souereyne goode—souereyn good
myche—moche
oþer—oothre

1815 þouȝt[e]—thowhte
from—fram

1816 aȝeyne—ayein

1818 souereyne goode—souereyn good
of—omitted
alle—al
derke—dirkyd

1819 [but——paath]—from C.

1820 dronke—dronken
paþe—paath

1821 home—hym

1823 perfourny—performe

1825 haþ—MS. haþe
none—non

1827 þilk—thilke

1828 goode—good

1829 foule—fowl

1830 al—welneyh alle

1831 trauaille—trauaylen
auȝt[e]—owhte

1832 be—ben

1834 out—owte

1835 auȝte—owhte

1836 al—alle

1837 be—ben
clere—cleer

1843 rycches—Rychesses

1846 goode—good

1847 be—ben

1848 grete—gret

1849 algates—Allegates

1850 goode—good

OF NATURE’S LAWS.

Q Ua Ntas Rer Um Flectat.

IT likeþ me to shew[e] by subtil songe wiþ slakke and
delitable soun of strenges how þat nature myȝty enclineþ
and flitteþ gouernementȝ of þinges ¶ and by
whiche lawes she purueiable kepiþ þe grete worlde. and
how she bindynge restreineþ alle þingus by a bonde þat
may nat be vnbounden. ¶ Al be it so þat þe liouns of
þe contree of pene beren þe fair[e] cheines. and taken
metes of þe handes of folk þat ȝeuen it hem. and
dreden her sturdy maystres of whiche þei ben wont to
suffren [betinges]. yif þat hir horrible mouþes ben bi-bled.
þat is to sein of bestes devoured. ¶ Hir corage
of tyme passeþ þat haþ ben ydel and rested. repaireþ
aȝein þat þei roren greuously. and remembren on hir
nature. and slaken hir nekkes from hir cheins vnbounden.
and hir maistre first to-teren wiþ blody toþe
assaieþ þe woode wraþþes of hem. ¶ þis is to sein þei
freten hir maister. ¶ And þe Iangland brid þat syngiþ
on þe heye braunches. þis is to sein in þe wode and
after is inclosed in a streit cage. ¶ al þouȝ [þat] þe
pleiyng besines of men ȝeueþ hem honied[e] drinkes
and large metes. wiþ swete studie. ¶ ȝit naþeles yif
þilke brid skippynge oute of hir streite cage seeþ þe
agreable shadewes of þe wodes. she defouleþ wiþ hir
fete hir metes yshad and sekeþ mournyng oonly þe
wode and twitriþ desirynge þe wode wiþ hir swete
voys. ¶ þe ȝerde of a tree þat is haled adoun by myȝty
strengþe bowiþ redely þe croppe adoun. but yif þat þe
hande of hym þat it bente lat it gon aȝein. ¶ An oon
þe crop lokeþ vp ryȝt to heuene. ¶ þe sonne phebus
þat failleþ at euene in þe westrene wawes retorniþ aȝein
eftsones his cart by a priue paþe þere as it is wont
aryse. ¶ Alle þinges seken aȝein in to hir propre
cours. and alle þinges reioisen hem of hir retournynge
aȝein to hir nature ne noon ordinaunce nis bytaken to
þinges but þat. þat haþ ioignynge þe endynge to þe
bygynnynge. and haþ makid þe cours of it self stable
þat it chaungeþ nat from hys propre kynde.

1851 shew[e]—shewe

1854 whiche—MS. swiche, C. whyche
worlde—world

1856 be—ben
vnbounden—vnbownde

1857 fair[e]—fayre

1860 [betinges]—from C.

1862 passeþ—passed

1864 from—fram
vnbounden—vnbownde

1865 to-teren—to-torn
toþe—toth

1867 Iangland—Iangelynge

1869 streit—streyht

1870 pleiyng—MS. pleinyng, C. pleyynge
besines—bysynesse
honied[e]—honyede

1872 oute—owt

1873 agreable—agreables

1874 fete—feet

1875 twitriþ—twiterith

1877 croppe—crop

1878 hande—hand
bente—bent

1880 failleþ—falleth

1881 cart—carte
a—omitted
paþe—paath

1883 of—MS. of of

1885 haþ—MS. haþe
ioignynge—Ioyned

1886 haþ—MS. haþe

THE SEARCH AFTER FELICITY.

Vosq Ue Terrena Animalia.

*CErtis also ȝe men þat ben erþeliche bestes dremen
alwey [yowre bygynnynge] al þouȝ it be wiþ a
þinne ymaginacioun. and by a maner þouȝt al be it
nat clerly ne perfitly ȝe looken from a fer til þilk
verray fyn of blisfulnesse. and þerfore þe naturel entencioun
ledeþ ȝow to þilk verray good ¶ But
many manere errours mistourniþ ȝow þer fro. ¶ Considere
now yif þat be þilke þinges by whiche a man
weniþ to gete hym blysfulnesse. yif þat he may comen
to þilke ende þat he weneþ to come by nature ¶ For
yif þat moneye or honours or þise oþer forseide þinges
bryngen to men swiche a þing þat no goode ne faille
hem. ne semeþ faille. ¶ Certys þan wil I graunt[e]
þat þei ben maked blisful. by þilke þinges þat þei han
geten. ¶ but yif so be þat þilke þinges ne mowe nat
perfourmen þat þei by-heten and þat þer be defaute of
many goodes. ¶ Sheweþ it nat þan clerely þat fals
beaute of blisfulnesse is knowe and a-teint in þilke
þinges. ¶ First and forward þou þi self þat haddest
haboundaunces of rycchesses nat long agon. ¶ I axe
ȝif þat in þe haboundaunce of alle þilk[e] rycchesses
þou were neuer anguissous or sory in þi corage of any
wrong or greuaunce þat by-tidde þe on any syde.

NONE ARE FREE FROM CARE.

¶ Certys quod I it remembreþ me nat þat euere I was
so free of my þouȝt. þat I ne was al-wey in anguyshe of
somwhat. þat was þat þou lakkedest þat þou noldest
han lakked. or ellys þou haddest þat þou noldest
han had. ryȝt so is it quod I þan. desiredest þou
þe presence of þat oon and þe absence of þat oþer.
I graunt[e] wel quod .I. for soþe quod she þan nediþ þer
somwhat þat euery man desireþ. ȝe þer nediþ quod I.
¶ Certis quod she and he þat haþ lakke or nede of a
wyȝt nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self. no quod .I.
and þou quod she in alle þe plente of þi
rycchesse haddest þilke lak of suffisaunce. ¶ what
ellis quod .I. ¶ þanne may nat rycchesse maken þat a
man nis nedy. ne þat he be suffisaunt to hym self. and
þat was it þat þei byhyȝten as it semeþ. ¶ and eke
certys I trowe þat þis be gretly to consydere þat moneye
ne haþ nat in hys owen kynde þat it ne may ben by-nomen
of hem þat han it maugre hem. ¶ I by-knowe
it wel quod I ¶ whi sholdest þou nat by-knowen it
quod she. whan euery day þe strenger folke by-nymen
it fram þe febler maugre hem. ¶ Fro whennes comen
ellys alle þise foreine compleintes or quereles of
pletyngus. ¶ But for þat men axen aȝeine her moneye
þat haþ be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle. and
alwey maugre hem. ¶ Ryȝt so it is quod I. þan quod
she haþ a man nede to seken hym foreyne helpe by
whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nay quod .I.

RICHES BRING ANXIETIES.

¶ Certis quod she and hym nediþ no helpe
yif he ne hadde no moneye þat he myȝt[e] leese. ¶ þat
is doutles quod .I. þanne is þis þing turned in to þe contrarie
quod she ¶ For rycchesse þat men wenen sholde
make suffisaunce. þei maken a man raþer han nede of
foreine helpe. ¶ whiche is þe manere or þe gise quod
she þat rycches may dryuen awey nede. ¶ Riche folk
may þei neiþer han hungre ne þrest. þise ryche men
may þei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter. ¶ But
þou wilt answere þat ryche men han y-nouȝ wher wiþ
þei may staunchen her hunger. and slaken her þrest
and don awey colde. ¶ In þis wise may nede be conforted
by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al
outerly be don awey. for þouȝ þis nede þat is alwey
gapyng and gredy be fulfilled wiþ rycchesses. and axe
any þing ȝit dwelleþ þanne a nede þat myȝt[e] ben fulfilled.
¶ I holde me stille and telle nat how þat litel
þing suffiseþ to nature. but certys to auarice ynouȝ ne
suffiseþ no þinge. *¶ For syn þat rychesse ne may nat
al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may
it þanne be þat ȝe wenen þat rychesses mowen ȝeuen
ȝow suffisaunce.

1889 [yowre bygynnynge]—from C.
al—MS. as, C. Al

1891 from—fram
til þilk—to thylke

1892 þe—omitted

1893 þilk—thylke

1895 be—by

1896 gete—geten

1899 swiche—swych
goode—good

1900 wil—wole
graunt[e]—graunte

1904 many—manye
clerely—clerly
fals—false

1905 knowe—knowen

1908 þilk[e]—thylke

1913 þat——lakkedest—And was nat þat quod she for þat the lacked som-what

1915 had—MS. hadde, C. had

1917 graunt[e]—graunte

1919 haþ—MS. haþe
a wyȝt—awht

1921 alle—al

1922 rycchesse—Rychesses
lak—lakke

1923 rycchesse—Rychesses

1927 haþ—MS. haþe
owen—owne

1930 strenger folke by-nymen—strengere folk by-nemyn

1931 fram—fro
febler—febelere
Fro—for

1933 aȝeine—ayeyn

1934 haþ—MS. haþe
be—ben

1936 haþ—MS. haþe
helpe—help

1937 say—sey

1938 nediþ no helpe—nedede non help

1939 myȝt[e]—myhte

1940 doutles—dowteles

1941 rycchesse—Rychesses

1943 helpe—help
whiche—whych

1944 rycches—Rychesse
dryuen—dryue

1945 hungre—hungyr
þrest—thurst

1946 þei—the
colde—coold
in—on

1947 wilt answere—wolt Answeren
y-nouȝ—y-now

1948 þrest—thurst

1949 colde—coold

1950 nat—omitted

1951 outerly—vtrely

1953 myȝt[e] ben—myhte be

1957 rychesse—Rychesses

Quamuis Fluenter Diues.

Al were it so þat a ryche couetous man hadde riuer
fletynge alle of golde ȝitte sholde it neuer staunche
hys couetise. ¶ And þouȝ he hadde his nekke I-charged
wiþ preciouse stones of þe rede see. and þouȝ he do
erye his feldes plentiuous wiþ an hundreþ oxen neuere
ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while he
lyueþ. ne þe lyȝt[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym
compaignie whanne he is dede.

1960 riuer—a Ryuer

1961 alle—al
golde—gold
ȝitte—yit
staunche—staunchyn

1962, 1963 þouȝ—thow

1964 erye—Ere
hundreþ—hundred

1965 while—whyl

1966 lyȝt[e]—lyhte
shal—shol

1967 dede—ded

OF DIGNITIES.

Set Dignitatib Us .4

Bvt dignitees to whom þei ben comen make þei hym
honorable and reuerent. han þei nat so grete strengþe
þat þei may putte vertues in þe hertis of folk. þat vsen
þe lordshipes of hem. or ellys may þei don awey þe
vices. Certys þei [ne] ben nat wont to don awey wikkednesses.
but þei ben wont raþer to shew[en] wikkednesses.
and þer of comeþ it þat I haue ryȝt grete desdeyne.
þat dignites ben ȝeuen ofte to wicked men.
¶ For whiche þing catullus clepid a consul of Rome þat
hyȝt nonius postum. or boch. as who seiþ he clepiþ
hym a congregacioun of uices in his brest as a postum
is ful of corrupcioun. al were þis nonius set in a
chayere of dignitee. Sest þou nat þan how gret vylenye
dignitees don to wikked men. ¶ Certys vnworþines of
wikked men sholde ben þe lasse ysen yif þei nere renomed
of none honours. ¶ Certys þou þi self ne
myȝtest nat ben brouȝt wiþ as many perils as þou
myȝtest suffren þat þou woldest bere þi magistrat wiþ
decorat. þat is to seyn. þat for no peril þat myȝt[e] bifallen
þe by þe offence of þe kyng theodorik þou noldest
nat ben felawe in gouernaunce with decorat. whanne
þou say[e] þat he had[de] wikkid corage of a likerous
shrewe and of an acusor. ¶ Ne I ne may nat for swiche
honours Iugen hem worþi of reuerence þat I deme and
holde vnworþi to han þilke same honours. ¶ Now yif
þou saie a man þat were fulfilled of wisdom. certys þou
ne myȝtest nat demen þat he were vnworþi to þe
honour. or ellys to þe wisdom of whiche he is fulfilled.
No quod .I. ¶ Certys dignitees quod she appertienen
properly to vertue. and uertue transporteþ dignite anon
to þilke man to whiche she hir self is conioigned.

DIGNITIES APPERTAIN TO VIRTUE.

¶ And for as moche as honours of poeple ne may nat
maken folk digne of honour. it is wel seyn clerly þat
þei ne han no propre beaute of dignite. ¶ And ȝit men
auȝten take more hede in þis. ¶ For if it so be þat he
is most out cast þat most folk dispisen. or as dignite ne
may nat maken shrewes worþi of no reuerences. þan
makeþ dignites shrewes more dispised þan preised. þe
whiche shrewes dignit[e] scheweþ to moche folk ¶ and
for soþe nat vnpunissed. þat is forto sein. þat shrewes
reuengen hem aȝeinward vpon dignites. for þei ȝelden
aȝein to dignites as gret gerdoun whan þei byspotten
and defoulen dignites wiþ hire vylenie. ¶ And for as
moche as þou mow[e] knowe þat þilke verray reuerence
ne may nat comen by þe shadewy transitorie dignitees.
vndirstonde now þis. yif þat a man hadde vsed and
hadde many manere dignites of consules and were
comen perauenture amonges straunge naciouns. sholde
þilke honour maken hym worshipful and redouted of
straunge folk ¶ Certys yif þat honour of poeple were
a naturel ȝifte to dignites. it ne myȝte neuer cesen
nowher amonges no maner folke to done hys office.

DIGNITIES DO CONFER ESTEEM.

¶ Ryȝt as fire in euery contre ne stinteþ nat to
enchaufen and *to ben hote. but for as myche as forto
be holden honorable or reuerent ne comeþ nat to folk of
hir propre strengþe of nature. but only of þe fals[e]
opinioun of folk. þat is to sein. þat wenen þat dignites
maken folk digne of honour. An on þerfore whan þat
þei comen þer as folk ne knowen nat þilke dignites.
her honours vanissen awey and þat on oon. but þat is
a-mong straung folk. maist þou sein. but amongus
hem þat þei weren born duren þilk[e] dignites alwey.
¶ Certys þe dignite of þe prouostrie of Rome was somtyme
a grete power. now is it no þing but an ydel
name. and þe rente of þe senatorie a gret charge. and
yif a whiȝt somtyme hadde þe office to taken he[de] to
þe vitailes of þe poeple as of corne and what oþer þinges
he was holden amonges grete. but what þing is more
nowe out cast þanne þilke prouostrie ¶ And as I haue
seid a litel here byforne. þat þilke þing þat haþ no
propre beaute of hym self resceyueþ somtyme pris and
shinynge and somtyme lesiþ it by þe opinioun of
vsaunces. ¶ Now yif þat dignites þanne ne mowen
nat maken folk digne of reuerence. and yif þat dignites
wexen foule of hir wille by þe filþe of shrewes. ¶ and
yif þat dignites lesen hir shynynge by chaungyng of
tymes. and yif þei wexen foule by estimacioun of
poeple. what is it þat þei han in hem self of beaute
þat auȝte ben desired. as who seiþ none. þanne ne
mowen þei ȝiuen no beaute of dignite to none oþer.

1969 make—maken

1969 grete—gret

1972 [ne]—from C.
ben—be

1972, 1973 wikkednesses—wykkydnesse

1973 to—omitted
shew[en]—shewen

1974 comeþ—comth
grete desdeyne—gret desdaign

1976 whiche—which

1977 hyȝt—hyhte
nonius—MS. vonnus, C. nomyus
boch—MS. boþe, C. boch
clepiþ—clepyd

1979 nonius—MS. uonnus, C. nomyus
set—MS. sette, C. set

1980 Sest þou—Sesthow
þan—thanne
vylenye—fylonye

1981 vnworþines—vnworthynesse

1982 ben—be
ysen—MS. ysene, C. I-sene

1984 many—manye

1985 bere—beren

1986 myȝt[e]—myhte

1987 þe (2)—omitted

1988 whanne—whan

1989 say[e]—saye
had[de]—hadde

1994 demen—deme

1995 whiche—which

1996 quod she—omitted

1997 vertue—vertu
uertue—vertu

1998 whiche—whych

2000 clerly—MS. clerkly, C. clerly

2002 auȝten——hede—owhten taken mor heed

2002-3 For——dignite—For yif so be þat a wykkyd whyght be so mochel the fowlere and the moore owt cast þat he is despised of most folk so as dignete

2004-2007 maken——soþe—maken shrewes digne of Reuerence the whych shrewes dignete sheweth to moche foolk thanne makith dignete shrewes rather so moche more despised than preysed and forsothe

2008 ȝelden—yilden

2009 byspotten—by-spetten

2010 hire—hyr

2011 moche—mochel
mow[e]—mowe

2012 þe shadewy—thyse shadwye

2013 vndirstonde—vndyrstond
þis—thus

2014 hadde—had

2018 ȝifte—yift

2019 folke—foolk
done—don

2020 enchaufen—eschaufen

2021 myche—mochel

2022 be—ben

2023 fals[e]—false

2024 þat (2)—omitted

2027 her—hyr
vanissen—vanesshen

2028 a-mong—amonges
straung—straunge
but—ne

2029 þat—ther
duren þilk[e]—ne duren nat thylke

2030 somtyme—whylom

2031 grete—gret

2032 þe (2)—omitted

2033 somtyme—whylom
þe—MS. þe þe

2034 corne—corn
what—omitted

2035 more nowe—now more

2036 cast—MS. caste, C. cast

2037 seid—MS. seide, C. seyd
here byforne—her by-forn
haþ—MS. haþe

2042 filþe—felthe

2043 þat—omitted

2046 auȝte—owhte
none—non

2047 þei—MS. ȝe, C. they
none—non

Qua M Uis Se Tirio.

Al be it so þat þe proude nero wiþ al his woode luxurie
kembed hym and apparailed hym wiþ faire purpers
of Tirie and wiþ white perles. Algates ȝitte throf he
hateful to alle folk ¶ þis is to seyn þat al was he by-hated
of alle folk. ¶ ȝitte þis wicked Nero hadde gret
lordship and ȝaf somtyme to þe dredeful senatours þe
vnworshipful setes of dignites. ¶ vnworshipful setes
he clepiþ here fore þat Nero þat was so wikked ȝaf þo
dignites. who wolde þanne resonably wenen þat blysfulnesse
were in swiche honours as ben ȝeuen by vicious
shrewes.

2048 al (2)—alle

2049 kembed—kembde
apparailed—MS. apparailen, C. a-paraylede

2050 ȝitte—yit

2053 lordship—lorshippe
ȝaf somtyme—yaf whylom
dredeful—reuerencȝ

2055 fore—for
ȝaf—yaf

KINGDOMS DO NOT MAKE A MAN MIGHTY.

An Uero Regna.

Bvt regnes and familarites of kynges may þei maken a
man to ben myȝty. how ellys. ¶ whanne hir
blysfulnesse dureþ perpetuely but certys þe olde age of
tyme passeþ. and eke of present tyme now is ful of
ensaumples how þat kynges þat han chaunged in to
wrechednesse out of hir welefulnesse. ¶ O a noble þing
and a cler þing is power þat is nat founden myȝty to
kepe it self. ¶ And yif þat power of realmes be auctour
and maker of blisfulnesse. yif þilke power lakkeþ on
any side. amenusiþ it nat þilke blisfulnesse and bryngeþ
in wrechednesse. but yif al be it so þat realmes of mankynde
stretchen broode. ȝit mot þer nede ben myche
folk ouer whiche þat euery kyng ne haþ no lordshipe
no comaundement ¶ and certys vpon þilke syde þat
power failleþ whiche þat makiþ folk blisful. ryȝt on þat
same side nounpower entriþ vndirneþ þat makeþ hem
wreches. ¶ In þis manere þanne moten kynges han
more porcioun of wrechednesse þan of welefulnesse.

POWER DOES NOT DRIVE AWAY CARE.

¶ A tyraunt þat was kyng of sisile þat had[de] assaied
þe peril of his estat shewid[e] by similitude þe dredes
of realmes by gastnesse of a swerde þat heng ouer þe
heued of his familier. what þing is þan þis power þat
may nat don awey þe bytynges of besines ne eschewe
þe prikkes of drede. and certys ȝit wolden þei lyuen
*in sykernesse. but þei may nat. and ȝit þei glorifien
hem in her power ¶ Holdest þou þan þat þilk[e] man
be myȝty þat þou seest þat he wolde don þat he may
nat don. ¶ And holdest þou þan hym a myȝty man
þat haþ environed hise sydes wiþ men of armes or
seruauntes and dredeþ more [hem] þat he makeþ agast.
þen þei dreden hym. and þat is put in þe handes of hise
seruauntȝ. for he sholde seme myȝty but of familiers
[or] seruauntȝ of kynges. ¶ what sholde I telle þe
any þing. syn þat I my self haue shewed þe þat realmes
hem self ben ful of gret feblenesse. þe whiche familiers
certis þe real power of kynges in hool estat and in estat
abated ful [ofte] þroweþ adoun. ¶ Nero constreined[e]
his familier and his maistre seneca to chesen on what
deeþ he wolde deien. ¶ Antonius comaundid[e] þat
knyȝtis slowen wiþ her swerdis Papinian his familier
whiche Papinian had[de] ben long tyme ful myȝty
a-monges hem of þe courte. and ȝit certis þei wolde boþe
han renounced her power. of whiche [two] senek enforced[e]
hym to ȝiuen to Nero his rychesses. and also
to han gon in to solitarie exil. ¶ But whan þe grete
weyȝt. þat is to sein of lordes power or of fortune
draweþ hem þat sholden falle. neyþer of hem ne
myȝt[e] do þat he wolde. what þing is þanne þilke
power þat þouȝ men han it þat þei ben agast. ¶ and
whan þou woldest han it þou nart nat siker. ¶ And
yif þou woldest forleten it þou mayst nat eschewen it.
¶ But wheþir swiche men ben frendes at nede as ben
conseiled by fortune and nat by vertue. Certys swiche
folk as weleful fortune makeþ frendes. contrarious fortune
makeþ hem enmyse. ¶ And what pestilence is
more myȝty forto anoye a wiȝt þan a familier enemy.

2060 myȝty—MS. vnmyȝty, C. myhty

2062 passeþ—passed
of (2)—omitted

2063 kynges þat han—kynges ben

2066 kepe—kepen

2067 maker—makere

2069 yif—yit
realmes—the Reaumes

2070 stretchen—strechchen
myche—moche

2071 haþ—MS. haþe

2073 whiche—whych

2074 vndirneþ—vndyr-nethe

2077 had[de]—hadde

2078 shewid[e]—shewede

2079 realmes—Reaumes
swerde—swerd
heng—MS. henge, C. heng

2081 besines—bysynesse

2083 ȝit—yif
glorifien—gloryfye

2084 þilk[e]—thylke

2087 haþ—MS. haþe
environed—enuyrownede

2088 [hem]—from C.

2089 þen—than

2091 [or]—from C.

2092 realmes—Reames

2093 feblenesse—feblesse

2094 real—Ryal

2095 [ofte]—from C.
constreined[e]—constreynede

2096 his (1)—hyr
seneca—Senek

2097 comaundid[e]—comaundede

2098 her—hyr

2099 whiche—which
had[de] ben long—þat hadde ben longe

2100 courte—court
wolde—wolden

2101 [two]—from C.
enforced[e]—enforcede

2102 ȝiuen—yeuen
his—hyse

2104 weyȝt—weyhte

2105 sholden—sholen

2106 myȝt[e]—myhte

GLORY IS DECEPTIVE.

Qui Se Ualet5 Esse Potentem.

Who so wolde ben myȝty he mot daunten hys cruel
corage. ne put[te] nat his nekke ouercomen vndir
þe foule reines of lecherie. for al be it so þat þi lordship[e]
strecche so fer þat þe contre Inde quakiþ at þi
comaundement. or at þi lawes. and þat þe leest isle in
þe see þat hyȝt tile be þral to þe ¶ ȝit yif þou mayst
nat puten awey þi foule derk[e] desijres and dryuen
oute fro þe wreched compleyntes. Certis it nis no
power þat þou hast.

2115 wolde ben—wole be

2116 put[te]—putte

2117 lordship[e]—lordshype

2119 comaundement—comaundementȝ
leest isle—last Ile

2120 hyȝt—hyhte

2121 puten—putten
derk[e]—dyrke

2122 oute—owt

GENTILITY IS FOREIGN TO RENOWN.

Gloria Uero Qua M Fallax.

Bvt glorie how deceiuable and how foule is it ofte. for
whiche þing nat vnskilfully a tregedien þat is to
sein a maker of dites þat hyȝten tregedies cried[e] and
seide. ¶ O glorie glorie quod he. þou nart no þing
ellys to þousandes of folkes. but a gret sweller of eres.
for many[e] han had ful gret renoun by þe fals[e] oppinioun
of poeple. and what þing may ben þouȝt fouler
þen swiche preisynge for þilk[e] folk þat ben preised
falsly. þei moten nedes han shame of hir preisynges.
and yif þat folk han geten hem þank or preysyng by
her desertes. what þing haþ þilk pris echid or encresed
to þe conscience of wise folk þat mesuren hire
good. not by þe rumour of þe poeple. but by þe soþefastnesse
of conscience. and yif it seme a fair þing a
man to han encresid and sprad his name. þan folweþ
it. þat it is demed to ben a foule þinge yif it ne be
ysprad ne encresed. but as I seide a litel her byforne.
þat syn þer mot nedes ben many folk to whiche folk þe
renoun of a man ne may nat comen. it byfalleþ þat he
þat þou wenest be glorious and renomed. semiþ in þe
nexte parties of þe erþe to ben wiþ out glorie. and wiþ
out renoun. ¶ and certis amonges þise þinges I ne trowe
nat þat þe pris and grace of þe poeple nis neiþer worþi
*to ben remembrid ne comeþ of wise iugement. ne is
ferm perdurably. ¶ But now of þis name of gentilesse.
what man is it þat ne may wel seen how veyne and
how flittyng a þing it is. ¶ For if þe name of gentilesse
be referred to renoun and clernesse of linage. þan
is gentil name but a for[e]ine þing. þat is to sein to
hem þat glorifien hem of hir linage. ¶ For it semeþ
þat gentilesse be a maner preysynge þat comeþ of decert
of auncestres. ¶ And yif preysynge makeþ gentilesse
þan moten þei nedes be gentil þat ben preysed. For
whiche þing it folweþ. þat yif þou ne haue no gentilesse
of þi self. þat is to sein pris þat comeþ of þi deserte
foreine gentilesse ne makeþ þe nat gentil. ¶ But certis
yif þer be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be in al
oonly þis. þat it semeþ as þat a maner necessitee be imposed
to gentil men. for þat þei ne sholden nat outraien
or forliuen fro þe uertues of hire noble kynrede.

2124 foule—fowl

2125 whiche—whych

2126 maker—makere
cried[e]—cryde

2127 he—she

2128 sweller—swellere

2129 many[e]—manye
had—MS. hadde, C. had
fals[e]—false

2130 fouler—fowlere

2131 þen—thanne
þilk[e]—thylke

2133 or—of

2134 haþ—MS. haþe
þilke—thylke

2139 foule þinge—fowl thing

2140 ne—and
byforne—byforn

2144 parties—partye
erþe—Erthes
out—owte

2145 out—owhte

2148 ferm—ferme

2149 veyne—veyn

2150 if—yif

2154 comeþ of—comth of the

2157 whiche—which

2158 pris—preys
comeþ—comth

2160 goode—good
in (2)—omitted

2161 maner—manere

Omne Hominu M Genus in Terris.

Al þe linage of men þat ben in erþe ben of semblable
burþe. On al one is fadir of þinges. On alone
minyst[r]eþ alle þinges. ¶ He ȝaf to þe sonne hys
bemes. he ȝaf to þe moone hir hornes. he ȝaf þe men to
þe erþe. he ȝaf þe sterres to þe heuene. ¶ he encloseþ
wiþ membres þe soules þat comen fro hys heye sete.
¶ þanne comen alle mortal folk of noble seed. whi
noysen ȝe or bosten of ȝoure eldris ¶ For yif þou
look[e] ȝoure bygynnyng. and god ȝoure auctour and
ȝoure makere. þan is þer no forlyued wyȝt but ȝif he
norisse his corage vnto vices and forlete his propre
burþe.

2166 hys—hyse

2167 hir—hyse

2169 fro hys—fram hyse

2170 seed—sede

2171 bosten—MS. voscen, C. bosten

2172 look[e]—loke

SENSUAL PLEASURES FULL OF ANXIETY.

Quid Autem De Corporibus.6

But what shal I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e
delices þe desiringes ben ful of anguisse. and þe
fulfillinges of hem ben ful of penaunce. ¶ How grete
sekenesse and how grete sorwes vnsuffrable ryȝt as a
manere fruit of wickednesse ben þilke delices wont to
bryngen to þe bo[d]ies of folk þat vsen hem. ¶ Of
whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir
moeuyng. ¶ But þis woot I wel þat who so euere wil
remembren hym of hys luxuries. he shal wel vndirstonde.
þat þe issues of delices ben sorowful and sory.
¶ And yif þilke delices mowen make folk blisful. þan
by þe same cause moten þise bestes ben clepid blisful.
¶ Of whiche bestes al þe entencioun hasteþ to fulfille
hire bodyly iolyte. and þe gladnesse of wijf [and]
children were [an] honest þing. but it haþ ben seid.
þat it is ouer myche aȝeins kynde þat children han ben
founden tormentours to hir fadres I not how many.
¶ Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condicioun.
It nedeþ nat to tellen it þe þat hast or þis tyme assaied
it. and art ȝit now anguyssous. In þis approue I þe
sentence of my disciple Euridippus. þat seide þat he
þat haþ no children is weleful by infortune.

2173 is—nis

2176 delices—delites
body—bodye

2177 anguisse—Angwyssh

2178 grete—gret

2179 sekenesse—sykenesse
grete sorwes—gret soruwes

2180 fruit—frut

2182 had—MS. hadde, C. had

2183 wil—wole

2184 hys—hyse

2185 sorowful—sorwful
sory—sorye

2186 make—makyn

2189 [and]—from C.

2190 [an]—from C.
haþ—haþe
seid—MS. seide, C. seyd

2191 myche—mochel

2192 many—manye

2196 Euridippus—Eurydyppys; read Euripides

2197 haþ—MS. haþe

NO HAPPINESS IN EXTERNAL THINGS.

Habet Hoc Uoluptas.

Euery delit haþ þis. þat it anguisseþ hem wiþ prikkes
þat vsen it. ¶ It resembliþ to þise flying flyes þat
we clepen been. þat aftre þat þe bee haþ shed hys agreable
honies he fleeþ awey and styngeþ þe hertes of hem
þat ben ysmyte wiþ bytynge ouer longe holdynge.

2198 Euery—MS. Ouery, C. Every

2198, 2200 haþ—MS. haþe
shed hys—shad hyse

MEN ARE LED ASTRAY BY IGNORANCE.

Nichil Igitur Dubium Est.

Now nis it no doute þan þat þise weyes ne ben a
maner mysledyng to blisfulnesse. ne þat þei ne
mowe nat leden folke þider as þei byheten to leden
hem. ¶ But wiþ how grete harmes þise *forseide weyes
ben enlaced. ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly. ¶ For whi
yif þou enforcest þe to assemble moneye. þou most by-reuen
hym his moneye þat haþ it. and yif þou wilt
shynen wiþ dignites. þou most bysechen and supplien
hem þat ȝiuen þo dignitees. ¶ And yif þou coueitest
by honour to gon by-fore oþer folk þou shalt defoule þi
self by humblesse of axing. yif þou desiryst power.
þou shalt by awaites of þi subgitȝ anoyously be cast
vndir many periles. axest þou glorie þou shalt ben so
destrat by aspre þinges þat þou shalt forgone sykernesse.
¶ And yif þou wilt leden þi lijf in delices.
euery whiȝt shal dispisen þe and forleten þe as þou þat
art þral to þing þat is ryȝt foule and brutel. þat is [to]
sein seruaunt to þi body. ¶ Now is it þan wel yseen
how lytel and how brutel possessioun þei coueiten þat
putten þe goodes of þe body abouen hire owen resoun.
¶ For mayst þou sourmounten þise olifuñtȝ in gretnesse
or weyȝt of body. Or mayst þou ben strenger þan þe
bole. Mayst þou ben swifter þan þe tigre. biholde þe
spaces and þe stablenesse and þe swyfte cours of þe
heuene. and stynte somtyme to wondren on foule
þinges. þe whiche heuene certys nis nat raþer for þise
þinges to ben wondred vpon. þan for þe resoun by
whiche it is gouerned. but þe shynynge of þi forme þat
is to seien þe beaute of þi body. how swiftly passyng is
it and how transitorie. ¶ Certis it is more flittynge
þan þe mutabilite of floures of þe somer sesoun. For so
as aristotil telleþ þat yif þat men hadden eyen of a
beest þat hiȝt lynx. so þat þe lokyng of folk myȝt[e]
percen þoruȝ þe þinges þat wiþstonden it. who so lokid
þan in þe entrailes of þe body of alcibiades þat was
ful fayr in þe superfice wiþ oute. it shulde seme ryȝt
foule. and for þi yif þou semest faire. þi nature ne
makiþ nat þat. but þe desceiuaunce of þe fieblesse of þe
eyen þat loken. ¶ But preise þe goodes of þi body as
moche as euer þe list. so þat þou know[e] algates þat
what so it be. þat is to seyn of þe goodes of þi body
whiche þat þou wondrest vpon may ben destroied or
dessolued by þe hete of a feuere of þre dayes. ¶ Of
alle whiche forseide þinges I may reducen þis shortly in
a somme. ¶ þat þise worldly goodes whiche þat ne
mowen nat ȝiuen þat þei byheten. ne ben nat perfit by
þe congregacioun of alle goodes. þat þei ne ben nat
weyes ne paþes þat bryngen men to blysfulnesse ne
maken men to ben blysful.

2203 nis—is

2204 mysledyng—mysledynges

2205 folke—folk

2208 enforcest—MS. enforced, C. enforcest

2209 haþ—MS. haþe
wilt—wolt

2211 ȝiuen—yeuen

2212 gon—MS. gone, C. gon
by-fore—byforn
shalt—shal

2213 by—thorw

2214 by—be
be—ben

2216 destrat—MS. destralle, C. destrat
forgone—forgoon

2217 wilt—wolt

2218 whiȝt—wyht

2219 foule—fowl
[to]—from C.

2220 yseen—seen

2221 brutel—brotel

2222 owen—owne

2224 weyȝt—weyhty
strenger—strengere

2225 swifter—swyftere
biholde—by-hold

2227 stynte—stynt

2228 whiche—whych

2230 whiche—wych

2231 seien—seyn

2234 as—omitted

2235 hiȝt—hyhte
myȝt[e]—myhte

2237 alcibiades—MS. alcidiades

2238 fayr—fayre
þe—omitted
shulde—sholde

2239 foule—fowl
faire—fayr
ne—omitted

2240 desceiuaunce of þe fieblesse—deceyuable or the feblesse

2242 moche—mochel
know[e]—knowe

2243 þe—omitted
þi body whiche—the body whych

2247 a—omitted

MEN PURSUE FALSE JOYS.

Heu Q Ue Miseros Tramite.

Allas whiche folie and whiche ignoraunce myslediþ
wandryng wrecches fro þe paþe of verrey good.
¶ Certis ȝe ne seken no golde in grene trees. ne ȝe ne
gadren [nat] precious stones in þe vines. ne ȝe ne
hiden nat ȝoure gynnes in heyȝe mountaignes to kachen
fisshe of whiche ȝe may maken ryche festes. and yif
ȝow lykeþ to hunte to roos. ȝe ne gon nat to þe foordes
of þe water þat hyȝt tyrene. and ouer þis men knowen
wel þe crikes and þe cauernes of þe see yhidd in þe
floodes. and knowen eke whiche water is most plentiuous
of white perles. and knowen whiche water habundeþ
most of rede purpre. þat is to seyen of a maner shelfisshe
with whiche men dien purpre. and knowen
whiche strondes habounden most of tendre fisshes or
of sharpe fisshes þat hyȝten echynnys. but folk suffren
hem self to ben so blynde þat hem ne recchiþ nat to
knowe where þilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche þat þei
coueiten but ploungen hem in erþe and seken þere
þilke goode þat sourmounteþ þe heuene þat bereþ þe
sterres. ¶ what *preyere may I make þat be digne to
þe nice þouȝtis of men. but I preye þat þei coueiten
rycches and honours so þat whan þei han geten þo
false goodes wiþ greet trauayle þat þerby þei mowe
knowen þe verray goodes.

2252 whiche (both)—whych

2253 paþe—paath
good—goode

2254 golde—gold

THE INSUFFICIENCY OF WORLDLY BLISS.

Hactenus Mendacis Forma M .

IT suffisiþ þat I haue shewed hider to þe forme of
false wilfulnesse. so þat yif þou look[e] now clerely
þe ordre of myn entencioun requeriþ from hennes forþe
to shewen þe verray wilfulnesse. ¶ For quod .I. (b) [I.]
se wel now þat suffisaunce may nat comen by richesse. ne
power by realmes. ne reuerence by dignitees. ne gentilesse
by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast þou wel
knowen quod she þe cause whi it is. Certis me semeþ
quod .I. þat .I. se hem ryȝt as þouȝ it were þoruȝ a litel
clifte. but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of
þe. Certys quod she þe resoun is al redy ¶ For
þilk þing þat symply is on þing wiþ outen ony
diuisioun. þe errour and folie of mankynde departeþ
and diuidiþ it. and mislediþ it and transporteþ from
verray and perfit goode. to goodes þat ben false and
inperfit. ¶ But seye me þis. wenest þou þat he þat haþ
nede of power þat hym ne lakkeþ no þing. Nay quod
.I ¶ Certis quod she þou seist aryȝt. For yif so be
þat þer is a þing þat in any partie be fieble of power.
Certis as in þat it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine
helpe. ¶ Riȝt so it is quod .I. Suffisaunce and power
ben þan of on kynde ¶ So semeþ it quod I. ¶ And
demyst þou quod she þat a þing þat is of þis manere.
þat is to seine suffisaunt and myȝty auȝt[e] to ben dispised.
or ellys þat it be ryȝt digne of reuerences abouen
alle þinges. ¶ Certys quod I it nys no doute þat it
nis ryȝt worþi to ben reuerenced. ¶ Lat vs quod she þan
adden reuerence to suffisaunce and to power ¶ So þat
we demen þat þise þre þinges ben alle o þing. ¶ Certis
quod I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten þe soþe.
what demest þou þan quod she is þat a dirke þing and
nat noble þat is suffisaunt reuerent and myȝty. or ellys
þat is ryȝt clere and ryȝt noble of celebrete of renoun.

THE UNITY OF TRUE FELICITY.

¶ Considere þan quod she as we han grauntid her byforne.
þat he þat ne haþ ne[de] of no þing and is most
myȝty and most digne of honour yif hym nediþ any
clernesse of renoun whiche clernesse he myȝt[e] nat
graunten of hym self. ¶ So þat for lakke of þilke
clerenesse he myȝt[e] seme febler on any syde or þe
more outcaste. Glosa. þis is to seyne nay. ¶ For who
so þat is suffisaunt myȝty and reuerent. clernesse of
renoun folweþ of þe forseide þinges. he haþ it alredy of
hys suffisaunce. boice. I may nat quod I denye it.
¶ But I mot graunten as it is. þat þis þing be ryȝt
celebrable by clernesse of renoun and noblesse. ¶ þan
folweþ it quod she þat we adden clernesse of renoun to
þe þre forseide þinges. so þat þer ne be amonges hem
no difference. and þis is a consequente quod .I. þis
þing þan quod she þat ne haþ no nede of no foreine
þing. and þat may don alle þinges by his strengþes.
and þat is noble and honourable. nis nat þat a myrie
þing and a ioyful. boice. but wenest quod I þat any
sorow myȝt[e] comen to þis þing þat is swiche. ¶ Certys
I may nat þinke. P. ¶ þanne moten we graunt[e] quod
she þat þis þing be ful of gladnesse yif þe þorseide þinges
be soþe. ¶ And also certys mote we graunten. þat
suffisaunce power noblesse reuerence and gladnesse ben
only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce haþ no
diuersite. Boice. It mot nedely be so quod .I. P. þilke
þinge þan quod she þat is oon and simple in his nature.
þe wikkednesse of men departiþ it *diuidiþ it. and
whan þei enforcen hem to gete partie of a þing þat ne
haþ no part. þei ne geten hem neiþer þilk[e] partie þat
nis none. ne þe þing al hole þat þei ne desire nat. .b.
In whiche manere quod .I. p. þilke man quod she þat
sekeþ rychesse to fleen pouerte. he ne trauayleþ hym
nat to for to gete power for he haþ leuer ben dirk and
vile. and eke wiþdraweþ from hym selfe many naturel
delitȝ for he nolde lesen þe moneye þat he haþ assembled.
but certis in þis manere he ne getiþ hym nat
suffisaunce þat power forletiþ. and þat moleste prekeþ.
and þat filþe makeþ outcaste. and þat derknesse hideþ.
and certis he þat desireþ only power he wastiþ and
scatriþ rychesse and dispiseþ delices and eke honour
þat is wiþ out power. ne he ne preiseþ glorie no þing.

OF FALSE FELICITY.

¶ Certys þus seest þou wel þat many þingus failen to
hym. for he haþ somtyme faute of many necessites.
and many anguysses biten hym ¶ and whan he may
nat don þo defautes awey. he forleteþ to ben myȝty.
and þat is þe þing þat he most desireþ. and ryȝt þus
may I make semblable resouns of honours and of glorie
and of delices. ¶ For so as euery of þise forseide
þinges is þe same þat þise oþer þinges ben. þat is to
sein. al oon þing. who so þat euer sekeþ to geten þat
oon of þise and nat þat oþer. he ne geteþ nat þat he
desireþ. Boice. ¶ what seist þou þan yif þat a man
coueiteþ to geten alle þise þinges to gider. P. Certys
quod she .I. wolde seie þat he wolde geten hym souereyne
blisfulnes. but þat shal he nat fynde in þo þinges
þat .I. haue shewed þat ne mowe nat ȝeuen þat þei by-heten.
boice. Certys no quod .I. ¶ þan quod she ne
sholden men nat by no weye seken blysfulnesse in
swiche þinges as men wenen þat þei ne mowe
ȝeuen but o þing senglely of alle þat men seken.
I graunt[e] wel quod .I. ne no soþer þing ne may nat
ben said. P. ¶ Now hast þou þan quod she þe forme
and þe causes of false welefulnesse. ¶ Now turne and
flitte þe eyen of þi þouȝt. for þere shalt þou seen an oon
þilk verray blysfulnesse þat I haue byhyȝt þee. b.
Certys quod .I. it is cler and opyn. þouȝ þat it were to
a blynde man. and þat shewedest þou me [ful wel] a
lytel her byforne. whan þou enforcedest þe to shewe me
þe causes of þe false blysfulnesse ¶ For but yif I be by-giled.
þan is þilke þe verray perfit blisfulnesse þat perfitly
makiþ a man suffisaunt. myȝty. honourable noble.
and ful of gladnesse. and for þou shalt wel knowe þat I
haue wel vndirstonden þise þinges wiþ inne myne herte.
I knowe wel þilke blisfulnesse þat may verrayly ȝeuen
on of þe forseide þinges syn þei ben al oon .I. knowe
douteles þat þilke þing is þe fulle of blysfulnesse.

P. O my nurry quod she by þis oppinioun quod she I
sey[e] þat þou art blisful yif þou putte þis þer to þat I
shal seine. what is þat quod .I. ¶ Trowest þou þat
þer be any þing in þis erþely mortal toumblyng þinges
þat may bryngen þis estat. Certys quod I trowe it nat.
and þou hast shewed me wel þat ouer þilke goode þer
is no þing more to ben desired. P. þise þinges þan
quod she. þat is to seyne erþely suffisaunce and power.
and swiche þinges eyþer þei semen likenesse of verray
goode. or ellys it semeþ þat þei ȝeuen to mortal folk a
maner of goodes þat ne ben nat perfit. ¶ But þilke
goode þat is verray and perfit. þat may þei nat ȝeuen.
boice. I. accorde me wel quod .I. þan quod she for as
moche as þou hast knowen whiche is þilke verray blisfulnesse.
and eke whiche þilke þinges ben þat lien
falsly blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne. þat by desceit
semen verray goodes. ¶ Now byhoueþ þe to knowen
*whennes and where þou mowe seek[e] þilke verray
blisfulnesse. ¶ Certys quod I þat desijr I gretly and
haue abiden longe tyme to herkene it. ¶ But for as
moche quod she as it likeþ to my disciple plato in his
book of in thimeo. þat in ryȝt lytel þinges men sholde
bysechen þe helpe of god. ¶ what iugest þou þat be
[now] to done so þat we may deserue to fynde þe sete of
þilke souereyne goode. B. ¶ Certys quod .I. I. deme
þat we shulle clepen to þe fadir of alle goodes. ¶ For
wiþ outen hym nis þer no þing founden aryȝt. þou seist
a-ryȝt quod she. and bygan on-one to syngen ryȝt þus.

2256 heyȝe—the hyye
kachen—kachche

2257 fisshe—fyssh

2258 hunte—honte
roos—Rooes

2259 hyȝt—hyhte

2260 crikes—brykes
yhidd—MS. yhidde, C. I-hyd

2261, 2262 whiche—whych

2263 shelfisshe—shelle fysh

2264, 2265 whiche—whych

2264 dien—deyen

2265 of—with

2266 echynnys—MS. ethynnys, C. Echynnys

2268 yhidd—MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd

2270 goode—good

2271 make—maken

2273 rycches—Rychesse

2277 wilfulnesse—welefulnesse
look[e]—loke
clerely—clerly

2279 wilfulnesse—welefulnesse
For—For-sothe
[I.]—from C.

2280 richesse—Rychesses

2281 realmes—Reames

2287 þilk—thylke
on—o

2290 goode—good

2291 seye—sey
haþ—MS. haþe

2294 fieble—feblere

2295 most[e]—mot

2296 helpe—help

2297 on—o

2298 demyst þou—demesthow

2299 seine—seyn
auȝt[e]—owhte

2300 reuerences—Reuerence

2302 nis ryȝt—is ryht

2304 alle—al

2305 willen—wolen

2306 dirke—dyrk

2308 clere—cler
of celebrete—by celebryte

2310 haþ—MS. haþe

2312 whiche—whych
myȝt[e]—myhte

2314 clerenesse—clernesse
myȝt[e]—myhte
febler—the febelere

2315 seyne—seyn

2317 haþ—MS. haþe

2324 haþ—MS. haþe

2325 his—hyse

2326 myrie—mery

2327 wenest—whennes

2328 sorow myȝt[e]—sorwe myhte

2329 graunt[e]—graunte

2331 be—ben
also certys—certes also

2333 haþ—MS. haþe

2334 nedely—nedly

2335 þinge—thing

2337 gete—geten

2338 haþ—MS. haþe
þilk[e]—thilke

2339 none—non
hole—hool

2340 whiche—whych

2341 rychesse—Rychesses
fleen—MS. sleen, C. flen

2342 leuer—leuer

2343 vile—vyl
selfe—self

2344 delitȝ—delices
lesen—lese
haþ—MS. haþe

2346 prekeþ—prykketh

2347 derknesse—dyrknesse

2349 scatriþ—schatereth
delices—delycȝ

2350 wiþ out—with owte

2351 many—manye

2352 haþ—MS. haþe
faute—defaute

2353 may—ne may

2354 don—MS. done, C. don

2356 make—maken

2357 forseide—MS. sorseide

2363 souereyne—souereyn

2365 mowe—mowen

2368 wenen—wene
mowe—mowen

2370 graunt[e]—graunte
soþer—sothere

2371 said—MS. saide, C. sayd

2376 [ful wel]—from C.

2377 byforne—by-forn

2378 blysfulnesse—MS. blyndenesse, C. blysfulnesse

2385 of—omitted

2386 nurry—norye

2387 sey[e]—seye

2388 seine—seyn

2389 þis—thise

2390 nat—nawht

2393 seyne—sey

2395 ȝeuen—yeue

2397 goode—good

2399 whiche—which

2401 seyne—seyn

2402 knowen—knowe

2403 seek[e]—seke

2405 herkene—herknen

2407 sholde—sholden

2408 bysechen—by-shechen
helpe—help

2409 [now]—from C.

2410 souereyne goode—verray good

2411 shulle—shollen
to—omitted

2413 on-one—anon

IN SEEKING SUPREME FELICITY THE DIVINE AID IS TO BE INVOKED.

O Qui Perpetua.

O þou fadir creatour of heuene and of erþes þat
gouernest þis worlde by perdurable resoun þat comaundist
þe tymes for to gon from tyme þat age had[de]
bygynnyng. þou þat dwellest þi self ay stedfast and
stable and ȝiuest alle oþer þinges to ben moeued. ne
forein causes necesseden þe neuer to compoune werke
of floterynge mater. but only þe forme of souereyne
goode y-set wiþ inne [þe] wiþ outen envie þat moeued[e]
þe frely. þou þat art alþerfairest beryng þe faire worlde
in þi þouȝt. formedest þis worlde to þe likkenesse
semblable of þat faire worlde in þi þouȝt. þou drawest
alle þinges of þi souereyne ensampler. and comaundedist
þat þis worlde perfitlyche ymaked haue frely and
absolut hyse perfit parties. ¶ þou byndest þe elementȝ
by noumbres proporcionables. þat þe colde þinges
mowen accorde wiþ þe hote þinges. and þe drye þinges
wiþ þe moyst þinges. þat þe fire þat is purest ne fleye
nat ouer heye. ne þat þe heuynesse ne drawe nat adoun
ouer lowe þe erþes þat ben plounged in þe watres.

GOD IS THE FOUNTAIN OF FELICITY.

¶ þou knyttest to-gidre þe mene soule of treble kynde
moeuyng alle þinges. and diuidest it by membres accordynge.
¶ And whan it is þus diuided it haþ assembled
a moeuyng in two roundes. ¶ It goþ to tourne
aȝein to hym owen self. and environeþ a fulle deep
þouȝt. and tourniþ þe heuene by semblable ymage. þou
by euenlyk causes enhaunsest þe soules and þe lasse
liues and ablynge hem heye by lyȝt[e] cartes. þou
sewest hem in to heuene and in to erþe. and whan þei
ben conuertid to þe by þi benigne lawe. ¶ þou makest
hem retorne aȝeine to þe by aȝein ledyng fijr.
¶ O fadir yif þou to þi þouȝt to stien vp in to þi streite sete.
and graunte [hym] to enviroune þe welle of good. and
þe lyȝte yfounde graunte hym to ficchen þe clere syȝtes
of hys corage in þe. ¶ And scatre þou and to-breke
[thow] þe weyȝtes and þe cloudes of erþely heuynesse.
and shyne þou by þi bryȝtnes. for þou art clernesse þou
art peisible to debonaire folke. ¶ þou þi self art bygynnynge.
berere. ledere. paþ and terme to loke on þe
[þat] is oure ende. Glose.

2415 worlde—world

2416 from——age—from syn þat age
had[de]—hadde

2417 stedfast—stedefast

2418 oþer—oothre

2419 forein—foreyne
werke—werk

2420 souereyne goode—souereyn good

2421 y-set—MS. y-sette, C. Iset
wiþ inne—with in
[þe]—the
wiþ outen—with owte
moeued[e]—moeuede

2422 alþerfairest—alderfayrest

2422-24-26 worlde—world

2423 likkenesse—lyknesse

2426 and absolut—C. omits

2427 hyse—hys

2430 fire—fyr
fleye—fle

2431 drawe—drawen

2435 haþ—MS. haþe

2436 goþ—MS. goþe

2437 owen—C. omits

2438 tourniþ—MS. tourniþe

2439 euenlyk—euene lyke

2440 lyȝt[e]—lyhte

2442 benigne—bygynnynge

2444 yif—yiue
þi streite—the streyte

2445 [hym]—from C.

2446 lyȝte—lyht

2448 [thow]—from C.

2449 bryȝtnes—bryhtnesse

2451 paþ—MS. paþe; paath

2452 [þat]—that

GOD THE SUPREME GOOD.

Quoniam Igitur Qui Scit.7

FOr as moche þan as þou hast seyn. whiche is þe
forme of goode þat nys nat perfit. and whiche is þe
forme of goode þat is perfit. now trowe I þat it were
goode to shewe in what þis perfeccioun of blisfulnesse is
set. and in þis þing I trowe þat we sholden first enquere
forto witen yif þat any swiche manere goode as þilke
goode þat þou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. þat
is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in þe nature
of þinges. For þat veyne ymaginacioun of þouȝt ne
desceiue vs nat. and putte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse
of þilke þinge þat is summyttid to vs. þis is to seyne.
but it may nat ben denoyed þat þilke goode ne is.
¶ and þat it nis ryȝt as a welle of alle goodes. ¶ For
al þing þat is cleped inperfit. is proued inperfit by þe
amenusynge of perfeccioun. or of þing þat is perfit. and
her of comeþ it. þat in euery þing general. yif þat. þat
men seen any þing þat is inperfit *certys in þilke general
þer mot ben somme þing þat is perfit. ¶ For yif so
be þat perfeccioun is don awey. men may nat þinke
nor seye fro whennes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit.
¶ For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng
of þinges amenused and inperfit. but it procediþ of
þingus þat ben al hool. and absolut. and descendeþ so
doune in to outerest þinges and in to þingus empty and
wiþ oute fruyt. but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne.
þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be frele and vein and
inperfit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse
þat is sad stedfast and perfit. b. þis is concludid
quod I fermely and soþefastly. P. But considere
also quod she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe
commune acordaunce and conceite of þe corages of men
proueþ and graunteþ þat god prince of alle þingus is
good. ¶ For so as no þing ne may ben þouȝt bettre þan
god. it may nat ben douted þan þat [he þat] no þing is
bettre. þat he nys good. ¶ Certys resoun sheweþ þat
god is so goode þat it proueþ by verray force þat perfit
goode is in hym. ¶ For yif god ne is swiche. he ne
may nat ben prince of alle þinges. for certis som þing
possessyng in hym self perfit goode sholde ben more
þan god. and [it] sholde seme þat þilke þing were first
and elder þan god. ¶ For we han shewed apertly þat
alle þinges þat ben perfit. ben first or þinges þat ben inperfit.

GOD THE SOURCE OF TRUE FELICITY.

¶ And for þi for as moche as [that] my resoun
or my proces ne go nat awey wiþoute an ende. we
ouȝt[e] to graunten þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of
souereyne perfit goode. and we han establissed þat þe
souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. þan mot it nedes
ben [þat verray blysfulnesse is] yset in souereyne god.
B. þis take I wel quod .I. ne þis ne may nat be wiþseid
in no manere. ¶ But I preie þe quod she see now how
þou mayst preuen holily and wiþ-outen corrupcioun þis
þat I haue seid. þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of
souereyne goode. [In whych manere quod I.] wenest
þou ouȝt quod she þat þis prince of alle þinges haue
ytake þilke souereyne good any where þan of hym self.
¶ of whiche souereyne goode men proueþ þat he is ful
ryȝt as þou myȝtest þinken. þat god þat haþ blisfulnesse
in hym self. and þat ilke blisfulnesse þat is in hym
were diuers in substaunce. ¶ For yif þou wene þat
god haue receyued þilke good oute of hym self. þou
mayst wene þat he þat ȝaf þilke good to god. be more
goode þan is god. ¶ But I am byknowen and confesse
and þat ryȝt dignely þat god is ryȝt worþi abouen alle
þinges. ¶ And yif so be þat þis good be in hym by
nature. but þat it is diuers from [hym] by wenyng
resoun. syn we speke of god prince of alle þinges feyne
who so feyne may. who was he þat [hath] conioigned
þise diuers þinges to-gidre. and eke at þe last[e] se
wel þat o þing þat is diuers from any þing. þat þilke
þing nis nat þat same þing. fro whiche it is vndirstonden
to ben diuers. þan folweþ it. þat þilke þing þat
by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. þat þat
þing nys nat souereyne good. but certys þat were a
felonous corsednesse to þinken þat of hym. þat no þing
nis more worþe. For alwey of alle þinges. þe nature
of hem ne may nat ben better þan his bygynnyng.

THERE CANNOT BE TWO CHIEF GOODS.

¶ For whiche I may concluden by ryȝt uerray resoun.
þat þilke þat is bygynnyng of alle þinges. þilke same
þing is good in his substaunce. B. þou hast seid ryȝtfully
quod .I. P. But we han graunted quod she þat
souereyne good is blysfulnes. þat is soþe quod .I. þan
quod she mote we nedes graunten and confessen þat
þilke same souereyne goode be god. ¶ Certys *quod
.I. I ne may nat denye ne wiþstonde þe resouns purposed.
and I see wel þat it folweþ by strengþe of þe
premisses. ¶ Loke nowe quod she yif þis be proued
[yit] more fermely þus. ¶ þat þer ne mowen nat ben
two souereyne goodes þat ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem
self. þat on is nat þat þat oþer is. þan [ne] mowen
neiþer of hem ben perfit. so as eyþer of hem lakkiþ to
oþir. but þat þat nis nat perfit men may seen apertly
þat it nis nat souereyne. þe þinges þan þat ben
souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse.
¶ But I haue wel conclude þat blisfulnesse and god ben
[the] souereyne goode. For whiche it mot nedes be þat
souereyne blisfulnesse is souerey[ne] dyuynite. ¶ No
þing quod I nis more soþefast þan þis ne more ferme by
resoun. ne a more worþi þing þan god may nat ben
concluded. P. vpon þise þinges þan quod she. ryȝt as
þise geometriens whan þei han shewed her proposiciouns
ben wont to bryngen in þinges þat þei clepen porismes
or declaraciouns of forseide þinges. ryȝt so wil I ȝeue
þe here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune. For whi.
for as moche as by þe getynge of blisfulnesse men ben
maked blysful. and blisfulnesse is diuinite. ¶ þan is
it manifest and open þat by þe getyng of diuinite men
ben makid blisful. ryȝt as by þe getynge of iustice . . .
and by þe getyng of sapience þei ben maked wise.

THE HAPPY MAN IS A GOD.

¶ Ryȝt so nedes by þe semblable resoun whan þei han getyn
diuinite þei ben maked goddys. þan is euery blisful
man god. ¶ But certis by nature. þer nys but oon god.
but by þe participaciouns of diuinite þere ne letteþ ne
disturbeþ no þing þat þer ne ben many goddes. ¶ þis
is quod .I. a faire þing and a precious. ¶ Clepe it as
þou wolt. be it corolarie or porisme or mede of coroune
or declarynges ¶ Certys quod she no þing nis fairer.
þan is þe þing þat by resoun sholde ben added to þise
forseide þinges. what þing quod .I. ¶ So quod she as
it semeþ þat blisfulnesse conteniþ many þinges. it were
forto witen wheþir [þat] alle þise þinges maken or
conioignen as a maner body of blysfulnesse by diuersite
of parties or [of] membris. Or ellys yif any of alle
þilke þingus be swyche þat it acomplise by hym self þe
substaunce of blisfulnesse. so þat alle þise oþer þinges
ben referred and brouȝt to blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne
as to þe chief of hem. ¶ I wolde quod I þat þou
makedest me clerly to vndirstonde what þou seist. and
þat þou recordest me þe forseide þinges. ¶ Haue I nat
iuged quod she. þat blisfulnesse is goode. ȝis forsoþe
quod .I. and þat souereyne goode. ¶ Adde þan quod
she þilke goode þat is maked blisfulnes to alle þe forseide
þinges. ¶ For þilke same blisfulnesse þat is
demed to ben souereyne suffisaunce. þilke self is
souereyne power. souereyne reuerence. souereyne clernesse
or noblesse and souereyne delit. what seist þou
þan of alle þise þinges. þat is to seyne. suffisance power
and þise oþer þinges. ben þei þan as membris of blisfulnesse.
or ben þei referred and brouȝt to souereyne good.
¶ Ryȝt as alle þinges þat ben brouȝt to þe chief of hem.

GOOD, THE RULE AND SQUARE OF THINGS DESIRABLE.

b. I vndirstonde wel quod .I. what þou purposest to
seke. but I desijr[e] to herkene þat þou shewe it me.
p. Take now þus þe discressioun of þis questioun quod
she. yif al þise þinges quod she weren membris to
felicite. þan weren þei diuerse þat oon fro þat oþer.
¶ And swiche is þe nature of parties or of membris.
þat dyuerse membris compounen a body. ¶ Certis
quod I it haþ wel ben shewed her byforne. þat alle þise
þinges ben alle on þing. þan ben þei none membris quod
she. for ellys it sholde seme þat blisfulnesse were
conioigned *al of one membre alone. but þat is a þing
þat may nat ben doon. þis þing quod .I. nys nat
doutous. but I abide to herkene þe remenaunt of þe
questioun. þis is open and clere quod she. þat alle oþer
þinges ben referred and brouȝt to goode. ¶ For þerfore
is suffisaunce requered. For it is demed to ben
good. and forþi is power requered. for men trowen also
þat it be goode. and þis same þing mowe we þinken and
coueiten of reuerence and of noblesse and of delit. þan
is souereyne good þe soume and þe cause of alle þat
auȝt[e] be desired. forwhi þilke þing þat wiþ-holdeþ no
good in it self ne semblaunce of goode it ne may nat
wel in no manere be desired ne requered. and þe contrarie.
For þouȝ þat þinges by hir nature ne ben nat
goode algates yif men wene þat þei ben goode ȝit ben
þei desired as þouȝ [þat] þei were verrayly goode. and
þerfore is it þat men auȝten to wene by ryȝt þat bounte
be souereyne fyn and þe cause of alle þinges þat ben to
requeren. ¶ But certis þilke þat is cause for whiche
men requeren any þing. ¶ it semeþ þat þilke same
þing be most desired. as þus yif þat a wyȝt wolde ryde
for cause of hele. he ne desireþ nat so mychel þe
moeuyng to ryden as þe effect of his heele. Now þan
syn þat alle þinges ben requered for þe grace of good.
þei ne ben [nat] desired of alle folk more þan þe same
good ¶ But we han graunted þat blysfulnesse is þat
þing for whiche þat alle þise oþer þinges ben desired.
þan is it þus þat certis only blisfulnesse is requered and
desired ¶ By whiche þing it sheweþ clerely þat good
and blisfulnesse is al oone and þe same substaunce.
¶ I se nat quod I wher fore þat men myȝt[en] discorden
in þis. p. and we han shewed þat god and verrey blysfulnesse
is al oon þing ¶ þat is soþe quod .I. þan
mowe we conclude sikerly þat þe substaunce of god is
set in þilke same good and in noon oþer place.

2453 whiche—which

2454-55-56-58-59 goode—good

2454 whiche—whych

2457 set—MS. sette, C. set

2460 seine—seyn
souereyne goode—souereyn good
be founden—ben fownde

2461 veyne—veyn

2463 þis is to seyne—C. omits

2464 denoyed—MS. deuoyded, C. denoyed
goode—good

2465 of—MS. of of

2466 al þing—alle thing

2468 her of comeþ—ther of comht

2470 somme—som

2471 don—MS. done, C. don

2473 token—took

2475 hool—hoole

2476 doune—down

2477 wiþ oute fruyt—with owten frut

2480 stedfast—stydefast

2481 fermely—MS. fennely, C. fermely
soþefastly—sothfastly

2486 [he þat]—from C.
is bettre—nis bettre

2488-89-91 goode—good

2489 swiche—swych

2492 [it]—from C.
seme—semen

2493 elder—eldere

2495 [that]—from C.

2496 proces—processes

2497 ouȝt[e]—owen

2498 goode—good

2499 souereyne goode—souereyn good

2500 [þat——is]—from C.
yset—MS. ysette, C. set

2501 be—ben
wiþseid—MS. wiþseide, C. withseid

2503 wiþ-outen—with-owte

2504 seid—MS. seide, C. seyd

2505 souereyne goode—souereyn good
[In——I]—from C.

2506 ouȝt—awht

2507 þan of—owt of

2508 whiche—whych
souereyne goode—souereyn good

2509 haþ—MS. haþe

2510 þat ilke—thilke

2511 were—weren

2514 goode—worth

2517 from—fro
[hym]—from C.

2518 feyne—faigne

2519 feyne—feigne
[hath]—from C.

2520 last[e]—laste

2521 o—a

2522 whiche—whych

2524 from—fro

2527 nis—is

2528 better—bettre

2529 whiche—whych

2531 seid—MS. seide, C. seyd

2533 soþe—soth

2534 mote—moten

2539 [yit]—from C.

2541 is (1)—nis
oþer—othre
[ne]—from C.

2546 conclude—concluded

2547 [the] from C.
goode—good
be—ben

2549 soþefast—sothfast
ferme—MS. forme, C. ferme

2552 proposiciouns—MS. proporsiouns, C. proposiciouns

2553 porismes—MS. poeismes, C. porysmes

2554 wil—wole

2563 oon—o

2564 letteþ—let

2566 faire—fayr

2567 porisme—MS. pousme, C. porisme

2572 [þat]—from C.

2573 maner—manere
by—be

2574 [of]—from C.

2575 swyche—swych

2576 oþer—oothre

2577 seyne—seyn

2578 chief—chef

2581 goode ȝis—good ys

2582 souereyne goode—souereyn good

2583 goode—good

2585 self—selue

2588 þise—C. omits
seyne—seyn

2589 oþer—oothre

2591 brouȝt—MS wrouȝt, C. browht

2593 desijr[e] to herkene—desire for to herkne

2594 Take—tak

2596 fro—from

2597 swiche—swhych

2600 on þing—othing

2602 one—on

2603 ben doon—be don

2604 herkene—herknen

2605 clere—cler
oþer—oothre

2606 goode—good

2609 goode—good
mowe—mowen

2617 [þat]—from C.
were verrayly—weeren verraylyche

2618 þerfore—therfor
auȝten—owhten

2619 alle—alle the

2620 whiche—whych

2623 mychel—mochel

2624 moeuyng—moeuynge

2626 [nat]—from C.

2628 oþer—oothre

2630 clerely—clerly
good and blisfulnesse—of good and of blysfulnesse

2631 oone—oon

2632 myȝt[en]—myhten

2634 oon—oo
soþe—soth

2635 mowe—mowen

2636 set—MS. sette, C. set

GOD A HAVEN OF REST.

Nunc Omnes Pariter Et C.

O Comeþ alle to-gidre now ȝe þat ben ycauȝt and
ybounde wiþ wicked[e] cheines by þe deceiuable
delit of erþely þinges inhabytynge in ȝoure þouȝt. here
shal ben þe reste of ȝoure laboures. here is þe hauene
stable in peisible quiete. þis al oone is þe open refut to
wreches. Glosa. þis is to seyn. þat ȝe þat ben combred
and deceyued wiþ worldly affecciouns comeþ now
to þis souereyne good þat is god. þat is refut to hem þat
wolen come to hym. Textus. ¶ Alle þe þinges þat þe
ryuere Tagus ȝiueþ ȝow wiþ his golden[e] grauels. or
ellys alle þe þynges þat þe ryuere hermus. ȝiueþ wiþ his
rede brynke. or þat yndus ȝiueþ þat is nexte þe hote
partie of þe worlde. þat medeleþ þe grene stones
(smaragde) wiþ þe white (margarits). ne sholde nat
cleren þe lokynge of ȝoure þoȝt. but hiden raþer ȝoure
blynde corages wiþ inne hire dirkenesse ¶ Alle þat
likeþ ȝow here and excitiþ and moeueþ ȝoure þouȝtes.
þe erþe haþ noryshed it in hys lowe caues. but þe
shynyng by þe whiche þe heuene is gouerned and
whennes þat it haþ hys strengþe þat chaseþ þe derke
ouerþrowyng of þe soule. ¶ And who so euer may
knowen þilke lyȝt of blisfulnesse. he shal wel seine þat
þe white bemes of þe sonne ne ben nat cleer.

2638 wicked[e]—wyckyde

2639, 2640 here—her

2640 hauene—MS. heuene, C. hauene

2641 al oone—allone

2643 worldly—worldely

2645 come—comyn

2646 golden[e] grauels—goldene grauayles

2647 þynges—MS. rynges, C. thinges
hermus—MS. herinus, C. herynus

2648 nexte—next

2649 worlde—world

2654, 2656 haþ—MS. haþe

2654 hys—hyse

2656 chaseþ þe derke—eschueth the dyrke

2657 euer—C. omits

2658 seine—seyn

MEN DO NOT SEEK TRUE FELICITY.

ASSENCIOR INQUAM CUNCTA. Boice.

I assent[e] me quod .I. For alle þise þinges ben
strongly bounden wiþ ryȝt ferme resouns. how
mychel wilt þou preisen it quod she. yif þat þou
knowe what þilke goode is. I wol preise it quod I by
price wiþ outen ende. ¶ yif it shal bytyde me to
knowe also to-gidre god þat is good. ¶ certys quod she
þat shal I do þe by verray resoun. yif þat þo þinges þat
I haue conclude[d] a litel her by *forne dwellen oonly
in hir first[e] grauntyng. Boice. þei dwellen graunted
to þe quod .I. þis is to seyne as who seiþ .I. graunt þi
forseide conclusiouns. ¶ Haue I nat shewed þe quod
she þat þe þinges þat ben requered of many folke. ne
ben nat verray goodes ne perfit. for þei ben diuerse þat
oon fro þat oþer. and so as eche of hem is lakkyng to
oþer. þei ne han no power to bryngen a good þat is ful
and absolute. ¶ But þan atte arst ben þei verray good
whan þei ben gadred to-gidre al in to a forme and in
to oon wirchyng. so þat þilke þing þat is suffisaunce.

þilk same be power and reuerence. and noblesse and
mirþe. ¶ And forsoþe but alle þise þinges ben alle o
same þing þei ne han nat wher by þat þei mowen ben
put in þe noumbre of þinges. þat auȝten ben requered
or desired. b. ¶ It is shewed quod .I. ne her of may
þer no man douten. p. þe þinges þan quod she þat ne
ben none goodes whan þei ben diuerse. and whan þei
bygynnen to ben al o þing. þan ben þei goodes. ne
comiþ it hem nat þan by þe getynge of unite þat þei ben
maked goodes. b. so it semeþ quod .I. but alle þing þat
is good quod she grauntest þou þat it be good by participacioun
of good or no. ¶ I graunt[e] it quod .I.

UNITY NECESSARY TO EXISTENCE.

¶ þan mayst þou graunt[en] it quod she by sembleable
resoun þat oon and good ben o same þing. ¶ For of
þinges [of] whiche þat þe effect nis nat naturely diuerse
nedys þe substaunce mot ben o same þinge. I ne may
nat denye it quod I. ¶ Hast þou nat knowen wel quod
she. þat al þing þat is haþ so longe his dwellyng and
his substaunce. as longe is it oone. ¶ but whan it
forletiþ to ben oone it mot nedis dien and corrumpe togidre.
¶ In whiche manere quod .I. ¶ Ryȝt as in
beestes quod she. whan þe soule and þe body ben
conioigned in oon and dwellen to-gidre it is cleped a
beest. and whan hire vnite is destroied by disseueraunce
þat oon fram þat oþir. þan sheweþ it wel þat it is a
dede þing. and þat it is no lenger no beste. and þe
body of a wyȝt while it dwelleþ in oon forme by coniunccioun
of membris it is wel seyn þat it is a figure of
mankynde. and yif þe partyes of þe body ben [so]
diuide[d] and disseuered þat oon fro þat oþir þat þei
destroien vnite. þe body forletiþ to ben þat it was byforne.
¶ And who so wolde renne in þe same manere
by alle þinges he sholde seen þat wiþ outen doute euery
þinge is in his substaunce as longe as it is oon. and
whan it forletiþ to ben oon it dieþ and perissiþ. boice.
whan I considre quod I many þinges I see noon oþer.

NATURE SUSTAINS VEGETATION.

¶ Is þer any þing þanne quod she þat in as moche as
it lyueþ naturely. þat forletiþ þe appetit or talent of
hys beynge. and desireþ to come to deeþ and to corrupcioun.
¶ yif I considere quod I þe beestes þat han
any manere nature of willynge or of nillynge I ne
fynde no þing. but yif it be constreyned fro wiþ out
forþe. þat forletiþ or dispiseþ to lyue and to duren
or þat wole his þankes hasten hym to dien. ¶ For
euery beest trauayleþ hym to defende and kepe þe
sauuacioun of lijf. and escheweþ deeþ and destruccioun.
b. but certys I doute me of herbes and of trees. þat is
to seyn þat I am in a doute of swiche þinges as herbes
or trees þat ne han no felyng soule. ne no naturel
wirchynges seruyng to appetite as beestes han wheþer
þei han appetite to dwellen and to duren. ¶ Certis
quod she ne þer of þar þe nat doute. ¶ Now look
vpon þise herbes and þise trees. þei waxen firste in
swiche place as ben couenable to hem. in whiche place
þei ne mowen nat sone dien ne dryen as longe as hire
nature may defenden hem. ¶ For some of hem waxen
in feldes and some in mountaignes. and oþir waxen in
mareis. [A leaf lost here, and supplied from C.]

[and oothre cleuyn on Roches / and soume waxen plentyuos
in sondes / and yif þat any wyht enforce hym to
beryn hem in to oother places / they wexen drye // For
nature yeueth to euery thing þat / þat is conuenient to
hym and trauaylith þat they ne dye nat as longe as they
han power to dwellyn and to lyuen // what woltow seyn
of this / þat they drawen alle hyr norysshynges by hyr
rootes / ryht as they haddyn hyr Mowthes I.-plounged
with in the erthes / and shedyn by hyr maryes (i. medullas)
hyr wode and hyr bark / and what woltow seyn
of this þat thilke thing / þat is ryht softe as the marye (i.
sapp) is / þat is alwey hidd in the feete al with inne and
þat it is defendid fro with owte by the stidefastnesse of
wode // and þat the vttereste bark is put ayenis the destempraunce
of the heuene / as a defendowr myhty to suffren
harm / and thus certes maystow wel sen / how gret is
the diligence of nature / For alle thinges renouelen and
pupllisen hem with seed .I.-multiplyed / nether nis no man
þat ne wot wel þat they ne ben ryht as a foundement and
edyfice for to duren / nat only for a tyme / but ryht as forto
duren perdurablely by generacyoun // and the thinges ek
þat men wenen ne hauen none sowles / ne desire they nat ech
of hem by sem[b]lable resoun to kepyn þat that is hirs / þat
is to seyn þat is acordynge to hyr nature in conseruacioun
of hyr beynge and endurynge // For wher for elles berith
lythnesse the flaumbes vp / and the weyhte presseth the
erthe a-doun // but For as moche as thilke places and
thilke moeuynges ben couenable to euerich of hem //

THE LOVE OF LIFE IS INSTINCTIVE.

and forsothe euery thing kepith thilke þat is acordynge
and propre to hym // ryht as thinges þat ben contraryes
and enemys corompen hem // and yit the harde thinges
as stoones clyuen and holden hyr partyes to gydere
ryht faste and harde / and deffenden hem in withstondenge
þat they ne departe nat lyhtly a twyne // and the
thinges þat ben softe and fletynge as is water and Eyr
they departyn lyhtly // and yeuen place to hem þat
brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retornen
sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben
arraced // but fyr [fleetħ] and refuseth alle deuysyoun /
ne I. ne trete nat heere now of weleful moeuynges of the
sowle þat is knowynge // but of the naturel entencioun
of thinges // As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete þat we
resseyuen and ne thinke nat on it / and as we drawen
owre breth in slepynge þat we wite it nat whil we slepyt //
For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of
hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle //
but of the bygynnyngis of nature // For certes thorw
constreynynge causes / wil desireth and embraceth ful
ofte tyme / the deth þat nature dredith // that is to seyn
as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som
cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which
þat nature hateth and dredeth ful sore // And som tyme
we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight /
destorbeth and constreyneth þat þat nature desireth / and
requereth al-wey // that is to sein the werk of generacioun /
by the whiche generacioun only / dwelleth and is sustenyd
the longe durablete of mortal thinges // And thus
this charite and this Loue þat euery thing hath to hym
self ne comth nat of the moeuynge of the sowle / but of
the entencioun of nature // For the puruyance of god
hat yeuen to thinges þat ben creat of hym / this þat is
a ful gret cause / to lyuen and to duren / for which they
desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as euer they mowen //

THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT.

For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that
alle the thinges / that ben anywhere / that they ne requeren
naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of perdurable
dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyoun // B //
now confesse I. wel quod I. that I. see wel now certeynly /
with owte dowtes / the thinges that whylom semeden
vncerteyn to me / P. // but quod she thilke thyng þat
desiretħ to be and to dwellyn perdurablely / he desireth
to ben oon // For yif þat that oon weere destroied // certes
beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht // that
is sotħ quod I. // Thanne quod she desirin alle thinges
oon // .I. assente quod .I. // and I haue shewyd quod she
that thilke same oon is thilke that is good // B // ye forsothe
quod I. // Alle thinges thanne quod she requyren
good // And thilke good thanne [þow] maist descryuen
ryht thus // Good is thilke thing þat euery wyht desireth //
Ther ne may be thowht quod .I. no moore
verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred and
browht to nowht / and floteryn with owte gouernour
despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif
ther be any thinge / to which þat alle thinges tenden
and hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of
alle goodes / P /. thanne seyde she thus // O my norry
quod she I haue gret gladnesse of the // For thow
hast fichched in thin herte the myddel sothtfastnesse //
that is to seyn the prykke // but this thing hath ben
descouered to the / in that thow seydyst þat thow
wystest nat a lytel her by-forn // what was that quod I. //

THE END OF ALL THINGS.

That thow ne wystest nat quod she whych was
the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing þat
euery wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han
gaderid / and comprehendyd that good is thilke thing
that is desired of alle / thanne moten we nedes confessun /
that good is the fyn of alle thinges.

2660 assent[e]—assente

2662 mychel—mochel

2663 goode—good

2664 price—prys

2669 is—omitted
seyne—seyn

2671 folke—folkes

2673 oþer—oothre
eche—ech

2675 absolute—absolut
atte arst—at erste

2676 al—alle
a—O

2677 to—omitted
wirchyng—wyrkynge

2678 þilk—thilke

2681 put—MS. putte, C. put
auȝten—owhten

2684 none—no

2685 al o—alle oon

2686 comiþ—comth

2689 graunt[e]—graunte

2690 mayst þou graunt[en]—mosthow graunten

2692 [of]—from C.

2695 al—alle
haþ—MS. haþe

2696, 2697 oone—oon

2698 whiche—which

2703 dede—ded
lenger—lengere
beste—beest

2704 while—whil
oon—oo

2706 [so] diuide[d]—so deuydyd

2709 so—omitted

2713 many—manye

2718 willynge—wylnynge
or—and

2719 þing—beest
out forþe—owte forth

2720 lyue—lyuen

2723 of lijf—of hys lyf

2726 soule—sowles

2727 appetite—appetites

2729 look—loke

2730 waxen firste—wexen fyrst

2733, 2734 some—som

2734 oþir—oothre

2753 pupllisen—H. publisshen)

2755 edyfice—MS. edyfite
a tyme—H. oon) tyme

2758 that—H. omits
hirs—H. his

2774 [fleeth]—from H.

2775 weleful—H. wilfulle

2779 slepyt—H. slepen

2788 seeth—H. seen)
wil—H. wille

2792 And—H. as

2796 hat—H. haue

2800 the—H. þo

2806 perdurablely—H. perdurably

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

TRUTH INTUITIVE.

Quisquis P Ro Funda Mente.

WHo so that sekith sotħ by a deep thoght And
coueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes //
lat hym rollen and trenden with Inne hym self / the Lyht
of his inward syhte // And lat hym gadere ayein enclynynge
in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys
thowhtes / And lat hym techen his corage that he hath
enclosed and hyd / in his tresors / al þat he compaseth or
sekith fro with owte // And thanne thilke thing that the
blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal
lyhten more clerly thanne phebus hym self ne shyneth //
Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of soth
in his thowht / and wol nat be deceyuyd by false proposiciouns /
that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym wel
examine / and rolle with inne hym self the nature and
the propretes of the thing // and lat hym yit eft sones
examine and rollen his thowhtes by good deliberacioun
or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it
hat by naturel pryncyplis kyndeliche y-hyd with in
it self alle the trowthe the whiche he ymagynith to ben
in thinges with owte // And thanne alle the dyrknesse of
his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [þe]
syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semyth
to [þe] syhte with owte forth / For certes the body
bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd
owt of yowre thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //
For certeynly the seed of sooth haldith and clyueth
with in yowre corage / and it is a-waked and excited by
the wynde and by the blastes of doctryne // For where
for elles demen ye of yowre owne wyl the ryhtes whan
ye ben axed // but yif so were þat the noryssynges of
resoun ne lyuede .I.-plowngyd in the depthe of yowre
herte // this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen þe
sooth of any thing þat weere axed / yif ther neere a
Roote of sothfastnesse þat weere yplowngyd and hyd in
the nature[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesse
lyued with in the depnesse of the thowght // and yif
so be þat the Muse and the doctryne of plato syngyth
sooth // al þat euery whyht lerneth / he ne doth no
thing elles thanne but recordeth as men recordyn thinges
þat ben foryetyn.

2838 his—H. þis
that—H. and þat

2841 blake—H. blak
hadde y-couered—H. had couered

2842 lyhten—H. light

2843 dep[e]—C. dep, H. depe

2847 thing—H. þynges

2863 depthe—H. depe

2864 [is]—from H.
sholden—H. shulde

2867 nature[l]—H. naturelle

THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD.

Tum Ego Platoni Inq Ua M.

THanne seide I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / for
thow remenbrist and recordist me thise thinges yit]
*þe seconde tyme. þat is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] my
memorie by þe contagioũs coniunccioun of þe body wiþ
þe soule. and eftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it confounded
by þe charge and by þe burden of my sorwe.
¶ And þan sayde she þus. ¶ If þou look[e] quod she
firste þe þinges þat þou hast graunted it ne shal nat
ben ryȝt feer þat þou ne shalt remembren þilke þing þat
þou seidest þat þou nistest nat. what þing quod I.
¶ by whiche gouerment quod she þat þis worlde is
gouerned. Me remembriþ it wel quod I. and I confesse
wel þat I ne wist[e] it nat ¶ But al be it so þat
I se now from afer what þou purposest ¶ Algates I
desire ȝit to herkene it of þe more pleynely. ¶ þou ne
wendest nat quod she a litel here byforne þat men
sholden doute þat þis worlde is gouerned by god.
¶ Certys quod 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
shortly answere þe by what resouns I am brouȝt to þis.
¶ þis worlde quod I of so many dyuerse and contrarious
parties ne myȝten neuer han ben assembled in o forme.
but yif þere ne were oon þat conioigned so many[e
diuerse] þinges. ¶ And þe same diuersite of hire
natures þat so discordeden þat oon fro þat oþer most[e]
departen and vnioignen þe þinges þat ben conioigned.
yif þere ne were oon þat contened[e] þat he haþ conioigned
and ybounde. 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.
þat ordeyned[e] and disposed[e] þise diuersites of
moeuynges. ¶ 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. þan
seide she. syn þou felest þus þise þinges quod she. I
trowe þat I haue lytel more to done. þat þou myȝty of
wilfulnesse hool and sounde ne se eftsones þi contre.

GOD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT.

¶ But lat vs loken þe þinges þat we han purposed her-byforn.
¶ Haue I nat noumbred and seid quod she
þat suffisaunce is in blisfulnesse. and we han accorded
þat god is and þilke same blisfulnesse. ¶ yis forsoþe quod
I. and þat to gouerne þis worlde quod she. ne shal he
neuer han nede of none helpe fro wiþoute. for ellys yif
he had[de] nede of any helpe. he ne sholde not haue
[no] ful suffisaunce. ȝis þus it mot nedes be quod I.
¶ þan ordeyneþ he by hym self al oon alle þinges quod
she. þat may nat ben denied quod I. ¶ And I haue
shewed þat god is þe same good. ¶ It remembreþ me
wel quod I. ¶ þan ordeineþ he alle þinges by þilke
goode quod she. Syn he whiche we han accorded to
ben good gouerneþ alle þingus 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 ¶ I accorde
me gretly quod I. and I aperceiuede a litel here byforn
þat þou woldest seyne þus. Al be it so þat it were by
a þinne suspecioun. I trowe it wel quod she. ¶ For as
I trowe þou leedest nowe more ententifly þine eyen to
loken þe verray goodes ¶ but naþeles þe þinges þat I
shal telle þe ȝit ne sheweþ nat lasse to loken. what is
þat quod I. ¶ So as men trowen quod she and þat
ryȝtfully þat god gouerneþ alle þinges by þe keye of his
goodnesse. ¶ And alle þise same þinges as I [haue]
tauȝt þe. hasten hem by naturel entencioun to comen
to goode þer may no man douten. þat þei ne ben
gouerned uoluntariely. and þat þei ne conuerten [hem]
nat of her owen wille to þe wille of hire ordenour.

ALL THINGS SUBMIT TO GOD.

as þei þat ben accordyng and enclinynge to her gouernour
and her kyng. ¶ It mot nedys be so quod. I.
*¶ For þe realme ne sholde not seme blisful ȝif þere were a ȝok
of mysdrawynges in diuerse parties ne þe sauynge of
obedient þinges ne sholde nat be. þan is þere no þing
quod she þat kepiþ hys nature; þat enforceþ hym to
gone aȝeyne god. ¶ No quod. I. ¶ And if þat any þing
enforced[e] hym to wiþstonde god. myȝt[e] it auayle at
þe laste aȝeyns hym þat we han graunted to ben al
myȝty by þe ryȝt of blisfulnesse. ¶ Certis quod I al
outerly it ne myȝt[e] nat auaylen hym. þan is þere no
þing quod she þat eyþer wol or may wiþstonde to þis
souereyne good. ¶ I trowe nat quod. I ¶ þan is
þilke þe souereyne good quod she þat alle þingus
gouerneþ strongly and ordeyneþ hem softly. þan seide I
þus. I delite me quod I nat oonly in þe endes or in þe
sommes of [the] resouns þat þou hast concludid and
proued. ¶ But þilke wordes þat þou vsest deliten me
moche more. ¶ So at þe last[e] fooles þat somtyme
renden greet[e] þinges auȝten ben asshamed of hem
self. ¶ þat is to seyne þat we fooles þat reprehenden
wickedly þe þingus þat touchen goddes gouernaunce we
auȝten ben asshamed of oure self. As I þat seide god
refuseþ oonly þe werkes of men. and ne entremetiþ nat
of hem. p. þou hast wel herd quod 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
geauntes. as it was worþi. ¶ But wilt þou þat we
ioygnen togedre þilke same resouns. for perauenture of
swiche coniunccioun may sterten vp some faire sperkele
of soþe ¶ Do quod I as þe list. wenest þou quod she
þat god ne is almyȝty. no man is in doute of it. Certys
quod I no wyȝt ne defendiþ it if he be in hys mynde.

EVIL HAS NO EXISTENCE.

but he quod she þat is al myȝty þere nis no þing þat he
ne may do. þat is soþe quod I. May god done yuel
quod she. nay for soþe quod. I. ¶ þan is yuel no þing
quod she. ¶ Syn þat he ne may not done yuel þat
may done alle þinges. scornest þou me quod. I. or ellys
pleyest þou or deceiuest þou me. þat hast so wouen me
wiþ þi resouns. 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 replicacioun of wordes a
maner wondirful cercle or envirounynge of symplicite
deuyne. ¶ For certys a litel her byforne whan þou bygunne
atte blisfulnesse þou seidest þat it is souereyne
good. and seidest þat it is set in souereyne god. and þat
god is þe ful[le] blisfulnesse. for whiche þou ȝaf[e] me
as a couenable ȝifte. þat is to seyne þat no wyȝt nis
blisful. but yif he be good al so þer wiþ and seidest
eke þat þe forme of goode is þe substaunce of god. and
of blisfulnesse. and seidest þat þilke same oone is þilke
same goode þat is requered and desired of al þe kynde
of þinges. and þou proeuedest in disputynge þat god
gouerneþ alle [the] þinges of þe worlde by þe gouernementys
of bountee. and seydest þat alle þinges wolen
ybeyen to hym. and seidest þat þe nature of yuel nis
no þing. and þise þinges ne shewedest þou nat wiþ no
resouns ytake fro wiþoute but by proues in cercles and
homelyche knowen. ¶ þe whiche proeues drawen to hem
self hir feiþ and hir accorde eueriche [of] hem of oþer. þan
seide she þus. I ne scorne þe nat ne pleye ne desseyue
þe. but I haue shewed to þe þinge þat is grettest ouer
alle þinges by þe ȝifte of god þat we some tyme prayden

GOD IS LIKE A SPHERE.

¶ 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 strange þinges in hym. but
ryȝt as parmaynws 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 substaunce kepiþ it self wiþ outen
moeuynge. þat *is to seyne þat it ne moeuiþ neuere mo.
and ȝitte it moeueþ alle oþer þinges. but na-þeles yif I
[haue] stered resouns þat ne ben nat taken fro wiþ oute
þe compas of þe þinge of whiche we treten. but resouns
þat ben bystowed wiþ inne 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.

2875, 2877 lost[e]—loste

2878 burden—burdene

2879 look[e]—looke

2880 firste—fyrst

2883 whiche—which
gouerment—gouernement
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

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

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—with-stondyn
þis souereyne—his souereyn

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

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—euerich
[of]—from C.

3004 þe þinge—the the thing

3005 ȝifte—yift
some tyme prayden—whilom preyeden

3006 [the]—from C.

3007 swiche—swich

3009 parmaynws—a parmanides

3011 worlde—world

3012 while—whil
wiþ outen—with owte

3013 seyne—seyn

3014 ȝitte—yit
oþer—oothre

3015 [haue]—from C.

3016 whiche—which

3017 wiþ inne—with in

3020 cosynes—MS. conceyued, C. cosynes
þo—þe
whiche—which

THE POWER OF MUSIC.

Felix Qui Poterit. Et Cet Er A.

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. ¶ þe poete of trace [orpheus] þat somtyme
hadde ryȝt greet sorowe for þe deeþ of hys wijf. aftir þat
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 lyouns to herkene his songe.
and had[de] maked þat þe hare was nat agast of þe
hounde whiche þat was plesed by hys songe. so þat
whane þe most[e] ardaunt loue of hys wijf brende þe
entrailes of his brest. ne þe songes þat hadde ouer
comen alle þinges ne myȝten nat assuage hir lorde
orpheus. ¶ He pleyned[e] hym of þe godes þat weren
cruel to hym. he wente hym to þe houses of helle and
þere he tempred[e] hys blaundissyng songes by resounyng
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.
and he song wiþ as mychel as he myȝt[e] of
wepynge. and wiþ as myche as loue þat doubled[e] his
sorwe myȝt[e] ȝeuen hym and teche hym in his seke
herte. ¶ And he commoeuede þe helle and requered[e]
and souȝte by swete preiere þe lordes of soules in helle
of relesynge. þat is to seyne to ȝelden hym hys wif.
¶ Cerberus þe porter of helle wiþ his þre heuedes was
cauȝt and al abaist for þe new[e] songe. and þe þre goddesses
furijs and vengerisse of felonies þat tourmenten
and agasten þe soules by anoye wexen sorweful and sory
and wepen teres for pitee. þan was nat þe heued of
Ixione ytourmented by þe ouerþrowing whele. ¶ And
tantalus þat was destroied by þe woodnesse of longe
þrust dispiseþ þe flodes to drynke. 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.

FIX NOT THE THOUGHTS ON EARTHLY THINGS.

¶ Atte þe laste þe lorde and Iuge of soules was moeued
to misericordes and cried[e] we ben ouer comen quod
he. yif[e] we to orpheus his wijf to bere hym compaignye
he haþ welle I-bouȝt hir by his faire songe and
his ditee. but we wil putten a lawe in þis. and couenaunt
in þe ȝifte. þat is to seyne. þat til he be out of
helle yif he loke byhynden hym [þat] hys wijf shal
comen aȝeine to vs ¶ but what is he þat may ȝeue a
lawe to loueres. loue is a gretter lawe and a strengere to
hym self þan any lawe þat men may ȝeuen. ¶ 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
lost[e] hir and was deed. ¶ þis fable apperteineþ 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. ¶ For who so þat euere be so ouer
comen 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
seyne to lowe þinges of þe erþe.

EXPLICIT LIBER TERCIUS.

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. commoeuede

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

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—souereyn god

3073 put[te]—putte

3074 setteþ—sette

3075 haþ—MS. haþe

THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL.