*Incipit Liber Quartus

Hec Cum Philosophia Dignitate Uult Us .

Whanne philosophie hadde songen softly and delitably
þe forseide þinges kepynge þe dignitee of hir
choere in þe weyȝte of hir wordes. I þan þat ne hadde
nat al outerly forȝeten þe wepyng and mournyng
þat was set in myne herte for-brek þe entencioun of hir
þat entended[e] ȝitte to seyne oþer þinges. ¶ Se quod
I. þou þat art gideresse of verray lyȝte þe þinges þat þou
hast seid [me] hider to ben to me so clere and so shewyng
by þe deuyne lokyng of hem and by þi resouns þat
þei ne mowe nat ben ouercomen. ¶ And þilke þingus
þat þou toldest me. al be it so þat I hadde som tyme
fo[r]ȝeten hem for [the] sorwe of þe wronge þat haþ ben
don to me. ȝit naþeles þei ne were nat alouterly vnknowen
to me. but þis same is namly a gret cause of
my sorwe. þat so as þe gouernoure of þinges is goode.

yif þat yuelys mowen ben by any weyes. or ellys yif
þat yuelys passen wiþ outen punyssheinge. þe whiche
þinge oonly how worþi it is to ben wondred vpon. þou
considerest it weel þi self certeynly. but ȝitte to þis
þing þere is an oþer þing y-ioigned more to ben ywondred
vpon. ¶ For felonie is emperisse and flowreþ ful of
rycchesse. and vertues nis nat al oonly wiþ outen medes.
but it is cast vndir and fortroden vndir þe feet of felonous
folk. and it abieþ þe tourmentes in sted of
wicked felouns ¶ Of al[le] whiche þing þer nis no wyȝt
þat [may] merueyllen ynouȝ ne compleyne þat swiche
þinges ben don in þe regne of god þat alle þinges woot.
and alle þinges may and ne wool nat but only goode
þinges. ¶ þan seide she þus. certys quod she þat were
a grete meruayle and an enbaissynge wiþouten ende.
and wel more horrible þan alle monstres yif it were as
þou wenest. þat is to sein. þat in þe ryȝt ordeyne house
of so mochel a fader and an ordenour of meyne. þat þe
vesseles þat ben foule and vyle sholde ben honoured
and heried. and þe precious uesseles sholde ben defouled
and vyle. but it nis nat so. For yif þe þinges
þat I haue concluded a litel here byforne ben kept hoole
and vnraced. þou shalt wel knowe by þe auctorite of
god. of þe whos regne I speke þat certys þe good[e]
folk ben alwey myȝty. and shrewes ben alwey yuel and
feble. ne þe vices ben neuere mo wiþ outen peyne; ne
þe vertues ne ben nat wiþ outen mede. and þat blisfulnesses
comen alwey to goode folke. and infortune comeþ
alwey to wicked folke. ¶ And þou shalt wel knowe
many[e] þinges of þis kynde þat sholle cessen þi pleyntes.

and stedfast þe wiþ stedfast saddenesse. ¶ And for þou
hast seyn þe forme of þe verray blisfulnesse by me þat
[haue] somtyme I-shewed it þe. And þou hast knowen
in whom blysfulnesse is set. alle þinges I treted þat I
trowe ben nessessarie to put[te] furþe ¶ I shal shewe
þe. þe weye þat shal brynge þe aȝeyne vnto þi house
and I shal ficche feþeres in þi þouȝt by whiche it may
arysen in heyȝte. so þat al tribulacioun don awey þou
by my gidyng & by my paþe and by my sledes shalt
mowen retourne hool and sounde in to þi contre.

3078 softly—softely

3080 choere in—cheere and

3082 set—MS. sette, C. set
myne—Myn
for-brek—MS. for-breke, C. Forbrak

3083 entended[e]—entendede

3084 lyȝte—lyht

3085 seid—MS. seide, C. seid
[me]—from C.

3086 þi—the

3087 mowe—mowen

3088 som tyme—whilom

3089 [the]—from C.
wronge—wrong
haþ—MS. haþe

3090 don—MS. done, C. don
were—weeren

3091 namly—namely

3092 goode—good

3094 wiþ outen—with owte

3095 þinge—thing

3097 þere—ther
ben ywondred—be wondryd

3098 flowreþ—MS. folweþ, C. flowrith

3099 rycchesse—Rychesses
vertues—vertu
wiþ outen—with owte

3101 in sted—in stide

3102 wicked—wikkede
al[le]—alle
þing—thinges

3103 [may]—from C.

3104 don—MS. done, C. doon

3105 wool—wole
goode—good

3107 grete—gret
enbaissynge—enbasshinge

3108 alle—al

3109 ordeyne house—ordenee hows

3111, 3113 vyle—vyl

3112 heried—he heryed
sholde—sholden

3113 þe—tho

3114 here byforne—her byforn
kept—MS. kepte, C. kept

3116 good[e]—goode

3117 alwey (2)——feble—alwey owt cast and feble

3118, 3119 wiþ outen—with owte

3119 vertues—vertuus

3122 many[e]—manye
sholle cessen—shollen cesen

3123 stedfast——stedfast—strengthyn the with stidfast

3124 seyn—MS. seyne, C. seyn

3125 [haue]—from C.
somtyme—whilom

3126 set—MS. sette, C. I-set

3127 put[te] furþe—putten forth

3128 weye—wey
brynge—bryngen
þi house—thin hows

3129 ficche—fycchen

3130 arysen—areysen
don—MS. done, C. ydoñ

3131 paþe—paath
shalt mowen—shal mowe

3132 sounde—sownd

VIRTUE NEVER GOES UNREWARDED.

Su N T Etenim Penne. Et C Etera .

I Haue for soþe swifte feþeres þat surmounten þe heyȝt
of þe heuene whan þe swifte þouȝt haþ cloþed it self.
in þo feþeres it dispiseþ þe hat[e]ful erþes. and surmounteþ
þe heyȝenesse of þe greet[e] eyir. and it seiþ þe
cloudes by-hynde hir bak and passeþ þe heyȝt of þe
regioun of þe fire þat eschaufiþ by þe swifte moeuyng of
þe firmament. til þat she a-reisiþ hir in til þe houses þat
beren þe sterres. and ioygneþ hir weyes wiþ þe sonne
phebus. and felawshipeþ þe weye of þe olde colde
saturnus. and she ymaked a knyȝt of þe clere sterre.
þat is to seyne þat þe soule is maked goddys knyȝt by
þe sekyng of treuþe to comen to þe verray knowlege of
god. and þilke soule renne[þ] by þe cercle *of þe sterres
in alle þe places þere as þe shynyng nyȝt is depeynted.
þat is to seyne þe nyȝt þat is cloudeles. for on nyȝtes þat
ben cloudeles it semeþ as þe heuene were peynted wiþ
dyuerse ymages of sterres. and whan þe soule haþ gon
ynouȝ she shal forleten þe last[e] poynt of þe heuene.

VICE IS ALWAYS PUNISHED.

and she shal pressen and wenden on þe bak of þe swifte
firmament. and she shal ben maked perfit of þe dredefulle
clerenesse of god. ¶ þere haldeþ þe lorde of kynges
þe ceptre of his myȝt and attempereþ þe gouernementes
of þis worlde. and þe shynynge iuge of þinges stable in
hym self gouerneþ þe swifte carte. þat is to seyne þe
circuler moeuyng of [the] sonne. and yif þi weye ledeþ
þe aȝeyne so þat þou be brouȝt þider. þan wilt þou seye
now þat þat is þe contre þat þou requeredest of whiche þou
ne haddest no mynde. but now it remenbreþ me wel
here was I born. here wil I fastne my degree. here wil
I dwelle. but yif þe lyke þan to loken on þe derkenesse
of þe erþe þat þou hast for-leten. þan shalt þou seen þat
þise felonous tyrauntes þat þe wrecched[e] poeple dredeþ
now shule ben exiled from þilke faire contre.

3133 heyȝt of þe heuene—heyhte of heuene

3134 haþ—MS. haþe

3136 heyȝenesse——eyir—Roundnesse of the grete ayr
seiþ—seth

3137 hir—his

3138 fire—Fyr
eschaufiþ—MS. eschaufiþe

3139 she—he
hir—hym

3140 hir—his

3141 weye—wey
þe——saturnus—MS. saturnus þe olde colde

3142 saturnus—saturnis
she—he

3143 soule—thowght

3144 treuþe—trowthe
knowlege—knoleche

3145 soule—thoght

3146 depeynted—painted

3149-50 and whan——she shal—and whanne he hath I-doon there I-nowh he shal

3149 haþ—MS. haþe

3150 þe last[e]——heuene—the laste heuene

3151-2 she—he

3152-3 of þe——of god—of the worshipful lyht of god

3153 þere haldeþ—ther halt

3155 þis worlde—the world

3156 carte—cart or wayn

3157 [the]—from C.

3159 whiche—which

3161 here (1, 2, 3)—her
born—MS. borne, C. born
wil (1)—wol
wil (2)—wole

3162 lyke—liketh
derkenesse—dyrknesses

3164 wrecched[e]—wrecchede

3165 shule—shollen
from—fro

THE GOOD ARE ALWAYS STRONG.

Tunc Ego Pape Inq Ua M. Et C Etera .

ÞAnne seide I þus. [owh] I wondre me þat þou by-hetest
me so grete þinges. ne I ne doute nat þat þou
ne mayst wel performe þat þou by-hetest. but I preie þe
oonly þis. þat þou ne tarie nat to telle me þilke þinges
þat þou hast meoued. first quod she þou most nedes
knowen. þat good[e] folk ben al wey strong[e] and
myȝty. and þe shrewes ben feble and desert and naked
of alle strengþes. and of þise þinges certys eueryche of
hem is declared and shewed by oþer. ¶ For so as good
and yuel ben two contraries. yif so be þat goode be
stedfast. þan sheweþ þe fieblesse of yuel al openly. and
yif þou knowe clerely þe freelnesse of yuel. þe stedfastnesse
of goode is knowen. but for as moche as þe fey of
my sentence shal be þe more ferme and haboundaunt. I
wil goon by þat oon wey and by þat oþer and I wil conferme
þe þinges þat ben purposed now on þis side and
now on þat syde. ¶ Two þinges þer ben in whiche þe
effect of alle þe dedes of man kynde standiþ. þat is to
seyn. wil and power. and yif þat oon of þise two fayleþ
þere nis no þing þat may be don. for yif þat wil lakkeþ
þere nys no wyȝt þat vndirtakeþ to done þat he wol not
don. and yif power fayleþ þe wille nis but in ydel and
stant for nauȝt. and þer of comeþ it þat yif þou se a
wyȝt þat wolde geten þat he may nat geten. þou mayst
nat douten þat power ne fayleþ hym to hauen þat he
wolde. ¶ þis is open and clere quod I. ne it may nat
ben denyed in no manere. and yif þou se a wyȝt quod
she. þat haþ don þat he wolde don þou nilt nat douten
þat he ne haþ had power to done it. no quod. I. and in
þat. þat euery wyȝt may. in þat þat men may holden
hym myȝty. as who seiþ in as moche as a man is myȝty
to done a þing. in so moche men halden hym myȝty.
and in þat þat he ne may. in þat men demen hym to
ben feble. I confesse it wel quod I. Remembriþ þe quod
she þat I. haue gadred and shewed by forseide resouns
þat al þe entencioun of þe wil of mankynde whiche þat
is lad by diuerse studies hastiþ to comen to blisfulnesse.
¶ It remembreþ me wel quod I þat it hath ben shewed.

THE IMPOTENCY OF THE WICKED.

and recordeþ þe nat þan quod she. þat blisfulnesse is
þilke same goode þat men requeren. so þat whan þat
blisfulnesse is requered *of alle. þat goode [also] is
requered and desired of al. It recordeþ me wel quod I.
for haue it gretly alwey ficche[d] in my memorie. alle
folk þan quod she goode and eke badde enforcen hem
wiþ oute difference of entencioun to comen to goode.
þat is a uerray conse­quence quod I. and certeyne is quod
she þat by þe getyng of goode ben men ymaked goode.

þis is certeyne quod. I. ¶ þan geten goode men þat þei
desiren. so semeþ it quod I. but wicked[e] folk quod
she yif þei geten þe goode þat þei desiren þei [ne]
mowen nat ben wicked. so is it quod .I. ¶ þan so as
þat oon and þat oþer [quod she] desiren good. and þe
goode folk geten good and nat þe wicked folk ¶ þan
nis it no doute þat þe goode folk ne ben myȝty and þe
wicked folk ben feble. ¶ who so þat euer quod I
douteþ of þis. he ne may nat considre þe nature of
þinges. ne þe conse­quence of resoun. and ouer þis quod she.

THE WICKED DO NOT SEEK ARIGHT THE SUPREME GOOD.

¶ yif þat þer ben two þinges þat han o same
purpos by kynde. and þat one of hem pursueþ and performeþ
þilke same þinge by naturel office. and þat oþer
ne may nat done þilk naturel office. but folweþ by
oþer manere þan is couenable to nature ¶ Hym þat
acomplisiþ hys purpos kyndely. and ȝit he ne acomplisiþ
nat hys owen purpos. wheþer of þise two demest
þou for more myȝty. ¶ yif þat I coniecte quod .I. þat
þou wilt seye algates. ȝit I desire to herkene it more
pleynely of þe. þou nilt nat þan denye quod she þat þe
moeuementȝ of goynge nis in men by kynde. no for soþe
quod I. ne þou ne doutest nat quod she þat þilke naturel
office of goynge ne be þe office of feet. I ne doute
it nat quod .I. þan quod she yif þat a wyȝt be myȝty to
moeue and goþ vpon hys feet. and anoþer to whom
þilke naturel office of feet lakkeþ. enforceþ hym to gone
crepynge vpon hys handes. ¶ whiche of þise two auȝte
to ben holden more myȝty by ryȝt. knyt furþe þe remenaunt
quod I. ¶ For no wyȝt ne douteþ þat he þat
may gone by naturel office of feet. ne be more myȝty
þan he þat ne may nat ¶ but þe souereyne good quod
she þat is euenlyche purposed to þe good folk and to
badde. þe good folke seken it by naturel office of
uertues. and þe shrewes enforcen hem to geten it by
dyuerse couetise of erþely þinges. whiche þat nis no
naturel office to geten þilke same souereyne goode.

trowest þou þat it be any oþer wyse. nay quod .I. for þe
consequence is open and shewynge of þinges þat I haue
graunted. ¶ þat nedes goode folk moten ben myȝty.
and shrewes feble and vnmyȝty. ¶ þou rennest aryȝt
byfore me quod she. and þis is þe iugement þat is to
seyn. ¶ I iuge of þe ryȝt as þise leches ben wont forto
hopen of seke folk whan þei aperceyuen þat nature is
redressed and wiþstondeþ to þe maladie. ¶ But for I
see þe now al redy to þe vndirstandynge I shal shewe
þe more þilke and continuel resouns. ¶ For loke now
how gretly shewiþ þe feblesse and infirmite of wicked
folke. þat ne mowen nat come to þat hire naturel
entencioun ledeþ hem. and ȝitte almost þilk naturel
entencioun constreineþ hem. ¶ and what were to deme
þan of shrewes. yif þilke naturel helpe hadde for-leten
hem. ¶ þe whiche naturel helpe of entencioun goþ alwey
byforne hem. and is so grete þat vnneþ it may be
ouercomen. ¶ Considre þan how gret defaute of power
and how gret feblesse þere is in grete felonous folk as
who seiþ þe gretter þinges þat ben coueited and þe desire
nat accomplissed of þe lasse myȝt is he þat coueiteþ it
and may nat acomplisse. ¶ And forþi philosophie seiþ
þus by souereyne good. ¶ Sherewes ne requere nat
lyȝt[e] medes ne veyne gaines whiche þei ne may nat
folwen ne holden. but þei faylen of þilke some of þe
heyȝte of þinges þat is to seyne souereyne good. ne þise
wrecches ne comen nat to þe effect of souereyne good.
*þe whiche þei enforcen hem oonly to geten by nyȝtes
and by dayes. ¶ In þe getyn[g] of whiche goode þe
strengþe of good folk. is ful wel ysen. For ryȝt so as
þou myȝtest demen hym myȝty of goynge þat goþ on
hys feet til he myȝt[e] come to þilke place fro þe whiche
place þere ne lay no wey forþer to be gon. Ryȝt so
most þou nedes demen hym for ryȝt myȝty þat getiþ
and atteiniþ to þe ende of alle þinges þat ben to desire.
by-ȝonde þe whiche ende þat þer nis no þing to desire.

THE WICKED HAVE NO REAL EXISTENCE.

¶ Of whiche power of good folk men may conclude þat
wicked men semen to ben bareyne and naked of alle
strengþe. For whi forleten þei vertues and folwen
vices. nis it nat for þat þei ne knowen nat þe goodes.
¶ But what þing is more feble and more caitif þan is þe
blyndenesse of ignoraunce. or ellys þei knowen ful wel
whiche þinges þat þei auȝten to folwen ¶ but lecherye
and couetise ouerþroweþ hem mysturned. ¶ and certis
so doþ distemperaunce to feble men. þat ne mowen nat
wrastle aȝeins þe vices ¶ Ne knowen þei nat þan wel
þat þei foreleten þe good wilfully. and turnen hem vilfully
to vices. ¶ And in þis wise þei ne forleten nat
oonly to ben myȝty. but þei forleten al outerly in any
wise forto ben ¶ For þei þat forleten þe comune fyn of
alle þinges þat ben. þei for-leten also þerwiþ al forto
ben. and perauenture it sholde semen to som folk þat
þis were a merueile to seyne þat shrewes whiche þat
contienen þe more partie of men ne ben nat. ne han no
beynge. ¶ but naþeles it is so. and þus stant þis þing
for þei þat ben shrewes I denye nat þat þei ben shrewes.

but I denye and sey[e] symplely and pleynly þat þei
[ne] ben nat. ne han no beynge. for ryȝt as þou myȝtest
seyn of þe careyne of a man þat it were a ded man.
¶ but þou ne myȝtest nat symplely callen it a man.
¶ So graunt[e] I wel for soþe þat vicious folk ben
wicked. but I ne may nat graunten absolutely and
symplely þat þei ben. ¶ For þilk þing þat wiþ
holdeþ ordre and kepiþ nature. þilk þing is and haþ
beynge. but þat þing þat faileþ of þat. þat is to seyne
he þat forletiþ naturel ordre he for-letiþ þilk beyng
þat is set in hys nature. but þou wolt sein þat shrewes
mowen. ¶ Certys þat ne denye I nat. ¶ but certys
hir power ne descendeþ nat of strengþe but of feblesse.
for þei mowen don wickednesses. þe whiche þei ne
myȝten nat don yif þei myȝten dwelle in þe forme and
in þe doynge of goode folke. ¶ And þilke power
sheweþ ful euydently þat þei ne mowen ryȝt nauȝt.

POWER, AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE CHIEF GOOD.

¶ For so as I haue gadered and proued a lytel her byforn
þat yuel is nauȝt. and so as shrewes mowen oonly
but shrewednesse. þis conclusioun is al clere. þat
shrewes ne mowen ryȝt nat to han power. and for as
moche as þou vndirstonde whiche is þe strengþe þat is
power of shrewes. I haue diffinised a lytel here byforn
þat no þing nis so myȝty as souereyne good ¶ þat is
soþe quod .I. [and thilke same souereyn good may don
non yuel // Certes no quod I] ¶ Is þer any wyȝt þan
quod she þat weniþ þat men mowen don alle þinges.
No man quod .I. but yif he be out of hys witte. ¶ but
certys sherewes mowen doñ yuel quod she. ¶ ȝe wolde
god quod I þat þei ne myȝten don none. þat quod she
so as he þat is myȝty to done oonly but good[e] þinges
may don alle þinges. and þei þat ben myȝty to done
yuel[e] þinges ne mowen nat alle þinges. þan is þis open
þing and manifest þat þei þat mowen don yuel ben of
lasse power. and ȝitte to proue þis conclusioun þere
helpeþ me þis þat I haue shewed here byforne. þat al
power is to be noumbred amonge þinges þat men auȝten
requere. and haue shewed þat alle þinges þat auȝten ben
desired ben referred to good ryȝt as to a manere heyȝte
of hyr nature. ¶ But for to mowen don yuel and
felonye ne may nat ben referred to good. þan nis nat
yuel of þe noumbre of þinges þat auȝten. *be desired.

but al power auȝt[e] ben desired and requered. ¶ þan is
it open and cler þat þe power ne þe moeuyng of shrewes
nis no powere. and of alle þise þinges it sheweþ wel þat
þe goode folk ben certeynly myȝty. and þe shrewes ben
douteles vnmyȝty ¶ And it is clere and open þat þilke
sentence of plato is uerray and soþe. þat seyþ þat oonly
wisemen may [doon] þat þei desiren. and shrewes
mowen haunten þat hem lykeþ. but þat þei desiren þat
is to seyne to comen to souereyne good þei ne han no
power to acomplissen þat. ¶ For shrewes don þat hem
list whan by þo þinges in whiche þei deliten þei wenen
to atteyne to þilke good þat þei desiren. but þei ne geten
ne atteynen nat þer to. ¶ for vices ne comen nat to
blisfulnesse.

3166 [owh]—from C.

3171 good[e]—goode
strong[e]—stronge

3172 desert—dishert

3173 eueryche—euerich

3175 goode—good

3176 stedfast—stidefast

3177 freelnesse—frelenesse
stedfastnesse—stidefastnesse

3178 goode—good

3180 oon—oo
wil (2)—wole

3185-6 þere—ther

3185 don—MS. done, C. don

3186 done—don

3187 wille—wil

3188 comeþ—comht

3189 mayst—MS. mayste, C. mayst

3191 clere—cler

3192 denyed—denoyed

3193-4 haþ—MS. haþe

3193 don (both)—MS. done, C. doon

3194 had—MS. hadde, C. had
done—doon

3196 as moche—so moche

3197 done—doon
moche—mochel
halden—halt

3201 whiche—which

3202 lad—MS. ladde, C. lad

3203 it hath ben—MS. I herde þe, C. it hath ben

3205-6 goode—good

3206 [also]—from C.

3207 al—alle
It——I—it ne recordeth me nat quod I

3210-12(1)-15 goode—good

3214 wicked[e]—wikkede

3215 [ne]—from C.

3216 mowen—mowe

3217 [quod she]—from C.

3218 wicked—wilke (? wikke)

3220 wicked—wikkede

3226 þilk—thilke

3229 owen—owne

3231 wilt—wolt
herkene—herkne

3232 pleynely—pleynly
denye—denoye

3233 moeuementȝ—Moeuement

3237 goþ—MS. goþe
hys—hise

3238 gone—goon

3239 hys—hise
whiche—which

3240 more—the Moore
furþe—forth

3242 gone—gon

3245 good—goode

3246 uertues—vertuus

3247 whiche—which

3248 goode—good

3253 byfore—by-forn

3254 forto—to

3255 seke—sike

3259 wicked—wikkede

3260 come—comyn

3261 þilk—thilke

3262 deme—demen

3263-4 helpe—help

3264 whiche—which
goþ—MS. goþe

3265 grete—gret
vnneþ—vnnethe
be ouercomen—ben ouercome

3267 þere—ther
grete—wikkede

3268 þinges—thing
ben—is

3271 Sherewes ne requere—ne shrewes ne requeren

3272 lyȝt[e]—lyhte
veyne—veyn
nat—omitted

3276 whiche—which

3277 getyn[g]—getinge
whiche goode—which good

3278 ysen—MS. and C. ysene

3279 goþ—MS. goþe

3280 myȝt[e]—myhte

3281 þere—ther
lay—laye
forþer—forthere
be—ben

3283 desire—desired

3284 þat—omitted

3285 whiche—the which
þat—þat the

3286 ben—be

3291 auȝten to folwen—owhten folwe

3293 doþ—MS. doþe, C. doth

3394 wrastle—wrastlen

3295 vilfully—wilsfully

3297 outerly—owtrely

3301 seyne—seyen

3304-5 denye—denoye

3305 sey[e] symplely—seye sympeli

3306 [ne]—from C.

3307 seyn—seyen

3309 graunt[e]—graunte

3311-12 þilk—thilke

3312 haþ—MS. haþe

3313 þat (1)—what
seyne—seyn

3314 þilk—thilke

3315 set—MS. sette, C. set

3316 denye—denoye

3318 don—MS. done, C. don

3319 myȝten (1)—myhte
dwelle—dwellin

3320 goode—good

3324 shrewednesse—shrewednesses
clere—cleer

3325 nat——power—nawht ne han no power

3326 whiche—which
þat is—of this

3327 here—her

3328 nis—is

3329 soþe—soth

3329, 3330 [and thilke——quod I]—from C.

3334 don—MS. done, C. don
none þat—non thanne

3335 done—doon
good[e]—goode

3336 don—MS. done, C. don
done—don

3337 yuel[e]—yuele
þis—it

3338 don—MS. done, C. don

3339 ȝitte—yit
þere—ther

3340 shewed here byforne—Ishewed her by-forn
al—alle

3341 amonge—among

3344 don—MS. done, C. don

3346 auȝten be—owhte ben

3347 al—alle
auȝt[e]—owhte

3351 clere—cler

3352 soþe—soth
þat seyþ—MS. but siþe, C. þat seyth

3353 [doon]—from C.

3355 seyne—seyn

3357 whiche—which

THE WICKED ARE UNHAPPY.

Quos Uides Sedere Celsos.

Who so þat þe couertures of her veyn apparailes
myȝt[e] strepen of þise proude kynges þat þou
seest sitten on heyȝe in her chayeres glyterynge in
shynynge purpre envyroned wiþ sorweful armures
manasyng wiþ cruel mouþe. blowyng by woodnesse of
herte. ¶ He sholde se þan þat ilke lordes beren wiþ
inne hir corages ful streyte cheynes for leccherye tormentiþ
hem on þat oon syde wiþ gredy venyms and
troublable Ire þat araiseþ in hem þe floodes of troublynges
tourmentiþ vpon þat oþer side hir þouȝt. or sorwe halt
hem wery or ycauȝt. or slidyng and disseyuyng hope
tourmentiþ hem. And þerfore syn þou seest on heed.
þat is to seyne oon tyraunt bere so many[e] tyrauntis.
þan ne doþ þilk tyraunt nat þat he desiriþ. syn he
is cast doune wiþ so many[e] wicked lordes. þat is to
seyn wiþ so many[e] vices. þat han so wicked lordshipes
ouer hym.

3361-63 her—hir

3362 myȝt[e]—myhte

3363 heyȝe—heygh

3364 sorweful—sorwful

3365 mouþe—Mowth

3366 se—seen
ilke—thilke

3368 on—in

3369 hem—hym

3371 disseyuyng—deceyuynge

3373 seyne—seyn
bere—beeren

3373-75-76 many[e]—manye

3373 tyrauntis—tyranyes

3374 doþ—MS. doþe
þilk—thilke

3375 doune—down
wicked—wikkede

3376 wicked—wikkedly

THEY DO NOT ESCAPE PUNISHMENT.

Vides Ne Igitur Quanto.

SEest þou nat þan in how gret filþe þise shrewes ben
ywrapped. and wiþ whiche cleernesse þise good
folk shynen. In þis sheweþ it wel þat to good folk ne
lakkeþ neuer mo hir medes. ne shrewes ne lakken
neuer mo tourmentis. for of alle þinges þat ben ydon
þilke þing for whiche any þing is doon. it semeþ as by
ryȝt þat þilke þing be þe mede of þat. as þus. ¶ yif a
man renneþ in þe stadie or in þe forlonge for þe corone.
þan lieþ þe mede in þe corone for whiche he renneþ.
¶ And I haue shewed þat blisfulnesse is þilke same
good for whiche þat alle þingus ben don. þan is þilke
same good purposed to þe werkes of mankynde ryȝt as
a comune mede. whiche mede ne may ben disseuered
fro good folk. for no wyȝt as by ryȝt fro þennes forþe
þat hym lakkiþ goodnesse ne shal ben cleped good.
For whiche þing folk of good[e] maneres her medes ne
forsaken hem neuer mo. For al be it so þat sherewes
waxen as wood as hem list aȝeynes good[e] folk. ȝitte
neuer þe les þe corone of wise men ne shal nat fallen
ne faden. ¶ For foreine shrewednesse ne bynymeþ
nat fro þe corages of good[e] folk hire propre honoure.

THE REWARD OF THE GOOD.

but yif þat any wyȝt reioiseþ hem of goodnesse þat þei
had[de] taken fro wiþoute. as who seiþ yif [þat] any
wyȝt had[de] hys goodnesse of any oþer man þan of
hym self. certys he þat ȝaf hym þilke goodnesse or
ellys som oþer wyȝt myȝt[e] bynym[e] it hym. but for
as moche as to euery wyȝt hys owen propre bounte
ȝeueþ hym hys mede. þan at arst shal he faylen of
mede whan he forletiþ to ben good. and at þe laste so
as alle medes ben requered for men wenen þat þei ben
good[e]. who is he þat wolde deme þat he þat is ryȝt
myȝty of goode were partles of mede. *and of what
mede shal he be gerdoned. certys of ryȝt faire mede
and ryȝt greet abouen alle medes. ¶ Remembre þe of
þilk noble corolarie þat I ȝaf þe a lytel here byforne.
and gadre it to gidre in þis manere. so as god hym self
is blisfulnesse. þan is it clere and certeyn. þat alle good
folk ben makid blisful for þei ben good[e]. and þilke
folk þat ben blisful it accordiþ and is couenable to ben
godde[s]. þan is þe mede of goode folk swiche. þat no
day [ne] shal enpeyren it. ne no wickednesse shal endirken
it. ne power of no wyȝt ne shal nat amenusen it
þat is to seyn to ben maked goddes. ¶ and syn it is
þus þat goode men ne faylen neuer mo of hire medes.
¶ certys no wise man ne may doute of þe vndepartable
peyne of shrewes. ¶ þat is to seyn þat þe peyne of
shrewes ne departiþ nat from hem self neuer mo.

VIRTUE EXALTS MANKIND.

¶ For so as goode and yuel and peyne and medes ben
contrarie it mot nedes ben þat ryȝt as we seen by-tiden
in gerdoun of goode. þat also mot þe peyne of yuel
answere by þe contrarie partye to shrewes. now þan so
as bounte and prowesse ben þe medes to goode folk.
also is shrewednesse it self torment to shrewes ¶ þan
who so þat euer is entecched and defouled wiþ yuel.
yif shrewes wolen þan preisen hem self may it semen
to hem þat þei ben wiþ outen partye of tourment. syn
þei ben swiche þat þe [vtteriste wikkednesse / þat is to
seyn wikkede thewes / which þat is the] outereste and
þe w[or]ste kynde of shrewednesse ne defouliþ nat ne
entecehiþ nat hem oonly but infectiþ and enuenemyþ
hem gretely ¶ And al so loke on shrewes þat ben þe
contrarie partye of goode men. how grete peyne felawshipeþ
and folweþ hem. ¶ For þou hast lerned a litel
here byforn þat al þing þat is and haþ beynge is oon.
and þilke same oon is good. þan is þis conse­quence þat
it semeþ wel. þat al þat is and haþ beynge is good. þis
is to seyne. as who seiþ þat beynge and vnite and
goodnesse is al oon. and in þis manere it folweþ þan.
þat al þing þat faileþ to ben good. it styntiþ forto be.
and forto haue any beynge. wher fore it is þat shrewes
stynten forto ben þat þei weren. but þilke oþer forme
of mankynde. þat is to seyne þe forme of þe body wiþ
oute. shewiþ ȝit þat þise shrewes were somtyme men.

HE WHO CEASES TO BE VIRTUOUS CEASES TO BE A MAN.

¶ wher fore whan þei ben peruerted and torned in to
malice. certys þan han þei forlorn þe nature of mankynde.
but so as oonly bounte and prowesse may enhawnse
euery man ouer oþer men. þan mot it nedes be
þat shrewes whiche þat shrewednesse haþ cast out of þe
condicioun of mankynde ben put vndir þe merite and
þe deserte of men. þan bitidiþ it þat yif þou seest a
wyȝt þat be transformed in to vices. þou ne mayst nat
wene þat he be a man. ¶ For ȝif he [be] ardaunt in
auarice. and þat he be a rauynour by violence of
foreine rychesse. þou shalt seyn þat he is lyke to a
wolf. and yif he be felonous and wiþ out reste and
exercise hys tonge to chidynges. þou shalt lykene hym
to þe hounde. and yif he be a preue awaitour yhid and
reioyseþ hym to rauysshe by wyles. þou shalt seyne
hym lyke to þe fox whelpes. ¶ And yif he be distempre
and quakiþ for ire men shal wene þat he bereþ
þe corage of a lyoun. and yif he be dredeful and fleynge
and dredeþ þinges þat ne auȝten nat ben dred. men
shal holde hym lyke to þe herte. and yif he be slowe
and astoned and lache. he lyueþ as an asse. and yif he
be lyȝt and vnstedfast of corage and chaungeþ ay his
studies. he is lickened to briddes. ¶ and yif he be
plounged in foule and vnclene luxuries. he is wiþholden
in þe foule delices of þe foule soowe. ¶ þan folweþ it
þat he þat forletiþ bountee and prowesse. he forletiþ to
ben a man. syn he ne may nat passe in to þe condicioun
of god. he is tourned in to a beest.

3379 whiche—which

3380 good—goode

3381 ne (2)—omitted

3383 whiche—which

3385 forlonge—forlong

3386-88-90 whiche—which

3391 forþe—forth

3393 whiche—which
good[e]—goode

3395 wood—woode
good[e]—goode

3396 les—leese
ne—omitted

3398 good[e]—goode

3399 reioiseþ—reioyse
hem—hym
þei had[de]—he hadde

3400 [þat]—from C.

3401 had[de]—hadde

3402 self—MS. selk

3403 myȝt[e] bynym[e]—myhte be-nyme

3404 owen—owne

3406 laste—last

3408 good[e]—goode
wolde—nolde

3409 goode—good
of (2)—of the

3411 greet—grete

3412 here byforne—her by-forn

3413 god—good

3414 is (1)—his
clere—cleer

3415 good[e]—goode

3417 godde[s]—goddes
swiche—swich

3418 [ne]—from C.
endirken—derken

3422 wise man—wysman
þe—omitted
vndepartable—MS. vndirpartable, C. vndepartable

3423 of (1)—of the

3428 answere—answery
þe—omitted

3434 [vtteriste——is the]—from C.

3438 gretely—gretly

3439 grete—gret

3441 al—alle
haþ—MS. haþe

3443 al—alle
haþ—MS. haþe

3446 al—alle

3447 haue—han

3448 stynten—MS. styntent

3450 were somtyme—weeren whilom

3452 forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. forlorn

3453 as—omitted
enhawnse—enhawsen

3455 whiche—which
haþ—MS. haþe

3459 [be]—from C.

3464 yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hidd

3465 seyne—seyn

3468 dredeful—dredful

3469 ben—to ben
dred—MS. dredde, C. dredd

3470 holde—holden
lyke—lyk
herte—hert
slowe—slowh

3472 vnstedfast—vnstidefast
his—hise

3475 þan—MS. þat, C. thanne

3477 passe—passen

*V[E]La Naricii Ducis.

Evrus þe wynde aryueþ þe sayles of vlixes duc of þe
contre of narice. and hys wandryng shippes by þe
see in to þe isle þere as Circe þe fayre goddesse douȝter
of þe sonne dwelleþ þat medlyþ to hir newe gestes
drynkes þat ben touched and maked wiþ enchauntmentȝ.
and after þat hir hande myȝty of þe herbes
had[de] chaunged hir gestes in to dyuerse maneres. þat
oon of hem is couered his face wiþ forme of a boor. þat
oþer is chaunged in to a lyoun of þe contre of marmorike.
and his nayles and his teþe wexen. ¶ þat
oþer of hem is newliche chaunged in to a wolf. and
howeliþ whan he wolde wepe. þat oþer goþ debonairly
in þe house as a tigre of Inde. but al be it so þat þe
godhed of mercurie þat is cleped þe bride of arcadie haþ
had mercie of þe duc vlixes byseged wiþ diuerse yueles
and haþ vnbounden hym fro þe pestilence of hys
oosteresse algates þe rowers and þe maryners hadden by
þis ydrawen in to hir mouþes and dronken þe wicked[e]
drynkes þei þat were woxen swyne hadden by þis
chaunged hire mete of brede forto ete acorns of ookes.
non of hir lymes ne dwelliþ wiþ hem hoole. but
þei han lost þe voys and þe body. Oonly hire þouȝt
dwelleþ wiþ hem stable þat wepiþ and bywailiþ þe
monstruous chaungynge þat þei suffren. ¶ O ouer lyȝt
hand. as who seiþ. ¶ O feble and lyȝt is þe hand of
Circes þe enchaunteresse þat chaungeþ þe bodies of folk
in to bestes to regarde and to comparisoun of mutacioun
þat is makid by vices. ne þe herbes of circes ne ben nat
myȝty. for al be it so þat þei may chaungen þe lymes
of þe body. ¶ algates ȝit þei may nat chaunge þe
hertes. for wiþ inne is yhid þe strengþe and þe vigour
of men in þe secre toure of hire hertys. þat is to seyn
þe strengþe of resoun. but þilke uenyms of vices to-drawen
a man to hem more myȝtily þan þe venym of
circes. ¶ For vices ben so cruel þat þei percen and
þoruȝ passen þe corage wiþ inne. and þouȝ þei ne anoye
nat þe body. ȝitte vices wooden to distroien men by
wounde of þouȝt.

3479 aryueþ—aryuede
vlixes—MS. vluxies, C. vlixes

3481 Circe—Circes

3483 enchauntmentȝ—enchauntementȝ

3484 hande—hand
of—ouer

3485 had[de]—hadde
gestes—MS. goostes, C. gestes

3486 boor—boere

3488 his (1)—hise
his teþe—hise teth

3489 newliche—neweliche

3490 goþ—MS. goþe

3491 house—hows

3492 bride—bryd
haþ—MS. haþe

3493 mercie—MS. mercurie, C. mercy

3494 haþ—MS. haþe

3495 oosteresse—oostesse

3496 wicked[e]—wikkede

3497 were woxen swyne—weeren wexen swyn

3498 chaunged—Ichaunged
brede—bred
forto—MS. and forto
ete acorns—eten akkornes

3499 hoole—hool

3501 wepiþ—MS. kepiþ, C. weepith

3502 monstruous—MS. monstronous, C. Monstruos

3504 Circes—MS. Cirtes
folk—folkys

3509 yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd

3515 wooden—MS. wolden, C. wooden

THE WICKED ARE TORMENTED BY A THREEFOLD WRETCHEDNESS.

Tunc Ego Fateor Inq Ua M.

Þan seide I þus I confesse and am aknowe quod I. ne
I ne se nat þat men may seyn as by ryȝt. þat
shrewes ne ben nat chaunged in to beestes by þe
qualite of hir soules. ¶ Al be it so þat þei kepen ȝitte
þe forme of þe body of mankynde. but I nolde nat of
shrewes of whiche þe þouȝt cruel woodeþ alwey in to
destruccioun of good[e] men. þat it were leueful to hem
to done þat. ¶ Certys quod she ne it nis nat leueful
to hem as I shal wel shewen þe in couenable place.

¶ But naþeles yif so were þat þilke þat men wenen ben
leueful for shrewes were bynomen hem. so þat þei ne
myȝten nat anoyen or don harme to goode men. ¶ Certys
a gret party of þe peyne to shrewes shulde ben allegged
and releued. ¶ For al be it so þat þis ne seme nat
credible þing perauenture to somme folk ȝit mot it
nedes be þat shrewes ben more wrecches and vnsely.
whan þei may don and performe þat þei coueiten [than
yif they myhte nat complyssen þat they coueyten]. ¶ For
yif so be þat it be wrecchednesse to wilne to don yuel;
þan is it more wrecchednesse to mowen don yuel.
wiþ oute whiche moeuyng þe wrecched wille sholde
languisshe wiþ oute effecte. ¶ þan syn þat eueryche of
þise þinges haþ hys wrecchednesse. þat is to seyne wil
to done yuel. and moeuynge to done yuel. it mot nedes
be. þat þei (shrewes) ben constreyned by þre vnselynesses
þat wolen and mowen and performen felonyes
and shrewednesses. ¶ I accorde me quod I. but I
desire gretely þat shrewes losten sone þilke vnselynesses.
þat is to seyne þat shrewes were despoyled of moeuyng
to don yuel. ¶ so shullen þei quod she. sonnere
perauenture þen þou woldest *or sonnere þen þei hem
self wenen to lakken mowynge to done yuel. ¶ For
þere nis no þing so late in so short boundes of þis lijf
þat is longe to abide. namelyche to a corage inmortel.
Of whiche shrewes þe grete hope and þe heye compassyngus
of shrewednesse is often destroyed by a
sodeyne ende or þei ben war. and þat þing establiþ to
shrewes þe ende of hir shrewednesse. ¶ For yif þat
shrewednesse makiþe wrecches. þan mot he nedes be
most wrecched þat lengest is a shrewe. þe whiche
wicked shrewes wolde ydemen aldirmost vnsely and
caytifs yif þat hir shrewednes ne were yfinissed. at þe
leste weye by þe outerest[e] deeþ. for [yif] I haue concluded
soþe of þe vnselynesse of shrewednesse. þan sheweþ
it clerely þat þilke shrewednesse is wiþ outen ende þe
whiche is certeyne to ben perdurable. ¶ Certys quod I
þis [conclusion] is harde and wonderful to graunte. ¶ But
I knowe wel þat it accordeþ moche to [the] þinges þat I
haue graunted her byforne. ¶ þou hast quod she þe ryȝt
estimacioun of þis. but who so euere wene þat it be an
harde þing to acorde hym to a conclusioun. it is ryȝt
þat he shewe þat somme of þe premisses ben fals. or
ellys he mot shewe þat þe colasioun of preposiciouns
nis nat spedful to a necessarie conclusion. ¶ and yif it
be nat so. but þat þe premisses ben ygranted þer nis
nat whi he sholde blame þe argument. for þis þing þat
I shal telle þe nowe ne shal not seme lasse wondirful.

þilke shrewednesse is wiþ outen ende (l. 3561):
text printed as shown, but may be an error for “wrecchednesse” as in Skeat; see sidenote (“eternal misery”).

THE WRETCHEDNESS OF THE WICKED IS DIMINISHED BY PUNISHMENT.

but of þe þinges þat ben taken al so it is necessarie as
who so seiþ it folweþ of þat whiche þat is purposed
byforn. what is þat quod I. ¶ certys quod she þat is
þat þat þise wicked shrewes ben more blysful or ellys
lasse wrecches. þat byen þe tourmentes þat þei han
deserued. þan yif no peyne of Iustice ne chastied[e]
hem. ne þis ne seye I nat now for þat any man myȝt[e]
þenk[e] þat þe maneres of shrewes ben coriged and
chastised by veniaunce. and þat þei ben brouȝt to þe
ryȝt wey by þe drede of þe tourment. ne for þat þei
ȝeuen to oþer folk ensample to fleyen from vices. ¶ But
I vndirstonde ȝitte [in] an oþer manere þat shrewes
ben more vnsely whan þei ne ben nat punissed al be it
so þat þere ne ben had no resoun or lawe of correccioun.
ne none ensample of lokynge. ¶ And what manere
shal þat ben quod I. ouþer þan haþ ben told here
byforn ¶ Haue we nat graunted þan quod she þat
good[e] folk ben blysful. and shrewes ben wrecches.
ȝis quod I. [thanne quod she] ȝif þat any good were
added to þe wrecchenesse of any wyȝt. nis he nat more
blisful þan he þat ne haþ no medelyng of goode in hys
solitarie wrecchednesse. so semeþ it quod I. and what
seyst þou þan quod she of þilke wrecche þat lakkeþ alle
goodes. so þat no goode nis medeled in hys wrecchednesse.
and ȝitte ouer alle hys wickednesse for whiche
he is a wrecche þat þer be ȝitte anoþer yuel anexid and
knyt to hym. shal not men demen hym more vnsely
þan þilke wrecche of whiche þe vnselynesse is re[le]ued
by þe participacioun of som goode. whi sholde he nat
quod I. ¶ þan certys quod she han shrewes whan þei
ben punissed somwhat of good anexid to hir wrecchednesse.
þat is to seyne þe same peyne þat þei suffren
whiche þat is good by þe resoun of Iustice. And whan
þilke same shrewes ascapen wiþ outen tourment. þan
han þei somwhat more of yuel ȝit ouer þe wickednesse
þat þei han don. þat is to seye defaute of peyne.
whiche defaute of peyne þou hast graunted is yuel.

¶ For þe desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it quod I.
¶ Moche more þan quod she ben shrewes vnsely
whan þei ben wrongfully delyuered fro peyne. þan
whan þei beþ punissed by ryȝtful vengeaunce. but þis is
open þing and clere þat it is ryȝt þat shrewes ben
punissed. and it is wickednesse and wrong þat þei
escapin vnpunissed. ¶ who myȝt[e] denye *þat quod I.
but quod she may any man denye. þat al þat is ryȝt nis
good. and also þe contrarie. þat alle þat is wrong nis
wicked. certys quod I þise þinges ben clere ynouȝ. and
þat we han concludid a litel here byforne. but I preye
þe þat þou telle me yif þou accordest to leten no tourment
to þe soules aftir þat þe body is dedid by þe deþe.
þis [is] to seyn. vndirstondest þou ouȝt þat soules han
any tourment after þe deþe of þe body. ¶ Certis quod
she ȝe and þat ryȝt grete. of whiche soules quod she I
trowe þat somme ben tourmentid by asprenesse of
peyne. and somme soules I trowe be excercised by a
purging mekenesse. but my conseil nys nat to determyne
of þis peyne. but I haue trauayled and told it
hider to. ¶ For þou sholdest knowe þat þe mowynge
[.i. myght] of shrewes whiche mowynge þe semeþ to
ben. vnworþi nis no mowynge. and eke of shrewes of
whiche þou pleynedest þat þei ne were nat punissed.
þat þou woldest seen þat þei ne weren neuer mo wiþ
outen þe torment of hire wickednesse. and of þe licence
of mowynge to done yuel. þat þou preidest þat it
myȝt[e] sone ben endid. and þat þou woldest fayne
lerne. þat it ne sholde nat longe endure. and þat
shrewes ben more vnsely yif þei were of lenger duryng.
and most vnsely yif þei weren perdurable. and after
þis I haue shewed þe þat more vnsely ben shrewes
whan þei escapen wiþ oute ryȝtful peyne. þan whan þei
ben punissed by ryȝtful uengeaunce. and of þis sentence
folweþ it þat þan ben shrewes constreyned atte laste wiþ
most greuous tourment. whan men wene þat þei ne ben
nat ypunissed. whan I considre þi resouns quod I. I.
ne trowe nat þat men seyn any þing more verrely. and
yif I tourne aȝeyn to þe studies of men. who is [he] to
whom it sholde seme þat [he] ne sholde nat only leuen
þise þinges. but eke gladly herkene hem. Certys quod
she so it is. but men may nat. for þei han hire eyen so
wont to derkenesse of erþely þinges. þat þei may nat
liften hem vp to þe lyȝt of clere soþefastnes. ¶ But
þei ben lyke to briddes of whiche þe nyȝt lyȝtneþ hyre
lookyng. and þe day blyndeþ hem. for whan men loken
nat þe ordre of þinges but hire lustes and talentȝ. þei
wene þat oþir þe leue or þe mowynge to done wickednesse
or ellys þe escaping wiþ oute peyne be weleful.

VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD.

but considere þe iugement of þe perdurable lawe. for if
þou conferme þi corage to þe beste þinges. þou ne hast
no nede to no iuge to ȝiuen þe pris or meede. for þou
hast ioigned þi self to þe most excellent þing. and yif
þou haue enclined þi studies to þe wicked þinges. ne
seek no foreyn wrekere out of þi self. for þou þi self
hast þrest þe in to wicked þinges. ryȝt as þou myȝtest
loken by dyuerse tymes þe foule erþe and þe heuene.
and þat alle oþer þinges stynten fro wiþ oute. so þat
þou [nere neyther in heuene ne in erthe] ne say[e] no
þing more. þan sholde it semen to þe as by only resoun
of lokynge. þat þou were in þe sterres. and now in þe
erþe. but þe poeple ne lokeþ nat on þise þinges. what
þan shal we þan approchen vs to hem þat I haue
shewed þat þei ben lyke to þe bestes. (q. d. non)

THE WICKED NEED PITY.

¶ And what wilt þou seyne of þis ¶ yif þat a man
hadde al forlorn hys syȝt. and had[de] forȝeten þat he
euer saw and wende þat no þing ne fayled[e] hym of
perfeccioun of mankynde. now we þat myȝten sen þe
same þing wolde we nat wene þat he were blynde (q. d.
sic). ne also ne accordeþ nat þe poeple to þat I shal
seyne. þe whiche þing is susteyned by a stronge foundement
of resouns. þat is to seyn þat more vnsely ben þei
þat don wrong to oþer folk. þen þei þat þe wrong
suffren. ¶ I wolde heren þilke *same resouns quod I

¶ Deniest þou quod she þat alle shrewes ne ben worþi
to han tourment. nay quod I. but quod she I am certeyne
by many resouns þat shrewes ben vnsely. it accordeþ
quod I. þan [ne] dowtest þou nat quod she þat
þilke folk þat ben worþi of tourment þat þei ne ben
wrecches. It accordeþ wel quod I. yif þou were þan
quod she yset a Iuge or a knower of þinges. wheþer
trowest þou þat men sholde tourment[e] hym þat haþ
don þe wronge. or hym þat haþ suffred þe wronge.
I ne doute nat quod I. þat I nolde don suffissaunt satisfaccioun
to hym þat had[de] suffred þe wrong by þe
sorwe of hym þat had[de] don þe wronge. ¶ þan
semeþ it quod she þat þe doar of wrong is more wrecche
þan he þat haþ suffred þe wrong. þat folweþ wel quod
[I]. þan quod she by þise causes and by oþer causes
þat ben enforced by þe same roate þat filþe or synne by
þe propre nature of it makeþ men wretches. and it
sheweþ wel þat þe wrong þat men don nis nat þe
wrecchenesse of hym þat receyueþ þe wrong. but þe
wrecchednesse of hym þat doþ þe wronge ¶ but certys
quod she þise oratours or aduocatȝ don al þe contrarie
for þei enforcen hem to commoeue þe iuges to han pite
of hem þat han suffred and resceyued þe þinges þat ben
greuous and aspre. and ȝitte men sholden more ryȝtfully
han pitee on hem þat don þe greuaunces and þe
wronges. þe whiche shrewes it were a more couenable
þing þat þe accusours or aduocatȝ not wroþe but pitous
and debonaire ladden þe shrewes þat han don wrong to
þe Iugement. ryȝt as men leden seke folk to þe leche.

THE DUTY OF ADVOCATES.

for þat þei sholden seken out þe maladies of synne by
tourmentȝ. and by þis couenaunt eyþer þe entent of þe
defendours or aduocatȝ sholde fayle and cesen in al. or
ellys yif þe office of aduocatȝ wolde bettre profiten to
men. it sholde be tourned in to þe habit of accusacioun.
þat is [to] s[e]yn þei sholden accuse shrewes. and nat
excuse hem. and eke þe shrewes hem self. ȝit it were
leueful to hem to seen at any clifte þe vertue þat þei
han forleten. and sawen þat þei sholde putten adoun
þe filþes of hire vices by [the] tourmentȝ of peynes. þei
ne auȝten nat ryȝt for þe recompensacioun forto geten
hem bounte and prowesse whiche þat þei han lost demen
ne holden þat þilke peynes weren tourmentes to hem.
and eke þei wolden refuse þe attendaunce of hir aduocatȝ
and taken hem self to hire iuges and to hir accusours.
for whiche it bytideþ [þat] as to þe wise folk
þer nis no place ylete to hate. þat is to seyn. þat hate
ne haþ no place amonges wise men. ¶ For no wyȝt
wolde haten gode men. but yif he were ouer moche a
fole. ¶ and forto haten shrewes it nis no resoun.
¶ For ryȝt so as languissing is maladie of body. ryȝt
so ben vices and synne maladies of corage. ¶ and so as
we ne deme nat þat þei þat ben seek of hire body ben
worþi to ben hated. but raþer worþi of pite. wel more
worþi nat to ben hated. but forto ben had in pite ben
þei of whiche þe þouȝtes ben constreined by felonous
wickednesse. þat is more cruel þan any languissinge of
body.

3517 aknowe—aknowe it

3518 seyn—sayn

3523 good[e]—goode

3524 done—don

3526 ben—be

3527 for—to

3528 myȝten—myhte
don—MS. done, C. doon
harme—harm

3529 gret—MS. grete, C. gret

3533-36 don—MS. done, C. doon

3533-34 [than——coueyten]—from C.

3537 moeuyng—mowynge
wille—wil

3539 haþ—MS. haþe
seyne—seyn

3540 done (1)—doon
moeuynge to done—Mowynge to don
mot—MS. mote, C. mot

3544 gretely—gretly

3545 seyne—seyn
were—weeren
moeuyng—mowynge

3548 wenen—weene
to lakken——yuel—omitted

3549 þere—ther
so (2)—the

3550 longe—long

3552 shrewednesse—shrewednesses
often—ofte

3558 shrewednes—shrewednesse
yfinissed—fynyshed

3559 weye—wey
outerest[e]—owtteryste
[yif]—from C.

3560 soþe—soth

3561 clerely—cleerly

3563 [conclusion]—from C.
harde—hard

3564 [the]—from C.

3567 harde—hard

3568 fals—false

3573 nowe—now

3575 who so seiþ—ho seyth
whiche—which

3578 byen—a-byen

3579 chastied[e]—chastysede

3580 myȝt[e]—myhte

3581 þenk[e]—thinke

3584 ȝeuen—MS. ȝeuene, C. yeuen
fleyen—flen

3585 ȝitte—yif
[in]—from C.

3588 none—non

3589 ouþer—oother
haþ—MS. haþe
ben—be
told—MS. tolde, C. told

3591 good[e]—goode

3592 [thanne——she]—from C.

3594 blisful—weleful
haþ—MS. haþe

3594-97 goode—good

3598 alle—al
whiche—which

3600 knyt—knytte

3601 re[le]ued—releued

3602 goode—good

3605 seyne—seyn

3606 whiche—which

3607 outen—owte

3609 don—MS. done
seye—seyn

3610 whiche—which

3611 desert—deserte

3614 beþ—MS. beþe, C. ben

3615 clere—cler

3617 myȝt[e]—myhte

3618 is ryȝt nis—MS. nis ryȝt is

3619 alle—al
nis wicked—is wykke

3621 here—her

3623 dedid—endyd
deþe—deth

3624 [is]—from C.
ouȝt—awht

3625 deþe—deth

3626 grete—gret

3628 be—ben

3629 determyne—determenye

3630 peyne—peynes
told—MS. tolde

3632 [.i. myght]—from C.

3632-34 whiche—which

3633 eke—ek

3635 seen—seyn

3637 done—don

3638 myȝt[e]—myhte
fayne lerne—fayn lernen

3639 endure—dure

3645 atte—at the
laste—MS. þast, C. laste

3647 resouns—resoun

3649-50 [he]—from C.

3651 eke—ek

3653 derkenesse—derknesse

3654 clere soþefastnes—cleer sothfastnesse

3655 whiche—which

3658 oþir—eyther
done—don

3659 escaping—schapynge

3662 to (1)—of

3665 foreyn—foreyne

3666 þrest—thryst
wicked—wikke

3669 [nere——erthe]—from C.
heuene—C. heuenene
say[e]—C. saye

3672 on—in

3674 lyke—lyk
q. d.—MS. quod

3675 wilt þou seyne—woltow seyn

3676 forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. for-lorn
syȝt—syhte
had[de]—hadde

3677 saw—MS. sawe, C. sawh
fayled[e]—faylede

3678 sen—MS. sene, C. sen

3679 þing—thinges
q. d.—MS. quod

3681 whiche—which

3683 don—MS. done, C. don
oþer—oothre

3688 [ne]—from C.

3691 yset—MS. ysette, C. yset
wheþer—omitted

3692 tourment[e]—tormenten

3692-3 haþ—MS. haþe

3693 wronge (2)—wrong

3695 had[de]—hadde

3696 had[de]—hadden
wronge—wrong

3697 doar—doere

3698 haþ—MS. haþe

3699 [I]—from C.

3700 ben—ben of
roate—Roote

3703-4 but——wronge—omitted

3704 doþ—MS. doþe

3711 wroþe—wroth

3712 þe—tho
don—MS. done, C. don

3713 seke—syke

3715 tourmentȝ—torment
þe (2)—omitted

3719 [to] s[e]yn—to seyn

3722 sawen—sawh
sholde—sholden

3723 [the]—from C.

3724 auȝten—owhte

3725-29 whiche—which

3729 bytideþ—MS. byndeþ, C. bytidith
[þat]—from C.

3730 ylete—I-leten

3731 haþ—MS. haþe

3732 wolde—nyl
moche—mochel

3733 fole—fool

3736 seek—syke

THE FOLLY OF WAR.

Quid Tantos Iuuat.

What deliteþ it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges of
hatredes and to hasten and bisien [the] fatal disposicioun
of ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure propre handes. þat is
to seyn by batailes or [by] contek. for yif ȝe axen þe
deeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ ne
tarieþ nat hys swifte hors. and [the] men þat þe serpentȝ
and þe lyouns. and þe tigre. and þe beere and þe
boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit þilke same men
seken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde. loo for
her maners ben *diuerse and discordaunt ¶ þei
moeuen vnryȝtful oostes and cruel batailes. and wilne
to perisse by enterchaungynge of dartes. but þe resoun
of cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful. wilt þou þan ȝelden a
couenable gerdoun to þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfully
goode folk; and haue pite on shrewes.

3743 [the]—from C.

3745 [by]—from C.

3746 hastisiþ—hasteth
owen wille—owne wyl

3747 [the]—from C.

3749 boore—boor
teþe—teth

3750 swerde—swerd

3751 her—hir

3752 wilne—wylnen

3753 enterchaungynge—entrechaungynges

THE OPERATIONS OF CHANCE.

Hinc Ego Uideo Inq Ua M. Et Cet Era .

Þus see I wel quod I. eyþer what blisfulnesse or ellys
what vnselinesse is estab[l]issed in þe desertys of
goode men and of shrewes. ¶ but in þis ilke fortune
of poeple I see somwhat of goode. and somwhat of
yuel. for no wise man haþ nat leuer ben exiled pore
and nedy and nameles. þan forto dwellen in hys Citee
and flouren of rychesses. and be redoutable by honoure.
and stronge of power for in þis wise more clerely and
more witnesfully is þe office of wise men ytretid whan
þe blisfulnes and [the] pouste of gouernours is as it
were yshad amonges poeples þat ben neyȝboures and
subgitȝ. syn þat namely prisoun lawe and þise oþer
tourmentȝ of lawful peynes ben raþer owed to felonous
Citeȝeins. for þe whiche felonous Citeȝeins þo peynes
ben establissed. þan for goode folk. ¶ þan I merueile
me gretly quod I. whi [þat] þe þinges ben so mys
entrechaunged. þat tourmentȝ felounes pressen and
confounden goode folk. and shrewes rauyssen medes of
vertue and ben in honours. and in grete estatis.
and I desire eke to witen of þe. what semeþ þe to ben þe
resoun of þis so wrongful a confusioun ¶ For I wolde
wondre wel þe lasse yif I trowed[e] þat alle þise þinges
were medeled by fortuouse hap. ¶ But now hepeþ
and encreseþ myne astonyenge god gouernour of þinges.
þat so as god ȝeueþ ofte tymes to good[e] men goodes
and myrþes. and to shrewes yuel and aspre þinges.
and ȝeueþ aȝeynewarde to goode folk hardnesse. and to
shrewes [he] graunteþ hem her wille and þat þei desiren.
what difference þan may þer be bitwixen þat þat
god doþ. and þe hap of fortune. yif men ne knowe nat
þe cause whi þat [it] is. it nis no merueile quod she þouȝ
þat men wenen þat þer be somwhat folysche and confus
whan þe resoun of þe order is vnknowe. ¶ But alle
þouȝ þou ne know nat þe cause of so gret a disposicioun.
naþeles for as moche as god þe good[e] gouernour attempreþ
and gouerneþ þe world. ne doute þe nat þat
alle þinges ne ben doon aryȝt.

3760 goode—good

3761 haþ—MS. haþe
nat—omitted
leuer—leuere

3762 þan—MS. þat, C. than

3763 redoutable—MS. redentable, C. redowtable

3764 stronge—strong
clerely—clerly

3766 [the]—from C.

3767 neyȝboures—nesshebors

3769 lawful—laweful

3771 goode—good

3772 [þat]—from C.

3775 grete—gret

3776 to witen—forto weten

3778 trowed[e]—trowede
alle—al

3779 were—weeren
fortuouse—fortunous

3780 myne—myn

3781 good[e]—goode

3782 yuel—yuelis

3783 hardnesse—hardnesses

3784 [he]—from C.
wille—wyl

3785 difference—MS. differenee

3786 doþ—MS. doþe
hap—happe

3787 [it]—from C.
it—ne it

3788 confus—confuse

3789 alle—al

3791 good[e]—goode

3793 ne—omitted

THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS.

Si Quis Arcturi8 Sydera.

Who so þat ne knowe nat þe sterres of arctour
ytourned neye to þe souereyne contre or point.
þat is to seyne ytourned neye to þe souereyne pool of þe
firmament and woot nat whi þe sterre boetes passeþ or
gaderiþ his wey[n]es. and drencheþ his late flaumbes in
þe see. and whi þat boetes þe sterre vnfoldiþ his ouer
swifte arisynges. þan shal he wondren of þe lawe of þe
heye eyre. and eke if þat he ne knowe nat why þat þe
hornes of þe ful[le] moene waxen pale and infect by þe
boundes of þe derke nyȝt ¶ and how þe moene dirk
and confuse discouereþ þe sterres. þat she had[de]
ycouered by hir clere visage. þe commune errour moeueþ
folk and makiþ wery hir bacines of bras by þikke
strookes. þat is to seyne þat þer is a maner poeple þat
hyȝt[e] coribandes þat wenen þat whan þe moone is in
þe eclips þat it be enchauntid. and þerfore forto rescowe
þe moone þei betyn hire basines wiþ þikke strokes.
¶ Ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe blastes of þe wynde
chorus betyn þe strondes of þe see by quakynge floodes.
ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe weyȝte of þe snowe
yhardid by þe colde. is resolued by þe brennynge hete
of phebus þe sonne. ¶ For here seen men redyly þe
causes. but þe *causes yhid þat is to seye in heuene
trouble þe brestes of men. ¶ þe moeueable poeple is
a-stoned of alle þinges þat comen selde and sodeynely in
oure age. but yif þe troubly errour of oure ignorance
departid[e] from vs. so þat we wisten þe causes whi þat
swiche þinges bitiden. certys þei sholden cesse to seme
wondres.

3794 arctour—MS. aritour

3795 neye—neygh

3796 seyne—seyn
neye—nygh

3797-99 boetes—MS. boeces, C. boetes

3798 his (1)—hise
wey[n]es—weynes

3802 ful[le]—fulle

3804 had[de]—hadde

3806 bacines—MS. batines
þikke—MS. þilke, C. thilke

3807 seyne—seyn

3808 hyȝt[e]—hihte

3809 eclips—eclypse

3812 chorus—MS. thorus, C. chorus

3813 snowe—sonwh = snowh

3815 here—her
redyly—redely

3816 yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hid
seye—seyn

3817 trouble—trowblen

3820 departid[e] from—departede fro

FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS.

Ita Est Inq Ua M.

Þvs is it quod I. but so as þou hast ȝeuen or byhyȝt
me to vnwrappen þe hidde causes of þinges ¶ and
to discoueren me þe resouns couered with dirknesses I
preye þe þat þou diuise and Iuge me of þis matere. and
þat þou do me to vndrestonden it. ¶ For þis miracle
or þis wondre troubleþ me ryȝt gretely. and þan she a
litel [what] smylyng seide. ¶ þou clepest me quod
she to telle þing. þat is grettest of alle þinges þat mowen
ben axed. ¶ And to þe whiche questioun vnneþ[e]s is
þere auȝt ynow to lauen it. as who seiþ. vnneþes is þer
suffisauntly any þing to answere perfitly to þi questioun.
¶ For þe matere of it is swiche þat whan oon doute is
determined and kut awey þer wexen oþer doutes wiþ-outen
noumbre. ryȝt as þe heuedes waxen of ydre þe
serpent þat hercules slouȝ. ¶ Ne þere ne were no
manere ne noon ende. but yif þat a wyȝt constreined[e]
þo doutes. by a ryȝt lyuely and a quik fire of þouȝt. þat
is to seyn by vigour and strengþe of witte. ¶ For in
þis matere men weren wont to maken questiouns of þe
simplicite of þe purueaunce of god and of þe ordre of
destine. and of sodeyne hap. and of þe knowyng and
predestinacioun deuine and of þe lyberte of fre wille.
þe whiche þing þou þi self aperceiust wel of what weyȝt
þei ben. but for as mochel as þe knowynge of þise
þinges is a manere porcioun to þe medicine to þe. al be it
so þat I haue lytel tyme to don it. ȝit naþeles I wole
enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it. ¶ but al þouȝ
þe norissinges of dite of musike deliteþ þe þow most
suffren. and forberen a litel of þilk delite while þat I
weue (contexo) to þe resouns yknyt by ordre ¶ As it likeþ
to þe quod I so do. ¶ þo spak she ryȝt a[s] by an oþer
bygynnyn[ge] and seide þus. ¶ þe engendrynge of alle
þinges quod she and alle þe progressiouns of muuable
nature. and alle þat moeueþ in any manere takiþ hys
causes. hys ordre. and hys formes. of þe stablenesse of þe
deuyne þouȝt [and thilke deuyne thowht] þat is yset and
put in þe toure. þat is to seyne in þe heyȝt of þe simplicite
of god. stablisiþ many manere gyses to þinges þat
ben to don.

OF FATE AND PROVIDENCE.

¶ þe whiche manere whan þat men loken
it in þilke pure clerenesse of þe deuyne intelligence. it
is ycleped purueaunce ¶ but whan þilke manere is referred
by men to þinges þat it moeueþ and disponeþ þan
of olde men. it was cleped destine. ¶ þe whiche
þinges yif þat any wyȝt lokeþ wel in his þouȝt.
þe strengþe of þat oon and of þat oþer he shal lyȝtly mowen
seen þat þise two þinges ben diuers. ¶ For purueaunce
is þilke deuyne resoun þat is establissed in þe souereyne
prince of þinges. þe whiche purueaunce disponiþ alle
þinges. but destine is þe disposicioun and ordenaunce
cleuynge to moeuable þinges. by þe whiche disposicioun
þe purueaunce knyteþ alle þinges in hire ordres.

¶ For purueaunce enbraceþ alle þinges to hepe. al þouȝ þat
þei ben dyuerse and al þouȝ þei ben wiþ outen fyn. but
destynie departeþ and ordeyneþ alle þinges singlerly
and diuideþ. in moeuynges. in places. in formes. in
tymes. departiþ [as] þus. so þat þe vnfoldyng of temporel
ordenaunce assembled and ooned in þe lokyng of
þe deuyne þouȝt ¶ Is purueaunce and þilke same
assemblynge. and oonyng diuided and vnfolden by
tymes. lat þat ben called destine. and al be *it so þat
þise þinges ben dyuerse. ȝitte naþeles hangeþ þat oon
on þat oþer. forwhi þe ordre destinal procediþ of þe
simplicite of purueaunce.

for ryȝt as a werkman þat
aperceiueþ in hys þouȝt þe forme of þe þing þat he wil
make moeueþ þe effect of þe werke. and lediþ þat he
had[de] loked byforne in hys þouȝt symply and presently
by temporel þouȝt. ¶ Certys ryȝt so god disponiþ
in hys purueaunce singlerly and stably þe þinges
þat ben to done. but he amynistreþ in many maneres
and in dyuerse tymes by destyne. þilke same þinges
þat he haþ disponed þan wheþir þat destine be excercised.

PROVIDENCE CONTROLS FATE.

eyþer by somme dyuyne spirites seruaunteȝ to
þe deuyne purueaunce. or ellys by somme soule (anima
mundi). or ellys by al nature seruynge to god. or ellys
by þe celestial moeuyng of sterres. or ellys by þe vertue
of aungels. or ellys by þe dyuerse subtilite of deueles.
or ellys by any of hem. or ellys by hem alle þe destynal
ordynaunce is ywouen or accomplissed. certys it is open
þing þat þe purueaunce is an vnmoeueable and symple
forme of þinges to done. and þe moeueable bonde and
þe temporel ordynaunce of þinges whiche þat þe deuyne
simplicite of purueaunce haþ ordeyned to done. þat is
destine. For whiche it is þat alle þinges þat ben put
vndir destine ben certys subgitȝ to purueaunce. to
whiche purueaunce destine it self is subgit and vndir.

¶ But somme þinges ben put vndir purueaunce þat
sourmounten þe ordinaunce of destine. and þo ben
þilke þat stably ben yficched ney to þe first godhed þei
sourmounten þe ordre of destinal moeuablite. ¶ For
ryȝt as cercles þat tournen aboute a same Centre or
about a poynt. þilke cercle þat is inrest or moost wiþ-ynne
ioineþ to þe symplesse of þe myddel and is as it
were a Centre or a poynt to þat oþer cercles þat tournen
abouten hym. ¶ and þilke þat is outerest compased by
larger envyronnynge is vnfolden by larger spaces in so
mochel as it is forþest fro þe mydel symplicite of þe
poynt. and yif þer be any þing þat knytteþ and felawshippeþ
hym selfe to þilke mydel poynt it is constreyned
in to symplicite. þat is to seyn in to [vn]moeueablete.
and it ceseth to ben shad and to fletin dyuersly. ¶ Ryȝt
so by semblable resoun. þilke þinge þat departiþ firþest
fro þe first þouȝt of god. it is vnfolden and summittid
to grettere bondes of destine. and in so moche is þe
þing more free and lovs fro destyne as it axeþ and
holdeþ hym ner to þilke Centre of þinges. þat is to
seyne god.

DESTINY RULES NATURE.

¶ and if þe þinge cleueþ to þe stedfastnesse
of þe þouȝt of god. and be wiþ oute moeuyng certys it
sourmounteþ þe necessite of destyne. þan ryȝt swiche
comparisoun as [it] is of skilynge to vndirstondyng and
of þing þat is engendred to þing þat is. and of tyme to
eternite. and of þe cercle to þe Centre. ryȝt so is þe
ordre of moeueable destine to þe stable symplicite of
purueaunce. ¶ þilke ordinaunce moeueþ þe heuene
and þe sterres and attempreþ þe elymentȝ to gider
amonges hem self. and transformeþ hem by enterchaungable
mutacioun. ¶ and þilke same ordre neweþ
aȝein alle þinges growyng and fallyng a-doune by sembleables
progressiouns of seedes and of sexes. þat is
to sein. male and female. and þis ilke ordre constreyneþ
þe fortunes and þe dedes of men by a bonde of causes
nat able to ben vnbounden (indissolubili). þe whiche
destinal causes whanne þei passen oute fro þe bygynnynges
of þe vnmoeueable purueaunce it mot nedes
be þat þei ne be nat mutable. and þus ben þe þinges ful
wel ygouerned. yif þat þe symplicite dwellynge *in þe
deuyne þouȝt sheweþ furþe þe ordre of causes. vnable to
be I-bowed. and þis ordre constreyneþ by hys propre
stablete þe moeueable þinges. or ellys þei sholde fleten
folily for whiche it is þat alle þinges semen to be confus
and trouble to vs men. for we ne mowe nat considere
þilke ordinaunce. ¶ Naþeles þe propre manere of
euery þing dressynge hem to goode disponit hem alle.
for þere nis no þinge don for cause of yuel. ne þilke
þing þat is don by wicked[e] folk nis nat don for yuel
þe whiche shrewes as I haue shewed [ful] plentiuously
seken goode. but wicked errour mystourniþ hem.

NOTHING DONE FOR EVIL’S SAKE.

¶ Ne þe ordre comynge fro þe poynt of souereyne goode ne
declineþ nat fro hys bygynnynge. but þou mayst sein
what vnreste may ben a wors confusioun þan þat goode
men han somme tyme aduersite. and somtyme prosperite.
¶ and shrewes also han now þinges þat þei
desiren. and now þinges þat þei haten ¶ wheþer men
lyuen now in swiche hoolnesse of þouȝt. as who seiþ.

ben men now so wise. þat swiche folk as þei demen to
ben goode folk or shrewes þat it mot nedes ben þat folk
ben swiche as þei wenen. but in þis manere þe domes
of men discorden. þat þilke men þat somme folk demen
worþi of mede. oþer folk demen hem worþi of tourment.
but lat vs graunt[e] I pose þat som man may wel demen
or knowen þe goode folk and þe badde. May he þan
knowen and seen þilke inrest attemperaunce of corages.
as it haþ ben wont to be said of bodyes. as who saiþ
may a man speken and determine of attemperaunce in
corages. as men were wont to demen or speken of complexiouns
and attemperaunces of bodies (q’ non).
ne it [ne] is nat an vnlyke miracle to hem þat ne knowen
it nat. ¶ As who seiþ. but is lyke a merueil or a
miracle to hem þat ne knowen it nat. whi þat swete
þinges [ben] couenable to some bodies þat ben hool and
to some bodies bittre þinges ben couenable. and also
whi þat some seke folk ben holpen with lyȝt medicines
[and some folk ben holpen with sharppe medicynes] but
naþeles þe leche þat knoweþ þe manere and þe attemperaunce
of heele and of maladie ne merueileþ of it no
þing. but what oþer þing semeþ hele of corages but
bounte and prowesse. and what oþer þing semeþ maladie
of corages but vices. who is ellys kepere of good or
dryuere awey of yuel but god gouernour and leecher of
þouȝtes. þe whiche god whan he haþ by-holden from þe
heye toure of hys purueaunce he knoweþ what is
couenable to euery wyȝt. and leneþ hem þat he wot
[þat] is couenable to hem. Loo here of comeþ and
here of is don þis noble miracle of þe ordre destinal.

GOD THE SOUL’S PHYSICIAN.

whan god þat alle knoweþ doþ swiche þing. of whiche
þing [þat] vnknowyng folk ben astoned but forto constreine
as who seiþ ¶ But forto comprehende and telle
a fewe þinges of þe deuyne depnesse þe whiche þat mans
resoun may vnderstonde. ¶ þilk man þat þou wenest
to ben ryȝt Iuste and ryȝt kepyng of equite. þe contrarie
of þat semeþ to þe deuyne purueaunce þat al woot.
¶ And lucan my familier telleþ þat þe victories cause
liked[e] to þe goddes and causes ouercomen liked[e] to
catoun. þan what so euer þou mayst seen þat is don in
þis [world] vnhoped or vnwened. certys it is þe ryȝt[e]
ordre of þinges. but as to þi wicked[e] oppinioun it is a
confusioun. but I suppose þat som man be so wel yþewed.
þat þe deuyne Iugement and þe Iugement of mankynde
accorden hem to gidre of hym. but he is so vnstedfast
of corage [þat] yif any aduersite come to hym he wolde
for-leten perauenture to continue innocence by þe
whiche he ne may nat wiþholden fortune. ¶ þan þe
wise dispensacioun of god spareþ hym þe whiche
manere aduersite *myȝt[e] enpeyren. ¶ For þat god
wil nat suffren hym to trauaile. to whom þat trauayl
nis nat couenable. ¶ An oþer man is perfit in alle
uertues. and is an holy man and neye to god so þat þe
purueaunce of god wolde demen þat it were a felony
þat he were touched wiþ any aduersites. so þat he ne
wil nat suffre þat swiche a man be moeued wiþ any
manere maladie. ¶ But so as seide a philosophre [the
moore excellent by me]. þe aduersites comen nat (he
seide in grec;) þere þat uertues han edified þe bodie
of þe holy man. and ofte tyme it bitideþ þat þe
somme of þinges þat ben to don is taken to good folk
to gouerne. for þat þe malice habundaunt of shrewes
sholde ben abatid. and god ȝeueþ and departiþ to oþer
folk prosp[er]ites and aduersites ymedeled to hepe aftir
þe qualite of hire corages and remordiþ som folk by
aduersites. for þei ne sholden nat wexen proude by
longe welefulnesse. and oþer folk he suffreþ to ben
trauayled wiþ harde þinges. ¶ For þat þei sholden conferme
þe vertues of corage by þe vsage and exercitacioun
of pacience. and oþer folke dreden more þen þei auȝten
þe wiche þei myȝt[en] wel beren. and þilke folk god
lediþ in to experience of hem self by aspre and sorweful
þinges. ¶ And many oþer folk han bouȝt honorable
renoune of þis worlde by þe pris of glorious deeþ.
and som men þat ne mowen nat ben ouer-comen by
tourment han ȝeuen ensample to oþer folk þat vertue ne
may nat be ouer-comen by aduersites.

The sidenote “Others despise what they are unable to bear” does not correspond to anything in the text. Skeat’s edition includes the phrase “and somme dispyse that they mowe nat beren” (Book IV, Prose 6: Ita Est Inquam).

HOW PROVIDENCE DEALS WITH MANKIND.

¶ and of alle
þise þinges þer nis no doute þat þei ne ben don ryȝtfully
and ordeinly to þe profit of hem to whom we
seen þise þinges bitide. ¶ For certys þat aduersite
comeþ some tyme to shrewes. and some tyme þat þei
desiren it comeþ of þise forseide causes and of sorweful
þinges þat bytyden to shrewes. Certys no man ne
wondreþ. For alle men wenen þat þei han wel deserued it.
and þei ben of wicked merite of whiche
shrewes þe tourment som tyme agasteþ oþer to done
folies. and som tyme it amendeþ hem þat suffren þe
tourmentis. ¶ And þe prosperite þat is ȝeuen to
shrewes sheweþ a grete argument to good[e] folk what
þing þei sholde demen of þilk wilfulnesse þe whiche
prosperite men seen ofte serue to shrewes. in þe whiche
þing I trowe þat god dispensiþ. for perauenture þe nature
of som man is so ouerþrowyng to yuel and so vncouenable
þat þe nedy pouerte of hys house-hold myȝt[e]
raþer egren hym to done felonies. and to þe maladie
of hym god puttiþ remedie to ȝiuen hym rychesse. and
som oþer man byholdiþ hys conscience defouled wiþ
synnes and makiþ comparisoun of his fortune and of
hym self ¶ and drediþ perauenture þat hys blisfulnesse
of whiche þe vsage is ioyful to hym þat þe lesynge of
þilke blisfulnesse ne be nat sorweful to hym. and þerfore
he wol chaunge hys maneres. and for he drediþ
to lese hys fortune. he forletiþ hys wickednesse. to
oþer folk is welefulnesse yȝeuen vnworþily þe whiche
ouerþroweþ hem in to destruccioun þat þei han deserued.
and to som oþer folk is ȝeuen power to
punissen. for þat it shal be cause of continuacioun and
exercisinge to good[e] folk. and cause of tourment to
shrewes. ¶ For so as þer nis none alyaunce bytwixe
good[e] folke and shrewes. ne shrewes ne mowen nat
accorden amonges hem self and whi nat. for shrewes
discorden of hem self by her vices þe whiche vices al to
renden her consciences. and don oft[e] tyme þinges þe
whiche þinges whan þei han don hem. þei demen þat
þo þinges ne sholde nat han ben don. for whiche þinge
þilke souereyne purueaunce haþ maked oft[e] tyme
[faire] miracle so þat shrewes han maked oftyme
shrewes to ben good[e] men. for whan þat som shrewes
*seen þat þei suffren wrongfully felonies of oþer shrewes
þei wexen eschaufed in to hat[e] of hem þat anoien
hem. and retournen to þe fruit of uertue. when þei
studien to ben vnlyke to hem þat þei han hated.

EVIL IS OVERRULED FOR GOOD.

¶ Certys þis only is þe deuyne myȝt to þe whiche myȝt
yueles ben þan good. whan it vseþ þo yueles couenably
and draweþ out þe effect of any good. as who seiþ þat
yuel is good oonly by þe myȝt of god. for þe myȝt of
god ordeyneþ þilk yuel to good. For oon ordre enbrasiþ
alle þinges. so þat what wyȝt [þat] departiþ fro
þe resoun of þe ordre whiche þat is assigned to hym.
algates ȝit he slideþ in to an oþer ordre. so þat noþing
nis leueful to folye in þe realme of þe deuyne purueaunce.
as who seiþ no þing nis wiþouten ordinaunce in
þe realme of þe deuyne purueaunce. ¶ Syn þat þe ryȝt
strong[e] god gouerniþ alle þinges in þis worlde for it
nis nat leueful to no man to comprehenden by witte ne
vnfolden by worde alle þe subtil ordinaunces and disposiciouns
of þe deuyne entent. for oonly it auȝt[e]
suffice to han loked þat god hym self makere of alle
natures ordeyniþ and dressiþ alle þinges to good. while
þat he hastiþ to wiþhalden þe þinges þat he haþ maked
in to hys semblaunce. þat is to seyn forto wiþholden
þinges in to good. for he hym self is good he chaseþ
oute al yuel of þe boundes of hys communalite by þe
ordre of necessite destinable. For whiche it folweþ þat
yif þou loke þe purueaunce ordeynynge þe þinges þat
men wenen ben haboundaunt in erþes. þou ne shalt not
seen in no place no þing of yuel. ¶ but I se now þat
þou art charged wiþ þe weyȝte of þe questiou[n] and
wery wiþ lengþe of my resoun. and þat þou abidest som
swetnesse of songe. tak þan þis drauȝt and whan þou
art wel refresshed and refet þou shalt ben more stedfast
to stye in to heyere questiouns.

3823 byhyȝt—by-hyhte

3824 hidde—hyd

3826 preye—preey
diuise—deuyse

3827 do—don

3828 gretely—gretly

3829 [what]—from C.

3832 þere auȝt—ther awht

3834 swiche—swych
oon—o

3835 wiþouten noumbre—with-owte nowmbyr

3836 waxen—wexen

3837 þere—ther

3838 constreined[e]—constreynede

3839 lyuely—lyfly

3840 witte—wit

3843 hap—happe

3845 weyȝt—wyht

3848 wole—wol

3850 þow—MS. now, C. þou
most suffren—MS. moste to souereyne; C. most suffren

3851 þilk—thilke

3853 þo—so
spak—MS. spake, C. spak
a[s]—as

3856 alle—al

3858 [and——thowht]—from C.
yset—MS. ysette, C. yset

3859 toure—towr
seyne—seyn
heyȝt—heyhte

3861 don—done

3862 clerenesse—klennesse

3872 cleuynge—clyuynge

3875 wiþ outen fyn—Infynyte

3876 singlerly—syngulerly

3877 in (3)—MS. and, C. in

3878 departiþ—omitted
[as]—from C.
so þat—lat

3884 on—of

3886 wil—wol

3888 had[de]—hadde
symply—symplely

3889 þouȝt—ordinaunce

3890 singlerly—syngulerly
stably—stablely

3893 haþ—MS. haþe

3894 eyþer—owther
seruaunteȝ—MS. seruaunceȝ

3895 somme—som

3896 al—alle

3897 moeuyng—moeuynges

3900 ywouen—MS. ywonnen, C. ywouen
or—and

3902 bonde—bond

3904 haþ—MS. haþe

3905 whiche—which

3912 as—as of

3913 about—a-bowte
inrest—innerest

3917 larger (1)—a large

3918 mochel—moche
forþest—ferthere

3920 selfe—self

3921 [vn]moeueablete—vnmoeuablete

3922 ceseth—MS. fleþe, C. cesith

3923 þinge—thing

3924 of—MS. to, C. of

3926 lovs—laus

3927 ner—nere

3928 seyne—seyn
þinge cleueþ—thing clyueth
stedfastnesse—stydefastnesse

3930 swiche—swych

3931 [it]—from C.

3932 to (2)—MS. of, C. to

3937 enterchaungable—MS. enterchaungyngable, C. entrechaungeable

3939 a-doune—a-down
sembleables—semblable

3942 bonde—bond

3943 ben vnbounden—be vnbownde

3944 oute—owt

3948 furþe—forth

3949 I-bowed—MS. vnbounden, C. I-bowed

3950 sholde—sholden

3951 whiche—which

3952 mowe—mowen

3956 wicked[e]—wykkede

3957 [ful]—from C.

3958-9 goode—good

3960 declineþ—MS. enclineþ, C. declynyth

3961 wors—worse

3962 somme tyme—somtyme

3965 swiche—swych

3967 goode—good
mot—moste

3971 graunt[e]—graunte

3973 inrest—Inneryste

3974 haþ—MS. haþe
said—MS. saide, C. seyd

3975 determine—determinen

3978 [ne]—from C.
vnlyke—vn-lyk

3979 lyke—lik

3981 [ben]—from C.
hool—hoole

3984 [and——medicynes]—from C.

3991 haþ—MS. haþe

3993 wot—MS. wote, C. wot

3994 [þat]—from C.

3995 don—MS. done, C. don
miracle—MS. mirache, C. myracle
ordre—MS. ordre of

3996 alle—al
doþ—MS. doþe
whiche—which

3997 [þat]—from C.

3999 mans—mannes

4000 þilk—thilke

4004 liked[e] (both)—lykede

4005 is don—MS. is to don

4006 [world]—from C.
ryȝt[e]—ryhte

4007 wicked[e]—wykkede

4010 vnstedfast—vnstydefast

4011 [þat]—from C.
wolde—wol

4015 manere—man
myȝt[e]—myhte

4016 wil—wol

4018 neye—negh

4021 wil—wol
swiche—swych

4022 manere—bodyly

4022-3 [the——me]—from C.

4023 þe aduersites——nat—omitted

4024 þere—omitted

4026 don—done
to (2)—MS. so
to good——gouerne—to gouerne to goode folk

4028 oþer—oothre

4030 som—some

4031 sholden—sholde

4033 conferme—confermen

4034 corage—corages

4036 myȝt[en]—myhten

4037 hem—hym
sorweful—sorwful

4038 oþer—oothre

4039 worlde—world
of (2)—of the

4041 oþer—othre

4046 comeþ—comth
some (both)—som
þat þei—MS. þei þat, C. þat that they

4047 comeþ—comth
sorweful—sorwful

4050 wicked—wykkede
merite—MS. uerite, C. meryte

4051 oþer—oothre
done—don

4052 folies—felonies

4054 grete—gret
good[e]—goode

4055 sholde—sholden
þilk—thilke

4056 serue—seruen
whiche—which

4057 dispensiþ—MS. dispisiþ, C. dispensith

4059 myȝt[e]—myhte

4060 done—don

4061 rychesse—Rychesses

4065 whiche—which

4068 MS. wrongly inserts welefulnesse after wickednesse

4069-71 oþer—oothre

4073 good[e]—goode

4074 none—non

4075 good[e]—goode

4076 accorden—acordy

4078 don—MS. done, C. don
oft[e]—ofte

4079 don—MS. done, C. don

4080 sholde—sholden
whiche þinge—which thing

4081 haþ—MS. haþe
oft[e]—ofte

4082 [faire]—from C.
oftyme—omitted

4083 good[e]—goode

4085 hat[e]—hate
anoien—anoyeden

4087 studien—omitted
vnlyke—vnlyk

4089-90 good—goode

4092 þilk—thilke

4093 [þat]—from C.

4094 þe (2)—thilke
whiche—which

4096 realme—Reame

4099 strong[e]—stronge
worlde—world

4100 no—omitted
witte—wit

4101 worde alle—word al

4102 auȝt[e]—owhte

4104 good while—goode wyl

4105 haþ—MS. haþe

4108 of (1)—fro

4109 whiche—which

4111 ben haboundaunt—ben outraious / or habowndant

4115 tak—MS. take, C. tak

4116 refet—refect
shalt ben—shal be
stedfast—stydefast

LOVE TEMPERS ALL THINGS.

Si Uis Celsi Iura.

Yif þou wolt demen in þi pure þouȝt þe ryȝtes or þe
lawes of þe heye þund[ere]re. þat is to seyne of god.
loke þou and bihold þe heyȝtes of souereyne heuene.
¶ þere kepen þe sterres by ryȝtful alliaunce of þinges
hir olde pees. þe sonne ymoeued by hys rody fire. ne
destourbiþ nat þe colde cercle of þe moone. ¶ Ne þe
sterre yclepid þe bere. þat encliniþ hys rauyssynge
courses abouten þe souereyne heyȝt of þe worlde. ne þe
same sterre vrsa nis neuer mo wasshen in þe depe
westerne see. ne coueitiþ nat to dyȝen hys flaumbes in
þe see of [the] occian. al þouȝ he see oþer sterres yplounged
in to þe see. ¶ And hesperus þe sterre
bodiþ and telliþ alwey þe late nyȝtes. And lucifer þe
sterre bryngeþ aȝeyne þe clere day. ¶ And þus makiþ
loue enterchaungeable þe perdurable courses. and þus
is discordable bataile yput oute of þe contre of þe sterres.
þis accordaunce attempreþ by euene-lyke manere[s] þe
elementes. þat þe moyste þinges striuen nat wiþ þe
drye þinges. but ȝiuen place by stoundes. and þat þe
colde þinges ioynen hem by feiþ to þe hote þinges. and
þat þe lyȝt[e] fyre arist in to heyȝte. and þe heuy erþes
aualen by her weyȝtes. ¶ by þise same cause þe floury
yere ȝeldeþ swote smellys in þe fyrste somer sesoun
warmynge. and þe hote somer dryeþ þe cornes. and
autumpne comeþ aȝeyne heuy of apples. and þe fletyng
reyne bydeweþ þe wynter. þis attemperaunce noryssiþ
and brynggeþ furþe al þinge þat brediþ lyfe in þis
worlde. ¶ and þilk same attemperaunce rauyssyng hideþ
and bynymeþ and drencheþ vndir þe last[e] deþe alle
*þinges yborn. ¶ Amonges þise þinges sitteþ þe heye
makere kyng and lorde. welle and bygynnynge. lawe
and wise Iuge. to don equite and gouerniþ and encliniþ
þe bridles of þinges. and þo þinges þat he stireþ to don
by moeuynge he wiþdraweþ and arestiþ and affermiþ þe
moeueable or wandryng þinges. ¶ For ȝif þat he ne
clepiþ nat aȝein þe ryȝt goynge of þinges. and ȝif þat he
ne constreyned[e] hem nat eftesones in to roundenesse
enclined þe þinges þat ben now continued by stable
ordinaunce. þei sholde deperten from hir welle. þat is
to sein from hir bygynnynge and failen. þat is to sein
tournen in to nauȝt. ¶ þis is þe commune loue of alle
þinges. and alle þinges axen to be holden by þe fyn of
good. For ellys ne myȝten þei nat lasten yif þei ne
come nat eftesones aȝeine by loue retourned to þe cause
þat haþ ȝeuen hem beynge. þat is to seyn to god.

4118 þou wolt—þou wys wilt

4119 þund[ere]re—thonderere
seyne—seyn

4120 bihold—MS. biholde, C. byhold

4122 rody—MS. redy, C. rody
fire—Fyr

4123 cercle—clerke

4125 courses—cours
heyȝt—heyhte

4127 westerne—westrene
dyȝen—deeyn

4128 [the]—from C.
he see—MS. it sewe, C. he see
oþer—oothre

4131 aȝeyne—ayein

4133 oute—owt

4134 euene-lyke manere[s]—euenelyk maneres

4135 striuen—stryuynge
nat—omitted

4136 but—omitted

4138 lyȝt[e] fyre arist—lyhte fyr arysith

4140 yere—ȝer

4142 comeþ aȝeyne—comth ayein

4143 reyne—reyn

4144 furþe al þinge—forth alle thing
brediþ lyfe—berith lyf

4145 worlde—world
þilk—thilke

4146 last[e] deþe—laste deth

4147 yborn—MS. yborne, C. I-born

4148 lorde—lord

4149 wise—wys

4150 stireþ—sterith
don—gon

4151 þe—omitted

4153 clepiþ—klepede

4154 constreyned[e]—constreynede
roundenesse—Rowndnesses

4156 sholde—sholden

4158 tournen—torne
of—to

4159 be—ben

4161 eftesones aȝeine—eft sones ayein

4162 haþ—MS. haþe

ALL FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL.

Iam Ne Igitur Uides.

Sest þou nat þan what þing folweþ alle þe þinges þat I
haue seid. what þing quod I. ¶ Certys quod she
outerly þat al fortune is good. and how may þat be
quod .I. ¶ Now vndirstand quod she so as [alle
fortune wheyther so it be Ioyeful fortune / or aspre]
fortune is ȝiuen eiþer by cause of gerdonynge or ellys of
exercisynge of goode folk or ellys by cause to punissen.
or ellys to chastysen shrewes. ¶ þan is alle fortune
good. þe whiche fortune is certeyne þat it be eiþer ryȝtful
or profitable. ¶ For soþe þis is a ful verray resoun
quod I. and yif I considere þe purueaunce and þe
destine þat þou tauȝtest me a litel here byforne þis sentence
is susteyned by stedfast resouns. but yif it like
vnto þe lat vs noumbre hem amonges þilk[e] þinges of
whiche þou seidest a litel here byforne þat þei ne were
nat able to ben ywened to þe poeple. ¶ whi so quod she.
for þat þe comune worde of men mysusiþ quod I.
þis manere speche of fortune. and sein ofte tymes [þat]
þe fortune of som wyȝt is wicked.

PUNISHMENT IS BENEFICIAL.

wilt þou þan quod
she þat I proche a litel to þe wordes of þe poeple so it
seme nat to hem þat I be ouer moche departid as fro þe
vsage of man kynde. as þou wolt quod I. ¶ Demest
þou nat quod she þat al þing þat profitiþ is good. ȝis
quod I. certis þilk þing þat exercisiþ or corigiþ profitiþ.
I confesse it wel quod I. þan is it good quod she.
whi nat quod I. but þis is þe fortune [quod she] of
hem þat eiþer ben put in vertue and batailen aȝeins
aspre þinges. or ellys of hem þat eschewen and declinen
fro vices and taken þe weye of vertue. ¶ þis ne may
nat I denye quod I ¶ But what seist þou of þe myrye
fortune þat is ȝeuen to good folk in gerdoun deuiniþ
ouȝt þe poeples þat it is wicked. nay forsoþe quod I. but
þei demen as it soþe is þat it is ryȝt good. ¶ And what
seist þou of þat oþer fortune quod she. þat al þouȝ it
be aspre and restreiniþ þe shrewes by ryȝtful tourment.
weniþ ouȝt þe poeple þat it be good. nay quod I. ¶ But
þe poeple demiþ þat it be most wrecched of alle þinges
þat may ben þouȝt. war now and loke wel quod she
lest þat we in folwyng þe opynioun of poeple haue confessed
and concluded þing þat is vnable to be wened to
þe poeple. what is þat quod I ¶ Certys quod she it
folweþ or comeþ of þinges þat ben graunted þat alle
fortune what so euer it be. of hem þat eyþer ben in
possessioun of vertue. [or in the encres of vertu] or ellys
in þe purchasynge of vertue. þat þilke fortune is good.
¶ And þat alle fortune is ryȝt wicked to hem þat
dwellen in shrewednesse. as who seiþ. and þus weneþ
nat þe poeple.

THE FORTUNE OF THE VIRTUOUS IS GOOD.

¶ þat is soþe quod I. ¶ Al be it so
þat noman dar confessen it ne byknowen it. ¶ whi so
quod she. For ryȝt as no strong man ne semeþ nat to
abassen or disdaignen as *ofte tyme as he hereþ þe noise
of þe bataile. ne also it ne semeþ nat to þe wyse man to
beren it greuously as oft[e] as he is lad in to þe strif of
fortune. for boþe to þat on man and eke to þat oþer
þilke difficulte is þe matere to þat oon man of encrese
of his glorious renoun. and to þat oþer man to conferme
hys sapience. þat is to seine þe asprenesse of hys estat.

¶ For þerfore is it called uertue. for þat it susteniþ and
enforceþ by hys strengþes þat it nis nat ouer-comen by
aduersites. ¶ Ne certys þou þat art put in þe encrese
or in þe heyȝt of uertue ne hast nat comen to fleten wiþ
delices and forto welken in bodyly lust. ¶ þou sowest
or plauntest a ful egre bataile in þi corage aȝeins euery
fortune. for þat þe sorweful fortune ne confounde þe nat.
ne þat þe myrye fortune ne corrumpe þe nat. ¶ Occupy
þe mene by stedfast strengþes. for al þat euer is vndir
þe mene. or ellys al þat ouer-passeþ þe mene despiseþ
welefulnesses. ¶ As who seiþ. it is vicious and ne haþ
no mede of hys trauaile. ¶ For it is set in ȝoure hand.
as who seiþ it lieþ in ȝoure power what fortune ȝow is
leuest. þat is to seyne good or yuel. ¶ For alle fortune
þat semeþ sharpe or aspre yif it ne exercise nat þe good
folk. ne chastisiþ þe wicked folk. it punisseþ.

4163 þing—thinge

4165 outerly—al owtrely
al—alle

4166-7 [alle——aspre]—from C.

4169 goode—good

4174 here byforne—her by-forn

4175 stedfast—stydefast

4176 noumbre—nowmbren
þilk[e]—thilke

4177 here byforne—her by-forn

4178 ywened—weened

4179 worde—word

4180 [þat]—from C.

4181 wicked—wykkede

4182 proche—aproche

4185 al—alle

4186 þilk—thilke

4188 [quod she]—from C.

4191 weye—wey

4193 deuiniþ—demyth

4194 ouȝt—awht

4195 soþe—soth

4198 ouȝt—awht

4199 be—is

4204 comeþ—comth

4206 [or——vertu] from C.

4208 wicked—wykkede

4210 soþe—soth

4211 confessen—confesse

4212 no strong—the stronge

4213 abassen—abayssen

4215 oft[e]—ofte

4219 seine—seyn

4223 heyȝt—heyhte

4224 welken—wellen

4226 confounde—MS. confounded, C. confownde

4227 Occupy—Ocupye

4228 stedfast—stydefast

4230 haþ—MS. haþe

4231 set—MS. sette, C. set

4232 lieþ—lith

4233 seyne—seyn

4234 sharpe—sharp

WE CHOOSE OUR OWN FORTUNE.

Bella Bis Quenis. Et C Etera .

ÞE wrekere attrides ¶ þat is to seyne agamenon þat
wrouȝt[e] and continued[e] þe batailes by ten ȝere
recouered[e] and purged[e] in wrekyng by þe destruccioun
of troie þe loste chambres of mariage of hys broþer
þis is to seyn þat [he] agamenon wan aȝein Eleine þat
was Menelaus wif his broþer. In þe mene while þat
þilke agamenon desired[e] to ȝeuen sailes to þe grekysshe
nauye and bouȝt[e] aȝein þe wyndes by blode. he
vncloþed[e] hym of pite as fader. and þe sory prest
ȝiueþ in sacrifiynge þe wreched kuyttyng of þrote of þe
douȝter. ¶ þat is to sein þat agamenon lete kuytten þe
þrote of hys douȝter by þe prest. to maken alliaunce wiþ
hys goddes. and for to haue wynde wiþ whiche he
myȝt[e] wende to troie. ¶ Itakus þat is to sein vlixies
bywept[e] hys felawes ylorn þe whiche felawes þe
fiers[e] pholifemus ligginge in his grete Caue had[de]
freten and dreint in hys empty wombe. but naþeles
polifemus wood for his blinde visage ȝeld to vlixies ioye
by hys sorowful teres. þis is to seyn þat vlixes smot
oute þe eye of poliphemus þat stod in hys forhede.

THE LABOURS OF HERCULES.

for whiche vlixes hadde ioie whan he saw poliphemus
wepyng and blynde. ¶ Hercules is celebrable for hys
hard[e] trauaile he dawntede þe proude Centauris half
hors half man. and he rafte þe despoylynge fro þe
cruel lyoun þat is to seyne he slouȝ þe lyoun and
rafte hym hys skyn. he smot þe brids þat hyȝten
arpijs [in þe palude of lyrne] wiþ certeyne arwes.
he rauyssed[e] applis fro þe wakyng dragoun. and
hys hand was þe more heuy for þe golde[ne]
metal. He drouȝ Cerberus þe hound of helle by
hys treble cheyne. he ouer-comer as it is seid haþ
put an vnmeke lorde fodre to hys cruel hors ¶ þis is
to sein. þat hercules slouȝ diomedes and made his hors
to etyn hym. and he hercules slouȝ Idra þe serpent and
brend[e] þe venym. and achelaus þe flode defouled[e] in
his forhede dreint[e] his shamefast visage in his
strondes. þis is to sein þat achelaus couþe transfigure
hym self in to dyuerse lykenesse. and as he fauȝt wiþ
orcules at þe laste he turnid[e] hym in to a bole and
hercules brak of oon of hys hornes. and achelaus for
shame hidde hym in hys ryuer. ¶ And [he] hercules
*cast[e] adoun Antheus þe geaunt in þe strondes of
libye. and kacus apaised[e] þe wraþþes of euander. þis
is to sein þat hercules slouȝ þe Monstre kacus and
apaised[e] wiþ þat deeþ þe wraþþe of euander. ¶ And
þe bristled[e] boor marked[e] wiþ scomes þe sholdres of
hercules. þe whiche sholdres þe heye cercle of heuene
sholde þreste. and þe laste of his labours was þat he
sustened[e] þe heuene vpon his nekke vnbowed. and he
deserued[e] eftsones þe heuene to ben þe pris of his
laste trauayle ¶ Goþ now þan ȝe stronge men þere as
þe heye weye of þe grete ensample ledeþ ȝou. ¶ O nice
men whi nake ȝe ȝoure bakkes. as who seiþ. ¶ O ȝe
slowe and delicat men whi fley ȝe aduersites. and ne
fyȝten nat aȝeins hem by vertue to wynnen þe mede of
þe heuene. for þe erþe ouer-comen ȝeueþ þe sterres.
¶ þis is to seyne þat whan þat erþely lust is ouer-comen.
a man is maked worþi to þe heuene.

EXPLICIT LIBER QUARTUS.

4236 seyne—seyn

4237 wrouȝt[e]—wrowhte
continued[e]—continuede
ȝere—ȝer

4238 purged[e]—purgede

4240 [he]—from C.
wan—MS. wanne, C. wan

4242 desired[e]—desirede

4243 bouȝt[e]—bowhte
blode—blod

4244 vncloþed[e]—vnclothede
as—of

4245 kuyttyng—MS. knyttyng, C. kuttynge

4246 lete—let
kuytten—MS. knytten, C. kuttyn

4248 haue—han

4249 myȝt[e] wende—myhte wenden

4250 bywept[e]—by-wepte
ylorn—MS. ylorne, C. y-lorn

4251 fiers[e]—feerse
had[de]—hadde

4253 ȝeld—yald

4254 sorowful—sorwful
smot—MS. smote, C. smot

4255 oute—owt
stod—MS. stode, C. stood
forhede—forehed

4256 saw—say

4258 hard[e] trauaile—harde trauayles
dawntede—MS. dawnded, C. dawntede

4259 half—MS. hals
rafte—byrafte
fro—from

4260 seyne—seyn

4261 smot—MS. smote, C. smot

4262 [in——lyrne]—from C.

4263 rauyssed[e]—rauysshede

4266 seid—MS. seide, C. sayd
haþ—MS. haþe

4267 lorde—lord

4269 etyn—freten

4270 brend[e]—brende
flode defouled[e]—flood defowlede

4271 forhede dreint[e]—forhed dreynte

4273 lykenesse—lyknesses

4274 turnid[e]—tornede

4275 brak—MS. brake, C. brak
hys—hise

4276 [he]—from C.

4278-80 apaised[e]—apaysede

4281 bristled[e]—brystelede
marked[e]—markede

4282 cercle—clerke

4283 þreste—thriste

4285 deserued[e]—deseruede

4286 Goþ—MS. Goþe
þere—ther

4287 weye—way

4288 nake—MS. make, C. nake

4289 slowe—MS. slouȝ, C. slowe
fley—flee

4292 seyne—seyn

THE EXISTENCE OF CHANCE.