3379whiche—which3380good—goode3381ne(2)—omitted3383whiche—which3385forlonge—forlong3386-88-90whiche—which3391forþe—forth3393whiche—whichgood[e]—goode3395wood—woodegood[e]—goode3396les—leesene—omitted3398good[e]—goode3399reioiseþ—reioysehem—hymþei had[de]—he hadde3400 [þat]—from C.3401had[de]—hadde3402self—MS. selk3403myȝt[e]bynym[e]—myhte be-nyme3404owen—owne3406laste—last3408good[e]—goodewolde—nolde3409goode—goodof(2)—of the3411greet—grete3412here byforne—her by-forn3413god—good3414is(1)—hisclere—cleer3415good[e]—goode3417godde[s]—goddesswiche—swich3418 [ne]—from C.endirken—derken3422wise man—wysmanþe—omittedvndepartable—MS. vndirpartable, C. vndepartable3423of(1)—of the3428answere—answeryþe—omitted3434 [vtteriste——is the]—from C.3438gretely—gretly3439grete—gret3441al—allehaþ—MS. haþe3443al—allehaþ—MS. haþe3446al—alle3447haue—han3448stynten—MS. styntent3450were somtyme—weeren whilom3452forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. forlorn3453as—omittedenhawnse—enhawsen3455whiche—whichhaþ—MS. haþe3459 [be]—from C.3464yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hidd3465seyne—seyn3468dredeful—dredful3469ben—to bendred—MS. dredde, C. dredd3470holde—holdenlyke—lykherte—hertslowe—slowh3472vnstedfast—vnstidefasthis—hise3475þan—MS. þat, C. thanne3477passe—passen[The 3deMetur.]*V[E]LA NARICII DUCIS.[* fol. 27b.]Evrus þeUlysses was driven by the eastern winds upon the shores of that isle where Circe dwelt, who, having entertained her guests with magic draughts, transformed them into divers shapes—one into a boar, another into a lion;wynde aryueþ þe sayles of vlixes duc of þecontre of narice.andhys wandryng shippes by þe3480see in to þe isle þere as Circe þe fayre goddesse douȝterof þe sonne dwelleþ þat medlyþ to hir newe gestesdrynkes þat ben touchedandmaked wiþ enchauntmentȝ.andafter þat hir hande myȝty of þe herbes3484had[de] chaunged hir gestes into dyuerse maneres. þatoon of hem is couered his face wiþ forme of a boor. þatoþer is chaunged in to a lyounof þe contre of marmorike.andhis naylesandhis teþe wexen.some into howling wolves, and others into Indian tigers.¶ þat3488oþer of hem is newliche chaunged in to a wolf.andhoweliþ whan he wolde wepe. þat oþer goþ debonairlyin þe house as a tigre of Inde.But Mercury, the Arcadian god, rescued Ulysses from the Circean charms. Yet his mariners, having drunk of her infected drinks, were changed to swine, and fed on acorns.but al be it so þat þegodhed of mercurie þat is cleped þe bride of arcadie haþ3492had mercie of þe duc vlixes byseged wiþ diuerse yuelesandhaþ vnbounden hym fro þe pestilence of hysoosteresse algates þe rowersandþe maryners hadden byþis ydrawen in to hir mouþesanddronken þe wicked[e]3496drynkes þei þat were woxen swyne hadden by þischaunged hire mete of brede forto ete acorns of ookes.All traces of the human form were lost, and they were bereft of speech.non of hir lymes ne dwelliþ wiþ hemhoole. butþei han lost þe voysandþe body.Their souls, unchanged, bewailed their dreadful fate.Oonly hireþouȝt3500dwelleþ wiþ hem stable þat wepiþandbywailiþ þemonstruous chaungynge þat þei suffren.O most weak, are Circe’s powers compared with the potency of vice, to transform the human shape!¶ O ouer lyȝthand. as who seiþ. ¶ O febleandlyȝt is þe hand ofCirces þe enchaunteresse þat chaungeþ þe bodies of folk3504in to bestes to regardeandto comparisounof mutaciounþat is makid by vices.Circe’s herbs may change the body, but cannot touch the mind, the inward strength of man.ne þe herbes of circes ne ben natmyȝty. for al be it so þat þei may chaungen þe lymesof þe body. ¶ algates ȝit þei may nat chaunge þe3508hertes. for wiþ inne is yhid þe strengþeandþe vigourof menin þe secre toure of hire hertys. þat is to seynþe strengþe of resoun.But vice is more potent than Circe’s poisonous charms.but þilke uenyms of vices to-drawena man to hem more myȝtily þan þe venym of3512circes.Though it leaves the body whole, it pierces the inner man, and inflicts a deadly wound upon the soul.¶ For vices ben so cruel þat þei percenandþoruȝ passen þe corage wiþ inne.andþouȝ þei ne anoyenat þe body. ȝitte vices wooden to distroien men bywounde of þouȝt.35163479aryueþ—aryuedevlixes—MS. vluxies, C. vlixes3481Circe—Circes3483enchauntmentȝ—enchauntementȝ3484hande—handof—ouer3485had[de]—haddegestes—MS. goostes, C. gestes3486boor—boere3488his(1)—hisehis teþe—hise teth3489newliche—neweliche3490goþ—MS. goþe3491house—hows3492bride—brydhaþ—MS. haþe3493mercie—MS. mercurie, C. mercy3494haþ—MS. haþe3495oosteresse—oostesse3496wicked[e]—wikkede3497were woxen swyne—weeren wexen swyn3498chaunged—Ichaungedbrede—bredforto—MS.andfortoete acorns—eten akkornes3499hoole—hool3501wepiþ—MS. kepiþ, C. weepith3502monstruous—MS. monstronous, C. Monstruos3504Circes—MS. Cirtesfolk—folkys3509yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd3515wooden—MS. wolden, C. woodenTHE WICKED ARE TORMENTED BY A THREEFOLD WRETCHEDNESS.[The ferthe prose.]TUNC EGO FATEOR INQUAM.Þan seide IB.I confess that vicious men are rightly called beasts.þus I confesseandam aknowe quod I. neI ne se nat þat men may seyn as by ryȝt.They retain the outward form of man, but the qualities of their souls prove them to be beasts.þatshrewes ne ben nat chaunged in to beestes by þequalite of hir soules. ¶ Al be it so þat þei kepen ȝitte3520þe forme of þe body of mankynde.I wish, however, that the wicked were without the power to annoy and hurt good men.but I nolde nat ofshrewes of whiche þe þouȝt cruel woodeþ alwey in todestrucciounof good[e] men. þat it wereleueful to hemto done þat.P.They have no power, as I shall presently show you.¶ Certys quod she ne it nis nat leueful3524to hem as I shal wel shewen þe in couenable place.But were this power, which men ascribe to them, taken away from the wicked, they would be relieved of the greatest part of their punishment.¶ But naþeles yif so were þat þilke þat menwenenbenleueful for shrewes were bynomen hem. so þat þei nemyȝten nat anoyen or don harme to goode men. ¶ Certys3528a gret party of þe peyne to shrewes shulde ben alleggedandreleued.The wicked are more unhappy when they have accomplished their evil designs than when they fail to do so.¶ For al be it so þat þis ne seme natcredible þing perauenture to somme folk ȝit mot itnedes be þat shrewes ben more wrecchesandvnsely.3532whan þei may donandperforme þat þei coueiten [thanyif they myhte nat complyssen þat they coueyten].If it is a miserable thing to will evil, it is a greater unhappiness to have the power to execute it, without which power the wicked desires would languish without effect.¶ Foryif so be þat it be wrecchednesse to wilne to don yuel;þan is it more wrecchednesse to mowen don yuel.3536wiþ oute whiche moeuyng þe wrecched wille sholdelanguisshe wiþ oute effecte.Since, then, each of these three things (i. e.the will, the power, and the accomplishment of evil) hath its misery, therefore a threefold wretchedness afflicts those who both will, can, and do commit sin.¶ þan syn þat eueryche ofþise þinges haþ hys wrecchednesse. þat is to seyne wilto done yuel. and moeuynge to done yuel. it mot nedes3540be. þat þei (shrewes) ben constreyned by þre vnselynessesþat wolenandmowenandperformen felonyesandshrewednesses.B.I grant it—but still I wish the vicious were without this misfortune.¶ I accorde me quod I. but Idesire gretely þat shrewes losten sone þilke vnselynesses.3544þat is to seyne þat shrewes were despoyled of moeuyngto don yuel.P.They shall be despoiled of it sooner than you wish perhaps, or than they themselves imagine.¶ so shullenþei quod she. sonnere[* fol. 28.]perauenture þen þou woldest *or sonnere þen þei hemself wenen to lakken mowynge to done yuel.In the narrow limits of this life, nothing, however tardy it appears, can seem to an immortal soul to have a very long duration.¶ For3548þere nis no þing so late in so short boundes of þis lijfþat is longe to abide. namelyche to a corage inmortel.The great hopes, and the subtle machinations of the wicked, are often suddenly frustrated, by which an end is put to their wickedness.Of whiche shrewes þe grete hopeandþe heye compassyngusof shrewednesse is often destroyed by a3552sodeyne ende or þei ben war.andþat þing establiþ toshrewes þe ende of hir shrewednesse.If vice renders men wretched, the longer they are vicious the longer must they be miserable.¶ For yif þatshrewednesse makiþe wrecches. þan mot he nedes bemost wrecched þat lengest is a shrewe.And they would be infinitely wretched if death did not put an end to their crimes.þe whiche3556wicked shrewes wolde ydemen aldirmost vnselyandcaytifs yif þat hir shrewednes ne were yfinissed. at þeleste weye by þe outerest[e] deeþ.It is clear, as I have already shown, that eternal misery is infinite.for [yif] I haue concludedsoþe of þe vnselynesse of shrewednesse. þan sheweþ3560it clerely þat þilke shrewednesse is wiþ outen ende þewhiche is certeyne to ben perdurable.B.This consequence appears to be just, but difficult to assent to.¶ Certys quod Iþis [conclusion] is hardeandwonderful to graunte. ¶ ButI knowe wel þat it accordeþ moche to [the] þinges þat I3564haue graunted her byforne.P.You think rightly; but if you cannot assent to my conclusion you ought to show that the premises are false, or that the consequences are unfairly deduced; for if the premises be granted, you cannot reject the inferences from them.¶ þou hast quod she þe ryȝtestimaciounof þis. but who so euere wene þat it be anharde þing to acorde hym to a conclusioun. it is ryȝtþat he shewe þat somme of þe premisses ben fals. or3568ellys he mot shewe þat þe colasiounof preposiciounsnis nat spedful to a necessarie conclusion. ¶ and yif itbe nat so. but þat þe premisses ben ygranted þer nisnat whi he sholde blame þe argument.What I am about to say is not less wonderful, and it follows necessarily from the same premises.for þis þing þat3572I 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 aswho so seiþ it folweþ of þat whiche þat is purposedbyforn.B.What is that?what is þat quod I.P.That the wicked who have been punished for their crimes, are happier than if justice had allowed them to go unpunished.¶ certys quod she þat is3576þat þat þise wicked shrewes ben more blysful or ellyslasse wrecches. þat byen þe tourmentes þat þei handeserued. þan yif no peyne of Iustice ne chastied[e]hem.I do not appeal to popular arguments, that punishment corrects vice, that the fear of chastisement leads them to take the right path, and that the sufferings of evil-doers deter others from vice, but I believe that guilty men, unpunished, become much more unhappy in another way.ne þis ne seye I nat now for þat any man myȝt[e]3580þenk[e] þat þe maneres of shrewes ben corigedandchastised by veniaunce.andþat þei ben brouȝt to þeryȝt wey by þe drede of þe tourment. ne for þat þeiȝeuen to oþer folk ensample to fleyen fromvices. ¶ But3584I vndirstonde ȝitte [in] an oþer manere þat shrewesben more vnsely whan þei ne ben nat punissed al be itso þat þere ne ben had no resounor lawe of correccioun.ne none ensample of lokynge.B.In what way do you mean?¶ And what manere3588shal þat ben quod I. ouþer þan haþ ben told herebyfornP.Are not good people happy, and evil folk miserable?¶ Haue we nat graunted þan quod she þatgood[e] folk ben blysful.andshrewes ben wrecches.B.Yes.ȝis quod I.P.If good be added to the wretchedness of a man, will not he be happier than another whose misery has no element of good in it?[thanne quodshe] ȝif þat any good were3592added to þe wrecchenesse of any wyȝt. nis he nat moreblisful þan he þat ne haþ no medelyng of goode in hyssolitarie wrecchednesse.B.It seems so.so semeþ it quod I.P.And if to the same wretched being another misery be annexed, does not he become more wretched than he whose misery is alleviated by the participation of some good?and whatseyst þou þan quod she of þilke wrecche þat lakkeþ alle3596goodes. so þat no goode nis medeled in hys wrecchednesse.andȝitte ouer alle hys wickednesse for whichehe is a wrecche þat þer be ȝitte anoþer yuel anexidandknyt to hym. shal not men demen hym more vnsely3600þan þilke wrecche of whiche þe vnselynesse is re[le]uedby þe participaciounof som goode.B.He does.whi sholde he natquod I.P.When evil men are punished they have a degree of good annexed to their wretchedness, to wit, the punishment itself, which as it is the effect of justice is good.¶ þan certys quod she han shrewes whan þeiben punissed somwhat of good anexid to hir wrecchednesse.3604þat is to seyne þe same peyne þat þei suffrenwhiche þat is good by þe resounof Iustice.And when these wretches escape punishment something more of ill (i. e.exemption from punishment) is added to their condition.And whanþilke same shrewes ascapen wiþ outen tourment. þanhan þei somwhat more of yuel ȝit ouer þe wickednesse3608þat þei han don. þat is to seye defaute of peyne.whiche defaute of peyne þou hast graunted is yuel.B.I cannot deny it.¶ For þe desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it quod I.P.Much more unhappy are the wicked when they enjoy an unmerited impunity than when they suffer a lawful chastisement.¶ Moche more þan quod she ben shrewes vnsely3612whan þei ben wrongfully delyuered fro peyne. þanwhan þei beþ punissed by ryȝtful vengeaunce.It is just to punish evil-doers, and unjust that they should escape punishment.but þis isopen þingandclere þat it is ryȝt þat shrewes benpunissed.andit is wickednesseandwrong þat þei3616escapin vnpunissed.[* fol. 28b.]B.Nobody denies that.¶ who myȝt[e] denye *þat quod I.P.Everything, too, which is just is good; and, on the contrary, whatsoever is unjust is evil.but quod she may any mandenye. þat al þat is ryȝt nisgood.andalso þe contrarie. þat alle þat is wrong niswicked.B.These are just inferences from our former premises.certys quod I þise þinges ben clere ynouȝ.and3620þat we han concludid a litel here byforne.But is there any punishment for the soul after death of the body?but I preyeþe þat þou telle me yif þou accordest to leten no tourmentto þe soules aftir þat þe body is dedid by þe deþe.þis [is] to seyn. vndirstondest þou ouȝt þat soules han3624any tourment after þe deþe of þe body.P.Yes, and great ones too. Some punishments are rigorous and eternal.¶ Certis quodshe ȝeandþat ryȝt grete. of whiche soules quod she Itrowe þat somme ben tourmentid by asprenesse ofpeyne.Others have a corrective and purifying force, and are of finite duration.andsomme soules I trowe be excercised by a3628purging mekenesse.But this is not to our purpose.but my conseil nys nat to determyneof þis peyne. but I haue trauayled and told ithider to.I want you to see that the power of the wicked is in reality nothing, that the wicked never go unpunished; that their licence to do evil is not of long duration, and that the wicked would be more unhappy if it were longer, and infinitely wretched if it were to continue for ever.¶ For þou sholdest knowe þat þe mowynge[.i. myght] of shrewes whiche mowynge þe semeþ to3632ben. vnworþi nis no mowynge.andeke of shrewes ofwhiche þou pleynedest þat þei ne were nat punissed.þat þou woldest seen þat þei ne weren neuer mo wiþouten þe torment of hire wickednesse.andof þe licence3636of mowynge to done yuel. þat þou preidest þat itmyȝt[e] sone ben endid.andþat þou woldest faynelerne. þat it ne sholde nat longe endure.andþatshrewes ben more vnsely yif þei were of lenger duryng.3640andmost vnsely yif þei weren perdurable.After this I showed that evil men are more unhappy, having escaped punishment, than if justly chastised.andafterþis I haue shewed þe þat more vnsely ben shreweswhan þei escapen wiþ oute ryȝtful peyne. þan whan þeiben punissed by ryȝtful uengeaunce.Wherefore when they are supposed to get off scot-free they suffer most grievously.and of þis sentence3644folweþ it þat þan benshrewes constreyned atte laste wiþmost greuous tourment. whan men wene þat þei ne bennat ypunissed.B.Your reasoning appears convincing and conclusive. But your arguments are opposed to current opinions, and would hardly command assent, or even a hearing.whan I considre þi resouns quod I. I.ne trowe nat þat men seyn any þing more verrely.and3648yif I tourne aȝeyn to þe studies of men. who is [he] towhomit sholde seme þat [he] ne sholde nat only leuenþise þinges. but eke gladly herkene hem.P.It is so. For those accustomed to the darkness of error cannot fix their eyes on the light of perspicuous truth, like birds of night which are blinded by the full light of day.Certys quodshe so it is. but men may nat. for þei han hire eyen so3652wont to derkenesse of erþely þinges. þat þei may natliften hem vp to þe lyȝt of clere soþefastnes. ¶ Butþei ben lyke to briddes of whiche þe nyȝt lyȝtneþ hyrelookyng.andþe day blyndeþ hem.They consider only the gratification of their lusts, they think there is happiness in the liberty of doing evil and in exemption from punishment.for whan men loken3656nat þe ordre of þinges but hire lustesandtalentȝ. þeiwene þat oþir þe leue or þe mowynge to done wickednesseor ellys þe escaping wiþ oute peyne be weleful.VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD.but considereþe iugement of þe perdurable lawe. forDo you attend to the eternal law written in your own heart. Conform your mind to what is good, and you will stand in no need of a judge to confer a reward upon you—for you have it already in the enjoyment of the best of things (i. e.virtue).if3660þou conferme þi corage to þe beste þinges. þou ne hastno nede to no iuge to ȝiuenþe pris or meede. for þouhast ioigned þi self to þe most excellent þing.If you indulge in vice, you need no other chastisement—you have degraded yourself into a lower order of beings.and yifþou haue enclined þi studies to þe wicked þinges. ne3664seek no foreyn wrekere out of þi self. for þou þi selfhast þrest þe in to wicked þinges. ryȝt as þou myȝtestloken by dyuerse tymes þe foule erþeandþe heuene.andþat alle oþer þinges stynten fro wiþ oute. so þat3668þou [nereneyther in heuene ne in erthe] ne say[e] noþing more. þan sholde it semen to þe as by only resounof lokynge. þat þou were in þe sterres.andnow in þeerþe.The multitude doth not consider this.but þe poeple ne lokeþ nat on þise þinges.What then? Shall we take them as our models who resemble beasts?what3672þan shal we þan approchen vs to hem þat I haueshewed þat þei ben lyke to þe bestes. (q. d. non)THE WICKED NEED PITY.If a man who had lost his sight, having even forgotten his blindness, should declare that his faculties were all perfect, shall we weakly believe that those who retain their sight are blind?¶ And what wilt þou seyne of þis ¶ yif þat a manhadde al forlorn hys syȝt.andhad[de] forȝeten þat he3676euer sawandwende þat no þing ne fayled[e] hym ofperfecciounof mankynde. now we þat myȝten sen þesame þing wolde we nat wene þat he were blynde (q. d.sic).The vulgar will not assent to what I am going to say, though supported by conclusive arguments—to wit, that persons are more unhappy that do wrong than those who suffer wrong.ne also ne accordeþ nat þe poeple to þat I shal3680seyne. þe whiche þing is susteyned by a stronge foundementof resouns. þat is to seyn þat more vnsely ben þeiþat don wrong to oþer folk. þen þei þat þe wrongsuffren.[* fol. 29.]B.I would willingly hear your reasons.¶ I wolde heren þilke *same resouns quod I3684P.Do you deny that every wicked man deserves punishment?¶ Deniest þou quod she þat alle shrewes ne ben worþito han tourment.B.No, I do not.nay quod I.P.I am satisfied that impious men are in many ways miserable.but quod she I am certeyneby many resouns þat shrewes ben vnsely.B.They are so.it accordeþquod I.P.Then those that deserve punishment are miserable.þan [ne] dowtest þou nat quod she þat3688þilke folk þat ben worþi of tourment þat þei ne benwrecches.B.I admit it.It accordeþ wel quod I.P.If you were a judge, upon whom would you inflict punishment? upon the wrong-doer, or upon the injured?yif þou were þanquod she yset a Iuge or a knower of þinges. wheþertrowest þou þat men sholde tourment[e] hym þat haþ3692don þe wronge. or hym þat haþ suffred þe wronge.B.I should not hesitate to punish the offender as a satisfaction to the sufferer.I ne doute nat quod I. þat I nolde don suffissaunt satisfacciounto hym þat had[de] suffred þe wrong by þesorwe of hym þat had[de] don þe wronge.P.Then you would deem the injuring person more unhappy than he who had been wronged?¶ þan3696semeþ it quod she þat þe doar of wrong is more wreccheþan he þat haþ suffred þe wrong.B.That follows naturally.þat folweþ wel quod[I].P.From this then, and other reasons of like nature, it seems that vice makes men miserable, and an injury done to any man is the misery of the doer, and not of the sufferer.þan quod she by þise causesandby oþer causesþat ben enforced by þe same roate þat filþe or synne by3700þe propre nature of it makeþ men wretches.anditsheweþ wel þat þe wrong þat mendon nis nat þewrecchenesse of hym þat receyueþ þe wrong. but þewrecchednesse of hym þat doþ þe wrongeBut our advocates think differently—they try to obtain pity for those that have suffered cruelty and oppression;¶ but certys3704quod she þise oratours or aduocatȝ don al þe contrariefor þei enforcen hem to commoeue þe iuges to han piteof hemþat han suffredandresceyued þe þinges þat bengreuousandaspre.but the juster pity is really due to the oppressors, who ought, therefore, to be led to judgment as the sick are to the physician, not by angry but by merciful and kind accusers, so that, by the physic of chastisement, they may be cured of their vices.andȝitte men sholden more ryȝtfully3708han pitee on hem þat don þe greuauncesandþewronges. þe whiche shrewes it were a more couenableþing þat þe accusours or aduocatȝ not wroþe but pitousanddebonaire ladden þe shrewes þat han don wrong to3712þe Iugement. ryȝt as men leden seke folk to þe leche.THE DUTY OF ADVOCATES.for þat þei sholden seken out þe maladies of synne bytourmentȝ.I would not have the guilty defrauded by their advocates. Their duty is to accuse, and not to excuse offenders.and by þis couenaunt eyþer þe entent of þedefendours or aduocatȝ sholde fayleandcesen in al. or3716ellys yif þe office of aduocatȝ wolde bettre profiten tomen. it sholde be tourned in to þe habit of accusacioun.þat is [to] s[e]yn þei sholdenaccuse shrewes.andnatexcuse hem.Were it permitted the wicked to get a slight view of virtue’s beauty, which they have forsaken, and could they be persuaded of the purifying effects of lawful chastisement, they surely would not consider punishment as an evil, but would willingly give themselves up to justice and refuse the defence of their advocates.andeke þe shrewes hem self. ȝit it were3720leueful to hem to seen at any clifte þe vertue þat þeihan forleten.andsawen þat þei sholde putten adounþe filþes of hire vices by [the] tourmentȝ of peynes. þeine auȝten nat ryȝt for þe recompensaciounforto geten3724hem bounteandprowesse whiche þat þei han lost demenne holden þat þilke peynes weren tourmentes to hem.andeke þei wolden refuse þe attendaunce of hir aduocatȝandtaken hem self to hire iugesandto hir accusours.3728The wise hate nobody, only a fool hates good men; and it is as irrational to hate the wicked.for whiche it bytideþ [þat] as to þe wise folkþer nis no place ylete to hate. þat is to seyn. þat hatene haþ no place amonges wise men. ¶ For no wyȝtwolde haten gode men. but yif he were ouer moche a3732fole. ¶ and forto haten shrewes it nis no resoun.Vice is a sickness of the soul, and needs our compassion, and not our hate, for the distempers of the soul are more deplorable than those of the body, and have more claims upon our compassion.¶ For ryȝt so as languissing is maladie of body. ryȝtso ben vicesandsynne maladies of corage. ¶ and so aswe ne deme nat þat þei þat ben seek of hire body ben3736worþi to ben hated. but raþer worþi of pite. wel moreworþi nat to ben hated. but forto ben had in pite benþei of whiche þe þouȝtes ben constreined by felonouswickednesse. þat is more cruel þanany languissinge of3740body.3517aknowe—aknowe it3518seyn—sayn3523good[e]—goode3524done—don3526ben—be3527for—to3528myȝten—myhtedon—MS. done, C. doonharme—harm3529gret—MS. grete, C. gret3533-36don—MS. done, C. doon3533-34 [than——coueyten]—from C.3537moeuyng—mowyngewille—wil3539haþ—MS. haþeseyne—seyn3540done(1)—doonmoeuynge to done—Mowynge to donmot—MS. mote, C. mot3544gretely—gretly3545seyne—seynwere—weerenmoeuyng—mowynge3548wenen—weeneto lakken——yuel—omitted3549þere—therso(2)—the3550longe—long3552shrewednesse—shrewednessesoften—ofte3558shrewednes—shrewednesseyfinissed—fynyshed3559weye—weyouterest[e]—owtteryste[yif]—from C.3560soþe—soth3561clerely—cleerly3563 [conclusion]—from C.harde—hard3564 [the]—from C.3567harde—hard3568fals—false3573nowe—now3575who so seiþ—ho seythwhiche—which3578byen—a-byen3579chastied[e]—chastysede3580myȝt[e]—myhte3581þenk[e]—thinke3584ȝeuen—MS. ȝeuene, C. yeuenfleyen—flen3585ȝitte—yif[in]—from C.3588none—non3589ouþer—ootherhaþ—MS. haþeben—betold—MS. tolde, C. told3591good[e]—goode3592 [thanne——she]—from C.3594blisful—welefulhaþ—MS. haþe3594-97goode—good3598alle—alwhiche—which3600knyt—knytte3601re[le]ued—releued3602goode—good3605seyne—seyn3606whiche—which3607outen—owte3609don—MS. doneseye—seyn3610whiche—which3611desert—deserte3614beþ—MS. beþe, C. ben3615clere—cler3617myȝt[e]—myhte3618is ryȝt nis—MS. nis ryȝt is3619alle—alnis wicked—is wykke3621here—her3623dedid—endyddeþe—deth3624 [is]—from C.ouȝt—awht3625deþe—deth3626grete—gret3628be—ben3629determyne—determenye3630peyne—peynestold—MS. tolde3632 [.i. myght]—from C.3632-34whiche—which3633eke—ek3635seen—seyn3637done—don3638myȝt[e]—myhtefayne lerne—fayn lernen3639endure—dure3645atte—at thelaste—MS. þast, C. laste3647resouns—resoun3649-50 [he]—from C.3651eke—ek3653derkenesse—derknesse3654clere soþefastnes—cleer sothfastnesse3655whiche—which3658oþir—eytherdone—don3659escaping—schapynge3662to(1)—of3665foreyn—foreyne3666þrest—thrystwicked—wikke3669 [nere——erthe]—from C.heuene—C. heuenenesay[e]—C. saye3672on—in3674lyke—lykq. d.—MS. quod3675wilt þou seyne—woltow seyn3676forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. for-lornsyȝt—syhtehad[de]—hadde3677saw—MS. sawe, C. sawhfayled[e]—faylede3678sen—MS. sene, C. sen3679þing—thingesq. d.—MS. quod3681whiche—which3683don—MS. done, C. donoþer—oothre3688 [ne]—from C.3691yset—MS. ysette, C. ysetwheþer—omitted3692tourment[e]—tormenten3692-3haþ—MS. haþe3693wronge(2)—wrong3695had[de]—hadde3696had[de]—haddenwronge—wrong3697doar—doere3698haþ—MS. haþe3699 [I]—from C.3700ben—ben ofroate—Roote3703-4but——wronge—omitted3704doþ—MS. doþe3711wroþe—wroth3712þe—thodon—MS. done, C. don3713seke—syke3715tourmentȝ—tormentþe(2)—omitted3719 [to]s[e]yn—to seyn3722sawen—sawhsholde—sholden3723 [the]—from C.3724auȝten—owhte3725-29whiche—which3729bytideþ—MS. byndeþ, C. bytidith[þat]—from C.3730ylete—I-leten3731haþ—MS. haþe3732wolde—nylmoche—mochel3733fole—fool3736seek—sykeTHE FOLLY OF WAR.[The ferthe Metur.]QUID TANTOS IUUAT.What deliteþWhat frenzy causes man to hasten on his fate, that is, by war or by strife.it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges ofhatredesandto hastenandbisien [the] fatal disposiciounof ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure propre handes. þat is3744to seyn by batailes or [by] contek.If death is desired he delays not to come.for yif ȝe axen þedeeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ netarieþ nat hys swifte hors.Why do they who are exposed to the assaults of beasts of prey and venomous reptiles seek to slay each other with the sword.and [the] men þat þe serpentȝandþe lyouns.andþe tigre.andþe beereandþe3748boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit þilke same menseken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde.Lo! their manners and opinions do not accord, wherefore they engage in unjust wars, and fiercely urge on each other’s destiny.loo for[* fol. 29b.]her maners ben *diuerseanddiscordaunt ¶ þeimoeuen vnryȝtful oostesandcruel batailes.andwilne3752to perisse by enterchaungynge of dartes.But this is no just reason for shedding blood.but þe resounof cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful.Wouldst thou reward each as he deserves? Then love the good as they deserve, and have pity upon the wicked.wilt þou þan ȝelden acouenable gerdounto þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfullygoode folk;andhaue pite on shrewes.37563743 [the]—from C.3745 [by]—from C.3746hastisiþ—hastethowen wille—owne wyl3747 [the]—from C.3749boore—boorteþe—teth3750swerde—swerd3751her—hir3752wilne—wylnen3753enterchaungynge—entrechaungyngesTHE OPERATIONS OF CHANCE.[The fyfthe prose.]HINC EGO UIDEO INQUAM.ETCETERA.Þus see I welB.I see plainly the nature of that felicity which attends the virtues of the good, and of the misery that follows the vices of the wicked.quod I. eyþer what blisfulnesse or ellyswhat vnselinesse is estab[l]issed in þe desertys ofgoode menandof shrewes.But in Fortune I see a mixture of good and evil. The wise man prefers riches, &c., to poverty, &c.¶ but in þis ilke fortuneof poeple I see somwhat of goode.andsomwhat of3760yuel. for no wise man haþ nat leuer ben exiled poreandnedyandnameles. þan forto dwellen in hys Citeeandflouren of rychesses.andbe redoutable by honoure.andstronge of powerAnd wisdom appears more illustrious, when wise men are governors and impart their felicity to their subjects; and when imprisonment, torture, &c., are inflicted only upon bad citizens.for in þis wise more clerelyand3764more witnesfully is þe office of wise men ytretid whanþe blisfulnesand[the] pouste of gouernours is as itwere yshad amonges poeples þat ben neyȝbouresandsubgitȝ. syn þat namely prisounlaweandþise oþer3768tourmentȝ of lawful peynes ben raþer owed to felonousCiteȝeins. for þe whiche felonous Citeȝeins þo peynesben establissed. þan for goode folk.Why, then, should things undergo so unnatural a change?¶ þan I merueileme gretly quod I. whi [þat] þe þinges ben so mys3772Why should the worthy suffer and the vicious receive the reward of virtue?entrechaunged. þat tourmentȝ felounes pressenandconfounden goode folk.andshrewes rauyssen medes ofvertueandben inhonours.andin grete estatis.I should like to hear the reason of so unjust a distribution.and I desire eke to witenof þe. what semeþ þe to ben þe3776resounof þis so wrongful a confusiounI should not marvel so much ifChancewere the cause of all this confusion.¶ For I woldewondre wel þe lasse yif I trowed[e] þat alle þise þingeswere medeled by fortuouse hap.But I am overwhelmed with astonishment when I reflect, that God the director of all things thus unequally distributes rewards and punishments.¶ But now hepeþandencreseþ myne astonyenge god gouernourof þinges.3780þat so as god ȝeueþ ofte tymes to good[e] men goodesandmyrþes.andto shrewes yuel and aspre þinges.andȝeueþ aȝeynewarde to goode folk hardnesse.andtoshrewes [he] graunteþ hem her willeandþat þei desiren.3784What difference is there, then, unless we know the cause, between God’s proceedings and the operations of Chance?what difference þan may þer be bitwixen þat þatgod doþ.andþe hap of fortune. yif men ne knowe natþe cause whi þat [it] is.P.It is not at all surprising that you think you see irregularities, when you are ignorant of that order by which God proceeds.it nis no merueile quod she þouȝþat men wenen þat þer be somwhat folysche and confus3788whan þe resounof þe order is vnknowe.But, forasmuch as God, the good governor, presides over all, rest assured that all things are done rightly and as they ought to be done.¶ But alleþouȝ þou ne know nat þe cause of so gret a disposicioun.naþeles for as moche as god þe good[e] gouernour attempreþandgouerneþ þe world. ne doute þe nat þat3792alle þinges ne ben doon aryȝt.
3379whiche—which3380good—goode3381ne(2)—omitted3383whiche—which3385forlonge—forlong3386-88-90whiche—which3391forþe—forth3393whiche—whichgood[e]—goode3395wood—woodegood[e]—goode3396les—leesene—omitted3398good[e]—goode3399reioiseþ—reioysehem—hymþei had[de]—he hadde3400 [þat]—from C.3401had[de]—hadde3402self—MS. selk3403myȝt[e]bynym[e]—myhte be-nyme3404owen—owne3406laste—last3408good[e]—goodewolde—nolde3409goode—goodof(2)—of the3411greet—grete3412here byforne—her by-forn3413god—good3414is(1)—hisclere—cleer3415good[e]—goode3417godde[s]—goddesswiche—swich3418 [ne]—from C.endirken—derken3422wise man—wysmanþe—omittedvndepartable—MS. vndirpartable, C. vndepartable3423of(1)—of the3428answere—answeryþe—omitted3434 [vtteriste——is the]—from C.3438gretely—gretly3439grete—gret3441al—allehaþ—MS. haþe3443al—allehaþ—MS. haþe3446al—alle3447haue—han3448stynten—MS. styntent3450were somtyme—weeren whilom3452forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. forlorn3453as—omittedenhawnse—enhawsen3455whiche—whichhaþ—MS. haþe3459 [be]—from C.3464yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hidd3465seyne—seyn3468dredeful—dredful3469ben—to bendred—MS. dredde, C. dredd3470holde—holdenlyke—lykherte—hertslowe—slowh3472vnstedfast—vnstidefasthis—hise3475þan—MS. þat, C. thanne3477passe—passen
3379whiche—which
3380good—goode
3381ne(2)—omitted
3383whiche—which
3385forlonge—forlong
3386-88-90whiche—which
3391forþe—forth
3393whiche—whichgood[e]—goode
3395wood—woodegood[e]—goode
3396les—leesene—omitted
3398good[e]—goode
3399reioiseþ—reioysehem—hymþei had[de]—he hadde
3400 [þat]—from C.
3401had[de]—hadde
3402self—MS. selk
3403myȝt[e]bynym[e]—myhte be-nyme
3404owen—owne
3406laste—last
3408good[e]—goodewolde—nolde
3409goode—goodof(2)—of the
3411greet—grete
3412here byforne—her by-forn
3413god—good
3414is(1)—hisclere—cleer
3415good[e]—goode
3417godde[s]—goddesswiche—swich
3418 [ne]—from C.endirken—derken
3422wise man—wysmanþe—omittedvndepartable—MS. vndirpartable, C. vndepartable
3423of(1)—of the
3428answere—answeryþe—omitted
3434 [vtteriste——is the]—from C.
3438gretely—gretly
3439grete—gret
3441al—allehaþ—MS. haþe
3443al—allehaþ—MS. haþe
3446al—alle
3447haue—han
3448stynten—MS. styntent
3450were somtyme—weeren whilom
3452forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. forlorn
3453as—omittedenhawnse—enhawsen
3455whiche—whichhaþ—MS. haþe
3459 [be]—from C.
3464yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hidd
3465seyne—seyn
3468dredeful—dredful
3469ben—to bendred—MS. dredde, C. dredd
3470holde—holdenlyke—lykherte—hertslowe—slowh
3472vnstedfast—vnstidefasthis—hise
3475þan—MS. þat, C. thanne
3477passe—passen
Evrus þeUlysses was driven by the eastern winds upon the shores of that isle where Circe dwelt, who, having entertained her guests with magic draughts, transformed them into divers shapes—one into a boar, another into a lion;wynde aryueþ þe sayles of vlixes duc of þecontre of narice.andhys wandryng shippes by þe3480see in to þe isle þere as Circe þe fayre goddesse douȝterof þe sonne dwelleþ þat medlyþ to hir newe gestesdrynkes þat ben touchedandmaked wiþ enchauntmentȝ.andafter þat hir hande myȝty of þe herbes3484had[de] chaunged hir gestes into dyuerse maneres. þatoon of hem is couered his face wiþ forme of a boor. þatoþer is chaunged in to a lyounof þe contre of marmorike.andhis naylesandhis teþe wexen.some into howling wolves, and others into Indian tigers.¶ þat3488oþer of hem is newliche chaunged in to a wolf.andhoweliþ whan he wolde wepe. þat oþer goþ debonairlyin þe house as a tigre of Inde.But Mercury, the Arcadian god, rescued Ulysses from the Circean charms. Yet his mariners, having drunk of her infected drinks, were changed to swine, and fed on acorns.but al be it so þat þegodhed of mercurie þat is cleped þe bride of arcadie haþ3492had mercie of þe duc vlixes byseged wiþ diuerse yuelesandhaþ vnbounden hym fro þe pestilence of hysoosteresse algates þe rowersandþe maryners hadden byþis ydrawen in to hir mouþesanddronken þe wicked[e]3496drynkes þei þat were woxen swyne hadden by þischaunged hire mete of brede forto ete acorns of ookes.All traces of the human form were lost, and they were bereft of speech.non of hir lymes ne dwelliþ wiþ hemhoole. butþei han lost þe voysandþe body.Their souls, unchanged, bewailed their dreadful fate.Oonly hireþouȝt3500dwelleþ wiþ hem stable þat wepiþandbywailiþ þemonstruous chaungynge þat þei suffren.O most weak, are Circe’s powers compared with the potency of vice, to transform the human shape!¶ O ouer lyȝthand. as who seiþ. ¶ O febleandlyȝt is þe hand ofCirces þe enchaunteresse þat chaungeþ þe bodies of folk3504in to bestes to regardeandto comparisounof mutaciounþat is makid by vices.Circe’s herbs may change the body, but cannot touch the mind, the inward strength of man.ne þe herbes of circes ne ben natmyȝty. for al be it so þat þei may chaungen þe lymesof þe body. ¶ algates ȝit þei may nat chaunge þe3508hertes. for wiþ inne is yhid þe strengþeandþe vigourof menin þe secre toure of hire hertys. þat is to seynþe strengþe of resoun.But vice is more potent than Circe’s poisonous charms.but þilke uenyms of vices to-drawena man to hem more myȝtily þan þe venym of3512circes.Though it leaves the body whole, it pierces the inner man, and inflicts a deadly wound upon the soul.¶ For vices ben so cruel þat þei percenandþoruȝ passen þe corage wiþ inne.andþouȝ þei ne anoyenat þe body. ȝitte vices wooden to distroien men bywounde of þouȝt.3516
3479aryueþ—aryuedevlixes—MS. vluxies, C. vlixes3481Circe—Circes3483enchauntmentȝ—enchauntementȝ3484hande—handof—ouer3485had[de]—haddegestes—MS. goostes, C. gestes3486boor—boere3488his(1)—hisehis teþe—hise teth3489newliche—neweliche3490goþ—MS. goþe3491house—hows3492bride—brydhaþ—MS. haþe3493mercie—MS. mercurie, C. mercy3494haþ—MS. haþe3495oosteresse—oostesse3496wicked[e]—wikkede3497were woxen swyne—weeren wexen swyn3498chaunged—Ichaungedbrede—bredforto—MS.andfortoete acorns—eten akkornes3499hoole—hool3501wepiþ—MS. kepiþ, C. weepith3502monstruous—MS. monstronous, C. Monstruos3504Circes—MS. Cirtesfolk—folkys3509yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd3515wooden—MS. wolden, C. wooden
3479aryueþ—aryuedevlixes—MS. vluxies, C. vlixes
3481Circe—Circes
3483enchauntmentȝ—enchauntementȝ
3484hande—handof—ouer
3485had[de]—haddegestes—MS. goostes, C. gestes
3486boor—boere
3488his(1)—hisehis teþe—hise teth
3489newliche—neweliche
3490goþ—MS. goþe
3491house—hows
3492bride—brydhaþ—MS. haþe
3493mercie—MS. mercurie, C. mercy
3494haþ—MS. haþe
3495oosteresse—oostesse
3496wicked[e]—wikkede
3497were woxen swyne—weeren wexen swyn
3498chaunged—Ichaungedbrede—bredforto—MS.andfortoete acorns—eten akkornes
3499hoole—hool
3501wepiþ—MS. kepiþ, C. weepith
3502monstruous—MS. monstronous, C. Monstruos
3504Circes—MS. Cirtesfolk—folkys
3509yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd
3515wooden—MS. wolden, C. wooden
THE WICKED ARE TORMENTED BY A THREEFOLD WRETCHEDNESS.
Þan seide IB.I confess that vicious men are rightly called beasts.þus I confesseandam aknowe quod I. neI ne se nat þat men may seyn as by ryȝt.They retain the outward form of man, but the qualities of their souls prove them to be beasts.þatshrewes ne ben nat chaunged in to beestes by þequalite of hir soules. ¶ Al be it so þat þei kepen ȝitte3520þe forme of þe body of mankynde.I wish, however, that the wicked were without the power to annoy and hurt good men.but I nolde nat ofshrewes of whiche þe þouȝt cruel woodeþ alwey in todestrucciounof good[e] men. þat it wereleueful to hemto done þat.P.They have no power, as I shall presently show you.¶ Certys quod she ne it nis nat leueful3524to hem as I shal wel shewen þe in couenable place.
But were this power, which men ascribe to them, taken away from the wicked, they would be relieved of the greatest part of their punishment.¶ But naþeles yif so were þat þilke þat menwenenbenleueful for shrewes were bynomen hem. so þat þei nemyȝten nat anoyen or don harme to goode men. ¶ Certys3528a gret party of þe peyne to shrewes shulde ben alleggedandreleued.The wicked are more unhappy when they have accomplished their evil designs than when they fail to do so.¶ For al be it so þat þis ne seme natcredible þing perauenture to somme folk ȝit mot itnedes be þat shrewes ben more wrecchesandvnsely.3532whan þei may donandperforme þat þei coueiten [thanyif they myhte nat complyssen þat they coueyten].If it is a miserable thing to will evil, it is a greater unhappiness to have the power to execute it, without which power the wicked desires would languish without effect.¶ Foryif so be þat it be wrecchednesse to wilne to don yuel;þan is it more wrecchednesse to mowen don yuel.3536wiþ oute whiche moeuyng þe wrecched wille sholdelanguisshe wiþ oute effecte.Since, then, each of these three things (i. e.the will, the power, and the accomplishment of evil) hath its misery, therefore a threefold wretchedness afflicts those who both will, can, and do commit sin.¶ þan syn þat eueryche ofþise þinges haþ hys wrecchednesse. þat is to seyne wilto done yuel. and moeuynge to done yuel. it mot nedes3540be. þat þei (shrewes) ben constreyned by þre vnselynessesþat wolenandmowenandperformen felonyesandshrewednesses.B.I grant it—but still I wish the vicious were without this misfortune.¶ I accorde me quod I. but Idesire gretely þat shrewes losten sone þilke vnselynesses.3544þat is to seyne þat shrewes were despoyled of moeuyngto don yuel.P.They shall be despoiled of it sooner than you wish perhaps, or than they themselves imagine.¶ so shullenþei quod she. sonnere[* fol. 28.]perauenture þen þou woldest *or sonnere þen þei hemself wenen to lakken mowynge to done yuel.In the narrow limits of this life, nothing, however tardy it appears, can seem to an immortal soul to have a very long duration.¶ For3548þere nis no þing so late in so short boundes of þis lijfþat is longe to abide. namelyche to a corage inmortel.The great hopes, and the subtle machinations of the wicked, are often suddenly frustrated, by which an end is put to their wickedness.Of whiche shrewes þe grete hopeandþe heye compassyngusof shrewednesse is often destroyed by a3552sodeyne ende or þei ben war.andþat þing establiþ toshrewes þe ende of hir shrewednesse.If vice renders men wretched, the longer they are vicious the longer must they be miserable.¶ For yif þatshrewednesse makiþe wrecches. þan mot he nedes bemost wrecched þat lengest is a shrewe.And they would be infinitely wretched if death did not put an end to their crimes.þe whiche3556wicked shrewes wolde ydemen aldirmost vnselyandcaytifs yif þat hir shrewednes ne were yfinissed. at þeleste weye by þe outerest[e] deeþ.It is clear, as I have already shown, that eternal misery is infinite.for [yif] I haue concludedsoþe of þe vnselynesse of shrewednesse. þan sheweþ3560it clerely þat þilke shrewednesse is wiþ outen ende þewhiche is certeyne to ben perdurable.B.This consequence appears to be just, but difficult to assent to.¶ Certys quod Iþis [conclusion] is hardeandwonderful to graunte. ¶ ButI knowe wel þat it accordeþ moche to [the] þinges þat I3564haue graunted her byforne.P.You think rightly; but if you cannot assent to my conclusion you ought to show that the premises are false, or that the consequences are unfairly deduced; for if the premises be granted, you cannot reject the inferences from them.¶ þou hast quod she þe ryȝtestimaciounof þis. but who so euere wene þat it be anharde þing to acorde hym to a conclusioun. it is ryȝtþat he shewe þat somme of þe premisses ben fals. or3568ellys he mot shewe þat þe colasiounof preposiciounsnis nat spedful to a necessarie conclusion. ¶ and yif itbe nat so. but þat þe premisses ben ygranted þer nisnat whi he sholde blame þe argument.What I am about to say is not less wonderful, and it follows necessarily from the same premises.for þis þing þat3572I 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 aswho so seiþ it folweþ of þat whiche þat is purposedbyforn.B.What is that?what is þat quod I.P.That the wicked who have been punished for their crimes, are happier than if justice had allowed them to go unpunished.¶ certys quod she þat is3576þat þat þise wicked shrewes ben more blysful or ellyslasse wrecches. þat byen þe tourmentes þat þei handeserued. þan yif no peyne of Iustice ne chastied[e]hem.I do not appeal to popular arguments, that punishment corrects vice, that the fear of chastisement leads them to take the right path, and that the sufferings of evil-doers deter others from vice, but I believe that guilty men, unpunished, become much more unhappy in another way.ne þis ne seye I nat now for þat any man myȝt[e]3580þenk[e] þat þe maneres of shrewes ben corigedandchastised by veniaunce.andþat þei ben brouȝt to þeryȝt wey by þe drede of þe tourment. ne for þat þeiȝeuen to oþer folk ensample to fleyen fromvices. ¶ But3584I vndirstonde ȝitte [in] an oþer manere þat shrewesben more vnsely whan þei ne ben nat punissed al be itso þat þere ne ben had no resounor lawe of correccioun.ne none ensample of lokynge.B.In what way do you mean?¶ And what manere3588shal þat ben quod I. ouþer þan haþ ben told herebyfornP.Are not good people happy, and evil folk miserable?¶ Haue we nat graunted þan quod she þatgood[e] folk ben blysful.andshrewes ben wrecches.B.Yes.ȝis quod I.P.If good be added to the wretchedness of a man, will not he be happier than another whose misery has no element of good in it?[thanne quodshe] ȝif þat any good were3592added to þe wrecchenesse of any wyȝt. nis he nat moreblisful þan he þat ne haþ no medelyng of goode in hyssolitarie wrecchednesse.B.It seems so.so semeþ it quod I.P.And if to the same wretched being another misery be annexed, does not he become more wretched than he whose misery is alleviated by the participation of some good?and whatseyst þou þan quod she of þilke wrecche þat lakkeþ alle3596goodes. so þat no goode nis medeled in hys wrecchednesse.andȝitte ouer alle hys wickednesse for whichehe is a wrecche þat þer be ȝitte anoþer yuel anexidandknyt to hym. shal not men demen hym more vnsely3600þan þilke wrecche of whiche þe vnselynesse is re[le]uedby þe participaciounof som goode.B.He does.whi sholde he natquod I.P.When evil men are punished they have a degree of good annexed to their wretchedness, to wit, the punishment itself, which as it is the effect of justice is good.¶ þan certys quod she han shrewes whan þeiben punissed somwhat of good anexid to hir wrecchednesse.3604þat is to seyne þe same peyne þat þei suffrenwhiche þat is good by þe resounof Iustice.And when these wretches escape punishment something more of ill (i. e.exemption from punishment) is added to their condition.And whanþilke same shrewes ascapen wiþ outen tourment. þanhan þei somwhat more of yuel ȝit ouer þe wickednesse3608þat þei han don. þat is to seye defaute of peyne.whiche defaute of peyne þou hast graunted is yuel.
B.I cannot deny it.¶ For þe desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it quod I.P.Much more unhappy are the wicked when they enjoy an unmerited impunity than when they suffer a lawful chastisement.¶ Moche more þan quod she ben shrewes vnsely3612whan þei ben wrongfully delyuered fro peyne. þanwhan þei beþ punissed by ryȝtful vengeaunce.It is just to punish evil-doers, and unjust that they should escape punishment.but þis isopen þingandclere þat it is ryȝt þat shrewes benpunissed.andit is wickednesseandwrong þat þei3616escapin vnpunissed.[* fol. 28b.]B.Nobody denies that.¶ who myȝt[e] denye *þat quod I.P.Everything, too, which is just is good; and, on the contrary, whatsoever is unjust is evil.but quod she may any mandenye. þat al þat is ryȝt nisgood.andalso þe contrarie. þat alle þat is wrong niswicked.B.These are just inferences from our former premises.certys quod I þise þinges ben clere ynouȝ.and3620þat we han concludid a litel here byforne.But is there any punishment for the soul after death of the body?but I preyeþe þat þou telle me yif þou accordest to leten no tourmentto þe soules aftir þat þe body is dedid by þe deþe.þis [is] to seyn. vndirstondest þou ouȝt þat soules han3624any tourment after þe deþe of þe body.P.Yes, and great ones too. Some punishments are rigorous and eternal.¶ Certis quodshe ȝeandþat ryȝt grete. of whiche soules quod she Itrowe þat somme ben tourmentid by asprenesse ofpeyne.Others have a corrective and purifying force, and are of finite duration.andsomme soules I trowe be excercised by a3628purging mekenesse.But this is not to our purpose.but my conseil nys nat to determyneof þis peyne. but I haue trauayled and told ithider to.I want you to see that the power of the wicked is in reality nothing, that the wicked never go unpunished; that their licence to do evil is not of long duration, and that the wicked would be more unhappy if it were longer, and infinitely wretched if it were to continue for ever.¶ For þou sholdest knowe þat þe mowynge[.i. myght] of shrewes whiche mowynge þe semeþ to3632ben. vnworþi nis no mowynge.andeke of shrewes ofwhiche þou pleynedest þat þei ne were nat punissed.þat þou woldest seen þat þei ne weren neuer mo wiþouten þe torment of hire wickednesse.andof þe licence3636of mowynge to done yuel. þat þou preidest þat itmyȝt[e] sone ben endid.andþat þou woldest faynelerne. þat it ne sholde nat longe endure.andþatshrewes ben more vnsely yif þei were of lenger duryng.3640andmost vnsely yif þei weren perdurable.After this I showed that evil men are more unhappy, having escaped punishment, than if justly chastised.andafterþis I haue shewed þe þat more vnsely ben shreweswhan þei escapen wiþ oute ryȝtful peyne. þan whan þeiben punissed by ryȝtful uengeaunce.Wherefore when they are supposed to get off scot-free they suffer most grievously.and of þis sentence3644folweþ it þat þan benshrewes constreyned atte laste wiþmost greuous tourment. whan men wene þat þei ne bennat ypunissed.B.Your reasoning appears convincing and conclusive. But your arguments are opposed to current opinions, and would hardly command assent, or even a hearing.whan I considre þi resouns quod I. I.ne trowe nat þat men seyn any þing more verrely.and3648yif I tourne aȝeyn to þe studies of men. who is [he] towhomit sholde seme þat [he] ne sholde nat only leuenþise þinges. but eke gladly herkene hem.P.It is so. For those accustomed to the darkness of error cannot fix their eyes on the light of perspicuous truth, like birds of night which are blinded by the full light of day.Certys quodshe so it is. but men may nat. for þei han hire eyen so3652wont to derkenesse of erþely þinges. þat þei may natliften hem vp to þe lyȝt of clere soþefastnes. ¶ Butþei ben lyke to briddes of whiche þe nyȝt lyȝtneþ hyrelookyng.andþe day blyndeþ hem.They consider only the gratification of their lusts, they think there is happiness in the liberty of doing evil and in exemption from punishment.for whan men loken3656nat þe ordre of þinges but hire lustesandtalentȝ. þeiwene þat oþir þe leue or þe mowynge to done wickednesseor ellys þe escaping wiþ oute peyne be weleful.
VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD.
but considereþe iugement of þe perdurable lawe. forDo you attend to the eternal law written in your own heart. Conform your mind to what is good, and you will stand in no need of a judge to confer a reward upon you—for you have it already in the enjoyment of the best of things (i. e.virtue).if3660þou conferme þi corage to þe beste þinges. þou ne hastno nede to no iuge to ȝiuenþe pris or meede. for þouhast ioigned þi self to þe most excellent þing.If you indulge in vice, you need no other chastisement—you have degraded yourself into a lower order of beings.and yifþou haue enclined þi studies to þe wicked þinges. ne3664seek no foreyn wrekere out of þi self. for þou þi selfhast þrest þe in to wicked þinges. ryȝt as þou myȝtestloken by dyuerse tymes þe foule erþeandþe heuene.andþat alle oþer þinges stynten fro wiþ oute. so þat3668þou [nereneyther in heuene ne in erthe] ne say[e] noþing more. þan sholde it semen to þe as by only resounof lokynge. þat þou were in þe sterres.andnow in þeerþe.The multitude doth not consider this.but þe poeple ne lokeþ nat on þise þinges.What then? Shall we take them as our models who resemble beasts?what3672þan shal we þan approchen vs to hem þat I haueshewed þat þei ben lyke to þe bestes. (q. d. non)
THE WICKED NEED PITY.
If a man who had lost his sight, having even forgotten his blindness, should declare that his faculties were all perfect, shall we weakly believe that those who retain their sight are blind?¶ And what wilt þou seyne of þis ¶ yif þat a manhadde al forlorn hys syȝt.andhad[de] forȝeten þat he3676euer sawandwende þat no þing ne fayled[e] hym ofperfecciounof mankynde. now we þat myȝten sen þesame þing wolde we nat wene þat he were blynde (q. d.sic).The vulgar will not assent to what I am going to say, though supported by conclusive arguments—to wit, that persons are more unhappy that do wrong than those who suffer wrong.ne also ne accordeþ nat þe poeple to þat I shal3680seyne. þe whiche þing is susteyned by a stronge foundementof resouns. þat is to seyn þat more vnsely ben þeiþat don wrong to oþer folk. þen þei þat þe wrongsuffren.[* fol. 29.]B.I would willingly hear your reasons.¶ I wolde heren þilke *same resouns quod I3684
P.Do you deny that every wicked man deserves punishment?¶ Deniest þou quod she þat alle shrewes ne ben worþito han tourment.B.No, I do not.nay quod I.P.I am satisfied that impious men are in many ways miserable.but quod she I am certeyneby many resouns þat shrewes ben vnsely.B.They are so.it accordeþquod I.P.Then those that deserve punishment are miserable.þan [ne] dowtest þou nat quod she þat3688þilke folk þat ben worþi of tourment þat þei ne benwrecches.B.I admit it.It accordeþ wel quod I.P.If you were a judge, upon whom would you inflict punishment? upon the wrong-doer, or upon the injured?yif þou were þanquod she yset a Iuge or a knower of þinges. wheþertrowest þou þat men sholde tourment[e] hym þat haþ3692don þe wronge. or hym þat haþ suffred þe wronge.B.I should not hesitate to punish the offender as a satisfaction to the sufferer.I ne doute nat quod I. þat I nolde don suffissaunt satisfacciounto hym þat had[de] suffred þe wrong by þesorwe of hym þat had[de] don þe wronge.P.Then you would deem the injuring person more unhappy than he who had been wronged?¶ þan3696semeþ it quod she þat þe doar of wrong is more wreccheþan he þat haþ suffred þe wrong.B.That follows naturally.þat folweþ wel quod[I].P.From this then, and other reasons of like nature, it seems that vice makes men miserable, and an injury done to any man is the misery of the doer, and not of the sufferer.þan quod she by þise causesandby oþer causesþat ben enforced by þe same roate þat filþe or synne by3700þe propre nature of it makeþ men wretches.anditsheweþ wel þat þe wrong þat mendon nis nat þewrecchenesse of hym þat receyueþ þe wrong. but þewrecchednesse of hym þat doþ þe wrongeBut our advocates think differently—they try to obtain pity for those that have suffered cruelty and oppression;¶ but certys3704quod she þise oratours or aduocatȝ don al þe contrariefor þei enforcen hem to commoeue þe iuges to han piteof hemþat han suffredandresceyued þe þinges þat bengreuousandaspre.but the juster pity is really due to the oppressors, who ought, therefore, to be led to judgment as the sick are to the physician, not by angry but by merciful and kind accusers, so that, by the physic of chastisement, they may be cured of their vices.andȝitte men sholden more ryȝtfully3708han pitee on hem þat don þe greuauncesandþewronges. þe whiche shrewes it were a more couenableþing þat þe accusours or aduocatȝ not wroþe but pitousanddebonaire ladden þe shrewes þat han don wrong to3712þe Iugement. ryȝt as men leden seke folk to þe leche.
THE DUTY OF ADVOCATES.
for þat þei sholden seken out þe maladies of synne bytourmentȝ.I would not have the guilty defrauded by their advocates. Their duty is to accuse, and not to excuse offenders.and by þis couenaunt eyþer þe entent of þedefendours or aduocatȝ sholde fayleandcesen in al. or3716ellys yif þe office of aduocatȝ wolde bettre profiten tomen. it sholde be tourned in to þe habit of accusacioun.þat is [to] s[e]yn þei sholdenaccuse shrewes.andnatexcuse hem.Were it permitted the wicked to get a slight view of virtue’s beauty, which they have forsaken, and could they be persuaded of the purifying effects of lawful chastisement, they surely would not consider punishment as an evil, but would willingly give themselves up to justice and refuse the defence of their advocates.andeke þe shrewes hem self. ȝit it were3720leueful to hem to seen at any clifte þe vertue þat þeihan forleten.andsawen þat þei sholde putten adounþe filþes of hire vices by [the] tourmentȝ of peynes. þeine auȝten nat ryȝt for þe recompensaciounforto geten3724hem bounteandprowesse whiche þat þei han lost demenne holden þat þilke peynes weren tourmentes to hem.andeke þei wolden refuse þe attendaunce of hir aduocatȝandtaken hem self to hire iugesandto hir accusours.3728The wise hate nobody, only a fool hates good men; and it is as irrational to hate the wicked.for whiche it bytideþ [þat] as to þe wise folkþer nis no place ylete to hate. þat is to seyn. þat hatene haþ no place amonges wise men. ¶ For no wyȝtwolde haten gode men. but yif he were ouer moche a3732fole. ¶ and forto haten shrewes it nis no resoun.Vice is a sickness of the soul, and needs our compassion, and not our hate, for the distempers of the soul are more deplorable than those of the body, and have more claims upon our compassion.¶ For ryȝt so as languissing is maladie of body. ryȝtso ben vicesandsynne maladies of corage. ¶ and so aswe ne deme nat þat þei þat ben seek of hire body ben3736worþi to ben hated. but raþer worþi of pite. wel moreworþi nat to ben hated. but forto ben had in pite benþei of whiche þe þouȝtes ben constreined by felonouswickednesse. þat is more cruel þanany languissinge of3740body.
3517aknowe—aknowe it3518seyn—sayn3523good[e]—goode3524done—don3526ben—be3527for—to3528myȝten—myhtedon—MS. done, C. doonharme—harm3529gret—MS. grete, C. gret3533-36don—MS. done, C. doon3533-34 [than——coueyten]—from C.3537moeuyng—mowyngewille—wil3539haþ—MS. haþeseyne—seyn3540done(1)—doonmoeuynge to done—Mowynge to donmot—MS. mote, C. mot3544gretely—gretly3545seyne—seynwere—weerenmoeuyng—mowynge3548wenen—weeneto lakken——yuel—omitted3549þere—therso(2)—the3550longe—long3552shrewednesse—shrewednessesoften—ofte3558shrewednes—shrewednesseyfinissed—fynyshed3559weye—weyouterest[e]—owtteryste[yif]—from C.3560soþe—soth3561clerely—cleerly3563 [conclusion]—from C.harde—hard3564 [the]—from C.3567harde—hard3568fals—false3573nowe—now3575who so seiþ—ho seythwhiche—which3578byen—a-byen3579chastied[e]—chastysede3580myȝt[e]—myhte3581þenk[e]—thinke3584ȝeuen—MS. ȝeuene, C. yeuenfleyen—flen3585ȝitte—yif[in]—from C.3588none—non3589ouþer—ootherhaþ—MS. haþeben—betold—MS. tolde, C. told3591good[e]—goode3592 [thanne——she]—from C.3594blisful—welefulhaþ—MS. haþe3594-97goode—good3598alle—alwhiche—which3600knyt—knytte3601re[le]ued—releued3602goode—good3605seyne—seyn3606whiche—which3607outen—owte3609don—MS. doneseye—seyn3610whiche—which3611desert—deserte3614beþ—MS. beþe, C. ben3615clere—cler3617myȝt[e]—myhte3618is ryȝt nis—MS. nis ryȝt is3619alle—alnis wicked—is wykke3621here—her3623dedid—endyddeþe—deth3624 [is]—from C.ouȝt—awht3625deþe—deth3626grete—gret3628be—ben3629determyne—determenye3630peyne—peynestold—MS. tolde3632 [.i. myght]—from C.3632-34whiche—which3633eke—ek3635seen—seyn3637done—don3638myȝt[e]—myhtefayne lerne—fayn lernen3639endure—dure3645atte—at thelaste—MS. þast, C. laste3647resouns—resoun3649-50 [he]—from C.3651eke—ek3653derkenesse—derknesse3654clere soþefastnes—cleer sothfastnesse3655whiche—which3658oþir—eytherdone—don3659escaping—schapynge3662to(1)—of3665foreyn—foreyne3666þrest—thrystwicked—wikke3669 [nere——erthe]—from C.heuene—C. heuenenesay[e]—C. saye3672on—in3674lyke—lykq. d.—MS. quod3675wilt þou seyne—woltow seyn3676forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. for-lornsyȝt—syhtehad[de]—hadde3677saw—MS. sawe, C. sawhfayled[e]—faylede3678sen—MS. sene, C. sen3679þing—thingesq. d.—MS. quod3681whiche—which3683don—MS. done, C. donoþer—oothre3688 [ne]—from C.3691yset—MS. ysette, C. ysetwheþer—omitted3692tourment[e]—tormenten3692-3haþ—MS. haþe3693wronge(2)—wrong3695had[de]—hadde3696had[de]—haddenwronge—wrong3697doar—doere3698haþ—MS. haþe3699 [I]—from C.3700ben—ben ofroate—Roote3703-4but——wronge—omitted3704doþ—MS. doþe3711wroþe—wroth3712þe—thodon—MS. done, C. don3713seke—syke3715tourmentȝ—tormentþe(2)—omitted3719 [to]s[e]yn—to seyn3722sawen—sawhsholde—sholden3723 [the]—from C.3724auȝten—owhte3725-29whiche—which3729bytideþ—MS. byndeþ, C. bytidith[þat]—from C.3730ylete—I-leten3731haþ—MS. haþe3732wolde—nylmoche—mochel3733fole—fool3736seek—syke
3517aknowe—aknowe it
3518seyn—sayn
3523good[e]—goode
3524done—don
3526ben—be
3527for—to
3528myȝten—myhtedon—MS. done, C. doonharme—harm
3529gret—MS. grete, C. gret
3533-36don—MS. done, C. doon
3533-34 [than——coueyten]—from C.
3537moeuyng—mowyngewille—wil
3539haþ—MS. haþeseyne—seyn
3540done(1)—doonmoeuynge to done—Mowynge to donmot—MS. mote, C. mot
3544gretely—gretly
3545seyne—seynwere—weerenmoeuyng—mowynge
3548wenen—weeneto lakken——yuel—omitted
3549þere—therso(2)—the
3550longe—long
3552shrewednesse—shrewednessesoften—ofte
3558shrewednes—shrewednesseyfinissed—fynyshed
3559weye—weyouterest[e]—owtteryste[yif]—from C.
3560soþe—soth
3561clerely—cleerly
3563 [conclusion]—from C.harde—hard
3564 [the]—from C.
3567harde—hard
3568fals—false
3573nowe—now
3575who so seiþ—ho seythwhiche—which
3578byen—a-byen
3579chastied[e]—chastysede
3580myȝt[e]—myhte
3581þenk[e]—thinke
3584ȝeuen—MS. ȝeuene, C. yeuenfleyen—flen
3585ȝitte—yif[in]—from C.
3588none—non
3589ouþer—ootherhaþ—MS. haþeben—betold—MS. tolde, C. told
3591good[e]—goode
3592 [thanne——she]—from C.
3594blisful—welefulhaþ—MS. haþe
3594-97goode—good
3598alle—alwhiche—which
3600knyt—knytte
3601re[le]ued—releued
3602goode—good
3605seyne—seyn
3606whiche—which
3607outen—owte
3609don—MS. doneseye—seyn
3610whiche—which
3611desert—deserte
3614beþ—MS. beþe, C. ben
3615clere—cler
3617myȝt[e]—myhte
3618is ryȝt nis—MS. nis ryȝt is
3619alle—alnis wicked—is wykke
3621here—her
3623dedid—endyddeþe—deth
3624 [is]—from C.ouȝt—awht
3625deþe—deth
3626grete—gret
3628be—ben
3629determyne—determenye
3630peyne—peynestold—MS. tolde
3632 [.i. myght]—from C.
3632-34whiche—which
3633eke—ek
3635seen—seyn
3637done—don
3638myȝt[e]—myhtefayne lerne—fayn lernen
3639endure—dure
3645atte—at thelaste—MS. þast, C. laste
3647resouns—resoun
3649-50 [he]—from C.
3651eke—ek
3653derkenesse—derknesse
3654clere soþefastnes—cleer sothfastnesse
3655whiche—which
3658oþir—eytherdone—don
3659escaping—schapynge
3662to(1)—of
3665foreyn—foreyne
3666þrest—thrystwicked—wikke
3669 [nere——erthe]—from C.heuene—C. heuenenesay[e]—C. saye
3672on—in
3674lyke—lykq. d.—MS. quod
3675wilt þou seyne—woltow seyn
3676forlorn—MS. forlorne, C. for-lornsyȝt—syhtehad[de]—hadde
3677saw—MS. sawe, C. sawhfayled[e]—faylede
3678sen—MS. sene, C. sen
3679þing—thingesq. d.—MS. quod
3681whiche—which
3683don—MS. done, C. donoþer—oothre
3688 [ne]—from C.
3691yset—MS. ysette, C. ysetwheþer—omitted
3692tourment[e]—tormenten
3692-3haþ—MS. haþe
3693wronge(2)—wrong
3695had[de]—hadde
3696had[de]—haddenwronge—wrong
3697doar—doere
3698haþ—MS. haþe
3699 [I]—from C.
3700ben—ben ofroate—Roote
3703-4but——wronge—omitted
3704doþ—MS. doþe
3711wroþe—wroth
3712þe—thodon—MS. done, C. don
3713seke—syke
3715tourmentȝ—tormentþe(2)—omitted
3719 [to]s[e]yn—to seyn
3722sawen—sawhsholde—sholden
3723 [the]—from C.
3724auȝten—owhte
3725-29whiche—which
3729bytideþ—MS. byndeþ, C. bytidith[þat]—from C.
3730ylete—I-leten
3731haþ—MS. haþe
3732wolde—nylmoche—mochel
3733fole—fool
3736seek—syke
THE FOLLY OF WAR.
What deliteþWhat frenzy causes man to hasten on his fate, that is, by war or by strife.it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges ofhatredesandto hastenandbisien [the] fatal disposiciounof ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure propre handes. þat is3744to seyn by batailes or [by] contek.If death is desired he delays not to come.for yif ȝe axen þedeeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ netarieþ nat hys swifte hors.Why do they who are exposed to the assaults of beasts of prey and venomous reptiles seek to slay each other with the sword.and [the] men þat þe serpentȝandþe lyouns.andþe tigre.andþe beereandþe3748boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit þilke same menseken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde.Lo! their manners and opinions do not accord, wherefore they engage in unjust wars, and fiercely urge on each other’s destiny.loo for[* fol. 29b.]her maners ben *diuerseanddiscordaunt ¶ þeimoeuen vnryȝtful oostesandcruel batailes.andwilne3752to perisse by enterchaungynge of dartes.But this is no just reason for shedding blood.but þe resounof cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful.Wouldst thou reward each as he deserves? Then love the good as they deserve, and have pity upon the wicked.wilt þou þan ȝelden acouenable gerdounto þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfullygoode folk;andhaue pite on shrewes.3756
3743 [the]—from C.3745 [by]—from C.3746hastisiþ—hastethowen wille—owne wyl3747 [the]—from C.3749boore—boorteþe—teth3750swerde—swerd3751her—hir3752wilne—wylnen3753enterchaungynge—entrechaungynges
3743 [the]—from C.
3745 [by]—from C.
3746hastisiþ—hastethowen wille—owne wyl
3747 [the]—from C.
3749boore—boorteþe—teth
3750swerde—swerd
3751her—hir
3752wilne—wylnen
3753enterchaungynge—entrechaungynges
THE OPERATIONS OF CHANCE.
Þus see I welB.I see plainly the nature of that felicity which attends the virtues of the good, and of the misery that follows the vices of the wicked.quod I. eyþer what blisfulnesse or ellyswhat vnselinesse is estab[l]issed in þe desertys ofgoode menandof shrewes.But in Fortune I see a mixture of good and evil. The wise man prefers riches, &c., to poverty, &c.¶ but in þis ilke fortuneof poeple I see somwhat of goode.andsomwhat of3760yuel. for no wise man haþ nat leuer ben exiled poreandnedyandnameles. þan forto dwellen in hys Citeeandflouren of rychesses.andbe redoutable by honoure.andstronge of powerAnd wisdom appears more illustrious, when wise men are governors and impart their felicity to their subjects; and when imprisonment, torture, &c., are inflicted only upon bad citizens.for in þis wise more clerelyand3764more witnesfully is þe office of wise men ytretid whanþe blisfulnesand[the] pouste of gouernours is as itwere yshad amonges poeples þat ben neyȝbouresandsubgitȝ. syn þat namely prisounlaweandþise oþer3768tourmentȝ of lawful peynes ben raþer owed to felonousCiteȝeins. for þe whiche felonous Citeȝeins þo peynesben establissed. þan for goode folk.Why, then, should things undergo so unnatural a change?¶ þan I merueileme gretly quod I. whi [þat] þe þinges ben so mys3772Why should the worthy suffer and the vicious receive the reward of virtue?entrechaunged. þat tourmentȝ felounes pressenandconfounden goode folk.andshrewes rauyssen medes ofvertueandben inhonours.andin grete estatis.I should like to hear the reason of so unjust a distribution.and I desire eke to witenof þe. what semeþ þe to ben þe3776resounof þis so wrongful a confusiounI should not marvel so much ifChancewere the cause of all this confusion.¶ For I woldewondre wel þe lasse yif I trowed[e] þat alle þise þingeswere medeled by fortuouse hap.But I am overwhelmed with astonishment when I reflect, that God the director of all things thus unequally distributes rewards and punishments.¶ But now hepeþandencreseþ myne astonyenge god gouernourof þinges.3780þat so as god ȝeueþ ofte tymes to good[e] men goodesandmyrþes.andto shrewes yuel and aspre þinges.andȝeueþ aȝeynewarde to goode folk hardnesse.andtoshrewes [he] graunteþ hem her willeandþat þei desiren.3784What difference is there, then, unless we know the cause, between God’s proceedings and the operations of Chance?what difference þan may þer be bitwixen þat þatgod doþ.andþe hap of fortune. yif men ne knowe natþe cause whi þat [it] is.P.It is not at all surprising that you think you see irregularities, when you are ignorant of that order by which God proceeds.it nis no merueile quod she þouȝþat men wenen þat þer be somwhat folysche and confus3788whan þe resounof þe order is vnknowe.But, forasmuch as God, the good governor, presides over all, rest assured that all things are done rightly and as they ought to be done.¶ But alleþouȝ þou ne know nat þe cause of so gret a disposicioun.naþeles for as moche as god þe good[e] gouernour attempreþandgouerneþ þe world. ne doute þe nat þat3792alle þinges ne ben doon aryȝt.