Blysful was þe first age of men. þei helden hem apaied wiþ þe metes þat þe trewe erþes brouȝten furþe. ¶ þei ne destroyed[e] ne desceyued[e] not hem self wiþ outerage. ¶ þei weren wont lyȝtly to slaken her hunger at euene wiþ acornes of okes ¶ þei ne couþe nat medle þe ȝift of bacus to þe clere hony. þat is to seyn. þei couþe make no piment of clarre. ne þei couþe nat medle þe briȝt[e] flies of þe contre of siriens wiþ þe venym of tirie. þis is to seyne. þei couþe nat dien white flies of sirien contre wiþ þe blode of a manar shelfysshe. þat men fynden in tyrie. wiþ whiche blode men deien purper. ¶ þei slepen holesom slepes vpon þe gras. and dronken of þe rynnyng watres.andlaien vndir þe shadowe of þe heyȝe pyne trees. ¶ Ne no gest ne no straunger [ne] karf ȝit þe heye see wiþ oores or wiþ shippes. ne þei nehadden seyne ȝitte none newe strondes to leden merchaundyse in to dyuerse contres. ¶ þo weren þe cruel clariouns ful whistandful stille. ne blode yshed by egre hate ne hadde nat deied ȝit armurers. for wherto or whiche woodenesse of enmys wolde first moeuen armes. whan þei seien cruel woundes ne none medes ben of blood yshad ¶ I wolde þat oure tymes sholde turne aȝeyne to þe oolde maneres. ¶ But þe anguissous loue of hauyng brenneþ in folke moore cruely þan þe fijr of þe Mountaigne of Ethna þat euer brenneþ. ¶ Allas what was he þat first dalf vp þe gobets or þe weyȝtys of gold couered vndir erþe.andþe precious stones þat wolden han ben hid. he dalf vp precious perils. þat is to seyne þat he þat hem first vp dalf. he dalf vp a precious peril. for-whi. for þe preciousnesse of swyche haþ many man ben in peril.[The sixte prose.]QUID AUTEMDE DIGNITATIBUSETCETERA.But what shal I seyne of digniteesandof powers. þe whiche [ye] men þat neiþer knowen verray dignitee ne verray power areysen hem as heye as þe heuene. þe whiche digniteesandpowers yif þei come to any wicked man þei don [as] greet[e] damagesanddistrucciounas doþ þe flamme of þe Mountaigne Ethna whan þe flamme wit walwiþ vp ne no deluge ne doþ so cruel harmes. ¶ Certys ye remembriþ wel as I trowe þat þilke dignitee þat men clepiþ þe emperie ofconsulers þe whiche þat somtyme was bygynnyng of fredom. ¶ Ȝoure eldres coueiteden to han don a-wey þat dignitee for þe pride of þe conseilers.¶ And ryȝt for þe same pride ȝoure eldres byforne þat tyme hadden don awey out of þe Citee of rome þe kynges name. þat is to seien. þei nolden haue no lenger no kyng ¶ But now yif so be þat digniteesandpowers ben ȝeuen to goode men. þe whiche þing is ful ȝelde. what agreable þinges is þer in þo dignitees. or powers. but only þe goodenes of folk þat vsen hem. ¶ And þerfore it is þus þat honourne comeþ nat to vertue for cause of dignite. but aȝeinward. honourcomeþ to dignite by cause of vertue. but whiche is ȝoure derworþe power þat is so clereandso requerable ¶ O ȝe erþelyche bestes considere ȝe nat ouer whiche þing þat it semeþ þat ȝe han power. ¶ Now yif þou say[e] a mouse amongusoþer myse þat chalenged[e] to hymself ward ryȝtandpower ouer alle oþer myse. how gret scorne woldest þou han of hit. ¶Glosa.¶ So fareþ it by men. þe body haþ power ouer þe body. For yif þow loke wel vpon þe body of a wyȝt what þing shalt þou fynde moore frele þan is mannes kynde. þe whiche ben ful ofte slayn wiþ bytynge of smale flies. or ellys wiþ þe entryng of crepyng wormes in to þe priuetees of mennes bodyes. ¶ But wher shal men fynden any man þat may exercen or haunten any ryȝt vpon an oþer manbut oonly vpon hys body. or ellys vponþinges þat ben lower þen þe body. whiche I clepe fortunous possessiouns ¶ Mayst þou euer haue any comaundement ouer a fre corage ¶ Mayst þou remuen fro þe estat of hys propre reste. a þouȝt þat is cleuyng to gider in hym self by stedfast resoun. ¶ As somtyme a tiraunt wende to confounde a freeman ofcorage ¶Andwende to constreyne hym by tourment to maken hym dyscouerenandacusen folk þat wisten of a coniuracioun. whiche I clepe a confederacie þat was cast aȝeins þis tyraunt ¶ But þis free man boot of hys owen tunge.andcast it in þe visage of þilke woode tyraunte. ¶ So þat þe tourmentȝ þat þis tyraunt wende to han maked matereof cruelte. þis wyse man maked[e it] matere of vertues. ¶ But what þing is it þat a man may don to an oþer man. þat he ne may receyue þe same þing of oþer folke inhym self. or þus. ¶ What may a man don to folk. þat folk ne may don hym þe same. ¶ I haue herd told of busirides þat was wont to sleen hys gestes þat herburghden in hys hous. and he was slayn hym self of ercules þat was hys gest ¶ Regulus had[de] taken in bataile many men of affrike. and cast hem in to fetteres. but sone after he most[e] ȝiue hys handes to ben bounden withþe cheynes of hem þat he had[de] somtyme ouercomen. ¶ Wenest þou þan þat he be myȝty. þat may nat don a þing. þat oþer ne may don hym. þat he doþ to oþer.andȝit more oueryif it so were þat þise dignites or poweres hadden any propre or naturel goodnesse in hem self neuer nolden þei comen to shrewes. ¶ For contrarious þinges ne ben not wont to ben yfelawshiped togidres. ¶ Nature refuseþ þat contra[r]ious þinges ben yioigned. ¶ And so as I am in certeyne þat ryȝt wikked folk han dignitees ofte tymes. þan sheweþ it wel þat digniteesandpowers ne ben not goode of hir owen kynde. syn þat þei suffren hem self to cleuenor ioynen hem to shrewes. ¶ And certys þe same þing may most digneliche Iugenandseyen of alle þe ȝiftis of fortune þat most plenteuously comen to shrewes. ¶ Of þe whiche ȝiftys I trowe þat it auȝt[e] ben considered þat no man doutiþ þat he nis strong. in whom he seeþ strengþe.andin whom þat swiftnesse is ¶ Soþe it is þat he is swyfte. Also musyk makeþ musiciens.andfysik makeþ phisiciens.andrethorik rethoriens. ¶ For whi þe nature of euery þing makiþ his propretee. ne it is nat entermedled wiþ þe effectisof contrarious þinges. ¶ And as of wil it chaseþ oute þinges þat to it ben contrarie ¶ But certys rycchesse may nat restreyne auarice vnstaunched ¶ Ne power [ne] makeþ nat a manmyȝty ouer hym self. whiche þat vicious lustis holden destreined wiþ cheins þat ne mowen nat ben vnbounden.anddignitees þat ben ȝeuen to shrewed[e] folk nat oonly ne makiþ hem nat digne. but it sheweþ raþer al openly þat þei ben vnworþiandvndigne. ¶ And whi is it þus. ¶ Certis for ȝe han ioye to clepen þinges wiþ fals[e] names. þat beren hem al in þe contrarie. þe whiche names ben ful ofte reproued by þe effect of þe same þinges. so þat þise ilke rycchesse ne auȝten nat by ryȝt to ben cleped rycchesse. ne whiche power ne auȝt[e] not ben cleped power. ne whiche dignitee ne auȝt[e] nat ben cleped dignitee. ¶ And at þe laste I may conclude þe same þinge of al þe ȝiftes of fortune in whiche þer nis no þing to ben desired. ne þat haþ in hym self naturel bounte. ¶ as it is ful wel sene. for neyþer þei ne ioygnenhem nat alwey to goode men. ne maken hem alwey goode to whomþei beny-ioigned.[The sixte Metur.]NOUIMUS QUANTOS DEDERAT.WE han wel knowen how many greet[e] harmesanddestrucciouns weren doñ by þe Emperoure Nero. ¶ He letee brenne þe citee of Romeandmade slen þe senatours. and he cruel somtyme slouȝ hys broþer.andhe was maked moyst wiþ þe blood of hys modir. þat is to seyn he let sleenandslittenþe body of his modir to seen where he was conceiued.andhe loked[e] on euery half vpon hir colde dede body. ne no tere ne wette his face. but he was so hard herted þat he myȝt[e] ben domesman or Iuge of hire dede beaute. ¶ And ȝitte neuerþeles gouerned[e] þis Nero by Ceptre al þe peoples þat phebus þe sonne may seen comyng from his outerest arysyng til he hidde his bemes vndir þe wawes. ¶ þat is to seyne. he gouerned[e] alle þe peoples by Ceptre imperial þat þe sonne goþ aboute from est to west ¶ And eke þis Nero goueyrende by Ceptre. alle þe peoples þat ben vndir þe colde sterres þat hyȝten þe seuene triones. þis is to seyn he gouerned[e] alle þe poeples þat ben vndir þe parties of þe norþe. ¶ And eke Nero gouerned[e] alle þe poeples þat þe violent wynde Nothus scorchiþandbakiþ þe brennynge sandes by his drie hete. þat is to seyne. alle þe poeples in þe souþe. [but yit ne myhte nat al his heye power torne the woodnesse of this wykkyd nero / Allas it is greuous fortune it is]. as ofte as wicked swerde is ioygned to cruel venym. þat is to sein. venimous cruelte to lordshipe.[The seuende prose.]TUMEGO SCIS INQUAM.ÞAnne seide I þus. þou wost wel þiself þat þe couetise of mortal þinges ne hadden neuer lordshipe of me. but I haue wel desired matere of þinges to done. as who seiþ. I desired[e] to han matere of gouernaunce ouer comunalites. ¶ For vertue stille ne sholde not elden. þat is to seyn. þat list þat or he wex olde ¶ His uertue þat lay now ful stille. ne sholde nat perisshe vnexcercised ingouernaunce of comune. ¶ For whiche men myȝten speke or writenof his goode gouernement. ¶Philosophie.¶ For soþe quod she.andþat is a þing þat may drawen to gouernaunce swiche hertes as ben worþiandnoble of hir nature. but naþeles it may nat drawen or tollen swiche hertes as ben y-brouȝt to þe ful[le] perfecciounof vertue. þat is to seyn couetyse of glorieandrenounto han wel administred þe comune þinges. or doon goode decertes to profit of þe comune. for se nowandconsidere how litelandhow voide of al prise is þilke glorie. ¶ Certeine þing is as þou hast lerned by demonstraciounof astronomye þat al þe envyronynge of þe erþe aboute ne halt but þe resounof a prykke at regard of þe gretnesse of heuene. þat is to seye. þat yif þat þer were maked comparisounof þe erþe to þe gretnesse of heuene. men wolde Iugen in alle þat erþe [ne] helde no space ¶ Of þe whiche litel regiounof þis worlde þe ferþe partie is enhabitid wiþ lyuyng beestes þat we knowen. as þou hast þi self lerned by tholome þat prouitħ it. ¶ yif þou haddest wiþ drawenandabated in þi þouȝte fro þilke ferþe partie as myche space as þe seeand[the] mareys contenenandouergonandas myche space as þe regiounof droughte ouerstreccheþ.þat is to seye sandesanddesertes wel vnneþ sholde þer dwellen a ryȝt streite place to þe habitaciounof men.andȝe þan þat ben environedandclosed wiþ inne þe leest[e] prikke of þilk prikke þenke ȝe to manifesten ȝoure renounanddon ȝoure name to ben born forþe. but ȝoureglorie þat is so narweandso streyt yþrongenin to so litel boundes. how myche conteinþe it in largesseandin greet doynge. And also sette þis þer to þat many a nacioundyuerse of tongeandof maneres.andeke of resounof hir lyuyng ben enhabitid in þe cloos of þilke litel habitacle. ¶ To þe whiche naciouns what for difficulte of weyes.andwhat for diuersite of langages.andwhat for defaute of vnusage entercomunynge of marchaundise. nat only þe names of singler men ne may [nat] strecchen. but eke þe fame of Citees ne may nat strecchen. ¶ At þe last[e] Certis in þe tyme of Marcus tulyus as hym self writeþ in his book þat þe renounof þe comune of Rome ne hadde nat ȝitte passed ne cloumben ouerþe mountaigne þat hyȝt Caucasus.andȝitte was þilk tyme rome wel wexenandgretly redouted of þe parthes. and eke of oþer folk enhabityng aboute. ¶ Sest þou nat þan how streitandhow compressed is þilke glorie þat ȝe trauailenaboute to shewandto multiplie. May þan þe glorie of a singlere Romeyne strecchen þider as þe fame of þe name of Rome may nat clymben ne passen. ¶ And eke sest þou nat þat þe maners of diuerse folkandeke hir lawes ben discordaunt amonge hem self. so þat þilke þing þat sommen iugen worþi of preysynge. oþer folk iugen þat it is worþi of torment. ¶ and þer of comeþ þat þouȝ a man delite hyminpreysyng of his renoun. he ne may nat inno wise bryngen furþe ne spredenhis name to many manere peoples. ¶ And þerfore euery manerman auȝte to ben paied of hys glorie þat is puplissed among hys owen neyȝbores. ¶ And þilke noble renounshal be restreyned wiþ-inne þe boundes of o maner folk but how many a man þat was ful noble in his tyme. haþ þe nedyandwrecched forȝetynge of writers put oute of myndeanddon awey. ¶ Al be it so þat certys þilke writynges profiten litel. þe whiche writynges longeandderke elde doþ aweye boþe hemandeke her autours. but ȝe men semen to geten ȝow a perdurablete whan ȝe þenke þat in tyme comyng ȝoure fame shal lasten. ¶ But naþeles yif þou wilt maken comparisounto þe endeles space of eternite what þing hast þou by whiche þou maist reioysen þe of long lastyng of þi name. ¶ For if þer were maked comparysounof þe abidyng of a moment to ten þousand wynter. for as myche as boþe þo spaces ben endid. ¶ For ȝit haþ þe moment some porciounof hit al þouȝ it a litel be. ¶ But naþeles þilke self noumbre of ȝeres. and eke as many ȝeres as þer to may be multiplied. ne may nat certys be comparisound to þe perdurablete þat is een[de]les. ¶ For of þinges þat han ende may be mad comparisoun[but of thinges that ben with-owtyn ende to thinges þat han ende may be maked nocomparysoun]. ¶ And for þi is it al þouȝ renounof as longe tyme as euer þe lyst to þinken were þouȝt by þe regard of eternite. þat is vnstauncheableandinfinit. it ne sholde nat oonly semen litel. but pleinliche ryȝt nouȝt. ¶ But ȝe men certys ne konnedon no þing aryȝt. but ȝif it be for þe audience of poeple.andfor ydel rumours.andȝe forsaken þe grete worþinesse of conscienceandof vertue.andȝe sekenȝoure gerdouns of þe smale wordes of strange folke. ¶ Haue now hereandvndirstonde inþe lyȝtnesse of whiche prideandveyne glorie. how a man scorned[e] festiualyandmyrily swiche vanite. somtyme þere was a man þat had[de] assaied wiþ striuyng wordes an oþer man. ¶ þe whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude veyne glorie had[de] takenvpon hym falsly þe name of a philosopher. ¶ þis raþer man þat I speke of þouȝt[e] he wolde assay[e] where he þilke were a philosopher or no. þat is to seyne yif he wolde han suffred lyȝtly in pacience þe wronges þat weren don vnto hym. ¶ þis feined[e] philosophre took pacience a litel while.andwhan he hadde receiued wordes of outerage he as in stryuynge aȝeineandreioysynge of hym self seide at þe last[e] ryȝt þus. ¶ vndirstondest þou nat þat I am a philosophere. þat oþer man answered[e] aȝein ful bitynglyandseide. ¶ I had[de] wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif þou haddest holdenþi tonge stille. ¶ But what is it to þise noble worþi men. For certys of swyche folk speke .I. þat seken glorie wiþ vertue. what is it quod she. what atteiniþ fame to swiche folk whan þe body is resolued by þe deeþ. atte þe last[e]. ¶ For yif so be þat men dien in al. þat is to seyne bodyandsoule. þe whiche þing oure resoundefendiþ vs to byleuen þanne is þere no glorie in no wyse. For what sholde þilke glorie ben. for he of whomþis glorie is seid to be nis ryȝt nouȝt in no wise. and ȝif þe soule whiche þat haþ in it self science ofgoode werkes vnbounden fro þe prisounof þe erþe wendeþ frely to þe heuene. dispiseþ it nouȝt þan alle erþely occupaciouns.andbeynge inheuene reioiseþ þat it is exempt from alle erþely þinges [as wo seith / thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renounof this world].[The 7th Metre.]QUICUMQUESOLAM MENTE.Who so þat wiþ ouerþrowyng þouȝt only sekeþ glorie of fame.andweniþ þat it be souereyne good ¶ Lete hym loke vpon þe brode shewyng contreys of þe heuen.andvponþe streite sete of þis erþe.andhe shal be ashamed of þe encres of his name. þat may nat fulfille þe litel compas of þe erþe. ¶ O what coueiten proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in ydelanddedely ȝok of þis worlde. ¶ For al þouȝ [þat] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples goþ by dyuerse tonges. and al þouȝ grete housesandkynredes shyne wiþ clere titles of honours. ȝit naþeles deeþ dispiseþ al heye glorie of fame.anddeeþ wrappeþ to gidre þe heye heuedesandþe loweandmakeþ egalandeuene þe heyest[e] to þe lowest[e]. ¶ where wonennow þe bones of trewe fabricius. what is now brutus or stiern Caton þe þinne fame ȝit lastynge of hir ydel names is markid wiþ a fewe lettres. but al þouȝ we han knowenþe faire wordes of þe fames of hem. it is nat ȝeuen to knowe hemþat ben dedeandconsumpt. Liggiþ þanne stille al vtterly vnknowable ne fame ne makeþ ȝow nat knowe. and yif ȝe wene to lyuen þe lengerfor wynde of ȝoure mortal name. whan o cruel day shal rauyshe ȝow. þan is þe secunde deeþ dwellyng in ȝow.Glosa.þe first deeþ he clepiþhere þe departynge of þe bodyandþe soule. ¶ and þe secunde deeþ he clepeþ as here. þe styntynge of þe renoune of fame.[The viij prose.][SET NE ME INEXORABILE CONTRA.BVt for-as-mochel as thow shalt nat wenen quodshe þat I bere vntretable batayle ayenis fortune // yit som-tyme it by-falleth þat she desseyuable desserueth to han ryht good thank of men //Andþat is whan she hireself opneth /andwhan she descouereth hir frownt /andsheweth hir maneres par-auentureyit vndirstondesthow nat þat .I. shal seye // it is a wondyr þat .I. desyreto telle /andforthi vnnethe may I. vnpleyten my sentense withwordes for I. deme þat contraryos fortune profiteth moreto men than fortune debonayre// For al-wey whan fortune semeth debonayrethan she lyeth falsly in by-hetynge the hope of welefulnesse // but forsothecontraryos fortune is alwey sothfast / whan she sheweth hir self vnstable thorw hyr chaungynge // the amyable fortune desseyueth folk / the contrarye fortune techeth // the amyable fortune byndeth withthe beaute of false goodys the hertes of folk þat vsen hem/ the contrarye fortune vnbyndeth hemby þeknowynge of freele welefulnesse // the amyable fortune maysthow sen alwey wyndyngeandflowynge /andeuere mysknowynge of hir self // the contrarye fortune is a-tempreandrestreynydandwys thorw excersyse of hir aduersyte // at the laste amyable fortune withhir flaterynges draweth mys wandrynge men fro the souereyne good // the contraryos fortune ledith ofte folk ayein to sothfast goodes /andhaleth hem ayein as withan hooke / weenesthow thanne þat thow owhtest to leten this a lytel thing / þat this aspreandhorible fortune hath discoueryd to the / the thowhtes of thy trewe frendes // For-why this ilke fortunehath departydandvncoueryd to the bothe the certeyn vysagesandek the dowtos visages of thy felawes // whanshe departyd awey fro the / she took awey hyr frendesandlafte the thyne frendes // now whan thow wererycheandweleful as the semede / withhow mochel woldesthow han bowht the fulle knowynge of this // þat is to seyn the knowynge of thy verray freendes // now pleyne the nat thanne of Rychesse .I.-lorn syn thow hast fowndyn the moste presyos kynde of Rychesses þat is to seyn thy verray frendes.[The viij Metur.]QUOD MUNDUS STABILI FIDE.THat þeworld withstable feith / varieth acordable chaungynges // þat the contraryos qualite of elementȝ holden amongehem self aliaunce perdurable / þat phebusthe sonne withhis goldene chariet / bryngeth forth the rosene day / þat the mone hathcommaundement ouerthe nyhtes // whiche nyhtes hesperus the eue sterre hat browt // þat þese gredy to flowen constreyneth witha certeyn ende hise floodes / so þat it is nat l[e]ueful to strechche hise brode termes or bowndes vp-on the erthes // þat is to seyn to couere alle the erthe // Al this a-cordaunce of thinges is bownden withlooue / þat gouerneth ertheandsee /andhath alsocommaundementȝ to the heuenes /andyif this looue slakede the brydelis / alle thinges þat now louen hem to gederes / wolden maken a batayle contynuelyandstryuen to fordoon the fasounof this worlde / the which they now leden in acordable feith by fayre moeuynges // this looue halt to gideres poeples Ioygned withan hooly bond /andknytteth sacrement of maryages of chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to trewe felawes // O weleful weeremankynde / yif thilke loue þat gouerneth heuene gouerned[e] yowrecorages /EXPLICIT LIBER2us.INCIPIT LIBER3us.[The fyrste prose.]IAM CANTUMILLA FINIERAT.By this she hadde endid hiresonge/ whan the swetnesse of hireditee hadde thorw perced me þat was desirous of herkninge /and.I. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn Eres / þat is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde seye // so þat a litel hereafter.I. seyde thus // O thow þat art souereyn comfort of Angwissos corages // So thow hast remountedandnorysshed me withthe weyhte of thy sentensesandwithdelit of thy syngynge // so þat .I. trowe nat now þat .I. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as whoseyth. I.dar wel now suffren al the assautes of fortuneandwel deffende me fro hyr //andtho remedies whyche þat thow seydest hirebyforn weren ryht sharpe Nat oonly pat .I. am nat agrysen of hem now // but .I. desiros of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes // than seyde she thus // þat feelede .I. ful wel quodshe // whan þat thow ententyfandstylle rauysshedest my wordes //and.I. abood til þat thow haddest swych habyte of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl þat .I. my self had[de] maked to the the same habyt / which þat is a moore verray thinge// And certes the remenaunt of thinges þat ben yit to seye / ben swyche // þat fyrst whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan they ben resseyuyd with-inne a whyht than ben they swete // but for thow seyst þat thow art so desirous to herkne hem // wit[h] how gret brennynge woldesthow glowen / yif thow wystest whyder .I. wol leden the // whydyreis þat quod.I. // to thilke verray welefulnesse quodshe // of whyche thynge herte dremeth // but for as moche as thy syhte is ocupiedanddistorbed / by Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit sen thilke selue welefulnesse // do quod.I.andsheweme / what is thilke verray welefulnesse / .I. preye the with-howte tarynge // þat wole .I. gladly don quodshe / for the cause of the // but .I. wol fyrst marken the by wordes /andI wol enforcen me to enformen the // thilke false cause of blysfulnesse þat thow more knowest / so þat whan thow hast fully by-holden thilke false goodesandtorned thyne eyen to þat oother syde / thow mowe knowe the clernesse of verray blysfulnesse //][The fyrst metur.]QUI SERERE INGENIUM.¶ Who so wil sowe a felde plentiuous. lat hym first delyuer it of þornesandkerue asondre wiþ his hooke þe bushesandþe ferne so þat þe corne may comenheuy of eresandof greins. hony is þe more swete yif mouþes han firste tastid sauoures þat ben wikke. ¶ þe sterres shynen more agreably whan þe wynde Nothus letiþ his ploungy blastes.andaftir þat lucifer þe day sterre haþ chased awey þe derke nyȝt. þe day þe feirer lediþ þe rosene horse of þe sonne. ¶ Ryȝt so þou byholdyng first þe fals[e] goodes. bygynne to wiþdrawe þi nek[ke] fro þe ȝok of erþely affecciouns.andafterwarde þe verrey goodes shollenentre into þi corage.[The 2deprose.]TUNC DEFIXO PAULULUM.ÞO fastned[e] she a lytel þe syȝt of hir eyenandwiþdrow hir ryȝt as it were in to þe streite sete of hir þouȝt.andbygan to speke ryȝt þus. Alle þe cures quod she of mortal folk whiche þat trauaylen hem inmany manere studies gon certys by diuerse weies. ¶ But naþeles þei enforced hem to comen oonly to onende of blisfulnesse [And blysfulnesse] is swiche a goode þat who so haþ geten it he ne may ouer þat no þing more desiire. and þis þing for soþe is þe souereyne good þat conteiniþ in hym self al manere goodes. to þe whiche goode yif þere failed[e] any þing. it myȝt[e] nat ben souereyne goode. ¶ For þan were þere som goode out of þis ilke souereyne goode þat myȝt[e] ben desired. Now is it clereandcerteyne þanþat blisfulnesse is a perfit estat by þe congregaciounof alle goodes. ¶ þe whiche blisfulnesse as I haue seid alle mortal folke enforcen hem to geten by dyuerse weyes. ¶ For-whi þe couetise of verray goode is naturely y-plaunted in þe hertys of men. ¶ But þe myswandryng errourmyslediþ hem in to fals[e] goodes. ¶ of þe whiche men some of hem wenen þat souereygne goode is to lyue wiþ outen nede of any þing.andtraueilenhem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse. and some oþer men demen. þat souerein goode be forto be ryȝt digne of reuerences.andenforcenhem to ben reuerenced among hir neyȝbours. by þe honours þat þei han ygeten ¶andsome folk þer ben þat halden þat ryȝt heyȝe power to be souereyn goode.andenforcen hemforto regnen or ellys to ioignenhemto hem þat regnen. ¶ And it semeþ to some oþer folk þat noblesse of renounbe þe souerein goode.andhasten hem to geten glorious name by þe artes of werre or of pees. and many folke mesurenandgessen þat souerein goode be ioyeandgladnesseandwenen þat it be ryȝt blisful [thynge] to ploungen hem inuoluptuous delit. ¶ And þer ben folk þat enterchaungen þe causesandþe endesof þise forseide goodes as þei þat desirenrycchesse to han poweranddelices. Or ellis þei desiren power forto han moneye or for cause of renoun. ¶ In þise þingesandinswyche oþer þinges is tourned al þe entenciounof desiryngesand[of] werkes of men. ¶ As þus. ¶ Noblesseandfauourof poeple whiche þat ȝiueþ as it semeþ a manere clernesse of renoun. ¶ and wijfandchildren þat men desiren for cause of delitandmirinesse. ¶ But forsoþe frendes ne shollen nat benrekkenedamong þe goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it is a ful holy manere þing. alle þise oþer þinges forsoþe ben taken for cause of power. or ellis for cause of delit. ¶ Certis now am I redy to referen þe goodes of þe body to þise forseide þinges abouen. ¶ For it semeþ þat strengþeandgretnesse of body ȝeuen powerandworþinesse. ¶ and þat beauteandswiftenesse ȝeuen noblesseandglorie of renoun.andhele of body semeþ ȝiuen delit. ¶ In alle þise þingusit semeþ oonly þat blisfulnesse is desired. ¶ For-whi þilke þing þat euery man desireþ moost ouer alle þinges. he demiþ þat be þe souereyne goode. ¶ But I haue diffined þat blisfulnesse is þe souereyne goode. for whiche euery wyȝt demiþ þat þilke estat þat he desireþ ouer alle þinges þat it be þe blisfulnesse. ¶ Now hast þou þan byforne [thy eyen] almost al þe purposed forme of þe welfulnesse of mankynde. þat is to seyne rycchesse. honours. power. glorie.anddelitȝ. þe whiche delit oonly considered Epicurus Iugedandestablissed. þat delit is þe souereyne goode. for as myche as alle oþer þinges as hym þouȝt[e] by-refte awey ioieandmyrþe fromþe herte. ¶ But I retourne aȝeyne to þe studies of meen.of whiche men þe corage alwey rehersiþandseekeþ þe souereyne goode of alle be it so þat it be wiþ a derke memorie [but he not by whiche paath]. ¶ Ryȝt as a dronke mannot nat by whiche paþe he may retourne home to hys house. ¶ Semeþ it þanne þat folk folyenanderren þat enforcen hemto haue nede of no þing ¶ Certys þer nys non oþer þing þat may so weel perfourny blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuousof alle goodes þat ne haþ nede of none oþer þing. but þat it is suffisant of hymself. vnto hym self. and foleyen swyche folk þanne. þat wenen þat þilk þing þat is ryȝt goode. þat it be eke ryȝt worþi of honourandof reuerence. ¶ Certis nay. for þat þing nys neyþer foule ne worþi to ben dispised þat al þe entenciounof mortel folke trauaille forto geten it. ¶ And power auȝt[e] nat þat eke to be rekened amonges goodes what ellis. for it nys nat to wene þat þilke þing þat is most worþi of alle þinges be febleandwiþ out strengþeandclernesse of renounauȝte þat to ben dispised. ¶ Certys þer may no man forsake þat al þing þat is ryȝt excellentandnoble. þat it ne semeþ to be ryȝt clereandrenomed. ¶ For certis it nediþ nat to seie. þat blisfulnesse be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greuances ne to sorwes. syn þat in ryȝt litel þingusfolk seken to haueandto vsen þat may deliten hem. ¶ Certys þise ben þe þinges þat men wolenanddesyren to geten. and for þis cause desiren þei rycches. dignites. regnes. glorieanddelices ¶ For þerby wenen þei to han suffisaunce honourpower. renounandgladnesse. ¶ þanne is it goode. þat men seken þus by so many dyuerse studies. In whiche desijr it may lyȝtly be shewed.how grete is þe strengþe of nature. ¶ For how so þat men han dyuerse sentencesanddiscordyng algates men accordyn alle in lyuynge þe ende of goode.[The 2deMetur.]QUANTAS RERUMFLECTAT.IT likeþ me to shew[e] by subtil songe wiþ slakkeanddelitable sounof strenges how þat nature myȝty enclineþandflitteþ gouernementȝ of þinges ¶andby whiche lawes she purueiable kepiþ þe grete worlde.andhow she bindynge restreineþ alle þingusby a bonde þat may nat be vnbounden.[j]¶ Al be it so þat þe liouns of þe contree of pene beren þe fair[e] cheines.andtaken metes of þe handes of folk þat ȝeuen it hem.anddreden her sturdy maystres of whiche þei ben wont to suffren [betinges]. yif þat hir horrible mouþes ben bi-bled. þat is to sein of bestes devoured. ¶ Hir corage of tyme passeþ þat haþ ben ydelandrested. repaireþ aȝein þat þei roren greuously.andremembren on hir nature.andslaken hir nekkes from hir cheins vnbounden. and hir maistre first to-teren wiþ blody toþe assaieþ þe woode wraþþes of hem. ¶ þis is to sein þei freten hir maister.[ij]¶ And þe Iangland brid þat syngiþ on þe heye braunches. þis is to sein in þe wodeandafter is inclosed in a streit cage. ¶ al þouȝ [þat] þe pleiyng besines of men ȝeueþ hem honied[e] drinkesandlarge metes. wiþ swete studie. ¶ ȝit naþeles yif þilke brid skippynge oute of hir streite cage seeþ þe agreable shadewes of þe wodes. she defouleþ wiþ hir fete hir metes yshadandsekeþ mournyng oonly þe wodeandtwitriþ desirynge þe wode wiþ hir swete voys.[iij]¶ þe ȝerde of a tree þat is haled adounby myȝtystrengþe bowiþ redely þe croppe adoun. but yif þat þe hande of hym þat it bente lat it gon aȝein. ¶ An oon þe crop lokeþ vp ryȝt to heuene.[iiij]¶ þe sonne phebus þat failleþ at euene in þe westrene wawes retorniþ aȝein eftsones his cart by a priue paþe þere as it is wont aryse. ¶ Alle þinges seken aȝein in to hir propre cours. and alle þinges reioisen hem of hir retournynge aȝein to hir nature ne noon ordinaunce nis bytaken to þinges but þat. þat haþ ioignynge þe endynge to þe bygynnynge.andhaþ makid þe cours of it self stable þat it chaungeþ nat fromhys propre kynde.[The 3deprose.]VOSQUETERRENA ANIMALIA.CErtis also ȝe men þat ben erþelichebestes dremenalwey [yowre bygynnynge] al þouȝ it be wiþ a þinne ymaginacioun.andby a maner þouȝt al be it nat clerly ne perfitly ȝe looken from a fer til þilk verray fyn of blisfulnesse. and þerfore þe naturel entenciounledeþ ȝow to þilk verray good ¶ But many manere errours mistourniþ ȝow þer fro. ¶ Considere now yif þat be þilke þinges by whiche a man weniþ to gete hym blysfulnesse. yif þat he may comen to þilke ende þat he weneþ to come by nature ¶ For yif þat moneye or honours or þise oþer forseide þinges bryngen to men swiche a þing þat no goode ne faille hem. ne semeþ faille. ¶ Certys þan wil I graunt[e] þat þei ben maked blisful. by þilke þinges þat þei han geten. ¶ but yif so be þat þilke þinges ne mowe nat perfourmen þat þei by-hetenandþat þer be defaute of many goodes. ¶ Sheweþ it nat þan clerely þat fals beaute of blisfulnesse is knoweanda-teint in þilke þinges. ¶ Firstandforward þou þi self þat haddesthaboundaunces of rycchesses nat long agon. ¶ I axe ȝif þat in þe haboundaunce of alle þilk[e] rycchesses þou were neuer anguissous or sory in þi corage of any wrong or greuaunce þat by-tidde þe on any syde. ¶ Certys quod I it remembreþ me nat þat euere I was so free of my þouȝt. þat I ne was al-wey in anguysheof somwhat. þat was þat þou lakkedest þat þou noldest han lakked. or ellys þou haddest þat þou noldest han had. ryȝt so is it quodI þan. desiredest þou þe presence of þat oonandþe absence of þat oþer. I graunt[e] wel quod.I. for soþe quodshe þan nediþ þer somwhat þat euery man desireþ. ȝe þer nediþ quodI. ¶ Certis quodsheandhe þat haþ lakke or nede of a wyȝt nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self. no quod.I.andþou quod she in alle þe plente of þi rycchesse haddest þilke lak of suffisaunce. ¶ what ellis quod.I. ¶ þanne may nat rycchesse maken þat a man nis nedy. ne þat he be suffisaunt to hym self.andþat was it þat þei byhyȝten as it semeþ. ¶ and eke certys I trowe þat þis be gretly to consydere þat moneye ne haþ nat in hys owen kynde þat it ne may ben by-nomen of hem þat han it maugre hem. ¶ I by-knowe it wel quodI ¶ whi sholdest þou nat by-knowen it quodshe. whan euery day þe strenger folke by-nymen it fram þe febler maugre hem. ¶ Fro whennes comen ellys alle þise foreine compleintes or quereles of pletyngus. ¶ But for þat men axen aȝeine her moneye þat haþ be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle.andalwey maugre hem. ¶ Ryȝt so it is quodI. þan quod she haþ a man nede to sekenhym foreyne helpe by whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nayquod.I. ¶ Certis quodsheandhym nediþ no helpe yif he ne hadde no moneye þat he myȝt[e] leese. ¶ þat is doutles quod.I. þanne is þis þing turned in to þe contrarie quodshe ¶ For rycchesse þat men wenen sholde make suffisaunce. þei maken a man raþer han nede of foreine helpe. ¶ whiche is þe manere or þe gise quodshe þat rycches may dryuen awey nede. ¶ Riche folk may þei neiþer han hungre ne þrest. þise ryche men may þei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter. ¶ But þou wilt answere þat ryche men han y-nouȝ wher wiþ þei may staunchen her hunger.andslaken her þrestanddon awey colde. ¶ In þis wise may nede be conforted by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al outerly be don awey. for þouȝ þis nede þat is alwey gapyngandgredy be fulfilled wiþ rycchesses.andaxe any þing ȝit dwelleþ þanne a nede þat myȝt[e] ben fulfilled. ¶ I holde me stilleandtelle nat how þat litel þing suffiseþ to nature. but certys to auarice ynouȝ ne suffiseþ no þinge. ¶ For syn þat rychesse ne may nat al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may it þanne be þat ȝe wenen þat rychesses mowen ȝeuenȝow suffisaunce.[The 3deMetur.]QUAMUIS FLUENTER DIUES.Al were it so þat a ryche couetous man hadde riuer fletynge alle of golde ȝitte sholde it neuer staunche hys couetise. ¶ And þouȝ he hadde his nekke I-charged wiþ preciouse stones of þe rede see.andþouȝ he do erye his feldes plentiuouswiþ an hundreþ oxen neuere ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while helyueþ. ne þe lyȝt[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym compaignie whanne he is dede.[The 4theprose.]SET DIGNITATIBUS.Bvt dignitees to whom þei ben comen make þei hym honorableandreuerent. han þei nat so grete strengþe þat þei may putte vertues in þe hertis of folk. þat vsen þe lordshipes of hem. or ellys may þei don awey þe vices. Certys þei [ne] ben nat wont to don awey wikkednesses. but þei ben wont raþer to shew[en] wikkednesses.andþer of comeþ it þat I haue ryȝt grete desdeyne. þat dignites ben ȝeuen ofte to wicked men. ¶ For whiche þing catullus clepid a consul of Rome þat hyȝt noniuspostum. or boch. as who seiþ he clepiþ hyma congregaciounof uices in his brest as a postum is ful of corrupcioun. al were þis noniusset in a chayere of dignitee. Sest þou nat þan how gret vylenye dignitees don to wikked men. ¶ Certys vnworþines of wikked men sholdeben þe lasse ysen yif þei nere renomed of none honours. ¶ Certys þou þi self ne myȝtest nat ben brouȝt wiþ as many perils as þou myȝtest suffren þat þou woldest bere þi magistrat wiþ decorat. þat is to seyn. þat for no peril þat myȝt[e] bifallenþe by þe offence of þe kyng theodorik þou noldest nat ben felawe in gouernaunce withdecorat. whanne þou say[e] þat he had[de] wikkid corage of a likerous shreweandof an acusor. ¶ Ne I ne may nat for swiche honours Iugenhem worþi of reuerence þat I demeandholde vnworþi to han þilke same honours. ¶ Now yif þou saie a man þat were fulfilled of wisdom. certys þoune myȝtest nat demen þat he were vnworþi to þe honour. or ellys to þe wisdom of whiche he is fulfilled. No quod.I. ¶ Certys dignitees quodshe appertienen properly to vertue.anduertue transporteþ dignite anon to þilke man to whiche she hir self is conioigned. ¶ And for as moche as honours of poeple ne may nat maken folk digne of honour. it is wel seyn clerly þat þei ne han no propre beaute of dignite. ¶ And ȝit men auȝten take more hede in þis. ¶ For if it so be þat he is most out cast þat most folk dispisen. or as dignite ne may nat maken shrewes worþi of no reuerences. þan makeþ dignites shrewes more dispised þan preised. þe whiche shrewes dignit[e] scheweþ to moche folk ¶andfor soþe nat vnpunissed. þat is forto sein. þat shrewes reuengen hem aȝeinward vpon dignites. for þei ȝelden aȝein to dignites as gret gerdounwhan þei byspottenanddefoulen dignites wiþ hire vylenie. ¶ And for as moche as þou mow[e] knowe þat þilke verray reuerence ne may nat comen by þe shadewy transitorie dignitees. vndirstonde now þis. yif þat a man hadde vsedandhadde many manere dignites of consulesandwere comenperauenture amonges straunge naciouns. sholde þilke honourmaken hym worshipfulandredouted of straunge folk ¶ Certys yif þat honour of poeple were a naturel ȝifte to dignites. it ne myȝte neuer cesen nowher amonges no maner folke to done hys office. ¶ Ryȝt as fire ineuery contre ne stinteþ nat to enchaufenandto ben hote. but for as myche as forto be holden honorable or reuerent ne comeþ nat to folk ofhir propre strengþe of nature. but only of þe fals[e] opiniounof folk. þat is to sein. þat wenen þat dignites maken folk digne of honour. An on þerfore whan þat þei comen þer as folk ne knowennat þilke dignites. her honours vanissen aweyandþat on oon. but þat is a-mong straung folk. maist þou sein. but amongushem þat þei weren born duren þilk[e] dignites alwey. ¶ Certys þe dignite of þe prouostrie of Rome was somtyme a grete power. now is it no þing but an ydel name.andþe rente of þe senatorie a gret charge.andyif a whiȝt somtyme hadde þe office to taken he[de] to þe vitailes of þe poeple as of corneandwhat oþer þinges he was holden amonges grete. but what þing is more nowe out cast þanne þilke prouostrie ¶ And as I haue seid a litel here byforne. þat þilke þing þat haþ no propre beaute of hym self resceyueþ somtyme prisandshinyngeandsomtyme lesiþ it by þe opiniounof vsaunces. ¶ Now yif þat dignites þanne ne mowen nat maken folk digne of reuerence.andyif þat dignites wexen foule of hir wille by þe filþe of shrewes. ¶ and yif þat dignites lesen hir shynynge by chaungyng of tymes. and yif þei wexen foule by estimaciounof poeple. what is it þat þei han in hem self of beaute þat auȝte ben desired. as who seiþ none. þanne ne mowen þei ȝiuen no beaute of dignite to none oþer.[The 4theMetur.]QUAMUIS SE TIRIO.Al be it so þat þe proude nero wiþ al his woode luxurie kembed hymandapparailed hym wiþ faire purpers of Tirieandwiþ white perles. Algates ȝitte throf hehateful to alle folk ¶ þis is to seyn þat al was he by-hated of alle folk. ¶ ȝitte þis wicked Nero hadde gret lordshipandȝaf somtyme to þe dredeful senatours þe vnworshipful setes of dignites. ¶ vnworshipful setes he clepiþ here fore þat Nero þat was so wikked ȝaf þo dignites. who wolde þanne resonably wenen þat blysfulnesse were in swiche honours as ben ȝeuen by vicious shrewes.[The 5theprose.]AN UERO REGNA.Bvt regnesandfamilarites of kynges may þei maken a manto ben myȝty. how ellys. ¶ whanne hir blysfulnesse dureþ perpetuely but certys þe olde age of tyme passeþ.andeke of present tyme now is ful of ensaumples how þat kynges þat han chaunged in to wrechednesse out of hir welefulnesse. ¶ O a noble þinganda cler þing is power þat is nat founden myȝty to kepe it self. ¶ And yif þat power of realmes be auctourandmaker of blisfulnesse. yif þilke power lakkeþ on any side. amenusiþ it nat þilke blisfulnesseandbryngeþ in wrechednesse. but yif al be it so þat realmes of mankynde stretchen broode. ȝit mot þer nede ben myche folk ouer whiche þat euery kyng ne haþ no lordshipe no comaundement ¶ and certys vpon þilke syde þat power failleþ whiche þat makiþ folk blisful. ryȝt on þat same side nounpower entriþ vndirneþ þat makeþ hem wreches. ¶ In þis manere þanne moten kynges han more porciounof wrechednesse þan of welefulnesse. ¶ A tyraunt þat was kyng of sisile þat had[de] assaied þe peril of his estat shewid[e] by similitude þe dredes of realmes by gastnesse of a swerde þat heng ouer þe heued of his familier. what þing is þan þis power þatmay nat don awey þe bytynges of besines ne eschewe þe prikkes of drede. and certys ȝit wolden þei lyuen in sykernesse. but þei may nat. and ȝit þei glorifien hem in her power ¶ Holdest þou þan þat þilk[e] man be myȝty þat þou seest þat he wolde don þat he may nat don. ¶ And holdest þou þan hym a myȝty man þat haþ environed hise sydes wiþ men of armes or seruauntesanddredeþ more [hem] þat he makeþ agast. þen þei dreden hym.andþat is put in þe handes of hise seruauntȝ. for he sholde seme myȝty but of familiers [or] seruauntȝ of kynges. ¶ what sholde I telle þe any þing. syn þat I my self haue shewed þe þat realmes hem self ben ful of gret feblenesse. þe whiche familiers certis þe real power of kynges in hool estatandin estat abated ful [ofte] þroweþ adoun. ¶ Nero constreined[e] his familierandhis maistre seneca to chesen on what deeþ he wolde deien. ¶ Antonius comaundid[e] þat knyȝtis slowen wiþ her swerdis Papinian his familier whiche Papinian had[de] ben long tyme ful myȝty a-monges hem of þe courte. and ȝit certis þei wolde boþe han renounced her power. of whiche [two] senek enforced[e] hym to ȝiuento Nero his rychesses.andalso to han gon in to solitarie exil. ¶ But whan þe grete weyȝt. þat is to sein of lordes power or of fortune draweþ hem þat sholden falle. neyþer of hem ne myȝt[e] do þat he wolde. what þing is þanne þilke power þat þouȝ men han it þat þei ben agast. ¶andwhan þou woldest han it þou nart nat siker. ¶ And yif þou woldest forleten it þou mayst nat eschewen it. ¶ But wheþir swiche men ben frendes at nede as ben conseiled by fortuneandnat by vertue. Certys swichefolk as weleful fortune makeþ frendes. contrarious fortune makeþ hem enmyse. ¶ And what pestilence is more myȝty forto anoye a wiȝt þan a familier enemy.[The 5theMetur.]QUI SE UALET ESSE POTENTEM.Who so wolde ben myȝty he mot daunten hys cruel corage. ne put[te] nat his nekke ouercomen vndir þe foule reines of lecherie. for al be it so þat þi lordship[e] strecche so fer þat þe contre Inde quakiþ at þi comaundement. or at þi lawes.andþat þe leest isle in þe see þat hyȝt tile be þral to þe ¶ ȝit yif þou mayst nat putenawey þi foule derk[e] desijresanddryuenoute fro þe wreched compleyntes. Certis it nis no power þat þou hast.[The 6theprose.]GLORIA UERO QUAMFALLAX.Bvt glorie how deceiuableandhow foule is it ofte. for whiche þing nat vnskilfully a tregedien þat is to sein a maker of dites þat hyȝten tregedies cried[e]andseide. ¶ O glorie glorie quodhe. þou nart no þing ellys to þousandes of folkes. but a gret sweller of eres. for many[e] han had ful gret renounby þe fals[e] oppiniounof poeple. and what þing may ben þouȝt fouler þen swiche preisynge for þilk[e] folk þat benpreised falsly. þei moten nedes han shame of hir preisynges.andyif þat folk han getenhem þank or preysyng by her desertes. what þing haþ þilk pris echid or encresed to þe conscience of wise folk þat mesurenhire good. not by þe rumourof þe poeple. but by þe soþefastnesse of conscience.andyif it seme a fair þing a man to han encresidandsprad his name. þan folweþit. þat it is demed to ben a foule þinge yif it ne be ysprad ne encresed. but as I seide a litel her byforne. þat syn þer mot nedes ben many folk to whiche folk þe renounof a man ne may nat comen. it byfalleþ þat he þat þou wenest be gloriousandrenomed. semiþ in þe nexte parties of þe erþe to ben wiþ out glorie.andwiþ out renoun. ¶ and certis amonges þise þinges I ne trowe nat þat þe prisandgrace of þe poeple nis neiþer worþi to ben remembrid ne comeþ of wise iugement. ne is ferm perdurably. ¶ But now of þis name of gentilesse. what man is it þat ne may wel seen how veyneandhow flittyng a þing it is. ¶ For if þe name of gentilesse be referred to renounandclernesse of linage. þan is gentil name but a for[e]ine þing. þat is to sein to hem þat glorifien hem of hir linage. ¶ For it semeþ þat gentilesse be a maner preysynge þat comeþ of decert of auncestres. ¶ And yif preysynge makeþ gentilesse þan moten þei nedes be gentil þat ben preysed. For whiche þing it folweþ. þat yif þou ne haue no gentilesse of þi self. þat is to sein pris þat comeþ of þi deserte foreine gentilesse ne makeþ þe nat gentil. ¶ But certis yif þer be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be inal oonly þis. þat it semeþ as þat a maner necessitee be imposed to gentil men. for þat þei ne sholden nat outraien or forliuen fro þe uertues of hire noble kynrede.[The 6thMetre.]OMNE HOMINUMGENUS IN TERRIS.Al þe linage of men þat ben inerþe ben of semblable burþe. On al one is fadir of þinges. On alone minyst[r]eþ alle þinges. ¶ He ȝaf to þe sonne hys bemes. he ȝaf to þe moone hir hornes. he ȝaf þe men to þe erþe. he ȝaf þe sterres to þe heuene. ¶ he encloseþwiþ membres þe soules þat comen fro hys heye sete. ¶ þanne comen alle mortal folk of noble seed. whi noysen ȝe or bosten of ȝoure eldris ¶ For yif þou look[e] ȝoure bygynnyng. and god ȝoure auctourandȝoure makere. þan is þer no forlyued wyȝt but ȝif he norisse his corage vnto vicesandforlete his propre burþe.[The 7theprose.]QUID AUTEM DE CORPORIBUS.But what shal I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e delices þe desiringes ben ful of anguisse.andþe fulfillinges of hemben ful of penaunce. ¶ How grete sekenesseandhow grete sorwes vnsuffrable ryȝt as a manere fruit of wickednesse ben þilke delices wont to bryngen to þe bo[d]ies of folk þat vsen hem. ¶ Of whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir moeuyng. ¶ But þis woot I wel þat who so euere wil remembren hym of hys luxuries. he shal wel vndirstonde. þat þe issues of delices ben sorowfulandsory. ¶ And yif þilke delices mowen make folk blisful. þan by þe same cause moten þise bestes ben clepid blisful. ¶ Of whiche bestes al þe entenciounhasteþ to fulfille hire bodyly iolyte. and þe gladnesse of wijf [and] children were [an] honest þing. but it haþ ben seid. þat it is ouer myche aȝeins kynde þat children han ben founden tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. ¶ Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condicioun. It nedeþ nat to tellen it þe þat hast or þis tyme assaied it.andart ȝit now anguyssous. In þis approue I þe sentence of my disciple Euridippus. þat seide þat he þat haþ no children is weleful by infortune.[The 7deMetur.]HABET HOC UOLUPTAS.Euery delit haþ þis. þat it anguisseþ hem wiþ prikkes þat vsen it. ¶ It resembliþ to þise flying flyes þat we clepen been. þat aftre þat þe bee haþ shed hys agreable honies he fleeþ aweyandstyngeþ þe hertes of hemþat ben ysmyte wiþ bytynge ouer longe holdynge.[The 8theprose.]NICHIL IGITUR DUBIUM EST.Now nis it no doute þan þat þise weyes ne ben a maner mysledyng to blisfulnesse. ne þat þei ne mowe nat leden folke þider as þei byheten to ledenhem. ¶ But wiþ how grete harmes þise forseide weyes ben enlaced. ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly. ¶ For whi yif þou enforcest þe to assemble moneye. þou most by-reuen hym his moneye þat haþ it. and yif þou wilt shynen wiþ dignites. þou most bysechenandsupplien hem þat ȝiuenþo dignitees. ¶ And yif þou coueitest by honourto gon by-fore oþer folk þou shalt defoule þi self by humblesse of axing. yif þou desiryst power. þou shalt by awaites of þi subgitȝ anoyously be cast vndir many periles. axest þou glorie þou shalt ben so destrat by aspre þinges þat þou shalt forgone sykernesse. ¶ And yif þou wilt leden þi lijf in delices. euery whiȝt shal dispisen þeandforleten þe as þou þat art þral to þing þat is ryȝt fouleandbrutel. þat is [to] sein seruaunt to þi body. ¶ Now is it þan wel yseen how lytelandhow brutel possessiounþei coueiten þat putten þe goodes of þe body abouen hire owenresoun. ¶ For mayst þou sourmountenþise olifuñtȝ in gretnesse or weyȝt of body. Or mayst þou ben strenger þan þe bole. Mayst þou ben swifter þan þe tigre. biholde þespacesandþe stablenesseandþe swyfte cours of þe heuene.andstynte somtyme to wondren on foule þinges. þe whiche heuene certys nis nat raþer for þise þinges to ben wondred vpon. þan for þe resounby whiche it is gouerned. but þe shynynge of þi forme þat is to seien þe beaute of þi body. how swiftly passyng is itandhow transitorie. ¶ Certis it is more flittynge þan þe mutabilite of floures of þe somersesoun. For so as aristotil telleþ þat yif þat men hadden eyen of a beest þat hiȝt lynx. so þat þe lokyng of folk myȝt[e] percen þoruȝ þe þinges þat wiþstonden it. who so lokid þan in þe entrailes of þe body of alcibiades þat was ful fayr in þe superfice wiþ oute. it shulde seme ryȝt foule.andfor þi yif þou semest faire. þi nature ne makiþ nat þat. but þe desceiuaunce of þe fieblesse of þe eyen þat loken. ¶ But preise þe goodes of þi body as moche as euer þe list. so þat þou know[e] algates þat what so it be. þat is to seyn of þe goodes of þi body whiche þat þou wondrest vpon may ben destroied or dessolued by þe hete of a feuere of þre dayes. ¶ Of alle whiche forseide þinges I may reducenþis shortly in a somme. ¶ þat þise worldly goodes whiche þat ne mowen nat ȝiuen þat þei byheten. ne ben nat perfit by þe congregaciounof alle goodes. þat þei ne ben nat weyes ne paþes þat bryngen men to blysfulnesse ne maken men to ben blysful.[The 8theMetur.]HEU QUEMISEROS TRAMITE.Allas whiche folieandwhiche ignoraunce myslediþ wandryng wrecches fro þe paþe of verrey good. ¶ Certis ȝe ne seken no golde in grene trees. ne ȝe negadren [nat] precious stones in þe vines. ne ȝe ne hiden nat ȝoure gynnes in heyȝe mountaignes to kachen fisshe of whiche ȝe may maken ryche festes. and yif ȝow lykeþ to hunte to roos. ȝe ne gon nat to þe foordes of þe water þat hyȝt tyrene.andouer þis men knowen wel þe crikesandþe cauernes of þe see yhidd in þe floodes.andknowen eke whiche water is most plentiuousof white perles.andknowen whiche water habundeþ most of rede purpre. þat is to seyen of a maner shelfisshe withwhiche men dien purpre.andknowen whiche strondes habounden most of tendre fisshes or of sharpe fisshes þat hyȝten echynnys. but folk suffren hem self to ben so blynde þat hem ne recchiþ nat to knowe where þilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche þat þei coueiten but ploungen hem in erþeandseken þere þilke goode þat sourmounteþ þe heuene þat bereþ þe sterres. ¶ what preyere may I make þat be digne to þe nice þouȝtis of men. but I preye þat þei coueitenrycchesandhonours so þat whan þei han geten þo false goodes wiþ greet trauayle þat þerby þei mowe knowen þe verray goodes.[The 9neprose.]HACTENUS MENDACIS FORMAM.IT suffisiþ þat I haue shewed hider to þe forme of false wilfulnesse. so þat yif þou look[e] now clerely þe ordre of myn entenciounrequeriþ from hennes forþe to shewenþe verray wilfulnesse. ¶ For quod.I. (b) [I.] se wel now þat suffisaunce may nat comen by richesse. ne power by realmes. ne reuerence by dignitees. ne gentilesse by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast þou wel knowen quod she þe cause whi it is. Certis me semeþquod.I. þat .I. se hem ryȝt as þouȝ it were þoruȝ a litel clifte. but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of þe. Certys quodshe þe resounis al redy ¶ For þilk þing þat symply is on þing wiþ outen ony diuisioun. þe errourandfolie of mankynde departeþanddiuidiþ it.andmislediþ itandtransporteþ from verrayandperfit goode. to goodes þat ben falseandinperfit. ¶ But seye me þis. wenest þou þat he þat haþ nede of power þat hymne lakkeþ no þing. Nay quod .I ¶ Certis quod she þou seist aryȝt. For yif so be þat þer is a þing þat in any partie be fieble of power. Certis as in þat it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine helpe. ¶ Riȝt so it is quod .I. Suffisaunce and power ben þan of on kynde ¶ So semeþ it quodI. ¶ And demyst þou quod she þat a þing þat is of þis manere. þat is to seine suffisauntandmyȝty auȝt[e] to ben dispised. or ellys þat it be ryȝt digne of reuerences abouen alle þinges. ¶ Certys quod I it nys no doute þat it nis ryȝt worþi to ben reuerenced. ¶ Lat vs quod she þan adden reuerence to suffisaunceandto power ¶ So þat we demen þat þise þre þinges ben alle o þing. ¶ Certis quod I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten þe soþe. what demest þou þan quod she is þat a dirke þingandnat noble þat is suffisaunt reuerentandmyȝty. or ellys þat is ryȝt clereandryȝt noble of celebrete of renoun. ¶ Considere þan quod she as we han grauntid her byforne. þat he þat ne haþ ne[de] of no þingandis most myȝtyandmost digne of honouryif hym nediþ any clernesse of renounwhiche clernesse he myȝt[e] nat graunten of hym self. ¶ So þat for lakke of þilke clerenesse he myȝt[e] seme febler on any syde or þemore outcaste.Glosa.þis is to seyne nay. ¶ For who so þat is suffisaunt myȝtyandreuerent. clernesse of renounfolweþ of þe forseide þinges. he haþ it alredy of hys suffisaunce. boice. I may nat quod I denye it. ¶ But I mot graunten as it is. þat þis þing be ryȝt celebrable by clernesse of renounandnoblesse. ¶ þan folweþ it quod she þat we adden clernesse of renounto þe þre forseide þinges. so þat þer ne be amonges hem no difference.andþis is a consequente quod .I. þis þing þan quod she þat ne haþ no nede of no foreine þing.andþat may don alle þinges by his strengþes.andþat is nobleandhonourable. nis nat þat a myrie þinganda ioyful.boice.but wenest quod I þat any sorow myȝt[e] comen to þis þing þat is swiche. ¶ Certys I may nat þinke.P.¶ þanne moten we graunt[e] quodshe þat þis þing be ful of gladnesse yif þe þorseide þinges be soþe. ¶ And also certys mote we graunten. þat suffisaunce power noblesse reuerenceandgladnesse ben only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce haþ no diuersite.Boice.It mot nedely be so quod .I.P.þilke þinge þan quod she þat is oonandsimple inhis nature. þe wikkednesse of men departiþ it diuidiþ it.andwhan þei enforcen hem to gete partie of a þing þat ne haþ no part. þei ne geten hem neiþer þilk[e] partie þat nis none. ne þe þing al hole þat þei ne desire nat..b.In whiche manere quod .I.p.þilke man quod she þat sekeþ rychesse to fleen pouerte. he ne trauayleþ hym nat to for to gete power for he haþ leuer ben dirkandvile.andeke wiþdraweþ from hym selfe many naturel delitȝ for he nolde lesen þe moneye þat he haþ assembled.but certis in þis manere he ne getiþ hym nat suffisaunce þat power forletiþ.andþat moleste prekeþ.andþat filþe makeþ outcaste.andþat derknesse hideþ. and certis he þat desireþ only power he wastiþandscatriþ rychesseanddispiseþ delicesandeke honourþat is wiþ out power. ne he ne preiseþ glorie no þing. ¶ Certys þus seest þou wel þat many þingusfailen to hym. for he haþ somtyme faute of many necessites.andmany anguysses biten hym ¶andwhan he may nat don þo defautes awey. he forleteþ to ben myȝty.andþat is þe þing þat he most desireþ.andryȝt þus may I make semblable resouns of honoursandof glorieandof delices. ¶ For so as euery of þise forseide þinges is þe same þat þise oþer þinges ben. þat is to sein. al oon þing. who so þat euer sekeþ to geten þat oon of þiseandnat þat oþer. he ne geteþ nat þat he desireþ.Boice.¶ what seist þou þan yif þat a man coueiteþ to geten alle þise þinges to gider.P.Certys quod she .I. wolde seie þat he wolde geten hym souereyne blisfulnes. but þat shal he nat fynde in þo þinges þat .I. haue shewed þat ne mowe nat ȝeuen þat þei by-heten.boice.Certys no quod .I. ¶ þan quodshe ne sholden men nat by no weye seken blysfulnesse in swiche þinges as men wenen þat þei ne mowe ȝeuen but o þing senglely of alle þat menseken. I graunt[e] wel quod .I. ne no soþer þing ne may nat ben said.P.¶ Now hast þou þan quod she þe formeandþe causes of false welefulnesse. ¶ Now turneandflitte þe eyen of þi þouȝt. for þere shalt þou seen an oon þilk verray blysfulnesse þat I haue byhyȝt þee.b.Certys quod .I. it is clerandopyn. þouȝ þat it were to a blynde man.andþat shewedest þou me [ful wel] alytel her byforne. whan þou enforcedest þe to shewe me þe causes of þe false blysfulnesse ¶ For but yif I be by-giled. þan is þilke þe verray perfit blisfulnesse þat perfitly makiþ a man suffisaunt. myȝty. honourable noble.andful of gladnesse.andfor þou shalt wel knowe þat I haue wel vndirstonden þise þinges wiþ inne myne herte. I knowe wel þilke blisfulnesse þat may verrayly ȝeuen on of þe forseide þinges syn þei ben al oon .I. knowe douteles þat þilke þing is þe fulle of blysfulnesse.P.O my nurry quodshe by þis oppiniounquod she I sey[e] þat þou art blisful yif þou putte þis þer to þat I shal seine. what is þat quod .I. ¶ Trowest þou þat þer be any þing in þis erþely mortal toumblyng þinges þat may bryngen þis estat. Certys quod I trowe it nat.andþou hast shewed me wel þat ouer þilke goode þer is no þing more to ben desired.P.þise þinges þan quod she. þat is to seyne erþely suffisaunceandpower.andswiche þinges eyþer þei semen likenesse of verray goode. or ellys it semeþ þat þei ȝeuen to mortal folk a maner of goodes þat ne ben nat perfit. ¶ But þilke goode þat is verrayandperfit. þat may þei nat ȝeuen.boice.I. accorde me wel quod .I. þan quod she for as moche as þou hast knowen whiche is þilke verray blisfulnesse.andeke whiche þilke þinges ben þat lien falsly blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne. þat by desceit semenverray goodes. ¶ Now byhoueþ þe to knowenwhennesandwhere þou mowe seek[e] þilke verray blisfulnesse. ¶ Certys quod I þat desijr I gretlyandhaue abiden longe tyme to herkene it. ¶ But for as moche quod she as it likeþ to my disciple plato in his book of inthimeo. þat in ryȝt lytel þinges men sholde bysechen þe helpe of god. ¶ what iugest þou þat be[now] to done so þat we may deserue to fynde þe sete of þilke souereyne goode.B.¶ Certys quod .I. I. deme þat we shulle clepen to þe fadir of alle goodes. ¶ For wiþ outen hym nis þer no þing founden aryȝt. þou seist a-ryȝt quod she. and bygan on-one to syngen ryȝt þus.[The 9neMetur.]O QUI PERPETUA.Oþou fadir creatour of heueneandof erþes þat gouernest þis worlde by perdurable resounþat comaundist þe tymes for to gon from tyme þat age had[de] bygynnyng. þou þat dwellest þi self ay stedfastandstableandȝiuest alle oþer þinges to ben moeued. ne forein causes necesseden þe neuer to compoune werke of floterynge mater. but only þe forme of souereyne goode y-set wiþ inne [þe] wiþ outen envie þat moeued[e] þe frely. þou þat art alþerfairest beryng þe faire worlde in þi þouȝt. formedest þis worlde to þe likkenesse semblable of þat faire worlde in þi þouȝt. þou drawest alle þinges of þi souereyne ensampler.andcomaundedist þat þis worlde perfitlyche ymaked haue frelyandabsolut hyse perfit parties. ¶ þou byndest þe elementȝ by noumbres proporcionables. þat þe colde þinges mowen accorde wiþ þe hote þinges.andþe drye þinges wiþ þe moyst þinges. þat þe fire þat is purest ne fleye nat ouer heye. ne þat þe heuynesse ne drawe nat adounouer lowe þe erþes þat ben plounged in þe watres. ¶ þou knyttest to-gidre þe mene soule of treble kynde moeuyng alle þinges.anddiuidest it by membres accordynge. ¶ And whan it is þus diuided it haþ assembled a moeuyng in two roundes. ¶ It goþ to tourneaȝein to hym owen self.andenvironeþ a fulle deep þouȝt.andtourniþ þe heuene by semblable ymage. þou by euenlyk causes enhaunsest þe soulesandþe lasse liuesandablynge hem heye by lyȝt[e] cartes. þou sewest hem in to heueneandin to erþe.andwhan þei ben conuertid to þe by þi benigne lawe. ¶ þou makest hem retorne aȝeine to þe by aȝein ledyng fijr. ¶ O fadir yif þou to þi þouȝt to stien vp in to þi streite sete.andgraunte [hym] to enviroune þe welle of good.andþe lyȝte yfounde graunte hym to ficchen þe clere syȝtes of hys corage in þe. ¶ And scatre þouandto-breke [thow] þe weyȝtesandþe cloudes of erþely heuynesse.andshyne þou by þi bryȝtnes. for þou art clernesse þou art peisible to debonaire folke. ¶ þou þi self art bygynnynge. berere. ledere. paþandterme to loke on þe [þat] is oure ende.Glose.[The 10theprose.]QUONIAM IGITUR QUI SCIT.FOr as moche þan as þou hast seyn. whiche is þe forme of goode þat nys nat perfit.andwhiche is þe forme of goode þat is perfit. now trowe I þat it were goode to shewe in what þis perfecciounof blisfulnesse is set.andin þis þing I trowe þat we sholden first enquere forto witen yif þat any swiche manere goode as þilke goode þat þou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. þat is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in þe nature of þinges. For þat veyne ymaginaciounof þouȝt ne desceiue vs nat.andputte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse of þilke þinge þat is summyttid to vs. þis is to seyne. but it may nat ben denoyed þat þilke goode ne is. ¶ and þat it nis ryȝt as a welle of alle goodes. ¶ Foral þing þat is cleped inperfit. is proued inperfit by þe amenusynge of perfeccioun. or of þing þat is perfit.andher of comeþ it. þat in euery þing general. yif þat. þat men seen any þing þat is inperfit certys in þilke general þer mot ben somme þing þat is perfit. ¶ For yif so be þat perfecciounis don awey. men may nat þinke nor seye fro whennes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit. ¶ For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng of þinges amenusedandinperfit. but it procediþ of þingusþat ben al hool.andabsolut.anddescendeþ so doune in to outerest þingesandin to þingusemptyandwiþ oute fruyt. but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne. þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be freleandveinandinperfit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse þat is sad stedfastandperfit. b. þis is concludid quod I fermelyandsoþefastly.P.But considere also quod she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe commune acordaunceandconceite of þe corages of men proueþandgraunteþ þat god prince of alle þingusis good. ¶ For so as no þing ne may ben þouȝt bettre þan god. it may nat ben douted þan þat [he þat] no þing is bettre. þat he nys good. ¶ Certys resounsheweþ þat god is so goode þat it proueþ by verray force þat perfit goode is in hym. ¶ For yif god ne is swiche. he ne may nat ben prince of alle þinges. for certis som þing possessyng in hymself perfit goode sholde ben more þan god.and[it] sholde seme þat þilke þing were firstandelder þan god. ¶ For we han shewed apertly þat alle þinges þat ben perfit. ben first or þinges þat ben inperfit. ¶ And for þi for as moche as [that] my resounor my proces ne go nat awey wiþoute an ende. we ouȝt[e] to graunten þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful ofsouereyne perfit goode. and we han establissed þat þe souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. þan mot it nedes ben [þat verray blysfulnesse is] yset insouereyne god.B.þis take I wel quod .I. ne þis ne may nat be wiþseid in no manere. ¶ But I preie þe quod she see now how þou mayst preuen holilyandwiþ-outencorrupciounþis þat I haue seid. þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of souereyne goode. [In whych manere quod I.] wenest þou ouȝt quod she þat þis prince of alle þinges haue ytake þilke souereyne good any where þan of hym self. ¶ of whiche souereyne goode men proueþ þat he is ful ryȝt as þou myȝtest þinken. þat god þat haþ blisfulnesse in hym self.andþat ilke blisfulnesse þat is in hym were diuers in substaunce. ¶ For yif þou wene þat god haue receyued þilke good oute of hymself. þou mayst wene þat he þat ȝaf þilke good to god. be more goode þan is god. ¶ But I am byknowenandconfesseandþat ryȝt dignely þat god is ryȝt worþi abouen alle þinges. ¶ And yif so be þat þis good be in hym by nature. but þat it is diuers from [hym] by wenyng resoun. syn we speke of god prince of alle þinges feyne who so feyne may. who was he þat [hath] conioigned þise diuers þinges to-gidre.andeke at þe last[e] se wel þat o þing þat is diuers from any þing. þat þilke þing nis nat þat same þing. fro whiche it is vndirstondento ben diuers. þan folweþ it. þat þilke þing þat by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. þat þat þing nys nat souereyne good. but certys þat were a felonous corsednesse to þinken þat of hym. þat no þing nis more worþe. For alwey of alle þinges. þe natureof hem ne may nat ben better þan his bygynnyng. ¶ For whiche I may concluden by ryȝt uerray resoun. þat þilke þat is bygynnyng of alle þinges. þilke same þing is good in his substaunce.B.þou hast seid ryȝtfully quod .I.P.But we han graunted quod she þat souereyne good is blysfulnes. þat is soþe quod .I. þan quod she mote we nedes grauntenandconfessen þat þilke same souereyne goode be god. ¶ Certys quod .I. I ne may nat denye ne wiþstonde þe resouns purposed. and I see wel þat it folweþ by strengþe of þe premisses. ¶ Loke nowe quod she yif þis be proued [yit] more fermely þus. ¶ þat þer ne mowen nat ben two souereyne goodes þat ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem self. þat on is nat þat þat oþer is. þan [ne] mowen neiþer of hem ben perfit. so as eyþer of hem lakkiþ to oþir. but þat þat nis nat perfit men may seen apertly þat it nis nat souereyne. þe þinges þan þat ben souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse. ¶ But I haue wel conclude þat blisfulnesseandgod ben [the] souereyne goode. For whiche it mot nedes be þat souereyne blisfulnesse is souerey[ne] dyuynite. ¶ No þing quod I nis more soþefast þan þis ne more ferme by resoun. ne a more worþi þing þan god may nat ben concluded.P.vpon þise þinges þan quod she. ryȝt as þise geometriens whan þei han shewed her proposiciouns ben wont to bryngenin þinges þat þei clepen porismes or declaraciouns of forseide þinges. ryȝt so wil I ȝeue þe here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune. For whi. for as moche as by þe getynge of blisfulnesse men ben maked blysful.andblisfulnesse is diuinite. ¶ þan is it manifestandopen þat by þe getyng of diuinite men ben makid blisful. ryȝt as by þe getynge of iustice . . .andby þe getyng of sapience þei ben maked wise. ¶ Ryȝt so nedes by þe semblable resounwhanþei han getyn diuinite þei ben maked goddys. þan is euery blisful man god. ¶ But certis by nature. þer nys but oon god. but by þe participaciouns of diuinite þere ne letteþ ne disturbeþ no þing þat þer ne ben many goddes. ¶ þis is quod .I. a faire þinganda precious. ¶ Clepe it as þou wolt. be it corolarie or porisme or mede of coroune or declarynges ¶ Certys quod she no þing nis fairer. þan is þe þing þat by resounsholde ben added to þise forseide þinges. what þing quod .I. ¶ So quod she as it semeþ þat blisfulnesse conteniþ many þinges. it were forto witen wheþir [þat] alle þise þinges maken or conioignen as a maner body of blysfulnesse by diuersite of parties or [of] membris. Or ellys yif any of alle þilke þingusbe swyche þat it acomplise by hymself þe substaunce of blisfulnesse. so þat alle þise oþer þinges ben referred and brouȝt to blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne as to þe chief of hem. ¶ I wolde quod I þat þou makedest me clerly to vndirstonde what þou seist.andþat þou recordest me þe forseide þinges. ¶ Haue I nat iuged quod she. þat blisfulnesse is goode. ȝis forsoþe quod .I.andþat souereyne goode. ¶ Adde þan quod she þilke goode þat is maked blisfulnes to alle þe forseide þinges. ¶ For þilke same blisfulnesse þat is demed to ben souereyne suffisaunce. þilke self is souereyne power. souereyne reuerence. souereyne clernesse or noblesseandsouereyne delit. what seist þou þan of alle þise þinges. þat is to seyne. suffisance powerandþise oþer þinges. ben þei þan as membris of blisfulnesse. or ben þei referredandbrouȝt to souereyne good. ¶ Ryȝt as alle þinges þat ben brouȝt to þe chief of hem.b. I vndirstonde wel quod .I. what þou purposest to seke. but I desijr[e] to herkene þat þou shewe it me.p.Take now þus þe discressiounof þis questiounquod she. yif al þise þinges quod she weren membris to felicite. þan weren þei diuerse þat oon fro þat oþer. ¶ And swiche is þe nature of parties or of membris. þat dyuerse membris compounen a body. ¶ Certis quod I it haþ wel ben shewed her byforne. þat alle þise þinges ben alle on þing. þan ben þei none membris quod she. for ellys it sholde seme þat blisfulnesse were conioigned al of one membre alone. but þat is a þing þat may nat ben doon. þis þing quod .I. nys nat doutous. but I abide to herkene þe remenaunt of þe questioun. þis is openandclere quod she. þat alle oþer þinges ben referredandbrouȝt to goode. ¶ For þerfore is suffisaunce requered. For it is demed to ben good.andforþi is power requered. for men trowen also þat it be goode. and þis same þing mowe we þinkenandcoueiten of reuerenceandof noblesseandof delit. þan is souereyne good þe soumeandþe cause of alle þat auȝt[e] be desired. forwhi þilke þing þat wiþ-holdeþ no good in it self ne semblaunce of goode it ne may nat wel in no manere be desired ne requered.andþe contrarie. For þouȝ þat þinges by hir nature ne ben nat goode algates yif men wene þat þei bengoode ȝit ben þei desired as þouȝ [þat] þei were verrayly goode.andþerfore is it þat men auȝtento wene by ryȝt þat bounte be souereyne fynandþe cause of alle þinges þat ben to requeren. ¶ But certis þilke þat is cause for whiche men requeren any þing. ¶ it semeþ þat þilke same þing be most desired. as þus yif þat a wyȝt wolde ryde for cause of hele. he ne desireþ nat so mychel þemoeuyng to ryden as þe effect of his heele. Now þan syn þat alle þinges ben requered for þe grace of good. þei ne ben [nat] desired of alle folk more þan þe same good ¶ But we han graunted þat blysfulnesse is þat þing for whiche þat alle þise oþer þinges ben desired. þan is it þus þat certis only blisfulnesse is requeredanddesired ¶ By whiche þing it sheweþ clerely þat goodandblisfulnesse is al ooneandþe same substaunce. ¶ I se nat quod I wher fore þat men myȝt[en] discorden in þis.p.andwe han shewed þat godandverrey blysfulnesse is al oon þing ¶ þat is soþe quod.I. þan mowe we conclude sikerly þat þe substaunce of god is set in þilke same goodandin noon oþer place.[The 10theMetur.]NUNC OMNES PARITERETC.
Blysful was þe first age of men. þei helden hem apaied wiþ þe metes þat þe trewe erþes brouȝten furþe. ¶ þei ne destroyed[e] ne desceyued[e] not hem self wiþ outerage. ¶ þei weren wont lyȝtly to slaken her hunger at euene wiþ acornes of okes ¶ þei ne couþe nat medle þe ȝift of bacus to þe clere hony. þat is to seyn. þei couþe make no piment of clarre. ne þei couþe nat medle þe briȝt[e] flies of þe contre of siriens wiþ þe venym of tirie. þis is to seyne. þei couþe nat dien white flies of sirien contre wiþ þe blode of a manar shelfysshe. þat men fynden in tyrie. wiþ whiche blode men deien purper. ¶ þei slepen holesom slepes vpon þe gras. and dronken of þe rynnyng watres.andlaien vndir þe shadowe of þe heyȝe pyne trees. ¶ Ne no gest ne no straunger [ne] karf ȝit þe heye see wiþ oores or wiþ shippes. ne þei nehadden seyne ȝitte none newe strondes to leden merchaundyse in to dyuerse contres. ¶ þo weren þe cruel clariouns ful whistandful stille. ne blode yshed by egre hate ne hadde nat deied ȝit armurers. for wherto or whiche woodenesse of enmys wolde first moeuen armes. whan þei seien cruel woundes ne none medes ben of blood yshad ¶ I wolde þat oure tymes sholde turne aȝeyne to þe oolde maneres. ¶ But þe anguissous loue of hauyng brenneþ in folke moore cruely þan þe fijr of þe Mountaigne of Ethna þat euer brenneþ. ¶ Allas what was he þat first dalf vp þe gobets or þe weyȝtys of gold couered vndir erþe.andþe precious stones þat wolden han ben hid. he dalf vp precious perils. þat is to seyne þat he þat hem first vp dalf. he dalf vp a precious peril. for-whi. for þe preciousnesse of swyche haþ many man ben in peril.
But what shal I seyne of digniteesandof powers. þe whiche [ye] men þat neiþer knowen verray dignitee ne verray power areysen hem as heye as þe heuene. þe whiche digniteesandpowers yif þei come to any wicked man þei don [as] greet[e] damagesanddistrucciounas doþ þe flamme of þe Mountaigne Ethna whan þe flamme wit walwiþ vp ne no deluge ne doþ so cruel harmes. ¶ Certys ye remembriþ wel as I trowe þat þilke dignitee þat men clepiþ þe emperie ofconsulers þe whiche þat somtyme was bygynnyng of fredom. ¶ Ȝoure eldres coueiteden to han don a-wey þat dignitee for þe pride of þe conseilers.¶ And ryȝt for þe same pride ȝoure eldres byforne þat tyme hadden don awey out of þe Citee of rome þe kynges name. þat is to seien. þei nolden haue no lenger no kyng ¶ But now yif so be þat digniteesandpowers ben ȝeuen to goode men. þe whiche þing is ful ȝelde. what agreable þinges is þer in þo dignitees. or powers. but only þe goodenes of folk þat vsen hem. ¶ And þerfore it is þus þat honourne comeþ nat to vertue for cause of dignite. but aȝeinward. honourcomeþ to dignite by cause of vertue. but whiche is ȝoure derworþe power þat is so clereandso requerable ¶ O ȝe erþelyche bestes considere ȝe nat ouer whiche þing þat it semeþ þat ȝe han power. ¶ Now yif þou say[e] a mouse amongusoþer myse þat chalenged[e] to hymself ward ryȝtandpower ouer alle oþer myse. how gret scorne woldest þou han of hit. ¶Glosa.¶ So fareþ it by men. þe body haþ power ouer þe body. For yif þow loke wel vpon þe body of a wyȝt what þing shalt þou fynde moore frele þan is mannes kynde. þe whiche ben ful ofte slayn wiþ bytynge of smale flies. or ellys wiþ þe entryng of crepyng wormes in to þe priuetees of mennes bodyes. ¶ But wher shal men fynden any man þat may exercen or haunten any ryȝt vpon an oþer manbut oonly vpon hys body. or ellys vponþinges þat ben lower þen þe body. whiche I clepe fortunous possessiouns ¶ Mayst þou euer haue any comaundement ouer a fre corage ¶ Mayst þou remuen fro þe estat of hys propre reste. a þouȝt þat is cleuyng to gider in hym self by stedfast resoun. ¶ As somtyme a tiraunt wende to confounde a freeman ofcorage ¶Andwende to constreyne hym by tourment to maken hym dyscouerenandacusen folk þat wisten of a coniuracioun. whiche I clepe a confederacie þat was cast aȝeins þis tyraunt ¶ But þis free man boot of hys owen tunge.andcast it in þe visage of þilke woode tyraunte. ¶ So þat þe tourmentȝ þat þis tyraunt wende to han maked matereof cruelte. þis wyse man maked[e it] matere of vertues. ¶ But what þing is it þat a man may don to an oþer man. þat he ne may receyue þe same þing of oþer folke inhym self. or þus. ¶ What may a man don to folk. þat folk ne may don hym þe same. ¶ I haue herd told of busirides þat was wont to sleen hys gestes þat herburghden in hys hous. and he was slayn hym self of ercules þat was hys gest ¶ Regulus had[de] taken in bataile many men of affrike. and cast hem in to fetteres. but sone after he most[e] ȝiue hys handes to ben bounden withþe cheynes of hem þat he had[de] somtyme ouercomen. ¶ Wenest þou þan þat he be myȝty. þat may nat don a þing. þat oþer ne may don hym. þat he doþ to oþer.andȝit more oueryif it so were þat þise dignites or poweres hadden any propre or naturel goodnesse in hem self neuer nolden þei comen to shrewes. ¶ For contrarious þinges ne ben not wont to ben yfelawshiped togidres. ¶ Nature refuseþ þat contra[r]ious þinges ben yioigned. ¶ And so as I am in certeyne þat ryȝt wikked folk han dignitees ofte tymes. þan sheweþ it wel þat digniteesandpowers ne ben not goode of hir owen kynde. syn þat þei suffren hem self to cleuenor ioynen hem to shrewes. ¶ And certys þe same þing may most digneliche Iugenandseyen of alle þe ȝiftis of fortune þat most plenteuously comen to shrewes. ¶ Of þe whiche ȝiftys I trowe þat it auȝt[e] ben considered þat no man doutiþ þat he nis strong. in whom he seeþ strengþe.andin whom þat swiftnesse is ¶ Soþe it is þat he is swyfte. Also musyk makeþ musiciens.andfysik makeþ phisiciens.andrethorik rethoriens. ¶ For whi þe nature of euery þing makiþ his propretee. ne it is nat entermedled wiþ þe effectisof contrarious þinges. ¶ And as of wil it chaseþ oute þinges þat to it ben contrarie ¶ But certys rycchesse may nat restreyne auarice vnstaunched ¶ Ne power [ne] makeþ nat a manmyȝty ouer hym self. whiche þat vicious lustis holden destreined wiþ cheins þat ne mowen nat ben vnbounden.anddignitees þat ben ȝeuen to shrewed[e] folk nat oonly ne makiþ hem nat digne. but it sheweþ raþer al openly þat þei ben vnworþiandvndigne. ¶ And whi is it þus. ¶ Certis for ȝe han ioye to clepen þinges wiþ fals[e] names. þat beren hem al in þe contrarie. þe whiche names ben ful ofte reproued by þe effect of þe same þinges. so þat þise ilke rycchesse ne auȝten nat by ryȝt to ben cleped rycchesse. ne whiche power ne auȝt[e] not ben cleped power. ne whiche dignitee ne auȝt[e] nat ben cleped dignitee. ¶ And at þe laste I may conclude þe same þinge of al þe ȝiftes of fortune in whiche þer nis no þing to ben desired. ne þat haþ in hym self naturel bounte. ¶ as it is ful wel sene. for neyþer þei ne ioygnenhem nat alwey to goode men. ne maken hem alwey goode to whomþei beny-ioigned.
WE han wel knowen how many greet[e] harmesanddestrucciouns weren doñ by þe Emperoure Nero. ¶ He letee brenne þe citee of Romeandmade slen þe senatours. and he cruel somtyme slouȝ hys broþer.andhe was maked moyst wiþ þe blood of hys modir. þat is to seyn he let sleenandslittenþe body of his modir to seen where he was conceiued.andhe loked[e] on euery half vpon hir colde dede body. ne no tere ne wette his face. but he was so hard herted þat he myȝt[e] ben domesman or Iuge of hire dede beaute. ¶ And ȝitte neuerþeles gouerned[e] þis Nero by Ceptre al þe peoples þat phebus þe sonne may seen comyng from his outerest arysyng til he hidde his bemes vndir þe wawes. ¶ þat is to seyne. he gouerned[e] alle þe peoples by Ceptre imperial þat þe sonne goþ aboute from est to west ¶ And eke þis Nero goueyrende by Ceptre. alle þe peoples þat ben vndir þe colde sterres þat hyȝten þe seuene triones. þis is to seyn he gouerned[e] alle þe poeples þat ben vndir þe parties of þe norþe. ¶ And eke Nero gouerned[e] alle þe poeples þat þe violent wynde Nothus scorchiþandbakiþ þe brennynge sandes by his drie hete. þat is to seyne. alle þe poeples in þe souþe. [but yit ne myhte nat al his heye power torne the woodnesse of this wykkyd nero / Allas it is greuous fortune it is]. as ofte as wicked swerde is ioygned to cruel venym. þat is to sein. venimous cruelte to lordshipe.
ÞAnne seide I þus. þou wost wel þiself þat þe couetise of mortal þinges ne hadden neuer lordshipe of me. but I haue wel desired matere of þinges to done. as who seiþ. I desired[e] to han matere of gouernaunce ouer comunalites. ¶ For vertue stille ne sholde not elden. þat is to seyn. þat list þat or he wex olde ¶ His uertue þat lay now ful stille. ne sholde nat perisshe vnexcercised ingouernaunce of comune. ¶ For whiche men myȝten speke or writenof his goode gouernement. ¶Philosophie.¶ For soþe quod she.andþat is a þing þat may drawen to gouernaunce swiche hertes as ben worþiandnoble of hir nature. but naþeles it may nat drawen or tollen swiche hertes as ben y-brouȝt to þe ful[le] perfecciounof vertue. þat is to seyn couetyse of glorieandrenounto han wel administred þe comune þinges. or doon goode decertes to profit of þe comune. for se nowandconsidere how litelandhow voide of al prise is þilke glorie. ¶ Certeine þing is as þou hast lerned by demonstraciounof astronomye þat al þe envyronynge of þe erþe aboute ne halt but þe resounof a prykke at regard of þe gretnesse of heuene. þat is to seye. þat yif þat þer were maked comparisounof þe erþe to þe gretnesse of heuene. men wolde Iugen in alle þat erþe [ne] helde no space ¶ Of þe whiche litel regiounof þis worlde þe ferþe partie is enhabitid wiþ lyuyng beestes þat we knowen. as þou hast þi self lerned by tholome þat prouitħ it. ¶ yif þou haddest wiþ drawenandabated in þi þouȝte fro þilke ferþe partie as myche space as þe seeand[the] mareys contenenandouergonandas myche space as þe regiounof droughte ouerstreccheþ.þat is to seye sandesanddesertes wel vnneþ sholde þer dwellen a ryȝt streite place to þe habitaciounof men.andȝe þan þat ben environedandclosed wiþ inne þe leest[e] prikke of þilk prikke þenke ȝe to manifesten ȝoure renounanddon ȝoure name to ben born forþe. but ȝoureglorie þat is so narweandso streyt yþrongenin to so litel boundes. how myche conteinþe it in largesseandin greet doynge. And also sette þis þer to þat many a nacioundyuerse of tongeandof maneres.andeke of resounof hir lyuyng ben enhabitid in þe cloos of þilke litel habitacle. ¶ To þe whiche naciouns what for difficulte of weyes.andwhat for diuersite of langages.andwhat for defaute of vnusage entercomunynge of marchaundise. nat only þe names of singler men ne may [nat] strecchen. but eke þe fame of Citees ne may nat strecchen. ¶ At þe last[e] Certis in þe tyme of Marcus tulyus as hym self writeþ in his book þat þe renounof þe comune of Rome ne hadde nat ȝitte passed ne cloumben ouerþe mountaigne þat hyȝt Caucasus.andȝitte was þilk tyme rome wel wexenandgretly redouted of þe parthes. and eke of oþer folk enhabityng aboute. ¶ Sest þou nat þan how streitandhow compressed is þilke glorie þat ȝe trauailenaboute to shewandto multiplie. May þan þe glorie of a singlere Romeyne strecchen þider as þe fame of þe name of Rome may nat clymben ne passen. ¶ And eke sest þou nat þat þe maners of diuerse folkandeke hir lawes ben discordaunt amonge hem self. so þat þilke þing þat sommen iugen worþi of preysynge. oþer folk iugen þat it is worþi of torment. ¶ and þer of comeþ þat þouȝ a man delite hyminpreysyng of his renoun. he ne may nat inno wise bryngen furþe ne spredenhis name to many manere peoples. ¶ And þerfore euery manerman auȝte to ben paied of hys glorie þat is puplissed among hys owen neyȝbores. ¶ And þilke noble renounshal be restreyned wiþ-inne þe boundes of o maner folk but how many a man þat was ful noble in his tyme. haþ þe nedyandwrecched forȝetynge of writers put oute of myndeanddon awey. ¶ Al be it so þat certys þilke writynges profiten litel. þe whiche writynges longeandderke elde doþ aweye boþe hemandeke her autours. but ȝe men semen to geten ȝow a perdurablete whan ȝe þenke þat in tyme comyng ȝoure fame shal lasten. ¶ But naþeles yif þou wilt maken comparisounto þe endeles space of eternite what þing hast þou by whiche þou maist reioysen þe of long lastyng of þi name. ¶ For if þer were maked comparysounof þe abidyng of a moment to ten þousand wynter. for as myche as boþe þo spaces ben endid. ¶ For ȝit haþ þe moment some porciounof hit al þouȝ it a litel be. ¶ But naþeles þilke self noumbre of ȝeres. and eke as many ȝeres as þer to may be multiplied. ne may nat certys be comparisound to þe perdurablete þat is een[de]les. ¶ For of þinges þat han ende may be mad comparisoun[but of thinges that ben with-owtyn ende to thinges þat han ende may be maked nocomparysoun]. ¶ And for þi is it al þouȝ renounof as longe tyme as euer þe lyst to þinken were þouȝt by þe regard of eternite. þat is vnstauncheableandinfinit. it ne sholde nat oonly semen litel. but pleinliche ryȝt nouȝt. ¶ But ȝe men certys ne konnedon no þing aryȝt. but ȝif it be for þe audience of poeple.andfor ydel rumours.andȝe forsaken þe grete worþinesse of conscienceandof vertue.andȝe sekenȝoure gerdouns of þe smale wordes of strange folke. ¶ Haue now hereandvndirstonde inþe lyȝtnesse of whiche prideandveyne glorie. how a man scorned[e] festiualyandmyrily swiche vanite. somtyme þere was a man þat had[de] assaied wiþ striuyng wordes an oþer man. ¶ þe whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude veyne glorie had[de] takenvpon hym falsly þe name of a philosopher. ¶ þis raþer man þat I speke of þouȝt[e] he wolde assay[e] where he þilke were a philosopher or no. þat is to seyne yif he wolde han suffred lyȝtly in pacience þe wronges þat weren don vnto hym. ¶ þis feined[e] philosophre took pacience a litel while.andwhan he hadde receiued wordes of outerage he as in stryuynge aȝeineandreioysynge of hym self seide at þe last[e] ryȝt þus. ¶ vndirstondest þou nat þat I am a philosophere. þat oþer man answered[e] aȝein ful bitynglyandseide. ¶ I had[de] wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif þou haddest holdenþi tonge stille. ¶ But what is it to þise noble worþi men. For certys of swyche folk speke .I. þat seken glorie wiþ vertue. what is it quod she. what atteiniþ fame to swiche folk whan þe body is resolued by þe deeþ. atte þe last[e]. ¶ For yif so be þat men dien in al. þat is to seyne bodyandsoule. þe whiche þing oure resoundefendiþ vs to byleuen þanne is þere no glorie in no wyse. For what sholde þilke glorie ben. for he of whomþis glorie is seid to be nis ryȝt nouȝt in no wise. and ȝif þe soule whiche þat haþ in it self science ofgoode werkes vnbounden fro þe prisounof þe erþe wendeþ frely to þe heuene. dispiseþ it nouȝt þan alle erþely occupaciouns.andbeynge inheuene reioiseþ þat it is exempt from alle erþely þinges [as wo seith / thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renounof this world].
Who so þat wiþ ouerþrowyng þouȝt only sekeþ glorie of fame.andweniþ þat it be souereyne good ¶ Lete hym loke vpon þe brode shewyng contreys of þe heuen.andvponþe streite sete of þis erþe.andhe shal be ashamed of þe encres of his name. þat may nat fulfille þe litel compas of þe erþe. ¶ O what coueiten proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in ydelanddedely ȝok of þis worlde. ¶ For al þouȝ [þat] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples goþ by dyuerse tonges. and al þouȝ grete housesandkynredes shyne wiþ clere titles of honours. ȝit naþeles deeþ dispiseþ al heye glorie of fame.anddeeþ wrappeþ to gidre þe heye heuedesandþe loweandmakeþ egalandeuene þe heyest[e] to þe lowest[e]. ¶ where wonennow þe bones of trewe fabricius. what is now brutus or stiern Caton þe þinne fame ȝit lastynge of hir ydel names is markid wiþ a fewe lettres. but al þouȝ we han knowenþe faire wordes of þe fames of hem. it is nat ȝeuen to knowe hemþat ben dedeandconsumpt. Liggiþ þanne stille al vtterly vnknowable ne fame ne makeþ ȝow nat knowe. and yif ȝe wene to lyuen þe lengerfor wynde of ȝoure mortal name. whan o cruel day shal rauyshe ȝow. þan is þe secunde deeþ dwellyng in ȝow.Glosa.þe first deeþ he clepiþhere þe departynge of þe bodyandþe soule. ¶ and þe secunde deeþ he clepeþ as here. þe styntynge of þe renoune of fame.
BVt for-as-mochel as thow shalt nat wenen quodshe þat I bere vntretable batayle ayenis fortune // yit som-tyme it by-falleth þat she desseyuable desserueth to han ryht good thank of men //Andþat is whan she hireself opneth /andwhan she descouereth hir frownt /andsheweth hir maneres par-auentureyit vndirstondesthow nat þat .I. shal seye // it is a wondyr þat .I. desyreto telle /andforthi vnnethe may I. vnpleyten my sentense withwordes for I. deme þat contraryos fortune profiteth moreto men than fortune debonayre// For al-wey whan fortune semeth debonayrethan she lyeth falsly in by-hetynge the hope of welefulnesse // but forsothecontraryos fortune is alwey sothfast / whan she sheweth hir self vnstable thorw hyr chaungynge // the amyable fortune desseyueth folk / the contrarye fortune techeth // the amyable fortune byndeth withthe beaute of false goodys the hertes of folk þat vsen hem/ the contrarye fortune vnbyndeth hemby þeknowynge of freele welefulnesse // the amyable fortune maysthow sen alwey wyndyngeandflowynge /andeuere mysknowynge of hir self // the contrarye fortune is a-tempreandrestreynydandwys thorw excersyse of hir aduersyte // at the laste amyable fortune withhir flaterynges draweth mys wandrynge men fro the souereyne good // the contraryos fortune ledith ofte folk ayein to sothfast goodes /andhaleth hem ayein as withan hooke / weenesthow thanne þat thow owhtest to leten this a lytel thing / þat this aspreandhorible fortune hath discoueryd to the / the thowhtes of thy trewe frendes // For-why this ilke fortunehath departydandvncoueryd to the bothe the certeyn vysagesandek the dowtos visages of thy felawes // whanshe departyd awey fro the / she took awey hyr frendesandlafte the thyne frendes // now whan thow wererycheandweleful as the semede / withhow mochel woldesthow han bowht the fulle knowynge of this // þat is to seyn the knowynge of thy verray freendes // now pleyne the nat thanne of Rychesse .I.-lorn syn thow hast fowndyn the moste presyos kynde of Rychesses þat is to seyn thy verray frendes.
THat þeworld withstable feith / varieth acordable chaungynges // þat the contraryos qualite of elementȝ holden amongehem self aliaunce perdurable / þat phebusthe sonne withhis goldene chariet / bryngeth forth the rosene day / þat the mone hathcommaundement ouerthe nyhtes // whiche nyhtes hesperus the eue sterre hat browt // þat þese gredy to flowen constreyneth witha certeyn ende hise floodes / so þat it is nat l[e]ueful to strechche hise brode termes or bowndes vp-on the erthes // þat is to seyn to couere alle the erthe // Al this a-cordaunce of thinges is bownden withlooue / þat gouerneth ertheandsee /andhath alsocommaundementȝ to the heuenes /andyif this looue slakede the brydelis / alle thinges þat now louen hem to gederes / wolden maken a batayle contynuelyandstryuen to fordoon the fasounof this worlde / the which they now leden in acordable feith by fayre moeuynges // this looue halt to gideres poeples Ioygned withan hooly bond /andknytteth sacrement of maryages of chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to trewe felawes // O weleful weeremankynde / yif thilke loue þat gouerneth heuene gouerned[e] yowrecorages /
EXPLICIT LIBER2us.
By this she hadde endid hiresonge/ whan the swetnesse of hireditee hadde thorw perced me þat was desirous of herkninge /and.I. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn Eres / þat is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde seye // so þat a litel hereafter.I. seyde thus // O thow þat art souereyn comfort of Angwissos corages // So thow hast remountedandnorysshed me withthe weyhte of thy sentensesandwithdelit of thy syngynge // so þat .I. trowe nat now þat .I. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as whoseyth. I.dar wel now suffren al the assautes of fortuneandwel deffende me fro hyr //andtho remedies whyche þat thow seydest hirebyforn weren ryht sharpe Nat oonly pat .I. am nat agrysen of hem now // but .I. desiros of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes // than seyde she thus // þat feelede .I. ful wel quodshe // whan þat thow ententyfandstylle rauysshedest my wordes //and.I. abood til þat thow haddest swych habyte of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl þat .I. my self had[de] maked to the the same habyt / which þat is a moore verray thinge// And certes the remenaunt of thinges þat ben yit to seye / ben swyche // þat fyrst whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan they ben resseyuyd with-inne a whyht than ben they swete // but for thow seyst þat thow art so desirous to herkne hem // wit[h] how gret brennynge woldesthow glowen / yif thow wystest whyder .I. wol leden the // whydyreis þat quod.I. // to thilke verray welefulnesse quodshe // of whyche thynge herte dremeth // but for as moche as thy syhte is ocupiedanddistorbed / by Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit sen thilke selue welefulnesse // do quod.I.andsheweme / what is thilke verray welefulnesse / .I. preye the with-howte tarynge // þat wole .I. gladly don quodshe / for the cause of the // but .I. wol fyrst marken the by wordes /andI wol enforcen me to enformen the // thilke false cause of blysfulnesse þat thow more knowest / so þat whan thow hast fully by-holden thilke false goodesandtorned thyne eyen to þat oother syde / thow mowe knowe the clernesse of verray blysfulnesse //]
¶ Who so wil sowe a felde plentiuous. lat hym first delyuer it of þornesandkerue asondre wiþ his hooke þe bushesandþe ferne so þat þe corne may comenheuy of eresandof greins. hony is þe more swete yif mouþes han firste tastid sauoures þat ben wikke. ¶ þe sterres shynen more agreably whan þe wynde Nothus letiþ his ploungy blastes.andaftir þat lucifer þe day sterre haþ chased awey þe derke nyȝt. þe day þe feirer lediþ þe rosene horse of þe sonne. ¶ Ryȝt so þou byholdyng first þe fals[e] goodes. bygynne to wiþdrawe þi nek[ke] fro þe ȝok of erþely affecciouns.andafterwarde þe verrey goodes shollenentre into þi corage.
ÞO fastned[e] she a lytel þe syȝt of hir eyenandwiþdrow hir ryȝt as it were in to þe streite sete of hir þouȝt.andbygan to speke ryȝt þus. Alle þe cures quod she of mortal folk whiche þat trauaylen hem inmany manere studies gon certys by diuerse weies. ¶ But naþeles þei enforced hem to comen oonly to onende of blisfulnesse [And blysfulnesse] is swiche a goode þat who so haþ geten it he ne may ouer þat no þing more desiire. and þis þing for soþe is þe souereyne good þat conteiniþ in hym self al manere goodes. to þe whiche goode yif þere failed[e] any þing. it myȝt[e] nat ben souereyne goode. ¶ For þan were þere som goode out of þis ilke souereyne goode þat myȝt[e] ben desired. Now is it clereandcerteyne þanþat blisfulnesse is a perfit estat by þe congregaciounof alle goodes. ¶ þe whiche blisfulnesse as I haue seid alle mortal folke enforcen hem to geten by dyuerse weyes. ¶ For-whi þe couetise of verray goode is naturely y-plaunted in þe hertys of men. ¶ But þe myswandryng errourmyslediþ hem in to fals[e] goodes. ¶ of þe whiche men some of hem wenen þat souereygne goode is to lyue wiþ outen nede of any þing.andtraueilenhem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse. and some oþer men demen. þat souerein goode be forto be ryȝt digne of reuerences.andenforcenhem to ben reuerenced among hir neyȝbours. by þe honours þat þei han ygeten ¶andsome folk þer ben þat halden þat ryȝt heyȝe power to be souereyn goode.andenforcen hemforto regnen or ellys to ioignenhemto hem þat regnen. ¶ And it semeþ to some oþer folk þat noblesse of renounbe þe souerein goode.andhasten hem to geten glorious name by þe artes of werre or of pees. and many folke mesurenandgessen þat souerein goode be ioyeandgladnesseandwenen þat it be ryȝt blisful [thynge] to ploungen hem inuoluptuous delit. ¶ And þer ben folk þat enterchaungen þe causesandþe endesof þise forseide goodes as þei þat desirenrycchesse to han poweranddelices. Or ellis þei desiren power forto han moneye or for cause of renoun. ¶ In þise þingesandinswyche oþer þinges is tourned al þe entenciounof desiryngesand[of] werkes of men. ¶ As þus. ¶ Noblesseandfauourof poeple whiche þat ȝiueþ as it semeþ a manere clernesse of renoun. ¶ and wijfandchildren þat men desiren for cause of delitandmirinesse. ¶ But forsoþe frendes ne shollen nat benrekkenedamong þe goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it is a ful holy manere þing. alle þise oþer þinges forsoþe ben taken for cause of power. or ellis for cause of delit. ¶ Certis now am I redy to referen þe goodes of þe body to þise forseide þinges abouen. ¶ For it semeþ þat strengþeandgretnesse of body ȝeuen powerandworþinesse. ¶ and þat beauteandswiftenesse ȝeuen noblesseandglorie of renoun.andhele of body semeþ ȝiuen delit. ¶ In alle þise þingusit semeþ oonly þat blisfulnesse is desired. ¶ For-whi þilke þing þat euery man desireþ moost ouer alle þinges. he demiþ þat be þe souereyne goode. ¶ But I haue diffined þat blisfulnesse is þe souereyne goode. for whiche euery wyȝt demiþ þat þilke estat þat he desireþ ouer alle þinges þat it be þe blisfulnesse. ¶ Now hast þou þan byforne [thy eyen] almost al þe purposed forme of þe welfulnesse of mankynde. þat is to seyne rycchesse. honours. power. glorie.anddelitȝ. þe whiche delit oonly considered Epicurus Iugedandestablissed. þat delit is þe souereyne goode. for as myche as alle oþer þinges as hym þouȝt[e] by-refte awey ioieandmyrþe fromþe herte. ¶ But I retourne aȝeyne to þe studies of meen.of whiche men þe corage alwey rehersiþandseekeþ þe souereyne goode of alle be it so þat it be wiþ a derke memorie [but he not by whiche paath]. ¶ Ryȝt as a dronke mannot nat by whiche paþe he may retourne home to hys house. ¶ Semeþ it þanne þat folk folyenanderren þat enforcen hemto haue nede of no þing ¶ Certys þer nys non oþer þing þat may so weel perfourny blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuousof alle goodes þat ne haþ nede of none oþer þing. but þat it is suffisant of hymself. vnto hym self. and foleyen swyche folk þanne. þat wenen þat þilk þing þat is ryȝt goode. þat it be eke ryȝt worþi of honourandof reuerence. ¶ Certis nay. for þat þing nys neyþer foule ne worþi to ben dispised þat al þe entenciounof mortel folke trauaille forto geten it. ¶ And power auȝt[e] nat þat eke to be rekened amonges goodes what ellis. for it nys nat to wene þat þilke þing þat is most worþi of alle þinges be febleandwiþ out strengþeandclernesse of renounauȝte þat to ben dispised. ¶ Certys þer may no man forsake þat al þing þat is ryȝt excellentandnoble. þat it ne semeþ to be ryȝt clereandrenomed. ¶ For certis it nediþ nat to seie. þat blisfulnesse be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greuances ne to sorwes. syn þat in ryȝt litel þingusfolk seken to haueandto vsen þat may deliten hem. ¶ Certys þise ben þe þinges þat men wolenanddesyren to geten. and for þis cause desiren þei rycches. dignites. regnes. glorieanddelices ¶ For þerby wenen þei to han suffisaunce honourpower. renounandgladnesse. ¶ þanne is it goode. þat men seken þus by so many dyuerse studies. In whiche desijr it may lyȝtly be shewed.how grete is þe strengþe of nature. ¶ For how so þat men han dyuerse sentencesanddiscordyng algates men accordyn alle in lyuynge þe ende of goode.
IT likeþ me to shew[e] by subtil songe wiþ slakkeanddelitable sounof strenges how þat nature myȝty enclineþandflitteþ gouernementȝ of þinges ¶andby whiche lawes she purueiable kepiþ þe grete worlde.andhow she bindynge restreineþ alle þingusby a bonde þat may nat be vnbounden.[j]¶ Al be it so þat þe liouns of þe contree of pene beren þe fair[e] cheines.andtaken metes of þe handes of folk þat ȝeuen it hem.anddreden her sturdy maystres of whiche þei ben wont to suffren [betinges]. yif þat hir horrible mouþes ben bi-bled. þat is to sein of bestes devoured. ¶ Hir corage of tyme passeþ þat haþ ben ydelandrested. repaireþ aȝein þat þei roren greuously.andremembren on hir nature.andslaken hir nekkes from hir cheins vnbounden. and hir maistre first to-teren wiþ blody toþe assaieþ þe woode wraþþes of hem. ¶ þis is to sein þei freten hir maister.[ij]¶ And þe Iangland brid þat syngiþ on þe heye braunches. þis is to sein in þe wodeandafter is inclosed in a streit cage. ¶ al þouȝ [þat] þe pleiyng besines of men ȝeueþ hem honied[e] drinkesandlarge metes. wiþ swete studie. ¶ ȝit naþeles yif þilke brid skippynge oute of hir streite cage seeþ þe agreable shadewes of þe wodes. she defouleþ wiþ hir fete hir metes yshadandsekeþ mournyng oonly þe wodeandtwitriþ desirynge þe wode wiþ hir swete voys.[iij]¶ þe ȝerde of a tree þat is haled adounby myȝtystrengþe bowiþ redely þe croppe adoun. but yif þat þe hande of hym þat it bente lat it gon aȝein. ¶ An oon þe crop lokeþ vp ryȝt to heuene.[iiij]¶ þe sonne phebus þat failleþ at euene in þe westrene wawes retorniþ aȝein eftsones his cart by a priue paþe þere as it is wont aryse. ¶ Alle þinges seken aȝein in to hir propre cours. and alle þinges reioisen hem of hir retournynge aȝein to hir nature ne noon ordinaunce nis bytaken to þinges but þat. þat haþ ioignynge þe endynge to þe bygynnynge.andhaþ makid þe cours of it self stable þat it chaungeþ nat fromhys propre kynde.
CErtis also ȝe men þat ben erþelichebestes dremenalwey [yowre bygynnynge] al þouȝ it be wiþ a þinne ymaginacioun.andby a maner þouȝt al be it nat clerly ne perfitly ȝe looken from a fer til þilk verray fyn of blisfulnesse. and þerfore þe naturel entenciounledeþ ȝow to þilk verray good ¶ But many manere errours mistourniþ ȝow þer fro. ¶ Considere now yif þat be þilke þinges by whiche a man weniþ to gete hym blysfulnesse. yif þat he may comen to þilke ende þat he weneþ to come by nature ¶ For yif þat moneye or honours or þise oþer forseide þinges bryngen to men swiche a þing þat no goode ne faille hem. ne semeþ faille. ¶ Certys þan wil I graunt[e] þat þei ben maked blisful. by þilke þinges þat þei han geten. ¶ but yif so be þat þilke þinges ne mowe nat perfourmen þat þei by-hetenandþat þer be defaute of many goodes. ¶ Sheweþ it nat þan clerely þat fals beaute of blisfulnesse is knoweanda-teint in þilke þinges. ¶ Firstandforward þou þi self þat haddesthaboundaunces of rycchesses nat long agon. ¶ I axe ȝif þat in þe haboundaunce of alle þilk[e] rycchesses þou were neuer anguissous or sory in þi corage of any wrong or greuaunce þat by-tidde þe on any syde. ¶ Certys quod I it remembreþ me nat þat euere I was so free of my þouȝt. þat I ne was al-wey in anguysheof somwhat. þat was þat þou lakkedest þat þou noldest han lakked. or ellys þou haddest þat þou noldest han had. ryȝt so is it quodI þan. desiredest þou þe presence of þat oonandþe absence of þat oþer. I graunt[e] wel quod.I. for soþe quodshe þan nediþ þer somwhat þat euery man desireþ. ȝe þer nediþ quodI. ¶ Certis quodsheandhe þat haþ lakke or nede of a wyȝt nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self. no quod.I.andþou quod she in alle þe plente of þi rycchesse haddest þilke lak of suffisaunce. ¶ what ellis quod.I. ¶ þanne may nat rycchesse maken þat a man nis nedy. ne þat he be suffisaunt to hym self.andþat was it þat þei byhyȝten as it semeþ. ¶ and eke certys I trowe þat þis be gretly to consydere þat moneye ne haþ nat in hys owen kynde þat it ne may ben by-nomen of hem þat han it maugre hem. ¶ I by-knowe it wel quodI ¶ whi sholdest þou nat by-knowen it quodshe. whan euery day þe strenger folke by-nymen it fram þe febler maugre hem. ¶ Fro whennes comen ellys alle þise foreine compleintes or quereles of pletyngus. ¶ But for þat men axen aȝeine her moneye þat haþ be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle.andalwey maugre hem. ¶ Ryȝt so it is quodI. þan quod she haþ a man nede to sekenhym foreyne helpe by whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nayquod.I. ¶ Certis quodsheandhym nediþ no helpe yif he ne hadde no moneye þat he myȝt[e] leese. ¶ þat is doutles quod.I. þanne is þis þing turned in to þe contrarie quodshe ¶ For rycchesse þat men wenen sholde make suffisaunce. þei maken a man raþer han nede of foreine helpe. ¶ whiche is þe manere or þe gise quodshe þat rycches may dryuen awey nede. ¶ Riche folk may þei neiþer han hungre ne þrest. þise ryche men may þei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter. ¶ But þou wilt answere þat ryche men han y-nouȝ wher wiþ þei may staunchen her hunger.andslaken her þrestanddon awey colde. ¶ In þis wise may nede be conforted by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al outerly be don awey. for þouȝ þis nede þat is alwey gapyngandgredy be fulfilled wiþ rycchesses.andaxe any þing ȝit dwelleþ þanne a nede þat myȝt[e] ben fulfilled. ¶ I holde me stilleandtelle nat how þat litel þing suffiseþ to nature. but certys to auarice ynouȝ ne suffiseþ no þinge. ¶ For syn þat rychesse ne may nat al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may it þanne be þat ȝe wenen þat rychesses mowen ȝeuenȝow suffisaunce.
Al were it so þat a ryche couetous man hadde riuer fletynge alle of golde ȝitte sholde it neuer staunche hys couetise. ¶ And þouȝ he hadde his nekke I-charged wiþ preciouse stones of þe rede see.andþouȝ he do erye his feldes plentiuouswiþ an hundreþ oxen neuere ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while helyueþ. ne þe lyȝt[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym compaignie whanne he is dede.
Bvt dignitees to whom þei ben comen make þei hym honorableandreuerent. han þei nat so grete strengþe þat þei may putte vertues in þe hertis of folk. þat vsen þe lordshipes of hem. or ellys may þei don awey þe vices. Certys þei [ne] ben nat wont to don awey wikkednesses. but þei ben wont raþer to shew[en] wikkednesses.andþer of comeþ it þat I haue ryȝt grete desdeyne. þat dignites ben ȝeuen ofte to wicked men. ¶ For whiche þing catullus clepid a consul of Rome þat hyȝt noniuspostum. or boch. as who seiþ he clepiþ hyma congregaciounof uices in his brest as a postum is ful of corrupcioun. al were þis noniusset in a chayere of dignitee. Sest þou nat þan how gret vylenye dignitees don to wikked men. ¶ Certys vnworþines of wikked men sholdeben þe lasse ysen yif þei nere renomed of none honours. ¶ Certys þou þi self ne myȝtest nat ben brouȝt wiþ as many perils as þou myȝtest suffren þat þou woldest bere þi magistrat wiþ decorat. þat is to seyn. þat for no peril þat myȝt[e] bifallenþe by þe offence of þe kyng theodorik þou noldest nat ben felawe in gouernaunce withdecorat. whanne þou say[e] þat he had[de] wikkid corage of a likerous shreweandof an acusor. ¶ Ne I ne may nat for swiche honours Iugenhem worþi of reuerence þat I demeandholde vnworþi to han þilke same honours. ¶ Now yif þou saie a man þat were fulfilled of wisdom. certys þoune myȝtest nat demen þat he were vnworþi to þe honour. or ellys to þe wisdom of whiche he is fulfilled. No quod.I. ¶ Certys dignitees quodshe appertienen properly to vertue.anduertue transporteþ dignite anon to þilke man to whiche she hir self is conioigned. ¶ And for as moche as honours of poeple ne may nat maken folk digne of honour. it is wel seyn clerly þat þei ne han no propre beaute of dignite. ¶ And ȝit men auȝten take more hede in þis. ¶ For if it so be þat he is most out cast þat most folk dispisen. or as dignite ne may nat maken shrewes worþi of no reuerences. þan makeþ dignites shrewes more dispised þan preised. þe whiche shrewes dignit[e] scheweþ to moche folk ¶andfor soþe nat vnpunissed. þat is forto sein. þat shrewes reuengen hem aȝeinward vpon dignites. for þei ȝelden aȝein to dignites as gret gerdounwhan þei byspottenanddefoulen dignites wiþ hire vylenie. ¶ And for as moche as þou mow[e] knowe þat þilke verray reuerence ne may nat comen by þe shadewy transitorie dignitees. vndirstonde now þis. yif þat a man hadde vsedandhadde many manere dignites of consulesandwere comenperauenture amonges straunge naciouns. sholde þilke honourmaken hym worshipfulandredouted of straunge folk ¶ Certys yif þat honour of poeple were a naturel ȝifte to dignites. it ne myȝte neuer cesen nowher amonges no maner folke to done hys office. ¶ Ryȝt as fire ineuery contre ne stinteþ nat to enchaufenandto ben hote. but for as myche as forto be holden honorable or reuerent ne comeþ nat to folk ofhir propre strengþe of nature. but only of þe fals[e] opiniounof folk. þat is to sein. þat wenen þat dignites maken folk digne of honour. An on þerfore whan þat þei comen þer as folk ne knowennat þilke dignites. her honours vanissen aweyandþat on oon. but þat is a-mong straung folk. maist þou sein. but amongushem þat þei weren born duren þilk[e] dignites alwey. ¶ Certys þe dignite of þe prouostrie of Rome was somtyme a grete power. now is it no þing but an ydel name.andþe rente of þe senatorie a gret charge.andyif a whiȝt somtyme hadde þe office to taken he[de] to þe vitailes of þe poeple as of corneandwhat oþer þinges he was holden amonges grete. but what þing is more nowe out cast þanne þilke prouostrie ¶ And as I haue seid a litel here byforne. þat þilke þing þat haþ no propre beaute of hym self resceyueþ somtyme prisandshinyngeandsomtyme lesiþ it by þe opiniounof vsaunces. ¶ Now yif þat dignites þanne ne mowen nat maken folk digne of reuerence.andyif þat dignites wexen foule of hir wille by þe filþe of shrewes. ¶ and yif þat dignites lesen hir shynynge by chaungyng of tymes. and yif þei wexen foule by estimaciounof poeple. what is it þat þei han in hem self of beaute þat auȝte ben desired. as who seiþ none. þanne ne mowen þei ȝiuen no beaute of dignite to none oþer.
Al be it so þat þe proude nero wiþ al his woode luxurie kembed hymandapparailed hym wiþ faire purpers of Tirieandwiþ white perles. Algates ȝitte throf hehateful to alle folk ¶ þis is to seyn þat al was he by-hated of alle folk. ¶ ȝitte þis wicked Nero hadde gret lordshipandȝaf somtyme to þe dredeful senatours þe vnworshipful setes of dignites. ¶ vnworshipful setes he clepiþ here fore þat Nero þat was so wikked ȝaf þo dignites. who wolde þanne resonably wenen þat blysfulnesse were in swiche honours as ben ȝeuen by vicious shrewes.
Bvt regnesandfamilarites of kynges may þei maken a manto ben myȝty. how ellys. ¶ whanne hir blysfulnesse dureþ perpetuely but certys þe olde age of tyme passeþ.andeke of present tyme now is ful of ensaumples how þat kynges þat han chaunged in to wrechednesse out of hir welefulnesse. ¶ O a noble þinganda cler þing is power þat is nat founden myȝty to kepe it self. ¶ And yif þat power of realmes be auctourandmaker of blisfulnesse. yif þilke power lakkeþ on any side. amenusiþ it nat þilke blisfulnesseandbryngeþ in wrechednesse. but yif al be it so þat realmes of mankynde stretchen broode. ȝit mot þer nede ben myche folk ouer whiche þat euery kyng ne haþ no lordshipe no comaundement ¶ and certys vpon þilke syde þat power failleþ whiche þat makiþ folk blisful. ryȝt on þat same side nounpower entriþ vndirneþ þat makeþ hem wreches. ¶ In þis manere þanne moten kynges han more porciounof wrechednesse þan of welefulnesse. ¶ A tyraunt þat was kyng of sisile þat had[de] assaied þe peril of his estat shewid[e] by similitude þe dredes of realmes by gastnesse of a swerde þat heng ouer þe heued of his familier. what þing is þan þis power þatmay nat don awey þe bytynges of besines ne eschewe þe prikkes of drede. and certys ȝit wolden þei lyuen in sykernesse. but þei may nat. and ȝit þei glorifien hem in her power ¶ Holdest þou þan þat þilk[e] man be myȝty þat þou seest þat he wolde don þat he may nat don. ¶ And holdest þou þan hym a myȝty man þat haþ environed hise sydes wiþ men of armes or seruauntesanddredeþ more [hem] þat he makeþ agast. þen þei dreden hym.andþat is put in þe handes of hise seruauntȝ. for he sholde seme myȝty but of familiers [or] seruauntȝ of kynges. ¶ what sholde I telle þe any þing. syn þat I my self haue shewed þe þat realmes hem self ben ful of gret feblenesse. þe whiche familiers certis þe real power of kynges in hool estatandin estat abated ful [ofte] þroweþ adoun. ¶ Nero constreined[e] his familierandhis maistre seneca to chesen on what deeþ he wolde deien. ¶ Antonius comaundid[e] þat knyȝtis slowen wiþ her swerdis Papinian his familier whiche Papinian had[de] ben long tyme ful myȝty a-monges hem of þe courte. and ȝit certis þei wolde boþe han renounced her power. of whiche [two] senek enforced[e] hym to ȝiuento Nero his rychesses.andalso to han gon in to solitarie exil. ¶ But whan þe grete weyȝt. þat is to sein of lordes power or of fortune draweþ hem þat sholden falle. neyþer of hem ne myȝt[e] do þat he wolde. what þing is þanne þilke power þat þouȝ men han it þat þei ben agast. ¶andwhan þou woldest han it þou nart nat siker. ¶ And yif þou woldest forleten it þou mayst nat eschewen it. ¶ But wheþir swiche men ben frendes at nede as ben conseiled by fortuneandnat by vertue. Certys swichefolk as weleful fortune makeþ frendes. contrarious fortune makeþ hem enmyse. ¶ And what pestilence is more myȝty forto anoye a wiȝt þan a familier enemy.
Who so wolde ben myȝty he mot daunten hys cruel corage. ne put[te] nat his nekke ouercomen vndir þe foule reines of lecherie. for al be it so þat þi lordship[e] strecche so fer þat þe contre Inde quakiþ at þi comaundement. or at þi lawes.andþat þe leest isle in þe see þat hyȝt tile be þral to þe ¶ ȝit yif þou mayst nat putenawey þi foule derk[e] desijresanddryuenoute fro þe wreched compleyntes. Certis it nis no power þat þou hast.
Bvt glorie how deceiuableandhow foule is it ofte. for whiche þing nat vnskilfully a tregedien þat is to sein a maker of dites þat hyȝten tregedies cried[e]andseide. ¶ O glorie glorie quodhe. þou nart no þing ellys to þousandes of folkes. but a gret sweller of eres. for many[e] han had ful gret renounby þe fals[e] oppiniounof poeple. and what þing may ben þouȝt fouler þen swiche preisynge for þilk[e] folk þat benpreised falsly. þei moten nedes han shame of hir preisynges.andyif þat folk han getenhem þank or preysyng by her desertes. what þing haþ þilk pris echid or encresed to þe conscience of wise folk þat mesurenhire good. not by þe rumourof þe poeple. but by þe soþefastnesse of conscience.andyif it seme a fair þing a man to han encresidandsprad his name. þan folweþit. þat it is demed to ben a foule þinge yif it ne be ysprad ne encresed. but as I seide a litel her byforne. þat syn þer mot nedes ben many folk to whiche folk þe renounof a man ne may nat comen. it byfalleþ þat he þat þou wenest be gloriousandrenomed. semiþ in þe nexte parties of þe erþe to ben wiþ out glorie.andwiþ out renoun. ¶ and certis amonges þise þinges I ne trowe nat þat þe prisandgrace of þe poeple nis neiþer worþi to ben remembrid ne comeþ of wise iugement. ne is ferm perdurably. ¶ But now of þis name of gentilesse. what man is it þat ne may wel seen how veyneandhow flittyng a þing it is. ¶ For if þe name of gentilesse be referred to renounandclernesse of linage. þan is gentil name but a for[e]ine þing. þat is to sein to hem þat glorifien hem of hir linage. ¶ For it semeþ þat gentilesse be a maner preysynge þat comeþ of decert of auncestres. ¶ And yif preysynge makeþ gentilesse þan moten þei nedes be gentil þat ben preysed. For whiche þing it folweþ. þat yif þou ne haue no gentilesse of þi self. þat is to sein pris þat comeþ of þi deserte foreine gentilesse ne makeþ þe nat gentil. ¶ But certis yif þer be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be inal oonly þis. þat it semeþ as þat a maner necessitee be imposed to gentil men. for þat þei ne sholden nat outraien or forliuen fro þe uertues of hire noble kynrede.
Al þe linage of men þat ben inerþe ben of semblable burþe. On al one is fadir of þinges. On alone minyst[r]eþ alle þinges. ¶ He ȝaf to þe sonne hys bemes. he ȝaf to þe moone hir hornes. he ȝaf þe men to þe erþe. he ȝaf þe sterres to þe heuene. ¶ he encloseþwiþ membres þe soules þat comen fro hys heye sete. ¶ þanne comen alle mortal folk of noble seed. whi noysen ȝe or bosten of ȝoure eldris ¶ For yif þou look[e] ȝoure bygynnyng. and god ȝoure auctourandȝoure makere. þan is þer no forlyued wyȝt but ȝif he norisse his corage vnto vicesandforlete his propre burþe.
But what shal I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e delices þe desiringes ben ful of anguisse.andþe fulfillinges of hemben ful of penaunce. ¶ How grete sekenesseandhow grete sorwes vnsuffrable ryȝt as a manere fruit of wickednesse ben þilke delices wont to bryngen to þe bo[d]ies of folk þat vsen hem. ¶ Of whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir moeuyng. ¶ But þis woot I wel þat who so euere wil remembren hym of hys luxuries. he shal wel vndirstonde. þat þe issues of delices ben sorowfulandsory. ¶ And yif þilke delices mowen make folk blisful. þan by þe same cause moten þise bestes ben clepid blisful. ¶ Of whiche bestes al þe entenciounhasteþ to fulfille hire bodyly iolyte. and þe gladnesse of wijf [and] children were [an] honest þing. but it haþ ben seid. þat it is ouer myche aȝeins kynde þat children han ben founden tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. ¶ Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condicioun. It nedeþ nat to tellen it þe þat hast or þis tyme assaied it.andart ȝit now anguyssous. In þis approue I þe sentence of my disciple Euridippus. þat seide þat he þat haþ no children is weleful by infortune.
Euery delit haþ þis. þat it anguisseþ hem wiþ prikkes þat vsen it. ¶ It resembliþ to þise flying flyes þat we clepen been. þat aftre þat þe bee haþ shed hys agreable honies he fleeþ aweyandstyngeþ þe hertes of hemþat ben ysmyte wiþ bytynge ouer longe holdynge.
Now nis it no doute þan þat þise weyes ne ben a maner mysledyng to blisfulnesse. ne þat þei ne mowe nat leden folke þider as þei byheten to ledenhem. ¶ But wiþ how grete harmes þise forseide weyes ben enlaced. ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly. ¶ For whi yif þou enforcest þe to assemble moneye. þou most by-reuen hym his moneye þat haþ it. and yif þou wilt shynen wiþ dignites. þou most bysechenandsupplien hem þat ȝiuenþo dignitees. ¶ And yif þou coueitest by honourto gon by-fore oþer folk þou shalt defoule þi self by humblesse of axing. yif þou desiryst power. þou shalt by awaites of þi subgitȝ anoyously be cast vndir many periles. axest þou glorie þou shalt ben so destrat by aspre þinges þat þou shalt forgone sykernesse. ¶ And yif þou wilt leden þi lijf in delices. euery whiȝt shal dispisen þeandforleten þe as þou þat art þral to þing þat is ryȝt fouleandbrutel. þat is [to] sein seruaunt to þi body. ¶ Now is it þan wel yseen how lytelandhow brutel possessiounþei coueiten þat putten þe goodes of þe body abouen hire owenresoun. ¶ For mayst þou sourmountenþise olifuñtȝ in gretnesse or weyȝt of body. Or mayst þou ben strenger þan þe bole. Mayst þou ben swifter þan þe tigre. biholde þespacesandþe stablenesseandþe swyfte cours of þe heuene.andstynte somtyme to wondren on foule þinges. þe whiche heuene certys nis nat raþer for þise þinges to ben wondred vpon. þan for þe resounby whiche it is gouerned. but þe shynynge of þi forme þat is to seien þe beaute of þi body. how swiftly passyng is itandhow transitorie. ¶ Certis it is more flittynge þan þe mutabilite of floures of þe somersesoun. For so as aristotil telleþ þat yif þat men hadden eyen of a beest þat hiȝt lynx. so þat þe lokyng of folk myȝt[e] percen þoruȝ þe þinges þat wiþstonden it. who so lokid þan in þe entrailes of þe body of alcibiades þat was ful fayr in þe superfice wiþ oute. it shulde seme ryȝt foule.andfor þi yif þou semest faire. þi nature ne makiþ nat þat. but þe desceiuaunce of þe fieblesse of þe eyen þat loken. ¶ But preise þe goodes of þi body as moche as euer þe list. so þat þou know[e] algates þat what so it be. þat is to seyn of þe goodes of þi body whiche þat þou wondrest vpon may ben destroied or dessolued by þe hete of a feuere of þre dayes. ¶ Of alle whiche forseide þinges I may reducenþis shortly in a somme. ¶ þat þise worldly goodes whiche þat ne mowen nat ȝiuen þat þei byheten. ne ben nat perfit by þe congregaciounof alle goodes. þat þei ne ben nat weyes ne paþes þat bryngen men to blysfulnesse ne maken men to ben blysful.
Allas whiche folieandwhiche ignoraunce myslediþ wandryng wrecches fro þe paþe of verrey good. ¶ Certis ȝe ne seken no golde in grene trees. ne ȝe negadren [nat] precious stones in þe vines. ne ȝe ne hiden nat ȝoure gynnes in heyȝe mountaignes to kachen fisshe of whiche ȝe may maken ryche festes. and yif ȝow lykeþ to hunte to roos. ȝe ne gon nat to þe foordes of þe water þat hyȝt tyrene.andouer þis men knowen wel þe crikesandþe cauernes of þe see yhidd in þe floodes.andknowen eke whiche water is most plentiuousof white perles.andknowen whiche water habundeþ most of rede purpre. þat is to seyen of a maner shelfisshe withwhiche men dien purpre.andknowen whiche strondes habounden most of tendre fisshes or of sharpe fisshes þat hyȝten echynnys. but folk suffren hem self to ben so blynde þat hem ne recchiþ nat to knowe where þilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche þat þei coueiten but ploungen hem in erþeandseken þere þilke goode þat sourmounteþ þe heuene þat bereþ þe sterres. ¶ what preyere may I make þat be digne to þe nice þouȝtis of men. but I preye þat þei coueitenrycchesandhonours so þat whan þei han geten þo false goodes wiþ greet trauayle þat þerby þei mowe knowen þe verray goodes.
IT suffisiþ þat I haue shewed hider to þe forme of false wilfulnesse. so þat yif þou look[e] now clerely þe ordre of myn entenciounrequeriþ from hennes forþe to shewenþe verray wilfulnesse. ¶ For quod.I. (b) [I.] se wel now þat suffisaunce may nat comen by richesse. ne power by realmes. ne reuerence by dignitees. ne gentilesse by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast þou wel knowen quod she þe cause whi it is. Certis me semeþquod.I. þat .I. se hem ryȝt as þouȝ it were þoruȝ a litel clifte. but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of þe. Certys quodshe þe resounis al redy ¶ For þilk þing þat symply is on þing wiþ outen ony diuisioun. þe errourandfolie of mankynde departeþanddiuidiþ it.andmislediþ itandtransporteþ from verrayandperfit goode. to goodes þat ben falseandinperfit. ¶ But seye me þis. wenest þou þat he þat haþ nede of power þat hymne lakkeþ no þing. Nay quod .I ¶ Certis quod she þou seist aryȝt. For yif so be þat þer is a þing þat in any partie be fieble of power. Certis as in þat it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine helpe. ¶ Riȝt so it is quod .I. Suffisaunce and power ben þan of on kynde ¶ So semeþ it quodI. ¶ And demyst þou quod she þat a þing þat is of þis manere. þat is to seine suffisauntandmyȝty auȝt[e] to ben dispised. or ellys þat it be ryȝt digne of reuerences abouen alle þinges. ¶ Certys quod I it nys no doute þat it nis ryȝt worþi to ben reuerenced. ¶ Lat vs quod she þan adden reuerence to suffisaunceandto power ¶ So þat we demen þat þise þre þinges ben alle o þing. ¶ Certis quod I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten þe soþe. what demest þou þan quod she is þat a dirke þingandnat noble þat is suffisaunt reuerentandmyȝty. or ellys þat is ryȝt clereandryȝt noble of celebrete of renoun. ¶ Considere þan quod she as we han grauntid her byforne. þat he þat ne haþ ne[de] of no þingandis most myȝtyandmost digne of honouryif hym nediþ any clernesse of renounwhiche clernesse he myȝt[e] nat graunten of hym self. ¶ So þat for lakke of þilke clerenesse he myȝt[e] seme febler on any syde or þemore outcaste.Glosa.þis is to seyne nay. ¶ For who so þat is suffisaunt myȝtyandreuerent. clernesse of renounfolweþ of þe forseide þinges. he haþ it alredy of hys suffisaunce. boice. I may nat quod I denye it. ¶ But I mot graunten as it is. þat þis þing be ryȝt celebrable by clernesse of renounandnoblesse. ¶ þan folweþ it quod she þat we adden clernesse of renounto þe þre forseide þinges. so þat þer ne be amonges hem no difference.andþis is a consequente quod .I. þis þing þan quod she þat ne haþ no nede of no foreine þing.andþat may don alle þinges by his strengþes.andþat is nobleandhonourable. nis nat þat a myrie þinganda ioyful.boice.but wenest quod I þat any sorow myȝt[e] comen to þis þing þat is swiche. ¶ Certys I may nat þinke.P.¶ þanne moten we graunt[e] quodshe þat þis þing be ful of gladnesse yif þe þorseide þinges be soþe. ¶ And also certys mote we graunten. þat suffisaunce power noblesse reuerenceandgladnesse ben only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce haþ no diuersite.Boice.It mot nedely be so quod .I.P.þilke þinge þan quod she þat is oonandsimple inhis nature. þe wikkednesse of men departiþ it diuidiþ it.andwhan þei enforcen hem to gete partie of a þing þat ne haþ no part. þei ne geten hem neiþer þilk[e] partie þat nis none. ne þe þing al hole þat þei ne desire nat..b.In whiche manere quod .I.p.þilke man quod she þat sekeþ rychesse to fleen pouerte. he ne trauayleþ hym nat to for to gete power for he haþ leuer ben dirkandvile.andeke wiþdraweþ from hym selfe many naturel delitȝ for he nolde lesen þe moneye þat he haþ assembled.but certis in þis manere he ne getiþ hym nat suffisaunce þat power forletiþ.andþat moleste prekeþ.andþat filþe makeþ outcaste.andþat derknesse hideþ. and certis he þat desireþ only power he wastiþandscatriþ rychesseanddispiseþ delicesandeke honourþat is wiþ out power. ne he ne preiseþ glorie no þing. ¶ Certys þus seest þou wel þat many þingusfailen to hym. for he haþ somtyme faute of many necessites.andmany anguysses biten hym ¶andwhan he may nat don þo defautes awey. he forleteþ to ben myȝty.andþat is þe þing þat he most desireþ.andryȝt þus may I make semblable resouns of honoursandof glorieandof delices. ¶ For so as euery of þise forseide þinges is þe same þat þise oþer þinges ben. þat is to sein. al oon þing. who so þat euer sekeþ to geten þat oon of þiseandnat þat oþer. he ne geteþ nat þat he desireþ.Boice.¶ what seist þou þan yif þat a man coueiteþ to geten alle þise þinges to gider.P.Certys quod she .I. wolde seie þat he wolde geten hym souereyne blisfulnes. but þat shal he nat fynde in þo þinges þat .I. haue shewed þat ne mowe nat ȝeuen þat þei by-heten.boice.Certys no quod .I. ¶ þan quodshe ne sholden men nat by no weye seken blysfulnesse in swiche þinges as men wenen þat þei ne mowe ȝeuen but o þing senglely of alle þat menseken. I graunt[e] wel quod .I. ne no soþer þing ne may nat ben said.P.¶ Now hast þou þan quod she þe formeandþe causes of false welefulnesse. ¶ Now turneandflitte þe eyen of þi þouȝt. for þere shalt þou seen an oon þilk verray blysfulnesse þat I haue byhyȝt þee.b.Certys quod .I. it is clerandopyn. þouȝ þat it were to a blynde man.andþat shewedest þou me [ful wel] alytel her byforne. whan þou enforcedest þe to shewe me þe causes of þe false blysfulnesse ¶ For but yif I be by-giled. þan is þilke þe verray perfit blisfulnesse þat perfitly makiþ a man suffisaunt. myȝty. honourable noble.andful of gladnesse.andfor þou shalt wel knowe þat I haue wel vndirstonden þise þinges wiþ inne myne herte. I knowe wel þilke blisfulnesse þat may verrayly ȝeuen on of þe forseide þinges syn þei ben al oon .I. knowe douteles þat þilke þing is þe fulle of blysfulnesse.P.O my nurry quodshe by þis oppiniounquod she I sey[e] þat þou art blisful yif þou putte þis þer to þat I shal seine. what is þat quod .I. ¶ Trowest þou þat þer be any þing in þis erþely mortal toumblyng þinges þat may bryngen þis estat. Certys quod I trowe it nat.andþou hast shewed me wel þat ouer þilke goode þer is no þing more to ben desired.P.þise þinges þan quod she. þat is to seyne erþely suffisaunceandpower.andswiche þinges eyþer þei semen likenesse of verray goode. or ellys it semeþ þat þei ȝeuen to mortal folk a maner of goodes þat ne ben nat perfit. ¶ But þilke goode þat is verrayandperfit. þat may þei nat ȝeuen.boice.I. accorde me wel quod .I. þan quod she for as moche as þou hast knowen whiche is þilke verray blisfulnesse.andeke whiche þilke þinges ben þat lien falsly blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne. þat by desceit semenverray goodes. ¶ Now byhoueþ þe to knowenwhennesandwhere þou mowe seek[e] þilke verray blisfulnesse. ¶ Certys quod I þat desijr I gretlyandhaue abiden longe tyme to herkene it. ¶ But for as moche quod she as it likeþ to my disciple plato in his book of inthimeo. þat in ryȝt lytel þinges men sholde bysechen þe helpe of god. ¶ what iugest þou þat be[now] to done so þat we may deserue to fynde þe sete of þilke souereyne goode.B.¶ Certys quod .I. I. deme þat we shulle clepen to þe fadir of alle goodes. ¶ For wiþ outen hym nis þer no þing founden aryȝt. þou seist a-ryȝt quod she. and bygan on-one to syngen ryȝt þus.
Oþou fadir creatour of heueneandof erþes þat gouernest þis worlde by perdurable resounþat comaundist þe tymes for to gon from tyme þat age had[de] bygynnyng. þou þat dwellest þi self ay stedfastandstableandȝiuest alle oþer þinges to ben moeued. ne forein causes necesseden þe neuer to compoune werke of floterynge mater. but only þe forme of souereyne goode y-set wiþ inne [þe] wiþ outen envie þat moeued[e] þe frely. þou þat art alþerfairest beryng þe faire worlde in þi þouȝt. formedest þis worlde to þe likkenesse semblable of þat faire worlde in þi þouȝt. þou drawest alle þinges of þi souereyne ensampler.andcomaundedist þat þis worlde perfitlyche ymaked haue frelyandabsolut hyse perfit parties. ¶ þou byndest þe elementȝ by noumbres proporcionables. þat þe colde þinges mowen accorde wiþ þe hote þinges.andþe drye þinges wiþ þe moyst þinges. þat þe fire þat is purest ne fleye nat ouer heye. ne þat þe heuynesse ne drawe nat adounouer lowe þe erþes þat ben plounged in þe watres. ¶ þou knyttest to-gidre þe mene soule of treble kynde moeuyng alle þinges.anddiuidest it by membres accordynge. ¶ And whan it is þus diuided it haþ assembled a moeuyng in two roundes. ¶ It goþ to tourneaȝein to hym owen self.andenvironeþ a fulle deep þouȝt.andtourniþ þe heuene by semblable ymage. þou by euenlyk causes enhaunsest þe soulesandþe lasse liuesandablynge hem heye by lyȝt[e] cartes. þou sewest hem in to heueneandin to erþe.andwhan þei ben conuertid to þe by þi benigne lawe. ¶ þou makest hem retorne aȝeine to þe by aȝein ledyng fijr. ¶ O fadir yif þou to þi þouȝt to stien vp in to þi streite sete.andgraunte [hym] to enviroune þe welle of good.andþe lyȝte yfounde graunte hym to ficchen þe clere syȝtes of hys corage in þe. ¶ And scatre þouandto-breke [thow] þe weyȝtesandþe cloudes of erþely heuynesse.andshyne þou by þi bryȝtnes. for þou art clernesse þou art peisible to debonaire folke. ¶ þou þi self art bygynnynge. berere. ledere. paþandterme to loke on þe [þat] is oure ende.Glose.
FOr as moche þan as þou hast seyn. whiche is þe forme of goode þat nys nat perfit.andwhiche is þe forme of goode þat is perfit. now trowe I þat it were goode to shewe in what þis perfecciounof blisfulnesse is set.andin þis þing I trowe þat we sholden first enquere forto witen yif þat any swiche manere goode as þilke goode þat þou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. þat is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in þe nature of þinges. For þat veyne ymaginaciounof þouȝt ne desceiue vs nat.andputte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse of þilke þinge þat is summyttid to vs. þis is to seyne. but it may nat ben denoyed þat þilke goode ne is. ¶ and þat it nis ryȝt as a welle of alle goodes. ¶ Foral þing þat is cleped inperfit. is proued inperfit by þe amenusynge of perfeccioun. or of þing þat is perfit.andher of comeþ it. þat in euery þing general. yif þat. þat men seen any þing þat is inperfit certys in þilke general þer mot ben somme þing þat is perfit. ¶ For yif so be þat perfecciounis don awey. men may nat þinke nor seye fro whennes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit. ¶ For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng of þinges amenusedandinperfit. but it procediþ of þingusþat ben al hool.andabsolut.anddescendeþ so doune in to outerest þingesandin to þingusemptyandwiþ oute fruyt. but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne. þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be freleandveinandinperfit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse þat is sad stedfastandperfit. b. þis is concludid quod I fermelyandsoþefastly.P.But considere also quod she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe commune acordaunceandconceite of þe corages of men proueþandgraunteþ þat god prince of alle þingusis good. ¶ For so as no þing ne may ben þouȝt bettre þan god. it may nat ben douted þan þat [he þat] no þing is bettre. þat he nys good. ¶ Certys resounsheweþ þat god is so goode þat it proueþ by verray force þat perfit goode is in hym. ¶ For yif god ne is swiche. he ne may nat ben prince of alle þinges. for certis som þing possessyng in hymself perfit goode sholde ben more þan god.and[it] sholde seme þat þilke þing were firstandelder þan god. ¶ For we han shewed apertly þat alle þinges þat ben perfit. ben first or þinges þat ben inperfit. ¶ And for þi for as moche as [that] my resounor my proces ne go nat awey wiþoute an ende. we ouȝt[e] to graunten þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful ofsouereyne perfit goode. and we han establissed þat þe souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. þan mot it nedes ben [þat verray blysfulnesse is] yset insouereyne god.B.þis take I wel quod .I. ne þis ne may nat be wiþseid in no manere. ¶ But I preie þe quod she see now how þou mayst preuen holilyandwiþ-outencorrupciounþis þat I haue seid. þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of souereyne goode. [In whych manere quod I.] wenest þou ouȝt quod she þat þis prince of alle þinges haue ytake þilke souereyne good any where þan of hym self. ¶ of whiche souereyne goode men proueþ þat he is ful ryȝt as þou myȝtest þinken. þat god þat haþ blisfulnesse in hym self.andþat ilke blisfulnesse þat is in hym were diuers in substaunce. ¶ For yif þou wene þat god haue receyued þilke good oute of hymself. þou mayst wene þat he þat ȝaf þilke good to god. be more goode þan is god. ¶ But I am byknowenandconfesseandþat ryȝt dignely þat god is ryȝt worþi abouen alle þinges. ¶ And yif so be þat þis good be in hym by nature. but þat it is diuers from [hym] by wenyng resoun. syn we speke of god prince of alle þinges feyne who so feyne may. who was he þat [hath] conioigned þise diuers þinges to-gidre.andeke at þe last[e] se wel þat o þing þat is diuers from any þing. þat þilke þing nis nat þat same þing. fro whiche it is vndirstondento ben diuers. þan folweþ it. þat þilke þing þat by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. þat þat þing nys nat souereyne good. but certys þat were a felonous corsednesse to þinken þat of hym. þat no þing nis more worþe. For alwey of alle þinges. þe natureof hem ne may nat ben better þan his bygynnyng. ¶ For whiche I may concluden by ryȝt uerray resoun. þat þilke þat is bygynnyng of alle þinges. þilke same þing is good in his substaunce.B.þou hast seid ryȝtfully quod .I.P.But we han graunted quod she þat souereyne good is blysfulnes. þat is soþe quod .I. þan quod she mote we nedes grauntenandconfessen þat þilke same souereyne goode be god. ¶ Certys quod .I. I ne may nat denye ne wiþstonde þe resouns purposed. and I see wel þat it folweþ by strengþe of þe premisses. ¶ Loke nowe quod she yif þis be proued [yit] more fermely þus. ¶ þat þer ne mowen nat ben two souereyne goodes þat ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem self. þat on is nat þat þat oþer is. þan [ne] mowen neiþer of hem ben perfit. so as eyþer of hem lakkiþ to oþir. but þat þat nis nat perfit men may seen apertly þat it nis nat souereyne. þe þinges þan þat ben souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse. ¶ But I haue wel conclude þat blisfulnesseandgod ben [the] souereyne goode. For whiche it mot nedes be þat souereyne blisfulnesse is souerey[ne] dyuynite. ¶ No þing quod I nis more soþefast þan þis ne more ferme by resoun. ne a more worþi þing þan god may nat ben concluded.P.vpon þise þinges þan quod she. ryȝt as þise geometriens whan þei han shewed her proposiciouns ben wont to bryngenin þinges þat þei clepen porismes or declaraciouns of forseide þinges. ryȝt so wil I ȝeue þe here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune. For whi. for as moche as by þe getynge of blisfulnesse men ben maked blysful.andblisfulnesse is diuinite. ¶ þan is it manifestandopen þat by þe getyng of diuinite men ben makid blisful. ryȝt as by þe getynge of iustice . . .andby þe getyng of sapience þei ben maked wise. ¶ Ryȝt so nedes by þe semblable resounwhanþei han getyn diuinite þei ben maked goddys. þan is euery blisful man god. ¶ But certis by nature. þer nys but oon god. but by þe participaciouns of diuinite þere ne letteþ ne disturbeþ no þing þat þer ne ben many goddes. ¶ þis is quod .I. a faire þinganda precious. ¶ Clepe it as þou wolt. be it corolarie or porisme or mede of coroune or declarynges ¶ Certys quod she no þing nis fairer. þan is þe þing þat by resounsholde ben added to þise forseide þinges. what þing quod .I. ¶ So quod she as it semeþ þat blisfulnesse conteniþ many þinges. it were forto witen wheþir [þat] alle þise þinges maken or conioignen as a maner body of blysfulnesse by diuersite of parties or [of] membris. Or ellys yif any of alle þilke þingusbe swyche þat it acomplise by hymself þe substaunce of blisfulnesse. so þat alle þise oþer þinges ben referred and brouȝt to blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne as to þe chief of hem. ¶ I wolde quod I þat þou makedest me clerly to vndirstonde what þou seist.andþat þou recordest me þe forseide þinges. ¶ Haue I nat iuged quod she. þat blisfulnesse is goode. ȝis forsoþe quod .I.andþat souereyne goode. ¶ Adde þan quod she þilke goode þat is maked blisfulnes to alle þe forseide þinges. ¶ For þilke same blisfulnesse þat is demed to ben souereyne suffisaunce. þilke self is souereyne power. souereyne reuerence. souereyne clernesse or noblesseandsouereyne delit. what seist þou þan of alle þise þinges. þat is to seyne. suffisance powerandþise oþer þinges. ben þei þan as membris of blisfulnesse. or ben þei referredandbrouȝt to souereyne good. ¶ Ryȝt as alle þinges þat ben brouȝt to þe chief of hem.b. I vndirstonde wel quod .I. what þou purposest to seke. but I desijr[e] to herkene þat þou shewe it me.p.Take now þus þe discressiounof þis questiounquod she. yif al þise þinges quod she weren membris to felicite. þan weren þei diuerse þat oon fro þat oþer. ¶ And swiche is þe nature of parties or of membris. þat dyuerse membris compounen a body. ¶ Certis quod I it haþ wel ben shewed her byforne. þat alle þise þinges ben alle on þing. þan ben þei none membris quod she. for ellys it sholde seme þat blisfulnesse were conioigned al of one membre alone. but þat is a þing þat may nat ben doon. þis þing quod .I. nys nat doutous. but I abide to herkene þe remenaunt of þe questioun. þis is openandclere quod she. þat alle oþer þinges ben referredandbrouȝt to goode. ¶ For þerfore is suffisaunce requered. For it is demed to ben good.andforþi is power requered. for men trowen also þat it be goode. and þis same þing mowe we þinkenandcoueiten of reuerenceandof noblesseandof delit. þan is souereyne good þe soumeandþe cause of alle þat auȝt[e] be desired. forwhi þilke þing þat wiþ-holdeþ no good in it self ne semblaunce of goode it ne may nat wel in no manere be desired ne requered.andþe contrarie. For þouȝ þat þinges by hir nature ne ben nat goode algates yif men wene þat þei bengoode ȝit ben þei desired as þouȝ [þat] þei were verrayly goode.andþerfore is it þat men auȝtento wene by ryȝt þat bounte be souereyne fynandþe cause of alle þinges þat ben to requeren. ¶ But certis þilke þat is cause for whiche men requeren any þing. ¶ it semeþ þat þilke same þing be most desired. as þus yif þat a wyȝt wolde ryde for cause of hele. he ne desireþ nat so mychel þemoeuyng to ryden as þe effect of his heele. Now þan syn þat alle þinges ben requered for þe grace of good. þei ne ben [nat] desired of alle folk more þan þe same good ¶ But we han graunted þat blysfulnesse is þat þing for whiche þat alle þise oþer þinges ben desired. þan is it þus þat certis only blisfulnesse is requeredanddesired ¶ By whiche þing it sheweþ clerely þat goodandblisfulnesse is al ooneandþe same substaunce. ¶ I se nat quod I wher fore þat men myȝt[en] discorden in þis.p.andwe han shewed þat godandverrey blysfulnesse is al oon þing ¶ þat is soþe quod.I. þan mowe we conclude sikerly þat þe substaunce of god is set in þilke same goodandin noon oþer place.