247Felest þou—Felistowouȝt—awht248art þou—artow249wepest þou—wepistowspillest þou—spillestow252answered[e]—answerede255woode—wood257wyche—which258myne house þere—myn hows ther259desputest of[te]—desputedest ofte260þan—thanne261itandþan—both omitted261, 262swiche—swich262souȝt[e]—sowhte263secretys—secretȝmy—MS. me, C. my264al—alle265gerdoun—gerdouns266enfourmedist—conformedest267mouþe—mowht268comunabletes—comunalitees270by-felle—byfille271in grete wisdomes—to geten wysdom272eke—ek275comune—omittedy-left—MS. ylefte, C. yleft276Citiȝenis—citesenesbrynge inne—bryngen in278þerfore—therforþilk—thilkedesiryng—desired279put[te]furþe—putten forth280þo—thilke282put[te]—putte283brouȝt[e]—ne browhte284þe—omittedal goodenes—alle goodnessecomeþ—comth287, 288haþ—MS. haþe289saluacioun—sauacioun290þilk—thilkehyȝt[e]—hyhte290conigaste—MS. coniugaste292ofte—ofte ekȝitte—omitted294bygon[ne]—bygunnedone—don295couered—MS. couerede, C. couered296put—MS. putte, C. putseine—seyn297myne—myn298vnpunysched—vnpunyssed299myseses—myseyses300drow—MS. drowe, C. weth drowhȝitte—yitwrong—wronge301rychesse—richessesþe(2)—omitted302harmed eyþer—harmyd or amenused owther303tributis—tributȝsuffred[e]—suffreden304harme—harm305ȝere—yerhys—hise305, 306, 307corne—corn306schold[e]bie—sholde byen308But I withstod—Boece withstood (MS. withstode)com—MS. come, C. com311swiche—swich312bouȝt[e]—bowhtebusshel—bosselmost[e]ȝeue—moste yeue315inplitable—vnplitableseyn—sayen319ouercom—MS. ouercome, C. ouer com320counseiller—consolerrychesse—rychesses321whyche—which322wolde—wolden323drow—MS. drowe, C. drowh324myche—moche326punischen—punisse327putt[e]—putte328yseyn—MS. yseyne329greet[e]—grete330aughte be—owhte be theoþer—oothre333by þe whiche—by whichþoruȝ þe—thorw tho335whiche—the whicheone—oonsomtyme—whilom339sumtyme—whilon340go—gonher—hir341wiþ-outen—withowtewolde not—nolden nat342defended[e]—defendedynby—by the343seyne—seynseyntuaries—sentuarye344was—omittedcomaunded[e]—comaundede345voided[e]—voidedecerteyne—certeyn346men—memerken—marke347hoke of iren—hoot yren348þe—omittedmyȝt[e]be—myhte ben349þilk—thilke350þilk[e]—thilke351be—benseid—MS. seide, C. seydhaþ—MS. haþe354, 355 [Certes——asshamyd]—from C.356auȝt[e]—owtehaue had—han had, MS. hadde357axest þou—axestow358seyne—seynsauen—saue359desirest þou—desires thowhere—hereen362maked—MS. maken, C. makyd363demest þou—demestow365wold—MS. wolde, C. wold366seyne—seyn367þat—omittedam—I am368be—ben369it—it thanneþan—omitted371þilk—thilke372her—hirhire—hirþouȝ—thogh373or—andseyne—seyn374lieth—MS. lieþe, C. lieth377assent[e]—assente381schollen—shellen382and—andin385speken—spekeof——lettres—C. omits386if—yif387had—MS. hade, C. had388myn—myne389haþ—MS. haþe, C. hathgrete—gretwhat—omitted390some—som391myȝt[e]be—myhte benþan haue—thanne han392hyȝt[e]—hyhte394maked—ymaked395answered[e]—answerede396had[de]—hadde397whiche—whichsorwe—sorwhaþ—MS. haþewitte—wit398schrewed[e]—shrewede399folies—feloniesvertues—vertu400had[de]—han401done—doncomeþ—comth402lyke to a—lyk a404syȝt—syhte405haþ—MS. haþe406innocent—innocentȝwhiche—which408wikked[e]—wykkede410bloode—blod411eke—ek412gone—gonandseyn—seyen413eke—ek414seyne—seyn415scholde—sholden416wele—wel417don—MS. done, C. doonseyn—seyen418þe(1)—omitted419slauȝter—slawhtre420transporten vpon—transpor vp422grete—gretdefended[e]—deffendede423seide soþe—seye soth424auaunted[e]—auauntede425when—whanpreciouse—presious429in—for430vertue—vertu431had[de]—hadde432seyne—seynmyne—mynhaþ—MS. haþe433witte—witvncerteyne—vncerteyn434al—allesubmytted[e]—submittede435seyne—seyncheyned[e]—enclinede436had[de]—hadde438wicked—wykkedehad[de]—hadde441almost—almest442þousand—MS. þousaswiþ outen—withowte444done—doon445myȝt[e]—myhte446ben—beswiche—swich447myn(both)—myneswiche—whicheseyen—sayen448wolde—wolden449some—somberen—barenon honde—an hand450polute—polut451sacrelege—C.hassorcerieas a gloss tosacrilege453al—alle454had[de]—haddebyforne—byforn455drouppedest—droppedestmyn—myne456þilk—thilke457seyne—seynseruen—seruegod—godde459helpe—helpspirites—spirite460set—MS. sette, C. setsyche—swiche[þou]—thow461lyke—lyk462house—howsseye—seyn463myn—my465owen—owneof al—from allesyche—swich467philosophie—philosophrefeiþe—feythgrete—gret468had—MS. hadde, C. had473myne—myn474þere—therharme—harm475myche—moche476þe[de]sertys—the desertȝ479Glosa—glose480good—MS. goode, C. goodhaue—han481so—omitted in C.481, 482haþ—MS. haþe483haue—han484Fyrste—fyrst485al—alleþink[e]—thinke488ony—any489laid—MS. laide, C. leydhaþ—MS. haþe490put—MS. putte, C. put491from—of494abounden—habowndengladnes—gladnesse495oute—owt496accusen—accuse497ben—beth501manere—wiseTHE CRUEL CHANGES OF FORTUNE[The fifthe metur.]O STELLIFERI CONDITOR ORBIS.Oþou makerAuthor of the starry sky, Thou, seated on high, turnest the spheres, and imposest laws upon the stars and planets.of þe whele þat bereþ þe sterres. whicheþat art fastned to þi perdurable chayere.andturnest þe heuene wiþ a rauyssyng sweigheandconstreinest504þe sterres to suffren þi lawe. ¶ So þat þemone somtyme schynyng wiþ hir ful hornes metyngwiþ alle þe bemes of þe sonne.The sun obscures the lesser lights, and quenches even the moon’s light.¶ Hir broþer hideþ þesterres þat ben lasse.andsomtyme whan þe mone508pale wiþ hir derke hornes approcheþ þe sonne. leesithhir lyȝtes.Thou raisest Hesperus to usher in the shades of night, and again causest him to be the harbinger of day, whence his name Lucifer.¶ And þat þe euesterre esperus whicheþat in þe first[e] tyme of þe nyȝt bryngeþ furþe hircolde arysynges comeþ eft aȝeynes hir vsed cours.and512is pale by þe morwe at þe rysynge of þe sonne. and isþan cleped lucifer. ¶ Þou restreinest þe day by schorterdwellyng in þe tyme of colde wynter þat makeþ þeleues to falle. ¶ Þou diuidest þe swifte tides of þe516nyȝt when þe hote somer is comen.Thou controllest the changing seasons of the year.¶ Þi myȝt attempre[þ]þo variauntȝ sesons of þe ȝere. so þatȝepherus þe deboneire wynde bringeþ aȝein in þe first[e]somer sesounþe leues þat þe wynde þat hyȝt[e] boreas520haþ reft awey in autumpne. þat is to seyne in þe lasteeende of somer. and þe sedes þat þe sterre þat hyȝt arcturussaw ben waxen hey[e] cornes whan þe sterresirius eschaufeþ hym.All nature is bound by thy eternal law.¶ Þere nis no þing vnbounde524from hys olde lawe ne forleteþ hym of hys propre estat.CONTRASTED WITH THE ORDER OF NATURE.Why, then, leavest thou man’s actions uncontrolled?¶ O þou gouernourgouernyng alle þinges by certeyneende. why refusest þou oonly to gouerne þe werkes ofmen by dewe manere.Why should fickle fortune be allowed to work such mighty changes in the world?¶ Whi suffrest þou þat slidyng528fortune turneþ to grete vtter chaungynges of þinges.so þat anoious peyne þat scholde duelly punisshefelounspunissitȝ innocentȝ.The wicked are prosperous, while the righteous are in adversity.¶ And folk of wikked[e]maneres sitten in heiȝe chaiers.andanoienge folk532tredenandþat vnryȝtfully in þe nekkes of holy men.¶ And vertue clereandschynyng naturely is hid indirke dirkenesses.andþe ryȝtful man beriþ þe blameandþe peyne of þe felowne. ¶ Ne þe forsweryng ne536þe fraude coueredandkembd wiþ a fals colournea-noyeþ not to schrewes. ¶ Þe whiche schrewes whanhem lyst to vsen her strengþe þei reioisen hem toputtenvndir hem þe souerayne kynges. whiche þat540poeple wiþ[outen] noumbre dreden.O thou that bindest the disagreeing elements, look upon this wretched earth, and, as thou dost govern the spacious heavens, so let the earth be firmly bound.¶ O þou what soeuer þou be þat knyttes[t] alle bondes of þinges lokeon þise wrecched[e] erþes. we men þat ben nat afoule party but a faire party of so grete a werke we544ben turmentid in þe see of fortune. ¶ Þou gouernourwiþdrawandrestreyne þe rauyssinge flodesandfastneandforme þise erþes stable wiþ þilke [bonde] wiþwhiche þou gouernest þe heuene þat is so large.548502whele—whelwhiche—which503fastned—yfastnedchayere—chayer504sweighe—sweyhconstreinest, MS. contreuiest, C. constreynest506hir—here508lasse—lesse510esperus whiche—hesperus which511first[e]—fyrstefurþe—forth512eft—est514restreinest—MS. restreniest516to—omitted518attempre[þ]þo—atempreth thesesons—sesounȝere—yer519wynde bringeþ—wynd brengeth520wynde—wyndhyȝt[e]—hihte521reft—MS. refte, C. reftseyne—seyn522hyȝt—hihtearcturus—MS. ariturus523saw—MS. saweþ, C. sawghhey[e]—hyye524hym—hemþere—therþing—thinge525from—framforleteþ hym of—forleetheth þe werke of527refusest þou—refowsestow529to——þinges—so grete entrechaunginges of thynges531punissitȝ—punysshewikked[e]—wykkede532heiȝe—heere533in—oon534and—omitted536Ne þe forsweryng—Ne forswerynge537kembd—MS. kembde, C. kembd541wiþ[outen]—withhowtyn542knyttes[t]—knyttest543wrecched[e]—wrecchede544a(2)—omitted545þe—this546wiþdraw—MS. wiþdrawe, C. withdrawhþe—thei547forme—ferme[bonde]—from C.wiþ—byPHILOSOPHY CONSOLES BOETHIUS,[The fyfthe prose.]HIC UBI CONTINUATO DOLORE.Whan I haddePhilosophy consoles Boethius.wiþ a continuel sorwe sobbed orbroken out þise þinges sche wiþ hir chere peisibleandno þing amoeued. wiþ my compleyntes seide þus.whan I say þe quodsche sorwefulandwepyng I wist[e]552on-one þat þou were a wreccheandexiled. but Iwist[e] neuer how fer þine exile was: ȝif þi tale nehadde schewed it to me. but certys al be þou fer fro þi[* fol. 7b.]contre. þou nart *nat put out of it. but þou hast556fayled of þi weyeandgon amys.She speaks to him of his country.¶ and yif þou hastleuer forto wene þan þou be put out of þi contre. þanhast þou put oute þi self raþer þen ony oþer wyȝt haþ.AND PROPOSES TO ADMINISTER REMEDIES.¶ For no wyȝt but þi self ne myȝt[e] neuer haue don560þat to þe.She reminds him that he is a citizen of a country not governed by a giddy multitude, butεἷς κοίρανός ἐστιν, εἷς βασιλεύς.¶ For ȝif þou remembre of what contre þouart born. it nis not gouerned by emperoures. ne bygouernement of multitude. as weren þe contres of hemof athenes. ¶ But o lordeando kyngandþat is god564þat is lorde of þi contree. whiche þat reioiseþ hym ofþe dwellyng of hys Citeȝenis.andnot forto putte hemin exile. Of þe whiche lorde it is a souerayne fredomto be gouerned by þe bridel of hym and obeie to his568iustice.The Commonwealth of Boethius.¶ Hast þou forȝeten þilke ryȝt olde lawe of þiCitee. in þe whiche Citee it is ordeynedandestablissedþat what wyȝt þat haþ leuer founden þer inne hys seteor hys house. þen ellys where: he may not be exiled572by no ryȝt fro þat place. ¶ For who so þat is contenedin-wiþ þe paleis [andthe clos] of þilke Citee. þer nisno drede þat he may deserue to ben exiled. ¶ Butwho þat letteþ þe wille forto enhabit[e] þere. he forleteþ576also to deserue to ben Citeȝein of þilke Citee.Philosophy says she is moved more by the looks of Boethius than by his gloomy prison.¶ So þat I seye þat þe face of þis place ne amoeueþ menat so myche as þine owen face. Ne .I. ne axe notraþer þe walles of þi librarie apparailledandwrouȝt580wiþ yvoryandwiþ glas þan after þe sete of þi þouȝt.Books are to be valued on account of thethoughtsthey contain.In whiche I putte nat somtyme bookes. but .I. putteþat þat makeþ bookes worþi of pris or precious þat isto sein þe sentence of my books. ¶Andcerteinly of584þi decertes by-stowed in commune good. þou hast seidsoþe but after þe multitude of þi goode dedys. þou hastseid fewe.andof þe vnhonestee or falsnesse of þingesþat ben opposed aȝeins þe. þou hast remembred þinges588þat benknowe to alle folk.Boethius has rightfully and briefly recounted the frauds of his accusers.and of þe feloniesandfraudes of þine accusours. it semeþ þe haue I-touchedit forsoþe ryȝtfullyandschortly. ¶ Al myȝten þosame þinges bettereandmore plentiuousely be couth592in þe mouþe of þe poeple þat knoweþ al þis. ¶ Þouhast eke blamed gretlyandcompleyned of þe wrongfuldede of þe senat. ¶ And þou hast sorwed for myblame.Thou hast, said Philosophy, bewailed the loss of thy good name, thou hast complained against Fortune, and against the unequal distribution of rewards and punishments.andþou hast wepen for þe damage of þi renoune596þat is appaired.andþi laste sorwe eschaufedaȝeins fortuneandcompleinest þat gerdouns ne ben noteuenliche ȝolde to þe desertes of folk.andin þe lattreende of þi woode muse þou priedest þat þilke pees þat600gouerneþ þe heuene scholde gouerne þe erþe ¶ Butfor þat many tribulaciouns of affecciouns han assailedþe.andsorweandIreandwepyng todrawen þeedyuerselyStrong medicines are not proper for thee now, distracted by grief, anger, and sadness.¶ As þou art now feble of þouȝt. myȝtyer604remedies ne schullen not ȝit touchen þe for whichewe wil[e] vsen somedel lyȝter medicines.Light medicines must prepare thee for sharper remedies.So þat þilk[e]passiouns þat ben woxen harde in swellyng by perturbaciounfolowyng in to þi þouȝt mowen woxe esy608andsofte to receyuenþe strenkeþ of a more myȝtyandmore egre medicine by an esier touchyng.550broken—borken552wist[e]—wyste553on-one—anon554wist[e]—wystefer—ferre555ne hadde—nadde557gon—MS. gone, C. gon558leuer—leuere558, 559put—MS. putte, C. put559haþ—MS. haþe560myȝt[e]—myhtehaue—handon—MS. done, C. don562born—MS. borne, C. born566hys—hiseputte—put568be—ben571haþ—MS. haþe572house—hows574 [and——clos]—from C.576wille—wylenhabit[e]—enhabyte578seye—seyamoeueþ—moueth579myche—mochelowen—ownene(2)—omitted582putte(both)—putsomtyme—whilom585decertes—desertesseid—MS. seide, C. seyde586soþe—soth587seid—MS. seide, C. seyd588opposed—aposyd599knowe—knowyn592be couth—MS. be couthe, C. ben cowth596wepen—wopen597laste—lasteschaufed—eschaufede598not—omitted599ȝolde—yolden602many—manye604myȝtyer—myhtyere605whiche—which606wil[e]—wollyȝter—lyhtereþilk[e]—thilke607harde—hard608folowyng—Flowyngwoxe—wexen610esier—esyerePHILOSOPHY QUESTIONS BOETHIUS.[The sixte metur.]CUMPHEBI RADIIS GRAUE CANCRI SIDUSENESTUAT.Whan þat þeHe who sows his seed when the sun is in the Sign of Cancer, must look for no produce.heuy sterre of þe cancre eschaufeþ byþe beme of phebus. þat is to seyne whan þat phebus612þe sonne is in þe signe of þe Cancre. Who so ȝeueþþan largely hys sedes to þe feldes þat refuse to receiuenhem. lete hym gon bygyled of trust þat hehadde to hys corn. to acorns or okes.Think not to ingather violets in the wintry and stormy season.yif þou wilt616gadre violettȝ. ne go þou not to þe purperwode whanþe felde chirkynge agriseþ of colde by þe felnesse ofþe wynde þat hyȝt aquilonIf you wish for wine in autumn let the tendrils of the vine be free in the spring.¶ Yif þou desirest orwolt vsen grapes ne seke þou nat wiþ a glotonus hande620to streineandpresse þe stalkes of þe vine in þe firstsomer sesoun. for bachus þe god of wyne haþ raþerȝeuen his ȝiftes to autumpne þe latter ende of somer.[* fol. 8.]To every work God assigns a proper time, nor suffers anything to pass its bounds.¶ God tokeniþandassigneþ *þe tymes. ablyng hem624to her propre offices. ¶ Ne he ne suffreþ not stoundeswhiche þat hym self haþ deuidedandconstreined tobe medeled to gidreSuccess does not await him who departs from the appointed order of things.¶ And forþi he þat forleteþcerteyne ordinaunce of doynge by ouerþrowyng wey.628he ne haþ no glade issue or ende of hys werkes.612beme—beemesseyne—seyn614hys—hiserefuse—refusen615 afterhemC. adds [s. corn]lete hym gon(MS.gone)—lat hym gon616or—ofwilt gadre—wolt gadery618felde—feeldfelnesse—felnesses619hyȝt—hyhte620hande—hond622haþ—MS. haþe625her propre—heerepropresnot—nat the626haþ—MS. haþe627be medeled—ben I-medled628certeyne—certeyn629haþ—MS. haþeDISCOVERS THE CAUSE OF HIS DISTEMPER.[The syxte prose.]PRIMUMIGITUR PATERIS ROGACIONIBUS.FIrst woltPhilosophy proposes to question Boethius.þou suffre me to toucheandassaie þe statof þi þouȝt by a fewe demaundes. so þat I mayvnderstonde what be þe manere of þi curacioun. ¶ Axe632me quod.I. atte þi wille what þou wilt.andI schalanswere.P.Is the world governed by Chance?¶ Þo saide sche þus. wheþer wenest þou quodsche þat þis worlde be gouerned by foolisshe happesandfortunes. or elles wenest þou þat þer be init any636gouernement of resoun.B.By no means. The Creator presides over his own works.Certes quod.I. ne trowe notin no manere þat so certeyne þinges scholde be moeuedby fortunouse fortune. but I wot wel þat god makerandmayster is gouernourof þis werk.I shall never swerve from this opinion.Ne neuer nas640ȝit day þat myȝt[e] putte me oute of þe soþenesse ofþat sentence.P.Yes! Thou didst say as much when thou didst declare man alone to be destitute of divine care.¶ So is it quodsche. for þe same þingsonge þou a lytel here byforneandbyweyledestandbyweptest. þat only men weren put oute of þe cure of644god. ¶ For of alle oþer þinges þou ne doutest natþat þei nere gouerned by reson.Still thou seemest to labour under some defect even in this conviction.but how (.i. pape.).I wondre gretly certes whi þat þou art seek. siþen þouart put in to so holesom a sentence. but lat vs seken648depper. I coniecte þat þere lakkeþ I not what.Tell me how the world is governed.butsey me þis. siþen þat þou ne doutest nat þat þis worldebe gouerned by god ¶ wiþ swycche gouernailes takestþou hede þat it is gouerned.B.I do not thoroughly comprehend your question.¶ vnneþ quod.I. knowe652.I. þe sentence of þi questioun. so þat I ne may natȝit answeren to þi demaundes.P.I was not deceived, then, when I said there was some defect in thy sentiment.¶ I nas nat deceiuedquodsche þat þere ne faileþ sumwhat. by whiche þemaladie of perturbaciounis crept in to þi þouȝt. so656as þe strengþe of þe paleys schynyng is open.Tell me what is the chief end of all things; and whither all things tend.¶ Butseye me þis remembrest þou ouȝt what is þe ende ofþi þinges. whider þat þe entenciounof al kynde tendeþ.¶ I haue herd told it somtyme quod.I. but drerynesse660haþ dulled my memorie. ¶ Certys quodscheþou wost wel whennes þat alle þinges ben comenandproceded.B.God is the beginning of all things.I wot wel quod.I.andansewered[e] þatgod is þe bygynnyng of al.P.How, then, art thou ignorant of their end?¶ And how may þis be664quodsche þat siþen þou knowest þe bygynnyng ofþinges. þat þou ne knowest not what is þe endyng ofþinges.But it is the nature of these perturbations (which thou endurest) to unsettle men’s minds.but swiche ben þe customes of perturbaciouns.andþis power þei han. þat þei may moeue a manfro668hys place. þat is to seyne from þe stablenesandperfecciounof hys knowyng. but certys þei may not alarace hym ne alyene hymin al. ¶ But I wolde þatþou woldest answere to þis.Dost thou remember that thou art a man?¶ Remembrest þou þat672þou art a manB.Certainly I do.¶Boice.¶ Whi scholde I nat remembreþat quod.I.P.What is man?Philosophie.¶ Maiste þou not telleme þan quodsche what þing is a man.B.If you ask me whether I am a rational and mortal creature, I know and confess I am.¶ Axest notme quodI. wheþir þat be a resonable best mortel. I676wot welandI confesse wel þat I am it.P.But dost thou not know that thou art more than this?¶ Wistestþou neuer ȝit þat þou were ony oþer þing quodshe.BOETHIUS NEEDS LIGHT REMEDIES.B.No.No quod.I.P.Now I know the principal cause of thy distemper.now wot I quodshe oþer cause of þimaladieandþat ryȝt grete ¶ Þou hast left forto680knowe þi self what þou art. þoruȝ whiche I haue pleynelycheknowen þe cause of þi maladie. or ellis þeentre of recoueryng of þin hele.Thou hast lost the knowledge of thyself, thou knowest not the end of things, and hast forgotten how the world is governed.¶ Forwhy for þouart confounded wiþ forȝetyng of þi self. forþi sorwest684þou þat þou art exiled of þi propre goodes. ¶ Andfor þou ne wost what is þe ende of þinges. for[þi] demest[þou] þat felonousandwikked men ben myȝtyandwelefulfor þou hast forȝeten by whiche gouernementȝ þe worlde688is gouerned. ¶ Forþi wenest þou þat þise mutaciounsof fortune fleten wiþ outengouernour.These are not only great occasions of disease, but also causes of death itself.þise ben gretecauses not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes todeeþI thank God that Reason hath not wholly deserted thee.¶ But I þanke þe auctourandþe makere of692heele þat nature haþ not al forleten þe.I have some hope of thy recovery since thou believest that the world is under Divine Providence, for this small spark shall produce vital heat.andI haueg[r]ete norissinges of þi hele.andþat is þe soþe sentenceof gouernaunce of þe worlde. þat þou byleuestþat þe gouernynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput696[* fol. 8b.]to þe folie *of þise happes auenterouses. but to þeresounof god ¶ And þer fore doute þe noþing.For of þis litel spark þine heet of lijf schal shine.But as this is not the time for stronger remedies, and because it is natural to embrace false opinions so soon as we have laid aside the true, from whence arises a mist that darkens the understanding, I shall endeavour therefore to dissipate these vapours so that you may perceive the true light.¶ Butfor as muche as it is not tyme ȝitte of fastere remedies700¶ And þe nature of þouȝtes disseiued is þis þat as ofteas þei casten aweye soþe opyniouns: þei cloþen hem infals[e] opiniouns. [of whichefalse opyniouns] þe derknesseof perturbaciounwexeþ vp. þat comfoundeþ þe verray704insyȝt.andþat derkenes schal .I. say somwhat tomaken þinneandwayk by lyȝtandmeenelyche remedies.so þat after þat þe derknes of desseyuyngedesyrynges is don awey. þou mow[e] knowe þe schynyng708of verray lyȝt.630wolt þou—woltowstat—estat633atte—atwilt—wolt635worlde—worldfoolisshe—foolyssh636fortunes—fortunows638scholde—sholden639wot—MS. wote, C. woot641myȝt[e]putte—myhte put644put—MS. putte645doutest—dowtedest646how—owh647seek siþen—sykesyn648put—MS. putte, C. put649depper—depperenot what—not nerewhat650siþen—synworlde—world651takest þou—takestow658seye—seyremembrest þou—remenbres thowouȝt—omitted659al—alle660herd told—MS. herde toldeherd told it—herd yt toold661haþ—MS. haþe663proceded—procedethansewered[e]—answerede664þe—omittedal—alle665siþen—syn668fro—owt of669seyne from—seyn fro672Remembrest þou—Remenbresthow674Maiste þou—Maysthow675þan—þanneþing—thingeAxest—Axestow677Wistest þou—wystesthow678þing—thinge680hast left—MS. haste lefte, C. hast left681knowe—knowenpleynelyche knowen—pleynly fwonde [= founde]684sorwest þou—sorwistow686for[þi]demest[þou]—For thy demesthow687wikked—MS. wilked, C. wykkyd688worlde—world689wenest þou—wenestow690outen—owte693haþ—MS. haþeal—alle694þi—thin696vnderput—vndyrputte697to(2)—omitted698fore—fornoþing—nothinge699spark þine heet—sparke thin hete700muche—meche702aweye—away703 [of——opyniouns]—from C.705insyȝt—insyhtesay—assaye706lyȝt—lyhte708don—MS. donemow[e]—moweHE IS NOT TO TAKE HIS LOSSES TO HEART.[The seuende Metyr.]NUBIBUSATRIS CONDITA.ÞE sterresBlack clouds obscure the light of the stars.couered wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowengeten a dounno lyȝt.If the south wind renders the sea tempestuous, the waves, fouled with mud, will lose their glassy clearness.Ȝif þe trouble wynde þathyȝt auster stormyngeandwalwyng þe see medleþ þe712heete þat is to seyne þe boylyng vp from þe botme¶ Þe wawes þat somtyme weren clere as glasandlyke to þe fair[e] bryȝt[e] dayes wiþstant anon þesyȝtes of men. by þe filþeandordure þat is resolued.716andþe fletyng streme þat royleþ doundyuersely froheyȝe mountaignes is arestidandresisted ofte tymeby þe encountrynge of a stoon þat is departidandfallen from some roche.If thou wouldst see truth by the clearest light, pursue the path of right.¶ And forþi yif þou wilt720lokenanddemen soþe wiþ clere lyȝt.andholde þeweye wiþ a ryȝt paþe.Away with joy, fear, hope, and sorrow.¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þedrede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe aproche.Let none of these passions cloud thy mind.þat isto sein lat noon of þise four passiouns ouer come þe.724or blynde þe.Where these things control, the soul is bound by strong fetters.for cloudyanddirke is þilk þouȝtandbounde withbridles. where as þise þinges regnen.EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.710blak[e]—blake712stormynge—turnyng713from—fro714somtyme—whilom715lyke—lykfair[e]——wiþstant(MS. wiþstante)—fayrecleeredayesandbrihte withstand716syȝtes—syhtes717streme—strem718heyȝe—hy720from some—fram somwilt—wolt721soþe—sothclere—cleerholde—holden722weye—weypaþe—paath724come—comen725blynde—blendeþilk—thilkePHILOSOPHY EXHIBITS TO BOETHIUS THE WILES OF FORTUNE.INCIPIT LIBER SECUNDUS.[The fyrst prose.]POSTEA [PAU]LISPER CONTICUIT.After þis shePhilosophy exhorts Boethius not to torment himself on account of his losses.stynte a litel. and after þat she haddegadred by atempre stillenesse myn attenciounshe728seide þus.Thou art, she says, affected by the loss of thy former fortune.¶ As who so myȝt[e] seye þus. After þiseþinges she stynt[e] a lytel.andwhanne she aperceiued[e]by atempre stillenesse þat I was ententif toherkene hire. she bygan to speke in þis wyse. ¶ Yif732I quodshe haue vnderstondenandknowe vtterly þecausesandþe habit of þi maladie. þou languissedandart deffeted for talentanddesijr of þi raþer fortune.It hath perverted thy faculties.¶ She þat ilke fortune only þat is chaunged as þou736feinest to þe ward. haþ peruerted þe clerenesseandþeastat of þi corage.I am well acquainted with all the wiles of that Prodigy (i. e.Fortune).¶ I vnderstonde þe felefoldecolouranddeceites of þilke merueillous monstre fortune.and how she vseþ ful flatryng familarite wiþ hem740þat she enforceþ to bygyle. so longe til þat she confoundewiþ vnsuffreable sorwe hem þat she haþ leftin despeir vnpurueyed.Though she has left thee, thou hast not lost anything of beauty or of worth.¶ and if þou remembrest welþe kynde þe manersandþe desert of þilke fortune. þow744shalt wel knowe as in hir þou neuer ne haddest nehast ylost any fair þing. But as I trowe I shal notgretly trauaile to don þe remembren of þise þinges.Thou wert once proof against her allurements.¶ For þou were wont to hurtlen [anddespysen] hir748wiþ manly wordes whan she was blaundissingeandpresenteandpursewedest hir wiþ sentences þat weredrawenoute of myne entre. þat is to seyne out ofmyn informaciounBut sudden change works a great alteration in the minds of men, hence it is that thou art departed from thy usual peace of mind.¶ But no sudeyne mutaciounne752bytideþ nat wiþ outena maner chaungyng of curages.and so is it byfallen þat þou art departed a litel froþe pees of þi þouȝt.But with some gentle emollients I shall prepare thee for stronger medicines.but now is tyme þat þou drynkeandatast[e] some softeanddelitable þinges. so þat whan756þei ben entred wiþ inne þe. it mow make weye tostrenger drynkes of medycynes.Approach then, Rhetoric, with thy persuasive charms, and therewith let Music also draw near.¶ Com nowe furþeþerfore þe suasiounof swetnesse Rethoryen. whicheþat goþ oonly þe ryȝt wey whil she forsakeþ not myne760estatutȝ. ¶ And wiþ Rethorice com forþe musice adamoisel of oure house þat syngeþ now lyȝter moedesor prolaciouns now heuyer.[* fol. 9.]*what ayleþ þe man. whatis it þat haþ cast þe in to murnyngandin to wepyng.764I trow[e] þat þou hast sen some newe þinganduncouþe.Thou thinkest that Fortune is changed towards thee.¶ Þou wenest þat fortune be chaunged aȝeinsþeBut thou art deceived.¶ But þou wenest wrong. yif þou [þat] wene.In this misadventure of thine she hath preserved her constancy in changing.Alwey þo ben hire maners. she haþ raþer [kept] as to768þe ward hire propre stablenes in þe chaungyng of hyreself. ¶ Ryȝt swyche was she whan she flatered[e]þe.anddesseiued[e] þe wiþ vnleueful lykynges offalse welefulnesse.You have seen the double face of this blind divinity.þou hast now knowenandataynt772þe doutous or double visage of þilke blynde goddessefortune. ¶ She þat ȝit couereþ hirandwympleþ hirto oþer folk. haþ shewed hir euerydel to þe. ¶ Ȝifþou approuest hirandþenkest þat she is good. vse776hir manersandpleyne þe nat.If thou dost abhor her perfidy cast her off, for her sports are dangerous.¶ And if þou agrisesthir fals[e] trecherie. dispiseandcast aweye hir þatpleyeþ so harmefully. for she þat is now cause of somyche sorwe to þe. sholde be to þe cause of peesand780[of] ioie. ¶ she haþ forsaken þe forsoþe. þe whicheþat neuer man may be syker þat she ne shal forsakehym.Glose.¶ But naþeles some bookes han þe textþus. For soþe she haþ forsaken þe ne þer nis no man784syker þat she ne haþ not forsaken.Is that happiness which is so transient?¶ Holdest þouþan þilke welefulnesse preciouse to þe þat shal passen.Is the attendance of Fortune so dear to thee, whose stay is so uncertain, and whose removal causes such grief?andis present fortune derworþi to þe. whiche þat nisnot feiþful forto dwelle.andwhan she goþ aweye þat788she bryngeþ a wyȝt in sorwe ¶ For syn she may natbe wiþholdenat a mans wille. she makeþ hym a wrecchewhenshe departeþ fro hym.What is she (Fortune) but the presage of future calamity?¶ What oþer þing isflitting fortune but a manere shewyng of wrycchednesse792þat is to comen. ne it ne suffriþ nat oo[n]ly to lokenof þing þat is present byforne þe eyen of man. butwisdom lokeþandmesureþ þe ende of þinges.Her mutability should make men neither fear her threats nor desire her favours.andþesame chaungyng from one to an oþer. þat is to seyne796fro aduersite to prosperite makeþ þat þe manaces offortune ne ben not forto dreden. ne þe flatrynges ofhir to ben desired. ¶ Þus atte þe last it byhoueþ þeto suffren wiþ euene wille in pacience al þat is don800inwiþ þe floor of fortune. þat is to seyne in þis worlde.PHILOSOPHY EXPOSTULATES WITH BOETHIUS.If you submit to her yoke you must patiently endure her inflictions.¶ Syþen þou hast oones put þi nekke vnder þe ȝokkeof hir. for if þou wilt write a lawe of wendyngandofdwellyng to fortune whiche þat þou hast chosen frely804to be þi ladyImpatience will only embitter your loss.¶ Art þou nat wrongful in þatandmakest fortune wroþeandaspere by þin inpacience.andȝit þou mayst not chaungen hir.You cannot choose your port if you leave your vessel to the mercy of the winds.¶ Yif þou committest[and] bitakest þi sayles to þe wynde. þou shalt808be shouen not þider þat þou woldest(:) but whider þatþe wynde shoueþ þe ¶ Yif þou castest þi seedes in þefeldes þou sholdest haue in mynde þat þe ȝeres benoþer while plenteuousandoþerwhile bareyne.You have given yourself up to Fortune; it becomes you therefore to obey her commands.¶ Þou812hast bytaken þiself to þe gouernaunce of fortune.andforþi it byhoueþ þe to ben obeisaunt to þe manereof þi lady.Would you stop the rolling of her wheel?and enforcest þou þe to aresten or wiþstondenþe swyftnesseandþe sweyes of hir tournyng816whele.Fool! if Fortune once became stable she would cease to exist.¶ O þou fool of alle mortel fooles if fortunebygan to dwelle stable. she cesed[e] þan to ben fortune.
247Felest þou—Felistowouȝt—awht248art þou—artow249wepest þou—wepistowspillest þou—spillestow252answered[e]—answerede255woode—wood257wyche—which258myne house þere—myn hows ther259desputest of[te]—desputedest ofte260þan—thanne261itandþan—both omitted261, 262swiche—swich262souȝt[e]—sowhte263secretys—secretȝmy—MS. me, C. my264al—alle265gerdoun—gerdouns266enfourmedist—conformedest267mouþe—mowht268comunabletes—comunalitees270by-felle—byfille271in grete wisdomes—to geten wysdom272eke—ek275comune—omittedy-left—MS. ylefte, C. yleft276Citiȝenis—citesenesbrynge inne—bryngen in278þerfore—therforþilk—thilkedesiryng—desired279put[te]furþe—putten forth280þo—thilke282put[te]—putte283brouȝt[e]—ne browhte284þe—omittedal goodenes—alle goodnessecomeþ—comth287, 288haþ—MS. haþe289saluacioun—sauacioun290þilk—thilkehyȝt[e]—hyhte290conigaste—MS. coniugaste292ofte—ofte ekȝitte—omitted294bygon[ne]—bygunnedone—don295couered—MS. couerede, C. couered296put—MS. putte, C. putseine—seyn297myne—myn298vnpunysched—vnpunyssed299myseses—myseyses300drow—MS. drowe, C. weth drowhȝitte—yitwrong—wronge301rychesse—richessesþe(2)—omitted302harmed eyþer—harmyd or amenused owther303tributis—tributȝsuffred[e]—suffreden304harme—harm305ȝere—yerhys—hise305, 306, 307corne—corn306schold[e]bie—sholde byen308But I withstod—Boece withstood (MS. withstode)com—MS. come, C. com311swiche—swich312bouȝt[e]—bowhtebusshel—bosselmost[e]ȝeue—moste yeue315inplitable—vnplitableseyn—sayen319ouercom—MS. ouercome, C. ouer com320counseiller—consolerrychesse—rychesses321whyche—which322wolde—wolden323drow—MS. drowe, C. drowh324myche—moche326punischen—punisse327putt[e]—putte328yseyn—MS. yseyne329greet[e]—grete330aughte be—owhte be theoþer—oothre333by þe whiche—by whichþoruȝ þe—thorw tho335whiche—the whicheone—oonsomtyme—whilom339sumtyme—whilon340go—gonher—hir341wiþ-outen—withowtewolde not—nolden nat342defended[e]—defendedynby—by the343seyne—seynseyntuaries—sentuarye344was—omittedcomaunded[e]—comaundede345voided[e]—voidedecerteyne—certeyn346men—memerken—marke347hoke of iren—hoot yren348þe—omittedmyȝt[e]be—myhte ben349þilk—thilke350þilk[e]—thilke351be—benseid—MS. seide, C. seydhaþ—MS. haþe354, 355 [Certes——asshamyd]—from C.356auȝt[e]—owtehaue had—han had, MS. hadde357axest þou—axestow358seyne—seynsauen—saue359desirest þou—desires thowhere—hereen362maked—MS. maken, C. makyd363demest þou—demestow365wold—MS. wolde, C. wold366seyne—seyn367þat—omittedam—I am368be—ben369it—it thanneþan—omitted371þilk—thilke372her—hirhire—hirþouȝ—thogh373or—andseyne—seyn374lieth—MS. lieþe, C. lieth377assent[e]—assente381schollen—shellen382and—andin385speken—spekeof——lettres—C. omits386if—yif387had—MS. hade, C. had388myn—myne389haþ—MS. haþe, C. hathgrete—gretwhat—omitted390some—som391myȝt[e]be—myhte benþan haue—thanne han392hyȝt[e]—hyhte394maked—ymaked395answered[e]—answerede396had[de]—hadde397whiche—whichsorwe—sorwhaþ—MS. haþewitte—wit398schrewed[e]—shrewede399folies—feloniesvertues—vertu400had[de]—han401done—doncomeþ—comth402lyke to a—lyk a404syȝt—syhte405haþ—MS. haþe406innocent—innocentȝwhiche—which408wikked[e]—wykkede410bloode—blod411eke—ek412gone—gonandseyn—seyen413eke—ek414seyne—seyn415scholde—sholden416wele—wel417don—MS. done, C. doonseyn—seyen418þe(1)—omitted419slauȝter—slawhtre420transporten vpon—transpor vp422grete—gretdefended[e]—deffendede423seide soþe—seye soth424auaunted[e]—auauntede425when—whanpreciouse—presious429in—for430vertue—vertu431had[de]—hadde432seyne—seynmyne—mynhaþ—MS. haþe433witte—witvncerteyne—vncerteyn434al—allesubmytted[e]—submittede435seyne—seyncheyned[e]—enclinede436had[de]—hadde438wicked—wykkedehad[de]—hadde441almost—almest442þousand—MS. þousaswiþ outen—withowte444done—doon445myȝt[e]—myhte446ben—beswiche—swich447myn(both)—myneswiche—whicheseyen—sayen448wolde—wolden449some—somberen—barenon honde—an hand450polute—polut451sacrelege—C.hassorcerieas a gloss tosacrilege453al—alle454had[de]—haddebyforne—byforn455drouppedest—droppedestmyn—myne456þilk—thilke457seyne—seynseruen—seruegod—godde459helpe—helpspirites—spirite460set—MS. sette, C. setsyche—swiche[þou]—thow461lyke—lyk462house—howsseye—seyn463myn—my465owen—owneof al—from allesyche—swich467philosophie—philosophrefeiþe—feythgrete—gret468had—MS. hadde, C. had473myne—myn474þere—therharme—harm475myche—moche476þe[de]sertys—the desertȝ479Glosa—glose480good—MS. goode, C. goodhaue—han481so—omitted in C.481, 482haþ—MS. haþe483haue—han484Fyrste—fyrst485al—alleþink[e]—thinke488ony—any489laid—MS. laide, C. leydhaþ—MS. haþe490put—MS. putte, C. put491from—of494abounden—habowndengladnes—gladnesse495oute—owt496accusen—accuse497ben—beth501manere—wise
247Felest þou—Felistowouȝt—awht
248art þou—artow
249wepest þou—wepistowspillest þou—spillestow
252answered[e]—answerede
255woode—wood
257wyche—which
258myne house þere—myn hows ther
259desputest of[te]—desputedest ofte
260þan—thanne
261itandþan—both omitted
261, 262swiche—swich
262souȝt[e]—sowhte
263secretys—secretȝmy—MS. me, C. my
264al—alle
265gerdoun—gerdouns
266enfourmedist—conformedest
267mouþe—mowht
268comunabletes—comunalitees
270by-felle—byfille
271in grete wisdomes—to geten wysdom
272eke—ek
275comune—omittedy-left—MS. ylefte, C. yleft
276Citiȝenis—citesenesbrynge inne—bryngen in
278þerfore—therforþilk—thilkedesiryng—desired
279put[te]furþe—putten forth
280þo—thilke
282put[te]—putte
283brouȝt[e]—ne browhte
284þe—omittedal goodenes—alle goodnessecomeþ—comth
287, 288haþ—MS. haþe
289saluacioun—sauacioun
290þilk—thilkehyȝt[e]—hyhte
290conigaste—MS. coniugaste
292ofte—ofte ekȝitte—omitted
294bygon[ne]—bygunnedone—don
295couered—MS. couerede, C. couered
296put—MS. putte, C. putseine—seyn
297myne—myn
298vnpunysched—vnpunyssed
299myseses—myseyses
300drow—MS. drowe, C. weth drowhȝitte—yitwrong—wronge
301rychesse—richessesþe(2)—omitted
302harmed eyþer—harmyd or amenused owther
303tributis—tributȝsuffred[e]—suffreden
304harme—harm
305ȝere—yerhys—hise
305, 306, 307corne—corn
306schold[e]bie—sholde byen
308But I withstod—Boece withstood (MS. withstode)com—MS. come, C. com
311swiche—swich
312bouȝt[e]—bowhtebusshel—bosselmost[e]ȝeue—moste yeue
315inplitable—vnplitableseyn—sayen
319ouercom—MS. ouercome, C. ouer com
320counseiller—consolerrychesse—rychesses
321whyche—which
322wolde—wolden
323drow—MS. drowe, C. drowh
324myche—moche
326punischen—punisse
327putt[e]—putte
328yseyn—MS. yseyne
329greet[e]—grete
330aughte be—owhte be theoþer—oothre
333by þe whiche—by whichþoruȝ þe—thorw tho
335whiche—the whicheone—oonsomtyme—whilom
339sumtyme—whilon
340go—gonher—hir
341wiþ-outen—withowtewolde not—nolden nat
342defended[e]—defendedynby—by the
343seyne—seynseyntuaries—sentuarye
344was—omittedcomaunded[e]—comaundede
345voided[e]—voidedecerteyne—certeyn
346men—memerken—marke
347hoke of iren—hoot yren
348þe—omittedmyȝt[e]be—myhte ben
349þilk—thilke
350þilk[e]—thilke
351be—benseid—MS. seide, C. seydhaþ—MS. haþe
354, 355 [Certes——asshamyd]—from C.
356auȝt[e]—owtehaue had—han had, MS. hadde
357axest þou—axestow
358seyne—seynsauen—saue
359desirest þou—desires thowhere—hereen
362maked—MS. maken, C. makyd
363demest þou—demestow
365wold—MS. wolde, C. wold
366seyne—seyn
367þat—omittedam—I am
368be—ben
369it—it thanneþan—omitted
371þilk—thilke
372her—hirhire—hirþouȝ—thogh
373or—andseyne—seyn
374lieth—MS. lieþe, C. lieth
377assent[e]—assente
381schollen—shellen
382and—andin
385speken—spekeof——lettres—C. omits
386if—yif
387had—MS. hade, C. had
388myn—myne
389haþ—MS. haþe, C. hathgrete—gretwhat—omitted
390some—som
391myȝt[e]be—myhte benþan haue—thanne han
392hyȝt[e]—hyhte
394maked—ymaked
395answered[e]—answerede
396had[de]—hadde
397whiche—whichsorwe—sorwhaþ—MS. haþewitte—wit
398schrewed[e]—shrewede
399folies—feloniesvertues—vertu
400had[de]—han
401done—doncomeþ—comth
402lyke to a—lyk a
404syȝt—syhte
405haþ—MS. haþe
406innocent—innocentȝwhiche—which
408wikked[e]—wykkede
410bloode—blod
411eke—ek
412gone—gonandseyn—seyen
413eke—ek
414seyne—seyn
415scholde—sholden
416wele—wel
417don—MS. done, C. doonseyn—seyen
418þe(1)—omitted
419slauȝter—slawhtre
420transporten vpon—transpor vp
422grete—gretdefended[e]—deffendede
423seide soþe—seye soth
424auaunted[e]—auauntede
425when—whanpreciouse—presious
429in—for
430vertue—vertu
431had[de]—hadde
432seyne—seynmyne—mynhaþ—MS. haþe
433witte—witvncerteyne—vncerteyn
434al—allesubmytted[e]—submittede
435seyne—seyncheyned[e]—enclinede
436had[de]—hadde
438wicked—wykkedehad[de]—hadde
441almost—almest
442þousand—MS. þousaswiþ outen—withowte
444done—doon
445myȝt[e]—myhte
446ben—beswiche—swich
447myn(both)—myneswiche—whicheseyen—sayen
448wolde—wolden
449some—somberen—barenon honde—an hand
450polute—polut
451sacrelege—C.hassorcerieas a gloss tosacrilege
453al—alle
454had[de]—haddebyforne—byforn
455drouppedest—droppedestmyn—myne
456þilk—thilke
457seyne—seynseruen—seruegod—godde
459helpe—helpspirites—spirite
460set—MS. sette, C. setsyche—swiche[þou]—thow
461lyke—lyk
462house—howsseye—seyn
463myn—my
465owen—owneof al—from allesyche—swich
467philosophie—philosophrefeiþe—feythgrete—gret
468had—MS. hadde, C. had
473myne—myn
474þere—therharme—harm
475myche—moche
476þe[de]sertys—the desertȝ
479Glosa—glose
480good—MS. goode, C. goodhaue—han
481so—omitted in C.
481, 482haþ—MS. haþe
483haue—han
484Fyrste—fyrst
485al—alleþink[e]—thinke
488ony—any
489laid—MS. laide, C. leydhaþ—MS. haþe
490put—MS. putte, C. put
491from—of
494abounden—habowndengladnes—gladnesse
495oute—owt
496accusen—accuse
497ben—beth
501manere—wise
THE CRUEL CHANGES OF FORTUNE
Oþou makerAuthor of the starry sky, Thou, seated on high, turnest the spheres, and imposest laws upon the stars and planets.of þe whele þat bereþ þe sterres. whicheþat art fastned to þi perdurable chayere.andturnest þe heuene wiþ a rauyssyng sweigheandconstreinest504þe sterres to suffren þi lawe. ¶ So þat þemone somtyme schynyng wiþ hir ful hornes metyngwiþ alle þe bemes of þe sonne.The sun obscures the lesser lights, and quenches even the moon’s light.¶ Hir broþer hideþ þesterres þat ben lasse.andsomtyme whan þe mone508pale wiþ hir derke hornes approcheþ þe sonne. leesithhir lyȝtes.Thou raisest Hesperus to usher in the shades of night, and again causest him to be the harbinger of day, whence his name Lucifer.¶ And þat þe euesterre esperus whicheþat in þe first[e] tyme of þe nyȝt bryngeþ furþe hircolde arysynges comeþ eft aȝeynes hir vsed cours.and512is pale by þe morwe at þe rysynge of þe sonne. and isþan cleped lucifer. ¶ Þou restreinest þe day by schorterdwellyng in þe tyme of colde wynter þat makeþ þeleues to falle. ¶ Þou diuidest þe swifte tides of þe516nyȝt when þe hote somer is comen.Thou controllest the changing seasons of the year.¶ Þi myȝt attempre[þ]þo variauntȝ sesons of þe ȝere. so þatȝepherus þe deboneire wynde bringeþ aȝein in þe first[e]somer sesounþe leues þat þe wynde þat hyȝt[e] boreas520haþ reft awey in autumpne. þat is to seyne in þe lasteeende of somer. and þe sedes þat þe sterre þat hyȝt arcturussaw ben waxen hey[e] cornes whan þe sterresirius eschaufeþ hym.All nature is bound by thy eternal law.¶ Þere nis no þing vnbounde524from hys olde lawe ne forleteþ hym of hys propre estat.
CONTRASTED WITH THE ORDER OF NATURE.
Why, then, leavest thou man’s actions uncontrolled?¶ O þou gouernourgouernyng alle þinges by certeyneende. why refusest þou oonly to gouerne þe werkes ofmen by dewe manere.Why should fickle fortune be allowed to work such mighty changes in the world?¶ Whi suffrest þou þat slidyng528fortune turneþ to grete vtter chaungynges of þinges.so þat anoious peyne þat scholde duelly punisshefelounspunissitȝ innocentȝ.The wicked are prosperous, while the righteous are in adversity.¶ And folk of wikked[e]maneres sitten in heiȝe chaiers.andanoienge folk532tredenandþat vnryȝtfully in þe nekkes of holy men.¶ And vertue clereandschynyng naturely is hid indirke dirkenesses.andþe ryȝtful man beriþ þe blameandþe peyne of þe felowne. ¶ Ne þe forsweryng ne536þe fraude coueredandkembd wiþ a fals colournea-noyeþ not to schrewes. ¶ Þe whiche schrewes whanhem lyst to vsen her strengþe þei reioisen hem toputtenvndir hem þe souerayne kynges. whiche þat540poeple wiþ[outen] noumbre dreden.O thou that bindest the disagreeing elements, look upon this wretched earth, and, as thou dost govern the spacious heavens, so let the earth be firmly bound.¶ O þou what soeuer þou be þat knyttes[t] alle bondes of þinges lokeon þise wrecched[e] erþes. we men þat ben nat afoule party but a faire party of so grete a werke we544ben turmentid in þe see of fortune. ¶ Þou gouernourwiþdrawandrestreyne þe rauyssinge flodesandfastneandforme þise erþes stable wiþ þilke [bonde] wiþwhiche þou gouernest þe heuene þat is so large.548
502whele—whelwhiche—which503fastned—yfastnedchayere—chayer504sweighe—sweyhconstreinest, MS. contreuiest, C. constreynest506hir—here508lasse—lesse510esperus whiche—hesperus which511first[e]—fyrstefurþe—forth512eft—est514restreinest—MS. restreniest516to—omitted518attempre[þ]þo—atempreth thesesons—sesounȝere—yer519wynde bringeþ—wynd brengeth520wynde—wyndhyȝt[e]—hihte521reft—MS. refte, C. reftseyne—seyn522hyȝt—hihtearcturus—MS. ariturus523saw—MS. saweþ, C. sawghhey[e]—hyye524hym—hemþere—therþing—thinge525from—framforleteþ hym of—forleetheth þe werke of527refusest þou—refowsestow529to——þinges—so grete entrechaunginges of thynges531punissitȝ—punysshewikked[e]—wykkede532heiȝe—heere533in—oon534and—omitted536Ne þe forsweryng—Ne forswerynge537kembd—MS. kembde, C. kembd541wiþ[outen]—withhowtyn542knyttes[t]—knyttest543wrecched[e]—wrecchede544a(2)—omitted545þe—this546wiþdraw—MS. wiþdrawe, C. withdrawhþe—thei547forme—ferme[bonde]—from C.wiþ—by
502whele—whelwhiche—which
503fastned—yfastnedchayere—chayer
504sweighe—sweyhconstreinest, MS. contreuiest, C. constreynest
506hir—here
508lasse—lesse
510esperus whiche—hesperus which
511first[e]—fyrstefurþe—forth
512eft—est
514restreinest—MS. restreniest
516to—omitted
518attempre[þ]þo—atempreth thesesons—sesounȝere—yer
519wynde bringeþ—wynd brengeth
520wynde—wyndhyȝt[e]—hihte
521reft—MS. refte, C. reftseyne—seyn
522hyȝt—hihtearcturus—MS. ariturus
523saw—MS. saweþ, C. sawghhey[e]—hyye
524hym—hemþere—therþing—thinge
525from—framforleteþ hym of—forleetheth þe werke of
527refusest þou—refowsestow
529to——þinges—so grete entrechaunginges of thynges
531punissitȝ—punysshewikked[e]—wykkede
532heiȝe—heere
533in—oon
534and—omitted
536Ne þe forsweryng—Ne forswerynge
537kembd—MS. kembde, C. kembd
541wiþ[outen]—withhowtyn
542knyttes[t]—knyttest
543wrecched[e]—wrecchede
544a(2)—omitted
545þe—this
546wiþdraw—MS. wiþdrawe, C. withdrawhþe—thei
547forme—ferme[bonde]—from C.wiþ—by
PHILOSOPHY CONSOLES BOETHIUS,
Whan I haddePhilosophy consoles Boethius.wiþ a continuel sorwe sobbed orbroken out þise þinges sche wiþ hir chere peisibleandno þing amoeued. wiþ my compleyntes seide þus.whan I say þe quodsche sorwefulandwepyng I wist[e]552on-one þat þou were a wreccheandexiled. but Iwist[e] neuer how fer þine exile was: ȝif þi tale nehadde schewed it to me. but certys al be þou fer fro þi[* fol. 7b.]contre. þou nart *nat put out of it. but þou hast556fayled of þi weyeandgon amys.She speaks to him of his country.¶ and yif þou hastleuer forto wene þan þou be put out of þi contre. þanhast þou put oute þi self raþer þen ony oþer wyȝt haþ.
AND PROPOSES TO ADMINISTER REMEDIES.
¶ For no wyȝt but þi self ne myȝt[e] neuer haue don560þat to þe.She reminds him that he is a citizen of a country not governed by a giddy multitude, butεἷς κοίρανός ἐστιν, εἷς βασιλεύς.¶ For ȝif þou remembre of what contre þouart born. it nis not gouerned by emperoures. ne bygouernement of multitude. as weren þe contres of hemof athenes. ¶ But o lordeando kyngandþat is god564þat is lorde of þi contree. whiche þat reioiseþ hym ofþe dwellyng of hys Citeȝenis.andnot forto putte hemin exile. Of þe whiche lorde it is a souerayne fredomto be gouerned by þe bridel of hym and obeie to his568iustice.The Commonwealth of Boethius.¶ Hast þou forȝeten þilke ryȝt olde lawe of þiCitee. in þe whiche Citee it is ordeynedandestablissedþat what wyȝt þat haþ leuer founden þer inne hys seteor hys house. þen ellys where: he may not be exiled572by no ryȝt fro þat place. ¶ For who so þat is contenedin-wiþ þe paleis [andthe clos] of þilke Citee. þer nisno drede þat he may deserue to ben exiled. ¶ Butwho þat letteþ þe wille forto enhabit[e] þere. he forleteþ576also to deserue to ben Citeȝein of þilke Citee.Philosophy says she is moved more by the looks of Boethius than by his gloomy prison.¶ So þat I seye þat þe face of þis place ne amoeueþ menat so myche as þine owen face. Ne .I. ne axe notraþer þe walles of þi librarie apparailledandwrouȝt580wiþ yvoryandwiþ glas þan after þe sete of þi þouȝt.Books are to be valued on account of thethoughtsthey contain.In whiche I putte nat somtyme bookes. but .I. putteþat þat makeþ bookes worþi of pris or precious þat isto sein þe sentence of my books. ¶Andcerteinly of584þi decertes by-stowed in commune good. þou hast seidsoþe but after þe multitude of þi goode dedys. þou hastseid fewe.andof þe vnhonestee or falsnesse of þingesþat ben opposed aȝeins þe. þou hast remembred þinges588þat benknowe to alle folk.Boethius has rightfully and briefly recounted the frauds of his accusers.and of þe feloniesandfraudes of þine accusours. it semeþ þe haue I-touchedit forsoþe ryȝtfullyandschortly. ¶ Al myȝten þosame þinges bettereandmore plentiuousely be couth592in þe mouþe of þe poeple þat knoweþ al þis. ¶ Þouhast eke blamed gretlyandcompleyned of þe wrongfuldede of þe senat. ¶ And þou hast sorwed for myblame.Thou hast, said Philosophy, bewailed the loss of thy good name, thou hast complained against Fortune, and against the unequal distribution of rewards and punishments.andþou hast wepen for þe damage of þi renoune596þat is appaired.andþi laste sorwe eschaufedaȝeins fortuneandcompleinest þat gerdouns ne ben noteuenliche ȝolde to þe desertes of folk.andin þe lattreende of þi woode muse þou priedest þat þilke pees þat600gouerneþ þe heuene scholde gouerne þe erþe ¶ Butfor þat many tribulaciouns of affecciouns han assailedþe.andsorweandIreandwepyng todrawen þeedyuerselyStrong medicines are not proper for thee now, distracted by grief, anger, and sadness.¶ As þou art now feble of þouȝt. myȝtyer604remedies ne schullen not ȝit touchen þe for whichewe wil[e] vsen somedel lyȝter medicines.Light medicines must prepare thee for sharper remedies.So þat þilk[e]passiouns þat ben woxen harde in swellyng by perturbaciounfolowyng in to þi þouȝt mowen woxe esy608andsofte to receyuenþe strenkeþ of a more myȝtyandmore egre medicine by an esier touchyng.
550broken—borken552wist[e]—wyste553on-one—anon554wist[e]—wystefer—ferre555ne hadde—nadde557gon—MS. gone, C. gon558leuer—leuere558, 559put—MS. putte, C. put559haþ—MS. haþe560myȝt[e]—myhtehaue—handon—MS. done, C. don562born—MS. borne, C. born566hys—hiseputte—put568be—ben571haþ—MS. haþe572house—hows574 [and——clos]—from C.576wille—wylenhabit[e]—enhabyte578seye—seyamoeueþ—moueth579myche—mochelowen—ownene(2)—omitted582putte(both)—putsomtyme—whilom585decertes—desertesseid—MS. seide, C. seyde586soþe—soth587seid—MS. seide, C. seyd588opposed—aposyd599knowe—knowyn592be couth—MS. be couthe, C. ben cowth596wepen—wopen597laste—lasteschaufed—eschaufede598not—omitted599ȝolde—yolden602many—manye604myȝtyer—myhtyere605whiche—which606wil[e]—wollyȝter—lyhtereþilk[e]—thilke607harde—hard608folowyng—Flowyngwoxe—wexen610esier—esyere
550broken—borken
552wist[e]—wyste
553on-one—anon
554wist[e]—wystefer—ferre
555ne hadde—nadde
557gon—MS. gone, C. gon
558leuer—leuere
558, 559put—MS. putte, C. put
559haþ—MS. haþe
560myȝt[e]—myhtehaue—handon—MS. done, C. don
562born—MS. borne, C. born
566hys—hiseputte—put
568be—ben
571haþ—MS. haþe
572house—hows
574 [and——clos]—from C.
576wille—wylenhabit[e]—enhabyte
578seye—seyamoeueþ—moueth
579myche—mochelowen—ownene(2)—omitted
582putte(both)—putsomtyme—whilom
585decertes—desertesseid—MS. seide, C. seyde
586soþe—soth
587seid—MS. seide, C. seyd
588opposed—aposyd
599knowe—knowyn
592be couth—MS. be couthe, C. ben cowth
596wepen—wopen
597laste—lasteschaufed—eschaufede
598not—omitted
599ȝolde—yolden
602many—manye
604myȝtyer—myhtyere
605whiche—which
606wil[e]—wollyȝter—lyhtereþilk[e]—thilke
607harde—hard
608folowyng—Flowyngwoxe—wexen
610esier—esyere
PHILOSOPHY QUESTIONS BOETHIUS.
Whan þat þeHe who sows his seed when the sun is in the Sign of Cancer, must look for no produce.heuy sterre of þe cancre eschaufeþ byþe beme of phebus. þat is to seyne whan þat phebus612þe sonne is in þe signe of þe Cancre. Who so ȝeueþþan largely hys sedes to þe feldes þat refuse to receiuenhem. lete hym gon bygyled of trust þat hehadde to hys corn. to acorns or okes.Think not to ingather violets in the wintry and stormy season.yif þou wilt616gadre violettȝ. ne go þou not to þe purperwode whanþe felde chirkynge agriseþ of colde by þe felnesse ofþe wynde þat hyȝt aquilonIf you wish for wine in autumn let the tendrils of the vine be free in the spring.¶ Yif þou desirest orwolt vsen grapes ne seke þou nat wiþ a glotonus hande620to streineandpresse þe stalkes of þe vine in þe firstsomer sesoun. for bachus þe god of wyne haþ raþerȝeuen his ȝiftes to autumpne þe latter ende of somer.[* fol. 8.]To every work God assigns a proper time, nor suffers anything to pass its bounds.¶ God tokeniþandassigneþ *þe tymes. ablyng hem624to her propre offices. ¶ Ne he ne suffreþ not stoundeswhiche þat hym self haþ deuidedandconstreined tobe medeled to gidreSuccess does not await him who departs from the appointed order of things.¶ And forþi he þat forleteþcerteyne ordinaunce of doynge by ouerþrowyng wey.628he ne haþ no glade issue or ende of hys werkes.
612beme—beemesseyne—seyn614hys—hiserefuse—refusen615 afterhemC. adds [s. corn]lete hym gon(MS.gone)—lat hym gon616or—ofwilt gadre—wolt gadery618felde—feeldfelnesse—felnesses619hyȝt—hyhte620hande—hond622haþ—MS. haþe625her propre—heerepropresnot—nat the626haþ—MS. haþe627be medeled—ben I-medled628certeyne—certeyn629haþ—MS. haþe
612beme—beemesseyne—seyn
614hys—hiserefuse—refusen
615 afterhemC. adds [s. corn]lete hym gon(MS.gone)—lat hym gon
616or—ofwilt gadre—wolt gadery
618felde—feeldfelnesse—felnesses
619hyȝt—hyhte
620hande—hond
622haþ—MS. haþe
625her propre—heerepropresnot—nat the
626haþ—MS. haþe
627be medeled—ben I-medled
628certeyne—certeyn
629haþ—MS. haþe
DISCOVERS THE CAUSE OF HIS DISTEMPER.
FIrst woltPhilosophy proposes to question Boethius.þou suffre me to toucheandassaie þe statof þi þouȝt by a fewe demaundes. so þat I mayvnderstonde what be þe manere of þi curacioun. ¶ Axe632me quod.I. atte þi wille what þou wilt.andI schalanswere.P.Is the world governed by Chance?¶ Þo saide sche þus. wheþer wenest þou quodsche þat þis worlde be gouerned by foolisshe happesandfortunes. or elles wenest þou þat þer be init any636gouernement of resoun.B.By no means. The Creator presides over his own works.Certes quod.I. ne trowe notin no manere þat so certeyne þinges scholde be moeuedby fortunouse fortune. but I wot wel þat god makerandmayster is gouernourof þis werk.I shall never swerve from this opinion.Ne neuer nas640ȝit day þat myȝt[e] putte me oute of þe soþenesse ofþat sentence.P.Yes! Thou didst say as much when thou didst declare man alone to be destitute of divine care.¶ So is it quodsche. for þe same þingsonge þou a lytel here byforneandbyweyledestandbyweptest. þat only men weren put oute of þe cure of644god. ¶ For of alle oþer þinges þou ne doutest natþat þei nere gouerned by reson.Still thou seemest to labour under some defect even in this conviction.but how (.i. pape.).I wondre gretly certes whi þat þou art seek. siþen þouart put in to so holesom a sentence. but lat vs seken648depper. I coniecte þat þere lakkeþ I not what.Tell me how the world is governed.butsey me þis. siþen þat þou ne doutest nat þat þis worldebe gouerned by god ¶ wiþ swycche gouernailes takestþou hede þat it is gouerned.B.I do not thoroughly comprehend your question.¶ vnneþ quod.I. knowe652.I. þe sentence of þi questioun. so þat I ne may natȝit answeren to þi demaundes.P.I was not deceived, then, when I said there was some defect in thy sentiment.¶ I nas nat deceiuedquodsche þat þere ne faileþ sumwhat. by whiche þemaladie of perturbaciounis crept in to þi þouȝt. so656as þe strengþe of þe paleys schynyng is open.Tell me what is the chief end of all things; and whither all things tend.¶ Butseye me þis remembrest þou ouȝt what is þe ende ofþi þinges. whider þat þe entenciounof al kynde tendeþ.¶ I haue herd told it somtyme quod.I. but drerynesse660haþ dulled my memorie. ¶ Certys quodscheþou wost wel whennes þat alle þinges ben comenandproceded.B.God is the beginning of all things.I wot wel quod.I.andansewered[e] þatgod is þe bygynnyng of al.P.How, then, art thou ignorant of their end?¶ And how may þis be664quodsche þat siþen þou knowest þe bygynnyng ofþinges. þat þou ne knowest not what is þe endyng ofþinges.But it is the nature of these perturbations (which thou endurest) to unsettle men’s minds.but swiche ben þe customes of perturbaciouns.andþis power þei han. þat þei may moeue a manfro668hys place. þat is to seyne from þe stablenesandperfecciounof hys knowyng. but certys þei may not alarace hym ne alyene hymin al. ¶ But I wolde þatþou woldest answere to þis.Dost thou remember that thou art a man?¶ Remembrest þou þat672þou art a manB.Certainly I do.¶Boice.¶ Whi scholde I nat remembreþat quod.I.P.What is man?Philosophie.¶ Maiste þou not telleme þan quodsche what þing is a man.B.If you ask me whether I am a rational and mortal creature, I know and confess I am.¶ Axest notme quodI. wheþir þat be a resonable best mortel. I676wot welandI confesse wel þat I am it.P.But dost thou not know that thou art more than this?¶ Wistestþou neuer ȝit þat þou were ony oþer þing quodshe.
BOETHIUS NEEDS LIGHT REMEDIES.
B.No.No quod.I.P.Now I know the principal cause of thy distemper.now wot I quodshe oþer cause of þimaladieandþat ryȝt grete ¶ Þou hast left forto680knowe þi self what þou art. þoruȝ whiche I haue pleynelycheknowen þe cause of þi maladie. or ellis þeentre of recoueryng of þin hele.Thou hast lost the knowledge of thyself, thou knowest not the end of things, and hast forgotten how the world is governed.¶ Forwhy for þouart confounded wiþ forȝetyng of þi self. forþi sorwest684þou þat þou art exiled of þi propre goodes. ¶ Andfor þou ne wost what is þe ende of þinges. for[þi] demest[þou] þat felonousandwikked men ben myȝtyandwelefulfor þou hast forȝeten by whiche gouernementȝ þe worlde688is gouerned. ¶ Forþi wenest þou þat þise mutaciounsof fortune fleten wiþ outengouernour.These are not only great occasions of disease, but also causes of death itself.þise ben gretecauses not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes todeeþI thank God that Reason hath not wholly deserted thee.¶ But I þanke þe auctourandþe makere of692heele þat nature haþ not al forleten þe.I have some hope of thy recovery since thou believest that the world is under Divine Providence, for this small spark shall produce vital heat.andI haueg[r]ete norissinges of þi hele.andþat is þe soþe sentenceof gouernaunce of þe worlde. þat þou byleuestþat þe gouernynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput696[* fol. 8b.]to þe folie *of þise happes auenterouses. but to þeresounof god ¶ And þer fore doute þe noþing.For of þis litel spark þine heet of lijf schal shine.But as this is not the time for stronger remedies, and because it is natural to embrace false opinions so soon as we have laid aside the true, from whence arises a mist that darkens the understanding, I shall endeavour therefore to dissipate these vapours so that you may perceive the true light.¶ Butfor as muche as it is not tyme ȝitte of fastere remedies700¶ And þe nature of þouȝtes disseiued is þis þat as ofteas þei casten aweye soþe opyniouns: þei cloþen hem infals[e] opiniouns. [of whichefalse opyniouns] þe derknesseof perturbaciounwexeþ vp. þat comfoundeþ þe verray704insyȝt.andþat derkenes schal .I. say somwhat tomaken þinneandwayk by lyȝtandmeenelyche remedies.so þat after þat þe derknes of desseyuyngedesyrynges is don awey. þou mow[e] knowe þe schynyng708of verray lyȝt.
630wolt þou—woltowstat—estat633atte—atwilt—wolt635worlde—worldfoolisshe—foolyssh636fortunes—fortunows638scholde—sholden639wot—MS. wote, C. woot641myȝt[e]putte—myhte put644put—MS. putte645doutest—dowtedest646how—owh647seek siþen—sykesyn648put—MS. putte, C. put649depper—depperenot what—not nerewhat650siþen—synworlde—world651takest þou—takestow658seye—seyremembrest þou—remenbres thowouȝt—omitted659al—alle660herd told—MS. herde toldeherd told it—herd yt toold661haþ—MS. haþe663proceded—procedethansewered[e]—answerede664þe—omittedal—alle665siþen—syn668fro—owt of669seyne from—seyn fro672Remembrest þou—Remenbresthow674Maiste þou—Maysthow675þan—þanneþing—thingeAxest—Axestow677Wistest þou—wystesthow678þing—thinge680hast left—MS. haste lefte, C. hast left681knowe—knowenpleynelyche knowen—pleynly fwonde [= founde]684sorwest þou—sorwistow686for[þi]demest[þou]—For thy demesthow687wikked—MS. wilked, C. wykkyd688worlde—world689wenest þou—wenestow690outen—owte693haþ—MS. haþeal—alle694þi—thin696vnderput—vndyrputte697to(2)—omitted698fore—fornoþing—nothinge699spark þine heet—sparke thin hete700muche—meche702aweye—away703 [of——opyniouns]—from C.705insyȝt—insyhtesay—assaye706lyȝt—lyhte708don—MS. donemow[e]—mowe
630wolt þou—woltowstat—estat
633atte—atwilt—wolt
635worlde—worldfoolisshe—foolyssh
636fortunes—fortunows
638scholde—sholden
639wot—MS. wote, C. woot
641myȝt[e]putte—myhte put
644put—MS. putte
645doutest—dowtedest
646how—owh
647seek siþen—sykesyn
648put—MS. putte, C. put
649depper—depperenot what—not nerewhat
650siþen—synworlde—world
651takest þou—takestow
658seye—seyremembrest þou—remenbres thowouȝt—omitted
659al—alle
660herd told—MS. herde toldeherd told it—herd yt toold
661haþ—MS. haþe
663proceded—procedethansewered[e]—answerede
664þe—omittedal—alle
665siþen—syn
668fro—owt of
669seyne from—seyn fro
672Remembrest þou—Remenbresthow
674Maiste þou—Maysthow
675þan—þanneþing—thingeAxest—Axestow
677Wistest þou—wystesthow
678þing—thinge
680hast left—MS. haste lefte, C. hast left
681knowe—knowenpleynelyche knowen—pleynly fwonde [= founde]
684sorwest þou—sorwistow
686for[þi]demest[þou]—For thy demesthow
687wikked—MS. wilked, C. wykkyd
688worlde—world
689wenest þou—wenestow
690outen—owte
693haþ—MS. haþeal—alle
694þi—thin
696vnderput—vndyrputte
697to(2)—omitted
698fore—fornoþing—nothinge
699spark þine heet—sparke thin hete
700muche—meche
702aweye—away
703 [of——opyniouns]—from C.
705insyȝt—insyhtesay—assaye
706lyȝt—lyhte
708don—MS. donemow[e]—mowe
HE IS NOT TO TAKE HIS LOSSES TO HEART.
ÞE sterresBlack clouds obscure the light of the stars.couered wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowengeten a dounno lyȝt.If the south wind renders the sea tempestuous, the waves, fouled with mud, will lose their glassy clearness.Ȝif þe trouble wynde þathyȝt auster stormyngeandwalwyng þe see medleþ þe712heete þat is to seyne þe boylyng vp from þe botme¶ Þe wawes þat somtyme weren clere as glasandlyke to þe fair[e] bryȝt[e] dayes wiþstant anon þesyȝtes of men. by þe filþeandordure þat is resolued.716andþe fletyng streme þat royleþ doundyuersely froheyȝe mountaignes is arestidandresisted ofte tymeby þe encountrynge of a stoon þat is departidandfallen from some roche.If thou wouldst see truth by the clearest light, pursue the path of right.¶ And forþi yif þou wilt720lokenanddemen soþe wiþ clere lyȝt.andholde þeweye wiþ a ryȝt paþe.Away with joy, fear, hope, and sorrow.¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þedrede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe aproche.Let none of these passions cloud thy mind.þat isto sein lat noon of þise four passiouns ouer come þe.724or blynde þe.Where these things control, the soul is bound by strong fetters.for cloudyanddirke is þilk þouȝtandbounde withbridles. where as þise þinges regnen.
EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.
710blak[e]—blake712stormynge—turnyng713from—fro714somtyme—whilom715lyke—lykfair[e]——wiþstant(MS. wiþstante)—fayrecleeredayesandbrihte withstand716syȝtes—syhtes717streme—strem718heyȝe—hy720from some—fram somwilt—wolt721soþe—sothclere—cleerholde—holden722weye—weypaþe—paath724come—comen725blynde—blendeþilk—thilke
710blak[e]—blake
712stormynge—turnyng
713from—fro
714somtyme—whilom
715lyke—lykfair[e]——wiþstant(MS. wiþstante)—fayrecleeredayesandbrihte withstand
716syȝtes—syhtes
717streme—strem
718heyȝe—hy
720from some—fram somwilt—wolt
721soþe—sothclere—cleerholde—holden
722weye—weypaþe—paath
724come—comen
725blynde—blendeþilk—thilke
PHILOSOPHY EXHIBITS TO BOETHIUS THE WILES OF FORTUNE.
After þis shePhilosophy exhorts Boethius not to torment himself on account of his losses.stynte a litel. and after þat she haddegadred by atempre stillenesse myn attenciounshe728seide þus.Thou art, she says, affected by the loss of thy former fortune.¶ As who so myȝt[e] seye þus. After þiseþinges she stynt[e] a lytel.andwhanne she aperceiued[e]by atempre stillenesse þat I was ententif toherkene hire. she bygan to speke in þis wyse. ¶ Yif732I quodshe haue vnderstondenandknowe vtterly þecausesandþe habit of þi maladie. þou languissedandart deffeted for talentanddesijr of þi raþer fortune.It hath perverted thy faculties.¶ She þat ilke fortune only þat is chaunged as þou736feinest to þe ward. haþ peruerted þe clerenesseandþeastat of þi corage.I am well acquainted with all the wiles of that Prodigy (i. e.Fortune).¶ I vnderstonde þe felefoldecolouranddeceites of þilke merueillous monstre fortune.and how she vseþ ful flatryng familarite wiþ hem740þat she enforceþ to bygyle. so longe til þat she confoundewiþ vnsuffreable sorwe hem þat she haþ leftin despeir vnpurueyed.Though she has left thee, thou hast not lost anything of beauty or of worth.¶ and if þou remembrest welþe kynde þe manersandþe desert of þilke fortune. þow744shalt wel knowe as in hir þou neuer ne haddest nehast ylost any fair þing. But as I trowe I shal notgretly trauaile to don þe remembren of þise þinges.Thou wert once proof against her allurements.¶ For þou were wont to hurtlen [anddespysen] hir748wiþ manly wordes whan she was blaundissingeandpresenteandpursewedest hir wiþ sentences þat weredrawenoute of myne entre. þat is to seyne out ofmyn informaciounBut sudden change works a great alteration in the minds of men, hence it is that thou art departed from thy usual peace of mind.¶ But no sudeyne mutaciounne752bytideþ nat wiþ outena maner chaungyng of curages.and so is it byfallen þat þou art departed a litel froþe pees of þi þouȝt.But with some gentle emollients I shall prepare thee for stronger medicines.but now is tyme þat þou drynkeandatast[e] some softeanddelitable þinges. so þat whan756þei ben entred wiþ inne þe. it mow make weye tostrenger drynkes of medycynes.Approach then, Rhetoric, with thy persuasive charms, and therewith let Music also draw near.¶ Com nowe furþeþerfore þe suasiounof swetnesse Rethoryen. whicheþat goþ oonly þe ryȝt wey whil she forsakeþ not myne760estatutȝ. ¶ And wiþ Rethorice com forþe musice adamoisel of oure house þat syngeþ now lyȝter moedesor prolaciouns now heuyer.[* fol. 9.]*what ayleþ þe man. whatis it þat haþ cast þe in to murnyngandin to wepyng.764I trow[e] þat þou hast sen some newe þinganduncouþe.Thou thinkest that Fortune is changed towards thee.¶ Þou wenest þat fortune be chaunged aȝeinsþeBut thou art deceived.¶ But þou wenest wrong. yif þou [þat] wene.In this misadventure of thine she hath preserved her constancy in changing.Alwey þo ben hire maners. she haþ raþer [kept] as to768þe ward hire propre stablenes in þe chaungyng of hyreself. ¶ Ryȝt swyche was she whan she flatered[e]þe.anddesseiued[e] þe wiþ vnleueful lykynges offalse welefulnesse.You have seen the double face of this blind divinity.þou hast now knowenandataynt772þe doutous or double visage of þilke blynde goddessefortune. ¶ She þat ȝit couereþ hirandwympleþ hirto oþer folk. haþ shewed hir euerydel to þe. ¶ Ȝifþou approuest hirandþenkest þat she is good. vse776hir manersandpleyne þe nat.If thou dost abhor her perfidy cast her off, for her sports are dangerous.¶ And if þou agrisesthir fals[e] trecherie. dispiseandcast aweye hir þatpleyeþ so harmefully. for she þat is now cause of somyche sorwe to þe. sholde be to þe cause of peesand780[of] ioie. ¶ she haþ forsaken þe forsoþe. þe whicheþat neuer man may be syker þat she ne shal forsakehym.Glose.¶ But naþeles some bookes han þe textþus. For soþe she haþ forsaken þe ne þer nis no man784syker þat she ne haþ not forsaken.Is that happiness which is so transient?¶ Holdest þouþan þilke welefulnesse preciouse to þe þat shal passen.Is the attendance of Fortune so dear to thee, whose stay is so uncertain, and whose removal causes such grief?andis present fortune derworþi to þe. whiche þat nisnot feiþful forto dwelle.andwhan she goþ aweye þat788she bryngeþ a wyȝt in sorwe ¶ For syn she may natbe wiþholdenat a mans wille. she makeþ hym a wrecchewhenshe departeþ fro hym.What is she (Fortune) but the presage of future calamity?¶ What oþer þing isflitting fortune but a manere shewyng of wrycchednesse792þat is to comen. ne it ne suffriþ nat oo[n]ly to lokenof þing þat is present byforne þe eyen of man. butwisdom lokeþandmesureþ þe ende of þinges.Her mutability should make men neither fear her threats nor desire her favours.andþesame chaungyng from one to an oþer. þat is to seyne796fro aduersite to prosperite makeþ þat þe manaces offortune ne ben not forto dreden. ne þe flatrynges ofhir to ben desired. ¶ Þus atte þe last it byhoueþ þeto suffren wiþ euene wille in pacience al þat is don800inwiþ þe floor of fortune. þat is to seyne in þis worlde.
PHILOSOPHY EXPOSTULATES WITH BOETHIUS.
If you submit to her yoke you must patiently endure her inflictions.¶ Syþen þou hast oones put þi nekke vnder þe ȝokkeof hir. for if þou wilt write a lawe of wendyngandofdwellyng to fortune whiche þat þou hast chosen frely804to be þi ladyImpatience will only embitter your loss.¶ Art þou nat wrongful in þatandmakest fortune wroþeandaspere by þin inpacience.andȝit þou mayst not chaungen hir.You cannot choose your port if you leave your vessel to the mercy of the winds.¶ Yif þou committest[and] bitakest þi sayles to þe wynde. þou shalt808be shouen not þider þat þou woldest(:) but whider þatþe wynde shoueþ þe ¶ Yif þou castest þi seedes in þefeldes þou sholdest haue in mynde þat þe ȝeres benoþer while plenteuousandoþerwhile bareyne.You have given yourself up to Fortune; it becomes you therefore to obey her commands.¶ Þou812hast bytaken þiself to þe gouernaunce of fortune.andforþi it byhoueþ þe to ben obeisaunt to þe manereof þi lady.Would you stop the rolling of her wheel?and enforcest þou þe to aresten or wiþstondenþe swyftnesseandþe sweyes of hir tournyng816whele.Fool! if Fortune once became stable she would cease to exist.¶ O þou fool of alle mortel fooles if fortunebygan to dwelle stable. she cesed[e] þan to ben fortune.