*INCIPIT LIBER QUARTUS.[* fol. 24b.]

2660assent[e]—assente2662mychel—mochel2663goode—good2664price—prys2669is—omittedseyne—seyn2671folke—folkes2673oþer—oothreeche—ech2675absolute—absolutatte arst—at erste2676al—allea—O2677to—omittedwirchyng—wyrkynge2678þilk—thilke2681put—MS. putte, C. putauȝten—owhten2684none—no2685al o—alle oon2686comiþ—comth2689graunt[e]—graunte2690mayst þou graunt[en]—mosthow graunten2692 [of]—from C.2695al—allehaþ—MS. haþe2696, 2697oone—oon2698whiche—which2703dede—dedlenger—lengerebeste—beest2704while—whiloon—oo2706 [so]diuide[d]—so deuydyd2709so—omitted2713many—manye2718willynge—wylnyngeor—and2719þing—beestout forþe—owte forth2720lyue—lyuen2723of lijf—of hys lyf2726soule—sowles2727appetite—appetites2729look—loke2730waxen firste—wexen fyrst2733, 2734some—som2734oþir—oothre2753pupllisen—H. publisshen)2755edyfice—MS. edyfitea tyme—H. oon) tyme2758that—H. omitshirs—H. his2774 [fleeth]—from H.2775weleful—H. wilfulle2779slepyt—H. slepen2788seeth—H. seen)wil—H. wille2792And—H. as2796hat—H. haue2800the—H. þo2806perdurablely—H. perdurably2807destroied—H. destrued2811thilke(1)—H. ilke2818heued or elles—H. hede or els2820hyen—H. hyen) tomoste—H. mustTRUTH INTUITIVE.[The .11. Metrum.]QUISQUIS PROFUNDA MENTE.WHo so that sekithHe who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the inner light upon the soul itself.sotħ by a deep thoght Andcoueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes //lat hym rollenandtrenden withInne hym self / the Lyhtof his inward syhte // And lat hym gadereayein enclynynge2836in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hysthowhtes /The knowledge that he seeks without he will find treasured up in the recesses of the mind.And lat hym techen his corage that he hathenclosedandhyd / in his tresors / al þat he compaseth orsekith fro withowte //The light of Truth will disperse Error’s dark clouds, and shine forth brighter than the sun.And thanne thilke thing that the2840blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shallyhten more clerly thanne phebushym self ne shyneth //[Chaucer’s gloss.]Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of sothin his thowht /andwol nat be deceyuyd by false proposiciouns /2844that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym welexamine /androlle withinne hym self the natureandthe propretes of the thing // and lat hym yit eft sonesexamineandrollen his thowhtes by good deliberacioun2848or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that ithat by naturel pryncyplis kyndeliche y-hyd withinit self alle the trowthe the whiche he ymagynith to benin thinges withowte // And thanne alle the dyrknesse of2852his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [þe]syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semythto [þe] syhte withowte forth /For when the body enclosed the soul and cast oblivion o’er its powers it did wholly exterminate the heaven-born light.For certes the bodybryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd2856owt of yowrethowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //The germs of truth were latent within, and were fanned into action by the gentle breath of learning.For certeynly the seed of sooth haldithandclyuethwithin yowrecorage /andit is a-wakedandexcited bythe wyndeandby the blastes of doctryne //Were not truth implanted in the heart, how could man distinguish right from wrong?For where2860for elles demen ye of yowreowne wyl the ryhtes whanye ben axed // but yif so wereþat the noryssynges ofresounne lyuede .I.-plowngyd in the depthe of yowreherte // this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen þe2864sooth of any thing þat weereaxed / yif ther neereaRoote of sothfastnesse þat weereyplowngydandhyd inthe nature[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesselyued within the depnesse of the thowght //So, if what Plato taught is true, ‘to learn is no other than to remember what had been before forgotten.’andyif2868so be þat the Museandthe doctryne of plato syngythsooth // al þat euery whyht lerneth / he ne doth nothing elles thanne but recordeth as menrecordyn thingesþat ben foryetyn.28722838his—H. þisthat—H.andþat2841blake—H. blakhadde y-couered—H. had couered2842lyhten—H. light2843dep[e]—C. dep, H. depe2847thing—H. þynges2863depthe—H. depe2864 [is]—from H.sholden—H. shulde2867nature[l]—H. naturelleTHE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD.[The .12. prose.]TUM EGO PLATONI INQUAM.THanne seideB.I am quite of Plato’s opinion, for you have now a second time recalled these things to my remembrance which had been forgotten, first by the contagious union of soul and body, and afterwards by the pressure of my afflictions.I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / forthow remenbristandrecordist me thise thinges yit][*Addit. MS. 10,340, fol. 23.]*þe seconde tyme. þat is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] mymemorie by þe contagioũs coniuncciounof þe body wiþ2876þe soule.andeftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it confoundedby þe chargeandby þe burden of my sorwe.P.If you will reflect upon the concessions you have already made, you will soon call to mind that truth, of which you lately confessed your ignorance.¶ And þan sayde she þus. ¶ If þou look[e] quod shefirste þe þinges þat þou hast graunted it ne shal nat2880ben ryȝt feer þat þou ne shalt remembren þilke þing þatþou seidest þat þou nistest nat.B.What is that?what þing quod I.P.It was, by what power the world is governed.¶ by whiche gouerment quod she þat þis worlde isgouerned.B.With regard to that, I own I confessed my ignorance, but though I now remotely see what you infer, yet I wish for further explanation from you.Me remembriþ it wel quod I.andI confesse2884wel þat I ne wist[e] it nat ¶ But al be it so þatI se now fromafer what þou purposest ¶ Algates Idesire ȝit to herkene it of þe more pleynely.P.You acknowledged a little while ago that this world was governed by God?¶ þou newendest nat quod she a litel here byforne þat men2888sholden doute þat þis worlde is gouerned by god.B.I still cling to this opinion, and will give you my reasons for this belief.¶ Certys quod I ne ȝitte doute I it nauȝt. ne I nilneuer wene þat it were to doute. as who seiþ. but Iwot wel þat god gouerneþ þis worlde. ¶ And I shal2892shortly answere þe by what resouns I am brouȝt to þis.The discordant elements of this world would never have assumed their present form unless there had been a wise Intelligence to unite them; and even after such a union, the joining of such opposites would have disunited and ruined the fabric made up of them, had not the same conjoining hand kept them together.¶ þis worlde quodI of so many dyuerseandcontrariousparties ne myȝten neuer han ben assembled in o forme.but yif þere ne were oon þat conioigned so many[e2896diuerse] þinges. ¶ And þe same diuersite of hirenatures þat so discordeden þat oon fro þat oþer most[e]departenandvnioignenþe þinges þat ben conioigned.yif þere ne were oon þat contened[e] þat he haþ conioigned2900andybounde.The order that reigns throughout nature could not proceed so regularly and uniformly if there were not a Being, unchangeable and stedfast, to order and dispose so great a diversity of changes.ne þe certein ordre of nature nesholde. nat brynge furþe so ordinee moeuynge. byplaces. by tymes. by doynges. by spaces. by qualites.yif þere ne were oon þat were ay stedfast dwellynge.2904þat ordeyned[e]anddisposed[e] þise diuersites ofmoeuynges.This Being, the creator and ruler of all things, I call God.¶ and þilke þinge what so euer it be. bywhiche þat alle þinges ben makedandylad. I clepehym god þat is a worde þat is vsed to alle folke.P.As thy sentiments on these points are so just I have but little more to do—for thou mayest be happy and secure, and revisit thy own country.þan2908seide she. syn þou felest þus þise þinges quod she. Itrowe þat I haue lytel more to done. þat þou myȝty ofwilfulnesse hoolandsounde ne se eftsones þi contre.GOD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT.But let us reflect a little more upon these matters.¶ But lat vs loken þe þinges þat we han purposed her-byforn.2912Did we not agree thatSufficiencyis of the nature of true happiness?¶ Haue I nat noumbredandseid quodsheþat suffisaunce is in blisfulnesse.And have we not seen that God is that true felicity, and that He needs no external aid nor instruments?andwe han accordedþat god isandþilke same blisfulnesse. ¶ yis forsoþe quodI.andþat to gouerne þis worlde quodshe. ne shal he2916neuer han nede of none helpe fro wiþoute.For if he should, he would not be self-sufficient.for ellys yifhe had[de] nede of any helpe. he ne sholde not haue[no] ful suffisaunce. ȝis þus it mot nedes be quod I.And he directs all things by himself alone?¶ þan ordeyneþ he by hym self al oon alle þinges quod2920she.B.It cannot be gainsaid.þat may nat ben denied quod I.P.I have shown that God is the chief good; God must, therefore, direct and order all things bygood, since he governs them by himself, whom we have proved to be thesupreme good, and he is that helm and rudder, by which this machine of the world is steadily and securely conducted.¶ And I haueshewed þat god is þe same good. ¶ It remembreþ mewel quod I. ¶ þan ordeineþ he alle þinges by þilkegoode quodshe. Syn he whiche we han accorded to2924ben good gouerneþ alle þingusby hym self.andhe is akeyeanda stiere by whiche þat þe edifice of þis worldeis ykept stableandwiþ oute corumpyngeB.I entirely agree to this, and partly anticipated your remarks.¶ I accordeme gretly quodI.andI aperceiuede a litel here byforn2928þat þou woldest seyne þus. Al be it so þat it were bya þinne suspecioun.P.I believe it; for your eyes are now more intent upon these great truths relating to true felicity; but what I am going to say is not less open to your view.I trowe it wel quod she. ¶ For asI trowe þou leedest nowe more ententifly þine eyen toloken þe verray goodes ¶ but naþeles þe þinges þat I2932shal telle þe ȝit ne sheweþ nat lasse to loken.B.What is that?what isþat quod I.P.As we believe that God governs all things by his goodness, and that all things have a natural tendency towards thegood, can it be doubted but that they all voluntarily submit to the will and control of their ruler?¶ So as men trowen quod sheandþatryȝtfully þat god gouerneþ alle þinges by þe keye of hisgoodnesse. ¶ And alle þise same þinges as I [haue]2936tauȝt þe. hasten hem by naturel entenciounto comento goode þer may no man douten. þat þei ne bengouerned uoluntariely.andþat þei ne conuerten [hem]nat of her owenwille to þe wille of hire ordenour.2940ALL THINGS SUBMIT TO GOD.B.It cannot be otherwise. There would be no safety for those who obey, if the discord of a portion were allowed.as þei þat ben accordyngandenclinynge to her gouernourandher kyng. ¶ It mot nedys be so quod. I.[* Fol. 23b.]*¶ For þe realme ne sholde not seme blisful ȝif þere were a ȝokof mysdrawynges in diuerse parties ne þe sauynge of2944obedient þinges ne sholde nat be.P.Is there anything that follows the dictates of nature that seeks to counteract the will of God?þan is þere no þingquod she þat kepiþ hys nature;þat enforceþ hym togone aȝeyne god.B.No.¶ No quod. I.P.If there should be any such, it could not prevail against him, who is supremely happy and consequently omnipotent.¶ And if þat any þingenforced[e] hym to wiþstonde god. myȝt[e] it auayle at2948þe laste aȝeyns hym þat we han graunted to ben almyȝty by þe ryȝt of blisfulnesse. ¶ Certis quod I alouterly it ne myȝt[e] nat auaylen hym.Then there is nothing that either will or can withstand this supreme good?þan is þere noþing quod she þat eyþer wol or may wiþstonde to þis2952souereyne good.B.Nothing, certainly.¶ I trowe nat quod. IP.It is then the supreme good that governs and orders all things powerfully and benignly.¶ þan isþilke þe souereyne good quod she þat alle þingusgouerneþ stronglyandordeyneþ hem softly.B.I am delighted with yourconclusions, but much more with yourlanguage; so that fools may be ashamed of their objections to the divine government.þanseide Iþus. I delite me quod I nat oonly in þe endes or in þe2956sommes of [the] resouns þat þou hast concludidandproued. ¶ But þilke wordes þat þou vsest deliten memoche more. ¶ So at þe last[e] fooles þat somtymerenden greet[e] þinges auȝtenben asshamed of hem2960self.[Chaucer’s gloss.]¶ þat is to seyne þat we fooles þat reprehendenwickedly þe þingusþat touchen goddes gouernaunce weauȝtenben asshamed of oure self. As I þat seide godrefuseþ oonly þe werkes of men.andne entremetiþ nat2964of hem.P.You have read the Poets’ fables, how the Giants stormed heaven—how they were repulsed and punished according to their deserts; but may we not compare our reasons together, for by so doing some clear spark of truth may shine forth?p.þou hast wel herd quod she þe fables of þepoetes. how þe geauntes assailden þe heuene wiþ þegoddes. but for soþe þe debonaire force of god disposed[e]hem so as it was worþi. þat is to seyne distroied[e] þe2968geauntes. as it was worþi. ¶ But wilt þou þat weioygnen togedre þilke same resouns. for perauenture ofswiche coniuncciounmay sterten vp some faire sperkeleof soþeB.As you please.¶ Do quod I as þe list.P.Is God omnipotent?wenest þou quod she2972þat god ne is almyȝty. no man is in doute of it.B.No one doubts it.Certysquod I no wyȝt ne defendiþ it if he be in hys mynde.EVIL HAS NO EXISTENCE.P.If he is almighty, there are, then, no limits to his power?but he quod she þat is al myȝty þere nis no þing þat hene may do.B.He can doubtless do all things.þat is soþe quod I.P.May God do evil?May god done yuel2976quod she.B.No.nay for soþe quod. I.P.Is evil nothing, since God, who is almighty, cannot do it?¶ þan is yuel no þingquod she. ¶ Syn þat he ne may not done yuel þatmay done alle þinges.B.Dost thou mock me or play with me, leading me with thy arguments into an inextricable labyrinth, and enclosing me in a wonderful circle of Divine Simplicity?scornest þou me quod. I. or ellyspleyest þou or deceiuest þou me. þat hast so wouen me2980wiþ þi resouns. þe house of didalus so entrelaced. þat itis vnable to ben vnlaced. þou þat oþer while entrestþere þou issestandoþer while issest þere þou entrest.ne fooldest þou nat to gidre by replicaciounof wordes a2984maner wondirful cercle or envirounynge of symplicitedeuyne.For thou didst first begin with happiness, and didst say that it was the sovereign good, and that it resided in God; then, that God was thatGoodand the perfection of happiness; and, hence, thou didst infer that nobody could be happy unless he became likewise a God.¶ For certys a litel her byfornewhan þou bygunneatte blisfulnesse þou seidest þat it is souereynegood.andseidest þat it is set in souereyne god.andþat2988god is þe ful[le] blisfulnesse. for whiche þou ȝaf[e] meas a couenable ȝifte. þat is to seyne þat no wyȝt nisblisful. but yif he be good al so þer wiþAgain, thou saidst that the very form of good was the substance whereof God and happiness were composed, and that it was the object and desire of all things in nature.andseidesteke þat þe forme of goode is þe substaunce of god.and2992of blisfulnesse.andseidest þat þilke same oone is þilkesame goode þat is requeredanddesired of al þe kyndeof þinges.Thou didst prove that God rules the world by his goodness, and that all things willingly obeyed him; and that evil has no existence.andþou proeuedest in disputynge þat godgouerneþ alle [the] þinges of þe worlde by þe gouernementys2996of bountee.andseydest þat alle þinges wolenybeyen to hym. and seidest þat þe nature of yuel nisno þing.These truths you established by forcible and natural arguments, and by no strained and far-fetched reasons.andþise þinges ne shewedest þou nat wiþ noresouns ytake fro wiþoute but by proues in cerclesand3000homelyche knowen. ¶ þe whiche proeues drawen to hemself hir feiþandhir accorde eueriche [of] hem of oþer. þanseide she þus.P.I have not deluded you, for by the Divine aid we have accomplished our chief task.I ne scorne þe nat ne pleye ne desseyueþe. but I haue shewed to þe þinge þat is grettest ouer3004alle þinges by þe ȝifte of god þat we some tyme praydenGOD IS LIKE A SPHERE.I have proved to you that it is an essential property of the Divine nature not to go out of itself, nor to receive into itself anything extraneous.¶ For þis is þe forme of [the] deuyne substaunce. þatis swiche þat it ne slydeþ nat in to outerest foreineþinges. ne ne rec[e]yueþ no strange þinges in hym.Parmenides says of the Deity thatGod is like a well-rounded sphere.but3008ryȝt as parmaynws seide in grek of þilke deuyne substaunce.he seide þus þat þilke deuyne substauncetorneþ þe worldeandþilke cercle moeueable of þingeswhile þilke dyuyne substaunce kepiþ it self wiþ outen3012moeuynge.[* fol. 24.]He causes the moving globe to revolve, but is himself immovable.þat *is to seyne þat it ne moeuiþ neuere mo.andȝitte it moeueþ alle oþer þinges.If I have chosen my arguments from the subjects within range of our discussion, do not let that surprise you, for, as Plato has taught us, there ought to be an alliance between the words and the subject of discourse.but na-þeles yif I[haue] stered resouns þat ne ben nat taken fro wiþ outeþe compas of þe þinge of whiche we treten. but resouns3016þat ben bystowed wiþ inne þat compas þere nis nat whiþat þou sholde[st] merueylen. sen þou hast lerned byþe sentence of plato þat nedes þe wordes moten bencosynes to þo þinges of whiche þei speken.30202875, 2877lost[e]—loste2878burden—burdene2879look[e]—looke2880firste—fyrst2883whiche—whichgouerment—gouernementworlde—wordyl2885wist[e]—wiste2887pleynely—pleynly2888here byforne—her byforn2889worlde is—world nis2890ȝitte doute—yit ne dowtenil—nel2892wot—MS. wote, C. wot2892, 2894worlde—world2893answere—answeren2894many—manye2895myȝten—myhte2896þere—thermany[e]—manye2897 [diuerse]—from C.hire—hir2898most[e]—moste2900þere—thercontened[e]—contenedehaþ—MS. haþe2902furþe—forthordinee moeuynge—ordene moeuynges2904þere—therstedfast—stidefast2905ordeyned[e]—ordeynededisposed[e]—disponede2907whiche—whichben—beylad—MS. yladde, C. I-ladd2908worde—wordfolke—foolk2911wilfulnesse—welefulnesse2912han—ha2913seid—MS. seide, C. seyd2916worlde—world2917none helpe—non help2918had[de]—haddehelpe—help2919 [no]—from C.2920al oon—allone2921ben denied—be denoyed2924, 2926whiche—which2925ben—be2926worlde—world2928gretly—gretelyhere—her2929seyne—seye2931nowe—now2932naþeles—nat[h]les2935ryȝtfully—MS. on ryȝtfully2936 [haue]—from C.2938goode—good2939 [hem]—from C.2940nat—omittedher—hirowen—ownewille(both)—wilhire—hyr2941her—hyr2943realme—Reaumeseme—semen2945þere—ther2947gone aȝeyne—goon ayein2948enforced[e]—enforcedemyȝt[e]—myhteauayle—auaylen2949aȝeyns—a-yenis2951outerly—owtrelymyȝt[e]—myhteauaylen—MS. aualeyne, C. auaylenhym—hemþere—ther2952wol—wolewiþstonde—with-stondynþis souereyne—his souereyn2955softly—softtely2957sommes—somme[the]—from C.2959last[e]—laste2960greet[e]—grete2960, 2963auȝten—owhten2961seyne—seyn2965of hem—of itherd—MS. herde, C. herd2967disposed[e]—desposede2968seyne distroied[e]—seyn destroyede2971swiche—swychsome—som2972soþe—sothlist—liste2973is(1)—beman—omittedis(2)—nis2974defendiþ—dowteth2975þere—ther2976do—C. omitssoþe—sothdone—don2978, 2979done—don2980wouen—MS. wonnen, C. wouen2981house—hows2983þere(both)—ther2987atte—at2988set—MS. sette, C. set2989ful[le]—fullewhiche—whichȝaf[e]—yaue2990ȝifte—yiftseyne—seyn2992, 2994goode—good2993oone—oon2994al—alle2996 [the]—from C.2998ybeyen—obeyen2999no(2)—none3000ytake—I-taken3001homelyche—hoomlich3002eueriche—euerich[of]—from C.3004þe þinge—the the thing3005ȝifte—yiftsome tyme prayden—whilom preyeden3006 [the]—from C.3007swiche—swich3009parmaynws—a parmanides3011worlde—world3012while—whilwiþ outen—withowte3013seyne—seyn3014ȝitte—yitoþer—oothre3015 [haue]—from C.3016whiche—which3017wiþ inne—within3020cosynes—MS. conceyued, C. cosynesþo—þewhiche—whichTHE POWER OF MUSIC.[The .12. Metur.]FELIX QUI POTERIT.ETCETERA.Blisful isHappy is he that hath seen the lucid spring of truth! Happy the man that hath freed himself from terrestrial chains!þat man þat may seen þe clere welle of good.blisful is he þat may vnbynde hym fro þe bonde ofheuy erþe.The Thracian poet, consumed with grief for the loss of his wife, sought relief from music.¶ þe poete of trace [orpheus] þat somtymehadde ryȝt greet sorowe for þe deeþ of hys wijf.His mournful songs drew the woods along; the rolling rivers ceased to flow; the savage beasts became heedless of their prey; the timid hare was not aghast at the hound.aftir þat3024he hadde maked by hys wepely songes þe wodes meueableto rennen.andhadde ymaked þe ryueres to stondenstille.andmaked þe hertysandhyndes to ioignendredles hir sides to cruel lyouns to herkene his songe.3028andhad[de] maked þat þe hare was nat agast of þehounde whiche þat was plesed by hys songe.But the songs that did all things tame, could not allay their master’s ardent love.so þatwhane þe most[e] ardaunt loue of hys wijf brende þeentrailes of his brest. ne þe songes þat hadde ouer3032comen alle þinges ne myȝten nat assuage hir lordeorpheus.He bewailed the cruelty of the gods above, and descended to Pluto’s realm.¶ He pleyned[e] hym of þe godes þat werencruel to hym. he wente hym to þe houses of helleThere he struck his tuneful strings and sang, exhausting all the harmonious art imparted to him by his mother Calliope.andþere he tempred[e] hys blaundissyng songes by resounyng3036of hys strenges. ¶ And spakandsong inwepynge alle þat euer he hadde resceyuedandlauedoute of þe noble welles of hys modir calliope þe goddesse.In songs dictated both by grief and love, he implored the infernal powers to give him back his Eurydice.andhe song wiþ as mychel as he myȝt[e] of3040wepynge.andwiþ as myche as loue þat doubled[e] hissorwe myȝt[e] ȝeuen hymandteche hymin his sekeherte. ¶ And he commoeuede þe helleandrequered[e]andsouȝte by swete preiere þe lordes of soules in helle3044of relesynge. þat is to seyne to ȝelden hym hys wif.Cerberus, Hell’s three-headed porter, stood amazed;¶ Cerberus þe porter of helle wiþ his þre heuedes wascauȝtandal abaist for þe new[e] songe.the Furies, tormentors of guilty souls, did weep;andþe þre goddessesfurijsandvengerisse of felonies þat tourmenten3048andagastenþe soules by anoye wexen sorwefulandsoryandwepen teres for pitee.Ixion, tormented by the revolving wheel, found rest;þan was nat þe heued ofIxioneytourmented by þe ouerþrowing whele.Tantalus, suffering from a long and raging thirst, despised the stream;¶ Andtantalus þat was destroied by þe woodnesse of longe3052þrust dispiseþ þe flodes to drynke.and the greedy vulture did cease to eat and tear the growing liver of Tityus.þe fowel þat hyȝtvoltor þat etiþ þe stomak or þe giser of ticius is so fulfilledof his songe þat it nil etyn ne tyren no more.FIX NOT THE THOUGHTS ON EARTHLY THINGS.At length Pluto himself relented, crying out, ‘We are overcome! Let us give him back his wife, he hath well won her by his song.¶ Atte þe laste þe lordeandIuge of soules was moeued3056to misericordesandcried[e] we ben ouer comen quodhe. yif[e] we to orpheus his wijf to bere hym compaignyehe haþ welle I-bouȝt hir by his faire songeandhis ditee.But we will lay this injunction upon him. Till he escape the infernal bounds, he shall not cast a backward look.’but we wil puttena lawe in þis.andcouenaunt3060in þe ȝifte. þat is to seyne. þat til he be out ofhelle yif he loke byhynden hym [þat] hys wijf shalcomenaȝeine to vsBut, who shall give a lover any law? Love is a greater law than may be given to any earthly man.¶ but what is he þat may ȝeue alawe to loueres. loue is a gretter laweanda strengere to3064hym self þan any lawe þat men may ȝeuen.Alas! having left the realms of night, Orpheus cast a look behind and lost his too-much-loved Euridice.¶ Allaswhan Orpheusandhis wijf were al most at þe termes ofþe nyȝt. þat is to seyne at þe last[e] boundes of helle.Orpheus loked[e] abakwarde on Erudice his wijfand3068lost[e] hirandwas deed.This fable belongs to all you, whose minds would view the Sovereign Good.¶ þis fable apperteineþ toȝow alle who so euer desireþ or sekiþ to lede his þouȝtein to þe souereyne day. þat is to seyne to clerenes[se]of souereyne goode.For he who fixes his thoughts upon earthly things and low, must lose the noble and heaven-imparted Good.¶ For who so þat euere be so ouer3072comenþat he fycche hys eyen in to þe put[te] of helle.þat is to seyne who so setteþ his þouȝtes in erþelyþinges. al þat euer he haþ drawen of þe noble goodcelestial he lesiþ it whan he lokeþ þe helles. þat is to3076seyne to lowe þinges of þe erþe.EXPLICIT LIBER TERCIUS.3022vnbynde—vnbyndynbonde—bondes3023 [orpheus]—from C.somtyme—whilom3024sorowe—sorwe3028dredles—dredelesto herkene—forto herknen3029had[de]—hadde3030þat(2)—omitted3031most[e]—moste3032hadde—hadden3033assuage—asswagenlorde—lord3034pleyned[e]—pleynedegodes—heuene goodes3035wente—MS. wenten, C. wente3036tempred[e]hys—temprede hise3037of hys—C. omitsspak—MS. spakke, C. spaksong—MS. songe, C. soonge3038alle—al3039oute—owtgoddesse—goddes3040song—MS. songe, C. soongemychel—mochel3041myche—mochedoubled[e]—dowblede3042myȝt[e]—myhteȝeuen—yeueteche—thechenin——herte—omitted3043commoeuede—MS. comaunded, C. commoeuede3044souȝte—by-sowhte3045ȝelden—yilden3046his—hise3047cauȝt—MS. cauȝte, C. cawhtnew[e]songe—newe song3049anoye——sorweful—anoy woxen soruful3050þan—tho ne3051whele—wheel3053þrust—thursthyȝt—hihte3054fulfilled—fulfyld3055songe—song3056Atte—Atlorde—lord3057cried[e]—cryde3058yif[e]—yiue3059haþ—MS. haþewelle—welfaire—C. omitssonge—song3060wil putten—wol putte3062byhynden—by-hynde[þat]—from C.3063to—vn-to3064gretter—gret3066were al most—weren almest3067last[e]—laste3068loked[e]abakwarde—lookede abacward3069lost[e]—loste3070þouȝte—thowht3071clerenes[se]—clernesse3072souereyne goode—souereyn god3073put[te]—putte3074setteþ—sette3075haþ—MS. haþeTHE EXISTENCE OF EVIL.*INCIPIT LIBER QUARTUS.[* fol. 24b.][The 1maprose.]HEC CUM PHILOSOPHIA DIGNITATE UULTUS.WhanneWhen P. with grace and dignity had poured forth her songs, I, not quite quit of my load of grief, interrupted her as she was continuing her discourse.philosophie hadde songensoftlyanddelitablyþe forseide þinges kepynge þe dignitee of hirchoere in þe weyȝte of hir wordes. I þan þat ne hadde3080nat al outerly forȝeten þe wepyngandmournyngþat was set in myne herte for-brek þe entenciounof hirþat entended[e] ȝitte to seyne oþerþinges.All your discourses, O my conductress to the true light! have been very clear and unanswerable, both by the divine testimony which they carry along with them, and by thy irrefragable arguments.¶ Se quodI. þou þat art gideresse of verray lyȝte þe þinges þat þou3084hast seid [me] hider to ben to me so clereandso shewyngby þe deuyne lokyng of hemandby þi resouns þatþei ne mowe nat ben ouercomen.Through the oppression of grief I had forgotten these truths, but was not wholly ignorant of them.¶ And þilke þingusþat þou toldest me. al be it so þat I hadde som tyme3088fo[r]ȝeten hem for [the] sorwe of þe wronge þat haþ bendon to me. ȝit naþeles þei ne were nat alouterly vnknowento me.The principal cause of my trouble is this—that, whilst the absolute Ruler of all things is goodness itself,but þis same is namly a gret cause ofmy sorwe. þat so as þe gouernoure of þinges is goode.3092evil exists and is allowed to pass unpunished.yif þat yuelys mowen ben by any weyes. or ellys yifþat yuelys passen wiþ outen punyssheinge.This, to say the least, is astonishing.þe whicheþinge oonly how worþi it is to ben wondred vpon. þouconsiderest it weel þi self certeynly.Moreover, whileviceflourishesvirtueis not only unrewarded, but trampled under foot by base and profligate men, and suffers the punishment due to impiety.but ȝitte to þis3096þing þere is an oþer þing y-ioigned more to ben ywondredvpon. ¶ For felonie is emperisseandflowreþ ful ofrycchesse. and vertues nis nat al oonly wiþ outen medes.but it is cast vndirandfortroden vndir þe feet of felonous3100folk.andit abieþ þe tourmentes in sted ofwicked felounsHere is cause for wonderment, since such things are possible under the government of an omniscient and omnipotent God, who wills nothing but what is the best.¶ Of al[le] whiche þing þer nis no wyȝtþat [may] merueyllen ynouȝ ne compleyne þat swicheþinges ben don in þe regne of god þat alle þinges woot.3104and alle þinges mayandne wool nat but only goodeþinges.P.It were indeed, not only marvellous, but also horribly monstrous, if, in the well-regulated family of so great a master, the worthless vessels should be honoured and the precious ones be despised:—but it is not so.¶ þan seide she þus. certys quod she þat werea grete meruayleandan enbaissynge wiþouten ende.andwel more horrible þan alle monstres yif it were as3108þou wenest. þat is to sein. þat in þe ryȝt ordeyne houseof so mochel a faderandan ordenour of meyne. þat þevesseles þat ben fouleandvyle sholde ben honouredandheried. and þe precious uesseles sholde ben defouled3112andvyle. but it nis nat so.For if the conclusions we have come to, be sound and irrefragable, we must confess that under God’s rule thegoodare always powerful and mighty, and thewickedweak and contemptible;For yif þe þingesþat I haue concluded a litel here byforne ben kept hooleandvnraced. þou shalt wel knowe by þe auctorite ofgod. of þe whos regne I speke þat certys þe good[e]3116folk ben alwey myȝty.andshrewes ben alwey yuelandfeble.that vice never passes unpunished, nor virtue goes unrewarded;ne þe vices ben neuere mo wiþ outen peyne;neþe vertues ne ben nat wiþ outen mede.that happiness attends good men, and misfortune falls to the lot of the wicked.and þat blisfulnessescomen alwey to goode folke.andinfortune comeþ3120alwey to wicked folke.These and many other truths of like nature shall be proved to thee, and shall put an end to thy complaints,¶ And þou shalt wel knowemany[e] þinges of þis kynde þat sholle cessen þi pleyntes.and strengthen thee with firmness and solidity.andstedfast þe wiþ stedfast saddenesse.Having shown you a picture of true felicity, and wherein it resides, I shall now trace out the way which will lead you to your home.¶ And for þouhast seyn þe forme of þe verray blisfulnesse by me þat3124[haue] somtyme I-shewed it þe. And þou hast knoweninwhom blysfulnesse is set. alle þinges I treted þat Itrowe ben nessessarie to put[te] furþe ¶ I shal sheweþe. þe weye þat shal brynge þe aȝeyne vnto þi house3128I will give your soul wings to soar aloft, so that all tribulation being removed, you may, under my guiding, by my road, and with my vehicle, return whole and sound into your own country.andI shal ficche feþeres in þi þouȝt by whiche it mayarysen in heyȝte. so þat al tribulacioundon awey þouby my gidyng & by my paþeandby my sledes shaltmowen retourne hoolandsounde in to þi contre.3132

2660assent[e]—assente2662mychel—mochel2663goode—good2664price—prys2669is—omittedseyne—seyn2671folke—folkes2673oþer—oothreeche—ech2675absolute—absolutatte arst—at erste2676al—allea—O2677to—omittedwirchyng—wyrkynge2678þilk—thilke2681put—MS. putte, C. putauȝten—owhten2684none—no2685al o—alle oon2686comiþ—comth2689graunt[e]—graunte2690mayst þou graunt[en]—mosthow graunten2692 [of]—from C.2695al—allehaþ—MS. haþe2696, 2697oone—oon2698whiche—which2703dede—dedlenger—lengerebeste—beest2704while—whiloon—oo2706 [so]diuide[d]—so deuydyd2709so—omitted2713many—manye2718willynge—wylnyngeor—and2719þing—beestout forþe—owte forth2720lyue—lyuen2723of lijf—of hys lyf2726soule—sowles2727appetite—appetites2729look—loke2730waxen firste—wexen fyrst2733, 2734some—som2734oþir—oothre2753pupllisen—H. publisshen)2755edyfice—MS. edyfitea tyme—H. oon) tyme2758that—H. omitshirs—H. his2774 [fleeth]—from H.2775weleful—H. wilfulle2779slepyt—H. slepen2788seeth—H. seen)wil—H. wille2792And—H. as2796hat—H. haue2800the—H. þo2806perdurablely—H. perdurably2807destroied—H. destrued2811thilke(1)—H. ilke2818heued or elles—H. hede or els2820hyen—H. hyen) tomoste—H. must

2660assent[e]—assente

2662mychel—mochel

2663goode—good

2664price—prys

2669is—omittedseyne—seyn

2671folke—folkes

2673oþer—oothreeche—ech

2675absolute—absolutatte arst—at erste

2676al—allea—O

2677to—omittedwirchyng—wyrkynge

2678þilk—thilke

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

2684none—no

2685al o—alle oon

2686comiþ—comth

2689graunt[e]—graunte

2690mayst þou graunt[en]—mosthow graunten

2692 [of]—from C.

2695al—allehaþ—MS. haþe

2696, 2697oone—oon

2698whiche—which

2703dede—dedlenger—lengerebeste—beest

2704while—whiloon—oo

2706 [so]diuide[d]—so deuydyd

2709so—omitted

2713many—manye

2718willynge—wylnyngeor—and

2719þing—beestout forþe—owte forth

2720lyue—lyuen

2723of lijf—of hys lyf

2726soule—sowles

2727appetite—appetites

2729look—loke

2730waxen firste—wexen fyrst

2733, 2734some—som

2734oþir—oothre

2753pupllisen—H. publisshen)

2755edyfice—MS. edyfitea tyme—H. oon) tyme

2758that—H. omitshirs—H. his

2774 [fleeth]—from H.

2775weleful—H. wilfulle

2779slepyt—H. slepen

2788seeth—H. seen)wil—H. wille

2792And—H. as

2796hat—H. haue

2800the—H. þo

2806perdurablely—H. perdurably

2807destroied—H. destrued

2811thilke(1)—H. ilke

2818heued or elles—H. hede or els

2820hyen—H. hyen) tomoste—H. must

TRUTH INTUITIVE.

WHo so that sekithHe who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the inner light upon the soul itself.sotħ by a deep thoght Andcoueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes //lat hym rollenandtrenden withInne hym self / the Lyhtof his inward syhte // And lat hym gadereayein enclynynge2836in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hysthowhtes /The knowledge that he seeks without he will find treasured up in the recesses of the mind.And lat hym techen his corage that he hathenclosedandhyd / in his tresors / al þat he compaseth orsekith fro withowte //The light of Truth will disperse Error’s dark clouds, and shine forth brighter than the sun.And thanne thilke thing that the2840blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shallyhten more clerly thanne phebushym self ne shyneth //[Chaucer’s gloss.]Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of sothin his thowht /andwol nat be deceyuyd by false proposiciouns /2844that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym welexamine /androlle withinne hym self the natureandthe propretes of the thing // and lat hym yit eft sonesexamineandrollen his thowhtes by good deliberacioun2848or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that ithat by naturel pryncyplis kyndeliche y-hyd withinit self alle the trowthe the whiche he ymagynith to benin thinges withowte // And thanne alle the dyrknesse of2852his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [þe]syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semythto [þe] syhte withowte forth /For when the body enclosed the soul and cast oblivion o’er its powers it did wholly exterminate the heaven-born light.For certes the bodybryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd2856owt of yowrethowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //The germs of truth were latent within, and were fanned into action by the gentle breath of learning.For certeynly the seed of sooth haldithandclyuethwithin yowrecorage /andit is a-wakedandexcited bythe wyndeandby the blastes of doctryne //Were not truth implanted in the heart, how could man distinguish right from wrong?For where2860for elles demen ye of yowreowne wyl the ryhtes whanye ben axed // but yif so wereþat the noryssynges ofresounne lyuede .I.-plowngyd in the depthe of yowreherte // this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen þe2864sooth of any thing þat weereaxed / yif ther neereaRoote of sothfastnesse þat weereyplowngydandhyd inthe nature[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesselyued within the depnesse of the thowght //So, if what Plato taught is true, ‘to learn is no other than to remember what had been before forgotten.’andyif2868so be þat the Museandthe doctryne of plato syngythsooth // al þat euery whyht lerneth / he ne doth nothing elles thanne but recordeth as menrecordyn thingesþat ben foryetyn.2872

2838his—H. þisthat—H.andþat2841blake—H. blakhadde y-couered—H. had couered2842lyhten—H. light2843dep[e]—C. dep, H. depe2847thing—H. þynges2863depthe—H. depe2864 [is]—from H.sholden—H. shulde2867nature[l]—H. naturelle

2838his—H. þisthat—H.andþat

2841blake—H. blakhadde y-couered—H. had couered

2842lyhten—H. light

2843dep[e]—C. dep, H. depe

2847thing—H. þynges

2863depthe—H. depe

2864 [is]—from H.sholden—H. shulde

2867nature[l]—H. naturelle

THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD.

THanne seideB.I am quite of Plato’s opinion, for you have now a second time recalled these things to my remembrance which had been forgotten, first by the contagious union of soul and body, and afterwards by the pressure of my afflictions.I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / forthow remenbristandrecordist me thise thinges yit][*Addit. MS. 10,340, fol. 23.]*þe seconde tyme. þat is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] mymemorie by þe contagioũs coniuncciounof þe body wiþ2876þe soule.andeftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it confoundedby þe chargeandby þe burden of my sorwe.P.If you will reflect upon the concessions you have already made, you will soon call to mind that truth, of which you lately confessed your ignorance.¶ And þan sayde she þus. ¶ If þou look[e] quod shefirste þe þinges þat þou hast graunted it ne shal nat2880ben ryȝt feer þat þou ne shalt remembren þilke þing þatþou seidest þat þou nistest nat.B.What is that?what þing quod I.P.It was, by what power the world is governed.¶ by whiche gouerment quod she þat þis worlde isgouerned.B.With regard to that, I own I confessed my ignorance, but though I now remotely see what you infer, yet I wish for further explanation from you.Me remembriþ it wel quod I.andI confesse2884wel þat I ne wist[e] it nat ¶ But al be it so þatI se now fromafer what þou purposest ¶ Algates Idesire ȝit to herkene it of þe more pleynely.P.You acknowledged a little while ago that this world was governed by God?¶ þou newendest nat quod she a litel here byforne þat men2888sholden doute þat þis worlde is gouerned by god.B.I still cling to this opinion, and will give you my reasons for this belief.¶ Certys quod I ne ȝitte doute I it nauȝt. ne I nilneuer wene þat it were to doute. as who seiþ. but Iwot wel þat god gouerneþ þis worlde. ¶ And I shal2892shortly answere þe by what resouns I am brouȝt to þis.The discordant elements of this world would never have assumed their present form unless there had been a wise Intelligence to unite them; and even after such a union, the joining of such opposites would have disunited and ruined the fabric made up of them, had not the same conjoining hand kept them together.¶ þis worlde quodI of so many dyuerseandcontrariousparties ne myȝten neuer han ben assembled in o forme.but yif þere ne were oon þat conioigned so many[e2896diuerse] þinges. ¶ And þe same diuersite of hirenatures þat so discordeden þat oon fro þat oþer most[e]departenandvnioignenþe þinges þat ben conioigned.yif þere ne were oon þat contened[e] þat he haþ conioigned2900andybounde.The order that reigns throughout nature could not proceed so regularly and uniformly if there were not a Being, unchangeable and stedfast, to order and dispose so great a diversity of changes.ne þe certein ordre of nature nesholde. nat brynge furþe so ordinee moeuynge. byplaces. by tymes. by doynges. by spaces. by qualites.yif þere ne were oon þat were ay stedfast dwellynge.2904þat ordeyned[e]anddisposed[e] þise diuersites ofmoeuynges.This Being, the creator and ruler of all things, I call God.¶ and þilke þinge what so euer it be. bywhiche þat alle þinges ben makedandylad. I clepehym god þat is a worde þat is vsed to alle folke.P.As thy sentiments on these points are so just I have but little more to do—for thou mayest be happy and secure, and revisit thy own country.þan2908seide she. syn þou felest þus þise þinges quod she. Itrowe þat I haue lytel more to done. þat þou myȝty ofwilfulnesse hoolandsounde ne se eftsones þi contre.

GOD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT.

But let us reflect a little more upon these matters.¶ But lat vs loken þe þinges þat we han purposed her-byforn.2912Did we not agree thatSufficiencyis of the nature of true happiness?¶ Haue I nat noumbredandseid quodsheþat suffisaunce is in blisfulnesse.And have we not seen that God is that true felicity, and that He needs no external aid nor instruments?andwe han accordedþat god isandþilke same blisfulnesse. ¶ yis forsoþe quodI.andþat to gouerne þis worlde quodshe. ne shal he2916neuer han nede of none helpe fro wiþoute.For if he should, he would not be self-sufficient.for ellys yifhe had[de] nede of any helpe. he ne sholde not haue[no] ful suffisaunce. ȝis þus it mot nedes be quod I.And he directs all things by himself alone?¶ þan ordeyneþ he by hym self al oon alle þinges quod2920she.B.It cannot be gainsaid.þat may nat ben denied quod I.P.I have shown that God is the chief good; God must, therefore, direct and order all things bygood, since he governs them by himself, whom we have proved to be thesupreme good, and he is that helm and rudder, by which this machine of the world is steadily and securely conducted.¶ And I haueshewed þat god is þe same good. ¶ It remembreþ mewel quod I. ¶ þan ordeineþ he alle þinges by þilkegoode quodshe. Syn he whiche we han accorded to2924ben good gouerneþ alle þingusby hym self.andhe is akeyeanda stiere by whiche þat þe edifice of þis worldeis ykept stableandwiþ oute corumpyngeB.I entirely agree to this, and partly anticipated your remarks.¶ I accordeme gretly quodI.andI aperceiuede a litel here byforn2928þat þou woldest seyne þus. Al be it so þat it were bya þinne suspecioun.P.I believe it; for your eyes are now more intent upon these great truths relating to true felicity; but what I am going to say is not less open to your view.I trowe it wel quod she. ¶ For asI trowe þou leedest nowe more ententifly þine eyen toloken þe verray goodes ¶ but naþeles þe þinges þat I2932shal telle þe ȝit ne sheweþ nat lasse to loken.B.What is that?what isþat quod I.P.As we believe that God governs all things by his goodness, and that all things have a natural tendency towards thegood, can it be doubted but that they all voluntarily submit to the will and control of their ruler?¶ So as men trowen quod sheandþatryȝtfully þat god gouerneþ alle þinges by þe keye of hisgoodnesse. ¶ And alle þise same þinges as I [haue]2936tauȝt þe. hasten hem by naturel entenciounto comento goode þer may no man douten. þat þei ne bengouerned uoluntariely.andþat þei ne conuerten [hem]nat of her owenwille to þe wille of hire ordenour.2940

ALL THINGS SUBMIT TO GOD.

B.It cannot be otherwise. There would be no safety for those who obey, if the discord of a portion were allowed.as þei þat ben accordyngandenclinynge to her gouernourandher kyng. ¶ It mot nedys be so quod. I.[* Fol. 23b.]*¶ For þe realme ne sholde not seme blisful ȝif þere were a ȝokof mysdrawynges in diuerse parties ne þe sauynge of2944obedient þinges ne sholde nat be.P.Is there anything that follows the dictates of nature that seeks to counteract the will of God?þan is þere no þingquod she þat kepiþ hys nature;þat enforceþ hym togone aȝeyne god.B.No.¶ No quod. I.P.If there should be any such, it could not prevail against him, who is supremely happy and consequently omnipotent.¶ And if þat any þingenforced[e] hym to wiþstonde god. myȝt[e] it auayle at2948þe laste aȝeyns hym þat we han graunted to ben almyȝty by þe ryȝt of blisfulnesse. ¶ Certis quod I alouterly it ne myȝt[e] nat auaylen hym.Then there is nothing that either will or can withstand this supreme good?þan is þere noþing quod she þat eyþer wol or may wiþstonde to þis2952souereyne good.B.Nothing, certainly.¶ I trowe nat quod. IP.It is then the supreme good that governs and orders all things powerfully and benignly.¶ þan isþilke þe souereyne good quod she þat alle þingusgouerneþ stronglyandordeyneþ hem softly.B.I am delighted with yourconclusions, but much more with yourlanguage; so that fools may be ashamed of their objections to the divine government.þanseide Iþus. I delite me quod I nat oonly in þe endes or in þe2956sommes of [the] resouns þat þou hast concludidandproued. ¶ But þilke wordes þat þou vsest deliten memoche more. ¶ So at þe last[e] fooles þat somtymerenden greet[e] þinges auȝtenben asshamed of hem2960self.[Chaucer’s gloss.]¶ þat is to seyne þat we fooles þat reprehendenwickedly þe þingusþat touchen goddes gouernaunce weauȝtenben asshamed of oure self. As I þat seide godrefuseþ oonly þe werkes of men.andne entremetiþ nat2964of hem.P.You have read the Poets’ fables, how the Giants stormed heaven—how they were repulsed and punished according to their deserts; but may we not compare our reasons together, for by so doing some clear spark of truth may shine forth?p.þou hast wel herd quod she þe fables of þepoetes. how þe geauntes assailden þe heuene wiþ þegoddes. but for soþe þe debonaire force of god disposed[e]hem so as it was worþi. þat is to seyne distroied[e] þe2968geauntes. as it was worþi. ¶ But wilt þou þat weioygnen togedre þilke same resouns. for perauenture ofswiche coniuncciounmay sterten vp some faire sperkeleof soþeB.As you please.¶ Do quod I as þe list.P.Is God omnipotent?wenest þou quod she2972þat god ne is almyȝty. no man is in doute of it.B.No one doubts it.Certysquod I no wyȝt ne defendiþ it if he be in hys mynde.

EVIL HAS NO EXISTENCE.

P.If he is almighty, there are, then, no limits to his power?but he quod she þat is al myȝty þere nis no þing þat hene may do.B.He can doubtless do all things.þat is soþe quod I.P.May God do evil?May god done yuel2976quod she.B.No.nay for soþe quod. I.P.Is evil nothing, since God, who is almighty, cannot do it?¶ þan is yuel no þingquod she. ¶ Syn þat he ne may not done yuel þatmay done alle þinges.B.Dost thou mock me or play with me, leading me with thy arguments into an inextricable labyrinth, and enclosing me in a wonderful circle of Divine Simplicity?scornest þou me quod. I. or ellyspleyest þou or deceiuest þou me. þat hast so wouen me2980wiþ þi resouns. þe house of didalus so entrelaced. þat itis vnable to ben vnlaced. þou þat oþer while entrestþere þou issestandoþer while issest þere þou entrest.ne fooldest þou nat to gidre by replicaciounof wordes a2984maner wondirful cercle or envirounynge of symplicitedeuyne.For thou didst first begin with happiness, and didst say that it was the sovereign good, and that it resided in God; then, that God was thatGoodand the perfection of happiness; and, hence, thou didst infer that nobody could be happy unless he became likewise a God.¶ For certys a litel her byfornewhan þou bygunneatte blisfulnesse þou seidest þat it is souereynegood.andseidest þat it is set in souereyne god.andþat2988god is þe ful[le] blisfulnesse. for whiche þou ȝaf[e] meas a couenable ȝifte. þat is to seyne þat no wyȝt nisblisful. but yif he be good al so þer wiþAgain, thou saidst that the very form of good was the substance whereof God and happiness were composed, and that it was the object and desire of all things in nature.andseidesteke þat þe forme of goode is þe substaunce of god.and2992of blisfulnesse.andseidest þat þilke same oone is þilkesame goode þat is requeredanddesired of al þe kyndeof þinges.Thou didst prove that God rules the world by his goodness, and that all things willingly obeyed him; and that evil has no existence.andþou proeuedest in disputynge þat godgouerneþ alle [the] þinges of þe worlde by þe gouernementys2996of bountee.andseydest þat alle þinges wolenybeyen to hym. and seidest þat þe nature of yuel nisno þing.These truths you established by forcible and natural arguments, and by no strained and far-fetched reasons.andþise þinges ne shewedest þou nat wiþ noresouns ytake fro wiþoute but by proues in cerclesand3000homelyche knowen. ¶ þe whiche proeues drawen to hemself hir feiþandhir accorde eueriche [of] hem of oþer. þanseide she þus.P.I have not deluded you, for by the Divine aid we have accomplished our chief task.I ne scorne þe nat ne pleye ne desseyueþe. but I haue shewed to þe þinge þat is grettest ouer3004alle þinges by þe ȝifte of god þat we some tyme prayden

GOD IS LIKE A SPHERE.

I have proved to you that it is an essential property of the Divine nature not to go out of itself, nor to receive into itself anything extraneous.¶ For þis is þe forme of [the] deuyne substaunce. þatis swiche þat it ne slydeþ nat in to outerest foreineþinges. ne ne rec[e]yueþ no strange þinges in hym.Parmenides says of the Deity thatGod is like a well-rounded sphere.but3008ryȝt as parmaynws seide in grek of þilke deuyne substaunce.he seide þus þat þilke deuyne substauncetorneþ þe worldeandþilke cercle moeueable of þingeswhile þilke dyuyne substaunce kepiþ it self wiþ outen3012moeuynge.[* fol. 24.]He causes the moving globe to revolve, but is himself immovable.þat *is to seyne þat it ne moeuiþ neuere mo.andȝitte it moeueþ alle oþer þinges.If I have chosen my arguments from the subjects within range of our discussion, do not let that surprise you, for, as Plato has taught us, there ought to be an alliance between the words and the subject of discourse.but na-þeles yif I[haue] stered resouns þat ne ben nat taken fro wiþ outeþe compas of þe þinge of whiche we treten. but resouns3016þat ben bystowed wiþ inne þat compas þere nis nat whiþat þou sholde[st] merueylen. sen þou hast lerned byþe sentence of plato þat nedes þe wordes moten bencosynes to þo þinges of whiche þei speken.3020

2875, 2877lost[e]—loste2878burden—burdene2879look[e]—looke2880firste—fyrst2883whiche—whichgouerment—gouernementworlde—wordyl2885wist[e]—wiste2887pleynely—pleynly2888here byforne—her byforn2889worlde is—world nis2890ȝitte doute—yit ne dowtenil—nel2892wot—MS. wote, C. wot2892, 2894worlde—world2893answere—answeren2894many—manye2895myȝten—myhte2896þere—thermany[e]—manye2897 [diuerse]—from C.hire—hir2898most[e]—moste2900þere—thercontened[e]—contenedehaþ—MS. haþe2902furþe—forthordinee moeuynge—ordene moeuynges2904þere—therstedfast—stidefast2905ordeyned[e]—ordeynededisposed[e]—disponede2907whiche—whichben—beylad—MS. yladde, C. I-ladd2908worde—wordfolke—foolk2911wilfulnesse—welefulnesse2912han—ha2913seid—MS. seide, C. seyd2916worlde—world2917none helpe—non help2918had[de]—haddehelpe—help2919 [no]—from C.2920al oon—allone2921ben denied—be denoyed2924, 2926whiche—which2925ben—be2926worlde—world2928gretly—gretelyhere—her2929seyne—seye2931nowe—now2932naþeles—nat[h]les2935ryȝtfully—MS. on ryȝtfully2936 [haue]—from C.2938goode—good2939 [hem]—from C.2940nat—omittedher—hirowen—ownewille(both)—wilhire—hyr2941her—hyr2943realme—Reaumeseme—semen2945þere—ther2947gone aȝeyne—goon ayein2948enforced[e]—enforcedemyȝt[e]—myhteauayle—auaylen2949aȝeyns—a-yenis2951outerly—owtrelymyȝt[e]—myhteauaylen—MS. aualeyne, C. auaylenhym—hemþere—ther2952wol—wolewiþstonde—with-stondynþis souereyne—his souereyn2955softly—softtely2957sommes—somme[the]—from C.2959last[e]—laste2960greet[e]—grete2960, 2963auȝten—owhten2961seyne—seyn2965of hem—of itherd—MS. herde, C. herd2967disposed[e]—desposede2968seyne distroied[e]—seyn destroyede2971swiche—swychsome—som2972soþe—sothlist—liste2973is(1)—beman—omittedis(2)—nis2974defendiþ—dowteth2975þere—ther2976do—C. omitssoþe—sothdone—don2978, 2979done—don2980wouen—MS. wonnen, C. wouen2981house—hows2983þere(both)—ther2987atte—at2988set—MS. sette, C. set2989ful[le]—fullewhiche—whichȝaf[e]—yaue2990ȝifte—yiftseyne—seyn2992, 2994goode—good2993oone—oon2994al—alle2996 [the]—from C.2998ybeyen—obeyen2999no(2)—none3000ytake—I-taken3001homelyche—hoomlich3002eueriche—euerich[of]—from C.3004þe þinge—the the thing3005ȝifte—yiftsome tyme prayden—whilom preyeden3006 [the]—from C.3007swiche—swich3009parmaynws—a parmanides3011worlde—world3012while—whilwiþ outen—withowte3013seyne—seyn3014ȝitte—yitoþer—oothre3015 [haue]—from C.3016whiche—which3017wiþ inne—within3020cosynes—MS. conceyued, C. cosynesþo—þewhiche—which

2875, 2877lost[e]—loste

2878burden—burdene

2879look[e]—looke

2880firste—fyrst

2883whiche—whichgouerment—gouernementworlde—wordyl

2885wist[e]—wiste

2887pleynely—pleynly

2888here byforne—her byforn

2889worlde is—world nis

2890ȝitte doute—yit ne dowtenil—nel

2892wot—MS. wote, C. wot

2892, 2894worlde—world

2893answere—answeren

2894many—manye

2895myȝten—myhte

2896þere—thermany[e]—manye

2897 [diuerse]—from C.hire—hir

2898most[e]—moste

2900þere—thercontened[e]—contenedehaþ—MS. haþe

2902furþe—forthordinee moeuynge—ordene moeuynges

2904þere—therstedfast—stidefast

2905ordeyned[e]—ordeynededisposed[e]—disponede

2907whiche—whichben—beylad—MS. yladde, C. I-ladd

2908worde—wordfolke—foolk

2911wilfulnesse—welefulnesse

2912han—ha

2913seid—MS. seide, C. seyd

2916worlde—world

2917none helpe—non help

2918had[de]—haddehelpe—help

2919 [no]—from C.

2920al oon—allone

2921ben denied—be denoyed

2924, 2926whiche—which

2925ben—be

2926worlde—world

2928gretly—gretelyhere—her

2929seyne—seye

2931nowe—now

2932naþeles—nat[h]les

2935ryȝtfully—MS. on ryȝtfully

2936 [haue]—from C.

2938goode—good

2939 [hem]—from C.

2940nat—omittedher—hirowen—ownewille(both)—wilhire—hyr

2941her—hyr

2943realme—Reaumeseme—semen

2945þere—ther

2947gone aȝeyne—goon ayein

2948enforced[e]—enforcedemyȝt[e]—myhteauayle—auaylen

2949aȝeyns—a-yenis

2951outerly—owtrelymyȝt[e]—myhteauaylen—MS. aualeyne, C. auaylenhym—hemþere—ther

2952wol—wolewiþstonde—with-stondynþis souereyne—his souereyn

2955softly—softtely

2957sommes—somme[the]—from C.

2959last[e]—laste

2960greet[e]—grete

2960, 2963auȝten—owhten

2961seyne—seyn

2965of hem—of itherd—MS. herde, C. herd

2967disposed[e]—desposede

2968seyne distroied[e]—seyn destroyede

2971swiche—swychsome—som

2972soþe—sothlist—liste

2973is(1)—beman—omittedis(2)—nis

2974defendiþ—dowteth

2975þere—ther

2976do—C. omitssoþe—sothdone—don

2978, 2979done—don

2980wouen—MS. wonnen, C. wouen

2981house—hows

2983þere(both)—ther

2987atte—at

2988set—MS. sette, C. set

2989ful[le]—fullewhiche—whichȝaf[e]—yaue

2990ȝifte—yiftseyne—seyn

2992, 2994goode—good

2993oone—oon

2994al—alle

2996 [the]—from C.

2998ybeyen—obeyen

2999no(2)—none

3000ytake—I-taken

3001homelyche—hoomlich

3002eueriche—euerich[of]—from C.

3004þe þinge—the the thing

3005ȝifte—yiftsome tyme prayden—whilom preyeden

3006 [the]—from C.

3007swiche—swich

3009parmaynws—a parmanides

3011worlde—world

3012while—whilwiþ outen—withowte

3013seyne—seyn

3014ȝitte—yitoþer—oothre

3015 [haue]—from C.

3016whiche—which

3017wiþ inne—within

3020cosynes—MS. conceyued, C. cosynesþo—þewhiche—which

THE POWER OF MUSIC.

Blisful isHappy is he that hath seen the lucid spring of truth! Happy the man that hath freed himself from terrestrial chains!þat man þat may seen þe clere welle of good.blisful is he þat may vnbynde hym fro þe bonde ofheuy erþe.The Thracian poet, consumed with grief for the loss of his wife, sought relief from music.¶ þe poete of trace [orpheus] þat somtymehadde ryȝt greet sorowe for þe deeþ of hys wijf.His mournful songs drew the woods along; the rolling rivers ceased to flow; the savage beasts became heedless of their prey; the timid hare was not aghast at the hound.aftir þat3024he hadde maked by hys wepely songes þe wodes meueableto rennen.andhadde ymaked þe ryueres to stondenstille.andmaked þe hertysandhyndes to ioignendredles hir sides to cruel lyouns to herkene his songe.3028andhad[de] maked þat þe hare was nat agast of þehounde whiche þat was plesed by hys songe.But the songs that did all things tame, could not allay their master’s ardent love.so þatwhane þe most[e] ardaunt loue of hys wijf brende þeentrailes of his brest. ne þe songes þat hadde ouer3032comen alle þinges ne myȝten nat assuage hir lordeorpheus.He bewailed the cruelty of the gods above, and descended to Pluto’s realm.¶ He pleyned[e] hym of þe godes þat werencruel to hym. he wente hym to þe houses of helleThere he struck his tuneful strings and sang, exhausting all the harmonious art imparted to him by his mother Calliope.andþere he tempred[e] hys blaundissyng songes by resounyng3036of hys strenges. ¶ And spakandsong inwepynge alle þat euer he hadde resceyuedandlauedoute of þe noble welles of hys modir calliope þe goddesse.In songs dictated both by grief and love, he implored the infernal powers to give him back his Eurydice.andhe song wiþ as mychel as he myȝt[e] of3040wepynge.andwiþ as myche as loue þat doubled[e] hissorwe myȝt[e] ȝeuen hymandteche hymin his sekeherte. ¶ And he commoeuede þe helleandrequered[e]andsouȝte by swete preiere þe lordes of soules in helle3044of relesynge. þat is to seyne to ȝelden hym hys wif.Cerberus, Hell’s three-headed porter, stood amazed;¶ Cerberus þe porter of helle wiþ his þre heuedes wascauȝtandal abaist for þe new[e] songe.the Furies, tormentors of guilty souls, did weep;andþe þre goddessesfurijsandvengerisse of felonies þat tourmenten3048andagastenþe soules by anoye wexen sorwefulandsoryandwepen teres for pitee.Ixion, tormented by the revolving wheel, found rest;þan was nat þe heued ofIxioneytourmented by þe ouerþrowing whele.Tantalus, suffering from a long and raging thirst, despised the stream;¶ Andtantalus þat was destroied by þe woodnesse of longe3052þrust dispiseþ þe flodes to drynke.and the greedy vulture did cease to eat and tear the growing liver of Tityus.þe fowel þat hyȝtvoltor þat etiþ þe stomak or þe giser of ticius is so fulfilledof his songe þat it nil etyn ne tyren no more.

FIX NOT THE THOUGHTS ON EARTHLY THINGS.

At length Pluto himself relented, crying out, ‘We are overcome! Let us give him back his wife, he hath well won her by his song.¶ Atte þe laste þe lordeandIuge of soules was moeued3056to misericordesandcried[e] we ben ouer comen quodhe. yif[e] we to orpheus his wijf to bere hym compaignyehe haþ welle I-bouȝt hir by his faire songeandhis ditee.But we will lay this injunction upon him. Till he escape the infernal bounds, he shall not cast a backward look.’but we wil puttena lawe in þis.andcouenaunt3060in þe ȝifte. þat is to seyne. þat til he be out ofhelle yif he loke byhynden hym [þat] hys wijf shalcomenaȝeine to vsBut, who shall give a lover any law? Love is a greater law than may be given to any earthly man.¶ but what is he þat may ȝeue alawe to loueres. loue is a gretter laweanda strengere to3064hym self þan any lawe þat men may ȝeuen.Alas! having left the realms of night, Orpheus cast a look behind and lost his too-much-loved Euridice.¶ Allaswhan Orpheusandhis wijf were al most at þe termes ofþe nyȝt. þat is to seyne at þe last[e] boundes of helle.Orpheus loked[e] abakwarde on Erudice his wijfand3068lost[e] hirandwas deed.This fable belongs to all you, whose minds would view the Sovereign Good.¶ þis fable apperteineþ toȝow alle who so euer desireþ or sekiþ to lede his þouȝtein to þe souereyne day. þat is to seyne to clerenes[se]of souereyne goode.For he who fixes his thoughts upon earthly things and low, must lose the noble and heaven-imparted Good.¶ For who so þat euere be so ouer3072comenþat he fycche hys eyen in to þe put[te] of helle.þat is to seyne who so setteþ his þouȝtes in erþelyþinges. al þat euer he haþ drawen of þe noble goodcelestial he lesiþ it whan he lokeþ þe helles. þat is to3076seyne to lowe þinges of þe erþe.

EXPLICIT LIBER TERCIUS.

3022vnbynde—vnbyndynbonde—bondes3023 [orpheus]—from C.somtyme—whilom3024sorowe—sorwe3028dredles—dredelesto herkene—forto herknen3029had[de]—hadde3030þat(2)—omitted3031most[e]—moste3032hadde—hadden3033assuage—asswagenlorde—lord3034pleyned[e]—pleynedegodes—heuene goodes3035wente—MS. wenten, C. wente3036tempred[e]hys—temprede hise3037of hys—C. omitsspak—MS. spakke, C. spaksong—MS. songe, C. soonge3038alle—al3039oute—owtgoddesse—goddes3040song—MS. songe, C. soongemychel—mochel3041myche—mochedoubled[e]—dowblede3042myȝt[e]—myhteȝeuen—yeueteche—thechenin——herte—omitted3043commoeuede—MS. comaunded, C. commoeuede3044souȝte—by-sowhte3045ȝelden—yilden3046his—hise3047cauȝt—MS. cauȝte, C. cawhtnew[e]songe—newe song3049anoye——sorweful—anoy woxen soruful3050þan—tho ne3051whele—wheel3053þrust—thursthyȝt—hihte3054fulfilled—fulfyld3055songe—song3056Atte—Atlorde—lord3057cried[e]—cryde3058yif[e]—yiue3059haþ—MS. haþewelle—welfaire—C. omitssonge—song3060wil putten—wol putte3062byhynden—by-hynde[þat]—from C.3063to—vn-to3064gretter—gret3066were al most—weren almest3067last[e]—laste3068loked[e]abakwarde—lookede abacward3069lost[e]—loste3070þouȝte—thowht3071clerenes[se]—clernesse3072souereyne goode—souereyn god3073put[te]—putte3074setteþ—sette3075haþ—MS. haþe

3022vnbynde—vnbyndynbonde—bondes

3023 [orpheus]—from C.somtyme—whilom

3024sorowe—sorwe

3028dredles—dredelesto herkene—forto herknen

3029had[de]—hadde

3030þat(2)—omitted

3031most[e]—moste

3032hadde—hadden

3033assuage—asswagenlorde—lord

3034pleyned[e]—pleynedegodes—heuene goodes

3035wente—MS. wenten, C. wente

3036tempred[e]hys—temprede hise

3037of hys—C. omitsspak—MS. spakke, C. spaksong—MS. songe, C. soonge

3038alle—al

3039oute—owtgoddesse—goddes

3040song—MS. songe, C. soongemychel—mochel

3041myche—mochedoubled[e]—dowblede

3042myȝt[e]—myhteȝeuen—yeueteche—thechenin——herte—omitted

3043commoeuede—MS. comaunded, C. commoeuede

3044souȝte—by-sowhte

3045ȝelden—yilden

3046his—hise

3047cauȝt—MS. cauȝte, C. cawhtnew[e]songe—newe song

3049anoye——sorweful—anoy woxen soruful

3050þan—tho ne

3051whele—wheel

3053þrust—thursthyȝt—hihte

3054fulfilled—fulfyld

3055songe—song

3056Atte—Atlorde—lord

3057cried[e]—cryde

3058yif[e]—yiue

3059haþ—MS. haþewelle—welfaire—C. omitssonge—song

3060wil putten—wol putte

3062byhynden—by-hynde[þat]—from C.

3063to—vn-to

3064gretter—gret

3066were al most—weren almest

3067last[e]—laste

3068loked[e]abakwarde—lookede abacward

3069lost[e]—loste

3070þouȝte—thowht

3071clerenes[se]—clernesse

3072souereyne goode—souereyn god

3073put[te]—putte

3074setteþ—sette

3075haþ—MS. haþe

THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL.

WhanneWhen P. with grace and dignity had poured forth her songs, I, not quite quit of my load of grief, interrupted her as she was continuing her discourse.philosophie hadde songensoftlyanddelitablyþe forseide þinges kepynge þe dignitee of hirchoere in þe weyȝte of hir wordes. I þan þat ne hadde3080nat al outerly forȝeten þe wepyngandmournyngþat was set in myne herte for-brek þe entenciounof hirþat entended[e] ȝitte to seyne oþerþinges.All your discourses, O my conductress to the true light! have been very clear and unanswerable, both by the divine testimony which they carry along with them, and by thy irrefragable arguments.¶ Se quodI. þou þat art gideresse of verray lyȝte þe þinges þat þou3084hast seid [me] hider to ben to me so clereandso shewyngby þe deuyne lokyng of hemandby þi resouns þatþei ne mowe nat ben ouercomen.Through the oppression of grief I had forgotten these truths, but was not wholly ignorant of them.¶ And þilke þingusþat þou toldest me. al be it so þat I hadde som tyme3088fo[r]ȝeten hem for [the] sorwe of þe wronge þat haþ bendon to me. ȝit naþeles þei ne were nat alouterly vnknowento me.The principal cause of my trouble is this—that, whilst the absolute Ruler of all things is goodness itself,but þis same is namly a gret cause ofmy sorwe. þat so as þe gouernoure of þinges is goode.3092

evil exists and is allowed to pass unpunished.yif þat yuelys mowen ben by any weyes. or ellys yifþat yuelys passen wiþ outen punyssheinge.This, to say the least, is astonishing.þe whicheþinge oonly how worþi it is to ben wondred vpon. þouconsiderest it weel þi self certeynly.Moreover, whileviceflourishesvirtueis not only unrewarded, but trampled under foot by base and profligate men, and suffers the punishment due to impiety.but ȝitte to þis3096þing þere is an oþer þing y-ioigned more to ben ywondredvpon. ¶ For felonie is emperisseandflowreþ ful ofrycchesse. and vertues nis nat al oonly wiþ outen medes.but it is cast vndirandfortroden vndir þe feet of felonous3100folk.andit abieþ þe tourmentes in sted ofwicked felounsHere is cause for wonderment, since such things are possible under the government of an omniscient and omnipotent God, who wills nothing but what is the best.¶ Of al[le] whiche þing þer nis no wyȝtþat [may] merueyllen ynouȝ ne compleyne þat swicheþinges ben don in þe regne of god þat alle þinges woot.3104and alle þinges mayandne wool nat but only goodeþinges.P.It were indeed, not only marvellous, but also horribly monstrous, if, in the well-regulated family of so great a master, the worthless vessels should be honoured and the precious ones be despised:—but it is not so.¶ þan seide she þus. certys quod she þat werea grete meruayleandan enbaissynge wiþouten ende.andwel more horrible þan alle monstres yif it were as3108þou wenest. þat is to sein. þat in þe ryȝt ordeyne houseof so mochel a faderandan ordenour of meyne. þat þevesseles þat ben fouleandvyle sholde ben honouredandheried. and þe precious uesseles sholde ben defouled3112andvyle. but it nis nat so.For if the conclusions we have come to, be sound and irrefragable, we must confess that under God’s rule thegoodare always powerful and mighty, and thewickedweak and contemptible;For yif þe þingesþat I haue concluded a litel here byforne ben kept hooleandvnraced. þou shalt wel knowe by þe auctorite ofgod. of þe whos regne I speke þat certys þe good[e]3116folk ben alwey myȝty.andshrewes ben alwey yuelandfeble.that vice never passes unpunished, nor virtue goes unrewarded;ne þe vices ben neuere mo wiþ outen peyne;neþe vertues ne ben nat wiþ outen mede.that happiness attends good men, and misfortune falls to the lot of the wicked.and þat blisfulnessescomen alwey to goode folke.andinfortune comeþ3120alwey to wicked folke.These and many other truths of like nature shall be proved to thee, and shall put an end to thy complaints,¶ And þou shalt wel knowemany[e] þinges of þis kynde þat sholle cessen þi pleyntes.

and strengthen thee with firmness and solidity.andstedfast þe wiþ stedfast saddenesse.Having shown you a picture of true felicity, and wherein it resides, I shall now trace out the way which will lead you to your home.¶ And for þouhast seyn þe forme of þe verray blisfulnesse by me þat3124[haue] somtyme I-shewed it þe. And þou hast knoweninwhom blysfulnesse is set. alle þinges I treted þat Itrowe ben nessessarie to put[te] furþe ¶ I shal sheweþe. þe weye þat shal brynge þe aȝeyne vnto þi house3128I will give your soul wings to soar aloft, so that all tribulation being removed, you may, under my guiding, by my road, and with my vehicle, return whole and sound into your own country.andI shal ficche feþeres in þi þouȝt by whiche it mayarysen in heyȝte. so þat al tribulacioundon awey þouby my gidyng & by my paþeandby my sledes shaltmowen retourne hoolandsounde in to þi contre.3132

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