The following section contains the text alone of Chaucer’s translation of De Consolatione Philosophiae, without the editor’s annotations. It is followed by the Glossarial Index.
Allas I wepyng am constreined to bygynne vers of sorouful matere. ¶ Þat whilom in florysching studie made delitable ditees. For loo rendyng muses of poetes enditen to me þinges to be writen. and drery vers of wrecchednes weten my face wiþ verray teers. ¶ At þe leest no drede ne myȝt[e] ouer-come þo muses. þat þei ne weren felawes and folweden my wey. þat is to seyne when I was exiled. þei þat weren glorie of my youȝth whilom weleful and grene conforten now þe sorouful werdes of me olde man. for elde is comen vnwarly vpon me hasted by þe harmes þat I haue. and sorou haþ comaunded his age to be in me. ¶ Heeres hore ben schad ouertymelyche vpon myne heued. and þe slak[e] skyn trembleþ vpon myn emty body. þilk[e] deeþ of men is welful þat ne comeþ not in ȝeres þat ben swete (.i. mirie.) but comeþ to wrecches often yclepid.
¶ Allas allas wiþ how deef an eere deeþ cruel tourneþ awey fro wrecches and naieþ to closen wepyng eyen. ¶ While fortune vnfeiþful fauored[e] me wiþ lyȝte goodes (.s. temporels.) þe sorouful houre þat is to seyne þe deeþ had[de] almost dreynt myne heued. ¶ But now for fortune clowdy haþ chaunged hir disceyuable chere to me warde. myn vnpitouse lijf draweþ a long vnagreable dwellynges in me. ¶ O ȝe my frendes what or wherto auaunted[e] ȝe me to be weleful: for he þat haþ fallen stood not in stedfast degree.
IN þe mene while þat I stille recorded[e] þise þinges wiþ my self. and markede my wepli compleynte wiþ office of poyntel. I saw stondyng aboue þe heyȝt of my heued a woman of ful greet reuerence by semblaunt hir eyen brennyng and clere seing ouer þe comune myȝt of men. wiþ a lijfly colour and wiþ swiche vigoure and strenkeþ þat it ne myȝt[e] not be emptid. ¶ Al were it so þat sche was ful of so greet age. þat men ne wolde not trowe in no manere þat sche were of oure elde. þe stature of hir was of a doutous iugement. for sumtyme sche constreyned[e] and schronk hir seluen lyche to þe comune mesure of men. and sumtyme it semed[e] þat sche touched[e] þe heuene wiþ þe heyȝte of hir heued. and when sche hef hir heued heyer sche perced[e] þe selue heuene. so þat þe syȝt of men lokyng was in ydel. ¶ Hir cloþes weren maked of ryȝt delye þredes and subtil crafte of perdurable matere. þe wyche cloþes sche hadde wouen wiþ hir owen hondes: as I knew wel aftir by hir selfe. declaryng and schewyng to me þe beaute. þe wiche cloþes a derkenes of a forleten and dispised elde had[de] duskid and dirkid as it is wont to dirken by-smoked ymages. ¶ In þe neþerest[e] hem or bordure of þese cloþes men redden ywouen in swiche a gregkysche .P. þat signifieþ þe lijf actif. And abouen þat lettre in þe heyȝest[e] bordure a grekysche T. þat signifieþ þe lijf contemplatif. ¶ And by-twene þese two lettres þere weren seien degrees nobly wrouȝt in manere of laddres. By wyche degrees men myȝt[en] clymbe fro þe neþemast[e] lettre to þe ouermast[e]. ¶ Naþeles hondes of sum men hadde korue þat cloþe by vyolence and by strenkeþ. ¶ And eueryche man of hem hadde born away syche peces as he myȝte geet[e]. ¶ And forsoþe þis forsaide woman ber bookes in hir ryȝt honde. and in hir lefte honde sche ber a ceptre. ¶ And when sche sauȝ þese poetical muses aprochen aboute my bedde. and endytyng wordes to my wepynges. sche was a lytel ameued and glowed[e] wiþ cruel eyen. ¶ Who quod sche haþ suffred aprochen to þis seek[e] man þise comune strumpetis of siche a place þat men clepen þe theatre. ¶ Þe wyche only ne asswagen not his sorowes. wiþ no remedies. but þei wolde fede and norysche hem wiþ swete venym. ¶ Forsoþe þise ben þo þat wiþ þornes and prykkynges of talentȝ or affecciouns wiche þat ben no þing frutefiyng nor profitable destroyen þe cornes plenteuouse of frutes of reson. ¶ For þei holden þe hertes of men in usage. but þei ne delyuere not folk fro maladye. but if ȝe muses hadde wiþdrawen fro me wiþ ȝoure flateries. any vnkonnyng and vnprofitable man as men ben wont to fynde comunely amonges þe peple. I wolde wene suffre þe lasse greuously. ¶ For-why in syche an vnprofitable man myne ententes weren no þing endamaged. ¶ But ȝe wiþdrawen me þis man þat haþ ben norysched in studies or scoles of Eleaticis and of achademicis in grece. ¶ But goþ now raþer awey ȝe meremaydenes wyche ben swete til it be at þe laste. and suffreþ þis man to be cured and heled by myne muses. þat is to say by notful sciences. ¶ And þus þis compaygnie of muses I-blamed casten wroþely þe chere adounward to þe erþe and schewyng by redenesse hir schame þei passeden sorowfuly þe þreschefolde. ¶ And I of whom þe syȝt plonged in teres was derked so þat I ne myȝt[e] not knowe what þat woman was of so imperial auctorite. ¶ I wex al a-besid and astoned. and caste my syȝt adoune in to þe erþe. and bygan stille forto abide what sche wolde don afterwarde. ¶ Þo come sche nere and sette hir doun vpon þe vterrest[e] corner of my bedde. and sche byholdyng my chere þat was cast to þe erþe heuy and greuous of wepyng. compleinede wiþ þise wordes þat I schal sey þe perturbacioun of my þouȝt.
Allas how þe þouȝt of man dreint in ouer þrowyng depnesse dulleþ and forletiþ hys propre clerenesse. myntynge to gone in to foreyne derknesses as ofte as hys anoious bisines wexiþ wiþ-outen mesure. þat is dryuen to and fro wiþ worldly wyndes. ¶ Þis man þat sumtyme was fre to whom þe heuene was open and knowen and was wont to gone in heuenelyche paþes. and sauȝ þe lyȝtnesse of þe rede sunne. and sauȝ þe sterres of þe colde moone. and wyche sterre in heuene vseþ wandryng risorses yflit by dyuerse speres. ¶ Þis man ouer comere hadde comprehendid al þis by noumbre. of accountyng in astronomye. ¶ And ouer þis he was wont to seche þe causes whennes þe sounyng wyndes moeuen and bisien þe smoþe water of þe see. and what spirit turneþ þe stable heuene. and whi þe sterre ryseþ oute of þe reede eest. to falle in þe westren wawes. and what attempriþ þe lusty houres of þe fyrste somer sesoun þat hiȝteþ and apparaileþ þe erþe wiþ rosene floures. ¶ And who makeþ þat plenteuouse autumpne in fulle ȝeres fletiþ wiþ heuy grapes. ¶ And eke þis man was wont to telle þe dyuerses causes of nature þat weren yhid. ¶ Allas now lieþ he emptid of lyȝt of hys þouȝt. and hys nekke is pressid wiþ heuy cheynes and bereþ his chere enclined adoune for þe greet[e] weyȝt. and is constreyned to loke on foule erþe.
Bvt tyme is now quod sche of medicine more þen of compleynte. ¶ Forsoþe þen sche entendyng to me warde wiþ al þe lokyng of hir eyen saide. ¶ Art not þou he quod sche þat sumtyme I-norschid wiþ my mylke and fostre[d] wiþ my meetes were ascaped and comen to corage of a perfit man. ¶ Certys I ȝaf þe syche armures þat ȝif þou þi self ne haddest first caste hem away. þei schulden haue defendid þe in sykernesse þat may not be ouer-comen. ¶ Knowest þou me not. Why art þou stille. is it for schame or for astonynge. It were me leuer þat it were for schame. but it semeþ me þat astonynge haþ oppressed þe. ¶ And whan sche say me not oonly stille. but wiþ-outen office of tonge and al doumbe. sche leide hir honde softely vpon my brest and seide. ¶ Here nis no peril quod sche. ¶ He is fallen in to a litargie. whiche þat is a comune sekenes to hertes þat ben desceiued. ¶ He haþ a litel forȝeten hym self. but certis he schal lyȝtly remembren hym self. ¶ Ȝif so be þat he haþ knowen me or now. and þat he may so done I wil wipe a litel hys eyen. þat ben derked by þe cloude of mortel þinges ¶ Þise wordes seide sche. and wiþ þe lappe of hir garment yplitid in a frounce sche dried[e] myn eyen þat were ful of þe wawes of my wepynges.
Þus when þat nyȝt was discussed and chased awey. derknesses forleften me. and to myn eyen repeyre aȝeyne her firste strenkeþ. and ryȝt by ensample as þe sonne is hid when þe sterres ben clustred. þat is to sey when sterres ben couered wiþ cloudes by a swifte wynde þat hyȝt chorus. and þat þe firmament stont derked by wete ploungy cloudes. and þat þe sterres not apperen vpon heuene. ¶ So þat þe nyȝt semeþ sprad vpon erþe. ¶ Yif þan þe wynde þat hyȝt borias sent out of þe kaues of þe contre of Trace betiþ þis nyȝt. þat is to seyn chasiþ it away and descouereþ þe closed day. ¶ Þan schineþ phebus yshaken wiþ sodeyne lyȝt and smyteþ wiþ hys bemes in meruelyng eyen.
Ryȝt so and none oþer wyse þe cloudes of sorowe dissolued and don awey. ¶ I took heuene. and receyuede mynde to knowe þe face of my fyciscien. ¶ So þat I sette myne eyen on hir and festned[e] my lokyng. I byholde my norice philosophie. in whos houses I hadde conuersed and haunted fro my ȝouþe. and I seide þus. ¶ O þou maistresse of alle uertues descendid fro þe souereyne sete. Whi art þou comen in to þis solitarie place of myn exil. ¶ Art þou comen for þou art mad coupable wiþ me of fals[e] blames. ¶ O quod sche my norry scholde I forsake þe now. and scholde I not parte wiþ þe by comune trauaille þe charge þat þou hast suffred for envie of my name. ¶ Certis it nar[e] not leueful ne sittyng to philosophie to leten wiþ-outen compaignie þe wey of hym þat is innocent. ¶ Scholde I þan redoute my blame and agrisen as þouȝ þer were byfallen a newe þing. q. d. non. ¶ For trowest þou þat philosophi be now alþerfirst assailed in perils by folk of wicked[e] maneres. ¶ Haue I not stryuen wiþ ful greet strife in olde tyme byfore þe age of my plato aȝeins þe foolhardines of foly and eke þe same plato lyuyng. hys maistre socrates deserued[e] victorie of vnryȝtful deeþ in my presence. ¶ Þe heritage of wyche socrates. þe heritage is to seyne þe doctrine of þe whiche socrates in hys oppinioun of felicite þat I clepe welfulnesse ¶ Whan þat þe people of epicuriens and stoyciens and many oþer enforceden hem to go rauische eueryche man for his part þat is to seyne. þat to eueryche of hem wolde drawen to þe defence of his oppinioun þe wordes of socrates. ¶ Þei as in partie of hir preye todrowen me criynge and debatyng þer aȝeins. and tornen and torenten my cloþes þat I hadde wouen wiþ myn handes. and wiþ þe cloutes þat þei hadden arased oute of my cloþes. þei wenten awey wenyng þat I hadde gon wiþ hem euery dele. In whiche epicuryens and stoyciens. for as myche as þer semed[e] somme traces and steppes of myne habit. þe folye of men wenyng þo epicuryens and stoyciens my familers peruertede (.s. persequendo) somme þoruȝ þe errour of þe wikked[e] or vnkunnyng[e] multitude of hem. ¶ Þis is to seyne for þei semeden philosophres: þei weren pursued to þe deeþ and slayn. ¶ So yif þou hast not knowen þe exilynge of anaxogore. ne þe empoysenyng of socrates. ne þe tourmentȝ of ȝeno for þei [weren] straungers. ¶ Ȝit myȝtest þou haue knowen þe senectiens and þe Canyos and þe sorancis of wyche folk þe renoun is neyþer ouer oolde ne vnsolempne. ¶ Þe whiche men no þing ellys ne brouȝt[e] hem to þe deeþ but oonly for þei weren enfourmed of my maneres. and semeden moste vnlyke to þe studies of wicked folk. ¶ And forþi þou auȝtest not to wondre þouȝ þat I in þe bitter see of þis lijf be fordryuen wiþ tempestes blowyng aboute. in þe whiche tempeste þis is my most purpos þat is to seyn to displese to wikked[e] men. ¶ Of whiche schrews al be þe oost neuer so grete it is to dispyse. for it nis gouerned wiþ no leder of resoune. but it is rauysched only by flityng errour folyly and lyȝtly. ¶ And if þei somtyme makyng an ost aȝeynest vs assaile vs as strengere. oure leder draweþ to gedir hys rycchesse in to hys toure. and þei ben ententif aboute sarpulers or sachels vnprofitable forto taken. but we þat ben heyȝ abouen syker fro al tumulte and wode noise. ben stored and enclosed in syche a palays. whider as þat chateryng or anoying folye ne may not attayne. ¶ We scorne swiche rauiners and honters of foulest[e] þinges.
Who so it be þat is clere of vertue sad and wel ordinat of lyuyng. þat haþ put vnderfote þe prowed[e] wierdes and lokiþ vpryȝt vpon eyþer fortune. he may holde hys chiere vndiscomfited. ¶ Þe rage ne þe manace of þe commoeuyng or chasyng vpwarde hete fro þe botme. ne schal not moeue þat man. ne þe vnstable mountaigne þat hyȝt veseuus. þat wircheþ oute þoruȝ hys broken[e] chemineys smokyng fires. ¶ Ne þe wey of þonder lyȝt þat is wont to smyte heyȝe toures ne schal not mouene þat man. ¶ Wherto þen wrecches drede ȝe tyrauntes þat ben wode and felownes wiþ-outen ony strenkeþ. ¶ Hope after no þing ne drede nat. and so schalt þou desarmen þe ire of þilke vnmyȝty tyraunt. ¶ But who so þat quakyng dredeþ or desireþ þing þat nis not stable of his ryȝt. þat man þat so doþ haþ cast awey hys schelde and is remoeued fro hys place. and enlaceþ hym in þe cheyne wiþ whiche he may be drawen.
FElest þou quod sche þise
þinges and entren þei ouȝt in þi corage. ¶ Art þou like an
asse to þe harpe. Whi wepest þou whi spillest þou teres. ¶ Yif þou
abidest after helpe of þi leche. þe byhoueþ discouere þi wounde.
¶ Þo .I. þat hadde gadered strenkeþ in my corage answered[e]
and seide. and nedeþ it ȝitte quod .I. of rehersyng
or of amonicioun. and scheweþ it not ynouȝ by hym
self þe scharpnes of fortune þat wexeþ woode aȝeynes me. ¶ Ne
moeueþ it nat þe to seen þe face or þe manere of þis place (.i.
prisoun.). ¶ Is þis þe librarie wyche þat þou haddest
chosen for a ryȝt certeyne sege to þe in myne house. ¶ Þere
as þou desputest of[te] wiþ me of þe sciences of þinges touching
diuinitee and touchyng mankynde. ¶ Was þan myn habit swiche
as it is now.
quasi diceret non.
was þan my face or my chere swiche as now. ¶ Whan I souȝt[e] wiþ þe
secretys of nature. whan þou enfourmedest my maners and þe
resoun of al my lijf. to þe ensaumple of þe ordre of heuene.
ironice
¶ Is nat þis þe gerdoun þat I refere to þe to whom I haue be
obeisaunt. ¶ Certis þou enfourmedist by þe mouþe of plato
þis sentence. þat is to seyne þat commune þinges or comunabletes
weren
blysful yif þei þat haden studied al fully to wisdom gouerneden þilke
þinges. or ellys yif it so by-felle þat þe gouernours of
communalites studieden in grete wisdomes. ¶ Þou saidest eke
by þe mouþe of þe same plato þat it was a necessarie cause wyse men to
taken and desire þe gouernaunce of comune
þinges. for þat þe gouernementes of comune citees y-left
in þe hondes of felonous tourmentours Citiȝenis ne scholde
not brynge inne pestilence and destruccioun
to goode folk. ¶ And þerfore I folowynge þilk auctoritee (.s.
platonis). desiryng to put[te] furþe in execusioun and in
acte of comune administracioun þo þinges þat
.I. hadde lerned of þe among my secre restyng whiles. ¶ Þou
and god þat put[te] þee in þe þouȝtis of wise folk ben
knowen wiþ me þat no þing brouȝt[e] me to maistrie or dignite: but þe
comune studie of al goodenes. ¶ And þer-of comeþ it þat by-twixen
wikked folk and me han ben greuouse discordes. þat ne myȝten not
be relesed by prayeres. ¶ For þis libertee haþ fredom of
conscience þat þe wraþþe of more myȝty folk haþ alwey ben despised of me
for saluacioun of ryȝt. ¶ How ofte haue .I. resisted
and wiþstonde þilk man þat hyȝt[e] conigaste þat made alwey
assautes aȝeins þe propre fortunes of poure feble folke.
¶ How ofte haue .I. ȝitte put of. or cast out hym trigwille
prouost of þe kynges hous boþe of þe wronges þat he hadde
bygon[ne] to done and eke fully performed. ¶ How ofte
haue I couered and defended by þe auctorite of me put aȝeins
perils. þat is to seine put myne auctorite in peril for þe
wreched pore folke. þat
þe couetise of straungeres vnpunysched tourmentid alwey wiþ
myseses and greuaunces oute of noumbre. ¶ Neuer man drow me
ȝitte fro ryȝt to wrong. When I say þe fortunes and þe
rychesse of þe people of þe prouinces ben harmed eyþer by
priue rauynes or by comune tributis or cariages. as sory was I as
þei þat suffred[e] þe harme. Glosa. ¶ Whan þat theodoric þe
kyng of gothes in a dere ȝere hadde hys gerners ful of corne and
comaundede þat no man ne schold[e] bie no corne til his corne
were solde and þat at a dere greuous pris. ¶ But I
withstod þat ordinaunce and ouer-com it
knowyng al þis þe kyng hym self. ¶ Coempcioun þat is
to seyn comune achat or bying to-gidere þat were establissed vpon poeple
by swiche a manere imposicioun as who so bouȝt[e] a busshel corn
he most[e] ȝeue þe kyng þe fifte part. Textus.
¶ Whan it was in þe soure hungry tyme þere was establissed or cried
greuous and inplitable coempcioun þat men seyn wel it
schulde greetly tourmentyn and endamagen al þe
prouince of compaigne I took strif aȝeins þe
prouost of þe pretorie for comune profit. ¶ And þe
kyng knowyng of it I ouercom it so þat þe coempcioun ne was not
axed ne took effect. ¶ Paulyn a counseiller of Rome þe rychesse of
þe whyche paulyn þe houndys of þe palays. þat is to seyn þe officeres
wolde han deuoured by hope and couetise ¶ Ȝit drow I hym out
of þe Iowes .s. faucibus of hem þat gapeden. ¶ And
for as myche as þe peyne of þe accusacioun aiuged byforn
ne scholde not sodeynly henten ne punischen wrongfuly Albyn a
counseiller of
Rome. I put[te] me aȝenis þe hates and
indignaciouns of þe accusour Ciprian. ¶ Is it
not þan ynought yseyn þat I haue purchased greet[e] discordes
aȝeins my self. but I aughte be more asseured aȝenis alle oþer folk þat
for þe loue of ryȝtwisnesse .I. ne reserued[e] neuer no þing to my self
to hem ward of þe kynges halle .s. officers. by þe whiche I were þe more
syker. ¶ But þoruȝ þe same accusours accusyng I am
condempned. ¶ Of þe noumbre of whiche accusours one
basilius þat somtyme was chased out of þe kynges seruice. is now
compelled in accusyng of my name for nede of foreine
moneye. ¶ Also opilion and Gaudencius han accused me.
al be it so þat þe Iustice regal hadde sumtyme demed hem boþe to
go in to exil. for her treccheries and fraudes wiþ-outen noumbre.
¶ To whiche iugement þei wolde not obeye. but defended[e] hem by
sykernesse of holy houses. þat is to seyne fledden in to seyntuaries.
and whan þis was aperceiued to þe kyng. he comaunded[e]
but þat þei voided[e] þe citee of Rauenne by certeyne day assigned þat
men scholde merken hem on þe forheued wiþ an hoke of iren and
chasen hem out of toune. ¶ Now what þing semeþ þe myȝt[e] be lykned
to þis cruelte. For certys þilk same day was receyued þe accusyng of my
name by þilk[e] same accusours. ¶ What may be seid herto.
haþ my studie and my konnyng deserued þus. or ellys þe forseide
dampnacioun of me. made þat hem ryȝtful accusours or no
(q.d. non). ¶ Was not fortune asshamed of þis. [Certes alle
hadde nat fortune ben asshamyd] þat innocence was accused. ȝit
auȝt[e] sche haue had schame of þe filþe of myn accusours.
¶ But axest þou in somme of what gilt .I. am accused. men
seyne þat I wolde sauen þe compaignie of þe senatours.
¶ And desirest þou to here in what manere .I. am accused þat I
scholde han distourbed þe accusour to beren lettres. by
whiche he scholde han maked þe senatours gilty aȝeins þe kynges Real
maieste. ¶ O meistresse what demest þou of þis. schal .I. forsake
þis blame þat I ne be no schame to þe (q. d. non). ¶ Certis
.I. haue wold it. þat is to seyne þe sauuacioun of þe senat. ne I
schal neuer leten to wilne it. and þat I confesse and am
a-knowe. but þe entent of þe accusour to be destourbed schal cese.
¶ For schal I clepe it a felonie þan or a synne þat I haue desired
þe sauuacioun of þe ordre of þe senat. and certys ȝit hadde þilk
same senat don by me þoruȝ her decretȝ and hire iugementys as
þouȝ it were a synne or a felonie þat is to seyne to wilne þe
sauuacioun of hem (.s senatus). ¶ But folye
þat lieth alwey to hym self may not chaunge þe merit of þinges.
¶ Ne .I. trowe not by þe iugement of socrates þat it were
leueful to me to hide þe soþe. ne assent[e] to lesynges. ¶ But
certys how so euer it be of þis I put[te] it to gessen or
preisen to þe iugement of þe and of wise
folk. ¶ Of whiche þing al þe ordinaunce and þe soþe for as
moche as folk þat ben to comen aftir oure dayes schollen
knowen it. ¶ I haue put it in scripture and remembraunce.
for touching þe lettres falsly maked. by whiche lettres I
am accused to han hooped þe fredom of Rome. What apperteneþ me to
speken þer-of. Of whiche lettres þe fraude hadde ben schewed
apertly if
I hadde had libertee forto han vsed and ben at þe
confessioun of myn accusours. ¶ Þe whiche þing
in alle nedys haþ grete strenkeþ. ¶ For what oþer
fredom may men hopen. Certys I wolde þat some oþer fredom
myȝt[e] be hoped. ¶ I wolde þan haue answered by þe wordes of a man
þat hyȝt[e] Canius. for whan he was accused by Gayus Cesar Germeins son
þat he (canius) was knowyng and consentyng of a
coniuracioun maked aȝeins hym (.s. Gaius).
¶ Þis Canius answered[e] þus. ¶ Yif I had[de] wist it þou
haddest not wist it. In whiche þing sorwe haþ not so dulled my witte
þat I pleyne oonly þat schrewed[e] folk apparailen folies aȝeins
vertues. ¶ But I wondre gretly how þat þei may performe
þinges þat þei had[de] hoped forto done. For why. to wylne schrewednesse
þat comeþ parauenture of oure defaute. ¶ But it is lyke to a
monstre and a meruaille. ¶ How þat in þe
present syȝt of god may ben acheued and
performed swiche þinges. as euery felonous man haþ conceyued in
hys þouȝt aȝeins innocent. ¶ For whiche þing oon of þi
familers not vnskilfully axed þus. ¶ Ȝif god is. whennes comen
wikked[e] þinges. and yif god ne is whennes comen goode þinges.
but al hadde it ben leueful þat felonous folk þat now desiren þe bloode
and þe deeþ of alle goode men. and eke of al þe senat han
wilned to gone destroien me. whom þei han seyn alwey batailen
and defenden goode men and eke al þe senat. Ȝit hadde I
not desserued of þe fadres. þat is to seyne of þe senatours þat þei
scholde wilne my destruccioun.
¶ Þou remembrest wele as I gesse þat whan I wolde don or seyn any
þing. þou þi self alwey present reweledest me. ¶ At þe citee
of verone whan þat þe kyng gredy of comune slauȝter. caste hym to
transporten vpon al þe ordre of þe senat. þe gilt of his real
maieste of þe whiche gilt þat albyn was accused. wiþ how grete
sykernesse of peril to me defended[e] I al þe senat. ¶ Þou
wost wel þat I seide soþe. ne I auaunted[e] me neuer in preysyng of my
self. ¶ For alwey when any wyȝt resceiueþ preciouse
renoun in auauntyng hym self of hys werkes: he amenusiþ þe secre
of hys conscience. ¶ But now þou mayst wel seen to what ende I am
comen for myne innocence. I receiue peyne of fals felonie in
gerdoun of verray vertue. ¶ And what open
confessioun of felonie had[de] euer iugis so accordaunt
in cruelte. þat is to seyne as myne accusyng haþ. ¶ Þat oþer
errour of mans witte or ellys condicioun of fortune þat is
vncerteyne to al mortal folk ne submytted[e] summe of hem.
þat is to seyne þat it ne cheyned[e] summe iuge to han pitee or
compassioun. ¶ For al þouȝ I had[de] ben accused þat I wolde
brenne holy houses. and strangle prestys wiþ wicked
swerde. ¶ or þat .I. had[de] grayþed deeþ to alle goode men algatis
þe sentence scholde han punysched me present confessed or
conuict. ¶ But now I am remewed fro þe Citee of rome almost
fyue-hundreþ þousand pas. I am wiþ outen defence dampned to
proscripcioun and to þe deeþ. for þe studie
and bountees þat I haue done to þe senat. ¶ But o wel ben
þei worþi of mercye (as who seiþ nay.) þer myȝt[e] neuer
ȝit non of hem ben conuicte. Of swiche a blame as myn is of swiche
trespas myn accusours seyen ful wel þe dignitee. þe wiche
dignite for þei wolde derken it wiþ medelyng of some felonye. þei beren
me on honde and lieden. þat I hadde polute and defouled my
conscience wiþ sacrelege. for couetise of dignite. ¶ And certys þou
þi self þat art plaunted in me chacedest oute þe sege of my corage al
couetise of mortal þinges. ne sacrilege ne had[de] no leue to han a
place in me byforne þine eyen. ¶ For þou drouppedest euery day in
myn eeres and in my þouȝt þilk comaundement of pictogoras.
þat is to seyne men schal seruen to god. and not to goddes.
¶ Ne it was no couenaunt ne no nede to taken helpe of þe foulest
spirites. ¶ I þat þou hast ordeyned or set in syche excellence
þat [þou] makedest me lyke to god. and ouer þis þe ryȝt clene
secre chaumbre of myn house. þat is to seye my wijf and þe
compaignie of myn honeste frendis. and my wyues fadir as
wel holy as worþi to ben reuerenced þoruȝ hys owen dedis. defenden me of
al suspeccioun of syche blame. ¶ But o malice. ¶ For
þei þat accusen me taken of þe philosophie feiþe of so grete blame.
¶ For þei trowen þat .I. haue had affinite to malyfice or
enchauntementȝ by cause þat I am replenissed and fulfilled
wiþ þi techynges. and enformed of þi maners. ¶ And þus it
sufficeþ not only þat þi reuerence ne auayle me not. but ȝif þat þou of
þi fre wille raþer be blemissed wiþ myne offensioun. ¶ But
certys to þe harmes þat I haue þere bytydeþ ȝit þis encrece of harme.
þat þe
gessinge and þe iugement of myche folk ne loken no þing to
þe[de]sertys of þinges but only to þe auenture of fortune.
¶ And iugen þat only swiche þinges ben purueied of god.
whiche þat temporel welefulnesse commendiþ. Glosa.
¶ As þus þat yif a wyȝt haue prosperite. he is a good man
and worþi to haue þat prosperite. and who so haþ aduersite
he is a wikked man. and god haþ forsake hym. and he is
worþi to haue þat aduersite. ¶ Þis is þe opinioun of
somme folke. and þer of comeþ þat good gessyng.
¶ Fyrste of al þing forsakeþ wrecches certys it greueþ me to
þink[e] ryȝt now þe dyuerse sentences þat þe poeple seiþ of me.
¶ And þus moche I seye þat þe laste charge of contrarious fortune
is þis. þat whan þat ony blame is laid vpon a caytif. men wenen þat he
haþ deserued þat he suffreþ. ¶ And I þat am put awey from
goode men and despoiled from dignitees and defoulid of my
name by gessyng haue suffred torment for my goode dedis. ¶ Certys
me semeþ þat I se þe felonus couines of wikked men abounden in ioie
and in gladnes. ¶ And I se þat euery lorel shapiþ hym
to fynde oute newe fraudes forto accusen goode folke. and I se þat goode
men ben ouerþrowen for drede of my peril. ¶ and euery
luxurious tourmentour dar don alle felonie vnpunissed and
ben excited þerto by ȝiftes. and innocentȝ ne ben not oonly
despoiled of sykernesse but of defence and þerfore me list to
crien to god in þis manere.
O þou maker of þe whele þat bereþ þe sterres. whiche þat art fastned to þi perdurable chayere. and turnest þe heuene wiþ a rauyssyng sweighe and constreinest þe sterres to suffren þi lawe. ¶ So þat þe mone somtyme schynyng wiþ hir ful hornes metyng wiþ alle þe bemes of þe sonne. ¶ Hir broþer hideþ þe sterres þat ben lasse. and somtyme whan þe mone pale wiþ hir derke hornes approcheþ þe sonne. leesith hir lyȝtes. ¶ And þat þe euesterre esperus whiche þat in þe first[e] tyme of þe nyȝt bryngeþ furþe hir colde arysynges comeþ eft aȝeynes hir vsed cours. and is pale by þe morwe at þe rysynge of þe sonne. and is þan cleped lucifer. ¶ Þou restreinest þe day by schorter dwellyng in þe tyme of colde wynter þat makeþ þe leues to falle. ¶ Þou diuidest þe swifte tides of þe nyȝt when þe hote somer is comen. ¶ Þi myȝt attempre[þ] þo variauntȝ sesons of þe ȝere. so þat ȝepherus þe deboneire wynde bringeþ aȝein in þe first[e] somer sesoun þe leues þat þe wynde þat hyȝt[e] boreas haþ reft awey in autumpne. þat is to seyne in þe laste eende of somer. and þe sedes þat þe sterre þat hyȝt arcturus saw ben waxen hey[e] cornes whan þe sterre sirius eschaufeþ hym. ¶ Þere nis no þing vnbounde from hys olde lawe ne forleteþ hym of hys propre estat. ¶ O þou gouernour gouernyng alle þinges by certeyne ende. why refusest þou oonly to gouerne þe werkes of men by dewe manere. ¶ Whi suffrest þou þat slidyng fortune turneþ to grete vtter chaungynges of þinges. so þat anoious peyne þat scholde duelly punisshe felouns punissitȝ innocentȝ. ¶ And folk of wikked[e] maneres sitten in heiȝe chaiers. and anoienge folk treden and þat vnryȝtfully in þe nekkes of holy men. ¶ And vertue clere and schynyng naturely is hid in dirke dirkenesses. and þe ryȝtful man beriþ þe blame and þe peyne of þe felowne. ¶ Ne þe forsweryng ne þe fraude couered and kembd wiþ a fals colour ne a-noyeþ not to schrewes. ¶ Þe whiche schrewes whan hem lyst to vsen her strengþe þei reioisen hem to putten vndir hem þe souerayne kynges. whiche þat poeple wiþ[outen] noumbre dreden. ¶ O þou what so euer þou be þat knyttes[t] alle bondes of þinges loke on þise wrecched[e] erþes. we men þat ben nat a foule party but a faire party of so grete a werke we ben turmentid in þe see of fortune. ¶ Þou gouernour wiþdraw and restreyne þe rauyssinge flodes and fastne and forme þise erþes stable wiþ þilke [bonde] wiþ whiche þou gouernest þe heuene þat is so large.
Whan I hadde wiþ a continuel sorwe sobbed or broken out þise þinges sche wiþ hir chere peisible and no þing amoeued. wiþ my compleyntes seide þus. whan I say þe quod sche sorweful and wepyng I wist[e] on-one þat þou were a wrecche and exiled. but I wist[e] neuer how fer þine exile was: ȝif þi tale ne hadde schewed it to me. but certys al be þou fer fro þi contre. þou nart nat put out of it. but þou hast fayled of þi weye and gon amys. ¶ and yif þou hast leuer forto wene þan þou be put out of þi contre. þan hast þou put oute þi self raþer þen ony oþer wyȝt haþ. ¶ For no wyȝt but þi self ne myȝt[e] neuer haue don þat to þe. ¶ For ȝif þou remembre of what contre þou art born. it nis not gouerned by emperoures. ne by gouernement of multitude. as weren þe contres of hem of athenes. ¶ But o lorde and o kyng and þat is god þat is lorde of þi contree. whiche þat reioiseþ hym of þe dwellyng of hys Citeȝenis. and not forto putte hem in exile. Of þe whiche lorde it is a souerayne fredom to be gouerned by þe bridel of hym and obeie to his iustice. ¶ Hast þou forȝeten þilke ryȝt olde lawe of þi Citee. in þe whiche Citee it is ordeyned and establissed þat what wyȝt þat haþ leuer founden þer inne hys sete or hys house. þen ellys where: he may not be exiled by no ryȝt fro þat place. ¶ For who so þat is contened in-wiþ þe paleis [and the clos] of þilke Citee. þer nis no drede þat he may deserue to ben exiled. ¶ But who þat letteþ þe wille forto enhabit[e] þere. he forleteþ also to deserue to ben Citeȝein of þilke Citee. ¶ So þat I seye þat þe face of þis place ne amoeueþ me nat so myche as þine owen face. Ne .I. ne axe not raþer þe walles of þi librarie apparailled and wrouȝt wiþ yvory and wiþ glas þan after þe sete of þi þouȝt. In whiche I putte nat somtyme bookes. but .I. putte þat þat makeþ bookes worþi of pris or precious þat is to sein þe sentence of my books. ¶ And certeinly of þi decertes by-stowed in commune good. þou hast seid soþe but after þe multitude of þi goode dedys. þou hast seid fewe. and of þe vnhonestee or falsnesse of þinges þat ben opposed aȝeins þe. þou hast remembred þinges þat ben knowe to alle folk. and of þe felonies and fraudes of þine accusours. it semeþ þe haue I-touched it forsoþe ryȝtfully and schortly. ¶ Al myȝten þo same þinges bettere and more plentiuousely be couth in þe mouþe of þe poeple þat knoweþ al þis. ¶ Þou hast eke blamed gretly and compleyned of þe wrongful dede of þe senat. ¶ And þou hast sorwed for my blame. and þou hast wepen for þe damage of þi renoune þat is appaired. and þi laste sorwe eschaufed aȝeins fortune and compleinest þat gerdouns ne ben not euenliche ȝolde to þe desertes of folk. and in þe lattre ende of þi woode muse þou priedest þat þilke pees þat gouerneþ þe heuene scholde gouerne þe erþe ¶ But for þat many tribulaciouns of affecciouns han assailed þe. and sorwe and Ire and wepyng todrawen þee dyuersely ¶ As þou art now feble of þouȝt. myȝtyer remedies ne schullen not ȝit touchen þe for whiche we wil[e] vsen somedel lyȝter medicines. So þat þilk[e] passiouns þat ben woxen harde in swellyng by perturbacioun folowyng in to þi þouȝt mowen woxe esy and softe to receyuen þe strenkeþ of a more myȝty and more egre medicine by an esier touchyng.
Whan þat þe heuy sterre of þe cancre eschaufeþ by þe beme of phebus. þat is to seyne whan þat phebus þe sonne is in þe signe of þe Cancre. Who so ȝeueþ þan largely hys sedes to þe feldes þat refuse to receiuen hem. lete hym gon bygyled of trust þat he hadde to hys corn. to acorns or okes. yif þou wilt gadre violettȝ. ne go þou not to þe purper wode whan þe felde chirkynge agriseþ of colde by þe felnesse of þe wynde þat hyȝt aquilon ¶ Yif þou desirest or wolt vsen grapes ne seke þou nat wiþ a glotonus hande to streine and presse þe stalkes of þe vine in þe first somer sesoun. for bachus þe god of wyne haþ raþer ȝeuen his ȝiftes to autumpne þe latter ende of somer. ¶ God tokeniþ and assigneþ þe tymes. ablyng hem to her propre offices. ¶ Ne he ne suffreþ not stoundes whiche þat hym self haþ deuided and constreined to be medeled to gidre ¶ And forþi he þat forleteþ certeyne ordinaunce of doynge by ouerþrowyng wey. he ne haþ no glade issue or ende of hys werkes.
FIrst wolt þou suffre me to touche and assaie þe stat of þi þouȝt by a fewe demaundes. so þat I may vnderstonde what be þe manere of þi curacioun. ¶ Axe me quod .I. atte þi wille what þou wilt. and I schal answere. ¶ Þo saide sche þus. wheþer wenest þou quod sche þat þis worlde be gouerned by foolisshe happes and fortunes. or elles wenest þou þat þer be in it any gouernement of resoun. Certes quod .I. ne trowe not in no manere þat so certeyne þinges scholde be moeued by fortunouse fortune. but I wot wel þat god maker and mayster is gouernour of þis werk. Ne neuer nas ȝit day þat myȝt[e] putte me oute of þe soþenesse of þat sentence. ¶ So is it quod sche. for þe same þing songe þou a lytel here byforne and byweyledest and byweptest. þat only men weren put oute of þe cure of god. ¶ For of alle oþer þinges þou ne doutest nat þat þei nere gouerned by reson. but how (.i. pape.). I wondre gretly certes whi þat þou art seek. siþen þou art put in to so holesom a sentence. but lat vs seken depper. I coniecte þat þere lakkeþ I not what. but sey me þis. siþen þat þou ne doutest nat þat þis worlde be gouerned by god ¶ wiþ swycche gouernailes takest þou hede þat it is gouerned. ¶ vnneþ quod .I. knowe .I. þe sentence of þi questioun. so þat I ne may nat ȝit answeren to þi demaundes. ¶ I nas nat deceiued quod sche þat þere ne faileþ sumwhat. by whiche þe maladie of perturbacioun is crept in to þi þouȝt. so as þe strengþe of þe paleys schynyng is open. ¶ But seye me þis remembrest þou ouȝt what is þe ende of þi þinges. whider þat þe entencioun of al kynde tendeþ. ¶ I haue herd told it somtyme quod .I. but drerynesse haþ dulled my memorie. ¶ Certys quod sche þou wost wel whennes þat alle þinges ben comen and proceded. I wot wel quod .I. and ansewered[e] þat god is þe bygynnyng of al. ¶ And how may þis be quod sche þat siþen þou knowest þe bygynnyng of þinges. þat þou ne knowest not what is þe endyng of þinges. but swiche ben þe customes of perturbaciouns. and þis power þei han. þat þei may moeue a man fro hys place. þat is to seyne from þe stablenes and perfeccioun of hys knowyng. but certys þei may not al arace hym ne alyene hym in al. ¶ But I wolde þat þou woldest answere to þis. ¶ Remembrest þou þat þou art a man ¶ Boice. ¶ Whi scholde I nat remembre þat quod .I. Philosophie. ¶ Maiste þou not telle me þan quod sche what þing is a man. ¶ Axest not me quod I. wheþir þat be a resonable best mortel. I wot wel and I confesse wel þat I am it. ¶ Wistest þou neuer ȝit þat þou were ony oþer þing quod she. No quod .I. now wot I quod she oþer cause of þi maladie and þat ryȝt grete ¶ Þou hast left forto knowe þi self what þou art. þoruȝ whiche I haue pleynelyche knowen þe cause of þi maladie. or ellis þe entre of recoueryng of þin hele. ¶ Forwhy for þou art confounded wiþ forȝetyng of þi self. forþi sorwest þou þat þou art exiled of þi propre goodes. ¶ And for þou ne wost what is þe ende of þinges. for[þi] demest [þou] þat felonous and wikked men ben myȝty and weleful for þou hast forȝeten by whiche gouernementȝ þe worlde is gouerned. ¶ Forþi wenest þou þat þise mutaciouns of fortune fleten wiþ outen gouernour. þise ben grete causes not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes to deeþ ¶ But I þanke þe auctour and þe makere of heele þat nature haþ not al forleten þe. and I haue g[r]ete norissinges of þi hele. and þat is þe soþe sentence of gouernaunce of þe worlde. þat þou byleuest þat þe gouernynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput to þe folie of þise happes auenterouses. but to þe resoun of god ¶ And þer fore doute þe noþing. For of þis litel spark þine heet of lijf schal shine. ¶ But for as muche as it is not tyme ȝitte of fastere remedies ¶ And þe nature of þouȝtes disseiued is þis þat as ofte as þei casten aweye soþe opyniouns: þei cloþen hem in fals[e] opiniouns. [of whiche false opyniouns] þe derknesse of perturbacioun wexeþ vp. þat comfoundeþ þe verray insyȝt. and þat derkenes schal .I. say somwhat to maken þinne and wayk by lyȝt and meenelyche remedies. so þat after þat þe derknes of desseyuynge desyrynges is don awey. þou mow[e] knowe þe schynyng of verray lyȝt.
ÞE sterres couered wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowen geten a doun no lyȝt. Ȝif þe trouble wynde þat hyȝt auster stormynge and walwyng þe see medleþ þe heete þat is to seyne þe boylyng vp from þe botme ¶ Þe wawes þat somtyme weren clere as glas and lyke to þe fair[e] bryȝt[e] dayes wiþstant anon þe syȝtes of men. by þe filþe and ordure þat is resolued. and þe fletyng streme þat royleþ doun dyuersely fro heyȝe mountaignes is arestid and resisted ofte tyme by þe encountrynge of a stoon þat is departid and fallen from some roche. ¶ And forþi yif þou wilt loken and demen soþe wiþ clere lyȝt. and holde þe weye wiþ a ryȝt paþe. ¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þe drede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe aproche. þat is to sein lat noon of þise four passiouns ouer come þe. or blynde þe. for cloudy and dirke is þilk þouȝt and bounde with bridles. where as þise þinges regnen.
EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.
After þis she stynte a litel. and after þat she hadde gadred by atempre stillenesse myn attencioun she seide þus. ¶ As who so myȝt[e] seye þus. After þise þinges she stynt[e] a lytel. and whanne she aperceiued[e] by atempre stillenesse þat I was ententif to herkene hire. she bygan to speke in þis wyse. ¶ Yif I quod she haue vnderstonden and knowe vtterly þe causes and þe habit of þi maladie. þou languissed and art deffeted for talent and desijr of þi raþer fortune. ¶ She þat ilke fortune only þat is chaunged as þou feinest to þe ward. haþ peruerted þe clerenesse and þe astat of þi corage. ¶ I vnderstonde þe felefolde colour and deceites of þilke merueillous monstre fortune. and how she vseþ ful flatryng familarite wiþ hem þat she enforceþ to bygyle. so longe til þat she confounde wiþ vnsuffreable sorwe hem þat she haþ left in despeir vnpurueyed. ¶ and if þou remembrest wel þe kynde þe maners and þe desert of þilke fortune. þow shalt wel knowe as in hir þou neuer ne haddest ne hast ylost any fair þing. But as I trowe I shal not gretly trauaile to don þe remembren of þise þinges. ¶ For þou were wont to hurtlen [and despysen] hir wiþ manly wordes whan she was blaundissinge and presente and pursewedest hir wiþ sentences þat were drawen oute of myne entre. þat is to seyne out of myn informacioun ¶ But no sudeyne mutacioun ne bytideþ nat wiþ outen a maner chaungyng of curages. and so is it byfallen þat þou art departed a litel fro þe pees of þi þouȝt. but now is tyme þat þou drynke and atast[e] some softe and delitable þinges. so þat whan þei ben entred wiþ inne þe. it mow make weye to strenger drynkes of medycynes. ¶ Com nowe furþe þerfore þe suasioun of swetnesse Rethoryen. whiche þat goþ oonly þe ryȝt wey whil she forsakeþ not myne estatutȝ. ¶ And wiþ Rethorice com forþe musice a damoisel of oure house þat syngeþ now lyȝter moedes or prolaciouns now heuyer. what ayleþ þe man. what is it þat haþ cast þe in to murnyng and in to wepyng. I trow[e] þat þou hast sen some newe þing and uncouþe. ¶ Þou wenest þat fortune be chaunged aȝeins þe ¶ But þou wenest wrong. yif þou [þat] wene. Alwey þo ben hire maners. she haþ raþer [kept] as to þe ward hire propre stablenes in þe chaungyng of hyre self. ¶ Ryȝt swyche was she whan she flatered[e] þe. and desseiued[e] þe wiþ vnleueful lykynges of false welefulnesse. þou hast now knowen and ataynt þe doutous or double visage of þilke blynde goddesse fortune. ¶ She þat ȝit couereþ hir and wympleþ hir to oþer folk. haþ shewed hir euerydel to þe. ¶ Ȝif þou approuest hir and þenkest þat she is good. vse hir maners and pleyne þe nat. ¶ And if þou agrisest hir fals[e] trecherie. dispise and cast aweye hir þat pleyeþ so harmefully. for she þat is now cause of so myche sorwe to þe. sholde be to þe cause of pees and [of] ioie. ¶ she haþ forsaken þe forsoþe. þe whiche þat neuer man may be syker þat she ne shal forsake hym. Glose. ¶ But naþeles some bookes han þe text þus. For soþe she haþ forsaken þe ne þer nis no man syker þat she ne haþ not forsaken. ¶ Holdest þou þan þilke welefulnesse preciouse to þe þat shal passen. and is present fortune derworþi to þe. whiche þat nis not feiþful forto dwelle. and whan she goþ aweye þat she bryngeþ a wyȝt in sorwe ¶ For syn she may nat be wiþholden at a mans wille. she makeþ hym a wrecche when she departeþ fro hym. ¶ What oþer þing is flitting fortune but a manere shewyng of wrycchednesse þat is to comen. ne it ne suffriþ nat oo[n]ly to loken of þing þat is present byforne þe eyen of man. but wisdom lokeþ and mesureþ þe ende of þinges. and þe same chaungyng from one to an oþer. þat is to seyne fro aduersite to prosperite makeþ þat þe manaces of fortune ne ben not forto dreden. ne þe flatrynges of hir to ben desired. ¶ Þus atte þe last it byhoueþ þe to suffren wiþ euene wille in pacience al þat is don inwiþ þe floor of fortune. þat is to seyne in þis worlde. ¶ Syþen þou hast oones put þi nekke vnder þe ȝokke of hir. for if þou wilt write a lawe of wendyng and of dwellyng to fortune whiche þat þou hast chosen frely to be þi lady ¶ Art þou nat wrongful in þat and makest fortune wroþe and aspere by þin inpacience. and ȝit þou mayst not chaungen hir. ¶ Yif þou committest [and] bitakest þi sayles to þe wynde. þou shalt be shouen not þider þat þou woldest(:) but whider þat þe wynde shoueþ þe ¶ Yif þou castest þi seedes in þe feldes þou sholdest haue in mynde þat þe ȝeres ben oþer while plenteuous and oþer while bareyne. ¶ Þou hast bytaken þiself to þe gouernaunce of fortune. and forþi it byhoueþ þe to ben obeisaunt to þe manere of þi lady. and enforcest þou þe to aresten or wiþstonden þe swyftnesse and þe sweyes of hir tournyng whele. ¶ O þou fool of alle mortel fooles if fortune bygan to dwelle stable. she cesed[e] þan to ben fortune.
Whan fortune wiþ a proude ryȝt hande haþ turnid hir chaungyng stoundes she fareþ lyke þe maners of þe boillyng eurippe. Glose. Eurippe is an arme of þe see þat ebbith and flowiþ. and somtyme þe streme is on one syde and somtyme on þat oþer. Texte ¶ She cruel fortune kasteþ adoune kynges þat somtyme weren ydred. and she deceiuable enhaunseth vp þe humble chere of hym þat is discomfited. and she neyþer hereþ ne reccheþ of wrecched[e] wepynges. and she is so harde þat she lauȝeþ and scorneþ þe wepyng of hem þe whiche she haþ maked wepe wiþ hir free wille. ¶ Þus she pleyeþ and þus she preueþ hir strengþe and sheweþ a grete wondre to alle hir seruauntȝ. ¶ Yif þat a wyȝt is seyn weleful and ouerþrowe in an houre.
CErtis I wolde plete wiþ þee a fewe þinges vsynge þe wordes of fortune tak heede now þi self. yif þat she axeþ ryȝt. ¶ O þou man wher fore makest þou me gilty by þine euerydayes pleynynges. what wronges haue I don þe. what goodes haue I byreft þe þat weren þine. stryf or plete wiþ me by fore what iuge þat þou wilt of þe possessioun of rycchesse or of dignites ¶ And yif þou maist shewe me þat euer any mortal man haþ receyued any of þese þinges to ben his in propre. þan wol I graunt[e] frely þat [alle] þilke þinges weren þine whiche þat þou axest. ¶ Whan þat nature brouȝt[e] þe forþe out of þi moder wombe. I receyued[e] þe naked and nedy of al þing. and I norysshed[e] þe wiþ my rychesse. and was redy and ententif þoruȝ my fauour to sustene þe. ¶ And þat makeþ þe now inpacient aȝeins me. and I envirounde þe wiþ al þe habundaunce and shinyng of al goodes þat ben in my ryȝt. ¶ Now it lykeþ me to wiþ drawe myne hande. þou hast had grace as he þat haþ vsed of foreyne goodes. þou hast no ryȝt to pleyne þe. as þouȝ þou haddest vtterly lorn alle þi þinges. whi pleynest þou þan. I haue don þe no wrong. Ricches honoures and swyche oþer þinges ben of my ryȝt. ¶ My seruauntes knowen me for hir lady. þei comen wiþ me and departen whan I wende. I dar wel affermen hardyly. þat yif þo þinges of whiche þou pleynest þat þou hast forlorn hadde ben þine. þou ne haddest not lorn hem. ¶ shal I þan only be defended to vse my ryȝt. ¶ Certis it is leueful to þe heuene to make clere dayes. and after þat to keuere þe same dayes wiþ derke nyȝtes. ¶ Þe erþe haþ eke leue to apparaile þe visage of þe erþe now with floures and now wiþ fruyt. and to confounde hem somtyme wiþ raynes and wiþ coldes. ¶ Þe see haþ eke hys ryȝt to be somtyme calme and blaundyshing wiþ smoþe water. and somtyme to be horrible wiþ wawes and wiþ tempestes. ¶ But þe couetyse of men þat may not be staunched shal it bynde me to be stedfast. syn þat stedfastnesse is vnkouþ to my maneres. ¶ Swyche is my strengþe. and þis pley. I pley[e] continuely. I tourne þe whirlyng whele wiþ þe tournyng cercle ¶ I am glade to chaunge þe lowest to þe heyeste. and þe heyest to þe loweste. worþe vþ yif þou wilt. so it be by þis lawe. þat þou ne holde not þat I do þe wronge þouȝ þou descende doun whanne resoun of my pleye axeþ it. Wost þou not how Cresus kyng of lyndens of whiche kyng Cirus was ful sore agast a litel byforne þat þis rewlyche Cresus was cauȝt of Cirus and lad to þe fijr to be brent. but þat a reyne descended[e] doun from heuene þat rescowed[e] hym ¶ And is it out of þi mynde how þat Paulus consul of Rome whan he hadde take þe kyng of perciens weep pitou[s]ly for þe captiuitee of þe self[e] kyng. What oþer þinges bywaylen þe criinges of Tragedies. but only þe dedes of fortune. þat wiþ an vnwar stroke ouerturneþ þe realmes of grete nobley ¶ Glose. Tragedie is to seyne a dite of a prosperite for a tyme þat endiþ in wrechednesse. Lernedest nat þou in grek whan þou were ȝonge þat in þe entre or in þe seler of Iuppiter þer ben couched two tunnes. þat on is ful of good þat oþer is ful of harme. ¶ What ryȝt hast þou to pleyne. yif þou hast taken more plenteuously of þe goode syde þat is to seyne of my rycchesse and prosperites. and what eke. yif I be nat departed fro þe. What eke. yif my mutabilitee ȝiueþ þe ryȝtful cause of hope to han ȝit better þinges. ¶ Naþeles desmaie þe nat in þi þouȝt. and þou þat art put in comune realme of alle: ne desijr[e] nat to lyue by þine oonly propre ryȝt.
ÞOuȝ plentee þat is goddesse of rycches hielde adoun wiþ ful horn. and wiþdraweþ nat hir hand. ¶ As many recches as þe see turneþ vpwardes sandes whan it is moeued wiþ rauysshing blastes. or ellys as many rycches as þer shynen bryȝt[e] sterres on heuene on þe sterry nyȝt. Ȝit for al þat mankynde nolde not cesce to wope wrecched[e] pleyntes. ¶ And al be it so þat god receyueþ gladly her prayers and ȝeueþ hem as ful large muche golde and apparaileþ coueytous folk wiþ noble or clere honours. ȝit semeþ hem haue I-gete noþing. but alwey her cruel ravyne deuourynge al þat þei han geten shewiþ oþer gapinges. þat is to seye gapen and desiren ȝit after moo rycchesse. ¶ What brideles myȝten wiþholde to any certeyne ende þe desordene coueitise of men ¶ Whan euere þe raþer þat it fletiþ in large ȝiftis: þe more ay brenneþ in hem þe þrest of hauyng. ¶ Certis he þat quakyng and dredeful weneþ hym seluen nedy. he ne lyueþ neuere mo ryche.
Þerfore yif þat fortune spake wiþ þe for hir self in þis manere. For soþe þou ne haddest [nat] what þou myȝtest answere. and if þou hast any þing wherwiþ. þou mayist ryȝtfully tellen þi compleynt. ¶ It byhoueþ þe to shewen it. and .I. wol ȝeue þe space to tellen it. ¶ Certeynely quod I þan þise ben faire þinges and enoyntid wiþ hony swetnesse of rethorike and musike. and only while þei ben herd þei ben deliciouse. ¶ But to wrecches is a deppere felyng of harme. þis is to seyn þat wrecches felen þe harmes þat þei suffren more greuously þan þe remedies or þe delites of þise wordes mowe gladen or comforten hem. so þat whan þise þinges stynten forto soun[e] in eres. þe sorwe þat is inset greueþ þe þouȝt. Ryȝt so is it quod she. ¶ For þise ne ben ȝit none remedies of þi maladie. but þei ben a manere norissinges of þi sorwe ȝit rebel aȝeyne þi curacioun. ¶ For whan þat tyme is. I shal moue swiche þinges þat percen hem self depe. ¶ But naþeles þat þou shalt not wilne to leten þi self a wrecche. ¶ Hast þou forȝeten þe noumbre and þe manere of þi welefulnesse. I holde me stille how þat þe souerayn men of þe Citee token þe in cure and kepynge whan þou were orphelyn of fadir and modir. and were chosen in affinite of princes of þe Citee. ¶ And þou bygunne raþer to ben leef and deere þan0 forto ben a neyȝbour. þe whiche þing is þe most preciouse kynde of any propinquitee or aliaunce þat may ben. ¶ Who is it þat ne seide þou nere ryȝt weleful wiþ so grete a nobley of þi fadres in lawe. ¶ And wiþ þe chastite of þi wijf. and wiþ þe oportunite and noblesse of þi masculyn children. þat is to seyne þi sones and ouer al þis me lyst to passe of comune þinges. ¶ How þou haddest in þi þouȝt dignitees þat weren warned to olde men. but it deliteþ me to comen now to þe singuler vphepyng of þi welefulnesse. ¶ Yif any fruyt of mortal þinges may han any weyȝte or price of welefulnesse. ¶ Myȝtest þou euere forȝeten for any charge of harme þat myȝt[e] byfallen. þe remembraunce of þilke day þat þou sey[e] þi two sones maked conseillers. and ylad to gidre from þin house vndir so gret assemble of senatours. and vndir þe blyþenesse of poeple. and whan þou say[e] hem sette in þe court in her chaieres of dignites. ¶ Þou rethorien or pronouncere of kynges preysinges. deseruedest glorie of wit and of eloquence. whan þou sittyng bytwix þi two sones conseillers in þe place þat hyȝt Circo. and fulfildest þe abydyng of multitude of poeple þat was sprad about þe wiþ large praysynge and laude as men syngen in victories. þo ȝaue þou wordes of fortune as I trowe. þat is to seyne. þo feffedest þou fortune wiþ glosynge wordes and desseiuedest hir. whan she accoied[e] þe and norsshed[e] þe as hir owen delices. ¶ Þou hast had of fortune a ȝifte þat is to seyn swiche gerdoun þat she neu[er]e ȝaf to preue man ¶ Wilt þou þerfore leye a rekenyng wiþ fortune. she haþ now twynkeled first vpon þe wiþ a wykked eye. ¶ Yif þou considere þe noumbre and þe manere of þi blysses. and of þi sorwes. þou maist nat forsake þat þou nart ȝit blysful. For if þou þerfore wenest þi self nat weleful for þinges þat þo semeden ioyful ben passed. ¶ Þer nis nat whi þou sholdest wene þi self a wrecche. for þinges þat now semen soory passen also. ¶ Art þou now comen firste a sodeyne gest in to þe shadowe or tabernacle of þis lijf. or trowest þou þat any stedfastnesse be in mannis þinges. ¶ Whan ofte a swifte houre dissolueþ þe same man. þat is to seyne whan þe soule departiþ fro þe body. For al þouȝ þat yelde is þer any feiþ þat fortunous þinges willen dwelle. ȝit naþeles þe last[e] day of a mannis lijf is a manere deeþ to fortune. and also to þilke þat haþ dwelt. and þerfore what wenist þou þar recche yif þou forlete hir in deynge or ellys þat she fortune forlete þe in fleenge awey.
Whan phebus þe sonne bygynneþ to spreden his clerenesse with rosene chariettes. þan þe sterre ydimmyd paleþ hir white cheres. by þe flamus of þe sonne þat ouer comeþ þe sterre lyȝt. ¶ Þis is to seyn whan þe sonne is risen þe day sterre wexiþ pale and lesiþ hir lyȝt for þe grete bryȝtnesse of þe sonne. ¶ Whan þe wode wexeþ redy of rosene floures in þe first somer sesoun þoruȝ þe breþe of þe wynde Zephirus þat wexeþ warme. ¶ Yif þe cloudy wynde auster blowe felliche. þan goþ awey þe fayrnesse of þornes. Ofte þe see is clere and calme wiþoute moeuyng floodes. And ofte þe horrible wynde aquilon moeueþ boylyng tempestes and ouer whelweþ þe see. ¶ Yif þe forme of þis worlde is so [ȝeelde] stable. and yif it tourniþ by so many entrechaungynges. wilt þou þan trusten in þe trublynge fortunes of men. wilt þou trowen in flittyng goodes. It is certeyne and establissed by lawe perdurable þat no þing þat is engendred nys stedfast no stable.
ÞAnne seide I þus. O norice of alle uertues þou seist ful soþe. ¶ Ne I may nat forsake þe ryȝt[e] swifte cours of my prosperitee. þat is to seine. þat prosperitee ne be comen to me wondir swiftly and soone. but þis is a þing þat gretly smertiþ me whan it remembreþ me. ¶ For in alle aduersitees of fortune þe most vnsely kynde of contrariouse fortune is to han ben weleful. ¶ But þat þou quod she abaist þus þe tourment of þi fals[e] opinioun þat maist þou not ryȝtfully blamen ne aretten to þinges. as who seiþ for þou hast ȝitte many habundaunces of þinges. ¶ Textus. For al be it so þat þe ydel name of auenterouse welefulnesse moeueþ þe now. it is leueful þat þou rekene with me of how many[e] þinges þou hast ȝit plentee. ¶ And þerfore yif þat þilke þing þat þou haddest for most precious in alle þi rycchesse of fortune be kept to þe by þe grace of god vnwemmed and vndefouled. Mayst þou þan pleyne ryȝtfully vpon þe myschief of fortune. syn þou hast ȝit þi best[e] þinges. ¶ Certys ȝit lyueþ in goode poynt þilke precious honour of mankynde.¶ Symacus þi wyues fadir whiche þat is a man maked al of sapience and of vertue. þe whiche man þou woldest b[i]en redely wiþ þe pris of þin owen lijf. he byweyleþ þe wronges þat men don to þee. and not for hym self. for he liueþ in sykernesse of any sentence put aȝeins him. ¶ And ȝit lyueþ þi wif þat is attempre of witte and passyng oþer women in clennes of chastitee. and for I wol closen shortly her bountes she is lyke to hir fadir. I telle þe welle þat she lyueþ looþ of hir life. and kepiþ to þee oonly hir goost. and is al maat and ouer-comen by wepyng and sorwe for desire of þe ¶ In þe whiche þing only I mot graunten þat þi welefulnesse is amenused. ¶ What shal I seyn eke of þi two sones conseillours of whiche as of children of hir age þer shineþ þe lyknesse of þe witte of hir fadir and of hir eldefadir. and siþen þe souereyn cure of alle mortel folke is to sauen hir owen lyues. ¶ O how weleful art þou þouȝ þou knowe þi goodes. ¶ But ȝitte ben þer þinges dwellyng to þe wardes þat no man douteþ þat þei ne ben more derworþe to þe þen þine owen lijf. ¶ And forþi drie þi teres for ȝitte nys nat eueriche fortune al hateful to þe warde. ne ouer greet tempest haþ nat ȝit fallen vpon þe. whan þat þin ancres cliue fast[e] þat neiþer wole suffre þe comfort of þis tyme present. ne þe hope of tyme comynge to passen ne to fallen. ¶ And I preie quod I þat fast[e] mot[en] þei holden. ¶ For whiles þat þei halden. how so euere þat þinges ben. I shal wel fleten furþe and eschapen. ¶ But þou mayst wel seen how greet[e] apparailes and aray þat me lakkeþ þat ben passed awey fro me. ¶ I haue sumwhat auaunced and forþered þe quod she. if þat þou anoie nat or forþenke nat of al þi fortune. As who seiþ. ¶ I haue somwhat comforted þe so þat þou tempest nat þe þus wiþ al þi fortune. syn þou hast ȝit þi best[e] þinges. ¶ But I may nat suffre þin delices. þat pleinst so wepyng. and anguissous for þat oþer lakkeþ somwhat to þi welefulnesse. ¶ For what man is so sad or of so perfit welefulnesse. þat he ne stryueþ or pleyneþ on some half aȝeine þe qualitee of his estat. ¶ For whi ful anguissous þing is þe condicioun of mans goodes. ¶ For eyþer it comeþ al to gidre to a wyȝt. or ellys it lasteþ not perpetuely. ¶ For som man haþ grete rycchesse. but he is asshamed of hys vngentil lynage. and som man is renomed of noblesse of kynrede. but he is enclosed in so grete angre for nede of þinges. þat hym were leuer þat he were vnknowe. and som man habundeþ boþe in rychesse and noblesse. but ȝit he bywaileþ hys chast[e] lijf. for he haþ no wijf. ¶ and som man is wel and selily maried but he haþ no children. and norissheþ his ricchesse to þe heires of straunge folk. ¶ And som man is gladded wiþ children. but he wepiþ ful sory for þe trespas of his son or of his douȝtir. ¶ and for þis þer accordeþ no wyȝt lyȝtly to þe condicioun of his fortune. for alwey to euery man þere is in mest somwhat þat vnassaieþ he ne wot not or ellys he drediþ þat he haþ assaied. ¶ And adde þis also þat euery weleful man haþ a wel delicat felyng. ¶ So þat but yif alle þinges fallen at hys owen wille for he inpacient or is nat vsed to han none aduersitee. an-oone he is þrowe adoũne for euery lytel þing. ¶ And ful lytel þinges ben þo þat wiþdrawen þe somme or þe perfeccioun of blisfulnesse fro hem þat ben most fortunat. ¶ How many men trowest þou wolde demen hem self to ben almost in heuene yif þei myȝten atteyne to þe leest[e] partie of þe remenaunt of þi fortune. ¶ Þis same place þat þou clepist exil is contre to hem þat enhabiten here. and forþi. Noþing wrecched. but whan þou wenest it ¶ As who seiþ. þouȝ þi self ne no wyȝt ellys nys no wrecche but whan he weneþ hym self a wrecche by reputacioun of his corage.
And aȝeinewarde al fortune is blisful to a man by þe agreablete or by þe egalite of hym þat suffreþ it. ¶ What man is þat. þat is so weleful þat nolde chaungen his estat whan he haþ lorn pacience. þe swetnesse of mannes welefulnesse is yspranid wiþ many[e] bitternesses. þe whiche welefulnesse al þouȝ it seme swete and ioyeful to hym þat vseþ it. ȝit may it not be wiþ-holden þat it ne goþ away whan it wol. ¶ Þan is it wel sen how wrecched is þe blisfulnesse of mortel þinges. þat neiþer it dwelliþ perpetuel wiþ hem þat euery fortune receyuen agreablely or egaly. ¶ Ne it ne deliteþ not in al. to hem þat ben anguissous. ¶ O ye mortel folkes what seke ȝe þan blisfulnesse oute of ȝoure self. whiche þat is put in ȝoure self. Errour and folie confoundeþ ȝow ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly. þe poynt of souereyne blisfulnesse. Is þer any þing to þe more preciouse þan þi self ¶ Þou wilt answere nay. ¶ Þan if it so be þat þou art myȝty ouer þi self þat is to seyn by tranquillitee of þi soule. þan hast þou þing in þi power þat þou noldest neuer lesen. ne fortune may nat by-nyme it þe. and þat þou mayst knowe þat blisfulnesse [ne] may nat standen in þinges þat ben fortunous and temperel. ¶ Now vndirstonde and gadir it to gidir þus yif blisfulnesse be þe souereyne goode of nature þat liueþ by resoun ¶ Ne þilke þing nis nat souereyne goode þat may be taken awey in any wyse. for more worþi þing and more digne is þilke þing þat may nat be taken awey. ¶ Þan shewiþ it wele þat þe vnstablenesse of fortune may nat attayne to receyue verray blisfulnes. ¶ And ȝit more ouer. ¶ What man þat þis toumblyng welefulnesse leediþ. eiþer he woot þat [it] is chaungeable. or ellis he woot it nat. ¶ And yif he woot it not. what blisful fortune may þer be in þe blyndenesse of ignoraunce. and yif he woot þat it is chaungeable. he mot alwey ben adrad þat he ne lese þat þing. þat he ne douteþ nat but þat he may leesen it. ¶ As whoo seiþ he mot ben alwey agast lest he leese þat he wot wel he may leese. ¶ For whiche þe continuel drede þat he haþ ne suffriþ hym nat to ben weleful. ¶ Or ellys yif he leese it he wene to be dispised and forleten hit. ¶ Certis eke þat is a ful lytel goode þat is born wiþ euene hert[e] whan it is loost. ¶ Þat is to seyne þat men don no more force. of þe lost þan of þe hauynge. ¶ And for as myche as þou þi self art he to whom it haþ ben shewid and proued by ful many[e] demonstraciouns. as I woot wel þat þe soules of men ne mowen nat dien in no wise. and eke syn it is clere. and certeyne þat fortunous welefulnesse endiþ by þe deeþ of þe body. ¶ It may nat ben douted þat yif þat deeþ may take awey blysfulnesse þat al þe kynde of mortal þingus ne descendiþ in to wrecchednesse by þe ende of þe deeþ. ¶ And syn we knowen wel þat many a man haþ souȝt þe fruit of blisfulnesse nat only wiþ suffryng of deeþ. but eke wiþ suffryng of peynes and tourmentes. how myȝt[e] þan þis present lijf make men blisful. syn þat whanne þilke self[e] lijf is endid. it ne makeþ folk no wrecches.
What maner man stable and war þat wil founden hym a perdurable sete and ne wil not be cast doune wiþ þe loude blastes of þe wynde Eurus. and wil dispise þe see manassynge wiþ floodes ¶ Lat hym eschewe to bilde on þe cop of þe mountayngne. or in þe moyste sandes. ¶ For þe fel[le] wynde auster tourmenteþ þe cop of þe mountayngne wiþ alle his strengþes. ¶ and þe lowe see sandes refuse to beren þe heuy weyȝte. and forþi yif þou wolt flee þe perilous auenture þat is to seine of þe worlde ¶ Haue mynde certeynly to ficchyn þi house of a myrie site in a lowe stoone. ¶ For al þouȝ þe wynde troublyng þe see þondre wiþ ouereþrowynges ¶ Þou þat art put in quiete and welful by strengþe of þi palys shalt leden a cleer age. scornyng þe wodenesses and þe Ires of þe eir.
But for as moche as þe noryssinges of my resouns descenden now in to þe. I trowe it were tyme to vsen a litel strenger medicynes. ¶ Now vndirstonde here al were it so þat þe ȝiftis of fortune nar[e] nat brutel ne transitorie. what is þer in hem þat may be þine in any tyme. or ellis þat it nys foule if þat it be considered and lokid perfitely. ¶ Richesse ben þei preciouse by þe nature of hem self. or ellys by þe nature of þe. What is most worþi of rycchesse. is it nat golde or myȝt of moneye assembled. ¶ Certis þilke golde and þilke moneye shineþ and ȝeueþ better renoun to hem þat dispenden it. þen to þilke folke þat mokeren it. For auarice makeþ alwey mokeres to be hated. and largesse makeþ folke clere of renoun ¶ For syn þat swiche þing as is transfered from o man to an oþer ne may nat dwellen wiþ no man. Certis þan is þilke moneye precious. whan it is translated in to oþer folk. and stynteþ to ben had by vsage of large ȝeuyng of hym þat haþ ȝeuen it. and also yif al þe moneye þat is ouer-al in þe world were gadered towar[d] o man. it sholde maken al oþer men to ben nedy as of þat. ¶ And certys a voys al hool þat is to seyn wiþ-oute amenusynge fulfilleþ to gyder þe heryng of myche folke. but Certys ȝoure rycchesse ne mowen nat passen vnto myche folk wiþ-oute amenussyng ¶ And whan þei ben apassed. nedys þei maken hem pore þat forgon þe rycchesses. ¶ O streite and nedy clepe I þise rycchesses. syn þat many folke [ne] may nat han it al. ne al may it nat comen to on man wiþ-oute pouerte of al oþer folke. ¶ And þe shynynge of gemmes þat I clepe preciouse stones. draweþ it nat þe eyen of folk in to hem warde. þat is to seyne for þe beaute. ¶ For certys yif þer were beaute or bounte in shynyng of stones. þilke clerenesse is of þe stones hem self. and nat of men. ¶ For whiche I wondre gretly þat men merueilen on swiche þinges. ¶ For whi what þing is it þat yif it wanteþ moeuyng and ioynture of soule and body þat by ryȝt myȝt[e] semen a faire creature to hym þat haþ a soule of resoun. ¶ For al be it so þat gemmes drawen to hem self a litel of þe laste beaute of þe worlde. þoruȝ þe entent of hir creatour and þoruȝ þe distinccioun of hem self. ȝit for as myche as þei ben put vndir ȝoure excellence. þei han not desserued by no weye þat ȝe shullen merueylen on hem. ¶ And þe beaute of feeldes deliteþ it nat mychel vnto ȝow. Boyce. ¶ Whi sholde it nat deliten vs. syn þat it is a ryȝt fayr porcioun of þe ryȝt fair werk. þat is to seyn of þis worlde. ¶ And ryȝt so ben we gladed somtyme of þe face of þe see whan it is clere. And also merueylen we on þe heuene and on þe sterres. and on þe sonne. and on þe mone. Philosophie. ¶ Apperteineþ quod she any of þilke þinges to þe. whi darst þou glorifie þe in þe shynynge of any swiche þinges. Art þou distingwed and embelised by þe spryngyng floures of þe first somer sesoun. or swelliþ þi plente in fruytes of somer. whi art þou rauyshed wiþ ydel ioies. why enbracest þou straunge goodes as þei weren þine. Fortune shal neuer maken þat swiche þinges ben þine þat nature of þinges maked foreyne fro þe. ¶ Syche is þat wiþ-outen doute þe fruytes of þe erþe owen to ben on þe norssinge of bestes. ¶ And if þou wilt fulfille þi nede after þat it suffiseþ to nature þan is it no nede þat þou seke after þe superfluite of fortune. ¶ For wiþ ful fewe þinges and with ful lytel þing nature halt hire appaied. and yif þou wilt achoken þe fulfillyng of nature wiþ superfluites ¶ Certys þilke þinges þat þou wilt þresten or pouren in to nature shullen ben vnioyeful to þe or ellis anoies. ¶ Wenest þou eke þat it be a fair þinge to shine wiþ dyuerse cloþing. of whiche cloþing yif þe beaute be agreable to loken vpon. I wol merueylen on þe nature of þe matere of þilke cloþes. or ellys on þe werkeman þat wrouȝt[e] hem. but al so a longe route of meyne. makiþ þat a blisful man. þe whiche seruauntes yif þei ben vicioũs of condiciouns it is a greet charge and a destruccioun to þe house. and a greet enmye to þe lorde hym self ¶ And yif þei ben goode men how shal straung[e] or foreyne goodenes ben put in þe noumbre of þi rycchesse. so þat by alle þise forseide þinges. it is clerly shewed þat neuer none of þilke þinges þat þou accoumptedest for þin goodes nas nat þi goode. ¶ In þe whiche þinges yif þer be no beaute to ben desired. whi sholdest þou be sory yif þou leese hem. or whi sholdest þou reioysen þe to holden hem. ¶ For if þei ben fair of hire owen kynde. what apperteneþ þat to þe. for as wel sholde þei han ben faire by hem self. þouȝ þei weren departid from alle þin rycchesse. ¶ For-why faire ne precioũs ne weren þei nat. for þat þei comen amonges þi rycchesse. but for þei semeden fair and precious. þerfore þou haddest leuer rekene hem amonges þi rycchesse. but what desirest þou of fortune wiþ so greet a noyse and wiþ so greet a fare ¶ I trowe þou seke to dryue awey nede wiþ habundaunce of þinges. ¶ But certys it turneþ to ȝow al in þe contrarie. for whi certys it nediþ of ful many[e] helpynges to kepen þe dyuersite of preciouse ostelmentȝ. and soþe it is þat of many[e] þinges han þei nede þat many[e] þinges han. and aȝeyneward of litel nediþ hem þat mesuren hir fille after þe nede of kynde and nat after þe outrage of couetyse ¶ Is it þan so þat ye men ne han no propre goode. I-set in ȝow. For whiche ȝe moten seken outwardes ȝoure goodes in foreine and subgit þinges. ¶ So is þan þe condicioun of þinges turned vpso doun. þat a man þat is a devyne beest by merit of hys resoun. þinkeþ þat hym self nys neyþer fair ne noble. but if it be þoruȝ possessioun of ostelmentes. þat ne han no soules. ¶ And certys al oþer þinges ben appaied of hire owen beautes. but ȝe men þat ben semblable to god by ȝoure resonable þouȝt desiren to apparaille ȝoure excellent kynde of þe lowest[e] pinges. ne ȝe ne vndirstonde nat how gret a wrong ȝe don to ȝoure creatour. for he wolde þat man kynde were moost worþi and noble of any oþer erþely þinges. and ȝe þresten adoun ȝoure dignitees by-neþen þe lowest[e] þinges. ¶ For if þat al þe good of euery þing be more preciouse þan is þilk þing whos þat þe good is. syn ȝe demen þat þe foulest[e] þinges ben ȝoure goodes. þanne summytten ȝe and putten ȝoure self vndir þo foulest[e] þinges by ȝoure estimacioun. ¶ And certis þis bitidiþ nat wiþ out ȝoure desert. For certys swiche is þe condicioun of al man kynde þat oonly whan it haþ knowyng of it self. þan passeþ it in noblesse alle oþer þinges. and whan it forletiþ þe knowyng of it self. þan it is brouȝt byneþen alle beestes. ¶ For-why alle oþer [leuynge] beestes han of kynde to knowe not hem self. but whan þat men leten þe knowyng of hem self. it comeþ hem of vice. but how brode sheweþ þe errour and þe folie of ȝow men þat wenen þat ony þing may ben apparailled wiþ straunge apparaillementȝ ¶ but for-soþe þat may nat be don. for yif a wyȝt shyneþ wiþ þinges þat ben put to hym. as þus. yif þilke þinges shynen wiþ whiche a man is apparailled. ¶ Certis þilke þinges ben commendid and preised wiþ whiche he is apparailled. ¶ But naþeles þe þing þat is couered and wrapped vndir þat dwelleþ in his filþe. and I denye þat þilke þing be good þat anoyeþ hym þat haþ it. ¶ Gabbe I of þis. þou wolt seye nay. ¶ Certys rycchesse han anoyed ful ofte hem þat han þe rycchesse. ¶ Syn þat euery wicked shrew and for hys wickednesse þe more gredy aftir oþer folkes rycchesse wher so euer it be in any place. be it golde or precious stones. and weniþ hym only most worþi þat haþ hem ¶ þou þan þat so besy dredest now þe swerde and þe spere. yif þou haddest entred in þe paþe of þis lijf a voide wayfaryng man. þan woldest þou syng[e] by-fore þe þeef. ¶ As who seiþ a poure man þat bereþ no rycchesse on hym by þe weye. may boldly syng[e] byforne þeues. for he haþ nat wher-of to ben robbed. ¶ O preciouse and ryȝt clere is þe blysfulnesse of mortal rycchesse. þat whan þou hast geten it. þan hast þou lorn þi syke[r]nesse.