BOETHIUS DEPLORES HIS MISFORTUNES.
Allas I wepyng
Boethius deplores his misfortunes in the following pathetic
elegy.
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
4
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.
ypalage antithesis
þei þat weren glorie of
8
my youȝth whilom weleful and grene conforten now þe
sorouful werdes of me olde man.
Laments his immature old age.
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
12
hore ben schad ouertymelyche vpon myne heued. and
þe slak[e] skyn trembleþ vpon myn emty body.
Death turns a deaf ear to the wretched.
þilk[e]
deeþ of men is welful þat ne comeþ not in ȝeres þat
ben swete (.i. mirie.) but comeþ to wrecches often
16
yclepid.
1 of—MS. of of.
2 florysching—floryssynge
3 rendyng—rendynge
4 be—ben
5 wrecchednes—wrecchednesse
teers—teeres
6 leest—leeste
myȝt[e] ouer-come—myhte ouercomen
8 seyne when—seyn whan
9 youȝth—MS. þoȝt, C. yowthe
10 sorouful werdes—sorful wierdes [i. fata]
12 sorou—sorwe
haþ—MS. haþe
be—ben
13 hore—hoore
ben—arn
myne—myn
14 slak[e]—slake
vpon—of
emty—emptyd
þilk[e]—thilke
15 welful—weleful
comeþ not—comth nat
16 .i. mirie—omitted
¶ Allas allas wiþ how deef an eere deeþ cruel
tourneþ awey fro wrecches and naieþ to closen wepyng
eyen.
When Fortune was favourable Death came near Boethius,
¶ While fortune vnfeiþful fauored[e] me
20
wiþ lyȝte goodes (.s. temporels.) þe sorouful houre þat
is to seyne þe deeþ had[de] almost dreynt myne heued.
but in his adversity life is unpleasantly protracted.
¶ But now for fortune clowdy haþ chaunged hir disceyuable
chere to me warde. myn vnpitouse lijf draweþ
24
a long vnagreable dwellynges in me.
Why did his friends call him happy? He stood not firm that hath thus
fallen.
¶ O ȝe my
frendes what or wherto auaunted[e] ȝe me to be weleful:
for he þat haþ fallen stood not in stedfast degree.
19 tourneþ—torneth
naieþ—nayteth
wepyng—wepynge
20 While—Whil
fauored[e]—fauorede
21 lyȝte—lyhte
.s. temporels—omitted
sorouful houre—sorwful howre
22 seyne—seyn
had[de]—hadde
myne—myn
23 haþ—MS. haþe
chaunged hir disceyuable—chaungyd hyre deceyuable
24 vnpitouse lijf—vnpietous lyf
PHILOSOPHY APPEARS TO BOETHIUS.
[The firste prose.]IN þe mene while
Philosophy appears to Boethius, like a beautiful woman, and of great
age.
þat I stille recorded[e] þise þinges
28
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
32
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
36
elde.
Her height could not be determined, for there were times when she raised
her head higher than the heavens.
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
40
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.
Her clothes were finely wrought and indissoluble, but dark and dusky,
like old besmoked images.
¶ Hir cloþes weren maked of ryȝt delye
þredes and subtil crafte of perdurable matere. þe wyche
44
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
48
it is wont to dirken by-smoked ymages.
On the lower hem of her garment was the letter Π and on the upper
Θ.
¶ 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
52
a grekysche T. þat signifieþ þe lijf contemplatif.
A DESCRIPTION OF PHILOSOPHY.
Between the letters were steps like a ladder.
¶ 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
56
to þe ouermast[e].
Philosophy’s garments were tattered and torn, and pieces had been
carried violently off.
¶ 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].
In her right hand she bore her books, and in her left a sceptre.
¶ And forsoþe þis forsaide
60
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
64
and glowed[e] wiþ cruel eyen.
Philosophy bids the Muses leave Boethius, as they only increase his
sorrow with their sweet venom.
¶ Who quod sche haþ
suffred aprochen to þis seek[e] man þise comune strumpetis
[* fol. 4.]
of siche a place þat *men clepen þe theatre.
¶ Þe wyche only ne asswagen not his sorowes. wiþ no
68
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
72
cornes plenteuouse of frutes of reson.
They may accustom the mind to bear grief, but cannot free it from its
malady.
¶ 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
76
man as men ben wont to fynde comunely amonges
þe peple. I wolde wene suffre þe lasse greuously.
PHILOSOPHY REBUKES THE MUSES.
Philosophy is deeply grieved, because they have not seduced one of the
profane, but one who has been brought up in Eleatic and Academic
studies.
¶ For-why in syche an vnprofitable man myne ententes
weren no þing endamaged. ¶ But ȝe wiþdrawen me
80
þis man þat haþ ben norysched in studies or scoles of
Eleaticis and of achademicis in grece.
She bids the syrens begone.
¶ But goþ now
raþer awey ȝe meremaydenes wyche ben swete til it
be at þe laste. and suffreþ þis man to be cured and
84
heled by myne muses. þat is to say by notful sciences.
Blushing for shame they pass the threshold.
¶ 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
88
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.
Boethius is astonished at the presence of the august dame.
¶ I wex al
a-besid and astoned. and caste my syȝt adoune in to þe
92
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.
Philosophy expresses her concern for Boethius.
and sche byholdyng
my chere þat was cast to þe erþe heuy and
96
greuous of wepyng. compleinede wiþ þise wordes þat I
schal sey þe perturbacioun of my þouȝt.
26 auaunted[e]—auauntede
be—ben
27 haþ—MS. haþe
not—nat
stedfast—stidefast
28 In þe mene—omitted
recorded[e]—recordede
30 saw—MS. sawe, C. sawh
stondyng above—MS. studiyng aboue, C. stondinge abouen
heyȝt—heyhte
my—myn
31 greet—gret
32 brennyng—brennynge
clere seing—cleer seynge
33 swiche—swych
34 strenkeþ—strengthe
it——emptid—it myhte nat ben emted
Al—alle
36 wolde——trowe—wolden nat trowen
37 iugement—Iuggement
38 sumtyme—somtyme
constreyned[e]—constreynede
schronk—MS. schronke, C. shronk
39 lyche—lyk
40 semed[e]—semede
touched[e]—towchede
41 when—whan
hef—MS. heued, C. hef
heyer—hyere
42 perced[e]—percede
syȝt—syhte
lokyng—lookynge
44 crafte—craft
45 wouen—MS. wonnen, C. wouen
owen hondes—owne handes
46 knew—MS. knewe, C. knewh
selfe declaryng—self declarynge
schewyng—shewynge
47 derkenes—dirknesse
forleten—forletyn
48 dispised—despised
had[de] duskid—hadde dusked
dirkid—derked
49 by-smoked—the smokede
neþerest[e]—nethereste
50 þese—thise
51 swiche—omitted
gregkysche—grekysshe
signifieþ—syngnifieth
52 heyȝest[e]—heyeste
54 by-twene þese—bytwixen thise
þere—ther
seien—seyn
55 nobly wrouȝt—nobely ywroght
wyche—whiche
56 myȝt[en] clymbe—myhten clymbyn
neþemast[e]—nethereste
57 ouermast[e]—vppereste
sum—some
58 hadde korue—hadden koruen
cloþe—cloth
strenkeþ—strengthe
59 born—MS. borne, C. born
away syche—awey swiche
60 geet[e]—geten
forsaide—forseide
61 ber—MS. bere, C. bar
bookes—smale bookes
honde—hand
lefte honde—left hand
62 ber—MS. bere, C. baar
sauȝ þese—say thise
63 bedde—bed
endytyng—enditynge
64 ameued—amoued
65 glowed[e]—glowede
haþ—MS. haþe, C. hath
66 seek[e]—sike
þise—the
strumpetis—strompetes
67 siche—swich
clepen—clepyn
68 only ne—nat oonly ne
not his—nat hise
no—none
69 wolde fede—wolden feeden
norysche hem—noryssyn hym
72 ben—ne ben
frutefiyng—fructefiynge
73 cornes plenteuouse—corn plentyuos
74 þe and ne—both omitted
75 not—nat
if ȝe—MS. if þe, C. yif ye
hadde—hadden
76 vnkonnyng—vnkunnynge
78 peple—poeple
79 syche—swhiche
myne—myn
80 weren—ne weeren
ȝe—ye
81 haþ—MS. haþe, C. hath
ben—be
scoles—schooles
82 goþ—MS. goþe, C. goth
83 wyche—whiche þat
85 say—seyn
notful—noteful
86 I-blamed—Iblamyd
87 wroþely—wrothly
adounward—downward
88 redenesse—rednesse
sorowfuly—sorwfully
89 þreschefolde—thresshfold
syȝt—syhte
90 derked—dyrked
myȝt[e]——knowe—myhte nat
knowen
91 wex—wax
92 a-besid—abaysshed
caste—cast
adoune in to—down to
93 don—MS. done
95 vterrest[e] corner—vttereste
cornere
bedde—bed
97 compleinede—compley[n]de
98 sey—seyen
PHILOSOPHY ADDRESSES BOETHIUS.
[The 2de Metur.]Allas how þe þouȝt of
Drowned in the depth of cares the mind loses its proper
clearness.
man dreint in ouer þrowyng
depnesse dulleþ and forletiþ hys propre clerenesse.
100
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.
Man in his freedom knew each region of the sky, the motions of the
planets, and was wont to investigate the causes of storms, the nature
and properties of the seasons, and the hidden causes of nature.
¶ Þis
man þat sumtyme was fre to whom þe heuene was open
104
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.
108
¶ 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
112
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
116
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.
120
But now, alas, he is constrained to keep his face to the ground.
¶ 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.
124
101 gone—goon
102 bisines—bysynesse
outen—owte
103 worldly—wordely
104 sumtyme—whilom
105 gone—goon
106 paþes—paathes
sauȝ—sawh
lyȝtnesse—lythnesse
sunne—sonne
sauȝ—MS. sue, C. sawgh
107 wyche—which
108 risorses—recourses
111 seche—seken
sounyng—sownynge
114 ryseþ oute—aryseth owt
falle—fallen
115 westren—westrene
116 fyrste—fyrst
119 eke—ek
120 dyuerses—diuerse
yhid—MS. yhidde
121 lieþ—lith
emptid—emted
123 adoune—adown
greet[e] weyȝt—grete weyhte
124 loke——foule—looken on the fool
PHILOSOPHY ENLIGHTENS BOETHIUS.
[The ijde prose.]Bvt tyme is now
More need of medicine than of complaint.
quod sche of medicine more þen of
compleynte. ¶ Forsoþe þen sche entendyng to
me warde wiþ al þe lokyng of hir eyen saide.
Philosophy addresses Boethius.
¶ Art
not þou he quod sche þat sumtyme I-norschid wiþ my
128
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
132
þat may not be ouer-comen. ¶ Knowest þou me not.
[* fol. 4 b.]
She fears his silence proceeds from shame rather than from
stupidity.
*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.
She finds him, however, in a lethargy, the distemper of a disordered
mind.
¶ And whan
136
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
140
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.
To make his recovery an easy matter, she wipes his eyes, which were
darkened by the clouds of mortal things, and dries up his tears.
and þat he may so done I wil wipe a litel hys eyen.
144
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.
148
125, 126 þen—than
127 al—alle
saide—seyde
128 sumtyme—whilom
I-norschid—MS. I-norschide, C. noryssed
129 fostre[d]—fostered
my—myne
130 Certys—Certes
ȝaf, yaf
131 syche—swiche
ȝif—yif
caste—C. cast
132 away—awey
schulden haue—sholden han
133 not be—nat ben
Knowest þou—knowestow
134 art þou—artow
136 haþ—MS. haþe
138 tonge—tunge
doumbe—dowmb
honde—hand
139 Here—her
140 litargie whiche—litarge which
141 sekenes—sykenesse
141, 143 haþ—MS. haþe
144 done—doon
wil wipe—wol wypen
146 garment—garnement
147 dried[e]—dryede
were—weeren
148 ful—fulle
BOETHIUS RECOGNIZES HIS PHYSICIAN.
[The 3de Metur.]Þus when þat
Her touch dispels the darkness of his soul, just as the heavy vapours,
that darken the skies and obscure the sunlight, are chased away by the
north wind, causing the return of the hidden day, when the sun smites
our wondering sight with his sudden light.
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
152
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
156
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
160
sodeyne lyȝt and smyteþ wiþ hys bemes in
meruelyng
eyen.
149 when—whan
150 myn—myne
repeyre—repeyrede
151 aȝeyne—omitted
her firste—hir fyrst
152 hid—MS. hidde, C. hid
when—whan
153 sey—seyn
when—whan
154 hyȝt—heyhte
chorus—MS. thorus
stont—MS. stonde, C. stant
157 þan—thanne
wynde—wynd
hyȝt—hyhte
158 sent—isent
160 þan—thanne
161 sodeyne—sodeyn
THE TRIALS OF PHILOSOPHY AND PHILOSOPHERS.
[The 3de prose.]Ryȝt so
The clouds of sorrow being dispelled, Boethius recollects the features
of his Physician, whom he discovers to be Philosophy.
and none oþer wyse þe cloudes of sorowe
dissolued and don awey. ¶ I took heuene. and
164
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.
168
and I seide þus.
He addresses her.
¶ 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.
172
She expresses her concern for him, and tells him that she is willing to
share his misfortunes.
¶ 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
176
wiþ-outen compaignie þe wey of hym þat is innocent.
She fears not any accusation, as if it were a new thing.
¶ 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
180
in perils by folk of wicked[e] maneres.
For before the age of Plato she contended against folly, and by her help
Socrates triumphed over an unjust death.
¶ 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
184
deserued[e] victorie of vnryȝtful deeþ in my presence.
Of the inheritance of Socrates the rout of Epicureans and Stoics wanted
to get a part.
¶ 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
188
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.
Philosophy withstood them, whereupon they tore her robe, and, departing
with the shreds, imagined that they had got possession of her.
¶ Þei
192
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
196
wenten awey wenyng þat I hadde gon wiþ hem euery
dele.
Thus, clothed with her spoils, they deceived many.
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
200
[* fol. 5.]
and stoyciens my *familers peruertede (.s.
persequendo)
somme þoruȝ þe errour of þe wikked[e] or vnkunnyng[e]
multitude of hem.
Philosophy adduces examples of wise men, who had laboured under
difficulties on account of being her disciples.
¶ Þis is to seyne for þei
semeden philosophres: þei weren pursued to þe deeþ
204
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
208
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
212
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.
It is the aim of Philosophy to displease the wicked, who are more to be
despised than dreaded, for they have no leader.
in þe whiche
tempeste þis is my most purpos þat is to seyn to displese
216
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.
If Philosophy is attacked by the wicked, she retires within her
fortress, leaving the enemy busy among the useless baggage, and laughing
to scorn such hunters of trifles.
¶ And if þei somtyme
220
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
224
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.
228
163 none oþer—non oother
sorowe—sorwe
165 knowe—knowen
166 myne—myn
festned[e]—fastnede
170 fro—from
170, 171 art þou—artow
172 mad—MS. made, C. maked
fals[e]—false
174 parte—parten
176 nar[e]—nere
sittyng—sittinge
178 þan—thanne
179 þing—thing
q.d. non—omitted
180 trowest þou—trowestow
alþerfirst—alderfirst
181 wicked[e]—wikkede
182 strife—strif
183 aȝeins—ayenis
foolhardines—foolhardinesse
foly—folie
184 eke—ek
185 deserued[e]—desseruede
186 wyche—the which
seyne—seyn
188 welfulnesse—welefulnesse
189 oþer—oothre
190 go—gon
eueryche—euerich
191 seyne—seyn
to—omitted
eueryche—euerich
194 tornen—read coruen, C. koruen
195 wouen—MS. wonnen, C. wouen
196 arased—arraced
197 gon—MS. gone, C. gon
198 dele—del
199 myche—moche
semed[e]—semede
and—or
200 myne—myn
wenyng—MS. wevyng, C. weninge
202 þoruȝ—thorw
wikked[e]—wikkede
vnkunnyng[e]—vnkunnynge
203 seyne—seyn þat
204 semeden—semede
pursued—MS. pursuede, C. pursued
205 slayn—MS. slayne, C. slayn
207 [weren]—weeren
208 myȝtest þou haue—myhtestow han
209 sorancis—sorans
wyche—which
is—nis
210 oolde—MS. colde, C. old
211 brouȝt[e]—browhte
212 enfourmed—MS. vnfourmed, C. enformyd
my—myne
vnlyke—vnlyk
213 wicked folk—wikkede foolke
auȝtest—owhtest
214 wondre—wondren
bitter—bittre
216 displese—displesen
217 wikked[e]—wikkede
schrews—shrewes
218 oost—glossed acies in C.
grete—gret
219, 222 leder—ledere
220 flityng—fleetynge
lyȝtly—lythly
if—yif
221 aȝeynest—ayenis
222 to——rycchesse, to gydere hise rychesses
toure—towr
224 heyȝ—heye
225 al—alle
ben—omitted
stored—warnestored
226 syche—swich
þat—omitted
227 scorne—schorne
228 rauiners——þinges—rauyneres & henteres of fowleste thinges
THE AIM OF PHILOSOPHY.
[The ferthe Metur.]Who so it be
He who hath triumphed over fate, and remained insensible to the changes
of Fortune, shall not be moved by storms, nor by the fires of Vesuvius,
nor by the fiercest thunderbolts.
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
232
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
236
of þonder lyȝt þat is wont to smyte heyȝe toures ne
schal not mouene þat man.
Fear not the tyrant’s rage.
¶ Wherto þen wrecches
drede ȝe tyrauntes þat ben wode and felownes wiþ-outen
ony strenkeþ.
He who neither fears nor hopes for anything disarms the tyrant.
¶ Hope after no þing ne drede nat. and
240
so schalt þou desarmen þe ire of þilke vnmyȝty tyraunt.
He whose heart fails him, yields his arms, and forges his own
fetters.
¶ 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
244
enlaceþ hym in þe cheyne wiþ whiche he may be
drawen.
229 clere—cleer
230 lyuyng—leuynge
haþ—MS. haþe
vnderfote—vndir-foot
prowed[e]—prowde
231 may——chiere—may his cheere holde
232 manace—manesses
233 þe—þe see
235 hyȝt—hihte
veseuus—MS. vesenus
wircheþ—writith
236 broken[e]—brokene
smokyng—smokynge
237 smyte—smyten
238 Wherto þen—wharto thanne
239 felownes——ony—felonos withowte any
241 schalt þou desarmen—shaltow deseruien
243 doþ—MS. doþe, C. doth
haþ—MS. haþe, C. hath
cast—MS. caste, C. cast
244 schelde—sheld
remoeued fro—remwed from
245 whiche—the which
be—ben
BOETHIUS SPEAKS OF HIS TROUBLES.
[The verthe prose.]FElest þou
Philosophy seeks to know the malady of Boethius.
quod sche þise þinges and entren þei ouȝt
in þi corage. ¶ Art þou like an asse to þe harpe.
248
Whi wepest þou whi spillest þou teres. ¶ Yif þou
abidest after helpe of þi leche. þe byhoueþ discouere þi
wounde.
Boethius complains of Fortune’s unrelenting rage.
¶ Þo .I. þat hadde gadered strenkeþ in my
corage answered[e] and seide. and nedeþ it ȝitte
quod
252
.I. of rehersyng or of amonicioun. and scheweþ it
not
ynouȝ by hym self þe scharpnes of fortune þat wexeþ
woode aȝeynes me.
Is not she moved, he asks, with the aspect of his prison?
¶ Ne moeueþ it nat þe to seen þe
face or þe manere of þis place (.i. prisoun.).
His library, his habit, and his countenance are all changed.
¶ Is þis
256
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
260
myn habit swiche as it is now. was þan my face or
quasi diceret non.
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
264
Is this, he asks, the reward of his fidelity?
ironice
of heuene. ¶ 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.
Plato (de Rep. v.) says that those Commonwealths are most happy that are
governed by philosophers, or by those who study to be so.
þat is to
seyne þat commune þinges or comunabletes weren
268
blysful yif þei þat haden studied al fully to wisdom
gouerneden þilke þinges. or ellys yif it so by-felle þat
[* fol. 5 b.]
þe gouernours *of communalites studieden in grete wisdomes.
PHILOSOPHERS TO BE POLITICIANS.
The same Plato urged philosophers to take upon them the management of
public affairs, lest it should fall into the hands of unprincipled
citizens.
¶ Þou saidest eke by þe mouþe of þe same
272
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
276
inne pestilence and destruccioun to goode
folk.
Boethius declares that he desired to put in practice (in the management
of public affairs) what he had learnt in his retirement.
¶ 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
280
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.
He sought to do good to all, but became involved in discord with the
wicked.
¶ And þer-of comeþ
284
it þat by-twixen wikked folk and me han ben greuouse
discordes. þat ne myȝten not be relesed by prayeres.
Consciousness of integrity made him despise the anger of the most
powerful.
¶ For þis libertee haþ fredom of conscience þat þe wraþþe
of more myȝty folk haþ alwey ben despised of me for
288
saluacioun of ryȝt.
He opposed Conigastus, and put a stop to the doings of Triguilla.
¶ 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
292
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.
He put his authority in peril for the defence of poor folk.
þat is to seine put
296
myne auctorite in peril for þe wreched pore folke. þat
þe couetise of straungeres vnpunysched tourmentid alwey
wiþ myseses and greuaunces oute of noumbre.
BOETHIUS DEFENDS HIS OWN CONDUCT.
I never deviated, he says, from the path of justice.
¶ Neuer man drow me ȝitte fro ryȝt to wrong. When I say þe
300
fortunes and þe rychesse of þe people of þe prouinces
ben harmed eyþer by priue rauynes or by comune
tributis or cariages.
I felt for those that were wrongfully oppressed.
as sory was I as þei þat suffred[e]
þe harme. Glosa. ¶ Whan þat theodoric þe kyng of
304
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
308
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
312
kyng þe fifte part. Textus.
I opposed successfully Coemption in Campania.
¶ 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
316
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.
I saved Paulinus out of the hands of the hounds of the palace
(Palatini canes).
¶ Paulyn a counseiller of Rome þe rychesse
320
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.
I defended Albinus against Cyprian.
¶ And for as myche as þe peyne
324
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
328
þat I haue purchased greet[e] discordes aȝeins my self.
For the love of justice I forfeited all favour at Court.
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.
332
by þe whiche I were þe more syker. ¶ But þoruȝ þe
same accusours accusyng I am condempned.
THE ACCUSERS OF BOETHIUS.
Boethius makes mention of his accusers, Basilius, Opilio, Gaudentius,
men who had been commanded to leave the city on account of their many
crimes.
¶ Of þe noumbre of whiche accusours one basilius þat somtyme
was chased out of þe kynges seruice. is now compelled
336
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
340
wiþ-outen noumbre. ¶ To whiche iugement þei wolde
not obeye. but defended[e] hem by sykernesse of holy
houses.
[* fol. 6.]
*þat is to seyne fledden in to seyntuaries. and
whan þis was aperceiued to þe kyng. he comaunded[e]
344
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
348
cruelte.
But, on the day this sentence was to be executed, they accused him, and
their testimony against him was accepted.
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.
352
made þat hem ryȝtful accusours or no (q.d. non).
Fortune, if not ashamed at this, might at least blush for the baseness
of the accusers.
¶ 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.
356
THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BOETHIUS.
¶ But axest þou in somme of what gilt .I.
am accused.
Boethius says he is accused of trying to save the Senate, and of having
embarrassed an informer against the Senate.
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
360
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
364
þe (q. d. non).
It is true that he tried to save the Senate, for he has and will have
its best interests always at heart.
¶ 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.
368
¶ 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
372
or a felonie þat is to seyne to wilne þe sauuacioun of
hem (.s senatus).
(Folly cannot change the merit of things.
¶ But folye þat lieth alwey to hym
self may not chaunge þe merit of þinges.
According to Socrates’ judgment it is not lawful to hide the truth nor
assent to a falsehood.)
¶ Ne .I.
trowe not by þe iugement of socrates þat it were leueful
376
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
380
as folk þat ben to comen aftir oure dayes schollen
knowen it.
Boethius determines to transmit an account of his prosecution to
posterity.
¶ 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
384
Rome. What apperteneþ me to speken þer-of.
Boethius says that he could have defeated his accusers had he been
allowed the use of their confessions.
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
388
alle nedys haþ grete strenkeþ. ¶ For what oþer fredom
may men hopen.
But there is now no remains of liberty to be hoped for.
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
392
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.
396
BOETHIUS COMPLAINS TO PHILOSOPHY.
It is not strange that the wicked should conspire against virtue.
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
400
done.
The will to do ill proceeds from the defects of human nature.
For why. to wylne schrewednesse þat comeþ
parauenture of oure defaute. ¶ But it is lyke to a
monstre and a meruaille.
It is a marvel how such evil acts can be done under the eye of an
Omniscient God.
¶ How þat in þe present
syȝt of god may ben acheued and performed swiche
404
þinges. as euery felonous man haþ conceyued in hys
þouȝt aȝeins innocent. ¶ For whiche þing oon of þi
familers not vnskilfully axed þus.
If there be a God, whence proceeds evil? If there is none, whence arises
good?
¶ Ȝif god is. whennes
comen wikked[e] þinges. and yif god ne is whennes
408
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
412
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.
Boethius defends the integrity of his life.
¶ Þou remembrest wele as I gesse þat whan I wolde
416
[* fol. 6 b.]
don or *seyn any þing. þou þi self alwey present
reweledest me.
He defended the Senate at Verona.
¶ 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
420
maieste of þe whiche gilt þat albyn was accused. wiþ
how grete sykernesse of peril to me defended[e] I al
þe senat.
He spake only the truth, and did not boast.
¶ Þou wost wel þat I seide soþe. ne I
auaunted[e] me neuer in preysyng of my self.
(Boasting lessens the pleasure of a self approving conscience.)
¶ For
424
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.
428
OF HIS FALSE ACCUSERS.
But as the reward of his innocence he is made to suffer the punishment
due to the blackest crime.
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
432
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.
Had he been accused of a design to burn temples, massacre priests, he
would have been allowed to confront his accusers.
¶ For al þouȝ I had[de] ben accused
436
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.
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But now this is denied him, and he is proscribed and condemned to
death.
¶ 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
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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.
BOETHIUS ACCUSED OF SORCERY.
Boethius says that his enemies accused him of sorcery.
þe wiche dignite for þei wolde derken it
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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
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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.
He affirms that he has always followed the golden maxim of
Pythagoras,— ἕπου Θεῷ [Greek: hepou Theô].
¶ For þou drouppedest euery day in myn
eeres and in my þouȝt þilk comaundement of pictogoras.
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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
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me lyke to god. and ouer þis þe ryȝt clene secre
chaumbre of myn house.
His family and friends could clear him from all suspicion of the crime
of sorcery.
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
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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.
Because he has given himself up to Philosophy, his enemies accuse him of
using unlawful arts.
¶ For
þei trowen þat .I. haue had affinite to malyfice or
enchauntementȝ
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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
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wiþ myne offensioun. ¶ But certys to þe harmes þat I
haue þere bytydeþ ȝit þis encrece of harme.
BOETHIUS DEPLORES THE POPULAR CENSURE.
þat þe gessinge and þe iugement of myche folk ne loken no
þing to þe[de]sertys of þinges but only to þe auenture
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of fortune.
Most people imagine that that only should be judged to be undertaken
with prudent foresight which is crowned with success.
¶ 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
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prosperite.
The unfortunate lose the good opinion of the world.
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.
[* Text begins again.]
*and þer of comeþ þat good gessyng. ¶ Fyrste of
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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.
[* fol. 7.]
*þat whan þat ony blame is
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laid vpon a caytif. men wenen þat he haþ deserued þat
he suffreþ.
Boethius laments the loss of his dignities and reputation.
¶ 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.
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The wicked, he says, sin with impunity, while the innocent are deprived
of security, protection, and defence.
¶ 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
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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
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and þerfore me list to crien to god in þis manere.