THE INCONSTANCY OF FORTUNE.

HEC CUM SUPERBA.

Whan fortune Fortune is as inconstant as the ebb and flow of Euripus. wiþ a proude ryȝt hande haþ turnid
hir chaungyng stoundes she fareþ lyke þe maners 820
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 hurls kings from their thrones, and exalts the captive. ¶ She
cruel fortune kasteþ adoune kynges þat somtyme weren 824
ydred. and she deceiuable enhaunseth vp þe humble
chere of hym þat is discomfited. She turns a deaf ear to the tears and cries of the wretched. 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 828
she haþ maked wepe wiþ hir free wille. Thus she sports and boasts her power and presents a marvel to her servants if, in the space of an hour, a man is hurled from happiness into adversity. ¶ 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. 832

PROSPERITY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FELICITY.

VELLEM AUTEM PAUCA.

CErtis I Philosophy expostulates with Boethius in the name of Fortune. wolde plete wiþ þee a fewe þinges vsynge
þe wordes of fortune tak heede now þi self. yif þat
she axeþ ryȝt. [* fol. 9 b.] Why do you accuse me (Fortune) as guilty? *¶ O þou man wher fore makest þou
me gilty by þine euerydayes pleynynges. what wronges 836
haue I don þe. What goods or advantages have I deprived you of? 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 Can you prove that ever any man had a fixed property in his riches? ¶ And
yif þou maist shewe me þat euer any mortal man haþ 840
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. You came naked into the world, and I cherished you and encompassed you with affluence. ¶ Whan þat nature brouȝt[e] þe
forþe out of þi moder wombe. I receyued[e] þe naked 844
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 848
shinyng of al goodes þat ben in my ryȝt. Now that I have a mind to withdraw my bounty, be thankful and complain not. ¶ 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 852
þinges. whi pleynest þou þan. I haue don þe no wrong.
Riches and honours are subject to me. Ricches honoures and swyche oþer þinges ben of my
ryȝt. They are my servants, and come and go with me. ¶ My seruauntes knowen me for hir lady. þei
comen wiþ me and departen whan I wende. I dar wel 856
affermen hardyly. þat yif þo þinges of whiche þou
pleynest þat þou hast forlorn hadde ben þine. þou ne
haddest not lorn hem. Shall I alone be forbidden to use my own right? ¶ shal I þan only be defended
to vse my ryȝt. Doth not heaven give us sunny days and obscure the same with dark nights? ¶ Certis it is leueful to þe heuene to 860
make clere dayes. and after þat to keuere þe same dayes
wiþ derke nyȝtes. Is not the earth covered with frost as well as with flowers? ¶ 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 864
wiþ coldes. The sea sometimes appears calm, and at other times terrifies us with its tempestuous waves. ¶ 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.
Shall I be bound to constancy by the covetousness of men? ¶ But þe couetyse of men þat may not be staunched 868
shal it bynde me to be stedfast. syn þat stedfastnesse
is vnkouþ to my maneres. ¶ Swyche is my strengþe.
I turn my rolling wheel and amuse myself with exalting what was low, and bringing down what was high. and þis pley. I pley[e] continuely. I tourne þe whirlyng
whele wiþ þe tournyng cercle ¶ I am glade to chaunge 872
þe lowest to þe heyeste. and þe heyest to þe loweste.

BE SUBJECT TO FORTUNE’S CHANGES.

Ascend if you will, but come down when my sport requires it. worþe vp 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. Know you not the history of Crœsus and of Paulus Æmilius? Wost þou 876
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 880
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 else does the weeping muse of Tragedy deplore but the overthrow of kingdoms by the indiscriminate strokes of Fortune? What oþer þinges bywaylen þe criinges of 884
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. Did you not learn whilst a youth, that at the gates of Jove’s palace stand two vessels, one full of blessings, the other of woes? Lernedest nat þou 888
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 if you have drunk too deep of the first vessel? ¶ What ryȝt
hast þou to pleyne. yif þou hast taken more plenteuously 892
of þe goode syde þat is to seyne of my rycchesse and
prosperites. and what eke. yif I be nat departed fro þe.
My mutability gives thee hope of happier days. What eke. yif my mutabilitee ȝiueþ þe ryȝtful cause of
hope to han ȝit better þinges. Desire not to be exempted from the vicissitudes of humanity. ¶ Naþeles desmaie þe 896
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.

THE COVETOUS ARE EVER DISCONTENTED.

SI QUANTAS RAPIDIS.

ÞOuȝ plentee Though Plenty, from her teeming horn, poured down as many riches on the world as there are sands on the sea-shore, or stars in heaven, mankind would not cease to complain. þat is goddesse of rycches hielde adoun
wiþ ful horn. and wiþdraweþ nat hir hand. ¶ As 900
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 904
wope wrecched[e] pleyntes. [* fol. 10.] Though Heaven may grant every desire, they will still cry for more. ¶ 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. 908
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 rein can restrain unbounded avarice? ¶ What brideles
myȝten wiþholde to any certeyne ende þe desordene 912
coueitise of men ¶ Whan euere þe raþer þat it fletiþ in
large ȝiftis: þe more ay brenneþ in hem þe þrest of
hauyng. He who thinks himself poor, though he be rich, doth truly labour under poverty. ¶ Certis he þat quakyng and dredeful weneþ
hym seluen nedy. he ne lyueþ neuere mo ryche. 916

BOETHIUS IS NOT UNHAPPY.

HIIS IGITUR SI PRO SE.

Þerfore yif If Fortune spake thus to you, you could not defend your complaint. 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 920
byhoueþ þe to shewen it. and .I. wol ȝeue þe space to
tellen it. B. What you have said is very specious, but such discourses are only sweet while they strike our ears. ¶ 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 924
deliciouse. They cannot efface the deep impressions that misery has made in the heart. ¶ 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 928
whan þise þinges stynten forto soun[e] in eres. þe sorwe
þat is inset greueþ þe þouȝt. P. So it is indeed; for my arguments are not designed as remedies, but as lenitives only. 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 932
aȝeyne þi curacioun. When time serves, I will administer those things that shall reach the seat of your disease. ¶ For whan þat tyme is. I shal
moue swiche þinges þat percen hem self depe. But you are not among the number of the wretched. ¶ But
naþeles þat þou shalt not wilne to leten þi self a
wrecche. ¶ Hast þou forȝeten þe noumbre and þe 936
manere of þi welefulnesse. I shall not speak of your happiness in being provided for (in your orphanage) by the chief men of the city; nor of your noble alliance with Festus and Symmachus; 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. 940
¶ And þou bygunne raþer to ben leef and deere þan
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 944
wiþ so grete a nobley of þi fadres in lawe. nor of your virtuous wife, and manly sons. ¶ 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. 948
¶ 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 952
welefulnesse. Can you ever forget the memorable day that saw your two sons invested with the dignity of Consuls? ¶ 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 956
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 960
eloquence. When in the circus you satisfied the expectant multitude with a triumphal largess? 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. 964
By your expressions you flattered Fortune, and obtained from her a gift which never before fell to any private person. 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 968
had of fortune a ȝifte þat is to seyn swiche gerdoun
þat she neu[er]e ȝaf to preue man Will you therefore call Fortune to account? ¶ Wilt þou þerfore
leye a rekenyng wiþ fortune. She now begins, I own, to look unkindly on you; but if you consider the number of your blessings, you must confess that you are still happy. she haþ now twynkeled
first vpon þe wiþ a wykked eye. ¶ Yif þou considere 972
þe noumbre and þe manere of þi blysses. and of þi
sorwes. [* fol. 10 b.] *þou maist nat forsake þat þou nart ȝit blysful.

ADVERSITY IS BUT TRANSIENT.

These evils that you suffer are but transitory. For if þou þerfore wenest þi self nat weleful for þinges
þat þo semeden ioyful ben passed. ¶ Þer nis nat whi 976
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. Can there be any stability in human affairs, when the life of man is exposed to dissolution every hour? or trowest þou þat any stedfastnesse be in mannis 980
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. The last day of life puts an end to Prosperity. ȝit naþeles þe last[e] day 984
of a mannis lijf is a manere deeþ to fortune. and also
to þilke þat haþ dwelt. What matters it then, whether you by death leave it, or it (Fortune) by flight doth leave you? and þerfore what wenist þou
þar recche yif þou forlete hir in deynge or ellys þat she
fortune forlete þe in fleenge awey. 988

MANY BLESSINGS STILL REMAIN.

CUM PRIMO POLO.

Whan phebus The stars pale before the light of the rising sun. 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 992
sonne is risen þe day sterre wexiþ pale and lesiþ hir
lyȝt for þe grete bryȝtnesse of þe sonne. Westerly winds deck the wood with roses, but easterly winds cause their beauty to fade. ¶ Whan þe
wode wexeþ redy of rosene floures in þe first somer
sesoun þoruȝ þe breþe of þe wynde Zephirus þat wexeþ 996
warme. ¶ Yif þe cloudy wynde auster blowe felliche.
þan goþ awey þe fayrnesse of þornes. Now the sea is calm, and again it is tempestuous. Ofte þe see is
clere and calme wiþoute moeuyng floodes. And ofte
þe horrible wynde aquilon moeueþ boylyng tempestes 1000
and ouer whelweþ þe see. If all things thus vary, will you trust in transitory riches? ¶ 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. 1004
All here below is unstedfast and unstable. It is certeyne and establissed by lawe perdurable þat no
þing þat is engendred nys stedfast no stable.

MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

TUNC EGO UERA INQUAM.

ÞAnne seide I B. I cannot deny my sudden and early prosperity. þus. O norice of alle uertues þou
seist ful soþe. ¶ Ne I may nat forsake þe ryȝt[e] 1008
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. It is the remembrance of former happiness that adds most to man’s infelicity. ¶ For in alle aduersitees of fortune þe 1012
most vnsely kynde of contrariouse fortune is to han
ben weleful. P. Recollect that you have yet much affluence. ¶ 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 1016
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. 1020
What you esteemed most precious in your happy days, you still retain, and ought therefore not to complain. ¶ 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. 1024
syn þou hast ȝit þi best[e] þinges. ¶ Certys ȝit
lyueþ in goode poynt þilke precious honour of mankynde.
Symmachus, dear to you as life, is safe and in health. ¶ Symacus þi wyues fadir whiche þat is a
man maked al of sapience and of vertue. þe whiche 1028
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. Your wife Rusticiana is also alive, and bewails her separation from you. ¶ And ȝit lyueþ þi wif þat 1032
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 1036
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. Why need I mention your two sons, in whom so much of the wit and spirit of their sire and grandsire doth shine? ¶ What shal I seyn
eke of þi two sones conseillours of whiche as of children 1040
[* fol. 11.] of hir age þer shineþ *þe lyknesse of þe witte of
hir fadir and of hir eldefadir. And since it is the chief care of man to preserve life; you are still most happy in the possession of blessings which all men value more than life. and siþen þe souereyn
cure of alle mortel folke is to sauen hir owen lyues.

THE CONDITION OF HUMAN BLISS.

¶ O how weleful art þou þouȝ þou knowe þi goodes. 1044
¶ 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. Dry up thy tears, thou hast still present comfort and hope of future felicity. ¶ And forþi drie þi teres for ȝitte nys
nat eueriche fortune al hateful to þe warde. ne ouer 1048
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. B. I hope these will never fail me. ¶ And I preie quod I þat fast[e] mot[en] 1052
þei holden. ¶ For whiles þat þei halden. how so euere
þat þinges ben. I shal wel fleten furþe and eschapen.
But do you not see how low I am fallen? ¶ But þou mayst wel seen how greet[e] apparailes and
aray þat me lakkeþ þat ben passed awey fro me. P. I should think that I had made progress if you did not repine so at your fate. ¶ I 1056
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 1060
ȝit þi best[e] þinges. It grieves me to hear you complain while you possess so many comforts. ¶ But I may nat suffre þin
delices. þat pleinst so wepyng. and anguissous for þat
oþer lakkeþ somwhat to þi welefulnesse. Every one, however happy, has something to complain of. ¶ For what
man is so sad or of so perfit welefulnesse. þat he ne 1064
stryueþ or pleyneþ on some half aȝeine þe qualitee of
his estat. The condition of human enjoyment is anxious; for either it comes not all at once, or makes no long stay when it does come. ¶ 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. 1068

HAPPINESS ARISES FROM CONTENTMENT.

One man is very wealthy, but his birth is obscure. ¶ For som man haþ grete rycchesse. but he is asshamed
of hys vngentil lynage. Another is conspicuous for nobility of descent, but is surrounded by indigence. 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 1072
he were vnknowe. A third is blest with both advantages, but is unmarried. and som man habundeþ boþe in
rychesse and noblesse. but ȝit he bywaileþ hys chast[e]
lijf. for he haþ no wijf. This man is happy in a wife, but is childless, while that other man has the joy of children, but is mortified by their evil ways. ¶ and som man is wel and
selily maried but he haþ no children. and norissheþ his 1076
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. Thus we see that no man can agree easily with the state of his fortune. ¶ and for þis
þer accordeþ no wyȝt lyȝtly to þe condicioun of his fortune. 1080
for alwey to euery man þere is in mest somwhat
þat vnassaieþ he ne wot not or ellys he drediþ þat he
haþ assaied. The senses of the happy are refined and delicate, and they are impatient if anything is untoward. ¶ And adde þis also þat euery weleful
man haþ a wel delicat felyng. ¶ So þat but yif alle 1084
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. The happiness of the most fortunate depends on trifles. ¶ And ful lytel þinges
ben þo þat wiþdrawen þe somme or þe perfeccioun of 1088
blisfulnesse fro hem þat ben most fortunat. How many would think themselves in heaven if they had only a part of the remnant of thy fortune! ¶ 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 1092
þat þou clepist exil is contre to hem þat enhabiten
here. Thy miseries proceed from the thought that thou art miserable. and forþi. Noþing wrecched. but whan þou
wenest it Every lot may be happy to the man who bears his condition with equanimity and courage. ¶ As who seiþ. þouȝ þi self ne no wyȝt
ellys nys no wrecche but whan he weneþ hym self a 1096
wrecche by reputacioun of his corage.

THE SOURCE OF TRUE HAPPINESS.

CONTRAQUE.

And aȝeinewarde al fortune is blisful to a man by þe
agreablete or by þe egalite of hym þat suffreþ it.
When patience is lost then a change of state is desired. ¶ What man is þat. þat is so weleful þat nolde chaungen 1100
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 1104
þat it ne goþ away whan it wol. How much is human felicity embittered! ¶ Þan is it wel sen
how wrecched is þe blisfulnesse of mortel þinges. It will not stay with those that endure their lot with equanimity, nor bring comfort to anxious minds. þat
neiþer it dwelliþ perpetuel wiþ hem þat euery fortune
receyuen agreablely or egaly. ¶ Ne it ne deliteþ not in 1108
al. to hem þat ben anguissous. Why then, O mortals, do ye seek abroad for that felicity which is to be found within yourselves? ¶ O ye mortel folkes
[* fol. 11 b.] 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 1112
blisfulnesse. Nothing is more precious than thyself. Is þer any þing to þe more preciouse þan
þi self ¶ Þou wilt answere nay. If thou hast command over thyself, Fortune cannot deprive thee of it. ¶ 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 1116
noldest neuer lesen. ne fortune may nat by-nyme it þe.
Happiness does not consist in things transitory. and þat þou mayst knowe þat blisfulnesse [ne] may
nat standen in þinges þat ben fortunous and temperel.
If happiness be the supreme good of nature, then that thing cannot be it which can be withdrawn from us. ¶ Now vndirstonde and gadir it to gidir þus 1120
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 1124
taken awey. Instability of fortune is not susceptive of true happiness. ¶ Þan shewiþ it wele þat þe vnstablenesse
of fortune may nat attayne to receyue verray
blisfulnes. ¶ And ȝit more ouer. He who is led by fading felicity, either knows that it is changeable or does not know it. ¶ What man þat
þis toumblyng welefulnesse leediþ. eiþer he woot þat 1128
[it] is chaungeable. or ellis he woot it nat. If he knows it not, what happiness has he in the blindness of his ignorance? ¶ 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 1132
þat þing. þat he ne douteþ nat but þat he may leesen it.

RICHES DO NOT CONSTITUTE HAPPINESS.

If he knows it is fleeting he must be afraid of losing it, and this fear will not suffer him to be happy. ¶ 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 1136
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. 1140
of þe lost þan of þe hauynge. Since thou art convinced of the soul’s immortality, thou canst not doubt that if death puts an end to human felicity, that all men when they die, are plunged into the depths of misery. ¶ 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 1144
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 1148
by þe ende of þe deeþ. But we know that many have sought to obtain felicity, by undergoing not only death, but pains and torments. ¶ 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 then can this present life make men truly happy, since when it is ended they do not become miserable? how myȝt[e] þan þis present 1152
lijf make men blisful. syn þat whanne þilke self[e]
lijf is endid. it ne makeþ folk no wrecches.