Chapter XV: Book III: Prose I (1)

_Iam cantum illa finierat._

By this she hadde ended hir song, whan the sweetnesse of hir
ditee hadde thorugh-perced me that was desirous of herkninge,
and I astoned hadde yit streighte myn eres, _that is to seyn, to
herkne the bet what she wolde seye_; so that a litel here-after I
seyde thus: 'O thou that art sovereyn comfort of anguissous 5
corages, so thou hast remounted and norisshed me with the
weighte of thy sentences and with delyt of thy singinge; so that
I trowe nat now that I be unparigal to the strokes of Fortune:
_as who seyth, I dar wel now suffren al the assautes of Fortune, and
wel defende me fro hir_. And tho remedies whiche that thou 10
seydest her-biforn weren right sharpe, nat only that I am nat
a-grisen of hem now, but I, desirous of heringe, axe gretely to
heren the remedies.'

Than seyde she thus: 'That felede I ful wel,' quod she, 'whan
that thou, ententif and stille, ravisshedest my wordes; and I 15
abood til that thou haddest swich habite of thy thought as thou
hast now; or elles til that I my-self hadde maked to thee the
same habit, which that is a more verray thing. And certes, the
remenaunt of thinges that ben yit to seye ben swiche, that first
whan men tasten hem they ben bytinge, but whan they ben 20
receyved withinne a wight, than ben they swete. But for thou
seyst that thou art so desirous to herkne hem, with how gret
brenninge woldest thou glowen, yif thou wistest whider I wol
leden thee!'

'Whider is that?' quod I. 25

'To thilke verray welefulnesse,' quod she, 'of whiche thyn herte
dremeth; but for as moche as thy sighte is ocupied and distorbed
by imaginacioun _of erthely thinges_, thou mayst nat yit seen thilke
selve welefulnesse.'

'Do,' quod I, 'and shewe me what is thilke verray welefulnesse, 30
I preye thee, with-oute taryinge.'

'That wole I gladly don,' quod she, 'for the cause of thee;
but I wol first marken thee by wordes and I wol enforcen me to
enformen thee thilke _false_ cause _of blisfulnesse_ that thou more
knowest; so that, whan thou hast fully bi-holden thilke false 35
goodes, and torned thyn eyen to that other syde, thou mowe knowe
the cleernesse of verray blisfulnesse.

PR. I. 3. C. streyhte; Ed. streyght. 5. C angwissos. 7. C. weyhte; Ed. weight. // C. sentenses; Ed. sentences. 8. C. vnparygal; Ed. vnperegall. 10. C. deffende; Ed. defende. 11. C. hir-; Ed. here-. 12. C. desiros; Ed. desyrous. 17. C. Ed. had. 21. C. resseyued. 22. C. wit; Ed. with. 23. C. woldesthow; Ed. woldest thou. 26. C. thynge (!); Ed. thyn; Lat. _tuus_. 28. C. herthely; Ed. erthly. 31. C. tarynge; Ed. taryeng; Lat. _cunctatione_. 33. C. the (_for_ thee); Ed. _om._

METRE I.

_Qui serere ingenuum uolet agrum._

Who-so wole sowe a feeld plentivous, lat him first delivere it fro
thornes, and kerve asunder with his hook the busshes and the
fern, so that the corn may comen hevy of eres and of greynes.
Hony is the more swete, yif mouthes han first tasted savoures that
ben wikkid. The sterres shynen more agreably whan the wind 5
Nothus leteth his ploungy blastes; and after that Lucifer the
day-sterre hath chased awey the derke night, the day the fairere
ledeth the rosene hors _of the sonne_. And right so thou, bi-holdinge
first the false goodes, bigin to with-drawen thy nekke
fro the yok _of erthely affecciouns_; and after-ward the verray goodes 10
shollen entren in-to thy corage.'

ME. I. 1. A. of (_for_ fro). 2. A. bushes; Ed. busshes; C. bosses. 3. C. heres; A. eres. 5. A. wikke. // C. agreablely. 7. C. dirke; A. derke. 8. A. _om._ And. 10. C. verre; A. verrey.

PROSE II.

_Tunc defixo paullulum uisu._

Tho fastnede she a litel the sighte of hir eyen, and with-drow
hir right as it were in-to the streite sete of hir thought; and bigan
to speke right thus: 'Alle the cures,' quod she, 'of mortal folk,
whiche that travaylen hem in many maner studies, goon certes by
diverse weyes, but natheles they enforcen hem alle to comen only 5
to oon ende of blisfulnesse. And blisfulnesse is swiche a good,
that who-so that hath geten it, he ne may, over that, no-thing
more desyre. And this thing is forsothe the sovereyn good that
conteyneth in him-self alle maner goodes; to the whiche good yif
ther failede any thing, it mighte nat ben cleped sovereyn good: 10
for thanne were ther som good, out of this ilke sovereyn good, that
mighte ben desired. Now is it cleer and certein thanne, that
blisfulnesse is a parfit estat by the congregacioun of alle goodes;
the whiche blisfulnesse, as I have seyd, alle mortal folk enforcen
hem to geten by diverse weyes. For-why the coveitise of verray 15
good is naturelly y-plaunted in the hertes of men; but the miswandringe
errour mis-ledeth hem in-to false goodes. Of the
whiche men, som of hem wenen that sovereyn good be to liven
with-oute nede of any thing, and travaylen hem to be haboundaunt
of richesses. And som other men demen that sovereyn good be, 20
for to ben right digne of reverence; and enforcen hem to ben
reverenced among hir neighbours by the honours that they han
y-geten. And some folk ther ben that holden, that right heigh
power be sovereyn good, and enforcen hem for to regnen, or elles
to ioignen hem to hem that regnen. And it semeth to some other 25
folk, that noblesse of renoun be the sovereyn good; and hasten
hem to geten glorious name by the arts of werre and of pees.
And many folk mesuren and gessen that sovereyn good be Ioye
and gladnesse, and wenen that it be right blisful thing to ploungen
hem in voluptuous delyt. And ther ben folk that entrechaungen 30
the causes and the endes of thise forseyde goodes, as they that
desiren richesses to han power and delytes; or elles they desiren
power for to han moneye, or for cause of renoun. In thise thinges,
and in swiche othre thinges, is torned alle the entencioun of
desiringes and of werkes of men; as thus: noblesse and favour 35
of people, whiche that yeveth to men, as it semeth hem, a maner
cleernesse of renoun; and wyf and children, that men desiren for
cause of delyt and of merinesse. But forsothe, frendes ne sholden
nat be rekned a-mong the godes of fortune, but of vertu; for it is
a ful holy maner thing. Alle thise othre thinges, forsothe, ben 40
taken for cause of power or elles for cause of delyt.

Certes, now am I redy to referren the goodes of the body to
thise forseide thinges aboven; for it semeth that strengthe and
gretnesse of body yeven power and worthinesse, and that beautee
and swiftnesse yeven noblesses and glorie of renoun; and hele of 45
body semeth yeven delyt. In alle thise thinges it semeth only
that blisfulnesse is desired. For-why thilke thing that every man
desireth most over alle thinges, he demeth that it be the sovereyn
good; but I have defyned that blisfulnesse is the sovereyn good;
for which every wight demeth, that thilke estat that he desireth 50
over alle thinges, that it be blisfulnesse.

Now hast thou thanne biforn thyn eyen almest al the purposed
forme of the welefulnesse of man-kinde, that is to seyn, richesses,
honours, power, and glorie, and delyts. The whiche delyt only
considerede Epicurus, and iuged and establisshed that delyt is 55
the sovereyn good; for as moche as alle othre thinges, as him
thoughte, bi-refte awey Ioye and mirthe fram the herte. But I
retorne ayein to the studies of men, of whiche men the corage
alwey reherseth and seketh the sovereyn good, al be it so that
it be with a derked memorie; but he not by whiche path, right 60
as a dronken man not nat by whiche path he may retorne him to
his hous. Semeth it thanne that folk folyen and erren that
enforcen hem to have nede of nothing? Certes, ther nis non other
thing that may so wel performe blisfulnesse, as an estat plentivous
of alle goodes, that ne hath nede of non other thing, but that is 65
suffisaunt of himself unto him-self. And folyen swiche folk thanne,
that wenen that thilke thing that is right good, that it be eek right
worthy of honour and of reverence? Certes, nay. For that thing
nis neither foul ne worthy to ben despised, that wel neigh al the
entencioun of mortal folk travaylen for to geten it. And power, 70
oughte nat that eek to ben rekened amonges goodes? What
elles? For it is nat to wene that thilke thing, that is most worthy
of alle thinges, be feble and with-oute strengthe. And cleernesse
of renoun, oughte that to ben despised? Certes, ther may no
man forsake, that al thing that is right excellent and noble, that it
ne 75
semeth to ben right cleer and renomed. For certes, it nedeth nat
to seye, that blisfulnesse be [nat] anguissous ne drery, ne subgit to
grevaunces ne to sorwes, sin that in right litel thinges folk seken
to have and to usen that may delyten hem. Certes, thise ben
the thinges that men wolen and desiren to geten. And for this 80
cause desiren they richesses, dignitees, regnes, glorie, and delices.
For therby wenen they to han suffisaunce, honour, power, renoun,
and gladnesse. Than is it good, that men seken thus by so many
diverse studies. In whiche desyr it may lightly ben shewed how
gret is the strengthe of nature; for how so that men han diverse 85
sentences and discordinge, algates men acorden alle in lovinge the
ende of good.

PR. II. 2. C. cyte; A. sete; Lat. _sedem_. 5. C. enforsen; A. enforced; Ed. enforcen. 6. A. _om._ And blisfulnesse. 10. A. _om._ cleped. 14. C. enforsen; A. enforcen. 18. A. is (_for_ be). 20. C. ben; A. be. 22. C. nesshebors; A. neyghbours. 23. A. halden. // C. heyh; A. hey[gh]e; Ed. hye. 24: A. to b (_for_ be). 28. C. by (_for_ be); A. Ed. be. 29. A. _om._ thing. 32. A. rycchesse. 35. A. _om. 1st_ of. // C. fauor; A. fauo_ur_. 36. A. _om._ to men _and_ hem. 38. A. shollen. 39. A. Ed. the; C. tho. 45. C. sweft-; A. swifte-. 49. C. deffyned; A. Ed. diffined. 52. A. _om._ thy eyen; C. thy (_for_ thyn); Ed. thyn. // A. almost. 55. A. _om._ and _bef._ iuged. // C. A. establyssed; Ed. establysshed. 59. A. _ins._ of _after_ good (_wrongly_). 60. C. dirkyd; A. derke; Ed. dyrked. // A. _om._ but he ... path. // C. paath (_twice_). 62. C. foleyen; A. folyen. 65. C. A. _ins._ it _bef._ is; Ed. _om._ 66. C. A. foleyen; Ed. folyen. 69. C. wel neyh; Ed. wel nygh; A. _om._ // C. alle; A. Ed. al. 77. _I supply_ nat. // C. angwyssos. // C. subgyd; A. subgit. 81. A. rycches. 86. C. allegates; A. algates. // A. lyuynge (!).

METRE II.

_Quantas rerum flectat habenas._

It lyketh me to shewe, by subtil song, with slakke and delitable
soun of strenges, how that Nature, mighty, enclineth and flitteth
the governements of thinges, and by whiche lawes she, purveyable,
kepeth the grete world; and how she, bindinge, restreyneth alle
thinges by a bonde that may nat ben unbounde. Al be it so that 5
the lyouns of the contre of Pene beren the faire chaynes, and
taken metes of the handes of folk that yeven it hem, and dreden
hir sturdy maystres of whiche they ben wont to suffren betinges:
yif that hir horrible mouthes ben be-bled, _that is to seyn, of bestes
devoured_, hir corage of time passed, that hath ben ydel and rested, 10
repeyreth ayein; and they roren grevously and remembren on hir
nature, and slaken hir nekkes fram hir chaynes unbounde; and
hir mayster, first to-torn with blody tooth, assayeth the wode
wrathes of hem; _this is to seyn, they freten hir mayster_. And the
iangelinge brid that singeth on the heye braunches, _that is to seyn, 15
in the wode_, and after is enclosed in a streyt cage: al-though that
the pleyinge bisinesse of men yeveth hem honiede drinkes and
large metes with swete studie, yit natheles, yif thilke brid, skippinge
out of hir streyte cage, seeth the agreables shadewes of the
wodes, she defouleth with hir feet hir metes y-shad, and seketh 20
mourninge only the wode; and twitereth, desiringe the wode, with
hir swete vois. The yerde of a tree, that is haled a-doun by
mighty strengthe, boweth redily the crop a-doun: but yif that the
hand of him that it bente lat it gon ayein, anon the crop loketh
up-right to hevene. The sonne Phebus, that falleth at even in 25
the westrene wawes, retorneth ayein eftsones his carte, by privee
path, ther-as it is wont aryse. Alle thinges seken ayein to hir
propre cours, and alle thinges reioysen hem of hir retorninge ayein
to hir nature. Ne non ordinaunce nis bitaken to thinges, but that
that hath ioyned the endinge to the beginninge, and hath maked 30
the cours of it-self stable, _that it chaungeth nat from his propre
kinde_.

ME. II. 3. A. _om._ the. 8. A. _om._ betinges. 9. C. horyble. 11. A. that (_for 1st_ and). 13. A. to-teren. 15. A. Iangland. // A. this (_for 2nd_ that). 16. A. inclosed. // C. streyht; A. streit. 17. C. pleynynge; A. pleiyng; Lat. _ludens_. 19. A. Ed. agreable. 24. C. bent; A. bente. 27. A. in-to (_for_ to). 30. C. hat; A. hath.

PROSE III.

_Vos quoque, o terrena animalia._

Certes also ye men, that ben ertheliche beestes, dremen alwey
youre beginninge, al-though it be with a thinne imaginacioun;
and by a maner thoughte, al be it nat cleerly ne parfitly, ye loken
fram a-fer to thilke verray fyn of blisfulnesse; and ther-fore naturel
entencioun ledeth you to thilke verray good, but many maner 5
errours mis-torneth you ther-fro. Consider now yif that by thilke
thinges, by whiche a man weneth to geten him blisfulnesse, yif
that he may comen to thilke ende that he weneth to come by
nature. For yif that moneye or honours, or thise other forseyde
thinges bringen to men swich a thing that no good ne fayle hem 10
ne semeth fayle, certes than wole I graunte that they ben maked
blisful by thilke thinges that they han geten. But yif so be that
thilke thinges ne mowen nat performen that they bi-heten, and
that ther be defaute of manye goodes, sheweth it nat thanne
cleerly that fals beautee of blisfulnesse is knowen and ateint in 15
thilke thinges? First and forward thou thy-self, that haddest
habundaunces of richesses nat long agon, I axe yif that, in the
habundaunce of alle thilke richesses, thou were never anguissous
or sory in thy corage of any wrong or grevaunce that bi-tidde thee
on any syde?' 20

'Certes,' quod I, 'it ne remembreth me nat that evere I was
so free of my thought that I ne was alwey in anguissh of
som-what.'

'And was nat that,' quod she, 'for that thee lakked som-what
that thou noldest nat han lakked, or elles thou haddest that thou 25
noldest nat han had?'

'Right so is it,' quod I.

'Thanne desiredest thou the presence of that oon and the
absence of that other?'

'I graunte wel,' quod I. 30

'Forsothe,' quod she, 'than nedeth ther som-what that every
man desireth?'

'Ye, ther nedeth,' quod I.

'Certes,' quod she, 'and he that hath lakke or nede of aught
nis nat in every wey suffisaunt to himself?' 35

'No,' quod I.

'And thou,' quod she, 'in al the plentee of thy richesses haddest
thilke lakke of suffisaunse?'

'What elles?' quod I.

'Thanne may nat richesses maken that a man nis nedy, ne that 40
he be suffisaunt to him-self; and that was it that they bi-highten,
as it semeth. And eek certes I trowe, that this be gretly to
considere, that moneye ne hath nat in his owne kinde that it
ne may ben bi-nomen of hem that han it, maugre hem?'

'I bi-knowe it wel,' quod I. 45

'Why sholdest thou nat bi-knowen it,' quod she, 'whan every
day the strenger folk bi-nemen it fro the febler, maugre hem?
For whennes comen elles alle thise foreyne compleyntes or
quereles of pletinges, but for that men axen ayein here moneye
that hath ben bi-nomen hem by force or by gyle, and alwey 50
maugre hem?'

'Right so is it,' quod I.

'Than,' quod she, 'hath a man nede to seken him foreyne
helpe by whiche he may defende his moneye?'

'Who may sey nay?' quod I. 55

'Certes,' quod she; 'and him nedede non help, yif he ne hadde
no moneye that he mighte lese?'

'That is douteles,' quod I.

'Than is this thinge torned in-to the contrarye,' quod she.
'For richesses, that men wenen sholde make suffisaunce, they 60
maken a man rather han nede of foreyne help! Which is
the manere or the gyse,' quod she, 'that richesse may dryve awey
nede? Riche folk, may they neither han hunger ne thurst?
Thise riche men, may they fele no cold on hir limes on winter?
But thou wolt answeren, that riche men han y-now wher-with they 65
may staunchen hir hunger, slaken hir thurst, and don a-wey cold.
In this wyse may nede be counforted by richesses; but certes,
nede ne may nat all outrely ben don a-wey. For though this nede,
that is alwey gapinge and gredy, be fulfild with richesses, and axe
any thing, yit dwelleth thanne a nede that mighte be fulfild. I 70
holde me stille, and telle nat how that litel thing suffiseth to
nature; but certes to avarice y-nough ne suffiseth no-thing. For
sin that richesses ne may nat al don awey nede, but richesses
maken nede, what may it thanne be, that ye wenen that richesses
mowen yeven you suffisaunce? 75

PR. III. 2. A. _om._ youre biginninge. 15. C. ataynt; A. a-teint. 24. A. that (_for_ And). // A. _om._ nat that ... for. // A. thou lakkedest; Ed. the lacked. 34. A. a wy[gh]t (_for_ aught). 35. C. suffysaunte; A. suffisaunt. 37, 40. A. rycchesse. 46. C. sholdesthow. 47. A. bynymen. // C. febeler_e_; A. febler. 50. C. _om._ hem. 54. C. deffende. 56. A. nedith. 60. A. rycchesse. 63. A. threst. 64. C. the; A. thei. 65. A. y-nou[gh]. 66. A. threst. 68. C. _om._ nat. // C. vtrely; A. outerly. 69, 70. C. fulfyd; A. fulfilled (_twice_). 72. C. aueryce; A. auarice. 73. C. rychesse (_1st time only_); A. rychesse (_twice_). // C. alwey; A. awey.

METRE III.

_Quamvis fluente diues auri gurgite._

Al were it so that a riche coveytous man hadde a river fletinge
al of gold, yit sholde it never staunchen his coveitise; and though
he hadde his nekke y-charged with precious stones of the rede
see, and though he do ere his feldes plentivous with an hundred
oxen, never ne shal his bytinge bisinesse for-leten him whyl he 5
liveth, ne the lighte richesses ne sholle nat beren him companye
whan he is ded.

ME. III. 1. A. _om. 2nd_ a. 2. A. couetise. 4. A. erye. // C. feeldes. 6. C. leuith; A. lyueth. // C. shol; A. shal. // C. A. compaignie.

PROSE IV.

_Set dignitates._

But dignitees, to whom they ben comen, maken they him
honorable and reverent? Han they nat so gret strengthe, that
they may putte vertues in the hertes of folk that usen the lordshipes
of hem? Or elles may they don a-wey the vyces? Certes, they
ne be nat wont to don awey wikkednesse, but they ben wont 5
rather to shewen wikkednesse. And ther-of comth it that I have
right grete desdeyn, that dignitees ben yeven ofte to wikked
men; for which thing Catullus cleped _a consul of Rome, that
highte_ Nonius, "postum" or "boch"; _as who seyth, he cleped him
a congregacioun of vyces in his brest, as a postum is ful of
corupcioun_, 10
al were this Nonius set in a chayre of dignitee. Seest thou nat
thanne how gret vilenye dignitees don to wikked men? Certes,
unworthinesse of wikked men sholde be the lasse y-sene, yif they
nere renomed of none honours. Certes, thou thyself ne mightest
nat ben brought with as manye perils as thou mightest suffren 15
that thou woldest beren the magistrat with Decorat; _that is to
seyn, that for no peril that mighte befallen thee by offence of the king
Theodorike, thou noldest nat be felawe in governaunce with Decorat_;
whan thou saye that he hadde wikked corage of a likerous shrewe
and of an accuser. Ne I ne may nat, for swiche honours, iugen 20
hem worthy of reverence, that I deme and holde unworthy to han
thilke same honours. Now yif thou saye a man that were fulfild
of wisdom, certes, thou ne mightest nat deme that he were unworthy
to the honour, or elles to the wisdom of which he is
fulfild?'--'No,' quod I.--'Certes, dignitees,' quod she, 'apertienen 25
proprely to vertu; and vertu transporteth dignitee anon to
thilke man to which she hir-self is conioigned. And for as moche
as honours of poeple ne may nat maken folk digne of honour, it
is wel seyn cleerly that they ne han no propre beautee of dignitee.
And yit men oughten taken more heed in this. For yif it so be 30
that a wikked wight be so mochel the foulere and the more out-cast,
that he is despysed of most folk, so as dignitee ne may nat
maken shrewes digne of reverence, the which shrewes dignitee
sheweth to moche folk, thanne maketh dignitee shrewes rather so
moche more despysed than preysed; and forsothe nat unpunisshed: 35
_that is for to seyn, that shrewes revengen hem ayeinward
up-on dignitees_; for they yilden ayein to dignitees as gret guerdoun,
whan they bi-spotten and defoulen dignitees with hir
vilenye. And for as mochel as thou mowe knowe that thilke
verray reverence ne may nat comen by thise shadewy transitorie 40
dignitees, undirstond now thus: yif that a man hadde used and
had many maner dignitees of consules, and were comen peraventure
amonge straunge naciouns, sholde thilke honour maken
him worshipful and redouted of straunge folk? Certes, yif that
honour of poeple were a naturel yift to dignitees, it ne mighte 45
never cesen nowher amonges no maner folk to don his office,
right as fyr in every contree ne stinteth nat to eschaufen and to
ben hoot. But for as moche as for to ben holden honourable or
reverent ne cometh nat to folk of hir propre strengthe of nature,
but only of the false opinioun of folk, _that is to seyn, that wenen 50
that dignitees maken folk digne of honour_; anon therfore whan
that they comen ther-as folk ne knowen nat thilke dignitees, hir
honours vanisshen awey, and that anon. But that is amonges
straunge folk, mayst thou seyn; but amonges hem ther they
weren born, ne duren nat thilke dignitees alwey? Certes, the 55
dignitee of the provostrie of Rome was whylom a gret power;
now is it nothing but an ydel name, and the rente of the senatorie
a gret charge. And yif a wight whylom hadde the office to taken
hede to the vitailes of the poeple, as of corn and other thinges, he
was holden amonges grete; but what thing is now more out-cast 60
thanne thilke provostrie? And, as I have seyd a litel her-biforn,
that thilke thing that hath no propre beautee of him-self receiveth
som-tyme prys and shyninge, and som-tyme leseth it by the
opinioun of usaunces. Now yif that dignitees thanne ne mowen
nat maken folk digne of reverence, and yif that dignitees wexen 65
foule of hir wille by the filthe of shrewes, and yif that dignitees
lesen hir shyninge by chaunginge of tymes, and yif they wexen
foule by estimacioun of poeple: what is it that they han in hem-self
of beautee that oughte ben desired? _as who seyth, non_;
thanne ne mowen they yeven no beautee of dignitee to non other. 70

PR. IV. 2. C. honorable, _glossed_ ironice. 3. C. lordshippys; A. lordshipes. 5. A. _om._ ne. // A. wikkednesses (_twice_); Lat. _nequitiam_. 6. C. _om._ to _bef._ shewen. 7. C. desdaign; A. desdeyne. 9. C. nomyus; A. nonius. // Ed. postome. 11. C. nomyus. // C. _om._ a. // C. Sesthow. 12. C. fylonye; A. vylenye; Ed. vylonies; Lat. _dedecus_. 16. C. Ed. the; A. thi. // A. magistrat; C. magestrat. 17. A. by the offence; C. by offense; Ed. by offence. 19. Ed. saw. // C. lykoros; A. likerous. 22. Ed. sawe. 25. A. Ed. quod she; C. _om._ 29. C. they, _glossed_, s. honurs. 30. A. more; C. mor. // C. _om._ it. 30-5. A. For if it so be that he that is most out-cast that most folk dispisen. or as dignite ne may nat maken shrewes worthi of no reuerences. than maketh dignites shrewes more dispised than preised. the whiche shrewes dignit (_sic_) scheweth to moche folk. and forsothe not vnpunissed; Ed. for if a wight be in so muche the more outcast, that he is dispysed of moste folke, so as dignyte ne may not maken shrewes worthy of no reuerence, than maketh dignite shrewes rather dispysed tha_n_ praysed, the whiche shrewes dignite sheweth to moche folk. And forsothe not vnpunisshed. 38. C. A. gerdoun; Ed. guerdons. // C. by-spetten; A. byspotten; Lat. _commaculant_. 40. C. thyse shadwye; A. the shadewy. 41. A. this (_for_ thus). 47. A. enchaufen. 50. C. _om._ that _bef._ wenen. 53. C. vanesshen; A. vanissen. 54. C. maysthow. // A. but; C. Ed. ne. 56, 58. C. whylom; A. som-tyme (_twice_). 57. C. _om._ the _bef._ senatorie. 59. A. and what other; Ed. and of other. 62. C. resseyueth; A. resceyueth. 66. C. felthe; A. filthe. // C. _om._ that _after_ yif (_3rd time only_). 70. C. dignete.

METRE IV.

_Quamvis se, Tyrio superbus ostro._

Al be it so that the proude Nero, with alle his wode luxurie,
kembde him and aparailede him with faire purpres of Tirie,
and with whyte perles, algates yit throf he hateful to alle folk:
_this is to seyn, that al was he behated of alle folk_. Yit this
wikked _Nero hadde gret lordship, and_ yaf whylom to the 5
reverents senatours the unworshipful setes of dignitees. _Unworshipful
setes he clepeth here, for that Nero, that was so wikked, yaf
tho dignitees._ Who-so wolde thanne resonably wenen, that blisfulnesse
were in swiche honours as ben yeven by vicious shrewes? 10

ME. IV. 2. A. kembed; apparailed. 5. C. lorshippe; A. lordship. // C. Ed. whylom; A. som-tyme. 6. C. reuerentz; Ed. reuerent; A. dredeful; Lat. _uerendis_. 8. A. tho; C. Ed. the. // A. _om._ so. 10. C. vysios; A. vicious.

PROSE V.

_An vero regna regumque familiaritas._

But regnes and familiaritees of kinges, may they maken a
man to ben mighty? How elles, whan hir blisfulnesse dureth
perpetuely? But certes, the olde age of tyme passed, and eek
of present tyme now, is ful of ensaumples how that kinges ben
chaunged in-to wrecchednesse out of hir welefulnesse. O! a 5
noble thing and a cleer thing is power, that is nat founden
mighty to kepen it-self! And yif that power of reaumes be
auctour and maker of blisfulnesse, yif thilke power lakketh on
any syde, amenuseth it nat thilke blisfulnesse and bringeth in
wrecchednesse? But yit, al be it so that the reaumes of mankinde 10
strecchen brode, yit mot ther nede ben moche folk, over
whiche that every king ne hath no lordshipe ne comaundement.
And certes, up-on thilke syde that power faileth, which that
maketh folk blisful, right on that same syde noun-power entreth
under-nethe, that maketh hem wrecches; in this manere thanne 15
moten kinges han more porcioun of wrecchednesse than of
welefulnesse. A tyraunt, _that was king of Sisile_, that hadde
assayed the peril of his estat, shewede by similitude the dredes
of reaumes by gastnesse of a swerd that heng over the heved
_of his familier_. What thing is thanne this power, that may nat 20
don awey the bytinges of bisinesse, ne eschewe the prikkes of
drede? And certes, yit wolden they liven in sikernesse, but
they may nat; and yit they glorifye hem in hir power. Holdest
thou thanne that thilke man be mighty, that thou seest that
he wolde don that he may nat don? And holdest thou thanne 25
him a mighty man, that hath envirownede his sydes with men
of armes or seriaunts, and dredeth more hem that he maketh
agast than they dreden him, and that is put in the handes of
his servaunts for he sholde seme mighty? But of familieres
or servaunts of kinges what sholde I telle thee anything, sin 30
that I myself have shewed thee that reaumes hem-self ben
ful of gret feblesse? The whiche familieres, certes, the ryal
power of kinges, in hool estat and in estat abated, ful ofte
throweth adown. Nero constreynede Senek, his familier and
his mayster, to chesen on what deeth he wolde deyen. Antonius 35
comaundede that knightes slowen with hir swerdes Papinian
_his familier_, which Papinian hadde ben longe tyme ful mighty
amonges hem of the court. And yit, certes, they wolden bothe
han renounced hir power; of whiche two Senek enforcede him
to yeven to Nero his richesses, and also to han gon in-to 40
solitarie exil. But whan the grete weighte, _that is to seyn_, of
_lordes power or of fortune_, draweth hem that shullen falle,
neither of hem ne mighte do that he wolde. What thing is
thanne thilke power, that though men han it, yit they ben agast;
and whanne thou woldest han it, thou nart nat siker; and 45
yif thou woldest forleten it, thou mayst nat eschuen it? But
whether swiche men ben frendes at nede, as ben conseyled by
fortune and nat by vertu? Certes, swiche folk as weleful
fortune maketh freendes, contrarious fortune maketh hem
enemys. And what pestilence is more mighty for to anoye a 50
wight than a familier enemy?

PR. V. 3. C. perpetualy; A. perpetuely. 7. A. realmes. 8. C. auctor; A. auctour. 10. A. realmes (_om._ the). 11. C. node (_for_ nede). 12. C. lorshipe. 14. C. A. nou_n_power. 19. A. realmes. 20. C. famyler. 23. A. yit; C. yif. 24. C. seyst; A. seest; Lat. _uideas_. 27. A. seruauntes. // A. _om._ hem. 31. A. realmes. 32. A. feblenesse. // A. real; Ed. royal. 34. C. hyr famyler (_sic_); A. his familier. 37. C. famyler; A. familier. // C. that hadde; A. _om._ that. 41. C. solutarie; A. solitarie. 42. C. sholen; Ed. shullen; A. sholden; Lat. _ruituros_. 44. C. yit; Ed. yet; A. that. 47. C. wheyther.

METRE V.

_Qui se uolet esse potentem._

Who-so wol be mighty, he mot daunten his cruel corage,
ne putte nat his nekke, overcomen, under the foule reynes of
lecherye. For al-be-it so that thy lordshipe strecche so fer,
that the contree of Inde quaketh at thy comaundements or at
thy lawes, and that the last _ile in the see, that hight_ Tyle, 5
be thral to thee, yit, yif thou mayst nat putten awey thy foule
derke desyrs, and dryven out fro thee wrecched complaintes,
certes, it nis no power that thou hast. 8

ME. V. 1. C. wole; Ed. wol; A. wolde. 4. C. thath (!). // A. contre Inde. // A. comaundement. 5. A. leest (_for_ last); Lat. _ultima_.

PROSE VI.

_Gloria uero quam fallax saepe._

But glorie, how deceivable and how foul is it ofte! For
which thing nat unskilfully a tragedien, _that is to seyn, a maker
of ditees that highten tragedies_, cryde and seide: "O glorie,
glorie," quod he, "thou art nothing elles to thousandes of folkes
but a greet sweller of eres!" For manye han had ful greet 5
renoun by the false opinioun of the poeple, and what thing
may ben thought fouler than swiche preysinge? For thilke folk
that ben preysed falsly, they moten nedes han shame of hir
preysinges. And yif that folk han geten hem thonk or preysinge
by hir desertes, what thing hath thilke prys eched or 10
encresed to the conscience of wyse folk, that mesuren hir good,
nat by the rumour of the poeple, but by the soothfastnesse of
conscience? And yif it seme a fair thing, a man to han
encresed and spred his name, than folweth it that it is demed
to ben a foul thing, yif it ne be y-sprad and encresed. But, 15
as I seyde a litel her-biforn that, sin ther mot nedes ben many
folk, to whiche folk the renoun of a man ne may nat comen,
it befalleth that he, that thou wenest be glorious and renomed,
semeth in the nexte partie of the erthes to ben with-oute glorie
and with-oute renoun. 20

And certes, amonges thise thinges I ne trowe nat that the
prys and grace of the poeple nis neither worthy to ben
remembred, ne cometh of wyse Iugement, ne is ferme perdurably.
But now, of this name of gentilesse, what man is it
that ne may wel seen how veyn and how flittinge a thing it 25
is? For yif the name of gentilesse be referred to renoun and
cleernesse of linage, thanne is gentil name but a foreine thing,
_that is to seyn, to hem that glorifyen hem of hir linage_. For it
semeth that gentilesse be a maner preysinge that comth of the
deserte of ancestres. And yif preysinge maketh gentilesse, 30
thanne moten they nedes be gentil that ben preysed. For
which thing it folweth, that yif thou ne have no gentilesse of
thy-self, _that is to seyn, preyse that comth of thy deserte_, foreine
gentilesse ne maketh thee nat gentil. But certes, yif ther be
any good in gentilesse, I trowe it be al-only this, that it semeth 35
as that a maner necessitee be imposed to gentil men, for that
they ne sholden nat outrayen or forliven fro the virtues of hir
noble kinrede.

PR. VI. 4. A. Ed. he; C. she (!). 6. A. _om._ the _bef._ poeple. 9. C. of (_for_ or). 15. A. ne encresed. 19. A. parties of the erthe; Lat. _parte terrarum_. 23. C. remenbred. 24, 26, 29. C. gentellesse; A. gentilesse. 26. C. refferred. 30. A. decert; Ed. desert_es_. 32. A. folweth; C. folueth. 36. C. inposed.

METRE VI.

_Omne hominum genus in terris._

Al the linage of men that ben in erthe ben of semblable
birthe. On allone is fader of thinges. On allone ministreth
alle thinges. He yaf to the sonne hise bemes; he yaf to the
mone hir hornes. He yaf the men to the erthe; he yaf the
sterres to the hevene. He encloseth with membres the soules 5
that comen fro his hye sete. Thanne comen alle mortal folk
of noble sede; why noisen ye or bosten of youre eldres? For
yif thou loke your biginninge, and god your auctor and your
maker, thanne nis ther no forlived wight, but-yif he norisshe
his corage un-to vyces, and forlete his propre burthe. 10

ME. VI. 4. A. Ed. hir hornes; C. hyse hornes. 5. C. menbrys. 8. Ed. ye loke; Lat. _spectes_. // A. thy (_for 1st_ your); Lat. _uestra_.

PROSE VII.

_Quid autem de corporis uoluptatibus._

But what shal I seye of delices of body, of whiche delices the
desiringes ben ful of anguissh, and the fulfillinges of hem ben ful
of penaunce? How greet syknesse and how grete sorwes unsufferable,
right as a maner fruit of wikkednesse, ben thilke delices
wont to bringen to the bodies of folk that usen hem! Of whiche 5
delices I not what Ioye may ben had of hir moevinge. But this
wot I wel, that who-so-ever wole remembren him of hise luxures,
he shal wel understonde that the issues of delices ben sorwful
and sorye. And yif thilke delices mowen maken folk blisful,
than by the same cause moten thise bestes ben cleped blisful; 10
of whiche bestes al the entencioun hasteth to fulfille hir bodily
Iolitee. And the gladnesse of wyf and children were an honest
thing, but it hath ben seyd that it is over muchel ayeins kinde,
that children han ben founden tormentours to hir fadres, I not
how manye: of whiche children how bytinge is every condicioun, 15
it nedeth nat to tellen it thee, that hast or this tyme assayed
it, and art yit now anguissous. In this approve I the sentence
of my disciple Euripidis, that seyde, that "he that hath no
children is weleful by infortune."

PR. VII. 12. A. _om._ an. 15. A. Ed. euery; C. eu_er_e. 18. Ed. Euripidis; C. Eurydyppys; A. Euridippus; Lat. _Euripidis_ (gen.).

METRE VII.

_Habet omnis hoc uoluptas._

Every delyt hath this, that it anguissheth hem with prikkes
that usen it. It resembleth to thise flyinge flyes that we clepen
been, that, after that he hath shad hise agreable honies, he fleeth
awey, and stingeth the hertes, of hem that ben y-smite, with
bytinge overlonge holdinge. 5

ME. VII. 1. C. A. anguisseth. 3. C. _om. 2nd_ that. // A. the bee (_for_ he).

PROSE VIII.

_Nihil igitur dubium est._

Now is it no doute thanne that thise weyes ne ben a maner
misledinges to blisfulnesse, ne that they ne mowe nat leden
folk thider as they biheten to leden hem. But with how grete
harmes thise forseyde weyes ben enlaced, I shal shewe thee
shortly. For-why yif thou enforcest thee to asemble moneye, 5
thou most bireven him his moneye that hath it. And yif
thou wolt shynen with dignitees, thou most bisechen and
supplien hem that yeven tho dignitees. And yif thou coveitest
by honour to gon biforn other folk, thou shalt defoule thy-self
thorugh humblesse of axinge. Yif thou desirest power, thou 10
shalt by awaytes of thy subgits anoyously ben cast under manye
periles. Axest thou glorie? Thou shalt ben so destrat by aspre
thinges that thou shalt forgoon sikernesse. And yif thou wolt
leden thy lyf in delices, every wight shal despisen thee and
forleten thee, as thou that art thral to thing that is right foul 15
and brotel; that is to seyn, servaunt to thy body. Now is it
thanne wel seen, how litel and how brotel possessioun they
coveiten, that putten the goodes of the body aboven hir owne
resoun. For mayst thou sormounten thise olifaunts in gretnesse
or weight of body? Or mayst thou ben stronger than the bole? 20
Mayst thou ben swifter than the tygre? Bihold the spaces and
the stablenesse and the swifte cours of the hevene, and stint
som-tyme to wondren on foule thinges; the which hevene, certes,
nis nat rather for thise thinges to ben wondred up-on, than for
the resoun by which it is governed. But the shyning of thy 25
forme, _that is to seyn, the beautee of thy body_, how swiftly passinge
is it, and how transitorie; certes, it is more flittinge than the
mutabilitee of flowers of the somer-sesoun. For so Aristotle
telleth, that yif that men hadden eyen of a beest that highte
lynx, so that the lokinge of folk mighte percen thorugh the 30
thinges that with-stonden it, who-so loked thanne in the entrailes
of the body of Alcibiades, that was ful fayr in the superfice
with-oute, it shold seme right foul. And forthy, yif thou semest
fayr, thy nature maketh nat that, but the desceivaunce of the
feblesse of the eyen that loken. But preyse the goodes of the 35
body as mochel as ever thee list; so that thou knowe algates
that, what-so it be, _that is to seyn, of the goodes of thy body_,
which that thou wondrest up-on, may ben destroyed or dissolved
by the hete of a fevere of three dayes. Of alle whiche forseyde
thinges I may reducen this shortly in a somme, that thise worldly 40
goodes, whiche that ne mowen nat yeven that they biheten, ne
ben nat parfit by the congregacioun of alle goodes; that they
ne ben nat weyes ne pathes that bringen men to blisfulnesse,
ne maken men to ben blisful.

PR. VIII. 9. C. shal. 10. A. by (_for_ thorugh). 11. C. be (_for_ by). // A. vndir many; C. Ed. vndyr by many; Lat. _periculis subiacebis_. 12. C. A. destrat; Ed. distracte. 16. C. brwtel (_for_ brotel; _1st time_). 19. A. mayst thou; C. maysthow. 20. C. weyhty (!). 32. C. in superfyce (_om._ the). 34. A. desceiuaunce of the; Ed. disceyuaunce of; C. deceyuable or (!). 37. A. the goodes of thi; Ed. the goodes of the; C. godes of the. 40. A. Ed. a somme; C. _om._ a. // C. wordly. 42. C. ne ne ben. // A. Ed. by the; C. _om._ the. 43. C. man (_for_ men; _1st time_).

METRE VIII.

_Eheu! quae miseros tramite deuios._

Allas! which folye and which ignoraunce misledeth wandringe
wrecches fro the path of verray goode!

Certes, ye ne seken no gold in grene trees, ne ye ne gaderen
nat precious stones in the vynes, ne ye ne hyden nat your
ginnes in the hye mountaignes to cacchen fish of whiche ye 5
may maken riche festes. And yif yow lyketh to hunte to roes,
ye ne gon nat to the fordes of the water that highte Tyrene.
And over this, men knowen wel the crykes and the cavernes
of the see y-hid in the flodes, and knowen eek which water
is most plentivous of whyte perles, and knowen which water 10
haboundeth most of rede purpre, _that is to seyn, of a maner
shelle-fish with which men dyen purpre_; and knowen which
strondes habounden most with tendre fisshes, or of sharpe fisshes
that highten echines. But folk suffren hem-self to ben so blinde,
that hem ne reccheth nat to knowe where thilke goodes ben 15
y-hid whiche that they coveiten, but ploungen hem in erthe
and seken there thilke good that sormounteth the hevene that
bereth the sterres. What preyere may I maken that be digne
to the nyce thoughtes of men? But I preye that they coveiten
richesse and honours, so that, whan they han geten tho false 20
goodes with greet travaile, that ther-by they mowe knowen the
verray goodes.

ME. VIII. 4. A. _om._ nat. 5. C. hyye mountaygnes; A. hey[gh]e mountaignes. // C. kachche; A. kachen; Ed. catchen (= cacchen). 6. C. honte; A. Ed. hunte. // C. rooes; Ed. roes; A. roos. 8. A. crikes; Ed. crekes; C. brykes; Lat. _recessus_. 9. A. Ed. in the; C. _om._ the. 14. Ed. Echines; C. A. echynnys. 15. C. rechcheth; A. recchith. // C. weer_e_ (_for_ where).

PROSE IX.

_Hactenus mendacis formam._

It suffyseth that I have shewed hider-to the forme of false
welefulnesse, so that, yif thou loke now cleerly, the order of
myn entencioun requireth from hennes-forth to shewen thee the
verray welefulnesse.'

'For sothe,' quod I, 'I see wel now that suffisaunce may nat 5
comen by richesses, ne power by reames, ne reverence by
dignitees, ne gentilesse by glorie, ne Ioye by delices.'

'And hast thou wel knowen the causes,' quod she, 'why it is?'

'Certes, me semeth,' quod I, 'that I see hem right as though
it were thorugh a litel clifte; but me were levere knowen hem 10
more openly of thee.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'the resoun is al redy. For thilke thing
that simply is o thing, with-outen any devisioun, the errour
and folye of mankinde departeth and devydeth it, and misledeth
it and transporteth from verray and parfit good to goodes that 15
ben false and unparfit. But sey me this. Wenest thou that
he, that hath nede of power, that him ne lakketh no-thing?'

'Nay,' quod I.

'Certes,' quod she, 'thou seyst a-right. For yif so be that
ther is a thing, that in any partye be febler of power, certes, 20
as in that, it mot nedes ben nedy of foreine help.'

'Right so is it,' quod I.

'Suffisaunce and power ben thanne of o kinde?'

'So semeth it,' quod I.

'And demest thou,' quod she, 'that a thing that is of this 25
manere, _that is to seyn, suffisaunt and mighty_, oughte ben
despysed, or elles that it be right digne of reverence aboven
alle thinges?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'it nis no doute, that it is right worthy to
ben reverenced.' 30

'Lat us,' quod she, 'adden thanne reverence to suffisaunce
and to power, so that we demen that thise three thinges ben
al o thing.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'lat us adden it, yif we wolen graunten the
sothe.' 35

'What demest thou thanne?' quod she; 'is that a derk thing
and nat noble, _that is suffisaunt, reverent, and mighty_, or elles that
it is right noble and right cleer by celebritee of renoun? Consider
thanne,' quod she, 'as we han graunted her-biforn, that he that
ne hath nede of no-thing, and is most mighty and most digne 40
of honour, yif him nedeth any cleernesse of renoun, which
cleernesse he mighte nat graunten of him-self, so that, for lakke
of thilke cleernesse, he mighte seme the febeler on any syde
or the more out-cast?' GLOSE. _This is to seyn, nay; for who-so
that is suffisaunt, mighty, and reverent, cleernesse of renoun folweth 45
of the forseyde thinges; he hath it al redy of his suffisaunce._

_Boece._ 'I may nat,' quod I, 'denye it; but I mot graunte
as it is, that this thing be right celebrable by cleernesse of renoun
and noblesse.'

'Thanne folweth it,' quod she, 'that we adden cleernesse of 50
renoun to the three forseyde thinges, so that ther ne be amonges
hem no difference?'

'This is a consequence,' quod I.

'This thing thanne,' quod she, 'that ne hath nede of no
foreine thing, and that may don alle thinges by hise strengthes, 55
and that is noble and honourable, nis nat that a mery thing
and a Ioyful?'

'But whennes,' quod I, 'that any sorwe mighte comen to this
thing that is swiche, certes, I may nat thinke.'

'Thanne moten we graunte,' quod she, 'that this thing be 60
ful of gladnesse, yif the forseyde thinges ben sothe; and certes,
also mote we graunten that suffisaunce, power, noblesse, reverence,
and gladnesse ben only dyverse by names, but hir substaunce
hath no diversitee.'

'It mot needly been so,' quod I. 65

'Thilke thing thanne,' quod she, 'that is oon and simple
in his nature, the wikkednesse of men departeth it and devydeth
it; and whan they enforcen hem to geten partye of a thing
that ne hath no part, they ne geten hem neither thilke partye that
nis non, ne the thing al hool that they ne desire nat.' 70

'In which manere?' quod I.

'Thilke man,' quod she, 'that secheth richesses to fleen
povertee, he ne travaileth him nat for to gete power; for he
hath levere ben derk and vyl; and eek withdraweth from
him-self many naturel delyts, for he nolde lese the moneye that 75
he hath assembled. But certes, in this manere he ne geteth
him nat suffisaunce that power forleteth, and that molestie
prikketh, and that filthe maketh out-cast, and that derkenesse
hydeth. And certes, he that desireth only power, he wasteth
and scatereth richesse, and despyseth delyts, and eek honour 80
that is with-oute power, ne he ne preyseth glorie no-thing.
Certes, thus seest thou wel, that manye thinges faylen to him;
for he hath som-tyme defaute of many necessitees, and many
anguisshes byten him; and whan he ne may nat don tho defautes
a-wey, he forleteth to ben mighty, and that is the thing that 85
he most desireth. And right thus may I maken semblable
resouns of honours, and of glorie, and of delyts. For so as
every of thise forseyde thinges is the same that thise other
thinges ben, _that is to seyn, al oon thing_, who-so that ever
seketh to geten that oon of thise, and nat that other, he ne 90
geteth nat that he desireth.'

_Boece._ 'What seyst thou thanne, yif that a man coveiteth
to geten alle thise thinges to-gider?'

_Philosophie._ 'Certes,' quod she, 'I wolde seye, that he wolde
geten him sovereyn blisfulnesse; but that shal he nat finde in 95
tho thinges that I have shewed, that ne mowen nat yeven that
they beheten.'

'Certes, no,' quod I.

'Thanne,' quod she, 'ne sholden men nat by no wey seken
blisfulnesse in swiche thinges as men wene that they ne mowen 100
yeven but o thing senglely of alle that men seken.'

'I graunte wel,' quod I; 'ne no sother thing ne may ben
sayd.'

'Now hast thou thanne,' quod she, 'the forme and the causes
of false welefulnesse. Now torne and flitte the eyen of thy 105
thought; for ther shalt thou sen anon thilke verray blisfulnesse
that I have bihight thee.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'it is cleer and open, thogh it were to
a blinde man; and that shewedest thou me ful wel a litel her-biforn,
whan thou enforcedest thee to shewe me the causes 110
of the false blisfulnesse. For but-yif I be bigyled, thanne
is thilke the verray blisfulnesse parfit, that parfitly maketh a
man suffisaunt, mighty, honourable, noble, and ful of gladnesse.
And, for thou shalt wel knowe that I have wel understonden
thise thinges with-in my herte, I knowe wel that thilke blisfulnesse, 115
that may verrayly yeven oon of the forseyde thinges, sin
they ben al oon, I knowe, douteles, that thilke thing is the
fulle blisfulnesse.'

_Philosophie._ 'O my norie,' quod she, 'by this opinioun I
seye that thou art blisful, yif thou putte this ther-to that I 120
shal seyn.'

'What is that?' quod I.

'Trowest thou that ther be any thing in thise erthely mortal
toumbling thinges that may bringen this estat?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'I trowe it naught; and thou hast shewed 125
me wel that over thilke good ther nis no-thing more to ben
desired.'

'Thise thinges thanne,' quod she, '_that is to sey, erthely
suffisaunce and power and swiche thinges_, either they semen
lykenesses of verray good, or elles it semeth that they yeve to 130
mortal folk a maner of goodes that ne ben nat parfit; but thilke
good that is verray and parfit, that may they nat yeven.'

'I acorde me wel,' quod I.

'Thanne,' quod she, 'for as mochel as thou hast knowen
which is thilke verray blisfulnesse, and eek whiche thilke thinges 135
ben that lyen falsly blisfulnesse, _that is to seyn, that by deceite
semen verray goodes_, now behoveth thee to knowe whennes and
where thou mowe seke thilke verray blisfulnesse.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'that desire I greetly, and have abiden longe
tyme to herknen it.' 140

'But for as moche,' quod she, 'as it lyketh to my disciple
Plato, in his book of "in Timeo," that in right litel thinges men
sholden bisechen the help of god, what iugest thou that be now
to done, so that we may deserve to finde the sete of thilke
verray good?' 145

'Certes,' quod I, 'I deme that we shollen clepen the fader
of alle goodes; for with-outen him nis ther no-thing founden
a-right.'

'Thou seyst a-right,' quod she; and bigan anon to singen
right thus:-- 150

PR. IX. 5. A. _om._ sothe _and 2nd_ I. 6. A. richesse. // A. Ed. realmes. 8. A. hast thou; C.hasthow. // A. cause; Lat. _caussas_. 16. A. inparfit. // C. Wenesthow. 20. A. fieble; C. Ed. febler; Lat. _imbecillioris ualentiae_. 21. C. mot; Ed. mote; A. most. 25. C. demesthow. 29. A. nis (_twice_). 36. C. demesthow. // Ed. derke; C. dyrk; A. dirke. 38. A. of (_for_ by). 53. A. And this (_for_ This). // C. consequens; Ed. consequence; A. consequente _or_ consequence. 54. C. hat (_for_ hath). // A. no nede. 58. Ed. whence; A. wenest (!); Lat. _unde_. 72. A. rychesse. 74. Ed. derke; C. dyrk; A. dirk. 75. C. delices (_or_ delites); A. delitz; Ed. delytes. 77. Ed. molestie; C. A. moleste; Lat. _molestia_. 78. A. derknesse; C. dyrkenesse. 80. C. schatereth. // C. delytz; A. delices (_or_ delites). 83. C. Ed. defaute; A. faute. 84. Ed. anguysshes; A. anguysses; C. angwyssos. 86. A. semblable; C. semlable. 90. C. oothr_e_. 92. C. seysthow. 101. C. A. senglely. 104. C. hasthow. 106. C. shalthow. 109. A. _om._ ful wel. 115. C. Ed. that thilke; A. _om._ that. 118. A. the fulle of (_wrongly_). 119. C. norye; A. nurry. 130. A. likenesse; Lat. _imagines_. 141. A. disciple; C. dissipule. 142. C. in tymeo; A. in thimeo; Lat. _uti in Timaeo Platoni_. 143. C. byshechen. // A. _om._ now.

METRE IX.

_O qui perpetua mundum ratione gubernas._