Bo1 m1 1 Allas! I wepynge, am constreyned to bygynnen
Bo1 m1 2 vers of sorwful matere, that whilom in florysschyng
Bo1 m1 3 studie made delitable ditees. For
Bo1 m1 4 lo, rendynge muses of poetes enditen to me
Bo1 m1 5 thynges to ben writen, and drery vers of wretchidnesse
Bo1 m1 6 weten my face with verray teres. At
Bo1 m1 7 the leeste, no drede ne myghte overcomen
Bo1 m1 8 tho muses, that thei ne were felawes, and folwyden
Bo1 m1 9 my wey (that is to seyn, whan
Bo1 m1 10 I was exiled). They that weren glorie of
Bo1 m1 11 my youthe, whilom weleful and grene,
Bo1 m1 12 conforten nowe the sorwful wyerdes of me, olde
Bo1 m1 13 man. For eelde is comyn unwarly uppon me,
Bo1 m1 14 hasted by the harmes that Y have, and sorwe
Bo1 m1 15 hath comandid his age to ben in me. Heeris hore
Bo1 m1 16 arn schad overtymeliche upon myn heved, and
Bo1 m1 17 the slakke skyn trembleth of myn emptid body.
Bo1 m1 18 Thilke deth of men is weleful that ne comyth
Bo1 m1 19 noght in yeeris that ben swete, but
Bo1 m1 20 cometh to wrecches often yclepid. Allas,
Bo1 m1 21 allas! With how deef an ere deth, cruwel,
Bo1 m1 22 turneth awey fro wrecches and nayteth to
Bo1 m1 23 closen wepynge eien. Whil Fortune, unfeithful,
Bo1 m1 24 favourede me with lyghte goodes, the sorwful
Bo1 m1 25 houre (that is to seyn, the deth) hadde almoost
Bo1 m1 26 dreynt myn heved. But now, for Fortune
Bo1 m1 27 cloudy hath chaunged hir deceyvable
Bo1 m1 28 chere to meward, myn unpietous lif draweth
Bo1 m1 29 along unagreable duellynges in me. O ye,
Bo1 m1 30 my frendes, what or wherto avaunted ye
Bo1 m1 31 me to be weleful? For he that hath fallen stood
Bo1 m1 32 noght in stedefast degre.
Bo1 p1 1 In the mene while that I, stille, recordede
Bo1 p1 2 these thynges with myself and merkid my weply
Bo1 p1 3 compleynte with office of poyntel, I saw,
Bo1 p1 4 stondynge aboven the heghte of myn heved, a
Bo1 p1 5 womman of ful greet reverence by semblaunt,
Bo1 p1 6 hir eien brennynge and cleer-seynge over the
Bo1 p1 7 comune myghte of men; with a lifly colour
Bo1 p1 8 and with swich vigour and strengthe that it ne
Bo1 p1 9 myghte nat ben emptid, al were it so
Bo1 p1 10 that sche was ful of so greet age that men
Bo1 p1 11 ne wolden nat trowen in no manere that
Bo1 p1 12 sche were of our elde. The stature of hire was
Bo1 p1 13 of a doutous jugement, for somtyme sche constreyned
Bo1 p1 14 and schronk hirselven lik to the comune
Bo1 p1 15 mesure of men, and somtyme it semede
Bo1 p1 16 that sche touchede the hevene with the heghte
Bo1 p1 17 of here heved. And whan sche hef hir heved
Bo1 p1 18 heyere, sche percede the selve hevene so that
Bo1 p1 19 the sighte of men lokynge was in ydel.
Bo1 p1 20 Hir clothes weren makid of right delye
Bo1 p1 21 thredes and subtil craft of perdurable matere;
Bo1 p1 22 the whiche clothes sche hadde woven with
Bo1 p1 23 hir owene handes, as I knew wel aftir by hirselve
Bo1 p1 24 declarynge and schewynge to me. The
Bo1 p1 25 beaute [of] the whiche clothes a derknesse of a
Bo1 p1 26 forleten and despised elde hadde duskid and
Bo1 p1 27 dirked, as it is wont to dirken besmokede
Bo1 p1 28 ymages. In the nethereste hem or bordure of
Bo1 p1 29 thise clothes, men redden ywoven in a
Bo1 p1 30 Grekissch P (that signifieth the lif actif);
Bo1 p1 31 and aboven that lettre, in the heieste
Bo1 p1 32 bordure, a Grekyssh T (that signifieth the lif
Bo1 p1 33 contemplatif). And bytwixen thise two lettres
Bo1 p1 34 ther were seyn degrees nobly ywrought in
Bo1 p1 35 manere of laddres, by whiche degrees men
Bo1 p1 36 myghten clymben fro the nethereste lettre to the
Bo1 p1 37 uppereste. Natheles handes of some men hadden
Bo1 p1 38 korve that cloth by violence and by
Bo1 p1 39 strengthe, and everich man of hem hadde
Bo1 p1 40 boren awey swiche peces as he myghte
Bo1 p1 41 geten. And forsothe this forseide womman bar
Bo1 p1 42 smale bokis in hir right hand, and in hir left hand
Bo1 p1 43 sche bar a ceptre.
Bo1 p1 44 And whan she saughe thise poetical muses
Bo1 p1 45 aprochen aboute my bed and enditynge wordes
Bo1 p1 46 to my wepynges, sche was a litil amoeved, and
Bo1 p1 47 glowede with cruel eighen. " Who, " quat sche,
Bo1 p1 48 " hath suffred aprochen to this sike man thise
Bo1 p1 49 comune strompettis of swich a place that
Bo1 p1 50 men clepen the theatre? The whiche nat
Bo1 p1 51 oonly ne asswagen noght his sorwes with
Bo1 p1 52 none remedies, but thei wolden fedyn and
Bo1 p1 53 noryssen hym with sweete venym. Forsothe
Bo1 p1 54 thise ben tho that with thornes and prikkynges
Bo1 p1 55 of talentz or affeccions, whiche that ne bien
Bo1 p1 56 nothyng fructifyenge nor profitable, destroyen
Bo1 p1 57 the corn plentyvous of fruytes of resoun. For
Bo1 p1 58 thei holden hertes of men in usage, but thei
Bo1 p1 59 delyvre noght folk fro maladye. But yif ye
Bo1 p1 60 muses hadden withdrawen fro me with
Bo1 p1 61 youre flateries any unkunnynge and unprofitable
Bo1 p1 62 man, as men ben wont to fynde
Bo1 p1 63 comonly among the peple, I wolde wene suffre
Bo1 p1 64 the lasse grevosly; forwhi, in swych an unprofitable
Bo1 p1 65 man, myne ententes weren nothyng
Bo1 p1 66 endamaged. But ye withdrawen me this man,
Bo1 p1 67 that hath ben noryssed in the studies or scoles of
Bo1 p1 68 Eliaticis and Achademycis in Grece. But goth
Bo1 p1 69 now rather awey, ye mermaydenes, whiche
Bo1 p1 70 that ben swete til it be at the laste, and
Bo1 p1 71 suffreth this man to ben cured and heeled
Bo1 p1 72 by myne muses (that is to seyn, by noteful
Bo1 p1 73 sciences). "
Bo1 p1 74 And thus this companye of muses, iblamed,
Bo1 p1 75 casten wrothly the chere dounward to the erthe,
Bo1 p1 76 and, schewynge by rednesse hir schame, thei
Bo1 p1 77 passeden sorwfully the thresschefold. And I, of
Bo1 p1 78 whom the sighte, ploungid in teeres, was dirked
Bo1 p1 79 so that Y ne myghte noght knowen what
Bo1 p1 80 that womman was of so imperial auctorite,
Bo1 p1 81 I wax al abayssched and astoned, and caste
Bo1 p1 82 my syghte doun to the erthe, and bygan stille for
Bo1 p1 83 to abide what sche woolde doon aftirward. Tho
Bo1 p1 84 com sche ner and sette her doun uppon the
Bo1 p1 85 uttereste corner of my bed; and sche, byholdynge
Bo1 p1 86 my chere that was cast to the erthe
Bo1 p1 87 hevy and grevous of wepynge, compleynede
Bo1 p1 88 with thise wordis that I schal seyn the perturbacion thought.
Bo1 p1 1 " Allas! How the thought of this man, dreynt
Bo1 m2 2 in overthrowynge depnesse, dulleth and forleteth
Bo1 m2 3 his propre clernesse, myntynge to gon into
Bo1 m2 4 foreyne dirknesses as ofte as his anoyos
Bo1 m2 5 bysynes waxeth withoute mesure, that is
Bo1 m2 6 dryven with werldly wyndes. This man, that
Bo1 m2 7 whilom was fre, to whom the hevene was
Bo1 m2 8 opyn and knowen, and was wont to gon in
Bo1 m2 9 hevenliche pathes, and saughe the lyghtnesse
Bo1 m2 10 of the rede sonne, and saughe the
Bo1 m2 11 sterres of the coolde mone, and whiche
Bo1 m2 12 sterre in hevene useth wandrynge recourses
Bo1 m2 13 iflyt by diverse speeris -- this man, overcomere,
Bo1 m2 14 hadde comprehendid al this by nombre (of
Bo1 m2 15 acontynge in astronomye). And, over this, he
Bo1 m2 16 was wont to seken the causes whennes the sounynge
Bo1 m2 17 wyndes moeven and bysien the smothe
Bo1 m2 18 watir of the see; and what spirit turneth the
Bo1 m2 19 stable hevene; and why the sterre ariseth
Bo1 m2 20 out of the rede est, to fallen in the westrene
Bo1 m2 21 wawes; and what attemprith the lusty
Bo1 m2 22 houres of the firste somer sesoun, that highteth
Bo1 m2 23 and apparaileth the erthe with rosene
Bo1 m2 24 floures; and who maketh that plentyvous
Bo1 m2 25 autumpne in fulle [yere] fletith with hevy
Bo1 m2 26 grapes. And eek this man was wont to tellen
Bo1 m2 27 the diverse causes of nature that weren yhidd.
Bo1 m2 28 Allas! Now lyth he emptid of lyght of his
Bo1 m2 29 thoght, and his nekke is pressyd with hevy
Bo1 m2 30 cheynes, and bereth his chere enclyned
Bo1 m2 31 adoun for the grete weyghte, and is constreyned
Bo1 m2 32 to loken on the fool erthe! "
Bo1 p2 1 " But tyme is now, " quod sche, " of medicyne
Bo1 p2 2 more than of compleynte. " Forsothe thanne
Bo1 p2 3 sche, entendynge to meward with al the lookynge
Bo1 p2 4 of hir eien, seyde: " Art nat thou he, "
Bo1 p2 5 quod sche, " that whilom, norissched with my
Bo1 p2 6 melk and fostred with myne metes, were escaped
Bo1 p2 7 and comyn to corage of a parfit man?
Bo1 p2 8 Certes I yaf the swiche armures that, yif thou
Bo1 p2 9 thiselve ne haddest first cast hem awey,
Bo1 p2 10 they schulden han defended the in sekernesse
Bo1 p2 11 that mai nat ben overcomyn. Knowestow
Bo1 p2 12 me nat? Why arttow stille? Is it for
Bo1 p2 13 schame or for astonynge? It were me levere
Bo1 p2 14 that it were for schame, but it semeth me that
Bo1 p2 15 astonynge hath oppresside the. " And whan sche
Bo1 p2 16 say me nat oonly stille but withouten office
Bo1 p2 17 of tunge and al dowmbe, sche leyde hir hand
Bo1 p2 18 sooftly uppon my breest and seide: " Here nys
Bo1 p2 19 no peril, " quod sche; " he is fallen into a
Bo1 p2 20 litargye, whiche that is a comune seknesse
Bo1 p2 21 to hertes that been desceyved. He hath a
Bo1 p2 22 litil foryeten hymselve, but certes he schal
Bo1 p2 23 lightly remembren hymself yif so be that he
Bo1 p2 24 hath knowen me or now; and that he may so
Bo1 p2 25 doon, I will wipe a litil his eien that ben
Bo1 p2 26 dirked by the cloude of mortel thynges. " Thise
Bo1 p2 27 woordes seide sche, and with the lappe of hir
Bo1 p2 28 garnement yplited in a frownce sche dryede
Bo1 p2 29 myn eien, that weren fulle of the wawes of wepynges.
Bo1 m3 1 Thus, whan that nyght was discussed and
Bo1 m3 2 chased awey, dirknesses forleten me, and to
Bo1 m3 3 myn eien repeyred ayen hir firste strengthe.
Bo1 m3 4 And ryght by ensaumple as the sonne is hydd
Bo1 m3 5 whan the sterres ben clustred (that is to seyn,
Bo1 m3 6 whan sterres ben covered with cloudes) by
Bo1 m3 7 a swyft wynd that hyghte Chorus, and that
Bo1 m3 8 the firmament stant dirked with wete plowngy
Bo1 m3 9 cloudes; and that the sterres nat apeeren
Bo1 m3 10 upon hevene, so that the nyght semeth
Bo1 m3 11 sprad upon erthe: yif thanne the wynde that
Bo1 m3 12 hyghte Boreas, isent out of the kaves of the
Bo1 m3 13 cuntre of Trace, betith this nyght (that is to
Bo1 m3 14 seyn, chaseth it awey) and discovereth the
Bo1 m3 15 closed day, thanne schyneth Phebus ischaken
Bo1 m3 16 with sodeyn light and smyteth with his beemes
Bo1 m3 17 in merveylynge eien.
Bo1 p3 1 Ryght so, and noon other wise, the cloudes
Bo1 p3 2 of sorwe dissolved and doon awey, I took hevene,
Bo1 p3 3 and resceyved mynde to knowe the face
Bo1 p3 4 of my fisycien; so that [whan] [that] I sette myne
Bo1 p3 5 eien on hir and fastned my lookynge, I byholde
Bo1 p3 6 my noryce, Philosophie, in whoos houses I
Bo1 p3 7 hadde conversed and hauntyd fro my youthe;
Bo1 p3 8 and I seide thus: " O thou maystresse of alle
Bo1 p3 9 vertues, descended from the sovereyne
Bo1 p3 10 sete, whi arttow comen into this solitarie
Bo1 p3 11 place of myn exil? Artow comen for thou
Bo1 p3 12 art maad coupable with me of false blames? "
Bo1 p3 13 " O, " quod sche, " my nory, schulde I forsake
Bo1 p3 14 the now, and schulde I nat parten with the by
Bo1 p3 15 comune travaile the charge that thow hast
Bo1 p3 16 suffred for envye of my name? Certes it nere nat
Bo1 p3 17 leveful ne syttynge thyng to Philosophie to leten
Bo1 p3 18 withouten companye the weye of hym that is
Bo1 p3 19 innocent. Schulde I thanne redowte my
Bo1 p3 20 blame and agrysen as though ther were
Bo1 p3 21 byfallen a newe thyng? For trowestow that
Bo1 p3 22 Philosophie be now alderferst assailed in periles
Bo1 p3 23 by folk of wykkide maneris? Have I noght
Bo1 p3 24 stryven with ful greet strif in old tyme, byfor the
Bo1 p3 25 age of my Plato, ayens the foolhardynesse
Bo1 p3 26 of folye? And eek, the same Plato lyvynge, his
Bo1 p3 27 mayster Socrates desserved victorie of unryghtful
Bo1 p3 28 deth in my presence. The heritage of
Bo1 p3 29 the whiche Socrates (the heritage is to
Bo1 p3 30 seyn the doctryne of the whiche Socrates
Bo1 p3 31 in his opinyoun of felicite, that I clepe
Bo1 p3 32 welefulnesse) whan that the peple of Epycuriens
Bo1 p3 33 and Stoyciens and manye othere enforceden
Bo1 p3 34 hem to gon ravyssche everyche man for his part
Bo1 p3 35 (that is to seyn, that everych of hem wolde
Bo1 p3 36 drawen to the deffense of his opinyoun the
Bo1 p3 37 wordes of Socrates), they as in partye of hir
Bo1 p3 38 preye todrowen me, cryinge and debatyng
Bo1 p3 39 ther-ayens, and korven and torente my
Bo1 p3 40 clothes that I hadde woven with myn
Bo1 p3 41 handes; and with tho cloutes that thei
Bo1 p3 42 hadden arased out of my clothes thei wenten
Bo1 p3 43 awey wenynge that I hadde gon with hem every
Bo1 p3 44 del. In whiche Epycuriens and Stoyciens for as
Bo1 p3 45 myche as ther semede some traces or steppes of
Bo1 p3 46 myn abyte, the folie of men wenynge tho
Bo1 p3 47 Epycuryens and Stoyciens my familiers pervertede
Bo1 p3 48 some thurw the errour of the wikkide
Bo1 p3 49 or unkunnynge multitude of hem.
Bo1 p3 50 (This is to seyn, that for they semeden
Bo1 p3 51 philosophres thei weren pursuyed to the
Bo1 p3 52 deth and slayn.)
Bo1 p3 53 " So yif thou ne hast noght knowen the
Bo1 p3 54 exilynge of Anaxogore, ne the empoisonynge of
Bo1 p3 55 Socrates, ne the turmentz of Zeno, for they
Bo1 p3 56 weren straungiers, yit myghtestow han knowen
Bo1 p3 57 the Senecciens and the Canyos and the Soranas,
Bo1 p3 58 of whiche folk the renoun is neyther over-oold
Bo1 p3 59 ne unsollempne. The whiche men nothyng
Bo1 p3 60 elles ne broght hem to the deeth but oonly
Bo1 p3 61 for thei weren enformyd of myne maneris,
Bo1 p3 62 and semyde moost unlyk to the studies of
Bo1 p3 63 wykkid folk. And forthi thou oughtest noght to
Bo1 p3 64 wondren thoughe that I, in the byttere see of this
Bo1 p3 65 lif, be fordryven with tempestes blowynge
Bo1 p3 66 aboute, in the whiche this is my moste purpoos,
Bo1 p3 67 that is to seyn to displesen to wikkide men. Of
Bo1 p3 68 whiche schrewes al be the oost nevere so greet,
Bo1 p3 69 it es to despise; for it nys nat governyd with
Bo1 p3 70 no ledere (of resoun), but it es ravyssched
Bo1 p3 71 oonly by fleetynge errour folyly and
Bo1 p3 72 lyghtly; and yif they somtyme, makynge an oost
Bo1 p3 73 ayens us, assayle us as strengere, our ledere
Bo1 p3 74 draweth togidre his richesses into his tour, and
Bo1 p3 75 they ben ententyf aboute sarpleris or sachelis,
Bo1 p3 76 unprofitable for to taken. But we that ben heghe
Bo1 p3 77 above, syker fro alle tumolte and wood noyse,
Bo1 p3 78 warnstoryd and enclosed in swiche a palys
Bo1 p3 79 whider as that chaterynge or anoyinge
Bo1 p3 80 folye ne may nat atayne, we scorne swyche
Bo1 p3 81 ravyneres and henteres of fouleste thynges.
Bo1 m4 1 " Whoso it be that is cleer of vertue, sad and
Bo1 m4 2 wel ordynat of lyvynge, that hath put under
Bo1 m4 3 fote the proude wierdes, and loketh upryght
Bo1 m4 4 upon either fortune, he may holden his chere
Bo1 m4 5 undesconfited. The rage ne the manaces of the
Bo1 m4 6 see, commoevynge or chasynge upward hete
Bo1 m4 7 fro the botme, ne schal nat moeve that man.
Bo1 m4 8 Ne the unstable mowntaigne that highte Visevus,
Bo1 m4 9 that writhith out thurw his brokene
Bo1 m4 10 chemeneyes smokynge fieres, ne the wey of
Bo1 m4 11 thonderleit, that is wont to smyten hye
Bo1 m4 12 toures, ne schal nat moeve that man. Wharto
Bo1 m4 13 thanne, o wrecches, drede ye tirauntz that ben
Bo1 m4 14 wode and felenous withouten ony strengthe?
Bo1 m4 15 Hope aftir no thyng, ne drede nat; and so
Bo1 m4 16 schaltow desarmen the ire of thilke unmyghty
Bo1 m4 17 tiraunt. But whoso that, qwakynge, dredeth
Bo1 m4 18 or desireth thyng that nys noght stable of his
Bo1 m4 19 ryght, that man that so dooth hath cast
Bo1 m4 20 awey his scheeld, and is remoeved from
Bo1 m4 21 his place, and enlaceth hym in the cheyne
Bo1 m4 22 with whiche he mai ben drawen.
Bo1 p4 1 " Felistow, " quod sche, " thise thynges, and
Bo1 p4 2 entren thei aughte in thy corage? Artow like
Bo1 p4 3 an asse to the harpe? Why wepistow, why
Bo1 p4 4 spillestow teeris? Yif thou abidest after helpe
Bo1 p4 5 of thi leche, the byhoveth discovre thy
Bo1 p4 6 wownde. "
Bo1 p4 7 Tho I, that hadde gaderyd strengthe in my
Bo1 p4 8 corage, answeride and seide: " And nedeth it
Bo1 p4 9 yit, " quod I, " of rehersynge or of ammonicioun?
Bo1 p4 10 And scheweth it nat ynoghe by
Bo1 p4 11 hymselve the scharpnesse of Fortune, that
Bo1 p4 12 waxeth wood ayens me? Ne moeveth it nat
Bo1 p4 13 the to seen the face or the manere of this place?
Bo1 p4 14 Is this the librarye which that thou haddest
Bo1 p4 15 chosen for a ryght certein sege to the in myn
Bo1 p4 16 hous, there as thow disputedest ofte with me
Bo1 p4 17 of the sciences of thynges touchynge dyvinyte
Bo1 p4 18 and mankynde? Was thanne myn habit
Bo1 p4 19 swiche as it is now? Was my face or my
Bo1 p4 20 chere swyche as now whan I soghte with
Bo1 p4 21 the the secretis of nature, whan thow enformedest
Bo1 p4 22 my maneris and the resoun of al my
Bo1 p4 23 lif to the ensaumple of the ordre of hevene? Is
Bo1 p4 24 noght this the gerdouns that I referre to the, to
Bo1 p4 25 whom I have ben obeisaunt?
Bo1 p4 26 " Certes thou confermedest by the mouth of
Bo1 p4 27 Plato this sentence, that is to seyn that comune
Bo1 p4 28 thynges or comunalites weren blisful yif they
Bo1 p4 29 that hadden studied al fully to wysdom
Bo1 p4 30 governeden thilke thynges; or elles yif it so
Bo1 p4 31 befille that the governours of comunalites
Bo1 p4 32 studieden to geten wysdom. Thou seidest eek by
Bo1 p4 33 the mouth of the same Plato that it was a
Bo1 p4 34 necessarie cause wise men to taken and desire
Bo1 p4 35 the governance of comune thynges, for that the
Bo1 p4 36 governementz of cites, ilefte in the handes of
Bo1 p4 37 felonous turmentours citezeens, ne schulde
Bo1 p4 38 noght bryngen in pestilence ande destruccioun
Bo1 p4 39 to good folk. And therfore I, folwynge
Bo1 p4 40 thilke auctorite, desired to putten forth in
Bo1 p4 41 execucion and in acte of comune administracioun
Bo1 p4 42 thilk thynges that I hadde lernyd
Bo1 p4 43 of the among my secre restyng-whiles.
Bo1 p4 44 " Thow and God, that putte the in the
Bo1 p4 45 thoughtes of wise folk, ben knowynge with me
Bo1 p4 46 that nothyng ne brought me to maistrie or
Bo1 p4 47 dignyte but the comune studie of alle goodnesse.
Bo1 p4 48 And therof cometh it that bytwixen
Bo1 p4 49 wikkid folk and me han ben grevous
Bo1 p4 50 discordes, that ne myghte nat ben relessed
Bo1 p4 51 by preyeris; for this liberte hath the fredom
Bo1 p4 52 of conscience, that the wraththe of more myghty
Bo1 p4 53 folk hath alwey ben despised of me for savacioun
Bo1 p4 54 of right. How ofte have I resisted and withstonden
Bo1 p4 55 thilke man that highte Connigaste, that
Bo1 p4 56 made alwey assawtes ayens the propre fortunes
Bo1 p4 57 of pore feble folk! How ofte eek have I put of
Bo1 p4 58 or cast out hym Trygwille, provoste of the
Bo1 p4 59 kyngis hous, bothe of the wronges that he
Bo1 p4 60 hadde bygunne to doon, and ek fully
Bo1 p4 61 performed! How ofte have I covered and
Bo1 p4 62 defended by the auctorite of me put ayens perils
Bo1 p4 63 (that is to seyn, put myn auctorite in peril for)
Bo1 p4 64 the wrecche pore folk, that the covetise of
Bo1 p4 65 straungiers unpunyschid tormentyde alwey with
Bo1 p4 66 myseses and grevances out of nombre! Nevere
Bo1 p4 67 man ne drow me yit fro right to wrong. Whan
Bo1 p4 68 I say the fortunes and the richesses of the peple
Bo1 p4 69 of the provinces ben harmed or amenuced
Bo1 p4 70 outher be pryve ravynes or by comune
Bo1 p4 71 tributz or cariages, as sory was I as they
Bo1 p4 72 that suffriden the harm. (Glosa. Whan that
Bo1 p4 73 Theodoric, the kyng of Gothes, in a dere yeer,
Bo1 p4 74 hadde his gerneeris ful of corn, and comaundede
Bo1 p4 75 that no man schulde byen no coorn til
Bo1 p4 76 his corn were soold, and that at a grevous dere
Bo1 p4 77 prys, Boece withstood that ordenaunce and
Bo1 p4 78 overcome it, knowynge al this the kyng hymselve.
Bo1 p4 79 Coempcioun is to seyn comune
Bo1 p4 80 achat or beyinge togidre, that were establissed
Bo1 p4 81 upon the peple by swich a
Bo1 p4 82 manere imposicioun, as whoso boughte a
Bo1 p4 83 busschel corn, he most yyve the kyng the fyfte
Bo1 p4 84 part.) Textus. Whan it was in the sowre hungry
Bo1 p4 85 tyme, ther was establissed or cryed grevous and
Bo1 p4 86 unplitable coempcioun, that men sayen wel it
Bo1 p4 87 schulde gretly tormenten and endamagen al the
Bo1 p4 88 provynce of Campayne, I took stryf ayens the
Bo1 p4 89 provost of the pretorie for comune profit;
Bo1 p4 90 and, the kyng knowynge of it, Y overcom
Bo1 p4 91 it, so that the coempcioun ne was nat axid
Bo1 p4 92 ne took effect. Paulyn, a conseiller of Rome, the
Bo1 p4 93 richesses of the whiche Paulyn the howndes of
Bo1 p4 94 the paleys (that is to seyn, the officeres) wolden
Bo1 p4 95 han devoured by hope and covetyse, yit drowe
Bo1 p4 96 I hym out of the jowes of hem that gapeden. And
Bo1 p4 97 for as moche as the peyne of the accusacioun
Bo1 p4 98 ajugid byforn ne schulde noght sodeynli henten
Bo1 p4 99 ne punyssche wrongfully Albyn, a
Bo1 p4 100 conseiller of Rome, I putte me ayens the
Bo1 p4 101 hates and indignacions of the accusour
Bo1 p4 102 Cyprian. Is it nat thanne inoghe isene that I have
Bo1 p4 103 purchaced grete discordes ayens myself? But I
Bo1 p4 104 oughte be the more asseured ayens alle othere
Bo1 p4 105 folk, that for the love of rightwisnesse I ne
Bo1 p4 106 reservede nevere nothyng to myselve to hemward
Bo1 p4 107 of the kyngis halle, by whiche I were the
Bo1 p4 108 more syker. But thurw tho same accusours accusynge
Bo1 p4 109 I am condempned.
Bo1 p4 110 " Of the nombre of whiche accusours,
Bo1 p4 111 oon Basilius, that whilom was chased out of
Bo1 p4 112 the kyngis servyse, is now compelled in accusynge
Bo1 p4 113 of my name for nede of foreyne moneye.
Bo1 p4 114 Also Opilion and Gaudencius han accused me,
Bo1 p4 115 al be it so that the justise regal hadde whilom
Bo1 p4 116 demed hem bothe to gon into exil for hir trecheries
Bo1 p4 117 and frawdes withouten nombre, to whiche
Bo1 p4 118 juggement they nolden nat obeye, but defendeden
Bo1 p4 119 hem by the sikernesse of holi
Bo1 p4 120 houses (that is to seyn, fledden into
Bo1 p4 121 seyntewarie); and whan this was aperceyved
Bo1 p4 122 to the kyng, he comandide that, but they
Bo1 p4 123 voydide the cite of Ravenne by certeyn day
Bo1 p4 124 assigned, that men scholde marken hem on the
Bo1 p4 125 forheved with an hoot iren and chasen hem out
Bo1 p4 126 of towne. Now what thyng semyth myghte ben
Bo1 p4 127 likned to this cruelte? For certes thilke same day
Bo1 p4 128 was resceyved the accusynge of myn name by
Bo1 p4 129 thilke same accusours. What may ben seyd
Bo1 p4 130 herto? Hath my studie and my kunnynge
Bo1 p4 131 disserved thus? Or elles the forseyde
Bo1 p4 132 dampnacioun of me -- made that hem ryghtfulle
Bo1 p4 133 accusours or no? Was noght Fortune
Bo1 p4 134 aschamed of this? Certes, al hadde noght
Bo1 p4 135 Fortune ben aschamed that innocence was
Bo1 p4 136 accused, yit oughte sche han hadde schame of
Bo1 p4 137 the fylthe of myn accusours.
Bo1 p4 138 " But axestow in somme of what gylt I am
Bo1 p4 139 accused? Men seyn that I wolde saven
Bo1 p4 140 the companye of the senatours. And
Bo1 p4 141 desirestow to heren in what manere? I am
Bo1 p4 142 accused that I schulde han disturbed the
Bo1 p4 143 accusour to beren lettres, by whiche he scholde
Bo1 p4 144 han maked the senatours gylty ayens the kynges
Bo1 p4 145 real majeste. O Maystresse, what demestow of
Bo1 p4 146 this? Schal I forsake this blame, that Y ne be no
Bo1 p4 147 schame to the? Certes I have wolde it (that is to
Bo1 p4 148 seyn, the savacioun of the senat), ne I schal
Bo1 p4 149 nevere letten to wilne it. And that I
Bo1 p4 150 confesse and am aknowe; but the entente of
Bo1 p4 151 the accusour to ben distorbed schal cese.
Bo1 p4 152 For schal I clepe it thanne a felonye or a synne
Bo1 p4 153 that I have desired the savacioun of the ordre of
Bo1 p4 154 the senat? And certes yit hadde thilke same senat
Bo1 p4 155 don by me thurw hir decretz and hir jugementz
Bo1 p4 156 as thoughe it were a synne and a felonye (that
Bo1 p4 157 is to seyn, to wilne the savacioun of hem). But
Bo1 p4 158 folye, that lyeth alwey to hymselve, may noght
Bo1 p4 159 chaunge the merite of thynges, ne I trowe
Bo1 p4 160 nat by the jugement of Socrates that it were
Bo1 p4 161 leveful to me to hide the sothe ne assente
Bo1 p4 162 to lesynges.
Bo1 p4 163 " But certes, how so evere it be of this, I putte
Bo1 p4 164 it to gessen or prisen to the jugement of the and
Bo1 p4 165 of wys folk. Of whiche thyng al the ordenaunce
Bo1 p4 166 and the sothe, for as moche as folk that been to
Bo1 p4 167 comen aftir our dayes schullen knowen it, I have
Bo1 p4 168 put it in scripture and in remembraunce. For
Bo1 p4 169 touchynge the lettres falsly maked, by
Bo1 p4 170 whiche lettres I am accused to han hoped
Bo1 p4 171 the fredom of Rome, what aperteneth me
Bo1 p4 172 to speken therof? Of whiche lettres the fraude
Bo1 p4 173 hadde ben schewed apertely, yif I hadde had
Bo1 p4 174 liberte for to han used and ben at the confessioun
Bo1 p4 175 of myn accusours, the whiche thyng in
Bo1 p4 176 alle nedes hath greet strengthe. For what other
Bo1 p4 177 fredom mai men hopen? Certes I wolde that som
Bo1 p4 178 other fredom myghte ben hoped; I wolde
Bo1 p4 179 thanne han answeryd by the wordys of a
Bo1 p4 180 man that hyghte Canyus. For whan he was
Bo1 p4 181 accused by Gaius Cesar, Germaynes sone,
Bo1 p4 182 that he was knowynge and consentynge of a
Bo1 p4 183 conjuracioun ymaked ayens hym, this Canyus
Bo1 p4 184 answeride thus: `Yif I hadde wyst it, thou
Bo1 p4 185 haddest noght wyst it.'
Bo1 p4 186 " In whiche thyng sorwe hath noght so dullid
Bo1 p4 187 my wyt that I pleyne oonly that schrewed folk
Bo1 p4 188 apparailen felonyes ayens vertu; but I wondre
Bo1 p4 189 gretly how that thei may performe thynges
Bo1 p4 190 that thei han hoped for to doon. Forwhy to
Bo1 p4 191 wylne schrewydnesse -- that cometh peraventure
Bo1 p4 192 of our defaute; but it is lyk a monstre
Bo1 p4 193 and a merveyle how that, in the presente
Bo1 p4 194 sight of God, may ben acheved and performed
Bo1 p4 195 swiche thynges as every felonous man
Bo1 p4 196 hath conceyved in his thoght ayens innocentz.
Bo1 p4 197 For whiche thynge oon of thy familiers
Bo1 p4 198 noght unskilfully axed thus: `Yif God
Bo1 p4 199 is, whennes comen wikkide thyngis? And
Bo1 p4 200 yif God ne is, whennes comen gode
Bo1 p4 201 thynges?' But al hadde it ben leveful that
Bo1 p4 202 felonous folk, that now desiren the blood and
Bo1 p4 203 the deeth of alle gode men and ek of al the senat,
Bo1 p4 204 han wilned to gon destroyen me, whom they han
Bo1 p4 205 seyn alwey bataylen and defenden gode men
Bo1 p4 206 and eek al the senat, yit hadde I nought
Bo1 p4 207 disservyd of the faderes (that is to seyn, of
Bo1 p4 208 the senatours) that they schulden wilne my
Bo1 p4 209 destruccioun.
Bo1 p4 210 " Thow remembrest wel, as I gesse, that
Bo1 p4 211 whan I wolde doon or seyn any thyng,
Bo1 p4 212 thow thiselve alwey present reuledest me. [And]
Bo1 p4 213 [wel] [thow] [remembrest] at the cite of Verone,
Bo1 p4 214 whan that the kyng, gredy of comune slaughtre,
Bo1 p4 215 caste hym to transporten upon al the ordre of the
Bo1 p4 216 senat the gilt of his real majeste, of the whiche
Bo1 p4 217 gilt that Albyn was accused, with how gret
Bo1 p4 218 sykernesse of peril to me defended I al the senat!
Bo1 p4 219 Thow woost wel that I sey sooth, ne
Bo1 p4 220 I n' avawntede me nevere in preysynge
Bo1 p4 221 of myselve. For alwey whan any wyght
Bo1 p4 222 resceyveth precious renoun in avauntynge
Bo1 p4 223 hymselve of his werkes, he amenuseth the secre
Bo1 p4 224 of his conscience. But now thow mayst wel seen
Bo1 p4 225 to what eende I am comen for myn innocence;
Bo1 p4 226 I resceyve peyne of fals felonye for guerdoun of
Bo1 p4 227 verrai vertue. And what opene confessioun of
Bo1 p4 228 felonye hadde evere juges so accordaunt in
Bo1 p4 229 cruelte (that is to seyn, as myn accusynge
Bo1 p4 230 hath. that either errour of mannys wit, or
Bo1 p4 231 elles condicion of fortune, that is uncerteyn
Bo1 p4 232 to alle mortel folk, ne submyttede some of hem
Bo1 p4 233 (that is to seyn, that it ne enclynede som juge
Bo1 p4 234 to have pite or compassioun)? For althoughe I
Bo1 p4 235 hadde ben accused that I wolde brenne holi
Bo1 p4 236 houses and straungle preestis with wykkid
Bo1 p4 237 sweerd, or that I hadde greythed deth to alle
Bo1 p4 238 gode men, algates the sentence scholde han
Bo1 p4 239 punysshed me present, confessed or convict.
Bo1 p4 240 But now I am remuwed fro the cite of
Bo1 p4 241 Rome almest fyve hundred thowsand paas,
Bo1 p4 242 I am withoute deffense dampnyd to proscripcion
Bo1 p4 243 and to the deth for the studie and
Bo1 p4 244 bountes that I have doon to the senat. But, O,
Bo1 p4 245 wel ben thei wurthy of meryte (as who seith,
Bo1 p4 246 nay), ther myghte nevere yit noon of hem ben
Bo1 p4 247 convicte of swiche a blame as myn is. Of whiche
Bo1 p4 248 trespas myne accusours sayen ful wel the
Bo1 p4 249 dignete; the whiche dignyte, for thei
Bo1 p4 250 wolden derken it with medlynge of some
Bo1 p4 251 felonye, they bare me on hande and lieden
Bo1 p4 252 that I hadde pollut and defouled my conscience
Bo1 p4 253 with sacrilegie for covetise of dignyte. And
Bo1 p4 254 certes thou thiselve, that art plaunted in me,
Bo1 p4 255 chacedest out of the sege of my corage alle
Bo1 p4 256 covetise of mortel thynges, ne sacrilege ne
Bo1 p4 257 hadde no leve to han a place in me byforn
Bo1 p4 258 thyne eien. For thow droppiddest every day
Bo1 p4 259 in myn eris and in my thought thilke
Bo1 p4 260 comaundement of Pictagoras, that is to
Bo1 p4 261 seyn, men schal serven to God and noght
Bo1 p4 262 to goddes. Ne it was noght convenient ne no
Bo1 p4 263 nede to taken help of the fouleste spiritz -- I,
Bo1 p4 264 that thow hast ordeyned and set in swiche
Bo1 p4 265 excellence, that thou makedest me lyk to God.
Bo1 p4 266 And over this, the right clene secre chaumbre of
Bo1 p4 267 myn hous (that is to seyn, my wif), and the
Bo1 p4 268 companye of myne honeste freendes, and
Bo1 p4 269 my wyves fadir, as wel holi as worthy to
Bo1 p4 270 ben reverenced thurw his owene dedes,
Bo1 p4 271 defenden me fro alle suspecioun of swiche
Bo1 p4 272 blame. But O malice! For they that accusen me
Bo1 p4 273 taken of the, Philosophie, feith of so greet
Bo1 p4 274 blame, for they trowen that I have had affinyte
Bo1 p4 275 to malefice or enchauntement, bycause that I am
Bo1 p4 276 replenysshid and fulfild with thy techynges, and
Bo1 p4 277 enformed of thi maneris. And thus it suffiseth nat
Bo1 p4 278 oonly that thi reverence ne avayle me nat, but yif
Bo1 p4 279 that thow of thy free wil rather be
Bo1 p4 280 blemessched with myne offencioun.
Bo1 p4 281 " But certes, to the harmes that I have,
Bo1 p4 282 ther bytideth yit this encrees of harm, that the
Bo1 p4 283 gessynge and the jugement of moche folk ne
Bo1 p4 284 loken nothyng to the desertes of thynges, but
Bo1 p4 285 oonly to the aventure of fortune; and jugen
Bo1 p4 286 that oonly swiche thynges ben purveied of
Bo1 p4 287 God, whiche that temporel welefulnesse
Bo1 p4 288 commendeth. (Glose. As thus: that yif a
Bo1 p4 289 wyght have prosperite, he is a good man
Bo1 p4 290 and worthy to han that prosperite; and
Bo1 p4 291 whoso hath adversite, he is a wikkid
Bo1 p4 292 man, and God hath forsake hym, and he is
Bo1 p4 293 worthy to han that adversite. This is the
Bo1 p4 294 opinyoun of some folk.) Textus. And therof
Bo1 p4 295 cometh that good gessynge, first of alle thynge,
Bo1 p4 296 forsaketh wrecches. Certes it greveth me to
Bo1 p4 297 thynke ryght now the diverse sentences that the
Bo1 p4 298 peple seith of me. And thus moche I seie, that
Bo1 p4 299 the laste charge of contrarious fortune is
Bo1 p4 300 this: that whan eny blame is leid upon a
Bo1 p4 301 caytif, men wenen that he hath desservyd
Bo1 p4 302 that he suffreth. And I, that am put awey fro
Bo1 p4 303 gode men, and despoyled of dignytes, and
Bo1 p4 304 defouled of myn name by gessynge, have
Bo1 p4 305 suffride torment for my gode dedes. Certes me
Bo1 p4 306 semyth that I se the felonous covynes of wykkid
Bo1 p4 307 men habounden in joye and in gladnesse; and I
Bo1 p4 308 se that every lorel schapeth hym to fynde out
Bo1 p4 309 newe fraudes for to accuse good folk; and
Bo1 p4 310 I se that goode men [lien] overthrowen for
Bo1 p4 311 drede of my peril, and every luxurious
Bo1 p4 312 turmentour dar doon alle felonye unpunysschyd,
Bo1 p4 313 and ben excited therto by yiftes; and
Bo1 p4 314 innocentz ne ben noght oonly despoiled of
Bo1 p4 315 sikernesse, but of defense; and therfore me lyst manere:
Bo1 m5 1 " O thow makere of the wheel that bereth
Bo1 m5 2 the sterres, whiche that art festnyd to thi perdurable
Bo1 m5 3 chayer, and turnest the hevene with a
Bo1 m5 4 ravysschynge sweighe, and constreynest the
Bo1 m5 5 sterres to suffren thi lawe; so that the moone
Bo1 m5 6 somtyme, schynynge with hir fulle hornes metynge
Bo1 m5 7 with alle the beemes of the sonne hir
Bo1 m5 8 brothir, hideth the sterres that ben lasse; and
Bo1 m5 9 somtyme, whan the moone pale with hir
Bo1 m5 10 derke hornes aprocheth the sonne, leeseth
Bo1 m5 11 hir lyghtes; and that the eve sterre, Hesperus,
Bo1 m5 12 whiche that in the first tyme of the nyght
Bo1 m5 13 bryngeth forth hir colde arysynges, cometh eft
Bo1 m5 14 ayen hir used cours, and is pale by the morwe
Bo1 m5 15 at rysynge of the sonne, and is thanne clepid
Bo1 m5 16 Lucyfer! Thow restreynest the day by schortere
Bo1 m5 17 duellynge in the tyme of coold wynter that
Bo1 m5 18 maketh the leeves falle. Thow devydest the
Bo1 m5 19 swyfte tydes of the nyght, whan the hote
Bo1 m5 20 somer is comen. Thy myghte attempreth
Bo1 m5 21 the variauntz sesouns of the yer, so that
Bo1 m5 22 Zephirus, the debonere wynd, bryngeth ayen
Bo1 m5 23 in the first somer sesoun the leeves that the
Bo1 m5 24 wynd that hyghte Boreas hath reft awey in
Bo1 m5 25 autumpne (that is to seie, in the laste ende of
Bo1 m5 26 somer); and the seedes that the sterre that
Bo1 m5 27 highte Arcturus saugh ben waxen heye cornes
Bo1 m5 28 whan the sterre Syrius eschaufeth hem. Ther
Bo1 m5 29 nys no thyng unbounde from his olde lawe,
Bo1 m5 30 ne forleteth the werk of his propre estat.
Bo1 m5 31 " O thou governour, governynge alle
Bo1 m5 32 thynges by certein ende, whi refusestow oonly
Bo1 m5 33 to governe the werkes of men by duwe manere?
Bo1 m5 34 Why suffrestow that slydynge Fortune turneth
Bo1 m5 35 so grete enterchaungynges of thynges? So
Bo1 m5 36 that anoyous peyne, that scholde duweliche
Bo1 m5 37 punysche felons, punysscheth innocentz; and
Bo1 m5 38 folk of wikkide maneres sitten in heie chayeres;
Bo1 m5 39 and anoyinge folk treden, and that unrightfully,
Bo1 m5 40 on the nekkes of holi men; and
Bo1 m5 41 vertu, cleer and schynynge naturely, is
Bo1 m5 42 hidde in derke derknesses; and the rightful man
Bo1 m5 43 bereth the blame and the peyne of the feloun; ne
Bo1 m5 44 the forswerynge ne the fraude covered and
Bo1 m5 45 kembd with a false colour, ne anoieth nat to
Bo1 m5 46 schrewes? The whiche schrewes, whan hem list
Bo1 m5 47 to usen hir strengthe, they rejoyssen hem to
Bo1 m5 48 putten undir hem the sovereyne kynges, whiche
Bo1 m5 49 that peple withouten nombre dreden. O
Bo1 m5 50 thou, what so evere thou be that knyttest
Bo1 m5 51 alle boondes of thynges, loke on thise
Bo1 m5 52 wrecchide erthes. We men, that ben noght a foul
Bo1 m5 53 partie, but a fair partie of so greet a werk, we
Bo1 m5 54 ben turmented in this see of fortune. Thow
Bo1 m5 55 governour, withdraughe and restreyne the
Bo1 m5 56 ravysschynge flodes, and fastne and ferme thise
Bo1 m5 57 erthes stable with thilke boond by whiche thou
Bo1 m5 58 governest the hevene that is so large. "
Bo1 p5 1 Whan I hadde with a contynuel sorwe
Bo1 p5 2 sobbyd or borken out thise thynges, sche, with
Bo1 p5 3 hir cheere pesible and nothyng amoeved with
Bo1 p5 4 my compleyntes, seide thus: " Whan I saugh
Bo1 p5 5 the, " quod sche, " sorwful and wepynge, I
Bo1 p5 6 wiste anoon that thow were a wrecche and
Bo1 p5 7 exiled; but I wyste nevere how fer thyn exil
Bo1 p5 8 was yif thy tale ne hadde schewid it me. But
Bo1 p5 9 certes, al be thow fer fro thy cuntre, thou
Bo1 p5 10 n' art nat put out of it, but thow hast fayled
Bo1 p5 11 of thi weye and gon amys. And yif thou
Bo1 p5 12 hast levere for to wene that thow be put out
Bo1 p5 13 of thy cuntre, thanne hastow put out thyselve
Bo1 p5 14 rather than ony other wyght hath. For no
Bo1 p5 15 wyght but thyselve ne myghte nevere han doon
Bo1 p5 16 that to the. For yif thow remembre of what
Bo1 p5 17 cuntre thow art born, it nys nat governed by
Bo1 p5 18 emperoures, ne by governement of multitude,
Bo1 p5 19 as weren the cuntrees of hem of Atthenes;
Bo1 p5 20 but o lord and o kyng, and that is God, that
Bo1 p5 21 is lord of thi cuntre, whiche that rejoisseth
Bo1 p5 22 hym of the duellynge of his citezeens, and nat
Bo1 p5 23 for to putten hem in exil; of the whiche lord
Bo1 p5 24 it is a sovereyn fredom to ben governed by the
Bo1 p5 25 brydel of hym and obeye to his justice. Hastow
Bo1 p5 26 foryeten thilke ryghte oolde lawe of thi citee, in
Bo1 p5 27 the whiche cite it es ordeyned and establysschid
Bo1 p5 28 that what wyght that hath levere
Bo1 p5 29 founden therin his sete or his hous than
Bo1 p5 30 elleswhere, he may nat ben exiled by no
Bo1 p5 31 ryght fro that place? For whoso that is
Bo1 p5 32 contened inwith the palys and the clos of
Bo1 p5 33 thilke cite, ther nys no drede that he mai deserve
Bo1 p5 34 to ben exiled; but who that leteth the
Bo1 p5 35 wil for to enhabyten there, he forleteth also
Bo1 p5 36 to deserve to ben citezen of thilke cite. So that
Bo1 p5 37 I seie that the face of this place ne moeveth
Bo1 p5 38 me noght so mochel as thyn owene face, ne
Bo1 p5 39 I ne axe nat rather the walles of thy librarye,
Bo1 p5 40 apparayled and wrought with yvory
Bo1 p5 41 and with glas, than after the sete of thi
Bo1 p5 42 thought, in whiche I put noght whilom bookes,
Bo1 p5 43 but I putte that that maketh bokes wurthy
Bo1 p5 44 of prys or precyous, that is to seyn the sentence
Bo1 p5 45 of my bookes.
Bo1 p5 46 " And certeynly of thy dessertes bystowed in
Bo1 p5 47 comune good thow hast seyd soth, but after the
Bo1 p5 48 multitude of thy gode dedes thou hast seyd
Bo1 p5 49 fewe. And of the honestete or of the falsnesse
Bo1 p5 50 of thynges that ben opposed ayens
Bo1 p5 51 the, thow hast remembred thynges that ben
Bo1 p5 52 knowen to alle folk. And of the felonyes and
Bo1 p5 53 fraudes of thyn accusours, it semeth the have
Bo1 p5 54 touched it for sothe ryghtfully and schortly, al
Bo1 p5 55 myghten tho same thynges betere and more
Bo1 p5 56 plentevously ben couth in the mouth of the
Bo1 p5 57 peple that knoweth al this. Thow hast eek
Bo1 p5 58 blamed gretly and compleyned of the wrongdede
Bo1 p5 59 of the senat, and thow hast sorwyd
Bo1 p5 60 for my blame, and thow hast wepen for
Bo1 p5 61 the damage of thi renoun that is apayred;
Bo1 p5 62 and thi laste sorwe eschaufede ayens Fortune,
Bo1 p5 63 and compleyndest that guerdouns ne ben nat
Bo1 p5 64 eveneliche yolden to the dessertes of folk. And
Bo1 p5 65 in the lattre eende of thy wode muse, thow
Bo1 p5 66 preydest that thilke pees that governeth the
Bo1 p5 67 hevene schulde governe the erthe.
Bo1 p5 68 " But for that many [turbacions] of affeccions
Bo1 p5 69 han assailed the, and sorwe and ire and
Bo1 p5 70 wepynge todrawen the diversely, as thou
Bo1 p5 71 art now feble of thought, myghtyere remedies
Bo1 p5 72 ne schullen noght yit touchen the. For
Bo1 p5 73 wyche we wol usen somdel lyghtere medicynes,
Bo1 p5 74 so that thilke passiouns that ben waxen hard in
Bo1 p5 75 swellynge by perturbacions flowynge into thy
Bo1 p5 76 thought, mowen waxen esy and softe to resceyven
Bo1 p5 77 the strengthe of a more myghty and
Bo1 p5 78 more egre medicyne, by an esyere touchynge.
Bo1 m6 1 " Whan that the hevy sterre of the Cancre
Bo1 m6 2 eschaufeth by the bemes of Phebus (that is to
Bo1 m6 3 seyn, whan that Phebus the sonne is in the
Bo1 m6 4 sygne of the Cancre), whoso yeveth thanne
Bo1 m6 5 largely his seedes to the feeldes that refusen
Bo1 m6 6 to resceyven hem, lat hym gon, begiled of trust
Bo1 m6 7 that he hadde to his corn, to accornes of okes.
Bo1 m6 8 Yif thow wolt gadere vyolettes, ne go thow
Bo1 m6 9 nat to the purpre wode whan the feeld,
Bo1 m6 10 chirkynge, agryseth of cold by the felnesse
Bo1 m6 11 of the wynd that hyghte Aquilon. Yif thou
Bo1 m6 12 desirest or wolt usen grapes, ne seek thou nat
Bo1 m6 13 with a glotonos hand to streyne and presse the
Bo1 m6 14 stalkes of the vyne in the first somer sesoun;
Bo1 m6 15 for Bachus, the god of wyn, hath rather yyven
Bo1 m6 16 his yiftes to autumpne (the lattere ende of
Bo1 m6 17 somer). God tokneth and assigneth the tymes,
Bo1 m6 18 ablynge hem to hir propre offices, ne he ne suffreth
Bo1 m6 19 nat the stowndes whiche that hymself
Bo1 m6 20 hath devyded and constreyned to ben
Bo1 m6 21 imedled togidre. And forthy he that forleteth
Bo1 m6 22 certein ordenaunce of doynge by overthrowynge
Bo1 m6 23 wey, he hath no glad issue or ende of his
Bo1 m6 24 werkes.
Bo1 p6 1 " First wiltow suffre me to touche and assaye
Bo1 p6 2 th' estaat of thi thought by a fewe demaundes,
Bo1 p6 3 so that I may understande what be the manere
Bo1 p6 4 of thi curacioun? "
Bo1 p6 5 " Axe me, " quod I, " at thi wille what thou
Bo1 p6 6 wolt, and I schal answere. " Tho seyde sche
Bo1 p6 7 thus: " Whethir wenestow, " quod sche, " that
Bo1 p6 8 this world be governed by foolyssche happes
Bo1 p6 9 and fortunows, or elles wenestow that ther
Bo1 p6 10 be inne it ony governement of resoun? "
Bo1 p6 11 " Certes, " quod I, " I ne trowe nat in no
Bo1 p6 12 manere that so certeyn thynges schulden be
Bo1 p6 13 moeved by fortunows [folie]; but I woot wel
Bo1 p6 14 that God, makere and maister, is governour of
Bo1 p6 15 his werk, ne nevere nas yit day that myghte
Bo1 p6 16 putte me out of the sothnesse of that sentence. "
Bo1 p6 17 " So it is, " quod sche, " for the same thyng
Bo1 p6 18 songe thow a litil herebyforn, and bywayledest
Bo1 p6 19 and byweptest, that oonly men weren
Bo1 p6 20 put out of the cure of God; for of alle othere
Bo1 p6 21 thynges thou ne doutedest the nat that they
Bo1 p6 22 nere governed by resoun. But owgh! I wondre
Bo1 p6 23 gretly, certes, whi that thou art sik, syn that
Bo1 p6 24 thow art put in so holsome a sentence. But lat
Bo1 p6 25 us seken deppere; I conjecte that ther lakketh
Bo1 p6 26 Y not what. But sey me this: syn that thow
Bo1 p6 27 ne doutest noght that this world be governed
Bo1 p6 28 by God, with whiche governayles takestow
Bo1 p6 29 heede that it is governed? "
Bo1 p6 30 " Unnethes, " quod I, " knowe I the sentence
Bo1 p6 31 of thy questioun, so that I ne may
Bo1 p6 32 nat yit answeren to thy demandes. "
Bo1 p6 33 " I nas nat desseyved, " quod sche, " that ther
Bo1 p6 34 ne faileth somwhat, by whiche the maladye of
Bo1 p6 35 perturbacion is crept into thi thought, so as
Bo1 p6 36 [by] the strengthe of the palys chynynge
Bo1 p6 37 [and] open. But sey me this: remembrestow
Bo1 p6 38 what is the ende of thynges, and whider that
Bo1 p6 39 the entencion of alle kende tendeth? "
Bo1 p6 40 " I have herd tolde it somtyme, " quod I,
Bo1 p6 41 " but drerynesse hath dulled my memorie. "
Bo1 p6 42 " Certes, " quod sche, " thou wost wel whennes
Bo1 p6 43 that alle thynges bien comen and proceded? "
Bo1 p6 44 " I woot wel, " quod I, and answerede that
Bo1 p6 45 God is bygynnynge of al.
Bo1 p6 46 " And how may this be, " quod sche, " that,
Bo1 p6 47 syn thow knowest the bygynnynge of thynges,
Bo1 p6 48 that thow ne knowest nat what is the eende
Bo1 p6 49 of thynges? But swiche ben the customes
Bo1 p6 50 of perturbaciouns, and this power they han,
Bo1 p6 51 that they mai moeve a man from his place
Bo1 p6 52 (that is to seyn, fro the stabelnesse and perfeccion
Bo1 p6 53 of his knowynge); but certes, thei mai nat
Bo1 p6 54 al arrace hym, ne aliene hym in al. But I wolde
Bo1 p6 55 that thou woldest answere to this: Remembrestow
Bo1 p6 56 that thow art a man? "
Bo1 p6 57 Boece. " Whi schulde I nat remembren that? "
Bo1 p6 58 quod I.
Bo1 p6 59 Philosophie. " Maystow noght telle me
Bo1 p6 60 thanne, " quod sche, " what thyng is a man? "
Bo1 p6 61 " Axestow me nat, " quod I, " whethir
Bo1 p6 62 that I [woot wel that I] be a resonable mortel
Bo1 p6 63 beste? I woot wel, and I confesse wel that I am
Bo1 p6 64 it. "
Bo1 p6 65 " Wystestow nevere yit that thow were ony
Bo1 p6 66 othir thyng? " quod sche.
Bo1 p6 67 " No, " quod I.
Bo1 p6 68 " Now woot I, " quod sche, " other cause of thi
Bo1 p6 69 maladye, and that ryght greet: thow hast
Bo1 p6 70 left for to knowen thyselve what thou art.
Bo1 p6 71 Thurw whiche I have pleynly fownde the
Bo1 p6 72 cause of thi maladye, or elles the entree of
Bo1 p6 73 recoverynge of thyn hele. For-why, for thow art
Bo1 p6 74 confunded with foryetynge of thiself, forthi
Bo1 p6 75 sorwestow that thow art exiled [and] [despoyled]
Bo1 p6 76 of thy propre goodes; and for thow ne woost
Bo1 p6 77 what is the eende of thynges, forthy demestow
Bo1 p6 78 that felonus and wikkide men ben myghty and
Bo1 p6 79 weleful; and for thow hast foryeten by
Bo1 p6 80 whiche governementz the werld is governed,
Bo1 p6 81 forthy weenestow that thise mutacions
Bo1 p6 82 of fortunes fleten withouten governour.
Bo1 p6 83 Thise ben grete causes, noght oonly to
Bo1 p6 84 maladye, but certes gret causes to deth. But I
Bo1 p6 85 thanke the auctour and the makere of hele, that
Bo1 p6 86 nature hath nat al forleten the. I have gret
Bo1 p6 87 noryssynges of thyn hele, and that is, the sothe
Bo1 p6 88 sentence of governance of the werld, that thou
Bo1 p6 89 bylevest that the governynge of it nis nat
Bo1 p6 90 subgit ne underput to the folye of thise
Bo1 p6 91 happes aventurous, but to the resoun of
Bo1 p6 92 God. And therfore doute the nothing, for of this
Bo1 p6 93 litel spark thine heet of liif schal shine.
Bo1 p6 94 " But for as moche as it is nat tyme yet of
Bo1 p6 95 fastere remedies, and the nature of thoughtes
Bo1 p6 96 desceyved is this, that, as ofte as they casten awey
Bo1 p6 97 sothe opynyouns, they clothen hem in false
Bo1 p6 98 opynyouns, of the whiche false opynyouns the
Bo1 p6 99 derknesse of perturbacion waxeth up, that
Bo1 p6 100 confowndeth the verray insyghte -- [that]
Bo1 p6 101 derknesse schal I assaie somwhat to maken
Bo1 p6 102 thynne and wayk by lyghte and meneliche
Bo1 p6 103 remedies; so that, aftir that the derknesse of
Bo1 p6 104 desceyvynge desyrynges is doon away, thow
Bo1 p6 105 mowe knowe the schynynge of verraye light.
Bo1 m7 1 " The sterres, covred with blake cloudes, ne
Bo1 m7 2 owen yeten adoun no lyght. Yif the truble
Bo1 m7 3 wynd that hyghte Auster, turnynge and walwynge
Bo1 m7 4 the see, edleth the heete (that is to
Bo1 m7 5 seyn, the boylynge up fro the bote), the
Bo1 m7 6 wawes, that whilo weren clere as glas and
Bo1 m7 7 lyk to the fayre bryghte dayes, withstande
Bo1 m7 8 anon the syghtes of en by the filthe and
Bo1 m7 9 ordure that is resolved. And the fleetynge
Bo1 m7 10 stree, that royleth doun diversely fro heye
Bo1 m7 11 ontaygnes, is areestid and resisted ofte
Bo1 m7 12 tye by the encountrynge of a stoon that is
Bo1 m7 13 departed and fallen fro soe roche. And forthy,
Bo1 m7 14 yif thou wolt loken and deen soth with cleer
Bo1 m7 15 lyght, and hoolden the weye with a ryght path,
Bo1 m7 16 weyve thow joie, dryf fro the drede, flee thow
Bo1 m7 17 hope, ne lat no sorwe aproche (that is to seyn,
Bo1 m7 18 lat non of thise foure passiouns overcoen the
Bo1 m7 19 or blenden the). For cloudy and derk is
Bo1 m7 20 thilke thoght, and bownde with bridelis,
Bo1 m7 21 where as thise thynges reignen. "
Bo2 p1 1 Aftir this sche stynte a lytel; and after that
Bo2 p1 2 sche hadde ygadrede by atempre stillenesse myn
Bo2 p1 3 attencioun, she seyde thus (as who so myghte
Bo2 p1 4 seyn thus: after thise thynges sche stynte a
Bo2 p1 5 litil, and whan sche aperceyved by atempre
Bo2 p1 6 stillenesse that I was ententyf to herkne hire,
Bo2 p1 7 sche bygan to speke in this wyse): " If I, " quod
Bo2 p1 8 sche, " have undirstonden and knowen outrely
Bo2 p1 9 the causes and the habyt of thy maladye,
Bo2 p1 10 thow languyssest and art desfeted for desir
Bo2 p1 11 and talent of thi rather fortune. Sche (that
Bo2 p1 12 ilke Fortune) oonly, that is chaunged, as
Bo2 p1 13 thow feynest, to the-ward, hath perverted the
Bo2 p1 14 cleernesse and the estat of thi corage. I
Bo2 p1 15 undirstonde the felefolde colours and desceytes
Bo2 p1 16 of thilke merveylous monstre Fortune and how
Bo2 p1 17 sche useth ful flaterynge famylarite with hem
Bo2 p1 18 that sche enforceth to bygyle, so longe, til that
Bo2 p1 19 sche confounde with unsuffrable sorwe
Bo2 p1 20 hem that sche hath left in despeer unpurveied.
Bo2 p1 21 And yif thou remembrest wel the
Bo2 p1 22 kende, the maneris, and the desserte of thilke
Bo2 p1 23 Fortune, thou shalt wel knowe that, as in hir,
Bo2 p1 24 thow nevere ne haddest ne hast ylost any fair
Bo2 p1 25 thyng. But, as I trowe, I schal nat greetly
Bo2 p1 26 travailen to don the remembren on thise
Bo2 p1 27 thynges. For thow were wont to hurtlen and
Bo2 p1 28 despysen hir with manly woordes whan sche
Bo2 p1 29 was blaundyssching and present, and
Bo2 p1 30 pursuydest hir with sentences that weren
Bo2 p1 31 drawen out of myn entre (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p1 32 of myn enformacioun). But no sodeyn mutacioun
Bo2 p1 33 ne bytideth noght withouten a manere
Bo2 p1 34 chaungynge of corages; and so is it byfallen
Bo2 p1 35 that thou art a litil departed fro the pees of thi
Bo2 p1 36 thought.
Bo2 p1 37 " But now is tyme that thou drynke and ataste
Bo2 p1 38 some softe and delitable thynges, so that whanne
Bo2 p1 39 thei ben entred withynne the, it mowe
Bo2 p1 40 maken wey to strengere drynkes of medycines.
Bo2 p1 41 Com now forth, therfore, the
Bo2 p1 42 suasyoun of swetnesse rethorien, whiche that
Bo2 p1 43 goth oonly the righte wey while sche forsaketh
Bo2 p1 44 nat myn estatutz. And with Rethorice com forth
Bo2 p1 45 Musice, a damoysele of our hous, that syngeth
Bo2 p1 46 now lightere moedes or prolacions, now
Bo2 p1 47 hevyere. What eyleth the, man? What is it that
Bo2 p1 48 hath cast the into moornynge and into wepynge?
Bo2 p1 49 I trow that thou hast seyn some newe thyng
Bo2 p1 50 and unkouth. Thou wenest that Fortune be
Bo2 p1 51 chaunged ayens the; but thow wenest
Bo2 p1 52 wrong (yif thou that wene): alway tho ben hir
Bo2 p1 53 maneres. Sche hath rather kept, as to the-ward,
Bo2 p1 54 hir propre stablenesse in the chaungynge of
Bo2 p1 55 hirself. Ryght swiche was sche whan sche
Bo2 p1 56 flateryd the and desseyved the with unleful
Bo2 p1 57 lykynges of false welefulnesse. Thou hast now
Bo2 p1 58 knowen and ateynt the doutous or double visage
Bo2 p1 59 of thilke blynde goddesse Fortune. Sche,
Bo2 p1 60 that yit covereth and wympleth hir to other
Bo2 p1 61 folk, hath schewyd hir every del to the. Yif
Bo2 p1 62 thou approvest here (and thynkest that sche is
Bo2 p1 63 good), use hir maneris and pleyne the nat; and
Bo2 p1 64 yif thou agrisest hir false trecherie, despise and
Bo2 p1 65 cast awey hir that pleyeth so harmfully. For sche,
Bo2 p1 66 that is now cause of so mochel sorwe to the,
Bo2 p1 67 sholde ben cause to the of pees and of joye. Sche
Bo2 p1 68 hath forsaken the, forsothe, the whiche that
Bo2 p1 69 nevere man mai ben siker that sche ne schal
Bo2 p1 70 forsaken hym. (Glose. But natheles some
Bo2 p1 71 bookes han the texte thus: forsothe sche
Bo2 p1 72 hath forsaken the, ne ther nys no man siker
Bo2 p1 73 that sche ne hath nat forsake.) Holdestow
Bo2 p1 74 thanne thilke welefulnesse precious to the, that
Bo2 p1 75 schal passen? And is present Fortune dereworth
Bo2 p1 76 to the, whiche that nys nat feithful for to duelle,
Bo2 p1 77 and whan sche goth awey that sche bryngeth a
Bo2 p1 78 wyght in sorwe? For syn she may nat ben
Bo2 p1 79 withholden at a mannys wille, [and] sche
Bo2 p1 80 maketh hym a wrecche whan sche departeth
Bo2 p1 81 fro hym, what other thyng is
Bo2 p1 82 flyttynge Fortune but a maner schewynge of
Bo2 p1 83 wrecchidnesse that is to comen? Ne it suffiseth
Bo2 p1 84 nat oonly to loken on thyng that is present
Bo2 p1 85 byforn the eien of a man; but wisdom loketh and
Bo2 p1 86 mesureth the ende of thynges. And the same
Bo2 p1 87 chaungynge from oon into another (that is to
Bo2 p1 88 seyn, fro adversite into prosperite) maketh that
Bo2 p1 89 the manaces of Fortune ne ben nat for to
Bo2 p1 90 dreden, ne the flaterynges of hir to ben
Bo2 p1 91 desired. Thus, at the laste, it byhoveth the
Bo2 p1 92 to suffren wyth evene wil in pacience al that is
Bo2 p1 93 doon inwith the floor of Fortune (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p1 94 in this world), syn thou hast oonys put thy nekke
Bo2 p1 95 undir the yok of hir. For yif thow wilt writen a
Bo2 p1 96 lawe of wendynge and of duellynge to Fortune,
Bo2 p1 97 whiche that thow hast chosen frely to ben thi
Bo2 p1 98 lady, artow nat wrongful in that, and makest
Bo2 p1 99 Fortune wroth and aspre by thyn
Bo2 p1 100 inpacience? And yit thow mayst nat
Bo2 p1 101 chaungen hir. Yif thou committest and
Bo2 p1 102 betakest thi seyles to the wynd, thow schalt ben
Bo2 p1 103 shoven, nat thider that thow woldest, but whider
Bo2 p1 104 that the wynd schouveth the. Yif thow castest thi
Bo2 p1 105 seedes in the feeldes, thou sholdest han in
Bo2 p1 106 mynde that the yeres ben amonges, outherwhile
Bo2 p1 107 plentevous and outherwhile bareyne. Thow hast
Bo2 p1 108 bytaken thiself to the governaunce of Fortune
Bo2 p1 109 and forthi it byhoveth the to ben obeisaunt
Bo2 p1 110 to the maneris of thi lady. Enforcestow the
Bo2 p1 111 to aresten or withholden the swyftnesse
Bo2 p1 112 and the sweighe of hir turnynge wheel? O thow
Bo2 p1 113 fool of alle mortel foolis! Yif Fortune bygan to
Bo2 p1 114 duelle stable, she cessede thanne to ben Fortune.
Bo2 m1 1 " Whan Fortune with a proud ryght hand hath
Bo2 m1 2 turned hir chaungynge stowndes, sche fareth
Bo2 m1 3 lyke the maneres of the boylynge Eurippe.
Bo2 m1 4 (Glosa. Eurippe is an arm of the see that ebbeth
Bo2 m1 5 and floweth, and somtyme the streem is on
Bo2 m1 6 o side, and somtyme on the tothir.) Textus.
Bo2 m1 7 She, cruel Fortune, casteth adoun kynges that
Bo2 m1 8 whilom weren ydradd; and sche, desceyvable,
Bo2 m1 9 enhaunceth up the humble chere of hym
Bo2 m1 10 that is discounfited. Ne sche neither heereth
Bo2 m1 11 ne rekketh of wrecchide wepynges; and
Bo2 m1 12 she is so hard that sche leygheth and scorneth
Bo2 m1 13 the wepynges of hem, the whiche sche hath
Bo2 m1 14 maked wepe with hir free wille. Thus sche
Bo2 m1 15 pleyeth, and thus sche prooeveth hir strengthes,
Bo2 m1 16 and scheweth a greet wonder to alle hir servauntz
Bo2 m1 17 yif that a wyght is seyn weleful and
Bo2 m1 18 overthrowe in an houre.
Bo2 p2 1 " Certes I wolde pleten with the a fewe
Bo2 p2 2 thynges, usynge the woordes of Fortune. Tak
Bo2 p2 3 hede now thyselve, yif that sche asketh ryght:
Bo2 p2 4 `O thow man, wherfore makestow me gyltyf by
Bo2 p2 5 thyne every dayes pleynynges? What wrong
Bo2 p2 6 have I don the? What godes have I byreft the
Bo2 p2 7 that weren thyne? Stryf or pleet with me byforn
Bo2 p2 8 what juge that thow wolt of the possessioun
Bo2 p2 9 of rychesses or of dignytees; and yif
Bo2 p2 10 thou maist schewen me that ever any mortel
Bo2 p2 11 man hath resceyved ony of tho thynges
Bo2 p2 12 to ben hise in propre, thanne wil I graunte freely
Bo2 p2 13 that thilke thynges weren thyne whiche that
Bo2 p2 14 thow axest.
Bo2 p2 15 " Whan that nature brought the foorth out of
Bo2 p2 16 thi modir wombe, I resceyved the nakid and
Bo2 p2 17 nedy of alle thynges, and I norissched the with
Bo2 p2 18 my richesses, and was redy and ententyf thurwe
Bo2 p2 19 my favour to sustene the -- and that maketh
Bo2 p2 20 the now inpacient ayens me; and I
Bo2 p2 21 envyrounde the with al the habundaunce
Bo2 p2 22 and schynynge of alle goodes that ben in my
Bo2 p2 23 ryght. Now it liketh me to withdrawe myn
Bo2 p2 24 hand. Thow hast had grace as he that hath
Bo2 p2 25 used of foreyne goodes; thow hast no ryght to
Bo2 p2 26 pleyne the, as though thou haddest outrely
Bo2 p2 27 forlorn alle thy thynges. Why pleynestow
Bo2 p2 28 thanne? I have doon the no wrong. Richesses,
Bo2 p2 29 honours, and swiche othere thinges ben of
Bo2 p2 30 my right. My servauntz knowen me for
Bo2 p2 31 hir lady; they comen with me, and departen
Bo2 p2 32 whan I wende. I dar wel affermen hardely
Bo2 p2 33 that, yif tho thynges of whiche thow pleynest
Bo2 p2 34 that thou hast forlorn [hem] hadden ben
Bo2 p2 35 thyne, thow ne haddest nat lorn hem. Schal
Bo2 p2 36 I thanne, oonly, be defended to usen my ryght?
Bo2 p2 37 " Certes it is leveful to the hevene to maken
Bo2 p2 38 clere dayes, and after that to coveren tho same
Bo2 p2 39 dayes with dirke nyghtes. The yeer hath
Bo2 p2 40 eek leve to apparaylen the visage of the
Bo2 p2 41 erthe, now with floures, and now with
Bo2 p2 42 fruyt, and to confownden hem somtyme with
Bo2 p2 43 reynes and with coldes. The see hath eek his
Bo2 p2 44 ryght to ben somtyme calm and blaundysschyng
Bo2 p2 45 with smothe watir, and somtyme to ben
Bo2 p2 46 horrible with wawes and with tempestes. But
Bo2 p2 47 the covetise of men, that mai nat be stawnched
Bo2 p2 48 -- schal it bynde me to ben stedfast, syn that
Bo2 p2 49 stidfastnesse is uncouth to my maneris?
Bo2 p2 50 Swiche is my strengthe, and this pley
Bo2 p2 51 I pleye continuely. I torne the whirlynge
Bo2 p2 52 wheel with the turnynge sercle; I am glad to
Bo2 p2 53 chaungen the loweste to the heyeste, and the
Bo2 p2 54 heyeste to the loweste. Worth up yif thow
Bo2 p2 55 wolt, so it be by this lawe, that thow ne holde
Bo2 p2 56 nat that I do the wroong, though thow descende
Bo2 p2 57 adown whan the resoun of my pley axeth it.
Bo2 p2 58 Wystestow nat how Cresus, kyng of Lydyens,
Bo2 p2 59 of whiche kyng Cirus was ful sore agast a
Bo2 p2 60 lytil byforn -- that this rewliche Cresus
Bo2 p2 61 was caught of Cirus and lad to the fyer to
Bo2 p2 62 ben brend; but that a rayn descendede down
Bo2 p2 63 fro hevene that rescowyde hym? And is it out
Bo2 p2 64 of thy mynde how that Paulus, consul of Rome,
Bo2 p2 65 whan he had taken the kyng of Percyens, weep
Bo2 p2 66 pitously for the captivyte of the selve kyng?
Bo2 p2 67 What other thynge bywaylen the cryinges of
Bo2 p2 68 tragedyes but oonly the dedes of Fortune, that
Bo2 p2 69 with an unwar strook overturneth the
Bo2 p2 70 realmes of greet nobleye? (Glose. Tragedye
Bo2 p2 71 is to seyn a dite of a prosperite for a
Bo2 p2 72 tyme, that endeth in wrecchidnesse.) Lernedest
Bo2 p2 73 nat thow in Greek whan thow were yong, that
Bo2 p2 74 in the entre or in the seler of Juppiter ther ben
Bo2 p2 75 cowched two tonnes, the toon is ful of good,
Bo2 p2 76 and the tother is ful of harm? What ryght
Bo2 p2 77 hastow to pleyne, yif thou hast taken more
Bo2 p2 78 plentevously of the gode side (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p2 79 of my richesses and prosperites)? And
Bo2 p2 80 what ek yif Y ne be nat al departed fro
Bo2 p2 81 the? What eek yif my mutabilite yeveth
Bo2 p2 82 the ryghtful cause of hope to han yit bettere
Bo2 p2 83 thynges? Natheles dismaye the nat in thi
Bo2 p2 84 thought; and thow that art put in the comune
Bo2 p2 85 realme of alle, desire nat to lyven by thyn oonly
Bo2 p2 86 propre ryght.
Bo2 m2 1 " Though Plente that is goddesse of rychesses
Bo2 m2 2 hielde adoun with ful horn, and withdraweth
Bo2 m2 3 nat hir hand, as many richesses as the
Bo2 m2 4 see torneth upward sandes whan it is moeved
Bo2 m2 5 with ravysshynge blastes, or elles as manye
Bo2 m2 6 rychesses as ther schynen bryghte sterres in
Bo2 m2 7 hevene on the sterry nyghtes; yit, for al that,
Bo2 m2 8 mankende nolde nat cese to wepe wrecchide
Bo2 m2 9 pleyntes. And al be it so that God resceyveth
Bo2 m2 10 gladly hir preiers, and yyveth hem, as
Bo2 m2 11 fool-large, moche gold, and apparayleth
Bo2 m2 12 coveytous folk with noble or cleer honours;
Bo2 m2 13 yit semeth hem haven igeten nothyng, but
Bo2 m2 14 alwey hir cruel ravyne, devourynge al that
Bo2 m2 15 they han geten, scheweth othere gapynges (that
Bo2 m2 16 is to seyn, gapyn and desiren yit after mo rychesses).
Bo2 m2 17 What brydles myghte withholden to
Bo2 m2 18 any certeyn ende the disordene covetise of
Bo2 m2 19 men, whan evere the rather that it fletith
Bo2 m2 20 in large yiftes, the more ay brenneth in
Bo2 m2 21 hem the thurst of havynge? Certes he that
Bo2 m2 22 qwakynge and dredful weneth hymselven
Bo2 m2 23 nedy, he ne lyveth nevermo ryche.
Bo2 p3 1 " Therfore, yif that Fortune spake with the
Bo2 p3 2 for hirself in this manere, forsothe thow ne
Bo2 p3 3 haddest noght what thou myghtest answere.
Bo2 p3 4 And yif thow hast any thyng wherwith thow
Bo2 p3 5 mayst rightfully defenden thi compleynte, it
Bo2 p3 6 behoveth the to schewen it, and I wol yyve
Bo2 p3 7 the space to tellen it. "
Bo2 p3 8 " Serteynly, " quod I thanne, " thise ben faire
Bo2 p3 9 thynges and enoynted with hony swetnesse
Bo2 p3 10 of Rethorik and Musike; and oonly
Bo2 p3 11 whil thei ben herd thei ben delycious, but
Bo2 p3 12 to wrecches is a deppere felyng of harm
Bo2 p3 13 (this is to seyn, that wrecches felen the harmes
Bo2 p3 14 that thei suffren more grevously than the remedies
Bo2 p3 15 or the delites of thise wordes mowen gladen
Bo2 p3 16 or conforten hem). So that, whanne thise
Bo2 p3 17 thynges stynten for to soune in eris, the sorwe
Bo2 p3 18 that es inset greveth the thought. "
Bo2 p3 19 " Right so is it, " quod sche. " For thise ne
Bo2 p3 20 ben yit none remedies of thy maladye, but
Bo2 p3 21 they ben a maner norisschynges of thi
Bo2 p3 22 sorwe, yit rebel ayen thi curacioun. For whan
Bo2 p3 23 that tyme is, I schal moeve and ajuste swiche
Bo2 p3 24 thynges that percen hemselve depe. But natheles
Bo2 p3 25 that thow schalt noght wilne to leten thiself
Bo2 p3 26 a wrecche, hastow foryeten the nowmbre
Bo2 p3 27 and the maner of thi welefulnesse? I holde
Bo2 p3 28 me stille how that the sovereyn men of the
Bo2 p3 29 cite token the in cure and in kepynge,
Bo2 p3 30 whan thow were orphelyn of fadir and of
Bo2 p3 31 modir, and were chose in affynite of
Bo2 p3 32 prynces of the cite; and thow bygonne rather
Bo2 p3 33 to ben leef and deere than for to been a
Bo2 p3 34 neyghebour, the whiche thyng is the moste
Bo2 p3 35 precyous kende of any propinquyte or alliaunce
Bo2 p3 36 that mai ben. Who is it that ne seide tho that
Bo2 p3 37 thow neere right weleful, with so gret a nobleye
Bo2 p3 38 of thi fadres-in-lawe, and with the chastete
Bo2 p3 39 of thy wyf, and with the oportunyte
Bo2 p3 40 and noblesse of thyne masculyn children
Bo2 p3 41 (that is to seyn, thy sones)? And over al this
Bo2 p3 42 me list to passen of comune thynges, how
Bo2 p3 43 thow haddest in thy youthe dignytees that
Bo2 p3 44 weren wernd to oolde men; but it deliteth
Bo2 p3 45 me to comen now to the synguler uphepynge
Bo2 p3 46 of thi welefulnesse. Yif any fruyt of mortel
Bo2 p3 47 thynges mai han any weyghte or pris of welefulnesse,
Bo2 p3 48 myghtestow evere forgeten, for any
Bo2 p3 49 charge of harm that myghte byfalle the, remembraunce
Bo2 p3 50 of thilke day that thow seye
Bo2 p3 51 thi two sones maked conseileris and iladde
Bo2 p3 52 togidre fro thyn hous under so greet assemble
Bo2 p3 53 of senatours and under the blithnesse of peple,
Bo2 p3 54 and whan thow saye hem set in the court in
Bo2 p3 55 hir chayeres of dignytes? Thow, rethorien or
Bo2 p3 56 pronouncere of kynges preysynges, desservedest
Bo2 p3 57 glorie of wit and of eloquence whan thow, syttynge
Bo2 p3 58 bytwixen thi two sones conseylers, in the
Bo2 p3 59 place that highte Circo, fulfildest the abydynge
Bo2 p3 60 of the multitude of peple that was
Bo2 p3 61 sprad abouten the with so large preysynge
Bo2 p3 62 and laude as men syngen in victories. Tho
Bo2 p3 63 yave thow woordes to Fortune, as I trowe, (that
Bo2 p3 64 is to seyn, tho feffedestow Fortune with glosynge
Bo2 p3 65 wordes and desceyvedest hir) whan sche
Bo2 p3 66 accoyede the and norysside the as hir owne
Bo2 p3 67 delices. Thow bare awey of Fortune a yifte
Bo2 p3 68 (that is to seye, swich guerdoun) that sche
Bo2 p3 69 nevere yaf to prive man. Wiltow therfore
Bo2 p3 70 leye a reknynge with Fortune? Sche hath
Bo2 p3 71 now twynkled first upon the with a wikkid
Bo2 p3 72 eye. If thow considere the nowmbre and the
Bo2 p3 73 maner of thy blisses and of thy sorwes, thow
Bo2 p3 74 mayst noght forsaken that thow nart yit blisful.
Bo2 p3 75 For yif thou therfore wenest thiself nat
Bo2 p3 76 weleful, for thynges that tho semeden joyeful
Bo2 p3 77 ben passed, ther nys nat why thow sholdest
Bo2 p3 78 wene thiself a wrecche; for thynges that semen
Bo2 p3 79 now sory passen also. Artow now comen
Bo2 p3 80 first, a sodeyn gest, into the schadowe or
Bo2 p3 81 tabernacle of this lif? Or trowestow that
Bo2 p3 82 any stedfastnesse be in mannes thynges, whan
Bo2 p3 83 ofte a swyft hour dissolveth the same man (that
Bo2 p3 84 is to seyn, whan the soule departeth fro the
Bo2 p3 85 body)? For although that zelde is ther any
Bo2 p3 86 feith that fortunous thynges wollen dwellen,
Bo2 p3 87 yet natheles the laste day of a mannes lif is
Bo2 p3 88 a maner deth to Fortune, and also to thilke
Bo2 p3 89 that hath dwelt. And therfore what wenestow
Bo2 p3 90 dar rekke, yif thow forleete hir in
Bo2 p3 91 deyinge, or elles that sche, Fortune, forleete awey?
Bo2 m3 1 " Whan Phebus, the sonne, bygynneth to
Bo2 m3 2 spreden his clernesse with rosene chariettes,
Bo2 m3 3 thanne the sterre, ydymmed, paleth hir white
Bo2 m3 4 cheeres by the flambes of the sonne that overcometh
Bo2 m3 5 the sterre lyght. (This to seyn, whan
Bo2 m3 6 the sonne is rysen, the day-sterre waxeth pale,
Bo2 m3 7 and leeseth hir lyght for the grete bryghtnesse
Bo2 m3 8 of the sonne.) Whan the wode waxeth rody
Bo2 m3 9 of rosene floures in the fyrst somer sesoun
Bo2 m3 10 thurw the breeth of the wynd Zephirus that
Bo2 m3 11 waxeth warm, yif the cloudy wynd Auster
Bo2 m3 12 blowe felliche, than goth awey the fairnesse
Bo2 m3 13 of thornes. Ofte the see is cleer and calm
Bo2 m3 14 without moevynge flodes, and ofte the horrible
Bo2 m3 15 wynd Aquylon moeveth boylynge tempestes,
Bo2 m3 16 and overwhelveth the see. Yif the forme
Bo2 m3 17 of this world is so zeeld stable, and yif it torneth
Bo2 m3 18 by so manye entrechaungynges, wiltow
Bo2 m3 19 thanne trusten in the tumblenge fortunes of
Bo2 m3 20 men? Wiltow trowen on flyttynge goodes?
Bo2 m3 21 It is certeyn and establissched by lawe perdurable,
Bo2 m3 22 that nothyng that is engendred nys
Bo2 m3 23 stedfast ne stable. "
Bo2 p4 1 Thanne seide I thus: " O norysshe of alle vertues,
Bo2 p4 2 thou seist ful sooth; ne I mai noght forsake
Bo2 p4 3 the ryght swyfte cours of my prosperite
Bo2 p4 4 (that is to seyn, that prosperite ne be comen
Bo2 p4 5 to me wonder swyftli and sone); but this is a
Bo2 p4 6 thyng that greetly smerteth me whan it remembreth
Bo2 p4 7 me. For in alle adversites of fortune
Bo2 p4 8 the moost unzeely kynde of contrarious
Bo2 p4 9 fortune is to han ben weleful. "
Bo2 p4 10 " But that thow, " quod sche, " abyest thus
Bo2 p4 11 the torment of thi false opynioun, that
Bo2 p4 12 maistow nat ryghtfully blamen ne aretten to
Bo2 p4 13 thynges. (As who seith, for thow hast yit
Bo2 p4 14 manye habundances of thynges.) Textus. For
Bo2 p4 15 al be it so that the ydel name of aventuros
Bo2 p4 16 welefulnesse moeveth the now, it is leveful that
Bo2 p4 17 thow rekne with me of how many grete thynges
Bo2 p4 18 thow hast yit plente. And therfore yif that
Bo2 p4 19 thilke thyng that thow haddest for moost
Bo2 p4 20 precyous in al thy rychesse of fortune be
Bo2 p4 21 kept to the yit by the grace of God unwemmed
Bo2 p4 22 and undefouled, maistow thanne
Bo2 p4 23 pleyne ryghtfully upon the mescheef of Fortune,
Bo2 p4 24 syn thow hast yit thi beste thynges?
Bo2 p4 25 Certes yit lyveth in good poynt thilke precyous
Bo2 p4 26 honour of mankynde, Symacus, thi wyves fader,
Bo2 p4 27 whiche that is a man maked al of sapience and
Bo2 p4 28 of vertu, the whiche man thow woldest byen
Bo2 p4 29 redyly with the pris of thyn owene lif. He
Bo2 p4 30 bywayleth the wronges that men don to
Bo2 p4 31 the, and nat for hymself; for he lyveth in
Bo2 p4 32 sikernesse of anye sentences put ayens hym.
Bo2 p4 33 And yit lyveth thi wyf, that is atempre of wyt
Bo2 p4 34 and passynge othere wommen in clennesse of
Bo2 p4 35 chastete; and, for I wol closen schortly hir
Bo2 p4 36 bountes, sche is lyk to hir fadir. I telle the wel
Bo2 p4 37 that sche lyveth, loth of this lyf, and kepeth
Bo2 p4 38 to the oonly hir goost, and is al maat and overcomen
Bo2 p4 39 by wepynge and sorwe for desir of
Bo2 p4 40 the; in the whiche thyng oonly I moot
Bo2 p4 41 graunten that thi welefulnesse is amenused.
Bo2 p4 42 What schal I seyn eek of thi two sones conseylours,
Bo2 p4 43 of whiche, as of children of hir age,
Bo2 p4 44 ther shyneth the liknesse of the wit of hir fadir
Bo2 p4 45 or of hir eldefader! And syn the sovereyne
Bo2 p4 46 cure of al mortel folk is to saven hir owene
Bo2 p4 47 lyves, O how weleful artow, if thow knowe
Bo2 p4 48 thy goodes! For yit ben ther thynges dwelled
Bo2 p4 49 to the-ward that no man douteth that they
Bo2 p4 50 ne be more derworthe to the than thyn
Bo2 p4 51 owene lif. And forthy drye thi teeris, for
Bo2 p4 52 yit nys nat every fortune al hateful to theward,
Bo2 p4 53 ne overgreet tempest hath nat yit fallen
Bo2 p4 54 upon the, whan that thyne ancres clyven faste,
Bo2 p4 55 that neither wolen suffren the counfort of this
Bo2 p4 56 tyme present ne the hope of tyme comyng to
Bo2 p4 57 passen ne to faylen. "
Bo2 p4 58 " And I preie, " quod I, " that faste mote thei
Bo2 p4 59 halden; for, whiles that thei halden, how so
Bo2 p4 60 evere that thynges been, I shal wel fleetyn
Bo2 p4 61 forth and escapyn: but thou mayst wel seen
Bo2 p4 62 how grete apparailes and array that me lakketh,
Bo2 p4 63 that ben passed awey fro me. "
Bo2 p4 64 " I have somwhat avaunced and forthred
Bo2 p4 65 the, " quod sche, " yif that thow anoye nat, or
Bo2 p4 66 forthynke nat of al thy fortune. (As who seith,
Bo2 p4 67 I have somwhat conforted the, so that thou
Bo2 p4 68 tempeste the nat thus with al thy fortune, syn
Bo2 p4 69 thow hast yit thy beste thynges.) But I mai
Bo2 p4 70 nat suffren thi delices, that pleynest the so
Bo2 p4 71 wepynge and angwysschous for that ther
Bo2 p4 72 lakketh somwhat to thy welefulnesse. For what
Bo2 p4 73 man is so sad or of so parfite welefulnesse, that
Bo2 p4 74 he ne stryveth and pleyneth on some halfe
Bo2 p4 75 ayen the qualite of his estat? Forwhy ful anguysschous
Bo2 p4 76 thing is the condicioun of mannes
Bo2 p4 77 goodes; for eyther it cometh nat altogidre to
Bo2 p4 78 a wyght, or elles it ne last nat perpetuel. For
Bo2 p4 79 som man hath gret rychesse, but he is
Bo2 p4 80 aschamed of his ungentil lynage; and som
Bo2 p4 81 man is renomyd of noblesse of kynrede, but
Bo2 p4 82 he is enclosed in so greet angwyssche of nede
Bo2 p4 83 of thynges that hym were levere that he were
Bo2 p4 84 unknowe; and som man haboundeth bothe in
Bo2 p4 85 rychesse and noblesse, but yit he bewayleth his
Bo2 p4 86 chaste lyf, for he ne hath no wyf; and som man
Bo2 p4 87 is wel and zelily ymaried, but he hath no children,
Bo2 p4 88 and norissheth his rychesses to the eyres
Bo2 p4 89 of straunge folk; and som man is gladed
Bo2 p4 90 with children, but he wepeth ful sory for
Bo2 p4 91 the trespas of his sone or of his doughter.
Bo2 p4 92 And for this ther ne accordeth no wyght lyghtly
Bo2 p4 93 to the condicioun of his fortune; for alwey to
Bo2 p4 94 every man ther is in somwhat that, unassayed,
Bo2 p4 95 he ne woot nat, or elles he dredeth that he hath
Bo2 p4 96 assaied. And adde this also, that every weleful
Bo2 p4 97 man hath a ful delicaat feelynge; so that, but
Bo2 p4 98 yif alle thynges byfalle at his owene wil, for
Bo2 p4 99 he is inpacient or is nat used to have noon
Bo2 p4 100 adversite, anoon he is throwen adoun for
Bo2 p4 101 every litil thyng. And ful litel thynges ben
Bo2 p4 102 tho that withdrawen the somme or the perfeccioun
Bo2 p4 103 of blisfulnesse fro hem that been most
Bo2 p4 104 fortunat. How manye men trowestow wolde
Bo2 p4 105 demen hemself to ben almoste in hevene, yif
Bo2 p4 106 thei myghten atayne to the leste partye of the
Bo2 p4 107 remenaunt of thi fortune? This same place
Bo2 p4 108 that thow clepest exil is contre to hem that
Bo2 p4 109 enhabiten here, and forthi nothyng [is.
Bo2 p4 110 wrecchide but whan thou wenest it. (As
Bo2 p4 111 who seith, thow thiself ne no wyght elles
Bo2 p4 112 nis a wrecche but whanne he weneth hymself
Bo2 p4 113 a wrechche by reputacion of his corage.) And
Bo2 p4 114 ayenward, alle fortune is blisful to a man by
Bo2 p4 115 the aggreablete or by the egalyte of hym that
Bo2 p4 116 suffreth it. What man is that that is so weleful
Bo2 p4 117 that nolde chaunge his estat whan he hath lost
Bo2 p4 118 pacience? The swetnesse of mannes welefulnesse
Bo2 p4 119 is spraynd with many bitternesses;
Bo2 p4 120 the whiche welefulnesse although it seme
Bo2 p4 121 swete and joieful to hym that useth it, yit
Bo2 p4 122 mai it nat ben withholden that it ne goth awey
Bo2 p4 123 whan it wole. Thanne is it wele seene how
Bo2 p4 124 wrecchid is the blisfulnesse of mortel thynges,
Bo2 p4 125 that neyther it dureth perpetuel with hem that
Bo2 p4 126 every fortune resceyven agreablely or egaly, ne
Bo2 p4 127 it deliteth nat in al to hem that ben angwyssous.
Bo2 p4 128 " O ye mortel folk, what seeke ye thanne blisfulnesse
Bo2 p4 129 out of yourself whiche that is put
Bo2 p4 130 in yowrself? Errour and folie confoundeth
Bo2 p4 131 yow. I schal schewe the schortly the
Bo2 p4 132 poynt of soverayn blisfulnesse. Is there anythyng
Bo2 p4 133 more precyous to the than thiself? Thow
Bo2 p4 134 wolt answere, `nay.' Thanne, yif it so be that
Bo2 p4 135 thow art myghty over thyself (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p4 136 by tranquillite of thi soule), than hastow thyng
Bo2 p4 137 in thi powere that thow noldest nevere leesen,
Bo2 p4 138 ne Fortune may nat bynymen it the. And that
Bo2 p4 139 thow mayst knowe that blisfulnesse ne mai
Bo2 p4 140 nat standen in thynges that ben fortunous
Bo2 p4 141 and temporel, now undirstond and gadere
Bo2 p4 142 it togidre thus: yif blisfulnesse be the soverayn
Bo2 p4 143 good of nature that lyveth by resoun,
Bo2 p4 144 ne thilke thyng nys nat soverayn good that
Bo2 p4 145 may ben taken awey in any wise (for more
Bo2 p4 146 worthy thyng and more dygne is thilke thyng
Bo2 p4 147 that mai nat ben take awey); than scheweth
Bo2 p4 148 it wel that the unstablenesse of fortune may
Bo2 p4 149 nat atayne to resceyven verray blisfulnesse.
Bo2 p4 150 And yit more over, what man that this
Bo2 p4 151 towmblynge welefulnesse ledeth, eyther
Bo2 p4 152 he woot that it is chaungeable, or elles he woot
Bo2 p4 153 it nat. And yif he woot it nat, what blisful
Bo2 p4 154 fortune may ther ben in the blyndnesse of ignoraunce?
Bo2 p4 155 And yif he woot that it is chaungeable,
Bo2 p4 156 he mot alwey ben adrad that he ne lese
Bo2 p4 157 that thyng that he ne douteth nat but that he
Bo2 p4 158 may leesen it (as who seith he mot bien alwey
Bo2 p4 159 agast lest he lese that he woot wel he may
Bo2 p4 160 lese it); for whiche the contynuel drede that
Bo2 p4 161 he hath ne suffreth hym nat to ben weleful --
Bo2 p4 162 or elles yif he lese it he weneth to ben
Bo2 p4 163 despised and forleten. Certes eek that is a
Bo2 p4 164 ful litel good that is born with evene herte
Bo2 p4 165 whan it es lost (that is to seyn, that men do no
Bo2 p4 166 more force of the lost than of the havynge).
Bo2 p4 167 And for as moche as thow thiself art he to
Bo2 p4 168 whom it hath be [sewed] and proved by ful
Bo2 p4 169 many demonstracyons, as I woot wele that
Bo2 p4 170 the soules of men ne mowen nat deyen in
Bo2 p4 171 no wyse; and ek syn it es cleer and certeyn
Bo2 p4 172 that fortunous welefulnesse endeth by the deth
Bo2 p4 173 of the body; it mai nat be douted that, yif that
Bo2 p4 174 deth may take awey blisfulnesse, that al the
Bo2 p4 175 kynde of mortel thyng ne descendeth into
Bo2 p4 176 wrecchidnesse by the ende of the deth. And
Bo2 p4 177 syn we knowe wel that many a man hath
Bo2 p4 178 sought the fruyt of blysfulnesse, nat oonly with
Bo2 p4 179 suffrynge of deeth, but eek with suffrynge
Bo2 p4 180 of peynes and tormentz, how myghte
Bo2 p4 181 thanne this present lif make men blisful,
Bo2 p4 182 syn that whanne thilke selve lif es ended it
Bo2 p4 183 ne maketh folk no wrechches?
Bo2 m4 1 " What maner man stable and war, that wol
Bo2 m4 2 fownden hym a perdurable seete, and ne wol
Bo2 m4 3 noght ben cast doun with the lowde blastes of
Bo2 m4 4 the wynd Eurus, and wole despise the see
Bo2 m4 5 manasynge with flodes; lat hym eschuwen to
Bo2 m4 6 bilde on the cop of the mountaigne, or in the
Bo2 m4 7 moyste sandes; for the felle wynd Auster tormenteth
Bo2 m4 8 the cop of the mountaigne with alle
Bo2 m4 9 hise strengthes, and the lause sandes refusen
Bo2 m4 10 to beren the hevy weyghte. And
Bo2 m4 11 forthi, yif thow wolt fleen the perilous
Bo2 m4 12 aventure (that is to seyn, of the werld) have
Bo2 m4 13 mynde certeynly to fycchen thin hous of a
Bo2 m4 14 myrie sete in a low stoon. For although the
Bo2 m4 15 wynd troublynge the see thondre with overthrowynges,
Bo2 m4 16 thou, that art put in quiete and
Bo2 m4 17 weleful by strengthe of thi palys, schalt leden
Bo2 m4 18 a cler age, scornynge the woodnesses and the
Bo2 m4 19 ires of the eyr.
Bo2 p5 1 " But for as mochel as the norisschynges of
Bo2 p5 2 my resouns descenden now into the, I trowe it
Bo2 p5 3 were tyme to usen a litel strengere medicynes.
Bo2 p5 4 Now undirstand heere; al were it so that the
Bo2 p5 5 yiftes of Fortune ne were noght brutel ne transitorie,
Bo2 p5 6 what is ther in hem that mai be thyn
Bo2 p5 7 in any tyme, or elles that it nys fowl, yif that
Bo2 p5 8 it be considered and lookyd parfitely? Richesses
Bo2 p5 9 ben they preciouse by the nature of hemself,
Bo2 p5 10 or elles by the nature of the? What is
Bo2 p5 11 most worth of rychesses? Is it nat gold or
Bo2 p5 12 myght of moneye assembled? Certes thilke
Bo2 p5 13 gold and thilke moneye schyneth and yeveth
Bo2 p5 14 bettre renoun to hem that dispenden it than
Bo2 p5 15 to thilke folk that mokeren it; for avaryce maketh
Bo2 p5 16 alwey mokereres to ben hated, and largesse
Bo2 p5 17 maketh folk cleer of renoun. For, syn that
Bo2 p5 18 swiche thyng as is transferred fro o man to an
Bo2 p5 19 othir ne may nat duellen with no man,
Bo2 p5 20 certes thanne is thilke moneye precyous
Bo2 p5 21 whan it is translated into other folk and
Bo2 p5 22 stynteth to ben had by usage of large yyvynge
Bo2 p5 23 of hym that hath yeven it. And also yif al the
Bo2 p5 24 moneye that is overal in the world were gadryd
Bo2 p5 25 toward o man, it scholde make alle othere men
Bo2 p5 26 to be nedy as of that. And certes a voys al hool
Bo2 p5 27 (that is to seyn, withouten amenusynge) fulfilleth
Bo2 p5 28 togydre the herynge of moche folk. But
Bo2 p5 29 certes your rychesses ne mowen noght
Bo2 p5 30 passen unto moche folk withouten amenusynge;
Bo2 p5 31 and whan they ben apassed, nedes
Bo2 p5 32 they maken hem pore that forgoon tho rychesses.
Bo2 p5 33 O streyte and nedy clepe I this richesse,
Bo2 p5 34 syn that many folk ne mai nat han it al, ne al
Bo2 p5 35 mai it nat comen to o man withoute povert
Bo2 p5 36 of alle othere folk. And the schynynge of
Bo2 p5 37 gemmes (that I clepe precyous stones) draweth
Bo2 p5 38 it nat the eighen of folk to hem-ward (that
Bo2 p5 39 is to seyn, for the beautes)? But certes, yif
Bo2 p5 40 ther were beaute or bountee in the schynynge
Bo2 p5 41 of stones, thilke clernesse is of the
Bo2 p5 42 stones hemselve, and nat of men; for whiche I
Bo2 p5 43 wondre gretly that men merveylen on swiche
Bo2 p5 44 thynges. Forwhi what thyng is it that, yif it
Bo2 p5 45 wanteth moevynge and joynture of soule and
Bo2 p5 46 body, that by right myghte semen a fair creature
Bo2 p5 47 to hym that hath a soule of resoun? For
Bo2 p5 48 al be it so that gemmes drawen to hemself a
Bo2 p5 49 litel of the laste beaute of the world thurw
Bo2 p5 50 the entente of hir creatour and thurw the
Bo2 p5 51 distinccioun of hemself, yit, for as mochel
Bo2 p5 52 as thei ben put under yowr excellence, thei ne
Bo2 p5 53 han nat desserved by no way that ye schulde
Bo2 p5 54 merveylen on hem. And the beaute of feeldes,
Bo2 p5 55 deliteth it nat mochel unto yow? "
Bo2 p5 56 Boece. " Why schulde it nat deliten us, syn
Bo2 p5 57 that it is a [fayr] porcioun of the ryght fair
Bo2 p5 58 werk (that is to seyn, of this worlde)? And
Bo2 p5 59 right so ben we gladed somtyme of the
Bo2 p5 60 face of the see whan it es cleer; and also
Bo2 p5 61 merveylen we on the hevene, and on the
Bo2 p5 62 sterres, and on the sonne, and on the moone. "
Bo2 p5 63 Philosophie. " Aperteneth, " quod sche, " any
Bo2 p5 64 of thilke thynges to the? Why darstow glorifye
Bo2 p5 65 the in the shynynge of any swiche thynges?
Bo2 p5 66 Artow distyngwed and embelysed by the
Bo2 p5 67 spryngynge floures of the first somer sesoun,
Bo2 p5 68 or swelleth thi plente in fruites of somer? Whi
Bo2 p5 69 artow ravyssched with idel joies? Why enbracest
Bo2 p5 70 thow straunge goodes as they weren
Bo2 p5 71 thyne? Fortune ne schal nevere maken that
Bo2 p5 72 swiche thynges ben thyne that nature of thynges
Bo2 p5 73 hath maked foreyne fro the. Soth is that, withouten
Bo2 p5 74 doute, the fruites of the erthe owen to
Bo2 p5 75 be to the noryssynge of beestis; and yif thow
Bo2 p5 76 wilt fulfille thyn nede after that it suffiseth to
Bo2 p5 77 nature, thanne is it no nede that thow seke
Bo2 p5 78 aftir the superfluyte of fortune. For [with]
Bo2 p5 79 fewe thynges and with ful litel thynges nature
Bo2 p5 80 halt hir apayed; and yif thow wolt
Bo2 p5 81 achoken the fulfillynge of nature with superfluytees,
Bo2 p5 82 certes thilke thynges that thow
Bo2 p5 83 wolt thresten or powren into nature schulle
Bo2 p5 84 ben unjoyeful to the, or elles anoyous. Wenestow
Bo2 p5 85 eek that it be a fair thyng to schyne with
Bo2 p5 86 diverse clothynge? Of whiche clothynge yif the
Bo2 p5 87 beaute be aggreable to loken uppon, I wol
Bo2 p5 88 merveylen on the nature of the matiere of
Bo2 p5 89 thilke clothes, or elles on the werkman that
Bo2 p5 90 wroughte hem. But also a long route of
Bo2 p5 91 meyne, maketh that a blisful man? The
Bo2 p5 92 whiche servantz yif thei ben vicyous of condyciouns,
Bo2 p5 93 it is a gret charge and a destruccioun
Bo2 p5 94 to the hous, and a gret enemy to the lord hymself;
Bo2 p5 95 and yif they ben gode men, how schal
Bo2 p5 96 straunge or foreyne goodnesse ben put in the
Bo2 p5 97 nowmbre of thi richesse? So that by alle thise
Bo2 p5 98 forseide thynges it es cleerly schewed, that nevere
Bo2 p5 99 oon of thilke thynges that thou acountedest
Bo2 p5 100 for thyne goodes nas nat thi good.
Bo2 p5 101 " In the whiche thynges yif ther be no
Bo2 p5 102 beaute to ben desired, why scholdestow ben sory
Bo2 p5 103 yif thou leese hem, or whi scholdestow rejoysen
Bo2 p5 104 the for to holden hem? For yif thei ben faire
Bo2 p5 105 of hir owene kynde, what aperteneth that to
Bo2 p5 106 the? For al so wel scholde they han ben fayre
Bo2 p5 107 by hemselve, though thei were departed fro
Bo2 p5 108 alle thyne rychesses. Forwhy fair ne precyous
Bo2 p5 109 were thei nat for that thei comen among
Bo2 p5 110 thi rychesses; but for they semeden fair
Bo2 p5 111 and precyous, therfore thou haddest levere
Bo2 p5 112 rekne hem among thi rychesses. But what
Bo2 p5 113 desirestow of Fortune with so greet a noyse
Bo2 p5 114 and with so greet [affraie]? I trowe thou seeke
Bo2 p5 115 to dryve awey nede with habundaunce of
Bo2 p5 116 thynges, but certes it turneth to you al in the
Bo2 p5 117 contrarie. Forwhy certes it nedeth of ful manye
Bo2 p5 118 helpynges to kepyn the diversite of precious
Bo2 p5 119 ostelementz; and sooth it es that of many
Bo2 p5 120 thynges han they nede, that many thynges
Bo2 p5 121 han; and ayenward of litel nedeth hem
Bo2 p5 122 that mesuren hir fille after the nede of kynde,
Bo2 p5 123 and nat after the oultrage of covetyse.
Bo2 p5 124 " Is it thanne so, that ye men ne han no propre
Bo2 p5 125 good iset in yow, for whiche ye mooten seke
Bo2 p5 126 outward your goodes in foreyne and subgit
Bo2 p5 127 thynges? So is thanne the condicion of thynges
Bo2 p5 128 turned up-so-doun, that a man, that is a devyne
Bo2 p5 129 beest be meryte of his resoun, thynketh
Bo2 p5 130 that hymself nys neyther fair ne noble but
Bo2 p5 131 yif it be thurw possessioun of ostelementz
Bo2 p5 132 that ne han no soules. And certes alle othere
Bo2 p5 133 thynges ben apayed of hir owene beautes, but ye
Bo2 p5 134 men that ben semlable to God by yowr
Bo2 p5 135 resonable thought, desiren to apparailen your
Bo2 p5 136 excellent kynde of the loweste thynges; ne ye
Bo2 p5 137 undirstanden nat how greet a wrong ye don to
Bo2 p5 138 your creatour. For he wolde that mankynde
Bo2 p5 139 were moost wurthy and noble of any
Bo2 p5 140 othere erthly thynges, and ye thresten
Bo2 p5 141 adoun yowre dignytes bynethen the loweste
Bo2 p5 142 thynges. For yif that al the good of every
Bo2 p5 143 thyng be more precyous than is thilke thyng
Bo2 p5 144 whos that the good es, syn ye demen that the
Bo2 p5 145 fowleste thynges ben your goodes, thanne
Bo2 p5 146 submitten ye and putten yourselven undir the
Bo2 p5 147 fouleste thynges by your estimacioun; and certes
Bo2 p5 148 this betydeth nat withouten your desert. For
Bo2 p5 149 certes swiche is the condicioun of alle mankynde,
Bo2 p5 150 that oonly whan it hath knowynge
Bo2 p5 151 of itself, thanne passeth it in noblesse alle
Bo2 p5 152 othere thynges; and whan it forletith the
Bo2 p5 153 knowynge of itself, thanne is it brought
Bo2 p5 154 bynethen alle beestes. Forwhi alle othere lyvynge
Bo2 p5 155 beestes han of kynde to knowe nat hemself;
Bo2 p5 156 but whan that men leeten the knowynge
Bo2 p5 157 of hemself, it cometh hem of vice. But
Bo2 p5 158 how broode scheweth the errour and the folie of
Bo2 p5 159 yow men, that wenen that anythyng mai
Bo2 p5 160 ben apparailed with straunge apparailementz!
Bo2 p5 161 But forsothe that mai nat be done.
Bo2 p5 162 For yif a wyght schyneth with thynges that
Bo2 p5 163 ben put to hym (as thus, yif thilke thynges
Bo2 p5 164 schynen with whiche a man is aparayled),
Bo2 p5 165 certes thilke thynges ben comended and preysed
Bo2 p5 166 with whiche he is apparayled; but natheles, the
Bo2 p5 167 thyng that is covered and wrapped under that
Bo2 p5 168 duelleth in his felthe.
Bo2 p5 169 " And I denye that thilke thyng be good
Bo2 p5 170 that anoyeth hym that hath it. Gabbe I of
Bo2 p5 171 this? Thow wolt sey `nay.' Sertes rychesses
Bo2 p5 172 han anoyed ful ofte hem that han tho rychesses,
Bo2 p5 173 syn that every wikkide schrewe -- and for his
Bo2 p5 174 wikkidnesse the more gredy aftir othir folkes
Bo2 p5 175 rychesses, wher so evere it be in ony place, be
Bo2 p5 176 it gold or precyous stones -- [weneth. hym
Bo2 p5 177 oonly most worthy that hath hem. Thow thanne,
Bo2 p5 178 that so bysy dredest now the swerd and the
Bo2 p5 179 spere, yif thou haddest entred in the path
Bo2 p5 180 of this lif a voyde weyfarynge man, thanne
Bo2 p5 181 woldestow syngen byfor the theef. (As
Bo2 p5 182 who seith, a pore man that bereth no rychesse
Bo2 p5 183 on hym by the weie may boldely synge byforn
Bo2 p5 184 theves, for he hath nat whereof to be robbed.)
Bo2 p5 185 O precyous and ryght cleer is the blisfulnesse of
Bo2 p5 186 mortel rychesses, that, whan thow hast geten it,
Bo2 p5 187 thanne hastow lorn thi sekernesse!
Bo2 m5 1 " Blisful was the firste age of men. They
Bo2 m5 2 heelden hem apayed with the metes that the
Bo2 m5 3 trewe feeldes broughten forth. They ne destroyeden
Bo2 m5 4 ne desseyvede nat hemself with outrage.
Bo2 m5 5 They weren wont lyghtly to slaken hir
Bo2 m5 6 hungir at even with accornes of ookes. They
Bo2 m5 7 ne coude nat medle the yift of Bachus to the
Bo2 m5 8 cleer hony (that is to seyn, they coude make
Bo2 m5 9 no pyement or clarree), ne they coude nat
Bo2 m5 10 medle the bryghte fleezes of the contre of
Bo2 m5 11 Seryens with the venym of Tyrie (this
Bo2 m5 12 to seyn, thei coude nat deyen white fleezes
Bo2 m5 13 of Syrien contre with the blood of a maner
Bo2 m5 14 schellefyssche that men fynden in Tirie, with
Bo2 m5 15 whiche blood men deyen purpre). They
Bo2 m5 16 slepen holsome slepes uppon the gras, and
Bo2 m5 17 dronken of the rennynge watres, and layen
Bo2 m5 18 undir the schadwes of the heye pyn-trees. Ne
Bo2 m5 19 no gest ne straunger ne karf yit the heye
Bo2 m5 20 see with oores or with schipes; ne thei ne
Bo2 m5 21 hadden seyn yit none newe stroondes to
Bo2 m5 22 leden marchandise into diverse contrees. Tho
Bo2 m5 23 weren the cruele claryouns ful hust and ful
Bo2 m5 24 stille. Ne blood ischad by egre hate ne hadde
Bo2 m5 25 nat deyed yit armures. For wherto or which
Bo2 m5 26 woodnesse of enemys wolde first moeven
Bo2 m5 27 armes whan thei seyen cruele wowndes, ne
Bo2 m5 28 none medes be of blood ischad? I wolde that
Bo2 m5 29 our tymes sholde torne ayen to the oolde
Bo2 m5 30 maneris! But the anguysschous love of
Bo2 m5 31 havynge brenneth in folk more cruely than
Bo2 m5 32 the fyer of the mountaigne of Ethna that ay
Bo2 m5 33 brenneth. Allas! What was he that first dalf
Bo2 m5 34 up the gobbettes or the weyghtes of gold covered
Bo2 m5 35 undir erthe and the precyous stones that
Bo2 m5 36 wolden han be hydd? He dalf up precious
Bo2 m5 37 periles. (That is to seyn, that he that hem
Bo2 m5 38 firsst up dalf, he dalf up a precious peril;
Bo2 m5 39 for-why, for the preciousnesse of swich
Bo2 m5 40 thyng hath many man ben in peril.)
Bo2 p6 1 " But what schal I seye of dignytes and of
Bo2 p6 2 powers, the whiche ye men, that neither
Bo2 p6 3 knowen verray dignyte ne verray powere,
Bo2 p6 4 areysen hem as heyghe as the hevene? The
Bo2 p6 5 whiche dignytees and poweres yif thei comen
Bo2 p6 6 to any wikkid man, thei doon as greet damages
Bo2 p6 7 and destrucciouns as dooth. the flaumbe
Bo2 p6 8 of the mountaigne Ethna whan the flaumbe
Bo2 p6 9 walweth up, ne no deluge ne doth so cruele
Bo2 p6 10 harmes. Certes the remembreth wel, as I
Bo2 p6 11 trowe, that thilke dignyte that men clepyn
Bo2 p6 12 the imperie of consulers, the whiche that
Bo2 p6 13 whilom was begynnynge of fredom, yowr eldres
Bo2 p6 14 coveyteden to han don awey that dignyte for
Bo2 p6 15 the pride of the consulers. And ryght for the
Bo2 p6 16 same pride yowr eldres byforn that tyme hadden
Bo2 p6 17 doon awey out of the cite of Rome the
Bo2 p6 18 kynges name (that is to seyn, thei nolden han
Bo2 p6 19 no lengere no kyng).
Bo2 p6 20 " But now, if so be that dignytees and poweris
Bo2 p6 21 ben yyven to gode men, the whiche
Bo2 p6 22 thyng is ful zelde, what aggreable thynges is
Bo2 p6 23 ther in tho dignytees or powers but oonly the
Bo2 p6 24 goodnesse of folk that usen hem? And therfore
Bo2 p6 25 it is thus that honour ne cometh nat to
Bo2 p6 26 vertu for cause of dygnite, but, ayenward, honour
Bo2 p6 27 cometh to dignyte for cause of vertu. But
Bo2 p6 28 whiche is thilke your derworthe power that is
Bo2 p6 29 so cleer and so requerable? O, ye erthliche
Bo2 p6 30 bestes, considere ye nat over whiche thyng
Bo2 p6 31 that it semeth that ye han power? Now yif
Bo2 p6 32 thou saye a mows among othere mysz that chalanged
Bo2 p6 33 to hymself-ward ryght and power over
Bo2 p6 34 alle othere mysz, how gret scorn woldestow han
Bo2 p6 35 of it! (Glosa. So fareth it by men [that the
Bo2 p6 36 wikkid men have power over the wikkid men;
Bo2 p6 37 that is to seye], the body hath power over the
Bo2 p6 38 body.) For yif thou looke wel upon the body of
Bo2 p6 39 a wyght, what thyng schaltow fynde more
Bo2 p6 40 freele than is mankynde; the whiche men
Bo2 p6 41 ful ofte ben slayn with bytynge of smale
Bo2 p6 42 flyes, or elles with the entrynge of crepynge
Bo2 p6 43 wormes into the pryvetees of mannes body?
Bo2 p6 44 But wher schal men fynden any man that mai
Bo2 p6 45 exercen or haunten any ryght upon another
Bo2 p6 46 man, but oonly on his body, or elles upon
Bo2 p6 47 thynges that ben lowere than the body, the
Bo2 p6 48 whiche I clepe fortunous possessiouns? Maystow
Bo2 p6 49 evere have any comaundement over a free
Bo2 p6 50 corage? Maystowe remuwen fro the estat
Bo2 p6 51 of his propre reste a thought that is
Bo2 p6 52 clyvynge togidre in hymself by stedfast resoun?
Bo2 p6 53 As whilom a tyraunt wende to confownde a fre
Bo2 p6 54 man of corage, and wende to constreyne hym by
Bo2 p6 55 torment to maken hym discoveren and accusen
Bo2 p6 56 folk that wisten of a conjuracioun (which I clepe
Bo2 p6 57 a confederacye) that was cast ayens this tyraunt;
Bo2 p6 58 but this fre man boot of his owene tonge, and
Bo2 p6 59 caste it in the visage of thilk wode tyraunt.
Bo2 p6 60 So that the tormentz that this tyraunt
Bo2 p6 61 wende to han maked matere of cruelte, this
Bo2 p6 62 wise man maked it matere of vertu. But what
Bo2 p6 63 thing is it that a man may doon to an other man,
Bo2 p6 64 that he ne may resceyven the same thyng of
Bo2 p6 65 other folk in hymself? (Or thus: what may a
Bo2 p6 66 man don to folk, that folk ne may don hym
Bo2 p6 67 the same?) I have herd told of Busyrides, that
Bo2 p6 68 was wont to sleen his gestes that herberweden
Bo2 p6 69 in his hous, and he was slayn hymself of
Bo2 p6 70 Ercules that was his gest. Regulus hadde
Bo2 p6 71 taken in bataile manye men of Affryke
Bo2 p6 72 and cast hem into feteres, but sone after he
Bo2 p6 73 most yyve hise handes to ben bownde with
Bo2 p6 74 the cheynes of hem that he hadde whilom
Bo2 p6 75 overcomen. Wenestow thanne that he be
Bo2 p6 76 myghty that hath no power to doon a thyng that
Bo2 p6 77 othere ne mai doon in hym that he doth in
Bo2 p6 78 othere?
Bo2 p6 79 " And yit moreover, yif it so were that
Bo2 p6 80 thise dygnytes or poweris hadden any
Bo2 p6 81 propre or naturel goodnesse in hemself,
Bo2 p6 82 nevere nolde they comen to schrewes. For
Bo2 p6 83 contrarious thynges ne ben nat wont to ben
Bo2 p6 84 ifelaschiped togydre. Nature refuseth that contrarious
Bo2 p6 85 thynges ben ijoygned. And so, as I am
Bo2 p6 86 in certeyn that ryght wykkyd folk han
Bo2 p6 87 dignytees ofte tyme, thanne scheweth it wel that
Bo2 p6 88 dignytees and poweres ne ben nat gode of
Bo2 p6 89 hir owene kynde, syn that they suffren
Bo2 p6 90 hemselve to cleven or joynen hem to
Bo2 p6 91 schrewes. And certes the same thyng mai I
Bo2 p6 92 most digneliche juggen and seyn of alle the
Bo2 p6 93 yiftes of Fortune that most plentevously comen
Bo2 p6 94 to schrewes. Of the whiche yiftes I trowe that it
Bo2 p6 95 oughte ben considered, that no man douteth that
Bo2 p6 96 he ne is strong in whom he seeth strengthe; and
Bo2 p6 97 in whom that swyftnesse is, sooth it is that he
Bo2 p6 98 is swyft; also musyke maketh mucisyens, and
Bo2 p6 99 phisyk maketh phisicyeens, and rethoryke,
Bo2 p6 100 rethoriens. Forwhy the nature of every
Bo2 p6 101 thyng maketh his proprete, ne it is nat
Bo2 p6 102 entremedlyd with the effectz of contrarious
Bo2 p6 103 thynges, and as of wil it chaseth out thynges that
Bo2 p6 104 to it ben contrarie. But certes rychesse mai nat
Bo2 p6 105 restreyne avarice unstaunched; ne power ne
Bo2 p6 106 maketh nat a man myghty over hymselve,
Bo2 p6 107 whiche that vicyous lustes holden destreyned
Bo2 p6 108 with cheynes that ne mowen nat ben
Bo2 p6 109 unbownden. And dignytees that ben yyven
Bo2 p6 110 to schrewide folk nat oonly ne maketh hem
Bo2 p6 111 nat digne, but it scheweth rather al opynly
Bo2 p6 112 that they been unworthy and undigne. And whi
Bo2 p6 113 is it thus? Certes for ye han joie to clepen
Bo2 p6 114 thynges with false names, that beren hem al in
Bo2 p6 115 the contrarie; the whiche names ben ful [ethe]
Bo2 p6 116 reproved by the effect of the same thynges; so
Bo2 p6 117 that thise ilke rychesses ne oughten nat by ryghte
Bo2 p6 118 to ben cleped rychesses, ne swyche power ne
Bo2 p6 119 aughte nat ben clepyd power, ne swiche
Bo2 p6 120 dignyte ne aughte nat ben clepyd dignyte.
Bo2 p6 121 And at the laste, I may conclude the same
Bo2 p6 122 thyng of alle the yyftes of Fortune, in whiche
Bo2 p6 123 ther nys nothyng to ben desired, ne that hath in
Bo2 p6 124 hymselve naturel bownte, as it es ful wel yseene.
Bo2 p6 125 For neither thei ne joygnen hem nat alwey to
Bo2 p6 126 gode men, ne maken hem alwey gode to whom
Bo2 p6 127 they been ijoyned.
Bo2 m6 1 " We han wel knowen how many grete harmes
Bo2 m6 2 and destrucciouns weren idoon by the emperour
Bo2 m6 3 Nero. He leet brennen the cite of Rome,
Bo2 m6 4 and made sleen the senatours; and he cruel
Bo2 m6 5 whilom sloughe his brothir, and he was maked
Bo2 m6 6 moyst with the blood of his modir (that is to
Bo2 m6 7 seyn, he leet sleen and slitten the body of his
Bo2 m6 8 modir to seen wher he was conceyved); and he
Bo2 m6 9 lookede on every halve uppon hir cold
Bo2 m6 10 deed body, ne no teer ne wette his face,
Bo2 m6 11 but he was so hardherted that he myghte
Bo2 m6 12 ben domesman or juge of hir dede beaute. And
Bo2 m6 13 natheles yit governed this Nero by septre alle
Bo2 m6 14 the peples that Phebus, the sonne, may seen,
Bo2 m6 15 comynge fro his uttreste arysynge til he hide
Bo2 m6 16 his bemes undir the wawes. (That is to seyn
Bo2 m6 17 he governede al the peples by ceptre imperial
Bo2 m6 18 that the sonne goth aboute from est to west.)
Bo2 m6 19 And ek this Nero governyde by ceptre alle
Bo2 m6 20 the peples that ben undir the colde sterres
Bo2 m6 21 that highten the septemtryones. (This is
Bo2 m6 22 to seyn he governede alle the peples that ben
Bo2 m6 23 under the partye of the north.) And eek Nero
Bo2 m6 24 governede alle the peples that the vyolent
Bo2 m6 25 wynd Nothus scorklith, and baketh the brennynge
Bo2 m6 26 sandes by his drye heete (that is to seyn,
Bo2 m6 27 al the peples in the south). But yit ne myghte
Bo2 m6 28 nat al his heie power torne the woodnesse of
Bo2 m6 29 this wikkid Nero? Allas! It is grevous fortune
Bo2 m6 30 as ofte as wikkid sweerd is joyned to
Bo2 m6 31 cruel venym (that is to seyn, venymows
Bo2 m6 32 cruelte to lordschipe). "
Bo2 p7 1 Thanne seyde I thus: " Thow woost wel thiselve
Bo2 p7 2 that the covetise of mortel thynges ne
Bo2 p7 3 hadde nevere lordschipe of me, but I have wel
Bo2 p7 4 desired matere of thynges to done (as who
Bo2 p7 5 seith, I desirede to have matiere of governaunce
Bo2 p7 6 over comunalites), for vertue stille sholde nat
Bo2 p7 7 elden (that is to seyn, that list that or he
Bo2 p7 8 waxe oold, his vertu, that lay now ful stille, ne
Bo2 p7 9 schulde nat perysshe unexercised in
Bo2 p7 10 governaunce of comune, for whiche men
Bo2 p7 11 myghten speken or wryten of his gode
Bo2 p7 12 governement). "
Bo2 p7 13 Philosophie. " For sothe, " quod sche, " and
Bo2 p7 14 that is [o] thyng that mai drawen to governaunce
Bo2 p7 15 swiche hertes as ben worthy and noble of hir
Bo2 p7 16 nature, but natheles it may nat drawen or tollen
Bo2 p7 17 swiche hertes as ben ibrought to the ful perfeccioun
Bo2 p7 18 of vertue; that is to seyn, covetise of
Bo2 p7 19 glorie and renoun to han wel adminystred
Bo2 p7 20 the comune thynges, or doon gode desertes
Bo2 p7 21 to profyt of the comune. For see now
Bo2 p7 22 and considere how litel and how voyde of alle
Bo2 p7 23 prys is thylk glorye. Certeyn thyng es, as thou
Bo2 p7 24 hast leerned by the demonstracioun of astronomye,
Bo2 p7 25 that al the envyrounynge of the erthe
Bo2 p7 26 aboute ne halt but the resoun of a prykke at
Bo2 p7 27 regard of the gretnesse of hevene; that is to
Bo2 p7 28 seyn that, yif ther were maked comparysoun of
Bo2 p7 29 the erthe to the gretnesse of hevene, men
Bo2 p7 30 wolde juggen in al that the erthe ne heelde
Bo2 p7 31 no space. Of the whiche litel regioun of
Bo2 p7