of whiche souereyne goode men
p{ro}ue?
Chaucer - Boethius
inge ?
at is su{m}myttid to vs.
?
is is to seyne.
but it may nat ben denoyed ? at ? ilke goode ne is. 2464
? and ? at it nis ry? t as a welle of alle goodes.
[Sidenote: The sovereign good does exist, and is the source of all
other good. ]
? For
al ? ing ? at is cleped i{n}p{er}fit.
is proued i{n}p{er}fit by ? e [[pg 89]]
amenusynge of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n}. or of ? ing ? at is p{er}fit.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 21. ]]
[Sidenote: When we say that a thing is _imperfect_ we assert that
there is something else of its kind _perfect_. ]
{and} her of come? it. ? at in euery ? ing general. yif ? at. 2468
? at men seen any ? ing ? at is i{n}p{er}fit *certys in ? ilke general
? er mot ben so{m}me ? ing ? at is p{er}fit. ? For yif so
be ? at p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} is don awey. men may nat ? inke
nor seye fro whe{n}nes ? ilke ? ing is ? at is cleped inperfit. 2472
[Sidenote: Nature takes not her origin from things diminished and
imperfect; but, proceeding from an entire and absolute substance,
descends into the remotest and most fruitless things. ]
? For ? e nature of ? inges ne token nat her bygynnyng
of ? inges amenused {and} i{n}p{er}fit. but it p{ro}cedi? of
? i{n}g{us} ? at ben al hool. {and} absolut. {and} descende? so
doune in to outerest ? inges {and} in to ? i{n}g{us} empty {and} 2476
wi? oute fruyt.
[Sidenote: If there be an imperfect and fading felicity there must
also be one stable and perfect. ]
but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne.
? at yif ? er be a blisfulnesse ? at be frele {and} vein {and}
inp{er}fit. ? er may no man doute. ? at ? er nys som blisfulnesse
? at is sad stedfast {and} p{er}fit. b. ? is is concludid 2480
q{uo}d I fermely {and} so? efastly.
[Sidenote: But now consider wherein this felicity resides. That
God is the governor of all things is proved by the universal
opinion of all men. ]
_P. _ But co{n}sidere
also q{uo}d she in wham ? is blisfulnesse enhabite? . ? e
co{m}mune acordaunce {and} conceite of ? e corages of men
p{ro}ue? {and} graunte? ? at god p{r}ince of alle ? i{n}g{us} is 2484
good.
[Sidenote: For since nothing may be conceived better than God,
then He who has no equal in goodness must be good. ]
? For so as no ? ing ne may ben ? ou? t bettre ? an
god. it may nat ben douted ? an ? at [he ? {a}t] no ? ing is
bettre. ? at he nys good.
[Sidenote: Reason clearly demonstrates (1) that God is good, and
(2) that the sovereign good exists in him. ]
? Certys resou{n} shewe? ? at
god is so goode ? at it p{ro}ue? by verray force ? at p{er}fit 2488
goode is in hym.
[Sidenote: If it were not so He could not be the Ruler of all
things, for there would be some other being excelling him who
possesses the supreme good and who must have existed before Him. ]
? For yif god ne is swiche. he ne
may nat ben p{r}ince of alle ? inges. for certis som ? ing
possessyng in hy{m} self p{er}fit goode sholde ben more
? an god. {and} [it] sholde seme ? at ? ilke ? ing were first 2492
{and} elder ? an god.
[Sidenote: And we have already shown that the perfect precedes the
imperfect;]
? For we han shewed ap{er}tly ? at
alle ? inges ? at ben p{er}fit. ben first or ? inges ? at ben inperfit.
[Linenotes:
2453 _whiche_--which
2454-55-56-58-59 _goode_--good
2454 _whiche_--whych
2457 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
2460 _seine_--seyn
_souereyne goode_--souereyn good
_be founden_--ben fownde
2461 _veyne_--veyn
2463 _? is is to seyne_--C. omits
2464 _denoyed_--MS. deuoyded, C. denoyed
_goode_--good
2465 _of_--MS. of of
2466 _al ? ing_--alle thing
2468 _her of come? _--ther of comht
2470 _somme_--som
2471 _don_--MS. done, C. don
2473 _token_--took
2475 _hool_--hoole
2476 _doune_--down
2477 _wi? oute fruyt_--w{i}t{h} owten frut
2480 _stedfast_--stydefast
2481 _fermely_--MS. fennely, C. fermely
_so? efastly_--sothfastly
2486 [_he ? at_]--from C.
_is bettre_--nis bettr{e}
2488-89-91 _goode_--good
2489 _swiche_--swych
2492 [_it_]--from C.
_seme_--semen
2493 _elder_--elder{e}]
[Headnote:
GOD THE SOURCE OF TRUE FELICITY. ]
[Sidenote: wherefore, that our reasonings may not run on with
infinity, we must confess that the Supreme God is full of perfect
and consummate good. ]
? And for ? i for as moche as [that] my resou{n}
or my p{ro}ces ne go nat awey wi? oute an ende. we 2496
ou? t[e] to graunten ? at ? e souereyne god is ry? t ful of
souereyne p{er}fit goode. [[pg 90]]
[Sidenote: And as we have seen that the perfect good is true
happiness, it follows that the true felicity resides in the
Supreme Divinity. ]
and we han establissed ? at ? e
souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. ? an mot it nedes
ben [? {a}t verray blysfulnesse is] yset i{n} souereyne god. 2500
_B. _ ? is take I wel q{uo}d . I. ne ? is ne may nat be wi? seid
in no manere.
[Sidenote: But let us see how we can firmly and irrefragably prove
that the Supreme God contains in his own nature a plenitude of
perfect and consummate good. ]
? But I p{re}ie ? e q{uo}d she see now how
? ou mayst preuen holily {and} wi? -oute{n} corrupciou{n} ? is
? at I haue seid. ? at ? e souereyne god is ry? t ful of 2504
souereyne goode. [In whych man{er}e q{uo}d I. ] wenest
? ou ou? t q{uo}d she ? at ? is p{r}ince of alle ? inges haue
ytake ? ilke souereyne good any where ? an of hym self.
?
of whiche souereyne goode men p{ro}ue? ? at he is ful 2508
ry? t as ? ou my? test ? inken. ? at god ? at ha? blisfulnesse
in hym self. {and} ? at ilke blisfulnesse ? at is in hym
were diu{er}s in substaunce.
[Sidenote: If you think that God has received this good from
without, then you must believe that the giver of this good is more
excellent than God the receiver. ]
? For yif ? ou wene ? at
god haue receyued ? ilke good oute of hy{m} self. ? ou 2512
mayst wene ? at he ? at ? af ? ilke good to god. be more
goode ? an is god.
[Sidenote: But we have concluded that there is nothing more
excellent than God. ]
? But I am byknowen {and} confesse
{and} ? at ry? t dignely ? at god is ry? t wor? i abouen alle
? inges.
[Sidenote: But if this supreme good is in Him by nature, and is
nevertheless of a different substance, we cannot conceive, since
God is the author of all things, what could have united these two
substances differing one from another. ]
? And yif so be ? at ? is good be in hym by 2516
nature. but ? at it is diu{er}s from [hym] by wenyng
resou{n}. syn we speke of god p{r}ince of alle ? inges feyne
who so feyne may. who was he ? at [hath] co{n}ioigned
? ise diu{er}s ? inges to-gidre.
[Sidenote: Lastly, a thing which essentially differs from another
cannot be the same with that from which it is supposed to differ. ]
{and} eke at ? e last[e] se 2520
wel ? at o ? ing ? at is diu{er}s from any ? ing. ? at ? ilke
? ing nis nat ? at same ? ing. fro whiche it is vndirstonde{n}
to ben diu{er}s.
[Sidenote: Consequently, what in its nature differs from the chief
good cannot be the supreme good. ]
? an folwe? it. ? at ? ilke ? i{n}g ? at
by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. ? at ? at 2524
? ing nys nat souereyne good.
[Sidenote: But it would be impious and profane thus to conceive of
God, since nothing can excel Him in goodness and worth. ]
but certys ? at were a
felonous corsednesse to ? inken ? at of hym. ? at no ? ing
nis more wor? e.
[Sidenote: In fact, nothing can exist whose nature is better than
its origin. ]
For alwey of alle ? inges. ? e nat{ur}e
of hem ne may nat ben better ? an his bygy{n}nyng. 2528
[Linenotes:
2495 [_that_]--from C.
2496 _proces_--p{ro}cesses
2497 _ou? t[e]_--owen
2498 _goode_--good
2499 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good
2500 [_? at----is_]--from C.
_yset_--MS. ysette, C. set
2501 _be_--ben
_wi? seid_--MS. wi? seide, C. withseid
2503 _wi? -outen_--w{i}t{h}-owte
2504 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2505 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good
[_In----I_]--from C.
2506 _ou? t_--awht
2507 _? an of_--owt of
2508 _whiche_--whych
_souereyne goode_--souereyn good
2509 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
2510 _? at ilke_--thilke
2511 _were_--weren
2514 _goode_--worth
2517 _from_--fro
[_hym_]--from C.
2518 _feyne_--faigne
2519 _feyne_--feigne
[_hath_]--from C.
2520 _last[e]_--laste
2521 _o_--a
2522 _whiche_--whych
2524 _from_--fro
2527 _nis_--is
2528 _better_--bettre]
[Headnote:
THERE CANNOT BE TWO CHIEF GOODS. ]
[Sidenote: We may therefore conclude that the Author of all things
is really and substantially the supreme Good. ]
? For whiche I may concluden by ry? t uerray resou{n}. [[pg 91]]
? at ? ilke ? at is bygynnyng of alle ? inges. ? ilke same
? ing is good in his substaunce.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Most rightly said! ]
_B. _ ? ou hast seid ry? tfully
q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ But you have owned that true felicity is the
sovereign good; then you must also grant that God is that true
felicity. ]
_P. _ But we han graunted q{uo}d she ? at 2532
souereyne good is blysfulnes. ? at is so? e q{uo}d . I. ? an
q{uo}d she mote we nedes graunten {and} confessen ? at
? ilke same souereyne goode be god.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Your conclusions follow from your premises. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 21 _b_. ]]
? Certys *q{uo}d
. I. I ne may nat denye ne wi? stonde ? e resou{n}s p{ur}posed. 2536
and I see wel ? at it folwe? by streng? e of ? e
p{re}misses.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Let us see whether we cannot prove this more
convincingly by considering it in this view, that there cannot be
two sovereign goods which differ in themselves. ]
? Loke nowe q{uo}d she yif ? is be proued
[yit] more fermely ? us. ? ? at ? er ne mowen nat ben
two souereyne goodes ? at ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem 2540
self.
[Sidenote: For it is plain that of the goods that differ one
cannot be what the other is; wherefore neither of them can be
perfect where one wants the other. ]
? at on is nat ? at ? at o? er is. ? an [ne] mowen
nei? er of hem ben p{er}fit. so as ey? er of hem lakki? to
o? ir.
[Sidenote: That which is not perfect cannot be the supreme good. ]
but ? at ? at nis nat p{er}fit men may seen apertly
? at it nis nat souereyne.
[Sidenote: Neither can the chief good be essentially different. ]
? e ? inges ? an ? at ben 2544
souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse.
[Sidenote: But it has been shown that God and happiness are the
chief good, wherefore the sovereign felicity and the Supreme
Divinity are one and the same. ]
? But I haue wel conclude ? at blisfulnesse {and} god ben
[the] souereyne goode.
but it may nat ben denoyed ? at ? ilke goode ne is. 2464
? and ? at it nis ry? t as a welle of alle goodes.
[Sidenote: The sovereign good does exist, and is the source of all
other good. ]
? For
al ? ing ? at is cleped i{n}p{er}fit.
is proued i{n}p{er}fit by ? e [[pg 89]]
amenusynge of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n}. or of ? ing ? at is p{er}fit.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 21. ]]
[Sidenote: When we say that a thing is _imperfect_ we assert that
there is something else of its kind _perfect_. ]
{and} her of come? it. ? at in euery ? ing general. yif ? at. 2468
? at men seen any ? ing ? at is i{n}p{er}fit *certys in ? ilke general
? er mot ben so{m}me ? ing ? at is p{er}fit. ? For yif so
be ? at p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} is don awey. men may nat ? inke
nor seye fro whe{n}nes ? ilke ? ing is ? at is cleped inperfit. 2472
[Sidenote: Nature takes not her origin from things diminished and
imperfect; but, proceeding from an entire and absolute substance,
descends into the remotest and most fruitless things. ]
? For ? e nature of ? inges ne token nat her bygynnyng
of ? inges amenused {and} i{n}p{er}fit. but it p{ro}cedi? of
? i{n}g{us} ? at ben al hool. {and} absolut. {and} descende? so
doune in to outerest ? inges {and} in to ? i{n}g{us} empty {and} 2476
wi? oute fruyt.
[Sidenote: If there be an imperfect and fading felicity there must
also be one stable and perfect. ]
but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne.
? at yif ? er be a blisfulnesse ? at be frele {and} vein {and}
inp{er}fit. ? er may no man doute. ? at ? er nys som blisfulnesse
? at is sad stedfast {and} p{er}fit. b. ? is is concludid 2480
q{uo}d I fermely {and} so? efastly.
[Sidenote: But now consider wherein this felicity resides. That
God is the governor of all things is proved by the universal
opinion of all men. ]
_P. _ But co{n}sidere
also q{uo}d she in wham ? is blisfulnesse enhabite? . ? e
co{m}mune acordaunce {and} conceite of ? e corages of men
p{ro}ue? {and} graunte? ? at god p{r}ince of alle ? i{n}g{us} is 2484
good.
[Sidenote: For since nothing may be conceived better than God,
then He who has no equal in goodness must be good. ]
? For so as no ? ing ne may ben ? ou? t bettre ? an
god. it may nat ben douted ? an ? at [he ? {a}t] no ? ing is
bettre. ? at he nys good.
[Sidenote: Reason clearly demonstrates (1) that God is good, and
(2) that the sovereign good exists in him. ]
? Certys resou{n} shewe? ? at
god is so goode ? at it p{ro}ue? by verray force ? at p{er}fit 2488
goode is in hym.
[Sidenote: If it were not so He could not be the Ruler of all
things, for there would be some other being excelling him who
possesses the supreme good and who must have existed before Him. ]
? For yif god ne is swiche. he ne
may nat ben p{r}ince of alle ? inges. for certis som ? ing
possessyng in hy{m} self p{er}fit goode sholde ben more
? an god. {and} [it] sholde seme ? at ? ilke ? ing were first 2492
{and} elder ? an god.
[Sidenote: And we have already shown that the perfect precedes the
imperfect;]
? For we han shewed ap{er}tly ? at
alle ? inges ? at ben p{er}fit. ben first or ? inges ? at ben inperfit.
[Linenotes:
2453 _whiche_--which
2454-55-56-58-59 _goode_--good
2454 _whiche_--whych
2457 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
2460 _seine_--seyn
_souereyne goode_--souereyn good
_be founden_--ben fownde
2461 _veyne_--veyn
2463 _? is is to seyne_--C. omits
2464 _denoyed_--MS. deuoyded, C. denoyed
_goode_--good
2465 _of_--MS. of of
2466 _al ? ing_--alle thing
2468 _her of come? _--ther of comht
2470 _somme_--som
2471 _don_--MS. done, C. don
2473 _token_--took
2475 _hool_--hoole
2476 _doune_--down
2477 _wi? oute fruyt_--w{i}t{h} owten frut
2480 _stedfast_--stydefast
2481 _fermely_--MS. fennely, C. fermely
_so? efastly_--sothfastly
2486 [_he ? at_]--from C.
_is bettre_--nis bettr{e}
2488-89-91 _goode_--good
2489 _swiche_--swych
2492 [_it_]--from C.
_seme_--semen
2493 _elder_--elder{e}]
[Headnote:
GOD THE SOURCE OF TRUE FELICITY. ]
[Sidenote: wherefore, that our reasonings may not run on with
infinity, we must confess that the Supreme God is full of perfect
and consummate good. ]
? And for ? i for as moche as [that] my resou{n}
or my p{ro}ces ne go nat awey wi? oute an ende. we 2496
ou? t[e] to graunten ? at ? e souereyne god is ry? t ful of
souereyne p{er}fit goode. [[pg 90]]
[Sidenote: And as we have seen that the perfect good is true
happiness, it follows that the true felicity resides in the
Supreme Divinity. ]
and we han establissed ? at ? e
souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. ? an mot it nedes
ben [? {a}t verray blysfulnesse is] yset i{n} souereyne god. 2500
_B. _ ? is take I wel q{uo}d . I. ne ? is ne may nat be wi? seid
in no manere.
[Sidenote: But let us see how we can firmly and irrefragably prove
that the Supreme God contains in his own nature a plenitude of
perfect and consummate good. ]
? But I p{re}ie ? e q{uo}d she see now how
? ou mayst preuen holily {and} wi? -oute{n} corrupciou{n} ? is
? at I haue seid. ? at ? e souereyne god is ry? t ful of 2504
souereyne goode. [In whych man{er}e q{uo}d I. ] wenest
? ou ou? t q{uo}d she ? at ? is p{r}ince of alle ? inges haue
ytake ? ilke souereyne good any where ? an of hym self.
?
of whiche souereyne goode men p{ro}ue? ? at he is ful 2508
ry? t as ? ou my? test ? inken. ? at god ? at ha? blisfulnesse
in hym self. {and} ? at ilke blisfulnesse ? at is in hym
were diu{er}s in substaunce.
[Sidenote: If you think that God has received this good from
without, then you must believe that the giver of this good is more
excellent than God the receiver. ]
? For yif ? ou wene ? at
god haue receyued ? ilke good oute of hy{m} self. ? ou 2512
mayst wene ? at he ? at ? af ? ilke good to god. be more
goode ? an is god.
[Sidenote: But we have concluded that there is nothing more
excellent than God. ]
? But I am byknowen {and} confesse
{and} ? at ry? t dignely ? at god is ry? t wor? i abouen alle
? inges.
[Sidenote: But if this supreme good is in Him by nature, and is
nevertheless of a different substance, we cannot conceive, since
God is the author of all things, what could have united these two
substances differing one from another. ]
? And yif so be ? at ? is good be in hym by 2516
nature. but ? at it is diu{er}s from [hym] by wenyng
resou{n}. syn we speke of god p{r}ince of alle ? inges feyne
who so feyne may. who was he ? at [hath] co{n}ioigned
? ise diu{er}s ? inges to-gidre.
[Sidenote: Lastly, a thing which essentially differs from another
cannot be the same with that from which it is supposed to differ. ]
{and} eke at ? e last[e] se 2520
wel ? at o ? ing ? at is diu{er}s from any ? ing. ? at ? ilke
? ing nis nat ? at same ? ing. fro whiche it is vndirstonde{n}
to ben diu{er}s.
[Sidenote: Consequently, what in its nature differs from the chief
good cannot be the supreme good. ]
? an folwe? it. ? at ? ilke ? i{n}g ? at
by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. ? at ? at 2524
? ing nys nat souereyne good.
[Sidenote: But it would be impious and profane thus to conceive of
God, since nothing can excel Him in goodness and worth. ]
but certys ? at were a
felonous corsednesse to ? inken ? at of hym. ? at no ? ing
nis more wor? e.
[Sidenote: In fact, nothing can exist whose nature is better than
its origin. ]
For alwey of alle ? inges. ? e nat{ur}e
of hem ne may nat ben better ? an his bygy{n}nyng. 2528
[Linenotes:
2495 [_that_]--from C.
2496 _proces_--p{ro}cesses
2497 _ou? t[e]_--owen
2498 _goode_--good
2499 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good
2500 [_? at----is_]--from C.
_yset_--MS. ysette, C. set
2501 _be_--ben
_wi? seid_--MS. wi? seide, C. withseid
2503 _wi? -outen_--w{i}t{h}-owte
2504 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2505 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good
[_In----I_]--from C.
2506 _ou? t_--awht
2507 _? an of_--owt of
2508 _whiche_--whych
_souereyne goode_--souereyn good
2509 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
2510 _? at ilke_--thilke
2511 _were_--weren
2514 _goode_--worth
2517 _from_--fro
[_hym_]--from C.
2518 _feyne_--faigne
2519 _feyne_--feigne
[_hath_]--from C.
2520 _last[e]_--laste
2521 _o_--a
2522 _whiche_--whych
2524 _from_--fro
2527 _nis_--is
2528 _better_--bettre]
[Headnote:
THERE CANNOT BE TWO CHIEF GOODS. ]
[Sidenote: We may therefore conclude that the Author of all things
is really and substantially the supreme Good. ]
? For whiche I may concluden by ry? t uerray resou{n}. [[pg 91]]
? at ? ilke ? at is bygynnyng of alle ? inges. ? ilke same
? ing is good in his substaunce.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Most rightly said! ]
_B. _ ? ou hast seid ry? tfully
q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ But you have owned that true felicity is the
sovereign good; then you must also grant that God is that true
felicity. ]
_P. _ But we han graunted q{uo}d she ? at 2532
souereyne good is blysfulnes. ? at is so? e q{uo}d . I. ? an
q{uo}d she mote we nedes graunten {and} confessen ? at
? ilke same souereyne goode be god.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Your conclusions follow from your premises. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 21 _b_. ]]
? Certys *q{uo}d
. I. I ne may nat denye ne wi? stonde ? e resou{n}s p{ur}posed. 2536
and I see wel ? at it folwe? by streng? e of ? e
p{re}misses.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Let us see whether we cannot prove this more
convincingly by considering it in this view, that there cannot be
two sovereign goods which differ in themselves. ]
? Loke nowe q{uo}d she yif ? is be proued
[yit] more fermely ? us. ? ? at ? er ne mowen nat ben
two souereyne goodes ? at ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem 2540
self.
[Sidenote: For it is plain that of the goods that differ one
cannot be what the other is; wherefore neither of them can be
perfect where one wants the other. ]
? at on is nat ? at ? at o? er is. ? an [ne] mowen
nei? er of hem ben p{er}fit. so as ey? er of hem lakki? to
o? ir.
[Sidenote: That which is not perfect cannot be the supreme good. ]
but ? at ? at nis nat p{er}fit men may seen apertly
? at it nis nat souereyne.
[Sidenote: Neither can the chief good be essentially different. ]
? e ? inges ? an ? at ben 2544
souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse.
[Sidenote: But it has been shown that God and happiness are the
chief good, wherefore the sovereign felicity and the Supreme
Divinity are one and the same. ]
? But I haue wel conclude ? at blisfulnesse {and} god ben
[the] souereyne goode.
