e
strondes
of ?
Chaucer - Boethius
, are inflicted only upon bad citizens.
]
for in ? is wise more clerely {and} 3764
more witnesfully is ? e office of wise men ytretid whan
? e blisfulnes {and} [the] pouste of gouerno{ur}s is as it
were yshad amonges poeples ? at ben ney? boures {and}
subgit? . syn ? at namely prisou{n} lawe {and} ? ise o? er 3768
to{ur}ment? of lawful peynes ben ra? er owed to felonous
Cite? eins. for ? e whiche felonous Cite? eins ? o peynes
ben establissed. ? an for goode folk.
[Sidenote: Why, then, should things undergo so unnatural a
change? Why should the worthy suffer and the vicious receive
the reward of virtue? ]
? ? an I m{er}ueile
me gretly q{uo}d I. whi [? {a}t] ? e ? inges ben so mys 3772
entrechaunged. ? at to{ur}ment? felounes pressen {and}
confounden goode folk. {and} shrewes rauyssen medes of
vertue {and} ben i{n} hono{ur}s. {and} in grete estatis. [[pg 132]]
[Sidenote: I should like to hear the reason of so unjust a
distribution. ]
and I
desire eke to wite{n} of ? e. what seme? ? e to ben ? e 3776
resou{n} of ? is so wrongful a confusiou{n}
[Sidenote: I should not marvel so much if _Chance_ were the cause
of all this confusion. ]
? For I wolde
wondre wel ? e lasse yif I trowed[e] ? at alle ? ise ? inges
were medeled by fortuouse hap.
[Sidenote: But I am overwhelmed with astonishment when I reflect,
that God the director of all things thus unequally distributes
rewards and punishments. ]
? But now hepe?
{and} encrese? myne astonyenge god gouerno{ur} of ? inges. 3780
? at so as god ? eue? ofte tymes to good[e] men goodes
{and} myr? es. {and} to shrewes yuel and aspre ? inges.
{and} ? eue? a? eynewarde to goode folk hardnesse. {and} to
shrewes [he] g{ra}unte? hem her wille {and} ? at ? ei desiren. 3784
[Sidenote: What difference is there, then, unless we know the
cause, between God's proceedings and the operations of Chance? ]
what difference ? an may ? er be bitwixen ? {a}t ? at
god do? . {and} ? e hap of fortune. yif men ne knowe nat
? e cause whi ? at [it] is.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It is not at all surprising that you think you see
irregularities, when you are ignorant of that order by which God
proceeds. ]
it nis no merueile q{uo}d she ? ou?
? at men wenen ? at ? er be somwhat folysche and confus 3788
whan ? e resou{n} of ? e order is vnknowe.
[Sidenote: But, forasmuch as God, the good governor, presides over
all, rest assured that all things are done rightly and as they
ought to be done. ]
? But alle
? ou? ? ou ne know nat ? e cause of so gret a disposic{i}ou{n}.
na? eles for as moche as god ? e good[e] gouernour attempre?
{and} gouerne? ? e world. ne doute ? e nat ? at 3792
alle ? inges ne ben doon ary? t.
[Linenotes:
3760 _goode_--good
3761 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_nat_--omitted
_leuer_--leu{er}e
3762 _? an_--MS. ? at, C. than
3763 _redoutable_--MS. redentable, C. redowtable
3764 _stronge_--strong
_clerely_--clerly
3766 [_the_]--from C.
3767 _ney? boures_--nesshebors
3769 _lawful_--laweful
3771 _goode_--good
3772 [_? at_]--from C.
3775 _grete_--gret
3776 _to witen_--forto weten
3778 _trowed[e]_--trowede
_alle_--al
3779 _were_--weeren
_fortuouse_--fortunous
3780 _myne_--myn
3781 _good[e]_--goode
3782 _yuel_--yuelis
3783 _hardnesse_--hardnesses
3784 [_he_]--from C.
_wille_--wyl
3785 _difference_--MS. differenee
3786 _do? _--MS. do? e
_hap_--happe
3787 [_it_]--from C.
_it_--ne it
3788 _confus_--confuse
3789 _alle_--al
3791 _good[e]_--goode
3793 _ne_--omitted]
[Headnote:
THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS. ]
SI QUIS ARCTURI[8] SYDERA.
[Footnote 8: MS. arituri]
[Sidenote: [The fyfthe Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: He who knows not that the Bear is seen near the Pole,
nor has observed the path of Bootes, will marvel at their
appearance. ]
++Who so ? at ne knowe nat ? e sterres of arctour
yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne contre or point.
? at is to seyne yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne pool of ? e 3796
firmament {and} woot nat whi ? e sterre boetes passe? or
gaderi? his wey[n]es. {and} drenche? his late flaumbes in
? e see. {and} whi ? at boetes ? e sterre vnfoldi? his ouer
swifte arisynges. ? an shal he wo{n}dre{n} of ? e lawe of ? e 3800
heye eyre.
[Sidenote: The vulgar are alarmed when shadows terrestrial obscure
the moon's brightness, causing the stars to be displayed. ]
{and} eke if ? at he ne knowe nat why ? at ? e
hornes of ? e ful[le] moene waxen pale {and} infect by ? e
bou{n}des of ? e derke ny? t ? and how ? e moene dirk
{and} confuse discouere? ? e sterres. ? at she had[de] [[pg 133]]
ycouered by hir clere visage.
[Sidenote: Thinking the eclipse the result of enchantment, they
sought to destroy the charms by the tinkling of brazen vessels or
cymbals. ]
? e co{m}mune errour moeue? 3805
folk {and} maki? wery hir bacines of bras by ? ikke
strookes. ? at is to seyne ? at ? er is a maner poeple ? at
hy? t[e] coribandes ? at wenen ? at whan ? e moone is in 3808
? e eclips ? at it be enchau{n}tid. and ? erfore forto rescowe
? e moone ? ei betyn hire basines wi? ? ikke strokes.
[Sidenote: Yet none marvel when the north-west wind renders the
sea tempestuous; nor when vast heaps of congealed snow are melted
by the warm rays of the sun, because the causes are apparent. ]
? Ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e blastes of ? e wynde
chorus betyn ?
e strondes of ? e see by quakynge floodes. 3812
ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e wey? te of ? e snowe
yhardid by ? e colde. is resolued by ? e brennynge hete
of phebus ? e sonne. ? For here seen men redyly ? e
causes.
[Sidenote: Things whose causes are unknown disquiet the human
mind. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 30. ]]
but ? e *causes yhid ? at is to seye in heuene 3816
trouble ? e brestes of men.
[Sidenote: The fickle mob stands amazed at every rare or sudden
phenomenon. ]
? ? e moeueable poeple is
a-stoned of alle ? inges ? at comen selde {and} sodeynely in
oure age.
[Sidenote: Fear and wonder, however, soon cease when ignorance
given place to certain knowledge. ]
but yif ? e troubly errour of oure ignora{n}ce
departid[e] from vs. so ? at we wisten ? e causes whi ? at 3820
swiche ? inges bitiden. certys ? ei sholde{n} cesse to seme
wondres.
[Linenotes:
3794 _arctour_--MS. aritour
3795 _neye_--neygh
3796 _seyne_--seyn
_neye_--nygh
3797-99 _boetes_--MS. boeces, C. boetes
3798 _his_ (1)--hise
_wey[n]es_--weynes
3802 _ful[le]_--fulle
3804 _had[de]_--hadde
3806 _bacines_--MS. batines
_? ikke_--MS. ? ilke, C. thilke
3807 _seyne_--seyn
3808 _hy? t[e]_--hihte
3809 _eclips_--eclypse
3812 _chorus_--MS. thorus, C. chorus
3813 _snowe_--sonwh = snowh
3815 _here_--her
_redyly_--redely
3816 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hid
_seye_--seyn
3817 _trouble_--trowblen
3820 _departid[e] from_--departede fro]
[Headnote:
FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS. ]
ITA EST INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The syxte p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ So it is. But as thou hast promised to unfold the
hidden causes of things, and unveil things wrapt up in darkness; I
pray thee deliver me from my present perplexity, and explain the
mystery I mentioned to you. ]
++? vs is it q{uo}d I. but so as ? ou hast ? euen or byhy? t
me to vnwrappe{n} ? e hidde causes of ? inges ? and 3824
to discoueren me ? e resou{n}s couered w{i}t{h} dirknesses I
p{re}ye ? e ? at ? ou diuise {and} Iuge me of ? is matere. {and}
? at ? ou do me to vndrestonde{n} it. ? For ? is miracle
or ? is wondre trouble? me ry? t gretely.
[Sidenote: _P. _ You ask me to declare to you the most intricate of
all questions, which I am afraid can scarce be answered. ]
{and} ? an she a 3828
litel [what] smylyng seide. ? ? ou clepest me q{uo}d
she to telle ? ing. ? at is grettest of alle ? inges ? at mowen
ben axed. ? And to ? e whiche questiou{n} vnne? [e]s is
? ere au? t ynow to lauen it. as who sei? . vnne? es is ? er 3832
suffisauntly any ? ing to answere p{er}fitly to ? i questiou{n}.
[Sidenote: For the subject is of such a kind, that when one doubt
is removed, innumerable others, like the heads of the hydra,
spring up. ]
? For ? e matere of it is swiche ? at whan oon doute is [[pg 134]]
determined {and} kut awey ? er wexe{n} o? er doutes wi? -outen
nou{m}bre. ry? t as ? e heuedes waxen of ydre ? e 3836
serpent ? at hercules slou? .
[Sidenote: Nor would there be any end of them unless they were
restrained by a quick and vigorous effort of the mind. ]
? Ne ? ere ne were no
man{er}e ne noon ende. but yif ? at a wy? t co{n}streined[e]
? o doutes. by a ry? t lyuely {and} a quik fire of ? ou? t. ? at
is to seyn by vigo{ur} {and} streng? e of witte.
[Sidenote: The question whereof you want a solution embraces the
five following points: 1. Simplicity, or unity of Providence. 2.
The order and course of Destiny. ]
? For in 3840
? is matere me{n} weren wont to maken questiou{n}s of ? e
simplicite of ? e p{ur}ueaunce of god {and} of ? e ordre of
destine.
[Sidenote: 3. Sudden chance. 4. Prescience of God, and divine
predestination. 5. Free-will. ]
{and} of sodeyne hap. {and} of ? e knowyng {and}
p{re}destinac{i}ou{n} deuine {and} of ? e lyberte of fre wille. 3844
? e whiche ? ing ? ou ? i self ap{er}ceiust wel of what wey? t
? ei ben. but for as mochel as ? e knowynge of ? ise
? inges is a manere porc{i}ou{n} to ? e medicine to ? e. al be it
so ? at I haue lytel tyme to don it.
[Sidenote: I will try to treat of these things:--]
? it na? eles I wole 3848
enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it. ? but al ? ou?
? e norissinges of dite of musike delite? ? e ? ow most
suffren. {and} forberen a litel of ? ilk delite while ? at I
weue (contexo) to ? e resou{n}s yknyt by ordre ? As it like? 3852
to ? e q{uo}d I so do.
[Sidenote: Resuming her discourse as from a new principle,
Philosophy argued as follows:--]
? ? o spak she ry? t a[s] by an o? er
bygynnyn[ge] {and} seide ? us.
[Sidenote: The generation of all things, every progression of
things liable to change, and everything that moveth, derive their
causes, order, and form from the immutability of the divine
understanding. ]
? ? e enge{n}drynge of alle
? inges q{uo}d she {and} alle ? e progressiou{n}s of muuable
nat{ur}e. {and} alle ? {a}t moeue? in any manere taki?
for in ? is wise more clerely {and} 3764
more witnesfully is ? e office of wise men ytretid whan
? e blisfulnes {and} [the] pouste of gouerno{ur}s is as it
were yshad amonges poeples ? at ben ney? boures {and}
subgit? . syn ? at namely prisou{n} lawe {and} ? ise o? er 3768
to{ur}ment? of lawful peynes ben ra? er owed to felonous
Cite? eins. for ? e whiche felonous Cite? eins ? o peynes
ben establissed. ? an for goode folk.
[Sidenote: Why, then, should things undergo so unnatural a
change? Why should the worthy suffer and the vicious receive
the reward of virtue? ]
? ? an I m{er}ueile
me gretly q{uo}d I. whi [? {a}t] ? e ? inges ben so mys 3772
entrechaunged. ? at to{ur}ment? felounes pressen {and}
confounden goode folk. {and} shrewes rauyssen medes of
vertue {and} ben i{n} hono{ur}s. {and} in grete estatis. [[pg 132]]
[Sidenote: I should like to hear the reason of so unjust a
distribution. ]
and I
desire eke to wite{n} of ? e. what seme? ? e to ben ? e 3776
resou{n} of ? is so wrongful a confusiou{n}
[Sidenote: I should not marvel so much if _Chance_ were the cause
of all this confusion. ]
? For I wolde
wondre wel ? e lasse yif I trowed[e] ? at alle ? ise ? inges
were medeled by fortuouse hap.
[Sidenote: But I am overwhelmed with astonishment when I reflect,
that God the director of all things thus unequally distributes
rewards and punishments. ]
? But now hepe?
{and} encrese? myne astonyenge god gouerno{ur} of ? inges. 3780
? at so as god ? eue? ofte tymes to good[e] men goodes
{and} myr? es. {and} to shrewes yuel and aspre ? inges.
{and} ? eue? a? eynewarde to goode folk hardnesse. {and} to
shrewes [he] g{ra}unte? hem her wille {and} ? at ? ei desiren. 3784
[Sidenote: What difference is there, then, unless we know the
cause, between God's proceedings and the operations of Chance? ]
what difference ? an may ? er be bitwixen ? {a}t ? at
god do? . {and} ? e hap of fortune. yif men ne knowe nat
? e cause whi ? at [it] is.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It is not at all surprising that you think you see
irregularities, when you are ignorant of that order by which God
proceeds. ]
it nis no merueile q{uo}d she ? ou?
? at men wenen ? at ? er be somwhat folysche and confus 3788
whan ? e resou{n} of ? e order is vnknowe.
[Sidenote: But, forasmuch as God, the good governor, presides over
all, rest assured that all things are done rightly and as they
ought to be done. ]
? But alle
? ou? ? ou ne know nat ? e cause of so gret a disposic{i}ou{n}.
na? eles for as moche as god ? e good[e] gouernour attempre?
{and} gouerne? ? e world. ne doute ? e nat ? at 3792
alle ? inges ne ben doon ary? t.
[Linenotes:
3760 _goode_--good
3761 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_nat_--omitted
_leuer_--leu{er}e
3762 _? an_--MS. ? at, C. than
3763 _redoutable_--MS. redentable, C. redowtable
3764 _stronge_--strong
_clerely_--clerly
3766 [_the_]--from C.
3767 _ney? boures_--nesshebors
3769 _lawful_--laweful
3771 _goode_--good
3772 [_? at_]--from C.
3775 _grete_--gret
3776 _to witen_--forto weten
3778 _trowed[e]_--trowede
_alle_--al
3779 _were_--weeren
_fortuouse_--fortunous
3780 _myne_--myn
3781 _good[e]_--goode
3782 _yuel_--yuelis
3783 _hardnesse_--hardnesses
3784 [_he_]--from C.
_wille_--wyl
3785 _difference_--MS. differenee
3786 _do? _--MS. do? e
_hap_--happe
3787 [_it_]--from C.
_it_--ne it
3788 _confus_--confuse
3789 _alle_--al
3791 _good[e]_--goode
3793 _ne_--omitted]
[Headnote:
THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS. ]
SI QUIS ARCTURI[8] SYDERA.
[Footnote 8: MS. arituri]
[Sidenote: [The fyfthe Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: He who knows not that the Bear is seen near the Pole,
nor has observed the path of Bootes, will marvel at their
appearance. ]
++Who so ? at ne knowe nat ? e sterres of arctour
yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne contre or point.
? at is to seyne yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne pool of ? e 3796
firmament {and} woot nat whi ? e sterre boetes passe? or
gaderi? his wey[n]es. {and} drenche? his late flaumbes in
? e see. {and} whi ? at boetes ? e sterre vnfoldi? his ouer
swifte arisynges. ? an shal he wo{n}dre{n} of ? e lawe of ? e 3800
heye eyre.
[Sidenote: The vulgar are alarmed when shadows terrestrial obscure
the moon's brightness, causing the stars to be displayed. ]
{and} eke if ? at he ne knowe nat why ? at ? e
hornes of ? e ful[le] moene waxen pale {and} infect by ? e
bou{n}des of ? e derke ny? t ? and how ? e moene dirk
{and} confuse discouere? ? e sterres. ? at she had[de] [[pg 133]]
ycouered by hir clere visage.
[Sidenote: Thinking the eclipse the result of enchantment, they
sought to destroy the charms by the tinkling of brazen vessels or
cymbals. ]
? e co{m}mune errour moeue? 3805
folk {and} maki? wery hir bacines of bras by ? ikke
strookes. ? at is to seyne ? at ? er is a maner poeple ? at
hy? t[e] coribandes ? at wenen ? at whan ? e moone is in 3808
? e eclips ? at it be enchau{n}tid. and ? erfore forto rescowe
? e moone ? ei betyn hire basines wi? ? ikke strokes.
[Sidenote: Yet none marvel when the north-west wind renders the
sea tempestuous; nor when vast heaps of congealed snow are melted
by the warm rays of the sun, because the causes are apparent. ]
? Ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e blastes of ? e wynde
chorus betyn ?
e strondes of ? e see by quakynge floodes. 3812
ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e wey? te of ? e snowe
yhardid by ? e colde. is resolued by ? e brennynge hete
of phebus ? e sonne. ? For here seen men redyly ? e
causes.
[Sidenote: Things whose causes are unknown disquiet the human
mind. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 30. ]]
but ? e *causes yhid ? at is to seye in heuene 3816
trouble ? e brestes of men.
[Sidenote: The fickle mob stands amazed at every rare or sudden
phenomenon. ]
? ? e moeueable poeple is
a-stoned of alle ? inges ? at comen selde {and} sodeynely in
oure age.
[Sidenote: Fear and wonder, however, soon cease when ignorance
given place to certain knowledge. ]
but yif ? e troubly errour of oure ignora{n}ce
departid[e] from vs. so ? at we wisten ? e causes whi ? at 3820
swiche ? inges bitiden. certys ? ei sholde{n} cesse to seme
wondres.
[Linenotes:
3794 _arctour_--MS. aritour
3795 _neye_--neygh
3796 _seyne_--seyn
_neye_--nygh
3797-99 _boetes_--MS. boeces, C. boetes
3798 _his_ (1)--hise
_wey[n]es_--weynes
3802 _ful[le]_--fulle
3804 _had[de]_--hadde
3806 _bacines_--MS. batines
_? ikke_--MS. ? ilke, C. thilke
3807 _seyne_--seyn
3808 _hy? t[e]_--hihte
3809 _eclips_--eclypse
3812 _chorus_--MS. thorus, C. chorus
3813 _snowe_--sonwh = snowh
3815 _here_--her
_redyly_--redely
3816 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hid
_seye_--seyn
3817 _trouble_--trowblen
3820 _departid[e] from_--departede fro]
[Headnote:
FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS. ]
ITA EST INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The syxte p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ So it is. But as thou hast promised to unfold the
hidden causes of things, and unveil things wrapt up in darkness; I
pray thee deliver me from my present perplexity, and explain the
mystery I mentioned to you. ]
++? vs is it q{uo}d I. but so as ? ou hast ? euen or byhy? t
me to vnwrappe{n} ? e hidde causes of ? inges ? and 3824
to discoueren me ? e resou{n}s couered w{i}t{h} dirknesses I
p{re}ye ? e ? at ? ou diuise {and} Iuge me of ? is matere. {and}
? at ? ou do me to vndrestonde{n} it. ? For ? is miracle
or ? is wondre trouble? me ry? t gretely.
[Sidenote: _P. _ You ask me to declare to you the most intricate of
all questions, which I am afraid can scarce be answered. ]
{and} ? an she a 3828
litel [what] smylyng seide. ? ? ou clepest me q{uo}d
she to telle ? ing. ? at is grettest of alle ? inges ? at mowen
ben axed. ? And to ? e whiche questiou{n} vnne? [e]s is
? ere au? t ynow to lauen it. as who sei? . vnne? es is ? er 3832
suffisauntly any ? ing to answere p{er}fitly to ? i questiou{n}.
[Sidenote: For the subject is of such a kind, that when one doubt
is removed, innumerable others, like the heads of the hydra,
spring up. ]
? For ? e matere of it is swiche ? at whan oon doute is [[pg 134]]
determined {and} kut awey ? er wexe{n} o? er doutes wi? -outen
nou{m}bre. ry? t as ? e heuedes waxen of ydre ? e 3836
serpent ? at hercules slou? .
[Sidenote: Nor would there be any end of them unless they were
restrained by a quick and vigorous effort of the mind. ]
? Ne ? ere ne were no
man{er}e ne noon ende. but yif ? at a wy? t co{n}streined[e]
? o doutes. by a ry? t lyuely {and} a quik fire of ? ou? t. ? at
is to seyn by vigo{ur} {and} streng? e of witte.
[Sidenote: The question whereof you want a solution embraces the
five following points: 1. Simplicity, or unity of Providence. 2.
The order and course of Destiny. ]
? For in 3840
? is matere me{n} weren wont to maken questiou{n}s of ? e
simplicite of ? e p{ur}ueaunce of god {and} of ? e ordre of
destine.
[Sidenote: 3. Sudden chance. 4. Prescience of God, and divine
predestination. 5. Free-will. ]
{and} of sodeyne hap. {and} of ? e knowyng {and}
p{re}destinac{i}ou{n} deuine {and} of ? e lyberte of fre wille. 3844
? e whiche ? ing ? ou ? i self ap{er}ceiust wel of what wey? t
? ei ben. but for as mochel as ? e knowynge of ? ise
? inges is a manere porc{i}ou{n} to ? e medicine to ? e. al be it
so ? at I haue lytel tyme to don it.
[Sidenote: I will try to treat of these things:--]
? it na? eles I wole 3848
enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it. ? but al ? ou?
? e norissinges of dite of musike delite? ? e ? ow most
suffren. {and} forberen a litel of ? ilk delite while ? at I
weue (contexo) to ? e resou{n}s yknyt by ordre ? As it like? 3852
to ? e q{uo}d I so do.
[Sidenote: Resuming her discourse as from a new principle,
Philosophy argued as follows:--]
? ? o spak she ry? t a[s] by an o? er
bygynnyn[ge] {and} seide ? us.
[Sidenote: The generation of all things, every progression of
things liable to change, and everything that moveth, derive their
causes, order, and form from the immutability of the divine
understanding. ]
? ? e enge{n}drynge of alle
? inges q{uo}d she {and} alle ? e progressiou{n}s of muuable
nat{ur}e. {and} alle ? {a}t moeue? in any manere taki?
