_ You acknowledged a little while ago that this
world was governed by God?
world was governed by God?
Chaucer - Boethius
{a}t ben softe {and} fletynge as is water {and} Eyr
they departyn lyhtly // {and} yeuen place to hem ? {a}t
brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retorne{n} 2772
sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben
arraced //
[Sidenote: Fire avoids and utterly refuses any such division. ]
but fyr [fleet? ] {and} refuseth alle deuysyou{n} /
[Sidenote: I am not now treating of the voluntary motion of a
conscious soul, but of the natural intention and instinct. ]
ne I. ne trete nat heer{e} now of weleful moeuynges of the
sowle ? {a}t is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciou{n} 2776
of thinges //
[Sidenote: We swallow our meat without thinking of it, and we draw
our breath in sleep without perception. ]
As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete ? {a}t we
resseyuen {and} ne thinke nat on it / {and} as we drawen
owr{e} breth in slepynge ? {a}t we wite it nat whil we slepyt //
[Sidenote: The love of life in animals is not derived from an
intellectual will, but from natural principles implanted in them. ]
For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of 2780
hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle //
but of the bygynnyngis of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: For the will, induced by powerful reasons, sometimes
chooses and embraces death, although nature dreads and abhors it. ]
For certes thorw
constreynynge causes / wil desireth {and} embraceth ful
ofte tyme / the deth ? {a}t natur{e} dredith
// that is to seyn [[pg 99]]
as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som 2785
cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which
? {a}t natur{e} hateth {and} dredeth ful sore //
[Sidenote: And, on the contrary, we see that concupiscence (by
which alone the human race is perpetuated) is often restrained by
the will. ]
And som tyme
we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / 2788
destorbeth {and} constreyneth ? {a}t ? {a}t natur{e} desireth / and
requereth al-wey // that is to sein the werk of gen{er}aciou{n} /
by the whiche gen{er}aciou{n} only / dwelleth {and} is sustenyd
the longe durablete of mortal thinges //
[Sidenote: Self-love possessed by every creature is not the
product of volition, but proceeds from a natural impression or
intention of nature. ]
And thus 2792
this charite and this Loue ? {a}t eu{er}y thing hath to hym
self ne comth nat of the moeuynge of the sowle / but of
the entenciou{n} of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: Providence has implanted in all created things an
instinct, for the purpose of self-preservation, by which they
desire to prolong existence to its utmost limits. ]
For the puruyance of god
hat yeuen to thinges ? {a}t ben creat of hym / this ? {a}t is 2796
a ful gret cause / to lyuen {and} to duren / for which they
desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as eu{er} they mowen //
[Linenotes:
2774 [_fleeth_]--from H.
2775 _weleful_--H. wilfull{e}
2779 _slepyt_--H. slepe{n}
2788 _seeth_--H. seen)
_wil_--H. will{e}
2792 _And_--H. as
2796 _hat_--H. haue]
[Headnote:
THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT. ]
[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists
desires existence and avoids dissolution. ]
For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that
alle the thinges / that ben anywher{e} / that they ne requeren 2800
naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of p{er}durable
dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyou{n} //
[Sidenote: _B. _ You have made those things perfectly plain and
intelligible, which before were obscure and doubtful. ]
B //
now confesse I. wel q{uod} I. that I. see wel now certeynly /
w{i}t{h} owte dowtes / the thinges that whylom semeden 2804
vncerteyn to me /
[Sidenote: _P. _ That which desires to subsist desires also to
retain its unity for if this be taken away it cannot continue to
exist. ]
P. // but q{uod} she thilke thyng ? {a}t
desiret? to be {and} to dwellyn p{er}durablely / he desireth
to ben oon // For yif ? {a}t that oon weer{e} destroied // certes
beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht //
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is very true! ]
that 2808
is sot? q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ All things then desire one thing--unity. ]
Thanne q{uod} she desirin alle thinges
oon //
[Sidenote: _B. _ They do. ]
. I. assente q{uod} . I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Unity then is the same as good. ]
{and} I haue shewyd q{uod} she
that thilke same oon is thilke that is good //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Yes. ]
B // ye forsothe
q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Thus all things desire good--and it is one and the
same good that all creatures desire. ]
Alle thinges thanne q{uod} she requyren 2812
good // And thilke good thanne [? ow] maist descryuen
ryht thus // Good is thilke thing ? {a}t euery wyht desireth //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Nothing is more true. For either all things must
be reduced to nothing (or have no relation to anything else), and,
destitute of a head, float about without control or order; or if
there be anything to which all things tend, that must be the
supreme good. ]
Ther ne may be thowht q{uod} . I. no moor{e}
verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred {and} 2816
browht to nowht / {and} floteryn w{i}t{h} owte gou{er}nour
despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif [[pg 100]]
ther be any thinge / to which ? {a}t alle thinges tenden
{and} hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of 2820
alle goodes /
[Sidenote: _P. _ I rejoice greatly, my dear pupil, that you so
clearly apprehend this truth, of which but just now you were
ignorant. ]
P /. thanne seyde she thus // O my norry
q{uod} she I haue gret gladnesse of the // For thow
hast fichched in thin herte the myddel sothtfastnesse //
that is to seyn the prykke // but this thing hath ben 2824
descouered to the / in that thow seydyst ? {a}t thow
wystest nat a lytel her by-forn //
[Sidenote: _B. _ What was that? ]
what was th{a}t q{uod} I. //
[Headnote:
THE END OF ALL THINGS. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ The _End of all things_. And this is what every
one desires; but we have shown that _good_ is the thing desired by
all, therefore _Good_ is the _End of all things_. ]
That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was
the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing ? {a}t 2828
eu{er}y wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han
gaderid / {and} co{m}p{re}hendyd that good is thilke thing
that is desired of alle / thanne moten we nedes confessun /
that good is the fyn of alle thinges. 2832
[Linenotes:
2800 _the_--H. ? o
2806 _perdurablely_--H. p{er}durably
2807 _destroied_--H. destrued
2811 _thilke_ (1)--H. ilke
2818 _heued or elles_--H. hede or els
2820 _hyen_--H. hyen) to
_moste_--H. must]
[Headnote:
TRUTH INTUITIVE. ]
QUISQUIS P{RO}FUNDA MENTE.
[Sidenote: [The . 11. Met{ru}m. ]]
[Sidenote: He who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling
to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the
inner light upon the soul itself. ]
++WHo so that sekith sot? by a deep thoght And
coueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes //
lat hym rollen {and} trenden w{i}t{h} Inne hym self / the Lyht
of his inward syhte // And lat hym gader{e} ayein enclynynge 2836
in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys
thowhtes /
[Sidenote: The knowledge that he seeks without he will find
treasured up in the recesses of the mind. ]
And lat hym techen his corage that he hath
enclosed {and} hyd / in his tresors / al ? {a}t he compaseth or
sekith fro w{i}t{h} owte //
[Sidenote: The light of Truth will disperse Error's dark clouds,
and shine forth brighter than the sun. ]
And thanne thilke thing that the 2840
blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal
lyhten more clerly tha{n}ne pheb{us} hym self ne shyneth //
[Sidenote: [Chaucer's gloss. ]]
Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of soth 2843
in his thowht / {and} wol nat be deceyuyd by false p{ro}posiciou{n}s /
that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym wel
examine / {and} rolle w{i}t{h} inne hym self the natur{e} {and}
the p{ro}pretes of the thing // and lat hym yit eft sones
examine {and} rollen his thowhtes by good deliberaciou{n} 2848
or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it [[pg 101]]
hat by naturel pryncyplis kyndeliche y-hyd w{i}t{h} in
it self alle the trowthe the whiche he ymagynith to ben
in thinges w{i}t{h} owte // And thanne alle the dyrknesse of 2852
his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [? e]
syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semyth
to [? e] syhte w{i}t{h} owte forth /
[Sidenote: For when the body enclosed the soul and cast oblivion
o'er its powers it did wholly exterminate the heaven-born light. ]
For certes the body
bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd 2856
owt of yowr{e} thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //
[Sidenote: The germs of truth were latent within, and were fanned
into action by the gentle breath of learning. ]
For certeynly the seed of sooth haldith {and} clyueth
w{i}t{h} in yowr{e} corage / {and} it is a-waked {and} excited by
the wynde {and} by the blastes of doctryne //
[Sidenote: Were not truth implanted in the heart, how could man
distinguish right from wrong? ]
For wher{e} 2860
for elles demen ye of yowr{e} owne wyl the ryhtes whan
ye ben axed // but yif so wer{e} ? {a}t the noryssynges of
resou{n} ne lyuede . I. -plowngyd in the depthe of yowr{e}
herte // this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen ? e 2864
sooth of any thing ? {a}t weer{e} axed / yif ther neer{e} a
Roote of sothfastnesse ? {a}t weer{e} yplowngyd {and} hyd in
the natur{e}[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesse
lyued w{i}t{h} in the depnesse of the thowght //
[Sidenote: So, if what Plato taught is true, 'to learn is no other
than to remember what had been before forgotten. ']
{and} yif 2868
so be ? {a}t the Muse {and} the doctryne of plato syngyth
sooth // al ? {a}t eu{er}y whyht lerneth / he ne doth no
thing elles tha{n}ne but recordeth as me{n} recordyn thinges
? {a}t ben foryetyn. 2872
[Linenotes:
2838 _his_--H. ? is
_that_--H. {and} ? {a}t
2841 _blake_--H. blak
_hadde y-couered_--H. had cou{er}ed
2842 _lyhten_--H. light
2843 _dep[e]_--C. dep, H. depe
2847 _thing_--H. ? yng{es}
2863 _depthe_--H. depe
2864 [_is_]--from H.
_sholden_--H. shulde
2867 _nature[l]_--H. nat{ur}ell{e}]
[Headnote:
THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD. ]
TUM EGO PLATONI INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The . 12. p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I am quite of Plato's opinion, for you have now a
second time recalled these things to my remembrance which had been
forgotten, first by the contagious union of soul and body, and
afterwards by the pressure of my afflictions. ]
++THanne seide I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / for
thow remenbrist {and} recordist me thise thinges yit]
[Sidenote: [*_Addit. MS. 10,340, fol. 23. _]]
*? e seconde tyme. ? at is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] my
memorie by ? e co{n}tagio? s coniuncc{i}ou{n} of ? e body wi? 2876
? e soule. {and} eftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it co{n}founded
by ? e charge {and} by ? e burden of my sorwe.
[Sidenote: _P. _ If you will reflect upon the concessions you have
already made, you will soon call to mind that truth, of which you
lately confessed your ignorance. ]
? And ? an sayde she ? us. ? If ? ou look[e] q{uo}d she
firste ? e ? inges ? at ? ou hast graunted it ne shal nat 2880
ben ry? t feer ? at ? ou ne shalt remembren ? ilke ? ing ? at [[pg 102]]
? ou seidest ? at ? ou nistest nat.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what ? ing q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It was, by what power the world is governed. ]
? by whiche gouerme{n}t q{uo}d she ? at ? is worlde is
gouerned.
[Sidenote: _B. _ With regard to that, I own I confessed my
ignorance, but though I now remotely see what you infer, yet I
wish for further explanation from you. ]
Me remembri? it wel q{uo}d I. {and} I confesse 2884
wel ? at I ne wist[e] it nat ? But al be it so ? at
I se now fro{m} afer what ? ou p{ur}posest ? Algates I
desire ? it to herkene it of ? e more pleynely.
[Sidenote: _P.
_ You acknowledged a little while ago that this
world was governed by God? ]
? ? ou ne
wendest nat q{uo}d she a litel here byforne ? at men 2888
sholden doute ? at ? is worlde is gouerned by god.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I still cling to this opinion, and will give you
my reasons for this belief. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I ne ? itte doute I it nau? t. ne I nil
neuer wene ? at it were to doute. as who sei? . but I
wot wel ? at god gouerne? ? is worlde. ? And I shal 2892
shortly answere ? e by what resou{n}s I am brou? t to ? is.
[Sidenote: The discordant elements of this world would never have
assumed their present form unless there had been a wise
Intelligence to unite them; and even after such a union, the
joining of such opposites would have disunited and ruined the
fabric made up of them, had not the same conjoining hand kept them
together. ]
? ? is worlde q{uod} I of so many dyuerse {and} co{n}trarious
p{ar}ties ne my? ten neuer han ben assembled in o forme.
but yif ? ere ne were oon ? at conioigned so many[e 2896
diu{er}se] ? inges. ? And ? e same diuersite of hire
natures ? at so discordeden ? at oon fro ? at o? er most[e]
dep{ar}ten {and} vnioigne{n} ? e ? i{n}ges ? at ben co{n}ioigned.
yif ? ere ne were oon ? at contened[e] ? at he ha? co{n}ioigned 2900
{and} ybounde.
[Sidenote: The order that reigns throughout nature could not
proceed so regularly and uniformly if there were not a Being,
unchangeable and stedfast, to order and dispose so great a
diversity of changes. ]
ne ? e certein ordre of nature ne
sholde. nat brynge fur? e so ordinee moeuynge. by
places. by tymes. by doynges. by spaces. by qualites.
yif ? ere ne were oon ? at were ay stedfast dwellynge. 2904
? at ordeyned[e] {and} disposed[e] ? ise diuersites of
moeuynges.
[Sidenote: This Being, the creator and ruler of all things, I call
God. ]
? and ? ilke ? inge what so euer it be. by
whiche ? at alle ? inges ben maked {and} ylad. I clepe
hym god ? at is a worde ? at is vsed to alle folke. 2908
[Sidenote: _P. _ As thy sentiments on these points are so just I
have but little more to do--for thou mayest be happy and secure,
and revisit thy own country. ]
? an seide she. syn ? ou felest ? us ? ise ? inges q{uo}d she. I
trowe ? at I haue lytel more to done. ? at ? ou my? ty of
wilfulnesse hool {and} sounde ne se eftsones ? i contre.
[Linenotes:
2875, 2877 _lost[e]_--loste
2878 _burden_--burdene
2879 _look[e]_--looke
2880 _firste_--fyrst
2883 _whiche_--which
_gouerment_--gou{er}nement
_worlde_--wordyl
2885 _wist[e]_--wiste
2887 _pleynely_--pleynly
2888 _here byforne_--her byforn
2889 _worlde is_--world nis
2890 _? itte doute_--yit ne dowte
_nil_--nel
2892 _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot
2892, 2894 _worlde_--world
2893 _answere_--answeren
2894 _many_--manye
2895 _my? ten_--myhte
2896 _? ere_--ther
_many[e]_--manye
2897 [_diuerse_]--from C.
_hire_--hir
2898 _most[e]_--moste
2900 _? ere_--ther
_contened[e]_--contenede
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
2902 _fur? e_--forth
_ordinee moeuynge_--ordene moeuynges
2904 _? ere_--ther
_stedfast_--stidefast
2905 _ordeyned[e]_--ordeynede
_disposed[e]_--disponede
2907 _whiche_--which
_ben_--be
_ylad_--MS. yladde, C. I-ladd
2908 _worde_--word
_folke_--foolk
2911 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse]
[Headnote:
GOD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT. ]
[Sidenote: But let us reflect a little more upon these matters. ]
? But lat vs loken ? e ? inges ? at we han
p{ur}posed her-byforn. [[pg 103]]
[Sidenote: Did we not agree that _Sufficiency_ is of the nature of
true happiness? ]
? Haue I nat nou{m}bred {and} seid q{uod} she 2913
? at suffisaunce is in blisfulnesse.
[Sidenote: And have we not seen that God is that true felicity,
and that He needs no external aid nor instruments? ]
{and} we han accorded
? at god is {and} ? ilke same blisfulnesse. ? yis forso? e q{uo}d
I. {and} ? at to gouerne ? is worlde q{uod} she. ne shal he 2916
neuer han nede of none helpe fro wi? oute.
[Sidenote: For if he should, he would not be self-sufficient. ]
for ellys yif
he had[de] nede of any helpe. he ne sholde not haue
[no] ful suffisau{n}ce. ? is ? us it mot nedes be q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: And he directs all things by himself alone? ]
? ? an ordeyne? he by hym self al oon alle ? inges q{uo}d 2920
she.
[Sidenote: _B. _ It cannot be gainsaid. ]
? at may nat ben denied q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ I have shown that God is the chief good; God must,
therefore, direct and order all things by _good_, since he governs
them by himself, whom we have proved to be the _supreme good_, and
he is that helm and rudder, by which this machine of the world is
steadily and securely conducted. ]
? And I haue
shewed ? at god is ? e same good. ? It reme{m}bre? me
wel q{uo}d I. ? ? an ordeine? he alle ? inges by ? ilke
goode q{uod} she. Syn he whiche we han accorded to 2924
ben good gouerne? alle ? i{n}g{us} by hym self. {and} he is a
keye {and} a stiere by whiche ? at ? e edifice of ? is worlde
is ykept stable {and} wi? oute corumpynge
[Sidenote: _B. _ I entirely agree to this, and partly anticipated
your remarks. ]
? I accorde
me gretly q{uod} I. {and} I ap{er}ceiuede a litel here byforn 2928
? at ? ou woldest seyne ? us. Al be it so ? at it were by
a ? inne suspeciou{n}.
[Sidenote: _P. _ I believe it; for your eyes are now more intent
upon these great truths relating to true felicity; but what I am
going to say is not less open to your view. ]
I trowe it wel q{uo}d she. ? For as
I trowe ? ou leedest nowe more ententifly ? ine eyen to
loken ? e verray goodes ? but na? eles ? e ? inges ? at I 2932
shal telle ? e ? it ne shewe? nat lasse to loken.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what is
? at q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ As we believe that God governs all things by his
goodness, and that all things have a natural tendency towards the
_good_, can it be doubted but that they all voluntarily submit to
the will and control of their ruler?
they departyn lyhtly // {and} yeuen place to hem ? {a}t
brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retorne{n} 2772
sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben
arraced //
[Sidenote: Fire avoids and utterly refuses any such division. ]
but fyr [fleet? ] {and} refuseth alle deuysyou{n} /
[Sidenote: I am not now treating of the voluntary motion of a
conscious soul, but of the natural intention and instinct. ]
ne I. ne trete nat heer{e} now of weleful moeuynges of the
sowle ? {a}t is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciou{n} 2776
of thinges //
[Sidenote: We swallow our meat without thinking of it, and we draw
our breath in sleep without perception. ]
As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete ? {a}t we
resseyuen {and} ne thinke nat on it / {and} as we drawen
owr{e} breth in slepynge ? {a}t we wite it nat whil we slepyt //
[Sidenote: The love of life in animals is not derived from an
intellectual will, but from natural principles implanted in them. ]
For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of 2780
hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle //
but of the bygynnyngis of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: For the will, induced by powerful reasons, sometimes
chooses and embraces death, although nature dreads and abhors it. ]
For certes thorw
constreynynge causes / wil desireth {and} embraceth ful
ofte tyme / the deth ? {a}t natur{e} dredith
// that is to seyn [[pg 99]]
as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som 2785
cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which
? {a}t natur{e} hateth {and} dredeth ful sore //
[Sidenote: And, on the contrary, we see that concupiscence (by
which alone the human race is perpetuated) is often restrained by
the will. ]
And som tyme
we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / 2788
destorbeth {and} constreyneth ? {a}t ? {a}t natur{e} desireth / and
requereth al-wey // that is to sein the werk of gen{er}aciou{n} /
by the whiche gen{er}aciou{n} only / dwelleth {and} is sustenyd
the longe durablete of mortal thinges //
[Sidenote: Self-love possessed by every creature is not the
product of volition, but proceeds from a natural impression or
intention of nature. ]
And thus 2792
this charite and this Loue ? {a}t eu{er}y thing hath to hym
self ne comth nat of the moeuynge of the sowle / but of
the entenciou{n} of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: Providence has implanted in all created things an
instinct, for the purpose of self-preservation, by which they
desire to prolong existence to its utmost limits. ]
For the puruyance of god
hat yeuen to thinges ? {a}t ben creat of hym / this ? {a}t is 2796
a ful gret cause / to lyuen {and} to duren / for which they
desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as eu{er} they mowen //
[Linenotes:
2774 [_fleeth_]--from H.
2775 _weleful_--H. wilfull{e}
2779 _slepyt_--H. slepe{n}
2788 _seeth_--H. seen)
_wil_--H. will{e}
2792 _And_--H. as
2796 _hat_--H. haue]
[Headnote:
THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT. ]
[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists
desires existence and avoids dissolution. ]
For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that
alle the thinges / that ben anywher{e} / that they ne requeren 2800
naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of p{er}durable
dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyou{n} //
[Sidenote: _B. _ You have made those things perfectly plain and
intelligible, which before were obscure and doubtful. ]
B //
now confesse I. wel q{uod} I. that I. see wel now certeynly /
w{i}t{h} owte dowtes / the thinges that whylom semeden 2804
vncerteyn to me /
[Sidenote: _P. _ That which desires to subsist desires also to
retain its unity for if this be taken away it cannot continue to
exist. ]
P. // but q{uod} she thilke thyng ? {a}t
desiret? to be {and} to dwellyn p{er}durablely / he desireth
to ben oon // For yif ? {a}t that oon weer{e} destroied // certes
beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht //
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is very true! ]
that 2808
is sot? q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ All things then desire one thing--unity. ]
Thanne q{uod} she desirin alle thinges
oon //
[Sidenote: _B. _ They do. ]
. I. assente q{uod} . I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Unity then is the same as good. ]
{and} I haue shewyd q{uod} she
that thilke same oon is thilke that is good //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Yes. ]
B // ye forsothe
q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Thus all things desire good--and it is one and the
same good that all creatures desire. ]
Alle thinges thanne q{uod} she requyren 2812
good // And thilke good thanne [? ow] maist descryuen
ryht thus // Good is thilke thing ? {a}t euery wyht desireth //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Nothing is more true. For either all things must
be reduced to nothing (or have no relation to anything else), and,
destitute of a head, float about without control or order; or if
there be anything to which all things tend, that must be the
supreme good. ]
Ther ne may be thowht q{uod} . I. no moor{e}
verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred {and} 2816
browht to nowht / {and} floteryn w{i}t{h} owte gou{er}nour
despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif [[pg 100]]
ther be any thinge / to which ? {a}t alle thinges tenden
{and} hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of 2820
alle goodes /
[Sidenote: _P. _ I rejoice greatly, my dear pupil, that you so
clearly apprehend this truth, of which but just now you were
ignorant. ]
P /. thanne seyde she thus // O my norry
q{uod} she I haue gret gladnesse of the // For thow
hast fichched in thin herte the myddel sothtfastnesse //
that is to seyn the prykke // but this thing hath ben 2824
descouered to the / in that thow seydyst ? {a}t thow
wystest nat a lytel her by-forn //
[Sidenote: _B. _ What was that? ]
what was th{a}t q{uod} I. //
[Headnote:
THE END OF ALL THINGS. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ The _End of all things_. And this is what every
one desires; but we have shown that _good_ is the thing desired by
all, therefore _Good_ is the _End of all things_. ]
That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was
the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing ? {a}t 2828
eu{er}y wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han
gaderid / {and} co{m}p{re}hendyd that good is thilke thing
that is desired of alle / thanne moten we nedes confessun /
that good is the fyn of alle thinges. 2832
[Linenotes:
2800 _the_--H. ? o
2806 _perdurablely_--H. p{er}durably
2807 _destroied_--H. destrued
2811 _thilke_ (1)--H. ilke
2818 _heued or elles_--H. hede or els
2820 _hyen_--H. hyen) to
_moste_--H. must]
[Headnote:
TRUTH INTUITIVE. ]
QUISQUIS P{RO}FUNDA MENTE.
[Sidenote: [The . 11. Met{ru}m. ]]
[Sidenote: He who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling
to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the
inner light upon the soul itself. ]
++WHo so that sekith sot? by a deep thoght And
coueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes //
lat hym rollen {and} trenden w{i}t{h} Inne hym self / the Lyht
of his inward syhte // And lat hym gader{e} ayein enclynynge 2836
in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys
thowhtes /
[Sidenote: The knowledge that he seeks without he will find
treasured up in the recesses of the mind. ]
And lat hym techen his corage that he hath
enclosed {and} hyd / in his tresors / al ? {a}t he compaseth or
sekith fro w{i}t{h} owte //
[Sidenote: The light of Truth will disperse Error's dark clouds,
and shine forth brighter than the sun. ]
And thanne thilke thing that the 2840
blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal
lyhten more clerly tha{n}ne pheb{us} hym self ne shyneth //
[Sidenote: [Chaucer's gloss. ]]
Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of soth 2843
in his thowht / {and} wol nat be deceyuyd by false p{ro}posiciou{n}s /
that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym wel
examine / {and} rolle w{i}t{h} inne hym self the natur{e} {and}
the p{ro}pretes of the thing // and lat hym yit eft sones
examine {and} rollen his thowhtes by good deliberaciou{n} 2848
or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it [[pg 101]]
hat by naturel pryncyplis kyndeliche y-hyd w{i}t{h} in
it self alle the trowthe the whiche he ymagynith to ben
in thinges w{i}t{h} owte // And thanne alle the dyrknesse of 2852
his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [? e]
syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semyth
to [? e] syhte w{i}t{h} owte forth /
[Sidenote: For when the body enclosed the soul and cast oblivion
o'er its powers it did wholly exterminate the heaven-born light. ]
For certes the body
bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd 2856
owt of yowr{e} thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //
[Sidenote: The germs of truth were latent within, and were fanned
into action by the gentle breath of learning. ]
For certeynly the seed of sooth haldith {and} clyueth
w{i}t{h} in yowr{e} corage / {and} it is a-waked {and} excited by
the wynde {and} by the blastes of doctryne //
[Sidenote: Were not truth implanted in the heart, how could man
distinguish right from wrong? ]
For wher{e} 2860
for elles demen ye of yowr{e} owne wyl the ryhtes whan
ye ben axed // but yif so wer{e} ? {a}t the noryssynges of
resou{n} ne lyuede . I. -plowngyd in the depthe of yowr{e}
herte // this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen ? e 2864
sooth of any thing ? {a}t weer{e} axed / yif ther neer{e} a
Roote of sothfastnesse ? {a}t weer{e} yplowngyd {and} hyd in
the natur{e}[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesse
lyued w{i}t{h} in the depnesse of the thowght //
[Sidenote: So, if what Plato taught is true, 'to learn is no other
than to remember what had been before forgotten. ']
{and} yif 2868
so be ? {a}t the Muse {and} the doctryne of plato syngyth
sooth // al ? {a}t eu{er}y whyht lerneth / he ne doth no
thing elles tha{n}ne but recordeth as me{n} recordyn thinges
? {a}t ben foryetyn. 2872
[Linenotes:
2838 _his_--H. ? is
_that_--H. {and} ? {a}t
2841 _blake_--H. blak
_hadde y-couered_--H. had cou{er}ed
2842 _lyhten_--H. light
2843 _dep[e]_--C. dep, H. depe
2847 _thing_--H. ? yng{es}
2863 _depthe_--H. depe
2864 [_is_]--from H.
_sholden_--H. shulde
2867 _nature[l]_--H. nat{ur}ell{e}]
[Headnote:
THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD. ]
TUM EGO PLATONI INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The . 12. p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I am quite of Plato's opinion, for you have now a
second time recalled these things to my remembrance which had been
forgotten, first by the contagious union of soul and body, and
afterwards by the pressure of my afflictions. ]
++THanne seide I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / for
thow remenbrist {and} recordist me thise thinges yit]
[Sidenote: [*_Addit. MS. 10,340, fol. 23. _]]
*? e seconde tyme. ? at is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] my
memorie by ? e co{n}tagio? s coniuncc{i}ou{n} of ? e body wi? 2876
? e soule. {and} eftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it co{n}founded
by ? e charge {and} by ? e burden of my sorwe.
[Sidenote: _P. _ If you will reflect upon the concessions you have
already made, you will soon call to mind that truth, of which you
lately confessed your ignorance. ]
? And ? an sayde she ? us. ? If ? ou look[e] q{uo}d she
firste ? e ? inges ? at ? ou hast graunted it ne shal nat 2880
ben ry? t feer ? at ? ou ne shalt remembren ? ilke ? ing ? at [[pg 102]]
? ou seidest ? at ? ou nistest nat.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what ? ing q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It was, by what power the world is governed. ]
? by whiche gouerme{n}t q{uo}d she ? at ? is worlde is
gouerned.
[Sidenote: _B. _ With regard to that, I own I confessed my
ignorance, but though I now remotely see what you infer, yet I
wish for further explanation from you. ]
Me remembri? it wel q{uo}d I. {and} I confesse 2884
wel ? at I ne wist[e] it nat ? But al be it so ? at
I se now fro{m} afer what ? ou p{ur}posest ? Algates I
desire ? it to herkene it of ? e more pleynely.
[Sidenote: _P.
_ You acknowledged a little while ago that this
world was governed by God? ]
? ? ou ne
wendest nat q{uo}d she a litel here byforne ? at men 2888
sholden doute ? at ? is worlde is gouerned by god.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I still cling to this opinion, and will give you
my reasons for this belief. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I ne ? itte doute I it nau? t. ne I nil
neuer wene ? at it were to doute. as who sei? . but I
wot wel ? at god gouerne? ? is worlde. ? And I shal 2892
shortly answere ? e by what resou{n}s I am brou? t to ? is.
[Sidenote: The discordant elements of this world would never have
assumed their present form unless there had been a wise
Intelligence to unite them; and even after such a union, the
joining of such opposites would have disunited and ruined the
fabric made up of them, had not the same conjoining hand kept them
together. ]
? ? is worlde q{uod} I of so many dyuerse {and} co{n}trarious
p{ar}ties ne my? ten neuer han ben assembled in o forme.
but yif ? ere ne were oon ? at conioigned so many[e 2896
diu{er}se] ? inges. ? And ? e same diuersite of hire
natures ? at so discordeden ? at oon fro ? at o? er most[e]
dep{ar}ten {and} vnioigne{n} ? e ? i{n}ges ? at ben co{n}ioigned.
yif ? ere ne were oon ? at contened[e] ? at he ha? co{n}ioigned 2900
{and} ybounde.
[Sidenote: The order that reigns throughout nature could not
proceed so regularly and uniformly if there were not a Being,
unchangeable and stedfast, to order and dispose so great a
diversity of changes. ]
ne ? e certein ordre of nature ne
sholde. nat brynge fur? e so ordinee moeuynge. by
places. by tymes. by doynges. by spaces. by qualites.
yif ? ere ne were oon ? at were ay stedfast dwellynge. 2904
? at ordeyned[e] {and} disposed[e] ? ise diuersites of
moeuynges.
[Sidenote: This Being, the creator and ruler of all things, I call
God. ]
? and ? ilke ? inge what so euer it be. by
whiche ? at alle ? inges ben maked {and} ylad. I clepe
hym god ? at is a worde ? at is vsed to alle folke. 2908
[Sidenote: _P. _ As thy sentiments on these points are so just I
have but little more to do--for thou mayest be happy and secure,
and revisit thy own country. ]
? an seide she. syn ? ou felest ? us ? ise ? inges q{uo}d she. I
trowe ? at I haue lytel more to done. ? at ? ou my? ty of
wilfulnesse hool {and} sounde ne se eftsones ? i contre.
[Linenotes:
2875, 2877 _lost[e]_--loste
2878 _burden_--burdene
2879 _look[e]_--looke
2880 _firste_--fyrst
2883 _whiche_--which
_gouerment_--gou{er}nement
_worlde_--wordyl
2885 _wist[e]_--wiste
2887 _pleynely_--pleynly
2888 _here byforne_--her byforn
2889 _worlde is_--world nis
2890 _? itte doute_--yit ne dowte
_nil_--nel
2892 _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot
2892, 2894 _worlde_--world
2893 _answere_--answeren
2894 _many_--manye
2895 _my? ten_--myhte
2896 _? ere_--ther
_many[e]_--manye
2897 [_diuerse_]--from C.
_hire_--hir
2898 _most[e]_--moste
2900 _? ere_--ther
_contened[e]_--contenede
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
2902 _fur? e_--forth
_ordinee moeuynge_--ordene moeuynges
2904 _? ere_--ther
_stedfast_--stidefast
2905 _ordeyned[e]_--ordeynede
_disposed[e]_--disponede
2907 _whiche_--which
_ben_--be
_ylad_--MS. yladde, C. I-ladd
2908 _worde_--word
_folke_--foolk
2911 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse]
[Headnote:
GOD IS ALL-SUFFICIENT. ]
[Sidenote: But let us reflect a little more upon these matters. ]
? But lat vs loken ? e ? inges ? at we han
p{ur}posed her-byforn. [[pg 103]]
[Sidenote: Did we not agree that _Sufficiency_ is of the nature of
true happiness? ]
? Haue I nat nou{m}bred {and} seid q{uod} she 2913
? at suffisaunce is in blisfulnesse.
[Sidenote: And have we not seen that God is that true felicity,
and that He needs no external aid nor instruments? ]
{and} we han accorded
? at god is {and} ? ilke same blisfulnesse. ? yis forso? e q{uo}d
I. {and} ? at to gouerne ? is worlde q{uod} she. ne shal he 2916
neuer han nede of none helpe fro wi? oute.
[Sidenote: For if he should, he would not be self-sufficient. ]
for ellys yif
he had[de] nede of any helpe. he ne sholde not haue
[no] ful suffisau{n}ce. ? is ? us it mot nedes be q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: And he directs all things by himself alone? ]
? ? an ordeyne? he by hym self al oon alle ? inges q{uo}d 2920
she.
[Sidenote: _B. _ It cannot be gainsaid. ]
? at may nat ben denied q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ I have shown that God is the chief good; God must,
therefore, direct and order all things by _good_, since he governs
them by himself, whom we have proved to be the _supreme good_, and
he is that helm and rudder, by which this machine of the world is
steadily and securely conducted. ]
? And I haue
shewed ? at god is ? e same good. ? It reme{m}bre? me
wel q{uo}d I. ? ? an ordeine? he alle ? inges by ? ilke
goode q{uod} she. Syn he whiche we han accorded to 2924
ben good gouerne? alle ? i{n}g{us} by hym self. {and} he is a
keye {and} a stiere by whiche ? at ? e edifice of ? is worlde
is ykept stable {and} wi? oute corumpynge
[Sidenote: _B. _ I entirely agree to this, and partly anticipated
your remarks. ]
? I accorde
me gretly q{uod} I. {and} I ap{er}ceiuede a litel here byforn 2928
? at ? ou woldest seyne ? us. Al be it so ? at it were by
a ? inne suspeciou{n}.
[Sidenote: _P. _ I believe it; for your eyes are now more intent
upon these great truths relating to true felicity; but what I am
going to say is not less open to your view. ]
I trowe it wel q{uo}d she. ? For as
I trowe ? ou leedest nowe more ententifly ? ine eyen to
loken ? e verray goodes ? but na? eles ? e ? inges ? at I 2932
shal telle ? e ? it ne shewe? nat lasse to loken.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what is
? at q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ As we believe that God governs all things by his
goodness, and that all things have a natural tendency towards the
_good_, can it be doubted but that they all voluntarily submit to
the will and control of their ruler?
