is be gretly to
consydere
?
Chaucer - Boethius
_--MS.
ha?
e]
[Headnote:
THE SEARCH AFTER FELICITY. ]
VOSQ{UE} TERRENA ANIMALIA.
[Sidenote: [The 3^de p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: O earthly animals, you have an indistinct perception of
your beginning, and you have ever the true end of felicity in
view, but your natural instincts are perverted by many errors. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 16 _b_. ]]
*++CErtis also ? e men ? at ben er? elich{e} bestes dreme{n} 1888
alwey [yowre bygynnynge] al ? ou? it be wi? a
? inne ymaginac{i}ou{n}. {and} by a maner ? ou? t al be it
nat clerly ne p{er}fitly ? e looken from a fer til ? ilk 1891
verray fyn of blisfulnesse. and ? erfore ? e naturel entenc{i}ou{n}
lede? ? ow to ? ilk verray good ? But
many manere errours misto{ur}ni? ? ow ? er fro.
[Sidenote: Can men obtain the end they have in view by the means
they usually employ in the pursuit of happiness? ]
? Considere
now yif ? at be ? ilke ? inges by whiche a man
weni? to gete hym blysfulnesse. yif ? at he may comen 1896
to ? ilke ende ? at he wene? to come by nature
[Sidenote: If riches and honours and the like make men happy, so
that they shall want for nothing, then happiness may be procured
by these acquisitions. ]
? For
yif ? at moneye or hono{ur}s or ? ise o? er forseide ? inges
bryngen to men swiche a ? ing ? at no goode ne faille
hem. ne seme? faille. ? Certys ? an wil I graunt[e] 1900
? at ? ei ben maked blisful. by ? ilke ? inges ? at ? ei han
geten.
[Sidenote: But if these things cannot make good what they promise,
if there still be something to be desired, then they are
delusions, and the felicity after all is a counterfeit. ]
? but yif so be ? at ? ilke ? i{n}ges ne mowe nat
p{er}fo{ur}men ? at ? ei by-heten {and} ? at ? er be defaute of
many goodes. ? Shewe? it nat ? an clerely ? {a}t fals 1904
beaute of blisfulnesse is knowe {and} a-teint in ? ilke
? inges. ? First {and} forward ? ou ? i self ? at haddest
haboundaunces of rycchesses nat long agon. [[pg 70]]
[Sidenote: In your prosperity were you never annoyed by some wrong
or grievance? ]
? I axe
? if ? at in ? e haboundaunce of alle ? ilk[e] rycchesses 1908
? ou were neuer anguissous or sory in ? i corage of any
wrong or greuau{n}ce ? at by-tidde ? e on any syde.
[Linenotes:
1889 [_yowre bygynnynge_]--from C.
_al_--MS. as, C. Al
1891 _from_--fram
_til ? ilk_--to thylke
1892 _? e_--omitted
1893 _? ilk_--thylke
1895 _be_--by
1896 _gete_--geten
1899 _swiche_--swych
_goode_--good
1900 _wil_--wole
_graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
1904 _many_--manye
_clerely_--clerly
_fals_--false
1905 _knowe_--knowen
1908 _? ilk[e]_--thylke]
[Headnote:
NONE ARE FREE FROM CARE. ]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I must confess that I cannot remember ever being
wholly free from some trouble or other. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I it remembre? me nat ? at euere I was
so free of my ? ou? t. ? at I ne was al-wey in anguysh{e} of 1912
somwhat.
[Sidenote: _P. _ That was because something was absent which you
did desire, or something present which you would fain be quit of. ]
? {a}t was ? at ? ou lakkedest ? at ? ou noldest
han lakked. or ellys ? ou haddest ? at ? ou noldest
han had.
[Sidenote: _B. _ That's quite true. ]
ry? t so is it q{uod} I ? an.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then you did desire the presence of the one and
the absence of the other? ]
desiredest ? ou
? e p{re}sence of ? at oon {and} ? e absence of ? at o? er. 1916
[Sidenote: _B. _ I confess I did. ]
I graunt[e] wel q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Every man is in need of what he desires. ]
for so? e q{uod} she ? an nedi? ? er
somwhat ? at euery man desire? .
[Sidenote: _B. _ Certainly he is. ]
? e ? er nedi? q{uod} I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ If a man lack anything can he be supremely happy? ]
? Certis q{uod} she {and} he ? at ha? lakke or nede of a
wy? t nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self. 1920
[Sidenote: _B. _ No. ]
no q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Did you not in your abundance want for somewhat? ]
{and} ? ou q{uo}d she in alle ? e plente of ? i
rycchesse haddest ? ilke lak of suffisaunce.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What then if I did? ]
? what
ellis q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It follows that riches cannot put a man beyond all
want, although this was what they seemed to promise. ]
? ? anne may nat rycchesse maken ? at a
man nis nedy. ne ? at he be suffisaunt to hym self. {and} 1924
? at was it ? {a}t ? ei byhy? ten as it seme? .
[Sidenote: Money may part company with its owner, however
unwilling he may be to lose it. ]
? and eke
certys I trowe ? at ?
is be gretly to consydere ? at moneye
ne ha? nat in hys owen kynde ? at it ne may ben by-nomen
of hem ? at han it maugre hem.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I confess that's true. ]
? I by-knowe 1928
it wel q{uod} I
[Sidenote: _P. _ It ought to be confessed when every day we see
_might_ prevailing over _right_. ]
? whi sholdest ? ou nat by-knowen it
q{uod} she. whan euery day ? e strenger folke by-nymen
it fram ? e febler maugre hem.
[Sidenote: From whence springs so much litigation, but from this,
that men seek to recover their own of which they have been
unjustly deprived? ]
? Fro whennes comen
ellys alle ? ise foreine compleintes or quereles of 1932
plety{n}g{us}. ? But for ? at men axen a? eine her moneye
? at ha? be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle. {and}
alwey maugre hem.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Nothing is more true. ]
? Ry? t so it is q{uod} I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then a man needs the assistance of others in order
to keep his riches. ]
? an q{uo}d
she ha? a man nede to seke{n} hym foreyne helpe by 1936
whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nay q{uod} . I.
[Linenotes:
1913 _? at----lakkedest_--And was nat ? {a}t q{uod} she for
? {a}t the lacked som-what
1915 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
1917 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
1919 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_a wy? t_--awht
1921 _alle_--al
1922 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
_lak_--lakke
1923 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1927 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_owen_--owne
1930 _strenger folke by-nymen_--strenger{e} folk by-nemyn
1931 _fram_--fro
_febler_--febeler{e}
_Fro_--for
1933 _a? eine_--ayeyn
1934 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_be_--ben
1936 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_helpe_--help
1937 _say_--sey]
[[pg 71]]
[Headnote:
RICHES BRING ANXIETIES. ]
[Sidenote: If he had no money to lose he would not stand in need
of this help? ]
? Certis q{uod} she {and} hym nedi? no helpe
yif he ne hadde no moneye ? at he my? t[e] leese.
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is beyond all doubt. ]
? ? at
is doutles q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then the very reverse of what was expected (from
riches) takes place? For riches add to a man's necessities. ]
? anne is ? is ? i{n}g turned in to ? e contrarie 1940
q{uod} she ? For rycchesse ? at men wenen sholde
make suffisau{n}ce. ? ei maken a man ra? er han nede of
foreine helpe.
[Sidenote: Tell me how do riches drive away necessity? Are not
rich men liable to hunger, thirst, and cold? ]
? whiche is ? e manere or ? e gise q{uod}
she ? at rycches may dryuen awey nede. ? Riche folk 1944
may ? ei nei? er han hungre ne ? rest. ? ise ryche men
may ? ei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter.
[Sidenote: You will say that the rich have wherewithal to satisfy
these wants. ]
? But
? ou wilt answere ? at ryche men han y-nou? wher wi?
? ei may staunchen her hunger. {and} slaken her ? rest 1948
{and} don awey colde.
[Sidenote: By riches indigence may be alleviated, but they cannot
satisfy every want. ]
? In ? is wise may nede be co{n}forted
by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al
out{er}ly be don awey.
[Sidenote: Even if gaping and greedy necessity be filled with
riches, yet some cravings will remain. ]
for ? ou? ? is nede ? at is alwey
gapyng {and} gredy be fulfilled wi? rycchesses. {and} axe 1952
any ? ing ? it dwelle? ? anne a nede ? at my? t[e] ben fulfilled.
[Sidenote: A little suffices for nature, but avarice never has
enough. ]
? I holde me stille {and} telle nat how ? at litel
? ing suffise? to nature. but certys to auarice ynou? ne
suffise? no ? inge.
[Sidenote: If riches, then, add to our wants, why should you think
that they can supply all your necessities? ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 17. ]]
*? For syn ? at rychesse ne may nat 1956
al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may
it ? anne be ? at ? e wenen ? at rychesses mowen ? eue{n}
? ow suffisau{n}ce.
[Linenotes:
1938 _nedi? no helpe_--nedede non help
1939 _my? t[e]_--myhte
1940 _doutles_--dowteles
1941 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1943 _helpe_--help
_whiche_--whych
1944 _rycches_--Rychesse
_dryuen_--dryue
1945 _hungre_--hungyr
_? rest_--thurst
1946 _? ei_--the
_colde_--coold
_in_--on
1947 _wilt answere_--wolt Answeren
_y-nou? _--y-now
1948 _? rest_--thurst
1949 _colde_--coold
1950 _nat_--omitted
1951 _outerly_--vtrely
1953 _my? t[e] ben_--myhte be
1957 _rychesse_--Rychesses]
QUAMUIS FLUENTER DIUES.
[Sidenote: [The 3^de Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: The rich man, had he a river of gold, would never rest
content. ]
++Al were it so ? at a ryche couetous man hadde riuer 1960
fletynge alle of golde ? itte sholde it neuer staunche
hys couetise.
[Sidenote: Though his neck be loaded with precious pearls, and his
fields be covered with innumerable herds, yet shall unquiet care
never forsake him; and at his death his riches shall not bear him
company. ]
? And ? ou? he hadde his nekke I-charged
wi? p{re}ciouse stones of ? e rede see. {and} ? ou? he do
erye his feldes plentiuo{us} wi? an hundre? oxen neuere 1964
ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while he
lyue? . ne ? e ly? t[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym [[pg 72]]
compaignie whanne he is dede.
[Linenotes:
1960 _riuer_--a Ryu{er}
1961 _alle_--al
_golde_--gold
_? itte_--yit
_staunche_--stau{n}chyn
1962, 1963 _? ou? _--thow
1964 _erye_--Ere
_hundre? _--hundred
1965 _while_--whyl
1966 _ly? t[e]_--lyhte
_shal_--shol
1967 _dede_--ded]
[Headnote:
OF DIGNITIES. ]
SET DIGNITATIB{US}. [4]
[Footnote 4: Read _dignitates_. ]
[Sidenote: [The 4^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: It may be said that _dignities_ confer honour on their
possessors. ]
++Bvt dignitees to whom ? ei ben comen make ? ei hym 1968
honorable {and} reuerent.
[Sidenote: But have they power to destroy vice or implant virtue
in the heart? ]
han ? ei nat so grete streng? e
? at ? ei may putte vertues in ? e hertis of folk.
[Headnote:
THE SEARCH AFTER FELICITY. ]
VOSQ{UE} TERRENA ANIMALIA.
[Sidenote: [The 3^de p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: O earthly animals, you have an indistinct perception of
your beginning, and you have ever the true end of felicity in
view, but your natural instincts are perverted by many errors. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 16 _b_. ]]
*++CErtis also ? e men ? at ben er? elich{e} bestes dreme{n} 1888
alwey [yowre bygynnynge] al ? ou? it be wi? a
? inne ymaginac{i}ou{n}. {and} by a maner ? ou? t al be it
nat clerly ne p{er}fitly ? e looken from a fer til ? ilk 1891
verray fyn of blisfulnesse. and ? erfore ? e naturel entenc{i}ou{n}
lede? ? ow to ? ilk verray good ? But
many manere errours misto{ur}ni? ? ow ? er fro.
[Sidenote: Can men obtain the end they have in view by the means
they usually employ in the pursuit of happiness? ]
? Considere
now yif ? at be ? ilke ? inges by whiche a man
weni? to gete hym blysfulnesse. yif ? at he may comen 1896
to ? ilke ende ? at he wene? to come by nature
[Sidenote: If riches and honours and the like make men happy, so
that they shall want for nothing, then happiness may be procured
by these acquisitions. ]
? For
yif ? at moneye or hono{ur}s or ? ise o? er forseide ? inges
bryngen to men swiche a ? ing ? at no goode ne faille
hem. ne seme? faille. ? Certys ? an wil I graunt[e] 1900
? at ? ei ben maked blisful. by ? ilke ? inges ? at ? ei han
geten.
[Sidenote: But if these things cannot make good what they promise,
if there still be something to be desired, then they are
delusions, and the felicity after all is a counterfeit. ]
? but yif so be ? at ? ilke ? i{n}ges ne mowe nat
p{er}fo{ur}men ? at ? ei by-heten {and} ? at ? er be defaute of
many goodes. ? Shewe? it nat ? an clerely ? {a}t fals 1904
beaute of blisfulnesse is knowe {and} a-teint in ? ilke
? inges. ? First {and} forward ? ou ? i self ? at haddest
haboundaunces of rycchesses nat long agon. [[pg 70]]
[Sidenote: In your prosperity were you never annoyed by some wrong
or grievance? ]
? I axe
? if ? at in ? e haboundaunce of alle ? ilk[e] rycchesses 1908
? ou were neuer anguissous or sory in ? i corage of any
wrong or greuau{n}ce ? at by-tidde ? e on any syde.
[Linenotes:
1889 [_yowre bygynnynge_]--from C.
_al_--MS. as, C. Al
1891 _from_--fram
_til ? ilk_--to thylke
1892 _? e_--omitted
1893 _? ilk_--thylke
1895 _be_--by
1896 _gete_--geten
1899 _swiche_--swych
_goode_--good
1900 _wil_--wole
_graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
1904 _many_--manye
_clerely_--clerly
_fals_--false
1905 _knowe_--knowen
1908 _? ilk[e]_--thylke]
[Headnote:
NONE ARE FREE FROM CARE. ]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I must confess that I cannot remember ever being
wholly free from some trouble or other. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I it remembre? me nat ? at euere I was
so free of my ? ou? t. ? at I ne was al-wey in anguysh{e} of 1912
somwhat.
[Sidenote: _P. _ That was because something was absent which you
did desire, or something present which you would fain be quit of. ]
? {a}t was ? at ? ou lakkedest ? at ? ou noldest
han lakked. or ellys ? ou haddest ? at ? ou noldest
han had.
[Sidenote: _B. _ That's quite true. ]
ry? t so is it q{uod} I ? an.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then you did desire the presence of the one and
the absence of the other? ]
desiredest ? ou
? e p{re}sence of ? at oon {and} ? e absence of ? at o? er. 1916
[Sidenote: _B. _ I confess I did. ]
I graunt[e] wel q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Every man is in need of what he desires. ]
for so? e q{uod} she ? an nedi? ? er
somwhat ? at euery man desire? .
[Sidenote: _B. _ Certainly he is. ]
? e ? er nedi? q{uod} I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ If a man lack anything can he be supremely happy? ]
? Certis q{uod} she {and} he ? at ha? lakke or nede of a
wy? t nis nat in euery way suffisaunt to hym self. 1920
[Sidenote: _B. _ No. ]
no q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Did you not in your abundance want for somewhat? ]
{and} ? ou q{uo}d she in alle ? e plente of ? i
rycchesse haddest ? ilke lak of suffisaunce.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What then if I did? ]
? what
ellis q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It follows that riches cannot put a man beyond all
want, although this was what they seemed to promise. ]
? ? anne may nat rycchesse maken ? at a
man nis nedy. ne ? at he be suffisaunt to hym self. {and} 1924
? at was it ? {a}t ? ei byhy? ten as it seme? .
[Sidenote: Money may part company with its owner, however
unwilling he may be to lose it. ]
? and eke
certys I trowe ? at ?
is be gretly to consydere ? at moneye
ne ha? nat in hys owen kynde ? at it ne may ben by-nomen
of hem ? at han it maugre hem.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I confess that's true. ]
? I by-knowe 1928
it wel q{uod} I
[Sidenote: _P. _ It ought to be confessed when every day we see
_might_ prevailing over _right_. ]
? whi sholdest ? ou nat by-knowen it
q{uod} she. whan euery day ? e strenger folke by-nymen
it fram ? e febler maugre hem.
[Sidenote: From whence springs so much litigation, but from this,
that men seek to recover their own of which they have been
unjustly deprived? ]
? Fro whennes comen
ellys alle ? ise foreine compleintes or quereles of 1932
plety{n}g{us}. ? But for ? at men axen a? eine her moneye
? at ha? be by-nomen hem by force or by gyle. {and}
alwey maugre hem.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Nothing is more true. ]
? Ry? t so it is q{uod} I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then a man needs the assistance of others in order
to keep his riches. ]
? an q{uo}d
she ha? a man nede to seke{n} hym foreyne helpe by 1936
whiche he may defende hys moneye. who may say nay q{uod} . I.
[Linenotes:
1913 _? at----lakkedest_--And was nat ? {a}t q{uod} she for
? {a}t the lacked som-what
1915 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
1917 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
1919 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_a wy? t_--awht
1921 _alle_--al
1922 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
_lak_--lakke
1923 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1927 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_owen_--owne
1930 _strenger folke by-nymen_--strenger{e} folk by-nemyn
1931 _fram_--fro
_febler_--febeler{e}
_Fro_--for
1933 _a? eine_--ayeyn
1934 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_be_--ben
1936 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_helpe_--help
1937 _say_--sey]
[[pg 71]]
[Headnote:
RICHES BRING ANXIETIES. ]
[Sidenote: If he had no money to lose he would not stand in need
of this help? ]
? Certis q{uod} she {and} hym nedi? no helpe
yif he ne hadde no moneye ? at he my? t[e] leese.
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is beyond all doubt. ]
? ? at
is doutles q{uod} . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then the very reverse of what was expected (from
riches) takes place? For riches add to a man's necessities. ]
? anne is ? is ? i{n}g turned in to ? e contrarie 1940
q{uod} she ? For rycchesse ? at men wenen sholde
make suffisau{n}ce. ? ei maken a man ra? er han nede of
foreine helpe.
[Sidenote: Tell me how do riches drive away necessity? Are not
rich men liable to hunger, thirst, and cold? ]
? whiche is ? e manere or ? e gise q{uod}
she ? at rycches may dryuen awey nede. ? Riche folk 1944
may ? ei nei? er han hungre ne ? rest. ? ise ryche men
may ? ei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter.
[Sidenote: You will say that the rich have wherewithal to satisfy
these wants. ]
? But
? ou wilt answere ? at ryche men han y-nou? wher wi?
? ei may staunchen her hunger. {and} slaken her ? rest 1948
{and} don awey colde.
[Sidenote: By riches indigence may be alleviated, but they cannot
satisfy every want. ]
? In ? is wise may nede be co{n}forted
by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al
out{er}ly be don awey.
[Sidenote: Even if gaping and greedy necessity be filled with
riches, yet some cravings will remain. ]
for ? ou? ? is nede ? at is alwey
gapyng {and} gredy be fulfilled wi? rycchesses. {and} axe 1952
any ? ing ? it dwelle? ? anne a nede ? at my? t[e] ben fulfilled.
[Sidenote: A little suffices for nature, but avarice never has
enough. ]
? I holde me stille {and} telle nat how ? at litel
? ing suffise? to nature. but certys to auarice ynou? ne
suffise? no ? inge.
[Sidenote: If riches, then, add to our wants, why should you think
that they can supply all your necessities? ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 17. ]]
*? For syn ? at rychesse ne may nat 1956
al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may
it ? anne be ? at ? e wenen ? at rychesses mowen ? eue{n}
? ow suffisau{n}ce.
[Linenotes:
1938 _nedi? no helpe_--nedede non help
1939 _my? t[e]_--myhte
1940 _doutles_--dowteles
1941 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1943 _helpe_--help
_whiche_--whych
1944 _rycches_--Rychesse
_dryuen_--dryue
1945 _hungre_--hungyr
_? rest_--thurst
1946 _? ei_--the
_colde_--coold
_in_--on
1947 _wilt answere_--wolt Answeren
_y-nou? _--y-now
1948 _? rest_--thurst
1949 _colde_--coold
1950 _nat_--omitted
1951 _outerly_--vtrely
1953 _my? t[e] ben_--myhte be
1957 _rychesse_--Rychesses]
QUAMUIS FLUENTER DIUES.
[Sidenote: [The 3^de Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: The rich man, had he a river of gold, would never rest
content. ]
++Al were it so ? at a ryche couetous man hadde riuer 1960
fletynge alle of golde ? itte sholde it neuer staunche
hys couetise.
[Sidenote: Though his neck be loaded with precious pearls, and his
fields be covered with innumerable herds, yet shall unquiet care
never forsake him; and at his death his riches shall not bear him
company. ]
? And ? ou? he hadde his nekke I-charged
wi? p{re}ciouse stones of ? e rede see. {and} ? ou? he do
erye his feldes plentiuo{us} wi? an hundre? oxen neuere 1964
ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while he
lyue? . ne ? e ly? t[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym [[pg 72]]
compaignie whanne he is dede.
[Linenotes:
1960 _riuer_--a Ryu{er}
1961 _alle_--al
_golde_--gold
_? itte_--yit
_staunche_--stau{n}chyn
1962, 1963 _? ou? _--thow
1964 _erye_--Ere
_hundre? _--hundred
1965 _while_--whyl
1966 _ly? t[e]_--lyhte
_shal_--shol
1967 _dede_--ded]
[Headnote:
OF DIGNITIES. ]
SET DIGNITATIB{US}. [4]
[Footnote 4: Read _dignitates_. ]
[Sidenote: [The 4^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: It may be said that _dignities_ confer honour on their
possessors. ]
++Bvt dignitees to whom ? ei ben comen make ? ei hym 1968
honorable {and} reuerent.
[Sidenote: But have they power to destroy vice or implant virtue
in the heart? ]
han ? ei nat so grete streng? e
? at ? ei may putte vertues in ? e hertis of folk.
