by
noumbres
p{ro}porcionables.
Chaucer - Boethius
er to ?
at I
shal seine.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what is ? at q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Thinkest thou that any thing in this world can
confer this happiness? (the sovereign good). ]
? Trowest ? ou ? at 2388
? er be any ? ing in ? is er? ely mortal toumblyng ? inges
? at may bryngen ? is estat.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I think not; for nothing can be desirable beyond
such a state of perfection. ]
Certys q{uo}d I trowe it nat.
{and} ? ou hast shewed me wel ? at ouer ? ilke goode ? er
is no ? ing more to ben desired.
[Sidenote: _P. _ These imperfect things above mentioned only confer
the shadow of the supreme good, or at most only an imperfect
felicity, but they cannot bestow true and perfect happiness. ]
_P. _ ? ise ? inges ? an 2392
q{uo}d she. ? at is to seyne er? ely suffisaunce {and} power.
{and} swiche ? inges ey? er ? ei semen likenesse of verray
goode. or ellys it seme? ? at ? ei ? euen to mortal folk a
maner of goodes ? at ne ben nat perfit. ? But ? ilke 2396
goode ? at is verray {and} p{er}fit. ? at may ? ei nat ? euen.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I quite agree with you. ]
_boice. _ I. accorde me wel q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then, knowing the difference between true and
false felicity you must now learn where to look for this supreme
felicity. ]
? an q{uo}d she for as
moche as ? ou hast knowen whiche is ? ilke verray blisfulnesse.
{and} eke whiche ? ilke ? inges ben ? at lien 2400
falsly blisfulnesse. ? at is to seyne. ? at by desceit
seme{n} verray goodes.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 20 _b_. ]]
? Now byhoue? ? e to knowe{n}
*whennes {and} where ? ou mowe seek[e] ? ilke verray
blisfulnesse. ? Certys q{uo}d I ? at desijr I gretly {and} 2404
haue abiden longe tyme to herkene it.
[Sidenote: _P. _ But, as Plato says that even in the least things
the Divine assistance ought to be implored, what ought we do, to
render us worthy of so important a discovery as the true source
and seat of the sovereign good? ]
? But for as
moche q{uo}d she as it like? to my disciple plato in his
book of i{n} thimeo. ? at in ry? t lytel ? inges men sholde
bysechen ? e helpe of god. ? what iugest ? ou ? at be 2408
[now] to done so ? at we may deserue to fynde ? e sete of [[pg 87]]
? ilke souereyne goode.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Let us invoke the Father of all things. ]
_B. _ ? Certys q{uo}d . I. I. deme
? at we shulle clepen to ? e fadir of alle goodes. ? For
wi? outen hym nis ? er no ? ing founden ary? t.
[Sidenote: You are right, said Philosophy, and thus she sang:--]
? ou seist 2412
a-ry? t q{uo}d she. and bygan on-one to syngen ry? t ? us.
[Linenotes:
2351 _many_--manye
2352 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_faute_--defaute
2353 _may_--ne may
2354 _don_--MS. done, C. don
2356 _make_--maken
2357 _forseide_--MS. sorseide
2363 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
2365 _mowe_--mowen
2368 _wenen_--wene
_mowe_--mowen
2370 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
_so? er_--sother{e}
2371 _said_--MS. saide, C. sayd
2376 [_ful wel_]--from C.
2377 _byforne_--by-forn
2378 _blysfulnesse_--MS. blyndenesse, C. blysfulnesse
2385 _of_--omitted
2386 _nurry_--norye
2387 _sey[e]_--seye
2388 _seine_--seyn
2389 _? is_--thise
2390 _nat_--nawht
2393 _seyne_--sey
2395 _? euen_--yeue
2397 _goode_--good
2399 _whiche_--which
2401 _seyne_--seyn
2402 _knowen_--knowe
2403 _seek[e]_--seke
2405 _herkene_--herknen
2407 _sholde_--sholden
2408 _bysechen_--by-shechen
_helpe_--help
2409 [_now_]--from C.
2410 _souereyne goode_--verray good
2411 _shulle_--shollen
_to_--omitted
2413 _on-one_--anon]
[Headnote:
IN SEEKING SUPREME FELICITY THE DIVINE AID IS TO BE INVOKED. ]
O QUI PERPETUA.
[Sidenote: [The 9^ne Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: O Father and Maker of heaven and earth, by whose
eternal reason the world is governed, and by whose supreme command
Time flows from the birth of ages, Thou, firm and unchanged
thyself, makest all things else to move! ]
++O ? ou fadir creatour of heuene {and} of er? es ? at
gouernest ? is worlde by p{er}durable resou{n} ? at comaundist
? e tymes for to gon from tyme ? at age had[de] 2416
bygy{n}ny{n}g. ? ou ? at dwellest ? i self ay stedfast {and}
stable {and} ? iuest alle o? er ? inges to ben moeued.
[Sidenote: Thy sovereign will to floating matter gave its various
forms, impelled by no exterior causes, but by the Idea of the Best
in thy great mind conceived void of malice. ]
ne forein causes necesseden ? e neuer to co{m}poune werke
of floterynge mater. but only ? e forme of souereyne 2420
goode y-set wi? i{n}ne [? e] wi? outen envie ? at moeued[e]
? e frely.
[Sidenote: Fairest thyself bearing the world's figure in thy
thought, thou didst create the world after that prototype, and
dost draw all things from the image of the fair Supreme, and dost
command that this world should have perfect parts. ]
? ou ? at art al? erfairest beryng ? e faire worlde
in ? i ? ou? t. formedest ? is worlde to ? e likkenesse
semblable of ? at faire worlde in ? i ? ou? t. ? ou drawest 2424
alle ? inges of ? i souereyne ensampler. {and} comaundedist
? at ? is worlde p{er}fitlyche ymaked haue frely {and}
absolut hyse p{er}fit parties.
[Sidenote: By harmonious measures thou dost bind fast the
elements, so that there is no discordance between things cold and
hot, or between the moist and the dry. ]
? ? ou byndest ? e element?
by noumbres p{ro}porcionables. ? at ? e colde ? inges 2428
mowen accorde wi? ? e hote ? inges. {and} ? e drye ? i{n}ges
wi? ? e moyst ? inges.
[Sidenote: That the fire may not fly too high, and that weight may
not press the earth and water lower than they are now placed,]
? at ? e fire ? at is purest ne fleye
nat ouer heye. ne ? at ? e heuynesse ne drawe nat adou{n}
ouer lowe ? e er? es ? at ben plounged in ? e watres. 2432
[Linenotes:
2415 _worlde_--world
2416 _from----age_--from syn ? {a}t age
_had[de]_--hadde
2417 _stedfast_--stedefast
2418 _o? er_--oothre
2419 _forein_--foreyne
_werke_--werk
2420 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
2421 _y-set_--MS. y-sette, C. Iset
_wi? inne_--w{i}t{h} in
[_? e_]--the
_wi? outen_--w{i}t{h} owte
_moeued[e]_--moeuede
2422 _al? erfairest_--alderfayrest
2422-24-26 _worlde_--world
2423 _likkenesse_--lyknesse
2426 _and absolut_--C. omits
2427 _hyse_--hys
2430 _fire_--fyr
_fleye_--fle
2431 _drawe_--drawen]
[Headnote:
GOD IS THE FOUNTAIN OF FELICITY. ]
[Sidenote: thou didst join the Middle Soul (of a threefold nature)
moving all things, and then by agreeing numbers didst resolve it. ]
? ? ou knyttest to-gidre ? e mene soule of treble kynde
moeuyng alle ? inges. {and} diuidest it by membres accordynge.
[Sidenote: When that is done, cut into two orbs, it moves about
returning to itself, and then encompassing the profound mind doth
by that fair idea turn the heaven. ]
? And whan it is ? us diuided it ha? assembled
a moeuyng in two roundes. ? It go? to to{ur}ne 2436
a? ein to hym owen self. {and} environe? a fulle deep [[pg 88]]
? ou? t. {and} to{ur}ni? ? e heuene by semblable ymage.
[Sidenote: Thou by such causes dost raise all souls and lesser
lives, and adaptest them to their light vehicles. ]
? ou by eue{n}lyk causes enhau{n}sest ? e soules {and} ? e lasse
liues {and} ablynge hem heye by ly? t[e] cartes. 2440
[Sidenote: Thou sowest them in heaven and earth, and they return
to thee by thy kind law like a recoiling flame. ]
? ou sewest hem in to heuene {and} in to er? e. {and} whan ? ei
ben conuertid to ? e by ? i benigne lawe. ? ? ou makest
hem retorne a? eine to ? e by a? ein ledyng fijr.
[Sidenote: O Father, elevate our souls and let them behold thy
august throne. ]
? O
fadir yif ? ou to ? i ? ou? t to stien vp in to ? i streite sete. 2444
{and} graunte [hym] to enviroune ? e welle of good.
[Sidenote: Let them behold the fountain of all good. Dispel the
mists of sense, remove the weights of earth-born cares, and in thy
splendour shine (in our minds). ]
{and} ? e ly? te yfounde graunte hym to ficchen ? e clere sy? tes
of hys corage in ? e. ? And scatre ? ou {and} to-breke
[thow] ? e wey? tes {and} ? e cloudes of er? ely heuynesse. 2448
{and} shyne ? ou by ? i bry? tnes.
[Sidenote: For thou art ever clear, and to the good art peace and
rest. He who looks on thee beholds beginning, support, guide, path
and goal, combined! ]
for ? ou art clernesse ? ou
art peisible to debonaire folke. ? ? ou ? i self art bygy{n}ny{n}ge.
berere. ledere. pa? {and} t{er}me to loke on ? e
[? at] is oure ende. _Glose. _ 2452
[Linenotes:
2435 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
2436 _go? _--MS. go? e
2437 _owen_--C. omits
2438 _tourni? _--MS. to{ur}ni? e
2439 _euenlyk_--euene lyke
2440 _ly? t[e]_--lyhte
2442 _benigne_--bygynnynge
2444 _yif_--yiue
_? i streite_--the streyte
2445 [_hym_]--from C.
2446 _ly? te_--lyht
2448 [_thow_]--from C.
2449 _bry? tnes_--bryhtnesse
2451 _pa? _--MS. pa? e; paath
2452 [_? at_]--that]
[Headnote:
GOD THE SUPREME GOOD. ]
QUONIAM IGITUR QUI SCIT. [7]
[Footnote 7: Read que sit. ]
[Sidenote: [The 10^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: Now that thou hast had a faithful representation of
future felicity as well as of the true happiness, I shall show
thee in what the Perfection of Happiness consists. ]
++FOr as moche ? an as ? ou hast seyn. whiche is ? e
forme of goode ? at nys nat p{er}fit. {and} whiche is ? e
forme of goode ? at is p{er}fit. now trowe I ? at it were
goode to shewe in what ? is p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of blisfulnesse is 2456
set.
[Sidenote: Our best plan will be to inquire whether there be in
nature such a good as thou hast lately defined, lest we be
deceived by the vanity of Imagination and be carried beyond the
truth of the matter subjected to our inquiry. ]
{and} in ? is ? ing I trowe ? at we sholden first enquere
forto witen yif ? at any swiche manere goode as ? ilke
goode ? at ? ou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. ? at
is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in ? e nature 2460
of ? inges. For ? at veyne ymaginac{i}ou{n} of ? ou? t ne
desceiue vs nat. {and} putte vs oute of ? e so? efastnesse
of ? ilke ? 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 ?
shal seine.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what is ? at q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Thinkest thou that any thing in this world can
confer this happiness? (the sovereign good). ]
? Trowest ? ou ? at 2388
? er be any ? ing in ? is er? ely mortal toumblyng ? inges
? at may bryngen ? is estat.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I think not; for nothing can be desirable beyond
such a state of perfection. ]
Certys q{uo}d I trowe it nat.
{and} ? ou hast shewed me wel ? at ouer ? ilke goode ? er
is no ? ing more to ben desired.
[Sidenote: _P. _ These imperfect things above mentioned only confer
the shadow of the supreme good, or at most only an imperfect
felicity, but they cannot bestow true and perfect happiness. ]
_P. _ ? ise ? inges ? an 2392
q{uo}d she. ? at is to seyne er? ely suffisaunce {and} power.
{and} swiche ? inges ey? er ? ei semen likenesse of verray
goode. or ellys it seme? ? at ? ei ? euen to mortal folk a
maner of goodes ? at ne ben nat perfit. ? But ? ilke 2396
goode ? at is verray {and} p{er}fit. ? at may ? ei nat ? euen.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I quite agree with you. ]
_boice. _ I. accorde me wel q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then, knowing the difference between true and
false felicity you must now learn where to look for this supreme
felicity. ]
? an q{uo}d she for as
moche as ? ou hast knowen whiche is ? ilke verray blisfulnesse.
{and} eke whiche ? ilke ? inges ben ? at lien 2400
falsly blisfulnesse. ? at is to seyne. ? at by desceit
seme{n} verray goodes.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 20 _b_. ]]
? Now byhoue? ? e to knowe{n}
*whennes {and} where ? ou mowe seek[e] ? ilke verray
blisfulnesse. ? Certys q{uo}d I ? at desijr I gretly {and} 2404
haue abiden longe tyme to herkene it.
[Sidenote: _P. _ But, as Plato says that even in the least things
the Divine assistance ought to be implored, what ought we do, to
render us worthy of so important a discovery as the true source
and seat of the sovereign good? ]
? But for as
moche q{uo}d she as it like? to my disciple plato in his
book of i{n} thimeo. ? at in ry? t lytel ? inges men sholde
bysechen ? e helpe of god. ? what iugest ? ou ? at be 2408
[now] to done so ? at we may deserue to fynde ? e sete of [[pg 87]]
? ilke souereyne goode.
[Sidenote: _B. _ Let us invoke the Father of all things. ]
_B. _ ? Certys q{uo}d . I. I. deme
? at we shulle clepen to ? e fadir of alle goodes. ? For
wi? outen hym nis ? er no ? ing founden ary? t.
[Sidenote: You are right, said Philosophy, and thus she sang:--]
? ou seist 2412
a-ry? t q{uo}d she. and bygan on-one to syngen ry? t ? us.
[Linenotes:
2351 _many_--manye
2352 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_faute_--defaute
2353 _may_--ne may
2354 _don_--MS. done, C. don
2356 _make_--maken
2357 _forseide_--MS. sorseide
2363 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
2365 _mowe_--mowen
2368 _wenen_--wene
_mowe_--mowen
2370 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
_so? er_--sother{e}
2371 _said_--MS. saide, C. sayd
2376 [_ful wel_]--from C.
2377 _byforne_--by-forn
2378 _blysfulnesse_--MS. blyndenesse, C. blysfulnesse
2385 _of_--omitted
2386 _nurry_--norye
2387 _sey[e]_--seye
2388 _seine_--seyn
2389 _? is_--thise
2390 _nat_--nawht
2393 _seyne_--sey
2395 _? euen_--yeue
2397 _goode_--good
2399 _whiche_--which
2401 _seyne_--seyn
2402 _knowen_--knowe
2403 _seek[e]_--seke
2405 _herkene_--herknen
2407 _sholde_--sholden
2408 _bysechen_--by-shechen
_helpe_--help
2409 [_now_]--from C.
2410 _souereyne goode_--verray good
2411 _shulle_--shollen
_to_--omitted
2413 _on-one_--anon]
[Headnote:
IN SEEKING SUPREME FELICITY THE DIVINE AID IS TO BE INVOKED. ]
O QUI PERPETUA.
[Sidenote: [The 9^ne Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: O Father and Maker of heaven and earth, by whose
eternal reason the world is governed, and by whose supreme command
Time flows from the birth of ages, Thou, firm and unchanged
thyself, makest all things else to move! ]
++O ? ou fadir creatour of heuene {and} of er? es ? at
gouernest ? is worlde by p{er}durable resou{n} ? at comaundist
? e tymes for to gon from tyme ? at age had[de] 2416
bygy{n}ny{n}g. ? ou ? at dwellest ? i self ay stedfast {and}
stable {and} ? iuest alle o? er ? inges to ben moeued.
[Sidenote: Thy sovereign will to floating matter gave its various
forms, impelled by no exterior causes, but by the Idea of the Best
in thy great mind conceived void of malice. ]
ne forein causes necesseden ? e neuer to co{m}poune werke
of floterynge mater. but only ? e forme of souereyne 2420
goode y-set wi? i{n}ne [? e] wi? outen envie ? at moeued[e]
? e frely.
[Sidenote: Fairest thyself bearing the world's figure in thy
thought, thou didst create the world after that prototype, and
dost draw all things from the image of the fair Supreme, and dost
command that this world should have perfect parts. ]
? ou ? at art al? erfairest beryng ? e faire worlde
in ? i ? ou? t. formedest ? is worlde to ? e likkenesse
semblable of ? at faire worlde in ? i ? ou? t. ? ou drawest 2424
alle ? inges of ? i souereyne ensampler. {and} comaundedist
? at ? is worlde p{er}fitlyche ymaked haue frely {and}
absolut hyse p{er}fit parties.
[Sidenote: By harmonious measures thou dost bind fast the
elements, so that there is no discordance between things cold and
hot, or between the moist and the dry. ]
? ? ou byndest ? e element?
by noumbres p{ro}porcionables. ? at ? e colde ? inges 2428
mowen accorde wi? ? e hote ? inges. {and} ? e drye ? i{n}ges
wi? ? e moyst ? inges.
[Sidenote: That the fire may not fly too high, and that weight may
not press the earth and water lower than they are now placed,]
? at ? e fire ? at is purest ne fleye
nat ouer heye. ne ? at ? e heuynesse ne drawe nat adou{n}
ouer lowe ? e er? es ? at ben plounged in ? e watres. 2432
[Linenotes:
2415 _worlde_--world
2416 _from----age_--from syn ? {a}t age
_had[de]_--hadde
2417 _stedfast_--stedefast
2418 _o? er_--oothre
2419 _forein_--foreyne
_werke_--werk
2420 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
2421 _y-set_--MS. y-sette, C. Iset
_wi? inne_--w{i}t{h} in
[_? e_]--the
_wi? outen_--w{i}t{h} owte
_moeued[e]_--moeuede
2422 _al? erfairest_--alderfayrest
2422-24-26 _worlde_--world
2423 _likkenesse_--lyknesse
2426 _and absolut_--C. omits
2427 _hyse_--hys
2430 _fire_--fyr
_fleye_--fle
2431 _drawe_--drawen]
[Headnote:
GOD IS THE FOUNTAIN OF FELICITY. ]
[Sidenote: thou didst join the Middle Soul (of a threefold nature)
moving all things, and then by agreeing numbers didst resolve it. ]
? ? ou knyttest to-gidre ? e mene soule of treble kynde
moeuyng alle ? inges. {and} diuidest it by membres accordynge.
[Sidenote: When that is done, cut into two orbs, it moves about
returning to itself, and then encompassing the profound mind doth
by that fair idea turn the heaven. ]
? And whan it is ? us diuided it ha? assembled
a moeuyng in two roundes. ? It go? to to{ur}ne 2436
a? ein to hym owen self. {and} environe? a fulle deep [[pg 88]]
? ou? t. {and} to{ur}ni? ? e heuene by semblable ymage.
[Sidenote: Thou by such causes dost raise all souls and lesser
lives, and adaptest them to their light vehicles. ]
? ou by eue{n}lyk causes enhau{n}sest ? e soules {and} ? e lasse
liues {and} ablynge hem heye by ly? t[e] cartes. 2440
[Sidenote: Thou sowest them in heaven and earth, and they return
to thee by thy kind law like a recoiling flame. ]
? ou sewest hem in to heuene {and} in to er? e. {and} whan ? ei
ben conuertid to ? e by ? i benigne lawe. ? ? ou makest
hem retorne a? eine to ? e by a? ein ledyng fijr.
[Sidenote: O Father, elevate our souls and let them behold thy
august throne. ]
? O
fadir yif ? ou to ? i ? ou? t to stien vp in to ? i streite sete. 2444
{and} graunte [hym] to enviroune ? e welle of good.
[Sidenote: Let them behold the fountain of all good. Dispel the
mists of sense, remove the weights of earth-born cares, and in thy
splendour shine (in our minds). ]
{and} ? e ly? te yfounde graunte hym to ficchen ? e clere sy? tes
of hys corage in ? e. ? And scatre ? ou {and} to-breke
[thow] ? e wey? tes {and} ? e cloudes of er? ely heuynesse. 2448
{and} shyne ? ou by ? i bry? tnes.
[Sidenote: For thou art ever clear, and to the good art peace and
rest. He who looks on thee beholds beginning, support, guide, path
and goal, combined! ]
for ? ou art clernesse ? ou
art peisible to debonaire folke. ? ? ou ? i self art bygy{n}ny{n}ge.
berere. ledere. pa? {and} t{er}me to loke on ? e
[? at] is oure ende. _Glose. _ 2452
[Linenotes:
2435 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
2436 _go? _--MS. go? e
2437 _owen_--C. omits
2438 _tourni? _--MS. to{ur}ni? e
2439 _euenlyk_--euene lyke
2440 _ly? t[e]_--lyhte
2442 _benigne_--bygynnynge
2444 _yif_--yiue
_? i streite_--the streyte
2445 [_hym_]--from C.
2446 _ly? te_--lyht
2448 [_thow_]--from C.
2449 _bry? tnes_--bryhtnesse
2451 _pa? _--MS. pa? e; paath
2452 [_? at_]--that]
[Headnote:
GOD THE SUPREME GOOD. ]
QUONIAM IGITUR QUI SCIT. [7]
[Footnote 7: Read que sit. ]
[Sidenote: [The 10^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: Now that thou hast had a faithful representation of
future felicity as well as of the true happiness, I shall show
thee in what the Perfection of Happiness consists. ]
++FOr as moche ? an as ? ou hast seyn. whiche is ? e
forme of goode ? at nys nat p{er}fit. {and} whiche is ? e
forme of goode ? at is p{er}fit. now trowe I ? at it were
goode to shewe in what ? is p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of blisfulnesse is 2456
set.
[Sidenote: Our best plan will be to inquire whether there be in
nature such a good as thou hast lately defined, lest we be
deceived by the vanity of Imagination and be carried beyond the
truth of the matter subjected to our inquiry. ]
{and} in ? is ? ing I trowe ? at we sholden first enquere
forto witen yif ? at any swiche manere goode as ? ilke
goode ? at ? ou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. ? at
is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in ? e nature 2460
of ? inges. For ? at veyne ymaginac{i}ou{n} of ? ou? t ne
desceiue vs nat. {and} putte vs oute of ? e so? efastnesse
of ? ilke ? 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 ?
