_ Are power and
sufficiency
to be despised?
Chaucer - Boethius
t[e]_--myhte
2237 _alcibiades_--MS. alcidiades
2238 _fayr_--fayr{e}
_? e_--omitted
_shulde_--sholde
2239 _foule_--fowl
_faire_--fayr
_ne_--omitted
2240 _desceiuaunce of ? e fieblesse_--deceyuable or the feblesse
2242 _moche_--mochel
_know[e]_--knowe
2243 _? e_--omitted
_? i body whiche_--the body whych
2247 _a_--omitted]
[Headnote:
MEN PURSUE FALSE JOYS. ]
HEU Q{UE} MISEROS TRAMITE.
[Sidenote: [The 8^the Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: Alas! how through folly and ignorance do men stray from
the path of true happiness! ]
++Allas whiche folie {and} whiche ignorau{n}ce mysledi? 2252
wandryng wrecches fro ? e pa? e of verrey good.
[Sidenote: Ye do not seek gold upon trees nor diamonds from the
vine. ]
? Certis ? e ne seken no golde in grene trees. ne ? e ne
gadren [nat] p{re}cious stones in ? e vines. [[pg 82]]
[Sidenote: Ye lay not your nets to catch fish upon the lofty
hills. ]
ne ? e ne
hiden nat ? oure gynnes in hey? e mou{n}taignes to kachen 2256
fisshe of whiche ? e may maken ryche festes.
[Sidenote: The hunter goes not to the Tyrrhene waters to hunt the
roe. ]
and yif
? ow lyke? to hunte to roos. ? e ne gon nat to ? e foordes
of ? e water ? at hy? t tyrene.
[Sidenote: Men know where to look for white pearls, and for the
fish that yields the purple dye. ]
{and} ouer ? is men knowen
wel ? e crikes {and} ? e cau{er}nes of ? e see yhidd in ? e 2260
floodes. {and} knowen eke whiche water is most plentiuo{us}
of white perles. {and} knowen whiche water habunde?
most of rede purpre. ? at is to seyen of a maner shelfisshe
w{i}t{h} whiche men dien purpre.
[Sidenote: They know where the most delicate of the finny race
abound and where the fierce sea-urchin is to be found. ]
{and} knowen 2264
whiche strondes habounden most of tendre fisshes or
of sharpe fisshes ? at hy? ten echynnys.
[Sidenote: But where the Sovereign Good abides blinded mortals
never know, but plunge into the earth below to look for that which
has its dwelling in the heavens. ]
but folk suffren
hem self to ben so blynde ? at hem ne recchi? nat to
knowe where ? ilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche ? at ? ei 2268
coueiten but ploungen hem in er? e {and} seken ? ere
? ilke goode ? {a}t so{ur}mou{n}te? ? e heuene ? at bere? ? e
sterres.
[Sidenote: What doom do the silly race deserve? ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 19 _b_. ]]
? what *p{re}yere may I make ? at be digne to
? e nice ? ou? tis of men.
[Sidenote: May they pursue such false joys, and having obtained
them, too late find out the value of the true. ]
but I p{re}ye ? at ? ei coueite{n} 2272
rycches {and} hono{ur}s so ? at whan ? ei han geten ? o
false goodes wi? greet trauayle ? at ? erby ? ei mowe
knowen ? e verray goodes.
[Linenotes:
2252 _whiche_ (_both_)--whych
2253 _pa? e_--paath
_good_--goode
2254 _golde_--gold]
[Headnote:
THE INSUFFICIENCY OF WORLDLY BLISS. ]
HACTENUS MENDACIS FORMA{M}.
[Sidenote: [The 9^ne p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _P. _ I have been describing the form of counterfeit
happiness, and if you have considered it attentively I shall
proceed to give you a perfect view of the true. ]
++IT suffisi? ? at I haue shewed hider to ? e forme of 2276
false wilfulnesse. so ? at yif ? ou look[e] now clerely
? e ordre of myn entenc{i}ou{n} requeri? from hennes for? e
to shewe{n} ? e verray wilfulnesse.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I now see that there is no sufficiency in riches,
no power in royalty, no esteem in dignities, nor nobility in
renown, nor joy in carnal pleasures. ]
? For q{uod} . I. (b) [I. ]
se wel now ? at suffisau{n}ce may nat comen by richesse. ne 2280
power by realmes. ne reuere{n}ce by dignitees. ne gentilesse
by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast ? ou wel
knowen q{uo}d she ? e cause whi it is. Certis me seme?
q{uod} . I. ? at . I. se hem ry? t as ? ou?
it were ? oru? a litel [[pg 83]]
clifte.
[Sidenote: I have a glimpse of the cause of all this, but I should
like a more distinct view. ]
but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of 2285
? e. Certys q{uod} she ? e resou{n} is al redy
[Sidenote: _P. _ The cause is obvious--for that which is by nature
one and indivisible human ignorance separates and divides, and
reverses the true order of things. ]
? For
? ilk ? ing ? at symply is on ? ing wi? outen ony
diuisiou{n}. ? e errour {and} folie of mankynde departe? 2288
{and} diuidi? it. {and} misledi? it {and} t{ra}nsporte? from
verray {and} p{er}fit goode. to goodes ? at ben false {and}
inp{er}fit.
[Sidenote: Does that state which needs nothing stand in need of
power? ]
? But seye me ? is. wenest ? ou ? at he ? at ha?
nede of power ? at hy{m} ne lakke? no ? ing.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I should say no. _P. _ Right! That which wants
power needs external aid. ]
Nay q{uo}d 2292
. I ? Certis q{uo}d she ? ou seist ary? t. For yif so be
? {a}t ? er is a ? ing ? at in any p{ar}tie be fieble of power.
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is true! _P. _ Sufficiency and power therefore
are of one nature. _B. _ It seems so indeed. ]
Certis as in ? at it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine
helpe. ? Ri? t so it is q{uo}d . I. Suffisaunce and power 2296
ben ? an of on kynde ? So seme? it q{uod} I.
[Sidenote: _P.
_ Are power and sufficiency to be despised? Are they
not rather worthy of universal respect? ]
? And
demyst ? ou q{uo}d she ? at a ? ing ? at is of ? is manere.
? at is to seine suffisau{n}t {and} my? ty au? t[e] to ben dispised.
or ellys ? {a}t it be ry? t digne of reuerences abouen 2300
alle ? inges.
[Sidenote: _B. _ They are doubtless highly estimable. _P. _ Add
respect to sufficiency and power, and consider all three as one
and the same thing. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I it nys no doute ? at it
nis ry? t wor? i to ben reuerenced. ? Lat vs q{uo}d she ? an
adden reuerence to suffisaunce {and} to power ? So ? at
we demen ? at ? ise ? re ? inges ben alle o ? ing.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I see no objection to that view. ]
? Certis 2304
q{uo}d I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten ? e so? e.
[Sidenote: _P. _ But can that be obscure and ignoble which
possesses three such attributes? is it not noble and worthy of a
shining reputation? ]
what demest ? ou ? an q{uo}d she is ? at a dirke ? ing {and}
nat noble ? at is suffisau{n}t reu{er}ent {and} my? ty. or ellys
? at is ry? t clere {and} ry? t noble of celebrete of renou{n}. 2308
[Linenotes:
2256 _hey? e_--the hyye
_kachen_--kachche
2257 _fisshe_--fyssh
2258 _hunte_--honte
_roos_--Rooes
2259 _hy? t_--hyhte
2260 _crikes_--brykes
_yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hyd
2261, 2262 _whiche_--whych
2263 _shelfisshe_--shelle fysh
2264, 2265 _whiche_--whych
2264 _dien_--deyen
2265 _of_--w{i}t{h}
2266 _echynnys_--MS. ethynnys, C. Echynnys
2268 _yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd
2270 _goode_--good
2271 _make_--maken
2273 _rycches_--Rychesse
2277 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_look[e]_--loke
_clerely_--clerly
2279 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_For_--For-sothe
[_I. _]--from C.
2280 _richesse_--Rychesses
2281 _realmes_--Reames
2287 _? ilk_--thylke
_on_--o
2290 _goode_--good
2291 _seye_--sey
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
2294 _fieble_--febler{e}
2295 _most[e]_--mot
2296 _helpe_--help
2297 _on_--o
2298 _demyst ? ou_--demesthow
2299 _seine_--seyn
_au? t[e]_--owhte
2300 _reuerences_--Reu{er}ence
2302 _nis ry? t_--is ryht
2304 _alle_--al
2305 _willen_--wolen
2306 _dirke_--dyrk
2308 _clere_--cler
_of celebrete_--by celebryte]
[Headnote:
THE UNITY OF TRUE FELICITY. ]
[Sidenote: He who is most powerful and worthy of renown--if he
lack fame which he cannot give to himself, must (by this defect)
seem in some measure more weak and abject. ]
? Considere ? an q{uo}d she as we han grau{n}tid her byforne.
? at he ? at ne ha? ne[de] of no ? ing {and} is most
my? ty {and} most digne of hono{ur} yif hym nedi? any
clernesse of renou{n} whiche clernesse he my? t[e] nat 2312
graunten of hym self. ? So ? at for lakke of ? ilke
clerenesse he my? t[e] seme febler on any syde or ? e
more outcaste. _Glosa. _ ? is is to seyne nay. [[pg 84]]
[Sidenote: He that is sufficiently mighty and esteemed will have
necessarily an illustrious name. ]
? For who
so ? at is suffisau{n}t my? ty {and} reuerent. clernesse of 2316
renou{n} folwe? of ? e forseide ? inges. he ha? it alredy of
hys suffisaunce.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I cannot deny it, for reputation seems inseparable
from the advantages you have just mentioned. ]
boice. I may nat q{uo}d I denye it.
? But I mot graunten as it is. ? at ? is ? ing be ry? t
celebrable by clernesse of renou{n} {and} noblesse.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Therefore Renown differs in no wise from the three
above-mentioned attributes. ]
? ? an 2320
folwe? it q{uo}d she ? at we adden clernesse of renou{n} to
? e ? re forseide ? inges. so ? at ? er ne be amonges hem
no difference. {and} ? is is a consequente q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: And if any one then stands in need of no external aid,
can have all he wants, and is illustrious and respected--is not
his condition very agreeable and pleasant? ]
? is ? ing ? an q{uo}d she ? at ne ha? no nede of no foreine 2324
? ing. {and} ? at may don alle ? inges by his streng? es.
{and} ? at is noble {and} hono{ur}able. nis nat ? at a myrie
? ing {and} a ioyful.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I cannot conceive how such a one can have grief or
trouble. ]
_boice. _ but wenest q{uo}d I ? {a}t any
sorow my? t[e] comen to ? is ? ing ? at is swiche. ? Certys 2328
I may nat ? inke.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It must then be a state of happiness; and we may
also affirm that sufficiency, power, nobility, differ only in
name, but not in substance. ]
_P. _ ? ? anne moten we graunt[e] q{uod}
she ? at ? is ? ing be ful of gladnesse yif ? e ? orseide ? inges
be so? e. ? And also certys mote we graunten. ? at
suffisaunce power noblesse reuerence {and} gladnesse ben 2332
only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce ha? no
diu{er}site.
[Sidenote: _B. _ It is a necessary consequence. ]
_Boice. _ It mot nedely be so q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ The depravity of mankind then divides that which
is essentially indivisible; and, seeking for a part of that which
has no parts, they miss the entire thing which they so much
desire. ]
_P. _ ? ilke
? inge ? an q{uo}d she ? at is oon {and} simple i{n} his nature.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 20. ]]
? e wikkednesse of men departi? it *diuidi? it.
2237 _alcibiades_--MS. alcidiades
2238 _fayr_--fayr{e}
_? e_--omitted
_shulde_--sholde
2239 _foule_--fowl
_faire_--fayr
_ne_--omitted
2240 _desceiuaunce of ? e fieblesse_--deceyuable or the feblesse
2242 _moche_--mochel
_know[e]_--knowe
2243 _? e_--omitted
_? i body whiche_--the body whych
2247 _a_--omitted]
[Headnote:
MEN PURSUE FALSE JOYS. ]
HEU Q{UE} MISEROS TRAMITE.
[Sidenote: [The 8^the Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: Alas! how through folly and ignorance do men stray from
the path of true happiness! ]
++Allas whiche folie {and} whiche ignorau{n}ce mysledi? 2252
wandryng wrecches fro ? e pa? e of verrey good.
[Sidenote: Ye do not seek gold upon trees nor diamonds from the
vine. ]
? Certis ? e ne seken no golde in grene trees. ne ? e ne
gadren [nat] p{re}cious stones in ? e vines. [[pg 82]]
[Sidenote: Ye lay not your nets to catch fish upon the lofty
hills. ]
ne ? e ne
hiden nat ? oure gynnes in hey? e mou{n}taignes to kachen 2256
fisshe of whiche ? e may maken ryche festes.
[Sidenote: The hunter goes not to the Tyrrhene waters to hunt the
roe. ]
and yif
? ow lyke? to hunte to roos. ? e ne gon nat to ? e foordes
of ? e water ? at hy? t tyrene.
[Sidenote: Men know where to look for white pearls, and for the
fish that yields the purple dye. ]
{and} ouer ? is men knowen
wel ? e crikes {and} ? e cau{er}nes of ? e see yhidd in ? e 2260
floodes. {and} knowen eke whiche water is most plentiuo{us}
of white perles. {and} knowen whiche water habunde?
most of rede purpre. ? at is to seyen of a maner shelfisshe
w{i}t{h} whiche men dien purpre.
[Sidenote: They know where the most delicate of the finny race
abound and where the fierce sea-urchin is to be found. ]
{and} knowen 2264
whiche strondes habounden most of tendre fisshes or
of sharpe fisshes ? at hy? ten echynnys.
[Sidenote: But where the Sovereign Good abides blinded mortals
never know, but plunge into the earth below to look for that which
has its dwelling in the heavens. ]
but folk suffren
hem self to ben so blynde ? at hem ne recchi? nat to
knowe where ? ilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche ? at ? ei 2268
coueiten but ploungen hem in er? e {and} seken ? ere
? ilke goode ? {a}t so{ur}mou{n}te? ? e heuene ? at bere? ? e
sterres.
[Sidenote: What doom do the silly race deserve? ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 19 _b_. ]]
? what *p{re}yere may I make ? at be digne to
? e nice ? ou? tis of men.
[Sidenote: May they pursue such false joys, and having obtained
them, too late find out the value of the true. ]
but I p{re}ye ? at ? ei coueite{n} 2272
rycches {and} hono{ur}s so ? at whan ? ei han geten ? o
false goodes wi? greet trauayle ? at ? erby ? ei mowe
knowen ? e verray goodes.
[Linenotes:
2252 _whiche_ (_both_)--whych
2253 _pa? e_--paath
_good_--goode
2254 _golde_--gold]
[Headnote:
THE INSUFFICIENCY OF WORLDLY BLISS. ]
HACTENUS MENDACIS FORMA{M}.
[Sidenote: [The 9^ne p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _P. _ I have been describing the form of counterfeit
happiness, and if you have considered it attentively I shall
proceed to give you a perfect view of the true. ]
++IT suffisi? ? at I haue shewed hider to ? e forme of 2276
false wilfulnesse. so ? at yif ? ou look[e] now clerely
? e ordre of myn entenc{i}ou{n} requeri? from hennes for? e
to shewe{n} ? e verray wilfulnesse.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I now see that there is no sufficiency in riches,
no power in royalty, no esteem in dignities, nor nobility in
renown, nor joy in carnal pleasures. ]
? For q{uod} . I. (b) [I. ]
se wel now ? at suffisau{n}ce may nat comen by richesse. ne 2280
power by realmes. ne reuere{n}ce by dignitees. ne gentilesse
by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast ? ou wel
knowen q{uo}d she ? e cause whi it is. Certis me seme?
q{uod} . I. ? at . I. se hem ry? t as ? ou?
it were ? oru? a litel [[pg 83]]
clifte.
[Sidenote: I have a glimpse of the cause of all this, but I should
like a more distinct view. ]
but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of 2285
? e. Certys q{uod} she ? e resou{n} is al redy
[Sidenote: _P. _ The cause is obvious--for that which is by nature
one and indivisible human ignorance separates and divides, and
reverses the true order of things. ]
? For
? ilk ? ing ? at symply is on ? ing wi? outen ony
diuisiou{n}. ? e errour {and} folie of mankynde departe? 2288
{and} diuidi? it. {and} misledi? it {and} t{ra}nsporte? from
verray {and} p{er}fit goode. to goodes ? at ben false {and}
inp{er}fit.
[Sidenote: Does that state which needs nothing stand in need of
power? ]
? But seye me ? is. wenest ? ou ? at he ? at ha?
nede of power ? at hy{m} ne lakke? no ? ing.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I should say no. _P. _ Right! That which wants
power needs external aid. ]
Nay q{uo}d 2292
. I ? Certis q{uo}d she ? ou seist ary? t. For yif so be
? {a}t ? er is a ? ing ? at in any p{ar}tie be fieble of power.
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is true! _P. _ Sufficiency and power therefore
are of one nature. _B. _ It seems so indeed. ]
Certis as in ? at it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine
helpe. ? Ri? t so it is q{uo}d . I. Suffisaunce and power 2296
ben ? an of on kynde ? So seme? it q{uod} I.
[Sidenote: _P.
_ Are power and sufficiency to be despised? Are they
not rather worthy of universal respect? ]
? And
demyst ? ou q{uo}d she ? at a ? ing ? at is of ? is manere.
? at is to seine suffisau{n}t {and} my? ty au? t[e] to ben dispised.
or ellys ? {a}t it be ry? t digne of reuerences abouen 2300
alle ? inges.
[Sidenote: _B. _ They are doubtless highly estimable. _P. _ Add
respect to sufficiency and power, and consider all three as one
and the same thing. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I it nys no doute ? at it
nis ry? t wor? i to ben reuerenced. ? Lat vs q{uo}d she ? an
adden reuerence to suffisaunce {and} to power ? So ? at
we demen ? at ? ise ? re ? inges ben alle o ? ing.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I see no objection to that view. ]
? Certis 2304
q{uo}d I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten ? e so? e.
[Sidenote: _P. _ But can that be obscure and ignoble which
possesses three such attributes? is it not noble and worthy of a
shining reputation? ]
what demest ? ou ? an q{uo}d she is ? at a dirke ? ing {and}
nat noble ? at is suffisau{n}t reu{er}ent {and} my? ty. or ellys
? at is ry? t clere {and} ry? t noble of celebrete of renou{n}. 2308
[Linenotes:
2256 _hey? e_--the hyye
_kachen_--kachche
2257 _fisshe_--fyssh
2258 _hunte_--honte
_roos_--Rooes
2259 _hy? t_--hyhte
2260 _crikes_--brykes
_yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hyd
2261, 2262 _whiche_--whych
2263 _shelfisshe_--shelle fysh
2264, 2265 _whiche_--whych
2264 _dien_--deyen
2265 _of_--w{i}t{h}
2266 _echynnys_--MS. ethynnys, C. Echynnys
2268 _yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd
2270 _goode_--good
2271 _make_--maken
2273 _rycches_--Rychesse
2277 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_look[e]_--loke
_clerely_--clerly
2279 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_For_--For-sothe
[_I. _]--from C.
2280 _richesse_--Rychesses
2281 _realmes_--Reames
2287 _? ilk_--thylke
_on_--o
2290 _goode_--good
2291 _seye_--sey
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
2294 _fieble_--febler{e}
2295 _most[e]_--mot
2296 _helpe_--help
2297 _on_--o
2298 _demyst ? ou_--demesthow
2299 _seine_--seyn
_au? t[e]_--owhte
2300 _reuerences_--Reu{er}ence
2302 _nis ry? t_--is ryht
2304 _alle_--al
2305 _willen_--wolen
2306 _dirke_--dyrk
2308 _clere_--cler
_of celebrete_--by celebryte]
[Headnote:
THE UNITY OF TRUE FELICITY. ]
[Sidenote: He who is most powerful and worthy of renown--if he
lack fame which he cannot give to himself, must (by this defect)
seem in some measure more weak and abject. ]
? Considere ? an q{uo}d she as we han grau{n}tid her byforne.
? at he ? at ne ha? ne[de] of no ? ing {and} is most
my? ty {and} most digne of hono{ur} yif hym nedi? any
clernesse of renou{n} whiche clernesse he my? t[e] nat 2312
graunten of hym self. ? So ? at for lakke of ? ilke
clerenesse he my? t[e] seme febler on any syde or ? e
more outcaste. _Glosa. _ ? is is to seyne nay. [[pg 84]]
[Sidenote: He that is sufficiently mighty and esteemed will have
necessarily an illustrious name. ]
? For who
so ? at is suffisau{n}t my? ty {and} reuerent. clernesse of 2316
renou{n} folwe? of ? e forseide ? inges. he ha? it alredy of
hys suffisaunce.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I cannot deny it, for reputation seems inseparable
from the advantages you have just mentioned. ]
boice. I may nat q{uo}d I denye it.
? But I mot graunten as it is. ? at ? is ? ing be ry? t
celebrable by clernesse of renou{n} {and} noblesse.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Therefore Renown differs in no wise from the three
above-mentioned attributes. ]
? ? an 2320
folwe? it q{uo}d she ? at we adden clernesse of renou{n} to
? e ? re forseide ? inges. so ? at ? er ne be amonges hem
no difference. {and} ? is is a consequente q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: And if any one then stands in need of no external aid,
can have all he wants, and is illustrious and respected--is not
his condition very agreeable and pleasant? ]
? is ? ing ? an q{uo}d she ? at ne ha? no nede of no foreine 2324
? ing. {and} ? at may don alle ? inges by his streng? es.
{and} ? at is noble {and} hono{ur}able. nis nat ? at a myrie
? ing {and} a ioyful.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I cannot conceive how such a one can have grief or
trouble. ]
_boice. _ but wenest q{uo}d I ? {a}t any
sorow my? t[e] comen to ? is ? ing ? at is swiche. ? Certys 2328
I may nat ? inke.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It must then be a state of happiness; and we may
also affirm that sufficiency, power, nobility, differ only in
name, but not in substance. ]
_P. _ ? ? anne moten we graunt[e] q{uod}
she ? at ? is ? ing be ful of gladnesse yif ? e ? orseide ? inges
be so? e. ? And also certys mote we graunten. ? at
suffisaunce power noblesse reuerence {and} gladnesse ben 2332
only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce ha? no
diu{er}site.
[Sidenote: _B. _ It is a necessary consequence. ]
_Boice. _ It mot nedely be so q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ The depravity of mankind then divides that which
is essentially indivisible; and, seeking for a part of that which
has no parts, they miss the entire thing which they so much
desire. ]
_P. _ ? ilke
? inge ? an q{uo}d she ? at is oon {and} simple i{n} his nature.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 20. ]]
? e wikkednesse of men departi? it *diuidi? it.
