]]
[Sidenote: Pleasure leaves a pain behind it.
[Sidenote: Pleasure leaves a pain behind it.
Chaucer - Boethius
at glorifien hem of hir linage.
[Sidenote: Nobility is fame derived from the merits of one's
ancestors. ]
? For it seme?
? at gentilesse be a maner p{re}ysynge ? at come? of decert
of auncestres.
[Sidenote: If praise can give nobility they are noble who are
praised. ]
? And yif p{re}ysynge make? gentilesse
? an moten ? ei nedes be gentil ? at ben p{re}ysed. 2156
[Sidenote: Then if thou hast no nobility of thy own, thou canst
not derive any splendour from the merits of others. ]
For whiche ? ing it folwe? . ? at yif ? ou ne haue no gentilesse
of ? i self. ? at is to sein pris ? {a}t come? of ? i deserte
foreine gentilesse ne make? ? e nat gentil.
[Sidenote: If there be any good in nobleness of birth, it consists
alone in this, that it imposes an obligation upon its possessors
not to degenerate from the virtues of their ancestors. ]
? But certis
yif ? er be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be i{n} al 2160
oonly ? is. ? at it seme? as ? at a maner necessitee be imposed
to gentil men. for ? at ? ei ne sholden nat outraien
or forliuen fro ? e uertues of hire noble kynrede.
[Linenotes:
2124 _foule_--fowl
2125 _whiche_--whych
2126 _maker_--maker{e}
_cried[e]_--cryde
2127 _he_--she
2128 _sweller_--sweller{e}
2129 _many[e]_--manye
_had_--MS. hadde, C. had
_fals[e]_--false
2130 _fouler_--fowler{e}
2131 _? en_--thanne
_? ilk[e]_--thylke
2133 _or_--of
2134 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_? ilke_--thylke
2139 _foule ? inge_--fowl thing
2140 _ne_--{and}
_byforne_--byforn
2144 _parties_--partye
_er? e_--Erthes
_out_--owte
2145 _out_--owhte
2148 _ferm_--ferme
2149 _veyne_--veyn
2150 _if_--yif
2154 _come? of_--comth of the
2157 _whiche_--which
2158 _pris_--preys
_come? _--comth
2160 _goode_--good
_in_ (2)--omitted
2161 _maner_--maner{e}]
OMNE HOMINU{M} GENUS IN TERRIS.
[Sidenote: [The 6^th Metre. ]]
[Sidenote: All men have the same origin. ]
++Al ? e linage of men ? at ben i{n} er? e ben of semblable 2164
bur? e.
[Sidenote: They have one father and one king, who gave the moon
her horns, and adorned the sun with his rays. ]
On al one is fadir of ? inges. On alone
minyst[r]e? alle ? inges. ? He ? af to ? e sonne hys
bemes. he ? af to ? e moone hir hornes.
[Sidenote: The same gave the earth to man and adorned the sky with
stars. ]
he ? af ? e men to
? e er? e. he ? af ? e sterres to ? e heuene.
[Sidenote: He breathed into man the breath of life. ]
? he enclose? 2168
wi? membres ? e soules ? at comen fro hys heye sete. [[pg 79]]
[Sidenote: All men spring from this illustrious source. ]
? ? anne comen alle mortal folk of noble seed.
[Sidenote: Why then do they boast of pedigree? ]
whi noysen ? e or bosten of ? oure eldris
[Sidenote: He alone is ignoble who submits to vice and forgets his
noble origin. ]
? For yif ? ou
look[e] ? oure bygy{n}ny{n}g. and god ? oure aucto{ur} {and} 2172
? oure makere. ? an is ? er no forlyued wy? t but ? if he
norisse his corage vnto vices {and} forlete his p{ro}pre
bur? e.
[Linenotes:
2166 _hys_--hyse
2167 _hir_--hyse
2169 _fro hys_--fram hyse
2170 _seed_--sede
2171 _bosten_--MS. voscen, C. bosten
2172 _look[e]_--loke]
[Headnote:
SENSUAL PLEASURES FULL OF ANXIETY. ]
QUID AUTEM DE CORPORIBUS. [6]
[Footnote 6: Read _corporis voluptatibus_. ]
[Sidenote: [The 7^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: But what shall I say with respect to sensual pleasures,
the desire of which is full of anxiety, and the enjoyment of them
full of repentance? ]
++But what shal I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e 2176
delices ? e desiringes ben ful of anguisse. {and} ? e
fulfillinges of he{m} ben ful of penaunce.
[Sidenote: What diseases and intolerable pains (the merited fruits
of vice) are these delights wont to bring upon those who enjoy
them! ]
? How grete
sekenesse {and} how grete sorwes vnsuffrable ry? t as a
manere fruit of wickednesse ben ? ilke delices wont to 2180
bryngen to ? e bo[d]ies of folk ? at vsen hem.
[Sidenote: I am unable to see what joy is to be found in the
gratification of them. ]
? Of
whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir
moeuyng.
[Sidenote: The remembrance of criminal indulgence brings with it
bitter remorse. ]
? But ? is woot I wel ? at who so euere wil
remembren hym of hys luxuries. he shal wel vndirstonde. 2184
? at ? e issues of delices ben sorowful {and} sory.
[Sidenote: If such things make men happy, then may brutes attain
to felicity, since by their instinct they are urged to satisfy
their bodily delights. ]
? And yif ? ilke delices mowen make folk blisful. ? an
by ? e same cause moten ? ise bestes ben clepid blisful.
? Of whiche bestes al ? e entenc{i}ou{n} haste? to fulfille 2188
hire bodyly iolyte.
[Sidenote: A wife and children do not always bring happiness, for
some have found tormentors in their own offspring. ]
and ? e gladnesse of wijf [{and}]
children were [an] honest ? ing. but it ha? ben seid.
? at it is ouer myche a? eins kynde ? at children han ben
fou{n}den tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. 2192
? Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condic{i}ou{n}.
It nede? nat to tellen it ? e ? at hast or ? is tyme assaied
it. {and} art ? it now anguysso{us}.
[Sidenote: I approve of this opinion of Euripides, that he who is
childless is happy in his misfortune. ]
In ? is approue I ? e
sentence of my disciple Euridippus. ? at seide ? at he 2196
? at ha? no children is weleful by i{n}fortune.
[Linenotes:
2173 _is_--nis
2176 _delices_--delites
_body_--bodye
2177 _anguisse_--Angwyssh
2178 _grete_--gret
2179 _sekenesse_--sykenesse
_grete sorwes_--gret soruwes
2180 _fruit_--frut
2182 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
2183 _wil_--wole
2184 _hys_--hyse
2185 _sorowful_--sorwful
_sory_--sorye
2186 _make_--makyn
2189 [_and_]--from C.
2190 [_an_]--from C.
_ha? _--ha? e
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2191 _myche_--mochel
2192 _many_--manye
2196 _Euridippus_--Eurydyppys; _read_ Euripides
2197 _ha? _--MS. ha? e]
[[pg 80]]
[Headnote:
NO HAPPINESS IN EXTERNAL THINGS. ]
HABET HOC UOLUPTAS.
[Sidenote: [The 7^de Met{ur}.
]]
[Sidenote: Pleasure leaves a pain behind it. ]
++Euery delit ha? ? is. ? at it anguisse? hem wi? prikkes
? {a}t vsen it.
[Sidenote: The bee gives us agreeable honey, but try to hold it,
and it quickly flies, leaving its sting behind. ]
? It resembli? to ? ise flying flyes ? at
we clepen been. ? at aftre ? at ? e bee ha? shed hys agreable 2200
honies he flee? awey {and} stynge? ? e hertes of he{m}
? at ben ysmyte wi? bytynge ouer longe holdynge.
[Linenotes:
2198 _Euery_--MS. Ouery, C. Every
2198, 2200 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_shed hys_--shad hyse]
[Headnote:
MEN ARE LED ASTRAY BY IGNORANCE. ]
NICHIL IGITUR DUBIUM EST.
[Sidenote: [The 8^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: It appears then that happiness is not to be found in
the above-mentioned external things. ]
++Now nis it no doute ? an ? {a}t ? ise weyes ne ben a
maner mysledy{n}g to blisfulnesse. ne ? at ? ei ne 2204
mowe nat leden folke ? ider as ? ei byheten to lede{n}
hem.
[Sidenote: These false ways are perplexed with many evils, as I
shall presently show thee. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 19. ]]
? But wi? how grete harmes ? ise *forseide weyes
ben enlaced. ? I shal shewe ? e shortly.
[Sidenote: Do you want to amass wealth, then you must take it from
your neighbours. ]
? For whi
yif ? ou enforcest ? e to assemble moneye. ? ou most by-reuen 2208
hym his moneye ? at ha? it.
[Sidenote: Would you shine in dignities, then you must beg for
them and disgrace yourself by a humiliating supplication. ]
and yif ? ou wilt
shynen wi? dignites. ? ou most bysechen {and} supplien
hem ? at ? iue{n} ? o dignitees. ? And yif ? ou coueitest
by hono{ur} to gon by-fore o? er folk ? {o}u shalt defoule ? i 2212
self by hu{m}blesse of axing.
[Sidenote: If power be your ambition, you expose yourself to the
snares of inferiors. ]
yif ? ou desiryst power.
? ou shalt by awaites of ? i subgit? anoyously be cast
vndir many p{er}iles.
[Sidenote: Do you ask for glory, to be distracted by vexations and
so lose all security. ]
axest ? ou glorie ? {o}u shalt ben so
destrat by aspre ? inges ? at ? ou shalt forgone sykernesse. 2216
[Sidenote: Do you prefer a voluptuous life? Think then that all
men will despise him who is a thrall to his body. ]
? And yif ? ou wilt leden ? i lijf in delices.
euery whi? t shal dispisen ? e {and} forleten ? e as ? ou ? at
art ? ral to ? ing ? at is ry? t foule {and} brutel. ? at is [to]
sein seruau{n}t to ? i body.
[Sidenote: They build upon a weak foundation that place bodily
delights above their own reason. ]
? Now is it ? an wel yseen 2220
how lytel {and} how brutel possessiou{n} ? ei coueiten ? at
putten ? e goodes of ? e body abouen hire owe{n} resou{n}.
[Sidenote: Can you surpass the elephant in bulk, or the bull in
strength? ]
? For mayst ? ou so{ur}mou{n}te{n} ? ise olifunt? in gretnesse
or wey? t of body. Or mayst ? ou ben strenger ? an ? e 2224
bole.
[Sidenote: Art thou swifter than the tiger? ]
Mayst ? ou ben swifter ? an ? e tigre.
[Sidenote: Behold the immense extent of the heavens and cease to
admire vile or lesser things. ]
biholde ? e
spaces {and} ? e stablenesse {and} ? e swyfte cours of ? e [[pg 81]]
heuene. {and} stynte somtyme to wondren on foule
? inges.
[Sidenote: Admire what is still more admirable, the consummate
wisdom that governs them. ]
? e whiche heuene certys nis nat ra? er for ? ise 2228
? inges to ben wondred vpon. ? an for ? e resou{n} by
whiche it is gouerned.
[Sidenote: How fleeting is beauty! ]
but ? e shynynge of ? i forme ? at
is to seien ? e beaute of ? i body. how swiftly passyng is
it {and} how transitorie.
[Sidenote: It fades sooner than the vernal flowers. ]
? Certis it is more flittynge 2232
? an ? e mutabilite of floures of ? e som{er} sesou{n}.
[Sidenote: For, as Aristotle says, if a man were lynx-eyed and
could look into the entrails of Alcibiades (so fair outwardly) he
would find all foul and loathsome. ]
For so
as aristotil telle? ? at yif ? at men hadden eyen of a
beest ? at hi? t lynx. so ? at ? e lokyng of folk my? t[e]
percen ? oru? ? e ? inges ? {a}t wi? stonden it. who so lokid 2236
? an in ? e entrailes of ? e body of alcibiades ? at was
ful fayr in ? e sup{er}fice wi? oute. it shulde seme ry? t
foule.
[Sidenote: Thy nature does not make thee seem beautiful, but the
imperfect view of thy admirers. ]
{and} for ? i yif ? ou semest faire. ? i nature ne
maki? nat ? at. but ? e desceiuau{n}ce of ?
[Sidenote: Nobility is fame derived from the merits of one's
ancestors. ]
? For it seme?
? at gentilesse be a maner p{re}ysynge ? at come? of decert
of auncestres.
[Sidenote: If praise can give nobility they are noble who are
praised. ]
? And yif p{re}ysynge make? gentilesse
? an moten ? ei nedes be gentil ? at ben p{re}ysed. 2156
[Sidenote: Then if thou hast no nobility of thy own, thou canst
not derive any splendour from the merits of others. ]
For whiche ? ing it folwe? . ? at yif ? ou ne haue no gentilesse
of ? i self. ? at is to sein pris ? {a}t come? of ? i deserte
foreine gentilesse ne make? ? e nat gentil.
[Sidenote: If there be any good in nobleness of birth, it consists
alone in this, that it imposes an obligation upon its possessors
not to degenerate from the virtues of their ancestors. ]
? But certis
yif ? er be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be i{n} al 2160
oonly ? is. ? at it seme? as ? at a maner necessitee be imposed
to gentil men. for ? at ? ei ne sholden nat outraien
or forliuen fro ? e uertues of hire noble kynrede.
[Linenotes:
2124 _foule_--fowl
2125 _whiche_--whych
2126 _maker_--maker{e}
_cried[e]_--cryde
2127 _he_--she
2128 _sweller_--sweller{e}
2129 _many[e]_--manye
_had_--MS. hadde, C. had
_fals[e]_--false
2130 _fouler_--fowler{e}
2131 _? en_--thanne
_? ilk[e]_--thylke
2133 _or_--of
2134 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_? ilke_--thylke
2139 _foule ? inge_--fowl thing
2140 _ne_--{and}
_byforne_--byforn
2144 _parties_--partye
_er? e_--Erthes
_out_--owte
2145 _out_--owhte
2148 _ferm_--ferme
2149 _veyne_--veyn
2150 _if_--yif
2154 _come? of_--comth of the
2157 _whiche_--which
2158 _pris_--preys
_come? _--comth
2160 _goode_--good
_in_ (2)--omitted
2161 _maner_--maner{e}]
OMNE HOMINU{M} GENUS IN TERRIS.
[Sidenote: [The 6^th Metre. ]]
[Sidenote: All men have the same origin. ]
++Al ? e linage of men ? at ben i{n} er? e ben of semblable 2164
bur? e.
[Sidenote: They have one father and one king, who gave the moon
her horns, and adorned the sun with his rays. ]
On al one is fadir of ? inges. On alone
minyst[r]e? alle ? inges. ? He ? af to ? e sonne hys
bemes. he ? af to ? e moone hir hornes.
[Sidenote: The same gave the earth to man and adorned the sky with
stars. ]
he ? af ? e men to
? e er? e. he ? af ? e sterres to ? e heuene.
[Sidenote: He breathed into man the breath of life. ]
? he enclose? 2168
wi? membres ? e soules ? at comen fro hys heye sete. [[pg 79]]
[Sidenote: All men spring from this illustrious source. ]
? ? anne comen alle mortal folk of noble seed.
[Sidenote: Why then do they boast of pedigree? ]
whi noysen ? e or bosten of ? oure eldris
[Sidenote: He alone is ignoble who submits to vice and forgets his
noble origin. ]
? For yif ? ou
look[e] ? oure bygy{n}ny{n}g. and god ? oure aucto{ur} {and} 2172
? oure makere. ? an is ? er no forlyued wy? t but ? if he
norisse his corage vnto vices {and} forlete his p{ro}pre
bur? e.
[Linenotes:
2166 _hys_--hyse
2167 _hir_--hyse
2169 _fro hys_--fram hyse
2170 _seed_--sede
2171 _bosten_--MS. voscen, C. bosten
2172 _look[e]_--loke]
[Headnote:
SENSUAL PLEASURES FULL OF ANXIETY. ]
QUID AUTEM DE CORPORIBUS. [6]
[Footnote 6: Read _corporis voluptatibus_. ]
[Sidenote: [The 7^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: But what shall I say with respect to sensual pleasures,
the desire of which is full of anxiety, and the enjoyment of them
full of repentance? ]
++But what shal I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e 2176
delices ? e desiringes ben ful of anguisse. {and} ? e
fulfillinges of he{m} ben ful of penaunce.
[Sidenote: What diseases and intolerable pains (the merited fruits
of vice) are these delights wont to bring upon those who enjoy
them! ]
? How grete
sekenesse {and} how grete sorwes vnsuffrable ry? t as a
manere fruit of wickednesse ben ? ilke delices wont to 2180
bryngen to ? e bo[d]ies of folk ? at vsen hem.
[Sidenote: I am unable to see what joy is to be found in the
gratification of them. ]
? Of
whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir
moeuyng.
[Sidenote: The remembrance of criminal indulgence brings with it
bitter remorse. ]
? But ? is woot I wel ? at who so euere wil
remembren hym of hys luxuries. he shal wel vndirstonde. 2184
? at ? e issues of delices ben sorowful {and} sory.
[Sidenote: If such things make men happy, then may brutes attain
to felicity, since by their instinct they are urged to satisfy
their bodily delights. ]
? And yif ? ilke delices mowen make folk blisful. ? an
by ? e same cause moten ? ise bestes ben clepid blisful.
? Of whiche bestes al ? e entenc{i}ou{n} haste? to fulfille 2188
hire bodyly iolyte.
[Sidenote: A wife and children do not always bring happiness, for
some have found tormentors in their own offspring. ]
and ? e gladnesse of wijf [{and}]
children were [an] honest ? ing. but it ha? ben seid.
? at it is ouer myche a? eins kynde ? at children han ben
fou{n}den tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. 2192
? Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condic{i}ou{n}.
It nede? nat to tellen it ? e ? at hast or ? is tyme assaied
it. {and} art ? it now anguysso{us}.
[Sidenote: I approve of this opinion of Euripides, that he who is
childless is happy in his misfortune. ]
In ? is approue I ? e
sentence of my disciple Euridippus. ? at seide ? at he 2196
? at ha? no children is weleful by i{n}fortune.
[Linenotes:
2173 _is_--nis
2176 _delices_--delites
_body_--bodye
2177 _anguisse_--Angwyssh
2178 _grete_--gret
2179 _sekenesse_--sykenesse
_grete sorwes_--gret soruwes
2180 _fruit_--frut
2182 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
2183 _wil_--wole
2184 _hys_--hyse
2185 _sorowful_--sorwful
_sory_--sorye
2186 _make_--makyn
2189 [_and_]--from C.
2190 [_an_]--from C.
_ha? _--ha? e
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2191 _myche_--mochel
2192 _many_--manye
2196 _Euridippus_--Eurydyppys; _read_ Euripides
2197 _ha? _--MS. ha? e]
[[pg 80]]
[Headnote:
NO HAPPINESS IN EXTERNAL THINGS. ]
HABET HOC UOLUPTAS.
[Sidenote: [The 7^de Met{ur}.
]]
[Sidenote: Pleasure leaves a pain behind it. ]
++Euery delit ha? ? is. ? at it anguisse? hem wi? prikkes
? {a}t vsen it.
[Sidenote: The bee gives us agreeable honey, but try to hold it,
and it quickly flies, leaving its sting behind. ]
? It resembli? to ? ise flying flyes ? at
we clepen been. ? at aftre ? at ? e bee ha? shed hys agreable 2200
honies he flee? awey {and} stynge? ? e hertes of he{m}
? at ben ysmyte wi? bytynge ouer longe holdynge.
[Linenotes:
2198 _Euery_--MS. Ouery, C. Every
2198, 2200 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_shed hys_--shad hyse]
[Headnote:
MEN ARE LED ASTRAY BY IGNORANCE. ]
NICHIL IGITUR DUBIUM EST.
[Sidenote: [The 8^the p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: It appears then that happiness is not to be found in
the above-mentioned external things. ]
++Now nis it no doute ? an ? {a}t ? ise weyes ne ben a
maner mysledy{n}g to blisfulnesse. ne ? at ? ei ne 2204
mowe nat leden folke ? ider as ? ei byheten to lede{n}
hem.
[Sidenote: These false ways are perplexed with many evils, as I
shall presently show thee. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 19. ]]
? But wi? how grete harmes ? ise *forseide weyes
ben enlaced. ? I shal shewe ? e shortly.
[Sidenote: Do you want to amass wealth, then you must take it from
your neighbours. ]
? For whi
yif ? ou enforcest ? e to assemble moneye. ? ou most by-reuen 2208
hym his moneye ? at ha? it.
[Sidenote: Would you shine in dignities, then you must beg for
them and disgrace yourself by a humiliating supplication. ]
and yif ? ou wilt
shynen wi? dignites. ? ou most bysechen {and} supplien
hem ? at ? iue{n} ? o dignitees. ? And yif ? ou coueitest
by hono{ur} to gon by-fore o? er folk ? {o}u shalt defoule ? i 2212
self by hu{m}blesse of axing.
[Sidenote: If power be your ambition, you expose yourself to the
snares of inferiors. ]
yif ? ou desiryst power.
? ou shalt by awaites of ? i subgit? anoyously be cast
vndir many p{er}iles.
[Sidenote: Do you ask for glory, to be distracted by vexations and
so lose all security. ]
axest ? ou glorie ? {o}u shalt ben so
destrat by aspre ? inges ? at ? ou shalt forgone sykernesse. 2216
[Sidenote: Do you prefer a voluptuous life? Think then that all
men will despise him who is a thrall to his body. ]
? And yif ? ou wilt leden ? i lijf in delices.
euery whi? t shal dispisen ? e {and} forleten ? e as ? ou ? at
art ? ral to ? ing ? at is ry? t foule {and} brutel. ? at is [to]
sein seruau{n}t to ? i body.
[Sidenote: They build upon a weak foundation that place bodily
delights above their own reason. ]
? Now is it ? an wel yseen 2220
how lytel {and} how brutel possessiou{n} ? ei coueiten ? at
putten ? e goodes of ? e body abouen hire owe{n} resou{n}.
[Sidenote: Can you surpass the elephant in bulk, or the bull in
strength? ]
? For mayst ? ou so{ur}mou{n}te{n} ? ise olifunt? in gretnesse
or wey? t of body. Or mayst ? ou ben strenger ? an ? e 2224
bole.
[Sidenote: Art thou swifter than the tiger? ]
Mayst ? ou ben swifter ? an ? e tigre.
[Sidenote: Behold the immense extent of the heavens and cease to
admire vile or lesser things. ]
biholde ? e
spaces {and} ? e stablenesse {and} ? e swyfte cours of ? e [[pg 81]]
heuene. {and} stynte somtyme to wondren on foule
? inges.
[Sidenote: Admire what is still more admirable, the consummate
wisdom that governs them. ]
? e whiche heuene certys nis nat ra? er for ? ise 2228
? inges to ben wondred vpon. ? an for ? e resou{n} by
whiche it is gouerned.
[Sidenote: How fleeting is beauty! ]
but ? e shynynge of ? i forme ? at
is to seien ? e beaute of ? i body. how swiftly passyng is
it {and} how transitorie.
[Sidenote: It fades sooner than the vernal flowers. ]
? Certis it is more flittynge 2232
? an ? e mutabilite of floures of ? e som{er} sesou{n}.
[Sidenote: For, as Aristotle says, if a man were lynx-eyed and
could look into the entrails of Alcibiades (so fair outwardly) he
would find all foul and loathsome. ]
For so
as aristotil telle? ? at yif ? at men hadden eyen of a
beest ? at hi? t lynx. so ? at ? e lokyng of folk my? t[e]
percen ? oru? ? e ? inges ? {a}t wi? stonden it. who so lokid 2236
? an in ? e entrailes of ? e body of alcibiades ? at was
ful fayr in ? e sup{er}fice wi? oute. it shulde seme ry? t
foule.
[Sidenote: Thy nature does not make thee seem beautiful, but the
imperfect view of thy admirers. ]
{and} for ? i yif ? ou semest faire. ? i nature ne
maki? nat ? at. but ? e desceiuau{n}ce of ?
