[Sidenote: In the grave there is no
distinction
between high and
low.
low.
Chaucer - Boethius
{and} ?
e forsaken ?
e grete wor?
inesse 1577
of conscience {and} of vertue. {and} ? e seke{n} ? oure
gerdou{n}s of ? e smale wordes of st{ra}nge folke.
[Linenotes:
1545 _come? _--comth it
1547 _fur? e_--forth
_manere_--maner
1548 _? erfore_--ther-for
_au? te_--owhte
1549 _paied_--apayed
_hys owen_--hise owne
1550 _ney? bores_--nesshebours
_be_--ben
1552 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
1553 _put_ (MS. _putte_) _oute_--put owt
1556 _derke_--derk
_do? aweye_--MS. do? e, C. doth a-wey
_her autours_--hir actorros
1557 _? e_--yow
_semen_--semeth
1558 _comyng_--to comynge
1559 _wilt_--wolt
1560 _whiche_--which
1563 _myche_--mochel
1564 _? o_--the
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
_some_--som
1566 _self_--selue
1567 _be_ (2)--ben
1568 _een[de]les_--endeles
1569 _mad_--MS. made, C. maked
[_but----comparysoun_]--from C.
1573 _by_--to]
[Headnote:
VANITY REPROVED. ]
[Sidenote: This silly vanity was once thus ingeniously and
pleasantly rallied. ]
? Haue now here {and} vndirstonde i{n} ? e ly? tnesse of whiche 1580
p{r}ide {and} veyne glorie. how a man scorned[e] festiualy
{and} myrily swiche vanite.
[Sidenote: A certain man, who had assumed the name of a
philosopher through a love of vain-glory, was told by a man of
humour that he could prove he was a philosopher by bearing
patiently the injuries offered him. ]
somtyme ? ere was a man ? at
had[de] assaied wi? striuyng wordes an o? er ma{n}. ? ? e
whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude 1584
veyne glorie had[de] take{n} vpon hym falsly ? e name
of a philosopher. ? ? is ra? er man ? at I speke of
? ou? t[e] he wolde assay[e] where he ? ilke were a
philosopher or no.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 15. ]]
? at is to seyne yif he wolde han suffred 1588
ly? tly in pacience ? e wro{n}ges *? at weren don vnto hym.
[Sidenote: After counterfeiting patience for a while, the sophist
said to the other, 'You must surely confess that I am a
philosopher. ']
? ? is feined[e] philosophre took pacience a
litel while. {and} whan he hadde receiued wordes of
outerage he as in stryuynge a? eine {and} reioysynge of 1592
hym self seide at ? e last[e] ry? t ? us. ? vndirstondest
? ou nat ? at I am a philosophere.
[Sidenote: 'I might have believed it,' said the other, 'had you
held your tongue. ']
? at o? er man answered[e]
a? ein ful bityngly {and} seide. ? I had[de]
wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif ? ou haddest holde{n} ? i tonge 1596
stille.
[Sidenote: What advantage is it to great and worthy men to be
extolled after death? ]
? But what is it to ? ise noble wor? i men.
For certys of swyche folk speke . I. ? at seken glorie wi?
vertue. what is it q{uo}d she. what atteini? fame to
swiche folk whan ? e body is resolued by ? e dee? . atte 1600
? e last[e].
[Sidenote: If body and soul die, then there can be no glory; nor
can there be when he (to whom it is ascribed) does not exist. ]
? For yif so be ? at men dien in al. ? at is
to seyne body {and} soule. ? e whiche ? ing oure resou{n}
defendi? vs to byleuen ? anne is ? ere no glorie in no
wyse. For what sholde ? ilke glorie ben. for he of 1604
who{m} ? is glorie is seid to be nis ry? t nou? t in no wise.
[Sidenote: But if the soul is immortal when it leaves the body, it
takes no thought of the joys of this world. ]
and ? if ? e soule whiche ? at ha? in it self science of
goode werkes vnbounden fro ? e p{r}isou{n} of ? e er? e [[pg 60]]
wende? frely to ? e heuene. dispise? it nou? t ? an alle 1608
er? ely occupac{i}ou{n}s. {and} beynge i{n} heuene reioise? ? at
it is exempt from alle er? ely ? inges [as wo seith /
thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renou{n} of this
world]. 1612
[Linenotes:
1580 _whiche_--swych
1581 _scorned[e]_--scornede
1582 _swiche_--swych
_somtyme_--whilom
1583 _had[de]_--hadde
1584 _whiche_--which
_proude_--prowd
1586 _speke_--spak
1587 _? ou? t[e]_--thowhte
_assay[e]_--assaye
1588 _seyne_--seyn
1590 _feined[e]_--feynede
1592 _a? eine_--ayein
1593 _last[e]_--laste
_vndirstondest ? ou_--vndyrstondow
1594 _answered[e]_--answerde
1595 _had[de]_--hadde
1596 [_yt_]--from C.
1601 _last[e]_--laste
1602 _seyne_--seyn
1604 _for_ (2)--whan
1605 _? is_--thilke
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_nou? t_--nawht
1606 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
1608 _nou? t ? an_--nat thanne
1610 _from_--fro
1610-1612 [_as----world_]--from C. ]
[Headnote:
DEATH PUTS AN END TO RENOWN. ]
QUICUMQ{UE} SOLAM MENTE.
[Sidenote: [The 7th Metre. ]]
[Sidenote: Let him who seeks fame, thinking it to be the sovereign
good, look upon the broad universe and this circumscribed earth;
and he will then despise a glorious name limited to such a
confined space. ]
++Who so ? at wi? ouer? rowyng ? ou? t only seke? glorie
of fame. {and} weni? ? at it be souereyne good
? Lete hym loke vpon ? e brode shewyng contreys of
? e heue{n}. {and} vpo{n} ? e streite sete of ? is er? e. {and} 1616
he shal be ashamed of ? e encres of his name. ? at may
nat fulfille ? e litel compas of ? e er? e. ? O what
coueiten proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in
ydel {and} dedely ? ok of ? is worlde.
[Sidenote: Will splendid titles and renown prolong a man's life? ]
? For al ? ou? 1620
[? {a}t] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples go?
by dyuerse tonges. and al ? ou? grete houses {and} kynredes
shyne wi? clere titles of hono{ur}s.
[Sidenote: In the grave there is no distinction between high and
low. ]
? it na? eles
dee? dispise? al heye glorie of fame. {and} dee? wrappe? 1624
to gidre ? e heye heuedes {and} ? e lowe {and} make? egal
{and} euene ? e heyest[e] to ? e lowest[e].
[Sidenote: Where is the good Fabricius now? ]
? where
wone{n} now ? e bones of trewe fabricius.
[Sidenote: Where the noble Brutus, or stern Cato? ]
what is
now brutus or stiern Caton ? e ? inne fame ? it lastynge 1628
of hir ydel names is markid wi? a fewe lettres.
[Sidenote: Their empty names still live, but of their persons we
know nothing. ]
but al ? ou? we han knowe{n} ? e faire wordes of ? e fames of
hem. it is nat ? euen to knowe he{m} ? at ben dede {and}
consumpt.
[Sidenote: Fame cannot make you known. ]
Liggi? ? anne stille al vtterly vnknowable 1632
ne fame ne make? ? ow nat knowe. and yif ? e wene
to lyuen ? e leng{er} for wynde of ? oure mortal name.
whan o cruel day shal rauyshe ? ow. ? an is ? e secunde
dee? dwellyng in ? ow.
[Sidenote: It will be effaced by conquering Time, so that death
will be doubly victorious. ]
_Glosa. _ ? e first dee? he clepi? 1636
here ? e dep{ar}tynge of ? e body {and} ? e soule. ? and [[pg 61]]
? e secunde dee? he clepe? as here. ? e styntynge of
? e renoune of fame. [3]
[Linenotes:
1615 _Lete_--Lat
_loke_--looken
1616 _sete_--Cyte
1617 _be_--ben
1619 _vpon_--vp
1620 _and dedely_--in the dedly
1621 _y-spradde_--ysprad
[_? at_]--from C.
_ferne_--MS. serue, C. ferne
_go? _--MS. go? e, C. goth
1622 {and} (2)--or
1623 _shyne_--shynen
_clere_--cler
1624 _al_--alle
1626 _heyest[e]_--heyoste
_lowest[e]_--loweste
1628 _stiern_--MS. sciern, C. stierne
1632 _consumpt_--{con}sumpte
1634 _lenger_--longer{e}
1637 _? e_ (1)--omitted
1639 _renoune_--renou{n}]
[Footnote 3: The next three chapters are from the Camb. MS. ]
[Headnote:
ADVERSE FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL. ]
[SET NE ME INEXORABILE CONTRA.
[Sidenote: [The viij p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: 'But do not believe,' said Philosophy, 'that I am an
implacable enemy to Fortune. ]
++BVt for-as-mochel as thow shalt nat wenen q{uod} she 1640
? {a}t I bere vntretable batayle ayenis fortune //
[Sidenote: This inconstant dame sometimes deserves well of men,
when she appears in her true colours. ]
yit som-tyme it by-falleth ? {a}t she desseyuable desserueth
to han ryht good thank of men // {And} ? {a}t is whan she
hir{e} self opneth / {and} whan she descou{er}eth hir frownt / 1644
{and} sheweth hir maneres p{ar}-auentur{e} yit vndirstondesthow
nat ? {a}t . I. shal seye //
[Sidenote: And what I say may perhaps appear paradoxical. ]
it is a wondyr ? {a}t . I.
desyr{e} to telle /
[Sidenote: That is, that adverse fortune is more beneficial than
prosperous fortune. ]
{and} forthi vnnethe may I. vnpleyten my
sentense w{i}t{h} wordes for I. deme ? {a}t contraryos fortune 1648
p{ro}fiteth mor{e} to men than fortune debonayr{e} //
[Sidenote: The latter lies and deceives us, the former displays
her natural inconstancy. ]
For al-wey whan fortune semeth debonayr{e} than she lyeth
falsly in by-hetynge the hope of welefulnesse // but forsothe
{con}traryos fortune is alwey sothfast / whan she 1652
sheweth hir self vnstable thorw hyr chau{n}gynge //
[Sidenote: That deceives us, this instructs us; that, by a
fallacious show of good, enslaves the mind; this, by the knowledge
of her fickleness, frees and absolves it. ]
the amyable fortune desseyueth folk / the contrarye fortune
techeth // the amyable fortune byndeth w{i}t{h} the beaute
of false goodys the hertes of folk ? {a}t vsen he{m} / the 1656
contrarye fortune vnbyndeth he{m} by ? ^e knowynge of
freele welefulnesse //
[Sidenote: The one is wavering and incapable of reflection, the
other is staid and wise through experience of adversity. ]
the amyable fortune maysthow sen
alwey wyndynge {and} flowynge / {and} eu{er}e mysknowynge 1659
of hir self // the contrarye fortune is a-tempre {and} restreynyd
{and} wys thorw excersyse of hir aduersyte //
[Sidenote: Lastly, prosperous fortune leads men astray. Adversity
teaches them wherein real happiness consists. ]
at the laste amyable fortune w{i}t{h} hir flaterynges draweth
mys wandrynge men fro the souereyne good // the contraryos
fortune ledith ofte folk ayein to sothfast goodes / 1664
{and} haleth hem ayein as w{i}t{h} an hooke /
[Sidenote: It renders us no inconsiderable service in enabling us
to recognize our true friends. ]
weenesthow
thanne ? {a}t thow owhtest to leten this a lytel thing / ? {a}t
this aspre {and} horible fortune hath discoueryd to the / the
thowhtes of thy trewe frendes // For-why this ilke fortune 1668
hath departyd {and} vncou{er}yd to the bothe the [[pg 62]]
certeyn vysages {and} ek the dowtos visages of thy
felawes // wha{n} she dep{ar}tyd awey fro the / she took
awey hyr frendes {and} lafte the thyne frendes // 1672
[Sidenote: At what price would you not have bought this knowledge
in your prosperity? ]
now whan thow wer{e} ryche {and} weleful as the semede / w{i}t{h}
how mochel woldesthow han bowht the fulle knowynge
of this // ? {a}t is to seyn the knowynge of thy
verray freendes //
[Sidenote: Complain not, then, of loss of wealth, since thou hast
found infinitely greater riches in your true friends. ]
now pleyne the nat thanne of Rychesse 1676
. I. -lorn syn thow hast fowndyn the moste p{re}syos kynde
of Rychesses ? {a}t is to seyn thy verray frendes.
[Headnote:
ALL THINGS BOUND BY THE CHAIN OF LOVE. ]
QUOD MU{N}DUS STABILI FIDE.
[Sidenote: [The viij Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: This world, by an invariable order, suffers change. ]
++THat ? ^e world w{i}t{h} stable feith / varieth acordable
chaungynges //
[Sidenote: Elements, that by nature disagree, are restrained by
concord. ]
? {a}t the contraryos qualite of element? 1680
holden among{e} hem self aliau{n}ce p{er}durable / ? {a}t pheb{us}
the sonne w{i}t{h} his goldene chariet / bryngeth forth the
rosene day / ? {a}t the mone hath {com}mau{n}dement ou{er} the
nyhtes // whiche nyhtes hesp{er}us the eue sterre hat browt // 1684
[Sidenote: The sea is thus kept within its proper bounds. ]
? {a}t ? ^e se gredy to flowen constreyneth w{i}t{h} a certeyn ende
hise floodes / so ? {a}t it is nat l[e]ueful to strechche hise
brode termes or bowndes vp-on the erthes // ? {a}t is to seyn
to cou{er}e alle the erthe //
[Sidenote: This concord is produced by love, which governeth earth
and sea, and extends its influence to the heavens. ]
Al this a-cordau{n}ce of thinges 1688
is bownden w{i}t{h} looue / ? {a}t gou{er}neth erthe {and} see / {and}
hath also {com}mau{n}dement? to the heuenes /
[Sidenote: If this chain of love were broken all things would be
in perpetual strife, and the world would go to ruin. ]
{and} yif
this looue slakede the brydelis / alle thinges ? {a}t now
louen hem to gederes / wolden maken a batayle contynuely 1692
{and} stryuen to fordoon the fasou{n} of this worlde /
the which they now leden in acordable feith by fayre
moeuynges //
[Sidenote: Love binds nations together, it ties the nuptial knot,
and dictates binding laws to friendship. ]
this looue halt to gideres poeples Ioygned
w{i}t{h} an hooly bond / {and} knytteth sacrement of maryages 1696
of chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to
trewe felawes //
[Sidenote: Men were truly blest if governed by this celestial
love! ']
O weleful weer{e} mankynde / yif thilke
loue ? {a}t gouerneth heuene gouerned[e] yowr{e} corages /
EXPLICIT LIB{ER} 2_^us_.
[Linenote:
1690 _hath_--H. he hath]
[[pg 63]]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS IS COMFORTED BY PHILOSOPHY'S SONG. ]
INCIPIT LIB{ER} 3^_us_.
IAM CANTU{M} ILLA FINIERAT.
[Sidenote: [The fyrste p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: Philosophy now ended her song. ]
++By this she hadde endid hir{e} song{e} / whan the swetnesse 1700
of hir{e} ditee hadde thorw p{er}ced me ? {a}t was desirous
of herkninge /
[Sidenote: I was so charmed that I kept a listening as if she were
still speaking. ]
{and} . I. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn
Eres / ? {a}t is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde
seye //
[Sidenote: At last I said, O sovereign comforter of dejected
minds, how much hast thou refreshed me with the energy of thy
discourse, so that I now think myself almost an equal match for
Fortune and able to resist her blows. ]
so ? {a}t a litel her{e} aft{er} . I. seyde thus // O thow 1704
? {a}t art sou{er}eyn comfort of Angwissos corages // So thow
hast remou{n}ted {and} norysshed me w{i}t{h} the weyhte of thy
sentenses {and} w{i}t{h} delit of thy syngynge // so ? {a}t . I. trowe
nat now ? {a}t . I. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as 1708
who seyth. I. dar wel now suffren al the assautes of fortune
{and} wel deffende me fro hyr //
[Sidenote: I fear not, therefore, thy remedies, but earnestly
desire to hear what they are. ]
{and} tho remedies
whyche ? {a}t thow seydest hir{e} byforn weren ryht sharpe
Nat oonly p{a}t . I. am nat agrysen of hem now // but . I. desiros 1712
of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes //
[Sidenote: _P. _ When I perceived that, silent and attentive, you
received my words, I expected to find such a state of mind in you,
or rather, I created in you such an one. ]
than seyde she thus // ? {a}t feelede . I. ful wel q{uod} she //
whan ? {a}t thow ententyf {and} stylle rauysshedest my
wordes // {and} . I. abood til ? {a}t thow haddest swych habyte 1716
of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl ? {a}t . I.
my self had[de] maked to the the same habyt / which
? {a}t is a moore verray thing{e} //
[Sidenote: What remains to be said is of such a nature that when
it is first tasted it is pungent and unpleasant, but when once
swallowed it turns sweet, and is grateful to the stomach. ]
And certes the remenau{n}t
of thinges ? {a}t ben yit to seye / ben swyche // ? {a}t fyrst 1720
whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan
they ben resseyuyd w{i}t{h}-inne a whyht than ben they
swete //
[Sidenote: But because you say you would now gladly hear, with
what desire would you burn if you could imagine whither I am going
to lead you? ]
but for thow seyst ? {a}t thow art so desirous to
herkne hem // wit[h] how gret brennynge woldesthow 1724
glowen / yif thow wystest whyder . I. wol leden the //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Whither is that, I pray? ]
whydyr{e} is ? {a}t q{uod} . I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ To that true felicity, of which you seem to have
but a faint foretaste. ]
to thilke verray welefulnesse
q{uod} she // of whyche thynge herte dremeth //
[Sidenote: But your sight is clouded with false forms, so that it
cannot yet behold this same felicity. ]
but for as moche as thy syhte is ocupied {and} distorbed / by 1728
Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit
sen thilke selue welefulnesse //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Show me, I pray, that true happiness without
delay. ]
do q{uod} .
of conscience {and} of vertue. {and} ? e seke{n} ? oure
gerdou{n}s of ? e smale wordes of st{ra}nge folke.
[Linenotes:
1545 _come? _--comth it
1547 _fur? e_--forth
_manere_--maner
1548 _? erfore_--ther-for
_au? te_--owhte
1549 _paied_--apayed
_hys owen_--hise owne
1550 _ney? bores_--nesshebours
_be_--ben
1552 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
1553 _put_ (MS. _putte_) _oute_--put owt
1556 _derke_--derk
_do? aweye_--MS. do? e, C. doth a-wey
_her autours_--hir actorros
1557 _? e_--yow
_semen_--semeth
1558 _comyng_--to comynge
1559 _wilt_--wolt
1560 _whiche_--which
1563 _myche_--mochel
1564 _? o_--the
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
_some_--som
1566 _self_--selue
1567 _be_ (2)--ben
1568 _een[de]les_--endeles
1569 _mad_--MS. made, C. maked
[_but----comparysoun_]--from C.
1573 _by_--to]
[Headnote:
VANITY REPROVED. ]
[Sidenote: This silly vanity was once thus ingeniously and
pleasantly rallied. ]
? Haue now here {and} vndirstonde i{n} ? e ly? tnesse of whiche 1580
p{r}ide {and} veyne glorie. how a man scorned[e] festiualy
{and} myrily swiche vanite.
[Sidenote: A certain man, who had assumed the name of a
philosopher through a love of vain-glory, was told by a man of
humour that he could prove he was a philosopher by bearing
patiently the injuries offered him. ]
somtyme ? ere was a man ? at
had[de] assaied wi? striuyng wordes an o? er ma{n}. ? ? e
whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude 1584
veyne glorie had[de] take{n} vpon hym falsly ? e name
of a philosopher. ? ? is ra? er man ? at I speke of
? ou? t[e] he wolde assay[e] where he ? ilke were a
philosopher or no.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 15. ]]
? at is to seyne yif he wolde han suffred 1588
ly? tly in pacience ? e wro{n}ges *? at weren don vnto hym.
[Sidenote: After counterfeiting patience for a while, the sophist
said to the other, 'You must surely confess that I am a
philosopher. ']
? ? is feined[e] philosophre took pacience a
litel while. {and} whan he hadde receiued wordes of
outerage he as in stryuynge a? eine {and} reioysynge of 1592
hym self seide at ? e last[e] ry? t ? us. ? vndirstondest
? ou nat ? at I am a philosophere.
[Sidenote: 'I might have believed it,' said the other, 'had you
held your tongue. ']
? at o? er man answered[e]
a? ein ful bityngly {and} seide. ? I had[de]
wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif ? ou haddest holde{n} ? i tonge 1596
stille.
[Sidenote: What advantage is it to great and worthy men to be
extolled after death? ]
? But what is it to ? ise noble wor? i men.
For certys of swyche folk speke . I. ? at seken glorie wi?
vertue. what is it q{uo}d she. what atteini? fame to
swiche folk whan ? e body is resolued by ? e dee? . atte 1600
? e last[e].
[Sidenote: If body and soul die, then there can be no glory; nor
can there be when he (to whom it is ascribed) does not exist. ]
? For yif so be ? at men dien in al. ? at is
to seyne body {and} soule. ? e whiche ? ing oure resou{n}
defendi? vs to byleuen ? anne is ? ere no glorie in no
wyse. For what sholde ? ilke glorie ben. for he of 1604
who{m} ? is glorie is seid to be nis ry? t nou? t in no wise.
[Sidenote: But if the soul is immortal when it leaves the body, it
takes no thought of the joys of this world. ]
and ? if ? e soule whiche ? at ha? in it self science of
goode werkes vnbounden fro ? e p{r}isou{n} of ? e er? e [[pg 60]]
wende? frely to ? e heuene. dispise? it nou? t ? an alle 1608
er? ely occupac{i}ou{n}s. {and} beynge i{n} heuene reioise? ? at
it is exempt from alle er? ely ? inges [as wo seith /
thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renou{n} of this
world]. 1612
[Linenotes:
1580 _whiche_--swych
1581 _scorned[e]_--scornede
1582 _swiche_--swych
_somtyme_--whilom
1583 _had[de]_--hadde
1584 _whiche_--which
_proude_--prowd
1586 _speke_--spak
1587 _? ou? t[e]_--thowhte
_assay[e]_--assaye
1588 _seyne_--seyn
1590 _feined[e]_--feynede
1592 _a? eine_--ayein
1593 _last[e]_--laste
_vndirstondest ? ou_--vndyrstondow
1594 _answered[e]_--answerde
1595 _had[de]_--hadde
1596 [_yt_]--from C.
1601 _last[e]_--laste
1602 _seyne_--seyn
1604 _for_ (2)--whan
1605 _? is_--thilke
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_nou? t_--nawht
1606 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
1608 _nou? t ? an_--nat thanne
1610 _from_--fro
1610-1612 [_as----world_]--from C. ]
[Headnote:
DEATH PUTS AN END TO RENOWN. ]
QUICUMQ{UE} SOLAM MENTE.
[Sidenote: [The 7th Metre. ]]
[Sidenote: Let him who seeks fame, thinking it to be the sovereign
good, look upon the broad universe and this circumscribed earth;
and he will then despise a glorious name limited to such a
confined space. ]
++Who so ? at wi? ouer? rowyng ? ou? t only seke? glorie
of fame. {and} weni? ? at it be souereyne good
? Lete hym loke vpon ? e brode shewyng contreys of
? e heue{n}. {and} vpo{n} ? e streite sete of ? is er? e. {and} 1616
he shal be ashamed of ? e encres of his name. ? at may
nat fulfille ? e litel compas of ? e er? e. ? O what
coueiten proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in
ydel {and} dedely ? ok of ? is worlde.
[Sidenote: Will splendid titles and renown prolong a man's life? ]
? For al ? ou? 1620
[? {a}t] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples go?
by dyuerse tonges. and al ? ou? grete houses {and} kynredes
shyne wi? clere titles of hono{ur}s.
[Sidenote: In the grave there is no distinction between high and
low. ]
? it na? eles
dee? dispise? al heye glorie of fame. {and} dee? wrappe? 1624
to gidre ? e heye heuedes {and} ? e lowe {and} make? egal
{and} euene ? e heyest[e] to ? e lowest[e].
[Sidenote: Where is the good Fabricius now? ]
? where
wone{n} now ? e bones of trewe fabricius.
[Sidenote: Where the noble Brutus, or stern Cato? ]
what is
now brutus or stiern Caton ? e ? inne fame ? it lastynge 1628
of hir ydel names is markid wi? a fewe lettres.
[Sidenote: Their empty names still live, but of their persons we
know nothing. ]
but al ? ou? we han knowe{n} ? e faire wordes of ? e fames of
hem. it is nat ? euen to knowe he{m} ? at ben dede {and}
consumpt.
[Sidenote: Fame cannot make you known. ]
Liggi? ? anne stille al vtterly vnknowable 1632
ne fame ne make? ? ow nat knowe. and yif ? e wene
to lyuen ? e leng{er} for wynde of ? oure mortal name.
whan o cruel day shal rauyshe ? ow. ? an is ? e secunde
dee? dwellyng in ? ow.
[Sidenote: It will be effaced by conquering Time, so that death
will be doubly victorious. ]
_Glosa. _ ? e first dee? he clepi? 1636
here ? e dep{ar}tynge of ? e body {and} ? e soule. ? and [[pg 61]]
? e secunde dee? he clepe? as here. ? e styntynge of
? e renoune of fame. [3]
[Linenotes:
1615 _Lete_--Lat
_loke_--looken
1616 _sete_--Cyte
1617 _be_--ben
1619 _vpon_--vp
1620 _and dedely_--in the dedly
1621 _y-spradde_--ysprad
[_? at_]--from C.
_ferne_--MS. serue, C. ferne
_go? _--MS. go? e, C. goth
1622 {and} (2)--or
1623 _shyne_--shynen
_clere_--cler
1624 _al_--alle
1626 _heyest[e]_--heyoste
_lowest[e]_--loweste
1628 _stiern_--MS. sciern, C. stierne
1632 _consumpt_--{con}sumpte
1634 _lenger_--longer{e}
1637 _? e_ (1)--omitted
1639 _renoune_--renou{n}]
[Footnote 3: The next three chapters are from the Camb. MS. ]
[Headnote:
ADVERSE FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL. ]
[SET NE ME INEXORABILE CONTRA.
[Sidenote: [The viij p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: 'But do not believe,' said Philosophy, 'that I am an
implacable enemy to Fortune. ]
++BVt for-as-mochel as thow shalt nat wenen q{uod} she 1640
? {a}t I bere vntretable batayle ayenis fortune //
[Sidenote: This inconstant dame sometimes deserves well of men,
when she appears in her true colours. ]
yit som-tyme it by-falleth ? {a}t she desseyuable desserueth
to han ryht good thank of men // {And} ? {a}t is whan she
hir{e} self opneth / {and} whan she descou{er}eth hir frownt / 1644
{and} sheweth hir maneres p{ar}-auentur{e} yit vndirstondesthow
nat ? {a}t . I. shal seye //
[Sidenote: And what I say may perhaps appear paradoxical. ]
it is a wondyr ? {a}t . I.
desyr{e} to telle /
[Sidenote: That is, that adverse fortune is more beneficial than
prosperous fortune. ]
{and} forthi vnnethe may I. vnpleyten my
sentense w{i}t{h} wordes for I. deme ? {a}t contraryos fortune 1648
p{ro}fiteth mor{e} to men than fortune debonayr{e} //
[Sidenote: The latter lies and deceives us, the former displays
her natural inconstancy. ]
For al-wey whan fortune semeth debonayr{e} than she lyeth
falsly in by-hetynge the hope of welefulnesse // but forsothe
{con}traryos fortune is alwey sothfast / whan she 1652
sheweth hir self vnstable thorw hyr chau{n}gynge //
[Sidenote: That deceives us, this instructs us; that, by a
fallacious show of good, enslaves the mind; this, by the knowledge
of her fickleness, frees and absolves it. ]
the amyable fortune desseyueth folk / the contrarye fortune
techeth // the amyable fortune byndeth w{i}t{h} the beaute
of false goodys the hertes of folk ? {a}t vsen he{m} / the 1656
contrarye fortune vnbyndeth he{m} by ? ^e knowynge of
freele welefulnesse //
[Sidenote: The one is wavering and incapable of reflection, the
other is staid and wise through experience of adversity. ]
the amyable fortune maysthow sen
alwey wyndynge {and} flowynge / {and} eu{er}e mysknowynge 1659
of hir self // the contrarye fortune is a-tempre {and} restreynyd
{and} wys thorw excersyse of hir aduersyte //
[Sidenote: Lastly, prosperous fortune leads men astray. Adversity
teaches them wherein real happiness consists. ]
at the laste amyable fortune w{i}t{h} hir flaterynges draweth
mys wandrynge men fro the souereyne good // the contraryos
fortune ledith ofte folk ayein to sothfast goodes / 1664
{and} haleth hem ayein as w{i}t{h} an hooke /
[Sidenote: It renders us no inconsiderable service in enabling us
to recognize our true friends. ]
weenesthow
thanne ? {a}t thow owhtest to leten this a lytel thing / ? {a}t
this aspre {and} horible fortune hath discoueryd to the / the
thowhtes of thy trewe frendes // For-why this ilke fortune 1668
hath departyd {and} vncou{er}yd to the bothe the [[pg 62]]
certeyn vysages {and} ek the dowtos visages of thy
felawes // wha{n} she dep{ar}tyd awey fro the / she took
awey hyr frendes {and} lafte the thyne frendes // 1672
[Sidenote: At what price would you not have bought this knowledge
in your prosperity? ]
now whan thow wer{e} ryche {and} weleful as the semede / w{i}t{h}
how mochel woldesthow han bowht the fulle knowynge
of this // ? {a}t is to seyn the knowynge of thy
verray freendes //
[Sidenote: Complain not, then, of loss of wealth, since thou hast
found infinitely greater riches in your true friends. ]
now pleyne the nat thanne of Rychesse 1676
. I. -lorn syn thow hast fowndyn the moste p{re}syos kynde
of Rychesses ? {a}t is to seyn thy verray frendes.
[Headnote:
ALL THINGS BOUND BY THE CHAIN OF LOVE. ]
QUOD MU{N}DUS STABILI FIDE.
[Sidenote: [The viij Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: This world, by an invariable order, suffers change. ]
++THat ? ^e world w{i}t{h} stable feith / varieth acordable
chaungynges //
[Sidenote: Elements, that by nature disagree, are restrained by
concord. ]
? {a}t the contraryos qualite of element? 1680
holden among{e} hem self aliau{n}ce p{er}durable / ? {a}t pheb{us}
the sonne w{i}t{h} his goldene chariet / bryngeth forth the
rosene day / ? {a}t the mone hath {com}mau{n}dement ou{er} the
nyhtes // whiche nyhtes hesp{er}us the eue sterre hat browt // 1684
[Sidenote: The sea is thus kept within its proper bounds. ]
? {a}t ? ^e se gredy to flowen constreyneth w{i}t{h} a certeyn ende
hise floodes / so ? {a}t it is nat l[e]ueful to strechche hise
brode termes or bowndes vp-on the erthes // ? {a}t is to seyn
to cou{er}e alle the erthe //
[Sidenote: This concord is produced by love, which governeth earth
and sea, and extends its influence to the heavens. ]
Al this a-cordau{n}ce of thinges 1688
is bownden w{i}t{h} looue / ? {a}t gou{er}neth erthe {and} see / {and}
hath also {com}mau{n}dement? to the heuenes /
[Sidenote: If this chain of love were broken all things would be
in perpetual strife, and the world would go to ruin. ]
{and} yif
this looue slakede the brydelis / alle thinges ? {a}t now
louen hem to gederes / wolden maken a batayle contynuely 1692
{and} stryuen to fordoon the fasou{n} of this worlde /
the which they now leden in acordable feith by fayre
moeuynges //
[Sidenote: Love binds nations together, it ties the nuptial knot,
and dictates binding laws to friendship. ]
this looue halt to gideres poeples Ioygned
w{i}t{h} an hooly bond / {and} knytteth sacrement of maryages 1696
of chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to
trewe felawes //
[Sidenote: Men were truly blest if governed by this celestial
love! ']
O weleful weer{e} mankynde / yif thilke
loue ? {a}t gouerneth heuene gouerned[e] yowr{e} corages /
EXPLICIT LIB{ER} 2_^us_.
[Linenote:
1690 _hath_--H. he hath]
[[pg 63]]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS IS COMFORTED BY PHILOSOPHY'S SONG. ]
INCIPIT LIB{ER} 3^_us_.
IAM CANTU{M} ILLA FINIERAT.
[Sidenote: [The fyrste p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: Philosophy now ended her song. ]
++By this she hadde endid hir{e} song{e} / whan the swetnesse 1700
of hir{e} ditee hadde thorw p{er}ced me ? {a}t was desirous
of herkninge /
[Sidenote: I was so charmed that I kept a listening as if she were
still speaking. ]
{and} . I. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn
Eres / ? {a}t is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde
seye //
[Sidenote: At last I said, O sovereign comforter of dejected
minds, how much hast thou refreshed me with the energy of thy
discourse, so that I now think myself almost an equal match for
Fortune and able to resist her blows. ]
so ? {a}t a litel her{e} aft{er} . I. seyde thus // O thow 1704
? {a}t art sou{er}eyn comfort of Angwissos corages // So thow
hast remou{n}ted {and} norysshed me w{i}t{h} the weyhte of thy
sentenses {and} w{i}t{h} delit of thy syngynge // so ? {a}t . I. trowe
nat now ? {a}t . I. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as 1708
who seyth. I. dar wel now suffren al the assautes of fortune
{and} wel deffende me fro hyr //
[Sidenote: I fear not, therefore, thy remedies, but earnestly
desire to hear what they are. ]
{and} tho remedies
whyche ? {a}t thow seydest hir{e} byforn weren ryht sharpe
Nat oonly p{a}t . I. am nat agrysen of hem now // but . I. desiros 1712
of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes //
[Sidenote: _P. _ When I perceived that, silent and attentive, you
received my words, I expected to find such a state of mind in you,
or rather, I created in you such an one. ]
than seyde she thus // ? {a}t feelede . I. ful wel q{uod} she //
whan ? {a}t thow ententyf {and} stylle rauysshedest my
wordes // {and} . I. abood til ? {a}t thow haddest swych habyte 1716
of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl ? {a}t . I.
my self had[de] maked to the the same habyt / which
? {a}t is a moore verray thing{e} //
[Sidenote: What remains to be said is of such a nature that when
it is first tasted it is pungent and unpleasant, but when once
swallowed it turns sweet, and is grateful to the stomach. ]
And certes the remenau{n}t
of thinges ? {a}t ben yit to seye / ben swyche // ? {a}t fyrst 1720
whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan
they ben resseyuyd w{i}t{h}-inne a whyht than ben they
swete //
[Sidenote: But because you say you would now gladly hear, with
what desire would you burn if you could imagine whither I am going
to lead you? ]
but for thow seyst ? {a}t thow art so desirous to
herkne hem // wit[h] how gret brennynge woldesthow 1724
glowen / yif thow wystest whyder . I. wol leden the //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Whither is that, I pray? ]
whydyr{e} is ? {a}t q{uod} . I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ To that true felicity, of which you seem to have
but a faint foretaste. ]
to thilke verray welefulnesse
q{uod} she // of whyche thynge herte dremeth //
[Sidenote: But your sight is clouded with false forms, so that it
cannot yet behold this same felicity. ]
but for as moche as thy syhte is ocupied {and} distorbed / by 1728
Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit
sen thilke selue welefulnesse //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Show me, I pray, that true happiness without
delay. ]
do q{uod} .
