e [[pg 67]]
souereyne goode of alle be it so ?
souereyne goode of alle be it so ?
Chaucer - Boethius
at souereygne
goode is to lyue wi? outen nede of any ? ing.
{and} t{ra}ueile{n} hem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse. 1772
and some o? er men deme{n}. ? at sou{er}ein goode be forto
be ry? t digne of reu{er}ences. {and} enforce{n} hem to ben
reu{er}enced among hir ney? bo{ur}s. by ? e hono{ur}s ? at ? ei
han ygeten
[Sidenote: There are some, again, who place it in supreme _power_,
and seek to rule, or to be favoured by the ruling powers. ]
? {and} some folk ? er ben ? at halden ? at 1776
ry? t hey? e power to be souereyn goode. {and} enforcen
he{m} forto regnen or ellys to ioigne{n} he{m} to hem ? at
regnen.
[Sidenote: There are those who fancy _fame_ to be the height of
happiness, and seek by the arts of war or peace to get renown. ]
? And it seme? to some o? er folk ? at noblesse
of renou{n} be ? e sou{er}ein goode. {and} hasten hem to 1780
geten glorious name by ? e artes of werre or of pees.
[Sidenote: Many there are who believe nothing to be better than
_joy_ and _gladness_, and think it delightful to plunge into
luxury. ]
and many folke mesuren {and} gessen ? {a}t sou{er}ein goode
be ioye {and} gladnesse {and} wenen ? at it be ry? t blisful
[thyng{e}] to ploungen hem i{n} uoluptuous delit.
[Sidenote: Some there are who use these causes and ends
interchangeably, as those who desire riches as a means of getting
power; or who desire power in order to get money or renown. ]
? And 1784
? er ben folk ? at enterchaungen ? e causes {and} ? e endes
of ? ise forseide goodes as ? ei ? at desire{n} rycchesse to [[pg 66]]
han power {and} delices. Or ellis ? ei desiren power forto
han moneye or for cause of renou{n}.
[Sidenote: In all they do they have a particular end in view. ]
? In ? ise ? inges 1788
{and} i{n} swyche o? er ? inges is to{ur}ned al ? e entenc{i}ou{n}
of desirynges {and} [of] werkes of me{n}. ? As ? us.
[Linenotes:
1751 _fastned[e]_--fastnede
_wi? drow_--MS. wi? drowen, C. w{i}t{h} drowh
1752 _sete_--Cyte
1756 _enforced_--enforsen
1757 [_And blysfulnesse_]--from C.
_goode_--good
1758 _so_--so ? {a}t
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
1759 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1760 _al_--alle
_goode_--good
1761 _? ere_--ther
_failed[e]_--faylyde
_my? t[e]_--myhte
_souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1762 _? an_--thanne
_? ere_--ther
_goode_--good
_souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1763 _goode_--good
_my? t[e]_--myhte
1764 _certeyne_--certein
1766 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_folke_--foolk
1767 _goode_--good
1769 _fals[e]_--false
1770 _souereygne goode is_--sou{er}eyn good be
1771 _lyue wi? outen_--lyuen w{i}t{h} owte
1772 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1773 _some_--som
_goode be_--good ben
1774 _be_--ben
1775 _ney? bours_--nesshebors
1776 _halden_--holden
1777 _hey? e_--heyh
_to_--omitted
_goode_--good
1780 _goode_--good
1781 _or_--{and}
1782 _folke_--folk
_goode_--good
1783 _be_--by
1784 [_thynge_]--from C.
1786 _rycchesse_--rychesses
1787 _delices_--delytes
1789 _o? er_--oothre
_al_--alle
1790 [_of_]--from C. ]
[Headnote:
FRIENDSHIP A SACRED THING. ]
[Sidenote: Nobility and popular favour are sought after by some in
order to become famous. ]
? Noblesse {and} fauo{ur} of poeple whiche ? at ? iue? as it
seme? a manere clernesse of renou{n}.
[Sidenote: By others, wives and children are only desired as
sources of pleasure. ]
? and wijf {and} 1792
children ? at men desiren for cause of delit {and} mirinesse.
[Sidenote: Friendship must not be reckoned among the goods of
fortune, but among those of virtue, for it is a very sacred
thing. ]
? But forso? e frendes ne shollen nat ben rekkened
among ? e goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it
is a ful holy man{er}e ? ing.
[Sidenote: All else are desired either for the power or pleasure
they afford. ]
alle ? ise o? er ? inges forso? e 1796
ben taken for cause of power. or ellis for cause of
delit.
[Sidenote: The goods of the body fall under the same predicament. ]
? Certis now am I redy to referen ? e goodes of
? e body to ? ise forseide ? inges abouen.
[Sidenote: Strength and a good stature seem to give power and
worthiness. ]
? For it seme?
? {a}t streng? e {and} gretnesse of body ? euen power {and} 1800
wor? inesse.
[Sidenote: Beauty and swiftness give glory and fame; and health
gives delight. ]
? and ? at beaute {and} swiftenesse ? euen
noblesse {and} glorie of renou{n}. {and} hele of body seme?
? iuen delit.
[Sidenote: In all these happiness alone is sought. ]
? In alle ? ise ? i{n}g{us} it seme? oonly ? at
blisfulnesse is desired.
[Sidenote: What a man most wishes for, that he esteems the supreme
good, which, as we have defined, is happiness. ]
? For-whi ? ilke ? ing ? at euery 1804
man desire? moost ouer alle ? inges. he demi? ? at be ? e
souereyne goode. ? But I haue diffined ? at blisfulnesse
is ? e souereyne goode. for whiche euery wy? t
demi? ? at ? ilke estat ? at he desire? ouer alle ? inges ? at 1808
it be ? e blisfulnesse.
[Sidenote: Thou hast now before thee a view of human felicity
(falsely so called), that is, riches, honours, power, glory, and
delight, which last _Epicurus_ considered as the sovereign good. ]
? Now hast ? ou ? an byforne
[thy eyen] almost al ? e p{ur}posed forme of ? e welfulnesse
of ma{n}ky{n}de. ? at is to seyne rycchesse. hono{ur}s.
power. glorie. {and} delit? . ? e whiche delit oonly considered 1812
Epicurus Iuged {and} establissed. ? at delit is ? e
souereyne goode. for as myche as alle o? er ? inges as
hym ? ou? t[e] by-refte awey ioie {and} myr? e fro{m} ? e
herte.
[Sidenote: I now return to the inclinations and pursuits of
mankind. ]
? But I reto{ur}ne a? eyne to ? e studies of meen. 1816
of whiche men ? e corage alwey rehersi? {and} seeke? ?
e [[pg 67]]
souereyne goode of alle be it so ? {a}t it be wi? a derke
memorie [but he not by whiche paath].
[Sidenote: Their minds are bent upon the chief good, and are ever
seeking it with a darkened understanding, like a drunken man, who
cannot find his way home. ]
? Ry? t as a
dronke ma{n} not nat by whiche pa? e he may reto{ur}ne 1820
home to hys house.
[Sidenote: Do they go astray who strive to keep themselves from
want? ]
? Seme? it ? anne ? at folk folyen
{and} erren ? at enforcen he{m} to haue nede of no ? ing
[Linenotes:
1794 _shollen_--sholden
1795 _? e_--tho
1796 _o? er_--oothre
1801 _swiftenesse_--sweftnesse
1803 _? iuen_--MS. ? iue? , C. yeuen
1806, 1807 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1807 _whiche_--whych
1809 _? e_--omitted
_? an byforne_--thanne byforn
1810 [_thy eyen_]--from C. ; MS. _has_ ? euen a? eyne
_almost_--almest
_welfulnesse_--welefulnesse
1811 _seyne rycchesse_--seyn Rychesses
1814 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_myche_--moche
_o? er_--oothre
1815 _? ou? t[e]_--thowhte
_from_--fram
1816 _a? eyne_--ayein
1818 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_of_--omitted
_alle_--al
_derke_--dirkyd
1819 [_but----paath_]--from C.
1820 _dronke_--dronken
_pa? e_--paath
1821 _home_--hym]
[Headnote:
ALL SEEK THE CHIEF GOOD. ]
[Sidenote: By no means. No state is happier than that in which a
man is above want, and independent of others. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 16. ]]
? Certys ? er nys non o? er ? ing ? at may so weel p{er}fo{ur}ny
blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuo{us} *of alle 1824
goodes ? at ne ha? nede of none o? er ? ing. but ? at it is
suffisant of hy{m} self. vnto hym self.
[Sidenote: Are they guilty of folly that seek esteem and
reverence? ]
and foleyen
swyche folk ? anne. ? at wenen ? at ? ilk ? ing ? {a}t is
ry? t goode. ? at it be eke ry? t wor? i of honour {and} of 1828
reuerence.
[Sidenote: No; for that is not contemptible for which all men
strive. ]
? Certis nay. for ? at ? ing nys ney? er foule
ne wor? i to ben dispised ? at al ? e entenc{i}ou{n} of mortel
folke trauaille forto geten it.
[Sidenote: Is not power to be reckoned amongst desirable goods? ]
? And power au? t[e]
nat ? at eke to be rekened amonges goodes
[Sidenote: Why not? For that is not an insignificant good which
invests a man with authority and command. ]
what ellis. 1832
for it nys nat to wene ? at ? ilke ? ing ? at is most
wor? i of alle ? inges be feble {and} wi? out streng? e {and}
clernesse of renou{n} au? te ? at to ben dispised.
[Sidenote: Fame also is to be regarded, for everything excellent
is also shining and renowned. ]
? Certys
? er may no man forsake ? at al ? ing ? at is ry? t excellent 1836
{and} noble. ? at it ne seme? to be ry? t clere {and} renomed.
[Sidenote: We hardly need say that happiness is not an unjoyous
and melancholy state, for in the pursuit of the smallest matters
men seek only pleasure. ]
? For certis it nedi? nat to seie. ? at blisfulnesse
be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greua{n}ces ne
to sorwes. syn ? at in ry? t litel ? i{n}g{us} folk seken to 1840
haue {and} to vsen ? at may deliten hem.
[Sidenote: Hence it is that mankind seek riches, &c. , because by
them they hope to get independence, honour, &c. ]
? Certys ? ise
ben ? e ? i{n}ges ? at men wolen {and} desyren to geten.
and for ? is cause desiren ? ei rycches. dignites. regnes.
glorie {and} delices ? For ? erby wenen ? ei to han suffisau{n}ce 1844
hono{ur} power. renou{n} {and} gladnesse.
[Sidenote: However varied their desires, _happiness_ is their sole
pursuit. ]
? ? anne
is it goode. ? {a}t men seken ? us by so many dyu{er}se
studies. In whiche desijr it may ly? tly be shew{e}d.
how grete is ? e streng? e of nature. [[pg 68]]
[Sidenote: However various men's opinions are respecting
happiness, all agree in pursuing it as the end of their actions
and desires. ]
? For how so ? at 1848
men han dyuerse sentences {and} discordyng algates men
accordyn alle in lyuynge ? e ende of goode.
[Linenotes:
1823 _perfourny_--p{er}forme
1825 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_none_--non
1827 _? ilk_--thilke
1828 _goode_--good
1829 _foule_--fowl
1830 _al_--welneyh alle
1831 _trauaille_--trauaylen
_au? t[e]_--owhte
1832 _be_--ben
1834 _out_--owte
1835 _au? te_--owhte
1836 _al_--alle
1837 _be_--ben
_clere_--cleer
1843 _rycches_--Rychesses
1846 _goode_--good
1847 _be_--ben
1848 _grete_--gret
1849 _algates_--Allegates
1850 _goode_--good]
[Headnote:
OF NATURE'S LAWS. ]
Q{UA}NTAS RER{UM} FLECTAT.
[Sidenote: [The 2^de Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: I will now sing of Nature's laws, by which the universe
is governed. ]
++IT like? me to shew[e] by subtil songe wi? slakke {and}
delitable sou{n} of strenges how ? at nature my? ty encline? 1852
{and} flitte? gouernement? of ? inges ? {and} by
whiche lawes she p{ur}ueiable kepi? ? e grete worlde. {and}
how she bindynge restreine? alle ? ing{us} by a bonde ? at
may nat be vnbounden.
[Sidenote: [j]]
[Sidenote: The Punic lion submits to man, and dreads the keeper's
lash; yet, if he once taste blood, his savage instincts revive,
and his keeper falls a victim to his fury. ]
? Al be it so ? at ? e liou{n}s of 1856
? e contree of pene beren ? e fair[e] cheines. {and} taken
metes of ? e handes of folk ? at ? euen it hem. {and}
dreden her sturdy maystres of whiche ? ei ben wont to
suffren [betinges]. yif ? at hir horrible mou? es ben bi-bled. 1860
? at is to sein of bestes devoured. ? Hir corage
of tyme passe? ? at ha? ben ydel {and} rested.
goode is to lyue wi? outen nede of any ? ing.
{and} t{ra}ueile{n} hem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse. 1772
and some o? er men deme{n}. ? at sou{er}ein goode be forto
be ry? t digne of reu{er}ences. {and} enforce{n} hem to ben
reu{er}enced among hir ney? bo{ur}s. by ? e hono{ur}s ? at ? ei
han ygeten
[Sidenote: There are some, again, who place it in supreme _power_,
and seek to rule, or to be favoured by the ruling powers. ]
? {and} some folk ? er ben ? at halden ? at 1776
ry? t hey? e power to be souereyn goode. {and} enforcen
he{m} forto regnen or ellys to ioigne{n} he{m} to hem ? at
regnen.
[Sidenote: There are those who fancy _fame_ to be the height of
happiness, and seek by the arts of war or peace to get renown. ]
? And it seme? to some o? er folk ? at noblesse
of renou{n} be ? e sou{er}ein goode. {and} hasten hem to 1780
geten glorious name by ? e artes of werre or of pees.
[Sidenote: Many there are who believe nothing to be better than
_joy_ and _gladness_, and think it delightful to plunge into
luxury. ]
and many folke mesuren {and} gessen ? {a}t sou{er}ein goode
be ioye {and} gladnesse {and} wenen ? at it be ry? t blisful
[thyng{e}] to ploungen hem i{n} uoluptuous delit.
[Sidenote: Some there are who use these causes and ends
interchangeably, as those who desire riches as a means of getting
power; or who desire power in order to get money or renown. ]
? And 1784
? er ben folk ? at enterchaungen ? e causes {and} ? e endes
of ? ise forseide goodes as ? ei ? at desire{n} rycchesse to [[pg 66]]
han power {and} delices. Or ellis ? ei desiren power forto
han moneye or for cause of renou{n}.
[Sidenote: In all they do they have a particular end in view. ]
? In ? ise ? inges 1788
{and} i{n} swyche o? er ? inges is to{ur}ned al ? e entenc{i}ou{n}
of desirynges {and} [of] werkes of me{n}. ? As ? us.
[Linenotes:
1751 _fastned[e]_--fastnede
_wi? drow_--MS. wi? drowen, C. w{i}t{h} drowh
1752 _sete_--Cyte
1756 _enforced_--enforsen
1757 [_And blysfulnesse_]--from C.
_goode_--good
1758 _so_--so ? {a}t
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
1759 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1760 _al_--alle
_goode_--good
1761 _? ere_--ther
_failed[e]_--faylyde
_my? t[e]_--myhte
_souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1762 _? an_--thanne
_? ere_--ther
_goode_--good
_souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1763 _goode_--good
_my? t[e]_--myhte
1764 _certeyne_--certein
1766 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_folke_--foolk
1767 _goode_--good
1769 _fals[e]_--false
1770 _souereygne goode is_--sou{er}eyn good be
1771 _lyue wi? outen_--lyuen w{i}t{h} owte
1772 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1773 _some_--som
_goode be_--good ben
1774 _be_--ben
1775 _ney? bours_--nesshebors
1776 _halden_--holden
1777 _hey? e_--heyh
_to_--omitted
_goode_--good
1780 _goode_--good
1781 _or_--{and}
1782 _folke_--folk
_goode_--good
1783 _be_--by
1784 [_thynge_]--from C.
1786 _rycchesse_--rychesses
1787 _delices_--delytes
1789 _o? er_--oothre
_al_--alle
1790 [_of_]--from C. ]
[Headnote:
FRIENDSHIP A SACRED THING. ]
[Sidenote: Nobility and popular favour are sought after by some in
order to become famous. ]
? Noblesse {and} fauo{ur} of poeple whiche ? at ? iue? as it
seme? a manere clernesse of renou{n}.
[Sidenote: By others, wives and children are only desired as
sources of pleasure. ]
? and wijf {and} 1792
children ? at men desiren for cause of delit {and} mirinesse.
[Sidenote: Friendship must not be reckoned among the goods of
fortune, but among those of virtue, for it is a very sacred
thing. ]
? But forso? e frendes ne shollen nat ben rekkened
among ? e goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it
is a ful holy man{er}e ? ing.
[Sidenote: All else are desired either for the power or pleasure
they afford. ]
alle ? ise o? er ? inges forso? e 1796
ben taken for cause of power. or ellis for cause of
delit.
[Sidenote: The goods of the body fall under the same predicament. ]
? Certis now am I redy to referen ? e goodes of
? e body to ? ise forseide ? inges abouen.
[Sidenote: Strength and a good stature seem to give power and
worthiness. ]
? For it seme?
? {a}t streng? e {and} gretnesse of body ? euen power {and} 1800
wor? inesse.
[Sidenote: Beauty and swiftness give glory and fame; and health
gives delight. ]
? and ? at beaute {and} swiftenesse ? euen
noblesse {and} glorie of renou{n}. {and} hele of body seme?
? iuen delit.
[Sidenote: In all these happiness alone is sought. ]
? In alle ? ise ? i{n}g{us} it seme? oonly ? at
blisfulnesse is desired.
[Sidenote: What a man most wishes for, that he esteems the supreme
good, which, as we have defined, is happiness. ]
? For-whi ? ilke ? ing ? at euery 1804
man desire? moost ouer alle ? inges. he demi? ? at be ? e
souereyne goode. ? But I haue diffined ? at blisfulnesse
is ? e souereyne goode. for whiche euery wy? t
demi? ? at ? ilke estat ? at he desire? ouer alle ? inges ? at 1808
it be ? e blisfulnesse.
[Sidenote: Thou hast now before thee a view of human felicity
(falsely so called), that is, riches, honours, power, glory, and
delight, which last _Epicurus_ considered as the sovereign good. ]
? Now hast ? ou ? an byforne
[thy eyen] almost al ? e p{ur}posed forme of ? e welfulnesse
of ma{n}ky{n}de. ? at is to seyne rycchesse. hono{ur}s.
power. glorie. {and} delit? . ? e whiche delit oonly considered 1812
Epicurus Iuged {and} establissed. ? at delit is ? e
souereyne goode. for as myche as alle o? er ? inges as
hym ? ou? t[e] by-refte awey ioie {and} myr? e fro{m} ? e
herte.
[Sidenote: I now return to the inclinations and pursuits of
mankind. ]
? But I reto{ur}ne a? eyne to ? e studies of meen. 1816
of whiche men ? e corage alwey rehersi? {and} seeke? ?
e [[pg 67]]
souereyne goode of alle be it so ? {a}t it be wi? a derke
memorie [but he not by whiche paath].
[Sidenote: Their minds are bent upon the chief good, and are ever
seeking it with a darkened understanding, like a drunken man, who
cannot find his way home. ]
? Ry? t as a
dronke ma{n} not nat by whiche pa? e he may reto{ur}ne 1820
home to hys house.
[Sidenote: Do they go astray who strive to keep themselves from
want? ]
? Seme? it ? anne ? at folk folyen
{and} erren ? at enforcen he{m} to haue nede of no ? ing
[Linenotes:
1794 _shollen_--sholden
1795 _? e_--tho
1796 _o? er_--oothre
1801 _swiftenesse_--sweftnesse
1803 _? iuen_--MS. ? iue? , C. yeuen
1806, 1807 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1807 _whiche_--whych
1809 _? e_--omitted
_? an byforne_--thanne byforn
1810 [_thy eyen_]--from C. ; MS. _has_ ? euen a? eyne
_almost_--almest
_welfulnesse_--welefulnesse
1811 _seyne rycchesse_--seyn Rychesses
1814 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_myche_--moche
_o? er_--oothre
1815 _? ou? t[e]_--thowhte
_from_--fram
1816 _a? eyne_--ayein
1818 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_of_--omitted
_alle_--al
_derke_--dirkyd
1819 [_but----paath_]--from C.
1820 _dronke_--dronken
_pa? e_--paath
1821 _home_--hym]
[Headnote:
ALL SEEK THE CHIEF GOOD. ]
[Sidenote: By no means. No state is happier than that in which a
man is above want, and independent of others. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 16. ]]
? Certys ? er nys non o? er ? ing ? at may so weel p{er}fo{ur}ny
blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuo{us} *of alle 1824
goodes ? at ne ha? nede of none o? er ? ing. but ? at it is
suffisant of hy{m} self. vnto hym self.
[Sidenote: Are they guilty of folly that seek esteem and
reverence? ]
and foleyen
swyche folk ? anne. ? at wenen ? at ? ilk ? ing ? {a}t is
ry? t goode. ? at it be eke ry? t wor? i of honour {and} of 1828
reuerence.
[Sidenote: No; for that is not contemptible for which all men
strive. ]
? Certis nay. for ? at ? ing nys ney? er foule
ne wor? i to ben dispised ? at al ? e entenc{i}ou{n} of mortel
folke trauaille forto geten it.
[Sidenote: Is not power to be reckoned amongst desirable goods? ]
? And power au? t[e]
nat ? at eke to be rekened amonges goodes
[Sidenote: Why not? For that is not an insignificant good which
invests a man with authority and command. ]
what ellis. 1832
for it nys nat to wene ? at ? ilke ? ing ? at is most
wor? i of alle ? inges be feble {and} wi? out streng? e {and}
clernesse of renou{n} au? te ? at to ben dispised.
[Sidenote: Fame also is to be regarded, for everything excellent
is also shining and renowned. ]
? Certys
? er may no man forsake ? at al ? ing ? at is ry? t excellent 1836
{and} noble. ? at it ne seme? to be ry? t clere {and} renomed.
[Sidenote: We hardly need say that happiness is not an unjoyous
and melancholy state, for in the pursuit of the smallest matters
men seek only pleasure. ]
? For certis it nedi? nat to seie. ? at blisfulnesse
be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greua{n}ces ne
to sorwes. syn ? at in ry? t litel ? i{n}g{us} folk seken to 1840
haue {and} to vsen ? at may deliten hem.
[Sidenote: Hence it is that mankind seek riches, &c. , because by
them they hope to get independence, honour, &c. ]
? Certys ? ise
ben ? e ? i{n}ges ? at men wolen {and} desyren to geten.
and for ? is cause desiren ? ei rycches. dignites. regnes.
glorie {and} delices ? For ? erby wenen ? ei to han suffisau{n}ce 1844
hono{ur} power. renou{n} {and} gladnesse.
[Sidenote: However varied their desires, _happiness_ is their sole
pursuit. ]
? ? anne
is it goode. ? {a}t men seken ? us by so many dyu{er}se
studies. In whiche desijr it may ly? tly be shew{e}d.
how grete is ? e streng? e of nature. [[pg 68]]
[Sidenote: However various men's opinions are respecting
happiness, all agree in pursuing it as the end of their actions
and desires. ]
? For how so ? at 1848
men han dyuerse sentences {and} discordyng algates men
accordyn alle in lyuynge ? e ende of goode.
[Linenotes:
1823 _perfourny_--p{er}forme
1825 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_none_--non
1827 _? ilk_--thilke
1828 _goode_--good
1829 _foule_--fowl
1830 _al_--welneyh alle
1831 _trauaille_--trauaylen
_au? t[e]_--owhte
1832 _be_--ben
1834 _out_--owte
1835 _au? te_--owhte
1836 _al_--alle
1837 _be_--ben
_clere_--cleer
1843 _rycches_--Rychesses
1846 _goode_--good
1847 _be_--ben
1848 _grete_--gret
1849 _algates_--Allegates
1850 _goode_--good]
[Headnote:
OF NATURE'S LAWS. ]
Q{UA}NTAS RER{UM} FLECTAT.
[Sidenote: [The 2^de Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: I will now sing of Nature's laws, by which the universe
is governed. ]
++IT like? me to shew[e] by subtil songe wi? slakke {and}
delitable sou{n} of strenges how ? at nature my? ty encline? 1852
{and} flitte? gouernement? of ? inges ? {and} by
whiche lawes she p{ur}ueiable kepi? ? e grete worlde. {and}
how she bindynge restreine? alle ? ing{us} by a bonde ? at
may nat be vnbounden.
[Sidenote: [j]]
[Sidenote: The Punic lion submits to man, and dreads the keeper's
lash; yet, if he once taste blood, his savage instincts revive,
and his keeper falls a victim to his fury. ]
? Al be it so ? at ? e liou{n}s of 1856
? e contree of pene beren ? e fair[e] cheines. {and} taken
metes of ? e handes of folk ? at ? euen it hem. {and}
dreden her sturdy maystres of whiche ? ei ben wont to
suffren [betinges]. yif ? at hir horrible mou? es ben bi-bled. 1860
? at is to sein of bestes devoured. ? Hir corage
of tyme passe? ? at ha? ben ydel {and} rested.
