at ne mowen
nat ben vnspedful ne wi?
nat ben vnspedful ne wi?
Chaucer - Boethius
{a}t yif it be in my power to chaunge 5164
my p{ur}pose. ? an shal I voide ? e p{ur}ueaunce of god.
whan ? at p{er}auenture I shal han chau{n}ged ? o ? inges
? at he knowe? byforn. ? an shal I answere ? e ? us
[Linenotes:
5141 _ne_ (2)--C. in
5142 _whiche_--which
_were doon_--weeryn Idoon
5143 _bitidd_--MS. bitidde, C. bityd
5148 _purposed[e]_--p{ur}posede
5150 _ydon_--MS. ydone, C. I-doon
_my? ten_--myhte
5151 _vndon_--MS. vndone, C. vndoon
5151-2 _ydon_--MS. ydone, C. I-doon
5152 _byhoued[e]_--houyd
5153 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
5154 _wi? outen_--with-owte
_shulle_--shollen
5156 _doers_--doeres
5157 _wronge_--wrong
5159 _selfe_--self
5160 _from_--fro
_bonde_--bond
[_as_]--from C.
5163 _look[e]_--loke
5166 _? o_--the]
[Headnote:
GOD'S KNOWLEDGE FIXED AND UNCHANGED. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ You may perhaps alter your purpose--but as
providence takes note of your intentions, you cannot deceive her;
for you cannot escape the divine prescience though you have the
power, through a free-will, to vary and diversify your actions. ]
? Certys ? ou maist wel chaungen ? i p{ur}pos but for as 5168
mochel as ? e p{re}sent so? enesse of ? e deuyne p{ur}ueaunce
byholde? ? at ? ou mayst chau{n}ge{n} ? i p{ur}pose. {and}
whe? ir ? ou wolt chaunge it or no. {and} whider-ward
? at ? ou tourne it. ? {o}u maist nat eschewen ? e deuyne 5172
p{re}science ry? t as ? ou ne mayst nat fleen ? e sy? t of ? e
p{re}sent eye. al ? ou? ? at ? ou tourne ? i self by ? i fre
wille in to dyu{er}se acc{i}ou{n}.
[Sidenote: But you may say--Shall the divine knowledge be changed
according to the mutability of my disposition, and the
apprehensions of the Deity fluctuated with my changing purposes? ]
? But ? ou mayst seyn
a? eyne how shal it ? an be. shal nat ? e dyuyne science 5176
ben chaunged by my disposic{i}ou{n} whan ? at I wol o
? ing now {and} now an o? er. {and} ? ilke p{re}science ne
seme? it nat to enterchau{n}ge stoundes of knowynges.
as who sei? . ne shal it nat seme to vs ? at ? e deuyne 5180
p{re}science enterchaunge? hys dyuers stoundes of knowynge.
so ? at it knowe so{m}me tyme o ? ing {and} so{m}me tyme
? e contrarie.
[Sidenote: No, indeed! The view of the Deity foreruns every future
event, and brings it back into the presence of his own knowledge,
which does not vary, as you imagine, to conform to your caprices,
but remaining fixed, at once foresees and comprehends all your
changes. ]
? No for so? e. [q{uod} I] for ? e deuyne sy? t
renne? to-forne {and} see? alle fut{ur}es {and} clepe? hem a? ein 5184
{and} reto{ur}ni? hem to ? e p{re}sence of
hys p{ro}pre knowynge. [[pg 178]]
ne he ne entrechaunge? nat [so] as ? ou wenest ? e
stoundes of forknowyng [as] now ? is now ? at. but he
ay dwellynge comi? byforn {and} enbrace? at o strook 5188
alle ? i mutac{i}ou{n}s.
[Sidenote: This faculty of comprehending and seeing all things as
present, God does not receive from the issue of futurities, but
from the simplicity of his own nature. ]
and ? is p{re}sence to co{m}p{re}henden
{and} to sen alle ? inges. god ne ha? nat take{n} it of ? e
bitydynge of ? inges forto come. but of hys p{ro}pre symplicite.
[Linenotes:
5169 _so? enesse_--sothnesse
5170 _chaungen_--chaunge
5173 _sy? t_--syhte
5175 _wille_--wyl
5177 _wol_--wole
5179 _enterchaunge_--MS. enterchau{n}gyng, C. entrechau{n}ge
5181 _hys_--hise
5182 _somme_ (1)--su{m}
_somme_ (2)--som
5183 _sy? t_--syhte
5184 _to-forne_--to-forn
5186 [_so_]--from C.
5187 [_as_]--from C.
5188 _comi? _--comth
5190 _ha? _--MS. ha? e]
[Headnote:
AN ANSWER TO FORMER OBJECTIONS. ]
[Sidenote: Here, then, is an answer to your former objection--that
it is folly to think that our future actions and events are the
causes of the prescience of God. ]
? and her by is assoiled ? ilke ? ing ? at ? ou 5192
puttest a litel her byforne. ? at is to seyne ? at it is vnwor? i
? inge to seyn ? at oure futures ? euen cause of ? e
science of god
[Sidenote: For the Divine mind, embracing and comprehending all
things by a present knowledge, plans and directs all things and is
not dependent upon futurity. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 41 _b_. ]]
? For c{er}tys *? is streng? e of ? e deuyne
science whiche ? at enbrace? alle ? inge by his p{re}sentarie 5196
knowynge establisse? manere to alle ? i{n}g{us} {and} it
ne awi? nat to lattere ? inges.
[Sidenote: Since no necessity is imposed upon things by the Divine
prescience, there remains to men an inviolable freedom of will. ]
{and} syn ? at ? ise ? inges
ben ? us. ? at is to seyn syn ? at necessite nis nat in
? inges by ? e deuyne p{re}science. ? an is ? er fredom of 5200
arbitre. ? at dwelle? hool {and} vnwemmed to mortal men.
[Sidenote: And those laws are just which assign rewards and
punishments to men possessing free-will. ]
ne ? e lawes ne p{ur}pose nat wikkedly meedes {and} peynes
to ? e willynges of men ? at ben vnbounde {and} quit of
alle necessite.
[Sidenote: Moreover, God, who sits on high, foreknows all things,
and the eternal presence of his knowledge concurs with the future
quality of our actions, dispensing rewards to good and punishments
to evil men. ]
? And god byholder {and} forwiter of 5204
alle ? inges dwelli? aboue {and} ? e p{re}sent eternite of hys
sy? t renne? alwey wi? ? e dyuerse qualite of oure dedes
dispe{n}syng {and} ordeynynge medes to good[e] men. {and}
tourment? to wicked men.
[Sidenote: Nor are our hopes and prayers reposed in, and addressed
to God in vain, which when they are sincere cannot be
inefficacious nor unsuccessful. ]
ne in ydel ne i{n} veyn ne ben 5208
? er nat put in god hope {and} p{ra}yeres. ?
at ne mowen
nat ben vnspedful ne wi? oute effect whan ? ei ben ry? tful
[Sidenote: Resist and turn from vice--honour and love virtue,
exalt your mind to God (the truest hope), offer up your prayers
with humility. ]
? wi? stond ? an {and} eschewe ? ou vices. worshippe
{and} loue ? ou vertus. areise ? i corage to ry? tful hoopes. 5212
? elde ? ou humble p{re}iers an hey? e.
[Sidenote: If you are sincere you will feel that you are under an
obligation to lead a good and virtuous life, inasmuch as all your
actions and works are done in the presence of an all-discerning
Judge. ]
grete necessite of
prowesse {and} vertue is encharged {and} comaunded to
? ow yif ? e nil nat dissimulen. ? Syn ? at ? e worchen
{and} doon. ? at is to seyn ? oure dedes {and} ? oure workes 5216
by-fore ? e eyen of ? e Iuge ? at see? {and} deme? alle [[pg 179]]
? inges. [To whom be goye {and} worshipe bi Infynyt
tymes / AMEN. ]
EXPLICIT LIBER QUINTUS. {ET} VLTIM{US}.
[Linenotes:
5193 _seyne_--seyn
5196 _whiche_--which
5198 _awi? _--oweth
5199 _? at is to----prescience_--omitted
5203 _vnbounde_--vnbownden
_quit_--quite
5206 _sy? t_--sihte
5207 _good[e]_--goode
5211 _wi? stond_--MS. wi? stonde, C. withstond
5213 _an hey? e_--a heygh
_grete_--Gret
5215 _worchen_--workyn
5216 {and} (2)--or
5217 _by-fore_--by-forn
5218 [_To whom----Amen_]--from C. ; MS. reads _et cetera_ after
'? inges. ' C. ends with the following rubric:
Explicit expliceat luder{e} scriptor eat
Finito libro sit laus {et} gloria {Christ}o
Corpore scribentis sit gr{ati}a cunctipotentis]
[[pg 180]]
[Headnote:
AETAS PRIMA. ]
APPENDIX.
[_Camb. Univ. MS. _ Ii. 3. 21, _fol. _ 52 _b_. ]
Chawc{er} vp-on this fyfte met{ur} of the second book
++A Blysful lyf a paysyble {and} a swete
Ledden the poeples in the former age
They helde hem paied of the fructes ? {a}t ? ey ete
Whiche ? {a}t the feldes yaue hem by vsage 4
They ne weer{e} nat forpampred w{i}t{h} owtrage
Onknowyn was ? ^e quyerne {and} ek the melle
They eten mast hawes {and} swych pownage
And dronken wat{er} of the colde welle 8
? Yit nas the grownd nat wownded w{i}t{h} ? ^e plowh
But corn vp-sprong vnsowe of mannes hond
? e which they gnodded {and} eete nat half . I. -nowh
No man yit knewe the forwes of his lond 12
No man the fyr owt of the flynt yit fonde
Vn-koruen and vn-grobbed lay the vyne
No man yit in the morter spices grond
To clarre ne to sawse of galentyne 16
? No Madyr welde or wod no litester{e}
Ne knewh / the fles was of is former hewe
No flessh ne wyste offence of egge or sper{e}
No coyn ne knewh man which is fals or trewe 20
No ship yit karf the wawes grene {and} blewe
No Marchau{n}t yit ne fette owt-landissh war{e}
No batails trompes for the werres folk ne knewe
Ne towres heye {and} walles rownde or square 24
? What sholde it han avayled to werreye [[pg 181]]
Ther lay no p{ro}fyt ther was no rychesse
[Sidenote: [fol. 53. ]]
But corsed was the tyme . I. dar+ wel seye
? {a}t men fyrst dede hir swety bysynesse 28
To grobbe vp metal lurkynge in dirkenesse
{And} in ? e Ryuerys fyrst gemmys sowhte
Allas than sprong+ vp al the cursydnesse
Of coueytyse ? {a}t fyrst owr sorwe browhte 32
? Thyse tyrau{n}t? put hem gladly nat in pres
No places wyldnesse ne no busshes for to wynne
Ther pou{er}te is as seith diogenes
Ther as vitayle ek is so skars {and} thinne 36
? {a}t nat but mast or apples is ther Inne
But ? {er} as bagges ben {and} fat vitaile
Ther wol they gon {and} spar{e} for no synne
W{i}t{h} al hir ost the Cyte forto a-sayle 40
? Yit was no paleis chaumbres ne non halles
In kaues {and} wodes softe {and} swete
Sleptin this blyssed folk+ w{i}t{h}-owte walles
On gras or leues in p{ar}fyt Ioye reste {and} quiete 44
No down of fetheres ne no bleched shete
Was kyd to hem but in surte they slepte
Hir hertes weer{e} al on w{i}t{h}-owte galles
Eu{er}ych of hem his feith to oother kepte 48
? Vnforged was the hawberke {and} the plate
? ^e lambyssh poeple voyded of alle vyse
Hadden no fantesye to debate
But eche of hem wolde oother wel cheryce 52
No p{r}ide non enuye non Auaryce
No lord no taylage by no tyranye
Vmblesse {and} pes good feith the emp{er}ice
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
? Yit was nat Iuppit{er} the lykerous [[pg 182]]
? {a}t fyrst was fadyr of delicasie
Come in this world ne nembroth desyrous
To regne had nat maad his towres hye 60
Allas allas now may [men] wepe And crye
For in owr{e} dayes nis but couetyse
Dowblenesse {and} tresou{n} {and} enuye
Poyson {and} manslawhtr{e} {and} mordre in sondry wyse 64
[Linenotes:
39, 40 MS. transposes the lines
44 _On_--MS. Or
56 A line omitted, but no gap left for one. ]
[Headnote:
BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINTURE. ]
CAUS{ER} / BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINT{UR}E
? This wrecched worlde-is t{ra}nsmutaciou{n}
As wele / or wo / now poeer{e} {and} now hono{ur}
W{i}t{h}-owten ordyr or wis descresyou{n}
Gou{er}ned is by fortunes errour 4
But natheles the lakke of hyr fauowr+
Ne may nat don me syngen thowh I. deye
[Sidenote: [fol. 53 _b_. ]]
Iay tout p{er}du mou{n} temps {et} mou{n} labour
For fynaly fortune . I. the deffye 8
? Yit is me left the lyht of my resou{n}
To knowen frend fro foo in thi merowr+
So mochel hath yit thy whirlynge vp {and} down
I-tawht me for to knowe in an howr 12
But trewely no fors of thi reddowr+
To hym ? {a}t ou{er} hym self hath the maystrye
My suffysau{n}ce shal be my socour+
For fynaly fortune I. thee deffye 16
? O socrates ? {o}u stidfast chau{m}pyou{n}
She neu{er} myht[e] be thi tormentowr
Thow neu{er} dreddest hyr opp{re}ssyou{n}
Ne in hyr cher{e} fownde thow no sauour+ 20
Thow knewe wel the deseyte of hyr colour+
And ? {a}t hir most[e] worshipe is to lye
I knew hir ek a fals dissimulour+
For fynaly fortune . I. the deffye 24
[[pg 183]]
LE RESPOU{N}CE DE FORTUNE A PLEINTIF.
? No man ys wrechchyd but hym self yt wene
{And} he ? {a}t hath hym self hat suffisaunce
Whi seysthow tha{n}ne y am [to] the so kene
? {a}t hast thy self owt of my gou{er}nau{n}ce 28
Sey thus grau{n}t m{er}cy of thyn habou{n}dau{n}ce
That thow hast lent or this why wolt ? {o}u stryue
What woost thow yit how y the wol auau{n}ce
{And} ek thow hast thy beste frende a-lyue 32
? I haue the tawht deuisyou{n} by-twene
Frend of effect+ {and} frende of cowntenau{n}ce
The nedeth nat the galle of no hyene
? {a}t cureth eyen derkyd for penau{n}ce 36
Now se[st] thow cleer ? {a}t weere in ignorau{n}ce
Yit halt thin ancre {and} yit thow mayst aryue
Ther bownte berth the keye of my substau{n}ce
{And} ek ? {o}u hast thy beste frende alyue 40
? How manye haue . I. refused to sustigne
Syn . I. the fostred haue in thy plesau{n}ce
Wolthow thanne make a statute on ? y quyene
? {a}t . I. shal ben ay at thy ordynau{n}ce 44
Thow born art in my regne of varyau{n}ce
Abowte the wheel w{i}t{h} oother most thow dryue
My loore is bet than wikke is thi greuau{n}ce
{And} ek ? ou hast thy beste frende a-lyue 48
[Linenotes:
37 _se[st]_--partly erased and _ist_ written on it in a later hand.
41 _igne_ of _sustigne_ is in a later hand. ]
LE RESPOU{N}CE DU PLEINTIF COU{N}TR{E} FORTUNE.
[Sidenote: [fol. 54. ]]
? Thy loor{e} y dempne / it is adu{er}syte
My frend maysthow nat reuen blynde goddesse
? {a}t . I. thy frendes knowe . I. thanke to the
Tak hem agayn / lat hem go lye on p{re}sse 52
The negardye in kepynge hyr rychesse
P{re}nostik is thow wolt hir+ towr+ asayle
Wikke appetyt comth ay before sykenesse [[pg 184]]
In general this rewle may nat fayle 56
LE RESPOU{N}CE DE FORTUNE COU{N}TR{E} LE PLEINTIF
? Thow pynchest at my mutabylyte
For . I. the lente a drope of my rychesse
And now me lykyth to w{i}t{h}-drawe me
Whi sholdysthow my realte ap{re}sse 60
The see may ebbe {and} flowen moor{e} or lesse
The welkne hath myht to shyne reyne or hayle
Ryht so mot . I. kythen my brutelnesse
In general this rewle may nat fayle 64
LE PLEINTIF
? Lo excussyou{n} of the maieste
? {a}t al purueyeth of his ryhtwysnesse
That same thinge fortune clepyn ye
Ye blynde beestys ful of lewednesse 68
The heuene hath p{ro}prete of sykyrnesse
This world hath eu{er} resteles trauayle
Thy laste day is ende of myn inter[e]sse
In general this rewele may nat fayle 72
LENUOY DE FORTUNE
? Prynses . I. prey yow of yowr{e} gentilesses
Lat nat this man on me thus crye {and} pleyne
And . I. shal quyte yow yowr{e} bysynesse
At my requeste as thre of yow or tweyne 76
? {a}t but yow lest releue hym of hys peyne
Preyeth hys best frend of his noblesse
That to som beter{e} estat he may attayne
* * * * *
* * * *
_CHAUCER'S TEXT ONLY_
The following section contains the text alone of Chaucer's translation
of _De Consolatione Philosophiae_, without the editor's annotations.
It is followed by the Glossarial Index.
LIBER PRIMUS.
INCIPIT LIBER BOICII DE CO{N}SOLAC{I}O{N}E PHILOSOPHIE.
Car{m}i{n}a qui q{u}onda{m} studio flore{n}te p{er}egi.
[Sidenote: [The fyrste Met{ur}. ]]
++Allas I wepyng am constreined to bygynne vers of sorouful matere.
? ? at whilom in florysching studie made delitable ditees. For loo
rendyng muses of poetes enditen to me ? inges to be writen. and drery
v{er}s of wrecchednes weten my face wi? v{er}ray teers. ? At ? e leest no
drede ne my? t[e] ouer-come ? o muses. ? at ? ei ne were{n} felawes {and}
folweden my wey. ? at is to seyne when I was exiled. ? ei ? at weren glorie
of my you? th whilom weleful {and} grene co{n}forten now ? e sorouful
werdes of me olde man. for elde is comen vnwarly vpon me hasted by ? e
harmes ? at I haue. {and} sorou ha? comau{n}ded his age to be in me.
? Heeres hore ben schad ouertymelyche vpon myne heued. and ? e slak[e]
skyn tremble?
my p{ur}pose. ? an shal I voide ? e p{ur}ueaunce of god.
whan ? at p{er}auenture I shal han chau{n}ged ? o ? inges
? at he knowe? byforn. ? an shal I answere ? e ? us
[Linenotes:
5141 _ne_ (2)--C. in
5142 _whiche_--which
_were doon_--weeryn Idoon
5143 _bitidd_--MS. bitidde, C. bityd
5148 _purposed[e]_--p{ur}posede
5150 _ydon_--MS. ydone, C. I-doon
_my? ten_--myhte
5151 _vndon_--MS. vndone, C. vndoon
5151-2 _ydon_--MS. ydone, C. I-doon
5152 _byhoued[e]_--houyd
5153 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
5154 _wi? outen_--with-owte
_shulle_--shollen
5156 _doers_--doeres
5157 _wronge_--wrong
5159 _selfe_--self
5160 _from_--fro
_bonde_--bond
[_as_]--from C.
5163 _look[e]_--loke
5166 _? o_--the]
[Headnote:
GOD'S KNOWLEDGE FIXED AND UNCHANGED. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ You may perhaps alter your purpose--but as
providence takes note of your intentions, you cannot deceive her;
for you cannot escape the divine prescience though you have the
power, through a free-will, to vary and diversify your actions. ]
? Certys ? ou maist wel chaungen ? i p{ur}pos but for as 5168
mochel as ? e p{re}sent so? enesse of ? e deuyne p{ur}ueaunce
byholde? ? at ? ou mayst chau{n}ge{n} ? i p{ur}pose. {and}
whe? ir ? ou wolt chaunge it or no. {and} whider-ward
? at ? ou tourne it. ? {o}u maist nat eschewen ? e deuyne 5172
p{re}science ry? t as ? ou ne mayst nat fleen ? e sy? t of ? e
p{re}sent eye. al ? ou? ? at ? ou tourne ? i self by ? i fre
wille in to dyu{er}se acc{i}ou{n}.
[Sidenote: But you may say--Shall the divine knowledge be changed
according to the mutability of my disposition, and the
apprehensions of the Deity fluctuated with my changing purposes? ]
? But ? ou mayst seyn
a? eyne how shal it ? an be. shal nat ? e dyuyne science 5176
ben chaunged by my disposic{i}ou{n} whan ? at I wol o
? ing now {and} now an o? er. {and} ? ilke p{re}science ne
seme? it nat to enterchau{n}ge stoundes of knowynges.
as who sei? . ne shal it nat seme to vs ? at ? e deuyne 5180
p{re}science enterchaunge? hys dyuers stoundes of knowynge.
so ? at it knowe so{m}me tyme o ? ing {and} so{m}me tyme
? e contrarie.
[Sidenote: No, indeed! The view of the Deity foreruns every future
event, and brings it back into the presence of his own knowledge,
which does not vary, as you imagine, to conform to your caprices,
but remaining fixed, at once foresees and comprehends all your
changes. ]
? No for so? e. [q{uod} I] for ? e deuyne sy? t
renne? to-forne {and} see? alle fut{ur}es {and} clepe? hem a? ein 5184
{and} reto{ur}ni? hem to ? e p{re}sence of
hys p{ro}pre knowynge. [[pg 178]]
ne he ne entrechaunge? nat [so] as ? ou wenest ? e
stoundes of forknowyng [as] now ? is now ? at. but he
ay dwellynge comi? byforn {and} enbrace? at o strook 5188
alle ? i mutac{i}ou{n}s.
[Sidenote: This faculty of comprehending and seeing all things as
present, God does not receive from the issue of futurities, but
from the simplicity of his own nature. ]
and ? is p{re}sence to co{m}p{re}henden
{and} to sen alle ? inges. god ne ha? nat take{n} it of ? e
bitydynge of ? inges forto come. but of hys p{ro}pre symplicite.
[Linenotes:
5169 _so? enesse_--sothnesse
5170 _chaungen_--chaunge
5173 _sy? t_--syhte
5175 _wille_--wyl
5177 _wol_--wole
5179 _enterchaunge_--MS. enterchau{n}gyng, C. entrechau{n}ge
5181 _hys_--hise
5182 _somme_ (1)--su{m}
_somme_ (2)--som
5183 _sy? t_--syhte
5184 _to-forne_--to-forn
5186 [_so_]--from C.
5187 [_as_]--from C.
5188 _comi? _--comth
5190 _ha? _--MS. ha? e]
[Headnote:
AN ANSWER TO FORMER OBJECTIONS. ]
[Sidenote: Here, then, is an answer to your former objection--that
it is folly to think that our future actions and events are the
causes of the prescience of God. ]
? and her by is assoiled ? ilke ? ing ? at ? ou 5192
puttest a litel her byforne. ? at is to seyne ? at it is vnwor? i
? inge to seyn ? at oure futures ? euen cause of ? e
science of god
[Sidenote: For the Divine mind, embracing and comprehending all
things by a present knowledge, plans and directs all things and is
not dependent upon futurity. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 41 _b_. ]]
? For c{er}tys *? is streng? e of ? e deuyne
science whiche ? at enbrace? alle ? inge by his p{re}sentarie 5196
knowynge establisse? manere to alle ? i{n}g{us} {and} it
ne awi? nat to lattere ? inges.
[Sidenote: Since no necessity is imposed upon things by the Divine
prescience, there remains to men an inviolable freedom of will. ]
{and} syn ? at ? ise ? inges
ben ? us. ? at is to seyn syn ? at necessite nis nat in
? inges by ? e deuyne p{re}science. ? an is ? er fredom of 5200
arbitre. ? at dwelle? hool {and} vnwemmed to mortal men.
[Sidenote: And those laws are just which assign rewards and
punishments to men possessing free-will. ]
ne ? e lawes ne p{ur}pose nat wikkedly meedes {and} peynes
to ? e willynges of men ? at ben vnbounde {and} quit of
alle necessite.
[Sidenote: Moreover, God, who sits on high, foreknows all things,
and the eternal presence of his knowledge concurs with the future
quality of our actions, dispensing rewards to good and punishments
to evil men. ]
? And god byholder {and} forwiter of 5204
alle ? inges dwelli? aboue {and} ? e p{re}sent eternite of hys
sy? t renne? alwey wi? ? e dyuerse qualite of oure dedes
dispe{n}syng {and} ordeynynge medes to good[e] men. {and}
tourment? to wicked men.
[Sidenote: Nor are our hopes and prayers reposed in, and addressed
to God in vain, which when they are sincere cannot be
inefficacious nor unsuccessful. ]
ne in ydel ne i{n} veyn ne ben 5208
? er nat put in god hope {and} p{ra}yeres. ?
at ne mowen
nat ben vnspedful ne wi? oute effect whan ? ei ben ry? tful
[Sidenote: Resist and turn from vice--honour and love virtue,
exalt your mind to God (the truest hope), offer up your prayers
with humility. ]
? wi? stond ? an {and} eschewe ? ou vices. worshippe
{and} loue ? ou vertus. areise ? i corage to ry? tful hoopes. 5212
? elde ? ou humble p{re}iers an hey? e.
[Sidenote: If you are sincere you will feel that you are under an
obligation to lead a good and virtuous life, inasmuch as all your
actions and works are done in the presence of an all-discerning
Judge. ]
grete necessite of
prowesse {and} vertue is encharged {and} comaunded to
? ow yif ? e nil nat dissimulen. ? Syn ? at ? e worchen
{and} doon. ? at is to seyn ? oure dedes {and} ? oure workes 5216
by-fore ? e eyen of ? e Iuge ? at see? {and} deme? alle [[pg 179]]
? inges. [To whom be goye {and} worshipe bi Infynyt
tymes / AMEN. ]
EXPLICIT LIBER QUINTUS. {ET} VLTIM{US}.
[Linenotes:
5193 _seyne_--seyn
5196 _whiche_--which
5198 _awi? _--oweth
5199 _? at is to----prescience_--omitted
5203 _vnbounde_--vnbownden
_quit_--quite
5206 _sy? t_--sihte
5207 _good[e]_--goode
5211 _wi? stond_--MS. wi? stonde, C. withstond
5213 _an hey? e_--a heygh
_grete_--Gret
5215 _worchen_--workyn
5216 {and} (2)--or
5217 _by-fore_--by-forn
5218 [_To whom----Amen_]--from C. ; MS. reads _et cetera_ after
'? inges. ' C. ends with the following rubric:
Explicit expliceat luder{e} scriptor eat
Finito libro sit laus {et} gloria {Christ}o
Corpore scribentis sit gr{ati}a cunctipotentis]
[[pg 180]]
[Headnote:
AETAS PRIMA. ]
APPENDIX.
[_Camb. Univ. MS. _ Ii. 3. 21, _fol. _ 52 _b_. ]
Chawc{er} vp-on this fyfte met{ur} of the second book
++A Blysful lyf a paysyble {and} a swete
Ledden the poeples in the former age
They helde hem paied of the fructes ? {a}t ? ey ete
Whiche ? {a}t the feldes yaue hem by vsage 4
They ne weer{e} nat forpampred w{i}t{h} owtrage
Onknowyn was ? ^e quyerne {and} ek the melle
They eten mast hawes {and} swych pownage
And dronken wat{er} of the colde welle 8
? Yit nas the grownd nat wownded w{i}t{h} ? ^e plowh
But corn vp-sprong vnsowe of mannes hond
? e which they gnodded {and} eete nat half . I. -nowh
No man yit knewe the forwes of his lond 12
No man the fyr owt of the flynt yit fonde
Vn-koruen and vn-grobbed lay the vyne
No man yit in the morter spices grond
To clarre ne to sawse of galentyne 16
? No Madyr welde or wod no litester{e}
Ne knewh / the fles was of is former hewe
No flessh ne wyste offence of egge or sper{e}
No coyn ne knewh man which is fals or trewe 20
No ship yit karf the wawes grene {and} blewe
No Marchau{n}t yit ne fette owt-landissh war{e}
No batails trompes for the werres folk ne knewe
Ne towres heye {and} walles rownde or square 24
? What sholde it han avayled to werreye [[pg 181]]
Ther lay no p{ro}fyt ther was no rychesse
[Sidenote: [fol. 53. ]]
But corsed was the tyme . I. dar+ wel seye
? {a}t men fyrst dede hir swety bysynesse 28
To grobbe vp metal lurkynge in dirkenesse
{And} in ? e Ryuerys fyrst gemmys sowhte
Allas than sprong+ vp al the cursydnesse
Of coueytyse ? {a}t fyrst owr sorwe browhte 32
? Thyse tyrau{n}t? put hem gladly nat in pres
No places wyldnesse ne no busshes for to wynne
Ther pou{er}te is as seith diogenes
Ther as vitayle ek is so skars {and} thinne 36
? {a}t nat but mast or apples is ther Inne
But ? {er} as bagges ben {and} fat vitaile
Ther wol they gon {and} spar{e} for no synne
W{i}t{h} al hir ost the Cyte forto a-sayle 40
? Yit was no paleis chaumbres ne non halles
In kaues {and} wodes softe {and} swete
Sleptin this blyssed folk+ w{i}t{h}-owte walles
On gras or leues in p{ar}fyt Ioye reste {and} quiete 44
No down of fetheres ne no bleched shete
Was kyd to hem but in surte they slepte
Hir hertes weer{e} al on w{i}t{h}-owte galles
Eu{er}ych of hem his feith to oother kepte 48
? Vnforged was the hawberke {and} the plate
? ^e lambyssh poeple voyded of alle vyse
Hadden no fantesye to debate
But eche of hem wolde oother wel cheryce 52
No p{r}ide non enuye non Auaryce
No lord no taylage by no tyranye
Vmblesse {and} pes good feith the emp{er}ice
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
? Yit was nat Iuppit{er} the lykerous [[pg 182]]
? {a}t fyrst was fadyr of delicasie
Come in this world ne nembroth desyrous
To regne had nat maad his towres hye 60
Allas allas now may [men] wepe And crye
For in owr{e} dayes nis but couetyse
Dowblenesse {and} tresou{n} {and} enuye
Poyson {and} manslawhtr{e} {and} mordre in sondry wyse 64
[Linenotes:
39, 40 MS. transposes the lines
44 _On_--MS. Or
56 A line omitted, but no gap left for one. ]
[Headnote:
BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINTURE. ]
CAUS{ER} / BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINT{UR}E
? This wrecched worlde-is t{ra}nsmutaciou{n}
As wele / or wo / now poeer{e} {and} now hono{ur}
W{i}t{h}-owten ordyr or wis descresyou{n}
Gou{er}ned is by fortunes errour 4
But natheles the lakke of hyr fauowr+
Ne may nat don me syngen thowh I. deye
[Sidenote: [fol. 53 _b_. ]]
Iay tout p{er}du mou{n} temps {et} mou{n} labour
For fynaly fortune . I. the deffye 8
? Yit is me left the lyht of my resou{n}
To knowen frend fro foo in thi merowr+
So mochel hath yit thy whirlynge vp {and} down
I-tawht me for to knowe in an howr 12
But trewely no fors of thi reddowr+
To hym ? {a}t ou{er} hym self hath the maystrye
My suffysau{n}ce shal be my socour+
For fynaly fortune I. thee deffye 16
? O socrates ? {o}u stidfast chau{m}pyou{n}
She neu{er} myht[e] be thi tormentowr
Thow neu{er} dreddest hyr opp{re}ssyou{n}
Ne in hyr cher{e} fownde thow no sauour+ 20
Thow knewe wel the deseyte of hyr colour+
And ? {a}t hir most[e] worshipe is to lye
I knew hir ek a fals dissimulour+
For fynaly fortune . I. the deffye 24
[[pg 183]]
LE RESPOU{N}CE DE FORTUNE A PLEINTIF.
? No man ys wrechchyd but hym self yt wene
{And} he ? {a}t hath hym self hat suffisaunce
Whi seysthow tha{n}ne y am [to] the so kene
? {a}t hast thy self owt of my gou{er}nau{n}ce 28
Sey thus grau{n}t m{er}cy of thyn habou{n}dau{n}ce
That thow hast lent or this why wolt ? {o}u stryue
What woost thow yit how y the wol auau{n}ce
{And} ek thow hast thy beste frende a-lyue 32
? I haue the tawht deuisyou{n} by-twene
Frend of effect+ {and} frende of cowntenau{n}ce
The nedeth nat the galle of no hyene
? {a}t cureth eyen derkyd for penau{n}ce 36
Now se[st] thow cleer ? {a}t weere in ignorau{n}ce
Yit halt thin ancre {and} yit thow mayst aryue
Ther bownte berth the keye of my substau{n}ce
{And} ek ? {o}u hast thy beste frende alyue 40
? How manye haue . I. refused to sustigne
Syn . I. the fostred haue in thy plesau{n}ce
Wolthow thanne make a statute on ? y quyene
? {a}t . I. shal ben ay at thy ordynau{n}ce 44
Thow born art in my regne of varyau{n}ce
Abowte the wheel w{i}t{h} oother most thow dryue
My loore is bet than wikke is thi greuau{n}ce
{And} ek ? ou hast thy beste frende a-lyue 48
[Linenotes:
37 _se[st]_--partly erased and _ist_ written on it in a later hand.
41 _igne_ of _sustigne_ is in a later hand. ]
LE RESPOU{N}CE DU PLEINTIF COU{N}TR{E} FORTUNE.
[Sidenote: [fol. 54. ]]
? Thy loor{e} y dempne / it is adu{er}syte
My frend maysthow nat reuen blynde goddesse
? {a}t . I. thy frendes knowe . I. thanke to the
Tak hem agayn / lat hem go lye on p{re}sse 52
The negardye in kepynge hyr rychesse
P{re}nostik is thow wolt hir+ towr+ asayle
Wikke appetyt comth ay before sykenesse [[pg 184]]
In general this rewle may nat fayle 56
LE RESPOU{N}CE DE FORTUNE COU{N}TR{E} LE PLEINTIF
? Thow pynchest at my mutabylyte
For . I. the lente a drope of my rychesse
And now me lykyth to w{i}t{h}-drawe me
Whi sholdysthow my realte ap{re}sse 60
The see may ebbe {and} flowen moor{e} or lesse
The welkne hath myht to shyne reyne or hayle
Ryht so mot . I. kythen my brutelnesse
In general this rewle may nat fayle 64
LE PLEINTIF
? Lo excussyou{n} of the maieste
? {a}t al purueyeth of his ryhtwysnesse
That same thinge fortune clepyn ye
Ye blynde beestys ful of lewednesse 68
The heuene hath p{ro}prete of sykyrnesse
This world hath eu{er} resteles trauayle
Thy laste day is ende of myn inter[e]sse
In general this rewele may nat fayle 72
LENUOY DE FORTUNE
? Prynses . I. prey yow of yowr{e} gentilesses
Lat nat this man on me thus crye {and} pleyne
And . I. shal quyte yow yowr{e} bysynesse
At my requeste as thre of yow or tweyne 76
? {a}t but yow lest releue hym of hys peyne
Preyeth hys best frend of his noblesse
That to som beter{e} estat he may attayne
* * * * *
* * * *
_CHAUCER'S TEXT ONLY_
The following section contains the text alone of Chaucer's translation
of _De Consolatione Philosophiae_, without the editor's annotations.
It is followed by the Glossarial Index.
LIBER PRIMUS.
INCIPIT LIBER BOICII DE CO{N}SOLAC{I}O{N}E PHILOSOPHIE.
Car{m}i{n}a qui q{u}onda{m} studio flore{n}te p{er}egi.
[Sidenote: [The fyrste Met{ur}. ]]
++Allas I wepyng am constreined to bygynne vers of sorouful matere.
? ? at whilom in florysching studie made delitable ditees. For loo
rendyng muses of poetes enditen to me ? inges to be writen. and drery
v{er}s of wrecchednes weten my face wi? v{er}ray teers. ? At ? e leest no
drede ne my? t[e] ouer-come ? o muses. ? at ? ei ne were{n} felawes {and}
folweden my wey. ? at is to seyne when I was exiled. ? ei ? at weren glorie
of my you? th whilom weleful {and} grene co{n}forten now ? e sorouful
werdes of me olde man. for elde is comen vnwarly vpon me hasted by ? e
harmes ? at I haue. {and} sorou ha? comau{n}ded his age to be in me.
? Heeres hore ben schad ouertymelyche vpon myne heued. and ? e slak[e]
skyn tremble?
