Chaucer's Translation of Boethius's "De Consolatione Philosophiae"

by Boethius

I. LOVE.

Wost thou nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,

That who schal yeve a lover eny lawe,

Love is a grettere lawe, by my pan,

Then may be yeve to (of) eny erthly man?

(Knightes Tale, Aldine Series, vol. ii. p. 36, 37.)

But what is he þat may ȝeue a lawe to loueres. loue is a gretter lawe and a strengere to hym self þan any lawe þat men may ȝeuen.

(Chaucer’s Prose Translation, [p. 108].)

Quis legem det amantibus?

Major lex amor est sibi.

(Boeth., lib. iii. met. 12.)