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

by Boethius

VI. GENTILITY.

For gentilnesse nys but renomé

Of thin auncestres, for her heigh bounté

Which is a straunge thing to thy persone.

(The Wyf of Bathes Tale, vol. ii. p. 241.)

For if þe name of gentilesse be referred to renoun and clernesse of linage. þan is gentil name but a foreine þing.

(Chaucer’s Boethius, [p. 78].)

Quæ [nobilitas], si ad claritudinem refertur, aliena est.

(Boethius, lib. iii. pr. 6.)