BOOK I.

Metre I.

Carmina qui quondam studio florente peregi.

Allas! I, weping, am constreined to biginnen vers of sorowful

matere, that whylom in florisching studie made delitable ditees.

For lo! [rendinge] Muses of poetes endyten to me thinges to be

writen; and drery vers of wrecchednesse weten my face with

verray teres. At the leeste, no drede ne mighte overcomen tho

Muses, that they ne weren felawes, and folweden my wey, [that is]

[to seyn], whan I was exyled; they that weren glorie of my youthe,

whylom weleful and grene, comforten now the sorowful [werdes] of

me, olde man. For elde is comen unwarly upon me, hasted by

the harmes that I have, and sorow hath comaunded his age to be

in me. Heres hore ben shad overtymeliche upon myn heved,

and the [slake] skin trembleth upon myn empted body. Thilke

deeth of men is weleful that ne cometh not in yeres that ben

[swete], but cometh to wrecches, often [y-cleped].

Allas! allas! with how deef an ere deeth, cruel, torneth awey

fro wrecches, and [naiteth] to closen wepinge eyen! Whyl Fortune,

unfeithful, favorede me with [lighte] goodes, the sorowful houre,

that is to seyn, the deeth, hadde almost dreynt myn heved. [But]

[now], for Fortune cloudy hath chaunged hir deceyvable chere to

me-ward, myn unpitous lyf draweth a-long unagreable dwellinges

in me. O ye, my frendes, what or wherto avauntede ye me to

ben weleful? for he that hath fallen stood nat [in stedefast]

[degree].

C. = MS. Ii. 3. 21, Cambridge; A. = MS. Addit. 10340 (Brit. Mus.). The text follows C. mainly. Ed. = Printed edition (1532), quoted occasionally.

1, 2. Imperfect in C. 6. C. foleweden; A. folweden. 8. C. sorful; A. sorouful. // C. wierdes, glossed fata; A. werdes. 11. C. arn; A. ben. 12. C. of; A. upon. // C. emptyd; A. emty. 16. C. nayteth; A. Ed. naieth. 17. A. glosses lighte by sc. temporels. // C. sorwful; A. sorouful. 19. C. deceyuable; A. disceyuable. 20. C. vnpietous; A. vnpitouse. 22. C. stidefast; A. stedfast.

Prose I.

Hec dum mecum tacitus ipse reputarem.

Whyle that I stille recordede thise thinges with my-self, and

[markede] my weeply compleynte with office of pointel, I saw,

stondinge aboven the heighte of myn heved, a woman of ful greet

reverence by semblaunt, hir eyen brenninge and cleer-seinge over

the comune might of men; with a lyfly colour, and with swich

vigour and strengthe that it ne mighte nat ben [empted]; al were it

so that she was ful of so greet age, that men ne wolde nat trowen,

in no manere, that she were of oure elde. The stature of hir was

of a [doutous] Iugement; for som-tyme she constreinede and shronk

hir-selven lyk to the comune mesure of men, and sum-tyme it

semede that she touchede the hevene with the heighte of hir

heved; and whan she [heef] hir heved hyer, she percede the

selve hevene, [so that] the sighte of men looking was in ydel. Hir

clothes weren maked of right [delye] thredes and subtil crafte, of

perdurable matere; the whiche clothes she hadde woven with hir

owene hondes, as I knew wel after by hir-self, declaringe and

shewinge to me the beautee; the whiche clothes a derknesse of a

forleten and dispysed elde hadde dusked and derked, [as it is wont]

to derken bi-smokede images.

In the nethereste hem or bordure of thise clothes men redden,

y-woven in, , that signifyeth the lyf Actif; and aboven

that lettre, in the heyeste bordure, , that signifyeth

the lyf Contemplatif. And bi-twixen these two lettres ther weren

seyn degrees, nobly y-wroght in manere of laddres; by whiche

degrees men mighten climben fro the nethereste lettre to the

uppereste. Natheles, handes of some men hadde [corven] that cloth

by violence and by strengthe; and everiche man of hem hadde

born awey swiche peces as he mighte geten. And forsothe, this

forseide woman bar smale bokes in hir right hand, and in hir left

hand she bar a ceptre.

And whan she say thise poetical Muses aprochen aboute my

bed, and endytinge wordes to my wepinges, she was a litel

amoved, and glowede with [cruel] eyen. 'Who,' quod she, 'hath

suffred aprochen to this syke man [thise comune strompetes] of

swich a place that men clepen the theatre? The whiche nat

only ne asswagen nat hise sorwes with none remedies, but they

wolden feden and norisshen hem with swete venim. Forsothe,

thise ben tho that with thornes and prikkinges of talents or

affecciouns, whiche that ne ben [no-thing fructefyinge] nor

profitable, destroyen the corn plentevous of fruites of resoun;

for they [holden] the hertes of men in usage, but they ne delivere

nat folk fro maladye. But if ye Muses hadden withdrawen fro

me, with your flateryes, any uncunninge and unprofitable man, as

men ben wont to finde comunly amonges the poeple, I wolde

wene suffre the lasse grevously; [for-why], in swiche an unprofitable

man, myn ententes ne weren no-thing endamaged. But ye withdrawen

[me] this man, that hath be norisshed in the studies or

scoles of Eleaticis and of Achademicis in Grece. But goth now

rather awey, [ye mermaidenes], whiche that ben swete til it be at

[the laste], and suffreth this man to be cured and heled by myne

Muses,' that is to seyn, by noteful sciences.

And thus this companye of Muses y-blamed casten wrothly the

chere dounward to the erthe; and, shewinge by reednesse hir

shame, they passeden sorowfully the threshfold.

And I, of whom the sighte, [plounged] in teres, was derked so

that I ne mighte not knowen what that womman was, of so

imperial auctoritee, I wex al abaisshed and astoned, and caste my

sighte doun to the erthe, and bigan stille for to abyde what she

wolde don afterward. Tho com she [ner], and sette hir doun up-on

the uttereste corner of my bed; and she, biholdinge my chere,

that was cast to the erthe, hevy and grevous of wepinge, compleinede,

with thise wordes that I shal seyen, the perturbacioun

of my thought.

Pr. I. 1. C. While that; A. In the mene while that. 2. C. sawh; A. sawe. 3. C. heyhte; A. heyȝt. // C. gret; A. greet. 5. C. myht; A. myȝt. 6. C. vygor; A. vigoure. // C. myhte; A. myȝt. // C. emted; A. emptid. 7. C. gret; A. greet (and so often). 9. C. dowtows; A. doutous (and so ow for ou often). 10. C. lyk; A. lyche. 11. C. heyhte; A. heyȝte (and so elsewhere). 12. C. hef; A. heued; Ed. houe. 14. C. riht (and so h for gh often). 16. C. knewh; A. knewe. 17. C. dirknesse; A. derkenes. 19. Both dyrken. // C. the smokede; A. bysmoked. 21. A. in swiche; C. om. swiche. C. glosses P by practik. // C. syngnifieth; A. signifieth. 22. C. glosses T by theorik. // C. singnifieth; A. signifieth. 23. C. by-twixen; A. by-twene. 24. C. nobely; A. nobly. 25. C. clymbyn (and so -yn for -en constantly). // C. Ed. nethereste; A. nethemast. 26. C. Ed. vppereste; A. ouermast 31. C. say; A. sauȝ. 33. C. amoued; A. ameued. // C. cruwel; A. cruel. 34. C. sike; A. seek. // C. the; A. thise (Lat. has). 37. C. noryssyn; A. norysche. // C. hym; A. hem. 39. C. fructefiynge; A. frutefiyng. 40. C. corn; A. cornes (Lat. segetem). 41. C. om. the. // C. om. ne. 42. C. maledye; A. maladye. 44. C. poeple; A. peple. 45. C. greuosly; A. greuously (and so often os for ous in C.). 48. C. schooles; A. scoles. 53. C. downward; A. adounward. // C. om. and. // C. rednesse; A. redenesse. 54. C. sorwfully. // C. thresshfold; A. threschefolde. 55. C. dyrked; A. derked. 57. C. wax; A. wex. // C. cast; A. caste. 58. C. down to; A. adoune in-to. 59. C. ner; A. nere. 61. C. compleyde; A. compleinede. 63. C. thowht; A. thouȝt.

Metre II.

Heu quam precipiti mersa profundo.

'Allas! how the thought of man, dreint in over-throwinge

deepnesse, dulleth, and forleteth his propre cleernesse, [mintinge]

to goon in-to foreine derknesses, as ofte as his anoyous bisinesse

wexeth with-oute mesure, that is driven to and fro with worldly

windes! This man, that whylom was free, to whom the hevene

was open and knowen, and was wont to goon in heveneliche

pathes, and saugh the lightnesse of the rede sonne, and saugh the

[sterres of the colde mone], and whiche sterre in hevene useth

wandering [recourses], [y-flit] by dyverse speres—[this man], overcomer,

hadde comprehended al this by noumbre of acountinge in

astronomye. And over this, he was wont to seken the causes

whennes the souning windes moeven and bisien the smothe water

of the see; and what spirit torneth the stable hevene; and why

the sterre aryseth out of the rede eest, to fallen in the westrene

wawes; and what atempreth the lusty houres of the firste somer

sesoun, that [highteth] and apparaileth the erthe with rosene flowres;

and who maketh that plentevouse autompne, in fulle yeres, [fleteth]

with hevy grapes. And eek this man was wont to telle the

dyverse causes of nature that weren y-hidde. Allas! now lyeth

he [empted] of light of his thought; and his nekke is pressed with

hevy cheynes; and bereth his chere enclyned adoun for the grete

weighte, and is constreined to looken on the [fool] erthe!

Me. II. 3. C. dyrk-; A. derk-. 4. C. wordely; A. worldly (Lat. terrenis). 5. C. Ed. whilom; A. sumtyme. 7. C. lythnesse; A. lyȝtnesse. 10. C. comprendyd; A. Ed. comprehendid. 11. C. seken; A. seche. 14. C. est; A. eest. 15. C. fyrst; A. fyrste. 17. A. that; C. the. // C. autompne; A. autumpne. 19. C. I-hydde; A. yhidde. // C. lith; A. lieth. 20. A. emptid; C. emted. 22. C. the fool; Ed. the fole; A. foule (Lat. stolidam).

Prose II.

Set medicine, inquit, tempus est.

But tyme is now,' quod she, 'of medicine more than of

compleinte.' Forsothe than she, entendinge to me-ward with alle

the lookinge of hir eyen, seide:—'Art nat thou he,' quod she,

'that whylom y-norisshed with my milk, and fostered with myne

metes, were escaped and comen to corage of a parfit man?

Certes, I yaf thee swiche [armures] that, yif thou thy-self ne

haddest first cast hem a-wey, they shulden han defended thee

[in sikernesse] that may nat ben over-comen. Knowest thou me

nat? Why art thou stille? Is it for shame or for astoninge?

It were me lever that it were for shame; but it semeth me that

astoninge hath oppressed thee.' And whan she say me nat only

stille, but with-outen office of tunge and al doumb, she leide hir

hand softely upon my brest, and seide: 'Here nis no peril,' quod

she; 'he is fallen into a [litargie], whiche that is a comune sykenes

to hertes that ben deceived. He hath a litel foryeten him-self,

but certes he shal lightly remembren him-self, yif so be that he

hath knowen me or now; and that he may so don, I wil wypen a

litel his eyen, that ben derked by the cloude of mortal thinges.'

Thise wordes seide she, and with the lappe of hir garment, [y-plyted]

in a frounce, she dryede myn eyen, that weren fulle of the wawes

of my wepinges.

Pr. II. 4. C. Ed. whilom; A. sumtyme. // C. noryssed; A. I-norschide. 5. C. escaped; A. ascaped. 8. C. Knowestow; A. Knowest thou. 9. C. artow; A. art thou. // C. it is; A. Ed. is it. // C. asthonynge (but astonynge below). 14. C. litarge; A. litargie. // C. sykenesse; A. sekenes. 15. C. desseyued; A. desceiued. 16. C. remenbren; A. remembren.

Metre III.

Tunc me discussa liquerunt nocte tenebre.

Thus, whan that night was [discussed] and chased a-wey,

derknesses forleften me, and to myn eyen repeirede ayein hir

firste strengthe. And, right by ensaumple as the sonne is hid

whan the sterres ben [clustred] (that is to seyn, whan sterres ben

covered with cloudes) by a swifte winde that highte [Chorus], and

that the firmament stant derked by wete [ploungy] cloudes, and

that the sterres nat apperen up-on hevene, so that the night

semeth sprad up-on erthe: yif thanne the wind that highte [Borias],

y-sent out of the [caves] of the contree of Trace, beteth this night

(that is to seyn, chaseth it a-wey), and descovereth the closed day:

than shyneth Phebus [y-shaken] with sodein light, and smyteth

with his bemes in mervelinge eyen.

Me. III. 1. C. descussed; A. discussed. 2. C. dirk-; A. derk-. // C. om. ayein. 3. C. fyrst; A. firste. 5. C. heyhte; A. hyȝt. 6. C. dirked; A. derked. 8. C. hyhte; A. hyȝt.

Prose III.

Haud aliter tristicie nebulis dissolutis.

Right so, and non other wyse, the cloudes of sorwe dissolved

and don a-wey, I [took] hevene, and receivede minde to knowen the

face of my fysicien; so that I sette myn eyen on hir, and fastnede

my lookinge. I [beholde] my norice Philosophie, in whos houses

I hadde conversed and haunted fro my youthe; and I seide thus.

'O thou maistresse of alle vertues, descended from the soverein

sete, why artow comen in-to this solitarie place of myn exil?

Artow comen for thou art maked coupable with me of false

blames?'

'O,' quod she, 'my [norry], sholde I forsaken thee now, and

sholde I nat [parten] with thee, by comune travaile, the charge

that thou hast suffred for envie of my name? Certes, it nere

not leveful ne sittinge thing to Philosophie, to leten with-outen

companye the wey of him that is innocent. Sholde I thanne

[redoute my blame], and agrysen as though ther were bifallen a

newe thing? [quasi diceret, non]. For trowestow that Philosophie

be now alderfirst assailed in perils by folk of wikkede maneres?

Have I nat striven with ful greet stryf, in olde tyme, bifore the

age of my Plato, ayeines the foolhardinesse of folye? And eek,

the same [Plato] livinge, his maister Socrates deservede victorie of

unrightful deeth in my presence. The heritage of which Socrates—the

[heritage] is to seyn the doctrine of the whiche Socrates in his

opinioun of Felicitee, that I clepe welefulnesse—whan that the

poeple of Epicuriens and Stoiciens and many othre enforceden

hem to go ravisshe everich man for his part—that is to seyn,

that everich of hem wolde drawen to the defence of his opinioun the

wordes of Socrates—they, as in partie of hir preye, to-drowen me,

cryinge and debatinge ther-ayeins, and corven and to-renten my

clothes that I hadde woven with myn handes; and with tho

cloutes that they hadden araced out of my clothes they wenten

awey, weninge that I hadde gon with hem everydel.

In whiche Epicuriens and Stoiciens, for as moche as ther semede

some traces or steppes of myn habite, the folye of men, weninge

tho Epicuriens and Stoiciens my famuleres, perverted (sc. persequendo)

some through the errour of the wikkede or uncunninge

multitude of hem. This is to seyn that, for they semede philosophres,

they weren pursued to the deeth and slayn. So yif thou hast nat

knowen the exilinge of [Anaxogore], ne the enpoysoninge of

Socrates, ne the tourments of [Zeno], for they weren straungeres:

yit mightestow han knowen the [Senecciens] and the [Canios] and

the [Sorans], of whiche folk the renoun is neither over-olde ne

[unsolempne] The whiche men, no-thing elles ne broughte hem to

the deeth but only for they weren enfourmed of myne maneres,

and semeden most unlyke to the studies of wikkede folk. And

forthy thou oughtest nat to wondren though that I, in the bittre

see of this lyf, be fordriven with tempestes blowinge aboute, in

the whiche tempestes this is my most purpos, that is to seyn, to

displesen to wikkede men. Of whiche shrewes, al be the ost

never so greet, [it is to dispyse]; for it nis governed with no leder

of resoun, but it is ravisshed only by fletinge errour folyly and

lightly. And if they som-tyme, makinge an ost ayeins us, assaile

us as strenger, our leder draweth to-gidere hise richesses in-to his

tour, and they ben [ententif] aboute [sarpulers] or sachels unprofitable

for to taken. But we that ben heye aboven, siker fro alle

tumulte and wode noise, warnestored and enclosed in swich a

[palis], whider as that chateringe or anoyinge folye ne may nat

atayne, we scorne swiche ravineres and henteres of fouleste

thinges.

Pr. III. 3. C. fesissien; A. fyciscien; Ed. phisycien. // C. fastnede; A. festned. 4. Lat. respicio. 6. C. vertuus; A. vertues. 7. C. artow; A. art thou. 13. A. om. thing. 14. C. compaygnie; A. compaignie. 16. C. trowestow; A. trowest thou. 20. C. desseruede; A. deserued. 21. C. eritage; A. heritage. 25. C. rauysse; A. rauische. 26. C. deffence; A. defence. 30. C. arraced; A. arased. 31. C. om. I. 33. C. or; A. and. 34. A. familers. 36. A. om. that. 38. C. om. 1st of. 40. C. myhtestow; A. myȝtest thou. // C. Senecciens; A. Senectiens; Ed. Senecas. 43. C. enformyd; A. vnfourmed. 44. C. vnlyk; A. vnlyke. 48. C. oost, glossed i. acies. 50. C. rauyssed; A. rauysched. // C. folyly, i. sine consilio. 52. A. hys rycchesse. 53. C. sarpuleris; A. sarpulers. 55. C. tumolte; A. tumulte. // A. stored. 56. C. palis; A. palays (Lat. uallo). // C. om. that. // C. anoyenge; A. anoying. 57 C. atayne; A. attayne. // C. schorne; A. scorne.

Metre IV.

Quisquis composito serenus euo.

Who-so it be that is cleer of vertu, sad, and wel ordinat of

livinge, that hath put under foot the proude werdes and looketh

upright up-on [either fortune], he may holde his chere undiscomfited.

The rage ne the manaces of the see, commoevinge or

chasinge upward [hete] fro the botme, ne shal not moeve that

man; ne the unstable mountaigne that highte [Vesevus], that

[wrytheth] out through his brokene chiminees smokinge fyres. Ne

the wey of [thonder-light], that is wont to smyten heye toures, ne

shal nat moeve that man. Wher-to thanne, o wrecches, drede ye

tirauntes that ben wode and felonous with-oute any strengthe?

Hope after no-thing, ne drede nat; and so shaltow desarmen

the ire of thilke unmighty tiraunt. But who-so that, quakinge,

dredeth or desireth thing that nis nat [stable of his right], that

man that so doth hath cast awey his sheld and is remoeved fro

his place, and enlaceth him in the cheyne with the which he may

ben drawen.

Me. IV. 2. C. leuynge; A. lyuyng. // Both wierdes; C. has the gloss fata. 3. C. may his cheere holde vndescounfited; A. may holde hys chiere vndiscomfited. 4. C. manesses; A. manace (Lat. minae). 5. hete (Lat. aestum). 6. C. hihte; A. hyȝt. 7. Ed. writheth; C. writith; A. wircheth (Lat. torquet). // A. chemineys. 9. C. Whar-; A. Wher-. 10. C. felonos; A. felownes. 11. C. deseruien; A. desarmen; Ed. disarmen. 14. C. remwed; A. remoeued. 15. A. om. the before which.

Prose IV.

Sentisne, inquit, hec.

'Felestow,' quod she, 'thise thinges, and entren they aught in

thy corage? [Artow lyke] an asse to the harpe? Why wepestow,

[why spillestow teres]? Yif thou abydest after help of thy leche,

thee bihoveth discovere thy wounde.'

Tho I, that hadde gadered strengthe in my corage, answerede

and seide: 'And nedeth it yit,' quod I, 'of rehersinge or of

amonicioun; and sheweth it nat y-nough [by him-self] the sharpnesse

of Fortune, that wexeth wood ayeins me? Ne moeveth it

nat thee to seen the face or the manere of this place (i. prisoun)?

Is this the librarie whiche that thou haddest chosen for a right

certein sete to thee in myn hous, ther-as thou desputedest ofte

with me of the sciences of thinges touchinge divinitee and touchinge

mankinde? Was thanne myn habite swich as it is now?

Was than my face or my chere swiche as now (quasi diceret, non),

whan I soughte with thee secrets of nature, whan thou [enformedest]

my maneres and the resoun of alle my lyf to the ensaumple of

the [ordre of hevene]? Is nat this the guerdoun that I referre to

thee, to whom I have be obeisaunt? Certes, thou [confermedest],

by the [mouth of Plato], this sentence, that is to seyn, that comune

thinges or comunalitees weren blisful, yif they that hadden studied

al fully to wisdom governeden thilke thinges, or elles yif it so

bifille that the governoures of comunalitees studieden to geten

wisdom.

Thou seidest eek, by the mouth of [the same Plato], that it was

a necessarie [cause], [wyse] men to taken and desire the governaunce

of comune thinges, for that the governements of citees, y-left

in the handes of [felonous tormentours citizenes], ne sholde nat

bringe in pestilence and destruccioun to gode folk. And therfor

I, folwinge thilke auctoritee (sc. Platonis), desired to putten forth

in execucioun and in acte of comune administracioun thilke

thinges that I hadde lerned of thee among my secree resting-whyles.

Thou, and god that putte thee in the thoughtes of wyse

folk, ben [knowinge with me], that no-thing ne broughte me to

maistrie or dignitee, but the comune studie of alle goodnesse.

And ther-of comth it that bi-twixen wikked folk and me han ben

grevous [discordes], that ne mighten ben relesed by preyeres; for

[this libertee] hath the freedom of conscience, that the wratthe of

more mighty folk hath alwey ben despysed of me for savacioun of

right.

How ofte have I resisted and withstonde thilke man that highte

[Conigaste], that made alwey assautes ayeins [the prospre fortunes] of

pore feble folk? How ofte eek have I put of or cast out him,

[Trigwille], provost of the kinges hous, bothe of the wronges that he

hadde bigunne to don, and eek fully performed? How ofte have

I covered and defended by the [auctoritee] of me, put ayeins perils—

that is to seyn, put myn auctoritee in peril for—the wrecched

pore folk, that the covetyse of straungeres unpunished tourmenteden

alwey with miseyses and grevaunces out of noumbre? Never man

ne drow me yit fro right to wronge. Whan I say the fortunes and

the richesses of the poeple of the provinces ben harmed or

amenused, outher by privee ravynes or by comune tributes or

[cariages], as sory was I as they that suffreden the harm.

Glossa. Whan that Theodoric, the king of Gothes, in a dere

yere, hadde hise gerneres ful of corn, and comaundede that no man

ne sholde byen no corn til his corn were sold, and that at a grevous

dere prys, Boece withstood that ordinaunce, and over-com it, knowinge

al this the king him-self.

Textus. Whan it was in the soure hungry tyme, ther was

establisshed or cryed grevous and [inplitable coempcioun], that men

sayen wel it sholde greetly turmenten and endamagen al the

province of [Campaigne], I took stryf ayeins the [provost] of the pretorie

for comune profit. And, the king knowinge of it, I overcom

it, so that the coempcioun ne was not axed ne took effect.

[[Glossa.]] Coempcioun, that is to seyn, comune achat or bying

to-gidere, that were establisshed up-on the poeple by swiche a manere

imposicioun, as who-so boughte a busshel corn, he moste yeve the king

the fifte part.

[Textus.] [Paulin], a counseiller of Rome, the richesses of the

whiche Paulin the [houndes] of the palays, that is to seyn, the officeres,

wolden han devoured by hope and covetise, yit drow I him out of

the Iowes (sc. faucibus) of hem that gapeden. And for as moche

as the peyne of the accusacioun aiuged biforn ne sholde nat

sodeinly henten ne punisshen wrongfully [Albin], a counseiller of

Rome, I putte me ayeins the hates and indignaciouns of the

accusor [Ciprian]. Is it nat thanne y-nough y-seyn, that I have

purchased grete discordes ayeins my-self? But I oughte be the

more assured ayeins alle othre folk (s. Romayns), that for the love

of rightwisnesse I ne reserved never no-thing to my-self [to hem-ward]

of the kinges halle, sc. officers, by the whiche I were the more

siker. But thorugh tho same accusers accusinge, I am condempned.

Of the noumbir of the whiche accusers oon [Basilius],

that whylom was chased out of the kinges service, is now [compelled]

in accusinge of my name, [for nede of foreine moneye].

Also [Opilion] and Gaudencius han accused me, al be it so that the

Iustice regal hadde whylom demed hem bothe to go in-to exil for

hir trecheryes and fraudes withoute noumbir. To whiche Iugement

they nolden nat obeye, but defendeden hem by the sikernesse

of holy houses, that is to seyn, fledden into seintuaries; and

whan this was [aperceived] to the king, he comaundede, that but

they voidede the citee of Ravenne by certein day assigned, that

men sholde merken hem on the forheved with an hoot yren and

chasen hem out of the toune. Now what thing, semeth thee,

mighte ben [lykned] to this crueltee? For certes, thilke same day

was received the accusinge of my name by thilke same accusers.

[What may ben seid her-to?] (quasi diceret, nichil). Hath my

studie and my cunninge deserved thus; or elles the forseide dampnacioun

of me, made that hem rightful accusers or no? (quasi

diceret, non). Was not Fortune ashamed of this? Certes, al

hadde nat Fortune ben ashamed that innocence was accused, yit

100

oughte she han had shame of the filthe of myne accusours.

But, [axestow in somme], of what gilt I am accused, men seyn

that I wolde save the companye of the senatours. And desirest

thou to heren in what manere? I am accused that I sholde han

destourbed the accuser to beren lettres, by whiche he sholde han

105

maked the senatoures gilty ayeins the kinges real maiestee. O

maistresse, what demestow of this? Shal I [forsake] this blame,

that I ne be no shame to thee? (quasi diceret, non). Certes, I have

wold it, that is to seyn, the savacioun of the senat, ne I shal never

leten to wilne it, [and that I confesse] and am aknowe; but the

110

entente of the accuser to be destourbed shal cese. For shal I

clepe it thanne a felonie or a sinne that I have desired the

savacioun of the ordre of the senat? (quasi diceret, dubito quid).

And certes yit hadde thilke same senat don [by me], thorugh hir

decrets and hir Iugements, as though it were a sinne or a felonie;

115

that is to seyn, to wilne the savacioun of hem (sc. senatus). But

folye, that lyeth alwey to him-self, may not chaunge the merite

of thinges. Ne I trowe nat, by the Iugement of [Socrates], that

it were leveful to me to hyde the sothe, ne assente to lesinges.

But certes, how so ever it be of this, I putte it to gessen or

120

[preisen] to the Iugement of thee and of wyse folk. Of whiche

thing al the ordinaunce and the sothe, for as moche as folk that

ben to comen after our dayes shullen knowen it, I have put it

in scripture and in remembraunce. For touching the lettres falsly

maked, by whiche lettres I am accused to han hoped the fredom

125

of Rome, what aperteneth me to speke ther-of? Of whiche

lettres the fraude hadde ben shewed apertly, yif I hadde had

libertee for to han used and ben at the confessioun of myne

accusours, the whiche thing in alle nedes hath greet strengthe.

For what other fredom may men hopen? Certes, I wolde that

130

som other fredom mighte ben hoped. I wolde thanne han

answered by the wordes of a man that highte [Canius]; for whan

he was accused by Gaius Cesar, [Germeynes sone], that he

(Canius) was knowinge and consentinge of a coniuracioun

y-maked ayeins him (sc. Gaius), this Canius answerede thus:

135

"Yif I hadde wist it, thou haddest nat wist it." In which thing

sorwe hath nat so dulled my wit, that I pleyne only that shrewede

folk aparailen felonies ayeins vertu; but I wondre greetly how

that they may performe thinges that they hadde hoped for to

don. For-why, to wilne shrewednesse, that comth peraventure

140

of oure defaute; but it is lyk a monstre and a mervaille, how

that, in the present sighte of god, may ben acheved and performed

swiche thinges as every felonous man hath conceived in his

thought ayeins innocents. For which thing oon of thy [famileres]

nat unskilfully axed thus: "Yif god is, whennes comen wikkede

145

thinges? And yif god ne is, whennes comen gode thinges?"

But al hadde it ben leveful that felonous folk, that now desiren

the blood and the deeth of alle gode men and eek of alle the

senat, han wilned to gon destroyen me, whom they han seyen

alwey batailen and defenden gode men and eek al the senat,

150

yit had I nat desserved of the faderes, that is to seyn, of the

senatoures, that they sholden wilne my destruccioun.

Thou remembrest wel, as I gesse, that whan I wolde doon or

seyen any thing, thou thyself, alwey present, rewledest me. At

the city of [Verone], whan that the king, gredy of comune slaughter,

155

caste him to transporten up al the ordre of the senat the gilt of

[his real maiestee], of the whiche gilt that Albin was accused, with

how gret sikernesse of peril to me defendede I al the senat!

Thou wost wel that I seye sooth, ne I ne avauntede me never

in preysinge of my-self. For alwey, whan any wight receiveth

160

precious renoun in avauntinge him-self of his werkes, he amenuseth

the secree of his conscience. But now thou mayst wel seen to

what ende I am comen for myne innocence; I receive peyne

of fals felonye for guerdon of verray vertu. And what open

confessioun of felonye hadde ever Iuges so acordaunt in crueltee,

165

that is to seyn, as myn accusinge hath, that either errour of mannes

wit or elles condicioun of Fortune, that is uncertein to alle mortal

folk, ne [submittede] some of hem, that is to seyn, that it ne enclynede

som Iuge to han pitee or compassioun? For al-thogh I hadde ben

accused that I wolde brenne holy houses, and strangle preestes

170

with wikkede swerde, or that I hadde greythed deeth to al gode

men, algates the sentence sholde han punisshed me, [present],

confessed, or convict. But now I am remewed fro the citee of

Rome almost [fyve hundred thousand pas], I am with-oute defence

dampned to proscripcioun and to the deeth, for the studie and

175

bountees that I have doon to the senat. But O, wel ben they

worthy of merite ([as who seith, nay]), ther mighte never yit non

of hem be convict of swiche a blame as myne is! Of whiche

trespas, myne accusours sayen ful wel the dignitee; the whiche

dignitee, for they wolden derken it with medeling of som felonye,

180

they baren me on hand, and lyeden, that I hadde polut and

defouled my conscience with [sacrilege], for coveitise of dignitee.

And certes, thou thy-self, that are plaunted in me, chacedest

out of the sege of my corage al coveitise of mortal thinges; ne

sacrilege hadde no leve to han a place in me biforn thyne eyen.

185

For thou droppedest every day in myne eres and in my thought

thilke comaundement of [Pictagoras], that is to seyn, men shal

serve to godde, and not to goddes. Ne it was nat convenient,

ne no nede, to taken help of the foulest spirites; [I], that thou

hast ordeined and set in swiche excellence that thou makedest

190

me lyk to god. And over this, the [right clene] secree chaumbre

of myne hous, that is to seyn, my wyf, and the companye of

myn honest freendes, and my wyves fader, as wel holy as worthy

to ben reverenced [thorugh] his owne dedes, defenden me from

alle suspecioun of swich blame. But O malice! For they that

195

accusen me taken of thee, Philosophie, [feith] of so gret blame!

For they trowen that I have had affinitee to malefice or enchauntement,

by-cause that I am replenisshed and fulfilled with thy

techinges, and enformed of thy maneres. And thus [it suffiseth]

not only, that thy reverence ne availe me not, but-yif that thou,

200

of thy free wille, rather be blemished with myn offencioun. But

certes, to the harmes that I have, ther bitydeth yit this

encrees of harm, that the gessinge and the Iugement of moche

folk ne looken no-thing to the desertes of thinges, but only

to the aventure of fortune; and iugen that only swiche thinges

205

ben purveyed of god, whiche that temporel welefulnesse commendeth.

Glose. As thus: that, yif a wight have prosperitee, he is a

good man and worthy to han that prosperitee; and who-so hath

adversitee, he is a wikked man, and god hath forsake him, and

210

he is worthy to han that adversitee. This is the opinioun of some

folk.

And ther-of comth that [good gessinge], first of alle thing, forsaketh

wrecches: certes, it greveth me to thinke right now the

dyverse sentences that the poeple seith of me. And thus moche

215

I seye, that the laste [charge] of contrarious fortune is this: that,

whan that any blame is leyd upon a caitif, men wenen that he

hath deserved that he suffreth. And I, that am put awey fro

gode men, and despoiled of dignitees, and defouled of my name

[by gessinge], have suffred torment for my gode dedes. Certes,

220

me semeth that I see the felonous covines of wikked men

habounden in Ioye and in gladnesse. And I see that every

lorel shapeth him to finde out newe fraudes for to accuse gode

folk. And I see that gode men beth overthrowen [for drede]

of my peril; and every luxurious tourmentour dar doon alle

225

felonye unpunisshed and ben excited therto by yiftes; and

innocents ne ben not only despoiled of sikernesse but of defence;

and therfore me list to cryen to god in this wyse:—

Pr. IV. 1. C. Felistow; A. Felest thou. 2. A. Art thou. // C. wepistow; A. wepest thou. 3. A. spillest thou. 9. C. sen; A. seen. 11. A. sege (for sete). 12. So A.; C. deuynyte. // C. om. 2nd touchinge. 13. C. om. it is. 14. C. om. quasi ... non. 17. After this, C. has nonne; A. has ironice. // C. gerdouns; A. gerdoun (Lat. praemia). 18. C. conformedest (Lat. sanxisti); see note. 19. C. Mowht; A. mouthe. 20. A. comunabletes. 22. A. studieden in grete wisdomes. 25. C. whise; A. wyse. 26. A. of comune citees (Lat. urbium). 27. C. citesenes; A. citizenis. 29. A. folowynge. // C. autorite; A. auctoritee. 30. C. excussioun(!); A. execusioun. 32. C. whise; A. wise. 33. A. knowen; C. has the gloss concij (= conscii). 34. C. dignete; A. dignite. // C. om. the. 36. So A.; C. descordes. // Above preyeres, C. has i. est inexorabiles. 37. A. om. 2nd the. 38. C. sauacioun; A. saluacioun. 40. C. recisted. // C. hyhte; A. hyȝt. 41. C. Ed. prospere; A. propre. 42. A. poure. // C. fookk; A. folke. 45. C. deffended; A. defended. // C. autorite; A. auctorite. 47. C. vnpunyssed; A. -nysched. 49. C. ne drowh; A. drowe. 50. A. rychesse. // C. om. 2nd the. 51. A. eyther (for outher). // C. pryuey; A. priue. // C. Raueynes; A. rauynes. 54. C. yer; A. yere. 55. C. A. solde. 58. C. sowre; A. soure (Lat. acerbae famis tempore). 59. A. establissed; C. estabelissed. // C. vnplitable; A. inplitable (Lat. inexplicabilis). 61. Ed. Campayne; C. A. Compaygne. 64. The gloss (Coempcioun ... part) is misplaced in both MSS., so as to precede Whan it was (58). 65. C. estabelissed. // A. om. the. 66. C. imposiscioun. // C. bossel; A. busshel. 68. So A.; C. consoler (!). // A. rychesse. 69. C. palysse; A. palays. 70. C. drowh; A. drowe. 71. sc. faucibus from A. 73. C. punisse; A. punischen. // C. conseyler. 75. A. yseyne. 77. A. asseured. 78. After no-thing, C. adds i. affinite. 79. C. om. 2nd the. 81. A. om. 2nd the. 82, 85. C. whilom; A. somtyme. 84. C. caudencius (wrongly). 88. C. sentuarye; A. seyntuaries. 89. C. om. was. 90. C. assingned; A. assigned. 91. C. me (= men); A. men. // C. marke; A. merken. 92. A. om. the. // C. om. thee. 93. C. crwelte. 94. C. resseyued. 98. C. asshamyd; A. asshamed. 99. C. whas. 101. A. axest thou. 102. C. desires. 104. C. destorbed; A. distourbed. 106. C. maysteresse; A. meistresse. A. demest thou. 109. C. om. that. 109. C. I am; A. Ed. om. I. 110. C. destorbed. 111. A. a felonie than. 114. C. and (for or). 119. C. A. put. 120. C. whise. 122. C. shellen; A. schollen (better shullen). 123. A. om. 2nd in. C. thowchinge. 125. C. om. Of whiche lettres. 129. C. om. what. // C. hoepen. 133. C. om. Canius. 136. C. sorw. 137. C. felonies; A. folies (Lat. scelerata). // A. vertues (wrongly). 138. C. han; A. had (better hadde). 139. C. om. to. 148. C. gon and; A. Ed. om. and. 151. C. willene; A. wilne. 153. C. rwledest. 154. C. om. 1st the. 155. C. transpor(!). C. vp; A. vp on. 157. C. deffendede. 158. A. om. 2nd ne. 159. C. resseyueth; A. resceiueth. 162. C. resseyue; A. receiue. 163. A. in (for for). // Both gerdoun; Ed. gwerdone. 164. C. crwelte. 171. C. punyssed; A. punysched. 172. A. conuict; C. conuict. // So A.; C. remwed. 173. C. paas. 176. C. merite; A. mercye; (gloss in C. ironice; O meritos). 179. C. dirken. 180. C. an; A. on. 181. C. sacrilege; glossed sorcerie. 183. C. alle; A. al. 185. C. om. 2nd in. 187. in margin of C.; Homo debet seruire deo et non diis. // C. om. was. // A. no couenaunt (Lat. Nec conueniebat). 188. A. spirites; C. spirite (Lat. spirituum). 189. C. and; A. or. 190. C. chaumbyr; A. chaumbre. 191. C. compaygnye; A. compaignie. 193. C. deffenden. // C. from; A. of. 195. C. the philosophre; A. the philosophie (Lat. te). 196. A. enchauntementz. 198. C. thechinges. 207. A. Glosa. 208. C. who; A. who so. 217. C. desserued. 218. C. of (1); A. from. 223. C. beth; A. ben. 225. C. vnpunnysshed; A. vnpunissed. 227. C. wise; A. manere; Ed. maner.

Metre V.

O stelliferi conditor orbis.

O thou maker of the [whele] that bereth the sterres, which that

art y-fastned to thy perdurable chayer, and tornest the hevene

with a ravisshing [sweigh], and constreinest the sterres to suffren

thy lawe; so that the mone som-tyme shyning with hir [ful hornes],

meting with alle the bemes of the sonne hir brother, hydeth the

sterres that ben lesse; and somtyme, whan the mone, pale with

hir [derke hornes], approcheth the sonne, leseth hir lightes; and

that the eve-sterre Hesperus, whiche that in the firste tyme of

the night bringeth forth hir colde arysinges, [cometh eft ayein]

hir used cours, and is pale by the morwe at the rysing of the

sonne, and is thanne cleped Lucifer. Thou [restreinest] the day

by shorter dwelling, in the tyme of colde winter that maketh

the leves to falle. Thou dividest the [swifte tydes] of the night,

whan the hote somer is comen. Thy might atempreth the

variaunts sesons of the yere; so that Zephirus the deboneir

wind bringeth ayein, in the first somer sesoun, the leves that

the wind that highte Boreas hath reft awey in autumpne, that

is to seyn, in the laste ende of somer; and the sedes that the

sterre that highte [Arcturus] saw, ben waxen heye cornes whan the

sterre [Sirius] eschaufeth hem. Ther nis no-thing unbounde from

[his olde lawe], ne forleteth the werke of his propre estat.

O thou governour, governinge alle thinges by certein ende, why

refusestow only to governe the werkes of men by dewe manere?

Why suffrest thou that slydinge fortune torneth so grete entrechaunginges

of thinges, so that anoyous peyne, that sholde dewely

punisshe felouns, punissheth innocents? And folk of wikkede

maneres sitten in heye chayres, and anoyinge folk treden, and

that unrightfully, [on] the nekkes of holy men? And vertu cler-shyninge

naturelly is hid in [derke derkenesses], and the rightful

man bereth the blame and the peyne of the feloun. Ne forsweringe

ne the fraude, [covered and kembd] with a fals colour,

ne anoyeth nat to shrewes; the whiche shrewes, whan hem list

to usen hir strengthe, they reioysen hem to putten under hem

the sovereyne kinges, whiche that poeple with-outen noumbre

dreden.

O thou, what so ever thou be that knittest alle bondes of

thinges, loke on thise wrecchede [erthes]; we men that ben nat

a foule party, but a fayr party of so grete a werk, we ben

tormented in this see of fortune. Thou governour, withdraw

and restreyne the ravisshinge flodes, and fastne and ferme thise

erthes stable with thilke [bonde], with whiche thou governest the

hevene that is so large.'

Me. V. 1. C. whel; A. whele. 3. C. Rauessyng; A. rauyssyng. // C. sweyh; A. sweigh; Ed. sweygh. 4. C. wyt (for with). 6. A. lasse. // C. wan (for whan). 9. C. est; A. eft (Lat. iterum). // A. aȝeynes. 10. C. om. the after at. 13. C. falle; A. to falle. // C. swift; A. swifte. 14. C. wan (for whan). 15. C. sesoun (wrongly); A. sesons. 17. C. hihte; A. hyȝt. // C. borias. 19. C. hihte; A. hyȝt. // C. sawgh; A. saw. // C. hyye; A. hey. // C. wan. 20. C. eschaufed; A. eschaufeth; (Lat. urat). // C. fram. 21. C. the werke; A. hym. 23. C. refowsestow; A. refusest thou. // C. dwwe; A. dewe. 24. C. suffres. // C. so; A. to. // A. vtter; (for entre-). 25. C. dwwelly; A. duelly. 26. C. punysshe; A. punissitȝ. 27. C. heere; A. heiȝe (Lat. celsos). // C. chayres; A. chaiers. 28. C. oon (read on); A. in. 29. A. clere and shynyng (Lat. clara). 30. A. Ne the forsweryng. 32. C. weche (for whiche). // C. wan (for whan). 34. C. weche. // C. nowmbyr; A. noumbre. 38. C. om. a bef. werk. 39. C. this; A. the. // C. withdrawh. 40. C. restryne; A. restreyne. // C. thei (for the). // C. rauesynge; A. rauyssinge. 41. C. by whiche; A. with whiche (better?)

Prose V.

Hic ubi continuato dolore delatraui.

Whan I hadde, with a continuel sorwe, sobbed or [borken out]

thise thinges, she with hir chere pesible, and no-thing amoeved

with my compleintes, seide thus: 'Whan I say thee,' quod she,

'sorweful and wepinge, I wiste anon that thou were a wrecche

and exiled; but I wiste never how fer thyne exile was, yif thy

tale ne hadde shewed it to me. But certes, al be thou fer fro thy

contree, thou nart nat put out of it; but thou hast failed of thy

weye and gon amis. And yif thou hast lever for to wene that

thou be put out of thy contree, than hast thou put out thy-self

rather than any other wight hath. For no wight but thy-self ne

mighte never han don that to thee. For yif thou remembre of

what contree thou art born, it nis nat governed by emperours, ne

by governement of multitude, as weren the contrees of hem of

Athenes; but [oo lord and oo king], and that is god, that is lord of

thy contree, whiche that reioyseth him of the dwelling of hise

citezenes, and nat for to putte hem in exil; of the whiche lorde

it is a soverayne fredom to be governed by the brydel of him and

obeye to his Iustice. Hastow foryeten thilke right olde lawe of thy

[citee], in the whiche citee it is ordeined and establisshed, that for

what wight that hath lever founden ther-in his sete or his hous than

elles-wher, he may nat be exiled by no right from that place? For

who-so that is contened in-with the [palis] and the clos of thilke citee,

ther nis no drede that he may deserve to ben exiled. But who-so

that leteth the wil for to enhabite there, he forleteth also to deserve

to ben citezein of thilke citee. So that I sey, that the [face] of this

place ne moveth me nat so mochel as thyne owne face. Ne I

axe nat rather the walles of thy librarie, aparayled and wrought

with yvory and with glas, than after the sete of thy thought. In

whiche I putte nat whylom bokes, but I putte that that maketh

bokes worthy of prys or precious, that is to seyn, the sentence of

my bokes. And certeinly of thy desertes, bistowed [in comune]

[good], thou hast seid sooth, but after the multitude of thy gode

dedes, thou hast seid fewe; and of the honestee or of the falsnesse

of [thinges that ben aposed] ayeins thee, thou hast remembred

thinges that ben knowen to alle folk. And of the felonyes and

fraudes of thyne accusours, it semeth thee have y-touched it forsothe

rightfully and shortly, al mighten tho same thinges betere

and more plentivousely ben couth in the mouthe of the poeple

that knoweth al this.

Thou hast eek blamed gretly and compleined of the wrongful

dede of the senat. And thou hast sorwed for my blame, and thou

hast wopen for the damage of thy renoun that is apayred; and thy

laste sorwe eschaufede ayeins fortune, and compleinest that guerdouns

ne ben nat evenliche yolden to the desertes of folk. And

in the latere ende of [thy wode Muse], thou preyedest that thilke

pees that governeth the hevene sholde governe the erthe. But

for that manye tribulaciouns of affecciouns han assailed thee, and

sorwe and ire and wepinge to-drawen thee dyversely; as thou art

now feble of thought, mightier remedies ne shullen nat yit touchen

thee, for whiche we wol usen somdel lighter medicines: so that

[thilke passiouns] that ben woxen harde in swellinge, by perturbaciouns

flowing in-to thy thought, mowen wexen esy and softe,

to receiven the strengthe of a more mighty and more egre

medicine, [by an esier touchinge].

Pr. V. 1. C. om. a. // C. borken (= barked); A. broken (Lat. delatraui). 2. A. peisible. 4. C. soruful; A. sorweful. // C. wrechche; A. wrecche. 6. C. nadde; A. ne hadde. // A. to me; C. om. to. 8. C. wey; A. weye. 11. C. remenbre; A. remembre. 13. C. om. hem of. 16. C. cytesenis; A. citezenis. C. put; A. putte. 17. C. brydul; A. bridel. 18. C. hasthow; A. hast thou. 19. C. weche. 20. C. whyht; A. wyȝt. 21. C. wer; A. where. 22. C. contyned; A. contened. // C. palys; A. paleis (Lat. uallo). 23. C. desserue. 25. C. cytesein; A. Citezein. // C. face, glossed i. manere (Lat. facies). 26. C. moueth; A. amoeueth. 27. A. Ne I ne axe. // C. wrowht; A. wrouȝt. 29. C. put; A. putte (twice). // C. whilom; A. somtyme. 30. C. presyous. 32. C. seyde; A. seid. 33. A. vnhonestee (wrongly). 34. A. Ed. opposed. // C. remenbryd. 36. C. Acusours. // C. I-twoched (for I-towched); A. I-touched. 38: C. mowhth; A. mouthe. 42. A. wepen. 43. C. A. gerdouns; Ed. guerdons. 44. C. om. nat. 45. C. latere; A. lattre. // C. glosses wode by s. seuientis. 52. A. perturbacioun folowyng (wrongly).

Metre VI.

Cum Phebi radiis graue
Cancri sidus inestuat.

Whan that the hevy sterre of the Cancre eschaufeth by the

bemes of Phebus, that is to seyn, whan that Phebus the sonne is

[in the signe of the Cancre], who-so yeveth thanne largely hise sedes

to the feldes that refusen to receiven hem, [lat him gon], bigyled of

trust that he hadde to his corn, to acorns of okes. Yif thou wolt

gadre violettes, ne go thou not to the purpur wode [whan the feld],

chirkinge, agryseth of colde by the felnesse of the winde that highte

Aquilon. Yif thou desirest or wolt usen grapes, ne seke thou nat,

with a glotonous hond, to streyne and presse the stalkes of the

vine in the ferst somer sesoun; for Bachus, the god of wyne, hath

rather yeven hise yiftes to autumpne, the later ende of somer.

God tokneth and assigneth the tymes, ablinge hem to hir

propres offices; ne he ne suffreth nat the stoundes whiche that

him-self hath devyded and constreyned to ben y-medled to-gidere.

[And forthy] he that forleteth certein ordinaunce of doinge by over-throwinge

wey, he ne hath no glade issue or ende of his werkes.

Me. VI. 1. C. cankyr; A. Ed. cancre. 2. C. beemes; A. beme (Lat. radiis). 3. C. cankyr; A. Ed. Cancre. 4. C. feeldes. // C. Reseyue; A. receiuen. // C. glosses hem by s. corn. 5. C. Accornes of Okes; A. acorns or okes. // C. wolt; A. wilt. 6. C. gadery; A. gadre. // C. feeld; A. felde. 7. C. felnesses; A. felnesse. // C. hyhte; A. hyȝt. 9. C. stryne; A. streyne. 11. C. later; A. latter. 13. C. propres; A. propre. 16. C. issw; A. issue.

Prose VI.

Primum igitur paterisne me pauculis rogacionibus.

First woltow suffre me to touche and assaye the estat of thy

thought by a fewe demaundes, so that I may understonde what

be the manere of thy curacioun?'

'Axe me,' quod I, 'at thy wille, what thou wolt, and I shal

answere.'

Tho seide she thus: 'Whether wenestow,' quod she, 'that

this world be governed by foolish happes and fortunous, or

elles that ther be in it any governement of resoun?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'I ne trowe nat in no manere, that so

certein thinges sholde be moeved by [fortunous fortune]; but I

wot wel that god, maker and mayster, is governour of his werk.

Ne never nas yit day that mighte putte me out of the sothnesse

of that sentence.'

'So is it,' quod she; 'for [the same thing songe thou] a litel

her-biforn, and biweyledest and biweptest, that only men weren

put out of the cure of god. For of alle other thinges thou

ne doutedest nat that they nere governed by resoun. But [owh!]

(i. pape!) I wondre gretly, certes, [why that thou] art syk, sin

that thou art put in so holsom a sentence. But lat us seken

depper; I coniecte that ther lakketh [I not nere what]. But

sey me this: sin that thou ne doutest nat that this world be

governed by god, [with whiche governailes] takestow hede that

it is governed?'

'Unnethe,' quod I, 'knowe I the sentence of thy questioun;

so that I ne may nat yit answeren to thy demaundes.'

'I nas nat deceived,' quod she, 'that ther ne faileth somwhat,

by whiche the maladye of thy perturbacioun is crept into

thy thought, so as [the strengthe] of the palis chyning is open.

But sey me this: remembrest thou what is the ende of thinges,

and whider that the entencioun of alle kinde tendeth?'

'I have herd it told som-tyme,' quod I; 'but drerinesse hath

dulled my memorie.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'thou wost wel whennes that alle thinges

ben comen and procedeth?'

'I wot wel,' quod I, and answerede, that 'god is beginning

of al.'

'And how may this be,' quod she, 'that, sin thou knowest

the beginning of thinges, that thou ne knowest nat what is the

ende of thinges? But swiche ben the customes of perturbaciouns,

and this power they han, that they may moeve a

man out of his place, that is to seyn, fro the stablenes and perfeccioun

of his knowinge; but, certes, [they may nat al] arace

him, ne aliene him in al. But I wolde that thou woldest

answere to this: remembrestow that thou art a man?'

'Why sholde I nat remembre that?' quod I.

'Maystow nat telle me thanne,' quod she, 'what thing is a man?'

'Axestow me nat,' quod I, 'whether that I be a resonable

mortal beest? I woot wel, and I confesse wel that I am it.'

'Wistestow never yit that thou were any other thing?' quod

she.

'No,' quod I.

'Now woot I,' quod she, 'other cause of thy maladye, and

that right grete. Thou hast left for to knowen thy-self, what

thou art; thorugh whiche I have pleynly founden the cause of

thy maladye, [or elles the entree] of recoveringe of thyn hele.

[For-why, for] thou art confounded with foryeting of thy-self, [for-thy]

sorwestow that thou art exiled of thy propre goodes. And

for thou ne wost what is the ende of thinges, for-thy demestow

that felonous and wikked men ben mighty and weleful. And

for thou hast foryeten by whiche governements the world is

governed, for-thy wenestow that thise mutaciouns of fortune

fleten with-oute governour. Thise ben grete causes not only

to maladye, but, certes, grete causes to deeth. But I thanke

[the auctor and the maker of hele], that nature hath not al

forleten thee. I have grete [norisshinges] of thyn hele, and that

is, the sothe sentence of governaunce of the worlde; that thou

bilevest that the governinge of it nis nat subiect ne underput

to the folie of thise happes aventurous, but to the resoun of

god. And ther-for doute thee no-thing; for of this litel spark

thyn hete of lyf shal shyne.

But for as moche as it is nat tyme yit of [faster] remedies, and

the nature of thoughtes deceived is this, that as ofte as they

casten awey sothe opiniouns, they clothen hem in false opiniouns,

of which false opiniouns the derkenesse of perturbacioun wexeth

up, that confoundeth the verray insighte: and that derkenesse

shal I assaye som-what [to maken thinne and wayk] by lighte

and [meneliche] remedies; so that, after that the derkenesse of

deceivinge desiringes is don awey, thou mowe knowe the shyninge

of verray light.

Pr. VI. 1. C. woltow; A. wolt thou. // C. estat; A. stat. 6. C. wheyther. // C. weenesthow; A. wenest thou. 8. A. ins. wenest thou after elles. 9. A. om. 2nd I. 11. C. his; A. this (Lat. suo). 12. C. put; A. putte. 14. C. lytul; A. lytel. 17. C. dowtedest, A. doutest. // C. owh; A. how; Ed. ough. 18. C. syk; A. seek. 19. C. sin that; A. sithen. // A. in-to (for in). 20. A. om. nere. 21. C. syn; A. sithen. 22. A. takest thou. 23. C. om. it. 25. C. om. nat. // A. demaunde (Lat. inquisita). 26. C. desseyued. 27. C. of thi; A. om. thi. 28. C. palys chynyng; A. paleys schynyng (Lat. hiante ualli robore). 29. C. remenbres. // A. adds thi bef. thinges; and om. and. 30. C. entensyn. 34. A. proceded. 35. A. is the. 37. C. syn; A. sithen. 39. A. endyng. 42. C. arrace; A. arace. 44. C. Remenbresthow; A. remembrest thou. 45. C. remenbre. 46. C. Maysthow; A. Maiste thou. // C. thinge. 47. C. Axestow me nat; A. Axest not me. // C. wheither. // A. om. I after that. 48. A. best mortel. 49. C. Wystesthow; A. Wistest thou. 54. C. fwonde; A. knowen. 56. C. confwndyd. 57. C. sorwistow; A. sorwest thou. 58. C. domesthow; A. demest. 59. A. om. And. 60. C. ast foryeeten. // C. gouernement; A. gouernementz (Lat. gubernaculis). 61. A. wenest thou. 63. C. thi deth; A. (rightly) om. thi. 64. C. alle; A. al. 65. A. ins. and before I have. 67. A. subgit. // C. -putte; A. -put. 68. C. Auentros; A. auenturouses; Ed. auenturous. // C. om. to. 69. C. lytul; A. litel. 70. A. heet. 71. C. meche (= moche). 72. C. desseyued; A. disseiued. 74. C. dirkenesse; A. derknesse. // C. perturba (!). // C. wexit. 78. C. A. desseyuynge.

Metre VII.

Nubibus atris.

The sterres, covered with blake cloudes, ne mowen [yeten]

a-doun no light. Yif the [trouble] wind that hight Auster, turning

and walwinge the see, [medleth the hete], that is to seyn,

the boyling up from the botme; the wawes, that whylom weren

[clere as glas] and lyke to the faire clere dayes, [withstande] anon

the sightes of men by the filthe and ordure that is resolved.

And the fletinge streem, that [royleth] doun dyversly fro heye

mountaignes, is arested and resisted ofte tyme by the encountringe

of a stoon that is departed and fallen from som roche.

And for-thy, yif thou wolt loken and demen sooth with cleer

light, and [holden] the wey with a right path, [weyve] thou Ioye,

dryf fro thee drede, fleme thou hope, ne lat no sorwe aproche;

that is to seyn, lat non of thise four passiouns over-comen thee

or blende thee. For cloudy and derke is thilke thought, and

bounde with brydles, where-as thise thinges regnen.'

Me. VII. 1. C. Ed. yeten; A. geten. 2. C. A. wynde. 4. C. Ed. whilom; A. somtyme. 5. C. lyk; A. lyke. // C. cleere dayes and brihte; A. bryȝt dayes. // C. withstand; A. withstant. 7. C. hy; A. heyȝe. 9. C. fram. 14. C. A. dirke. 15. C. were (for where). // C. reygnen; A. regnen.

Explicit Liber Primus.