2166 hys—hyse
2167 hir—hyse
2169 fro hys—fram hyse
2170 seed—sede
2171 bosten—MS. voscen, C. bosten
2172 look[e]—loke
SENSUAL PLEASURES FULL OF ANXIETY.
[QUID AUTEM DE CORPORIBUS.][6] [6] Read corporis voluptatibus.
But what shal But what shall I say with respect to sensual pleasures, the desire of which is full of anxiety, and the enjoyment of them full of repentance? I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e [2176]
delices þe desiringes ben ful of anguisse. and þe
fulfillinges of hem ben ful of penaunce. What diseases and intolerable pains (the merited fruits of vice) are these delights wont to bring upon those who enjoy them! ¶ How grete
sekenesse and how grete sorwes vnsuffrable ryȝt as a
manere fruit of wickednesse ben þilke delices wont to [2180]
bryngen to þe bo[d]ies of folk þat vsen hem. I am unable to see what joy is to be found in the gratification of them. ¶ Of
whiche delices I not what ioye may ben had of hir
moeuyng. The remembrance of criminal indulgence brings with it bitter remorse. ¶ But þis woot I wel þat who so euere wil
remembren hym of hys luxuries. he shal wel vndirstonde. [2184]
þat þe issues of delices ben sorowful and sory.
If such things make men happy, then may brutes attain to felicity, since by their instinct they are urged to satisfy their bodily delights. ¶ And yif þilke delices mowen make folk blisful. þan
by þe same cause moten þise bestes ben clepid blisful.
¶ Of whiche bestes al þe entencioun hasteþ to fulfille [2188]
hire bodyly iolyte. A wife and children do not always bring happiness, for some have found tormentors in their own offspring. and þe gladnesse of wijf [and]
children were [an] honest þing. but it haþ ben seid.
þat it is ouer myche aȝeins kynde þat children han ben
founden tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. [2192]
¶ Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condicioun.
It nedeþ nat to tellen it þe þat hast or þis tyme assaied
it. and art ȝit now anguyssous. I approve of this opinion of Euripides, that he who is childless is happy in his misfortune. In þis approue I þe
sentence of my disciple Euridippus. þat seide þat he [2196]
þat haþ no children is weleful by infortune.
2173 is—nis