12 sorou—sorwe
haþ—MS. haþe
be—ben
13 hore—hoore
ben—arn
myne—myn
14 slak[e]—slake
vpon—of
emty—emptyd
þilk[e]—thilke
15 welful—weleful
comeþ not—comth nat
16 .i. mirie—omitted
¶ Allas allas wiþ how deef an eere deeþ cruel
tourneþ awey fro wrecches and naieþ to closen wepyng
eyen. When Fortune was favourable Death came near Boethius, ¶ While fortune vnfeiþful fauored[e] me [20]
wiþ lyȝte goodes (.s. temporels.) þe sorouful houre þat
is to seyne þe deeþ had[de] almost dreynt myne heued.
but in his adversity life is unpleasantly protracted. ¶ But now for fortune clowdy haþ chaunged hir disceyuable
chere to me warde. myn vnpitouse lijf draweþ [24]
a long vnagreable dwellynges in me. Why did his friends call him happy? He stood not firm that hath thus fallen. ¶ O ȝe my
frendes what or wherto auaunted[e] ȝe me to be weleful:
for he þat haþ fallen stood not in stedfast degree.
19 tourneþ—torneth
naieþ—nayteth
wepyng—wepynge
20 While—Whil
fauored[e]—fauorede
21 lyȝte—lyhte
.s. temporels—omitted
sorouful houre—sorwful howre
22 seyne—seyn
had[de]—hadde
myne—myn