Bo2 p1 1 Aftir this sche stynte a lytel; and after that
Bo2 p1 2 sche hadde ygadrede by atempre stillenesse myn
Bo2 p1 3 attencioun, she seyde thus (as who so myghte
Bo2 p1 4 seyn thus: after thise thynges sche stynte a
Bo2 p1 5 litil, and whan sche aperceyved by atempre
Bo2 p1 6 stillenesse that I was ententyf to herkne hire,
Bo2 p1 7 sche bygan to speke in this wyse): "If I," quod
Bo2 p1 8 sche, "have undirstonden and knowen outrely
Bo2 p1 9 the causes and the habyt of thy maladye,
Bo2 p1 10 thow languyssest and art desfeted for desir
Bo2 p1 11 and talent of thi rather fortune. Sche (that
Bo2 p1 12 ilke Fortune) oonly, that is chaunged, as
Bo2 p1 13 thow feynest, to the-ward, hath perverted the
Bo2 p1 14 cleernesse and the estat of thi corage. I
Bo2 p1 15 undirstonde the felefolde colours and desceytes
Bo2 p1 16 of thilke merveylous monstre Fortune and how
Bo2 p1 17 sche useth ful flaterynge famylarite with hem
Bo2 p1 18 that sche enforceth to bygyle, so longe, til that
Bo2 p1 19 sche confounde with unsuffrable sorwe
Bo2 p1 20 hem that sche hath left in despeer unpurveied.
Bo2 p1 21 And yif thou remembrest wel the
Bo2 p1 22 kende, the maneris, and the desserte of thilke
Bo2 p1 23 Fortune, thou shalt wel knowe that, as in hir,
Bo2 p1 24 thow nevere ne haddest ne hast ylost any fair
Bo2 p1 25 thyng. But, as I trowe, I schal nat greetly
Bo2 p1 26 travailen to don the remembren on thise
Bo2 p1 27 thynges. For thow were wont to hurtlen and
Bo2 p1 28 despysen hir with manly woordes whan sche
Bo2 p1 29 was blaundyssching and present, and
Bo2 p1 30 pursuydest hir with sentences that weren
Bo2 p1 31 drawen out of myn entre (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p1 32 of myn enformacioun). But no sodeyn mutacioun
Bo2 p1 33 ne bytideth noght withouten a manere
Bo2 p1 34 chaungynge of corages; and so is it byfallen
Bo2 p1 35 that thou art a litil departed fro the pees of thi
Bo2 p1 36 thought.
Bo2 p1 37 "But now is tyme that thou drynke and ataste
Bo2 p1 38 some softe and delitable thynges, so that whanne
Bo2 p1 39 thei ben entred withynne the, it mowe
Bo2 p1 40 maken wey to strengere drynkes of medycines.
Bo2 p1 41 Com now forth, therfore, the
Bo2 p1 42 suasyoun of swetnesse rethorien, whiche that
Bo2 p1 43 goth oonly the righte wey while sche forsaketh
Bo2 p1 44 nat myn estatutz. And with Rethorice com forth
Bo2 p1 45 Musice, a damoysele of our hous, that syngeth
Bo2 p1 46 now lightere moedes or prolacions, now
Bo2 p1 47 hevyere. What eyleth the, man? What is it that
Bo2 p1 48 hath cast the into moornynge and into wepynge?
Bo2 p1 49 I trow that thou hast seyn some newe thyng
Bo2 p1 50 and unkouth. Thou wenest that Fortune be
Bo2 p1 51 chaunged ayens the; but thow wenest
Bo2 p1 52 wrong (yif thou that wene): alway tho ben hir
Bo2 p1 53 maneres. Sche hath rather kept, as to the-ward,
Bo2 p1 54 hir propre stablenesse in the chaungynge of
Bo2 p1 55 hirself. Ryght swiche was sche whan sche
Bo2 p1 56 flateryd the and desseyved the with unleful
Bo2 p1 57 lykynges of false welefulnesse. Thou hast now
Bo2 p1 58 knowen and ateynt the doutous or double visage
Bo2 p1 59 of thilke blynde goddesse Fortune. Sche,
Bo2 p1 60 that yit covereth and wympleth hir to other
Bo2 p1 61 folk, hath schewyd hir every del to the. Yif
Bo2 p1 62 thou approvest here (and thynkest that sche is
Bo2 p1 63 good), use hir maneris and pleyne the nat; and
Bo2 p1 64 yif thou agrisest hir false trecherie, despise and
Bo2 p1 65 cast awey hir that pleyeth so harmfully. For sche,
Bo2 p1 66 that is now cause of so mochel sorwe to the,
Bo2 p1 67 sholde ben cause to the of pees and of joye. Sche
Bo2 p1 68 hath forsaken the, forsothe, the whiche that
Bo2 p1 69 nevere man mai ben siker that sche ne schal
Bo2 p1 70 forsaken hym. (Glose. But natheles some
Bo2 p1 71 bookes han the texte thus: forsothe sche
Bo2 p1 72 hath forsaken the, ne ther nys no man siker
Bo2 p1 73 that sche ne hath nat forsake.) Holdestow
Bo2 p1 74 thanne thilke welefulnesse precious to the, that
Bo2 p1 75 schal passen? And is present Fortune dereworth
Bo2 p1 76 to the, whiche that nys nat feithful for to duelle,
Bo2 p1 77 and whan sche goth awey that sche bryngeth a
Bo2 p1 78 wyght in sorwe? For syn she may nat ben
Bo2 p1 79 withholden at a mannys wille, [and] sche
Bo2 p1 80 maketh hym a wrecche whan sche departeth
Bo2 p1 81 fro hym, what other thyng is
Bo2 p1 82 flyttynge Fortune but a maner schewynge of
Bo2 p1 83 wrecchidnesse that is to comen? Ne it suffiseth
Bo2 p1 84 nat oonly to loken on thyng that is present
Bo2 p1 85 byforn the eien of a man; but wisdom loketh and
Bo2 p1 86 mesureth the ende of thynges. And the same
Bo2 p1 87 chaungynge from oon into another (that is to
Bo2 p1 88 seyn, fro adversite into prosperite) maketh that
Bo2 p1 89 the manaces of Fortune ne ben nat for to
Bo2 p1 90 dreden, ne the flaterynges of hir to ben
Bo2 p1 91 desired. Thus, at the laste, it byhoveth the
Bo2 p1 92 to suffren wyth evene wil in pacience al that is
Bo2 p1 93 doon inwith the floor of Fortune (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p1 94 in this world), syn thou hast oonys put thy nekke
Bo2 p1 95 undir the yok of hir. For yif thow wilt writen a
Bo2 p1 96 lawe of wendynge and of duellynge to Fortune,
Bo2 p1 97 whiche that thow hast chosen frely to ben thi
Bo2 p1 98 lady, artow nat wrongful in that, and makest
Bo2 p1 99 Fortune wroth and aspre by thyn
Bo2 p1 100 inpacience? And yit thow mayst nat
Bo2 p1 101 chaungen hir. Yif thou committest and
Bo2 p1 102 betakest thi seyles to the wynd, thow schalt ben
Bo2 p1 103 shoven, nat thider that thow woldest, but whider
Bo2 p1 104 that the wynd schouveth the. Yif thow castest thi
Bo2 p1 105 seedes in the feeldes, thou sholdest han in
Bo2 p1 106 mynde that the yeres ben amonges, outherwhile
Bo2 p1 107 plentevous and outherwhile bareyne. Thow hast
Bo2 p1 108 bytaken thiself to the governaunce of Fortune
Bo2 p1 109 and forthi it byhoveth the to ben obeisaunt
Bo2 p1 110 to the maneris of thi lady. Enforcestow the
Bo2 p1 111 to aresten or withholden the swyftnesse
Bo2 p1 112 and the sweighe of hir turnynge wheel? O thow
Bo2 p1 113 fool of alle mortel foolis! Yif Fortune bygan to
Bo2 p1 114 duelle stable, she cessede thanne to ben Fortune.
Bo2 m1 1 "Whan Fortune with a proud ryght hand hath
Bo2 m1 2 turned hir chaungynge stowndes, sche fareth
Bo2 m1 3 lyke the maneres of the boylynge Eurippe.
Bo2 m1 4 (Glosa. Eurippe is an arm of the see that ebbeth
Bo2 m1 5 and floweth, and somtyme the streem is on
Bo2 m1 6 o side, and somtyme on the tothir.) Textus.
Bo2 m1 7 She, cruel Fortune, casteth adoun kynges that
Bo2 m1 8 whilom weren ydradd; and sche, desceyvable,
Bo2 m1 9 enhaunceth up the humble chere of hym
Bo2 m1 10 that is discounfited. Ne sche neither heereth
Bo2 m1 11 ne rekketh of wrecchide wepynges; and
Bo2 m1 12 she is so hard that sche leygheth and scorneth
Bo2 m1 13 the wepynges of hem, the whiche sche hath
Bo2 m1 14 maked wepe with hir free wille. Thus sche
Bo2 m1 15 pleyeth, and thus sche prooeveth hir strengthes,
Bo2 m1 16 and scheweth a greet wonder to alle hir servauntz
Bo2 m1 17 yif that a wyght is seyn weleful and
Bo2 m1 18 overthrowe in an houre.
Bo2 p2 1 "Certes I wolde pleten with the a fewe
Bo2 p2 2 thynges, usynge the woordes of Fortune. Tak
Bo2 p2 3 hede now thyselve, yif that sche asketh ryght:
Bo2 p2 4 `O thow man, wherfore makestow me gyltyf by
Bo2 p2 5 thyne every dayes pleynynges? What wrong
Bo2 p2 6 have I don the? What godes have I byreft the
Bo2 p2 7 that weren thyne? Stryf or pleet with me byforn
Bo2 p2 8 what juge that thow wolt of the possessioun
Bo2 p2 9 of rychesses or of dignytees; and yif
Bo2 p2 10 thou maist schewen me that ever any mortel
Bo2 p2 11 man hath resceyved ony of tho thynges
Bo2 p2 12 to ben hise in propre, thanne wil I graunte freely
Bo2 p2 13 that thilke thynges weren thyne whiche that
Bo2 p2 14 thow axest.
Bo2 p2 15 "Whan that nature brought the foorth out of
Bo2 p2 16 thi modir wombe, I resceyved the nakid and
Bo2 p2 17 nedy of alle thynges, and I norissched the with
Bo2 p2 18 my richesses, and was redy and ententyf thurwe
Bo2 p2 19 my favour to sustene the -- and that maketh
Bo2 p2 20 the now inpacient ayens me; and I
Bo2 p2 21 envyrounde the with al the habundaunce
Bo2 p2 22 and schynynge of alle goodes that ben in my
Bo2 p2 23 ryght. Now it liketh me to withdrawe myn
Bo2 p2 24 hand. Thow hast had grace as he that hath
Bo2 p2 25 used of foreyne goodes; thow hast no ryght to
Bo2 p2 26 pleyne the, as though thou haddest outrely
Bo2 p2 27 forlorn alle thy thynges. Why pleynestow
Bo2 p2 28 thanne? I have doon the no wrong. Richesses,
Bo2 p2 29 honours, and swiche othere thinges ben of
Bo2 p2 30 my right. My servauntz knowen me for
Bo2 p2 31 hir lady; they comen with me, and departen
Bo2 p2 32 whan I wende. I dar wel affermen hardely
Bo2 p2 33 that, yif tho thynges of whiche thow pleynest
Bo2 p2 34 that thou hast forlorn [hem] hadden ben
Bo2 p2 35 thyne, thow ne haddest nat lorn hem. Schal
Bo2 p2 36 I thanne, oonly, be defended to usen my ryght?
Bo2 p2 37 "Certes it is leveful to the hevene to maken
Bo2 p2 38 clere dayes, and after that to coveren tho same
Bo2 p2 39 dayes with dirke nyghtes. The yeer hath
Bo2 p2 40 eek leve to apparaylen the visage of the
Bo2 p2 41 erthe, now with floures, and now with
Bo2 p2 42 fruyt, and to confownden hem somtyme with
Bo2 p2 43 reynes and with coldes. The see hath eek his
Bo2 p2 44 ryght to ben somtyme calm and blaundysschyng
Bo2 p2 45 with smothe watir, and somtyme to ben
Bo2 p2 46 horrible with wawes and with tempestes. But
Bo2 p2 47 the covetise of men, that mai nat be stawnched
Bo2 p2 48 -- schal it bynde me to ben stedfast, syn that
Bo2 p2 49 stidfastnesse is uncouth to my maneris?
Bo2 p2 50 Swiche is my strengthe, and this pley
Bo2 p2 51 I pleye continuely. I torne the whirlynge
Bo2 p2 52 wheel with the turnynge sercle; I am glad to
Bo2 p2 53 chaungen the loweste to the heyeste, and the
Bo2 p2 54 heyeste to the loweste. Worth up yif thow
Bo2 p2 55 wolt, so it be by this lawe, that thow ne holde
Bo2 p2 56 nat that I do the wroong, though thow descende
Bo2 p2 57 adown whan the resoun of my pley axeth it.
Bo2 p2 58 Wystestow nat how Cresus, kyng of Lydyens,
Bo2 p2 59 of whiche kyng Cirus was ful sore agast a
Bo2 p2 60 lytil byforn -- that this rewliche Cresus
Bo2 p2 61 was caught of Cirus and lad to the fyer to
Bo2 p2 62 ben brend; but that a rayn descendede down
Bo2 p2 63 fro hevene that rescowyde hym? And is it out
Bo2 p2 64 of thy mynde how that Paulus, consul of Rome,
Bo2 p2 65 whan he had taken the kyng of Percyens, weep
Bo2 p2 66 pitously for the captivyte of the selve kyng?
Bo2 p2 67 What other thynge bywaylen the cryinges of
Bo2 p2 68 tragedyes but oonly the dedes of Fortune, that
Bo2 p2 69 with an unwar strook overturneth the
Bo2 p2 70 realmes of greet nobleye? (Glose. Tragedye
Bo2 p2 71 is to seyn a dite of a prosperite for a
Bo2 p2 72 tyme, that endeth in wrecchidnesse.) Lernedest
Bo2 p2 73 nat thow in Greek whan thow were yong, that
Bo2 p2 74 in the entre or in the seler of Juppiter ther ben
Bo2 p2 75 cowched two tonnes, the toon is ful of good,
Bo2 p2 76 and the tother is ful of harm? What ryght
Bo2 p2 77 hastow to pleyne, yif thou hast taken more
Bo2 p2 78 plentevously of the gode side (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p2 79 of my richesses and prosperites)? And
Bo2 p2 80 what ek yif Y ne be nat al departed fro
Bo2 p2 81 the? What eek yif my mutabilite yeveth
Bo2 p2 82 the ryghtful cause of hope to han yit bettere
Bo2 p2 83 thynges? Natheles dismaye the nat in thi
Bo2 p2 84 thought; and thow that art put in the comune
Bo2 p2 85 realme of alle, desire nat to lyven by thyn oonly
Bo2 p2 86 propre ryght.
Bo2 m2 1 "Though Plente that is goddesse of rychesses
Bo2 m2 2 hielde adoun with ful horn, and withdraweth
Bo2 m2 3 nat hir hand, as many richesses as the
Bo2 m2 4 see torneth upward sandes whan it is moeved
Bo2 m2 5 with ravysshynge blastes, or elles as manye
Bo2 m2 6 rychesses as ther schynen bryghte sterres in
Bo2 m2 7 hevene on the sterry nyghtes; yit, for al that,
Bo2 m2 8 mankende nolde nat cese to wepe wrecchide
Bo2 m2 9 pleyntes. And al be it so that God resceyveth
Bo2 m2 10 gladly hir preiers, and yyveth hem, as
Bo2 m2 11 fool-large, moche gold, and apparayleth
Bo2 m2 12 coveytous folk with noble or cleer honours;
Bo2 m2 13 yit semeth hem haven igeten nothyng, but
Bo2 m2 14 alwey hir cruel ravyne, devourynge al that
Bo2 m2 15 they han geten, scheweth othere gapynges (that
Bo2 m2 16 is to seyn, gapyn and desiren yit after mo rychesses).
Bo2 m2 17 What brydles myghte withholden to
Bo2 m2 18 any certeyn ende the disordene covetise of
Bo2 m2 19 men, whan evere the rather that it fletith
Bo2 m2 20 in large yiftes, the more ay brenneth in
Bo2 m2 21 hem the thurst of havynge? Certes he that
Bo2 m2 22 qwakynge and dredful weneth hymselven
Bo2 m2 23 nedy, he ne lyveth nevermo ryche.
Bo2 p3 1 "Therfore, yif that Fortune spake with the
Bo2 p3 2 for hirself in this manere, forsothe thow ne
Bo2 p3 3 haddest noght what thou myghtest answere.
Bo2 p3 4 And yif thow hast any thyng wherwith thow
Bo2 p3 5 mayst rightfully defenden thi compleynte, it
Bo2 p3 6 behoveth the to schewen it, and I wol yyve
Bo2 p3 7 the space to tellen it."
Bo2 p3 8 "Serteynly," quod I thanne, "thise ben faire
Bo2 p3 9 thynges and enoynted with hony swetnesse
Bo2 p3 10 of Rethorik and Musike; and oonly
Bo2 p3 11 whil thei ben herd thei ben delycious, but
Bo2 p3 12 to wrecches is a deppere felyng of harm
Bo2 p3 13 (this is to seyn, that wrecches felen the harmes
Bo2 p3 14 that thei suffren more grevously than the remedies
Bo2 p3 15 or the delites of thise wordes mowen gladen
Bo2 p3 16 or conforten hem). So that, whanne thise
Bo2 p3 17 thynges stynten for to soune in eris, the sorwe
Bo2 p3 18 that es inset greveth the thought."
Bo2 p3 19 "Right so is it," quod sche. "For thise ne
Bo2 p3 20 ben yit none remedies of thy maladye, but
Bo2 p3 21 they ben a maner norisschynges of thi
Bo2 p3 22 sorwe, yit rebel ayen thi curacioun. For whan
Bo2 p3 23 that tyme is, I schal moeve and ajuste swiche
Bo2 p3 24 thynges that percen hemselve depe. But natheles
Bo2 p3 25 that thow schalt noght wilne to leten thiself
Bo2 p3 26 a wrecche, hastow foryeten the nowmbre
Bo2 p3 27 and the maner of thi welefulnesse? I holde
Bo2 p3 28 me stille how that the sovereyn men of the
Bo2 p3 29 cite token the in cure and in kepynge,
Bo2 p3 30 whan thow were orphelyn of fadir and of
Bo2 p3 31 modir, and were chose in affynite of
Bo2 p3 32 prynces of the cite; and thow bygonne rather
Bo2 p3 33 to ben leef and deere than for to been a
Bo2 p3 34 neyghebour, the whiche thyng is the moste
Bo2 p3 35 precyous kende of any propinquyte or alliaunce
Bo2 p3 36 that mai ben. Who is it that ne seide tho that
Bo2 p3 37 thow neere right weleful, with so gret a nobleye
Bo2 p3 38 of thi fadres-in-lawe, and with the chastete
Bo2 p3 39 of thy wyf, and with the oportunyte
Bo2 p3 40 and noblesse of thyne masculyn children
Bo2 p3 41 (that is to seyn, thy sones)? And over al this
Bo2 p3 42 me list to passen of comune thynges, how
Bo2 p3 43 thow haddest in thy youthe dignytees that
Bo2 p3 44 weren wernd to oolde men; but it deliteth
Bo2 p3 45 me to comen now to the synguler uphepynge
Bo2 p3 46 of thi welefulnesse. Yif any fruyt of mortel
Bo2 p3 47 thynges mai han any weyghte or pris of welefulnesse,
Bo2 p3 48 myghtestow evere forgeten, for any
Bo2 p3 49 charge of harm that myghte byfalle the, remembraunce
Bo2 p3 50 of thilke day that thow seye
Bo2 p3 51 thi two sones maked conseileris and iladde
Bo2 p3 52 togidre fro thyn hous under so greet assemble
Bo2 p3 53 of senatours and under the blithnesse of peple,
Bo2 p3 54 and whan thow saye hem set in the court in
Bo2 p3 55 hir chayeres of dignytes? Thow, rethorien or
Bo2 p3 56 pronouncere of kynges preysynges, desservedest
Bo2 p3 57 glorie of wit and of eloquence whan thow, syttynge
Bo2 p3 58 bytwixen thi two sones conseylers, in the
Bo2 p3 59 place that highte Circo, fulfildest the abydynge
Bo2 p3 60 of the multitude of peple that was
Bo2 p3 61 sprad abouten the with so large preysynge
Bo2 p3 62 and laude as men syngen in victories. Tho
Bo2 p3 63 yave thow woordes to Fortune, as I trowe, (that
Bo2 p3 64 is to seyn, tho feffedestow Fortune with glosynge
Bo2 p3 65 wordes and desceyvedest hir) whan sche
Bo2 p3 66 accoyede the and norysside the as hir owne
Bo2 p3 67 delices. Thow bare awey of Fortune a yifte
Bo2 p3 68 (that is to seye, swich guerdoun) that sche
Bo2 p3 69 nevere yaf to prive man. Wiltow therfore
Bo2 p3 70 leye a reknynge with Fortune? Sche hath
Bo2 p3 71 now twynkled first upon the with a wikkid
Bo2 p3 72 eye. If thow considere the nowmbre and the
Bo2 p3 73 maner of thy blisses and of thy sorwes, thow
Bo2 p3 74 mayst noght forsaken that thow nart yit blisful.
Bo2 p3 75 For yif thou therfore wenest thiself nat
Bo2 p3 76 weleful, for thynges that tho semeden joyeful
Bo2 p3 77 ben passed, ther nys nat why thow sholdest
Bo2 p3 78 wene thiself a wrecche; for thynges that semen
Bo2 p3 79 now sory passen also. Artow now comen
Bo2 p3 80 first, a sodeyn gest, into the schadowe or
Bo2 p3 81 tabernacle of this lif? Or trowestow that
Bo2 p3 82 any stedfastnesse be in mannes thynges, whan
Bo2 p3 83 ofte a swyft hour dissolveth the same man (that
Bo2 p3 84 is to seyn, whan the soule departeth fro the
Bo2 p3 85 body)? For although that zelde is ther any
Bo2 p3 86 feith that fortunous thynges wollen dwellen,
Bo2 p3 87 yet natheles the laste day of a mannes lif is
Bo2 p3 88 a maner deth to Fortune, and also to thilke
Bo2 p3 89 that hath dwelt. And therfore what wenestow
Bo2 p3 90 dar rekke, yif thow forleete hir in
Bo2 p3 91 deyinge, or elles that sche, Fortune, forleete awey?
Bo2 m3 1 "Whan Phebus, the sonne, bygynneth to
Bo2 m3 2 spreden his clernesse with rosene chariettes,
Bo2 m3 3 thanne the sterre, ydymmed, paleth hir white
Bo2 m3 4 cheeres by the flambes of the sonne that overcometh
Bo2 m3 5 the sterre lyght. (This to seyn, whan
Bo2 m3 6 the sonne is rysen, the day-sterre waxeth pale,
Bo2 m3 7 and leeseth hir lyght for the grete bryghtnesse
Bo2 m3 8 of the sonne.) Whan the wode waxeth rody
Bo2 m3 9 of rosene floures in the fyrst somer sesoun
Bo2 m3 10 thurw the breeth of the wynd Zephirus that
Bo2 m3 11 waxeth warm, yif the cloudy wynd Auster
Bo2 m3 12 blowe felliche, than goth awey the fairnesse
Bo2 m3 13 of thornes. Ofte the see is cleer and calm
Bo2 m3 14 without moevynge flodes, and ofte the horrible
Bo2 m3 15 wynd Aquylon moeveth boylynge tempestes,
Bo2 m3 16 and overwhelveth the see. Yif the forme
Bo2 m3 17 of this world is so zeeld stable, and yif it torneth
Bo2 m3 18 by so manye entrechaungynges, wiltow
Bo2 m3 19 thanne trusten in the tumblenge fortunes of
Bo2 m3 20 men? Wiltow trowen on flyttynge goodes?
Bo2 m3 21 It is certeyn and establissched by lawe perdurable,
Bo2 m3 22 that nothyng that is engendred nys
Bo2 m3 23 stedfast ne stable."
Bo2 p4 1 Thanne seide I thus: "O norysshe of alle vertues,
Bo2 p4 2 thou seist ful sooth; ne I mai noght forsake
Bo2 p4 3 the ryght swyfte cours of my prosperite
Bo2 p4 4 (that is to seyn, that prosperite ne be comen
Bo2 p4 5 to me wonder swyftli and sone); but this is a
Bo2 p4 6 thyng that greetly smerteth me whan it remembreth
Bo2 p4 7 me. For in alle adversites of fortune
Bo2 p4 8 the moost unzeely kynde of contrarious
Bo2 p4 9 fortune is to han ben weleful."
Bo2 p4 10 "But that thow," quod sche, "abyest thus
Bo2 p4 11 the torment of thi false opynioun, that
Bo2 p4 12 maistow nat ryghtfully blamen ne aretten to
Bo2 p4 13 thynges. (As who seith, for thow hast yit
Bo2 p4 14 manye habundances of thynges.) Textus. For
Bo2 p4 15 al be it so that the ydel name of aventuros
Bo2 p4 16 welefulnesse moeveth the now, it is leveful that
Bo2 p4 17 thow rekne with me of how many grete thynges
Bo2 p4 18 thow hast yit plente. And therfore yif that
Bo2 p4 19 thilke thyng that thow haddest for moost
Bo2 p4 20 precyous in al thy rychesse of fortune be
Bo2 p4 21 kept to the yit by the grace of God unwemmed
Bo2 p4 22 and undefouled, maistow thanne
Bo2 p4 23 pleyne ryghtfully upon the mescheef of Fortune,
Bo2 p4 24 syn thow hast yit thi beste thynges?
Bo2 p4 25 Certes yit lyveth in good poynt thilke precyous
Bo2 p4 26 honour of mankynde, Symacus, thi wyves fader,
Bo2 p4 27 whiche that is a man maked al of sapience and
Bo2 p4 28 of vertu, the whiche man thow woldest byen
Bo2 p4 29 redyly with the pris of thyn owene lif. He
Bo2 p4 30 bywayleth the wronges that men don to
Bo2 p4 31 the, and nat for hymself; for he lyveth in
Bo2 p4 32 sikernesse of anye sentences put ayens hym.
Bo2 p4 33 And yit lyveth thi wyf, that is atempre of wyt
Bo2 p4 34 and passynge othere wommen in clennesse of
Bo2 p4 35 chastete; and, for I wol closen schortly hir
Bo2 p4 36 bountes, sche is lyk to hir fadir. I telle the wel
Bo2 p4 37 that sche lyveth, loth of this lyf, and kepeth
Bo2 p4 38 to the oonly hir goost, and is al maat and overcomen
Bo2 p4 39 by wepynge and sorwe for desir of
Bo2 p4 40 the; in the whiche thyng oonly I moot
Bo2 p4 41 graunten that thi welefulnesse is amenused.
Bo2 p4 42 What schal I seyn eek of thi two sones conseylours,
Bo2 p4 43 of whiche, as of children of hir age,
Bo2 p4 44 ther shyneth the liknesse of the wit of hir fadir
Bo2 p4 45 or of hir eldefader! And syn the sovereyne
Bo2 p4 46 cure of al mortel folk is to saven hir owene
Bo2 p4 47 lyves, O how weleful artow, if thow knowe
Bo2 p4 48 thy goodes! For yit ben ther thynges dwelled
Bo2 p4 49 to the-ward that no man douteth that they
Bo2 p4 50 ne be more derworthe to the than thyn
Bo2 p4 51 owene lif. And forthy drye thi teeris, for
Bo2 p4 52 yit nys nat every fortune al hateful to theward,
Bo2 p4 53 ne overgreet tempest hath nat yit fallen
Bo2 p4 54 upon the, whan that thyne ancres clyven faste,
Bo2 p4 55 that neither wolen suffren the counfort of this
Bo2 p4 56 tyme present ne the hope of tyme comyng to
Bo2 p4 57 passen ne to faylen."
Bo2 p4 58 "And I preie," quod I, "that faste mote thei
Bo2 p4 59 halden; for, whiles that thei halden, how so
Bo2 p4 60 evere that thynges been, I shal wel fleetyn
Bo2 p4 61 forth and escapyn: but thou mayst wel seen
Bo2 p4 62 how grete apparailes and array that me lakketh,
Bo2 p4 63 that ben passed awey fro me."
Bo2 p4 64 "I have somwhat avaunced and forthred
Bo2 p4 65 the," quod sche, "yif that thow anoye nat, or
Bo2 p4 66 forthynke nat of al thy fortune. (As who seith,
Bo2 p4 67 I have somwhat conforted the, so that thou
Bo2 p4 68 tempeste the nat thus with al thy fortune, syn
Bo2 p4 69 thow hast yit thy beste thynges.) But I mai
Bo2 p4 70 nat suffren thi delices, that pleynest the so
Bo2 p4 71 wepynge and angwysschous for that ther
Bo2 p4 72 lakketh somwhat to thy welefulnesse. For what
Bo2 p4 73 man is so sad or of so parfite welefulnesse, that
Bo2 p4 74 he ne stryveth and pleyneth on some halfe
Bo2 p4 75 ayen the qualite of his estat? Forwhy ful anguysschous
Bo2 p4 76 thing is the condicioun of mannes
Bo2 p4 77 goodes; for eyther it cometh nat altogidre to
Bo2 p4 78 a wyght, or elles it ne last nat perpetuel. For
Bo2 p4 79 som man hath gret rychesse, but he is
Bo2 p4 80 aschamed of his ungentil lynage; and som
Bo2 p4 81 man is renomyd of noblesse of kynrede, but
Bo2 p4 82 he is enclosed in so greet angwyssche of nede
Bo2 p4 83 of thynges that hym were levere that he were
Bo2 p4 84 unknowe; and som man haboundeth bothe in
Bo2 p4 85 rychesse and noblesse, but yit he bewayleth his
Bo2 p4 86 chaste lyf, for he ne hath no wyf; and som man
Bo2 p4 87 is wel and zelily ymaried, but he hath no children,
Bo2 p4 88 and norissheth his rychesses to the eyres
Bo2 p4 89 of straunge folk; and som man is gladed
Bo2 p4 90 with children, but he wepeth ful sory for
Bo2 p4 91 the trespas of his sone or of his doughter.
Bo2 p4 92 And for this ther ne accordeth no wyght lyghtly
Bo2 p4 93 to the condicioun of his fortune; for alwey to
Bo2 p4 94 every man ther is in somwhat that, unassayed,
Bo2 p4 95 he ne woot nat, or elles he dredeth that he hath
Bo2 p4 96 assaied. And adde this also, that every weleful
Bo2 p4 97 man hath a ful delicaat feelynge; so that, but
Bo2 p4 98 yif alle thynges byfalle at his owene wil, for
Bo2 p4 99 he is inpacient or is nat used to have noon
Bo2 p4 100 adversite, anoon he is throwen adoun for
Bo2 p4 101 every litil thyng. And ful litel thynges ben
Bo2 p4 102 tho that withdrawen the somme or the perfeccioun
Bo2 p4 103 of blisfulnesse fro hem that been most
Bo2 p4 104 fortunat. How manye men trowestow wolde
Bo2 p4 105 demen hemself to ben almoste in hevene, yif
Bo2 p4 106 thei myghten atayne to the leste partye of the
Bo2 p4 107 remenaunt of thi fortune? This same place
Bo2 p4 108 that thow clepest exil is contre to hem that
Bo2 p4 109 enhabiten here, and forthi nothyng [is.
Bo2 p4 110 wrecchide but whan thou wenest it. (As
Bo2 p4 111 who seith, thow thiself ne no wyght elles
Bo2 p4 112 nis a wrecche but whanne he weneth hymself
Bo2 p4 113 a wrechche by reputacion of his corage.) And
Bo2 p4 114 ayenward, alle fortune is blisful to a man by
Bo2 p4 115 the aggreablete or by the egalyte of hym that
Bo2 p4 116 suffreth it. What man is that that is so weleful
Bo2 p4 117 that nolde chaunge his estat whan he hath lost
Bo2 p4 118 pacience? The swetnesse of mannes welefulnesse
Bo2 p4 119 is spraynd with many bitternesses;
Bo2 p4 120 the whiche welefulnesse although it seme
Bo2 p4 121 swete and joieful to hym that useth it, yit
Bo2 p4 122 mai it nat ben withholden that it ne goth awey
Bo2 p4 123 whan it wole. Thanne is it wele seene how
Bo2 p4 124 wrecchid is the blisfulnesse of mortel thynges,
Bo2 p4 125 that neyther it dureth perpetuel with hem that
Bo2 p4 126 every fortune resceyven agreablely or egaly, ne
Bo2 p4 127 it deliteth nat in al to hem that ben angwyssous.
Bo2 p4 128 "O ye mortel folk, what seeke ye thanne blisfulnesse
Bo2 p4 129 out of yourself whiche that is put
Bo2 p4 130 in yowrself? Errour and folie confoundeth
Bo2 p4 131 yow. I schal schewe the schortly the
Bo2 p4 132 poynt of soverayn blisfulnesse. Is there anythyng
Bo2 p4 133 more precyous to the than thiself? Thow
Bo2 p4 134 wolt answere, `nay.' Thanne, yif it so be that
Bo2 p4 135 thow art myghty over thyself (that is to seyn,
Bo2 p4 136 by tranquillite of thi soule), than hastow thyng
Bo2 p4 137 in thi powere that thow noldest nevere leesen,
Bo2 p4 138 ne Fortune may nat bynymen it the. And that
Bo2 p4 139 thow mayst knowe that blisfulnesse ne mai
Bo2 p4 140 nat standen in thynges that ben fortunous
Bo2 p4 141 and temporel, now undirstond and gadere
Bo2 p4 142 it togidre thus: yif blisfulnesse be the soverayn
Bo2 p4 143 good of nature that lyveth by resoun,
Bo2 p4 144 ne thilke thyng nys nat soverayn good that
Bo2 p4 145 may ben taken awey in any wise (for more
Bo2 p4 146 worthy thyng and more dygne is thilke thyng
Bo2 p4 147 that mai nat ben take awey); than scheweth
Bo2 p4 148 it wel that the unstablenesse of fortune may
Bo2 p4 149 nat atayne to resceyven verray blisfulnesse.
Bo2 p4 150 And yit more over, what man that this
Bo2 p4 151 towmblynge welefulnesse ledeth, eyther
Bo2 p4 152 he woot that it is chaungeable, or elles he woot
Bo2 p4 153 it nat. And yif he woot it nat, what blisful
Bo2 p4 154 fortune may ther ben in the blyndnesse of ignoraunce?
Bo2 p4 155 And yif he woot that it is chaungeable,
Bo2 p4 156 he mot alwey ben adrad that he ne lese
Bo2 p4 157 that thyng that he ne douteth nat but that he
Bo2 p4 158 may leesen it (as who seith he mot bien alwey
Bo2 p4 159 agast lest he lese that he woot wel he may
Bo2 p4 160 lese it); for whiche the contynuel drede that
Bo2 p4 161 he hath ne suffreth hym nat to ben weleful --
Bo2 p4 162 or elles yif he lese it he weneth to ben
Bo2 p4 163 despised and forleten. Certes eek that is a
Bo2 p4 164 ful litel good that is born with evene herte
Bo2 p4 165 whan it es lost (that is to seyn, that men do no
Bo2 p4 166 more force of the lost than of the havynge).
Bo2 p4 167 And for as moche as thow thiself art he to
Bo2 p4 168 whom it hath be [sewed] and proved by ful
Bo2 p4 169 many demonstracyons, as I woot wele that
Bo2 p4 170 the soules of men ne mowen nat deyen in
Bo2 p4 171 no wyse; and ek syn it es cleer and certeyn
Bo2 p4 172 that fortunous welefulnesse endeth by the deth
Bo2 p4 173 of the body; it mai nat be douted that, yif that
Bo2 p4 174 deth may take awey blisfulnesse, that al the
Bo2 p4 175 kynde of mortel thyng ne descendeth into
Bo2 p4 176 wrecchidnesse by the ende of the deth. And
Bo2 p4 177 syn we knowe wel that many a man hath
Bo2 p4 178 sought the fruyt of blysfulnesse, nat oonly with
Bo2 p4 179 suffrynge of deeth, but eek with suffrynge
Bo2 p4 180 of peynes and tormentz, how myghte
Bo2 p4 181 thanne this present lif make men blisful,
Bo2 p4 182 syn that whanne thilke selve lif es ended it
Bo2 p4 183 ne maketh folk no wrechches? 
Bo2 m4 1 "What maner man stable and war, that wol
Bo2 m4 2 fownden hym a perdurable seete, and ne wol
Bo2 m4 3 noght ben cast doun with the lowde blastes of
Bo2 m4 4 the wynd Eurus, and wole despise the see
Bo2 m4 5 manasynge with flodes; lat hym eschuwen to
Bo2 m4 6 bilde on the cop of the mountaigne, or in the
Bo2 m4 7 moyste sandes; for the felle wynd Auster tormenteth
Bo2 m4 8 the cop of the mountaigne with alle
Bo2 m4 9 hise strengthes, and the lause sandes refusen
Bo2 m4 10 to beren the hevy weyghte. And
Bo2 m4 11 forthi, yif thow wolt fleen the perilous
Bo2 m4 12 aventure (that is to seyn, of the werld) have
Bo2 m4 13 mynde certeynly to fycchen thin hous of a
Bo2 m4 14 myrie sete in a low stoon. For although the
Bo2 m4 15 wynd troublynge the see thondre with overthrowynges,
Bo2 m4 16 thou, that art put in quiete and
Bo2 m4 17 weleful by strengthe of thi palys, schalt leden
Bo2 m4 18 a cler age, scornynge the woodnesses and the
Bo2 m4 19 ires of the eyr.
Bo2 p5 1 "But for as mochel as the norisschynges of
Bo2 p5 2 my resouns descenden now into the, I trowe it
Bo2 p5 3 were tyme to usen a litel strengere medicynes.
Bo2 p5 4 Now undirstand heere; al were it so that the
Bo2 p5 5 yiftes of Fortune ne were noght brutel ne transitorie,
Bo2 p5 6 what is ther in hem that mai be thyn
Bo2 p5 7 in any tyme, or elles that it nys fowl, yif that
Bo2 p5 8 it be considered and lookyd parfitely? Richesses
Bo2 p5 9 ben they preciouse by the nature of hemself,
Bo2 p5 10 or elles by the nature of the? What is
Bo2 p5 11 most worth of rychesses? Is it nat gold or
Bo2 p5 12 myght of moneye assembled? Certes thilke
Bo2 p5 13 gold and thilke moneye schyneth and yeveth
Bo2 p5 14 bettre renoun to hem that dispenden it than
Bo2 p5 15 to thilke folk that mokeren it; for avaryce maketh
Bo2 p5 16 alwey mokereres to ben hated, and largesse
Bo2 p5 17 maketh folk cleer of renoun. For, syn that
Bo2 p5 18 swiche thyng as is transferred fro o man to an
Bo2 p5 19 othir ne may nat duellen with no man,
Bo2 p5 20 certes thanne is thilke moneye precyous
Bo2 p5 21 whan it is translated into other folk and
Bo2 p5 22 stynteth to ben had by usage of large yyvynge
Bo2 p5 23 of hym that hath yeven it. And also yif al the
Bo2 p5 24 moneye that is overal in the world were gadryd
Bo2 p5 25 toward o man, it scholde make alle othere men
Bo2 p5 26 to be nedy as of that. And certes a voys al hool
Bo2 p5 27 (that is to seyn, withouten amenusynge) fulfilleth
Bo2 p5 28 togydre the herynge of moche folk. But
Bo2 p5 29 certes your rychesses ne mowen noght
Bo2 p5 30 passen unto moche folk withouten amenusynge;
Bo2 p5 31 and whan they ben apassed, nedes
Bo2 p5 32 they maken hem pore that forgoon tho rychesses.
Bo2 p5 33 O streyte and nedy clepe I this richesse,
Bo2 p5 34 syn that many folk ne mai nat han it al, ne al
Bo2 p5 35 mai it nat comen to o man withoute povert
Bo2 p5 36 of alle othere folk. And the schynynge of
Bo2 p5 37 gemmes (that I clepe precyous stones) draweth
Bo2 p5 38 it nat the eighen of folk to hem-ward (that
Bo2 p5 39 is to seyn, for the beautes)? But certes, yif
Bo2 p5 40 ther were beaute or bountee in the schynynge
Bo2 p5 41 of stones, thilke clernesse is of the
Bo2 p5 42 stones hemselve, and nat of men; for whiche I
Bo2 p5 43 wondre gretly that men merveylen on swiche
Bo2 p5 44 thynges. Forwhi what thyng is it that, yif it
Bo2 p5 45 wanteth moevynge and joynture of soule and
Bo2 p5 46 body, that by right myghte semen a fair creature
Bo2 p5 47 to hym that hath a soule of resoun? For
Bo2 p5 48 al be it so that gemmes drawen to hemself a
Bo2 p5 49 litel of the laste beaute of the world thurw
Bo2 p5 50 the entente of hir creatour and thurw the
Bo2 p5 51 distinccioun of hemself, yit, for as mochel
Bo2 p5 52 as thei ben put under yowr excellence, thei ne
Bo2 p5 53 han nat desserved by no way that ye schulde
Bo2 p5 54 merveylen on hem. And the beaute of feeldes,
Bo2 p5 55 deliteth it nat mochel unto yow?"
Bo2 p5 56 Boece. "Why schulde it nat deliten us, syn
Bo2 p5 57 that it is a [fayr] porcioun of the ryght fair
Bo2 p5 58 werk (that is to seyn, of this worlde)? And
Bo2 p5 59 right so ben we gladed somtyme of the
Bo2 p5 60 face of the see whan it es cleer; and also
Bo2 p5 61 merveylen we on the hevene, and on the
Bo2 p5 62 sterres, and on the sonne, and on the moone."
Bo2 p5 63 Philosophie. "Aperteneth," quod sche, "any
Bo2 p5 64 of thilke thynges to the? Why darstow glorifye
Bo2 p5 65 the in the shynynge of any swiche thynges?
Bo2 p5 66 Artow distyngwed and embelysed by the
Bo2 p5 67 spryngynge floures of the first somer sesoun,
Bo2 p5 68 or swelleth thi plente in fruites of somer? Whi
Bo2 p5 69 artow ravyssched with idel joies? Why enbracest
Bo2 p5 70 thow straunge goodes as they weren
Bo2 p5 71 thyne? Fortune ne schal nevere maken that
Bo2 p5 72 swiche thynges ben thyne that nature of thynges
Bo2 p5 73 hath maked foreyne fro the. Soth is that, withouten
Bo2 p5 74 doute, the fruites of the erthe owen to
Bo2 p5 75 be to the noryssynge of beestis; and yif thow
Bo2 p5 76 wilt fulfille thyn nede after that it suffiseth to
Bo2 p5 77 nature, thanne is it no nede that thow seke
Bo2 p5 78 aftir the superfluyte of fortune. For [with]
Bo2 p5 79 fewe thynges and with ful litel thynges nature
Bo2 p5 80 halt hir apayed; and yif thow wolt
Bo2 p5 81 achoken the fulfillynge of nature with superfluytees,
Bo2 p5 82 certes thilke thynges that thow
Bo2 p5 83 wolt thresten or powren into nature schulle
Bo2 p5 84 ben unjoyeful to the, or elles anoyous. Wenestow
Bo2 p5 85 eek that it be a fair thyng to schyne with
Bo2 p5 86 diverse clothynge? Of whiche clothynge yif the
Bo2 p5 87 beaute be aggreable to loken uppon, I wol
Bo2 p5 88 merveylen on the nature of the matiere of
Bo2 p5 89 thilke clothes, or elles on the werkman that
Bo2 p5 90 wroughte hem. But also a long route of
Bo2 p5 91 meyne, maketh that a blisful man? The
Bo2 p5 92 whiche servantz yif thei ben vicyous of condyciouns,
Bo2 p5 93 it is a gret charge and a destruccioun
Bo2 p5 94 to the hous, and a gret enemy to the lord hymself;
Bo2 p5 95 and yif they ben gode men, how schal
Bo2 p5 96 straunge or foreyne goodnesse ben put in the
Bo2 p5 97 nowmbre of thi richesse? So that by alle thise
Bo2 p5 98 forseide thynges it es cleerly schewed, that nevere
Bo2 p5 99 oon of thilke thynges that thou acountedest
Bo2 p5 100 for thyne goodes nas nat thi good.
Bo2 p5 101 "In the whiche thynges yif ther be no
Bo2 p5 102 beaute to ben desired, why scholdestow ben sory
Bo2 p5 103 yif thou leese hem, or whi scholdestow rejoysen
Bo2 p5 104 the for to holden hem? For yif thei ben faire
Bo2 p5 105 of hir owene kynde, what aperteneth that to
Bo2 p5 106 the? For al so wel scholde they han ben fayre
Bo2 p5 107 by hemselve, though thei were departed fro
Bo2 p5 108 alle thyne rychesses. Forwhy fair ne precyous
Bo2 p5 109 were thei nat for that thei comen among
Bo2 p5 110 thi rychesses; but for they semeden fair
Bo2 p5 111 and precyous, therfore thou haddest levere
Bo2 p5 112 rekne hem among thi rychesses. But what
Bo2 p5 113 desirestow of Fortune with so greet a noyse
Bo2 p5 114 and with so greet [affraie]? I trowe thou seeke
Bo2 p5 115 to dryve awey nede with habundaunce of
Bo2 p5 116 thynges, but certes it turneth to you al in the
Bo2 p5 117 contrarie. Forwhy certes it nedeth of ful manye
Bo2 p5 118 helpynges to kepyn the diversite of precious
Bo2 p5 119 ostelementz; and sooth it es that of many
Bo2 p5 120 thynges han they nede, that many thynges
Bo2 p5 121 han; and ayenward of litel nedeth hem
Bo2 p5 122 that mesuren hir fille after the nede of kynde,
Bo2 p5 123 and nat after the oultrage of covetyse.
Bo2 p5 124 "Is it thanne so, that ye men ne han no propre
Bo2 p5 125 good iset in yow, for whiche ye mooten seke
Bo2 p5 126 outward your goodes in foreyne and subgit
Bo2 p5 127 thynges? So is thanne the condicion of thynges
Bo2 p5 128 turned up-so-doun, that a man, that is a devyne
Bo2 p5 129 beest be meryte of his resoun, thynketh
Bo2 p5 130 that hymself nys neyther fair ne noble but
Bo2 p5 131 yif it be thurw possessioun of ostelementz
Bo2 p5 132 that ne han no soules. And certes alle othere
Bo2 p5 133 thynges ben apayed of hir owene beautes, but ye
Bo2 p5 134 men that ben semlable to God by yowr
Bo2 p5 135 resonable thought, desiren to apparailen your
Bo2 p5 136 excellent kynde of the loweste thynges; ne ye
Bo2 p5 137 undirstanden nat how greet a wrong ye don to
Bo2 p5 138 your creatour. For he wolde that mankynde
Bo2 p5 139 were moost wurthy and noble of any
Bo2 p5 140 othere erthly thynges, and ye thresten
Bo2 p5 141 adoun yowre dignytes bynethen the loweste
Bo2 p5 142 thynges. For yif that al the good of every
Bo2 p5 143 thyng be more precyous than is thilke thyng
Bo2 p5 144 whos that the good es, syn ye demen that the
Bo2 p5 145 fowleste thynges ben your goodes, thanne
Bo2 p5 146 submitten ye and putten yourselven undir the
Bo2 p5 147 fouleste thynges by your estimacioun; and certes
Bo2 p5 148 this betydeth nat withouten your desert. For
Bo2 p5 149 certes swiche is the condicioun of alle mankynde,
Bo2 p5 150 that oonly whan it hath knowynge
Bo2 p5 151 of itself, thanne passeth it in noblesse alle
Bo2 p5 152 othere thynges; and whan it forletith the
Bo2 p5 153 knowynge of itself, thanne is it brought
Bo2 p5 154 bynethen alle beestes. Forwhi alle othere lyvynge
Bo2 p5 155 beestes han of kynde to knowe nat hemself;
Bo2 p5 156 but whan that men leeten the knowynge
Bo2 p5 157 of hemself, it cometh hem of vice. But
Bo2 p5 158 how broode scheweth the errour and the folie of
Bo2 p5 159 yow men, that wenen that anythyng mai
Bo2 p5 160 ben apparailed with straunge apparailementz!
Bo2 p5 161 But forsothe that mai nat be done.
Bo2 p5 162 For yif a wyght schyneth with thynges that
Bo2 p5 163 ben put to hym (as thus, yif thilke thynges
Bo2 p5 164 schynen with whiche a man is aparayled),
Bo2 p5 165 certes thilke thynges ben comended and preysed
Bo2 p5 166 with whiche he is apparayled; but natheles, the
Bo2 p5 167 thyng that is covered and wrapped under that
Bo2 p5 168 duelleth in his felthe.
Bo2 p5 169 "And I denye that thilke thyng be good
Bo2 p5 170 that anoyeth hym that hath it. Gabbe I of
Bo2 p5 171 this? Thow wolt sey `nay.' Sertes rychesses
Bo2 p5 172 han anoyed ful ofte hem that han tho rychesses,
Bo2 p5 173 syn that every wikkide schrewe -- and for his
Bo2 p5 174 wikkidnesse the more gredy aftir othir folkes
Bo2 p5 175 rychesses, wher so evere it be in ony place, be
Bo2 p5 176 it gold or precyous stones -- [weneth. hym
Bo2 p5 177 oonly most worthy that hath hem. Thow thanne,
Bo2 p5 178 that so bysy dredest now the swerd and the
Bo2 p5 179 spere, yif thou haddest entred in the path
Bo2 p5 180 of this lif a voyde weyfarynge man, thanne
Bo2 p5 181 woldestow syngen byfor the theef. (As
Bo2 p5 182 who seith, a pore man that bereth no rychesse
Bo2 p5 183 on hym by the weie may boldely synge byforn
Bo2 p5 184 theves, for he hath nat whereof to be robbed.)
Bo2 p5 185 O precyous and ryght cleer is the blisfulnesse of
Bo2 p5 186 mortel rychesses, that, whan thow hast geten it,
Bo2 p5 187 thanne hastow lorn thi sekernesse!
Bo2 m5 1 "Blisful was the firste age of men. They
Bo2 m5 2 heelden hem apayed with the metes that the
Bo2 m5 3 trewe feeldes broughten forth. They ne destroyeden
Bo2 m5 4 ne desseyvede nat hemself with outrage.
Bo2 m5 5 They weren wont lyghtly to slaken hir
Bo2 m5 6 hungir at even with accornes of ookes. They
Bo2 m5 7 ne coude nat medle the yift of Bachus to the
Bo2 m5 8 cleer hony (that is to seyn, they coude make
Bo2 m5 9 no pyement or clarree), ne they coude nat
Bo2 m5 10 medle the bryghte fleezes of the contre of
Bo2 m5 11 Seryens with the venym of Tyrie (this
Bo2 m5 12 to seyn, thei coude nat deyen white fleezes
Bo2 m5 13 of Syrien contre with the blood of a maner
Bo2 m5 14 schellefyssche that men fynden in Tirie, with
Bo2 m5 15 whiche blood men deyen purpre). They
Bo2 m5 16 slepen holsome slepes uppon the gras, and
Bo2 m5 17 dronken of the rennynge watres, and layen
Bo2 m5 18 undir the schadwes of the heye pyn-trees. Ne
Bo2 m5 19 no gest ne straunger ne karf yit the heye
Bo2 m5 20 see with oores or with schipes; ne thei ne
Bo2 m5 21 hadden seyn yit none newe stroondes to
Bo2 m5 22 leden marchandise into diverse contrees. Tho
Bo2 m5 23 weren the cruele claryouns ful hust and ful
Bo2 m5 24 stille. Ne blood ischad by egre hate ne hadde
Bo2 m5 25 nat deyed yit armures. For wherto or which
Bo2 m5 26 woodnesse of enemys wolde first moeven
Bo2 m5 27 armes whan thei seyen cruele wowndes, ne
Bo2 m5 28 none medes be of blood ischad? I wolde that
Bo2 m5 29 our tymes sholde torne ayen to the oolde
Bo2 m5 30 maneris! But the anguysschous love of
Bo2 m5 31 havynge brenneth in folk more cruely than
Bo2 m5 32 the fyer of the mountaigne of Ethna that ay
Bo2 m5 33 brenneth. Allas! What was he that first dalf
Bo2 m5 34 up the gobbettes or the weyghtes of gold covered
Bo2 m5 35 undir erthe and the precyous stones that
Bo2 m5 36 wolden han be hydd? He dalf up precious
Bo2 m5 37 periles. (That is to seyn, that he that hem
Bo2 m5 38 firsst up dalf, he dalf up a precious peril;
Bo2 m5 39 for-why, for the preciousnesse of swich
Bo2 m5 40 thyng hath many man ben in peril.)
Bo2 p6 1 "But what schal I seye of dignytes and of
Bo2 p6 2 powers, the whiche ye men, that neither
Bo2 p6 3 knowen verray dignyte ne verray powere,
Bo2 p6 4 areysen hem as heyghe as the hevene? The
Bo2 p6 5 whiche dignytees and poweres yif thei comen
Bo2 p6 6 to any wikkid man, thei doon as greet damages
Bo2 p6 7 and destrucciouns as dooth. the flaumbe
Bo2 p6 8 of the mountaigne Ethna whan the flaumbe
Bo2 p6 9 walweth up, ne no deluge ne doth so cruele
Bo2 p6 10 harmes. Certes the remembreth wel, as I
Bo2 p6 11 trowe, that thilke dignyte that men clepyn
Bo2 p6 12 the imperie of consulers, the whiche that
Bo2 p6 13 whilom was begynnynge of fredom, yowr eldres
Bo2 p6 14 coveyteden to han don awey that dignyte for
Bo2 p6 15 the pride of the consulers. And ryght for the
Bo2 p6 16 same pride yowr eldres byforn that tyme hadden
Bo2 p6 17 doon awey out of the cite of Rome the
Bo2 p6 18 kynges name (that is to seyn, thei nolden han
Bo2 p6 19 no lengere no kyng).
Bo2 p6 20 "But now, if so be that dignytees and poweris
Bo2 p6 21 ben yyven to gode men, the whiche
Bo2 p6 22 thyng is ful zelde, what aggreable thynges is
Bo2 p6 23 ther in tho dignytees or powers but oonly the
Bo2 p6 24 goodnesse of folk that usen hem? And therfore
Bo2 p6 25 it is thus that honour ne cometh nat to
Bo2 p6 26 vertu for cause of dygnite, but, ayenward, honour
Bo2 p6 27 cometh to dignyte for cause of vertu. But
Bo2 p6 28 whiche is thilke your derworthe power that is
Bo2 p6 29 so cleer and so requerable? O, ye erthliche
Bo2 p6 30 bestes, considere ye nat over whiche thyng
Bo2 p6 31 that it semeth that ye han power? Now yif
Bo2 p6 32 thou saye a mows among othere mysz that chalanged
Bo2 p6 33 to hymself-ward ryght and power over
Bo2 p6 34 alle othere mysz, how gret scorn woldestow han
Bo2 p6 35 of it! (Glosa. So fareth it by men [that the
Bo2 p6 36 wikkid men have power over the wikkid men;
Bo2 p6 37 that is to seye], the body hath power over the
Bo2 p6 38 body.) For yif thou looke wel upon the body of
Bo2 p6 39 a wyght, what thyng schaltow fynde more
Bo2 p6 40 freele than is mankynde; the whiche men
Bo2 p6 41 ful ofte ben slayn with bytynge of smale
Bo2 p6 42 flyes, or elles with the entrynge of crepynge
Bo2 p6 43 wormes into the pryvetees of mannes body?
Bo2 p6 44 But wher schal men fynden any man that mai
Bo2 p6 45 exercen or haunten any ryght upon another
Bo2 p6 46 man, but oonly on his body, or elles upon
Bo2 p6 47 thynges that ben lowere than the body, the
Bo2 p6 48 whiche I clepe fortunous possessiouns? Maystow
Bo2 p6 49 evere have any comaundement over a free
Bo2 p6 50 corage? Maystowe remuwen fro the estat
Bo2 p6 51 of his propre reste a thought that is
Bo2 p6 52 clyvynge togidre in hymself by stedfast resoun?
Bo2 p6 53 As whilom a tyraunt wende to confownde a fre
Bo2 p6 54 man of corage, and wende to constreyne hym by
Bo2 p6 55 torment to maken hym discoveren and accusen
Bo2 p6 56 folk that wisten of a conjuracioun (which I clepe
Bo2 p6 57 a confederacye) that was cast ayens this tyraunt;
Bo2 p6 58 but this fre man boot of his owene tonge, and
Bo2 p6 59 caste it in the visage of thilk wode tyraunt.
Bo2 p6 60 So that the tormentz that this tyraunt
Bo2 p6 61 wende to han maked matere of cruelte, this
Bo2 p6 62 wise man maked it matere of vertu. But what
Bo2 p6 63 thing is it that a man may doon to an other man,
Bo2 p6 64 that he ne may resceyven the same thyng of
Bo2 p6 65 other folk in hymself? (Or thus: what may a
Bo2 p6 66 man don to folk, that folk ne may don hym
Bo2 p6 67 the same?) I have herd told of Busyrides, that
Bo2 p6 68 was wont to sleen his gestes that herberweden
Bo2 p6 69 in his hous, and he was slayn hymself of
Bo2 p6 70 Ercules that was his gest. Regulus hadde
Bo2 p6 71 taken in bataile manye men of Affryke
Bo2 p6 72 and cast hem into feteres, but sone after he
Bo2 p6 73 most yyve hise handes to ben bownde with
Bo2 p6 74 the cheynes of hem that he hadde whilom
Bo2 p6 75 overcomen. Wenestow thanne that he be
Bo2 p6 76 myghty that hath no power to doon a thyng that
Bo2 p6 77 othere ne mai doon in hym that he doth in
Bo2 p6 78 othere?
Bo2 p6 79 "And yit moreover, yif it so were that
Bo2 p6 80 thise dygnytes or poweris hadden any
Bo2 p6 81 propre or naturel goodnesse in hemself,
Bo2 p6 82 nevere nolde they comen to schrewes. For
Bo2 p6 83 contrarious thynges ne ben nat wont to ben
Bo2 p6 84 ifelaschiped togydre. Nature refuseth that contrarious
Bo2 p6 85 thynges ben ijoygned. And so, as I am
Bo2 p6 86 in certeyn that ryght wykkyd folk han
Bo2 p6 87 dignytees ofte tyme, thanne scheweth it wel that
Bo2 p6 88 dignytees and poweres ne ben nat gode of
Bo2 p6 89 hir owene kynde, syn that they suffren
Bo2 p6 90 hemselve to cleven or joynen hem to
Bo2 p6 91 schrewes. And certes the same thyng mai I
Bo2 p6 92 most digneliche juggen and seyn of alle the
Bo2 p6 93 yiftes of Fortune that most plentevously comen
Bo2 p6 94 to schrewes. Of the whiche yiftes I trowe that it
Bo2 p6 95 oughte ben considered, that no man douteth that
Bo2 p6 96 he ne is strong in whom he seeth strengthe; and
Bo2 p6 97 in whom that swyftnesse is, sooth it is that he
Bo2 p6 98 is swyft; also musyke maketh mucisyens, and
Bo2 p6 99 phisyk maketh phisicyeens, and rethoryke,
Bo2 p6 100 rethoriens. Forwhy the nature of every
Bo2 p6 101 thyng maketh his proprete, ne it is nat
Bo2 p6 102 entremedlyd with the effectz of contrarious
Bo2 p6 103 thynges, and as of wil it chaseth out thynges that
Bo2 p6 104 to it ben contrarie. But certes rychesse mai nat
Bo2 p6 105 restreyne avarice unstaunched; ne power ne
Bo2 p6 106 maketh nat a man myghty over hymselve,
Bo2 p6 107 whiche that vicyous lustes holden destreyned
Bo2 p6 108 with cheynes that ne mowen nat ben
Bo2 p6 109 unbownden. And dignytees that ben yyven
Bo2 p6 110 to schrewide folk nat oonly ne maketh hem
Bo2 p6 111 nat digne, but it scheweth rather al opynly
Bo2 p6 112 that they been unworthy and undigne. And whi
Bo2 p6 113 is it thus? Certes for ye han joie to clepen
Bo2 p6 114 thynges with false names, that beren hem al in
Bo2 p6 115 the contrarie; the whiche names ben ful [ethe]
Bo2 p6 116 reproved by the effect of the same thynges; so
Bo2 p6 117 that thise ilke rychesses ne oughten nat by ryghte
Bo2 p6 118 to ben cleped rychesses, ne swyche power ne
Bo2 p6 119 aughte nat ben clepyd power, ne swiche
Bo2 p6 120 dignyte ne aughte nat ben clepyd dignyte.
Bo2 p6 121 And at the laste, I may conclude the same
Bo2 p6 122 thyng of alle the yyftes of Fortune, in whiche
Bo2 p6 123 ther nys nothyng to ben desired, ne that hath in
Bo2 p6 124 hymselve naturel bownte, as it es ful wel yseene.
Bo2 p6 125 For neither thei ne joygnen hem nat alwey to
Bo2 p6 126 gode men, ne maken hem alwey gode to whom
Bo2 p6 127 they been ijoyned.
Bo2 m6 1 "We han wel knowen how many grete harmes
Bo2 m6 2 and destrucciouns weren idoon by the emperour
Bo2 m6 3 Nero. He leet brennen the cite of Rome,
Bo2 m6 4 and made sleen the senatours; and he cruel
Bo2 m6 5 whilom sloughe his brothir, and he was maked
Bo2 m6 6 moyst with the blood of his modir (that is to
Bo2 m6 7 seyn, he leet sleen and slitten the body of his
Bo2 m6 8 modir to seen wher he was conceyved); and he
Bo2 m6 9 lookede on every halve uppon hir cold
Bo2 m6 10 deed body, ne no teer ne wette his face,
Bo2 m6 11 but he was so hardherted that he myghte
Bo2 m6 12 ben domesman or juge of hir dede beaute. And
Bo2 m6 13 natheles yit governed this Nero by septre alle
Bo2 m6 14 the peples that Phebus, the sonne, may seen,
Bo2 m6 15 comynge fro his uttreste arysynge til he hide
Bo2 m6 16 his bemes undir the wawes. (That is to seyn
Bo2 m6 17 he governede al the peples by ceptre imperial
Bo2 m6 18 that the sonne goth aboute from est to west.)
Bo2 m6 19 And ek this Nero governyde by ceptre alle
Bo2 m6 20 the peples that ben undir the colde sterres
Bo2 m6 21 that highten the septemtryones. (This is
Bo2 m6 22 to seyn he governede alle the peples that ben
Bo2 m6 23 under the partye of the north.) And eek Nero
Bo2 m6 24 governede alle the peples that the vyolent
Bo2 m6 25 wynd Nothus scorklith, and baketh the brennynge
Bo2 m6 26 sandes by his drye heete (that is to seyn,
Bo2 m6 27 al the peples in the south). But yit ne myghte
Bo2 m6 28 nat al his heie power torne the woodnesse of
Bo2 m6 29 this wikkid Nero? Allas! It is grevous fortune
Bo2 m6 30 as ofte as wikkid sweerd is joyned to
Bo2 m6 31 cruel venym (that is to seyn, venymows
Bo2 m6 32 cruelte to lordschipe)."
Bo2 p7 1 Thanne seyde I thus: "Thow woost wel thiselve
Bo2 p7 2 that the covetise of mortel thynges ne
Bo2 p7 3 hadde nevere lordschipe of me, but I have wel
Bo2 p7 4 desired matere of thynges to done (as who
Bo2 p7 5 seith, I desirede to have matiere of governaunce
Bo2 p7 6 over comunalites), for vertue stille sholde nat
Bo2 p7 7 elden (that is to seyn, that list that or he
Bo2 p7 8 waxe oold, his vertu, that lay now ful stille, ne
Bo2 p7 9 schulde nat perysshe unexercised in
Bo2 p7 10 governaunce of comune, for whiche men
Bo2 p7 11 myghten speken or wryten of his gode
Bo2 p7 12 governement)."
Bo2 p7 13 Philosophie. "For sothe," quod sche, "and
Bo2 p7 14 that is [o] thyng that mai drawen to governaunce
Bo2 p7 15 swiche hertes as ben worthy and noble of hir
Bo2 p7 16 nature, but natheles it may nat drawen or tollen
Bo2 p7 17 swiche hertes as ben ibrought to the ful perfeccioun
Bo2 p7 18 of vertue; that is to seyn, covetise of
Bo2 p7 19 glorie and renoun to han wel adminystred
Bo2 p7 20 the comune thynges, or doon gode desertes
Bo2 p7 21 to profyt of the comune. For see now
Bo2 p7 22 and considere how litel and how voyde of alle
Bo2 p7 23 prys is thylk glorye. Certeyn thyng es, as thou
Bo2 p7 24 hast leerned by the demonstracioun of astronomye,
Bo2 p7 25 that al the envyrounynge of the erthe
Bo2 p7 26 aboute ne halt but the resoun of a prykke at
Bo2 p7 27 regard of the gretnesse of hevene; that is to
Bo2 p7 28 seyn that, yif ther were maked comparysoun of
Bo2 p7 29 the erthe to the gretnesse of hevene, men
Bo2 p7 30 wolde juggen in al that the erthe ne heelde
Bo2 p7 31 no space. Of the whiche litel regioun of
Bo2 p7 32 this world, the ferthe partye is enhabited with
Bo2 p7 33 lyvynge beestes that we knowen, as thou hast
Bo2 p7 34 thyselve leerned by Tholome that proveth it.
Bo2 p7 35 And yif thow haddest withdrawen and abated
Bo2 p7 36 in thy thought fro thilke ferthe partie as moche
Bo2 p7 37 space as the see and the mareys contene and
Bo2 p7 38 overgoon, and as moche space as the regioun
Bo2 p7 39 of drowghte overstreccheth (that is to
Bo2 p7 40 seyn, sandes and desertes), wel unnethe
Bo2 p7 41 sholde ther duellen a ryght streyte place to the
Bo2 p7 42 habitacioun of men. And ye thanne, that ben
Bo2 p7 43 envyrouned and closed withynne the leeste
Bo2 p7 44 prykke of thilke prykke, thynken ye to manyfesten
Bo2 p7 45 or publisschen your renoun and doon
Bo2 p7 46 yowr name for to be born forth? But yowr
Bo2 p7 47 glorye that is so narwe and so streyt ithrungen
Bo2 p7 48 into so litel bowndes, how mochel conteneth it
Bo2 p7 49 in largesse and in greet doynge? And also
Bo2 p7 50 set this therto: that manye a nacioun, diverse
Bo2 p7 51 of tonge and of maneris and ek of resoun
Bo2 p7 52 of hir lyvynge, ben enhabited in the cloos
Bo2 p7 53 of thilke lytel habitacle; to the whiche nacyons,
Bo2 p7 54 what for difficulte of weyes, and what for diversite
Bo2 p7 55 of langages, and what for defaute of
Bo2 p7 56 unusage [of] entrecomunynge of marchandise,
Bo2 p7 57 nat oonly the names of synguler men ne may
Bo2 p7 58 nat strecchen, but eek the fame of citees ne
Bo2 p7 59 may nat strecchen. At the laste, certes, in
Bo2 p7 60 the tyme of Marcus Tulyus, as hymselve
Bo2 p7 61 writ in his book, that the renoun of the
Bo2 p7 62 comune of Rome ne hadde nat yit passid ne
Bo2 p7 63 clomben over the montaigne that highte Caucasus;
Bo2 p7 64 and yit was thilke tyme Rome wel waxen,
Bo2 p7 65 and greetly redouted of the Parthes and eek of
Bo2 p7 66 the othere folk enhabitynge aboute. Seestow
Bo2 p7 67 nat thanne how streyte and how compressid is
Bo2 p7 68 thilke glorie that ye travailen aboute to schewe
Bo2 p7 69 and to multeplye? May thanne the glorie
Bo2 p7 70 of a synguler Romeyn strecchen thider
Bo2 p7 71 as the fame of the name of Rome may nat
Bo2 p7 72 clymben ne passen? And ek seestow nat that the
Bo2 p7 73 maneris of diverse folk and ek hir lawes ben
Bo2 p7 74 discordaunt among hemselve, so that thilke
Bo2 p7 75 thyng that som men juggen worthy of preysynge,
Bo2 p7 76 other folk juggen that it is worthy of torment?
Bo2 p7 77 And therof comyth it that, though a
Bo2 p7 78 man delyte hym in preysynge of his renoun, he
Bo2 p7 79 ne mai nat in no wyse bryngen forthe ne
Bo2 p7 80 spreden his name to many manere peples.
Bo2 p7 81 And therfore every maner man aughte to
Bo2 p7 82 ben apayed of his glorie that is publysschid among
Bo2 p7 83 his owene neyghebours; and thilke noble renoun
Bo2 p7 84 schal ben restreyned withynne the boundes of
Bo2 p7 85 o manere folk.
Bo2 p7 86 "But how many a man, that was ful noble in
Bo2 p7 87 his tyme, hath the wrecchid and nedy foryetynge
Bo2 p7 88 of writeris put out of mynde and doon awey; al
Bo2 p7 89 be it so that, certes, thilke wrytynges
Bo2 p7 90 profiten litel, the whiche writynges long
Bo2 p7 91 and dirk eelde doth awey, bothe hem and
Bo2 p7 92 ek hir auctours! But yow men semeth to geten
Bo2 p7 93 yow a perdurablete, whan ye thynken that in
Bo2 p7 94 tyme comynge your fame schal lasten. But
Bo2 p7 95 natheles yif thow wolt maken comparysoun to
Bo2 p7 96 the endles spaces of eternyte, what thyng hastow
Bo2 p7 97 by whiche thow mayst rejoisen the of long
Bo2 p7 98 lastynge of thi name? For yif ther were makyd
Bo2 p7 99 comparysoun of the abydynge of a moment
Bo2 p7 100 to ten thowsand wynter, for as mochel as
Bo2 p7 101 bothe tho spaces ben endyd, [yit] hath the
Bo2 p7 102 moment som porcioun of it, although it litel be.
Bo2 p7 103 But natheles thilke selve nowmbre of yeeris, and
Bo2 p7 104 eek as many yeris as therto mai be multiplyed, ne
Bo2 p7 105 mai nat certes be comparysoned to the
Bo2 p7 106 perdurablete that is endlees; for of thinges that
Bo2 p7 107 han ende may ben maked comparysoun, but of
Bo2 p7 108 thynges that ben withouten ende to thynges that
Bo2 p7 109 han ende may be makid no comparysoun.
Bo2 p7 110 And forthi is it that, although renome, of as
Bo2 p7 111 longe tyme as evere the list to thynken,
Bo2 p7 112 were thought to the regard of eternyte, that is
Bo2 p7 113 unstaunchable and infynyt, it ne sholde nat only
Bo2 p7 114 semen litel, but pleynliche ryght noght.
Bo2 p7 115 "But ye men, certes, ne konne doon no thyng
Bo2 p7 116 aryght, but yif it be for the audience of peple and
Bo2 p7 117 for idel rumours; and ye forsaken the grete
Bo2 p7 118 worthynesse of conscience and of vertu, and ye
Bo2 p7 119 seeken yowr gerdouns of the smale wordes
Bo2 p7 120 of straunge folk. Have now here and
Bo2 p7 121 undirstand, in the lyghtnesse of swiche
Bo2 p7 122 pryde and veyne glorye, how a man scornede
Bo2 p7 123 festyvaly and myriely swich vanyte. Whilom ther
Bo2 p7 124 was a man that hadde [assaillede] with stryvynge
Bo2 p7 125 wordes another man, the whiche, nat for usage
Bo2 p7 126 of verray vertu but for proud veyn glorie, had
Bo2 p7 127 taken upon hym falsly the name of a philosophre.
Bo2 p7 128 This rather man that I spak of thoughte
Bo2 p7 129 he wolde assaie where he, thilke, were a
Bo2 p7 130 philosophre or no; that is to seyn, yif that
Bo2 p7 131 he wolde han suffride lyghtly in pacience
Bo2 p7 132 the wronges that weren doon unto hym. This
Bo2 p7 133 feynede philosophre took pacience a litel while;
Bo2 p7 134 and whan he hadde resceyved wordes of
Bo2 p7 135 outrage, he, as in stryvynge ayen and rejoysynge
Bo2 p7 136 of hymself, seide at the laste ryght thus: `undirstondistow
Bo2 p7 137 nat that I am a philosophre?' The
Bo2 p7 138 tother man answerede ayen ful bytyngely and
Bo2 p7 139 seyde: `I hadde wel undirstonden it yif thou
Bo2 p7 140 haddest holde thi tonge stille.'
Bo2 p7 141 "But what is it to thise noble worthy men
Bo2 p7 142 (for, certes, of swych folk speke I) that seken
Bo2 p7 143 glorie with vertue? What is it?" quod sche.
Bo2 p7 144 "What atteyneth fame to swiche folk, whan the
Bo2 p7 145 body is resolved by the deeth at the laste? For if
Bo2 p7 146 it so be that men dyen in all (that is to seyen,
Bo2 p7 147 body and soule), the whiche thing our reson
Bo2 p7 148 defendeth us to byleeven, thanne is ther no
Bo2 p7 149 glorie in no wyse; for what schulde thilke
Bo2 p7 150 glorie ben, whan he, of whom thilke glorie
Bo2 p7 151 is seyd to be, nys ryght naught in no wise?
Bo2 p7 152 And yif the soule, whiche that hath in itself
Bo2 p7 153 science of gode werkes, unbownden fro the
Bo2 p7 154 prysone of the erthe, weendeth frely to the
Bo2 p7 155 hevene, despiseth it nat thanne al erthly
Bo2 p7 156 ocupacioun; and [usynge] hevene rejoyseth that
Bo2 p7 157 it is exempt fro alle erthly thynges? (As who
Bo2 p7 158 seith, thanne rekketh the soule of no glorye of
Bo2 p7 159 renoun of this world.)
Bo2 m7 1 "Whoso that with overthrowynge thought
Bo2 m7 2 oonly seketh glorie of fame, and weneth that
Bo2 m7 3 it be sovereyn good, lat hym looke upon the
Bo2 m7 4 brode schewynge contrees of the hevene, and
Bo2 m7 5 upon the streyte sete of this erthe; and he schal
Bo2 m7 6 be asschamed of the encres of his name, that
Bo2 m7 7 mai nat fulfille the litel compas of the erthe.
Bo2 m7 8 O, what coveyten proude folk to lyften up hir
Bo2 m7 9 nekkes on idel in the dedly yok of this
Bo2 m7 10 world? For although that renoun ysprad,
Bo2 m7 11 passynge to ferne peples, goth by diverse
Bo2 m7 12 tonges; and although that greet houses or
Bo2 m7 13 kynredes shynen with cleer titles of honours;
Bo2 m7 14 yit natheles deth despiseth al heye glorie of
Bo2 m7 15 fame, and deth wrappeth togidre the heyghe
Bo2 m7 16 heved and the lowe, and maketh egal and
Bo2 m7 17 evene the heygheste to the loweste. Where
Bo2 m7 18 wonen now the bones of trewe Fabricius?
Bo2 m7 19 What is now Brutus or stierne Catoun? The
Bo2 m7 20 thynne fame yit lastynge of here idel names
Bo2 m7 21 is marked with a fewe lettres. But althoughe
Bo2 m7 22 that we han knowen the fayre wordes
Bo2 m7 23 of the fames of hem, it is nat yyven to knowen
Bo2 m7 24 hem that ben dede and consumpt. Liggeth
Bo2 m7 25 thanne stille, al outrely unknowable, ne fame
Bo2 m7 26 ne maketh yow nat knowe. And yif ye wene to
Bo2 m7 27 lyve the lengere for wynd of yowr mortel name
Bo2 m7 28 whan o cruel day schal ravyssche yow, than is
Bo2 m7 29 the seconde deth duellynge unto yow."
Bo2 m7 30 (Glose. The first deeth he clepeth here departynge
Bo2 m7 31 of the body and the soule, and
Bo2 m7 32 the seconde deth he clepeth as here the styntynge
Bo2 m7 33 of the renoun of fame.)
Bo2 p8 1 "But for as mochel as thow schalt nat
Bo2 p8 2 wenen," quod sche, "that I bere an untretable
Bo2 p8 3 batayle ayens Fortune, yit somtyme it byfalleth
Bo2 p8 4 that sche desceyvable desserveth to han ryght
Bo2 p8 5 good thank of men. And that is whan sche hirself
Bo2 p8 6 opneth, and whan sche discovereth hir
Bo2 p8 7 frownt and scheweth hir maneris. Peraventure
Bo2 p8 8 yit undirstandestow nat that I schal seie. It is
Bo2 p8 9 a wonder that I desire to telle, and forthi
Bo2 p8 10 unnethe may I unplyten my sentence with
Bo2 p8 11 wordes. For I deme that contrarious Fortune
Bo2 p8 12 profiteth more to men than Fortune debonayre.
Bo2 p8 13 For alwey, whan Fortune semeth debonayre,
Bo2 p8 14 thanne sche lieth, falsly byhetynge the
Bo2 p8 15 hope of welefulnesse; but forsothe contraryous
Bo2 p8 16 Fortune is alwey sothfast, whan sche scheweth
Bo2 p8 17 hirself unstable thurw hir chaungynge. The
Bo2 p8 18 amyable Fortune desceyveth folk; the contrarie
Bo2 p8 19 Fortune techeth. The amyable Fortune
Bo2 p8 20 byndeth with the beaute of false goodes
Bo2 p8 21 the hertes of folk that usen hem: the contrarye
Bo2 p8 22 Fortune unbyndeth hem by the knowynge
Bo2 p8 23 of freel welefulnesse. The amyable Fortune
Bo2 p8 24 maystow seen alwey wyndy and flowynge,
Bo2 p8 25 and evere mysknowynge of hirself; the contrarie
Bo2 p8 26 Fortune is atempre and restreyned and
Bo2 p8 27 wys thurw exercise of hir adversite. At the
Bo2 p8 28 laste, amyable Fortune with hir flaterynges
Bo2 p8 29 draweth myswandrynge men fro the sovereyne
Bo2 p8 30 good; the contrarious Fortune ledeth
Bo2 p8 31 ofte folk ayen to sothfast goodes, and
Bo2 p8 32 haleth hem ayen as with an hook. Wenestow
Bo2 p8 33 thanne that thow augghtest to leeten this a litel
Bo2 p8 34 thyng, that this aspre and horrible Fortune
Bo2 p8 35 hath discovered to the the thoughtes of thi
Bo2 p8 36 trewe freendes? Forwhy this ilke Fortune hath
Bo2 p8 37 departed and uncovered to the bothe the certein
Bo2 p8 38 visages and eek the doutous visages of thi
Bo2 p8 39 felawes. Whan she departed awey fro the,
Bo2 p8 40 she took awey hir freendes and lefte the
Bo2 p8 41 thyne freendes. Now whanne thow were
Bo2 p8 42 ryche and weleful, as the semede, with how
Bo2 p8 43 mochel woldestow han bought the fulle knowynge
Bo2 p8 44 of thys (that is to seyn, the knowynge of
Bo2 p8 45 thyne verray freendes)? Now pleyne the nat
Bo2 p8 46 thanne of rychesse ylorn, syn thow hast
Bo2 p8 47 fownden the moste precyous kynde of rychesses,
Bo2 p8 48 that is to seyn, thi verray freendes.
Bo2 m8 1 "That the world with stable feyth varieth
Bo2 m8 2 accordable chaungynges; that the contrarious
Bo2 m8 3 qualites of elementz holden among hemself
Bo2 m8 4 allyaunce perdurable; that Phebus, the sonne,
Bo2 m8 5 with his goldene chariet bryngeth forth the
Bo2 m8 6 rosene day; that the moone hath comaundement
Bo2 m8 7 over the nyghtes, whiche nyghtes Esperus,
Bo2 m8 8 the eve-sterre, hath brought; that the
Bo2 m8 9 see, gredy to flowen, constreyneth with a
Bo2 m8 10 certein eende his floodes, so that it is nat
Bo2 m8 11 leveful to strecche his brode termes or
Bo2 m8 12 bowndes uppon the erthes (that is to seyn, to
Bo2 m8 13 coveren al the erthe) -- al this accordaunce
Bo2 m8 14 [and] ordenaunce of thynges is bounde with
Bo2 m8 15 love, that governeth erthe and see, and hath also
Bo2 m8 16 comandement to the hevene. And yif this love
Bo2 m8 17 slakede the bridelis, alle thynges that now loven
Bo2 m8 18 hem togidres wolden make batayle contynuely,
Bo2 m8 19 and stryven to fordo the fassoun of this
Bo2 m8 20 world, the which they now leden in
Bo2 m8 21 accordable feith by fayre moevynges. This
Bo2 m8 22 love halt togidres peples joyned with an holy
Bo2 m8 23 boond, and knytteth sacrement of mariages of
Bo2 m8 24 chaste loves; and love enditeth lawes to trewe
Bo2 m8 25 felawes. O weleful were mankynde, yif thilke
Bo2 m8 26 love that governeth hevene governede yowr
Bo2 m8 27 corages."