Part 14

¶ And holdest þou þan hym a myȝty man þat haþ environed hise sydes wiþ men of armes or seruauntes {and} dredeþ more [hem] þat he makeþ agast. 2088 þen þei dreden hym. {and} þat is put in þe handes of hise seruauntȝ. for he sholde seme myȝty but of familiers [or] seruauntȝ of ky{n}ges.

[Sidenote: Why need I enlarge upon the favourites of princes having thus displayed the imbecility of kings!]

¶ what sholde I telle þe any þing. syn þat I my self haue shewed þe þat realmes 2092 hem self ben ful of gret feblenesse.

[Sidenote: Their prosperity is affected by the caprice of their fortunate masters as well as by the adversity to which they are incident.]

þe whiche familiers certis þe real power of kynges in hool estat {and} in estat abated ful [ofte] þroweþ adou{n}.

[Sidenote: Nero only allowed his master Seneca to choose the manner of his death.]

¶ Nero co{n}streined[e] his familier {and} his maistre seneca to chesen on what 2096 deeþ he wolde deien.

[Sidenote: Antonius (Caracalla) commanded Papinian to be slain by the swords of his soldiers.]

¶ Antonius comau{n}did[e] þat knyȝtis slowen wiþ her swerdis Papinian his familier whiche Papinian had[de] ben long tyme ful myȝty a-monges hem of þe courte.

[Sidenote: Yet both would have given up all they possessed.]

and ȝit certis þei wolde boþe 2100 han renou{n}ced her power.

[Sidenote: Seneca begged for poverty and exile. But relentless fortune precipitated them to destruction, and did not permit them to choose their fate.]

of whiche [two] senek enforced[e] hym to ȝiue{n} to Nero his rychesses. {and} also to han gon in to solitarie exil. ¶ But whan þe grete weyȝt. þat is to sein of lordes power or of fortune 2104 draweþ hem þat sholden falle. neyþer of hem ne myȝt[e] do þat he wolde.

[Sidenote: What then is Power, which terrifies its possessors, and which cannot be got rid of at pleasure?]

what þing is þanne þilke power þat þouȝ men han it þat þei ben agast. ¶ {and} whan þou woldest han it þou nart nat siker. ¶ And 2108 yif þou woldest forleten it þou mayst nat eschewen it.

[Sidenote: No advantage is to be gained by friendship based on prosperity instead of virtue.]

¶ But wheþir swiche men ben frendes at nede as ben conseiled by fortune {and} nat by vertue.

[Sidenote: Adversity will turn this sort of friendship into enmity. And what greater plague can there be than the enmity of thy familiar friend?]

Certys swiche folk as weleful fortune makeþ frendes. contrarious fortune [[pg 77]] makeþ hem enmyse. ¶ And what pestilence is 2113 more myȝty forto anoye a wiȝt þan a familier enemy.

[Linenotes: 2077 _had[de]_--hadde 2078 _shewid[e]_--shewede 2079 _realmes_--Reaumes _swerde_--swerd _heng_--MS. henge, C. heng 2081 _besines_--bysynesse 2083 _ȝit_--yif _glorifien_--gloryfye 2084 _þilk[e]_--thylke 2087 _haþ_--MS. haþe _environed_--enuyrownede 2088 [_hem_]--from C. 2089 _þen_--than 2091 [_or_]--from C. 2092 _realmes_--Reames 2093 _feblenesse_--feblesse 2094 _real_--Ryal 2095 [_ofte_]--from C. _constreined[e]_--co{n}streynede 2096 _his_ (1)--hyr _seneca_--Senek 2097 _comaundid[e]_--comau{n}dede 2098 _her_--hyr 2099 _whiche_--which _had[de] ben long_--þ{a}t hadde ben longe 2100 _courte_--court _wolde_--wolden 2101 [_two_]--from C. _enforced[e]_--enforcede 2102 _ȝiuen_--yeuen _his_--hyse 2104 _weyȝt_--weyhte 2105 _sholden_--sholen 2106 _myȝt[e]_--myhte]

[Headnote: GLORY IS DECEPTIVE.]

QUI SE UALET[5] ESSE POTENTEM.

[Footnote 5: Read _uolet_]

[Sidenote: [The 5^the Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: He who would obtain sovereign power must obtain conquest over himself, and not yield to his passions.]

++Who so wolde ben myȝty he mot dau{n}ten hys cruel corage. ne put[te] nat his nekke ouercomen vndir 2116 þe foule reines of lecherie.

[Sidenote: Though your dominion extended from India to Thule, yet if thou art tormented by care thou hast no real power.]

for al be it so þat þi lordship[e] strecche so fer þat þe contre Inde quakiþ at þi comaundement. or at þi lawes. {and} þat þe leest isle in þe see þat hyȝt tile be þral to þe ¶ ȝit yif þou mayst 2120 nat pute{n} awey þi foule derk[e] desijres {and} dryue{n} oute fro þe wreched co{m}pleyntes. Certis it nis no power þat þou hast.

[Linenotes: 2115 _wolde ben_--wole be 2116 _put[te]_--putte 2117 _lordship[e]_--lordshype 2119 _comaundement_--comau{n}dementȝ _leest isle_--last Ile 2120 _hyȝt_--hyhte 2121 _puten_--putten _derk[e]_--dyrke 2122 _oute_--owt]

[Headnote: GENTILITY IS FOREIGN TO RENOWN.]

GLORIA UERO QUA{M} FALLAX.

[Sidenote: [The 6^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: How deceptive and deformed a thing is glory! Well did the Tragedian exclaim--ὦ δόξα δόξα μυρίοισι δὴ βροτῶν, οὐδὲν γεγῶσι βίοτον ὤγκωσας μέγαν, for the undeserving have been crowned with glory and renown by popular and erring opinion.]

++Bvt glorie how deceiuable {and} how foule is it ofte. for 2124 whiche þing nat vnskilfully a tregedien þat is to sein a maker of dites þat hyȝten tregedies cried[e] {and} seide. ¶ O glorie glorie q{uod} he. þou nart no þing ellys to þousandes of folkes. but a gret sweller of eres. 2128 for many[e] han had ful gret renou{n} by þe fals[e] oppiniou{n} of poeple.

[Sidenote: What can be more infamous than renoun founded on the prejudices of the vulgar?]

and what þing may ben þouȝt fouler þen swiche p{re}isynge

[Sidenote: Those that are undeservedly praised ought to blush for shame.]

for þilk[e] folk þat be{n} p{re}ised falsly. þei moten nedes han shame of hir p{re}isynges. 2132

[Sidenote: If a wise man gets well-merited praise it does not add to his felicity.]

{and} yif þat folk han gete{n} hem þank or p{re}ysyng by her desertes. what þing haþ þilk pris echid or encresed to þe conscience of wise folk þ{a}t mesure{n} hire good. not by þe rumo{ur} of þe poeple. but by þe soþefastnesse 2136 of conscience.

[Sidenote: If it be a good thing to spread abroad one’s fame, it must be dishonourable not to do so.]

{and} yif it seme a fair þing a man to han encresid {and} sprad his name. þan folweþ it. þat it is demed to ben a foule þinge yif it ne be [[pg 78]] ysprad ne encresed.

[Sidenote: But a good name cannot penetrate everywhere, and the most illustrious names must be unknown to the greatest part of the world.]

but as I seide a litel her byforne. 2140 þat syn þer mot nedes ben many folk to whiche folk þe renou{n} of a man ne may nat comen. it byfalleþ þat he þat þou wenest be glorious {and} renomed. semiþ in þe nexte p{ar}ties of þe erþe to ben wiþ out glorie. {and} wiþ 2144 out renou{n}.

[Sidenote: The favour of the people is worth but little as it is seldom judicious and never permanent.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 18 _b_.]]

¶ and certis amo{n}ges þise þinges I ne trowe nat þat þe p{r}is {and} grace of þe poeple nis neiþer worþi *to ben remembrid ne comeþ of wise iugement. ne is ferm p{er}durably.

[Sidenote: How empty and transitory are titles of nobility!]

¶ But now of þis name of gentilesse. 2148 what man is it þat ne may wel seen how veyne {and} how flittyng a þing it is.

[Sidenote: Gentility is wholly foreign to renown, and to those who boast of noble birth.]

¶ For if þe name of gentilesse be referred to renou{n} {and} clernesse of linage. þan is gentil name but a for[e]ine þing. þat is to sein to 2152 hem þat glorifien hem of hir linage.

[Sidenote: Nobility is fame derived from the merits of one’s ancestors.]

¶ For it semeþ þat gentilesse be a maner p{re}ysynge þat comeþ of decert of auncestres.

[Sidenote: If praise can give nobility they are noble who are praised.]

¶ And yif p{re}ysynge makeþ gentilesse þan moten þei nedes be gentil þat ben p{re}ysed. 2156

[Sidenote: Then if thou hast no nobility of thy own, thou canst not derive any splendour from the merits of others.]

For whiche þing it folweþ. þat yif þou ne haue no gentilesse of þi self. þat is to sein pris þ{a}t comeþ of þi deserte foreine gentilesse ne makeþ þe nat gentil.

[Sidenote: If there be any good in nobleness of birth, it consists alone in this, that it imposes an obligation upon its possessors not to degenerate from the virtues of their ancestors.]

¶ But certis yif þer be any goode in gentilesse. I trowe it be i{n} al 2160 oonly þis. þat it semeþ as þat a maner necessitee be imposed to gentil men. for þat þei ne sholden nat outraien or forliuen fro þe uertues of hire noble kynrede.

[Linenotes: 2124 _foule_--fowl 2125 _whiche_--whych 2126 _maker_--maker{e} _cried[e]_--cryde 2127 _he_--she 2128 _sweller_--sweller{e} 2129 _many[e]_--manye _had_--MS. hadde, C. had _fals[e]_--false 2130 _fouler_--fowler{e} 2131 _þen_--thanne _þilk[e]_--thylke 2133 _or_--of 2134 _haþ_--MS. haþe _þilke_--thylke 2139 _foule þinge_--fowl thing 2140 _ne_--{and} _byforne_--byforn 2144 _parties_--partye _erþe_--Erthes _out_--owte 2145 _out_--owhte 2148 _ferm_--ferme 2149 _veyne_--veyn 2150 _if_--yif 2154 _comeþ of_--comth of the 2157 _whiche_--which 2158 _pris_--preys _comeþ_--comth 2160 _goode_--good _in_ (2)--omitted 2161 _maner_--maner{e}]

OMNE HOMINU{M} GENUS IN TERRIS.

[Sidenote: [The 6^th Metre.]]

[Sidenote: All men have the same origin.]

++Al þe linage of men þat ben i{n} erþe ben of semblable 2164 burþe.

[Sidenote: They have one father and one king, who gave the moon her horns, and adorned the sun with his rays.]

On al one is fadir of þinges. On alone minyst[r]eþ alle þinges. ¶ He ȝaf to þe sonne hys bemes. he ȝaf to þe moone hir hornes.

[Sidenote: The same gave the earth to man and adorned the sky with stars.]

he ȝaf þe men to þe erþe. he ȝaf þe sterres to þe heuene.

[Sidenote: He breathed into man the breath of life.]

¶ he encloseþ 2168 wiþ membres þe soules þat comen fro hys heye sete. [[pg 79]]

[Sidenote: All men spring from this illustrious source.]

¶ þanne comen alle mortal folk of noble seed.

[Sidenote: Why then do they boast of pedigree?]

whi noysen ȝe or bosten of ȝoure eldris

[Sidenote: He alone is ignoble who submits to vice and forgets his noble origin.]

¶ For yif þou look[e] ȝoure bygy{n}ny{n}g. and god ȝoure aucto{ur} {and} 2172 ȝoure makere. þan is þer no forlyued wyȝt but ȝif he norisse his corage vnto vices {and} forlete his p{ro}pre burþe.

[Linenotes: 2166 _hys_--hyse 2167 _hir_--hyse 2169 _fro hys_--fram hyse 2170 _seed_--sede 2171 _bosten_--MS. voscen, C. bosten 2172 _look[e]_--loke]

[Headnote: SENSUAL PLEASURES FULL OF ANXIETY.]

QUID AUTEM DE CORPORIBUS.[6]

[Footnote 6: Read _corporis voluptatibus_.]

[Sidenote: [The 7^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: 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?]

++But what shal I seie of delices of body. of whic[h]e 2176 delices þe desiringes ben ful of anguisse. {and} þe fulfillinges of he{m} ben ful of penaunce.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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 entenc{i}ou{n} hasteþ to fulfille 2188 hire bodyly iolyte.

[Sidenote: 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 fou{n}den tormentours to hir fadres I not how many. 2192 ¶ Of whiche children how bitynge is euery condic{i}ou{n}. It nedeþ nat to tellen it þe þat hast or þis tyme assaied it. {and} art ȝit now anguysso{us}.

[Sidenote: 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 i{n}fortune.

[Linenotes: 2173 _is_--nis 2176 _delices_--delites _body_--bodye 2177 _anguisse_--Angwyssh 2178 _grete_--gret 2179 _sekenesse_--sykenesse _grete sorwes_--gret soruwes 2180 _fruit_--frut 2182 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had 2183 _wil_--wole 2184 _hys_--hyse 2185 _sorowful_--sorwful _sory_--sorye 2186 _make_--makyn 2189 [_and_]--from C. 2190 [_an_]--from C. _haþ_--haþe _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd 2191 _myche_--mochel 2192 _many_--manye 2196 _Euridippus_--Eurydyppys; _read_ Euripides 2197 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[[pg 80]] [Headnote: NO HAPPINESS IN EXTERNAL THINGS.]

HABET HOC UOLUPTAS.

[Sidenote: [The 7^de Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Pleasure leaves a pain behind it.]

++Euery delit haþ þis. þat it anguisseþ hem wiþ prikkes þ{a}t vsen it.

[Sidenote: The bee gives us agreeable honey, but try to hold it, and it quickly flies, leaving its sting behind.]

¶ It resembliþ to þise flying flyes þat we clepen been. þat aftre þat þe bee haþ shed hys agreable 2200 honies he fleeþ awey {and} styngeþ þe hertes of he{m} þat ben ysmyte wiþ bytynge ouer longe holdynge.

[Linenotes: 2198 _Euery_--MS. Ouery, C. Every 2198, 2200 _haþ_--MS. haþe _shed hys_--shad hyse]

[Headnote: MEN ARE LED ASTRAY BY IGNORANCE.]

NICHIL IGITUR DUBIUM EST.

[Sidenote: [The 8^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: It appears then that happiness is not to be found in the above-mentioned external things.]

++Now nis it no doute þan þ{a}t þise weyes ne ben a maner mysledy{n}g to blisfulnesse. ne þat þei ne 2204 mowe nat leden folke þider as þei byheten to lede{n} hem.

[Sidenote: These false ways are perplexed with many evils, as I shall presently show thee.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 19.]]

¶ But wiþ how grete harmes þise *forseide weyes ben enlaced. ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly.

[Sidenote: Do you want to amass wealth, then you must take it from your neighbours.]

¶ For whi yif þou enforcest þe to assemble moneye. þou most by-reuen 2208 hym his moneye þat haþ it.

[Sidenote: Would you shine in dignities, then you must beg for them and disgrace yourself by a humiliating supplication.]

and yif þou wilt shynen wiþ dignites. þou most bysechen {and} supplien hem þat ȝiue{n} þo dignitees. ¶ And yif þou coueitest by hono{ur} to gon by-fore oþer folk þ{o}u shalt defoule þi 2212 self by hu{m}blesse of axing.

[Sidenote: If power be your ambition, you expose yourself to the snares of inferiors.]

yif þou desiryst power. þou shalt by awaites of þi subgitȝ anoyously be cast vndir many p{er}iles.

[Sidenote: Do you ask for glory, to be distracted by vexations and so lose all security.]

axest þou glorie þ{o}u shalt ben so destrat by aspre þinges þat þou shalt forgone sykernesse. 2216

[Sidenote: Do you prefer a voluptuous life? Think then that all men will despise him who is a thrall to his body.]

¶ And yif þou wilt leden þi lijf in delices. euery whiȝt shal dispisen þe {and} forleten þe as þou þat art þral to þing þat is ryȝt foule {and} brutel. þat is [to] sein seruau{n}t to þi body.

[Sidenote: They build upon a weak foundation that place bodily delights above their own reason.]

¶ Now is it þan wel yseen 2220 how lytel {and} how brutel possessiou{n} þei coueiten þat putten þe goodes of þe body abouen hire owe{n} resou{n}.

[Sidenote: Can you surpass the elephant in bulk, or the bull in strength?]

¶ For mayst þou so{ur}mou{n}te{n} þise olifuñtȝ in gretnesse or weyȝt of body. Or mayst þou ben strenger þan þe 2224 bole.

[Sidenote: Art thou swifter than the tiger?]

Mayst þou ben swifter þan þe tigre.

[Sidenote: Behold the immense extent of the heavens and cease to admire vile or lesser things.]

biholde þe spaces {and} þe stablenesse {and} þe swyfte cours of þe [[pg 81]] heuene. {and} stynte somtyme to wondren on foule þinges.

[Sidenote: Admire what is still more admirable, the consummate wisdom that governs them.]

þe whiche heuene certys nis nat raþer for þise 2228 þinges to ben wondred vpon. þan for þe resou{n} by whiche it is gouerned.

[Sidenote: How fleeting is beauty!]

but þe shynynge of þi forme þat is to seien þe beaute of þi body. how swiftly passyng is it {and} how transitorie.

[Sidenote: It fades sooner than the vernal flowers.]

¶ Certis it is more flittynge 2232 þan þe mutabilite of floures of þe som{er} sesou{n}.

[Sidenote: For, as Aristotle says, if a man were lynx-eyed and could look into the entrails of Alcibiades (so fair outwardly) he would find all foul and loathsome.]

For so as aristotil telleþ þat yif þat men hadden eyen of a beest þat hiȝt lynx. so þat þe lokyng of folk myȝt[e] percen þoruȝ þe þinges þ{a}t wiþstonden it. who so lokid 2236 þan in þe entrailes of þe body of alcibiades þat was ful fayr in þe sup{er}fice wiþ oute. it shulde seme ryȝt foule.

[Sidenote: Thy nature does not make thee seem beautiful, but the imperfect view of thy admirers.]

{and} for þi yif þou semest faire. þi nature ne makiþ nat þat. but þe desceiuau{n}ce of þe fieblesse of þe 2240 eyen þat loken.

[Sidenote: Prize bodily perfections as much as you will, yet a three days’ fever will destroy them.]

¶ But p{re}ise þe goodes of þi body as moche as euer þe list. so þat þou know[e] algates þat what so it be. þat is to seyn of þe goodes of þi body whiche þat þ{o}u wondrest vpon may ben destroied or 2244 dessolued by þe hete of a feuere of þre dayes. ¶ Of alle whiche forseide þinges I may reduce{n} þis shortly in a so{m}me.

[Sidenote: Worldly goods do not give what they promise, do not comprise every good, are not the paths to felicity, nor can of themselves make any one happy.]

¶ þat þise worldly goodes whiche þat ne mowen nat ȝiuen þat þei byheten. ne ben nat p{er}fit by 2248 þe congregac{i}ou{n} of alle goodes. þat þei ne ben nat weyes ne paþes þat bryngen men to blysfulnesse ne maken men to ben blysful.

[Linenotes: 2203 _nis_--is 2204 _mysledyng_--mysledynges 2205 _folke_--folk 2208 _enforcest_--MS. enforced, C. enforcest 2209 _haþ_--MS. haþe _wilt_--wolt 2211 _ȝiuen_--yeuen 2212 _gon_--MS. gone, C. gon _by-fore_--byforn _shalt_--shal 2213 _by_--thorw 2214 _by_--be _be_--ben 2216 _destrat_--MS. destralle, C. destrat _forgone_--forgoon 2217 _wilt_--wolt 2218 _whiȝt_--wyht 2219 _foule_--fowl [_to_]--from C. 2220 _yseen_--seen 2221 _brutel_--brotel 2222 _owen_--owne 2224 _weyȝt_--weyhty _strenger_--strenger{e} 2225 _swifter_--swyfter{e} _biholde_--by-hold 2227 _stynte_--stynt 2228 _whiche_--whych 2230 _whiche_--wych 2231 _seien_--seyn 2234 _as_--omitted 2235 _hiȝt_--hyhte _myȝt[e]_--myhte 2237 _alcibiades_--MS. alcidiades 2238 _fayr_--fayr{e} _þe_--omitted _shulde_--sholde 2239 _foule_--fowl _faire_--fayr _ne_--omitted 2240 _desceiuaunce of þe fieblesse_--deceyuable or the feblesse 2242 _moche_--mochel _know[e]_--knowe 2243 _þe_--omitted _þi body whiche_--the body whych 2247 _a_--omitted]

[Headnote: MEN PURSUE FALSE JOYS.]

HEU Q{UE} MISEROS TRAMITE.

[Sidenote: [The 8^the Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Alas! how through folly and ignorance do men stray from the path of true happiness!]

++Allas whiche folie {and} whiche ignorau{n}ce myslediþ 2252 wandryng wrecches fro þe paþe of verrey good.

[Sidenote: Ye do not seek gold upon trees nor diamonds from the vine.]

¶ Certis ȝe ne seken no golde in grene trees. ne ȝe ne gadren [nat] p{re}cious stones in þe vines. [[pg 82]]

[Sidenote: Ye lay not your nets to catch fish upon the lofty hills.]

ne ȝe ne hiden nat ȝoure gynnes in heyȝe mou{n}taignes to kachen 2256 fisshe of whiche ȝe may maken ryche festes.

[Sidenote: The hunter goes not to the Tyrrhene waters to hunt the roe.]

and yif ȝow lykeþ to hunte to roos. ȝe ne gon nat to þe foordes of þe water þat hyȝt tyrene.

[Sidenote: Men know where to look for white pearls, and for the fish that yields the purple dye.]

{and} ouer þis men knowen wel þe crikes {and} þe cau{er}nes of þe see yhidd in þe 2260 floodes. {and} knowen eke whiche water is most plentiuo{us} of white perles. {and} knowen whiche water habundeþ most of rede purpre. þat is to seyen of a maner shelfisshe w{i}t{h} whiche men dien purpre.

[Sidenote: They know where the most delicate of the finny race abound and where the fierce sea-urchin is to be found.]

{and} knowen 2264 whiche strondes habounden most of tendre fisshes or of sharpe fisshes þat hyȝten echynnys.

[Sidenote: But where the Sovereign Good abides blinded mortals never know, but plunge into the earth below to look for that which has its dwelling in the heavens.]

but folk suffren hem self to ben so blynde þat hem ne recchiþ nat to knowe where þilk[e] goodes ben yhidd whiche þat þei 2268 coueiten but ploungen hem in erþe {and} seken þere þilke goode þ{a}t so{ur}mou{n}teþ þe heuene þat bereþ þe sterres.

[Sidenote: What doom do the silly race deserve?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 19 _b_.]]

¶ what *p{re}yere may I make þat be digne to þe nice þouȝtis of men.

[Sidenote: May they pursue such false joys, and having obtained them, too late find out the value of the true.]

but I p{re}ye þat þei coueite{n} 2272 rycches {and} hono{ur}s so þat whan þei han geten þo false goodes wiþ greet trauayle þat þerby þei mowe knowen þe verray goodes.

[Linenotes: 2252 _whiche_ (_both_)--whych 2253 _paþe_--paath _good_--goode 2254 _golde_--gold]

[Headnote: THE INSUFFICIENCY OF WORLDLY BLISS.]

HACTENUS MENDACIS FORMA{M}.

[Sidenote: [The 9^ne p{ro}se.]]