Part 15

[Sidenote: _P._ I have been describing the form of counterfeit happiness, and if you have considered it attentively I shall proceed to give you a perfect view of the true.]

++IT suffisiþ þat I haue shewed hider to þe forme of 2276 false wilfulnesse. so þat yif þou look[e] now clerely þe ordre of myn entenc{i}ou{n} requeriþ from hennes forþe to shewe{n} þe verray wilfulnesse.

[Sidenote: _B._ I now see that there is no sufficiency in riches, no power in royalty, no esteem in dignities, nor nobility in renown, nor joy in carnal pleasures.]

¶ For q{uod} .I. (b) [I.] se wel now þat suffisau{n}ce may nat comen by richesse. ne 2280 power by realmes. ne reuere{n}ce by dignitees. ne gentilesse by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast þou wel knowen q{uo}d she þe cause whi it is. Certis me semeþ q{uod} .I. þat .I. se hem ryȝt as þouȝ it were þoruȝ a litel [[pg 83]] clifte.

[Sidenote: I have a glimpse of the cause of all this, but I should like a more distinct view.]

but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of 2285 þe. Certys q{uod} she þe resou{n} is al redy

[Sidenote: _P._ The cause is obvious--for that which is by nature one and indivisible human ignorance separates and divides, and reverses the true order of things.]

¶ For þilk þing þat symply is on þing wiþ outen ony diuisiou{n}. þe errour {and} folie of mankynde departeþ 2288 {and} diuidiþ it. {and} mislediþ it {and} t{ra}nsporteþ from verray {and} p{er}fit goode. to goodes þat ben false {and} inp{er}fit.

[Sidenote: Does that state which needs nothing stand in need of power?]

¶ But seye me þis. wenest þou þat he þat haþ nede of power þat hy{m} ne lakkeþ no þing.

[Sidenote: _B._ I should say no. _P._ Right! That which wants power needs external aid.]

Nay q{uo}d 2292 .I ¶ Certis q{uo}d she þou seist aryȝt. For yif so be þ{a}t þer is a þing þat in any p{ar}tie be fieble of power.

[Sidenote: _B._ That is true! _P._ Sufficiency and power therefore are of one nature. _B._ It seems so indeed.]

Certis as in þat it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine helpe. ¶ Riȝt so it is q{uo}d .I. Suffisaunce and power 2296 ben þan of on kynde ¶ So semeþ it q{uod} I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Are power and sufficiency to be despised? Are they not rather worthy of universal respect?]

¶ And demyst þou q{uo}d she þat a þing þat is of þis manere. þat is to seine suffisau{n}t {and} myȝty auȝt[e] to ben dispised. or ellys þ{a}t it be ryȝt digne of reuerences abouen 2300 alle þinges.

[Sidenote: _B._ They are doubtless highly estimable. _P._ Add respect to sufficiency and power, and consider all three as one and the same thing.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d I it nys no doute þat it nis ryȝt worþi to ben reuerenced. ¶ Lat vs q{uo}d she þan adden reuerence to suffisaunce {and} to power ¶ So þat we demen þat þise þre þinges ben alle o þing.

[Sidenote: _B._ I see no objection to that view.]

¶ Certis 2304 q{uo}d I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten þe soþe.

[Sidenote: _P._ But can that be obscure and ignoble which possesses three such attributes? is it not noble and worthy of a shining reputation?]

what demest þou þan q{uo}d she is þat a dirke þing {and} nat noble þat is suffisau{n}t reu{er}ent {and} myȝty. or ellys þat is ryȝt clere {and} ryȝt noble of celebrete of renou{n}. 2308

[Linenotes: 2256 _heyȝe_--the hyye _kachen_--kachche 2257 _fisshe_--fyssh 2258 _hunte_--honte _roos_--Rooes 2259 _hyȝt_--hyhte 2260 _crikes_--brykes _yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hyd 2261, 2262 _whiche_--whych 2263 _shelfisshe_--shelle fysh 2264, 2265 _whiche_--whych 2264 _dien_--deyen 2265 _of_--w{i}t{h} 2266 _echynnys_--MS. ethynnys, C. Echynnys 2268 _yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd 2270 _goode_--good 2271 _make_--maken 2273 _rycches_--Rychesse 2277 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse _look[e]_--loke _clerely_--clerly 2279 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse _For_--For-sothe [_I._]--from C. 2280 _richesse_--Rychesses 2281 _realmes_--Reames 2287 _þilk_--thylke _on_--o 2290 _goode_--good 2291 _seye_--sey _haþ_--MS. haþe 2294 _fieble_--febler{e} 2295 _most[e]_--mot 2296 _helpe_--help 2297 _on_--o 2298 _demyst þou_--demesthow 2299 _seine_--seyn _auȝt[e]_--owhte 2300 _reuerences_--Reu{er}ence 2302 _nis ryȝt_--is ryht 2304 _alle_--al 2305 _willen_--wolen 2306 _dirke_--dyrk 2308 _clere_--cler _of celebrete_--by celebryte]

[Headnote: THE UNITY OF TRUE FELICITY.]

[Sidenote: He who is most powerful and worthy of renown--if he lack fame which he cannot give to himself, must (by this defect) seem in some measure more weak and abject.]

¶ Considere þan q{uo}d she as we han grau{n}tid her byforne. þat he þat ne haþ ne[de] of no þing {and} is most myȝty {and} most digne of hono{ur} yif hym nediþ any clernesse of renou{n} whiche clernesse he myȝt[e] nat 2312 graunten of hym self. ¶ So þat for lakke of þilke clerenesse he myȝt[e] seme febler on any syde or þe more outcaste. _Glosa._ þis is to seyne nay. [[pg 84]]

[Sidenote: He that is sufficiently mighty and esteemed will have necessarily an illustrious name.]

¶ For who so þat is suffisau{n}t myȝty {and} reuerent. clernesse of 2316 renou{n} folweþ of þe forseide þinges. he haþ it alredy of hys suffisaunce.

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot deny it, for reputation seems inseparable from the advantages you have just mentioned.]

boice. I may nat q{uo}d I denye it. ¶ But I mot graunten as it is. þat þis þing be ryȝt celebrable by clernesse of renou{n} {and} noblesse.

[Sidenote: _P._ Therefore Renown differs in no wise from the three above-mentioned attributes.]

¶ þan 2320 folweþ it q{uo}d she þat we adden clernesse of renou{n} to þe þre forseide þinges. so þat þer ne be amonges hem no difference. {and} þis is a consequente q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: And if any one then stands in need of no external aid, can have all he wants, and is illustrious and respected--is not his condition very agreeable and pleasant?]

þis þing þan q{uo}d she þat ne haþ no nede of no foreine 2324 þing. {and} þat may don alle þinges by his strengþes. {and} þat is noble {and} hono{ur}able. nis nat þat a myrie þing {and} a ioyful.

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot conceive how such a one can have grief or trouble.]

_boice._ but wenest q{uo}d I þ{a}t any sorow myȝt[e] comen to þis þing þat is swiche. ¶ Certys 2328 I may nat þinke.

[Sidenote: _P._ It must then be a state of happiness; and we may also affirm that sufficiency, power, nobility, differ only in name, but not in substance.]

_P._ ¶ þanne moten we graunt[e] q{uod} she þat þis þing be ful of gladnesse yif þe þorseide þinges be soþe. ¶ And also certys mote we graunten. þat suffisaunce power noblesse reuerence {and} gladnesse ben 2332 only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce haþ no diu{er}site.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is a necessary consequence.]

_Boice._ It mot nedely be so q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ The depravity of mankind then divides that which is essentially indivisible; and, seeking for a part of that which has no parts, they miss the entire thing which they so much desire.]

_P._ þilke þinge þan q{uo}d she þat is oon {and} simple i{n} his nature.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 20.]]

þe wikkednesse of men departiþ it *diuidiþ it. {and} 2336 whan þei enforcen hem to gete p{ar}tie of a þing þat ne haþ no part. þei ne geten hem neiþer þilk[e] p{ar}tie þat nis none. ne þe þing al hole þat þei ne desire nat.

[Sidenote: _B._ How is that?]

_.b._ In whiche manere q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ He that seeks riches in order to avoid poverty, is not solicitous about power; he prefers meanness and obscurity, and denies himself many natural pleasures that he may not lessen his heaps of pelf.]

_p._ þilke man q{uo}d she þat 2340 sekeþ rychesse to fleen pouerte. he ne trauayleþ hym nat to for to gete power for he haþ leuer ben dirk {and} vile. {and} eke wiþdraweþ from hym selfe many naturel delitȝ for he nolde lesen þe moneye þat he haþ assembled. 2344

[Sidenote: He who lacks power, is pricked with trouble, and rendered an outcast and obscure by his sordid ways, does not possess sufficiency.]

but certis in þis manere he ne getiþ hym nat [[pg 85]] suffisaunce þat power forletiþ. {and} þat moleste p{re}keþ. {and} þat filþe makeþ outcaste. {and} þat derknesse hideþ.

[Sidenote: He who only aims at power squanders his riches, and despises delights and honours unaccompanied by power.]

and certis he þ{a}t desireþ only power he wastiþ {and} 2348 scatriþ rychesse {and} dispiseþ delices {and} eke hono{ur} þat is wiþ out power. ne he ne p{re}iseþ glorie no þing.

[Linenotes: 2310 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2312 _whiche_--whych _myȝt[e]_--myhte 2314 _clerenesse_--clernesse _myȝt[e]_--myhte _febler_--the febeler{e} 2315 _seyne_--seyn 2317 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2324 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2325 _his_--hyse 2326 _myrie_--mery 2327 _wenest_--whennes 2328 _sorow myȝt[e]_--sorwe myhte 2329 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te 2331 _be_--ben _also certys_--certes also 2333 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2334 _nedely_--nedly 2335 _þinge_--thing 2337 _gete_--geten 2338 _haþ_--MS. haþe _þilk[e]_--thilke 2339 _none_--non _hole_--hool 2340 _whiche_--whych 2341 _rychesse_--Rychesses _fleen_--MS. sleen, C. flen 2342 _leuer_--leu{er} 2343 _vile_--vyl _selfe_--self 2344 _delitȝ_--delices _lesen_--lese _haþ_--MS. haþe 2346 _prekeþ_--prykketh 2347 _derknesse_--dyrknesse 2349 _scatriþ_--schatereth _delices_--delycȝ 2350 _wiþ out_--w{i}t{h} owte]

[Headnote: OF FALSE FELICITY.]

¶ Certys þus seest þou wel þat many þi{n}g{us} failen to hym. for he haþ somtyme faute of many necessites. 2352

[Sidenote: Such a one must be subject to many anxieties.]

{and} many anguysses biten hym

[Sidenote: And when he cannot get rid of these evils he ceases to have what he most desired--power.]

¶ {and} whan he may nat don þo defautes awey. he forleteþ to ben myȝty. {and} þat is þe þing þat he most desireþ.

[Sidenote: In the same way honour, glory, and pleasure, are all inseparable; he that seeks one without the other will fail to obtain his desires.]

{and} ryȝt þus may I make semblable resou{n}s of hono{ur}s {and} of glorie 2356 {and} of delices. ¶ For so as euery of þise forseide þinges is þe same þat þise oþer þinges ben. þat is to sein. al oon þing. who so þat euer sekeþ to geten þat oon of þise {and} nat þat oþer. he ne geteþ nat þat he 2360 desireþ.

[Sidenote: _B._ What then if a man should desire to gain them all at once?]

_Boice._ ¶ what seist þou þan yif þat a man coueiteþ to geten alle þise þinges to gider.

[Sidenote: _P._ He would then indeed desire perfect felicity--but can he ever expect to find it in the acquisitions above mentioned, which do not perform what they promise?]

_P._ Certys q{uo}d she .I. wolde seie þat he wolde geten hym souereyne blisfulnes. but þat shal he nat fynde in þo þinges 2364 þat .I. haue shewed þat ne mowe nat ȝeuen þat þei by-heten.

[Sidenote: _B._ No, surely!]

_boice._ Certys no q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then happiness is not to be sought in these things which are falsely supposed capable of satisfying our desires?]

¶ þan q{uod} she ne sholden men nat by no weye seken blysfulnesse in swiche þinges as men wenen þat þei ne mowe 2368 ȝeuen but o þing senglely of alle þ{a}t me{n} seken.

[Sidenote: _B._ I confess it, and nothing can be more truly affirmed than this.]

I graunt[e] wel q{uo}d .I. ne no soþer þing ne may nat ben said.

[Sidenote: Turn your mind’s eye upon the reverse of all this _false felicity_ and you will perceive _the true happiness_.]

_P._ ¶ Now hast þou þan q{uo}d she þe forme {and} þe causes of false welefulnesse. ¶ Now turne {and} 2372 flitte þe eyen of þi þouȝt. for þere shalt þou seen an oon þilk verray blysfulnesse þ{a}t I haue byhyȝt þee.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is very clear, and I had a complete view of it when you explained to me the causes of its counterfeit.]

_b._ Certys q{uo}d .I. it is cler {and} opyn. þouȝ þat it were to a blynde man. {and} þat shewedest þou me [ful wel] a 2376 lytel her byforne. whan þou enforcedest þe to shewe me [[pg 86]] þe causes of þe false blysfulnesse

[Sidenote: True felicity consists in a state of sufficiency, of power, and honour--as well as of a shining reputation and every desirable pleasure: and I must confess that true felicity is that which is bestowed by these advantages, as they are in reality all one and the same.]

¶ For but yif I be by-giled. þan is þilke þe verray p{er}fit blisfulnesse þat p{er}fitly makiþ a man suffisau{n}t. myȝty. hono{ur}able noble. 2380 {and} ful of gladnesse. {and} for þou shalt wel knowe þat I haue wel vndirstonden þise þinges wiþ i{n}ne myne herte. I knowe wel þilke blisfulnesse þat may verrayly ȝeuen on of þe forseide þinges syn þei ben al oon .I. knowe 2384 douteles þat þilke þing is þe fulle of blysfulnesse.

[Sidenote: _P._ O my nursling, how happy are you in this conviction, provided you add but one limitation.]

_P._ O my nurry q{uod} she by þis oppiniou{n} q{uo}d she I sey[e] þat þou art blisful yif þou putte þis þer to þat I shal seine.

[Sidenote: _B._ What is that?]

what is þat q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Thinkest thou that any thing in this world can confer this happiness? (the sovereign good).]

¶ Trowest þou þat 2388 þer be any þing in þis erþely mortal toumblyng þinges þat may bryngen þis estat.

[Sidenote: _B._ I think not; for nothing can be desirable beyond such a state of perfection.]

Certys q{uo}d I trowe it nat. {and} þou hast shewed me wel þat ouer þilke goode þer is no þing more to ben desired.

[Sidenote: _P._ These imperfect things above mentioned only confer the shadow of the supreme good, or at most only an imperfect felicity, but they cannot bestow true and perfect happiness.]

_P._ þise þinges þan 2392 q{uo}d she. þat is to seyne erþely suffisaunce {and} power. {and} swiche þinges eyþer þei semen likenesse of verray goode. or ellys it semeþ þat þei ȝeuen to mortal folk a maner of goodes þat ne ben nat perfit. ¶ But þilke 2396 goode þat is verray {and} p{er}fit. þat may þei nat ȝeuen.

[Sidenote: _B._ I quite agree with you.]

_boice._ I. accorde me wel q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then, knowing the difference between true and false felicity you must now learn where to look for this supreme felicity.]

þan q{uo}d she for as moche as þou hast knowen whiche is þilke verray blisfulnesse. {and} eke whiche þilke þinges ben þat lien 2400 falsly blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne. þat by desceit seme{n} verray goodes.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 20 _b_.]]

¶ Now byhoueþ þe to knowe{n} *whennes {and} where þou mowe seek[e] þilke verray blisfulnesse. ¶ Certys q{uo}d I þat desijr I gretly {and} 2404 haue abiden longe tyme to herkene it.

[Sidenote: _P._ But, as Plato says that even in the least things the Divine assistance ought to be implored, what ought we do, to render us worthy of so important a discovery as the true source and seat of the sovereign good?]

¶ But for as moche q{uo}d she as it likeþ to my disciple plato in his book of i{n} thimeo. þat in ryȝt lytel þinges men sholde bysechen þe helpe of god. ¶ what iugest þou þat be 2408 [now] to done so þat we may deserue to fynde þe sete of [[pg 87]] þilke souereyne goode.

[Sidenote: _B._ Let us invoke the Father of all things.]

_B._ ¶ Certys q{uo}d .I. I. deme þat we shulle clepen to þe fadir of alle goodes. ¶ For wiþ outen hym nis þer no þing founden aryȝt.

[Sidenote: You are right, said Philosophy, and thus she sang:--]

þou seist 2412 a-ryȝt q{uo}d she. and bygan on-one to syngen ryȝt þus.

[Linenotes: 2351 _many_--manye 2352 _haþ_--MS. haþe _faute_--defaute 2353 _may_--ne may 2354 _don_--MS. done, C. don 2356 _make_--maken 2357 _forseide_--MS. sorseide 2363 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn 2365 _mowe_--mowen 2368 _wenen_--wene _mowe_--mowen 2370 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te _soþer_--sother{e} 2371 _said_--MS. saide, C. sayd 2376 [_ful wel_]--from C. 2377 _byforne_--by-forn 2378 _blysfulnesse_--MS. blyndenesse, C. blysfulnesse 2385 _of_--omitted 2386 _nurry_--norye 2387 _sey[e]_--seye 2388 _seine_--seyn 2389 _þis_--thise 2390 _nat_--nawht 2393 _seyne_--sey 2395 _ȝeuen_--yeue 2397 _goode_--good 2399 _whiche_--which 2401 _seyne_--seyn 2402 _knowen_--knowe 2403 _seek[e]_--seke 2405 _herkene_--herknen 2407 _sholde_--sholden 2408 _bysechen_--by-shechen _helpe_--help 2409 [_now_]--from C. 2410 _souereyne goode_--verray good 2411 _shulle_--shollen _to_--omitted 2413 _on-one_--anon]

[Headnote: IN SEEKING SUPREME FELICITY THE DIVINE AID IS TO BE INVOKED.]

O QUI PERPETUA.

[Sidenote: [The 9^ne Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: O Father and Maker of heaven and earth, by whose eternal reason the world is governed, and by whose supreme command Time flows from the birth of ages, Thou, firm and unchanged thyself, makest all things else to move!]

++O þou fadir creatour of heuene {and} of erþes þat gouernest þis worlde by p{er}durable resou{n} þat comaundist þe tymes for to gon from tyme þat age had[de] 2416 bygy{n}ny{n}g. þou þat dwellest þi self ay stedfast {and} stable {and} ȝiuest alle oþer þinges to ben moeued.

[Sidenote: Thy sovereign will to floating matter gave its various forms, impelled by no exterior causes, but by the Idea of the Best in thy great mind conceived void of malice.]

ne forein causes necesseden þe neuer to co{m}poune werke of floterynge mater. but only þe forme of souereyne 2420 goode y-set wiþ i{n}ne [þe] wiþ outen envie þat moeued[e] þe frely.

[Sidenote: Fairest thyself bearing the world’s figure in thy thought, thou didst create the world after that prototype, and dost draw all things from the image of the fair Supreme, and dost command that this world should have perfect parts.]

þou þat art alþerfairest beryng þe faire worlde in þi þouȝt. formedest þis worlde to þe likkenesse semblable of þat faire worlde in þi þouȝt. þou drawest 2424 alle þinges of þi souereyne ensampler. {and} comaundedist þat þis worlde p{er}fitlyche ymaked haue frely {and} absolut hyse p{er}fit parties.

[Sidenote: By harmonious measures thou dost bind fast the elements, so that there is no discordance between things cold and hot, or between the moist and the dry.]

¶ þou byndest þe elementȝ by noumbres p{ro}porcionables. þat þe colde þinges 2428 mowen accorde wiþ þe hote þinges. {and} þe drye þi{n}ges wiþ þe moyst þinges.

[Sidenote: That the fire may not fly too high, and that weight may not press the earth and water lower than they are now placed,]

þat þe fire þat is purest ne fleye nat ouer heye. ne þat þe heuynesse ne drawe nat adou{n} ouer lowe þe erþes þat ben plounged in þe watres. 2432

[Linenotes: 2415 _worlde_--world 2416 _from----age_--from syn þ{a}t age _had[de]_--hadde 2417 _stedfast_--stedefast 2418 _oþer_--oothre 2419 _forein_--foreyne _werke_--werk 2420 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good 2421 _y-set_--MS. y-sette, C. Iset _wiþ inne_--w{i}t{h} in [_þe_]--the _wiþ outen_--w{i}t{h} owte _moeued[e]_--moeuede 2422 _alþerfairest_--alderfayrest 2422-24-26 _worlde_--world 2423 _likkenesse_--lyknesse 2426 _and absolut_--C. omits 2427 _hyse_--hys 2430 _fire_--fyr _fleye_--fle 2431 _drawe_--drawen]

[Headnote: GOD IS THE FOUNTAIN OF FELICITY.]

[Sidenote: thou didst join the Middle Soul (of a threefold nature) moving all things, and then by agreeing numbers didst resolve it.]

¶ þou knyttest to-gidre þe mene soule of treble kynde moeuyng alle þinges. {and} diuidest it by membres accordynge.

[Sidenote: When that is done, cut into two orbs, it moves about returning to itself, and then encompassing the profound mind doth by that fair idea turn the heaven.]

¶ And whan it is þus diuided it haþ assembled a moeuyng in two roundes. ¶ It goþ to to{ur}ne 2436 aȝein to hym owen self. {and} environeþ a fulle deep [[pg 88]] þouȝt. {and} to{ur}niþ þe heuene by semblable ymage.

[Sidenote: Thou by such causes dost raise all souls and lesser lives, and adaptest them to their light vehicles.]

þou by eue{n}lyk causes enhau{n}sest þe soules {and} þe lasse liues {and} ablynge hem heye by lyȝt[e] cartes. 2440

[Sidenote: Thou sowest them in heaven and earth, and they return to thee by thy kind law like a recoiling flame.]

þou sewest hem in to heuene {and} in to erþe. {and} whan þei ben conuertid to þe by þi benigne lawe. ¶ þou makest hem retorne aȝeine to þe by aȝein ledyng fijr.

[Sidenote: O Father, elevate our souls and let them behold thy august throne.]

¶ O fadir yif þou to þi þouȝt to stien vp in to þi streite sete. 2444 {and} graunte [hym] to enviroune þe welle of good.

[Sidenote: Let them behold the fountain of all good. Dispel the mists of sense, remove the weights of earth-born cares, and in thy splendour shine (in our minds).]

{and} þe lyȝte yfounde graunte hym to ficchen þe clere syȝtes of hys corage in þe. ¶ And scatre þou {and} to-breke [thow] þe weyȝtes {and} þe cloudes of erþely heuynesse. 2448 {and} shyne þou by þi bryȝtnes.

[Sidenote: For thou art ever clear, and to the good art peace and rest. He who looks on thee beholds beginning, support, guide, path and goal, combined!]

for þou art clernesse þou art peisible to debonaire folke. ¶ þou þi self art bygy{n}ny{n}ge. berere. ledere. paþ {and} t{er}me to loke on þe [þat] is oure ende. _Glose._ 2452

[Linenotes: 2435 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2436 _goþ_--MS. goþe 2437 _owen_--C. omits 2438 _tourniþ_--MS. to{ur}niþe 2439 _euenlyk_--euene lyke 2440 _lyȝt[e]_--lyhte 2442 _benigne_--bygynnynge 2444 _yif_--yiue _þi streite_--the streyte 2445 [_hym_]--from C. 2446 _lyȝte_--lyht 2448 [_thow_]--from C. 2449 _bryȝtnes_--bryhtnesse 2451 _paþ_--MS. paþe; paath 2452 [_þat_]--that]

[Headnote: GOD THE SUPREME GOOD.]

QUONIAM IGITUR QUI SCIT.[7]

[Footnote 7: Read que sit.]

[Sidenote: [The 10^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: Now that thou hast had a faithful representation of future felicity as well as of the true happiness, I shall show thee in what the Perfection of Happiness consists.]