Part 16

++FOr as moche þan as þou hast seyn. whiche is þe forme of goode þat nys nat p{er}fit. {and} whiche is þe forme of goode þat is p{er}fit. now trowe I þat it were goode to shewe in what þis p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of blisfulnesse is 2456 set.

[Sidenote: Our best plan will be to inquire whether there be in nature such a good as thou hast lately defined, lest we be deceived by the vanity of Imagination and be carried beyond the truth of the matter subjected to our inquiry.]

{and} in þis þing I trowe þat we sholden first enquere forto witen yif þat any swiche manere goode as þilke goode þat þou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. þat is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in þe nature 2460 of þinges. For þat veyne ymaginac{i}ou{n} of þouȝt ne desceiue vs nat. {and} putte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse of þilke þinge þat is su{m}myttid to vs. þis is to seyne. but it may nat ben denoyed þat þilke goode ne is. 2464 ¶ and þat it nis ryȝt as a welle of alle goodes.

[Sidenote: The sovereign good does exist, and is the source of all other good.]

¶ For al þing þat is cleped i{n}p{er}fit. is proued i{n}p{er}fit by þe [[pg 89]] amenusynge of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n}. or of þing þat is p{er}fit.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 21.]]

[Sidenote: When we say that a thing is _imperfect_ we assert that there is something else of its kind _perfect_.]

{and} her of comeþ it. þat in euery þing general. yif þat. 2468 þat men seen any þing þat is i{n}p{er}fit *certys in þilke general þer mot ben so{m}me þing þat is p{er}fit. ¶ For yif so be þat p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} is don awey. men may nat þinke nor seye fro whe{n}nes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit. 2472

[Sidenote: Nature takes not her origin from things diminished and imperfect; but, proceeding from an entire and absolute substance, descends into the remotest and most fruitless things.]

¶ For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng of þinges amenused {and} i{n}p{er}fit. but it p{ro}cediþ of þi{n}g{us} þat ben al hool. {and} absolut. {and} descendeþ so doune in to outerest þinges {and} in to þi{n}g{us} empty {and} 2476 wiþ oute fruyt.

[Sidenote: If there be an imperfect and fading felicity there must also be one stable and perfect.]

but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne. þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be frele {and} vein {and} inp{er}fit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse þat is sad stedfast {and} p{er}fit. b. þis is concludid 2480 q{uo}d I fermely {and} soþefastly.

[Sidenote: But now consider wherein this felicity resides. That God is the governor of all things is proved by the universal opinion of all men.]

_P._ But co{n}sidere also q{uo}d she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe co{m}mune acordaunce {and} conceite of þe corages of men p{ro}ueþ {and} graunteþ þat god p{r}ince of alle þi{n}g{us} is 2484 good.

[Sidenote: For since nothing may be conceived better than God, then He who has no equal in goodness must be good.]

¶ For so as no þing ne may ben þouȝt bettre þan god. it may nat ben douted þan þat [he þ{a}t] no þing is bettre. þat he nys good.

[Sidenote: Reason clearly demonstrates (1) that God is good, and (2) that the sovereign good exists in him.]

¶ Certys resou{n} sheweþ þat god is so goode þat it p{ro}ueþ by verray force þat p{er}fit 2488 goode is in hym.

[Sidenote: If it were not so He could not be the Ruler of all things, for there would be some other being excelling him who possesses the supreme good and who must have existed before Him.]

¶ For yif god ne is swiche. he ne may nat ben p{r}ince of alle þinges. for certis som þing possessyng in hy{m} self p{er}fit goode sholde ben more þan god. {and} [it] sholde seme þat þilke þing were first 2492 {and} elder þan god.

[Sidenote: And we have already shown that the perfect precedes the imperfect;]

¶ For we han shewed ap{er}tly þat alle þinges þat ben p{er}fit. ben first or þinges þat ben inperfit.

[Linenotes: 2453 _whiche_--which 2454-55-56-58-59 _goode_--good 2454 _whiche_--whych 2457 _set_--MS. sette, C. set 2460 _seine_--seyn _souereyne goode_--souereyn good _be founden_--ben fownde 2461 _veyne_--veyn 2463 _þis is to seyne_--C. omits 2464 _denoyed_--MS. deuoyded, C. denoyed _goode_--good 2465 _of_--MS. of of 2466 _al þing_--alle thing 2468 _her of comeþ_--ther of comht 2470 _somme_--som 2471 _don_--MS. done, C. don 2473 _token_--took 2475 _hool_--hoole 2476 _doune_--down 2477 _wiþ oute fruyt_--w{i}t{h} owten frut 2480 _stedfast_--stydefast 2481 _fermely_--MS. fennely, C. fermely _soþefastly_--sothfastly 2486 [_he þat_]--from C. _is bettre_--nis bettr{e} 2488-89-91 _goode_--good 2489 _swiche_--swych 2492 [_it_]--from C. _seme_--semen 2493 _elder_--elder{e}]

[Headnote: GOD THE SOURCE OF TRUE FELICITY.]

[Sidenote: wherefore, that our reasonings may not run on with infinity, we must confess that the Supreme God is full of perfect and consummate good.]

¶ And for þi for as moche as [that] my resou{n} or my p{ro}ces ne go nat awey wiþoute an ende. we 2496 ouȝt[e] to graunten þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of souereyne p{er}fit goode. [[pg 90]]

[Sidenote: And as we have seen that the perfect good is true happiness, it follows that the true felicity resides in the Supreme Divinity.]

and we han establissed þat þe souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. þan mot it nedes ben [þ{a}t verray blysfulnesse is] yset i{n} souereyne god. 2500 _B._ þis take I wel q{uo}d .I. ne þis ne may nat be wiþseid in no manere.

[Sidenote: But let us see how we can firmly and irrefragably prove that the Supreme God contains in his own nature a plenitude of perfect and consummate good.]

¶ But I p{re}ie þe q{uo}d she see now how þou mayst preuen holily {and} wiþ-oute{n} corrupciou{n} þis þat I haue seid. þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of 2504 souereyne goode. [In whych man{er}e q{uo}d I.] wenest þou ouȝt q{uo}d she þat þis p{r}ince of alle þinges haue ytake þilke souereyne good any where þan of hym self. ¶ of whiche souereyne goode men p{ro}ueþ þat he is ful 2508 ryȝt as þou myȝtest þinken. þat god þat haþ blisfulnesse in hym self. {and} þat ilke blisfulnesse þat is in hym were diu{er}s in substaunce.

[Sidenote: If you think that God has received this good from without, then you must believe that the giver of this good is more excellent than God the receiver.]

¶ For yif þou wene þat god haue receyued þilke good oute of hy{m} self. þou 2512 mayst wene þat he þat ȝaf þilke good to god. be more goode þan is god.

[Sidenote: But we have concluded that there is nothing more excellent than God.]

¶ But I am byknowen {and} confesse {and} þat ryȝt dignely þat god is ryȝt worþi abouen alle þinges.

[Sidenote: But if this supreme good is in Him by nature, and is nevertheless of a different substance, we cannot conceive, since God is the author of all things, what could have united these two substances differing one from another.]

¶ And yif so be þat þis good be in hym by 2516 nature. but þat it is diu{er}s from [hym] by wenyng resou{n}. syn we speke of god p{r}ince of alle þinges feyne who so feyne may. who was he þat [hath] co{n}ioigned þise diu{er}s þinges to-gidre.

[Sidenote: Lastly, a thing which essentially differs from another cannot be the same with that from which it is supposed to differ.]

{and} eke at þe last[e] se 2520 wel þat o þing þat is diu{er}s from any þing. þat þilke þing nis nat þat same þing. fro whiche it is vndirstonde{n} to ben diu{er}s.

[Sidenote: Consequently, what in its nature differs from the chief good cannot be the supreme good.]

þan folweþ it. þat þilke þi{n}g þat by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. þat þat 2524 þing nys nat souereyne good.

[Sidenote: But it would be impious and profane thus to conceive of God, since nothing can excel Him in goodness and worth.]

but certys þat were a felonous corsednesse to þinken þat of hym. þat no þing nis more worþe.

[Sidenote: In fact, nothing can exist whose nature is better than its origin.]

For alwey of alle þinges. þe nat{ur}e of hem ne may nat ben better þan his bygy{n}nyng. 2528

[Linenotes: 2495 [_that_]--from C. 2496 _proces_--p{ro}cesses 2497 _ouȝt[e]_--owen 2498 _goode_--good 2499 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good 2500 [_þat----is_]--from C. _yset_--MS. ysette, C. set 2501 _be_--ben _wiþseid_--MS. wiþseide, C. withseid 2503 _wiþ-outen_--w{i}t{h}-owte 2504 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd 2505 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good [_In----I_]--from C. 2506 _ouȝt_--awht 2507 _þan of_--owt of 2508 _whiche_--whych _souereyne goode_--souereyn good 2509 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2510 _þat ilke_--thilke 2511 _were_--weren 2514 _goode_--worth 2517 _from_--fro [_hym_]--from C. 2518 _feyne_--faigne 2519 _feyne_--feigne [_hath_]--from C. 2520 _last[e]_--laste 2521 _o_--a 2522 _whiche_--whych 2524 _from_--fro 2527 _nis_--is 2528 _better_--bettre]

[Headnote: THERE CANNOT BE TWO CHIEF GOODS.]

[Sidenote: We may therefore conclude that the Author of all things is really and substantially the supreme Good.]

¶ For whiche I may concluden by ryȝt uerray resou{n}. [[pg 91]] þat þilke þat is bygynnyng of alle þinges. þilke same þing is good in his substaunce.

[Sidenote: _B._ Most rightly said!]

_B._ þou hast seid ryȝtfully q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ But you have owned that true felicity is the sovereign good; then you must also grant that God is that true felicity.]

_P._ But we han graunted q{uo}d she þat 2532 souereyne good is blysfulnes. þat is soþe q{uo}d .I. þan q{uo}d she mote we nedes graunten {and} confessen þat þilke same souereyne goode be god.

[Sidenote: _B._ Your conclusions follow from your premises.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 21 _b_.]]

¶ Certys *q{uo}d .I. I ne may nat denye ne wiþstonde þe resou{n}s p{ur}posed. 2536 and I see wel þat it folweþ by strengþe of þe p{re}misses.

[Sidenote: _P._ Let us see whether we cannot prove this more convincingly by considering it in this view, that there cannot be two sovereign goods which differ in themselves.]

¶ Loke nowe q{uo}d she yif þis be proued [yit] more fermely þus. ¶ þat þer ne mowen nat ben two souereyne goodes þat ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem 2540 self.

[Sidenote: For it is plain that of the goods that differ one cannot be what the other is; wherefore neither of them can be perfect where one wants the other.]

þat on is nat þat þat oþer is. þan [ne] mowen neiþer of hem ben p{er}fit. so as eyþer of hem lakkiþ to oþir.

[Sidenote: That which is not perfect cannot be the supreme good.]

but þat þat nis nat p{er}fit men may seen apertly þat it nis nat souereyne.

[Sidenote: Neither can the chief good be essentially different.]

þe þinges þan þat ben 2544 souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse.

[Sidenote: But it has been shown that God and happiness are the chief good, wherefore the sovereign felicity and the Supreme Divinity are one and the same.]

¶ But I haue wel conclude þat blisfulnesse {and} god ben [the] souereyne goode. For whiche it mot nedes be þat souereyne blisfulnesse is souerey[ne] dyuynite. ¶ No 2548 þing q{uo}d I nis more soþefast þan þis ne more ferme by resou{n}. ne a more worþi þing þan god may nat ben concluded.

[Sidenote: Following then the examples of geometricians who deduce their consequences from their propositions, I shall deduce to thee something like a corollary as follows:--]

_P._ vpon þise þinges þan q{uo}d she. ryȝt as þise geometriens whan þei han shewed her p{ro}posiciou{n}s 2552 ben wont to brynge{n} in þinges þat þei clepen porismes or declarac{i}ou{n}s of forseide þinges. ryȝt so wil I ȝeue þe here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune.

[Sidenote: Because by the attainment of felicity men become happy, and as felicity is the same as Divinity itself, therefore by the attainment of Divinity men are made happy.]

For whi. for as moche as by þe getynge of blisfulnesse men ben 2556 maked blysful. {and} blisfulnesse is diuinite. ¶ þan is it manifest {and} open þat by þe gety{n}g of diuinite men ben makid blisful.

[Sidenote: But as by the participation of justice or of wisdom men become just or wise,]

ryȝt as by þe getynge of iustice . . . {and} by þe getyng of sapience þei ben maked wise. 2560

[Linenotes: 2529 _whiche_--whych 2531 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd 2533 _soþe_--soth 2534 _mote_--moten 2539 [_yit_]--from C. 2541 _is_ (1)--nis _oþer_--othre [_ne_]--from C. 2546 _conclude_--concluded 2547 [_the_] from C. _goode_--good _be_--ben 2549 _soþefast_--sothfast _ferme_--MS. forme, C. ferme 2552 _proposiciouns_--MS. p{ro}porsiou{n}s, C. p{ro}posiciou{n}s 2553 _porismes_--MS. poeismes, C. porysmes 2554 _wil_--wole]

[Headnote: THE HAPPY MAN IS A GOD.]

[Sidenote: so by partaking of Divinity they must necessarily, and by parity of reason, become gods.]

¶ Ryȝt so nedes by þe semblable resou{n} wha{n} þei han getyn [[pg 92]] diuinite þei ben maked goddys.

[Sidenote: Every happy man then is a god. But by nature there is only _One_; but by participation of Divine essence there may be many gods.]

þan is euery blisful man god. ¶ But certis by nature. þer nys but oon god. but by þe p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n}s of diuinite þere ne letteþ ne 2564 disturbeþ no þing þat þer ne ben many goddes. ¶ þis is q{uo}d .I. a faire þing {and} a p{re}cious. ¶ Clepe it as þ{o}u wolt. be it corolarie or porisme or mede of coroune or declarynges ¶ Certys q{uo}d she no þing nis fairer. 2568 þan is þe þing þat by resou{n} sholde ben added to þise forseide þinges. what þing q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: But as happiness seems to be an assemblage of many things, ought we not to consider whether these several things constitute conjointly the body of happiness, or whether there is not some one of these particular things that may complete the substance or essence of it, and to which all the rest have a relation?]

¶ So q{uo}d she as it semeþ þat blisfulnesse conteniþ many þinges. it were forto witen wheþir [þ{a}t] alle þise þinges maken or 2572 conioignen as a maner body of blysfulnesse by diuersite of parties or [of] me{m}bris. Or ellys yif any of alle þilke þi{n}g{us} be swyche þat it acomplise by hy{m} self þe substaunce of blisfulnesse. so þat alle þise oþer þinges 2576 ben referred and brouȝt to blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne as to þe chief of hem.

[Sidenote: _B._ Illustrate this matter by proper examples.]

¶ I wolde q{uo}d I þat þou makedest me clerly to vndirstonde what þou seist. {and} þat þou recordest me þe forseide þinges.

[Sidenote: _P._ As you grant that happiness is a good, you may say the same of all the other goods; for perfect sufficiency is identical with supreme felicity; so is supreme power, likewise high rank, a shining reputation, and perfect pleasure.]

¶ Haue I nat 2580 iuged q{uo}d she. þat blisfulnesse is goode. ȝis forsoþe q{uo}d .I. {and} þat souereyne goode. ¶ Adde þan q{uo}d she þilke goode þat is maked blisfulnes to alle þe forseide þinges. ¶ For þilke same blisfulnesse þat is 2584 demed to ben souereyne suffisaunce. þilke self is souereyne power. souereyne reuerence. sou{er}eyne clernesse or noblesse {and} souereyne delit.

[Sidenote: What say you, then; are all these things, sufficiency, power, and the rest, to be considered as constituent parts of felicity? or are they to be referred to the sovereign good as their source and principal?]

what seist þou þan of alle þise þinges. þat is to seyne. suffisance power 2588 {and} þise oþer þinges. ben þei þan as membris of blisfulnesse. or ben þei referred {and} brouȝt to souereyne good. ¶ Ryȝt as alle þinges þat ben brouȝt to þe chief of hem.

[Linenotes: 2563 _oon_--o 2564 _letteþ_--let 2566 _faire_--fayr 2567 _porisme_--MS. pousme, C. porisme 2572 [_þat_]--from C. 2573 _maner_--maner{e} _by_--be 2574 [_of_]--from C. 2575 _swyche_--swych 2576 _oþer_--oothr{e} 2577 _seyne_--seyn 2578 _chief_--chef 2581 _goode ȝis_--good ys 2582 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good 2583 _goode_--good 2585 _self_--selue 2588 _þise_--C. omits _seyne_--seyn 2589 _oþer_--oothre]

[Headnote: GOOD, THE RULE AND SQUARE OF THINGS DESIRABLE.]

[Sidenote: _B._ I see what you are aiming at, and I am desirous to hear your arguments.]

b. I vndirstonde wel q{uo}d .I. what þou p{ur}posest to [[pg 93]] seke. but I desijr[e] to herkene þat þou shewe it me. 2593

[Sidenote: _P._ If all these things were members of felicity, they would differ one from another, for it is the property of diverse parts to compose one body.]

_p._ Take now þus þe discressiou{n} of þis questiou{n} q{uo}d she. yif al þise þinges q{uo}d she weren membris to felicite. þan weren þei diu{er}se þat oon fro þat oþer. 2596 ¶ And swiche is þe nat{ur}e of p{ar}ties or of membris. þat dyuerse me{m}bris compounen a body.

[Sidenote: But it has been well shown that all these things are the same and do not differ--therefore they are not parts, for if they were, happiness might be made up of one member--which is absurd and impossible.]

¶ Certis q{uo}d I it haþ wel ben shewed her byforne. þat alle þise þinges ben alle on þing. þan ben þei none membris q{uo}d 2600 she.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 22.]]

for ellys it sholde seme þat blisfulnesse were conioigned *al of one membre alone. but þat is a þi{n}g þat may nat ben doon.

[Sidenote: _B._ This I doubt not, but I desire to hear the sequel.]

þis þing q{uo}d .I. nys nat doutous. but I abide to herkene þe remenaunt of þe 2604 questiou{n}.

[Sidenote: _P._ All the things above-mentioned must be tried by Good, as the rule and square.]

þis is ope{n} {and} clere q{uo}d she. þat alle oþer þinges ben referred {and} brouȝt to goode.

[Sidenote: Sufficiency, power, &c., are all desired, because they are esteemed a good.]

¶ For þerfore is suffisaunce requered. For it is demed to ben good. {and} forþi is power requered. for men trowen also 2608 þat it be goode. and þis same þing mowe we þinken {and} coueiten of reuerence {and} of noblesse {and} of delit.

[Sidenote: Good is the cause why all things are desired.]

þan is souereyne good þe soume {and} þe cause of alle þat auȝt[e] be desired.

[Sidenote: For that which contains no good, either in reality or appearance, can never be desired.]

forwhi þilke þing þat wiþ-holdeþ no 2612 good in it self ne semblaunce of goode it ne may nat wel in no manere be desired ne requered.

[Sidenote: On the contrary, things not essentially good are desired because they appear to be real goods.]

{and} þe contrarie. For þouȝ þat þinges by hir nature ne ben nat goode algates yif men wene þat þei be{n} goode ȝit ben 2616 þei desired as þouȝ [þ{a}t] þei were verrayly goode.

[Sidenote: Hence, Good is esteemed as the cause and end of all things that we desire.]

{and} þerfore is it þat men auȝte{n} to wene by ryȝt þat bounte be souereyne fyn {and} þe cause of alle þinges þat ben to requeren.

[Sidenote: That which is the cause of our desiring any thing is itself what we chiefly want.]

¶ But certis þilke þ{a}t is cause for whiche 2620 men requeren any þing. ¶ it semeþ þat þilke same þing be most desired.

[Sidenote: If a man desire to ride on account of health--it is not the ride he wants so much as its salutary effects.]

as þus yif þat a wyȝt wolde ryde for cause of hele. he ne desireþ nat so mychel þe moeuyng to ryden as þe effect of his heele. [[pg 94]]

[Sidenote: Since all things are sought after for the sake of Good, they cannot be more desirable than the good itself.]

Now þan 2624 syn þat alle þinges ben requered for þe grace of good. þei ne ben [nat] desired of alle folk more þan þe same good

[Sidenote: It has been shown that all the aforesaid things are only pursued for the sake of happiness--hence it is clear that good and happiness are essentially the same.]

¶ But we han graunted þat blysfulnesse is þat þing for whiche þat alle þise oþer þinges ben desired. 2628 þan is it þus þat certis only blisfulnesse is requered {and} desired ¶ By whiche þing it sheweþ clerely þat good {and} blisfulnesse is al oone {and} þe same substaunce.

[Sidenote: _B._ I see no cause to differ from you.]

¶ I se nat q{uo}d I wher fore þat men myȝt[en] discorden 2632 in þis.

[Sidenote: _P._ It has been proved that God and happiness are identical and inseparable.]

_p._ {and} we han shewed þat god {and} verrey blysfulnesse is al oon þing

[Sidenote: _B._ That is true.]

¶ þat is soþe q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: Therefore the substance of God is also the same as that of the Supreme Good.]

þan mowe we conclude sikerly þ{a}t þe substaunce of god is set in þilke same good {and} in noon oþer place. 2636

[Linenotes: 2591 _brouȝt_--MS wrouȝt, C. browht 2593 _desijr[e] to herkene_--desir{e} for to herkne 2594 _Take_--tak 2596 _fro_--from 2597 _swiche_--swhych 2600 _on þing_--othing 2602 _one_--on 2603 _ben doon_--be don 2604 _herkene_--herknen 2605 _clere_--cler _oþer_--oothre 2606 _goode_--good 2609 _goode_--good _mowe_--mowen 2617 [_þat_]--from C. _were verrayly_--weeren verraylyche 2618 _þerfore_--therfor _auȝten_--owhten 2619 _alle_--alle the 2620 _whiche_--whych 2623 _mychel_--mochel 2624 _moeuyng_--moeuynge 2626 [_nat_]--from C. 2628 _oþer_--oothr{e} 2630 _clerely_--clerly _good and blisfulnesse_--of good {and} of blysfulnesse 2631 _oone_--oon 2632 _myȝt[en]_--myhten 2634 _oon_--oo _soþe_--soth 2635 _mowe_--mowen 2636 _set_--MS. sette, C. set]

[Headnote: GOD A HAVEN OF REST.]

NUNC OMNES PARITER {ET}C.

[Sidenote: [The 10^the Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Come hither, all ye that are captives--bound and fettered with the chains of earthly desires;--come to this source of goodness, where you shall find rest and security.]

++O Comeþ alle to-gidre now ȝe þat ben ycauȝt {and} ybounde wiþ wicked[e] cheines by þe deceiuable delit of erþely þinges inhabytynge in ȝoure þouȝt. here shal ben þe reste of ȝoure laboures. here is þe hauene 2640 stable in peisible quiete. þis al oone is þe open refut to wreches.

[Sidenote: [Chaucer’s gloss upon the Text.]