Part 17

_Glosa._ þis is to seyn. þat ȝe þat ben combred {and} deceyued wiþ worldly affecc{i}ou{n}s comeþ now to þis souereyne good þat is god. þat is refut to hem þat 2644 wolen come to hym.

[Sidenote: Not the gold of Tagus or of Hermus, nor the gems of India, can clear the mental sight from vain delusions, but rather darken it.]

_Textus._ ¶ Alle þe þinges þat þe ryuere Tagus ȝiueþ ȝow wiþ his golden[e] grauels. or ellys alle þe þynges þat þe ryuere herm{us}. ȝiueþ wiþ his rede brynke. or þat yndus ȝiueþ þat is nexte þe hote 2648 p{ar}tie of þe worlde. þat medeleþ þe grene stones (smaragd{e}) wiþ þe white (margarits). ne sholde nat cleren þe lokynge of ȝoure þoȝt. but hiden raþer ȝoure blynde corages wiþ i{n}ne hire dirkenesse

[Sidenote: Such sources of our delight are found in the earth’s gloomy caverns,--but the bright light that rules the heavens dispels the darkness of the soul.]

¶ Alle þat 2652 likeþ ȝow here {and} excitiþ {and} moeueþ ȝoure þouȝtes. þe erþe haþ noryshed it in hys lowe caues. but þe [[pg 95]] shynyng by þe whiche þe heuene is gouerned {and} whennes þat it haþ hys strengþe þat chaseþ þe derke 2656 ouerþrowyng of þe soule.

[Sidenote: He who has seen this light will confess that the beams of the sun are weak and dim.]

¶ And who so euer may knowen þilke lyȝt of blisfulnesse. he shal wel seine þat þe white bemes of þe sonne ne ben nat cleer.

[Linenotes: 2638 _wicked[e]_--wyckyde 2639, 2640 _here_--her 2640 _hauene_--MS. heuene, C. hauene 2641 _al oone_--allone 2643 _worldly_--worldely 2645 _come_--comyn 2646 _golden[e] grauels_--goldene grauayles 2647 _þynges_--MS. rynges, C. thinges _hermus_--MS. herin{us}, C. herynus 2648 _nexte_--next 2649 _worlde_--world 2654, 2656 _haþ_--MS. haþe 2654 _hys_--hyse 2656 _chaseþ þe derke_--eschueth the dyrke 2657 _euer_--C. omits 2658 _seine_--seyn]

[Headnote: MEN DO NOT SEEK TRUE FELICITY.]

ASSENCIOR INQ{UA}M CUNCTA. Boice.

[Sidenote: [The 11 p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I assent, and am convinced by the force of your arguments.]

++I assent[e] me q{uo}d .I. For alle þise þinges ben 2660 strongly bounden wiþ ryȝt ferme resou{n}s.

[Sidenote: _P._ But how greatly would you value it, did you fully know what this good is?]

how mychel wilt þou p{re}isen it q{uo}d she. yif þat þou knowe what þilke goode is.

[Sidenote: _B._ I should value it infinitely if at the same time I might attain to the knowledge of God, who is the sovereign good.]

I wol p{re}ise it q{uo}d I by price wiþ outen ende. ¶ yif it shal bytyde me to 2664 knowe also to-gidre god þat is good.

[Sidenote: _P._ I shall elucidate this matter by incontrovertible reasons if thou wilt grant me those things which I have before laid down as conclusions.]

¶ certys q{uo}d she þ{a}t shal I do þe by verray resou{n}.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 22 _b_.]]

yif þat þo þinges þat I haue conclude[d] a litel her by *forne dwellen oonly in hir first[e] graunty{n}g.

[Sidenote: _B._ I grant them all.]

_Boice._ þei dwellen graunted 2668 to þe q{uo}d .I. þis is to seyne as who seiþ .I. graunt þi forseide conclusiou{n}s.

[Sidenote: _P._ Have I not shown that the things which the majority of mankind so eagerly pursue are not true and perfect goods, for they differ from one another; and because where one of them is absent the others cannot confer absolute happiness (or good)?]

¶ Haue I nat shewed þe q{uo}d she þat þe þinges þat ben requered of many folke. ne ben nat verray goodes ne p{er}fit. for þei ben diu{er}se þat 2672 oon fro þat oþer. {and} so as eche of hem is lakkyng to oþer. þei ne han no power to bryngen a good þ{a}t is ful {and} absolute.

[Sidenote: Have I not shown, too, that the true and chief good is made up of an assemblage of all the goods in such a way, that if sufficiency is an attribute of this good, it must at the same time possess power, reverence, &c.]

¶ But þan atte arst ben þei verray good whan þei ben gadred to-gidre al in to a forme {and} in 2676 to oon wirchy{n}g. so þat þilke þing þat is suffisaunce. þilk same be power {and} reuerence. {and} noblesse {and} mirþe.

[Sidenote: If they be not one and the same, why should they be classed among desirable things?]

¶ And forsoþe but alle þise þi{n}ges ben alle o same þing þei ne han nat wher by þat þei mowen ben 2680 put in þe nou{m}bre of þinges. þat auȝten ben requered or desired. _b._ ¶ It is shewed q{uo}d .I. ne her of may þer no man douten.

[Sidenote: While these things differ from one another they are not goods; but as soon as they become one then they are made goods.--Do not they owe their being good to their unity?]

_p._ þe þinges þan q{uo}d she þat ne ben none goodes whan þei ben diu{er}se. {and} whan þei [[pg 96]] bygynnen to ben al o þing. þan ben þei goodes. ne 2685 comiþ it hem nat þan by þe getynge of unite þat þei ben maked goodes.

[Sidenote: _B._ So it appears.]

_b._ so it semeþ q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Do you confess that everything that is good becomes such by the participation of the sovereign good or no?]

but alle þing þat is good q{uo}d she grauntest þou þat it be good by p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} 2688 of good or no.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is so.]

¶ I graunt[e] it q{uo}d .I.

[Linenotes: 2660 _assent[e]_--assente 2662 _mychel_--mochel 2663 _goode_--good 2664 _price_--prys 2669 _is_--omitted _seyne_--seyn 2671 _folke_--folkes 2673 _oþer_--oothre _eche_--ech 2675 _absolute_--absolut _atte arst_--at erste 2676 _al_--alle _a_--O 2677 _to_--omitted _wirchyng_--wyrkynge 2678 _þilk_--thilke 2681 _put_--MS. putte, C. put _auȝten_--owhten 2684 _none_--no 2685 _al o_--alle oon 2686 _comiþ_--comth 2689 _graunt[e]_--graunte]

[Headnote: UNITY NECESSARY TO EXISTENCE.]

[Sidenote: _P._ Then you must own that unity and good are the same (for the substance of those things must be the same, whose effects do not naturally differ).]

¶ þan mayst þou graunt[en] it q{uo}d she by sembleable resou{n} þat oon {and} good ben o same þing. ¶ For of þinges [of] whiche þat þe effect nis nat naturely diuerse 2692 nedys þe substaunce mot ben o same þinge.

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot gainsay it.]

I ne may nat denye it q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Do you not perceive that everything which exists is permanent so long as it preserves its unity--but as soon as it loses this, it is dissolved and annihilated?]

¶ Hast þou nat knowen wel q{uo}d she. þat al þing þat is haþ so longe his dwellyng {and} his substaunce. as longe is it oone. ¶ but wha{n} it 2696 forletiþ to ben oone it mot nedis dien {and} corrumpe togidre.

[Sidenote: _B._ How so?]

¶ In whiche manere q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ In the animal creation as long as the soul and the body are united and conjoined in one, this being is called an animal or beast, but when the union is dissolved by the separation of these, the animal perishes and is no longer a beast.]

¶ Ryȝt as in beestes q{uod} she. whan þe soule {and} þe body ben co{n}ioigned in oon {and} dwellen to-gidre it is cleped a 2700 beest. {and} whan hire vnite is destroied by disseueraunce þat oon fram þ{a}t oþir. þan sheweþ it wel þat it is a dede þi{n}g. {and} þat it is no lenger no beste.

[Sidenote: The same may be said of man and all other things; they subsist while unity is preserved, but as soon as that is destroyed the things themselves lose their existence.]

{and} þe body of a wyȝt while it dwelleþ in oon forme by coniuncc{i}ou{n} 2704 of membris it is wel seyn þat it is a figure of mankynde. and yif þe partyes of þe body ben [so] diuide[d] {and} disseuered þat oon fro þat oþir þat þei destroien vnite. þe body forletiþ to ben þat it was byforne. 2708 ¶ And who so wolde renne in þe same manere by alle þinges he sholde seen þat wiþ outen doute euery þinge is in his substaunce as longe as it is oon. {and} whan it forletiþ to ben oon it dieþ {and} p{er}issiþ.

[Sidenote: _B._ I believe we should find this true in every case.]

_boice._ 2712 whan I considre q{uo}d I many þinges I see noon oþ{er}.

[Linenotes: 2690 _mayst þou graunt[en]_--mosthow grau{n}ten 2692 [_of_]--from C. 2695 _al_--alle _haþ_--MS. haþe 2696, 2697 _oone_--oon 2698 _whiche_--which 2703 _dede_--ded _lenger_--lenger{e} _beste_--beest 2704 _while_--whil _oon_--oo 2706 _[so] diuide[d]_--so deuydyd 2709 _so_--omitted 2713 _many_--manye]

[Headnote: NATURE SUSTAINS VEGETATION.]

[Sidenote: _P._ Is there anything which acts naturally that forgoes this desire of existence and wishes for death and corruption?]

¶ Is þer any þing þanne q{uo}d she þat in as moche as it lyueþ naturely. þat forletiþ þe appetit or talent of 2715 hys beynge. {and} desireþ to come to deeþ {and} to corrupc{i}ou{n}. [[pg 97]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I do not find any creature endowed with volition, which, of itself and without constraint, renounces or despises life and self-preservation or willingly hastens to destruction.]

¶ yif I considere q{uod} I þe beestes þat han any manere nature of willy{n}ge or of nillynge I ne fynde no þing. but yif it be constreyned fro wiþ out forþe. þat forletiþ or dispiseþ to lyue {and} to dure{n} 2720 or þat wole his þankes hasten hy{m} to dien. ¶ For euery beest trauayleþ hy{m} to defende {and} kepe þe sauuac{i}ou{n} of lijf. {and} escheweþ deeþ {and} destrucc{i}ou{n}.

[Sidenote: But with regard to herbs and trees, I am doubtful whether I ought to have the same opinion of them, for they have no sensitive soul, nor any natural volition like animals.]

_b._ but certys I doute me of herbes {and} of trees. þat is 2724 to seyn þat I am in a doute of swiche þinges as herbes or trees þat ne han no fely{n}g soule. ne no naturel wirchynges seruy{n}g to appetite as beestes han wheþer þei han appetite to dwelle{n} {and} to duren.

[Sidenote: _P._ There is no cause for doubt in respect to these.]

¶ Certis 2728 q{uo}d she ne þer of þar þe nat doute.

[Sidenote: Herbs and trees first choose a convenient place to grow in, where, agreeably to their respective natures, they are sure to thrive, and are in no danger of perishing; for some grow on plains, some on mountains, &c.; and if you try to transplant them, they forthwith wither and die.]

¶ Now look vpon þise herbes {and} þise trees. þei waxen firste in swiche place as be{n} couenable to hem. in whiche place þei ne mowen nat sone dien ne dryen as longe as hire 2732 nature may defenden he{m}. ¶ For some of hem waxen in feldes {and} some in mou{n}taignes. {and} oþir waxen i{n} mareis. [_A leaf lost here, and supplied from C._] [{and} oothre cleuyn on Roches / {and} soume waxen plentyuos 2736 in sondes / {and} yif þ{a}t any wyht enforce hym to beryn hem in to oother places / they wexen drye //

[Sidenote: To everything that vegetates, nature gives what is needful for its subsistence, and takes care that they should not perish before their time.]

For natur{e} yeueth to eu{er}y thing þ{a}t / þ{a}t is co{n}uenient to hym {and} trauaylith þ{a}t they ne dye nat as longe as they 2740 han power to dwellyn {and} to lyuen //

[Sidenote: Need I tell you that plants are nourished by their roots (which are so many mouths hid in the earth), and diffuse strength throughout the whole plant, as through their marrow?]

what woltow seyn of this / þ{a}t they drawen alle hyr norysshynges by hyr rootes / ryht as they haddyn hyr Mowthes I.-plounged 2743 w{i}t{h} in the erthes / {and} shedyn by hyr maryes (i. medull{as}) hyr wode {and} hyr bark /

[Sidenote: And further, it is admirably contrived that the pith, the most tender part of plants, is hid in the middle of the trunk, surrounded with hard and solid wood, and with an outer coat of bark to ward off the storms and weather.]

{and} what woltow seyn of this þ{a}t thilke thing / þ{a}t is ryht softe as the marye (i. sapp) is / þ{a}t is alwey hidd in the feete al w{i}t{h} inne {and} þ{a}t it is defendid fro w{i}t{h} owte by the stidefastnesse of 2748 wode // {and} þ{a}t the vttereste bark is put ayenis the destemprau{n}ce of the heuene / as a defendowr myhty to suffren [[pg 98]] harm /

[Sidenote: Admire, too, the diligence of nature in propagating plants by a multiplicity of seeds, which are as a foundation for a building, not to remain for a time, but as it were for ever.]

{and} thus certes maystow wel sen / how gret is the diligence of natur{e} / For alle thinges renouelen {and} 2752 pupllisen hem w{i}t{h} seed .I.-multiplyed / nether nis no man þ{a}t ne wot wel þ{a}t they ne ben ryht as a foundement {and} edyfice for to duren / nat only for a tyme / but ryht as forto duren p{er}durablely by generacyou{n} //

[Sidenote: Things inanimate incline to what is most suitable to their beings, and to preserve continuance.]

{and} the thinges ek 2756 þ{a}t men wenen ne hauen none sowles / ne desir{e} they nat ech of hem by sem[b]lable resou{n} to kepyn þ{a}t that is hirs / þ{a}t is to seyn þ{a}t is acordynge to hyr natur{e} in conseruaciou{n} of hyr beynge {and} endurynge //

[Sidenote: For why should the flame mount upwards by lightness, and the earth tend towards its centre by gravity (weight), unless these motions were agreeable to their respective natures?]

For wher for elles berith 2760 lythnesse the flaumbes vp / {and} the weyhte p{re}sseth the erthe a-dou{n} // but For as moche as thilke places and thilke moeuynges ben couenable to eu{er}ich of hem //

[Linenotes: 2718 _willynge_--wylnynge _or_--{and} 2719 _þing_--beest _out forþe_--owte forth 2720 _lyue_--lyuen 2723 _of lijf_--of hys lyf 2726 _soule_--sowles 2727 _appetite_--appetites 2729 _look_--loke 2730 _waxen firste_--wexen fyrst 2733, 2734 _some_--som 2734 _oþir_--oothre 2753 _pupllisen_--H. publisshen) 2755 _edyfice_--MS. edyfite _a tyme_--H. oon) tyme 2758 _that_--H. omits _hirs_--H. his]

[Headnote: THE LOVE OF LIFE IS INSTINCTIVE.]

[Sidenote: Whatever is agreeable to the nature of a thing preserves it. So what is contrary to its nature destroys it.]

{and} forsothe eu{er}y thing kepith thilke þ{a}t is acordynge 2764 {and} propre to hym // ryht as thinges þ{a}t ben contraryes {and} enemys corompen hem //

[Sidenote: Dense bodies, such as stones, resist an easy separation of parts; whereas the particles of liquid or flowing things, such as air and water, are easily separated and soon reunited.]

{and} yit the harde thinges as stoones clyuen {and} holden hyr partyes to gydere ryht faste {and} harde / {and} deffenden hem in withstondenge 2768 þ{a}t they ne departe nat lyhtly a twyne // {and} the thinges þ{a}t ben softe {and} fletynge as is water {and} Eyr they departyn lyhtly // {and} yeuen place to hem þ{a}t brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retorne{n} 2772 sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben arraced //

[Sidenote: Fire avoids and utterly refuses any such division.]

but fyr [fleetħ] {and} refuseth alle deuysyou{n} /

[Sidenote: I am not now treating of the voluntary motion of a conscious soul, but of the natural intention and instinct.]

ne I. ne trete nat heer{e} now of weleful moeuynges of the sowle þ{a}t is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciou{n} 2776 of thinges //

[Sidenote: We swallow our meat without thinking of it, and we draw our breath in sleep without perception.]

As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete þ{a}t we resseyuen {and} ne thinke nat on it / {and} as we drawen owr{e} breth in slepynge þ{a}t we wite it nat whil we slepyt //

[Sidenote: The love of life in animals is not derived from an intellectual will, but from natural principles implanted in them.]

For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of 2780 hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle // but of the bygynnyngis of natur{e} //

[Sidenote: For the will, induced by powerful reasons, sometimes chooses and embraces death, although nature dreads and abhors it.]

For certes thorw constreynynge causes / wil desireth {and} embraceth ful ofte tyme / the deth þ{a}t natur{e} dredith // that is to seyn [[pg 99]] as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som 2785 cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which þ{a}t natur{e} hateth {and} dredeth ful sore //

[Sidenote: And, on the contrary, we see that concupiscence (by which alone the human race is perpetuated) is often restrained by the will.]

And som tyme we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / 2788 destorbeth {and} constreyneth þ{a}t þ{a}t natur{e} desireth / and requereth al-wey // that is to sein the werk of gen{er}aciou{n} / by the whiche gen{er}aciou{n} only / dwelleth {and} is sustenyd the longe durablete of mortal thinges //

[Sidenote: Self-love possessed by every creature is not the product of volition, but proceeds from a natural impression or intention of nature.]

And thus 2792 this charite and this Loue þ{a}t eu{er}y thing hath to hym self ne comth nat of the moeuynge of the sowle / but of the entenciou{n} of natur{e} //

[Sidenote: Providence has implanted in all created things an instinct, for the purpose of self-preservation, by which they desire to prolong existence to its utmost limits.]

For the puruyance of god hat yeuen to thinges þ{a}t ben creat of hym / this þ{a}t is 2796 a ful gret cause / to lyuen {and} to duren / for which they desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as eu{er} they mowen //

[Linenotes: 2774 [_fleeth_]--from H. 2775 _weleful_--H. wilfull{e} 2779 _slepyt_--H. slepe{n} 2788 _seeth_--H. seen) _wil_--H. will{e} 2792 _And_--H. as 2796 _hat_--H. haue]

[Headnote: THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT.]

[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists desires existence and avoids dissolution.]

For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that alle the thinges / that ben anywher{e} / that they ne requeren 2800 naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of p{er}durable dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyou{n} //

[Sidenote: _B._ You have made those things perfectly plain and intelligible, which before were obscure and doubtful.]

B // now confesse I. wel q{uod} I. that I. see wel now certeynly / w{i}t{h} owte dowtes / the thinges that whylom semeden 2804 vncerteyn to me /

[Sidenote: _P._ That which desires to subsist desires also to retain its unity for if this be taken away it cannot continue to exist.]

P. // but q{uod} she thilke thyng þ{a}t desiretħ to be {and} to dwellyn p{er}durablely / he desireth to ben oon // For yif þ{a}t that oon weer{e} destroied // certes beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht //

[Sidenote: _B._ That is very true!]

that 2808 is sotħ q{uod} I. //

[Sidenote: _P._ All things then desire one thing--unity.]

Thanne q{uod} she desirin alle thinges oon //

[Sidenote: _B._ They do.]

.I. assente q{uod} .I. //

[Sidenote: _P._ Unity then is the same as good.]

{and} I haue shewyd q{uod} she that thilke same oon is thilke that is good //

[Sidenote: _B._ Yes.]

B // ye forsothe q{uod} I. //

[Sidenote: _P._ Thus all things desire good--and it is one and the same good that all creatures desire.]

Alle thinges thanne q{uod} she requyren 2812 good // And thilke good thanne [þow] maist descryuen ryht thus // Good is thilke thing þ{a}t euery wyht desireth //

[Sidenote: _B._ Nothing is more true. For either all things must be reduced to nothing (or have no relation to anything else), and, destitute of a head, float about without control or order; or if there be anything to which all things tend, that must be the supreme good.]

Ther ne may be thowht q{uod} .I. no moor{e} verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred {and} 2816 browht to nowht / {and} floteryn w{i}t{h} owte gou{er}nour despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif [[pg 100]] ther be any thinge / to which þ{a}t alle thinges tenden {and} hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of 2820 alle goodes /

[Sidenote: _P._ I rejoice greatly, my dear pupil, that you so clearly apprehend this truth, of which but just now you were ignorant.]

P /. thanne seyde she thus // O my norry q{uod} she I haue gret gladnesse of the // For thow hast fichched in thin herte the myddel sothtfastnesse // that is to seyn the prykke // but this thing hath ben 2824 descouered to the / in that thow seydyst þ{a}t thow wystest nat a lytel her by-forn //

[Sidenote: _B._ What was that?]

what was th{a}t q{uod} I. //

[Headnote: THE END OF ALL THINGS.]

[Sidenote: _P._ The _End of all things_. And this is what every one desires; but we have shown that _good_ is the thing desired by all, therefore _Good_ is the _End of all things_.]

That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing þ{a}t 2828 eu{er}y wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han gaderid / {and} co{m}p{re}hendyd that good is thilke thing that is desired of alle / thanne moten we nedes confessun / that good is the fyn of alle thinges. 2832

[Linenotes: 2800 _the_--H. þo 2806 _perdurablely_--H. p{er}durably 2807 _destroied_--H. destrued 2811 _thilke_ (1)--H. ilke 2818 _heued or elles_--H. hede or els 2820 _hyen_--H. hyen) to _moste_--H. must]

[Headnote: TRUTH INTUITIVE.]

QUISQUIS P{RO}FUNDA MENTE.

[Sidenote: [The .11. Met{ru}m.]]

[Sidenote: He who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the inner light upon the soul itself.]

++WHo so that sekith sotħ by a deep thoght And coueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes // lat hym rollen {and} trenden w{i}t{h} Inne hym self / the Lyht of his inward syhte // And lat hym gader{e} ayein enclynynge 2836 in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys thowhtes /

[Sidenote: The knowledge that he seeks without he will find treasured up in the recesses of the mind.]

And lat hym techen his corage that he hath enclosed {and} hyd / in his tresors / al þ{a}t he compaseth or sekith fro w{i}t{h} owte //

[Sidenote: The light of Truth will disperse Error’s dark clouds, and shine forth brighter than the sun.]

And thanne thilke thing that the 2840 blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal lyhten more clerly tha{n}ne pheb{us} hym self ne shyneth //

[Sidenote: [Chaucer’s gloss.]]