Part 20

[Linenotes: 3166 [_owh_]--from C. 3171 _good[e]_--goode _strong[e]_--stronge 3172 _desert_--dishert 3173 _eueryche_--eu{er}ich 3175 _goode_--good 3176 _stedfast_--stidefast 3177 _freelnesse_--frelenesse _stedfastnesse_--stidefastnesse 3178 _goode_--good 3180 _oon_--oo _wil_ (2)--wole 3185-6 _þere_--ther 3185 _don_--MS. done, C. don 3186 _done_--don 3187 _wille_--wil 3188 _comeþ_--comht 3189 _mayst_--MS. mayste, C. mayst 3191 _clere_--cler 3192 _denyed_--denoyed 3193-4 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3193 _don_ (_both_)--MS. done, C. doon 3194 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had _done_--doon 3196 _as moche_--so moche 3197 _done_--doon _moche_--mochel _halden_--halt 3201 _whiche_--which 3202 _lad_--MS. ladde, C. lad 3203 _it hath ben_--MS. I herde þe, C. it hath ben]

[Headnote: THE IMPOTENCY OF THE WICKED.]

[Sidenote: Do you recollect too, that it has been shown that happiness is the supreme good of men--and all desire this good, since all seek happiness?]

{and} recordeþ þe nat þan q{uo}d she. þat blisfulnesse is 3204 þilke same goode þat men requeren.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 25 _b_.]]

so þat whan þat blisfulnesse is requered *of alle. þat goode [also] is requered {and} desired of al. It recordeþ me wel q{uo}d I. for haue it gretly alwey ficche[d] in my memorie.

[Sidenote: All men, then, good and bad, seek to acquire good?]

alle 3208 folk þan q{uo}d she goode {and} eke badde enforcen he{m} wiþ oute difference of entenc{i}ou{n} to come{n} to goode. þat is a uerray consequence q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: And it is certain that when men obtain good they become good?]

and certeyne is q{uo}d she þat by þe gety{n}g of goode ben men ymaked goode. 3212

[Sidenote: _B._ It is most certain.]

þis is certeyne q{uo}d. I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Do good men, then, get what they desire?]

¶ þan geten goode men þat þei desiren.

[Sidenote: _B._ It seems so.]

so semeþ it q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If evil men obtain the good, they can be no longer evil?]

but wicked[e] folk q{uo}d she yif þei geten þe goode þat þei desire{n} þei [ne] mowen nat ben wicked.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is so.]

so is it q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Since then both parties pursue the good, which only the virtuous obtain, we must believe that good men are powerful, and that the wicked are weak and feeble?]

¶ þan so as 3216 þat oon {and} þat oþer [q{uod} she] desiren good. {and} þe goode folk geten good {and} nat þe wicked folk ¶ þan nis it no doute þat þe goode folk ne ben myȝty {and} þe wicked folk ben feble.

[Sidenote: _B._ None can doubt this, save such as either consider not rightly the nature of things, or are incapable of comprehending the force of any reasoning.]

¶ who so þat euer q{uo}d I 3220 douteþ of þis. he ne may nat considre þe nature of þi{n}ges. ne þe consequence of resou{n}. and ouer þis q{uo}d she.

[Linenotes: 3205-6 _goode_--good 3206 [_also_]--from C. 3207 _al_--alle _It----I_--it ne recordeth me nat q{uod} I 3210-12(1)-15 _goode_--good 3214 _wicked[e]_--wikkede 3215 [_ne_]--from C. 3216 _mowen_--mowe 3217 [_quod she_]--from C. 3218 _wicked_--wilk{e} (? wikke) 3220 _wicked_--wikkede]

[Headnote: THE WICKED DO NOT SEEK ARIGHT THE SUPREME GOOD.]

[Sidenote: _P._ If two beings have the same end in view--and one of them accomplishes his purpose by the use of natural means, while the other not using legitimate means does not attain his end--which of these two is the most powerful?]

¶ yif þat þer ben two þinges þat han o same 3223 p{ur}pos by kynde. {and} þat one of he{m} p{ur}sueþ {and} p{er}formeþ þilke same þinge by naturel office. {and} þat oþer ne may nat done þilk naturel office. but folweþ by oþer manere þan is couenable to nat{ur}e ¶ Hym þat acomplisiþ hys p{ur}pos kyndely. {and} ȝit he ne acomplisiþ [[pg 114]] nat hys owen purpos. wheþer of þise two demest 3229 þou for more myȝty.

[Sidenote: _B._ Illustrate your meaning more clearly.]

¶ yif þat I coniecte q{uo}d .I. þat þou wilt seye algates. ȝit I desire to herkene it more pleynely of þe.

[Sidenote: _P._ The motion of walking is natural to man? And this motion is the natural office of the feet? Do you grant this?]

þou nilt nat þan denye q{uo}d she þat þe 3232 moeueme{n}tȝ of goynge nis in men by kynde. no for soþe q{uo}d I. ne þou ne doutest nat q{uo}d she þ{a}t þilke naturel office of goynge ne be þe office of feet.

[Sidenote: _B._ I do.]

I ne doute it nat q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If, then, he who is able to use his feet walks, whilst another lacking this power creeps on his hands--surely he that is able to move naturally upon his feet is more powerful than he who cannot.]

þan q{uo}d she yif þat a wyȝt be myȝty to 3236 moeue {and} goþ vpon hys feet. and anoþer to whom þilke naturel office of feet lakkeþ. enforceþ hym to gone crepynge vpo{n} hys handes. ¶ whiche of þise two auȝte to ben holden more myȝty by ryȝt. knyt furþe þe remenaunt 3240 q{uo}d I. ¶ For no wyȝt ne douteþ þat he þat may gone by nat{ur}el office of feet. ne be more myȝty þan he þat ne may nat

[Sidenote: _P._ The good and bad seek the supreme good: the good by the natural means of virtue--the wicked by gratifying divers desires of earthly things (which is not the natural way of obtaining it).]

¶ but þe souereyne good q{uo}d she þat is euenlyche p{ur}posed to þe good folk {and} to 3244 badde. þe good folke seken it by naturel office of uertues. {and} þe shrewes enforcen hem to geten it by dyuerse couetise of erþely þinges. whiche þat nis no naturel office to geten þilke same souereyne goode. 3248

[Sidenote: Do you think otherwise?]

trowest þou þat it be any oþer wyse.

[Sidenote: _B._ The consequence is plain, and that follows from what has been granted--that the good are powerful, while the wicked are feeble.]

nay q{uo}d .I. for þe co{n}seque{n}ce is open {and} shewynge of þinges þat I haue graunted. ¶ þat nedes goode folk moten ben myȝty. {and} shrewes feble {and} vnmyȝty.

[Sidenote: _P._ You rightly anticipate me; for it is a good sign, as physicians well know, when Nature exerts herself and resists the malady.]

¶ þou rennest aryȝt 3252 byfore me q{uo}d she. {and} þis is þe iugement þat is to seyn. ¶ I iuge of þe ryȝt as þise leches ben wont forto hopen of seke folk whan þei ap{er}ceyuen þat nature is redressed {and} wiþstondeþ to þe maladie.

[Sidenote: But, as you are so quick of apprehension, I shall continue this mode of reasoning.]

¶ But for I 3256 see þe now al redy to þe vndirstandynge I shal shewe þe more þilke {and} continuel resou{n}s.

[Sidenote: The weakness of the wicked is conspicuous--they cannot attain the end to which their natural disposition prompts and almost compels them; what would become of them without this natural prompting, so powerful and irresistible?]

¶ For loke now how gretly shewiþ þe feblesse {and} infirmite of wicked [[pg 115]] folke. þat ne mowen nat come to þat hire naturel 3260 entenc{i}ou{n} ledeþ hem. {and} ȝitte almost þilk naturel entenc{i}ou{n} constreineþ hem. ¶ and what wer{e} to deme þan of shrewes. yif þilke naturel helpe hadde for-leten hem. ¶ þe whiche naturel helpe of entenc{i}ou{n} goþ alwey 3264 byforne hem. {and} is so grete þat vnneþ it may be ou{er}comen.

[Sidenote: Consider how great is the impotence of the wicked. (The greater the things desired, but unaccomplished, the less is the power of him that desires, and is unable to attain his end.)]

¶ Considre þan how gret defaute of power {and} how gret feblesse þere is in grete felonous folk as who seiþ þe gretter þi{n}ges þat ben coueited {and} þe desire 3268 nat accomplissed of þe lasse myȝt is he þat coueiteþ it {and} may nat acomplisse. ¶ And forþi philosophie seiþ þus by souereyne good.

[Sidenote: The wicked seek after no trivial things--which they fail to obtain; but they aspire in vain to the sovereign good, which they endeavour day and night to obtain.]

¶ Sherewes ne requere nat lyȝt[e] medes ne veyne gaines whiche þei ne may nat 3272 folwen ne holden. but þei fayle{n} of þilke some of þe heyȝte of þinges þat is to seyne souereyne good. ne þise wrecches ne comen nat to þe effect of souereyne good.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 26.]]

*þe whiche þei enforcen hem oonly to gete{n} by nyȝtes 3276 {and} by dayes.

[Sidenote: The good attain the end of their desires, and therein their power is manifested.]

¶ In þe getyn[g] of whiche goode þe strengþe of good folk. is ful wel ysen.

[Sidenote: For as you deem him a good walker that goes to the end of his journey, so you must esteem him powerful that attains his desires, beyond which there is nothing to desire.]

For ryȝt so as þ{o}u myȝtest demen hym myȝty of goynge þat goþ on hys feet til he myȝt[e] come to þilke place fro þe whiche 3280 place þere ne lay no wey forþer to be gon. Ryȝt so most þou nedes demen hym for ryȝt myȝty þat getiþ {and} atteiniþ to þe ende of alle þinges þat ben to desire. by-ȝonde þe whiche ende þat þer nis no þing to desire. 3284

[Linenotes: 3226 _þilk_--thilke 3229 _owen_--owne 3231 _wilt_--wolt _herkene_--herkne 3232 _pleynely_--pleynly _denye_--denoye 3233 _moeuementȝ_--Moeuement 3237 _goþ_--MS. goþe _hys_--hise 3238 _gone_--goon 3239 _hys_--hise _whiche_--which 3240 _more_--the Moore _furþe_--forth 3242 _gone_--gon 3245 _good_--goode 3246 _uertues_--vertuus 3247 _whiche_--which 3248 _goode_--good 3253 _byfore_--by-forn 3254 _forto_--to 3255 _seke_--sike 3259 _wicked_--wikkede 3260 _come_--comyn 3261 _þilk_--thilke 3262 _deme_--demen 3263-4 _helpe_--help 3264 _whiche_--which _goþ_--MS. goþe 3265 _grete_--gret _vnneþ_--vnnethe _be ouercomen_--ben ou{er}come 3267 _þere_--ther _grete_--wikkede 3268 _þinges_--thing _ben_--is 3271 _Sherewes ne requere_--ne shrewes ne requeren 3272 _lyȝt[e]_--lyhte _veyne_--veyn _nat_--omitted 3276 _whiche_--which 3277 _getyn[g]_--getinge _whiche goode_--which good 3278 _ysen_--MS. and C. ysene 3279 _goþ_--MS. goþe 3280 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 3281 _þere_--ther _lay_--laye _forþer_--forthere _be_--ben 3283 _desire_--desired 3284 _þat_--omitted]

[Headnote: THE WICKED HAVE NO REAL EXISTENCE.]

[Sidenote: Wicked men, then, are destitute of those powers which the good so amply possess.]

¶ Of whiche power of good folk men may conclude þat wicked men semen to ben bareyne {and} naked of alle strengþe.

[Sidenote: Wherefore do they leave virtue, and follow vice? Is it because they are ignorant of good?]

For whi forleten þei v{er}tues {and} folwen vices. nis it nat for þat þei ne knowen nat þe goodes. 3288

[Sidenote: What is more weak and base than the blindness of ignorance? Or do they know the way they ought to follow, but are led astray by lust and covetousness?]

¶ But what þing is more feble {and} more caitif þan is þe [[pg 116]] blyndenesse of ignoraunce. or ellys þei knowen ful wel whiche þinges þat þei auȝten to folwen ¶ but lecherye {and} couetise ouerþroweþ hem mysturned.

[Sidenote: And so, indeed, weak-minded men are overpowered by intemperance, for they cannot resist vicious temptations.]

¶ and certis 3292 so doþ distemp{er}aunce to feble men. þat ne mowe{n} nat wrastle aȝeins þe vices

[Sidenote: Do they willingly desert Good and turn to Evil? If they do so, they not only cease to be powerful, but even cease to exist.]

¶ Ne knowen þei nat þan wel þat þei foreleten þe good wilfully. {and} turnen hem vilfully to vices. ¶ And in þis wise þei ne forleten nat 3296 oonly to ben myȝty. but þei forleten al outerly in any wise forto ben

[Sidenote: For those who neglect the common end of all beings, cease to exist.]

¶ For þei þat forleten þe comune fyn of alle þinges þat ben. þei for-leten also þerwiþ al forto ben.

[Sidenote: You may marvel that I assert that the wicked, the majority of the human race, have no existence--but it is, however, most true.]

and p{er}auenture it sholde semen to som folk þat 3300 þis were a merueile to seyne þat shrewes whiche þat contienen þe more p{ar}tie of me{n} ne ben nat. ne han no beynge. ¶ but naþeles it is so. {and} þus stant þis þing

[Sidenote: That the wicked are bad I do not deny--but I do not admit that they have any real existence.]

for þei þat ben shrewes I denye nat þat þei ben shrewes. 3304 but I denye {and} sey[e] symplely and pleynly þat þei [ne] ben nat. ne han no beynge.

[Sidenote: You may call a corpse a dead man, but you cannot with propriety call it a man.]

for ryȝt as þou myȝtest seyn of þe careyne of a man þat it were a ded man. ¶ but þou ne myȝtest nat symplely callen it a man. 3308

[Sidenote: So the vicious are profligate men, but I cannot confess they absolutely exist.]

¶ So graunt[e] I wel for soþe þat vicious folk ben wicked. but I ne may nat graunten absolutely {and} symplely þat þei ben.

[Sidenote: That thing exists that preserves its rank, nature, and constitution, but when it loses these essentials it ceases to be.]

¶ For þilk þing þat wiþ holdeþ ordre {and} kepiþ nature. þilk þing is {and} haþ 3312 beynge. but þat þing þat faileþ of þat. þat is to seyne he þ{a}t forletiþ naturel ordre he for-letiþ þilk beyng þat is set in hys nature.

[Sidenote: But, you may say that the wicked have a _power_ to act, nor do I deny it; but their power is an effect of weakness.]

but þou wolt sein þat shrewes mowen. ¶ Certys þat ne denye I nat. ¶ but certys 3316 hir power ne descendeþ nat of strengþe but of feblesse.

[Sidenote: They can do evil, but this they could not do, if they retained the power of doing good.]

for þei mowen don wickednesses. þe whiche þei ne myȝten nat don yif þei myȝte{n} dwelle in þe forme {and} in þe doynge of goode folke. [[pg 117]]

[Sidenote: This power, then, clearly shows their impotence.]

¶ And þilke power 3320 sheweþ ful euydently þat þei ne mowen ryȝt nauȝt.

[Linenotes: 3285 _whiche_--the which _þat_--þ{a}t the 3286 _ben_--be 3291 _auȝten to folwen_--owhten folwe 3293 _doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth 3394 _wrastle_--wrastlen 3295 _vilfully_--wilsfully 3297 _outerly_--owtrely 3301 _seyne_--seyen 3304-5 _denye_--denoye 3305 _sey[e] symplely_--seye sympeli 3306 [_ne_]--from C. 3307 _seyn_--seyen 3309 _graunt[e]_--graunte 3311-12 _þilk_--thilke 3312 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3313 _þat_ (1)--what _seyne_--seyn 3314 _þilk_--thilke 3315 _set_--MS. sette, C. set 3316 _denye_--denoye 3318 _don_--MS. done, C. don 3319 _myȝten_ (1)--myhte _dwelle_--dwellin 3320 _goode_--good]

[Headnote: POWER, AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE CHIEF GOOD.]

[Sidenote: For as evil is nothing, it is clear that while the wicked can only do evil they can do nothing.]

¶ For so as I haue gadered {and} p{ro}ued a lytel her byforn þat yuel is nauȝt. {and} so as shrewes mowen oonly but shrewednesse. þis conclusiou{n} is al clere. þat 3324 shrewes ne mowen ryȝt nat to han power.

[Sidenote: That you may understand the force of this power, I have proved that nothing is more powerful than the sovereign good.]

and for as moche as þou vndirstonde whiche is þe strengþe þat is power of shrewes. I haue diffinised a lytel here byforn þat no þing nis so myȝty as souereyne good

[Sidenote: _B._ That is true.]

¶ þat is 3328 soþe q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ And that supreme good can do no evil?]

[{and} thilke same souereyn good may don non yuel //

[Sidenote: _B._ Certainly not.]

Certes no q{uod} I]

[Sidenote: _P._ Is there any one who thinks that man can do all things?]

¶ Is þer any wyȝt þan q{uo}d she þat weniþ þat men mowen don alle þinges.

[Sidenote: _B._ No sane man can think so.]

No man q{uo}d .I. but yif he be out of hys witte.

[Sidenote: _P._ But men may do evil.]

¶ but 3332 certys sherewes mowen doñ yuel q{uo}d she.

[Sidenote: _B._ I would to God they could not.]

¶ ȝe wolde god q{uo}d I þat þei ne myȝte{n} don none.

[Sidenote: _P._ Since he that can do good, can do all things, and he that has power to do evil cannot do all things, therefore the evil-doers are less powerful.]

þat q{uo}d she so as he þat is myȝty to done oonly but good[e] þinges may don alle þinges. and þei þat ben myȝty to done 3336 yuel[e] þinges ne mowen nat alle þinges. þan is þis open þing {and} manifest þat þei þ{a}t mowe{n} don yuel ben of lasse power.

[Sidenote: Let me add too that _power_ is one of the things to be desired, and that all such things are to be referred to the chief good (the perfection of their nature).]

and ȝitte to p{ro}ue þis conclusiou{n} þere helpeþ me þis þat I haue shewed here byforne. þat al 3340 power is to be nou{m}bred amonge þinges þat men auȝten requere. {and} haue shewed þat alle þi{n}ges þat auȝten ben desired ben referred to good ryȝt as to a manere heyȝte of hyr nature.

[Sidenote: But the power of doing evil has no relation to that Good, therefore it is not desirable; but as all power is desirable, it is clear that the ability to do evil is not power.]

¶ But for to mowen don yuel {and} 3344 felonye ne may nat ben referred to good. þan nis nat yuel of þe nou{m}bre of þinges þat auȝte{n}.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 26 _b_.]]

*be desired. but al power auȝt[e] ben desired {and} requered. ¶ þan is it open {and} cler þat þe power ne þe moeuyng of shrewes 3348 nis no powere.

[Sidenote: It clearly follows from this reasoning, that the good only are powerful while the vicious are feeble.]

{and} of alle þise þinges it sheweþ wel þat þe goode folk ben certeynly myȝty. {and} þe shrewes ben [[pg 118]] douteles vnmyȝty

[Sidenote: And Plato’s opinion is hereby verified that the _wise_ only have the power to do what they desire; the wicked may follow the dictates of their lusts, but their great aim and desire, _i. e._ HAPPINESS, they can never attain.]

¶ And it is clere {and} open þat þilke sentence of plato is uerray {and} soþe. þ{a}t seyþ þat oonly 3352 wiseme{n} may [doon] þat þei desiren. {and} shrewes mowen haunten þat hem lykeþ. but þat þei desiren þat is to seyne to comen to souereyne good þei ne han no power to acomplissen þat.

[Sidenote: The wicked may gratify their desires, thinking to attain the chief good (for which they wish), but they can never possess it, for impiety and vice can never be crowned with happiness.]

¶ For shrewes don þat hem 3356 list whan by þo þinges in whiche þei deliten þei wenen to atteyne to þilke good þat þei desiren. but þei ne geten ne atteynen nat þer to. ¶ for vices ne comen nat to blisfulnesse. 3360

[Linenotes: 3324 _shrewednesse_--shrewednesses _clere_--cleer 3325 _nat----power_--nawht ne han no power 3326 _whiche_--which _þat is_--of this 3327 _here_--her 3328 _nis_--is 3329 _soþe_--soth 3329, 3330 [_and thilke----quod I_]--from C. 3334 _don_--MS. done, C. don _none þat_--non thanne 3335 _done_--doon _good[e]_--goode 3336 _don_--MS. done, C. don _done_--don 3337 _yuel[e]_--yuele _þis_--it 3338 _don_--MS. done, C. don 3339 _ȝitte_--yit _þere_--ther 3340 _shewed here byforne_--Ishewed her by-forn _al_--alle 3341 _amonge_--among 3344 _don_--MS. done, C. don 3346 _auȝten be_--owhte ben 3347 _al_--alle _auȝt[e]_--owhte 3351 _clere_--cler 3352 _soþe_--soth _þat seyþ_--MS. but siþe, C. þ{a}t seyth 3353 [_doon_]--from C. 3355 _seyne_--seyn 3357 _whiche_--which]

[Headnote: THE WICKED ARE UNHAPPY.]

QUOS UIDES SEDERE CELSOS.

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

[Sidenote: Whosoever might strip of their purple coverings, proud kings, who, surrounded by their guards, sit on lofty thrones, and whose stern looks wear fierce threatenings, and boiling breasts breathe fury; would see those mighty lords inwardly fettered, and tormented by lust, passion, grief, and delusive hopes.]

++Who so þat þe couertures of her veyn apparailes myȝt[e] strepen of þise proude kynges þat þou seest sitten on heyȝe in her chayeres glyterynge in shynynge purpre envyroned wiþ sorweful arm{ur}es 3364 manasyng wiþ cruel mouþe. blowyng by woodnesse of herte. ¶ He sholde se þan þat ilke lordes beren wiþ i{n}ne hir corages ful streyte cheynes for leccherye tormentiþ he{m} on þat oon syde wiþ gredy venyms {and} 3368 troublable Ire þat araiseþ in hem þe floodes of troublynges tourmentiþ vpon þat oþer side hir þouȝt. or sorwe halt he{m} wery or ycauȝt. or slidyng {and} disseyuyng hope tourmentiþ hem.

[Sidenote: Since, then, so many tyrants bear sway over one head--that lord, oppressed by so many masters (i. e. vices), is weak and feeble, and his actions are not obedient to his will.]

And þerfore syn þou seest on heed. 3372 þat is to seyne oon tyraunt bere so many[e] tyrauntis. þa{n} ne doþ þilk tyraunt nat þat he desiriþ. syn he is cast doune wiþ so many[e] wicked lordes. þat is to seyn wiþ so many[e] vices. þat han so wicked lordshipes 3376 ouer hym.

[Linenotes: 3361-63 _her_--hir 3362 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 3363 _heyȝe_--heygh 3364 _sorweful_--sorwful 3365 _mouþe_--Mowth 3366 _se_--seen _ilke_--thilke 3368 _on_--in 3369 _hem_--hym 3371 _disseyuyng_--deceyuynge 3373 _seyne_--seyn _bere_--beeren 3373-75-76 _many[e]_--manye 3373 _tyrauntis_--tyranyes 3374 _doþ_--MS. doþe _þilk_--thilke 3375 _doune_--down _wicked_--wikkede 3376 _wicked_--wikkedly]

[[pg 119]] [Headnote: THEY DO NOT ESCAPE PUNISHMENT.]

VIDES NE IGITUR QUANTO.

[Sidenote: [The iij.^de p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: See you not in how great and filthy a mire the wicked wallow?]

++SEest þou nat þan in how gret filþe þise shrewes ben ywrapped. {and} wiþ whiche cleernesse þise good folk shynen.

[Sidenote: This is a proof that good folks do not go unrewarded, nor do the evil-doers escape punishment.]

In þis sheweþ it wel þat to good folk ne 3380 lakkeþ neuer mo hir medes. ne shrewes ne lakken neuer mo to{ur}mentis.

[Sidenote: Every action is done for a certain end, and that end is the reward of the action.]