Part 24

for whiche it is þat alle þinges semen to be confus {and} trouble to vs men. for we ne mowe nat co{n}sider{e} 3952 þilke ordinaunce. ¶ Naþeles þe p{ro}pre manere of euery þing dressynge hem to goode disponit hem alle.

[Sidenote: For there is nothing done for the sake of evil, not even by the wicked, who, in seeking for felicity, are led astray by crooked error.]

for þere nis no þinge don for cause of yuel. ne þilke þing þat is don by wicked[e] folk nis nat don for yuel 3956 þe whiche shrewes as I haue shewed [ful] plentiuously seken goode. but wicked errour mysto{ur}niþ he{m}.

[Linenotes: 3928 _seyne_--seyn _þinge cleueþ_--thing clyueth _stedfastnesse_--stydefastnesse 3930 _swiche_--swych 3931 [_it_]--from C. 3932 _to_ (2)--MS. of, C. to 3937 _enterchaungable_--MS. enterchau{n}gyngable, C. entrechaungeable 3939 _a-doune_--a-down _sembleables_--semblable 3942 _bonde_--bond 3943 _ben vnbounden_--be vnbownde 3944 _oute_--owt 3948 _furþe_--forth 3949 _I-bowed_--MS. vnbounde{n}, C. I-bowed 3950 _sholde_--sholden 3951 _whiche_--which 3952 _mowe_--mowen 3956 _wicked[e]_--wykkede 3957 [_ful_]--from C. 3958 _goode_--good]

[[pg 138]] [Headnote: NOTHING DONE FOR EVIL’S SAKE.]

[Sidenote: But the order proceeding from the centre of supreme goodness does not mislead any.]

¶ Ne þe ordre comynge fro þe poynt of souereyne goode ne declineþ nat fro hys bygynnynge.

[Sidenote: But you may say, what greater confusion can there be than that both prosperous and adverse things should at times happen to good men, and that evil men should at one time enjoy their desires and at another be tormented by hateful things.]

but þou mayst sein 3960 what vnreste may ben a wors co{n}fusiou{n} þan þ{a}t goode men han so{m}me tyme aduersite. {and} so{m}tyme p{ro}sperite. ¶ and shrewes also han now þinges þat þei desiren.

[Sidenote: Are men wise enough to discover, whether those whom they believe to be virtuous or wicked, are so in reality?]

{and} now þi{n}ges þat þei haten ¶ wheþer men 3964 lyuen now in swiche hoolnesse of þouȝt. as who seiþ. ben men now so wise. þat swiche folk as þei demen to ben goode folk or shrewes þ{a}t it mot nedes ben þat folk ben swiche as þei wenen.

[Sidenote: Opinions differ as to this matter. Some who are deemed worthy of reward by one person, are deemed unworthy by another.]

but in þis manere þe domes 3968 of men discorden. þat þilke men þ{a}t so{m}me folk demen worþi of mede. oþer folk demen hem worþi of to{ur}ment.

[Sidenote: But, suppose it were possible for one to distinguish with certainty between the good and the bad?]

but lat vs graunt[e] I pose þat som man may wel demen or knowen þe goode folk {and} þe badde.

[Sidenote: Then he must have as accurate a knowledge of the mind as one has of the body.]

May he þan 3972 knowen {and} seen þilke inrest attemp{er}aunce of corages. as it haþ ben wont to be said of bodyes. as who saiþ may a man speken {and} determine of attemp{er}aunce in corages. as men were wont to demen or speken of complexiou{n}s 3976 {and} attemp{er}aunces of bodies (q’ non).

[Sidenote: It is miraculous to him who knows it not, why sweet things are agreeable to some bodies, and bitter to others; why some sick persons are relieved by lenitives and others by sharper remedies.]

ne it [ne] is nat an vnlyke miracle to hem þat ne knowe{n} it nat. ¶ As who seiþ. but is lyke a merueil or a miracle to hem þat ne knowe{n} it nat. whi þat swete 3980 þinges [ben] couenable to some bodies þat ben hool {and} to some bodies bittre þinges ben couenable. {and} also whi þat some seke folk ben holpen w{i}t{h} lyȝt medicines [{and} some folk ben holpen w{i}t{h} sharppe medicynes] 3984

[Sidenote: It is no marvel to the leech, who knows the causes of disease, and their cures.]

but naþeles þe leche þ{a}t knoweþ þe manere {and} þe attemp{er}aunce of heele {and} of maladie ne merueileþ of it no þing.

[Sidenote: What constitutes the health of the mind, but goodness? And what are its maladies, but vice?]

but what oþer þing semeþ hele of corages but bounte {and} prowesse. {and} what oþer þing semeþ maladie 3988 of corages but vices.

[Sidenote: Who is the preserver of good, or the driver away of evil, but God, the physician of souls, who knows what is necessary for men, and bestows it upon them?]

who is ellys kep{er}e of good or dryuere awey of yuel but god gouerno{ur} {and} leecher of [[pg 139]] þouȝtes. þe whiche god wha{n} he haþ by-holden from þe heye toure of hys p{ur}ueaunce he knoweþ what is 3992 couenable to euery wyȝt. {and} leneþ hem þat he wot [þat] is couenable to hem.

[Sidenote: From this source springs that great marvel--_the order of destiny_--wrought by the wisdom of God, and marveled at by ignorant men.]

Loo here of comeþ {and} here of is don þis noble miracle of þe ordre destinal.

[Linenotes: 3959 _goode_--good 3960 _declineþ_--MS. enclineþ, C. declynyth 3961 _wors_--worse 3962 _somme tyme_--somtyme 3965 _swiche_--swych 3967 _goode_--good _mot_--moste 3971 _graunt[e]_--graunte 3973 _inrest_--Inneryste 3974 _haþ_--MS. haþe _said_--MS. saide, C. seyd 3975 _determine_--det{er}minen 3978 [_ne_]--from C. _vnlyke_--vn-lyk 3979 _lyke_--lik 3981 [_ben_]--from C. _hool_--hoole 3984 [_and----medicynes_]--from C. 3991 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3993 _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot 3994 [_þat_]--from C. 3995 _don_--MS. done, C. don _miracle_--MS. mirache, C. myracle _ordre_--MS. ordre of]

[Headnote: GOD THE SOUL’S PHYSICIAN.]

whan god þat alle knoweþ doþ swiche þing. of whiche 3996 þing [þat] vnknowyng folk ben astoned

[Sidenote: But, now let us notice a few things concerning the depth of the Divine knowledge which human reason may comprehend.]

but forto constreine as who seiþ ¶ But forto co{m}prehende {and} telle a fewe þinges of þe deuyne depnesse þe whiche þat mans resou{n} may vnderstonde.

[Sidenote: The man you deem just, may appear otherwise to the omniscient eye of Providence.]

¶ þilk man þat þou wenest 4000 to ben ryȝt Iuste {and} ryȝt kepyng of eq{u}ite. þe contrarie of þat semeþ to þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce þat al woot. ¶ And lucan my familier telleþ þat þe victories cause liked[e] to þe goddes {and} causes ouercomen liked[e] to 4004 cato{u}n.

[Sidenote: When you see apparent irregularities--unexpected and unwished for--deem them to be rightly done.]

þan what so euer þou mayst seen þat is don in þis [world] vnhoped or vnwened. certys it is þe ryȝt[e] ordre of þinges. but as to þi wicked[e] oppiniou{n} it is a co{n}fusiou{n}.

[Sidenote: Let us suppose a man so well behaved, as to be approved of God and man--but not endowed with firmness of mind, so that the reverses of fortune will cause him to forgo his probity, since with it he cannot retain his prosperity.]

but I suppose þat som man be so wel yþewed. 4008 þat þe deuyne Iugement {and} þe Iugeme{n}t of mankynde accorden hem to gidre of hym. but he is so vnstedfast of corage [þat] yif any aduersite come to hym he wolde for-leten p{er}auenture to continue i{n}nocence by þe 4012 whiche he ne may nat wiþholden fortune.

[Sidenote: A wise Providence, knowing that adversity might destroy this man’s integrity, averts from him that adversity which he is not able to sustain.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 31 _b_.]]

¶ þan þe wise dispensac{i}ou{n} of god spareþ hym þe whiche man{er}e adu{er}site *myȝt[e] enpeyren. ¶ For þat god wil nat suffren hym to trauaile. to whom þat trauayl 4016 nis nat couenable.

[Sidenote: Another man is thoroughly virtuous, and approaches to the purity of the deity--him Providence deems it an injustice to oppress by adversity, and therefore exempts him even from bodily disease.]

¶ An oþ{er} man is p{er}fit in alle uertues. {and} is an holy man {and} neye to god so þat þe p{ur}ueaunce of god wolde demen þat it were a felony þat he were touched wiþ any aduersites. so þat he ne 4020 wil nat suffre þat swiche a man be moeued wiþ any [[pg 140]] manere maladie. ¶ But so as seide a philosophre [the moore excellent by me]. þe adu{er}sites comen nat (he seide in grec[;]) þere þ{a}t uertues han edified þe bodie 4024 of þe holy man.

[Sidenote: Providence often gives the direction of public affairs to good men, in order to curb and restrain the malice of the wicked.]

and ofte tyme it bitideþ þat þe so{m}me of þinges þat ben to don is taken to good folk to gouerne. for þat þe malice habundaunt of shrewes sholde ben abatid.

[Sidenote: To some is given a mixture of good and evil, according to what is most suitable to the dispositions of their minds.]

{and} god ȝeueþ {and} dep{ar}tiþ to oþer 4028 folk p{ro}sp[er]ites {and} aduersites ymedeled to hepe aftir þe qualite of hire corages {and} remordiþ som folk by adu{er}sites.

[Sidenote: Upon some are laid moderate afflictions, lest they wax proud by too long a course of prosperity.]

for þei ne sholden nat wexen proude by longe welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: Others suffer great adversities that their virtues may be exercised, and strengthened by the practice of patience.]

{and} oþer folk he suffreþ to ben 4032 trauayled wiþ harde þinges. ¶ For þat þei sholden conferme þe vertues of corage by þe vsage {and} ex{er}citac{i}ou{n} of pacie{n}ce.

[Sidenote: Some fear to be afflicted with what they are able to endure. Others despise what they are unable to bear; and God punishes them with calamities, to make them sensible of their presumption.]

and oþer folke dreden more þen þei auȝten þe wiche þei myȝt[en] wel beren. {and} þilke folk god 4036 lediþ in to exp{er}ience of hem self by aspre {and} sorweful þinges.

[Sidenote: Many have purchased a great name by a glorious death.]

¶ And many oþer folk han bouȝt honorable renoune of þis worlde by þe pris of glorious deeþ.

[Sidenote: Others by their unshaken fortitude, have shown that virtue cannot be overcome by adversity.]

and som men þat ne mowen nat ben ouer-comen by 4040 tourment han ȝeuen ensample to oþer folk þat vertue ne may nat be ouer-comen by aduersites.

[[Transcriber’s Note: The sidenote “Others despise what they are unable to bear” does not correspond to anything in the text. Skeat’s edition includes the phrase “and somme dispyse that they mowe nat beren” (Book IV, Prose 6: _Ita Est Inquam_).]]

[Linenotes: 3996 _alle_--al _doþ_--MS. doþe _whiche_--which 3997 [_þat_]--from C. 3999 _mans_--mannes 4000 _þilk_--thilke 4004 _liked[e]_ (_both_)--lykede 4005 _is don_--MS. is to don 4006 [_world_]--from C. _ryȝt[e]_--ryhte 4007 _wicked[e]_--wykkede 4010 _vnstedfast_--vnstydefast 4011 [_þat_]--from C. _wolde_--wol 4015 _manere_--man _myȝt[e]_--myhte 4016 _wil_--wol 4018 _neye_--negh 4021 _wil_--wol _swiche_--swych 4022 _manere_--bodyly 4022-3 [_the----me_]--from C. 4023 _þe aduersites----nat_--omitted 4024 _þere_--omitted 4026 _don_--done _to_ (2)--MS. so _to good----gouerne_--to gou{er}ne to goode folk 4028 _oþer_--oothr{e} 4030 _som_--some 4031 _sholden_--sholde 4033 _conferme_--confermen 4034 _corage_--corages 4036 _myȝt[en]_--myhten 4037 _hem_--hym _sorweful_--sorwful 4038 _oþer_--oothr{e} 4039 _worlde_--world _of_ (2)--of the 4041 _oþer_--othr{e}]

[Headnote: HOW PROVIDENCE DEALS WITH MANKIND.]

[Sidenote: These things are done justly, and in order, and are for the good of those to whom they happen.]

¶ and of alle þise þinges þer nis no doute þ{a}t þei ne ben don ryȝtfully {and} ordeinly to þe p{ro}fit of hem to whom we 4044 seen þise þinges bitide.

[Sidenote: From the same causes it happens, that sometimes adversity and sometimes prosperity falls to the lot of the wicked.]

¶ For certys þat aduersite comeþ some tyme to shrewes. {and} some tyme þat þei desiren it comeþ of þise forseide causes

[Sidenote: None are surprised to see bad men afflicted--they get what they deserve.]

{and} of sorweful þinges þat bytyden to shrewes. Certys no man ne 4048 wondreþ. For alle me{n} wenen þat þei han wel deserued it.

[Sidenote: Their punishment, too, may cause amendment, or deter others from like vices.]

{and} þei ben of wicked m{er}ite of whiche shrewes þe to{ur}ment som tyme agasteþ oþer to done [[pg 141]] folies. {and} som tyme it amendeþ hem þat suffren þe 4052 to{ur}mentis.

[Sidenote: When the wicked enjoy felicity--the good should learn how little these external advantages are to be prized, which may fall to the lot of the most worthless.]

¶ And þe p{ro}sp{er}ite þat is ȝeuen to shrewes sheweþ a grete argument to good[e] folk what þing þei sholde demen of þilk wilfulnesse þe whiche p{ro}sperite men seen ofte serue to shrewes.

[Sidenote: Another reason for dispensing worldly bliss to the wicked is, that indigence would prompt naturally violent and rapacious minds to commit the greatest enormities.]

in þe whiche 4056 þing I trowe þat god dispensiþ. for p{er}auenture þe nature of som man is so ouerþrowyng to yuel {and} so vncouenable þat þe nedy pouerte of hys house-hold myȝt[e] raþer egren hym to done felonies.

[Sidenote: Their disease God cures by the medicine of money.]

and to þe maladie 4060 of hym god puttiþ remedie to ȝiuen hym rychesse.

[Sidenote: Some men will cease to do wrong for fear, lest their wealth be lost through their crimes.]

{and} som oþer man byholdiþ hys conscience defouled wiþ synnes {and} makiþ co{m}parisou{n} of his fortune {and} of hym self ¶ and drediþ p{er}auenture þat hys blisfulnesse 4064 of whiche þe vsage is ioyful to hym þat þe lesynge of þilke blisfulnesse ne be nat sorweful to hym. {and} þerfore he wol chaunge hys maneres. and for he drediþ to lese hys fortune. he forletiþ hys wickednesse. 4068

[Sidenote: Upon others unmerited happiness is conferred, which at last precipitates them into deserved destruction.]

to oþer folk is welefulnesse yȝeue{n} vnworþily þe whiche ouerþroweþ hem in to destrucc{i}ou{n} þat þei han deserued.

[Sidenote: To some there is given the power of chastisement, in order both to exercise the virtues of the good and to punish the wicked.]

and to som oþer folk is ȝeuen power to punisse{n}. for þat it shal be cause of continuac{i}ou{n} {and} 4072 ex{er}cisinge to good[e] folk. {and} cause of to{ur}ment to shrewes.

[Sidenote: For as there is no alliance between good and bad, so neither can the vicious agree together.]

¶ For so as þer nis none alyaunce bytwixe good[e] folke {and} shrewes. ne shrewes ne mowen nat accorde{n} amo{n}ges hem self

[Sidenote: And how should they? Their vices make them at war with themselves, rending and tearing their consciences, and there is scarce anything they do, but what afterwards they disapprove of.]

{and} whi nat. for shrewes 4076 discorde{n} of hem self by her vices þe whiche vices al to renden her consciences. {and} don oft[e] tyme þinges þe whiche þinges whan þei han don hem. þei demen þat þo þinges ne sholde nat han ben don.

[Sidenote: Hence arises a signal miracle brought about by Providence--that evil men have often made wicked men good.]

for whiche þinge 4080 þilke souereyne p{ur}ueaunce haþ maked oft[e] tyme [fair{e}] miracle so þ{a}t shrewes han maked oftyme [[pg 142]] shrewes to ben good[e] men.

[Sidenote: For these latter having suffered injuries from the former, have become virtuous, in order that they might not resemble those whom they so detested.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 32.]]

for whan þat som shrewes *seen þat þei suffren wrongfully felonies of oþer shrewes 4084 þei wexen eschaufed in to hat[e] of hem þat anoien hem. {and} retournen to þe fruit of uertue. when þei studien to ben vnlyke to he{m} þat þei han hated.

[Linenotes: 4046 _comeþ_--comth _some_ (_both_)--som _þat þei_--MS. þei þat, C. þ{a}t that they 4047 _comeþ_--comth _sorweful_--sorwful 4050 _wicked_--wykkede _merite_--MS. u{er}ite, C. m{er}yte 4051 _oþer_--oothr{e} _done_--don 4052 _folies_--felonies 4054 _grete_--gret _good[e]_--goode 4055 _sholde_--sholden _þilk_--thilke 4056 _serue_--seruen _whiche_--which 4057 _dispensiþ_--MS. dispisiþ, C. dispensith 4059 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 4060 _done_--don 4061 _rychesse_--Rychesses 4065 _whiche_--which 4068 MS. wrongly inserts _welefulnesse_ after _wickednesse_ 4069-71 _oþer_--oothr{e} 4073 _good[e]_--goode 4074 _none_--non 4075 _good[e]_--goode 4076 _accorden_--acordy 4078 _don_--MS. done, C. don _oft[e]_--ofte 4079 _don_--MS. done, C. don 4080 _sholde_--sholden _whiche þinge_--which thing 4081 _haþ_--MS. haþe _oft[e]_--ofte 4082 [_faire_]--from C. _oftyme_--omitted 4083 _good[e]_--goode 4085 _hat[e]_--hate _anoien_--anoyeden 4087 _studien_--omitted _vnlyke_--vnlyk]

[Headnote: EVIL IS OVERRULED FOR GOOD.]

[Sidenote: It is only the Divine power that can turn evil to good, overruling it for his own purposes.]

¶ Certys þis only is þe deuyne myȝt to þe whiche myȝt 4088 yueles ben þan good. whan it vseþ þo yueles couenably {and} draweþ out þe effect of any good. as who seiþ þat yuel is good oonly by þe myȝt of god. for þe myȝt of god ordeyneþ þilk yuel to good. For oon ordre enbrasiþ 4092 alle þinges. so þat what wyȝt [þ{a}t] dep{ar}tiþ fro þe resou{n} of þe ordre whiche þat is assigned to hym. algates ȝit he slideþ in to an oþ{er} ordre.

[Sidenote: Nothing occurs by the caprice of chance in the realms of Divine Providence.]

so þat noþing nis leueful to folye in þe realme of þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce. 4096 as who seiþ no þing nis wiþouten ordinaunce in þe realme of þe deuyne purueaunce.

[Sidenote: Since God is the governor of all things, it is not lawful to man to attempt to comprehend the whole of the Divine economy, or to explain it in words.]

¶ Syn þat þe ryȝt strong[e] god gouerniþ alle þinges in þis worlde for it nis nat leueful to no man to co{m}p{re}henden by witte ne 4100 vnfolden by worde alle þe subtil ordinaunces {and} disposic{i}ou{n}s of þe deuyne entent.

[Sidenote: Let it suffice to know that God orders all things for the best.]

for oonly it auȝt[e] suffice to han loked þat god hym self makere of alle natures ordeyniþ and dressiþ alle þinges to good.

[Sidenote: And while he retains things created after his own likeness conformably to his goodness, he banishes evil by the cause of destiny out of his empire.]

while 4104 þat he hastiþ to wiþhalden þe þinges þat he haþ maked in to hys semblaunce. þat is to seyn forto wiþholden þinges in to good. for he hym self is good he chaseþ oute al yuel of þe boundes of hys co{m}munalite by þe 4108 ordre of necessite destinable.

[Sidenote: So that those evils which you seem to see are only imaginary.]

For whiche it folweþ þat yif þou loke þe p{ur}ueaunce ordeynynge þe þinges þat men wenen ben haboundaunt in erþes. þou ne shalt not seen in no place no þing of yuel.

[Sidenote: But you are exhausted and weary with the prolixity of my reasoning, and look for relief from the harmony of my verse.]

¶ but I se now þat 4112 þou art charged wiþ þe weyȝte of þe questiou[n] {and} [[pg 143]] wery wiþ lengþe of my resou{n}. {and} þat þou abidest som swetnesse of songe.

[Sidenote: Take, then, this draught, with which when refreshed, you may more strongly proceed to higher matters.]

tak þa{n} þis drauȝt {and} whan þou art wel refresshed {and} refet þou shalt ben more stedfast 4116 to stye in to heyere questiou{n}s.

[Linenotes: 4089-90 _good_--goode 4092 _þilk_--thilke 4093 [_þat_]--from C. 4094 _þe_ (2)--thilke _whiche_--which 4096 _realme_--Reame 4099 _strong[e]_--stronge _worlde_--world 4100 _no_--omitted _witte_--wit 4101 _worde alle_--word al 4102 _auȝt[e]_--owhte 4104 _good while_--goode wyl 4105 _haþ_--MS. haþe 4108 _of_ (1)--fro 4109 _whiche_--which 4111 _ben haboundaunt_--ben out{ra}ious / or habowndant 4115 _tak_--MS. take, C. tak 4116 _refet_--refect _shalt ben_--shal be _stedfast_--stydefast]

[Headnote: LOVE TEMPERS ALL THINGS.]

SI UIS CELSI IURA.

[Sidenote: [The syxte Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: If thou wouldst explore the laws of the high Thunderer, behold the lofty heavens, where, bound by fixed laws, the stars keep their ancient peace.]

++Yif þou wolt demen in þi pur{e} þouȝt þe ryȝtes or þe lawes of þe heye þund[ere]re. þat is to seyne of god. loke þou {and} bihold þe heyȝtes of souereyne heuene. 4120 ¶ þere kepen þe sterres by ryȝtful alliaunce of þinges hir olde pees.

[Sidenote: There the rosy Sun does not invade the moon’s colder sphere. Nor doth the Bear stray from his appointed bounds, to quench his light in the western main.]

þe sonne ymoeued by hys rody fire. ne destourbiþ nat þe colde cercle of þe moone. ¶ Ne þe sterre yclepid þe bere. þ{a}t encliniþ hys rauyssynge 4124 courses abouten þe souereyne heyȝt of þe worlde. ne þe same sterre vrsa nis neuer mo wasshen in þe depe westerne see. ne coueitiþ nat to dyȝen hys flaumbes in þe see of [the] occian. al þouȝ he see oþer sterres yplounged 4128 in to þe see.

[Sidenote: Vesper always makes its wonted appearance at eve. Lucifer ushers in the morn.]

¶ And hesperus þe sterre bodiþ {and} telliþ alwey þe late nyȝtes. And lucifer þe sterre bryngeþ aȝeyne þe clere day.

[Sidenote: So mutual love moves all things, and from the starry region banishes all strife.]

¶ And þus makiþ loue enterchaungeable þe p{er}durable courses. {and} þus 4132 is discordable bataile yput oute of þe contre of þe sterres.

[Sidenote: This concord in equal measures tempers the elements, so that the moist atoms war no more with the dry, nor heat with cold contends; but the aspiring flame soars aloft, while down the heavy earth descends.]

þis accordaunce atte{m}preþ by euene-lyke manere[s] þe elementes. þat þe moyste þinges striuen nat wiþ þe drye þinges. but ȝiuen place by stoundes. and þat þe 4136 colde þinges ioynen hem by feiþ to þe hote þinges. {and} þat þe lyȝt[e] fyre arist in to heyȝte. {and} þe heuy erþes aualen by her weyȝtes.

[Sidenote: By these same causes the flowing year yields sweet smells in the warm spring-tide; the hot summer ripens the corn.]