Part 33

++FIrst wolt þou suffre me to touche {and} assaie þe stat of þi þouȝt by a fewe demaundes. so þat I may vnderstonde what be þe manere of þi curac{i}ou{n}. ¶ Axe me q{uod} .I. atte þi wille what þou wilt. {and} I schal answer{e}. ¶ Þo saide sche þus. wheþer wenest þou q{uo}d sche þ{a}t þis worlde be gouerned by foolisshe happes {and} fortunes. or elles wenest þou þat þer be i{n} it any gouerneme{n}t of resou{n}. Certes q{uod} .I. ne trowe not in no manere þat so certeyne þinges scholde be moeued by fortunouse fortune. but I wot wel þat god maker {and} mayster is gouerno{ur} of þis werk. Ne neuer nas ȝit day þat myȝt[e] putte me oute of þe soþenesse of þat sentence. ¶ So is it q{uod} sche. for þe same þing songe þou a lytel here byforne {and} byweyledest {and} byweptest. þat only men weren put oute of þe cure of god. ¶ For of alle oþer þinges þou ne doutest nat þat þei nere gouerned by reso{n}. but how (.i. pape.). I wondre gretly certes whi þat þou art seek. siþen þou art put in to so holesom a sentence. but lat vs seken depper. I coniecte þat þere lakkeþ I not what. but sey me þis. siþen þat þou ne doutest nat þ{a}t þis worlde be gouerned by god ¶ wiþ swycche gouernailes takest þou hede þat it is gouerned. ¶ vnneþ q{uod} .I. knowe .I. þe sente{n}ce of þi q{ue}stiou{n}. so þat I ne may nat ȝit answeren to þi demaundes. ¶ I nas nat deceiued q{uod} sche þat þere ne faileþ su{m}what. by whiche þe maladie of p{er}turbac{i}ou{n} is crept in to þi þouȝt. so as þe strengþe of þe paleys schynyng is open. ¶ But seye me þis reme{m}brest þou ouȝt what is þe ende of þi þinges. whider þat þe entenc{i}ou{n} of al kynde tendeþ. ¶ I haue herd told it somtyme q{uod} .I. but drerynesse haþ dulled my memorie. ¶ Certys q{uod} sche þou wost wel whe{n}nes þat alle þinges ben comen {and} p{ro}ceded. I wot wel q{uod} .I. {and} ansewered[e] þat god is þe bygynnyng of al. ¶ And how may þis be q{uod} sche þat siþen þ{o}u knowest þe bygynnyng of þinges. þat þou ne knowest not what is þe endyng of þinges. but swiche ben þe customes of p{er}turbac{i}ou{n}s. {and} þis power þei han. þat þei may moeue a ma{n} fro hys place. þat is to seyne from þe stablenes {and} p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of hys knowyng. but certys þei may not al arace hym ne alyene hy{m} in al. ¶ But I wolde þat þou woldest answere to þis. ¶ Remembrest þou þat þou art a man ¶ _Boice._ ¶ Whi scholde I nat remembre þat q{uod} .I. _Philosophie._ ¶ Maiste þou not telle me þan q{uod} sche what þing is a man. ¶ Axest not me q{uod} I. wheþir þat be a resonable best mortel. I wot wel {and} I confesse wel þat I am it. ¶ Wistest þou neuer ȝit þat þou were ony oþer þing q{uod} she. No q{uod} .I. now wot I q{uod} she oþer cause of þi maladie {and} þat ryȝt grete ¶ Þou hast left forto knowe þi self what þou art. þoruȝ whiche I haue pleynelyche knowen þe cause of þi maladie. or ellis þe entre of recoueryng of þin hele. ¶ Forwhy for þou art co{n}founded wiþ forȝetyng of þi self. forþi sorwest þou þat þou art exiled of þi p{ro}pre goodes. ¶ And for þou ne wost what is þe ende of þinges. for[þi] demest [þou] þat felono{us} {and} wikked men ben myȝty {and} weleful for þou hast forȝeten by whiche gouernementȝ þe worlde is gouerned. ¶ Forþi wenest þou þat þise mutac{i}ou{n}s of fortune fleten wiþ oute{n} gouerno{ur}. þise ben grete causes not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes to deeþ ¶ But I þanke þe auctour {and} þe makere of heele þat nat{ur}e haþ not al forleten þe. {and} I haue g[r]ete norissinges of þi hele. {and} þat is þe soþe sentence of gou{er}nau{n}ce of þe worlde. þat þou byleuest þat þe gou{er}nynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput to þe folie of þise happes auenterouses. but to þe resou{n} of god ¶ And þer fore doute þe noþing. For of þis litel spark þine heet of lijf schal shine. ¶ But for as muche as it is not tyme ȝitte of fastere remedies ¶ And þe nature of þouȝtes disseiued is þis þat as ofte as þei casten aweye soþe opyniou{n}s: þei cloþen hem in fals[e] opiniou{n}s. [of which{e} false opyniou{n}s] þe derknesse of p{er}turbac{i}ou{n} wexeþ vp. þat comfoundeþ þe verray insyȝt. {and} þat derkenes schal .I. say somwhat to maken þi{n}ne {and} wayk by lyȝt {and} meenelyche remedies. so þat after þat þe derknes of desseyuynge desyrynges is don awey. þou mow[e] knowe þe schynyng of verray lyȝt.

NUBIB{US} ATRIS CONDITA.

[Sidenote: [The seuende Metyr.]]

++ÞE sterres cou{er}ed wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowen geten a dou{n} no lyȝt. Ȝif þe trouble wy{n}de þat hyȝt auster stormynge {and} walwy{n}g þe see medleþ þe heete þat is to seyne þe boylyng vp from þe botme ¶ Þe wawes þ{a}t somtyme weren clere as glas {and} lyke to þe fair[e] bryȝt[e] dayes wiþstant anon þe syȝtes of men. by þe filþe {and} ordure þat is resolued. {and} þe fletyng streme þat royleþ dou{n} dyuersely fro heyȝe mou{n}taignes is arestid {and} resisted ofte tyme by þe encountrynge of a stoon þ{a}t is dep{ar}tid {and} fallen from some roche. ¶ And forþi yif þou wilt loken {and} demen soþe wiþ clere lyȝt. {and} holde þe weye wiþ a ryȝt paþe. ¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þe drede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe ap{ro}che. þat is to sein lat noon of þise four passiou{n}s ouer come þe. or blynde þe. for cloudy {and} dirke is þilk þouȝt {and} bounde w{i}t{h} bridles. where as þise þinges regnen.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.

INCIPIT LIBER SECUNDUS.

POSTEA [PAU]LISPER CONTICUIT.

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

++After þis she stynte a litel. and after þat she hadde gadred by atempre stillenesse myn attenciou{n} she seide þus. ¶ As who so myȝt[e] seye þus. After þise þinges she stynt[e] a lytel. {and} whanne she ap{er}ceiued[e] by atempre stillenesse þat I was ententif to herkene hire. she bygan to speke in þis wyse. ¶ Yif I q{uod} she haue vnderstonde{n} {and} knowe vtterly þe causes {and} þe habit of þi maladie. þou languissed {and} art deffeted for talent {and} desijr of þi raþer fortune. ¶ She þat ilke fortune only þat is chaunged as þou feinest to þe ward. haþ p{er}uerted þe clerenesse {and} þe astat of þi corage. ¶ I vnderstonde þe felefolde colo{ur} {and} deceites of þilke merueillous monstre fortune. and how she vseþ ful flatryng familarite wiþ hem þat she enforceþ to bygyle. so longe til þat she co{n}founde wiþ vnsuffreable sorwe hem þat she haþ left in despeir vnpurueyed. ¶ and if þou remembrest wel þe kynde þe maners {and} þe desert of þilke fortune. þow shalt wel knowe as in hir þou neuer ne haddest ne hast ylost any fair þing. But as I trowe I shal not gretly trauaile to don þe remembren of þise þinges. ¶ For þou were wont to hurtlen [{and} despysen] hir wiþ manly wordes whan she was blaundissinge {and} presente {and} p{ur}sewedest hir wiþ sentences þat were drawe{n} oute of myne entre. þat is to seyne out of myn i{n}formac{i}ou{n} ¶ But no sudeyne mutac{i}ou{n} ne bytideþ nat wiþ oute{n} a maner chau{n}gyng of curages. and so is it byfallen þat þou art dep{ar}ted a litel fro þe pees of þi þouȝt. but now is tyme þat þou drynke {and} atast[e] some softe {and} delitable þinges. so þat whan þei ben entred wiþ i{n}ne þe. it mow make weye to strenger drynkes of medycynes. ¶ Com nowe furþe þerfore þe suasiou{n} of swetnesse Rethoryen. whiche þat goþ oonly þe ryȝt wey whil she forsakeþ not myne estatutȝ. ¶ And wiþ Rethorice com forþe musice a damoisel of oure house þat syngeþ now lyȝter moedes or p{ro}lac{i}ou{n}s now heuyer. what ayleþ þe man. what is it þat haþ cast þe in to murnyng {and} in to wepyng. I trow[e] þat þou hast sen some newe þing {and} uncouþe. ¶ Þou wenest þat fortune be chaunged aȝeins þe ¶ But þou wenest wrong. yif þou [þat] wene. Alwey þo ben hire maners. she haþ raþer [kept] as to þe ward hire p{ro}pre stablenes in þe chaungyng of hyre self. ¶ Ryȝt swyche was she whan she flatered[e] þe. {and} desseiued[e] þe wiþ vnleueful lykynges of false welefulnesse. þou hast now knowen {and} ataynt þe doutous or double visage of þilke blynde goddesse fortune. ¶ She þat ȝit couereþ hir {and} wympleþ hir to oþer folk. haþ shewed hir euerydel to þe. ¶ Ȝif þou app{ro}uest hir {and} þenkest þat she is good. vse hir maners {and} pleyne þe nat. ¶ And if þou agrisest hir fals[e] trecherie. dispise {and} cast aweye hir þat pleyeþ so harmefully. for she þat is now cause of so myche sorwe to þe. sholde be to þe cause of pees {and} [of] ioie. ¶ she haþ forsaken þe forsoþe. þe whiche þat neuer man may be syker þat she ne shal forsake hym. _Glose._ ¶ But naþeles some bookes han þe text þus. For soþe she haþ forsaken þe ne þer nis no man syker þat she ne haþ not forsaken. ¶ Holdest þou þan þilke welefulnesse p{re}ciouse to þe þat shal passen. {and} is p{re}sent fortune derworþi to þe. whiche þat nis not feiþful forto dwelle. {and} whan she goþ aweye þat she bryngeþ a wyȝt in sorwe ¶ For syn she may nat be wiþholde{n} at a mans wille. she makeþ hym a wrecche whe{n} she dep{ar}teþ fro hym. ¶ What oþer þing is flitti{n}g fortune but a manere shewyng of wrycchednesse þat is to comen. ne it ne suffriþ nat oo[n]ly to loken of þing þat is p{re}sent byforne þe eyen of man. but wisdom lokeþ {and} mesureþ þe ende of þinges. {and} þe same chau{n}gyng from one to an oþer. þat is to seyne fro aduersite to p{ro}sperite makeþ þat þe manaces of fortune ne ben not forto dreden. ne þe flatrynges of hir to ben desired. ¶ Þus atte þe last it byhoueþ þe to suffren wiþ euene wille in pacience al þat is don inwiþ þe floor of fortune. þat is to seyne in þis worlde. ¶ Syþen þou hast oones put þi nekke vnder þe ȝokke of hir. for if þou wilt write a lawe of wendyng {and} of dwellyng to fortune whiche þat þou hast chosen frely to be þi lady ¶ Art þou nat wrongful in þat {and} makest fortune wroþe {and} asp{er}e by þin inpacience. {and} ȝit þou mayst not chaungen hir. ¶ Yif þou co{m}mittest [{and}] bitakest þi sayles to þe wynde. þou shalt be shouen not þider þat þou woldest(:) but whider þat þe wy{n}de shoueþ þe ¶ Yif þou castest þi seedes in þe feldes þou sholdest haue in mynde þat þe ȝeres ben oþer while plenteuous {and} oþ{er} while bareyne. ¶ Þou hast bytaken þiself to þe gouernaunce of fortune. {and} forþi it byhoueþ þe to ben obeisaunt to þe manere of þi lady. and enforcest þou þe to aresten or wiþstonden þe swyftnesse {and} þe sweyes of hir to{ur}nyng whele. ¶ O þou fool of alle mortel fooles if fortune bygan to dwelle stable. she cesed[e] þan to ben fortune.

HEC CUM SUPERBA.

[Sidenote: [The fyrst met{ur}.]

++Whan fortune wiþ a proude ryȝt hande haþ turnid hir chau{n}gyng stoundes she fareþ lyke þe maners of þe boillyng eurippe. _Glose._ Eurippe is an arme of þe see þ{a}t ebbith {and} flowiþ. {and} somtyme þe streme is on one syde {and} somtyme on þat oþer. _Texte_ ¶ She cruel fortune kasteþ adoune kynges þat somtyme weren ydred. {and} she deceiuable enhau{n}seth vp þe humble chere of hym þat is discomfited. {and} she neyþer hereþ ne reccheþ of wrecched[e] wepynges. {and} she is so harde þat she lauȝeþ {and} scorneþ þe wepyng of hem þe whiche she haþ maked wepe wiþ hir free wille. ¶ Þus she pleyeþ {and} þ{us} she p{re}ueþ hir strengþe {and} sheweþ a grete wondre to alle hir seruau{n}tȝ. ¶ Yif þat a wyȝt is seyn weleful {and} ou{er}þrowe in an houre.

VELLEM AUTE{M} PAUCA.

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

++CErtis I wolde plete wiþ þee a fewe þinges vsynge þe wordes of fortune tak heede now þi self. yif þ{a}t she axeþ ryȝt. ¶ O þou man wher fore makest þou me gilty by þine euerydayes pleynynges. what wronges haue I don þe. what goodes haue I byreft þe þat weren þine. stryf or plete wiþ me by fore what iuge þat þou wilt of þe possessiou{n} of rycchesse or of dignites ¶ And yif þou maist shewe me þat euer any mortal man haþ receyued any of þese þinges to ben his in p{ro}pre. þan wol I graunt[e] frely þat [alle] þilke þinges were{n} þine whiche þat þou axest. ¶ Whan þat nature brouȝt[e] þe forþe out of þi moder wombe. I receyued[e] þe naked {and} nedy of al þing. {and} I norysshed[e] þe wiþ my rychesse. {and} was redy {and} ententif þo{ru}ȝ my fauo{ur} to sustene þe. ¶ And þat makeþ þe now i{n}pacient aȝeins me. {and} I envirounde þe wiþ al þe habundaunce {and} shinyng of al goodes þat ben in my ryȝt. ¶ Now it lykeþ me to wiþ drawe myne hande. þou hast had grace as he þat haþ vsed of foreyne goodes. þou hast no ryȝt to pleyne þe. as þouȝ þou haddest vtterly lorn alle þi þinges. whi pleynest þou þan. I haue don þe no wrong. Ricches hono{ur}es {and} swyche oþer þinges ben of my ryȝt. ¶ My seruauntes knowen me for hir lady. þei comen wiþ me {and} dep{ar}ten whan I wende. I dar wel affermen hardyly. þat yif þo þinges of whiche þou pleynest þat þou hast forlorn hadde ben þine. þou ne haddest not lorn he{m}. ¶ shal I þan only be defended to vse my ryȝt. ¶ Certis it is leueful to þe heuene to make clere dayes. {and} after þat to keuere þe same dayes wiþ derke nyȝtes. ¶ Þe erþe haþ eke leue to apparaile þe visage of þe erþe now w{i}t{h} floures {and} now wiþ fruyt. {and} to confounde he{m} so{m}tyme wiþ raynes {and} wiþ coldes. ¶ Þe see haþ eke hys ryȝt to be somtyme calme {and} blaundyshing wiþ smoþe water. {and} somtyme to be horrible wiþ wawes {and} wiþ tempestes. ¶ But þe couetyse of men þat may not be staunched shal it bynde me to be stedfast. syn þat stedfastnesse is vnkouþ to my maneres. ¶ Swyche is my strengþe. {and} þis pley. I pley[e] co{n}tinuely. I tourne þe whirly{n}g whele wiþ þe tournyng cercle ¶ I am glade to chaunge þe lowest to þe heyeste. {and} þe heyest to þe loweste. worþe vp yif þou wilt. so it be by þis lawe. þat þou ne holde not þat I do þe wronge þouȝ þou descende dou{n} whanne resou{n} of my pleye axeþ it. Wost þou not how Cresus kyng of lyndens of whiche kyng Cir{us} was ful sore agast a litel byforne þat þis rewlyche Cresus was cauȝt of Cirus {and} lad to þe fijr to be brent. but þat a reyne desce{n}ded[e] dou{n} from heuene þat rescowed[e] hym ¶ And is it out of þi mynde how þat Paulus consul of Rome whan he hadde take þe kyng of p{er}ciens weep pitou[s]ly for þe captiuitee of þe self[e] kyng. What oþer þinges bywaylen þe criinges of Tragedies. but only þe dedes of fortune. þat wiþ an vnwar stroke ouert{ur}neþ þe realmes of grete nobley ¶ _Glose._ Tragedie is to seyne a dite of a p{ro}sp{er}ite for a tyme þat endiþ in wrechednesse. Lernedest nat þou in grek whan þou were ȝonge þat in þe entre or in þe seler of Iuppiter þer ben couched two tunnes. þat on is ful of good þat oþer is ful of harme. ¶ What ryȝt hast þou to pleyne. yif þou hast taken more plenteuously of þe goode syde þat is to seyne of my rycchesse {and} p{ro}sp{er}ites. {and} what eke. yif I be nat departed fro þe. What eke. yif my mutabilitee ȝiueþ þe ryȝtful cause of hope to han ȝit better þi{n}ges. ¶ Naþeles desmaie þe nat in þi þouȝt. and þ{o}u þat art put in comune realme of alle: ne desijr[e] nat to lyue by þine oonly p{ro}pre ryȝt.

SI Q{UA}NTAS RAPIDIS.

[Sidenote: [the secu{n}de met{ur}.]]

++ÞOuȝ plentee þat is goddesse of rycches hielde adou{n} wiþ ful horn. {and} wiþdraweþ nat hir hand. ¶ As many recches as þe see turneþ vpwardes sandes whan it is moeued wiþ rauysshing blastes. or ellys as many rycches as þer shynen bryȝt[e] sterres on heuene on þe sterry nyȝt. Ȝit for al þat mankynde nolde not cesce to wope wrecched[e] pleyntes. ¶ And al be it so þat god receyueþ gladly her p{ra}yers {and} ȝeueþ hem as ful large muche golde {and} app{ar}aileþ coueytous folk wiþ noble or clere hono{ur}s. ȝit semeþ hem haue I-gete noþing. but alwey her cruel ravyne deuourynge al þat þei han geten shewiþ oþer gapinges. þat is to seye gapen {and} desiren ȝit after moo rycchesse. ¶ What brideles myȝten wiþholde to any certeyne ende þe desordene coueitise of men ¶ Whan euere þe raþer þ{a}t it fletiþ in large ȝiftis: þe more ay brenneþ in hem þe þrest of hauyng. ¶ Certis he þat quakyng {and} dredeful weneþ hym seluen nedy. he ne lyueþ neu{er}e mo ryche.

HIIS IGITUR SI PRO SE.

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

++Þerfore yif þat fortune spake wiþ þe for hir self in þis manere. For soþe þou ne haddest [nat] what þou myȝtest answere. and if þou hast any þi{n}g wherwiþ. þou mayist ryȝtfully tellen þi co{m}pleynt. ¶ It byhoueþ þe to shewen it. {and} .I. wol ȝeue þe space to tellen it. ¶ Certeynely q{uod} I þan þise ben faire þinges {and} enoyntid wiþ hony swetnesse of rethorike {and} musike. {and} only while þei ben herd þei ben deliciouse. ¶ But to wrecches is a deppere felyng of harme. þis is to seyn þat wrecches felen þe harmes þat þei suffren more greuously þan þe remedies or þe delites of þise wordes mowe gladen or comforten hem. so þat whan þise þinges stynten forto sou{n}[e] in eres. þe sorwe þat is inset greueþ þe þouȝt. Ryȝt so is it q{uod} she. ¶ For þise ne ben ȝit none remedies of þi maladie. but þei ben a manere norissinges of þi sorwe ȝit rebel aȝeyne þi curac{i}ou{n}. ¶ For whan þat tyme is. I shal moue swiche þinges þat p{er}cen hem self depe. ¶ But naþeles þ{a}t þou shalt not wilne to leten þi self a wrecche. ¶ Hast þou forȝeten þe nou{m}bre {and} þe manere of þi welefulnesse. I holde me stille how þat þe souerayn men of þe Citee toke{n} þe in cure {and} kepynge whan þou were orphelyn of fadir {and} modir. {and} were chosen i{n} affinite of p{r}inces of þe Citee. ¶ And þou bygu{n}ne raþer to ben leef {and} deere þan0 forto ben a neyȝbo{ur}. þe whiche þing is þe most p{re}ciouse kynde of any p{ro}pinquitee or aliau{n}ce þat may ben. ¶ Who is it þat ne seide þou nere ryȝt weleful wiþ so grete a nobley of þi fadres in lawe. ¶ {And} wiþ þe chastite of þi wijf. {and} wiþ þe oportunite {and} noblesse of þi masculyn children. þat is to seyne þi sones {and} ou{er} al þis me lyst to passe of comune þinges. ¶ How þou haddest in þi þouȝt dignitees þat weren warned to olde men. but it deliteþ me to comen now to þe singuler vphepyng of þi welefulnesse. ¶ Yif any fruyt of mortal þinges may han any weyȝte or price of welefulnesse. ¶ Myȝtest þou euere forȝeten for any charge of harme þat myȝt[e] byfallen. þe remembrau{n}ce of þilke day þat þou sey[e] þi two sones maked conseillers. {and} ylad to gidre from þin house vndir so gret assemble of senatours. {and} vndir þe blyþenesse of poeple. {and} whan þou say[e] hem sette in þe court in her chaieres of dignites. ¶ Þou rethorien or p{ro}nou{n}cere of kynges p{re}ysinges. deseruedest glorie of wit {and} of eloquence. whan þou sittyng bytwix þi two sones conseillers in þe place þat hyȝt Circo. {and} fulfildest þe abydyng of multitude of poeple þat was sprad about þe wiþ large p{ra}ysynge {and} laude as me{n} syngen in victories. þo ȝaue þou wordes of fortune as I trowe. þat is to seyne. þo feffedest þou fortune wiþ glosynge wordes {and} desseiuedest hir. whan she accoied[e] þe {and} norsshed[e] þe as hir owen delices. ¶ Þou hast had of fortune a ȝifte þat is to seyn swiche gerdou{n} þat she neu[er]e ȝaf to p{re}ue man ¶ Wilt þou þerfore leye a rekenyng wiþ fortune. she haþ now twynkeled first vpon þe wiþ a wykked eye. ¶ Yif þou considere þe nou{m}bre {and} þe manere of þi blysses. {and} of þi sorwes. þou maist nat forsake þat þou nart ȝit blysful. For if þou þerfore wenest þi self nat weleful for þinges þat þo semeden ioyful ben passed. ¶ Þer nis nat whi þou sholdest wene þi self a wrecche. for þinges þat now semen soory passen also. ¶ Art þou now comen firste a sodeyne gest in to þe shadowe or tabernacle of þis lijf. or trowest þou þ{a}t any stedfastnesse be in mannis þinges. ¶ Whan ofte a swifte houre dissolueþ þe same man. þat is to seyne whan þe soule dep{ar}tiþ fro þe body. For al þouȝ þat yelde is þer any feiþ þat fortunous þinges willen dwelle. ȝit naþeles þe last[e] day of a ma{n}nis lijf is a man{er}e deeþ to fortune. {and} also to þilke þat haþ dwelt. {and} þerfore what wenist þou þar recche yif þou forlete hir i{n} dey{n}ge or ellys þ{a}t she fortune forlete þe i{n} fleenge awey.

CUM PRIMO POLO.

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

++Whan phebus þe sonne bygynneþ to spreden his clerenesse w{i}t{h} rosene chariettes. þan þe sterre ydimmyd paleþ hir white cheres. by þe flamus of þe so{n}ne þat ouer comeþ þe sterre lyȝt. ¶ Þis is to seyn whan þe sonne is risen þe day sterre wexiþ pale {and} lesiþ hir lyȝt for þe grete bryȝtnesse of þe sonne. ¶ Whan þe wode wexeþ redy of rosene floures in þe first somer sesou{n} þoruȝ þe breþe of þe wynde Zephirus þat wexeþ warme. ¶ Yif þe cloudy wynde auster blowe felliche. þan goþ awey þe fayrnesse of þornes. Ofte þe see is clere {and} calme wiþoute moeuy{n}g floodes. And ofte þe horrible wynde aq{u}ilon moeueþ boylyng tempestes {and} ouer whelweþ þe see. ¶ Yif þe forme of þis worlde is so [ȝeelde] stable. {and} yif it to{ur}niþ by so many entrechau{n}gynges. wilt þou þa{n} truste{n} in þe trublynge fortunes of me{n}. wilt þou trowen i{n} flittyng goodes. It is certeyne {and} establissed by lawe p{er}durable þat no þi{n}g þ{a}t is engendred nys stedfast no stable.

TUNC EGO UERA INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The ferthe prose.]]