Part 35

++But what shal I seyne of dignitees {and} of powers. þe whiche [ye] men þ{a}t neiþer knowen verray dignitee ne verray power areysen hem as heye as þe heuene. þe whiche dignitees {and} powers yif þei come to any wicked man þei don [as] greet[e] damages {and} distrucc{i}ou{n} as doþ þe fla{m}me of þe Mou{n}taigne Ethna whan þe fla{m}me wit walwiþ vp ne no deluge ne doþ so cruel harmes. ¶ Certys ye remembriþ wel as I trowe þat þilke dignitee þat men clepiþ þe emperie of {con}sulers þe whiche þat somtyme was bygynnyng of fredom. ¶ Ȝoure eldres coueiteden to han don a-wey þat dignitee for þe p{r}ide of þe conseilers. ¶ And ryȝt for þe same p{r}ide ȝoure eldres byforne þat tyme hadden don awey out of þe Citee of rome þe kynges name. þat is to seien. þei nolden haue no lenger no kyng ¶ But now yif so be þ{a}t dignitees {and} powers ben ȝeuen to goode men. þe whiche þing is ful ȝelde. what agreable þi{n}ges is þer in þo dignitees. or powers. but only þe goodenes of folk þat vsen hem. ¶ And þerfore it is þus þat hono{ur} ne comeþ nat to vertue for cause of dignite. but aȝeinward. hono{ur} comeþ to dignite by cause of vertue. but whiche is ȝoure derworþe power þat is so clere {and} so requerable ¶ O ȝe erþelyche bestes considere ȝe nat ouer whiche þing þat it semeþ þat ȝe han power. ¶ Now yif þou say[e] a mouse amo{n}g{us} oþer myse þat chalenged[e] to hymself ward ryȝt {and} power ouer alle oþer myse. how gret scorne woldest þou han of hit. ¶ _Glosa._ ¶ So fareþ it by men. þe body haþ power ouer þe body. For yif þow loke wel vpon þe body of a wyȝt what þing shalt þou fynde moore frele þan is mannes kynde. þe whiche ben ful ofte slayn wiþ bytynge of smale flies. or ellys wiþ þe entryng of crepyng wormes in to þe priuetees of mennes bodyes. ¶ But wher shal men fynden any man þat may exercen or haunten any ryȝt vpon an oþer ma{n} but oonly vpon hys body. or ellys vpo{n} þinges þat ben lower þen þe body. whiche I clepe fortunous possessiou{n}s ¶ Mayst þou euer haue any comaundement ouer a fre corage ¶ Mayst þou remuen fro þe estat of hys p{ro}pre reste. a þouȝt þat is cleuyng to gider in hym self by stedfast resou{n}. ¶ As somtyme a tiraunt wende to co{n}founde a freeman of corage ¶ {And} wende to co{n}streyne hym by to{ur}ment to maken hym dyscoueren {and} acusen folk þat wisten of a coniurac{i}ou{n}. whiche I clepe a confederacie þat was cast aȝeins þis tyraunt ¶ But þis free man boot of hys owen tunge. {and} cast it in þe visage of þilke woode tyrau{n}te. ¶ So þat þe to{ur}mentȝ þat þis tyrau{n}t wende to han maked mater{e} of cruelte. þis wyse man maked[e it] matere of vertues. ¶ But what þing is it þat a man may don to an oþer man. þat he ne may receyue þe same þing of oþer folke i{n} hym self. or þus. ¶ What may a man don to folk. þat folk ne may don hym þe same. ¶ I haue herd told of busirides þat was wo{n}t to sleen hys gestes þat herburghden in hys hous. and he was slayn hym self of ercules þat was hys gest ¶ Regulus had[de] taken in bataile many men of affrike. and cast hem in to fetteres. but sone after he most[e] ȝiue hys handes to ben bounden w{i}t{h} þe cheynes of hem þat he had[de] somtyme ou{er}comen. ¶ Wenest þou þan þat he be myȝty. þat may nat don a þing. þat oþer ne may don hym. þat he doþ to oþer. {and} ȝit more ou{er} yif it so were þat þise dignites or poweres hadden any p{ro}pre or naturel goodnesse in hem self neuer nolden þei comen to shrewes. ¶ For contrarious þinges ne ben not wont to ben yfelawshiped togidres. ¶ Nature refuseþ þat contra[r]ious þinges ben yioigned. ¶ And so as I am in certeyne þat ryȝt wikked folk han dignitees ofte tymes. þan sheweþ it wel þat dignitees {and} powers ne ben not goode of hir owen kynde. syn þat þei suffren hem self to cleue{n} or ioynen hem to shrewes. ¶ And certys þe same þing may most digneliche Iugen {and} seyen of alle þe ȝiftis of fortune þat most plenteuously comen to shrewes. ¶ Of þe whiche ȝiftys I trowe þat it auȝt[e] ben considered þat no man doutiþ þat he nis strong. in whom he seeþ strengþe. {and} in whom þat swiftnesse is ¶ Soþe it is þat he is swyfte. Also musyk makeþ musiciens. {and} fysik makeþ phisiciens. {and} rethorik rethoriens. ¶ For whi þe nature of euery þing makiþ his p{ro}pretee. ne it is nat ent{er}medled wiþ þe effect{is} of co{n}trarious þinges. ¶ And as of wil it chaseþ oute þinges þat to it ben contrarie ¶ But certys rycchesse may nat restreyne auarice vnstaunched ¶ Ne power [ne] makeþ nat a ma{n} myȝty ouer hym self. whiche þat vicious lustis holden destreined wiþ cheins þat ne mowen nat ben vnbounden. {and} dignitees þat ben ȝeuen to shrewed[e] folk nat oonly ne makiþ hem nat digne. but it sheweþ raþer al openly þat þei ben vnworþi {and} vndigne. ¶ And whi is it þ{us}. ¶ Certis for ȝe han ioye to clepen þinges wiþ fals[e] names. þat beren hem al in þe co{n}t{ra}rie. þe whiche names ben ful ofte reproued by þe effect of þe same þinges. so þat þise ilke rycchesse ne auȝten nat by ryȝt to ben cleped rycchesse. ne whiche power ne auȝt[e] not ben cleped power. ne whiche dignitee ne auȝt[e] nat ben cleped dignitee. ¶ And at þe laste I may conclude þe same þinge of al þe ȝiftes of fortune in whiche þer nis no þing to ben desired. ne þat haþ in hym self naturel bounte. ¶ as it is ful wel sene. for neyþer þei ne ioygne{n} hem nat alwey to goode men. ne maken hem alwey goode to who{m} þei be{n} y-ioigned.

NOUIMUS QUANTOS DEDERAT.

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

++WE han wel knowen how many g{r}eet[e] harmes {and} destrucc{i}ou{n}s weren doñ by þe Emp{er}oure Nero. ¶ He letee brenne þe citee of Rome {and} made slen þe senato{ur}s. and he cruel somtyme slouȝ hys broþer. {and} he was maked moyst wiþ þe blood of hys modir. þat is to seyn he let sleen {and} slitte{n} þe body of his modir to seen where he was conceiued. {and} he loked[e] on euery half vpon hir colde dede body. ne no tere ne wette his face. but he was so hard herted þat he myȝt[e] ben domesman or Iuge of hire dede beaute. ¶ And ȝitte neuerþeles gouerned[e] þis Nero by Ceptre al þe peoples þat phebus þe sonne may seen comyng from his outerest arysyng til he hidde his bemes vndir þe wawes. ¶ þat is to seyne. he gouerned[e] alle þe peoples by Ceptre imp{er}ial þat þe so{n}ne goþ aboute from est to west ¶ And eke þis Nero goueyrende by Ceptre. alle þe peoples þat ben vndir þe colde sterres þat hyȝten þe seuene triones. þis is to seyn he gouerned[e] alle þe poeples þat ben vndir þe p{ar}ties of þe norþe. ¶ And eke Nero gouerned[e] alle þe poeples þat þe violent wynde Nothus scorchiþ {and} bakiþ þe brennynge sandes by his drie hete. þat is to seyne. alle þe poeples in þe souþe. [but yit ne myhte nat al his heye power torne the woodnesse of this wykkyd nero / Allas it is greuous fortune it is]. as ofte as wicked swerde is ioygned to cruel venym. þat is to sein. venimous cruelte to lordshipe.

TU{M} EGO SCIS INQ{UA}M.

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

++ÞAnne seide I þus. þou wost wel þiself þat þe couetise of mortal þinges ne hadden neuer lordshipe of me. but I haue wel desired matere of þinges to done. as who seiþ. I desired[e] to han matere of gou{er}naunce ouer comunalites. ¶ For vertue stille ne sholde not elden. þat is to seyn. þat list þat or he wex olde ¶ His uertue þat lay now ful stille. ne sholde nat p{er}isshe vnexcercised i{n} gouernaunce of comune. ¶ For whiche men myȝten speke or write{n} of his goode gouernement. ¶ _Philosophie._ ¶ For soþe q{uo}d she. {and} þat is a þing þat may drawen to gouernaunce swiche hertes as ben worþi {and} noble of hir nature. but naþeles it may nat drawen or tollen swiche hertes as ben y-brouȝt to þe ful[le] p{er}fecciou{n} of vertue. þat is to seyn couetyse of glorie {and} renou{n} to han wel administred þe comune þinges. or doon goode decertes to p{ro}fit of þe comune. for se now {and} considere how litel {and} how voide of al prise is þilke glorie. ¶ Certeine þing is as þou hast lerned by demonstrac{i}ou{n} of astronomye þat al þe envyronynge of þe erþe aboute ne halt but þe resou{n} of a prykke at regard of þe gretnesse of heuene. þat is to seye. þat yif þat þer were maked co{m}parisou{n} of þe erþe to þe gretnesse of heuene. men wolde Iugen in alle þat erþe [ne] helde no space ¶ Of þe whiche litel regiou{n} of þis worlde þe ferþe partie is enhabitid wiþ lyuyng beestes þat we knowen. as þou hast þi self lerned by tholome þat p{ro}uitħ it. ¶ yif þou haddest wiþ drawen {and} abated in þi þouȝte fro þilke ferþe partie as myche space as þe see {and} [the] mareys contenen {and} ouergon {and} as myche space as þe regiou{n} of droughte ou{er}streccheþ. þat is to seye sandes {and} desertes wel vnneþ sholde þer dwellen a ryȝt streite place to þe habitaciou{n} of men. {and} ȝe þan þat ben environed {and} closed wiþ i{n}ne þe leest[e] prikke of þilk prikke þenke ȝe to manifesten ȝoure renou{n} {and} don ȝoure name to ben born forþe. but ȝour{e} glorie þat is so narwe {and} so streyt yþronge{n} in to so litel boundes. how myche conteinþe it in largesse {and} in greet doynge. And also sette þis þer to þat many a nac{i}ou{n} dyuerse of tonge {and} of maneres. {and} eke of resou{n} of hir lyuyng ben enhabitid in þe cloos of þilke litel habitacle. ¶ To þe whiche nac{i}ou{n}s what for difficulte of weyes. {and} what for diu{er}site of langages. {and} what for defaute of vnusage entercomunynge of marchau{n}dise. nat only þe names of singler men ne may [nat] strecchen. but eke þe fame of Citees ne may nat strecchen. ¶ At þe last[e] Certis in þe tyme of Marcus tulyus as hym self writeþ in his book þat þe renou{n} of þe comune of Rome ne hadde nat ȝitte passed ne clou{m}ben ou{er} þe mou{n}taigne þat hyȝt Caucasus. {and} ȝitte was þilk tyme rome wel wexen {and} gretly redouted of þe p{ar}thes. and eke of oþer folk enhabityng aboute. ¶ Sest þou nat þan how streit {and} how comp{re}ssed is þilke glorie þat ȝe t{ra}uaile{n} aboute to shew {and} to multiplie. May þan þe glorie of a singlere Romeyne strecchen þider as þe fame of þe name of Rome may nat clymben ne passen. ¶ And eke sest þ{o}u nat þat þe maners of diu{er}se folk {and} eke hir lawes ben discordau{n}t amonge hem self. so þ{a}t þilke þing þat so{m}men iugen worþi of p{re}ysynge. oþer folk iugen þat it is worþi of torment. ¶ and þer of comeþ þat þouȝ a man delite hy{m} in p{re}ysyng of his renou{n}. he ne may nat i{n} no wise bryngen furþe ne sprede{n} his name to many manere peoples. ¶ And þerfore euery man{er} man auȝte to ben paied of hys glorie þat is puplissed among hys owen neyȝbores. ¶ And þilke noble renou{n} shal be restreyned wiþ-i{n}ne þe boundes of o maner folk but how many a man þat was ful noble in his tyme. haþ þe nedy {and} wrecched forȝetynge of writers put oute of mynde {and} don awey. ¶ Al be it so þat certys þilke writynges p{ro}fiten litel. þe whiche writy{n}ges longe {and} derke elde doþ aweye boþe he{m} {and} eke her auto{ur}s. but ȝe men semen to geten ȝow a p{er}durablete whan ȝe þenke þat in tyme comyng ȝoure fame shal lasten. ¶ But naþeles yif þou wilt maken co{m}parisou{n} to þe endeles space of eternite what þing hast þou by whiche þou maist reioysen þe of lo{n}g lastyng of þi name. ¶ For if þer were maked co{m}parysou{n} of þe abidyng of a mome{n}t to ten þousand wynter. for as myche as boþe þo spaces ben endid. ¶ For ȝit haþ þe moment some porciou{n} of hit al þouȝ it a litel be. ¶ But naþeles þilke self nou{m}bre of ȝeres. and eke as many ȝeres as þer to may be multiplied. ne may nat certys be comparisou{n}d to þe p{er}durablete þat is een[de]les. ¶ For of þinges þat han ende may be mad co{m}parisou{n} [but of thinges that ben w{i}t{h}-owtyn ende to thinges þ{a}t han ende may be maked no {com}parysou{n}]. ¶ And for þi is it al þouȝ renou{n} of as longe tyme as euer þe lyst to þinken were þouȝt by þe regard of et{er}nite. þat is vnstauncheable {and} infinit. it ne sholde nat oonly semen litel. but pleinliche ryȝt nouȝt. ¶ But ȝe men certys ne konne don no þing aryȝt. but ȝif it be for þe audience of poeple. {and} for ydel rumo{ur}s. {and} ȝe forsaken þe grete worþinesse of conscience {and} of vertue. {and} ȝe seke{n} ȝoure gerdou{n}s of þe smale wordes of st{ra}nge folke. ¶ Haue now here {and} vndirstonde i{n} þe lyȝtnesse of whiche p{r}ide {and} veyne glorie. how a man scorned[e] festiualy {and} myrily swiche vanite. somtyme þere was a man þat had[de] assaied wiþ striuyng wordes an oþer ma{n}. ¶ þe whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude veyne glorie had[de] take{n} vpon hym falsly þe name of a philosopher. ¶ þis raþer man þat I speke of þouȝt[e] he wolde assay[e] where he þilke were a philosopher or no. þat is to seyne yif he wolde han suffred lyȝtly in pacience þe wro{n}ges þat weren don vnto hym. ¶ þis feined[e] philosophre took pacience a litel while. {and} whan he hadde receiued wordes of outerage he as in stryuynge aȝeine {and} reioysynge of hym self seide at þe last[e] ryȝt þus. ¶ vndirstondest þou nat þat I am a philosophere. þat oþer man answered[e] aȝein ful bityngly {and} seide. ¶ I had[de] wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif þou haddest holde{n} þi tonge stille. ¶ But what is it to þise noble worþi men. For certys of swyche folk speke .I. þat seken glorie wiþ vertue. what is it q{uo}d she. what atteiniþ fame to swiche folk whan þe body is resolued by þe deeþ. atte þe last[e]. ¶ For yif so be þat men dien in al. þat is to seyne body {and} soule. þe whiche þing oure resou{n} defendiþ vs to byleuen þanne is þere no glorie in no wyse. For what sholde þilke glorie ben. for he of who{m} þis glorie is seid to be nis ryȝt nouȝt in no wise. and ȝif þe soule whiche þat haþ in it self science of goode werkes vnbounden fro þe p{r}isou{n} of þe erþe wendeþ frely to þe heuene. dispiseþ it nouȝt þan alle erþely occupac{i}ou{n}s. {and} beynge i{n} heuene reioiseþ þat it is exempt from alle erþely þinges [as wo seith / thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renou{n} of this world].

QUICUMQ{UE} SOLAM MENTE.

[Sidenote: [The 7th Metre.]]

++Who so þat wiþ ouerþrowyng þouȝt only sekeþ glorie of fame. {and} weniþ þat it be souereyne good ¶ Lete hym loke vpon þe brode shewyng contreys of þe heue{n}. {and} vpo{n} þe streite sete of þis erþe. {and} he shal be ashamed of þe encres of his name. þat may nat fulfille þe litel compas of þe erþe. ¶ O what coueiten proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in ydel {and} dedely ȝok of þis worlde. ¶ For al þouȝ [þ{a}t] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples goþ by dyuerse tonges. and al þouȝ grete houses {and} kynredes shyne wiþ clere titles of hono{ur}s. ȝit naþeles deeþ dispiseþ al heye glorie of fame. {and} deeþ wrappeþ to gidre þe heye heuedes {and} þe lowe {and} makeþ egal {and} euene þe heyest[e] to þe lowest[e]. ¶ where wone{n} now þe bones of trewe fabricius. what is now brutus or stiern Caton þe þinne fame ȝit lastynge of hir ydel names is markid wiþ a fewe lettres. but al þouȝ we han knowe{n} þe faire wordes of þe fames of hem. it is nat ȝeuen to knowe he{m} þat ben dede {and} consumpt. Liggiþ þanne stille al vtterly vnknowable ne fame ne makeþ ȝow nat knowe. and yif ȝe wene to lyuen þe leng{er} for wynde of ȝoure mortal name. whan o cruel day shal rauyshe ȝow. þan is þe secunde deeþ dwellyng in ȝow. _Glosa._ þe first deeþ he clepiþ here þe dep{ar}tynge of þe body {and} þe soule. ¶ and þe secunde deeþ he clepeþ as here. þe styntynge of þe renoune of fame.

[SET NE ME INEXORABILE CONTRA.

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

++BVt for-as-mochel as thow shalt nat wenen q{uod} she þ{a}t I bere vntretable batayle ayenis fortune // yit som-tyme it by-falleth þ{a}t she desseyuable desserueth to han ryht good thank of men // {And} þ{a}t is whan she hir{e} self opneth / {and} whan she descou{er}eth hir frownt / {and} sheweth hir maneres p{ar}-auentur{e} yit vndirstondesthow nat þ{a}t .I. shal seye // it is a wondyr þ{a}t .I. desyr{e} to telle / {and} forthi vnnethe may I. vnpleyten my sentense w{i}t{h} wordes for I. deme þ{a}t contraryos fortune p{ro}fiteth mor{e} to men than fortune debonayr{e} // For al-wey whan fortune semeth debonayr{e} than she lyeth falsly in by-hetynge the hope of welefulnesse // but forsothe {con}traryos fortune is alwey sothfast / whan she sheweth hir self vnstable thorw hyr chau{n}gynge // the amyable fortune desseyueth folk / the contrarye fortune techeth // the amyable fortune byndeth w{i}t{h} the beaute of false goodys the hertes of folk þ{a}t vsen he{m} / the contrarye fortune vnbyndeth he{m} by þ^e knowynge of freele welefulnesse // the amyable fortune maysthow sen alwey wyndynge {and} flowynge / {and} eu{er}e mysknowynge of hir self // the contrarye fortune is a-tempre {and} restreynyd {and} wys thorw excersyse of hir aduersyte // at the laste amyable fortune w{i}t{h} hir flaterynges draweth mys wandrynge men fro the souereyne good // the contraryos fortune ledith ofte folk ayein to sothfast goodes / {and} haleth hem ayein as w{i}t{h} an hooke / weenesthow thanne þ{a}t thow owhtest to leten this a lytel thing / þ{a}t this aspre {and} horible fortune hath discoueryd to the / the thowhtes of thy trewe frendes // For-why this ilke fortune hath departyd {and} vncou{er}yd to the bothe the certeyn vysages {and} ek the dowtos visages of thy felawes // wha{n} she dep{ar}tyd awey fro the / she took awey hyr frendes {and} lafte the thyne frendes // now whan thow wer{e} ryche {and} weleful as the semede / w{i}t{h} how mochel woldesthow han bowht the fulle knowynge of this // þ{a}t is to seyn the knowynge of thy verray freendes // now pleyne the nat thanne of Rychesse .I.-lorn syn thow hast fowndyn the moste p{re}syos kynde of Rychesses þ{a}t is to seyn thy verray frendes.

QUOD MU{N}DUS STABILI FIDE.

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

++THat þ^e world w{i}t{h} stable feith / varieth acordable chaungynges // þ{a}t the contraryos qualite of elementȝ holden among{e} hem self aliau{n}ce p{er}durable / þ{a}t pheb{us} the sonne w{i}t{h} his goldene chariet / bryngeth forth the rosene day / þ{a}t the mone hath {com}mau{n}dement ou{er} the nyhtes // whiche nyhtes hesp{er}us the eue sterre hat browt // þ{a}t þ^e se gredy to flowen constreyneth w{i}t{h} a certeyn ende hise floodes / so þ{a}t it is nat l[e]ueful to strechche hise brode termes or bowndes vp-on the erthes // þ{a}t is to seyn to cou{er}e alle the erthe // Al this a-cordau{n}ce of thinges is bownden w{i}t{h} looue / þ{a}t gou{er}neth erthe {and} see / {and} hath also {com}mau{n}dementȝ to the heuenes / {and} yif this looue slakede the brydelis / alle thinges þ{a}t now louen hem to gederes / wolden maken a batayle contynuely {and} stryuen to fordoon the fasou{n} of this worlde / the which they now leden in acordable feith by fayre moeuynges // this looue halt to gideres poeples Ioygned w{i}t{h} an hooly bond / {and} knytteth sacrement of maryages of chaste looues // And loue enditeth lawes to trewe felawes // O weleful weer{e} mankynde / yif thilke loue þ{a}t gouerneth heuene gouerned[e] yowr{e} corages /

EXPLICIT LIB{ER} 2_^us_.

INCIPIT LIB{ER} 3._^us_

IAM CANTU{M} ILLA FINIERAT.

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

++By this she hadde endid hir{e} song{e} / whan the swetnesse of hir{e} ditee hadde thorw p{er}ced me þ{a}t was desirous of herkninge / {and} .I. astoned hadde yit streyhte myn Eres / þ{a}t is to seyn to herkne the bet / what she wolde seye // so þ{a}t a litel her{e} aft{er} .I. seyde thus // O thow þ{a}t art sou{er}eyn comfort of Angwissos corages // So thow hast remou{n}ted {and} norysshed me w{i}t{h} the weyhte of thy sentenses {and} w{i}t{h} delit of thy syngynge // so þ{a}t .I. trowe nat now þ{a}t .I. be vnparygal to the strokes of fortune / as who seyth. I. dar wel now suffren al the assautes of fortune {and} wel deffende me fro hyr // {and} tho remedies whyche þ{a}t thow seydest hir{e} byforn weren ryht sharpe Nat oonly p{a}t .I. am nat agrysen of hem now // but .I. desiros of herynge axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes // than seyde she thus // þ{a}t feelede .I. ful wel q{uod} she // whan þ{a}t thow ententyf {and} stylle rauysshedest my wordes // {and} .I. abood til þ{a}t thow haddest swych habyte of thy thowght as thow hast now // or elles tyl þ{a}t .I. my self had[de] maked to the the same habyt / which þ{a}t is a moore verray thing{e} // And certes the remenau{n}t of thinges þ{a}t ben yit to seye / ben swyche // þ{a}t fyrst whan men tasten hem they ben bytynge / but whan they ben resseyuyd w{i}t{h}-inne a whyht than ben they swete // but for thow seyst þ{a}t thow art so desirous to herkne hem // wit[h] how gret brennynge woldesthow glowen / yif thow wystest whyder .I. wol leden the // whydyr{e} is þ{a}t q{uod} .I. // to thilke verray welefulnesse q{uod} she // of whyche thynge herte dremeth // but for as moche as thy syhte is ocupied {and} distorbed / by Imagynasyon of herthely thynges / thow mayst nat yit sen thilke selue welefulnesse // do q{uod} .I. {and} shewe me / what is thilke verray welefulnesse / .I. preye the w{i}t{h}-howte tarynge // þ{a}t wole .I. gladly don q{uod} she / for the cause of the // but .I. wol fyrst marken the by wordes / {and} I wol enforcen me to enformen the // thilke false cause of blysfulnesse þ{a}t thow more knowest / so þ{a}t whan thow hast fully by-holden thilke false goodes {and} torned thyne eyen to þ{a}t oother syde / thow mowe knowe the clernesse of verray blysfulnesse //]

QUI SERERE I{N}GENIUM.

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

¶ Who so wil sowe a felde plentiuous. lat hym first delyuer it of þornes {and} kerue asondre wiþ his hooke þe bushes {and} þe ferne so þat þe corne may come{n} heuy of eres {and} of greins. hony is þe more swete yif mouþes han firste tastid sauoures þ{a}t ben wikke. ¶ þe sterres shynen more agreably whan þe wynde Nothus letiþ his ploungy blastes. {and} aftir þat lucifer þe day sterre haþ chased awey þe derke nyȝt. þe day þe feir{e}r lediþ þe rosene horse of þe sonne. ¶ Ryȝt so þou byholdyng first þe fals[e] goodes. bygynne to wiþdrawe þi nek[ke] fro þe ȝok of erþely affecc{i}ou{n}s. {and} afterwarde þe verrey goodes sholle{n} entre i{n} to þi corage.

TUNC DEFIXO PAULULU{M}.

[Sidenote: [The 2^de p{ro}se.]]