Part 41

++Þan seide I þus I confesse {and} am aknowe q{uo}d I. ne I ne se nat þat men may seyn as by ryȝt. þ{a}t shrewes ne ben nat chaunged in to beestes by þe qualite of hir soules. ¶ Al be it so þ{a}t þei kepen ȝitte þe forme of þe body of mankynde. but I nolde nat of shrewes of whiche þe þouȝt cruel woodeþ alwey in to destrucc{i}ou{n} of good[e] men. þat it wer{e} leueful to hem to done þat. ¶ Certys q{uo}d she ne it nis nat leueful to hem as I shal wel shewen þe in couenable place. ¶ But naþeles yif so were þat þilke þat me{n} wene{n} ben leueful for shrewes were bynomen hem. so þat þei ne myȝten nat anoyen or don harme to goode men. ¶ Certys a gret p{ar}ty of þe peyne to shrewes shulde ben allegged {and} releued. ¶ For al be it so þ{a}t þis ne seme nat credible þing p{er}auent{ur}e to so{m}me folk ȝit mot it nedes be þat shrewes ben more wrecches {and} vnsely. whan þei may don {and} p{er}forme þat þei coueiten [than yif they myhte nat complyssen þ{a}t they coueyten]. ¶ For yif so be þat it be wrecchednesse to wilne to don yuel[;] þan is it more wrecchednesse to mowen don yuel. wiþ oute whiche moeuyng þe wrecched wille sholde languisshe wiþ oute effecte. ¶ þan syn þat eueryche of þise þinges haþ hys wrecchednesse. þat is to seyne wil to done yuel. and moeuynge to done yuel. it mot nedes be. þat þei (shrewes) ben constreyned by þre vnselynesses þat wolen {and} mowen {and} p{er}formen felonyes {and} shrewednesses. ¶ I accorde me q{uo}d I. but I desire gretely þat shrewes losten sone þilke vnselynesses. þat is to seyne þat shrewes were despoyled of moeuyng to don yuel. ¶ so shulle{n} þei q{uo}d she. sonnere p{er}auenture þen þ{o}u woldest or sonnere þen þei hem self wenen to lakken mowynge to done yuel. ¶ For þere nis no þing so late in so short bou{n}des of þis lijf þat is longe to abide. namelyche to a corage inmortel. Of whiche shrewes þe grete hope {and} þe heye co{m}passy{n}g{us} of shrewednesse is often destroyed by a sodeyne ende or þei ben war. {and} þat þing establiþ to shrewes þe ende of hir shrewednesse. ¶ For yif þat shrewednesse makiþe wrecches. þan mot he nedes be most wrecched þat lengest is a shrewe. þe whiche wicked shrewes wolde ydemen aldirmost vnsely {and} caytifs yif þat hir shrewednes ne were yfinissed. at þe leste weye by þe outerest[e] deeþ. for [yif] I haue concluded soþe of þe vnselynesse of shrewednesse. þan sheweþ it clerely þat þilke shrewednesse is wiþ outen ende þe whiche is certeyne to ben p{er}durable. ¶ Certys q{uo}d I þis [conclusion] is harde {and} wonderful to graunte. ¶ But I knowe wel þat it accordeþ moche to [the] þi{n}ges þat I haue graunted her byforne. ¶ þou hast q{uo}d she þe ryȝt estimac{i}ou{n} of þis. but who so euere wene þat it be an harde þing to acorde hym to a conclusiou{n}. it is ryȝt þat he shewe þat so{m}me of þe p{re}misses ben fals. or ellys he mot shewe þat þe colasiou{n} of p{re}posic{i}ou{n}s nis nat spedful to a necessarie conclusio{n}. ¶ and yif it be nat so. but þat þe p{re}misses ben yg{ra}nted þer nis nat whi he sholde blame þe argument. for þis þing þat I shal telle þe nowe ne shal not seme lasse wondirful. but of þe þinges þat ben taken al so it is necessarie as who so seiþ it folweþ of þat whiche þat is p{ur}posed byforn. what is þat q{uo}d I. ¶ certys q{uo}d she þat is þat þ{a}t þise wicked shrewes ben more blysful or ellys lasse wrecches. þat byen þe tourmentes þat þei han deserued. þan yif no peyne of Iustice ne chastied[e] hem. ne þis ne seye I nat now for þat any man myȝt[e] þenk[e] þat þe maneres of shrewes ben coriged {and} chastised by veniaunce. {and} þat þei ben brouȝt to þe ryȝt wey by þe drede of þe tourment. ne for þat þei ȝeuen to oþer folk ensample to fleyen fro{m} vices. ¶ But I vndirstonde ȝitte [in] an oþer manere þat shrewes ben more vnsely whan þei ne ben nat punissed al be it so þat þere ne ben had no resou{n} or lawe of correcc{i}ou{n}. ne none ensample of lokynge. ¶ And what manere shal þat ben q{uo}d I. ouþer þan haþ ben told here byforn ¶ Haue we nat graunted þan q{uo}d she þat good[e] folk ben blysful. {and} shrewes ben wrecches. ȝis q{uo}d I. [thanne q{uod} she] ȝif þat any good were added to þe wrecchenesse of any wyȝt. nis he nat more blisful þan he þat ne haþ no medelyng of goode in hys solitarie wrecchednesse. so semeþ it q{uo}d I. and what seyst þou þan q{uo}d she of þilke wrecche þat lakkeþ alle goodes. so þat no goode nis medeled in hys wrecchednesse. {and} ȝitte ouer alle hys wickednesse for whiche he is a wrecche þat þer be ȝitte anoþer yuel anexid {and} knyt to hym. shal not men demen hym more vnsely þan þilke wrecche of whiche þe vnselynesse is re[le]ued by þe p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} of som goode. whi sholde he nat q{uo}d I. ¶ þan certys q{uo}d she han shrewes whan þei ben punissed somwhat of good anexid to hir wrecchednesse. þat is to seyne þe same peyne þat þei suffren whiche þat is good by þe resou{n} of Iustice. And whan þilke same shrewes ascapen wiþ outen tourment. þan han þei somwhat more of yuel ȝit ouer þe wickednesse þat þei han don. þat is to seye defaute of peyne. whiche defaute of peyne þou hast graunted is yuel. ¶ For þe desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it q{uo}d I. ¶ Moche more þan q{uo}d she ben shrewes vnsely whan þei ben wrongfully delyuered fro peyne. þan whan þei beþ punissed by ryȝtful vengeaunce. but þis is open þi{n}g {and} clere þat it is ryȝt þat shrewes ben punissed. {and} it is wickednesse {and} wrong þat þei escapin vnpunissed. ¶ who myȝt[e] denye þat q{uo}d I. but q{uo}d she may any ma{n} denye. þat al þat is ryȝt nis good. {and} also þe contrarie. þat alle þat is wrong nis wicked. certys q{uo}d I þise þinges ben clere ynouȝ. {and} þat we han concludid a litel here byforn{e}. but I p{re}ye þe þat þou telle me yif þou accordest to leten no to{ur}ment to þe soules aftir þat þe body is dedid by þe deþe. þis [is] to seyn. vndirstondest þou ouȝt þat soules han any to{ur}ment after þe deþe of þe body. ¶ Certis q{uo}d she ȝe {and} þat ryȝt grete. of whiche soules q{uo}d she I trowe þat so{m}me ben to{ur}mentid by asprenesse of peyne. {and} so{m}me soules I trowe be exc{er}cised by a p{ur}ging mekenesse. but my conseil nys nat to determyne of þis peyne. but I haue trauayled and told it hider to. ¶ For þou sholdest knowe þat þe mowynge [.i. myght] of shrewes whiche mowynge þe semeþ to ben. vnworþi nis no mowynge. {and} eke of shrewes of whiche þou pleynedest þat þei ne were nat punissed. þat þou woldest seen þat þei ne weren neuer mo wiþ outen þe torment of hire wickednesse. {and} of þe licence of mowynge to done yuel. þat þou p{re}idest þat it myȝt[e] sone ben endid. {and} þat þou woldest fayne lerne. þat it ne sholde nat longe endure. {and} þat shrewes ben more vnsely yif þei were of lenger duryng. {and} most vnsely yif þei weren p{er}durable. {and} after þis I haue shewed þe þat more vnsely ben shrewes whan þei escapen wiþ oute ryȝtful peyne. þan whan þei ben punissed by ryȝtful uengeaunce. and of þis sentence folweþ it þat þan be{n} shrewes constreyned atte laste wiþ most greuous tourment. whan men wene þat þei ne ben nat ypunissed. whan I considre þi resou{n}s q{uo}d I. I. ne trowe nat þat men seyn any þing more verrely. {and} yif I to{ur}ne aȝeyn to þe studies of men. who is [he] to who{m} it sholde seme þat [he] ne sholde nat only leue{n} þise þinges. but eke gladly herkene he{m}. Certys q{uo}d she so it is. but men may nat. for þei han hire eyen so wont to derkenesse of erþely þinges. þat þei may nat liften hem vp to þe lyȝt of clere soþefastnes. ¶ But þei ben lyke to briddes of whiche þe nyȝt lyȝtneþ hyre lookyng. {and} þe day blyndeþ hem. for whan men loken nat þe ordre of þinges but hire lustes {and} talentȝ. þei wene þat oþir þe leue or þe mowynge to done wickednesse or ellys þe escapi{n}g wiþ oute peyne be weleful. but co{n}sider{e} þe iugement of þe p{er}durable lawe. for if þou conferme þi corage to þe beste þinges. þou ne hast no nede to no iuge to ȝiue{n} þe p{r}is or meede. for þou hast ioigned þi self to þe most excellent þing. and yif þou haue enclined þi studies to þe wicked þinges. ne seek no foreyn wrekere out of þi self. for þou þi self hast þrest þe in to wicked þinges. ryȝt as þou myȝtest loken by dyuerse tymes þe foule erþe {and} þe heuene. {and} þat alle oþer þinges stynten fro wiþ oute. so þat þou [ner{e} neyther in heuene ne in erthe] ne say[e] no þing more. þan sholde it semen to þe as by only resou{n} of lokynge. þat þou were in þe sterres. {and} now in þe erþe. but þe poeple ne lokeþ nat on þise þinges. what þan shal we þan app{ro}chen vs to hem þat I haue shewed þat þei ben lyke to þe bestes. (q. d. no{n}) ¶ And what wilt þou seyne of þis ¶ yif þat a man hadde al forlorn hys syȝt. {and} had[de] forȝeten þat he euer saw {and} wende þ{a}t no þing ne fayled[e] hym of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of ma{n}kynde. now we þat myȝten sen þe same þing wolde we nat wene þat he were bly{n}de (q. d. sic). ne also ne accordeþ nat þe poeple to þat I shal seyne. þe whiche þing is susteyned by a stronge foundement of resou{n}s. þat is to seyn þat more vnsely ben þei þat don wrong to oþer folk. þen þei þat þe wrong suffren. ¶ I wolde heren þilke same resou{n}s q{uo}d I ¶ Deniest þou q{uo}d she þat alle shrewes ne ben worþi to han to{ur}ment. nay q{uo}d I. but q{uo}d she I am certeyne by many resou{n}s þat shrewes ben vnsely. it accordeþ q{uo}d I. þan [ne] dowtest þou nat q{uo}d she þat þilke folk þat ben worþi of to{ur}ment þat þei ne ben wrecches. It accordeþ wel q{uo}d I. yif þou were þan q{uo}d she yset a Iuge or a knower of þinges. wheþer trowest þou þ{a}t men sholde to{ur}ment[e] hym þat haþ don þe wronge. or hym þat haþ suffred þe wronge. I ne doute nat q{uo}d I. þat I nolde don suffissaunt satisfacc{i}ou{n} to hym þat had[de] suffred þe wrong by þe sorwe of hym þat had[de] don þe wronge. ¶ þan semeþ it q{uo}d she þat þe doar of wrong is more wrecche þan he þat haþ suffred þe wrong. þat folweþ wel q{uo}d [I]. þan q{uo}d she by þise causes {and} by oþer causes þat ben enforced by þe same roate þat filþe or synne by þe p{ro}pre nature of it makeþ men wretches. {and} it sheweþ wel þat þe wrong þat me{n} don nis nat þe wrecchenesse of hym þat receyueþ þe wrong. but þe wrecchednesse of hym þat doþ þe wronge ¶ but certys q{uo}d she þise orato{ur}s or aduocatȝ don al þe contrarie for þei enforcen hem to co{m}moeue þe iuges to han pite of he{m} þat han suffred {and} resceyued þe þinges þat ben greuous {and} aspre. {and} ȝitte men sholden more ryȝtfully han pitee on hem þat don þe greuaunces {and} þe wronges. þe whiche shrewes it were a more couenable þing þat þe accuso{ur}s or aduocatȝ not wroþe but pitous {and} debonaire ladden þe shrewes þat han don wro{n}g to þe Iugement. ryȝt as men leden seke folk to þe leche. for þat þei sholden seken out þe maladies of synne by to{ur}mentȝ. and by þis couenaunt eyþer þe entent of þe defendo{ur}s or aduocatȝ sholde fayle {and} cesen in al. or ellys yif þe office of aduocatȝ wolde bettre p{ro}fiten to men. it sholde be to{ur}ned in to þe habit of accusac{i}ou{n}. þat is [to] s[e]yn þei sholde{n} accuse shrewes. {and} nat excuse hem. {and} eke þe shrewes hem self. ȝit it were leueful to hem to seen at any clifte þe vertue þat þei han forleten. {and} sawen þat þei sholde putten adou{n} þe filþes of hire vices by [the] to{ur}mentȝ of peynes. þei ne auȝten nat ryȝt for þe reco{m}pensac{i}ou{n} forto geten hem bounte {and} prowesse whiche þat þei han lost demen ne holden þat þilke peynes weren to{ur}mentes to hem. {and} eke þei wolden refuse þe attendau{n}ce of hir aduocatȝ {and} taken hem self to hire iuges {and} to hir accusours. for whiche it bytideþ [þ{a}t] as to þe wise folk þer nis no place ylete to hate. þat is to seyn. þat hate ne haþ no place amonges wise men. ¶ For no wyȝt wolde haten gode men. but yif he were ouer moche a fole. ¶ and forto haten shrewes it nis no resou{n}. ¶ For ryȝt so as languissing is maladie of body. ryȝt so ben vices {and} sy{n}ne maladies of corage. ¶ and so as we ne deme nat þat þei þat ben seek of hire body ben worþi to ben hated. but raþer worþi of pite. wel more worþi nat to ben hated. but forto ben had in pite ben þei of whiche þe þouȝtes ben constreined by felonous wickednesse. þat is more cruel þa{n} any languissinge of body.

QUID TANTOS IUUAT.

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

++What deliteþ it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges of hatredes {and} to hasten {and} bisien [the] fatal disposic{i}ou{n} of ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure p{ro}pre handes. þat is to seyn by batailes or [by] contek. for yif ȝe axen þe deeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ ne tarieþ nat hys swifte hors. and [the] men þat þe serpentȝ {and} þe lyou{n}s. {and} þe tigre. {and} þe beere {and} þe boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit þilke same men seken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde. loo for her man{er}s ben diuerse {and} discordaunt ¶ þei moeuen vnryȝtful oostes {and} cruel batailes. {and} wilne to p{er}isse by enterchaungynge of dartes. but þe resou{n} of cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful. wilt þou þan ȝelden a couenable gerdou{n} to þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfully goode folk[;] {and} haue pite on shrewes.

HINC EGO UIDEO INQ{UA}M. {ET} CET{ERA}.

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

++Þus see I wel q{uo}d I. eyþer what blisfulnesse or ellys what vnselinesse is estab[l]issed in þe desertys of goode men {and} of shrewes. ¶ but in þis ilke fortune of poeple I see somwhat of goode. {and} somwhat of yuel. for no wise man haþ nat leuer ben exiled pore {and} nedy {and} nameles. þan forto dwellen in hys Citee {and} flouren of rychesses. {and} be redoutable by honoure. {and} stronge of power for in þis wise more clerely {and} more witnesfully is þe office of wise men ytretid whan þe blisfulnes {and} [the] pouste of gouerno{ur}s is as it were yshad amonges poeples þat ben neyȝboures {and} subgitȝ. syn þat namely prisou{n} lawe {and} þise oþer to{ur}mentȝ of lawful peynes ben raþer owed to felonous Citeȝeins. for þe whiche felonous Citeȝeins þo peynes ben establissed. þan for goode folk. ¶ þan I m{er}ueile me gretly q{uo}d I. whi [þ{a}t] þe þinges ben so mys entrechaunged. þat to{ur}mentȝ felounes pressen {and} confounden goode folk. {and} shrewes rauyssen medes of vertue {and} ben i{n} hono{ur}s. {and} in grete estatis. and I desire eke to wite{n} of þe. what semeþ þe to ben þe resou{n} of þis so wrongful a confusiou{n} ¶ For I wolde wondre wel þe lasse yif I trowed[e] þat alle þise þinges were medeled by fortuouse hap. ¶ But now hepeþ {and} encreseþ myne astonyenge god gouerno{ur} of þinges. þat so as god ȝeueþ ofte tymes to good[e] men goodes {and} myrþes. {and} to shrewes yuel and aspre þinges. {and} ȝeueþ aȝeynewarde to goode folk hardnesse. {and} to shrewes [he] g{ra}unteþ hem her wille {and} þat þei desiren. what difference þan may þer be bitwixen þ{a}t þat god doþ. {and} þe hap of fortune. yif men ne knowe nat þe cause whi þat [it] is. it nis no merueile q{uo}d she þouȝ þat men wenen þat þer be somwhat folysche and confus whan þe resou{n} of þe order is vnknowe. ¶ But alle þouȝ þou ne know nat þe cause of so gret a disposic{i}ou{n}. naþeles for as moche as god þe good[e] gouernour attempreþ {and} gouerneþ þe world. ne doute þe nat þat alle þinges ne ben doon aryȝt.

SI QUIS ARCTURI SYDERA.

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

++Who so þat ne knowe nat þe sterres of arctour yto{ur}ned neye to þe souereyne contre or point. þat is to seyne yto{ur}ned neye to þe souereyne pool of þe firmament {and} woot nat whi þe sterre boetes passeþ or gaderiþ his wey[n]es. {and} drencheþ his late flaumbes in þe see. {and} whi þat boetes þe sterre vnfoldiþ his ouer swifte arisynges. þan shal he wo{n}dre{n} of þe lawe of þe heye eyre. {and} eke if þat he ne knowe nat why þat þe hornes of þe ful[le] moene waxen pale {and} infect by þe bou{n}des of þe derke nyȝt ¶ and how þe moene dirk {and} confuse discouereþ þe sterres. þat she had[de] ycouered by hir clere visage. þe co{m}mune errour moeueþ folk {and} makiþ wery hir bacines of bras by þikke strookes. þat is to seyne þat þer is a maner poeple þat hyȝt[e] coribandes þat wenen þat whan þe moone is in þe eclips þat it be enchau{n}tid. and þerfore forto rescowe þe moone þei betyn hire basines wiþ þikke strokes. ¶ Ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe blastes of þe wynde chorus betyn þe strondes of þe see by quakynge floodes. ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe weyȝte of þe snowe yhardid by þe colde. is resolued by þe brennynge hete of phebus þe sonne. ¶ For here seen men redyly þe causes. but þe causes yhid þat is to seye in heuene trouble þe brestes of men. ¶ þe moeueable poeple is a-stoned of alle þinges þat comen selde {and} sodeynely in oure age. but yif þe troubly errour of oure ignora{n}ce departid[e] from vs. so þat we wisten þe causes whi þat swiche þinges bitiden. certys þei sholde{n} cesse to seme wondres.

ITA EST INQ{UA}M.

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