Part 5

as sory was I as þei þat suffred[e] þe harme. _Glosa._ ¶ Whan þat theodoric þe kyng of 304 gothes in a dere ȝere hadde hys gerners ful of corne {and} comaundede þat no ma{n} ne schold[e] bie no corne til his corne were solde {and} þat at a dere greuous pris. ¶ But I w{i}t{h}stod þat ordinaunce {and} ouer-com it 308 knowy{n}g al þis þe kyng hym self. ¶ Coempciou{n} þat is to seyn comune achat or bying to-gidere þat were establissed vpon poeple by swiche a manere imposiciou{n} as who so bouȝt[e] a busshel corn he most[e] ȝeue þe 312 ky{n}g þe fifte p{ar}t. _Textus._

[Sidenote: I opposed successfully Coemption in Campania.]

¶ Whan it was in þe soure hungry tyme þere was establissed or cried greuous {and} inplitable coempciou{n} þat men seyn wel it schulde greetly to{ur}me{n}tyn {and} endamagen al þe p{ro}uince of 316 co{m}paigne I took strif aȝeins þe p{ro}uost of þe pretorie for comune p{ro}fit. ¶ And þe kyng knowyng of it I ouercom it so þat þe coempciou{n} ne was not axed ne took effect.

[Sidenote: I saved Paulinus out of the hands of the hounds of the palace (_Palatini canes_).]

¶ Paulyn a counseiller of Rome þe rychesse 320 of þe whyche paulyn þe houndys of þe palays. þat is to seyn þe officeres wolde han deuoured by hope {and} couetise ¶ Ȝit drow I hym out of þe Iowes .s. faucib{us} of hem þat gapede{n}.

[Sidenote: I defended Albinus against Cyprian.]

¶ And for as myche as þe peyne 324 of þe accusac{i}ou{n} aiuged byforn ne scholde not sodeynly henten ne punischen wrongfuly Albyn a counseiller of Rome. I put[te] me aȝenis þe hates {and} indignac{i}ou{n}s [[pg 16]] of þe accuso{ur} Ciprian. ¶ Is it not þan ynought yseyn 328 þat I haue p{ur}chased greet[e] discordes aȝeins my self.

[Sidenote: For the love of justice I forfeited all favour at Court.]

but I aughte be more asseured aȝenis alle oþer folk þat for þe loue of ryȝtwisnesse .I. ne reserued[e] neuer no þing to my self to hem ward of þe kynges halle .s. officers. 332 by þe whiche I were þe more syker. ¶ But þoruȝ þe same accuso{ur}s accusyng I am co{n}dempned.

[Linenotes: 300 _drow_--MS. drowe, C. weth drowh _ȝitte_--yit _wrong_--wronge 301 _rychesse_--richesses _þe_ (2)--omitted 302 _harmed eyþer_--harmyd or amenused owther 303 _tributis_--tributȝ _suffred[e]_--suffreden 304 _harme_--harm 305 _ȝere_--yer _hys_--hise 305, 306, 307 _corne_--corn 306 _schold[e] bie_--sholde byen 308 _But I withstod_--Boece withstood (MS. withstode) _com_--MS. come, C. com 311 _swiche_--swich 312 _bouȝt[e]_--bowhte _busshel_--bossel _most[e] ȝeue_--moste yeue 315 _inplitable_--vnplitable _seyn_--sayen 319 _ouercom_--MS. ouercome, C. ouer com 320 _counseiller_--consoler _rychesse_--rychesses 321 _whyche_--which 322 _wolde_--wolden 323 _drow_--MS. drowe, C. drowh 324 _myche_--moche 326 _punischen_--punisse 327 _putt[e]_--putte 328 _yseyn_--MS. yseyne 329 _greet[e]_--grete 330 _aughte be_--owhte be the _oþer_--oothre 333 _by þe whiche_--by which _þoruȝ þe_--thorw tho]

[Headnote: THE ACCUSERS OF BOETHIUS.]

[Sidenote: Boethius makes mention of his accusers, Basilius, Opilio, Gaudentius, men who had been commanded to leave the city on account of their many crimes.]

¶ Of þe noumbre of whiche accuso{ur}s one basilius þat somtyme was chased out of þe kynges seruice. is now co{m}pelled 336 i{n} accusyng of my name for nede of foreine moneye. ¶ Also opilion {and} Gaudenci{us} han accused me. al be it so þat þe Iustice regal hadde su{m}tyme demed hem boþe to go in to exil. for her treccheries {and} fraudes 340 wiþ-outen noumbre. ¶ To whiche iugement þei wolde not obeye. but defended[e] hem by sykernesse of holy houses.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 6.]]

*þat is to seyne fledden in to seyntuaries. {and} whan þis was ap{er}ceiued to þe kyng. he comaunded[e] 344 but þat þei voided[e] þe citee of Rauenne by certeyne day assigned þat men scholde merken hem on þe forheued wiþ an hoke of iren {and} chasen hem out of toune. ¶ Now what þing semeþ þe myȝt[e] be lykned to þis 348 cruelte.

[Sidenote: But, on the day this sentence was to be executed, they accused him, and their testimony against him was accepted.]

For certys þilk same day was receyued þe accusyng of my name by þilk[e] same accuso{ur}s. ¶ What may be seid herto. haþ my studie {and} my konnyng deserued þus. or ellys þe forseide dampnaciou{n} of me. 352 made þat hem ryȝtful accuso{ur}s or no (q.d. no{n}).

[Sidenote: Fortune, if not ashamed at this, might at least blush for the baseness of the accusers.]

¶ Was not fortune asshamed of þis. [Certes alle hadde nat fortune ben asshamyd] þat i{n}nocence was accused. ȝit auȝt[e] sche haue had schame of þe filþe of myn accuso{ur}s. 356

[Linenotes: 335 _whiche_--the whiche _one_--oon _somtyme_--whilom 339 _sumtyme_--whilon 340 _go_--gon _her_--hir 341 _wiþ-outen_--withowte _wolde not_--nolden nat 342 _defended[e]_--defendedyn _by_--by the 343 _seyne_--seyn _seyntuaries_--sentuarye 344 _was_--omitted _comaunded[e]_--comaundede 345 _voided[e]_--voidede _certeyne_--certeyn 346 _men_--me _merken_--marke 347 _hoke of iren_--hoot yren 348 _þe_--omitted _myȝt[e] be_--myhte ben 349 _þilk_--thilke 350 _þilk[e]_--thilke 351 _be_--ben _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd _haþ_--MS. haþe 354, 355 [_Certes----asshamyd_]--from C. 356 _auȝt[e]_--owte _haue had_--han had, MS. hadde]

[[pg 17]] [Headnote: THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BOETHIUS.]

¶ But axest þou in so{m}me of what gilt .I. am accused.

[Sidenote: Boethius says he is accused of trying to save the Senate, and of having embarrassed an informer against the Senate.]

men seyne þat I wolde sauen þe co{m}paignie of þe senato{ur}s. ¶ And desirest þou to here in what manere .I. am accused þat I scholde han distourbed 360 þe accuso{ur} to beren l{ett}res. by whiche he scholde han maked þe senatours gilty aȝeins þe kynges Real maieste. ¶ O meistresse what demest þou of þis. schal .I. forsake þis blame þat I ne be no schame to 364 þe (q. d. no{n}).

[Sidenote: It is true that he tried to save the Senate, for he has and will have its best interests always at heart.]

¶ Certis .I. haue wold it. þat is to seyne þe sauuaciou{n} of þe senat. ne I schal neuer leten to wilne it. {and} þat I confesse {and} am a-knowe. but þe entent of þe accusour to be destourbed schal cese. 368 ¶ For schal I clepe it a felonie þan or a synne þat I haue desired þe sauuaciou{n} of þe ordre of þe senat. and certys ȝit hadde þilk same senat don by me þoruȝ her decretȝ {and} hire iugementys as þouȝ it were a synne 372 or a felonie þat is to seyne to wilne þe sauuaciou{n} of he{m} (.s senat{us}).

[Sidenote: (Folly cannot change the merit of things.]

¶ But folye þat lieth alwey to hym self may not chaunge þe merit of þinges.

[Sidenote: According to Socrates’ judgment it is not lawful to hide the truth nor assent to a falsehood.)]

¶ Ne .I. trowe not by þe iugement of socrates þ{a}t it were leueful 376 to me to hide þe soþe. ne assent[e] to lesynges. ¶ But certys how so euer it be of þis I put[te] it to gessen or p{re}ise{n} to þe iugeme{n}t of þe {and} of wise folk. ¶ Of whiche þing al þe ordinaunce {and} þe soþe for as moche 380 as folk þat ben to comen aftir our{e} dayes scholle{n} knowen it.

[Sidenote: Boethius determines to transmit an account of his prosecution to posterity.]

¶ I haue put it in scripture {and} remembraunce. for touching þe l{ett}res falsly maked. by whiche l{ett}res I am accused to han hooped þe fredom of 384 Rome. What app{er}teneþ me to speken þer-of.

[Sidenote: Boethius says that he could have defeated his accusers had he been allowed the use of their confessions.]

Of whiche l{ett}res þe fraude hadde ben schewed ap{er}tly if I hadde had libertee forto han vsed {and} ben at þe [[pg 18]] co{n}fessiou{n} of myn accuso{ur}s. ¶ Þe whiche þing in 388 alle nedys haþ grete strenkeþ. ¶ For what oþ{er} fredo{m} may men hopen.

[Sidenote: But there is now no remains of liberty to be hoped for.]

Certys I wolde þat some oþ{er} fredom myȝt[e] be hoped. ¶ I wolde þan haue answered by þe wordes of a man þat hyȝt[e] Canius. for whan he was 392 accused by Gayus Cesar Germeins son þat he (cani{us}) was knowyng {and} consentyng of a coniurac{i}ou{n} maked aȝeins hym (.s. Gai{us}). ¶ Þis Canius answered[e] þus. ¶ Yif I had[de] wist it þou haddest not wist it. 396

[Linenotes: 357 _axest þou_--axestow 358 _seyne_--seyn _sauen_--saue 359 _desirest þou_--desires thow _here_--hereen 362 _maked_--MS. maken, C. makyd 363 _demest þou_--demestow 365 _wold_--MS. wolde, C. wold 366 _seyne_--seyn 367 _þat_--omitted _am_--I am 368 _be_--ben 369 _it_--it thanne _þan_--omitted 371 _þilk_--thilke 372 _her_--hir _hire_--hir _þouȝ_--thogh 373 _or_--and _seyne_--seyn 374 _lieth_--MS. lieþe, C. lieth 377 _assent[e]_--assente 381 _schollen_--shellen 382 {and}--{and} in 385 _speken_--speke 385-86 _of----lettres_--C. omits 386 _if_--yif 387 _had_--MS. hade, C. had 388 _myn_--myne 389 _haþ_--MS. haþe, C. hath _grete_--gret _what_--omitted 390 _some_--som 391 _myȝt[e] be_--myhte ben _þan haue_--thanne han 392 _hyȝt[e]_--hyhte 394 _maked_--ymaked 395 _answered[e]_--answerede 396 _had[de]_--hadde]

[Headnote: BOETHIUS COMPLAINS TO PHILOSOPHY.]

[Sidenote: It is not strange that the wicked should conspire against virtue.]

In whiche þing sorwe haþ not so dulled my witte þ{a}t I pleyne oonly þat schrewed[e] folk apparailen folies aȝeins vertues. ¶ But I wondre gretly how þat þei may p{er}forme þinges þat þei had[de] hoped forto 400 done.

[Sidenote: The will to do ill proceeds from the defects of human nature.]

For why. to wylne schrewednesse þat comeþ p{ar}auenture of oure defaute. ¶ But it is lyke to a monstre {and} a meruaille.

[Sidenote: It is a marvel how such evil acts can be done under the eye of an Omniscient God.]

¶ How þat in þe p{re}se{n}t syȝt of god may ben acheued {and} p{er}formed swiche 404 þinges. as euery felonous man haþ conceyued in hys þouȝt aȝeins i{n}nocent. ¶ For whiche þing oon of þi familers not vnskilfully axed þus.

[Sidenote: If there be a God, whence proceeds evil? If there is none, whence arises good?]

¶ Ȝif god is. whennes comen wikked[e] þinges. {and} yif god ne is whennes 408 comen goode þinges. but al hadde it ben leueful þat felonous folk þat now desiren þe bloode {and} þe deeþ of alle goode men. {and} eke of al þe senat han wilned to gone destroien me. whom þei han seyn alwey bataile{n} 412 {and} defenden goode men {and} eke al þe senat. Ȝit hadde I not desserued of þe fadres. þat is to seyne of þe senatours þat þei scholde wilne my destrucc{i}ou{n}.

[Sidenote: Boethius defends the integrity of his life.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 6 _b_.]]

¶ Þou remembrest wele as I gesse þat whan I wolde [[pg 19]] don or *seyn any þing. þou þi self alwey p{re}sent reweledest me. 417

[Sidenote: He defended the Senate at Verona.]

¶ At þe citee of verone wha{n} þat þe kyng gredy of comune slauȝter. caste hym to t{ra}nsporten vpon al þe ordre of þe senat. þe gilt of his real 420 maieste of þe whiche gilt þat albyn was accused. wiþ how grete sykernesse of p{er}il to me defended[e] I al þe senat.

[Sidenote: He spake only the truth, and did not boast.]

¶ Þou wost wel þat I seide soþe. ne I auaunted[e] me neuer in preysyng of my self. 424

[Sidenote: (Boasting lessens the pleasure of a self approving conscience.)]

¶ For alwey when any wyȝt resceiueþ p{re}ciouse renou{n} in auauntyng hym self of hys werkes: he amenusiþ þe secre of hys conscience. ¶ But now þou mayst wel seen to what ende I am comen for myne i{n}nocence. 428

[Linenotes: 397 _whiche_--which _sorwe_--sorw _haþ_--MS. haþe _witte_--wit 398 _schrewed[e]_--shrewede 399 _folies_--felonies _vertues_--vertu 400 _had[de]_--han 401 _done_--don _comeþ_--comth 402 _lyke to a_--lyk a 404 _syȝt_--syhte 405 _haþ_--MS. haþe 406 _innocent_--innocentȝ _whiche_--which 408 _wikked[e]_--wykkede 410 _bloode_--blod 411 _eke_--ek 412 _gone_--gon {and} _seyn_--seyen 413 _eke_--ek 414 _seyne_--seyn 415 _scholde_--sholden 416 _wele_--wel 417 _don_--MS. done, C. doon _seyn_--seyen 418 _þe_ (1)--omitted 419 _slauȝter_--slawhtre 420 _transporten vpon_--transpor vp 422 _grete_--gret _defended[e]_--deffendede 423 _seide soþe_--seye soth 424 _auaunted[e]_--auauntede 425 _when_--whan _preciouse_--presious]

[Headnote: OF HIS FALSE ACCUSERS.]

[Sidenote: But as the reward of his innocence he is made to suffer the punishment due to the blackest crime.]

I receiue peyne of fals felonie in gerdou{n} of verray vertue. ¶ And what open co{n}fessiou{n} of felonie had[de] euer iugis so accordaunt i{n} cruelte. þat is to seyne as myne accusyng haþ. ¶ Þat oþer errour of 432 mans witte or ellys co{n}diciou{n} of fortune þat is vncerteyne to al mortal folk ne submytted[e] su{m}me of he{m}. þat is to seyne þat it ne cheyned[e] su{m}me iuge to han pitee or compassiou{n}. 436

[Sidenote: Had he been accused of a design to burn temples, massacre priests, he would have been allowed to confront his accusers.]

¶ For al þouȝ I had[de] ben accused þat I wolde brenne holy houses. {and} strangle p{re}stys wiþ wicked swerde. ¶ or þat .I. had[de] grayþed deeþ to alle goode men algatis þe sentence scholde han punysched me p{re}sent confessed or co{n}uict.

[Sidenote: But now this is denied him, and he is proscribed and condemned to death.]

¶ But 440 now I am remewed fro þe Citee of rome almost fyue-hundreþ þousand pas. I am wiþ outen defence dampned to p{ro}sc{ri}pciou{n} {and} to þe deeþ. for þe studie {and} bountees þat I haue done to þe senat. ¶ But o wel ben 444 þei worþi of mercye (as who seiþ nay.) þer myȝt[e] neuer ȝit non of hem ben conuicte. Of swiche a blame as [[pg 20]] myn is of swiche t{r}espas myn accuso{ur}s seyen ful wel þe dignitee.

[Linenotes: 429 _in_--for 430 _vertue_--vertu 431 _had[de]_--hadde 432 _seyne_--seyn _myne_--myn _haþ_--MS. haþe 433 _witte_--wit _vncerteyne_--vncerteyn 434 _al_--alle _submytted[e]_--submittede 435 _seyne_--seyn _cheyned[e]_--enclinede 436 _had[de]_--hadde 438 _wicked_--wykkede _had[de]_--hadde 441 _almost_--almest 442 _þousand_--MS. þousas _wiþ outen_--withowte 444 _done_--doon 445 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 446 _ben_--be _swiche_--swich 447 _myn_ (_both_)--myne _swiche_--whiche _seyen_--sayen]

[Headnote: BOETHIUS ACCUSED OF SORCERY.]

[Sidenote: Boethius says that his enemies accused him of sorcery.]

þe wiche dignite for þei wolde derken it 448 wiþ medelyng of some felonye. þei beren me on honde {and} lieden. þat I hadde polute {and} defouled my conscience wiþ sacrelege. for couetise of dignite. ¶ And certys þou þi self þat art plaunted in me chacedest oute 452 þe sege of my corage al couetise of mortal þinges. ne sacrilege ne had[de] no leue to han a place in me byforne þine eyen.

[Sidenote: He affirms that he has always followed the golden maxim of Pythagoras,-- ἕπου Θεῷ.]

¶ For þou drouppedest euery day in myn eer{e}s {and} in my þouȝt þilk comaundement of pictogoras. 456 þat is to seyne men schal seruen to god. {and} not to goddes. ¶ Ne it was no couenaunt ne no nede to taken helpe of þe foulest spirites. ¶ I þat þou hast ordeyned or set in syche excellence þ{a}t [þou] makedest 460 me lyke to god. and ouer þis þe ryȝt clene secre chaumbre of myn house.

[Sidenote: His family and friends could clear him from all suspicion of the crime of sorcery.]

þat is to seye my wijf {and} þe co{m}paignie of myn honeste frendis. {and} my wyues fadir as wel holy as worþi to ben reuerenced þoruȝ 464 hys owen dedis. defenden me of al suspecciou{n} of syche blame. ¶ But o malice. ¶ For þei þat accusen me taken of þe philosophie feiþe of so grete blame.

[Sidenote: Because he has given himself up to Philosophy, his enemies accuse him of using unlawful arts.]

¶ For 467 þei trowen þat .I. haue had affinite to malyfice or enchau{n}tementȝ by cause þat I am replenissed {and} fulfilled wiþ þi techynges. {and} enformed of þi maners. ¶ And þus it sufficeþ not only þat þi reuerence ne auayle me not. but ȝif þat þou of þi fre wille raþer be blemissed 472 wiþ myne offensiou{n}. ¶ But certys to þe harmes þat I haue þere bytydeþ ȝit þis encrece of harme.

[Linenotes: 448 _wolde_--wolden 449 _some_--som _beren_--baren _on honde_--an hand 450 _polute_--polut 451 _sacrelege_--C. _has_ sorcerie _as a gloss to_ sacrilege 453 _al_--alle 454 _had[de]_--hadde _byforne_--byforn 455 _drouppedest_--droppedest _myn_--myne 456 _þilk_--thilke 457 _seyne_--seyn _seruen_--serue _god_--godde 459 _helpe_--help _spirites_--spirite 460 _set_--MS. sette, C. set _syche_--swiche [_þou_]--thow 461 _lyke_--lyk 462 _house_--hows _seye_--seyn 463 _myn_--my 465 _owen_--owne _of al_--from alle _syche_--swich 467 _philosophie_--philosophre _feiþe_--feyth _grete_--gret 468 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had 473 _myne_--myn 474 _þere_--ther _harme_--harm]

[[pg 21]] [Headnote: BOETHIUS DEPLORES THE POPULAR CENSURE.]

þat þe gessinge {and} þe iugement of myche folk ne loken no þing to þe[de]sertys of þinges but only to þe aue{n}t{ur}e 476 of fortune.

[Sidenote: Most people imagine that that only should be judged to be undertaken with prudent foresight which is crowned with success.]

¶ And iugen þat only swiche þinges ben p{ur}ueied of god. whiche þat temporel welefulnesse co{m}mendiþ. _Glosa._ ¶ As þus þat yif a wyȝt haue prosperite. he is a good man {and} worþi to haue þat 480 p{ro}sperite.

[Sidenote: The unfortunate lose the good opinion of the world.]

and who so haþ aduersite he is a wikked man. {and} god haþ forsake hym. {and} he is worþi to haue þat aduersite. ¶ Þis is þe opiniou{n} of so{m}me folke.

[Sidenote: [* Text begins again.]]

*{and} þer of comeþ þat good gessyng. ¶ Fyrste of 484 al þi{n}g forsakeþ wrecches certys it greueþ me to þink[e] ryȝt now þe dyuerse sentences þat þe poeple seiþ of me. ¶ And þus moche I seye þat þe laste charge of contrarious fortune is þis.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 7.]]

*þat whan þat ony blame is 488 laid vpon a caytif. men wenen þat he haþ deserued þat he suffreþ.

[Sidenote: Boethius laments the loss of his dignities and reputation.]

¶ And I þat am put awey fro{m} goode men {and} despoiled from dignitees {and} defoulid of my name by gessyng haue suffred torment for my goode dedis. 492

[Sidenote: The wicked, he says, sin with impunity, while the innocent are deprived of security, protection, and defence.]

¶ Certys me semeþ þat I se þe felonus couines of wikked men abounden in ioie {and} in gladnes. ¶ And I se þat euery lorel shapiþ hy{m} to fynde oute newe fraudes forto accusen goode folke. and I se þat goode 496 men ben ou{er}þrowen for drede of my p{er}il. ¶ and euery luxurious to{ur}mentour dar don alle felonie vnpunissed {and} ben excited þerto by ȝiftes. and i{n}nocentȝ ne ben not oonly despoiled of sykernesse but of defence 500 {and} þerfore me list to crien to god in þis manere.

[Linenotes: 475 _myche_--moche 476 _þe[de]sertys_--the desertȝ 479 _Glosa_--glose 480 _good_--MS. goode, C. good _haue_--han 481 _so_--omitted in C. 481, 482 _haþ_--MS. haþe 483 _haue_--han 484 _Fyrste_--fyrst 485 _al_--alle _þink[e]_--thinke 488 _ony_--any 489 _laid_--MS. laide, C. leyd _haþ_--MS. haþe 490 _put_--MS. putte, C. put 491 _from_--of 494 _abounden_--habownden _gladnes_--gladnesse 495 _oute_--owt 496 _accusen_--accuse 497 _ben_--beth 501 _manere_--wise]

[Headnote: THE CRUEL CHANGES OF FORTUNE]

O STELLIFERI CONDITOR ORBIS.

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

[Sidenote: Author of the starry sky, Thou, seated on high, turnest the spheres, and imposest laws upon the stars and planets.]

++O þou maker of þe whele þat bereþ þe sterres. whiche þat art fastned to þi p{er}durable chayere. {and} turnest þe heuene wiþ a rauyssyng sweigh{e} {and} {con}streinest [[pg 22]] þe sterres to suffren þi lawe. ¶ So þ{a}t þe 505 mone somtyme schynyng wiþ hir ful hornes metyng wiþ alle þe bemes of þe sonne.

[Sidenote: The sun obscures the lesser lights, and quenches even the moon’s light.]

¶ Hir broþer hideþ þe sterres þat ben lasse. {and} somtyme whan þe mone 508 pale wiþ hir derke hornes approcheþ þe sonne. leesith hir lyȝtes.

[Sidenote: Thou raisest Hesperus to usher in the shades of night, and again causest him to be the harbinger of day, whence his name Lucifer.]

¶ And þat þe euesterre esperus whiche þat in þe first[e] tyme of þe nyȝt bryngeþ furþe hir colde arysynges comeþ eft aȝeynes hir vsed cours. {and} 512 is pale by þe morwe at þe rysynge of þe sonne. and is þan cleped lucifer. ¶ Þou restreinest þe day by schorter dwellyng in þe tyme of colde wynter þat makeþ þe leues to falle. ¶ Þou diuidest þe swifte tides of þe 516 nyȝt when þe hote somer is comen.

[Sidenote: Thou controllest the changing seasons of the year.]

¶ Þi myȝt attempre[þ] þo variau{n}tȝ sesons of þe ȝere. so þat ȝepherus þe deboneire wynde bringeþ aȝein in þe first[e] somer sesou{n} þe leues þat þe wynde þat hyȝt[e] boreas 520 haþ reft awey in autu{m}pne. þat is to seyne in þe laste eende of somer. and þe sedes þat þe sterre þat hyȝt arctur{us} saw ben waxen hey[e] cornes whan þe sterre sirius eschaufeþ hym. 524

[Sidenote: All nature is bound by thy eternal law.]

¶ Þere nis no þing vnbounde from hys olde lawe ne forleteþ hym of hys p{ro}pre estat.