Part 6

[Linenotes: 502 _whele_--whel _whiche_--which 503 _fastned_--yfastned _chayere_--chayer 504 _sweighe_--sweyh _constreinest_, MS. contreuiest, C. constreynest 506 _hir_--her{e} 508 _lasse_--lesse 510 _esperus whiche_--hesperus which 511 _first[e]_--fyrste _furþe_--forth 512 _eft_--est 514 _restreinest_--MS. restreniest 516 _to_--omitted 518 _attempre[þ] þo_--atempreth the _sesons_--sesoun _ȝere_--yer 519 _wynde bringeþ_--wynd brengeth 520 _wynde_--wynd _hyȝt[e]_--hihte 521 _reft_--MS. refte, C. reft _seyne_--seyn 522 _hyȝt_--hihte _arcturus_--MS. aritur{us} 523 _saw_--MS. saweþ, C. sawgh _hey[e]_--hyye 524 _hym_--hem _þere_--ther _þing_--thinge 525 _from_--fram _forleteþ hym of_--forleetheth þe werke of]

[Headnote: CONTRASTED WITH THE ORDER OF NATURE.]

[Sidenote: Why, then, leavest thou man’s actions uncontrolled?]

¶ O þou gouerno{ur} gouernyng alle þinges by certeyne ende. why refusest þou oonly to gouerne þe werkes of men by dewe manere.

[Sidenote: Why should fickle fortune be allowed to work such mighty changes in the world?]

¶ Whi suffrest þ{o}u þat slidyng 528 fortune turneþ to grete vtter chaungynges of þinges. so þat anoious peyne þat scholde duelly punissh{e} felouns punissitȝ innocentȝ.

[Sidenote: The wicked are prosperous, while the righteous are in adversity.]

¶ And folk of wikked[e] man{er}es sitten in heiȝe chaiers. {and} anoienge folk 532 treden {and} þat vnryȝtfully in þe nekkes of holy men. [[pg 23]] ¶ And vertue clere {and} schynyng naturely is hid in dirke dirkenesses. {and} þe ryȝtful man beriþ þe blame {and} þe peyne of þe felowne. ¶ Ne þe forsweryng ne 536 þe fraude couered {and} kembd wiþ a fals colo{ur} ne a-noyeþ not to schrewes. ¶ Þe whiche schrewes whan hem lyst to vsen her strengþe þei reioisen hem to putte{n} vndir hem þe souerayne kynges. whiche þ{a}t 540 poeple wiþ[outen] noumbre dreden.

[Sidenote: O thou that bindest the disagreeing elements, look upon this wretched earth, and, as thou dost govern the spacious heavens, so let the earth be firmly bound.]

¶ O þou what so euer þou be þat knyttes[t] alle bondes of þinges loke on þise wrecched[e] erþes. we men þat ben nat a foule party but a faire party of so grete a werke we 544 ben turmentid in þe see of fortune. ¶ Þou gouerno{ur} wiþdraw {and} restreyne þe rauyssinge flodes {and} fastne {and} forme þise erþes stable wiþ þilke [bonde] wiþ whiche þou gouernest þe heuene þat is so large. 548

[Linenotes: 527 _refusest þou_--refowsestow 529 _to----þinges_--so grete entrechaunginges of thynges 531 _punissitȝ_--punysshe _wikked[e]_--wykkede 532 _heiȝe_--heer{e} 533 _in_--oon 534 {and}--omitted 536 _Ne þe forsweryng_--Ne forswerynge 537 _kembd_--MS. kembde, C. kembd 541 _wiþ[outen]_--withhowtyn 542 _knyttes[t]_--knyttest 543 _wrecched[e]_--wrecchede 544 _a_ (2)--omitted 545 _þe_--this 546 _wiþdraw_--MS. wiþdrawe, C. withdrawh _þe_--thei 547 _forme_--ferme [_bonde_]--from C. _wiþ_--by]

[Headnote: PHILOSOPHY CONSOLES BOETHIUS,]

HIC UBI CONTINUATO DOLORE.

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

[Sidenote: Philosophy consoles Boethius.]

++Whan I hadde wiþ a continuel sorwe sobbed or broken out þise þinges sche wiþ hir chere peisible {and} no þi{n}g amoeued. wiþ my compleyntes seide þ{us}. whan I say þe q{uod} sche sorweful {and} wepyng I wist[e] 552 on-one þat þou were a wrecche {and} exiled. but I wist[e] neuer how fer þine exile was: ȝif þi tale ne hadde schewed it to me. but certys al be þou fer fro þi contre.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 7 _b_.]]

þou nart *nat put out of it. but þou hast 556 fayled of þi weye {and} gon amys.

[Sidenote: She speaks to him of his country.]

¶ and yif þou hast leuer forto wene þan þou be put out of þi contre. þan hast þou put oute þi self raþer þen ony oþer wyȝt haþ.

[Linenotes: 550 _broken_--borken 552 _wist[e]_--wyste 553 _on-one_--anon 554 _wist[e]_--wyste _fer_--ferr{e} 555 _ne hadde_--nadde 557 _gon_--MS. gone, C. gon 558 _leuer_--leuer{e} 558, 559 _put_--MS. putte, C. put 559 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote: AND PROPOSES TO ADMINISTER REMEDIES.]

¶ For no wyȝt but þi self ne myȝt[e] neuer haue don 560 þat to þe. [[pg 24]]

[Sidenote: She reminds him that he is a citizen of a country not governed by a giddy multitude, but εἷς κοίρανός ἐστιν, εἷς βασιλεύς.]

¶ For ȝif þou remembre of what contre þou art born. it nis not gou{er}ned by emp{er}oures. ne by gouernement of multitude. as weren þe contres of hem of athenes. ¶ But o lorde {and} o kyng {and} þat is god 564 þat is lorde of þi contree. whiche þat reioiseþ hym of þe dwellyng of hys Citeȝenis. {and} not forto putte hem in exile. Of þe whiche lorde it is a souerayne fredom to be gouerned by þe bridel of hym and obeie to his 568 iustice.

[Sidenote: The Commonwealth of Boethius.]

¶ Hast þou forȝeten þilke ryȝt olde lawe of þi Citee. in þe whiche Citee it is ordeyned {and} establissed þat what wyȝt þat haþ leuer founden þer i{n}ne hys sete or hys house. þen ellys where: he may not be exiled 572 by no ryȝt fro þat place. ¶ For who so þat is co{n}tened in-wiþ þe paleis [{and} the clos] of þilke Citee. þer nis no drede þat he may deserue to ben exiled. ¶ But who þat letteþ þe wille forto enhabit[e] þere. he forleteþ 576 also to deserue to ben Citeȝein of þilke Citee.

[Sidenote: Philosophy says she is moved more by the looks of Boethius than by his gloomy prison.]

¶ So þat I seye þat þe face of þis place ne amoeueþ me nat so myche as þine owen face. Ne .I. ne axe not raþer þe walles of þi librarie apparailled {and} wrouȝt 580 wiþ yvory {and} wiþ glas þan after þe sete of þi þouȝt.

[Sidenote: Books are to be valued on account of the _thoughts_ they contain.]

In whiche I putte nat somtyme bookes. but .I. putte þat þat makeþ bookes worþi of p{ri}s or p{re}cious þat is to sein þe sentence of my books. ¶ {And} certeinly of 584 þi dec{er}tes by-stowed in co{m}mune good. þou hast seid soþe but after þe multitude of þi goode dedys. þou hast seid fewe. {and} of þe vnhonestee or falsnesse of þinges þat ben opposed aȝeins þe. þou hast remembred þinges 588 þat be{n} knowe to alle folk.

[Sidenote: Boethius has rightfully and briefly recounted the frauds of his accusers.]

and of þe felonies {and} fraudes of þine accuso{ur}s. it semeþ þe haue I-touched it forsoþe ryȝtfully {and} schortly. ¶ Al myȝten þo same þinges bettere {and} more plentiuousely be couth [[pg 25]] in þe mouþe of þe poeple þ{a}t knoweþ al þis. ¶ Þou 593 hast eke blamed gretly {and} compleyned of þe wrongful dede of þe senat. ¶ And þou hast sorwed for my blame.

[Sidenote: Thou hast, said Philosophy, bewailed the loss of thy good name, thou hast complained against Fortune, and against the unequal distribution of rewards and punishments.]

{and} þou hast wepen for þe damage of þi renoune 596 þat is appaired. {and} þi laste sorwe eschaufed aȝeins fortune {and} co{m}pleinest þat gerdou{n}s ne ben not euenliche ȝolde to þe desertes of folk. {and} in þe l{att}re ende of þi woode muse þou p{r}iedest þ{a}t þilke pees þat 600 gouerneþ þe heuene scholde gou{er}ne þe erþe ¶ But for þat many tribulac{i}ou{n}s of affecc{i}ou{n}s han assailed þe. {and} sorwe {and} Ire {and} wepyng todrawen þee dyuersely

[Sidenote: Strong medicines are not proper for thee now, distracted by grief, anger, and sadness.]

¶ As þou art now feble of þouȝt. myȝtyer 604 remedies ne schullen not ȝit touchen þe for whiche we wil[e] vsen somedel lyȝter medicines.

[Sidenote: Light medicines must prepare thee for sharper remedies.]

So þat þilk[e] passiou{n}s þat ben woxen harde in swellyng by p{er}turbac{i}ou{n} folowyng in to þi þouȝt mowen woxe esy 608 {and} softe to receyue{n} þe strenkeþ of a more myȝty {and} more egre medicine by an esier touchyng.

[Linenotes: 560 _myȝt[e]_--myhte _haue_--han _don_--MS. done, C. don 562 _born_--MS. borne, C. born 566 _hys_--hise _putte_--put 568 _be_--ben 571 _haþ_--MS. haþe 572 _house_--hows 574 [_and----clos_]--from C. 576 _wille_--wyl _enhabit[e]_--enhabyte 578 _seye_--sey _amoeueþ_--moueth 579 _myche_--mochel _owen_--owne _ne_ (2)--omitted 582 _putte_ (_both_)--put _somtyme_--whilom 585 _decertes_--desertes _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyde 586 _soþe_--soth 587 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd 588 _opposed_--aposyd 599 _knowe_--knowyn 592 _be couth_--MS. be couth{e}, C. ben cowth 596 _wepen_--wopen 597 _laste_--last _eschaufed_--eschaufede 598 _not_--omitted 599 _ȝolde_--yolden 602 _many_--manye 604 _myȝtyer_--myhtyer{e} 605 _whiche_--which 606 _wil[e]_--wol _lyȝter_--lyhter{e} _þilk[e]_--thilke 607 _harde_--hard 608 _folowyng_--Flowyng _woxe_--wexen 610 _esier_--esyer{e}]

[Headnote: PHILOSOPHY QUESTIONS BOETHIUS.]

CU{M} PHEBI RADIIS G{RA}UE CA{N}C{R}I SID{US} ENESTUAT.

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

[Sidenote: He who sows his seed when the sun is in the Sign of Cancer, must look for no produce.]

++Whan þat þe heuy sterre of þe cancre eschaufeþ by þe beme of pheb{us}. þat is to seyne whan þat pheb{us} 612 þe sonne is in þe signe of þe Cancre. Who so ȝeueþ þan largely hys sedes to þe feldes þat refuse to receiuen hem. lete hym gon bygyled of trust þat he hadde to hys corn. to acorns or okes.

[Sidenote: Think not to ingather violets in the wintry and stormy season.]

yif þou wilt 616 gadre violettȝ. ne go þou not to þe purp{er} wode whan þe felde chirkynge agriseþ of colde by þe felnesse of þe wynde þat hyȝt aquilon

[Sidenote: If you wish for wine in autumn let the tendrils of the vine be free in the spring.]

Yif þou desirest or ¶ wolt vsen grapes ne seke þou nat wiþ a gloto{n}us hande [[pg 26]] to streine {and} p{re}sse þe stalkes of þe vine in þe first 621 somer sesou{n}. for bachus þe god of wyne haþ raþer ȝeuen his ȝiftes to autu{m}pne þe latter ende of somer.

[Sidenote: To every work God assigns a proper time, nor suffers anything to pass its bounds.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 8.]]

¶ God tokeniþ {and} assigneþ *þe tymes. ablyng hem 624 to her p{ro}pre offices. ¶ Ne he ne suffreþ not stoundes whiche þat hym self haþ deuided {and} co{n}streined to be medeled to gidre

[Sidenote: Success does not await him who departs from the appointed order of things.]

¶ And forþi he þat forleteþ certeyne ordinaunce of doynge by ou{er}þrowyng wey. 628 he ne haþ no glade issue or ende of hys werkes.

[Linenotes: 612 _beme_--beemes _seyne_--seyn 614 _hys_--hise _refuse_--refusen 615 after _hem_ C. adds [s. corn] _lete hym gon_ (MS. _gone_)--lat hym gon 616 _or_--of _wilt gadre_--wolt gadery 618 _felde_--feeld _felnesse_--felnesses 619 _hyȝt_--hyhte 620 _hande_--hond 622 _haþ_--MS. haþe 625 _her propre_--heer{e} propres _not_--nat the 626 _haþ_--MS. haþe 627 _be medeled_--ben I-medled 628 _certeyne_--certeyn 629 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote: DISCOVERS THE CAUSE OF HIS DISTEMPER.]

PRIMU{M} IGITUR PATERIS ROGACIONIB{US}.

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

[Sidenote: Philosophy proposes to question Boethius.]

++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 632 me q{uod} .I. atte þi wille what þou wilt. {and} I schal answer{e}.

[Sidenote: _P._ Is the world governed by Chance?]

¶ 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 636 gouerneme{n}t of resou{n}.

[Sidenote: _B._ By no means. The Creator presides over his own works.]

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.

[Sidenote: I shall never swerve from this opinion.]

Ne neuer nas 640 ȝit day þat myȝt[e] putte me oute of þe soþenesse of þat sentence.

[Sidenote: _P._ Yes! Thou didst say as much when thou didst declare man alone to be destitute of divine care.]

¶ 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 644 god. ¶ For of alle oþer þinges þou ne doutest nat þat þei nere gouerned by reso{n}.

[Sidenote: Still thou seemest to labour under some defect even in this conviction.]

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 648 depper. I coniecte þat þere lakkeþ I not what. [[pg 27]]

[Sidenote: Tell me how the world is governed.]

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.

[Sidenote: _B._ I do not thoroughly comprehend your question.]

¶ vnneþ q{uod} .I. knowe 652 .I. þe sente{n}ce of þi q{ue}stiou{n}. so þat I ne may nat ȝit answeren to þi demaundes.

[Sidenote: _P._ I was not deceived, then, when I said there was some defect in thy sentiment.]

¶ 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 656 as þe strengþe of þe paleys schynyng is open.

[Sidenote: Tell me what is the chief end of all things; and whither all things tend.]

¶ 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 660 haþ dulled my memorie. ¶ Certys q{uod} sche þou wost wel whe{n}nes þat alle þinges ben comen {and} p{ro}ceded.

[Sidenote: _B._ God is the beginning of all things.]

I wot wel q{uod} .I. {and} ansewered[e] þat god is þe bygynnyng of al.

[Sidenote: _P._ How, then, art thou ignorant of their end?]

¶ And how may þis be 664 q{uod} sche þat siþen þ{o}u knowest þe bygynnyng of þinges. þat þou ne knowest not what is þe endyng of þinges.

[Sidenote: But it is the nature of these perturbations (which thou endurest) to unsettle men’s minds.]

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 668 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.

[Sidenote: Dost thou remember that thou art a man?]

¶ Remembrest þou þat 672 þou art a man

[Sidenote: _B._ Certainly I do.]

¶ _Boice._ ¶ Whi scholde I nat remembre þat q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ What is man?]

_Philosophie._ ¶ Maiste þou not telle me þan q{uod} sche what þing is a man.

[Sidenote: _B._ If you ask me whether I am a rational and mortal creature, I know and confess I am.]

¶ Axest not me q{uod} I. wheþir þat be a resonable best mortel. I 676 wot wel {and} I confesse wel þat I am it.

[Sidenote: _P._ But dost thou not know that thou art more than this?]

¶ Wistest þou neuer ȝit þat þou were ony oþer þing q{uod} she.

[Linenotes: 630 _wolt þou_--woltow _stat_--estat 633 _atte_--at _wilt_--wolt 635 _worlde_--world _foolisshe_--foolyssh 636 _fortunes_--fortunows 638 _scholde_--sholden 639 _wot_--MS. wote, C. woot 641 _myȝt[e] putte_--myhte put 644 _put_--MS. putte 645 _doutest_--dowtedest 646 _how_--owh 647 _seek siþen_--syk{e} syn 648 _put_--MS. putte, C. put 649 _depper_--depper{e} _not what_--not ner{e} what 650 _siþen_--syn _worlde_--world 651 _takest þou_--takestow 658 _seye_--sey _remembrest þou_--remenbres thow _ouȝt_--omitted 659 _al_--alle 660 _herd told_--MS. herde tolde _herd told it_--herd yt toold 661 _haþ_--MS. haþe 663 _proceded_--procedeth _ansewered[e]_--answerede 664 _þe_--omitted _al_--alle 665 _siþen_--syn 668 _fro_--owt of 669 _seyne from_--seyn fro 672 _Remembrest þou_--Remenbresthow 674 _Maiste þou_--Maysthow 675 _þan_--þanne _þing_--thinge _Axest_--Axestow 677 _Wistest þou_--wystesthow 678 _þing_--thinge]

[[pg 28]] [Headnote: BOETHIUS NEEDS LIGHT REMEDIES.]

[Sidenote: _B._ No.]

No q{uod} .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Now I know the principal cause of thy distemper.]

now wot I q{uod} she oþer cause of þi maladie {and} þat ryȝt grete ¶ Þou hast left forto 680 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.

[Sidenote: Thou hast lost the knowledge of thyself, thou knowest not the end of things, and hast forgotten how the world is governed.]

¶ Forwhy for þou art co{n}founded wiþ forȝetyng of þi self. forþi sorwest 684 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 688 is gouerned. ¶ Forþi wenest þou þat þise mutac{i}ou{n}s of fortune fleten wiþ oute{n} gouerno{ur}.

[Sidenote: These are not only great occasions of disease, but also causes of death itself.]

þise ben grete causes not oonly to maladie. but certes grete causes to deeþ

[Sidenote: I thank God that Reason hath not wholly deserted thee.]

¶ But I þanke þe auctour {and} þe makere of 692 heele þat nat{ur}e haþ not al forleten þe.

[Sidenote: I have some hope of thy recovery since thou believest that the world is under Divine Providence, for this small spark shall produce vital heat.]

{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.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 8 _b_.]]

þat þou byleuest þat þe gou{er}nynge of it nis nat subgit ne vnderput 696 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.

[Sidenote: But as this is not the time for stronger remedies, and because it is natural to embrace false opinions so soon as we have laid aside the true, from whence arises a mist that darkens the understanding, I shall endeavour therefore to dissipate these vapours so that you may perceive the true light.]

¶ But for as muche as it is not tyme ȝitte of fastere remedies 700 ¶ 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 704 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 708 of verray lyȝt.

[Linenotes: 680 _hast left_--MS. haste lefte, C. hast left 681 _knowe_--knowen _pleynelyche knowen_--pleynly fwonde [= founde] 684 _sorwest þou_--sorwistow 686 _for[þi] demest [þou]_--For thy demesthow 687 _wikked_--MS. wilked, C. wykkyd 688 _worlde_--world 689 _wenest þou_--wenestow 690 _outen_--owte 693 _haþ_--MS. haþe _al_--alle 694 _þi_--thin 696 _vnderput_--vndyrputte 697 _to_ (2)--omitted 698 _fore_--for _noþing_--nothinge 699 _spark þine heet_--sparke thin hete 700 _muche_--meche 702 _aweye_--away 703 [_of----opyniouns_]--from C. 705 _insyȝt_--insyhte _say_--assaye 706 _lyȝt_--lyhte 708 _don_--MS. don{e} _mow[e]_--mowe]

[[pg 29]] [Headnote: HE IS NOT TO TAKE HIS LOSSES TO HEART.]

NUBIB{US} ATRIS CONDITA.

[Sidenote: [The seuende Metyr.]]

[Sidenote: Black clouds obscure the light of the stars.]

++ÞE sterres cou{er}ed wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowen geten a dou{n} no lyȝt.

[Sidenote: If the south wind renders the sea tempestuous, the waves, fouled with mud, will lose their glassy clearness.]

Ȝif þe trouble wy{n}de þat hyȝt auster stormynge {and} walwy{n}g þe see medleþ þe 712 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. 716 {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. 720

[Sidenote: If thou wouldst see truth by the clearest light, pursue the path of right.]

¶ And forþi yif þou wilt loken {and} demen soþe wiþ clere lyȝt. {and} holde þe weye wiþ a ryȝt paþe.

[Sidenote: Away with joy, fear, hope, and sorrow.]

¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þe drede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe ap{ro}che.

[Sidenote: Let none of these passions cloud thy mind.]

þat is to sein lat noon of þise four passiou{n}s ouer come þe. 724 or blynde þe.

[Sidenote: Where these things control, the soul is bound by strong fetters.]

for cloudy {and} dirke is þilk þouȝt {and} bounde w{i}t{h} bridles. where as þise þinges regnen.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS.

[Linenotes: 710 _blak[e]_--blake 712 _stormynge_--turnyng 713 _from_--fro 714 _somtyme_--whilom 715 _lyke_--lyk _fair[e]----wiþstant_ (MS. wiþstante)--fayr{e} cleer{e} dayes {and} brihte withstand 716 _syȝtes_--syhtes 717 _streme_--strem 718 _heyȝe_--hy 720 _from some_--fram som _wilt_--wolt 721 _soþe_--soth _clere_--cleer _holde_--holden 722 _weye_--wey _paþe_--paath 724 _come_--comen 725 _blynde_--blende _þilk_--thilke]

[Headnote: PHILOSOPHY EXHIBITS TO BOETHIUS THE WILES OF FORTUNE.]

INCIPIT LIBER SECUNDUS.

POSTEA [PAU]LISPER CONTICUIT.

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

[Sidenote: Philosophy exhorts Boethius not to torment himself on account of his losses.]

++After þis she stynte a litel. and after þat she hadde gadred by atempre stillenesse myn attenciou{n} she 728 seide þus.

[Sidenote: Thou art, she says, affected by the loss of thy former fortune.]