Part 8

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 932 aȝeyne þi curac{i}ou{n}.

[Sidenote: When time serves, I will administer those things that shall reach the seat of your disease.]

¶ For whan þat tyme is. I shal moue swiche þinges þat p{er}cen hem self depe.

[Sidenote: But you are not among the number of the wretched.]

¶ But naþeles þ{a}t þou shalt not wilne to leten þi self a wrecche. ¶ Hast þou forȝeten þe nou{m}bre {and} þe 936 manere of þi welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: I shall not speak of your happiness in being provided for (in your orphanage) by the chief men of the city; nor of your noble alliance with Festus and Symmachus;]

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. 940 ¶ And þou bygu{n}ne raþer to ben leef {and} deere þan 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 944 wiþ so grete a nobley of þi fadres in lawe.

[Sidenote: nor of your virtuous wife, and manly sons.]

¶ {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. 948 ¶ 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 952 welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: Can you ever forget the memorable day that saw your two sons invested with the dignity of Consuls?]

¶ 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 956 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 [[pg 38]] of kynges p{re}ysinges. deseruedest glorie of wit {and} of 960 eloquence.

[Sidenote: When in the circus you satisfied the expectant multitude with a triumphal largess?]

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. 964

[Sidenote: By your expressions you flattered Fortune, and obtained from her a gift which never before fell to any private person.]

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 968 had of fortune a ȝifte þat is to seyn swiche gerdou{n} þat she neu[er]e ȝaf to p{re}ue man

[Sidenote: Will you therefore call Fortune to account?]

¶ Wilt þou þerfore leye a rekenyng wiþ fortune.

[Sidenote: She now begins, I own, to look unkindly on you; but if you consider the number of your blessings, you must confess that you are still happy.]

she haþ now twynkeled first vpon þe wiþ a wykked eye. ¶ Yif þou considere 972 þe nou{m}bre {and} þe manere of þi blysses. {and} of þi sorwes.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 10 _b_.]]

*þou maist nat forsake þat þou nart ȝit blysful.

[Linenotes: 918 [_nat_]--from C. 919 _if_--yif 920 _mayist_--mayst _tellen_--defendyn 921 _ȝeue_--yeuyn 922 _þan_--thanne _ben_--bet (= beth) 923 _swetnesse_--swetenesse 924 _while_--whil _herd_--MS. herde 926 _harme_--harm 928 _mowe_--mowen 929 _soun[e]_-sowne 930 _inset_--MS. insette, C. inset 932 _sorwe_--sorwes 933 _aȝeyne_--ayein 934 _moue swiche_--moeue swych 938 _souerayn_--sou{er}ane 943 _neyȝbour_--neysshebo{ur} 944 _nere_--were 945 _nobley_--nobleye _fadres_--fadyr-is 947 _seyne_--seyn 948 _lyst_--lyste _passe of_--passen the 949 _þouȝt_--yowthe 950 _warned_--werned 952 _fruyt_--frute _price_--p{r}is 953 _Myȝtest þow_--myhtes-thow 954 _harme_--harm _myȝt[e] byfallen_--myhte befalle 955 _sey[e]_--saye 956 _from_--fro _gret_--MS. grete, C. gret 958 _say[e]_--saye _sette_--set _her_--heer{e} 961 _bytwix_--bytwyen 962 _hyȝt_--hihte 963 _of_ (1)--of the _about_--abowten 964 _wiþ_--w{i}t{h} so 965 _ȝaue_--MS. þan, C. yaue _of_--to 966 _seyne_--seyn 967 _accoied[e]_--acoyede 968 _norsshed[e]_--noryssede _owen_--owne _þou----of_--thow bar away of 969 _had_--MS. hadde _swiche_--swich 970 _preue_--pryue 971 _leye_--lye _haþ_--MS. haþe 972 _wykked_--wyckede 973 _blysses_--blysse 974 _forsake_--forsakyn _nart_--art _blysful_--blysseful]

[Headnote: ADVERSITY IS BUT TRANSIENT.]

[Sidenote: These evils that you suffer are but transitory.]

For if þou þerfore wenest þi self nat weleful for þinges þat þo semeden ioyful ben passed. ¶ Þer nis nat whi 976 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.

[Sidenote: Can there be any stability in human affairs, when the life of man is exposed to dissolution every hour?]

or trowest þou þ{a}t any stedfastnesse be in mannis 980 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.

[Sidenote: The last day of life puts an end to Prosperity.]

ȝit naþeles þe last[e] day 984 of a ma{n}nis lijf is a man{er}e deeþ to fortune. {and} also to þilke þat haþ dwelt.

[Sidenote: What matters it then, whether you by death leave it, or it (Fortune) by flight doth leave you?]

{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. 988

[Linenotes: 978 _soory_--sorye _firste_--fyrst 979 _sodeyne_--sodeyn _shadowe_--shadwe 980 _stedfastnesse_--stedefastnesse 981 _swifte_--swyft _dissolueþ_--dyssoluede 983 _al þouȝ þat_--al þ{a}t thowgh _fortunous_--fortune 984 _willen dwelle_--wolen dwellyn _last[e]_--laste 986 _haþ_--MS. haþe _wenist þou_--weenestow 987 _þar recche_--dar recke 988 _awey_--away]

[[pg 39]] [Headnote: MANY BLESSINGS STILL REMAIN.]

CUM PRIMO POLO.

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

[Sidenote: The stars pale before the light of the rising sun.]

++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 992 sonne is risen þe day sterre wexiþ pale {and} lesiþ hir lyȝt for þe grete bryȝtnesse of þe sonne.

[Sidenote: Westerly winds deck the wood with roses, but easterly winds cause their beauty to fade.]

¶ Whan þe wode wexeþ redy of rosene floures in þe first somer sesou{n} þoruȝ þe breþe of þe wynde Zephirus þat wexeþ 996 warme. ¶ Yif þe cloudy wynde auster blowe felliche. þan goþ awey þe fayrnesse of þornes.

[Sidenote: Now the sea is calm, and again it is tempestuous.]

Ofte þe see is clere {and} calme wiþoute moeuy{n}g floodes. And ofte þe horrible wynde aq{u}ilon moeueþ boylyng tempestes 1000 {and} ouer whelweþ þe see.

[Sidenote: If all things thus vary, will you trust in transitory riches?]

¶ 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. 1004

[Sidenote: All here below is unstedfast and unstable.]

It is certeyne {and} establissed by lawe p{er}durable þat no þi{n}g þ{a}t is engendred nys stedfast no stable.

[Linenotes: 989 _his_--hyr 990 _þan_--thanne 991 _flamus_--flambes 995 _redy_--rody _rosene_--rosyn 997 _warme_--warm 998 _goþ_--MS. goþe, C. goth _fayrnesse_--fayrenesse 999 _clere_--cleer _calme_--kalm 1000 _wynde_--wynd 1001 _whelweþ_--welueeth 1002 [_ȝeelde_]--from C. 1003, 1004 _wilt þou_--wolthow 1003 _þan_--thanne _trublynge_--towmbly{n}ge 1004 _in flittyng_--on flettynge 1005 _It is_--is it 1006 _no_--ne _stable_--estable]

[Headnote: MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.]

TUNC EGO UERA INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The ferthe prose.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot deny my sudden and early prosperity.]

++ÞAnne seide I þus. O norice of alle uertues þou seist ful soþe. ¶ Ne I may nat forsake þe ryȝt[e] 1008 swifte cours of my p{ro}speritee. þat is to seine. þat p{ro}speritee ne be comen to me wondir swiftly {and} soone. but þis is a þing þat gretly smertiþ me whan it remembreþ me.

[Sidenote: It is the remembrance of former happiness that adds most to man’s infelicity.]

¶ For in alle aduersitees of fortune þe 1012 most vnsely kynde of contrariouse fortune is to han ben weleful.

[Sidenote: _P._ Recollect that you have yet much affluence.]

¶ But þat þou q{uo}d she abaist þus þe to{ur}ment of þi fals[e] opiniou{n} þat maist þou not ryȝtfully blamen ne aretten to þinges. as who seiþ for þou [[pg 40]] hast ȝitte many habundaunces of þinges. ¶ _Textus._ 1017 For al be it so þat þe ydel name of auenterouse welefulnesse moeueþ þe now. it is leueful þat þou rekene w{i}t{h} me of how many[e] þinges þou hast ȝit plentee. 1020

[Sidenote: What you esteemed most precious in your happy days, you still retain, and ought therefore not to complain.]

¶ And þerfore yif þat þilke þing þat þou haddest for most p{re}cious in alle þi rycchesse of fortune be kept to þe by þe grace of god vnwemmed {and} vndefouled. Mayst þou þa{n} pleyne ryȝtfully vpon þe myschief of fortune. 1024 syn þou hast ȝit þi best[e] þinges. ¶ Certys ȝit lyueþ in goode poynt þilke p{re}cious hono{ur} of mankynde.

[Sidenote: Symmachus, dear to you as life, is safe and in health.]

¶ Symacus þi wyues fadir whiche þat is a man maked al of sapience {and} of vertue. þe whiche 1028 man þou woldest b[i]en redely wiþ þe pris of þin owen lijf. he byweyleþ þe wronges þat men don to þee. {and} not for hym self. for he liueþ in sykernesse of any sentence put aȝeins him.

[Sidenote: Your wife Rusticiana is also alive, and bewails her separation from you.]

¶ And ȝit lyueþ þi wif þat 1032 is attempre of witte {and} passyng oþer women in clennes of chastitee. and for I wol closen shortly her bountes she is lyke to hir fadir. I telle þe welle þat she lyueþ looþ of hir life. {and} kepiþ to þee oonly hir goost. {and} 1036 is al maat {and} ouer-comen by wepyng {and} sorwe for desire of þe ¶ In þe whiche þing only I mot graunten þat þi welefulnesse is amenused.

[Sidenote: Why need I mention your two sons, in whom so much of the wit and spirit of their sire and grandsire doth shine?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 11.]]

¶ What shal I seyn eke of þi two sones conseillours of whiche as of children 1040 of hir age þer shineþ *þe lyknesse of þe witte of hir fadir {and} of hir eldefadir.

[Sidenote: And since it is the chief care of man to preserve life; you are still most happy in the possession of blessings which all men value more than life.]

and siþen þe souereyn cure of alle mortel folke is to sauen hir owe{n} lyues.

[Linenotes: 1008 _soþe_--soth _Ne I may_--Ne I ne may 1009 _seine_--seyn 1011 _a_--omitted _gretly_--gretely 1012 _aduersitees_--adu{er}syte 1013 _most_--mooste 1014 _abaist_--abyest 1015 _tourment_--tormentȝ _fals[e]_--false 1016 _seiþ_--MS. seiþe, C. seyh 1017 _ȝitte_--yit 1019 _leueful_--leefful 1020 _many[e] þinges_--manye grete thinges 1022 _alle_--al 1023 _þe by_--the yit by 1024 _myschief_--meschef 1025 _best[e]_--beste 1026 _lyueþ_--leueth _goode_--good 1027 _whiche_--which 1028 _al_--alle _of_ (2)--omitted 1029 _b[i]en_--byen _owen_--owne 1030 _byweyleþ_--bewayleth _don_--MS. done, C. don 1031 _liueþ_--leueth 1033 _witte_--wyt _women_--wymmen 1034 _shortly_--shortely 1035 _lyke_--lik _welle_--wel 1036 _hir life_--this lyf 1037 _maat_--maad 1038 _whiche_--weche 1039 _amenused_--amenyssed _seyn_--(MS. seyne) seyn 1041 _lyknesse_--lykenesse _witte_--wyt 1042 {and} (1)--or _eldefadir_--eldyr fadyr _siþen_--syn 1043 _folke_--folk]

[Headnote: THE CONDITION OF HUMAN BLISS.]

¶ O how weleful art þou þouȝ þou knowe þi goodes. 1044 ¶ But ȝitte ben þer þinges dwelly{n}g to þe wardes þat no [[pg 41]] man douteþ þat þei ne ben more derworþe to þe þen þine owen lijf.

[Sidenote: Dry up thy tears, thou hast still present comfort and hope of future felicity.]

¶ And forþi drie þi teres for ȝitte nys nat eueriche fortune al hateful to þe warde. ne ou{er} 1048 greet tempest haþ nat ȝit fallen vpon þe. whan þat þin ancres cliue fast[e] þat neiþer wole suffre þe comfort of þis tyme p{re}sent. ne þe hope of tyme comynge to passen ne to falle{n}.

[Sidenote: _B._ I hope these will never fail me.]

¶ And I p{re}ie q{uod} I þat fast[e] mot[en] 1052 þei holden. ¶ For whiles þat þei halden. how so eu{er}e þat þinges ben. I shal wel fleten furþe and eschapen.

[Sidenote: But do you not see how low I am fallen?]

¶ But þou mayst wel seen how greet[e] apparailes {and} aray þat me lakkeþ þat ben passed awey fro me. 1056

[Sidenote: _P._ I should think that I had made progress if you did not repine so at your fate.]

¶ I haue su{m}what auau{n}ced {and} forþered þe q{uod} she. if þat þou anoie nat or forþenke nat of al þi fortune. As who seiþ. ¶ I haue somwhat comforted þe so þat þou tempest nat þe þus wiþ al þi fortune. syn þou hast 1060 ȝit þi best[e] þinges.

[Sidenote: It grieves me to hear you complain while you possess so many comforts.]

¶ But I may nat suffre þin delices. þat pleinst so wepyng. {and} anguissous for þat oþer lakkeþ somwhat to þi welefulnesse.

[Sidenote: Every one, however happy, has something to complain of.]

¶ For what man is so sad or of so p{er}fit welefulnesse. þat he ne 1064 stryueþ or pleyneþ on some half aȝeine þe qualitee of his estat.

[Sidenote: The condition of human enjoyment is anxious; for either it comes not all at once, or makes no long stay when it does come.]

¶ For whi ful anguissous þing is þe condiciou{n} of mans goodes. ¶ For eyþer it comeþ al to gidre to a wyȝt. or ellys it lasteþ not p{er}petuely. 1068

[Linenotes: 1044 _art þou þouȝ_--arthow yif 1045 _But ȝitte_--for yit _dwellyng_--dwellyd _wardes_--ward 1046 _þat_--than _derworþe_--dereworthe _þen þine_--than thin 1047 _ȝitte_--yit 1049 _haþ_--MS. haþe _þin_--thyne 1050 _cliue fast[e]_--cleuen faste _wole suffre_--wolen suffren 1052 _fallen_--faylen _fast[e] mot[en]_--faste moten 1053 _holden_--halden 1054 _furþe_--forth 1055 _mayst_--mayste _greet[e]_--grete 1058 _forþenke_--forthinke 1061 _best[e]_--beste _suffre þin_--suffren thi 1063 _oþer_--ther 1064 _perfit_--parfyt 1065 _or_--and _some half aȝeine_--som halue ayen 1067 _mans_--mannes _comeþ al_--comth nat al 1068 _lasteþ_--last _perpetuely_--p{er}petuel]

[Headnote: HAPPINESS ARISES FROM CONTENTMENT.]

[Sidenote: One man is very wealthy, but his birth is obscure.]

¶ For som man haþ grete rycchesse. but he is asshamed of hys vngentil lynage.

[Sidenote: Another is conspicuous for nobility of descent, but is surrounded by indigence.]

{and} som man is renomed of noblesse of kynrede. but he is enclosed in so grete angre for nede of þinges. þat hym were leuer þat 1072 he were vnknowe.

[Sidenote: A third is blest with both advantages, but is unmarried.]

and som ma{n} habundeþ boþe i{n} rychesse {and} noblesse. but ȝit he bywaileþ hys chast[e] lijf. for he haþ no wijf. [[pg 42]]

[Sidenote: This man is happy in a wife, but is childless, while that other man has the joy of children, but is mortified by their evil ways.]

¶ and som man is wel {and} selily maried but he haþ no children. {and} norissheþ his 1076 ricchesse to þe heires of straunge folk. ¶ And som man is gladded wiþ children. but he wepiþ ful sory for þe trespas of his son or of his douȝtir.

[Sidenote: Thus we see that no man can agree easily with the state of his fortune.]

¶ and for þis þer accordeþ no wyȝt lyȝtly to þe condic{i}ou{n} of his fortune. 1080 for alwey to euery man þere is i{n} mest somwhat þat vnassaieþ he ne wot not or ellys he drediþ þat he haþ assaied.

[Sidenote: The senses of the happy are refined and delicate, and they are impatient if anything is untoward.]

¶ {And} adde þis also þat euery weleful man haþ a wel delicat felyng. ¶ So þat but yif alle 1084 þinges fallen at hys owen wille for he inpacient or is nat vsed to han none aduersitee. an-oone he is þrowe adoũne for euery lytel þing.

[Sidenote: The happiness of the most fortunate depends on trifles.]

¶ And ful lytel þinges ben þo þat wiþdrawen þe so{m}me or þe p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of 1088 blisfulnesse fro hem þat ben most fortunat.

[Sidenote: How many would think themselves in heaven if they had only a part of the remnant of thy fortune!]

¶ How many men trowest þou wolde demen hem self to ben almost in heuene yif þei myȝten atteyne to þe leest[e] p{ar}tie of þe remenaunt of þi fortune. ¶ Þis same place 1092 þat þou clepist exil is contre to hem þat enhabiten here.

[Sidenote: Thy miseries proceed from the thought that thou art miserable.]

{and} forþi. Noþing wrecched. but whan þou wenest it

[Sidenote: Every lot may be happy to the man who bears his condition with equanimity and courage.]

¶ As who seiþ. þouȝ þi self ne no wyȝt ellys nys no wrecche but whan he weneþ hym self a 1096 wrecche by reputac{i}ou{n} of his corage.

[Linenotes: 1069 _rycchesse_--Rychesses 1070 _renomed_--renowned 1072 _angre for_--Angwysshe of _leuer_--leu{er}e 1074 _chast[e]_--caste 1075, 1076 _haþ_--MS. haþe 1076 _maried_--ymaryed _his_--hise 1077 _ricchesse_--Rychesses _heires_--eyres _folk_--foolkys 1080 _þer_--þ{er} ne 1081 _mest_--omitted 1082 _vnassaieþ_--vnassaied _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot 1083, 1084 _haþ_--MS. haþe 1084 _wel_--ful 1085 _fallen_--byfalle _wille_--wyl 1086 _none_--non _an-oone_--Anon _þrowe_--throwen 1087 _adoũne_--adou{n} 1090 _wolde_--wolden 1095 _it_--hyt _who_--ho 1096 _no_--a]

[Headnote: THE SOURCE OF TRUE HAPPINESS.]

CONTRAQ{UE}.

[Sidenote: When patience is lost then a change of state is desired.]

++And aȝeinewarde al fortune is blisful to a man by þe agreablete or by þe egalite of hym þat suffreþ it. ¶ What man is þat. þat is so weleful þat nolde chau{n}ge{n} 1100 his estat whan he haþ lorn pacience. þe swetnesse of mannes welefulnesse is yspranid wiþ many[e] bitternesses. þe whiche welefulnesse al þouȝ it seme swete {and} [[pg 43]] ioyeful to hym þat vseþ it. ȝit may it not be wiþ-holden 1104 þat it ne goþ away whan it wol.

[Sidenote: How much is human felicity embittered!]

¶ Þan is it wel sen how wrecched is þe blisfulnesse of mortel þinges.

[Sidenote: It will not stay with those that endure their lot with equanimity, nor bring comfort to anxious minds.]

þat neiþ{er} it dwelliþ p{er}petuel wiþ hem þat euery fortune receyuen agreablely or egaly. ¶ Ne it ne deliteþ not in 1108 al. to hem þat ben anguissous.

[Sidenote: Why then, O mortals, do ye seek abroad for that felicity which is to be found within yourselves?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 11 _b_.]]

¶ O ye mortel folkes what seke *ȝe þan blisfulnesse oute of ȝoure self. whiche þat is put in ȝoure self. Erro{ur} {and} folie co{n}fou{n}deþ ȝow ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly. þe poynt of souereyne 1112 blisfulnesse.

[Sidenote: Nothing is more precious than thyself.]

Is þer any þing to þe more p{re}ciouse þan þi self ¶ Þou wilt answere nay.

[Sidenote: If thou hast command over thyself, Fortune cannot deprive thee of it.]

¶ Þan if it so be þat þou art myȝty ouer þi self þat is to seyn by tranquillitee of þi soule. þan hast þou þing i{n} þi power þat þou 1116 noldest neuer lesen. ne fortune may nat by-nyme it þe.

[Sidenote: Happiness does not consist in things transitory.]

{and} þat þou mayst knowe þat blisfulnesse [ne] may nat standen in þinges þat ben fortunous {and} te{m}perel.

[Sidenote: If happiness be the supreme good of nature, then that thing cannot be it which can be withdrawn from us.]

¶ Now vndirstonde {and} gadir it to gidir þus 1120 yif blisfulnesse be þe souereyne goode of nature þat liueþ by resou{n} ¶ Ne þilke þing nis nat souereyne goode þat may be taken awey in any wyse. for more worþi þing {and} more digne is þilke þing þ{a}t may nat be 1124 taken awey.

[Sidenote: Instability of fortune is not susceptive of true happiness.]

¶ Þan shewiþ it wele þat þe vnstablenesse of fortune may nat attayne to receyue verray blisfulnes. ¶ And ȝit more ouer.

[Sidenote: He who is led by fading felicity, either knows that it is changeable or does not know it.]

¶ What man þat þis toumblyng welefulnesse leediþ. eiþer he woot þat 1128 [it] is chaungeable. or ellis he woot it nat.

[Sidenote: If he knows it not, what happiness has he in the blindness of his ignorance?]

¶ And yif he woot it not. what blisful fortune may þer be in þe blyndenesse of ignorau{n}ce. and yif he woot þat it is chaungeable. he mot alwey ben adrad þ{a}t he ne lese 1132 þat þing. þat he ne douteþ nat but þat he may leesen it.