Part 9

[Linenotes: 1098 _aȝeinewarde al_--ayeinward alle 1099 _it_--hyt 1101 _whan_--what _haþ_--MS. haþe _lorn_--MS. lorne, C. lost 1102 _yspranid_--spraynyd _bitternesses_--beternesses 1104 _hym_--hem _it_--hyt _be_--ben 1105 _goþ_--MS. geþe _wol_--woole _sen_--MS. sene 1107 _dwelliþ_--dureth 1109 _folkes_--folk{e} 1110 _oute_--owt 1112 _shortly_--shortely 1114 _wilt_--MS. wilte, C. wolt _if_--yif 1117 _by-nyme_--be-neme 1118 _blisfulnesse [ne]_--blyssefulnesse ne 1120 _to gidir_--to gidere 1121, 1122 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good 1125 _wele_--wel 1126 _receyue_--resseyuen 1129 [_it_]--from C. _it_--hyt 1130 _be_--ben 1131 _blyndenesse_--blyndnesse]

[[pg 44]] [Headnote: RICHES DO NOT CONSTITUTE HAPPINESS.]

[Sidenote: If he knows it is fleeting he must be afraid of losing it, and this fear will not suffer him to be happy.]

¶ As whoo seiþ he mot ben alwey agast lest he leese þat he wot wel he may leese. ¶ For whiche þe continuel drede þat he haþ ne suffriþ hym nat to ben 1136 weleful. ¶ Or ellys yif he leese it he wene to be dispised {and} forleten hit. ¶ Certis eke þat is a ful lytel goode þat is born wiþ euene hert[e] whan it is loost. ¶ Þat is to seyne þat men don no more force. 1140 of þe lost þan of þe hauynge.

[Sidenote: Since thou art convinced of the soul’s immortality, thou canst not doubt that if death puts an end to human felicity, that all men when they die, are plunged into the depths of misery.]

¶ And for as myche as þou þi self art he to who{m} it haþ ben shewid {and} p{ro}ued by ful many[e] demonstrac{i}ou{n}s. as I woot wel þat þe soules of men ne mowen nat dien in no wise. and eke 1144 syn it is clere. {and} certeyne þat fortunous welefulnesse endiþ by þe deeþ of þe body. ¶ It may nat ben douted þat yif þat deeþ may take awey blysfulnesse þat al þe kynde of mortal þi{n}g{us} ne descendiþ in to wrecchednesse 1148 by þe ende of þe deeþ.

[Sidenote: But we know that many have sought to obtain felicity, by undergoing not only death, but pains and torments.]

¶ And syn we knowen wel þat many a man haþ souȝt þe fruit of blisfulnesse nat only wiþ suffryng of deeþ. but eke wiþ suffryng of peynes {and} to{ur}mentes.

[Sidenote: How then can this present life make men truly happy, since when it is ended they do not become miserable?]

how myȝt[e] þan þis p{re}sent 1152 lijf make men blisful. syn þat whanne þilke self[e] lijf is endid. it ne makeþ folk no wrecches.

[Linenotes: 1134 _it_--hyt _seiþ_--MS. seiþe, C. seyth 1135 _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot _leese_ (2)--leese it _whiche_--which 1136 _haþ_--MS. haþe 1137 _ellys_--omitted _wene_--weneth 1138 _hit_--omitted 1139 _goode_--good _born_--MS. borne, C. born _hert[e]_--herte 1140 _seyne_--seyn _don_--MS. done, C. do _force_--fors 1142 _haþ_--MS. haþe 1143 _many[e]_--manye 1144 _mowen_--mowe _dien_--deyen 1145 _clere_--cleer _certeyne_--certeyn 1147 _al_--alle 1150 _haþ_--MS. haþe _fruit_--frut 1152 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 1153 _make_--maken _self[e]_--selue]

[Headnote: RICHES HAVE NO INTRINSIC VALUE.]

QUISQUIS UOLET[2] P{ER}HENNEM CAUTUS.

[Footnote 2: MS. ualet.]

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

[Sidenote: He who would have a stable and lasting seat must not build upon lofty hills; nor upon the sands, if he would escape the violence of winds and waves.]

++What maner man stable {and} war þat wil founden hym a p{er}durable sete {and} ne wil not be cast doune 1156 wiþ þe loude blastes of þe wynde Eurus. {and} wil dispise þe see manassynge wiþ floodes ¶ Lat hym eschewe to bilde on þe cop of þe mou{n}tay{n}gne. or in þe moyste sandes. ¶ For þe fel[le] wynde auster to{ur}menteþ þe cop 1160 of þe mou{n}tayngne wiþ alle his strengþes. ¶ and þe lowe see sandes refuse to beren þe heuy weyȝte. [[pg 45]]

[Sidenote: If thou wilt flee perilous fortune, lay thy foundation upon the firmer stone, so that thou mayst grow old in thy stronghold.]

{and} forþi yif þou wolt flee þe p{er}ilous auenture þat is to seine of þe worlde ¶ Haue mynde certeynly to ficchyn 1164 þi house of a myrie site in a lowe stoone. ¶ For al þouȝ þe wynde troublyng þe see þondre wiþ ouereþrowynges ¶ Þou þat art put i{n} quiete {and} welful by strengþe of þi palys shalt leden a cleer age. scornyng 1168 þe wodenesses and þe Ires of þe eir.

[Linenotes: 1155, 1156, 1157 _wil_--wole 1156 _be cast_--MS. be caste, C. ben cast 1157 _wynde_--wynd 1158 _eschewe_--eschewen 1160 _fel[le]_--felle 1161 _his_--hise 1162 _lowe_--lavse _see_--omitted _refuse_--refusen _weyȝte_--wyhte 1163 _flee_--fleen 1164 _seine_--seyn 1165 _þi_--thin _lowe stoone_--lowh stoon 1167 _welful_--weleful 1169 _wodenesses_--woodnesses]

[Headnote: GLORY NOT IN RICHES; THEY ADD NOTHING TO VIRTUE.]

SET CUM RACIONU{M} IAM IN TE.

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

[Sidenote: It is now time to use stronger medicines, since lighter remedies have taken effect.]

++But for as moche as þe noryssinges of my resou{n}s descenden now in to þe. I trowe it were tyme to vsen a litel strenger medicynes.

[Sidenote: What is there in the gifts of Fortune that is not vile and despicable?]

¶ Now vndirstonde 1172 here al were it so þat þe ȝiftis of fortune nar[e] nat brutel ne t{ra}nsitorie.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 12.]]

what is þer in hem þat may be þine *in any tyme. or ellis þat it nys foule if þat it be considered {and} lokid p{er}fitely.

[Sidenote: Are riches precious in themselves, or in men’s estimation?]

¶ Richesse ben þei 1176 p{re}ciouse by þe nature of hem self. or ellys by þe nature of þe.

[Sidenote: What is most precious in them, quantity or quality?]

What is most worþi of rycchesse. is it nat golde or myȝt of moneye assembled.

[Sidenote: Bounty is more glorious than niggardliness.]

¶ Certis þilke golde {and} þilke moneye shineþ {and} ȝeueþ better 1180 renou{n} to hem þat dispenden it. þen to þilke folke þat mokeren it.

[Sidenote: Avarice is always hateful, while liberality is praise-worthy.]

For auarice makeþ alwey mokeres to be hated. {and} largesse makeþ folke clere of renou{n} ¶ For syn þat swiche þi{n}g as is t{ra}nsfered from o 1184 man to an oþer ne may nat dwellen wiþ no man.

[Sidenote: Money cannot be more precious than when it is dispensed liberally to others.]

Certis þan is þilke moneye p{re}cious. whan it is translated in to oþer folk. {and} stynteþ to ben had by vsage of large ȝeuy{n}g of hym þat haþ ȝeuen it. 1188

[Sidenote: If one man’s coffers contained all the money in the world, every one else would be in want of it.]

{and} also yif al þe moneye þat is ouer-al in þe world were gadered towar[d] o man. it sholde maken al oþer men [[pg 46]] to ben nedy as of þat. ¶ And certys a voys al hool þat is to seyn wiþ-oute amenusynge fulfilleþ to gyder 1192 þe heryng of myche folke.

[Sidenote: Riches cannot be dispensed without diminution.]

but Certys ȝoure rycchesse ne mowen nat passen vnto myche folk wiþ-oute amenussyng ¶ And whan þei ben apassed. nedys þei maken hem pore þat forgon þe rycchesses.

[Sidenote: O the poverty of riches, that cannot be enjoyed by many at the same time, nor can be possessed by one without impoverishing others!]

¶ O streite {and} 1196 nedy clepe I þise rycchesses. syn þat many folke [ne] may nat han it al. ne al may it nat comen to on man wiþ-oute pouerte of al oþer folke. ¶ And þe shynynge of ge{m}mes þat I clepe p{re}ciouse stones. draweþ it nat 1200 þe eyen of folk in to hem warde. þat is to seyne for þe beaute.

[Sidenote: The beauty of precious stones consists only in their brightness, wherefore I marvel that men admire that which is motionless, lifeless, and irrational.]

¶ For certys yif þer were beaute or bounte in shynyng of stones. þilke clerenesse is of þe stones hem self. {and} nat of men. ¶ For whiche I wondre 1204 gretly þat men merueilen on swiche þinges. ¶ For whi what þing is it þat yif it wa{n}teþ moeuyng {and} ioynture of soule {and} body þat by ryȝt myȝt[e] semen a faire creature to hym þat haþ a soule of resou{n}. 1208

[Sidenote: Precious stones are indeed the workmanship of the Creator, but their beauty is infinitely below the excellency of man’s nature.]

¶ For al be it so þat ge{m}mes drawen to hem self a litel of þe laste beaute of þe worlde. þoruȝ þe entent of hir creato{ur} {and} þoruȝ þe distincc{i}ou{n} of hem self. ȝit for as myche as þei ben put vndir ȝoure excellence. 1212 þei han not desserued by no weye þat ȝe shullen merueylen on hem.

[Sidenote: Doth the beauty of the field delight thee?]

¶ And þe beaute of feeldes deliteþ it nat mychel vnto ȝow.

[Sidenote: _B._ Why should it not? for it is a beautiful part of a beautiful whole.]

_Boyce._ ¶ Whi sholde it nat deliten vs. syn þat it is a ryȝt fayr porciou{n} of þe ryȝt 1216 fair werk. þat is to seyn of þis worlde.

[Sidenote: Hence, we admire the face of the sea, the heavens, as well as the sun, moon, and stars.]

¶ And ryȝt so ben we gladed somtyme of þe face of þe see whan it is clere. And also merueylen we on þe heuene {and} on þe sterres. {and} on þe sonne. {and} on þe mone. [[pg 47]]

[Sidenote: _P._ Do these things concern thee? darest thou glory in them?]

_Philosophie._ ¶ App{er}teineþ q{uo}d she any of þilke 1221 þinges to þe. whi darst þou glorifie þe in þe shynynge of any swiche þinges.

[Sidenote: Do the flowers adorn you with their variety?]

Art þou distingwed {and} embelised by þe spryngyng floures of þe first somer 1224 sesou{n}. or swelliþ þi plente in fruytes of somer. whi art þou rauyshed wiþ ydel ioies.

[Sidenote: Why embracest thou things wherein thou hast no property?]

why enbracest þou straunge goodes as þei weren þine.

[Sidenote: Fortune can never make that thine which the nature of things forbids to be so.]

Fortune shal neuer maken þat swiche þinges ben þine þat nature of þinges 1228 maked foreyne fro þe.

[Sidenote: The fruits of the earth are designed for the support of beasts.]

¶ Syche is þat wiþ-oute{n} doute þe fruytes of þe erþe owen to ben on þe norssinge of bestes.

[Sidenote: If you seek only the necessities of nature, the affluence of Fortune will be useless.]

¶ And if þou wilt fulfille þi nede after þat it suffiseþ to nature þan is it no nede 1232 þat þou seke after þe sup{er}fluite of fortune.

[Sidenote: Nature is content with a little, and superfluity will be both disagreeable and hurtful.]

¶ For wiþ ful fewe þinges {and} w{i}t{h} ful lytel þing nature halt hire appaied. {and} yif þou wilt achoken þe fulfillyng of nat{ur}e wiþ sup{er}fluites ¶ Certys þilke 1236 þinges þ{a}t þou wilt þresten or pouren in to nature shullen ben vnioyeful to þe or ellis anoies.

[Sidenote: Does it add to a man’s worth to shine in variety of costly clothing?]

¶ Wenest þou eke þat it be a fair þinge to shine wiþ dyuerse cloþing.

[Sidenote: The things really to be admired are the beauty of the stuff or the workmanship of it.]

of whiche cloþing yif þe beaute be agreable 1240 to loken vpon. I wol merueylen on þe nature of þe matere of þilke cloþes. or ellys on þe werkeman þat wrouȝt[e] hem.

[Sidenote: Doth a great retinue make thee happy?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 12 _b_.]]

but al so a longe route of meyne. makiþ þat a blisful *man.

[Sidenote: If thy servants be vicious, they are a great burden to the house, and pernicious enemies to the master of it.]

þe whiche seruauntes yif þei ben 1244 vicioũs of condic{i}ou{n}s it is a greet charge {and} a destrucc{i}ou{n} to þe house. {and} a g{r}eet enmye to þe lorde hym self

[Sidenote: If they be good, why should the probity of others be put to thy account?]

¶ {And} yif þei ben goode men how shal straung[e] or foreyne goodenes ben put in þe nou{m}bre 1248 of þi rycchesse.

[Sidenote: Upon the whole, then, none of those enjoyments which thou didst consider as thy own did ever properly belong to thee.]

so þ{a}t by alle þise forseide þinges. it is clerly shewed þat neuer none of þilke þinges þat þou accou{m}ptedest for þin goodes nas nat þi goode.

[Sidenote: If they be not desirable, why shouldst thou grieve for the loss of them?]

¶ In þe whiche þinges yif þer be no beaute to ben desired. 1252

[Linenotes: 1172 _strenger_--strenger{e} _vndirstonde_--vndyrstond 1173 _nar[e]_--ne weere 1174 _be þine_--ben thyn 1175 _foule_--fowl 1176 _Richesse_--Rychessis 1178 _rycchesse_--rychesses 1179, 1180 _golde_--gold 1180 _better_--betere 1181 _þen_--thanne 1182 _mokeres_--mokereres 1183 _folke clere_--folk cler 1184 _swiche_--swich _from_--fram 1187 _stynteþ_--stenteth 1188 _haþ_--MS. haþe 1189 _world_--worlde 1190 _al_--alle 1191 _al hool_--omitted 1193 _myche folke_--moche folk{e} _rycchesse_--rychesses 1194 _myche_--moche 1196 _forgon_--MS. forgone 1197 _þise_--this _rycchesses_--rychesse [_ne_]--from C. 1198 _on_--o 1199 _wiþ-oute_--with-owten _al_--alle _folke_--folk{e} 1200 _preciouse_--p{re}syous 1201 _in_--omitted _warde_--ward _seyne_--seyn 1202 _beaute_ (1)--beautes _For_--but 1203 _in_--in the 1204 _whiche_--which 1207 _ioynture_--Ioyngture 1208 _faire_--fayr _haþ_--MS. haþe 1210 _laste_--last _worlde_--world 1212 _myche_--mochel 1213 _desserued_--MS. desseyued, C. desseruyd _weye_--wey _shullen_--sholden 1215 _mychel_--mochel 1217 _fair werk_--fayr{e} werke _worlde_--world 1219 _clere_--cler 1222 _darst þou glorifie_--darsthow gloryfyen 1225 _in_--in the 1229 _Syche_--Soth 1230 _on_--to 1231, 1235, 1237 _wilt_--wolt 1238 _shullen_--shollen 1239 _fair_--fayre 1240 _whiche_--which 1242 _werkeman_--werkman 1246 _house_--hows _lorde_--lord 1248 _goodenes_--goodnesse 1250 _shewed_--I-shewyd _none_--oon 1251 _þin_--thine _goode_--good]

[[pg 48]] [Headnote: RICHES BRING ANXIETIES.]

whi sholdest þou be sory yif þou leese hem. or whi sholdest þou reioysen þe to holden hem.

[Sidenote: If they are fair by nature, what is that to thee?]

¶ For if þei ben fair of hire owen kynde. what app{er}teneþ þat to þe.

[Sidenote: They would be equally agreeable whether thine or not.]

for as wel sholde þei han ben faire by hem self. 1256 þouȝ þei were{n} dep{ar}tid from alle þin rycchesse.

[Sidenote: They are not to be reckoned precious because they are counted amongst thy goods, but because they seemed so before thou didst desire to possess them.]

¶ For-why faire ne p{re}cioũs ne weren þei nat. for þat þei comen amonges þi rycchesse. but for þei semeden fair {and} p{re}cious. þerfore þou haddest leuer rekene hem 1260 amonges þi rycchesse.

[Sidenote: What, then, is it we so clamorously demand of Fortune?]

but what desirest þou of fortune wiþ so greet a noyse {and} wiþ so greet a fare

[Sidenote: Is it to drive away indigence by abundance?]

¶ I trowe þou seke to dryue awey nede wiþ habundaunce of þinges.

[Sidenote: But the very reverse of this happens, for there is need of many helps to keep a variety of valuable goods.]

¶ But certys it turneþ to ȝow al in þe 1264 contrarie. for whi certys it nediþ of ful many[e] helpynges to kepen þe dyuersite of preciouse ostelmentȝ.

[Sidenote: They want most things who have the most.]

and soþe it is þat of many[e] þinges han þei nede þat many[e] þinges han.

[Sidenote: They want the fewest who measure their abundance by the necessities of nature, and not by the superfluity of their desires.]

{and} aȝeyneward of litel nediþ 1268 hem þat mesuren hir fille after þe nede of kynde {and} nat after þe outrage of couetyse

[Sidenote: Is there no good planted within ourselves, that we are obliged to go abroad to seek it?]

¶ Is it þan so þat ye men ne han no p{ro}pre goode. I-set in ȝow. For whiche ȝe moten seken outwardes ȝoure goodes in 1272 foreine {and} subgit þinges.

[Sidenote: Are things so changed and inverted, that god-like man should think that he has no other worth but what he derives from the possession of inanimate objects?]

¶ So is þan þe condic{i}ou{n} of þinges turned vpso dou{n}. þat a man þat is a devyne beest by merit of hys resou{n}. þinkeþ þat hy{m} self nys neyþer fair ne noble. but if it be þoruȝ 1276 possessiou{n} of ostelmentes. þat ne han no soules.

[Linenotes: 1255 _fair_--fayr{e} _hire owen_--hyr owne 1256 _sholde_--sholden _self_--selue 1257 _þin rycchesse_--thyne rychesses 1259 _amonges_--among{e} 1259, 1261 _rycchesse_--Rychesses 1259 _fair_--fayr{e} 1260 _leuer rekene_--leu{er}e rekne 1262 _greet_ (2)--grete 1265, 1267 _many[e]_--manye 1267 _soþe_--soth 1272 _outwardes_--owtward 1276 _fair_--fayr{e} _if_--yif]

[Headnote: IGNORANCE CRIMINAL IN MAN.]

[Sidenote: Inferior things are satisfied with their own endowments, while man (the image of God) seeks to adorn his nature with things infinitely below him, not understanding how much he dishonours his Maker.]

¶ And certys al oþ{er} þi{n}ges ben appaied of hire owen beautes. but ȝe men þat ben semblable to god by ȝour{e} resonable þouȝt desiren to apparaille ȝour{e} excellent 1280 kynde of þe lowest[e] pinges. ne ȝe ne vndirstonde nat how gret a wro{n}g ȝe don to ȝoure creato{ur}.

[Sidenote: God intended man to excel all earthly creatures, yet you debase your dignity and prerogative below the lowest beings.]

for he wolde þat man kynde were moost worþi {and} noble of any oþer erþely þinges. and ȝe þresten adou{n} ȝoure [[pg 49]] dignitees by-neþen þe lowest[e] þinges.

[Sidenote: In placing your happiness in despicable trifles, you acknowledge yourselves of less value than these trifles, and well do you merit to be so esteemed.]

¶ For if þat al 1285 þe good of euery þing be more p{re}ciouse þan is þilk þing whos þat þe good is. syn ȝe demen þat þe foulest[e] þinges ben ȝoure goodes. þanne summytten 1288 ȝe {and} putten ȝoure self vndir þo foulest[e] þinges by ȝoure estimac{i}ou{n}. ¶ And certis þis bitidiþ nat wiþ out ȝour{e} desert.

[Sidenote: Man only excels other creatures when he knows himself.]

For certys swiche is þe co{n}dic{i}ou{n} of al man kynde þat oonly whan it haþ knowyng of it 1292 self. þan passeþ it i{n} noblesse alle oþer þinges.

[Sidenote: When he ceases to do so, he sinks below beasts.]

and whan it forletiþ þe knowyng of it self. þan it is brouȝt byneþen alle beestes.

[Sidenote: Ignorance is natural to beasts, but in men it is unnatural and criminal.]

¶ For-why alle oþer [leuynge] beestes han of kynde to knowe not hem 1296 self. but whan þat men leten þe knowyng of hem self. it comeþ hem of vice.

[Sidenote: How weak an error is it to believe that anything foreign to your nature can be an ornament to it.]

but how brode sheweþ þe erro{ur} {and} þe folie of ȝow men þat wenen þat ony þing may ben apparailled wiþ straunge apparaillementȝ ¶ but 1300 for-soþe þat may nat be don.

[Sidenote: If a thing appear beautiful on account of its external embellishments, we admire and praise those embellishments alone.]

for yif a wyȝt shyneþ wiþ þi{n}ges þat ben put to hym. as þus. yif þilke þinges shynen wiþ whiche a man is apparailled. ¶ Certis þilke þinges ben commendid {and} p{re}ised wiþ whiche 1304 he is apparailled.

[Sidenote: The thing covered still continues in its natural impurity.]

¶ But naþeles þe þing þat is couered {and} wrapped vndir þat dwelleþ in his filþe.

[Sidenote: I deny that to be a good which is hurtful to its owner.]

and I denye þat þilke þing be good þat anoyeþ hym þat haþ it.

[Sidenote: Am I deceived in this? You will say no; for riches have often hurt their possessors.]

¶ Gabbe I of þis. þou wolt seye nay. 1308 ¶ Certys rycchesse han anoyed ful ofte hem þat han þe rycchesse.

[Sidenote: Every wicked man desires another’s wealth, and esteems him alone happy who is in possession of riches.]

¶ Syn þat euery wicked shrew {and} for hys wickednesse þe more gredy aftir oþer folkes rycchesse wher so euer it be in any place. be it golde or 1312 p{re}cious stones. [[pg 50]]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 13.]]

{and} weniþ hym *only most worþi þat haþ hem

[Sidenote: You, therefore, who now so much dread the instruments of assassination, if you had been born a poor wayfaring man, might, with an empty purse, have sung in the face of robbers.]

¶ þou þan þat so besy dredest now þe swerde {and} þe spere. yif þou haddest entred in þe paþe of þis lijf a voide wayfaryng man. þan woldest þou syng[e] 1316 by-fore þe þeef. ¶ As who seiþ a poure man þat bereþ no rycchesse on hym by þe weye. may boldly syng[e] byforne þeues. for he haþ nat wher-of to ben robbed.

[Sidenote: O the transcendant felicity of riches! No sooner have you obtained them, than you cease to be secure.]

¶ O preciouse {and} ryȝt clere is þe blysfulnesse of 1320 mortal rycchesse. þat wha{n} þou hast geten it. þan hast þou lorn þi syke[r]nesse.