[Sidenote: [The verthe p{ro}se.]]
[Sidenote: Philosophy seeks to know the malady of Boethius.]
++FElest þou q{uod} sche þise þinges {and} entren þei ouȝt
in þi corage. ¶ Art þou like an asse to þe harpe. 248
Whi wepest þou whi spillest þou teres. ¶ Yif þou
abidest after helpe of þi leche. þe byhoueþ discouere þi
wounde.
[Sidenote: Boethius complains of Fortune’s unrelenting rage.]
¶ Þo .I. þat hadde gadered strenkeþ in my
corage answered[e] {and} seide. {and} nedeþ it ȝitte q{uod} 252
.I. of rehersyng or of amonic{i}ou{n}. {and} scheweþ it not
ynouȝ by hym self þe scharpnes of fortune þat wexeþ
woode aȝeynes me.
[Sidenote: Is not she moved, he asks, with the aspect of his
prison?]
¶ Ne moeueþ it nat þe to seen þe
face or þe man{er}e of þis place (.i. p{r}isou{n}.).
[Sidenote: His library, his habit, and his countenance are all
changed.]
¶ Is þis 256
þe librarie wyche þat þou haddest chosen for a ryȝt
certeyne sege to þe i{n} myne house. ¶ Þere as þou
desputest of[te] wiþ me of þe sciences of þinges touching
diuinitee {and} touchyng mankynde. ¶ Was þan 260
myn habit swiche as it is now. was þan my face or
[Interlinear: quasi d{ice}ret non.]
my chere swiche as now.
¶ Whan I souȝt[e] wiþ þe
secretys of nature. whan þou enfo{ur}medest my maners
{and} þe resou{n} of al my lijf. to þe ensaumple of þe ordre 264
of heuene.
[Sidenote: Is this, he asks, the reward of his fidelity?]
[Interlinear: ironice]
¶ Is nat þis þe gerdou{n} þat I refere to þe
to whom I haue be obeisaunt. ¶ Certis þou enfo{ur}medist
by þe mouþe of plato þis sentence.
[Sidenote: Plato (de Rep. v.) says that those Commonwealths are
most happy that are governed by philosophers, or by those who
study to be so.]
þat is to
seyne þat co{m}mune þinges or comunabletes weren 268
blysful yif þei þat haden studied al fully to wisdom [[pg 14]]
gouerneden þilke þinges.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 5 _b_.]]
or ellys yif it so by-felle þat
þe gouernours *of co{m}munalites studieden in grete wisdomes.
[Linenotes:
247 _Felest þou_--Felistow
_ouȝt_--awht
248 _art þou_--artow
249 _wepest þou_--wepistow
_spillest þou_--spillestow
252 _answered[e]_--answerede
255 _woode_--wood
257 _wyche_--which
258 _myne house þere_--myn hows ther
259 _desputest of[te]_--desputedest ofte
260 _þan_--thanne
261 _it_ and _þan_--both omitted
261, 262 _swiche_--swich
262 _souȝt[e]_--sowhte
263 _secretys_--secretȝ
_my_--MS. me, C. my
264 _al_--alle
265 _gerdoun_--gerdouns
266 _enfourmedist_--conformedest
267 _mouþe_--mowht
268 _comunabletes_--comunalitees
270 _by-felle_--byfille
271 _in grete wisdomes_--to geten wysdom]
[Headnote:
PHILOSOPHERS TO BE POLITICIANS.]
[Sidenote: The same Plato urged philosophers to take upon them the
management of public affairs, lest it should fall into the hands
of unprincipled citizens.]
¶ Þou saidest eke by þe mouþe of þe same 272
plato þat it was a necessarie cause wyse men to taken
{and} desire þe gou{er}nau{n}ce of comune þi{n}ges. for þat þe
gou{er}nementes of comune citees y-left in þe hondes of
felonous to{ur}mento{ur}s Citiȝenis ne scholde not brynge 276
inne pestile{n}ce {and} destrucc{i}ou{n} to goode folk.
[Sidenote: Boethius declares that he desired to put in practice
(in the management of public affairs) what he had learnt in his
retirement.]
¶ And
þerfore I folowynge þilk auctoritee (.s. platonis). desiryng
to put[te] furþe in execusiou{n} {and} in acte of comune
admi{ni}st{ra}c{i}ou{n} þo þinges þat .I. hadde lerned of þe 280
among my secre restyng whiles. ¶ Þou {and} god þ{a}t
put[te] þee in þe þouȝtis of wise folk ben knowen wiþ
me þat no þing brouȝt[e] me to maistrie or dignite: but
þe comune studie of al goodenes.
[Sidenote: He sought to do good to all, but became involved in
discord with the wicked.]
¶ And þer-of comeþ 284
it þat by-twixen wikked folk {and} me han ben greuouse
discordes. þat ne myȝten not be relesed by p{ra}yeres.
[Sidenote: Consciousness of integrity made him despise the anger
of the most powerful.]
¶ For þis libertee haþ fredom of conscience þat þe wraþþe
of more myȝty folk haþ alwey ben despised of me for 288
saluac{i}ou{n} of ryȝt.
[Sidenote: He opposed Conigastus, and put a stop to the doings of
Triguilla.]
¶ How ofte haue .I. resisted {and}
wiþstonde þilk man þat hyȝt[e] conigaste þat made
alwey assautes aȝeins þe p{ro}pre fortunes of poure feble
folke. ¶ How ofte haue .I. ȝitte put of. or cast out 292
hy{m} trigwille p{ro}uost of þe kynges hous boþe of þe
wronges þat he hadde bygon[ne] to done {and} eke fully
p{er}formed. ¶ How ofte haue I couered {and} defended
by þe auctorite of me put aȝeins p{er}ils.
[Sidenote: He put his authority in peril for the defence of poor
folk.]
þat is to seine put 296
myne auctorite in peril for þe wreched pore folke. þat
þe couetise of straungeres vnpunysched to{ur}mentid alwey [[pg 15]]
wiþ myseses {and} greuaunces oute of noumbre.
[Linenotes:
272 _eke_--ek
275 _comune_--omitted
_y-left_--MS. ylefte, C. yleft
276 _Citiȝenis_--citesenes
_brynge inne_--bryngen in
278 _þerfore_--therfor
_þilk_--thilke
_desiryng_--desired
279 _put[te] furþe_--putten forth
280 _þo_--thilke
282 _put[te]_--putte
283 _brouȝt[e]_--ne browhte
284 _þe_--omitted
_al goodenes_--alle goodnesse
_comeþ_--comth
287, 288 _haþ_--MS. haþe
289 _saluacioun_--sauacioun
290 _þilk_--thilke
_hyȝt[e]_--hyhte
290 _conigaste_--MS. coniugaste
292 _ofte_--ofte ek
_ȝitte_--omitted
294 _bygon[ne]_--bygunne
_done_--don
295 _couered_--MS. couerede, C. couered
296 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
_seine_--seyn
297 _myne_--myn
298 _vnpunysched_--vnpunyssed
299 _myseses_--myseyses]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS DEFENDS HIS OWN CONDUCT.]
[Sidenote: I never deviated, he says, from the path of justice.]
¶ Neuer man drow me ȝitte fro ryȝt to wro{n}g. When I say þe 300
fortunes {and} þe rychesse of þe people of þe p{ro}uinces
ben harmed eyþer by p{r}iue rauynes or by comune
tributis or cariages.
[Sidenote: I felt for those that were wrongfully oppressed.]
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]