[Sidenote: [The seuende p{ro}se.]]
[Sidenote: _B._ Thou knowest that I did not covet mortal and
transitory things.]
++ÞAnne seide I þus. þou wost wel þiself þat þe 1484
couetise of mortal þinges ne hadden neuer lordshipe
of me. but I haue wel desired matere of þinges
to done. as who seiþ.
[Sidenote: I only wished to exercise my virtue in public concerns,
lest it should grow feeble by inactivity.]
I desired[e] to han matere of
gou{er}naunce ouer comunalites. ¶ For vertue stille ne 1488
sholde not elden. þat is to seyn. þat list þat or he wex
olde ¶ His uertue þat lay now ful stille. ne sholde
nat p{er}isshe vnexcercised i{n} gouernaunce of comune.
¶ For whiche men myȝten speke or write{n} of his 1492
goode gouernement.
[Sidenote: _P._ A love of glory is one of those things that may
captivate minds naturally great, but not yet arrived at the
perfection of virtue.]
¶ _Philosophie._ ¶ For soþe q{uo}d
she. {and} þat is a þing þat may drawen to gouernaunce
swiche hertes as ben worþi {and} noble of hir nature.
but naþeles it may nat drawen or tollen swiche hertes as 1496
ben y-brouȝt to þe ful[le] p{er}fecciou{n} of vertue. þat is
to seyn couetyse of glorie {and} renou{n} to han wel
administred þe comune þinges. or doon goode decertes
to p{ro}fit of þe comune.
[Sidenote: But consider how small and void of weight is that
glory.]
for se now {and} considere how 1500
litel {and} how voide of al prise is þilke glorie.
[Sidenote: Astronomy teaches us that this globe of earth is but a
speck compared with the extent of the heavens, and is as nothing
if compared with the magnitude of the celestial sphere.]
¶ Certeine
þing is as þou hast lerned by demonstrac{i}ou{n} of
astronomye þat al þe envyronynge of þe erþe aboute
ne halt but þe resou{n} of a prykke at regard of þe gretnesse 1504
of heuene. þat is to seye. þat yif þat þer were
maked co{m}parisou{n} of þe erþe to þe gretnesse of
heuene. men wolde Iugen in alle þat erþe [ne] helde
no space
[Sidenote: Ptolemy shows that only one-fourth of this earth is
inhabited by living creatures.]
¶ Of þe whiche litel regiou{n} of þis worlde 1508
þe ferþe partie is enhabitid wiþ lyuyng beestes þat
we knowen. as þou hast þi self lerned by tholome þat
p{ro}uitħ it.
[Sidenote: Deduct from this the space occupied by seas, marshes,
lakes, and deserts, and there remains but a small proportion left
for the abode of man.]
¶ yif þou haddest wiþ drawen {and} abated
in þi þouȝte fro þilke ferþe partie as myche space as þe 1512
see {and} [the] mareys contenen {and} ouergon {and} as
myche space as þe regiou{n} of droughte ou{er}streccheþ.
[Linenotes:
1487 _desired[e]_--desyr{e}
1489 _wex olde_--wax old
1492 _whiche_--which
_speke_--spekyn
1496 _tollen_--MS. tellen, C. tollen
1497 _ful[le]_--fulle
1501 _al prise_--alle prys
1505 _seye_--seyn
1507 _wolde_--woldyn
_alle_--al
[_ne_]--from C.
1510 _lerned_--ylerned
1512 _þouȝte_--thowht
_myche_--moche
1513 [_the_]--from C.
1514 _myche space_--moche spaces]
[[pg 57]]
[Headnote:
FAME IS CIRCUMSCRIBED.]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 14 _b_.]]
þat is to seye sandes {and} desertes wel vnneþ sholde
*þer dwellen a ryȝt streite place to þe habitaciou{n} of 1516
men.
[Sidenote: And do you, who are confined to the least point of this
point, think of nothing but of blazing far and wide your name and
reputation?]
{and} ȝe þan þat ben environed {and} closed wiþ
i{n}ne þe leest[e] prikke of þilk prikke þenke ȝe to
manifesten ȝoure renou{n} {and} don ȝoure name to ben
born forþe.
[Sidenote: What is there great in a glory so circumscribed?]
but ȝour{e} glorie þat is so narwe {and} so 1520
streyt yþronge{n} in to so litel boundes. how myche
conteinþe it in largesse {and} in greet doynge.
[Sidenote: Even in this contracted circle, there is a great
variety of nations, to whom not only the fame of particular men,
but even of great cities, cannot extend.]
And also
sette þis þer to þat many a nac{i}ou{n} dyuerse of tonge
{and} of maneres. {and} eke of resou{n} of hir lyuyng ben 1524
enhabitid in þe cloos of þilke litel habitacle. ¶ To þe
whiche nac{i}ou{n}s what for difficulte of weyes. {and} what
for diu{er}site of langages. {and} what for defaute of
vnusage entercomunynge of marchau{n}dise. nat only þe 1528
names of singler men ne may [nat] strecchen. but eke
þe fame of Citees ne may nat strecchen.
[Sidenote: In the time of Marcus Tullius the fame of Rome did not
reach beyond Mount Caucasus.]
¶ At þe
last[e] Certis in þe tyme of Marcus tulyus as hym
self writeþ in his book þat þe renou{n} of þe comune of 1532
Rome ne hadde nat ȝitte passed ne clou{m}ben ou{er} þe
mou{n}taigne þat hyȝt Caucasus. {and} ȝitte was þilk
tyme rome wel wexen {and} gretly redouted of þe p{ar}thes.
and eke of oþer folk enhabityng aboute.
[Sidenote: How narrow, then, is that glory which you labour to
propagate.]
¶ Sest þou 1536
nat þan how streit {and} how comp{re}ssed is þilke glorie
þat ȝe t{ra}uaile{n} aboute to shew {and} to multiplie.
[Sidenote: Shall the glory of a Roman citizen reach those places
where the name even of Rome was never heard?]
May þan þe glorie of a singlere Romeyne strecchen þider
as þe fame of þe name of Rome may nat clymben ne 1540
passen.
[Sidenote: Customs and institutions differ in different
countries.]
¶ And eke sest þ{o}u nat þat þe maners of
diu{er}se folk {and} eke hir lawes ben discordau{n}t amonge
hem self.
[Sidenote: What is praise-worthy in one is blame-worthy in
another.]
so þ{a}t þilke þing þat so{m}men iugen worþi of
p{re}ysynge. oþer folk iugen þat it is worþi of torment. 1544
[Linenotes:
1515 _seye_--seyn
1516 _streite_--streyt
1517 _þan_--thanne
1518 _inne_--in
_leest[e]_--leste
_þilk_--thilke
_þenke ȝe_--thinken ye
1520 _born forþe_--MS. borne, C. born, forth
_narwe_--narwh
1521 _streyt_--streyte
_myche_--mochel
1522 _conteinþe_--coueyteth
1525 _habitacle_--MS. habitache, C. habytacule
1529 [_nat_]--from C.
1531 _last[e]_--laste
1532 _writeþ_--writ
1533 _hadde_--hadden
_ȝitte_--omitted
1534 _hyȝt_--hyhte
_þilk_--thikke
1535 _wexen_--waxen
1536 _Sest þou_--sestow
1538 _shew_--shewe
1539 _singlere_--singler]
[Headnote:
FAME IS NOT ETERNAL.]
[Sidenote: It is not the interest of any man who desires renown to
have his name spread through many countries.]
¶ and þer of comeþ þat þouȝ a man delite hy{m} in
p{re}ysyng of his renou{n}. he ne may nat i{n} no wise [[pg 58]]
bryngen furþe ne sprede{n} his name to many manere
peoples.
[Sidenote: He ought, therefore, to be satisfied with the glory he
has acquired at home.]
¶ And þerfore euery man{er} man auȝte to ben 1548
paied of hys glorie þat is puplissed among hys owen
neyȝbores.
[Sidenote: But of how many personages, illustrious in their times,
have the memorials been lost through the carelessness and neglect
of writers.]
¶ And þilke noble renou{n} shal be
restreyned wiþ-i{n}ne þe boundes of o maner folk but how
many a man þat was ful noble in his tyme. haþ þe 1552
nedy {and} wrecched forȝetynge of writers put oute of
mynde {and} don awey.
[Sidenote: But writings do not preserve the names of men for
ever.]
¶ Al be it so þat certys þilke
writynges p{ro}fiten litel. þe whiche writy{n}ges longe {and}
derke elde doþ aweye boþe he{m} {and} eke her auto{ur}s. 1556
[Sidenote: But perhaps you suppose that you shall secure
immortality if your names are transmitted to future ages.]
but ȝe men semen to geten ȝow a p{er}durablete whan ȝe
þenke þat in tyme comyng ȝoure fame shal lasten.
[Sidenote: If you consider the infinite space of eternity you will
have no reason to rejoice in this supposition.]
¶ But
naþeles yif þou wilt maken co{m}parisou{n} to þe endeles
space of eternite what þing hast þou by whiche þou 1560
maist reioysen þe of lo{n}g lastyng of þi name.
[Sidenote: If a _moment_ be compared with 10,000 years, there is a
proportion between them, though a very small one.]
¶ For
if þer were maked co{m}parysou{n} of þe abidyng of a
mome{n}t to ten þousand wynter. for as myche as boþe
þo spaces ben endid. ¶ For ȝit haþ þe moment some 1564
porciou{n} of hit al þouȝ it a litel be.
[Sidenote: But this number of years, multiplied by whatever sum
you please, vanishes when compared with the infinite extent of
eternity.]
¶ But naþeles
þilke self nou{m}bre of ȝeres. and eke as many ȝeres as
þer to may be multiplied. ne may nat certys be comparisou{n}d
to þe p{er}durablete þat is een[de]les.
[Sidenote: There may be comparison between finite things, but none
between the infinite and finite.]
¶ For of 1568
þinges þat han ende may be mad co{m}parisou{n} [but of
thinges that ben w{i}t{h}-owtyn ende to thinges þ{a}t han ende
may be maked no {com}parysou{n}].
[Sidenote: Hence it is, that Fame (however lasting), compared with
eternity, will seem absolutely nothing.]
¶ And for þi is it al
þouȝ renou{n} of as longe tyme as euer þe lyst to þinken 1572
were þouȝt by þe regard of et{er}nite. þat is vnstauncheable
{and} infinit. it ne sholde nat oonly semen litel. but
pleinliche ryȝt nouȝt.
[Sidenote: But yet you do good from no other view than to have the
empty applause of the people, foregoing the pleasures of a good
conscience in order to have the insignificant praises of other
people.]
¶ But ȝe men certys ne konne
don no þing aryȝt. but ȝif it be for þe audience of poeple. [[pg 59]]
{and} for ydel rumo{ur}s. {and} ȝe forsaken þe grete worþinesse 1577
of conscience {and} of vertue. {and} ȝe seke{n} ȝoure
gerdou{n}s of þe smale wordes of st{ra}nge folke.
[Linenotes:
1545 _comeþ_--comth it
1547 _furþe_--forth
_manere_--maner
1548 _þerfore_--ther-for
_auȝte_--owhte
1549 _paied_--apayed
_hys owen_--hise owne
1550 _neyȝbores_--nesshebours
_be_--ben
1552 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1553 _put_ (MS. _putte_) _oute_--put owt
1556 _derke_--derk
_doþ aweye_--MS. doþe, C. doth a-wey
_her autours_--hir actorros
1557 _ȝe_--yow
_semen_--semeth
1558 _comyng_--to comynge
1559 _wilt_--wolt
1560 _whiche_--which
1563 _myche_--mochel
1564 _þo_--the
_haþ_--MS. haþe
_some_--som
1566 _self_--selue
1567 _be_ (2)--ben
1568 _een[de]les_--endeles
1569 _mad_--MS. made, C. maked
[_but----comparysoun_]--from C.
1573 _by_--to]
[Headnote:
VANITY REPROVED.]
[Sidenote: This silly vanity was once thus ingeniously and
pleasantly rallied.]
¶ Haue now here {and} vndirstonde i{n} þe lyȝtnesse of whiche 1580
p{r}ide {and} veyne glorie. how a man scorned[e] festiualy
{and} myrily swiche vanite.
[Sidenote: A certain man, who had assumed the name of a
philosopher through a love of vain-glory, was told by a man of
humour that he could prove he was a philosopher by bearing
patiently the injuries offered him.]
somtyme þere was a man þat
had[de] assaied wiþ striuyng wordes an oþer ma{n}. ¶ þe
whiche nat for vsage of verrey vertue. but for proude 1584
veyne glorie had[de] take{n} vpon hym falsly þe name
of a philosopher. ¶ þis raþer man þat I speke of
þouȝt[e] he wolde assay[e] where he þilke were a
philosopher or no.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 15.]]
þat is to seyne yif he wolde han suffred 1588
lyȝtly in pacience þe wro{n}ges *þat weren don vnto hym.
[Sidenote: After counterfeiting patience for a while, the sophist
said to the other, ‘You must surely confess that I am a
philosopher.’]
¶ þis feined[e] philosophre took pacience a
litel while. {and} whan he hadde receiued wordes of
outerage he as in stryuynge aȝeine {and} reioysynge of 1592
hym self seide at þe last[e] ryȝt þus. ¶ vndirstondest
þou nat þat I am a philosophere.
[Sidenote: ‘I might have believed it,’ said the other, ‘had you
held your tongue.’]
þat oþer man answered[e]
aȝein ful bityngly {and} seide. ¶ I had[de]
wel vndirstonden [yt]. yif þou haddest holde{n} þi tonge 1596
stille.
[Sidenote: What advantage is it to great and worthy men to be
extolled after death?]
¶ But what is it to þise noble worþi men.
For certys of swyche folk speke .I. þat seken glorie wiþ
vertue. what is it q{uo}d she. what atteiniþ fame to
swiche folk whan þe body is resolued by þe deeþ. atte 1600
þe last[e].
[Sidenote: If body and soul die, then there can be no glory; nor
can there be when he (to whom it is ascribed) does not exist.]
¶ For yif so be þat men dien in al. þat is
to seyne body {and} soule. þe whiche þing oure resou{n}
defendiþ vs to byleuen þanne is þere no glorie in no
wyse. For what sholde þilke glorie ben. for he of 1604
who{m} þis glorie is seid to be nis ryȝt nouȝt in no wise.
[Sidenote: But if the soul is immortal when it leaves the body, it
takes no thought of the joys of this world.]
and ȝif þe soule whiche þat haþ in it self science of
goode werkes vnbounden fro þe p{r}isou{n} of þe erþe [[pg 60]]
wendeþ frely to þe heuene. dispiseþ it nouȝt þan alle 1608
erþely occupac{i}ou{n}s. {and} beynge i{n} heuene reioiseþ þat
it is exempt from alle erþely þinges [as wo seith /
thanne rekketh the sowle of no glorye of renou{n} of this
world]. 1612
[Linenotes:
1580 _whiche_--swych
1581 _scorned[e]_--scornede
1582 _swiche_--swych
_somtyme_--whilom
1583 _had[de]_--hadde
1584 _whiche_--which
_proude_--prowd
1586 _speke_--spak
1587 _þouȝt[e]_--thowhte
_assay[e]_--assaye
1588 _seyne_--seyn
1590 _feined[e]_--feynede
1592 _aȝeine_--ayein
1593 _last[e]_--laste
_vndirstondest þou_--vndyrstondow
1594 _answered[e]_--answerde
1595 _had[de]_--hadde
1596 [_yt_]--from C.
1601 _last[e]_--laste
1602 _seyne_--seyn
1604 _for_ (2)--whan
1605 _þis_--thilke
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_nouȝt_--nawht
1606 _haþ_--MS. haþe
1608 _nouȝt þan_--nat thanne
1610 _from_--fro
1610-1612 [_as----world_]--from C.]
[Headnote:
DEATH PUTS AN END TO RENOWN.]