[Sidenote: [The 2^de p{ro}se.]]
[Sidenote: Philosophy, with a serious air, and appearing to
recollect herself, and to rouse up all her faculties, thus began.]
++ÞO fastned[e] she a lytel þe syȝt of hir eyen {and} wiþdrow
hir ryȝt as it were in to þe streite sete of hir 1752
þouȝt. {and} bygan to speke ryȝt þ{us}.
[Sidenote: All the cares and desires of men seek one
end--happiness.]
Alle þe cures
q{uo}d she of mortal folk whiche þat trauaylen hem i{n}
many manere studies gon certys by diu{er}se weies.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 15 _b_.]]
¶ But naþeles þei enforced hem *to comen oonly to on 1756
ende of blisfulnesse [[pg 65]]
[Sidenote: True happiness is that complete good which, once
obtained, leaves nothing more to be desired.]
[And blysfulnesse] is swiche a goode
þat who so haþ geten it he ne may ouer þat no þing more
desiire.
[Sidenote: It is the sovereign good, and comprehends all others.
It lacks nothing, otherwise it could not be the supreme good.]
and þis þing for soþe is þe souereyne good þat conteiniþ
in hym self al man{er}e goodes. to þe whiche goode 1760
yif þere failed[e] any þing. it myȝt[e] nat ben souereyne
goode. ¶ For þan were þere som goode out of þis ilke souereyne
goode þ{a}t myȝt[e] ben desired.
[Sidenote: Happiness is, therefore, that perfect state, in which
all other goods meet and centre.]
Now is it clere {and}
certeyne þa{n} þat blisfulnesse is a p{er}fit estat
by þe congregac{i}ou{n} 1764
of alle goodes.
[Sidenote: It is the object which all men strive after.]
¶ þe whiche blisfulnesse as
I haue seid alle mortal folke enforcen hem to geten by
dyuerse weyes.
[Sidenote: A desire of the true good is a natural instinct, but
error misleads them to pursue false joys.]
¶ For-whi þe couetise of verray goode
is naturely y-plaunted in þe hertys of men. ¶ But þe 1768
myswandryng erro{ur} myslediþ hem in to fals[e] goodes.
[Sidenote: Some, imagining the supreme good to consist in lacking
nothing, labour for an abundance of _riches_; others, supposing
that this good lies in the _reverence_ and _esteem_ of their
fellow men, strive to acquire honourable positions.]
¶ of þe whiche men some of hem wenen þat souereygne
goode is to lyue wiþ outen nede of any þing.
{and} t{ra}ueile{n} hem to ben habundaunt of rycchesse. 1772
and some oþer men deme{n}. þat sou{er}ein goode be forto
be ryȝt digne of reu{er}ences. {and} enforce{n} hem to ben
reu{er}enced among hir neyȝbo{ur}s. by þe hono{ur}s þat þei
han ygeten
[Sidenote: There are some, again, who place it in supreme _power_,
and seek to rule, or to be favoured by the ruling powers.]
¶ {and} some folk þer ben þat halden þat 1776
ryȝt heyȝe power to be souereyn goode. {and} enforcen
he{m} forto regnen or ellys to ioigne{n} he{m} to hem þat
regnen.
[Sidenote: There are those who fancy _fame_ to be the height of
happiness, and seek by the arts of war or peace to get renown.]
¶ And it semeþ to some oþer folk þat noblesse
of renou{n} be þe sou{er}ein goode. {and} hasten hem to 1780
geten glorious name by þe artes of werre or of pees.
[Sidenote: Many there are who believe nothing to be better than
_joy_ and _gladness_, and think it delightful to plunge into
luxury.]
and many folke mesuren {and} gessen þ{a}t sou{er}ein goode
be ioye {and} gladnesse {and} wenen þat it be ryȝt blisful
[thyng{e}] to ploungen hem i{n} uoluptuous delit.
[Sidenote: Some there are who use these causes and ends
interchangeably, as those who desire riches as a means of getting
power; or who desire power in order to get money or renown.]
¶ And 1784
þer ben folk þat enterchaungen þe causes {and} þe endes
of þise forseide goodes as þei þat desire{n} rycchesse to [[pg 66]]
han power {and} delices. Or ellis þei desiren power forto
han moneye or for cause of renou{n}.
[Sidenote: In all they do they have a particular end in view.]
¶ In þise þinges 1788
{and} i{n} swyche oþer þinges is to{ur}ned al þe entenc{i}ou{n}
of desirynges {and} [of] werkes of me{n}. ¶ As þus.
[Linenotes:
1751 _fastned[e]_--fastnede
_wiþdrow_--MS. wiþdrowen, C. w{i}t{h} drowh
1752 _sete_--Cyte
1756 _enforced_--enforsen
1757 [_And blysfulnesse_]--from C.
_goode_--good
1758 _so_--so þ{a}t
_haþ_--MS. haþe
1759 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1760 _al_--alle
_goode_--good
1761 _þere_--ther
_failed[e]_--faylyde
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
_souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1762 _þan_--thanne
_þere_--ther
_goode_--good
_souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
1763 _goode_--good
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
1764 _certeyne_--certein
1766 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_folke_--foolk
1767 _goode_--good
1769 _fals[e]_--false
1770 _souereygne goode is_--sou{er}eyn good be
1771 _lyue wiþ outen_--lyuen w{i}t{h} owte
1772 _rycchesse_--Rychesses
1773 _some_--som
_goode be_--good ben
1774 _be_--ben
1775 _neyȝbours_--nesshebors
1776 _halden_--holden
1777 _heyȝe_--heyh
_to_--omitted
_goode_--good
1780 _goode_--good
1781 _or_--{and}
1782 _folke_--folk
_goode_--good
1783 _be_--by
1784 [_thynge_]--from C.
1786 _rycchesse_--rychesses
1787 _delices_--delytes
1789 _oþer_--oothre
_al_--alle
1790 [_of_]--from C.]
[Headnote:
FRIENDSHIP A SACRED THING.]
[Sidenote: Nobility and popular favour are sought after by some in
order to become famous.]
¶ Noblesse {and} fauo{ur} of poeple whiche þat ȝiueþ as it
semeþ a manere clernesse of renou{n}.
[Sidenote: By others, wives and children are only desired as
sources of pleasure.]
¶ and wijf {and} 1792
children þat men desiren for cause of delit {and} mirinesse.
[Sidenote: Friendship must not be reckoned among the goods of
fortune, but among those of virtue, for it is a very sacred
thing.]
¶ But forsoþe frendes ne shollen nat ben rekkened
among þe goodes of fortune but of vertue. for it
is a ful holy man{er}e þing.
[Sidenote: All else are desired either for the power or pleasure
they afford.]
alle þise oþer þinges forsoþe 1796
ben taken for cause of power. or ellis for cause of
delit.
[Sidenote: The goods of the body fall under the same predicament.]
¶ Certis now am I redy to referen þe goodes of
þe body to þise forseide þinges abouen.
[Sidenote: Strength and a good stature seem to give power and
worthiness.]
¶ For it semeþ
þ{a}t strengþe {and} gretnesse of body ȝeuen power {and} 1800
worþinesse.
[Sidenote: Beauty and swiftness give glory and fame; and health
gives delight.]
¶ and þat beaute {and} swiftenesse ȝeuen
noblesse {and} glorie of renou{n}. {and} hele of body semeþ
ȝiuen delit.
[Sidenote: In all these happiness alone is sought.]
¶ In alle þise þi{n}g{us} it semeþ oonly þat
blisfulnesse is desired.
[Sidenote: What a man most wishes for, that he esteems the supreme
good, which, as we have defined, is happiness.]
¶ For-whi þilke þing þat euery 1804
man desireþ moost ouer alle þinges. he demiþ þat be þe
souereyne goode. ¶ But I haue diffined þat blisfulnesse
is þe souereyne goode. for whiche euery wyȝt
demiþ þat þilke estat þat he desireþ ouer alle þinges þat 1808
it be þe blisfulnesse.
[Sidenote: Thou hast now before thee a view of human felicity
(falsely so called), that is, riches, honours, power, glory, and
delight, which last _Epicurus_ considered as the sovereign good.]
¶ Now hast þou þan byforne
[thy eyen] almost al þe p{ur}posed forme of þe welfulnesse
of ma{n}ky{n}de. þat is to seyne rycchesse. hono{ur}s.
power. glorie. {and} delitȝ. þe whiche delit oonly considered 1812
Epicurus Iuged {and} establissed. þat delit is þe
souereyne goode. for as myche as alle oþer þinges as
hym þouȝt[e] by-refte awey ioie {and} myrþe fro{m} þe
herte.
[Sidenote: I now return to the inclinations and pursuits of
mankind.]
¶ But I reto{ur}ne aȝeyne to þe studies of meen. 1816
of whiche men þe corage alwey rehersiþ {and} seekeþ þe [[pg 67]]
souereyne goode of alle be it so þ{a}t it be wiþ a derke
memorie [but he not by whiche paath].
[Sidenote: Their minds are bent upon the chief good, and are ever
seeking it with a darkened understanding, like a drunken man, who
cannot find his way home.]
¶ Ryȝt as a
dronke ma{n} not nat by whiche paþe he may reto{ur}ne 1820
home to hys house.
[Sidenote: Do they go astray who strive to keep themselves from
want?]
¶ Semeþ it þanne þat folk folyen
{and} erren þat enforcen he{m} to haue nede of no þing
[Linenotes:
1794 _shollen_--sholden
1795 _þe_--tho
1796 _oþer_--oothre
1801 _swiftenesse_--sweftnesse
1803 _ȝiuen_--MS. ȝiueþ, C. yeuen
1806, 1807 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
1807 _whiche_--whych
1809 _þe_--omitted
_þan byforne_--thanne byforn
1810 [_thy eyen_]--from C.; MS. _has_ ȝeuen aȝeyne
_almost_--almest
_welfulnesse_--welefulnesse
1811 _seyne rycchesse_--seyn Rychesses
1814 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_myche_--moche
_oþer_--oothre
1815 _þouȝt[e]_--thowhte
_from_--fram
1816 _aȝeyne_--ayein
1818 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
_of_--omitted
_alle_--al
_derke_--dirkyd
1819 [_but----paath_]--from C.
1820 _dronke_--dronken
_paþe_--paath
1821 _home_--hym]
[Headnote:
ALL SEEK THE CHIEF GOOD.]
[Sidenote: By no means. No state is happier than that in which a
man is above want, and independent of others.]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 16.]]
¶ Certys þer nys non oþer þing þat may so weel p{er}fo{ur}ny
blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuo{us} *of alle 1824
goodes þat ne haþ nede of none oþer þing. but þat it is
suffisant of hy{m} self. vnto hym self.
[Sidenote: Are they guilty of folly that seek esteem and
reverence?]
and foleyen
swyche folk þanne. þat wenen þat þilk þing þ{a}t is
ryȝt goode. þat it be eke ryȝt worþi of honour {and} of 1828
reuerence.
[Sidenote: No; for that is not contemptible for which all men
strive.]
¶ Certis nay. for þat þing nys neyþer foule
ne worþi to ben dispised þat al þe entenc{i}ou{n} of mortel
folke trauaille forto geten it.
[Sidenote: Is not power to be reckoned amongst desirable goods?]
¶ And power auȝt[e]
nat þat eke to be rekened amonges goodes
[Sidenote: Why not? For that is not an insignificant good which
invests a man with authority and command.]
what ellis. 1832
for it nys nat to wene þat þilke þing þat is most
worþi of alle þinges be feble {and} wiþ out strengþe {and}
clernesse of renou{n} auȝte þat to ben dispised.
[Sidenote: Fame also is to be regarded, for everything excellent
is also shining and renowned.]
¶ Certys
þer may no man forsake þat al þing þat is ryȝt excellent 1836
{and} noble. þat it ne semeþ to be ryȝt clere {and} renomed.
[Sidenote: We hardly need say that happiness is not an unjoyous
and melancholy state, for in the pursuit of the smallest matters
men seek only pleasure.]
¶ For certis it nediþ nat to seie. þat blisfulnesse
be anguissous ne dreri ne subgit to greua{n}ces ne
to sorwes. syn þat in ryȝt litel þi{n}g{us} folk seken to 1840
haue {and} to vsen þat may deliten hem.
[Sidenote: Hence it is that mankind seek riches, &c., because by
them they hope to get independence, honour, &c.]
¶ Certys þise
ben þe þi{n}ges þat men wolen {and} desyren to geten.
and for þis cause desiren þei rycches. dignites. regnes.
glorie {and} delices ¶ For þerby wenen þei to han suffisau{n}ce 1844
hono{ur} power. renou{n} {and} gladnesse.
[Sidenote: However varied their desires, _happiness_ is their sole
pursuit.]
¶ þanne
is it goode. þ{a}t men seken þus by so many dyu{er}se
studies. In whiche desijr it may lyȝtly be shew{e}d.
how grete is þe strengþe of nature. [[pg 68]]
[Sidenote: However various men’s opinions are respecting
happiness, all agree in pursuing it as the end of their actions
and desires.]
¶ For how so þat 1848
men han dyuerse sentences {and} discordyng algates men
accordyn alle in lyuynge þe ende of goode.
[Linenotes:
1823 _perfourny_--p{er}forme
1825 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_none_--non
1827 _þilk_--thilke
1828 _goode_--good
1829 _foule_--fowl
1830 _al_--welneyh alle
1831 _trauaille_--trauaylen
_auȝt[e]_--owhte
1832 _be_--ben
1834 _out_--owte
1835 _auȝte_--owhte
1836 _al_--alle
1837 _be_--ben
_clere_--cleer
1843 _rycches_--Rychesses
1846 _goode_--good
1847 _be_--ben
1848 _grete_--gret
1849 _algates_--Allegates
1850 _goode_--good]
[Headnote:
OF NATURE’S LAWS.]