[Sidenote: [The 9^ne p{ro}se.]]
[Sidenote: _P._ I have been describing the form of counterfeit
happiness, and if you have considered it attentively I shall
proceed to give you a perfect view of the true.]
++IT suffisiþ þat I haue shewed hider to þe forme of 2276
false wilfulnesse. so þat yif þou look[e] now clerely
þe ordre of myn entenc{i}ou{n} requeriþ from hennes forþe
to shewe{n} þe verray wilfulnesse.
[Sidenote: _B._ I now see that there is no sufficiency in riches,
no power in royalty, no esteem in dignities, nor nobility in
renown, nor joy in carnal pleasures.]
¶ For q{uod} .I. (b) [I.]
se wel now þat suffisau{n}ce may nat comen by richesse. ne 2280
power by realmes. ne reuere{n}ce by dignitees. ne gentilesse
by glorie. ne ioye by delices. and (p) hast þou wel
knowen q{uo}d she þe cause whi it is. Certis me semeþ
q{uod} .I. þat .I. se hem ryȝt as þouȝ
it were þoruȝ a litel [[pg 83]]
clifte.
[Sidenote: I have a glimpse of the cause of all this, but I should
like a more distinct view.]
but me were leuer knowen hem more openly of 2285
þe. Certys q{uod} she þe resou{n} is al redy
[Sidenote: _P._ The cause is obvious--for that which is by nature
one and indivisible human ignorance separates and divides, and
reverses the true order of things.]
¶ For
þilk þing þat symply is on þing wiþ outen ony
diuisiou{n}. þe errour {and} folie of mankynde departeþ 2288
{and} diuidiþ it. {and} mislediþ it {and} t{ra}nsporteþ from
verray {and} p{er}fit goode. to goodes þat ben false {and}
inp{er}fit.
[Sidenote: Does that state which needs nothing stand in need of
power?]
¶ But seye me þis. wenest þou þat he þat haþ
nede of power þat hy{m} ne lakkeþ no þing.
[Sidenote: _B._ I should say no. _P._ Right! That which wants
power needs external aid.]
Nay q{uo}d 2292
.I ¶ Certis q{uo}d she þou seist aryȝt. For yif so be
þ{a}t þer is a þing þat in any p{ar}tie be fieble of power.
[Sidenote: _B._ That is true! _P._ Sufficiency and power therefore
are of one nature. _B._ It seems so indeed.]
Certis as in þat it most[e] nedes be nedy of foreine
helpe. ¶ Riȝt so it is q{uo}d .I. Suffisaunce and power 2296
ben þan of on kynde ¶ So semeþ it q{uod} I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Are power and sufficiency to be despised? Are they
not rather worthy of universal respect?]
¶ And
demyst þou q{uo}d she þat a þing þat is of þis manere.
þat is to seine suffisau{n}t {and} myȝty auȝt[e] to ben dispised.
or ellys þ{a}t it be ryȝt digne of reuerences abouen 2300
alle þinges.
[Sidenote: _B._ They are doubtless highly estimable. _P._ Add
respect to sufficiency and power, and consider all three as one
and the same thing.]
¶ Certys q{uo}d I it nys no doute þat it
nis ryȝt worþi to ben reuerenced. ¶ Lat vs q{uo}d she þan
adden reuerence to suffisaunce {and} to power ¶ So þat
we demen þat þise þre þinges ben alle o þing.
[Sidenote: _B._ I see no objection to that view.]
¶ Certis 2304
q{uo}d I lat vs adden it. yif we willen graunten þe soþe.
[Sidenote: _P._ But can that be obscure and ignoble which
possesses three such attributes? is it not noble and worthy of a
shining reputation?]
what demest þou þan q{uo}d she is þat a dirke þing {and}
nat noble þat is suffisau{n}t reu{er}ent {and} myȝty. or ellys
þat is ryȝt clere {and} ryȝt noble of celebrete of renou{n}. 2308
[Linenotes:
2256 _heyȝe_--the hyye
_kachen_--kachche
2257 _fisshe_--fyssh
2258 _hunte_--honte
_roos_--Rooes
2259 _hyȝt_--hyhte
2260 _crikes_--brykes
_yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hyd
2261, 2262 _whiche_--whych
2263 _shelfisshe_--shelle fysh
2264, 2265 _whiche_--whych
2264 _dien_--deyen
2265 _of_--w{i}t{h}
2266 _echynnys_--MS. ethynnys, C. Echynnys
2268 _yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd
2270 _goode_--good
2271 _make_--maken
2273 _rycches_--Rychesse
2277 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_look[e]_--loke
_clerely_--clerly
2279 _wilfulnesse_--welefulnesse
_For_--For-sothe
[_I._]--from C.
2280 _richesse_--Rychesses
2281 _realmes_--Reames
2287 _þilk_--thylke
_on_--o
2290 _goode_--good
2291 _seye_--sey
_haþ_--MS. haþe
2294 _fieble_--febler{e}
2295 _most[e]_--mot
2296 _helpe_--help
2297 _on_--o
2298 _demyst þou_--demesthow
2299 _seine_--seyn
_auȝt[e]_--owhte
2300 _reuerences_--Reu{er}ence
2302 _nis ryȝt_--is ryht
2304 _alle_--al
2305 _willen_--wolen
2306 _dirke_--dyrk
2308 _clere_--cler
_of celebrete_--by celebryte]
[Headnote:
THE UNITY OF TRUE FELICITY.]
[Sidenote: He who is most powerful and worthy of renown--if he
lack fame which he cannot give to himself, must (by this defect)
seem in some measure more weak and abject.]
¶ Considere þan q{uo}d she as we han grau{n}tid her byforne.
þat he þat ne haþ ne[de] of no þing {and} is most
myȝty {and} most digne of hono{ur} yif hym nediþ any
clernesse of renou{n} whiche clernesse he myȝt[e] nat 2312
graunten of hym self. ¶ So þat for lakke of þilke
clerenesse he myȝt[e] seme febler on any syde or þe
more outcaste. _Glosa._ þis is to seyne nay. [[pg 84]]
[Sidenote: He that is sufficiently mighty and esteemed will have
necessarily an illustrious name.]
¶ For who
so þat is suffisau{n}t myȝty {and} reuerent. clernesse of 2316
renou{n} folweþ of þe forseide þinges. he haþ it alredy of
hys suffisaunce.
[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot deny it, for reputation seems inseparable
from the advantages you have just mentioned.]
boice. I may nat q{uo}d I denye it.
¶ But I mot graunten as it is. þat þis þing be ryȝt
celebrable by clernesse of renou{n} {and} noblesse.
[Sidenote: _P._ Therefore Renown differs in no wise from the three
above-mentioned attributes.]
¶ þan 2320
folweþ it q{uo}d she þat we adden clernesse of renou{n} to
þe þre forseide þinges. so þat þer ne be amonges hem
no difference. {and} þis is a consequente q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: And if any one then stands in need of no external aid,
can have all he wants, and is illustrious and respected--is not
his condition very agreeable and pleasant?]
þis þing þan q{uo}d she þat ne haþ no nede of no foreine 2324
þing. {and} þat may don alle þinges by his strengþes.
{and} þat is noble {and} hono{ur}able. nis nat þat a myrie
þing {and} a ioyful.
[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot conceive how such a one can have grief or
trouble.]
_boice._ but wenest q{uo}d I þ{a}t any
sorow myȝt[e] comen to þis þing þat is swiche. ¶ Certys 2328
I may nat þinke.
[Sidenote: _P._ It must then be a state of happiness; and we may
also affirm that sufficiency, power, nobility, differ only in
name, but not in substance.]
_P._ ¶ þanne moten we graunt[e] q{uod}
she þat þis þing be ful of gladnesse yif þe þorseide þinges
be soþe. ¶ And also certys mote we graunten. þat
suffisaunce power noblesse reuerence {and} gladnesse ben 2332
only dyuerse bynames. but hir substaunce haþ no
diu{er}site.
[Sidenote: _B._ It is a necessary consequence.]
_Boice._ It mot nedely be so q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ The depravity of mankind then divides that which
is essentially indivisible; and, seeking for a part of that which
has no parts, they miss the entire thing which they so much
desire.]
_P._ þilke
þinge þan q{uo}d she þat is oon {and} simple i{n} his nature.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 20.]]
þe wikkednesse of men departiþ it *diuidiþ it. {and} 2336
whan þei enforcen hem to gete p{ar}tie of a þing þat ne
haþ no part. þei ne geten hem neiþer þilk[e] p{ar}tie þat
nis none. ne þe þing al hole þat þei ne desire nat.
[Sidenote: _B._ How is that?]
_.b._ In whiche manere q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ He that seeks riches in order to avoid poverty, is
not solicitous about power; he prefers meanness and obscurity, and
denies himself many natural pleasures that he may not lessen his
heaps of pelf.]
_p._ þilke man q{uo}d she þat 2340
sekeþ rychesse to fleen pouerte. he ne trauayleþ hym
nat to for to gete power for he haþ leuer ben dirk {and}
vile. {and} eke wiþdraweþ from hym selfe many naturel
delitȝ for he nolde lesen þe moneye þat he haþ assembled. 2344
[Sidenote: He who lacks power, is pricked with trouble, and
rendered an outcast and obscure by his sordid ways, does not
possess sufficiency.]
but certis in þis manere he ne getiþ hym nat [[pg 85]]
suffisaunce þat power forletiþ. {and} þat moleste p{re}keþ.
{and} þat filþe makeþ outcaste. {and} þat derknesse hideþ.
[Sidenote: He who only aims at power squanders his riches, and
despises delights and honours unaccompanied by power.]
and certis he þ{a}t desireþ only power he wastiþ {and} 2348
scatriþ rychesse {and} dispiseþ delices {and} eke hono{ur}
þat is wiþ out power. ne he ne p{re}iseþ glorie no þing.
[Linenotes:
2310 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2312 _whiche_--whych
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
2314 _clerenesse_--clernesse
_myȝt[e]_--myhte
_febler_--the febeler{e}
2315 _seyne_--seyn
2317 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2324 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2325 _his_--hyse
2326 _myrie_--mery
2327 _wenest_--whennes
2328 _sorow myȝt[e]_--sorwe myhte
2329 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
2331 _be_--ben
_also certys_--certes also
2333 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2334 _nedely_--nedly
2335 _þinge_--thing
2337 _gete_--geten
2338 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_þilk[e]_--thilke
2339 _none_--non
_hole_--hool
2340 _whiche_--whych
2341 _rychesse_--Rychesses
_fleen_--MS. sleen, C. flen
2342 _leuer_--leu{er}
2343 _vile_--vyl
_selfe_--self
2344 _delitȝ_--delices
_lesen_--lese
_haþ_--MS. haþe
2346 _prekeþ_--prykketh
2347 _derknesse_--dyrknesse
2349 _scatriþ_--schatereth
_delices_--delycȝ
2350 _wiþ out_--w{i}t{h} owte]
[Headnote:
OF FALSE FELICITY.]
¶ Certys þus seest þou wel þat many þi{n}g{us} failen to
hym. for he haþ somtyme faute of many necessites. 2352
[Sidenote: Such a one must be subject to many anxieties.]
{and} many anguysses biten hym
[Sidenote: And when he cannot get rid of these evils he ceases to
have what he most desired--power.]
¶ {and} whan he may
nat don þo defautes awey. he forleteþ to ben myȝty.
{and} þat is þe þing þat he most desireþ.
[Sidenote: In the same way honour, glory, and pleasure, are all
inseparable; he that seeks one without the other will fail to
obtain his desires.]
{and} ryȝt þus
may I make semblable resou{n}s of hono{ur}s {and} of glorie 2356
{and} of delices. ¶ For so as euery of þise forseide
þinges is þe same þat þise oþer þinges ben. þat is to
sein. al oon þing. who so þat euer sekeþ to geten þat
oon of þise {and} nat þat oþer. he ne geteþ nat þat he 2360
desireþ.
[Sidenote: _B._ What then if a man should desire to gain them all
at once?]
_Boice._ ¶ what seist þou þan yif þat a man
coueiteþ to geten alle þise þinges to gider.
[Sidenote: _P._ He would then indeed desire perfect felicity--but
can he ever expect to find it in the acquisitions above mentioned,
which do not perform what they promise?]
_P._ Certys
q{uo}d she .I. wolde seie þat he wolde geten hym souereyne
blisfulnes. but þat shal he nat fynde in þo þinges 2364
þat .I. haue shewed þat ne mowe nat ȝeuen þat þei by-heten.
[Sidenote: _B._ No, surely!]
_boice._ Certys no q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Then happiness is not to be sought in these things
which are falsely supposed capable of satisfying our desires?]
¶ þan q{uod} she ne
sholden men nat by no weye seken blysfulnesse in
swiche þinges as men wenen þat þei ne mowe 2368
ȝeuen but o þing senglely of alle þ{a}t me{n} seken.
[Sidenote: _B._ I confess it, and nothing can be more truly
affirmed than this.]
I graunt[e] wel q{uo}d .I. ne no soþer þing ne may nat
ben said.
[Sidenote: Turn your mind’s eye upon the reverse of all this
_false felicity_ and you will perceive _the true happiness_.]
_P._ ¶ Now hast þou þan q{uo}d she þe forme
{and} þe causes of false welefulnesse. ¶ Now turne {and} 2372
flitte þe eyen of þi þouȝt. for þere shalt þou seen an oon
þilk verray blysfulnesse þ{a}t I haue byhyȝt þee.
[Sidenote: _B._ It is very clear, and I had a complete view of it
when you explained to me the causes of its counterfeit.]
_b._ Certys q{uo}d .I. it is cler {and} opyn. þouȝ þat it were to
a blynde man. {and} þat shewedest þou me [ful wel] a 2376
lytel her byforne. whan þou enforcedest þe to shewe me [[pg 86]]
þe causes of þe false blysfulnesse
[Sidenote: True felicity consists in a state of sufficiency, of
power, and honour--as well as of a shining reputation and every
desirable pleasure: and I must confess that true felicity is that
which is bestowed by these advantages, as they are in reality all
one and the same.]
¶ For but yif I be by-giled.
þan is þilke þe verray p{er}fit blisfulnesse þat p{er}fitly
makiþ a man suffisau{n}t. myȝty. hono{ur}able noble. 2380
{and} ful of gladnesse. {and} for þou shalt wel knowe þat I
haue wel vndirstonden þise þinges wiþ i{n}ne myne herte.
I knowe wel þilke blisfulnesse þat may verrayly ȝeuen
on of þe forseide þinges syn þei ben al oon .I. knowe 2384
douteles þat þilke þing is þe fulle of blysfulnesse.
[Sidenote: _P._ O my nursling, how happy are you in this
conviction, provided you add but one limitation.]
_P._ O my nurry q{uod} she by þis oppiniou{n} q{uo}d she I
sey[e] þat þou art blisful yif þou putte þis þer to þat I
shal seine.
[Sidenote: _B._ What is that?]
what is þat q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Thinkest thou that any thing in this world can
confer this happiness? (the sovereign good).]
¶ Trowest þou þat 2388
þer be any þing in þis erþely mortal toumblyng þinges
þat may bryngen þis estat.
[Sidenote: _B._ I think not; for nothing can be desirable beyond
such a state of perfection.]
Certys q{uo}d I trowe it nat.
{and} þou hast shewed me wel þat ouer þilke goode þer
is no þing more to ben desired.
[Sidenote: _P._ These imperfect things above mentioned only confer
the shadow of the supreme good, or at most only an imperfect
felicity, but they cannot bestow true and perfect happiness.]
_P._ þise þinges þan 2392
q{uo}d she. þat is to seyne erþely suffisaunce {and} power.
{and} swiche þinges eyþer þei semen likenesse of verray
goode. or ellys it semeþ þat þei ȝeuen to mortal folk a
maner of goodes þat ne ben nat perfit. ¶ But þilke 2396
goode þat is verray {and} p{er}fit. þat may þei nat ȝeuen.
[Sidenote: _B._ I quite agree with you.]
_boice._ I. accorde me wel q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Then, knowing the difference between true and
false felicity you must now learn where to look for this supreme
felicity.]
þan q{uo}d she for as
moche as þou hast knowen whiche is þilke verray blisfulnesse.
{and} eke whiche þilke þinges ben þat lien 2400
falsly blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne. þat by desceit
seme{n} verray goodes.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 20 _b_.]]
¶ Now byhoueþ þe to knowe{n}
*whennes {and} where þou mowe seek[e] þilke verray
blisfulnesse. ¶ Certys q{uo}d I þat desijr I gretly {and} 2404
haue abiden longe tyme to herkene it.
[Sidenote: _P._ But, as Plato says that even in the least things
the Divine assistance ought to be implored, what ought we do, to
render us worthy of so important a discovery as the true source
and seat of the sovereign good?]
¶ But for as
moche q{uo}d she as it likeþ to my disciple plato in his
book of i{n} thimeo. þat in ryȝt lytel þinges men sholde
bysechen þe helpe of god. ¶ what iugest þou þat be 2408
[now] to done so þat we may deserue to fynde þe sete of [[pg 87]]
þilke souereyne goode.
[Sidenote: _B._ Let us invoke the Father of all things.]
_B._ ¶ Certys q{uo}d .I. I. deme
þat we shulle clepen to þe fadir of alle goodes. ¶ For
wiþ outen hym nis þer no þing founden aryȝt.
[Sidenote: You are right, said Philosophy, and thus she sang:--]
þou seist 2412
a-ryȝt q{uo}d she. and bygan on-one to syngen ryȝt þus.
[Linenotes:
2351 _many_--manye
2352 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_faute_--defaute
2353 _may_--ne may
2354 _don_--MS. done, C. don
2356 _make_--maken
2357 _forseide_--MS. sorseide
2363 _souereyne_--sou{er}eyn
2365 _mowe_--mowen
2368 _wenen_--wene
_mowe_--mowen
2370 _graunt[e]_--grau{n}te
_soþer_--sother{e}
2371 _said_--MS. saide, C. sayd
2376 [_ful wel_]--from C.
2377 _byforne_--by-forn
2378 _blysfulnesse_--MS. blyndenesse, C. blysfulnesse
2385 _of_--omitted
2386 _nurry_--norye
2387 _sey[e]_--seye
2388 _seine_--seyn
2389 _þis_--thise
2390 _nat_--nawht
2393 _seyne_--sey
2395 _ȝeuen_--yeue
2397 _goode_--good
2399 _whiche_--which
2401 _seyne_--seyn
2402 _knowen_--knowe
2403 _seek[e]_--seke
2405 _herkene_--herknen
2407 _sholde_--sholden
2408 _bysechen_--by-shechen
_helpe_--help
2409 [_now_]--from C.
2410 _souereyne goode_--verray good
2411 _shulle_--shollen
_to_--omitted
2413 _on-one_--anon]
[Headnote:
IN SEEKING SUPREME FELICITY THE DIVINE AID IS TO BE INVOKED.]