[Footnote 7: Read que sit.]
[Sidenote: [The 10^the p{ro}se.]]
[Sidenote: Now that thou hast had a faithful representation of
future felicity as well as of the true happiness, I shall show
thee in what the Perfection of Happiness consists.]
++FOr as moche þan as þou hast seyn. whiche is þe
forme of goode þat nys nat p{er}fit. {and} whiche is þe
forme of goode þat is p{er}fit. now trowe I þat it were
goode to shewe in what þis p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of blisfulnesse is 2456
set.
[Sidenote: Our best plan will be to inquire whether there be in
nature such a good as thou hast lately defined, lest we be
deceived by the vanity of Imagination and be carried beyond the
truth of the matter subjected to our inquiry.]
{and} in þis þing I trowe þat we sholden first enquere
forto witen yif þat any swiche manere goode as þilke
goode þat þou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. þat
is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in þe nature 2460
of þinges. For þat veyne ymaginac{i}ou{n} of þouȝt ne
desceiue vs nat. {and} putte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse
of þilke þinge þat is su{m}myttid to vs. þis is to seyne.
but it may nat ben denoyed þat þilke goode ne is. 2464
¶ and þat it nis ryȝt as a welle of alle goodes.
[Sidenote: The sovereign good does exist, and is the source of all
other good.]
¶ For
al þing þat is cleped i{n}p{er}fit.
is proued i{n}p{er}fit by þe [[pg 89]]
amenusynge of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n}. or of þing þat is p{er}fit.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 21.]]
[Sidenote: When we say that a thing is _imperfect_ we assert that
there is something else of its kind _perfect_.]
{and} her of comeþ it. þat in euery þing general. yif þat. 2468
þat men seen any þing þat is i{n}p{er}fit *certys in þilke general
þer mot ben so{m}me þing þat is p{er}fit. ¶ For yif so
be þat p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} is don awey. men may nat þinke
nor seye fro whe{n}nes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit. 2472
[Sidenote: Nature takes not her origin from things diminished and
imperfect; but, proceeding from an entire and absolute substance,
descends into the remotest and most fruitless things.]
¶ For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng
of þinges amenused {and} i{n}p{er}fit. but it p{ro}cediþ of
þi{n}g{us} þat ben al hool. {and} absolut. {and} descendeþ so
doune in to outerest þinges {and} in to þi{n}g{us} empty {and} 2476
wiþ oute fruyt.
[Sidenote: If there be an imperfect and fading felicity there must
also be one stable and perfect.]
but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne.
þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be frele {and} vein {and}
inp{er}fit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse
þat is sad stedfast {and} p{er}fit. b. þis is concludid 2480
q{uo}d I fermely {and} soþefastly.
[Sidenote: But now consider wherein this felicity resides. That
God is the governor of all things is proved by the universal
opinion of all men.]
_P._ But co{n}sidere
also q{uo}d she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe
co{m}mune acordaunce {and} conceite of þe corages of men
p{ro}ueþ {and} graunteþ þat god p{r}ince of alle þi{n}g{us} is 2484
good.
[Sidenote: For since nothing may be conceived better than God,
then He who has no equal in goodness must be good.]
¶ For so as no þing ne may ben þouȝt bettre þan
god. it may nat ben douted þan þat [he þ{a}t] no þing is
bettre. þat he nys good.
[Sidenote: Reason clearly demonstrates (1) that God is good, and
(2) that the sovereign good exists in him.]
¶ Certys resou{n} sheweþ þat
god is so goode þat it p{ro}ueþ by verray force þat p{er}fit 2488
goode is in hym.
[Sidenote: If it were not so He could not be the Ruler of all
things, for there would be some other being excelling him who
possesses the supreme good and who must have existed before Him.]
¶ For yif god ne is swiche. he ne
may nat ben p{r}ince of alle þinges. for certis som þing
possessyng in hy{m} self p{er}fit goode sholde ben more
þan god. {and} [it] sholde seme þat þilke þing were first 2492
{and} elder þan god.
[Sidenote: And we have already shown that the perfect precedes the
imperfect;]
¶ For we han shewed ap{er}tly þat
alle þinges þat ben p{er}fit. ben first or þinges þat ben inperfit.
[Linenotes:
2453 _whiche_--which
2454-55-56-58-59 _goode_--good
2454 _whiche_--whych
2457 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
2460 _seine_--seyn
_souereyne goode_--souereyn good
_be founden_--ben fownde
2461 _veyne_--veyn
2463 _þis is to seyne_--C. omits
2464 _denoyed_--MS. deuoyded, C. denoyed
_goode_--good
2465 _of_--MS. of of
2466 _al þing_--alle thing
2468 _her of comeþ_--ther of comht
2470 _somme_--som
2471 _don_--MS. done, C. don
2473 _token_--took
2475 _hool_--hoole
2476 _doune_--down
2477 _wiþ oute fruyt_--w{i}t{h} owten frut
2480 _stedfast_--stydefast
2481 _fermely_--MS. fennely, C. fermely
_soþefastly_--sothfastly
2486 [_he þat_]--from C.
_is bettre_--nis bettr{e}
2488-89-91 _goode_--good
2489 _swiche_--swych
2492 [_it_]--from C.
_seme_--semen
2493 _elder_--elder{e}]
[Headnote:
GOD THE SOURCE OF TRUE FELICITY.]
[Sidenote: wherefore, that our reasonings may not run on with
infinity, we must confess that the Supreme God is full of perfect
and consummate good.]
¶ And for þi for as moche as [that] my resou{n}
or my p{ro}ces ne go nat awey wiþoute an ende. we 2496
ouȝt[e] to graunten þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of
souereyne p{er}fit goode. [[pg 90]]
[Sidenote: And as we have seen that the perfect good is true
happiness, it follows that the true felicity resides in the
Supreme Divinity.]
and we han establissed þat þe
souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. þan mot it nedes
ben [þ{a}t verray blysfulnesse is] yset i{n} souereyne god. 2500
_B._ þis take I wel q{uo}d .I. ne þis ne may nat be wiþseid
in no manere.
[Sidenote: But let us see how we can firmly and irrefragably prove
that the Supreme God contains in his own nature a plenitude of
perfect and consummate good.]
¶ But I p{re}ie þe q{uo}d she see now how
þou mayst preuen holily {and} wiþ-oute{n} corrupciou{n} þis
þat I haue seid. þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of 2504
souereyne goode. [In whych man{er}e q{uo}d I.] wenest
þou ouȝt q{uo}d she þat þis p{r}ince of alle þinges haue
ytake þilke souereyne good any where þan of hym self.
¶ of whiche souereyne goode men p{ro}ueþ þat he is ful 2508
ryȝt as þou myȝtest þinken. þat god þat haþ blisfulnesse
in hym self. {and} þat ilke blisfulnesse þat is in hym
were diu{er}s in substaunce.
[Sidenote: If you think that God has received this good from
without, then you must believe that the giver of this good is more
excellent than God the receiver.]
¶ For yif þou wene þat
god haue receyued þilke good oute of hy{m} self. þou 2512
mayst wene þat he þat ȝaf þilke good to god. be more
goode þan is god.
[Sidenote: But we have concluded that there is nothing more
excellent than God.]
¶ But I am byknowen {and} confesse
{and} þat ryȝt dignely þat god is ryȝt worþi abouen alle
þinges.
[Sidenote: But if this supreme good is in Him by nature, and is
nevertheless of a different substance, we cannot conceive, since
God is the author of all things, what could have united these two
substances differing one from another.]
¶ And yif so be þat þis good be in hym by 2516
nature. but þat it is diu{er}s from [hym] by wenyng
resou{n}. syn we speke of god p{r}ince of alle þinges feyne
who so feyne may. who was he þat [hath] co{n}ioigned
þise diu{er}s þinges to-gidre.
[Sidenote: Lastly, a thing which essentially differs from another
cannot be the same with that from which it is supposed to differ.]
{and} eke at þe last[e] se 2520
wel þat o þing þat is diu{er}s from any þing. þat þilke
þing nis nat þat same þing. fro whiche it is vndirstonde{n}
to ben diu{er}s.
[Sidenote: Consequently, what in its nature differs from the chief
good cannot be the supreme good.]
þan folweþ it. þat þilke þi{n}g þat
by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. þat þat 2524
þing nys nat souereyne good.
[Sidenote: But it would be impious and profane thus to conceive of
God, since nothing can excel Him in goodness and worth.]
but certys þat were a
felonous corsednesse to þinken þat of hym. þat no þing
nis more worþe.
[Sidenote: In fact, nothing can exist whose nature is better than
its origin.]
For alwey of alle þinges. þe nat{ur}e
of hem ne may nat ben better þan his bygy{n}nyng. 2528
[Linenotes:
2495 [_that_]--from C.
2496 _proces_--p{ro}cesses
2497 _ouȝt[e]_--owen
2498 _goode_--good
2499 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good
2500 [_þat----is_]--from C.
_yset_--MS. ysette, C. set
2501 _be_--ben
_wiþseid_--MS. wiþseide, C. withseid
2503 _wiþ-outen_--w{i}t{h}-owte
2504 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2505 _souereyne goode_--souereyn good
[_In----I_]--from C.
2506 _ouȝt_--awht
2507 _þan of_--owt of
2508 _whiche_--whych
_souereyne goode_--souereyn good
2509 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2510 _þat ilke_--thilke
2511 _were_--weren
2514 _goode_--worth
2517 _from_--fro
[_hym_]--from C.
2518 _feyne_--faigne
2519 _feyne_--feigne
[_hath_]--from C.
2520 _last[e]_--laste
2521 _o_--a
2522 _whiche_--whych
2524 _from_--fro
2527 _nis_--is
2528 _better_--bettre]
[Headnote:
THERE CANNOT BE TWO CHIEF GOODS.]
[Sidenote: We may therefore conclude that the Author of all things
is really and substantially the supreme Good.]
¶ For whiche I may concluden by ryȝt uerray resou{n}. [[pg 91]]
þat þilke þat is bygynnyng of alle þinges. þilke same
þing is good in his substaunce.
[Sidenote: _B._ Most rightly said!]
_B._ þou hast seid ryȝtfully
q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ But you have owned that true felicity is the
sovereign good; then you must also grant that God is that true
felicity.]
_P._ But we han graunted q{uo}d she þat 2532
souereyne good is blysfulnes. þat is soþe q{uo}d .I. þan
q{uo}d she mote we nedes graunten {and} confessen þat
þilke same souereyne goode be god.
[Sidenote: _B._ Your conclusions follow from your premises.]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 21 _b_.]]
¶ Certys *q{uo}d
.I. I ne may nat denye ne wiþstonde þe resou{n}s p{ur}posed. 2536
and I see wel þat it folweþ by strengþe of þe
p{re}misses.
[Sidenote: _P._ Let us see whether we cannot prove this more
convincingly by considering it in this view, that there cannot be
two sovereign goods which differ in themselves.]
¶ Loke nowe q{uo}d she yif þis be proued
[yit] more fermely þus. ¶ þat þer ne mowen nat ben
two souereyne goodes þat ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem 2540
self.
[Sidenote: For it is plain that of the goods that differ one
cannot be what the other is; wherefore neither of them can be
perfect where one wants the other.]
þat on is nat þat þat oþer is. þan [ne] mowen
neiþer of hem ben p{er}fit. so as eyþer of hem lakkiþ to
oþir.
[Sidenote: That which is not perfect cannot be the supreme good.]
but þat þat nis nat p{er}fit men may seen apertly
þat it nis nat souereyne.
[Sidenote: Neither can the chief good be essentially different.]
þe þinges þan þat ben 2544
souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse.
[Sidenote: But it has been shown that God and happiness are the
chief good, wherefore the sovereign felicity and the Supreme
Divinity are one and the same.]
¶ But I haue wel conclude þat blisfulnesse {and} god ben
[the] souereyne goode. For whiche it mot nedes be þat
souereyne blisfulnesse is souerey[ne] dyuynite. ¶ No 2548
þing q{uo}d I nis more soþefast þan þis ne more ferme by
resou{n}. ne a more worþi þing þan god may nat ben
concluded.
[Sidenote: Following then the examples of geometricians who deduce
their consequences from their propositions, I shall deduce to thee
something like a corollary as follows:--]
_P._ vpon þise þinges þan q{uo}d she. ryȝt as
þise geometriens whan þei han shewed her p{ro}posiciou{n}s 2552
ben wont to brynge{n} in þinges þat þei clepen porismes
or declarac{i}ou{n}s of forseide þinges. ryȝt so wil I ȝeue
þe here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune.
[Sidenote: Because by the attainment of felicity men become happy,
and as felicity is the same as Divinity itself, therefore by the
attainment of Divinity men are made happy.]
For whi.
for as moche as by þe getynge of blisfulnesse men ben 2556
maked blysful. {and} blisfulnesse is diuinite. ¶ þan is
it manifest {and} open þat by þe gety{n}g of diuinite men
ben makid blisful.
[Sidenote: But as by the participation of justice or of wisdom men
become just or wise,]
ryȝt as by þe getynge of iustice . . .
{and} by þe getyng of sapience þei ben maked wise. 2560
[Linenotes:
2529 _whiche_--whych
2531 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
2533 _soþe_--soth
2534 _mote_--moten
2539 [_yit_]--from C.
2541 _is_ (1)--nis
_oþer_--othre
[_ne_]--from C.
2546 _conclude_--concluded
2547 [_the_] from C.
_goode_--good
_be_--ben
2549 _soþefast_--sothfast
_ferme_--MS. forme, C. ferme
2552 _proposiciouns_--MS. p{ro}porsiou{n}s, C. p{ro}posiciou{n}s
2553 _porismes_--MS. poeismes, C. porysmes
2554 _wil_--wole]
[Headnote:
THE HAPPY MAN IS A GOD.]
[Sidenote: so by partaking of Divinity they must necessarily,
and by parity of reason, become gods.]
¶ Ryȝt so nedes by þe semblable resou{n}
wha{n} þei han getyn [[pg 92]]
diuinite þei ben maked goddys.
[Sidenote: Every happy man then is a god. But by nature there is
only _One_; but by participation of Divine essence there may be
many gods.]
þan is euery blisful
man god. ¶ But certis by nature. þer nys but oon god.
but by þe p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n}s of diuinite þere ne letteþ ne 2564
disturbeþ no þing þat þer ne ben many goddes. ¶ þis
is q{uo}d .I. a faire þing {and} a p{re}cious. ¶ Clepe it as
þ{o}u wolt. be it corolarie or porisme or mede of coroune
or declarynges ¶ Certys q{uo}d she no þing nis fairer. 2568
þan is þe þing þat by resou{n} sholde ben added to þise
forseide þinges. what þing q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: But as happiness seems to be an assemblage of many
things, ought we not to consider whether these several things
constitute conjointly the body of happiness, or whether there is
not some one of these particular things that may complete the
substance or essence of it, and to which all the rest have a
relation?]
¶ So q{uo}d she as
it semeþ þat blisfulnesse conteniþ many þinges. it were
forto witen wheþir [þ{a}t] alle þise þinges maken or 2572
conioignen as a maner body of blysfulnesse by diuersite
of parties or [of] me{m}bris. Or ellys yif any of alle
þilke þi{n}g{us} be swyche þat it acomplise by hy{m} self þe
substaunce of blisfulnesse. so þat alle þise oþer þinges 2576
ben referred and brouȝt to blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne
as to þe chief of hem.
[Sidenote: _B._ Illustrate this matter by proper examples.]
¶ I wolde q{uo}d I þat þou
makedest me clerly to vndirstonde what þou seist. {and}
þat þou recordest me þe forseide þinges.
[Sidenote: _P._ As you grant that happiness is a good, you may say
the same of all the other goods; for perfect sufficiency is
identical with supreme felicity; so is supreme power, likewise
high rank, a shining reputation, and perfect pleasure.]
¶ Haue I nat 2580
iuged q{uo}d she. þat blisfulnesse is goode. ȝis forsoþe
q{uo}d .I. {and} þat souereyne goode. ¶ Adde þan q{uo}d
she þilke goode þat is maked blisfulnes to alle þe forseide
þinges. ¶ For þilke same blisfulnesse þat is 2584
demed to ben souereyne suffisaunce. þilke self is
souereyne power. souereyne reuerence. sou{er}eyne clernesse
or noblesse {and} souereyne delit.
[Sidenote: What say you, then; are all these things, sufficiency,
power, and the rest, to be considered as constituent parts of
felicity? or are they to be referred to the sovereign good as
their source and principal?]
what seist þou
þan of alle þise þinges. þat is to seyne. suffisance power 2588
{and} þise oþer þinges. ben þei þan as membris of blisfulnesse.
or ben þei referred {and} brouȝt to souereyne good.
¶ Ryȝt as alle þinges þat ben brouȝt to þe chief of hem.
[Linenotes:
2563 _oon_--o
2564 _letteþ_--let
2566 _faire_--fayr
2567 _porisme_--MS. pousme, C. porisme
2572 [_þat_]--from C.
2573 _maner_--maner{e}
_by_--be
2574 [_of_]--from C.
2575 _swyche_--swych
2576 _oþer_--oothr{e}
2577 _seyne_--seyn
2578 _chief_--chef
2581 _goode ȝis_--good ys
2582 _souereyne goode_--sou{er}eyn good
2583 _goode_--good
2585 _self_--selue
2588 _þise_--C. omits
_seyne_--seyn
2589 _oþer_--oothre]
[Headnote:
GOOD, THE RULE AND SQUARE OF THINGS DESIRABLE.]
[Sidenote: _B._ I see what you are aiming at, and I am desirous to
hear your arguments.]
b. I vndirstonde wel q{uo}d .I. what þou p{ur}posest to [[pg 93]]
seke. but I desijr[e] to herkene þat þou shewe it me. 2593
[Sidenote: _P._ If all these things were members of felicity, they
would differ one from another, for it is the property of diverse
parts to compose one body.]
_p._ Take now þus þe discressiou{n} of þis questiou{n} q{uo}d
she. yif al þise þinges q{uo}d she weren membris to
felicite. þan weren þei diu{er}se þat oon fro þat oþer. 2596
¶ And swiche is þe nat{ur}e of p{ar}ties or of membris.
þat dyuerse me{m}bris compounen a body.
[Sidenote: But it has been well shown that all these things are
the same and do not differ--therefore they are not parts, for if
they were, happiness might be made up of one member--which is
absurd and impossible.]
¶ Certis
q{uo}d I it haþ wel ben shewed her byforne. þat alle þise
þinges ben alle on þing. þan ben þei none membris q{uo}d 2600
she.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 22.]]
for ellys it sholde seme þat blisfulnesse were
conioigned *al of one membre alone. but þat is a þi{n}g
þat may nat ben doon.
[Sidenote: _B._ This I doubt not, but I desire to hear the
sequel.]
þis þing q{uo}d .I. nys nat
doutous. but I abide to herkene þe remenaunt of þe 2604
questiou{n}.
[Sidenote: _P._ All the things above-mentioned must be tried by
Good, as the rule and square.]
þis is ope{n} {and} clere q{uo}d she. þat alle oþer
þinges ben referred {and} brouȝt to goode.
[Sidenote: Sufficiency, power, &c., are all desired, because they
are esteemed a good.]
¶ For þerfore
is suffisaunce requered. For it is demed to ben
good. {and} forþi is power requered. for men trowen also 2608
þat it be goode. and þis same þing mowe we þinken {and}
coueiten of reuerence {and} of noblesse {and} of delit.
[Sidenote: Good is the cause why all things are desired.]
þan is souereyne good þe soume {and} þe cause of alle þat
auȝt[e] be desired.
[Sidenote: For that which contains no good, either in reality or
appearance, can never be desired.]
forwhi þilke þing þat wiþ-holdeþ no 2612
good in it self ne semblaunce of goode it ne may nat
wel in no manere be desired ne requered.
[Sidenote: On the contrary, things not essentially good are
desired because they appear to be real goods.]
{and} þe contrarie.
For þouȝ þat þinges by hir nature ne ben nat
goode algates yif men wene þat þei be{n} goode ȝit ben 2616
þei desired as þouȝ [þ{a}t] þei were verrayly goode.
[Sidenote: Hence, Good is esteemed as the cause and end of all
things that we desire.]
{and} þerfore is it þat men auȝte{n} to wene by ryȝt þat bounte
be souereyne fyn {and} þe cause of alle þinges þat ben to
requeren.
[Sidenote: That which is the cause of our desiring any thing is
itself what we chiefly want.]
¶ But certis þilke þ{a}t is cause for whiche 2620
men requeren any þing. ¶ it semeþ þat þilke same
þing be most desired.
[Sidenote: If a man desire to ride on account of health--it is not
the ride he wants so much as its salutary effects.]
as þus yif þat a wyȝt wolde ryde
for cause of hele. he ne desireþ nat so mychel þe
moeuyng to ryden as þe effect of his heele. [[pg 94]]
[Sidenote: Since all things are sought after for the sake of Good,
they cannot be more desirable than the good itself.]
Now þan 2624
syn þat alle þinges ben requered for þe grace of good.
þei ne ben [nat] desired of alle folk more þan þe same
good
[Sidenote: It has been shown that all the aforesaid things are
only pursued for the sake of happiness--hence it is clear that
good and happiness are essentially the same.]
¶ But we han graunted þat blysfulnesse is þat
þing for whiche þat alle þise oþer þinges ben desired. 2628
þan is it þus þat certis only blisfulnesse is requered {and}
desired ¶ By whiche þing it sheweþ clerely þat good
{and} blisfulnesse is al oone {and} þe same substaunce.
[Sidenote: _B._ I see no cause to differ from you.]
¶ I se nat q{uo}d I wher fore þat men myȝt[en] discorden 2632
in þis.
[Sidenote: _P._ It has been proved that God and happiness are
identical and inseparable.]
_p._ {and} we han shewed þat god {and} verrey blysfulnesse
is al oon þing
[Sidenote: _B._ That is true.]
¶ þat is soþe q{uod} .I.
[Sidenote: Therefore the substance of God is also the same as that
of the Supreme Good.]
þan mowe we conclude sikerly þ{a}t þe substaunce of god is
set in þilke same good {and} in noon oþer place. 2636
[Linenotes:
2591 _brouȝt_--MS wrouȝt, C. browht
2593 _desijr[e] to herkene_--desir{e} for to herkne
2594 _Take_--tak
2596 _fro_--from
2597 _swiche_--swhych
2600 _on þing_--othing
2602 _one_--on
2603 _ben doon_--be don
2604 _herkene_--herknen
2605 _clere_--cler
_oþer_--oothre
2606 _goode_--good
2609 _goode_--good
_mowe_--mowen
2617 [_þat_]--from C.
_were verrayly_--weeren verraylyche
2618 _þerfore_--therfor
_auȝten_--owhten
2619 _alle_--alle the
2620 _whiche_--whych
2623 _mychel_--mochel
2624 _moeuyng_--moeuynge
2626 [_nat_]--from C.
2628 _oþer_--oothr{e}
2630 _clerely_--clerly
_good and blisfulnesse_--of good {and} of blysfulnesse
2631 _oone_--oon
2632 _myȝt[en]_--myhten
2634 _oon_--oo
_soþe_--soth
2635 _mowe_--mowen
2636 _set_--MS. sette, C. set]
[Headnote:
GOD A HAVEN OF REST.]