[Sidenote: [The 10^the Met{ur}.]]
[Sidenote: Come hither, all ye that are captives--bound and
fettered with the chains of earthly desires;--come to this source
of goodness, where you shall find rest and security.]
++O Comeþ alle to-gidre now ȝe þat ben ycauȝt {and}
ybounde wiþ wicked[e] cheines by þe deceiuable
delit of erþely þinges inhabytynge in ȝoure þouȝt. here
shal ben þe reste of ȝoure laboures. here is þe hauene 2640
stable in peisible quiete. þis al oone is þe open refut to
wreches.
[Sidenote: [Chaucer’s gloss upon the Text.]
_Glosa._ þis is to seyn. þat ȝe þat ben combred
{and} deceyued wiþ worldly affecc{i}ou{n}s comeþ now
to þis souereyne good þat is god. þat is refut to hem þat 2644
wolen come to hym.
[Sidenote: Not the gold of Tagus or of Hermus, nor the gems of
India, can clear the mental sight from vain delusions, but rather
darken it.]
_Textus._ ¶ Alle þe þinges þat þe
ryuere Tagus ȝiueþ ȝow wiþ his golden[e] grauels. or
ellys alle þe þynges þat þe ryuere herm{us}. ȝiueþ wiþ his
rede brynke. or þat yndus ȝiueþ þat is nexte þe hote 2648
p{ar}tie of þe worlde. þat medeleþ þe grene stones
(smaragd{e}) wiþ þe white (margarits). ne sholde nat
cleren þe lokynge of ȝoure þoȝt. but hiden raþer ȝoure
blynde corages wiþ i{n}ne hire dirkenesse
[Sidenote: Such sources of our delight are found in the earth’s
gloomy caverns,--but the bright light that rules the heavens
dispels the darkness of the soul.]
¶ Alle þat 2652
likeþ ȝow here {and} excitiþ {and} moeueþ ȝoure þouȝtes.
þe erþe haþ noryshed it in hys lowe caues. but þe [[pg 95]]
shynyng by þe whiche þe heuene is gouerned {and}
whennes þat it haþ hys strengþe þat chaseþ þe derke 2656
ouerþrowyng of þe soule.
[Sidenote: He who has seen this light will confess that the beams
of the sun are weak and dim.]
¶ And who so euer may
knowen þilke lyȝt of blisfulnesse. he shal wel seine þat
þe white bemes of þe sonne ne ben nat cleer.
[Linenotes:
2638 _wicked[e]_--wyckyde
2639, 2640 _here_--her
2640 _hauene_--MS. heuene, C. hauene
2641 _al oone_--allone
2643 _worldly_--worldely
2645 _come_--comyn
2646 _golden[e] grauels_--goldene grauayles
2647 _þynges_--MS. rynges, C. thinges
_hermus_--MS. herin{us}, C. herynus
2648 _nexte_--next
2649 _worlde_--world
2654, 2656 _haþ_--MS. haþe
2654 _hys_--hyse
2656 _chaseþ þe derke_--eschueth the dyrke
2657 _euer_--C. omits
2658 _seine_--seyn]
[Headnote:
MEN DO NOT SEEK TRUE FELICITY.]
ASSENCIOR INQ{UA}M CUNCTA. Boice.
[Sidenote: [The 11 p{ro}se.]]
[Sidenote: _B._ I assent, and am convinced by the force of your
arguments.]
++I assent[e] me q{uo}d .I. For alle þise þinges ben 2660
strongly bounden wiþ ryȝt ferme resou{n}s.
[Sidenote: _P._ But how greatly would you value it, did you fully
know what this good is?]
how mychel wilt þou p{re}isen it q{uo}d she. yif þat þou
knowe what þilke goode is.
[Sidenote: _B._ I should value it infinitely if at the same time I
might attain to the knowledge of God, who is the sovereign good.]
I wol p{re}ise it q{uo}d I by
price wiþ outen ende. ¶ yif it shal bytyde me to 2664
knowe also to-gidre god þat is good.
[Sidenote: _P._ I shall elucidate this matter by incontrovertible
reasons if thou wilt grant me those things which I have before
laid down as conclusions.]
¶ certys q{uo}d she
þ{a}t shal I do þe by verray resou{n}.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 22 _b_.]]
yif þat þo þinges þat
I haue conclude[d] a litel her by *forne dwellen oonly
in hir first[e] graunty{n}g.
[Sidenote: _B._ I grant them all.]
_Boice._ þei dwellen graunted 2668
to þe q{uo}d .I. þis is to seyne as who seiþ .I. graunt þi
forseide conclusiou{n}s.
[Sidenote: _P._ Have I not shown that the things which the
majority of mankind so eagerly pursue are not true and perfect
goods, for they differ from one another; and because where one of
them is absent the others cannot confer absolute happiness (or
good)?]
¶ Haue I nat shewed þe q{uo}d
she þat þe þinges þat ben requered of many folke. ne
ben nat verray goodes ne p{er}fit. for þei ben diu{er}se þat 2672
oon fro þat oþer. {and} so as eche of hem is lakkyng to
oþer. þei ne han no power to bryngen a good þ{a}t is ful
{and} absolute.
[Sidenote: Have I not shown, too, that the true and chief good is
made up of an assemblage of all the goods in such a way, that if
sufficiency is an attribute of this good, it must at the same time
possess power, reverence, &c.]
¶ But þan atte arst ben þei verray good
whan þei ben gadred to-gidre al in to a forme {and} in 2676
to oon wirchy{n}g. so þat þilke þing þat is suffisaunce.
þilk same be power {and} reuerence. {and} noblesse {and}
mirþe.
[Sidenote: If they be not one and the same, why should they be
classed among desirable things?]
¶ And forsoþe but alle þise þi{n}ges ben alle o
same þing þei ne han nat wher by þat þei mowen ben 2680
put in þe nou{m}bre of þinges. þat auȝten ben requered
or desired. _b._ ¶ It is shewed q{uo}d .I. ne her of may
þer no man douten.
[Sidenote: While these things differ from one another they are not
goods; but as soon as they become one then they are made
goods.--Do not they owe their being good to their unity?]
_p._ þe þinges þan q{uo}d she þat ne
ben none goodes whan þei ben diu{er}se. {and} whan þei [[pg 96]]
bygynnen to ben al o þing. þan ben þei goodes. ne 2685
comiþ it hem nat þan by þe getynge of unite þat þei ben
maked goodes.
[Sidenote: _B._ So it appears.]
_b._ so it semeþ q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Do you confess that everything that is good
becomes such by the participation of the sovereign good or no?]
but alle þing þat
is good q{uo}d she grauntest þou þat it be good
by p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} 2688
of good or no.
[Sidenote: _B._ It is so.]
¶ I graunt[e] it q{uo}d .I.
[Linenotes:
2660 _assent[e]_--assente
2662 _mychel_--mochel
2663 _goode_--good
2664 _price_--prys
2669 _is_--omitted
_seyne_--seyn
2671 _folke_--folkes
2673 _oþer_--oothre
_eche_--ech
2675 _absolute_--absolut
_atte arst_--at erste
2676 _al_--alle
_a_--O
2677 _to_--omitted
_wirchyng_--wyrkynge
2678 _þilk_--thilke
2681 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
_auȝten_--owhten
2684 _none_--no
2685 _al o_--alle oon
2686 _comiþ_--comth
2689 _graunt[e]_--graunte]
[Headnote:
UNITY NECESSARY TO EXISTENCE.]
[Sidenote: _P._ Then you must own that unity and good are the same
(for the substance of those things must be the same, whose effects
do not naturally differ).]
¶ þan mayst þou graunt[en] it q{uo}d she by sembleable
resou{n} þat oon {and} good ben o same þing. ¶ For of
þinges [of] whiche þat þe effect nis nat naturely diuerse 2692
nedys þe substaunce mot ben o same þinge.
[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot gainsay it.]
I ne may
nat denye it q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Do you not perceive that everything which exists
is permanent so long as it preserves its unity--but as soon as it
loses this, it is dissolved and annihilated?]
¶ Hast þou nat knowen wel q{uo}d
she. þat al þing þat is haþ so longe his dwellyng {and}
his substaunce. as longe is it oone. ¶ but wha{n} it 2696
forletiþ to ben oone it mot nedis dien {and} corrumpe togidre.
[Sidenote: _B._ How so?]
¶ In whiche manere q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ In the animal creation as long as the soul and the
body are united and conjoined in one, this being is called an
animal or beast, but when the union is dissolved by the separation
of these, the animal perishes and is no longer a beast.]
¶ Ryȝt as in
beestes q{uod} she. whan þe soule {and} þe body ben
co{n}ioigned in oon {and} dwellen to-gidre it is cleped a 2700
beest. {and} whan hire vnite is destroied by disseueraunce
þat oon fram þ{a}t oþir. þan sheweþ it wel þat it is a
dede þi{n}g. {and} þat it is no lenger no beste.
[Sidenote: The same may be said of man and all other things; they
subsist while unity is preserved, but as soon as that is destroyed
the things themselves lose their existence.]
{and} þe
body of a wyȝt while it dwelleþ in oon forme by coniuncc{i}ou{n} 2704
of membris it is wel seyn þat it is a figure of
mankynde. and yif þe partyes of þe body ben [so]
diuide[d] {and} disseuered þat oon fro þat oþir þat þei
destroien vnite. þe body forletiþ to ben þat it was byforne. 2708
¶ And who so wolde renne in þe same manere
by alle þinges he sholde seen þat wiþ outen doute euery
þinge is in his substaunce as longe as it is oon. {and}
whan it forletiþ to ben oon it dieþ {and} p{er}issiþ.
[Sidenote: _B._ I believe we should find this true in every case.]
_boice._ 2712
whan I considre q{uo}d I many þinges I see noon oþ{er}.
[Linenotes:
2690 _mayst þou graunt[en]_--mosthow grau{n}ten
2692 [_of_]--from C.
2695 _al_--alle
_haþ_--MS. haþe
2696, 2697 _oone_--oon
2698 _whiche_--which
2703 _dede_--ded
_lenger_--lenger{e}
_beste_--beest
2704 _while_--whil
_oon_--oo
2706 _[so] diuide[d]_--so deuydyd
2709 _so_--omitted
2713 _many_--manye]
[Headnote:
NATURE SUSTAINS VEGETATION.]
[Sidenote: _P._ Is there anything which acts naturally that
forgoes this desire of existence and wishes for death and
corruption?]
¶ Is þer any þing þanne q{uo}d she þat in as moche as
it lyueþ naturely. þat forletiþ þe appetit or talent of 2715
hys beynge. {and} desireþ to come to deeþ
{and} to corrupc{i}ou{n}. [[pg 97]]
[Sidenote: _B._ I do not find any creature endowed with volition,
which, of itself and without constraint, renounces or despises
life and self-preservation or willingly hastens to destruction.]
¶ yif I considere q{uod} I þe beestes þat han
any manere nature of willy{n}ge or of nillynge I ne
fynde no þing. but yif it be constreyned fro wiþ out
forþe. þat forletiþ or dispiseþ to lyue {and} to dure{n} 2720
or þat wole his þankes hasten hy{m} to dien. ¶ For
euery beest trauayleþ hy{m} to defende {and} kepe þe
sauuac{i}ou{n} of lijf. {and} escheweþ deeþ {and} destrucc{i}ou{n}.
[Sidenote: But with regard to herbs and trees, I am doubtful
whether I ought to have the same opinion of them, for they have no
sensitive soul, nor any natural volition like animals.]
_b._ but certys I doute me of herbes {and} of trees. þat is 2724
to seyn þat I am in a doute of swiche þinges as herbes
or trees þat ne han no fely{n}g soule. ne no naturel
wirchynges seruy{n}g to appetite as beestes han wheþer
þei han appetite to dwelle{n} {and} to duren.
[Sidenote: _P._ There is no cause for doubt in respect to these.]
¶ Certis 2728
q{uo}d she ne þer of þar þe nat doute.
[Sidenote: Herbs and trees first choose a convenient place to grow
in, where, agreeably to their respective natures, they are sure to
thrive, and are in no danger of perishing; for some grow on
plains, some on mountains, &c.; and if you try to transplant them,
they forthwith wither and die.]
¶ Now look
vpon þise herbes {and} þise trees. þei waxen firste in
swiche place as be{n} couenable to hem. in whiche place
þei ne mowen nat sone dien ne dryen as longe as hire 2732
nature may defenden he{m}. ¶ For some of hem waxen
in feldes {and} some in mou{n}taignes. {and} oþir waxen i{n}
mareis. [_A leaf lost here, and supplied from C._]
[{and} oothre cleuyn on Roches / {and} soume waxen plentyuos 2736
in sondes / {and} yif þ{a}t any wyht enforce hym to
beryn hem in to oother places / they wexen drye //
[Sidenote: To everything that vegetates, nature gives what is
needful for its subsistence, and takes care that they should not
perish before their time.]
For natur{e} yeueth to eu{er}y thing þ{a}t /
þ{a}t is co{n}uenient to
hym {and} trauaylith þ{a}t they ne dye nat as longe as they 2740
han power to dwellyn {and} to lyuen //
[Sidenote: Need I tell you that plants are nourished by their
roots (which are so many mouths hid in the earth), and diffuse
strength throughout the whole plant, as through their marrow?]
what woltow seyn
of this / þ{a}t they drawen alle hyr norysshynges by hyr
rootes / ryht as they haddyn hyr Mowthes I.-plounged 2743
w{i}t{h} in the erthes / {and} shedyn by hyr maryes (i. medull{as})
hyr wode {and} hyr bark /
[Sidenote: And further, it is admirably contrived that the pith,
the most tender part of plants, is hid in the middle of the trunk,
surrounded with hard and solid wood, and with an outer coat of
bark to ward off the storms and weather.]
{and} what woltow seyn
of this þ{a}t thilke thing / þ{a}t is ryht softe as the marye (i.
sapp) is / þ{a}t is alwey hidd in the feete al w{i}t{h} inne {and}
þ{a}t it is defendid fro w{i}t{h} owte by the stidefastnesse of 2748
wode // {and} þ{a}t the vttereste bark is put ayenis
the destemprau{n}ce
of the heuene / as a defendowr myhty to suffren [[pg 98]]
harm /
[Sidenote: Admire, too, the diligence of nature in propagating
plants by a multiplicity of seeds, which are as a foundation for a
building, not to remain for a time, but as it were for ever.]
{and} thus certes maystow wel sen / how gret is
the diligence of natur{e} / For alle thinges renouelen {and} 2752
pupllisen hem w{i}t{h} seed .I.-multiplyed / nether nis no man
þ{a}t ne wot wel þ{a}t they ne ben ryht as a foundement {and}
edyfice for to duren / nat only for a tyme / but ryht as forto
duren p{er}durablely by generacyou{n} //
[Sidenote: Things inanimate incline to what is most suitable to
their beings, and to preserve continuance.]
{and} the thinges ek 2756
þ{a}t men wenen ne hauen none sowles / ne desir{e} they nat ech
of hem by sem[b]lable resou{n} to kepyn þ{a}t that is hirs / þ{a}t
is to seyn þ{a}t is acordynge to hyr natur{e} in conseruaciou{n}
of hyr beynge {and} endurynge //
[Sidenote: For why should the flame mount upwards by lightness,
and the earth tend towards its centre by gravity (weight), unless
these motions were agreeable to their respective natures?]
For wher for elles berith 2760
lythnesse the flaumbes vp / {and} the weyhte p{re}sseth the
erthe a-dou{n} // but For as moche as thilke places and
thilke moeuynges ben couenable to eu{er}ich of hem //
[Linenotes:
2718 _willynge_--wylnynge
_or_--{and}
2719 _þing_--beest
_out forþe_--owte forth
2720 _lyue_--lyuen
2723 _of lijf_--of hys lyf
2726 _soule_--sowles
2727 _appetite_--appetites
2729 _look_--loke
2730 _waxen firste_--wexen fyrst
2733, 2734 _some_--som
2734 _oþir_--oothre
2753 _pupllisen_--H. publisshen)
2755 _edyfice_--MS. edyfite
_a tyme_--H. oon) tyme
2758 _that_--H. omits
_hirs_--H. his]
[Headnote:
THE LOVE OF LIFE IS INSTINCTIVE.]
[Sidenote: Whatever is agreeable to the nature of a thing
preserves it. So what is contrary to its nature destroys it.]
{and} forsothe eu{er}y thing kepith thilke þ{a}t is acordynge 2764
{and} propre to hym // ryht as thinges þ{a}t ben contraryes
{and} enemys corompen hem //
[Sidenote: Dense bodies, such as stones, resist an easy separation
of parts; whereas the particles of liquid or flowing things, such
as air and water, are easily separated and soon reunited.]
{and} yit the harde thinges
as stoones clyuen {and} holden hyr partyes to gydere
ryht faste {and} harde / {and} deffenden hem in withstondenge 2768
þ{a}t they ne departe nat lyhtly a twyne // {and} the
thinges þ{a}t ben softe {and} fletynge as is water {and} Eyr
they departyn lyhtly // {and} yeuen place to hem þ{a}t
brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retorne{n} 2772
sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben
arraced //
[Sidenote: Fire avoids and utterly refuses any such division.]
but fyr [fleetħ] {and} refuseth alle deuysyou{n} /
[Sidenote: I am not now treating of the voluntary motion of a
conscious soul, but of the natural intention and instinct.]
ne I. ne trete nat heer{e} now of weleful moeuynges of the
sowle þ{a}t is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciou{n} 2776
of thinges //
[Sidenote: We swallow our meat without thinking of it, and we draw
our breath in sleep without perception.]
As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete þ{a}t we
resseyuen {and} ne thinke nat on it / {and} as we drawen
owr{e} breth in slepynge þ{a}t we wite it nat whil we slepyt //
[Sidenote: The love of life in animals is not derived from an
intellectual will, but from natural principles implanted in them.]
For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of 2780
hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle //
but of the bygynnyngis of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: For the will, induced by powerful reasons, sometimes
chooses and embraces death, although nature dreads and abhors it.]
For certes thorw
constreynynge causes / wil desireth {and} embraceth ful
ofte tyme / the deth þ{a}t natur{e} dredith
// that is to seyn [[pg 99]]
as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som 2785
cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which
þ{a}t natur{e} hateth {and} dredeth ful sore //
[Sidenote: And, on the contrary, we see that concupiscence (by
which alone the human race is perpetuated) is often restrained by
the will.]
And som tyme
we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / 2788
destorbeth {and} constreyneth þ{a}t þ{a}t natur{e} desireth / and
requereth al-wey // that is to sein the werk of gen{er}aciou{n} /
by the whiche gen{er}aciou{n} only / dwelleth {and} is sustenyd
the longe durablete of mortal thinges //
[Sidenote: Self-love possessed by every creature is not the
product of volition, but proceeds from a natural impression or
intention of nature.]
And thus 2792
this charite and this Loue þ{a}t eu{er}y thing hath to hym
self ne comth nat of the moeuynge of the sowle / but of
the entenciou{n} of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: Providence has implanted in all created things an
instinct, for the purpose of self-preservation, by which they
desire to prolong existence to its utmost limits.]
For the puruyance of god
hat yeuen to thinges þ{a}t ben creat of hym / this þ{a}t is 2796
a ful gret cause / to lyuen {and} to duren / for which they
desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as eu{er} they mowen //
[Linenotes:
2774 [_fleeth_]--from H.
2775 _weleful_--H. wilfull{e}
2779 _slepyt_--H. slepe{n}
2788 _seeth_--H. seen)
_wil_--H. will{e}
2792 _And_--H. as
2796 _hat_--H. haue]
[Headnote:
THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT.]
[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists
desires existence and avoids dissolution.]
For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that
alle the thinges / that ben anywher{e} / that they ne requeren 2800
naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of p{er}durable
dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyou{n} //
[Sidenote: _B._ You have made those things perfectly plain and
intelligible, which before were obscure and doubtful.]
B //
now confesse I. wel q{uod} I. that I. see wel now certeynly /
w{i}t{h} owte dowtes / the thinges that whylom semeden 2804
vncerteyn to me /
[Sidenote: _P._ That which desires to subsist desires also to
retain its unity for if this be taken away it cannot continue to
exist.]
P. // but q{uod} she thilke thyng þ{a}t
desiretħ to be {and} to dwellyn p{er}durablely / he desireth
to ben oon // For yif þ{a}t that oon weer{e} destroied // certes
beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht //
[Sidenote: _B._ That is very true!]
that 2808
is sotħ q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P._ All things then desire one thing--unity.]
Thanne q{uod} she desirin alle thinges
oon //
[Sidenote: _B._ They do.]
.I. assente q{uod} .I. //
[Sidenote: _P._ Unity then is the same as good.]
{and} I haue shewyd q{uod} she
that thilke same oon is thilke that is good //
[Sidenote: _B._ Yes.]
B // ye forsothe
q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P._ Thus all things desire good--and it is one and the
same good that all creatures desire.]
Alle thinges thanne q{uod} she requyren 2812
good // And thilke good thanne [þow] maist descryuen
ryht thus // Good is thilke thing þ{a}t euery wyht desireth //
[Sidenote: _B._ Nothing is more true. For either all things must
be reduced to nothing (or have no relation to anything else), and,
destitute of a head, float about without control or order; or if
there be anything to which all things tend, that must be the
supreme good.]
Ther ne may be thowht q{uod} .I. no moor{e}
verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred {and} 2816
browht to nowht / {and} floteryn w{i}t{h} owte gou{er}nour
despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif [[pg 100]]
ther be any thinge / to which þ{a}t alle thinges tenden
{and} hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of 2820
alle goodes /
[Sidenote: _P._ I rejoice greatly, my dear pupil, that you so
clearly apprehend this truth, of which but just now you were
ignorant.]
P /. thanne seyde she thus // O my norry
q{uod} she I haue gret gladnesse of the // For thow
hast fichched in thin herte the myddel sothtfastnesse //
that is to seyn the prykke // but this thing hath ben 2824
descouered to the / in that thow seydyst þ{a}t thow
wystest nat a lytel her by-forn //
[Sidenote: _B._ What was that?]
what was th{a}t q{uod} I. //
[Headnote:
THE END OF ALL THINGS.]
[Sidenote: _P._ The _End of all things_. And this is what every
one desires; but we have shown that _good_ is the thing desired by
all, therefore _Good_ is the _End of all things_.]
That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was
the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing þ{a}t 2828
eu{er}y wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han
gaderid / {and} co{m}p{re}hendyd that good is thilke thing
that is desired of alle / thanne moten we nedes confessun /
that good is the fyn of alle thinges. 2832
[Linenotes:
2800 _the_--H. þo
2806 _perdurablely_--H. p{er}durably
2807 _destroied_--H. destrued
2811 _thilke_ (1)--H. ilke
2818 _heued or elles_--H. hede or els
2820 _hyen_--H. hyen) to
_moste_--H. must]
[Headnote:
TRUTH INTUITIVE.]