[Sidenote: _P._ Do you remember that I proved that the will of
man, following different pursuits, seeks happiness only?]
Remembriþ þe q{uo}d
she þat I. haue gadred {and} shewed by forseide resou{n}s 3200
þat al þe entenc{i}ou{n} of þe wil of ma{n}kynde whiche þat
is lad by diuerse studies hastiþ to comen to blisfulnesse.
¶ It reme{m}breþ me wel q{uo}d I þat it hath ben shewed.
[Linenotes:
3166 [_owh_]--from C.
3171 _good[e]_--goode
_strong[e]_--stronge
3172 _desert_--dishert
3173 _eueryche_--eu{er}ich
3175 _goode_--good
3176 _stedfast_--stidefast
3177 _freelnesse_--frelenesse
_stedfastnesse_--stidefastnesse
3178 _goode_--good
3180 _oon_--oo
_wil_ (2)--wole
3185-6 _þere_--ther
3185 _don_--MS. done, C. don
3186 _done_--don
3187 _wille_--wil
3188 _comeþ_--comht
3189 _mayst_--MS. mayste, C. mayst
3191 _clere_--cler
3192 _denyed_--denoyed
3193-4 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3193 _don_ (_both_)--MS. done, C. doon
3194 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had
_done_--doon
3196 _as moche_--so moche
3197 _done_--doon
_moche_--mochel
_halden_--halt
3201 _whiche_--which
3202 _lad_--MS. ladde, C. lad
3203 _it hath ben_--MS. I herde þe, C. it hath ben]
[Headnote:
THE IMPOTENCY OF THE WICKED.]
[Sidenote: Do you recollect too, that it has been shown that
happiness is the supreme good of men--and all desire this good,
since all seek happiness?]
{and} recordeþ þe nat þan q{uo}d she. þat blisfulnesse is 3204
þilke same goode þat men requeren.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 25 _b_.]]
so þat whan þat
blisfulnesse is requered *of alle. þat goode [also] is
requered {and} desired of al. It recordeþ me wel q{uo}d I.
for haue it gretly alwey ficche[d] in my memorie.
[Sidenote: All men, then, good and bad, seek to acquire good?]
alle 3208
folk þan q{uo}d she goode {and} eke badde enforcen he{m}
wiþ oute difference of entenc{i}ou{n} to come{n} to goode.
þat is a uerray consequence q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: And it is certain that when men obtain good they become
good?]
and certeyne is q{uo}d
she þat by þe gety{n}g of goode ben men ymaked goode. 3212
[Sidenote: _B._ It is most certain.]
þis is certeyne q{uo}d. I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Do good men, then, get what they desire?]
¶ þan geten goode men þat þei
desiren.
[Sidenote: _B._ It seems so.]
so semeþ it q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P._ If evil men obtain the good, they can be no longer
evil?]
but wicked[e] folk q{uo}d
she yif þei geten þe goode þat þei desire{n} þei [ne]
mowen nat ben wicked.
[Sidenote: _B._ It is so.]
so is it q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Since then both parties pursue the good, which
only the virtuous obtain, we must believe that good men are
powerful, and that the wicked are weak and feeble?]
¶ þan so as 3216
þat oon {and} þat oþer [q{uod} she] desiren good. {and} þe
goode folk geten good {and} nat þe wicked folk ¶ þan
nis it no doute þat þe goode folk ne ben myȝty {and} þe
wicked folk ben feble.
[Sidenote: _B._ None can doubt this, save such as either consider
not rightly the nature of things, or are incapable of
comprehending the force of any reasoning.]
¶ who so þat euer q{uo}d I 3220
douteþ of þis. he ne may nat considre þe nature of
þi{n}ges. ne þe consequence of resou{n}. and ouer þis q{uo}d she.
[Linenotes:
3205-6 _goode_--good
3206 [_also_]--from C.
3207 _al_--alle
_It----I_--it ne recordeth me nat q{uod} I
3210-12(1)-15 _goode_--good
3214 _wicked[e]_--wikkede
3215 [_ne_]--from C.
3216 _mowen_--mowe
3217 [_quod she_]--from C.
3218 _wicked_--wilk{e} (? wikke)
3220 _wicked_--wikkede]
[Headnote:
THE WICKED DO NOT SEEK ARIGHT THE SUPREME GOOD.]
[Sidenote: _P._ If two beings have the same end in view--and one
of them accomplishes his purpose by the use of natural means,
while the other not using legitimate means does not attain his
end--which of these two is the most powerful?]
¶ yif þat þer ben two þinges þat han o same 3223
p{ur}pos by kynde. {and} þat one of he{m} p{ur}sueþ {and} p{er}formeþ
þilke same þinge by naturel office. {and} þat oþer
ne may nat done þilk naturel office. but folweþ by
oþer manere þan is couenable to nat{ur}e ¶ Hym þat
acomplisiþ hys p{ur}pos kyndely.
{and} ȝit he ne acomplisiþ [[pg 114]]
nat hys owen purpos. wheþer of þise two demest 3229
þou for more myȝty.
[Sidenote: _B._ Illustrate your meaning more clearly.]
¶ yif þat I coniecte q{uo}d .I. þat
þou wilt seye algates. ȝit I desire to herkene it more
pleynely of þe.
[Sidenote: _P._ The motion of walking is natural to man? And this
motion is the natural office of the feet? Do you grant this?]
þou nilt nat þan denye q{uo}d she þat þe 3232
moeueme{n}tȝ of goynge nis in men by kynde. no for soþe
q{uo}d I. ne þou ne doutest nat q{uo}d she þ{a}t þilke naturel
office of goynge ne be þe office of feet.
[Sidenote: _B._ I do.]
I ne doute
it nat q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ If, then, he who is able to use his feet walks,
whilst another lacking this power creeps on his hands--surely he
that is able to move naturally upon his feet is more powerful than
he who cannot.]
þan q{uo}d she yif þat a wyȝt be myȝty to 3236
moeue {and} goþ vpon hys feet. and anoþer to whom
þilke naturel office of feet lakkeþ. enforceþ hym to gone
crepynge vpo{n} hys handes. ¶ whiche of þise two auȝte
to ben holden more myȝty by ryȝt. knyt furþe þe remenaunt 3240
q{uo}d I. ¶ For no wyȝt ne douteþ þat he þat
may gone by nat{ur}el office of feet. ne be more myȝty
þan he þat ne may nat
[Sidenote: _P._ The good and bad seek the supreme good: the good
by the natural means of virtue--the wicked by gratifying divers
desires of earthly things (which is not the natural way of
obtaining it).]
¶ but þe souereyne good q{uo}d
she þat is euenlyche p{ur}posed to þe good folk {and} to 3244
badde. þe good folke seken it by naturel office of
uertues. {and} þe shrewes enforcen hem to geten it by
dyuerse couetise of erþely þinges. whiche þat nis no
naturel office to geten þilke same souereyne goode. 3248
[Sidenote: Do you think otherwise?]
trowest þou þat it be any oþer wyse.
[Sidenote: _B._ The consequence is plain, and that follows from
what has been granted--that the good are powerful, while the
wicked are feeble.]
nay q{uo}d .I. for þe
co{n}seque{n}ce is open {and} shewynge of þinges þat I haue
graunted. ¶ þat nedes goode folk moten ben myȝty.
{and} shrewes feble {and} vnmyȝty.
[Sidenote: _P._ You rightly anticipate me; for it is a good sign,
as physicians well know, when Nature exerts herself and resists
the malady.]
¶ þou rennest aryȝt 3252
byfore me q{uo}d she. {and} þis is þe iugement þat is to
seyn. ¶ I iuge of þe ryȝt as þise leches ben wont forto
hopen of seke folk whan þei ap{er}ceyuen þat nature is
redressed {and} wiþstondeþ to þe maladie.
[Sidenote: But, as you are so quick of apprehension, I shall
continue this mode of reasoning.]
¶ But for I 3256
see þe now al redy to þe vndirstandynge I shal shewe
þe more þilke {and} continuel resou{n}s.
[Sidenote: The weakness of the wicked is conspicuous--they cannot
attain the end to which their natural disposition prompts and
almost compels them; what would become of them without this
natural prompting, so powerful and irresistible?]
¶ For loke now
how gretly shewiþ þe feblesse {and} infirmite of wicked [[pg 115]]
folke. þat ne mowen nat come to þat hire naturel 3260
entenc{i}ou{n} ledeþ hem. {and} ȝitte almost þilk naturel
entenc{i}ou{n} constreineþ hem. ¶ and what wer{e} to deme
þan of shrewes. yif þilke naturel helpe hadde for-leten
hem. ¶ þe whiche naturel helpe of entenc{i}ou{n} goþ alwey 3264
byforne hem. {and} is so grete þat vnneþ it may be
ou{er}comen.
[Sidenote: Consider how great is the impotence of the wicked. (The
greater the things desired, but unaccomplished, the less is the
power of him that desires, and is unable to attain his end.)]
¶ Considre þan how gret defaute of power
{and} how gret feblesse þere is in grete felonous folk as
who seiþ þe gretter þi{n}ges þat ben coueited {and} þe desire 3268
nat accomplissed of þe lasse myȝt is he þat coueiteþ it
{and} may nat acomplisse. ¶ And forþi philosophie seiþ
þus by souereyne good.
[Sidenote: The wicked seek after no trivial things--which they
fail to obtain; but they aspire in vain to the sovereign good,
which they endeavour day and night to obtain.]
¶ Sherewes ne requere nat
lyȝt[e] medes ne veyne gaines whiche þei ne may nat 3272
folwen ne holden. but þei fayle{n} of þilke some of þe
heyȝte of þinges þat is to seyne souereyne good. ne þise
wrecches ne comen nat to þe effect of souereyne good.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 26.]]
*þe whiche þei enforcen hem oonly to gete{n} by nyȝtes 3276
{and} by dayes.
[Sidenote: The good attain the end of their desires, and therein
their power is manifested.]
¶ In þe getyn[g] of whiche goode þe
strengþe of good folk. is ful wel ysen.
[Sidenote: For as you deem him a good walker that goes to the end
of his journey, so you must esteem him powerful that attains his
desires, beyond which there is nothing to desire.]
For ryȝt so as
þ{o}u myȝtest demen hym myȝty of goynge þat goþ on
hys feet til he myȝt[e] come to þilke place fro þe whiche 3280
place þere ne lay no wey forþer to be gon. Ryȝt so
most þou nedes demen hym for ryȝt myȝty þat getiþ
{and} atteiniþ to þe ende of alle þinges þat ben to desire.
by-ȝonde þe whiche ende þat þer nis no þing to desire. 3284
[Linenotes:
3226 _þilk_--thilke
3229 _owen_--owne
3231 _wilt_--wolt
_herkene_--herkne
3232 _pleynely_--pleynly
_denye_--denoye
3233 _moeuementȝ_--Moeuement
3237 _goþ_--MS. goþe
_hys_--hise
3238 _gone_--goon
3239 _hys_--hise
_whiche_--which
3240 _more_--the Moore
_furþe_--forth
3242 _gone_--gon
3245 _good_--goode
3246 _uertues_--vertuus
3247 _whiche_--which
3248 _goode_--good
3253 _byfore_--by-forn
3254 _forto_--to
3255 _seke_--sike
3259 _wicked_--wikkede
3260 _come_--comyn
3261 _þilk_--thilke
3262 _deme_--demen
3263-4 _helpe_--help
3264 _whiche_--which
_goþ_--MS. goþe
3265 _grete_--gret
_vnneþ_--vnnethe
_be ouercomen_--ben ou{er}come
3267 _þere_--ther
_grete_--wikkede
3268 _þinges_--thing
_ben_--is
3271 _Sherewes ne requere_--ne shrewes ne requeren
3272 _lyȝt[e]_--lyhte
_veyne_--veyn
_nat_--omitted
3276 _whiche_--which
3277 _getyn[g]_--getinge
_whiche goode_--which good
3278 _ysen_--MS. and C. ysene
3279 _goþ_--MS. goþe
3280 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
3281 _þere_--ther
_lay_--laye
_forþer_--forthere
_be_--ben
3283 _desire_--desired
3284 _þat_--omitted]
[Headnote:
THE WICKED HAVE NO REAL EXISTENCE.]
[Sidenote: Wicked men, then, are destitute of those powers which
the good so amply possess.]
¶ Of whiche power of good folk men may conclude þat
wicked men semen to ben bareyne {and} naked of alle
strengþe.
[Sidenote: Wherefore do they leave virtue, and follow vice? Is it
because they are ignorant of good?]
For whi forleten þei v{er}tues {and} folwen
vices. nis it nat for þat þei ne knowen nat þe goodes. 3288
[Sidenote: What is more weak and base than the blindness of
ignorance? Or do they know the way they ought to follow, but are
led astray by lust and covetousness?]
¶ But what þing is more feble {and} more caitif þan is þe [[pg 116]]
blyndenesse of ignoraunce. or ellys þei knowen ful wel
whiche þinges þat þei auȝten to folwen ¶ but lecherye
{and} couetise ouerþroweþ hem mysturned.
[Sidenote: And so, indeed, weak-minded men are overpowered by
intemperance, for they cannot resist vicious temptations.]
¶ and certis 3292
so doþ distemp{er}aunce to feble men. þat ne mowe{n} nat
wrastle aȝeins þe vices
[Sidenote: Do they willingly desert Good and turn to Evil? If they
do so, they not only cease to be powerful, but even cease to
exist.]
¶ Ne knowen þei nat þan wel
þat þei foreleten þe good wilfully. {and} turnen hem vilfully
to vices. ¶ And in þis wise þei ne forleten nat 3296
oonly to ben myȝty. but þei forleten al outerly in any
wise forto ben
[Sidenote: For those who neglect the common end of all beings,
cease to exist.]
¶ For þei þat forleten þe comune fyn of
alle þinges þat ben. þei for-leten also þerwiþ al forto
ben.
[Sidenote: You may marvel that I assert that the wicked, the
majority of the human race, have no existence--but it is, however,
most true.]
and p{er}auenture it sholde semen to som folk þat 3300
þis were a merueile to seyne þat shrewes whiche þat
contienen þe more p{ar}tie of me{n} ne ben nat. ne han no
beynge. ¶ but naþeles it is so. {and} þus stant þis þing
[Sidenote: That the wicked are bad I do not deny--but I do not
admit that they have any real existence.]
for þei þat ben shrewes I denye nat þat þei ben shrewes. 3304
but I denye {and} sey[e] symplely and pleynly þat þei
[ne] ben nat. ne han no beynge.
[Sidenote: You may call a corpse a dead man, but you cannot with
propriety call it a man.]
for ryȝt as þou myȝtest
seyn of þe careyne of a man þat it were a ded man.
¶ but þou ne myȝtest nat symplely callen it a man. 3308
[Sidenote: So the vicious are profligate men, but I cannot confess
they absolutely exist.]
¶ So graunt[e] I wel for soþe þat vicious folk ben
wicked. but I ne may nat graunten absolutely {and}
symplely þat þei ben.
[Sidenote: That thing exists that preserves its rank, nature, and
constitution, but when it loses these essentials it ceases to be.]
¶ For þilk þing þat wiþ
holdeþ ordre {and} kepiþ nature. þilk þing is {and} haþ 3312
beynge. but þat þing þat faileþ of þat. þat is to seyne
he þ{a}t forletiþ naturel ordre he for-letiþ þilk beyng
þat is set in hys nature.
[Sidenote: But, you may say that the wicked have a _power_ to act,
nor do I deny it; but their power is an effect of weakness.]
but þou wolt sein þat shrewes
mowen. ¶ Certys þat ne denye I nat. ¶ but certys 3316
hir power ne descendeþ nat of strengþe but of feblesse.
[Sidenote: They can do evil, but this they could not do, if they
retained the power of doing good.]
for þei mowen don wickednesses. þe whiche þei ne
myȝten nat don yif þei myȝte{n} dwelle in þe forme {and}
in þe doynge of goode folke. [[pg 117]]
[Sidenote: This power, then, clearly shows their impotence.]
¶ And þilke power 3320
sheweþ ful euydently þat þei ne mowen ryȝt nauȝt.
[Linenotes:
3285 _whiche_--the which
_þat_--þ{a}t the
3286 _ben_--be
3291 _auȝten to folwen_--owhten folwe
3293 _doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth
3394 _wrastle_--wrastlen
3295 _vilfully_--wilsfully
3297 _outerly_--owtrely
3301 _seyne_--seyen
3304-5 _denye_--denoye
3305 _sey[e] symplely_--seye sympeli
3306 [_ne_]--from C.
3307 _seyn_--seyen
3309 _graunt[e]_--graunte
3311-12 _þilk_--thilke
3312 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3313 _þat_ (1)--what
_seyne_--seyn
3314 _þilk_--thilke
3315 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
3316 _denye_--denoye
3318 _don_--MS. done, C. don
3319 _myȝten_ (1)--myhte
_dwelle_--dwellin
3320 _goode_--good]
[Headnote:
POWER, AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE CHIEF GOOD.]
[Sidenote: For as evil is nothing, it is clear that while the
wicked can only do evil they can do nothing.]
¶ For so as I haue gadered {and} p{ro}ued a lytel her byforn
þat yuel is nauȝt. {and} so as shrewes mowen oonly
but shrewednesse. þis conclusiou{n} is al clere. þat 3324
shrewes ne mowen ryȝt nat to han power.
[Sidenote: That you may understand the force of this power, I have
proved that nothing is more powerful than the sovereign good.]
and for as
moche as þou vndirstonde whiche is þe strengþe þat is
power of shrewes. I haue diffinised a lytel here byforn
þat no þing nis so myȝty as souereyne good
[Sidenote: _B._ That is true.]
¶ þat is 3328
soþe q{uo}d .I.
[Sidenote: _P._ And that supreme good can do no evil?]
[{and} thilke same souereyn good may don
non yuel //
[Sidenote: _B._ Certainly not.]