The boke of comfort called in laten Boetius de Consolatione philosophie. Translated in to englesse tonge De consolatione philosophiae. English Boethius, d. 524. 1535 Approx. 369 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 110 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A16289 STC 3200 ESTC S113387 99848622 99848622 13731

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A16289) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 13731) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 604:02) The boke of comfort called in laten Boetius de Consolatione philosophie. Translated in to englesse tonge De consolatione philosophiae. English Boethius, d. 524. Walton, John, d. 1410. [270] p. By me Dan Thomas Rychard monke of the sayd monaster, to the iu[n]stant desyre if ryght worshypful esquyer Mayster Robert Langdon, [Enprented in the exempt monastery of Tauestok in Denshyre : Anno d[omini] M D xxv. [1525]] A translation, in verse, by John Walton, of: Boethius. De consolatione philosophiae. Imprint from colophon. Signatures: A-R (-R8, blank?). Imperfect; gatherings F, H and L, and M4,5 lacking; supplied in photostat from Bodleian Library copy. Reproduction of the original in the Folger Shakespeare Library.

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 eng Philosophy, Ancient -- Early works to 1800. 2005-04 Assigned for keying and markup 2005-05 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-06 Sampled and proofread 2005-06 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

The Boke of comfort called in laten Boetius de Conſolatione philoſophie Tranſlated in to engleſſe tonge.

Prefatio Tranſlatoris. VN ſuffyſance of connyng & of whit Defaute of langage & experience Thys labour viche ye haue vpon me put Muſte fully excuſe vn to your reuerence yf hyt be not with craft of eloquence Depaynted ſo as other bokes be yet muſte I nedes do my dilygence with al my pouer to pleſe yo • ur ſouerente ¶Thys ſubtel mater of Boetius In hys boke of conſolation So hye hyt ys ſo harde and curyous Ful ferre a bowe my eſtimation That hyt be not by my tranſlation Defouled ne corrupt to god I pray So helpe me with thy inſpiration That art of wyſedom both locke and key ¶As fro the texte that I vary nougth But kepe the ſentens in hys true entent And wordes eke as nye as may be brougth where lawe of meter wyl therto conſente Thys mater wiche that ys ſo excellente And paſſeth both my connynge & my migth So haue yt lorde in thy gouernment That canneſt reforme al thynge to rygth I haue herd ſpeke & ſumwhat haue I ſeyn Of dyuers men that wonder craftely In metre ſomme & ſomme in proſe pleyn Haueth thys boke tranſlated dyuerſly In to engleſſe tonge worde for worde wel ny But I muſte vſe the wittes that I haue Though I may not do ſo wel / yet truly with ye helpe of god the ſentens wyl I ſaue To chaucer that was floure of retoryke In engleſſe tonge & excellent poete I woteful wel I am no thyng leke Though I hys makyng do conterfete And Gover that ſo craftely doth trete As in hys bokes of moralyte Thougth I to hym in makynge am vnmete yet wyl I ſhe worteh that ys in me Hyt leketh not me to labour nor muſe vpon theſe olde poyſes derke For criſten fayth ſuche thynges moſte refuſe As witneſeth Ierom the noble clerke Hyt ſhulde be no criſten mannes worke Tho falſe goddes names to renew For he yt hathe receued criſtes merke yf he do ſo to criſte he ys vntrew Fro them that criſte in heuen bleſſe ſhal Suche maner workes muſte be put a ſyde For certenly hyt nedet not at al To vhette now the dartes of cupyde Ne for to bydde that venus be our gyde So that we may our foule luſtes wynne Leſte hereafter the ſame to ous betyde As dyd to the ſayd venus for her ſynne ¶And certen I haue taſted wonder lyte As of the welles of calyope No wonder though I ſympelly endyte yet wyl I nofte vn to Teſſiphone Ne to her ſuſters that in hel be Beſekynge after craft of eloquence But may to god of hys benignite My ſpirit to enſpyre with hys influence ¶Caliope as poetes fayneth ys one of the ſonnes doughters & ys one & chef of the ix muſes & they cal her goddas of eloquence. She hath. iii. vvelles Gramatica / Dialetica / & Retorica. of vvhom ys driued al craft of eloquēce Alſo they feyneth to be in hel iii. fuſters called furyas or vengereſſes / that puniſhe men for ther meſdedes. the one ys called Allecco / a nother Megner / & the iii. Teſſiphone. Theſe alſo be called muſes of mornyng that tecyth & enformeth men to mahe ſouroful complayntes: ¶So that fro blame and confuſion Of al thys foule wordly wrechedneſſe He helpe me in thys occupation To the honour of hys blyſfulneſſe And in reuerence of your worthyneſſe Madame thys worke at your inſtance I haue begonne after my ſympleneſſe In wyl to do yow ſeruyce and pleſance
Incipit Prologus. THe whyle yt rome was regnīg ī her flores And of ye world held al the monarchy She was gouerned then by emperours And was renouned wonder noblely Tyl pryde had ſet ther hertes vp on hy Then beganne they to vſe crudelyte And regned by rygurneſſe and tyranny And oppreſſed ſore the comynalte ¶For leke as pouerte causeth ſoberneſſe And feblenes enforceth continence Rygth ſo proſperite and ſykerneſſe ys the moder of vyce and neglygence And pouer alſo cauſeth inſoleuce And after honour changeth good maners Ther ys none ſo perilouſe peſtilence As ys hye aſtate geuen to ſrewes ¶Of the wich was Nero one and principal That ſuch maner tiranny began Though he bare the diademe ymperial. yet was he a very curſed man. So cruelly he gan to regne than Heſlew hys maſter & hys moder both. And moche he dyd that tel I ne can. Ho ſo hath hyt red he knoueth wel ye ſoth. ¶The chefe of holy church he ſlewe alſo. Sent Peter & Paule both vpon one day. And after them ful many other mo. Aud of the ſame hyt ys I dare wel ſay. That Paule writeth thus hyt ys no nay. And ſayth now ys the foune of wickedneſſe. And fygure rygth of anticriſtes lay. In whom ſhal be al maner of curſedneſſe. Miſterium iam operatur iniquitatis / vt qui tenet iam teneat donec de medio fiat. ¶Novv ſayth ſent Paule vvorchet the miſtery & forme of anticriſtes vvickedneſſe. vvych anticriſte ſhal be leke to hym / vſynge none other lave but vvylfulneſſe / ledynge hys lyffe in luſtes / fyndynge occaſions for to deſtroy al the good & vertuos / cruel and ful of vnkyndly affections drayng to hym al the that be leke to hym in foule cōditions. ¶For they yt truly techeth criſtes lore. To make men forlete ther vyce. Antecriſte wyl punyſſhe them therfore. And al ther prechynge ſet at no pryce. So was he geuen to luſtes & delyce. That what deſire came vnto hys thougth. He wold yt doe without more aduyſe. For no thynge then wold he ſpare hyt nougth. ¶And he yt wold ageyn hys vyces ſpeke. And counſel hym hys luſtes co refrayn. withouten more anone he wolde bewreke. He wold hym put in torment and in payn. And he that wold hys Inſtes ofte withſayn. He ne was but ded yf that he wold appere. For ſuch a cauſe Boecius was ſlayn. Of whom thys proceſſe after treteth here ¶And rygth theſe dayes men may ſe thys ſame Of ſome yt haue the aſtate of gouernaunce. Ho ſo wyl ther vyces or luſtes blame. They take hyt in deſpyte and diſpleſance. They wil hym do ſome myſchefe or miſchaunce And tho th ſat holde amend e& correcte. vyce / in them hyt hath hyr ſuſtenance. And good folke they holdeth as ſuſpecte ¶The yere of criſte. v. hundred &. xv. whan Anaſtaſius was emperour Boetius thys ſame of whom I mene. In Rome he was a noble cenatour. But in maner as a conquerour. Theodoricus regned in Italy And Rome he helde as kynge and gouernour He had yt wonne by conqueſte in batayle ¶For Anaſtaſius was not leke Ne not ſo ſtronge of maney at leſt He conſented that Theodoryke Shold regne in Rome & hold yt at hys heſte And he wold hold hym ſelfe in the eſte He ſayd hyt was acordynge to hys hele And for hys eſe in ſothe he thougth yt beſte For Romayns be ful perylous with to dele ¶Thys kyng of Rome then Theodoryke Was ful of malyce and of curſedneſſe And eke for cauſe he was an heretyke The criſten people gan he ſore oppreſſe Boetius with al hys beſynes withſtode hem alwey ſparyng none offence And hym preſent often tyme expreſſe Reuerſed hys vnlauful iugementes ¶He ne ſpared noȝt ye higth of hys aſtate But euer he ſpake agenſte hys tyranny wherfore the kyng hem had ſore in hate And hym exyled in to lumbardy To priſon in the cyte of papy wher as for a recreation Betwene hymſelfe and philoſophy He wrot thys boke of conſolation ¶In proſe & meter interchangingly with wordes ſet in colour wonder wel Of retoryke endited craftely And ſchewyng that theſe welthes temporel Ar not to be deſired neuer a dele Ne wordly miſcheffe nothyng to be drede Enforſeng ous by reſon natural So vertu fully for to taken hede ¶Then Anaſtaſins had made hys fyne As tyme of age vn to hys deth hem drew Then aſter hem was emperour Iuſtine A noble knygth a faythful & a trew For criſtes laues wonder wel he knew And kept them as a very criſten man And heretikes faſt he gan perſew That arrianes were called than ¶Hys letters then in to Rome he ſent For to deſtroye al that hereſy And fully gaue them in commandement That they ſhuld put them out of company Theodorīcus toke thys wonder hye For he hymſelf was holly one o tho Thys meſſage he repelled vtterly And made a vowe yt ſhulde not be ſo ¶And ſwore but yf the arrianes muſte Haue ther peſe graunted to them a geyn He wold not leue one in al that coſte Of criſten fayth but he ſhuld be ſlayn And thus he bed the meſſengers ſeyn That yf he wold with arrianes ſtryue Seyth the emperour with wordes playn Of criſten wyl I leue none a lyue ¶To conſtantinople he ſent a none Of ſenatours wich that hym leſte And a mouges other pope Iohn And bede them labour for ther awne beſte And ruthfully they made ther requeſte That Iuſtyne ſhuld thys mandement releſe For ye criſten migth not ben in reſte But yf he graunted the arrianes pece ¶The emperour hys malice vnderſtode Benyngly he graunted them ther bone And wel he thougth yt yt was as good That mater to ceſſe tyl efte ſone And better mygth yt afterwarde be done By good aduyſe of wyſer ordinance The arrianes ſo he let a lone To vſen forth ther olde gouernaunce ¶Thes meſſengers to the kynges pay Torned not ſo haſtely ageyn As he deſired at a certen day wher fore in herte he had grete dyſdeyne And Boyce that lay in pryſon & in payn In exyle in the cyte of Papey In Melayn he made hym to be ſlayn In Papey ben hys bones ſykerly ¶And when theſe meſſengers at ye laſte Retorned were / in herte he gan to brenne Pope Iohn in priſon then he caſte Fer out in the cyte of Rauenne And made hym cloſed in a narowe denne wher he ne mygth torne hym ſelfe ne wende And ſoth to ſay he wente neuer thenne Tyl of hys lyffe he had made an ende ¶Alſo the worthy noble Symmacus That was a man grounded al in grace The wyche in vertu was heroicus Ther lefte not ſuche a nother as he was Vir heroicus ys a man geuen al to contemplation & to vertu / in vvhom al fleſly paſſyous ben quenched & repreſſed. withoute cauſe ſurfyt or treſpace At Rauenne eke he ſlewe hym cruelly And after wardes iu thatſame place The next yere he dyed ſodenly ¶And as ſent gregory doth hym ſelf wryte As yet hys bokes maketh mentyon Ther was yt tyme a holy heremyte As he was in hys contemplation He dyd ſe Theodoryke in viſyon Betwene Symacus and pope Iohn Ryght as a theffe to hys dampnation How he was led / & after that anone ¶In the Ile of vulcane was he caſte then That ful ys of a fyre flam of hel Theryn alwey in peynes ſor to brenne And wyth the foule fendes for to dwelle For tyrantes that ſo fers ben and felle Ben arayd ſuche rewardes for ther mede I ſey yow but as olde bokes do telle Now to my purpoſe tyme ys that I ſpede ¶And euery lorde or lady what ye be Or clerke that leketh for to reden thys Beſekynge louly wyth humylyte Supporteth wher I haue ofte ſayd a mys Correcteth only there that nedful ys yf word or ſentence be not as hyt ſhulde My ſelfe I am vnſufficyant I wys For yf I cowde haue better done I wolde Explicit prologus.

¶Reſon and intelligens purely conſydered in kynd of ther vvorching haueth them ſelfe euery agen other / as practick & theoryk / or as actyf & contemplatyf. And al tho the vvorchyng of reſon leke to practyf in ordre & ꝓceſſe in vs that vſeth proceſſe go before intelligence as practycke goyth before theorich / & actyf before contemplatyfe / yet in vvorthines & alſo in perfection of bleſtulhed / intelligens ſormounteth & ys ſouerayn to reſon. For the ſame treuthes that reſon ſeketh & fyndeth by diſcours / thes pure bliſful ſpirites (vviche ben called iutelligences) ſeyth & knoueth perfectly in the mirrour of eternal lygth / that ys goddes ſonne vith outen any diſcurſe of reſon. And moche more viche ne may not be perceued here of ous in thys pilgremage. But rygth as a good practiſer by exerciſe of labur & experiens of hys craft / may deſerue to be made preuy of ſoteltes of hys crafte & to be made a maſter / rygth ſo a ſoule coniuned to bodly mater / may by hys good labour of diſcours / deſerue to atteyu to be made preuy by intelligence of al the ſame trouthes on hye in blyſſe that thes bleſful ſpirites haueth of ther firſte creation. ¶By nature of the reſonabelte of mannes ſoule / viche reſonabelte ys the forme ſubſtantial of the ſelfe ſoule / ther ſhuld not be denyed hem that he vvolde deſyre. And that may be ſcheued by thys ſkyle. ¶The ſaule vhos forme ſubſtaniial ys reſon or reſonabilte / he may of proper kynde noȝt deſyre but reſonable. for yf he other deſired / he vvere vnreſonable. And yf he deſyre but that ys proper to hem of kynde / yt may not of reſon be denyed hym. But hove ys hyt that a ſoule coniuned deſyreth ofte other than reſonable / Ther be .ii. cauſes. One ys for ſome ſoules for the intemperance & boſteyneſſe of ther material body fayleth in diſcours In other that haueth clere diſcours yet ſenſualite vych vs the fleſly part of the ſoule replyeth euer a gen thys diſcours of reſon / aſkyng hys luſtes as proper to hys kynder And togth he be ueuer • o ofte auſuered & concluded / yet euer he reſorteth to hys firſt aſkyng hauyur • o regarde to al the reſons that may be made agenſte hym. Right as a man that fayleth discours vhom men calleth a mad man / tough a man make to hym neuer ſo gret reſons / yet ys he not anſuered / he feleth them not / but euer he reſorteth to that he firſte began. ¶Thys importunat preſſenge of ſenſualite of ſuch vnreſonable replications encombreth ſo the reſon that he leueth the true ende that he had traueled for by diſcours & entendethe to the luſte of ſenſualite deſiryng thynges that be vnreſonable / vvyche deſyre yf yt vvere grounded in ſenſualite vych ys changeable / yt ſhulde a none bring the ſoule in to endles miſchef. for ther may no thyng ſtand kyndly that contrarieth hys avne kynd. Ne a reſonable ſpirite though he be moueable in vvorkyng & in affections yet of propre kynde he may not vvyl contradiction / that ys to ſey nove thys & nov the contrary for then he erred agen reſon So then a ſoule deſiryng that thyug that ys vnreſonable / & conſequently to hys deſtruction / by the hy gouerne • hyt ys oftentyme denyed hym. vherfore he falleth in to a peynful heuyneſſe be cauſe he lacketh that he deſireth / or hath that hym lotheth. And vvere not that the ſenſualite bereth thys peyn the miſchef vvere endles. vherfore the ſenſualite that ys changeable & lotheth thys peyn vyllyng to be deliuered therof / ſomtyme reforteth to reſon forſakyng ſuche vnſkyleful deſires & ſuffreth reſon to haue hys kyndly operations. And yf thys peynful heuyneſſe be mored in the ſoule & reſon fully ouercome / then falleth a man in deſpere. & ſo ſomme deſtroeth themſelf by vvylful deth & ſo continue in perpetual peyn vythout ende. Thus fel hyt of the firſt angel that deſired vndiſeretly to be leken to god & for he migthe not haue hys deſyre / he fel in peynful heuineſſe. but in heuen may be no peyn / And he miȝth not vvyl the contraty to that he ones villed / he vvas ſo pure & ſimple of nature. vherfore vvithout remedy he vvas caſte in to miſchef in the peyn of hel ¶So yt be fel of thys noble clerk Boyce / becauſe he had that he vvold not / that vvas priſon & other tribulation. And alſo he vvanted that he vvolde haue / that vvas hys aſtate in the cyte of Rome / hys hovſe / bokes / & hys other goodes / preſens of hys vvyffe & chyldern & hys other frendes vherof he vvas vvron gfully ſpoyled & but out of hys cyte / exiled as a traytour / he fel in to a peynful heuineſſe and made hys complaint ſayug. Allas I vvreche. &c̄. But for aſmoche as thys heuyneſſe vvas but the mevyng of ſenſualite / viche of hys nature ys chaūgable. And leſte he fel in to ful forgetyng of hymſelf & in the vttermeſt myſchef. Reſon conforteth the fleſly kynde / reducyng yt to knovlege of yt ſelfe / & ſo to forgete the heuyneſſe that he vvas ſo greuoſly peyned vvith for loſynge of hys dignyte / vvyffe / chyldern / & goodes a fore reherſed.

 Incipit liber Boetij de cōſolatōe philoſophie.
Metrū primū. Carmina qui quondam. ALas that I wreche vhiles I was in welth And vſed luſtey dytes for to wryte Now am I ſet in ſorow & vnhelthe wyth tmornynge my myrth I muſte reſpyte Lamentable muſes techeth me to endyte Of woo. with wepynge they weteth my face Thus hath dyſeſe deſtroyed al my delyte And brougth my blyſſe & Iolyte ful bace ¶And though yt I with myſchef nowe be met That falſe fortune loureth thus on me No drede fro me mygth thes muſes let Me to enſue in myne aduerſyte My Ioy they were in al my Iolyte Of you the that was ſo glad om & ſo grene Now they ſolaceth my drery deſtyne And in my age my comforteno we they bene ¶Vnwarely age cometh on me haſtely Heyngh on me for harme that I haue had And ſoro we hys heſtes hath hoten to be ny Hore heres on my hed to rathe ben ſpred Al to me of blod my bodey wexeth bad My empty ſkyn begynneth to tremel & quake I haue no cauſe wherof I may be glad Thus mornyng for myſeſe my mone I make ¶A deth of men a bleſful thynge yt were yf he wold ſpare them in ther luſtineſſe And come to them that be of heuy chere When they hym cal to lake ther diſtreſſe But ooh allas howe dul & deffe he ys wryngynge a wey fro wrecches when they clept And worneth thenne with wonder cruelneſſe The yes for to cloſe that wele & wepe ¶But vhyle fortune vnfaythful & vntru Of luſty lyffe was to me fauorable Ful ſodenly my hed to grounde he dreu The careful houre of deth vnmerciable But nowe yt ſhe ſo chaungynge & vnſtable Hath torned vn to me her cloudy face Thys wrecched lyffe that ys vnconfortable Draeth alonge and taryeth nowe allas ¶wherto ye frendes maden your a vaunte So often tymes of my felycite Thys wordly welth ys not perſeueraunte Ne neuer abidynge in no ſtabilyte For he that falleth out of hys degre Ful ſothe yt ys yt ſtable was he nougth Ne he ſtode neuer in ful proſperyte That in to miſchef was ſo low I brought

¶Fortune vvas depaynted after fantaſy of poetes a lady ſyttynge in myddes of a vhyle viche her ſelf continuelly torned a boute / ſhe hadde ii. viſages / one brygth & another darke. & in both ſhe vvas blynde

¶The cōmentor trinet aſſgneth iii. cauſes vhy that philoſophy vas deſcryued apperynge vn to Boyce in lekeneſſe of a vvoman The firſt cauſe ys for thys name philoſophia as vvel in laten as in greke ys put in the feminyne gender. The ſeconde cauſe ys for rygth as a vvoman noryſſeth her chylde vvyth her mylke / rygth ſo philoſophy no reſſched her diſcyples vvithe the ſubtilyte of her ſcience.

The thyrde cauſe ys / for a vvoman ys of kynde more tender and compacient for to comforte a man in miſchef. And ſithe thys clerke vvas falle than in to miſchef as hymſelf ſemed / he iuduced philoſophy in lekeneſſe of a vvoman to comforte hym in a ſ • akynge of hys heuyneſſe

She vvas alſo deſcriued reuerent / for ſhe maketh the perſons reuerent in vyche ſhe ys impreſſed.

The yees of philoſophy ben reſon and vnderſtandynge / vherby philoſophy ys kendly perceyued. ¶They brenne by deſyre of cōnyng ¶They ſhyne clere by poſſibilite of vnderſtandynge.

¶Her myghtes bene the vertu of her principles that neuer may be empted ne fully comprehended. ¶The chyre of her viſage ys perfection of doctryne. the colour ys fulneſſe of trueth. for the hoole entente ys for to perceyue and conprehende trueth. She paſſedde mannes age / for her truthes ben perpetual. not ſubget to tyme that meſureth man hys age.

Proſa prima. Capitulum ſecundū Hec dum mecum Boecius loquitur. In murnynge thus I made my complaynt And for to write my fyngers gan I folde For drerineſſe I waxe al feble & faynt That of my lyffe almoſte no thynge I tolde But vpwarde at the laſte I gan beholde In ſothe I ſaw ſo fayer a creature I couthe her not deſcriuen though I wolde So femly was her ſhappe and her feyture ¶She was ſo wonder reuerent of her chyre Hyr colonr eke ſo louely & ſo brygth Hyr yene brenne ſemenge as for clere Paſſynge fer a bouen mannes ſygth Al thoe ſhe were ful freſſhe & clene of mygth As ſhe had ben ful yongly of corage yet ſemed ſhe to euery wordly wigth That ſhe was ouer paſſed man hys age ¶Hyr ſtature was of douteful iugemente Sumtyme thus of comen mennes mete And ſumtyme was her ſtature ſo extente That with her hed ſhe ſemed heuens bete And other vhyle ſo hye her hed ſhe gete She perced heuen & migth no more be ſeyn So that we moſte the ſygth of her forlete And al our lokynge after was in veyn Her clothes were wrogthof thredesſmale By ſubtel cratf of mater perdurable And with hyr handes by her awne tale She had them wrogth I trow for no fable The beutey of them was ful commendable But duſkey they wereforleten as for elde As ymages that in ſmoke had ſtonden ſtable That be oot weſhe ne wyped but ſelde ¶And in ye hem by neth made ſhe had So as I coude yt knowe a grekes P. O. And in the bordure al a bow I rad And ther alſo ſhe had made a 〈☐〉 〈☐〉 And ſo by twene thes letters migth I ſe Leke to a ladder what that euer yt mende wheron men migth alwey fro gre to gre Fro ther beneth vpwarde euer aſcende ¶Neuertheles ſome men by violence Had cut thys cloth & peces boren a wey Such as they migth withoute reuerence And dyd ther with as was vnto ther pay Thys creature of whome I gan yow ſey In her rygth hande ſmale bokes were A ſeptre alſo of ful ryche aray For certen in her other hande ſhe bare ¶And when thys ladey ſawe thes muſes there Vn to my beddes ſyde approchynge ney Enditynge wordes to my wepynge chere She gan to loke vpon them feruently Ho ſhe ſayd let in thys company Thus with ther ſonge thys ſeke man to pleſe That no thynge heleth hym of hys malady But rather doth hym greuance & dyſeſe ¶Lo thes yt ben ſhe ſayd that foules feden with ye ſwete venem of corruption And tender hertes maketh for to bleden with thornes of ther foule affection They ſleyn the worthy frutes of reſon And only bryngeth ſekenes in vſage Thys ys the kynd of ther condition And nought at al the ſekeneſſe to aſſuage ¶yf ye ſhe ſayd with your dalyance Had drauen fro me ſome foule vnprofytable Leſſe yt ſhuld haue done me diſpleſance I might haue boren yt then as sufferable For vhy in ſuch a foule that ys vnable May nought ben harmed of my beſynes But thes that euer in ſtudyes hath ben ſtable Shuld not be founden with your foleſneſſe ¶But goeth ye fylthes out of my preſence your ſwetnes wold hym brynge at an ende I ſhal hym ſaue with the ſalfe of my ſcience That ſhal be more comfort vn to hys kende And thus thys company a wey gan wende And bytterly abaſſhed them of ther blame Shewynge wel the habyte of ther mynde Hangynge doune to groūde ther heddes for ſhame ¶I then yt nye for teres ſawe ryght nought Gan wonder moche vhat might thys woman be Meruelynge alſo gretly in my thought That ſo emperial of auctoryte She made yt maney ſmartly fro me fle I was abaſſhed & henge my hed to grounde what ſhe wold after done or ſey to me Then I abode & held me ſtyl a ſtounde ¶But to my bed then gan ſhe nyen nere And on the corner doune herſelf ſhe ſette And ſadly gan beholde vpon my chere That ſo was then with teres al be wette And ryght thus ſhe began wythouten lette Complaynynge on my perturbation Becauſe of myſchef wherwyth I was mette Of me ſhe made thys lamentation
Metrum ſecundū. Capitulū tercium. Heu quam precipiti. Philoſophta loquitur ¶Allas ſhe ſeyd how thys mannes mynde Is caſten doune in to ful depe dulneſſe Forlete the clereneſſe of hys proper kynde And mentynge for to go to ſtraunge derkneſſe As often tyme as noyos beſyneſſe wythouten meſure gynneth to encrece when wordly wynde wyth myſchef & deſtreſſe Hym hath byrafte al out of reſte & pece ¶Thys ys that man yt ſomtyme was ſo fre To whom by craft was euen for to conne Vp in to heuens to behold and ſe And to meſure the meuynge of the ſonne By craft alſo the connynge had he wonne How yt the mone changeth for to prymen And what recours the ſterres haue ronne In ther ſperes how dyuerſly they meuen ¶As victor hath he ſotelly conquered The craft by nomber al he comprehendeth Fro vhens alſo thes wyndes ben a rered The ſmothe ſee that torneth ſo & wendeth why eſperus at euen ſo aſcendeth Eſte / in the weſte a doune a geyn to loute And what ſpyryte ſo beſely entendeth The rounde worlde to wende al a boute ¶And what a tempereth ſo the luſtey houres Of the fayre fyrſte ſomer ſeſon Araynge hyt wyth red roſe floures Of the vyche in wynter ben very feweor none And al thys coude he ſhewe by very reſon In ful yeres ho ys that our fedeth wyth grete grapes that the peple pleſon And other frutes that them al nedeth ¶I wonte he was alſo to ſeke & to knowe Pryme cauſes for to telle of kynde Allas witles now lyeth thys man ful lowe Vnder ful heuy bondes that hym bynde And now can he none other comfort fynde But heuely hys face he hath doune folde So ys he al dyſmayed in hys mynde That nedes wrecched erthe he mot beholde
Proſa ſecunda. Capitulū quartum. Seb medicine. Philoſophia loquitur. ¶But now of medycyne ꝙ ſhe haue we nede For in complayntes lyeth no remedy Vn to that purpoſe let oure workes ſpede She ſet her yee on me ententyfly Art thow not he ſhe ſayd wyche that I Haue fed wyth milke vhyle thou were yong of age And ſyth wyth ſtrenger metes tenderly Tyl thou were wexen a man of ſtronge corage ¶And ſyth I gaue the armour good & ſtronge Wych but yf thou had caſte a wey fro the Thou mighteſt haue be dyſeſed with no wronge But haue ben ſuer fro al aduerſyte why art thou ſtyl ſhe ſayd knoueſt yu not me Is yt for ſhame or thou art ſtoned ſore The ne ſhameth noght I trou by cauſe of me Thou art a ſtoned of that me dredeth more ¶And vhen ſhe ſaw me ſytten dome & ſtyl She ſet her hande ful ſafte vpon my breſte As here ſhe ſaed no perel ys of yl Thys man ys with a letargy a reſte A comen ſekeneſſe that many hath oppreſte That out of mynde themſelf haue forlete Ful eſely thys euel ſhal be redreſte A lytel whate he hath hemſelf forgete ¶He ſhal remembre wel & eſely yf I may fyrſt me make hym for to knowe I ſhal hys yeen wypen tenderly Of cloudes derke that haue them ouer growe And then he ſhal amende as I trowe A pleyt ſhe lapped of her garnement My yeen then that teres had beflowe She wyped tyl the derkeneſſe was al ſpent
Metrū tercium. Capitulū quintū. Tunc me diſcuſſa. Boecius loquitur. And vhen thys cloude was clenſed fro myn ye I was a none reſtored to my ſyght Right as vhen cloudes clippeth in the ſkye The ſonne ys let to leme a doune hys lyght And reyne cloudes maketh in maner nyght But vhen a north wynde chaceth them a way The ſonne wil ſhew then hys bemes bright And as yt were bringeth ageyn the day
Proſa tercia. Capitulū ſextū. Haud aliter trſticie. Boecius loquitur ¶But euen ſo & in / none other wyſe Thys dreryneſſe out of myn hert gan reche I loked vp & gan me better aduyſe yf I myght know the vyſage of my leche Than knew I wel by vyſage & by ſpeche Myn owne gentyl noryſhe phyloſophy That me was wonte to viſet & to teche And fro yought had me in company ¶Do ꝙ I my worſhypful maſteres Of al vertues and of honeſte what do ye in thys wreched wylderneſſe Comen thus a doune out of the ſouereyn ſee In to thys exyle vhether be cauſe of me As gylty made alſo of my treſpace Hyt ne beſemeth not your ſouereynte For to be ſeyn in thys vnworthy place Phia.) Oh nory ꝙ ſhe ſhuld I the forſake Sith thou for me art falſly put in blame And not the charge alſo vpon me take The wyche thou bereſt for envy of my name To philoſophy yt were repreue & ſhame To leue an Innocent ſo thus a rayed And now at laſte redoute me of that game That ys not new to me ne vn a ſayd ¶Troueſt thou that I haue ben not erſt aſſayied Of wicked folke wyth perel & damage How haue I ben tormented & traueyled with fulhardineſſe & foule outrage Be foren Plato in tyme of elder age And vhyle that Plato leued preſently Socrates was ſlayn & had to wage In my preſence a croune of vyctory ¶The Epicures & The Stoicenes The heretage of ther opynyou They caughten to them as for very menes Of welth fulneſſe euerych a porcion And mo of wiche I make no mention Haueth enforſed them with ſotelte Drauenge hys wordes to ther entention Of ther opynatyue felycyte ¶Thys ſame folke in partey of ther a pray Caught thys clothe that my ſelf had weuen And thogh that I rebelled & ſeyd nay To rente thys cloth / ne wold they not beleuen And with tho cloutes yt they had me bereuen They went ther wey & though al had ben wel And folyſly they dyd themſelf deceuen And went I had gon with them euery dele ¶And ſo for cauſe that they theſe peces ber • Loo ſome men troued as foules vtterly That they had ben with me familyer And in my houſehold ben abydyngly And ſo thorugh errour of thys company Ful many a fole ys foule out of the way And by them ben peruerted peryloſly And wene that al be wyſedom that they ſay ¶Haſte yu not herd of Anaxagoras That was exyled for be cauſe of me Of Socrates yt eke enpoyſoned was How zeno was tormented by cruelte And though yt thys be a ſtraunge thynge to the yet Canio & Seneke as I trowe And Sorane alſo in thy mynde be For thys ys a late thynge & wel y knowe ¶Nought elles thes brought in to deſtreſſe But for they were lerned in my lore And al vnleke as in ther beſyneſſe To wicked folke that hated them therfore Hyt ys no thynge that yu ſhulde wonder fore Though we be ſtyred with ſtormes of deſeſe Sith that our purpoſe hath ben euer more Theſe wicked folkes for to dyſpleſe ¶And thogh therof be hugy habundance yet neuertheles yet ys to be repreued Forvhy they ben withouten gouernance And nought but flod of errour hath them meued And yf they by thys errour thys contryued Areſe an hoſte with ſtrenght & ous aſſetteth Our gouernour by thys ys nought a greued Hys treſour al in to hys toure he fetteth Theſe foules laboreth than ententyfly On veyn thynges that may them nought avayle And we that ſytteth in thys toure on hy Ful ſuer y noghe fro them that ous aſſayle In ſuche a palace ſtrong of apparyle whereto theſe foules may not vp attayne we ſcorneth them of al ther waſte traueyle Ther beſyneſſe ys euerydele in veyne
Metrum quartum. Capitulū vij. Quiſquis cōpoſito. Philoſophia loquitur. ¶He that ſtandeth clere & ordynate And proude happes ſuffereth vnder ſlyde In al fortunes ſtandynge ſtreght algate In welth & woo can euenlych a byde The woode ſee that floueth to euery ſyde Hym dredeh nto thynge of hys cruelte But what deſeſe that may to hym betyde Hym greueth nought but ſtandeth in one degre ¶The foule fyre that out of hel reketh In the monteyn that cleped ys veſene Ne thunder lyȝte that hy toures breketh Ne dredeth not me / what ys yt that ye mene Why dredeye then ye wrecches that ye ben Tyrantes fyers that ben withouten migth Put falſe hope out of oure hertes clene And fleſly drede putteth fro your ſyght ¶For yf thou no thynge of a man deſyre Ne what he may the don thou haſte no drede Thou ſhalte deſerue the wrecched mannes Ire And in no wyſe he may the nought myſbede Ho ſo hopeth ought or dredeth out of nede He caſteth a wey hys ſhylde & ys vnſtable And knetteh a cheyn / hemſelfen with to lede wher that them luſte to hym vnprofitable

¶The couetous kyng Mida vvas made Iuge betvene Apollo & Pan by ther both aſſignemēt for to demen vhether the harpe of Apollo vvere more delicyous / other the ſhalmuſe of Pan. And ſo vhen he had herde them bothe / he iuged that the ſhalmuſe vvas ſvvetter than the harpe vherfor Apollo hauyng indignation of hys leude iugement / punyſſhede hym in that party that vvas ſemyng the cauſe of hys errour / and gaue hym longe aſſe eres. ¶Motally Mida ys euery vvordly man that more appryſeth the luſte & lekynge of the vvorlde them he doth any vvhit or goſtely vvyſedom. vherfore ſuche men ben dulle & inſenſible to reſon / leke to rude aſſes.

Proſa iiij. Caplm viij. Sentis ne inquit ¶Feleſt thou not vhether my word be ſoft or ſharp ꝙ ſhe withyn thy hert ententyfly Or art thou leke an aſſe to the harpe That ys not meued wyth no melody If thou coueteſt helpe or remedy Thou muſte vnhele the wondes yt the greuen Be then a know & ſhew me openly And hyde yt not for I the ſhal releuen Boecius) ¶I droe to me the myght of my corage ye ben ꝙ I that brought me in aſtate Nedeth yt now to tellen my damage That haueth me had in your preſence algate ye knoueth in what degre I was but late Ne meueth yow nought the maner of thys place Is thys the library where ye with me ſate when ye were al my Ioy & my ſolace Dyuyne thynges dyſputynge there with the And other ſciences that ful luſty were when that I ſtode with yow in thys degre was than thys myne habyte & my chere when I with yowe was wonte to ſeke & lere Ful preuy poyntes langynge to nature How that the ſterres meued fer or nyre Deſcryuyng yt in nombers and fygures ¶Formynge in me the maner of my lyue I leke vn to the heuenly gouernance And techynge me to be contemplatyue I yelde yow thanke with louly obecyance Thys was a ſentens of your ordynance That Plato wrote yf I wel vnderſtande Ful bleſful were thaſtate of gouernance yf only wyſe myght yt haue on hande ¶Or yf that they wich haue gouernment wold vpon wyſedom ſpend ther beſynes And Plato alſo to the ſame entente Techeth ous thus / thyn owne lore hyt ys To wyſe men a ſkyleful cauſe ys thys For to deſyre aſtate of ſouereynte Leſte wicked folke that wil gouerne a mys Receyue aſtate & harme a comynalte ¶For yf that wyſe men & vertuous Sholde thaſtate of ſouerente forſake Then other wicked folke aud vycyous wold be ful feyn the ſam aſtate to take And ſuche as they ben ſoueraynes wold they make And wyſe perſons ſhuld be ſet at nought Thus ſhuld vyce & wickedneſſe a wake And treuth & vertu be to grounde y brought ¶As ſhewynge therfore your auctoryte I had deſyre to thys entention That I had lered of your benygnyte To put yt forthe in execution witneſſe vpon your awne dyſcretion And god that hathe yow ſet in mannes mende I coueted neuer adminiſtration But comen profet was bothe cauſe & ende The hate that I haue had & heuyneſſe Of wicked folke ys open euydence In mayntenance of treuth & ryghtueſneſſe By very fredom of my conſciens Of wycked folke I ſpared none offence whan Conigaſt the porayl wold oppreſſe I met hym euer wyth myghty reſiſtens And ofte I let hym of hys cruelneſſe ¶And Tranguyle prouoſte of the kynges houſe How ofte I caſte hym doune of hys malyce And many a pouer man & anguiſſous That weren aſſet by curſed couetyce Of men that ful of venem were & vyce I halpe them ofte in ther adnerſyte For to defend them out of ſuche foleys Lo myne aſtate I put in Iupardy ¶Ther was no man yt me fro ryght withdrow To wrong by fauour / frenſhyp / or by wage But when I ſaw the contres now & now Be put in thraldom & in foule ſeruage what by trybute & what by caryage And what by rauen & extortion As ſore me greued the harme of ther damage As them that ſuffered tribulation ¶And when the prouynce hoten Campaye was ſore oppreſſed in a dere yere So that no man muſte ſelle ne bye Tyl that the kynge had ſolde vp hys garner At ſnch a pryce ſo grenous & ſo dere That pouer folke were harmed & a noyed Than I withſtode the kynges offycer Wetynge the kynge that ſtatute I deſtroyed ¶And Paulyn eke a conſuler of Rome Whom palays houndes had oppreſſed ſo That wrongfully hys goodes hym benome I receyued hym vhether they wold or no Albyne that was a conſeyler alſo That was a iuged to a greuous payne Myſelf a lone to ſauen hym ther fro Of Cypryane I ſuffered grete dyſdeyne ¶That had accuſed hym (how ſemeth yow In paleys haue I hate & enmyte For loue of ryght & were not thus y now For to be fauored of the comynalte Sith I no frendſhype haue as towarde me In kynges courte I haue no loue reſerued Me ſemeth than I ſhuld the ſurer be withouten fayle where I haue loue deſerued ¶But now by whom was I accuſed thus Forſoth of none that honeſt was of fame But one ther was that hyght Baſileus wych that be forehand founden was with blame And out of offyce was he put with ſhame And ſyth he fel at myſchef & at nede He was accepte accuſer of my name Allas therto by geftes & by mede yet other ij. that hauen me thus defyled were Gaudencius and Opilion The wich the kynges Iuges had exyled For certen ſurfet that they had don In to the ſanctuary then gan they gon Them to defend agen the kynges lawe But knowyng thus the kynge commanded ſone That out of ſanctuary they ſhuld be drawe ¶But yf they voyded the cyte of Rauenne By tyme aſſigned at a certen day And in ther frounte an Iren ſhuld them brenne And be compelled for to go ther way Vn to thes falſe attaynte what ſhal I ſay Or to the kynges curſed cruelte Vpon that ſame day yt ys no nay They were admytted to accuſen me ¶whether that myne arte & occupation Deſerued had thus falſly to be blamed Other elles thus that my dampnation Had made them tru that falſe were proclamed And was not fortune hereof foule a ſhamed That ſhe rewarded not myn Innocency Vnworthyneſſe of them that were defamed Shold none appele haue made in her preſence ¶But perauenture ye wold wyte the grounde In to thys exyle vhy I am remeued I wolde the ſenate had ben hole & ſounde And in no maner hyndred ne repreued Thys ys the cauſe that I am ſore agreued But ye wold wyte the maner & the wyſe By cauſe of letters viche I had beryued Fro hym that wolde the ſenatours accuſe ¶yowe maſteres vhat wil ye demen nowe Shal I thys blame forſake or cal a geyn Leſte that yt ſhulde be ſhameful vn to yowe Nay ſekerly I ſhal yt neuer with ſeyn I haue yt willed & euer ſhal certeyn That the ſenate were in reſte & pece But the accuſer hereafter to refrayn Or let hym ofte of hys entent I ceſe ¶But vether to willen ther proſperite Shulde ben deputed for ſynne or felony And certenly they ſelf in ther decre Haue put on me that poynt of trechery But vnwyſe be they that to themſelfe doth lye They may not chaunge the meret of my dede Though that the foules themſelf wil deſtroy My good wil ys worthy thanke & mede ¶But vn to me by dome of ſocrates Howe ſo euer yt ſtande in ther entente I trou yt be not laful neuertheles To denye a ſothe or to a falſe aſſent But neuertheles al thys verament Excuſeth not me in no maner wyſe I put hyt holly in the iugemente Of yowr ſelfen and of other wyſe ¶The proceſſe of thys mater euery dele I haue hyt wryte & put in rememberance That men hereafter may perceyue & fele How wrongfully I ſuffer thys greuance But ye ylke letters of ther ordynance That in my name ſo falſly were contriued yf I had hadde that lyberte perchaunce Ther falſe fraude ſhulde playnly haue ben preued ¶Or had I at the examination My ſelf ben preſent vhen I was accuſed Ryght by ther owne aperte confeſſyon I trou that they ſhulde haue me clene excuſed Thys lyberte were goodly to ben vſed But now what lyberte ſhal I a byde Of an aunſwer I am fully aduyſed yf euer I ſhulde that lyberte abyde ¶As Canio vn to the kynge anſwered That was accuſed of conſpyracy Had I ꝙ he therof knouen or herde Thou ſhuldeſte haue knouen hyt not ſykerly And ſoth to ſeyn the ſame wyſe wolde I Myn owne letters better can I beſtowe And alſo procured them ſo preuely That no thynge therof ſhulde the kynge knowe ¶yet hath not mornynge dulled ſo my mynde That thys ſhuld be the cauſe yt I complayn That wycked folke ben alwey ſo vnkende A genſte vertu ſuche malyce for to leyn But thys ys yt where I haue dyſdeyne Not only for the purpoſe of ther wyl But that they may ther purpoſe ſo menteyn I meruyl moche how they yt may fu •• lle ¶For as to wyllen 〈…〉 That may be of thee 〈…〉 But that they haue that pouer 〈…〉 To execute that ſo purpoſed ys As Innocency & vertu to deſtres Only of that I meruele in my mynde As in hys ſyght that al thynge ſeeth expreſſe Hyt ſemeth me a monſtre out of kynde ¶wherfore ther was with yow famylyer One that complayned thus & ſkylefully Sythe god ys preſent here & euery vhere Fro vhens cometh al euel thys meruel I And yf that god ne were not verely Fro vhens ſhuld al good thynges be But he that cauſeth thynges perfectly May knowe al and none in ſothe but he ¶Al were hyt leful to tho ſurfetours That al good men noyeth & dyſeſen Purpoſynge for to ſle the ſenatours No wonder were though they wold me leſen For euer my purpoſe was them to dyſpleſen And let them of ther foule entention To ſenatours yet gaue I none encheſon For to conſpyren my dampnation ¶And maſteres ye remembreth wel That vhatſoeuer I thought to don or ſey Both word & worke ye ruled euery dele And al by yow I gouerned me alwey And eke the ſenatours yt ys no nay For ther defence they knoueth euery one In vhat perel I put me at one day A gen the ye kynge myſelfen at verone ¶ye knoueth wel that I ne ſey but ſo the Though I my ſelf had kept yt in ſilence For certenly alwey I haue ben lothe To be commended of my excellence For he that wil be fayn of reuerence And ſo receueth rewarde of renoune The preuy ſecret of hys conſcience Apereth moche by that condition ¶But here ye may your ſelf take hede For innocency nowe what worchyp haue I For vertu loo receue I to my mede Peynes that proper be for felony And ho had euer for any trechery Hys Iuges ſo concord in cruelty For gylte that was confeſſed openly That ſome of them ner moued with pety ¶Al had yt be ſo that I had deſired The preſtes deth or holy churche y brente Or cruel deth to good men conſpired Or vhat malyce ſo that I had y mente yet ſhuld I haue ben demed me preſente So conuycre of my ſurfet or confeſſed And after thys haue had my iugemente Thus iuſtly might my dome haue ben dreſſed ¶But then I beyng for that ſame vhyle with al my labour & my dilygence Fro my iugemente fyue hundred myle Hauyng in court no aduocate ne defence To deth I was a iuged in abſence Me beyng in the ſenatours nedes And they conſentyng geuen was ye ſentence Loo how I am rewarded to my medes ¶O worthy men of worchyppe & of mede For none of them came neuer at that degre To be conuyct of ſuche a maner dede As to withſtand a kynges cruelte As I haue done for ther comodyte And therfore were they of my gylte a ſhamed For thy in foylyng of the dygnyte with ſorcery now they haue me defamed ¶They ſayn for couetes of hy aſtate That I had vſed crafte of ſorcery But ye that were my gouernour algate ye knoueth wel how falſly yt they ly For fro my hert ye hadden vtterly A voyded clene al wordly couetyce And in your preſence might not ſkylefully Suche ſacrilege be vſed in no wyſe ¶For euery day ye putten in my thought Theſe ſothfaſt ſentence of Pictagoras That many goddes ſhulde we ſerue not But one a lone that maketh corn & gras Hyt neded not / ne none accord yt was To me / but ful vnſembly in your ſyght The helpe of foule goſtes to purchas Sith ye haue made me leke to god almight ¶Alſo my wyſe that ys ful Innocente And other frendes of my compaygne My wyues fader alſo reuerente Fro ſuche defautes may defende me But oh malyce & curſed crudelyte Thys blame they bereth on yow by euydence By cauſe that my gouernour ye be They ſey that I vſe ſuche enchauntementes ¶And thys to them hyt ſemeth not y now That reuerence of yow me nought profyteth But eke my gylte they putteth vpon yow And myne offence fully yow they wyteth A nother thynge my ſowres yet excyteth That men ſeyth not the meret of your dede But ſayth alwey when yt fortune ous ſmyteth Of our meret yt was deſerued nede ¶And ſaeth that welthes & proſperyte Cometh vn to ous for our rightueſneſſe And alſo when ther cometh aduerſyte Hyt falleth only for our wyckedneſſe with fortune goeth our fame & worthyneſſe Ow noble thynge ſo lyght hyt ys to leſe And certenly the firſt thynge yt ys That fleeth a way fro wrecches in myſeſe ¶what rumors now thys folke wil of me fynde How dyuers ſentence & how varyente Hyt lotheth me to thynke yt in my mynde For euery man of me ſaeth hys entente And thys yt ys that moſte my hert ſhente Ther ys no fortune greueth me ſo ſore As vhen that myſchef ys to wrecches ſente Men ſayth yt was deſerued ther before ¶I am a way fro al my good y put Alſo deſpoyled of my dygnyte And to my herte yt noyeth more yet My name defoyled in the comynalte And for the benfet of myn awne bounte Lo now I ſuffer torment & dyſtreſſe And in my herte me ſemeth that I ſe How felons folke beth on ther luſtyneſſe ¶And euery lorel redy ys & boune Som new coniected fraudes to deuyſe And good folke hangeth the hed a doune Leſt they be ſerued in he ſame wyſe And euery ſurfetour now dare accuſe By cauſe of fauor & vn punyſhmente The good men to defoulen & deſpyſe And proudly to performen ther entente ¶Styred therto by geftes & by mede And rightueſneſſe may haue no reuerence So Innocentes leueth now in drede Not only that / but lacketh ther defence A genſt malyce ys made no reſiſtence But ſothfaſtneſſe ys had in al dyſdeyn That god wyl ſuffer thys in hys preſence A cauſe I haue to cry & me complayn
Metrū iiij. Capitulū vij. O ſtelliferi cōditor or orbis Phia Philosophia loquitur. ¶O maker of the ſterred heuen on hy Eternally that ſytteſt in thy trone Thou torneſte heuen with a wonder ſwy Conſtreynyng ſterres to thy law alone So that now in fulneſſe of the mone Beſhened with her brothers bemes bryght The ſmale ſterres hedeth them ful ſone In her preſence to ſhyne they haue no might ¶And when ſhe to the ſonne nyeth nere Ful ſone ſhe muſte her bryght hornes hyde And heſperus that ſhyneth bryght & clere And ſheweth hym in the colde euen tyde A nother yere he ys the ſonnes gyde A ryſynge vp ful pale in the morne Loo nedes in that cours he muſt a byde For ſo thou haſt commanded hym beforne ¶In wynter when that leues goen a way Thou ſhorteſt then the fayre dayes lyght In hote ſomer lengtheſt thou the day And makeſt ſhort the derkneſſe of ye nyght And thou attempereſt tymes by thy myght That bare branches wexeth fayre & grene whiche that were defouled & vnhyght By ſtyffe ſtormes of the wynter kene ¶The ſedes in wynter yt ben ſowe Thou makeſt them to wexen fayre & hye And when that they ben ful to cornes growe Thou makeſt them to rypen & to drye Thyn olde law ther may no thynge vnplye Ne by no way ther kyndly cours forlete Ow god that gouerneſt al certenly Now only mannes worke thou haſt forgete ¶why ſhal fortune tornen vp ſo doune Thys thynge that ys in thy gouernement Thes wycked folke to ſet in hye renoune And dryuen doune the good & innocent with peynes that by ryghtuous iugement Ben dew to catyffes for ther curſedneſſe Loo faythful men ben ſhamed & y ſhent And wicked folke ben ſet in worthyneſſe ¶Thus falſe folke the faythful haue oppreſſed And vertu that ſo worthy ys of name Is put in derkeneſſe tyl yt be redreſſed The rightuous bereth ye wycked mennes blame Forſhoren men that ben withouten ſhame They colour ther deceytes as them luſte And vſen they as for a comen game Deceyuynge them yt moſte vpon them truſte ¶And after them they draeth to conſente Kynges grete that many a man muſte drede And maketh them to performe ther entente And them encombreth with ther curſedhed And as they luſte rygth ſo they wyl them lede But now beholde thys wrecched erthly place Thou yt knetteſt al in length & brede Now ſomtyme ſende ous ſocour of thy grace ¶For of thy worke we ben a portion Not foule / but fayre after the forme of the we men that fortune dreueth vp & downe A monge the wawes of thys wordly ſee Repreſſe thys flod lorde what euer thou be That knetteſte al in certen ordynance Thou reuleſte heuens in tranquillyte Now ſet ous ſomvhat in that gouernance

¶Hyt belongeth not a vvyſe man to be moued vvyth a fooles vvorde but rather to enforme & teche & comforte hym / reducyng hym in to the bondes of reſon. So vvas thys clerke by exceſſe of heuyneſſe / in maner fallen in to foley / forletynge the bondes of reſon / vvyche philoſophy calleth hys kende contrey. for by reſonablete man ys made leke to angeles & a very cyteſen of heuen. vherfore leſte thys paynful heuynes ſholde put hym in deſpere / philoſophy conforted hym & ſaeth that he ys not exyle by the foreſayd vyolence out of hys kende contre / but by errour of hys ovne falſe deduction. For vhy as longe as a man kepeth the knouynge of hys kendly principles / he may not be compelled to leue the bondes of reſon. but erren he may by hys falſe deduccion / by vyche he vveneth that he be neceſſed & conſtrayned to that falſe concluſyon. But ſtandyng the knoulege of theſe forſaed principles / he may retorne & examen hys deduction by labour or by techenge / & fynde oute hys errour & conſequently retorne a geyn to the truth

¶Multitude of aſtates in a lande or cyte ys cauſe of grete confuſion / for be cauſe that euerych of them coueteth to be gretteſte / ſo that after hys vvyl may ſtande al the rule & gouernance. ¶Hyt betydeth ofte that lordes ſotellen in deſtruction of other / that be cauſe of fauour of the cominalte / by vvyſedom of gouernance / or by excellence of connynge or of vvyt / ben preferred or lekely ben to be preferred in to hye aſtates ſo that they may the more frely & ſeketly vverken as they vvold as for to vvynne the aſtates that they de • yren / or elles the aſtates that they hauen the more frely for to holde / othe for to be p̄ferred in excellēs more ſingnlerly thā other ¶But in thys realme of reſonabelte that ſpecially belongeth to the courte of heuen / ther ys but one lorde & ſouereyn. the vyche ys god / principle and ruler of reſon / vverfore in ſo moche as any man leueth after reſon / in hovve moche he ys ſubgect to the rule of goddes lavve. And in hovve moche he leueth after reſon / & ſo moche he a bydeth in hys contre & in hys proper cyte. In vviche god a lone ys prince & gouernour Then enſueth thus / that yf a man be obeſyant & ſubgect vn to goddes lavve. he may not be exyle not put out of hys contre. Boetius complayned hym of no goſtely deſeſe but only of harmes bodely / vvelyng of hys priſon & vvātynge of kys bokes To vyche complaynte philoſophy anſvvereth & ſeyth / that hym oughte more to complayn the perturbation of hys ſpiret that ſo erred vvelynge the loſte of hys temporal goodes vvyche muſte nedes at laſte vtterly be berafte hym. Alſo ſhe ſaeth he erreth foule vvelynge for hys bokes / for vhy ſhe had put in hys mynde tho ſame thynges that maketh bokes dere and precious / ſotel ſentences of reſon & of kende

¶Sienim cuius oriundus ſis patrie. The realme & the very cōtre of reſonablete ys the blyſſe of heuen. And al the vhyle vve vvorke after reſon vve ben in our contre as holy & heuenlych by maner of vverkenge ¶The realme of Athenes firſte vvas gouerned by kynges / vyche regned the terme of lyues. And after that vvere ordeyned princes / vyche regned comenly .x. ye0res / After thes vvere made princes annual that regned but one yere / & of them ſhulde be ix. at ones. and of thes here ſpeketh Boetius ¶Romulus vhen he had founded the cyte of Rome / that he might make the cyte copyous of people / ordeyned thys lavve that ho ſo vvolde bylde in that cyte / he ſhuld neuer ben exyled after for no maner treſpace.

Proſa quarta Hec vbi continuato dolore. Boetius loquitur. ¶whē I with mornyng thus had made my mone She was no thynge of my complaynte a meued with pleſant chere ſhe helde her ſtyl as ſtone Sothly ſhe ſeyd whyle er thus I conceued That thou were exyle & thy good beryued Ryght by thy wepynge chere I knew yt wel But yet how fer ne yet had I not perceyued But thou thy ſelf had tolde me euery dele ¶Neuertheles vnderſtande nowe wel thys Thou art not exyle out of thy cyte But thou thyſelf haſte taken thy way a myſſe A ſtrayed out in to a ſtrange contre And yf thou wene that thou exyled be Than haſte yt put thyſelf out ſekerly For that power hathe none ouer the But thou thyſelf wyl do hyt wyllyngly ¶For yf yu knewe or coude haue in thy mynde As of what lande or what cyte thou were Of wich thou toke thy nature & thy kende The lawes of that lande I coude the lere For al the worlde ne may yt not conquere Not leke Athenes that many lordes had But one lorde one lawe & none other there That of hys multitude ys blythe & glad ¶He ys ful fayn that folke wyl to hym drawe And willyngly he wyl no wight forlete For to obey vnder hys luſtey lawe Is lyberte the gretteſt that may be gete Ne knoueſte thou not or elles thou haſte forgete The lawe yt alwey ther ys had & vſed Ho ſo that luſte theryn to bylde hys ſete The lorde he wil not yt he be refuſed ¶And ho ſo wyl in that place a byden ſtyl He may deſerue none aduerſyte But alſo ſone as he forleteth that wyl He may no lenger in that pales be For he forfeteh then hys lyberte And fleeth hys contre of hys awne aſſente whan that he ſueth ſenſualyte Forletynge reſon in hys iugemente Thou aſkeſt where the maner of thys place Me with the for to morne moueth ought Me moueth more the maner of thy face For thys priſon moueth me right nought Thy lybrary with glaſſe & Iuery wrought Nether thy bokes ſet I at no pryce But I ſeke the habyte of thy thought Where I haue made a ſete at my deuyſe ¶For in thy herte I haue no bokes put But thynges that maketh bokes precious Sotel ſentence of connynge & of wit wiche vn to me was more delicyous Of thy meret thou haſte remembred ous The wiche yu haſte on comen welth beſtowe Ful ſothe yt ys & not ſuſpecious Som haſte yu ſeyd & yet wel more I knowe ¶Thou haſte alſo reherſed furdermore The maner of thyn accuſation And the gylt that thou art greued fore Full honeſt in thyn eſtimation None harme deſerued ne dampnation But rather rewarde for thy beſyneſſe And now for thy remuneration Thou haſte no thynge but harme & heuyneſſe ¶And ſhortly haſte reherſed euery dele The falſe fraudes of thyn accuſers wiche the comen peple knoueth wele The wrongful dome eke of the ſenatours That rather ſhulde haue ben thy defenſours Thou ſoroeſt alſo gretly for my blame The wyche I bere for the of ſurfetours Thou weleſt eke the leſynge of thy fame ¶But at laſte with fortune gan thou chyde That mede with meret was euen wey why ſurfetours ben ſuffered in ther pryde And good men a greued thus I herd ye ſey And in thy ſonge to god thus gan thou pray That ye ylke pece that ys in heuen on hey Thys wrecched world ſhulde kepe vnder hys key That nowe ys ruled thus vncertenly ¶I vnderſtande al thyn entention But yet ſone in that other ſyde I ſe That moche deſyre of thyn affection Hathe now diſtracted & dyſtrobled the And put thy mynde out of tranquillyte As ſorow / mornynge / heuyneſſe / & Ire And vhyle yt thou art in thys degre Thou mayſte no mighty medicyne endure ¶wherfore we ſhal attempten & aſſay Now with a lytel lyghter remedy That doleful ſorow for to put a wey That in thy herte ys wexen hard & dry with eſy ſalfe a chafe hyt and defye A medycyne than that more mighty ys Amenden ſhal that malyce eſely That ſoroful ſwellynge lyghtly ſhal we leſe
Metrū quintū. Capitulū. xi. Cū phebi radiis. Philoſophia loquitur. ¶Ho ſo that wyl in hote ſomer ſeſon when that the ſonne in cancer ys y ſet Sowen hys corne he worcheth out of reſon And of hys truſt no doute he ſhal be let By that he hath with wynter dayes met Of other purueyance he ſhal haue nede And but he can gouerne hymſelf the bet with akernes hys hunger muſte he fede ¶And when ye north wynde bloueth kyne & colde In wynter tyme a very foule he were In wilde wode that gether floures wolde Or rype grapes in the tyme of vere Hyt falleth not that ceſon of the yere The floures freſhe ne rype frute to fynde For god hath ſet al thynge in erthe here To kepen euer one certen courſe of kynde ¶He ne ſuffereth not the ſtoundes for to melle That he hath ſet in certen gouernance As in ther offyce euery thynge to dwelle They may not faylen with no variance what thynge that leueth certen ordynance A bydynge not withyn the cours of kende He proſpereth not but falleth in miſchaunce He may not faylen of a feble ende

¶Here before hath philoſophy enquered the qualyte & cōdition of the greuance that thys clerke vvas in. Novv here ſhe begynneth to enquere the rote & the original cauſe / viche ſtōdeth ſpecially ī iii. thynges one becauſe he ſoroed vnſkylfully that ys to ſey of meſure the loſte of hys temporel goodes. The ſecond ſtode in errour of falſe opynion trouyng that vvycked myghty men to the vvorld vvere by might of vvickednes vvelful. The thyrde that he troued the enterchaungynge of fortune by vyche often tymes the good ben depreſſed and the vvicked reſed / vvas vvithout rule of goddes purueance. So the very ground of al hys heuynes / vvas ignorance or elles more verely to ſey forgetyng of diuyn gouernance / as touchynge the kende of man / vich errour he vvas fallen in / by falſe deduction fro hys firſte principles. for he graunted vvel that god vvas maker & gouernour of al. but be cauſe that he ſufferedde vvycked folke to execute ther malyce vpon the goode / vyche execution ys very open vvronge / to vyche vvronge god that ys perfyt ryghtuous by no vvay may conſente▪ vvherfore he ſuppoſed that god had forllete the gouernance of man / committynge ther rule to fortunes vnſtabilyte Fro knouen principles by very tru deduction / a man ys brought to excluſion of errour by concluſions deduced of thys principle. So of thys principle that god gouerneth al as preſidēt to hys proper vvorke / viche Boyes confeſſed / hyt enſueth vvel that god forleteth not the gouernāce of man / but dreſſeth hys vvorkes rightuouſly. To vyche concluſion thys clerke feled the contrary. The fallace of thys conſequent of thys foule errour then ys founden in iii. thynges. One in falſe deduction. A nother in defaute of knouenge of the maner of gouernance. And the thirde of knouynge verely the kynde of man. In thys hys deduction fayled that. for cauſe god vvetyngly ſuffereth vvronges / he ſeyd other god conſenteth to vvronge (viche ys inconuenient) other he forleteth the gouernance / & ſuffereth in that vvyſe. but thys foloeth not / for he ſnffereth vvronges knouyngly both by rightuous & by mercy & yet he conſenteth not ne farleteh not hys gouernance By ryghtueſnes he may compelle no creature a geyn the principal properte of hys kende. But the properte of mannes vvyl ys for to be fre to good or to yuel / thā ſhal not god bereue hym that lyberte. but rightuoſly ſuffereth hym chuſe ſo that for hys goode choſe he may deſerue mede / & for hys bad choſe he deſerueth payn. ¶yf god ſhuld bereue hym thys lyberte thē fayled mercy / for thē muſte he nedes vtterly deſtroy hym / or put hym ī to endles puneſmente. for bereuynge the principal properte of a creature / that creature ys vtterly deſtroed. as bereue hete fro fyre / then ys yt no fyre Right ſo bereue lyberte fro fre vvyl / then ys yt no vvyl. But ſy • h a ſpiret may not be deſtroyed. yf he ſhulde leſe thys lyberte of vvyl / 〈◊〉 muſte then anone be put in to endles puniſhmēt / & thys muſte a voyde mercy. Thys may be proued thus. yf god lefte thys euel vnponeſhed finally / then might he ſeme to cōſente to euel / but that may he not no more ne may he leue yt finally vnponeſhed. yf he berafte hym hys liberte / then might he neuer after deſerue mede in releuynge of hys puneſhment / & then muſte he nedes be endles in payn / vvherfore of mercy & of rightueſneſſe he ſuffereth vvickedneſſe. But here might be ſaed that god of hys goodneſſe might lette the execution of ſuche malicious purpoſe / No doute ſo he doth for the more partey. For though malyce be executed / yet fayleth yt the ful entent of hys execution.

Proſa ſexta. Capitulum xij. Primū igitur pateris. But firſte ſhe ſayd wilt thou ſuffer me Now with a few demaundes for to fele The very kende of thy infirmyte And al the grounde to gropen euery dele that I may wete how yu might haue thy hele Boecius) Now ſeyth on ꝙ I what ye luſte That ye enſerche my ſore I wil hyt wel And I ſhal anſwere as me thynketh beſte Phia Philosophia ) Sey meſhe ſayd hou is thys world demened As vhether by fortune hys variance Or elles thou troueſt yt hyt ys ſuſtened By reſon of ſom certen ordynance Boetius) That god knoueth yt hath al in gouernāce Thys doute I not / but truly I beleue Come neuer yt day yt me befalle that chaunce Out of my herte that ſentēce for to meve Phia Philosophia ) Right as yu ſayeſt ꝙ ſhe ſo hyt ys And in thy ſonge vhyle er right ſo thou mente But neuerthelater thy complaynte was thys That god on man ſet no gouernemente Ne to ther workes taketh he none entente That thynge yt was yt thou gan wepe & wele Al other thynge thou woldeſt wel conſente That god had ſet hyt at certen gouernele ¶Oh that I wonder now ful hugely Syth thou in ſuche a ſentence art y ſet That thou art ſeke af any malady Som thynge ther ys wherby thy hele ys let wherfore the grounde I ſhal enſerchen bet Syth god hymſelfe al thynges ruleth Thus ſayeſt thou whyle er / but ſay me yet By what gouernmentes as the ſemeth Boecius) your ſentence ꝙ I haue I not conceyued I can not aunſwere to your queſtion Phia Philosophia ) In ſoth ꝙ ſhe now am I not deceyued The cauſes of thy perturbation I knowe them wel by eſtimation But ſey me yet yf thou haue thys in thy mynde To what purpoſe by inclination Draeth fynally ye comen cours of kynde Boecius) I haue ꝙ I herd tel yt here be forn But dreryneſſe hath marred al my thought Phia Philosophia ) yet haſt yu not ꝙ ſhe thy wyt forloren That yu ne woſt ho hath thys world y wroght Boecius) O god ꝙ I hath al thyng forth y broft Phia Philosophia ) I wonder then ſhe ſayd how may thys be Of the begynnynge ſyth thou douteſt nofte The ende may not ben vnknouen parde ¶Thys ys the kynde of ſuche deſturbelance That they may meue a man out of hys place But neuertheles ſuche maner of greuance Ne may hym not al vtterly arace Ne put hym fully fro the ſtate of grace Might thou remembre that yu art a man Boecius) In ſothe ꝙ I thys were a wonder caſe yf I ſhuld not my ſelf in mynde han Phia Philosophia ) yet canneſt yu ꝙ ſhe tellen furdermore The kyndly ꝓperte of man what yt ys Boecius (ye ꝙ I as I haue herde be fore A reſonable beſte with dedlyneſſe That I am ſuche I know & wyl confeſſe Phia Philosophia ) Nought elles ꝙ, ſhe knoueſt yu of thy kende Boecius) In ſothe ꝙ I noft elles as I gece Ne noght but thys can I haue in my mynde Phia Philosophia ) A nother cauſe now know I wel ꝙ ſhe Of thy deſeſe & that I wonder grete wiche ys the ground of thyn infirmyte For what yu art thou haſt thyſelf forgete wherfore the reſon fully haue we gete Of thy deſeſe / & furdermore a mene How that thou ſhalt yt vtterly forlete And thou to helthe be reſtored clene ¶For cauſe thou art confounded in thy wyt with the forgetynge of thy ſelf / for thy That fro thy good in exyle art thou put Thou weneſt / & complayneſt pyteoſly And furdermore alſo as ſuppoſe I For yu ne knoueſt what the ende of thynges ys Thou troueſt that wrecches ful of felony That they haue very might & welthyneſſe Thou haſt forgete by wiche gouernementes Thys worlde ys led thys makeſt yu thy colour That theſe fortunes enterchaungementes Ben fletynge thus withouten gouernour Lo thes ben cauſes of ryght grete vygour Not only to ſekeneſſe & deſeſe But vn to deth yf that yu fayle ſocour That may the with theſe bytter paynes leſe ¶yet nature hath not al forſaken the worth thankes be the auctor of thy hele we haue yet one comfort that I ſe That ſhal thy ſorow ſlaken euery dele Thys ſothfaſt ſentence haue we ſaued wel That god thys world hath in hys gouernance Thus yu beleueſt as I conceue and fele And nought ſubiect to happes variance ¶Ne drede ye nought for of thys lytel ſchyn A lyfly hete ſhal ſpryngen in thy breſt But for aſmoche as mighty medycyn To geue the yet the tyme ys not beſt And for as moche as myndes thus oppreſt Haueth thys nature & condition That when they haue trew conceytes leſt They clothe themſelf in falſe opynyon ¶wherof derkneſſe & perturbation May wexen vp that fully wyl deſtroy The ſyȝth of trew conſideration wher for I ſhal a ſay ſotelly To a voyde with ſome eſey remedy Thys derke cloude yf yt may voyded be Of falſe affection / and eſely The very lyȝth then migth thou know & ſee
Metrū. vij. Capitulum xiij. Nubi bus atris cōdita nullū. The ſterres couered with the cloudes blake Ne may not clerely caſten doune ther lyȝth And when ye wode ſouth wynde doth a wake He waleweth vp the ſee withe hugy might The wawes then yt were clere & bright Leke as the glaſſe or as the ſomers day with fylthe yt ys reſolued ben on hyȝth And fro thes wawes letteth our ſight alway The ryuer rennynge out of hye montens Is often tyme withſtanden hugely As by ſom ſtone enconterynge ther a gens The wich ys fallen fro ſom rocke on hy yf thou therfore wilt ſeyn ententyfly with trew beholdynge truthes for to deme Loo / take thys pathe & holde yt certenly Gladneſſe & drede out of thy hert thou fleyn ¶Ne Ioy thou nought of worldly welthynes Ne drede ye nothynge of thys worldly dyne Ne hope thou not that tranſytory ys Ne ſorow thou nought but yf yt be for ſynne For euery thofte that thes regneth in Troble & derke yt ys & may not ſe He ys ſo wraſt a way he may nofte wynne And brideled ſo that he may not be fre
Incipit Liber ſecundus.
Proſa prima. Capitulum ſecuudum. Poſt hec pauliſper THen after thys a ſtounde ſhe held her ſtyl And when ſhe by a temporet ſtylneſſe Saw wel yt myn attention & my wyl was ſet to heren her with ſoberneſſe Thus ſhe began yf yt be as I geſe Quod ſhe / yt I the ground & cauſe knowe Of al the habyte of thy heuyneſſe I can the tellen fully as I trowe ¶In thy deſyre thou ſoroeſt & complayneſt Vpon fortune that with the was a vhyle wich that hath peruerted as thou feyneſt Thaſtate of thy corage in thys exyle I vnderſtande her wrenches & her wyle Of the ylke fortune wonderly dyſgeſed The wiche to them that ſo her luſt begyle Not firſt in the / but euer ſhe hath them vſed ¶She wyl be pleſant & famylyer Ful blandeſſhynge / ful ſofte & deboner Tyl that her leke for to chaunge her chere And atlaſt forlete them in deſpere Al out of hope that euer ſhe wyl repayre yf that thou knew her kende & her deſerte That thou by her ne haddeſt no thynge fayre Ne nought y loſte thou ſhuldeſt know aperte ¶But as I trow withouten grete trauayle we ſhal reuoken thys to thy ſcience For thou were wont to dyſpute & aſſayle with manly wordes drawen of my ſcience when that ſhe blandeſhynge in thy preſence So pleſed the / but certen ſothe ys thys Ther falleth neuer ſuche ſoden chaungementes That your corage ſomwhat ne chaunged ys ¶So ys yt now befalle hyt ys no nay That thou art put out of tranquillyte But tyme yt ys to taſten & aſſay Som ſofte thynges that ſwete & luſtey be That when yt hath hys deueyr don in the I hope yt ſhal the amende & dyſpoſe That ſtronger drynkes may haue ther entre That ſhal the helen vp as I ſuppoſe ¶Com forth now ſwetneſſe retoryen with ſotelty of thy ſuaſyon Wiche only then thy wayes canſt demene When thou ne leueſt our inſtitution Myſyke alſo with ſwetneſſe of thy ſoun That art a damſel of our awne hous Attempre wel thy tunes vp & doune That to thys man may be delycyous ¶what ys yt man / wherof canſt yu complayn what ys the cauſe of al thy heuyneſſe Som new or vncouth thynges haſt thou ſeyn Fortune a geyn the only turned ys Now troueſt thou ſo / than erreſt thou y wys For alway ſuche her maners hathe be But ſhe hath kepte in the her ſtabelneſſe That kendly ſtandeth in mutabilyte ¶Right ſuche ſhe was with al her blandyſhynge when ſhe ſuch flaterynge pleſance gan the make To lere the luſten in thes wordly thynges That paſſeth right as dothe the cloudes blake Take hede / that blynd goddas haſt thou take with doble face of doutful auenture For ſhe yt ys that hath the now forſake Of whos frendſhep ther may no man be ſure ¶yf thou approue in thyn opynyon Her goodneſſe when ſhe ys to thy pleſance Take thou a worth than her condicyon And vſe yt muſt thou with her varyance Complayn ye nought make no contraryance And yf the greſeth of her trechery Than caſt her of / deſpyſe her with miſchaunce That to pley ys wont ſo harmfully ¶The cauſe yt hath the now with ſorow ſchent Shuld moue the now with Ioy & luſtineſſe She hath the lefte / ye wich er ſhe be went Ther ys no wight that may haue ſekerneſſe And holdeſt thou thys as for a welthyneſſe Of precioſty / that thus a way ſhal ſlyde And now ſo dere to the ye preſence ys Of thys fortune vnfaythful to a byde ¶And when ſhe goeth / to morne ſhe yow maketh Sith halden at your wyl ſhe may not be She leueth wrecches the yt ſhe forſaketh She ys nofte elles than / as ſemeth me That ſo vncertenly wyl fro yow fle But ſigne of miſchef that ſhal after fal Loo than / ys thys al your felycyte Nought but a fayre that ye foloeth al ¶For yt ſuffyſeth not I the enſure Only to ſeyn one thynge that ys preſent The ende of thynges prudens doth meſure For vhy thys dyuers interchaungement For wele to woo that fortune hath the ſent Hyt ſhuld the teche her manace noft to drede Ne to her blandyce take rygh none entent To her beheſtes take no maner hyde ¶For at laſt the behoueth nede Sith thou haſt ones in her yoke y drawe To ſuffer al that fortune wyl the bede with eſey hert & ſtand thy lady awe And yf thou to thy lady wryte a lawe To go or come at thyn ordynance Thy labour loo / auayleth not an hawe Thou wrongeſt her with thyn vnſufferance ¶Now ſuffer then & take yt not to ſtrange Leſt thou her feerſer in her wrethe fynde And ſherpe ye ſwerdes wiche yu mayſt not change Thou mayſt her not compellen out of kende For yf thou haue thy ſayle vp in the wynde Thou mayſt not chuſe where yu ſhalt a ryue For what ſo be the purpoſe of thy mynde Thou muſt ther / as the weder wyl the dryue ¶yf thou thy corn wolt in the feldes ſowe Hyt may not wexen as thy wyttes fayn For in thy thought yu muſt conceue & knowe Som yeres ben plenteous & ſom bareyn Ne for to grow thou mayſt yt not conſtrayn And yf yt fayle / ther to what mayſt thou done How euer yt be / to whom ſhalt thou complayn Lete nature al her ſelf therwith alone ¶Thou haſt the put vnder the gouernance Of fortune / loo ſhe muſte thy lady be Vn to her maners oweſt thou obecyance And yf thou purpoſe to enforcen the To ſtent her vhele of mutabilyte Of al foules yet art thou the meſte For when fortune ſtandeth in ſtabilyte The name of fortune may no lenger leſte
Metrum primū. Capitulū ij. Hec cū ſuperba Philoſophia loquitur. ¶When yt thus fortune with her handes proute Hath thus her ſtoundes changed to & fro As ErinusErinus ys a ryuer that ſomtyme renneth one vvay / ſomtyme a nother ſo that ſhe vſeth no redy cours / ne certen in to nether partey. So fareth fortune byche indifferently and vncertenly geueth both miſcheffe and proſperite. that renneth in and oute So wonderly her vhele begenneth to go Ful ryal kynges caſteth ſhe douue in woo The wich ſom tyme many a man gan drede And ſom that lyeth dyſcomfet & vndo Loo thes vntruſty / lyfteth vp your hed ¶She thus of wrecches hathe no pyte Thogh that they weyle & wepe day & nyght She ſcorneth eke ſo wonder hard ys ſhe The waylyng that herſelf hath them dyght Loo thus ſhe playeth thus proueth ſhe her might To her ſeruantes ſhewynge many a wonder For he that hye in welthes was nowe right withyn an houre he lyeth caſten vnder
Proſa ij. Capitulū iij. Vellem autem tecum. Philoſophia loquitur. ME lnſt to plede a lytel now with the with ſuche wordes as fortune may Loo ſayth ſhe / right now loke thyſelf & ſe Me ſemeth wel ſuche wordes might ſhe ſay what ys ye man / complaynynge euery day what haue I gylt / what wronge haue I ye wroght what good of thyn haue I berafta way That was thyn awne or with thy ſelfen broght ¶Aſſigne thou & I ſhal ſone appere Be fore a Iuge that can thys caſe redreſſe And yf thou canſt thy purpoſe prouen clere Of hye aſtate / ryches / or worthyneſſe To any man that leueth in dedlyneſſe That thes thynges ſhuld appropryat be And certenly I ſhal the graunt expreſſe That thyn yt was that yu now aſkeſt me When yt nature in to thys world the brought Out fro thy moder where that yu began I toke the nedy / naked / & with nought And I the noryſhed with my goodes than And al with fauor noreſhed the to man wherfore impacient I fynde the now Haue I the wronged / tel me yf thou can As in vhat poyntes / wher with / & as how ¶with al goodes longynge to my right I had the fully fret wyth habundance why ſhuld yt not be fully in my might As fro the ſame / wiche that I avaunce Myn hand withdrauen after my pleſance The Ioyes thou haddeſt yt was of my grace Hyt was not thyne / take yt for no greuance with wronge thou the complayneſt in thys caſe ¶Why playneſt yu I do the no dureſſe Ne violence as euery man may trowen wel leketh me ſuche honour & ryches Ryght as me leketh fully to be ſtawen The mayne nede muſt ther lady knowen with me they come & with me muſt they wende Thys dare I ſay yf they had ben thyn awne Thou mighteſt neuer haue loſt them in thys kende ¶wher I be ſhe yt only am forhyght To execute the cuſtome of my lawe The heuen may the dayes make bryght And eke at nyght ſhe may her lyght withdrawe The yere alſo the erthe may beſtrawe withe floures & them efte with wynter ſhynde The ſee may now be calme withouten wawe And now with ſtyffe ſtormes torne & wende ¶But the ſayd vnfulſome mannes couetyſe Me wold now to ſtabelneſſe bynde A genſt myn awne maner & my wyſe But thys my might ys / thys play ys my kynde My ſwyfte vhyle thus vp & doune I wynde The hye & low to enterchaungen ofte That now be forn ys / efte mot be behynde That now ys law / me luſt to ſet a lofte ¶Now worth vpon my vhele yf yt the luſt But on thys couenant yt I ſhal the ſay Thou muſt deſcēd a geyn ther to thou truſt when that the reſon aſketh of my play Ne knew thou not my maners er thys day How Creſus that was called kynge of Lyde That Cyrus ofte a fered with grete a fray yet Cyrus toke hym in hys moſt pryde ¶And in the fyre he caſt hym for to brenne Loo how ye effecte was torned to reuerſe A lytel rayne defended hym fro then what befel hym after bokes doth reherſe And when that Paule had take ye kynge of Perſe Thys Paule gan on hym wepe for pure pyte what cryeth al tragedyens verſe But playneth al on myn vnſtabylyte ¶Tragedyes hen dytes made of certen perſons / vyche begynnethe in vvelthe and proſperyte / and endeth in myſcheffe & aduerſyte They wepeth yt ſodenlyche I ſmyte And welful realmes ofte I ouerthrowe Thou lerned thys when yu were yonge & lyte Thou haſt not yet forgeten as I trowe That Iupiter ij. tonnes had beſtowe Withyn the threſfold of hes celer layed That one was good wyne euery man to knowe That other nofte / now haſt thou both aſſayed ¶And vhat yf yu more plenty haſt y take Lo of the better part of luſtyneſſe what yf I yet haue the not al forſake what yf ſo be that myne vnſtabelneſſe May geue the hope of better after thys For vhy dyſmay the no thynge in thy thought Ne withyn ye realme that comen ys Thy proper law to vſe / couete ye nought
Metrum ij. Capitulū iiij. Si quantas rapidus. Phia Philosophia loquitur. Though plenty wiche yt cleped ys goodes Of wordly good / wold caſt vn yow at ones As many habundances of rycheſſe Loo as the ſee hath ſmale grauel ſtones Other as ſterres when ful many one ys Ful clerly ſhynynge in a luſty euen yet thys mankend of ther ruthful mones Ne ther complayntes can they not leuen ¶And thogh yt god of hys benygnyte Ther prayer here & gladly wold them pleſe And of hes goodes graunt them gret plente Of ryches & honour fully to ther eſe Ther couetys yet / may ther no thynge peſe Ther cruel rauen gapeth after more And alway ben complaynynge of deſeſe And ſet at nofte al that they had before ¶what maner brydel might a man deuyſe Thys wrecched luſt to rulen & reſtrayn To thys vnthryfty mennes couetyſe That euer ye more they haue the more they pleyn The thurſt of hauynge brenneth them with peyn For he that nedeles ſo fereful ys And weyleth ſo / forſoth I dare wel ſayn He ys not ryche thogh al the world were hys
Proſa iij. Capitulū v. Hijs igitur verbis. Phia Philosophia loquitur. ¶yf that fortune might for her ſelfen ſayn Ryght in thes wyſe as I haue ſayd to the Thou haſt not what one word to ſpeke a geyn And yf thou haue now ſay yt vn to me Defend thy quarel (yf thou canſt) let ſee Thou ſhalt be herd tyl that yu haue reherſed And yf thou canſt not let thy playntes be Vnlaful quarel ought to ben amerced Boecius) Certen ꝙ I ful fayre ys thys to hyre Of retoryke al ful / & hony ſwete wiche only whyle they ſouneth in myn ere They luſteth wel / but ſone yt ys forgete For my deſeſe ſo light ys not to lete For al ſo ſmartly as your ſonge ys ceſſed The gruggynge of my greuance ys ſo grete That al my mynde with mornynge ys oppreſſed Phia Philosophia ) Right ſo yt ys ſhe ſaed / but yet for that Thys ys no remedy for thy ſekeneſſe But a geyn thy ſorwes obſtynat A geyn thyn helthe yt ys a manar leſſe But when I ſee that better ſeſon ys Of ſuche as ſhal the percen to the rote I ſhal the ſerue / & al that ys a myſſe Hyt ſhal redreſſe & hoelly be thy bote ¶But leſt yt thou thy ſelf a wrecche holde Now wold I wete where yu remembre not The maner of thy welthes many a folde Boecius) I hold my pees ꝙ I ſaeth on your thoght Phia Philosophia ) when yu ſhe ſaed were ſo low y broght As orphelyn in maner deſolate Fortune for the ſo goodly had y wroght Thou were in cure of men of hye aſtate ¶And drawen ſithe in to affynyte Of prynces & of men of gouernance Ful lefe to lordes / er thou mighteſt be Ought worth thy ſelf in wordly ſuffyſance And ſet in hye degre of allyance Ho ſaed not then that yu were fully bleſte Thy fader in law whom vertu doth avaunce Thy wyf alſo ſo goodly & honeſt ¶Thy ſonnes bothe ſyttynge by thy ſyde your worſhyppe went on euery mannes mouth And for to lete thes comen thynges ſlyde what dygnytes thou haddeſt in thy youthe That to ful olde men ben werned in ſothe But I delyte to tellen more expreſſe Of ſoleyn thynges ſtranger & vncouth How thou were wrapped al in welthyneſſe ¶yf any thynge that mortal ys in kende with eny frute of blyſſe be founden here Ther may no myſchef put out of thy mynde That day yt whan thy ſonnes both in fere Hadden take thaſtate of conſuyler And with a ſemble fro thy hons y lad Of ſenatours & lordes that there were withe hugy preſſe of people blyth & glad ¶And than in court vhen that yu ſawe them ſytte In ſetes belongynge to ther dygnyte Ther wonne yu Ioy of eloquence & wyt As pronouncer of kynges nobylyte Of al that folke behaldynge vpon the And with thy preyſynge as victoryous So wel thou feddeſt al that comynalte with geftes of thy wordes gloryous ¶Thou feoffedeſt fortune then with wordes gay whyle ſhe the norſhed in her awne delyce And ſuche guerdon fro her thou bare a way The wiche in ſothe was ſo hye a pryce That neuer before that day at my deuyce She graunted not vn to no comyner wylt thou a counte with fortune / art thou wyſe Of a rereage thou ſhalt not paſſen clere ¶For now at arſt ſhe hathe on the beholde And prynched on the with a bytter ye But now conſyderynge clerely yf yu wolde The maner of thy welthes by & by Of al thy Ioys leuynge luſtely And in that other ſyde thy heuyneſſe A counted al / yet mayſt thou not denye That thou ne haſt yet a part of welthyneſſe ¶And yf thou hold thy ſelf infortunate Now for aſmoche as thes yt welthes ſemen Ben paſſed thus / no cauſe haſt yu for that That thou in miſchef ſhuld thy ſelfen demen For thes ſorowes yt trobeleth thus thyn hert And haldeſt them as for a greuous peyne Ne doute the nought but fro the wyl they ſtert Then art thou ſet in welthyneſſe a geyn ¶And wylt thou trow that yu the firſt be That to thys lyf came as a ſoden gyſt Or wylt thou trow yt any ſtabylyte In mannes lyf be where vpon to truſt Thys knoueſt thou wel yt ys nothynge vnwyſt That in an houre a man ys at an ende Loo al your lyf with deth ſo ys bet wyſt Now here ye ben / & here a way ye wende ¶And yf ſo be as yt betydeth ſelde That in fortune ys any faythfulneſſe Abydynge with man tyl he the goſt vp elde The laſt day yet of your lyf y wys A maner deth eke vn to fortune ys what fors ys than wher ſhe the forſaketh Fleynge fro the of her vntruſtyneſſe Or thou fro her / when deth a way the taketh
Metrum iij. Capitulū vj. Cum polo phebus. Philoſophia loquitur VHen that phebus begynneth for to ſprede Her bryght bemes out on euery ſyde As by the mornynge / the ſterres for drede They wexeth pale begynnynge them to hyde Foreſtes eke that large ben and wyde Ful freſly in the firſt ſomer ceſon The zephirus ryght as yt were for pryde with floures hath depaynted / yow to pleſen ¶And when that auſter putteth out hys hornes And bytter blaſtes gynneth for to blow A bateth than the beutey of the thornes Thus al your luſtes paſſeth in a throw The ſee alſo as enery man may know Now may be calme withouten mouone And ſodenly er any man wyl trow wyth tempeſt ys yt torned vp ſo doune ¶And ſyth the forme of al thys wordly thynges So ſelden ys yt that yt ſtandeth ſtable But chaungeth by ſo many varyenges And mannes fortune ys ſo tranſmutable Than wolt thou truſt to goodes deceyuable Thys ys a law withouten chaungementes Ther may no thynge be kendly perdurable That ys engendred of theſe elementes
Proſa iiij. Capitulū vij. Tum ego / vera inquam Boecius loquitur. ¶Than ſayd I thus / O worſhypful noryſhe Alle vertu to feden and ſuſteyne In al my wyt / but yf I were vnwyſe I can not wete but ſothe ys that ye ſayn And of my fortune ſothe yt ys certen That wonder ſmartly hath ſhe me enhaunced But here vpon yt ys that I complayn That ſhe vndoth wiche yt ſhe had avaunced ¶For of myſhappes to reherſen al Hyt ys the worſt / for to ben wel And in to myſchef aſter to ben fal For thys muſt ſhend a very hert of ſtele Phia Philosophia ) Though yu ꝙ ſhe thus in thy wyttes fele By falſe conceyte of thyn opynyon The truthe ne agreueth the neuer a dele To wyte yt her / yet haſt thou no reſon ¶And yf thys Idel name of welthyneſſe That ſo vncerten ys / yet moueth the with me now come & thyn a countes geſſe Of thynghes wiche as yet) thou haſt plenty The wiche yu haddeſt euer in moſt deynte when al in rycheſſe fortune had the fret How migh thou playn of thy felycyte Sith that thou haſt thy beſt goodes yet ¶yet hoole & ſounde the fader of thy wyf He leueth loo / honor & reuerence Of al man kende / wich yu with thy lyf woldeſt gladly obey ſtandynge in hys defence Symmachus made of al ſapience Al ful of vertu & of honeſte Thogh he be ſuer of any violence As to hym ſelf / yet weyleth he for the Thy wytty wyf ſo ful of ſoberneſſe So chaſte / ſo honeſt / & ſo debonaer In ſhort to conclude al her worthyneſſe Leke to her fader as hys kendly heyer Ful loth her lyf ſhe ledeth in deſpaer Only to the ſhe kepeth her careful goſt Thys one thynge ys that may thy welth apayre Thys graunt I wel & do mone yt moſt ¶And of thy ſonnes wiche ben conſulers what ſhal I ſayn / but ſhortly yt they be In maner prynte & as exemplares Both of ther elder fader & of the And euery mortal thynge as yu mayſt ſe Vpon thys hath hys princypal beſynes Thys lyue to kepe fro al infirmyte And vn to man the dereſt thynge yt ys ¶And theſe to the ben derer than thy lyfe I dare yt wel affermen certenly Lo Symmachus / thy ſonnes / & thy wyfe Thou haſt them yet now lete thy teres dry For yet fortune ys not thyn enemy In al / ſo ferforthe as thyſelf fayneſt Ne yet ys not on the ſo feruently The tempeſt fallen as thou the complayneſt ¶For vhy good holdyng hath thyn anker hent They ben ful ſtrong & cleueth wonder faſt The wiche / thy comfort of thys tyme preſent Ne hope of better / ſuffereth not to ben paſt Boecius) Ow god ꝙ I yu graunt yt yt they laſt For vhyle they haldeth how yt euer yt ſtand Or how yt euer thes wicked wyndes wraſt Yet in ſom maner ſhal we flete a lande ¶But how grete bewty of myne apparel Is fro me gon / yowſelfen ſeyth yt beſt Phia Philosophia ) I haue ꝙ ſhe yf yt may ought a vayle Promoted ſomwhat yt thou were in reſt But yf ſo be thou thy ſelfen tempeſt Dyſpleſed with the ſort of al thy lyf How ſhuld than thy myſchef be redreſt yf thou wolt alway ſet thyſelf in ſtryf But I ne may not ſuffer thy delyce Complaynynge with ſo greuous heuyneſſe Alway coniectynge ſo in thy deuyſe That ſomwhat wanteth of thy welthyneſſe For hoys that yt leueth in dedlyneſſe That in hys welthes ſtandeth ſo ordynat That he ne ſtryueth alway more or laſſe with the qualyte of hys aſtate ¶Ful angueſous they ben as for ye nones The kende of wordly welth I ſey / for vhy For other they cometh not al at ones Or they ne ſtandeth neuer ſtabelly For thes hath ryches loo habundantly Hym ſhameth that hys lynage ys ſo lowe And thes loo ys renouned nobelly Yet had he leuer for pouerte ben vnknowe ¶Another hath both renoune & ryches He hath no wyf wherfore he ys dyſpleſed Thes hath a wyf that to hym luſty ys Defaute of yſſue maketh hym be deſeſed He note ho with hys goodes ſhal be ſeſed And thes hath yſſue to hys luſt perchaunce yet haply of ther vyce he ys vneſed And weyleth of ther wicked gouernance ¶wherfore in ſothe ther ys no wight yt can with proper fortune hold hemſelf a paed For why ſom thynge ys feled of euery man That none knoweth but he that hath aſſaed And he that knoueth he ys therof a frayed Set thys therto ye euery welful wight Ful tender ys to ſuffer & myſapayed Yf al thynge fal not to hys wyl a ryght ¶And he that wordly ys moſt fortunate And ſet moſt hyely in proſperyte Ful lytel thynge hys blyſſe may abate That ys not vſed in aduerſyte How many troueſt yu in thys world ther be yf that they had ye leſt blyſſe of. vij. That I can tel of thy felicyte They wold ſuppoſen that they were in heuen ¶Thys place of exyle as yu haſt yt named Good contre ys to them that in yt ben And neuer the wors thogh yt of ye be blamed Thou art no wrecche but thou thyſelf yt wene Thogh fantaſy haue brought ye thus in tene And euery fortune ther a geyn ys good Ho ſo can in pacience hymſelf demene And ſuffer ſoftly with an eſy mode ¶Now tel me thus what wilful man ys that That ſtondeth in blyſſe as he can deuyſe That ſomtyme nold changen hys aſtate whan pacience ys put out of ſeruyſe what trobel with your welthes many a wyſe Is menged / yf ye coude yt haue in mynde Thogh they be ſwete to ſuche as them vſe They wyl not be with hold when they wende ¶Than may ye ſeyn by open euydence The myſchef of theſe mortal thynges thus They ſtandeth not thogh thou haue pacience Ne luſteth not in al thy anguyſous O foly / vnwyt / ſo erroneus Of mortal folke ſekynge themſelfe withoute your welthyneſſe & hyt ſo plentuous Is ſet withyn yourſelf withouten doute ¶I ſhal the ſhewe of thy felycyte A ſoueren poynte / entend what I ſhal ſay Is any thynge ſo dere worth vn to the As ys thyſelf thou wolt aunſwere me nay yf thou be hole thyn awne conclude I may Thou haſte that thou ne woldeſt forlete The wiche fortune may not bereuen a way Tyl thou thyſelf yt wylfully forfete ¶And that thou know yt thynges temporel May not be ſuche wherin thou ſhuldeſt fynde Thy blyſfulneſſe / now vnderſtand me wel And take thes wordes hoelly to thy mynde Sith blyſfulneſſe ys ſouerayn good of kynde Hoſe lyf ys reſon & intellygence And ſouerayn good ys thynge yt hath no ende Ne may beraft the by no vyolence ¶Than vpon thys I may conclude & ſeyn That thes fortunes mutabilyte To bleſfulneſſe may no thynge atteyne Ne ys not had by ſuche vnſtabylyte And wham ſo that thys falſe felicyte Thus carieth forth / he wote or wote yt not How falſe ſhe ys & alway hath y be Thys diuiſion ys immedyat ¶yf he ne wote hyt not he ys deceyued what blyſſe may be than in thys ignorance And yf ſo be he hath wel a perceyued The maner of her kyndly varyance He dredeth than with ful grete greuance To leſe that thynge yt lyghtly may be gon So that thys drede with longe continuance withdraweth hys blyſſe wiche yt he truſt vpon ¶Other yf yt be ſo that he leſe hys blyſſe He weneth to ſtande in repreffe & in ſcorn And no dout ful lytel good yt ys whos loſte with eſey hert may be born And thou art he to vhom that here be forn Hyt hathe be ſhewed by demonſtration That mannes ſoule ne may not be forlorn As thynge that turneth to corruption ¶And clere yt ys that al thys wordly wele As fro yow men with deth a way ſhal wende • Than may yt not be douted neuer a dele But ſothe yt ys by reſon & by kende yf wordly blyſſe ſhuld be your fynal ende And very forme of al your welthyneſſe Than euery creature of mortal kende with deth muſte tornen in to wrecchedneſſe ¶But we haue wyſt of many one here be fore To ſeke the frute of blyſſe in ther entent That haueth yt bought ful bytterly & ſore By deth / by dolour / by paynes & torment How myght yt be then that thys lyffe preſent with any luſtes / might yow welful make Syth yt ys ſo that vhen thys lyffe ys went They be no wrecches wiche hyt hath forſake
Metrum iiij. Capitulū viij. Quiſquis volet Phia Philosophia loquitur. HO ſo that luſt to byld hemſelf a ſete That ſhuld be mighty / ſure / & ꝑdurable That bytter Eurus breſe yt nought ne bete Ne fers floddes make yt not meueable The hye hylles be not profytable And moyſtey ſandes muſt he nedes exchew For on the mounteyn may no thynge be ſtable Nether in ſande no thynge be trwe ¶For vhy / the ſouth wynd bloweth ſore a lofte That on the monteyn may no thynge be ſure And ſandes that ſo loſe ben & ſofte An heuy borden may they not endnre To fle therfore thys perylous aduenture A ſyker ſete to ſet thy ſelf a pone Take thys in mynde & do therto thy cure To byld a law howſe on a ſyker ſtone ¶That ys to ſayn yt thou ſhalt ſet al thy mynde Vpon that blyſſe that euer ſhal a byde And thogh ſo fal that the woode wynde Torne vp & downe the ſee on euery ſyde In very reſt / thou mayſt thy ſelfen hyde As in thy caſtel ful of bleſfulneſſe In luſty age then ſhal the wel be tyde And ſet at nought thys wordly wrecchedneſſe
Proſa v. Capitulū ix Sed quoniā rationum. Phia Philosophia loquitur. BVt for aſmoche as I haue don thys By my reſon deſcendynge in to the To vſen now (I trow that tyme ys) Some medycyne that more mighty be Now vnderſtande / al were yt ſo parde That goodes wiche yt fortune hath beſtowen Shuld ſtanden euer in perdurabelte How might thou euer accōpte them for thy awne ¶And thes ſame that ye acompte them beſt yf that they were conſydred as they ought Ful foule they ſholden ſeme & dyſhoneſte And ben a compted for a thynge of nought Now of ryches how ſemeth in thy thought why ben they good / vhether of ther proper kynde Or for they ben in to your ward y brought And ſhuld ben good tyl yt they fro yow wende ¶What ys yt. / gold wiche that ye cal ryches Or money gadred in your treſory But theſe ſheweth more ther worthyneſſe In puttynge out / then kepynge pryuely For auarous men ben hated comenly And euery wight wyl haue them in dyſdeyn And tho that wyl dyſpenden largly They ſhal haue loue & worſhyp ther a geyn ¶And thys good that yu dyſpendeſt thus when yt ys ſpent a bydeth not with the Than ys thy money only precyous when thou yt haſt pnt a way fro the Than in dyſpendynge lyeth the precyouſte Of your treſour & not in hepes grete Hyt ſtent yow neuer at no comodyte Ne auayleth no thynge tyl yt be forlete ¶And what yf al the gold that al men han As hyt ys now in dyſtribution were aſſembled in an hepe / and than One man hyt had in hys poſſeſſion Thys gold then by thys ſuppoſition Al other men muſte nedy make & bare And one man ryche thys ys no queſtion Beleuynge after al the world in care ¶A voyce vniuerſal (I may conclude) At ones may without apeyrement Fulfylle the yeres of a multytude your ryches ys not ſo ſuffycyant For tyl they be departed & y ſpent To many men ne may they not be taken And thes men fro whom they ben y went They leue thē poure whē they haue thē forſaken ¶O ſtreyte & poure that ryches may I cal wyche al men ne may not haue at ones Ne one haue al / but yf that other al For pouerte & for nede make ther mones And eke I meruel that thes precyous ſtonys That ye be haldeth them ſo luſtely And fayneth bewty in thynges where none ys And ther hyt ys ye can hyt not a ſpy ¶And what thynge ys hyt? brightneſſe of colour why that thys perry ſemeth yow ſo fayre Thys wete ye wel the bryghtneſſe ys not your Ne nought of yow / but only hyt ys ther As by a lyght reboundynge in the ayer And moche I meruel vhy ye wonder ſo On thynges that may be a mende ne payre Your kendly good by noght that they may do ¶what thynge ys that yt lacketh lyffe & lyght what may be lekened to a creature That bereth lyffe / & reſon hath ther wyth That ſhuld be demed fayre as by nature And thogh they drawe a bewty in fygure Of hym that made hyt / yet in your preſence They may not worthy ben in no meſure To be merueled of your excellence ¶And where thes feldes that ben fayre & grene So ful of floures delyteth ought your ſyght Boeciꝰ) why ſhuld they not ſayd I ſith yt they ben A fayre part of ye worke of god al myght For ſo ſom tymes when the ſee ys bryght we wonder moche / & when the heuen ys clere Vpon the mone & ſterres in the nyght And on the ſonne that ſhyneth a monge ous here Phia Philosophia ) ¶But apperteyneh ꝙ ſhe ought to the Mayſt thou that bewty in thy ſelfen fynde Darſt thou reioycen that they in the be As thynge ſubiected in thy propre kynde Art thou depaynted ſemeth in thy mynde with floures of the fyrſt ſomer ſeſon Or art thou as a tre wyth rote & rynde Mayſt thou noryſhe frutes? troueſt yu thys by reſon ¶And vherfore art thou raueſſhed ſo in veyn As thogh thes goodes ſhuld be thyn awne The wyche fro the ben vtterly foreyn And wonder fer as euery man may knowen For vhy fortune (thou mayſt hyt fully trowen Ne may not make them thyn for to ben The wych nature hathe elles vhere beſtowen And vtterly made fro the alyen ¶For vhy the frute yt doth on erthe encrecen Deſerueth vn to beſtes ſuſtynance And lytel thynge your nede may a ceſſen So that nature haue her ſuffyſance why ſhuldeſt yu then deſyre abundance And aſke of fortune ſuperfluyte Syth that nature may haue her pleſance wyth lytel thynge in pryſe & quantyte ¶And yf thou wolt her ſuffyſance oppreſſe wyth ſuperfluyte ſurfetouſly Other hyt wyl the brynge in heuyneſſe Other elles the a noyen greuouſly But of thys one thynge certen meruyl I That thou woldeſt ſemen fayre & gloryous As for to ben clothed ryally In dyuers ſhappe & colour precyous ¶For yf in clothes any bewty be wher by the ſyght ys fayre & aggreable That apperteyneth no thynge vn to the But that mater hald I meruylable Other the wyt of hym ys commendable That made thys thynge thys may be cauſe of wond But that yu ſhuldeſt therfore be honorable As in your kend / ye ben ful fer a ſounder ¶Or for to walken wyth a hugy route And of mayne to be copyous May make the blyſful / nay wythouten doute For I ſuppoſe that they ben vycyous They ben a greuous charge vn to thy houſe And may be cauſe of thy deſtruction And what yf they be good & vertuous And very honeſt of condytion ¶why ſhuld ther vertue other honeſte Be accompted as parte of thy ryches Or wherfore ſhuldeſt thou commended be Or haue a thanke of foreyn worthyneſſe Loo in al thes reherſed here expreſſe The wyche as thou acompteſt in thy thoght As for thy goodes clerely as I geſſe I haue the ſhewed that thyn be they nought ¶In wych thynges as I haue ſayd beforn yf thou no luſty bewty canſt fynde why ſoroeſt thou yt thou them haſt forloren Or of the hauynge enIoyeſt in thy mynde yf they be fayre as of ther awne kynde what may that apperteyn vn to the For had they ben fro the wythouten ende Alſo fayre & luſty had they be ¶For no doute they be not precyous For thou them haſt & kepeſt beſely But for they ſemed the delycyous Thou them accompeſt in thy treſory what craue ye then wyth ſo gret a cry That ye on fortune calleth thus alwey wyth abundance in ſothe / as ſuppoſe I ye ſeketh for to dryven nede a way ¶But yet the contrary to your entent doth fal For yow nedeth helpe (not lytel) to maynteyn And for to kepe your precyous thynges al Leſt ſo be fal that ye hyt leſe a geyn So moche the more your labour ys in vayn That ye muſt lyue in heuyneſſe & drede And thys ys ſoth alſo that I ſhal ſayn Ho ſo myche hath / of moche thynge hath nede ¶And lytel thynge hym nedeth certenly That can hys plenty meſure on thys wyſe Ryght euen as nature nedeth kendly And not vn to the luſt of couetyce Ne can yow not your ſelfen better aduyſe To ſe what good ys ſet your ſelf wythyn But nedes wyl ye ſeken & deuyſe In ſtrange thynges your goodes for to wynne ¶And thus of thynges that ſhuld be worthyeſt The ordre ys peruerted vp ſo downe The wyche ys called a dyuyne beſt By kendly myght & meret of reſon Ne can not knowen hys awne condytion Nor ſe the meret of hys excellence But by the deſyre of vayn poſſeſſyon Truſteth wordly ryches to be hys defence ¶Al other beſtes haldeth them ſelf a payed Of bewty that wythyn them ſelf ys But ye men the wyche as I haue ſayd your god hath ſet yow in ſuche a worthyneſſe That in your ſoules ye bereth hys lekeneſſe And be in kende ſo nobel a creature ye ſeketh here by fylthe & wrecchedneſſe To enblemeſſhe your excellent nature ye vnderſtande not ne wyl not ſe what wronge ye do vn to your creatour Syth he man kynd hath ſet in thys degre Al erthly thynges to excede in vaylour ye do your dygnyte grete dyſhonour To thraſt hyt vnder moſt vnworthy thynges Ryght as hyt were a lord & gouernour wold make hym ſubiecte to hys vnderlynges ¶For yf ye ſhuld haue thys entention That al thynge wyche ys had of euery wyght Shuld more be ſet of reputation Than he that hath or aweth hyt by ryght ye do your ſelf ſhame & grete vnhyght So foule thynges / ſyth ye deme them youres Submyttynge yow as in your awne ſyght To thynges wher of ye ben the poſſeſſours ¶At your deſert thys falleth verament The kynde of man loo ſtandeth in thys degre That only than he ys moſt excellent when that he knoweth hys awne dygnyte And ther a geyn eftſones when that he Ne can not knowe hys awne worthyneſſe He ys be nethen beſtyalyte And vndercaſt to al wrecchedneſſe ¶A rude beſt hys nature vſeth thus To may not knowe hemſelfen kyndly In man hyt ys ful foule & vycyous Hys nature to forleten folely And thus your errour ſheweth openly Ther ye ſuppoſeth that ſuch accydentes your kende that ys ſo worthy & ſo hy Shold make fayre by foreyn ornamentes ¶Hyt may not be that reſon hath forfended For yf ſuche accydentes be fayre & gay Thes accydentes ought to be commended But that couered thynge hyt ys no nay In hys fylthe a bydeth ſtyl al way And I denye & vtterly dyſpreue That any thynge ys good / that harmen may Or ought the hauer noyen or a greue ¶Now ys thys ſoth in certen as I geſſe Thou wolt hyt ſay / I gabbe not of thys For ofte hyt falleth that treſour & ryches Maketh her lordes for to fare a myſſe Syth euery wrecched foule that curſed ys Suche gold & treſour vhos that euer hyt be He wyl coueyte & wyl that hyt were hys And therfore put hys lyffe in Ieparde ¶And only them he holdeth worthyeſt That of ſuche gold & treſour haueth y now For vhy he beſyeth hym wyth outen reſt To haue that good ne recketh he not how But thou that leueſt in ſuche a drede now As though yu ſhuldeſt wyth ſwerd or ſpere be ſtonge Haddeſt yu ben poure hyt had ben for thy prow Be fore the theffe thou mayſt haue gon & ſonge ¶Oh / wonder clere ys thys felycyte Of mortal thynge & worthy to be ſofte That reueth a man of hys tranquyllyte And maketh hym deſtrobled in hys thoght I note how dere that blyſſe may be boght A man to wynne ſuche a welfulneſſe Thou art in pees the vhyle thou haſt hyt noght when thou hyt haſt thou leſeſt thy ſykerneſſe
Metrū. v. Capitulū x. Felix nimiū prior etas. Phia Philosophia loquitur. ¶Ful wonder blyſful was that rather age what tyme yt men couth halde them ſelf a payd To fede them ſelf wyth out ſuche outrage Wyth mete that trew feldes had a rayd Wyth akernes ther hunger was a layd And ſo they couth ceſſen ther talent They had as yet no quenty craft aſſayd As clarrey for to make / ne pyment ¶To dye purper couthe they not bethynke The whyte flees wyth venem tyryen The rennynge ryuer gaue them luſty drynke And holſom ſlepe they toke vpon the grene The Pynus that ſo ful of branches ben That was ther hous to kepe them vnder ſhade The ſee to kerue no ſhyppes were ther ſeyn Ther was no man that marchaundyſe made ¶Them leked not to ſaylen vp & downe But kept them ſelf ther they were bred Tho was ful huſche the cruel claryoune wyth eyger hate ther was no blod y ſhed Ne ther wyth was none armour yet be bled For in that tyme ho durſt haue ben ſo wood Suche bytter wondes yt he wold not dred wythouten mede for to leſe hys blood ¶I wold our tyme myght tornen certenly And thes maners alway wyth ous dwel But loue of hauynge brenneth feruently More ferſer than the very fyre of hel Allas ho was that man yt wold hym mel Thys gold & gemmes yt were couered thus That fyrſt began to myne I can not tel But that he found a perel precyous
Proſa. vj. Capitulū .xj. Quid autē de dignitati bus Phia Philosophia loquitur. ¶But furdermore what ſhal I tel or ſayn Of hye power or elles of dygnyte The wyche ye magnyfyeth ſo in vayn As thogh they ſhold as hye as heuens be Rygh as a thynge of hye felycyte And folely ye fayleth al a myſſe Ne can ye not wythyn your wyttes ſe where that very dygnyte & power ys ¶And yf hyt ſo be that a wrecched wyght As often hath hyt fallen hyre before In hye aſtate or dygnyte be dyght How fers a flod may harmen yow ſo ſore The fyre of Ethna may not harmen more That blaſteth out & brenneth euery ſyde Suche a wreche had better ben vn bore Than ſuche aſtates ſhuld to hym betyde ¶And certes thou remembreſte as I geſſe Of the conſulers dygnyte That was the hyeſte aſtate of worthyneſſe In the begynnynge of your lyberte They were ſo ful of pryde & cruelte wherfore your elders wold hyt haue remeued And for the ſame cauſe fro your cyte The name of kynge was voyded & repryued ¶And yf ſo be that good men be reyſed To hye aſtate as ſelden ys that chaunce Ho ys therfore of reſon to be preyſed Not that aſtate / but ther good gouernance So than in vertu lyeth the ſuffyſance wher by that honour cometh to dygnyte And dygnyte not by contraryance Maketh not vertu worſhypful to be ¶Thys power wich yt ys ſo ſore y ſofte So dere worthe & ſo clere in your entente what thynge ys hyt / & vhy behald ye nofte To wiche thynges ye ben preſydent And vher vpon your power ys extent what yf thou ſawe a wrecched mouſe a lone To cleymen power or gouernment Of other myſe / thou woldeſt laught ſone ¶And yf thou woldeſt behalden in thy mynde what ys the mortal body of a wight A freyler thynge ne ſhalt thou none fynde That leſſe hath of power or of might How ſone yt may beflayed or a fryght Or ded by bytynge of a lytel flye Or by ſome worme that crepen may in ryght withyn a mannes body preuely ¶And ho ys he yt may do ſtrength or fors Or vſen might or power / ſay me thys But only on a corruptyble cors Right of the ſame kende / that ys hys Other on thynge / that more vnworthy ys As on fortune / or vhoſe might may attayne By hye aſtate / power • or worthyneſſe A fre corage to arteyn or conſtrayn ¶Stedfaſt that hath hemſelf in reſt And knetteh hymſelf in reſon euery dele Mayſt thou hys pece beryue out of hys breſt vn to thy wyl hys purpoſe to compelle Of ſuche a man (zeno) as ſome tyme yt be felle A tyrant wold haue arted hym by peynes A certen counſel to be wrey and telle The wiche yt was conſpyred hym a geynes But then thys man bote of hys tonges ende And in hys face hyt ſpete / ſo that he Thys torment wiche thys ſame tyrant wende To haue ben mater of hys cruelte Thys wyſe mau to ſhew hys lyberte Of fre corage that may not be conſtrayned He made yt cauſe of vertu for to be And ſet at nought how ſore yt he were peyned ¶And what ys that of auger or of grame wherwith a man a nother may oppreſſe That he ne may ſuſteyne of hym the ſame yf afterwarde ſuche aduenture encreſſe As we haue lerned that Buſirides Hys awne geſtes often had ſlayn Aud afterward hemſelf of Hercules That was hys geſte: was don to deth a geyn ¶And Regulus ful many one in batel Of men of affryke / as thou haſt yt rad Had taken vhen he had gouernayle And caſt them in to bondes ſore & ſad And afterward in maner was he glad For fere of payn to put forth hys handes To tho that firſt of hym were ſore a drad Than was he fetred in the ſame bondes ¶And woldeſt yu ſetten by a mannes might That may not lette the ſame thynge be wrought vn to hym ſelfen of the ſame wight The wiche he hathe in to deſeſe y brought And yf ſo were as ſemeth in thy thought yf hye aſtate might kendly conteyn Any proper good / I ne doute yt nought To wicked folke ne ſhuld yt nener atteyn ¶Contrarious thynges yt maner hath not vſed As for to ben coniuned & y met For euer yet nature hyt hath refuſed And ſyth yt often wycked men ben ſet In hye aſtate as yt wyl not be let Than ſeweth thys that no good kendly Hath that aſtate yt ſuffereth to be knet To ſuche that ledeth ther lyues wyckedly ¶And loo the ſame I may wel deme of al Fortunes goodes be they more or leſſe That moſt abundantly be wont to falle To wycked people ful of curſedneſſe For of al thes I may ſuppoſe & geſſe That ho ſo hathe ſtrength a myghty man he ys And in wham may be founden grete ſwyftneſſe That man ys ſwyft / ſo moſt yt nedes be ¶Thus muſyke maketh a muſytion And phiſyke a phyſition to be Thus rethoryke maketh a retoryen The kende of euery thynge (we may wel ſe Moſt nedes induce hys kendly properte Ne ſuffereth not to be cōiuned to None effectes of contraryouſte But al aduerſe thynges putteth hym fro But loo your wordly ryches hath not that For to reſtrayne your curſed auaryce Neyther the power of none hye aſtate May make hym ſtronge that ys bound in vyce That ledeth hys lyffe in luſtes & delyce Ne dygnyte in ſhreued folke beſtaued Maketh not them the worthyer of pryce But rather maketh them vnthryfty to be knowed ¶And vhy ys thys? in ſoth for ye delyten And reioycen in your fantaſy Falſe names on thynges to conterfeten Al other / than becometh them kendly For vhy / the effectes preueth openly That dygnyte / that power / that rycheſſe Ther names bereth al vn properly As I haue ſhewed / yt ſueth euen expreſſe ¶And too thys ſame I may concluden wel Of al fortunes thynges (as ſemeth me) In wich ther ys no bounte naturel Ne cauſe vhy they ſhuld deſyred be For ſelde yt ys as euery man may ſe They Ioyneth them to good & vertuous 〈15 pages missing〉
〈1 page missing〉 As may thaſtate of good plente Of foreyn thynge to neden noght at al But in hyt ſelf to haue al ſuffyſance Of al good to ſpeke in general ¶Aud furdermore what ſayſt thou / erren they That ſuche a thynge a counten honorable The wyche ys ſouereyn good / for ſoth nay For ſuche a thynge may not be repreueable That to al mortal folke ys deſyreable wher to ys ſet al ther entention And alſo power / ys hyt commendable Hyt ys ful good hyt ys no queſtyon ¶How ſhold myght fro ſuche a thyng be ryued The wyche of al thynge ys worthyeſt And noble renoune ſhold yt be repreued That ys a thynge ſo worthy & honeſt Syth thynge that ys moſt excellent & beſt Muſt nede be worchypful & reuerent For euery wyght to wynne hyt ys ful preſt And ther to traueleth wyth ther hole entent ¶But for to ſpeke of anger or dyſtreſſe Or ſorow / murnynge / angueſſe / other payn Suche thynges may not be in blyſfulneſſe Therfore of • uche hyt nedeth noght to ſayn For in ful lytel thynges men be fayn To haue & vſe that may them do ſolace And only thys to hauen in certeyn Al wordly men enforcen to purchace ¶And for thys cauſe deſyreth they abundance As lordſhyp / fame / delyce / & dygnyte Ther by to wynne & haue ſuffyſance Of honour / reuoune / myght / & glad to be Than ys hyt good as euery man may ſe That men ſo faſt ſeketh in thys wyſe And ſo traueleth euerych in hys degre To wynne hyt as they can beſt deuyſe ¶In wyche deſyre apereth openly How grete & myghty ys the ſtrengh of kende Syth alſo be yt that ful dyuerſly Dyſcordeth loo the ſentence of ther mynde yet al thes conſenteth at one ende As for to loue a thynge that ſemeth beſt For here to nature doth ther hertes tende Tyl thys be had they may not be in reſt
Metrū ij. Capitulū iiij. Quātas rerū flectat. Phia Philosophia loquitur. HYt luſt to ſhewen by ſubtyl ſonges And by ye ſo • ne of delectable ſtrenges How yt nature that myghty ys & ſtronge Attempreth the gouernment of thynges Thys grete world wyth al hys varynges So by her lawes kepeth & ſuſteyneth And by bondes that haueth no loſynges Ful ſykerly ſhe byndeth & reſtrayneth ¶For though the lyon of that ſtraunge lande That hyght Pene / the fayre cheynes bere And taketh mete by gefte of mannes hande And of ther ſturdy maſters haueth fere Of vhom they often ſtyffe ſtrokes bere And ſoftely they ſuffereth to be bete yet be they ones loſed of that gere Ther olde corage wyl they not forgete ¶For yf the hote blod of any beſt Ther foule mowthes haue made red Ther hye corage that longe hathe ben a reſt Hyt wyl repayre in to ther cruelhed He caſteth then hys cheynes ouer hed And roreth faſt remembrynge as yt were Hys maſter fyrſt of whom he was a dred wyth blody tethe than wol he al to tere ¶The byrde that ſyngeth on ye braunche on hye yf he be cloſed in a cage of tre And luſty men hym ſerueth beſely wyth metes that ful ſwete & luſty be yf he may ones ſkyp out & be fre Hys Inſty mete he caſteth vnder fote And to the wode ful faſt ſeketh he And begynneth to trute wyth a luſty note ¶A yerde that ys growen vp in lenght wyth mannes hande bowed downe to ground yf that the hand remitteh of hys ſtrenght The crop ful ſone wyl vp a geyn rebounde And when the ſonne ys paſſed dayes ſtound As vndergon the wawes of the weſte Ful ſone he hath a preuy path y found And in the mornynge a ryſeth in the eſte ¶And ſo a geyn the day begynneth ſprynge Thus euery thynge reioyceth in hys kende Ther recours a yenwarde for to brynge And beſely to tornen & to wende Loo thys we ſhuld conceyuen in our mynde That al thynges muſt ther ordre ſew And the begynnynge Ioynen wyth the ende And to them ſelfen make a cercle trew
Proſa iij. Capitulū v. Vos quo que terrena. Phia Philosophia loquitur. BVt ye erthly beſtes / as yt ſemeth wyth a ful thynne Imagynation your begynnynge as yt were ye dremeth I ledde by natural inclination And haueth in maner blynde inſpection As of the ende of very blyſfulneſſe But errour of your falſe affection Wythdraeth yow to very wrecchedneſſe ¶Behalde & ſe now yf hyt may be ſo where men atteyn mowen in thys wyſe Vn to that ende that nature draeth them to Of blyſfulneſſe ſo as them ſelf deuyſe yf ſo be that ther nyce couetyce Of money / honour / or ſuche other thynge May make them fully to them ſelf ſuffyce That no good lacke as vn to ther lekynge ¶And than by theſe wyl I graunt & ſeyn That a man may leuen blyſfully But than efte in that other ſyde a geyn yf they may not performen verely Al that they haue behyght them vtterly But many goodes lacketh that they myſſe wyl hyt not than apperen plenerly As a ful falſe colour of blyſfulneſſe ¶But fyrſt of the I aſke thys demaunde As thou that were not yet ful longe a gone In wordly welthes fully habundante whether thou a monge tho welthes euerychone As in thy corage / neuer feldeſt thou none Dyſtreſſe or greuance no tyme in thy mynde Boecius) Certen ꝙ I yt I can thynke vpon In that aſtate couth I me neuer fynde ¶That I ne was alway ſomwhat in dyſtreſſe Phia Philosophia ) And was not thys ꝙ ſhe the cauſe vhy That ſom thynge lacked the as dyſt yu geſſe The wyche thou woldeſt haue had preſently And ſom thynge eke thou haddeſt ſykerly The wyche thou woldeſt gladly haue forgon Boecius) Right as ye ſayn ryght ſo hyt ys ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) Thou wylleſt ꝙ ſhe ye preſence of that one ¶And the abſence of that other than Boecius) ꝙ I I graunt I can not go ther fro Phia Philosophia ) Now than ꝙ s;he nedeth euery man The ſame thynge that he deſyreth to Boecius) Ful ſoth hyt ys ꝙ I hym nedeth ſo Phia Philosophia ) Now than ꝙ ſhe he that nedeth ought He ys not ſuffyſant (Boecius) I ſeyd no As to hym ſelfen he ſuffyſeth not Phia Philosophia ) when thou ſhe ſayd were ful in thy ryches Thou ſuffered then thys ſame vnſuffyſance Boecius) How elles ꝙ I ſo hyt ys expreſſe Phia Philosophia ) Than ys hyt ſo ꝙ ſhe that abundance Of wordly good may neuer a man a vaunce As to hym ſelfen that he may ſuffyſe And nede nought of foreyn purueyance And thys ys that they hyght to a complyſe ¶And thys ys to be conſydred I trowe That money hath no kendly reſyſtens For to defend the lordes that them owe That they ne may be rafte by vyolence Boecins) I graunt wel ꝙ I to your ſentence Phia Philosophia ) And what ꝙ ſhe thogh yt thou ſedyſt nay Syth euery day men doth ther dylygence The ſtrengeſt for to gete hyt yf he may ¶For vhereof elles be quarelles moued That men al day in courtes them complayn But for ther good ys falſly them bereued By fors or fraude & aſketh hyt a geyn Boecius) In ſothe ꝙ I hyt ys ryght as ye ſeyn Phia Philosophia ) Loo then ꝙ ſhe nedeth euery man Of ſocour & of foreyn helpe certeyn As for to kepe the money that they han ¶Boecius) Ho ys that may denyen thys ꝙ I PHia) And then ꝙ ſhe ſhold hym nede none Of ſuche defenſe ne ward certenly Ne had he that money that he may forgon Boecius) Ther ys ꝙ I no doute ther vpon Phia Philosophia ) Loo than ꝙ ſhe al your affyance Is torned yow vn to reuerſe a none For hyt bereueth yow your ſuffyſance ¶wher by ye wene in eſe for to be And bryngeth yow in anguyſſe & dyſtreſſe Of foreyn helpe to haue neceſſyte yet wold I know the maner wyſe expreſſe How nede may ben voyded by ryches wher ryche men ne hungreth neuer a dele Or wher they may not thurſten wylt yu geſſe wher they ne may no cold in wynter fele ¶But vn to thys thou wolt aunſwere me ſone That ryche men haue vherwyth euery day Ther cold / ther thurſt / ther hunger to for done As vn to thys in al I ſey not nay In ſothe thys wyl I graunten that they may By ther good be comforted at ther nede But vtterly to putten nede a way That power haue they not wythowten drede ¶For ſyth thys nede that alway gapeth ſo To be fulfylled / & after more hyt gredeth Is ſuche a thynge that neuer may be do Of kende ne ſpeke I nought yt Iytel nedeth But auaryce that no thynge fully fedeth Ne may not be fulfylled wyth habundance But in to more neceſſyte yow ledeth why trow ye ther by to haue ſuffyſance
Metrū iij. Capitulū vj. Quāuis fluente diues Phia Philosophia loquitur. AL were hyt that the ryche couetous Had al of gold ful rennynge a ryuer And alſo fele of ſtones precyous As in hys necke he myght hem ſelfen bere And o • en on fylde hys landes for to eyre Hys beſyneſſe yet tyl that he ſhal dey He wyl not leue / ne when he lyeth on bere Al hys ryches ne ſhal hym not conuey
Proſa iiij. Capitulū. vij. Sed dignitates. Phia Philosophia loquitur. VHether dygnytes to ſuche as them wynne May make them fully worſhypful to be Other impreſſen vertu them wythyn And make vyce out of ther hertes fle Not ſo for ſoth thou mayſt thy ſelfen ſe Hyt ys not wont to a voyden wyckedneſſe But vyce that was al cloſe in preuyte Hyt maketh fully to be knowen expreſſe ¶wher of hyt ys I haue rygh grete dyſdeyn That ſuche wycked men & surfetours Shold any tyme in dygnyte be ſeyn Ther fore hyt was that one Catullius whan he ſaw one that hyght Nomius Set in a ſete of worſhyp in the towne He called hym a poſtem venemous Al ful of atter & corruption ¶Ne ſeyſt thou not what ſhame & velony To ſuche ſhrewde wycked folke hyt ys For to be ſet in ſuche honour on hye For were not that / yet ther vnworthyneſſe Of other folke ſhuld knowen be the leſſe And what perylous woldeſt thou ſtanden at Er thou woldeſt bere an offyce / ſhal I geſſe wyth a ſuche curſed man dedecorate ¶Ne I ne may not demen in my wyt That ſuche wrecches ſhuld ben honorable And worth that worſhyp thogh they haue hy • That ben ther to vnworthy & vnable But yf thou ſaw a wyſe man & an able And hoelly al fulfylled wyth ſapyence woldeſt thou deme that man as repreueable And as vnworthy to that excellence Boecius) I ſayd no ( Phia Philosophia ) now certes thē • ſhe Theſe dygnytes belongeth properly Only to vertu & to honeſte And vertu ſhal tranſporte them verely To wyche ſhe ys conioyned ſewyngly And for as mychel as ſuche reuerence Receyued of the people comenly Accordeth not alway wyth conſcience ¶Ne to that honour wych that they receyuen Ne may not make them worthy for to be Than may we clerely knowen & conceyuen That honour hathe in propre no bewte As euen worthy to that dygnyte And moſt to thys ye awth to taken hede The mo folke that deſpyſeth them perde The more abiecte they ben hyt ys no drede ¶So than as dygnyte may not ſuffyſe To maken ſrewes worth no reuerence But rather maketh that men them wyl deſpyſe Thogh they honour them in ther preſence yet they deſpyſe them in ther conſcience Ther dygnytes ſo maketh them to be knowe And clerly ſheweth to folkes ther offenſe Of whom they ben deſpyſed as they owe ¶And thys ys not vnponyſſhed ſykerly For they reuenge them on ther dygnyte The wyche they haue defouled wrecchedly As wythe ther vyce & ther vnhoneſte But that thou myght thy ſelfen know & ſe That very honour falleth in no wyſe By ſuche aſtates that tranſytory be Now vnderſtande what I the ſhal deuyſe ¶I ſuppoſe that a man of hye renoune That ofte hathe had the aſtate of conſuler Shold come a monge a ſtraunge nation That they ne knew what aſtate he bare Troweſt yu they wold hym honouren ther For hys aſtate thou wolt anſwere me nay But yf honour in ſuche aſtates were In kend a propre thynge / than wold I ſay ¶Ther kendly offyce ſhuld they not forlete Thogh that he went vn to the worldes ende As fyre ne may not ceſſen of hys hete Vhyle that hyt fyre ys where yt euer hyt wende But honour ys no propre thynge of kynd To dygnyte / but falſe opynyon As nyce men deuyſeth in ther mynd wher fore a monge a ſtraunge nation ¶That nought ne knoweth of that dygnyte He ys honoured as a nother man In ſtraunge land thou ſeyſt thys may wel be But loke that land vher that aſtate be gan wher that hyt ſhuld alway hys honour han Standeth hyt alway in hys honour ther But of the prouoſtry what ſayſt thou than That vhylom was aſtate of hye power ¶Now ys hyt no thynge but an Idel name And loo the charge of ſenatours rent Now at thys day hyt ſtandeth in the ſame Thogh that ſom tyme hyt was ful reuerent A man ſom tyme was holden excellent That had the charge of vytayl in the towne Thus vp ſo doune ys the world y went Now ys hyt of no reputation ¶As we haue ſayd a lytel here beforn A thynge that hath no bewty properly Now hath hyt honour & now hyt hath forlorn After the vſe of mennes fantaſy Syth dygnyte ne may not kendly Inducen very cauſe of reuerence But ofte hyt ys defouled ſykerly By them that vſeth hyt wyth inſolence ¶And yf they now be fayre & now not ſo As tymes haue ther tranſmutation And yf ther bewty thus them paſſeth fro After mannes eſtymatyon what ys there / after your opynyon Of bewty in them worthy to be ſoght Syth that they ben of ſuche condytion How ſhold they geue that they ne haueth noght
Metrū iiij. Capitulū viij. Quāuis ſe tirio. Phia Philosophia loquitur. THogh proude Nero wyth hys lechery Clothed hym wyth purpur tyryen And wyth ful ryche perry ryally Of lyffe he was vnthryfty & vnclene That he was lothly euery wyght to ſeyn yet gaue he ſeytes to the ſenatours How ſholdeſt thou trow them blyſful for to ben Tho that of wrecches taketh ſuche honours
Proſa v. Capitulū ix. An vero regna. Phia Philosophia loquitur. BVt what troweſt yu for to ben a kynge Other wyth kynges to ben famylyer woldeſt yu hold hyt for a noble thynge That may ye make ſtrong & mighty here Boecius) what elles ꝙ I ſhold I trow yt were Phia Philosophia ) ye ꝙ ſhe whan that ther felycyte Shal alway ſtonden in hys welthes clere And euer a byde in perdurabylyte ¶But elder age of tyme that ys y went Enſamples hath of gret vnſtabelneſſe And alſo of thys tyme now preſent we ſe hyt preued euery day expreſſe That kynges falleth fro ther welfulneſſe And vn to very myſchef ben y broght Ow / clere & noble thynge that renoune ys To ſaue hyt ſeluen that ſuffyſeth not ¶For yf that realmes of ſuche regalte And gouernance of landes longe & wyde May make a man to haue felycyte what yf hym lacketh ought in any ſyde Than muſt hys welth ſom vhat ſlake & ſlyde And myſchef entre for vnſnffyſance And thogh hyt be ſo as hyt may betyde That kynges haueth in ther gouernance ¶Moche folke at ther commandement yet ſhal we fynd many a nation That ben to kynges not obedyent Ne haldeth them at no reputation Than here of enſueth thys concluſyon wher fayleth myght that cauſeth blyſfulneſſe Ther ys no mene in thys dyuyſyon Vnmyght ys there that cauſeth wrecchedneſſe ¶Ther ys none erthly kynge thys dare I ſey That ys ſo myghty in hys gouernance But mo ther ben that wyl hym not obey Than be conſtreyned at hys ordynance In thes hys power lacketh ſuffyſance And yf that both / hys power & vnmyght Shold ben counterpeyſed in balance Hys vnpower wold be the more of wyght ¶Syth wrecchedneſſe cometh of vnpower As may not be wythſayd by no reſon And loo ther ys no kynge that leueth here But hys vnmyght hathe in proportion As for to make a iuſte comparyſon wel moche more than hys power ys Than wyl ther enſuen thys concluſyon Loo that hys more part ys wrecchedneſſe ¶A kynge ther was that had experyence Of grete perel & often was in drede He made a man be ſet in hys preſence And made a ſwerde to hange a boue hys hed Faſtened by a lytel ſotel thred That euery man myght wnderſtand & ſe Loo breke thys threde than ys thys man but ded So ſtent a kynge alway in Iuparde ¶what ys thys power yt noght may remewe The bytter bytynge of thys beſyneſſe Ne the pryckes may he not exchwe Of al thys drede & al thys heuyneſſe Theſe kynges loo wold leue in ſykerneſſe But certenly they can not come ther to And euer more they ſeke hyt as they geſſe And euer the ferre they ben a way ther fro ¶But they reioycen myghty to be holde And wylt thou trow hym myghty for to be That may not worken that he fayneſt wolde Or for to walken wyth a company Of myghty men that luſty ben to ſe And at hys byddynge al a realme a rereth And yet hym ſelfen ſtondeth in thys degre He dredeth the ſame that he fereth ¶And for he wolde myghty ſeme & ſtronge He muſt put hym ſelfen in daunger As of the mayne wyche he ys amonge And of hys lyffe he ſtandeth in a wher Or wyth a kynge to be famylyer To what hyt ſhal a vayle I can not ſayn Syth often ys hyt ſhewed a monge ous here That kynges of ther mayne haue be ſlayn ¶And often tymes ys thys y ſhewed expreſſe Of ſome that wyth kynges haueth be nye That theſe kynges of ther cruelneſſe Haueth them put at myſchef ſodenly Som tyme ſtyred by malyce & enuy Of wycked folke that worſe ben than fendes And kynges often ſtandeth ſlyperly And yf they fallen falleth eke ther frendes ¶For loo Nero that curſed emperour Made Seneca hys awne deth deuyſe That was hys maſter & hys gouernour And Antoninus in the ſame wyſe Papynyan that had hym don ſeruyſe And a ful myghty man had longe ben He made hys knyghtes ful of cowardyſe That wyth ther ſwerdes al they ſhuld hym ſlayn ¶And both ij. yet wold they haue ben glad To haue forlete ther power vtterly And Seneca loo al the good he had He wold haue geuen hyt Nero wyllyngly And ben exyled euer perpetuelly Forſakynge al hys occupation And ſo haue lyued ſolytaryly And led hys lyffe in contemplation ¶But he that menteth downward for to go Hys awne wight wyl draw hym doune in haſt And therfore nether of them both to Ne myght hys purpoſe hauen at laſt Thys power than that euery man ſo faſt Deſyreth thus / what ys hyt wold I ſe Syth he that hath hyt ys ther of a gaſt Ho ſo wyl forlete hyt may not ſyker be ¶And vhen thou woldeſt hyt wyllyngly forſake Loo at thy wyl thou mayſt hyt not forgon And frendes wyche yt fortune doth the make And vertu not / what profyt may they don when luſty fortune forth ys fro the gon Than al her frendes wyth her goeth in fere A more perylous myſchef ys ther none Than ys thy foo wyththe famylyer
Metrū v. Capitulū x. Qui ſe volet. Phia Philosophia loquitur. ¶Ho ſo deſyreth myghty for to ben And of hys foes to haue the vyctory Fyrſt hys corage that ys ſo fers & kene He muſt repreſſen wel & myghtely So that the foule luſt of lechery May haue no maner maſtery in hys mynde For thogh thou be ſo hawte & ſo hye That men the dredeth in the land of Inde ¶And eke the Ile that ferreſt ys of al Out in the weſt that Tyle cleped ys Be to the ſuget as thy bound thral yet yf thy foule derke beſyneſſe wyth ſore complayntes of thy wrecchedneſſe Thus in ther boundes haldeth the ſo faſt That thou ne myght them voyden ne repreſſe I ſay hyt ys no power that thou haſt
Proſa vj. Capitulū xj. Gloria vero quam fallax. Phia Philosophia loquitur. BVt hye renoune how ful of vanyte How foule hyt ys & often deceyuable As a tragedyen in hys dyte Not cauſeles thus cryeth in a fable Ow / renoune ſeyth he falſe & varyable To many a thouſand of thyn homagers In no thynge elles art thou commendable But as a wynde that ſwelleth in ther yeres ¶For many one by falſe opynyon Of nyce folke haue had a hugy name But certenly a foule confuſyon Hyt ys / ſo falſly for to haue a fame For nedes retorne to them moſte ſhame when yt they ben comended wrongfully And thogh they haue deſerued yet that ſame what ſhal a wyſe man furdred be ther by ¶That meteth not the meſure of hys mede By veyn rumor of folkes audyence But putteth al the meret of hyr dede In very vertu of ther conſcience And yf thou hald hyt for an excellence Thy noble renoune for to ben extended Than wyl hyt enſwe euen of conſequence That thou were foule but yf yu were cōmended ¶But as I ſayd a lytel here beforn That nedes muſt be many a nation To wyche one mannes name may not be born The wyche as in thyn eſtymatyon A man of worſhype ys & of renoune Loo than as for the moſt quantyte Of al thys lytel wordly regyon He muſt nedes vnrenouned be ¶I hald hyt not ful moche expedyent Of comen people to be commendable That haueth no reſon in ther Iugemente For hyt ys fletynge & not perdurable 〈1 page missing〉
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They dyſcord in dryth & moyſture / for fyre ys dry & ayer ys moſtey thys dyſcord letteth them for to medle / that eueryche kepeth hys kendly place ¶Alſo the ayer & the vvater accordeth in moyſture / & they dyſcordeth in hete & colde. for ayer ys hote & vvater cold. vvyche dyſcorde lettethe thē to medle. vvater & erthe accordeth in cold & dyſcordeth in moyſture & drythe / for the erthe ys dry & the vvater moyſtey Fyre & erthe accordeth in drouthe ſo that the erthe may not dyſioyne fro hys place / ne the fyre fro hys & they dyſcord in cold & hete / vvherefore they may not medle but euerych kepeth hys kendly place. Alſo the elementes that of qualyteys ben contrary / he byndeth to gether by intermene elementes acordynge in qualyteys vvyth bothe / as fyre & vvater that ben very contrary in qualyteys / ben bounden to gedres vvyth ayer that ys intermene acordyng vvyth fyre in hete & vvyth vvater in moyſture. Erthe and ayer ben knet to gedres by vvater that ys entermene accordyng vvyth erthe in cold & vvyth ayer in moyſture.

¶For clere vnderſtandyng of thys chapytre / hyt ys for to knovv that he that ſhal helpe a nother / hyt nedeth that he be myghty / vvyſe / and vvel vvylled. For yf a thyng be aſked of a man the vvyche he may not do ne can not / ne hys vvyl ſkylefully may not conſent / of very ryght he may denye hyt / for no ſuche thyng ought to be aſked. ¶Therfore fyrſt he ſhevveth the ſuffyſance of god in myght / in aſmoche as he gouerneth al the vvorlde / not by grete labour as creaturs gouerneth / but by perdurable reſon. For ſyth he fyrſt ſet the vvorld in gouernance the natural progreſſion neuer varyed / but haldeth hymſelf alvvay in the fyrſte ordynance. Alſo in producynge of creaturs he ſhevveth hys beneuolence & good vvyl to al that ys conſonant to reſon. In that he ſhevveth that ys to ſay In that he maketh the elementes as ſede & mater vvherof ben engendred al erthly thynges. And thus doth he not cōpelled of no foreyn cauſe as men ben compelled / but only of the habundance of hys goodneſſe▪ vvyche ys & euer vvas perfe • ly in hymſelf / the vvyche goodneſſe vvas ſo entenſyfly habundant that hyt muſt nedes of reſon be extē ded by cōmunyon: ¶Alſo he ſhevveth the ſuffyſance of hys vvyſedom & connynge / in as moche as al that euer vvas / ys / or ſhal be her after / hyt ys open to hym / in hys eternal exſampler or mitrour of hys mynde that al thynges cōprehendeth preſently at ones. And ſyth ſo vvyſely produceth hyt in to hys beynge / not only in general / but al partes in ſpecyal abſolutly vvythout defaut or nede of any exterior cauſe.

And in thys ys ſhevved the vvyſedom of god in aſmoch as he ys the formal cauſe of al thynge as in exſampler. After that he hathe ſhevved the ſuffyſance of god in myght / goodneſſe / & vvyſedom / in gouernance of thes thynges in ſpecyal / he cōmendeth the ſame ſuffyſance in general in creation & gouernance of ſom other thynges of more deper conceyte of invvard ſpeculation / ī that he ſhevveth & reherſeth the ſotel knytting of the iiii. elementes / as ys before ſayd ¶Furdermore alſo in creation of the mene ſpiret of treble kend / vvyche ſom phyloſophres as plato & hys folders called anima mundi / the ſoule of the vvorld For cauſe that Plato ſavve hys maſter Socrates ēpoyſened & put to deth for hys ſothe ſaynge / he vvold not dyſcouer hys ſotel conceytes ne the preuy • es of nature to the rude people / but put thē vnder maner of parables & preuy vvordes vvyche myght enſtore hys vvyſedō vn to the tyme that men vvold be better vvylled for to hyre truth. The grekes at that tyme vvor ſhypped the ſonne & called hym Apollo / god of vvyſedō / fantaſyng that he cauſed al other thynges tobe. Fro vvyche errour ſocrates dyſſented & ſayd that the ſonne vvas a formed creature / vvherfore he vvas ſlayn as ys be fore ſayd. And before hym Anaxagoras vvas exyled for the ſame cauſe. vvherfore Plato lefte the cyte of Athenes & choſe hys habytation in a cyte or place named Acadencia. In vvyche place vvas often tymes erthe quakes. Thys place he choſe be cauſe hys dyſcyples ſhold euer leue in drede of ther lyues / vvyche drede ſhold refrayn foule paſſyons of fleſly luſtes / & ſo for to a voyde the foule errour of Epicurenes that dyd put the fulfelycyte of man iu fleſhly delyte. ¶Plato then ſpekyng of the gouernance of the vvorld in hys boke named Thimeus / ſayth thus.

¶God of the ſame & euer a hydynge mater. & alſo of dyuers mater and varyable / medled & made the thyrde kende. Of the vvyche he toke firſt one parte. ſyth ii. ſyth iii. & after iiii. after viii. after ix. & after .xxvii. Of vyche he made the kende of thys ſpyret or of thys ſoule. And thē he fulfylled the interualles of thes nombres vvythe mene proporcions / as here after doth appere.

I. dupla ii. ſeſ que al • a iii ſeſ que • cia.iii. dupla viii ſeſ que otaua ix. tripla xxvi •

¶Then thys renge thus draen a longe he dyuyded in ii. partes of the vvyche one ſhold conteyne euen nombres & proporcions / and the other odde / ſo that the begynnynge of eyther ſhold be I. Then eyther of thes nombres he broght in to compace / & put the laſſe Circle vvythyn the more. And the cyrcle of the ſame nature that ys to ſay of odde proportions he torned fro the ryght hand to the lyfte hand. And the other of dyuers nature that ys to ſay of euen ꝓportions / he torned fro the lyft hand to the ryght hand / thys may be perceyued by thys fygure foloyng

diagram of the celestial sphere

Primū mobile mouetur motu vniformi ab oriente in occidentem.

¶Sphere planeta rum mouea difformiter ab occidente in orientem.

¶Inter numeros ext er ioris ſphere eſt proportio equalis.

¶Inter numeros īterioris ſphere eſt proportio inequalis.

¶Fordermore Philoſophia ſhevveth her petitōn reſonable as to iii. thynges aſked Fyrſt he aſked the knovvlege of ſoue reyn godd. He aſked alſo ī thys knovvlege perſeuerance. And laſte he aſked to be cōforted by hys ſouereyn lyght. ¶Fyrſte ſhe aſſigneth a reſon for thys laſte petition / vvher ſhe ſaythe thou art clerneſſe / by vvyche al thynges ben beſhened & clered. For perſeuerance ſhe aſſygneth the ſecond reſon & ſaythe / thou art peſeable reſte to the meke.

Than aſſyneth ſhe the thyrde reſon & ſayth the to behald hyt ys the ende to vvyche man vvas made. For thou art begynner of al thou beteſt & conteyneſt al / thou ledeſt ous by natural inclination. thou art the path of the vvay of loue by vvyche vve ſhal retorne to the. thou art al the blyſſe or heuen / thou art the terme & ende of al our vvordly labour / vve ſeketh none other.

¶The vnderſtandyng of thys ſotel conceyte ys thus. vvhere he ſayth thys ſaule ys medled of the ſame mater & dyuerſe / he vnderſtādeth that the ſaule of the vvorld vvas made of nature chaungeable & of nature vnchaungeable. Nature vnchaungeable he calleth the ſame / And chaungeable he calleth dyuerſe. The euen nombres for aſmoche as they may be dyuyded in to euen / he calleth nature chaungeable: And the odde nombres that may not eueuly be dyuyded / he calleth nature vnchaungeable. ¶Furdermore for to ſhevve that thys ſoule ys princyple of dobleneſſe / that ys to ſay of vnyformyte that ys in the fyrſt meueable vvyche ys the ſterred fitmament that clerkes callen Primūr mobile / And alſo of difformyte / that ys in the planetes. he ſayth that god cutte thes nombres in ii. partes. of the vvyche one parte cōteyned odde nombres that longeth to vniformyte. And the other conteyned euen nombres that perteyneth to difformyte / by cauſe of hys diuiſibilyte. And eyther of thes partes he torned in to compas in ſigne of circuler meuynge But the part of odde nōbres he torned for the rygth hand to the lyfte hand in ſigne of vniformyte in meuynge. And the other of euen nombres / he torned fro the lift hand to the ryght / in ſigne of difformyte. The ryght hend of the vvorld ys the eſte / the lyft hand the vveſte / the hed ys the ſouthe / & the fete ys the northe. The meuynge of vniformyte he put to meue fro eſte to vveſt for ſo meueth the ſterred ſphere. The meuynge of difformyte / he calleth the ſperes of the vii. planetes / vvyche ys meued fro vveſte to the eſte.

¶Alſo hyt ys to conſidre that bothe thes nombres of odde & euen meteth at one / that ys callid vnyte / in ſigne of the onehed & the ſimplicite of god. at vvhom begynneth & endeth al creatures. vpon hoos ſtableneſſe ys grounded euery meuynge / vpon hoos vniformyte / al difforme & variable thynges ben ryghted & reduced. ¶Novv then to the proceſſe & conceyte of Boecius vvhere he ſayth thus. Thou god knetteſt the mene ſoule that ys the ſoule of the vvorld of treble kend that meuythe al thynge. He calleth the ſoule of the vvorld / the ſpyret that next vnder god entendeth to the meuynge & gouernance of the vvorld / vvyche ys mene be tuene the ſtabilyte of godhed & meueableneſſe of creaturs.

Of treble kynde. For fyrſt he ys partener of the kende of angeles vithe ben of vniforme kende / that ys to ſay of ſimple nature / pure / & vnmedled: vvyche Plato calleth the ſame & euer a by • ynge mater / that ys to ſeyn of perdurable kende. The ſeconde part of hys kende / may be called the allyance to thes erthly thynges. vvyche ben variable & corruptible & diuers in ther beynge. The thyrde part of hys kende / ys medlede of thes bothe / that ys hys allyance to the ſpheres of ſterres & of planetes. vvyche ben in parte meueable & in parte vnmeueable. they be meueable in ther kendly cours / & vnmeueable in cōtinuāce of ther cours & • e • yng of the place & ordre vvyche they vvere ſet in at ther fyrſt creation. Hovv he meueth al thynge the letter ſhevveth furdermore vvhere he ſaeth. Reſoluynge hyt in membres conſonant / that ys to ſay / departynge hys labour in to the meuynge of al the viii. ſpheres of ſterres & of planetes.

Hoos meuyng tho they be diſcordant in ther cours / cōtrarious & dyuers in effectes / yet be they ſo conſonant to gedres / that none letteth but rather righteth & dreſſeth euerych other. For the viii. ſphere meuyng vveſt vvard raueſheth al the nether ſpheres & maketh them to meue the ſame vvay / vvhere ther natural meuynge ys eſtevvarde. Alſo tho the effectes of the planetes ben dyuers yet ther kendly cours of meuynge ys ſuche that euerych tempereth other ſo that ther falle no cōfuſion in thys vvordly gouernance ¶Alſo thys meuynge he dyuydeth in to ii. ſpheres or ii. cercles as ys a fore ſayd. by meuynge of vviche / ben gouerned the clemētes vvyth al ther trāſmutatiōs & al other thynges vnder the mone. And he retorneth vn to hym ſelf / that ys to ſay to ther vvhere he began for ther ys no perfet meuynge but in compace that alvvay retornethe in to hym ſelf / by vviche circuler meuynge or vvorchynge he atteyneth by ſimilitude of natural perfection to the depe mynde of dyuyne intelligēce vviche ys the laſte ende of nature ſimpliciter. vvithoutē other And after thys circuler meuynge by forme of leke conuenience he tornethe heuen & boute / dreſſynge the effectes of al thys meuynge after the ſouereyn exempler of the hye purueance of god. Furdermore Boecius cōmendith the might / the goodneſſe / & the vvyſedom of god / in makyng & gouernyng of erthly thynges / & ſpecially in the diſpoſyng of mānes ſoule vhee • e ſayth in the text thus Thou auaunceſt or reyſeſt ſoules & leſſe lyues of creatures & by euenly or leke cauſes makeſt them able to lyfte cartes.

¶Vhen he hathe ſotelly treted of the ſoule of the vvorlde than goethe he to the ſoule of man & ſayth that in maner leke as god hathe made the ſoule of the vvorlde of iii. naturs / ſo hathe he made the ſoule of man.

For fyrſt he taketh a mater perdurable that ys to ſey a nature immortal of the kende af angeles & Ioyneth hyt to a nature chaūgeable & corruptible / that ys the ſenſualyte drauen of thys corruptible f • eſhe. And of thes it▪ reſulteth the thyrde / vviche ys in parte dedly be cauſe of he body & alſo be cauſe of hys vnſtableneſſe / And in parte vndedly / be cauſe of the perdurable nature of intelligence / vhereof he ys partener Thys ſoule ys druyded in to ii. compaces of the vviche one ys of ꝑdurable nature that ys reſon / & meueth kendly fro the right hand to the lyfte hand that ys to ſay▪ he groundeth al hys vvorkes vpon vertu / & ſo putteth thē in perfet execution▪ But the other circle of ſenſualyte meueth in contrary for he groundeth al hys vvorkes vpon the fleſhe / & ſo procedeth in to vicious luſtes. But the reſon muſt rauyſhe the ſenſualyte vvith hym in to the vvay of vertu. or elles muſt they bothe torne in to miſchefe

And ſo tho reſon be ſtired & diſtract by errour & rehellyon of ſenſualyte / yet muſt he retorne in to hym ſelf / beh • ldynge the excellence of hys nature / not reſtynge there proudly vvith Lucifer / but enſerchynge & ſekīge by thoght & deuote prayer the de • e intelligence that ys god. And there behald in the mirrour of eternal vvyſedom vvhat he ought to do. repreſ • ynge vvithe the fyre of loue al vicious meuynges. For vhy thou god haſte made the ſoule able to hye cartes (that ys to ſay) to be re • ed in heuen. ¶Thou ſovveſt in heuen and in erthe. Fyrſte he maketh the ſoule & puttethe hyt in to thys earthly body / there for to encreſe in meret and vertues. And ſyth vvhen they ben rype / he takethe hem in to heuen: And hovve? For ſothe the vertues that hym ſelf hathe planted in the ſoule / he hym ſelf no • yſheth them vvythe • yry bemes of loue / And maketh them rypen in to ful • rute / and ſo retorne vp to hym fro vvhennes they toke ther beynge.

Proſa x. Capitulū xix. Quoniam igitur. Phia Philosophia loquitur. FOr as moche as thou haſt ſeyn in thys wyche ys imperfet good & to eſchwe The forme of good alſo that perfet ys The wyche yt ys to ſeken & to ſue Fro heuens forthe our proceſſe to perſue Hyt ys to ſhewen as hyt ſemeth me The very good that perfet ys & true what thynge hyt ys & where hyt myght be ¶But fyrſt I hold yt nedeful to enquere yf ſuche thynge may ben in any kende As we be forn dyffyned haue whyle ere Leſt ſo be that in vayn our wyttes wende And leſt we be deceyued at the ende As by a falſe Imagynation Of thynge that nought ys formed in our mynde And ſo to leſe our occupation ¶But yt we ſaue our purpoſe hole & ſound That perfet good ys / no wyght may wythſayn The wyche ys in maner the wel & ground Of al good that ys / thou be certeyn Ther may no wyght replyen ther a geyn yf any thynge haue imperfection That ys be cauſe hyt ys not ful ne pleyn wyth perfet thynge as in comparyſon ¶For why in any general of kende where any thynge imparfet ys / ſay I A perfet thynge alſo there mayſt thou fynde For yf ther were no perfet vtterly Syth lacke of perfet ys the cauſe why That any thynge imperfet may be preued A perfet thynge ther muſt be ſykerly Fro wyche imperfet thynges be dyſcryned ¶For why of thynges ſcars & dymynute Nature toke not her fyrſt production But al hole complete & abſolute Fro al defaute & al corruption And ſo fro thens made progreſſyon Vn to thes lower thynges that we ſeyn That leſſe hauethe of perfection And as hyt were al voyd & empty ben ¶And yf ſo be / as I haue ſhewed er thys Ther ys an imperfet felycyte Of frayel & feble good / ful ſothe hyt ys Another good & perfet muſt ther be Boecius) Ful ſothe ys thys ꝙ I as ſemeth me Concluded alſo ful & fermly Phia Philosophia ) But now ſhe ſayd yu muſt behald & ſe wher that thys good ys founden fynally ¶The comen conceyte loo of mannes mynde By reſon ys vn to thys poynt y brought That god / that prynce & auctor ys of kende Hym ſelf ys good / in thys they fayleth noght Syth that ther may no better thynge be thoght Than god hym ſelf / thys wote wel euery wyght That god ys good & worthy to be ſoght Thys doutethe none that reſon ſeyth a ryght ¶yet reſon wyl inducen furdermore By very fors that in god perfetly Is very good / in no wyght may be more He were not elles called ryghteuſly The prynce of thynges / I ſhal the tellen why For elles one were worthyer than he That perfet good poſſeſſed pryncypally That rather muſt & alſo elder be ¶For euery thynge that fully ys perfet Than any thynge imperfet rather ys Now leſt our proceſſe paſſe in infynyt we be compelled for to graunten thys That ſouereyn god of perfet good y wys Loo ys fulfylled / than ſuethe here vpon Syth perfet good ys very blyſfulneſſe In god ys perfet blyſfulneſſe a lone Boecius) Ful wel ꝙ I thys I ꝑceyue & fele Ther may no wyght replyen here a geyn Phia Philosophia ) I pray the ꝙ ſhe vnderſtand me wele How fermly ys preued that we ſayn Loo / that of perfet good & ſouereyn God ys fulfylled by my concluſyon Boecius) In ſothe ꝙ I thys wold I heren fayn How ye hyt preue by demonſtration Phia Philosophia ) That ſelf ꝙ ſhe that ys the prynce of al And ful of ſouereyn good how ſemeth the That fro wythouten thys good ys falle Or ys hyt in hem by kendly properte And thynkeſt that ii. thynges muſt they be God / the hauer / & hys blyſfulneſſe And in ther ſubſtance haue dyuerſyte Thys wolt thou not ſuppoſen as I geſſe ¶And yf he haue receyued of wythoute Thys blyſfulneſſe / then ſuethe ſykerly The geuer of that thynge / ys no doute Precelleth the receyuer certenly But thys we muſt confeſſen vtterly A bowe al thynges god ys excellent And yf thys good in god be kendly In ſubſtance & in reſon dyfferent ¶The prynce of thynges wyche yt we reherſe Let ſe deuyſe or fayn hyt ho ſo may Ho hath conioyned thes ij. dyuerſe He may no furder by no maner way But at laſt thys dare I ſothly ſay A thynge that dyuers fro a nother ys Hyt may not be the ſame hyt ys no nay Fro wyche hyt ys dyuerſed ſo y wys ¶wherfore that thynge that hathe dyuerſyte Fro ſouereyn good / in reſon of nature The ſame ſouereyn good hyt may not be And god forbede that any creature As in hys wyt ſhold paſſen ſo meſure Of god oure ſouereyn for to deme ſo That kepeth al & hathe ous in hys cure So perfet & ſo good ther beth no mo ¶Loo thys I trowe perceyueth euery man That the kend of no thynge vtterly May better ben than he that hyt be gan Than may I thus concluden fynally That he that ys begynner verely Of al thynge that ys / I ſay that he In ſubſtance & in kende properly Thys ſouereyn good he muſte nedes be Boecius) Thys ys ꝙ I concluded wel & clere Phia Philosophia ) And ſouereyn good ꝙ ſhe ys blyſfulneſſe Boecius) Ryght ſo ꝙ I thys graūted I whyle er Phia Philosophia ) Lo than ꝙ ſhe hyt ſuethe here expreſſe That god hymſelf ys ſouereyn blyſfulneſſe Loo where hyt ys that thou ſo long haſt ſoght Boecius) Thys muſt I ꝙ I graūten & confeſſe your reſons haue me to that poynt y broght Phia Philosophia ) That thys ꝙ ſhe be preued fermly Behald & here what I ſhal furder ſayn ij. thynges that ben dyuers properly They may not be ij. goodes ſouereyn For yf ther be dyſcord be twene them tweyn They may not ben the ſelf & the ſame Euerych that other ys / thou be certeyn Tho that they bothe be called on by name ¶yf they be ſouereyn goodes bothe ij. Deuyſe yt in hys conceyte ho ſo may yf that thys one good be that other fro Imperfet ben they bothe hyt ys no nay Syth nether ben wythouten other may But thynge that lacketh of perfection That hyt be ſouereyn good thou wolt not ſay Hyt wold includen contradiction ¶Then may they not be ij. thus ne dyuerſe Thys ſouereyn good as ſueth here expreſſe But blyſfulneſſe & god that we reherſe Thys ſouereyn good in al wyſe hyt ys That ſame thynge that than ys blyſfulneſſe That ſame thynge ys ſouereyn deyte Boecius) No thynge ꝙ I may truer be I geſſe Ne worthyer of god concluded be Phia Philosophia ) Than ryght ꝙ ſhe as geometres al when they haue ſhewed ther propoſitions They bryngeth in Poriſmus / yt they calle That ben conceytes or concluſyons And as in maner declarations Of foreſayd thynge / ryght ſo ſhal I the fede As ſuynge on my demonſtrations Thys correlary I geue the to thy mede ¶Syth that by getynge of thys blyſfulneſſe Men ben blyſful made / & wolt thou ſe Blyſfulneſſe the ſouereyn godhed ys And eke the getynge of that deyte Maketh blyſful / as hyt ys ſhewed to the But ryght as wyſedom maketh men be wyſe And ryghtuoſneſſe ryghtuous for to be I may conclude & ſuyngly deuyſe ¶That by wynnynge of dyuynyte Men ben maked goddes ſykerly Loo than ys euery blyſful man parde A god / thys ſuethe alſo formally Thogh that ther be but one god kendly In ſothe yet by participation Ryght wel ther may be many / not for thy As in the aſtate of ful perfectyon ¶Boecius) Thys ys ꝙ I ful fayre & precyous whether hyt poryſme or corrolary ys Phia Philosophia ) Hyt ys ꝙ ſhe more fayre & gloryous That reſon wyl annecten vn to thys Boeꝰ Boecius ) I aſked what Phia Philosophia ) ꝙ ſhe ſyth blyſfulneſſe So moche thynge doth in hyt ſelf conteyne As honour / pouer / luſt / fame / & rycheſſe whether al they ben as membres wyl yu ſayn ¶wyche as of partes dyuers in maner Thys blyſfulneſſe compoundeth in thys wyſe In to a perfet body as hyt were Other thou troueſt that ſom one thynge of thes The ſame blyſfulneſſe doth a compleſſe In to one perfet thynge ſubſtancyal To whom thes other as I do deuyſe Referred ben as to ther pryncypal ¶Boeciꝰ) I wold haue thys ꝙ I declared fayn Phia Philosophia ) Haue we not ſeyd ꝙ ſhe yt blyſfulneſſe Is good ( Boeꝰ Boecius ) yes ſeyd I / hye & ſouereyn Phia Philosophia ) Adde we ꝙ ſhe ye remanent vn to thys That ſouereyn good before reherſed ys Loo ſouereyn myght & ſouereyn ſuffyſance Luſt / fame / honour / one thynge they ben y wys wyth blyſfulneſſe wythouten varyance ¶Thys ys that I wold aſken er of the Thys ſuffyſance / honour / delyte / renoune whether they be membres of felycyte As dyuers partes doth one thynge compoune Or thou haſt thys conſyderation That al thes wyche that we reherſed han To ſouereyn good ſhold haue relation As to ther hed / thys ſay me yf thou can Boecius) In ſothe ꝙ I now vnderſtand I wele what ye pnrpoſeth to enſerchen here But I deſyre to here of yow & fele Thys queſtyon that ye wold make yt clere Phia Philosophia ) I ſhal ꝙ ſhe ſayd in thys maner yf al thes thynges wyche that we reherce Of blyſfulneſſe in maner membres were Than muſt thes membres nedes be dyuers ¶For loo of partes thys the nature ys That they dyuers one body certenly Shal make / but hyt ys ſhewed er thys That al thes ben one thynge Boecius) ye ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) They ben ꝙ ſhe no membres ſykerly Syth they ben one / or elles wold hyt ſue That blyſfulneſſe were made ful wonderly Of a membre that nature wold exchwe Boeꝰ Boecius ) Thys ys ꝙ I ful ſothe I doute yt noght But now ful fayn the remanent wold I ſe Phia Philosophia ) Than al thes thynges ꝙ ſhe muſt be broght And to thys good as chef referred be And for thys good ful ſothe hyt ys parde Men deſyren after ſuffyſance To haue pouer or ſtand in hye degre For hyt ys good they maketh purueyance ¶The ſame I may deuyſen ſuyngly Of reuerence / renoune / & luſtyneſſe They deme hyt good that ys the cauſe why That they requyre hyt wyth ther beſyneſſe Than ys thys good the very cauſe y wyſſe And ſomme of al yt ought to be required For thynge that no good hathe in lekelyneſſe Ne none in ſothe / hyt may not be deſyred ¶And there a geyn loo in contrary wyſe A thynge that ys not good in no maner yet yf hyt ſemeth good as they deuyſe Ryght as they very ryght goodes were Men wylleth them / than wyl hyt ſuen here That bounte ys the ground & cauſe of al why thynges ought to be leue & dere That any man of ryght deſyren ſhal ¶And ouer thys hyt ſemeth furdermore That euery thynge that ys the cauſe why Loo that a nother ys deſyred fore That cauſe ys eke deſyred pryncypally Ryght as be cauſe of hele fynally A man deſyreth for to ryde & play Hys hele he doth deſyren ſekerly As wel as for to ryde hyt ys no nay ¶Syth al thys thynge yt thus deſyred ys The cauſe of al ys pryncypal / bounte Thys bounte ys deſyred than y wys As moche as that thynge in hys degre But we haue graunted that felycyte ys cauſe thes thynges euerychone Deſyred ben / then ſueth hyt parde That blyſfulneſſe deſyred ys a lone ¶Of thys hyt ſemeth & hyt ſuethe loo That then thys good & very blyſfulneſſe In ſubſtance ben one thynge & no mo And verely the ſame thynge expreſſe Boecius) I can not ſay ꝙ I in ſothfaſtneſſe How any wyght your wordes may blame Phia Philosophia ) But god ꝙ ſhe & very blyſfulneſſe As we haue ſhewed ben one thyng & ye ſame Boecius) Ryght as ye ſayn ꝙ I hyt ys ful clere Phia Philosophia ) Than may I ꝙ ſhe wel & ſykerly The ſentence & the ſomme of thys mater Loo thus concluden ful & fynally That the ſubſtance loo of god on hy Is ſet & founded in none other place But in the ſame good eternally To fynd hyt there god ſend the grace
Metrū x. Capitulū xx. Huc oēs pariter venite. Phia Philosophia loquitur. HOwe cometh al ye that ben y brought In boundes ful of bytter beſyneſſe Of erthly luſt a bydynge in your thought Here ys the reſt of al your beſyneſſe Here ys ye port of pees & reſtfulneſſe To them that ſtandeth in ſtormes of deſeſe Only refuge to wrecches in dyſtreſſe And al comfort of myſchef & myſeſe ¶For al that euer Tagus¶Tagus ys a ryuer of Spayn / ful of golden greynes. doth yow bede wyth hys golden grauel ſtones bryght Other Erinus¶Erinus ys a ryuer in Aſya the leſſe / al ful of greynes of gold. wythe hys ſtrondes rede May geuen yow for to pleſe your ſyght Other the ryuer wyche that IndusIndus ys a ryuer of India / that rennethe in to the red ſee / ful of perry and moche precyouſty▪ hyght That ys ful nye the hote regyon wyche the grene ſtones wyth hys myght wyth whyte perelles torneth vp ſo doune ¶They ſhyneth wonder clere vn to your ye But your inſyght in ſothe they maketh blynd And wythe ther derke cloudes perylouſly wyth vanyte your hertes doth they bynd For how that euer they pleſith to youre mynd As preyſed worthe ful many a thouſand pound yet ben they ful vnworthy in ther kend As noreſhed in the caues of the ground ¶But the ſhynynge of that ſouereyn lyght By wyche the hye heuen gouerned ys Chaceth a way the foule derke nyght That hathe your ſoules drawen al a myſſe Thys ſouereyn lyght yf yu may ſeyn y wyſſe Behald hyt wel & kepe hyt yf thou conne And thou ſhalt ſe that in regard of thys Ther be no bryght bemes in the ſonne
Proſa xj. Eapitulum xxj. Aſſencior inquam. Boecius loquitu TO thys ꝙ I / I muſt nedes aſſen • your wordes haueth me knet ſo fermly By reſon of your ſubtel argument Phia Philosophia ) what yf yu knew ꝙ ſhe verely Thys good / what woldeſt yu than ſet ther by yf thou myght knowen clerely what hyt were Boeciꝰ) I wold hyt preſe at infynyte ꝙ I Yf I myght knowen god in that maner Phia / I ſhal ꝙ ſhe as very reſonable Shewe the that apertly er thou go So that thes thynges ſtand ferme & ſtable That we be fore thys haue conſented to Boecius) They muſt ꝙ I we may not go ther fro Phia Philosophia ) Haue I not ſhewed the plenerly ꝙ ſhe That al thes thynges that ben deſyred ſo Of felle folke ben ful of vanyte ¶And ſyth they ben dyuers hyt ys no nay They be no very goodes perfetly For when that one fro other ys a way No ful ne very goodes vtterly To no wyght may they brynge certenly But when they ben aſſembled in to one In workynge & in forme verely Than ys hyt good & elles ys hyt none ¶So that thys power & thys ſuffyſance Gladſomneſſe / honour / & nobelte Be ryght the ſame & one thynge in ſubſtance And yf they lacketh of thys vnyte Ther ys not why they ſhold deſyred be Ne loued / yf ye do loke wel a bowte Boecius) whyle er ꝙ I thus haue ye ſhewed ꝑde Ful true hyt ys hyt may not ben in dowte ¶Syth ſo hyt ys that good be they nought when dyuerſyte ys founden them betwene And when that they to onehed ben y brought Than be they good as euery man may ſeyne what ys that maketh them good for to bene But the getynge of thys vnyte Boecius Ryght ſo hyt ys ꝙ I right as ye mene Phia Philosophia ) But euery thynge yt good ys then ꝙ ſhe ¶why ys hyt good / wylt yu not graunten thys That for hyt hathe partycypatyon Loo of thys foreſayd good (Boeciꝰ) I ſeyd eys Phia Philosophia ) Than muſt yu ꝙ ſhe by the ſame reſon Graunte alſo thys concluſyon That good & one ben one thynge verely For thynges lekely of condytyon Not dyuers in effectes kendly ¶In ſubſtance ben they one thynge & no mo Boecius) Fro thys ꝙ I y may not go a ſyde Phia Philosophia ) And knoweſt yu not that euery thynge alſo That ys ꝙ ſhe / ſo longe ſhal a byde whyle hyt ys one / & yf hyt ſo betyde That thys thynge forleteth to be one Is hyt not then dyſſolued & deſtroyed Boeciꝰ) And how ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) I ſhal the tel anone ¶Thou ſeyſt thy ſelf that in a beſt ꝙ ſhe whyle ſoule & body ben to geder knet And ſo abydeth in ther vnyte Thys knoweſt yu wel a beſt men calleth hyt But when thys onehed ys dyuyded As by ther bothes ſeparation That no beſt hyt ys / hyt ys perceyued But careyn tornynge to corruption ¶And eke alſo the body of a wyght whyle that the membres ſtandeth kendly On / in that forme yt nature hath them dyght He ys a man thys knoweſt thou verely But yf they ben departed ſykerly So that thys vnyte be don a way That ſame thynge hyt ys not vtterly Ne no mannes body ye ſothe to ſay ¶And in the ſame wyſe hyt ſtent y wys Of euery thynge to thynken in thy thoght The whyle hyt ſtandeth one / that whyle hyt ys And when hyt fayleth one then ys hyt noght For hyt ys to corruption y broght Boecius) In ſothe ꝙ I I can not other fynde Of euery creature that may be ſoght Thys muſt be ſothe by very cours of kende Phia Philosophia ) But wylt yu trow that any thynge ꝙ ſhe Hath thys of natural intention As to forleten vtterly to be And luſt to torne in to corruption Boecius) To haue ꝙ I conſyderation To beſtes wyche that haueth of nature Bothe wyl & nel by fre election I wyl not trow hyt of no creature ¶That but they be conſtrayned of wythoute Ther kendly beynge wyl they not forgon Ne wyllyngly be ded hyt ys no doute Therfore hyt ys that bestes euerychone Loo al ther labour ſetteth here vpon Them ſelfen for to ſaue & kepe in hele And wyllyngly to deth ther wylleth none I note ho ys / wyth deth that luſt to dele ¶But neuertheles as yet I am in doute Of trees & eke of herbes & of graſſe And ſtone that vtterly ys lyue wythoute Phia Philosophia ) Ther ys nought why to douten in thys caſe Syth thou mayſt ſe ꝙ ſhe be fore thy face And euery day thou haſt experyence That trees & herbes wexyth in that place As to ther kend ys moſt conuenyence ¶So that aſmoche as ther nature ſuffyſeth They ſuffereth not to ſchorchen ne to dye For ſom of them in fayre feldes ryſeth And ſom wexyth in the hylles hye And ſome doth in marreys multyply And ſom to the hard roches clyngeth And ſom ther be that in the ſandes dry That bareyn ben ful plenteouſly ſpryngeth ¶And yf a wyght yt noght ther kendes knoweth wold elleswhere them plante they dye as faſte For nature geueth to euerych that hym oweth And laboreth yt as long as they may leſte That they be not deſtroyed ne doune y caſte Now & what ſayſt thou of ther cheuyſance As though ther mouthes were in erthe y thraſte So by the rote they draw ther ſuſtenance ¶And ſo the kendly moyſture after thys In to the ſtocke & rynde hyt ſendeth wyde And yet thys moyſture that moſt tendre ys wythynforth alway hyt doth a byde A geyn the wedres hard / hyt ſelf to hyde wythouten hath hyt ſadneſſe of the tre wythouten that the barke on euery ſyde That may defence a geynſt the wedres be ¶Here mayſt yu wel behald & taken hyde Loo how nature entendeth beſely Euery thynge to nory hen by hys ſede That yere by yere doth creſſe & multyply Not only for a tyme ſykerly But they ben ſotel gynnes as hyt were That hyt may ſtonden perdurabelly By generation in that manere ¶And thynges that wythoute ſoules ben alſo Doth they not euerych beſely entende To that hys nature aperteyneth to why elles doth a flamme of fyre aſcende Or why doth heuy erthe ſo deſcende But for that euerych hathe conuenyence To certen place to wyche as to ther ende They meueth / ſo they haue no reſyſtence ¶For euery thynge entendeth ſykerly As ferforthe as hyt may haue ſuffyſance Tho thynges to conſeruen beſely wyth wyche hyt hathe in kend hys accordance Ryght euen as thynge that of contraryance Al that they may corrupteth & deſtroyeth Ryght ſo haue they ther kendly gouernance For to exchwe al thynge that them noyeth ¶And ſtones that ſo hard & ſtrong ben How they wythſtandeth ther partytion And clyngeth faſt as euery man may ſeyn To ſaue the partes fro corruption And thynges that ſo floeth vp & downe Ayer & water parteth eſely By vyolence / fro wyche dyuyſyon To onehed they retorneth kendly ¶But fyre al ſuch dyuyſyon refuſeth Of wylful meuynge of the ſoule I lete To ſpeke as now / in that he reſon vſeth But of the natural entent I trete That when ye do receyuen ſo your mete ye ſwoloeth & haueth theron no thoght And in your ſlepe when al thynge ys forgete ye draueth brethe & yet ye knowe hyt noght ¶Not only of the ſoules wylfulneſſe Thes beſtes loueth to leue & endure But pryncypally dependeth hyt expreſſe Of the hye pryncyples of nature For ofte hyt falleth that a creature Hys owne deth wyl taken wyllyngly wher nedeful cauſes ben perauenture The wyche that nature aborreth kendly ¶ye ſeeth alſo that in contrary wyſe The wyl of man wythſtandeth & refrayneth The luſt of very kendly couetyce By wyche al only nature hath ordeyned That dedly kend to kepe & be ſuſteyned The wyche ys fleſly generation so that thys loue ys not only conteyned Pryncypally in your beſtly motion ¶But alſo of intention natural For why the ſouereyn goddes purueance Hathe geuen thys as cauſe effectual To thynges that ben of hys ordynance That by a very kendly gouernance They ſhal deſyren alway for to be As long as nature hath that ſufffyſance To kepe ſhe partes in ther vnyte ¶Ther ys noght why thou ſholdeſt dout in thys But that al thyng coueyteth kendly To kepe hyt ſelf in ferme ſtableneſſe And to be corrupt they lothen vtterly Boeꝰ Boecius ) Loo now muſt I confeſſe thys ꝙ I For thynges that in doute were before Now I behold them wel & certenly Phia Philosophia ) And thyng that ſo deſyreth euermore ¶For to ſtand in ferme ſtableneſſe That ſelf thyng deſyreth for to be And yf thys one be voyded ſothe hyt ys Then ys hyt not / thou mayſt thy ſelfen ſee Boeciꝰ) Ful ſoth ꝙ Phia Philosophia ) then al thyng ꝙ ſhe Deſyreth one Boecius) ꝙ I I graunt yt wel Phia Philosophia ) But one & good as thou haſt graunted me Loo ben the ſame & dyuers nere a dele Boeꝰ Boecius ) Ryght ſo ꝙ Phia Philosophia ) thē al thyng requireth Thys one ꝙ ſhe yt thus may be deſcryued Good ys that thyng that al thyng deſyreth Boecius) No thyng ꝙ I may ſother be contryued Al thyng to noght muſt elles be deryued As flowyng euer wythouten gouernour As deſtitute & of ther hed depryued Than were our ende but myſchef & dolour ¶And yf ther may be founden ther a geyn One thyng to whom al other ben entended Of al good thys muſt be ſouereyn As he that al hath in hym comprehended Phia Philosophia ) Thys conceyte ꝙ ſhe may not ben amēded My nory dere now am I glad y wys The poynt now of thy thoght yu haſt extended Ryght in ye myddes of very ſothfaſtneſſe ¶And loo in thys ys ſhewed the plenerly The thyng wyche whyler thou toldeſt me Thou knew yt not Boecius) & what ys that ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) what ys the ende of thynges ſayd ſhe Thys ſame thyng loo muſt hyt nedes be That euery thyng of kend deſyren ſhal And ſyth that thys ys good hyt ſemeth me That ſouereyn good muſt be the ende of al
Metrū xj. Capitulū xxij. Quiſquis profunda. Phia Philosophia loquitur. NO ſo wyl enſerche ſothfaſtneſſe a ryght And wyl not be deceyued neuer a dele The pure clereneſſe of hys inward ſyght wythyn hem ſelf he muſt reuoluen wele And al hys thoghtes trenden as a whele And leue thys erthly occupation And teche hys ſoule to vnderſtand & fele By dome of good delyberation ¶That al that euer he ſeketh here wythoute Trauelyng thes truthes for to know Hydde hyt was al cloſe hyt ys no doute Ryght as treſour wythyn hemſelf beſtow Tho thynges than that erſt were ouerblow wythe the cloudes of errour & ignorance Hyt ſhal to the be clerer as I trow Than ys the ſonne & more to thy pleſance ¶For why the body that hathe yt ſoule oppreſſed As wythe the wyght of hys corruption Hathe not al deſpoyled ne dyſtreſſed The lyght of vnderſtandyng & of reſon Ther cleueth yet a noble portion wythyn thy ſoule ryght as an abylyte The ſede of truthe in ful poſſeſſyon The wyche by techyng muſt enforced be ¶How myght ye elles Iugen formally Other aunſwere to demaundes that ye hyre But yf your hert conteyned verely A lyfly noryſhyng as hyt were And thyng that Plato ſayd in thys manere yf hyt be ſothe as do hys bokes trete no thyng elles do ye when ye lere But as record a thyng that was forgete

¶No thynge elles do ye vvhen ye lere & • . ¶An harpe vvel & luſtly • uned by true accordes of muſyke / al be hyt in that no vvyght toche hyt ne ſet hand ther to / yet conteyneth that harpe vvythyn hem al ſonges • al tuues poſſyble to be ſonge or toched vpon the ſame harpe. Or elles myght not the harper fynde ther on that vvas not ther be fore Ryght ſo in mannes ſoule ys conteyned al cōny • ge / that of an erthly creature poſſyble ys be knovven. But hyt ys ſlylled & in maner forgete / other more properly for to ſpekē / forlete / vvyche connynge by labour of reſon & exercyſe of lernynge ys founde out by lytel & lytel. ryght as a man that lerneth to harpe ſeketh out hys tunes.

Proſa xii. Capitulū xxiij. Tū ego platoni. Boecius loquitur. TO Plato ſeyd I / muſt I nede conſent For twyes now ye haue remembred me Of thyng yt fyrſt was fro my mynd y went As by my bodely contagyouſte And ſyth I ſtode efteſone in thys degre Of heuyneſſe / I had hyt eke forlorn Phia Philosophia ) yf thou ſhe ſayd wylt behald & ſee To thynges of the graunted here be forn ¶Thou ſhalt record alſo to thy ſcience Thynges wyche yu ſayd whyler yu knwe hyt noght Boeꝰ Boecius ) & what ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) by wych gouernmētes Thys world ꝙ ſhe ys in thys rule y broght Boecius) I am ꝙ I remembred in my thoght Of myn vnconnyng that I was beknowe And tho I haue as now perceyued ought More plenerly yet wold I lern of yow Phia Philosophia ) whyle er ꝙ ſhe thou dowted noft at al Loo that thys world by god gouerned ys Boecius) Ne now ꝙ I ne neuer hereafter ſhal As in that mater ben in doute y wys And what reſon induceth me to thys Breuely I ſhal yow ſhew / as ſemeth me Now loke your ſelf yf I perceyue a myſſe Thys world ꝙ I ſtondyng in thys degre ¶Of partes dyuers & contraryous As euery wyght may vnderſtand & fele In ſuche a forme myght neuer accorden thys But yf that one conioyned euery dele That ſo dyuers ben / thys wote I wel Ne ſo conioyned myght they not endure But yf one keper were perpetuel The ſame dyuerſyte of ther nature ¶So dyſcordant ſhold apeyr & ſhende And al dyſioyne as ſemeth in my thoght But yf ther were one gouernour of kende To kepe al thys that ys to gedres broght Ne ſuche a certen ordre myght not Of nature / ſo procede in ordynance To meuen ſo / but he that al hathe wroght Shold haue hyt holly in hys gouernance ¶Ther meuyng ys ſo fayre & ordynat In tymes / ſtedes / ſpace / & qualyte And ſuche effectes cauſeth eke algate That wonderful hyt ys / euery wyght to ſe Than ys ther one that thys dyuerſyte Hem ſelfen ſtable that ſo dyſpoſeth al And ho ſo dothe al thys / I ſay that he Is god / thys vſed name I wyl hem cal Phia Philosophia ) Syth thou ꝙ ſhe mayſt thys behald & fele I trow I ſhal wyth lytel beſyneſſe Ful hole & ſound the make to ſe ful wele Thyn owne contrey ful of blyſfulneſſe But that we haue purpoſed her er thys Let ous behald / haue we not long a go Seyd that ſuffyſance ys in blyſfulneſſe And that god ys blyſfulneſſe alſo Boeꝰ Boecius ) Ryght ſo ꝙ I phia) & yt hym nedeth noght ꝙ ſhe vn to thys wordly gouernance For yf he of wythoute neded ought He had not then plenary ſuffyſance Boecius) Fro thys ꝙ I ther ys no varyance Phia Philosophia ) Hym ſelf a lone al thyng dyſpoſeth than Boeciꝰ) I may ꝙ I now make none avoydaunce Phia Philosophia ) And god ys good as we deduced han Boeꝰ Boecius ) And thys alſo remembre I wel ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) By good then he gouerneth al ꝙ ſhe For ſyth as thou haſt graunted / ſuyngly He that ys good dyſpoſeth al parde Hym ſelf a lone than muſt he nedes be Ryght as hyt were a ruler of a ſterne Hym ſelfen ſtable euer in one degre That al thys world incorrupt doth gouerne Boecius) Ful wel ꝙ I acord I vn to thys And loo whyler as by ſuſpection I trowed the ſame ye wold haue ſayd y wys And preued thys in your concluſyon Phia Philosophia ) I trow hyt wel / for thyn inſpection Is more ententyf then hyt was before As to behald a truthe & good reſon But that I ſhal the ſhewen furdermore ¶Hyt ys as clere & open to thy ſyght Boeꝰ Boecius ) And what ꝙ I that knowen fayn I wold Phia Philosophia ) Syth god ꝙ ſhe yf we beleuen ryght wyth hys ſterne of bounte as I tolde Gouerneth al & rewleth as he ſholde Thes thynges al by natural entent Ben wyllyngly ſubiecte & vnderfolde Obeyng alway vn to hys gouernment ¶Boecius) Thys ys ꝙ I ful tru & neceſſary For elles were no blyſful gouernance yf no yoke were to thynges contrary That wyl not obey to hys ordynance Phia Philosophia ) Then ys ther noght yt doth ther obſeruāce To kepe them ſelf in ordre of nature That may enforcen wyth contraryance A geyn ther god Boecius) ꝙ I no creature Phia Philosophia ) what yf ſo yt a geyn thys gouernayle They myght enforcen them wyth frowardneſſe Myght they ought a geyn ther god avayle wych that by ryght of very blyſfulneſſe As we be forn haue ſayd almyghty ys Boeꝰ Boecius ) In ſoth they myght noght avayle ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) ꝙ ſhe then ys ther no thyng as I geſſe That may or wyl wythſtanden kendly ¶Thys ſoueren good what wylt thyſelf ſuppoſe Boeꝰ Boecius ) I ſayd no Phia Philosophia ) thys ſoueren good ꝙ ſhe Al thynges than ful ſwetly doth dyſpoſe And myghtely al thyng gouerneth he Boeciꝰ) ꝙ I not only I delyte me As in the ſumme of your concluſion But the wordes wych that ye vſe to me wel more they dothe me delectation ¶In ſo fer forthe that in my ſelf I ſhame And of my foly foule I am confuſed So hye a thyng to reprehend or blame And that I haue ſo maſedlych y muſed That man of god was vtterly refuſed And that he had hym not in hys gouernance Phia Philosophia ) Suche fables ꝙ ſhe haue poetes vſed As yu haſt herde / that ſom tyme gyauntes ¶wold haue made ther way vp in to heuen And hye hylles gan they to bylden faſte But god ſent downe a thunder certeyn And al ther worke vpon them ouer caſte And ſo they were wythſtonden at laſte By the myght of ſouereyn god benigne wyche for them al dyſpoſed ſo in haſte As ther dyſert was worthy & condigne ¶But wylt thou now that we to gedres dryue Thesreſons al & in to one them brynge And perauenture of that ſtroke as blyue Ther may of truthe a lytel ſparkel ſprynge Boecius) Now sayth ꝙ I as ys to your lekyng Phia Philosophia ) we ſay ꝙ ſhe that god almyghty ys Boecius) Syth he of al ꝙ I ys lord & kynge Ther ys no wyght that ys in doute of thys Phia Philosophia ) And he ſhe ſayd yt ys ſo ful of myght Is ther any thyng that he ne may Boeꝰ Boecius ) Nay ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) ꝙ ſhe now ſay me ryght May god do any euel Boecius) I ſayd nay Phia Philosophia ) Loo than ys euel no thyng I dare wel ſay Syth he that ys almyghty may hyt not Boecius) ꝙ I whether do ye ſcorne or elles play And haue to thys labour hyt y broght ¶your reſons weueth ye ſo wonderly In maner leke the houſe of Didalus Ful hard for to reſoluen or vnplye your reſons ben ſo hye & curyous that to my wyt they ben ful meruelous Where ye go out ye entreth efte a none And euen there as ye ben entred thus The ſame way ye paſſeth out efte ſone ¶A wonder compace haue yo knet & fold Of the hye dyuyne ymplycyte For thus whyle er when ye began ye told Of blyſfulneſſe that ys felycyte That ſouereyn good was hyt ye ſayd to me And that alſo in ſouereyn good hyt ys That god was ſouereyn good then ſayd ye Alſo that he ys perfect blyſfulneſſe ¶And for a gyfte ye toke me thys ther to That no wyght mygh haue very blyſfulneſſe But yf he were in maner god alſo By lekelyneſſe of poſſeſſyng of hys blyſſe And furdermore alſo ye ſayd thys That the forme of very perfet good Hyt ys the ſubſtance of thys welfulneſſe And eke of god / loo thys I vnderſtand ¶ye ſayd alſo as vn to my conceyte That good & one al one thynge ſhold they be That euery kende of thynges muſt coueyte That god eke wyth the ſterne of hys bounte Gouerneth al thys hole vnyuerſyte And al muſte to hys gouernance a lout That euel ys no thynge / alſo preued ye Not ſekynge hereto reſons fro wythout ¶But ye haue thys enplyed & y preued By ſkyles that ben knowen openly And euerych maketh other to be beleued They knetteth ſo in compace ſotelly Phia Philosophia ) She ſayd then I play not ſykerly But that we haue whyler of god beſoght Now haue I ſhewed the here that ys ſo hy And greteſte that in hert may be thoght ¶For of ſubſtance dyuyne the forme ys thys That he may not augment ne decreſſe By no foreyn thynge the ſo the hyt ys And al yet he conteyneth neuer the leſſe But ryght as ſayd Perymenydes The round whele of thynges al a boute He meueth / yet hym ſelf ys in pece And meueth noght at al hyt ys no doute ¶yf I haue ſhewed the ſkyles good & mete Not fro wythouten ſoght / but verely wythyn the thynges wherof that we trete To wondre now thou haſt no cauſe why For thou haſt herd & red as ſuppoſe I Thys ſothfaſte ſentence / Plato ſayd hyt loo That wordes muſt be coſens kendly To thynges wyche they ben referred to
FUl blyſful ys that man that may behold The bryght wel of very blyſfulneſſe And wel ys hym that may hymſelf vnfold Fro boundes of thys wordly wrecchedneſſe The poet Orpheus wyth grete heuyneſſe Hys wyffes dethe had weyled wepyngly And wyth hys ſonges ful of carefulneſſe Made wodes for to renne ful wonderly ¶And made the ſtremes ſtanden & byde The hynde alſo fered of no perel But ſuffered the lyon to lye by her ſyde Nether the hare dreded nere a dele To ſe the hound / hyt leked them ſo wele To here thes ſonges that ſo luſtey were And boldly they durſte to geder dwel That nere a beſt then had of other fere ¶And when the loue gan kendle in hys breſt Of hys wyffe moſt hote & feruently Hys ſonge that had ſo many a wyld beſt Made ſo meke to leuen comenly They myght hym not conforten vtterly On hye goddes gan he then complayn And ſayd they deled wyth hym cruelly That they dyd ſend hym not hys wyffe a geyn ¶He went then to howſes infernal And faſt hys ſtrenges ther dreſſed he And ſouned out the ſwete ſonges al That he had taſted of the welles thre Of hys moder dere Caliope That ys goddeſſe & chef of eloquenc • Wyth wordes that moſte pyteouſt myghe be As ſorow had geuen hym ful experyence ¶And loue alſo that dobeleth heuyneſſe To helle began he hys complaynt to make Aſkynge mercy ther / wyth lowlyneſſe At the lordes of thes ſhadous blake And Cerberus that woned was to wake wyth heddes thre & helle gates kepe So hadden hym thes new ſonges take That the ſwetneſſe made hym fal on ſlepe ¶The furyes that ben vengereſſe of ſynne And ſurfetours ſmyteth ſo wyth fere For heuyneſſe that thys man was in They gan to morne & wepte many a tere And tho the ſwyft whyle had no pouer To torne a boute the hed of Ixyon Ne Tantalus for thurſt al thogh he were I peyned longe / yet water wold he none ¶The grype that ete the maw of Ticius And tyred on hyt long ther be fore Thys ſonge to hym was ſo delycyous He caſt hyt of & tyred hyt no more And when that Orpheus had morned ſore Tho ſeyd the Iuge of helle / peynes ſtronge Pyte me hath conuicte / I wyl reſtore Thys mā hys wyffe / thys won he wyth hys ſong ¶But wyth a law thys geft I wyl reſtrayn That vn tyl he thys boundes haue forſake yf he behald vpon hys wyffe a geyn Hys wyffe fro hym efteſones ſhal be take But ho to louers may a lawe make For loue ys rather to hemſelf a lawe when he was nye out of the boundes blake He torned hym & Erudis he ſawe ¶Allas he loſt & leſte hys wyffe behynde Thys fable loo to yow perteyneth ryght For ye that wold lyfte vp your mynde In to the hye blyſful ſouereyn lyght yf ye efteſones torne douue your ſyght In to thys foule wrecched erthly delle Loo al that euer your labour hath yow dyght ye loſe when ye loketh in to helle

¶As Duyde in hys boke of Metamorphoſeos maketh mētion / and feynynge in manet a fable ſaynge that Orpheus vvas a curyous harper dvvellyng in Trace / that vvas ſomtyme a prouynce in the northe ſyde of Grece. vvyche Orpheus vvas the ſonne of Callyope. He harped ſo luſtely / that not only men vvere dravven by hys melody / but alſo vvyld beſtes for very delyte forgete ther kendly corage of ferſneſſe. And not only thys / but he made ryuers for to ſtande & foreſtes for to meue & ten ¶Thys Orpheus had a vvyffe named Erudis / vvyche a ſhepeherde named Ariſteus vvoed & deſyred. But Erudis refuſynge hys loue fled thorgh a mede / & tredynge vpon a ſerpent ſhe vvas enuenemed & ded. & vvent to hel. Orpheus ſoroynge for hys vvyffe & vvyllynge for to dra her out of helle / purpoſed for to pleſe the hye goddes vvyth hys melody that they ſhold reſtore hym hys vvyffe / but hyt auayled not. Than vvent he to helle / & as thys proceſſe ſhevveth in the letter / ſo moche he pleſed the goddes of helle vvyth hys melody / that at laſt vpon a condition hys vvyffe vvas graunted hym / ſo that he loked not vpon her / tyl that he vvere paſſed the boundes of helle. But vvhen he vvas nye the boundes / ſo moche he deſyred for to ſee hys hys vvyffe / that he torned hym & loked vpon her / & a none ſhe vvas gon a geyn to helle vvher ſhe vvas before▪ Thys fable Fulgencius exponeth morally on thys vhyſe. ¶By Orpheus ys vnderſtand the hyer part of the ſoule / that ys reſonabelte / enformed vvyth vvyſedom & eloquence. vvherfore he ys called the ſonne of phebus & of Laliope Phebus of the grekes vvas called god of vvyſedō. The ſame ys Apollo. Caliope ys aſmoche to ſay / as goddes ſonne. & hyt betokeneth eloquence. ſo every vvyſe mā & eloquent in thys maner of ſpekynge may be called the ſorne of phebus & Caliope. ¶Thys Orpheus bythe ſvvetneſſe of hys harpe / that

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Explicit Liber tercius.
Liber Quartus. 〈11 pages missing〉
〈1 page missing〉 But tho that haueth myght to worken ylle They may not worken al that ys ther wyl ¶Then ys hyt playn & clere y noo to ſeyn Thes wycked men that wyckedlych may Ful leſſe of power & of myght they ben Set thys ther to that I ſhal after ſay Syth myght ys ſuche a thyng the wyche alway Ought to be coueted & deſyred And euery thyng that ys to be requyred ¶To good hyt muſt be referred nede As to the ſouereyn hed & pryncypal But power for to worken wrecchedhed To good may not referred ben at al Hyt ys noght then / that be deſyred ſhal But power ſhal deſyred be by ryght Than power of the wycked ys no myght ¶Loo of al thys hyt wyl apperen wel That myghty ben the good folke a lone And wycked folke be myghty neuer a dele But weke & myghtles ben they euerychone The ſentence than may be perceued ſone where that Plato wryteth in thys wyſe Do that them leketh only may the wyſe ¶For wycked men do workes that them luſt But ther deſyre they may not yet fulfylle what them delyteth that them ſemeth beſt For why they do hyt be hyt neuer ſo yl To ther deſyre yet may they not a tylle The wyche they ſeke in luſtes & delytes For blyſfulneſſe may not be had by vyce
Metrum ij. Capitulū iiij. Quos vides ſedere celſos. Phia Philosophia loquitur. THes grete kynges ful of cruelte Shynyng in ther purpur ryally Syttyng in the heythes of ther ſee wythe wylde wordes thretyng cruelly wyth blaſtyng woodneſſe of ther hertes hye wythe moche wrecched wepyng by ther ſyde Ho ſo wold fro thes prynces ful of pryde ¶Spoyle them of ther wrecched vayn a ray Behald & ſe wel what they be wythyn Thogh they be lordes wonder ſtout & gay In ſtreyt cheynes ben they bound of ſynne Fro wyche they may not them ſelfen wynne Thes loo ledeth hys lyffe in lechery That al the world hym ſpeketh velony ¶So ys he trobled by thys paſſyon wythe wreth hys mynde ys beten & oppreſſed Or heuyneſſe draeth hym a downe Or ſlyper hope hym elles hathe deſtreſſed Loo ſuche an hed I trou ys euel y bleſſed That ys encombred wyth ſo moche vyce Hys myght ys to be ſet at lytel pryce
Proſa iij. Capitulum v. Vides ne igitur. Phia Philosophia loquitur. ANd ſeyſt thou not the foule vycyous what fylth thē hath defyled & vnhyght And the good folke & vertuous How worthely they ſhyne fayr & bryght Of thys hyt may apperen to thy ſyght That the wycked folke fayleth neuer of peyn Ne the good folke ther mede there a geyn ¶That ſame thynge that meueth any wyght For to don or worken any dede That ſame thyng I may hyt ſeyn by ryght Loo of that worke hyt ys the very mede Thys ſhal I preue yf thou wolt taken hyde For rennyng lyeth a garland for the game And he that renneth beſt ſhal haue the ſame ¶But ſouereyn good ys very blyſfulneſſe And ys the very ground & cauſe why That any maner worke purpoſed ys As for to ſpeke of purpoſe kendly Than ys thys good purpoſed comenly For mannes worke a mede for hys traueyle Fro good men thys mede may not fayle ¶Ho ſo lacketh good as ſemeth in my thoght Be called good of ryght yet may not he The good then of mede fayleth noght Syth ther mede ys verely bounte Thogh wycked folke be wood in cruelte And vſeth al the malyce that they mowen yet the wyſe man leſeth not hys crowen ¶For why ther ys no foreyn wyckedneſſe Of men that ben ſo perylous & proute That may beryue the kendly worthyneſſe That longeth to the good / hyt ys no doute But yf they had hyt wonnen of wythoute A nother then myght hyt take a way Or he that gaue that good / hyt ys no nay ¶But ſyth the goodneſſe of a worthy wyght Of good maners muſt be cauſed nede when he forleteth them / then ys hyt ryght That he ſhold be deſpoyled of hys mede But fynally in thys mater to procede Syth al medes that deſyred ben Hyt ys for they ben good / or as they wene ¶Of hym that hath thys good ho wyl hyt ſeyn That he thys mede lacketh vtterly None that reſon hathe I am certeyn But what thynge ys thys mede verely The beſt thyng & fayreſt ſekerly That may be had or hert may deuyſe Thys ys hyt that ys deſpoſed for the wyſe ¶A Corrolary hye & precyous That I the gaue whyler remembre the wyche al in ſumme thou ſhalt aſſemble thus Loo ſyth that god ys thys felycyte wyche that maketh blyſful for to be Al tho that good workes vſen And wrecched vyce wyl vtterly refuſen ¶And tho that blyſful ben thou vnderſtond In a maner goddes that they were Than ys thys gyft the mede of al good That no day may conſume in no maner Ne dymynuce hyt may no power Ne dymmen hyt no other mannes vyce Thogh wycked folke hyt wold of ther malyce ¶Syth hyt ys ſo hyt ys wythouten drede The wycked may not be wythouten peyn For ſyth that euel & good / loo peyn & mede Contraryous ben / then ys hyt clere & pleyn Syth good ys ſure of mede in ful certeyn The bad ys ſure of peynes & of woe yf one be ſothe the other muſt alſo ¶Then ys the goodneſſe of the good wyght The reward & the mede of hys goodneſſe And to the wycked by the ſame ryght Ther peyn ys eke ther propre wyckedneſſe what euer he be / than ſueth hyt expreſſe That wyth ſuche peynes ys he deſeſed ofte wyth euel he ys infecte hyt fayleth noght ¶For yf the wycked wold them ſelfen ſeyn Myght they trowen as hyt ſemeth the That they wythouten bytter peynes ben whom loo the vttermeſt extremyte Of al wyckedneſſe & cruelte Not only hath infected greuouſly But eke hym hath infected hugely ¶But now behald that other part vpon yf any peynes haue the good a greued Haſt yu not lerned / that al that euer ys one Is good alſo / as I haue hyt deſcryued Loo conſequently than hyt may be preued As ſemeth wel that euery thynge that ys Hyt muſt alſo be good hyt ys no myſſe ¶I may concluden than that al tho That fayleth fro thys good reherſed here He fayleth then for to ben alſo The wycked then they be not that they were For thoh thou ſe that mannes body there Ful ſothe hyt ys a man he was beforn By wyckedneſſe hys kende he hathe forlorn ¶But ſyth that only vertu & goodneſſe A bouen manhode may a man a reyſe Nedes than ho ſo vſeth wyckedneſſe Benethen manhode doune hyt doth hym peyſe And tho ſo be that many one them preyſe whom that yu ſeyſt tranſformed in to vyce Thou holdeſt hym not a man yf thou be wyſe ¶whos luſtes brenneth al in couetyce And ryueth men ther good by vyolence I leke a wolf thou myght hym wel deuyſe He that ys fers & ſpareth none offence And what he ſayth he hath no conſciens To make ſtryffes & dyſſention He ys an hounde as by comparyſon ¶And he that wyl a wayten preuely Foreyn goodes how he may beryuen A foxe thou myght hym callen ſkylefully And whom that curſed Ire doth a meuen A lyon as in that thou myght hym preuen He that ys fered & fleeth wythouten nede An hert thou myght hym calle hyt ys no drede ¶And he that vſeth ſlouth & I delneſſe And wyl not do no workes profytable Thou myght hym calle a very aſſe expreſſe And he that ys inconſtant & vnſtable To fowles myght thou hald hym comparable And he that ledeth hys lyffe in lechory Aſwyne thou myght hym callen ſkylefully ¶Hyt ſemeth than that he yt hathe forlete The lyffe of vertu & of honeſte To ben a man in that he hathe forfete And ſkylefully forlorn that dygnyte And ther he myght a god in maner be Or leke to god in leuyng at leſt Now ys he chaunged to a rude beſt
Metrū iij. Capitulum vj: Vela Naricii ducis. Phia Philosophia loquitur. ¶The ſouthweſt wynd yt bloweth bouſteſly The ſayles of the Duke Naricius 〈1 page missing〉
〈3 pages missing〉 But of that we haue graunted here before As neceſſary muſt hyt ſuen nede Boeꝰ Boecius ) I aſked what phia) ꝙ ſhe now take good hede More welful ben ye wycked in ther peyn Than yf they ſholden none at al ſuſteyn ¶But thys ys not my conceyt pryncypally That comenly men haue in ther deuyſe That wycked folke ſo peyned ryghtuouſly Ther by they ben corrected of ther vyce And drede of peyn a peſeth ther malyce And that exſample vn to other mo whythdraeth them fro that they wolden do ¶But in a nother maner wyſe I mene That bad folke wythoute punytion More vnwelful ſykerly they ben Than yf they ſuffered none affliction Not hauyng regard to correction Ne to exſample / ne to drede of peyn That moche myſchef often dothe refrayn ¶Boectus) ꝙ I what maner wyſe may thys be Other than ye tolden here before Phia Philosophia ) Loo haue not we confeſſed here ꝙ ſhe That good men ben welful euermore And wycked folke ben wrecches & forlore Boeꝰ Boecius ) ryght ſo ꝙ I phia) ꝙ ſhe now ſay me thyg What yf that vn to ſuche a wrecchedneſſe ¶Yf any part of good were added to were not he then more welful wylt thou ſay Than he that ſtandeth al in myſchef ſo Fro whom al maner good ys raft a way Boecius) ꝙ I Hyt ſemeth ſo hyt ys no nay Phia Philosophia ) And what ꝙ ſhe yf to thys wrecched man Fro whom al maner goodes lacketh than ¶Another harme were Ioyned & y knet Aboue the myſcheffe wyche hathe hym oppreſſed woldeſt yu not deme hym more vnwelful yet Than of hys myſchef ſomwhat were releſed And ſo by perceyuyng of good repreſſed Boecius) ꝙ I How ſholde hyt other wyſe be Phia Philosophia ) Than haue the wycked certenly ꝙ ſhe ¶Somwhat of good when yt they ben in peyn Annexed then vn to hys wrecchedneſſe when they ben punyſſhed ſo / that ys to ſeyn The ſame peyn that for ther wyckedneſſe They ſuffre / wyche be cauſe of ryghtuoſneſſe wher by that peyn ys geue hyt ys no nay That ſelf peyn ys good I dare wel ſay ¶And when that they ben ſpared of torment Of thys yuel then haue they ſomwhat more That ys the fauour of vnpunyſment Of ryghtuous peynes that they ben forbore The wyche as thou haſt graunted here before Syth peyn ys dwe rewarde of felony Vnpunyſment ys euel ſykerly Boecius) I may not thys denyen thogh I wolde Phia Philosophia ) The wicked thē vnpunyſhed ſo with wrōg So more vnſely ben they many a folde Then when by ryghtuous dome they vnderfong Vengeance for ther ſynne & ſoroes ſtrong Syth ryghtuouſneſſe tormenteth treſpaſours Than ys hyt wrong to ſparen ſurfetours Boeꝰ Boecius ) Denyen thys ꝙ I ther may no wyght Phia Philosophia ) May any man ꝙ ſhe denyen thys That al ys good that euer ys don by ryght And al that euer ys wrong ys wyckedneſſe Boecins) And thys ꝙ I ys conſequent y wyſſe To that ye houe concluded loo whyle ere But now I pray yow one thyng ſay me hyre ¶When that the body reſolued ys by deth Shal the ſoule ſuffern any peyn Phia Philosophia ) when yt the ſoule out of the body geth Ful hugy ꝙ ſhe / take hyt in certeyn For ſomme ful bytter peynes ſhal ſuſteyn And ſomme ſhal be purged al wyth grace To treten here of thys / we haue no place ¶But I haue vn to thys that ys in me Ful don my deuer that thou ſhuldeſt knowen The myght of ſhrewes / wyche as ſemeth the In them ys ful vnworthely beſtowen Hyt ys no power verely to trowen And there as thou complayneſt in thy thoght That wycked folkes ben y punyſſhed noght ¶Ther myght yu ſeyn the wycked for ther ſynne To faylen neuer of peynes ſykerly But that they may ther wycked purpoſe wynne wythe lycence for to worken wyckedly Thou dyſt pray to ben ended haſtely And I haue made the clerely for to know That hyt ne leſteth but a lytel throw ¶And that the lenger that endureth tho The more wrecches ben they I the tolde And yf they ſhulden euer endure ſo Than were they wrecches more a thouſand folde And more wrecches eke yu myght them holde when they wyth wrong of peynes ben releſed Thē whē they be wyth ryghtuous peyn oppreſſed ¶And ouer thys yet ſhal I furder ſayn Loo of thys ſentence ſueth conſequent Than ar the bad in moſt deſpytous payn Whan that they ſeme they haue no punyſment Boeꝰ Boecius ) I ſeyd than / when I wyth hole entent Behald your reſons how ye doth them preue No thyng ys ſother ſayd as I beleue ¶But to the Iugement of mannes wyt That ys not meued by ſuche euydence Ho ys that man that wyl beleuen hyt Or deme hyt worthy any audyence They troweth no thyng but experyence Phia Philosophia ) As thou haſt ſeyd ꝙ ſhe ryght ſo hyt ys For yees that ben vſed to derkneſſe ¶The lyght of treuthe may they not behold As foules that ben wont to fle by nyght For to be ſeyn a day they be not bolde For why the day ys blyndyng to ther ſyght But nyghtes derkneſſe maketh ther yees bryght So men infect wyth luſtes & lekynges Haue no regard to the ordynance of thynges ¶For they ſuppoſeth that ſuche ſufferance Or vnpunyſhment of curſedhede Shold a man to welfulneſſe avaunce But in the law eternal mayſt thou rede yf thou do wel thou haſt no maner nede To aſke a Iuge for thy recompence For thou haſt ſet thy ſelf in excellence ¶And yf thou haue thy ſelfen wyllyngly Enclyned vn to ſynne & wrecchedneſſe To ſeke no vengeour of thy felony wythout thyſelf hyt nedeth not y wyſſe For thou haſt ſet thy ſelf in wyckedneſſe And made the leke vn to a rude beſt And put the in peynes that euer ſhal leſt Ryght as thou woldeſt caſt thy ſyght a boute Now to grounde & now to heuen lyght Al other cauſes ceſſyng of wythoute Be cauſe of thyne vnſtableneſſe of ſyght Now woldeſt thou ſeme wyth the ſterres bryght And now ryght in thys moddy ground to be But comen people thys can they not ſe Boeꝰ Boecius ) I aſked than what thys ſhold mene Phia Philosophia ) Shulde we ꝙ ſhe conſenten vn to thes wyche we haue ſhewed that leke to beſtes ben yf one of them wyche yt the luſt deuyſe Loo had forlorn hys ſyght in any wyſe Al vtterly / & alſo furdermore Had al forgete that euer he ſaw be fore ¶And weneth hym want no thynge vtterly Of mannes natural perfection Now we that thys behaldeth verely Shulde we acorde to ther entention And not beleue our awne inſpection Shuld we not troue that ſuche men ben blynde And wel the blynder for ther maſed mynde ¶And thynges that as lekely may be preued By reſons of as myghty foundement Of ſuche folke they may not be beleued That ſuche wycked men & vyolent when they deſeſe a ſymple Innocent lWel more vnſely ben they in the dede Than tho that ſuffereth al ther wrangfulhede Boeꝰ Boecius ) Tho reſons ſayd I wold I heren fayn Phia Philosophia ) Euery wycked ſhrewde man ꝙ ſhe wylt thou denye hym worthe care & peyn Boecius) Nay ꝙ I that haue ye not of me Phia Philosophia ) Then more vnſely muſt they nedes be Suche that ledeth ther lyffes curſedly Boecius) Ryght as ye ſayn ryght ſo hyt ys ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) And tho ꝙ ſhe yt worthy ben torment wylt thou not deme them wrecches in that caſe Boecius) yes ꝙ I hyt ys ful conuenyent Phia Philosophia ) ꝙ ſhe yf thou ſholdeſt. Iugen in thys place And myghteſt do vengeance or elles grace whom woldeſt yu demen worthy to be honge whether hym yt dothe or hym that ſuffereth wrōge Boeꝰ Boecius ) To hym ꝙ I yt had the wronges don I wold a Iugen ſuffyſance of peyn The pacyent ſo ſhold be a venged ſone That he ſhold haue no mater to complayn Phia Philosophia ) More wrecched ys ye worcher wylt yu ſayn ꝙ ſhe than he that ſoffereth euery dele Boeꝰ Boecius ) In ſothe ꝙ I ryght ſo hyt ſueth wel Phia Philosophia ) Of thes cauſes & of other mo That of the ſelf rote ſuyngly Enforced ben / hyt wyl apperen loo That the fylthe of ſynnes kendly Ryght of the ſelf ſynnes proprely Tho men they maketh wrecches for to be That vſeth vyces & dyſhoneſte ¶The wrong alſo ys not the wrecchedneſſe Of hym that ſuffereth harmes & greuance But in ſothe the wrecchedneſſe ys hys That wronguſly hathe don hym a noyance But pledours don in thys contraryance That ſo the Iuges vnto mercy meuen A genſt them yt wronges doth agreuen ¶For ſykerly ye pyte longeth more To hem that hath vnthryftyfully wrought And as the ſeke a leche ys led before So ſhold he be before ye Iuge y broght Of pyteous accuſours and wroth noght That wyth ye peyn as wyth a ſotel gynne Cowde cutte a wey the malady of ſynne ¶And thus the beſynes of aduocates Schuld be forleten & men ſchuld hyt refuſen Or yf they wold approuen men algates Al other wyſe they ſchuld there offyce vſen And tho yt ſo myſdone alwey accuſen And yf theſe wrecches alſo furthermore Mygth ſene the vertu yt they haue forlore ¶Sith that boūte wyth peynes may be had And fylthe of vyce ben vtterly fordone To ſuffre peynes ſchuld he be ful glad Ne peynes ſothly ſchuld he hold them none Hys aduocates forſaken ſhuld he ſone And to the Iuge he ſhuld hem ſelfe be take That myght hem hole of al hys ſynnes make ¶Than ys hit ſo yt as a genſt the wyſe Is left no place of hate hyt ys ful ſoth Hoo wyl the good haten or deſpyte But a fole yt wote not what he doth And thogh ye badde be to the ful loth To haten hem yet haue ye no reſon But rather haue of them compaſſion ¶for as ſekeneſſe ye body doth greuance Rygth ſo ys vyce a maner malady The wyche the ſoule oppreſſeth wyth noyance And as we ſholde not demen ſkylefully Hym worthy hate that ſeke ys bodely But rwen rather on hys peynes ſore Then gooſtly languor ſhold ous meuen more ¶Hyt ys not conuenyent to haten ne perſue The ſoules that oppreſſed ben wyth vyce But rather on ther bytter peynes rwe And ho that coude (not meued wyth malyce) That man a menden wyth ful good aduyſe Thogh that he put hym to ful bytter peyn Of cruelte ther may no wyght complayn
Metrū iiij. Capitulū viij. Quid tantos iuuat. Phia Philosophia loquitur. WHat helpeth hyt to meuen or excyte wyth ꝓper handes your happes beſely For yf ye ſeke deth hyt nedeth lyte For he wyl come hymſelfen wyllyngly He taryeth not he ſpedeth hym haſtely Loo ſerpent / Leon / Tygre / Bore / & Bere They ſeketh yow to a racen & to tere ¶And ye wyth ſwerde eche other doth aſſayle For cauſe that your maners ben dyuers Vnryghtuouſly ſo meueth ye batayl wyth enterchaungyng dartes for to perſe your cruelte / your reſon doth reuerſe wolt thou that euery man hys meret had Loo loue the good / & rwe vpon the bad
Proſa v. Capitulū ix. Hinc video inquam. Boecius loquitur. ¶In thys ꝙ I I perceyue euery dele Bothe the myſchef & the welfulneſſe As for the mede of them that worcheth wel And eke of them alſo that done a myſſe But neuertheles alday I ſe wel thys That of fortune to wyche the people hedeth Bothe good & euel ful often tyme procedeth ¶Ne ther ys no wyſe man as I geſſe That rather wolde be poure & nameles And in exyle / than floureſh in ryches In power & in honour to encreſſe And in hys cyte for to dwelle in pece Thys ys the beſt way as I deuyse To profyt by the offyce of the wyſe ¶So may ther blyſſfulneſſe / hyt ys no doute As by the vertu of ther gouernance Be wel tranſfunded in to folke a boute That ben commytted to ther ordynance But than / thys myn hert doth greuance Syth hyt ys ſo that lauful pryſonment Dyuers Ingynnes / peynes & torment ¶For wycked folke were fyrſt ordeyned And vn to them hyt longeth ſkylefully why ys hyt then that good men beth peyned And in ther ſtede oppreſſed greuouſly And mede that to vertu properly Of very ryght ys pertynent & dwe Thes medes haue the wycked & vntrwe ¶What ys the ſkyle of thys confuſyon That ſo vnryghtuous ſemeth for to be Of yow I wolde haue Information For leſſe merueyl ſholde hyt be to me yf al thynges ſtode in thys degre Medled al wyth fortune & wyth chaunce And had at al none other gouernance ¶But god yt ys the gouerner of al Lo maketh me a ſtoned as in this Sith Ioy & welthes often doth befal To good folke. & often tyme y wyſſe The wycked be in care and heuyneſſe And often tyme the badde ther ageyn Ben in there luſtes & the good in peyn ¶But yf ther be ſome ſkyle or euydence why god rewardeth folke in thys manere. As thynketh me ther ys no dyfference But hap and fortune rewleth al y fere Phia Philosophia ) Of thys ꝙ ſche I wōdre nought as here Sith thou ne coudeſt ye ſkyle of ordynance Thogh thou meruele vpon the gouernance ¶And hald hyt foly & confuſyon But thogh to the ye cauſes beth vnknow As of ſo hye a dyſpoſytion wham ſo hym luſt to ſetten hye or low Syth he ys good as thou muſt nedes trow That al gouerneth / take thys for a ſothe That al ys ryghtuous what yt euer he dothe
Metrū v. Capitulum x. Si quis arcturi ſidera Phia Philosophia loquitur. HE that knoweth not the cauſes why Ne how hyt ys / in ſothe he can not ſayn That the ſterre arcturus goeth ſo nye Meuynge a bowte the pole ſouereyn And why Boetes reſteth not hys weyn And he hys flammes plongeth down ſo late And why ſo ſone he ryſeth eſte algate ¶Hyt ys no dowte he ſhal be ſtoned ſone As of the law of hye heuen bryght why that the hornes of the ful mone So infected wyth the derke nyght Becometh pale / & the ſterres lyght wyche that ſhe hydde wyth her bemes clere Dyſcouerynge them / ſhe maketh to ous appere ¶And open errour maketh foules blynd That beteth bras the mone to reſkewen Men wondreth noght vpon the ſtormy wynd That maketh the ſee ſo ferſly for to flowen That doth the brenkes bete & ouerthrowen Ne that the cold forſen clottes grete So ben reſolued by the ſonnes hete ¶The cauſe of thys ys eſy to be feled Thes other ar hyd / therefore ye wonder ſo For al that falleth ſodenly & ſeld Thus wondreth thes meueable folkes loo And yf thys clowdy errour paſſe them fro So that they myght the very cauſes ſe They ſhold not ſemen wonderful to be
Proſa vj. Capitulum xi. Ita eſt inquam. Boecius loquitur. RIght ſo ꝙ I thys wyl I not reuerſe But loo thys gyfte ys youres ſykerly Thes pryme cauſes wyche that ye reherſe And reſons hyd in clowdes myſtycally To maken clere / thys one thyng coueyt I Hyt ys a thyng that trobleth moſt my mynde And wyth merueyl marred / I me fynde Phia Philosophia ) She gan to ſmyle a lytel & ſayd than Thou aſkeſt now of me a queſtyon Loo of the hyeſt thyng that any man May aſken at myn eſtymation Or may perceyue by clere entention To wyche vnnethes may ther ought ſuffyce Of any word that I can the deuyſe ¶Suche ys the mater that we ben a boute The wyche to knowen thou deſyreſt ſo That when we ben delyuered of a doute wythouten nombre ſone ryſeth mo That ben wel nye as hard to a voyden fro As heddes that one dragon encreſſe The ſerpent that was ſlayn of Hercules ¶Ne in thys mater ys none other ende Ne how thes grete doutes to redreſſen But that a lyfly fyre of mannes mynde Muſt myghtly reſtrayn them & repreſſen For otherwyſe thou ſhalt them not expreſſen For loo in thys men vſeth to enquere Thus fel as I ſhal the rehercen here ¶Fyrſt of the wonderful ſymplycyte Of the hye dyuyne purueyance Of fatum that men calleth deſteney Of fortune that ys called ſoden chaunce Of knowyng & of goddes ordynance That ys called predeſtination And eke of fredom of election ¶How hugyous ys thys mater wyth to dele Thou knoweſt hyt wel thy ſelf hyt ys no nay But ſyth hyt ys a parcel of thyn hele To knowen thys / I ſhal do what I may Thou that the tyme be ſhort I ſhal a ſay Syth I haue ſayd the ſomwhat here before I ſhal my ſelf enforcen furdermore ¶And thogh ſo be that muſyke the delyte And metre ys ful luſty to thyn ere As for a tyme that luſt muſt thou reſpyte The whyle that I in ordre knette in fere My reſons wyche I ſhal the ſhewen here Boeciꝰ) Ryght as ye luſt ꝙ I / & ſhe began As hyt were al a nother proceſſe than Phia Philosophia ) Loo euery kendly generation Of al thynges be they more or leſſe And euery natural progreſſ you That in hys beyng hathe chaungeableneſſe And what that euer hyt be that meued ys Ther ordre / forme & cauſes forthe ben broght Fro the ſtable hye dyuyne thoght ¶Thys ſouereyn thoght that al doth ſo deuyſe Set in the toure of hye ſymplycyte Hathe ordeyned many dyuers maner wyſe To thynges that ben don / loo wylt thou ſe And yf thys maner of deſpoſytion referred be Vn to the pure dyuyne intellygence Than ys hyt purueyance or preſcience ¶But when thys ſame maner referred ys To thynges that ben meued & gouerned As olde men haue called hyt er thys Than ys hyt deſteny as I haue lerned Ful ſone ys thys dyuerſyte dyſcerned Of hym that ſeeth the myghtes of them bothe And eſely he ſhal wel ſe the ſothe ¶For purueyance loo ys that reſon hye Of good our aller prynce ſouereyn By wyche / al he deſpoſeth myghtely But deſteny the very ſothe to ſayn Loo ys that dyſpoſytion certeyn wyche thes thynges ben annexed to That of ther kendes ben meueable ſo ¶By wyche the hye dyuyne preſcience Al thynges in ther ordynance enlaceth Thys purueyance loo hath thys excellence That al thyng at ones he enbraceth Fro hys preſence ys no thynge that paſſeth Thogh they be Infynyte & endles Yet al he comprehendeth neuertheles ¶But deſteny in certen tyme & ſpace Syngulerly dyuydeth euery dele Deſpoſyng hyt in meuyng tyme & place And when that thys deſpoſyng temporel Is comprehended & referred wel Vn to the onehed of goddes gouernance Than ys hyt ſothly called purueyance ¶But for to haue conſyderation How they dyuyded in dyuers tymes be That ſelf ordre of thys deſpoſytion Than ys hyt hothly called deſteny And thogh they haue ſuche dyuerſyte yet neuertheles ther may no thyng be ſother Then yt one of them dependeth of ye other ¶For of ye ſymplycyte of purveyance Thys ordre fatal certen doth procede Ther ys the forme of al that ordynance Ryght as a crafty man that wyl hym ſpede A worke to maken / fyrſt he taketh hede And al the ſhappe deſpoſeth in hys mynde And ſyth the effect he bryngeth to the ende ¶As he hath fyrſt deuyſed euery dele And in hys thoght enprented ſymplely He bryngeth forthe by ordre temporel Ryght ſo god al purueyeth ſyngulerly And to be don deſpoſeth ſtablely And when hyt fully ys deſpoſed ſo By deſteny he maketh hyt to be do ¶And whether thys exercyſe deſtynal By any ſpyrytes of the heuen on hye That to thys purueyance entendeth al Or yf the ſoule doth hyt verely Or elles nature doth hyt kendly Or the meuyng of the ſterres bryght Or elles angeles of the heuen lyght ¶Other elles by the fendes beſyneſſe By ſom of thes other by al in fere Thys ordre deſtynal performed ys yet loo thys ys ful open & ful clere And nedes hyt muſt be ſo in al manere That the ſtable & ſymple ordynance Of thyng to don ys called purueyance ¶But loo / the proceſſe of ſucceſſyon In wyche they ben performed ſuyngly By the ſymple dyſpoſytion Fore ſeyn of god be forn eternally Loo deſteny men calle hyt ſykerly So al that euer ys vnder deſteny So muſt hyt vnder purueyance be ¶As ys the ſelf deſteny alſo And to that ſelf purueyance bothe Som thynges ben ſubiect that ben y do As after thys I ſhal declaren to the That a geyn ſtondeth deſteny for ſothe And ſome to god approcheth ſo by loue That ordre deſtynal they paſſe a boue ¶As dyuers compace on one poynt y pyght Vpon the centre tornyng al a boute The Innermeſt compace to thy ſyght The wyche nexte to the centre ys wythoute A centre wyl hyt ſeme / hyt ys no doute And ſemeth as hyt meueth neuer a dele A boute wyche ſo meueth al the whyle ¶But thys vttermeſt circumference That to thy ſyght ys largeſt in compace And ferreſt fro thys poynt in dyfference So muſt he meuen in a larger ſpace And he that negheth to that myddel place Compreſſed next to that ſymplycyte He ceſſeth for to meuen as ſemeth the ¶By lekely reſon he that ferreſt fleteth Fro the ſouereyn thoght of god on hye To deſteny the faſter he hym knetteth And he that can & wyl approchen nye Thys ſouereyn centre-god ententyfly The more he ſtondeth in fredom & in eſe That deſteny ſhal lytel hym deſeſe ¶Ryght as dyſcours of reſon may not be mete Vn to the Intellect of mannes mynde Ne thyng that ys / to thyng that ys not yete Ne a lytel ſtound to tyme wythouten ende May not be leke in worthyneſſe of kende But as the poynt to the circumference Betwene them ys an hugey dyfference ¶Ryght ſo thys fatayl mutabylyte That alway ys ſo ful of varyance Referred to the hye ſymplycyte Of the ſtable & ſouereyn purueyance wyche that heuens hathe in gouernance He meueth ſterres / he tempereth elementes Tranſformyng them by enterchaungementes ¶And al yt nature doth on erthe brede And ſo bydeth / ſhal fallen downe efte ſone Renewyng them by frutes & by ſede He ſeeth alſo the workes that ye done And fortunes he gouerneth euerych one Conſtreynynge wyth an Inſoluble bonde Of cauſes wyche that may not be wythſtonde ¶And ſyth thes cauſes paſſen fro ſo hye A grounde / as purueyance vnuaryable Than may I ſay ful wel & ſothfaſtly That nedes muſt hyt ben vntranſmutable That gouernance / & moſt profytable when thys ſymplycyte of dyuyne thoght Ordeyneth cauſes wyche that fayleth noght ¶Thus in a certeyn ordre ſothe to ſayn That ſtedfaſt ys & hyt may faylen neuer And but thys ordre gouerne & refrayn Thys wordly thynges wyche that chaungeth euer Ful ſone they ſhal dyſſoluen & deſſeuer Fletynge / ryght as thynge of no valour And whaueryng ſo wythouten gouernour ¶And thogh ſo be that we may not beholde The cauſes of thys deſpoſytion Ne ſe the ſkyleful ordre as we ſholde Ther fore be we in perturbation Hyt ſemeth ous errour & confuſion Yet ys hyt dreſſed yf we vnderſtode And wel deſpoſed euery dele to good ¶For cauſe of euel ys no thyng verely Performed of the worſt man that ys For as I haue declared plenerly They ſeketh good / but they ben led a myſſe By errour of ther owne wrecchedneſſe For why that ordre wyche that doth procede Fro ſouereyn good / hyt may no wyght myſlede ¶But vn to thys perauenture wylt thou ſay What confuſion may ther wors be Syth good & badde indyfferent alday Now haue they welthe & now aduerſyte Now that they loue / now yt they wolden fle But wylt thou trow that men be now ſo wyſe That euery thyng muſt be as they deuyſe ¶As whom them luſt to Iugen good or badde Of very force hyt muſt be nedes ſo In mannes dome dyſcorde ful ofte ys hadde For of thes one man / thes wyl demen loo That he ys worthy moche peyn & woo And thes wyl deme hym worthy thanke & mede And yet the one muſt be deceyued nede ¶But lete ous graunten here that any wyght The good & badde may verely dyſcerne Now troweſt thou yt they ben of ſuche a myght For to enſerche the Innermeſt thoght Of mannes goſt & al that he hath wroght And clerely Iugen therof euery dowte As men ar wont of bodyes here wythoute ¶As for to Iuge ther attemperure Of dyuerſyte of ther complexion As gretly wondreth euery creature That knoweth not by clere inſpection Ther kendes ne ther dyſpoſytions why thes accordeth wel wyth thynges ſwete Thes other moſt haue ſowre & ſwete forlete ¶And ſeke folkes ben y cured ofte Somme wyth ſharpe thynges ſykerly And ſomme by thynge that eſy ys & ſofte But thys the leche knoweth verely That knoweth the maner of the malady Ther temperure & maner of ther hele Of thys dyſcorde he wondreth neuer a dele ¶And what may be the helthe of thy corage But honeſte & vertu moſt of pryce what ſekeneſſe may thy ſoule do damage But vnhoneſte & curſedneſſe of vyce But now what creature may be ſo wyſe To ſauen helthe & a voyden heuyneſſe No wyght but god in certen as I geſſe ¶He ys the very leche of mannes mynde That fro the waytyng of hys purueyance He ſeeth what ys acordant to the kende Of euerych that he hathe in gouernance And for them ſo he maketh ordynance To euerych as belongeth to hys helthe whether that ye deme hyt woo or welthe ¶Than ys thys noble wondre to your thoght And merueyl of thys ordre deſtynal when god al cōnynge / hathe that work y wroght Hyt ſtoneth them that knoweth noght at al For mannes connyng certen ys but ſmal And mannes reſon lytel may dyffyne Of thynges in the ſouereyn thoght dyuyne ¶Perauenture thou wylt demen of a wyght That he ys Iuſt & trwe in hys entent yet in the purueyance of goddes ſyght Ther falleth al a nother Iugement And a dome that ys fer dyfferent Loo as Lucanus my famylyer In hys bokes wrote of thys mater ¶The cauſe conuyct as Cato gan deuyſe He demed beſt / that was Pompeius But loo the goddes Iuged other wyſe They demed Iuſt the cauſe of Iulius Wherfore they maden hym vyc • oryous So thynges don outwardly to thy ſyght Yet ys hyt don by ordynance of ryght ¶But yet as to thyn opynable wyt Hyt ſemeth ouerthorte confuſyon But perauenture I ſuppoſe yet Here ys ſom man of ſuche condytion That in the dome ys no dyſtynction But god & man accordeth al in one In Iugement that errour ys ther none ¶But vpon happe ſo feynt hys corage ys That yf ther falle hym other than he wolde Hyt ſholde hym cauſen for to don a myſſe And to forlete hys good cuſtumes olde By wyche / fortune myght he not wyth holde wher fore the wyſe dyſpenſation Regardynge to hys dyſpoſytion ¶And ſeyng that by ſuche aduerſyte He ſholde be moche apeyred & y ſhent For why he ſpareth hym of hys pyte And geueth hym ſo as ys conuenyent That he may kepe hym tru & Innocent And thes loo ſtont in vertu perfetly And as a ſaynt ys Ioyned god ful nye ¶Of thes the hye dyuyne purueyance Wold deme hyt as for ſynne & felony To put vpon hym harmes or greuance He wyl hym noght be harmed bodely Ne be deſeſed by no malady Thus ſayd one that of wyſedom was fulfylled That vertu hathe a ſayntes body bylded ¶And often when aſtate of worthyneſſe And gouernance ys geuen to the wyſe That ys for to rebuken & repreſſe The vyce that wold encreſſen & a ryſe And ſom he ruleth in a nother wyſe And as hym leketh enterchaungeth bothe Ryght as beſt ys for them hyt ys the ſothe ¶And ſom he ſuffreth ſoftly to be greued Leſt they outrage in ther welthes long And ſom wyth ſharpe ſhowres to be meued That vertu of ther corage euer a mong By vſe of pacyence be preued ſtrong And be confermed by that exercyſe And ſom becauſe of very cowardyce ¶Ful nedeles of moche thyng they drede wyche they may wel performe ye ſothe to ſayn And thes loo ys ful hardy in hys dede Preſumyng more then he may ſuſteyne To thes expedyent hyt ys ther a geyn To know them ſelfen by experyence And thes loo for a name of excellence ¶Ful manly wyth deth he hath hyt boght And ſo he hath ſuſteyned peynes ſore As for exſample euer to be thoght That men may ſeyn by thynges don be fore That vertu hathe Inuict ben euermore And ys not harmed by aduerſyte But yf defaute of men them ſelfen be ¶How ryghtuouſly deſpoſed al a bowte And loo how wel thes thynges ben y do Ho ſo loketh thys / he may not ben in dowte And for ther profet wham they falleth to For to the wycked that betydeth ſo That now they haue deſeſe & now ther luſt To thes ſame cauſes may be wyſte ¶But when they ben in peynes & dyſtreſſe Ther ys no wyght that wondreth neuer a dele For why they al wyl ſuppoſe & geſſe That 〈◊〉 peynes were deſerued wel And thes peynes that thes wrecches fele Maketh other wrecches peynes for to fere And often foule vyces to forbere ¶And alſo for ther awne amendement But thynges fallyng luſty to ther chyre Hyt geueth men a myghty argument what they ſhold demen of thes welthes here Syth they to wrecches be famylyer And certenly I ſuppoſe as in thys That god deſpenſeth wyth ther frowardneſſe ¶For ſom men ben ther loo perauenture That ben ſo importune in ther malyce And eke ſo ouerthrowyng of nature That nede them maketh fallen in to vyce But than thys preſcyence that ys ſo wyſe A genſt the perel of thys malady By wordly plentey maketh remedy ¶Loo thes behaldeth on hys conſciens Defouled ſo wyth ſynne & curſedhede And ſeyth how grete a dyſconuenyence Than ys betwene hys fortune & hys dede Perauenture he falleth ſo in drede Leſt that the vſe of thyng that doth hym eſe He may forfete & by hys ſynnes leſe ¶He chaungeth than hys cuſtomes euerychone Hym fereth ſo hys fortune to forlete And al hys vyces he forſaketh ſone And thes hath loo thes wordly welthes grete To wyche in ſothe hys meret ys vnmete And ſodenly the wrecche ys ouerthrowen And ſet at noght as hys deſertes awen ¶And ſom haue pouer & auctoryte Loo whom them luſt to punyſſhen & dyſtrayn So that hyt may vn to the good be An exercyſe of vertu the ſothe to ſayn And to the wycked man a cauſe of peyn For ryght as good & bad dyſcordeth euer Ryght ſo bad them ſelfe accordeth neuer And why not / ſyth hyt falteth euery day That they dyſcorden in them ſelfen ſo Ther conſcience repreueth them alway And often tyme hyt falleth that they do Som dede / yt when the tyme ys ouer go Them ſelf they demeth in ther awne thought That better had that dede ben vnwroght ¶Thys purueyaunce yf ye hyt vnderſtode Hyt worcheth here a wonder to your hert By bad men the bad he maketh good And fro ther vyces wonderly conuert For when the foules fele them felfen ſmert when other wrecches hathe them harmed ſore Hyt falleth that they hateth them ther fore ¶And whyle they coueyt vn to ſ • che men To be vnleke / that vſeth ſuche vnryght To frute of vertu they reſorteth than For only thys ys thyng of goddes myght Ryght as hyt leketh hym / hyt ys but lyght That bad thyng ys good as he deuyſeth when good effectes of the bad a ryſeth ¶For why in ordre al thyng embraceth And what that fleteth fro thys ordynance In to another ordre than hyt paſſeth For in the realme of certen purueyaunce That myghty god hath in hys gouernaunce Ther may no thyng be done vncertenly Ne but hyt haue a ſkyleful cauſe why ¶For vn to man in ſothe hyt langeth not To know al hys wonderful engyne As of the workes wyche that ben y wroght So by the hye purueyaunce dyuyne Ne them wyth wordes fully dyffyne No creature hathe that habylyte But only thys ſuffyſeth / hyt to ſe ¶That god the fyrſt founder of nature Al thyng to good deſpoſeth he & dreſſeth So fer forthe that in euery creature The lekeneſſe of hym ſelf he empreſſeth And for to kepen thys / loo he repreſſeth Al wycked thynges fro hys gouernaunce A voydyng hyt by fatal ordynaunce ¶For why yf thou marke wel in thy mynde The purueyaunce that al thyng deſpoſeth Ther ys no thyng that yu ſhalt bad fynd Thogh ſo be yt thy wyttes ſo ſuppoſeth For euery thyng wythyn hyt ſelf encloſeth Som maner cauſe of good hyt ys no drede wher of ſom other goodes ſhal procede ¶But yet whyler I ſaw the wexen faynt As for the wyghtes of my queſtyon Thys long proceſſe hathe the ſore atteynt Som ſwete thyng of delectation Thou aſkeſt for a recreation Haue taſt of thys & ſtrenger ſhalt thou be Than / & hegher to aſcende after me
Metrū vj. Capitulum xj. Si vis celſi iura tonātis. Phia Philosophia loquitur. TOo yf thou wylt behold ententyfly wyth al the clere myghtes of thy mend The lawes of our ſouereyn god on hey Vp in to heuen thou muſt thy wyttes ſend There euery thyng doth kepe hys cours of kende The ſterres wyth a ryghtuous allyaunce They kepeth there ther olde gouernauuce ¶And loo the bryght ſonne hyt ys no doute The cold mone letteth neuer a dele And Vrſa wyche that meueth rounde a boute The pole artyke ryght as hyt were a whele Her olde cours ſhe kepeth wonder wele Thogh other ſterres meue in to the weſt To a byden ther a boue ſhe leketh beſt ¶And Heſperus the eue ſterre clere Loo ſheweth hym ſelf before the derke nyght And the luſtey ſterre Lucifer He bryngeth by eſte a geyn the day lyght Thys perdurable cours they kepeth ryght Thus al dyſcord by enterchaunged loue Loo ys exyled from the heuen a boue ¶Thys ſame accorde of loue by ſtoundes mete Attempereth eke the fyghtyng elementes That drouth may accorde wyth the wete That hete & colde may haue conuenyence And though they kepe ther kendly reſiſtence The lyght fyre yet algates vp aſceudeth And the heuy erthe contrary way deſcendeth ¶And by cauſes of the ſelf reſon Swete floures ſpryngeth luſtely In the fayre fyrſt ſomer ſeaſon And ſo the hote ſomer ſuyngly Maketh the corn to rypen haſtely And ſo autumpnus bryngeth forth hys blede Luſty frutes folkes for to fede ¶Thys ſame attemperaunce hyt ys no nay The wynter ſo be dweth wyth the rayn Al leuyng thyng hyt noryſſeth ſoth to ſay And efte wyth deth retorneth downe a geyn The whyles ſytteth the maker ſouereyn welle & grounde both lorde & kyng ys he Law / & wyſe Iuge of equyte ¶The reynes of the world he hath in hand So makyng hyt to meuen & to go A reſtyng efte he maketh hyt to ſtande For thyng that fletteh euer to & fro But yf that he enſtabelyſſhe hyt ſo Compellyng hyt to meuen in to rounde Hyt muſt nedes faylen fro hys grounde ¶And fro the ordre wyche they now obſerue Thys loue comen to euery creature Coueyteth them to kepen & conſerue The ende of good that ground ys of nature For in other wyſe may they not endure But loue retorne them in to vnyte Of god on hye that cauſed them to be
Proſa vij. Capitulū xiij. Iam ne igitur vides. Phia Philosophia loquitur. ANd ſeyſt thou not ꝙ ſhe what ſueth here Vpon al that we haue reherſed now Boeꝰ Boecius ) I aſked what phia) ꝙ ſhe yt ys ful That al fortune ys good boeꝰ) y aſked how (clere Phia Philosophia ) Ful ſone ꝙ ſhe that ſhal I ſhew the now Thou vnderſtandeſt wel that thys ys ſothe That euery fortune Iuſtey ys or lothe ¶Yet ben they geuen for an exercyſe Of vertu to the good or elles thus As for a guerdonyng vn to the wyſe Or they ben geuen to the vycyous To punyſhe them that ben malycyous Or to correct them of ther myſdede Thys ys the very cauſe hyt ys no drede ¶And al that euer ys Juſt & profytable wylt thou not hold hyt good Boeꝰ Boecius ) I ſayd yes For why hyt ſueth ryght as reſonable To that ye haue reherſed here y wys Of purueyance & deſteny er thys Ful fermely your ſentence ys y knytte But ſaeth me one thyng yf yow leketh yet ¶As ye haue put be fore a lytel er Acounteth fortune now in thys degre ye ſayden that a rude comyner Can not beleue / ne wyl hyt not ſe Phia Philosophia ) And wherto ſhal I ſpeke of that ꝙ ſhe Boeꝰ ꝙ I thys ſpeche of men ys vſed wyde That euel fortune to ſom men doth betyde Phia Philosophia ) And wylt yu ꝙ ſhe yt we negh nere Vn to the comen vſed ſpeche than Leſt them ſeme that I go to ferre A bouen al the comen vſe of man Boeꝰ Boecius ) As leketh yow ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) & ſhe began Demeſt yu not good that cauſeth good to encreſſe Boeꝰ Boecius ) yes ꝙ I for ſothe I may Iuge no leſſe Phia Philosophia ) Now al that vertu ys enforced by Other that correcteth any dede Doth hyt not profyten) Boecius) yes ꝙ I Phia Philosophia ) Than ys hyt good ꝙ ſhe wythouten drede Boecius) In ſothe ꝙ I thys muſt I graūten nede Phia Philosophia ) But thys ꝙ ſhe to them dothe aperteyn That grounded ben in vertu ye ſothe to ſeyn ¶That taketh bateyl wyth ſuche auentures whythſtandyng them wyth myghty pacience Or hyt perteyneth to tho creatures That haue ledde ther lyffe in inſolence And ſo to vertu doth ther dylygence Ther to enforſed wyth aduerſyte Boecius) & thys ꝙ I may not denyed be Phia Philosophia ) But when ꝙ ſhe fortune of luſtyneſſe To good men ys geuen for ther mede Is hyt then bad? wyl thes folkes geſſe Boeꝰ Boecius ) I ſayd nay ful ryght they wyl hyt rede That thys fortune ys good wythouten drede Phia Philosophia ) And what ꝙ ſhe when fortune anguyſous Is beſtowed vpon the vycyous ¶To peyn them for ther ſynnes ryghtuouſly whether wyl they deme hyt good or noght Boeꝰ Boecius ) Good wyl they not Iugen hyt ꝙ I But wrecchedneſſe ye worſt that may be thoght Phia Philosophia ) Behald ꝙ ſhe now where we ben y broght As ſuynge thys vulgare opynyon In to a meruelous concluſyon Boeꝰ Boecius ) I aſked what Phia Philosophia ) hyt ſueth here ꝙ ſhe Of that we haue confeſſed plenerly Lo that ther may no wycked fortune be To ſuche that haveth vertu perfetly Or to tho that encreſſeth ought ther by Or tho that doth in vertu fyrſt begynne To vertu ſo conuerted fro ther ſynne ¶And they that dwelleth in ther wyckedneſſe what fortune that them falle of wel or woo Hyt ys myſchef to them & wrecchedneſſe Boeꝰ Boecius ) In ſothe ꝙ I hyt ſueth wel ther to Thogh no man wyl hyt graunt yet ys hyt ſo Phia Philosophia ) For why ſhe ſayd a wyſe & perfet man Sholde not ſo ſore grogen than ¶When fortune as a foo doth hem aſſayle Ryght as a ſtrong man ſholde hym not dyſdeyn When that he hyreth rumour of batayl But therof ſhold he be ful glad & fayn For ſuche deſtreſſe a mater ys certeyn For to conferme thes one in ſapience Thes other in aſtate of excellence ¶For then her name vertu vſeth ryght Al only when hyt ſtont in thys degre when hyt enforceth of hys propre myght To be not ouerthroen by aduerſyte And to yow that in encrece of vertu be Hyt belongeth not to lede a luſty lyffe wyth euery fortune haue ye taken ſtryffe ¶And a bateyl wonder ſharpe & kene Loke how ye can yow kepe in thys dyſtreſſe To ſet your ſelfen in a myghty mene So that her ſorowes no thyng yow oppreſſe Ne that ye be not by her luſtyneſſe Corrupt / for al that a boue thys mene a ryſeth Or ys benethe / felycyte deſpyſeth ¶And ſhal no mede as for hys labour take For in your awne handes put ys hyt your propre fortune / wyche ye wyl make For yf hyt ſeme ſharpe vn to your wyt Loo exercyſe of vertu geueth hyt Or elles yow conuerteth fro your ſynne Or punyſſeth yow that wyl a byde theryn
AGamenon the vengeour of heleyue A bateyl held of ȝerus twyes fyue So he deſtroyed troy & wanne a geyn The ſame helyue yt was hys brod wyffe But when he fyrſt gan ſtyre hym to that ſtryffe Hym lacked wynde to ſayle on the flod And ſone he boght hyt wyth hys doghter blod ¶And ſo he made hym ſelfen pyteles In ſacryfyce he ſloo hys doghter dere Alſo when that noble Vlixes In the ſee had ſayled many yere He wepte hys mayne wyth a ruthful chere For Poliphemus daryng in hys denne So ferſly had deuoured al hys men ¶But Vlixes ful warely gan eſpye whan that thys Poliphemus was a ſlepe And ſodenly than put he oute hys ye And Poliphemus tho be gan to lepe And for malyce & anguyſhe weyle & wepe wher of Vlixes was ful blythe & gladde In vengeance of the harmes that he hadde ¶And Hercules gate hym a noble name By labours wyche that hard were & grete Fyrſt the proude Centaurus made he tame The Lyon fers out of hys ſkynne he gete And Arpyas eke wyth aroes he ſhete And golden apples wych the dragon kepte He gate them whyle the cruel dragon ſlepte ¶And Cerberus the foule hounde of helle wyth a thre folde cheyn he bounde ful laſt And dyomede the tyrant fers & fel He made hys horſe deuoure hym at laſt Vpon the ſerpent Idra fyre he caſt And ſo he brent hym in to aſches colde That no man hys venem noyen ſhold ¶When Achilaus made hym ſelf by craft I leke to a bole wyth Hercules to fyght Than Hercules hys hornes hym be raft And fully hym deſpoyled of hys myght Achilaus in to a ryuer ryght For ſhame he lepte & hyd hym ſelfen there And on the lande he darſt no more apere ¶Antheus the geaunt of Libie That on the grounde hys myghtes wolde renwe Thus Hercules hym ſloo ful manfully Vpon hys breſt & to the grounde hym thrwe And Cakus the thefe that was vntrwe He ſloo / & Euanderus Ire he peſed That of Cakus often was deſeſed ¶And ouer thys he ſloo the myghty bore wyth hoos foom hys ſhulders marked were But than hys laſt labour furdermore was when he on hys necke heuens bere And of thys labour he deſerued there That heuen for to haue to hys mede ye myghty men to thys ye taketh hede ¶Now haſteth yow the hye way to wende Ryght as ye may by thys exſample ſe ye nyce men & maſed in your mynde why wyl ye not fyght a genſte aduerſyte wyth vertu / ſyth ye may ſo ſyker be Ho ſo in erthe hathe the victory He ſhal be worthy to the heuen on hye
Explicit Liber Quartus.

¶In thys chapytre Philoſophia confermeth her exhortation / by exſā ple of iii. myghty men / of ſynguler dedes that they had done. Agamenon. Vlixes. & Hercules. And for cauſe often tymes men eſchevveth grete actes for lacke of corage / vvyche corage ys blemeſſhed or oppreſſed: by iii. thynges in ſpecyal. Ther fore he reherſeth of thes vverryours, certen dedes / in vvyche they ſhevved the myght of ther corage not hurt ne blemeſſhed by none of thes cauſes. One thyng ys that often letteth & vvythdraeth the force of mānes corage / fro myghty and manly dedes / that ys tendreneſſe of herte and affection that he hathe other to vvordly thynges vvyche he delyteth vpon / Other to vvyffe & chyldren / kynred / or frenſhyppe / vvyche he kepeth not to dyſpleſe in vvythdrayng hys preſence / nether in any other thyng / that myght be cauſe of mornyng or heuyneſſe. But a geynſt thys carnalyte / he putteth the exſample of Agamenon. That vvhen he vvas ſaylynge tovvardes the ſege • of Troye / vvhen he came to the Ile of Aulydes / hym lacked vvynde. Then vvas hyt ſhevved hym by vvycches & dyuynours / that yf he vvolde haue vvynde: he muſt ſlee hys doghter Ephigenie / & brenne her in ſacryfyce to the pleſance of Dyane. And not vvythſtandyng that he loued hys doghter paſſyng al thynge / yet in hope of vyctory / he put a vvay the tendreneſſe of faderly affection / and made hys hert pyteles to hys dere doghter / & ſo ſloo her in ſacryfyce.

And ſo had he vvynde to hys vvyl / & ſuyngly the vyctory as he deſyred ¶The ſecond thynge that letteth a mannes corage ys: vvhen he hath ſeyn many peryſhe for a certeyn purpoſe: vvych hym ſelf deſyreth / and fevve or none atteyn hyt vvyth proſperyte. A geyn thys a baſſhement / he putteth the ſecond exſample of Vlixes. vvyche vvhen he had x. yeres erred ſaylyng in the ſee after the deſtruction of Troye & ſuffred many myſſe aduentures / & ſpecyally in tranſformation & leſynge of hys feloſhyppe: by the curſed enchauntereſſe Circes. Here he tellethe hovv the grete gyant Poliphemus vvyth one yee in hys frount / had deuored & deſtroyed hys people / And not vvythſtandynge the myſcheffe that al hys people had ſuffered / yet Vlixes a baſſhed hym noght / but vvayted vvhen thys gyant vvas a ſlepe / & ſodenly put oute hys yee: And theu vvas he ſyker of hym / that he myght harme hym no more. & ſo he venged the morder of hys meyne▪ ¶The moralyte of thys fable / ys thys. Poliphemus ys as moche to ſay / as leſynge of fame: And he that recketh not of hys fame / may vvel be called one yeed. For he regardeth not that ys to come: ne that ys paſſed. but only to hys preſent luſtes. But Vlixes the vvyſe man / hathe regard bothe to that ys gon: & to that that ys to come / & quencheth in hym ſelf thys one ys of thes preſent luſtes. And thogh ſo be that al the vvorlde for the more part / by raueſſhynge of thys one ye / pereſſeth / foloynge thes momentaney luſtes: and vnnethes any man ys that can or vvyl refrayn thē: yet Vlixes the vvyſe mā: vvyl ſtoppe thys ye / & not excuſe hym by the comen excuſe of vvrecches ſaynge: Ho ys he that may vvythſtand hys deſyres / ſyth ſo many myghty men & vvyſe haue ben dyſcomfete of ther luſtes. But he vvyl myghtly repreſſe thes paſſyons by good gouernāce▪ And ſo venge hym ſelf vpon hys goſtely enemy.

¶The thyrde thynge that a baſſeth the corage: ys covvardyce: vvhē a mā haldeth hym ſelf vnable to the labour that he puryoſeth / and hys myght vnſuffycyant & vnmete to reſyſte that: that vvythſtandethe hys vvyl & enteut. Agenſte thys covvardyce: philoſophia Inducethe the xii. labours of the myghty man Hercules / vvyche ſemeth to euery mannes hyrynge ferre to excede the myght of any man▪ yet not vvythſtandyng / Hercules a baſſhed neuer hys corage: but myghtely ꝑformed hys entent & purpos. vvherefore as philoſophia concludeth he vvas revvarded vvyth a ſouereyn geft / and made a bryght ſhynyng ſterre in the heuen a boue. ¶By thes myghty manues labours / ys geuen to ous an exſample / that ther may no thynge a baſſhe the corage of a vvyſe man: vvher by he ſholde leue the labour of vertuous leuynge / ne bodely exercyſe in vertu ſhal not ſeme hym ouerhard to hys myght / but that he may performe hys entente & luſt. ſo ſhal hys deſyre be enforced vvyth deſyre & ful hope to heuenly Ioy.

¶The fyrſt labour: the proude Centaurus made he tame: Of thes Centaurus ys ſayd be forn / That Ixion gate them of a cloude / vvhen he vvolde haue oypreſſed Iuno. But vvhat vvyſe that Hercules tamed them / hyt ys expreſſed by the commentor thus. vvhen that thes Centaurus in a certen tyme vvere come to gedres in the mount of Pheloe to a pley that vvas called Paleſtra / vvyche vve calle vvraſtelyng / Hercules ſo ſore aſſet them in vvraſtelyng / that they bledde. ¶Alſo another tyme Hercules comyng oute of ſpayne vvas logged in the den of Tyro Centaurus that vvas one of the • heffe maſters. And as thys Tyro handeled an aroe / vvyth vvyche Hercules hadde ſlayn a ſerpent the venemous aroe fel vpon hys fote / and made hym a vvonde / that vvas vncurable. The thyrde tyme hyt fel that Hercules vvyth hys loue Deiamra tornyng tovvard hys contre / come to the ryuer of Heuenū / And vvhen he taryed for caryage of hys vvyffe: Neffus Centaurus bade hym ſvvymme ouer before: & he vvold bryng her after. And vvhen that Hercules vvas come to lande / he loked after hys vvyffe / & he ſavv Centaurus a boute for to oppreſſen her / And a none vvyth a venemous aroe he ſhet hym thoro the hert & ſ • vve hym. And thus he tamed the proude Centaurus. ¶To the litceral truthe of thys tale. Ixion that vvas called the fader of the Centaurus / vvas the fyrſt that ordeyned horſemen for to ryde in grece / and gadred of them a hundred & vvaſted ſore the contrey. And vvhen the rude people dyd ſee them ſo ſmartly pry • k • ng in and oute / they vvend hyt had ben beſtes / half hors and half mē. And at laſt thes myghty Hercules faught vvith them & deſtroyed them. ¶By thes Centaurus geten of the cloude may be vnderſtande ſuche men as ben exalted in to hye aſtates / not by meret of ther vertues / but by fauour of lordſhyppe / & by ther vayn pleſaunce. They ben half beſtes & half men / beſtly in ther leuyng / raueners & extorcyoners: & leke men in pleaſaunce to ther lordes Hercules the vertuous ſhal ſpare none offence of ther hye aſtates / ne drede of ther tyrāny / but boldly repreue them of ther vyces / & make them to loke as men ſholde. ¶The ſecond of Hercules vvas that he ſtrepte the Lyon out of hys ſkyn. The truthe of thys labour vvas thys: Ther vvas a paſſyng hugy Lyon in the foreſt of Nemeas: vvyche ſore a frayed the people of the contrey. vvyche Lion hercules ſlvve / & ſtrept the ſkyn: & bare vvyth hym in ſygne of vrctory. By thys Lyon ys vnderſtande / proude & fers tyrantes: that delyteth al in rauen and pylyng of the people / hauyng no pytey vpon the poure. Thes men a vertuous man ſholde ſpoyle of ther poure / & ſuffer none ſuche to bere aſtate of off • ce.

¶The thyrde labour vvas that he ſher the herpyas vvyth aroes.

¶Syneus put oute the yees of hys ſonnes / becauſe they had accuſed ther ſtepmoder of adultery. vvherfore by Jugement of goddes he vvas blynded hym ſelf / and had certen foules aboute hym vvyth mayden heddes / that defoyled hys table & bare a vvay hys mete. Thes foules Hercules ſlvve and droue oute of contrey

¶By thes Herpyas may vvel be vnderſtande rennets or ryders ouer the contre / couered vnder lordſhyp / as menſtrelles & Ioculers and ſuch other / that cometh in to houſeholdes of vvorthy men / & eteth and deuoreth ther vytelles / And but they haue alſo geftes / they vbyl defoule the table / deſpyſyng the perſons / And vvhen they ben paſſed / ſpeke vylenouſly by al the houſehold. Suche people a vertuous man ſholde not cheryſſhe for fere of vvordes / but rebuke them of thys foule maners / and ſo deſtroy that foule vyce and vnhoneſt vſage.

¶The fourth labour vvas: that he gate the golden apples fro the dragon. As Lucanus feyneth Athlaus had vii. doghters / vvyche had a gardenful of golden apples / vvych garden vvas taken to kepe to a dragon / that alvvay vvas vvakyng. But Hercules by crafte made thys dragon to ſlepe / and ſo bare a vvay the apples: and broght them to Euriſteus the kyng. By thes vii. doghters of Athlaus / ben vnderſtande the vii. artes liberal. Thes damſeles haue a garden / that ys the lybrary diſperſe a monges clerkes. Appel trees ben bokes / the apples ben ſotel ſentence of vvyſedom / vvych the vvakynge dragon / that ys the ſenſualyte of man hathe to kepe. vvych ys euer vvakyng to luſtes and delytes / and ſo letteth the ſoule fro connyng. But Hercules the vertuous man oppreſſeth hys ſenſualyte by good gouernaunce ſo that hyt letteth hym noght fro ſtudy / And ſo by hys good beſyneſſe he geteth the frute of al the vii. ſcience.

¶The v. labour vvas vvhen he bound Cerberus the foule hound of helle. Of thes Cerberus the fable ys thys. Pirritous vvold vvedde the quene of helle. And he called Hercules & Theſeus / & other myghty men to helpe hym. And vvhē they came to helle / leſt Cerberus the porter ſholde lette them of ther purpoſe / Hercules bounde hym vvythe a cheyn of adamant: The quene of helle may vvel be called vvordly vvorſhyp / vvych Pirritous deſyreth. But he taketh vvyſe men to hys counſel. And Cerberns vvyth iii. heddes Hercules byndeth / That ys Pryde / Auaryce / and Lechory. Thes iii. hed ſynnes letteth a man to be vvorſhypful / vvhere for the vertuous man byndeth & reſtreyneth them vvyth a treble cheyn of vertues. And vvhen that thes vyces be ſo repreſſed by vertues / a man may not fayle to be vvorſhypful.

¶The vi. labour vvas that he made diomede to be eten of hys avvne hors. The fable ys thys. Diomede kyng of Trace / fedde hys hors vvyth mannes fleſſhe: vvher fore he vſed to ſlee hys geſtes for hys hors. But at laſt came Hercules and ſlvve hym / ▪ And made hys horſe to ete hym. And fynally ſloo the ſame hors. Thys Diomede betokeneth a vvaſtour that pylleth and deſpoyleth the people / for to maynteyn hys grete a ray / vvych paſſeth the ſuffyſaunce of hys aſtate. But a vertuous man ſhal beſey hym ſelf for to deſtroy ſuche maner leuers / & compelle them for to leue by ther avvne good: But vvhen they may not contynue that a ray vvythoute rauen and robbery / ther hors and ther a ray bryngeth them to noght. ſo that of nede they muſt leue hyt and leue as they may. ¶The vii. labour vvas / that he brent the ſerpent Idra. In the ryuer of Lerne vvas a ſerpent vvyth many heddes / And euer yf one vvere cut of / ther vvaxe • ii. ther fore. And vvhen that Hercules had shotte hym & no thyng a vayled / at laſt he made a boute thys ſerpēt a hugey hepe of vood: & after ſet hyt a fyre & ſo brent thys ſerpent. Thys fable ys toched be fore & in part declared ¶The viii. labour ys of Achilaus. the fable ys thys. Hercules and Achilaus vvreſſheled to gether for the mayden Dianer / & vvhen that Achilaus feld hym ſelf at the vvorſe / he torned hym ſelf ſodenly in to a serpēt / & ſlypte out of hys handes. And Hercules eftſones caught hym & vvas in poynt to vvery hym. And then Achilaus torned hym ſelf in to a bole. So Hercules a none toke hym & threvv hym to the ground & breke hys horne. & he for ſhame lepte in to the vvater & hyd hym.

The truthe of thys fable ys thys Achilaus ys a ryuer be tvvene grece & Calcedoyne. In thys Calcedoyne regned a kyng named Genus / hoſe doghter Hercules raueſſhed. And comyng to thys ryuer vvhē he might not paſſe hyt he ſtopped an arme of hyt & dryed hyt / & ſo he paſſed vvith hys loue. By thys kynges doghter may be vnderſtand vertu / vvyche Hercules the myghty man coueyteth for to haue. Achilaus betokeneth the ſenſualyte / vvych in youth hyley vvythſtandeth a man that vvold be vertuous. But fyrſt the ſenſualyte as a ſerpent aſſayleth hym by many ſyde vvayes / And vvhen thys myghty man hath ouercome al tho ſerpentes deceytes / he torneth in to a bole vvyth ii. hornes / Lechory / & Glotony. But thys one horne of Lechory / the vertuous man breketh & vtterly deſtroyeth. & then ys the ſenſualyte ouercome / For the other horne of glotony vvyl lyghtly of a vertuous man be put vnder by good gouernaunce. So thys bole lepeth in to the ryuer. the ſenſualyte ys repreſſed & keleth hym ſelf by penance / and ſo vvynneth the myghty man vertue to hys loue.

¶The ix. labour ys of Antheas the grete geaunt / vvych vvas geten of the erthe / And euer as he toched the erthe / he renued hys ſtrengthe vvyth vvych geaunt Hercules vvraſteled / But alvvay vvhen he ſemed dyſcomfeted / fallyng to ground he became as freſſhe as he vvas before Than Hercules perceuyug thys toke hym in hys armes / & leyd hym on hys breſt / and ſo ſtreyned hym to deth by ſtrengthe: & ſo caſte hym to the grounde / & thus deſtroyed he the geaunt. By thes Antheus may be vnderſtand vvordly couetyce / vvych encreſſeth & renueth hys strēgth by tochyng of the groūd. For couetyce vvyl not be quenched by plenty of vvordly good / but rather ys ther by renued & enforced. Hercules thē the vertuous man / ſtreyneth thys couetyce vvythyn hys breſt / & vvyth draeth hyt vtterly fro vvordly good / & ſo he quencheth the luſt that he had ther on / & putteth hyt holely in vertu & in vvyſedom.

¶The x. labour ys of Cakus the theffe of Libia vvych Hercules dyſcomfeted & ſlvve. The fable ys thys. Ther vvas in the mounte Aucentyne a monſtre / that ſpete fyre at hys mouthe / robbyng & deſpoylyng the people of the contrey. And he vvas the ſonne of Vulcane / by vvhom Euander kyng of the land vvas gretly a noyed. And Hercules comyng by that contre / bryngyng vvyth hym out of ſpayn grete plenty of beſtes / thys Cakus ſtale iiii. bolles & as many keyn: & droe them in to hys den by the tayles bacvvard / that the ſtappes ſholde not be ſeyn Invvard. And Hercules by eſtimation eſpyed vvhere they vvere / and ſo droe Cakus out of hys denne / and ſloo hym. and ſo he eſed the kyng deſtroyng hys enemy. ¶The moralyte ys thus. By thys Cakus may be vnderſtand pryde. He ſpeteth fyre at hys mouthe / hye vvordes of malyce and manace: He ys Vulcanus ſonne. For that vyce ys appropryat to the deuel that fyrſt hyt founde. He vvaſteth and deuoreth and ſteleth al that he may / and ſo harmeth the contre▪ For a proude man vvaſteth moche in hys a ray & other expenſes / that al that ben a boute hym ben noyed ther by. Euander the reſon that ys kyng of the ſoule may not ouercome hym / for he vvyl not vvorche by hym / He dareth in hys den: ſyttyng in mannes hert / he ſteleth iiii. bolles of Hercules he oppreſſeth the iiii. cardynal vertues / & as many keyn / al other vertues that ben vnder them. For a proude man ys myghtles / vntemperate / vnvvare & vnryghtuous. Thys theffe Hercules that ys conſciens eſpyeth: and draeth out thys theffe pryde out of the hert / and ſleyth & deſtroyth hym / and ſo hath he hys beſtes a geyn / that be vertues. And reſon that vvas ouer come / novv regneth in the ſoule as kyng in • pece and reſte.

¶The xi. labour ys of the bore that Hercules ſ • vve. In archadia vvas a myghty bore that vvaſted the regyon ſore. vvych Hercules hunted and at laſt thys bore torned vn to Hercules & ſmote hym in the ſhulder / and marked hyt vvyth the foom of hys mouthe. By thes bore may be vnderſtand the vyce of the fleſſhe / vvyche vvaſteth foule a mā hys ſubſtance: Thes vyces Hercules the myghty chaceth and hunteth / in vvyl to deſtroy them: But thys bore torneth and aſſayleth Hercules: For hyt chaunceth ofte / that a ful myghty man in vertues: that purſueth & hateth al vyces / ys aſſayled & repted vvyth the ſynne of the fleſſhe / & perauenture ys marked fallyng theryn. But one vycyous dede beryueth not the habyte of vertu: but ma ••• h a man more vvare: and dylygent for to kepe hym ſelf / and ſo at laſte he ouercometh hys fleſſhe and ſleyth thys bore of luſte and lekyng.

¶The xii. labour vvas thys: after the fable of Duyde. Athlas the myghty geaunt / in the geauntes batayl / fyghtyng a genſt the goddes aboue / bare heuen vpon hys ſhulder: And vvhen that he ſavve Hercules come to hym / after hys other labours / he vvas vvery of fyghtyng & alſo of thys burden / prayd hym to helpe hym to bere heuen / And he toke and bare hyt myghtely. vvherby he deſerued to be made a fayr ſterre in heuen. The truthe vvas thys. Athlas vvas a cheffe aſtronomer / vvherefore he vvas ſayd that he bare heuen / the connynge of heuenly thynges. But vvhen Athlas dyed / vvych deth ys a reſt and a refreſſhyng to the vertuous / Hercules toke heuen vpon hys ſhulder. The moralyte may be thus. The batayl of geauntes ys the enforſynge of gooſtly myghtes a genſt the goddes a boue / that ys a genſt natural inclination to vyces / vvyche ys cauſed by conſtellations / But a genſt thes inclinations / he may fyght beſt / that hathe connyng of aſtronomy. For to ſerche the myghtes of the planetes for certen tymes / and knovveth alſo hovv thes vycious inclinations becauſed. But at laſt he muſt leue the labour of aſtronomy compelled by age / vvhen al hys paſſyons ben ceſſed: and then Hercules taketh heuen vpon hys ſhulder: and geueth hym holly to heuenly contemplation.

And ſo he deſerueth by thys labour ſpecyally to be made a cyteſen of heuen. ¶Loo thus muſt euery myghty man that vvyl de ſeruen heuen. Fyrſt lothe and abhorre the monſtres of ſynne: bothe in hym ſelf: and alſo in other: and at laſt leuyng al outvvard occupation / geue hym holly to ſerue god: in prayer and contemplation: and ſo many he be ſyker of al that he deſyreth.

¶To vvhom ſo euer the moralyte of thes fables be plefaūt or vnluſty vvere ye vvel that they lacketh al in ſom thynges lytteral truthe. But a fable lackyng lytteral truthe vnexponed: ys noght elles but a leſyng. And as holy ſcripture ſaeth / al that euer doth or ſpeketh leſyng / ſhal be parteners of the pytte of helle. Vvher fore after my ſymple connynge / I haue moralyſed thē in my maner: leuyng the correction to other that ben clerkes and more connyng in that ſcience. For ſyth hyt aperteneth not to holy vvryt: euery man vvythout offence: may ſay that hym ſemeth moſt lekely to truthe.

Explicit Liber quartus.
Sequitur Liber Quintus Boetij de cōſolatone Phie Philosophie .
WHen ſhe had ſayd ſhe gan her ſelfen hye To other thynges treted for to be your noble exhortation ꝙ I Ful worthy hyt ys of hye auctoryte But yet whyle er as I remembre me ye dyd ſpeke of dyuyne preſcience How hard hyt ys I haue experyence ¶And al belapped wyth demaundes fele Encomberous to any mannes wyt Ful daungerous ys that mater wyth to dele But now I pray yow that ye ſay me yet yf happe be ought / what maner thyng ys hyt Phia Philosophia ) I ſpede me ꝙ ſhe for to pay my dette Of thynges that whyle er I the behete ¶And for to ſet the in a redy way So that thou myght retorne in to thy land Thys mater that thou aſkeſt ſothe to ſay Though hyt be good to know & vnderſtand Loo yet thys purpoſe that we haue on hand Somwhat hyt ys impertynent ther to And furdermore hyt ys to drede alſo ¶Leſt of thy wayes that thou faynt & fayle As for thy Iorney that ys ouergone And leſt thou ſuffyſe not to thy traueyle To that thou haſt hereafter for to done Boeꝰ Boecius ) Then drede ye not ꝙ I let me alone For thys ſhal be ryght as a tyme of reſt To hyre of thyng that me delyteth beſt ¶And namely ſyth your proceſſe al a boute By dyſputation ſo formally Concluded ys / hyt may not ben in doute Of that ye wyl enducen ſuyngly Phia Philosophia ) Ryght as yu wylt ꝙ ſhe ryght ſo wyl I And ſhe be gan to declare in thys wyſe what euer he be ꝙ ſhe yt wyl deuyſe ¶That happe ys ſuche a thyng that ſhold be fal wythouten cauſe or ſkyle of gouernaunce Than ſay I thus / that happe ys nought at al But an Idel name & of no vaylaunce Syth god hath ſet al thyng in ordynaunce Now ſhold there any place then be To worken thynges in vncertente ¶For tru • y nogh thys ſentence hath be holde Loo that ther may no thyng be don of nought Thys ſentence reuoked neuer faders olde Of one begynner al thyng muſt be wroght yet thys was not the conceyt of ther thoght Tho al thyng haue a maker pryncypal They dyd mene of ſubiect materyal ¶For that they put as for a fundament And that hath euer reſon of nature Than wyl hyt ſuen clere and conſequent Thys may wel perceyue euery creature yf any thyng were don by aduenture wythouten cauſes wher of to procede Than muſt hyt come of nought hyt ys no drede ¶But ſyth thys may not be in no maner Than happe may not be called ſykerly Suche as we dyffyned haue whyle er Boecius) what ys ther than no maner thyng ꝙ I That chaunce or happe ys called ſkylefully Or ſuche a thyng ther ys to folkē vnknowe wher to thes name belangeth as ye trowe Phia Philosophia ) yes myne Ariſtoteles ꝙ ſhe In hys boke of phyſyke naturel Breffely he ſheweth what thyng hyt ſhold be Ful nye the truthe dyffyneth he hyt ful wel Boeꝰ Boecius ) And how ꝙ I phia) Lo thys ys euery dele ꝙ ſhe that wryteth Ariſtoteles Of thys mater / & hyt ys no les ¶As often as ther ys a worke y wroght As for a certen purpos of entent And then of other cauſes vnbethoght Betydeth other wyſe then was be ment Loo happe thys may be called verament As yf hyt luſt a man to delffe hys lande And hydde theryn a ſomme of golde he founde ¶Of ſuche a thyng men demeth ſykerly Loo that a ſoden aduenture hyt ys yet came hyt not of no thyng pardey But propre cauſes were be forn y wyſſe The concours of wych cauſeth thys But for hyt fel vnware & vnbethought Hyt ſemeth folke that happe • ut hath y wroght ¶For but the telyer had dolue hys ground And eke the hyder put hyt in that ſtede Thou mayſt wel ſeyn the gold had not be found As in that maner wyſe hyt ys no drede Thes cauſes ben of aduenturous dede when that they mete & ben aſſembled ſo wythouten certen purpos to be do ¶For he that dalf & he that hyd hyt there Purpoſed not thou mayſt ſuppoſe hyt wel That gold to haue ben found in that maner Neuer one of them bethoght hyt neuer a dele But ryght as I haue ſayd hyt ſo befel That in the ſame place where thes hyt hyd That other dalf & found as hyt betyde ¶Now then in ſhort to make an ende of al And to make a fynal dyffynytion Loo hap ys ſuche a thyng that doth befalle No thyng purpoſed of entention Of dyuers cauſes metyng in to one In thynges that for ſomwhat were y wroght But vn to that that ys be falle / noght ¶But thys vneſcheuable ordynaunce wyche that the wel hed procedeth fro Of the hye dyuyne purueyaunce wythouten wyche ther may no thyng be do That maketh thes cauſes to concurren ſo That al thyng deſpoſeth kendly In propre place & tymes certenly
Metrum j. Capitulū ij. Rupis achimenie ſcopulis. Phia Philosophia loquitur. TIgris and Eufrates ſpryngeth bothe Out of a cragge rocke of Ermeny Out of one wel hed to ſay the ſothe wher men ben wont to fyghten wonderly In flyght they harmeth them that ſueth nye Ther ſharpe dartes in ther breſt fyxyng So when they fleyth ther foes moſte noyng ¶Thes ryuers bothe ben dyſioyned ſone And renneth in to dyuers ſtremes grete And after that they fallen in to one where that they in a nother place mete The ſhyppes than & ſtockes that ther flete In ether of thes ſtremes doune a long Hyt happeth that they mete euer a mong ¶Thys water thus ImpLyeth & 〈◊〉 Thus medelyng many chaunces fortunel But of that ſhevey erthe hyt ſo behappeth The wych thys water ſueth / wete hyt wel That fletyng ordre ruleth euery dele Ryght ſo ys happe vnruled as demeth ye But neuertheles hyt hath a law of certente
Proſia ij. Capituln̄ iij. Animaduerto inquam. Boecius loquitur. TO thys ꝙ I ful wel acorde I can And yt ye ſay I may hyt wel beleuen But in the ordre of thes cauſes than The wych ſo ſuyngly to gedres cleueu Thys wold I ſe / yf ye coude ſhew or preuen yf in out choys ys any lyberte Other elles that thys cheyn of deſtyne ¶Conſtreyneth al the mouyug of our wyt Phia Philosophia ) ꝙ ſhe in ſothe then were hyt al a myſſe That wyl I ſhew & clerely preuen hyt For why / no kend that reſonable ys whythouten lyberte may ben y wyſſe For al that kendly reſon vſen may May demen & dyſcern hyt ys no nay ¶And by hym ſelf he knoweth kendly what thyng ys to deſyre & what to fleen And what thyng that he demeth verely That worthy ys deſyred for to be That thyng loo ſeketh & deſyreth he And what he Iugeth worthy to be forſake That wyl he leue / & that other take ¶Then euery thyng that reſon hath certen Of wyl & nel hath lyberte ther to But al y leke / in ſothe wyl I not ſayn For dyuyne ſubſtances ſtandeth not ſo The Iugement ys wonder clere of tho Ther wyl ys incorrupt / ther myght ys preſt And ſpedy to al that them leketh beſt ¶But moſte in fredom ys the ſoule of man when he ys ſet in contemplation And fully fyxen al hys thoughtes can In hye dyuyne ſpeculation And leſſe yf that hys occupation In wordly thyng dyſtracteth ought hys mynde And leſſe when fleſly boundes doth hym bynde ¶But when a man ys geuen vn to vyce Than ys he vtterly bound & thralle When he hath ſet hys reſon at no pryſe And wylfully hath lete hyt fro hym falle Hys lyberte ys then leſt of alle When that hys ſyght in wordly wrecchedneſſe Is caſt fro lyght of ſouereyn ſothfaſtneſſe ¶He begenneth then to wexe derke & dulle Of that foule cloude of Ignorance Of foule affections than he ſhal be ful Encombred wyth the vyce of inconſtance That trobeleth hym wyth anguyſſhe & greuance To wych when he conſenteth in hys wyt In ſeruage then hym ſelfen hath he knytte ¶In maner of hys propre lyberte A caytyf ys becommen in conſcience But neuer the later he that al may ſe As by hys hye eternal preſcience Al thyng gouernyng by hys excellence He hyreth & ſeyth wel euery thought & dede And ſo he wyl deſpoſen for ther mede
Metrū ij. Puro clarū lumie. Phia. Philosophia THe noble poet hony mouthe Omere Loo of the ſonne ſyngeth on thys wyſe And ſayth / for al hys bryght bemes clere The ſee / ne lande yet may he not ſuffyſe To perſen thorugh / ſo may we not deuyſe Of hym that hath thys wyde world y wroght The heuy erthe hym wythſtandeth noght ¶Fro fer & hye al thyng he ſeyth a none He ys not let by cloudes of the nyght For al that ys / was / or ſhal be done At ones ys hyt al beforn hys ſyght Syth he alone wyth hys bemes bryght So al thynges may behald & ſe We may wel ſayn a very ſonne ys he
Proſa iij. Capitulū v. Tum ego en inquā. Boecius loquitur. I ſayd then / a gretter doute now Confoundeth me then dyd be fore y wyſſe Phia Philosophia ) Of what ꝙ ſhe art yu in doute now Now ryght in ſothe coniect I what hyt ys Boecius) full hugely ꝙ I repugneth thys That god may knowen al thyng er hyt be And that our wyl may ſtande at lyberte ¶Syth god be forn ſeyth al that ſhal be do And hys ſyght loo may be deceyued nought Of very fors then nede hyt muſt be ſo That preſcience hath ſeyn yt ys to be wroght And not only worke / but wylle & thoght Of euery wyght he knoweth plenerly Than ys no fredom in our arbytry ¶For why ther may be nother thoght ne dede That pnrueyaunce beforn ne ſeyth hyt al He fayleth not ther of / hyt ys no drede But al that euer he wote betyden ſhal Al that he ſeyth beforn hyt muſt befalle And yf hyt may be torned other wyſe Hyt was not ſeyn be fore at my deuyſe ¶Than ſhal thys be no very preſcience But as an vncerten opynyon But ſykerly thys were a foule offence Of god to felen that concluſyon And ſomme men ſuppoſeth that thys queſtyon May ben aſſoyled thus / as they beleue But ther reſons can I not apprene ¶Loo thus they ſayn / a thyng that ſhal betyde Betydeth not for god prouydeth ſo But god that thyng to commen doth prouyde And ſeyth beforn al thyng that ſhal be do And thus a geynward ſholde the cauſes go That god foreſeyth thys thyng yt ſhal be wroght But of nede hyt ſhal vetyde nought ¶They ſayn alſo that thyng yt ſhal befalle In goddes ſyght prouyded ys hyt nede Loo thys aunſwere aſſoyleth nought at al Thys doutful queſtyon hyt ys no drede Only to thys entente hyt doth procede Loo of ij. dyuers thynges to enquere wych of them the cauſe of other were ¶Whether that the preſcience of god a lone Cauſeth thyng to fallen nedely Other elles thyng that nedes ſhal be don Loo cauſeth preſcience in god on hye Thys ys no very aunſwere ſykerly To that that I entend for to ſhew But neuertheles my purpoſe ſtandeth true ¶How euer hyt ſtandeth of thys ordynaunce That wych of thes the cauſe of other be A thyng that ys forſeyn by purueyaunce Of nede hyt muſt betyde as ſemeth me Thogh hyt be ſo that thys neceſſyre Be not y cauſed of thys preſc • ence As in effect ther ys no dyfference ¶As yf I ſytte & thou ſuppoſeſt hyt Than nedes ſothe ys thyn opynyon But my ſyttyng ys not cauſed yet As nedeful by thy eſtimation And ryght ſo yf thou torne hyt vp ſo downe yf thou ſuppoſeſt ſothe of that I do Eke of neceſſyte than ys hyt ſo ¶Neceſſyte then muſt ther ben in bothe Vn to that poynt loo here we ben y broght In me of ſyttyng & in the of ſothe yet woteſt thou wel that therfore ſytte I noght As for that ſothe opynyon in thy thought But rather thus / be cauſe that I ſate Loo thyn opyuyon was ſothe in that ¶Than ys thys truthe cauſed of the dede And ſo in bothe ther ys neceſſyte Loo in the ſame wyſe we may procede Of thys purueyaunce as ſemeth me For cauſe thes thynges ſhal here after be Ther fore by purueyaunce he ſeyth hyt al And yet ther fore doth hyt not befalle ¶And neuer the later al that ſhal betyde Of god hyt ys prouyded nedefully And efte a geyn al that he doth prouyde Of nede hyt doth befallen certenly And al the fredom of our arbytry Loo thys ſuffyſeth to deſtroyen clene Here apereth wel how maſedly we mene ¶That aduenture of thynges temporel Shold cauſen hys eternal preſcience But thys wold ben a foly thyng to fele wyth reſon hath hyt no conuenyence For hyt wold ſuen of ther euydence That thynges paſt long tyme ſeyn Shold cauſen god that ys our ſouereyn ¶As yf I know a thyng that preſent ys whyle I hyt know nedes ys hyt ſo Ryght ſo a thyng that ſhal ben after thys yf I hyt know / of nede hyt muſt be do Hyt ſueth wel we may not go ther fro And ſo my purpoſe may not be remeued That thyng preſcite / may not ben exchued ¶For yf I deme thus of a certen thyng And ys not ſo / hyt ys no queſtyon Not only ys that conceyt no connyng But errour of a falſe opynyon And wonder fer ys that ſuſpection And dyuers fro the trouthe as I ſuppoſe But ho can ſaue hyt wyth a beter gloſe ¶For yf ther ſhal a certen thyng be wroght And ſhal not fallen of neceſſyte But ys vncerten to betyde or noght Hyt ys not knowen to ben as ſemeth me For knouyng / wyth falſhed may no wyſe be In no maner conioyned ne deceyued But hyt muſt ben that knouyng hath conceyued ¶And other wyſe may hyt not be done For loo that ys the very cauſe why That in a knouyng errour ys ther none Syth trouth then ſtandeth nedefully And knouyng comprehendeth verely what than a vayleth that we ben a boute How knoweth god a thyng that ys in doute ¶For yf that god a certen thyng deuyſe For to be don that no wyght may exchwe And yet hyt may betyden other wyſe A perylous errour here of wyl ther ſue That goddes Iugement ſhold ben vntrue But loo of god oure hye ſouereyn Ful felones ys / thus to thynke or ſayn ¶And yf he knoweth thynges for to ben So that they may betyde indyfferent As be or not be / then can I not ſeyn But thys ys an vncerten Iugement The preſcience of god omnip • otent what thyng ys hyt I can hyt not defend That may no thyng in certen comprehende ¶Than ſhold ther be no maner dyfference As ſemeth in myne eſtimation Be twene the hye dyuyne preſcience And Tyreſyes dyuynation Of whom Ouyde maketh mention what euer I ſay ſhe ſayd / hyt ſhal be falle Other elles ſhal hyt not betyde at alle ¶what better ſhal thys purueyance be Than the opynyon of a mannes wyt That demeth thynges in vncertente And ſo vncertenly betydeth hyt Ouer al thyng we muſt beleuen yet That god ys very welle & ſyker ground In whom no thyng vncerten may be found ¶Than euery thyng in certen ſhal betyde Thyt ys before ſeyn in hys purueyance Than ys no lyberte in mannes ſyde Ne in our cheſyng ys no cheuyſance Dyuyne thought may haue no varyance wythouten errour he behaldeth al And byndeth ous to thyng that muſt befal ¶And haue we ones fully geten thys He may perceuen ho ſo taketh hede Mannes lyffe in what myſcheffe hyt ys And ſtandeth euer in heuyneſſe & drede why ſhold ther any man receyuen mede Or any ſurfetour be put in peyn Al thys wyl ſemen but a thyng in veyn ¶Syth that no wylful meuyng of ther goſt Of lyberte they nought deſerued han And thynges that now ben cōmended moſt As very wrong they muſt be demed than For vertu to rewarden any man Or punyſſſhen any wycked ſkylefully Ther neyther hath deſerued wyllyngly ¶But neceſſyte them hath conſtreyned To thynges that of certen muſt be done Than vyce & vertu ys but thyng y feyned Ne in our workes meret ys ther none But an vndyſcrete confuſyon Ther ys no thyng that wors may be thought Syth al thyng in ordre forthe ys brought ¶Of purueyaunce / ne vn to mannes wyt No thyng ys lefful / & our vyces woode Loo vn to god they ben referred yet wyche that very auctor ys of al goode And furdermore yf that thys errour ſ • ode wherto ſholde we prayen ought or truſt when we may no thyng wynne that ous luſt ¶yf al that euer we can desyre or ſay One certen ordre vnreuerſed knetteth Then wherto ſholde we hopen ought or pray Syth purueyaunce fayleth not ne fletteth That euery thyng ſo at a certen putteth Thys only marchaundyſe ys voyded than That vſed ys be twene god & man ¶Prayer & hope ſhold ben vnprofytable But wyth the pryce of Iuſt humylyte we geteth of god a mede vneſtimable For only that hath euer the maner be That euery man may haue hab • lyte wyth god to ſpeke & neghen to that lyght That perced may not be wyth mannes ſyght ¶By very reſon of thys prayer meke To hym we be conioyned verely Before or then we gete that we beſeke And yf we ſholde aſſenten vtterly That thyng to come muſt fallen nedefully Thys hope & truſt of wyche we ſpoke beforn Is thyng of nought & al our labour loren ¶How ſholde we then to that prynce a boue Aprochen or be knette by any mene yf that we may deſerue of hym no loue And al our labour ys not worthe a bene But al mankend ſtandeth dyſioyned clene As fro ther hed departed al wyth wrong Ryght as whyle er ye ſayd in your ſong
Metrū iij. Capitulū vj. Que nam diſcors. Boecius loquitur. WHat maner cauſe of wonder dyſcordance So hath diſioyned thus in thys maner Our lyberte & goddes purueyaunce That neyther may to other neyghen nere What god thys batayl hath deuyſed here Be tweue ij. truthes here of haue I wonder That ſothe y nogh ben whyle they ben a ſounder ¶But loo they may not ben to gether ſet And yet dyſcord in truthes ys ther none Ful certenly they ben to gedres knette But mannes ſoule that ſo ys ouergone Encloſed thus wythyn fleſs • e & bone That ſoppreſſed hath hyr fyry lyght That ſhe yet may not lyften vp her ſyght ¶Thes ſotel knottes to be holde & ſe The fleſly boundes doth hyt ſo oppreſſe But why ſo feruently deſyreth ſhe The notes for to fynd of ſothfaſtneſſe And that ſhe ſeketh ſo wyth beſyneſſe wote ſhe that her ſelfen knoweth hyt But ho deſyreth a knawen thyng to wete ¶Ho may deſyre a thyng & knoweth hyt nought yf he ne knoweth what ſeketh he ſo blynd Or ho may ſeke that ys not in hys thought Or yf he ſeke hyt / how ſhal he hyt fynde Or how ſhal he remembre hyt in hys mynde How may he knowen when he fyndeth thys And wote not of what maner forme hyt ys ¶when that the ſaule ys ſole & ſeparat Behaldyng on that ſouereyn thoght on hye Then may he ſe / that now he may nat Al thyng in ſomme & alſo ſyngulerly But now ſhe ys encloſed bodely Som part of thys ſyght ſhe hath forlete But vtterly ſhe hath not al forgete ¶For why the ſomme ſhe haldeth as I trow But not ſo euery thyng in ſpecyalte He than that thes trouthe wold know Al knoweth he not / thou mayſt wel ſe Ne al the trouthe forgete hath not he But loo the knowyng of the general Maketh hym to labour for the ſpecyal ¶Thys ſomme then wych ſhe haldeth here In her thoght remembryng ofte a geyn She ſeketh in that ſouereyn myrrour clere whete euery ſothe may ſyngul • rly be ſeyn Enforſyng hyr wyth labour & wyth peyn Forgeten thyng / yf that ſhe may hyt fynde To put hyt to the treſour of hyr mynde
Proſa iiij. Capitulū vij. Tum illa vetus inquā. Phia Philosophia loquitur. SHe ſayd then / thys ys an olde complaynt And a ful comen vſed queſtyon To Marcus Tullius hyt ſamed queynt As by hys boke of dyuynation He had ther wyth grete occupation And of thy ſelf ful long hyt hath be ſoght And none of yow as yet ne fonud hyt nought ¶Ne ſuffyſantly haue not declared hyt And ſykerly the cauſe may thys be That the dyſcours of a mannes wyt May not atteyn to ſo hye degre To demen of that hye ſymplycyte wyche ys in dyuyne purueyaunce He ys not ſothly of that ſuffyſaunce ¶And yf thys myght be thought or cōprehended Thou ſholdeſt then be neuer a dele in doute But at laſt I hope I ſhal amend hyt yf that I may my mater bryng a boute Thys errour of thy hert to a voyden oute But fyrſt I wyl a voyden & dyſpreuen Conceytes / wyche the to thys errour meuen ¶But fyrſt I aſke the the cauſe why Thou holdeſt thys reſon not effectuel Of them that ſhewen that your arbytry Algates in hys fredom ſtandeth wel Syth preſciens conſtreyneth neuer a dele By nede / thynges wyche that ſhal be done But ys contingeut for to ben or none ¶Loo makeſt thou any other argument Of thyng to fallen of neceſſyte But for cauſe that god omuipotent Knoweth hyt / that hyt ſhal here after be Hyt may not be vndone as ſemeth the And yet thys preſciens cauſeth nought The ſame thyng of nede to be wroght ¶That graunted thou whyle er yf yu haue mende why ys hyt then that voluntary dede So ys conſtreyned to a certen ende That thyng to comen muſt be fallen nede But that I may the to the trouthe lede To ſe what ſueth here by conſequence I put thys caſe ther were no preſcience ¶Wyl then thyn argument a vaylen ought The wych in preſcience thou groundeſt ſo That thynges wych of fre wyl ſhold be wroght That any nede compelleth them ther to Thou wylt not trow that Boecius) I ſayd no Phia Philosophia ) Now ſet we ꝙ ſhe preſcience a geyn So that of nede hyt do no thyng conſtreyn ¶Than ſtandeth abſolute the ſame wyl Hole in hys lyberte / thys woteſt thou wel But I ſuppoſe thou makeſt me thys ſkyle Though preſcience neceſſeth neuer a dele Thyng to come in ſtoundes temporel Thou ſeyſt hyt ys a very ſygne true Of thyng that muſt as neceſſary ſue ¶Ryght ſo thou myght concluden as by thys Though that ther were no preſcience at al That thynges wych to come hyre after ys Neceſſaryly hyt muſt be fal For only euery ſygne ſhewen ſhal A thyug that ys or after ſhal be ſeyn But yet that ſygne maketh hyt not to ben ¶And yf that preſcience a ſygne were Of euery thyng that nedes muſt come Fyrſt hyt nedeth ous to ſhewen hyre That no thyng falleth but nedes hyt muſt be done And yf hyt be not ſo than knoweſt thou ſone That ſygne may ther none be verely wythoute a thyng betokened be ther by ¶But to confirmen fully al a boute And ſadly to ſuſteyn our entent we may not ſeke ſygnes of wythoute Ne fyxe ous in a foreyn argument But of cauſes ful conuenyent And neceſſary / behoueth ous to procede yf that we ſholde in our purpoſe ſpede ¶But thys thou wylt replyen here a geyn How may that thyng not fallen ſayſt yu me wyche that ys prouyded & foreſeyn By purueyaunce here after for to be As chaunce that I couth none other ſe But thyng that preſcience doth prouyde we trowed that hyt were not to betyde ¶But rather thys entended I for to preue That thogh a certen thyng befal ſo yet of propre kende we do beleue So was hyt not neceſſed to be do Thys lyghtly mayſt yu vnderſtanden loo As many a thyng▪ ys ſubiect to our ſyght The whyle hyt ys be forn ous preſent ryght ¶As when a charre ys ruled redely And how hyt torneth we be holde ful wel And ſo of other craftes ſuyngly Doth any thyng thys craftes men compelle Or any of thes workes canſt thou telle Or yf they be conſtreyned to be wroght Boecius) Nay ꝙ I they be compelled nought ¶Then ydel were the craft of any man yf euery thyng were compelled for to meue Phia Philosophia ) Syth thynges whyle they ben ſhe ſayd thē Ben not coacted to be / thou wylt beleue Loo by that ſame reſon now mayſt thou preue That before tho ſame thynges be Not for to comen of neceſſyte ¶Ful many a thyng ſhal ben hyt ys no drede And ys to come hyt ſueth wel by thys That vtterly ys abſolute of nede I trow that no wyght thys wyl ſayn y wys That any thyng that now in preſent ys was not to come vn to the tyme hyt fel Though they beforn of god were knowen wel ¶In ſothe yet ben they frely to be falle For rygh as very knowyng & ſcience A preſent thyng compelleth nought at al Ryght ſo hyt ſtandeth eke of preſcience As thou mayſt ſe by leke conuenyence Though god thys thyng to comen doth prouyde yet ys hyt not compelled to beryde ¶But loo of thys yu ſayſt me / douteſt thou Syth thynges wych that ſhal here after ben Be not to come as neceſſary now How ys that thyng fore ſeyn thou canſt not ſeyn Hyt ſemeth the that thys dyſſoneth clene To foreſeyn thyng hyt muſt nedes ſue Neceſſyte / thou canſt hyt not exchwe ¶And yf neceſſyte ſholde be forfended Loo foreſeyn ys ther no thyng vtterly Ne nought by knowyng may be comprehended But thyng that muſt betyden verely And yf ther ought betyde vncertenly And ys fore ſeyn ful certen as hyt were Thou ſayſt / no very knowyng ys ther there ¶But as a derke & opynable thyng And for to trowen other wyſe or geſſe Than very ſothe / that calleſt thou no connyng But a wenyng of vnſtableneſſe And loo the cauſe of al thys errour ys That ye trow the cauſe of knowlege to be In the thyng & not in the knower perde ¶But in contrary wyſe hyt ſtandeth ryght For euery thyng that knowen ys by wyt Hyt ys not knowen by hys propre myght But by hys myght that comprehendeth hyt As by exſample mayſt thou felen yet For of a thyng that rounde ys verely Loo ſyght & felyng knoweth hyt dyuerſly ¶The ſyght behaldeth the forme fro a fer At ones comprehendyng euery dele But he that feleth ys conioyned nere Vn to that compace for to know hyt wel Al a boute the ſydes muſt he fele And al that roundneſſe ſo he knoweth than Loo / dyuerſly y knowen ys a man ¶The comen wyttes Iugen of wythoute Imagination a nother wyſe And reſon other wyſe hyt ys no doute Intelligence paſſeth al thes Euery of them ſo as he may ſuffyſe The comen wyttes knoweth nought at al But formes of ſubiect materyal ¶Imagenyng al only comprehendeth The forme of man as vnmateryally Reſon then a bouen thys tranſcendeth Of mannes kende he demeth ſyngulerly wyth vnyuerſal ſyght ful ſotelly But al thes paſſeth yet intellygence As by a ſyght of heyer excellence ¶He paſſeth al a boue thes kendes here The compace of the vnyuerſyte And he behaldeth in that exſampler The myrrour of the hye eternyte The forme of man in hys ſymplycyte But moſt hyt ys to taken hyde in thys That the ſame myght alway that hygher ys ¶Loo al the lower comprehendeth wel But they may aſcenden nought a geyn To knowe & comprehende neuer a dele Of tho that ben a boue ſothe to ſayn For ther comen wyt may not vp attayn To thynges wych ben Immateryal They may perceyuen neuer a dele at al ¶And furdermore Imagination Vnyuerſal kendes may not ſeyn Ne reſon may haue none Inſpection Of formes / wych that pure & ſymple ben Intelligence comprehendeth clene And as hyt were / behaldeth fro on hye Thes formes he perceyueth plenerly ¶Conceyuyng than thys forme pryncipal He demeth after / al that ys in man As he hath in the exſampler Ideal Conceyued / that none other may ne can The vnyuerſyte of reſon knoweth he than And alſo formes of Imagenyng And eke materyal ſenſyble thyng ¶And reſon yet in thys he vſeth nought Imagination ne comen wyt But wyth a ſotel ſmytyng of the thoght Ful formally ſo he behaldeth hyt And more plenerly to ſpeken yet The ſouereyn hye dyuyne Intellygence Ouer al thynges hath proſpycience ¶When reſon doth behalden ought or ſe As in hys comen kende vnyuerſal Imagenyng / no thyng yet vſeth he Nether the comen wyttes neuer a dele And neuer the leſſe he comprehendeth wel Al thyng that Imagenable ys And al that comen wyt may know y wyſſe ¶Thus reſon hys conceytes ſtrong & ſtable Of vniuerſal loo deffyneth he Man ys a beſt ii. foted reſonable Loo / thys knowyng as euery man may ſe Vniuerſal muſt hyt nedes be And thys thyng alſo to euery mannes wyt Imagenable & ſenſyble ys hyt yet ¶But reſon thys behaldeth kendly No thyng by Imagination Ne by the comen wyttes ſykerly But only hath conſyderation By dyſcours & by conceyt of reſon But thys Imagynation begynne doth In the comen wyttes hys workes in ſothe ¶Formes for to ſhappen & deuyſe And yet thes comen wyttes al wythoute Senſyble thynges / in a wondre wyſe He ſeyth / & them compaſeth al a boute Not ſenſyblely / hyt ys no doute But by Imagination of mynde Of knowyng loo / here mayſt thou ſe the kynde ¶That not ye myght of thyng that knowen ys But propre myght / the knower vſeth nede And ſkylefully for euery dome y wyſſe Loo of the Iuge / hyt ys the propre dede So than of reſon / yf thou take good hyde The worke of man ys no foreyn myght But propre myghtes vſeth euery wyght
Metrū iiij. Capitulū ix. Quondā porticus attulit Phia Philosophia loquitur. SOm tyme in the porches of Athenes were olde clerkes derke in ther corage wyche in ther tyme were called ſtoicenes That in the porches had maden ther ſtages Deſputyng / that the formes & Images Of bodely ſubſtances / as they geſſed were in to a mannes ſoule impreſſed ¶As men ben vſed to wryten & portrayen Letters in a pagyn fayre & clene In wych beforn were no notes ſeyn But thys a maſed thyng ys for to mene For yf the ſoule of man / ſo as they wene Of hys propre myght Implyeth nought But ſuffereth to ben prented in hys thought ¶Subiected to tho notes as hyt were That bodyes doth in them enpreſſen ſo And veyn Images repreſenteth there Ryght as a myrrour ys y woned to do But al thys knowyng whens cometh hyt fro By wych not only thynges corporal But alſo formes Immateryal ¶He ſeyth & ſo behaldeth ſingulerly As in her hye conceytes ſpeculatyffe And knowyng thynges then ſuyngly So he dyuydeth by a negatyffe And after wardes by an affyrmatyffe Thes ſame thynges that deuyded be Aſſembleth & a geyn compouneth he ¶And ſo thys way he enterchaungeth ofte For now to pryncypal propoſytions Loo / hys entent he lyfteth vp a lofte And falleth after to concluſions Referryng then hys owne ententions And ſeyth what thynges wyl of other ſue Repreuyng ſo the falſe by the true ¶Than ys he rather cauſe efficient And more of myght than thyng yt lyeth oppreſſed In maner leke a mater pacyent That notes hath ſo in hym ſelf Impreſſed But that thou haue thys mater more expreſſed Ther goth before a maner ſufferance wythyn the lyuely bodely ſubſtance ¶wych that the myghtes of the ſoule excyteth And maketh the to vnderſtande & lere As when that lyght in to thyn yeyn ſmyteth And maketh the for to behalden there Or when a voyce hath ſouned in thyn ere And ſo commoueth the to herken ought Then ben ſtyred the myghtes of thy thoght ¶And thynges wyche that were yet kendely wythyn thy ſelfen hydde / hyt ys no doute Thou then applyeſt in thy fantaſy To thes other notes of wythoute And thus remembryng in thy ſelf a boute Tho foreyn Images then addeth he To formes wyche that hydde wythyn the be
Proſa v. Capitulum ix. Quod ſi in corporibus. Phia Philosophia loquitur. THough that obiect qualyteys than Cōmoue & ſtyre oure foreyn Inſtrumentes wych I calle the comen wyt of man That of wythouteforth geueth Iugementes And goth before the goſtly ſentementes A maner ſufferaunce corporal For to excyte the goſtly myght wyth al ¶And ſtyren ſo the worchyng of the mynde To formes wych areſted ſo were wythyn So that the corage may them fele & fynde And thogh the wyttes al thys worke begynne The knowyng of thes bodyes for to wynne And bryngeth hym to a maner remembrance The ſoule ys ſubiect to no ſufferaunce ¶But he demeth of hys propre myght Thes paſſions that in the body ben How moche more ſuche a goſtly wyght That fully ys al abſolute & clene In whom may none affection be ſeyn Of any thyng to be feled bodely Hys propre myght ſhal vſen kendly ¶And foreyn myghtes ſhal he vſen nought For to dyſcerne obiectes of wythoute But by the worchyng of hys owne thought He wynneth hys conceytes al a boute And by the ſame ſkyle hyt ys no doute Ful many folde of knowyng mayſt thou fynde In ſubſtances / dyuers in ther kende ¶The felyng may be called one of tho wyche haue beſtes that ben vnmeueable That wyt they haue al only & no mo As ſhelle fyſſhe & ſuche that cleuen ſtable In cleffes / as to them ys couenable And ſo ſuche other ſhylle fyſſhe of the ſee wyche in dyuers places noryſſhed be ¶But knowyng of Imagynation Meueable beſtes haue & doth hyt ſue The wych in maner haueth affection Som maner thyng to coueyt or exchwe But reſon to dyſcernen falſe & true Only to man hyt hath conuenyence As only doth to god Intellygence ¶Than ys hyt ſo as euery man may ſe That thys knowyng moſt worthy ys & hye wych of hys owne kendly properte Not only that perteyneth kendely Vn to hys owne knowyng properly He knoweth wel / but furdermore yet The ſubiecte knoweth he of euery wyt ¶But what yf comen wyttes ſtode a geyn And in thys wyſe perauenture aunſwere And wolde vn to dyſcours of reſon ſayn Loo / that thys vniuerſal / no thyng were That reſon ſemeth he behaldeth there For al that euer Imagenable ys Or comen wyttes may perceyue y wyſſe ¶Hyt ys not vniuerſal in no wyſe Now / or the Iugement of reſon than Muſt be ſothe / yf he wyl thus deuyſe That no thyng may be ſenſyble to man Or for he wote wel that thes wyttes han Subiectes many / dyuers / that they know Hys owne conceuyng fallace muſt he trowe ¶When that he ſeyth & comprehendeth wel Thyng that ſenſyble ys & ſinguler Behaldyng hyt ryght as vniuerſal To thys yf reſon wold aunſweren here That ſhe her ſelf behaldeth wel & clere By reſon of vniuerſalyte Al that thes other may perceyue & ſe ¶For wyttes ne Imagynation May no way comprehenden ſykerly Thes vnyuerſal thynges of reſon For they may not exceden proprely As by ther owne knowyng kendly Shappes & fygures corporal A bouen that may they no thyng at al ¶In knowyng then of thynges at the laſte Hyt ys to geue credence to the Iugement That moſt perfet ys & ſtedefaſte And we that haue thys reſon excellent And comen wyt to demen thyng preſent And Imagination alſo Sholde we not reſon here aſſenten to ¶But mannes reſon ys y leke in thys As towardes dyuyne Intellygence Ryght as Imagenyng or wyttes ys To reſon of a mannes conſcience That weneth that dyuyne preſcience May no maner thyng behalde as he troweth That ys to come / but as hym ſelfen knoweth ¶For loo / thys argument thou makeſt me yf thynges that hereafter ſhal be done Not certeyn ne neceſſary be For knowyng may not fallen ther vpon For preſcience ſayſt thou ys ther none And yf ſo ys that preſcience be Ther falleth nought but of neceſſyte ¶But yf we myght parteners ben Loo / of the domes of dyuyne thought Ryght as we may by very reſon ſeyn That Imagenyng ſuffyſeth nought Ne comen wyttes to perceyuen ought The Iugement of reſon as we deme Ful Iuſt hyt ſholde mannes reſon ſeme ¶To be ſubiect & vndercaſt alway Vn to dyuyne thought / I am certeyn A ryſe we ther fore fully yf we may To that Intellygence ſouereyn And yf we may in to that hyght atteyn Loo there ſhal reſon fele & knowen wel That in hyt ſelf he may do neuer a dele ¶Loo / that ys thys as in what wyſe & how The thynges that betydeth thus vncertenly Thys preſcience ſeyth hyt wel y now Dyffyned in hys thought eternally Not by geſſyng opynablely But by ſouereyn ſcience of ſympleneſſe whom termes may not cloſen ne compreſſe
Metrū v. Capitulum x. Quam varijs terras. Phia Philosophia loquitur. THes beſtes in ther kendes dyfferent Ful dyuerſly on erthe doth they glyden Somme on ther body ſtrecchyng & extent Crepīg vpō ther breſtes doune they ſlydē And in the duſt a forwe they dyuyden And ſomme by very lyghtneſſe of ther kynde wyth ther wynges planeth in the wynde ¶And long ſpaces of the ayer on hye So in ther flyght / they ſwymmeth as hyt were And ſumme ben glad to kepe them ſelfen nye Thys grounde a low & ſette ther ſtappes here In grene feldes / ther ys al ther chere And ſome to walke in wodes & foreſtes And thogh ſo be that al thes wylde beſtes ¶Ben dyuers in ther ſhappes & fygure Al ther faces ben enclyned yet Vn to the grounde ſhewyng ther nature And the kendly dulneſſe of ther wyt Loo / only kende of man reuerſeth hyt For mannes hed a ryſeth vp on hyght And euen vpryght hys body ſtandeth ſtreght ¶And vnder hym the erthe behaldeth he whether doteſt thou / or art yu in a ſweuen Thou erthly man thy fygure techeth the That lyfteth vp thy vyſage in to heuen And thy frount in to the ayer ful euen On erthly thyng thou ſholdeſt not ſet thy loue But ſette hyt holly in the heuen a boue ¶Ther ſholdeſt thou be ther ys thy kendly place Thou haſt of the erthe but thy beſtly kende And yet loo thou wylt bryng thy ſelfen bace And ſo wyth beſtes ſette thy ſelf behynde Lete not the noble nature of thy mynde Be plounged doune & to the grounde y pyght Syth that thy body ſtandeth euen vpryght
Proſa vj. Capitulū xj. Quoniā igitur vti. Phia Philosophia loquitur. Syth euery thyng as I haue ſhewed now ryght That wyſt or knowen ys in any way Hyt ys not knowen of the propre myght Of that ſelf thyng hyt ys no nay But of the kendly myght / the ſothe to ſay Of tho that doth hyt knowe or comprehende Now let ous then behalden & entende ¶So as oure ſymple kende may ſuffyſe what thyng ys that aſtate of excellence Of dyuyne ſubſtance / & in that wyſe Than ſomwhat may we know of hys ſcience Thys ys the vſed general ſentence Of al / that by reſon doth dyſcerne They ſay that god hym ſelf ys eterne ¶But now what thyng ys thys eternyte Hyt nedeth fyrſt to knowen ſykerly And after that we may behalde & ſe The ſcience and the nature plenerly So as we may ſuffyſen ſymplely Of god that ys oure prynce & ſouereyn Eternyte ys thys as clerkes ſayn ¶Hyt ys a perfet hole poſſeſſyon At ones of a lyffe intermynable Thys ys declared by comparyſon Of thyng that ys by tymes varyable For al that leueth in tyme hyt ys vnſtable Preſent yet ys / the tyme a gon ys paſſed To tyme comyng hyeth hyt ful faſt Ther may no thyng be ſet in tyme & ſpace As clerkes haue deuyſed here be forn That al at ones may hys lyffe embrace For why as yet / he fayleth of to morn And yeſterday ys paſſed & forlorn And in the ſame day that preſent ys Of your lyffe ye haue no more y wyſſe ¶But thys moment tranſytory loo That thyng that hath thys dyſpoſytion Hys tymes for to ouer paſſen ſo Though that hyt were of ſuche condytion By Ariſtoteles tradition That ſayd thys worlde neuer beganne Ne neuer here after ſhal an ende han ¶Though that hyt myght as Ariſtotel ſemed To infinyte hyt ſelfen ſo extende Eterne hyt may not ryghtuouſly be demed Though hyt were infynyte wythouten ende At ones al hyt may not comprehende Ne clyppen al thes ſpaces temporel For of tyme to come yet hath hyt not a dele ¶But he that of the lyffe intermynable The fulneſſe comprehendeth verely Poſſeſſyng hyt at ones perdurable Fro whom no thyng doth lacken verely For tyme to come he hath hyt preſently Ne tyme paſſed fro hym ys ther none Is / & was / & ſhal be / al ys one ¶Eterne he may be called wel by ryght To hym ſelf preſent and pereles And al way preſent ys be fore hys ſyght The moble ſpace of tymes endles But they reherſen Plato / neuertheles Hys conceyt they reporteth al a myſſe And of hys menyng fayleth foule y wyſſe ¶Loo Plato ſayth thys worlde hath euer ybe

¶As clerkes haue deffyned / Tyme ys meſure of meuyng of before & after. Thys meſure ys takē moſt comēly after the meuyng of the E • noctial vvhos meuyng ys the ſvvyfteſt that ys poſſyble. The vvych lyne ys deuyded in to CCC.lx. euen partes. Of vvyche partes / eueryche ys called a degre. The meſure of a ryſyng of xv. degrees / ys called an houre naturel. The meſure of a ryſyng of xxiiii. houres / ys a day naturel. The meſure of CCC. lxv. dayes & vi. houres of encreſſe and certen mynutes / ys called a yere. By vvych tymes: the perdurabelte of thys vvorlde of before & after / ys meſured vſyngly. Syth than that meſure of meuyng ys called tyme / then ſueth hyt: that before the vvorlde meued / ther vvas no tyme: But god eternally ys / er any thyng meued: or any tyme vvere / and ſhal be after that al meuynges ceſſeth: For hys beyng ys meſured by no meuyng of before & after / for hymſelf ys vnmeueable / ne hys beyng hath no regard to before & after For al tymes preſent / paſſed / and to come: ben to hym verely preſent Ne hys beyng ys not meſured by ſucceſſyon of tymes. For he hathe hys beyng vnmeſured al at ones. vvyche ys called hys eternyte. Ther fore ys god called Inmenſus. But the perdurabelte of the vvorlde ys meſured by meuyng of the heuen / vvyche ys called tyme: And lenger than heuen meueth / ſhal ther be no tyme. Than ys hyt ſo that the beyng of god ys called erernyte. The beyng of thys vvorld ys named perpetuyte. Then ys thys the conceyte of Plato ſayng that the vvorlde hath euer ben / That ys to mene / as long as any thynge hathe meued. And as long as any thyng meueth: or any tyme ys / ſo long hyt ſhal endure in ſuche beyng as hyt novv hathe. And after that al meuyng and al tymes ceſſeth / the vvorlde renued ſhal endure in lyffe interminable. For ſo ſayth our lorde. Ecce noua facio omnia.

¶Thys interminable lyffe / ys the eternal beyng of our creatour▪ to vvhō as to ther ende / al thyng ſhal be reduced: and at hym as at ther fynal ende: reſt & abyde. Therfore ſayth plato as ys in the texte alleged / that the vvorlde hathe euer ben: that ys to ſay: ſyth any tyme vvas. and hyt ſhal neuer vvhyle any tyme ys / ceſſen of hys menynge. So meuyng & tyme ſhal ceſſen bothe at ones. And the vvorlde then ſhal not ende by deſtruction or torne in to nought / for god and nature dyd neuer thyng in vayn. Ne god noughteth neuer thyng that he made but the corruption of one thyng / ys the generation of a nother thynge. So that at laſt euery corruptyble thynge retorneth in rounde in to the Elementes / that hyt vvas fyrſt formed of. And ther fore the autor ſayth / that the entent of temporel thynges that ſo meuethe in rounde / caſteth & entendeth by ledyng of nature / to counterfete the perdurable lyffe of god. For kendly euery creature coueyteth: to conforme hym to hys make / at leſt in beyng. vvher fore of nature euery thynge vvythſtandeth in that hyt may / hys ovvne corruption & diuiſion of hys partes. And vvhen hyt ys corrupt and reſolued in to hys fyrſt mater / vvyche ys the elementes / vvych ben cleped the ſedes of erthly thynges then ben they apte as they vvere be fore to be mater and to clothe other dyuers formes. And ſo ben they perpetuate / by ther chaungeabelte in to an endles compate. For thes thynges yf they fayle in ther indiuidues / yet in ther vniuerſalles they a bydeth euer: after tyme that they ones be. And the mater of the ſingulers / torneth into other thynges / after that nature vvorcheth. Than ys thys the conceyt of the clerke in the letter. Euery creature as ys before ſayd / coueyteth of nature / for to counterfete hys maker. But for canſe thes erthly thynges of febleneſſe and contraryouſtey of ther mater / may not endure / but nedes be reſolued / ther fore they take that they may of beyng / enduryng by ſucceſſyon of tymes. vvhere that god endureth (not by temporal ſucceſſyon) but hathe hys beyng ſeparate fro creatures al at ones ſo that tovvardes hym nought ys to come / ne nought ouer paſſed / But al that ys / vvas / and ſhal be: ys be fore hym preſent.

Than hauyng regarde to the eternyte of god / vvyche hath hys beyng al at ones vnmeſured by ſucceſſyon of tymes / ther ys no purueyaunce ne foreſyght / but he ſeyth al by preſent knovvlege / & in hym / ys none other ſyght but connyng. For al knovvyng of preſent and paſſed / noteth imperfection of creatures that be paſſyng and corruptyble. And hyt nedeth nought / ne ys conuenyent / to conforme hys eternal inſyght to oure temporal eſtimation / that al thyng demeth by before and after as vve haue ouer beynge. But hyt accordeth better / and ys more kendly / that the creature ſubmytte al hys vvytte / and conforme al hys knovvyng holly to hys maker / vvyth oute vvhom he ys nought / can nought / ne hath nought at al / that ought ovveth to be cleped.

¶Syth hyt ys ſo then that euery Iugement / muſt ſue the nature of the Iuge / that ys of hym that knovveth / hyt nedeth not thē to bynden thynges to falle neceſſaryly / ne to vvete the knovvyng of god for to compelle tho thynges to betyde / be cauſe that he ſeyth hyt preſently as he al behaldeth / no more than for to vvyte me the meuyng of the ſonne / by cauſe I ſe hyt meue / or for to vvyte me the deth of a man / by cauſe I ſe hym dye. For the meuyng of the ſonne ys cauſed abſolutely of the fyrſt ordynaunce of hym that made hyt for to meue.

But that I novv ſe hyt meue / hyt procedeth of my ovvne fre vvylle / preſuppoſed that I haue my yees hole & lyberte to ſe al preſent obiectes that falleth to my luſte.

And to an ende hyt ſhal neuer be brought They ſay therfore hyt hath eternyte As euen y leke wyth god that hath hyt wrought But yet al one in certeyn ys hyt nought A lyffe interminable for to lede As Plato thought hym ſelf hyt ys no drede ¶Hyt ys a nother to encloſen al At ones ſo thys lyffe intermynable For al that ys / or was / or euer ſhal At hym hyt ys preſent & permenable He fleteth nought but alway ſtandeth ſtable Loo / of dyuyne thought the ſtate ys thys No creature may ben y leke y wyſſe ¶And yet for that ye ſhal not demen here That god ys elder as in tyme of ſpace Than creatures made of hys power But thys loo ſhal ye Iugen in thys caſe That god hym ſelfen alway ys & was Before / er any formed creature In propre ſympleneſſe of hys nature ¶And the entent of thynges temporel That alway meueth ſo contynuelly They caſt to counterfeten euery dele The perdurable lyffe of god on hy That chaungeth not but ſtandeth preſently But when hyt may not euen hyt ſelf ther to Ther very ſtableneſſe they falleth fro ¶And meueth then oute of ſymplycyte Decreſſyng oute of preſent then a none To Infinyte and endles quantyte Of tyme to come & tyme that ys a gonne But when he may not bryng hyt in to one Al hys lyffe at ones for to haue Hyt wylleth thus hyt ſelfen for to ſaue ¶And ther hyt may not ben a boute y brought So al hys lyffe at ones for to gete yet in as moche as hyt endeth nought Thys lyffe hyt doth not vtterly forlete But hyt ſemeth that hyt volde counterfete The ſouereyn lyffe of god omnipotent In ſo moche as he ſomwhat hath preſent ¶And ſo hyt byndeth hym to a lytel ſtounde To haue a maner perdurableneſſe In wyche no tyme of ſpace may be founde But for hyt hath a maner lekelyneſſe Of the eternal lyffe that preſent ys Hyt ſemeth how ſo euer hyt flee or flete That in preſent euer a bydeth hyt ¶And for hyt may not after hys delyte A byden / but for ſuche a lytel ſpace Hyt taketh alway of tymes Infynyte And for hyt may not al hys lyffe enbrace At ones / as hys princypal purpoſe was Paſſyng forthe the lyffe he kepeth ſo For cauſe he may ne canne none other do ¶And yf we ſholde by names hym dyſcerne To ſuen Plato where he ſayd wel He ſayd that god hym ſelf ys eterne Loo / & the worlde ſhold be perpetuel Of thys mayſt thou conceyuen then ful wel Syth euery Iugement that ſhal be true Hyt muſt the nature of hym ſelfen ſue ¶To comprehenden thynges of wythoute And thaſtate of ſouereyn god on hye Stondeth euer in one hyt ys no doute Algates in hym ſelfen preſently Hys knowyng then ſurmounteth ſykerly Al thyng / that hath meuyng in dyfference A bydyng in hys ſymplycyte of preſence ¶And ſo encloſeth ſpaces Infinyte Of tyme that was & ſhal here after be But to tho ſpaces hath he no reſpect But to hys owne hole eternyte By knowyng of hys hye ſymplycyte Al thyng in preſens of hys ſyght He ſeyth hyt as hyt were do now ryght ¶yf thou conſydre that preſcience in thy thoug By wych he knoweth al thynges ſo Thys preſcience ſhalt thou referren nought As to a thyng that after ſhal be do But very ſcience ſhalt thou deme hyt loo Of preſent tyme that neuer faylen may Ne oute of preſens paſſe neuer a way ¶For why hyt ys not called preuydence But rather ys hyt called purueyaunce That al thynges knoweth in preſence In wych knowyng ther ys no varyaunce Fro our knowyng / hyt hath ful grete dyſtaunce For we behaldeth lo thynges here But fro on hye behaldeth he al in fere ¶Syth euery Iugement muſt ſuen than The nature of the knower kendely wherfore ys hyt that thou aſkeſt than That al muſt fallen neceſſaryly That ſeyn ys in dyuyne ſyght on hye Syth men the preſent thynges yt they ſeyn Maketh nought / of nede for to ben ¶Loo / may thy ſyght of thynges here preſent Make them to fallen of neceſſyte Boeꝰ Boecius ) I ſayd nay Phia Philosophia ) ꝙ ſhe ryght ſo hyt ſtent Of goddes purueyaunce / as ſemeth me Al tho ther may no comparyſon be For the preſcience of a mannes thought To goddes preſcience may be lekened nought ¶For ryght as ye behaldeth wyth your ſyght That in thys tyme preſent ys y don Rygh ſo he ſeyth in hys eternal lyght So / that thyng to comyng ys ther none As in hys ſyght / ne no thyng ouer gone wher fore hys preſcience (hyt ſueth wel) The nature of thynges chaungeth neuer a dele ¶For ſyth he ſeyth tho thynges preſently Ryght as they ſhal here afterwarde befalle The Iugement of thynges ſykerly Hys knowyng confundeth no thyng at al For al thyng that betyde here after ſhal whether nedeful or contingent be the ende At ones al he ſeyth hyt ys in hys mynde ¶Ryght as thou ſeyſt a man go on the grounde And the ſonne alſo in heuen a ryſe And bothe thou behaldeſt in one ſtounde yet canſt thou wel dyſcernen & deuyſe Loo that yt thys man wych walketh in thys wyſe He dothe hym ſelf wyllyngly that dede But yet in ſothe the ſonne a ryſeth nede ¶Ne the ſyght of god that ys ſo clere That al thyng doth hym be nethen ſe Of thes wordly thynges that ben here Deſtorbeleth neuer a dele the qualyte wyche in the ſyght of hys eternyte Ben preſent now / but to the ſyght of man Ther tyme they ſhal here afterwardes han ¶And here of cometh thys concluſyon That what he wote that ſhal here after ſue Hyt ys no fallace nother opynyon But very ſcience ſuffyſant & true By wych he knoweth yt hyt ys not due As of neceſſyte to fallen ſo Bnt than thou ſayſt a thyng that ſhal be do ¶And ys prouyded in dyuyne thought Hyt may not vnbetyde / hyt ys no drede And thyng that ſo may be exchwed nought Than of neceſſyte / hyt falleth nede And ſo thou wolt me bynden to the dede As by thys worde / that ys neceſſyte And loo as truthe / I wyl hyt graunt the ¶But thys vnnethe may felen any wyght Ne wel conceyuen in thys erthly lyffe But yf he had a conceyt & a ſyght Of god / & fully were contemplatyue But vn to thys I aunſwere the belyue when that thyng that ſo to comen ys To dyuyne ſcience / referred ys ¶Loo / neceſſary ys hyt ſykerly But in the maner of that propre kende whan that thou hyt behaldeſt verely Neceſſyte doth hyt in no wyſe bynde For ij. neceſſyteys ſhalt thou fynde Of wyche that one ys ſymple / wete hyt wel And that other ys condycyonel ¶That euery man ys mortal of nature Thys ys neceſſyte of ſympleneſſe But when thou knoweſt a man perauenture That walketh of hys owne wylfulneſſe That mannes walkyng neceſſary ys wyth thys condytion y put ther to The whyle hyt ys y knowen to be ſo ¶For thyng that knowen ys in mannes thought As for the tyme hyt may none other be But thys condytion ſuffyſeth nought wyth hym to drawen thys ſymplycyte For wel thou woteſt that thys neceſſyte Cometh not of kendly dyſpoſytion But of that accydent condytion ¶And neceſſyte doth hym not compelle To walken / he that walketh wyllyngly But whyle he goth / thys wyl I graunt wel Loo that he walketh ueceſſaryly And in the ſame wyſe ſykerly what purueyaunce as preſent doth prouyde So of neceſſyte hyt doth betyde ¶And yet that thyng as of hys propre kende Truly doth not of neceſſyte befalle But al that god behaldeth in hys mynde That ſo of lyberte betyden ſhal He behaldeth hyt as preſent al And ſo referred to dyuyne ſyght As neceſſary they ben a counted ryght ¶But thys ys only by condytion Of the knowyng of dyuyne wyt But when thes thynges haue relation Vn to ther owne propre kende yet Al abſolutly then betydeth hyt No thyng compelled of neceſſyte Ne hyt forleteth nought hys lyberte ¶So than hyt ſhal befallen doutles Al that god to comen doth prouyde And moche thyng ſhal fallen neuertheles That only ſhal of lyberte betyde So that they ſtandeth fre fro eyther ſyde And though they be to come yet may we cheſe So propre nature doth they not forleſe ¶Ther kende ys thys / be forehand er they were Of lyberte they myght haue ben vndo But what force ys hyt wylt thou ſay me hyre where they come of neceſſyte or no Syth of dyuyne ſcience ys hyt ſo In al wyſe hyt doth befallen thys Ryght euen as thyng that neceſſary ys ¶Loo thys / as I a lytel here beforn Purpoſed by exſample plenerly Of the ſonne that ryſeth by the morn And of a man that walketh wyllyngly Tyl tyme they be in doyng preſently They may wel be vndon hyt ys no drede But that one was to betyden nede ¶But ſykerly that other neded nought So al that he behaldeth as preſent Ryght ſo wythouten doute hyt ſhal be wrought But that the ſonne ryſeth verament Loo of neceſſyte hyt hath deſſent But the man to walken or to gon Hys owne choys hyt ſtandeth al vpon ¶Now then in thys we haue ſayd but ryght That when thes thynges ſo referred be Vn to the knowyng of dyuyne ſyght Loo then they falleth of neceſſyte But referred to ther qualyte Ful abſolute in lyberte they ſtonde As out of al neceſſary bonde ¶As al that apereth to the comen wyt yf that they be referred to reſon Vniuerſal than in ſothe ys hyt And yf thou ſet in thyn entention The properte of ther condytion So then thou feleſt hyt as ſynguler But yf hyt be (thou ſayſt) in my power ¶My purpoſe for to chaungen as me luſt Loo than ſhal I a voyden purueyaunce By wyche the ſame ys knowen & wyſt But I ſhal aunſwere to thyn allegeaunce Thy purpoſe mayſt thou chaunge at thy pleſaunce But thys myght for to don or do hyt nought And al that dyuers chaungyng of thy thought ¶The very preſent truthe of preſcience Euery dele behaldeth preſently And thou mayſt not a voyden hys preſence No more than thou mayſt a voyde verely The behaldyng of a preſent yee Thogh yt thou woldeſt thy ſelfen torne or wende As leketh to the fre wyl of thy mynde ¶But here thou makeſt thys obiection yf goddes ſcience may be chaunged ſo At my propre dyſpoſytion As when I thys now / & now that may I do Than may I enterchaungen to & fro Loo hys ſcience by ſtoundes at my wyl Nay for ſothe / that mayſt thou not by ſkyle ¶For why the knowyng of dyuyne ſyght Goeth before that thyng that ſhal befalle And before the propre preſence ryght Loo of hys knowyng he retorneth al That euer was / or ben here after ſhal Ne as thou weneſt he altereth nought Hys preſence by ſtoundes of thy thought ¶As now thys thyng & now yt thyng to know But he abydyng euery wyt compaſeth The chaungyng of thy thoughtes al a rowe wyth one ſyght al at ones he enlaceth He goth alſo before & al embraceth Hys myght alſo / that al comprehendeth And eke hys ſyght that to ſo fer extendeth ¶Al thynges to behalden preſently He hath them not receyued ſo as we Of thyng that ys to comen ſuyngly But of hys propre hye ſymplycyte wherby hyt may ful wel aſſoyled be That thou whyle er a geynſt me haſt y put Vnſembly ſayſt thou ys hyt to thy wyt ¶That thyng to come of oure vnſtableneſſe Sholde the cauſe ben of hys ſcience But of hys connyng loo the myght ys thys He cloſeth al wyth knowyng of preſence Of dyuers tyme he hath no dyfference And al thyng in to certeyn hath he brought To thynges paſſed oweth he ryght nought ¶Syth hyt ys ſo / I may concluden now That in euery mortal creature The lyberte abydeth hole y now And ſtandeth fully in ther owne cure And lawes wyche that medes doth meſure To tho men that ben good & vertuous And alſo peynes to the vycyous ¶Then for vnryght they may not ben arected Syth euery man hys owne wyl ys at As by neceſſyte no thyng y letted But that he may deſeruen loue or hate And god hym ſelfen ſytte a boue algate And euery thyng he knoweth er hyt be As preſent in hys hye eternyte ¶In ous behaldyng euery thought & dede That ys / or ſhal be don / in ful certeyn And to the good men he deſpoſeth mede And to the wycked punyſſhement & peyn To truſt in god hyt ys no thyng in veyn And preyours / yf they ryghtuouſly be ledde Beleue hyt wel / they may not ben vnſpedde ¶Wythſtande thou vyce / & geue the to vertu To ryghtuous hope / thou lyft vp thy corage And for thy nedes / yf thou wolt perſue Humble preyer ſende in thy meſſage Vp to thy god / hyt fayleth not hys wage Ne doute the nought / yu ſhalt be ſpedde ful ſone For he refuſeth neuer a lowly boune ¶And loke that thou my counſel not forgete Dyſſymule not / but do thy beſyneſſe The nede ys thyn / alſo the charge ys grete That thau be founde in vertu & proweſſe Syth al thy worke ys open & expreſſe Vn to the preſence of the Iuge on hye That al thyng doth behalden plenerly
Explicit Liber Quintus Boecij De conſolatione Phie. Philosophie Deo gracias.
Collectis in ſequentibus cuiuſlibet linee primis litteris / non ſolum Tranſlatoris ſed & tranſferri procurantis / nomina cū cognominibus / inueſtigare poteris.
Nomen tranſferri procurantis. EVer more exalted be thou lord on hy Lawly wyche of thy benygnyte In fleſſhe and blodde aperyng wyllyngly So pyteouſly were peyned on the tre And ſuffereſt / that greuous was to the Be bledde wyth al thy blodde for mannes ſake Euer more exalted be thy maieſte Thyn hert blodde / oure raunſon woldeſt yu make
Cognomen. ¶Blyſful lorde I pray the hertely Er I depart of thys mortalyte Reſkewe me fro my perylous enemy Kepyng me fro hys curſed cruelte Eternally to ſet my thought in the Luſt of ſynnes fully to forſake Endles god wyche art bothe one & iij. yn to thy cure for euer I me betake
Nomen Tranſlatoris. Tyelde yow thankes lady Sapience Of yt thys worke ye to an ende y brought Haue ye the worſhyppe & the recompence And I no dele / I haue deſerued nought None other luſt deſyre I in my thought Ne nought coueyt I but your Influence Eternally / ſo that I may be brought Souereyn lady in to your preſence
Cognomen Translatoris. wyth al my hert to do yow reuerence And ſeruyſe / ſuche as of me may be wrought Lawly vnder youre obedyence To pleſen yow yf I ſuffyſed ought Wyth al my hert / as euer I haue beſoght No thyng coueyt I of youre excellence Eternally but that I may be brought My ſouereyn lady in to your preſence

Here endeth the boke of comfort called in latyn Boecius de conſolatione Phie. Enprented in the exempt monaſtery of Taueſtok in Denſhyre. By me Dan Thomas Rychard monke of the ſayd Monaſtery / To the inſtant deſyre of the ryght worſhypful eſquyer Mayſter Robert Langdon. Anno d. domini MDxxv.

Deo Gracias.

Robertus Lanhdon.

blazon of Robert Langdon, Esq.