C●imina qui quandam studio florente peregi Flebilis heu mestos cogor inire modos

ALlas I wepyng am constrained to begynne vers of soroufull matere . That whylom in flourisshing studye made delitable ditees / For lo rendyng muses of poetes enditen to me thinges to be writen / And drery vers of wretchidnes weten my face with very teeris / Atte laste no drede ne mighte onercome tho muses that they ne weren felawes and folowden my way / that is to saye . Whan I was exiled / They that weren of my yongthe whilom weleful & gr●●e conforten now sorouful wierdes of me olde man For elde is comen vnwarly vpon me hasted by the harmes that I haue . And sorow hath comaunded his age to be in me . Heeres hore arn shadde ouertymeliche vpon my heed . And the slack skynne trembleth of myn emptid body . Thilke deth of men is weleful that ne cometh not in yeris that be swete / but cometh to wretchis often y cleped . Allas Allas with how deef an ere deth cruell torneth awaye fro wretches . and nayeth for to close wepyng eyen . while fortune vnfaithful fauored me with light goodes . the sorowful houre / that is to saye the deth had almoost dreynt myn ●eed . But now for fortune clowdy hath changed her de●●yuable chere to meward / myne vnpitouse lyf draweth a longe vnagreable dwellinges / O ye my frendes what or w●erto auaunted ye me to lene welefull / For he that hath ●●llen , stode in no stedfast degre

Hec dum mecum tacitus ipse reputarem querimoniaque lacrimabilem stili officio signarem . asstitisse michi supra verticem visa est . mulier reuereudi ad modum vultus . oculis ardentibus . et vltra coemm etc

IN the meane while that I styll recorded these thynges with my self / & merkyd my wepely conpleynte with office ●f poyntel . I sawe standing abouen the heyght of my hede a woman of ful grete reuerence by semblaunte / her eyen brennyng & clere seyng abouen the comune myghte of men with a lifly colour / & with suche vigour & strength that it ne mighte not be empted . Al were it soo that she was ful of grete age . that men ne wolde not trowen . in no maner that she were of our elde / The stature of her was of a doubt●us Iugement / for somtyme she constreyned and sh●onke her self in the commune mesure of men / and somtyme it semed that she touched the heuen with the height of her hede . & whan she heef her hede hygher she ꝑced the self heuen / so that the sight of men loking was in ydel / her clothes were maked of right delye thredes & subtil craft of perdurable matiere . The whiche clothes she had wouen with her owne handes as I knewe wel after by her self declaring & shewing to me the beaute . the whiche clothes a d●rkenes of a ●orleten & despysed elde had dusked & derked as it is wont to derke by smoked ymages / In the netherest hemme o● bordour of these clothes men red ywouen therin a grekish / A that signefieth the lyf ac●yf / & aboue that letter in the hiest bordour a grekish . C. that signefieth the lyf contemplatif . & b●twen̄ these two letters ther were seen degrees nobly wrought in maner of ladders . by whiche degrees men myghte climben from the netherest lettre to the vpperest / Natheles handes of some men hadden kerue that clothe by vyolence or by strengthe . And euerich man of hem hadd borne aweye suche pieces as he myghte geten . And forsothe this forsaide woman bare smale bookes in her ●ighte hand . And in her lift hand she bare a ceptre / And whan she sawe this se poeticall muses approchyng aboute my bedd / And enditing wordes to my wepynges / she was a litill amoeued and glowed with cruell eyen . Who quod she hath suffred approchen to this seke man these comyne strompettis / of whiche is the place that men callen Theatre / the whiche onely ne aswagen not his sorowes with remedi●s . But they wold feden̄ and nourisshe him with swete venym / Forsothe that ben thoo that with thornes and prykkinges of talentes or affections . whiche that bene noo thyng fructuous nor prouffitable . Destroyen̄ the corne plenteous of fruytes of reson . For they holden hertes of men in vsage . but they ne deliuer noo folke fro maladye But if the muses hadde withdrawen̄ fro me with your flateryes ony an vncomyng and vnprouffitable man as ben wonte to fynde comynly among the peple . I wold well suffre the lasse greuously / For why in suche an vnprouffitable man / myne ententes were noo thing endamaged / But ye withdrawen̄ fro me this man that hath ben nourisshed in my studies or scoles of eliaticis & of Achademcis in grete / But goth now rather away ye mermayden● whiche that ben swete til it be at the laste / & suffrith this man to be cured and heled by my muses . that is to saye by my notefull sciencis . And thus this c●mpanye of muses yblamed casten wrothly th● there doowneward to the erth● . & shewyng by redenes her shame they passeden soroufully the thresshwold / And I of whom the sight plounged in teeris was derkid so . that I ne myght not knowe what that woman was of so imperial auctorite / I waxe al abasshed and stonyed / and cast my sight downe to the erthe And began styl for tabide what she wolde done afterward Thenne come she nere & sette her downe vpon the vtterest corner of my bed / and she beholding my chere that was cast to the erthe . heuy and greuous of wepyng / compleyned with these wordes that I shal seyn the perturbacion of my thoughte

Heu quam precipiti mersa profundo Mens habet & propria luce relicta Tendit ad extremas ire tenebras Terrenis quo●iens flatibus acta Cres●it in inmensum nor●a cura Hic quandam celo liber aperto etc

ALlas howe the thoughte of this man dreynt in ou●rthrowyng depenes dulleth and forletteth his propre clerenes / myntyng to gone into foreyne derkenesse . as oft as his anoyous besines wexeth withoute mesure . That ys dryuen with worldly wyndes . this man that whilom was free . to whom the heuen was open & knowen / & was wonte to gon in heuenly pathe● / & sawe the lightnes of the rede son̄● And behelde the sterres of the colde mone . & whiche sterre in heuen̄ vseth wandring . recourses yflytte by diuce speris Thi● man oucomer had comphended al this thing by nombre of acompting in Astronomye / And ouer this he was wont to seken the causes . whens the sownyng wyndes moeuen and besien the smothe water of the see . And what spyrite tourneth the stable heuen . And why the sterre riseth oute of the rede Eest to fallen in the westren wawes And what attempreth the lusty houres of the first somer season . And hightith & apparailleth the erthe with rosy floures / And who maketh the plenteous Autumpne in ful yeres fleten with heuy grapes / and eke this man was wonte to telle the diuerce causes of nature that were hidde Allas how lightly is empted the light of his thoughte . & his nekke is pressid with heuy cheynes / And berith his chere enclined a doun for the grete weight / & is constreyned to loken̄ on the foule erthe

Sed magis medicine inquit tempus est quam querele . Tum vero totis in me intenta luminibus . Tu ne es ait qui nostro quondam lacte nutritus nostris educatus alimentis animi inuirilis robur euaseras . etc

BVt tyme is now of medicine quod she more than complaynt . Forsothe thenne she entendyng to me-ward with al the loking of her eyen saide / Arte not thou he qd she that whilom I nourisshed with my milke and fostred with my metes were escaped and comen to the corage of a parfaite man . Certes I yafe the suche armures That if thou thy selfe ne haddest firste caste hem awaye They sholden haue defended the in sikernes that may not be ouercomen . Knowest thou me not . why arte thou stylle is it for shame or for astonyeng / it were me leuer it were for shame . But it semeth me that astonyeng hath oppress●d the. and whan she sawe me not only stille . but rather withoute office of tonge & al dombe / She leyde her hande softly vpon my breste . and sayde / here is no peril qd she . he is fallen into a litarge whiche that is a comyne sekenes to hertes that ben deceyued / he hath a litel foryeten him self / But certes he shal lightly remembren him self if soo bee that he hath knowen me or now . And that he may done so / ● wil wype his ●yen a litil that be derked by the cloude of mortall thinges . These wordes sayd she / And with the lappe of her garnement yplited in a frounce she dried myn eyen that weren ful of the wawes of my wepynges .

Tunc 〈◊〉 discussa liquerunt nocte tenebre Lum●nibusque prior redit vigor Ut cum precipiti glomerantur sidera choro Nimbosisque polus st●tit ymbribus Sol latet ac non dum celo vementibus astris etc

Thus whan that night was discussed away / derkenes forlete me . And to myne eyen repayred agayn h●r first strength . And right as by ensample . as the sonne is hydde whan the sterres ben couerd with cl●udes by a swift wynde that hight Chorus / And the firmament stant derked by wete plungy cloudes . And that the sterres not appieren vpon the heuene . so that the nyght semeth spradd vpon the erthe . If thenne the wynde that hight boreas ysent oute of the caue of the countrey of Trace / beteth this night That is to seyne chaseth it aweye / And discouerith the closed daye / Thenne shyneth phebus yshaken with sodeyne light & smyteth with his beames in meruayling eyen

Haut aliter triscicie nebulis dissolutis . ●●usi celum et ad cognoscendum mendicantis faciem mentem recepi Itaque vbi in eam deduxi oculos . intuitumque defixi . Respicio nutricem meam cuius ab adolescencia etc

RYght soo and none other wyse / the cl●udes of sorow dissolued and doon awaye / I toke heuene and receyued mynde to knowen the face of my phis●cien . So that I sette myne eyen vpon her and fastned my lokyng / I behelde my noryce philosophie in whos hous I hadd conuersed fro my yougth . and I sayd thus / O thou maistresse of all vertues descended from the souerayne s●te / why arte thou comen into this solitary place of myn exile / Arte th●u comen for thou arte maad culpable with me of ●●lse blames . O quod she my norie shuld I forsake the now . and shold I not parten with the by comyne trauayle the charge that thou hast suffr●d for enuye of my name . Certes hyt were not leefful ne fitting to philosophie to leten withoute companye the way of him that is Innocent . sholde I thenne redoubte my blame / & agrise as thaugh ther were befallen a newe thing / For trowest thou that Philosophie bee nowe alder firste assaylled in perils by folke of wicked manere haue I not striuen with full grete strife in olde tyme byfore the aage of my Plato / ayenst the folehardynesse of folye . And eke the same plato lyuyng / his maister Socrates deserued victorie of vnrightful deth in my presence The heritaige of the whiche Socrates / the heritaige is to sayn the doctrine of the whiche Socrates in his opynyon̄ of felicite / that I cl●pe welefulnes . whan that the peuple of Epycuriens and Stoiciens and many other enforsed them to go rauisshe . euery man for his part that is to seyn That eueriche of hem wold drawen to the defence of his opynyon the wordes of Socrates . They as in partye of their praye to drowen me ●●y●●g and debating ther ayenst And coruen and renten my clothes that I hadd wonnen with myne owne handes . And wyth the clothes that they hadd araced oute of my cloth●s they w●nten awaye . wenyng that I hadde gone ●●th h●m eu●ridele . In whiche Epicuriens and Stoici●ns for as moche as ther semed some traces and steppes of my hab●te / The folye of wenyng the ●picuriens and Stoiciens my famyli●●s/perue●ted some th●urgh therrour of the wi●ked multytude of hem / This i● to s●yn ●●r they s●m●d phil●s●ph●rs . they w●ren po●rs●●wed to the ●●●th and slayne / So yf thou ●●st not knowen th exising of Anaxagoras ne then poysenyng of Socrates / Ne the tormentes of ●e●o for they weren straungers . yet myghtest thou h●ue knowen / the sen●ctyens . the Camos / and the Soranos / Of whyche folke the renommee ys neyther euer old ne vnsolemp●● The whyche men noo thyng ellis ne broughte to the deth But onely for they were enformed of my maners / And semeden moost vnlyke to the s●udyes of wicked folke And forthy thou oughtest not to wondren though that I in the by●ter see be dryuen with tempestes blowyng aboute . In the whyche thys ys my mooste pourpoose . That is to seyne to displesen wicked men . Of whyche shrewes al be the hoost neuer so grete . it is to despyse . for hit is not gouerned with no leder of reson / But it is rauisshed only by fleting errour folily & lightly . and if they somtyme make an hooste ayenst vs / Assayle vs as stren̄ger / Our leder draweth to gedir his richesses into his tour And they ben ententif aboute sarpleris or sachellis vnprofitable for to taken . But wee that been hygh abouen siker from all tumulte & wood noyse . warnestored & enclosed in suche a palays . whider as that clatering or anoyeng folye may not atteyne / we scorne suche raueners and henters of foulest thinges

Quisquis composito serenus euo Fatum sub pedibus agit superbum Fortunamque tuens vtramque r●ctus Inuictum potuit tenere vultum etc

WHo so it be that clere of vertue sad & wel ordynat of lyuyng that hath put vnderfote the proude wierdes / & loketh vpright vpon either fortune he maye holden his chere vndescomfited / The rages ne the manaces of the see cōmoeuyng & chasing vnware hete from the bottom̄e / ne shal not m●oue that man . ne the vnstable montayne that hight Vesenus that writheth out thurgh his broken chymeneyes smokyng fyres . Ne the wey of thonder leyte . that is wont to smyten highe toures ne shall not moeue that man / wher to thenne wretches dreed ye tyrauntes that been wood and felonnous wyth ony strengthe . Hoop● after nothing Ne drede thou not . And soo shallest thou disarmen the Ire of thilk vnmyghty tyrannt / but who that quaking deedeth or desireth thing that is not stable of his right . that man that so doth / hath cast away his shelde / & is remoeued fro his place . & enlaseth him in the cheyne . with the whiche he may be drawen̄

Sentis ne inquit hec atque animo illabuntur . quid fles Quid lacrimas manas . si operam medicantis expectas oportet vulnus detegas

FElistow quod she these thinges . & entren̄ they ought in thy corage / arte thou like an asse to the harpe . why wepestow why spillistow teeris . if thou abidest after helpe of thy leche . the behoueth discou thy wounde . tho I had gaderid strength in my corage ansuerde & saide / And nedeth it quod I of rehercing or of amonicion . And shewith it not ynough by him self the sharpenes that wexeth wode ayenst me . Ne moeueth it not the to see the face or the manere of this place . Is this the librarye that thou haddest chosen for a right certain siege to the in myn hous / there as thou disputest ofte with me . of the science of thinges / touching dyuinite & touching mankinde / was then myn habite suche as hit is now . was my face or chere suche as is now / whan I sought with the secretes of nature / whan thou enformedest my maners & the reason of al my lyf to th ensample of the ordre of leuene . Is not this the guerdon that I referre to the / to whom I haue be obeysan̄te . Certes thou enformedest by the mouth of plato this sentence / that is to seyn . that comyn● thinges or comynaltees weren blisfull / If they that hadde studied all fully to wisedom gouerneden thilke thinges Or els if it so befell that the gouernours of comynaltees studieden to gete wysedom / thou saidest eke by the mouth of the saide plato that it was a necessarye cause / wise men to taken & desiren the gouernance of comyne thinges . for that the gouernements of citees yleft in the handes of felonous tourmentours / cytezeins ne sholden not bringen in pestilence & distruccion to good folke . And therfore I folowyng thilke auctours desired to put forth in execucion & in acte of comyne administracion thilk thinges that I had lernid of the among my secret restingwhiles / thou & god that put in the thoughtes of wise folk / ben knowing with me . that nothing ne brought me to maistrye or dignite / but the comyne studye of all goodnes . And therof cometh it that bytwene wicked folke and me haue ben greuous discordes That ne mighten not be relessed by prayers . for this liberte hath the fredom̄e of conscience / that the wrath of more mighty folke hath alwaye ben dispised of me for sauacyon of right . How ofte haue I resisted & withstande that man that hight Coniugast / that made alwey th assautes ayenst the prosper fortunes of poure feble folk . How ofte eke haue I putte of / or caste oute him Trigwille prouost of the kinges howse . bothe of the wroonges that he hadd begonne to doon . And eke fully perfourmed / Howe often haue I couered and defended by the auctorite of me putte ayenst parills . That is to seyne / putte myn Auctorite in perill For the wretchid poure folk . that the couetise of straungers vnpunysshed tourmenteden allewaye wyth myseases and greuances oute of nombre / Neuer man yet drowe me fro right to wronge . whan I sawe the fortunes and the richesses of the peuple of the prouynces ben harmed & amenused eyther by preuy rauynes or by comyn trybutes or cariages . as sory was I / as they that suffreden the harme Glose Whan that Theodorik Kynge of Gothes in a dede yere hadd his garners full of corne / and commanded that noo man shold bye no corne / till his corne were solde And at a greuous dere pryce / Boece withstode that ordenance and ouercame hit / Knowyng all this the kyng Theodoryk hym selfe / Coempcion ys to saye comyne achate or byeng to gyder . that were establisshed vpon the peple by suche a manere Imposicion̄ / As who so boughte a busshell corne . he muste yeuen the kynge the fyfthe parte Textus

Whan hit was in the soure hongry tyme / ther was establissed greuous and vnprouffitable coempcion̄ that men seen wele . hit shuld greetly tormenten and endamagen alle ●he prouynce of Campayne . I toke striff ayeenst the Proudste of the pretorie for the comyne prouffite . And the knowyng of hit / I ouercome hit / so that the coempcion̄ was not axed ne tooke effecte Paulyne a counseyllour of Rome . the riches of the whiche Paulyne . the houndes of the palays . That is to saye / th officers wolden̄ haue deuour●d by hope and couetise . Yet drowe I oute of the Iowes of h●m that gapeden . And for as moche as the payne of thaccusacion̄ aiugged biforne ne shold not sodenly henten ne punysshen wrongfully Albyn a counceyllour of Rome . I putte me ayenst the hates and Indignacions of th accusour Cipryan / Is it not thenne ynough syn that I haue purchaced grete discordes ayenst my selfe . But I ought be more assured ayenst other folke / that for the loue of rightwisnes I neuer reserued noo thyng to my self / to hemward of the kynges halle / by whiche I were the more siker . But thurgh thoo same accusours accusing / I am condempned . Of the nombre of whiche accusours one basiliuz that whilome was chaced oute of the kynges seruice . Is nowe compellyd in accusyng of my name . For nede of foreyn moneye / Also Opilion and Gaudencius han accused me . Al bee hit soo that the Iustice regall hadd whilome demed them bothe to goon in to exyle for her trecheryes and frawdes with oute nombre . To whiche Iuggement they nolden not obeye / but defended hem by the sikernesse of holy hows●s . That is to seyne / fledden in to seyntewarye / And thenne whan this was apperceyued by the kyng / he commaunded but if they voyded the Cyte of rauenne by certayne daye ass●gned / that men shold marken h●m on the forhede wyth an hoote yren / and chas●n hem oute of the towne / Nowe what thing semeth / myghte bee likened to this cruelte . For certes this same daye was receyued the accusing of my name by thilke same accusours / What maye bee sayd hereto . hath my studye and my connyng deserued thus . or ellis the forsayd dampnacion of me maad hem rightfull accusours or noo . was not fortune ashamed of this / Certes all hadd not fortune ben ashamed that Innocence was accused . yet ought she han had shame of the filth of myn accusours . but axe thou in some of what gylte I am accused / Men seyn that I wold sauen the companye of the Senatours . And desirest thou to heren in what manere I am accused that I shold han distourbed th accusour to beren̄ lettres / by whiche he shulde haue made the senatours gilty ayenst the kynges royal mageste / O maistresse what demest thou of this / shal I forsake this blame . that I ne be no shame to the / Certes I haue wold it . that is to saye the sauacion of the senate I ne shal neu lete to wilne it / And that I confesse and am a knowe . but th entente of th accusour to ben distourbed shal cesse . Shal I clep● that a felonye or a synne that I haue desired the sauacion of the ordre of the senate / And certes hadd thilke same senate done thurgh her decretes & her Iugementis as though it were a synne & a felonye . that is to wilne the s●uacion of them . But folye that lyeth alwey to him self may not chaunge the merite of thinges / Ne I trowe not by the Iugement of socrates that it were leefful to me to hide the s●th ne assente to ●●synges / but certes how so ●uer hit be of this I put it to gessyn or prisen of the Iugement of the and of wise folk . of whiche thyng all th●rdenance and the s●th . for as moche as folke that been to comen after our dayes shall knowen it / I haue put hit in scripture and in remembrance / For touchyng the letters falsely made / by whiche letters I am accused to han h●p●d the fredom̄e of rome / what apperteyneth me to speken therof . Of whiche letters the fraude hadd ben shewde apertely if I had hadde liberte for to haue vsed and ben at confession of myne accusours / The whiche thing in al nedes h●th grete strengthe . For what other fredem maye men hopen . certes I wolde that some other fredome mighte be hoped . I wold thenne haue answerd by the wordes of a man that hight Camus . for whan he was accused of gayus Cesar germeynes sone . that he was knowyng and consentyng of a coniuracion y made agaynst him / This Camus ansuerde thus if I had wist it / thou haddest not wist it / In whiche thinge sorow hath not so dulled my witte that I pleyne only that shrewd folke apparaillen felonyes ayenst vertue . But I wondre gretly how that they may performe thinges that they haue hoped for to doon . f●r why ne wil ne shrewdnes that cometh perauenture of our defaute But it is like a monstre and a meruaille how that in the present sight of god may been achieued and performed suche thinges . as euery felenous man hath conceyued in his thought ayenst Innocentes / For whiche thyng one of thy famyliers not vnskilfully axed thus . If god is . whens comen wicked thinges / But al hadde it been leeffull that felonous folk / that now desiren the blode and the deeth of alle goode men . And eke of the senate han wilned to goon destroyen me whom they haue seyn alwaye bataillen and defenden good men and eke al the senate that had not deserued of the faders / that is to seyn of the senatours that they sholden wille my destruccion . Thou remembrest wele as I gesse . that whan I wold doon or seyn ony thing . thou thy self alway present ruledest me . Atte cyte of verone whan that the kyng gredy of comyn slaughter / caste him to transporten vpon all the ordre of the senate the gilte of his rial mageste . of the whiche gilte that Albyn was accused . with how grete sikernes of perill to me / defended I all the senate . thou wotest well that I say soth . Ne I ne auaunted me neuer in praysing of my self For alway whan ony wight receyueth precious renom̄e● In auaunting of him self or his werkis / he amenuseth the se●r●e of his conscience / but now thou maist wel seen to what ende I am comen . for myn Innocencie I receyue payn of fals felonnye for gwerdon of verey vertue . & what opene confession of felonnye had euer Iugges so a●●rdant in cruelte . that is to seyne as myn ●●cusing hath . that either errour of mannes witte / or els condicion of fortune . that ys vncertayn to al mortal folk ne submitted som of hem . that is to seye that it ne enclined som iuge to han pite or compassion / for al though I had ben accused that I wolde b●en̄e holy houses & strangle prestes with wicked swerde . or that I had greythed deth to al good men / algates the sentence shuld haue punysshed me present confess●d or conuicte . but nowe I am remo●ued from the cite of rome almost . v. C. M. paa● I am without defence dampned to proscripcion & to deth / for the studies & bountees that I haue done to the senate / but / o wel ben they worthy of merite / as who seith / nay / ther might yet neuer none of hem be conuicte of suche a blame as myne is . Of whiche trespaas myn accusours sayne ful wele the dignite / for they wolde d●rk●n it with medling of som felonye . They baren me on honde & sayde that I had polute & defouled my conscience with sacrilege for couetyse of dygnite / And certes thou thy selfe that arte planted in me . chacedest oute of the siege of my corage al couetise of mortall thinge● / Ne sacrelege ne had noo leue to haue a place in me before thyn eyen / for thou droppedest euery daye in myncere● & in my thought thilke commandement of pictagoras . That is to seye men shal seruen to god & not to goddes / Ne it was not conuenient ne none nede to taken helpe of the foulest spirites / I that thou hast ordeigned and sette in suche excellence . that thou madest me like to god . And ou this the right clene secre chambre of myn hous / that is to seye my wyff . And the company of myn honest frendes . & my wyues fader as wel holy as worthy to be / reuerensed for his dedes / defenden me from al suspeccion of suche blame . But / o. malice / For they that accusen me taken of the philosophie feith of so grete blame / for they trowen that I haue had affinite to malefice or enchantement / bycause that I am replenisshed & fulfilled with thy techinges & enformed of thy maners . & thus it suffrith not only that thy reuerence ne auaile me nought / but if thou of thy frewill rather be blemisshed with myn offencion / But certes to the harmes that I haue ther betideth yet this encresse of harme . that the gessing & the iugement of moche folk ne loken nothing to the desertes of thinges but only to th auenture of fortune . & iuggen that only suche thinges ben pourueyed of god / which that temporal wilfulnes commaundeth Glosa As thus . that if a wight haue prosperite he is a goode man & worthy to haue that prosperite . & who so hath adusite . he is a wicked man / & god hath forsake him / & he is worthy to haue that adusite . This is th oppinion of som folk / and therof cometh that good gessing . first of althing forsaked wretches / certes it greueth me to thinke right now in diuce sentencis that the peple seith of me . & thus moche I seye that the last charge of contrarious fortune is this / that whan ony blame is leyd vpon a caytif . men wenen that he hath deserued that he suffreth . & I that am put away from good men & despoiled of dignitees . & defowled of my name by gessing haue suffred tourmentes for my good dedes . Certes me semeth / that I see the felenous couynes of wicked men habounden in Ioye and in gladnesse . And I see that euery lorel shapeth him to finde newe frawdes for to accuse good folk . & I see that good folk be ouerthrowen for drede of my peril / & euery luxurious tormentour dar done alle felonye vnpunysshed & ben excited therto by yeftes / and Innocentis be not only dispoiled of sikernes but of defence / And therto me list to cryen to god in this manere

O stelli●eri conditor orbis Qui perpetuo nixus solio Rapido celum turbine versas . Legemque pati sidera cogis Ut nunc pleno lucida cornu Totis frīs obuia flammis Condat stellas luna minores Nunc obscuro pallid● cornu Phebo ꝓprior lumina perdat etc

THou maker of the whele that bereth the s●er●es / whiche that art fastned to thy perdurable chayer . & torn●st the heuen with a rauesshing sweyghe / And constreynest the ster●es to suffre thy lawe / So that the mone some tyme shynyng with her ful hornes meting with all the ●eames of the sonne her bedder . hideth the ster●es that been lesse / And some tyme whan the mone pale . with her derke ●ornes approcheth th● sonne / leseth her sightes / And that the euyn sterre Hesperu● whiche that in the firste tyme of the nyghte bringeth firste her cold arising cometh efte a●en ●er vsed cour● . and is pale by the morowe acte rising of the sonne . And is thenne ycleped lucifer . Thou restreynest the daye by shorter dwelling in the tyme of the cold wynter that maketh the leues fall . thou deuidest the swift tydes of the night whan the hote somer is comen . thy might attemprith the variant seasons of the yere . So that Zepherus the debonayr wynde bryngeth ayen in the firste somer season . the leues that the wynde that highte Boreas hath refte awaye in Autumpne . that is to seye the laste ende of the somer . And the seedes that the sterre that hight Arcitures sewe bewaxen highe cornes . whan the sterre Sirius enchaceth hem / Ther is noo thyng vnbounden from this old lawe ne forletteth the werke of his propre estate O thou gouernour gouernyng alle thinges by certayne ende . why refusest thou onely to gouerne the werkis of men by dewe manere . why suffrest thou that slyding fortune tourneth so grete entrechaunges of thynges / so that a noyous payne shuld duly punysshe felon̄s / punyssheth Innecentis / And folke of wicked maneres sitten in hyghe chayers . And annoyeng folke treden and that vnrightfully on the nekkis of holy men . And vertue clere and shynyng . naturelly is hydd in derke derkenesses / And the rightfull man bereth the payne and the blame of the felon̄s / Ne the forswering ne the fraude couerd & kempt with a fals colour / ne annoyeth not to shrewdnes / The whiche shrewdnes whan hem liste vsen her strengthe / they reioyssen hem to putte vnder hem the souerayne Kynges / Whiche that the peuple with oute nombre dreden / O thou what some ener thou be that knyttest alle bondes of thynges / loke on these wretches erthes / we men that ben not a ●oull partye . but a fayrre parte of so grete a werke . we been tourmented in this see of fortune . Thou gouernour withdrawe and restreyne the rauisshing flodes . & fasten & ferme these erthes stable / with thilk bonde / with which thou gouernest heuen that is so large

Hec vbi continuo delatraui dolore . illa vultu placido nichilque meis questionibus mota . Cum te inquit . mestum lacrimantemque vidissem . ilico miserum exulemque cognosci . Sz quam id longincū esset exilium etc

WHan I had with a continuel sorowe sobbed or broken out these thinges . she with her chere pesible / and nothing a moeued with my compleyntes seyde thus / whan I sawe the qd she sorouful and weping / I wist anon that thou were a wretche and exiled / but I nyst neuer how fer thyne exile was if thy tal● ne hadde sh●wd it me . but cer●tes al be thou ferre from thy countre / thou narte not al putte out of hit . But thou hast failled of thy weye and gone amys / and if thou haste leuer for to wene that thou be put out of thy contreye . thenne hast thou putte out thy self rather than ony other wight hath / for no wight but thou thy selfe ne mighte neuer haue doon that to the / For if thou remembre the of what countreye thou arte borne / hit nys not gouerned by emperours ne by gouernement of multitude As weren the countreyes of hem of Ath●nes / but one lorde and one kyng and that is god that is lord of thy countreye . whiche that reioysseth hym of the dwellyng of his C●●●●eyn● . and not for to putte hem in exile . Of the whiche lorde it is a fredom̄e to be gouerned by the brydle of him & obeye to his Iustice . hast thou forgoten thilke olde lawe of thy cite / In the whiche cite it is ordeyned & establisshed that what wight hath leu founde therin his seete or his hous than els where . He may not be exiled by no right from that place . For who so that is contened within the palais of thilke cite / ther nys noo drede that he may deserue to be exiled . But who that letteth the wille tenhabite there . he forletteth also to deserue to be a citezeyn of thilke cite . So that I seye that the face of this place ne moeueth me not so mykyl as thyn owen face . Ne I ne axe not rather the walles of thy librarye apparailled & wrought with yuory and with glas . than after the seete of thy thought / In whiche I putt not whilom bookes / but I putt that / that maketh bookes worthy of price or precious . that is to seye sentence of my bookes / And certainly of thy desertes bestowed in comyne good . thou haste said soth / But after the multitude of thy good dedes thou hast sayd fewe / And of the honeste / or of the falsenes of thinges that ben opposed ayenst the / thou hast remembrid thinges that be knowen to all folke . And of the felonyes and fraudes of thyne accusours / It semeth the haue touched it forsothe rightfully and shortly / All myghten tho same thinges better and more plenteously been couthe in the mouthe of the peuple that knoweth all this . Thou haste eke blamed gretly and compleyned of the wroongfull dede of the Senate And thou haste sorowed for my blame / And thou hast wepen for the damage of thy renommee that is appaired & thy last sorow enchaced ayen f●rtune / cōpleynest the guerdons ne be not euenly yolden to the desertes of folk & in thy latter ende of thy wode muse . thou praiedest that thilk peas that gouerneth the heuen sholde gouern● the erthe . But for that many tribulacions of affeccions haue assayled the. & sorowe & Ire & weping to drawen the diuersly . as thou arte now feble of thought / mightier remedies ne shullen not yet touchen the / for whiche we willen somdele vsen lighter medicines . so that thilk passions that be waxen harde in swelling by ꝑturbacions flowing into thy thought . mowen waxe easy & softe to receyue the strength of a more mighty and more egre medicine by an easier touching

Cum phebi radiis graue . Cancri sidus inestuat . Tum qui larga negantibus Sulcis semina credidit . Elusus cereris ●ide Quernas pergat ad arbores . Numquam purpureum nemus . Lecturus violas petas etc

WHan that the heuy sterre of the Cancre . enchaceth by the beames of phebus / that is to s●yne whan that ph●bus the sonne is in the s●gne of the cancre . who so yeueth thenne largely his sedes to the feldes / that refusen to receyue h●m lete him goon begiled of truste that he had to his corne / to ake●●rnes of ookes / If thou wilt gad●e viole●tis / Ne g●o thou not to the propre wode . whan the felde chirking agr●seth of colde by the felnes of the winde that h●ght aquilone . If thou desirest or wilt vsen grapes / ne seke th●u not a gloutons honde to streyne & presse the stalkes of the vyne in the first somer season / for bachus the god of wyne ●ath rather yeu●n his yef●es to autumpne the latter ende of somer . god tokenyth & assigneth the tymes abl●ng hem to her propre offices . ne he ne suffreth not the stoundes whiche tha● himself hath deuided & constreyned to ben ymedled to gider . & for thy he that forletteth certayn ordenance of doyng by outhrowing waye / he ne hath no glad issue / or ende of his werkis

Primum igitur pateris ne me pauculis interrogacionibus statum tue mentis attingere atque temptare . vt qui modus sit tue curacionis intelligam etc

FIrste woldest thou suffre me to touche & assaye the estate of thy thought by a fewe demandes so that I may vnderstande by . the maner of thy curacion / axe me qd I at thy will that thou wolt / & I shal answere / Tho saide she thus . whether wa●e●t thou qd she that this world bee gouerned folisshe by h●ppes & fortunes / or els wenest thou that ther be in it on● gouernement of reson . B / Certes qd I / I ne trowe n●t in noo manere that so certayne thinges shold be moeued by fortunous fortune / but I wote well that god maker & maister is gouernour of his werk / ne was neuer yet day that might put me out of the sothnes of that sentence / P / So is it qd she for the same thing sange thou a litel here biforn & bewailledest & weptest / that only men were putte out of the cure of god . For of alle other thinges . thou ne doubtest not that they nere gouerned by reason / But. och / I wondre certes greetly . why that thou arte seke . Syn that thou arte putte in so holsom̄e a sentence . But lete vs seken depper / I coniecte that ther lacketh I note what / But seye me this . syn that thou ne doubtest not that this world bee gouerned by God . with whiche gouernaille takest thou hede that hit is gouerned vnnethe qd I know I the sentence of thy question / so that I ne may not yet answeren to thy demaundes . I was not deceyued qd she . that ther ne fayled somwhat by whiche the maladie of perturbacion is crepte into thy thought . so as the strength of thy palais shynyng is open / but saye me this . remembrest thou what is th ende of thinges . & whider th entencion of al kynde tendeth / I haue herde told it somtyme qd I. but drerines hath dulled my memoire / Certes qd she thou wotest wel whens al thinges be comen & proceded / I wote wel qd I & ansuerde that god is begyn̄ing of al. And hou may this be qd she / that syn thou knowest the begynnyng of thinges / that thou ne knowest not what is th ende of thinges . but suche ben the customes of perturbacion & this power they han . that they may moeue a man fr●m his place . that is to seye from the sta●l●nes & perfeccion of his knowing . but certes they may not al arace him / ne as●ene him in all / but I wold that thou wel●est answere to this Remembrestow that thou arte a man . Boece / why shold I not remembren that qd I. philes●hie . Ma●stow not telle me thenne what thing is a man . Arestow not me quod I whether that I be a resonable mortal beest . I wote wel and confesse that I am it . wistow neu yet that th●u were ony other thing qd she . No qd I / Now we le knowe I qd she other cause of thy maladie / & that right greet . thou hast le●t for to knowen thy self what thou arte . thurgh whiche I haue pleynly founden the cause of thy maladie / or els th entre of recouering of thy hele . For why / For thou art cofounded with for●eting of thy self . For thou sorowdest that thou arte e●iled of thy propre goodes . And for thou ne wist what is th ende of thinges . For thy demest thou that felonous and wicked men be mighty and welefull . and for thou hast foryeten by whiche gouernements the world is gouerned . For thy wenest thou that these mutacions of fortune fleten without gouernour / These ben the caus●s not onely to maladie . but certes grete causes to deth . but I thanke the auctour & the maker of hele . that nature hath not al forleten the / I haue grete norisshing of thyn hele . & that is the soth sentence of gouernance of the worlde / that thou bileuest that the gouernyng of it is not subgette ne vnderput to the folie of these happes auenturous . but to the reson of god . and therfore doubte the nothing / for of this litil sparke thyne hete of lyf shal shyne / But for asmoche as it is not tyme yet of faster remedies / and the nature is of thoughtes thus deceyued . That as ofte as they cast aweye soth oppinions / they clothen hem in false oppinions Of the whiche fals oppinions . the derken●s of perturbacion wexeth vp / that confoundeth the very insight . and that derkenes shall I somwhat assaye to maken thynne & weyke by light & meneliche remedies . so that after that the derkenes of deceyuyng thinges be don awaye / thou may knowe the shynyng of veraye light

Nubibus atris . Condita nullum . Fundere possunt sidera lumen . Si mare voluens . Turbidus auster . Misceat estum . Uitrea dudum . Parque serenis etc

THe sterres couerd with blak clowdes ne mowe yeten adoun no light if the trouble winde that hight auster tournyng and walkyng the see medleth the h●te . That is to seyn the boyling vp from the bottome / the wawes that were whilome clere as glas / and like to the feyr bryghte dayes . withstante anone the sightes of men by the filthe & ordure that is resoluid . And the fletyng streme that reilleth doun diuersly from high montaignes is arrested and resisted ofte tyme by th encoūtring of a stone that is departed & fallen from som roche . And for thy if thou wilt loken & deme soth with clere light and holden the wey with a right path / weyue thou ioye . driue fro drede . fleme thou hope / ne lete no sorowe approche / that is to seyne / lete none of these four passions ●●come the or blende the / For cloudy and derke is thilke thought . & bounde with bridels w●ere as these thing●s regnen̄