<336rb>VEry welth may not be founden in al this worlde/and that is wel sene: Lo howe in my mooste comforte/as I wende and moost supposed to haue hadde ful answere of my contrary thoughtes/sodaynly it was vanysshed. And al the workes of man faren in the same wyse/whan folke wenen best her entent for to haue/and wylles to perfourme/anone chaungyng of the lyft syde to the ryght halue/tourneth it so clene in to another kynde/that neuer shal it come to the fyrst plyte in doynge.
    O this wrongful steeryng so soone otherwysed out of knowynge/but for my purpose was at my begynnynge/and so dureth yet/if god of his grace tyme wol me graunt/I thynke to perfourme this worke/as I haue begonne in loue/after as my thynne wytte/with inspyracion of hym that hyldeth al grace wol suffre. Greuously god wotte haue I suffred a great throwe that the romayne emperour/whiche in vnyte of loue shulde acorde and euery with other/in cause of other to auaunce/and namely sythe this empyre to be corrected of so many sectes in heresie/of faith/of seruyce/o rule in loues relygion. Trewly al were it but to shende erronyous opinyons/I maye it no lenger suffre: for many menne there ben that sayne loue to ben in grauel and sande/that with see ebbynge and flowynge woweth/as riches that sodaynly vanissheth. And some sayn that loue shulde be in wyndy blastes/that stoundmele turneth as a phane/and glorie of renome/whiche after lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stylled.
    Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone/and other sterres/loue shulde ben founden/for amonge al other planettes moste souerainly they shynen/as dignytees in reuerence of estates rather than good han and occupyen. Ful many also there ben that in okes and in huge postes supposen loue to ben grounded/as in strength and in might/whiche mowen not helpen their owne wretchydnesse/whan they gynne to fal. But suche dyuersyte of<336ra><336va>sectes ayenst the rightful byleue of loue/these errours ben forthe spredde/that loues seruantes in trewe rule and stedfaste faythe/in no place darne apere: Thus irrecuperable ioy is went/and anoy endlesse is entred. for no man aright reproueth suche errours/but confyrmen their wordes/and sayn that badde is noble good/and goodnesse is badde: to which folke the prophete byddeth/Wo without ende.
    Also manye tonges of great false techynges in gylynge maner/principally in my tymes/not onely with wordes/but also with armes/loues seruauntes and professe in his relygion of trewe rule/pursewen to confounden and to distroyen. And for as moche as holy fathers/that our christen fayth aproued and strenghthed to the iewes/as to men resonable/and of diuynite lerned/proued thilke faythe with resones/and with auctorites of the olde testament and of the newe/her pertynacie to distroy: But to paynyms/that for beestes and houndes were holde/to put hem out of their errour/was myracles of god shewed. These thynges were fygured by comynge of thangel to the shepeherdes/and by the sterre to paynyms kynges/as who saythe: angel resonable to resonable creature/and sterre of myracle to people bestyal not lerned/werne sent to enforme. But I louers clerk in al my connyng and with al my mightes/trewly I haue no suche grace in vertue of myracles/ne for no discomfyte falsheedes/suffyseth not auctorytes alone/sythen that suche heretykes and maintaynours of falsytes.wherfore I wotte wel sythen that they ben men/and reason is approued in hem/the clowde of erroure hath her reason bewonde probable resons/whiche that catchende wytte rightfully may not with sytte. By my trauaylynge studye I haue ordeyned hem/with that auctorite misglosed by mannes reason/to graunt shal be enduced.
    Nowe gynneth my penne to quake/to thinken on the sentences of the enuyous people/whiche alwaye ben redy/bothe ryder and goer to skorne and to iape this leude booke/and me for rancoure and hate in their hertes they shullen so dispyse/that althoughe my booke<336va><336vb>be leude/yet shal it ben more leude holden/and by wicked wordes in many maner apayred. Certes me thynketh the sowne of their badde speche/right nowe is ful bothe myne eeres. O good precious Margaryte/myne herte shulde wepe if/I wyste ye token hede of suche maner speche/but trewly I wotte wel in that your wysdome shal not asterte. For of god maker of kynde wytnesse I toke/that for none enuy ne yuel haue I drawe this mater togyder/but only for goodnesse to maintayn/and errours in falsetees to distroy. Wherfore (as I sayd) with reason I thynke/thylke forsayd errours to distroye and dequace.
    These reasons and suche other/if they enduce men in loues seruyce/trewe to beleue of parfyte blysse/yet to ful faithe in credence of deserte fully mowe they nat suffyse/sithen faith hath no meryte of mede/whan mannes reason sheweth experyence in doyng. For vtterly no reason the parfyte blysse of loue by no waye maye make to be comprehended. Lo what is a persel of louers ioye/parfyte science in good seruyce/of their desyre to comprehende in bodily doynge the lykynge of the soule/not as by a glasse to haue contemplacion of tyme comynge/but thilke first ymagyned and thought/after face to face in beholdyng: what herte/what reason/what vnderstandynge can make his heuen to be feled and knowe without assaye in doynge? certes none. Sythen thanne of loue cometh suche fruite in blysse/and loue in hym selfe is the most amonge other vertues/as clerkes sayne: The sede of suche springynge in al places/in al countreys/in al worldes shulde ben sowe.
    But o welawaye thilke sede is forsake/and mowen not ben suffred the londe tyllers to set a werke/without medlynge of cockle/badde wedes whiche somtyme stonken/hath caught the name of loue amonge ydiotes and badde meanynge people. Neuer the later/yet howe so it be that menne cleape thilke kynge preciousest in kynde/with many eke names/that other thynges/that the soule yeuen the ylke noble name/it sheweth wel that in a maner men haue a great lykynge in worshyppynge<336vb><337ra>of thilke name/wherfore this worke have I writte/and to the tytled of loues name/I haue it auowed in a maner of sacrifyse/that where euer it be radde/it mowe in meryte by the excellence of thilke name the more wexe in authorite and worshyppe of takynge in hede/and to what entent it was ordayned/the inseeres mowen ben moued: Euery thynge to whom is owande occasyon done as for his ende/Aristotle supposeth that the actes of euery thynge ben in a maner his fynal cause. A fynal cause is noblerer or els euen as noble as thilke thynge that is fynally to thilke ende/wherfore accion of thynge euerlastyng/is demed to be eternal/and not temporal/sythen it is his fynal cause: Ryght so the actes of my boke Loue/and loue is noble/wherfore though my boke be leude/the cause with whiche I am stered/and for whom I ought it done/noble forsothe ben bothe. But bycause that in connynge I am yonge/and canne yet but crepe/this leude A/b/c/haue I sette in to lernyng/for I can not passen the tellyng of thre as yet: and if god wyl in shorte tyme I shal amende this leudnesse in ioynynge syllables/whiche thynge for dulnesse of wytte I maye not in thre letters declare. For trewly I saye the goodnesse of my Margaryte perle wolde yeue mater in endityng to many clerkes: certes her mercy is more to me swetter than any lyuynges/wherfore my lyppes mowen not suffyse in spekyng of her ful laude and worshyppe as they shulde. But who is that in knowyng of the orders of heuen/and putteth his resones in the erthe: I forsothe maye not with blere eyen/the shynyng sonne of vertue in bright whele of this Margaryte beholde/therfore as yet I maye her not discryue in vertue as I wolde. In tyme comynge in another tretyse thorowe goddes grace/this sonne in clerenesse of vertue to be knowe/and howe she enlumyneth al this day/I thynke to declare.
IN this meane whyle this comfortable lady ganne synge/a wonder mater of enditynge in latyn/but trewly the noble colours in rethorik wyse knytte were so craftely/that my connyng wol not stretche to remem<337ra><337rb>bre/but the sentence I trowe somdele haue I in mynde. Certes they were wonder swete of sowne/and they were touched al in lamentacion wyse/and by no werbles of myrthe: Lo thus ganne she synge in latyn/as I may constrewe it in our englysshe tonge.
    Alas that these heuenly bodyes their lyght and course shewen/as nature yaue hem in commaundement at the gynnyng of the first age/but these thynges in free choyce of reson han none vnderstondynge: but man that ought to passe al thynge of doynge/of right course in kynde/ouer whelmed sothnesse by wrongful tytle/and hath drawen the sterre of enuye to gon by his syde/that the clyps of me that shulde be his shynande sonne/so ofte is sey/that it wened thilke errour thorowe hem come in/shulde ben myn owne defaute. Trewly therfore I haue me withdrawe/and made my dwellynge out of lande in an yle by my selfe/in the occian closed/and yet sayne there many they haue me harberowed/but god wote they faylen. These thynges me greuen to thynke/and namely on passed gladnesse/that in this worlde was wonte me disporte of hyghe and lowe/and nowe it is fayled: they that wolden maystries me haue in thilke stoundes. In heuen on hyghe aboue Saturnes sphere/in seasonable tyme were they lodged/but now come queynte counsaylours that in no house wol suffre me soiourne/wherof is pyte: and yet sayne some that they me haue in celler with wyne shed/in gernere there corne is layde/couered with whete/in sacke sowed with wolle/in purse with money faste knytte/amonge pannes mouled in a wyche/in presse amonge clothes layde with ryche pelure arayed/in stable amonge horse and other beestes/as hogges/shepe/and nete/and in other many wyse. But thou maker of lyght (in wynking of thyn eye the sonne is queynt) woste right wel that I in trewe name was neuer thus herberowed.
    Somtyme toforn the sonne in the seuenth partie was smyten/I bare both crosse and mytre/to yeue it where I wolde. With me the pope went a fote/and I tho was worshyped of al holy church Kynges baden me their crownes holden. The law was set as it shuld: tofore the iuge as wel the<337rb><337va>poore durste shewe his grefe as the ryche/for al his money. I defended tho taylages/and was redy for the poore to pay. I made great feestes in my tyme/and noble songes/and maryed damoselles of gentyl feture/withouten golde or other rychesse. Poore clerkes for wytte of schole/I sette in churches/and made suche persones to preache: and tho was seruyce in holy churche honest and deuoute/in plesaunce bothe of god and of the people. But nowe the leude for symonye is auaunced/and shendeth al holy churche. Nowe is stewarde for his achates/nowe it courtyour for his debates/nowe is eschetoure for his wronges/nowe is losel for his songes/personer and prouendre alone/with whiche manye thrifty shulde encrease. And yet is this shrewe behynde/free herte is forsake/and losengeour is take. Lo it acordeth/for suche there ben that voluntarye lustes haunten in courte with rybaudye/that tyl mydnight and more wol playe and wake/but in the churche at matyns he is behynde/for yuel disposycion of his stomake: therfore he shulde eate beane breed/and so dyd his syre/his estate ther with to strenghthen. His auter is broke/and lowe lythe in poynte to gone to the erthe/but his horse muste ben easy and hye to beare him ouer great waters. His chalyce poore/but he hath ryche cuppes. No towayle but a shete there god shal ben handled. And on his meate borde there shal ben borde clothes and towelles many payre. At masse serueth but a clergyon: fyue squiers in hal. Poore chaunsel/open holes in euery syde: beddes of sylke with tapytes goyng al aboute his chambre. Poore masse boke and leude chapelayne/and broken surplyce with many an hole: good houndes and many/to hunte after harte and hare/to fede in their feestes. Of poore men haue they great care/for they euer craue/and nothynge offren/they wolden haue hem doluen. But amonge legystres there dare I not come/my doynge they sayne maken hem nedy/they ne wolde for nothyng haue me in town/for than were tort and forthe nought worthe an hawe about and pleasen no men/but thilk greuous and torcious ben in might and in doyng: these<337va><337vb>thynges to forne sayd mowe wel if men lyste ryme/trewly they acorde nothynge. And for as moch as al thynges by me shulden of right ben gouerned/I am sorye to se that gouernaunce fayleth/as thus: to sene smale and lowe gouerne the hye/and bodies aboue. Certes that polesye is naught/it is forbode by them that of gouernaunce treaten and enformen. And right as beestly wytte shulde ben subiecte to reason/so erthly power in it selfe/the lower shulde ben subiect to the hygher. What is worth thy body/but it be gouerned with thy soule? right so lytel or naught is worthe erthely power/but if reignatyfe prudence in heedes gouerne the smale/to whiche heedes the smale owen to obey/and suffre in their gouernaunce. But souerainnesse ayenwarde shulde thynke in this wyse: I am seruaunt of these creatures to me delyuered/not lorde but defendour/not mayster but enfourmer/not possessoure but in possessyon/and to hem lyche a tree in whiche sparowes shullen stelen/her byrdes to norisshe and forthe bring vnder suretie ayenst al raueynous foules and beestes/and not to be tyraunt them selfe. And than the smale in reste and quyete/by the heedes wel disposed/owen for their soueraynes helth and prosperyte to pray/and in other doynges/in maintenaunce therof performe/withouten other admynistracion in rule of any maner gouernaunce. And they wyt haue in hem/and grace to come to suche thynges/yet shulde they cease tyl their heedes them cleped/although profyte and pleasaunce shulde folowe. But trewly other gouernaunce ne other medlynge ought they not to clayme/ne the heedes on hem to put. Trewly amonges cosynage dare I not come/but if rychesse be my meane/sothly she and other bodily goodes maketh nigh cosinage/ther neuer propynquite ne alyaunce in lyue was/ne shuld haue be/nere it for her medling maners/wherfore kindly am I not ther leged. Pouert of kynred is behynde/rychesse suffreth him to passe: truly he saith he com neuer of Japhetes childre. Wherof I am sory that Japhetes children for pouert/in no linage ben rekened/and Caynes children for riches be maked Japhetes heires. Alas this is a wonder chaunge bytwene tho<337vb><338ra>two Noes chyldren/sythen that of Japhetes ofspring comeden knightes/and of Cayn discended the lyne of seruage to his brothers childre. Lo howe gentyllesse and seruage as cosyns/bothe discended out of two bretherne of one body: Wherfore I saye in sothnesse/that gentylesse in in kynrede maken not gentyl lynage in successyon/without deserte of a mans own selfe. Where is nowe the lyne of Alysaundre the noble/or els of Hector of Troye? Who is discended of right bloode of lyne fro king Artour? Parde sir Perdicas/whom that kynge Alysandre made to ben his heire in Grece/was of no kynges bloode/his dame was a tombystere. Of what kynred ben the gentyles in our dayes: I trow therfore if any good be in gentylesse/it is only that it semeth a maner of necessyte be input to gentylmen/that they shulden not varyen fro the vertues of their auncestres. Certes al maner lynage of men ben euenliche in byrth/for one father maker of al goodnes enformed hem al/and al mortal folke of one sede arne greyned. Wherto auaunt men of her lynage in cosynage or in elde fathers. Loke now the gynnyng/and to god maker of mans person/there is no clerke ne no worthy in gentilesse: and he that norissheth his corare with vyces and vnresonable lustes/and leaueth the kynde course/to whiche ende him brought forthe his byrthe/trewly he is vngentyl/and amonge clerkes may ben nempned. And therfore he that wol ben gentyl/he mote daunten his flesshe fro vyces that causen vngentylnesse/and leaue also reignes of wicked lustes/and drawe to him vertue/that in al places gentylnesse gentylmen maketh. And so speke I in feminyne gendre in general/of tho persones at the reuerence of one/whom euery wight honoureth/for her bountie and her noblesse ymade her to god so dere/that his moder she became/and she me hath had so great in worshyp/that I nyl for nothyng in open declare/that in any thynge ayenst her secte maye so wene: for al vertue and al worthynesse of plesaunce in hem haboundeth. And although I wolde any thing speke/trewly I can not/I may fynde in yuel of hem no maner mater.<338ra>
<338rb>RIGHT with these wordes she stynte of that lamentable melodye/and I ganne with a lyuely herte to praye/if that it were lykyng vnto her noble grace/she wolde her deyne to declare me the mater that firste was begonne/in whiche she lefte and stynte to speke beforne she gan to synge.
    O (quod she) this is no newe thynge to me/to sene you menne desyren after mater/whiche your selfe caused to voyde.
    Ah good lady (quod I) in whom victorie of strength is proued aboue al other thynge/after the iugement of Esdram/whose lordshyp al lignes: who is that right as emperour hem commaundeth/whether thilke ben not women/in whose lykenesse to me ye aperen. For right as man halte the principalte of al thyng vnder his beynge/in the masculyne gender/and no mo genders ben there but masculyn and femenyne/al the remenaunt ben no gendres but of grace/in facultie of grammer. Right so in the femenyne/the women holden the vpperest degree of al thynges vnder thilke gendre conteyned. Who bringeth forthe kynges/whiche that ben lordes of see and of erthe/and al peoples of women ben borne: they norysshe hem that graffen vynes/they maken men comforte in their gladde cheres. Her sorowe is dethe to mannes herte. Without women the beyng of men were impossyble. They conne with their swetnesse the crewel herte rauysshe and make it meke/buxome/and benigne/without vyolence meuynge. In beautie of their eyen/or els of other maner fetures is al mens desyres/ye more than in golde/precious stones/eyther any rychesse. And in this degree lady your selfe many hertes of men haue so bounden/that parfyte blysse in womankynde to ben men wenen/and in nothynge els. Also lady the goodnesse/the vertue of women/by properte of discrecion/is so wel knowen/by lytelnesse of malyce/that desyre to a good asker by no waye conne they warne: and ye thanne that wol not passe the kynde werchynge of your sectes by general discrecion/I wotte wel ye wol so enclyne to my prayere/that grace of my requeste shal<338rb><338va>fully ben graunted. Certes (quod she) thus for the more parte fareth al mankynde to praye/and to crye after womans grace/and fayne many fantasies to make hertes enclyne to your desyres: and whan these sely women for freelte of their kynde beleuen your wordes/and wenen al be gospel the promise of your behestes/than graunt they to you their hertes/and fulfyllen your lustes/wherthrough their lyberte in maystreshyp that they toforne had is thralled/and so maked souerayn and to be prayed/that first was seruaunt/and voice of prayer vsed.
    Anon as fylled is your lust/many of you be so trewe/that lytel hede take ye of suche kyndnesse/but with traysoun anon ye thynke hem begyle/and let lyght of that thyng whiche firste ye maked to you wonders dere/so what thing to women it is to loue any wight er she hym wel knowe/and haue him proued in many halfe/for euery glyttryng thyng is nat golde/and vnder colour of fayre speche many vices may be hyd and conseled. Therfore I rede no wyght to trust on you to rathe/mens chere and her speche right gyleful is ful ofte/Wherfore without good assay/it is nat worthe on many on you to truste: Trewly it is right kyndely to euery man that thynketh women betraye/and shewen outwarde al goodnesse/tyl he haue his wyl performed. Lo the birde is begyled with the mery voice of the foulers whistel. Whan a woman is closed in your nette/than wol ye causes fynden/and beare vnkyndenesse her vnhande/or falsete vpon her putte/your owne malycious trayson with suche thynge to excuse. Lo than han women none other wreche in vengeaunce/but bloder and wepe tyl hem lyst stynt/and sorily her mishap complayne/and is put in to wenyng that al men ben so vntrewe. Howe often haue men chaunged her loues in a lytel while/or els for faylyng their wyl in their places hem sette: for frenship shal be one/and fame with another him lyste for to haue/and a thirde for delyte/or els were he lost bothe in packe and in clothes: Is this faire/nay god wot? I may nat tel by thousande partes/the wronges in trechery of suche false people/for make they neuer so good a bonde/al sette ye at a myte whan your hert tourneth: And they that wenen for<338va><338vb>sorowe of you dey/the pite of your false herte is flowe out of towne. Alas therfore/that euer any woman wolde take any wyght in her grace/tyl she knowe at the ful on whom she might at al assayes trust. Women con no more crafte in queynt knowynge/to vnderstande the false disceyuable coniectementes of mannes begilynges. Lo howe it fareth/though ye men gronen and cryen/certes it is but disceyt/and that preueth wel by thendes in your werkynge. Howe many women haue ben lorne/and with shame foule shent by longe lastynge tyme/whiche thorowe mennes gyle haue ben disceyued? euer their fame shal dure/and their dedes radde and songe in many londes/that they han done recoueren shal they neuer/but alway ben demed lightly/in suche plyte a yen shulde they fal/of whiche slaunders and tenes ye false men and wicked ben the verey causes/on you by right ought these shames and these reproues al holy discende. Thus arne ye al nyghe vntrewe/for al your fayre speche your herte is ful fyckel. What cause han ye women to dispyse? better fruite than they ben/ne swetter spyces to your behoue mowe ye not fynde/as farre as worldly bodyes stretchen. Loke to their formynge at the makyng of their persones by god in ioye of paradyce/for goodnesse of mans propre body were they maked/after the sawes of the byble/rehersyng goddes wordes in this wyse: It is good to mankynde that we make to him an helper. Lo in paradyse for your helpe was this tree graffed/out of whiche al lynage of man discendeth: if a man be noble frute/of noble frute it is sprongen: the blysse of paradyse to mennes sory hertes/yet in this tree abydeth. O noble helpes ben these trees/and gentyl iewel to ben worshypped of euery good creature: he that hem anoyeth dothe his owne shame/it is a comfortable perle ayenst al tenes. Euery company is myrthed by their present beyng. Trewly I wyst neuer vertue/but a woman were therof the rote. What is heuen the worse though Sarazins on it lyen? Is your faythe vntrewe thoughe rennogates maken theron leasynges. If the fyre doth any wight brenne/blame his owne wytte that put him<338vb><339ra>selfe so farre in the heate. Is not fyre gentyllest and moste element comfortable amonges al other? fyre is chefe werker in fortherynge sustenaunce to mankynde: shal fyre ben blamed for it brende a foole naturelly/by his own stulty wytte in sterynge. Ah wicked folkes/for your propre malyce/and shreudnesse of your selfe: ye blame and dispyse the precioust thyng of your kynde/and whiche thynges amonge other moste ye desyren. Trewly Nero and his children ben shrewes/that dispysen so their dames. The wickednesse and gylyng of men/in disclaundring of thilke that moste hath hem gladed and pleased/were impossyble to write or to nempne. Neuer the later yet I say he that knoweth a way/may it lightly passe: eke an herbe proued may safely to smertande sores ben layde: So I say/in him that is proued is nothyng suche yuels to gesse. But these thynges haue I rehersed to warne you women al at ones/that to lyghtly without good assaye ye assenten not to mannes speche. The sonne in the day lyght/is to knowen from the moone that shyneth in the nyght. Nowe to the thy selfe (quod she) as I haue ofte sayd/I knowe wel thyne herte/thou arte none of al the tofore nempned people/for I knowe wel the contynuaunce of thy seruyce/that neuer sythen I set the a werke/myght thy Margaryte for plesaunce/frendeshyp/ne fayrehede of none other/be in poynte moued from thyne herte/wherfore in to myne housholde hastely I wol that thou entre/and al the parfyte priuyte of my werkyng make it be knowe in thy vnderstondyng/as one of my priuy famyliers. Thou desyrest (quod she) fayne to here of tho thynges there I lefte. Ye forsothe (quod I) that were to me a great blysse. Nowe (quod she) for thou shalt not wene that womans condycions for fayre speche suche thyng belongeth.
[T]Hou shalte (quod she) vnderstonde first amonge al other thynges/that al the cure of my seruyce to me in the parfyte blysse in doyng is desyred in euery mannes herte/be he neuer so moche a wretche/but euery man trauayleth by dyuers studye/and seke thylke blysse by dyuers wayes/but al the endes are<339ra><339rb>knyt in selynesse of desyre in the parfyte blysse/that is suche ioye/whan men it haue gotten/there lyueth no thynge more to ben coueyted: But howe that desyre of suche perfection in my seruyce be kyndely set in louers hertes/yet her erronyous opinyons misturne it by falsenesse of wenyng. And although mennes vnderstandyng be misturned/to knowe whiche shuld ben the way vnto my person/and whyther it abydeth: yet wote they there is a loue in euery wight/weneth by that thyng that he coueyteth moste/he shulde come to thilke loue/and that is parfyte blysse of my seruauntes/but than fulle blysse maye not be/and there lacke any thynge of that blysse in any syde. Eke it foloweth than/that he that must haue ful blysse/lacke no blysse in loue on no syde.
    Therfore lady (quod I tho) thylke blysse I haue desyred/and sothe toforne this my selfe by wayes of riches/of dignite/of power/and of renome/wenyng me in tho thrages had ben thilke blysse/but ayenst the heere it turneth. Whan I supposed beste thilke blysse haue get and come to the ful purpose of your seruyce/sodaynly was I hyndred/and throwen so fer abacke/that me thynketh an inpossyble to come there I lefte. I wol wel (quod she) and therfore hast thou fayled/for thou wentest not by the hye way: a lytel misgoyng in the gynnyng causeth mykyl errour in the ende/wherfore of thilke blysse thou fayledest for hauyng of rychesse/ne non of the other thynges thou nempnedest/mowen nat make suche parfite blisse in loue as I shal shewe. Therfore they be nat worthy to thilke blysse/and yet somwhat must ben cause and way to thilke blysse: Ergo there is some suche thing and some way/but it is lytel in vsage and that is nat openly iknowe. But what felest in thyne hert of the seruice/in whiche by me thou art entred: Wenest aught thy selfe yet be in the hye way to my blisse? I shal so shewe it to the/thou shalte nat con saye the contrary.
    Good lady (quod I) altho I suppose it in my herte/yet wolde I here thyn wordes/howe ye meanen in this mater. (Quod she) that I shal with my good wyl. Thilke blysse desyred/some deale ye knowen/altho it be nat parfitly/for kyndly entention ledeth you therto/but in thre<339rb><339va>maner lyuenges is al suche wayes shewed. Euery wight in this world to haue this blisse one of thilke thre wayes of lyues must procede/whiche after opynions of great clerkes arne by names cleaped/bestiallich/resonablich/is vertuous: manlych is worldlich/bestialliche is lustes and delytable/nothynge restrayned by bridel of reason/al that ioyeth and yeueth gladnesse to the hert/and it be ayenst reason/is lykened to bestial lyueng/whiche thynge foloweth lustes and delytes/wherfore in suche thinge maye nat that precious blysse that is maister of al vertues abyde. your fathers toforne you haue cleped such lusty lyuenges after the flessh passions of desyre/which are innominable to fore god and man both. Than after determination of suche wyse/we accorden that suche passions of desyre shul nat be nempned/but holden for absolute from al other lyuenges and prouynges/and so lyueth in to lyuenges/manlich and resonable to declare the maters begonne. But to make the fully haue vnderstandyng in manlich lyuenges/whiche is holden worldlich in these thynges/so that ignorance be made no letter. I wol (quod she) nempne these forsayd wayes be names and conclusions. First riches/dignite/renome/and power/shul in this worke be cleaped bodily goodes/for in hem hath ben a gret throw mannes trust of selynesse in loue/as in riches/suffisance to haue maintayned that was begon/by worldly catel in dignite/honour/and reuerence of hem that werne vnderput by maistry therby to obey. In renome glorie of peoples praysyng/after lustes in their hert/without hede takyng to qualite and maner of doing/and in power/by trouth of lordships mayntenaunce/thyng to procede forth in doyng. In al whiche thynges a longe tyme mannes coueytise in commune hath ben greatly grounded/to come to the blysse of my seruice/but trewly they were begyled/and for the principal muste nedes fayle and in helping mowe nat auaile. Se why for holdest him not poore that is nedy? Yes parde (quod I) And him for dishonored that moche folke deyne nat to reuerence. That is soth (quod I). and what him that his mightes faylen and mowe nat helpen. Certes (quod I) me semeth of al men he shulde be holden a wretch. And wenest nat<339va><339vb>(quod she) that he that is lytel in renome/but rather is out of the praysynges of mo men than a fewe be nat in shame? For soth (quod I) it is shame and villany to him that coueyteth renome/that more folk nat prayse in name than preise Soth (quod she) thou sayst soth/but al these thinges are folowed of suche maner doynge/and wenden in riches suffisaunce/in power might/in dignyte worship/and in renome glorie/wherfore they discended in to disceyuable wenyng/and in that seruice disceite is folowed. And thus in general/thou and al suche other that so worchen faylen of my blysse that ye long han desyred/wherfore truly in lyfe of reason is the hye way to this blysse/as I thynke more openly to declare herafter. Neuer the later/yet in a lytel to comforte thy herte/in shewyng of what waye thou arte entred thy selfe/and that thy Margarite may knowe the set in the hye way/I wol enforme the in this wise. Thou hast fayled of thy first purpose/bicause thou wentest wronge and leftest the hye waye on thy right syde/as thus/thou lokedest on worldly lyueng and that thyng the begyled/and lightly therfore as a lytel assay thou songedest/but whan I turned thy purpose/and shewed the a parte of the hye waye tho thou abode therin/and no dethe ne ferdnesse of non enemy might the out of thilk way reue/but euer one in thyne hert/to come to the ilke blysse whan thou were arested and fyrste tyme enprisoned/thou were loth to chaunge thy way/for in thy hert thou wendest to haue ben there thou shuldest/and for I had routhe to sene the myscaried/and wyst wel thyne ablenesse my seruyce to forther and encrease/I come my selfe without other mean to visyt thy person/in comforte of thy hert: and pardy in my commyng thou were greatly gladed/after whiche tyme/no disease/no care/no tene/mi3t moue me out of thy hert And yet am I gladde and greatly enpited/howe contynually thou haddest me in mynde/with good auysement of thy conscience/whan thy kyng and his princes by huge wordes and great/loked after variaunce in thy speche/and euer thou were redy for my sake in plesaunce of the Margarite peerle/and many mo other/thy body to oblyge in to Marces doyng/if any contraried thy sawes/stedfast way maketh stedfast hert/<339vb><340ra>with good hope in the ende. Trewly I wol that thou it wel knowe/for I se the so set and not chaungynge herte haddest in my seruyce/and I made thou haddest grace of thy kynge/in foryeuenesse of mykel misdede: to the gracious kyng arte thou mykel holden/of whose grace and goodnesse somtyme herafter I thinke the enforme/whan I shew the grounde where as moral vertue groweth. Who brought the to werke? Who brought this grace aboute? Who made thy hert hardy? Trewly it was I/for haddest thou of me fayled/than of this purpose had neuer taken in this wyse. And therfore I say thou might wel truste to come to thy blysse/sythen thy gynnynge hath ben harde/but euer graciously after thy hertes desyre hath proceded. Syluer fyned with many heates men knowen for trew/and safely men may trust to the alay in werkynge. This diseases hath proued what waye hence forwarde thou thynkest to holde. Nowe in good fayth lady (quod I tho) I am nowe in/me semeth it is the hye way and the ryght. Ye forsothe (quod she) and nowe I wol disproue thy first wayes/by whiche many men wenen to gette thilke blysse. But for as moche as euery herte that hath caught ful loue/is tyed with queynt knyttynges/thou shalt vnderstande that loue and thilke foresayd blysse toforne declared in this prouynges/shal hote the knot in the hert. Wel (quod I) this inpossession I wol wel vnderstande. Nowe also (quod she) for the knotte in the herte muste ben from one to an other/and I knowe thy desyre: I wol thou vnderstande these maters to ben sayd of thy selfe in disprouyng of thy first seruyce/and in strengthynge of thilke that thou haste vndertake to thy Margaryte perle. A goddes halfe (quod I) ryght wel I fele that al this case is possyble and trewe/and therfore I admytted al togyther. Vnderstanden wel (quod she) these termes/and loke no contradyction thou graunt.
    If god wol (quod I) of al these thynges wol I not fayle/and if I graunt contradyction/I shulde graunte an impossyble/and that were a foule inconuenyence/for whiche thynges ladye iwys herafter I thinke me to kepe.<340ra>
<340rb>WEl (quod she) thou knowest that euery thynge is a cause wherthroughe any thyng hath beyng/that is cleped caused/than if richesse causen knot in herte/thilke rychesse arne cause of thilke precious thynge beyng: but after the sentence of Aristotle/euery cause is more in dignyte than his thynge caused/wherthrough it foloweth rychesse to ben more in dignyte than thilke knot/but rychesses arne kyndely naughty/badde/and nedy/and thilke knotte is thynge kyndely good/moste praysed and desyred: Ergo thynge naughty/badde/and nedy/in kyndely vnderstandynge is more worthy than thynge kyndely good/moste desyred and praysed: the consequence is false/nedes the antecedent mote ben of the same condycion. But that rychesses ben bad/naughty/and nedy/that wol I proue/wherfore they mowe cause no suche thyng/that is so glorious and good: The more richesse thou haste/the more nede hast thou of helpe hem to kepe. Ergo thou nedest in rychesse/whiche nede thou shuldest not haue if thou hem wantest. Than muste rychesse ben nedy/that in their hauyng maken the nedy to helpes in suretie thy rychesse to kepen/wherthrough foloweth rychesse to ben nedy. Euery thing causynge yuels is badde and naughty: but rychesse in one causen misease/in another they mowen not euenly stretchen al about. Wherof cometh plee/debate/thefte/begylinges/but rychesse to wynne/whiche thynges ben badde/and by richesse arne caused: Ergo thylke rychesse ben badde/whiche badnesse and nede ben knyt in to rychesse by a maner of kyndely propertie/and euery cause and caused accorden/so that it foloweth thilke richesse to haue the same accordaunce with badnesse and nede/that their cause asketh. Also euery thynge hath his beyng by his cause/than if the cause be distroyed/the beyng of caused is vanysshed: And so if rychesse causen loue/and rychesse weren distroyed/the loue shulde vanysshe/but thylke knotte and it be trewe may not vanysshe for no goyng of no rychesse: Ergo rychesse is no cause of the knot. And many men as I sayd/setten the cause of the knotte in rychesse/thilke knytten the rychesse/and nothynge the yuel:<340rb><340va> thilke persons what euer they ben/wenen that ryches is most worthy to be had/and that make they the cause: and so wene they thilke ryches be better than the person. Commenly suche asken rather after the quantyte that after the qualyte/and suche wenen as wel by hem selfe as by other/that coniunction of his lyfe and of his soule is no more precious/but in as mykel as he hath of rychesse. Alas howe maye he holden suche thynges precious or noble/that neyther han lyfe ne soule/ne ordynaunce of werchynge lymmes: suche rychesse ben more worthy whan they ben in gatheryng/in departing gynneth his loue of other mens praysyng. And auaryce gatheryng maketh be hated and nedy to many out helpes: and whan leueth the possessyon of such goodes/and they gynne vanyssh/than entreth sorowe and tene in their hertes. O badde and strayte ben thilke that at their departynge maketh men teneful and sory/and in the gatheryng of hem make men nedy: Moche folke at ones mowen not togyder moche therof haue. A good gest gladdeth his hoste and al his meyny/but he is a badde gest that maketh his hoste nedy/and to be aferde of his gestes goyng. Certes (quod I) me wondreth therfore that the comune opinyon is thus: He is worthe no more than that he hath in catel. O (quod she) loke thou be not of that opynion/for if golde or money/or other maner of riches shynen in thy sight/Whose is that? nat thyn: and tho they haue a lytel beautie/they be nothyng in comparison of our kynde/and therfore ye shulde nat set your worthynesse in thyng lower than your selfe/for the riches/the fairnesse/the worthynesse of thilke goodes/if ther be any suche preciousnesse in hem are nat thyne/thou madest hem so neuer/from other they come to the/and to other they shul from the: wherfore enbracest thou other wightes goodes as tho they were thyn? kynde hath drawe hem by hem selfe. It is sothe the goodes of the erth ben ordayned in your fode and norisshynge/but if thou wolte holde the apayde with that suffiseth to thy kynde/thou shalt nat be in daunger of no suche riches/to kynde suffiseth lytel thing who that taketh hede. And if thou wolt algates with superfluite of riches be a throted/thou<340va><340vb>shalt hastelych be anoyed/or els yuel at ease. And fairnesse of feldes ne of habytations/ne multytude of meyne/maye nat be rekened as riches that are thyn owne/for if they be badde it is great sclaunder and villany to the ocupyer/and if they be good or faire/the mater of the workeman that hem made is to prayse. Howe shulde otherwyse bountie be compted for thyne/thilke goodnesse and fairnesse be proper to tho thinges hem selfe/than if they be nat thyne sorow nat whan they wende/ne glad the nat in pompe and in pride whan thou hem hast/for their bountie and their beautes cometh out of their owne kynde/and nat of thyne owne person: as faire ben they in their not hauyng as whan thou haste hem/they be nat faire for thou haste hem/but thou haste geten hem for the fairnesse of them selfe. and there the vaylance of men is demed in richesse outforth/wenen me to haue no proper good in them selfe/but seche it in straunge thinges. Trewly the condytion of good wenyng is in the mistourned/to wene your noblesse be not in your selfe/but in the goodes and beautie of other thynges. Pardy the beestes that han but felyng soules/haue suffisaunce in their owne selfe: and ye that ben lyke to god/seken encrease of suffisaunce from so excellent a kynde of so lowe thynges/ye do great wrong to him that you made lordes ouer al erthly thynges/and ye put your worthynesse vnder the nombre of the fete of lower thynges and foule/whan ye iuge thilke riches to be your worthynesse/than put ye your selfe by estimacion vnder thilke foule thynges/and than leue ye the knowyng of your selfe/so be ye viler than any dombe beest/that cometh of shrewde vice. Right so thilke persons that louen non yuel for dereworthynesse of the persone/but for straunge goodes/and saith the adornement in the knot lyth in such thing/his errour is perilous and shreude/and he wrieth moche venym with moche welth/and that knot maye nat be good whan he hath it getten.
    Certes thus hath riches with flyckering sight anoyed many: and often whan there is a throwe out shrewe/he coyneth al the golde/al the precious stones that mowen be founden to haue in his bandon/he weneth no wight be worthy to haue suche thynges but he alone. Howe ma<340vb><341ra>nye haste thou knowe nowe in late tyme/that in their rychesse supposed suffysance haue folowed/and nowe it is al fayled. Ye lady (quod I) that is for misse medlyng/and otherwyse gouerned thilke rychesse than they shulde. Ye (quod she tho) had not the floode greatly areysed/and throwe to hemwarde both grauel and sande/he had made no medlynge. And right as see yeueth floode/so draweth see ebbe/and pulleth ayen vnder wawe al the firste out throw/but if good pyles of noble gouernaunce in loue/in wel meanynge maner/ben sadly grounded/to whiche holde thilke grauel as for a whyle/that ayen lightly mowe not it turne: and if the pyles ben trewe/the grauel and sande wol abyde. And certes ful warnyng in loue shalte thou neuer thorowe hem get ne couer/that lightly with an ebbe er thou beware it wol ayen meue. In rychesse many men haue had tenes and diseases/whiche they shulde not haue had/if therof they had fayled. Thorowe whiche nowe declared partely it is shewed/that for rychesse shulde the knotte in herte neyther ben caused in one ne in other: trewly knotte maye ben knytte/and I trowe more stedfast in loue though rychesse fayled/and els in rychesse is the knotte and not in herte. And than suche a knotte is false/whan the see ebbeth and withdraweth the grauel/that such rychesse voydeth/thilke knotte wol vnknytte. Wherfore no trust/no way/no cause/no parfyte beyng is in rychesse of no suche knotte/therfore another way muste we haue.
HOnour in dignyte is wened to yeuen a ful knot. Ye certes (quod I) and of that opinyon ben many/for they sayne dignyte/with honour/and reuerence/causen hertes to encheynen/and so abled to be knytte togyther/for the excellence in soueraynte of such degrees.
    Nowe (quod she) if dignyte/honour/and reuerence causen thilke knotte in herte/this knot is good and profytable. For euery cause of a cause/is cause of thyng caused: Than thus/good thynges and profytable ben by dignyte/honour/and reuerence caused. Ergo they accorden/and dignytes ben good with reuerences and honour/but contraryes mowen not<341ra><341rb>accorden: Wherfore by reason there shulde no dignytee/no reuerence/none honour acorde with shrewes/but that is false: they haue ben cause to shrewes in many shreudnes/for with hem they accorden. Ergo from begynnyng to argue ayenwarde tyl it come to the laste conclusyon/they are not cause of the knot. Lo al day at eye/arne shrewes not in reuerence/in honour/and in dignyte? yes forsothe/rather than the good. Than foloweth it that shrewes rather than good shul ben cause of this knot. But of this contrarie of al louers is byleued/and for a sothe openly determyned to holde.
    Nowe (quod I) fayne wolde I here/howe suche dignytees acorden with shrewes.
    O (quod she) that wol I shewe in manyfolde wise.Ye wene (quod she) that dignytes of offyce here in your cyte is as the sonne/it shyneth bright withouten any cloude: whiche thynge whan they comen in the handes of malycious tyrauntes/there cometh moche harme/and more greuaunce therof/than of the wylde fyre/though it brende al a strete. Certes in dignyte of offyce/the werkes of the occupyer shewen the malyce and the badnesse in the person/with shrewes they maken manyfolde harmes/and moche people shamen. Howe often han rancours for malyce of the gouernour shulde ben mainteyned? Hath not than suche dignytees caused debate/rumours/and yuels? yes god wote/by suche thynges haue ben trusted to make mens vnderstandyng enclyne to many queynte thynges. Thou wottest wel what I meane. Ye (quod I) therfore as dignyte suche thynge in tene ywrought/so ayenwarde the substaunce in dignite chaunged/relyed to bring ayen good plyte in doyng. Do way/do way (quod she) if it so betyde/but that is selde/that suche dignyte is betake in a good mannes gouernaunce. What thynge is to recken in the dignytees goodnesse? parde the bountie and goodnesse is hers/that vsen it in good gouernaunce/and therfore cometh it that honoure and reuerence shulde ben done to dignyte/bycause of encreasynge vertue in the occupyer/and not to the ruler/bycause of souerayntie in dignite. Sythen dignite may no vertue cause/who is worthy worshyp for suche goodnesse?<341rb><341va>not dignyte/but person that maketh goodnesse in dignyte to shyne. This is wonder thyng (quod I) for me thynketh/as the person in dignite is worthy honour for goodnesse/so tho a person for badnesse magre hath deserued/yet the dignite leneth to be commended. Let be (quod she) thou errest right foule/dignite with badnesse is helper to performe the felonous doyng: pardy were it kyndly good or any properte of kyndly vertue hadden in hem selfe/shrewes shulde hem neuer haue/with hem shulde they neuer accorde. water and fire that ben contrarious mowen nat togider ben assembled/kynde wol nat suffre such contraries to ioyn. and sithen at eye by experience in doyng/we sene that shrewes haue hem more often than good menne/syker mayste thou be/that kyndly good in suche thynges is nat appropred. Pardy were they kyndly good/as wel one as other shulden euenlych in vertue of gouernaunce ben worthe: but one fayleth in goodnesse another dothe the contrary/and so it sheweth kyndly goodnesse in dignyte nat be grounded. And this same reason (quod she) may be made in general on al the bodily goodes/for they comen ofte to throwe out shrewes. After this he is strong that hath mi3t to haue great burthyns/and he is lyght and swifte that hath souerainte in ronnyng to passe other right so he is a shrewe on whom shreude thynges and badde han most werchynge. And right as philosophy maketh philosophers/and my seruice maketh louers: Right so if dignytes weren good or vertuous/they shulde maken shrewes good/and turne her malyce and make hem be vertuous/but that do they nat/as it is proued/but causen rancour and debate. ergo they be nat good but vtterly badde. Had Nero neuer ben Emperour/shulde neuer his dame haue be slayn/to maken open the priuyte of his engendrure. Herodes for his dignyte slewe many children. The dignite of kyng John wolde haue distroyed al Englande. Therfore mokel wysedom and goodnesse both/nedeth in a person/the malice in dignite slyly to bridel/and with a good bytte of arest to withdrawe/in case it wolde praunce otherwise than it shulde: trewly ye yeue to dignites wrongful names in your clepyng. They shulde hete nat dignite/but moustre of bad<341va><341vb>nesse and mayntenour of shrewes. Pardy shyne the sonne neuer so bright/and it bring forthe no heate/ne sesonably the herbes out bringe of the erthe/but suffre frostes and colde/and the erthe barayne to lygge by tyme of his compas in cyrcute about/ye wolde wonder and dispreyse that son. If the Mone be at ful and sheweth no ly3t but derke and dymme to your syght appereth/and make distruction of the waters/wol ye nat suppose it be vnder cloude or in clips? and that some preuy thing vnknowen to your wittes/is cause of suche contrarious doynge. Than if clerkes that han ful insyght and knowyng of suche impedimentes enforme you of the sothe/very idiottes ye ben/but if ye yeuen credence to thilk clerkes wordes. And yet it doth me tene/to sene many wretches reioycen in such maner planettes. Trewly lytel con they on philosophy or els on my lore/that any desyre hauen suche lyghtynge planettes in that wyse any more to shewe. Good lady (quod I) tel ye me howe ye mean in these thynges. Lo (quod she) the dignites of your cyte/Sonne and Mone/nothyng in kynde shew their shynyng as they shulde. For the Sonne made no brennyng hete in loue/but freesed enuye in mennes hertes for feblenesse of shynyng hete: and the Moone was about vnder an olde cloude/the lyuenges by waters to distroye.
    Lady (quod I) it is supposed they had shyned as they shulde. ye (quod she) but nowe it is proued at the ful their beaute in kyndly shynyng fayled/wherfore dignyte of hym seluen hath no beautie in fairnesse/ne dryueth nat awaye vices but encreaseth/and so be they no cause of the knotte. Now se in good trouth/holde ye nat such sonnes worthy of no reuerence and dignites/worthy of no worshyp/that maketh men to do the more harmes? I not (quod I) No (quod she) and thou se a wyse good man/for his goodnesse and wysenesse wolte thou nat do him worship? Therof he is worthy. That is good skil (quod I) it is dewe to suche/both reuerence and worship to haue. Than (quod she) a shrewe for his shreudnesse/altho he be put forthe toforne other for ferde/yet is he worthy for shrewdnesse to be vnworshipped: of reuerence no parte is he worthy to haue/to contrarious doyng belongeth and that is good skyl. for right as he be<341vb><342ra>smyteth the dignites/thilke same thyng ayenwarde him smyteth/or else shulde smyte. And ouer this thou woste wel (quod she) that fyre in euery place heateth where it be/and water maketh wete: Why? for kyndely werkyng is so yput in hem to do suche thynges: for euery kyndely in werkyng sheweth his kynde. But though a wight had ben mayre of your cytie many wynter togyder/and come in a straunge place there he were not knowen/he shulde for his dignyte haue no reuerence. Than neyther worshyppe ne reuerence is kyndely propre in no dignite/sythen they shulden don their kynde/in suche doynge if any were. And if reuerence ne worshyppe kyndely be not set in dignytees/and they more therin ben shewed than goodnesse/for that in dignyte is shewed but it proueth that goodnesse kyndely in hem is not grounded. Iwys neyther worshyppe ne reuerence ne goodnesse in dignyte/done none offyce of kynde/for they haue none suche propertie in nature of doynge/but by false opinyon of the people. Lo howe somtyme thilke that in your cytie werne in dignyte noble/if thou lyste hem nempne/they ben nowe ouerturned bothe in worshyp/in name/and in reuerence: wherfore such dignites haue no kyndly werchyng of worshyppe and of reuerence/he that hath no worthynesse on it selfe. nowe it ryseth and nowe it vanissheth after the varyaunt opinyon in false hertes of vnstable people. Wherfore if thou desyre the knotte of this iewel/or els if thou woldest suppose she shulde sette the knotte on the for suche maner dignyte/than thou wenest beautie or goodnesse of thilke somwhat encreaseth the goodnesse or vertue in the body: But dignyte of hem selfe ben not good/ne yeuen reuerence ne worshyppe by their owne kynde/howe shulde they than yeue to any other a thynge/that by no waye mowe they haue hem selfe? It is sene in dignyte of the emperour and of many mo other/that they mowe not of hem selue kepe their worshyppe ne their reuerence/that that in a lytel whyle it is nowe vp and nowe downe/by vnstedfaste hertes of the people. What bountie mowe they yeue that with cloude light<342ra><342rb>ly leaueth his shynynge? Certes to the occupier is mokel appeyred/sythen suche doynge dothe villanye to him that maye it not mayntayne/wherfore thilke waye to the knotte is croked: and if any desyre to come to the knot/he must leaue this waye on his lefte syde/or els shal he neuer come there.
AVayleth aught (quod she) power of might in mayntenaunce of worthy to come to this knot. Parde (quod I) ye/for hertes ben rauysshed from suche maner thinges. Certes (quod she) though a fooles herte is with thyng rauysshed/yet therfore is no general cause of the powers/ne of a syker parfyte herte to be loked after. Was not Nero the moste shrewe one of thilke that men rede/and yet had he power to make senatours iustyces/and princes of many landes? Was not that great power? Yes certes (quod I) Wel (quod she) yet might he not helpe him selfe out of disease/whan he gan fal. Howe many ensamples canste thou remembre of kynges great and noble/and huge power holden/and yet they might not kepe hem selue from wretchydnesse. Howe wretched was kyng Henry Curtmantyl er he deyde? he had not so moche as to couer with his membres: and yet was he one of the greatest kynges of al the Normandes ofspring/and moste possessyon had. O/a noble thynge and clere is power/that is not founden myghty to kepe him selfe. Nowe trewly a great fole is he/that for suche thyng wolde sette the knotte in thyne herte. Also power of realmes is not thylke greatest power amonges the worldly powers reckened? And if suche powers han wretchydnesse in hem selfe/it foloweth other powers of febler condycion to ben wretched/and than that wretchydnesse shulde be cause of suche a knotte. But euery wyght that hath reason wote wel that wretchydnesse by no way may ben cause of none suche knotte/wherfore suche power is no cause. That powers haue wretchydnesse in hem selfe/may right lyghtly ben preued. If power lacke on any syde/on that<342rb><342va>syde is no power/but no power is wretchydnesse: for al be it so the power of emperours or kynges/or els of their realmes (whiche is the power of the prince) stretchen wyde and brode/yet besydes is ther mokel folke of whiche he hath no commaundement ne lordshyppe/and there as lacketh his power/his nonpower entreth/where vnder springeth that maketh hem wretches. No power is wretchydnesse/and nothing els: but in this maner hath kynges more porcion of wretchydnesse than of power. Trewly suche powers ben vnmighty/for euer they ben in drede howe thilke power from lesyng may be keped of sorow/so drede sorily prickes euer in their hertes: litel is the power whiche careth and ferdeth it selfe to mayntayne. Unmighty is that wretchydnesse whiche is entred by the ferdful wenynge of the wretche him selfe: and knot ymaked by wretchydnesse is betwene wretches/and wretches al thyng bewaylen: wherfore the knot shulde be bewayled/and there is no suche parfyte blysse that we supposed at the gynnyng. Ergo power in nothyng shulde cause suche knottes. Wretchydnesse is a kyndely propertie in suche power/as by way of drede/whiche they mowe not eschewe ne by no way lyue in sykernesse. For thou woste wel (quod she) he is nought mighty that wolde done that he may not done ne perfourme. Therfore (quod I) these kynges and lordes that han suffysaunce at the ful of men and other thynges/mowen wel ben holden mighty: their comaundementes ben done/it is neuermore denyed. Foole (quod she) or he wotte him selfe mighty or wotte it not: for he is nought mighty/that is blynde of his might and wote it not. That is sothe (quod I) Than if he wot it/he must nedes ben a dradde to lesen it. He that wotte of his might is in doute that he mote nedes lese/and so leadeth him drede to ben vnmighty. And if he retche not to lese/lytel is that worthe that of the lesyng reason retcheth nothyng: and if it were mi3ty in power or in strength/the lesyng shulde ben withset/and whan it cometh to the lesyng he may it not withsytte. Ergo thilke might is leude and naughty. Such mightes arne ilyke to postes and pyllers that vpright stonden/<342va><342vb>and great might han to beare many charges/and if they croke on any syde/lytel thynge maketh hem ouerthrowe. This is a good ensample (quod I) to pyllers and postes that I haue sene ouerthrowed my selfe/and hadden they ben vnderput with any helpes/they had not so lightly fal. Than holdest thou him mighty that hath many men armed and many seruauntes/and euer he is adradde of hem in his herte/and for he gasteth hem/somtyme he mote the more feare haue. Comenly he that other agasteth/other in him ayenwarde werchen the same: and thus warnisshed mote he be/and of warnysshe the hour drede: Lytel is that might and right leude/who so taketh hede. Than semeth it (quod I) that suche famulers aboute kynges and great lordes/shulde great might haue. Althoughe a sypher in augrym haue no might in signifycacion of it selue/yet he yeueth power in signifycacion to other/and these clepe I the helpes to a poste to kepe him from fallyng. Certes (quod she) thilke skylles ben leude. Why? but if the shorers be wel grounded/the helpes shullen slyden and suffre the charge to fal/her myght lytel auayleth. And so me thynketh (quod I) that a poste alone stonding vpright vpon a basse/may lenger in graet burthen endure/than croken pylers for al their helpes/and her grounde be not syker. That is soth (quod she) for as the blynde in bearyng of the lame gynne stomble/bothe shulde fal/right so suche pyllers so enuyroned with helpes in fallyng of the grounde/fayleth al togyther/howe ofte than suche famulers in their moste pride of prosperyte ben sodainly ouerthrowen. Thou haste knowe many in a moment so ferre ouerthrowe/that couer might they neuer/Whan the heuynesse of such faylyng cometh by case of fortune/they mowe it not eschue: and might and power/if ther were any/shulde of strength such thinges voyde and weyue/and so it is not. Lo than whiche thing is this power/that tho men han it they ben agast/and in no tyme of ful hauing be they syker: and if they wold weyue drede/as they mow not/litel is in worthynes. Fye therfore on so naughty thing any knot to cause. Lo in aduersite/thilk ben his foes that glosed and semed frendes in welth: thus arn<342vb><343ra>his famyliers his foes and his enemyes: and nothyng is werse ne more mighty for to anoy than is a famylier enemye/and these thynges may they not weyue: so trewly their might is not worthe a cresse. And ouer al thynge/he that maye not withdrawe the bridel of his flesshly lustes and his wretched complayntes (nowe thynke on thy selfe) trewly he is not mighty: I can sene no waye that lythe to the knotte. Thilke people than that setten their hertes vpon suche mightes and powers/often ben begyled. Parde he is not mighty that may do any thyng/that another maye doone hym the selue/and that men haue as great power ouer him as he ouer other. A iustyce that demeth men/ayenwarde hath ben often demed. Buserus slewe his gestes/and he was slayne of Hercules his geste. Hugest betraysshed many men/and of Collo was he betrayed. He that with swerde smyteth/with swerde shal be smytten. Than gan I to studyen a whyle on these thinges/and made a countenaunce with my hande in maner to ben huyshte. Nowe let sene (quod she) me thynketh somwhat there is within thy soule/that troubleth thy vnderstandyng saye on what it is. (Quod I tho) me thynketh that although a man by power haue suche might ouer me/as I haue ouer other/that disproueth no myght in my person/but yet may I haue power and myght neuer the later. Se nowe (quod she) thyne owne leudenesse: He is mighty that maye without wretchydnesse/and he is vnmyghty that may it not withsytte: but than he that might ouer the/and he wol put on the wretchydnesse/thou might it not withsytte. Ergo thou seest thy selfe what foloweth. But nowe (quod she) woldest thou not skorne and thou se a flye han power to done harme to an other flye/and thilke haue no myght ne ayenturnyng him selfe to defende. Yes certes (quod I) Who is a frayler thyng (quod she) than the fleshly body of a man/ouer whiche haue oftentyme flyes/and yet lasse thyng than a flye/mokel might in greuaunce and anoyeng withouten any withsyttynge/for al thilke mannes mightes. And sythen thou seest thyne flesshly body in kyndely power fayle/howe shulde than the<343ra><343rb>accydent of a thynge ben in more surete of beynge than substancial: Wherfore thilke thynges that we clepe power/is but accident to the flesshly body/and so they may not haue that suretie in might/whiche wanteth in the substancial body. Why there is no waye to the knotte/that loketh aright after the hye waye as he shulde.
VErily it is proued that rychesse/dignyte/and power/ben not trewe waye to the knotte/but as rathe by suche thynges the knotte to be vnbounde: Wherfore on these thynges I rede no wight truste/to gette any good knotte. But what shul we saye of renome in the peoples mouthes/shulde that ben any cause: what supposest thou in thyn herte?
    Certes (quod I) yes I trowe/for your slye resons I dare not safely it saye. Than (quod she) wol I preue that shrewes as rathe shul ben in the knotte as the good/and that were ayenst kynde. Fayne (quod I) wolde I that here/me thinketh wonder howe renome shuld as wel knytte a shrewe as a good person: renome in euery degre hath auaunced/yet wyst I neuer the contrarye: shulde than renome accorde with a shrewe? it maye not synke in my stomake tyl I here more. Nowe (quod she) haue I not sayd alwayes/that shrewes shul not haue the knotte. What nedeth (quod I) to reherse that any more/I wotte wel euery wight by kyndely reason/shrewes in knyttyng wol eschewe. Than (quod she) the good ought thilke knotte to haue. Howe els (quod I) It were great harme (quod she) that the good were weyued and put out of espoire of the knotte/if he it desyred. O (quod I) alas/on suche thing to thinke I wene that heuen wepeth to se such wronges here ben suffred on erthe: the good ought it to haue and no wight els. The goodnesse (quod she) of a person may not ben knowe outforth/but by renome of the knowers/wherfore he must be renomed of goodnesse to come to the knot. So must it be (quod I) or els al lost that we carpen. Sothly (quod she) that were great harme/but if a good man myght haue his desyres in seruyce of thilke knot/and a shrewe to be veyned/and they ben not knowen in general but<343rb><343va>by lackyng and praysing and in renome/and so by the consequence it foloweth/a shrewe to ben praysed and knyt/and a good to be forsake and vnknyt. Ah (quod I tho) haue ye lady ben here abouten/yet wolde I se by grace of our argumentes better declared/howe good and bad do acorden by lacking and praysyng/me thynketh it ayenst kynde. Nay (quod she) and that shalt thou se as yerne: these elementes han contraryous qualyties in kynde/by whiche they mowe not acorde no more than good and badde: and in qualytees they acorde/so that contraries by qualyte/acorden by qualyte. Is not erthe drie/and water that is next and bytwene therthe is wete: drie and wete ben contrarie and mowen not acorde/and yet this discordaunce is bounde to acorde by cloudes/for bothe elementes ben colde. Right so the eyre that is next the water is wete/and eke it is hotte. This eyre by his hete contraryeth water that is colde/but thilke contrariousty is oned my moysture/for bothe be they moyst. Also the fyre that is next the erth/and it encloseth al about/is drie: wherthrough it contraryeth erthe that is wete: and in hete they acorde/for bothe they ben hote. Thus by these acordaunces/discordantes ben ioyned and in a maner of acordaunce they acorden by connection/that is knyttyng togyther: of that accorde cometh a maner of melodye that is right noble. Right so good and bad arne contrarie in doynges/by lacking and praysyng: good is bothe lacked and praysed of some/and badde is bothe lacked and praysed of some: wherfore their contraryoustie acorde bothe by lackyng and praysing. Than foloweth it/though good be neuer so mokel praysed/oweth more to ben knyt than the badde: or els bad for the renome that he hath/must be taken as wel as the good/and that oweth not. No forsothe (quod I) Wel (quod she) than is renome no waye to the knot: Lo foole (quod she) howe clerkes writen of suche glorie of renome. O glorie/glorie/thou arte none other thynge to thousandes of folke/but a great sweller of eeres. Many one hath had ful great renome by false opinyon of varyaunt people: And what is fouler than folke wrongfully to ben praysed/or by malyce of the people gyltlesse lacked? nedes shame<343va><343vb>foloweth therof to hem that with wrong prayseth/and also to the desertes praysed/and vylanye and reprofe of hym that disclaundreth.
    Good chylde (quod she) what echeth suche renome to the conscience of a wyse man/that loketh and measureth his goodnesse/not by sleuelesse wordes of the people/but by sothfastnesse of conscience: by god nothyng. And if it be fayre a mans name be eched by moche folkes praysing/and fouler thyng that mo folke not praysen. I sayd to the a lytel here beforne/that no folke in straunge countreyes nought praysen/suche renome may not comen to their eeres/bycause of vnknowyng/and other obstacles/as I sayde: wherfore more folke not praysen/and that is right foule to him that renome desyreth/to wete lesse folke praisen than renome enhaunce. I trowe the thanke of a people is naught worthe in remembraunce to take/ne it procedeth of no wyse iugement/neuer is it stedfast pardurable: It is veyne and fleyng/with wynde wasteth and encreaseth. Trewly suche glorie ought to be hated. If gentyllesse be a clere thynge/renome and glorie to enhaunce/as in reckenyng of thy lynage/than is gentylesse of thy kynne/for why it semeth that gentylesse of thy kynne/is but praysynge and renome that come of thyne auncestres desertes: and if so be that praysyng and renome of their desertes make their clere gentyllesse/than mote they nedes ben gentyl for their gentyl dedes/and not thou: for of thy selfe cometh not such maner gentylesse/praysynge of thy desertes. Than gentyllesse of thyne auncesters that forayne is to the/maketh the not gentyl/but vngentyl and reproued/and if thou contynuest not their gentylesse. And therfore a wyse man ones sayde: Better is it thy kynne to ben by the gentyled/than thou to glorifye of thy kynnes gentylesse/and haste no deserte therof thy selfe.
    Howe passynge is the beautie of flesshly bodyes? more flyttynge than mouable floures of sommer. And if thyne eyen weren as good as the Lynx/that maye sene thorowe many stone walles/bothe fayre and foule in their entrayles/of no maner hewe shulde apere to thy syght/that were a foule syght. Than is<343vb><344ra>fayrnesse by feblesse of eyen/but of no kynde/wherfore thilke shulde be no way to the knot: Whan thilke is went the knotte wendeth after. Lo nowe at al proues/none of al these thynges mowe parfytly ben in vnderstandyng/to ben waye to the duryng blysse of the knotte. But nowe to conclusyon of these maters/herkeneth these wordes. Very sommer is knowe from the wynter: in shorter cours draweth the dayes of Decembre/than in the moneth of June: The springes of Maye faden and folowen in Octobre. These thinges ben not vnbounden from their olde kynde/they haue not loste her werke of their propre estate. Men of voluntarious wyl/withsytte that heuens gouerneth. Other thynges suffren thynges paciently to werche: Man in what estate he be/yet wolde he ben chaunged. Thus by queynt thynges blysse is desyred/and the fruite that cometh of these springes/nys but anguys and bytter/al though it be a whyle swete/it maye not be with holde/hastely they departe: thus al daye fayleth thynges that fooles wende. Right thus haste thou fayled in thy first wenyng. He that thynketh to sayle/and drawe after the course of the sterre/de polo autartico/shal he neuer come northwarde to the contrarye sterre of polus articus: of whiche thynges if thou take kepe/thy first out waye goynge/prison and exile may be cleped. The grounde falsed vnderneth/and so hast thou fayled. No wyght I wene blameth him that stynteth in mysgoyng/and secheth redy way of his blisse. Nowe me thynketh (quod she) that it suffiseth in my shewyng the wayes/by dignete/rychesse/renome/and power/if thou loke clerely arn no ways to the knotte.
EVery argument lady (quod I tho) that ye han maked in these fore nempned maters/me thynketh hem in my ful wytte conceyued/shal I no more if god wyl in the contrarye be begyled: But fayne wolde I and it were your wyl/blysse of the knotte to me were declared/I might fele the better howe<344ra><344rb>my herte myght assente to pursue the ende in seruyce/as he hath begonne. O (quod she) there is a melodye in heuen/whiche clerkes clepen armony/but that is not in brekynge of voyce/but it is a maner swete thing of kyndely werchyng/that causeth ioye out of nombre/to recken/and that is ioyned by reason and by wysdome/in a quantyte of proporcion of knyttyng. God made al thyng in reason and in wytte of proporcion of melody/we mowe not suffyse to shewe. It is written by great clerkes and wise/that in erthly thynges lightly by studye and by trauayle/the knowynge may be getten: but of suche heuenly melody/mokel trauayle wol bringe out in knowyng right lytel. Swetenesse of this paradyse hath you rauisshed/it semeth ye slepten/rested from al other diseases/so kyndely is your hertes therin ygrounded. Blysse of two hertes in ful loue knytte/may not aright ben ymagyned: euer is their contemplacion in ful of thoughty studye to plesaunce/mater in bringynge/comforte eueryche to other. And therfore of erthly thinges/mokel mater lightly cometh in your lerning. Knowledge of vnderstonding that is nyghe after eye/but not so nyghe the couetyse of knyttynge in your hertes: More soueraine desyre hath euery wight in lytel herynge of heuenly connynge/than of mokel materyal purposes in erthe. Right so it is in propertie of my seruauntes/that they ben more affyched in sterynge of lytel thynge in his desyre/than of mokel other mater/lasse in his conscience. This blysse is a maner of sowne delycious/in a queynte voyce touched/and no dynne of notes: there is none impressyon of breakynge laboure. I canne it not otherwyse nempne/for wantynge of priuy wordes/but paradyse terrestre ful of delycious melody/withouten trauayle in sown/perpetual seruyce in ful ioye coueyted to endure. Onely kynde maketh hertes in vnderstonding so to slepe/that otherwyse may it nat be nempned/ne in other maner names for lykyng swetnesse can I nat it declare/al sugre and hony/al mynstralsy and melody ben but soote and galle in comparison by no maner proporcion to reken/<344rb><344va>in respecte of this blysful ioye. This armony this melody/this perdurable ioye may nat be in doynge/but betwene heuens and elementes/or twey kyndly hertes/ful knyt in trouth of naturel vnderstondyng/withouten wenynge and disceit/as heuens and planettes/whiche thynges contynually for kyndly accordaunces/foryeteth al contrarious meuynges that in to passyue diseases may sowne/euermore it thyrsteth after more werkyng. These thynges in proporcion be so wel ioyned/that it vndoth al thyng/whiche in to badnesse by any way may be accompted. Certes (quod I) this is a thyng precious and noble. Alas that falsnesse euer or wantrust shulde euer be maynteyned/this ioye to voyde. Alas that euer any wretch shulde thorowe wrath or enuy/ianglynge dare make to shoue this melody so farre a backe/that openly dare it nat ben vsed: trewly wretches ben fulfylled with enuy and wrathe/and no wight els. Flebring and tales in such wretches dare appere openly in euery wightes eare/with ful mouth so charged/mokel malyce moued many innoctenes to shende/god wolde their soule therwith were strangled. Lo/trouth in this blysse is hyd and oueral vnder couert him hydeth: He dare nat come a place for waytynge of shrewes.
    Commenly badnesse/goodnesse amaistreth/with my selfe and my soule this ioye wolde I bye/if the goodnesse were as moche as the nobley in melody. O (quod she) what goodnesse may be acompted more in this material worlde/truly non that shalt thou vnderstonde. Is nat euery thing good that is contrariant and distroyeng yuel? Howe els (quod I) Enuy/wrathe/and falsnesse ben general (quod she) and that wot euery man beyng in his ryght mynde/the knotte the whiche we haue in this blysse/is contraryaunt and distroyeth such maner yuels. Ergo it is good. What hath caused any wight to don any good dede? Fynde me any good/but if this knotte be the chefe cause: Nedes mote it be good/that causeth so many good dedes. Euery cause is more and worthyer than thynge caused/and in that mores possessyon/al thinges lesse ben compted. As the king is more than his people and hath in possessyon al his realme after: Right so the knot is more than al other goo<344va><344vb>des/thou myght recken al thynges lasse/and that to hym longeth oweth in to his mores cause of worshyp and of wyl do turne/it is els rebel and out of his mores defendyng to voyde. Right so of euery goodnesse in to the knot and in to the cause of his worshyp oweth to tourne. And trewly euery thyng that hath beyng profytably is good/but nothyng hath to ben more profytably than this knot: kynges it maintayneth/and hem their powers to mayntayne: It maketh mysse to ben amended with good gouernaunce in doyng. It closeth hertes so togyder/that rancour is out thresten. Who that it lengest kepeth/lengest is gladed. I trowe (quod I) heretykes and mysse meanyng people hence forwarde wol maintayne this knotte/for therthorough shul they ben maintayned/and vtterly wol turne and leaue their olde yuel vnderstandyng/and knytte this goodnesse/and profer so ferre in seruyce/that name of seruauntes myght they haue. Their iangles shal cease/me thynketh hem lacketh mater nowe to alege. Certes (quod Loue) if they of good wil thus turned as thou sayst wolen trewly perfourme/yet shul they be abled party of this blysse to haue: and they wol not/yet shul my seruauntes the werre wel susteyne in myn helpe of maintenaunce to the ende. And they for their good trauayle shullen in rewarde so ben meded/that endelesse ioye body and soule togyther in this shullen abyden/there is euer action of blysse withouten possyble corrupcion/there is action perpetuel in werke without trauayle/there is euerlastyng passyfe/withouten any of labour: contynuel plyte without ceasynge coueyted to endure.
    No tonge may tel ne hert may thinke the leest poynte of this blysse. God bring me thyder (quod I than) Contynueth wel (quod she) to the ende/and thou might not fayle than/for though thou spede not here/yet shal the passyon of thy martred lyfe ben written/and radde toforne the great Jupyter that god is of routhe/an hygh in the holownesse of heuen/there he sytte in his trone: and euer thou shalt forwarde ben holden amonge al these heuyns for a knyght/that mightest with no penaunce ben discomfyted. He is a very martyr that lyuyngly go<344vb><345ra>ynge is gnawen to the bones. Certes (quod I) these ben good wordes of comforte/a lytel myne herte is reioyced in a mery wyse. Ye (quod she) and he that is in heuen felyth more ioye/than whan he firste herde therof speke. So it is (quod I) but wyst I the sothe/that after disease comforte wolde folowe with blysse/so as ye haue often declared/I wolde wel suffre this passyon with the better chere/but my thoughtful sorowe is endelesse/to thinke howe I am cast out of a welfare/and yet dayneth not this yuel none herte none hede to mewarde throwe/which thynges wolde greatly me by wayes of comforte disporte/to weten in my selfe a lytel with other me ben ymoned: and my sorowes peysen not in her balaunce the weyght of a peese: Slynges of her daunger so heuyly peysen/they drawe my causes so hye/that in her eyen they semen but lyght and right lytel.
    O/for (quod she) heuen with skyes that foule cloudes maken and darke wethers/with gret tempestes and huge/maketh the mery dayes with softe shynyng sonnes. Also the yere with draweth floures and beautie of herbes and of erth. The same yeres maketh springes and iolyte in Vere so to renouel with peynted coloures/that erthe semeth as gay as heuen. Sees that blasteth and with wawes throweth shyppes/of whiche the lyuyng creatures for great peryl for hem dreden: right so the same sees maketh smothe waters and golden saylyng/and comforteth hem with noble hauen that firste were so ferde. Hast thou not (quod she) lerned in thy youth/that Jupyter hath in his warderobe bothe garmentes of ioye and of sorowe? What wost thou howe soone he wol turne of the the garment of care/and clothe the in blysse? parde it is not ferre fro the. Lo an olde prouerbe aleged by many wyse: Whan bale is greatest/than is bote a nye bore. Wherof wylte thou dismaye? hope wel and serue wel/and that shal the saue/with thy good byleue.
    Ye/ye (quod I) yet se I not by reason howe this blysse is comyng/I wote it is contyngent/it may fal on other. O (quod she) I haue mokel to done to clere thyne vnderstandyng and voyde these errours out of thy mynde/I wol proue it by reason thy wo may not alway en<345ra><345rb>duren. Euery thyng kyndely (quod she) is gouerned and ruled by the heuenly bodyes/whiche hauen ful werchynge here on erthe/and after course of these bodyes/al course of your doynges here ben gouerned and ruled by kynde.
    Thou wost wel by cours of planettes al your dayes proceden/and to euerich of synguler houres be enterchaunged stondmele about/by submytted worchyng naturally to suffre/of whiche changes cometh these transitory tymes that maketh reuoluyng of your yeres thus stondmele/euery hath ful might of worchynge/tyl al seuen han had her cours about. Of which worchynges and possessyon of houres/the dayes of the weke haue take her names/after denomination in these seuen planettes. Lo your sonday gynneth at the first hour afternoon on the saturday/in whiche hour is than the sonne in ful might of worchyng of whom sonday taketh his name. Next him foloweth Venus/and after Mercurius/and than the Moone/so than Saturnus/after whom Jouis/and than Mars and ayen than the Sonne/and so forth be .xxiiii. houres togider/in whiche hour gynnyng in the seconde day stante the Moone/as maister for that tyme to rule/of whom monday taketh his name/and this course foloweth of al other dayes generally in doyng. This course of nature of these bodyes chaungyng/stynten at a certayne terme/lymytted by their first kynde/and of hem al gouernementes in this elemented worlde proceden/as in springes/constellacions/engendrures/and al that folowen kynde and reson/wherfore the course that foloweth sorowe and ioy/kyndely moten entrechangen their tymes/so that alway on wele as alway on wo may not endure. Thus seest thou appertly thy sorowe in to wele mote ben chaunged/wherfore in suche case to better syde euermore enclyne thou shuldest. Trewly next the ende of sorowe anon entreth ioy/by maner of necessyte it wol ne may non other betyde/and so thy contygence is disproued: if thou holde this opinion any more/thy wyt is right leude. Wherfore in ful conclusyon of al this/thilke Margaryte thou desyrest/hath ben to the dere in thy herte/and for her hast thou suffred many thoughtful diseases/herafter shal be cause<345rb><345va>of mokel myrth and ioye/and loke howe glad canste thou ben/and cease al thy passed heuynesse with manyfolde ioyes. And than wol I as blythly here the speken thy myrthes in ioy/as I nowe haue yherde thy sorowes and thy complayntes. And if I mowe in aught thy ioye encrease/by my trouthe on my syde shal nat be leaued for no maner traueyle/that I with al my myghtes right blythly wol helpe/and euer ben redy you bothe to plese. And than thanked I that lady with al goodly maner that I worthely coude/and trewly I was greatly reioysed in myne hert/of her fayre behestes/and proferd me to be slawe in al that she me wolde ordeyne while my lyfe lested.
ME thynketh (quod I) that ye haue right wel declared/ that way to the knot shuld not ben in none of these disprouynge thynges/and nowe order of our purpose this asketh/that ye shulde me shewe if any way be thyther/and whiche thilke way shulde ben/so that openly maye be sey/the verry hye waye in ful confusyoun of these other thynges.
    Thou shalt (quod she) vnderstande/that one of thre lyues (as I fyrst sayd) euery creature of mankynde is sprongen/and so forth procedeth. These lyues ben thorowe names departed in thre maner of kyndes/as bestiallyche/manlyche/and resonablyche/of whiche two ben vsed by flesshely body/and the thirde by his soule. Bestial among resonables is forboden in euery lawe and euery secte/bothe in christen and other/for euery wight dispyseth hem that lyueth by lustes and delytes/as him that is thral and bounden seruaunt to thynges right foule/suche ben compted werse than men/he shal nat in their degre ben rekened/ne for suche one alowed. Heritykes sayne they/chosen lyfe bestial/that voluptuously lyuen/so that (as I first sayde to the) in manly and resonable lyuenges/our mater was to declare/but manly lyfe in lyueng after flesshe or els flesshly wayes to chese/may nat blysse in this knotte be conquered/as by reason it is proued. Wherfore by resonable lyfe he must nedes it haue/sithe away is to this knotte/but nat by the firste tway lyues/wherfore nedes mote it ben to the thirde/and for to lyue in flesshe but<345va><345vb>nat after flessh/is more resonablich than man lyche rekened by clerkes. Therfore howe this waye cometh in/I wol it blythely declare.
    Se nowe (quod she) that these bodily goodes of manliche lyuenges/yelden soroufully stoundes and smertande houres/Who so wele remembre him to their endes/in their worchinges they ben thoughtful and sorie. Right as a bee that hath hadde his hony/anone at his flyght begynneth to stynge: So thilke bodily goodes at the laste mote awaye/and than stynge they at her goynge/wherthrough entreth and clene voydeth al blisse of this knot.
    Forsothe (quod I) me thynketh I am wel serued/in shewyng of these wordes. although I hadde lytel in respecte amonge other great and worthy/yet had I a faire parcel/as me thought for the tyme/in forthering of my sustenauce/whiche while it dured/I thought me hauynge mokel hony to myne estate. I had richesse suffisauntly to weyue nede/I had dignite to be reuerenced in worship. Power me thought that I had to kepe fro myne enemyes and me semed to shyne in glorie of renome as manhode asketh in meane/for no wight in myne admynistration coude non yuels ne trechery by sothe cause on me putte. Lady your selue weten wel/that of tho confederacies maked by my souerayns I nas but a seruaunt/and yet mokel meane folke wol fully ayenst reason thilke maters maynteyne/in whiche mayntenaunce glorien them selfe/and as often ye hauen sayde/therof ought nothynge in yuel to be layde to mewardes/sythen as repentaunt I am tourned/and no more I thynke/neither tho thynges ne none suche other to sustene/but vtterly distroye without medlynge maner/in al my mightes. Howe am I nowe caste out of al swetnesse of blysse/and myscheuously stongen my passed ioy? soroufully muste I bewayle/and lyue as a wretche.
    Euery of tho ioyes is tourned in to his contrary: For richesse nowe haue I pouerte/for dignite nowe am I enprisoned/in stede of power wretchednesse I suffre/and for glorye of renome I am nowe dispised/and foulych hated: thus hath farn fortune/that sodaynly am I ouerthrowen/and out of al welth dispoyled.<345vb><346ra>trewly me thynketh this way in entre is right harde/god graunt me better grace er it be al passed/the other way ladye me thought right swete. Nowe certes (quod Loue) me lyst for to chide. What ayleth thy darke dulnesse? wol it nat in clerenesse ben sharped. Haue I nat by many reasons to the shewed suche bodily goodes faylen to yeue blysse/their might so ferforthe wol nat stretche? Shame (quod she it is to say) thou lyest in thy wordes. Thou ne hast wyst but right fewe/that these bodily goodes had al atones/commenly they dwellen nat togider. He that plente hath in riches/of his kynne is a shamed: another of lynage right noble and wel knowe/but pouert him handleth he were leuer vnknowe. Another hath these/but renome of peoples praysyng may he nat haue/oueral he is hated and defamed of thynges right foule. Another is faire and semely but dignite him fayleth: and he that hath dignyte is croked or lame/or els misshapen and fouly dispysed. thus partable these goodes dwellen commenly in one houshold ben they but sylde. Lo howe reetched is your truste/on thyng that wol nat accorde. Me thinketh thou clepest thilke plyte thou were in selynesse of fortune/and thou sayest for that the selynesse is departed/thou arte a wretch. Than foloweth this vpon thy wordes/euery soule resonable of man/may nat dye/and if dethe endeth selynesse and maketh wretches/as nedes of fortune maketh it an ende/Than soules after dethe of the body in wretchednesse shulde lyuen But we knowe many that han geten the blysse of heuen after their dethe. Howe than may this lyfe maken men blysful/that whan it passeth it yeueth no wretchednesse/and many tymes blysse/if in this lyfe he con lyue as he shulde. And wolte thou acompt with fortune/that nowe at he first she hath done the tene and sorowe: if thou loke to the maner of al glad thynges and sorouful/thou mayst nat nay it/that yet/and namely nowe thou standest in noble plyte in a good ginnyng/with good forth goyng herafter. And if thou wene to be a wretch for such welth is passed/why than art thou nat wel fortunate for badde thynges and anguys wretchednesse ben passed? Art thou nowe come first in to the hostry of this lyfe/or else the both of this worlde/art<346ra><346rb>thou nowe a sodayne gest in to this wretched exile? Wenest there be any thynge in this erthe stable? Is nat thy first arest passed/that brou3t the in mortal sorowe? Ben these nat mortal thynges agon with ignorance of beestial wyt and hast receyued reason in knowyng of vertue? What comforte is in thy hert? the knowinge sykerly in my seruyce be grounded. And woste thou nat wel as I said/that deth maketh ende of al fortune? What than/standest thou in noble plyte/lytel hede or rcekyng to take/if thou let fortune passe dyng/or els that she fly whan her lyst/now by thy lyue. Pardy a man hath nothyng so lefe as his lyfe/and for to holde that he doth al his cure and dilygent traueyle. Than say I thou art blysful and fortunat sely/if thou knowe thy goodes that thou hast yet be loued whiche nothynge may doute/that they ne ben more worthy than thy lyfe? What is that (quod I) Good contemplation (quod she) of wel doing in vertue in tyme comyng/bothe in plesaunce of me and of thy Margarit peerle: Hastely thyn hert in ful blysse with her shalbe eased. Therfore dismay the nat/fortune in hate greuously ayenst thy bodily person/ne yet to gret tempest hath she nat sent to the/sithen the holdyng cables and ankers of thy lyfe/holden by knyttyng so faste/that thou discomforte the nought of tyme that is now/ne dispayre the not of tyme to come/but yeuen the comforte in hope of wel doyng/and of gettyng agayne the double of thy lesyng/with encreasyng loue of thy Margarite perle therto. For this hyderto thou hast had al her ful daunger/and so thou myght amende al that is mysse/and al defautes that somtyme thou dyddest/and that now in al thy tyme to that ilke Margaryte in ful seruyce of my lore thyne herte hath contynued/wherfore she ought moche the rather enclyne fro her daungerous sete. These thynges ben yet knyt by the holdyng anker in thy lyue/and holden mote they: Lo god I pray al these thynges at ful ben performed. For whyle this anker holdeth I hope thou shalte safely escape/and whyle thy trewe meanyng seruyce aboute bringe/in dispyte of al false meaners/that the of newe haten/for this trewe seruyce thou arte nowe entred.<346rb>
<346va>CErtayn (quod I) amonge thynges I asked a question/whiche was the way to the knot. Trewly lady howe so it be/I tempt you with questions and answers/in spekyng of my first seruice/I am nowe in ful purpose in the pricke of the hert/that thilke seruice was an enprisonment/and alway bad and naughty in no maner to be desyred. Ne that in gettyng of the knot/may it nothyng aueyle. a wyse gentyl hert loketh after vertue/and none other bodily ioyes alone. And bycause to forne this/in tho wayes I was sette/I wote wel my selfe I haue erred/and of the blysse fayled/and so out of my way hugely haue I ron. Certes (quod she) that is sothe/and there thou hast myswent/eschewe the pathe from hens forwarde I rede. Wonder I trewly why the mortal folke of this worlde seche these wayes outforth/and it is proued in your selfe. Lo howe ye ben confounded with errour and folly. The knowing of very cause and way is goodnesse and vertue. Is there any thynge to the more precious than thy selfe? Thou shalt haue in thy power/that thou woldest neuer lese and that in no way may be taken fro the/and thilke thyng is that is cause of this knot. And if dethe mowe it nat reue more than an erthly creature/thilke thynge than abydeth with thy selfe soule. and so our conclusion to make suche a knot thus getten/abydeth with this thynge and with the soule/as long as they last. a soule dieth neuer/vertu and goodnesse euermore with the soule endureth/and this knot is perfite blysse. Than this soule in this blysse endlesse shal enduren. Thus shul hertes of a trewe knot ben eased: thus shul their soules ben pleased: thus perpetually in ioye shul they synge. In good trouth (quod I) here is a good beginnyng/yeue vs more of this way. (Quod she) I said to the nat longe sithen/that resonable lyfe was one of thre thynges/and it was proued to the soule. euery soule of reason hath two thynges of steryng lyfe/one in vertue and another in the bodily workynge: and whan the soule is the maister ouer the body/than is a man maister of him selfe: and a man to be a maister ouer him selfe/lyueth in vertue and in goodnesse/and as reson of vertue techeth. so the soule and the body worching vertue togider lyuen resonable lyfe/whiche cler<346va><346vb>kes clepen felycite in lyueng/and therin is the hye way to this knot. these olde philosophers that hadden no knowing of diuine grace of kyndly reason alone/wenden that of pure nature/withouten any helpe of grace/me might haue yshoned thother lyuenges/resonably haue I lyued: and for I thynke herafter/if god wol (and I haue space) thilke grace after my leude knowyng declare: I leaue it as at this tyme. But (as I said) he that outforth loketh after the wayes of this knot/connyng with whiche he shulde knowe the way inforth slepeth for the tyme/wherfore he that wol this way knowe/must leaue the lokyng after false wayes outforth/and open the eyen of his conscience and vnclose his herte. Seest nat he that hath trust in the bodily lyfe is so besy bodily woundes to anoynt in keping from smert (for al out may they nat be healed) that of woundes in his true vnderstanding he taketh no hede/the knowing euenforth slepeth so harde/but anon as in knowing a wake/than gynneth the preuy medicines for healyng of his trewe entent/inwardes lightly healeth conscience if it be wel handled. Than must nedes these wayes come out of the soule by steryng lyfe of the body/and els maye no man come to perfyte blysse of this knotte: and thus by this waye he shal come to the knotte/and to the perfyte selynesse that he wende haue had in bodily goodes outforth? Ye (quod I) shal he haue both knot/riches/power/dignite/and renome in this maner waye? Ye (quod she) that shal I shewe the. Is he nat riche that hath suffisaunce/and hath the power that no man may amaistrien? Is nat great dignite to haue worshyp and reuerence? and hath he nat glorie of renome whose name perpetual is duryng/and out of nombre in comparation? These be thynges that men wenen to getten outforth (quod I). Ye (quod she) they that loken after a thynge that nought is therof in al ne in partie/longe mowe they gapen after: That is sothe (quod I): therfore (quod she) they that sechen golde in grene trees/and wene to gader precious stones amonge vynes/and layne her nettes in mountayns to fysshe/and thinken to hunt in depe sees after hart and hynde/and sechen in erth thilke thynges that surmounteth heuen/What may I of hem say? but fo<346vb><347ra>lysshe ignoraunce mysledeth wandring wretches by vncouth wayes that shulden be forleten/and maketh hem blynde fro the right pathe of trewe way that shulde ben vsed. Therfore in general errour in mankynde/departeth thilke goodes by mysse sechyng/whiche he shulde haue hole and he sought by reason. Thus goth he begyled of that he sought/in his hode men haue blowe a iape. Nowe (quod I) if a man be vertuous and al in vertue lyueth/howe hath he al these thynges? That shal I prouen (quod she) What power hath any man to let another of lyueng in vertue? for prisonment or any other disese/he take it paciently/discomfiteth he nat/the tyrant ouer his soule no power maye haue? Than hath that man so tourmented suche power/that he nyl be discomfit/ne ouercome may he nat ben/sithen pacience in his soule ouercometh/and as nat ouercomen. Suche thyng that may nat be a maistred/he hath nede to nothing/for he hath suffisaunce ynowe to helpe him selfe. And thilke thyng that thus hath power and suffysance/and no tyrant may it reue/and hath dignite to sette at nought al thynges/here it is a great dignite that deth may a maistry. Wherfore thilke power suffisaunce so enclosed with dignite/by al reson renome must haue. This is thilke riches with suffisance ye shulde loke after: this is thilke worshipful dignite ye shulde coueyt: this is thilke power of myght/in whiche ye shulde truste: this is the ilke renome of glorie that endlesse endureth/and al nys but substaunce in vertuous lyueng. Certes (quod I) al this is sothe/and so I se wel that vertue with ful gripe encloseth al these thynges. Wherfore in sothe I may saye/by my trouth/vertue of my Margarite brou3t me first in to your seruice/to haue knyttyng with that iewel/nat sodayn longynges ne folkes smale wordes/but onely our conuersation togider: and than I seinge thentent of her trewe menyng with florisshing vertue of pacience/that she vsed nothynge in yuel/to quyte the wicked leasynges that false tonges ofte in her haue layde/I haue sey it my selfe/goodly foryeuenesse hath spronge out of her hert/unite and accorde aboue al other thinges she desyreth in a good meke maner/and suffereth many wicked tales.<347ra>
<347rb>TRewly lady to you it were a gret worship/that suche thynges by due chastysment were amended. Ye (quod she) I haue the excused/al suche thynges as yet mowe nat be redressed: thy Margarites vertue I commende wel the more that paciently suche anoyes suffreth. Dauid kyng was meke and suffred mokel hate and many yuel speches: no dispite ne shame that his enemys him deden/might nat moue pacience out of his herte/but euer in one plyte mercy he vsed. Werfore god him selfe toke rewarde to the thynges/and theron suche punysshment let fal. Trewly by reason it ought be ensample of drede to al maner peoples myrth A man vengeable in wrath no gouernance in punisshment ought to haue. Plato had a cause his seruant to scoure/and yet cleped he his neighbour to performe the doynge/him selfe wolde nat/lest wrath had him a maistred/and so my3t he haue layde on to moche: euermore grounded vertue sheweth thentent fro within. And trewly I wotte wel for her goodnesse and vertue/thou hast desyred my seruice to her plesance wel the more/and thy selfe therto fully haste profered. Good lady (quod I) is vertue the hye waye to this knot/that long we haue yhandled? ye for soth (quod she) and without vertue goodly this knot may nat be goten. Ah nowe I se (quod I) howe vertu in me fayleth/and I as a seer tre without burionyng or frute alwaye welke/and so I stonde in dispeyre of this noble knot/for vertue in me hath no maner workynge. A wydewhere aboute haue I traueyled. Peace (quod she) of thy first way thy traueyle is in ydel/and as touchynge the seconde way/I se wel thy meanyng. Thou woldest conclude me if thou coudest/bycause I brought the to seruice/and euery of my seruantes I helpe to come to this blysse/as I sayd here beforne: and thou saydest thy selfe/thou mightest nat be holpen as thou wenyst/bycause that vertue in the fayleth. and this blysse perfitly without vertue maye nat be goten/thou wenest of these wordes contradiction to folowe. Parde at the hardest I haue no seruant but he be vertuous in dede and thought. I brought the in my seruice/yet arte thou nat my seruant: but I say/thou might so werche in vertue herafter/that than shalt thou be my<347rb><347va>seruaunt/and as for my seruant acompted. For habyte maketh no monke/ne wearynge of gylte spurres maketh no knyght. Neuer the later/in conforte of thyne herte/yet wol I otherwyse answere. Certes lady (quod I tho) so ye must nedes/or els I had nyghe caught suche a cordiacle for sorowe/I wotte it wel I shulde it neuer haue recouered. And therfore nowe I praye to enforme me in this/or els I holde me without recouerye. I may nat long endure tyl this lesson be lerned/and of this myschefe the remedy knowen. Nowe (quod she) be nat wrothe/for there is no man on lyue that maye come to a precious thyng longe coueyted/but he somtyme suffre teneful diseases/and wenyst thy selfe to ben vnlyche to al other? that maye nat ben: And with the more sorowe that a thynge is getten/the more he hath ioye/the ilke thyng afterwardes to kepe/as it fareth by chyldren in schole that for lernynge arne beaten/whan their lesson they foryetten/commenly after a good disciplynyng with a yerde/they kepe right wel doctryne of their schole.
RIght with these wordes/on this lady I threwe vp myne eyen to se her countenaunce and her chere/and she aperceyuyng this fantasye in myne herte/gan her semblaunt goodly on me caste/and sayde in this wyse.
    It is wel knowe/bothe to Reason and experience in doynge/euery actyue worcheth on his passyue/and whan they ben togider/actyue and passyue ben ycleaped by these philosophers/if fyre be in place chafynge thynge able to be chafed or hete/and thilke thynges ben sette in suche a distaunce that the one may werche/the other shal suffre. Thilke Margarite thou desyrest is ful of vertue/and able to be actyue in goodnesse: but euery herbe sheweth his vertue outforthe from within/the sonne yeueth lyght that thynges may be sey. Euery fyre heteth thilke thyng that it neighed and it be able to be hete/vertue of this Margarite outforth wrethe/and nothynge is more able to suffre worching or worke catche of the actyfe/but passyfe of the same actyfe/and no<347va><347vb>passyfe to vertues of this Margaryte/but the in al my donet can I fynde/so that her vertue muste nedes on the werche/in what place euer thou be/within distaunce of her worthynesse/as her very passyfe thou arte closed: but vertue may the nothynge profyte/but thy desyre be perfourmed and al thy sorowes ceased. Ergo through werchynge of her vertue thou shalte easely ben holpen and driuen out of al care/and welcome to this longe by the desyred. Lady (quod I) this is a good lesson in gynnyng of my ioye: but wete ye wel forsothe/thoughe I suppose she haue moche vertue/I wolde my spousayle were proued/and than maye I lyue out of doute/and reioyce me greatly in thynkyng of tho vertues so shewed. I herde the say (quod she) at my begynnyng whan I receyued the firste for to serue that thy iewel/thilke Margaryte thou desyrest/was closed in a muskle with a blewe shel. Ye forsothe (quod I) so I sayd/and so it is. Wel (quod she) euery thing kyndly sheweth it selfe: this iewel closed in a blewe shel/excellence of coloures sheweth vertue from within/and so euery wight shulde rather loke to the propre vertue of thynges/than to his forayne goodes. If a thyng be engendred of good mater/comenly and for the more parte it foloweth after the congelement vertue of the first mater/and it be not corrupt with vyces/to procede with encrease of good vertues: eke right so it fareth of badde. Trewly great excellence in vertue of lynage/for the more parte discendeth by kynde to the successyon in vertues to folowe. Wherfore I saye/the colours of euery Margarit sheweth from within the fynesse in vertue. Kyndely heuen whan mery wether is a lofte/apereth in mannes eye of coloure in blewe/stedfastnesse in peace betokenyng within and without: Margaryte is engendred by heuenly dewe/and sheweth in it selfe by fynenesse of coloure/whether the engendrure were maked on morowe or on eue: thus sayth kynde of this perle. This precious Margaryte that thou seruest/sheweth it selfe discended by nobley of vertue from this heuenlych dewe/norisshed and congeled in mekenesse/that mother is of al vertues/and by<347vb><348ra>werkes that men sene withouten the signyfication of the coloures/ben shewed mercy and pytie in the herte with peace to al other/and al this is yclosed in a muskle/who so redily these vertues loken. Al thyng that hath soule is reduced in to good by meane thynges/as thus: In to god man is reduced by soules resonable/and so forthe beestes or bodyes that mowe not mouen/after place ben reduced in to manne/by beestes meue that mouyn from place to place: so that thilke bodyes that han felynge soules/and moue not from places/holden the lowest degree of soulynge thynges in felynge/and suche ben reduced in to man by meanes. So it foloweth/the muskle as mother of al vertues/halte the place of mekenesse to his lowest degree discendeth downe of heuen/and there by a maner of virgyne engendrure arne these Margarytes engendred/and afterwarde congeled. Made not mekenesse so lowe the hye heuen to enclose and catche out therof so noble a dewe/that after congelement a Margaryte with endelesse vertue and euerlastyng ioy was with ful vessel of grace yeuen to euery creature/that goodly wolde it receyue. Certes (quod I) these thynges ben right noble/I haue er this herde these same sawes. Than (quod she) thou woste wel these thynges ben sothe? ye forsothe (quod I) at the ful. Nowe (quod she) that this Margaryte is ful of vertue it is wel proued/wherfore some grace/some mercy amonge other vertues/I wotte ryght wel on the shal discende? ye (quod I) yet wolde I haue better declared vertues in this Margaryte/kyndely to ben grounded. That shal I shew the (quod she) and thou woldest it lerne? Lerne (quod I) what nedeth suche wordes: Wete ye nat wel lady your selfe that al my cure/al my dyligence/and al my might haue turned by your counsayle/in plesaunce of that perle/al my thought and al my studye/with your helpe desyreth/in worshyppe thilke iewel to encrease al my trauayle and al my besynesse in your seruyce/this Margaryte to gladde in somehalue: me were leauer her honour/her pleasaunce/and her good chere thorowe me for to be mayntayned and kepte/and I of suche<348ra><348rb>thynge in her lykynge to be cause/than al the welthe of bodyly goodes ye coude recken. And wolde neuer god/but I put my selfe in great ieoperdye of al that I wolde/that is nowe no more but my lyfe alone/rather than I shulde suffre thylke iewel in any poynte ben blemisshed/as ferre as I may suffre/and with my mightes stretche. Suche thyng (quod she) maye mokel further thy grace/and the in my seruyce auaunce. But nowe (quod Loue) wylte thou graunte me thilke Margaryte to ben good? O good good (quod I) why tempte ye me and tene with suche maner speche: I wolde graunt that/thoughe I shulde anone dye/and by my trouthe fyght in the quarel/if any wight wolde coutreplede. It is so moche the lyghter (quod Loue) to proue our entent.
    Ye (quod I) but yet wolde I here howe ye wolde proue that she were good by reasonable skyl/that it mowe not ben denyed/for althoughe I knowe and so dothe many other/manyfolde goodnesse and vertue in this Margaryte ben printed/yet some men there ben that no goodnesse speken: and wher euer your wordes ben herde and your reasons ben shewed/suche yuel spekers lady by auctorite of your excellence/shullen be stopped and ashamed. And more they that han none acquayntaunce in her persone/yet mowe they knowe her vertues/and ben the more enfourmed in what wyse they mowe sette their hertes/whan hem lyste in to your seruyce any entre make: for trewly al this to begynne/I wote wel my selfe that thilke iewel is so precious perle/as a womanly woman in her kynde/in whome of goodnesse/of vertue/and also of answerynge/shappe of lymmes/and fetures so wel in al poyntes acordyng/nothynge fayleth: I leue that kynde her made with great studye/for kynde in her person nothyng hath foryet/and that is wel sene. In euery good wyghtes herte she hath grace of commendyng and of vertuous praysyng. Alas that euer kynde made her deedly/saue onely in that I wot wel/that Nature in fourmynge of her in no thynge hath erred.<348ra>
<348va>CErtes (quod Loue) thou haste wel begonne/and I aske the this questyon: Is not in general euery thynge good? I not (quod I) No (quod she) saue not god euery thynge that he made/and werne right good. Than is wonder (quod I) howe yuel thynges comen a place/sythen that al thynges weren right good. Thus (quod she) I wol declare/eueryche qualyte and euery action/and euery thyng that hath any maner of beynge it is of god/and god it made/of whom is al goodnesse and al beyng/of him is no badnesse: badde to be is naught: good to be is somwhat/and therfore good and beyng is one in vnderstandyng. Howe may this be (quod I) for often han shrewes me assailed/and mokel badnesse therin haue I founden/and so me semeth bad to be somwhat in kynde. Thou shalt (quod she) vnderstande that suche maner badnesse/whiche is vsed to purifye wronge doers is somwhat/and god it made and beyng hath/and that is good: other badnesse no beyng hath vtterly/it is in the negatyue of somwhat/and that is naught/and nothyng beyng. The parties essencial of beyng arne sayd in double wyse/as that it is/and these parties ben founde in euery creature/for al thyng a this halfe the first beyng is beyng through partycipacion/takyng partie of beyng/so that euery creature is difference bytwene beynge and of him through whom it is and his own beyng: right as euery good is a maner of beyng/so is it good thorowe beyng/for it is naught other to be: and euery thyng though it be good is not of him selfe good/but it is good by that it is ordynable to the great goodnesse. This dualyte after clerkes determission is founden in euery creature/be it neuer so syngle of onhed. ye (quod I) but there as it is ysayde that god saue euerythynge of his makyng/and were right good/as your selfe sayd to me not longe tyme sythen. I aske whether euery creature is ysayde good/throughe goodnesse vnfourmed eyther els fourmed/and afterwarde if it be accepte vtterly good? I shal say the (quod she) these great passed clerkes han deuyded good in to good beyng alone/and that is nothynge but good/for nothynge is good in that wyse but<348va><348vb>god. Also in good by partycipacion/and that is ycleped good/for farre fette and representatyue of goodly goodnesse/and after this manyfolde good is sayd/that is to saye/good in kynde and good in gendre/and good of grace/and good of ioy. Of good in kynde Austen saythe/al that ben ben good: But peraunter thou woldest wete whether of hem selfe it be good/or els of anothers goodnesse/for naturel goodnesse of euery substaunce is nothing els than his substancial beyng/whiche is ycleaped goodnesse/after comparyson that he hath to his first goodnesse/so as it is inductatife by meanes in to the first goodnesse. Boece sheweth this thynge at the ful/that this name good is in general name in kynde/as it is comparysoned generally to his principal ende/whiche is god knotte of al goodnesse. Euery creature cryeth god vs made/and so they han ful apeted to thilke god by affection/suche as to hem longeth: and in this wyse al thynges ben good of the gret god/whiche is good alone. This wonder thyng (quod I) howe ye haue by many reasons proued my first waye to be errour and misgoyng/and cause of baddesse and feble menynge in the grounde ye aleged to be roted: whence is it that suche badnesse hath springes/sythen al thynges thus in general ben good/and badnesse hath no beyng/as ye haue declared: I wene if al thynges ben good/I might than with the first way in that good haue ended/and so by goodnesse haue comen to blysse in your seruyce desyred. Al thyng (quod she) is good by beyng in partycipacion out of the firste goodnesse/whiche goodnesse is corrupte by badnesse/and badde meanyng maners: god hath in good thynges that they ben good by beyng/and not in yuel/for there is absence of rightful loue/for badnesse is nothynge but onely yuel wyl of the vser/and through giltes of the doer/wherfore at the gynnyng of the worlde/euery thyng by him selfe was good/and in vnyuersal they werne right good. An eye or a hande is fayrer and betterer in a body sette in his kyndely place/than from the body disceuered. Euery thyng in his kyndly place being kyndly/good dothe werche/and out of that place voyded/<348vb><349ra>it dissolueth and is defouled him selue. Our noble god in glyterande wyse by armony this worlde ordeyned/as in purtreytures storied with colours medled/in whiche blacke and other derke coloures commenden the golden and the asured paynture/euery putte in kyndely place one besyde another/more for other glytereth: ryght so lytle fayre maketh right fayre more glorious/and right so of goodnesse and of other thynges in vertue. Wherfore other badde/and not so good perles as this Margaryte that we han of this matier/yeuen by the ayre lytel goodnesse and lytel vertue/ryght mokel goodnesse and vertue in thy Margaryte to ben proued/in shynynge wyse to be founde and shewed. Howe shulde euer goodnesse of peace haue ben knowe/but if vnpeace somtyme reigne/and mokel yuel wrothe? Howe shulde mercy ben proued and no trespeace were/by due iustifycacion to be punysshed? Therfore grace and goodnesse of a wight is founde/the sorouful hertes in good meanynge to endure/ben comforted/vnyte and acorde bytwene hertes knytte in ioye to abyde. What wenest thou I reioyce or els accompte hym amonge my seruauntes that pleaseth Pallas/in vndoynge of Mercurye/al be it that to Pallas he be knytte by tytle of lawe/not accordyng to reasonable conscience: and Mercurie in doynge haue grace to ben suffered: or els hym that weneth the moone for fayrenesse of the eue sterre. Lo otherwhyle by nyghtes lyght of the moone/greatly comforteth in derke thoughtes and blynde. Vnderstandyng of loue yeueth great gladnesse: Who so lyste not byleue whan a sothe tale is shewed/adewe and a deblys his name is entred. Wyse folke and worthy in gentyllesse bothe of vertue and of lyuynge/yeuen ful credence in sothnesse of loue with a good hert/there as good euydence or experyence in doynge sheweth not the contrarye. Thus mightest thou haue ful prefe in thy Margarytes goodnesse/by commendement of other iewels badnesse/and yuelnesse in doyng. Stoundemele diseases yeueth seueral houres in ioye.
    Nowe by my trouthe (quod I) this is wel<349ra><349rb>declared that my Margaryte is good/for sythen other ben good/and she passeth manye other in goodnesse and vertue/wherthroughe by maner necessarye she muste be good: and goodnesse of this Margaryte is no thynge els but vertue/wherfore she is vertuous/and if there fayled any vertue in any syde/there were lacke of vertue: badde nothynge els is ne may be/but lacke and wante of good and goodnesse/and so shulde she haue that same lacke/that is to saye badde/and that maye not be/for she is good/and that is good methynketh al good: and so by consequence me semeth vertuous and no lacke of vertue to haue. But the sonne is not knowe but he shyne/ne vertuous herbes but they haue her kynde werchynge/ne vertue but it stretche in goodnesse or profyte to another/is no vertue. Than by al wayes of reason/sythen mercy and pytie ben moste commended amonge other vertues/and they myght neuer ben shewed refresshement of helpe and of comforte/but nowe at my moste nede/and that is the kynde werkynge of these vertues: trewly I wene I shal not varye from these helpes.
    Fyre and if he yeue none heate/for fyre is not demed. The sonne but he shyne/for sonne is not accompted. Water but it wete/the name shal ben chaunged. Vertue but it werche/of goodnesse dothe it fayle/and in to his contrarye the name shal ben reuersed/and these ben impossyble: wherfore the contradictorie that is necessarye/nedes muste I leue.
    Certes (quod she) in thy person and out of thy mouthe these wordes lyen wel to ben said/and in thyne vnderstandyng to be leued/as in entent of this Margaryte alone: and here nowe my speche in conclusyon of chefe wordes.
IN these thinges (quod she) that me lyst nowe to shewe openly/shal be founde the mater of thy sicknesse/and what shal ben the medicyn that may be thy sorowes lysse and comfort/<349rb><349va>as wel the as al other that amysse haue erred/and out of the way walked/so that any drope of good wyl in amendement ben dwelled in their hertes. Prouerbes of Salomon openly teacheth/howe somtyme an innocent walkyd by the way in blyndnesse of a derke night/whom mette a woman (if it be lefely to saye) as a strumpet arayed/redily purueyed in turnynge of thoughtes with veyne ianglynges/and of rest inpacient by dissymulacion of my termes/sayeng in this wyse: Come and be we dronken of our swete pappes/vse we coueytous collynges. And thus drawen was this innocent/as an oxe to the larder. Lady (quod I) to me this is a queynte thynge to vnderstonde: I praye you of this parable declare me the entent. This innocent (quod she) is a scholer lernynge of my lore/in sechyng of my blysse/in whiche thynge the daye of his thought turnyng enclyneth in to eue/and the sonne of very lyght faylinge/maketh derke nyght in his connynge. Thus in derknesse of many doutes he walketh/and for blyndenesse of vnderstandynge/he ne wote in what waye he is in: forsothe suche one may lightly ben begyled. To whome came loue fayned/not clothed of my lyuery/but vnleful lustye habyte/with softe speche and mery/and with fayre honyed wordes heretykes and misse menynge people skleren and wymplen their errours. Austen wytnesseth of an heretyke that in his first begynnynge he was a man right experte in resones/and swete in his wordes/and the werkes miscorden. Thus fareth fayned loue in her firste werchynges: thou knowest these thynges for trewe/thou haste hem proued by experience. Somtyme in doyng to thyne owne person/in whiche thyng thou hast founde mater of mokel disease/Was not fayned loue redily purueyed thy wyttes to catche and tourne thy good thoughtes? trewly she hath wounded the conscience of many with florisshynge of mokel ianglyng wordes: and goodworthe thanked I it for no glose/I am gladde of my prudence thou haste so manly her veyned. To me arte thou moche holden/that in thy kynde course of good meanyng I returne thy mynde: I trowe ne had I shewed <349va><349vb>the thy Margaryte/thou haddest neuer returned. Of first in good parfyte ioye was euer fayned loue impacient/as the water of Syloe/whiche euermore floweth with stylnesse and priuy noyse/tyl it come nyghe the brinke/and than gynneth it so out of measure to bolne/with nouelleries of chaungyng stormes/that in course of euery rennyng it is in poynte to spyl al his circuite of cankes. Thus fayned loue priuely at the fullest of his flowynge/newe stormes debate to arayse. And al be it that Mercurius often with hole vnderstandynge knowen suche peryllous maters/yet Veneriens so lusty ben and so leude in their wyttes/that in suche thynges right lytel or naught don they fele/and writen and cryen to their felawes: here is blysse/here is ioye/and thus in to one same errour/mokel folke they drawen. Come they sayne/and be we dronken of our pappes/that ben fallas and lyeng glose/of whiche mowe they not souke mylke of helthe/but deedly venym and poyson corrupcion of sorowe. Mylke of fallas/is venym of disceyte: Mylke of lyeng glose is venym of corrupcion. Lo what thynge cometh out of these pappes: vse we coueyted collynges/desyre we and meddle we false wordes with sote/and sote with false/trewly this is the sorynesse of fayned loue/nedes of these surfettes sicknesse must folowe. Thus as an oxe to thy langoring deth were thou drawen/the sote of the smoke hath the al defased. Euer the deper thou somtyme wadest the soner thou it founde: if it had the kylled it had be lytel wonder. But on that other syde my trewe seruaunt not faynen ne disceyue conne/sothly their doynge is open/my foundement endureth/be the burthen neuer so great/euer in one it lasteth: it yeueth lyfe and blysful goodnesse in the laste endes/though the gynnynges ben sharpe. Thus of two contraries/contrarye ben the effectes. And so thylke Margaryte thou seruest shal sene the by her seruyce out of peryllous trybulacion delyuered/bycause of her seruyce in to newe disease fallen/by hope of amendement in the laste ende/with ioye to be gladded/wherfore of kynde pure/her mercy with grace of good helpe shal she<349vb><350ra>graunt/and els I shal her so strayne/that with pyte shal she ben amaystred. Remembre in thyne herte howe horrybly somtyme to thyne Margaryte thou trespasest/and in a great wyse ayenst her thou forfeytest: clepe ayen thy mynde/and knowe thyne owne gyltes. What goodnesse/what bountie/with mokel folowyng pyte founde thou in that tyme? Were thou not goodly accepted in to grace? by my pluckynge was she to foryeuenesse enclyned. And after I her styred to drawe the to house/and yet wendest thou vtterly for euer haue ben refused. But wel thou wost/sythen that I in suche sharpe disease might so greatly auayle/what thynkest in thy wyt? howe ferre maye my wytte stretche? And thou lache not on thy syde I wol make the knotte: Certes in thy good beryng I wol acorde with the psauter. I haue foude Dauid in my seruyce true/and with holy oyle of peace and of rest longe by him desyred/vtterly he shal be anoynted. Truste wel to me/and I wol the not fayle. The leauyng of the first way with good herte of contynuance/that I se in the grounded/this purpose to parfourme/draweth me by maner of costrainyng/that nedes must I ben thyne helper: although myrthe a whyle be taryed/it shal come at suche season/that thy thought shal ben ioyed. And wolde neuer god/sythen thyne herte to my reasones arne assented/and openly haste confessed thyne amysse goynge/and nowe cryest after mercy/but if mercy folowed: thy blysse shal ben redy iwys/thou ne wost how sone. Now be a good chylde I rede. The kynde of vertues in thy Margaryte rehersed/by strength of me in thy person shul werche. Comforte the in this/for thou mayst not miscary. And these wordes sayde/she streyght her on length and rested a whyle.

Thus endeth the seconde booke/and here after foloweth the thirde boke.<350ra>