Маргинальная заметка «Иные презирают то, что не в силах вынести» не соответствует ничему в тексте. Издание Скита включает фразу «and somme dispyse that they mowe nat beren» (Книга IV, проза 6: Ita Est Inquam).
КАК ПРОВИДЕНИЕ ОБРАЩАЕТСЯ С РОДОМ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСКИМ.
Все это совершается справедливо, в должном порядке и во благо тех, с кем это происходит. Ибо, несомненно, то, что невзгоды порой приходят к нечестивцам, а порой к ним приходит то, чего они желают, проистекает из вышеупомянутых причин. Никто не удивляется, видя, как страдают злые люди, — все полагают, что они это вполне заслужили. Их наказание также может способствовать исправлению или удерживать других от подобных пороков. А процветание, даруемое нечестивцам, служит веским доводом для добрых людей, как им следует судить о том благополучии, которое, как мы видим, часто достается нечестивцам. В этом, полагаю, проявляется Божье устроение: ведь природа иного человека столь склонна к злу и столь неумеренна, что нужда и бедность его дома могли бы скорее подтолкнуть его к совершению преступлений. От этого недуга Бог дает лекарство, наделяя его богатством. Иной же человек, видя свою совесть оскверненной грехами, сравнивает свою фортуну с самим собой и, возможно, страдает от страха, что блаженство, которым он привык наслаждаться, обернется для него горем в случае утраты; поэтому он меняет свои нравы и, боясь лишиться своей фортуны, оставляет нечестие. Другим людям благополучие даруется незаслуженно, что в конечном итоге низвергает их в заслуженную погибель. Некоторым же дается власть карать, дабы это служило причиной постоянного упражнения для добрых людей и причиной мучения для нечестивцев. Ибо, поскольку нет союза между добрыми людьми и нечестивцами, нечестивцы не могут пребывать в согласии и между собой. И почему бы им быть в согласии? Нечестивцы раздираемы внутренними противоречиями из-за своих пороков, которые терзают их совесть, и едва ли найдется дело, которое они совершают, не осуждая его впоследствии. Отсюда возникает удивительное чудо, совершаемое Провидением: злые люди часто делают других злых людей добрыми. Ибо, когда некоторые нечестивцы видят, что они несправедливо терпят злодеяния от других нечестивцев, они воспламеняются ненавистью к тем, кто причиняет им вред, и обращаются к плодам добродетели, стремясь стать непохожими на тех, кого они возненавидели.
ЗЛО ОБРАЩАЕТСЯ ВО БЛАГО.
Лишь Божественная сила способна обратить зло во благо, направляя его к своим целям. Ибо лишь Божественная мощь делает зло благом, когда использует его надлежащим образом и извлекает из него благой результат; иными словами, зло становится благом лишь благодаря силе Божьей, ибо сила Божья упорядочивает это зло во благо. Ибо единый порядок охватывает все сущее, так что всякий, кто уклоняется от разума порядка, назначенного ему, все равно неизбежно соскальзывает в иной порядок. Таким образом, в царстве Божественного Провидения ничто не отдано на волю случая. Поскольку праведный Бог управляет всем в этом мире, человеку не дано постичь разумом или выразить словами все тонкие установления и распоряжения Божественного замысла. Достаточно знать, что Бог, творец всех природ, упорядочивает и направляет все к благу. И пока Он стремится сохранить сотворенное Им по Своему подобию, то есть удержать все в благе, Он, будучи Сам благом, изгоняет всякое зло за пределы Своего владения посредством порядка предопределенной судьбы. Из чего следует, что если ты посмотришь на Провидение, упорядочивающее вещи, которые, как полагают люди, в изобилии пребывают на земле, ты нигде не увидишь никакого зла. Но я вижу, что ты утомлен тяжестью этого вопроса и изнурен долготой моих рассуждений, и ждешь облегчения от гармонии моих стихов. Прими же этот напиток, и, освежившись, ты сможешь с большей твердостью приступить к более высоким вопросам.
3823 byhyȝt —by-hyhte
3824 hidde —hyd
3826 preye —prey diuise —deuyse
3827 do —don
3828 gretely —gretly
3829 [what] —из C.
3832 þere auȝt —ther awht
3834 swiche —swych oon —o
3835 wiþouten noumbre —with-owte nowmbyr
3836 waxen —wexen
3837 þere —ther
3838 constreined [e] —constreynede
3839 lyuely —lyfly
3840 witte —wit
3843 hap —happe
3845 weyȝt —wyht
3848 wole —wol
3850 þow —MS. now, C. þou most suffren —MS. moste to souereyne; C. most suffren
3851 þilk —thilke
3853 þo —so spak —MS. spake, C. spak a [s]—as
3856 alle —al
3858 [and——thowht ]—from C. yset —MS. ysette, C. yset
3859 toure —towr seyne —seyn heyȝt —heyhte
3861 don —done
3862 clerenesse —klennesse
3872 cleuynge —clyuynge
3875 wiþ outen fyn —Infynyte
3876 singlerly —syngulerly
3877 in (3)—MS. and , C. in
3878 departiþ —omitted [as ]—from C. so þat —lat
3884 on —of
3886 wil —wol
3888 had [de ]—hadde symply —symplely
3889 þouȝt —ordinau n ce
3890 singlerly —syngulerly stably —stablely
3893 haþ —MS. haþe
3894 eyþer —owther seruaunteȝ —MS. seruaunceȝ
3895 somme —som
3896 al —alle
3897 moeuyng —moeuynges
3900 ywouen —MS. ywonnen, C. ywouen or — and
3902 bonde —bond
3904 haþ —MS. haþe
3905 whiche —which
3912 as —as of
3913 about —a-bowte inrest —innerest
3917 larger (1)—a large
3918 mochel —moche forþest —ferther e
3920 selfe —self
3921 [vn ]moeueablete —vnmoeuablete
3922 ceseth —MS. fleþe, C. cesith
3923 þinge —thing
3924 of —MS. to, C. of
3926 lovs —laus
3927 ner —ner e
3928 seyne —seyn þinge cleueþ —thing clyueth stedfastnesse —stydefastnesse
3930 swiche —swych
3931 [it ]—from C.
3932 to (2)—MS. of, C. to
3937 enterchaungable —MS. enterchau n gyngable, C. entrechaungeable
3939 a-doune —a-down sembleables —semblable
3942 bonde —bond
3943 ben vnbounden —be vnbownde
3944 oute —owt
3948 furþe —forth
3949 I-bowed —MS. vnbounde n , C. I-bowed
3950 sholde —sholden
3951 whiche —which
3952 mowe —mowen
3956 wicked [e ]—wykkede
3957 [ful ]—from C.
3958-9 goode —good
3960 declineþ —MS. enclineþ, C. declynyth
3961 wors —worse
3962 somme tyme —somtyme
3965 swiche —swych
3967 goode —good mot —moste
3971 graunt [e ]—graunte
3973 inrest —Inneryste
3974 haþ —MS. haþe said —MS. saide, C. seyd
3975 determine —det er minen
3978 [ne ]—from C. vnlyke —vn-lyk
3979 lyke —lik
3981 [ben ]—from C. hool —hoole
3984 [and——medicynes ]—from C.
3991 haþ —MS. haþe
3993 wot —MS. wote, C. wot
3994 [þat ]—from C.
3995 don —MS. done, C. don miracle —MS. mirache, C. myracle ordre —MS. ordre of
3996 alle —al doþ —MS. doþe whiche —which
3997 [þat ]—from C.
3999 mans —mannes
4000 þilk —thilke
4004 liked [e ] ( both )—lykede
4005 is don —MS. is to don
4006 [world ]—from C. ryȝt [e ]—ryhte
4007 wicked [e ]—wykkede
4010 vnstedfast —vnstydefast
4011 [þat ]—from C. wolde —wol
4015 manere —man myȝt [e ]—myhte
4016 wil —wol
4018 neye —negh
4021 wil —wol swiche —swych
4022 manere —bodyly
4022-3 [the——me ]—from C.
4023 þe aduersites——nat —omitted
4024 þere —omitted
4026 don —done to (2)—MS. so to good——gouerne —to gou er ne to goode folk
4028 oþer —oothr e
4030 som —some
4031 sholden —sholde
4033 conferme —confermen
4034 corage —corages
4036 myȝt [en ]—myhten
4037 hem —hym sorweful —sorwful
4038 oþer —oothr e
4039 worlde —world of (2)—of the
4041 oþer —othr e
4046 comeþ —comth some ( both )—som þat þei —MS. þei þat, C. þ a t that they
4047 comeþ —comth sorweful —sorwful
4050 wicked —wykkede merite —MS. u er ite, C. m er yte
4051 oþer —oothr e done —don
4052 folies —felonies
4054 grete —gret good [e ]—goode
4055 sholde —sholden þilk —thilke
4056 serue —seruen whiche —which
4057 dispensiþ —MS. dispisiþ, C. dispensith
4059 myȝt [e ]—myhte
4060 done —don
4061 rychesse —Rychesses
4065 whiche —which
4068 MS. wrongly inserts welefulnesse after wickednesse
4069-71 oþer —oothr e
4073 good [e ]—goode
4074 none —non
4075 good [e ]—goode
4076 accorden —acordy
4078 don —MS. done, C. don oft [e ]—ofte
4079 don —MS. done, C. don
4080 sholde —sholden whiche þinge —which thing
4081 haþ —MS. haþe oft [e ]—ofte
4082 [faire ]—from C. oftyme —omitted
4083 good [e ]—goode
4085 hat [e ]—hate anoien —anoyeden
4087 studien —omitted vnlyke —vnlyk
4089-90 good —goode
4092 þilk —thilke
4093 [þat ]—from C.
4094 þe (2)—thilke whiche —which
4096 realme —Reame
4099 strong [e ]—stronge worlde —world
4100 no —omitted witte —wit
4101 worde alle —word al
4102 auȝt [e ]—owhte
4104 good while —goode wyl
4105 haþ —MS. haþe
4108 of (1)—fro
4109 whiche —which
4111 ben haboundaunt —ben out ra ious / or habowndant
4115 tak —MS. take, C. tak
4116 refet —refect shalt ben —shal be stedfast —stydefast
LOVE TEMPERS ALL THINGS.
[The syxte Metur.] SI UIS CELSI IURA.
Y if þou wolt If thou wouldst explore the laws of the high Thunderer, behold the lofty heavens, where, bound by fixed laws, the stars keep their ancient peace. demen in þi pur e þouȝt þe ryȝtes or þe lawes of þe heye þund[ere]re. þat is to seyne of god. loke þou and bihold þe heyȝtes of souereyne heuene. 4120 ¶ þere kepen þe sterres by ryȝtful alliaunce of þinges hir olde pees. There the rosy Sun does not invade the moon’s colder sphere. Nor doth the Bear stray from his appointed bounds, to quench his light in the western main. þe sonne ymoeued by hys rody fire. ne destourbiþ nat þe colde cercle of þe moone. ¶ Ne þe sterre yclepid þe bere. þ a t encliniþ hys rauyssynge 4124 courses abouten þe souereyne heyȝt of þe worlde. ne þe same sterre vrsa nis neuer mo wasshen in þe depe westerne see. ne coueitiþ nat to dyȝen hys flaumbes in þe see of [the] occian. al þouȝ he see oþer sterres yplounged 4128 in to þe see. Vesper always makes its wonted appearance at eve. Lucifer ushers in the morn. ¶ And hesperus þe sterre bodiþ and telliþ alwey þe late nyȝtes. And lucifer þe sterre bryngeþ aȝeyne þe clere day. So mutual love moves all things, and from the starry region banishes all strife. ¶ And þus makiþ loue enterchaungeable þe p er durable courses. and þus 4132 is discordable bataile yput oute of þe contre of þe sterres. This concord in equal measures tempers the elements, so that the moist atoms war no more with the dry, nor heat with cold contends; but the aspiring flame soars aloft, while down the heavy earth descends. þis accordaunce atte m preþ by euene-lyke manere[s] þe elementes. þat þe moyste þinges striuen nat wiþ þe drye þinges. but ȝiuen place by stoundes. and þat þe 4136 colde þinges ioynen hem by feiþ to þe hote þinges. and þat þe lyȝt[e] fyre arist in to heyȝte. and þe heuy erþes aualen by her weyȝtes. By these same causes the flowing year yields sweet smells in the warm spring-tide; the hot summer ripens the corn. ¶ by þise same cause þe floury yere ȝeldeþ swote smellys in þe fyrste somer sesou n 4140 warmynge. and þe hote somer dryeþ þe cornes. Autumn comes crowned with plenty, and winter wets the earth with showers. and autumpne comeþ aȝeyne heuy of apples. and þe fletyng reyne bydeweþ þe wynter. þis attemp er aunce noryssiþ and brynggeþ furþe al þinge þat brediþ lyfe in þis 4144 worlde. These changes give life and growth to all that breathe; and at last by death efface whatever has had birth. ¶ and þilk same attemp er aunce rauyssyng hideþ [* fol. 32 b .] and bynymeþ and drencheþ vndir þe last[e] deþe alle *þinges yborn. Meanwhile the world’s Creator, the Source of all, the Lawgiver, the wise Judge, sits above equitably directing all things. ¶ Amonges þise þinges sitteþ þe heye makere kyng and lorde. welle and bygynnynge. lawe 4148 and wise Iuge. to don equite and gouerniþ and encliniþ þe bridles of þinges. Those things which have been set in motion by him are also checked and forced to move in an endless round, lest they go from their source, and become chaotic. and þo þinges þat he stireþ to don by moeuynge he wiþdraweþ and arestiþ and affermiþ þe moeueable or wandryng þinges. ¶ For ȝif þat he ne 4152 clepiþ nat aȝein þe ryȝt goynge of þinges. and ȝif þat he ne constreyned[e] hem nat eftesones in to roundenesse enclined þe þinges þ a t ben now continued by stable ordinaunce. þei sholde deperten from hir welle. þat is 4156 to sein from hir bygynnynge and failen. þat is to sein to ur nen in to nauȝt. This love is common to all things, and all things tend to good; so, urged by this, they all revert to that First Cause that gave them being. ¶ þis is þe co m mune loue of alle þinges. and alle þi n ges axen to be holden by þe fyn of good. For ellys ne myȝten þei nat lasten yif þei ne 4159 come nat eftesones aȝeine by loue retourned to þe cause þat haþ ȝeuen he m beynge. þat is to seyn to god.
4118 þou wolt —þ o u wys wilt
4119 þund [ere ] re —thonderer e seyne —seyn
4120 bihold —MS. biholde, C. byhold
4122 rody —MS. redy, C. rody fire —Fyr
4123 cercle —clerke
4125 courses —cours heyȝt —heyhte
4127 westerne —westrene dyȝen —deeyn
4128 [the ]—from C. he see —MS. it sewe, C. he see oþer —oothr e
4131 aȝeyne —ayein
4133 oute —owt
4134 euene-lyke manere [s ]—euenelyk maneres
4135 striuen —stryuynge nat —omitted
4136 but —omitted
4138 lyȝt [e ] fyre arist —lyhte fyr arysith
4140 yere —ȝer
4142 comeþ aȝeyne —comth ayein
4143 reyne —reyn
4144 furþe al þinge —forth alle thing brediþ lyfe —berith lyf
4145 worlde —world þilk —thilke
4146 last [e ] deþe —laste deth
4147 yborn —MS. yborne, C. I-born
4148 lorde —lord
4149 wise —wys
4150 stireþ —sterith don —gon
4151 þe —omitted
4153 clepiþ —klepede
4154 constreyned [e ]—constreynede roundenesse —Rowndnesses
4156 sholde —sholden
4158 tournen —torne of —to
4159 be —ben
4161 eftesones aȝeine —eft sones ayein
4162 haþ —MS. haþe
ALL FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL.
[The seuende prose.] IAM NE IGITUR UIDES.
S est þou nat P. Do you see what follows from our arguments? þan what þing folweþ alle þe þinges þat I haue seid. B. What is it? what þing q uo d I. P. That all fortune is good. ¶ Certys q uo d she 4164 outerly þat al fortune is good. B. How can that be? and how may þat be q uo d .I. P. Since all fortune, whether prosperous or adverse, is for the reward of the good or the punishment of the bad, all fortune is good which is either just or useful. ¶ Now vndirstand q uo d she so as [alle fortune wheyther so it be Ioyeful fortune / or aspr e ] fortune is ȝiuen eiþer by cause of g er donynge or ellys of 4168 ex er cisynge of goode folk or ellys by cause to punissen. or ellys to chastysen shrewes. ¶ þan is alle fortune good. þe whiche fortune is certeyne þat it be eiþer ryȝtful or p ro fitable. But let us put this opinion among those positions which thou saidst were not commonly believed by the people. ¶ For soþe þis is a ful verray resou n 4172 q uo d I. and yif I considere þe p ur ueau n ce and þe destine þat þou tauȝtest me a litel here byforne þis sentence is susteyned by stedfast resou n s. but yif it like vnto þe lat vs nou m bre hem amonges þilk[e] þinges of 4176 whiche þou seidest a litel here byforne þat þei ne were nat able to ben ywened to þe poeple. P. Why so? ¶ whi so q uo d she. B. Because it is a common expression that the fortune of such a one is bad . for þat þe comune worde of men mysusiþ q uo d I. þis manere speche of fortune. and sein ofte tymes [þ a t] 4180 þe fortune of som wyȝt is wicked.
PUNISHMENT IS BENEFICIAL.
P. Do you wish me to conform for awhile to the language of the people, lest we should seem to depart too much from the popular mode of expression? wilt þou þan q uo d she þat I p ro che a litel to þe wordes of þe poeple so it seme nat to hem þat I be ouer moche dep ar tid as fro þe vsage of man kynde. B. As you please. as þou wolt q uo d I. P. Is everything profitable that is good? ¶ Demest 4184 þou nat q uo d she þat al þing þat p ro fitiþ is good. B. Yes, certainly. ȝis q uo d I. P. That which exercises or corrects is profitable? certis þilk þing þat ex er cisiþ or corigiþ profitiþ. B. It is. I confesse it wel q uo d I. P. Therefore it is good? þan is it good q uo d she. B. Yes. whi nat q uo d I. P. This is the fortune of the virtuous who combat with adversity, or of those who, relinquishing vice, pursue the path of virtue? but þis is þe fortune [q uod she] of 4188 hem þat eiþer ben put in vertue and batailen aȝeins aspre þinges. or ellys of hem þat eschewen and declinen fro vices and taken þe weye of vertue. B. It is. ¶ þis ne may nat I denye q uo d I P. The vulgar regard that prosperity which is bestowed as a reward on the good to be beneficial, and they believe those calamities by which the wicked are punished as the most miserable things that can be imagined. ¶ But what seist þou of þe myrye 4192 fortune þat is ȝeuen to good folk in gerdou n deuiniþ ouȝt þe poeples þat it is wicked. nay forsoþe q uo d I. but þei demen as it soþe is þat it is ryȝt good. ¶ And what seist þou of þat oþer fortune q uo d she. þat al þouȝ it 4196 be aspre and restreiniþ þe shrewes by ryȝtful tourment. weniþ ouȝt þe poeple þ a t it be good. nay q uo d I. ¶ But þe poeple demiþ þat it be most wrecched of alle þinges þat may ben þouȝt. But in following the popular opinion, let us beware of being involved in some new and incredible consequence. war now and loke wel q uo d she 4199 lest þat we in folwyng þe opyniou n of poeple haue confessed and co n cluded þing þat is vnable to be wened to þe poeple. B. What is that? what is þat q uo d I P. We have decided that the fortune of the virtuous or of those growing up in virtue must needs be good—but that the fortune of the wicked must be most wretched. ¶ Certys q uo d she it folweþ or comeþ of þinges þ a t ben graunted þat alle 4204 fortune what so euer it be. of hem þat eyþer ben i n possessiou n of vertue. [or in the encres of vertu] or ellys in þe purchasynge of vertue. þat þilke fortune is good. ¶ And þat alle fortune is ryȝt wicked to hem þat 4208 dwellen in shrewednesse. as who seiþ. and þus weneþ nat þe poeple.
THE FORTUNE OF THE VIRTUOUS IS GOOD.
B. That’s true, though none dare acknowledge it. ¶ þat is soþe q uo d I. ¶ Al be it so þat noma n dar confesse n it ne byknowen it. P. Why so? The wise man ought not to be cast down, when he has to wage war with Fortune, no more than the valiant man ought to be dismayed on hearing the noise of the battle. ¶ whi so q uo d she. For ryȝt as no strong man ne semeþ nat to 4212 [* fol. 33.] abassen or disdaigne n as *ofte tyme as he hereþ þe noise of þe bataile. ne also it ne semeþ nat to þe wyse man to beren it greuously as oft[e] as he is lad in to þe strif of fortune. The dangers of war enable the one to acquire more glory, and the difficulties of the other aid him to confirm and improve his wisdom. for boþe to þat on man and eke to þat oþ er 4216 þilke difficulte is þe matere to þat oon man of encrese of his glorious renou n . and to þat oþer man to conferme hys sapience. þat is to seine þe asprenesse of hys estat.