[Sidenote: It is true that he tried to save the Senate, for he has
and will have its best interests always at heart.
and will have its best interests always at heart.
Chaucer - Boethius
ere was establissed or cried greuous
{and} inplitable coempciou{n} ? at men seyn wel it schulde
greetly to{ur}me{n}tyn {and} endamagen al ? e p{ro}uince of 316
co{m}paigne I took strif a? eins ? e p{ro}uost of ? e pretorie
for comune p{ro}fit. ? And ? e kyng knowyng of it I
ouercom it so ? at ? e coempciou{n} ne was not axed ne
took effect.
[Sidenote: I saved Paulinus out of the hands of the hounds of the
palace (_Palatini canes_). ]
? Paulyn a counseiller of Rome ? e rychesse 320
of ? e whyche paulyn ? e houndys of ? e palays. ? at is to
seyn ? e officeres wolde han deuoured by hope {and}
couetise ? ? it drow I hym out of ? e Iowes . s. faucib{us}
of hem ? at gapede{n}.
[Sidenote: I defended Albinus against Cyprian. ]
? And for as myche as ? e peyne 324
of ? e accusac{i}ou{n} aiuged byforn ne scholde not sodeynly
henten ne punischen wrongfuly Albyn a counseiller of
Rome. I put[te] me a? enis ? e hates {and} indignac{i}ou{n}s [[pg 16]]
of ? e accuso{ur} Ciprian. ? Is it not ? an ynought yseyn 328
? at I haue p{ur}chased greet[e] discordes a? eins my self.
[Sidenote: For the love of justice I forfeited all favour at
Court. ]
but I aughte be more asseured a? enis alle o? er folk ? at
for ? e loue of ry? twisnesse . I. ne reserued[e] neuer no
? ing to my self to hem ward of ? e kynges halle . s. officers. 332
by ? e whiche I were ? e more syker. ? But ? oru? ? e
same accuso{ur}s accusyng I am co{n}dempned.
[Linenotes:
300 _drow_--MS. drowe, C. weth drowh
_? itte_--yit
_wrong_--wronge
301 _rychesse_--richesses
_? e_ (2)--omitted
302 _harmed ey? er_--harmyd or amenused owther
303 _tributis_--tribut?
_suffred[e]_--suffreden
304 _harme_--harm
305 _? ere_--yer
_hys_--hise
305, 306, 307 _corne_--corn
306 _schold[e] bie_--sholde byen
308 _But I withstod_--Boece withstood (MS. withstode)
_com_--MS. come, C. com
311 _swiche_--swich
312 _bou? t[e]_--bowhte
_busshel_--bossel
_most[e] ? eue_--moste yeue
315 _inplitable_--vnplitable
_seyn_--sayen
319 _ouercom_--MS. ouercome, C. ouer com
320 _counseiller_--consoler
_rychesse_--rychesses
321 _whyche_--which
322 _wolde_--wolden
323 _drow_--MS. drowe, C. drowh
324 _myche_--moche
326 _punischen_--punisse
327 _putt[e]_--putte
328 _yseyn_--MS. yseyne
329 _greet[e]_--grete
330 _aughte be_--owhte be the
_o? er_--oothre
333 _by ? e whiche_--by which
_? oru? ? e_--thorw tho]
[Headnote:
THE ACCUSERS OF BOETHIUS. ]
[Sidenote: Boethius makes mention of his accusers, Basilius,
Opilio, Gaudentius, men who had been commanded to leave the city
on account of their many crimes. ]
? Of ? e noumbre of whiche accuso{ur}s one basilius ? at somtyme
was chased out of ? e kynges seruice. is now co{m}pelled 336
i{n} accusyng of my name for nede of foreine
moneye. ? Also opilion {and} Gaudenci{us} han accused
me. al be it so ? at ? e Iustice regal hadde su{m}tyme demed
hem bo? e to go in to exil. for her treccheries {and} fraudes 340
wi? -outen noumbre. ? To whiche iugement ? ei wolde
not obeye. but defended[e] hem by sykernesse of holy
houses.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 6. ]]
*? at is to seyne fledden in to seyntuaries. {and}
whan ? is was ap{er}ceiued to ? e kyng. he comaunded[e] 344
but ? at ? ei voided[e] ? e citee of Rauenne by certeyne
day assigned ? at men scholde merken hem on ? e forheued
wi? an hoke of iren {and} chasen hem out of toune.
? Now what ? ing seme? ? e my? t[e] be lykned to ? is 348
cruelte.
[Sidenote: But, on the day this sentence was to be executed, they
accused him, and their testimony against him was accepted. ]
For certys ? ilk same day was receyued ? e accusyng
of my name by ? ilk[e] same accuso{ur}s. ? What
may be seid herto. ha? my studie {and} my konnyng
deserued ? us. or ellys ? e forseide dampnaciou{n} of me. 352
made ? at hem ry? tful accuso{ur}s or no (q. d. no{n}).
[Sidenote: Fortune, if not ashamed at this, might at least blush
for the baseness of the accusers. ]
? Was not fortune asshamed of ? is. [Certes alle hadde
nat fortune ben asshamyd] ? at i{n}nocence was accused.
? it au? t[e] sche haue had schame of ? e fil? e of myn accuso{ur}s. 356
[Linenotes:
335 _whiche_--the whiche
_one_--oon
_somtyme_--whilom
339 _sumtyme_--whilon
340 _go_--gon
_her_--hir
341 _wi? -outen_--withowte
_wolde not_--nolden nat
342 _defended[e]_--defendedyn
_by_--by the
343 _seyne_--seyn
_seyntuaries_--sentuarye
344 _was_--omitted
_comaunded[e]_--comaundede
345 _voided[e]_--voidede
_certeyne_--certeyn
346 _men_--me
_merken_--marke
347 _hoke of iren_--hoot yren
348 _? e_--omitted
_my? t[e] be_--myhte ben
349 _? ilk_--thilke
350 _? ilk[e]_--thilke
351 _be_--ben
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
354, 355 [_Certes----asshamyd_]--from C.
356 _au? t[e]_--owte
_haue had_--han had, MS. hadde]
[[pg 17]]
[Headnote:
THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BOETHIUS. ]
? But axest ? ou in so{m}me of what gilt . I.
am accused.
[Sidenote: Boethius says he is accused of trying to save the
Senate, and of having embarrassed an informer against the Senate. ]
men seyne ? at I wolde sauen ? e co{m}paignie
of ? e senato{ur}s. ? And desirest ? ou to here
in what manere . I. am accused ? at I scholde han distourbed 360
? e accuso{ur} to beren l{ett}res. by whiche he
scholde han maked ? e senatours gilty a? eins ? e kynges
Real maieste. ? O meistresse what demest ? ou of
? is. schal . I. forsake ? is blame ? at I ne be no schame to 364
? e (q. d. no{n}).
[Sidenote: It is true that he tried to save the Senate, for he has
and will have its best interests always at heart. ]
? Certis . I. haue wold it. ? at is to
seyne ? e sauuaciou{n} of ? e senat. ne I schal neuer leten
to wilne it. {and} ? at I confesse {and} am a-knowe. but
? e entent of ? e accusour to be destourbed schal cese. 368
? For schal I clepe it a felonie ? an or a synne ? at I
haue desired ? e sauuaciou{n} of ? e ordre of ? e senat.
and certys ? it hadde ? ilk same senat don by me ? oru?
her decret? {and} hire iugementys as ? ou? it were a synne 372
or a felonie ? at is to seyne to wilne ? e sauuaciou{n} of
he{m} (. s senat{us}).
[Sidenote: (Folly cannot change the merit of things. ]
? But folye ? at lieth alwey to hym
self may not chaunge ? e merit of ? inges.
[Sidenote: According to Socrates' judgment it is not lawful to
hide the truth nor assent to a falsehood. )]
? Ne . I.
trowe not by ? e iugement of socrates ? {a}t it were leueful 376
to me to hide ? e so? e. ne assent[e] to lesynges.
? But certys how so euer it be of ? is I put[te] it to gessen
or p{re}ise{n} to ? e iugeme{n}t of ? e {and} of wise folk. ? Of
whiche ? ing al ? e ordinaunce {and} ? e so? e for as moche 380
as folk ? at ben to comen aftir our{e} dayes scholle{n}
knowen it.
[Sidenote: Boethius determines to transmit an account of his
prosecution to posterity. ]
? I haue put it in scripture {and} remembraunce.
for touching ? e l{ett}res falsly maked. by
whiche l{ett}res I am accused to han hooped ? e fredom of 384
Rome. What app{er}tene? me to speken ? er-of.
[Sidenote: Boethius says that he could have defeated his accusers
had he been allowed the use of their confessions. ]
Of whiche l{ett}res ? e fraude hadde ben schewed ap{er}tly if
I hadde had libertee forto han vsed {and} ben at ? e [[pg 18]]
co{n}fessiou{n} of myn accuso{ur}s. ? ? e whiche ? ing in 388
alle nedys ha? grete strenke? . ? For what o? {er} fredo{m}
may men hopen.
[Sidenote: But there is now no remains of liberty to be hoped
for. ]
Certys I wolde ? at some o? {er} fredom
my? t[e] be hoped. ? I wolde ? an haue answered by
? e wordes of a man ? at hy? t[e] Canius. for whan he was 392
accused by Gayus Cesar Germeins son ? at he (cani{us})
was knowyng {and} consentyng of a coniurac{i}ou{n} maked
a? eins hym (. s. Gai{us}). ? ? is Canius answered[e]
? us. ? Yif I had[de] wist it ? ou haddest not wist it. 396
[Linenotes:
357 _axest ? ou_--axestow
358 _seyne_--seyn
_sauen_--saue
359 _desirest ? ou_--desires thow
_here_--hereen
362 _maked_--MS. maken, C. makyd
363 _demest ? ou_--demestow
365 _wold_--MS. wolde, C. wold
366 _seyne_--seyn
367 _? at_--omitted
_am_--I am
368 _be_--ben
369 _it_--it thanne
_? an_--omitted
371 _? ilk_--thilke
372 _her_--hir
_hire_--hir
_? ou? _--thogh
373 _or_--and
_seyne_--seyn
374 _lieth_--MS. lie? e, C. lieth
377 _assent[e]_--assente
381 _schollen_--shellen
382 {and}--{and} in
385 _speken_--speke
385-86 _of----lettres_--C. omits
386 _if_--yif
387 _had_--MS. hade, C. had
388 _myn_--myne
389 _ha? _--MS. ha? e, C. hath
_grete_--gret
_what_--omitted
390 _some_--som
391 _my? t[e] be_--myhte ben
_? an haue_--thanne han
392 _hy? t[e]_--hyhte
394 _maked_--ymaked
395 _answered[e]_--answerede
396 _had[de]_--hadde]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS COMPLAINS TO PHILOSOPHY. ]
[Sidenote: It is not strange that the wicked should conspire
against virtue. ]
In whiche ? ing sorwe ha? not so dulled my witte
? {a}t I pleyne oonly ? at schrewed[e] folk apparailen
folies a? eins vertues. ? But I wondre gretly how ? at
? ei may p{er}forme ? inges ? at ? ei had[de] hoped forto 400
done.
[Sidenote: The will to do ill proceeds from the defects of human
nature. ]
For why. to wylne schrewednesse ? at come?
p{ar}auenture of oure defaute. ? But it is lyke to a
monstre {and} a meruaille.
[Sidenote: It is a marvel how such evil acts can be done under the
eye of an Omniscient God. ]
? How ? at in ? e p{re}se{n}t
sy? t of god may ben acheued {and} p{er}formed swiche 404
? inges. as euery felonous man ha? conceyued in hys
? ou? t a? eins i{n}nocent. ? For whiche ? ing oon of ? i
familers not vnskilfully axed ? us.
[Sidenote: If there be a God, whence proceeds evil? If there is
none, whence arises good? ]
? ? if god is. whennes
comen wikked[e] ? inges. {and} yif god ne is whennes 408
comen goode ? inges. but al hadde it ben leueful ? at
felonous folk ? at now desiren ? e bloode {and} ? e dee? of
alle goode men. {and} eke of al ? e senat han wilned to
gone destroien me. whom ? ei han seyn alwey bataile{n} 412
{and} defenden goode men {and} eke al ? e senat. ? it
hadde I not desserued of ? e fadres. ? at is to seyne of
? e senatours ? at ? ei scholde wilne my destrucc{i}ou{n}.
[Sidenote: Boethius defends the integrity of his life. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol.
{and} inplitable coempciou{n} ? at men seyn wel it schulde
greetly to{ur}me{n}tyn {and} endamagen al ? e p{ro}uince of 316
co{m}paigne I took strif a? eins ? e p{ro}uost of ? e pretorie
for comune p{ro}fit. ? And ? e kyng knowyng of it I
ouercom it so ? at ? e coempciou{n} ne was not axed ne
took effect.
[Sidenote: I saved Paulinus out of the hands of the hounds of the
palace (_Palatini canes_). ]
? Paulyn a counseiller of Rome ? e rychesse 320
of ? e whyche paulyn ? e houndys of ? e palays. ? at is to
seyn ? e officeres wolde han deuoured by hope {and}
couetise ? ? it drow I hym out of ? e Iowes . s. faucib{us}
of hem ? at gapede{n}.
[Sidenote: I defended Albinus against Cyprian. ]
? And for as myche as ? e peyne 324
of ? e accusac{i}ou{n} aiuged byforn ne scholde not sodeynly
henten ne punischen wrongfuly Albyn a counseiller of
Rome. I put[te] me a? enis ? e hates {and} indignac{i}ou{n}s [[pg 16]]
of ? e accuso{ur} Ciprian. ? Is it not ? an ynought yseyn 328
? at I haue p{ur}chased greet[e] discordes a? eins my self.
[Sidenote: For the love of justice I forfeited all favour at
Court. ]
but I aughte be more asseured a? enis alle o? er folk ? at
for ? e loue of ry? twisnesse . I. ne reserued[e] neuer no
? ing to my self to hem ward of ? e kynges halle . s. officers. 332
by ? e whiche I were ? e more syker. ? But ? oru? ? e
same accuso{ur}s accusyng I am co{n}dempned.
[Linenotes:
300 _drow_--MS. drowe, C. weth drowh
_? itte_--yit
_wrong_--wronge
301 _rychesse_--richesses
_? e_ (2)--omitted
302 _harmed ey? er_--harmyd or amenused owther
303 _tributis_--tribut?
_suffred[e]_--suffreden
304 _harme_--harm
305 _? ere_--yer
_hys_--hise
305, 306, 307 _corne_--corn
306 _schold[e] bie_--sholde byen
308 _But I withstod_--Boece withstood (MS. withstode)
_com_--MS. come, C. com
311 _swiche_--swich
312 _bou? t[e]_--bowhte
_busshel_--bossel
_most[e] ? eue_--moste yeue
315 _inplitable_--vnplitable
_seyn_--sayen
319 _ouercom_--MS. ouercome, C. ouer com
320 _counseiller_--consoler
_rychesse_--rychesses
321 _whyche_--which
322 _wolde_--wolden
323 _drow_--MS. drowe, C. drowh
324 _myche_--moche
326 _punischen_--punisse
327 _putt[e]_--putte
328 _yseyn_--MS. yseyne
329 _greet[e]_--grete
330 _aughte be_--owhte be the
_o? er_--oothre
333 _by ? e whiche_--by which
_? oru? ? e_--thorw tho]
[Headnote:
THE ACCUSERS OF BOETHIUS. ]
[Sidenote: Boethius makes mention of his accusers, Basilius,
Opilio, Gaudentius, men who had been commanded to leave the city
on account of their many crimes. ]
? Of ? e noumbre of whiche accuso{ur}s one basilius ? at somtyme
was chased out of ? e kynges seruice. is now co{m}pelled 336
i{n} accusyng of my name for nede of foreine
moneye. ? Also opilion {and} Gaudenci{us} han accused
me. al be it so ? at ? e Iustice regal hadde su{m}tyme demed
hem bo? e to go in to exil. for her treccheries {and} fraudes 340
wi? -outen noumbre. ? To whiche iugement ? ei wolde
not obeye. but defended[e] hem by sykernesse of holy
houses.
[Sidenote: [* fol. 6. ]]
*? at is to seyne fledden in to seyntuaries. {and}
whan ? is was ap{er}ceiued to ? e kyng. he comaunded[e] 344
but ? at ? ei voided[e] ? e citee of Rauenne by certeyne
day assigned ? at men scholde merken hem on ? e forheued
wi? an hoke of iren {and} chasen hem out of toune.
? Now what ? ing seme? ? e my? t[e] be lykned to ? is 348
cruelte.
[Sidenote: But, on the day this sentence was to be executed, they
accused him, and their testimony against him was accepted. ]
For certys ? ilk same day was receyued ? e accusyng
of my name by ? ilk[e] same accuso{ur}s. ? What
may be seid herto. ha? my studie {and} my konnyng
deserued ? us. or ellys ? e forseide dampnaciou{n} of me. 352
made ? at hem ry? tful accuso{ur}s or no (q. d. no{n}).
[Sidenote: Fortune, if not ashamed at this, might at least blush
for the baseness of the accusers. ]
? Was not fortune asshamed of ? is. [Certes alle hadde
nat fortune ben asshamyd] ? at i{n}nocence was accused.
? it au? t[e] sche haue had schame of ? e fil? e of myn accuso{ur}s. 356
[Linenotes:
335 _whiche_--the whiche
_one_--oon
_somtyme_--whilom
339 _sumtyme_--whilon
340 _go_--gon
_her_--hir
341 _wi? -outen_--withowte
_wolde not_--nolden nat
342 _defended[e]_--defendedyn
_by_--by the
343 _seyne_--seyn
_seyntuaries_--sentuarye
344 _was_--omitted
_comaunded[e]_--comaundede
345 _voided[e]_--voidede
_certeyne_--certeyn
346 _men_--me
_merken_--marke
347 _hoke of iren_--hoot yren
348 _? e_--omitted
_my? t[e] be_--myhte ben
349 _? ilk_--thilke
350 _? ilk[e]_--thilke
351 _be_--ben
_seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
354, 355 [_Certes----asshamyd_]--from C.
356 _au? t[e]_--owte
_haue had_--han had, MS. hadde]
[[pg 17]]
[Headnote:
THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BOETHIUS. ]
? But axest ? ou in so{m}me of what gilt . I.
am accused.
[Sidenote: Boethius says he is accused of trying to save the
Senate, and of having embarrassed an informer against the Senate. ]
men seyne ? at I wolde sauen ? e co{m}paignie
of ? e senato{ur}s. ? And desirest ? ou to here
in what manere . I. am accused ? at I scholde han distourbed 360
? e accuso{ur} to beren l{ett}res. by whiche he
scholde han maked ? e senatours gilty a? eins ? e kynges
Real maieste. ? O meistresse what demest ? ou of
? is. schal . I. forsake ? is blame ? at I ne be no schame to 364
? e (q. d. no{n}).
[Sidenote: It is true that he tried to save the Senate, for he has
and will have its best interests always at heart. ]
? Certis . I. haue wold it. ? at is to
seyne ? e sauuaciou{n} of ? e senat. ne I schal neuer leten
to wilne it. {and} ? at I confesse {and} am a-knowe. but
? e entent of ? e accusour to be destourbed schal cese. 368
? For schal I clepe it a felonie ? an or a synne ? at I
haue desired ? e sauuaciou{n} of ? e ordre of ? e senat.
and certys ? it hadde ? ilk same senat don by me ? oru?
her decret? {and} hire iugementys as ? ou? it were a synne 372
or a felonie ? at is to seyne to wilne ? e sauuaciou{n} of
he{m} (. s senat{us}).
[Sidenote: (Folly cannot change the merit of things. ]
? But folye ? at lieth alwey to hym
self may not chaunge ? e merit of ? inges.
[Sidenote: According to Socrates' judgment it is not lawful to
hide the truth nor assent to a falsehood. )]
? Ne . I.
trowe not by ? e iugement of socrates ? {a}t it were leueful 376
to me to hide ? e so? e. ne assent[e] to lesynges.
? But certys how so euer it be of ? is I put[te] it to gessen
or p{re}ise{n} to ? e iugeme{n}t of ? e {and} of wise folk. ? Of
whiche ? ing al ? e ordinaunce {and} ? e so? e for as moche 380
as folk ? at ben to comen aftir our{e} dayes scholle{n}
knowen it.
[Sidenote: Boethius determines to transmit an account of his
prosecution to posterity. ]
? I haue put it in scripture {and} remembraunce.
for touching ? e l{ett}res falsly maked. by
whiche l{ett}res I am accused to han hooped ? e fredom of 384
Rome. What app{er}tene? me to speken ? er-of.
[Sidenote: Boethius says that he could have defeated his accusers
had he been allowed the use of their confessions. ]
Of whiche l{ett}res ? e fraude hadde ben schewed ap{er}tly if
I hadde had libertee forto han vsed {and} ben at ? e [[pg 18]]
co{n}fessiou{n} of myn accuso{ur}s. ? ? e whiche ? ing in 388
alle nedys ha? grete strenke? . ? For what o? {er} fredo{m}
may men hopen.
[Sidenote: But there is now no remains of liberty to be hoped
for. ]
Certys I wolde ? at some o? {er} fredom
my? t[e] be hoped. ? I wolde ? an haue answered by
? e wordes of a man ? at hy? t[e] Canius. for whan he was 392
accused by Gayus Cesar Germeins son ? at he (cani{us})
was knowyng {and} consentyng of a coniurac{i}ou{n} maked
a? eins hym (. s. Gai{us}). ? ? is Canius answered[e]
? us. ? Yif I had[de] wist it ? ou haddest not wist it. 396
[Linenotes:
357 _axest ? ou_--axestow
358 _seyne_--seyn
_sauen_--saue
359 _desirest ? ou_--desires thow
_here_--hereen
362 _maked_--MS. maken, C. makyd
363 _demest ? ou_--demestow
365 _wold_--MS. wolde, C. wold
366 _seyne_--seyn
367 _? at_--omitted
_am_--I am
368 _be_--ben
369 _it_--it thanne
_? an_--omitted
371 _? ilk_--thilke
372 _her_--hir
_hire_--hir
_? ou? _--thogh
373 _or_--and
_seyne_--seyn
374 _lieth_--MS. lie? e, C. lieth
377 _assent[e]_--assente
381 _schollen_--shellen
382 {and}--{and} in
385 _speken_--speke
385-86 _of----lettres_--C. omits
386 _if_--yif
387 _had_--MS. hade, C. had
388 _myn_--myne
389 _ha? _--MS. ha? e, C. hath
_grete_--gret
_what_--omitted
390 _some_--som
391 _my? t[e] be_--myhte ben
_? an haue_--thanne han
392 _hy? t[e]_--hyhte
394 _maked_--ymaked
395 _answered[e]_--answerede
396 _had[de]_--hadde]
[Headnote:
BOETHIUS COMPLAINS TO PHILOSOPHY. ]
[Sidenote: It is not strange that the wicked should conspire
against virtue. ]
In whiche ? ing sorwe ha? not so dulled my witte
? {a}t I pleyne oonly ? at schrewed[e] folk apparailen
folies a? eins vertues. ? But I wondre gretly how ? at
? ei may p{er}forme ? inges ? at ? ei had[de] hoped forto 400
done.
[Sidenote: The will to do ill proceeds from the defects of human
nature. ]
For why. to wylne schrewednesse ? at come?
p{ar}auenture of oure defaute. ? But it is lyke to a
monstre {and} a meruaille.
[Sidenote: It is a marvel how such evil acts can be done under the
eye of an Omniscient God. ]
? How ? at in ? e p{re}se{n}t
sy? t of god may ben acheued {and} p{er}formed swiche 404
? inges. as euery felonous man ha? conceyued in hys
? ou? t a? eins i{n}nocent. ? For whiche ? ing oon of ? i
familers not vnskilfully axed ? us.
[Sidenote: If there be a God, whence proceeds evil? If there is
none, whence arises good? ]
? ? if god is. whennes
comen wikked[e] ? inges. {and} yif god ne is whennes 408
comen goode ? inges. but al hadde it ben leueful ? at
felonous folk ? at now desiren ? e bloode {and} ? e dee? of
alle goode men. {and} eke of al ? e senat han wilned to
gone destroien me. whom ? ei han seyn alwey bataile{n} 412
{and} defenden goode men {and} eke al ? e senat. ? it
hadde I not desserued of ? e fadres. ? at is to seyne of
? e senatours ? at ? ei scholde wilne my destrucc{i}ou{n}.
[Sidenote: Boethius defends the integrity of his life. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol.
