of utter weariness. He must also preserve his strength of mind, so
that he may more easily remember the means by which his nature is
to be softened and sweetened. For if this is forgotten he will require
many other things to make him recall what he has forgotten.
I have therefore composed this little book partly from the sayings
and warnings of philosophers, partly from Arabic proverbs
and admonitions both in prose and verse, and partly from fables
about animals and birds. And I have carefully considered the
method, so that, should I write at great length, the contents might
not be a hindrance instead of a help to the reader; but that both
reader and hearer might have an opportunity and a desire to commit
them to memory. And they who gain knowledge by means of this
book will recall the things they have forgotten. The title of the
book is one growing out of its theme, that is, Clericalis Disciplina;
for it treats of the trained priest. But I have decided to exclude
everything, as far as possible, from this treatise that is contrary to
our belief or different from our faith. To this end may the
omnipotent God on whom I rely assist me. Amen.
If to any man this litel Epistil renne bi his vtter eye and sumwhat in it he shal see that kyndely cause and nature to his more subtil eye,[1] eft and eft I monysshe and do warne he ageyn to Rede.[2] And last to hym and to al thoe that bien of parfite feith of holichirche I sette and put to correccioun. Forwhi and forsoth the Philosophre trowith nat any thyng to be parfite in mannes invenciouns or fyndynges.
Therfor Enoch the philosophre, whiche in Arabik tung is named Edriche, saide to his sone: "The dreede of god be thy busynes and lucre and wynnyng shal come to the without any labour." Another Philosophre saith: "Who that dredith the lord al thynges dreeden hym. Forsoth who that dredith nat god is adred of al thyng." Another philosophre saith: "Who that loveth god dredith god. And who that lovith god is obedient vnto god."[3]
Socrates saide to his disciples: "See ye that ye bien nat
seide obedient and inobedient in the same." The Enucheies[4]
saiden vnto hym: "What seistow to vs leve Ipocresy?"
[He said] : "Forsoth it is Ipocresy for to make symulacioun of
obedience to god bifore men and in hid thyng or secret to be in-
- ↑ Lat. I, 2, 1. 12, quod humana parum cavit natura viderit, subtiliori oculo.
- ↑ Lat. iterum et iterum relegere moneo.
- ↑ The English version omits the saying of the next speaker in the Latin, I, 2, 1. 22. The Arab said in his verse: "It is incredible that thou art disobedient to God and yet pretendest to love him; if thou truly lovedst him thou wouldst obey him. For he that loves obeys."
- ↑ or Emicheies; the translator did not know the Latin form Enuclea. imper. sing. from enucleo—are, 'to explain,' and consequently gave a false interpretation of this sentence, Enuclea nobis quod dicis, meaning "explain or make clear to us what you are saying"
