nature, it is not fitting that you acquire much; and if you wish to
satisfy an avaricious mind, then, though you acquired everything
on the face of the earth, the lust for gain will still burn within you."
Another: "His wealth will last long who spends it sparingly."
Another: "The source of peace is not to desire what belongs to
another, and the fruit of it is to have rest." Another: "Whoever
wishes to abandon life, let him see that he retain nothing that belongs
to it, since only so much is worth while, unless he will extinguish
the fire with dross." Another: "Whoever acquires wealth,
works hard and languishes with watchfulness that he may not lose
it; then he is wretched when he loses what he had acquired." The
disciple to the master: "Do you praise the gaining of money?" The
master: "Indeed! gain it; but spend it justly and for good purposes,
and do not conceal it in your treasury."
And another philosopher saith: "Ne desire thow non other mans thyng and sorow thow nat of thynges lost, for of sorowe nothyng shalbe recoverable." Wherof he saith:
XVII[1]. The Churl and the Bird
"Suche oon had a greene orchard or gardyn in whiche was
moche and grete fuysoun of grene herbis. What shal I say ellis?
Ther was a place also Right delectable in whiche ther gadred grete
multitude of briddis with dyvers melodic of dyuers and many swete
songes executyng.[2] Vpon a day while he for werynes Restid in
his orchard suche a bridde (f. 130) sat vpon the tre, whiche that
he sye and herd his voice and deceivaibely toke hym in a snare.
To whom the brid: 'Why hastow laboured so moche to take me, or
what profite hopistow to have in takyng of me?' [To this the man]:
'Only thi songes I desire to here.' To whom the brid: 'Triewly forwhi?
for nothing price nor praier shal I syng.' Than he: 'But if
thow syng I shal etei the.' And the brid: 'In what maner wilt[3]
thow ete me? If thow ete me soden or bake what shal it availe of
so litel a brid?'[4] And if I be Rosted moche lasse shal I be. But
if thow wilt lete me go, grete profite therof wil folowe.' Quod he:
'What profite wil ther be therof?' The brid saide: 'I shal shewe
the iii wisdam[5] that shuln availe the more than the flessh of iii
calves.' And he folowyng the briddes promyse leete hym go. To
whom the brid: 'Oon of the promises [is] that thow beleeve nor
- ↑ No. XXII in the original, I, 30, l. 26.
- ↑ This entire passage corresponds to the following sentence of the Latin (I, p. 30): Quidam habuit virgultum, in quo rivulis fluentibus herba viridis erat et pro habilitate loci conveniebant ibi volucres modulamine vocum cantus diversos exercentes.
- ↑ Ms. 'that' for 'wilt.'
- ↑ English omits Et etiam caro erit hispida.
- ↑ Lat. (I, 31, l. 8) sapientiae manerias.
