past.[1] But thiese kyndly thynges as wel in vnmesurable floteryng
variaunce of merites with ordynaunce of the high Ruler distinctith
to arbitrement.[2] This and the prophete Job strenghed to ensample
of whos soule was nat devoured with losse of thynges.[3]
Whether hastow nat herd what the philosopher saith: 'Who may in
this chaungeable world be any thyng stable, or who may in this
lif any thyng to have enduryng while and whan thei bien so transitory'?"
The Arabik to (f. 133b) his sone: "Sone, whan any aduersite fallith to the, nyl thow be to sorowful neither therof be in to moche desolacioun, for this is nat the kynde nor the maner to denye god. But thow oughtest to praise god, as wele of adversite as of prosperite. Forsoth many evils fallen to men whiche that comen as to eschewe and flee the more and the gretter evils; and many [evil] thynges, fallen whiche enden in goode. And therfor thow ougtest to praise [god] in al thynges and. in hym to trust, as the versifiour saith: 'Whan thow art in sorow nyl thow be busy therof, but permytte and suffre the tyme in goddis disposicioun and tel ageyn alwey the goodenes to com; and so shaltow be foryeteful of evils, forwhi many evils comen whiche han a goode end.' The philosopher saith: 'The goodis of this world bien eveene myxt and medled. Forsoth thow etest no hony without venym.' Another 'Whatsumever bien in the world bien chaungeable; and what goodis thow hast of hem thei bien to come to the though it be or thow feeble be and of evil streng this thow mayst nat withstande.'[4]
Another: 'Because they allow a slow person to obtain what he desires, they also refuse a swift person the obtaining of his.'
Another: 'He hymself beawtith the world with fairness and bi
that he hath wonne that he wold the erth hym swolowith and devourith.'
Another: 'As in a twynklyng of an eye endith the glorie
and joies of the world; and as so free al abidith now, he seeth
nat of thynges obteyned'."
- ↑ This sentence is a good example of the translator's crude, inartistic work and his insufficient knowledge of the Latin (I, 39, l. 11): Amice, noli desolari, quia multotiens contingit homini tam graves adversitatum inundationes sustinere quod desideret eas etiam inhonesta morte finire; et statim eveniunt ei tanta commoda quod prorsus dulce sit ei praeteritarum reminisci adversitatum.
- ↑ Lat. (I, 39, l. 14) Sed humanarum rerum tam immensa fluctuatio variante meritorum ordine summi rectoris distinguitur arbitrio.
- ↑ Lat. prophetiae Iob corroborantur exemplo: cuius animum non pessumdedit amissio rerum.
- ↑ Lat. (I, 40, ll. 1-2) {{latin|et quae ex eis tibi bona sunt ventura, licet sis debilis, et malum viribus devitare non poteris. In the English version the speech of the next philosopher is omitted (Lat. 40, l. 3.)
