CAP. VI.
[verse 1] Also another yuel is [ther is I.] , which [that I.] Y siȝ vndur the sunne; and certis it is oft vsid anentis men. [verse 2] A [Sum I.] man is [ther is I.] , to whom God ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] richessis, and catel, and onour; and no thing failith [ther failith I.] to his soule [lijf I.] of alle thingis which [that I.] he desirith; and God ȝyueth not power [God ȝyueth not power, etc.; for God draw|ith him awey sudeynly fro present liyf. Lire here. C.] to hym, that he ete therof, but a straunge man shal deuoure it. This is vanyte [a vanyte A.] , and a greet wretchidnesse. [verse 3] If a man gendrith [getith I.] an hundrid [If a man gendrith an hundrid, etc.; defaute that cometh of aua|rice makith a man wrecchid, ȝhe, thouȝ he hath richessis and many othere thingis that ben de|sirid in present liyf. and his soule; that is, he him silf. vsith not, in his owne per|soone, the goodis of his catel. a deed borun child; that asayede noon yuel of present liyf, and hath liyf more delitable than is this present liyf; therfor he is betere than an auarouse man, for in al his liyf he feelith not no but yuel, and an|gwisch of bodi and soule. Lire here. C.] fre [of fre I.] sones, and lyueth many ȝeris, and hath many daies of age, and his soule vsith not the goodis of his catel, and wantith biriyng; Y pronounce of this man, that a deed borun child is betere than he. [verse 4] For he cometh in veyn [he cometh in veyn; to birthe, and goith to the sepulcre. Lire here. C.] , and goith to derknessis; and his name schal be don awei bi for|ȝetyng. [verse 5] He siȝ not the sunne, nether knew dyuersyte [the dyuersite I.] of good and of yuel; [verse 6] also thouȝ he lyueth [lyue I.] twei thousynde ȝeeris, and vsith not goodis [and vsith not goodis; but euere yuels, as if he seide, long liyf pro|fitith no thing to him, but anoyeth more. Lire here. C.] ; whether alle thingis hasten not [wher alle thingis hasten not, etc.; that is, alle cor|ruptible thingis hasten bi deth to the erthe, fro whennus tho weren takun. Lire here. C.] to o place? [verse 7] Al the trauel of a man is in his mouth [Al the trauel of a man is in his mouth; that is, for couenable sustenaunce of mannus liyf. but the soule of him; that is, of the auarouse man bifor seid. schal not be fillid with goodis; for he schal not vse his richessis, and therfor he hath richessis in veyn. Lire here. C.] , but the soule of hym schal not be fillid with goodis. [verse 8] What hath a wijs man more than a fool? and what hath a pore man, no [Om. I.] but that he go thidur, where is lijf [where is liyf; that is, to blis to comynge, where deth hath no place. Lire here. C.] ? [verse 9] It is betere to se that, that thou coueitist, than to desire that, that thou knowist not; but also this is vanyte, and presumpcioun of spirit. [verse 10] The name of hym that schal come, is clepid now, and it is knowun, that he is a man, and he mai not stryue [he may not stryue, etc.; that is, alegge resonably aȝenus God, that it perteyneth to man to knowe thingis to comynge that ben vncerteyn, and not teld in hooly writ. wordis ben ful, etc.; of dyuynyngis aboute thingis to comyng, to seke grettere, etc.; that is, kunnyng that passith his vndurstonding. sithen he knowith not, etc.; that is, what is profitable to him in present liyf. ether who may, etc.; God aloone. Lire here. C.] in doom aȝens a strongere than hym silf. [verse 11] Wordis ben ful manye, and han myche vanyte in [and C.] dispuytinge. [verse 1] What nede is it to a man to seke grettere thingis than hym silf; sithen [sith I passim.] he knowith not, what schal bifalle to hym in his lijf, in the noumbre of daies of his pilgrimage, and
