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BOOK II.
CHAPTER I.
VERY welth may not be founden in al this worlde; and that is wel sene. Lo! how in my mooste comfort, as I wende [CH. I. 2. howe. comforte.] and moost supposed to have had ful answere of my contrary [3. hadde.] thoughtes, sodaynly it was vanisshed. And al the workes of man faren in the same wyse; whan folk wenen best her entent for to [5. folke.] [ 5] have and willes to perfourme, anon chaunging of the lift syde to [6. anone.] the right halve tourneth it so clene in-to another kynde, that never shal it come to the first plyte in doinge.
O this wonderful steering so soone otherwysed out of knowinge! But for my purpos was at the beginninge, and so dureth yet, if god [10. purpose.] [ 10] of his grace tyme wol me graunt, I thinke to perfourme this worke, as I have begonne, in love; after as my thinne wit, with [12. wytte.] inspiracion of him that hildeth al grace, wol suffre. Grevously, god wot, have I suffred a greet throwe that the Romayne [14. wotte. great.] emperour, which in unitè of love shulde acorde, and every with [ 15] other * * * * in cause of other to avaunce; and namely, sithe [16. (Something seems to be lost here).] this empyre [nedeth] to be corrected of so many sectes in heresie [17. I supply nedeth.] of faith, of service, o[f] rule in loves religion. Trewly, al were [18. o; read of.] it but to shende erroneous opinions, I may it no lenger suffre. [19. erronyous. maye.] For many men there ben that sayn love to be in gravel and sande, [20. menne. sayne.] [ 20] that with see ebbinge and flowinge woweth, as riches that sodaynly vanissheth. And some sayn that love shulde be in windy blastes, that stoundmele turneth as a phane, and glorie of renomè, which after lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stilled.
Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone and other [ 25] sterres love shulde ben founden; for among al other planettes [26. amonge.] moste soveraynly they shynen, as dignitees in reverence of estates rather than good han and occupyen. Ful many also there ben that in okes and in huge postes supposen love to ben grounded, as in strength and in might, whiche mowen not helpen their owne [ 30]