Vos quoque ô terrena animalia, tenui licet ima∣gine, vestrum tamen principium somniatis. Verum{que} illum beatitudinis finem, licet mini∣me perspicaci, &c.
CErtes also ye men that ben erthly crea∣tures dreamen alway your beginning, although it be with a thin imaginacion, and by a maner thought, all be it nat clerely ne perfectly, ye loken from a ferre to thilke ve∣ry fine of blisfulnesse. And therefore naturel entencion leadeth you to thilke very good, but many maner errours mistourneth you therefro. Consider now if that be thilke things, by which a man weneth to get him blisfulnesse, if that he may commen to thilke end that he weneth to come to by nature. For if that money, honors, or these other foresaid things bringen men to soch a thing that no good ne fail them ne semeth to fail, certes then wold I graunt that they be ma∣ked blisfull by things that they haue gotten. But if so be that thilke things ne mowen not performe that they byheten, and that there be defaut of many goodes, sheweth it not then clerely the false beautie of blisful∣nesse is knowen and atteint in thilk things? First and forward thou thy self, that haddest aboundance of richesse nat long agon, I ask thee that in thaboundance of al thilk riches, if thou were neuer anguishous or sorrie in thy courage of any wrong or greuaunce that betide thee in any side. B. Certes (qd. I) it ne remembreth me not, that euer I was so free of my thought, that I ne was alway in an∣guish of somewhat. P. And was that not (qd. she) for that thee lacked somewhat that thou noldest not haue lacked? Or els thou haddest that thou noldest haue had? B. Right so it is (qd. I.) P. Then desirest thou the presence of the one, and thabsence of that other? B. I graunt well (qd. I.) P. Forsoth (qd. she) then nedeth there somewhat that euery man desireth. B. Ye there nedeth (qd. I.) P. Certes (qd. she) and he that hath lacke or neede of aught, nis not in euery way suffisant to himself. B. No (qd. I.) P. And thou (qd. she) in al the plentie of thy richesse haddest thilke lacke of suffisance? B. What els (qd. I.) P. Then may not riches maken that a man nis nedy, ne that he be sufficient to himself: and yet that was it that they beheten as it semed. And eke certes I trowe that this be greatly to consi∣der, that money hath not in his owne kind, that it ne may been bynomen from hem that haue it, maugre hem. Bo. I know it well (qd. I.) P. Why shouldst thou not beknow∣en it (qd. she) when euery day the strenger folke benomen it from the feobler, maugre hem? From whens come els all these forain complaints, quarels, or pleadings, but for that men asken her money, that hath been binomed hem, by strength or by gyle, and alway maugre hem? Boec. Right so it is (qd. I.) Phi. Then hath a man need (qd. she) to seeken him forain help, by which he may defend his money. Boecius. Who may say nay (qd. I.) Phil. Certes (qd. she) and him needed no helpe, if he ne had no money that he might lese. Boecius. That is doubtles (qd. I.) Philosophie. Then is this thing tourned in to the contrary (qd. she:) for richesse, that men wenen should maken suffi∣saunce, they maken a man rather haue need of forain help. Which is the maner or the guise (qd. she) that richesse may driuen away need? Riche folke, may they neuer haue honger ne thurst? These rich men, may they fele no cold on their lims in Winter? But thou wilt aunswere, that rich men haue inough, wherewith they may staunchen her honger, and slaken her thurst, and doen away colde.
In this wise may need been comforted by richesse: but certes, need ne may not all vt∣terly be doen away. For if this need, that alway is gaping & greedy, be fulfilled with richesse, & any other thing, yet dwelleth then a need that mote be fulfilled. I hold me still, & tell not how that little thing sufiseth to nature: * but certes, to auarice suffiseth not inough of nothing. For since that riches ne may not doen away need, & they maken their own need, wt may it then be, that ye wenen that richesses mowen yeuen you suffisaunce?