[Linenotes: 1069 _rycchesse_--Rychesses 1070 _renomed_--renowned 1072 _angre for_--Angwysshe of _leuer_--leu{er}e 1074 _chast[e]_--caste 1075, 1076 _haþ_--MS. haþe 1076 _maried_--ymaryed _his_--hise 1077 _ricchesse_--Rychesses _heires_--eyres _folk_--foolkys 1080 _þer_--þ{er} ne 1081 _mest_--omitted 1082 _vnassaieþ_--vnassaied _wot_--MS. wote, C. wot 1083, 1084 _haþ_--MS. haþe 1084 _wel_--ful 1085 _fallen_--byfalle _wille_--wyl 1086 _none_--non _an-oone_--Anon _þrowe_--throwen 1087 _adoũne_--adou{n} 1090 _wolde_--wolden 1095 _it_--hyt _who_--ho 1096 _no_--a] [Headnote: THE SOURCE OF TRUE HAPPINESS.] CONTRAQ{UE}. [Sidenote: When patience is lost then a change of state is desired.] ++And aȝeinewarde al fortune is blisful to a man by þe agreablete or by þe egalite of hym þat suffreþ it. ¶ What man is þat. þat is so weleful þat nolde chau{n}ge{n} 1100 his estat whan he haþ lorn pacience. þe swetnesse of mannes welefulnesse is yspranid wiþ many[e] bitternesses. þe whiche welefulnesse al þouȝ it seme swete {and} [[pg 43]] ioyeful to hym þat vseþ it. ȝit may it not be wiþ-holden 1104 þat it ne goþ away whan it wol. [Sidenote: How much is human felicity embittered!] ¶ Þan is it wel sen how wrecched is þe blisfulnesse of mortel þinges. [Sidenote: It will not stay with those that endure their lot with equanimity, nor bring comfort to anxious minds.] þat neiþ{er} it dwelliþ p{er}petuel wiþ hem þat euery fortune receyuen agreablely or egaly. ¶ Ne it ne deliteþ not in 1108 al. to hem þat ben anguissous. [Sidenote: Why then, O mortals, do ye seek abroad for that felicity which is to be found within yourselves?] [Sidenote: [* fol. 11 _b_.]] ¶ O ye mortel folkes what seke *ȝe þan blisfulnesse oute of ȝoure self. whiche þat is put in ȝoure self. Erro{ur} {and} folie co{n}fou{n}deþ ȝow ¶ I shal shewe þe shortly. þe poynt of souereyne 1112 blisfulnesse. [Sidenote: Nothing is more precious than thyself.] Is þer any þing to þe more p{re}ciouse þan þi self ¶ Þou wilt answere nay. [Sidenote: If thou hast command over thyself, Fortune cannot deprive thee of it.] ¶ Þan if it so be þat þou art myȝty ouer þi self þat is to seyn by tranquillitee of þi soule. þan hast þou þing i{n} þi power þat þou 1116 noldest neuer lesen. ne fortune may nat by-nyme it þe. [Sidenote: Happiness does not consist in things transitory.] {and} þat þou mayst knowe þat blisfulnesse [ne] may nat standen in þinges þat ben fortunous {and} te{m}perel. [Sidenote: If happiness be the supreme good of nature, then that thing cannot be it which can be withdrawn from us.]