[Sidenote: They are not to be reckoned precious because they are counted amongst thy goods, but because they seemed so before thou didst desire to possess them.] ¶ For-why faire ne p{re}cioũs ne weren þei nat. for þat þei comen amonges þi rycchesse. but for þei semeden fair {and} p{re}cious. þerfore þou haddest leuer rekene hem 1260 amonges þi rycchesse. [Sidenote: What, then, is it we so clamorously demand of Fortune?] but what desirest þou of fortune wiþ so greet a noyse {and} wiþ so greet a fare [Sidenote: Is it to drive away indigence by abundance?] ¶ I trowe þou seke to dryue awey nede wiþ habundaunce of þinges. [Sidenote: But the very reverse of this happens, for there is need of many helps to keep a variety of valuable goods.] ¶ But certys it turneþ to ȝow al in þe 1264 contrarie. for whi certys it nediþ of ful many[e] helpynges to kepen þe dyuersite of preciouse ostelmentȝ. [Sidenote: They want most things who have the most.] and soþe it is þat of many[e] þinges han þei nede þat many[e] þinges han. [Sidenote: They want the fewest who measure their abundance by the necessities of nature, and not by the superfluity of their desires.] {and} aȝeyneward of litel nediþ 1268 hem þat mesuren hir fille after þe nede of kynde {and} nat after þe outrage of couetyse [Sidenote: Is there no good planted within ourselves, that we are obliged to go abroad to seek it?] ¶ Is it þan so þat ye men ne han no p{ro}pre goode. I-set in ȝow. For whiche ȝe moten seken outwardes ȝoure goodes in 1272 foreine {and} subgit þinges. [Sidenote: Are things so changed and inverted, that god-like man should think that he has no other worth but what he derives from the possession of inanimate objects?] ¶ So is þan þe condic{i}ou{n} of þinges turned vpso dou{n}. þat a man þat is a devyne beest by merit of hys resou{n}. þinkeþ þat hy{m} self nys neyþer fair ne noble. but if it be þoruȝ 1276 possessiou{n} of ostelmentes. þat ne han no soules. [Linenotes: 1255 _fair_--fayr{e} _hire owen_--hyr owne 1256 _sholde_--sholden _self_--selue 1257 _þin rycchesse_--thyne rychesses 1259 _amonges_--among{e} 1259, 1261 _rycchesse_--Rychesses 1259 _fair_--fayr{e} 1260 _leuer rekene_--leu{er}e rekne 1262 _greet_ (2)--grete 1265, 1267 _many[e]_--manye 1267 _soþe_--soth 1272 _outwardes_--owtward 1276 _fair_--fayr{e} _if_--yif] [Headnote: IGNORANCE CRIMINAL IN MAN.] [Sidenote: Inferior things are satisfied with their own endowments, while man (the image of God) seeks to adorn his nature with things infinitely below him, not understanding how much he dishonours his Maker.]