[Sidenote: _B._ What you have said is very specious, but such discourses are only sweet while they strike our ears.]
¶ Certeynely q{ uod} I þan þise ben faire þinges { and} enoyntid wiþ hony swetnesse of rethorike { and} musike. { and} only while þei ben herd þei ben 924 deliciouse.
[Sidenote: They cannot efface the deep impressions that misery has made in the heart.]
¶ But to wrecches is a deppere felyng of harme. þis is to seyn þat wrecches felen þe harmes þat þei suffren more greuously þan þe remedies or þe delites of þise wordes mowe gladen or comforten hem. so þat 928 whan þise þinges stynten forto sou{ n}[e] in eres. þe sorwe [[pg 37]] þat is inset greueþ þe þou[gh]t.
[Sidenote: _P._ So it is indeed; for my arguments are not designed as remedies, but as lenitives only.]
Ry[gh]t so is it q{ uod} she. ¶ For þise ne ben [gh]it none remedies of þi maladie. but þei ben a manere norissinges of þi sorwe [gh]it rebel 932 a[gh]eyne þi curac{ i}ou{ n}.
[Sidenote: When time serves, I will administer those things that shall reach the seat of your disease.]
¶ For whan þat tyme is. I shal moue swiche þinges þat p{ er}cen hem self depe.
[Sidenote: But you are not among the number of the wretched.]
¶ But naþeles þ{ a}t þou shalt not wilne to leten þi self a wrecche. ¶ Hast þou for[gh]eten þe nou{ m}bre { and} þe 936 manere of þi welefulnesse.
[Sidenote: I shall not speak of your happiness in being provided for (in your orphanage) by the chief men of the city; nor of your noble alliance with Festus and Symmachus;]
I holde me stille how þat þe souerayn men of þe Citee toke{ n} þe in cure { and} kepynge whan þou were orphelyn of fadir { and} modir. { and} were chosen i{ n} affinite of p{ r}inces of þe Citee. 940 ¶ And þou bygu{ n}ne raþer to ben leef { and} deere þan forto ben a ney[gh]bo{ ur}. þe whiche þing is þe most p{ re}ciouse kynde of any p{ ro}pinquitee or aliau{ n}ce þat may ben. ¶ Who is it þat ne seide þou nere ry[gh]t weleful 944 wiþ so grete a nobley of þi fadres in lawe.
[Sidenote: nor of your virtuous wife, and manly sons.]
¶ { And} wiþ þe chastite of þi wijf. { and} wiþ þe oportunite { and} noblesse of þi masculyn children. þat is to seyne þi sones { and} ou{ er} al þis me lyst to passe of comune þinges. 948 ¶ How þou haddest in þi þou[gh]t dignitees þat weren warned to olde men. but it deliteþ me to comen now to þe singuler vphepyng of þi welefulnesse. ¶ Yif any fruyt of mortal þinges may han any wey[gh]te or price of 952 welefulnesse.