[Linenotes: 680 _hast left_--MS. haste lefte, C. hast left 681 _knowe_--knowen _pleynelyche knowen_--pleynly fwonde [= founde] 684 _sorwest þou_--sorwistow 686 _for[þi] demest [þou]_--For thy demesthow 687 _wikked_--MS. wilked, C. wykkyd 688 _worlde_--world 689 _wenest þou_--wenestow 690 _outen_--owte 693 _haþ_--MS. haþe _al_--alle 694 _þi_--thin 696 _vnderput_--vndyrputte 697 _to_ (2)--omitted 698 _fore_--for _noþing_--nothinge 699 _spark þine heet_--sparke thin hete 700 _muche_--meche 702 _aweye_--away 703 [_of----opyniouns_]--from C. 705 _insy[gh]t_--insyhte _say_--assaye 706 _ly[gh]t_--lyhte 708 _don_--MS. don{ e} _mow[e]_--mowe]
[[pg 29]] [Headnote: HE IS NOT TO TAKE HIS LOSSES TO HEART.]
[Sidenote: Black clouds obscure the light of the stars.]
++ÞE sterres cou{ er}ed wiþ blak[e] cloudes ne mowen geten a dou{ n} no ly[gh]t.
[Sidenote: If the south wind renders the sea tempestuous, the waves, fouled with mud, will lose their glassy clearness.]
[Gh]if þe trouble wy{ n}de þat hy[gh]t auster stormynge { and} walwy{ n}g þe see medleþ þe 712 heete þat is to seyne þe boylyng vp from þe botme ¶ Þe wawes þ{ a}t somtyme weren clere as glas { and} lyke to þe fair[e] bry[gh]t[e] dayes wiþstant anon þe sy[gh]tes of men. by þe filþe { and} ordure þat is resolued. 716 { and} þe fletyng streme þat royleþ dou{ n} dyuersely fro hey[gh]e mou{ n}taignes is arestid { and} resisted ofte tyme by þe encountrynge of a stoon þ{ a}t is dep{ ar}tid { and} fallen from some roche. 720
[Sidenote: If thou wouldst see truth by the clearest light, pursue the path of right.]
¶ And forþi yif þou wilt loken { and} demen soþe wiþ clere ly[gh]t. { and} holde þe weye wiþ a ry[gh]t paþe.
[Sidenote: Away with joy, fear, hope, and sorrow.]
¶ Weyue þou ioie. drif fro þe drede. fleme þou hope. ne lat no sorwe ap{ ro}che.
[Sidenote: Let none of these passions cloud thy mind.]
þat is to sein lat noon of þise four passiou{ n}s ouer come þe. 724 or blynde þe.
[Sidenote: Where these things control, the soul is bound by strong fetters.]
for cloudy { and} dirke is þilk þou[gh]t { and} bounde w{ i}t{ h} bridles. where as þise þinges regnen.
[Linenotes: 710 _blak[e]_--blake 712 _stormynge_--turnyng 713 _from_--fro 714 _somtyme_--whilom 715 _lyke_--lyk _fair[e]----wiþstant_ (MS. wiþstante)--fayr{ e} cleer{ e} dayes { and} brihte withstand 716 _sy[gh]tes_--syhtes 717 _streme_--strem 718 _hey[gh]e_--hy 720 _from some_--fram som _wilt_--wolt 721 _soþe_--soth _clere_--cleer _holde_--holden 722 _weye_--wey _paþe_--paath 724 _come_--comen 725 _blynde_--blende _þilk_--thilke]