The Sayings of the Four Philosophers 

(Auchinleck MS, fol. 105r)

(diplomatic edition, by Míċeál Vaughan [assisted by Karen Holland and Vance Neill] - 7 January 1997; rev. 25 January 2011)

 

Lenpuet fere & de fere ceo fait il trop souent 

It nis nouşer wel ne faire şerfore engelond is shent 

Nostre prince de engle tere par le consail de sa gent  

At westminster after şe feire maden agret parlement 

Lachartre fet de cẏre ieo lenteink & bien le creẏ 

It was holde to neih şefire and is molten al aweẏ  

Ore ne saẏ mes que dire tout i va atripolaẏ 

Hundred chapitle court an shire al hit goş adeuel weẏ 

Des plus ages de latere ore escoteȝ vn sarmoun 

Of .iiij.wise men şen şer were whi engelond is brouht 

şe ferste seide I vnderstonde                 .  adoun 

Ne maẏ no king wel ben in londe 

Vnder god almihte 

But he kunne him self rede 

Hou he shal in londe lede 

Eueri man wid rihte 

For miht is riht 

Liht is niht 

And fiht is fliht 

For miht is riht şe lond is lawe les 

For hiht is liht şe lond is lore les 

For fiht is fliht şe lond is name les 

Şat oşer seide aword ful god 

Who so roweş aȝein şe flod 

Of sorwe he shal drinke 

Also hit fareş bi şe vnsele 

Aman shal haue litel hele 

Şer agein to swinke 

Nu on is two 

Anoşer is wo 

And frend is fo 

For on is t^wo şat lond is streinşeles 

For wel is wo şe lond is reuşeles 

For frend is fo şe lond is loue les 

Şat şridde seide it is no wonder 

Of şise eẏres şat goş vnder 

Whan şeih comen to londe 

Proude an stoute an ginneş ȝelpe 

Ac of şing şat sholde helpe 

Haue şeih noht on honde 

Nu lust haueş leue 

Şef is reue 

And pride haş sleue 

For lust haş leue şe lond is şewe les 

For şef is reue şe lond is penẏ les 

For pride haş sleue şe lond is almes les 

Şe ferşe seide şat he is wod 

Şat dwelleş to muchel in şe flod 

For gold of for auhte 

For gold or siluer or anẏ wele 

Hunger or şurst hete or chele 

Al shal gon to nohte 

Nu wille is red 

Wit is qued  

And god is ded 

For wille is red şe lond is wrecful 

For wit is qued şe lond is wrongful 

For god is ded şe lond is sinful 

Wid wordes as we han pleid 

Sum wisdom we han seid 

Of olde men and ȝunge 

Of manẏ a şing şat is in londe 

Who so coude it vndirstonde 

So haue itold wid tunge 

Riche an pore bonde an fre 

Şat loue is god ȝe mai se 

Loue clepeş vch man broşer 

For if şat he to blame be 

For ȝif hit him par charite 

Al şeih he do oşer 

Loue we god an he us alle 

Şat was born in an oxe stalle 

And for us don on rode 

His swete herte blod he let 

For us an us faire het 

Şat we sholde be gode 

Be we nu gode an stedefast 

So şat we muwen at şe last 

Hauen heuene blisse 

To god al mihti ipreie 

Lat us neuere in sinne deie 

Şat ioẏe for to misse 

Ac leue us alle so don here 

An leue in loue an god manere 

Şe deuel for to shende 

Şat we moten alle ifere 

Sen him şat us bouhte dere 

In ioẏe wid oute ende. amen