THE VARIOUS AGES OF MAN.
35
Seasons change. But so, weihuus, as ȝe witen · þat weduringe chaungeþ,
Now broun & now briht · & now breme stormys,
224[Fol. 214, back] So is þe wit & þe wil · of wordliche peple
In selkouþe sesounus · seen[1] for to chaunge.
In fair weather,
men are merry Whan wedur waxeþ al bryht · þat wel is to like,
227Mirie ben men of mod · in minde & in herte;
but in dim days, sad. But whan þe daies dimme ben · hit doþ hem to mourne,
For siht of þe sesoun · þat semus vnliþe.
Ȝit chaungeþ wit of a weih · in oþur-wise alse,
Man changes according to his age. Þorou þe grete de-gre · þat groweþ in age.
932For when he is innocent · þat ille can lite,
Þanne haþ he solas of him-silf · simple to worþe;
In youth, he plays with a ball. For betur likede him to a bal · þan a borou riche;
& he is hardy to non harm · but hauntus his gamus.
936In riper years, he shows his valour. Whan he is eldure of age · þat auht is his strenke,
Þanne wol he prouen his wil · & wikke to staunche.
In old age, he is quiet. Whan he is fare so forþ · fer in his age,
940Þan[2] stoute is he, stedefast · & stille of his herte.
Who would look for hardiness in an infant? Hwo wole a cherched child · chese for hardy,
Or a ȝoung man meek · þat mirthe couaiteþ?
Huo wolde wene þat a weih · woxen on elde
944Were wist for vnstedefast · of word or of dede?
Ye omit many joys, Manie mirþus on molde · þat oþur men vsen,
Ȝe leuen þorou ȝour luþur wit · þat longen to peple.
os sight, savour, Summe in siht þat we sen · & sauur of mouþe,
948handling, bearing, Summe in handlinge of hond · & heringe of ere,
and smiling. Summe þat longen to a lud · of likinge smellus,
& queminge of quaintise · þat quencheþ our tene,
Now broun & now briht · & now breme stormys,
224[Fol. 214, back] So is þe wit & þe wil · of wordliche peple
In selkouþe sesounus · seen[1] for to chaunge.
In fair weather,
men are merry Whan wedur waxeþ al bryht · þat wel is to like,
227Mirie ben men of mod · in minde & in herte;
but in dim days, sad. But whan þe daies dimme ben · hit doþ hem to mourne,
For siht of þe sesoun · þat semus vnliþe.
Ȝit chaungeþ wit of a weih · in oþur-wise alse,
Man changes according to his age. Þorou þe grete de-gre · þat groweþ in age.
932For when he is innocent · þat ille can lite,
Þanne haþ he solas of him-silf · simple to worþe;
In youth, he plays with a ball. For betur likede him to a bal · þan a borou riche;
& he is hardy to non harm · but hauntus his gamus.
936In riper years, he shows his valour. Whan he is eldure of age · þat auht is his strenke,
Þanne wol he prouen his wil · & wikke to staunche.
In old age, he is quiet. Whan he is fare so forþ · fer in his age,
940Þan[2] stoute is he, stedefast · & stille of his herte.
Who would look for hardiness in an infant? Hwo wole a cherched child · chese for hardy,
Or a ȝoung man meek · þat mirthe couaiteþ?
Huo wolde wene þat a weih · woxen on elde
944Were wist for vnstedefast · of word or of dede?
Ye omit many joys, Manie mirþus on molde · þat oþur men vsen,
Ȝe leuen þorou ȝour luþur wit · þat longen to peple.
os sight, savour, Summe in siht þat we sen · & sauur of mouþe,
948handling, bearing, Summe in handlinge of hond · & heringe of ere,
and smiling. Summe þat longen to a lud · of likinge smellus,
& queminge of quaintise · þat quencheþ our tene,
siquidem voluntas variabilis est que cum celi mutatione mutatur, quoniam scincerus dies scinceram mentem reddit hominis et gaudentem. Tenebrosa autem dies tristem reddit sensum hominis et obscurum, Et per diuersas etates similitur variatur. Infantia siquidem in simplicitate letatur, iuuentus presumptione, senectus stabilitate commode gratulatur. Multa delectabilia visui nostro occurrunt que uobis per auditum, alia attrahimus per odorem, alia sentimus per tactum,
