Truth
Flee from the crowd and dwell with truth. Let your goods suffice you, small though they may be, for a hoard of goods brings hatred and climbing insecurity, crowds bring envy, and prosperity brings blindness in all cases. Desire no more than is necessary for you to have. You who can advise other people, conduct yourself well; and truth shall make you free, doubt it not.
Be not in a tempest to make straight all that is crooked, trusting Fortune that turns her wheel like a ball. Little anxiety means great repose, and beware also of kicking an awl; strive not like the crock against the wall.* You who control the deeds of others, control yourself; and truth shall make you free, doubt it not.
Receive submissively what is sent you; wrestling to win the world invites an overthrow. Here is no home; here is only wilderness. Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beast, out of your stall! Know your country, look up, thank God for all things; stay on the safe road and let your spirit lead you; and truth shall make you free, doubt it not.
Envoy
Therefore, Sir Philip,* leave to the world your old sorry ways; cease now to be a slave. Cry mercy to Him Who of His own great goodness made you from nothing, and most of all draw yourself to Him; pray for a common heavenly payment for you and for others as well. And truth shall make you free, doubt it not.
Here ends The Ballad of Good Counsel of Geoffrey Chaucer.
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1 Kicking an awl…Crock against the wall. I.e., you will hurt yourself or be broken. (Awl: tool used for piercing holes, especially in leather.)
2 Sir Philip. Sir Philip de la Vache, Chaucer uses only the word “vache” (cow) here, but the consensus is now that he is referring to the nobleman.
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. Truth. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
