Chapter XXIV: Appendix: To Introduction (10)

[Sidenote: You must engage in a fierce conflict with every
fortune--with adversity, lest it dismay you--with prosperity, lest
it corrupt you.]

¶ þou sowest 4224
or plauntest a ful egre bataile in þi corage aȝeins euery
fortune. for þat þe sorweful fortune ne co{n}fou{n}de þe nat.
ne þat þe myrye fortune ne corrumpe þe nat.

[Sidenote: Seize the _golden mean_ with all your strength. All
below or above this line is a contemptible and a thankless
felicity.]

¶ Occupy
þe mene by stedfast strengþes. for al þat euer is vndir 4228
þe mene. or ellys al þat ou{er}-passeþ þe mene despiseþ
welefulnesses. ¶ As who seiþ. it is vicious {and} ne haþ
no mede of hys trauaile.

[Sidenote: The choice of fortune lies in your own hands, but
remember that even adverse fortune, unless it exercises the
virtues of the good or chastises the wicked, is a punishment.]

¶ For it is set in ȝour{e} hand.
as who seiþ it lieþ in ȝour{e} power what fortune ȝow is 4232
leuest. þat is to seyne good or yuel. ¶ For alle fortune
þat semeþ sharpe or aspre yif it ne ex{er}cise nat þe good [[pg 147]]
folk. ne chastisiþ þe wicked folk. it punisseþ.

[Linenotes:
4210 _soþe_--soth
4211 _confessen_--co{n}fesse
4212 _no strong_--the stronge
4213 _abassen_--abayssen
4215 _oft[e]_--ofte
4219 _seine_--seyn
4223 _heyȝt_--heyhte
4224 _welken_--wellen
4226 _confounde_--MS. co{n}fou{n}ded, C. confownde
4227 _Occupy_--Ocupye
4228 _stedfast_--stydefast
4230 _haþ_--MS. haþe
4231 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
4232 _lieþ_--lith
4233 _seyne_--seyn
4234 _sharpe_--sharp]

[Headnote:
WE CHOOSE OUR OWN FORTUNE.]

BELLA BIS QUENIS. {ET} C{ETERA}.

[Sidenote: [The seuende Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Atrides carried on a ten years’ war to punish the
licentious Paris.]

++ÞE wrekere attrides ¶ þat is to seyne agamenon þat 4236
wrouȝt[e] {and} continued[e] þe batailes by ten ȝere
recouered[e] {and} p{ur}ged[e] in wrekyng by þe destrucc{i}ou{n}
of troie þe loste chambres of mariage of hys broþer
þis is to seyn þat [he] agamenon wan aȝein Eleine þat 4240
was Menelaus wif his broþer.

[Sidenote: With blood he purchased propitious gales for the
Grecian fleet, by casting off all fatherly pity, and sacrificing
his daughter Iphigenia to the vengeance of Diana.]

In þe mene while þat
þilke agamenon desired[e] to ȝeuen sailes to þe grekyssh{e}
nauye {and} bouȝt[e] aȝein þe wyndes by blode. he
vncloþed[e] hym of pite as fad{er}. {and} þe sory p{re}st 4244
ȝiueþ in sacrifiynge þe wreched kuyttyng of þrote of þe
douȝter. ¶ þat is to sein þat agamenon lete kuytte{n} þe
þrote of hys douȝter by þe prest. to maken alliaunce wiþ
hys goddes. {and} for to haue wynde wiþ whiche he 4248
myȝt[e] wende to troie.

[Sidenote: Ulysses bewailed his lost mates, devoured by
Polyphemus, but, having deprived the Cyclop of his sight, he
rejoiced to hear the monster’s roar.]

¶ Itakus þat is to sein vlixies
bywept[e] hys felawes ylorn þe whiche felawes þe
fiers[e] pholifem{us} ligginge in his grete Caue had[de]
freten {and} dreint in hys empty wombe. but naþeles 4252
polifem{us} wood for his blinde visage ȝeld to vlixies ioye
by hys sorowful teres. þis is to seyn þat vlixes smot
oute þe eye of poliphem{us} þat stod in hys forhede.

[Linenotes:
4236 _seyne_--seyn
4237 _wrouȝt[e]_--wrowhte
_continued[e]_--continuede
_ȝere_--ȝer
4238 _purged[e]_--purgede
4240 [_he_]--from C.
_wan_--MS. wanne, C. wan
4242 _desired[e]_--desirede
4243 _bouȝt[e]_--bowhte
_blode_--blod
4244 _vncloþed[e]_--vnclothede
_as_--of
4245 _kuyttyng_--MS. knyttyng, C. kuttynge
4246 _lete_--let
_kuytten_--MS. knytte{n}, C. kuttyn
4248 _haue_--han
4249 _myȝt[e] wende_--myhte wenden
4250 _bywept[e]_--by-wepte
_ylorn_--MS. ylorne, C. y-lorn
4251 _fiers[e]_--feerse
_had[de]_--hadde
4253 _ȝeld_--yald
4254 _sorowful_--sorwful
_smot_--MS. smote, C. smot
4255 _oute_--owt
_stod_--MS. stode, C. stood
_forhede_--forehed]

[Headnote:
THE LABOURS OF HERCULES.]

for whiche vlixes hadde ioie whan he saw poliphem{us} 4256
wepyng {and} blynde.

[Sidenote: Hercules is renowned for his many labours, so
successfully overcome.]

¶ Hercules is celebrable for hys
hard[e] trauaile

[Sidenote: He overthrew the proud Centaurs;]

he dawntede þe proude Centauris half
hors half man.

[Sidenote: he slew the Nemean lion and wore his skin as a trophy
of his victory;]

{and} he rafte þe despoylynge fro þe
cruel lyou{n} þat is to seyne he slouȝ þe lyou{n} {and} [[pg 148]]
rafte hy{m} hys skyn.

[Sidenote: he smote the Harpies with his arrows;]

he smot þe brids þat hyȝte{n} 4261
arpijs [in þe palude of lyrne] wiþ certeyne arwes.

[Sidenote: he caried off the golden apples of the Hesperides, and
killed the watchful dragon;]

he rauyssed[e] applis fro þe wakyng dragou{n}. {and}
hys hand was þe more heuy for þe golde[ne] 4264
metal.

[Sidenote: he bound Cerberus with a threefold chain;]

He drouȝ Cerberus þe hound of helle by
hys treble cheyne.

[Sidenote: he gave the body of proud Diomede as food for the
tyrant’s horses;]

he ouer-comer as it is seid haþ
put an vnmeke lorde fodre to hys cruel hors ¶ þis is
to sein. þat hercules slouȝ diomedes {and} made his hors 4268
to etyn hym.

[Sidenote: he slew the serpent Hydra;]

and he hercules slouȝ Idra þe serpent {and}
brend[e] þe venym.

[Sidenote: he caused Achelous to hide his blushing head within his
banks;]

and achelaus þe flode defouled[e] in
his forhede dreint[e] his shamefast visage in his
strondes. þis is to sein þat achelaus couþe transfigure 4272
hym self in to dyuerse lykenesse. {and} as he fauȝt wiþ
orcules at þe laste he t{ur}nid[e] hym in to a bole and
hercules brak of oon of hys hornes. {and} achelaus for
shame hidde hym in hys ryuer.

[Sidenote: he left Antæus dead upon the Lybian shore;]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 33 _b_.]]

¶ And [he] hercules 4276
*cast[e] adou{n} Antheus þe geaunt in þe strondes of
libye.

[Sidenote: he appeased Evander’s wrath by killing Cacus;]

{and} kacus apaised[e] þe wraþþes of euander. þis
is to sein þat hercules slouȝ þe Monstre kacus {and}
apaised[e] wiþ þat deeþ þe wraþþe of euander.

[Sidenote: he slew the Erymanthean boar;]

¶ And 4280
þe bristled[e] boor marked[e] wiþ scomes þe sholdres of
hercules. þe whiche sholdres þe heye cercle of heuene
sholde þreste.

[Sidenote: and bore the weight of Atlas upon his shoulders.]

{and} þe laste of his labo{ur}s was þat he
sustened[e] þe heuene vpo{n} his nekke vnbowed.

[Sidenote: These labours justly raised him to the rank of a god.]

{and} he 4284
deserued[e] eftsones þe heuene to ben þe pris of his
laste trauayle

[Sidenote: Go then, ye noble souls, and follow the path of this
great example.]

¶ Goþ now þan ȝe stronge men þere as
þe heye weye of þe grete ensample ledeþ ȝou. ¶ O nice
men whi nake ȝe ȝoure bakkes. as who seiþ.

[Sidenote: O ye slothful ones, wherefore do ye basely fly!]

¶ O ȝe 4288
slowe {and} delicat men whi fley ȝe aduersites. {and} ne [[pg 149]]
fyȝte{n} nat aȝeins hem by vertue to wynnen þe mede of
þe heuene.

[Sidenote: He who conquers earth doth gain the heavens.]

for þe erþe ouer-come{n} ȝeueþ þe sterres.
¶ þis is to seyne þat whan þat erþely lust is ouer-comen. 4292
a man is maked worþi to þe heuene.

EXPLICIT LIBER QUARTUS.

[Linenotes:
4256 _saw_--say
4258 _hard[e] trauaile_--harde trauayles
_dawntede_--MS. dawnded, C. dawntede
4259 _half_--MS. hals
_rafte_--byrafte
_fro_--from
4260 _seyne_--seyn
4261 _smot_--MS. smote, C. smot
4262 [_in----lyrne_]--from C.
4263 _rauyssed[e]_--rauysshede
4266 _seid_--MS. seide, C. sayd
_haþ_--MS. haþe
4267 _lorde_--lord
4269 _etyn_--freten
4270 _brend[e]_--brende
_flode defouled[e]_--flood defowlede
4271 _forhede dreint[e]_--forhed dreynte
4273 _lykenesse_--lyknesses
4274 _turnid[e]_--tornede
4275 _brak_--MS. brake, C. brak
_hys_--hise
4276 [_he_]--from C.
4278-80 _apaised[e]_--apaysede
4281 _bristled[e]_--brystelede
_marked[e]_--markede
4282 _cercle_--clerke
4283 _þreste_--thriste
4285 _deserued[e]_--deseruede
4286 _Goþ_--MS. Goþe
_þere_--ther
4287 _weye_--way
4288 _nake_--MS. make, C. nake
4289 _slowe_--MS. slouȝ, C. slowe
_fley_--flee
4292 _seyne_--seyn]

[Headnote:
THE EXISTENCE OF CHANCE.]

INCIPIT LIBER QUINTUS.

DIXERAT ORACIONISQ{UE} CURSUM.

[Sidenote: [The fyrste prose.]]

[Sidenote: When Philosophy had thus spoken, and was about to
discuss other matters I interrupted her.]

++She hadde seid {and} to{ur}ned[e] þe cours of hir resou{n} to
so{m}me oþ{er} þinges to ben tretid {and} to ben ysped.

[Sidenote: _B._ Thy exhortation is just and worthy of thy
authority, but thou saidst that the question of the Divine
Superintendence or Providence is involved with many others--and
this I believe.]

þan seide I. Certys ryȝtful is þin amonestyng {and} ful 4296
digne by auctorite. but þat þou seidest som tyme þat
þe questiou{n} of þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce is enlaced wiþ
many oþer questiou{n}s. I vndir-stonde wel {and} p{ro}ue it
by þe same þinge.

[Sidenote: I am desirous, however, of knowing whether there be
such a thing as _Chance_, and what thou thinkest it is.]

but I axe yif þat þou wenest þat hap 4300
be any þing in any weys. {and} if þou wenest þat hap be
any [thing] what is it.

[Sidenote: _P._ I hasten to fulfil my promise and to show the road
to your own country.]

þan q{uo}d she. I haste me to
ȝelden {and} assoilen þe to þe dette of my byheste {and}
to shewen {and} opnen þe wey by whiche wey þou maist 4304
come aȝein to þi contre.

[Sidenote: But although these things you question me about are
profitable to know, yet they lead us a little out of our way.]

¶ but al be it so þat þe þinges
whiche þat þou axest b{e}n ryȝt p{ro}fitable to knowe.
ȝitte ben þei diuers somwhat fro þe paþe of my purpos.

[Sidenote: And by straying from the path you may be too fatigued
to return to the right road.]

And it is to douten þat þou ne be maked weery by 4308
mysweys so þat þou ne mayst nat suffise to mesure{n} þe
ryȝt weye.

[Sidenote: _B._ Don’t be afraid of that, for it will refresh me as
much as rest to know these things in which I am delightfully
interested.]

¶ Ne doute þe þer-of no þing q{uo}d I. for
forto knowen þilke þinges to-gidre in þe whiche þinges
I delite me gretly. þat shal ben to me in stede of reste. 4312
Syn it nis nat to douten of þe þinges folwy{n}ge whan
euery side of þi disputisou{n} shal be stedfast to me by
vndoutous feiþ. þan seide she. þat manere wol I don
þe. {and} byga{n} to speken ryȝt þus [[pg 150]]

[Sidenote: _P._ I will then comply with thy requests.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d she 4316
yif any wyȝt diffinisse hap in þis manere. þat is to seyn.

[Linenotes:
4294 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd
_þe_--by
4297 _som tyme_--whilom
4298 _þe_ (2)--thy
4300 _þinge_--thing
4302 [_thing_]--from C.
4303 _ȝelden_--yilden
_assoilen_--MS. assailen, C. assoylen
_byheste_--byhest
4304-6 _whiche_--which
4306 _ben_--MS. b{e}n{e}
4307 _paþe_--paath
4312 _stede_--styde
4314 _disputisoun_--disputaciou{n}
_be_--han ben
_stedfast_--stydefast
4317 _seyn_--seyng]

[Headnote:
DEFINITION OF CHANCE.]

[Sidenote: If we define Chance to be an event produced by an
unintelligent motion, and not by a chain or connection of causes,
I should then affirm that Chance is nothing and an empty sound.]

þat hap is bytidynge y-brouȝt forþe by foelyshe
moeuynge. {and} by no knyttyng of causes. ¶ I conferme
þat hap nis ryȝt nauȝt in no wise. and I deme al 4320
outerly þat hap nis ne dwelliþ but a voys. ¶ As who
seiþ. but an ydel worde wiþ outen any significac{i}ou{n} of
þing summittid to þat vois.

[Sidenote: What room is there for folly and disorder where all
things are restrained by order, through the ordinance of God?]

for what place myȝt[e] ben
left or dwellynge to folie {and} to disordinau{n}ce. syn þat 4324
god lediþ {and} streyniþ alle þinges by ordre.

[Sidenote: For it is a great truth that nothing can spring out of
nothing.]

¶ For þis
sentence is verray {and} soþe þat no þinge ne haþ his
beynge of nouȝt. to [the] whiche sentence none of þise
olde folk ne wiþseide neuere al be it so þat þei ne 4328
vndirstoden ne moeueden it nauȝt by god p{r}ince {and}
gynner of wirkyng. but þei casten as a manere foundement
of subgit material. þat is to seyn of [the] nature
of alle resou{n}.

[Sidenote: Now, if anything arises without the operation of a
cause, it proceeds from nothing.]

{and} ȝif þat ony þinge is woxen or comen 4332
of no causes. þan shal it seme þat þilke þinge is comen
or woxen of nouȝt.

[Sidenote: But if this is impossible, then there can be no such a
thing as Chance, as we have defined it.]

but yif þis ne may nat ben don.
þan is it nat possible þat þere haþ ben any swiche þing
as I haue diffinissid a litel here byforne.

[Sidenote: _B._ Is there nothing, then, that may be called Chance
or Fortune?]

¶ How shal 4336
it þan ben q{uo}d I. nis þer þan no þing þat by ryȝt may
be cleped eyþer hap{pe} or ellis auenture of fortune.

[Sidenote: Is there nothing (hid from the vulgar) to which these
words may be applied?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 34.]]

or is
þer ouȝt al *be it so þat it is hidd fro þe poeple to
whiche þise wordes ben couenable.

[Sidenote: _P._ Aristotle defines this matter with much precision
and probability.]

Myn aristotul q{uo}d 4340
she. in þe book of his phisik diffinisseþ þis þing by
short resou{n} and neyȝe to þe soþe.

[Sidenote: _B._ How?]

¶ In whiche manere
q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ So often as a man does anything for the sake of
any other thing, and another thing than what he intended to do is
produced by other causes, that thing so produced is called
_Chance_.]

¶ As ofte q{uo}d she as men don any þing for
grace of any oþer þing. {and} an oþer þinge þan þilke 4344
þing þat men ententen to doon bytideþ by som[e] causes
it is ycleped hap{pe}.

[Sidenote: As if a man trench the ground for tillage and find
gold, then this is believed to happen by chance, although it is
not so.]

¶ Ryȝt as a man dalf þe erþe by
cause of tylienge of þe felde. {and} fond þere a gobet of [[pg 151]]
golde by-doluen. þan wenen folk þat it is fallen by fortunous 4348
bytydyng. but for soþe it nis nat for nauȝt for
it haþ hys p{ro}pre causes of whiche causes þe cours vnforseyn
and vnwar semiþ to han maked hap{pe}.

[Sidenote: For if the tiller had not ploughed the field, and if
the hider of the gold had not concealed it in that spot, the gold
had not been found.]

¶ For
yif þe tilier in þe erþe ne delue nat in þe felde. and yif 4352
þe hider of þe golde ne hadde hidd þe golde in þilke
place. þe golde ne had[de] nat ben founde.

[Sidenote: These, then, are the causes of a fortuitous acquisition
which proceeds from a conflux of encountering causes, and not from
the intention of the doer.]

þise ben
þan þe causes of þe abreggynge of fortune hap. þe whiche
abreggynge of fortune hap comeþ of causes encountrynge 4356
{and} flowyng to-gidre to hem selfe. {and} nat by þe entenc{i}ou{n}
of þe doer.

[Sidenote: For neither the hider of the gold nor the husbandman
intended or understood that the gold should be found.]

¶ For neiþer þe hider of þe gold.
ne þe deluer of þe felde ne vndirstanden nat þat þe
golde sholde han be founde. but as I seide.

[Sidenote: But it happened by the concurrence of these two causes
that the one did dig where the other had hidden the money.]

it bytidde 4360
{and} ran to-gidre þat he dalf þere as þat oþer hadde hidd
þe golde.

[Sidenote: Chance, then, is an unexpected event, by a concurrence
of causes, following an action designed for a particular purpose.]

Now may I þus diffinissen hap{pe}. ¶ Hap{pe}
is an vnwar bytydyng of causes assembled in þinges þat
ben don for som oþer þinge. but þilke ordre p{ro}cedynge 4364
by an vneschewable byndynge to-gidre.

[Sidenote: This concurrence of causes proceeds from that order
which flows from the fountain of Providence and disposes all
things as to place and time.]

whiche þat
descendeþ fro þe wel of purueaunce þat ordeineþ alle
þinges i{n} hir{e} places {and} in hire tymes makeþ þat þe
causes rennen {and} assemblen to-gidre. 4368

[Linenotes:
4318 _forþe_--forth
4322 _worde_--word
4323 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
4324 _left_--lefte
4325 _streyniþ_--constreynyth
4326 _soþe_--soth
_no þinge_--nothing
_haþ_--MS. haþe
4327 [_the_]--from C.
4330 _gynner_--bygynner{e}
4331 [_the_]--from C.
4332 _ȝif_--MS. ȝit, C. yif
_þinge_--thing
4335 _þat----ben_--þ{a}t hap be
_haþ_--MS. haþe
_swiche_--swych
4338 _happe_--hap
4339 _hidd_--MS. hidde, C. hidd
4340 _whiche_--which
4342 _neyȝe_--nehg
_whiche_--which
4343 _don_--MS. done, C. don
4344 _þinge_--thing
4345 _som[e]_--some
4346 _happe_--hap
4347 _of_ (1)--to
_fond_--MS. fonde, C. fownde
4348 _golde_--gold
_fallen_--byfalle
4349 _for_ (2)--of
4350 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_hys_--hise
4351 _happe_--hap
4352 _tilier_--tylyer{e}
_delue_--dolue
4353 _hider_--hyder{e}
_golde_--gold
_hidd_--MS. hidde
4353-4 _golde_--gold
4354 _had[de]_--hadde
4355 _fortune_--fortuit
_whiche_--which
4356 _fortune_--fortuit
_comeþ_--comth
4357 _flowyng_--MS. folwyng, C. flowynge
_selfe_--self
4358 _doer_--doer{e}
_hider_--hider{e}
4359 _deluer_--deluer{e}
_felde_--feeld
_vndirstanden_--vndirstoden
4360 _golde_--gold
4361 _hidd_--MS. hidde, C. hyd
4362 _happe_ (_both_)--hap
4365 _whiche_--which
4366 _descendeþ_--MS. defendeþ, C. descendith
_wel_--welle]

RUPIS ACHEMENIE.

[Sidenote: [The fyrste Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Where the flying Parthian doth pierce his pursuers with
his shafts, there from the Achemenian heights flow the Tigris and
Euphrates, but soon their streams divide and flow into separate
channels.]

++TIgris [{and}] eufrates resoluen {and} spryngen of a welle in
þe kragges of þe roche of þe contre of achemenye þer{e}
as þe fleenge [batayle] ficchiþ hire dartes reto{ur}nid in
þe brestes of hem þat folwen hem. ¶ And sone aftre 4372
þe same ryueres tigris {and} eufrates vnioygne{n} {and} dep{ar}ten
hir{e} watres. [[pg 152]]

[Sidenote: But should they unite again, in the impetuous stream,
boats, ships, and trees would be all intermingled, whirled about;
and blind Chance seems to direct the current’s course.]

and yif þei comen to-gidre {and} ben
assembled {and} clepid to-gidre in to o cours. þan moten
þilke þinges fletyn to-gidre whiche þat þe water of þe 4376
entrechau{n}gyng flode bry{n}geþ þe shippes {and} þe stokkes
araced wiþ þe flood moten assemble. {and} þe watres
ymedlyd wrappiþ or implieþ many fortunel happes or
maneres.

[Sidenote: But the sloping earth, the laws of fluids, govern these
things.]

þe whiche wandryng happes naþeles þilke enclinyng 4380
lowenes of þe erþe. {and} þe flowynge ordre of
þe slidyng water gouerniþ.

[Sidenote: So though Chance seems to wander unrestrained, it is
nevertheless curbed and restrained by Divine Providence.]

¶ Ryȝt so fortune þat
semeþ as [þat] it fletiþ wiþ slaked or vngouerned[e]
bridles. It suffriþ bridles þat is to seyn to ben gouerned 4384
{and} passeþ by þilke lawe. þat is to sein by þe deuyne
ordinaunce.

[Linenotes:
4369 [_and_]--from C.
_a_--oo
4371 [_batayle_]--from C.
4373 _þe_--tho
4374 _to-gidre_--to-gyderes
4376 _whiche_--which
4377 _flode_--flod
4378 _assemble_--assemblyn
4380 _enclinyng_--declynynge
4381 _lowenes_--lownesse
4383 [_þat_]--from C.
_vngouerned[e]_--vngou{er}nede
4385 _þe_--thilke]

[Headnote:
ON FREE WILL.]

A{N}I{M}ADUERTO INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The .2^de. p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ Is there any _free-will_ in this chain of cohering
causes?]

++Þis vndirstonde I wel q{uo}d I. {and} accorde wel þat it
is ryȝt as þou seist. but I axe yif þer be any liberte 4388
or fre wil in þis ordre of causes þat cliue{n} þus to-gidre
in hem self.

[Sidenote: Or doth the _chain of destiny_ constrain the motions of
the human mind?]

¶ or ellys I wolde witen yif þat þe
destinal cheine co{n}streiniþ þe moeueuynge of þe corages
of me{n}.

[Sidenote: _P._ There is a freedom of the will possessed by every
rational being.]

yis q{uo}d she þer is liberte of fre wille. ne þer 4392
ne was neuer no nature of resou{n} þat it ne hadde liberte
of fre wille.

[Sidenote: A rational being has judgment to judge of and discern
everything.]

¶ For euery þing þat may naturely vsen
resou{n}. it haþ doom by whiche it discerniþ {and} demiþ
euery þing.

[Sidenote: Of himself he knows what he is to avoid or to desire.
He seeks what he judges desirable, and he shuns what he deems
should be avoided.]

¶ þan knoweþ it by it self þinges þat be{n} 4396
to fleen. {and} þinges þat ben to desiren. {and} þilk þing
þat any wyȝt demeþ to ben desired þ{a}t axeþ or desireþ
he {and} fleeþ [thilke] þing þat he troueþ ben to fleen.

[Linenotes:
4389 _or_--of
4390 _hem_--hym
4392 _yis_--MS. yif, C. yis
4392-94 _wille_--wil
4395 _whiche_--which
4397 _þilk_--thilke
4399 [_thilke_]--from C.]

[Headnote:
PROVIDENCE SEES ALL THINGS.]

[Sidenote: A rational being possesses, then, the liberty of
choosing and rejecting.]

¶ wher-fore in alle þinges þ{a}t resou{n} is. i{n} hem also is 4400
libertee of willyng {and} of nillynge.

[Sidenote: This liberty is not equal in all beings.]

¶ But I ne ordeyne
nat. as who seiþ. I ne graunte nat þat þis lib{er}tee be
euene like in alle þinges.

[Sidenote: In heavenly substances, as spirits, &c., judgment is
clear, and the will is incorruptible, and has a ready and
efficacious power of doing things which are desired.]

forwhi in þe souereyns deuynes
substau{n}ces.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 34 _b_.]]

þat is to *seyn in spiritȝ ¶ Iugement is 4404
more clere {and} wil nat be corumped. {and} haþ myȝt [[pg 153]]
redy to speden þinges þat ben desired.

[Sidenote: The souls of men must needs be more free when employed
in the contemplation of the Divine Mind, and less so when they
enter into a body, and still less free when enclosed and confined
in earthly members; but the most extreme servitude is when they
are given over to vice and wholly fallen from their proper
reason.]

¶ But þe soules
of men moten nedes ben more free whan þei loken hem
in þe speculac{i}ou{n} or lokynge of þe deuyne þouȝt. {and} 4408
lasse free whan þei sliden in to þe bodies. {and} ȝit lasse
free whan þei ben gadred to-gidre {and} co{m}p{re}hendid in
erþely membris. but þe last[e] seruage is whan þat þei
ben ȝeue{n} to vices. {and} han yfalle fro þe possessiou{n} of 4412
hire p{ro}pre resou{n}

[Sidenote: For at once they are enveloped by the cloud of
ignorance and are troubled by pernicious desires, by yielding to
which they aid and increase that slavery which they brought upon
themselves, and thus even under the liberty proper to them, they
remain captives.]

¶ For after þat þei han cast aweye
hir eyen fro þe lyȝt of þe souereyn soþefastnesse to lowe
þinges {and} dirke ¶ Anon þei dirken by þe cloude of
ignoraunce {and} ben troubled by felonous talentȝ. to þe 4416
whiche talentȝ whan þei app{ro}chen {and} assenten. þei
hepen {and} encresen þe seruage whiche þei han ioigned
to hem self. and in þis manere þei ben caitifs fro hire
p{ro}pre libertee.

[Sidenote: Yet the eye of Providence, beholding all things from
eternity, sees all this and disposes according to their merit all
things as they are predestinated.]

þe whiche þinges naþeles þe lokynge of 4420
þe deuyne purueaunce seeþ þ{a}t alle þinges byholdeþ
{and} seeþ fro et{er}ne. and ordeyneþ hem eueryche i{n} her
merites. as þei ben p{ro}destinat.

[Sidenote: He, as Homer says of the sun, _sees and hears all
things_.]

{and} it is seid in grek.
þat alle þinges he seeþ {and} alle þinges he hereþ. 4424

[Linenotes:
4405 _haþ_--MS. haþe
4411 _last[e]_--laste
4412 _fro_--from
4415 _cloude_--clowdes
4418 _whiche_--which
4423 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd]

PURO CLARU{M} LUMINE.

[Sidenote: [The .2^de. Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: The sweet-tongued Homer sings of the sun’s pure light.
Yet the sun’s beams cannot pierce into the inner bowels of the
earth, nor into the depths of the sea.]

++HOmer wiþ þe hony mouþe. þat is to seyn. homer
wiþ þe swete dites syngeþ þat þe sonne is cleer by
pure lyȝt. naþeles ȝit ne may it nat by þe inferme lyȝt
of hys bemes breke{n} or p{er}ce{n} þe inwarde entrailes of 4428
þe erþe. or ellys of þe see.

[Sidenote: But God, the world’s maker, beholding from on high, has
his vision impeded neither by earth nor cloud.]

¶ so ne seeþ nat god makere
of þe grete worlde to hym þat lokeþ alle þinges from on
heye ne wiþstandiþ nat no þinges by heuynesses of erþe.
ne þe nyȝt ne wiþstondeþ nat to hy{m} by þe blake 4432
cloudes.

[Sidenote: At a glance he sees all events, present, past, and
future.]

¶ þilke god seeþ i{n} o strook of þouȝt alle
þinges þat ben or weren or schullen come.

[Sidenote: God, then, that alone sees all things, may indeed be
called the true Sun.]

¶ and þilke
god for he lokeþ {and} seeþ alle þinges al oon. þou maist [[pg 154]]
seyn þat he is þe verray sonne. 4436

[Linenotes:
4425 _mouþe_--Mowth
4428 _percen_--MS. p{er}te{n}, C. p{er}cen
_inwarde_--inward
4430 _worlde_--world
_on heye_--an hegh
4431 _nat_--omitted
4434 _schullen come_--shollen comyn
4435 _al oon_--alone]

[Headnote:
GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE AND MAN’S FREE WILL.]

TAMEN EGO EN INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The .3^de. p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I am distracted by a more difficult doubt than
ever.]

++ÞAn seide I now am I co{n}fou{n}ded by a more harde
doute þan I was. what doute is þat q{uo}d she.
¶ For certys I coniecte now by whiche þinges þou art
troubled.

[Sidenote: God’s foreknowledge seems to me inconsistent with man’s
free-will.]

It semeþ q{uo}d I to repugnen {and} to contrarien 4440
gretly þat god knoweþ byforn alle þinges. {and}
þat þer is any fredom of liberte.

[Sidenote: For if God foresees all things, and cannot be deceived,
then that which Providence hath foreseen must needs happen.]

for yif so be þat god
lokeþ alle þinges byforn. ne god ne may nat ben
desseiuid in no manere. þan mot it nedes ben þat alle 4444
þinges bytyden þe whiche þat þe purueaunce of god haþ
sein byforn to comen.

[Sidenote: If God from eternity doth foreknow not only the works,
but the designs and wills of men, there can be no liberty of
will--nor can there be any other action or will than that which a
Divine and infallible Providence hath foreseen.]

¶ For whiche yif þat god
knoweþ by-forn nat oonly þe werkes of men. but also
hir conseils {and} hir willes. þan ne shal þer be no 4448
liberte of arbitre. ne certys þer ne may ben noon oþer
dede ne no wille but þilke whiche þe deuyne purueaunce
þat ne may nat ben desseiued haþ feled byforn

[Sidenote: For if things fall out contrary to such foreseeing, and
are wrested another way, the prescience of God in regard to
futurity would not be sure and unerring--it would be nothing but
an uncertain opinion of them: but I take it to be impious and
unlawful to believe this of God.]

¶ For
yif þat þei myȝten wryþen awey in oþer manere þan þei 4452
ben purueyed. þan ne sholde þer ben no stedfast p{re}science
of þinge to comen but raþer an vncerteyn
oppiniou{n}. þe whiche þinge to trowen on god I deme it
felonie {and} vnleueful.

[Sidenote: Nor do I approve of the reasoning made use of by some.
For they say that a thing is not necessarily to happen because God
hath foreseen it, but rather because it is to happen it cannot be
hid from the divine Providence.]

¶ Ne I ne proeue nat þilk 4456
same resou{n}. as who seiþ I ne allowe nat. or I ne p{re}ise
nat þilke same resou{n} by whiche þat som men wenen
þat þei mowen assoilen {and} vnknytten þe knot of þis
questiou{n}. ¶ For certys þei seyn þ{a}t þing nis nat to 4460
come for þat þe purueaunce of god haþ seyn it byforn{e}.
þat is to comen but raþer þe cont{ra}rie. ¶ And þat
is þis þat for þat þe þing is to comen þat þerfore
ne may it nat ben hyd fro þe purueaunce of god. 4464

[Sidenote: [* fol. 35.]]

[Sidenote: Now by this reason necessity appears to change sides.
For it is not necessary that the things which are foreseen should
happen, but it is necessary that the things which are to befall
should be foreseen.]

*{and} in þis manere þis necessite slydiþ aȝein in to þe [[pg 155]]
contrarie p{ar}tie. ne it ne byhoueþ [nat] nedes þat þinges
bytiden þat ben ypurueid. [but it by-houeth nedes /
þ{a}t thinges þ{a}t ben to comyn ben yporueyid] but as it 4468
were yt{ra}uailed.

[Sidenote: As if the question was, which was the cause of the
other--_prescience_ the cause of the necessity of future events,
or the _necessity_ the cause of the prescience of future events?]

as who seiþ. þat þilke answere p{ro}cediþ
ryȝt as þouȝ men trauailden or weren bysy to
enqueren þe whiche þing is cause of whiche þinges. as
wheþer þe p{re}science is cause of þe necessite of þinges to 4472
comen. or ellys þat þe necessite of þi{n}ges to comen is
cause of þe purueau{n}ce.

[Sidenote: But I will prove that, however the order of causes may
stand, the event of things foreseen is necessary, although
prescience doth not seem to impose a necessity upon future things
to fall out.]

¶ But I ne enforce me nat now
to shewe{n} it þat þe bytidyng of þinges y-wist byforn is
necessarie. how so or in what manere þat þe ordre of 4476
causes haþ it self. al þouȝ þat it ne seme nat þat þe
p{re}science brynge in necessite of bytydynge of þinges
to comen.

[Sidenote: For if a man sit--the belief in the sitting is true;
and, on the other hand, if the opinion is true of his sitting, he
must needs sit.]

¶ For certys yif þat any wyȝt sitteþ it byhoueþ
by necessite þat þe oppiniou{n} be soþe of hym 4480
þ{a}t coniectiþ þat he sitteþ. and aȝeinward. al so is it of
þe contrarie. yif þe oppiniou{n} be soþe of any wyȝt for
þat he sitteþ it byhoueþ by necessite þat he sitte

[Sidenote: In both cases there is a necessity--in the latter that
the person sits--in the former, that the opinion concerning the
other is true.]

¶ þan
is here necessite in þat oon {and} in þ{a}t oþer. for in þat 4484
oon is necessite of sittynge.

[Sidenote: But the man does not sit because the opinion of his
sitting is true, but the opinion is true because the action of his
being seated was antecedent in time.]

{and} certys in þat oþer is
necessite of soþe but þerfore ne sitteþ nat a wyȝt for þat
þe oppiniou{n} of sittyng is soþe. but þe oppiniou{n} is
raþer soþe for þat a wyȝt sitteþ by-forn.

[Sidenote: So that although the cause of truth arises from the
sitting, there is a common necessity in both.]

and þus al 4488
þouȝ þ{a}t þe cause of soþe comeþ of [þe] syttyng. and
nat of þe trewe oppiniou{n}. Algates ȝitte is þer comune
necessite in þat oon {and} in þat oþer.

[Sidenote: Thus may we reason concerning Providence and future
events.]

¶ þus sheweþ it
þ{a}t I may make semblable skils of þe p{ur}ueau{n}ce of god 4492
{and} of þinges to come.

[Sidenote: For allowing things are foreseen because they are to
happen, and that they do not befall because they are foreseen, it
is necessary that future events should be foreseen of God, or if
foreseen that they should happen; and this alone is sufficient to
destroy all idea of _free-will_.]

¶ For al þouȝ for þat þat þinges
ben to comen. þer-fore ben þei p{ur}ueid. nat certys for
þei ben p{ur}ueid. þer-fore ne bytide þei nat. ȝit naþeles
byhoueþ it by necessite þat eiþer þe þinges to comen 4496
ben yp{ur}ueied of god. or ellys þat þe þinges þat ben
p{ur}ueied of god bitiden [.s.] by necessite. ¶ And þis [[pg 156]]
þing oonly suffiseþ I-nouȝ to distroien þe fredome of
oure arbitre. þat is to seyn of oure fre wille

[Sidenote: But it is preposterous to make the happening of
temporal things the cause of eternal prescience, which we do in
imagining that God foresees future events because they are to
happen.]

¶ But now 4500
[certes] sheweþ it wel how fer fro þe soþe {and} how vp
so dou{n} is þis þing þat we seyn þat þe bytidinge of
temp{or}el þinges is þe cause of þe eterne p{re}science.
¶ But forto wenen þat god p{ur}ueiþ [the] þinges to comen. 4504
for þei ben to comen. what oþer þing is it but forto
wene þat þilke þinges þat bitiden som tyme ben causes
of þilke souereyne p{ur}ueaunce þat is i{n} god.

[Sidenote: And, moreover, when I know that anything exists, it is
necessary for my belief that it should be.]

¶ And
her-to I adde ȝitte þis þing þat ryȝt as whan þat I woot 4508
þat o þing is it byhoueþ by necessite þat þilke self þing be.

[Sidenote: So also when I know that an event shall come to pass,
it must needs happen.]

{and} eke þat whan I haue knowe þat any þi{n}ge shal
bitiden so byhoueþ it by necessite þ{a}t þilk[e] same
þing bytide.

[Sidenote: The event, therefore, of a thing foreseen must befall.]

so folweþ it þan þat þe bytydynge of þe 4512
þinge Iwist by-forn ne may nat ben eschewed.

[Sidenote: Lastly, if a person judge a thing to be different to
what it is--this is not knowledge, but a false opinion of it, and
far from the true knowledge.]

¶ And
at þe last[e] yif þat any wyȝt wene a þing to ben oþer
weyes þan it is. it nys nat oonly vnscience. but it is deceiuable
oppiniou{n} ful diuerse {and} fer fro þe soþe of 4516
science.

[Linenotes:
4437 _harde_--hard
4445 _haþ_--MS. haþ{e}
4446 _whiche_--which
4450 _wille_--wil
_whiche_--which þ{a}t
4451 _haþ_--MS. haþe
4453 _stedfast_--stydefast
4454-55 _þinge_--thing
4455 _on_--of
4456 _þilk_--thilke
4458 _whiche_--which
4459 _knot_--knotte
4461 _come_--comyn
_haþ_--MS. haþe
4464 _hyd_--MS. hydde, C. hidde
4466 [_nat_]--from C.
4467-8 [_but----yporueyid_]--from C.
4471 _þinges_--thing
4477 _haþ_--MS. haþe
4480-82 _soþe_--soth
4486 _soþe_--sooth
4487 _soþe_--soth
4488 _soþe_--sooth
4489 _soþe comeþ_--sooth comth
[_þe_]--from C.
4490 _comune_--MS. comme, C. comune
4493 _come_--comyn
4494 _to_--omitted
4494-95 _purueid_--MS. p{ur}ueide, C. p{ur}ueyid
4498 [_.s._]--from C.
4499 _fredome_--freedom
4500 _wille_--wil
4501 [_certes_]--from C.
4504 _purueiþ_--MS. p{ur}ueiþe
[_the_]--from C.
4506 _bitiden_--bytydden
_som tyme_--whilom
4509 _o_--a
_self_--selue
4510 _þinge_--thing
4511 _þilk[e]_--thilke
4513 _þinge_--thing
4514 _last[e]_--laste
4515 _nys_--is]

[Headnote:
FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN WILL.]

[Sidenote: If, therefore, a thing be so to happen that the event
of it is neither necessary nor certain, how can any one foresee
what is to happen?]

¶ wher-fore yif any þing be so to comen so þat
þe bytydynge of it ne be nat certeyne ne necessarie.
¶ who may weten [byforn] þ{a}t þilke þing is to come.

[Sidenote: For as pure knowledge has no element in it of
falsehood, so what is comprehended by true knowledge cannot be
otherwise than as comprehended.]

¶ For ryȝt as science ne may nat be medelyd wiþ falsnesse. 4520
as who seiþ þat yif I woot a þing. it ne may nat
be fals þat I ne woot it. ¶ Ryȝt so þilk þing þat
is conceyued by science ne may [nat] ben noon
oþ{er} weyes þan [as] it is conceiued.

[Sidenote: Hence it is that true knowledge cannot err, because
everything must precisely be what true knowledge perceives it to
be.]

For þat is þe cause 4524
whi þat science wa{n}tiþ lesynge. as who seiþ. whi þat
witynge ne receyueþ nat lesynge of þat it woot. ¶ For
it byhoueþ by necessite þat euery þi{n}ge [be] ryȝt as science
co{m}p{re}hendiþ it to be.

[Sidenote: What follows, then? How does God foreknow these
uncertain contingencies?]

what shal I þan sein. ¶ In 4528
whiche man{er}e knoweþ god byforn þe þinges to comen.
¶ yif þei ne be nat certeyne. [[pg 157]]

[Sidenote: For if he thinks that a thing will inevitably happen,
which possibly may not, he is deceived--but this is sheer
blasphemy.]

¶ For yif þat he deme
þat þei ben to comen vneschewably.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 35 _b_.]]

{and} so may be þat
it is possible þat þei ne shulle{n} *nat comen. god is 4532
desseiued. but nat only to trowen þat god is desseiued.
but for to speke it wiþ mouþe it is a felonous sy{n}ne.

[Sidenote: But if God discerns that just as things are to come
they shall come; if he knows that they may or may not come, what
sort of prescience is this, which comprehends nothing certain,
nothing invariable?]

¶ But yif þat god woot þat ryȝt so as þinges ben to
comen. so shulle þei comen. so þat he wit[e] egaly. as 4536
who seiþ indifferently þat þinges mowen ben don or
ellys nat don. what is þilke p{re}science þat ne comp{re}hendiþ
no certeyne þinge ne stable.

[Sidenote: Or how does divine prescience differ from human
opinion, if He hath an uncertain judgment of things, whereof the
events are uncertain and unfixed?]

or ellys what difference
is þer bytwixe þe p{re}science. {and} þilke iape-worþi 4540
dyuynynge of Tiresie þe diuino{ur} þat seide. ¶ Al þat
I seie q{uo}d he eyþer it shal be. or ellys it ne shal nat
be. Or ellis how moche is worþe þe diuyne p{re}science
more þan þe oppiniou{n} of mankynde yif so be þat it 4544
demeþ þe þinges vncerteyne as me{n} don. of þe whiche
domes of men þe bytydynge nis nat certeyne.

[Sidenote: But if there can be no uncertainty in his knowledge,
who is the source of all certainty; the event of all things which
he foreknows must be fixed and inevitable.]

¶ But
yif so be þ{a}t noon vncerteyne þinge may ben in hym
þat is ryȝt certeyne welle of alle þinges. þa{n} is þe 4548
bytydynge certeyne of þilke þinges whiche he haþ wist
byforn fermely to come{n}.

[Sidenote: Whence it follows that men have no freedom in their
designs and actions; because the Divine Mind, endowed with an
infallible foresight, constrains and binds them to a certain
event.]

For whiche it folweþ þat þe
fredom of þe co{n}seils {and} of þe werkes of mankynde nis
non syn þat þe þouȝt of god seeþ alle þinges w{i}t{h} outen 4552
erro{ur} of falsnesse byndeþ {and} co{n}streiniþ hem to a
bitidynge by necessite. and yif [this] þi{n}g be on-is
grau{n}tid {and} receyued. þat is to seyn. þat þer nis no
fre wille. þan sheweþ it wel how gret distrucc{i}ou{n} {and} 4556
how grete damages þer folwen of þinges of mankynde.

[Linenotes:
4518 _it_--hit
4519 [_byforn_]--from C.
4522 _fals_--false
4523 [_nat_]--from C.
_ben_--MS. by, C. ben
4524 _þan [as] it is_--MS. þan it is be
4527 [_be_]--from C.
4529 _whiche_--which
4534 _mouþe_--Mowth
4536 _shulle_--shullyn
_wit[e]_--wite
4538 _don_--MS. done, C. y-doon
4543 _moche_--mochel
_worþe_--worth
4549 _haþ_--MS. haþe
4550 _whiche_--which
4551 _mankynde_--man-kynd
4554 [_this_]--from C.
4555 _grauntid_--ygraunted]

[Headnote:
FATE UNDER THE CONTROL OF PROVIDENCE.]

¶ For in ydel ben þer þan p{ur}posed and byhyȝt medes
of goode folk. {and} peynes to badde folk. syn þat no
moeuynge of free corage uoluntarie ne haþ nat deserued 4560
hem. þat is to seyn neiþer mede nor peyne.

[Sidenote: Rewards and punishments now deemed just and equitable,
will be considered most unjust, when, it is allowed, that mankind
are not prompted by any will of their own, to either virtue or
vice, but in all their actions are impelled by a fatal necessity.]

¶ And it
sholde seme þan þat þilke þinge is alþer worste whiche
þat is nowe demed. for alþ{er} moste iuste {and} moste [[pg 158]]
ryȝtful. þat is to seyn þat shrewes ben punyssed. or 4564
ellys þ{a}t good[e] folk ben ygerdoned. þe whiche folk
syn þat þe p{ro}pre wille [ne] sent hem nat to þ{a}t oon ne
to þat oþer. þat is to seyn. neþer to good[e] ne to
harme. but constreineþ hem certeyne necessite of þinges 4568
to comen.

[Sidenote: Nor would there be such things as virtue or vice, but
such a medley of the one and the other as would be productive of
the greatest confusion.]

¶ þanne ne sholle{n} þer neuer ben ne neuer
weren vice ne vertue. but it sholde raþer ben co{n}fusiou{n}
of alle desertes medlid wiþoute discresiou{n}. ¶ And
ȝitte þer folweþ an oþer i{n}co{n}uenient of þe whiche þer 4572
ne may ben þouȝt ne more felonous ne more wikke.

[Sidenote: And from this it will follow--that since all order
comes of Divine Providence, and that there is no freedom of the
human will, that also our vices must be referred to the author of
all good--which is a most impious opinion.]

{and} þat is þis þat so as þe ordre of þinges is yledd {and}
comeþ of þe purueaunce of god. ne þat no þing nis
leueful to þe conseils of mankynde. as who seiþ þat 4576
men han no power to done no þing. ne wilne no þing.
þan folweþ it þat oure vices ben refferred to þe mak[er]e
of alle good. as who seiþ þan folweþ it. þat god auȝt[e]
han þe blame of oure vices. syn he co{n}streiniþ by 4580
necessite to don vices.

[Sidenote: Then is it useless to hope for anything from God, or to
pray to him.]

þan nis þer no resou{n} to han
hopen in god. ne forto p{re}ien to god.

[Sidenote: For why should men do either, when all they can desire
is irreversibly predestined?]

¶ For what
sholde any wyȝt hopen to god. or whi sholde he p{re}ien
to god. syn þat þe ordenaunce of destine whiche þat ne 4584
may nat ben enclined. knytteþ {and} streiniþ alle þinges
þat men may desire{n}.

[Sidenote: Hope and prayer being thus ineffectual, all intercourse
is cut off between God and man.]

¶ þan sholde þere be don awey
þilke oonly alliaunce bytwixen god {and} men. þat is to
seien to hopen {and} to p{re}ien.

[Sidenote: By reverent and humble supplication we earn divine
grace, a most inestimable favour, and are able to associate with
the Deity, and to unite ourselves to the inaccessible light.]

but by þe p{re}is of ryȝtfulnesse 4588
{and} of veray mekenesse we deserue þe gerdou{n}
of þe deuyne grace whiche þat is inestimable. þat is to
sein þat it is so grete þat it ne may nat ben ful yp{re}ised.
{and} þis is oonly þe manere. þat is to seyen hope {and} 4592
prayeres. for whiche it semeþ þat [men] mowen speken
wiþ god. {and} by resou{n} of supplicac{i}ou{n}
ben conioigned [[pg 159]]
to þilk clernesse þat nis nat app{ro}ched no raþer or
þat men byseken it {and} emp{re}nten it.

[Sidenote: If men believe that hope and prayer have no power
because of the necessity of future events, by what other way can
we be united, and hold fast to the sovereign Lord of all things?]

And yif men 4596
ne wene [nat] þat [hope] ne p{re}iers ne han no strengþes.
by þe necessite of þinges to comen y-resceiued. what
þi{n}g is þer þan by whiche we mowen be co{n}ioygned
{and} clyuen to þilke souereyne p{r}ince of þinges.

[Sidenote: Wherefore mankind must be dissevered and disunited from
the source of its existence, and shrink from its beginning.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 36.]]

¶ For 4600
whiche it byhoueþ by necessite þat þe lynage of mankynde
as *þou songe a litel here byforne ben dep{ar}ted
{and} vnioyned from hys welle {and} faylen of hys bygynnynge.
þat is to seien god. 4604

[Linenotes:
4558 _medes of_--Meedes to
4560 _haþ_--MS. haþe
4562 _alþer worste whiche_--alderworst which
4563 _nowe_--MS. newe, C. now
_alþer moste iuste_--alder moost Iust
_moste_--most
4565-67 _good[e]_--goode
4566 _wille_--wil
[_ne_]--from C.
4571 _wiþoute_--w{i}t{h}-owten
4573 _þouȝt_--thoght
4574 _yledd_--MS. yledde, C. yled
4575 _comeþ_--comth
4577 _done_--doon
4578 _mak[er]e_--maker{e}
4579 _auȝt[e]_--owhte
4584 _whiche_--which
4588 _preis_--prys
_ryȝtfulnesse_--Rihtwessenesse
4589 _deserue_--desseruyn
4590 _deuyne_--MS. deuynes, C. dyuyne
4590-93 _whiche_--which
4591 _grete_--gret
4593 [_men_]--from C.
_speken_--speke
4595 _þilk_--thilke
4596 _emprenten_--impetrent
4597 [_nat_]--from C.
[_hope_]--from C.
4601 _whiche_--which
4602 _byforne_--by-forn]

[Headnote:
THE UNKNOWN CANNOT BE DESIRED.]

QUE NAM DISCORS

[Sidenote: [The .3^de. Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Say what discordant cause looses the bonds of things?]

++What discordable cause haþ to-rent {and} vnioigned þe
byndyng or þe alliaunce of þinges. þat is to seyne
þe coniuncc{i}ou{n} of god {and} of man.

[Sidenote: What power doth make these two great truths (_i. e._
Providence and Free-will) contend, which when separate are plain
and clear, but united appear dark and perplexed?]

¶ whiche god
haþ establissed so grete bataile bitwixe{n} þise two soþefast 4608
or verray þinges. þat is to sein bytwixen þe p{ur}ueaunce
of god {and} fre wille. þat þei ben synguler {and}
diuided. ne þat þei ne wolen nat ben medeled ne
coupled to-gidre. but þer nis no discorde to [tho] verray 4612
þinges. but þei cleuen certeyne al wey to hem self.

[Sidenote: The mind of man encumbered by the earthly body, can
never, with her cloudy sight, discover the subtle and close bonds
of things.]

but þe þouȝt of man co{n}founded {and} ouerþrowen by þe dirke
membris of þe body ne may nat by fir of his dirk[ed]
lokynge. þat is to seyn by þe vigo{ur} of hys insyȝt while 4616
þe soule is in þe body knowen þe þinne subtil knyttynges
of þinges.

[Sidenote: But why does man burn with ardour to learn the hidden
notes of truth?]

¶ But wherfore eschaufiþ it so by so
grete loue to fynden þilke note[s] of soþe y-cou{er}ed. (_glosa_)
þat is to sein wherfore eschaufiþ þe þouȝt of man by so 4620
grete desir to knowen þilke notificac{i}ou{n}s þat ben yhidd
vndir þe couerto{ur}s of soþe.

[Sidenote: Why gropes he for he knows not what? None seek to know
what is known.]

woot it ouȝt þilke þinges
þat it anguissous desireþ to knowe. as who seiþ nay. [[pg 160]]
¶ For no man ne trauaileþ forto witen þinges þat he woot. 4624
{and} þerfore þe texte seiþ þus. ¶ [_Glosa_] Si eni{m} a{n}i{m}a
ignorat istas subtiles co{n}nexiones. r{espo}nde. vn{de} est
q{uo}d desiderat scire cu{m} nil ignotu{m} possit desiderare.
¶ But who traua[i]leþ to wyten þinges y-knowe.

[Sidenote: If he knows them not, what does he so blindly seek?]

and yif 4628
þat he ne knoweþ hem nat. what sekiþ þilke blynde
þouȝt.

[Sidenote: Who wishes for things he hath never known?]

what is he þat desireþ any þinge of whiche he
woot ryȝt nat. as who seiþ who so desiriþ any þing
nedis som what he knoweþ of it. or ellys he ne couþe 4632
nat desire it. or who may folwen þinges þat ne ben nat
ywist

[Sidenote: Or if he seek, where shall he find them? Or if he find,
how shall he be sure that he has found what he sought for?]

¶ and þouȝ [þ{a}t] he seke þo þinges where shal
he fynde{n} hem. what wyȝt þat is al vnknowynge {and}
ignoraunt may knowe þe forme þat is yfounde.

[Sidenote: The pure soul that sees the divine thought, knows all
the secret chains of things.]

¶ But 4636
whan þe soule byholdeþ {and} seeþ þe heye þouȝt. þat is
to seyn god. þan knoweþ it to-gidre þe so{m}me {and} þe
singularites. þat is to seyn þe p{r}inciples {and} eueryche
by hym self.

[Sidenote: Yet, though now hidden in its fleshly members, it hath
some remembrance of its pure state--it retains the sums of things,
but has lost their particulars.]

¶ But now while þe soule is hidd in þe 4640
cloude {and} in þe derknesse of þe membris of þe body.
it ne haþ nat al forȝeten it selfe. but it wiþholdeþ þe
so{m}me of þinges {and} lesiþ þe singularites.

[Sidenote: He who seeks truth is not in either circumstance
(_i. e._ seeking for what he knows or knows not), he knoweth not
all things, nor hath he wholly forgotten all.]

þan who so
þat sekeþ soþenesse. he nis in neiþ{er} nouþir habit. for 4644
he not nat alle ne he ne haþ nat alle for-ȝeten.

[Sidenote: But he ponders on what he knows, that he may add those
things that he hath forgotten to those that he retains.]

¶ But
ȝitte hym remembriþ þe so{m}me of þinges þat he wiþholdeþ
{and} axeþ cou{n}seil {and} tretiþ depelyche þi{n}ges
ysein byforne. [_Glosa_] þat is to sein þe grete so{m}me in 4648
hys mynde. [_textus_] so þat he mowe adden þe p{ar}ties
þat he haþ forȝeten. to þilke þat he haþ wiþholden.

[Linenotes:
4605 _haþ_--MS. haþe
4606 _seyne_--seyn
4607 _whiche_--which
4608 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_grete_--gret
_soþefast_--soothfast
4610 _wille_--wil
4612 _discorde_--discord
[_tho_]--from C.
4613 _cleuen_--clyuen
4615 _dirk[ed]_--derkyd
4616 _while_--whil
4617 _knowen_--knowe
4619-21 _grete_--gret
_note[s]_--notes
4619 _soþe_--soth
4621 _yhidd_--MS. yhidde, C. Ihyd
4622 _soþe_--sooth
_þinges_--thing
4625 [_Glosa_]--from C.
4630 _þinge_--thing
_whiche_--which
4631 _woot_--not
_nat_--nawht
4632 _couþe_--kowde
4634 [_þat_]--from C.
_where_--wher
4635 _what_--MS. þat, C. what
_vnknowynge_--vnkunnynge
4639 _eueryche_--eu{er}ych
4640 _while_--whil
_þe_--MS. þe þe
_hidd_--MS. hidde, C. hidde
4641 _derknesse_--derkenesse
4642 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_selfe_--self
4644 _nouþir habit_--nother habite
4645 _alle_ (_both_)--al
_haþ_--MS. haþe
4648 [_Glosa_]--from C.
4649 [_textus_]--from C.
4650 _haþ_ (_both_)--MS. haþe]

[[pg 161]]
[Headnote:
ANSWERS TO OBJECTIONS AGAINST PROVIDENCE.]

TAMEN ILLA UETUS INQ{U}IT HEC EST.

[Sidenote: [The 4^the p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _P._ This is the old objection against Providence, so
ably handled by Cicero in his _Book of Divination_; and you
yourself have anxiously discussed it.]

++Þanne seide she. þis is q{uo}d she þe olde questiou{n} of
þe p{ur}ueaunce of god. {and} marcus tulius whan he 4652
deuided[e] þe deuinac{i}ou{n}s. þat is to sein in hys booke
þat he wroot of deuinac{i}ou{n}s. he moeued[e] gretly þis
questiou{n}. {and} þou þi self hast souȝt it mochel {and}
outerly {and} lo{n}g[e].

[Sidenote: But neither of you have offered a satisfactory solution
of the difficulty.]

but ȝit ne haþ it nat ben determined 4656
ne yspedd fermely {and} diligently of any of yow.

[Sidenote: The cause of this mystery is that the human
understanding cannot conceive the simplicity of the divine
prescience, for if it were possible to comprehend this, every
difficulty would at once disappear.]

¶ And þe cause of þis derkenesse {and} [of this] difficulte
is for þat þe moeuynge of þe resou{n} of mankynde ne
may nat moeue{n} to. þat is to sein applien or ioygnen to 4660
þe simplicite of þe deuyne p{re}science. ¶ þe whiche
symplicite of þe deuyne p{re}science ȝif þat men [myhten
thinken it in any maner{e} / þ{a}t is to seyn / þ{a}t yif men] myȝte
þinken {and} co{m}p{re}henden þe þinges as god seeþ hem. 4664
þan ne sholde þer dwellen outerly no doute.

[Sidenote: I shall, therefore, try to explain and solve this
difficult question.]

þe whiche
resou{n} {and} cause of difficulte I shal assaie at þe laste
to shewen {and} to speden.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 36 _b_.]]

¶ whan I haue *firste
[yspendyd / {and}] ansewered to þo resou{n}s by whiche þ{o}u 4668
art ymoeued.

[Sidenote: I ask, then, why you do not approve the reasoning of
such as think--that Prescience does not obstruct the liberty of
the will, because it is not the necessitating cause of future
events?]

¶ For I axe whi þ{o}u wenest þat þilk[e]
resou{n}s of hem þat assoilen þis questiou{n} ne ben nat
spedeful ynouȝ ne sufficient þe whiche soluc{i}ou{n} or þe
whiche resou{n} for þat it demiþ þat þe p{re}science nis nat 4672
cause of necessite to þinges to comen. þan ne weneþ it
nat þat fredom of wille be distourbed or ylett by p{re}science.

[Linenotes:
4653 _deuided[e]_--deuynede
_booke_--book
4654 _moeued[e]_--moeuede
4655 _souȝt_--I-sowht
4656 _long[e]_--longe
_haþ_--MS. haþe
4657 _yspedd_--MS. yspedde, C. Isped
_fermely_--MS. feruently, C. fermely
4658 _derkenesse_--dirknesse
[_of this_]--from C.
4662-3 [_myhten----men_]--from C.
4663 _myȝte_--myhten
4667 _firste_--fyrst
4668 [_yspendyd and_]--from C.
_þo_--the
_whiche_--which
4669 _art_--MS. arte
_þilk[e]_--thilke
4671 _spedeful_--spedful
4672 _whiche_--which
4674 _wille_--wyl]

[Headnote:
NECESSITY AND PRESCIENCE.]

[Sidenote: Do you draw an argument of the necessity of future
events, from any other topic than this,--that those things which
are foreknown must of necessity happen?]

for ne drawest þou nat argumentes from ellys
where of þe necessite of þinges to comen. As who seiþ 4676
any oþer wey þan þus. but þat þilke þinge[s] þat þe p{re}scie{n}ce
woot byforn [ne] mowen nat vnbitide. þat is to
seyn þat þei moten bitide.

[Sidenote: If divine prescience imposes no necessity upon future
things, must not the issue of things be voluntary, and man’s will
free and unconstrained?]

¶ But þan yif þat p{re}science
ne putteþ no necessite to þinges to comen. as þou þi self 4680
hast confessed it {and} byknowen a litel herbyforn{e}.
¶ what [[pg 162]]
cause [or what] is it. as who seiþ þere may no cause be.
by whiche þat þe endes (exitus) uoluntarie of þinges
myȝten be constreyned to certeyne bitydyng.

[Sidenote: For argument sake let us suppose there is no
prescience, would, then, the events which proceed from free-will
alone be under the power of necessity?]

¶ For 4684
by grace of possessiou{n}. so þat þou mowe þe better vndirstonde
þis þat folweþ. ¶ I pose (inpossibile) þat
þer ne be no p{re}science. þan axe I q{uo}d she in as
moche as app{er}teniþ to þat. sholde þan þinges þat 4688
comen of frewille ben constreined to bytiden by
necessite.

[Sidenote: _B._ No.]

{Boici}us. nay q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Let us, then, admit Prescience, but that it
imposes no necessity on what is to happen; the freedom of the will
would still remain entire and absolute.]

þan aȝeinward q{uo}d
she. I suppose þat þere be p{re}science but þat ne putteþ
no necessite to þinges. þan trowe I þat þilk self fredom 4692
of wille shal dwelle{n} al hool {and} absolut {and} vnbounden.

[Sidenote: But although Prescience, you may say, is not the
necessary cause of future events, yet it is a sign that they shall
necessarily happen, and hence it follows that, although there were
no prescience, future events would still be an inevitable
necessity.]

but þou wolt sein þat al be it so þat p{re}science
nis nat cause of þe necessite of bitidynge to þinges to
comen. ¶ Algates ȝitte it is a signe þ{a}t þe þinges ben 4696
to bytiden by necessite. by þis manere þan al þouȝ þe
p{re}science ne hadde neuer yben. ȝit algate or at þe
lest[e] wey. it is certeyne þing þat þe e{n}dys {and} þe
bitydynges of þinges to come{n} sholde ben necessarie. 4700

[Sidenote: For the sign of a thing is not really the thing itself,
but only points out what the individual is.]

¶ For euery sygne sheweþ {and} signifieþ oonly what þe
þing is ¶ but it ne makiþ nat þe þing þat it signifieþ.