Chapter V: The Part Is Derived From the Whole, the Imperfect From the Perfect

Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool,
That every partye dyryveth from his hool.
For nature hath nat take his bygynnyng
Of no partye ne cantel of a thing,
But of a thing that parfyt is and stable,
Descendyng so, til it be corumpable.

(_Knightes Tale_, vol. ii. p. 92.)

For al þing þat is cleped inperfit . is proued inperfit by þe
amenusynge of perfeccioun . or of þing þat is perfit . and her-of
comeþ it . þat in euery þing general . yif þat . þat men seen any
þing þat is inperfit . certys in þilke general þer mot ben somme
þing þat is perfit. For yif so be þat perfeccioun is don awey .
men may nat þinke nor seye fro whennes þilke þing is þat is cleped
inperfit . For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng of
þinges amenused and inperfit . but it procediþ of þingus þat ben
al hool . and absolut . and descendeþ so doune in-to outerest
þinges and in-to þingus empty and wiþ-oute fruyt . but as I haue
shewed a litel her byforne . þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be
frele and vein and inperfit . þer may no man doute . þat þer nys
som blisfulnesse þat is sad stedfast and perfit.’

(bk. iii. pr. 10, p. 89.)

Omne enim quod imperfectum esse dicitur, id deminutione perfecti
imperfectum esse perhibetur. Quo fit ut si in quolibet genere
imperfectum quid esse videatur, in eo perfectum quoque aliquod
esse necesse sit. Etenim perfectione sublata, unde illud, quod
imperfectum perhibetur, extiterit, ne fingi quidem potest. _Neque
enim ab diminutis inconsummatisque natura rerum cepit exordium,
sed ab integris absolutisque procedens in hæc extrema atque effœta
dilabitur._ Quod si, uti paulo ante monstravimus, est quædam boni
fragilis imperfecta felicitas, esse aliquam solidam perfectamque
non potest dubitari.

(_Boeth._, lib. iii. pr. 10.)