Part 22

[Linenotes: 3517 _aknowe_--aknowe it 3518 _seyn_--sayn 3523 _good[e]_--goode 3524 _done_--don 3526 _ben_--be 3527 _for_--to 3528 _myȝten_--myhte _don_--MS. done, C. doon _harme_--harm 3529 _gret_--MS. grete, C. gret 3533-36 _don_--MS. done, C. doon 3533-34 [_than----coueyten_]--from C. 3537 _moeuyng_--mowynge _wille_--wil 3539 _haþ_--MS. haþe _seyne_--seyn 3540 _done_ (1)--doon _moeuynge to done_--Mowynge to don _mot_--MS. mote, C. mot 3544 _gretely_--gretly 3545 _seyne_--seyn _were_--weeren _moeuyng_--mowynge 3548 _wenen_--weene _to lakken----yuel_--omitted 3549 _þere_--ther _so_ (2)--the 3550 _longe_--long 3552 _shrewednesse_--shrewednesses _often_--ofte 3558 _shrewednes_--shrewednesse _yfinissed_--fynyshed 3559 _weye_--wey _outerest[e]_--owtteryste [_yif_]--from C. 3560 _soþe_--soth 3561 _clerely_--cleerly 3563 [_conclusion_]--from C. _harde_--hard 3564 [_the_]--from C. 3567 _harde_--hard 3568 _fals_--false 3573 _nowe_--now]

[Headnote: THE WRETCHEDNESS OF THE WICKED IS DIMINISHED BY PUNISHMENT.]

but of þe þinges þat ben taken al so it is necessarie as who so seiþ it folweþ of þat whiche þat is p{ur}posed byforn.

[Sidenote: _B._ What is that?]

what is þat q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ That the wicked who have been punished for their crimes, are happier than if justice had allowed them to go unpunished.]

¶ certys q{uo}d she þat is 3576 þat þ{a}t þise wicked shrewes ben more blysful or ellys lasse wrecches. þat byen þe tourmentes þat þei han deserued. þan yif no peyne of Iustice ne chastied[e] hem.

[Sidenote: I do not appeal to popular arguments, that punishment corrects vice, that the fear of chastisement leads them to take the right path, and that the sufferings of evil-doers deter others from vice, but I believe that guilty men, unpunished, become much more unhappy in another way.]

ne þis ne seye I nat now for þat any man myȝt[e] 3580 þenk[e] þat þe maneres of shrewes ben coriged {and} chastised by veniaunce. {and} þat þei ben brouȝt to þe ryȝt wey by þe drede of þe tourment. ne for þat þei ȝeuen to oþer folk ensample to fleyen fro{m} vices. ¶ But 3584 I vndirstonde ȝitte [in] an oþer manere þat shrewes ben more vnsely whan þei ne ben nat punissed al be it so þat þere ne ben had no resou{n} or lawe of correcc{i}ou{n}. ne none ensample of lokynge.

[Sidenote: _B._ In what way do you mean?]

¶ And what manere 3588 shal þat ben q{uo}d I. ouþer þan haþ ben told here [[pg 126]] byforn

[Sidenote: _P._ Are not good people happy, and evil folk miserable?]

¶ Haue we nat graunted þan q{uo}d she þat good[e] folk ben blysful. {and} shrewes ben wrecches.

[Sidenote: _B._ Yes.]

ȝis q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If good be added to the wretchedness of a man, will not he be happier than another whose misery has no element of good in it?]

[thanne q{uod} she] ȝif þat any good were 3592 added to þe wrecchenesse of any wyȝt. nis he nat more blisful þan he þat ne haþ no medelyng of goode in hys solitarie wrecchednesse.

[Sidenote: _B._ It seems so.]

so semeþ it q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ And if to the same wretched being another misery be annexed, does not he become more wretched than he whose misery is alleviated by the participation of some good?]

and what seyst þou þan q{uo}d she of þilke wrecche þat lakkeþ alle 3596 goodes. so þat no goode nis medeled in hys wrecchednesse. {and} ȝitte ouer alle hys wickednesse for whiche he is a wrecche þat þer be ȝitte anoþer yuel anexid {and} knyt to hym. shal not men demen hym more vnsely 3600 þan þilke wrecche of whiche þe vnselynesse is re[le]ued by þe p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} of som goode.

[Sidenote: _B._ He does.]

whi sholde he nat q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ When evil men are punished they have a degree of good annexed to their wretchedness, to wit, the punishment itself, which as it is the effect of justice is good.]

¶ þan certys q{uo}d she han shrewes whan þei ben punissed somwhat of good anexid to hir wrecchednesse. 3604 þat is to seyne þe same peyne þat þei suffren whiche þat is good by þe resou{n} of Iustice.

[Sidenote: And when these wretches escape punishment something more of ill (_i. e._ exemption from punishment) is added to their condition.]

And whan þilke same shrewes ascapen wiþ outen tourment. þan han þei somwhat more of yuel ȝit ouer þe wickednesse 3608 þat þei han don. þat is to seye defaute of peyne. whiche defaute of peyne þou hast graunted is yuel.

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot deny it.]

¶ For þe desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Much more unhappy are the wicked when they enjoy an unmerited impunity than when they suffer a lawful chastisement.]

¶ Moche more þan q{uo}d she ben shrewes vnsely 3612 whan þei ben wrongfully delyuered fro peyne. þan whan þei beþ punissed by ryȝtful vengeaunce.

[Sidenote: It is just to punish evil-doers, and unjust that they should escape punishment.]

but þis is open þi{n}g {and} clere þat it is ryȝt þat shrewes ben punissed. {and} it is wickednesse {and} wrong þat þei 3616 escapin vnpunissed.

[Sidenote: _B._ Nobody denies that.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 28 _b_.]]

¶ who myȝt[e] denye *þat q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Everything, too, which is just is good; and, on the contrary, whatsoever is unjust is evil.]

but q{uo}d she may any ma{n} denye. þat al þat is ryȝt nis good. {and} also þe contrarie. þat alle þat is wrong nis wicked. [[pg 127]]

[Sidenote: _B._ These are just inferences from our former premises.]

certys q{uo}d I þise þinges ben clere ynouȝ. {and} 3620 þat we han concludid a litel here byforn{e}.

[Sidenote: But is there any punishment for the soul after death of the body?]

but I p{re}ye þe þat þou telle me yif þou accordest to leten no to{ur}ment to þe soules aftir þat þe body is dedid by þe deþe. þis [is] to seyn. vndirstondest þou ouȝt þat soules han 3624 any to{ur}ment after þe deþe of þe body.

[Sidenote: _P._ Yes, and great ones too. Some punishments are rigorous and eternal.]

¶ Certis q{uo}d she ȝe {and} þat ryȝt grete. of whiche soules q{uo}d she I trowe þat so{m}me ben to{ur}mentid by asprenesse of peyne.

[Sidenote: Others have a corrective and purifying force, and are of finite duration.]

{and} so{m}me soules I trowe be exc{er}cised by a 3628 p{ur}ging mekenesse.

[Sidenote: But this is not to our purpose.]

but my conseil nys nat to determyne of þis peyne. but I haue trauayled and told it hider to.

[Sidenote: I want you to see that the power of the wicked is in reality nothing, that the wicked never go unpunished; that their licence to do evil is not of long duration, and that the wicked would be more unhappy if it were longer, and infinitely wretched if it were to continue for ever.]

¶ For þou sholdest knowe þat þe mowynge [.i. myght] of shrewes whiche mowynge þe semeþ to 3632 ben. vnworþi nis no mowynge. {and} eke of shrewes of whiche þou pleynedest þat þei ne were nat punissed. þat þou woldest seen þat þei ne weren neuer mo wiþ outen þe torment of hire wickednesse. {and} of þe licence 3636 of mowynge to done yuel. þat þou p{re}idest þat it myȝt[e] sone ben endid. {and} þat þou woldest fayne lerne. þat it ne sholde nat longe endure. {and} þat shrewes ben more vnsely yif þei were of lenger duryng. 3640 {and} most vnsely yif þei weren p{er}durable.

[Sidenote: After this I showed that evil men are more unhappy, having escaped punishment, than if justly chastised.]

{and} after þis I haue shewed þe þat more vnsely ben shrewes whan þei escapen wiþ oute ryȝtful peyne. þan whan þei ben punissed by ryȝtful uengeaunce.

[Sidenote: Wherefore when they are supposed to get off scot-free they suffer most grievously.]

and of þis sentence 3644 folweþ it þat þan be{n} shrewes constreyned atte laste wiþ most greuous tourment. whan men wene þat þei ne ben nat ypunissed.

[Sidenote: _B._ Your reasoning appears convincing and conclusive. But your arguments are opposed to current opinions, and would hardly command assent, or even a hearing.]

whan I considre þi resou{n}s q{uo}d I. I. ne trowe nat þat men seyn any þing more verrely. {and} 3648 yif I to{ur}ne aȝeyn to þe studies of men. who is [he] to who{m} it sholde seme þat [he] ne sholde nat only leue{n} þise þinges. but eke gladly herkene he{m}.

[Sidenote: _P._ It is so. For those accustomed to the darkness of error cannot fix their eyes on the light of perspicuous truth, like birds of night which are blinded by the full light of day.]

Certys q{uo}d she so it is. but men may nat. for þei han hire eyen so [[pg 128]] wont to derkenesse of erþely þinges. þat þei may nat 3653 liften hem vp to þe lyȝt of clere soþefastnes. ¶ But þei ben lyke to briddes of whiche þe nyȝt lyȝtneþ hyre lookyng. {and} þe day blyndeþ hem.

[Sidenote: They consider only the gratification of their lusts, they think there is happiness in the liberty of doing evil and in exemption from punishment.]

for whan men loken 3656 nat þe ordre of þinges but hire lustes {and} talentȝ. þei wene þat oþir þe leue or þe mowynge to done wickednesse or ellys þe escapi{n}g wiþ oute peyne be weleful.

[Linenotes: 3575 _who so seiþ_--ho seyth _whiche_--which 3578 _byen_--a-byen 3579 _chastied[e]_--chastysede 3580 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 3581 _þenk[e]_--thinke 3584 _ȝeuen_--MS. ȝeuene, C. yeuen _fleyen_--flen 3585 _ȝitte_--yif [_in_]--from C. 3588 _none_--non 3589 _ouþer_--oother _haþ_--MS. haþe _ben_--be _told_--MS. tolde, C. told 3591 _good[e]_--goode 3592 [_thanne----she_]--from C. 3594 _blisful_--weleful _haþ_--MS. haþe 3594-97 _goode_--good 3598 _alle_--al _whiche_--which 3600 _knyt_--knytte 3601 _re[le]ued_--releued 3602 _goode_--good 3605 _seyne_--seyn 3606 _whiche_--which 3607 _outen_--owte 3609 _don_--MS. done _seye_--seyn 3610 _whiche_--which 3611 _desert_--deserte 3614 _beþ_--MS. beþe, C. ben 3615 _clere_--cler 3617 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 3618 _is ryȝt nis_--MS. nis ryȝt is 3619 _alle_--al _nis wicked_--is wykke 3621 _here_--her 3623 _dedid_--endyd _deþe_--deth 3624 [_is_]--from C. _ouȝt_--awht 3625 _deþe_--deth 3626 _grete_--gret 3628 _be_--ben 3629 _determyne_--determenye 3630 _peyne_--peynes _told_--MS. tolde 3632 [_.i. myght_]--from C. 3632-34 _whiche_--which 3633 _eke_--ek 3635 _seen_--seyn 3637 _done_--don 3638 _myȝt[e]_--myhte _fayne lerne_--fayn lernen 3639 _endure_--dur{e} 3645 _atte_--at the _laste_--MS. þast, C. laste 3647 _resouns_--resoun 3649-50 [_he_]--from C. 3651 _eke_--ek 3653 _derkenesse_--derknesse 3654 _clere soþefastnes_--cleer sothfastnesse 3655 _whiche_--which 3658 _oþir_--eyther _done_--don 3659 _escaping_--schapynge]

[Headnote: VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD.]

[Sidenote: Do you attend to the eternal law written in your own heart. Conform your mind to what is good, and you will stand in no need of a judge to confer a reward upon you--for you have it already in the enjoyment of the best of things (_i. e._ virtue).]

but co{n}sider{e} þe iugement of þe p{er}durable lawe. for if 3660 þou conferme þi corage to þe beste þinges. þou ne hast no nede to no iuge to ȝiue{n} þe p{r}is or meede. for þou hast ioigned þi self to þe most excellent þing.

[Sidenote: If you indulge in vice, you need no other chastisement--you have degraded yourself into a lower order of beings.]

and yif þou haue enclined þi studies to þe wicked þinges. ne 3664 seek no foreyn wrekere out of þi self. for þou þi self hast þrest þe in to wicked þinges. ryȝt as þou myȝtest loken by dyuerse tymes þe foule erþe {and} þe heuene. {and} þat alle oþer þinges stynten fro wiþ oute. so þat 3668 þou [ner{e} neyther in heuene ne in erthe] ne say[e] no þing more. þan sholde it semen to þe as by only resou{n} of lokynge. þat þou were in þe sterres. {and} now in þe erþe.

[Sidenote: The multitude doth not consider this.]

but þe poeple ne lokeþ nat on þise þinges.

[Sidenote: What then? Shall we take them as our models who resemble beasts?]

what 3672 þan shal we þan app{ro}chen vs to hem þat I haue shewed þat þei ben lyke to þe bestes. (q. d. no{n})

[Linenotes: 3662 _to_ (1)--of 3665 _foreyn_--foreyne 3666 _þrest_--thryst _wicked_--wikke 3669 [_nere----erthe_]--from C. _heuene_--C. heuenene _say[e]_--C. saye 3672 _on_--in 3674 _lyke_--lyk _q. d._--MS. q{uo}d]

[Headnote: THE WICKED NEED PITY.]

[Sidenote: If a man who had lost his sight, having even forgotten his blindness, should declare that his faculties were all perfect, shall we weakly believe that those who retain their sight are blind?]

¶ And what wilt þou seyne of þis ¶ yif þat a man hadde al forlorn hys syȝt. {and} had[de] forȝeten þat he 3676 euer saw {and} wende þ{a}t no þing ne fayled[e] hym of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of ma{n}kynde. now we þat myȝten sen þe same þing wolde we nat wene þat he were bly{n}de (q. d. sic).

[Sidenote: The vulgar will not assent to what I am going to say, though supported by conclusive arguments--to wit, that persons are more unhappy that do wrong than those who suffer wrong.]

ne also ne accordeþ nat þe poeple to þat I shal 3680 seyne. þe whiche þing is susteyned by a stronge foundement of resou{n}s. þat is to seyn þat more vnsely ben þei þat don wrong to oþer folk. þen þei þat þe wrong [[pg 129]] suffren.

[Sidenote: _B._ I would willingly hear your reasons.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 29.]]

¶ I wolde heren þilke *same resou{n}s q{uo}d I 3684

[Sidenote: _P._ Do you deny that every wicked man deserves punishment?]

¶ Deniest þou q{uo}d she þat alle shrewes ne ben worþi to han to{ur}ment.

[Sidenote: _B._ No, I do not.]

nay q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ I am satisfied that impious men are in many ways miserable.]

but q{uo}d she I am certeyne by many resou{n}s þat shrewes ben vnsely.

[Sidenote: _B._ They are so.]

it accordeþ q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then those that deserve punishment are miserable.]

þan [ne] dowtest þou nat q{uo}d she þat 3688 þilke folk þat ben worþi of to{ur}ment þat þei ne ben wrecches.

[Sidenote: _B._ I admit it.]

It accordeþ wel q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If you were a judge, upon whom would you inflict punishment? upon the wrong-doer, or upon the injured?]

yif þou were þan q{uo}d she yset a Iuge or a knower of þinges. wheþer trowest þou þ{a}t men sholde to{ur}ment[e] hym þat haþ 3692 don þe wronge. or hym þat haþ suffred þe wronge.

[Sidenote: _B._ I should not hesitate to punish the offender as a satisfaction to the sufferer.]

I ne doute nat q{uo}d I. þat I nolde don suffissaunt satisfacc{i}ou{n} to hym þat had[de] suffred þe wrong by þe sorwe of hym þat had[de] don þe wronge.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then you would deem the injuring person more unhappy than he who had been wronged?]

¶ þan 3696 semeþ it q{uo}d she þat þe doar of wrong is more wrecche þan he þat haþ suffred þe wrong.

[Sidenote: _B._ That follows naturally.]

þat folweþ wel q{uo}d [I].

[Sidenote: _P._ From this then, and other reasons of like nature, it seems that vice makes men miserable, and an injury done to any man is the misery of the doer, and not of the sufferer.]

þan q{uo}d she by þise causes {and} by oþer causes þat ben enforced by þe same roate þat filþe or synne by 3700 þe p{ro}pre nature of it makeþ men wretches. {and} it sheweþ wel þat þe wrong þat me{n} don nis nat þe wrecchenesse of hym þat receyueþ þe wrong. but þe wrecchednesse of hym þat doþ þe wronge

[Sidenote: But our advocates think differently--they try to obtain pity for those that have suffered cruelty and oppression;]

¶ but certys 3704 q{uo}d she þise orato{ur}s or aduocatȝ don al þe contrarie for þei enforcen hem to co{m}moeue þe iuges to han pite of he{m} þat han suffred {and} resceyued þe þinges þat ben greuous {and} aspre.

[Sidenote: but the juster pity is really due to the oppressors, who ought, therefore, to be led to judgment as the sick are to the physician, not by angry but by merciful and kind accusers, so that, by the physic of chastisement, they may be cured of their vices.]

{and} ȝitte men sholden more ryȝtfully 3708 han pitee on hem þat don þe greuaunces {and} þe wronges. þe whiche shrewes it were a more couenable þing þat þe accuso{ur}s or aduocatȝ not wroþe but pitous {and} debonaire ladden þe shrewes þat han don wro{n}g to 3712 þe Iugement. ryȝt as men leden seke folk to þe leche.

[Linenotes: 3675 _wilt þou seyne_--woltow seyn 3676 _forlorn_--MS. forlorne, C. for-lorn _syȝt_--syhte _had[de]_--hadde 3677 _saw_--MS. sawe, C. sawh _fayled[e]_--faylede 3678 _sen_--MS. sene, C. sen 3679 _þing_--thinges _q. d._--MS. q{uod} 3681 _whiche_--which 3683 _don_--MS. done, C. don _oþer_--oothr{e} 3688 [_ne_]--from C. 3691 _yset_--MS. ysette, C. yset _wheþer_--omitted 3692 _tourment[e]_--tormenten 3692-3 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3693 _wronge_ (2)--wrong 3695 _had[de]_--hadde 3696 _had[de]_--hadden _wronge_--wrong 3697 _doar_--doere 3698 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3699 [_I_]--from C. [[_word moved to l. 3698_]] 3700 _ben_--ben of _roate_--Roote 3703-4 _but----wronge_--omitted 3704 _doþ_--MS. doþe 3711 _wroþe_--wroth 3712 _þe_--tho _don_--MS. done, C. don 3713 _seke_--syke]

[Headnote: THE DUTY OF ADVOCATES.]

for þat þei sholden seken out þe maladies of synne by to{ur}mentȝ. [[pg 130]]

[Sidenote: I would not have the guilty defrauded by their advocates. Their duty is to accuse, and not to excuse offenders.]

and by þis couenaunt eyþer þe entent of þe defendo{ur}s or aduocatȝ sholde fayle {and} cesen in al. or 3716 ellys yif þe office of aduocatȝ wolde bettre p{ro}fiten to men. it sholde be to{ur}ned in to þe habit of accusac{i}ou{n}. þat is [to] s[e]yn þei sholde{n} accuse shrewes. {and} nat excuse hem.

[Sidenote: Were it permitted the wicked to get a slight view of virtue’s beauty, which they have forsaken, and could they be persuaded of the purifying effects of lawful chastisement, they surely would not consider punishment as an evil, but would willingly give themselves up to justice and refuse the defence of their advocates.]

{and} eke þe shrewes hem self. ȝit it were 3720 leueful to hem to seen at any clifte þe vertue þat þei han forleten. {and} sawen þat þei sholde putten adou{n} þe filþes of hire vices by [the] to{ur}mentȝ of peynes. þei ne auȝten nat ryȝt for þe reco{m}pensac{i}ou{n} forto geten 3724 hem bounte {and} prowesse whiche þat þei han lost demen ne holden þat þilke peynes weren to{ur}mentes to hem. {and} eke þei wolden refuse þe attendau{n}ce of hir aduocatȝ {and} taken hem self to hire iuges {and} to hir accusours. 3728

[Sidenote: The wise hate nobody, only a fool hates good men; and it is as irrational to hate the wicked.]

for whiche it bytideþ [þ{a}t] as to þe wise folk þer nis no place ylete to hate. þat is to seyn. þat hate ne haþ no place amonges wise men. ¶ For no wyȝt wolde haten gode men. but yif he were ouer moche a 3732 fole. ¶ and forto haten shrewes it nis no resou{n}.

[Sidenote: Vice is a sickness of the soul, and needs our compassion, and not our hate, for the distempers of the soul are more deplorable than those of the body, and have more claims upon our compassion.]

¶ For ryȝt so as languissing is maladie of body. ryȝt so ben vices {and} sy{n}ne maladies of corage. ¶ and so as we ne deme nat þat þei þat ben seek of hire body ben 3736 worþi to ben hated. but raþer worþi of pite. wel more worþi nat to ben hated. but forto ben had in pite ben þei of whiche þe þouȝtes ben constreined by felonous wickednesse. þat is more cruel þa{n} any languissinge of 3740 body.

[Linenotes: 3715 _tourmentȝ_--torment _þe_ (2)--omitted 3719 _[to] s[e]yn_--to seyn 3722 _sawen_--sawh _sholde_--sholden 3723 [_the_]--from C. 3724 _auȝten_--owhte 3725-29 _whiche_--which 3729 _bytideþ_--MS. byndeþ, C. bytidith [_þat_]--from C. 3730 _ylete_--I-leten 3731 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3732 _wolde_--nyl _moche_--mochel 3733 _fole_--fool 3736 _seek_--syke]

[Headnote: THE FOLLY OF WAR.]

QUID TANTOS IUUAT.

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

[Sidenote: What frenzy causes man to hasten on his fate, that is, by war or by strife.]

++What deliteþ it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges of hatredes {and} to hasten {and} bisien [the] fatal disposic{i}ou{n} of ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure p{ro}pre handes. þat is 3744 to seyn by batailes or [by] contek.

[Sidenote: If death is desired he delays not to come.]

for yif ȝe axen þe deeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ ne [[pg 131]] tarieþ nat hys swifte hors.

[Sidenote: Why do they who are exposed to the assaults of beasts of prey and venomous reptiles seek to slay each other with the sword.]

and [the] men þat þe serpentȝ {and} þe lyou{n}s. {and} þe tigre. {and} þe beere {and} þe 3748 boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit þilke same men seken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde.

[Sidenote: Lo! their manners and opinions do not accord, wherefore they engage in unjust wars, and fiercely urge on each other’s destiny.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 29 _b_.]]

loo for her man{er}s ben *diuerse {and} discordaunt ¶ þei moeuen vnryȝtful oostes {and} cruel batailes. {and} wilne 3752 to p{er}isse by enterchaungynge of dartes.

[Sidenote: But this is no just reason for shedding blood.]

but þe resou{n} of cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful.

[Sidenote: Wouldst thou reward each as he deserves? Then love the good as they deserve, and have pity upon the wicked.]

wilt þou þan ȝelden a couenable gerdou{n} to þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfully goode folk[;] {and} haue pite on shrewes. 3756

[Linenotes: 3743 [_the_]--from C. 3745 [_by_]--from C. 3746 _hastisiþ_--hasteth _owen wille_--owne wyl 3747 [_the_]--from C. 3749 _boore_--boor _teþe_--teth 3750 _swerde_--swerd 3751 _her_--hir 3752 _wilne_--wylnen 3753 _enterchaungynge_--entrechaungynges]

[Headnote: THE OPERATIONS OF CHANCE.]

HINC EGO UIDEO INQ{UA}M. {ET} CET{ERA}.