Part 23

[Sidenote: [The fyfthe p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I see plainly the nature of that felicity which attends the virtues of the good, and of the misery that follows the vices of the wicked.]

++Þus see I wel q{uo}d I. eyþer what blisfulnesse or ellys what vnselinesse is estab[l]issed in þe desertys of goode men {and} of shrewes.

[Sidenote: But in Fortune I see a mixture of good and evil. The wise man prefers riches, &c., to poverty, &c.]

¶ but in þis ilke fortune of poeple I see somwhat of goode. {and} somwhat of 3760 yuel. for no wise man haþ nat leuer ben exiled pore {and} nedy {and} nameles. þan forto dwellen in hys Citee {and} flouren of rychesses. {and} be redoutable by honoure. {and} stronge of power

[Sidenote: And wisdom appears more illustrious, when wise men are governors and impart their felicity to their subjects; and when imprisonment, torture, &c., are inflicted only upon bad citizens.]

for in þis wise more clerely {and} 3764 more witnesfully is þe office of wise men ytretid whan þe blisfulnes {and} [the] pouste of gouerno{ur}s is as it were yshad amonges poeples þat ben neyȝboures {and} subgitȝ. syn þat namely prisou{n} lawe {and} þise oþer 3768 to{ur}mentȝ of lawful peynes ben raþer owed to felonous Citeȝeins. for þe whiche felonous Citeȝeins þo peynes ben establissed. þan for goode folk.

[Sidenote: Why, then, should things undergo so unnatural a change? Why should the worthy suffer and the vicious receive the reward of virtue?]

¶ þan I m{er}ueile me gretly q{uo}d I. whi [þ{a}t] þe þinges ben so mys 3772 entrechaunged. þat to{ur}mentȝ felounes pressen {and} confounden goode folk. {and} shrewes rauyssen medes of vertue {and} ben i{n} hono{ur}s. {and} in grete estatis. [[pg 132]]

[Sidenote: I should like to hear the reason of so unjust a distribution.]

and I desire eke to wite{n} of þe. what semeþ þe to ben þe 3776 resou{n} of þis so wrongful a confusiou{n}

[Sidenote: I should not marvel so much if _Chance_ were the cause of all this confusion.]

¶ For I wolde wondre wel þe lasse yif I trowed[e] þat alle þise þinges were medeled by fortuouse hap.

[Sidenote: But I am overwhelmed with astonishment when I reflect, that God the director of all things thus unequally distributes rewards and punishments.]

¶ But now hepeþ {and} encreseþ myne astonyenge god gouerno{ur} of þinges. 3780 þat so as god ȝeueþ ofte tymes to good[e] men goodes {and} myrþes. {and} to shrewes yuel and aspre þinges. {and} ȝeueþ aȝeynewarde to goode folk hardnesse. {and} to shrewes [he] g{ra}unteþ hem her wille {and} þat þei desiren. 3784

[Sidenote: What difference is there, then, unless we know the cause, between God’s proceedings and the operations of Chance?]

what difference þan may þer be bitwixen þ{a}t þat god doþ. {and} þe hap of fortune. yif men ne knowe nat þe cause whi þat [it] is.

[Sidenote: _P._ It is not at all surprising that you think you see irregularities, when you are ignorant of that order by which God proceeds.]

it nis no merueile q{uo}d she þouȝ þat men wenen þat þer be somwhat folysche and confus 3788 whan þe resou{n} of þe order is vnknowe.

[Sidenote: But, forasmuch as God, the good governor, presides over all, rest assured that all things are done rightly and as they ought to be done.]

¶ But alle þouȝ þou ne know nat þe cause of so gret a disposic{i}ou{n}. naþeles for as moche as god þe good[e] gouernour attempreþ {and} gouerneþ þe world. ne doute þe nat þat 3792 alle þinges ne ben doon aryȝt.

[Linenotes: 3760 _goode_--good 3761 _haþ_--MS. haþe _nat_--omitted _leuer_--leu{er}e 3762 _þan_--MS. þat, C. than 3763 _redoutable_--MS. redentable, C. redowtable 3764 _stronge_--strong _clerely_--clerly 3766 [_the_]--from C. 3767 _neyȝboures_--nesshebors 3769 _lawful_--laweful 3771 _goode_--good 3772 [_þat_]--from C. 3775 _grete_--gret 3776 _to witen_--forto weten 3778 _trowed[e]_--trowede _alle_--al 3779 _were_--weeren _fortuouse_--fortunous 3780 _myne_--myn 3781 _good[e]_--goode 3782 _yuel_--yuelis 3783 _hardnesse_--hardnesses 3784 [_he_]--from C. _wille_--wyl 3785 _difference_--MS. differenee 3786 _doþ_--MS. doþe _hap_--happe 3787 [_it_]--from C. _it_--ne it 3788 _confus_--confuse 3789 _alle_--al 3791 _good[e]_--goode 3793 _ne_--omitted]

[Headnote: THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS.]

SI QUIS ARCTURI[8] SYDERA.

[Footnote 8: MS. arituri]

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

[Sidenote: He who knows not that the Bear is seen near the Pole, nor has observed the path of Boötes, will marvel at their appearance.]

++Who so þat ne knowe nat þe sterres of arctour yto{ur}ned neye to þe souereyne contre or point. þat is to seyne yto{ur}ned neye to þe souereyne pool of þe 3796 firmament {and} woot nat whi þe sterre boetes passeþ or gaderiþ his wey[n]es. {and} drencheþ his late flaumbes in þe see. {and} whi þat boetes þe sterre vnfoldiþ his ouer swifte arisynges. þan shal he wo{n}dre{n} of þe lawe of þe 3800 heye eyre.

[Sidenote: The vulgar are alarmed when shadows terrestrial obscure the moon’s brightness, causing the stars to be displayed.]

{and} eke if þat he ne knowe nat why þat þe hornes of þe ful[le] moene waxen pale {and} infect by þe bou{n}des of þe derke nyȝt ¶ and how þe moene dirk {and} confuse discouereþ þe sterres. þat she had[de] [[pg 133]] ycouered by hir clere visage.

[Sidenote: Thinking the eclipse the result of enchantment, they sought to destroy the charms by the tinkling of brazen vessels or cymbals.]

þe co{m}mune errour moeueþ 3805 folk {and} makiþ wery hir bacines of bras by þikke strookes. þat is to seyne þat þer is a maner poeple þat hyȝt[e] coribandes þat wenen þat whan þe moone is in 3808 þe eclips þat it be enchau{n}tid. and þerfore forto rescowe þe moone þei betyn hire basines wiþ þikke strokes.

[Sidenote: Yet none marvel when the north-west wind renders the sea tempestuous; nor when vast heaps of congealed snow are melted by the warm rays of the sun, because the causes are apparent.]

¶ Ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe blastes of þe wynde chorus betyn þe strondes of þe see by quakynge floodes. 3812 ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe weyȝte of þe snowe yhardid by þe colde. is resolued by þe brennynge hete of phebus þe sonne. ¶ For here seen men redyly þe causes.

[Sidenote: Things whose causes are unknown disquiet the human mind.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 30.]]

but þe *causes yhid þat is to seye in heuene 3816 trouble þe brestes of men.

[Sidenote: The fickle mob stands amazed at every rare or sudden phenomenon.]

¶ þe moeueable poeple is a-stoned of alle þinges þat comen selde {and} sodeynely in oure age.

[Sidenote: Fear and wonder, however, soon cease when ignorance given place to certain knowledge.]

but yif þe troubly errour of oure ignora{n}ce departid[e] from vs. so þat we wisten þe causes whi þat 3820 swiche þinges bitiden. certys þei sholde{n} cesse to seme wondres.

[Linenotes: 3794 _arctour_--MS. aritour 3795 _neye_--neygh 3796 _seyne_--seyn _neye_--nygh 3797-99 _boetes_--MS. boeces, C. boetes 3798 _his_ (1)--hise _wey[n]es_--weynes 3802 _ful[le]_--fulle 3804 _had[de]_--hadde 3806 _bacines_--MS. batines _þikke_--MS. þilke, C. thilke 3807 _seyne_--seyn 3808 _hyȝt[e]_--hihte 3809 _eclips_--eclypse 3812 _chorus_--MS. thorus, C. chorus 3813 _snowe_--sonwh = snowh 3815 _here_--her _redyly_--redely 3816 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hid _seye_--seyn 3817 _trouble_--trowblen 3820 _departid[e] from_--departede fro]

[Headnote: FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS.]

ITA EST INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The syxte p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ So it is. But as thou hast promised to unfold the hidden causes of things, and unveil things wrapt up in darkness; I pray thee deliver me from my present perplexity, and explain the mystery I mentioned to you.]

++Þvs is it q{uo}d I. but so as þou hast ȝeuen or byhyȝt me to vnwrappe{n} þe hidde causes of þinges ¶ and 3824 to discoueren me þe resou{n}s couered w{i}t{h} dirknesses I p{re}ye þe þat þou diuise {and} Iuge me of þis matere. {and} þat þou do me to vndrestonde{n} it. ¶ For þis miracle or þis wondre troubleþ me ryȝt gretely.

[Sidenote: _P._ You ask me to declare to you the most intricate of all questions, which I am afraid can scarce be answered.]

{and} þan she a 3828 litel [what] smylyng seide. ¶ þou clepest me q{uo}d she to telle þing. þat is grettest of alle þinges þat mowen ben axed. ¶ And to þe whiche questiou{n} vnneþ[e]s is þere auȝt ynow to lauen it. as who seiþ. vnneþes is þer 3832 suffisauntly any þing to answere p{er}fitly to þi questiou{n}.

[Sidenote: For the subject is of such a kind, that when one doubt is removed, innumerable others, like the heads of the hydra, spring up.]

¶ For þe matere of it is swiche þat whan oon doute is [[pg 134]] determined {and} kut awey þer wexe{n} oþer doutes wiþ-outen nou{m}bre. ryȝt as þe heuedes waxen of ydre þe 3836 serpent þat hercules slouȝ.

[Sidenote: Nor would there be any end of them unless they were restrained by a quick and vigorous effort of the mind.]

¶ Ne þere ne were no man{er}e ne noon ende. but yif þat a wyȝt co{n}streined[e] þo doutes. by a ryȝt lyuely {and} a quik fire of þouȝt. þat is to seyn by vigo{ur} {and} strengþe of witte.

[Sidenote: The question whereof you want a solution embraces the five following points: 1. Simplicity, or unity of Providence. 2. The order and course of Destiny.]

¶ For in 3840 þis matere me{n} weren wont to maken questiou{n}s of þe simplicite of þe p{ur}ueaunce of god {and} of þe ordre of destine.

[Sidenote: 3. Sudden chance. 4. Prescience of God, and divine predestination. 5. Free-will.]

{and} of sodeyne hap. {and} of þe knowyng {and} p{re}destinac{i}ou{n} deuine {and} of þe lyberte of fre wille. 3844 þe whiche þing þou þi self ap{er}ceiust wel of what weyȝt þei ben. but for as mochel as þe knowynge of þise þinges is a manere porc{i}ou{n} to þe medicine to þe. al be it so þat I haue lytel tyme to don it.

[Sidenote: I will try to treat of these things:--]

ȝit naþeles I wole 3848 enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it. ¶ but al þouȝ þe norissinges of dite of musike deliteþ þe þow most suffren. {and} forberen a litel of þilk delite while þat I weue (contexo) to þe resou{n}s yknyt by ordre ¶ As it likeþ 3852 to þe q{uo}d I so do.

[Sidenote: Resuming her discourse as from a new principle, Philosophy argued as follows:--]

¶ þo spak she ryȝt a[s] by an oþer bygynnyn[ge] {and} seide þus.

[Sidenote: The generation of all things, every progression of things liable to change, and everything that moveth, derive their causes, order, and form from the immutability of the divine understanding.]

¶ þe enge{n}drynge of alle þinges q{uo}d she {and} alle þe progressiou{n}s of muuable nat{ur}e. {and} alle þ{a}t moeueþ in any manere takiþ hys 3856 causes. hys ordre. {and} hys formes. of þe stablenesse of þe deuyne þouȝt

[Sidenote: Providence directs all things by a variety of means.]

[{and} thilke deuyne thowht] þat is yset {and} put in þe toure. þat is to seyne in þe heyȝt of þe simplicite of god. stablisiþ many manere gyses to þinges þat 3860 ben to don.

[Sidenote: These means, referred only to the divine intelligence, are called Providence; but when contemplated in relation to the things which receive motion and order from them, are called Destiny.]

¶ þe whiche manere whan þat men loken it i{n} þilke pure clerenesse of þe deuyne i{n}telligence. it is ycleped p{ur}ueaunce ¶ but whan þilke manere is referred by me{n} to þinges þat it moeueþ {and} disponeþ þan [[pg 135]] of olde men. it was cleped destine.

[Linenotes: 3823 _byhyȝt_--by-hyhte 3824 _hidde_--hyd 3826 _preye_--p{re}ey _diuise_--deuyse 3827 _do_--don 3828 _gretely_--gretly 3829 [_what_]--from C. 3832 _þere auȝt_--ther awht 3834 _swiche_--swych _oon_--o 3835 _wiþouten noumbre_--w{i}t{h}-owte nowmbyr 3836 _waxen_--wexen 3837 _þere_--ther 3838 _constreined[e]_--constreynede 3839 _lyuely_--lyfly 3840 _witte_--wit 3843 _hap_--happe 3845 _weyȝt_--wyht 3848 _wole_--wol 3850 _þow_--MS. now, C. þ{o}u _most suffren_--MS. moste to souereyne; C. most suffren 3851 _þilk_--thilke 3853 _þo_--so _spak_--MS. spake, C. spak _a[s]_--as 3856 _alle_--al 3858 [_and----thowht_]--from C. _yset_--MS. ysette, C. yset 3859 _toure_--towr _seyne_--seyn _heyȝt_--heyhte 3861 _don_--done 3862 _clerenesse_--klennesse]

[Headnote: OF FATE AND PROVIDENCE.]

[Sidenote: Reflection on the efficacy of the one and the other will soon cause us to see their differences.]

¶ þe whiche 3865 þinges yif þat any wyȝt lokeþ wel in his þouȝt. þe strengþe of þat oon {and} of þat oþer he shal lyȝtly mowen seen þat þise two þinges ben diuers.

[Sidenote: Providence is the divine intelligence manifested in the disposition of worldly affairs.]

¶ For p{ur}ueau{n}ce 3868 is þilke deuyne resou{n} þat is establissed in þe souereyne p{r}ince of þinges. þe whiche p{ur}ueaunce disponiþ alle þinges.

[Sidenote: Destiny or Fate is that inherent state or condition of movable things by means whereof Providence retains them in the order in which she has placed them.]

but destine is þe disposic{i}ou{n} {and} ordenaunce cleuynge to moeuable þinges. by þe whiche disposic{i}ou{n} 3872 þe p{ur}ueaunce knyteþ alle þinges in hire ordres.

[Sidenote: Providence embraces all things, although diverse and infinite; but Fate gives motion to every individual thing, and in the place and under the form appropriated to it.]

¶ For p{ur}ueaunce enbraceþ alle þi{n}ges to hepe. al þouȝ þat þei ben dyuerse {and} al þouȝ þei ben wiþ outen fyn. but destynie dep{ar}teþ {and} ordeyneþ alle þinges singlerly 3876 {and} diuideþ. in moeuynges. in places. in formes. in tymes. dep{ar}tiþ [as] þus.

[Sidenote: So that the explication of this order of things wrapt up in the divine intelligence is Providence; and being unfolded according to time and other circumstances, may be called Fate.]

so þat þe vnfoldyng of temp{or}el ordenaunce assembled {and} ooned in þe lokyng of þe deuyne þouȝt ¶ Is p{ur}ueaunce {and} þilke same 3880 assemblynge. {and} oonyng diuided {and} vnfolden by tymes. lat þat ben called destine.

[Sidenote: Though these things appear to differ, yet one of them depends on the other, for the order of Fate proceeds from the unity of Providence.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 30 _b_.]]

{and} al be *it so þat þise þinges ben dyuerse. ȝitte naþeles hangeþ þat oon on þat oþer. forwhi þe ordre destinal p{ro}cediþ of þe 3884 simplicite of purueaunce.

[Sidenote: For as a workman, who has formed in his head the plan of a work which he is desirous to finish, executes it afterwards, and produces after a time all the different parts of the model which he has conceived;]

for ryȝt as a werkma{n} þat ap{er}ceiueþ in hys þouȝt þe forme of þe þing þat he wil make moeueþ þe effect of þe werke. {and} lediþ þat he had[de] loked byforne in hys þouȝt symply {and} p{re}sently 3888 by temp{or}el þouȝt.

[Sidenote: so God in the plan of his Providence disposes everything to be brought about in a certain order and in a proper time;]

¶ Certys ryȝt so god disponiþ in hys p{ur}ueaunce singlerly {and} stably þe þinges þat ben to done. but he amynistreþ in many maneres {and} in dyuerse tymes by destyne. þilke same þinges 3892 þat he haþ disponed þan wheþir þat destine be excercised.

[Linenotes: 3872 _cleuynge_--clyuynge 3875 _wiþ outen fyn_--Infynyte 3876 _singlerly_--syngulerly 3877 _in_ (3)--MS. {and}, C. in 3878 _departiþ_--omitted [_as_]--from C. _so þat_--lat 3884 _on_--of 3886 _wil_--wol 3888 _had[de]_--hadde _symply_--symplely 3889 _þouȝt_--ordinau{n}ce 3890 _singlerly_--syngulerly _stably_--stablely 3893 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote: PROVIDENCE CONTROLS FATE.]

[Sidenote: and afterwards, by the ministry of Fate, he accomplishes what he has planned, conformably to that order and that time.]

eyþer by so{m}me dyuyne spirites seruaunteȝ to þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce. or ellys by so{m}me soule (a{n}i{m}a mundi). or ellys by al nature seruynge to god. or ellys [[pg 136]] by þe celestial moeuyng of sterres. or ellys by þe vertue 3897 of aungels. or ellys by þe dyuerse subtilite of deueles. or ellys by any of he{m}. or ellys by hem alle þe destynal ordynau{n}ce is ywouen or accomplissed. certys it is open 3900 þing þat þe p{ur}ueaunce is an vnmoeueable {and} symple forme of þinges to done. {and} þe moeueable bonde {and} þe temp{or}el ordynaunce of þinges whiche þat þe deuyne simplicite of p{ur}ueaunce haþ ordeyned to done. þat is 3904 destine.

[Sidenote: So then, however Fate be exercised, it is evident that things subject to Destiny are under the control of Providence, which disposes Destiny.]

For whiche it is þat alle þinges þat ben put vndir destine ben certys subgitȝ to p{ur}ueaunce. to whiche p{ur}ueaunce destine it self is subgit {and} vndir.

[Sidenote: But some things under Providence are exempt from the control of Fate; being stably fixed near to the Divinity himself, and beyond the movement of Destiny.]

¶ But so{m}me þinges ben put vndir purueaunce þat 3908 so{ur}mounten þe ordinaunce of destine. {and} þo ben þilke þat stably ben yficched ney to þe first godhed þei so{ur}mou{n}ten þe ordre of destinal moeuablite.

[Sidenote: For even, as among several circles revolving round one common centre, that which is innermost approaches nearest to the simplicity of the middle points, and is, as it were, a centre, round which the outward ones revolve;]

¶ For ryȝt as cercles þat to{ur}nen aboute a same Centre or 3912 about a poynt. þilke cercle þat is inrest or moost wiþ-ynne ioineþ to þe symplesse of þe myddel {and} is as it were a Centre or a poynt to þat oþer cercles þat tourne{n} aboute{n} hym.

[Sidenote: whilst the outermost, revolving in a wider circumference, the further it is from the centre describes a larger space--but yet, if this circle or anything else be joined to the middle point, it is constrained to be immovable.]

¶ and þilke þat is outerest compased by 3916 larger envyronnynge is vnfolden by larger spaces in so mochel as it is forþest fro þe mydel symplicite of þe poynt. and yif þer be any þi{n}g þat knytteþ {and} felawshippeþ hym selfe to þilke mydel poynt it is constreyned 3920 in to symplicite. þat is to seyn in to [vn]moeueablete. {and} it ceseth to ben shad {and} to fleti{n} dyuersly.

[Sidenote: By parity of reason, the further anything is removed from the first intelligence, so much the more is it under the control of Destiny;]

¶ Ryȝt so by semblable resou{n}. þilke þinge þat dep{ar}tiþ firþest fro þe first þouȝt of god. it is vnfolde{n} {and} su{m}mittid 3924 to grettere bondes of destine.

[Sidenote: and the nearer anything approaches to this Intelligence, the centre of all things, the more stable it becomes, and the less dependent upon Destiny.]

and in so moche is þe þing more free {and} lovs fro destyne as it axeþ {and} holdeþ hym ner to þilke Centre of þinges. þat is to [[pg 137]] seyne god.

[Linenotes: 3894 _eyþer_--owther _seruaunteȝ_--MS. seruaunceȝ 3895 _somme_--som 3896 _al_--alle 3897 _moeuyng_--moeuynges 3900 _ywouen_--MS. ywonnen, C. ywouen _or_--{and} 3902 _bonde_--bond 3904 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3905 _whiche_--which 3912 _as_--as of 3913 _about_--a-bowte _inrest_--innerest 3917 _larger_ (1)--a large 3918 _mochel_--moche _forþest_--ferther{e} 3920 _selfe_--self 3921 _[vn]moeueablete_--vnmoeuablete 3922 _ceseth_--MS. fleþe, C. cesith 3923 _þinge_--thing 3924 _of_--MS. to, C. of 3926 _lovs_--laus 3927 _ner_--ner{e}]

[Headnote: DESTINY RULES NATURE.]

[Sidenote: And if we suppose that the thing in question is joined to the stability of the supreme mind, it then becomes immovable, and is beyond the necessity and power of destiny.]

¶ and if þe þinge cleueþ to þe stedfastnesse 3928 of þe þouȝt of god. {and} be wiþ oute moeuyng certys it so{ur}mounteþ þe necessite of destyne.

[Sidenote: As reasoning is to the understanding, as that which is produced to that which exists of itself, as time to eternity, as the circle to the centre, so is the movable order of Fate to the stable simplicity of Providence.]

þan ryȝt swiche comparisou{n} as [it] is of skilynge to vndirstondyng {and} of þing þat is engendred to þing þat is. {and} of tyme to 3932 eternite. {and} of þe cercle to þe Centre. ryȝt so is þe ordre of moeueable destine to þe stable symplicite of p{ur}ueaunce.

[Sidenote: Destiny rules nature.]

¶ þilke ordinaunce moeueþ þe heuene {and} þe sterres {and} attempreþ þe elymentȝ to gider 3936 amonges hem self. {and} t{ra}nsformeþ hem by enterchau{n}gable mutac{i}ou{n}. ¶ and þilke same ordre neweþ aȝein alle þinges growyng {and} fallyng a-doune by sembleables p{ro}gressiou{n}s of seedes {and} of sexes. þat is 3940 to sein. male {and} female.

[Sidenote: It controls the actions of men by an indissoluble chain of causes, and is, like their origin, immutable.]

and þis ilke ordre co{n}streyneþ þe fortunes {and} þe dedes of men by a bonde of causes nat able to ben vnbou{n}den (indissolubili). þe whiche destinal causes whanne þei passen oute fro þe bygynnynges 3944 of þe vnmoeueable purueaunce it mot nedes be þat þei ne be nat mutable.

[Sidenote: Thus, then, are all things well conducted, since that invariable order of cause has its origin in the simplicity of the Divine mind, and by its inherent immutability exercises a restraint upon mutable things, and preserves them from irregularity.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 31.]]

{and} þus ben þe þinges ful wel ygouerned. yif þat þe symplicite dwelly{n}ge *in þe deuyne þouȝt sheweþ furþe þe ordre of causes. vnable to 3948 be I-bowed. {and} þis ordre constreyneþ by hys p{ro}pre stablete þe moeueable þinges. or ellys þei sholde fleten folily

[Sidenote: To those who understand not this order, things appear confused--nevertheless, the proper condition of all things directs and inclines it to their true good.]