Part 25

¶ by þise same cause þe floury yere ȝeldeþ swote smellys in þe fyrste somer sesou{n} 4140 warmynge. {and} þe hote somer dryeþ þe cornes.

[Sidenote: Autumn comes crowned with plenty, and winter wets the earth with showers.]

{and} autumpne comeþ aȝeyne heuy of apples. and þe fletyng [[pg 144]] reyne bydeweþ þe wynter. þis attemp{er}aunce noryssiþ {and} brynggeþ furþe al þinge þat brediþ lyfe in þis 4144 worlde.

[Sidenote: These changes give life and growth to all that breathe; and at last by death efface whatever has had birth.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 32 _b_.]]

¶ and þilk same attemp{er}aunce rauyssyng hideþ {and} bynymeþ {and} drencheþ vndir þe last[e] deþe alle *þinges yborn.

[Sidenote: Meanwhile the world’s Creator, the Source of all, the Lawgiver, the wise Judge, sits above equitably directing all things.]

¶ Amonges þise þinges sitteþ þe heye makere kyng {and} lorde. welle {and} bygynnynge. lawe 4148 {and} wise Iuge. to don equite {and} gouerniþ {and} encliniþ þe bridles of þinges.

[Sidenote: Those things which have been set in motion by him are also checked and forced to move in an endless round, lest they go from their source, and become chaotic.]

{and} þo þinges þat he stireþ to don by moeuynge he wiþdraweþ {and} arestiþ {and} affermiþ þe moeueable or wandryng þinges. ¶ For ȝif þat he ne 4152 clepiþ nat aȝein þe ryȝt goynge of þinges. {and} ȝif þat he ne constreyned[e] hem nat eftesones in to roundenesse enclined þe þinges þ{a}t ben now continued by stable ordinaunce. þei sholde deperten from hir welle. þat is 4156 to sein from hir bygynnynge {and} failen. þat is to sein to{ur}nen in to nauȝt.

[Sidenote: This love is common to all things, and all things tend to good; so, urged by this, they all revert to that First Cause that gave them being.]

¶ þis is þe co{m}mune loue of alle þinges. {and} alle þi{n}ges axen to be holden by þe fyn of good. For ellys ne myȝten þei nat lasten yif þei ne 4160 come nat eftesones aȝeine by loue retourned to þe cause þat haþ ȝeuen he{m} beynge. þat is to seyn to god.

[Linenotes: 4118 _þou wolt_--þ{o}u wys wilt 4119 _þund[ere]re_--thonderer{e} _seyne_--seyn 4120 _bihold_--MS. biholde, C. byhold 4122 _rody_--MS. redy, C. rody _fire_--Fyr 4123 _cercle_--clerke 4125 _courses_--cours _heyȝt_--heyhte 4127 _westerne_--westrene _dyȝen_--deeyn 4128 [_the_]--from C. _he see_--MS. it sewe, C. he see _oþer_--oothr{e} 4131 _aȝeyne_--ayein 4133 _oute_--owt 4134 _euene-lyke manere[s]_--euenelyk maneres 4135 _striuen_--stryuynge _nat_--omitted 4136 _but_--omitted 4138 _lyȝt[e] fyre arist_--lyhte fyr arysith 4140 _yere_--ȝer 4142 _comeþ aȝeyne_--comth ayein 4143 _reyne_--reyn 4144 _furþe al þinge_--forth alle thing _brediþ lyfe_--berith lyf 4145 _worlde_--world _þilk_--thilke 4146 _last[e] deþe_--laste deth 4147 _yborn_--MS. yborne, C. I-born 4148 _lorde_--lord 4149 _wise_--wys 4150 _stireþ_--sterith _don_--gon 4151 _þe_--omitted 4153 _clepiþ_--klepede 4154 _constreyned[e]_--constreynede _roundenesse_--Rowndnesses 4156 _sholde_--sholden 4158 _tournen_--torne _of_--to 4159 _be_--ben 4161 _eftesones aȝeine_--eft sones ayein 4162 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote: ALL FORTUNE IS BENEFICIAL.]

IAM NE IGITUR UIDES.

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

[Sidenote: _P._ Do you see what follows from our arguments?]

++Sest þou nat þan what þing folweþ alle þe þinges þat I haue seid.

[Sidenote: _B._ What is it?]

what þing q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ That all fortune is good.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d she 4164 outerly þat al fortune is good.

[Sidenote: _B._ How can that be?]

and how may þat be q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Since all fortune, whether prosperous or adverse, is for the reward of the good or the punishment of the bad, all fortune is good which is either just or useful.]

¶ Now vndirstand q{uo}d she so as [alle fortune wheyther so it be Ioyeful fortune / or aspr{e}] fortune is ȝiuen eiþer by cause of g{er}donynge or ellys of 4168 ex{er}cisynge of goode folk or ellys by cause to punissen. or ellys to chastysen shrewes. ¶ þan is alle fortune [[pg 145]] good. þe whiche fortune is certeyne þat it be eiþer ryȝtful or p{ro}fitable.

[Sidenote: But let us put this opinion among those positions which thou saidst were not commonly believed by the people.]

¶ For soþe þis is a ful verray resou{n} 4172 q{uo}d I. and yif I considere þe p{ur}ueau{n}ce {and} þe destine þat þou tauȝtest me a litel here byforne þis sentence is susteyned by stedfast resou{n}s. but yif it like vnto þe lat vs nou{m}bre hem amonges þilk[e] þinges of 4176 whiche þou seidest a litel here byforne þat þei ne were nat able to ben ywened to þe poeple.

[Sidenote: _P._ Why so?]

¶ whi so q{uo}d she.

[Sidenote: _B._ Because it is a common expression that _the fortune of such a one is bad_.]

for þat þe comune worde of men mysusiþ q{uo}d I. þis manere speche of fortune. {and} sein ofte tymes [þ{a}t] 4180 þe fortune of som wyȝt is wicked.

[Linenotes: 4163 _þing_--thinge 4165 _outerly_--al owtrely _al_--alle 4166-7 [_alle----aspre_]--from C. 4169 _goode_--good 4174 _here byforne_--her by-forn 4175 _stedfast_--stydefast 4176 _noumbre_--nowmbren _þilk[e]_--thilke 4177 _here byforne_--her by-forn 4178 _ywened_--weened 4179 _worde_--word]

[Headnote: PUNISHMENT IS BENEFICIAL.]

[Sidenote: _P._ Do you wish me to conform for awhile to the language of the people, lest we should seem to depart too much from the popular mode of expression?]

wilt þou þan q{uo}d she þat I p{ro}che a litel to þe wordes of þe poeple so it seme nat to hem þat I be ouer moche dep{ar}tid as fro þe vsage of man kynde.

[Sidenote: _B._ As you please.]

as þou wolt q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Is everything profitable that is good?]

¶ Demest 4184 þou nat q{uo}d she þat al þing þat p{ro}fitiþ is good.

[Sidenote: _B._ Yes, certainly.]

ȝis q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ That which exercises or corrects is profitable?]

certis þilk þing þat ex{er}cisiþ or corigiþ profitiþ.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is.]

I confesse it wel q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Therefore it is good?]

þan is it good q{uo}d she.

[Sidenote: _B._ Yes.]

whi nat q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ This is the fortune of the virtuous who combat with adversity, or of those who, relinquishing vice, pursue the path of virtue?]

but þis is þe fortune [q{uod} she] of 4188 hem þat eiþer ben put in vertue {and} batailen aȝeins aspre þinges. or ellys of hem þat eschewen {and} declinen fro vices {and} taken þe weye of vertue.

[Sidenote: _B._ It is.]

¶ þis ne may nat I denye q{uo}d I

[Sidenote: _P._ The vulgar regard that prosperity which is bestowed as a reward on the good to be beneficial, and they believe those calamities by which the wicked are punished as the most miserable things that can be imagined.]

¶ But what seist þou of þe myrye 4192 fortune þat is ȝeuen to good folk in gerdou{n} deuiniþ ouȝt þe poeples þat it is wicked. nay forsoþe q{uo}d I. but þei demen as it soþe is þat it is ryȝt good. ¶ And what seist þou of þat oþer fortune q{uo}d she. þat al þouȝ it 4196 be aspre {and} restreiniþ þe shrewes by ryȝtful tourment. weniþ ouȝt þe poeple þ{a}t it be good. nay q{uo}d I. ¶ But þe poeple demiþ þat it be most wrecched of alle þinges þat may ben þouȝt.

[Sidenote: But in following the popular opinion, let us beware of being involved in some new and incredible consequence.]

war now {and} loke wel q{uo}d she 4200 lest þat we in folwyng þe opyniou{n} of poeple haue confessed {and} co{n}cluded þing þat is vnable to be wened to [[pg 146]] þe poeple.

[Sidenote: _B._ What is that?]

what is þat q{uo}d I

[Sidenote: _P._ We have decided that the fortune of the virtuous or of those growing up in virtue must needs be good--but that the fortune of the wicked must be most wretched.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d she it folweþ or comeþ of þinges þ{a}t ben graunted þat alle 4204 fortune what so euer it be. of hem þat eyþer ben i{n} possessiou{n} of vertue. [or in the encres of vertu] or ellys in þe purchasynge of vertue. þat þilke fortune is good. ¶ And þat alle fortune is ryȝt wicked to hem þat 4208 dwellen in shrewednesse. as who seiþ. {and} þus weneþ nat þe poeple.

[Linenotes: 4180 [_þat_]--from C. 4181 _wicked_--wykkede 4182 _proche_--aproche 4185 _al_--alle 4186 _þilk_--thilke 4188 [_quod she_]--from C. 4191 _weye_--wey 4193 _deuiniþ_--demyth 4194 _ouȝt_--awht 4195 _soþe_--soth 4198 _ouȝt_--awht 4199 _be_--is 4204 _comeþ_--comth 4206 [_or----vertu_] from C. 4208 _wicked_--wykkede]

[Headnote: THE FORTUNE OF THE VIRTUOUS IS GOOD.]

[Sidenote: _B._ That’s true, though none dare acknowledge it.]

¶ þat is soþe q{uo}d I. ¶ Al be it so þat noma{n} dar confesse{n} it ne byknowen it.

[Sidenote: _P._ Why so? The wise man ought not to be cast down, when he has to wage war with Fortune, no more than the valiant man ought to be dismayed on hearing the noise of the battle.]

¶ whi so q{uo}d she.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 33.]]

For ryȝt as no strong man ne semeþ nat to 4212 abassen or disdaigne{n} as *ofte tyme as he hereþ þe noise of þe bataile. ne also it ne semeþ nat to þe wyse man to beren it greuously as oft[e] as he is lad in to þe strif of fortune.

[Sidenote: The dangers of war enable the one to acquire more glory, and the difficulties of the other aid him to confirm and improve his wisdom.]

for boþe to þat on man {and} eke to þat oþ{er} 4216 þilke difficulte is þe matere to þat oon man of encrese of his glorious renou{n}. {and} to þat oþer man to conferme hys sapience. þat is to seine þe asprenesse of hys estat.

[Sidenote: Thus virtue, in its literal acceptation, is a power that, relying on its own strength, overcomes all obstacles.]

¶ For þerfore is it called uertue. for þat it susteniþ {and} 4220 enforceþ by hys strengþes þat it nis nat ouer-come{n} by aduersites.

[Sidenote: You, who have made so much progress in virtue, are not to be carried away by delights and bodily lusts.]

¶ Ne certys þou þat art put in þe encrese or in þe heyȝt of uertue ne hast nat comen to fleten wiþ delices {and} forto welken in bodyly lust.

[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?]