Part 26

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.