Part 30

[Sidenote: When God knows that anything is to be, he knows at the same time that it is not under the necessity of being--but this is not conjecture, but certain knowledge founded upon truth.]

for whiche it folwiþ þat þis nis non oppiniou{n}. but raþer a stedfast knowyng ystrengeþed by soþenes. þat whan þat god knoweþ any þinge to be he ne vnwoot nat þat þilke þinge wanteþ necessite to be. þis is to seyn þat 5100 whan þat god knoweþ any þinge to bitide. he woot wel þat it ne haþ no necessite to bitide.

[Sidenote: If you insist that _what God foresees shall and must happen; and that which cannot do otherwise than happen, must needs happen_, and so bind me to admit a necessity, I must confess that things are under such a restraint; but it is a truth that we scarce can comprehend, unless we be acquainted with the Divine counsels.]

{and} yif þ{o}u seist here þat þilke þinge þat god seeþ to bytide it ne may nat vnbytide. as who seiþ it mot bitide. ¶ and þilke 5104 þinge þat þat ne may nat vnbytide it mot bitide by necessite. and þat þou streine me to þis name of necessite. certys I wol wel confessen {and} byknowe a þinge of ful sadde trouþe. but vnneþ shal þere any wyȝt [mowe] 5108 seen it or comen þer-to. but yif þat he be byholder of þe deuyne þouȝte.

[Sidenote: For I will answer you thus. That the thing which is to happen in relation to the Divine knowledge is necessary; but, considered in its own nature, seems free and absolute.]

¶ for I wol answer{e} þe þus. þat þilke þinge þat is future whan it is referred to þe deuyne 5111 knowy{n}g þan is it necessarie. but certys whan it is vndirstonden in hys owen kynde me{n} sen it [is] vtterly fre {and} absolut from alle necessite.

[Sidenote: There are two kinds of necessity--one simple; as men must necessarily die--the other is conditional, as if you know a man walks he must necessarily walk--for that which is known cannot be otherwise than what it is apprehended to be.]

for certys þer ben two maneres of necessites. þat oon necessite is symple as þus. þat it byhoueþ by necessite þat alle men be mortal 5116 or dedely. an oþ{er} necessite is condicionel as þus. yif þou wost þat a man walkiþ. it byhoueþ by necessite þat he walke. þilke þinge þan þat any wyȝt haþ yknowe to be. it ne may ben non oþer weyes þan he knoweþ it to be. 5120

[Linenotes: 5093 [_the_]--from C. 5097 _whiche_--which 5098 _stedfast_--stidefast _soþenes_--sothnesse 5102 _haþ_--MS. haþe 5104 _bitide_--bide 5108 _sadde_--sad _vnneþ_--vnnethe [_mowe_]--from C. 5109 _comen_--come 5110 _þouȝte_--thoght _answere_--answeren 5113 _sen_--MS. sene, C. sen [_is_]--from C. 5117 _dedely_--dedly 5119 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote: PRESCIENCE AND NECESSITY.]

[Sidenote: But this condition does not infer the absolute necessity, for the nature of the thing itself does not here constitute the necessity, but the necessity arises from the conjunction of the condition.]

¶ but þis condicioun ne draweþ nat wiþ hir þilke necessite symple. For certys þis necessite condicionel. þe p{ro}pre nature of it ne makeþ it nauȝt. but þe adiecc{i}ou{n} [[pg 176]] of þe condic{i}ou{n} makiþ it.

[Sidenote: No necessity compels a man to walk who does so willingly, but it must be necessary that he walk when he does step forward.]

for no necessite ne constreyneþ 5124 a man to [gon / þ{a}t] gooþ by his p{ro}pre wille. al be it so þat whan he gooþ þat it is necessarie þat he gooþ.

[Sidenote: So everything that is present to the eye of Providence must assuredly be, although there is nothing in its own nature to constitute that necessity.]

¶ Ryȝt on þis same manere þan. yif þat þe p{ur}ueaunce of god seeþ any þing p{re}sent.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 40.]]

þan mot þilke *þinge be 5128 by necessite. al þouȝ þat it ne haue no necessite of hys owen nature.

[Sidenote: Since God beholds all future events proceeding from free-will as actually present--these events in relation to Divine sight are necessary--yet in relation to themselves they are absolutely free.]

but certys þe fut{ur}es þat bytyden by fredom of arbitre god seeþ hem alle to-gidre p{re}sentȝ. þise þinges þan [yif] þei ben referred to þe deuyne syȝt. 5132 þan ben þei maked necessarie to þe condic{i}ou{n} of þe deuyne knowynge. but certys yif þilke þinges ben considred by hem self þei ben absolut of necessite. {and} ne forleten nat ne cesen nat of þe liberte of hire owe{n} 5136 natur{e}.

[Sidenote: All things which God foresees shall surely come to pass; but some of these things proceed from free-will, which although they happen,]

þan certys wiþ outen doute alle þe þing{us} shollen be doon whiche þat god woot by-forn þat þei ben to comen. but so{m}me of hem comen {and} bitiden of [free] arbitre or of fre wille. þat al be it so þat þei bytiden. 5140

[Linenotes: 5121 _condicioun_--from C., MS. _necessite_ 5123 _nauȝt_--nat 5125 [_gon þat_]--from C. _wille_--wil 5128 _mot_--MS. mote, C. mot 5131 _presentȝ_--p{re}sent 5132 [_yif_]--from C. _syȝt_--syhte 5137 _wiþ outen_--w{i}t{h}-owte 5138 _whiche_--which 5139 _somme_--som 5140 [_free_]--from C.]

[Headnote: PROVIDENCE AND HUMAN INTENTIONS.]

[Sidenote: yet do not thereby change their nature, as before they happened they had it in their power not to happen.]

ȝit algates ne lese þei nat hire p{ro}pre nature ne beynge. by þe whiche first or þat þei were doon þei hadden power nat to han bitidd.

[Sidenote: But it is a thing of no moment then, whether things are necessary in their own nature or not, since by the condition of the Divine knowledge they fell out as if they were necessitated.]

_Boece._ what is þis to seyn þa{n} q{uo}d I. þat þinges ne ben nat necessarie by 5144 hire p{ro}pre nature. so as þei comen in alle maneres in þe lykenesse of necessite by þe condic{i}ou{n} of þe deuyne science.

[Sidenote: _P._ The difference is explained in the instances lately given you, of the man walking, &c.]

{Ph}ilosoph{ie}. þis is þe difference q{uo}d she. þat þo þinges þat I p{ur}posed[e] þe a litel here byforn. þat 5148 is to seyn þe sonne arysynge {and} þe man walkynge þat þerwhiles þat þilke þinges ben ydon. þei ne myȝten nat ben vndon.

[Sidenote: The event of the former was necessary before it befell, whereas that of the latter was altogether free.]

naþeles þat oon of hem or it was ydon it byhoued[e] by necessite þat it was ydon. but nat þat 5152 oþ{er}. ryȝt so it is here þat þe þinges þat god haþ p{re}sent. wiþ outen doute þei shulle ben. but so{m}me of hem descendiþ [[pg 177]] of þe nature of þinges as þe sonne arysynge. {and} so{m}me descendiþ of þe power of þe doers as þe man 5156 walkynge.

[Sidenote: _B._ Then I did not go from the truth when I said that some things referred to the Divine knowledge are necessary, while considered in themselves they are not under the bond of necessity.]

¶ þan seide I. no wronge þat yif þat þise þinges ben referred to þe deuyne knowynge þan ben þei necessarie. {and} yif þei ben considered by he{m} selfe þan ben þei absolut from þe bonde of necessite.

[Sidenote: In the same way everything that is an object of sense is _general_ when considered in relation to reason--but particular when considered by itself.]

ryȝt so [as] 5160 alle þinges þat appiereþ or sheweþ to þe wittes yif þou referre it to resou{n} it is vniuersel. {and} yif þou referre it or look[e] it to it self. þan is it sy{n}guler.

[Sidenote: But you may say--If I am able to change my purpose I can deceive providence by changing that which she hath foreseen I would do.]

but now yif þou seist þus þ{a}t yif it be in my power to chaunge 5164 my p{ur}pose. þan shal I voide þe p{ur}ueaunce of god. whan þat p{er}auenture I shal han chau{n}ged þo þinges þat he knoweþ byforn. þan shal I answere þe þus

[Linenotes: 5141 _ne_ (2)--C. in 5142 _whiche_--which _were doon_--weeryn Idoon 5143 _bitidd_--MS. bitidde, C. bityd 5148 _purposed[e]_--p{ur}posede 5150 _ydon_--MS. ydone, C. I-doon _myȝten_--myhte 5151 _vndon_--MS. vndone, C. vndoon 5151-2 _ydon_--MS. ydone, C. I-doon 5152 _byhoued[e]_--houyd 5153 _haþ_--MS. haþe 5154 _wiþ outen_--with-owte _shulle_--shollen 5156 _doers_--doeres 5157 _wronge_--wrong 5159 _selfe_--self 5160 _from_--fro _bonde_--bond [_as_]--from C. 5163 _look[e]_--loke 5166 _þo_--the]

[Headnote: GOD’S KNOWLEDGE FIXED AND UNCHANGED.]

[Sidenote: _P._ You may perhaps alter your purpose--but as providence takes note of your intentions, you cannot deceive her; for you cannot escape the divine prescience though you have the power, through a free-will, to vary and diversify your actions.]

¶ Certys þou maist wel chaungen þi p{ur}pos but for as 5168 mochel as þe p{re}sent soþenesse of þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce byholdeþ þat þou mayst chau{n}ge{n} þi p{ur}pose. {and} wheþir þou wolt chaunge it or no. {and} whider-ward þat þou tourne it. þ{o}u maist nat eschewen þe deuyne 5172 p{re}science ryȝt as þou ne mayst nat fleen þe syȝt of þe p{re}sent eye. al þouȝ þat þou tourne þi self by þi fre wille in to dyu{er}se acc{i}ou{n}.

[Sidenote: But you may say--Shall the divine knowledge be changed according to the mutability of my disposition, and the apprehensions of the Deity fluctuated with my changing purposes?]

¶ But þou mayst seyn aȝeyne how shal it þan be. shal nat þe dyuyne science 5176 ben chaunged by my disposic{i}ou{n} whan þat I wol o þing now {and} now an oþer. {and} þilke p{re}science ne semeþ it nat to enterchau{n}ge stoundes of knowynges. as who seiþ. ne shal it nat seme to vs þat þe deuyne 5180 p{re}science enterchaungeþ hys dyuers stoundes of knowynge. so þat it knowe so{m}me tyme o þing {and} so{m}me tyme þe contrarie.

[Sidenote: No, indeed! The view of the Deity foreruns every future event, and brings it back into the presence of his own knowledge, which does not vary, as you imagine, to conform to your caprices, but remaining fixed, at once foresees and comprehends all your changes.]

¶ No for soþe. [q{uod} I] for þe deuyne syȝt renneþ to-forne {and} seeþ alle fut{ur}es {and} clepeþ hem aȝein 5184 {and} reto{ur}niþ hem to þe p{re}sence of hys p{ro}pre knowynge. [[pg 178]] ne he ne entrechaungeþ nat [so] as þou wenest þe stoundes of forknowyng [as] now þis now þat. but he ay dwellynge comiþ byforn {and} enbraceþ at o strook 5188 alle þi mutac{i}ou{n}s.

[Sidenote: This faculty of comprehending and seeing all things as present, God does not receive from the issue of futurities, but from the simplicity of his own nature.]

and þis p{re}sence to co{m}p{re}henden {and} to sen alle þinges. god ne haþ nat take{n} it of þe bitydynge of þinges forto come. but of hys p{ro}pre symplicite.

[Linenotes: 5169 _soþenesse_--sothnesse 5170 _chaungen_--chaunge 5173 _syȝt_--syhte 5175 _wille_--wyl 5177 _wol_--wole 5179 _enterchaunge_--MS. enterchau{n}gyng, C. entrechau{n}ge 5181 _hys_--hise 5182 _somme_ (1)--su{m} _somme_ (2)--som 5183 _syȝt_--syhte 5184 _to-forne_--to-forn 5186 [_so_]--from C. 5187 [_as_]--from C. 5188 _comiþ_--comth 5190 _haþ_--MS. haþe]

[Headnote: AN ANSWER TO FORMER OBJECTIONS.]

[Sidenote: Here, then, is an answer to your former objection--that it is folly to think that our future actions and events are the causes of the prescience of God.]

¶ and her by is assoiled þilke þing þat þou 5192 puttest a litel her byforne. þat is to seyne þat it is vnworþi þinge to seyn þat oure futures ȝeuen cause of þe science of god

[Sidenote: For the Divine mind, embracing and comprehending all things by a present knowledge, plans and directs all things and is not dependent upon futurity.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 41 _b_.]]

¶ For c{er}tys *þis strengþe of þe deuyne science whiche þat enbraceþ alle þinge by his p{re}sentarie 5196 knowynge establisseþ manere to alle þi{n}g{us} {and} it ne awiþ nat to lattere þinges.

[Sidenote: Since no necessity is imposed upon things by the Divine prescience, there remains to men an inviolable freedom of will.]

{and} syn þat þise þinges ben þus. þat is to seyn syn þat necessite nis nat in þinges by þe deuyne p{re}science. þan is þer fredom of 5200 arbitre. þat dwelleþ hool {and} vnwemmed to mortal men.

[Sidenote: And those laws are just which assign rewards and punishments to men possessing free-will.]

ne þe lawes ne p{ur}pose nat wikkedly meedes {and} peynes to þe willynges of men þat ben vnbounde {and} quit of alle necessite.

[Sidenote: Moreover, God, who sits on high, foreknows all things, and the eternal presence of his knowledge concurs with the future quality of our actions, dispensing rewards to good and punishments to evil men.]

¶ And god byholder {and} forwiter of 5204 alle þinges dwelliþ aboue {and} þe p{re}sent eternite of hys syȝt renneþ alwey wiþ þe dyuerse qualite of oure dedes dispe{n}syng {and} ordeynynge medes to good[e] men. {and} tourmentȝ to wicked men.

[Sidenote: Nor are our hopes and prayers reposed in, and addressed to God in vain, which when they are sincere cannot be inefficacious nor unsuccessful.]

ne in ydel ne i{n} veyn ne ben 5208 þer nat put in god hope {and} p{ra}yeres. þat ne mowen nat ben vnspedful ne wiþ oute effect whan þei ben ryȝtful

[Sidenote: Resist and turn from vice--honour and love virtue, exalt your mind to God (the truest hope), offer up your prayers with humility.]

¶ wiþstond þan {and} eschewe þou vices. worshippe {and} loue þou vertus. areise þi corage to ryȝtful hoopes. 5212 ȝelde þou humble p{re}iers an heyȝe.

[Sidenote: If you are sincere you will feel that you are under an obligation to lead a good and virtuous life, inasmuch as all your actions and works are done in the presence of an all-discerning Judge.]

grete necessite of prowesse {and} vertue is encharged {and} comaunded to ȝow yif ȝe nil nat dissimulen. ¶ Syn þat ȝe worchen {and} doon. þat is to seyn ȝoure dedes {and} ȝoure workes 5216 by-fore þe eyen of þe Iuge þat seeþ {and} demeþ alle [[pg 179]] þinges. [To whom be goye {and} worshipe bi Infynyt tymes / AMEN.]

EXPLICIT LIBER QUINTUS. {ET} VLTIM{US}.

[Linenotes: 5193 _seyne_--seyn 5196 _whiche_--which 5198 _awiþ_--oweth 5199 _þat is to----prescience_--omitted 5203 _vnbounde_--vnbownden _quit_--quite 5206 _syȝt_--sihte 5207 _good[e]_--goode 5211 _wiþstond_--MS. wiþstonde, C. withstond 5213 _an heyȝe_--a heygh _grete_--Gret 5215 _worchen_--workyn 5216 {and} (2)--or 5217 _by-fore_--by-forn 5218 [_To whom----Amen_]--from C.; MS. reads _et cetera_ after ‘þinges.’ C. ends with the following rubric:

Explicit expliceat luder{e} scriptor eat Finito libro sit laus {et} gloria {Christ}o Corpore scribentis sit gr{ati}a cunctipotentis]

[[pg 180]] [Headnote: ÆTAS PRIMA.]

APPENDIX.

[_Camb. Univ. MS._ Ii. 3. 21, _fol._ 52 _b_.]

Chawc{er} vp-on this fyfte met{ur} of the second book

++A Blysful lyf a paysyble {and} a swete Ledden the poeples in the former age They helde hem paied of the fructes þ{a}t þey ete Whiche þ{a}t the feldes yaue hem by vsage 4 They ne weer{e} nat forpampred w{i}t{h} owtrage Onknowyn was þ^e quyerne {and} ek the melle They eten mast hawes {and} swych pownage And dronken wat{er} of the colde welle 8

¶ Yit nas the grownd nat wownded w{i}t{h} þ^e plowh But corn vp-sprong vnsowe of mannes hond Þe which they gnodded {and} eete nat half .I.-nowh No man yit knewe the forwes of his lond 12 No man the fyr owt of the flynt yit fonde Vn-koruen and vn-grobbed lay the vyne No man yit in the morter spices grond To clarre ne to sawse of galentyne 16

¶ No Madyr welde or wod no litester{e} Ne knewh / the fles was of is former hewe No flessh ne wyste offence of egge or sper{e} No coyn ne knewh man which is fals or trewe 20 No ship yit karf the wawes grene {and} blewe No Marchau{n}t yit ne fette owt-landissh war{e} No batails trompes for the werres folk ne knewe Ne towres heye {and} walles rownde or square 24

¶ What sholde it han avayled to werreye [[pg 181]] Ther lay no p{ro}fyt ther was no rychesse

[Sidenote: [fol. 53.]]

But corsed was the tyme .I. dar+ wel seye Þ{a}t men fyrst dede hir swety bysynesse 28 To grobbe vp metal lurkynge in dirkenesse {And} in þe Ryuerys fyrst gemmys sowhte Allas than sprong+ vp al the cursydnesse Of coueytyse þ{a}t fyrst owr sorwe browhte 32

¶ Thyse tyrau{n}tȝ put hem gladly nat in pres No places wyldnesse ne no busshes for to wynne Ther pou{er}te is as seith diogenes Ther as vitayle ek is so skars {and} thinne 36 Þ{a}t nat but mast or apples is ther Inne But þ{er} as bagges ben {and} fat vitaile Ther wol they gon {and} spar{e} for no synne W{i}t{h} al hir ost the Cyte forto a-sayle 40

¶ Yit was no paleis chaumbres ne non halles In kaues {and} wodes softe {and} swete Sleptin this blyssed folk+ w{i}t{h}-owte walles On gras or leues in p{ar}fyt Ioye reste {and} quiete 44 No down of fetheres ne no bleched shete Was kyd to hem but in surte they slepte Hir hertes weer{e} al on w{i}t{h}-owte galles Eu{er}ych of hem his feith to oother kepte 48

¶ Vnforged was the hawberke {and} the plate Þ^e lambyssh poeple voyded of alle vyse Hadden no fantesye to debate But eche of hem wolde oother wel cheryce 52 No p{r}ide non enuye non Auaryce No lord no taylage by no tyranye Vmblesse {and} pes good feith the emp{er}ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

¶ Yit was nat Iuppit{er} the lykerous [[pg 182]] Þ{a}t fyrst was fadyr of delicasie Come in this world ne nembroth desyrous To regne had nat maad his towres hye 60 Allas allas now may [men] wepe And crye For in owr{e} dayes nis but couetyse Dowblenesse {and} tresou{n} {and} enuye Poyson {and} manslawhtr{e} {and} mordre in sondry wyse 64

[Linenotes: 39, 40 MS. transposes the lines 44 _On_--MS. Or 56 A line omitted, but no gap left for one.]

[Headnote: BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINTURE.]

CAUS{ER} / BALADES DE VILAGE SANZ PEINT{UR}E

¶ This wrecched worlde-is t{ra}nsmutaciou{n} As wele / or wo / now poeer{e} {and} now hono{ur} W{i}t{h}-owten ordyr or wis descresyou{n} Gou{er}ned is by fortunes errour 4 But natheles the lakke of hyr fauowr+ Ne may nat don me syngen thowh I. deye

[Sidenote: [fol. 53 _b_.]]

Iay tout p{er}du mou{n} temps {et} mou{n} labour For fynaly fortune .I. the deffye 8

¶ Yit is me left the lyht of my resou{n} To knowen frend fro foo in thi merowr+ So mochel hath yit thy whirlynge vp {and} down I-tawht me for to knowe in an howr 12 But trewely no fors of thi reddowr+ To hym þ{a}t ou{er} hym self hath the maystrye My suffysau{n}ce shal be my socour+ For fynaly fortune I. thee deffye 16

¶ O socrates þ{o}u stidfast chau{m}pyou{n} She neu{er} myht[e] be thi tormentowr Thow neu{er} dreddest hyr opp{re}ssyou{n} Ne in hyr cher{e} fownde thow no sauour+ 20 Thow knewe wel the deseyte of hyr colour+ And þ{a}t hir most[e] worshipe is to lye I knew hir ek a fals dissimulour+ For fynaly fortune .I. the deffye 24

[[pg 183]] LE RESPOU{N}CE DE FORTUNE A PLEINTIF.

¶ No man ys wrechchyd but hym self yt wene {And} he þ{a}t hath hym self hat suffisaunce Whi seysthow tha{n}ne y am [to] the so kene Þ{a}t hast thy self owt of my gou{er}nau{n}ce 28 Sey thus grau{n}t m{er}cy of thyn habou{n}dau{n}ce That thow hast lent or this why wolt þ{o}u stryue What woost thow yit how y the wol auau{n}ce {And} ek thow hast thy beste frende a-lyue 32

¶ I haue the tawht deuisyou{n} by-twene Frend of effect+ {and} frende of cowntenau{n}ce The nedeth nat the galle of no hyene Þ{a}t cureth eyen derkyd for penau{n}ce 36 Now se[st] thow cleer þ{a}t weere in ignorau{n}ce Yit halt thin ancre {and} yit thow mayst aryue Ther bownte berth the keye of my substau{n}ce {And} ek þ{o}u hast thy beste frende alyue 40

¶ How manye haue .I. refused to sustigne Syn .I. the fostred haue in thy plesau{n}ce Wolthow thanne make a statute on þy quyene Þ{a}t .I. shal ben ay at thy ordynau{n}ce 44 Thow born art in my regne of varyau{n}ce Abowte the wheel w{i}t{h} oother most thow dryue My loore is bet than wikke is thi greuau{n}ce {And} ek þou hast thy beste frende a-lyue 48

[Linenotes: 37 _se[st]_--partly erased and _ist_ written on it in a later hand. 41 _igne_ of _sustigne_ is in a later hand.]

LE RESPOU{N}CE DU PLEINTIF COU{N}TR{E} FORTUNE.

[Sidenote: [fol. 54.]]

¶ Thy loor{e} y dempne / it is adu{er}syte My frend maysthow nat reuen blynde goddesse Þ{a}t .I. thy frendes knowe .I. thanke to the Tak hem agayn / lat hem go lye on p{re}sse 52 The negardye in kepynge hyr rychesse P{re}nostik is thow wolt hir+ towr+ asayle Wikke appetyt comth ay before sykenesse [[pg 184]] In general this rewle may nat fayle 56

LE RESPOU{N}CE DE FORTUNE COU{N}TR{E} LE PLEINTIF

¶ Thow pynchest at my mutabylyte For .I. the lente a drope of my rychesse And now me lykyth to w{i}t{h}-drawe me Whi sholdysthow my realte ap{re}sse 60 The see may ebbe {and} flowen moor{e} or lesse The welkne hath myht to shyne reyne or hayle Ryht so mot .I. kythen my brutelnesse In general this rewle may nat fayle 64

LE PLEINTIF

¶ Lo excussyou{n} of the maieste Þ{a}t al purueyeth of his ryhtwysnesse That same thinge fortune clepyn ye Ye blynde beestys ful of lewednesse 68 The heuene hath p{ro}prete of sykyrnesse This world hath eu{er} resteles trauayle Thy laste day is ende of myn inter[e]sse In general this rewele may nat fayle 72

LENUOY DE FORTUNE

¶ Prynses .I. prey yow of yowr{e} gentilesses Lat nat this man on me thus crye {and} pleyne And .I. shal quyte yow yowr{e} bysynesse At my requeste as thre of yow or tweyne 76 Þ{a}t but yow lest releue hym of hys peyne Preyeth hys best frend of his noblesse That to som beter{e} estat he may attayne

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