Part 38

++FOr as moche þan as þou hast seyn. whiche is þe forme of goode þat nys nat p{er}fit. {and} whiche is þe forme of goode þat is p{er}fit. now trowe I þat it were goode to shewe in what þis p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of blisfulnesse is set. {and} in þis þing I trowe þat we sholden first enquere forto witen yif þat any swiche manere goode as þilke goode þat þou hast diffinissed a lytel her byforne. þat is to seine souereyne goode may be founden in þe nature of þinges. For þat veyne ymaginac{i}ou{n} of þouȝt ne desceiue vs nat. {and} putte vs oute of þe soþefastnesse of þilke þinge þat is su{m}myttid to vs. þis is to seyne. but it may nat ben denoyed þat þilke goode ne is. ¶ and þat it nis ryȝt as a welle of alle goodes. ¶ For al þing þat is cleped i{n}p{er}fit. is proued i{n}p{er}fit by þe amenusynge of p{er}fecc{i}ou{n}. or of þing þat is p{er}fit. {and} her of comeþ it. þat in euery þing general. yif þat. þat men seen any þing þat is i{n}p{er}fit certys in þilke general þer mot ben so{m}me þing þat is p{er}fit. ¶ For yif so be þat p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} is don awey. men may nat þinke nor seye fro whe{n}nes þilke þing is þat is cleped inperfit. ¶ For þe nature of þinges ne token nat her bygynnyng of þinges amenused {and} i{n}p{er}fit. but it p{ro}cediþ of þi{n}g{us} þat ben al hool. {and} absolut. {and} descendeþ so doune in to outerest þinges {and} in to þi{n}g{us} empty {and} wiþ oute fruyt. but as I haue shewed a litel her byforne. þat yif þer be a blisfulnesse þat be frele {and} vein {and} inp{er}fit. þer may no man doute. þat þer nys som blisfulnesse þat is sad stedfast {and} p{er}fit. b. þis is concludid q{uo}d I fermely {and} soþefastly. _P._ But co{n}sidere also q{uo}d she in wham þis blisfulnesse enhabiteþ. þe co{m}mune acordaunce {and} conceite of þe corages of men p{ro}ueþ {and} graunteþ þat god p{r}ince of alle þi{n}g{us} is good. ¶ For so as no þing ne may ben þouȝt bettre þan god. it may nat ben douted þan þat [he þ{a}t] no þing is bettre. þat he nys good. ¶ Certys resou{n} sheweþ þat god is so goode þat it p{ro}ueþ by verray force þat p{er}fit goode is in hym. ¶ For yif god ne is swiche. he ne may nat ben p{r}ince of alle þinges. for certis som þing possessyng in hy{m} self p{er}fit goode sholde ben more þan god. {and} [it] sholde seme þat þilke þing were first {and} elder þan god. ¶ For we han shewed ap{er}tly þat alle þinges þat ben p{er}fit. ben first or þinges þat ben inperfit. ¶ And for þi for as moche as [that] my resou{n} or my p{ro}ces ne go nat awey wiþoute an ende. we ouȝt[e] to graunten þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of souereyne p{er}fit goode. and we han establissed þat þe souereyne goode is verrey blisfulnesse. þan mot it nedes ben [þ{a}t verray blysfulnesse is] yset i{n} souereyne god. _B._ þis take I wel q{uo}d .I. ne þis ne may nat be wiþseid in no manere. ¶ But I p{re}ie þe q{uo}d she see now how þou mayst preuen holily {and} wiþ-oute{n} corrupciou{n} þis þat I haue seid. þat þe souereyne god is ryȝt ful of souereyne goode. [In whych man{er}e q{uo}d I.] wenest þou ouȝt q{uo}d she þat þis p{r}ince of alle þinges haue ytake þilke souereyne good any where þan of hym self. ¶ of whiche souereyne goode men p{ro}ueþ þat he is ful ryȝt as þou myȝtest þinken. þat god þat haþ blisfulnesse in hym self. {and} þat ilke blisfulnesse þat is in hym were diu{er}s in substaunce. ¶ For yif þou wene þat god haue receyued þilke good oute of hy{m} self. þou mayst wene þat he þat ȝaf þilke good to god. be more goode þan is god. ¶ But I am byknowen {and} confesse {and} þat ryȝt dignely þat god is ryȝt worþi abouen alle þinges. ¶ And yif so be þat þis good be in hym by nature. but þat it is diu{er}s from [hym] by wenyng resou{n}. syn we speke of god p{r}ince of alle þinges feyne who so feyne may. who was he þat [hath] co{n}ioigned þise diu{er}s þinges to-gidre. {and} eke at þe last[e] se wel þat o þing þat is diu{er}s from any þing. þat þilke þing nis nat þat same þing. fro whiche it is vndirstonde{n} to ben diu{er}s. þan folweþ it. þat þilke þi{n}g þat by hys nature is dyuers from souereyne good. þat þat þing nys nat souereyne good. but certys þat were a felonous corsednesse to þinken þat of hym. þat no þing nis more worþe. For alwey of alle þinges. þe nat{ur}e of hem ne may nat ben better þan his bygy{n}nyng. ¶ For whiche I may concluden by ryȝt uerray resou{n}. þat þilke þat is bygynnyng of alle þinges. þilke same þing is good in his substaunce. _B._ þou hast seid ryȝtfully q{uo}d .I. _P._ But we han graunted q{uo}d she þat souereyne good is blysfulnes. þat is soþe q{uo}d .I. þan q{uo}d she mote we nedes graunten {and} confessen þat þilke same souereyne goode be god. ¶ Certys q{uo}d .I. I ne may nat denye ne wiþstonde þe resou{n}s p{ur}posed. and I see wel þat it folweþ by strengþe of þe p{re}misses. ¶ Loke nowe q{uo}d she yif þis be proued [yit] more fermely þus. ¶ þat þer ne mowen nat ben two souereyne goodes þat ben diuerse amo[n]ges hem self. þat on is nat þat þat oþer is. þan [ne] mowen neiþer of hem ben p{er}fit. so as eyþer of hem lakkiþ to oþir. but þat þat nis nat p{er}fit men may seen apertly þat it nis nat souereyne. þe þinges þan þat ben souereynely goode ne mowen by no wey ben diuerse. ¶ But I haue wel conclude þat blisfulnesse {and} god ben [the] souereyne goode. For whiche it mot nedes be þat souereyne blisfulnesse is souerey[ne] dyuynite. ¶ No þing q{uo}d I nis more soþefast þan þis ne more ferme by resou{n}. ne a more worþi þing þan god may nat ben concluded. _P._ vpon þise þinges þan q{uo}d she. ryȝt as þise geometriens whan þei han shewed her p{ro}posiciou{n}s ben wont to brynge{n} in þinges þat þei clepen porismes or declarac{i}ou{n}s of forseide þinges. ryȝt so wil I ȝeue þe here as a corolarie or a mede of coroune. For whi. for as moche as by þe getynge of blisfulnesse men ben maked blysful. {and} blisfulnesse is diuinite. ¶ þan is it manifest {and} open þat by þe gety{n}g of diuinite men ben makid blisful. ryȝt as by þe getynge of iustice . . . {and} by þe getyng of sapience þei ben maked wise. ¶ Ryȝt so nedes by þe semblable resou{n} wha{n} þei han getyn diuinite þei ben maked goddys. þan is euery blisful man god. ¶ But certis by nature. þer nys but oon god. but by þe p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n}s of diuinite þere ne letteþ ne disturbeþ no þing þat þer ne ben many goddes. ¶ þis is q{uo}d .I. a faire þing {and} a p{re}cious. ¶ Clepe it as þ{o}u wolt. be it corolarie or porisme or mede of coroune or declarynges ¶ Certys q{uo}d she no þing nis fairer. þan is þe þing þat by resou{n} sholde ben added to þise forseide þinges. what þing q{uo}d .I. ¶ So q{uo}d she as it semeþ þat blisfulnesse conteniþ many þinges. it were forto witen wheþir [þ{a}t] alle þise þinges maken or conioignen as a maner body of blysfulnesse by diuersite of parties or [of] me{m}bris. Or ellys yif any of alle þilke þi{n}g{us} be swyche þat it acomplise by hy{m} self þe substaunce of blisfulnesse. so þat alle þise oþer þinges ben referred and brouȝt to blisfulnesse. þat is to seyne as to þe chief of hem. ¶ I wolde q{uo}d I þat þou makedest me clerly to vndirstonde what þou seist. {and} þat þou recordest me þe forseide þinges. ¶ Haue I nat iuged q{uo}d she. þat blisfulnesse is goode. ȝis forsoþe q{uo}d .I. {and} þat souereyne goode. ¶ Adde þan q{uo}d she þilke goode þat is maked blisfulnes to alle þe forseide þinges. ¶ For þilke same blisfulnesse þat is demed to ben souereyne suffisaunce. þilke self is souereyne power. souereyne reuerence. sou{er}eyne clernesse or noblesse {and} souereyne delit. what seist þou þan of alle þise þinges. þat is to seyne. suffisance power {and} þise oþer þinges. ben þei þan as membris of blisfulnesse. or ben þei referred {and} brouȝt to souereyne good. ¶ Ryȝt as alle þinges þat ben brouȝt to þe chief of hem. b. I vndirstonde wel q{uo}d .I. what þou p{ur}posest to seke. but I desijr[e] to herkene þat þou shewe it me. _p._ Take now þus þe discressiou{n} of þis questiou{n} q{uo}d she. yif al þise þinges q{uo}d she weren membris to felicite. þan weren þei diu{er}se þat oon fro þat oþer. ¶ And swiche is þe nat{ur}e of p{ar}ties or of membris. þat dyuerse me{m}bris compounen a body. ¶ Certis q{uo}d I it haþ wel ben shewed her byforne. þat alle þise þinges ben alle on þing. þan ben þei none membris q{uo}d she. for ellys it sholde seme þat blisfulnesse were conioigned al of one membre alone. but þat is a þi{n}g þat may nat ben doon. þis þing q{uo}d .I. nys nat doutous. but I abide to herkene þe remenaunt of þe questiou{n}. þis is ope{n} {and} clere q{uo}d she. þat alle oþer þinges ben referred {and} brouȝt to goode. ¶ For þerfore is suffisaunce requered. For it is demed to ben good. {and} forþi is power requered. for men trowen also þat it be goode. and þis same þing mowe we þinken {and} coueiten of reuerence {and} of noblesse {and} of delit. þan is souereyne good þe soume {and} þe cause of alle þat auȝt[e] be desired. forwhi þilke þing þat wiþ-holdeþ no good in it self ne semblaunce of goode it ne may nat wel in no manere be desired ne requered. {and} þe contrarie. For þouȝ þat þinges by hir nature ne ben nat goode algates yif men wene þat þei be{n} goode ȝit ben þei desired as þouȝ [þ{a}t] þei were verrayly goode. {and} þerfore is it þat men auȝte{n} to wene by ryȝt þat bounte be souereyne fyn {and} þe cause of alle þinges þat ben to requeren. ¶ But certis þilke þ{a}t is cause for whiche men requeren any þing. ¶ it semeþ þat þilke same þing be most desired. as þus yif þat a wyȝt wolde ryde for cause of hele. he ne desireþ nat so mychel þe moeuyng to ryden as þe effect of his heele. Now þan syn þat alle þinges ben requered for þe grace of good. þei ne ben [nat] desired of alle folk more þan þe same good ¶ But we han graunted þat blysfulnesse is þat þing for whiche þat alle þise oþer þinges ben desired. þan is it þus þat certis only blisfulnesse is requered {and} desired ¶ By whiche þing it sheweþ clerely þat good {and} blisfulnesse is al oone {and} þe same substaunce. ¶ I se nat q{uo}d I wher fore þat men myȝt[en] discorden in þis. _p._ {and} we han shewed þat god {and} verrey blysfulnesse is al oon þing ¶ þat is soþe q{uod} .I. þan mowe we conclude sikerly þ{a}t þe substaunce of god is set in þilke same good {and} in noon oþer place.

NUNC OMNES PARITER {ET}C.

[Sidenote: [The 10^the Met{ur}.]]

++O Comeþ alle to-gidre now ȝe þat ben ycauȝt {and} ybounde wiþ wicked[e] cheines by þe deceiuable delit of erþely þinges inhabytynge in ȝoure þouȝt. here shal ben þe reste of ȝoure laboures. here is þe hauene stable in peisible quiete. þis al oone is þe open refut to wreches. _Glosa._ þis is to seyn. þat ȝe þat ben combred {and} deceyued wiþ worldly affecc{i}ou{n}s comeþ now to þis souereyne good þat is god. þat is refut to hem þat wolen come to hym. _Textus._ ¶ Alle þe þinges þat þe ryuere Tagus ȝiueþ ȝow wiþ his golden[e] grauels. or ellys alle þe þynges þat þe ryuere herm{us}. ȝiueþ wiþ his rede brynke. or þat yndus ȝiueþ þat is nexte þe hote p{ar}tie of þe worlde. þat medeleþ þe grene stones (smaragd{e}) wiþ þe white (margarits). ne sholde nat cleren þe lokynge of ȝoure þoȝt. but hiden raþer ȝoure blynde corages wiþ i{n}ne hire dirkenesse ¶ Alle þat likeþ ȝow here {and} excitiþ {and} moeueþ ȝoure þouȝtes. þe erþe haþ noryshed it in hys lowe caues. but þe shynyng by þe whiche þe heuene is gouerned {and} whennes þat it haþ hys strengþe þat chaseþ þe derke ouerþrowyng of þe soule. ¶ And who so euer may knowen þilke lyȝt of blisfulnesse. he shal wel seine þat þe white bemes of þe sonne ne ben nat cleer.

ASSENCIOR INQ{UA}M CUNCTA. Boice.

[Sidenote: [The 11 p{ro}se.]]

++I assent[e] me q{uo}d .I. For alle þise þinges ben strongly bounden wiþ ryȝt ferme resou{n}s. how mychel wilt þou p{re}isen it q{uo}d she. yif þat þou knowe what þilke goode is. I wol p{re}ise it q{uo}d I by price wiþ outen ende. ¶ yif it shal bytyde me to knowe also to-gidre god þat is good. ¶ certys q{uo}d she þ{a}t shal I do þe by verray resou{n}. yif þat þo þinges þat I haue conclude[d] a litel her by forne dwellen oonly in hir first[e] graunty{n}g. _Boice._ þei dwellen graunted to þe q{uo}d .I. þis is to seyne as who seiþ .I. graunt þi forseide conclusiou{n}s. ¶ Haue I nat shewed þe q{uo}d she þat þe þinges þat ben requered of many folke. ne ben nat verray goodes ne p{er}fit. for þei ben diu{er}se þat oon fro þat oþer. {and} so as eche of hem is lakkyng to oþer. þei ne han no power to bryngen a good þ{a}t is ful {and} absolute. ¶ But þan atte arst ben þei verray good whan þei ben gadred to-gidre al in to a forme {and} in to oon wirchy{n}g. so þat þilke þing þat is suffisaunce. þilk same be power {and} reuerence. {and} noblesse {and} mirþe. ¶ And forsoþe but alle þise þi{n}ges ben alle o same þing þei ne han nat wher by þat þei mowen ben put in þe nou{m}bre of þinges. þat auȝten ben requered or desired. _b._ ¶ It is shewed q{uo}d .I. ne her of may þer no man douten. _p._ þe þinges þan q{uo}d she þat ne ben none goodes whan þei ben diu{er}se. {and} whan þei bygynnen to ben al o þing. þan ben þei goodes. ne comiþ it hem nat þan by þe getynge of unite þat þei ben maked goodes. _b._ so it semeþ q{uo}d .I. but alle þing þat is good q{uo}d she grauntest þou þat it be good by p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} of good or no. ¶ I graunt[e] it q{uo}d .I. ¶ þan mayst þou graunt[en] it q{uo}d she by sembleable resou{n} þat oon {and} good ben o same þing. ¶ For of þinges [of] whiche þat þe effect nis nat naturely diuerse nedys þe substaunce mot ben o same þinge. I ne may nat denye it q{uo}d I. ¶ Hast þou nat knowen wel q{uo}d she. þat al þing þat is haþ so longe his dwellyng {and} his substaunce. as longe is it oone. ¶ but wha{n} it forletiþ to ben oone it mot nedis dien {and} corrumpe togidre. ¶ In whiche manere q{uo}d .I. ¶ Ryȝt as in beestes q{uod} she. whan þe soule {and} þe body ben co{n}ioigned in oon {and} dwellen to-gidre it is cleped a beest. {and} whan hire vnite is destroied by disseueraunce þat oon fram þ{a}t oþir. þan sheweþ it wel þat it is a dede þi{n}g. {and} þat it is no lenger no beste. {and} þe body of a wyȝt while it dwelleþ in oon forme by coniuncc{i}ou{n} of membris it is wel seyn þat it is a figure of mankynde. and yif þe partyes of þe body ben [so] diuide[d] {and} disseuered þat oon fro þat oþir þat þei destroien vnite. þe body forletiþ to ben þat it was byforne. ¶ And who so wolde renne in þe same manere by alle þinges he sholde seen þat wiþ outen doute euery þinge is in his substaunce as longe as it is oon. {and} whan it forletiþ to ben oon it dieþ {and} p{er}issiþ. _boice._ whan I considre q{uo}d I many þinges I see noon oþ{er}. ¶ Is þer any þing þanne q{uo}d she þat in as moche as it lyueþ naturely. þat forletiþ þe appetit or talent of hys beynge. {and} desireþ to come to deeþ {and} to corrupc{i}ou{n}. ¶ yif I considere q{uod} I þe beestes þat han any manere nature of willy{n}ge or of nillynge I ne fynde no þing. but yif it be constreyned fro wiþ out forþe. þat forletiþ or dispiseþ to lyue {and} to dure{n} or þat wole his þankes hasten hy{m} to dien. ¶ For euery beest trauayleþ hy{m} to defende {and} kepe þe sauuac{i}ou{n} of lijf. {and} escheweþ deeþ {and} destrucc{i}ou{n}. _b._ but certys I doute me of herbes {and} of trees. þat is to seyn þat I am in a doute of swiche þinges as herbes or trees þat ne han no fely{n}g soule. ne no naturel wirchynges seruy{n}g to appetite as beestes han wheþer þei han appetite to dwelle{n} {and} to duren. ¶ Certis q{uo}d she ne þer of þar þe nat doute. ¶ Now look vpon þise herbes {and} þise trees. þei waxen firste in swiche place as be{n} couenable to hem. in whiche place þei ne mowen nat sone dien ne dryen as longe as hire nature may defenden he{m}. ¶ For some of hem waxen in feldes {and} some in mou{n}taignes. {and} oþir waxen i{n} mareis. [_A leaf lost here, and supplied from C._] [{and} oothre cleuyn on Roches / {and} soume waxen plentyuos in sondes / {and} yif þ{a}t any wyht enforce hym to beryn hem in to oother places / they wexen drye // For natur{e} yeueth to eu{er}y thing þ{a}t / þ{a}t is co{n}uenient to hym {and} trauaylith þ{a}t they ne dye nat as longe as they han power to dwellyn {and} to lyuen // what woltow seyn of this / þ{a}t they drawen alle hyr norysshynges by hyr rootes / ryht as they haddyn hyr Mowthes I.-plounged w{i}t{h} in the erthes / {and} shedyn by hyr maryes (i. medull{as}) hyr wode {and} hyr bark / {and} what woltow seyn of this þ{a}t thilke thing / þ{a}t is ryht softe as the marye (i. sapp) is / þ{a}t is alwey hidd in the feete al w{i}t{h} inne {and} þ{a}t it is defendid fro w{i}t{h} owte by the stidefastnesse of wode // {and} þ{a}t the vttereste bark is put ayenis the destemprau{n}ce of the heuene / as a defendowr myhty to suffren harm / {and} thus certes maystow wel sen / how gret is the diligence of natur{e} / For alle thinges renouelen {and} pupllisen hem w{i}t{h} seed .I.-multiplyed / nether nis no man þ{a}t ne wot wel þ{a}t they ne ben ryht as a foundement {and} edyfice for to duren / nat only for a tyme / but ryht as forto duren p{er}durablely by generacyou{n} // {and} the thinges ek þ{a}t men wenen ne hauen none sowles / ne desir{e} they nat ech of hem by sem[b]lable resou{n} to kepyn þ{a}t that is hirs / þ{a}t is to seyn þ{a}t is acordynge to hyr natur{e} in conseruaciou{n} of hyr beynge {and} endurynge // For wher for elles berith lythnesse the flaumbes vp / {and} the weyhte p{re}sseth the erthe a-dou{n} // but For as moche as thilke places and thilke moeuynges ben couenable to eu{er}ich of hem // {and} forsothe eu{er}y thing kepith thilke þ{a}t is acordynge {and} propre to hym // ryht as thinges þ{a}t ben contraryes {and} enemys corompen hem // {and} yit the harde thinges as stoones clyuen {and} holden hyr partyes to gydere ryht faste {and} harde / {and} deffenden hem in withstondenge þ{a}t they ne departe nat lyhtly a twyne // {and} the thinges þ{a}t ben softe {and} fletynge as is water {and} Eyr they departyn lyhtly // {and} yeuen place to hem þ{a}t brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retorne{n} sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben arraced // but fyr [fleetħ] {and} refuseth alle deuysyou{n} / ne I. ne trete nat heer{e} now of weleful moeuynges of the sowle þ{a}t is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciou{n} of thinges // As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete þ{a}t we resseyuen {and} ne thinke nat on it / {and} as we drawen owr{e} breth in slepynge þ{a}t we wite it nat whil we slepyt // For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle // but of the bygynnyngis of natur{e} // For certes thorw constreynynge causes / wil desireth {and} embraceth ful ofte tyme / the deth þ{a}t natur{e} dredith // that is to seyn as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which þ{a}t natur{e} hateth {and} dredeth ful sore // And som tyme we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / destorbeth {and} constreyneth þ{a}t þ{a}t natur{e} desireth / and requereth al-wey // that is to sein the werk of gen{er}aciou{n} / by the whiche gen{er}aciou{n} only / dwelleth {and} is sustenyd the longe durablete of mortal thinges // And thus this charite and this Loue þ{a}t eu{er}y thing hath to hym self ne comth nat of the moeuynge of the sowle / but of the entenciou{n} of natur{e} // For the puruyance of god hat yeuen to thinges þ{a}t ben creat of hym / this þ{a}t is a ful gret cause / to lyuen {and} to duren / for which they desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as eu{er} they mowen // For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that alle the thinges / that ben anywher{e} / that they ne requeren naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of p{er}durable dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyou{n} // B // now confesse I. wel q{uod} I. that I. see wel now certeynly / w{i}t{h} owte dowtes / the thinges that whylom semeden vncerteyn to me / P. // but q{uod} she thilke thyng þ{a}t desiretħ to be {and} to dwellyn p{er}durablely / he desireth to ben oon // For yif þ{a}t that oon weer{e} destroied // certes beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht // that is sotħ q{uod} I. // Thanne q{uod} she desirin alle thinges oon // .I. assente q{uod} .I. // {and} I haue shewyd q{uod} she that thilke same oon is thilke that is good // B // ye forsothe q{uod} I. // Alle thinges thanne q{uod} she requyren good // And thilke good thanne [þow] maist descryuen ryht thus // Good is thilke thing þ{a}t euery wyht desireth // Ther ne may be thowht q{uod} .I. no moor{e} verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred {and} browht to nowht / {and} floteryn w{i}t{h} owte gou{er}nour despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif ther be any thinge / to which þ{a}t alle thinges tenden {and} hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of alle goodes / P /. thanne seyde she thus // O my norry q{uod} she I haue gret gladnesse of the // For thow hast fichched in thin herte the myddel sothtfastnesse // that is to seyn the prykke // but this thing hath ben descouered to the / in that thow seydyst þ{a}t thow wystest nat a lytel her by-forn // what was th{a}t q{uod} I. // That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing þ{a}t eu{er}y wiht desireth // and for as mochel as we han gaderid / {and} co{m}p{re}hendyd that good is thilke thing that is desired of alle / thanne moten we nedes confessun / that good is the fyn of alle thinges.

QUISQUIS P{RO}FUNDA MENTE.

[Sidenote: [The .11. Met{ru}m.]]

++WHo so that sekith sotħ by a deep thoght And coueyteth nat to ben deseyuyd by no mys-weyes // lat hym rollen {and} trenden w{i}t{h} Inne hym self / the Lyht of his inward syhte // And lat hym gader{e} ayein enclynynge in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys thowhtes / And lat hym techen his corage that he hath enclosed {and} hyd / in his tresors / al þ{a}t he compaseth or sekith fro w{i}t{h} owte // And thanne thilke thing that the blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal lyhten more clerly tha{n}ne pheb{us} hym self ne shyneth // Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of soth in his thowht / {and} wol nat be deceyuyd by false p{ro}posiciou{n}s / that goon amys fro the trouthe // lat hym wel examine / {and} rolle w{i}t{h} inne hym self the natur{e} {and} the p{ro}pretes of the thing // and lat hym yit eft sones examine {and} rollen his thowhtes by good deliberaciou{n} or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it hat by naturel pryncyplis kyndeliche y-hyd w{i}t{h} in it self alle the trowthe the whiche he ymagynith to ben in thinges w{i}t{h} owte // And thanne alle the dyrknesse of his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [þe] syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semyth to [þe] syhte w{i}t{h} owte forth / For certes the body bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd owt of yowr{e} thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng // For certeynly the seed of sooth haldith {and} clyueth w{i}t{h} in yowr{e} corage / {and} it is a-waked {and} excited by the wynde {and} by the blastes of doctryne // For wher{e} for elles demen ye of yowr{e} owne wyl the ryhtes whan ye ben axed // but yif so wer{e} þ{a}t the noryssynges of resou{n} ne lyuede .I.-plowngyd in the depthe of yowr{e} herte // this [is] to seyn how sholden men demen þe sooth of any thing þ{a}t weer{e} axed / yif ther neer{e} a Roote of sothfastnesse þ{a}t weer{e} yplowngyd {and} hyd in the natur{e}[l] pryncyplis / the whiche sothfastnesse lyued w{i}t{h} in the depnesse of the thowght // {and} yif so be þ{a}t the Muse {and} the doctryne of plato syngyth sooth // al þ{a}t eu{er}y whyht lerneth / he ne doth no thing elles tha{n}ne but recordeth as me{n} recordyn thinges þ{a}t ben foryetyn.

TUM EGO PLATONI INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The .12. p{ro}se.]]