Part 44

++Þanne seide she. þis is q{uo}d she þe olde questiou{n} of þe p{ur}ueaunce of god. {and} marcus tulius whan he deuided[e] þe deuinac{i}ou{n}s. þat is to sein in hys booke þat he wroot of deuinac{i}ou{n}s. he moeued[e] gretly þis questiou{n}. {and} þou þi self hast souȝt it mochel {and} outerly {and} lo{n}g[e]. but ȝit ne haþ it nat ben determined ne yspedd fermely {and} diligently of any of yow. ¶ And þe cause of þis derkenesse {and} [of this] difficulte is for þat þe moeuynge of þe resou{n} of mankynde ne may nat moeue{n} to. þat is to sein applien or ioygnen to þe simplicite of þe deuyne p{re}science. ¶ þe whiche symplicite of þe deuyne p{re}science ȝif þat men [myhten thinken it in any maner{e} / þ{a}t is to seyn / þ{a}t yif men] myȝte þinken {and} co{m}p{re}henden þe þinges as god seeþ hem. þan ne sholde þer dwellen outerly no doute. þe whiche resou{n} {and} cause of difficulte I shal assaie at þe laste to shewen {and} to speden. ¶ whan I haue firste [yspendyd / {and}] ansewered to þo resou{n}s by whiche þ{o}u art ymoeued. ¶ For I axe whi þ{o}u wenest þat þilk[e] resou{n}s of hem þat assoilen þis questiou{n} ne ben nat spedeful ynouȝ ne sufficient þe whiche soluc{i}ou{n} or þe whiche resou{n} for þat it demiþ þat þe p{re}science nis nat cause of necessite to þinges to comen. þan ne weneþ it nat þat fredom of wille be distourbed or ylett by p{re}science. for ne drawest þou nat argumentes from ellys where of þe necessite of þinges to comen. As who seiþ any oþer wey þan þus. but þat þilke þinge[s] þat þe p{re}scie{n}ce woot byforn [ne] mowen nat vnbitide. þat is to seyn þat þei moten bitide. ¶ But þan yif þat p{re}science ne putteþ no necessite to þinges to comen. as þou þi self hast confessed it {and} byknowen a litel herbyforn{e}. ¶ what cause [or what] is it. as who seiþ þere may no cause be. by whiche þat þe endes (exitus) uoluntarie of þinges myȝten be constreyned to certeyne bitydyng. ¶ For by grace of possessiou{n}. so þat þou mowe þe better vndirstonde þis þat folweþ. ¶ I pose (inpossibile) þat þer ne be no p{re}science. þan axe I q{uo}d she in as moche as app{er}teniþ to þat. sholde þan þinges þat comen of frewille ben constreined to bytiden by necessite. {Boici}us. nay q{uo}d I. þan aȝeinward q{uo}d she. I suppose þat þere be p{re}science but þat ne putteþ no necessite to þinges. þan trowe I þat þilk self fredom of wille shal dwelle{n} al hool {and} absolut {and} vnbounden. but þou wolt sein þat al be it so þat p{re}science nis nat cause of þe necessite of bitidynge to þinges to comen. ¶ Algates ȝitte it is a signe þ{a}t þe þinges ben to bytiden by necessite. by þis manere þan al þouȝ þe p{re}science ne hadde neuer yben. ȝit algate or at þe lest[e] wey. it is certeyne þing þat þe e{n}dys {and} þe bitydynges of þinges to come{n} sholde ben necessarie. ¶ For euery sygne sheweþ {and} signifieþ oonly what þe þing is ¶ but it ne makiþ nat þe þing þat it signifieþ. ¶ For whiche it byhoueþ firste to shewen þat no þing ne bitidiþ [þ{a}t it ne bytydith] by necessite. so þat it may apere þ{a}t þe p{re}scie{n}ce is signe of þis necessite ¶ or ellys yif þere nere no necessite. certys þilke p{re}science ne myȝt[e] nat ben signe of þinge þat nis nat. ¶ But certys it is nowe certeyne þat þe preue of þis susteniþ by stedfast resou{n} ne shal nat ben ladd ne p{ro}ued by signes ne by argumentys ytaken fro wiþ oute. but by causes couenable {and} necessarie ¶ But þou mayst sein how may it be þat þe þinges ne bitiden nat þat ben ypurueyed to comen. but certys ryȝt as we trowen þat þo þinges whiche þat þe p{ur}ueau{n}ce woot byforn to comen. ne ben nat to bitiden. but [þ{a}t] ne sholde we nat demen. but raþer al þouȝ [þat] þei schal bitiden. ȝit ne haue þei no necessite of hire kynde to bitiden. {and} þis maist þou lyȝtly ap{er}ceyue{n} by þis þat I shal seyn. but we seen many þinges whan þei ben don byforn oure eyen ryȝt as men seen þe karter worken in þe to{ur}nynge {and} in attempryng or in adressy{n}g of hys kartes or chariottes. ¶ and by þis manere as who seiþ mayst þou vnd{er}sto{n}de of alle manere oþir werkeme{n}. ¶ Is þere þanne any necessite as who seiþ in oure lokynge [þ{a}t] constreineþ or compelliþ any of þilke þinges to ben don so. b. nay q{uo}d I ¶ For in ydel {and} in veyne were alle þe effect of crafte yif þat alle þinges weren moeued by constreynynge. þat is to seyn by constreynynge of oure eyen or of oure syȝt. _P._ þise þi{n}g{us} þan q{uo}d she þat whan men don hem ne han non necessite þat men don hem. eke þo same þinges first or þei be don. þei ben to comen wiþ out necessite. for whi þer ben so{m}me þinges to bytide of whiche þe endys {and} þe bitidynges of hem ben absolut {and} quit of alle necessite. for certys I ne trowe nat þat any man wolde seyn þis. þat þo þinges þat men don now þ{a}t þei ne weren to bitiden. first or þei were ydon ¶ and þilk same þinges al þouȝ þ{a}t men hadde{n} ywyst hem by-forn. ȝitte þei han fre bitidynges. for ryȝt as science of þinges p{re}sent ne bryngeþ in no necessite to þinges [þ{a}t men doon // Ryht so the p{re}science of thinges to comen ne bryngeth in no necessite to thinges] to bytiden but þou mayst seyn þat of þilke same it is ydouted. as wheþer þat of þilke þinges þat ne han non endes {and} bytidynges necessaryes yif þer-of may ben any p{re}science ¶ For certys þei seme to discorde. for þou wenest þat yif þat þinges ben yseyn byforn þat necessite folweþ hem. and yif ({et} putas) necessite faileþ hem þei ne myȝten nat ben wist byforn. {and} þat no þinge ne may ben comp{re}hendid by science but certeyne. {and} yif þo þinges þat ne han no certeyne bytidynges ben ypurueied as certeyn. it sholde ben dirkenesse of oppiniou{n} nat soþefastnesse of science [{and} þ{o}u weenyst þ{a}t it be diu{er}se fro the hoolnesse of science / þ{a}t any man sholde deme a thing to ben oother weys thanne it is it self]. and þe cause of þis errour is. þat of alle þe þinges þat euery wyȝt haþ yknowe. þei wenen þat þo þinges ben y-knowe al oonly by þe strengþe {and} by þe nature of þe þinges þat ben ywyst or yknowe. {and} it is al þe contrarie. for alle þat eu{er}e is yknowe. it is raþer comp{re}hendid {and} yknowe{n} nat after his strengeþ {and} hys nature. but after þe faculte þat is to seyn þe power {and} [the] nature of hem þat knowen. {and} for þat þis shal mowe shewen by a short ensample þe same roundenes of a body .O. oþer weyes þe syȝt of þe eye knoweþ it. {and} oþer weyes þe touchi{n}g. þe lokynge by castynge of his bemes waiteþ {and} seeþ fro afer alle þe body to-gider wiþ oute mouynge of it self. but þe touchinge cliuiþ {and} conioigneþ to þe rounde body (orbi) {and} moueþ abouten þe environynge. {and} comp{re}hendiþ by p{ar}ties þe roundenesse. ¶ and þe man hym self oþer weies wyt byholdiþ hym. {and} oþ{er}weyes ymaginac{i}ou{n} {and} oþer weyes resou{n}. {and} oþer weyes intelligence. ¶ For þe wit co{m}p{re}he{n}diþ fro wiþ outen furþe þe figure of þe body of þe man. þat is establissed in þe matere subiect. But þe ymaginac{i}ou{n} [comp{re}hendith only the figur{e} w{i}t{h} owte the mater{e} / Resou{n} surmou{n}teth ymaginaciou{n}] {and} co{m}p{re}hendeþ by an vniuersel lokynge þe co{mmun}e spece (sp{eci}em) þat is in þe singuler peces. ¶ But þe eye of intelligence is heyȝer for it so{ur}mou{n}teþ þe envirounynge of þe vniu{er}site {and} lookeþ ouer þat by pure subtilite of þouȝt. þilk same symple forme of man þat is p{er}durably in þe deuyne þouȝt. in whiche þis auȝt[e] gretely to ben considered þat þe heyest strengþe to co{m}prehenden þinges enbraceþ {and} conteyneþ þe lower[e] strengþe [but the lower{e} strengthe ne arysith nat in no maner{e} to heyer{e} strengthe]. for wit ne may no þinge co{m}p{re}hende oute of matere. ne þe ymagynac{i}ou{n} ne lokeþ nat þe vniuerseles speces. ne resou{n} ne takeþ nat þe symple forme. so as i{n}telligence takeþ it. but þe intelligence þat lokeþ al abouen whan it haþ co{m}p{re}hendid þe forme it knoweþ {and} demeþ alle þe þinges þat be{n} vndir þat forme. but she knoweþ he{m} vndir þilke manere in þe whiche it comp{re}hendiþ þilke same symple forme þat ne may neuer be knowen to non of þat oþer. þat is to seyn to non of þo þre forseide strengþes of þe soule. for it knoweþ þe vniuersite of resou{n} {and} þe figure of þe ymaginac{i}ou{n}. {and} þe sensible mat{er}ial conseiued. {and} þou wenest þ{a}t it be diuerse fro þe hoolnesse of science. þat any man sholde deme a þing to ben oþ{er}weyes þan it is it self {and} þe cause of þis erro{ur} {et}c’. {vt sup}ra. by wit. ne it ne vseþ nat nor of resou{n} ne of ymaginac{i}ou{n} ne of wit wiþ oute forþe but it byholdeþ alle þinges so as I shal seye. by a strok of þouȝt formely wiþ oute disco{ur}s or collac{i}ou{n} ¶ Certys resou{n} whan it lokeþ any þing vniu{er}sel it ne vseþ nat of ymaginac{i}ou{n} nor of wit {and} algates ȝit [it] co{m}prendiþ þe þinges ymaginable {and} sensible. for resou{n} is she þat diffinisseþ þe vniuersel of hir conseite ryȝt þus. ¶ Man is a resonable t[w]o-footid beest. and how so þat þis knowynge [is] vniuersel. ȝit nys þer no wyȝt þat ne woot wel. þat a ma{n} is [a thing] ymaginable {and} sensible ¶ and þis same co{n}sidereþ wel resou{n}. but þat nis nat by ymaginac{i}ou{n}. nor by witte. but it lokiþ it by [a] resonable concepc{i}ou{n}. ¶ Also ymaginac{i}ou{n} al be it so. þat it takeþ of wit þe bygyny{n}g{us} to seen {and} to formen þe figures. algates al þouȝ þat wit ne ware not p{re}sent. ȝit it envirouniþ {and} co{m}p{re}hendiþ alle þinges sensible. nat by resou{n} sensible of demynge. but by resou{n} ymaginatif. ¶ sest þou nat þan þat alle þe þinges in knowynge vsen more of hir faculte or of hir power. þan þei don of [the] faculte or of power of þinges þat ben yknowen. ne þat nis no wronge. for so as euery iugement is þe dede or þe doynge of hym þat demeþ. It byhoueþ þat euery wyȝt p{er}forme þe werke {and} hys entenc{i}ou{n} nat of forein power[;] but of hys propre power.

QUONDAM PORTICUS ATTULIT.

[Sidenote: [The 4^the Met{ur}.]]

++ÞE porche þat is to sein a gate of þe toune of athenis þer as philosophres hadde hir congregac{i}ou{n} to dispoyten. {and} þilke porche brouȝt[e] so{m}tyme olde men ful derke in hire sentences. þ{a}t is to sein philosophers þat hyȝten stoiciens. þat wenden þat ymages [{and}] sensibilites þat is to sein sensible ymaginac{i}ou{n}s. or ellys ymaginac{i}ou{n} of sensible þinges were{n} i{n}p{re}ntid in to soules fro bodies wiþ oute forþe. ¶ As who seiþ þat þilke stoiciens wenden þ{a}t þe soule hadde ben naked of it self. as a mirour or a clene p{ar}chemyn. so þat alle fygures mosten [fyrst] comen fro þinges fro wiþ oute in to soules. {and} ben inp{re}ntid in to soules. _Textus._ Ryȝt as we ben wont some tyme by a swift poyntel to ficchen l{ett}res emp{re}ntid in þe smoþenesse or in þe plainesse of þe table of wex. or in p{ar}chemyn þat ne haþ no figure [ne] note in it. _Glosa._ But now arguiþ boece aȝeins þat oppiniou{n} {and} seiþ þus. but yif þe þriuyng soule ne vnplitiþ no þing. þat is to sein ne doþ no þing by hys p{ro}pre moeuynges. but suffriþ {and} lieþ subgit to þe figures {and} to þe notes of bodyes wiþ oute forþe. {and} ȝeldeþ ymages ydel {and} veyne in þe manere of a mirour. whennes þriueþ þan or whennes comeþ þan þilke knowyng in oure soule. þat discerniþ {and} byholdeþ alle þinges. and whennes is þilke strengþe þat byholdeþ þe syngulere þinges. or whennes is þe strengþe þat dyuydeþ þinges yknowe. {and} þilke stre{n}gþe þat gadereþ to-gidre þe þinges deuided. {and} þe strengþe þat cheseþ hys entrechau{n}ged wey for som tyme it heueþ vp þe heued. þat is to sein þat it heueþ vp þe ente{n}c{i}ou{n} to ryȝt heye þinges. {and} som tyme it discendiþ in to ryȝt lowe þinges. {and} whan it retourniþ in to hym self. it rep{re}uiþ {and} destroieþ þe false þinges by þe trewe þinges. ¶ Certys þis strengþe is cause more efficient {and} mochel more myȝty to seen {and} to knowe þinges. þan þilke cause þat suffriþ and resceyueþ þe notes {and} þe figures inp{re}ssed in manere of matere algates þe passiou{n} þat is to seyn þe suffraunce or þe wit i{n} þe quik[e] body goþ byforne excitynge {and} moeuyng þe strengþes of þe þouȝte. ryȝt so as whan þat clerenesse smyteþ þe eyen {and} moeuiþ hem to seen. or ryȝt so as voys or soune hurtliþ to þe eres {and} co{m}moeuiþ hem to herkne. þan is þe stre{n}gþe of þe þouȝt ymoeuid {and} excitid {and} clepeþ furþe þe semblable moeuynges þe speces þat it halt wiþ i{n}ne it self. {and} addiþ þo speces to þe notes {and} to þe þinges wiþ out forþe. {and} medeleþ þe ymages of þinges wiþ out forþe to þe forme[s] yhid wiþ i{n}ne hym self.

Q{UO}D SI IN CORPORIB{US} SENCIEND{IS}.

QUESTIO.

[Sidenote: [The .5.^the p{ro}se.]]

++But what [yif] þat in bodies to be{n} feelid þat is to sein in þe takynge of knowelechinge of bodyly þinges. and al be it so þat þe qualites of bodies þ{a}t ben obiect fro wiþ oute forþe moeuen {and} entalenten þe instrumentes of þe wittes. and al be it so þat þe passiou{n} of þe body þat is to seyn þe witte [or the] suffrau{n}ce [goth to-forn the strengthe of the workynge corage / the which passiou{n} or suffraunce] clepiþ furþe þe dede of þe þouȝt in hym self. {and} moeueþ {and} exiteþ in þis mene while þe formes þ{a}t resten wiþ in forþe. and yif þat i{n} sensible bodies as I haue seid oure corage nis nat ytauȝt or enp{re}ntid by passiou{n} to knowe þise þinges. but demiþ {and} knoweþ of hys owen strengþe þe passiou{n} or suffrau{n}ce subiect to þe body. Moche more þan þoo þinges þat ben absolut {and} quit fram alle talentȝ or affecc{i}ou{n}s of bodies. as god or hys aungels ne folwen nat in discernynge þinges obiect from wiþ oute forþe. but þei accomplissen {and} speden þe dede of hir þouȝt by þis resou{n}. ¶ þan þere comen many manere knowynges to dyu{er}se {and} differy{n}g substaunces. for þe wit of þe body þe whiche witte is naked {and} despoyled of alle oþer knowynges. þilke witte comeþ to bestes þat ne mowen nat moeuen hem self here ne þere. as oystres {and} muscles {and} oþer swiche shelle fysshe of þe see. þ{a}t cliue{n} {and} ben norissed to roches. but þe ymaginac{i}ou{n} comeþ to remuable bestes þat seme{n} to han talent to fleen or to desiren any þinge. but resou{n} is al only to þe lynage of mankynde ryȝt as i{n}telligence is oonly þe deuyne nature. of whiche it folweþ þat þilke knowyng is more worþe þan [th]is[e] oþer. syn it knoweþ by hys p{ro}pre nature nat only hys subiect. as who seiþ it ne knoweþ nat al oonly þat app{er}teiniþ p{ro}prely to hys knowynge. but it knoweþ þe subgitȝ of alle oþer knowynges. but how shal it þan be yif þat wit {and} ymaginac{i}ou{n} stryuen aȝeins resonynge {and} sein þat of þilke vniuersel þinges. þat resou{n} weneþ to seen þat it nis ryȝt nauȝt. for wit {and} ymaginac{i}ou{n} seyn þat þat. þat is sensible or ymaginable it ne may nat ben vniuersel. þan is eiþer þe iugement of resou{n} [soth]. ne þat þer nis no þinge sensible. or ellys for þat resou{n} woot wel þat many þinges ben subiect to wit {and} to ymaginac{i}ou{n}. þan is þe co{n}sepc{i}ou{n} of resou{n} veyn {and} fals whiche þat lookeþ {and} co{m}p{re}hendiþ. þat þat is sensible {and} synguler as uniuersele. and ȝif þat resou{n} wolde answeren aȝein to þise two þat is to sein to wit {and} to ymaginac{i}ou{n}. {and} sein þat soþely she hir self. þat is to seyn þat resou{n} lokeþ {and} comp{re}hendiþ by resou{n} of vniuersalite. boþe þat þat is sensible {and} þat þat is ymaginable. {and} þat þilke two þat is to seyn wit {and} ymaginac{i}ou{n} ne mowe{n} nat strecchen ne enhaunsen hem self to knowynge of vniuersalite for þat þe knowy{n}g of hem ne may exceden nor so{ur}mou{n}te{n} þe bodyly figure[s] ¶ Certys of þe knowyng of þinges men auȝten raþer ȝeue credence to þe more stedfast {and} to þe more p{er}fit iugement. In þis manere stryuynge þan we þat han strengþe of resonynge {and} of ymaginynge {and} of wit þat is to seyn by resou{n} {and} by ymaginac{i}ou{n} {and} by wit. [{and}] we sholde raþer p{re}ise þe cause of resou{n}. as who seiþ þan þe cause of wit or ymaginac{i}ou{n}. semblable þinge is it þat þe resou{n} of mankynde ne weneþ nat þat þe deuyne intelligence byholdeþ or knoweþ þinges to comen. but ryȝt as þe resou{n} of mankynde knoweþ hem. for þou arguist {and} seist þus. þat yif it ne seme nat to men þat so{m}me þinges han certeyne {and} necessarie bytidynges. þei ne mowen nat ben wist byforn certeynely to bytiden. þa{n} nis [ther] no p{re}science of þilke þinges. {and} yif we trowen þat p{re}science ben in þise þinges. þan is þer no þinge þat it ne bitidiþ by necessite. but certys yif we myȝte{n} han þe iugeme{n}t of þe deuyne þouȝt as we ben p{ar}son{er}s of resou{n}. ryȝt so as we han demed. it byhoueþ þat ymaginac{i}ou{n} {and} wit ben byneþe resou{n}. ryȝt so wolde we deme{n} þat it were ryȝtful þing þat ma{n}s resou{n} auȝt[e] to su{m}mitten it self {and} to ben byneþe þe deuyne þouȝt. for whiche þat yif we mowen. as who seiþ. þat yif þat we mowe{n} I conseil[e] þat we enhanse vs in to þe heyȝt of þilke souereyne i{n}telligence. for þere shal resou{n} wel seen þat þat it ne may nat by-holden in it self. and certys þat is þis in what manere þe p{re}science of god seeþ alle þinges c{er}teins {and} difinissed al þouȝ þei ne han no certein issues or by-tydynges. ne þis is non oppiniou{n} but it is raþer þe simplicite of þe souereyn science þat nis nat enclosed nor yshet wiþi{n}ne no boundes.

QUAM UARIIS FIGURIS.

[Sidenote: [The 5^the Met{ur}.]]

++ÞE bestes passen by þe erþes by ful dyuerse figures for so{m}me of hem han hir bodies strauȝt {and} crepe{n} in þe dust {and} drawen after he{m} a t{ra}is or a forghe contynued. þat is to sein as addres or snakes. and oþer bestes by [the] wandryng lyȝtnesse of hir wenges beten þe wyndes {and} ouer-swymme{n} þe spaces of þe longe eyer by moist flee[y]nge. and oþer bestes gladen hem to diggen her traas or her stappes i{n} þe erþe wiþ hir goynge or wiþ her feet. or to gone eyþe[r] by þe grene feldes or [elles] to walken vnder þe wodes. {and} al be it so þ{a}t þou seest þat þei alle discorden by dyuerse formes. algate hir{e} [faces] enclini[n]g heuieþ hir{e} dulle wittes. Onlyche þe lynage of man heueþ heyest hys heyȝe heued {and} stondeþ lyȝt wiþ hys vpryȝt body {and} byholdeþ þe erþe vndir hym. [and] but-ȝif þou erþely man wexest yuel oute of þi witte. þis figure amonesteþ þe þ{a}t axest þe heuene wiþ þi ryȝt[e] visage. {and} hast areised þi forhede to beren vp on heye þi corage so þat þi þouȝt ne be nat yheuied ne put lowe vndir foot. sen þat þi body is so heye areised.

PR{O}SA VLTI{M}A.

QUONIA{M} IGITUR UTI PAULO ANTE.

[Sidenote: [The 6^te p{ro}se {and} the laste.]]