]
[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists
desires existence and avoids dissolution.
[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists
desires existence and avoids dissolution.
Chaucer - Boethius
t as in
beestes q{uod} she. whan ? e soule {and} ? e body ben
co{n}ioigned in oon {and} dwellen to-gidre it is cleped a 2700
beest. {and} whan hire vnite is destroied by disseueraunce
? at oon fram ? {a}t o? ir. ? an shewe? it wel ? at it is a
dede ? i{n}g. {and} ? at it is no lenger no beste.
[Sidenote: The same may be said of man and all other things; they
subsist while unity is preserved, but as soon as that is destroyed
the things themselves lose their existence. ]
{and} ? e
body of a wy? t while it dwelle? in oon forme by coniuncc{i}ou{n} 2704
of membris it is wel seyn ? at it is a figure of
mankynde. and yif ? e partyes of ? e body ben [so]
diuide[d] {and} disseuered ? at oon fro ? at o? ir ? at ? ei
destroien vnite. ? e body forleti? to ben ? at it was byforne. 2708
? And who so wolde renne in ? e same manere
by alle ? inges he sholde seen ? at wi? outen doute euery
? inge is in his substaunce as longe as it is oon. {and}
whan it forleti? to ben oon it die? {and} p{er}issi? .
[Sidenote: _B. _ I believe we should find this true in every case. ]
_boice. _ 2712
whan I considre q{uo}d I many ? inges I see noon o? {er}.
[Linenotes:
2690 _mayst ? ou graunt[en]_--mosthow grau{n}ten
2692 [_of_]--from C.
2695 _al_--alle
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
2696, 2697 _oone_--oon
2698 _whiche_--which
2703 _dede_--ded
_lenger_--lenger{e}
_beste_--beest
2704 _while_--whil
_oon_--oo
2706 _[so] diuide[d]_--so deuydyd
2709 _so_--omitted
2713 _many_--manye]
[Headnote:
NATURE SUSTAINS VEGETATION. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ Is there anything which acts naturally that
forgoes this desire of existence and wishes for death and
corruption? ]
? Is ? er any ? ing ? anne q{uo}d she ? at in as moche as
it lyue? naturely. ? at forleti? ? e appetit or talent of 2715
hys beynge. {and} desire? to come to dee?
{and} to corrupc{i}ou{n}. [[pg 97]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I do not find any creature endowed with volition,
which, of itself and without constraint, renounces or despises
life and self-preservation or willingly hastens to destruction. ]
? yif I considere q{uod} I ? e beestes ? at han
any manere nature of willy{n}ge or of nillynge I ne
fynde no ? ing. but yif it be constreyned fro wi? out
for? e. ? at forleti? or dispise? to lyue {and} to dure{n} 2720
or ? at wole his ? ankes hasten hy{m} to dien. ? For
euery beest trauayle? hy{m} to defende {and} kepe ? e
sauuac{i}ou{n} of lijf. {and} eschewe? dee? {and} destrucc{i}ou{n}.
[Sidenote: But with regard to herbs and trees, I am doubtful
whether I ought to have the same opinion of them, for they have no
sensitive soul, nor any natural volition like animals. ]
_b. _ but certys I doute me of herbes {and} of trees. ? at is 2724
to seyn ? at I am in a doute of swiche ? inges as herbes
or trees ? at ne han no fely{n}g soule. ne no naturel
wirchynges seruy{n}g to appetite as beestes han whe? er
? ei han appetite to dwelle{n} {and} to duren.
[Sidenote: _P. _ There is no cause for doubt in respect to these. ]
? Certis 2728
q{uo}d she ne ? er of ? ar ? e nat doute.
[Sidenote: Herbs and trees first choose a convenient place to grow
in, where, agreeably to their respective natures, they are sure to
thrive, and are in no danger of perishing; for some grow on
plains, some on mountains, &c. ; and if you try to transplant them,
they forthwith wither and die. ]
? Now look
vpon ? ise herbes {and} ? ise trees. ? ei waxen firste in
swiche place as be{n} couenable to hem. in whiche place
? ei ne mowen nat sone dien ne dryen as longe as hire 2732
nature may defenden he{m}. ? For some of hem waxen
in feldes {and} some in mou{n}taignes. {and} o? ir waxen i{n}
mareis. [_A leaf lost here, and supplied from C. _]
[{and} oothre cleuyn on Roches / {and} soume waxen plentyuos 2736
in sondes / {and} yif ? {a}t any wyht enforce hym to
beryn hem in to oother places / they wexen drye //
[Sidenote: To everything that vegetates, nature gives what is
needful for its subsistence, and takes care that they should not
perish before their time. ]
For natur{e} yeueth to eu{er}y thing ? {a}t /
? {a}t is co{n}uenient to
hym {and} trauaylith ? {a}t they ne dye nat as longe as they 2740
han power to dwellyn {and} to lyuen //
[Sidenote: Need I tell you that plants are nourished by their
roots (which are so many mouths hid in the earth), and diffuse
strength throughout the whole plant, as through their marrow? ]
what woltow seyn
of this / ? {a}t they drawen alle hyr norysshynges by hyr
rootes / ryht as they haddyn hyr Mowthes I. -plounged 2743
w{i}t{h} in the erthes / {and} shedyn by hyr maryes (i. medull{as})
hyr wode {and} hyr bark /
[Sidenote: And further, it is admirably contrived that the pith,
the most tender part of plants, is hid in the middle of the trunk,
surrounded with hard and solid wood, and with an outer coat of
bark to ward off the storms and weather. ]
{and} what woltow seyn
of this ? {a}t thilke thing / ? {a}t is ryht softe as the marye (i.
sapp) is / ? {a}t is alwey hidd in the feete al w{i}t{h} inne {and}
? {a}t it is defendid fro w{i}t{h} owte by the stidefastnesse of 2748
wode // {and} ? {a}t the vttereste bark is put ayenis
the destemprau{n}ce
of the heuene / as a defendowr myhty to suffren [[pg 98]]
harm /
[Sidenote: Admire, too, the diligence of nature in propagating
plants by a multiplicity of seeds, which are as a foundation for a
building, not to remain for a time, but as it were for ever. ]
{and} thus certes maystow wel sen / how gret is
the diligence of natur{e} / For alle thinges renouelen {and} 2752
pupllisen hem w{i}t{h} seed . I. -multiplyed / nether nis no man
? {a}t ne wot wel ? {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} //
[Sidenote: Things inanimate incline to what is most suitable to
their beings, and to preserve continuance. ]
{and} the thinges ek 2756
? {a}t men wenen ne hauen none sowles / ne desir{e} they nat ech
of hem by sem[b]lable resou{n} to kepyn ? {a}t that is hirs / ? {a}t
is to seyn ? {a}t is acordynge to hyr natur{e} in conseruaciou{n}
of hyr beynge {and} endurynge //
[Sidenote: For why should the flame mount upwards by lightness,
and the earth tend towards its centre by gravity (weight), unless
these motions were agreeable to their respective natures? ]
For wher for elles berith 2760
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 //
[Linenotes:
2718 _willynge_--wylnynge
_or_--{and}
2719 _? ing_--beest
_out for? e_--owte forth
2720 _lyue_--lyuen
2723 _of lijf_--of hys lyf
2726 _soule_--sowles
2727 _appetite_--appetites
2729 _look_--loke
2730 _waxen firste_--wexen fyrst
2733, 2734 _some_--som
2734 _o? ir_--oothre
2753 _pupllisen_--H. publisshen)
2755 _edyfice_--MS. edyfite
_a tyme_--H. oon) tyme
2758 _that_--H. omits
_hirs_--H. his]
[Headnote:
THE LOVE OF LIFE IS INSTINCTIVE. ]
[Sidenote: Whatever is agreeable to the nature of a thing
preserves it. So what is contrary to its nature destroys it. ]
{and} forsothe eu{er}y thing kepith thilke ? {a}t is acordynge 2764
{and} propre to hym // ryht as thinges ? {a}t ben contraryes
{and} enemys corompen hem //
[Sidenote: Dense bodies, such as stones, resist an easy separation
of parts; whereas the particles of liquid or flowing things, such
as air and water, are easily separated and soon reunited. ]
{and} yit the harde thinges
as stoones clyuen {and} holden hyr partyes to gydere
ryht faste {and} harde / {and} deffenden hem in withstondenge 2768
? {a}t they ne departe nat lyhtly a twyne // {and} the
thinges ? {a}t ben softe {and} fletynge as is water {and} Eyr
they departyn lyhtly // {and} yeuen place to hem ? {a}t
brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retorne{n} 2772
sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben
arraced //
[Sidenote: Fire avoids and utterly refuses any such division. ]
but fyr [fleet? ] {and} refuseth alle deuysyou{n} /
[Sidenote: I am not now treating of the voluntary motion of a
conscious soul, but of the natural intention and instinct. ]
ne I. ne trete nat heer{e} now of weleful moeuynges of the
sowle ? {a}t is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciou{n} 2776
of thinges //
[Sidenote: We swallow our meat without thinking of it, and we draw
our breath in sleep without perception. ]
As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete ? {a}t we
resseyuen {and} ne thinke nat on it / {and} as we drawen
owr{e} breth in slepynge ? {a}t we wite it nat whil we slepyt //
[Sidenote: The love of life in animals is not derived from an
intellectual will, but from natural principles implanted in them. ]
For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of 2780
hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle //
but of the bygynnyngis of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: For the will, induced by powerful reasons, sometimes
chooses and embraces death, although nature dreads and abhors it. ]
For certes thorw
constreynynge causes / wil desireth {and} embraceth ful
ofte tyme / the deth ? {a}t natur{e} dredith
// that is to seyn [[pg 99]]
as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som 2785
cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which
? {a}t natur{e} hateth {and} dredeth ful sore //
[Sidenote: And, on the contrary, we see that concupiscence (by
which alone the human race is perpetuated) is often restrained by
the will. ]
And som tyme
we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / 2788
destorbeth {and} constreyneth ? {a}t ? {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 //
[Sidenote: Self-love possessed by every creature is not the
product of volition, but proceeds from a natural impression or
intention of nature. ]
And thus 2792
this charite and this Loue ? {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} //
[Sidenote: Providence has implanted in all created things an
instinct, for the purpose of self-preservation, by which they
desire to prolong existence to its utmost limits. ]
For the puruyance of god
hat yeuen to thinges ? {a}t ben creat of hym / this ? {a}t is 2796
a ful gret cause / to lyuen {and} to duren / for which they
desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as eu{er} they mowen //
[Linenotes:
2774 [_fleeth_]--from H.
2775 _weleful_--H. wilfull{e}
2779 _slepyt_--H. slepe{n}
2788 _seeth_--H. seen)
_wil_--H. will{e}
2792 _And_--H. as
2796 _hat_--H. haue]
[Headnote:
THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT.
]
[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists
desires existence and avoids dissolution. ]
For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that
alle the thinges / that ben anywher{e} / that they ne requeren 2800
naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of p{er}durable
dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyou{n} //
[Sidenote: _B. _ You have made those things perfectly plain and
intelligible, which before were obscure and doubtful. ]
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 2804
vncerteyn to me /
[Sidenote: _P. _ That which desires to subsist desires also to
retain its unity for if this be taken away it cannot continue to
exist. ]
P. // but q{uod} she thilke thyng ? {a}t
desiret? to be {and} to dwellyn p{er}durablely / he desireth
to ben oon // For yif ? {a}t that oon weer{e} destroied // certes
beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht //
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is very true! ]
that 2808
is sot? q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ All things then desire one thing--unity. ]
Thanne q{uod} she desirin alle thinges
oon //
[Sidenote: _B. _ They do. ]
. I. assente q{uod} . I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Unity then is the same as good. ]
{and} I haue shewyd q{uod} she
that thilke same oon is thilke that is good //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Yes. ]
B // ye forsothe
q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Thus all things desire good--and it is one and the
same good that all creatures desire. ]
Alle thinges thanne q{uod} she requyren 2812
good // And thilke good thanne [? ow] maist descryuen
ryht thus // Good is thilke thing ? {a}t euery wyht desireth //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Nothing is more true. For either all things must
be reduced to nothing (or have no relation to anything else), and,
destitute of a head, float about without control or order; or if
there be anything to which all things tend, that must be the
supreme good. ]
Ther ne may be thowht q{uod} . I. no moor{e}
verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred {and} 2816
browht to nowht / {and} floteryn w{i}t{h} owte gou{er}nour
despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif [[pg 100]]
ther be any thinge / to which ? {a}t alle thinges tenden
{and} hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of 2820
alle goodes /
[Sidenote: _P. _ I rejoice greatly, my dear pupil, that you so
clearly apprehend this truth, of which but just now you were
ignorant. ]
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 2824
descouered to the / in that thow seydyst ? {a}t thow
wystest nat a lytel her by-forn //
[Sidenote: _B. _ What was that? ]
what was th{a}t q{uod} I. //
[Headnote:
THE END OF ALL THINGS. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ The _End of all things_. And this is what every
one desires; but we have shown that _good_ is the thing desired by
all, therefore _Good_ is the _End of all things_. ]
That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was
the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing ? {a}t 2828
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. 2832
[Linenotes:
2800 _the_--H. ? o
2806 _perdurablely_--H. p{er}durably
2807 _destroied_--H. destrued
2811 _thilke_ (1)--H. ilke
2818 _heued or elles_--H. hede or els
2820 _hyen_--H. hyen) to
_moste_--H. must]
[Headnote:
TRUTH INTUITIVE. ]
QUISQUIS P{RO}FUNDA MENTE.
[Sidenote: [The . 11. Met{ru}m. ]]
[Sidenote: He who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling
to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the
inner light upon the soul itself. ]
++WHo so that sekith sot? 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 2836
in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys
thowhtes /
[Sidenote: The knowledge that he seeks without he will find
treasured up in the recesses of the mind. ]
And lat hym techen his corage that he hath
enclosed {and} hyd / in his tresors / al ? {a}t he compaseth or
sekith fro w{i}t{h} owte //
[Sidenote: The light of Truth will disperse Error's dark clouds,
and shine forth brighter than the sun. ]
And thanne thilke thing that the 2840
blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal
lyhten more clerly tha{n}ne pheb{us} hym self ne shyneth //
[Sidenote: [Chaucer's gloss. ]]
Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of soth 2843
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} 2848
or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it [[pg 101]]
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 2852
his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [? e]
syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semyth
to [? e] syhte w{i}t{h} owte forth /
[Sidenote: For when the body enclosed the soul and cast oblivion
o'er its powers it did wholly exterminate the heaven-born light. ]
For certes the body
bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd 2856
owt of yowr{e} thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //
[Sidenote: The germs of truth were latent within, and were fanned
into action by the gentle breath of learning. ]
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 //
[Sidenote: Were not truth implanted in the heart, how could man
distinguish right from wrong? ]
For wher{e} 2860
for elles demen ye of yowr{e} owne wyl the ryhtes whan
ye ben axed // but yif so wer{e} ? {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 ? e 2864
sooth of any thing ? {a}t weer{e} axed / yif ther neer{e} a
Roote of sothfastnesse ? {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 //
[Sidenote: So, if what Plato taught is true, 'to learn is no other
than to remember what had been before forgotten. ']
{and} yif 2868
so be ? {a}t the Muse {and} the doctryne of plato syngyth
sooth // al ? {a}t eu{er}y whyht lerneth / he ne doth no
thing elles tha{n}ne but recordeth as me{n} recordyn thinges
? {a}t ben foryetyn. 2872
[Linenotes:
2838 _his_--H. ? is
_that_--H. {and} ? {a}t
2841 _blake_--H. blak
_hadde y-couered_--H. had cou{er}ed
2842 _lyhten_--H. light
2843 _dep[e]_--C. dep, H. depe
2847 _thing_--H. ? yng{es}
2863 _depthe_--H. depe
2864 [_is_]--from H.
_sholden_--H. shulde
2867 _nature[l]_--H. nat{ur}ell{e}]
[Headnote:
THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD. ]
TUM EGO PLATONI INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The . 12. p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I am quite of Plato's opinion, for you have now a
second time recalled these things to my remembrance which had been
forgotten, first by the contagious union of soul and body, and
afterwards by the pressure of my afflictions. ]
++THanne seide I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / for
thow remenbrist {and} recordist me thise thinges yit]
[Sidenote: [*_Addit. MS. 10,340, fol. 23. _]]
*? e seconde tyme. ? at is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] my
memorie by ? e co{n}tagio? s coniuncc{i}ou{n} of ? e body wi? 2876
? e soule. {and} eftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it co{n}founded
by ? e charge {and} by ? e burden of my sorwe.
[Sidenote: _P. _ If you will reflect upon the concessions you have
already made, you will soon call to mind that truth, of which you
lately confessed your ignorance. ]
? And ? an sayde she ? us. ? If ? ou look[e] q{uo}d she
firste ? e ? inges ? at ? ou hast graunted it ne shal nat 2880
ben ry? t feer ? at ? ou ne shalt remembren ? ilke ? ing ? at [[pg 102]]
? ou seidest ? at ? ou nistest nat.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what ? ing q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It was, by what power the world is governed. ]
? by whiche gouerme{n}t q{uo}d she ? at ? is worlde is
gouerned.
[Sidenote: _B. _ With regard to that, I own I confessed my
ignorance, but though I now remotely see what you infer, yet I
wish for further explanation from you. ]
Me remembri? it wel q{uo}d I. {and} I confesse 2884
wel ? at I ne wist[e] it nat ? But al be it so ? at
I se now fro{m} afer what ? ou p{ur}posest ? Algates I
desire ? it to herkene it of ? e more pleynely.
[Sidenote: _P. _ You acknowledged a little while ago that this
world was governed by God? ]
? ? ou ne
wendest nat q{uo}d she a litel here byforne ? at men 2888
sholden doute ? at ? is worlde is gouerned by god.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I still cling to this opinion, and will give you
my reasons for this belief. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I ne ? itte doute I it nau? t. ne I nil
neuer wene ? at it were to doute. as who sei? . but I
wot wel ? at god gouerne? ? is worlde. ? And I shal 2892
shortly answere ? e by what resou{n}s I am brou? t to ? is.
[Sidenote: The discordant elements of this world would never have
assumed their present form unless there had been a wise
Intelligence to unite them; and even after such a union, the
joining of such opposites would have disunited and ruined the
fabric made up of them, had not the same conjoining hand kept them
together. ]
? ? is worlde q{uod} I of so many dyuerse {and} co{n}trarious
p{ar}ties ne my?
beestes q{uod} she. whan ? e soule {and} ? e body ben
co{n}ioigned in oon {and} dwellen to-gidre it is cleped a 2700
beest. {and} whan hire vnite is destroied by disseueraunce
? at oon fram ? {a}t o? ir. ? an shewe? it wel ? at it is a
dede ? i{n}g. {and} ? at it is no lenger no beste.
[Sidenote: The same may be said of man and all other things; they
subsist while unity is preserved, but as soon as that is destroyed
the things themselves lose their existence. ]
{and} ? e
body of a wy? t while it dwelle? in oon forme by coniuncc{i}ou{n} 2704
of membris it is wel seyn ? at it is a figure of
mankynde. and yif ? e partyes of ? e body ben [so]
diuide[d] {and} disseuered ? at oon fro ? at o? ir ? at ? ei
destroien vnite. ? e body forleti? to ben ? at it was byforne. 2708
? And who so wolde renne in ? e same manere
by alle ? inges he sholde seen ? at wi? outen doute euery
? inge is in his substaunce as longe as it is oon. {and}
whan it forleti? to ben oon it die? {and} p{er}issi? .
[Sidenote: _B. _ I believe we should find this true in every case. ]
_boice. _ 2712
whan I considre q{uo}d I many ? inges I see noon o? {er}.
[Linenotes:
2690 _mayst ? ou graunt[en]_--mosthow grau{n}ten
2692 [_of_]--from C.
2695 _al_--alle
_ha? _--MS. ha? e
2696, 2697 _oone_--oon
2698 _whiche_--which
2703 _dede_--ded
_lenger_--lenger{e}
_beste_--beest
2704 _while_--whil
_oon_--oo
2706 _[so] diuide[d]_--so deuydyd
2709 _so_--omitted
2713 _many_--manye]
[Headnote:
NATURE SUSTAINS VEGETATION. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ Is there anything which acts naturally that
forgoes this desire of existence and wishes for death and
corruption? ]
? Is ? er any ? ing ? anne q{uo}d she ? at in as moche as
it lyue? naturely. ? at forleti? ? e appetit or talent of 2715
hys beynge. {and} desire? to come to dee?
{and} to corrupc{i}ou{n}. [[pg 97]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I do not find any creature endowed with volition,
which, of itself and without constraint, renounces or despises
life and self-preservation or willingly hastens to destruction. ]
? yif I considere q{uod} I ? e beestes ? at han
any manere nature of willy{n}ge or of nillynge I ne
fynde no ? ing. but yif it be constreyned fro wi? out
for? e. ? at forleti? or dispise? to lyue {and} to dure{n} 2720
or ? at wole his ? ankes hasten hy{m} to dien. ? For
euery beest trauayle? hy{m} to defende {and} kepe ? e
sauuac{i}ou{n} of lijf. {and} eschewe? dee? {and} destrucc{i}ou{n}.
[Sidenote: But with regard to herbs and trees, I am doubtful
whether I ought to have the same opinion of them, for they have no
sensitive soul, nor any natural volition like animals. ]
_b. _ but certys I doute me of herbes {and} of trees. ? at is 2724
to seyn ? at I am in a doute of swiche ? inges as herbes
or trees ? at ne han no fely{n}g soule. ne no naturel
wirchynges seruy{n}g to appetite as beestes han whe? er
? ei han appetite to dwelle{n} {and} to duren.
[Sidenote: _P. _ There is no cause for doubt in respect to these. ]
? Certis 2728
q{uo}d she ne ? er of ? ar ? e nat doute.
[Sidenote: Herbs and trees first choose a convenient place to grow
in, where, agreeably to their respective natures, they are sure to
thrive, and are in no danger of perishing; for some grow on
plains, some on mountains, &c. ; and if you try to transplant them,
they forthwith wither and die. ]
? Now look
vpon ? ise herbes {and} ? ise trees. ? ei waxen firste in
swiche place as be{n} couenable to hem. in whiche place
? ei ne mowen nat sone dien ne dryen as longe as hire 2732
nature may defenden he{m}. ? For some of hem waxen
in feldes {and} some in mou{n}taignes. {and} o? ir waxen i{n}
mareis. [_A leaf lost here, and supplied from C. _]
[{and} oothre cleuyn on Roches / {and} soume waxen plentyuos 2736
in sondes / {and} yif ? {a}t any wyht enforce hym to
beryn hem in to oother places / they wexen drye //
[Sidenote: To everything that vegetates, nature gives what is
needful for its subsistence, and takes care that they should not
perish before their time. ]
For natur{e} yeueth to eu{er}y thing ? {a}t /
? {a}t is co{n}uenient to
hym {and} trauaylith ? {a}t they ne dye nat as longe as they 2740
han power to dwellyn {and} to lyuen //
[Sidenote: Need I tell you that plants are nourished by their
roots (which are so many mouths hid in the earth), and diffuse
strength throughout the whole plant, as through their marrow? ]
what woltow seyn
of this / ? {a}t they drawen alle hyr norysshynges by hyr
rootes / ryht as they haddyn hyr Mowthes I. -plounged 2743
w{i}t{h} in the erthes / {and} shedyn by hyr maryes (i. medull{as})
hyr wode {and} hyr bark /
[Sidenote: And further, it is admirably contrived that the pith,
the most tender part of plants, is hid in the middle of the trunk,
surrounded with hard and solid wood, and with an outer coat of
bark to ward off the storms and weather. ]
{and} what woltow seyn
of this ? {a}t thilke thing / ? {a}t is ryht softe as the marye (i.
sapp) is / ? {a}t is alwey hidd in the feete al w{i}t{h} inne {and}
? {a}t it is defendid fro w{i}t{h} owte by the stidefastnesse of 2748
wode // {and} ? {a}t the vttereste bark is put ayenis
the destemprau{n}ce
of the heuene / as a defendowr myhty to suffren [[pg 98]]
harm /
[Sidenote: Admire, too, the diligence of nature in propagating
plants by a multiplicity of seeds, which are as a foundation for a
building, not to remain for a time, but as it were for ever. ]
{and} thus certes maystow wel sen / how gret is
the diligence of natur{e} / For alle thinges renouelen {and} 2752
pupllisen hem w{i}t{h} seed . I. -multiplyed / nether nis no man
? {a}t ne wot wel ? {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} //
[Sidenote: Things inanimate incline to what is most suitable to
their beings, and to preserve continuance. ]
{and} the thinges ek 2756
? {a}t men wenen ne hauen none sowles / ne desir{e} they nat ech
of hem by sem[b]lable resou{n} to kepyn ? {a}t that is hirs / ? {a}t
is to seyn ? {a}t is acordynge to hyr natur{e} in conseruaciou{n}
of hyr beynge {and} endurynge //
[Sidenote: For why should the flame mount upwards by lightness,
and the earth tend towards its centre by gravity (weight), unless
these motions were agreeable to their respective natures? ]
For wher for elles berith 2760
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 //
[Linenotes:
2718 _willynge_--wylnynge
_or_--{and}
2719 _? ing_--beest
_out for? e_--owte forth
2720 _lyue_--lyuen
2723 _of lijf_--of hys lyf
2726 _soule_--sowles
2727 _appetite_--appetites
2729 _look_--loke
2730 _waxen firste_--wexen fyrst
2733, 2734 _some_--som
2734 _o? ir_--oothre
2753 _pupllisen_--H. publisshen)
2755 _edyfice_--MS. edyfite
_a tyme_--H. oon) tyme
2758 _that_--H. omits
_hirs_--H. his]
[Headnote:
THE LOVE OF LIFE IS INSTINCTIVE. ]
[Sidenote: Whatever is agreeable to the nature of a thing
preserves it. So what is contrary to its nature destroys it. ]
{and} forsothe eu{er}y thing kepith thilke ? {a}t is acordynge 2764
{and} propre to hym // ryht as thinges ? {a}t ben contraryes
{and} enemys corompen hem //
[Sidenote: Dense bodies, such as stones, resist an easy separation
of parts; whereas the particles of liquid or flowing things, such
as air and water, are easily separated and soon reunited. ]
{and} yit the harde thinges
as stoones clyuen {and} holden hyr partyes to gydere
ryht faste {and} harde / {and} deffenden hem in withstondenge 2768
? {a}t they ne departe nat lyhtly a twyne // {and} the
thinges ? {a}t ben softe {and} fletynge as is water {and} Eyr
they departyn lyhtly // {and} yeuen place to hem ? {a}t
brekyn or deuyden hem // but natheles they retorne{n} 2772
sone ayein in to the same thinges fro whennes they ben
arraced //
[Sidenote: Fire avoids and utterly refuses any such division. ]
but fyr [fleet? ] {and} refuseth alle deuysyou{n} /
[Sidenote: I am not now treating of the voluntary motion of a
conscious soul, but of the natural intention and instinct. ]
ne I. ne trete nat heer{e} now of weleful moeuynges of the
sowle ? {a}t is knowynge // but of the naturel entenciou{n} 2776
of thinges //
[Sidenote: We swallow our meat without thinking of it, and we draw
our breath in sleep without perception. ]
As thus ryht as we swolwe the mete ? {a}t we
resseyuen {and} ne thinke nat on it / {and} as we drawen
owr{e} breth in slepynge ? {a}t we wite it nat whil we slepyt //
[Sidenote: The love of life in animals is not derived from an
intellectual will, but from natural principles implanted in them. ]
For certes in the beestys the loue of hyr lyuynges ne of 2780
hyr beeinges ne comth nat of the wilnynges of the sowle //
but of the bygynnyngis of natur{e} //
[Sidenote: For the will, induced by powerful reasons, sometimes
chooses and embraces death, although nature dreads and abhors it. ]
For certes thorw
constreynynge causes / wil desireth {and} embraceth ful
ofte tyme / the deth ? {a}t natur{e} dredith
// that is to seyn [[pg 99]]
as thus that a man may ben constreynyd so by som 2785
cause that his wil desireth and taketh the deth which
? {a}t natur{e} hateth {and} dredeth ful sore //
[Sidenote: And, on the contrary, we see that concupiscence (by
which alone the human race is perpetuated) is often restrained by
the will. ]
And som tyme
we seeth the contrarye / as thus that the wil of a wight / 2788
destorbeth {and} constreyneth ? {a}t ? {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 //
[Sidenote: Self-love possessed by every creature is not the
product of volition, but proceeds from a natural impression or
intention of nature. ]
And thus 2792
this charite and this Loue ? {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} //
[Sidenote: Providence has implanted in all created things an
instinct, for the purpose of self-preservation, by which they
desire to prolong existence to its utmost limits. ]
For the puruyance of god
hat yeuen to thinges ? {a}t ben creat of hym / this ? {a}t is 2796
a ful gret cause / to lyuen {and} to duren / for which they
desiren naturelly hyr lyf as longe as eu{er} they mowen //
[Linenotes:
2774 [_fleeth_]--from H.
2775 _weleful_--H. wilfull{e}
2779 _slepyt_--H. slepe{n}
2788 _seeth_--H. seen)
_wil_--H. will{e}
2792 _And_--H. as
2796 _hat_--H. haue]
[Headnote:
THE WILL IS SUPERIOR TO INSTINCT.
]
[Sidenote: Doubt not, therefore, that everything which exists
desires existence and avoids dissolution. ]
For w[h]ych thou maist nat drede by no manere / that
alle the thinges / that ben anywher{e} / that they ne requeren 2800
naturelly / the ferme stablenesse of p{er}durable
dwellynge / and ek the eschuynge of destruccyou{n} //
[Sidenote: _B. _ You have made those things perfectly plain and
intelligible, which before were obscure and doubtful. ]
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 2804
vncerteyn to me /
[Sidenote: _P. _ That which desires to subsist desires also to
retain its unity for if this be taken away it cannot continue to
exist. ]
P. // but q{uod} she thilke thyng ? {a}t
desiret? to be {and} to dwellyn p{er}durablely / he desireth
to ben oon // For yif ? {a}t that oon weer{e} destroied // certes
beinge ne shulde ther non dwellyn to no wiht //
[Sidenote: _B. _ That is very true! ]
that 2808
is sot? q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ All things then desire one thing--unity. ]
Thanne q{uod} she desirin alle thinges
oon //
[Sidenote: _B. _ They do. ]
. I. assente q{uod} . I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Unity then is the same as good. ]
{and} I haue shewyd q{uod} she
that thilke same oon is thilke that is good //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Yes. ]
B // ye forsothe
q{uod} I. //
[Sidenote: _P. _ Thus all things desire good--and it is one and the
same good that all creatures desire. ]
Alle thinges thanne q{uod} she requyren 2812
good // And thilke good thanne [? ow] maist descryuen
ryht thus // Good is thilke thing ? {a}t euery wyht desireth //
[Sidenote: _B. _ Nothing is more true. For either all things must
be reduced to nothing (or have no relation to anything else), and,
destitute of a head, float about without control or order; or if
there be anything to which all things tend, that must be the
supreme good. ]
Ther ne may be thowht q{uod} . I. no moor{e}
verray thing / for either alle thinges ben referred {and} 2816
browht to nowht / {and} floteryn w{i}t{h} owte gou{er}nour
despoiled of oon / as of hir propre heued / or elles yif [[pg 100]]
ther be any thinge / to which ? {a}t alle thinges tenden
{and} hyen / that thing moste ben the souereyn good of 2820
alle goodes /
[Sidenote: _P. _ I rejoice greatly, my dear pupil, that you so
clearly apprehend this truth, of which but just now you were
ignorant. ]
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 2824
descouered to the / in that thow seydyst ? {a}t thow
wystest nat a lytel her by-forn //
[Sidenote: _B. _ What was that? ]
what was th{a}t q{uod} I. //
[Headnote:
THE END OF ALL THINGS. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ The _End of all things_. And this is what every
one desires; but we have shown that _good_ is the thing desired by
all, therefore _Good_ is the _End of all things_. ]
That thow ne wystest nat q{uod} she whych was
the ende of thinges // and Certes that is the thing ? {a}t 2828
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. 2832
[Linenotes:
2800 _the_--H. ? o
2806 _perdurablely_--H. p{er}durably
2807 _destroied_--H. destrued
2811 _thilke_ (1)--H. ilke
2818 _heued or elles_--H. hede or els
2820 _hyen_--H. hyen) to
_moste_--H. must]
[Headnote:
TRUTH INTUITIVE. ]
QUISQUIS P{RO}FUNDA MENTE.
[Sidenote: [The . 11. Met{ru}m. ]]
[Sidenote: He who seeks truth with deep research and is unwilling
to go wrong, should collect his slumbering thoughts, and turn the
inner light upon the soul itself. ]
++WHo so that sekith sot? 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 2836
in to a compas the longe moeuynges of hys
thowhtes /
[Sidenote: The knowledge that he seeks without he will find
treasured up in the recesses of the mind. ]
And lat hym techen his corage that he hath
enclosed {and} hyd / in his tresors / al ? {a}t he compaseth or
sekith fro w{i}t{h} owte //
[Sidenote: The light of Truth will disperse Error's dark clouds,
and shine forth brighter than the sun. ]
And thanne thilke thing that the 2840
blake cloude of errour whilom hadde y-couered / shal
lyhten more clerly tha{n}ne pheb{us} hym self ne shyneth //
[Sidenote: [Chaucer's gloss. ]]
Glosa // who so wole seken the dep[e] grounde / of soth 2843
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} 2848
or that he deme // and lat hym techen his sowle that it [[pg 101]]
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 2852
his mysknowynge shal seen more euydently to [? e]
syhte of his vndyrstondynge thanne the sonne ne semyth
to [? e] syhte w{i}t{h} owte forth /
[Sidenote: For when the body enclosed the soul and cast oblivion
o'er its powers it did wholly exterminate the heaven-born light. ]
For certes the body
bryngynge the weyhte of foryetynge / ne hath nat chasyd 2856
owt of yowr{e} thowhte al the clernesse of yowre knowyng //
[Sidenote: The germs of truth were latent within, and were fanned
into action by the gentle breath of learning. ]
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 //
[Sidenote: Were not truth implanted in the heart, how could man
distinguish right from wrong? ]
For wher{e} 2860
for elles demen ye of yowr{e} owne wyl the ryhtes whan
ye ben axed // but yif so wer{e} ? {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 ? e 2864
sooth of any thing ? {a}t weer{e} axed / yif ther neer{e} a
Roote of sothfastnesse ? {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 //
[Sidenote: So, if what Plato taught is true, 'to learn is no other
than to remember what had been before forgotten. ']
{and} yif 2868
so be ? {a}t the Muse {and} the doctryne of plato syngyth
sooth // al ? {a}t eu{er}y whyht lerneth / he ne doth no
thing elles tha{n}ne but recordeth as me{n} recordyn thinges
? {a}t ben foryetyn. 2872
[Linenotes:
2838 _his_--H. ? is
_that_--H. {and} ? {a}t
2841 _blake_--H. blak
_hadde y-couered_--H. had cou{er}ed
2842 _lyhten_--H. light
2843 _dep[e]_--C. dep, H. depe
2847 _thing_--H. ? yng{es}
2863 _depthe_--H. depe
2864 [_is_]--from H.
_sholden_--H. shulde
2867 _nature[l]_--H. nat{ur}ell{e}]
[Headnote:
THE WORLD GOVERNED BY GOD. ]
TUM EGO PLATONI INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The . 12. p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ I am quite of Plato's opinion, for you have now a
second time recalled these things to my remembrance which had been
forgotten, first by the contagious union of soul and body, and
afterwards by the pressure of my afflictions. ]
++THanne seide I thus // I acorde me gretly to plato / for
thow remenbrist {and} recordist me thise thinges yit]
[Sidenote: [*_Addit. MS. 10,340, fol. 23. _]]
*? e seconde tyme. ? at is to seyn. first whan I lost[e] my
memorie by ? e co{n}tagio? s coniuncc{i}ou{n} of ? e body wi? 2876
? e soule. {and} eftsones afterward whan I lost[e] it co{n}founded
by ? e charge {and} by ? e burden of my sorwe.
[Sidenote: _P. _ If you will reflect upon the concessions you have
already made, you will soon call to mind that truth, of which you
lately confessed your ignorance. ]
? And ? an sayde she ? us. ? If ? ou look[e] q{uo}d she
firste ? e ? inges ? at ? ou hast graunted it ne shal nat 2880
ben ry? t feer ? at ? ou ne shalt remembren ? ilke ? ing ? at [[pg 102]]
? ou seidest ? at ? ou nistest nat.
[Sidenote: _B. _ What is that? ]
what ? ing q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ It was, by what power the world is governed. ]
? by whiche gouerme{n}t q{uo}d she ? at ? is worlde is
gouerned.
[Sidenote: _B. _ With regard to that, I own I confessed my
ignorance, but though I now remotely see what you infer, yet I
wish for further explanation from you. ]
Me remembri? it wel q{uo}d I. {and} I confesse 2884
wel ? at I ne wist[e] it nat ? But al be it so ? at
I se now fro{m} afer what ? ou p{ur}posest ? Algates I
desire ? it to herkene it of ? e more pleynely.
[Sidenote: _P. _ You acknowledged a little while ago that this
world was governed by God? ]
? ? ou ne
wendest nat q{uo}d she a litel here byforne ? at men 2888
sholden doute ? at ? is worlde is gouerned by god.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I still cling to this opinion, and will give you
my reasons for this belief. ]
? Certys q{uo}d I ne ? itte doute I it nau? t. ne I nil
neuer wene ? at it were to doute. as who sei? . but I
wot wel ? at god gouerne? ? is worlde. ? And I shal 2892
shortly answere ? e by what resou{n}s I am brou? t to ? is.
[Sidenote: The discordant elements of this world would never have
assumed their present form unless there had been a wise
Intelligence to unite them; and even after such a union, the
joining of such opposites would have disunited and ruined the
fabric made up of them, had not the same conjoining hand kept them
together. ]
? ? is worlde q{uod} I of so many dyuerse {and} co{n}trarious
p{ar}ties ne my?
