_ 2712
whan I considre q{uo}d I many ?
whan I considre q{uo}d I many ?
Chaucer - Boethius
_ ?
ei dwellen graunted 2668
to ? e q{uo}d . I. ? is is to seyne as who sei? . I. graunt ? i
forseide conclusiou{n}s.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Have I not shown that the things which the
majority of mankind so eagerly pursue are not true and perfect
goods, for they differ from one another; and because where one of
them is absent the others cannot confer absolute happiness (or
good)? ]
? Haue I nat shewed ? e q{uo}d
she ? at ? e ? inges ? at ben requered of many folke. ne
ben nat verray goodes ne p{er}fit. for ? ei ben diu{er}se ? at 2672
oon fro ? at o? er. {and} so as eche of hem is lakkyng to
o? er. ? ei ne han no power to bryngen a good ? {a}t is ful
{and} absolute.
[Sidenote: Have I not shown, too, that the true and chief good is
made up of an assemblage of all the goods in such a way, that if
sufficiency is an attribute of this good, it must at the same time
possess power, reverence, &c. ]
? But ? an atte arst ben ? ei verray good
whan ? ei ben gadred to-gidre al in to a forme {and} in 2676
to oon wirchy{n}g. so ? at ? ilke ? ing ? at is suffisaunce.
? ilk same be power {and} reuerence. {and} noblesse {and}
mir? e.
[Sidenote: If they be not one and the same, why should they be
classed among desirable things? ]
? And forso? e but alle ? ise ? i{n}ges ben alle o
same ? ing ? ei ne han nat wher by ? at ? ei mowen ben 2680
put in ? e nou{m}bre of ? inges. ? at au? ten ben requered
or desired. _b. _ ? It is shewed q{uo}d . I. ne her of may
? er no man douten.
[Sidenote: While these things differ from one another they are not
goods; but as soon as they become one then they are made
goods. --Do not they owe their being good to their unity? ]
_p. _ ? e ? inges ? an q{uo}d she ? at ne
ben none goodes whan ? ei ben diu{er}se. {and} whan ? ei [[pg 96]]
bygynnen to ben al o ? ing. ? an ben ? ei goodes. ne 2685
comi? it hem nat ? an by ? e getynge of unite ? at ? ei ben
maked goodes.
[Sidenote: _B. _ So it appears. ]
_b. _ so it seme? q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Do you confess that everything that is good
becomes such by the participation of the sovereign good or no? ]
but alle ? ing ? at
is good q{uo}d she grauntest ? ou ? at it be good
by p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} 2688
of good or no.
[Sidenote: _B. _ It is so. ]
? I graunt[e] it q{uo}d . I.
[Linenotes:
2660 _assent[e]_--assente
2662 _mychel_--mochel
2663 _goode_--good
2664 _price_--prys
2669 _is_--omitted
_seyne_--seyn
2671 _folke_--folkes
2673 _o? er_--oothre
_eche_--ech
2675 _absolute_--absolut
_atte arst_--at erste
2676 _al_--alle
_a_--O
2677 _to_--omitted
_wirchyng_--wyrkynge
2678 _? ilk_--thilke
2681 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
_au? ten_--owhten
2684 _none_--no
2685 _al o_--alle oon
2686 _comi? _--comth
2689 _graunt[e]_--graunte]
[Headnote:
UNITY NECESSARY TO EXISTENCE. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then you must own that unity and good are the same
(for the substance of those things must be the same, whose effects
do not naturally differ). ]
? ? an mayst ? ou graunt[en] it q{uo}d she by sembleable
resou{n} ? at oon {and} good ben o same ? ing. ? For of
? inges [of] whiche ? at ? e effect nis nat naturely diuerse 2692
nedys ? e substaunce mot ben o same ? inge.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I cannot gainsay it. ]
I ne may
nat denye it q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Do you not perceive that everything which exists
is permanent so long as it preserves its unity--but as soon as it
loses this, it is dissolved and annihilated? ]
? Hast ? ou nat knowen wel q{uo}d
she. ? at al ? ing ? at is ha? so longe his dwellyng {and}
his substaunce. as longe is it oone. ? but wha{n} it 2696
forleti? to ben oone it mot nedis dien {and} corrumpe togidre.
[Sidenote: _B. _ How so? ]
? In whiche manere q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ In the animal creation as long as the soul and the
body are united and conjoined in one, this being is called an
animal or beast, but when the union is dissolved by the separation
of these, the animal perishes and is no longer a beast. ]
? Ry? 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.
to ? e q{uo}d . I. ? is is to seyne as who sei? . I. graunt ? i
forseide conclusiou{n}s.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Have I not shown that the things which the
majority of mankind so eagerly pursue are not true and perfect
goods, for they differ from one another; and because where one of
them is absent the others cannot confer absolute happiness (or
good)? ]
? Haue I nat shewed ? e q{uo}d
she ? at ? e ? inges ? at ben requered of many folke. ne
ben nat verray goodes ne p{er}fit. for ? ei ben diu{er}se ? at 2672
oon fro ? at o? er. {and} so as eche of hem is lakkyng to
o? er. ? ei ne han no power to bryngen a good ? {a}t is ful
{and} absolute.
[Sidenote: Have I not shown, too, that the true and chief good is
made up of an assemblage of all the goods in such a way, that if
sufficiency is an attribute of this good, it must at the same time
possess power, reverence, &c. ]
? But ? an atte arst ben ? ei verray good
whan ? ei ben gadred to-gidre al in to a forme {and} in 2676
to oon wirchy{n}g. so ? at ? ilke ? ing ? at is suffisaunce.
? ilk same be power {and} reuerence. {and} noblesse {and}
mir? e.
[Sidenote: If they be not one and the same, why should they be
classed among desirable things? ]
? And forso? e but alle ? ise ? i{n}ges ben alle o
same ? ing ? ei ne han nat wher by ? at ? ei mowen ben 2680
put in ? e nou{m}bre of ? inges. ? at au? ten ben requered
or desired. _b. _ ? It is shewed q{uo}d . I. ne her of may
? er no man douten.
[Sidenote: While these things differ from one another they are not
goods; but as soon as they become one then they are made
goods. --Do not they owe their being good to their unity? ]
_p. _ ? e ? inges ? an q{uo}d she ? at ne
ben none goodes whan ? ei ben diu{er}se. {and} whan ? ei [[pg 96]]
bygynnen to ben al o ? ing. ? an ben ? ei goodes. ne 2685
comi? it hem nat ? an by ? e getynge of unite ? at ? ei ben
maked goodes.
[Sidenote: _B. _ So it appears. ]
_b. _ so it seme? q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Do you confess that everything that is good
becomes such by the participation of the sovereign good or no? ]
but alle ? ing ? at
is good q{uo}d she grauntest ? ou ? at it be good
by p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} 2688
of good or no.
[Sidenote: _B. _ It is so. ]
? I graunt[e] it q{uo}d . I.
[Linenotes:
2660 _assent[e]_--assente
2662 _mychel_--mochel
2663 _goode_--good
2664 _price_--prys
2669 _is_--omitted
_seyne_--seyn
2671 _folke_--folkes
2673 _o? er_--oothre
_eche_--ech
2675 _absolute_--absolut
_atte arst_--at erste
2676 _al_--alle
_a_--O
2677 _to_--omitted
_wirchyng_--wyrkynge
2678 _? ilk_--thilke
2681 _put_--MS. putte, C. put
_au? ten_--owhten
2684 _none_--no
2685 _al o_--alle oon
2686 _comi? _--comth
2689 _graunt[e]_--graunte]
[Headnote:
UNITY NECESSARY TO EXISTENCE. ]
[Sidenote: _P. _ Then you must own that unity and good are the same
(for the substance of those things must be the same, whose effects
do not naturally differ). ]
? ? an mayst ? ou graunt[en] it q{uo}d she by sembleable
resou{n} ? at oon {and} good ben o same ? ing. ? For of
? inges [of] whiche ? at ? e effect nis nat naturely diuerse 2692
nedys ? e substaunce mot ben o same ? inge.
[Sidenote: _B. _ I cannot gainsay it. ]
I ne may
nat denye it q{uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ Do you not perceive that everything which exists
is permanent so long as it preserves its unity--but as soon as it
loses this, it is dissolved and annihilated? ]
? Hast ? ou nat knowen wel q{uo}d
she. ? at al ? ing ? at is ha? so longe his dwellyng {and}
his substaunce. as longe is it oone. ? but wha{n} it 2696
forleti? to ben oone it mot nedis dien {and} corrumpe togidre.
[Sidenote: _B. _ How so? ]
? In whiche manere q{uo}d . I.
[Sidenote: _P. _ In the animal creation as long as the soul and the
body are united and conjoined in one, this being is called an
animal or beast, but when the union is dissolved by the separation
of these, the animal perishes and is no longer a beast. ]
? Ry? 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.
