at is
grettest
of alle ?
Chaucer - Boethius
at ?
er be somwhat folysche and confus 3788
whan ? e resou{n} of ? e order is vnknowe.
[Sidenote: But, forasmuch as God, the good governor, presides over
all, rest assured that all things are done rightly and as they
ought to be done. ]
? But alle
? ou? ? ou ne know nat ? e cause of so gret a disposic{i}ou{n}.
na? eles for as moche as god ? e good[e] gouernour attempre?
{and} gouerne? ? e world. ne doute ? e nat ? at 3792
alle ? inges ne ben doon ary? t.
[Linenotes:
3760 _goode_--good
3761 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_nat_--omitted
_leuer_--leu{er}e
3762 _? an_--MS. ? at, C. than
3763 _redoutable_--MS. redentable, C. redowtable
3764 _stronge_--strong
_clerely_--clerly
3766 [_the_]--from C.
3767 _ney? boures_--nesshebors
3769 _lawful_--laweful
3771 _goode_--good
3772 [_? at_]--from C.
3775 _grete_--gret
3776 _to witen_--forto weten
3778 _trowed[e]_--trowede
_alle_--al
3779 _were_--weeren
_fortuouse_--fortunous
3780 _myne_--myn
3781 _good[e]_--goode
3782 _yuel_--yuelis
3783 _hardnesse_--hardnesses
3784 [_he_]--from C.
_wille_--wyl
3785 _difference_--MS. differenee
3786 _do? _--MS. do? e
_hap_--happe
3787 [_it_]--from C.
_it_--ne it
3788 _confus_--confuse
3789 _alle_--al
3791 _good[e]_--goode
3793 _ne_--omitted]
[Headnote:
THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS. ]
SI QUIS ARCTURI[8] SYDERA.
[Footnote 8: MS. arituri]
[Sidenote: [The fyfthe Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: He who knows not that the Bear is seen near the Pole,
nor has observed the path of Bootes, will marvel at their
appearance. ]
++Who so ? at ne knowe nat ? e sterres of arctour
yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne contre or point.
? at is to seyne yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne pool of ? e 3796
firmament {and} woot nat whi ? e sterre boetes passe? or
gaderi? his wey[n]es. {and} drenche? his late flaumbes in
? e see. {and} whi ? at boetes ? e sterre vnfoldi? his ouer
swifte arisynges. ? an shal he wo{n}dre{n} of ? e lawe of ? e 3800
heye eyre.
[Sidenote: The vulgar are alarmed when shadows terrestrial obscure
the moon's brightness, causing the stars to be displayed. ]
{and} eke if ? at he ne knowe nat why ? at ? e
hornes of ? e ful[le] moene waxen pale {and} infect by ? e
bou{n}des of ? e derke ny? t ? and how ? e moene dirk
{and} confuse discouere? ? e sterres. ? at she had[de] [[pg 133]]
ycouered by hir clere visage.
[Sidenote: Thinking the eclipse the result of enchantment, they
sought to destroy the charms by the tinkling of brazen vessels or
cymbals. ]
? e co{m}mune errour moeue? 3805
folk {and} maki? wery hir bacines of bras by ? ikke
strookes. ? at is to seyne ? at ? er is a maner poeple ? at
hy? t[e] coribandes ? at wenen ? at whan ? e moone is in 3808
? e eclips ? at it be enchau{n}tid. and ? erfore forto rescowe
? e moone ? ei betyn hire basines wi? ? ikke strokes.
[Sidenote: Yet none marvel when the north-west wind renders the
sea tempestuous; nor when vast heaps of congealed snow are melted
by the warm rays of the sun, because the causes are apparent. ]
? Ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e blastes of ? e wynde
chorus betyn ? e strondes of ? e see by quakynge floodes. 3812
ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e wey? te of ? e snowe
yhardid by ? e colde. is resolued by ? e brennynge hete
of phebus ? e sonne. ? For here seen men redyly ? e
causes.
[Sidenote: Things whose causes are unknown disquiet the human
mind. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 30. ]]
but ? e *causes yhid ? at is to seye in heuene 3816
trouble ? e brestes of men.
[Sidenote: The fickle mob stands amazed at every rare or sudden
phenomenon. ]
? ? e moeueable poeple is
a-stoned of alle ? inges ? at comen selde {and} sodeynely in
oure age.
[Sidenote: Fear and wonder, however, soon cease when ignorance
given place to certain knowledge. ]
but yif ? e troubly errour of oure ignora{n}ce
departid[e] from vs. so ? at we wisten ? e causes whi ? at 3820
swiche ? inges bitiden. certys ? ei sholde{n} cesse to seme
wondres.
[Linenotes:
3794 _arctour_--MS. aritour
3795 _neye_--neygh
3796 _seyne_--seyn
_neye_--nygh
3797-99 _boetes_--MS. boeces, C. boetes
3798 _his_ (1)--hise
_wey[n]es_--weynes
3802 _ful[le]_--fulle
3804 _had[de]_--hadde
3806 _bacines_--MS. batines
_? ikke_--MS. ? ilke, C. thilke
3807 _seyne_--seyn
3808 _hy? t[e]_--hihte
3809 _eclips_--eclypse
3812 _chorus_--MS. thorus, C. chorus
3813 _snowe_--sonwh = snowh
3815 _here_--her
_redyly_--redely
3816 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hid
_seye_--seyn
3817 _trouble_--trowblen
3820 _departid[e] from_--departede fro]
[Headnote:
FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS. ]
ITA EST INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The syxte p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ So it is. But as thou hast promised to unfold the
hidden causes of things, and unveil things wrapt up in darkness; I
pray thee deliver me from my present perplexity, and explain the
mystery I mentioned to you. ]
++? vs is it q{uo}d I. but so as ? ou hast ? euen or byhy? t
me to vnwrappe{n} ? e hidde causes of ? inges ? and 3824
to discoueren me ? e resou{n}s couered w{i}t{h} dirknesses I
p{re}ye ? e ? at ? ou diuise {and} Iuge me of ? is matere. {and}
? at ? ou do me to vndrestonde{n} it. ? For ? is miracle
or ? is wondre trouble? me ry? t gretely.
[Sidenote: _P. _ You ask me to declare to you the most intricate of
all questions, which I am afraid can scarce be answered. ]
{and} ? an she a 3828
litel [what] smylyng seide. ? ? ou clepest me q{uo}d
she to telle ? ing. ?
at is grettest of alle ? inges ? at mowen
ben axed. ? And to ? e whiche questiou{n} vnne? [e]s is
? ere au? t ynow to lauen it. as who sei? . vnne? es is ? er 3832
suffisauntly any ? ing to answere p{er}fitly to ? i questiou{n}.
[Sidenote: For the subject is of such a kind, that when one doubt
is removed, innumerable others, like the heads of the hydra,
spring up. ]
? For ? e matere of it is swiche ? at whan oon doute is [[pg 134]]
determined {and} kut awey ? er wexe{n} o? er doutes wi? -outen
nou{m}bre. ry? t as ? e heuedes waxen of ydre ? e 3836
serpent ? at hercules slou? .
[Sidenote: Nor would there be any end of them unless they were
restrained by a quick and vigorous effort of the mind. ]
? Ne ? ere ne were no
man{er}e ne noon ende. but yif ? at a wy? t co{n}streined[e]
? o doutes. by a ry? t lyuely {and} a quik fire of ? ou? t. ? at
is to seyn by vigo{ur} {and} streng? e of witte.
[Sidenote: The question whereof you want a solution embraces the
five following points: 1. Simplicity, or unity of Providence. 2.
The order and course of Destiny. ]
? For in 3840
? is matere me{n} weren wont to maken questiou{n}s of ? e
simplicite of ? e p{ur}ueaunce of god {and} of ? e ordre of
destine.
[Sidenote: 3. Sudden chance. 4. Prescience of God, and divine
predestination. 5. Free-will. ]
{and} of sodeyne hap. {and} of ? e knowyng {and}
p{re}destinac{i}ou{n} deuine {and} of ? e lyberte of fre wille. 3844
? e whiche ? ing ? ou ? i self ap{er}ceiust wel of what wey? t
? ei ben. but for as mochel as ? e knowynge of ? ise
? inges is a manere porc{i}ou{n} to ? e medicine to ? e. al be it
so ? at I haue lytel tyme to don it.
[Sidenote: I will try to treat of these things:--]
? it na? eles I wole 3848
enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it. ? but al ? ou?
? e norissinges of dite of musike delite? ? e ? ow most
suffren. {and} forberen a litel of ? ilk delite while ? at I
weue (contexo) to ? e resou{n}s yknyt by ordre ? As it like? 3852
to ? e q{uo}d I so do.
[Sidenote: Resuming her discourse as from a new principle,
Philosophy argued as follows:--]
? ? o spak she ry? t a[s] by an o? er
bygynnyn[ge] {and} seide ? us.
[Sidenote: The generation of all things, every progression of
things liable to change, and everything that moveth, derive their
causes, order, and form from the immutability of the divine
understanding. ]
? ? e enge{n}drynge of alle
? inges q{uo}d she {and} alle ? e progressiou{n}s of muuable
nat{ur}e. {and} alle ? {a}t moeue? in any manere taki? hys 3856
causes. hys ordre. {and} hys formes. of ? e stablenesse of ? e
deuyne ? ou? t
[Sidenote: Providence directs all things by a variety of means. ]
[{and} thilke deuyne thowht] ? at is yset {and}
put in ? e toure. ? at is to seyne in ? e hey? t of ? e simplicite
of god. stablisi? many manere gyses to ? inges ? at 3860
ben to don.
[Sidenote: These means, referred only to the divine intelligence,
are called Providence; but when contemplated in relation to the
things which receive motion and order from them, are called
Destiny. ]
? ? e whiche manere whan ? at men loken
it i{n} ? ilke pure clerenesse of ? e deuyne i{n}telligence. it
is ycleped p{ur}ueaunce ? but whan ? ilke manere is referred
by me{n} to ? inges ? at it moeue? {and} dispone? ? an [[pg 135]]
of olde men. it was cleped destine.
[Linenotes:
3823 _byhy? t_--by-hyhte
3824 _hidde_--hyd
3826 _preye_--p{re}ey
_diuise_--deuyse
3827 _do_--don
3828 _gretely_--gretly
3829 [_what_]--from C.
3832 _? ere au? t_--ther awht
3834 _swiche_--swych
_oon_--o
3835 _wi? outen noumbre_--w{i}t{h}-owte nowmbyr
3836 _waxen_--wexen
3837 _? ere_--ther
3838 _constreined[e]_--constreynede
3839 _lyuely_--lyfly
3840 _witte_--wit
3843 _hap_--happe
3845 _wey? t_--wyht
3848 _wole_--wol
3850 _? ow_--MS. now, C. ? {o}u
_most suffren_--MS. moste to souereyne; C. most suffren
3851 _? ilk_--thilke
3853 _? o_--so
_spak_--MS. spake, C. spak
_a[s]_--as
3856 _alle_--al
3858 [_and----thowht_]--from C.
_yset_--MS. ysette, C. yset
3859 _toure_--towr
_seyne_--seyn
_hey? t_--heyhte
3861 _don_--done
3862 _clerenesse_--klennesse]
[Headnote:
OF FATE AND PROVIDENCE. ]
[Sidenote: Reflection on the efficacy of the one and the other
will soon cause us to see their differences. ]
? ? e whiche 3865
? inges yif ? at any wy? t loke? wel in his ? ou? t.
? e streng? e of ? at oon {and} of ? at o? er he shal ly? tly mowen
seen ? at ? ise two ? inges ben diuers.
[Sidenote: Providence is the divine intelligence manifested in the
disposition of worldly affairs. ]
? For p{ur}ueau{n}ce 3868
is ? ilke deuyne resou{n} ? at is establissed in ? e souereyne
p{r}ince of ? inges. ? e whiche p{ur}ueaunce disponi? alle
?
whan ? e resou{n} of ? e order is vnknowe.
[Sidenote: But, forasmuch as God, the good governor, presides over
all, rest assured that all things are done rightly and as they
ought to be done. ]
? But alle
? ou? ? ou ne know nat ? e cause of so gret a disposic{i}ou{n}.
na? eles for as moche as god ? e good[e] gouernour attempre?
{and} gouerne? ? e world. ne doute ? e nat ? at 3792
alle ? inges ne ben doon ary? t.
[Linenotes:
3760 _goode_--good
3761 _ha? _--MS. ha? e
_nat_--omitted
_leuer_--leu{er}e
3762 _? an_--MS. ? at, C. than
3763 _redoutable_--MS. redentable, C. redowtable
3764 _stronge_--strong
_clerely_--clerly
3766 [_the_]--from C.
3767 _ney? boures_--nesshebors
3769 _lawful_--laweful
3771 _goode_--good
3772 [_? at_]--from C.
3775 _grete_--gret
3776 _to witen_--forto weten
3778 _trowed[e]_--trowede
_alle_--al
3779 _were_--weeren
_fortuouse_--fortunous
3780 _myne_--myn
3781 _good[e]_--goode
3782 _yuel_--yuelis
3783 _hardnesse_--hardnesses
3784 [_he_]--from C.
_wille_--wyl
3785 _difference_--MS. differenee
3786 _do? _--MS. do? e
_hap_--happe
3787 [_it_]--from C.
_it_--ne it
3788 _confus_--confuse
3789 _alle_--al
3791 _good[e]_--goode
3793 _ne_--omitted]
[Headnote:
THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS. ]
SI QUIS ARCTURI[8] SYDERA.
[Footnote 8: MS. arituri]
[Sidenote: [The fyfthe Met{ur}. ]]
[Sidenote: He who knows not that the Bear is seen near the Pole,
nor has observed the path of Bootes, will marvel at their
appearance. ]
++Who so ? at ne knowe nat ? e sterres of arctour
yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne contre or point.
? at is to seyne yto{ur}ned neye to ? e souereyne pool of ? e 3796
firmament {and} woot nat whi ? e sterre boetes passe? or
gaderi? his wey[n]es. {and} drenche? his late flaumbes in
? e see. {and} whi ? at boetes ? e sterre vnfoldi? his ouer
swifte arisynges. ? an shal he wo{n}dre{n} of ? e lawe of ? e 3800
heye eyre.
[Sidenote: The vulgar are alarmed when shadows terrestrial obscure
the moon's brightness, causing the stars to be displayed. ]
{and} eke if ? at he ne knowe nat why ? at ? e
hornes of ? e ful[le] moene waxen pale {and} infect by ? e
bou{n}des of ? e derke ny? t ? and how ? e moene dirk
{and} confuse discouere? ? e sterres. ? at she had[de] [[pg 133]]
ycouered by hir clere visage.
[Sidenote: Thinking the eclipse the result of enchantment, they
sought to destroy the charms by the tinkling of brazen vessels or
cymbals. ]
? e co{m}mune errour moeue? 3805
folk {and} maki? wery hir bacines of bras by ? ikke
strookes. ? at is to seyne ? at ? er is a maner poeple ? at
hy? t[e] coribandes ? at wenen ? at whan ? e moone is in 3808
? e eclips ? at it be enchau{n}tid. and ? erfore forto rescowe
? e moone ? ei betyn hire basines wi? ? ikke strokes.
[Sidenote: Yet none marvel when the north-west wind renders the
sea tempestuous; nor when vast heaps of congealed snow are melted
by the warm rays of the sun, because the causes are apparent. ]
? Ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e blastes of ? e wynde
chorus betyn ? e strondes of ? e see by quakynge floodes. 3812
ne no man ne wondre? whan ? e wey? te of ? e snowe
yhardid by ? e colde. is resolued by ? e brennynge hete
of phebus ? e sonne. ? For here seen men redyly ? e
causes.
[Sidenote: Things whose causes are unknown disquiet the human
mind. ]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 30. ]]
but ? e *causes yhid ? at is to seye in heuene 3816
trouble ? e brestes of men.
[Sidenote: The fickle mob stands amazed at every rare or sudden
phenomenon. ]
? ? e moeueable poeple is
a-stoned of alle ? inges ? at comen selde {and} sodeynely in
oure age.
[Sidenote: Fear and wonder, however, soon cease when ignorance
given place to certain knowledge. ]
but yif ? e troubly errour of oure ignora{n}ce
departid[e] from vs. so ? at we wisten ? e causes whi ? at 3820
swiche ? inges bitiden. certys ? ei sholde{n} cesse to seme
wondres.
[Linenotes:
3794 _arctour_--MS. aritour
3795 _neye_--neygh
3796 _seyne_--seyn
_neye_--nygh
3797-99 _boetes_--MS. boeces, C. boetes
3798 _his_ (1)--hise
_wey[n]es_--weynes
3802 _ful[le]_--fulle
3804 _had[de]_--hadde
3806 _bacines_--MS. batines
_? ikke_--MS. ? ilke, C. thilke
3807 _seyne_--seyn
3808 _hy? t[e]_--hihte
3809 _eclips_--eclypse
3812 _chorus_--MS. thorus, C. chorus
3813 _snowe_--sonwh = snowh
3815 _here_--her
_redyly_--redely
3816 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hid
_seye_--seyn
3817 _trouble_--trowblen
3820 _departid[e] from_--departede fro]
[Headnote:
FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS. ]
ITA EST INQ{UA}M.
[Sidenote: [The syxte p{ro}se. ]]
[Sidenote: _B. _ So it is. But as thou hast promised to unfold the
hidden causes of things, and unveil things wrapt up in darkness; I
pray thee deliver me from my present perplexity, and explain the
mystery I mentioned to you. ]
++? vs is it q{uo}d I. but so as ? ou hast ? euen or byhy? t
me to vnwrappe{n} ? e hidde causes of ? inges ? and 3824
to discoueren me ? e resou{n}s couered w{i}t{h} dirknesses I
p{re}ye ? e ? at ? ou diuise {and} Iuge me of ? is matere. {and}
? at ? ou do me to vndrestonde{n} it. ? For ? is miracle
or ? is wondre trouble? me ry? t gretely.
[Sidenote: _P. _ You ask me to declare to you the most intricate of
all questions, which I am afraid can scarce be answered. ]
{and} ? an she a 3828
litel [what] smylyng seide. ? ? ou clepest me q{uo}d
she to telle ? ing. ?
at is grettest of alle ? inges ? at mowen
ben axed. ? And to ? e whiche questiou{n} vnne? [e]s is
? ere au? t ynow to lauen it. as who sei? . vnne? es is ? er 3832
suffisauntly any ? ing to answere p{er}fitly to ? i questiou{n}.
[Sidenote: For the subject is of such a kind, that when one doubt
is removed, innumerable others, like the heads of the hydra,
spring up. ]
? For ? e matere of it is swiche ? at whan oon doute is [[pg 134]]
determined {and} kut awey ? er wexe{n} o? er doutes wi? -outen
nou{m}bre. ry? t as ? e heuedes waxen of ydre ? e 3836
serpent ? at hercules slou? .
[Sidenote: Nor would there be any end of them unless they were
restrained by a quick and vigorous effort of the mind. ]
? Ne ? ere ne were no
man{er}e ne noon ende. but yif ? at a wy? t co{n}streined[e]
? o doutes. by a ry? t lyuely {and} a quik fire of ? ou? t. ? at
is to seyn by vigo{ur} {and} streng? e of witte.
[Sidenote: The question whereof you want a solution embraces the
five following points: 1. Simplicity, or unity of Providence. 2.
The order and course of Destiny. ]
? For in 3840
? is matere me{n} weren wont to maken questiou{n}s of ? e
simplicite of ? e p{ur}ueaunce of god {and} of ? e ordre of
destine.
[Sidenote: 3. Sudden chance. 4. Prescience of God, and divine
predestination. 5. Free-will. ]
{and} of sodeyne hap. {and} of ? e knowyng {and}
p{re}destinac{i}ou{n} deuine {and} of ? e lyberte of fre wille. 3844
? e whiche ? ing ? ou ? i self ap{er}ceiust wel of what wey? t
? ei ben. but for as mochel as ? e knowynge of ? ise
? inges is a manere porc{i}ou{n} to ? e medicine to ? e. al be it
so ? at I haue lytel tyme to don it.
[Sidenote: I will try to treat of these things:--]
? it na? eles I wole 3848
enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it. ? but al ? ou?
? e norissinges of dite of musike delite? ? e ? ow most
suffren. {and} forberen a litel of ? ilk delite while ? at I
weue (contexo) to ? e resou{n}s yknyt by ordre ? As it like? 3852
to ? e q{uo}d I so do.
[Sidenote: Resuming her discourse as from a new principle,
Philosophy argued as follows:--]
? ? o spak she ry? t a[s] by an o? er
bygynnyn[ge] {and} seide ? us.
[Sidenote: The generation of all things, every progression of
things liable to change, and everything that moveth, derive their
causes, order, and form from the immutability of the divine
understanding. ]
? ? e enge{n}drynge of alle
? inges q{uo}d she {and} alle ? e progressiou{n}s of muuable
nat{ur}e. {and} alle ? {a}t moeue? in any manere taki? hys 3856
causes. hys ordre. {and} hys formes. of ? e stablenesse of ? e
deuyne ? ou? t
[Sidenote: Providence directs all things by a variety of means. ]
[{and} thilke deuyne thowht] ? at is yset {and}
put in ? e toure. ? at is to seyne in ? e hey? t of ? e simplicite
of god. stablisi? many manere gyses to ? inges ? at 3860
ben to don.
[Sidenote: These means, referred only to the divine intelligence,
are called Providence; but when contemplated in relation to the
things which receive motion and order from them, are called
Destiny. ]
? ? e whiche manere whan ? at men loken
it i{n} ? ilke pure clerenesse of ? e deuyne i{n}telligence. it
is ycleped p{ur}ueaunce ? but whan ? ilke manere is referred
by me{n} to ? inges ? at it moeue? {and} dispone? ? an [[pg 135]]
of olde men. it was cleped destine.
[Linenotes:
3823 _byhy? t_--by-hyhte
3824 _hidde_--hyd
3826 _preye_--p{re}ey
_diuise_--deuyse
3827 _do_--don
3828 _gretely_--gretly
3829 [_what_]--from C.
3832 _? ere au? t_--ther awht
3834 _swiche_--swych
_oon_--o
3835 _wi? outen noumbre_--w{i}t{h}-owte nowmbyr
3836 _waxen_--wexen
3837 _? ere_--ther
3838 _constreined[e]_--constreynede
3839 _lyuely_--lyfly
3840 _witte_--wit
3843 _hap_--happe
3845 _wey? t_--wyht
3848 _wole_--wol
3850 _? ow_--MS. now, C. ? {o}u
_most suffren_--MS. moste to souereyne; C. most suffren
3851 _? ilk_--thilke
3853 _? o_--so
_spak_--MS. spake, C. spak
_a[s]_--as
3856 _alle_--al
3858 [_and----thowht_]--from C.
_yset_--MS. ysette, C. yset
3859 _toure_--towr
_seyne_--seyn
_hey? t_--heyhte
3861 _don_--done
3862 _clerenesse_--klennesse]
[Headnote:
OF FATE AND PROVIDENCE. ]
[Sidenote: Reflection on the efficacy of the one and the other
will soon cause us to see their differences. ]
? ? e whiche 3865
? inges yif ? at any wy? t loke? wel in his ? ou? t.
? e streng? e of ? at oon {and} of ? at o? er he shal ly? tly mowen
seen ? at ? ise two ? inges ben diuers.
[Sidenote: Providence is the divine intelligence manifested in the
disposition of worldly affairs. ]
? For p{ur}ueau{n}ce 3868
is ? ilke deuyne resou{n} ? at is establissed in ? e souereyne
p{r}ince of ? inges. ? e whiche p{ur}ueaunce disponi? alle
?
