[Sidenote: [The ferthe Met{ur}.]]
[Sidenote: What frenzy causes man to hasten on his fate, that is,
by war or by strife.]
++What deliteþ it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges of
hatredes {and} to hasten {and} bisien [the] fatal disposic{i}ou{n}
of ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure p{ro}pre handes. þat is 3744
to seyn by batailes or [by] contek.
[Sidenote: If death is desired he delays not to come.]
for yif ȝe axen þe
deeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ ne [[pg 131]]
tarieþ nat hys swifte hors.
[Sidenote: Why do they who are exposed to the assaults of beasts
of prey and venomous reptiles seek to slay each other with the
sword.]
and [the] men þat þe serpentȝ
{and} þe lyou{n}s. {and} þe tigre. {and} þe beere {and} þe 3748
boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit þilke same men
seken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde.
[Sidenote: Lo! their manners and opinions do not accord, wherefore
they engage in unjust wars, and fiercely urge on each other’s
destiny.]
[Sidenote: [* fol. 29 _b_.]]
loo for
her man{er}s ben *diuerse {and} discordaunt ¶ þei
moeuen vnryȝtful oostes {and} cruel batailes. {and} wilne 3752
to p{er}isse by enterchaungynge of dartes.
[Sidenote: But this is no just reason for shedding blood.]
but þe resou{n}
of cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful.
[Sidenote: Wouldst thou reward each as he deserves? Then love the
good as they deserve, and have pity upon the wicked.]
wilt þou þan ȝelden a
couenable gerdou{n} to þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfully
goode folk[;] {and} haue pite on shrewes. 3756
[Linenotes:
3743 [_the_]--from C.
3745 [_by_]--from C.
3746 _hastisiþ_--hasteth
_owen wille_--owne wyl
3747 [_the_]--from C.
3749 _boore_--boor
_teþe_--teth
3750 _swerde_--swerd
3751 _her_--hir
3752 _wilne_--wylnen
3753 _enterchaungynge_--entrechaungynges]
[Headnote:
THE OPERATIONS OF CHANCE.]