[Sidenote: [The syxte p{ro}se.]]
{Þ}vs is it q{uo}d I. but so as þou hast ȝeuen or byhyȝt me to
vnwrappe{n} þe hidde causes of þinges ¶ and to discoueren me þe
resou{n}s couered w{i}t{h} dirknesses I p{re}ye þe þat þou diuise {and}
Iuge me of þis matere. {and} þat þou do me to vndrestonde{n} it. ¶ For
þis miracle or þis wondre troubleþ me ryȝt gretely. {and} þan she a
litel [what] smylyng seide. ¶ þou clepest me q{uo}d she to telle þing.
þat is grettest of alle þinges þat mowen ben axed. ¶ And to þe whiche
questiou{n} vnneþ[e]s is þere auȝt ynow to lauen it. as who seiþ.
vnneþes is þer suffisauntly any þing to answere p{er}fitly to þi
questiou{n}. ¶ For þe matere of it is swiche þat whan oon doute is
determined {and} kut awey þer wexe{n} oþer doutes wiþ-outen nou{m}bre.
ryȝt as þe heuedes waxen of ydre þe serpent þat hercules slouȝ. ¶ Ne
þere ne were no man{er}e ne noon ende. but yif þat a wyȝt
co{n}streined[e] þo doutes. by a ryȝt lyuely {and} a quik fire of þouȝt.
þat is to seyn by vigo{ur} {and} strengþe of witte. ¶ For in þis matere
me{n} weren wont to maken questiou{n}s of þe simplicite of þe
p{ur}ueaunce of god {and} of þe ordre of destine. {and} of sodeyne hap.
{and} of þe knowyng {and} p{re}destinac{i}ou{n} deuine {and} of þe
lyberte of fre wille. þe whiche þing þou þi self ap{er}ceiust wel of
what weyȝt þei ben. but for as mochel as þe knowynge of þise þinges is a
manere porc{i}ou{n} to þe medicine to þe. al be it so þat I haue lytel
tyme to don it. ȝit naþeles I wole enforcen me to shewe somwhat of it.
¶ but al þouȝ þe norissinges of dite of musike deliteþ þe þow most
suffren. {and} forberen a litel of þilk delite while þat I weue
(contexo) to þe resou{n}s yknyt by ordre ¶ As it likeþ to þe q{uo}d I so
do. ¶ þo spak she ryȝt a[s] by an oþer bygynnyn[ge] {and} seide þus.
¶ þe enge{n}drynge of alle þinges q{uo}d she {and} alle þe
progressiou{n}s of muuable nat{ur}e. {and} alle þ{a}t moeueþ in any
manere takiþ hys causes. hys ordre. {and} hys formes. of þe stablenesse
of þe deuyne þouȝt [{and} thilke deuyne thowht] þat is yset {and} put in
þe toure. þat is to seyne in þe heyȝt of þe simplicite of god. stablisiþ
many manere gyses to þinges þat ben to don. ¶ þe whiche manere whan þat
men loken it i{n} þilke pure clerenesse of þe deuyne i{n}telligence. it
is ycleped p{ur}ueaunce ¶ but whan þilke manere is referred by me{n} to
þinges þat it moeueþ {and} disponeþ þan of olde men. it was cleped
destine. ¶ þe whiche þinges yif þat any wyȝt lokeþ wel in his þouȝt. þe
strengþe of þat oon {and} of þat oþer he shal lyȝtly mowen seen þat þise
two þinges ben diuers. ¶ For p{ur}ueau{n}ce is þilke deuyne resou{n} þat
is establissed in þe souereyne p{r}ince of þinges. þe whiche
p{ur}ueaunce disponiþ alle þinges. but destine is þe disposic{i}ou{n}
{and} ordenaunce cleuynge to moeuable þinges. by þe whiche
disposic{i}ou{n} þe p{ur}ueaunce knyteþ alle þinges in hire ordres.
¶ For p{ur}ueaunce enbraceþ alle þi{n}ges to hepe. al þouȝ þat þei ben
dyuerse {and} al þouȝ þei ben wiþ outen fyn. but destynie dep{ar}teþ
{and} ordeyneþ alle þinges singlerly {and} diuideþ. in moeuynges. in
places. in formes. in tymes. dep{ar}tiþ [as] þus. so þat þe vnfoldyng of
temp{or}el ordenaunce assembled {and} ooned in þe lokyng of þe deuyne
þouȝt ¶ Is p{ur}ueaunce {and} þilke same assemblynge. {and} oonyng
diuided {and} vnfolden by tymes. lat þat ben called destine. {and} al be
it so þat þise þinges ben dyuerse. ȝitte naþeles hangeþ þat oon on þat
oþer. forwhi þe ordre destinal p{ro}cediþ of þe simplicite of
purueaunce. for ryȝt as a werkma{n} þat ap{er}ceiueþ in hys þouȝt þe
forme of þe þing þat he wil make moeueþ þe effect of þe werke. {and}
lediþ þat he had[de] loked byforne in hys þouȝt symply {and} p{re}sently
by temp{or}el þouȝt. ¶ Certys ryȝt so god disponiþ in hys p{ur}ueaunce
singlerly {and} stably þe þinges þat ben to done. but he amynistreþ in
many maneres {and} in dyuerse tymes by destyne. þilke same þinges þat he
haþ disponed þan wheþir þat destine be excercised. eyþer by so{m}me
dyuyne spirites seruaunteȝ to þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce. or ellys by
so{m}me soule (a{n}i{m}a mundi). or ellys by al nature seruynge to god.
or ellys by þe celestial moeuyng of sterres. or ellys by þe vertue of
aungels. or ellys by þe dyuerse subtilite of deueles. or ellys by any of
he{m}. or ellys by hem alle þe destynal ordynau{n}ce is ywouen or
accomplissed. certys it is open þing þat þe p{ur}ueaunce is an
vnmoeueable {and} symple forme of þinges to done. {and} þe moeueable
bonde {and} þe temp{or}el ordynaunce of þinges whiche þat þe deuyne
simplicite of p{ur}ueaunce haþ ordeyned to done. þat is destine. For
whiche it is þat alle þinges þat ben put vndir destine ben certys
subgitȝ to p{ur}ueaunce. to whiche p{ur}ueaunce destine it self is
subgit {and} vndir. ¶ But so{m}me þinges ben put vndir purueaunce þat
so{ur}mounten þe ordinaunce of destine. {and} þo ben þilke þat stably
ben yficched ney to þe first godhed þei so{ur}mou{n}ten þe ordre of
destinal moeuablite. ¶ For ryȝt as cercles þat to{ur}nen aboute a same
Centre or about a poynt. þilke cercle þat is inrest or moost wiþ-ynne
ioineþ to þe symplesse of þe myddel {and} is as it were a Centre or a
poynt to þat oþer cercles þat tourne{n} aboute{n} hym. ¶ and þilke þat
is outerest compased by larger envyronnynge is vnfolden by larger spaces
in so mochel as it is forþest fro þe mydel symplicite of þe poynt. and
yif þer be any þi{n}g þat knytteþ {and} felawshippeþ hym selfe to þilke
mydel poynt it is constreyned in to symplicite. þat is to seyn in to
[vn]moeueablete. {and} it ceseth to ben shad {and} to fleti{n} dyuersly.
¶ Ryȝt so by semblable resou{n}. þilke þinge þat dep{ar}tiþ firþest fro
þe first þouȝt of god. it is vnfolde{n} {and} su{m}mittid to grettere
bondes of destine. and in so moche is þe þing more free {and} lovs fro
destyne as it axeþ {and} holdeþ hym ner to þilke Centre of þinges. þat
is to seyne god. ¶ and if þe þinge cleueþ to þe stedfastnesse of þe
þouȝt of god. {and} be wiþ oute moeuyng certys it so{ur}mounteþ þe
necessite of destyne. þan ryȝt swiche comparisou{n} as [it] is of
skilynge to vndirstondyng {and} of þing þat is engendred to þing þat is.
{and} of tyme to eternite. {and} of þe cercle to þe Centre. ryȝt so is
þe ordre of moeueable destine to þe stable symplicite of p{ur}ueaunce.
¶ þilke ordinaunce moeueþ þe heuene {and} þe sterres {and} attempreþ þe
elymentȝ to gider amonges hem self. {and} t{ra}nsformeþ hem by
enterchau{n}gable mutac{i}ou{n}. ¶ and þilke same ordre neweþ aȝein alle
þinges growyng {and} fallyng a-doune by sembleables p{ro}gressiou{n}s of
seedes {and} of sexes. þat is to sein. male {and} female. and þis ilke
ordre co{n}streyneþ þe fortunes {and} þe dedes of men by a bonde of
causes nat able to ben vnbou{n}den (indissolubili). þe whiche destinal
causes whanne þei passen oute fro þe bygynnynges of þe vnmoeueable
purueaunce it mot nedes be þat þei ne be nat mutable. {and} þus ben þe
þinges ful wel ygouerned. yif þat þe symplicite dwelly{n}ge in þe deuyne
þouȝt sheweþ furþe þe ordre of causes. vnable to be I-bowed. {and} þis
ordre constreyneþ by hys p{ro}pre stablete þe moeueable þinges. or ellys
þei sholde fleten folily for whiche it is þat alle þinges semen to be
confus {and} trouble to vs men. for we ne mowe nat co{n}sider{e} þilke
ordinaunce. ¶ Naþeles þe p{ro}pre manere of euery þing dressynge hem to
goode disponit hem alle. for þere nis no þinge don for cause of yuel. ne
þilke þing þat is don by wicked[e] folk nis nat don for yuel þe whiche
shrewes as I haue shewed [ful] plentiuously seken goode. but wicked
errour mysto{ur}niþ he{m}. ¶ Ne þe ordre comynge fro þe poynt of
souereyne goode ne declineþ nat fro hys bygynnynge. but þou mayst sein
what vnreste may ben a wors co{n}fusiou{n} þan þ{a}t goode men han
so{m}me tyme aduersite. {and} so{m}tyme p{ro}sperite. ¶ and shrewes also
han now þinges þat þei desiren. {and} now þi{n}ges þat þei haten
¶ wheþer men lyuen now in swiche hoolnesse of þouȝt. as who seiþ. ben
men now so wise. þat swiche folk as þei demen to ben goode folk or
shrewes þ{a}t it mot nedes ben þat folk ben swiche as þei wenen. but in
þis manere þe domes of men discorden. þat þilke men þ{a}t so{m}me folk
demen worþi of mede. oþer folk demen hem worþi of to{ur}ment. but lat vs
graunt[e] I pose þat som man may wel demen or knowen þe goode folk {and}
þe badde. May he þan knowen {and} seen þilke inrest attemp{er}aunce of
corages. as it haþ ben wont to be said of bodyes. as who saiþ may a man
speken {and} determine of attemp{er}aunce in corages. as men were wont
to demen or speken of complexiou{n}s {and} attemp{er}aunces of bodies
(q’ non). ne it [ne] is nat an vnlyke miracle to hem þat ne knowe{n} it
nat. ¶ As who seiþ. but is lyke a merueil or a miracle to hem þat ne
knowe{n} it nat. whi þat swete þinges [ben] couenable to some bodies þat
ben hool {and} to some bodies bittre þinges ben couenable. {and} also
whi þat some seke folk ben holpen w{i}t{h} lyȝt medicines [{and} some
folk ben holpen w{i}t{h} sharppe medicynes] but naþeles þe leche þ{a}t
knoweþ þe manere {and} þe attemp{er}aunce of heele {and} of maladie ne
merueileþ of it no þing. but what oþer þing semeþ hele of corages but
bounte {and} prowesse. {and} what oþer þing semeþ maladie of corages but
vices. who is ellys kep{er}e of good or dryuere awey of yuel but god
gouerno{ur} {and} leecher of þouȝtes. þe whiche god wha{n} he haþ
by-holden from þe heye toure of hys p{ur}ueaunce he knoweþ what is
couenable to euery wyȝt. {and} leneþ hem þat he wot [þat] is couenable
to hem. Loo here of comeþ {and} here of is don þis noble miracle of þe
ordre destinal. whan god þat alle knoweþ doþ swiche þing. of whiche þing
[þat] vnknowyng folk ben astoned but forto constreine as who seiþ ¶ But
forto co{m}prehende {and} telle a fewe þinges of þe deuyne depnesse þe
whiche þat mans resou{n} may vnderstonde. ¶ þilk man þat þou wenest to
ben ryȝt Iuste {and} ryȝt kepyng of eq{u}ite. þe contrarie of þat semeþ
to þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce þat al woot. ¶ And lucan my familier telleþ
þat þe victories cause liked[e] to þe goddes {and} causes ouercomen
liked[e] to cato{u}n. þan what so euer þou mayst seen þat is don in þis
[world] vnhoped or vnwened. certys it is þe ryȝt[e] ordre of þinges. but
as to þi wicked[e] oppiniou{n} it is a co{n}fusiou{n}. but I suppose þat
som man be so wel yþewed. þat þe deuyne Iugement {and} þe Iugeme{n}t of
mankynde accorden hem to gidre of hym. but he is so vnstedfast of corage
[þat] yif any aduersite come to hym he wolde for-leten p{er}auenture to
continue i{n}nocence by þe whiche he ne may nat wiþholden fortune. ¶ þan
þe wise dispensac{i}ou{n} of god spareþ hym þe whiche man{er}e
adu{er}site myȝt[e] enpeyren. ¶ For þat god wil nat suffren hym to
trauaile. to whom þat trauayl nis nat couenable. ¶ An oþ{er} man is
p{er}fit in alle uertues. {and} is an holy man {and} neye to god so þat
þe p{ur}ueaunce of god wolde demen þat it were a felony þat he were
touched wiþ any aduersites. so þat he ne wil nat suffre þat swiche a man
be moeued wiþ any manere maladie. ¶ But so as seide a philosophre [the
moore excellent by me]. þe adu{er}sites comen nat (he seide in grec[;])
þere þ{a}t uertues han edified þe bodie of þe holy man. and ofte tyme it
bitideþ þat þe so{m}me of þinges þat ben to don is taken to good folk to
gouerne. for þat þe malice habundaunt of shrewes sholde ben abatid.
{and} god ȝeueþ {and} dep{ar}tiþ to oþer folk p{ro}sp[er]ites {and}
aduersites ymedeled to hepe aftir þe qualite of hire corages {and}
remordiþ som folk by adu{er}sites. for þei ne sholden nat wexen proude
by longe welefulnesse. {and} oþer folk he suffreþ to ben trauayled wiþ
harde þinges. ¶ For þat þei sholden conferme þe vertues of corage by þe
vsage {and} ex{er}citac{i}ou{n} of pacie{n}ce. and oþer folke dreden
more þen þei auȝten þe wiche þei myȝt[en] wel beren. {and} þilke folk
god lediþ in to exp{er}ience of hem self by aspre {and} sorweful þinges.
¶ And many oþer folk han bouȝt honorable renoune of þis worlde by þe
pris of glorious deeþ. and som men þat ne mowen nat ben ouer-comen by
tourment han ȝeuen ensample to oþer folk þat vertue ne may nat be
ouer-comen by aduersites. ¶ and of alle þise þinges þer nis no doute
þ{a}t þei ne ben don ryȝtfully {and} ordeinly to þe p{ro}fit of hem to
whom we seen þise þinges bitide. ¶ For certys þat aduersite comeþ some
tyme to shrewes. {and} some tyme þat þei desiren it comeþ of þise
forseide causes {and} of sorweful þinges þat bytyden to shrewes. Certys
no man ne wondreþ. For alle me{n} wenen þat þei han wel deserued it.
{and} þei ben of wicked m{er}ite of whiche shrewes þe to{ur}ment som
tyme agasteþ oþer to done folies. {and} som tyme it amendeþ hem þat
suffren þe to{ur}mentis. ¶ And þe p{ro}sp{er}ite þat is ȝeuen to shrewes
sheweþ a grete argument to good[e] folk what þing þei sholde demen of
þilk wilfulnesse þe whiche p{ro}sperite men seen ofte serue to shrewes.
in þe whiche þing I trowe þat god dispensiþ. for p{er}auenture þe nature
of som man is so ouerþrowyng to yuel {and} so vncouenable þat þe nedy
pouerte of hys house-hold myȝt[e] raþer egren hym to done felonies. and
to þe maladie of hym god puttiþ remedie to ȝiuen hym rychesse. {and} som
oþer man byholdiþ hys conscience defouled wiþ synnes {and} makiþ
co{m}parisou{n} of his fortune {and} of hym self ¶ and drediþ
p{er}auenture þat hys blisfulnesse of whiche þe vsage is ioyful to hym
þat þe lesynge of þilke blisfulnesse ne be nat sorweful to hym. {and}
þerfore he wol chaunge hys maneres. and for he drediþ to lese hys
fortune. he forletiþ hys wickednesse. to oþer folk is welefulnesse
yȝeue{n} vnworþily þe whiche ouerþroweþ hem in to destrucc{i}ou{n} þat
þei han deserued. and to som oþer folk is ȝeuen power to punisse{n}. for
þat it shal be cause of continuac{i}ou{n} {and} ex{er}cisinge to good[e]
folk. {and} cause of to{ur}ment to shrewes. ¶ For so as þer nis none
alyaunce bytwixe good[e] folke {and} shrewes. ne shrewes ne mowen nat
accorde{n} amo{n}ges hem self {and} whi nat. for shrewes discorde{n} of
hem self by her vices þe whiche vices al to renden her consciences.
{and} don oft[e] tyme þinges þe whiche þinges whan þei han don hem. þei
demen þat þo þinges ne sholde nat han ben don. for whiche þinge þilke
souereyne p{ur}ueaunce haþ maked oft[e] tyme [fair{e}] miracle so þ{a}t
shrewes han maked oftyme shrewes to ben good[e] men. for whan þat som
shrewes seen þat þei suffren wrongfully felonies of oþer shrewes þei
wexen eschaufed in to hat[e] of hem þat anoien hem. {and} retournen to
þe fruit of uertue. when þei studien to ben vnlyke to he{m} þat þei han
hated. ¶ Certys þis only is þe deuyne myȝt to þe whiche myȝt yueles ben
þan good. whan it vseþ þo yueles couenably {and} draweþ out þe effect of
any good. as who seiþ þat yuel is good oonly by þe myȝt of god. for þe
myȝt of god ordeyneþ þilk yuel to good. For oon ordre enbrasiþ alle
þinges. so þat what wyȝt [þ{a}t] dep{ar}tiþ fro þe resou{n} of þe ordre
whiche þat is assigned to hym. algates ȝit he slideþ in to an oþ{er}
ordre. so þat noþing nis leueful to folye in þe realme of þe deuyne
p{ur}ueaunce. as who seiþ no þing nis wiþouten ordinaunce in þe realme
of þe deuyne purueaunce. ¶ Syn þat þe ryȝt strong[e] god gouerniþ alle
þinges in þis worlde for it nis nat leueful to no man to
co{m}p{re}henden by witte ne vnfolden by worde alle þe subtil
ordinaunces {and} disposic{i}ou{n}s of þe deuyne entent. for oonly it
auȝt[e] suffice to han loked þat god hym self makere of alle natures
ordeyniþ and dressiþ alle þinges to good. while þat he hastiþ to
wiþhalden þe þinges þat he haþ maked in to hys semblaunce. þat is to
seyn forto wiþholden þinges in to good. for he hym self is good he
chaseþ oute al yuel of þe boundes of hys co{m}munalite by þe ordre of
necessite destinable. For whiche it folweþ þat yif þou loke þe
p{ur}ueaunce ordeynynge þe þinges þat men wenen ben haboundaunt in
erþes. þou ne shalt not seen in no place no þing of yuel. ¶ but I se now
þat þou art charged wiþ þe weyȝte of þe questiou[n] {and} wery wiþ
lengþe of my resou{n}. {and} þat þou abidest som swetnesse of songe. tak
þa{n} þis drauȝt {and} whan þou art wel refresshed {and} refet þou shalt
ben more stedfast to stye in to heyere questiou{n}s.