[Sidenote: [The 4^the Met{ur}.]]
++ÞE porche þat is to sein a gate of þe toune of athenis þer as
philosophres hadde hir congregac{i}ou{n} to dispoyten. {and} þilke
porche brouȝt[e] so{m}tyme olde men ful derke in hire sentences. þ{a}t
is to sein philosophers þat hyȝten stoiciens. þat wenden þat ymages
[{and}] sensibilites þat is to sein sensible ymaginac{i}ou{n}s. or ellys
ymaginac{i}ou{n} of sensible þinges were{n} i{n}p{re}ntid in to soules
fro bodies wiþ oute forþe. ¶ As who seiþ þat þilke stoiciens wenden
þ{a}t þe soule hadde ben naked of it self. as a mirour or a clene
p{ar}chemyn. so þat alle fygures mosten [fyrst] comen fro þinges fro wiþ
oute in to soules. {and} ben inp{re}ntid in to soules. _Textus._ Ryȝt as
we ben wont some tyme by a swift poyntel to ficchen l{ett}res
emp{re}ntid in þe smoþenesse or in þe plainesse of þe table of wex. or
in p{ar}chemyn þat ne haþ no figure [ne] note in it. _Glosa._ But now
arguiþ boece aȝeins þat oppiniou{n} {and} seiþ þus. but yif þe þriuyng
soule ne vnplitiþ no þing. þat is to sein ne doþ no þing by hys p{ro}pre
moeuynges. but suffriþ {and} lieþ subgit to þe figures {and} to þe notes
of bodyes wiþ oute forþe. {and} ȝeldeþ ymages ydel {and} veyne in þe
manere of a mirour. whennes þriueþ þan or whennes comeþ þan þilke
knowyng in oure soule. þat discerniþ {and} byholdeþ alle þinges. and
whennes is þilke strengþe þat byholdeþ þe syngulere þinges. or whennes
is þe strengþe þat dyuydeþ þinges yknowe. {and} þilke stre{n}gþe þat
gadereþ to-gidre þe þinges deuided. {and} þe strengþe þat cheseþ hys
entrechau{n}ged wey for som tyme it heueþ vp þe heued. þat is to sein
þat it heueþ vp þe ente{n}c{i}ou{n} to ryȝt heye þinges. {and} som tyme
it discendiþ in to ryȝt lowe þinges. {and} whan it retourniþ in to hym
self. it rep{re}uiþ {and} destroieþ þe false þinges by þe trewe þinges.
¶ Certys þis strengþe is cause more efficient {and} mochel more myȝty to
seen {and} to knowe þinges. þan þilke cause þat suffriþ and resceyueþ þe
notes {and} þe figures inp{re}ssed in manere of matere algates þe
passiou{n} þat is to seyn þe suffraunce or þe wit i{n} þe quik[e] body
goþ byforne excitynge {and} moeuyng þe strengþes of þe þouȝte. ryȝt so
as whan þat clerenesse smyteþ þe eyen {and} moeuiþ hem to seen. or ryȝt
so as voys or soune hurtliþ to þe eres {and} co{m}moeuiþ hem to herkne.
þan is þe stre{n}gþe of þe þouȝt ymoeuid {and} excitid {and} clepeþ
furþe þe semblable moeuynges þe speces þat it halt wiþ i{n}ne it self.
{and} addiþ þo speces to þe notes {and} to þe þinges wiþ out forþe.
{and} medeleþ þe ymages of þinges wiþ out forþe to þe forme[s] yhid wiþ
i{n}ne hym self.