[Sidenote: [The .5.^the p{ro}se.]]
++But what [yif] þat in bodies to be{n} feelid þat is to sein in þe
takynge of knowelechinge of bodyly þinges. and al be it so þat þe
qualites of bodies þ{a}t ben obiect fro wiþ oute forþe moeuen {and}
entalenten þe instrumentes of þe wittes. and al be it so þat þe
passiou{n} of þe body þat is to seyn þe witte [or the] suffrau{n}ce
[goth to-forn the strengthe of the workynge corage / the which
passiou{n} or suffraunce] clepiþ furþe þe dede of þe þouȝt in hym self.
{and} moeueþ {and} exiteþ in þis mene while þe formes þ{a}t resten wiþ
in forþe. and yif þat i{n} sensible bodies as I haue seid oure corage
nis nat ytauȝt or enp{re}ntid by passiou{n} to knowe þise þinges. but
demiþ {and} knoweþ of hys owen strengþe þe passiou{n} or suffrau{n}ce
subiect to þe body. Moche more þan þoo þinges þat ben absolut {and} quit
fram alle talentȝ or affecc{i}ou{n}s of bodies. as god or hys aungels ne
folwen nat in discernynge þinges obiect from wiþ oute forþe. but þei
accomplissen {and} speden þe dede of hir þouȝt by þis resou{n}. ¶ þan
þere comen many manere knowynges to dyu{er}se {and} differy{n}g
substaunces. for þe wit of þe body þe whiche witte is naked {and}
despoyled of alle oþer knowynges. þilke witte comeþ to bestes þat ne
mowen nat moeuen hem self here ne þere. as oystres {and} muscles {and}
oþer swiche shelle fysshe of þe see. þ{a}t cliue{n} {and} ben norissed
to roches. but þe ymaginac{i}ou{n} comeþ to remuable bestes þat seme{n}
to han talent to fleen or to desiren any þinge. but resou{n} is al only
to þe lynage of mankynde ryȝt as i{n}telligence is oonly þe deuyne
nature. of whiche it folweþ þat þilke knowyng is more worþe þan
[th]is[e] oþer. syn it knoweþ by hys p{ro}pre nature nat only hys
subiect. as who seiþ it ne knoweþ nat al oonly þat app{er}teiniþ
p{ro}prely to hys knowynge. but it knoweþ þe subgitȝ of alle oþer
knowynges. but how shal it þan be yif þat wit {and} ymaginac{i}ou{n}
stryuen aȝeins resonynge {and} sein þat of þilke vniuersel þinges. þat
resou{n} weneþ to seen þat it nis ryȝt nauȝt. for wit {and}
ymaginac{i}ou{n} seyn þat þat. þat is sensible or ymaginable it ne may
nat ben vniuersel. þan is eiþer þe iugement of resou{n} [soth]. ne þat
þer nis no þinge sensible. or ellys for þat resou{n} woot wel þat many
þinges ben subiect to wit {and} to ymaginac{i}ou{n}. þan is þe
co{n}sepc{i}ou{n} of resou{n} veyn {and} fals whiche þat lookeþ {and}
co{m}p{re}hendiþ. þat þat is sensible {and} synguler as uniuersele. and
ȝif þat resou{n} wolde answeren aȝein to þise two þat is to sein to wit
{and} to ymaginac{i}ou{n}. {and} sein þat soþely she hir self. þat is to
seyn þat resou{n} lokeþ {and} comp{re}hendiþ by resou{n} of
vniuersalite. boþe þat þat is sensible {and} þat þat is ymaginable.
{and} þat þilke two þat is to seyn wit {and} ymaginac{i}ou{n} ne mowe{n}
nat strecchen ne enhaunsen hem self to knowynge of vniuersalite for þat
þe knowy{n}g of hem ne may exceden nor so{ur}mou{n}te{n} þe bodyly
figure[s] ¶ Certys of þe knowyng of þinges men auȝten raþer ȝeue
credence to þe more stedfast {and} to þe more p{er}fit iugement. In þis
manere stryuynge þan we þat han strengþe of resonynge {and} of
ymaginynge {and} of wit þat is to seyn by resou{n} {and} by
ymaginac{i}ou{n} {and} by wit. [{and}] we sholde raþer p{re}ise þe cause
of resou{n}. as who seiþ þan þe cause of wit or ymaginac{i}ou{n}.
semblable þinge is it þat þe resou{n} of mankynde ne weneþ nat þat þe
deuyne intelligence byholdeþ or knoweþ þinges to comen. but ryȝt as þe
resou{n} of mankynde knoweþ hem. for þou arguist {and} seist þus. þat
yif it ne seme nat to men þat so{m}me þinges han certeyne {and}
necessarie bytidynges. þei ne mowen nat ben wist byforn certeynely to
bytiden. þa{n} nis [ther] no p{re}science of þilke þinges. {and} yif we
trowen þat p{re}science ben in þise þinges. þan is þer no þinge þat it
ne bitidiþ by necessite. but certys yif we myȝte{n} han þe iugeme{n}t of
þe deuyne þouȝt as we ben p{ar}son{er}s of resou{n}. ryȝt so as we han
demed. it byhoueþ þat ymaginac{i}ou{n} {and} wit ben byneþe resou{n}.
ryȝt so wolde we deme{n} þat it were ryȝtful þing þat ma{n}s resou{n}
auȝt[e] to su{m}mitten it self {and} to ben byneþe þe deuyne þouȝt. for
whiche þat yif we mowen. as who seiþ. þat yif þat we mowe{n} I
conseil[e] þat we enhanse vs in to þe heyȝt of þilke souereyne
i{n}telligence. for þere shal resou{n} wel seen þat þat it ne may nat
by-holden in it self. and certys þat is þis in what manere þe
p{re}science of god seeþ alle þinges c{er}teins {and} difinissed al þouȝ
þei ne han no certein issues or by-tydynges. ne þis is non oppiniou{n}
but it is raþer þe simplicite of þe souereyn science þat nis nat
enclosed nor yshet wiþi{n}ne no boundes.