[Sidenote: [The 6^te p{ro}se {and} the laste.]]
++ÞEr-fore þan as I haue shewed a litel her byforne þat al þinge þat is
ywist nis nat knowen by hys nature p{ro}pre. but by þe nature of he{m}
þat comp{re}henden it. ¶ Lat vs loke now in as moche as it is leueful to
vs. as who seiþ lat vs loken now as we mowen whiche þ{a}t þe estat is of
þe deuyne substaunce so þat we mowen [ek] knowen what his science is. þe
comune iugement of alle creatures resonables þan is þis þat god is
eterne. lat vs considere þa{n} what is et{er}nite. For certys þat shal
shewen vs to-gidre þe deuyne nature {and} þe deuyne science ¶ Eternite
þan is p{er}fit possessiou{n} {and} al togidre of lijf interminable
{and} þat sheweþ more clerely by þe co{m}parisou{n} or collac{i}ou{n} of
temp{or}el þinges. for al þing þat lyueþ in tyme it is p{re}sent {and}
p{ro}cediþ fro preteritȝ in to fut{ur}es. þat is to sein. fro tyme
passed in to tyme comynge. ne þer nis no þing establissed i{n} tyme þat
may enbracen to-gidre al þe space of hys lijf. for certys ȝit ne haþ it
nat taken þe tyme of þe morwe. {and} it haþ lost þat of ȝister-day. and
certys in þe lijf of þis day ȝe ne lyuen no more but ryȝt as in þis
moeueable {and} t{ra}nsitorie moment. þan þilke þinge þat suffriþ
temp{or}el condic{i}ou{n}. a[l]þough{e} þat [it] bygan neuer to be. ne
þough{e} it neu{er}e cese forto be. as aristotle demde of þe worlde. and
al þouȝ þat þe lif of it be strecchid wiþ infinite of tyme. ȝit algates
nis it no swiche þing þat men myȝten trowen by ryȝt þat it is eterne.
for al þouȝ þat it comp{re}hende {and} embrace þe space of life
infinite. ȝit algates ne [em]braceþ it nat þe space of þe lif
alto-gidre. for it ne haþ nat þe fut{ur}es þat ne ben nat ȝit. ne it ne
haþ no lenger þe p{re}t{er}itȝ þat ben ydon or ypassed. but þilke þing
þan þat haþ {and} co{m}prehendiþ to-gidre alle þe plente of þe lif
i{n}terminable. to whom þere ne failiþ nat of þe fut{ur}e. {and} to whom
þer nis nat of þe p{re}t{er}it escapid nor ypassed. þilk[e] same is
ywitnessed or yproued by ryȝt to ben eterne. and it byhoueþ by necessite
þat þilke þinge be alwey p{re}sent to hym self {and} co{m}potent. as who
seiþ alwey p{re}sent to hym self {and} so myȝty þat al by ryȝt at hys
plesaunce. {and} þ{a}t he haue al p{re}sent þe infinit of þe moeuable
tyme. wherfore som men trowe{n} wrongefully þat whan þei heren þat it
semid[e] to plato þat þis worlde ne had[de] neuer bygynnynge of tyme. ne
þat it neu{er}e shal haue faylynge. þei wenen i{n} þis man{er}e þat þis
worlde ben maked coet{er}ne wiþ his makere. as who seiþ. þei wenen þat
þis worlde {and} god ben maked to-gidre eterne. and it is a wrongful
wenynge. for oþer þing is it to ben yladd by lif interminable as plato
graunted[e] to þe worlde. {and} oþer þing is it to embracen to-gidre
alle þe p{re}sence to þe lif interminable. þe whiche þing it is clere
{and} manifest þat it is p{ro}pre to þe deuine þouȝt. ne it ne sholde
nat semen to vs þat god is elder þan þinges þat ben ymaked by quantite
of tyme. but raþer by þe p{ro}prete of hys symple nature. for þis ilke
infinit[e] moeuyng of temp{or}el þinges folwiþ þis p{re}sentarie estat
of þe lijf i{n}moeueable. {and} so as it ne may nat contrefeten it ne
feyne{n} it ne ben euene lyke to it. for þe inmoeueablete. þat is to
seyn þat is i{n} þe eternite of god. ¶ it faileþ {and} falleþ in to
moeuynge fro þe simplicite of [the] p{re}sence of god. {and} disencresiþ
to þe infinite quantite of fut{ur}e {and} of p{re}terit. {and} so as it
ne may nat han togidre al þe plente of þe lif. algates ȝitte for as
moche as it ne cesiþ neuere forto ben in som manere it semeþ somde[l] to
vs þat it folwiþ {and} resembliþ þilke þing þ{a}t it ne may nat attayne
to. ne fulfille. {and} byndeþ it self to som manere p{re}sence of þis
litel {and} swifte moment. þe whiche p{re}sence of þis lytele {and}
swifte moment. for þat it bereþ a manere ymage or lykenesse of þe ay
dwellynge p{re}sence of god. it graunteþ to swiche manere þinges as it
bitidiþ to þat it semeþ hem þat þise þinges han ben {and} ben {and} for
[þ{a}t] þe p{re}sence of swiche litel moment ne may nat dwelle þer-for
[it] rauyssid[e] {and} took þe infinit[e] wey of tyme. þat is to seyn by
successiou{n}. {and} by þis man{er}e it is ydon. for þat it sholde
continue þe lif in goynge of þe whiche lif it ne myȝt[e] nat embrace þe
plente in dwellynge. {and} for þi yif we willen putte worþi name[s] to
þinges {and} folwen plato. lat vs seyn þa{n} soþely þat god is et{er}ne.
{and} þat þe worlde is p{er}petuel. þan syn þat euery iugeme{n}t knoweþ
{and} comp{re}hendiþ by hys owen nature þinges þat ben subiect vnto hym.
þere is soþely al-wey to god an et{er}ne {and} p{re}sentarie estat.
{and} þe science of hym þat ouer-passeþ alle temp{or}el moe[ue]m{en}t
dwelliþ in þe symplicite of hys p{re}sence {and} embraceþ {and}
considereþ alle þe infinit spaces of tymes p{re}teritȝ {and} fut{ur}es
{and} lokeþ in þis symple knowynge alle þinges of p{re}t{er}it ryȝt as
þei weren ydoon p{re}sently ryȝt now ¶ yif þou wolt þan þenke {and}
avise{n} þe p{re}science by whiche it knoweþ al[le] þi{n}ges þou ne
shalt nat demen it as p{re}science of þinges to comen. but þou shalt
deme{n} [it] more ryȝtfully þat it is science of presence or of
instaunce þat neuer ne fayleþ. for whiche it nis nat ycleped
p{ro}uidence but it sholde raþer be cleped purueaunce þat is establissed
ful fer fro ryȝt lowe þinges. {and} byholdeþ from a-fer alle þinges ryȝt
as it were fro þe heye heyȝte of þinges. whi axest þou þan or why
disputest þou þan þat þilke þinges ben don by necessite whiche þat ben
yseyen {and} yknowen by þe deuyne syȝt. syn þat for soþe men ne maken
nat þilke þi{n}ges necessarie. whiche þat þe[i] seen be ydoon in hir{e}
syȝt. for addiþ þi byholdynge any necessite to þilke þinges þat þou
byholdest p{re}sent. ¶ Nay q{uo}d I. _p._ Certys þan yif men myȝte maken
any digne comparisou{n} or collac{i}ou{n} of þe p{re}sence diuine. {and}
of þe p{re}sence of mankynde. ryȝt so as ȝe seen so{m}me þinges in þis
temp{or}el presente. ryȝt so seeþ god alle þinges by hys eterne
p{re}sent. ¶ wherfore þis dyuyne p{re}science ne chaungeþ nat þe nature
ne þe p{ro}prete of þinges but byholdeþ swyche þinges present to hym
ward. as þei shollen bytiden to ȝow ward in tyme to come. ne it ne
co{n}foundeþ nat þe Iugementȝ of þinges but by of syȝt of hys þouȝt he
knoweþ þe þinges to comen as wel necessarie as nat necessarie. ryȝt so
as whan ȝe seen togidre a man walke on þe erþe {and} þe sonne arysen in
[the] heuene. al be it so þat ȝe seen {and} byholde{n} þat oon {and} þat
oþer to-gidre. ȝit naþeles ȝe demen {and} discerne þat þat oon is
uolu{n}tarie {and} þat oþer is necessarie. ¶ Ryȝt so þan [the] deuyne
lokynge byholdynge alle þi{n}ges vndir hym ne troubleþ nat þe qualite of
þinges þat ben certeynely p{re}sent to hy{m} ward. but as to þe
condic{i}ou{n} of tyme for soþe þei ben fut{ur}e. for whiche it folwiþ
þat þis nis non oppiniou{n}. but raþer a stedfast knowyng ystrengeþed by
soþenes. þat whan þat god knoweþ any þinge to be he ne vnwoot nat þat
þilke þinge wanteþ necessite to be. þis is to seyn þat whan þat god
knoweþ any þinge to bitide. he woot wel þat it ne haþ no necessite to
bitide. {and} yif þ{o}u seist here þat þilke þinge þat god seeþ to
bytide it ne may nat vnbytide. as who seiþ it mot bitide. ¶ and þilke
þinge þat þat ne may nat vnbytide it mot bitide by necessite. and þat
þou streine me to þis name of necessite. certys I wol wel confessen
{and} byknowe a þinge of ful sadde trouþe. but vnneþ shal þere any wyȝt
[mowe] seen it or comen þer-to. but yif þat he be byholder of þe deuyne
þouȝte. ¶ for I wol answer{e} þe þus. þat þilke þinge þat is future whan
it is referred to þe deuyne knowy{n}g þan is it necessarie. but certys
whan it is vndirstonden in hys owen kynde me{n} sen it [is] vtterly fre
{and} absolut from alle necessite. for certys þer ben two maneres of
necessites. þat oon necessite is symple as þus. þat it byhoueþ by
necessite þat alle men be mortal or dedely. an oþ{er} necessite is
condicionel as þus. yif þou wost þat a man walkiþ. it byhoueþ by
necessite þat he walke. þilke þinge þan þat any wyȝt haþ yknowe to be.
it ne may ben non oþer weyes þan he knoweþ it to be. ¶ but þis
condicioun ne draweþ nat wiþ hir þilke necessite symple. For certys þis
necessite condicionel. þe p{ro}pre nature of it ne makeþ it nauȝt. but
þe adiecc{i}ou{n} of þe condic{i}ou{n} makiþ it. for no necessite ne
constreyneþ a man to [gon / þ{a}t] gooþ by his p{ro}pre wille. al be it
so þat whan he gooþ þat it is necessarie þat he gooþ. þan mot þilke
þinge be by necessite. al þouȝ þat it ne haue no necessite of hys owen
nature. ¶ Ryȝt on þis same manere þan. yif þat þe p{ur}ueaunce of god
seeþ any þing p{re}sent. but certys þe fut{ur}es þat bytyden by fredom
of arbitre god seeþ hem alle to-gidre p{re}sentȝ. þise þinges þan [yif]
þei ben referred to þe deuyne syȝt. þan ben þei maked necessarie to þe
condic{i}ou{n} of þe deuyne knowynge. but certys yif þilke þinges ben
considred by hem self þei ben absolut of necessite. {and} ne forleten
nat ne cesen nat of þe liberte of hire owe{n} natur{e}. þan certys wiþ
outen doute alle þe þing{us} shollen be doon whiche þat god woot by-forn
þat þei ben to comen. but so{m}me of hem comen {and} bitiden of [free]
arbitre or of fre wille. þat al be it so þat þei bytiden. ȝit algates ne
lese þei nat hire p{ro}pre nature ne beynge. by þe whiche first or þat
þei were doon þei hadden power nat to han bitidd. _Boece._ what is þis
to seyn þa{n} q{uo}d I. þat þinges ne ben nat necessarie by hire
p{ro}pre nature. so as þei comen in alle maneres in þe lykenesse of
necessite by þe condic{i}ou{n} of þe deuyne science. {Ph}ilosoph{ie}.
þis is þe difference q{uo}d she. þat þo þinges þat I p{ur}posed[e] þe a
litel here byforn. þat is to seyn þe sonne arysynge {and} þe man
walkynge þat þerwhiles þat þilke þinges ben ydon. þei ne myȝten nat ben
vndon. naþeles þat oon of hem or it was ydon it byhoued[e] by necessite
þat it was ydon. but nat þat oþ{er}. ryȝt so it is here þat þe þinges
þat god haþ p{re}sent. wiþ outen doute þei shulle ben. but so{m}me of
hem descendiþ of þe nature of þinges as þe sonne arysynge. {and} so{m}me
descendiþ of þe power of þe doers as þe man walkynge. ¶ þan seide I. no
wronge þat yif þat þise þinges ben referred to þe deuyne knowynge þan
ben þei necessarie. {and} yif þei ben considered by he{m} selfe þan ben
þei absolut from þe bonde of necessite. ryȝt so [as] alle þinges þat
appiereþ or sheweþ to þe wittes yif þou referre it to resou{n} it is
vniuersel. {and} yif þou referre it or look[e] it to it self. þan is it
sy{n}guler. but now yif þou seist þus þ{a}t yif it be in my power to
chaunge my p{ur}pose. þan shal I voide þe p{ur}ueaunce of god. whan þat
p{er}auenture I shal han chau{n}ged þo þinges þat he knoweþ byforn. þan
shal I answere þe þus ¶ Certys þou maist wel chaungen þi p{ur}pos but
for as mochel as þe p{re}sent soþenesse of þe deuyne p{ur}ueaunce
byholdeþ þat þou mayst chau{n}ge{n} þi p{ur}pose. {and} wheþir þou wolt
chaunge it or no. {and} whider-ward þat þou tourne it. þ{o}u maist nat
eschewen þe deuyne p{re}science ryȝt as þou ne mayst nat fleen þe syȝt
of þe p{re}sent eye. al þouȝ þat þou tourne þi self by þi fre wille in
to dyu{er}se acc{i}ou{n}. ¶ But þou mayst seyn aȝeyne how shal it þan
be. shal nat þe dyuyne science ben chaunged by my disposic{i}ou{n} whan
þat I wol o þing now {and} now an oþer. {and} þilke p{re}science ne
semeþ it nat to enterchau{n}ge stoundes of knowynges. as who seiþ. ne
shal it nat seme to vs þat þe deuyne p{re}science enterchaungeþ hys
dyuers stoundes of knowynge. so þat it knowe so{m}me tyme o þing {and}
so{m}me tyme þe contrarie. ¶ No for soþe. [q{uod} I] for þe deuyne syȝt
renneþ to-forne {and} seeþ alle fut{ur}es {and} clepeþ hem aȝein {and}
reto{ur}niþ hem to þe p{re}sence of hys p{ro}pre knowynge. ne he ne
entrechaungeþ nat [so] as þou wenest þe stoundes of forknowyng [as] now
þis now þat. but he ay dwellynge comiþ byforn {and} enbraceþ at o strook
alle þi mutac{i}ou{n}s. and þis p{re}sence to co{m}p{re}henden {and} to
sen alle þinges. god ne haþ nat take{n} it of þe bitydynge of þinges
forto come. but of hys p{ro}pre symplicite. ¶ and her by is assoiled
þilke þing þat þou puttest a litel her byforne. þat is to seyne þat it
is vnworþi þinge to seyn þat oure futures ȝeuen cause of þe science of
god ¶ For c{er}tys þis strengþe of þe deuyne science whiche þat enbraceþ
alle þinge by his p{re}sentarie knowynge establisseþ manere to alle
þi{n}g{us} {and} it ne awiþ nat to lattere þinges. {and} syn þat þise
þinges ben þus. þat is to seyn syn þat necessite nis nat in þinges by þe
deuyne p{re}science. þan is þer fredom of arbitre. þat dwelleþ hool
{and} vnwemmed to mortal men. ne þe lawes ne p{ur}pose nat wikkedly
meedes {and} peynes to þe willynges of men þat ben vnbounde {and} quit
of alle necessite. ¶ And god byholder {and} forwiter of alle þinges
dwelliþ aboue {and} þe p{re}sent eternite of hys syȝt renneþ alwey wiþ
þe dyuerse qualite of oure dedes dispe{n}syng {and} ordeynynge medes to
good[e] men. {and} tourmentȝ to wicked men. ne in ydel ne i{n} veyn ne
ben þer nat put in god hope {and} p{ra}yeres. þat ne mowen nat ben
vnspedful ne wiþ oute effect whan þei ben ryȝtful ¶ wiþstond þan {and}
eschewe þou vices. worshippe {and} loue þou vertus. areise þi corage to
ryȝtful hoopes. ȝelde þou humble p{re}iers an heyȝe. grete necessite of
prowesse {and} vertue is encharged {and} comaunded to ȝow yif ȝe nil nat
dissimulen. ¶ Syn þat ȝe worchen {and} doon. þat is to seyn ȝoure dedes
{and} ȝoure workes by-fore þe eyen of þe Iuge þat seeþ {and} demeþ alle
þinges. [To whom be goye {and} worshipe bi Infynyt tymes / AMEN.]