1848 grete—gret
1849 algates—Allegates
1850 goode—good
OF NATURE’S LAWS.
[QUANTAS RERUM FLECTAT.]
IT likeþ me I will now sing of Nature’s laws, by which the universe is governed. to shew[e] by subtil songe wiþ slakke and
delitable soun of strenges how þat nature myȝty enclineþ [1852]
and flitteþ gouernementȝ of þinges ¶ and by
whiche lawes she purueiable kepiþ þe grete worlde. and
how she bindynge restreineþ alle þingus by a bonde þat
may nat be vnbounden. [j] The Punic lion submits to man, and dreads the keeper’s lash; yet, if he once taste blood, his savage instincts revive, and his keeper falls a victim to his fury. ¶ Al be it so þat þe liouns of [1856]
þe contree of pene beren þe fair[e] cheines. and taken
metes of þe handes of folk þat ȝeuen it hem. and
dreden her sturdy maystres of whiche þei ben wont to
suffren [betinges]. yif þat hir horrible mouþes ben bi-bled. [1860]
þat is to sein of bestes devoured. ¶ Hir corage
of tyme passeþ þat haþ ben ydel and rested. repaireþ
aȝein þat þei roren greuously. and remembren on hir
nature. and slaken hir nekkes from hir cheins vnbounden. [1864]
and hir maistre first to-teren wiþ blody toþe
assaieþ þe woode wraþþes of hem. ¶ þis is to sein þei
freten hir maister. [ij] If the caged bird though daintily fed, gets a sight of the pleasant grove where she was wont to sing, she will spurn her food, and pine for the beloved woods. ¶ And þe Iangland brid þat syngiþ
on þe heye braunches. þis is to sein in þe wode and [1868]
after is inclosed in a streit cage. ¶ al þouȝ [þat] þe
pleiyng besines of men ȝeueþ hem honied[e] drinkes
and large metes. wiþ swete studie. ¶ ȝit naþeles yif
þilke brid skippynge oute of hir streite cage seeþ þe [1872]
agreable shadewes of þe wodes. she defouleþ wiþ hir
fete hir metes yshad and sekeþ mournyng oonly þe
wode and twitriþ desirynge þe wode wiþ hir swete
voys. [iij] The sapling, bent down by a mighty hand, will resume its natural position as soon as the restraining force is removed. ¶ þe ȝerde of a tree þat is haled adoun by myȝty [1876]
strengþe bowiþ redely þe croppe adoun. but yif þat þe
hande of hym þat it bente lat it gon aȝein. ¶ An oon
þe crop lokeþ vp ryȝt to heuene. [iiij] Though the sun sets in the western main at eve, yet by a secret path he takes his wonted journey toward the east. ¶ þe sonne phebus
þat failleþ at euene in þe westrene wawes retorniþ aȝein [1880]
eftsones his cart by a priue paþe þere as it is wont
aryse. All things pursue their proper course, obedient to the source of order. ¶ Alle þinges seken aȝein in to hir propre
cours. and alle þinges reioisen hem of hir retournynge
aȝein to hir nature ne noon ordinaunce nis bytaken to [1884]
þinges but þat. Hence, throughout the world entire stability is found, for all things, having fulfilled their appointed course, return from whence they came. þat haþ ioignynge þe endynge to þe
bygynnynge. and haþ makid þe cours of it self stable
þat it chaungeþ nat from hys propre kynde.
1851 shew[e]—shewe
1854 whiche—MS. swiche, C. whyche
worlde—world
1856 be—ben
vnbounden—vnbownde
1857 fair[e]—fayre