3788 confus—confuse
3789 alle—al
3791 good[e]—goode
3793 ne—omitted
THE HIDDEN CAUSES OF THINGS.
[SI QUIS ARCTURI][8][ SYDERA.] [8] MS. arituri
Who so þat ne He who knows not that the Bear is seen near the Pole, nor has observed the path of Boötes, will marvel at their appearance. knowe nat þe sterres of arctour
ytourned neye to þe souereyne contre or point.
þat is to seyne ytourned neye to þe souereyne pool of þe [3796]
firmament and woot nat whi þe sterre boetes passeþ or
gaderiþ his wey[n]es. and drencheþ his late flaumbes in
þe see. and whi þat boetes þe sterre vnfoldiþ his ouer
swifte arisynges. þan shal he wondren of þe lawe of þe [3800]
heye eyre. The vulgar are alarmed when shadows terrestrial obscure the moon’s brightness, causing the stars to be displayed. and eke if þat he ne knowe nat why þat þe
hornes of þe ful[le] moene waxen pale and infect by þe
boundes of þe derke nyȝt ¶ and how þe moene dirk
and confuse discouereþ þe sterres. þat she had[de] [3804]
ycouered by hir clere visage. Thinking the eclipse the result of enchantment, they sought to destroy the charms by the tinkling of brazen vessels or cymbals. þe commune errour moeueþ
folk and makiþ wery hir bacines of bras by þikke
strookes. þat is to seyne þat þer is a maner poeple þat
hyȝt[e] coribandes þat wenen þat whan þe moone is in [3808]
þe eclips þat it be enchauntid. and þerfore forto rescowe
þe moone þei betyn hire basines wiþ þikke strokes.
Yet none marvel when the north-west wind renders the sea tempestuous; nor when vast heaps of congealed snow are melted by the warm rays of the sun, because the causes are apparent. ¶ Ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe blastes of þe wynde
chorus betyn þe strondes of þe see by quakynge floodes. [3812]
ne no man ne wondreþ whan þe weyȝte of þe snowe
yhardid by þe colde. is resolued by þe brennynge hete
of phebus þe sonne. ¶ For here seen men redyly þe
causes. [* fol. 30.] Things whose causes are unknown disquiet the human mind. but þe *causes yhid þat is to seye in heuene [3816]
trouble þe brestes of men. The fickle mob stands amazed at every rare or sudden phenomenon. ¶ þe moeueable poeple is
a-stoned of alle þinges þat comen selde and sodeynely in
oure age. Fear and wonder, however, soon cease when ignorance given place to certain knowledge. but yif þe troubly errour of oure ignorance
departid[e] from vs. so þat we wisten þe causes whi þat [3820]
swiche þinges bitiden. certys þei sholden cesse to seme
wondres.
3794 arctour—MS. aritour
3795 neye—neygh
3796 seyne—seyn
neye—nygh