[The .2de. prose.] ANIMADUERTO INQUAM.
Þis vndirstonde I wel quod I. and accorde wel þat it is ryȝt as þou seist. but I axe yif þer be any liberte or fre wil in þis ordre of causes þat cliuen þus to-gidre in hem self. ¶ or ellys I wolde witen yif þat þe destinal cheine constreiniþ þe moeueuynge of þe corages of men. yis quod she þer is liberte of fre wille. ne þer ne was neuer no nature of resoun þat it ne hadde liberte of fre wille. ¶ For euery þing þat may naturely vsen resoun. it haþ doom by whiche it discerniþ and demiþ euery þing. ¶ þan knoweþ it by it self þinges þat ben to fleen. and þinges þat ben to desiren. and þilk þing þat any wyȝt demeþ to ben desired þat axeþ or desireþ he and fleeþ [thilke] þing þat he troueþ ben to fleen. ¶ wher-fore in alle þinges þat resoun is. in hem also is libertee of willyng and of nillynge. ¶ But I ne ordeyne nat. as who seiþ. I ne graunte nat þat þis libertee be euene like in alle þinges. forwhi in þe souereyns deuynes substaunces. þat is to seyn in spiritȝ ¶ Iugement is more clere and wil nat be corumped. and haþ myȝt redy to speden þinges þat ben desired. ¶ But þe soules of men moten nedes ben more free whan þei loken hem in þe speculacioun or lokynge of þe deuyne þouȝt. and lasse free whan þei sliden in to þe bodies. and ȝit lasse free whan þei ben gadred to-gidre and comprehendid in erþely membris. but þe last[e] seruage is whan þat þei ben ȝeuen to vices. and han yfalle fro þe possessioun of hire propre resoun ¶ For after þat þei han cast aweye hir eyen fro þe lyȝt of þe souereyn soþefastnesse to lowe þinges and dirke ¶ Anon þei dirken by þe cloude of ignoraunce and ben troubled by felonous talentȝ. to þe whiche talentȝ whan þei approchen and assenten. þei hepen and encresen þe seruage whiche þei han ioigned to hem self. and in þis manere þei ben caitifs fro hire propre libertee. þe whiche þinges naþeles þe lokynge of þe deuyne purueaunce seeþ þat alle þinges byholdeþ and seeþ fro eterne. and ordeyneþ hem eueryche in her merites. as þei ben prodestinat. and it is seid in grek. þat alle þinges he seeþ and alle þinges he hereþ.
[The .2de. Metur.] PURO CLARUM LUMINE.
HOmer wiþ þe hony mouþe. þat is to seyn. homer wiþ þe swete dites syngeþ þat þe sonne is cleer by pure lyȝt. naþeles ȝit ne may it nat by þe inferme lyȝt of hys bemes breken or percen þe inwarde entrailes of þe erþe. or ellys of þe see. ¶ so ne seeþ nat god makere of þe grete worlde to hym þat lokeþ alle þinges from on heye ne wiþstandiþ nat no þinges by heuynesses of erþe. ne þe nyȝt ne wiþstondeþ nat to hym by þe blake cloudes. ¶ þilke god seeþ in o strook of þouȝt alle þinges þat ben or weren or schullen come. ¶ and þilke god for he lokeþ and seeþ alle þinges al oon. þou maist seyn þat he is þe verray sonne.
[The .3de. prose.] TAMEN EGO EN INQUAM.
ÞAn seide I now am I confounded by a more harde doute þan I was. what doute is þat quod she. ¶ For certys I coniecte now by whiche þinges þou art troubled. It semeþ quod I to repugnen and to contrarien gretly þat god knoweþ byforn alle þinges. and þat þer is any fredom of liberte. for yif so be þat god lokeþ alle þinges byforn. ne god ne may nat ben desseiuid in no manere. þan mot it nedes ben þat alle þinges bytyden þe whiche þat þe purueaunce of god haþ sein byforn to comen. ¶ For whiche yif þat god knoweþ by-forn nat oonly þe werkes of men. but also hir conseils and hir willes. þan ne shal þer be no liberte of arbitre. ne certys þer ne may ben noon oþer dede ne no wille but þilke whiche þe deuyne purueaunce þat ne may nat ben desseiued haþ feled byforn ¶ For yif þat þei myȝten wryþen awey in oþer manere þan þei ben purueyed. þan ne sholde þer ben no stedfast prescience of þinge to comen but raþer an vncerteyn oppinioun. þe whiche þinge to trowen on god I deme it felonie and vnleueful. ¶ Ne I ne proeue nat þilk same resoun. as who seiþ I ne allowe nat. or I ne preise nat þilke same resoun by whiche þat som men wenen þat þei mowen assoilen and vnknytten þe knot of þis questioun. ¶ For certys þei seyn þat þing nis nat to come for þat þe purueaunce of god haþ seyn it byforne. þat is to comen but raþer þe contrarie. ¶ And þat is þis þat for þat þe þing is to comen þat þerfore ne may it nat ben hyd fro þe purueaunce of god. and in þis manere þis necessite slydiþ aȝein in to þe contrarie partie. ne it ne byhoueþ [nat] nedes þat þinges bytiden þat ben ypurueid. [but it by-houeth nedes / þat thinges þat ben to comyn ben yporueyid] but as it were ytrauailed. as who seiþ. þat þilke answere procediþ ryȝt as þouȝ men trauailden or weren bysy to enqueren þe whiche þing is cause of whiche þinges. as wheþer þe prescience is cause of þe necessite of þinges to comen. or ellys þat þe necessite of þinges to comen is cause of þe purueaunce. ¶ But I ne enforce me nat now to shewen it þat þe bytidyng of þinges y-wist byforn is necessarie. how so or in what manere þat þe ordre of causes haþ it self. al þouȝ þat it ne seme nat þat þe prescience brynge in necessite of bytydynge of þinges to comen. ¶ For certys yif þat any wyȝt sitteþ it byhoueþ by necessite þat þe oppinioun be soþe of hym þat coniectiþ þat he sitteþ. and aȝeinward. al so is it of þe contrarie. yif þe oppinioun be soþe of any wyȝt for þat he sitteþ it byhoueþ by necessite þat he sitte ¶ þan is here necessite in þat oon and in þat oþer. for in þat oon is necessite of sittynge. and certys in þat oþer is necessite of soþe but þerfore ne sitteþ nat a wyȝt for þat þe oppinioun of sittyng is soþe. but þe oppinioun is raþer soþe for þat a wyȝt sitteþ by-forn. and þus al þouȝ þat þe cause of soþe comeþ of [þe] syttyng. and nat of þe trewe oppinioun. Algates ȝitte is þer comune necessite in þat oon and in þat oþer. ¶ þus sheweþ it þat I may make semblable skils of þe purueaunce of god and of þinges to come. ¶ For al þouȝ for þat þat þinges ben to comen. þer-fore ben þei purueid. nat certys for þei ben purueid. þer-fore ne bytide þei nat. ȝit naþeles byhoueþ it by necessite þat eiþer þe þinges to comen ben ypurueied of god. or ellys þat þe þinges þat ben purueied of god bitiden [.s.] by necessite. ¶ And þis þing oonly suffiseþ I-nouȝ to distroien þe fredome of oure arbitre. þat is to seyn of oure fre wille ¶ But now [certes] sheweþ it wel how fer fro þe soþe and how vp so doun is þis þing þat we seyn þat þe bytidinge of temporel þinges is þe cause of þe eterne prescience. ¶ But forto wenen þat god purueiþ [the] þinges to comen. for þei ben to comen. what oþer þing is it but forto wene þat þilke þinges þat bitiden som tyme ben causes of þilke souereyne purueaunce þat is in god. ¶ And her-to I adde ȝitte þis þing þat ryȝt as whan þat I woot þat o þing is it byhoueþ by necessite þat þilke self þing be. and eke þat whan I haue knowe þat any þinge shal bitiden so byhoueþ it by necessite þat þilk[e] same þing bytide. so folweþ it þan þat þe bytydynge of þe þinge Iwist by-forn ne may nat ben eschewed. ¶ And at þe last[e] yif þat any wyȝt wene a þing to ben oþer weyes þan it is. it nys nat oonly vnscience. but it is deceiuable oppinioun ful diuerse and fer fro þe soþe of science. ¶ wher-fore yif any þing be so to comen so þat þe bytydynge of it ne be nat certeyne ne necessarie. ¶ who may weten [byforn] þat þilke þing is to come. ¶ For ryȝt as science ne may nat be medelyd wiþ falsnesse. as who seiþ þat yif I woot a þing. it ne may nat be fals þat I ne woot it. ¶ Ryȝt so þilk þing þat is conceyued by science ne may [nat] ben noon oþer weyes þan [as] it is conceiued. For þat is þe cause whi þat science wantiþ lesynge. as who seiþ. whi þat witynge ne receyueþ nat lesynge of þat it woot. ¶ For it byhoueþ by necessite þat euery þinge [be] ryȝt as science comprehendiþ it to be. what shal I þan sein. ¶ In whiche manere knoweþ god byforn þe þinges to comen. ¶ yif þei ne be nat certeyne. ¶ For yif þat he deme þat þei ben to comen vneschewably. and so may be þat it is possible þat þei ne shullen nat comen. god is desseiued. but nat only to trowen þat god is desseiued. but for to speke it wiþ mouþe it is a felonous synne. ¶ But yif þat god woot þat ryȝt so as þinges ben to comen. so shulle þei comen. so þat he wit[e] egaly. as who seiþ indifferently þat þinges mowen ben don or ellys nat don. what is þilke prescience þat ne comprehendiþ no certeyne þinge ne stable. or ellys what difference is þer bytwixe þe prescience. and þilke iape-worþi dyuynynge of Tiresie þe diuinour þat seide. ¶ Al þat I seie quod he eyþer it shal be. or ellys it ne shal nat be. Or ellis how moche is worþe þe diuyne prescience more þan þe oppinioun of mankynde yif so be þat it demeþ þe þinges vncerteyne as men don. of þe whiche domes of men þe bytydynge nis nat certeyne. ¶ But yif so be þat noon vncerteyne þinge may ben in hym þat is ryȝt certeyne welle of alle þinges. þan is þe bytydynge certeyne of þilke þinges whiche he haþ wist byforn fermely to comen. For whiche it folweþ þat þe fredom of þe conseils and of þe werkes of mankynde nis non syn þat þe þouȝt of god seeþ alle þinges with outen errour of falsnesse byndeþ and constreiniþ hem to a bitidynge by necessite. and yif [this] þing be on-is grauntid and receyued. þat is to seyn. þat þer nis no fre wille. þan sheweþ it wel how gret distruccioun and how grete damages þer folwen of þinges of mankynde. ¶ For in ydel ben þer þan purposed and byhyȝt medes of goode folk. and peynes to badde folk. syn þat no moeuynge of free corage uoluntarie ne haþ nat deserued hem. þat is to seyn neiþer mede nor peyne. ¶ And it sholde seme þan þat þilke þinge is alþer worste whiche þat is nowe demed. for alþer moste iuste and moste ryȝtful. þat is to seyn þat shrewes ben punyssed. or ellys þat good[e] folk ben ygerdoned. þe whiche folk syn þat þe propre wille [ne] sent hem nat to þat oon ne to þat oþer. þat is to seyn. neþer to good[e] ne to harme. but constreineþ hem certeyne necessite of þinges to comen. ¶ þanne ne shollen þer neuer ben ne neuer weren vice ne vertue. but it sholde raþer ben confusioun of alle desertes medlid wiþoute discresioun. ¶ And ȝitte þer folweþ an oþer inconuenient of þe whiche þer ne may ben þouȝt ne more felonous ne more wikke. and þat is þis þat so as þe ordre of þinges is yledd and comeþ of þe purueaunce of god. ne þat no þing nis leueful to þe conseils of mankynde. as who seiþ þat men han no power to done no þing. ne wilne no þing. þan folweþ it þat oure vices ben refferred to þe mak[er]e of alle good. as who seiþ þan folweþ it. þat god auȝt[e] han þe blame of oure vices. syn he constreiniþ by necessite to don vices. þan nis þer no resoun to han hopen in god. ne forto preien to god. ¶ For what sholde any wyȝt hopen to god. or whi sholde he preien to god. syn þat þe ordenaunce of destine whiche þat ne may nat ben enclined. knytteþ and streiniþ alle þinges þat men may desiren. ¶ þan sholde þere be don awey þilke oonly alliaunce bytwixen god and men. þat is to seien to hopen and to preien. but by þe preis of ryȝtfulnesse and of veray mekenesse we deserue þe gerdoun of þe deuyne grace whiche þat is inestimable. þat is to sein þat it is so grete þat it ne may nat ben ful ypreised. and þis is oonly þe manere. þat is to seyen hope and prayeres. for whiche it semeþ þat [men] mowen speken wiþ god. and by resoun of supplicacioun ben conioigned to þilk clernesse þat nis nat approched no raþer or þat men byseken it and emprenten it. And yif men ne wene [nat] þat [hope] ne preiers ne han no strengþes. by þe necessite of þinges to comen y-resceiued. what þing is þer þan by whiche we mowen be conioygned and clyuen to þilke souereyne prince of þinges. ¶ For whiche it byhoueþ by necessite þat þe lynage of mankynde as þou songe a litel here byforne ben departed and vnioyned from hys welle and faylen of hys bygynnynge. þat is to seien god.
[The .3de. Metur.] QUE NAM DISCORS
What discordable cause haþ to-rent and vnioigned þe byndyng or þe alliaunce of þinges. þat is to seyne þe coniunccioun of god and of man. ¶ whiche god haþ establissed so grete bataile bitwixen þise two soþefast or verray þinges. þat is to sein bytwixen þe purueaunce of god and fre wille. þat þei ben synguler and diuided. ne þat þei ne wolen nat ben medeled ne coupled to-gidre. but þer nis no discorde to [tho] verray þinges. but þei cleuen certeyne al wey to hem self. but þe þouȝt of man confounded and ouerþrowen by þe dirke membris of þe body ne may nat by fir of his dirk[ed] lokynge. þat is to seyn by þe vigour of hys insyȝt while þe soule is in þe body knowen þe þinne subtil knyttynges of þinges. ¶ But wherfore eschaufiþ it so by so grete loue to fynden þilke note of soþe y-couered. (glosa) þat is to sein wherfore eschaufiþ þe þouȝt of man by so grete desir to knowen þilke notificaciouns þat ben yhidd vndir þe couertours of soþe. woot it ouȝt þilke þinges þat it anguissous desireþ to knowe. as who seiþ nay. ¶ For no man ne trauaileþ forto witen þinges þat he woot. and þerfore þe texte seiþ þus. ¶ [Glosa] Si enim anima ignorat istas subtiles connexiones. responde. vnde est quod desiderat scire cum nil ignotum possit desiderare. ¶ But who traualeþ to wyten þinges y-knowe. and yif þat he ne knoweþ hem nat. what sekiþ þilke blynde þouȝt. what is he þat desireþ any þinge of whiche he woot ryȝt nat. as who seiþ who so desiriþ any þing nedis som what he knoweþ of it. or ellys he ne couþe nat desire it. or who may folwen þinges þat ne ben nat ywist ¶ and þouȝ [þat] he seke þo þinges where shal he fynden hem. what wyȝt þat is al vnknowynge and ignoraunt may knowe þe forme þat is yfounde. ¶ But whan þe soule byholdeþ and seeþ þe heye þouȝt. þat is to seyn god. þan knoweþ it to-gidre þe somme and þe singularites. þat is to seyn þe principles and eueryche by hym self. ¶ But now while þe soule is hidd in þe cloude and in þe derknesse of þe membris of þe body. it ne haþ nat al forȝeten it selfe. but it wiþholdeþ þe somme of þinges and lesiþ þe singularites. þan who so þat sekeþ soþenesse. he nis in neiþer nouþir habit. for he not nat alle ne he ne haþ nat alle for-ȝeten. ¶ But ȝitte hym remembriþ þe somme of þinges þat he wiþholdeþ and axeþ counseil and tretiþ depelyche þinges ysein byforne. [Glosa] þat is to sein þe grete somme in hys mynde. [textus] so þat he mowe adden þe parties þat he haþ forȝeten. to þilke þat he haþ wiþholden.
[The 4the prose.] TAMEN ILLA UETUS INQUIT HEC EST.
Þanne seide she. þis is quod she þe olde questioun of þe purueaunce of god. and marcus tulius whan he deuided[e] þe deuinaciouns. þat is to sein in hys booke þat he wroot of deuinaciouns. he moeued[e] gretly þis questioun. and þou þi self hast souȝt it mochel and outerly and long[e]. but ȝit ne haþ it nat ben determined ne yspedd fermely and diligently of any of yow. ¶ And þe cause of þis derkenesse and [of this] difficulte is for þat þe moeuynge of þe resoun of mankynde ne may nat moeuen to. þat is to sein applien or ioygnen to þe simplicite of þe deuyne prescience. ¶ þe whiche symplicite of þe deuyne prescience ȝif þat men [myhten thinken it in any manere / þat is to seyn / þat yif men] myȝte þinken and comprehenden þe þinges as god seeþ hem. þan ne sholde þer dwellen outerly no doute. þe whiche resoun and cause of difficulte I shal assaie at þe laste to shewen and to speden. ¶ whan I haue firste [yspendyd / and] ansewered to þo resouns by whiche þou art ymoeued. ¶ For I axe whi þou wenest þat þilk[e] resouns of hem þat assoilen þis questioun ne ben nat spedeful ynouȝ ne sufficient þe whiche solucioun or þe whiche resoun for þat it demiþ þat þe prescience nis nat cause of necessite to þinges to comen. þan ne weneþ it nat þat fredom of wille be distourbed or ylett by prescience. for ne drawest þou nat argumentes from ellys where of þe necessite of þinges to comen. As who seiþ any oþer wey þan þus. but þat þilke þinge þat þe prescience woot byforn [ne] mowen nat vnbitide. þat is to seyn þat þei moten bitide. ¶ But þan yif þat prescience ne putteþ no necessite to þinges to comen. as þou þi self hast confessed it and byknowen a litel herbyforne. ¶ what cause [or what] is it. as who seiþ þere may no cause be. by whiche þat þe endes (exitus) uoluntarie of þinges myȝten be constreyned to certeyne bitydyng. ¶ For by grace of possessioun. so þat þou mowe þe better vndirstonde þis þat folweþ. ¶ I pose (inpossibile) þat þer ne be no prescience. þan axe I quod she in as moche as apperteniþ to þat. sholde þan þinges þat comen of frewille ben constreined to bytiden by necessite. Boicius. nay quod I. þan aȝeinward quod she. I suppose þat þere be prescience but þat ne putteþ no necessite to þinges. þan trowe I þat þilk self fredom of wille shal dwellen al hool and absolut and vnbounden. but þou wolt sein þat al be it so þat prescience nis nat cause of þe necessite of bitidynge to þinges to comen. ¶ Algates ȝitte it is a signe þat þe þinges ben to bytiden by necessite. by þis manere þan al þouȝ þe prescience ne hadde neuer yben. ȝit algate or at þe lest[e] wey. it is certeyne þing þat þe endys and þe bitydynges of þinges to comen sholde ben necessarie. ¶ For euery sygne sheweþ and signifieþ oonly what þe þing is ¶ but it ne makiþ nat þe þing þat it signifieþ. ¶ For whiche it byhoueþ firste to shewen þat no þing ne bitidiþ [þat it ne bytydith] by necessite. so þat it may apere þat þe prescience is signe of þis necessite ¶ or ellys yif þere nere no necessite. certys þilke prescience ne myȝt[e] nat ben signe of þinge þat nis nat. ¶ But certys it is nowe certeyne þat þe preue of þis susteniþ by stedfast resoun ne shal nat ben ladd ne proued by signes ne by argumentys ytaken fro wiþ oute. but by causes couenable and necessarie ¶ But þou mayst sein how may it be þat þe þinges ne bitiden nat þat ben ypurueyed to comen. but certys ryȝt as we trowen þat þo þinges whiche þat þe purueaunce woot byforn to comen. ne ben nat to bitiden. but [þat] ne sholde we nat demen. but raþer al þouȝ [þat] þei schal bitiden. ȝit ne haue þei no necessite of hire kynde to bitiden. and þis maist þou lyȝtly aperceyuen by þis þat I shal seyn. but we seen many þinges whan þei ben don byforn oure eyen ryȝt as men seen þe karter worken in þe tournynge and in attempryng or in adressyng of hys kartes or chariottes. ¶ and by þis manere as who seiþ mayst þou vnderstonde of alle manere oþir werkemen. ¶ Is þere þanne any necessite as who seiþ in oure lokynge [þat] constreineþ or compelliþ any of þilke þinges to ben don so. b. nay quod I ¶ For in ydel and in veyne were alle þe effect of crafte yif þat alle þinges weren moeued by constreynynge. þat is to seyn by constreynynge of oure eyen or of oure syȝt. P. þise þingus þan quod she þat whan men don hem ne han non necessite þat men don hem. eke þo same þinges first or þei be don. þei ben to comen wiþ out necessite. for whi þer ben somme þinges to bytide of whiche þe endys and þe bitidynges of hem ben absolut and quit of alle necessite. for certys I ne trowe nat þat any man wolde seyn þis. þat þo þinges þat men don now þat þei ne weren to bitiden. first or þei were ydon ¶ and þilk same þinges al þouȝ þat men hadden ywyst hem by-forn. ȝitte þei han fre bitidynges. for ryȝt as science of þinges present ne bryngeþ in no necessite to þinges [þat men doon // Ryht so the prescience of thinges to comen ne bryngeth in no necessite to thinges] to bytiden but þou mayst seyn þat of þilke same it is ydouted. as wheþer þat of þilke þinges þat ne han non endes and bytidynges necessaryes yif þer-of may ben any prescience ¶ For certys þei seme to discorde. for þou wenest þat yif þat þinges ben yseyn byforn þat necessite folweþ hem. and yif (et putas) necessite faileþ hem þei ne myȝten nat ben wist byforn. and þat no þinge ne may ben comprehendid by science but certeyne. and yif þo þinges þat ne han no certeyne bytidynges ben ypurueied as certeyn. it sholde ben dirkenesse of oppinioun nat soþefastnesse of science [and þou weenyst þat it be diuerse fro the hoolnesse of science / þat any man sholde deme a thing to ben oother weys thanne it is it self]. and þe cause of þis errour is. þat of alle þe þinges þat euery wyȝt haþ yknowe. þei wenen þat þo þinges ben y-knowe al oonly by þe strengþe and by þe nature of þe þinges þat ben ywyst or yknowe. and it is al þe contrarie. for alle þat euere is yknowe. it is raþer comprehendid and yknowen nat after his strengeþ and hys nature. but after þe faculte þat is to seyn þe power and [the] nature of hem þat knowen. and for þat þis shal mowe shewen by a short ensample þe same roundenes of a body .O. oþer weyes þe syȝt of þe eye knoweþ it. and oþer weyes þe touching. þe lokynge by castynge of his bemes waiteþ and seeþ fro afer alle þe body to-gider wiþ oute mouynge of it self. but þe touchinge cliuiþ and conioigneþ to þe rounde body (orbi) and moueþ abouten þe environynge. and comprehendiþ by parties þe roundenesse. ¶ and þe man hym self oþer weies wyt byholdiþ hym. and oþerweyes ymaginacioun and oþer weyes resoun. and oþer weyes intelligence. ¶ For þe wit comprehendiþ fro wiþ outen furþe þe figure of þe body of þe man. þat is establissed in þe matere subiect. But þe ymaginacioun [comprehendith only the figure with owte the matere / Resoun surmounteth ymaginacioun] and comprehendeþ by an vniuersel lokynge þe commune spece (speciem) þat is in þe singuler peces. ¶ But þe eye of intelligence is heyȝer for it sourmounteþ þe envirounynge of þe vniuersite and lookeþ ouer þat by pure subtilite of þouȝt. þilk same symple forme of man þat is perdurably in þe deuyne þouȝt. in whiche þis auȝt[e] gretely to ben considered þat þe heyest strengþe to comprehenden þinges enbraceþ and conteyneþ þe lower[e] strengþe [but the lowere strengthe ne arysith nat in no manere to heyere strengthe]. for wit ne may no þinge comprehende oute of matere. ne þe ymagynacioun ne lokeþ nat þe vniuerseles speces. ne resoun ne takeþ nat þe symple forme. so as intelligence takeþ it. but þe intelligence þat lokeþ al abouen whan it haþ comprehendid þe forme it knoweþ and demeþ alle þe þinges þat ben vndir þat forme. but she knoweþ hem vndir þilke manere in þe whiche it comprehendiþ þilke same symple forme þat ne may neuer be knowen to non of þat oþer. þat is to seyn to non of þo þre forseide strengþes of þe soule. for it knoweþ þe vniuersite of resoun and þe figure of þe ymaginacioun. and þe sensible material conseiued. and þou wenest þat it be diuerse fro þe hoolnesse of science. þat any man sholde deme a þing to ben oþerweyes þan it is it self and þe cause of þis errour etc’. vt supra. by wit. ne it ne vseþ nat nor of resoun ne of ymaginacioun ne of wit wiþ oute forþe but it byholdeþ alle þinges so as I shal seye. by a strok of þouȝt formely wiþ oute discours or collacioun ¶ Certys resoun whan it lokeþ any þing vniuersel it ne vseþ nat of ymaginacioun nor of wit and algates ȝit [it] comprendiþ þe þinges ymaginable and sensible. for resoun is she þat diffinisseþ þe vniuersel of hir conseite ryȝt þus. ¶ Man is a resonable t[w]o-footid beest. and how so þat þis knowynge [is] vniuersel. ȝit nys þer no wyȝt þat ne woot wel. þat a man is and sensible ¶ and þis same considereþ wel resoun. but þat nis nat by ymaginacioun. nor by witte. but it lokiþ it by [a] resonable concepcioun. ¶ Also ymaginacioun al be it so. þat it takeþ of wit þe bygynyngus to seen and to formen þe figures. algates al þouȝ þat wit ne ware not present. ȝit it envirouniþ and comprehendiþ alle þinges sensible. nat by resoun sensible of demynge. but by resoun ymaginatif. ¶ sest þou nat þan þat alle þe þinges in knowynge vsen more of hir faculte or of hir power. þan þei don of [the] faculte or of power of þinges þat ben yknowen. ne þat nis no wronge. for so as euery iugement is þe dede or þe doynge of hym þat demeþ. It byhoueþ þat euery wyȝt performe þe werke and hys entencioun nat of forein power; but of hys propre power.