¶ O [gh]e 4288 slowe { and} delicat men whi fley [gh]e aduersites. { and} ne [[pg 149]] fy[gh]te{ n} nat a[gh]eins hem by vertue to wynnen þe mede of þe heuene.
[Sidenote: He who conquers earth doth gain the heavens.]
for þe erþe ouer-come{ n} [gh]eueþ þe sterres. ¶ þis is to seyne þat whan þat erþely lust is ouer-comen. 4292 a man is maked worþi to þe heuene.
[Linenotes: 4256 _saw_--say 4258 _hard[e] trauaile_--harde trauayles _dawntede_--MS. dawnded, C. dawntede 4259 _half_--MS. hals _rafte_--byrafte _fro_--from 4260 _seyne_--seyn 4261 _smot_--MS. smote, C. smot 4262 [_in----lyrne_]--from C. 4263 _rauyssed[e]_--rauysshede 4266 _seid_--MS. seide, C. sayd _haþ_--MS. haþe 4267 _lorde_--lord 4269 _etyn_--freten 4270 _brend[e]_--brende _flode defouled[e]_--flood defowlede 4271 _forhede dreint[e]_--forhed dreynte 4273 _lykenesse_--lyknesses 4274 _turnid[e]_--tornede 4275 _brak_--MS. brake, C. brak _hys_--hise 4276 [_he_]--from C. 4278-80 _apaised[e]_--apaysede 4281 _bristled[e]_--brystelede _marked[e]_--markede 4282 _cercle_--clerke 4283 _þreste_--thriste 4285 _deserued[e]_--deseruede 4286 _Goþ_--MS. Goþe _þere_--ther 4287 _weye_--way 4288 _nake_--MS. make, C. nake 4289 _slowe_--MS. slou[gh], C. slowe _fley_--flee 4292 _seyne_--seyn]
[Sidenote: When Philosophy had thus spoken, and was about to discuss other matters I interrupted her.]
++She hadde seid { and} to{ ur}ned[e] þe cours of hir resou{ n} to so{ m}me oþ{ er} þinges to ben tretid { and} to ben ysped.
[Sidenote: _B._ Thy exhortation is just and worthy of thy authority, but thou saidst that the question of the Divine Superintendence or Providence is involved with many others--and this I believe.]
þan seide I. Certys ry[gh]tful is þin amonestyng { and} ful 4296 digne by auctorite. but þat þou seidest som tyme þat þe questiou{ n} of þe deuyne p{ ur}ueaunce is enlaced wiþ many oþer questiou{ n}s. I vndir-stonde wel { and} p{ ro}ue it by þe same þinge.
[Sidenote: I am desirous, however, of knowing whether there be such a thing as _Chance_, and what thou thinkest it is.]
but I axe yif þat þou wenest þat hap 4300 be any þing in any weys. { and} if þou wenest þat hap be any [thing] what is it.
[Sidenote: _P._ I hasten to fulfil my promise and to show the road to your own country.]