but yif þe troubly errour of oure ignora{ n}ce departid[e] from vs. so þat we wisten þe causes whi þat 3820 swiche þinges bitiden. certys þei sholde{ n} cesse to seme wondres.
[Linenotes: 3794 _arctour_--MS. aritour 3795 _neye_--neygh 3796 _seyne_--seyn _neye_--nygh 3797-99 _boetes_--MS. boeces, C. boetes 3798 _his_ (1)--hise _wey[n]es_--weynes 3802 _ful[le]_--fulle 3804 _had[de]_--hadde 3806 _bacines_--MS. batines _þikke_--MS. þilke, C. thilke 3807 _seyne_--seyn 3808 _hy[gh]t[e]_--hihte 3809 _eclips_--eclypse 3812 _chorus_--MS. thorus, C. chorus 3813 _snowe_--sonwh = snowh 3815 _here_--her _redyly_--redely 3816 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hid _seye_--seyn 3817 _trouble_--trowblen 3820 _departid[e] from_--departede fro]
[Sidenote: _B._ So it is. But as thou hast promised to unfold the hidden causes of things, and unveil things wrapt up in darkness; I pray thee deliver me from my present perplexity, and explain the mystery I mentioned to you.]
++Þvs is it q{ uo}d I. but so as þou hast [gh]euen or byhy[gh]t me to vnwrappe{ n} þe hidde causes of þinges ¶ and 3824 to discoueren me þe resou{ n}s couered w{ i}t{ h} dirknesses I p{ re}ye þe þat þou diuise { and} Iuge me of þis matere. { and} þat þou do me to vndrestonde{ n} it. ¶ For þis miracle or þis wondre troubleþ me ry[gh]t gretely.
[Sidenote: _P._ You ask me to declare to you the most intricate of all questions, which I am afraid can scarce be answered.]
{ and} þan she a 3828 litel [what] smylyng seide. ¶ þou clepest me q{ uo}d she to telle þing. þat is grettest of alle þinges þat mowen ben axed. ¶ And to þe whiche questiou{ n} vnneþ[e]s is þere au[gh]t ynow to lauen it. as who seiþ. vnneþes is þer 3832 suffisauntly any þing to answere p{ er}fitly to þi questiou{ n}.
[Sidenote: For the subject is of such a kind, that when one doubt is removed, innumerable others, like the heads of the hydra, spring up.]
¶ For þe matere of it is swiche þat whan oon doute is [[pg 134]] determined { and} kut awey þer wexe{ n} oþer doutes wiþ-outen nou{ m}bre. ry[gh]t as þe heuedes waxen of ydre þe 3836 serpent þat hercules slou[gh].
[Sidenote: Nor would there be any end of them unless they were restrained by a quick and vigorous effort of the mind.]
¶ Ne þere ne were no man{ er}e ne noon ende. but yif þat a wy[gh]t co{ n}streined[e] þo doutes. by a ry[gh]t lyuely { and} a quik fire of þou[gh]t. þat is to seyn by vigo{ ur} { and} strengþe of witte.