[Sidenote: He who knows not that the Bear is seen near the Pole, nor has observed the path of Boötes, will marvel at their appearance.]
++Who so þat ne knowe nat þe sterres of arctour yto{ ur}ned neye to þe souereyne contre or point. þat is to seyne yto{ ur}ned 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 wo{ n}dre{ n} of þe lawe of þe 3800 heye eyre.
[Sidenote: 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 bou{ n}des of þe derke ny[gh]t ¶ and how þe moene dirk { and} confuse discouereþ þe sterres. þat she had[de] [[pg 133]] ycouered by hir clere visage.
[Sidenote: Thinking the eclipse the result of enchantment, they sought to destroy the charms by the tinkling of brazen vessels or cymbals.]
þe co{ m}mune errour moeueþ 3805 folk { and} makiþ wery hir bacines of bras by þikke strookes. þat is to seyne þat þer is a maner poeple þat hy[gh]t[e] coribandes þat wenen þat whan þe moone is in 3808 þe eclips þat it be enchau{ n}tid. and þerfore forto rescowe þe moone þei betyn hire basines wiþ þikke strokes.
[Sidenote: 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 wey[gh]te of þe snowe yhardid by þe colde. is resolued by þe brennynge hete of phebus þe sonne. ¶ For here seen men redyly þe causes.
[Sidenote: 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.
[Sidenote: 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.
[Sidenote: Fear and wonder, however, soon cease when ignorance given place to certain knowledge.]
