[Sidenote: The same may be said of man and all other things; they subsist while unity is preserved, but as soon as that is destroyed the things themselves lose their existence.]
{ and} þe body of a wy[gh]t while it dwelleþ in oon forme by coniuncc{ i}ou{ n} of membris it is wel seyn þat it is a figure of 2705 mankynde. and yif þe partyes of þe body ben [so] diuide[d] { and} disseuered þat oon fro þat oþir þat þei destroien vnite. þe body forletiþ to ben þat it was byforne. 2708 ¶ And who so wolde renne in þe same manere by alle þinges he sholde seen þat wiþ outen doute euery þinge is in his substaunce as longe as it is oon. { and} whan it forletiþ to ben oon it dieþ { and} p{ er}issiþ.
[Sidenote: _B._ I believe we should find this true in every case.]
_boice._ 2712 whan I considre q{ uo}d I many þinges I see noon oþ{ er}.
[Linenotes: 2690 _mayst þou graunt[en]_--mosthow grau{ n}ten 2692 [_of_]--from C. 2695 _al_--alle _haþ_--MS. haþe 2696, 2697 _oone_--oon 2698 _whiche_--which 2703 _dede_--ded _lenger_--lenger{ e} _beste_--beest 2704 _while_--whil _oon_--oo 2706 _[so] diuide[d]_--so deuydyd 2709 _so_--omitted 2713 _many_--manye]
[Sidenote: _P._ Is there anything which acts naturally that forgoes this desire of existence and wishes for death and corruption?]
¶ Is þer any þing þanne q{ uo}d she þat in as moche as it lyueþ naturely. þat forletiþ þe appetit or talent of 2715 hys beynge. { and} desireþ to come to deeþ { and} to corrupc{ i}ou{ n}. [[pg 97]]
[Sidenote: _B._ I do not find any creature endowed with volition, which, of itself and without constraint, renounces or despises life and self-preservation or willingly hastens to destruction.]
¶ yif I considere q{ uod} I þe beestes þat han any manere nature of willy{ n}ge or of nillynge I ne fynde no þing. but yif it be constreyned fro wiþ out forþe. þat forletiþ or dispiseþ to lyue { and} to dure{ n} 2720 or þat wole his þankes hasten hy{ m} to dien. ¶ For euery beest trauayleþ hy{ m} to defende { and} kepe þe sauuac{ i}ou{ n} of lijf. { and} escheweþ deeþ { and} destrucc{ i}ou{ n}.
[Sidenote: But with regard to herbs and trees, I am doubtful whether I ought to have the same opinion of them, for they have no sensitive soul, nor any natural volition like animals.]