[Sidenote: Hence it is that mankind seek riches, &c., because by them they hope to get independence, honour, &c.] ¶ Certys þise ben þe þi{n}ges þat men wolen {and} desyren to geten. and for þis cause desiren þei rycches. dignites. regnes. glorie {and} delices ¶ For þerby wenen þei to han suffisau{n}ce 1844 hono{ur} power. renou{n} {and} gladnesse. [Sidenote: However varied their desires, _happiness_ is their sole pursuit.] ¶ þanne is it goode. þ{a}t men seken þus by so many dyu{er}se studies. In whiche desijr it may lyȝtly be shew{e}d. how grete is þe strengþe of nature. [[pg 68]] [Sidenote: However various men’s opinions are respecting happiness, all agree in pursuing it as the end of their actions and desires.] ¶ For how so þat 1848 men han dyuerse sentences {and} discordyng algates men accordyn alle in lyuynge þe ende of goode. [Linenotes: 1823 _perfourny_--p{er}forme 1825 _haþ_--MS. haþe _none_--non 1827 _þilk_--thilke 1828 _goode_--good 1829 _foule_--fowl 1830 _al_--welneyh alle 1831 _trauaille_--trauaylen _auȝt[e]_--owhte 1832 _be_--ben 1834 _out_--owte 1835 _auȝte_--owhte 1836 _al_--alle 1837 _be_--ben _clere_--cleer 1843 _rycches_--Rychesses 1846 _goode_--good 1847 _be_--ben 1848 _grete_--gret 1849 _algates_--Allegates 1850 _goode_--good] [Headnote: OF NATURE’S LAWS.] Q{UA}NTAS RER{UM} FLECTAT. [Sidenote: [The 2^de Met{ur}.]] [Sidenote: I will now sing of Nature’s laws, by which the universe is governed.] ++IT likeþ me to shew[e] by subtil songe wiþ slakke {and} delitable sou{n} of strenges how þat nature myȝty enclineþ 1852 {and} flitteþ gouernementȝ of þinges ¶ {and} by whiche lawes she p{ur}ueiable kepiþ þe grete worlde. {and} how she bindynge restreineþ alle þing{us} by a bonde þat may nat be vnbounden. [Sidenote: [j]] [Sidenote: The Punic lion submits to man, and dreads the keeper’s lash; yet, if he once taste blood, his savage instincts revive, and his keeper falls a victim to his fury.] ¶ Al be it so þat þe liou{n}s of 1856 þe contree of pene beren þe fair[e] cheines. {and} taken metes of þe handes of folk þat ȝeuen it hem. {and} dreden her sturdy maystres of whiche þei ben wont to suffren [betinges]. yif þat hir horrible mouþes ben bi-bled. 1860 þat is to sein of bestes devoured. ¶ Hir corage of tyme passeþ þat haþ ben ydel {and} rested. repaireþ aȝein þat þei roren greuously. {and} reme{m}bren on hir nature. {and} slaken hir nekkes from hir cheins vnbounden. 1864 and hir maistre first to-teren wiþ blody toþe assaieþ þe woode wraþþes of hem. ¶ þis is to sein þei freten hir maister.