[Headnote: DESTINY RULES NATURE.] [Sidenote: And if we suppose that the thing in question is joined to the stability of the supreme mind, it then becomes immovable, and is beyond the necessity and power of destiny.] ¶ and if þe þinge cleueþ to þe stedfastnesse 3928 of þe þouȝt of god. {and} be wiþ oute moeuyng certys it so{ur}mounteþ þe necessite of destyne. [Sidenote: As reasoning is to the understanding, as that which is produced to that which exists of itself, as time to eternity, as the circle to the centre, so is the movable order of Fate to the stable simplicity of Providence.] þan ryȝt swiche comparisou{n} as [it] is of skilynge to vndirstondyng {and} of þing þat is engendred to þing þat is. {and} of tyme to 3932 eternite. {and} of þe cercle to þe Centre. ryȝt so is þe ordre of moeueable destine to þe stable symplicite of p{ur}ueaunce. [Sidenote: Destiny rules nature.] ¶ þilke ordinaunce moeueþ þe heuene {and} þe sterres {and} attempreþ þe elymentȝ to gider 3936 amonges hem self. {and} t{ra}nsformeþ hem by enterchau{n}gable mutac{i}ou{n}. ¶ and þilke same ordre neweþ aȝein alle þinges growyng {and} fallyng a-doune by sembleables p{ro}gressiou{n}s of seedes {and} of sexes. þat is 3940 to sein. male {and} female. [Sidenote: It controls the actions of men by an indissoluble chain of causes, and is, like their origin, immutable.] and þis ilke ordre co{n}streyneþ þe fortunes {and} þe dedes of men by a bonde of causes nat able to ben vnbou{n}den (indissolubili). þe whiche destinal causes whanne þei passen oute fro þe bygynnynges 3944 of þe vnmoeueable purueaunce it mot nedes be þat þei ne be nat mutable. [Sidenote: Thus, then, are all things well conducted, since that invariable order of cause has its origin in the simplicity of the Divine mind, and by its inherent immutability exercises a restraint upon mutable things, and preserves them from irregularity.] [Sidenote: [* fol. 31.]] {and} þus ben þe þinges ful wel ygouerned. yif þat þe symplicite dwelly{n}ge *in þe deuyne þouȝt sheweþ furþe þe ordre of causes. vnable to 3948 be I-bowed. {and} þis ordre constreyneþ by hys p{ro}pre stablete þe moeueable þinges. or ellys þei sholde fleten folily [Sidenote: To those who understand not this order, things appear confused--nevertheless, the proper condition of all things directs and inclines it to their true good.] for whiche it is þat alle þinges semen to be confus {and} trouble to vs men. for we ne mowe nat co{n}sider{e} 3952 þilke ordinaunce. ¶ Naþeles þe p{ro}pre manere of euery þing dressynge hem to goode disponit hem alle.