[Linenotes: 4294 _seid_--MS. seide, C. seyd _þe_--by 4297 _som tyme_--whilom 4298 _þe_ (2)--thy 4300 _þinge_--thing 4302 [_thing_]--from C. 4303 _ȝelden_--yilden _assoilen_--MS. assailen, C. assoylen _byheste_--byhest 4304-6 _whiche_--which 4306 _ben_--MS. b{e}n{e} 4307 _paþe_--paath 4312 _stede_--styde 4314 _disputisoun_--disputaciou{n} _be_--han ben _stedfast_--stydefast 4317 _seyn_--seyng] [Headnote: DEFINITION OF CHANCE.] [Sidenote: If we define Chance to be an event produced by an unintelligent motion, and not by a chain or connection of causes, I should then affirm that Chance is nothing and an empty sound.] þat hap is bytidynge y-brouȝt forþe by foelyshe moeuynge. {and} by no knyttyng of causes. ¶ I conferme þat hap nis ryȝt nauȝt in no wise. and I deme al 4320 outerly þat hap nis ne dwelliþ but a voys. ¶ As who seiþ. but an ydel worde wiþ outen any significac{i}ou{n} of þing summittid to þat vois. [Sidenote: What room is there for folly and disorder where all things are restrained by order, through the ordinance of God?] for what place myȝt[e] ben left or dwellynge to folie {and} to disordinau{n}ce. syn þat 4324 god lediþ {and} streyniþ alle þinges by ordre. [Sidenote: For it is a great truth that nothing can spring out of nothing.] ¶ For þis sentence is verray {and} soþe þat no þinge ne haþ his beynge of nouȝt. to [the] whiche sentence none of þise olde folk ne wiþseide neuere al be it so þat þei ne 4328 vndirstoden ne moeueden it nauȝt by god p{r}ince {and} gynner of wirkyng. but þei casten as a manere foundement of subgit material. þat is to seyn of [the] nature of alle resou{n}. [Sidenote: Now, if anything arises without the operation of a cause, it proceeds from nothing.] {and} ȝif þat ony þinge is woxen or comen 4332 of no causes. þan shal it seme þat þilke þinge is comen or woxen of nouȝt. [Sidenote: But if this is impossible, then there can be no such a thing as Chance, as we have defined it.] but yif þis ne may nat ben don. þan is it nat possible þat þere haþ ben any swiche þing as I haue diffinissid a litel here byforne. [Sidenote: _B._ Is there nothing, then, that may be called Chance or Fortune?] ¶ How shal 4336 it þan ben q{uo}d I. nis þer þan no þing þat by ryȝt may be cleped eyþer hap{pe} or ellis auenture of fortune. [Sidenote: Is there nothing (hid from the vulgar) to which these words may be applied?] [Sidenote: [* fol. 34.]] or is þer ouȝt al *be it so þat it is hidd fro þe poeple to whiche þise wordes ben couenable. [Sidenote: _P._ Aristotle defines this matter with much precision and probability.]