[Linenotes: 4558 _medes of_--Meedes to 4560 _haþ_--MS. haþe 4562 _alþer worste whiche_--alderworst which 4563 _nowe_--MS. newe, C. now _alþer moste iuste_--alder moost Iust _moste_--most 4565-67 _good[e]_--goode 4566 _wille_--wil [_ne_]--from C. 4571 _wiþoute_--w{i}t{h}-owten 4573 _þouȝt_--thoght 4574 _yledd_--MS. yledde, C. yled 4575 _comeþ_--comth 4577 _done_--doon 4578 _mak[er]e_--maker{e} 4579 _auȝt[e]_--owhte 4584 _whiche_--which 4588 _preis_--prys _ryȝtfulnesse_--Rihtwessenesse 4589 _deserue_--desseruyn 4590 _deuyne_--MS. deuynes, C. dyuyne 4590-93 _whiche_--which 4591 _grete_--gret 4593 [_men_]--from C. _speken_--speke 4595 _þilk_--thilke 4596 _emprenten_--impetrent 4597 [_nat_]--from C. [_hope_]--from C. 4601 _whiche_--which 4602 _byforne_--by-forn] [Headnote: THE UNKNOWN CANNOT BE DESIRED.] QUE NAM DISCORS [Sidenote: [The .3^de. Met{ur}.]] [Sidenote: Say what discordant cause looses the bonds of things?] ++What discordable cause haþ to-rent {and} vnioigned þe byndyng or þe alliaunce of þinges. þat is to seyne þe coniuncc{i}ou{n} of god {and} of man. [Sidenote: What power doth make these two great truths (_i. e._ Providence and Free-will) contend, which when separate are plain and clear, but united appear dark and perplexed?] ¶ whiche god haþ establissed so grete bataile bitwixe{n} þise two soþefast 4608 or verray þinges. þat is to sein bytwixen þe p{ur}ueaunce of god {and} fre wille. þat þei ben synguler {and} diuided. ne þat þei ne wolen nat ben medeled ne coupled to-gidre. but þer nis no discorde to [tho] verray 4612 þinges. but þei cleuen certeyne al wey to hem self. [Sidenote: The mind of man encumbered by the earthly body, can never, with her cloudy sight, discover the subtle and close bonds of things.] but þe þouȝt of man co{n}founded {and} ouerþrowen by þe dirke membris of þe body ne may nat by fir of his dirk[ed] lokynge. þat is to seyn by þe vigo{ur} of hys insyȝt while 4616 þe soule is in þe body knowen þe þinne subtil knyttynges of þinges. [Sidenote: But why does man burn with ardour to learn the hidden notes of truth?] ¶ But wherfore eschaufiþ it so by so grete loue to fynden þilke note[s] of soþe y-cou{er}ed. (_glosa_) þat is to sein wherfore eschaufiþ þe þouȝt of man by so 4620 grete desir to knowen þilke notificac{i}ou{n}s þat ben yhidd vndir þe couerto{ur}s of soþe. [Sidenote: Why gropes he for he knows not what? None seek to know what is known.]