If ther ne were no lettyng.[944] [Sidenote: Nota de Aqua, quod est secundum elementum.] Above therthe kepth his bounde The water, which is the secounde Of elementz, and al withoute It environeth therthe aboute. 240 Bot as it scheweth, noght forthi This soubtil water myhtely, Thogh it be of himselve softe, The strengthe of therthe perceth ofte; For riht as veines ben of blod In man, riht so the water flod [Sidenote: =P. iii. 93=] Therthe of his cours makth ful of veines, Als wel the helles as the pleines. And that a man may sen at ÿe, For wher the hulles ben most hyhe, 250 Ther mai men welle stremes finde: So proveth it be weie of kinde The water heyher than the lond. [Sidenote: Nota de Aere, quod est tercium elementum.] And over this nou understond, Air is the thridde of elementz, Of whos kinde his aspirementz Takth every lifissh creature,[945] The which schal upon erthe endure: For as the fissh, if it be dreie, Mot in defaute of water deie, 260 Riht so withouten Air on lyve No man ne beste myhte thryve,[946] The which is mad of fleissh and bon; There is outake of alle non. [Sidenote: Nota qualiter Aer in tribus Periferiis diuiditur.] This Air in Periferies thre Divided is of such degre, Benethe is on and on amidde, To whiche above is set the thridde: And upon the divisions[947] There ben diverse impressions 270 Of moist and ek of drye also, Whiche of the Sonne bothe tuo Ben drawe and haled upon hy, And maken cloudes in the Sky, As schewed is at mannes sihte;[948] Wherof be day and ek be nyhte [Sidenote: =P. iii. 94=] After the times of the yer Among ous upon Erthe her In sondri wise thinges falle. [Sidenote: De prima Aeris Periferia.] The ferste Periferie of alle 280 Engendreth Myst and overmore The dewes and the Frostes hore, After thilke intersticion In which thei take impression, [Sidenote: De secunda Aeris Periferia.] Fro the seconde, as bokes sein, The moiste dropes of the reyn Descenden into Middilerthe, And tempreth it to sed and Erthe, And doth to springe grass and flour. And ofte also the grete schour 290 Out of such place it mai be take, That it the forme schal forsake Of reyn, and into snow be torned; And ek it mai be so sojorned In sondri places up alofte, That into hail it torneth ofte. [Sidenote: De tercia Aeris Periferia.] The thridde of thair after the lawe Thurgh such matiere as up is drawe[949] Of dreie thing, as it is ofte,