waters to sprynge contynually ¶ And though that the water be grose and heuy â—â—t nothynge so grose as the yerth I wys Therfore by hete it is vaporyd vp lyghtly And in the ayre makyth cloudys and mystê But as sone as euer that it grosely is Gederâ—d to gyder it descendyth a gayne And causyth vppon the yerth hayle snow rayne ¶ The yerth because of his ponderosyte A voydyth equally the mouyngê great Of all extremytes and sperys that be And â—endyth to the place that is most quiet So in the myddys of all the sperys is set Foâ—mast abieâ—t from all maner mouynge where naturally he restyth mouyth nothynge ¶ Marke well now how I haue the shewyd toldâ— Of euery element the very sytuacyon And qualyteâ— wherforâ— this fygure bâ—holde For a more manyfest demonstracyon And by cause thou sholdyst not put to oblyuâ—on My doctryne this man callyd studyous desire with the shall haue conâ—ynuall habytacyon The styll to exhort more scyens to adquire ¶ For the more that thou desyrest to know any thynge Therin thou semyst thâ— more a man to be For that man that desirâ—th no maner coÌ„nynge All that wyle no better than a bâ—st is he why ben the eyâ—s made but only to see The leggys to bere the body of a creaturâ— So â—uery thynge is made to do his nature ¶ So lyke wyse reason wit and vnderstondyng ys gyuâ—n to the man for that thou sholdyst iÌ„ dede Knowe thy maker cause of thyne owne beyngâ— And what the worlde is wherof thou doest ê“cede wherfore it be houyth the of verey nede The cause of thyngê â—urst for to lerne And than to knowâ— laude the hye god eterne ¶ Humanyte ¶ O gloryous lorde and prynce moste plesant Greatly am I now holdâ—n vnto the So to illumyne my mynd that was yngnorant with such noble doctryne as thou hast here shewed me wherfore I promyse vppon my fydelyte My dylygence to do to kepe in memory And the for to honour styll ê‘petually ¶ Studyous desire ¶ And syth it hath pleasyd thy grace to admyt Me vppon this man to gyue attendaunce with thy doctryne here shewyd I shall qikkyn his wyt And dayly put hym in remembraunce His courage and desyre I shall also inhaunce So that his fâ—lycyte shall be most of all To study and to serche for causys naturall ¶ Natâ—â—e ¶ well than for a seasâ—n I wyll departe Leuynge you to gyder here both twayne what I haue shewid man prynt well in thyne hert And marke well this fygure that here shall râ—mayne wherby thou maist perceyue many thynges more playn â—â—ncernynge the matter I spake of beforâ— â—nd whan that I shall resort here a gayne Of hye poyntê of coÌ„nynge I shall shew the more ¶ Studyous desire ¶ Now humanyte call to your memory The coÌ„nynge poyntê that nature hath declaryd And though he haue shewed dyuers poitê many Of the elâ—mentis so wondersly formed yet many other causys there are wolde be lernyd As to knowe the generacyon of thyngê all Here in the yerth how they be ingendryd As herbys plantys well spryngê ston and meâ—all ¶ Humanyâ—t ¶ Those thyngê to knowe for me be full expedieÌ„t But yet iÌ„ those poyntê whiche nature late shewyd me My mynde in them as yet is not coÌ„tent For I can no maner wyse parceyue nor see Nor proue by reason why the yerth sholde be In the myddê of the fyrmament hengyng so small And the yerth with the water to be rouÌ„de with all ¶ Studyoâ—s desire ¶ Me thynkyth my selfe as to some of those poiÌ„tê I coude gyue a suffycyent solucyon For furst of all thou must nedys graunt this That the yerth is so depe and botom hath non Or els there is some grose thyng hit stoÌ„dyth vpon Or els that it hangyth thou must nedê consent Euyn in the myddê of the fyrmament ¶ Humanyte ¶ what than go forth with thyne argument ¶ Studyous desire ¶ ThaÌ„ marke well in yâ— day or in a wynters nyght The sone and mone and sterris celestyall In the est furst they do apere to thy syght 〈◊〉 after in the west they do downe fall 〈◊〉 agayne in the morowe next of all 〈◊〉 .xxiiij. houres they be come Iust Toâ—â— est poiÌ„tê again where thou sawist them furâ—◠¶ Tâ—an yf the erthe shulde be of endles deâ—nes Or shulde stande vpon any other grose thâ—â—gâ— It shulde be an impedyment dowtles To the sone mone and sterris in theyr mouynge They shulde not so in the est agayne sprynge Therfore in reason it semyth moste conuenyent The yerth to hange in the myddê of the fyrmameÌ„t Humanyte ¶ Thyne argument in the poynt doth me coÌ„fouÌ„de That thou hast made but yet it ê“uytht not ryght That the yerth by reason shulde be rounde For though the fyrmament with his sterris bryght Compas aboute the yerth eche day and nyght yet the yerthe may be playne ê‘aduentnre Quadrant triangle or some other fygure Studyouse desyre ¶ That it can not be playne I shall well ê“ue the Be cause the sterris that a ryse in the oryent Appere more soner to them that there be Than to the other dwellynge in the occident The eclypse is therof a playne experymente Of the sone or mone which whane it dothe fâ— Is neuer one tyme of the day in placys all ¶ yet the eclyps generally is alwaye In the hole worlde as one tyme beynge But whan we that dwell here see it in the mydday They in the west partis see it in the mornynge And they in the est beholde it in the euenyng And why that sholde so be no cause can be found But onely by reason that the yerthe is rownde ¶ Humanyte That reason proueth the yerth at the lest One wayes to be rownde I cannot gayne say As for to accompt frome the est to the west But yet not withstondynge all that it may Lese hys rowndenesse by some other waye ¶ Studyous desyre Na no dowte yt is rownde euery where which I coulde proue thou shoudest not say nay yf I had therto any tyme and leser But I knowe a man callyd experyens Of dyuers instrumentys is neuer without Cowde proue all these poyntys yet by his scyeÌ„â— Can tell how many myle the erthe is a bowte 〈◊〉 many other strauÌ„ge coÌ„clusioÌ„s no dowte â—â—â—ys instrumentys cowde shew theÌ„ so certayn â—â—at euery rude carter shold them ê‘sayue playn ¶ Humanyte Now wolde to god I had that man now here For the contembtacyon of my mynde ¶ Studyous desyre ¶ yf ye wyll I shall for hym enquere And brynge hym heder yf I can hym fynde ¶ Humanyte Then myght I say ye were to me ryght kynde ¶ Studyous desyre I shall assay by god that me dere bought For cunnyng is the thynge that wolde be sought ¶ Sensuall apetyte well hyet quod hykman when that he smot Hys wyffe on the buttockê with a bere pott Aha now god euyn fole god euyn It is euen the knaue that I
be most grose and lowyst in degre ¶ How dare men presume to be callyd clerkê Dysputynge of hye creaturis celestyall As thyngys inuysyble and goddê hye warkys And know not these vysyble thyngys inferyall So they wolde know hye thyngê know nothiÌ„ge at all Of the yerth here wheron they dayly be Nother the nature forme nor quantyte ¶ wherfore it semyth nothynge conuenyent A man to study and his tyme to be stowe Furst for the knowlege of hye thyngê excellent And of lyght matters beneth nothynge to know As of these .iiij. elementis here below whose effectis dayly appere here at eye Such thiÌ„gê to know furst were most mete study ¶ whiche matter before your presence shortly In this interlude here shall be declaryd without great eloquence iÌ„ ryme rudely Because the compyler is but small lernyd This worke with rethoryk is not adournyd For perhappis in this matter muche eloquence Sholde make it tedyous or hurt the sentence ¶ But because some folke be lytyll disposyd To sadnes but more to myrth and sport This phylosophycall work is myxyd with mery conseytis to gyue men coÌ„fort And occasyon to cause them to resort To here this matter wherto yf they take hede Some lernynge to them therof may ê“cede ¶ But they that shall nowe this matter declare Openly here vnto this audyence Be holde I prey you see where they are The pleyers begyn to appere in presence I se well it is tyme for me to go hens And so I wyll do therfore now shortly To god I coÌ„myt all this hole company ¶ Hic intrat natura naturata Humanyte Studyous desire portaÌ„s figuraÌ„ ¶ Natura Naturata THe hye myghty most excellent of all The fouÌ„tayn of goodnes verteu coÌ„nyng whiche is eterne of power most potencyall The ê‘feccyon and furst cause of euery thynge I meane that only hye naâ—tuâ—e naturynge Lo he by his goodnes hath ordeynyd and create Me here his mynyster callyd nature naturate ¶ wherfore I am the verey naturate nature The inmedyate mynyster for the preseruacyon Of euery thynge in his kynde to endure And cause of generacyon and corrupcyon Of that thynge that is brought to distruccyon A nother thynge styll I brynge forth a gayne Thus wondersâ—y I worke and neuer in vayne ¶ The great worâ—d be holde â—o deuydyd woÌ„dersly In to two regyons wherof on I call The etheriall region with the heuyns hye Conteynynge the planettys sterris speris all The lower region callyd the elementall Conteynynge these .iiij. elementis be loo The fyre the ayre the water and yerth also ¶ But yet the elementis and other bodyes all Beneth take theyr effectys and operacyons Of the bodyes in the region ethereall By theyr influens and constellacyons They cause here corrupcyons and generacyons For yf the mouyngâ— a boue sholde onys cease Beneth sholde be nother inâ—râ—se nor decrese ¶ These elementis of them selfe so syngle be Unto dyuers formys can not be deuydyd yet they coÌ„myx to gyder dayly ye sâ—e wherof dyuers kyndes of thyngê be ingenderyd whiche thyngê eftsonys whan they be corruptyd yche element I reduce to his â—urst estate So that nothynge can be vtterly adâ—yâ—helate ¶ For though the forme and facyon of any thyng That is a corporall body be distroyed yet euery matter remaynyth in his beynge wherof it was furst made and formyd For corrupcyon of a body coÌ„myxyd ys but the resolucyon by tyme and space Of euery element to his owne place ¶ For who that wyll take any body corporall And do what he can it to distroy To breke it or grynde it into â—ouder small To washe to drown to bren it or to dry yet the ayre and fyre therof â—aturally To their owne ê“per places wyll ascende The water to the water the yerth to the yerth tende ¶ For yf hete or moysture of any thynge certayne By fyre or â—e water â—e consâ—â—â—yd yet yerth or asshes on yerth wyll remayne So the elementis can neuer be distroyed For essencyaliy ther is now at this tyde As muche fyre ayre water yerth as was Euer before this tyme nether more nor las ¶ wherfore thou man now I speke to the Remembre that thou art compound and create Of these elementis as other creaturis be yet they haue not all lyke noble estate For plantis and herbys growe and be insensate Brute bestis haue memory and their wyttê fyue But thou hast all those and soule intellectyue ¶ So by reason of thyne vnderstandynge Thou hast domynyon of other bestis all And naturally thou sholdyst desire coÌ„nynge To knowe straunge effectê and causys naturall Foâ— he that studyeth for the lyfe bestyall As voluptuous pleasure and bodely rest I account hym neuer better than a best ¶ Humanyte ¶ O excellent prynce and great lorde nature I am thyne owne chylde and formyd instrument I beseche thy grace take me to thy cure And teche me suche scyens thou thikyst expedyeÌ„t ¶ Nature ¶ Than syth thou art so humble and beneuolent That thynge that is mete for thy capasyte And good for thy knowlege I shall Instructe the ¶ Furst of all thou must consyder and see These elementis whiche do yche other penetrate And by contynuall alteracyon they be Of them selfe dayly corruptyd and generate The yerth as a poynt or center is sytuate In the myddê of the worlde with the water Ioyned with the ayre fyre rounde hole inuyronyd ¶ Thâ— yerth of it selfe is ponderous and heuy Colde and dry of his owne nature ê“per Some parte lyeth dry contynually And parte therof coueryd ouer with water Somâ— with the salt see some with freshe ryuer whiche yerth and the water to gyder with all So Ioynyd make a rounde fygure sperycall ¶ So the water whiche is colde moyst is fouÌ„de In and vppon the yâ—rth fyllynge the holâ—nes In dyuers partis liynge with the yerth rounde yet thâ— hyllys and mountâ—yns of the yerth excesse Take nothynge of hit a way the roundnes In comparyson bycause they be so small No more than the prikkê do that be on a gall ¶ The ayre whiche is hote and moyst also And the fyre whichâ— is euer hote and dry A bout thâ— yerth and water Ioyntly they go And compasse them euery where orbycularly As the whyte a boute the yolke of an egg doth lye But the ayre in the lower parte moste remaynyth The fyre naturally to the hyer tendyth ¶ The ethâ—ryall region whiche conteynyth The sterrys and planettys and â—uery spere A bout the elementis dayly mouyth And coueryth them rounde a bout euery where Euery sterre and spere in straunge maner Uppon his owne poles mouyâ—h-dyuersly whiche now to declare were to longe to tary ¶ The fyre and the ayre of their naturys be lyght Therfore they moue by naturall prouydence The water bycause it is ponderous in weyght Mouyth not naturally but by vyolence Of the stâ—rris and planâ—ttê by whose influence The see is compellyd to ebbe and flowe dayly And freshe
mene Hast thou done thy babelyng ¶ Studyous desyre ¶ ye peraduenture what than ¶ Sensnall apetyte ThaÌ„ hold downe thy hede lyke a prety maÌ„ take my blyssyng Benedicite I grauÌ„t to the this ê‘doâ— And gyue the absolucion For thy soth saws stande vp Iack daw I be shrew thy faders sone ¶ Make rome syrs and let vs be mery with huffa galand synge tyrll on the bery And let the wyde worlde wynde Synge fryska Ioly with hey trolyloly For I se well it is but a foly For to haue a sad mynd ¶ For rather than I wolde vse suche foly To pray to study or be pope holy I had as lyf be ded By goggys body I tell you trew I speke as I thynke now els I be shrew Euyn my next felowes hed ¶ Master humanyte syr be your leue I were ryght loth you to greue Though I do hym dyspyse For yf ye knewe hym as well as I ye wolde not vse his company Nor loue hym in no wyse Hu. ¶ Syr he loketh lyke an honest man Therfore I merueyll that ye can This wyse hym depraue Sen. ¶ Though he loke neuer so well I promyse you he hath a shrewde smeâ—â— â—u ¶ why so I prey you tell â—en ¶ For he saueryth syke a knaue St. ¶ Holde your pease syr ye mys take me what I trowe that ye wolde make me Lyke to one of your kyn Sen. ¶ Harke syrs here ye not how boldly He callyth me knaue agayne by polycy The deuyll pull of his skyn I wolde he were hangyd by the throâ—â— For by the messe I loue hym not we two can neuer a gre I am content syr with you to tary And I am for you so necessary ye can not lyue without me Hu. why syr I say what man be ye Sen. I am callyd sensuall apetyte All craturs in me delyte I comforte the wyttys fyue The â—astyng smellyng herynge I refresh the syght and felynge To all creaturs a lyue For whan the body wexith hongry For lacke of fode or ellys thursty Than with drynkes plesaund I restore hym out of payne And oft refresshe nature agayne with delycate vyand with plesaunde sound of armonye The herynge alwaye I satysfy I dare this well reporte The smellynge with swete odovr And the syght with plesaunte fygovr And colours I comforte The felynge that is so plesaunte Of euery member fote or hande what pleasure therin can be By the towchynge of soâ—t harde Of hote or colde nought in regarde Excepte it come by me Hu. Than I cannot see the contrary But ye are for me full necessary And ryght conuenyent Stu. ye syr beware yet what ye do For yf you forsake my company so Lorde nature wyll not be contente Of hym ye shall neuer lerne good thyng Nother vertu nor no other coÌ„nynge This dare I well say Sen. Mary auaunt knaue I the defye Dyde nature for byde hym my coÌ„pany what sayst thou therto speke openly Hu. As for that I know well nay Sen. No by god I am ryght sure For he knoweth well no creature without me can lyue one day Hu. Syr I pray you be contente It is not vtterly myne intente your company to exyle But onely to haue coÌ„munycacyon And a pastyme of recreacyon with this man for a whyle Stu. well for your pleasure I wyll departe Sen. Now go knaue go I beshrew thy hart The deuyll sende the forwarde Sen. Now by my trouth I meruell gretly That euer ye wolde vse the company So myche of suche a knaue For yf ye do no nother thynge But euer study and to be musynge As he wolde haue you it wyll you brynge At the last vnto your graue ¶ ye shulde euer study pryncypall For to comfort your lyfe naturall with metis and drynkes dilycate And other pastymes pleasures a monge DauÌ„synge laughynge or plesaunt songe This is mete for your estate Hu. ¶ Be cause ye sey so I you ê“myse That I haue musyd studyed such wyse Me thynketh my wyttes wery My nature desyreth some refresshynge And also I haue ben so longe fastynge That I am somwhat hongry Sen. ¶ well than wyll ye go with me To a tauerne where ye shall se Good pastaunce at your lyberte Haue what so euer ye wyll Hu. ¶ I am content so for to do yf that ye wyll not fro me go But kepe me company styll Sen. ¶ CoÌ„pany qd a ye that I shall poynt deuyse And also do you good and trew seruyce And therto I plyght my trouthe And yf that I euer forsake you I pray god the deuyl take you Hu. ¶ Mary I thanke you for that othe Sen. ¶ A myschyfe on it my tonge loo wyll tryp somtyme what so euer I do But ye wot what I mene well Hu. ¶ ye no force let this matter passe But seydest euiÌ„ now thou knewyst where was A good tauerne to make solas where is that I prey the tell Sen. ¶ Mary at the dore euyn here by yf we call any thâ—nge on hye The tauerner wyll answere Hu. ¶ I prey the than call for hym nowe Sen. ¶ Mary I wyll How tauerner how why doste thou not appere Tauerner ¶ who is that calleth so hastely I shrew thyne hert speke softely I tell the I am not here Sen. ¶ Than I be shrew the page of thyne age Come hyther knaue for thyne auauntage why makyst thou hit so tow Ta. ¶ For myne auauÌ„tage mary thaÌ„ I come Beware syrs how let me haue rome Lo here I am what seyst thou Sen. Mary thus here is a gentylman I say That nother ete nor dranke this day Therfor â—ell me I the praye yf thou haue any good wyne Ta. ye shall haue spayneshe wyne gascoyn Rose coloure whyt claretrampyon Tyre capryck and maluesyne Sak raspyce alycaunt rumney Greke ipocrase new made clary Suche as ye neuer had For yf ye drynke a draught or too yt wyll make you or ye thens go By goggê body starke madde Sen. I wot thou art not without good wyne But here is a gentylmaÌ„ hath lyst to dyne Canst thou get hym any good mete Ta. what mete mayster wolde ye haue Hu. I care not so god me saue So that it be holsome to ete I wolde we had a good stewyd capon Sen. As for capons ye can gette none The kyngys taker toke vp eche one I wot well there is none to get Ta. Though all capons be gone what than yet I can get you a stewed hen That is redy dyght Hu. yf she be fat yt wyll do well Ta. Fat or lene I cannot tell But as for this I wot well She lay at the stewes all nyght Hu. Thou art a mad gest be this lyght Sen. ye syr it is a felow that neuer faylys But caÌ„st get my mayster a dyshe of quales smal byrdes swalowes or wagtaylê They be lyght of dygestyon Ta. Lyght of dysgestyon for what reason Sen. For physyk puttyth this reason therto Bycause those byrdes fle to fro