[6-text p 228] shalt vnderstonde / þat the wrong þat thow hast receyued / hath certeyne causes / [2585] whiche þat clerkes clepen Oriens and Efficiens / and Causa longinqua / and causa propinqua / this is to seyn; the fer cause / and the ny cause / [2586] the fer cause / is almyghty god that is cause of alle thynges ‖ [2587] the neer cause / is thy thre enemys / [2588] the cause accidental / was hate / [2589] the cause material / been the .v. woundes of thy doghter / [2590] the cause formal / is the manere of hir werkynge / that broghten laddres and clomben In at thy wyndowes / [2591] the cause final / was for to sle thy doghter / it lettyd nat / in as muche as was in hem was ‖ [2592] but for to speke of the fer cause; as to what ende they shul come /; or what shal finally bityde of hem in this cas; ne kan I nat deme / but by coniectynge and by supposynge / [2593] for we shuln suppose / that they shul come to a wikked ende / [2594] by cause / þat the book of decrees seith ¶ Selden / or with greet peyne been causes ybroght to good ende / whan they been baddely bigonne
[2595] ¶ Now sire / if men wolden axe me / why þat god suffrede men to do yow this vileynye; certes I kan nat wel answere / as for no soothfastnesse ‖ [2596] for the Apostle seith / that the sciences and the Iugementz of oure lord god almyghty / been ful depe / [2597] ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem suffisantly [2598] ¶ Nathelees / by certeyne presumpcions and coniectynges / I holde & bileue / [2599] that god / which þat is ful of Iustice and of rightwisnesse / hath suffred this bityde / by Iuste cause resonable
[2600] ¶ Thy name is Melibe / this is to seyn / a man that drynketh hony / [2601] thow hast y-dronke so muchil hony / of swete temporel richesses and delices and hon|ours of this world / [2602] that thow art dronken / and hast forgeten Ihesu crist thy creatour / [2603] thow ne hast nat doon to hym / swich honour and reuerence as thee oghte; [2604] ne thow ne hast nat wel taken kepe / to
