[6-text p 228] schalt vndirstonde / that the wrong that thow hast resceyuid hath certeyn causes / [2585] whiche that clerkis clepyn Oriens / & efficiens / And Causa longinqua / & Causa Propinqua / this is to seyne the ffer cause / & the nygh cause / [2586] the fer cause is almyghti god / that is cause of alle thyngis / [2587] the nygh cause is thynne thre enemyis / [2588] the cause accidental was hate / [2589] the cause material; been the fyue woundis of thyn doughtre [2590] The cause formal is the manere of here werkynge / that brougtyn ladderys & clombyn in at thyne wyndowis / [2591] the cause final was for to sle thyn dougtyr / It lettede nat in as meche as in hem [folio 339a] was // [2592] But for to spekyn of the ferthe cause as to what ende they schul come / or what schal finally betyde of hem in this caas / ne can I nat deeme / but be coniectynge & by supposynge [2593] for we schul suppose / that they schul come to a wekkede ende / [2594] bi-cause that the bok of Decreis seyth / Selde or woth greet peyne been causis I-brouȝt to a good ende / Whan they been baldely begunne [2595]
NOw sere ȝif meen wolde axsyn me whi that god sufferede / men to doon ȝow this veleny certis I can|not weel answeryn as for no Sothfastnesse / [2596] for thapostelle seyth that the sciencis & the iugementis of oure lord god / almyȝty; been ful deepe / [2597] there may no man comprehende / ne serchyn hem sufficiently [2598] ¶ Nathelees / bi certeyn presumpciounnys / & coneytyngis I holde & bileeue / [2599] that god whiche that is ful of iustise / & of ryghtwisnesse hath suffered this betyde by iuste cause / resonable
[2600] Thyn name is Melibee this is to seyne a man / that drynkyth hony / [2601] or he that hath I-dronkyn hony / so meche of sweete temperel richesse & delicis of honouris of this world [2602] that thow art dronkyn / & hast forgetyn Ihesu cryst thyn creature / [2603] thow ne hast nat doon to hym swich honour & reuerence / as the ouȝte [2604] ne thow ne hast not weel takyn keep to
