[6-text p 228] schalt vnderstonde þat þe wronge þat þu hast receyued haþ certeine causes [2585] whiche þat clerkes clepen. Oriens & officiens & causa longinqua & causa propinqua. þis to seine þe ferre cause [et la proch|aine [2586] La longtaine est dieu qui est cause de toutes choses / [2587] La prochaine sont ces iij. ennemiz [2588] La cause (Reg. 19 C xi)] Accidentale. was hate. [2589] The causes Material bene þe .v. wondes of þine douhter; [2590] The cause formale is þe manere of here wercheinge þat brouht ledders And clomben in att þine wyndows. [2591] þe cause finale was for to sle þi douhter. It lakked nouht in as muche as in hem was [2592] ¶ Bot for to speken of þe ferre cause as to what ende þeie scholne come; or what schal be-tiden of hem in þis caas ne can .I. nouht deme bot be coniectinge & be supposeinge; [2593] ¶ For we scholne supp[os]e [que Ilz en vendront] to a wikked ende; [2594] Be cause þe booke of decrees seiþe ¶ Seldome or wiþ grete peine bene causes / [folio 199b] brouhte to an hende whan þei bene badly be-gonne.
[2595] ¶ Nowe sir if men axed me; whi þat ȝe suffer men to done ȝowe þis velanye; certes .I. can not wele ansewer as for no soþfastnesse [2596] ¶ For þe Apostele seiþe þat þe science & þe Iuggement of oure lorde god bene myhty & depe; [2597] þere maie no man comprehende ne serche ham sufficeantly; [2598] Nareþeles be serteine presumpciouns & coniettinges .I. holde & beleue [2599] þat god þat is ful of Iustice & rihtwisnes Haþ suffred þis be-tide be Iust cause resonable;
[2600] ¶ þi name is Melibe. þis is to seie a man þat drinkeþ honye; [2601] Thow hast ydronken so muche hony of þi swete temperal riches & delices & hon|ours of þis werlde [2602] þat þou art dronken; & hast forȝeten oure lorde ihesu criste þi creatour; [2603] þou hast noȝt done to him suche honour as þe ouhte; [2604] ne þou hast nouht wele take hede to
