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"The Firste Moevere of the cause above |
| 2130 | Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love, |
| Greet was th'effect, and heigh was his entente; |
| Wel wiste he why, and what therof he mente, |
| For with that faire cheyne of love he bond |
| The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond, |
| 2135 | In certeyn boundes that they may nat flee. |
| That same Prince and that same Moevere," quod he, |
| "Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun |
| Certeyne dayes and duracioun |
| To al that is engendred in this place, |
| 2140 | Over the whiche day they may nat pace; |
| Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge, |
| Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee t'allegge, |
| For it is preeved by experience, |
| But that me list declaren my sentence. |
| 2145 | Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne |
| That thilke Moevere stable is and eterne. |
| Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, |
| That every part deryveth from his hool; |
| For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng |
| 2150 | Of no partie nor cantel of a thyng, |
| But of a thyng that parfit is and stable, |
| Descendynge so til it be corrumpable; |
| And therfore, of his wise purveiaunce, |
| He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce, |
| 2155 | That speces of thynges and progressiouns |
| Shullen enduren by successiouns, |
| And nat eterne, withouten any lye. |
| This maystow understonde and seen at ye. |
| Loo the ook, that hath so long a norisshynge |
| 2160 | From tyme that it first bigynneth sprynge, |
| And hath so long a lif, as we may see, |
| Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. |
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"The Primal Mover and the cause above, |
| 2130 | When first he made the fine chain of love, |
| Great the effect, and high was his intent; |
| Well knew he why, and what thereof he meant; |
| For with that fine chain of love he bound |
| The fire, the air, the water, and the ground |
| 2135 | In certain bonds of which they might not flee; |
| That same Prince and Mover," then said he, |
| "Has stablished in this base world, up and down, |
| Certain days and terms to call their own |
| For all that are engendered in this place, |
| 2140 | Beyond the which not one day may they pace, |
| Though yet all may that certain time abridge; |
| Authority there needs none, I allege, |
| For it is well proved by experience, |
| Except that I please to clarify my sense. |
| 2145 | Then may men by this order well discern |
| This Mover to be stable and eterne. |
| Well may man know, unless he be a fool, |
| That every part derives but from his whole. |
| For Nature has not taken his being |
| 2150 | From any part and portion of a thing, |
| But from a substance perfect, stable aye, |
| And so continuing till changed away. |
| And therefore, of his wise providence, |
| Has he so well established ordinance |
| 2155 | That species of all things and all progressions, |
| If they'd endure, it must be by successions, |
| Not being themselves eternal, 'tis no lie: |
| This may you understand and see by eye. |
| Look now, the oak, that has long nourishing |
| 2160 | Even from the time that it begins to spring, |
| And has so long a life, as we may see, |
| Yet at the last all wasted is the tree. |
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