900 |
And Plato answerde unto hym anoon, |
| "Take the stoon that Titanos men name." |
| "Which is that?" quod he. "Magnasia is the same," |
| Seyde Plato. "Ye, sire, and is it thus? |
| This is ignotum per ignocius. |
905 | What is Magnasia, good sire, I yow preye?" |
| "It is a water that is maad, I seye, |
| Of elementes foure," quod Plato. |
| "Telle me the roote, good sire," quod he tho, |
| "Of that water, if it be youre wil." |
910 | "Nay, nay," quod Plato, "certein, that I nyl. |
| The philosophres sworn were everychoon |
| That they sholden discovere it unto noon, |
| Ne in no book it write in no manere. |
| For unto Crist it is so lief and deere |
915 | That he wol nat that it discovered bee, |
| But where it liketh to his deitee |
| Men for t' enspire, and eek for to deffende |
| Whom that hym liketh; lo, this is the ende. |
|
900 |
And Plato answered in this wise anon: |
| "Take, now, the stone that Titanos men name." |
| "What's that?" asked he. "Magnesia is the same," |
| Plato replied. "Yea, sir, and is it thus? |
| This is ignotum per ignotius. |
905 | What is magnesia, good sir, I do pray?" |
| "It is a water that is made, I say, |
| Out of four elements,' replied Plato. |
| "Tell me the root, good sir," said he, "if so, |
| What then, is water, tell me if you will." |
910 | "Nay, nay," said Plato, "and now peace, be still." |
| Philosophers are sworn, aye, every one, |
| That they will thus discover it to none, |
| Nor in a book will write it for men here; |
| For unto Christ it is so lief and dear |
915 | That He wills that it not discovered be, |
| Except where it's pleasing to his deity |
| Man to inspire, and also, to defend |
| Whom that he will; and lo, this is the end. |
|