ris splendorem uerae lucis possis agnoscere.

VI.

First, therefore, wilt thou let me touch and try the state of thy mind
by asking thee a few questions, that I may understand how thou art to be
cured?" To which I answered: "Ask me what questions thou wilt, and I
will answer thee." And then she said: "Thinkest thou that this world is
governed by haphazard and chance? Or rather dost thou believe that it is
ruled by reason?" "I can," quoth I, "in no manner imagine that such
certain motions are caused by rash chance. And I know that God the
Creator doth govern His work, nor shall the day ever come to draw me
from the truth of that judgment."

"It is so," saith she, "for so thou saidst in thy verse a little before,
and bewailedst that only men were void of God's care; for as for the
rest, thou didst not doubt but that they were governed by reason. And
surely I cannot choose but exceedingly admire how thou canst be ill
affected, holding so wholesome an opinion. But let us search further; I
guess thou wantest something, but I know not what.

Tell me, since thou doubtest not that the world is governed by God,
canst thou tell me also by what means it is governed?" "I do scarcely,"
quoth I, "understand what thou askest, and much less am I able to make
thee a sufficient answer." "Was I," quoth she, "deceived in thinking
that thou wantedst something by which, as by the breach of a fortress,
the sickness of perturbations hath entered into thy mind? But tell me,
dost thou remember what is the end of things? Or to what the whole
intention of nature tendeth?" "I have heard it," quoth I, "but grief
hath dulled my memory." "But knowest thou from whence all things had
their beginning?" "I know," quoth I, and answered, that from God. "And
how can it be that, knowing the beginning, thou canst be ignorant of the
end? But this is the condition and force of perturbations, that they may
alter a man, but wholly destroy, and as it were root him out of himself,
they cannot.

But I would have thee answer me to this also; dost thou remember that
thou art a man?" "Why should I not remember it?" quoth I. "Well then,
canst thou explicate what man is?" "Dost thou ask me if I know that I am
a reasonable and mortal living creature? I know and confess myself to be
so." To which she replied: "Dost thou not know thyself to be anything
else?" "Not anything."

"Now I know,"