No More Learning

is bitidi? nat wi?
out ? our{e} desert.

[Sidenote: Man only excels other creatures when he knows himself. ]

For certys swiche is ? e co{n}dic{i}ou{n}
of al man kynde ? at oonly whan it ha? knowyng of it 1292
self. ? an passe? it i{n} noblesse alle o? er ? inges.

[Sidenote: When he ceases to do so, he sinks below beasts.
]

and whan it forleti? ? e knowyng of it self. ? an it is
brou? t byne? en alle beestes.

[Sidenote: Ignorance is natural to beasts, but in men it is
unnatural and criminal. ]

? For-why alle o? er
[leuynge] beestes han of kynde to knowe not hem 1296
self. but whan ? at men leten ? e knowyng of hem self.
it come? hem of vice.