Chapter XXII: Appendix: To Introduction (8)

[Linenotes:
3226 _þilk_--thilke
3229 _owen_--owne
3231 _wilt_--wolt
_herkene_--herkne
3232 _pleynely_--pleynly
_denye_--denoye
3233 _moeuementȝ_--Moeuement
3237 _goþ_--MS. goþe
_hys_--hise
3238 _gone_--goon
3239 _hys_--hise
_whiche_--which
3240 _more_--the Moore
_furþe_--forth
3242 _gone_--gon
3245 _good_--goode
3246 _uertues_--vertuus
3247 _whiche_--which
3248 _goode_--good
3253 _byfore_--by-forn
3254 _forto_--to
3255 _seke_--sike
3259 _wicked_--wikkede
3260 _come_--comyn
3261 _þilk_--thilke
3262 _deme_--demen
3263-4 _helpe_--help
3264 _whiche_--which
_goþ_--MS. goþe
3265 _grete_--gret
_vnneþ_--vnnethe
_be ouercomen_--ben ou{er}come
3267 _þere_--ther
_grete_--wikkede
3268 _þinges_--thing
_ben_--is
3271 _Sherewes ne requere_--ne shrewes ne requeren
3272 _lyȝt[e]_--lyhte
_veyne_--veyn
_nat_--omitted
3276 _whiche_--which
3277 _getyn[g]_--getinge
_whiche goode_--which good
3278 _ysen_--MS. and C. ysene
3279 _goþ_--MS. goþe
3280 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
3281 _þere_--ther
_lay_--laye
_forþer_--forthere
_be_--ben
3283 _desire_--desired
3284 _þat_--omitted]

[Headnote:
THE WICKED HAVE NO REAL EXISTENCE.]

[Sidenote: Wicked men, then, are destitute of those powers which
the good so amply possess.]

¶ Of whiche power of good folk men may conclude þat
wicked men semen to ben bareyne {and} naked of alle
strengþe.

[Sidenote: Wherefore do they leave virtue, and follow vice? Is it
because they are ignorant of good?]

For whi forleten þei v{er}tues {and} folwen
vices. nis it nat for þat þei ne knowen nat þe goodes. 3288

[Sidenote: What is more weak and base than the blindness of
ignorance? Or do they know the way they ought to follow, but are
led astray by lust and covetousness?]

¶ But what þing is more feble {and} more caitif þan is þe [[pg 116]]
blyndenesse of ignoraunce. or ellys þei knowen ful wel
whiche þinges þat þei auȝten to folwen ¶ but lecherye
{and} couetise ouerþroweþ hem mysturned.

[Sidenote: And so, indeed, weak-minded men are overpowered by
intemperance, for they cannot resist vicious temptations.]

¶ and certis 3292
so doþ distemp{er}aunce to feble men. þat ne mowe{n} nat
wrastle aȝeins þe vices

[Sidenote: Do they willingly desert Good and turn to Evil? If they
do so, they not only cease to be powerful, but even cease to
exist.]

¶ Ne knowen þei nat þan wel
þat þei foreleten þe good wilfully. {and} turnen hem vilfully
to vices. ¶ And in þis wise þei ne forleten nat 3296
oonly to ben myȝty. but þei forleten al outerly in any
wise forto ben

[Sidenote: For those who neglect the common end of all beings,
cease to exist.]

¶ For þei þat forleten þe comune fyn of
alle þinges þat ben. þei for-leten also þerwiþ al forto
ben.

[Sidenote: You may marvel that I assert that the wicked, the
majority of the human race, have no existence--but it is, however,
most true.]

and p{er}auenture it sholde semen to som folk þat 3300
þis were a merueile to seyne þat shrewes whiche þat
contienen þe more p{ar}tie of me{n} ne ben nat. ne han no
beynge. ¶ but naþeles it is so. {and} þus stant þis þing

[Sidenote: That the wicked are bad I do not deny--but I do not
admit that they have any real existence.]

for þei þat ben shrewes I denye nat þat þei ben shrewes. 3304
but I denye {and} sey[e] symplely and pleynly þat þei
[ne] ben nat. ne han no beynge.

[Sidenote: You may call a corpse a dead man, but you cannot with
propriety call it a man.]

for ryȝt as þou myȝtest
seyn of þe careyne of a man þat it were a ded man.
¶ but þou ne myȝtest nat symplely callen it a man. 3308

[Sidenote: So the vicious are profligate men, but I cannot confess
they absolutely exist.]

¶ So graunt[e] I wel for soþe þat vicious folk ben
wicked. but I ne may nat graunten absolutely {and}
symplely þat þei ben.

[Sidenote: That thing exists that preserves its rank, nature, and
constitution, but when it loses these essentials it ceases to be.]

¶ For þilk þing þat wiþ
holdeþ ordre {and} kepiþ nature. þilk þing is {and} haþ 3312
beynge. but þat þing þat faileþ of þat. þat is to seyne
he þ{a}t forletiþ naturel ordre he for-letiþ þilk beyng
þat is set in hys nature.

[Sidenote: But, you may say that the wicked have a _power_ to act,
nor do I deny it; but their power is an effect of weakness.]

but þou wolt sein þat shrewes
mowen. ¶ Certys þat ne denye I nat. ¶ but certys 3316
hir power ne descendeþ nat of strengþe but of feblesse.

[Sidenote: They can do evil, but this they could not do, if they
retained the power of doing good.]

for þei mowen don wickednesses. þe whiche þei ne
myȝten nat don yif þei myȝte{n} dwelle in þe forme {and}
in þe doynge of goode folke. [[pg 117]]

[Sidenote: This power, then, clearly shows their impotence.]

¶ And þilke power 3320
sheweþ ful euydently þat þei ne mowen ryȝt nauȝt.

[Linenotes:
3285 _whiche_--the which
_þat_--þ{a}t the
3286 _ben_--be
3291 _auȝten to folwen_--owhten folwe
3293 _doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth
3394 _wrastle_--wrastlen
3295 _vilfully_--wilsfully
3297 _outerly_--owtrely
3301 _seyne_--seyen
3304-5 _denye_--denoye
3305 _sey[e] symplely_--seye sympeli
3306 [_ne_]--from C.
3307 _seyn_--seyen
3309 _graunt[e]_--graunte
3311-12 _þilk_--thilke
3312 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3313 _þat_ (1)--what
_seyne_--seyn
3314 _þilk_--thilke
3315 _set_--MS. sette, C. set
3316 _denye_--denoye
3318 _don_--MS. done, C. don
3319 _myȝten_ (1)--myhte
_dwelle_--dwellin
3320 _goode_--good]

[Headnote:
POWER, AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE CHIEF GOOD.]

[Sidenote: For as evil is nothing, it is clear that while the
wicked can only do evil they can do nothing.]

¶ For so as I haue gadered {and} p{ro}ued a lytel her byforn
þat yuel is nauȝt. {and} so as shrewes mowen oonly
but shrewednesse. þis conclusiou{n} is al clere. þat 3324
shrewes ne mowen ryȝt nat to han power.

[Sidenote: That you may understand the force of this power, I have
proved that nothing is more powerful than the sovereign good.]

and for as
moche as þou vndirstonde whiche is þe strengþe þat is
power of shrewes. I haue diffinised a lytel here byforn
þat no þing nis so myȝty as souereyne good

[Sidenote: _B._ That is true.]

¶ þat is 3328
soþe q{uo}d .I.

[Sidenote: _P._ And that supreme good can do no evil?]

[{and} thilke same souereyn good may don
non yuel //

[Sidenote: _B._ Certainly not.]

Certes no q{uod} I]

[Sidenote: _P._ Is there any one who thinks that man can do all
things?]

¶ Is þer any wyȝt þan
q{uo}d she þat weniþ þat men mowen don alle þinges.

[Sidenote: _B._ No sane man can think so.]

No man q{uo}d .I. but yif he be out of hys witte.

[Sidenote: _P._ But men may do evil.]

¶ but 3332
certys sherewes mowen doñ yuel q{uo}d she.

[Sidenote: _B._ I would to God they could not.]

¶ ȝe wolde
god q{uo}d I þat þei ne myȝte{n} don none.

[Sidenote: _P._ Since he that can do good, can do all things, and
he that has power to do evil cannot do all things, therefore the
evil-doers are less powerful.]

þat q{uo}d she
so as he þat is myȝty to done oonly but good[e] þinges
may don alle þinges. and þei þat ben myȝty to done 3336
yuel[e] þinges ne mowen nat alle þinges. þan is þis open
þing {and} manifest þat þei þ{a}t mowe{n} don yuel ben of
lasse power.

[Sidenote: Let me add too that _power_ is one of the things to be
desired, and that all such things are to be referred to the chief
good (the perfection of their nature).]

and ȝitte to p{ro}ue þis conclusiou{n} þere
helpeþ me þis þat I haue shewed here byforne. þat al 3340
power is to be nou{m}bred amonge þinges þat men auȝten
requere. {and} haue shewed þat alle þi{n}ges þat auȝten ben
desired ben referred to good ryȝt as to a manere heyȝte
of hyr nature.

[Sidenote: But the power of doing evil has no relation to that
Good, therefore it is not desirable; but as all power is
desirable, it is clear that the ability to do evil is not power.]

¶ But for to mowen don yuel {and} 3344
felonye ne may nat ben referred to good. þan nis nat
yuel of þe nou{m}bre of þinges þat auȝte{n}.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 26 _b_.]]

*be desired. but
al power auȝt[e] ben desired {and} requered. ¶ þan is
it open {and} cler þat þe power ne þe moeuyng of shrewes 3348
nis no powere.

[Sidenote: It clearly follows from this reasoning, that the good
only are powerful while the vicious are feeble.]

{and} of alle þise þinges it sheweþ wel þat
þe goode folk ben certeynly myȝty. {and} þe shrewes ben [[pg 118]]
douteles vnmyȝty

[Sidenote: And Plato’s opinion is hereby verified that the _wise_
only have the power to do what they desire; the wicked may follow
the dictates of their lusts, but their great aim and desire,
_i. e._ HAPPINESS, they can never attain.]

¶ And it is clere {and} open þat þilke
sentence of plato is uerray {and} soþe. þ{a}t seyþ þat oonly 3352
wiseme{n} may [doon] þat þei desiren. {and} shrewes
mowen haunten þat hem lykeþ. but þat þei desiren þat
is to seyne to comen to souereyne good þei ne han no
power to acomplissen þat.

[Sidenote: The wicked may gratify their desires, thinking to
attain the chief good (for which they wish), but they can never
possess it, for impiety and vice can never be crowned with
happiness.]

¶ For shrewes don þat hem 3356
list whan by þo þinges in whiche þei deliten þei wenen
to atteyne to þilke good þat þei desiren. but þei ne geten
ne atteynen nat þer to. ¶ for vices ne comen nat to
blisfulnesse. 3360

[Linenotes:
3324 _shrewednesse_--shrewednesses
_clere_--cleer
3325 _nat----power_--nawht ne han no power
3326 _whiche_--which
_þat is_--of this
3327 _here_--her
3328 _nis_--is
3329 _soþe_--soth
3329, 3330 [_and thilke----quod I_]--from C.
3334 _don_--MS. done, C. don
_none þat_--non thanne
3335 _done_--doon
_good[e]_--goode
3336 _don_--MS. done, C. don
_done_--don
3337 _yuel[e]_--yuele
_þis_--it
3338 _don_--MS. done, C. don
3339 _ȝitte_--yit
_þere_--ther
3340 _shewed here byforne_--Ishewed her by-forn
_al_--alle
3341 _amonge_--among
3344 _don_--MS. done, C. don
3346 _auȝten be_--owhte ben
3347 _al_--alle
_auȝt[e]_--owhte
3351 _clere_--cler
3352 _soþe_--soth
_þat seyþ_--MS. but siþe, C. þ{a}t seyth
3353 [_doon_]--from C.
3355 _seyne_--seyn
3357 _whiche_--which]

[Headnote:
THE WICKED ARE UNHAPPY.]

QUOS UIDES SEDERE CELSOS.

[Sidenote: [The ij^de Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Whosoever might strip of their purple coverings, proud
kings, who, surrounded by their guards, sit on lofty thrones, and
whose stern looks wear fierce threatenings, and boiling breasts
breathe fury; would see those mighty lords inwardly fettered, and
tormented by lust, passion, grief, and delusive hopes.]

++Who so þat þe couertures of her veyn apparailes
myȝt[e] strepen of þise proude kynges þat þou
seest sitten on heyȝe in her chayeres glyterynge in
shynynge purpre envyroned wiþ sorweful arm{ur}es 3364
manasyng wiþ cruel mouþe. blowyng by woodnesse of
herte. ¶ He sholde se þan þat ilke lordes beren wiþ
i{n}ne hir corages ful streyte cheynes for leccherye tormentiþ
he{m} on þat oon syde wiþ gredy venyms {and} 3368
troublable Ire þat araiseþ in hem þe floodes of troublynges
tourmentiþ vpon þat oþer side hir þouȝt. or sorwe halt
he{m} wery or ycauȝt. or slidyng {and} disseyuyng hope
tourmentiþ hem.

[Sidenote: Since, then, so many tyrants bear sway over one
head--that lord, oppressed by so many masters (i. e. vices), is
weak and feeble, and his actions are not obedient to his will.]

And þerfore syn þou seest on heed. 3372
þat is to seyne oon tyraunt bere so many[e] tyrauntis.
þa{n} ne doþ þilk tyraunt nat þat he desiriþ. syn he
is cast doune wiþ so many[e] wicked lordes. þat is to
seyn wiþ so many[e] vices. þat han so wicked lordshipes 3376
ouer hym.

[Linenotes:
3361-63 _her_--hir
3362 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
3363 _heyȝe_--heygh
3364 _sorweful_--sorwful
3365 _mouþe_--Mowth
3366 _se_--seen
_ilke_--thilke
3368 _on_--in
3369 _hem_--hym
3371 _disseyuyng_--deceyuynge
3373 _seyne_--seyn
_bere_--beeren
3373-75-76 _many[e]_--manye
3373 _tyrauntis_--tyranyes
3374 _doþ_--MS. doþe
_þilk_--thilke
3375 _doune_--down
_wicked_--wikkede
3376 _wicked_--wikkedly]

[[pg 119]]
[Headnote:
THEY DO NOT ESCAPE PUNISHMENT.]

VIDES NE IGITUR QUANTO.

[Sidenote: [The iij.^de p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: See you not in how great and filthy a mire the wicked
wallow?]

++SEest þou nat þan in how gret filþe þise shrewes ben
ywrapped. {and} wiþ whiche cleernesse þise good
folk shynen.

[Sidenote: This is a proof that good folks do not go unrewarded,
nor do the evil-doers escape punishment.]

In þis sheweþ it wel þat to good folk ne 3380
lakkeþ neuer mo hir medes. ne shrewes ne lakken
neuer mo to{ur}mentis.

[Sidenote: Every action is done for a certain end, and that end is
the reward of the action.]

for of alle þinges þat ben ydon
þilke þing for whiche any þing is doon. it semeþ as by
ryȝt þat þilke þing be þe mede of þat. as þus. ¶ yif a 3384
man renneþ in þe stadie or in þe forlonge for þe corone.
þan lieþ þe mede in þe corone for whiche he renneþ.

[Sidenote: But Happiness is that good for which all things are
done. Therefore happiness is the reward which all the human race
seek as the reward of their actions.]

¶ And I haue shewed þat blisfulnesse is þilke same
good for whiche þat alle þi{n}g{us} ben don. þan is þilke 3388
same good p{ur}posed to þe werkes of mankynde ryȝt as
a comune mede.

[Sidenote: This good is inseparable from the virtuous, therefore
virtue can never want its reward.]

whiche mede ne may ben disseuered
fro good folk. for no wyȝt as by ryȝt fro þennes forþe
þ{a}t hym lakkiþ goodnesse ne shal ben cleped good. 3392
For whiche þing folk of good[e] maneres her medes ne
forsaken hem neuer mo.

[Sidenote: Evil men may rage as they please against the good, but
the crown of the wise shall not fall nor fade.]

For al be it so þat sherewes
waxen as wood as hem list aȝeynes good[e] folk. ȝitte
neuer þe les þe corone of wise men ne shal nat fallen 3396
ne faden.

[Sidenote: The wickedness of another cannot deprive a virtuous
soul of its own honour.]

¶ For foreine shrewednesse ne bynymeþ
nat fro þe corages of good[e] folk hire p{ro}pre honoure.

[Linenotes:
3379 _whiche_--which
3380 _good_--goode
3381 _ne_ (2)--omitted
3383 _whiche_--which
3385 _forlonge_--forlong
3386-88-90 _whiche_--which
3391 _forþe_--forth
3393 _whiche_--which
_good[e]_--goode
3395 _wood_--woode
_good[e]_--goode
3396 _les_--leese
_ne_--omitted
3398 _good[e]_--goode]

[Headnote:
THE REWARD OF THE GOOD.]

[Sidenote: If a man pride himself on the possession of an
advantage received from another, he may be deprived of it, either
by the giver or by others.]

but yif þat any wyȝt reioiseþ hem of goodnesse þat þei
had[de] taken fro wiþoute. as who seiþ yif [þ{a}t] any 3400
wyȝt had[de] hys goodnesse of any oþer man þan of
hym self. certys he þat ȝaf hym þilke goodnesse or
ellys som oþer wyȝt myȝt[e] bynym[e] it hym.

[Sidenote: But, as the reward of the virtuous is derived from
virtue, a man cannot lose this meed unless he ceases to be
virtuous.]

but for
as moche as to euery wyȝt hys owen p{ro}pre bounte 3404
ȝeueþ hy{m} hys mede. þan at arst shal he faylen of
mede whan he forletiþ to ben good.

[Sidenote: Lastly, since a reward is desired because it is
supposed to be a good, can we believe that he who is capable of
good is deprived of the recompence?]

{and} at þe laste so
as alle medes be{n} requered for men wenen þat þei ben
good[e]. who is he þat wolde deme þat he þat is ryȝt [[pg 120]]
myȝty of goode were p{ar}tles of mede. 3409

[Sidenote: What reward shall he receive?]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 27.]]

*{and} of what
mede shal he be gerdoned.

[Sidenote: Certainly the fairest and richest of all rewards.]

certys of ryȝt faire mede
{and} ryȝt greet abouen alle medes.

[Sidenote: Call to mind that excellent corollary I have already
given thee, and reason thus:--]

¶ Remembre þe of
þilk noble corolarie þat I ȝaf þe a lytel here byforne. 3412
{and} gadre it to gidre in þis manere.

[Sidenote: Since the supreme good is happiness, it follows that
all good men are happy in as much as they are good; but if they
are happy they must become as it were gods.]

so as god hym self
is blisfulnesse. þan is it clere {and} certeyn. þat alle good
folk ben makid blisful for þei ben good[e]. and þilke
folk þat ben blisful it accordiþ {and} is couenable to ben 3416
godde[s].

[Sidenote: The reward (_i. e._ divinity) of the righteous is such
that no time can impair it, no power can diminish it, nor can any
wickedness obscure it.]

þan is þe mede of goode folk swiche. þat no
day [ne] shal enpeyren it. ne no wickednesse shal endirken
it. ne power of no wyȝt ne shal nat amenusen it
þat is to seyn to ben maked goddes.

[Sidenote: Since, then, happiness belongs to good men, punishment
inseparably attends the wicked.]

¶ and syn it is 3420
þus þat goode men ne faylen neuer mo of hir{e} medes.

[Linenotes:
3399 _reioiseþ_--reioyse
_hem_--hym
_þei had[de]_--he hadde
3400 [_þat_]--from C.
3401 _had[de]_--hadde
3402 _self_--MS. selk
3403 _myȝt[e] bynym[e]_--myhte be-nyme
3404 _owen_--owne
3406 _laste_--last
3408 _good[e]_--goode
_wolde_--nolde
3409 _goode_--good
_of_ (2)--of the
3411 _greet_--grete
3412 _here byforne_--her by-forn
3413 _god_--good
3414 _is_ (1)--his
_clere_--cleer
3415 _good[e]_--goode
3417 _godde[s]_--goddes
_swiche_--swich
3418 [_ne_]--from C.
_endirken_--derken]

[Headnote:
VIRTUE EXALTS MANKIND.]

¶ certys no wise man ne may doute of þe vndep{ar}table
peyne of shrewes. ¶ þat is to seyn þat þe peyne of
shrewes ne dep{ar}tiþ nat from hem self neuer mo. 3424

[Sidenote: For since _good_ and _evil_ are contraries, so are
_rewards_ and _punishments_.]

¶ For so as goode {and} yuel {and} peyne {and} medes ben
contrarie it mot nedes ben þ{a}t ryȝt as we seen by-tiden
in gerdou{n} of goode.

[Sidenote: It is evident that rewards follow good actions, and
punishments attend evil actions; then as virtue itself is the
reward of the virtuous, so vice is the punishment of the vicious.]

þat also mot þe peyne of yuel
answer{e} by þe contrarie partye to shrewes. now þan so 3428
as bounte {and} prowesse ben þe medes to goode folk.
also is shrewednesse it self torment to shrewes

[Sidenote: He who is punished with pain and uneasiness knows that
he is afflicted with evil.]

¶ þan
who so þat euer is entecched {and} defouled wiþ yuel.

[Sidenote: If, then, the wicked did rightly understand themselves
they would perceive that they are not exempted from punishment.]

yif shrewes wolen þan p{re}isen hem self may it semen 3432
to hem þat þei ben wiþ oute{n} p{ar}tye of tourment.

[Sidenote: Since vice, the extreme and worst kind of evil, not
only afflicts them, but infects and entirely pollutes them.]

syn þei ben swiche þat þe [vtteriste wikkednesse / þ{a}t is to
seyn wikkede thewes / which þ{a}t is the] out{er}este {and}
þe w[or]ste kynde of shrewednesse ne defouliþ nat ne 3436
entecehiþ nat hem oonly but infectiþ {and} enuenemyþ
he{m} gretely

[Sidenote: But contemplate the punishment of the wicked.]

¶ And al so loke on shrewes þat ben þe
contrarie p{ar}tye of goode men.
how grete peyne felawshipeþ [[pg 121]]
{and} folweþ hem.

[Sidenote: You have been taught that _unity_ is essential to being
and is good--and all that have this unity are good; whatsoever,
then, fails to be good ceases to exist.]

¶ For þou hast lerned a litel 3440
here byforn þat al þi{n}g þat is {and} haþ beynge is oon.
{and} þilke same oon is good. þan is þis consequence þat
it semeþ wel. þat al þat is {and} haþ bey{n}ge is good. þis
is to seyne. as who seiþ þat beynge {and} vnite {and} 3444
goodnesse is al oon. {and} in þis manere it folweþ þan.
þat al þing þat faileþ to ben good. it styntiþ forto be.
{and} forto haue any beynge.

[Sidenote: So that it appears that evil men must cease to be what
they were.]

wher fore it is þat shrewes
stynten forto ben þat þei weren.

[Sidenote: That they were once men, the outward form of the body,
which still remains, clearly testifies.]

but þilke oþer forme 3448
of mankynde. þat is to seyne þe forme of þe body wiþ
oute. shewiþ ȝit þat þise shrewes were somtyme men.

[Linenotes:
3422 _wise man_--wysman
_þe_--omitted
_vndepartable_--MS. vndirp{ar}table, C. vndepartable
3423 _of_ (1)--of the
3428 _answere_--answery
_þe_--omitted
3434 [_vtteriste----is the_]--from C.
3438 _gretely_--gretly
3439 _grete_--gret
3441 _al_--alle
_haþ_--MS. haþe
3443 _al_--alle
_haþ_--MS. haþe
3446 _al_--alle
3447 _haue_--han
3448 _stynten_--MS. styntent
3450 _were somtyme_--weeren whilom]

[Headnote:
HE WHO CEASES TO BE VIRTUOUS CEASES TO BE A MAN.]

[Sidenote: Wherefore, when they degenerate into wickedness they
lose their human nature.]

¶ wher fore whan þei ben p{er}uerted {and} torned in to
malice. certys þan han þei forlorn þe nature of mankynde. 3452

[Sidenote: But as virtue alone exalts one man above other men, it
is evident that vice, which divests a man of his nature, must sink
him below humanity.]

but so as oonly bounte {and} prowesse may enhawnse
euery man ouer oþer men. þan mot it nedes be
þat shrewes whiche þat shrewednesse haþ cast out of þe
condic{i}ou{n} of mankynde ben put vndir þe merite {and} 3456
þe deserte of men.

[Sidenote: You cannot, therefore, esteem him to be a man whom you
see thus transformed by his vices.]

þan bitidiþ it þat yif þou seest a
wyȝt þat be t{ra}nsformed in to vices. þou ne mayst nat
wene þat he be a man.

[Sidenote: The greedy robber, you will say, is like a _wolf_.]

¶ For ȝif he [be] ardaunt in
auarice. {and} þat he be a rauyno{ur} by violence of 3460
foreine rychesse. þou shalt seyn þat he is lyke to a
wolf.

[Sidenote: He who gives no rest to his abusive tongue, you may
liken to a _hound_.]

{and} yif he be felonous {and} wiþ out reste {and}
ex{er}cise hys tonge to chidynges. þou shalt lykene hym
to þe hounde.

[Sidenote: Does he delight in fraud and trickery? then is he like
young _foxes_.]

{and} yif he be a p{re}ue awaito{ur} yhid {and} 3464
reioyseþ hym to rauysshe by wyles. þou shalt seyne
hym lyke to þe fox whelpes.

[Sidenote: Is he intemperate in his anger? then men will compare
him to a raging _lion_.]

¶ And yif he be distempre
{and} quakiþ for ire men shal wene þat he bereþ
þe corage of a lyou{n}.

[Sidenote: If he be a coward, he will be likened to a _hart_.]

{and} yif he be dredeful {and} fleynge 3468
and dredeþ þinges þat ne auȝten nat ben dred. men
shal holde hym lyke to þe h{er}te. [[pg 122]]

[Sidenote: If he be slow, dull, and lazy, then is he like an
_ass_.]

{and} yif he be slowe
{and} astoned {and} lache. he lyueþ as an asse.

[Sidenote: Is he fickle and inconstant? Then is he like a _bird_.]

{and} yif he
be lyȝt {and} vnstedfast of corage {and} chaungeþ ay his 3472
studies. he is lickened to briddes.

[Sidenote: Doth he wallow in filthy lusts? Then doth he roll
himself in the mire like a nasty _sow_.]

¶ {and} yif he be
plounged in foule {and} vnclene luxuries. he is wiþholden
in þe foule delices of þe foule soowe.

[Sidenote: It follows, then, that he who ceases to be virtuous,
ceases to be a man; and, since he cannot attain divinity, he is
turned into a beast.]

¶ þan folweþ it
þat he þat forletiþ bountee {and} prowesse. he forletiþ to 3476
ben a man. syn he ne may nat passe in to þe condic{i}ou{n}
of god. he is tourned in to a beest.

[Linenotes:
3452 _forlorn_--MS. forlorne, C. forlorn
3453 _as_--omitted
_enhawnse_--enhawsen
3455 _whiche_--which
_haþ_--MS. haþe
3459 [_be_]--from C.
3464 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hidd
3465 _seyne_--seyn
3468 _dredeful_--dredful
3469 _ben_--to ben
_dred_--MS. dredde, C. dredd
3470 _holde_--holden
_lyke_--lyk
_herte_--hert
_slowe_--slowh
3472 _vnstedfast_--vnstidefast
_his_--hise
3475 _þan_--MS. þat, C. thanne
3477 _passe_--passen]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 27 _b_.]]

*V[E]LA NARICII DUCIS.

[Sidenote: [The 3^de Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: Ulysses was driven by the eastern winds upon the shores
of that isle where Circe dwelt, who, having entertained her guests
with magic draughts, transformed them into divers shapes--one into
a boar, another into a lion;]

++Evrus þe wynde aryueþ þe sayles of vlixes duc of þe
contre of narice. {and} hys wandryng shippes by þe 3480
see in to þe isle þere as Circe þe fayre goddesse douȝter
of þe sonne dwelleþ þat medlyþ to hir newe gestes
drynkes þat ben touched {and} maked wiþ enchau{n}tmentȝ.
{and} after þat hir hande myȝty of þe herbes 3484
had[de] chau{n}ged hir gestes i{n} to dyuerse maneres. þat
oon of hem is couered his face wiþ forme of a boor. þat
oþer is chau{n}ged in to a lyou{n} of þe contre of marmorike.
{and} his nayles {and} his teþe wexen.

[Sidenote: some into howling wolves, and others into Indian
tigers.]

¶ þat 3488
oþer of hem is newliche chaunged in to a wolf. {and}
howeliþ whan he wolde wepe. þat oþer goþ debonairly
in þe house as a tigre of Inde.

[Sidenote: But Mercury, the Arcadian god, rescued Ulysses from the
Circean charms. Yet his mariners, having drunk of her infected
drinks, were changed to swine, and fed on acorns.]

but al be it so þat þe
godhed of mercurie þat is cleped þe bride of arcadie haþ 3492
had mercie of þe duc vlixes byseged wiþ diu{er}se yueles
{and} haþ vnbounden hym fro þe pestilence of hys
oosteresse algates þe rowers {and} þe maryners hadden by
þis ydrawen in to hir mouþes {and} dronken þe wicked[e] 3496
drynkes þei þat were woxen swyne hadden by þis [[pg 123]]
chau{n}ged hire mete of brede forto ete acorns of ookes.

[Sidenote: All traces of the human form were lost, and they were
bereft of speech.]

non of hir lymes ne dwelliþ wiþ he{m} hoole. but
þei han lost þe voys {and} þe body.

[Sidenote: Their souls, unchanged, bewailed their dreadful fate.]

Oonly hir{e} þouȝt 3500
dwelleþ wiþ hem stable þ{a}t wepiþ {and} bywailiþ þe
monstruous chaungynge þat þei suffren.

[Sidenote: O most weak, are Circe’s powers compared with the
potency of vice, to transform the human shape!]

¶ O ouer lyȝt
hand. as who seiþ. ¶ O feble {and} lyȝt is þe hand of
Circes þe enchaunteresse þat chaungeþ þe bodies of folk 3504
in to bestes to regarde {and} to co{m}parisou{n} of mutac{i}ou{n}
þat is makid by vices.

[Sidenote: Circe’s herbs may change the body, but cannot touch the
mind, the inward strength of man.]

ne þe herbes of circes ne ben nat
myȝty. for al be it so þat þei may chau{n}gen þe lymes
of þe body. ¶ algates ȝit þei may nat chau{n}ge þe 3508
hertes. for wiþ inne is yhid þe strengþe {and} þe vigour
of me{n} in þe secre toure of hire hertys. þat is to seyn
þe strengþe of resou{n}.

[Sidenote: But vice is more potent than Circe’s poisonous charms.]

but þilke uenyms of vices to-drawen
a man to hem more myȝtily þan þe venym of 3512
circes.

[Sidenote: Though it leaves the body whole, it pierces the inner
man, and inflicts a deadly wound upon the soul.]

¶ For vices ben so cruel þat þei percen {and}
þoruȝ passen þe corage wiþ i{n}ne. {and} þouȝ þei ne anoye
nat þe body. ȝitte vices wooden to distroien men by
wounde of þouȝt. 3516

[Linenotes:
3479 _aryueþ_--aryuede
_vlixes_--MS. vluxies, C. vlixes
3481 _Circe_--Circes
3483 _enchauntmentȝ_--enchauntementȝ
3484 _hande_--hand
_of_--ou{er}
3485 _had[de]_--hadde
_gestes_--MS. goostes, C. gestes
3486 _boor_--boer{e}
3488 _his_ (1)--hise
_his teþe_--hise teth
3489 _newliche_--neweliche
3490 _goþ_--MS. goþe
3491 _house_--hows
3492 _bride_--bryd
_haþ_--MS. haþe
3493 _mercie_--MS. mercurie, C. mercy
3494 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3495 _oosteresse_--oostesse
3496 _wicked[e]_--wikkede
3497 _were woxen swyne_--weeren wexen swyn
3498 _chaunged_--Ichaunged
_brede_--bred
_forto_--MS. {and} forto
_ete acorns_--eten akkornes
3499 _hoole_--hool
3501 _wepiþ_--MS. kepiþ, C. weepith
3502 _monstruous_--MS. monstronous, C. Monstruos
3504 _Circes_--MS. Cirtes
_folk_--folkys
3509 _yhid_--MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd
3515 _wooden_--MS. wolden, C. wooden]

[Headnote:
THE WICKED ARE TORMENTED BY A THREEFOLD WRETCHEDNESS.]

TUNC EGO FATEOR INQ{UA}M.

[Sidenote: [The ferthe p{ro}se.]]

[Sidenote: _B._ I confess that vicious men are rightly called
beasts.]

++Þan seide I þus I confesse {and} am aknowe q{uo}d I. ne
I ne se nat þat men may seyn as by ryȝt.

[Sidenote: They retain the outward form of man, but the qualities
of their souls prove them to be beasts.]

þ{a}t
shrewes ne ben nat chaunged in to beestes by þe
qualite of hir soules. ¶ Al be it so þ{a}t þei kepen ȝitte 3520
þe forme of þe body of mankynde.

[Sidenote: I wish, however, that the wicked were without the power
to annoy and hurt good men.]

but I nolde nat of
shrewes of whiche þe þouȝt cruel woodeþ alwey in to
destrucc{i}ou{n} of good[e] men. þat it wer{e} leueful to hem
to done þat.

[Sidenote: _P._ They have no power, as I shall presently show
you.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d she ne it nis nat leueful 3524
to hem as I shal wel shewen þe in couenable place.

[Sidenote: But were this power, which men ascribe to them, taken
away from the wicked, they would be relieved of the greatest part
of their punishment.]

¶ But naþeles yif so were þat þilke þat me{n} wene{n} ben
leueful for shrewes were bynomen hem. so þat þei ne [[pg 124]]
myȝten nat anoyen or don harme to goode men. ¶ Certys 3528
a gret p{ar}ty of þe peyne to shrewes shulde ben allegged
{and} releued.

[Sidenote: The wicked are more unhappy when they have accomplished
their evil designs than when they fail to do so.]

¶ For al be it so þ{a}t þis ne seme nat
credible þing p{er}auent{ur}e to so{m}me folk ȝit mot it
nedes be þat shrewes ben more wrecches {and} vnsely. 3532
whan þei may don {and} p{er}forme þat þei coueiten [than
yif they myhte nat complyssen þ{a}t they coueyten].

[Sidenote: If it is a miserable thing to will evil, it is a
greater unhappiness to have the power to execute it, without which
power the wicked desires would languish without effect.]

¶ For
yif so be þat it be wrecchednesse to wilne to don yuel[;]
þan is it more wrecchednesse to mowen don yuel. 3536
wiþ oute whiche moeuyng þe wrecched wille sholde
languisshe wiþ oute effecte.

[Sidenote: Since, then, each of these three things (_i. e._ the
will, the power, and the accomplishment of evil) hath its misery,
therefore a threefold wretchedness afflicts those who both will,
can, and do commit sin.]

¶ þan syn þat eueryche of
þise þinges haþ hys wrecchednesse. þat is to seyne wil
to done yuel. and moeuynge to done yuel. it mot nedes 3540
be. þat þei (shrewes) ben constreyned by þre vnselynesses
þat wolen {and} mowen {and} p{er}formen felonyes
{and} shrewednesses.

[Sidenote: _B._ I grant it--but still I wish the vicious were
without this misfortune.]

¶ I accorde me q{uo}d I. but I
desire gretely þat shrewes losten sone þilke vnselynesses. 3544
þat is to seyne þat shrewes were despoyled of moeuyng
to don yuel.

[Sidenote: _P._ They shall be despoiled of it sooner than you wish
perhaps, or than they themselves imagine.]

¶ so shulle{n} þei q{uo}d she.

[Sidenote: [* fol. 28.]]

sonnere
p{er}auenture þen þ{o}u woldest *or sonnere þen þei hem
self wenen to lakken mowynge to done yuel.

[Sidenote: In the narrow limits of this life, nothing, however
tardy it appears, can seem to an immortal soul to have a very long
duration.]

¶ For 3548
þere nis no þing so late in so short bou{n}des of þis lijf
þat is longe to abide. namelyche to a corage inmortel.

[Sidenote: The great hopes, and the subtle machinations of the
wicked, are often suddenly frustrated, by which an end is put to
their wickedness.]

Of whiche shrewes þe grete hope {and} þe heye co{m}passy{n}g{us}
of shrewednesse is often destroyed by a 3552
sodeyne ende or þei ben war. {and} þat þing establiþ to
shrewes þe ende of hir shrewednesse.

[Sidenote: If vice renders men wretched, the longer they are
vicious the longer must they be miserable.]

¶ For yif þat
shrewednesse makiþe wrecches. þan mot he nedes be
most wrecched þat lengest is a shrewe.

[Sidenote: And they would be infinitely wretched if death did not
put an end to their crimes.]

þe whiche 3556
wicked shrewes wolde ydemen aldirmost vnsely {and}
caytifs yif þat hir shrewednes ne were yfinissed. at þe [[pg 125]]
leste weye by þe outerest[e] deeþ.

[Sidenote: It is clear, as I have already shown, that eternal
misery is infinite.]

for [yif] I haue concluded
soþe of þe vnselynesse of shrewednesse. þan sheweþ 3560
it clerely þat þilke shrewednesse is wiþ outen ende þe
whiche is certeyne to ben p{er}durable.

[Sidenote: _B._ This consequence appears to be just, but difficult
to assent to.]

¶ Certys q{uo}d I
þis [conclusion] is harde {and} wonderful to graunte. ¶ But
I knowe wel þat it accordeþ moche to [the] þi{n}ges þat I 3564
haue graunted her byforne.

[Sidenote: _P._ You think rightly; but if you cannot assent to my
conclusion you ought to show that the premises are false, or that
the consequences are unfairly deduced; for if the premises be
granted, you cannot reject the inferences from them.]

¶ þou hast q{uo}d she þe ryȝt
estimac{i}ou{n} of þis. but who so euere wene þat it be an
harde þing to acorde hym to a conclusiou{n}. it is ryȝt
þat he shewe þat so{m}me of þe p{re}misses ben fals. or 3568
ellys he mot shewe þat þe colasiou{n} of p{re}posic{i}ou{n}s
nis nat spedful to a necessarie conclusio{n}. ¶ and yif it
be nat so. but þat þe p{re}misses ben yg{ra}nted þer nis
nat whi he sholde blame þe argument.

[Sidenote: What I am about to say is not less wonderful, and it
follows necessarily from the same premises.]

for þis þing þat 3572
I shal telle þe nowe ne shal not seme lasse wondirful.

[Linenotes:
3517 _aknowe_--aknowe it
3518 _seyn_--sayn
3523 _good[e]_--goode
3524 _done_--don
3526 _ben_--be
3527 _for_--to
3528 _myȝten_--myhte
_don_--MS. done, C. doon
_harme_--harm
3529 _gret_--MS. grete, C. gret
3533-36 _don_--MS. done, C. doon
3533-34 [_than----coueyten_]--from C.
3537 _moeuyng_--mowynge
_wille_--wil
3539 _haþ_--MS. haþe
_seyne_--seyn
3540 _done_ (1)--doon
_moeuynge to done_--Mowynge to don
_mot_--MS. mote, C. mot
3544 _gretely_--gretly
3545 _seyne_--seyn
_were_--weeren
_moeuyng_--mowynge
3548 _wenen_--weene
_to lakken----yuel_--omitted
3549 _þere_--ther
_so_ (2)--the
3550 _longe_--long
3552 _shrewednesse_--shrewednesses
_often_--ofte
3558 _shrewednes_--shrewednesse
_yfinissed_--fynyshed
3559 _weye_--wey
_outerest[e]_--owtteryste
[_yif_]--from C.
3560 _soþe_--soth
3561 _clerely_--cleerly
3563 [_conclusion_]--from C.
_harde_--hard
3564 [_the_]--from C.
3567 _harde_--hard
3568 _fals_--false
3573 _nowe_--now]

[Headnote:
THE WRETCHEDNESS OF THE WICKED IS DIMINISHED BY PUNISHMENT.]

but of þe þinges þat ben taken al so it is necessarie as
who so seiþ it folweþ of þat whiche þat is p{ur}posed
byforn.

[Sidenote: _B._ What is that?]

what is þat q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ That the wicked who have been punished for their
crimes, are happier than if justice had allowed them to go
unpunished.]

¶ certys q{uo}d she þat is 3576
þat þ{a}t þise wicked shrewes ben more blysful or ellys
lasse wrecches. þat byen þe tourmentes þat þei han
deserued. þan yif no peyne of Iustice ne chastied[e]
hem.

[Sidenote: I do not appeal to popular arguments, that punishment
corrects vice, that the fear of chastisement leads them to take
the right path, and that the sufferings of evil-doers deter others
from vice, but I believe that guilty men, unpunished, become much
more unhappy in another way.]

ne þis ne seye I nat now for þat any man myȝt[e] 3580
þenk[e] þat þe maneres of shrewes ben coriged {and}
chastised by veniaunce. {and} þat þei ben brouȝt to þe
ryȝt wey by þe drede of þe tourment. ne for þat þei
ȝeuen to oþer folk ensample to fleyen fro{m} vices. ¶ But 3584
I vndirstonde ȝitte [in] an oþer manere þat shrewes
ben more vnsely whan þei ne ben nat punissed al be it
so þat þere ne ben had no resou{n} or lawe of correcc{i}ou{n}.
ne none ensample of lokynge.

[Sidenote: _B._ In what way do you mean?]

¶ And what manere 3588
shal þat ben q{uo}d I. ouþer þan haþ ben told here [[pg 126]]
byforn

[Sidenote: _P._ Are not good people happy, and evil folk
miserable?]

¶ Haue we nat graunted þan q{uo}d she þat
good[e] folk ben blysful. {and} shrewes ben wrecches.

[Sidenote: _B._ Yes.]

ȝis q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If good be added to the wretchedness of a man,
will not he be happier than another whose misery has no element of
good in it?]

[thanne q{uod} she] ȝif þat any good were 3592
added to þe wrecchenesse of any wyȝt. nis he nat more
blisful þan he þat ne haþ no medelyng of goode in hys
solitarie wrecchednesse.

[Sidenote: _B._ It seems so.]

so semeþ it q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ And if to the same wretched being another misery
be annexed, does not he become more wretched than he whose misery
is alleviated by the participation of some good?]

and what
seyst þou þan q{uo}d she of þilke wrecche þat lakkeþ alle 3596
goodes. so þat no goode nis medeled in hys wrecchednesse.
{and} ȝitte ouer alle hys wickednesse for whiche
he is a wrecche þat þer be ȝitte anoþer yuel anexid {and}
knyt to hym. shal not men demen hym more vnsely 3600
þan þilke wrecche of whiche þe vnselynesse is re[le]ued
by þe p{ar}ticipac{i}ou{n} of som goode.

[Sidenote: _B._ He does.]

whi sholde he nat
q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ When evil men are punished they have a degree of
good annexed to their wretchedness, to wit, the punishment itself,
which as it is the effect of justice is good.]

¶ þan certys q{uo}d she han shrewes whan þei
ben punissed somwhat of good anexid to hir wrecchednesse. 3604
þat is to seyne þe same peyne þat þei suffren
whiche þat is good by þe resou{n} of Iustice.

[Sidenote: And when these wretches escape punishment something
more of ill (_i. e._ exemption from punishment) is added to their
condition.]

And whan
þilke same shrewes ascapen wiþ outen tourment. þan
han þei somwhat more of yuel ȝit ouer þe wickednesse 3608
þat þei han don. þat is to seye defaute of peyne.
whiche defaute of peyne þou hast graunted is yuel.

[Sidenote: _B._ I cannot deny it.]

¶ For þe desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Much more unhappy are the wicked when they enjoy
an unmerited impunity than when they suffer a lawful
chastisement.]

¶ Moche more þan q{uo}d she ben shrewes vnsely 3612
whan þei ben wrongfully delyuered fro peyne. þan
whan þei beþ punissed by ryȝtful vengeaunce.

[Sidenote: It is just to punish evil-doers, and unjust that they
should escape punishment.]

but þis is
open þi{n}g {and} clere þat it is ryȝt þat shrewes ben
punissed. {and} it is wickednesse {and} wrong þat þei 3616
escapin vnpunissed.

[Sidenote: _B._ Nobody denies that.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 28 _b_.]]

¶ who myȝt[e] denye *þat q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Everything, too, which is just is good; and, on
the contrary, whatsoever is unjust is evil.]

but q{uo}d she may any ma{n} denye. þat al þat is ryȝt nis
good. {and} also þe contrarie. þat alle þat is wrong nis
wicked. [[pg 127]]

[Sidenote: _B._ These are just inferences from our former
premises.]

certys q{uo}d I þise þinges ben clere ynouȝ. {and} 3620
þat we han concludid a litel here byforn{e}.

[Sidenote: But is there any punishment for the soul after death of
the body?]

but I p{re}ye
þe þat þou telle me yif þou accordest to leten no to{ur}ment
to þe soules aftir þat þe body is dedid by þe deþe.
þis [is] to seyn. vndirstondest þou ouȝt þat soules han 3624
any to{ur}ment after þe deþe of þe body.

[Sidenote: _P._ Yes, and great ones too. Some punishments are
rigorous and eternal.]

¶ Certis q{uo}d
she ȝe {and} þat ryȝt grete. of whiche soules q{uo}d she I
trowe þat so{m}me ben to{ur}mentid by asprenesse of
peyne.

[Sidenote: Others have a corrective and purifying force, and are
of finite duration.]

{and} so{m}me soules I trowe be exc{er}cised by a 3628
p{ur}ging mekenesse.

[Sidenote: But this is not to our purpose.]

but my conseil nys nat to determyne
of þis peyne. but I haue trauayled and told it
hider to.

[Sidenote: I want you to see that the power of the wicked is in
reality nothing, that the wicked never go unpunished; that their
licence to do evil is not of long duration, and that the wicked
would be more unhappy if it were longer, and infinitely wretched
if it were to continue for ever.]

¶ For þou sholdest knowe þat þe mowynge
[.i. myght] of shrewes whiche mowynge þe semeþ to 3632
ben. vnworþi nis no mowynge. {and} eke of shrewes of
whiche þou pleynedest þat þei ne were nat punissed.
þat þou woldest seen þat þei ne weren neuer mo wiþ
outen þe torment of hire wickednesse. {and} of þe licence 3636
of mowynge to done yuel. þat þou p{re}idest þat it
myȝt[e] sone ben endid. {and} þat þou woldest fayne
lerne. þat it ne sholde nat longe endure. {and} þat
shrewes ben more vnsely yif þei were of lenger duryng. 3640
{and} most vnsely yif þei weren p{er}durable.

[Sidenote: After this I showed that evil men are more unhappy,
having escaped punishment, than if justly chastised.]

{and} after
þis I haue shewed þe þat more vnsely ben shrewes
whan þei escapen wiþ oute ryȝtful peyne. þan whan þei
ben punissed by ryȝtful uengeaunce.

[Sidenote: Wherefore when they are supposed to get off scot-free
they suffer most grievously.]

and of þis sentence 3644
folweþ it þat þan be{n} shrewes constreyned atte laste wiþ
most greuous tourment. whan men wene þat þei ne ben
nat ypunissed.

[Sidenote: _B._ Your reasoning appears convincing and conclusive.
But your arguments are opposed to current opinions, and would
hardly command assent, or even a hearing.]

whan I considre þi resou{n}s q{uo}d I. I.
ne trowe nat þat men seyn any þing more verrely. {and} 3648
yif I to{ur}ne aȝeyn to þe studies of men. who is [he] to
who{m} it sholde seme þat [he] ne sholde nat only leue{n}
þise þinges. but eke gladly herkene he{m}.

[Sidenote: _P._ It is so. For those accustomed to the darkness of
error cannot fix their eyes on the light of perspicuous truth,
like birds of night which are blinded by the full light of day.]

Certys q{uo}d
she so it is. but men may nat. for þei han hire eyen so [[pg 128]]
wont to derkenesse of erþely þinges. þat þei may nat 3653
liften hem vp to þe lyȝt of clere soþefastnes. ¶ But
þei ben lyke to briddes of whiche þe nyȝt lyȝtneþ hyre
lookyng. {and} þe day blyndeþ hem.

[Sidenote: They consider only the gratification of their lusts,
they think there is happiness in the liberty of doing evil and in
exemption from punishment.]

for whan men loken 3656
nat þe ordre of þinges but hire lustes {and} talentȝ. þei
wene þat oþir þe leue or þe mowynge to done wickednesse
or ellys þe escapi{n}g wiþ oute peyne be weleful.

[Linenotes:
3575 _who so seiþ_--ho seyth
_whiche_--which
3578 _byen_--a-byen
3579 _chastied[e]_--chastysede
3580 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
3581 _þenk[e]_--thinke
3584 _ȝeuen_--MS. ȝeuene, C. yeuen
_fleyen_--flen
3585 _ȝitte_--yif
[_in_]--from C.
3588 _none_--non
3589 _ouþer_--oother
_haþ_--MS. haþe
_ben_--be
_told_--MS. tolde, C. told
3591 _good[e]_--goode
3592 [_thanne----she_]--from C.
3594 _blisful_--weleful
_haþ_--MS. haþe
3594-97 _goode_--good
3598 _alle_--al
_whiche_--which
3600 _knyt_--knytte
3601 _re[le]ued_--releued
3602 _goode_--good
3605 _seyne_--seyn
3606 _whiche_--which
3607 _outen_--owte
3609 _don_--MS. done
_seye_--seyn
3610 _whiche_--which
3611 _desert_--deserte
3614 _beþ_--MS. beþe, C. ben
3615 _clere_--cler
3617 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
3618 _is ryȝt nis_--MS. nis ryȝt is
3619 _alle_--al
_nis wicked_--is wykke
3621 _here_--her
3623 _dedid_--endyd
_deþe_--deth
3624 [_is_]--from C.
_ouȝt_--awht
3625 _deþe_--deth
3626 _grete_--gret
3628 _be_--ben
3629 _determyne_--determenye
3630 _peyne_--peynes
_told_--MS. tolde
3632 [_.i. myght_]--from C.
3632-34 _whiche_--which
3633 _eke_--ek
3635 _seen_--seyn
3637 _done_--don
3638 _myȝt[e]_--myhte
_fayne lerne_--fayn lernen
3639 _endure_--dur{e}
3645 _atte_--at the
_laste_--MS. þast, C. laste
3647 _resouns_--resoun
3649-50 [_he_]--from C.
3651 _eke_--ek
3653 _derkenesse_--derknesse
3654 _clere soþefastnes_--cleer sothfastnesse
3655 _whiche_--which
3658 _oþir_--eyther
_done_--don
3659 _escaping_--schapynge]

[Headnote:
VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD.]

[Sidenote: Do you attend to the eternal law written in your own
heart. Conform your mind to what is good, and you will stand in no
need of a judge to confer a reward upon you--for you have it
already in the enjoyment of the best of things (_i. e._ virtue).]

but co{n}sider{e} þe iugement of þe p{er}durable lawe. for if 3660
þou conferme þi corage to þe beste þinges. þou ne hast
no nede to no iuge to ȝiue{n} þe p{r}is or meede. for þou
hast ioigned þi self to þe most excellent þing.

[Sidenote: If you indulge in vice, you need no other
chastisement--you have degraded yourself into a lower order of
beings.]

and yif
þou haue enclined þi studies to þe wicked þinges. ne 3664
seek no foreyn wrekere out of þi self. for þou þi self
hast þrest þe in to wicked þinges. ryȝt as þou myȝtest
loken by dyuerse tymes þe foule erþe {and} þe heuene.
{and} þat alle oþer þinges stynten fro wiþ oute. so þat 3668
þou [ner{e} neyther in heuene ne in erthe] ne say[e] no
þing more. þan sholde it semen to þe as by only resou{n}
of lokynge. þat þou were in þe sterres. {and} now in þe
erþe.

[Sidenote: The multitude doth not consider this.]

but þe poeple ne lokeþ nat on þise þinges.

[Sidenote: What then? Shall we take them as our models who
resemble beasts?]

what 3672
þan shal we þan app{ro}chen vs to hem þat I haue
shewed þat þei ben lyke to þe bestes. (q. d. no{n})

[Linenotes:
3662 _to_ (1)--of
3665 _foreyn_--foreyne
3666 _þrest_--thryst
_wicked_--wikke
3669 [_nere----erthe_]--from C.
_heuene_--C. heuenene
_say[e]_--C. saye
3672 _on_--in
3674 _lyke_--lyk
_q. d._--MS. q{uo}d]

[Headnote:
THE WICKED NEED PITY.]

[Sidenote: If a man who had lost his sight, having even forgotten
his blindness, should declare that his faculties were all perfect,
shall we weakly believe that those who retain their sight are
blind?]

¶ And what wilt þou seyne of þis ¶ yif þat a man
hadde al forlorn hys syȝt. {and} had[de] forȝeten þat he 3676
euer saw {and} wende þ{a}t no þing ne fayled[e] hym of
p{er}fecc{i}ou{n} of ma{n}kynde. now we þat myȝten sen þe
same þing wolde we nat wene þat he were bly{n}de (q. d.
sic).

[Sidenote: The vulgar will not assent to what I am going to say,
though supported by conclusive arguments--to wit, that persons are
more unhappy that do wrong than those who suffer wrong.]

ne also ne accordeþ nat þe poeple to þat I shal 3680
seyne. þe whiche þing is susteyned by a stronge foundement
of resou{n}s. þat is to seyn þat more vnsely ben þei
þat don wrong to oþer folk. þen þei þat þe wrong [[pg 129]]
suffren.

[Sidenote: _B._ I would willingly hear your reasons.]

[Sidenote: [* fol. 29.]]

¶ I wolde heren þilke *same resou{n}s q{uo}d I 3684

[Sidenote: _P._ Do you deny that every wicked man deserves
punishment?]

¶ Deniest þou q{uo}d she þat alle shrewes ne ben worþi
to han to{ur}ment.

[Sidenote: _B._ No, I do not.]

nay q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ I am satisfied that impious men are in many ways
miserable.]

but q{uo}d she I am certeyne
by many resou{n}s þat shrewes ben vnsely.

[Sidenote: _B._ They are so.]

it accordeþ
q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then those that deserve punishment are miserable.]

þan [ne] dowtest þou nat q{uo}d she þat 3688
þilke folk þat ben worþi of to{ur}ment þat þei ne ben
wrecches.

[Sidenote: _B._ I admit it.]

It accordeþ wel q{uo}d I.

[Sidenote: _P._ If you were a judge, upon whom would you inflict
punishment? upon the wrong-doer, or upon the injured?]

yif þou were þan
q{uo}d she yset a Iuge or a knower of þinges. wheþer
trowest þou þ{a}t men sholde to{ur}ment[e] hym þat haþ 3692
don þe wronge. or hym þat haþ suffred þe wronge.

[Sidenote: _B._ I should not hesitate to punish the offender as a
satisfaction to the sufferer.]

I ne doute nat q{uo}d I. þat I nolde don suffissaunt satisfacc{i}ou{n}
to hym þat had[de] suffred þe wrong by þe
sorwe of hym þat had[de] don þe wronge.

[Sidenote: _P._ Then you would deem the injuring person more
unhappy than he who had been wronged?]

¶ þan 3696
semeþ it q{uo}d she þat þe doar of wrong is more wrecche
þan he þat haþ suffred þe wrong.

[Sidenote: _B._ That follows naturally.]

þat folweþ wel q{uo}d [I].

[Sidenote: _P._ From this then, and other reasons of like nature,
it seems that vice makes men miserable, and an injury done to any
man is the misery of the doer, and not of the sufferer.]

þan q{uo}d she by þise causes {and} by oþer causes
þat ben enforced by þe same roate þat filþe or synne by 3700
þe p{ro}pre nature of it makeþ men wretches. {and} it
sheweþ wel þat þe wrong þat me{n} don nis nat þe
wrecchenesse of hym þat receyueþ þe wrong. but þe
wrecchednesse of hym þat doþ þe wronge

[Sidenote: But our advocates think differently--they try to obtain
pity for those that have suffered cruelty and oppression;]

¶ but certys 3704
q{uo}d she þise orato{ur}s or aduocatȝ don al þe contrarie
for þei enforcen hem to co{m}moeue þe iuges to han pite
of he{m} þat han suffred {and} resceyued þe þinges þat ben
greuous {and} aspre.

[Sidenote: but the juster pity is really due to the oppressors,
who ought, therefore, to be led to judgment as the sick are to the
physician, not by angry but by merciful and kind accusers, so
that, by the physic of chastisement, they may be cured of their
vices.]

{and} ȝitte men sholden more ryȝtfully 3708
han pitee on hem þat don þe greuaunces {and} þe
wronges. þe whiche shrewes it were a more couenable
þing þat þe accuso{ur}s or aduocatȝ not wroþe but pitous
{and} debonaire ladden þe shrewes þat han don wro{n}g to 3712
þe Iugement. ryȝt as men leden seke folk to þe leche.

[Linenotes:
3675 _wilt þou seyne_--woltow seyn
3676 _forlorn_--MS. forlorne, C. for-lorn
_syȝt_--syhte
_had[de]_--hadde
3677 _saw_--MS. sawe, C. sawh
_fayled[e]_--faylede
3678 _sen_--MS. sene, C. sen
3679 _þing_--thinges
_q. d._--MS. q{uod}
3681 _whiche_--which
3683 _don_--MS. done, C. don
_oþer_--oothr{e}
3688 [_ne_]--from C.
3691 _yset_--MS. ysette, C. yset
_wheþer_--omitted
3692 _tourment[e]_--tormenten
3692-3 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3693 _wronge_ (2)--wrong
3695 _had[de]_--hadde
3696 _had[de]_--hadden
_wronge_--wrong
3697 _doar_--doere
3698 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3699 [_I_]--from C. [[_word moved to l. 3698_]]
3700 _ben_--ben of
_roate_--Roote
3703-4 _but----wronge_--omitted
3704 _doþ_--MS. doþe
3711 _wroþe_--wroth
3712 _þe_--tho
_don_--MS. done, C. don
3713 _seke_--syke]

[Headnote:
THE DUTY OF ADVOCATES.]

for þat þei sholden seken out þe maladies of synne by
to{ur}mentȝ. [[pg 130]]

[Sidenote: I would not have the guilty defrauded by their
advocates. Their duty is to accuse, and not to excuse offenders.]

and by þis couenaunt eyþer þe entent of þe
defendo{ur}s or aduocatȝ sholde fayle {and} cesen in al. or 3716
ellys yif þe office of aduocatȝ wolde bettre p{ro}fiten to
men. it sholde be to{ur}ned in to þe habit of accusac{i}ou{n}.
þat is [to] s[e]yn þei sholde{n} accuse shrewes. {and} nat
excuse hem.

[Sidenote: Were it permitted the wicked to get a slight view of
virtue’s beauty, which they have forsaken, and could they be
persuaded of the purifying effects of lawful chastisement, they
surely would not consider punishment as an evil, but would
willingly give themselves up to justice and refuse the defence of
their advocates.]

{and} eke þe shrewes hem self. ȝit it were 3720
leueful to hem to seen at any clifte þe vertue þat þei
han forleten. {and} sawen þat þei sholde putten adou{n}
þe filþes of hire vices by [the] to{ur}mentȝ of peynes. þei
ne auȝten nat ryȝt for þe reco{m}pensac{i}ou{n} forto geten 3724
hem bounte {and} prowesse whiche þat þei han lost demen
ne holden þat þilke peynes weren to{ur}mentes to hem.
{and} eke þei wolden refuse þe attendau{n}ce of hir aduocatȝ
{and} taken hem self to hire iuges {and} to hir accusours. 3728

[Sidenote: The wise hate nobody, only a fool hates good men; and
it is as irrational to hate the wicked.]

for whiche it bytideþ [þ{a}t] as to þe wise folk
þer nis no place ylete to hate. þat is to seyn. þat hate
ne haþ no place amonges wise men. ¶ For no wyȝt
wolde haten gode men. but yif he were ouer moche a 3732
fole. ¶ and forto haten shrewes it nis no resou{n}.

[Sidenote: Vice is a sickness of the soul, and needs our
compassion, and not our hate, for the distempers of the soul are
more deplorable than those of the body, and have more claims upon
our compassion.]

¶ For ryȝt so as languissing is maladie of body. ryȝt
so ben vices {and} sy{n}ne maladies of corage. ¶ and so as
we ne deme nat þat þei þat ben seek of hire body ben 3736
worþi to ben hated. but raþer worþi of pite. wel more
worþi nat to ben hated. but forto ben had in pite ben
þei of whiche þe þouȝtes ben constreined by felonous
wickednesse. þat is more cruel þa{n} any languissinge of 3740
body.

[Linenotes:
3715 _tourmentȝ_--torment
_þe_ (2)--omitted
3719 _[to] s[e]yn_--to seyn
3722 _sawen_--sawh
_sholde_--sholden
3723 [_the_]--from C.
3724 _auȝten_--owhte
3725-29 _whiche_--which
3729 _bytideþ_--MS. byndeþ, C. bytidith
[_þat_]--from C.
3730 _ylete_--I-leten
3731 _haþ_--MS. haþe
3732 _wolde_--nyl
_moche_--mochel
3733 _fole_--fool
3736 _seek_--syke]

[Headnote:
THE FOLLY OF WAR.]

QUID TANTOS IUUAT.

[Sidenote: [The ferthe Met{ur}.]]

[Sidenote: What frenzy causes man to hasten on his fate, that is,
by war or by strife.]

++What deliteþ it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges of
hatredes {and} to hasten {and} bisien [the] fatal disposic{i}ou{n}
of ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure p{ro}pre handes. þat is 3744
to seyn by batailes or [by] contek.

[Sidenote: If death is desired he delays not to come.]

for yif ȝe axen þe
deeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ ne [[pg 131]]
tarieþ nat hys swifte hors.