[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.]