[Sidenote: _B._ Because it is a common expression that _the fortune of such a one is bad_.]
for þat þe comune worde of men mysusiþ q{ uo}d I. þis manere speche of fortune. { and} sein ofte tymes [þ{ a}t] 4180 þe fortune of som wy[gh]t is wicked.
[Linenotes: 4163 _þing_--thinge 4165 _outerly_--al owtrely _al_--alle 4166-7 [_alle----aspre_]--from C. 4169 _goode_--good 4174 _here byforne_--her by-forn 4175 _stedfast_--stydefast 4176 _noumbre_--nowmbren _þilk[e]_--thilke 4177 _here byforne_--her by-forn 4178 _ywened_--weened 4179 _worde_--word]
[Sidenote: _P._ Do you wish me to conform for awhile to the language of the people, lest we should seem to depart too much from the popular mode of expression?]
wilt þou þan q{ uo}d she þat I p{ ro}che a litel to þe wordes of þe poeple so it seme nat to hem þat I be ouer moche dep{ ar}tid as fro þe vsage of man kynde.
[Sidenote: _P._ Is everything profitable that is good?]
¶ Demest 4184 þou nat q{ uo}d she þat al þing þat p{ ro}fitiþ is good.
[Sidenote: _P._ That which exercises or corrects is profitable?]
certis þilk þing þat ex{ er}cisiþ or corigiþ profitiþ.
[Sidenote: _P._ This is the fortune of the virtuous who combat with adversity, or of those who, relinquishing vice, pursue the path of virtue?]
but þis is þe fortune [q{ uod} she] of 4188 hem þat eiþer ben put in vertue { and} batailen a[gh]eins aspre þinges. or ellys of hem þat eschewen { and} declinen fro vices { and} taken þe weye of vertue.
[Sidenote: _P._ The vulgar regard that prosperity which is bestowed as a reward on the good to be beneficial, and they believe those calamities by which the wicked are punished as the most miserable things that can be imagined.]
¶ But what seist þou of þe myrye 4192 fortune þat is [gh]euen to good folk in gerdou{ n} deuiniþ ou[gh]t þe poeples þat it is wicked. nay forsoþe q{ uo}d I. but þei demen as it soþe is þat it is ry[gh]t good. ¶ And what seist þou of þat oþer fortune q{ uo}d she. þat al þou[gh] it 4196 be aspre { and} restreiniþ þe shrewes by ry[gh]tful tourment. weniþ ou[gh]t þe poeple þ{ a}t it be good. nay q{ uo}d I. ¶ But þe poeple demiþ þat it be most wrecched of alle þinges þat may ben þou[gh]t.
[Sidenote: But in following the popular opinion, let us beware of being involved in some new and incredible consequence.]