[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 wy[gh]t hys owen p{ ro}pre bounte 3404 [gh]eueþ 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 ry[gh]t [[pg 120]] my[gh]ty of goode were p{ ar}tles of mede. 3409
[Sidenote: What reward shall he receive?]
[Sidenote: Certainly the fairest and richest of all rewards.]
certys of ry[gh]t faire mede { and} ry[gh]t 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 [gh]af 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 wy[gh]t 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 _my[gh]t[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]