[Sidenote: And it is certain that when men obtain good they become good?]
and certeyne is q{ uo}d she þat by þe gety{ n}g of goode ben men ymaked goode. 3212
[Sidenote: _P._ Do good men, then, get what they desire?]
[Sidenote: _P._ If evil men obtain the good, they can be no longer evil?]
but wicked[e] folk q{ uo}d she yif þei geten þe goode þat þei desire{ n} þei [ne] mowen nat ben wicked.
[Sidenote: _P._ Since then both parties pursue the good, which only the virtuous obtain, we must believe that good men are powerful, and that the wicked are weak and feeble?]
¶ þan so as 3216 þat oon { and} þat oþer [q{ uod} she] desiren good. { and} þe goode folk geten good { and} nat þe wicked folk ¶ þan nis it no doute þat þe goode folk ne ben my[gh]ty { and} þe wicked folk ben feble.
[Sidenote: _B._ None can doubt this, save such as either consider not rightly the nature of things, or are incapable of comprehending the force of any reasoning.]
¶ who so þat euer q{ uo}d I 3220 douteþ of þis. he ne may nat considre þe nature of þi{ n}ges. ne þe consequence of resou{ n}. and ouer þis q{ uo}d she.
[Linenotes: 3205-6 _goode_--good 3206 [_also_]--from C. 3207 _al_--alle _It----I_--it ne recordeth me nat q{ uod} I 3210-12(1)-15 _goode_--good 3214 _wicked[e]_--wikkede 3215 [_ne_]--from C. 3216 _mowen_--mowe 3217 [_quod she_]--from C. 3218 _wicked_--wilk{ e} (? wikke) 3220 _wicked_--wikkede]
[Headnote: THE WICKED DO NOT SEEK ARIGHT THE SUPREME GOOD.]
[Sidenote: _P._ If two beings have the same end in view--and one of them accomplishes his purpose by the use of natural means, while the other not using legitimate means does not attain his end--which of these two is the most powerful?]
¶ yif þat þer ben two þinges þat han o same 3223 p{ ur}pos by kynde. { and} þat one of he{ m} p{ ur}sueþ { and} p{ er}formeþ þilke same þinge by naturel office. { and} þat oþer ne may nat done þilk naturel office. but folweþ by oþer manere þan is couenable to nat{ ur}e ¶ Hym þat acomplisiþ hys p{ ur}pos kyndely. { and} [gh]it he ne acomplisiþ [[pg 114]] nat hys owen purpos. wheþer of þise two demest 3229 þou for more my[gh]ty.
[Sidenote: _B._ Illustrate your meaning more clearly.]
¶ yif þat I coniecte q{ uo}d .I. þat þou wilt seye algates. [gh]it I desire to herkene it more pleynely of þe.