[Sidenote: Their minds are bent upon the chief good, and are ever seeking it with a darkened understanding, like a drunken man, who cannot find his way home.]
¶ Ry[gh]t as a dronke ma{ n} not nat by whiche paþe he may reto{ ur}ne 1820 home to hys house.
[Sidenote: Do they go astray who strive to keep themselves from want?]
¶ Semeþ it þanne þat folk folyen { and} erren þat enforcen he{ m} to haue nede of no þing
[Linenotes: 1794 _shollen_--sholden 1795 _þe_--tho 1796 _oþer_--oothre 1801 _swiftenesse_--sweftnesse 1803 _[gh]iuen_--MS. [gh]iueþ, C. yeuen 1806, 1807 _souereyne goode_--sou{ er}eyn good 1807 _whiche_--whych 1809 _þe_--omitted _þan byforne_--thanne byforn 1810 [_thy eyen_]--from C.; MS. _has_ [gh]euen a[gh]eyne _almost_--almest _welfulnesse_--welefulnesse 1811 _seyne rycchesse_--seyn Rychesses 1814 _souereyne goode_--sou{ er}eyn good _myche_--moche _oþer_--oothre 1815 _þou[gh]t[e]_--thowhte _from_--fram 1816 _a[gh]eyne_--ayein 1818 _souereyne goode_--sou{ er}eyn good _of_--omitted _alle_--al _derke_--dirkyd 1819 [_but----paath_]--from C. 1820 _dronke_--dronken _paþe_--paath 1821 _home_--hym]
[Sidenote: By no means. No state is happier than that in which a man is above want, and independent of others.]
¶ Certys þer nys non oþer þing þat may so weel p{ er}fo{ ur}ny blisfulnesse as an estat plenteuo{ us} *of alle 1824 goodes þat ne haþ nede of none oþer þing. but þat it is suffisant of hy{ m} self. vnto hym self.
[Sidenote: Are they guilty of folly that seek esteem and reverence?]
and foleyen swyche folk þanne. þat wenen þat þilk þing þ{ a}t is ry[gh]t goode. þat it be eke ry[gh]t worþi of honour { and} of 1828 reuerence.
[Sidenote: No; for that is not contemptible for which all men strive.]
¶ Certis nay. for þat þing nys neyþer foule ne worþi to ben dispised þat al þe entenc{ i}ou{ n} of mortel folke trauaille forto geten it.
[Sidenote: Is not power to be reckoned amongst desirable goods?]
¶ And power au[gh]t[e] nat þat eke to be rekened amonges goodes
[Sidenote: Why not? For that is not an insignificant good which invests a man with authority and command.]
what ellis. 1832 for it nys nat to wene þat þilke þing þat is most worþi of alle þinges be feble { and} wiþ out strengþe { and} clernesse of renou{ n} au[gh]te þat to ben dispised.