[Sidenote: Upon others unmerited happiness is conferred, which at last precipitates them into deserved destruction.]
to oþer folk is welefulnesse y[gh]eue{ n} vnworþily þe whiche ouerþroweþ hem in to destrucc{ i}ou{ n} þat þei han deserued.
[Sidenote: To some there is given the power of chastisement, in order both to exercise the virtues of the good and to punish the wicked.]
and to som oþer folk is [gh]euen power to punisse{ n}. for þat it shal be cause of continuac{ i}ou{ n} { and} 4072 ex{ er}cisinge to good[e] folk. { and} cause of to{ ur}ment to shrewes.
[Sidenote: For as there is no alliance between good and bad, so neither can the vicious agree together.]
¶ For so as þer nis none alyaunce bytwixe good[e] folke { and} shrewes. ne shrewes ne mowen nat accorde{ n} amo{ n}ges hem self
[Sidenote: And how should they? Their vices make them at war with themselves, rending and tearing their consciences, and there is scarce anything they do, but what afterwards they disapprove of.]
{ and} whi nat. for shrewes 4076 discorde{ n} of hem self by her vices þe whiche vices al to renden her consciences. { and} don oft[e] tyme þinges þe whiche þinges whan þei han don hem. þei demen þat þo þinges ne sholde nat han ben don.
[Sidenote: Hence arises a signal miracle brought about by Providence--that evil men have often made wicked men good.]
for whiche þinge 4080 þilke souereyne p{ ur}ueaunce haþ maked oft[e] tyme [fair{ e}] miracle so þ{ a}t shrewes han maked oftyme [[pg 142]] shrewes to ben good[e] men.
[Sidenote: For these latter having suffered injuries from the former, have become virtuous, in order that they might not resemble those whom they so detested.]
for whan þat som shrewes *seen þat þei suffren wrongfully felonies of oþer shrewes 4084 þei wexen eschaufed in to hat[e] of hem þat anoien hem. { and} retournen to þe fruit of uertue. when þei studien to ben vnlyke to he{ m} þat þei han hated.
[Linenotes: 4046 _comeþ_--comth _some_ (_both_)--som _þat þei_--MS. þei þat, C. þ{ a}t that they 4047 _comeþ_--comth _sorweful_--sorwful 4050 _wicked_--wykkede _merite_--MS. u{ er}ite, C. m{ er}yte 4051 _oþer_--oothr{ e} _done_--don 4052 _folies_--felonies 4054 _grete_--gret _good[e]_--goode 4055 _sholde_--sholden _þilk_--thilke 4056 _serue_--seruen _whiche_--which 4057 _dispensiþ_--MS. dispisiþ, C. dispensith 4059 _my[gh]t[e]_--myhte 4060 _done_--don 4061 _rychesse_--Rychesses 4065 _whiche_--which 4068 MS. wrongly inserts _welefulnesse_ after _wickednesse_ 4069-71 _oþer_--oothr{ e} 4073 _good[e]_--goode 4074 _none_--non 4075 _good[e]_--goode 4076 _accorden_--acordy 4078 _don_--MS. done, C. don _oft[e]_--ofte 4079 _don_--MS. done, C. don 4080 _sholde_--sholden _whiche þinge_--which thing 4081 _haþ_--MS. haþe _oft[e]_--ofte 4082 [_faire_]--from C. _oftyme_--omitted 4083 _good[e]_--goode 4085 _hat[e]_--hate _anoien_--anoyeden 4087 _studien_--omitted _vnlyke_--vnlyk]