[Sidenote: _P._ When evil men are punished they have a degree of good annexed to their wretchedness, to wit, the punishment itself, which as it is the effect of justice is good.]
¶ þan certys q{ uo}d she han shrewes whan þei ben punissed somwhat of good anexid to hir wrecchednesse. 3604 þat is to seyne þe same peyne þat þei suffren whiche þat is good by þe resou{ n} of Iustice.
[Sidenote: And when these wretches escape punishment something more of ill (_i. e._ exemption from punishment) is added to their condition.]
And whan þilke same shrewes ascapen wiþ outen tourment. þan han þei somwhat more of yuel [gh]it ouer þe wickednesse 3608 þat þei han don. þat is to seye defaute of peyne. whiche defaute of peyne þou hast graunted is yuel.
¶ For þe desert of felonye I ne may nat denye it q{ uo}d I.
[Sidenote: _P._ Much more unhappy are the wicked when they enjoy an unmerited impunity than when they suffer a lawful chastisement.]
¶ Moche more þan q{ uo}d she ben shrewes vnsely 3612 whan þei ben wrongfully delyuered fro peyne. þan whan þei beþ punissed by ry[gh]tful vengeaunce.
[Sidenote: It is just to punish evil-doers, and unjust that they should escape punishment.]
but þis is open þi{ n}g { and} clere þat it is ry[gh]t þat shrewes ben punissed. { and} it is wickednesse { and} wrong þat þei 3616 escapin vnpunissed.
[Sidenote: _P._ Everything, too, which is just is good; and, on the contrary, whatsoever is unjust is evil.]
but q{ uo}d she may any ma{ n} denye. þat al þat is ry[gh]t nis good. { and} also þe contrarie. þat alle þat is wrong nis wicked. [[pg 127]]
[Sidenote: _B._ These are just inferences from our former premises.]
certys q{ uo}d I þise þinges ben clere ynou[gh]. { and} 3620 þat we han concludid a litel here byforn{ e}.
[Sidenote: But is there any punishment for the soul after death of the body?]
but I p{ re}ye þe þat þou telle me yif þou accordest to leten no to{ ur}ment to þe soules aftir þat þe body is dedid by þe deþe. þis [is] to seyn. vndirstondest þou ou[gh]t þat soules han 3624 any to{ ur}ment after þe deþe of þe body.
[Sidenote: _P._ Yes, and great ones too. Some punishments are rigorous and eternal.]
¶ Certis q{ uo}d she [gh]e { and} þat ry[gh]t grete. of whiche soules q{ uo}d she I trowe þat so{ m}me ben to{ ur}mentid by asprenesse of peyne.