[Sidenote: Every action is done for a certain end, and that end is the reward of the action.]
for of alle þinges þat ben ydon þilke þing for whiche any þing is doon. it semeþ as by ry[gh]t þat þilke þing be þe mede of þat. as þus. ¶ yif a 3384 man renneþ in þe stadie or in þe forlonge for þe corone. þan lieþ þe mede in þe corone for whiche he renneþ.
[Sidenote: But Happiness is that good for which all things are done. Therefore happiness is the reward which all the human race seek as the reward of their actions.]
¶ And I haue shewed þat blisfulnesse is þilke same good for whiche þat alle þi{ n}g{ us} ben don. þan is þilke 3388 same good p{ ur}posed to þe werkes of mankynde ry[gh]t as a comune mede.
[Sidenote: This good is inseparable from the virtuous, therefore virtue can never want its reward.]
whiche mede ne may ben disseuered fro good folk. for no wy[gh]t as by ry[gh]t fro þennes forþe þ{ a}t hym lakkiþ goodnesse ne shal ben cleped good. 3392 For whiche þing folk of good[e] maneres her medes ne forsaken hem neuer mo.
[Sidenote: Evil men may rage as they please against the good, but the crown of the wise shall not fall nor fade.]
For al be it so þat sherewes waxen as wood as hem list a[gh]eynes good[e] folk. [gh]itte neuer þe les þe corone of wise men ne shal nat fallen 3396 ne faden.
[Sidenote: The wickedness of another cannot deprive a virtuous soul of its own honour.]
¶ For foreine shrewednesse ne bynymeþ nat fro þe corages of good[e] folk hire p{ ro}pre honoure.
[Linenotes: 3379 _whiche_--which 3380 _good_--goode 3381 _ne_ (2)--omitted 3383 _whiche_--which 3385 _forlonge_--forlong 3386-88-90 _whiche_--which 3391 _forþe_--forth 3393 _whiche_--which _good[e]_--goode 3395 _wood_--woode _good[e]_--goode 3396 _les_--leese _ne_--omitted 3398 _good[e]_--goode]
[Sidenote: If a man pride himself on the possession of an advantage received from another, he may be deprived of it, either by the giver or by others.]
but yif þat any wy[gh]t reioiseþ hem of goodnesse þat þei had[de] taken fro wiþoute. as who seiþ yif [þ{ a}t] any 3400 wy[gh]t had[de] hys goodnesse of any oþer man þan of hym self. certys he þat [gh]af hym þilke goodnesse or ellys som oþer wy[gh]t my[gh]t[e] bynym[e] it hym.