[Linenotes: 3226 _þilk_--thilke 3229 _owen_--owne 3231 _wilt_--wolt _herkene_--herkne 3232 _pleynely_--pleynly _denye_--denoye 3233 _moeuement[gh]_--Moeuement 3237 _goþ_--MS. goþe _hys_--hise 3238 _gone_--goon 3239 _hys_--hise _whiche_--which 3240 _more_--the Moore _furþe_--forth 3242 _gone_--gon 3245 _good_--goode 3246 _uertues_--vertuus 3247 _whiche_--which 3248 _goode_--good 3253 _byfore_--by-forn 3254 _forto_--to 3255 _seke_--sike 3259 _wicked_--wikkede 3260 _come_--comyn 3261 _þilk_--thilke 3262 _deme_--demen 3263-4 _helpe_--help 3264 _whiche_--which _goþ_--MS. goþe 3265 _grete_--gret _vnneþ_--vnnethe _be ouercomen_--ben ou{ er}come 3267 _þere_--ther _grete_--wikkede 3268 _þinges_--thing _ben_--is 3271 _Sherewes ne requere_--ne shrewes ne requeren 3272 _ly[gh]t[e]_--lyhte _veyne_--veyn _nat_--omitted 3276 _whiche_--which 3277 _getyn[g]_--getinge _whiche goode_--which good 3278 _ysen_--MS. and C. ysene 3279 _goþ_--MS. goþe 3280 _my[gh]t[e]_--myhte 3281 _þere_--ther _lay_--laye _forþer_--forthere _be_--ben 3283 _desire_--desired 3284 _þat_--omitted]
[Headnote: THE WICKED HAVE NO REAL EXISTENCE.]
[Sidenote: Wicked men, then, are destitute of those powers which the good so amply possess.]
¶ Of whiche power of good folk men may conclude þat wicked men semen to ben bareyne { and} naked of alle strengþe.
[Sidenote: Wherefore do they leave virtue, and follow vice? Is it because they are ignorant of good?]
For whi forleten þei v{ er}tues { and} folwen vices. nis it nat for þat þei ne knowen nat þe goodes. 3288
[Sidenote: What is more weak and base than the blindness of ignorance? Or do they know the way they ought to follow, but are led astray by lust and covetousness?]
¶ But what þing is more feble { and} more caitif þan is þe [[pg 116]] blyndenesse of ignoraunce. or ellys þei knowen ful wel whiche þinges þat þei au[gh]ten to folwen ¶ but lecherye { and} couetise ouerþroweþ hem mysturned.
[Sidenote: And so, indeed, weak-minded men are overpowered by intemperance, for they cannot resist vicious temptations.]
¶ and certis 3292 so doþ distemp{ er}aunce to feble men. þat ne mowe{ n} nat wrastle a[gh]eins þe vices
[Sidenote: Do they willingly desert Good and turn to Evil? If they do so, they not only cease to be powerful, but even cease to exist.]