[Sidenote: Hence Catullus’ resentment against Nonius, whom he calls the botch, or impostume of the State.] ¶ For whiche þing catullus clepid a consul of Rome þat 1976 hyȝt noni{us} postum. or boch. as who seiþ he clepiþ hy{m} a congregac{i}ou{n} of uices in his brest as a postum is ful of corrupc{i}ou{n}. al were þis noni{us} set in a chayere of dignitee. [Sidenote: The deformities of wicked men would be less apparent if they were in more obscure situations.] Sest þou nat þan how gret vylenye 1980 dignitees don to wikked men. ¶ Certys vnworþines of wikked men shold{e} ben þe lasse ysen yif þei nere renomed of none hono{ur}s. [Sidenote: Would you free yourself from peril by accepting a magistracy along with Decoratus a buffoon and informer?] ¶ Certys þou þi self ne myȝtest nat ben brouȝt wiþ as many p{er}ils as þou 1984 myȝtest suffren þat þ{o}u woldest bere þi magistrat wiþ decorat. þat is to seyn. þat for no p{er}il þat myȝt[e] bifalle{n} þe by þe offence of þe kyng theodorik þou noldest nat ben felawe in gouernaunce w{i}t{h} decorat. whanne 1988 þou say[e] þat he had[de] wikkid corage of a likerous shrewe {and} of an acusor. [Sidenote: Honours do not render undeserving persons worthy of esteem.] ¶ Ne I ne may nat for swiche honours Iuge{n} hem worþi of reuerence þat I deme {and} holde vnworþi to han þilke same hono{ur}s. [Sidenote: If you find a man endowed with wisdom you deem him worthy of respect and of the wisdom which he professes.] ¶ Now yif 1992 þou saie a man þat were fulfilled of wisdom. certys þou ne myȝtest nat demen þ{a}t he were vnworþi to þe [[pg 73]] hono{ur}. or ellys to þe wisdom of whiche he is fulfilled. [Sidenote: _B._ I could not do otherwise.] No q{uod} .I. [Sidenote: _P._ Virtue has her proper worth, which she ever transfers to her votaries.] ¶ Certys dignitees q{uod} she app{er}tienen 1996 p{ro}perly to vertue. {and} uertue transporteþ dignite anon to þilke man to whiche she hir self is conioigned.