[Linenotes: 1969 _make_--maken 1969 _grete_--gret 1972 [_ne_]--from C. _ben_--be 1972, 1973 _wikkednesses_--wykkydnesse 1973 _to_--omitted _shew[en]_--shewen 1974 _comeþ_--comth _grete desdeyne_--gret desdaign 1976 _whiche_--which 1977 _hyȝt_--hyhte _nonius_--MS. vonn{us}, C. nomy{us} _boch_--MS. boþe, C. boch _clepiþ_--clepyd 1979 _nonius_--MS. uonn{us}, C. nomy{us} _set_--MS. sette, C. set 1980 _Sest þou_--Sesthow _þan_--thanne _vylenye_--fylonye 1981 _vnworþines_--vnworthynesse 1982 _ben_--be _ysen_--MS. ysene, C. I-sene 1984 _many_--manye 1985 _bere_--beren 1986 _myȝt[e]_--myhte 1987 _þe_ (2)--omitted 1988 _whanne_--whan 1989 _say[e]_--saye _had[de]_--hadde 1994 _demen_--deme 1995 _whiche_--which 1996 _quod she_--omitted 1997 _vertue_--vertu _uertue_--vertu 1998 _whiche_--whych] [Headnote: DIGNITIES APPERTAIN TO VIRTUE.] [Sidenote: Honours conferred by the populace do not make men worthy of them, for they have no intrinsic merit to bestow.] ¶ And for as moche as hono{ur}s of poeple ne may nat maken folk digne of hono{ur}. it is wel seyn clerly þat 2000 þei ne han no p{ro}pre beaute of dignite. ¶ And ȝit men auȝten take more hede in þis. [Sidenote: Dignities conferred upon shrews only make their vices the more conspicuous.] ¶ For if it so be þat he is most out cast þat most folk dispisen. or as dignite ne may nat maken shrewes worþi of no reuerences. þan 2004 makeþ dignites shrewes more dispised þan p{re}ised. þe whiche shrewes dignit[e] scheweþ to moche folk [Sidenote: Nor do dignities themselves escape without injury; for worthless men take their revenge upon them, and defile them by their contagious villanies.] ¶ {and} for soþe nat vnpunissed. þat is forto sein. þat shrewes reuengen hem aȝeinward vpon dignites. for þei ȝelden 2008 aȝein to dignites as gret gerdou{n} whan þei byspotten {and} defoulen dignites wiþ hire vylenie. [Sidenote: These shadowy honours have nothing in their nature to procure respect; for if a man, having borne the honours of the consulate, should go among barbarians would this honour gain him their respect?] ¶ And for as moche as þou mow[e] knowe þat þilke verray reuerence ne may nat comen by þe shadewy t{ra}nsitorie dignitees. 2012 vndirstonde now þis. yif þat a man hadde vsed {and} hadde many manere dignites of consules {and} were come{n} p{er}auenture amonges straunge nac{i}ou{n}s. sholde þilke hono{ur} maken hym worshipful {and} redouted of 2016 straunge folk [Sidenote: If respect were an attribute of honour it would infallibly bring esteem everywhere, just as heat is ever an attribute of fire.]