[Linenotes: 3166 [_owh_]--from C. 3171 _good[e]_--goode _strong[e]_--stronge 3172 _desert_--dishert 3173 _eueryche_--eu{er}ich 3175 _goode_--good 3176 _stedfast_--stidefast 3177 _freelnesse_--frelenesse _stedfastnesse_--stidefastnesse 3178 _goode_--good 3180 _oon_--oo _wil_ (2)--wole 3185-6 _þere_--ther 3185 _don_--MS. done, C. don 3186 _done_--don 3187 _wille_--wil 3188 _comeþ_--comht 3189 _mayst_--MS. mayste, C. mayst 3191 _clere_--cler 3192 _denyed_--denoyed 3193-4 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3193 _don_ (_both_)--MS. done, C. doon 3194 _had_--MS. hadde, C. had _done_--doon 3196 _as moche_--so moche 3197 _done_--doon _moche_--mochel _halden_--halt 3201 _whiche_--which 3202 _lad_--MS. ladde, C. lad 3203 _it hath ben_--MS. I herde þe, C. it hath ben] [Headnote: THE IMPOTENCY OF THE WICKED.] [Sidenote: Do you recollect too, that it has been shown that happiness is the supreme good of men--and all desire this good, since all seek happiness?] {and} recordeþ þe nat þan q{uo}d she. þat blisfulnesse is 3204 þilke same goode þat men requeren. [Sidenote: [* fol. 25 _b_.]] so þat whan þat blisfulnesse is requered *of alle. þat goode [also] is requered {and} desired of al. It recordeþ me wel q{uo}d I. for haue it gretly alwey ficche[d] in my memorie. [Sidenote: All men, then, good and bad, seek to acquire good?] alle 3208 folk þan q{uo}d she goode {and} eke badde enforcen he{m} wiþ oute difference of entenc{i}ou{n} to come{n} to goode. þat is a uerray consequence q{uo}d I. [Sidenote: And it is certain that when men obtain good they become good?] and certeyne is q{uo}d she þat by þe gety{n}g of goode ben men ymaked goode. 3212 [Sidenote: _B._ It is most certain.] þis is certeyne q{uo}d. I. [Sidenote: _P._ Do good men, then, get what they desire?] ¶ þan geten goode men þat þei desiren. [Sidenote: _B._ It seems so.] so semeþ it q{uo}d I. [Sidenote: _P._ If evil men obtain the good, they can be no longer evil?] but wicked[e] folk q{uo}d she yif þei geten þe goode þat þei desire{n} þei [ne] mowen nat ben wicked. [Sidenote: _B._ It is so.] so is it q{uo}d .I. [Sidenote: _P._ Since then both parties pursue the good, which only the virtuous obtain, we must believe that good men are powerful, and that the wicked are weak and feeble?] ¶ þan so as 3216 þat oon {and} þat oþer [q{uod} she] desiren good. {and} þe goode folk geten good {and} nat þe wicked folk ¶ þan nis it no doute þat þe goode folk ne ben myȝty {and} þe wicked folk ben feble.