¶ For þilk þing þat wiþ holdeþ ordre {and} kepiþ nature. þilk þing is {and} haþ 3312 beynge. but þat þing þat faileþ of þat. þat is to seyne he þ{a}t forletiþ naturel ordre he for-letiþ þilk beyng þat is set in hys nature. [Sidenote: But, you may say that the wicked have a _power_ to act, nor do I deny it; but their power is an effect of weakness.] but þou wolt sein þat shrewes mowen. ¶ Certys þat ne denye I nat. ¶ but certys 3316 hir power ne descendeþ nat of strengþe but of feblesse. [Sidenote: They can do evil, but this they could not do, if they retained the power of doing good.] for þei mowen don wickednesses. þe whiche þei ne myȝten nat don yif þei myȝte{n} dwelle in þe forme {and} in þe doynge of goode folke. [[pg 117]] [Sidenote: This power, then, clearly shows their impotence.] ¶ And þilke power 3320 sheweþ ful euydently þat þei ne mowen ryȝt nauȝt. [Linenotes: 3285 _whiche_--the which _þat_--þ{a}t the 3286 _ben_--be 3291 _auȝten to folwen_--owhten folwe 3293 _doþ_--MS. doþe, C. doth 3394 _wrastle_--wrastlen 3295 _vilfully_--wilsfully 3297 _outerly_--owtrely 3301 _seyne_--seyen 3304-5 _denye_--denoye 3305 _sey[e] symplely_--seye sympeli 3306 [_ne_]--from C. 3307 _seyn_--seyen 3309 _graunt[e]_--graunte 3311-12 _þilk_--thilke 3312 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3313 _þat_ (1)--what _seyne_--seyn 3314 _þilk_--thilke 3315 _set_--MS. sette, C. set 3316 _denye_--denoye 3318 _don_--MS. done, C. don 3319 _myȝten_ (1)--myhte _dwelle_--dwellin 3320 _goode_--good] [Headnote: POWER, AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE CHIEF GOOD.] [Sidenote: For as evil is nothing, it is clear that while the wicked can only do evil they can do nothing.] ¶ For so as I haue gadered {and} p{ro}ued a lytel her byforn þat yuel is nauȝt. {and} so as shrewes mowen oonly but shrewednesse. þis conclusiou{n} is al clere. þat 3324 shrewes ne mowen ryȝt nat to han power. [Sidenote: That you may understand the force of this power, I have proved that nothing is more powerful than the sovereign good.] and for as moche as þou vndirstonde whiche is þe strengþe þat is power of shrewes. I haue diffinised a lytel here byforn þat no þing nis so myȝty as souereyne good [Sidenote: _B._ That is true.] ¶ þat is 3328 soþe q{uo}d .I. [Sidenote: _P._ And that supreme good can do no evil?] [{and} thilke same souereyn good may don non yuel // [Sidenote: _B._ Certainly not.] Certes no q{uod} I] [Sidenote: _P._ Is there any one who thinks that man can do all things?] ¶ Is þer any wyȝt þan q{uo}d she þat weniþ þat men mowen don alle þinges.