[Linenotes: 3379 _whiche_--which 3380 _good_--goode 3381 _ne_ (2)--omitted 3383 _whiche_--which 3385 _forlonge_--forlong 3386-88-90 _whiche_--which 3391 _forþe_--forth 3393 _whiche_--which _good[e]_--goode 3395 _wood_--woode _good[e]_--goode 3396 _les_--leese _ne_--omitted 3398 _good[e]_--goode] [Headnote: THE REWARD OF THE GOOD.] [Sidenote: If a man pride himself on the possession of an advantage received from another, he may be deprived of it, either by the giver or by others.] but yif þat any wyȝt reioiseþ hem of goodnesse þat þei had[de] taken fro wiþoute. as who seiþ yif [þ{a}t] any 3400 wyȝt had[de] hys goodnesse of any oþer man þan of hym self. certys he þat ȝaf hym þilke goodnesse or ellys som oþer wyȝt myȝt[e] bynym[e] it hym. [Sidenote: But, as the reward of the virtuous is derived from virtue, a man cannot lose this meed unless he ceases to be virtuous.] but for as moche as to euery wyȝt hys owen p{ro}pre bounte 3404 ȝeueþ hy{m} hys mede. þan at arst shal he faylen of mede whan he forletiþ to ben good. [Sidenote: Lastly, since a reward is desired because it is supposed to be a good, can we believe that he who is capable of good is deprived of the recompence?] {and} at þe laste so as alle medes be{n} requered for men wenen þat þei ben good[e]. who is he þat wolde deme þat he þat is ryȝt [[pg 120]] myȝty of goode were p{ar}tles of mede. 3409 [Sidenote: What reward shall he receive?] [Sidenote: [* fol. 27.]] *{and} of what mede shal he be gerdoned. [Sidenote: Certainly the fairest and richest of all rewards.] certys of ryȝt faire mede {and} ryȝt greet abouen alle medes. [Sidenote: Call to mind that excellent corollary I have already given thee, and reason thus:--] ¶ Remembre þe of þilk noble corolarie þat I ȝaf þe a lytel here byforne. 3412 {and} gadre it to gidre in þis manere. [Sidenote: Since the supreme good is happiness, it follows that all good men are happy in as much as they are good; but if they are happy they must become as it were gods.] so as god hym self is blisfulnesse. þan is it clere {and} certeyn. þat alle good folk ben makid blisful for þei ben good[e]. and þilke folk þat ben blisful it accordiþ {and} is couenable to ben 3416 godde[s]. [Sidenote: The reward (_i. e._ divinity) of the righteous is such that no time can impair it, no power can diminish it, nor can any wickedness obscure it.] þan is þe mede of goode folk swiche. þat no day [ne] shal enpeyren it. ne no wickednesse shal endirken it. ne power of no wyȝt ne shal nat amenusen it þat is to seyn to ben maked goddes.