[Sidenote: Vice is a sickness of the soul, and needs our compassion, and not our hate, for the distempers of the soul are more deplorable than those of the body, and have more claims upon our compassion.] ¶ For ryȝt so as languissing is maladie of body. ryȝt so ben vices {and} sy{n}ne maladies of corage. ¶ and so as we ne deme nat þat þei þat ben seek of hire body ben 3736 worþi to ben hated. but raþer worþi of pite. wel more worþi nat to ben hated. but forto ben had in pite ben þei of whiche þe þouȝtes ben constreined by felonous wickednesse. þat is more cruel þa{n} any languissinge of 3740 body. [Linenotes: 3715 _tourmentȝ_--torment _þe_ (2)--omitted 3719 _[to] s[e]yn_--to seyn 3722 _sawen_--sawh _sholde_--sholden 3723 [_the_]--from C. 3724 _auȝten_--owhte 3725-29 _whiche_--which 3729 _bytideþ_--MS. byndeþ, C. bytidith [_þat_]--from C. 3730 _ylete_--I-leten 3731 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3732 _wolde_--nyl _moche_--mochel 3733 _fole_--fool 3736 _seek_--syke] [Headnote: THE FOLLY OF WAR.] QUID TANTOS IUUAT. [Sidenote: [The ferthe Met{ur}.]] [Sidenote: What frenzy causes man to hasten on his fate, that is, by war or by strife.] ++What deliteþ it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges of hatredes {and} to hasten {and} bisien [the] fatal disposic{i}ou{n} of ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure p{ro}pre handes. þat is 3744 to seyn by batailes or [by] contek. [Sidenote: If death is desired he delays not to come.] for yif ȝe axen þe deeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ ne [[pg 131]] tarieþ nat hys swifte hors. [Sidenote: Why do they who are exposed to the assaults of beasts of prey and venomous reptiles seek to slay each other with the sword.] and [the] men þat þe serpentȝ {and} þe lyou{n}s. {and} þe tigre. {and} þe beere {and} þe 3748 boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit þilke same men seken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde. [Sidenote: Lo! their manners and opinions do not accord, wherefore they engage in unjust wars, and fiercely urge on each other’s destiny.] [Sidenote: [* fol. 29 _b_.]] loo for her man{er}s ben *diuerse {and} discordaunt ¶ þei moeuen vnryȝtful oostes {and} cruel batailes. {and} wilne 3752 to p{er}isse by enterchaungynge of dartes. [Sidenote: But this is no just reason for shedding blood.] but þe resou{n} of cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful. [Sidenote: Wouldst thou reward each as he deserves? Then love the good as they deserve, and have pity upon the wicked.] wilt þou þan ȝelden a couenable gerdou{n} to þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfully goode folk[;] {and} haue pite on shrewes. 3756