[Sidenote: For there is nothing done for the sake of evil, not even by the wicked, who, in seeking for felicity, are led astray by crooked error.] for þere nis no þinge don for cause of yuel. ne þilke þing þat is don by wicked[e] folk nis nat don for yuel 3956 þe whiche shrewes as I haue shewed [ful] plentiuously seken goode. but wicked errour mysto{ur}niþ he{m}. [Linenotes: 3928 _seyne_--seyn _þinge cleueþ_--thing clyueth _stedfastnesse_--stydefastnesse 3930 _swiche_--swych 3931 [_it_]--from C. 3932 _to_ (2)--MS. of, C. to 3937 _enterchaungable_--MS. enterchau{n}gyngable, C. entrechaungeable 3939 _a-doune_--a-down _sembleables_--semblable 3942 _bonde_--bond 3943 _ben vnbounden_--be vnbownde 3944 _oute_--owt 3948 _furþe_--forth 3949 _I-bowed_--MS. vnbounde{n}, C. I-bowed 3950 _sholde_--sholden 3951 _whiche_--which 3952 _mowe_--mowen 3956 _wicked[e]_--wykkede 3957 [_ful_]--from C. 3958 _goode_--good] [[pg 138]] [Headnote: NOTHING DONE FOR EVIL’S SAKE.] [Sidenote: But the order proceeding from the centre of supreme goodness does not mislead any.] ¶ Ne þe ordre comynge fro þe poynt of souereyne goode ne declineþ nat fro hys bygynnynge. [Sidenote: But you may say, what greater confusion can there be than that both prosperous and adverse things should at times happen to good men, and that evil men should at one time enjoy their desires and at another be tormented by hateful things.] but þou mayst sein 3960 what vnreste may ben a wors co{n}fusiou{n} þan þ{a}t goode men han so{m}me tyme aduersite. {and} so{m}tyme p{ro}sperite. ¶ and shrewes also han now þinges þat þei desiren. [Sidenote: Are men wise enough to discover, whether those whom they believe to be virtuous or wicked, are so in reality?] {and} now þi{n}ges þat þei haten ¶ wheþer men 3964 lyuen now in swiche hoolnesse of þouȝt. as who seiþ. ben men now so wise. þat swiche folk as þei demen to ben goode folk or shrewes þ{a}t it mot nedes ben þat folk ben swiche as þei wenen. [Sidenote: Opinions differ as to this matter. Some who are deemed worthy of reward by one person, are deemed unworthy by another.] but in þis manere þe domes 3968 of men discorden. þat þilke men þ{a}t so{m}me folk demen worþi of mede. oþer folk demen hem worþi of to{ur}ment. [Sidenote: But, suppose it were possible for one to distinguish with certainty between the good and the bad?] but lat vs graunt[e] I pose þat som man may wel demen or knowen þe goode folk {and} þe badde. [Sidenote: Then he must have as accurate a knowledge of the mind as one has of the body.]