[Sidenote: Providence often gives the direction of public affairs to good men, in order to curb and restrain the malice of the wicked.] and ofte tyme it bitideþ þat þe so{m}me of þinges þat ben to don is taken to good folk to gouerne. for þat þe malice habundaunt of shrewes sholde ben abatid. [Sidenote: To some is given a mixture of good and evil, according to what is most suitable to the dispositions of their minds.] {and} god ȝeueþ {and} dep{ar}tiþ to oþer 4028 folk p{ro}sp[er]ites {and} aduersites ymedeled to hepe aftir þe qualite of hire corages {and} remordiþ som folk by adu{er}sites. [Sidenote: Upon some are laid moderate afflictions, lest they wax proud by too long a course of prosperity.] for þei ne sholden nat wexen proude by longe welefulnesse. [Sidenote: Others suffer great adversities that their virtues may be exercised, and strengthened by the practice of patience.] {and} oþer folk he suffreþ to ben 4032 trauayled wiþ harde þinges. ¶ For þat þei sholden conferme þe vertues of corage by þe vsage {and} ex{er}citac{i}ou{n} of pacie{n}ce. [Sidenote: Some fear to be afflicted with what they are able to endure. Others despise what they are unable to bear; and God punishes them with calamities, to make them sensible of their presumption.] and oþer folke dreden more þen þei auȝten þe wiche þei myȝt[en] wel beren. {and} þilke folk god 4036 lediþ in to exp{er}ience of hem self by aspre {and} sorweful þinges. [Sidenote: Many have purchased a great name by a glorious death.] ¶ And many oþer folk han bouȝt honorable renoune of þis worlde by þe pris of glorious deeþ. [Sidenote: Others by their unshaken fortitude, have shown that virtue cannot be overcome by adversity.] and som men þat ne mowen nat ben ouer-comen by 4040 tourment han ȝeuen ensample to oþer folk þat vertue ne may nat be ouer-comen by aduersites. [[Transcriber’s Note: The sidenote “Others despise what they are unable to bear” does not correspond to anything in the text. Skeat’s edition includes the phrase “and somme dispyse that they mowe nat beren” (Book IV, Prose 6: _Ita Est Inquam_).]]