[Linenotes: 3996 _alle_--al _doþ_--MS. doþe _whiche_--which 3997 [_þat_]--from C. 3999 _mans_--mannes 4000 _þilk_--thilke 4004 _liked[e]_ (_both_)--lykede 4005 _is don_--MS. is to don 4006 [_world_]--from C. _ryȝt[e]_--ryhte 4007 _wicked[e]_--wykkede 4010 _vnstedfast_--vnstydefast 4011 [_þat_]--from C. _wolde_--wol 4015 _manere_--man _myȝt[e]_--myhte 4016 _wil_--wol 4018 _neye_--negh 4021 _wil_--wol _swiche_--swych 4022 _manere_--bodyly 4022-3 [_the----me_]--from C. 4023 _þe aduersites----nat_--omitted 4024 _þere_--omitted 4026 _don_--done _to_ (2)--MS. so _to good----gouerne_--to gou{er}ne to goode folk 4028 _oþer_--oothr{e} 4030 _som_--some 4031 _sholden_--sholde 4033 _conferme_--confermen 4034 _corage_--corages 4036 _myȝt[en]_--myhten 4037 _hem_--hym _sorweful_--sorwful 4038 _oþer_--oothr{e} 4039 _worlde_--world _of_ (2)--of the 4041 _oþer_--othr{e}] [Headnote: HOW PROVIDENCE DEALS WITH MANKIND.] [Sidenote: These things are done justly, and in order, and are for the good of those to whom they happen.] ¶ and of alle þise þinges þer nis no doute þ{a}t þei ne ben don ryȝtfully {and} ordeinly to þe p{ro}fit of hem to whom we 4044 seen þise þinges bitide. [Sidenote: From the same causes it happens, that sometimes adversity and sometimes prosperity falls to the lot of the wicked.] ¶ For certys þat aduersite comeþ some tyme to shrewes. {and} some tyme þat þei desiren it comeþ of þise forseide causes [Sidenote: None are surprised to see bad men afflicted--they get what they deserve.] {and} of sorweful þinges þat bytyden to shrewes. Certys no man ne 4048 wondreþ. For alle me{n} wenen þat þei han wel deserued it. [Sidenote: Their punishment, too, may cause amendment, or deter others from like vices.] {and} þei ben of wicked m{er}ite of whiche shrewes þe to{ur}ment som tyme agasteþ oþer to done [[pg 141]] folies. {and} som tyme it amendeþ hem þat suffren þe 4052 to{ur}mentis. [Sidenote: When the wicked enjoy felicity--the good should learn how little these external advantages are to be prized, which may fall to the lot of the most worthless.] ¶ And þe p{ro}sp{er}ite þat is ȝeuen to shrewes sheweþ a grete argument to good[e] folk what þing þei sholde demen of þilk wilfulnesse þe whiche p{ro}sperite men seen ofte serue to shrewes. [Sidenote: Another reason for dispensing worldly bliss to the wicked is, that indigence would prompt naturally violent and rapacious minds to commit the greatest enormities.]