[Sidenote: _P._ This is the fortune of the virtuous who combat with adversity, or of those who, relinquishing vice, pursue the path of virtue?] but þis is þe fortune [q{uod} she] of 4188 hem þat eiþer ben put in vertue {and} batailen aȝeins aspre þinges. or ellys of hem þat eschewen {and} declinen fro vices {and} taken þe weye of vertue. [Sidenote: _B._ It is.] ¶ þis ne may nat I denye q{uo}d I [Sidenote: _P._ The vulgar regard that prosperity which is bestowed as a reward on the good to be beneficial, and they believe those calamities by which the wicked are punished as the most miserable things that can be imagined.] ¶ But what seist þou of þe myrye 4192 fortune þat is ȝeuen to good folk in gerdou{n} deuiniþ ouȝt þe poeples þat it is wicked. nay forsoþe q{uo}d I. but þei demen as it soþe is þat it is ryȝt good. ¶ And what seist þou of þat oþer fortune q{uo}d she. þat al þouȝ it 4196 be aspre {and} restreiniþ þe shrewes by ryȝtful tourment. weniþ ouȝt þe poeple þ{a}t it be good. nay q{uo}d I. ¶ But þe poeple demiþ þat it be most wrecched of alle þinges þat may ben þouȝt. [Sidenote: But in following the popular opinion, let us beware of being involved in some new and incredible consequence.] war now {and} loke wel q{uo}d she 4200 lest þat we in folwyng þe opyniou{n} of poeple haue confessed {and} co{n}cluded þing þat is vnable to be wened to [[pg 146]] þe poeple. [Sidenote: _B._ What is that?] what is þat q{uo}d I [Sidenote: _P._ We have decided that the fortune of the virtuous or of those growing up in virtue must needs be good--but that the fortune of the wicked must be most wretched.] ¶ Certys q{uo}d she it folweþ or comeþ of þinges þ{a}t ben graunted þat alle 4204 fortune what so euer it be. of hem þat eyþer ben i{n} possessiou{n} of vertue. [or in the encres of vertu] or ellys in þe purchasynge of vertue. þat þilke fortune is good. ¶ And þat alle fortune is ryȝt wicked to hem þat 4208 dwellen in shrewednesse. as who seiþ. {and} þus weneþ nat þe poeple. [Linenotes: 4180 [_þat_]--from C. 4181 _wicked_--wykkede 4182 _proche_--aproche 4185 _al_--alle 4186 _þilk_--thilke 4188 [_quod she_]--from C. 4191 _weye_--wey 4193 _deuiniþ_--demyth 4194 _ouȝt_--awht 4195 _soþe_--soth 4198 _ouȝt_--awht 4199 _be_--is 4204 _comeþ_--comth 4206 [_or----vertu_] from C. 4208 _wicked_--wykkede] [Headnote: THE FORTUNE OF THE VIRTUOUS IS GOOD.] [Sidenote: _B._ That’s true, though none dare acknowledge it.] ¶ þat is soþe q{uo}d I. ¶ Al be it so þat noma{n} dar confesse{n} it ne byknowen it.