¶ Allas what was he þat first dalf vp þe gobets or þe weyȝtys of gold couered vndir erþe. {and} þe p{re}cious stones þat wolden han ben hid. he dalf vp p{re}cious perils. þat is to seyne þat he þat hem first vp dalf. he 1352 dalf vp a p{re}cious peril. [Sidenote: It has since proved perilous to many a man.] for-whi. for þe p{re}ciousnesse of swyche haþ many man ben in peril. [Linenotes: 1324 _erþes_--feeldes 1325 _furþe_--forth _destroyed[e]_--dystroyede 1327 _her_--hyr _at_--MS. as, C. at _euene_--euen 1328 _couþe_--cowde _medle_--medly _ȝift_--yifte _clere_--cleer 1329 _couþe_--cowde _of_--nor 1330 _couþe_--cowde _briȝt[e] flies_--bryhte fleeȝes 1331 _siriens_--Seryens _seyne_--seyn 1332 _couþe_--cowde _dien_--deyen _flies_--fleȝes 1333 _blode_--blood _shelfysshe_--shyllefyssh 1334 _blode_--blood 1335 _holesom_--holsom _rynnyng watres_--rennynge wateres _shadowe_--shadwes _heyȝe_--heye 1337 _pyne_--pyn _no_ (2)--omitted [_ne_]--from C. _karf_--karue 1339 _hadden seyne ȝitte_--hadde seyn yit 1341 _whist_--hust _blode yshed_--blod I-shad 1343 _whiche woodenesse_--whych wodnesse 1344 _seien_--say 1346 _turne aȝeyne_--torne ayein 1347 _folke_--folk 1348 _þe_--omitted _euer_--ay 1351 _hid_--MS. hidde, C. hydd 1352 _seyne_--seyn _he_ (2)--omitted 1354 _swyche_--swych thinge _haþ_--MS. haþe _ben_--be] [Headnote: OF DIGNITIES AND POWERS.] QUID AUTE{M} DE DIGNITATIB{US} {ET} C{ETERA}. [Sidenote: [The sixte p{ro}se.]] [Sidenote: But why should I discourse of dignities and powers which (though you are ignorant of true honour and real power) you extol to the skies?] ++But what shal I seyne of dignitees {and} of powers. þe whiche [ye] men þ{a}t neiþer knowen verray dignitee 1356 ne verray power areysen hem as heye as þe heuene. [Sidenote: When they fall to the lot of a wicked man, they produce greater calamities than the flaming eruption of Ætna, or the most impetuous deluge.] þe whiche dignitees {and} powers yif þei come to any wicked man þei don [as] greet[e] damages {and} distrucc{i}ou{n} as doþ þe fla{m}me of þe Mou{n}taigne 1360 Ethna whan þe fla{m}me wit walwiþ vp ne no deluge ne doþ so cruel harmes. [Sidenote: You remember that your ancestors desired to abolish the Consular government (the commencement of the Roman liberty), because of the pride of the Consuls; as their ancestors before for the same consideration had suppressed the title of King.]