{and} ȝit more ou{er} yif it so were þat þise dignites or poweres hadden any p{ro}pre or naturel goodnesse in hem self neuer nolden þei comen to shrewes. [Sidenote: An union of things opposite is repugnant to nature.] ¶ For contrarious þinges ne ben 1420 not wont to ben yfelawshiped togidres. ¶ Nature refuseþ þat contra[r]ious þinges ben yioigned. [Sidenote: But as wicked men do obtain the highest honours, it is clear that honours are not in themselves good, otherwise they would not fall to the share of the unworthy.] ¶ And so as I am in certeyne þat ryȝt wikked folk han dignitees ofte tymes. þan sheweþ it wel þat dignitees {and} powers 1424 ne ben not goode of hir owen kynde. syn þat þei suffren hem self to cleue{n} or ioynen hem to shrewes. [Sidenote: The worst of men have often the largest share of Fortune’s gifts.] ¶ And certys þe same þing may most digneliche Iugen {and} seyen of alle þe ȝiftis of fortune þat most plenteuously [[pg 54]] comen to shrewes. [Sidenote: We judge him to be valiant who has given evidence of his fortitude.] ¶ Of þe whiche ȝiftys I 1429 trowe þat it auȝt[e] ben considered þat no man doutiþ þat he nis strong. in whom he seeþ strengþe. {and} in whom þat swiftnesse is ¶ Soþe it is þat he is swyfte. 1432 [Sidenote: So music maketh a musician, &c.] Also musyk makeþ musiciens. {and} fysik makeþ phisiciens. {and} rethorik rethoriens. [Sidenote: The nature of everything consists in doing what is peculiar to itself, and it repels what is contrary to it.] ¶ For whi þe nature of euery þing makiþ his p{ro}pretee. ne it is nat ent{er}medled wiþ þe effect{is} of co{n}trarious þinges. 1436