[Sidenote: Since vice, the extreme and worst kind of evil, not
only
afflicts
them, but infects and entirely pollutes them.
Chaucer - Boethius
now ?an so 3428
as bounte {and} prowesse ben ?e medes to goode folk.
also is shrewednesse it self torment to shrewes
[Sidenote: He who is punished with pain and uneasiness knows that
he is afflicted with evil.]
? ?an
who so ?at euer is entecched {and} defouled wi? yuel.
[Sidenote: If, then, the wicked did rightly understand themselves
they would perceive that they are not exempted from punishment.]
yif shrewes wolen ?an p{re}isen hem self may it semen 3432
to hem ?at ?ei ben wi? oute{n} p{ar}tye of tourment.
[Sidenote: Since vice, the extreme and worst kind of evil, not
only
afflicts
them, but infects and entirely pollutes them.
]
syn ?ei ben swiche ?at ?e [vtteriste wikkednesse / ?{a}t is to
seyn wikkede thewes / which ?{a}t is the] out{er}este {and}
?e w[or]ste kynde of shrewednesse ne defouli? nat ne 3436
entecehi? nat hem oonly but infecti? {and} enuenemy?
he{m} gretely
[Sidenote: But contemplate the punishment of the wicked.]
? And al so loke on shrewes ?at ben ?e
contrarie p{ar}tye of goode men.