an how gret defaute of power
{and} how gret
feblesse
?
Chaucer - Boethius
and what wer{e} to deme
?an of shrewes. yif ?ilke naturel helpe hadde for-leten
hem. ? ?e whiche naturel helpe of entenc{i}ou{n} go? alwey 3264
byforne hem. {and} is so grete ?at vnne? it may be
ou{er}comen.
[Sidenote: Consider how great is the impotence of the wicked. (The
greater the things desired, but unaccomplished, the less is the
power of him that desires, and is unable to attain his end.)]
? Considre ?
an how gret defaute of power
{and} how gret
feblesse
?
ere is in grete felonous folk as
who sei? ?e gretter ?i{n}ges ?at ben coueited {and} ?e desire 3268
nat accomplissed of ?e lasse my?t is he ?at coueite? it
{and} may nat acomplisse. ? And for?i philosophie sei?
?us by souereyne good.
