No More Learning

? e
whiche shrewes dignit[e] schewe? to moche folk

[Sidenote: Nor do dignities themselves escape without injury; for
worthless men take their revenge upon them, and defile them by
their contagious villanies. ]

? {and}
for so? e nat vnpunissed. ? at is forto sein. ? at shrewes
reuengen hem a? einward vpon dignites. for ? ei ? elden 2008
a? ein to dignites as gret gerdou{n} whan ?
ei byspotten
{and} defoulen dignites wi? hire vylenie.

[Sidenote: These shadowy honours have nothing in their nature to
procure respect; for if a man, having borne the honours of the
consulate, should go among barbarians would this honour gain him
their respect? ]

? And for as
moche as ? ou mow[e] knowe ? at ? ilke verray reuerence
ne may nat comen by ? e shadewy t{ra}nsitorie dignitees. 2012
vndirstonde now ? is. yif ? at a man hadde vsed {and}
hadde many manere dignites of consules {and} were
come{n} p{er}auenture amonges straunge nac{i}ou{n}s. sholde
? ilke hono{ur} maken hym worshipful {and} redouted of 2016
straunge folk

[Sidenote: If respect were an attribute of honour it would
infallibly bring esteem everywhere, just as heat is ever an
attribute of fire. ]

?