3498 chaunged—Ichaunged
brede—bred
forto—MS. and forto
ete acorns—eten akkornes
3499 hoole—hool
3501 wepiþ—MS. kepiþ, C. weepith
3502 monstruous—MS. monstronous, C. Monstruos
3504 Circes—MS. Cirtes
folk—folkys
3509 yhid—MS. yhidde, C. I-hydd
3515 wooden—MS. wolden, C. wooden
THE WICKED ARE TORMENTED BY A THREEFOLD WRETCHEDNESS.
[TUNC EGO FATEOR INQUAM.]
Þan seide I B. I confess that vicious men are rightly called beasts. þus I confesse and am aknowe quod I. ne
I ne se nat þat men may seyn as by ryȝt. They retain the outward form of man, but the qualities of their souls prove them to be beasts. þat
shrewes ne ben nat chaunged in to beestes by þe
qualite of hir soules. ¶ Al be it so þat þei kepen ȝitte [3520]
þe forme of þe body of mankynde. I wish, however, that the wicked were without the power to annoy and hurt good men. but I nolde nat of
shrewes of whiche þe þouȝt cruel woodeþ alwey in to
destruccioun of good[e] men. þat it were leueful to hem
to done þat. P. They have no power, as I shall presently show you. ¶ Certys quod she ne it nis nat leueful [3524]
to hem as I shal wel shewen þe in couenable place.