they may putte vertues in the hertes of folk that usen the lordshipes
of hem? Or elles may they don a-wey the vyces? Certes, they
5
ne be nat wont to don awey wikkednesse, but they ben wont
rather to shewen wikkednesse. And ther-of comth it that I have
right grete desdeyn, that dignitees ben yeven ofte to wikked
men; for which thing Catullus cleped a consul of Rome, that
highte Nonius, ["postum"] or ["boch"]; as who seyth, he cleped him
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a congregacioun of vyces in his brest, as a postum is ful of corupcioun,