to the gode folk and to badde, the gode folk seken it by naturel

office of vertues, and the shrewes enforcen hem to geten it by

90

dyverse coveityse of erthely thinges, which that nis no naturel office

to geten thilke same soverein good. Trowestow that it be any

other wyse?'

'Nay,' quod I; 'for the consequence is open and [shewinge] of

thinges that I have graunted; that nedes gode folk moten ben

95

mighty, and shrewes feeble and unmighty.'