(358)
¶ Lawëful iustice is, as in manere, [¶ Egidius in ij parte primi libri, capitulo xio. Legalis iusticia est quodam modo omnis virtus; habere enim huiusmodi iusticiam est implere legem &c. [R.] Si igitur lex iubet omne bonum, prohibet omne malum, implere le|gem est per|fecte virtuo|sum, et iuusticia est integra et perfecta ma|licia &c. ¶ Aristoteles capitulo de forma et modo iusticie. 'Iusticia est de natura dei,' &c.]
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Al vertu; and who wole han þis iustice,
The lawe of crist, to kepë mot he leere.
Now if þat lawë fórbeede euery vice,
And cómande al good þing, and it cherice,
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ffulfillë lawë, is [it is R.] vertu perfyt,
And in-iustice is of al vertu qwyt.
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(359)
¶ Iustice is of the kynde and the nature
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Of god; and he haþ made it, and ordeyned
On remës and on euery crëature.
By iustice, is schedyng of blood refreyned,
And gilt punýsched, whan it is compleyned.
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Iusticë déffendeth possessions,
And peple kepeþ from oppressions. [oppressions R, appressions H.]
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(360)
¶ A kyng is made to kepen and maynteene
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Iustice, for she makith obéisant
The mysdoers þat proudë ben & keene;
And hem þat ben in vertu hábundant
Cherisith; a kyng is, by couenant
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Of ooth maad in his coronacioun,
Boundë [And bounden R.] to iustices sauuacioun.
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(361)
¶ And a kyng, in fulfillinge of þat, is [folio 43b]
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To god lik, whiche is verray rightwisnesse;
And men of yndë seyn and holden þis—
'A kyngës iustice is a greet richesse
Vnto his peple, as plentee or largesse
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Of erthly good, and bettre þan reyn
ffallynge at eue from heuen,' þei seyn.
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