Being good, scolds the villains (7)
I believe the answer is:
pirates
'villains' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'being good scolds' is the wordplay.
'being good' becomes 'pi' (old-fashioned term for pious).
'scolds' becomes 'rates' (I've seen this in another clue).
'pi'+'rates'='PIRATES'
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pirates that I've seen before include "Bad sailors" , "Chatters, talks foolishly" , "More than one brigand" , "felons found in craft?" , "Robbers at sea" .)