000001 In a somer seson, whan softe was the sonne,
000002I shoop me into shroudes as I a sheep were,
000003In habite as an heremite unholy of werkes,
000004Wente wide in this world wondres to here.
000005Ac on a May morwenynge on Malverne hilles
000006Me bifel a ferly, of Fairye me thoghte.
000007I was wery forwandred and wente me to reste
000008Under a brood bank by a bourne syde;
000009And as I lay and lenede and loked on the watres,
000010I slombred into a slepyng, it sweyed so murye.
000011Thanne gan I meten a merveillous swevene--
000012That I was in a wildernesse, wiste I nevere where.
000013A[c] as I biheeld into the eest an heigh to the sonne,
000014I seigh a tour on a toft trieliche ymaked,
000015A deep dale bynethe, a dongeon therinne,
000016With depe diches and derke and dredfulle of sighte.
000017A fair feeld ful of folk fond I ther bitwene--
000018Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche,
000019Werchynge and wandrynge as the world asketh.
000020Somme putten hem to the plough, pleiden ful selde,
000021In settynge and sowynge swonken ful harde,
000022And wonnen that thise wastours with glotonye destruyeth
000023And somme putten hem to pride, apparailed hem therafter,
000024In contenaunce of clothynge comen disgised-
000025In preieres and penaunce putten hem manye,
000026Al for the love of Oure Lord lyveden ful streyte
000027In hope to have heveneriche blisse--
000028As ancres and heremites that holden hem in hire selles,
000029Coveiten noght in contree to cairen aboute
000030For no likerous liflode hire likame to plese.
000031And somme chosen chaffare; they cheveden the bettre--
000032As it semeth to oure sight that swiche men thryveth;
000033And somme murthes to make as mynstralles konne,
000034And geten gold with hire glee-- [gilt]lees, I leeve-
000035Ac japeres and jangeleres, Judas children,
000036Feynen hem fantasies, and fooles hem maketh--
000037And han wit at wille to werken if they wolde.
000038That Poul precheth of hem I wol nat preve it here:
000039{    Qui loquitur turpiloquium} is Luciferes hyne-
000040Bidderes and beggeres faste aboute yede
000041[Til] hire bely and hire bagge  [were] bredful ycrammed,
000042Faiteden for hire foode, foughten at the ale.
000043In glotonye, God woot, go thei to bedde,
000044And risen with ribaudie, tho Roberdes knaves;
000045Sleep and sory sleuthe seweth hem evere.
000046Pilgrymes and palmeres plighten hem togidere
000047For to seken Seint Jame and seintes at Rome;
000048Wenten forth in hire wey with many wise tales,
000049And hadden leve to lyen al hire lif after.
000050I seigh somme that seiden thei hadde ysought seintes:
000051To ech a tale that thei tolde hire tonge was tempred to lye
000052Moore than to seye sooth, it semed bi hire speche.
000053Heremytes on an heep with hoked staves                              ,
000054Wenten to Walsyngham--and hire wenches after:
000055Grete lobies and longe that lothe were to swynke
000056Clothed hem in copes to ben knowen from othere,
000057And shopen hem heremytes hire ese to have.
000058I fond there freres, alle the foure ordres,
000059Prechynge the peple for profit of [the wombe]:
000060Glosed the gospel as hem good liked;
000061For coveitise of copes construwed it as thei wolde.
000062Manye of thise maistres mowe clothen hem at likyng
000063For hire moneie and hire marchaundise marchen togideres.
000064Sith charite hath ben chapman and chief to shryve lordes
000065Manye ferlies han fallen in a fewe yeres.
000066But Holy Chirche and hii holde bettre togidres
000067The mooste meschief on molde is mountynge up faste.
000068Ther preched a pardoner as he a preest were:
000069Broughte forth a bulle with bisshopes seles,
000070And seide that hymself myghte assoillen hem alle
000071Of falshede of fastynge, of avowes ybroken.                              -
000072Lewed men leved hym wel and liked hise wordes,
000073Comen up knelynge to kissen his bulle.
000074He bonched hem with his brevet and blered hire eighen,
000075And raughte with his rageman rynges and broches.
000076--Thus ye gyven youre gold glotons to helpe,
000077And leneth it losels that leccherie haunten"
000078Were the bisshop yblessed and worth bothe his eris,
000079His seel sholde noght be sent to deceyve the peple.
000080Ac it is noght by the bisshop that the boy precheth--
000081For the parisshe preest and the pardoner parten the silver
000082That the povere [peple] of the parissche sholde have if they ne were.
000083Persons and parisshe preestes pleyned hem to the bisshop
000084That hire parisshes weren povere sith the pestilence tyme,
000085To have a licence and leve at London to dwelle,
000086And syngen ther for symonie, for silver is swete.
000087Bisshopes and bachelers, bothe maistres and doctours--
000088That han cure under Crist, and crownynge in tokene
000089And signe that thei sholden shryven hire parisshens,
000090Prechen and praye for hem, and the povere fede--
000091Liggen at Londoun in Lenten and ellis.
000092Somme serven the King and his silver tellen,
000093In Cheker and in Chauncelrie chalangen his dettes
000094Of wardes and of wardemotes, weyves and streyves.
000095And somme serven as servaunts lordes and ladies,
000096And in stede of stywardes sitten and demen.
000097Hire messe and hire matyns and many of hire houres
000098Arn doone undevoutliche; drede is at the laste
000099Lest Crist in Consistorie acorse ful manye"
000100I parceyved of the power that Peter hadde to kepe--
000101To bynden and unbynden, as the Book telleth--
000102How he it lefte with love as Oure Lord highte
000103Amonges foure vertues, most vertuous of al1e vertues,
000104That cardinals ben called and closynge yates
000105There Crist is in kyngdom, to close and to shette,
000106And to opene it to hem and hevene blisse shewe.
000107Ac of the Cardinals at court that kaughte of that name
000108And power presumed in hem a Pope to make
000109To han the power that Peter hadde. impugnen I nelle--
000110For in love and in lettrure the eleccion bilongeth;
000111Forthi I kan and kan naught of court speke moore.
000112Thanne kam ther a Kyng: Knyghthod hym ladde;
000113Might of the communes made hym to regne.
000114And thanne cam Kynde Wit and clerkes he made,
000115For to counseillen the Kyng and the Commune save.
000116The Kyng and Knyghthod and Clergie bothe
000117Casten that the Commune sholde hem [communes] fynde.
000118The Commune contreved of Kynde Wit craftes,
000119And for profit of al the peple plowmen ordeyned
000120To tilie and to travaille as trewe lif asketh.
000121The Kyng and the Commune and Kynde Wit the thridde
000122Shopen lawe and leaute--eeh lif to knowe his owene.
000123Thanne loked up a lunatik, a leene thyng withalle,
000124And knelynge to the Kyng clergially he seide,
000125"Crist kepe thee, sire Kyng, and thi kyngryche,
000126And lene thee lede thi lond so leaute thee lovye,
000127And for thi rightful rulyng be rewarded in hevene"'
000128And sithen in the eyr on heigh an aungel of hevene
000129Lowed to speke in Latyn--for lewed men ne koude
000130Jangle ne jugge that justifie hem sholde,
000131But suffren and serven--forthi seide the aungel:
000132" {Sum Rex, sum Princeps",- neutrum fortasse deinceps "}
000132{O qui iura regis Christi specialia regis,}
000132{Hoc qiiod agas nielius--iustus es, esto pius "}
000135{Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate.}
000135{Qualia vis nietere, talia grana sere:}
000135{Si ius nudatur, nudo de iure metatur;}
000135{Si seritur pietas, de pietate metas'.}
000136Thanne greved hym a goliardeis, a gloton of wordes,
000140And to the aungel an heigh answerde after:
000141" {Dum} " {rex" a " regere} " {dicatur nomen habere,}
000141{Nomen habet sine re nisi studet iura tenere'.}
000142Thanne [c]an al the commune crye in vers of Latyn
000143To the Kynges counseil--construe whoso wolde--
000143{"Precepta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis"'}
000144With that ran ther a route of ratons at ones
000145And smale mees myd hem: mo than a thousand
000146Comen to a counseil for the commune profit;
000147For a cat of a court cam whan hym liked
000150And overleep hem lightliche and laughte hem at his wille,
000151And pleide with hem perillousli and possed aboute.
000152"For doute of diverse dredes we dar noght wel loke"
000153And if we grucche of his gamen he wol greven us alle--
000154Cracchen us or clawen us and in hise clouches holde.
000155That us lotheth the lif er he late us passe.
000156Mighte we with any wit his wille withstonde,
000157We myghte be lordes olofte and lyven at oure ese'.
000158A raton of renoun, moost renable of tonge,
000159Seide for a sovereyn [salve] to hem alle,
000160"I have yseyen segges', quod he, "in the Cite of Londoun
000161Beren beighes ful brighte abouten hire nekkes,
000162And somme colers of crafty work; uncoupled they wenden
000163Bothe in wareyne and in waast where hem leve liketh,
000164And outher while thei arn elliswhere, as I here telle.
000165Were ther a belle on hire beighe, by Jesus, as me thynketh,
000166Men myghte witen wher thei wente and awey renne.
000167And right so', quod that raton, "reson me sheweth
000168To bugge a belle of bras or of bright silver
000169And knytten it on a coler for oure commune profit
000170And hangen it upon the cattes hals--thanne here we mowen
000171Wher he ryt or rest or rometh to pleye;
000172And if hym list for to laike, thanne loke we mowen
000173And peeren in his presence the while hym pleye liketh,
000174And if hym wratheth, be war and his wey shonye'.
000175Al the route of ratons to this reson assented;
000176Ac tho the belle was ybrought and on the beighe hanged
000177Ther ne was raton in al the route, for al the reaume of France,
000178That dorste have bounden the belle aboute the cattes nekke,
000179Ne hangen it aboute his hals al Engelond to wynne,
000180[Ac] helden hem unhardy and hir counseil feble,
000181And leten hire laboure lost and al hire longe studie.
000182A mous that muche good kouthe, as me tho thoughte,
000183Strook forth sternely and stood bifore hem alle,
000184And to the route of ratons reherced thise wordes:
000185"Though we hadde ykilled the cat, yet sholde ther come another
000186To cracchen us and al oure kynde, though we cropen under benches.
000187Forthi I counseille al the commune to late the cat worthe,
000188And be we nevere so bolde the belle hym to shewe.
000188{ The Vision of Piers Plowman}
000189The while he caccheth conynges he coveiteth noght oure caroyne,
000190But fedeth hym al with venyson; defame we hym nevere.
000191For bettre is a litel los than a long sorwe:
000192The maze among us alle, theigh we mysse a sherewe!
000193For I herde my sire seyn, is seven yeer ypassed,
000194""Ther the cat is a kitoun, the court is ful elenge''.
000195That witnesseth Holy Writ, whoso wole it rede--
000196{Ve terre ubi puer rex est, {&c.}}
000197For may no renk ther reste have for ratons by nyghte.
000198For many mennes malt we mees wolde destruye,
000199And also ye route of ratons rende mennes clothes,
000200Nere the cat of the court that kan you overlepe;
000201For hadde ye rattes youre [raik] ye kouthe noght rule yowselve.
000202"I seye for me', quod the mous, " I se so muchel after,
000203Shal nevere the cat ne the kiton by my counseil be greved,
000204Ne carpynge of this coler that costed me nevere.
000205And though it costned me catel, biknowen it I nolde,
000206But suffren as hymself wolde [s]o doon as hym liketh--
000207Coupled and uncoupled to cacche what thei mowe.
000208Forthi ech a wis wight I warne--wite wel his owene!'
000209(What this metels bymeneth, ye men that ben murye,
000210Devyne ye--for I ne dar, by deere God in hevene)!
000211Yet hoved ther an hundred in howves of selk--
000212Sergeants, it semed, that serveden at the Barre,
000213Pleteden for penyes and pounded the lawe,
000214And noght for love of Oure Lord unlose hire lippes ones.
000215Thow myghtest bettre meete myst on Malverne Hilles
000216Than get a "mom' of hire mouth til moneie be shewed!
000217Barins and burgeises and bondemen als
000218I seigh in this assemblee, as ye shul here after;
000219Baksteres and brewesteres and bochiers manye,
000220Wollen webbesters and weveres of lynnen,
000221Taillours and tynkers and tollers in markettes,
000222Masons and mynours and many othere craftes:
000223Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers lopen forth somme-
000224As dykeres and delveres that doon hire dedes ille
000225And dryveth forth the longe day with "Dieu save Dame Emme!'
000226Cokes and hire knaves cryden, " Hote pies, hote!
000227Goode gees and grys! Go we dyne, go we!'
000228Taverners until hem tolden the same:
000229"Whit wyn of Oseye and wyn of Gascoigne,
000230Of the Ryn and of the Rochel, the roost to defie!'
000231--Al this I seigh slepyng, and sevene sythes more.
010001What this mountaigne bymeneth and the merke dale
010002And the feld ful of folk, I shal yow faire shewe.
010003A lovely lady of leere in lynnen yclothed
010004Cam doun fom [the] castel and called me faire,
010005And seide, "Sone, slepestow? Sestow this peple-
010006How bisie they ben aboute the maze?
010007The mooste partie of this peple that passeth on this erthe,
010008Have thei worship in this world, thei wilne no bettre;
010009Of oother hevene than here holde thei no tale'. -
010010I was afeed of hire face, theigh she faire weere,
010011And seide, " Mercy, madame, what [may] this [be] to mene?'
010012"The tour upon the toft', quod she, "Truthe is therinne,
010013And wolde that ye wroughte as his word techeth.
010014For he is fader of feith and formed yow alle
010015Bothe with fel and with face and yaf yow fyve wittes
010016For to worshipe hym therwith while that ye ben here.
010017And therfore he highte the erthe to helpe yow echone
010018Of woilene, of lynnen, of liflode at nede
010019In mesurable manere to make yow at ese;
010020And comaunded of his curteisie in commune three thynges:
010021Are none nedfulle but tho, and nempne hem I thynke,
010022And rekene hem by reson--reherce thow hem after.
010023"That oon is vesture from chele thee to save,
010024And mete at meel for mysese of thiselve,
010025And drynke whan thow driest--ac do noght out of reson,
010026That thow worthe the wers whan thow werche sholdest.
010027For Lot in hise lifdayes, for likynge of drynke,
010028Dide by hise doughtres that the devel liked:
010029Delited hym in drynke as the devel wolde,
010030And leccherie hym laughte, and lay by hem bothe--
010031And al he witte it the wyn, that wikked dede:
010031{Inebriemus eum vino dormiamusque cum eo, ut}
010031{servare possimus de patre nostro semen.}
010032Thorugh wyn and thorugh wommen ther was Loth acombred,
010033And there gat in glotonie gerles that were cherles.
010034Forthi dred delitable drynke and thow shalt do the bettre.
010035Mesure is medicine, though thow muchel yerne.
010036Al is nought good to the goost that the gut asketh,
010037Ne liflode to the likame that leef is to the soule.
010038Leve nought thi likame, for a liere hym techeth--
010039That is the wrecched world, wolde thee bitraye.
010040For the fend and thi flessh folwen togidere,
010041And that [shendeth] thi soule; set it in thin herte.
010042And for thow sholdest ben ywar, I wisse thee the beste.'
010043"A, madame, mercy,' quod l, " me liketh wel youre wordes.
010044Ac the moneie of this molde that men so faste holdeth--
010045Telleth me to whom that tresour appendeth.'
010046Go to the Gospel,' quod she, "that God seide hymselven,
010047Tho the poeple hym apposede with a peny in the Temple
010048Wheither thei sholde therwith worshipe the kyng Cesar.
010049And God asked of hem, of whom spak the lettre,
010050And the ymage ylike that therinne stondeth?
010051Cesares, thei seiden, "we seen it wel echone.'
010052""Reddite Cesari,'' quod God, "" that Cesari bifalleth,
010053Et que sunt Dei Deo, or ellis ye don ille.'
010054--For rightfully Reson sholde rule yow alle,
010055And Kynde Wit be wardeyn youre welthe to kepe,
010056And tutour of youre tresor, and take it yow at nede,
010057For housbondrie and he holden togidres.'
010058Thanne I frayned hire faire, for Hym that hire made,
010059"That dongeon in the dale that dredful is of sighte--
010060What may it bemeene, madame, I yow biseche?'
010061"That is the castel of care--whoso comth therinne
010062May banne that he born was to bodi or to soule!
010063Therinne wonyeth a wight that Wrong is yhote,
010064Fader of falshede--and founded it hymselve.
010065Adam and Eve he egged to ille,
010066Counseilled Kaym to killen his brother,
010067Judas he japed with Jewen silver,
010068And sithen on an eller hanged hym after.
010069He is lettere of love and lieth hem alle:
010070That trusten on his tresour bitrayed arn sonnest.'
010071Thanne hadde I wonder in my wit what womman it weere
010072That swiche wise wordes of Holy Writ shewed,
010073And halsede hire on the heighe name, er she thennes yede,
010074What she were witterly that wissed me so faire.
010075"Holi Chirche I am,' quod she, thow oughtest me to knowe.
010076I underfeng thee first and the feith taughte.
010077Thow broughtest me borwes my biddyng to fulfille,
010078And to loven me leelly the while thi lif dureth.'
010079Thanne I courbed on my knees and cried hire of grace,
010080And preide hire pitously to preye for my synnes,
010081And also kenne me kyndely on Crist to bileve,
010082That I myghte werchen His wille that wroghte me to man:
010083"Teche me to no tresor, but tel me this ilke =
010084How I may save my soule, that seint art yholden.'
010085"Whan alle tresors arn tried,' quod she, -Treuthe is the beste.
010086I do it on Deus caritas to deme the sothe;
010087It is as dereworthe a drury as deere God hymselven.
010088Who is trewe of his tonge and telleth noon oother,
010089And dooth the werkes therwith and wilneth no man ille,
010090He is a god by the Gospel, agrounde and olofte,
010091And ylik to Oure Lord, by Seint Lukes wordes.
010092The clerkes that knowen this sholde kennen it aboute,
010093For Cristen and uncristen cleymeth it echone.
010094" Kynges and knyghtes sholde kepen it by reson--
010095Riden and rappen doun in reaumes aboute,
010096And taken transgressores and tyen hem faste
010097Til treuthe hadde ytermyned hire trespas to the ende.
010098For David in hise dayes dubbed knyghtes,
010099And dide hem sweren on hir swerd to serven truthe evere.
010100And that is the profession apertly that apendeth to knyghtes,
010101And naught to Fasten o Friday in fyve score wynter,
010102But holden with hym and with here that wolden alle truthe,
010103And never leve hem for love ne for lacchynge of silver--
010104And whoso passe[th] that point is apostata in the ordre.
010105- But Crist, kyngene kyng, knyghted ten--
010106Cherubyn and Seraphyn, swiche sevene and another,
010107And yaf hem myght in his majestee--the murier hem thoughte--
010108And over his meene meynee made hem archangeles;
010109Taughte hem by the Trinitee treuthe to knowe,
010110To be buxom at his biddyng--he bad hem nought ellis.
010111"Lucifer with legions lerned it in hevene,
010112[And was the lovelokest to loke after Oure Lord (one)]
010113Til he brak buxomnesse; his blisse gan he tyne,
010114And fel fro that felawshipe in a fendes liknesse
010115into a deep derk helle to dwelle there for evere.
010116And mo thousandes myd hym than man kouthe nombre
010117Lopen out with Lucifer in lothliche forme
010118For thei leveden upon hym that lyed in this manere:
010119Ponam pedem in aquilone, et similis ero Altissimo.
010120And alle that hoped it myghte be so, noon hevene myghte hem holde,
010121But fellen out in fendes liknesse [ful] nyne dayes togideres,
010122Til God of his goodnesse [garte the hevene to stekie
010123And gan stable it and stynte] and stonden in quiete.
010124" Whan thise wikkede wenten out, wonderwise thei fellen--
010125Somme in eyr, somme in erthe, somme in helle depe;
010126Ac Lucifer lowest lith of hem alle:
010127For pride that he putte out, his peyne hath noon ende.
010128And alle that werchen with wrong wende thei shulle
010129After hir deth day and dwelle with that sherewe;
010130Ac tho that werche wel as Holy Writ telleth,
010131And enden as I er seide in truthe, that is the beste,
010132Mowe be siker that hire soules shul wende to hevene,
010133Ther Treuthe is in Trinitee and troneth hem alle.
010134Forthi I seye, as I seyde er, by sighte of thise textes--
010135Whan alle tresors arn tried, Truthe is the beste.
010136Lereth it th[u]s lewed men, for lettred it knoweth--
010137That Treuthe is tresor the trieste on erthe.'
010138"Yet have I no kynde knowynge,' quod I, "ye mote kenne me bettre
010139By what craft in my cors it comseth, and where.'
010140"Thow doted daffe!' quod she, dulle are thi wittes.
010141To litel Latyn thow lernedest, leode, in thi youthe:
010141{Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuvenilem!}
010142It is a kynde knowynge that kenneth in thyn herte
010143For to loven thi Lord levere than thiselve,
010144No dedly synne to do, deye theigh thow sholdest--
010145This I trowe be truthe; who kan teche thee bettre,
010146Loke thow suffre hym to seye, and sithen lere it after;
010147For thus witnesseth his word; worche thow therafter.
010148" For Truthe telleth that love is triacle of hevene:
010149May no synne be on hym seene that that spice useth.
010150And alle his werkes he wroughte with love as hym liste,
010151And lered it Moyses for the leveste thyng and moost lik to hevene,
010152And also the plante of pees, moost precious of vertues :
010153For hevene myghte nat holden it, so was it hevy of hymself,
010154Til it hadde of the erthe eten his fille.
010155And whan it hadde of this fold flessh and blood taken,
010156Was nevere leef upon lynde lighter therafter,
010157And portatif and persaunt as the point of a nedle,
010158That myghte noon armure it lette ne none heighe walles.
010159" Forthi is love ledere of the Lordes folk of hevene,
010160And a meene, as the mair is, [inmiddes] the kyng and the commune;
010161Right so is love a ledere and the lawe shapeth:
010162Upon man for hise mysdedes the mercyment he taxeth.
010163And for to knowen it kyndely--it comseth by myght,
010164And in the herte, there is the heed and the heighe welle.
010165For in kynde knowynge in herte ther [coms]eth a myght--
010166And that falleth to the Fader that formed us alle,
010167Loked on us with love and leet his sone dye
010168Mekely for oure mysdedes, to amenden us alle.
010169And yet wolde he hem no wo that wroughte hym that peyne,
010170But mekely with mouthe mercy he bisoughte,
010171To have pite of that peple that peyned hym to dethe.
010172" Here myghtow sen ensample in hymself oone--
010173That he was myghtful and meke, and mercy gan graunte
010174To hem that hengen hym heigh and his herte thirled.
010175" Forthi I rede yow riche, haveth ruthe of the povere,
010176Though ye be myghty to mote, beeth meke in youre werkes,
010177For the same mesure that ye mete, amys outher ellis,
010178Ye shulle ben weyen therwith whan ye wenden hennes:
010178{Eadem mensura qua mensifueritis remecietur vobis.}
010179For though ye be trewe of youre tonge and treweliche wynne,
010180And as chaste as a child that in chirche wepeth,
010181But if ye loven leelly and lene the povere
010182Of swich good as God sent, goodliche parteth,
010183Ye ne have na moore merite in Masse ne in houres
010184Than Malkyn of hire maydenhede, that no man desireth.
010185For James the gentile jugged in hise bokes
010186That feith withouten feetis (feblere] than nought,
010187And as deed as a dorenai but if the dedes folwe:
010187{ Fides sine operibus mortua est &c.}
010188"Forthi chastite withouten charite worth cheyned in helle;
010189It is as lewed as a lampe that no light is inne.
010190Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, ac charite is aweye;
010191Are none hardere than hii whan [hii] ben avaunced:
010192Unkynde to hire kyn and to alle Cristene,
010193Chewen hire charite and chiden after moore--
010194Swich chastite withouten charite worth cheyned in helle.
010195Manye curatours kepen hem clene of hire bodies;
010196Thei ben acombred with coveitise, thei konne noght out crepe,
010197So harde hath avarice yhasped hem togideres.
010198And that is no truthe of the Trinite, but tricherie of helle,
010199And lernynge to lewed men the latter for to deele.
010200For [thise ben wordes] writen in the [Euaungelie]:
010201"" Date, et dabitur vobis--for I deeIe yow alle.
010202And that is the lok of love that leteth out my grace,
010203To conforten the carefulle acombred with synne.''
010204Love is leche of lif and next Oure Lord selve,
010205And also the graithe gate that goth into hevene.
010206Forthi I seye as I seide er by sighte of the textes:
010207Whan alle tresors ben tried, Treuthe is the beste.
010208"Now have I told thee what truthe is--that no tresor is bettre--
010209I may no lenger lenge thee with; now loke thee Oure Lord!'
020001Yet I courbed on my knees and cried hire of grace,
020002And seide, " Mercy, madame, for Marie love of hevene,
020003That bar that blisful barn that boughte us on the Rode--
020004Kenne me by sorn craft to knowe the false.'
020005Loke upon thi let-t half, and lo where he stondeth--
020006Bothe Fals and Favel, and hire feeres manye!'
020007I loked on my left half as the Lady me taughte,
020008And was war of a womman wonderliche yclothed--
020009Purfiled with pelure, the pureste on erthe,
020010Ycorouned with a coroune, the Kyng hath noon bettre.
020011Fetisliche hire fyngres were fretted with gold wyr,
020012And thereon rede rubies as rede as any gleede,
020013And diamaundes of derrest pris and double manere saphires,
020014Orientals and ewages envenymes to destroye.
020015Hire robe was ful riche, of reed scarlet engreyned,
020016With ribanes of reed gold and of riche stones.
020017Hire array me ravysshed, swich richesse saugh I newere.
020018I hadde wonder what she was and whos wif she were.
020019"What is this womman,' quod I, so worthili atired?'
020020"That is Mede the mayde.' quod she, hath noyed me ful ofte,
020021And ylakked my lemman that Leautee is hoten,
020022And bilowen h[ym] to lordes that lawes han to kepe.
020023In the Popes paleis she is pryvee as myselve,
020024But soothnesse wolde noght so--for she is a bastard,
020025For Fals was hire fader that hath a fikel tonge,
020026And nevere sooth seide sithen he com to erthe;
020027And Mede is manered after hym, right as [asketh kynde]:
020027{   Qualis pater, talis filius. Bona arbor bonum fructum facit.}
020028"I oughte ben hyere than [heo]--I kam of a bettre.
020029My fader the grete God is and ground of alle graces,
020030Oo God withouten gynnyng, and I his goode doughter,
020031And hath yeven me Mercy to marie with myselve;
020032And what man be merciful and leelly me love
020033Shal be mylord and I his leef in the heighe hevene;
020034And what man taketh Mede. myn heed dar I legge
020035That he shal lese for hire love a lappe of Caritatis.
020036"How construeth David the King of men that [cacch]eth Mede,
020037And men of this moolde that maynteneth truthe,
020038And how ye shul save yourself? The Sauter bereth witnesse:
020038{   Domine, quis hubitabit in tabernaculo tuo, &c.}
020040"And now worth this Mede ymaried to a mansed sherewe,
020041To oon Fals Fikel-tonge, a fendes biyete.
020042Favel thorugh his faire speche hath this folk enchaunted,
020043And al is Lieres ledynge that [lady] is thus ywedded.
020044Tomorwe worth ymaked the maydenes bridale;
020045And there myghtow witen if thow wilt whiche thei ben alle
020046That longen to that lordshipe, the lasse and the moore.
020047Knowe hem there if thow kanst, and kepe [thee from hem alle],
020048And lakke hem noght but lat hem worthe, til Leaute oe Justice
020049And have power to punysshe hem--thanne put forth thi reson.
020050Now I bikenne thee Crist,' quod she, "and his clene moder,
020051And lat no conscience acombre thee for coveitise of Mede.'
020052Thus lefte me that lady liggynge aslepe,
020053And how Mede was ymaried in metels me thoughte--
020054That al the riche retenaunce that regneth with the False
020055Were boden to the bridale on bothe two sides,
020056Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche.
020057To marien this mayde was many man assembled,
020058As of knyghtes and of clerkes and oother commune peple,
020059As sisours and somonours, sherreves and hire clerkes,
020060Bedelles and baillifs and brocours of chaffare,
020061Forgoers and vitaillers and vokettes of the Arches;
020062I kan noght rekene the route that ran aboute Mede.
020063Ac Symonie and Cyvylle and sisours of courtes
020064Were moost pryvee with Mede of any men, me thoughte.
020065Ac Favel was the firste that fette hire out of boure
020066And as a brocour broughte hire to be with Fals enjoyned.
020067Whan Symonye and Cyvylle seighe hir bother wille,
020068Thei assented for silver to seye as bothe wolde.
020069Thanne leep Liere forth and seide, "Lo! here a chartre
020070That Gile with his grete othes gaf hem togidere,'--
020071And preide Cyvylle to see and Symonye to rede it.
020072Thanne Symonye and Cyvylle stonden forth bothe
020073And unfoldeth the feffement that Fals hath ymaked,
020074And thus bigynnen thise gomes to greden ful heighe:
020074{   "Sciant presentes & futuri, &c.}
020075Witeth and witnesseth, that wonieth upon this erthe,
020076That Mede is ymaried moore for hire goodes
020077Than for any vertue or fairnesse or any free kynde.
020078Falsnesse is fayn of hire for he woot hire riche;
020079And Favel with his fikel speche feffeth by this chartre
020080To be Princes in Pride, and poverte to despise,
020081To bakbite and to bosten and bere fals witnesse,
020082To scorne and to scolde and sclaundre to make,
020083Unbuxome and bolde to breke the ten hestes.
020084And the erldom of Envye and Wrathe togideres,
020085With the chastiIet of cheste and chaterynge out of reson.
020086The countee of Coveitise and alle the costes about--
020087That is usure and avarice--al I hem graunte
020088In bargaynes and in brocages with al the burghe of thefte,
020089And al the lordshipe of Leccherie in lengthe and in brede--
020090As in werkes and in wordes and in waitynges with eighes,
020091And in wedes and in wisshynges and with ydel thoughtes
020092Ther as wil wolde and werkmanshipe faylith.'
020093Glotonye he gaf hem ek and grete othes togidere,
020094And al day to drynken at diverse tavernes,
020095And there to jangle and jape and jugge hir evencristen,
020096And in fastynge dayes to frete er ful tyme were.
020097And thanne to sitten and soupen til sleep hem assaille,
020098And breden at burgh swyn, and bedden hem esily,
020099Til Sleuthe and sleep sliken hise sydes;
020100And thanne wanhope to awaken hym so with no wil to amende,
020101For he leveth be lost--this is his laste ende.
020102"And thei to have and to holde, and hire heires after,
020103A dwellynge with the devel, and dampned be for evere,
020104With alle the appurtinaunces of Purgatorie into the pyne of helle-
020105Yeldynge for this thyng at one yeres ende
020106Hire soules to Sathan, to suffre with hym peynes,
020107And with hym to wonye with wo while God is in hevene.'
020108In witnesse of which thyng Wrong was the firste,
020109And Piers the Pardoner of Paulynes doctrine,
020110Bette the Bedel of Bokynghamshire,
020111Reynald the Reve of Rutland Sokene,
020112Munde the Millere--and many mo othere.
020113"1n the date of the devel this dede I assele
020114By sighte of Sire Symonie and Cyvyles leeve.'
020115Thanne tened hym Theologie whan he this tale herde, -
020116And seide to Cyvyle, "Now sorwe mote thow have--
020117Swiche weddynges to werche to wrathe with Truthe!
020118And er this weddynge be wroght, wo thee bitide!
020119For Mede is muliere, of Amendes engendred;
020120And God graunted to gyve Mede to truthe,
020121And thow hast gyven hire to a gilour--now God gyve thee sorwe!
020122The text telleth thee noght so, Truthe woot the sothe,
020123For Dignus est operarius his hire to have--
020124And thow hast fest hire to Fals; fy on thi lawe!
020125For al bi lesynges thow lyvest and lecherouse werkes.
020126Symonye and thiself shenden Holi Chirche,
020127The notaries and ye noyen the peple.
020128Ye shul abiggen bothe, by God that me made!
020129" Wel ye witen, wernardes, but if youre wit faille,
020130That Fals is feithlees and fikel in hise werkes
020131And as a bastarde ybore of Belsabubbes kynne.
020132And Mede is muliere, a maiden of goode,
020133And myghte kisse the Kyng for cosyn and she wolde.
020134Forthi wercheth by wisdom and by wit also,
020135And ledeth hire to Londoun, there lawe is yshewed,
020136If any lawe wol loke thei ligge togideres.
020137And though justices juggen hire to be joyned with Fals,
020138Yet be war of the weddynge--for witty is Truthe,
020139And Conscience is of his counseil and knoweth yow echone,
020140And if he fynde yow in defaute and with the false holde,
020141It shal bisitte youre soules ful soure at the laste.'
020142Herto assenteth Cyvyle, ac Symonye ne wolde,
020143Til he hadde silver for his se[el] and [signes] of notaries.
020144Thanne fette Favel forth floryns ynowe
020145And bad Gile, "Go gyve gold al aboute,
020146And namely to the notaries, that hem noon faille;
020147And feffe Fals-witnesse with floryns ynowe,
020148For he may Mede amaistrye and maken at my wille.'
020149Tho this gold was ygyve, gret was the thonkyng
020150To Fals and to Favel for hire faire yiftes,
020151And comen to conforten from care the- False,
020152And seiden, "Certes, sire, cessen shul we nevere,
020153Til Mede be thi wedded wif thorugh wit of us alle;
020154For we have Mede amaistried with oure murie speche,
020155That she graunteth to goon with a good wille
020156To London, to loken if the lawe wolde
020157Juggen yow joyntly in joie for evere.'
020158Thanne was Falsnesse fayn and Favel as blithe,
020159And leten somone alle segges in shires aboute,
020160And bad hem alle be bown, beggers and othere,
020161To wenden with hem to Westmynstre to witnesse this dede.
020162Ac thanne cared thei for caples to carien hem thider;
020163And Favel fette forth thanne foles ynowe
020164And sette Mede upon a sherreve shoed al newe,
020165And Fals sat on a sisour that softeli trotted
020166And Favel on a flaterere fetisly atired.
020167Tho hadde notaries none; anoyed thei were
020168For Symonye and Cyvylle sholde on hire feet gange.
020169Ac thanne swoor Symonye and Cyvylle bothe
020170That somonours golde be sadeled and serven hem echone.
020171"And late apparaille thise provisours in palfreyes wise;
020172Sire Symonye hymself shal sitte upon hir bakkes.
020173Denes and southdenes, drawe yow togideres;
020174Erchedekenes and officials and alle youre registrers,
020175Lat sadle hem with silver oure synne to suffre--
020176As devoutrye and divorses and derne usurie--
020177To bere bisshopes aboute abrood in visitynge.
020178Paulynes pryvees for pleintes in consistorie
020179Shul serven myself that Cyvyle is nempned.
020180And cartsadle the commissarie--oure cart shal he [drawe],
020181And fecchen us vitailles at fornicatores,
020182And maketh of Lyere a lang cart to leden alle thise othere,
020183As fobberes and faitours that on hire feet rennen.'
020184And thus Fals and Favel fareth forth togideres,
020185And Mede in the middes and alle thise men after.
020186I have no tome to telle the tail that hem folweth,
020187Of many maner man that on this molde libbeth,
020188Ac Gyle was forgoer and gyed hem alle.
020189Sothnesse seigh hem wel, and seide but litel,
020190A[c] priked his palfrey and passed hem alle,
020191And com to the Kynges court and Conseience it tolde,
020192And Conseience to the Kyng carped it after.
020193" Now, by Cryst!' quod the Kyng, "and I cacche myghte
020194Fals or Favel or any of hise feeris,
020195I wolde be wroken of tho wrecches that wercheth so ille,
020196And doon hem hange by the hals and alle that hem maynteneth.
020197Shal nevere man of this molde meynprise the leeste,
020198But right as the lawe loke[th], lat falle on hem alle!'
020199And comaunded a constable that com at the firste,
020200To attachen tho tyraunts: "For any [tresor], I hote,
020201Fettreth Falsnesse faste, for any kynnes yiftes,
020202And girdeth of Gyles heed--lat hym go no ferther;
020203And bringeth Mede to me maugree hem alle!
020204And if ye lacche Lyere, lat hym noght ascapen
020205Er he be put on the pillory, for any preyere, I hote.'
020206Drede at the dore stood and the doom herde,
020207And how the Kyng comaunded constables and sergeaunts
020208Falsnesse and his Felawship to fettren and to bynden.
020209Thanne Drede wente wyghtliche and warned the False,
020210And bad hym fle for fere, and hise feeris alle.
020211Falsnesse for fere thanne fleigh to the freres
020212And Gyle dooth hym to go, agast for to dye.
020213Ac marchaunts metten with hym and made hym abyde,
020214And bishetten hym in hire shoppes to shewen hire ware,
020215Apparailed hym as a prentice the peple to serve.
020216Lightliche Lyere leep awey thennes,
020217Lurkynge thorugh lanes, tolugged of manye.
020218He was nowher welcome for his manye tales,
020219Over al yhonted and yhote trusse,
020220Til pardoners hadde pite, and pulled hym into house.
020221They wesshen hym and wiped hym and wounden hym in cloutes,
020222And senten hym [on Sondayes with seles] to chirches,
020223And gaf pardoun for pens poundemele aboute.
020224Thanne lourede leches, and lettres thei sente
020225That he sholde wonye with hem watres to loke.
020226Spycers speken with hym to spien hire ware,
020227For he kouthe on hir craft and knew manye gommes.
020228Ac mynstrales and messagers mette with hym ones,
020229And [with]helden hym an half yeer and ellevene dayes.
020230Freres with fair speche fetten hymthen,
020231And for knowynge of comeres coped hym as a frere;
020232Ac he hath leve to lepen out as ofte as hym liketh,
020233And is welcome whan he wile, and woneth with hem ofte.
020234Alle fledden for fere and flowen into hernes;
020235Save Mede the mayde na mo dorste abide.
020236Ac trewely to telIe, she trembled for fere,
020237And ek wepte and wrong whan she was attached.
030001Now is Mede the mayde and no mo of hem alle,
030002With bedeles and baillies brought bifore the Kyng.
030003The Kyng called a clerk--l kan noght his name--
030004To take Mede the maide and maken hire at ese.
030005I shal assayen hire myself and soothliche appose
030006What man of this world that hire were levest.
030007And if she werche bi wit and my wil folwe
030008I wol forgyven hire this gilt, so me God helpe!'
030009Curteisly the clerk thanne, as the Kyng highte,
030010Took Mede bi the myddel and broghte hire into chambre.
030011Ac ther was murthe and mynstralcie Mede to plese;
030012That wonyeth at Westmynstre worshipeth hire alle.
030013Gentilliche with joye the justices somme
030014Busked hem to the bour ther the burde dwellede,
030015Conforted hyre kyndely by Clergies leve,
030016And seiden, " Mourne noght, Mede, ne make thow no sorwe,
030017For we wol wisse the Kyng and thi wey shape
030018To be wedded at thi wille and wher thee leef liketh
030019For al Conscienees cast or craft, as I trowe.'
030020Mildely Mede thanne merciede hem alle
030021Of hire grete goodnesse--and gaf hem echone
030022Coupes of clene gold and coppes of silver,
030023Rynges with rubies and richesses manye,
030024The Ieeste man of hire meynee a moton of golde.
030025Thanne laughte thei leve thise lordes at Mede.
030026With that comenclerkes to conforten hire the same,
030027And beden hire be blithe-- "For we beth thyne owene
030028For to werche thi wille the while thow myght laste.'
030029Hendiliche heo thanne bihighte hem the same--
030030To loven hem lelly and lordes to make,
030031And in the consistorie at the court do callen hire names.
030032" Shal no lewednesse lette the clerke that I lovye,
030033That he ne worth first avaunced for I am biknowen
030034Ther konnynge clerkes shul clokke bihynde.'
030035Thanne cam ther a confessour coped as a frere;
030036To Mede the mayde [mekeliche he loutede]
030037And seide ful softely, in shrift as it were,
030038"Theigh lewed men and lered men hadde leyen by thee bothe.
030039And Falshede hadde yfolwed thee alle thise fifty wynter,
030040I shal assoille thee myself for a seem of whete,
030041And also be thi bedeman, and bere wel thyn er[ende],
030042Amonges knyghtes and clerkes, Conscience to torne.
030043Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes to that man kneled,
030044And shrof hire of hire sherewednesse--shamelees, I trowe;
030045Tolde hym a tale and took hym a noble
030046For to ben hire bedeman and hire brocour als.
030047Thanne he assoiled hire soone and sithen he seide,
030048" We have a wyndow in werchynge, wole stonden us ful hye;
030049Woldestow glaze that gable and grave therinne thy name,
030050Sykir sholde thi soule be hevene to have.'
030051" Wiste I that,' quod the womman, - I wolde noght spare
030052For to be youre frend, frere, and faile yow nevere
030053While ye love lordes that lecherie haunten
030054And lakketh noght ladies that loven wel the same.
030055lt is a freletee of flessh--ye fynden it in bokes--
030056And a cours of kynde. wherof we comen alle.
030057Who may scape the sclaundre, the scathe is soone amended;
030058It is synne of the sevene sonnest relessed.
030059Have mercy,' quod Mede, of men that it haunteth
030060And I shal covere youre kirk, youre cloistre do maken,
030061Wowes do whiten and wyndowes glazen,
030062Do peynten and portraye [who paied] for the makynge,
030063That every segge shall see I am suster of youre house.'
030064Ac God to alle good folk swich gravynge defendeth--
030065To writen in wyndowes of hir wel dedes--
030066An aventure pride be peynted there, and pomp of the world;
030067For God knoweth thi conscience and thi kynde wille,
030068And thi cost and thi coveitise and who the catel oughte.
030069Forthi I lere yow lordes, leveth swiche w[rityng]es--
030070To writen in wyndowes of youre wel dedes
030071Or to greden after Goddes men whan ye [gyve] doles,
030072On aventure ye have youre hire here and youre hevene als.
030072{   Nesciat sinsitra quid faciat dextra:}
030073Lat noght thi left half, late ne rathe,
030074Wite what thow werchest with thi right syde--
030075For thus bit the Gospel goode men doon hir almesse.
030076Maires and maceres, that menes ben bitwene
030077The kyng and the comune to kepe the lawes,
030078To punysshe on pillories and on pynynge stooles
030079Brewesters and baksters, bochiers and cokes--
030080For thise are men on this molde that moost harm wercheth
030081To the povere peple that parcelmele buggen.
030082For thei poisone the peple pryveliche and ofte,
030083Thei richen thorugh regratrie and rentes hem biggen
030084With that the povere peple sholde putte in hire wombe.
030085For toke thei on trewely, thei tymbred nought so heighe,
030086Ne boughte none burgages--be ye ful certeyne!
030087Ac Mede the mayde the mair h[eo] bisought[e]
030088Of alle swiche selleris silver to take,
030089Or presents withouten pens--as pieces of silver,
030090Rynges or oother richesse the regratiers to mayntene.
030091" For my love,' quod that lady, love hem echone,
030092And suffre hem to selle somdel ayeins reson.'
030093Salamon the sage a sermon he made
030094For to amenden maires and men that kepen lawes,
030095And tolde hem this teme that I telle thynke:
030095{ Ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, &c.}
030096Among thise lettrede leodes this Latyn is to mene
030097That fir shall falle and [for]brenne al to bloo askes
030098The houses and the homes of hem that desireth
030100Yiftes or yeresyeves because of hire offices.
030101The Kyng fro counseil cam, and called after Mede,
030102And ofsente hire as swithe with sergeaunts manye
030103That broughte hire to boure with blisse and with joye.
030104Curteisly the Kyng thanne comsed to telle;
030105To Mede the mayde he melleth thise wordes:
030106" Unwittily, womman, wroght hastow ofte;
030107Ac worse wroghtest thow nevere than tho thow Fals toke.
030108But I forgyve thee that gilt, and graunte thee my grace;
030109Hennes to thi deeth day do so na moore!
030110I have a knyght, Conscience, cam late fro biyonde;
030111If he wilneth thee to wif, wiltow hym have?'
030112"Ye, Iord,' quod that lady, " Lord forbede it ellis!
030113But I be holly at youre heste, lat hange me soone!'
030114Thanne was Conscience called to come and appere
030115Bifore the Kyng and his conseil, as clerkes and othere.
030116Knelynge Conseience to the Kyng louted,
030117To wite what his wille were and what he do sholde.
030118"Woltow wedde this womman,' quod the Kyng, "if I wole assente?
030119For she is fayn of thi felaweshipe, for to be thi make.'
030120Quod Conscience to the-Kyng, "Crist it me forbede!
030121Er I wedde swich a wif, wo me bitide!
030122For she is frele of hire feith, fikel of hire speche,
030123And maketh men mysdo many score tymes.
030124In trust of hire tresor she t[en]eth ful manye:
030125Wyves and widewes wantounnesse she techeth,
030126And lereth hem lecherie that loveth hire yiftes.
030127Poure fader she felled thorugh false biheste,
030128And hath apoisoned popes and peired Holy Chirche.
030129Is noght a bettre baude, by Hym that me made,
030130Bitwene hevene and helle, in erthe though men soghte!
030131For she is tikel of hire tail, talewis of tonge,
030132As commune as the cartwey to [knaves and to alle]--
030133To monkes, to mynstrales, to meseles in hegges;
030134Sisours and somonours, swiche men hire preiseth,
030135Sherreves of shires were shent if she ne were--
030136For she dooth men lese hire lond and hire lif bothe.
030137She leteth passe prisoners and paieth for hem ofte,
030138And gyveth the gailers gold and grotes togidres
030139To unfettre the Fals--fle where hym liketh;
030140And taketh the trewe bi the top and tieth hym faste,
030141And hangeth hym for hatrede that harm[e]de nevere.
030142"To be cursed in consistorie she counteth noght a russhe
030143For she copeth the commissarie and coteth hise clerkes.
030144She is assoiled as soone as hireself liketh;
030145She may neigh as muche do in a monthe ones
030146As youre secret seel in sixe seore dayes!
030147She is pryvee with the Pope--provisours it knoweth,
030148For Sire Symonie and hirselve seleth hire bulles.
030149She blesseth thise bisshopes, theigh thei be lewed;
030150Provendreth persones and preestes she maynteneth
030151To h[old]e lemmans and lotebies alle hire lif daies
030152And bryngen forth barnes ayein forbode lawes.
030153"Ther she is wel with the kyng, wo is the reaume--
030154For she is favorable to Fals and defouleth truthe ofte.
030155By Jesus! with hire jeweles youre justice she shendeth
030156And lith ayein the lawe and letteth hym the gate,
030157That feith may noght have his forth, hire floryns go so thinke.
030158She ledeth the lawe as hire list and lovedaies maketh,
030159And doth men lese thorugh hire love that lawe myghte wynne--
030160The maze for a mene man, though he mote evere!
030161Lawe is so lordlich, and looth to maken ende:
030162Withouten presents or pens he pleseth wel fewe.
030163"Barons and burgeises she bryngeth in sorwe,
030164And al the comune in care that coveiten lyve in truthe,
030165For cIergie and coveitise she coupleth togidres.
030166This is the lif of that lady--now Lord yyve hire sorwe,
030167And alle that maynteneth hire men, meschaunee hem bitide!
030168For povere men may have no power to pleyne though thei smerte,
030169Swich a maister is Mede among men of goode.'
030170Thanne mournede Mede and mened hire to the Kynge
030171To have space to speke, spede if she myghte.
030172The Kyng graunted hire grace with a good wille:
030173"Excuse thee if thow kanst; I kan namoore seggen,
030174For Conscience accuseth thee, to congeien thee for evere.'
030175"Nay, lord,' quod that lady, "leveth hym the werse
030176Whan ye witen witterly wher the wrong liggeth.
030177Ther that meschief is gret, Mede may helpe.
030178And thow knowest, Conscience, I kam noght to chide,
030179Ne to deprave thi persone with a proud herte.
030180WeI thow woost, wernard, but if thow wolt gabbe,
030181Thow hast hanged on myn half ellevene tymes,
030182And also griped my gold, and gyve it where thee liked.
030183ow wrathest thee now, wonder me thynketh !
030184Yet I may, as I myghte, menske thee with yiftes
030185And mayntene thi manhode moore than thow knowest.
030186"Ac thow hast famed me foule bifore the Kyng here;
030187For killed I nevere no kyng, ne counseiled therafter,
030188Ne dide as thow demest--I do it on the Kynge.
030189In Normandie was he noght noyed for my sake--
030190Ac thow thiself, soothly, shamedest hym ofte:
030191Crope into a cabane for cold of thi nayles,
030192Wendest that wynter wolde han ylasted evere,
030193And dreddest to be ded for a dym cloude,
030194And hyedest homward for hunger of thi wombe.
030195Withouten pite, pilour, povere men thow robbedest
030196And bere hire bras at thi bak to Caleis to selle,
030197Ther I lafte with my lord his lif for to save.
030198I made his men murye and mournynge lette;
030199I batred hem on the bak and boldede hire hertes,
030200And dide hem hoppe for hope to have me at wille.
030201Hadde I ben marchal of his men, by Marie of hevene!
030202I dorste have leyd my lif and no lasse wedde,
030203He sholde have be lord of that lond in lengthe and in brede,
030204And also kyng of that kith his kyn for to helpe--
030205The leeste brol of his blood a barones piere!
030206Cowardly thow, Conscience, conseiledest hym thennes--
030207To leven his lordshipe for a litel silver,
030208That is the richeste reaume that reyn overhoveth.
030209"It bicometh to a kyng that kepeth a reaume
030210To yeve [men mede] that mekely hym serveth--
030211To aliens and to alle men, to honouren hem with yiftes;
030212Mede maketh hym biloved and for a man holden.
030213Emperours and erles and alle manere lordes
030214Thorugh yiftes han yonge men to yerne and to ryde.
030215The Pope and alle prelates presents underfongen
030216And medeth men hemserven to mayntene hir lawes,
030217Servaunts for hire servyce, we seeth wel the sothe,
030218Taken mede of hir maistres, as thei mowe acorde.
030219Beggeres for hir biddynge bidden men mede.
030220Mynstrales for hir myrthe mede thei aske.
030221The Kyng hath mede of his men to make pees in londe.
030222Men that [kenne clerkes] craven of hem mede.
030223Preestes that prechen the peple to goode
030224Asken mede and massepens and hire mete [also].
030225Alle kyn crafty men craven mede for hir prentices.
030226Marchaundise and mede mote nede go togideres:
030227No wight, es I wene, withouten Mede may libbe!
030228Quod the Kyng to Conscience, "By Crist, as me thynketh,
030229Mede is worthi the maistrie to have!-
030230"Nay,' quod Conscience to the Kyng and kneled to the erthe,
030231"Ther are two manere of medes, my Iord, by youre leve.
030232That oon God of his grace graunteth in his blisse
030233To tho that wel werchen while thei ben here.
030234The Prophete precheth therof and putte it in the Sauter:
030234{Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?}
030235Lord, who shal wonye in thi wones with thyne holy seintes
030236Or resten in thyne holy hilles?--This asketh David.
030237And David assoileth it hymself, as the Sauter telleth:
030237{Qui ingreditur sine macula et operatur iusticiam.}
030238Tho that entren of o colour and of one wille,
030239And han ywroght werkes with right and with reson,
030240And he that useth noght the lyf of usurie
030241And enformeth povere men and pursueth truthe:
030241{Qui pecuniam fuam non dedis ad usuram, et munera super inflocentem &c.}
030242And alle that helpen the innocent and holden with the rightfulle,
030243Withouten mede doth hem good and the truthe helpeth--
030244Swiche manere men, my lord, shul have this firste mede
030245Of God at a gret nede, whan thei gon hennes.
030246"Ther is another mede mesurelees, that maistres desireth:
030247To mayntene mysdoers mede thei take,
030248And therof seith the Sauter in a salmes ende--
030248{In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt; dextra eorum repleta est muneribus:}
030250And he that gripeth hir gold, so me God helpe,
030251Shal abien it bittre, or the Book lieth!
030252Preestes and persons that plesynge desireth,
030253That taken mede and moneie for masses that thei syngeth,
030254Taken hire mede here as Mathew us techeth:
030254{Amen, amen, receperunt mercedem suam.}
030255That laborers and lewede [leodes] taken of hire maistres,
030256It is no manere mede but a mesurable hire.
030257In marchaundise is no mede, I may it wel avowe:
030258It is a permutacion apertly--a penyworth for another.
030259"Ac reddestow nevere Regum, thow recrayed Mede,
030260Whi the vengeaunce fel on Saul and on his children?
030261God sente to Saul by Samuel the prophete
030262That Agag of Amalec and al his peple after
030263Sholden deye for a dede that doon hadde hire eldres.
030264"Forthi,' seide Samuel to Saul, "God hymself hoteth thee
030265To be buxom at his biddynge, his wil to fulfille.
030266Weend to Amalec with thyn oost, and what thow fyndest there--sle it:
030267Burnes and beestes--bren hem to dethe!
030268Widwes and wyves, wommen and children,
030269Moebles and unmoebles, and al thow myght fynde--
030270Bren it, bere it noght awey, be it never so riche;
030271For mede ne for monee, loke thow destruye it!
030272Spille it and spare it noght--thow shalt spede the bettre.''
030273And for he coveited hir catel and the kyng spared,
030274Forbar hym and his beestes bothe as the Bible witnesseth
030275Otherwise than he was warned of the prophete,
030276God seide to Samuel that Saul sholde deye,
030277And al his seed for that synne shenfulliche ende.
030278Swich a meschief Mede made the kyng to have
030279That God hated hym for evere and alle his heires after.
030280"The culorum of this cas kepe I noght to shewe;
030281On aventure it noyed me, noon ende wol I make,
030282For so is this wor1d went with hem that han power
030283That whoso seith hem sothest is sonnest yblamed!
030284"I, Conseience, knowe this, for Kynde Wit it me taughte--
030285That Reson shal regne and reaumes governe,
030286And right as Agag hadde, happe shul somme:
030287Samuel shal sleen hym and Saul shal be blamed,
030288And David shal be diademed and daunten hem alle,
030289And oon Cristene kyng kepen [us] echone.
030290Shal na moore Mede be maister as she is nouthe,
030291Ac love and lowenesse and leautee togideres--
030292Thise shul ben raaistres on moolde [trewe men] to save.
030293And whoso trespaseth ayein truthe or taketh ayein his wille,
030294Leaute shal don hym lawe, and no lif ellis.
030295Shal no sergeant for his service were a sik howve,
030296Ne no pelure in his [paviloun] for pledynge at the barre.
030297" Mede of mysdoeres maketh manye lordes,
030298And over lordes Iawes [led]eth the reaumes.
030299Ac kynde love shal come yit and Conscience togideres
030300And make of lawe a laborer; swich love shal arise
030301And swich pees among the peple and a parfit truthe
030302That Jewes shul wene in hire wit, and wexen wonder glade,
030303That Moyses or Messie be come into this erthe,
030304And have wonder in hire hertes that men beth so trewe.
030305"Alle that beren baselard, brood swerd or launce,
030306Ax outher hachet or any wepene ellis,
030307Shal be demed to the deeth but if he do it smythye
030308into sikel or to sithe, to shaar or to kultour--
030308{Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, &c--}
030309Ech man to pleye with a plow, pykoise or spade,
030310Spynne, or sprede donge, or spille hymself with sleuthe;
030311Preestes and persons with Plucebo to hunte,
030312And dyngen upon David eche day til eve.
030313Huntynge or haukyng if any of hem use,
030314His boost of his benefice worth bynomen hym after.
030315"Shal neither kyng ne knyght, constable ne meire
030316Over[carke] the commune ne to the court sompne,
030317Ne putte hem in panel to doon hem plighte hir truthe;
030318But after the dede that is doon oon doom shal rewarde
030319Mercy or no mercy as Truthe [moste] acorde.
030320" Kynges court and commune court, consistorie and chapitle--
030321Al shal be but oon court, and oon b[ur]n be justice:
030322That worth Trewe-tonge, a tidy man that tened me nevere.
030323Batailles shul none be, ne no man bere wepene,
030324And what smyth that any smytheth be smyte therwith to dethe!
030324{ Non levabit gens contra gentem gladium &c.}
030325"And er this fortune falle, fynde men shul the worste,
030326By sixe sonnes and a ship and half a shef of arwes;
030327And the myddel of a moone shal make the Jewes torne,
030328And Sarsynes for that sighte shul synge Gloria in excelsis &c--
030329For Makometh and Mede myshappe shul that tyme;
030330For Melius est bonum nomen quam divicie multe.'
030331Also wroth as the wynd weex Mede in a while.
030332" I kan no Latyn?' quod she. "Clerkes wite the sothe!
030333Se what Salomon seith in Sapience bokes:
030334That thei that yyven yiftes the victorie wynneth,
030335And muche worshipe have therwith, as Holy Writ telleth--
030335{ Honorem adquiret qui dut munera, &c.'}
030336" I leve wel, lady,' quod Conscience, "that thi Latyn be trewe.
030337Ac thow art lik a lady that radde a lesson ones,
030338Was omnia probate, and that plesed hire herte--
030340For that lyne was no lenger at the leves ende.
030341Hadde she loked that other half and the leef torned,
030342She sholde have founden fele wordes folwynge therafter:
030343Quod bonum est tenete--Truthe that text made.
030344And so [mys]ferde ye, madame--ye kouthe na moore fynde
030345Tho ye loked on Sapience, sittynge in youre studie.
030346This text that ye han told were [tidy] for lordes,
030347Ac yow failed a konnynge clerk that kouthe the leef han torned.
030348And if ye seche Sapience eft, fynde shul ye that folweth.
030349A ful tenefuI text to hem that taketh mede:
030349{350  And that is Animam autem oufert accipientium &c.}
030350And that is the tail of the text of that tale ye shewed--
030351That theigh we wynne worshipe and with mede have victorie,
030352The soule that the soude taketh by so muche is bounde.-
040001" Cesseth!' seide the Kyng, " I suffre yow no lenger.
040002Ye shul saughtne, forsothe, and serve me bothe.
040003Kis hire,' quod the Kyng, "Conscience, I hote!'
040004" Nay, by Crist!' quod Conscience, " congeye me rather!
040005But Reson rede me therto, rather wol I deye.'
040006"And I comaunde thee,' quod the Kyng to Conseience thanne,
040007"Rape thee to ryde, and Reson that thow fecche.
040008Comaunde hym that he come my counseil to here,
040009For he shal rule my reaume and rede me the beste
040010Mede and of mo othere, what man shal hire wedde,
040011And acounte with thee, Conscience, so me Crist helpe,
040012How thow lernest the peple, the lered and the lewed!'
040013"I am fayn of that foreward,' seide the freke thanne,
040014And ryt right to Reson and rouneth in his ere,
040015And seide hym as the Kyng seide, and sithen took his leve.
040016"I shal arraye me to ryde,' quod Reson, -reste thee a while,'
040017And called Caton his knave, curteis of speche,
040018And also Tomme Trewe-tonge-tel-me-no-tales
040019Ne lesynge-to-laughen-of-for-I-loved-hem-nevere.
040020" Set my sadel upon Suffre-til-l-se-my-tyme,
040021And lat warroke hym wel with witty-wordes gerthes.
040022Hange on hym the hevy brydel to holde his heed lowe,
040023For he wol make ""wehee'' twies er he be there.'
040024Thanne Conscience on his capul caireth forth faste,
040025And Reson with hym ryt, rownynge togideres
040026Whiche maistries Mede maketh on this erthe.
040027Oon Waryn Wisdom and Witty his fere
040028Folwed hem faste, for thei hadde to doone
040029In th'Eseheker and in the Chauncerye, to ben descharged of thynges,
040030And riden faste for Reson sholde rede hem the beste
040031For to save hem for silver from shame and from harmes.
040032A[c] Conscience knew hem wel, thei loved coveitise,
040033And bad Reson ryde faste and recche of hir neither:
040034"Ther are wiles in hire wordes, and with Mede thei dweneth--
040035Ther as wrathe and wranglynge is, ther wynne thei silver;
040036Ac there is love and leautee, thei wol noght come there:
040036{Contricio et infelicitas in viis eorum &c.}
040037Thei ne gyveth noght of God one goose wynge:
040037{Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum &c.}
040038For thei wolde do moore for a dozeyne chiknes
040039Than for the love of Oure Lorde or alle hise leeve seintes!
040040Forthi, Reson, lat hem ride, tho riche by hemselve--
040041For Conscience knoweth hem noght, ne Crist, as I trowe.'
040042And thanne Reson rood faste the righte heighe gate,
040043As Conscience hym kenned, til thei come to the Kynge.
040044Curteisly the Kyng thanne com ayeins Reson,
040045And bitwene hymsel and his sone sette hym on benche,
040046And wordeden wel wisely a gret while togideres.
040047And thame com Pees into parliment and putte up a bill-
040048How Wrong ayeins his wille hadde his wif taken,
040049Aad how he ravysshede Rose, Reignaldes loove,
040050And Margrete of hir maydenhede maugree hire chekes.
040051" Bothe my gees and my grys hise gadelynges feccheth;
040052I dar noght for fere of hem fighte ne chide.
040053He borwed of me bayard and broughte hym hom nevere
040054Ne no ferthyng therfore, for nought I koude plede.
040055He maynteneth hise men to murthere myne hewen,
040056Forstalleth my feires and fighteth in my chepyng,
040057And breketh up my berne dores and bereth awey my whete,
040058And taketh me but a taille for ten quarters otes.
040059And yet he beteth me therto and lyth by my mayde;
040060I am noght hardy for hym unnethe to loke!'
040061The Kyng knew he seide sooth. for Conscience hym tolde
040062That Wrong was a wikked luft and wroghte muche sorwe.
040063Wrong was afered thanne, and Wisdom he soughte
040064To maken pees with hise pens, and profred hym manye,
040065And seide, "Hadde I love of my lord the Kyng, litel wolde I recche
040066Theigh Pees and his power pleyned hym evere!'
040067Tho wan Wisdom and Sire Waryn the Witty,
040068For that Wrong hadde ywroght so wikked a dede,
040069And warnede Wrong tho with swich a wis tale--
040070"Whoso wereheth by wille, writhe maketh ofte.
040071I seye it by myself--thow shalt it wel fynde:
040072But if Mede it make, thi meschief is uppe;
040073For bothe thi lif and thi lond lyth in his grace.'
040074Thanne wowede Wrong Wisdom ful yerne
040075To maken his pees with his pens, handy dandy payed.
040076Wisdom and Wit thanne wenten togidres,
040077And token Mede myd hem mercy to wynne.
040078Pees putte forth his heed and his panne blody:
040079"Withouten gilt, God woot, gat I this seathe.'
040080Conseicnce and the commune knowen wel the sothe,
040081Ac Wisdom and Wit were aboute faste
040082To overcomen the Kyng with catel, if thei myghte.
040083The Kyng swor by Crist and by his crowne bothe
040084That Wrong for hise werkes sholde wo tholie,
040085And combundede a eonstable to casten hym in irens,
040086"And lete hym noght this seven yer seen his feet ones.
040087"God woot,' quod Wisdom, "that were noght the beste!
040088And he amendes mowe make, Iat Maynprise hym have
040089And be borgh for his bale, and buggen hym boote,
040090And so amenden that is mysdo, and everemoore the bettre.'
040091Wit acorded therwith, and seide the same,
040092"Bettre is that boote bale adoun brynge
040093Than baIe be ybet, and boote nevere the bettre!'
040094Thanne gan Mede to meken hire, and mercy bisoughte,
040095And profrede Pees a present al of pure golde.
040096"Have this, man, of me,' quod she, "to amenden thi scathe,
040097For I wol wage for Wrong, he woI do so na moore.'
040098Pitously Pees thanne preyde to the Kynge
040099To have mercy on that man that mysdide hym so ofte.
040100"For he hath waged me wel, as Wisdom hym taughte,
040101And I forgyve hym that gilt with a good wille.
040102So that the Kyng assente, I kan seye no bettre,
040103For Mede hath maad myne amendes--I may na moore axe.'
040104"Nay', quod the Kyng tho, "so me Crist helpe!
040105Wrong wendeth noghtawey er I wite more.
040106Lope he so lightly, laughen he wolde,
040107And eft the boldere be to bete myne hewen.
040108But Reson have ruthe on hym, he shal reste in my stokkes
040109As longe as [I] lyve, but lowenesse hym borwe.'
040110Somme radde Reson tho to have ruthe on that shrewe,
040111And for to counseille the Kyng and Conscience after
040112That Mede moste be maynpernour, Reson thei bisoughte.
040113" Reed me noght,' quod Reson, "no ruthe to have
040114Til lordes and ladies loven alle truthe
040115And haten alle harlotrie, to heren or to mouthen it;
040116Til Pernelles purfill be put in hire hucche
040117And childrene cherissynge be chastised with yerdes,
040118And harlottes holynesse be holden for an hyne;
040119Til clerkene coveitise be to clothe the povere and fede,
040120And religiouse romeris Recordare in hir cloistres
040121As Seynt Beneyt hem bad, Bernard and Fraunceis;
040122And til prechours prechynge be preved on hemselve;
040123Til the Kynges counseil be the commune profit;
040124Til bisshopes bayardes ben beggeris chaumbres,
040125Hire haukes and hire houndes help to povere religious;
040126And til Seint James be sought there I shal assigne--
040127That no man go to Galis but if he go for evere;
040128And alle Rome renneres for robberes of biyonde
040129Bere no silver over see that signe of kyng sheweth--
040130Neither grave ne ungrave, gold neither silver--
040131Upon forfeture of that fee, who fynt hym at Dovere,
040132But if it be marchaunt or his man, or messager with lettres,
040133Provysour or preest, or penaunt for hise synnes.
040134"And yet,' quod Reson, "by the Rode! I shal no ruthe have
040135Whiff Mede hath the maistrie in this moot-halle.
040136Ac I may shewe ensamples as I se outher.
040137I seye it by myself,' quod he, "and it so were
040138That I were kyng with coroune to kepen a reaume,
040139Sholde nevere Wrong in this world that I wite myghte
040140Ben unpunysshed in my power, for peril of my soule,
040141Ne gete my grace thorugh giftes, so me God save!
040142Ne for no mede have mercy, but mekenesse it made;
040143For ""Nullum molum the man mette with inpunitum
040144And bad {Nullum bonum} be irremuneratum.''
040145Lat thi confessour, sire Kyng, construe this [E]ngl[ys]sed,
040146And if ye werchen it in werk, I wedde myne eris
040147That Lawe shal ben a laborer and lede afeld donge
040148And Love shal lede thi lond as the leef liketh.'
040149Clerkes that were confessours coupled hem togideres
040150Al to construe this clause, and for the Kynges profit,
040151Ac noght for confort of the cornmune, ne for the Kynges soule,
040152For I seigh Mede in the moot-halle on men of lawe wynke,
040153And thei laughynge lope to hire and lefte Reson manye.
040154Waryn Wisdom wynked upon Mede
040155And seide, " Madame, I am youre man, what so my mouth jangle;
040156I falle in floryns,' quod that freke, "and faile speche ofte.'
040157Alle rightfulle recorded that Reson truthe tolde.
040158[Kynde] Wit acorded therwith and comendede hise wordes,
040159And the mooste peple in the halle and manye of the grete,
040160And leten Mekenesse a maister and Mede a mansed sherewe.
040161Love leet of hire light, and Leaute yet lasse,
040162And seide it so heighc that a1l the halle it herde:
040163"Whoso wilneth hire to wyve, For welthe of hire goodes--
040164But he be knowe for a cokewold, kut of my nose!'
040165Mede mornede tho, and made hevy chere,
040166For the mooste commune of that court called hire an hore.
040167Ac a sisour and a somonour sued hire faste,
040168And a sherreves clerk bisherewed al the route:
040169" For ofte have I,' quod he, 'holpen yow at the barre,
040170And yet yeve ye me nevere the worth of a risshe!'
040171The Kyng callede Conseience and afterward Reson,
040172And recordede that Reson hadde rightfully shewed ;
040173And modiliche upon Mede with myght the Kyng loked,
040174And gan wexe wroth with Lawe, for Mede almoost hadde shent it,
040175And seide, -Thorugh youre lawe, as I leve, I lese manye chetes;
040176Mede overmaistreth Lawe and muche truthe letteth.
040177Ac Reson shal rekene with yow, if I regne any while,   -
040178And deme yow, bi this day, as ye han deserved.
040179Mede shal noght maynprise yow, by the Marie of hevene!
040180I wole have leaute in lawe, and lete be al youre jangling,
040181And as moost folk witnesseth wel, Wrong shal be demed.'
040182Quod Conscience to the Kyng, 'But the commune wole assente,-
040183It is ful hard, by myn heed, herto to brynge it,
040184[And] alle youre lige leodes to lede thus evene.'
040185"By Hym that raughte on the Rood!' quod Reson to the Kynge,
040186But if I rule thus youre reaume, rende out my guttes--
040187If ye bidden buxomnesse be of myn assent.'
040188"And I assente,' seith the Kyng, " by Seinte Marie my lady,
040189Be my Counseil comen of clerkes and of erles.
040190Ac redily, Reson, thow shalt noght ride hennes;
040191For as longe as I lyve, lete thee I nelle.'
040192'I am al redy.' quod Reson, "to reste with yow evere;
040193So Conscience be of oure counceil, I kepe no bettre.'
040194"And I graunte,' quod the Kyng, "Goddes forbode he faile!
040195Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, lyve we togideres!'
050001The Kyng and hise knyghtes to the kirke wente
050002To here matyns of the day and the masse after.
050003Thanne w~ked I of my wynkyng and wo was withalle
050004That I ne hadde slept sadder and yseighen moore.
050005Ac er I hadde faren a furlong, feyntise me hente,
050006That I ne myghte ferther a foot for defaute of slepynge.
050007I sat softely adoun and seide my bileve,
050008And so I bablede on my bedes, thei broughte me aslepe.
050009And thanne saugh I muche moore than I bifore tolde--
050010For I seigh the feld ful of folk that I before of seide,
050011And how Reson gan arayen hym al the reaume to preche,
050012And with a cros afore the Kyng comsede thus to techen.
050013He preved that thise pestilences were For pure synne,
050014And the south-westrene wynd on Saterday at even
050015Was pertliche for pride and for no point ellis.
050016Pyries and plum-trees were puffed to the erthe
050017In ensample, ye segges, ye sholden do the bettre.
050018Beches and brode okes were blowen to the grounde
050019And turned upward here tail in tokenynge of drede
050020That dedly synne er domesday shal fordoon hem alle.
050021Of this matere I myghte mamelen ful longe,
050022Ac I shal seye as I saugh, so me God helpe,
050023How pertly afore the peple prechen gan Reson.
050024He bad Wastour go werche what he best kouthe
050025And wynnen his wastyng with som maner crafte.
050026He preide Pemele hir purfil to lete,
050027And kepe it in hire cofre for catel at hire nede.
050028Tomme Stowue he taughte to take two staves
050029And fecche Felice horn fro wyve pyne.
050030He warnede Watte his wif was to blame
050031For hire heed was worth half marc and his hood noght worth a grote,
050032And bad Bette kutte a bough outher tweye
050033And bete Beton therwith but if she wolde werche.
050034And thanne he chargede chapmen to chastisen hir children:
050035"Late no wynnyng forwanye hem while thei be yonge,
050036Ne for no poustee of pestilence plese hem noght out of reson.
050037My sire seide so to me, and so dide my dame,
050038That the levere child the moore loore bihoveth;
050039And Salamon seide the same, that Sapience made--
050039{" Qui parcit virge odit fitium.}
050040Whoso spareth the spryng spilleth hise children.'''
050041And sithen he preide prelates and preestes togideres,
050042" That ye prechen to the peple, preve it yowselve,
050043And dooth it in dede--it shal drawe yow to goode.
050044If ye leven as ye leren us, we shul leve yow the bettre.'
050045And sithen he radde Religion hir rule to holde--
050046" Lest the Kyng and his Conseil youre comunes apeire
050047And be stywards of youre stedes til ye be [stew]ed bettre.'
050048And sithen he counseiled the Kyng his commune to lovye:
050049"It is thi tresor, if treson ne were, and tryacle at thy nede.'
050050And sithen he preide the Pope have pite on Holy Chirche,
050051And er he gyve any grace, governe first hymselve.
050052"And ye that han lawes to kepe, lat Truthe be youre coveitise
050053Moore than gold outher giftes if ye wol God plese;
050054For whoso contrarieth Truthe. He telleth in the Gospel,
050055Amen dico vobis, nescio Vos.
050056And ye that seke Seynt James and seyntes of Rome,
050057Seketh Seynt Truthe, for he may save yow alle.
050058Qui cum Patre et Filio--that faire hem bifalle
050059That seweth my sermon'--and thus seyde Reson."
050060Thanne ran Repentaunce and reherced his teme
050061And gart Wille to wepe water with hise eighen.
050062Pernele Proud-herte platte hire to the erthe
050063And lay longe er she loked, and - Lord, mercy!' cryde,
050064And bihighte to Hym that us alle made
050065She sholde unsowen hir serk and sette there an heyre
050066To affaiten hire flessh that fiers was to synne.
050067" Shal nevere heigh herte me hente, but holde me lowe
050068And suffre to be mysseyd--and so dide I nevere.
050069But now wole I meke me and mercy biseche
050070For al that I have hated in myn herte.'
050071Thanne Lechour seide "Allas!' and on Oure Lady cryde,
050072To maken mercy for hise mysdedes bitwene God and his soule
050073With that he sholde the Saterday seven yer therafter
050074Drynke but myd the doke and dyne but ones.
050075Envye with hevy herte asked after shrifte
050076And carefully mea culpa he comsed to shewe.
050077He was as pale as a pelet, in the palsy he semed,
050078And clothed in a kaurymaury--l kouthe it nought discryve--
050079In kirtel and courtepy, and a knyf by his syde;
050080Of a freres frokke were the foresleves.
050081And as a leek that hadde yleye longe in the sonne,
050082So loked he with lene chekes, lourynge foule.
050083His body was to-bollen for wrathe, that he   boot hise lippes,
050084And wryngynge he yede with the fust--to wreke hymself he thoughte
050085With werkes or with wordes whan he seyghe his tyme.
050086Ech a word that he warp was of a neddres tonge;
050087Of chidynge and of chalangynge was his chief liflode,
050088With bakbitynge and bismere and berynge of fals witnesse:
050089This was al his curteisie where that evere he shewed hym.
050090"I wolde ben yshryve,' quod this sherewe, "and I for shame dorste.
050091I wolde be gladder, by God! that Gybbe hadde meschaunce
050092Than though I hadde this wouke ywonne a weye of Essex chese.
050093I have a neghebore neigh me, I have anoyed hym ofte,
050094And lowen on hym to lordes to doon hym lese his silver,
050095And maad his frendes be his foon thorugh my false tonge.
050096His grace and his goode happes greven me ful soore.
050097Bitwene mayne and mayne I make debate ofte,
050098That bothe lif and lyme is lost thorugh my speche.
050099And whan I mete hym in market that I moost hate,
050100I hailse hym hendely, as I his frend were;
050101For he is doughtier than I, I dar do noon oother;
050102Ac hadde I maistrie and myght--God woot my wille!
050103"And whan I come to the kirk and sholde knele to the Roode
050104And preye for the peple as the preest techeth--
050105For pilgrymes and for palmeres, for al the peple after--
050106Thanne I crye on my knees that Crist yyve hem sorwe
050107That baren awey my bolle and my broke shete.
050108Awey fro the auter thanne turne I myne eighen
050109And biholde how [Hayne hath a newe cote;
050110I wisshe thanne it were myn, and al the web after.
050111And of his lesynge I laughe--that li[ght]eth myn herte;
050112Ac for his wynnynge I wepe and waille the tyme;
050113And deme men that thei doon ille, there I do wel werse:
050114Whoso undernymeth me herof, I hate hym dedly after.
050115I wolde that ech a wight were my knave,
050116For whoso hath moore than I, that angreth me soore.
050117And thus I lyve lovelees like a luther dogge
050118That al my body bolneth for bitter of my galle.
050119I myghte noght ete many yeres as a man oughte,
050120For envye and yvel wil is yvel to defie.
050121May no sugre ne swete thyng aswage my swellyng,
050122Ne no diapenidion dryve it fro myn herte,
050123Ne neither shrifte ne shame, but whoso shrape my mawe?'
050124"Yis, redily!' quod Repentaunce, and radde hym to the beste,
050125" Sorwe for synnes is savacion of souIes.'
050126" I am evere sory,' quod [Envye], " I am but selde oother,
050127And that maketh me thus megre, for I ne may me venge.
050128Amonges burgeises have I be, [bigg]yng at Londoun,
050129And gart bakbityng be a brocour to blame mennes ware.
050130Whan he solde and I nought, thanne was I redy
050131To lye and to loure on my neghebore and to lakke his chaffare.
050132I wole amende this if I may, thorugh myght of God Almyghty.'
050133Now awaketh Wrathe, with two white eighen,
050134And nevelynge with the nose, and his nekke hangyng.
050135"I am Wrathe,' quod he, "I was som tyme a frere,
050136And the coventes gardyner for to graffen impes.
050137On lymitours and listres lesynges I ymped,
050138Til thei beere leves of lowe speche, lordes to plese,
050139And sithen thei blosmede abrood in boure to here shriftes.
050140And now is fallen therof a fruyt--that folk han wel levere
050141Shewen hire shriftes to hem than shryve hem to hir persons.
050142And now persons han parceyved that freres parte with hem,
050143Thise possessioners preche and deprave freres;
050144And freres fyndeth hem in defaute, as folk bereth witnesse,
050145That whan thei preche the peple in many places aboue'
050146I, Wrathe, walke with hem and wisse hem o
050147Thus thei speken of spiritualte, that either despiseth oother,
050148Til thei be bothe beggers and by my spiritualte libben,
050149Or ellis al riche and ryden aboute; I, Wrathe, reste nevere
050150That I ne moste folwe this wikked folk. For swich is my grace.
050151"I have an aunte to nonne and an abbesse:
050152Hir were levere swowe or swelte than suffre any peyne.
050153I have be cook in hir kichene and the covent served
050154Manye monthes with hem. and with monkes bothe.
050155I was the prioresse potager and other povere ladies,
050156And maad hem joutes of janglyng--that Dame Johane was a bastard,
050157And Dame Clarice a knyghtes doughter--ac a cokewold was hir sire,
050158And Dame Pernele a preestes fyle--Prioresse worth she nevere,
050159For she hadde child in chirie-tyme, al oure Chapitre it wiste!
050160Of wikkede wordes I Wrathe hire wortes made,
050161Til ""Thow lixt!'' and ""Thow lixt!'' lopen out at ones
050162And either hitte oother under the cheke;
050163Hadde thei had knyves, by Crist! hir either hadde kild oother.
050164Seint Gregory was a good pope, and hadde a good forwit
050165That no Prioresse were preest--for that he [purveiede]:
050166Thei hadde thanne ben infumis the firste day, thei kan so yvele hele counseil.
050167"Among monkes I myghte be, ac manye tyme I shonye,
050168For ther ben manye felle frekes my feeris to aspie--
050169Bothe Priour and Suppriour and oure {Pater Abbus;}
050170And if I telle any tales, thei taken hem togideres,
050171And doon me faste Frydayes to breed and to watre;
050172And am chalanged in the Chapitrehous as I a child were,
050173And baleised on the bare ers--and no brech bitwene!
050174Forthi have I no likyng with tho leodes to wonye;
050175I ete there unthende fissh and feble ale drynke.
050176Ac outher while whan wyn cometh, whan I drynke wyn at eve,
050177I have a flux of a foul mouth wel fyve dayes after.
050178Al the wikkednesse that I woot by any of oure bretheren,
050179I cou[gh]e it in oure cloistre, that al oure covent woot it.'
050180"Now repente thee,' quod Repentaunce, "and reherce thow nevere
050181Counseil that thow knowest, by contenaunce ne by speche;
050182And drynk nat over delicatly, ne to depe neither,
050183That thi wille by cause therof to wrathe myghte turne.
050184Esto sobrius!' he seide, and assoiled me after,
050185And bad me wilne to wepe my wikkednesse to amende.
050186And thanne cam Coveitise, I kan hym naght discryve--
050187So hungrily and holwe Sire Hervy hym loked.
050188He was bitelbrowed and baberlipped, with two blered eighen;
050189And as a letheren purs lolled hise chekes--
050190Wel sidder than his chyn thei chyveled for elde;
050191And as a bondeman of his bacon his berd was bidraveled;
050192With an hood on his heed, a lousy hat above,
050193In a [torn] tabard of twelf wynter age;
050194But if a lous couthe lepe the bettre,
050195She sholde noght wa[ndr]e on that Welche, so was it thredbare!
050196" I have ben coveitous,' quod this caytif, " I biknowe it here;
050197For som tyme I served Symme-atte-Style,
050198And was his prentice yplight his profit to wayte.
050199First I lerned to lye a leef outher tweyne:
050200Wikkedly to weye was my firste lesson.
050201To Wy and to Wynchestre I wente to the feyre
050202With many manere marchaundise, as my maister me highte.
050203Ne hadde the grace of gyle ygo amonges my ware,
050204It hadde ben unsold this seven yer, so me God helpe!
050205"Thanne drough I me among drapiers, my Donet to lerne,
050206To drawe the liser along--the lenger it semed;
050207Among the riche rayes I rendred a lesson--
050208To broche hem with a pak-nedle, and playte hem togideres,
050209And putte hem in a press[our] and pyned hem therinne
050210Til ten yerdes or twelve tolled out thrittene.
050211"My wif was a webbe and wollen cloth made;
050212She spak to spynnesteres to spynnen it oute.
050213The pound that she paied by peised a quartron moore
050214Than myn owene auncer wh[an I] weyed truthe.
050215"I boughte hire barly--she brew it to selle.
050216Peny ale and puddyng ale she poured togideres;
050217For laborers and lowe folk, that lay by hymselve.
050218The beste ale lay in my bour or in my bedchambre,
050219And whoso burned therof boughte it therafter--
050220A galon for a grote, God woot, no lesse,
050221[Whan] it cam in cuppemele--this craft my wif used!
050222Rose the Regrater was hir righte name;
050223She hath holden hukkerye [this ellevene wynter].
050224Ac I swere now (so thee lk!) that synne wol I lete,
050225And nevere wikkedly weye ne wikke chaffare use,
050226But wenden to Walsyngham, and my wif als,
050227And bidde the Roode of Bromholm brynge me out of dette.'
050228- Repentedestow evere? ' quod Repentaunce, " or restitucion madest? '
050229Yis: ones I was yherbemed', quod he. with an heep of charmen:
050230I  roos whan thei were al-reste and riflede hire malest
050231"That was no restitucion,' quod Repentaunce, "but a robberis thefte;
050232Thow haddest be bettre worthi ben hanged therfore
050233Than for al that that thow hast here shewed! '
050234-I wende riflynge were restitucion.' quod he, "for I lerned nevere rede on
050235And I kan no Frenssh. in feith, but of the Fertheste ende of Northfolk.'
050236" Usedestow evere usurie,' quod Repentaunce. - in al thi lif tyme? '
050237" Nay, sothly,' he seide, "save in my youthe;
050238I lerned among Lumbardes a lesson, and of Jewes--
050239To weye pens with a peis. and pare the hevyeste,
050240And lene it for love of the cros, to legge a wed and lese it.
050241Swiche dedes I dide write if he his day breke;
050242I  have mo manoirs thorugh rerages than thorugh Miseretur et commodat.
050243I have lent lordes and ladies my chaffare,
050244And ben hire brocour after, and bought it myselve.
050245Eschaunges and chevysaunces--with swich chaffare I dele,
050246And lene folk that lese wole a lippe at every noble.
050247And with Lumbardes lettres I ladde gold to Rome,
050248And took it by tale here and told hem there lasse.'
050249" Lentestow evere lordes for love of hire mayntenaunce?'
050250"Ye, I have lent lordes. loved me nevere after,
050251And have ymaad many a knyght bothe mercer and draper
050252That payed nevere For his prentishode noght a peire of gloves!'
050253"Hastow pite on povere men that [purely] mote nedes borwe?'
050254"I have as muche pite of povere men as pedlere hath of cattes,
050255That wolde kille hem, if he cacche hem myghte, for coveitise of hir skynnes!
050256"Artow manlich among thi neghebores of thi mete and drynke?'
050257" I am holden,' quod he, "as hende as hounde is in kichene;
050258Amonges my neghebores namely swich a name ich have.'
050259"Now [but thow repente the rather,' quod Repentaunce, "God lene thee -   neve
050260The grace on this grounde thi good wel to bisette,
050261Ne thyne heires after thee have joie of that thow wynnest,
050262Ne thyne executours wel bisette the silver that thow hem levest:
050263And that was wonne with wrong, with wikked men be despended.
050264For were I a frere of that hous ther good feith and charite is,
050265I nolde cope us with thi catel, ne oure kirk amende,
050266Ne have a peny to my pitaunce, so God [pyne] my soule in helle,
050267For the beste book in oure hous, theigh brent gold were the leves,
050268And I wiste witterly thow were swich as thow tellest!
050268{Servus es al/erius, cum fercula pinguia queris.}
050268{Pane tuo pocius vescere, liber eris.}
050269"Thow art an unkynde creature--I kan thee noght assoille
050270Til thow make restitucion' quod Repentaunce, -and rekene with hem alle.
050271And sithen that Reson rolle it in the Registre of hevene
050272That thow hast maad ech man good, I may thee noght assoille.
050272{Non dimittitur peccatum donec restituatur ablatum.}
050273For alle that han of thi good, have God my trouthe,
050274Ben holden at the heighe doom to helpe thee to restitue;
050275And who so leveth noght this be sooth, loke in the Sauter glose,
050276In Miserere mei, Deus, wher I mene truthe:
050276{Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, &c.}
050277Shal nevere werkman in this world thryve with that thow wynnest.
050278Cum sancto sanctus eris construwe me this on Englissh.'
050279Thanne weex that sherewe in wanhope and wolde han hanged hymself
050280Ne hadde Repentaunce the rather reconforted hym in this manere:
050281" Have mercy in thi mynde, and with thi mouth biseche it,
050282For [his] mercy is moore than alle hise othere werkes--
050282{Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius, &c--}
050283And al the wikkednesse in this world that man myghte werche or thynke
050284Nis na moore to the mercy of God than in[middes] the see a gleede:
050285{Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam Dei est quasi scintilla in medio maris
050285Forthi have mercy in thy mynde--and marchaundise, leve it!
050286For thow hast no good ground to gete thee with a wastel
050287But if it were with thi tonge or ellis with thi two hondes.
050288For the good that thow hast geten bigan al with falshede,
050289And as longe as thow lyvest therwith, thow yeldest noght but borwest.
050290And if thow wite nevere to wh[om] ne wh[ere] to restitue,
050291Ber it to the Bisshop, and bid hym of his grace
050292Bisette it hymself as best is for thi soule.
050293For he shal answere for thee at the heighe dome,
050294For thee and for many mo that man shal yeve a rekenyng:
050295What he lerned yow in Lente, leve thow noon oother,
050296And what he lente yow of Oure Lordes good, to lette yow fro synne'.
050297Now bigynneth Gloton for togoto shrifte,
050298And kaireth hym to kirkewarde his coupe to shewe.
050299Ac Beton the Brewestere bad hym good morwe
050300And asked of hym with that, whiderward he wolde.
050301"To holy chirche,' quod he, "for to here masse,
050302And sithen I wole be shryven, and synne na moore.'
050303" I have good ale, gossib,' quod she, " Gloton, woltow assaye?'
050304" Hastow,' quod he, "any hote spices?'
050305"I have pepir and pione,' quod she, "and a pound of garleek,
050306A ferthyngworth of fenel seed for fastynge dayes.
050307Thanne goth Gloton in, and grete othes after.
050308Cesse the Souteresse sat on the benche,
050309Watte the Warner and his wif bothe,
050310Tymme the Tynkere and tweyne of his [knav]es,
050311Hikke the Hakeneyman and Hugh the Nedlere,
050312Clarice of Cokkeslane and the Clerk of the chirche,
050313Sire Piers of Pridie and PerneIe of Flaundres,
050314Dawe the Dykere, and a dozeyne othere--
050315A Ribibour, a Ratoner, a Rakiere of Chepe,
050316A Ropere, a Redyngkyng, and Rose the Dysshere,
050317Godefray of Garlekhithe and Griffyn the Walshe,
050318And [of] upholderes an heep, erly by the morwe,
050319Geve Gloton with glad chere good ale to hanselle.
050320Clement the Cobelere caste of his cloke,
050321And at the newe feire nempned it to selle.
050322Hikke the Hakeneyman hitte his hood after,
050323And bad Bette the Bocher ben on his syde.
050324Ther were chapmen ychose this chaffare to preise:
050325Whoso hadde the hood sholde han amcndes of the cloke.
050326Tho risen up in rape and rouned togideres,
050327And preised the penyworthes apart by hemselve.
050328[There were othes an heep, for oon sholde have the werse];
050329Thei kouthe noght by hir conscience acorden in truthe,
050330Til Robyn the Ropere arise the[i by]sou[ght]e,
050331And nempned hym for a nounpere, that no debat nere.
050332Hikke the Hostiler hadde the cloke
050333In covenaunt that Clement sholde the cuppe fille
050334And have Hikkes hood the Hostiler, and holden hym yserved;
050335And whoso repented rathest shoulde aryse after
050336And greten Sire Gloton with a galon ale.
050337There was laughynge and lourynge and " Lat go the cuppe!'
050338[Bargaynes and beverages bigonne to arise;]
050339And seten so til evensong, and songen umwhile,
050340Til Gloton hadde yglubbed a galon and a gille.
050341His guttes bigonne to gothelen as two gredy sowes;
050342He pissed a potel in a Paternoster-while,
050343And blew his rounde ruwet at his ruggebones ende,
050344That alle that herde that horn helde hir nose after
050345And wisshed it hadde ben wexed with a wispe of firses!
050346He myghte neither steppe ne stonde er he his staf hadde,
050347And thanne gan he to go like a glemannes bicche
050348Som tyme aside and som tyme arere,
050349As whoso leith lynes for to lacche foweles.
050350And whan he drough to the dore, thanne dymmed hise eighen;
050351He [thr]umbled on the thresshfold and threw to the erthe.
050352Clement the Cobelere kaughte hym by the myddel
050353For to liften hym olofte, and leyde hym on his knowes.
050354Ac Gloton was a gret cherl and a grym in the liftyng,
050355And koughed up a cawdel in Clementes lappe.
050356Is noon so hungry hound in Hertfordshire
050357Dorste lape of that levynge, so unlovely it smaughte!
050358With al the wo of this world, his wif and his wenche
050359Baren hym to his bed and broughte hym therinne;
050360And after al this excesse he had an accidie.
050361That he sleep Saterday and Sonday, till sonne yede to reste.
050362Thanne waked he of his wynkyng and wiped hise eighen;
050363The first word that he spak was--'Where is the bolle?'
050364His wif [and his wit] edwyte[d] hym tho how wikkedly he lyvede.
050365And Repentaunce right so rebuked hym that tyme:
050366"As thow with wordes and werkes hast wroght yvele in thi lyve,
050367Shryve thee and be shamed therof, and shewe it with thi mouthe.'
050368'I, Gloton,' quod the gome, 'gilty me yelde--
050369That I have trespased with my tonge, I kan noght telle how ofte
050370Sworen ""Goddes soule and his sydes!' and "So helpe me God and halidome!'
050371Ther no nede was nyne hyndred tymes;
050372And overseyen me at my soper and som tyme at Nones,
050373That I, Gloton, girte it up er I hadde gon a myle,
050374And yspilt that myghte be spared and spended on som hungry;
050375Over delicatly on f[ee]styng dayes dronken and eten bothe,
050376And sat som tyme so long there that I sleep and eet at ones.
050377For love of tales in tavernes [in]to drynke the moore I dy[v]ed;
050378And hyed to the mete er noon [on] fastyng dayes.'
050379" This shewynge shrift,' quod Repentaunce, " shal be meryt to the.'
050380And thanne gan Gloton greete, and gret dcel to make
050381For his Iuther Iif that he lyved hadde,
050382And avowed to faste--"For hunger or for thurste,
050383Shal never fyssh on Fryday defyen in my wombe
050384Til Abstinence myn aunte have yyve me leeve--
050385And yet have I hated hire al my lif tyme!-
050386Thanne cam Sleuthe al bislabered, with two slymy eighen.
050387"l moste sitte,' seide the segge, "or ellis sholde I nappe.
050388I may noght stonde ne stoupe ne withoute a stool knele.
050389Were I brought abedde, but if my tailende it made,
050390Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse er I were ripe to dyne.'
050391He bigan Benedicite with a bolk, and his brest knokked,
050392Raxed and rored--and rutte at the laste.
050393-What, awake, renk!- quod Repentaunce, 'and rape thee to shryfte!'
050394"If I sholde deye bi this day,' quod he, "me list nought to 1oke.
050395I kan noght parfitly my Paternoster as the preest it syngeth,
050396But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood and Randolf Erl of Chestre,
050397Ac neither of Oure Lord ne of Oure Lady the leeste that evere was maked.
050398I have maad avowes fourty, and foryete hem on the morwe;
050399I parfournede nevere penaunce as the preest me highte,
050400Ne right sory for my synnes, yet [seye I] was I nevere.
050401And if I bidde any bedes, but if it be in wrathe,
050402That I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myn herte.
050403I am ocupied eche day, halyday and oother,
050404With ydel tales at the ale and outherwhile in chirches;
050405Goddes peyne and his passion, [pure] selde thenke I on it;
050406I visited nevere feble men ne fettred folk in puttes;
050407I have levere here an harlotrye or a somer game of souters,
050408Or lesynges to laughen of and bilye my neghebores,
050409Than al that evere Marc made, Mathew, Johan and Lucas.
050410And vigilies and fastyng dayes--alle thise late I passe,
050411And ligge abedde in Lenten and my lemman in myne armes
050412Til matyns and masse be do, and thanne moste to the Freres;
050413Come I to {Ite, missa} est I holde me yserved.
050414I am noght shryven som tyme, but if siknesse it make,
050415Noght twyes in two yer, and thanne [telle I up gesse].
050416"I have be preest and person passynge thritty wynter,
050417Yet kan I neyther solve ne synge ne seintes lyves rede,
050418But I kan fynden in a feld or in a furlang an hare
050419Bettre than in {Beutus vir} or in Beati omnes
050420Construe clausemeI[e] and kenne it to my parisshens,
050421I kan holde lovedayes and here a reves rekenyng,
050422Ac in Canoun nor in Decretals I kan noght rede a lyne.
050423"If I bygge and borwe aught, but if it be ytailed,
050424I foryete it as yerne, and yif men me it axe
050425Sixe sithes or sevene, I forsake it with othes;
050426And thus tene I trewe men ten hundred tymes.
050427And my servaunts som tyme, hir salarie is bihynde:
050428Ruthe is to here the rekenyng whan we shal rede acountes,
050429So with wikked wil and wrathe my werkmen I paye!
050430"If any man dooth me a bienfait or he1peth me at nede,
050431I am unkynde ayeins his curteisie and kan nought understonden it;
050432For I have and have had somdel haukes maneres--
050433I am noght lured with love but ther ligge aught under the thombe.
050434The kyndenesse that myn evenecristene kidde me fernyere
050435Sixty sithes I, Sleuthe, have foryete it siththe
050436In speche and insparge of speche; yspilt many a tyme
050437Bothe flessh and fissh and manye othere vitailles,
050438Bothe bred and ale. buttre, melk and chese
050439Forsleuthed in my service til it myghte serve no man.
050440I [yarn] aboute in youthe, and yaf me naught to lerne
050441And evere sitthe have I be beggere [be] my foule sleuthe:
050441{ Heu michi quia serilem vitam duxi iuvenilem !'}
050442"Repentedestow the noght?' quod Repentaunce--and right with that he   swowned
050443Til Vigilate the veille fette water at hise eighen
050444And flatte it on his face and faste on hym cryde
050445And seide, 'Ware thee--for Wanhope wolde thee bitraye.
050446""I am sory for my synnes'', seye to thiselve,
050447And beet thiself on the brest, and bidde Hym of grace,
050448For is no gilt here so gret that his goodnesse nys moore.'
050449Thanne sat Sleuthe up and seyned hym swithe,
050450And made avow tofore God for his foule sleuthe:
050451"Shal no Sonday be this seven yer, but siknesse it [make],
050452That I ne shal do me er day to the deere chirche
050453And here matyns and masse as I a monk were.
050454Shal noon ale after mete holde me thennes
050455Til I have evensong herd--I bihote to the Roode!
050456And yet wole I yelde ayein. [y]if I so muche have,
050457Al that I wikkedly wan sithen I wit hadde;
050458And though my liflode lakke, leten I nelle
050459That ech man shal have his er I hennes wende;
050460And with the residue and the remenaunt, bi the Rode of Chestre,
050461I shal seken truthe erst er I se Rome!'
050462Roberd the Robbere on Reddite loked,
050463And for ther was noght wher[with], he wepte swithe soore.
050464And yet the synfulle sherewe seide to hymselve:
050465"Crist, that on Calvarie upon the cros deidest,
050466Tho Dysmas my brother bisoughte thee of grace,
050467And haddest mercy on that man for {Memento} sake;
050468So rewe on this Rober[d] that Reddere ne have,
050469Ne nevere wene to wynne with craft that I knowe;
050470But for thi muchel mercy mitigacion I biseche:
050471Dampne me noght at Domesday for that I dide so ille!'
050472What bifel of this feloun I kan noght faire shewe.
050473Wel I woot he wepte faste water with hise eighen,
050474And knoweliched his [coupe] to Crist yet eftsoones,
050475That {Penitencia} his pik he sholde polshe newe
050476And lepe with hym over lond al his lif tyme,
050477For he hadde leyen by {Latro, Luciferis Aunte.}
050478And thanne hadde Repentaunce ruthe and redde hem alle to knele.
050479" For I shal biseche for a1le synfulle Oure Saveour of grace
050480To amenden us of oure mysdedes and do mercy to us alle.
050481Now God,' quod he, "that of Thi goodnesse gonne the world make,
050482And of naught madest aught and man moost lik to thiselve,
050483And sithen suffredest hym to synne, a siknesse to us alle--
050484And al for the beste, as I bileve, whatevere the Book telleth:
050484{0 felix culpa ! 0 necessarium peccutum Ade !}
050485For thorugh that synne thi sone sent was to this erthe
050486And bicam man of a maide mankynde to save--
050487And madest Thiself with Thi sone us synfulle yliche:
050487{Faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram; Et anoi}
050487{Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, et Deus in eo;}
050488And siththe with Thi selve sone in oure sute deidest
050489On Good Fryday for mannes sake at ful tym~ of the day;
050490Ther Thiself ne Thi sone no sorwe in deeth feledest,
050491But in oure secte was the sorwe, and Thi sone it ladde:
050491{Captivum duxit captivitatem.}
050492The sonne for sorwe therof lees sight for a tyme
050493Aboute mydday whan moost light is and meel-tyme of seintes--
050494Feddest tho with Thi fresshe blood oure forefadres in derknesse:
050494{Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem mugnam.}
050495And the light that lepe out of Thee, Lucifer it blente,
050496And blewe alle Thi blessed into the blisse of Paradys!
050497"The thridde day therafter Thow yedest in oure sute:
050498A synful Marie The seigh er Seynte Marie Thi dame,
050499And al to solace synfulle Thow suffredest it so were--
050499{Non veni vocare iustos set peccatores ad penitenciam.}
050500"And al that Marc hath ymaad, Mathew, Johan and Lucas
050501Of Thyne doughtiest dedes was doon in oure armes:
050501{Verbum caro factum est et hubitavit in nobis.}
050502And by so muche it semeth the sikerer we mowe
050503Bidde and biseche, if it be Thi wille
050504That art oure fader and oure brother--be merciable to us,
050505And have ruthe on thise ribaudes that repenten hem soore
050506That evere thei wrathed Thee in this world, in word, thought or dede!'
050507Thanne hente Hope an horn os {Deuf tu conversus vivificabis nos}
050508And blew it with {Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitate}
050509That alle Seintes in hevene songen at ones
050510{ " Homines et iumenta salvabis, quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, D
050510A thousand of men tho thrungen togideres,
050511Cride upward to Crist and to his clene moder
050512To have grace to go [seke Truthe--God leve that they moten!]
050513Ac there was wight noon so wys, the wey thider kouthe,
050514But blustreden forth as beestes over ba[ch]es and hilles,
050515Til late was and longe, that thei a 1eode mette
050516Apparailled as a paynym in pilgrymes wise.
050517He bar a burdoun ybounde with a brood liste
050518In a withwynde wise ywounden aboute.
050519A bolle and a bagge he bar by his syde.
050520An hundred of ampulles on his hat seten,
050521Signes of Synay and shelles of Galice,
050522And many a crouch on his cloke, and keyes of Rome,
050523And the vernicle bifore, for men sholde knowe
050524And se bi hise signes whom he sought hadde.
050525This folk frayned hym first fro whennes he come.
050526" Fram Synay,' he seide, " and fram [the] Sepulcre.
050527In Bethlem and in Babiloyne, I have ben in bothe,
050528In Armonye, in Alisaundre, in manye othere places.
050529Ye may se by my signes that sitten on myn hatte
050530That I have walked ful wide in weet and in drye
050531And sought goode Seintes for my soule helthe.'
050532" Knowestow aught a corsaint,' [quod thei], " that men calle Truthe?
050533Koudestow wissen us the wey wher that wye dwelleth?'
050534"Nay, so me God helpe!' seide the gome thanne.
050535"I seigh nevere palmere with pyk ne with scrippe
050536Asken after hym er now in this place.'
050537"Peter!' quod a Plowman, and putte forth his hed,
050538"I knowe hym as kyndely as clerc doth hise bokes.
050539Conscience and Kynde Wit kenned me to his place
050540And diden me suren hym si[ththen] to serven hym for evere,
050541Bothe to sowe and to sette the while I swynke myghte.
050542I have ben his folwere al this fourty wynter--
050543Bothe ysowen his seed and suwed hise beestes,
050544Withinne and withouten waited his profit,
050545Idyke[d] and id[o]lve, ido that he hoteth.
050546Som tyme I sowe and som tyme I thresshe,
050547In taillours craft and tynkeris craft, what Truthe kan devyse,
050548I weve and I wynde and do what Truthe hoteth.
050549For though I seye it myself, I serve hym to paye;
050550I have myn hire of hym wel and outherwhiles moore.
050551He is the presteste paiere that povere men knoweth:
050552He withhalt noon hewe his hire that he ne hath it at even.
050553He is as lowe as a lomb and lovelich of speche.
050554And if ye wilneth to wite where that he dwelleth,
050555I [wol] wisse yow [wel right] to his place.'
050556'Ye, leve Piers!' quod thise pilgrimes, and profred hym huyre.
050557'Nay, by [the peril of] my soule!' quod Piers and gan to swere,
050558" I nolde fange a ferthyng, for Seint Thomas shryne!
050559Truthe woIde love me the lasse a long tyme after.
050560Ac if ye wilneth to wende wel, this is the wey thider:
050561Ye moten go thorugh Mekenesse, bothe men and wyves,
050562Til ye come into Conscience, that Crist wite the sothe,
050563That ye loven Oure Lord God levest of alle thynges,
050564And thanne youre neghebores next in none wise apeire
050565Otherwise than thow woldest h[ii] wroughte to thiselve.
050566"And so boweth forth by a brook, "" Beth-buxom-of-speche',
050567[Forto] ye fynden a ford, " Youre-fadres-honoureth' :
050567{ Honora patrem et matrem &c.}
050568Wadeth in that water and wassheth yow wel there,
050569And ye shul lepe the lightloker al youre lif ty
050570And so shaltow se "Swere-noght-but-if-it-be-for-nede-
050571And-nameliche-on-ydel-the-name-of-God-Almyghty.''
050572"Thanne shaltow come by a croft, but come thow noght therinne:
050573The croft hatte "" Coveite-noght-mennes-catel-ne-hire-wyves-
050574Ne-noon-of-hire-servaunts-that-noyen-hem-myghte.''
050575Loke thow breke no bowes there but if it be [thyn] owene.
050576"Two stokkes ther stondeth. ac stynte th[ow] noght there:
050577Thei highte ""Stele-noght'' and "" Sle-noght''--strik forth by bothe,
050578And leve hem on thi lift half and loke noght therafter,
050579And hold wel thyn haliday heighe til even.
050580"Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh, "Bere-no-t-ais-witnesse'';
050581He is frythed in with floryns and othere fees manye:
050582Loke thow plukke no plaunte there, for peril of thi soule.
050583" Thanne shaIt thow see "" Seye-sooth-so-it-be-to-doone
050584In-no-manere-ellis-noght-for-no-mannes-biddyng.''
050585"Thanne shaltow come to a court as cler as the sonne.
050586The moot is of Mercy the rnanoir aboute,
050587And alle the walles ben of Wit to holden Wil oute,
050588And kerneled with Cristendom that kynde to save,
050589Botrased with "" Bileef-so-or-thow-beest-noght-saved.''
050590"And alle the houses ben hiled, halles and chambres,
050591With no leed but with love and lowe speche, as bretheren [of o wombe].
050592The brugge is of " Bidde-wel-the-bet-may-thow-spede;''
050593Ech piler is of penaunce, of preieres to seyntes;
050594Of almesdedes are the hokes that the gates hangen on.
050595"Grace hatte the gateward, a good man for sothe;
050596His man hatte ""Amende-yow''--many man hym knoweth.
050597Telleth hym this tokene: ""Truthe[w] the sothe--
050598I parfourned the penaunce that the preest me enjoyned
050599And am sory for my synnes and so I shal evere
050600Whan I thynke theron, theigh I were a Pope.'
050601"Biddeth Amende-yow meke hym til his maister ones
050602To wayven up the wiket that the womman shette
050603Tho Adam and Eve eten apples unrosted:
050603{Per Evam cunctis clausa est et per Mariam virginem iterum patefacta est.}
050604For he hath the keye and the cliket, though the kyng slepe.
050605And if Grace graunte thee to go in in this wise
050606Thow shalt see in thiselve Truthe sitte in thyn herte
050607In a cheyne of charite, as thow a child were,
050608To suffren hym and segge noght ayein thi sires wille.
050609"Ac be war thanne of Wrathe, that wikked sherewe:
050610He hath envye to hym that in thyn herte sitteth,
050611And poketh forth pride to preise thiselven.
050612The boldnesse of thi bienfetes maketh thee blynd thanne
050613And [so] worstow dryven out as dew, and the dore closed,
050614Keyed and cliketted to kepe thee withouten
050615Happily an hundred wynter er thow eft entre!
050616Thus myghtestow lesen his love, to lete wel by thiselve,
050617And [gete it ayein thorugh] grace [ac thorugh no gifte ellis].
050618"Ac ther are seven sustren that serven Truthe evere
050619And arn porters of the posternes that to the place longeth.
050620That oon hatte Abstinence, and Humilite another;
050621Charite and Chastite ben hise chief maydenes;
050622Pacience and Pees, muche peple thei helpeth;
050623Largenesse the lady, she let in ful manye--
050624Heo hath holpe a thousand out of the develes punfolde.
050625"And who is sib to thise sevene, so me God helpe,
050626He is wonderly welcome and faire underfongen.
050627And but if ye be sibbe to some of thise sevene--
050628It is ful hard, by myn heed,' quod Piers, "for any of yow alle
050629To geten ingong at any gate but grace be the moore!'
050630"Now, by Crist!' quod a kuttepurs, - I have no kyn there.'
050631" Ne I', quod an apeward, - by aught that I knowe.'
050632"Wite God,' quod a wafrestere, "wiste I this for sothe,
050633Sholde I never ferther a foot for no freres prechyng.'
050634" Yis! ' quod Piers the Plowman, and poked hem alle to goode,
050635"Mercy is a maiden there, hath myght over hem alle;
050636And she is sib to alle synfulle, and hire sone also,
050637And thorugh the help of hem two--hope thow noon oother--
050638Thow myght gete grace there--so thow go bityme.'
050639"Bi Seint Poul!' quod a pardoner, paraventure I be noght knowe there:
050640I wol go fecche my box with my brevettes and a bulle with bisshopes lettres.
050641"By Crist!' quod a commune womman, thi compaignie wol I folwe.
050642Thow shalt seye I am thi suster.' I ne woot where thei bicome.
060001"This were a wikkede wey but whoso hadde a gyde
060002That [myghte] folwen us ech a foot'--thus this folk hem mened.
060003Quod Perkyn the Plowman, " By Seint Peter of Rome!
060004I have an half acre to erie by the heighe weye;
060005Hadde I cryed this half acre and sowen it after,
060006I wolde wende with yow and the wey teche.'
060007"This were a long lettyng,' quod a lady in a scleyre;
060008"What sholde we wommen werche the while?'
060009"Somme shul sowe the sak ' quod Piers, " for shedyng of the whete;
060010And ye lovely ladies with youre longe fyngres,
060011That ye have silk and sandel to sowe whan tyme is
060012Chesibles for chapeleyns chirches to honoure.
060013Wyves and widewes, wolle and flex spynneth:
060014Maketh cloth, I counseille yow, and kenneth so youre doughtres.
060015The nedy and the naked, nymeth hede how thei liggeth,
060016And casteth hem clothes, for so commaundeth Truthe.
060017For I shal lenen hem liflode, but if the lond faille,
060018As longe as I lyve, for the Lordes love of hevene.
060019And alle manere of men that by mete and drynke libbeth,
060020Helpeth hym to werche wightliche that wynneth youre foode.'
060021"By Crist!' quod a knyght thoo, "he kenneth us the beste;
060022Ac on the teme, trewely, taught was I nevere.
060023Ac kenne me,' quod the knyght, "and by Crist I wole assaye!'
060024"By Seint Poul!' quod Perkyn, "Ye profre yow so faire
060025That I shal swynke and swete and sowe for us bothe,
060026And [ek] labour[e] for thi love al my lif tyme,
060027In covenaunt that thow kepe Holy Kirke and myselve
060028Fro wastours and fro wikked men that this world destruyeth;
060029And go hunte hardiliche to hares and foxes,
060030To bores and to bukkes that breken down myne hegges;
060031And go affaite thi faucons wilde foweles to kille,
060032For thei cometh to my croft and croppeth my whete.'
060033Curteisly the knyght thanne co[nseyved] thise wordes:
060034"By my power, Piers, I plighte thee my trouthe
060035To fulfille this forward, though I fighte sholde;
060036Als longe as I lyve I shal thee mayntene.'
060037" Ye, and yet a point,' quod Piers, "I preye yow of moore:
060038Loke ye tene no tenaunt but Truthe wole assente;
060039And though ye mowe amercy hem, lat mercy be taxour
060040And mekenesse thi maister, maugree Medes chekes.
060041And though povere men profre yow presentes and yiftes,
060042Nyme it noght, an aventure thow mowe it noght deserve;
060043For thow shalt yelde it ayein at one yeres ende
060044In a ful perilous place--Purgatorie it hatte.
060045And mysbede noght thi bondemen--the bettre may thow spede;
060046Though he be thyn underlyng here, wel may happe in hevene
060047That he worth worthier set and with moore blisse:
060047{   Amice, ascende superius.}
060048For in charnel at chirche cherles ben yvel to knowe,
060049Or a knyght from a knave there--knowe this in thyn herte.
060050And that thow be trewe of thi tonge, and tales that thow hatie,
060051But if thei ben of wisdom or of wit, thi werkmen to chaste.
060052Hold with none harlotes ne here noght hir tales,
060053And namely at the mete swiche men eschuwe--
060054For it ben the develes disours, I do the to understonde.'
060055"I assente, by Seint Jame,' seide the knyght thanne,
060056"For to werche by thi wordes the while my lif dureth.'
060057"And I shal apparaille me,' quod Perkyn, "in pilgrymes wise
060058And wende with yow I wile til we fynde Truthe.'
060059[He] caste on [hise] clothes, yclouted and hole,
060060[Hise] cokeres and [hise] coffes for coId of [hise] nailes,
060061And [heng his] hoper at [his] hals in stede of a scryppe:
060062"A busshel of bred corn brynge me therinne,
060063For I wol sowe it myself, and sithenes wol I wende
060064To pilgrymage as palmeres doon, pardon for to have.
060065And whoso helpeth me to erie or sowen here er I wende,
060066Shal have leve, by Oure Lord, to lese here in hervest
060067And make hym murie thermyd, maugree whoso bigruccheth it.
060068And alle kynne crafty men that konne lyven in truthe,
060069I shal fynden hem fode that feithfulliche libbeth--
060070Save Jakke the Jogelour and Jonette of the Stuwes,
060071And Danyel the Dees-pleyere and Denote the Baude,
060072And Frere the Faitour, and folk of his ordre,
060073And Robin the Ribaudour, for hise rusty wordes.
060074Truthe tolde me ones and bad me telle it forth:
060075{Deleantur de libro vivencium}--I sholde noght dele with hem,
060076For Holy Chirche is hote, of hem no tithe to aske,
060076{   Quia cum iustis non scribantur.}
060077Thei ben ascaped good aventure--now God hem amende!'
060078Dame Werch-whan-tyme-is Piers wif highte;
060079His doughter highte Do-right-so-or-thi-dame-shal-thee-bete;
060080His sone highte Suffre-thi-Sovereyns-to-haven-hir-wille:
060081Deme-hem-noght-for-if-thow-doost-thow-shalt-it-deere-abugge;
060082Lat-God-yworthe-with-al-for-so-His-word-techeth.
060083"For now I am old and hoor and have of myn owene,
060084To penaunce and to pilgrimage I wol passe with thise othere;
060085Forthi I wole er I wende do write my biqueste.
060086In Dei nomine, Amen, I make it myselve.
060087' He shal have my soule that best hath deserved it,
060088And [defende it fro the fend], for so I bileve,
060089Til I come to hise acountes as my crede me telleth,
060090To have a relees and a remission--on that rental I leve.
060091"The kirke shal have my caroyne, and kepe my bones,
060092For of my corn and catel he craved the tithe.
060093I paide it hym prestly, for peril of my soule;
060094Forthi is he holden, I hope, to have me in his masse
060095And mengen me in his memorie amonges alle Cristene.
060096" My wif shal have of that I wan with truthe, and namoore,
060097And dele among my doughtres and my deere children;
060098For though I deye today, my dettes are quyte;
060099I bar hom that I borwed er I to bedde yede.
060100And with the residue and the remenaunt, by the Rode of Lukes!
060101I wol worshipe therwith Truthe by my lyve,
060102And ben His pilgrym atte plow for povere mennes sake.
060103My plowpote shal be my pikstaf, and picche atwo the rotes,
060104And helpe my cultour to kerve and clense the furwes.'
060105Now is Perkyn and thise pilgrimes to the plow faren.
060106To erie this half-acre holpen hym manye;
060107Dikeres and delveres digged up the balkes;
060108Therwith was Perkyn apayed and preised hem faste.
060109Othere werkmen ther were that wroghten ful yerne:
060110Ech man in his manere made hymself to doone,
060111And somme to plese Perkyn piked up the wedes.
060112At heigh prime Piers leet the plough stonde,
060113To oversen hem hymself; whoso best wroghte,
060114He sholde be hired therafter, whan hervest tyme come.
060115Thanne seten somme and songen atte nale,
060116And holpen ere this half acre with "How trol1y lolly!'
060117"Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers al in pure tene,
060118"But ye arise the rather and rape yow to werche,
060119Shal no greyn that here groweth glade yow at nede,
060120And though ye deye for doel, the devel have that recche!'
060121Tho were faitours afered, and feyned hem blynde;
060122Somme leide hir legges aliry, as swiche losels konneth,
060123And made hir [pleynt] to Piers and preide hym of grace:
060124"For we have no lymes to laboure with, lord, ygraced be ye!
060125Ac we preie for yow, Piers, and for youre plowgh bothe,
060126That God of his grace youre greyn multiplie
060127And ye1de yow of youre almesse that ye yyve us here;
060128For we may neither swynke ne swete, swich siknesse us eyleth.'
060129If it be sooth.' quod Piers, "that ye seyn, I shal it soone aspie.
060130Ye ben wastours, I woot wel, and Truthe woot the sothe;
060131And I am his olde hyne and highte hym to warne
060132Whiche thei were in this world hise werkmen apeired.
060133Ye wasten that men wynnen with travaille and with tene;
060134Ac Truthe shal teche yow his teme to dryve,
060135Or ye shul eten barly breed and of the broke drynke;
060136But if he be blynd or brokelegged or bolted with irens,
060137He shal ete whete breed and [with myselve drynke]
060138Til God of his goodnesse garisoun] hym sende.
060139Ac ye myghte travaille as Truthe wolde and take mete and hyre
060140To kepe kyen in the feld, the corn fro the bestes,
060141Diken or delven or dyngen upon sheves,
060142Or helpe make morter or bere muk afeld.
060143In lecherie and losengerie ye lyven, and in sleuthe,
060144And al is thorugh suffraunce that vengeaunce yow ne taketh!
060145"Ac ancres and heremites that eten but at Nones
060146And na moore er morwe--myn almesse shul thei have,
060147And of my catel to cope hem with that han cloistres and chirches.
060148Ac Robert Renaboute shal [right] noght have of myne,
060149Ne postles, but thei preche konne and have power of the bisshop:
060150Thei shul have payn and potage and [put] hemself at ese--
060151For it is an unresonable Religion that hath right noght of certein.'
060152Thanne gan Wastour to wrathen hym and wolde have yfoughte,
060153And to Piers the Plowman he profrede his glove.
060154A Bretoner, a braggere, abosted Piers als
060155And bad hym go pissen with his plowgh, forpynede sherewe!
060156'Wiltow or neltow, we wol have oure wille
060157Of thi flour and of thi flesshe--fecche whanne us liketh,
060158And maken us murye thermyde, maugree thi chekes.'
060159Thanne Piers the Plowman pleyned hym to the knyghte
060160To kepen hym as covenaunt was fro cursede sherewes
060161And fro thise wastours wolveskynnes that maketh the world deere:
060162" For tho wasten and wynnen noght, and that [while ilke]
060163Worth nevere pIentee among the peple the while my plowgh liggeth.'
060164Curteisly the knyght thanne, as his kynde wolde,
060165Warnede Wastour and wissed hym bettre:
060166"Or thow shalt abigge by the lawe, by the ordre that I bere!'
060167" I was noght wont to werche,' quod Wastour, "and now wol I noght bigynne! '-
060168And leet light of the lawe, and lasse of the knyghte,
060169And sette Piers at a pese, and his plowgh bothe,
060170And manaced Piers and his men if thei mette eftsoone.
060171" Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers, " I shal apeire yow alle'--
060172And houped after Hunger, that herde hym at the firste.
060173"Awreke me of thise wastours,' quod he, "that this world shendeth!'
060174Hunger in haste thoo hente Wastour by the mawe
060175And wrong hym so by the wombe that al watrede hise eighen.
060176He buffetted the Bretoner aboute the chekes
060177That he loked lik a lanterne al his lif after.
060178He bette hem so bothe, he brast ner hire guttes;
060179Ne hadde Piers with a pese loot- preyed [hym bileve],
060180They hadde be dolven bothe--ne deme thow noon oother.
060181"Suffre hem lyve,' he seide -and lat hem etc with hogges,
060182Or ellis benes and bren ybaken togideres.'
060183Faitours for fere herof flowen into bernes
060184And flapten on with flailes fro morwe til even,
060185That hunger was noght hardy on hem for to loke
060186For a potful of peses that Piers hadde ymaked.
060187An heep of herernytes henten hem spades
060188And kitten hir copes and courtepies hem maked.
060189And wente as werkmen with spades and with shoveles,
060190And dolven and dikeden to dryve awey Hunger.
060191Blynde and bedreden were bootned a thousand,
060192That seten to begge silver, soone were thei heeled ;
060193For that was bake for Bayard was boote for many hungry;
060194And many a beggere for benes buxum was to swynke,
060195And ech a povere man wel apaied to have pesen for his hyre,
060196And what Piers preide hem to do as prest as a sperhauk.
060197And [Piers was proud therof ], and putte hem to werke
060198And yaf hem mete as he myghte aforthe and mesurable hyre.
060199Thanne hadde Piers pite, and preide Hunger to wende
060200Hoom into his owene erd and holden hym there [evere]:
060201" For I am wel awroke of wastours thorugh thy myghte.
060202Ac I preie thee, er thow passe,' quod Piers to Hunger,
060203"Of beggeris and of bidderis what best be to doone?
060204For I woot wel, be thow went, thei wol werche ful ille;
060205Meschief it maketh thei be so meke nouthe,
060206And for defaute of hire foode this folk is at my wille.
060207[And] it are my blody bretheren, for God boughte us alle.
060208Truthe taughte me ones to loven hem ech one
060209And to helpen hem of alle thyng, ay as hem nedeth.
060210Now wolde I wite of thee, what were the beste,
060211And how I myghte amaistren hem and make hem to werche.'
060212" Here now,' quod Hunger, "and hoold it for a wisdom:
060213Bolde beggeris and bigge that mowe hir breed biswynke,
060214With houndes breed and horse breed hoold up hir hertes--
060215Aba[v]e hem with benes, for bollynge of hir wombe;
060216And if the gomes grucche, bidde hem go swynke,
060217And he shal soupe swetter whan he it hath deserved.
060218"Ac if thow fynde any freke that Fortune hath apeired
060219Or any manere false men, fonde thow swiche to knowe:
060220Conforte hem with thi catel for Cristes love of hevene;
060221Love hem and lene hem, for so Iawe of [kynde wolde]:
060222Alter alterius onlera portate.
060223And alle manere of men that thow myght aspie
060224That nedy ben [or naked, and nought han to spende,
060225Love hem and lakke hem noght--lat God take the vengeaunce;
060226Theigh thei doon yvele, lat thow God yworthe:
060226{ Michi vindictam et ego retribuam.}
060227And if thow wilt be gracious to God, do as the Gospel techeth,
060228And bilove thee amonges lowe men--so shaltow lacche grace:
060228{ Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.'}
060229"I wolde noght greve God,' quod Piers, -for al the good on grounde!'
060230Mighte I synnelees do as thow seist?' seide Piers thanne.
060231"Ye, I bihote thee,' quod Hunger, "or ellis the Bible lieth
060232Go to Genesis the geaunt, the engendrour of us alle:
060233""In sudore and swynk thow shalt thi mete tilie,
060234And laboure for thi liflode,'' and so Oure Lord highte.
060235And Sapience seith the same--I seigh it in the Bible:
060236"" Piger pro frigore no feeld nolde tilie--
060237And therfore he shal begge and bidde, and no man bete his hunger.''
060238" Mathew with mannes face moutheth thise wordes--
060239That servus nequam hadde a mnam, and for he wolde noght chaffare,
060240He hadde maugree of his maister everemoore after;
060241And bynam hym his mnam for he ne wolde werche,
060242And yaf that mnam to hym that ten mnames hadde,
060243And with that he seide, that Holy Chirche it herde:
060244"" He that hath shal have and helpe there it nedeth;
060245And he that noght hath shal noght have, and no man hym helpe,
060246And that he weneth weI to have, I wole it hym bireve.''
060247" Kynde Wit wolde that ech a wight wroghte,
060248Or in [te]chynge or in [tell]ynge or travaillynge in preieres--
060249Contemplatif lif or Actif lif, Crist wolde men wroghte.
060250The Sauter seith in the psalme of {Beat omnes},
060251The freke that fedeth hymself with his feithful labour,
060252He is blessed by the book in body and in soule:
060252{Labores manuum tuarum &c.'}
060253" Yet I preie yow,' quod Fiers, {"pur charite}, and ye konne
060254Any leef of lechecraft, lere it me, my deere;
060255For some of my servaunts and myself bothe
060256Of al a wike werche noght, so oure wombe aketh.'
060257"I woot wel,' quod Hunger, "what siknesse yow eyleth;
060258Ye han manged over muche--that maketh yow grone.
060259Ac I hote thee,' quod Hunger, "as thow thyn hele wilnest,
060260That thow drynke no day er thow dyne somwhat.
060261Ete noght, I hote thee, er hunger thee take
060262And sende thee of his sauce to savore with thi lippes;
060263And keep som til soper tyme and sitte noght to longe;
060264Arys up er appetit have eten his fille.
060265Lat noght Sire Surfet sitten at thi borde--
060266Love hym noght, for he is lecherous and likerous of tonge,
060267And after many maner metes his mawe is afyngred.
060268"And if thow diete thee thus, I dar legge myn eris
060269That Phisik shal his furred hood for his fode selle,
060270And his cloke of Calabre with alle the knappes of golde,
060271And be fayn, by my feith, his phisik to lete,
060272And lerne to laboure with lond [lest] liflode [hym faille].
060273Ther aren mo [li]eres than leches--Lord hem amende!
060274They do men deye thorugh hir drynkes er destynee it wolde.'
060275" By Seint Poul,' quod Piers, "thise arn profitable wordes!
060276For this is a lovely lesson, Lord it thee foryelde!
060277Wend now, Hunger, whan thow wolt, that wel be thow evere.'
060278" I bihote God,' quod Hunger, " hennes ne wole I wende
060279[Er] I have dyned bi this day and ydronke bothe.'
060280" I have no peny,' quod Piers, "pulettes to bugge,
060281Neither gees ne grys, but two grene cheses,
060282A fewe cruddes and creme and [a cake of otes],
060283And two loves of benes and bran ybake for my fauntes.
060284And yet I seye, by my soule, I have no salt bacon
060285Ne no cokeney, by Crist, coloppes to maken!
060286Ac I have percile and porettes and manye [plaunte coles],
060287And ek a cow and a calf, and a cart mare
060288To drawe afeld my donge the while the droghte lasteth.
060289By this liflode we mote lyve til Lammesse tyme.
060290And by that I hope to have hervest in my crofte;
060291Thanne may I dighte thi dyner as me deere liketh.'
060292Al the povere peple tho pescoddes fetten;
060293Benes and baken apples thei broghte in hir lappes,
060294Chibolles and chervelles and ripe chiries manye,
060295And profrede Piers this present to plese with Hunger.
060296Al Hunger eet in haste and axed after moore.
060297Thanne povere folk for fere fedden Hunger yerne;
060298With grene poret and pesen to poisone hym thei thoghte!
060299By that it neghed neer hervest and newe corn cam to chepyng;
060300Thanne was folk fayn, and fedde Hunger with the beste--
060301With good ale, as Gloton taghte--and garte Hunger to slepe.
060302And tho wolde Wastour noght werche, but wandren aboute,
060303Ne no beggere ete breed that benes inne were,
060304But of coket and clermatyn or ellis of clene whete,
060305Ne noon halfpeny ale in none wise drynke,
060306But of the beste and of the brunneste that [brewesteres] selle.
060307Laborers that have no land to lyve on but hire handes
060308Deyned nought to dyne aday nyght-olde wortes;
060309May no peny ale hem paie, ne no pece of bacoun,
060310But if it be fressh flessh outher fissh fryed outher ybake--
060311And that chaud and plus chaud, for chillynge of hir mawe.
060312And but if he be heighliche hyred, ellis wole he chide--
060313And that he was werkman wroght wa[ri]e the tyme.
060314Ayeins Catons counseil comseth he to jangle:
060314{Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento.}
060315He greveth hym ageyn God and gruccheth ageyn Reson.
060316And thanne corseth he the Kyng and al his Counseil after
060317Swiche lawes to loke, laborers to greve.
060318Ac whiles Hunger was hir maister, ther wolde noon of hem chide,
060319Ne stryven ayeins his statut, so sterneliche he loked!
060320Ac I warne yow werkmen--wynneth whil ye mowe,
060321For Hunger hiderward hasteth hym faste!
060322He shal awake [thorugh] water, wastours to chaste,
060323Er fyve yer be fulfilled swich famyn shal aryse:
060324Thorugh flodes and thorugh foule wedres, fruytes shul faille--
060325And so seith Saturne and sent yow to warne:
060326Whan ye se the [mo]ne amys and two monkes heddes,
060327And a mayde have the maistrie, and multiplie by eighte,
060328Thanne shal deeth withdrawe and derthe be justice,
060329And Dawe the Dykere deye for hunger--
060330But if God of his goodnesse graunte us a trewe.
070001Treuthe herde telle herof, and to Piers sente
070002To taken his teme and tilien the erthe,
070003And purchaced hym {a pardoun a pena et a culpa}
070004For hym and for hyse heirs for ever oore after-
070005And bad hym holde hym at home and erien hise Ieyes,
070006And alle that holpen hym to erye, to sette or to sowe,
070007or any [man]er mestier that myghte Piers availe--
070008Pardon with Piers Plowman Truthe hath ygraunted.
070009Kynges and knyghtes that kepen Holy Chirche
070010And rightfully in remes rulen the peple,
070011Han pardon thorugh purgatorie to passen ful lightly,
070012With patriarkes and prophetes in paradis to be felawe.
070013Bysshopes yblessed, if thei ben as thei sholde
070014Legistres of bothe lawes, the lewed therwith to preche,
070015And in as muche as thei mowe amenden alle synfulle,
070016Arn peres with the Apostles--this pardon Piers sheweth--
070017And at the day of dome at the heighe deys to sitte.
070018Marchaunts in the margyne hadde manye yeres,
070019Ac noon {A pena et a culpa} the Pope nolde hem graunte.
070020For thei holde noght hir halidayes as Holy Chirche techeth,
070021And for thei swere 'by hir soule' and -so God moste hem helpe'
070022Ayein clene Conseience, hir catel to selle.
070023Ac under his secret seel Truthe sente hem a lettre,
070024[And bad hem] buggen boldely what hem best liked
070025And sithenes selle it ayein and save the wynnyng,
070026And amende mesondieux thermyd and myseise folk helpe;
070027And wikkede weyes wightly amende,
070028And do boote to brugges that tobroke were;
070029Marien maydenes or maken hem nonnes;
070030Povere peple and prisons fynden hem hir foode,
070031And sette soolers to scole or to som othere craftes;
070032Releve Religion and renten hem bettre.
070033"And I shal sende yow myselve Seynt Michel myn angel,
070034That no devel shal yow dere ne [in youre deying fere yow],
070035And witen yow fro wanhope, if ye wol thus werche,
070036And sende youre soules in saufte to my Seintes in joye.'
070037Thanne were marchaunts murie--manye wepten for joye-
070038And preiseden Piers the Plowman, that purchaced this bulle.
070039Men of lawe leest pardon hadde that pleteden for mede,
070040For the Sauter saveth hem noght, swiche as take yiftes,
070041And nameliche of innocents that noon yvel ne konneth:
070041{  Super innocentem munera non accipies.}
070042Pledours sholde peynen hem to plede for swiche and helpe;
070043Princes and prelates sholde paie for hire travaille:
070043{  A regibus et principibus erit merces eorum.}
070044Ac many a justice and jurour wolde for Johan do moore
070045Than pro Deipietate--leve thow noon oother!
070046Ac he that spendeth his speche and speketh for the povere
070047That is innocent and nedy and no man apeireth,
070048Conforteth hym in that caas, coveit[eth noght hise] yiftes,
070049And [for Oure Lordes love lawe for hym sheweth]--
070050Shal no devel at his deeth day deren hym a myte
070051That he ne worth saaf and his soule, the Sauter bereth witnesse:
070051{  Domine, quis habitubit in tubernuculo tuo ?}
070052Ac to bugge water, ne wynd, ne wit, ne fir the ferthe--
070053Thise foure the Fader of Hevene made to this foold in commune:
070054Thise ben Truthes tresores trewe folk to helpe,
070055That nevere shul wex ne wanye withouten God hymselve.
070056Whan thei drawen on to the deth, and indulgences wolde have,
070057His pardon is ful petit at his partyng hennes
070058That any mede of mene men for hir motyng taketh.
070059Ye legistres and lawieres, [if I lye witeth Mathew]:
070059{  Quodcumque vultis utfaciant vobis homines, fucite eis.}
070060Alle libbynge laborers that lyven with hir hondes,
070061That treweliche taken and treweliche wynnen,
070062And lyven in love and in lawe, for hir lowe herte
070063Haveth the same absolucion that sent was to Piers.
070064Beggeres and bidderes beth noght in the bulle
070065But if the suggestion be sooth that shapeth hem to begge:
070066For he that beggeth or bit, but it he have nede,
070067He is fals with the feend and defraudeth the nedy,
070068And also gileth the gyvere ageynes his wille;
070069For if he wiste he were noght nedy he wolde [that yyve]
070070Another that were moore nedy than he--so the nedieste sholde be holpe.
070071Caton kenneth me thus, and the Clerc of the Stories:
070072Cui des, videto is Catons techyng;
070073And in the Stories he techeth to bistowe thyn almesse:
070073{  Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des.}
070074Ac Gregory was a good man, and bad us gyven alle
070075That asketh for His love that us al leneth:
070075{Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte pretereaf ittum qui meretur}
070075{ accipere; quia incerum est pro quo Deo magis placeas.}
070076For wite ye nevere who is worthi - ac God woot who hath nede.
070077In hym that taketh is the trecherie, if any treson walke -
070078For he that yeveth, yeldeth, and yarketh hym to reste,
070079And he that biddeth, borweth, and bryngeth hymself in dette.
070080For beggeres borwen everemo, and hir borgh is God Almyghty-
070081To yelden hem that yeveth hem, and yet usure moore:
070081{ Quare noon dedisti pecuniam mean ad mensam, ut}
070081{ ego enioens cum usuris exegissem utique illam?}
070082Forthi biddeth noght, ye beggeres, but if ye have gret nede.
070083For whoso hath to buggen hym breed - the Book bereth witnesse-
070084He hath ynough that hath breed ynough, though he have noght ellis:
070084{Satis dives est qui non indiget pane.}
070085Lat usage be your solas of seintes lyves redyng;
070086The Book banneth beggerie, and blameth hem in this manere:
070086{ Iuniou fui etenim senui, et non vidi iustum derelictum nec}
070086{ semen eius querens panem.}
070087For [thei] lyve in no love, ne no lawe holde:
070088[Thei] ne wedde no womman that [thei] with deele,
070090But as wilde bestes with "wehee" worthen uppe and werchen,
070091And bryngen forth barnes that bastardes men calleth.
070092Or the bak or som soon their breketh in his youthe,
070093And goon [and] faiten with hire fauntes for everemoore after.
070094Ther is moore mysshapen amonges thise beggeres
070095Than of alle [othere] manere men that on this moolde walketh.
070096Tho that lyve thus hir lif mowe lothe the tyme
070097That evere he was man wroght, whan he shal hennes fare.
070098Ac olde men and hore that helplees ben of strengthe,
070099And wommen with childe that werche ne mowe,
070100Blynde and bedreden and broken hire membres,
070101That taken this myschief mekeliche, as mesels and othere,
070102Han as pleyn pardon as the Plowman hymselve.
070103For Iove of hir lowe hertes Oure Lord hath hem graunted
070104Hir penaunce and hir Purgatorie upon this [pure] erthe.
070105" Piers,' quod a preest thoo, " thi pardon moste I rede;
070106For I shal construe ech clause and kenne it thee on Englissh.'
070107And Piers at his preiere the pardon unfoldeth--
070108And I bihynde hem bothe biheld al the bull
070109In two lynes it lay, and noght a le[ttre] moore,
070110And was writen right thus in witnesse of truthe:
070110{Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam.}
070110{Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.}
070111" Peter! ' quod the preest thoo, " I kan no pardon fynde
070112But "-Do wel and have wel. and God shal have thi soule,'
070113And " Do yvel and have yvel, and hope thow noon oother
070114That after thi deeth day the devel shal have thi soule!'
070115And Piers for pure tene pulled it atweyne
070116And seide, - Si ambulavero in medio umbre mortis
070117Non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es.
070118"I shal cessen of my sowyng,' quod Piers, "and swynke noght so harde,
070119Ne aboute my bely joye so bisy be na moore;
070120Of preieres and of penaunce my plough shal ben herafter,
070121And wepen whan I sholde slepe, though whete breed me faille.
070122"The prophete his payn eet in penaunce and in sorwe,
070123By that the Sauter seith--so dide othere manye.
070124That loveth God lelly, his lifiode is ful esy:
070124{Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte.}
070125"And but if Luc lye, he lereth us by foweles
070126We sholde noght be to bisy aboute the worldes blisse:
070127Ne soliciti sitis, he seith in the Gospel
070128And sheweth us by ensamples us selve to wisse.
070129The foweles in the feld, who fynt hem mete at wynter?
070130Have thei no gerner to go to, but God fynt hem alle.'
070131"What!' quod the preest to Perkyn, "Peter! as me thynketh,
070132Thow art lettred a litel--who lerned thee on boke?'
070133"Abstynence the Abbesse,' quod Piers, -myn a.b.c. me taughte,
070134And Conscience cam afterward and kenned me muche moore.'
070135" Were thow a preest, Piers,' quod he, " thow myghtest preche where thow   sh
070136As divinour in divinite, with Dixit insipiens to thi teme.'
070137" Lewed lorel!' quod Piers, "litel lokestow on the Bible;
070138On Salomons sawes selden thow biholdest--
070138{Eice derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c.'}
070139The preest and Perkyn apposeden either oother--
070140And I thorugh hir wordes awook, and waited aboute,
070141And seigh the sonne in the south sitte that tyme.
070142Metelees and moneilees on Malverne hulles,
070143Musynge on this metels a my[le] wey ich yede.
070144Many tyme this metels hath maked me to studie
070145Of that I seigh slepynge--if it so be myghte;
070146And for Piers the Plowman ful pencif in herte,
070147And which a pardon Piers hadde, al the peple to conforte,
070148And how the preest inpugned it with two propre wordes.
070149Ac I have no savour in songewarie, for I se it ofte faille;
070150Caton and canonistres counseillen us to leve
070151To sette sadnesse in songewarie--for {sompnia ne cures.}
070152Ac for the book Bible bereth witnesse
070153How Daniel divined the dremes of a kyng
070154That was Nabugodonosor nempned of clerkes . . .
070155Daniel seide, "Sire Kyng, thi dremels bitokneth
070156That unkouthe knyghtes shul come thi kyngdom to cleyme;
070157Amonges lower lordes thi lond shal be departed.'
070158And as Daniel divined, in dede it fel after:
070159The kyng lees his lordshipe, and lower men it hadde.
070160And Joseph mette merveillously how the moone and the sonne
070161And the ellevene sterres hailsed hym alle.
070162Thanne Jacob jugged Josephes swevene :
070163" {Beau fiz,'} quod his fader, " for defaute we shullen--
070164I myself and my sones--seche thee for nede.'
070165It bifel as his fader seide, in Pharaoes tyme,
070166That Joseph was Justice Egipte to loke:
070167It bifel as his fader tolde--hise frendes there hym soughte.
070168Al this maketh me on metels to thynke--
070169And how the preest preved no pardon to Dowel,
070170And demed that Dowel indulgences passed,
070171Biennals and triennals and bisshopes lettres,
070172And how Dowel at the Day of Dome is digneliche underfongen,
070173And passeth al the pardon of Seint Petres cherche.
070174Now hath the Pope power pardon to graunte
070175The peple, withouten penaunce to ja into [joye];
070176This is [a leef of] oure bileve, as lettred men us techeth:
070176{Quodcumque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum et in celis &c.}
070177And so leve leelly (Lord forbede ellis!)
070178That pardon and penaunce and preieres doon save
070179Soules that have synned seven sithes dedly.
070180Ac to trust on thise triennals--trewely, me thynketh,
070181It is noght so siker for the soule, certes, as is Dowel.
070182Forthi I rede yow renkes that riche ben on this erthe,
070183Upon trust of youre tresor triennals to have,
070184Be ye never the bolder to breke the ten hestes;
070185And namely ye maistres, meires and jugges,
070186That have the welthe of this world and wise men ben holden,
070187To purchace yow pardon and the Popes bulles.
070188At the dredful dome, whan dede shulle arise
070189And comen alle bifore Crist acountes to yelde--
070190How thow laddest thi lif here and hise lawes keptest,
070191And how thow didest day by day the doom wole reherce.
070192A pokeful of pardon there, ne provincials lettres,
070193Theigh ye be founde in the fraternite of alle the foure ordres
070194And have indulgences doublefold--but Dowel yow helpe,
070195I sette youre patentes and youre pardon at one pies hele!
070196Forthi I counseille alle Cristene to crie God mercy,
070197And Marie his moder be oure meene bitwene,
070198That God gyve us grace here, er we go hennes,
070199Swiche werkes to werche, while we ben here,
070200That after oure deth day, Dowel reherce
070201At the day of dome, we dide as he highte.
080001Thus yrobed in russet I romed aboute
080002Al a somer seson for to seke Dowel,
080003And frayned ful ofte of folk that I mette
080004If any wight wiste wher Dowel was at inne,
080005And what man he myghte be of many man I asked.
080006Was nevere wight as I wente that me wisse kouthe
080007Where this leode lenged, lasse ne moore--
080008Til it bifel on a Friday two freres I mette,
080009Maistres of the Menours, men of grete witte.
080010I hailsed hem hendely, as I hadde ylerned,
080011And preide hem, {pur churite}, er thei passed ferther,
080012If they knewe any contree or costes [aboute]
080013Where that Dowel dwelieth--"Dooth me to witene;
080014For [ye] be men of this moolde that moost wide walken,
080015And knowen contrees and courtes and many kynnes places--
080016Bothe princes paleises and povere mennes cotes,
080017And Dowel and Do-yvele, wher thei dwelle bothe.'
080018"[Marie!]', quod the Menours, " [amonges us he dwelleth],
080019And evere hath, as I hope, and evere shal herafter.'
080020{"Contra!'} quod I as a clerc, and comsed to disputen,
080021And seide, {"Soothly, Sepcies in die cadit iustus.}
080022Sevene sithes, seith the Book, synneth the rightfulle,
080023And whoso synneth,' I seide, " [certes] dooth yvele, as me thynketh,
080024And Dowel and Do-yvele mowe noght dwelle togideres.
080025Ergo he nys noght alwey at hoom amonges yow freres:
080026He is outhemhile elliswhere to wisse the peple.'
080027" I shal seye thee, my sone,' seide the frere thanne,
080028"How Seven sithes the sadde man synneth on the day.
080029By a forbisne,' quod the frere, "I shal thee faire shewe.
080030"Lat brynge a man in a boot amydde a brode watre:
080031The wynd and the water and the [waggyng of the boot]
080032Maketh the man many tyme to falle and to stonde.
080033For stonde he never so stif, he stumbleth if he meve--
080034Ac yet is he saaf and sound, and so hym bihoveth;
080035For if he ne arise the rather and raughte to the steere,
080036The wynd wolde with the water the boot overthrowe,
080037And thanne were his lif lost thorugh lachesse of hymselve.
080038" Right thus it fareth,' quod the frere, " by folk here on erthe.
080039The water is Iikned to the world, that wanyeth and wexeth;
080040The goodes of this grounde arn lik the grete wawes
080041That as wyndes and wedres walweth aboute;
080042The boot is likned to oure body that brotel is of kynde,
080043That thorugh the fend and the flessh and the frele worlde
080044Synneth the sadde man [seven sithes a day].
080045"Ac dedly synne doth he noght, for Dowel hym kepeth,
080046And that is charite the champion, chief help ayein synne;
080047For he strengtheth man to stonde, and steereth mannes soule
080048That, though thi body bowe as boot dooth in the watre,
080049Ay is thi soule saaf but thow thiselve wole
080050Folwe thi flessh and the fend after-
080051Do a deedly synne and drenche so thiselve.
080052God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe, if thiself liketh;
080053For he yaf thee to yeresyyve to yeme wel thiselve--
080054And that is wit and free will, to every wight a porcion,
080055To fleynge foweles, to fisshes and to beestes;
080056Ac man hath moost therof, and moost is to blame
080057But if he werche wel therwith, as Dowel hym techeth.'
080058I have no kynde knowyng,' quod I, "to conceyve alle thi wordes,
080059Ac if I may lyve and loke, I shal go lerne bettre.'
080060"I bikenne thee Crist,' quod he, that on the cros deyde.'
080061And I seide, -The same save yow fro myschaunce,
080062And yyve yow grace on this grounde goode men to worthe!'
080063And thus I wente widewher, walkyng myn one,
080064By a wilde wildernesse, and by a wodes side;
080065Blisse of the briddes abide me made,
080066And under a lynde upon a launde lened I a stounde
080067To lythe the layes tho lovely foweles made.
080068Murthe of hire mouthes made me ther to slepe;
080069The merveillouseste meteIs mette me thanne
080070That ever dremed [dr]ight in [doute], as I wene.
080071A muche man, as me thoughte, lik to myselve,
080072Cam and called me by my kynde name.
080073" What art thow?' quod I tho, " that thow my name knowest?'
080074"That thow woost wel,' quod he, "and no wight bettre.'
080075"Woot I,' [quod I, "who art thow?'] "Thought,' seide he thanne.
080076"I have sued thee this seven yeer; seye thow me no rather?'
080077"Art thow Thought?' quod I, "thoo thow koudest me wisse
080078Where that Dowel dwelleth, and do me to knowe.'
080079"Dowel,' quod he, "and Dobet and Dobest the thridde
080080Arn thre faire vertues, and ben noght fer to fynde.
080081Whoso is trewe of his tunge and of his two handes,
080082And thorugh his labour or thorugh his land his liflode wynneth,
080083And is trusty of his tailende, taketh but his owene,
080084And is noght dronkelewe ne dedeynous--Dowel hym folweth.
080085"Dobet dooth right thus, ac he dooth muche moore;
080086He is as lowe as a lomb and lovelich of speche,
080087And helpeth alle men after that hem nedeth.
080088The bagges and the bigirdles, he hath tobroke hem alle
080089That the Erl Avarous heeld, and hise heires;
080090And with Mammonaes moneie he hath maad hym frendes,
080091And is ronne into Religion, and hath rendred the Bible,
080092And precheth to the peple Seint Poules wordes--
080093Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes.
080094[Ye wise], suffreth the unwise with yow to libbe,
080095And with glad wille dooth hem good, for so God yow hoteth.
080096"Dobest is above bothe and bereth a bisshopes cro[c]e,
080097is hoked on that oon ende to halie men fro helle.
080098A pik is on that potente, to pulte adown the wikked
080099That waiten any wikkednesse Dowel to tene.
080100And Dowel and Dobet amonges hem ordeyned
080101To crowne oon to be kyng to [kepen] hem bothe,
080102That if Dowel or Dobet dide ayein Dobest,
080103Thanne shal the kyng come and casten hem in irens,
080104And but if Dobest bede for hem, thei to be ther for evere.
080105Thus Dowel and Dobet and Dobest the thridde
080106Crowned oon to be kyng to kepen hem alle
080107And rule the reme by [rede of hire] wittes,
080108And ootherwise [ne ellis noght], but as thei thre assented.'
080109I thonked Thoght tho that he me [so] taughte.
080110"Ac yet savoreth me noght thi seying, so me Crist helpe!
080111For more kynde knowynge I coveite to lerne--
080112How Dowel, Dobet and Dobest doon among the peple.'
080113"But Wit konne wisse thee.' quod Thoght, " where tho thre dwelle;
080114Ellis [n]oot I noon that kan, that now is alyve.'
080115Thoght and I thus thre daies we yeden
080116Disputyng upon Dowel day after oother--
080117And er we war were, with Wit gonne we mete.
080118He was long and lene, lik to noon oother;
080119Was no pride on his apparaille, ne poverte neither;
080120Sad of his semblaunt and of [a] softe [speche].
080121I dorste meve no matere to maken hym to jangle
080122But as I bad Thoght thoo be mene bitwene
080123And pute forth som purpos to preven hise wittes,
080124What was Dowel fro Dobet, and Dobest from hem bothe.
080125Thanne Thoght in that tyme seide thise wordes:
080126" Wher Dowel and Dobet and Dobest ben in londe
080127Here is Wil wolde wite if Wit koude teche;
080128And wheither he be man or no manthis man wolde as
080129And werchen as thei thre wolde--this is his entente.'
090001"Sire Dowel dwelleth,' quod Wit, "noght a day hennes
090002In a castel that Kynde made of foure kynnes thynges.
090003Of erthe and eyr is it maad, medled togideres,
090004With wynd and with water wittily enjoyned.
090005Kynde hath closed therinne craftily withalle
090006A lemman that he loveth lik to hymselve.
090007{Anima} she hatte; [to hir hath envye]
090008A proud prikere of Fraunce, {Princeps huius mundi},
090009And wolde wynne hire awey with wiles and he myghte.
090010"Ac Kynde knoweth this wel and kepeth hire the bettre,
090011And hath doon hire with Sire Dowel, Duc of thise marches.
090012Dobet is hire damyselle, Sire Doweles doughter,
090013To serven this Iady leelly bothe late and rathe.
090014Dobest is above bothe, a bisshopes peere;
090015That he bit moot be do--he [bidd]eth hem alle.
090016[By his leryng] is lad [that lady Anima].
090017"Ac the Constable of that castel, that kepeth [hem alle],
090018Is a wis knyght withal1e--Sire 1nwit he hatte,
090019And hath fyve faire sones by his firste wyve:
090020Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel, and Here-wel the hende,
090021Sire Werch-wel-with-thyn-hand, a wight man of strengthe,
090022And Sire Godefray Go-wel--grete lordes [alle].
090023Thise sixe ben set to save this lady {Anima}
090024Til Kynde come or sende to kepen hire hymselve.'
090025"What kynnes thyng is Kynde?' quod, "kanstow me telle?'
090026" Kynde,' quod Wit, "is creatour of alle kynnes thynges,
090027Fader and formour of al that evere was maked--
090028And that is the grete God that gynnyng hadde nevere,
090029Lord of lif and of light, of lisse and of peyne.
090030Aungeles and alle thyng arn at his wille,
090031Ac man is hym moost lik of marc and of shape.
090032For thorugh the word that he [warp] woxen forth beestes:
090032{   Dixit et facta sunt.}
090033"A[c] he made man [moost] li[k] to hymself,
090034And Eve of his ryb bon withouten any mene.
090035For he was synguler hymself and seide Eaciamus--
090036As who seith, "" Moore moot herto than my word oone:
090037My myght moot helpe now with my speche.''
090038Right as a lord sholde make lettres, and hym lakked [no] parchemyn,
090039Though he [wiste] write never so wel, if he hadde no penne,
090040The lettre, for al the lordshipe, I leve were nevere ymaked!
090041"And so it semeth [there he seide, as the Bible telleth,
090042Faciamus hominem ad imaginem nostram]--
090043He moste werche with his word and his wit shewe.
090044And in this manere was man maad thorugh myght of God almyghty,
090045With his word and werkmanshipe and with lif to 1aste.
090046And thus God gaf hym a goost, of the godhede of hevene,
090047And of his grete grace graunted hym blisse--
090048And that is lif that ay shal 1aste to al his lynage after.
090049And that is the castel that Kynde made, Caro it hatte,
090050And is as muche to mene as "man with a soule."
090051And that he wroghte with werk and with word bothe:
090052Thorgh myght of the mageste man was ymaked.
090053" Inwit and alle wittes yclosed ben therinne
090054For love of the lady {Anima}, that lif is ynempned.
090055Over al in mannes body he[o] walketh and wandreth,
090056Ac in the herte is hir hoom and hir mooste reste.
090057Ac Inwit is in the heed, and to the herte he loketh
090058What {Anima} is leef or looth--he Iat hire at his wille;
090059For after the grace of God, the gretteste is Inwit.
090060"Muche wo worth that man that mysruleth his Inwit,
090061And that ben glotons glubberes--hir God is hire wombe:
090061{Quorum deus venter est.}
090062For thei serven Sathan, hir soules shal he have:
090063That lyven synful lif here, hir soule is lich the devel.
090064And alle that lyven good lif are lik to God almyghty:
090064{Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet &c.}
090065"Allas! that drynke sha1 fordo that God deere boughte,
090066And dooth God forsaken hem that he shoop to his liknesse:
090066{Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi, Et dimisi eos}
090066{secundum desideria eorum.}
090067" Fooles that fauten Inwit, I fynde that Holy Chirche
090068Sholde fynden hem that hem fauteth, and faderlese children,
090069And widewes that han noght wherwith to wynnen hem hir foode,
090070Madde men and maydenes that helplese were--
090071Alle thise lakken Inwit, and loore bihoveth.
090072"Of this matere I myghte make a long tale
090073And fynde fele witnesses among the foure doctours,
090074And that I lye noght of that I lere thee, Luc bereth witnesse.
090075"Godfader and godmoder that seen hire godchildren
090076At myseise and at myschief and mowe hem amende
090077Shul [pre]ve penaunce in purgatorie, but thei hem helpe.
090078For moore bilongeth to the liteI barn er he the lawe knowe
090079Than nempnynge of a name, and he never the wiser!
090080Sholde no Cristene creature cryen at the yate
090081Ne faille payn ne potage, and prelates dide as thei sholden.
090082A Jew wolde noght se a Jew go janglyng for defaute
090083For alle the mebles on this moolde, and he amende it myghte.
090084"Allas that a Cristene creature shal be unkynde til another!
090085Syn Jewes, that we jugge Judas felawes,
090086Eyther helpeth oother of that that hym nedeth.
090087Whi nel we Cristene of Cristes good [as kynde be]
090088As Jewes, that ben oure loresmen? Shame to us alle!
090089The commune for hir unkyndenesse, I drede me, shul abye.
090090" Bisshopes shul be blamed for beggeres sake;
090091He is [jugged] wors than Judas that yyveth a japer silver
090092And biddeth the beggere go, for his broke clothes:
090092{   Proditor est prelatus cum Iudu qui patrimonium Christi}
090092{   minus distribuit. Et alibi, Perniciosus dispensator est}
090092{   qui res pauperum Christi inutiliter consumit.}
090093He dooth noght wel that dooth thus, ne drat noght God almyghty,
090094Ne loveth noght Salomons sawes, that Sapience taughte:
090094{   Inicium sapiencie timor Domini.}
090095"That dredeth God, he dooth wel; that dredeth hym for love
090096And noght for drede of vengeaunce, dooth therfore the bettre.
090097He dooth best that withdraweth hym by daye and by nyghte
090098To spille any speche or any space of tyme:
090098{Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.}
090099" [Tyn]ynge of tyme, Truthe woot the sothe,
090100Is moost yhated upon erthe of hem that ben in hevene;
090101And siththe to spille speche, that spire is of grace,
090102And Goddes gleman and a game of hevene.
090103Wolde nevere the feithful fader his fithele were untempred,
090104Ne his gleman a gedelyng, a goere to tavernes.
090105"To alle trewe tidy men that travaille desiren,
090106Oure Lord loveth hem and lent, loude outher stille,
090107Grace to go to hem and of gon hir liflode:
090107{Inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono.}
090108"In this world is Dowel trewe wedded libbynge folk],
090109For thei mote werche and wynne and the world sustene.
090110For of hir kynde thei come that Confessours ben nempned,
090111Kynges and knyghtes, kaysers and clerkes,
090112Maidenes and martires--out of o man come.
090113The wif was maad the w[y]e for to helpe werche,
090114And thus was wedlok ywroght with a mene persone--
090115First by the fadres wille and the frendes conseille,
090116And sithenes by assent of hemself, as thei two myghte acorde;
090117And thus was wedlok ywroght, and God hymself it made;
090118In erthe the heven is--hymself was the witnesse.
090119"Ac fals folk feithlees, theves and lyeres,
090120Wastours and wrecches out of wedlok, I trowe,
090121Conceyved ben in yvel tyme, as Caym was on Eve.
090122Of swiche synfulle sherewes the Sauter maketh mynde:
090122{Concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem.}
090123And alle that come of that Caym come to yvel ende.
090124"For God senteto Seem and seide by an aungel,
090125"Thyn issue in thyn issue, I woI that thei be wedded,
090126And noght thi kynde with Caymes ycoupled ne yspoused.''
090127" Yet some, ayein the sonde of Oure Saveour of hevene,
090128Caymes kynde and his kynde coupIed togideres--
090129Til God wrathed with hir werkes, and swich a word seide,
090130" That I makede man, now it me forthynketh:
090130{ Penitet me fecisse hominem.'}
090131"And com to Noe anon and bad hym noght lette:
090132"Swithe go shape a ship of shides and of bordes.
090133Thyself and thi sones thre and sithen youre wyves,
090134Busketh yow to that boot and bideth therinne
090135Til fourty daies be fulfild, that flood have ywasshen
090136Clene awey the corsed blood that Caym hath ymaked.
090137"Bestes that now ben shul banne the tyme
090138That evere that cursed Caym coom on this erthe.
090139Alle shul deye for his dedes by dales and hulles,
090140And the foweles that fleen forth with othere beestes,
090141Excepte oonliche of ech kynde a couple
090142That in thi shyngled ship shul ben ysaved.'
090143"Here aboughte the barn the belsires giltes,
090144And alle for hir forefadres thei ferden the werse..
090145The Gospel is heragein in o degre, I fynde:
090146Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris et pater non portabit iniquitatem filii.
090147Ac I fynde, if the fader be fals and a sherewe,
090148That somdel the sone shal have the sires tacches.
090149Impe on an ellere, and if thyn appul be swete
090150Muchel merveille me thynketh; and moore of a sherewe
090151That bryngeth forth any barn, but if he be the same
090152And have a savour after the sire--selde sestow oother:
090152{ Numquam colligunt de spinis uvas nec de tribulis ficus.}
090153"And thus thorugh cursed Caym cam care upon erthe,
090154And al for thei wroghte wedlokes ayein [the wille of God].
090155Forthi have thei maugre of hir mariages, that marie so hir children.
090156For some, as I se now, sooth for to telle,
090157For coveitise of catel unkyndely ben wedded.
090158As careful concepcion cometh of swiche mariages
090159As bit-el of the folk that I bifore of tolde.
090160For goode sholde wedde goode, though thei no good hadde;
090161"I am via et veritas,'' seith Crist, "I may avaunce alle.''
090162"It is an uncomly couple. by Crist! as me thynketh--
090163To yeven a yong wenche to an [y]olde feble,
090164Or wedden any wodewe for welthe of hir goodes
090165That nevere shal barn bere but if it be in armes!
090166In jelousie joyelees and janglynge on bedde,
090167Many a peire sithen the pestilence han plight hem togideres.
090168The fruyt that thei brynge forth arn.[manye] foule wordes;
090169Have thei no children but cheeste and chopp[es] hem bitwene.
090170Though thei do hem to Dunmowe, but if the devel helpe
090171To folwen after the flicche, fecche thei it nevere;
090172But thei bothe be forswore, that bacon thei tyne.
090173" Forthi I counseille alle Cristene coveite noght be wedded
090174For coveitise of catel ne of kynrede riche;
090175Ac maidenes and maydenes macche yow togideres;
090176Wideweres and wodewes, wercheth the same;
090177For no londes, but for love, loke ye be wedded,
090178And thanne gete ye the grace of God, and good ynough to live with.
090179"And every maner seculer that may noght continue,
090180Wisely go wedde, and ware hym fro synne;
090181For lecherie in likynge is lymeyerd of helle.
090182Whiles thow art yong, and thi wepene kene,
090183Wreke thee with wyvyng, if thow wolt ben excused:
090183{ Dum sis vir fortis, ne des tua robora scortis.}
090183{ Scribitur in poriis, meretrix est ianua mortis.}
090184"Whan ye han wyved, beth war, and wercheth in tyme--
090185Noght as Adam and Eve whan Caym was engendred.
090186For in untyme, trewely, bitwene man and womman
090187Ne sholde no [bedbourde] be: but if thei bothe were clene
090188Of lif and in [love of] soule, and in [lawe also],
090189That ilke derne dede do no man ne sholde.
090190Ac if thei leden thus hir lif, it liketh God almyghty,
090191For he made wedlok first and hymself it seide:
090192Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem.
090193"That othergates ben geten, for gedelynges arn holden,
090194And fals folk, fondlynges, faitours and lieres,
090195Ungracious to gete good or love of the peple;
090196Wandren and wasten what thei cacche mowe.
090197Ayeins Dowel thei doon yvel and the devel serve,
090198And after hir deeth day shul dwelle with the same
090199But God gyve hem grace here hemself  to amende.
090200"Dowel, my frend, is to doon as lawe techeth.
090201To love thi frend and thi foo--leve me, that is Dobet.
090202To yyven and to yemen bothe yonge and olde,
090203To helen and to helpen, is Dobest of alle.
090204"And thus Dowel is to drede God, and Dobet to suffre,
090205And so cometh Dobest of bothe, and bryngeth adoun the mody--
090206And that is wikked wille that many werk shendeth,
090207And dryveth awey Dowel thorugh dedliche synnes.'
100001Thanne hadde Wit a wif, was hote Dame Studie,
100002That lene was of lere and of liche bothe.
100003She was wonderly wroth that Wit me thus taughte,
100004And al staiynge Dame Studie sterneliche seide.
100005"Wel artow wis,' quod she to Wit, "any wisdomes to telle
100006To flatereres or to fooles that frenetike ben of wittes!'--
100007And blamed hym and banned hym and bad hym be stille--
100008"With swiche wise wordes to wissen any sottes!'
100009And seide, " {Noti mittere}, man, margery perles
100010Among hogges that han hawes at wille.
100011Thei doon but dryvele theron--draf were hem levere
100012Than al the precious perree that in paradis wexeth.
100013I seye it by swiche,' quod she, "that sheweth by hir werkes
100014That hem were levere lond and lordshipe on erthe,
100015Or richesse or rentes and reste at hir wille
100016Than alle the sooth sawes that Salamon seide evere.
100017"Wisdom and wit now is noght worth a kerse
100018But if it be carded with coveitise as clotheres kemben hir wolle.
100019Whoso can contreve deceites and conspire wronges
100020And lede forth a loveday to lette with truthe--   .
100021That swiche craftes kan to counseil [are] cleped ;
100022Thei lede lordes with lesynges and bilieth truthe.
100023" Job the gentile in hise gestes witnesseth
100024That wikked men, thei welden the welthe of this worlde,
100025And that thei ben lordes of ech a lond, that out of lawe libbeth:
100025{Quare impii vivunt ? bene est omnibus qui prevaricantur et inique agunt ?}
100026"The Sauter seith the same by swiche that doon ille:
100026{Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt divicias.}
100027" Lo!' seith holy lettrure, " whiche lordes beth thise sherewes!'
100028Thilke that God moost gyveth, leest good thei deleth,
100029And moost unkynde to the commune, that moost catel weldeth:
100029{Que perfecisti destruxerunt, iustus autem &c.}
100030"Harlotes for hir harlotrie may have of hir goodes,
100031And japeris and jogelours and jangleris of gestes;
100032Ac he that hath Holy Writ ay in his mouthe
100033And kan telle of Tobye and of the twelve Apostles
100034Or prechen of the penaunce that Pilat wroghte
100035To Jesu the gentile, that Jewes todrowe--
100036Litel is he loved that swich a lesson sheweth,
100037Or daunted or drawe forth--I do it on God hymselve!
100038"But thoo that feynen hem foolis and with faityng libbeth
100039Ayein the lawe of Oure Lord, and lyen on hemselve,
100040Spitten and spuen and speke foule wordes,
100041Drynken and drevelen and do men for to gape,
100042Likne men and lye on hem that leneth hem no yiftes--
100043Thei konne na moore mynstralcie ne musik men to glade
100044Than Munde the Millere of Multa fecit Deus.
100045Ne were hir vile harlotrye, have God my trouthe,
100046Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght ne canon of Seint Poules
100047Yyve hem to hir yeresyyve the value of a grote!
100048"Ac murthe and mynstralcie amonges men is nouthe
100049Lecherie, losengerye and losels tales--
100050Glotonye and grete othes, this [game] they lovyeth.
100051"Ac if thei carpen of Crist, thise clerkes and thise lewed,
100052At mete in hir murthe whan mynstrals beth stille,
100053Thanne telleth thei of the Trinite [how two slowe the thridde],
100054And bryngen forth a balled reson, and taken Bernard to witnesse,
100055And puten forth a presumpcion to preve the sothe.
100056Thus thei dryvele at hir deys the deitee to knowe,
100057And gnawen God with the gorge whanne hir guttes fullen.
100058"Ac the carefu1le may crie and carpen at the yate,
100059Bothe afyngred and afurst, and for chele quake;
100060Is non to nyme hym neer his noy to amende,
100061But hun[s]en hym as an hound and hoten hym go thennes.
100062Litel loveth he that Lord that lent hym al that blisse,
100063That thus parteth with the povere a parcell whan hym nedeth !
100064Ne were mercy in meene men moore than in riche,
100065Mendinaunts metelees myghte go to bedde.
100066God is muche in the gorge of thise grete maistres,
100067Ac amonges meene men his mercy and hise werkes.
100068And so seith the Sauter--I have seighen it [in Memento]:
100068{*   Ecce audivimus eam in Effrata; invenimus eam in campis silve.}
100069Clerkes and othere kynnes men carpen of zgod faste,
100070And have hym muche in hire mouth, ac meene men in herte.
100071" Freres and faitours han founde [up] swiche questions
100072To plese with proude men syn the pestilence tyme,
100073And prechen at Seint Poules, for pure envye of clerkes,
100074That folk is noght fermed in the feith, ne free of hire goodes,
100075Ne sory for hire synnes; so is pride woxen
100076In religion and in al the reme amonges riche and povere
100077That preieres have no power thise pestilences to lette.
100078For God is deef nowadayes and deyneth noght his eres to opene,
100079That girles for hire giltes he forgrynt hem alle.
100080And yet the wrecches of this world is noon ywar by oother,
100081Ne for drede of the deeth withdrawe noght hir pride,
100082Ne beth plentevouse to the povere as pure charite wolde,
100083But in gaynesse and glotonye forglutten hir good hemseIve,
100084And breketh noght to the beggere as the Book techeth:
100084{Frange esurienti panem tuum &c.}
100085And the moore he wynneth and welt welthes and richesse
100086And lordeth in ledes and londes, the lasse good he deleth.
100087" Tobye techeth yow noght so! Taketh hede, ye riche,
100088How the book Bible of hym bereth witnesse:
100089{Si tibi sit copia, habundantur tribue; si autem exiguum,illud impertiri libente
100090Whoso hath muche, spende manliche--so meneth Tobye--
100090And whoso litel weldeth, [loke] hym therafter,
100091For we have no lettre of oure lif, how longe it shal dure.
100092Swiche lessons lordes sholde lovye to here,
100093And how he myghte moost meynee manliche fynde---
100094Noght to fare as a fithelere or a frere for to seke festes,
100095Homliche at othere mennes houses, and hatien hir owene.
100096"Elenge is the halle, ech day in the wike,
100097Ther the lord ne the lady liketh noght to sitte.
100098Now hath ech riche a rule--to eten by hymselve
100099In a pryvee parlour for povere mennes sake,
100100Or in a chambre with a chymenee, and leve the chief ha1le
100101That was maad for meles, men to eten inne,
100102And al to spare to spille that spende shal another.
100103"I have yherd heighe men etyng at the table
100104Carpen as thei clerkes were of Crist and of hise myghtes,
100105And leyden fautes upon the fader that formede us alle,
100106And carpen ayein clerkes crabbede wordes:
100107" Why wolde Oure Saveour suffre swich a worm in his blisse,
100108That bi[w]iled the womman and the [wye] after,
100109Thorugh whiche wiles and wordes thei wente to helle,
100110And al hir seed for hir synne the same deeth suffrede?
100111" Here lyeth youre lore,' thise lordes gynneth dispute,
100112" Of that ye clerkes us kenneth of Crist by the Gospel:
100112{Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c.}
100113Why sholde we that now ben, for the werkes of Adam
100114Roten and torende? Reson wolde it nevere!
100114{Unusquisque portabit onus suum &c.'}
100115"Swiche motyves they meve, thise maistres in hir glorie,
100116And maken men in mysbileve that muse muche on hire wordes.
100117Ymaginatif herafterward shal answere to youre purpos.
100118"Austyn to swiche argueres, he telleth hem this teme:
100118{Non plus sapere quam oport.}
100119Wilneth nevere to wite why that God wolde
100120Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile;
100121Ac bileveth lelly in the loore of Holy Chirche,
100122And preie hym of pardon and penaunce in thi lyve,
100123And for his muche mercy to amende yow here.
100124For alle that wilneth to wite the whyes of God almyghty,
100125I wolde his eighe were in his ers and his fynger after
100126That evere wilneth to wite why that God wolde
100127Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile,
100128Or Judas the Jew Jesu bitraye.
100129Al was as he wolde--Lord, yworshiped be thow--
100130And al worth as thow wolt whatso we dispute.
100131"And tho that useth thise havylons to [a]blende mennes wittes
100132What is Dowel fro Dobet, now deef mote he worthe,
100133Siththe he wilneth to wite whiche thei ben alle.
100134But if he lyve in the lif that longeth to Dowel,
100135I dar ben his bolde borgh that Dobet wole he nevere,
100136Theigh Dobest drawe on hym day after oother.'
100137And whan that Wit was ywar what Dame Studie tolde,
100138He bicom so confus he kouthe noght loke,
100139And as doumb as a dore nail drough hym aside.
100140And for no carpyng I kouthe after, ne knelyng to the grounde,
100141I myghte gete no greyn of his grete wittes,
100142But al laughynge he louted and loked upon Studie
100143In signe that I sholde bisechen hire of grace.
100144And whan I was war of his wille, to his wif gan I loute,
100145And seide, " Mercy, madame; youre man shal I worthe
100146As longe as I lyve, bothe late and rathe,
100147For to werche youre wille the while my lif dureth,
100148With that ye kenne me kyndely to knowe what is Dowel.'
100149" For thi mekenesse, man,' quod she, "and for thi mylde speche,
100150I shal kenne thee to my cosyn that Clergie is hoten.
100151He hath wedded a wif withinne thise sixe monthes,
100152Is sib to the sevene arts--Scripture is hir name.
100153They two, as I hope, after my techyng,
100154Shullen wissen thee to Dowel, I dar wel undertake.'
100155Thanne was I as fayn as fowel of fair morwe,
100156Gladder than the gleman that gold hath to yifte,
100157And asked hire the heighe wey where that Clergie dwelte,
100158"And tel me som tokene,' quod I, "for tyme is that I wende.'
100159"Aske the heighe wey,' quod she, -hennes to Suffre-
100160Bothe-wele-and-wo, if that thow wolt lerne;
100161And ryd forth by richesse, ac rest thow noght therinne,
100162For if thow couplest thee therwith to Clergie comestow nevere.
100163"And also the likerouse launde that Lecherie hatte--
100164Leve hym on thi left half a large myle or moore,
100165Til thow come to a court, Kepe-wel-thi-tunge-
100166Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche-and-likerouse-drynkes.
100167Thanne shaltow se Sobretee and Sympletee-of-speche,
100168That ech wight be in wille his wit thee to shewe;
100169And thus shaltow come to Clergie, that kan manye thynges.
100170"Seye hym this signe: I sette hym to scole,
100171And that I grete wel his wif, for I wroot hire [the bible],
100172And sette hire to Sapience and to the Sauter glosed.
100173Logyk I lerned hire, and [al the Lawe after],
100174And alle the musons in Musik I made hire to knowe.
100175"Plato the poete, I putte hym first to boke;
100176Aristotle and othere mo to argue I taughte.
100177Grammer for girles I garte first write,
100178And bette hem with a baleys but if thei wolde lerne.
100179Of alle kynne craftes I contreved tooles--
100180Of carpentrie, of kerveres, and compased masons,
100181And lerned hem level and lyne, though I loke dymme.
100182"Ac Theologie hath tened me ten score tymes:
100183The moore I muse therinne, the myst[lok]er it semeth,
100184And the depper I devyne, the derker me it thynketh.
100185lt is no science, forsothe, for to sotile inne.
100186[If that love nere, that lith therinne, a ful lethi thyng it were];
100187Ac for it let best by love, I love it the bettre,
100188For there that love is ledere, ne lakked nevere grace.
100189Loke thow love lelly, if thee liketh Dowel,
100190For Dobet and Dobest ben of loves k[e]nn[yng].
100191"In oother seience it seith--I seigh it in Catoun--
100191{Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus,}
100191{Tu quoque fac simile; sic ars deluditur arte:}
100192Whoso gloseth as gylours doon, go me to the same,
100193And so shaltow fals folk and feithlees bigile--
100194This is Catons kennyng to clerkes that he lereth.
100195Ac Theologie techeth noght so, whoso taketh yeme;
100196He kenneth us the contrarie ayein Catons wordes,
100197For he biddeth us be as bretheren, and bidde for oure enemys,
100198And loven hem that lyen on us, and lene hem whan hem nedeth,
100199And to do good agein yvel--God hymself hoteth:
100199{Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes,}
100199{maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.}
100200"Poul preched the peple, that parfitnesse lovede,
100201To do good for Goddes love and gywen den that asked,
100202And [sovereyn]ly to swiche that suwen oure bileve,
100203And alle that lakketh us or lyeth us, Oure Lord techeth us to lovye,
100204And noght to greven hem that greveth us--God hymself forbad it:
100204{Michi vindictam et ego retribuam.}
100205Forthi loke thow lovye as longe as thow durest,
100206For is no science under sonne so sovereyn for the soule.
100207"Ac Astronomye is hard thyng, and yvel for to knowe:
100208Geometry and Geomesie is gynful of speche;
100209Whoso thynketh werche with tho t[hre] thryveth ful late--
100210For sorcerie is the sovereyn book that to the science bilongeth.
100211" Yet ar ther fibicches in forceres of fele mennes makynge,
100212Experiments of Alkenamye the peple to deceyve;
100213If thow thynke to dowel, deel therwith nevere!
100214Alle thise sciences I myself sotilede and ordeynede,
100215And founded hem formest folk to deceyve.
100216"Tel Clergie thise tokenes, and to Scripture after,
100217To counseille thee kyndely to knowe what is Dowel.'
100218I seide, " Graunt mercy, madame,' and mekely hir grette,
100219And wente wightly my wey withoute moore lettyng--
100220And til I com to Clergie I koude nevere stynte.
100221I grette the goode man as the goode wif me taughte,
100222And afterwardes the wif, and worshiped hem bothe,
100223And tolde hem the tokenes that me taught were.
100224Was nevere gome upon this ground, sith God made the worlde,
100225Fairer underfongen ne frendloker at ese
100226Than myself, soothly, soone so he wiste
100227That I was of Wittes hous and with his wif Dame Studie.
100228I seide to hem soothly that sent was I thider
100229Dowel and I and Dobt to leme.
100230"It is a commune lyf,' quod Mergie, "on Holy Chirche to bileve,
100231With alle the articles of the feith that falleth to be knowe:
100232And that is to bileve lelly, bothe lered and lewed,
100233On the grete God that gynnyng hadde nevere,
100234And on the soothfast Sone that saved mankynde
100235Fro the dedly deeth and the develes power
100236Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost, the which goost is of bothe--
100237Thre propre persones, ac noght in plurel nombre,
100238For al is but oon God and ech is God hymselve:
100238{ Deus Pater, Deus Filius, Deus Spiritus Sanctus--}
100239God the Fader, God the Sone, God Holy Goost of bothe,
100240Maker of mankynde and of [animal]es bothe.
100241"Austyn the olde herof made bokes,
100242And hymself ordeyned to sadde us in bileve.
100243Who was his auctour? Alle the foure Evaungelistes;
100244And Crist cleped hymself so, the [same] bereth witnesse:
100244{ Ego in patre et pater in me est, et qui videt me}
100244{ videt et patrem meum.}
100245"Alle the clerkes under Crist ne koude this assoille,
100246But thus it bilongeth to bileve to lewed that willen dowel.
100247For hadde nevere freke fyn wit the feith to dispute,
100248Ne man hadde no merite, myghte it ben ypreved:
100248{ fides non habet meritum ubi humana racio prebet experimentum.}
100249"[Siththen] is Dobet to suffre for thi soules helthe
100250Al that the Book bit bi Holi Cherches techyng--
100251And that is, man, bi thy myght, for mercies sake,
100252Loke thow werche it in werk that thi word sheweth;
100253Swich as thow semest in sighte be in assay yfounde:
100253{  Appare quod es vel esto quod appares.}
100254And lat no body be by thi beryng bigiled,
100255But be swich in thi soule as thow semest withoute.
100256"Thanne is Dobest to be boold to blame the gilty,
100257Sythenes thow seest thiself as in souIe clene;
100258Ac blame thow nevere body and thow be blameworthy:
100258{Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cavebis,}
100258{Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet.}
100259God in the Gospel grymly repreveth
100260Alle that lakketh any lif and lakkes han hemselve:
100260{Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui, trabem in}
100260{oculo tuo, &c.}
100261Why mevestow thi mood for a mote in thi brotheres eighe,
100262Sithen a beem in thyn owene ablyndeth thiselve?
100262{Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo, &c.}
100263Which letteth thee to loke, lasse outher moore?
100264" I rede ech a blynd bosard do boote to hymselve--
100265As persons and parissh preestes, that preche sholde and teche
100266Alle maner men to amenden, bi hire myghte.
100267This text was told yow to ben war, er ye taughte,
100268That ye were swiche as ye seyde to salve with othere.
100269For Goddes word wolde noght be lost--for that wercheth evere;
100270If it availled noght the commune, it myghte availle yowselve.
100271"Ac it semeth now soothly, to [sighte of the worlde],
100272That Goddes word wercheth no [wi]ght on lered ne on lewed
100273But in swich a manere as Marc meneth in the Gospel:
100273{Dum cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foveam cadunt.}
100274"Lewed men rnay likne yow thus--that the beem lith in youre eighen,
100275And the festu is fallen, for youre defaute,
100276In alle manere men thorugh mansede preestes.
100277The Bible bereth witnesse that alle the [barnes] of Israel
100278Bittre aboughte the giltes of two badde preestes,
100279Offyn and Fynes--for hir coveitise
100280Archa Dei myshapped and Ely brak his nekke.
100281" Forthi, ye correctours, claweth heron, and correcteth first yowselve,
100282And thanne mowe ye manliche seye, as David made the Sauter:
100283{  Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis: Arguam te,et statuam contra faciem t
100284"And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed to blame yow or to greve,
100285And carpen noght as thei carpe now, and calle yow doumbe hounoes--
100285{Canes non valentes latrare--}
100286And drede to wrathe yow in any word, youre werkmanshipe to lette,
100287And be prester at youre preiere than for a pound of nobles.
100288And al for youre holynesse--have ye this in herte.
100289"Amonges rightful religious this rule sholde be holde.
100290Gregorie, the grete clerk and the goode pope,
100291Of religioun the rule reherseth in his Morales
100292And seith it in ensample for thei sholde do therafter:
100293" Whan fisshes faillen the flood or the fresshe water,
100294Thei deyen for droughte, whan thei drie ligge;
100295Right so religion ro[i]leth [and] sterveth
100296That out of covent and cloistre coveiten to libbe.''
100297For if hevene be on this erthe, and ese to any soule,
100298It is in cloistre or in scole, by manye skiles I fynde.
100299For in cloistre cometh no man to chide ne to fighte,
100300But al is buxomnesse there and bokes, to rede and to lerne.
100301"In scole there is scorn but if a clerk wol lerne,
100302And gret love and likyng, for ech of hem l[er]eth oother.
100303Ac now is Religion a rydere, a romere by stretes,
100304A ledere of lovedayes and a lond buggere,
100305A prikere on a palfrey fro manere to manere,
100306An heep of houndes at his ers as he a lord were;
100307And but if his knave knele that shal his coppe brynge,
100308He loureth on hym and asketh hym who taughte hym curteisie?
100309Litel hadde lordes to doon to yyve lond from hire heires
100310To religious that han no routhe though it reyne on hir auters.
100311"In many places ther thei persons ben, by hemself at ese,
100312Of the povere have thei no pite--and that is hir pure charite,
100313Ac thei leten hem as lordes, hir lond lith so brode.
100314"Ac ther shal come a kyng and confesse yow religiouses,
100315And bete yow, as the Bible telleth, for brekynge of youre rule,
100316And amende monyals, monkes and chanons,
100317And puten hem to hir penaunce--Ad pristinum statum ire,
100318And barons with erles beten hem, thorugh Beatus virres techyng,
100319[Biyeten] that hir barnes clayrnen, and blame yow foule:
100319{Hii in curribus et hii in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c.}
100320"And thanne freres in hir fraytour shul fynden a keye
100321Of Costantyns cofres, in which [the catel is]
100322That Gregories godchildren [g]an yvele despende.
100323"And thanne shal the Abbot of Abyngdoun and al his issue for evere
100324Have a knok of a kyng, and incurable the wounde.
100325That this worth sooth, seke ye that ofte overse the Bible:
100325{Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievit tributum? Contrivit Dominus}
100325{baculum impiorum, et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili.}
100326"Ac er that kyng come Caym shal awake,
100327Ac Dowel shal dyngen hym adoun and destruye his myghte.'
100328"Thanne is Dowel and Dobet,' quod I, "dominus and knyghthode?'
100329" I nel noght scorne,' quod Scripture; " but if scryveynes lye,
100330Kynghod ne knyghthod, by noght I kan awayte,
100331Helpeth noght to heveneward oone heeris ende,
100332Ne richesse right noght, ne reautee of lordes.
100333" Poul preveth it impossible--riche men to have hevene.
100334Salamon seith also that silver is worst to lovye:
100334{Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam:}
100335And Caton kenneth us to coveiten it naught but as nede techeth:
100335{Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam.}
100336And patriarkes and prophetes and poetes bothe
100337Writen to wissen us to wilne no richesse,
100338And preiseden poverte with pacience; the Apostles bereth witnesse
100339That thei han eritage in hevene--and by trewe righte,
100340Ther riche men no right may cleyme, but of ruthe and grace.'
100341" Contra,' quod I, " by Crist! That kan I repreve,
100342And preven it by Peter and by Poul bothe:
100343That is baptized beth saaf, be he riche or povere.'
100344"That is in extremis,' quod Scripture, " amonges Sarsens and Jewes--
100345They mowen be saved so, and [so] is oure bileve:
100346That an uncristene in that caas may cristen an hethen,
100347And for his lele bileve, whan he the lif tyneth,
100348Have the heritage of hevene as any man Cristene.
100349"Ac Cristene men withoute moore maye noght come to hevene,
100350For that Crist for Cristene men deide, and confermed the lawe
100351That whoso wolde and wilneth with Crist to arise--
100351{Si cum Christo surrexistis &c--}
100352He sholde lovye and lene and the lawe fulfille.
100353That is, love thi Lord God levest aboven alle,
100354And after, alle Cristene creatures in commune, ech man oother;
100355And thus bilongeth to lovye, that leveth to be saved.
100356And but we do thus in dede er the day of dome,
100357It shal bisitten us ful soure, the silver that we kepen,
100358And oure bakkes that mothe-eten be, and seen beggeris go naked,
100359Or delit in wyn and wildefowel, and wite any in defaute.
100360For every Cristene creature sholde be kynde til oother,
100361And sithen hethen to helpe in hope of amendement.
100362-God hoteth heighe and lowe that no man hurte oother,
100363And seith, "Slee noght that semblable is to myn owene liknesse,
100364But if I sende thee som tokene,' and seith " Non mecaberis--
100365Is slee noght but suffre, and al[so] for the beste,
100366For Michi vindictam et ego retribuam.
100367""For I shal punysshe in purgatorie or in the put of helle
100368Ech man for hise mysdedes, but mercy it lette.'
100369" This is a long lesson.' quod I, " and litel am I the wiser!
100370Where Dowel is or Dobet derkliche ye shewen.
100371Manye tales ye tellen that Theologie lerneth,
100372And that I man maad was, and my name yentred
100373In the legende of lif longe er I were,
100374Or ellis unwriten for som wikkednesse, as Holy Writ witnesseth:
100374{Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit.}
100375"And I leve it wel, by Oure Lord and on no lettrure bettre.
100376For Salomon the Sage that Sapienee [made]
100377God gaf hym grace of wit and alle goodes after
100378To rule the reume and riche to make;
100379He demed wel and wisely, as Holy Writ telleth.
100380Aristotle and he--who wissed men bettre?
100381Maistres that of Goddes mercy techen men and prechen,
100382Of hir wordes thei wissen us for wisest as in hir tyme--
100383And al Holy Chirche holdeth hem bothe [in helle]!
100384And if I sholde werche by hir werkes to wynne me hevene,
100385That for hir werkes and wit now wonyeth in pyne--
100386Thanne wroughte I unwisly. whatsoevere ye preche!
100387"Ac of fele witty, in feith, litel ferly I have
100388Though hir goost be ungracious God for to plese.
100389For many men on this moolde moore setten hir herte
100390In good than in God--forthi hem grace failleth
100391At hir mooste mesehief, whan [men] shal lif lete,
100392As Salamon dide and swiche othere, that shewed grete wittes,
100393Ac hir werkes, as Holy Writ seith, was evere the contrarie.
100394Forthi wise witted men and wel ylettred clerkes
100395As thei seyen hemself selde doon therafter:
100395{Super cathedram Moysi &c.}
100396"Ac I wene it worth of manye as was in Noes tyme
100397Tho he shoop that ship of shides and of bordes:
100398Was nevere wrighte saved that wroghte theron, ne oother werkman ellis,
100399But briddes and beestes and the blissed Noe
100400And his wif with hise sones and also hire wyves:
100401Of wrightes that it wroghte was noon of hem ysaved.
100402"God lene it fare noght so bi folk that the feith techeth
100403Of Holi Chirche, that herberwe is and Goddes hous to save
100404And shilden us from shame therinne, as Noes ship dide beestes.
100405And men that maden it amydde the flood adreynten.
100406The culorum of this clause curatours is to mene,
100407That ben carpenters Holy Kirk to rnake for Cristes owene beestes:
100407{Homines et iumenta salvabis, Domine, &c.}
100408At domesday the deluvye worth of deth and fir at ones;
100409Forthi I counseille yow clerkes, of Holy [Kirke] the wrightes,
100410Wercheth ye werkes as ye sen ywrite, lest ye worthe noght therinne!
100411"On Good Friday, I fynde, a felon was ysaved
100412That hadde lyved al his lif with lesynges and with thefte;
100413And for he beknew on the cros and to Crist shrof hym,
100414He was sonner ysaved than Seint Johan the Baptist
100415And or Adam or Ysaye or any of the prophetes,
100416That hadde yleyen with Lucifer many longe yeres.
100417A robbere was yraunsoned rather than thei alle
100418Withouten penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse.
100419" Than Marie Maudeleyne wh[o myghte do] werse?
100420Or who worse dide than David, that Uries deeth conspired?
100421Or Poul the Apostle that no pite hadde
100422Cristene kynde to kille to dethe?
100423And now ben thise as sovereyns with seintes in hevene--
100424Tho that wroughte wikkedlokest in world tho thei were;
100425And tho that wisely wordeden and writen manye bokes
100426Of wit and of wisedom, with dampned soules wonye.
100427- That Salomon seith I trowe be sooth and certein of us alle:
100427{Sunt iusti atque sapientes, et opera eorum in manu Dei sunt, &c.}
100428Ther are witty and wel libbynge, ac hire werkes ben yhudde
100429In the hondes of almyghty God, and he woot the sothe--
100430Wher for love a man worth allowed there and hise lele werkes,
100431Or ellis for his yvel wille and envye of herte,
100432And be allowed as he lyved so, for by luthere men knoweth the goode
100433"And wherby wiste men which is whit, if alle thyng blak were,
100434And who were a good man but if ther were som sherewe?
100435Forthi lyve we forth with lithere men--I leve fewe ben goode--
100436For "quant OPOR TET vient en place il ny ad que PA TI,'
100437And he that may al amende, have mercy on us alle!
100438For sothest word that ever God seide was tho he seide Nemo bonus.
100439"[And yet have I forgete ferther of fyve wittes techyng
100440That] Clergie of Cristes mouth comended was it [nevere];
100441For he seide to Seint Peter and to swiche as he lovede,
100441{" Dum steteritis ante reges et presides &c.}
100442Though ye come bifore kynges and clerkes of the lawe,
100443Beth noght abasshed, for I shal be in youre mouthes,
100444And yyve yow wit at wille [with] konnyng to conclude hem
100445Alle that ayeins yow of Cristendom disputen.'
100446"David maketh mencion, he spak amonges kynges,
100447And myghte no kyng overcomen hym as by konnynge of speche.
100448But wit ne wisedom wan nevere the maistrie
100449When man was at meschief withoute the moore grace.
100450"The doughtieste doctour and devinour of the Trinitee,
100451Was Austyn the olde, and heighest of the foure,
100452Seide thus in a sermon--I seigh it writen ones--
100452{" Ecce ipsi idiote rapiunt celum ubi nos sapientes in inbferno mergimur'}
100453And is to mene to Englissh men, moore ne lesse,
100454Arn none rather yravysshed fro the righte bileve
100455Than an thise konnynge clerkes that konne manye bokes,
100456Ne none sonner saved, ne sadder of bileve
100457Than plowmen and pastours and povere commune laborers,
100458Souteres and shepherdes--swiche lewed juttes
100459Perce with a Paternoster the paleys of hevene
100460And passen purgatorie penauncelees at hir hennes partyng
100461Into the blisse of paradis for hir pure bileve,
100462That inparfitly here knewe and ek lyvede.
100463" Ye, men knowe clerkes that han corsed the tyme
100464That evere thei kouthe or knewe moore than Credo in Deum patrem
100465And principally hir paternoster--many a persone hath wisshed.
100466"I se ensamples myself and so may manye othere,
100467That servaunts that serven lordes selde fallen in arerage
100468But tho that kepen the lordes catel--clerkes and reves.
100469Right so lewed men and of litel knowyng,
100470Selden falle thei so foule and so fer in synne
100471As clerkes of Holy Kirke that kepen Cristes tresor--
100472The which is mannes soule to save, as God seith in the Gospel:
100473""Ite vos in vineam meam.'''
110001Thanne Scriptare scorned me and a skile tolde,
110002And lakked me in Latyn and light by me sette,
110003And seide, " Multi multa sciunt et seipsos nesciunt.'
110004Tho wepte I for wo andwrathe of hir speche
110005And in a wynkynge w[o]rth til I  [weex] aslepe.
110006A merveillous metels mette me thanne.
110007For I was ravysshed right there--for Fortune me fette
110008And into the lond of longynge and love she me broughte,
110009And in a mirour that highte Middelerthe she made me to biholde.
110010Sithen she seide to me, -Here myghtow se wondres,
110011And knowe that thow coveitest, and come therto, peraunter.'
110012Thanne hadde Fortune folwynge hire two faire damyseles:
110013Concupiscencia Carnis men called the elder mayde,
110014And Coveitise of Eighes ycalled was that oother.
110015Pride of Parfit Lyvynge pursued hem bothe,
110016And bad me for my contenaunce acounten Clergie lighte.
110017Concupiscencia Carnis colled me aboute the nekke
110018And seide, "Thow art yong and yeep and hast yeres ynowe
110019For to lyve longe and ladies to lovye;
110020And in this mirour thow might se myrthes ful manye
110021That leden thee wole to likynge al thi lif tyme.'
110022The secounde seide the same: " I shal sewe thi wille;
110023Til thow be a lord and have lond, leten thee I nelle
110024That I ne shal folwe thi felawship, if Fortune it like.'
110025" He shal fynde me his frend,' quod Fortune therafter;
110026"The freke that folwede my wille failled nevere blisse.'
110027Thanne was ther oon that highte Elde, that hevy was of chere,
110028" Man,' quod he, "if I mete with thee, by Marie of hevene
110029Thow shalt fynde Fortune thee faille at thi mooste nede,
110030And Concupiscencia Carnis clene thee forsake.
110031Bittrely shaltow banne thanne, bothe dayes and nyghtes,
110032Coveitise of Eighe, that evere thow hir knewe;
110033And Pride of Parfit Lyvynge to muche peril thee brynge.'
110034" Ye? Recche thee nevere!' quod Rechelesnesse, stood forth in raggede  clothes
110035" Folwe forth that Fortune wole--thow has wel fer til Elde.
110036A man may stoupe tyme ynogh whan he shal tyne the crowne.
110037""Homo proponit,'' quod a poete, and Plato he highte,
110038""And Deus disponit'' quod he, "lat God doon his wille.''
110039If Truthe wol witnesse it be wel do, Fortune to folwe,
110040Concupiscencia Carnis ne Coveitise of Eighes
110041Ne shal noght greve thee graithly, ne biglIe thee but thow wolt.'
110042" Ye, farewel Phippe! ' quod Faunteltee, and forth gan me drawe,
110043Til Concupiscencia Carnis acorded til alle my werkes.
110044"Allas, eighe!' quod Elde and Holynesse bothe,
110045"That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse for wil to have his likyng!'
110046Coveitise of Eighes conforted me anoon after
110047And folwed me fourty wynter and a fifte moore,
110048That of Dowel ne Dobet no deyntee me thoughte.
110049I hadde no likyng, leve me, [o]f the leste of hem ought to knowe.
110050Coveitise of Eighes com ofter in mynde
110051Than Dowel or Dobet among my dedes alle.
110052Coveitise of Eighes conforted me ofte,
110053And seide, " Have no conscience how thow come to goode.
110054Go confesse thee to som frere and shewe hym thi synnes.
110055For whiles Fortune is thi frend freres wol thee lovye,
110056And fe[stn]e thee in hir fraternitee and for thee biseke
110057To hir Priour Provincial a pardon for to have,
110058And preien for thee pol by pol if thow be pecuniosus.
110058{   Pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis.}
110059By wissynge of this wenche I dide, hir wordes were so swete,
110060Til I foryat youthe and yarn into elde.
110061And thanne was Fortune my foo, for al hir faire biheste,
110062And poverte pursued me and putte me lowe.
110063And tho fond I the frere afered and flittynge bothe
110064Ayeins oure firste forward, for I seide I nolde
110065Be buried at hire hous but at my parisshe chirche
110066(For I herde ones how Conscience it tolde
110067That there a man were cristned, by kynde he sholde be buryed).
110068And for I seide thus to freres, a fool thei me helden,
110069And loved me the lasse for my lele speche.
110070Ac yet I cryde on my confessour that [so konnyng heeld hymself].
110071"By my feith, frere!' quod I, " ye faren lik thise woweris
110072That wedde none widwes but for to welden hir goodes.
110073Right so, by the roode, roughte ye nevere  '
110074Where my body were buryed, by so ye hadde my silver!
110075Ich have muche merveille of yow, and so hath many another,
110076Whi youre covent coveiteth to confesse and to burye
110077Rather than to baptize barnes that ben catecumelynges.
110078Baptizynge and buryinge bothe beth ful nedefulle;
110079Ac muche moore meritorie me thynketh it is to baptize;  -
110080For a baptized man may, as maistres telleth, .
110081Thorugh contricion come to the heighe hevene--
110081{   Sola contricio delet peccatum--}
110082Ac a barn withouten bapteme may noght so be saved--
110082{   Nisi quis renatus fuerit.}
110083Loke, ye lettred men, wheither I lye or do noght.'
110084And Lewte tho lo[ugh] on me, for I loured after.
110085"Wherfore lourestow?' quod Lewtee and loked on me harde.
110086"If I dorste [amonges men,' quod I], "this metels avowe!'
110087" Yis, by Peter and by Poul!' quod he, " and take hem bothe to witnesse:
110088Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo set publice argue illos.'
110089"They wole aleggen also,' quod I, " and by the Gospel preven:
110090{Nolite iudicure quemquam.}
110091"And wherof serveth lawe,' quod Lewtee, if no lif undertoke it--
110092Falsnesse ne faiterie? For somwhat the Apostle seide
110093Non oderis fratrem.
110094And in the Sauter also seith David the prophete
110094{95   Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c.}
110095It is licitum for lewed men to [l]egge the sothe
110096If hem liketh and lest--ech a lawe it graunteth'.
110097Except persons and preestes and prelates of Holy Chirche:
110098It falleth noght for that folk no tales to telle--
110100Though the tale were trewe--and it touched synne.
110101"Thyng that al the world woot, wherfore sholdestow spare
110102To reden it in retorik to arate dedly synne?
110103Ac be neveremoore the firste the defaute to blame;
110104Though thow se yvel, seye it noght first--be sory it nere amended.
110105No thyng that is pryve, publice thow it nevere;-
110106Neither for love laude it noght, ne lakke it For envye:
110106{ Parum lauda; vitupero parcius.'}
110107" He seith sooth,' quod Scripture tho, and skipte an heigh and preched;
110108Ac the matere that she meved, if lewed men it knewe,
110109The lasse, as I leve, lovyen thei wolde
110110The bileve o[f Oure] Lord that lettred men techeth.
110111This was hir teme and hir text--I took ful good hede:
110112"Multi to a mangerie and to the mete were sompned;
110113And whan the peple was plener comen, the porter unpynned the yate
110114And plukked in Pauci pryveliche and leet the remenaunt go rome.'
110115Al for tene of hir text trembled myn herte,
110116And in a weer gan I wexe, and with myself to dispute
110117Wheither I were chose or noght chose; on Holy Chirche I thoughte,
110118That underfeng me atte font for oon of Goddes chosene.
110119For Crist cleped us alle, come if we wolde--
110120Sarsens and scismatikes, and so he dide the Jewes:
110120{ 0 vos omnes sicientes, venite &c;}
110121And bad hem souke for synne sa[l]ve at his breste.
110122And drynke boote for bale, brouke it whoso myghte.
110123"Thanne may alle Cristene come,' quod I, -and cleyme there entree
110124By the blood that he boughte us with and thorugh bapteme after:
110124{ Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit &c.}
110125For though a Cristen man coveited his Cristendom to reneye,
110126Rightfully to reneye no reson it wolde.
110127" For may no cherl chartre make, ne his c[h]atel selle
110128Withouten leve of his lord--no lawe wol it graunte.
110129Ac he may renne in arerage and rome fro home,
110130And as a reneyed caytif recchelesly aboute.
110131Ac Reson shal rekene with hym and rebuken hym at the laste,
110132And Conscience acounte with hym and casten hym in arerage,
110133And putten hym after in prison in purgatorie to brenne,
110134For his arerages rewarden hym there right to the day of dome,
110135But if Contricion wol come and crye by his lyve
110136Mercy for hise mysdedes with mouthe or with herte.'
110137" That is sooth,' seide Scripture; " may no synne lette
110138Mercy al to amende, and mekenesse hir folwe;
110139For thei beth, as oure bokes telleth, above Goddes werkes: -
110139{ Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius.'}
110140"Ye, baw for bokes!' quod oon was broken out ofhelle.
110141" I Troianus, a trewe knyght, take witnesse at a pope
110142How I was ded and dampned to dwellen in pyne  '
110143For an uncristere creature; clerkes wite the sothe--
110144That al the clergie under Crist ne myghte me cracche fro helle
110145But oonliche love and leautee and my laweful domes.
110146"Gregorie wiste this wel, and wilned to my soule
110147Savacion for soothnesse that he seigh in my werkes.
110148And after that he wepte and wilned me were graunted grace,
110149Withouten any bede biddyng his boone was underfongen,
110150And I saved, as ye may see, withouten syngynge of masses,
110151By love and by lernyng of my lyvynge in truthe,
110152Broughte me fro bitter peyne ther no biddyng myghte
110153" Lo! ye lordes, what leautee dide by an Emperour of Home
110154That was an uncristene creature, as clerkes fyndeth in bokes.
110155Nought thorugh preiere of a pope but for his pure truthe
110156Was that Sarsen saved, as Seint Gregorie bereth witnesse.
110157Wel oughte ye lordes that lawes kepe this lesson to have in mynde,
110158And on Troianus truthe to thenke; and do truthe to the peple.
110159"This matere is merk for many of yow--ac, men of Holy Chirche,
110160The Legend[a] Sanctorum yow lereth more largere than I yow telle.
110161Ac thus leel love and lyvyng in truthe
110162Pulte out of pyne a paynym of Rome.
110163Yblissed be truthe that so brak helle yates
110164And saved the Sarsyn from Sathanas and his power,
110165Ther no clergie ne kouthe, ne konnyng of lawes!
110166Love and leautee is a lell science,
110167For that is the book blissed of blisse and of joye:
110168God wroughte it and wroot it with his owene fynger
110169And took it to Moises upon the mount, alle men to lere.
110170"Lawe withouten love,' quod Troianus, "ley ther a bene--
110171Or any science under sonne, the seven arts and alle!
110172--But thei ben lerned for Oure Lordes love, lost is al the tyme,
110173For no cause to cacche silver therby, ne to be called a maister,
110174But al for love of Oure Lord and the bet to love the peple.
110175"For Seint Johan seide it, and sothe arn hise wordes:
110175{ Qui non diligit manet in morte.}
110176Whoso loveth noght, leve me, he lyveth in deeth deyinge;
110177And that alle manere men, enemyes and frendes,
110178Love hir eyther oother, and lene hem as hemselve.
110179Whoso leneth noght, he loveth noght, Oure Lord woot the sothe
110180And comaundeth ech creature to conformen hym to lovye  -
110181His neighebour as hymselve and hise enemyes after.
110182For hem that haten us is oure merite to lovye,
110183And sovereynly povere peple to plese--hir preieres maye us helpe.
110184For oure joy and oure [ju]ele, Jesu Crist of hevene,
110185In a povere mannes apparaille pursueth us evere,
110186And loketh on us in hir liknesse and that with lovely chere,
110187To knowen us by oure kynde herte and castynge of oure eighen,
110188Wheither we love the lordes here bifore the Lord of blis
110189And exciteth us by the Evangelie that whan we maken festes,
110190We sholde noght clepe oure kyn therto, ne none kynnes riche:
110190{   Cum facitis conviva, nolite invitare amicos.}
110191""Ac calleth the carefulle therto, the croked and the povere;
110192For youre frendes wol feden yow, and founde yow to quyte
110193Youre festynge and youre faire yifte--ech frend quyteth so oother.
110194Ac for the povere I shal paie, and pure wel quyte hir travaille
110195That yyveth hem mete or moneie and loveth hem for my sake.'
110196"Almighty God myghte ha[ve] maad riche alle men, if he wolde,
110197Ac for the beste ben som riche and some beggeres and povere.
110198For alle arc we Cristes creatures, and of his cofres riche,
110199And bretheren as of oo blood, as wel beggeres as erles.
110200For at Calvarie of Cristes blood Cristendom gan sprynge,
110201And blody bretheren we bicome there, of o body ywonne,
110202As quasi modo geniti gentil men echone--
110203No beggere ne boye amonges us but if it synne made.
110203{ Quifacit peccatum servus est peccati.}
110204ln the olde lawe, as the lettre telleth, "mennes sones'' men called us,
110205Of Adames issue and Eve, ay til God-Man deide;
110206And after his resurexcion Redemptor was his name.
110207And we hise bretheren thorugh hym ybought, bothe riche and povere.
110208Forthi love we as leve children shal, and ech man laughe of oother,
110209And of that ech man may forbere, amende there it neaeth,
110210And every man helpe oother--for hennes shul we alle:
110210{ Alter alterius onera portate.}
110211And be we noght unkynde of oure catel, ne of oure konnyng neither,
110212For woot no man how neigh it is to ben ynome fro bothe.
110213Forthi lakke no lif oother, though he moore Latyn knowe,
110214Ne undernyme noght foule, for is noon withoute defaute.
110215For whatevere clerkes carpe of Cristendom or ellis,
110216Crist to a commune womman seide in commune at a feste
110217That Fides sua sholde saven hire and salven hire of synnes.
110218"Thanne is bileve a lele help, above logyk or lawe.
110219Of logyk ne of lawe in Legendo Sanctorum
110220Is litel alowaunce maad, but if bileve hem helpe;
110221For it is overlonge er logyk any lesson assoille,
110222And lawe is looth to lovye but if he lacche silver.
110223Bothe logyk and lawe, that loveth noght to lye,
110224I conseille alle Cristene, clyve noght theron to soore,
110225For some wordes I fynde writen, were of Feithes techyng,
110226That saved synful men, as Seint Johan bereth witnesse:
110226{ Eadem mensura qua mensifueritis remecietur vobis.}
110227Forthi lerne we the lawe of love as Oure Lord taughte;
110228And as Seint Gregorie seide, for mannes soule heIthe,
110229Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum.
110230"Why I meve this matere is moost for the povere;
110231For in hir liknesse Oure Lord ofte hath ben yknowe.
110232Witnesse in the Pask wyke whan he yede to Emaus--
110233Cleophas ne knew hym noght, that he Crist were,
110234For his povere apparaille and pilgrymes wedes,
110235Til he blessede and brak the breed that thei eten.
110236So bi hise werkes thei wisten that he was Jesus,
110237Ac by clothyng thei knewe hym noght, ne by carpynge of tonge.
110238And al was ensample, for sooth, to us synfulle here,
110239That we sholde be lowe and loveliche of speche,
110240And apparaille us noght over proudly--for pilgrymes are we alle.
110241And in the apparaille of a povere man and pilgrymes liknesse
110242Many tyme God hath ben met among nedy peple,
110243Ther nevere segge hym seigh in secte of the riche.
110244"Seint Johan and othere seintes were seyen in poore clothyng,
110245And as povere pilgrymes preyed mennes goodes.
110246Jesu Crist on a Jewes doghter lighte: gentil womman though she were,
110247Was a pure povere maide and to a povere man ywedded.
110248"Martha on Marie Maudelayne an huge pleynt she made,
110249And to Oure Saveour self seide thise wordes:
110250{Domine, non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare ?}
110251And hastily God answerde, and eitheres wille ful [wel lo]wed,
110252Bothe Marthaes and Maries, as Mathew bereth witnesse;
110253Ac poverte God putte bifore, and preised it the bettre:
110253{ Maria optimam partem elegit, que non auferetur ab ea.}
110254"And alle the wise that evere were, by aught I kan aspye,
110255Preisen poverte for best Iif. if Facience it folwe,
110256And bothe bettre and blesseder by many fold than Richesse.
110257Although it be sour to suffre, ther cometh swete after;
110258As on a walnote--withoute is a bitter barke,
110259And after that bitter bark, be the shelle aweye,
110260is a kernel of confort kynde to restore.
110261So is after poverte or penaunce paciently ytake,
110262Maketh a man to have mynde in God and a gret wille
110263To wepe and to wel bidde, wherof wexeth mercy,
110264Of which Crist is a kernell to conforte the soule.
110265And wel sikerer he slepeth, the segge that is povere,
110266And lasse he dredeth deeth and in derke to ben yrobbed
110267Than he that is right riche--Reson bereth witnesse:
110267{ Pauper ego ludo dum tu dives meditaris.}
110268"Although Salomon seide, as folk seeth in the Bible,
110268{Divicias nec paupertates &c,}
110270Wiser than Salomon was bereth witnesse and taughte
110271That parfit poverte was no possession to have,
110272And lif moost likynge to God, as Luc bereth witnesse:
110272{Si vis perfectusesse, vade et vende &c--}
110273And is to mene to men that on this moolde lyven,
110274Whoso wole he pure parfit moot possession forsake.
110275Or selle it, as seith the Book. and the silver dele
110276To beggeris that goon and begge and bidden good for Goddes love.
110277For failed nevere man mete that myghtful God serveth,
110278As David seith in the Sauter; to swiche that ben in wille
110279To serve God goodliche, ne greveth hym no penaunce--
110279{Nichil inpossibile volenti--}
110280Ne lakketh nevere liflode, lynnen ne wollen:
110280{*Iuquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono.}
110281"If preestes weren wise, thei wolde no silver take
110282For masses ne for matyns, noght hir mete of usureres,
110283Ne neither kirtel ne cote, theigh thei for cold sholde deye,
110284And thei hir devoir dide, as David seith in the Sauter:
110284{Iudica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam.}
110285"Spera in Deo speketh of preestes that have no spendyng silver
110286That if thei travaille truweliche and truste in God almyghty,
110287Hem sholde lakke no liflode, neyther lynnen ne wollen.
110288And the title that ye take ordres by telleth ye ben avaunced;
110289Thanne nedeth yow noght to [nyme] silver for masses that ye syngen.
110290For he that took yow youre title sholde take yow youre wages,
110291Or the bisshop that blessed yow, if that ye ben worthi.
110292"For made nevere kyng no knyght but he hadde catel to spende
110293As bifel for a knyght, or foond hym for his strengthe.
110294It is a careful knyght, and of a caytif kynges makyng,
110295That hath no lond ne lynage riche ne good loos of hise handes.
110296The same I segge for sothe by a1le swiche preestes
110297That han neither konnynge ne kyn, but a crowne one
110298And a title, a tale of noght, to his liflode at meschief.
110299He hath moore bileve, as I leve, to lacche thorugh his croune
110300Cure than for konnynge or "knowen for clene of berynge.'
110301I Have wonder for why and wherfore the bisshop
110302Maketh swiche preestes, that lewed men bitrayen !
110303"A chartre is chalangeable bifore a chief justice:
110304If fals Latyn be in that lettre, the lawe it impugneth,
110305Or peynted parentrelynarie, parcelles overskipped.
110306The gome that gloseth so chartres for a goky is holden.
110307"So is it a goky, by God! that in his gospel failleth
110308Or in masse or in matyns maketh any defaute:
110308{ Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.}
110309And also in the Sauter seith David to overskipperis,
110310PsalliteDeonostro,psallite;quoniamrex terrae Deus Israel, psallite sapienter.
110311"The bisshop shal be blamed bifore God, as I leve,
110312That crouneth swiche Goddes knyghtes that konneth noght sapienter
110313Synge, ne psalmes rede, ne seye a masse of the day.
110314Ac never neither is blamelees, the bisshop ne the chapeleyn;
110315For hir either is endited, and that of "Ignorancia
110316Non excusat episcopos nec ydiotes preestes.'
110317"This lokynge on lewed preestes hath doon me lepe from poverte--
110318The which I preise, ther pacience is, moore parfit than richesse.'
110319Ac muche moore in metynge thus with me gan oon dispute--
110320And slepynge I seigh al this; and sithen cam Kynde
110321And nempned me by my name, and bad me nymen hede,
110322And thorugh the wondres of this world wit for to take.
110323And en a mountaigne that Myddelerthe highte, as me tho thoughte,
110324I was fet forth by ensaumples to knowe,
110325Thorugh ech a creature, Kynde my creatour to lovye.
110326I seigh the sonne and the see and the sond after,
110327And where that briddes and beestes by hir make thei yeden,
110328Wilde wormes in wodes, and wonderful foweles
110329With fleckede fetheres and of fele colours.
110330Man and his make I myghte se bothe;
110331Pverte and plentee, both pees and werre,
110332Blisse and bale -- bothe I seigh at ones,
110333And how men token Mede and Mercy refused.
110334Reson I seigh soothly sewen all beestes
110335In etynge, in drynkynge and in engendrynge of kynde.
110336And after cours of concepcion noon toke kepe of oother
110337As whan thei hadde ryde in rotey tume; anoonright therafter
110338Males drowen hem to males amornynge by hemselve,
110339And [femelles to femelles ferded and drowe].
110340Ther ne was cow ne cowkynde that conceyved hadde
110341That wolde belwe after bole, ne boor after sowe.
110342Both hors and houndes and alle othere beestes
110343Medled noght with hir makes that [mid] fole were.
110344Briddes I biheld that in buskes made nestes;
110345Hadde nevere wye wit to werche the leese.
110346I hadde wonder at whom and wher the pye
110347Lerned to legge the stikkes in which she leyeth and bredeth.
110348Ther nys wrighte, as I wene, sholde werche hir nest to paye;
110349If any mason made a molde therto, muche wonder it were.
110350And yet me merveilled moore: many othere briddes
110351Hidden and hileden hir egges ful derne
110352In mareys and moores for men sholde hem noght fynde,
110353And hidden hir egges whan thei therfro wente,
110354For fere of othere foweles and for wilde beestes.
110355And some troden hir makes and on trees bredden
110356And broughten forth hir briddes so al above the grounde.
110357And some briddes at the bile thorugh brethyng conceyved,
110358And some caukede; I took kepe how pecokkes bredden.
110359Muche merveilled me what maister thei hadde,
110360And who taughte hem on trees to tymbre so heighe
110361That neither burn ne beest may hir briddes rechen.
110362And sithen I loked on the see and so forth on the sterres;
110363Manye selkouthes I seigh, ben noght to seye nouthe.
110364I seigh floures in the fryth and hir faire colours,
110365And how among the grene gras growed so manye hewes,
110366And some soure and some swete--selkouth me thoughte.
110367Of hir kynde and hir colour to carpe it were to longe.
110368Ac that moost meved me and my mood chaunged--
110369That Reson rewarded and ruled alle beestes
110370Save man and his make: many tyme and ofte
110371No Reson hem folwede, [neither riche ne povere].
110372And thanne I rebukede Reson, and right til hymselven I seyde.
110373"I have wonder of thee, that witty art holden,
110374Why thow ne sewest man and his make, that no mysfeet hem folwe.'
110375And Reson arated me, and seide, "Recche thee nevere
110376Why I suffre or noght suffre--thiself hast noght to doone.
110377Amende thow it if thow myght, for my tyme is to abide.
110378Suffraunce is a soverayn vertue, and a swift vengeaunce.
110379Who suffreth moore than God?' quod he; "no gome, as I leeve.
110380He myghte amende in a minute while al that mysstandeth,
110381Ac he suffreth for som mannes goode, ad so is oure bettre.
110382" Holy Writ,' quod that wye, "wisseth men to suffre:
110382{ Propter Deum subiecti estote omni creature.}
110383Frenche men and fre men affaiteth thus hire children:
110383{ Bele vertue est suffraunce; mal dire est petite vengeance.}
110383{ Bien dire et bien suffrir fait lui suffrant a bien venir.}
110385Forthi I rede,' quod Reson, "thow rule thi tonge bettre,
110386And er thow lakke my lif, loke if thow be to preise.
110387For is no creature under Crist can formen hymselven,
110388And if a man myghte make hymself good,
110389Ech a lif wolde be laklees--leeve thow non other.
110390Ne thow shalt fynde but fewe fayne for to here
110391Of here defautes foule bifore hem reherced.
110392"The wise and the witty wroot thus in the Bible:-
110393De re que te non molestat noli certare.
110394For be a man fair or foul. it falleth noght to lakke
110395The shap ne the shaft that God shoop hymselve;
110396For al that he wrought was wel ydo, as Holy Writ witnesseth:
110396{ Et vidit Deus cuncta que fecerat, et erant valde bona.}
110397And bad every creature in his kynde encreesse,
110398Al to murthe with man that moste wo tholie
110399In fondynge of the flessh and of the fend bothe.
110400For man was maad of swich a matere he may noght wel asterte
110401That som tyme hym bitit to folwen his kynde.
110402Caton acordeth therwith--Nemo sine crimine vivit!'
110403Tho caughte I colour anoon and comsed to ben ashamed,
110404And awaked therwith. Wo was me thanne
110405That I in metels ne myghte moore have yknowen.
110406And thanne seide I to myself, and [sherewe]de that tyme,
110407"Now I woot what Dowel is,' quod l, " by deere God, as me thynketh!'
110408And as I caste up myne eighen, oon loked on me and asked
110409Of me, what thyng it were? " Ywis, sire,' I seyde,
110410"To se muche and suffre moore, certes,' quod 1, "is Dowel.'
110411"Haddestow suffred,' he seide, "slepynge tho thow were.
110412Thow sholdest have knowen that Clergie kan and conceyved moore thorugh    Reson-
110413For Reson wolde have reherced thee right as Clergie seide.
110414Ac for thyn entremetynge here artow forsake:
110414{Philosophus esses, si tacuisses.}
110415"Adam, whiles he spak noght, hadde paradis at wille;
110416Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete and entremeted to knowe
110417The wisedom and the wit of God, he was put fram blisse.
110418And right so ferde Reson bi thee--thow with thi rude spec
110419Lakkedest and losedest thyng that longed noght to doone.
110420Tho hadde he no likyng for to lere the moore.
110421" Pryde now and presumpcion paraventure wol thee appele,
110422That Clergie thi compaignye ne kepeth noght to suwe.
110423For shal nevere chalangynge ne chidynge chaste a man so soone
110424As shal shame, and shenden hym, and shape hym to amende.
110425For lat a dronken daffe in a dyk falle,
110426Lat hym ligge, loke noght on hym til hym liste aryse.
110427For though Reson rebuked hym thanne, reccheth he nevere;
110428Of Clergie ne of his counseil he counteth noght a risshe.
110429[To blame] or for to bete hym thanne, it were but pure synne.
110430Ac whan nede nymeth hym up, for doute leste he [ne] sterve,
110431And shame shrapeth hise clothes and hise shynes wassheth,
110432Thanne woot the dronken daffe wherfore he is to blame.'
110433"Ye siggen sooth, by my soule,' quod l, "lch have yseyen it ofte.
110434Ther smyt no thyng so smerte, ne smelleth so foule
110435As shame, there he sheweth hym--for ech man shonyeth his felaweshipe.
110436Why ye wisse me thus,' quod l, "was for I rebuked Reson.'
110437"Certes,' quod he, "that is sooth,' and shoop hym for to wal n.
110438And I aroos up right with that and [raughte] hym after,
110439And preyde hym [if his wille were, he wolde] telle me his name.
120001" I am Ymaginatif,' quod he, "ydel was I nevere,
120002Though I sitte by myself, in siknesse nor in helthe.
120003I have folwed thee, in feith, thise fyve and fo
120004And manye tymes have meved thee to [mlyn[n]e on thyn ende,
120005And how fele fernyeres are faren, and so fewe to come:
120006And of thi wilde wantownesse [whan] thow yong were,
120007To amende it in thi myddel age, lest myght the faille
120008In thyn olde elde, that yvele kan suffre
120009Poverte or penaunce, or preyeres bidde:
120009{Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda &c.}
120010"Amende thee while thow myght; thow hast ben warned ofte
120011With poustees of pestilences, with poverte and with angres--
120012And with thise bittre baleises God beteth his deere children:
120012{   Quem diligo, castiga.}
120013And David in the Sauter seith, of swiche that loveth Jesus,
120013{   "" Virga tua et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt.}
120014Although thow strike me with thi staf, with stikke or with yerde,
120015It is but murthe as for me to amende my soule.''
120016And thow medlest thee with makynges--and myghtest go seye thi Sauter,
120017And bidde for hem that yyveth thee breed; for ther are bokes ynowe
120018To telle men what Dowel is, Dobet and Dobest bothe,
120019And prechours to preve what it is, of many a peire freres.'
120020I seigh wel he seide me sooth and, somwhat me to excuse,
120021Seide, "Caton conforted his sone that, clerk though he were,
120022To solacen hym som tyme--a[lso] I do whan I make:
120022{   Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis.}
120023"And of holy men I herde,' quod l, "how thei outherwhile
120024Pleyden, the parfiter to ben, in [places manye].
120025Ac if ther were any wight that wolde me telle
120026What were Dowel and Dobet and Dobest at the laste,
120027Wolde I nevere do werk, but wende to holi chirche
120028And there bidde my bedes but whan ich ete or slepe.'
120029"Poul in his pistle,' quod he, "preveth what is Dowel:
120029{   Fides, spes, caritas, et maior horum &c--}
120030Feith, hope and charitee, and alle ben goode,
120031And saven men sondry tymes, ac noon so soone as charite.
120032For he dooth wel, withouten doute, that dooth as lewte techeth;
120033That is, if thow be man maryed, thi make thow lovye,
120034And lyve forth as lawe wole while ye lyven bothe.
120035" Right so, if thow be religious, ren thow nevere ferther
120036To Rome ne to Rochemador, but as thi rule techeth,
120037And holde thee under obedience, that heigh wey is to hevene.
120038"And if thow be maiden to marye, and myght wel continue,
120039Seke thow nevere seint ferther for no soule helthe!
120040For what made Lucifer to lese the heighe hevene,
120041Or Salomon his sapience, or Sampson his strengthe?
120042job the Jew his joye deere he it aboughte;
120043Aristotle and othere mo, Ypocras and Virgile,
120044Alisaundre that al wan, elengliche ended.
120045Catel and kynde wit was combraunce to hem alle.
120046" Felice hir fairnesse fel hire al to sclaundre,
120047And Rosamounde right so reufulliche bisette
120048The beaute of hir body; in baddenesse she despended.
120049Of manye swiche I may rede--of men and or wommen--
120050That wise wordes wolde shewe and werche the contrarie:
120050{   Sunt hamines nequam bene de virtute loquentes.}
120051"And riche renkes right so gaderen and sparen,
120052And tho men that thei moost haten mynistren it at the laste;
120053And for thei suffren and see so manye nedy folkes
120054And love hem noght as Oure Lord bit, lesen hir soules:
120054{   Date et dabitur vobis.}
120055So catel and kynde wit acombreth ful manye;
120056Wo is hym that hem weldeth but he hem wel despende:
120057Scient [es] et nan facient [es] variis flagellis vapulab[un]t.
120057{   Sapience, seith the Bok, swelleth a mannes soule:}
120057{   Sapiencia inflat &c.}
120058And richesse right so, but if the roote be trewe.
120059"Ac grace is a gras therfore, tho grevaunces to abate.
120060Ac grace ne groweth noght but amonges [gomes] lowe:
120061Paciwnce and poverte the place is ther groweth,
120062And in lele lyvynge men and in lif holy,
120063And thorugh the gifte of the Holy Goost, as the Gospel telleth:
120063{   Spiritus ubi vult spirat.}
120064"Clergie and kynde wit cometh of sighte and techyng,
120065As the Book bereth witnesse to burnes that kan rede:
120065{   Quad scimus ioquimur, quod vidimus testamur.}
120066Of quod scimus cometh clergie, a konnynge of hevene,
120067And of quad vidimus cometh kynde wit, of sighte of diverse peple.
120068Ac grace is a gifte of God, and of greet love spryngeth;
120069Knew nevere clerk how it cometh forth, ne kynde wit the weyes:
120069{   Nescit aliquis unde venit aut quo vadit &c.}
120070"Ac yet is clergie to comende, and kynde wit bothe,
120071And namely clergie for Cristes love, that of clergie is roote.
120072For Moyses witnesseth that God wroot for to wisse the peple
120073ln the Olde Lawe, as the lettre telleth, that was the lawe of Jewes,
120074That what womman were in avoutrye taken, were she riche or poore,
120075With stones men sholde hir strike. and stone hire to dethe.
120076A womman, as we fynden, was gilty of that dede;
120077Ac Crist of his curteisie thorugh clergie hir saved.
120078For thorugh caractes that Crist wroot, the Jewes knewe hemselve
120079Giltier as afore God and gretter in synne
120080Than the womman that there was, and wenten awey for shame.
120081The clergie that there was conforted the womman.
120082Holy Kirke knoweth this--that Cristes writyng saved;
120083So clergie is confort to creatures that repenten,
120084And to mansede men meschief at hire ende.
120085"For Goddes body myghte noght ben of breed withouten clergie,
120086The which body is bothe boote to the rightfulle,
120087And deeth and dampnacion to hem that deyeth yvele;
120088As Cristes caracte confortede and bothe coupable shewed
120089The womman that the Jewes broughte, that Jesus thoughte to save:
120089{   Nolite iudicare et nan iudicabimini.}
120090Right so Goddes body, bretheren, but it be worthili taken,
120091Dampneth us at the day of dome as dide the caractes the Jewes.
120092"Forthi I counseille thee for Cristes sake. clergie that thow lovye,
120093For kynde wit is of his kyn and neighe cosynes bothe
120094To Oure Lord, leve me--forthi love hem, I rede.
120095For bothe ben as mirours to amenden oure det-autes,
120096And lederes for lewed men and for lettred bothe.
120097"Forthi lakke thow nevere logik, lawe ne hise custumes,
120098Ne countreplede clerkes--l counseille thee for evere!
120099For as a man may noght see that mysseth hise eighen.
120100Na moore kan no clerk but if he caughte it first thorugh bokes.
120101Although men made bokes, God was the maister,
120102And Seint Spirit the samplarie, and seide what men sholde write.
120103And right as sight serveth a man to se the heighe strete,
120104Right so lereth lettrure lewed men to reson.
120105And as a blynd man in bataille bereth wepne to fighte,
120106And hath noon hap with his ax his enemy to hitte,
120107Na moore kan a kynde witted man, but clerkes hym teche,
120108Come, for al his kynde wit, to Cristendom and be saved--
120109Which is the cofre of Cristes tresor, and clerkes kepe the keyes,
120110To unloken it at hir likyng, and to the lewed peple
120111Yyve mercy for hire mysdedes, if men it wole aske
120112Buxomliche and benigneliche, and bidden it of grace.
120113"Archa Dei in the Olde Lawe, Levites it kepten;
120114Hadde nevere lewed man leve to leggen hond on that cheste
120115But he were preest or preestes sone, patriark or prophete.
120116"Saul, for he sacrificed, sorwe hym bitidde,
120117And his sones also for that synne mischeved,
120118And manye mo other men that were no Levites,
120119That with archa Dei yeden, in reverence and in worship,
120120And leiden hond theron to liften it up--and loren hir lif after.
120121"Forthi I conseille alle creatures no clergie to dispise,
120122Ne sette short by hir science, whatso thei don hemselve.
120123Take we hir wordes at worth, for hire witnesses be trewe,
120124And medle we noght muche with hem to meven any wrathe,
120125Lest cheste cha[f]en us to choppe ech man other:
120125{Nolite tangere christos meos &c.}
120126" For clergie is kepere under Crist of hevene;
120127[Com] ther nevere no knyght but clergie hym made.
120128Ac kynde wit cometh of alle kynnes sightes--
120129Of briddes and of beestes, [of blisse and of sorwe],
120130Of tastes of truthe and [oft] of deceites.
120131"[Olde] lyveris toforn us useden to marke
120132The selkouthes that thei seighen, hir sones for to teche,
120133And helden it an heigh science hir wittes to knowe.
120134Ac thorugh hir science soothly was nevere no soule ysaved,
120135Ne broght by hir bokes to blisse ne to joye;
120136For alle hir kynde knowyng com but of diverse sightes.
120137" Patriarkes and prophetes repreveden hir science,
120138And seiden hir wordes ne hir wisdomes was but a folye;
120139As to the clergie of Crist, counted it but a trufle:
120139{Sapiencia huius mundi stultitia est apud Deum.}
120140"For the heighe Holy Goost hevene shal tocleve,
120141And love shal lepe out after into this lowe erthe,
120142And clennesse shal cacchen it and clerkes shullen it fynde:
120142{ Pastores laquebantur ad invicem.}
120143" He speketh there of riche men right noght, ne of right witty,
120144Ne of lordes that were lewed men, but of the hyeste lettred oute:
120145{Ibant magi ab oriente.}
120146(If any frere were founde there, I yyve thee fyve shillynges!)
120147Ne in none beggers cote was that barn born,
120148But in a burgeises place, of Bethlem the beste:
120148{ Sed non erat ei locus in diversorio--et pauper nan habet   diversorium.}
120149"To pastours and to poetes appered the aungel,
120150And bad hem go to Bethlem Goddes burthe to honoure,
120151And songe a song of solas, Gloria in excelsis Deo.!
120152Riche men rutte tho and in hir reste were,
120153Tho it shon to shepherdes, a shewer of blisse.
120154Clerkes knewen it wel and comen with hir presents,
120155And diden hir homage nurably to hym that was almyghty.
120156"Why I have told thee I this--I took ful good hede
120157How thow contrariedest lergie with crabbede wordes,
120158How that lewed men lightloker than lettrede were saved,
120159Than clerkes or kynde witted men, of Cristene peple.
120160And thow seidest sooth of somme--ac se in what manere.
120161"Tak two stronge men and in Themese cast hem,
120162And bothe naked as a nedle, hir noon sikerer than other;
120163That oon hath konnynge and kan swymmen and dyven,
120164That oother is lewed of that labour, lerned nevere swymme.
120165Which trowestow of tho two in Themese is in moost drede--
120166He that nevere ne dyved ne noght kan of symmyng
120167Or the swymmere that is saff by so hymself like,
120168Ther his felawe fleteth forthas the flood liketh,
120169And is in drede to drenche, that nevere dide swymme?'
120170"That swymme kan noght,' I seide, "it semeth to my wittes.'
120171" Right so,' quod the renk, " reson it sheweth,
120172That he that knoweth clergie kan sonner arise
120173Out of synne and be saaf, though he synne ofte,
120174If hym liketh and lest, than any lewed, leelly.
120175For if the clerk be konnynge, he knoweth what is synne,
120176And how contricion withoute confession conforteth the soule,
120177As thow seest in the Sauter in salmes oon or tweyne,
120178How contricion is comended for it cacheth awey synne:
120178{ Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates et quorum tecta sunt pecata.}
120179And this conforteth ech a clerk and kevereth hym fro wanhope,
120180In which flood the fend fondeth a man hardest;
120181Ther the lewed lith stille and loketh after Lente,
120182And hath no contricion er he come to shrifte--and thanne kan he litel telle,
120183But as his loresman lereth hyrn bileveth and troweth,
120184And that is after person or parissh preest, and paraventure bothe unkonnynge
120185To lere lewed men, as Luc bereth witnesse:
120185{ Dum cecus ducit cecum &c.}
120186"Wo was hym marked that wade moot with the lewed!
120187Wel may the barn blesse that hym to book sette,
120188That lyvynge after lettrure saved hym lif and soule.
120189Dominus pars hereditatis mee is a murye verset
120190That hath take fro Tybourne twenty stronge theves,
120191Ther lewed theves ben lolled up--loke how thei be saved!
120192"The thef that hadde grace of God on Good Fryday as thow speke,
120193Was for he yald hym creaunt to Crist on the cros and knewliched hym gilty,
120194And grace asked of God, that to graunten is evere redy
120195To hem that buxomliche biddeth it, and ben in wille to amenden hem.
120196Ac though that theef hadde hevene, he hadde noon heigh blisse,
120197As Seint Johan and othere seintes that deserved hadde bettre.
120198Right as som man yeve me mete and sette me amydde the floor:
120199I hadde mete moore than ynough. ac noght so muche worshipe
120200As tho that seten at the syde table or with the sovereynes of the halle,
120201But sete as a beggere bordlees by myself on the grounde.
120202So it fareth by that felon that a Good Friday was saved:
120203He sit neither with Seint Johan, Symond ne Jude,
120204Ne with maydenes ne with martires ne confessours ne wydewes,
120205But by hymself as a soleyn, and served on the erthe.
120206For he that is ones a thef is everemoore in daunger,
120207And as lawe liketh to lyve or to deye:
120207{ De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu.}
120208And for to serven a seint and swich a thef togideres--
120209It were neither reson ne right to rewarde both yliche.
120210"And right as Troianus the trewe knyght tilde noght depe in helle
120211That Oure Lord ne hadde hym lightly out, so leve I [by] the thef in hevene:
120212For he is in the loweste of hevene, if oure bileve be trewe,
120213And wel losely he lolleth there, by the lawe of Holy Chirche,
120213{Quia reddit uicuiqae iuxta opera sua.}
120214"Ac why that oon theef on the cros creaunt hym yald
120215Rather than that oother theef, though thow woldest appose,
120216Alle the clerkes under Crist ne kouthe the skile assoille:
120216{Quare placuit ? Quia voluit.}
120217And so I seye by thee, that sekest after the whyes,   -
120218And aresonedest Reson, a rebukynge as it were,
120219And willest of briddes and of beestes and of hir bredyng knowe,
120220Why some be alough and some aloft, thi likyng it were;
120221And of the floures in the fryth and of hire faire hewes--
120222Wherof thei cacche hir colours so clere and so brighte,
120223And of the stones and of the sterres--thow studiest, as I leve,
120224How evere beest outher brid hath so breme wittes . . .
120225"Clergie ne Kynde Wit ne knew nevere the cause,
120226Ac Kynde knoweth the cause hymself and no creature ellis.
120227He is the pies patron and putteth it in hir ere
120228That there the thorn is thikkest to buylden and brede.
120229And Kynde kenned the pecok to cauken in swich a kynde,
120230And Kynde kenned Adam to knowe his pryve membres,
120231And taughte hym and Eve to helien hem with leves.
120232" Lewed men many tymes maistres thei apposen, .
120233Whi Adam ne hiled noght first his mouth that eet the appul,
120234Rather than his likame alogh?--lewed asken thus clerkes.
120235Kynde knoweth whi he dide so, ac no clerk ellis!
120236"Ac of briddes and of beestes men by olde tyme
120237Ensamples token and termes, as telleth thise poetes,
120238And that the faireste fowel foulest engendreth,
120239And feblest fowel of flight is that fleeth or swymmeth.
120240And that is the pecok and the pehen--proude riche men thei bitokneth
120241For the pecok and men pursue hym may noght flee heighe:
120242For the trailynge of his tail overtaken is he soone.
120243And his flessh is foul flessh, and his feet bothe,
120244And unlovelich of ledene and looth for to here.
120245"Right so the riche, if he his richesse kepe
120246And deleth it noght til his deeth day, the tail of alle is sorwe.
120247Right as the pennes of the pecok peyneth hym in his flight,
120248So is possession peyne of pens and of nobles
120249To alle hem that it holdeth til hir tail be plukked.
120250And though the riche repente thanne and birewe the tyme
120251That evere he gadered so grete and gaf therof so litel,
120252Though he crye to Crist thanne with kene wil, I leve
120253His ledene be in Oure Lordes ere lik a pies chiteryng;
120254And whan his caroyne shal come in cave to be buryed,
120255I leve it flawme ful foule the fold al aboute,
120256And alle the othere ther it lith envenymeth thorugh his attre.
120257By the po feet is understande, as I have lerned in Avynet,
120258Executours--false frendes that fulfille noght his wille
120259That was writen, and thei witnesse to werche right as it wolde.
120260Thus the poete preveth that the pecok for his fetheres is reverenced;
120261Right so is the riche by reson of hise goodes.
120262"The larke, that is a lasse fowel, is moore lovelich of ledene,
120263And wel awey of wynge swifter than the pecok,
120264And of flessh by felefold fatter and swetter;
120265To lowe libbynge men the larke is resembled.
120266["Swiche tales he telleth, Aristotle the grete clerk];
120267Thus he likneth in his logik the leeste fowel oute.
120268And wheither he be saaf or noght saaf, the sothe woot no clergie,
120269Ne of Sortes ne of Salamon no seripture kan telle.
120270Ac God is so good, I hope that siththe he gaf hem wittes
120271To wissen us wyes therwith, that wisshen to be saved,
120272(And the bettre for hir bokes to bidden we ben holden)
120273That God for his grace gyve hir soules reste--
120274For lettred men were lewed yet, ne were loore of hir bokes.'
120275"Alle thise clerkes,' quod I tho, "that on Crist leven.
120276Seyen in hir sermons that neither Sarsens ne Jewes
120277Ne no creature of Cristes liknesse withouten Cristendom worth saved.'
120278" Contra.! quod Ymaginatif thoo,and comsed for to loure,
120279And seide, " Salvabitur vix iustus in die iudicii,
120280Ergo--salvabitur!' quod he, and seide no moore Latyn.
120281"Troianus was a trewe knyght and took nevere Cristendom,
120282And he is saaf, so seith the book, and his soule in hevene.
120283Ac ther is fullynge of font and fullynge in blood shedyng,
120284And thorugh fir is fullyng, and that is ferme bileve:
120284{A hienit ignis divinus, non comburens set illuminans &c.}
120285"Ac truthe that trespased nevere ne traversed ayeins his lawe,
120286But lyveth as his lawe techeth and leveth ther be no bettre,
120287(And if ther were, he wolde amende) and in swich wille deieth--
120288Ne wolde nevere trewe God but trewe truthe were allowed.
120289And wheither it worth or noght worth, the bileve is gret of truthe,
120290And an hope hangynge therinne to have a mede for his truthe;
120291For Deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis, hoc est fidelibus.
120291{Et alibi, Si ambulavero in medio umbre mortis &c.}
120292The glose graunteth upon that vers a greet mede to truthe.
120293And wit and wisdom,' quod that wye, " was som tyme tresor
120294To kepe with a commune--no catel was holde bettre--
120295And muche murthe and manhod'--and right with that he vanysshed.
130001And I awaked therwith, witlees nerhande,
130002And as a freke that fey were, forth gan I walke
130003In manere of a mendynaunt many yer after,
130004And of this metyng many tyme muche thought I hadde:
130005First how Fortune me failed at my mooste nede,
130006And how that Elde manaced me, myghte we evere mete;
130007And how that freres folwede folk that was riche,
130008And [peple] that was povere at litel pris thei sette,
130009And no corps in hir kirkyerd ne in hir kirk was buryed
130010But quik he biquethe hem aught or sholde helpe quyte hir dettes;
130011And how this coveitise overcom clerkes and preestes;
130012And how that lewed men ben lad, but Oure Lord hem helpe,
130013Thorugh unkonnynge curatours to incurable peynes;
130014And how that Ymaginatif in dremels me tolde
130015Of Kynde and of his konnynge, and how curteis he is to bestes,
130016And how lovynge he is to bestes on londe and on watre:
130017Leneth he no lif lasse ne moore;
130018The creatures that crepen of Kynde ben engendred;
130019And sithen how Ymaginatif seide, " Vix iustus salvabitur,'
130020And whan he hadde seid so, how sodeynliche he passed.
130021I lay down longe in this thoght, and at the laste I slepte;
130022And as Crist wolde ther com Conscience to conforte me that tyme,
130023And bad me come to his court--with Clergie sholde I dyne.
130024And for Conscience of Clergie spak, I com wel the rather;
130025And there I [merkede] a maister--what man he was I nyste--
130026That lowe louted and loveliche to Scripture.
130027Conscience knew hym wel and welcomed hym faire;
130028Thei wesshen and wipeden and wenten to the dyner.
130029Ac Pacience in the paleis stood in pilgrymes clothes,
130030And preyde mete par charite for a povere heremyte.
130031Conscience called hym in, and curteisliche seide,
130032" Welcome, wye, go and wassh; thow shalt sitte soone.'
130033This maister was maad sitte as for the mooste worthi,
130034And thanne Clergie and Conscience and Pacience cam after.
130035Pacience and I were put to be mettes,
130036And seten bi oureselve at a side borde.
130037Conscience called after mete, and thanne cam Scripture
130038And served hem thus soone of sondry metes manye--
130039Of Austyn, of Ambrose, of alle the foure Evaungelistes:
130039{   Ehentes et bibentes que apud eos sunt.}
130040Ac this maister ne his man no maner flessh eten,
130041Ac thei eten mete of moore cost--mortrews and potages:
130042Of that men myswonne thei made hem wel at ese.
130043Ac hir sauce was over sour and unsavourly grounde
130044In a morter, Post mortem, of many bitter peyne--
130045But if thei synge for tho soules and wepe salte teris:
130045{   Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas et}
130045{   oraciones effuderitis, ea que in deliciis comeditis, in tormentis evometis.}
130046Conscience ful curteisly tho commaunded Scripture
130047Bifore Pacience breed to brynge and me that was his mette.
130048He sette a sour loof toforn us and seide, "Agite penitenciam,'
130049And siththe he drough us drynke: "Dia perseverans--
130050As longe,' quod he,-"as lif and lycame may dure.'
130051" Here is propre service,' quod Pacience, "ther fareth no prince bettre!'
130052And he broughte us of Beati quorum of Beatus virres makyng,
130053And thanne he broughte us forth a mees of oother mete, of Miserere mei, Deus
130053{   Et quorum tecta sunt peccata}
130054In a dissh of derne shrifte, Dixi et confitebor tibi.
130055"Bryng Pacience som pitaunce,' pryveliche quod Conseience;
130056And thanne hadde Pacience a pitaunce, Pro hac orabit ad te
130056{   omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno.}
130057And Conseience conforted us, and carped us murye tales:
130057{   Cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.}
130058Pacience was proude of that propre service,
130059And made hym murthe with his mete; ac I mornede evere,
130060For this doctour on the heighe dees drank wyn so faste:
130060{   Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum !}
130061He eet manye sondry metes, mortrews and puddynges,
130062Wombe cloutes and wilde brawen and egges yfryed with grece.
130063Thanne seide I to myself so Pacience it herde,
130064" It is noght foure dayes that this freke, bifore the deen of Poules,
130065Preched of penaunces that Paul the Apostle suffrede--
130066In fame et frigore and flappes of scourges:
130067Ter cesus sum et a Iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c;
130068Ac o word thei overhuppen at ech a tyme that thei preche
130069That Poul in his Pistle to al the peple tolde--
130069{   Periculum est in falslis fraribus!'}
130070(Holi Writ bit men be war--I wol noght write it here
130071In Englissh, on aventure it sholde be reherced to ofte
130072And greve therwith that goode men ben--ac gramariens shul rede:
130072{   Unusquisque a fratre se custodiat, quia, ut dicitur,}
130072{   periculum est in falsis fratribus.}
130073Ac I wiste nevere freke that as a frere yede bifore men on Englissh
130074Taken it for his teme, and telle it withouten glosyng!
130075They prechen that penaunce is profitable to the soule,
130076And what meschief and maleese Crist for man tholede).
130077"Ac this Goddes gloton,' quod I, "with hise grete chekes,
130078Hath no pite on us povere; he parfourneth yvele.
130079That he precheth, he preveth noght,' to Pacience I tolde,
130080And wisshed witterly, with wille ful egre,
130081That disshes and doublers bifore this doctour
130082Were molten leed in his mawe, and Mahoun amyddes!
130083"I shal jangle to this jurdan with his juste wombe
130084To telle me what penaunce is, of which he preched rather!'
130085Pacience parceyved what I thoughte, and [preynte] on me to be stille,
130086And seide, "Thow shalt see thus soone, whan he may na moore,
130087He shal have a penaunce in his paunche and puffe at ech a worde,
130088And thanne shullen his guttes gothele, and he shal galpen after;
130089For now he hath dronken so depe he wole devyne soone
130090And preven it by hir Pocalips and passion of Seint Avereys
130091That neither bacon ne braun ne blancmanger ne mortrews
130092Is neither fissh ne flessh but fode for a penaunt.
130093And thanne shal he testifie of a trinite, and take his felawe to witnesse
130094What he fond in a f[or]el after a freres lyvyng;
130095And but the first leef be lesyng, leve me nevere after!
130096And thanne is tyme to take and to appose this doctour
130097Of Dowel and Dobet and if Dobest be any penaunce.'
130098And I sat stille as Pacience seide, and thus soone this doctour,
130099As rody as a rose ruddede hise chekes,
130100Coughed and carped; and Conscience hym herde,
130101And tolde hym of a trinite, and toward us he loked.
130102"What is Dowel, sire doctour?' quod I; "is Dobest any penaunce?'
130103" Dowel?' quod this doctour--and drank after--
130104" Do noon yvel to thyn evencristen--nought by thi power.'
130105"By this day, sire doctour,' quod I, "thanne [in Dowel be ye noght]!
130106For ye han harmed us two in that ye eten the puddyng,
130107Mortrews and oother mete--and we no morsel hadde.
130108And if ye fare so in youre fermerye, ferly me thynketh
130109But cheeste be ther charite sholde be, and yonge children dorste pleyne!
130110I wolde permute my penaunce with youre--for I am in point to dowel.'
130111Thanne Conscience ful curteisly a contenaunce he made,
130112And preynte upon Pacience to preie me to be stille,
130113And seide hymself, "Sire doctour, and it be youre wille,
130114What is Dowel and Dobet? Ye dyvynours knoweth.'
130115"Dowel?' quod this doctour; "do as clerkes techeth;
130116And Dobet is he that techeth and travailleth to teche othere;
130117And Dobest doth hymself so as he seith and precheth:
130117{Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum.'}
130118"Now thow, Clergie,' quod Conscience. "carpe us what is Dowel.'
130119" I have sevene sones,' he seide, "serven in a castel
130120Ther the lord of lif wonyeth, to leren hem what is Dowel.
130121Til I se tho sevene and myself acorde
130122I am unhardy,' quod he, "to any wight to preven it.
130123For oon Piers the Plowman hath impugned us alle,
130124And set alle sciences at a sop save love one;
130125And no text ne taketh to mayntene his cause
130126But Dilige Deum and Domine quis habitabit;
130127And seith that Dowel and Dobet arn two infinites,
130128Whiche infinites with a feith fynden out Dobest,
130129Which shal save mannes soule--thus seith Piers the Plowman.'
130130" I kan noght heron,' quod Conscience, "ac I knowe wel Piers.
130131He wol noght ayein Holy Writ speken, I dar x el undertake.
130132Thanne passe we over til Piers come and preve this in dede.
130133Pacience hath be in many place, and paraunter knoweth
130134That no clerk ne kan, as Crist bereth witnesse:
130134{Pacientes vincunt &c.'}
130135"At youre preiere,' quod Pacience tho, "so no man displese hym:
130136Disce,' quod he, " doce; dilige inimicos.
130137Disce, and Dowel; doce, and Dobet;
130138Dilige, and Dobest--[do] thus taughte me ones
130139A lemman that I lovede--Love was hir name.
130140""With wordes and with werkes,'' quod she, "and wil of thyn herte
130141Thow love leelly thi soule al thi lif tyme.
130142And so thow lere the to lovye, for the Lordes love of hevene,
130143Thyn enemy in alle wise eveneforth with thiselve.
130144Cast coles on his heed of alle kynde speche;
130145Bothe with werkes and with wordes fonde his love to wynne,
130146And leye on him thus with love til he laughe on the;
130147And but he bowe for this betyng, blynd mote he worthe!'
130148"Ac for to fare thus with thi frend--folie it were;
130149For he that loveth thee leelly, litel of thyne coveiteth.
130150Kynde love coveiteth noght no catel but speche.
130151With half a laumpe lyne in Latyn, Ex vi transicionis,
130152I bere ther, in a bou[s]te, faste ybounde Dowel,
130153In a signe of the Saterday that sette first the kalender,
130154And al the wit of the Wodnesday of the nexte wike after;
130155The myddel of the rnoone is the myght of bothe.
130156And herwith am I welceme ther I have it with me.
130157" Undo it--lat this doctour deme if Dowel be therinne;
130158For, by hym that me made, myghte nevere poverte,
130159Misese ne mischief ne man with his tonge,
130160Coold, ne care, ne compaignye of theves.
130161Ne neither hete, ne hayl, ne noon helle pouke,
130162Ne neither fuyr, ne flood, ne feere of thyn enemy.
130163Tene thee any tyme, and thow take it with the:
130163{   Caritas nichil timet.}
130164"And ek, have God my soule! and thow wilt it crave,
130165Ther nys neither emperour ne emperesse, erl ne baroun,
130166Pope ne patriark, that pure reson ne shal make thee
130167Maister of alle tho men thorugh myght of this redels--
130168Nought thorugh wicchecraft but thorugh wit; and thow wilt thiselve
130169Do kyng and quene and alle the comune after
130170Yyve thee al that thei may yyve, as thee for best yemere,
130171And as thow demest wil thei do alle hir dayes after:
130171{   Pacientes vincunt.'}
130172" It is but a dido,' quod this doctour, "a disours tale!
130173Al the wit of this world and wight mennes strengthe
130174Kan noght [par]formen a pees bitwene the Pope and hise enemys,
130175Ne bitwene two Cristene kynges kan no wight pees make
130176Profitable to either peple--and putte the table fro hym,
130177And took Clergie and Conscience to conseil, as it were,
130178That Pacience tho most passe--for pilgrymes konne wel lye.'
130179Ac Conscience carped loude and curteisliche seide,
130180" Frendes, fareth wel,' and faire spak to Clergie,
130181" For I wol go with this gome, if God wol yeve me grace,
130182And be nilgrym with Pacience til I have preved moore.'
130183"What! ' quod Clergie to Conscience, "are ye coveitous nouthe
130184After yeresyeves or yiftes. or yernen to rede redels?
130185I shal brynge yow a Bible, a book of the olde lawe,
130186And lere yow, if yow like, the leeste point to knowe,
130187That Pacience the pilgrym parfitly knew nevere.'
130188" Nay, by Crist!' quod Conscience to Clergie, " God thee foryelde.
130189For al that Pacience me profreth, proud am I litel;
130190Ac the wil of the wye and the wil of folk here
130191Hath meved my mood to moorne for my synnes.
130192The goode wil of a wight was nevere bought to the fulle:
130193For ther nys no tresour therto to a trewe wille.
130194"Hadde noght Marie Maudeleyne moore for a box of salve
130195Than Zacheus for he seide, " Dimiaium bonorum meorum do pauperibus,'
130196And the poore widewe for a peire of mytes
130197Than alle tho that offrede into gazophilacium ?'
130198Thus curteisliche Conscience congeyed first the frere,
130199And sithen softeliche he seide in Clergies ere,
130200"Me were levere, by Oure Lord, and I lyve sholde,
130201Have pacience parfitliche than half thi pak of bokes! '
130202Clergie of Conscience no congie wolde take,
130203But seide ful sobreliche, "Thow shalt se the tyme
130204Whan thow art wery forwalked, wilne me to counseille.'
130205"That is sooth,' seide Conscience, "so me God helpe!
130206If Pacience be oure partyng felawe and pryve with us bothe,
130207Ther nys wo in this world that we ne sholde amende,
130208And conformen kynges to pees, and alle kynnes londes--
130209Sarsens and Surre, and so forth alle the Jewes--
130210Turne into the trewe feith and intil oon bileve.'
130211"That is sooth,' quod Clergie, "I se what thow menest.
130212I shall dwelle as I do, my devoir to shewe,
130213And confermen fauntekyns oother folk ylered
130214Til Pacience have preved thee and parfit thee maked.'
130215Conscience tho with Pacience passed, pilgrymes as it were.
130216Thanne hadde Pacience, as pilgrymes han, in his poke vitailles:
130217Sobretee and symple speche and soothfast bileve,
130218To conforte hym and Conscience if thei come in place
130219There unkyndenesse and coveitise is, hungry contrees bothe.
130220And as thei wente by the weye, of Dowel thei carped;
130221Thei mette with a mynstral, as me tho thoughte.
130222Pacience apposed hym first and preyde he sholde telle
130223fo Conscience what craft he kouthe, and to what contree he wolde.
130224"I am a mynstral,' quod that man, "my name is Activa Vita.
130225Al ydel ich hatie, for of Actif is my name,
130226A wafrer, wol ye wite, and serve manye lordes--
130227And fewe robes I fonge or furrede gownes.
130228Couthe I lye and do men laughe, thanne lacchen I sholde
130229Outher mantel or moneie amonges lordes mynstrals.
130230Ac for I kan neither taboure ne trompe ne telle no gestes,
130231Farten ne fithelen at festes, ne harpen,
130232Jape ne jogele ne gentilliche pipe,
130233Ne neither saille ne sautrie ne synge with the gyterne,
130234I have no goode giftes of thise grete lordes
130235For no breed that I brynge forth--save a benyson on the Sonday,
130236Whan the preest preieth the peple hir Paternoster to bidde
130237For Piers the Plowman and that hym profit waiten--
130238And that am I, Actif, that ydelnesse hatie;
130239For alle trewe travaillours and tiliers of the erthe,
130240Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmesse I fynde hem with wafres.
130241"Beggeris and bidderis of my breed craven,
130242Faitours and freres and folk with brode crounes.
130243I fynde payn for the Pope and provendre for his palfrey,
130244And I hadde nevere of hym, have God my trouthe,
130245Neither provendre ne personage yet of the Popes yifte,
130246Save a pardon with a peis of leed and two polles amyddes!
130247Hadde ich a clerc that couthe write I wolde caste hym a bille
130248That he sente me under his seel a salve for the pestilence,
130249And that his blessynge and hise bulles bocches myghte destruye:
130249{In nomine meo demonia eicient et super egros manus imponent et bene habebunt.}
130250And thanne wolde I be prest to the peple, paast for to make,
130251And buxom and busy aboute breed and drynke
130252For hyrn and for alle hise, founde I that his pardoun
130253Mighte lechen a man--as I bileve it sholde.
130254For sith he hath the power that Peter hadde, he hath the pot with the salve:
130254{Argentum et aurum non est michi: quod autem habeo,}
130254{tibi do: In nomine Domini surge et ambula.}
130255"Ac if myght of myracle hym faille, it is for men ben noght worthi
130256To have the grace of God, and no gilt of the Pope.
130257For may no blessynge doon us boote but if we wile amende,
130258Ne mannes masse make pees among Cristene peple,
130259Til pride be pureliche fordo, and that thorugh payn defaute.
130260For er I have breed of mele, ofte moot I swete,
130261And er the commune have corn ynough many a cold morwenyng;
130262So, er my wafres be ywroght, muche wo I tholye.
130263"Al Londoun, I leve, liketh wel my wafres,
130264And louren whan thei lakken hem; it is noght longe ypassed
130265There was a careful commune whan no cart com to towne
130266With bake breed fro Stratford; tho gonnen beggeris wepe,
130267And werkmen were agast a lite--this wole be thought longe;
130268In the date of Oure Drighte, in a drye Aprill,
130269A thousand and thre hundred, twies thritty and ten,
130270My wafres there were gesene, whan Chichestre was maire.'
130271I took greet kepe, by Crist, and Conscience bothe,
130272Of Haukyn the Actif Man, and how he was yclothed.
130273He hadde a cote of Cristendom as Holy Kirke bileveth;
130274Ac it was moled in many places with manye sondry plottes--
130275Of pride here a plot, and there a plot of unbuxom speche,
130276Of scornyng and of seoffyng and of unskilful berynge;
130277As in apparaill andin porte proud amonges the peple;
130278Ootherwise than he hath with herte or sighte shewynge;
130279Hym wilnyng that alle men wende he were that he is noght,
130280Forwhy he bosteth and braggeth with manye bolde othes;
130281And inobedient to ben undernome of any lif lyvynge;
130282And so singuler by hymself as to sighte of the peple
130283Was noon swich as hymself, ne noon so pope holy;
130284Yhabited as an heremyte, an ordre by hymselve--
130285Religion saunz rule and resonable obedience;
130286Lakkynge lettrede men and lewed men bothe;
130287In likynge of lele lif and a liere in soule;
130288With inwit and with outwit ymagynen and studie
130289As best for his body be to have a bold name;
130290And entremetten hym over al ther he hath noght to doone;
130291Wilnyge that men wende his wit were the beste,
130292Or for his crafty konnynge or of clerkes the wisest,
130293Or strengest on stede, or styvest under girdel,
130294And lovelokest to loken on and lelest of werkes,
130295And noon so holy as he ne of lif clennere,
130296Or feirest of feitures, of forme and of shafte,
130297And most sotil of song other sleyest of hondes,
130298And large to lene lo[o]s therby to cacche;
130299And if he gyveth ought to povere gomes, [go] telle what he deleth;
130300Povere of possession in purs and in cofre,"
130301And as a lyoun on to loke and lordlich of speche;
130302Boldest of beggeris, a bostere that noght hath,
130303In towne and in tavernes tales to telle
130304And segge thyng that he nevere seigh and for sothe sweren it,
130305Of dedes that he nevere dide demen and bosten,
130306And of werkes that he wel dide witnesse and siggen,
130307"Lo! if ye leve me noght, or that I lye wenen,
130308Asketh at hym or at hym, and he yow kan telle
130309What I suffrede and seigh and somtymes hadde,
130310And what I kouthe and knew, and what kyn I com of.'
130311Al he wolde that men wiste of werkes and of wordes  -
130312Which myghte plese the peple and preisen hymselve:
130312{ Si hominibus placerem, Christi servus non essem. Et alibi:}
130312{ Nemo potest duobus dominis servire.}
130313"By Crist!' quod Conseience tho, "thi beste cote, Haukyn,
130314Hath manye moles and spottes--it moste ben ywasshe!'
130315"Ye, whoso toke hede,' quod Haukyn, "bihynde and bifore,
130316What on bak and what on body half and by the two sides--
130317Men sholde fynde manye frounces and manye foule plottes.'
130318And he torned hym as tyd, and thanne took I hede;
130319It was fou1er bi fele fold than it first semed.
130320It was bidropped with wrathe and wikkede wille,
130321With envye and yvel speche entisynge to fighte,
130322Lying and lakkynge and leve tonge to chide;
130323Al that he wiste wikked by any wight, tellen it,
130324And blame men bihynde hir bak and bidden hem meschaunce;
130325And that he wiste by Wille, [to Watte tellen it],
130326And that Watte wiste, Wille wiste it after,
130327And made of frendes foes thorugh a fals tonge:
130328"Or with myght of mouth or thorugh mannes strengthe
130329Avenged me fele tymes, other frete myselve withinne
130330As a shepsteres shere, ysherewed men and  cursed hem.'
130330{ Cuius malediccione os plenum est et amaritudine; sub lingua}
130330{  eius labor et dolor. Et alibi: Filii hominum dentes eorum}
130330{ arma et sagitte et lingua eorum gladius acutus.}
130331"Ther is no lif that I lovye lastynge any while;
130332For tales that I telle no man trusteth to me.
130333And whan I may noght have the maistrie, swich malencolie I take
130334That I cacche the crampe, the cardiacle som tyme,
130335Or an ague in swich an angre, and som tyme a fevere
130336That taketh me al a twelvemonthe, til that I despise
130337Lechecraft of Oure Lord and leve on a wicche,
130338And seye that no clerc ne kan--ne Crist, as I leve--
130339To the Soutere of Southwerk, or of Shordych Dame Emme,
130340And seye that [God ne] Goddes word gaf me nevere boute,
130341But thorugh a charme hadde I chaunce and my chief heele.'
130342I waitede wisloker, and thanne was it soilled
130343With likynge of lecherie as by lokynge of his eighe.
130344For ech a maide that he mette, he made hire a signe
130345Semynge to synneward, and somtyme he gan taste
130346Aboute the mouth or bynethe bigynneth to grope,
130347Til eitheres wille wexeth kene, and to the werke yeden,
130348As wel fastyng dayes as Fridaies and forboden nyghtes,
130349And as lef in Lente as out of Lente, alle tymes yliche:
130350Swiche werkes with hem were nevere out of seson,
130351Til thei myghte na moore--and thanne hadde murye tales,
130352And how that lecchours lovye laughen and japen,
130353And of hir harlotrye and horedom in hir elde tellen.
130354Thanne Pacience parceyved, of pointes his cote
130355Was colomy thorugh coveitise and unkynde desiryng.
130356Moore to good than to God the gome his love caste,
130357And ymagynede how he it myghte have
130358With false mesures and met, and [mid] fals witnesse
130359Lened for love of the wed and looth to do truthe,
130360And awaited thorugh w[itte]s wyes to bigile,
130361And menged his marchaundise and made a good moustre:
130362"The worst withinne was--a greet wit I let it!
130363And if my neghebore hadde an hyne, or any beest ellis,
130364Moore profitable than myn, manye sleightes I made
130365How I myghte have it--al my wit I caste;
130366And but I it hadde by oother wey, at the laste I stale it,
130367Or pryveliche his purs shook, unpikede hise lokes;
130368Or by nyghte or by daye, aboute was ich evere
130369Thorugh gile to gaderen the good that ich have.
130370"If I yede to the plowgh, I pynched so narwe
130371That a foot lond or a forow fecchen I wolde
130372Of my nexte neghebore, nymen of his erthe;
130373And if I rope, overreche, or yaf hem reed that ropen
130374To seise to me with hir sikel that I ne sew nevere.
130375"And whoso borwed of me aboughte the tyme
130376With presentes pryvely, or paide som certeyn--
130377So wolde he or noght wolde he, wynnen I wolde;
130378And bothe to kith and to kyn unkynde of that ich hadde.
130379"And whoso cheped my chaffare, chiden I wolde
130380But he profrede to paie a peny or tweyne
130381Moore than it was worth, and yet wolde I swere
130382That it coste me muche moore--swoor manye othes.
130383"In haly daies at holy chirche, whan ich herde masse
130384Hadde I nevere wille, woot God, witterly to biseche
130385Mercy for my mysdedes, that I ne moorned moore
130386For losse of good, leve me, than for likames giltes;
130387As, if I hadde dedly synne doon, I dredde noght that so soore
130388As whan I lened and leved it lost or longe er it were paied.
130389So if I kidde any kyndenesse myn evencristen to helpe,
130390Upon a cruwel coveitise my conscience gan hange.
130391"And if I sente over see my servaunts to Brugges,
130392Or into Prucelond my Prentis my profit to waiten,
130393To rnarchaunden with moneie and maken here esehaunges,
130394Mighte nevere me conforte in the mene tyme
130395Neither masse ne matynes, ne none maner sightes;
130396Ne nevere penaunce parfournede ne Paternoster seide
130397That my mynde ne was moore on my good in a doute
130398Than in the grace of God and hise grete helpes.'
130398{Ubi thesaurus tuus, ibi et cor tuum.}
130399Yet that glotoun with grete othes his garnement hadde soiled
130400And foule beflobered it, as with fals speche,
130401As, there no nede ne was, Goddes name an idel--
130402Swoor therby swithe ofte and al biswatte his cote;
130403And moore mete eet and dronk than kynde myghte defie--
130404"And kaughte siknesse somtyme for my surfetes ofte;
130405And thanne I dradde to deye in dedlich synne'--
130406That into wanhope he w[orth] and wende nought to be saved,
130407The whiche is sleuthe, so slow that may no sleightes helpe it,
130408Ne no mercy amenden the man that so deieth.
130409Ac whiche ben the braunches that bryngen a man to sleuthe?
130410Is whan a man moorneth noght for hise mysdedes, ne maketh no sorwe,
130411Ac penaunce that the preest enjoyneth parfourneth yvele,
130412Dooth non almesdede, dred hym of no synne,
130413Lyveth ayein the bileve and no lawe holdeth.
130414Ech day is halyday with hym or an heigh ferye,   "
130415And if he aught wol here, it is an harlotes tonge.
130416Whan men carpen of Crist, or of clennesse of soule,
130417He wexeth wroth and wol noght here but wordes of murthe.
130418Penaunce and povere men and the passion of seintes--
130419He hateth to here therof and alle that it telleth.
130420Thise beenthe braunches, beth war! that bryngen a man to wanhope.
130421Ye lordes and ladies and legates of Holy Chirche
130422That fedeth fooles sages, flatereris and lieris,
130423And han likynge to lithen hem [in hope] to do yow laughe--
130423{Ve vobis qui ridetis &c--}
130424And yyveth hem mete and mede, and povere men refuse,
130425In youre deeth deyinge, I drede me soore
130426Lest tho thre maner men to muche sorwe yow brynge:
130426{Consencientes et agentes pari pena punientur.}
130427Patriarkes and prophetes, prechours of Goddes wordes,
130428Saven thorugh hir sermon mannes soule fro helle;
130429Right so flatereris and fooles arn the fendes disciples
130430To entice men thorugh hir tales to synne and harlotrie.
130431Ac clerkes, that knowen Holy Writ, sholde kenne lordes
130432What David seith of swiche men, as the Sauter telleth:
130432{Non habitabit in medio domus mee quifacit superbiam; qui loquitur iniqua . . .}
130433Sholde noon harlot have audience in halle ne in chambre
130434Ther wise men were--witnesseth Goddes wordes--
130435Ne no mysproud min amonges lordes ben allowed.
130436Clerkes and knyghtes welcometh kynges minstrales,
130437And for love of hir lord litheth hem at festes;
130438Muche moore, me thynketh, riche men sholde
130439Have beggeres bifore hem, the whiche ben Goddes minstrales,
130440As he seith hymself--Seynt Johan bereth witnesse:
130440{Qui vos spernit me spernit.}
130441Forthi I rede yow riche, reveles whan ye maketh,
130442For to solace youre soules, swiche minstrales to have--
130443The povere for a fool sage sittynge at th[i] table,
130444And a lered man to lere thee what Oure Lord suffred
130445For to save thi soule fram Sathan thyn enemy,
130446And fithele thee, withoute fl,terynge, of Good Friday the storye,
130447And a blynd man for a bourdeour, or a bedrede womman
130448To crie a largesse bifore Oure Lord, your good loos to shewe.
130449Thise thre maner minstrales maketh a man to laughe,
130450And in his deeth deyinge thei don hym gret confort
130451That bi his lyve lithed hem and loved hem to here.
130452Thise solaceth the soule til hymself be falle
130453In a welhope, [for he wroghte so], amonges worthi seyntes,
130454There flatereres and fooles thorugh hir foule wordes
130455Leden tho that loved hem to Luciferis feste
130456With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe, and Luciferis fithele.
130457Thus Haukyn the actif man hadde ysoiled his cote,
130458Til Conscience acouped hym therof in a curteis manere,
130459Why he ne hadde wasshen it or wiped it with a brusshe.
140001"I have but oon hool hater,' quod Haukyn, "1 am the lasse to blame
140002Though it be soiled and selde clene--I slepe therinne o nyghtes;
140003And also I have an houswif, hewen and children--
140003{ Uxorem duxi, et ideo non possum venire--}
140004That wollen bymolen it many tyme, maugree my chekes.
140005It hath beaved in Lente and out of Lente bothe
140006With the sope of siknesse, that seketh wonder depe,
140007And with the losse of catel, that looth me w[ere]
140008For to agulte God or any good man, by aught that I wiste;
140009And was shryven of the preest, that [for my synnes gaf me]
140010To penaunce, pacience, and povere men to fede,
140011Al for coveitise of my Cristendom in clennesse to kepen it.
140012And kouthe I nevere, by Crist! kepen it clene an houre,
140013That I ne soiled it with sighte or som ydel speche,
140014Or thorugh werk or thorugh word, or wille of myn herte,
140015That I ne flobre it foule fro morwe til even.'
140016"And I shal kenne thee,' quod Conscience, "of Contricion to make
140017That shal clawe thi cote of alle kynnes filthe--
140017{Cordis contricio &c;}
140018Dowel shal wasshen it and wryngen it thorugh a wis confessour--
140018{Oris confessio &c;}
140019Dobet shal beten it and bouken it as bright as any scarlet,
140020And engreynen it with good wille and Goddes grace to amende the,
140021And sithen sende thee to Satisfaccion for to sonnen it after:
140021{Satisfaccio.}
140022"And Dobest kepe[th] clene from unkynde werkes.
140023Shal nevere my[te] bymolen it, ne mothe after biten it,
140024Ne fend ne fals man defoulen it in thi lyve.
140025Shal noon heraud ne harpour have a fairer garnement
140026Than Haukyn the Actif man, and thow do by my techyng,
140027Ne no mynstrall be moore worth amonges povere and riche
140028Than Haukyn wi[l] the wafrer, which is Activa Vita.'
140029"And I shal purveie thee paast,' quod Pacience, "though no plough erye,
140030And flour to fede folk with as best be for the soule;
140031Though nevere greyn growed, ne grape upon vyne,
140032Alle that lyveth and loketh liflode wolde I fynde,
140033And that ynogh--shal noon faille of thyng that hem nedeth.
140034We sholde noght be to bisy abouten oure liflode:
140034{Ne soliciti sitis &c; Volucres celi Deus pascit &c; Pacientes vincunt &c;}
140035Thanne laughed Haukyn a litel, and lightly gan swerye,
140036"Whoso leveth yow, by Oure Lord, I leve noght he be blessed!'
140037"No?' quod Pacience paciently, and out of his poke hente
140038Vitailles of grete vertues for alle manere beestes,
140039And seide, " Lo! here liflode ynogh, if oure bileve be trewe.
140040For lent nevere was lif but liflode were shapen,
140041Wherof or wherfore or wherby to libbe.
140042" First the wilde worm under weet erthe,
140043Fissh to lyve in the flood, and in the fir the criket,
140044The corlew by kynde of the eyr, moost clennest flessh of briddes,
140045And bestes by gras and by greyn and by grene rootes,
140046In menynge that alle men myghte the same
140047Lyve thorugh leel bileve and love, as God witnesseth:
140047{Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c; Et alibi, Non}
140047{in solo pane vivit homo, set in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore Dei;'}
140048But I lokede what liflode it was that Pacience so preisede;
140049And thanne was it a pece of the Paternoster--{Fiat voluntas tua.}
140050"Have, Haukyn,' quod Pacience, "and et this whan the hungreth,
140051Or whan thow clomsest for cold or clyngest for droughte;
140052And shul nevere gyves thee greve ne gret lordes wrathe,
140053Aison ne peyne--for pacientes vincunt.
140054By so that thow be sobre of sighte and of tonge,
140055In [ond]ynge and in handlynge and in alle thi fyve wittes,
140056Darstow nevere care for corn ne lynnen cloth ne wollen,
140057Ne for drynke, ne deeth drede, but deye as God liketh,
140058Or thorugh hunger or thorugh hete--at his wille be it.
140059For if thow lyvest after his loore, the shorter lif the bettre:
140059{Si quis amat Christum mundum non diligit istum.}
140060"For thorugh his breeth beestes woxen and abrood yeden:
140060{Dixit et facta sunt, &c.}
140061Ergo thorugh his breeth mowen [bothe] men and beestes lyven,
140062As Holy Writ witnesseth whan men seye hir graces:
140062{*Aperis tu manum tuam, et imples omne animal benediccione.}
140063"It is founden that fourty wynter folk lyvede withouten tulying,
140064And out of the flynt sprong the flood that folk and beestes dronken;
140065And in Elyes tyme hevene was yclosed,
140066That no reyn ne roon--thus rede men in bokes,
140067That manye wyntres men lyveden and no mete ne tulieden.
140068"Sevene slepe, as seith the book, sevene hundred wynter,
140069And lyveden withouten lifiode--and at the laste thei woken.
140070And if men lyvede as mesure wolde, sholde nevere moore be defaute
140071Amonges Cristene creatures, if Cristes wordes ben trewe.
140072Ac unkyndenesse caristiam maketh amonges Cristen peple,
140073And over-plentee maketh pryde amonges poore and riche;
140074Ac mesure is so muche worth it may noght be to deere;
140075For the meschief and the meschaunce amonges men of Sodome
140076Weex thorugh plentee of payn and of pure sleuthe:
140076{Ociositas et habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutrivit.}
140077For thei mesured noght hemself of that thei ete and dronke,
140078Diden dedly synne that the devel liked,
140079Vengeaunce fil upon hem for hir vile synnes;
140080[So] thei sonken into helle, the citees echone.
140081" Forthi mesure we us wel and make oure feith oure sheltrom;
140082And thorugh feith cometh contricion, conscience woot wel,
140083Which dryveth awey dedly synne and dooth it to be venial.
140084And though a man myghte noght speke, contricion myghte hym save,
140085And brynge his soule to blisse, by so that feith bere witnesse
140086That whiles he lyvede he bilevede in the loore of Holy Chirche.
140087Ergo contricion, feith and conscience is kyndeliche Dowel,
140088And surgiens for dedly synnes whan shrift of mouthe failleth.
140089Ac shrift of mouth moore worthi is, if man be ynliche contrit,
140090For shrift of mouthe sleeth synne be it never so dedly--
140091Per confessionem to a preest peccata occiduntur--
140092Ther contricion dooth but dryveth it doun into a venial synne,
140093As David seith in the Sauter, et quorum tecta sunt peccata.
140094Ac satisfaccion seketh out the roote, and bothe sleeth and voideth,
140095And as it nevere [n]adde ybe, to noghte bryngeth dedly synne,
140096That it nevere eft is sene ne soor, but semeth a wounde yheeled.'
140097"Where wonyeth Charite?' quod Haukyn. "I wiste nevere in my lyve
140098Man that with hym spak, as wide as I have passed.'
140099"Ther parfit truthe and poore herte is, and pacience of tonge--
140100There is Chante the chief, chaumbrere for God hymselve.'
140101"Wheither paciente poverte,' quod Haukyn, "be moore plesaunt to Oure   Dright
140102Than richesse rightfulliche wonne and resonably despended?'
140103" Ye--quis est ilie?' quod Pacience, " quik--laudabimus eum !
140104Though men rede of richesse right to the worldes ende,
140105I wiste nevere renk that riche was, that whan he rekene sholde,
140106Whan he drogh to his deeth day, that he ne dredde hym soore,
140107And that at the rekenyng in arrerage fel, rather than out of dette.
140108Ther the poore dar plede, and preve by pure reson
140109To have allowaunce of his lord; by the lawe he it cleymeth:
140110Joye, that nevere joye hadde, of rightful jugge he asketh,
140111And seith, ""Lo! briddes and beestes, that no blisse ne knoweth,
140112And wilde wormes in wodes, thorugh wyntres thow hem grevest,
140113And makest hem wel neigh meke and mylde fer defaute,
140114And after thew sedet hem somer, that is hir soveyn joye,
140115And blisse to alle that ben, bothe wilde and tame.'
140116"Thanne may boggeris, as beestes, after boote waiten,
140117That al hir lif han lyved in langour and in defaute.
140118But God sente hem som tyme som manere joye
140119Outher here or elliswhere, kynde wolde it nevere;
140120For to wrotherhele was he wroght that nevere was joye shapen!
140121"Aungeles that in helle now ben hadden joye som tyme,
140122And Dives in deyntees lyvede and in douce vie;
140123Right so reson sheweth that tho men that [riche were]
140124And hir makes also lyvede hir lif in murthe.
140125"Ac God is of a wonder wille, by that kynde wit sheweth,
140126To yyve many men his mercymonye er he it have deserved.
140127Right so fareth God by some riche: ruthe me it thynketh--
140128For thei han hir hire heer, and hevene, as it were,
140129And greet likynge to lyve withouten labour of bodye,
140130And whan he dyeth, ben disalowed, as David seith in the Sauter:
140130{  Dormierunt et nichil in venerunt; et alibi, Velud sompnum surgencium,}
140130{  Domine, in civitate tua, et ad nichilum rediges &c.}
140131Allas, that richesse shal reve and robbe mannes soule
140132From the love of Oure Lord at his laste ende!
140133" Hewen that han hir hire afore arn everemoore nedy;
140134And selden deyeth he out of dette that dyneth er he deserve it
140135And til he have doon his devoir and his dayes journee.
140136For whan a werkman hath wroght, than may men se the sothe--
140137What he were worthi for his werk, and what he hath deserved,
140138And noght to fonge bifore, for drede of disalowyng.
140139"So I seye by yow riche--it semeth noght that ye shulle
140140Have hevene in youre here-beyng and hevene therafter,
140141Right as a servaunt taketh his salarie bifore, and siththe wolde clayme moore,
140142As he that noon hadde, and hath hire at the laste.
140143It may noght be, ye riche men, or Mathew on God lyeth:
140143{ De deliciis ad delicias aifficile est transire !}
140144"Ac if ye riche have ruthe, and rewarde wel the poore,
140145And lyven as lawe techeth, doon leaute to hem alle,
140146Crist of his curteisie shal conforte yow at the laste
140147And rewarden alle double richesse that rewful hertes habbeth.
140148And as an hyne that hadde his hire er he bigonne,
140149And whan he hath doon his devoir wel, men dooth hym oother bountee--
140150Yyveth hym a cote above his covenaunt--right so Crist yyveth hevene
140151Bothe to riche and to noght riche that rewfulliche libbeth;
140152And alle that doon hir devoir wel han double hire for hir travaille--
140153Here forgifnesse of hir synnes, and hevene blisse after.
140154"Ac it is but selde yseien, as by holy seintes bokes,
140155That God rewarded double reste to any riche wye.
140156For muche murthe is amonges riche, as in mete and clothyng,
140157And muche murthe in May is amonges wilde beestes,
140158And so forth while somer lasteth hir solace dureth.
140159Ac beggeris aboute Midsomer bredlees thei soupe,
140160And yet is wynter for hem worse, for weetshoed thei gauge,
140161Afurst soore and afyngred, and foule yrebuked
140162And arated of riche men, that ruthe is to here . . .
140163Now, Lord, sende hem somer, and som maner joye,
140164Hevene after hir hennes goyng, that here han swich defaute!
140165For alle myghtestow have maad noon mener than oother,
140166And yliche witty and wise, if thee wel hadde liked.
140167And have ruthe on thise riche men that rewarde noght thi prisoners;
140168Of the good that thow hem gyvest ingrati ben manye;
140169Ac God, of thi goodnesse, gyve hem grace to amende.
140170For may no derthe be hem deere, droghte ne weet,
140171Ne neither hete ne hayll, have thei hir heele;
140172Of that thei wilne and wolde wanteth hem noght here.
140173"Ac poore peple, thi prisoners, Lord, in the put of meschief--
140174Conforte tho creatures that muche care suffren
140175Thorugh derthe, thorugh droghte, alle hir dayes here,
140176Wo in wynter tymes for wantynge of clothes,
140177And in somer tyme selde soupen to the fulle;
140178Conforte thi carefulle, Crist, in thi riche--
140179For how thow confortest alle creatures clerkes bereth witnesse:
140179{ Convertimini ad mi et salvi eritis.}
140180"Thus in genere of gentries Jesu Crist seide
140181To robberis and to reveris, to riche and to poore,
140182To hores, to harlotes, to alle maner peple,
140183Thou taughtest hem in the Trinite to taken bapteme
140184And be clene thorugh that cristnyng of alle kynnes synne,
140185And if us fille thorugh folie to falle in synne after,
140186Confession and knowlichynge and cravynge thi mercy
140187Shulde amenden us as manye sithes as man wolde desire.
140188Ac if the pouke wolde plede herayein, and punysshe us in conscience,
140189We sholde take the acquitaunce as quyk and to the queed shewen it--
140189{ Pateat &c: Per passionem Domini--}
140190And putten of so the pouke, and preven us under borwe.
140191Ac the parchemyn of this patente of poverte be moste,
140192And of pure pacience and parfit bileve.
140193Of pompe and of pride the parchemyn decourreth,
140194And principalliche of alle peple; but thei be poore of herte.
140195Ellis is al on ydel, al that evere we wr[ogh]ten--
140196Paternostres and penaunce and pilgrimage to Rome,
140197But oure spences and spendynge sprynge of a trewe welle;
140198Ellis is al oure labour lost--lo, how men writeth
140199ln fenestres at the freres!--if fals be the foundement.
140200Forthi Cristene sholde be in commune riche, noon coveitous for hymselve.
140201" For sevene synnes ther ben, that assaillen us evere;
140202The fend folweth hem alle and fondeth hem to helpe,
140203Ac with richesse tho ribaudes rathest men bigileth.
140204For ther that richesse regneth, reverences folweth,
140205And that is plesaunt to pride, in poore and in riche.
140206And the riche is reverenced by reson of his richesse
140207Ther the poore is put bihynde, and paraventure kan moore
140208Of wit and of wisdom, that fer awey is bettre
140209Than richesse or reautee, and rather yherd in hevene.
140210For the riche hath muche to rekene, and right softe walketh;
140211The heighe wey to heveneward ofte richesse letteth--
140211{ Ita inpossibile diviti &c--}
140212Ther the poore preesseth bifore, with a pak at his rugge--
140212{ Opera enim iilorum sequuntur illos--}
140213Batauntliche, as beggeris doon, and boldeliche he craveth
140214For his poverte and his pacience a perpetuel blisse:
140214{ Beati pauperes: quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum.}
140215"And pride in richesse regneth rather than in poverte:
140216Or in the maister or in the man som mansion he haveth.
140217Ac in poverte ther pacience is, Pride hath no mygte,
140218Ne none of the sevene synnes sitten ne mowe ther longe,
140219Ne have power in poverte, if pacience it folwe.
140220For the poore is ay prest to plese the riche,
140221And buxom at his biddyng for his broke loves;
140222And buxomnesse and boost ben everemoore at werre,
140223And either hateth oother in alle maner werkes.
140224If Wrathe wrastle with the poore he hath the worse ende,
140225For if thei bothe pleyne, the poore is but feble,
140226And if he chide or chatre, hym cheveth the worse,
140227For lowliche he loketh and lovelich is his speche
140228That mete or money of othere men moot asken.
140229"And if Glotonie greve poverte, he gadereth the lasse.
140230For his rentes wol naught reche no riche metes to bigge;
140231And though his glotonye be to good ale, he goth to cold beddyng,
140232And his heved unheled, unesiliche ywrye--
140233For whan he streyneth hym to strecche, the strawe is his shetes.
140234So for his Glotome and his greete Sleuthe he hath a grevous penaunce,
140235That is welawo whan he waketh and wepeth for colde--
140236And som tyme for his synnes--so he is nevere murie
140237Withoute mournynge amonge and meschief to bote.
140238"And though Coveitise wolde cacche the poore, thei may noght come   togideres
140239And by the nekke, namely, hir noon may hente oother.
140240For men knowen wel that Coveitise is of a kene wille,
140241And hath hondes and armes of a long lengthe,
140242And Poverte nys but a petit thyng, apereth noght to his navele--
140243And lovely layk was it nevere bitwene the longe and the shorte.
140244And though Avarice wolde angre the poore, he hath but litel myghte,
140245Fer Poverte hath but pokes to putten in hise goodes,
140246Ther Avarice hath almaries and yren-bounden cofres.
140247And wheither be lighter to breke? Lasse boost it maketh--
140248A beggeris baggethan an yren-bounde cofre !
140249" Lecherie loveth hym noght, for he yyveth but litel silver,
140250Ne dooth hym noght dyne delicatly ne drynke wyn ofte.
140251A straw for the stuwes! lt stoode noght, I trowe,
140252Hadde thei noon [haunt] but of poore men--hir houses stoode untyled!
140253"And though Sleuthe suwe Poverte, and serve noght God to paie,
140254Meschief is his maister, and maketh hym to thynke
140255That God is his grettest help and no gorne ellis,
140256And he his servaunt, as he seith, and of his sute bothe.
140257And wheither he be or be noght, he bereth the signe of poverte,
140258And in that secte Oure Saveour saved al mankynde.
140259Forthi al poore that pacient is, may [asken and cleymen],
140260After hir endynge here, heveneriche blisse.
140261"Muche hardier may he asken, that here myghte have his wille
140262In lond and in lordshipe and likynge of bodie,
140263And for Goddes love leveth al and lyveth as a beggere.
140264And as a mayde for mannes love hire moder forsaketh,
140265Hir fader and alle hire frendes, and folweth hir make--
140266Muche is that maide to love of [a man] that swich oon taketh,
140267Moore than a maiden is that is maried thorugh brocage,
140268As by assent of sondry parties and silver to boote,
140269Moore for coveitise of good than kynde love of bothe--
140270So it fareth by ech a persone that possession forsaketh
140271And put hym to be pacient, and poverte weddeth,
140272The which is sib to God hymself, and so neigh is poverte.'
140273"Have God-my trouthe,' quod Haukyn, "l here ye preise faste poverte.
140274What is poverte, Pacience,' quod he, "proprely to mene?'
140275{" Paupertas.'} quod Pacience, {" est odibile bonum--}
140275{ Remocio curarum, possessio sine calumpnia, donum Dei,}
140275{ sanitatis mater, absque sollicitudine semita, sapiencie}
140275{ temperatrix, negocium sine dampno, incerta fortuna,}
140275{ absque sollicitudine felicitas.'}
140276"I kan noght construe al this,' quod Haukyn, "ye moste kenne me this on   Englis
140277" In Englissh,' quod Pacience, "it is wel hard, wel to expounen,
140278Ac somdeel I shal seyen it, by so thow understonde.
140279Poverte is the firste point that Pride moost hateth;
140280Thanne is it good by good skile--al that agasteth pride.
140281Right as contricion is confortable thyng, conseience woot wel,
140282And a sorwe of hymself, and a solace to the soule,
140283So poverte propreliche penaunce [is to the body
140284And joye also to the soule], pure spiritual helthe,
140285And contricion confort, and cura animarum:
140285{ Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum.}
140286"Selde sit poverte the sothe to declare,
140287Or as justice to jugge men enjoyned is no poore,
140288Ne to be mair above men, ne mynystre under kynges;
140289Selde is any poore yput to punysshen any peple;
140289{ Remocio curarum.}
140290Ergo poverte and poore men parfournen the comaundement--
140290{ Nolite iudicare quemquam.}
140291"Selde is poore right riche but of rightful heritage:
140292Wynneth he noght with wightes false ne with unseled mesures,
140293Ne borweth of hise neighebores but that he may wel paie:
140293{  Possessio sine calumpnia.}
140294"The ferthe is afor-tune that florissheth the soule
140295With sobretee fram alle synne and also yit moore;
140296It afaiteth the flessh fram folies ful manye--
140297A collateral confort, Cristes owene yifte:
140297{  Donum Dei.}
140298"The fifte is moder of [myght and of mannes] hele,
140299A frend in alle fondynges, [of foule yveles leche],
140300And for the lewde evere yliche a lemman of alle clennesse:
140300{  Sanitatis mater.}
140301"The sixte is a path of pees--ye, thorugh the paas of Aulton
140302Poverte myghte passe withouten peril of robbyng!
140303For ther that Poverte passeth pees folweth after,
140304And ever the lasse that he [led]eth, the [light]er he is of herte--
140304{  Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator--}
140305And an hardy man of herte among an heep of theves;
140306Forthi seith Seneca Paupertas est absque sollicitudine semita.
140307"The seventhe is welle of wisedorn and fewe wordes sheweth,
140308For lordes alloweth hym litel or listneth to his reson.
140309He tempreth the tonge to trutheward, that no tresor coveiteth:
140309{  Sapiencie temperatrix.}
140310"The eightethe is a lele labour and looth to take moore
140311Than he may [sothly] deserve, in somer or in wynter,
140312And if he chaffareth, he chargeth no losse mowe he charite wynne:
140312{ Negocium sine dampno.}
140313"The nynthe is swete to the soule, no sugre is swetter;
140314For pacience is payn for poverte hymselve,
140315And sobretee swete drynke and good leche in siknesse.
140316Thus lered me a lered man for Oure Lordes love, Seint Austyn--
140317A blessed lif withouten bisynesse for body and for soule:
140317{ Absque sollicitudine feiicitas.}
140318Now God, that alle good gyveth, graunte his soule reste
140319That thus first wroot to wissen men what Poverte was to mene!'
140320"Allas,' quod Haukyn the Actif Man tho, "that after my cristendom
140321I ne hadde be deed and dolven for Dowelis sake!
140322So hard it is,' quod Haukyn, "to lyve and to do synne.
140323Synne seweth us evere,' quod he, and sory gan wexe,
140324And wepte water with hise eighen and weyled the tyme
140325That evere he dide dede that deere God displesed--
140326Swouned and sobbed and siked ful ofte
140327That evere he hadde lond or lordshipe, lasse other moore,
140328Or maistrie over any man mo than of hymselve..
140329" I were noght worthi, woot God,' quod Haukyn, " to werien any clothes,
140330Ne neither sherte ne shoon, save for shame one
140331To covere my careyne', quod he, and cride mercy faste,
140332And wepte and  wailede--and therwith I awakede.
150001Ac after my wakynge it was wonder longe
150002Er I koude kyndely knowe what was Dowel.
150003And so my wit weex and wanyed til I a fool weere;
150004And some lakked my lif--allowed it fewe--
150005And leten me for a lorel and looth to reverencen
150006Lordes or ladies or any lif ellis--
150007As persons in pelure with pendaunts of silver;
150008To sergeaunts ne to swiche seide noght ones,
150009" God loke yow, lordes!'--ne loutede faire,
150010That folk helden me a fool; and in that folie I raved,
150011Til reson hadde ruthe on me and rokked me aslepe,
150012Til I seigh, as it sorcerie were, a sotil thyng withalle--
150013Oon withouten tonge and teeth, tolde me whider I sholde
150014And wherof I cam and of what kynde. I conjured hym at the laste,
150015If he were Cristes creature for Cristes love me to tellen.
150016" I am Cristes creature,' quod he, "and Cristene in many a place,
150017In Cristes court yknowe wel, and of his kyn a party.
150018Is neither Peter the Porter, ne Poul with the fauchon,
150019That wole defende me the dore, dynge I never so late.
150020At mydnyght, at mydday, my vois is so yknowe
150021That ech a creature of his court welcometh me faire.'
150022"What are ye called?' quod I, "in that court among Cristes peple?'
150023"The whiles I quykne the cors,' quod he, "called am I Anima;
150024And whan I wilne and wolde, Animus ich hatte;
150025And for that I kan and knowe, called am I Mens;
150026And whan I make mone to God, Memoria is my name;
150027And whan I deme domes and do as truthe techeth,
150028Thanne is Racio my righte name--""reson'" on Englissh;
150029And whan I feele that folk telleth, my firste name is Sensus--
150030And that is wit and wisdom, the welle of alle craftes;
150031And whan I chalange or chalange noght, chepe or refuse,
150032Thanne am I Conseience ycalled, Goddes clerk and his notarie;
150033And whan I love leelly Oure Lord and alle othere,
150034Thanne is ""lele Love'' my name, and in Latyn Amor;
150035And whan I flee fro the flessh and forsake the careyne,
150036Thanne am I spirit spechelees--and Spiritus thanne ich hatte.
150037Austyn and Ysodorus, either of hem bothe
150038Nempnede me thus to name--now thow myght chese
150039How thow coveitest to calle me, now thow knowest alle my names.
150039{Anima pro diversis accionibus diversa nomina sortitur: dum}
150039{vivificat corpus, anima est; dum vult, animus est; dum seit,}
150039{mens est; dum recoIit, memoria est; dum iudicat, racio est;}
150039{dum sentit, sensus est; dum amat, Amor est ; dum negat vel}
150039{consentit, consciencia est; dum spirat, spiritus est.'}
150040"Ye ben as a bisshop,' quod I, al bourdynge that tyme,
150041" For bisshopes yblessed, thei bereth manye names--
150042Presul and Pontifex and Metropolitanus,
150043And othere names an heep, Episcopus and Pastor.'
150044"That is sooth,' seide he, "now I se thi wille!
150045Thow woldest knowe and konne the cause of alle hire names,
150046And of myne, if thow myghtest, me thynketh by thi speche!'
150047" Ye, sire,' I seide, "by so no man were greved,
150048Alle the sciences under sonne and alle the sotile craftes
150049I wolde I knewe and kouthe kyndely in myn herte!"
150050"Thanne artow inparfit,' quod he, "and oon of Prides knyghtes!
150051For swich a lust and likyng Lucifer fel from hevene:
150051{Ponam pedem meum in aquilone et simiiis ero Altissimo.}
150052"It were ayeins kynde,' quod he, "and alle kynnes reson
150053That any creature sholde konne al, except Crist oone.
150054Ayein swiche Salomon speketh, and despiseth hir wittes,
150055And seith, Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum,
150055{Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria.}
150056"To Englisshe men this is to mene, that mowen speke and here,
150057The man that muche hony eteth his mawe it engleymeth,
150058And the moore that a man of good matere hereth,
150059But he do therafter it dooth hym doubie scathe.
150060"" Beatus est,' seith Seint Bernard, "" qui scripturas iegit
150061Et verba vertit in opera fulliche to his power."
150062Coveitise to konne and to knowe science
150063Putte out of Paridis Adam and Eve:
150063{Sciencic appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliavit.}
150064"And right as hony is yvel to defie and engleymeth the mawe,
150065Right so that thorugh reson wolde the roote knowe
150066Of God and of hise grete myghtes--hise graces it letteth.
150067For in the likynge lith a pride and licames coveitise
150068Ayein Cristes counseil and alle clerkes techynge--
150069That is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.
150070" Freres and fele othere maistres that to the lewed men prechen,
150071Ye moeven materes unmesurable to tellen of the Trinite,
150072That oftetymes the lewed peple of hir bileve doute.
150073Bettre it were by many doctours to bileven swich techyng
150074And tellen men of the ten comaundements, and touchen the sevene synnes,
150075And of the braunches that burjoneth of hem and bryngen men to helle,
150076And how that folk in folies mysspenden hir fyve wittes--
150077As wel freres as oother folk, foliliche spenden
150078In housynge, in haterynge, in to heigh clergie shewynge
150079Moore for pompe than for pure charite--the peple woot the sothe!
150080That I lye noght, loo!--for lordes ye plesen,
150081And reverencen the riche the rather for hir silver:
150081{Confundantur omines qui adorant sculptilia. Et alibi,}
150081{Ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et queritis mendam?}
150082"Goeth to the glose of the vers, ye grete clerkes;
150083If I lye on yow to my lewed wit, ledeth me to brennyng!
150084For as it semeth ye forsaketh no mannes almesse--
150085Of usurers, of hoores, of varouse chapmen--
150086And louten to thise lordes that mowen lene yow nobles
150087Aye in youre rule and religion--I take record at Jesus,
150088That seide to hise disciples, "" Ne sitis acceptores personarum.''
150089Of this matere I myghte make a long bible;
150090Ac of curatours of Cristen peple, as clerkes bereth witnesse,
150091I shal tellen it for truthes sake--take hede whoso liketh!
150092"As holynesse and honeste out of Holy Chirche spredeth
150093Thorugh lele libbynge men that Goddes lawe techen,
150094Right so out of Holy Chirche alle yveles spredeth
150095There inparfit preesthode is, prechours and techeris.
150096And se it by ensaumple in somer tyme on trowes:
150097Ther some bowes ben leved and some bereth none,
150098Ther is a meschief in the more of swiche manere bowes.
150099Right so persons and preestes and prechours of Holi Chirche
150100Is the roote of the right feith to rule the peple;
150101Ac ther the roote is roten, reson woot the sothe,
150102Shal nevere fiour ne fruyt, ne fair leef be grene.
150103"Forthi wolde ye lettrede leve the lecherie of clothyng,
150104And be kynde as bifel for clerkes and curteise of Cristes goodes,
150105Trewe of youre tonge and of youre tail bothe,
150106And hatien to here harlotrie, and aught to underfonge
150107Tithes of untrewe thyng ytilied or chaffared--
150108Lothe were lewed men but thei youre loore folwede
150109And amenden hem that thei mysdoon, moore for youre ensaumples
150110Than for to prechen and to preven it noght--ypocrisie it semeth!
150111For ypocrisie in Latyn is likned to a dongehill
150112That were bisnewed with snow, and snakes withinne,
150113Or to a wal that were whitlymed and were foul withinne.
150114Right so manye preestes, prechours and prelates--
150115Ye [b]en enblaunched with bele paroles and with clothes,
150116Ac youre werkes and wordes therunder aren ful w[o]lveliche.
150117Johannes Crisostomus of clerkes speketh and preestes:
150117{ Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic de templo omne}
150117{ malum procedit. Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret}
150117{ ecclesia; si autem corruptum fuerit, omnium fides marcida est.}
150117{ Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis, totus populus con vertitur}
150117{ ad peccandum. Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam et marcidam}
150117{ intelligis quod vicium habet in radice, ita cum videris}
150117{ populum inaisciplinatum et irreligiosum, sine dubio}
150117{ sacerdocium eius non est sanum.}
150118"If lewed men wiste what this Latyn meneth,
150120And who was myn auctour, muche wonder me thinketh
150121But if many preest beere, for hir baselardes and hir broches,
150122A peire of bedes in hir hand and a book under hir arme.
150123Sire Johan and Sire Geffrey hath a girdel of silver,
150124A baselard or a ballok-knyf with botons overgilte.
150125Ac a porthors that sholde be his plow, Placebo to sigge,
150126Hadde he nevere, [his] service to [h]ave,
150127[And save he have] silver therto, seith it with ydel wille.
150128"Allas, ye lewed men, muche lese ye on preestes!
150129Ac thing that wikkedly is wonne, and with false sleightes,
150130Wolde nevere the wit of witty God but wikkede men it hadde--
150131The whiche arn preestes inparfite and prechours after silver,
150132Executours and sodenes, somonours and hir lemmannes.
150133This that with gile was geten, ungraciousliche is spended.
150134So harlotes and hores arn holpe with swiche goodes,
150135Ac Goddes folk for defaute therof forfaren and spillen.
150136"Curatours of Holy Kirke, and clerkes that ben avarouse,
150137Lightliche that thei leven, losels it habbeth,
150138Or deieth intestate, and thanne [entreth the bisshop]
150139And maketh murthe therwith, and hise meyne both,
150140And seyen, ""He was a nygard, that no good myghte aspare
150141To frend ne to fremmed--the fend have his soule!
150142For a wrecehede hous he held al his lif tyme,
150143And that he spared and bispered, spende we in murthe!''
150144"By lered, by lewed, that looth is to spende--
150145Thus goon hire goodes, be the goost faren.
150146Ac for goode men, God woot, greet doel men maken,
150147And bymeneth goode meteyyveres, and in mynde haveth
150148In preieres and in penaunces and in parfit charite.'
150149" What is charite?' quod I tho. "A childissh thyng,' he seide--
150149{" Nisi efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum celorum--}
150150Withouten fauntelte or folie a fre liberal wille.'
150151"Where sholde men fynde swich a frend with so fre an herte?
150152I have lyved in londe,' quod I, "my name is Longe Wille--
150153And fond I nevere ful charite, bifore ne bihynde.
150154Men beth merciable to mendinaunts and to poore,
150155And wollen lenc ther thei leve lelly to ben paied.
150156Ac charite that Poul preiseth best and moost plesaunt to Oure Saveour--
150157As Non inflatur, non est ambiciosa, non querit que sua sunt--
150158I seigh nevere swich a man, so me God helpe,
150159That he ne wolde aske after his, and outherwhile coveite
150160Thyng that neded hym noght--and nyme it, if he myghte!
150161"Clerkes kenne me that Crist is in alle places;
150162Ac I seigh hym nevere soothly but as myself in a mirour:
150162{ Hic in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem.}
150163And so I trowe trewely, by that men telleth of charite,
150164It is noght chaumpions fight, ne chaffare, as I trowe.'
150165"Charite,' quod he, "ne chaffareth noght, ne chalangeth, ne craveth;
150166As proud of a peny as of a pound df golde,
150167And is as glad of a gowne of a gray russet
150168As of a tunycle of Tarse of of trie scarlet.
150169He is glad with alle glade and good til alle wikkede,
150170And leneth and loveth alle that Oure Lord made.
150171Corseth he no creature, ne he kan bere no wrathe,
150172Ne no likynge hath to lye ne laughe men to scorne.
150173Al that men seyn, he leet it sooth, and in solace taketh,
150174And alle manere meschiefs in myldenesse he suffreth.
150175Coveiteth he noon erthely good but heveneriche blisse.'
150176"Hath he any rentes or richesse, or any riche frendes?'
150177"Of rentes ne of richesse rekketh he nevere,
150178For a frend that fyndeth hym, failed hym nevere at nede:
150179Fiat voluntas tua fynt hym everemoore,
150180And if he soupeth, eteth but a sop of Spera in Deo.
150181He kan portreye wel the Paternoster and peynte it with Aves,
150182And outherwhile he is woned to wenden on pilgrymages
150183Ther poore men and prisons liggeth, hir pardon to have;
150184Though he bere hem no breed, he bereth hem swetter liflode,
150185Loveth hem as Oure Lord biddeth and loketh how thei fare.
150186"And whan he is wery of that werk than wole he som tyme
150187Labouren in a lavendrye wel the lengthe of a mile,
150188And yerne into youthe, and yepeliche seche
150189Pride, with al the appurtenaunces, and pakken hem togideres,
150190And bouken hem at his brest and beten hern clene,
150191And leggen on longe with {Laboravi in gemitu memo, }
150192And with warm water at hise eighen wasshen hem after.
150193Thanne he syngeth whan he doth so, and som tyme seith wepynge,
150193{ Cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.'}
150195"By Crist! I wolde that I knewe hym,' quod I, "no creature levere!'
150196"Withouten help of Piers Plowman,' quod he, "his persone sestow nevere.'
150197"Wheither clerkes knowen hym,' quod I, "that kepen Holi Kirke?'
150198"Clerkes have no knowyng,' quod he, "but by werkes and by wordes.
150199Ac Piers the Plowman parceyveth moore depper
150200What is the wille, and wherfore that many wight suffreth:
150200{ Et vidit Deus cogitaciones eorum.}
150201For ther are ful proude herted men, pacient of tonge
150202And buxome as of berynge to burgeises and to lordes,
150203And to poore peple han pepir in the nose,
150204And as a lyoun he loketh ther men lakken hise werkes.
150205" For ther are beggeris and bidderis, bedemen as it were,
150206Loken as lambren and semen lif-holy--
150207Ac it is moore to have hir mete on swich an esy manere
150208Than for penaunce and parfitnesse, the poverte that swiche taketh.
150209"Therfore by colour ne by clergie knowe shaltow hym nevere,
150210Neither thorugh wordes ne werkes, but thorugh wil oone,
150211And that knoweth no clerk ne creature on erthe
150212But Piers the Plowman--Petrus, id est, Christus.
150213For he nys noght in lolleris ne in londleperis heremytes,
150214Ne at ancres there a box hangeth--alle swiche thei faiten.
150215Fy on faitours and infautores suos!
150216For Charite is Goddes champion, and as a good child hende,
150217And the murieste of mouth at mete where he sitteth.
150218The 1ove that lith in his herte maketh hym light of speche,
150219And is compaignable and confortatif, as Crist bit hymselve:
150219{ Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c.}
150220For I have seyen hym in silk and som tyme in russet,
150221Bothe in grey, and in grys, and in gilt harneis--
150222And as gladliche he it gaf to gomes that it neded.
150223" Edmund and Edward, either were kynges
150224And seintes yset--[s]til[le] charite hem folwede.
150225"I have yseyen charite also syngen and reden,
150226Riden, and rennen in raggede wedes;
150227Ac biddynge as beggeris biheld I hym nevere.
150228Ac in riche robes rathest he walketh,
150229Ycalled and ycrymyled and his crowne yshave.
150230And in a freres frokke he was yfounden ones--
150231Ac it is fern ago, in Seint Fraunceis tyme;
150232In that secte siththe to selde hath he ben knowen.
150233" Riche men he recomendeth, and of hir robes taketh
150234That withouten wiles ledeth hir lyves:
150234{ Beatus est dives qui, &c.}
150235"In kynges court he cometh ofte, ther the counseil is trewe;
150236Ac if coveitise be of the counseil he wol noght come therinne.
150237In court amonges japeris he cometh but selde,
150238For braulynge and bakbitynge and berynge of fals witnesse.
150239"In the consistorie bifore the commissarie he corneth noght ful ofte,
150240For hir lawe dureth overlonge but if thei lacchen silver,
150241And matrimoyne for moneie maken and unmaken,
150242And that conseience and Crist hath yknyt faste,
150243Thei undoon it un[digne]ly, tho doctours of lawe.
150244"Amonges erchebisshopes and other bisshopes and prelates of Holy Chirche,
150245For to wonye with hem his wone was som tyme,
150246And Cristes patrimonye to the poore parcelmele dele.
150247Ac avarice hath the keyes now and kepeth for his kynnesmen
150248And for his seketoures and his servaunts, and som for hir children.
150249"Ac I ne lakke no lif, but, Lord, amende us alle.
150250And gyve us grace, goode God, charite to folwe!
150251For whoso myghte meete with hym, swiche maneres hym eileth--
150252Neither he blameth ne banneth, bosteth ne preiseth,
150253Lakketh, ne loseth, ne loketh up sterne,
150254Craveth, ne coveiteth, ne crieth after moore:
150254{ In pace in idipsum dormiam &c.}
150255The mooste liflode that he lyveth by is love in Goddes passion;
150256Neither he biddeth, ne beggeth, ne borweth to yelde;
150257Misdooth he no man, ne with his mouth greveth.
150258"Amonges Cristene men this myldenesse sholde laste,
150259In alle manere angres have this at herte--
150260That theigh thei suffrede al this, God suffrede for us moore
150261In ensample we sholde do so, and take no vengeaunce
150262Of oure foes that dooth us falsnesse--that is oure fadres wille.
150263For wel may every man wite, if God hadde wold hymselve,
150264Sholde nevere Judas ne Jew have Jesu doon on roode,
150265Ne han martired Peter ne Poul, ne in prison holden.
150266Ac he suffre in ensample that we sholde suffren also,
150267And seide to swiche that suffre wolde that Pacientes vincunt.
150268" Verbi gratia,' quod he--and verred ensamples manye.
150269"In Legenda Sanctorum, the lif of holy seintes,
150270What penaunce and poverte and passion thei suffrede--
150271In hunger, in hete, in alle manere angres.
150272"Antony and Egidie and othere holy fadres
150273Woneden in wildernesse among wilde beestes;
150274Monkes and mendinaunts. men by hemselve
150275In spekes and in spelonkes, selde speken togideres.
150276Ac neither Antony ne Egidie ne heremyte that tyme
150277Of leons ne of leopardes no liflode ne toke,
150278But of foweles that fleeth--thus fyndeth men in bokes--
150279Except that Egidie after an hynde cride,
150280And thorugh the mylk of that mylde beest the man was sustened;
150281And day bi day hadde he hire noght his hunger for to slake,
150282But selden and sondry tymes, as seith the book and techeth.
150283Antony adayes aboute noon tyme
150284Hadde a brid that broughte hym breed that he by lyvede;
150285And though the gome hadde a gest, God fond hem bothe.
150286"Poul {primus heremita} hadde parroked hymselve,
150287That no man myghte hym se for mosse and for leves.
150288Foweles hym fedde fele wyntres with alle
150289Til he foundede freres of Austynes ordre.
150290Poul, after his prechyng, paniers he made,
150291And wan with hise hondes that his wornbe neded.
150292Peter fisshed for his foode, and his felawe Andrew:
150293Som thei solde and som thei soden, and so thei lyved bothe.
150294And also Marie Maudeleyne by mores lyvede and dewes,
150295Ac moost thorugh devocion and mynde of God Almyghty.
150296I sholde noght thise seven daies siggen hem alle
150297That lyveden thus for Oure Lordes love many longe yeres.
150298"Ac ther ne was leoun ne leopard that on laundes wenten,
150299Neither bere, ne boor, ne oother beest wilde
150300That ne fil to hir feet and fawned with the tailles;
150301And if thei kouthe han ycarped, by Crist, as I trowe,
150302Thei wolde have yfed that folk bifore wilde foweles.
150303For al the curteisie that beestes konne, thei kidde that folk ofte,
150304In likkyng and in lowynge, there thei on laundes yede.
150305Ac God sente hem foode by foweles, and by no fierse beestes,
150306In menynge that meke thyng mylde thyng sholde fede.
150307As who seith religious rightfulle men sholde fynde,
150308And lawefulle men to lif-holy rnen liflode brynge;
150309And thanne wolde lordes and ladies be looth to agulte,
150310And to taken of hir tenaunts more than trouthe wolde,
150311Founde thei that freres wolde forsake hir almesses,
150312And bidden hem bere it there it was yborwed.
150313For we ben Goddes foles and abiden alwey,
150314Til briddes brynge us that we sholde [by lyve].
150315For hadde ye potage and payn ynogh, and peny ale to drynke,
150316And a mees thermyd of o maner kynde,
150317Ye hadde right ynogh ye religiouse--and so youre rule me tolde.
150317{Numquid, dicit Job rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam ?}
150317{Aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit ? Brutorum}
150317{animalium natura te condempnat, quia cum eis pabulum commune}
150317{sufficiat; ex adipe prodiit iniquitas tua.}
150318"If lewed men knewe this Latyn, thei wolde loke whom thei yeve,
150319And avisen hem bifore a fyve dayes or sixe
150320Er thei amortisede [moore] to monkes or chanons hir rentes.
150321Allas! lordes and ladies, lewed counseil have ye
150322To yyve from youre heires that youre aiels you lefte,
150323And yyveth to bidde for yow to swiche that ben riche,
150324And ben founded and feffed ek to bidde for othere!
150325"Who parfourneth this prophecie, of the peple that now libbeth--
150326Dispersit, dedit pauperibus ?
150327If any peple parfourne that tent, it are thise poore freres:
150328For that thei beggen aboute, in buyldynge thei spende,
150329And on hemself som, and swiche as ben hir laborers;
150330And of hem that habbeth thei taken, and yyveth hem that ne habbeth!
150331"Ac clerkes and knyghtes, and communers that ben riche,
150332Fele of yow fareth as if I a forest hadde
150333That were ful of faire trees, and I fondede and caste
150334How I myghte mo therinne amonges hem sette.
150335Right so ye riche--ye robeth that ben riche,
150336And helpeth hem that helpeth yow, and yyveth ther no nede is;
150337As whoso filled a tonne ful of a fressh ryver,
150338And wente forth with that water to woke with Themese.
150339Right so ye riche, ye robeth and fedeth
150340Hem that han as ye han--hem ye make at ese.
150341"Ac religiouse that riche ben sholde rather feeste beggeris
150342Than burgeises that riche ben, as the book techeth:
150342{Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare.}
150342{Item: peccatoribus dare est demonibus immolare.}
150342{Item: monache, si indiges et accipis, pocius das quam accipis;}
150342{Si autem non eges et accipis, rapis.}
150342{Porro non indiget monachus, si habeat quod nature sufficit.}
150343" Forthi I counseille alle Cristene to conformen hem to charite--
150344For charite withouten chalangynge unchargeth the soule,
150345And many a prison fram purgatorie thorugh hise preieres he delivereth.
150346Ac ther is a defaute in the folk that the feith kepeth,
150347Wherfore folk is the febler, and noght ferm of bileve.
150348As in lussheburwes is a luther alay, and yet loketh he lik a sterlyng:
150349The merk of that monee is good, ac the metal is feble.
150350And so it fareth by som folk now: thci han a fair speche,
150351Crowne and Cristendom, the kynges mark of hevene,
150352Ac the metal, that is mannes soule, with [many] synne is foule[d].
150353Bothe lettred and lewed beth alayed now with synne,
150354That no lif loveth oother, ne Oure Lord, as it semeth.
150355For what thorugh werre and wikkede werkes and wederes unresonable,
150356Wederwise shipmen and witty clerkes also
150357Have no bileve to the lifte, ne to the loore of philosophres.
150358"Astronomiens alday in hir art faillen
150359That whilom warned bifore what sholde falle after;
150360Shipmen and shepherdes, that with ship and sheep wenten,
150361Wisten by the walkne what sholde bitide,
150362Tilieris that tiled the erthe tolden hir maistres
150363By the seed that thei sewe whit thei selle myghte,
150364And what to leve and to lyve by, the lond was so trewe;
150365Now failleth the folk of the flood and of the lond bothe--
150366Shepherdes and shipmen, and so do thise tilieris:
150367Neither thei konneth ne knoweth oon cours bifore another.
150368"Astronomyens also aren at hir wittes ende:
150369Of that was calculed of the clem[a]t, the contrarie thei fynde.
150370Grammer, the ground of al, bigileth now children:
150371For is noon of thise newe clerkes--whoso nymeth hede--
150372That kan versifye faire ne formaliche enditen,
150373Ne naught oon among an hundred that an auctour kan construwe,
150374Ne rede a lettre in any langage but in Latyn or in Englissh.
150375"Go now to any degree, and but if gile be maister,
150376And flaterere his felawe [to fourmen under hym],
150377Muche wonder me thynketh amonges us alle!
150378Doctours of decrees and of divinite maistres,
150379That sholde konne and knowe alle kynnes clergie,
150380And answere to arguments and a1so to a quodlibet--
150381I dar noght siggen it for shame--if swiche were apposed,
150382Thei sholde faillen of hir Philosophie, and in Phisik bothe.
150383"Wherfore I am afered of folk of Holy Kirke,
150384Lest thei overhuppen, as oothere doon, in Office and in Houres.
150385Ac if thei overhuppe--as I hope noght--oure bileve suffiseth;
150386As clerkes in Corpus Christi feeste syngen and reden
150387That sola fides sufficit to save with lewed peple--
150388And so may Sarsens be saved, scribes and Jewes.
150389"Allas thanne! but oure looresmen lyve as thei leren us,
150390And for hir lyvynge that lewed men be the lother God agulten.
150391For Sarsens han somwhat semynge to oure bileve,
150392For thei love and bileve in o [Lede] almyghty,
150393And we, lered and lewed, [bileveth in oon God]--
150394Cristene and uncristene on oon [creatour] bileveth.
150395Ac oon Makometh, a man, in mysbileve
150396Broughte Sarsens of Surree--and see in what manere.
150397"This Makometh was a Cristene man and for he moste noght ben a pope,
150398Into Surrie he soughte. and thorugh hise sotile wittes
150399Daunted a dowve, and day and nyght hire fedde.
150400The corn that she croppede, he caste it in his ere;
150401And if he among the peple preched, or in places come,
150402Thanne wolde the colvere come to the clerkes ere
150403Menynge as after mete--thus Makometh hire enchauntede,
150404And dide folk thanne falle on knees, for he swoor in his prechyng
150405That the colvere that com so com from God of hevene
150406As messager to Makometh, men for to teche.
150407And thus thorugh wiles of his wit and a whit dowve
150408Makometh in mysbileve men and wommen broughte,
150409That lered there and lewed yit leeven on hise lawes.
150410"And siththe Oure Saveour suffred the Sarsens so bigiled
150411Thorugh a Cristene clerk acorsed in his soule--
150412Ac for drede of the deeth I dar noght telle truthe,
150413How Englisshe clerkes a colvere fede that Coveitise highte,
150414And ben manered after Makometh, that no man useth trouthe.
150415"Ancres and heremytes, and monkes and freres
150416Peeren to Apostles thorugh hire parfit lyvynge.
150417Wolde nevere the feithful Fader that hise ministres sholde
150418Of tiraunts that teneth trewe men taken any almesse,
150419But doon as Antony dide, Dominyk and Fraunceys,
150420Beneit and Bernard [bo]the, whiche hem first taughte
150421To lyve by litel and in lowe houses by lele mennes almesse.
150422Grace sholde growe and be grene thorugh hir goode lyvynge,
150423And folkes sholden fynde, that ben in diverse siknesse,
150424The bettre for hir biddynges in body and in soule.
150425Hir preieres and hir penaunces to pees sholde brynge
150426Alle that ben at debaat, and bedemen were trewe:
150426{Petite et accipietis &c.}
150427" Salt saveth catel,' siggen thise wyves ;
150427{ Vos estis sal terre &c.}
150428The hevedes of Holy Chirche--and thei holy were--
150429Crist calleth hem salt for Cristene soules,
150429{ Et si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur ? }
150430Ac fressh flessh outher fissh, whan it salt failleth,
150431It is unsavory, for sothe, ysoden or ybake;
150432So is mannes soule, soothly, that seeth no good ensample
150433Of hem of Holi Chirche that the heighe wey sholde teche
150434And be gide, and go bifore as a good banyer,
150435And hardie hem that bihynde ben, and yyve hem good evidence.
150436" Ellevene holy men al the world tornede
150437Into lele bileve; the lightloker, me thynketh.
150438Sholde alle maner men, we han so manye maistres-
150439Preestes and prechours, and a pope above,
150440That Goddes salt sholde be, to save mannes soule.
150441"Al was hethynesse som tyme Engelond and Walis,
150442Til Gregory garte clerkes to go here and preche.
150443Austyn [cristnede the kyng at Caunterbury],
150444And thorugh miracles, as men mow rede, al that marche he tornede
150445To Crist and to Cristendom, and cros to honoure,
150446And follede folk faste, and the feith taughte
150447Moore thorugh miracles than thorugh muche prechyng,
150448As wel thorugh hise werkes as with hise holy wordes,
150449And [fourmed] what fullynge and feith was to mene.
150450"Clooth that cometh fro the wevyng is noght comly to were
150451Til it be fulled under foot or in fullyng stokkes,
150452Wasshen wel with water and with taseles cracched,
150453Ytouked and yteynted and under taillours hande;
150454And so it fareth by a barn that born is of wombe:
150455Til it be cristned in Cristes name and confermed of the bisshop,
150456It is hethene as to heveneward, and helplees to the soule.
150457" Hethen' is to mene after heeth and untiled erthe--
150458As In wilde wildernesse wexeth wilde beess,
150459Rude and unresonable, rennynge withouten keperes.
150460"Ye mynnen wel how Mathew seith, how a man made a feste:
150461He fedde hem with no venyson, ne fesaunts ybake,
150462But with foweles that fram hym nolde, but folwede his whistlyng:
150462{Ecce altilia mea et omnia parata sunt--}
150463And with calves flessh he fedde the folk that he lovede.
150464"The calf bitokneth clennesse in hem that kepeth lawes;
150465For as the cow thorugh kynde mylk the calf norisseth til an oxe,
150466So love and leaute lele men susteneth;
150467And maidenes and mylde men mercy desiren
150468Right as the cow-calf coveiteth swete melk--
150469So [muche] don rightfulle men mercy and truthe.
150470And by the hond-fedde foweles his folk understonde
150471That looth ben to lovye withouten lernynge of ensaumples.
150472Right as capons in a court cometh to mennes whistlynge--
150473In menynge after mete folweth men that whistlen--
150474Right so rude men that litel reson konneth
150475Loven and bileven by lettred mennes doynges,
150476And by hire wordes and werkes wenen and trowen:
150477And as tho foweles to fynde foode after whistlynge,
150478So hope thei to have hevene thorugh hir [wiss]ynge.
150479And the man that made the feste the mageste bymeneth--
150480That is God, of his grace gyveth alle men blisse.
150481With wederes and with wondres he warneth us with a whistlere
150482Where that his wil is, to worshipen us alle,
150483And feden us and festen us for everemoore at oones.
150484"Ac who beth that excuseth hem that arn persons and preestes
150485(That hevedes of Holy Chirche ben) that han hir wil here
150486Withouten travaille the tithe deel that trewe men biswynken--
150487Thei wol be wrooth for I write thus-ac to witnesse I take
150488Bothe Mathew and Mark and Memento Domine David:
150488{Ecce auaivimus e[a]m in Effrata &c.}
150489What pope or prelate now parfourneth that Crist highte-
150489{Ite in universum mundum et predicate &c?}
150490"Allas, that men so longe on Makometh sholde bileve!
150491So manye prelates to preche as the Pope maketh--
150492Of Nazareth, of Nynyve, of Neptalym and Damaske.
150493That thei ne wente as Crist wisseth--sithen thei wilne a name--
150494To be pastours and preche the passion of Jesus,
150495And as hymself seide, so to lyve and dye:
150496Bonus pastor animam suam ponit &c,
150497And seide it in salvacion of Sarsens and othere--
150498For Cristene and uncristene, Crist seide to prechours,
150498{Ite vos in vineam meam &c.}
150499"And sith that thise Sarsens, scribes and Jewes
150500Han a lippe of oure bileve, the lightloker, me thynketh, .
150501Thei sholde turne, whoso travaile wolde to teche hem of the Trinite:
150501{Querite et invenietis &c.}
150502For alle paynymes preieth and parfitly bileweth
150503In the [grete holy] God, and his grace asken,
150504And make hir mone to Makometh, hir message to shewe.
150505Thus in a feith leveth that folk, and in a fals mene,
150506And that is routhe for rightful men that in the reawme wonyen,
150507And a peril to the Pope and prelates that he maketh,
150508That bere bisshopes names of Bethleem and Babiloigne.
150509"Whan thehye kyng of hevene sente his sone to erthe,
150510Many miracles he wroughte man for to turne,
150511In ensaumple that men sholde se by sadde reson
150512Men myghte noght be saved but thorugh mercy and grace,
150513And thorugh penaunce, and passion, and parfit byleve;
150514And bicam man of a mayde, and metropolitanus,
150515And baptised and bishined with the blode of his herte
150516Alle that wilned and wolde with inwit bileve it.
150517Many a seynt siththen hath suffred to deye,
150518Al for to enforme the feith in fele contrees deyeden--
150519In Inde, and in Alisaundre, in Ermonye and in Spayne,
150520In doelful deth deyeden for hir feith sake.
150521In savacion of the feith Seint Thomas was ymartired:
150522Amonges unkynde Cristene for Cristes love he deyede,
150523And for the right of al this reume and alle reumes Cristene.
150524Holy Chirche is honoured heighliche thorugh his deying;
150525He is a forbisene to alle bisshopes and a bright myrour,
150526And sovereynliche to swiche that of Surrye bereth the name,
150527And naught to huppe aboute in Engelond to halwe mennes auteres,
150528And crepe in amonges curatours and confessen ageyn the lawe:
150528{Nolite mitterefalsem in messem alienam &c.}
150529Many man for Cristes love was martired amonges Romaynes
150530Er Cristendom were knowe ther or any cros honoured.
150531"It is ruthe to rede how rihtwise men lyved--
150532How thei defouled hir flessh, forsoke hir owene wille,
150533Fer fro kyth and fro kyn yvele yclothed yeden,
150534Baddely ybedded, no book but conscience,
150535Ne no richesse but the roode to rejoisse hem inne:
150535{Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri &c.}
150536"And tho was plentee and pees amonges poore and riche;
150537And now is routhe to rede how the rede noble
150538Is reverenced er the roode, receyved for the worthier
150539Than Cristes cros that overcam deeth and dedly synne.
150540And now is werre and wo, and whoso why asketh--
150541For coveitise after cros; the croune stant in golde.
150542Bothe richc and religious, that roode thei honoure
150543That in grotes is ygrave and in gold nobles.
150544For coveitise of that cros [clerkes] of Holy Kirke
150545Shul torne as Templers dide--the tyme approcheth faste.
150546" [Mynne] ye noght, wise men, how tho men honoured
150547Moore tresor than trouthe? I dar noght telle the sothe;
150548Reson and rightful doom tho religious demede.
150549Right so, ye clerkes, for youre coveitise, er [come aught] longe,
150550Shal thei demen dos ecclesie, and [depose youre pride]:
150550{Deposuit potentes de sede &c.}
150551"If knyghthod and kynde wit, and the commune and conscience
150552Togideres love leelly, leveth it wel, ye bisshopes--
150553The lordshipe of londes [lese ye shul for evere],
150554And lyven as Levitici, as Oure Lord yow techeth:
150554{Per primicias et decimas &c.}
150555"Whan Costantyn of curteisie Holy Kirke dowed
150556With londes and ledes, lordshipes and rentes,
150557An aungel men herden an heigh at Rome crye,
150558" Dos ecclesie this day hath ydronke venym,
150559And tho that han Petres power arn apoisoned alle!'
150560A medicyne moot therto that may amende prelates,
150561That sholden preie for the pees; possession hem letteth.
150562Taketh hire landes, ye lordes, and leteth hem lyve by dymes;
150563If possession be poison, and inparfite hem make,
150564Good were to deschargen hem for Holy Chirehes sake,
150565And purgen hem of poison, er moore peril falle.
150566If preesthode were parfit, the peple sholde amende,
150567That contrarien Cristes lawe, and Cristendom dispise.
150568"Every bisshop that bereth cros, by that he is holden
150569Thorugh his province to passe, and to his peple to shewe hym,
150570Tellen hem and techen hem on the Trinite to bileve,
150571And feden hem with goostly foode, and nedy folk to fynden.
150572Ac Ysaie of yow speketh and Osias bothe,
150573That no man sholde be bisshop but if he hadde bothe
150574Bodily foode and goostly foode to gyve there it nedeth:
150575{In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum, et ideo nolite constituere me   re
150575Osias seith for swiche that sike ben and feble,
150575{Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum, ut sit cibus in domo mea.}
150576"Ac we Cristene creatures, that on the cros bileven,
150577Arn ferme as in the feith-Goddes forbode ellis!--
150578And han clerkes to kepen us therinne, and hem that shul come after us.
150580And Jewes lyven in lele lawe-0ure Lord wroot it hymselve
150581In stoon, for it stedefast was, and stonde sholde evere--
150582Dilige Deum et proximum, is parfit Jewen lawe--
150583And teok it Moyses to teche men, til Messie coom
150584And on that lawe thei leve, and leten it for the beste.
150585And yit knewe thei Crist, that Cristendom taughte,
150586And for a parfit prophete that muche peple savede
150587Of selkouthe sores; thei seighen it ofte--
150588Bothe of miracles and merveilles, and how he men festede,
150589With two fisshes and fyve loves fyve thousand peple--
150590And by that mangerie thei myghte wel se that Messie he semede;
150591And whan he lifte up Lazar, that leid was in grave,
150592And under stoon deed and stank, with stif vois hym callede,
150592{Lazare, veniforas,}
150593Dide hym rise and rome right bifore the Jewes.
150594Ac thei seiden and sworen, with sorcerie he wroughte,
150595And studieden to struyen hym--and struyden hemselve,
150596And thorugh his pacience hir power to pure noght he broughte:
150596{Pacientes vincunt.}
150597"Daniel of hire undoynge devyned and seide,
150598Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit unxio vestra.
150599And yit wenen tho wrecches that he were pseudo-propheta
150600And that his loore be lesynges, and lakken it alle,
150601And hopen that he be to come that shal hem releve--
150602Moyses eft or Messie hir maistres devyneth.
150603"Ac pharisees and sarsens, scribes and Jewes
150604Arn folk of oon feith--the fader God thei honouren.
150605And sithen that the Sarsens and also the Jewes
150606Konne the firste clause of oure bileve, {Credo in Deum patrem omnipotentem,}
150607Prelates of Cristene provinces sholde preve, if thei myghte,
150608Lere hem litlum and litlum Et in Jesum Chrisium filium,
150609Til thei kouthe speke and spelle Et in Spiritum   santum,
150610And rendren it and recorden it with {remissionem peccatorum,}
150610{Carnis resurreccionem et vitam eternam. Amen.'}
160001"Now faire falle yow,' quod I tho, "for youre faire shewyng!
160002For Haukyns love the Actif Man evere I shal yow lovye.
160003Ac yit am I in a weer what charite is to mene.'
160004"It is a ful trie tree,' quod he, "trewely to telle.
160005Mercy is the more therof; the myddul stok is ruthe;
160006The leves ben lele wordes, the lawe of Holy Chirche;
160007The blosmes beth buxom speche and benigne lokynge;
160008Pacience hatte the pure tree, and pore symple of herte,
160009And so thorugh God and thorugh goode men groweth the fruyt Charite.'
160010"I wolde travaille,' quod 1, "this tree to se, twenty hundred myle,
160011And to have my fulle of that fruyt forsake a1 other saulee.
160012Lord !' quod I, " if any wight wite whiderout it groweth?'
160013"It groweth in a gardyn,' quod he, "that God made hymselve;
160014Amyddes mannes body the more is of that stokke.
160015Herte highte the herber that it inne groweth,
160016And Liberum Arbitrium hath the lond to ferme,
160017Under Piers the Plowman to piken it and to weden it.'
160018" Piers the Plowman!' quod I tho, and al for pure joye
160019That I herde nempne his name anoon I swowned after,
160020And lay longe in a lone dreem; and at the laste me thoughte
160021That Piers the Plowman al the place me shewed,
160022And bad me toten on the tree, on top and on roote.
160023With thre piles was it underpight--I parceyved it soone.
160024" Piers,' quod I, " I preie thee--whi stonde thise piles here?'
160025" For wynde, wiltew wite,' quod he, "to witen it fro fallyng--
160025{Cum ceciderit iustus non eollidetur quia Dominus supponit manum suam--}
160026And in blowyng tyme abite the flowres, but- if thise piles helpe.
160027The world is a wikked wynd to hem that willen truthe:
160028Coveitise comth of that wynd and crepeth among the leves
160029And forfreteth neigh the fruyt thorugh manye faire sightes.
160030Thanne with the firste pil I palle hym doun--that is Potencia Dei Patris.
160031"The flessh is a fel wynd, and in flouryng tyme,
160032Thorugh likynge and lustes so loude he gynneth blowe
160033That it norisseth nyce sightes and som tyme wordes,
160034And wikkede werkes therof, wormes of synne,
160035And forbiteth the blosmes right to the bare leves.
160036"Thanne sette I to the secounde pil, Sapiencia Dei Patris--
160037That is the passion and the power of oure prince Jesu.
160038Thorugh preieres and thorugh penaunces and Goddes passion in mynde,
160039I save it til I se it ripen and somdel yfruyted.
160040"And thanne fondeth the fend my fruyt to destruye
160041With alle the wiles that he kan, and waggeth the roote,
160042And casteth up to the crop unkynde neighebores,
160043Bakbiteris brewecheste, brawleris and chideris,
160044And leith a laddre therto--of lesynges are the ronges--
160045And feccheth awey my floures somtyme bifore bothe myne eighen.
160045{Ac Liberum Arbitrium letteth hym som tyme,}
160046That is lieutenaunt to loken it wel, bi leve of myselve:
160046{Videatis qui peccat in Spiritum Sanctum numquam remittetur}
160047&c,- hoc est idem, qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat.
160048"Ac whan the fend and the flessh forth with the world
160049Manacen bihynde me, my fruyt for to fecche,
160050Thanne Liberum Arbitrium laccheth the thridde planke
160051And palleth adoun the pouke pureliche thorugh grace
160052And help of the Holy Goost--and thus have I the maistrie.'
160053"Now faire falle yow, Piers!' quod I, "so faire ye discryven
160054The power of thise postes and hire propre myghte.
160055Ac I have thoughtes a threve af thise thre piles--
160056In what wode thei woxen, and where that thei 8rowed,
160057For alle are thei aliche longe, noon lasse than oother,
160058And to my mynde, as me thynketh, on o more thei growed;
160059And of o greetnesse and grene of greyn thei semen.'
160060"That is sooth,' seide Piers, "so it may bifalle.
160061I shal telle thee as tid what this tree highte.
160062The ground there it groweth, goodnesse it hatte;
160063And I have told thee what highte the tree: the Trinite it meneth'--
160064And egreliche he loked on me, and therfore I spared
160065To asken hym any moore therof, and bad hym ful faire
160066To di[ff]yne the fruyt that so faire hangeth.
160067" Heer now bynethe,' quod he tho, "if I nede hadde,
160068Matrimoyne I may nyme, a moiste fruyt withalle.
160069Thanne Continence is neer the crop as kaylewey bastard.
160070Thanne bereth the crop kynde fruyt and clennest of alle--
160071Maidenhode, aungeles peeris, and [ar]est wole be ripe,
160072And swete withouten swellyng--sour worth it nevere.'
160073I preide Piers to pulle adoun an appul, and he wolde,
160074And suffre me to assaien what savour it hadde.
160075And Piers caste to the crop, and thanne comsed it to crye;
160076And waggede widwehode, and it wepte after;
160077And whan he meved matrimoyne, it made a foul noise,
160078That I hadde ruthe whan Piers rogged, it gradde so rufulliche.
160079For evere as thei dropped adoun the devel was redy,
160080And gadrede hem alle togideres, bothe grete and smale--
160081Adam and Abraham and Ysaye the prophete,
160082Sampson and Samuel, and Seint Johan the Baptist;
160083Bar hem forth boldely--no body hym letted--
160084And made of holy men his hoord in Limbo Inferni,
160085There is derknesse and drede and the devel maister.
160086And Piers, for pure tene, that a pil he laughte,
160087And hitte after hym, happe how it myghte,
160088Eilius by the Fader wille and frenesse of Spiritus Sancti,
160089To go robbe that rageman and reve the fruyt fro hym.
160090And thanne spak Spiritus Sanctus in Gabrielis mouthe
160091To a maide that highte Marie, a meke thyng withalle,
160092That oon Jesus, a justices some, mostejouke in hir chambre
160093Til plenitudo temporis tyme comen were
160094That Piers fruyt floured and felle to be rype.
160095And thanne sholde Jesus juste therfore, bi juggement of armes,
160096Wheither sholde fonge the fruyt--the fend or hymselve.
160097The maide myldeliche tho the messager graunted,
160098And seide hendeliche to hym, "Lo me his handmaiden
160099For to werchen his wille withouten any synne:
160099{Ecce ancilla Domini, fat michi &c.'}
160100And in the wombe of that wenche was he fourty woukes,
160101Til he weex a faunt thorugh hir flessh, and of fightyng kouthe,
160102To have yfoughte with the fend er ful tyme come.
160103And Piers the Plowman parceyved plener tyme,
160104And lered hym lechecraft. his lif for to save,
160105That though he were wounded with his enemy, to warisshen hymselve;
160106And dide hym assaie his surgenrie on hem that sike were,
160107Til he was parfit praktisour, if any peril fille;
160108And soughte out the sike and synfulle bothe,
160109And salvede sike and synfulle, bothe blynde and crokede,
160110And commune wommen convertede [to goode]:
160110{Non est sanis opus medicus, set male habentibus.}
160111Bothe meseles and mute, and in the menyson blody--
160112Ofte he heeled swiche, he ne held it for no maistrie,
160113Save tho he leched Lazar, that hadde yleye in grave
160114Quatriduanus quelt--quyk dide hym walke.
160115Ac a[r] he made the maistrie, mestus cepit esse,
160116And wepte water with hise eighen- -ther seighen it manye.
160117Some that the sighte seighen seiden that tyme
160118That he was leche of lif, and lord of heigh hevene.
160119Jewes jangled therayein that juggede lawes,
160120And seide he wroghte thorugh wichecraft and with the develes myghte:
160120{Demonium habes &c.}
160121"Thanne are ye cherles,' quod Jesus, "and youre children bothe,
160122And Sathan youre Saveour--yowself now ye witnessen:
160123For I have saved yowself, and youre sones after,
160124Youre bodies. youre beestes, and blynde men holpen,
160125And fed yow with fisshes and with fyve loves,
160126And lefte baskettes ful of broke mete--bere awey whoso wolde--'
160127And mysseide the Jewes manliche, and manaced hem to bete,
160128And knokked on hem with a corde, and caste adoun hir stalles
160129That in chirche chaffareden or chaungeden any moneie,
160130And seide it in sighte of hem alle, so that alle herden,
160131" I shal overturne this temple and adoun throwe,
160132And in thre daies after edifie it newe,
160133And maken it as muche outher moore in alle manere poyntes
160134As evere it was, and as wid-wherfore I hote yow,
160135Of preieres and of parfitnesse this place that ye callen:
160135{Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur.'}
160136Envye and yvel wil ar[ne] in the Jewes:
160137Thei casten and contreveden to kulle hym whan thei myghte;
160138Eche day after oother hir tyme thei awaiteden,
160139Til it bifel on a Friday, a litel bifore Pasqe.
160140The Thursday bifore, there he made his cene,
160141Sittynge at the soper he seide thise wordes:
160142"I am sold thorugh so[m] of yow--he shal the tyme rewe
160143That evere he his Saveour solde for silver or ellis.'
160144Judas jangled therayein, ac Jesus hym tolde
160145It was hymself soothly, and seide, " Tu dicis.'
160146Thanne wente forth that wikked man and with the Jewes mette,
160147And tolde hem a tokne how to knowe with Jesus,
160148The which tokne to this day to muche is yused--
160149That is, kissynge and fair countenaunce and unkynde wille.
160150And so was with Judas tho, that Jesus bitrayed:
160151" Ave, raby,' quod that ribaud, and right to hym he yede,
160152And kiste hym, to be caught therby and kulled of the Jewes.
160153Thanne Jesus to Judas and to the Jewes seide,
160154" Falsnesse I fynde in thi faire speche,
160155And gile in thi glad chere, and galle is in thi laughyng.
160156Thow shalt be myrour to many, men to deceyve,
160157Ac the worse, and thi wikkednesse shal worthe upon thiselve:
160157{Necesse est ut veniant scandala: ve homini illi, per quem scandalum venit.}
160158Though I bi treson be take, and [to] youre owene wille,
160159Suffreth myne apostles in pays, and in pees gange.'
160160On a Thursday in thesternesse thus was he taken .
160161Thorugh Judas and Jewes--Jesus was his name
160162That on the Friday folwynge for mankyndes sake
160163Justed in Jerusalem, a joye to us alle.
160164On cros upon Calvarie Crist took the bataille
160165Ayeins deeth and the devel, destruyed hir botheres myghtes--
160166Deide, and deeth fordide, and day of nyght made.
160167And I awaked therwith, and wiped myne eighen,
160168And after Piers the Plowman pried and stared,
160169Estward and westward I waited after faste,
160170And yede forth as an ydiot, in contree to aspie
160171After Piers the Plowman--many a place I soughte.
160172And thanne mette I with a man, a myd-Lenten Sonday,
160173As hoor as an hawethorn, and Abraham he highte.
160174I frayned hym first fram whennes he come,
160175And of whennes he were, and whider that he thoughte.
160176"I am Feith,' quod that freke, "it falleth noght me to lye,
160177And of Abrahames hous an heraud of armes.
160178I seke after a segge that I seigh ones,
160179A ful bold bacheler--I knew hym by his blasen.'
160180" What berth that buyrn,' quod I tho, " so blisse thee bitide?'
160181" Thre leodes in oon lyth, noon lenger than oother,
160182Of oon muchel and myght in mesure and in lengthe.
160183That oon dooth, alle dooth, and ech dooth bi his one.
160184The firste hath myght and majestee, makere of alle thynges:
160185Pater is his propre name, a persone by hymselve.
160186The secounde of that sire is Sothfastnesse Filius,
160187Wardeyn of that wit hath, was evere withouten gynnyng.
160188The thridde highte the Holi Goost, a persone by hymselve,
160189The light of al that lif hath a londe and a watre,
160190Confortour of creatures--of hym cometh alle blisse.
160191"So thre bilongeth for a lord that lordshipe cleymeth:
160192Might, and a mene [his owene myghte to knowe],
160193Of hymself and of his servaunt, and what suffreth hem bothe.
160194So God, that gynnyng hadde nevere, but tho hym good thoughte,
160195Sente forth his sone as for servaunt that tyme,
160196To ocupien hym here til issue were spronge--
160197That is, children of charite, and Holi Chirche the moder.
160198Patriarkes and prophetes and apostles were the children,
160199And Crist and Cristendom and alle Cristene Holy Chirche
160200In menynge that man moste on o God bileve,
160201And there hym likede and lovede, in thre [leodes] hym shewede.
160202And that it may be so and sooth [sheweth it manhode]:
160203Wedlok and widwehode with virginite ynempned,
160204In tokenynge of the Trinite was taken out of o man--
160205Adam, oure alle fader; Eve was of hymselve,
160206And the issue that thei hadde it was of hem bothe,
160207And either is otheres joye in thre sondry persones,
160208And in hevene and here oon singuler name.
160209And thus is mankynde and manhede of matrimoyne yspronge,
160210And bitokneth the Trinite and trewe bileve.
160211"Might is it in matrimoyne, that multiplieth the erthe,
160212And bitokneth trewely, telle if I dorste,
160213Hym that first formed al, the Fader of hevene.
160214The Sone, if I it dorste seye, resembleth wel the widewe:
160214{Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me ?}
160215That is, creatour weex creature to knowe what was bothe.
160216As widewe withouten wedlok was nevere yit yseyghe,
160217Na moore myghte God be man but if he moder hadde.
160218So widewe withouten wedlok may noght wel stande,
160219Ne matrimoyne withouten muliere is noght muche to preise:
160219{Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in Israel.}
160220"Thus in thre persones is parfitliche pure manhede--
160221That is, man and his make and mulliere hir children.
160222And is noght but gendre of a generacion, bifore Jesu Crist in hevene;
160223So is the fader forth with the Sone and Fre Wille of bothe--
160223{Spiritus procedens a Patre et Filio &c--}
160224Which is the Holy Goost of alle, and alle is but o God.
160225"Thus in a somer I hym seigh as I sat in my porche.
160226I roos up and reverenced hym, and right faire hym grette.
160227Thre men, to my sighte, I made wel at ese,
160228Wessh hir feet and wiped hem, and afterward thei eten
160229Calves flessh and cakebreed, and knewe what I thoughte.
160230Ful trewe toknes betwene us is, to telle whan me liketh.
160231" First he fonded me, if I lovede bettre
160232Hym or Ysaak myn heir, the which he highte me kulle.
160233He wiste my wille bi hym; he wol me it allowe;
160234I am ful siker in my soule therof, and my sone bothe.
160235"I circumcised my sone sithen for his sake--
160236Myself and my meynee and alle that male weere
160237Bledden blood for that Lordes love, and hope to blisse the tyme.
160238affiaunce and my feith is ferme in this bileve,
160239For hymself bihighte to me and to myn issue bothe
160240Lond and lordshipe and lif withouten ende.
160241To me and to myn issue moore yet he me grauntede--
160242Mercy for oure mysdedes as many tyme as we asken:
160242{Quam olim Abrahe promisisti et semini eius.}
160243"And siththe he sente me, to seye I sholde do sacrifise,
160244And doon hym worship with breed and with wyn bothe,
160245And called me the foot of his feith, his folk for to save,
160246And defende hem fro the fend, folk that on me leveden.
160247"Thus have I ben his heraud here and in helle,
160248And conforted many a careful that after his comynge waiten;
160249And thus I seke hym,' he seide, "for I herde seyn late
160250Of a buyrn that baptised hym--Johan Baptist was his name--
160251That to patriarkes and to prophetes and to oother peple in derknesse
160252Seide, that he seigh here that sholde save us alle:
160252{Ecce Agnus Dei &c.'}
160253I hadde wonder of hise wordes, and of hise wide clothes;
160254For in his bosom he bar a thyng, and that he blissed evere.
160255And I loked in his lappe: a lazar lay therinne
160256Amonges patriarkes and prophetes pleyinge togideres.
160257"What awaitestow?' quod he, " and what woldestow have?'
160258"I wolde wite,' quod I tho, "what is in youre lappe.'
160259" Lo!' quod he--and leet me se. " Lord, mercy!' I seide.
160260"This is a present of muche pris; what prynce shal it have?'
160261"It is a precious present,' quod he, "ac the pouke it hath attached,
160262And me thenvith,' quod that wye, "may no wed us quyte,
160263Ne no buyrn be oure borgh, ne brynge us fram his daunger;
160264Out of the poukes pondfold no maynprise may us fecche
160265Til he come that I carpe of: Crist is his name
160266That shal delivere us som day out of the develes power,
160267And bettre wed for us [wa]ge than we ben alle worthi--
160268That is, lif for lif--or ligge thus evere
160269Lollynge in my lappe, til swich a lrd us fecche.'
160270"Allas!' I seide, "that synne so longe shall lette
160271The myght of Goddes mercy, that myghte us alle amende!'
160272I wepte for hise wordes. With that saugh I another
160273Rapeliche renne forth the righte wey he wente.
160274I affrayned hym first fram whennes he come,
160275What he highte and whider he wolde--and wightly he tolde.
170001"I am Spes, a spie,' quod he, "and spire after a knyght
170002That took me a maundement upon the mount of Synay
170003To rule alle reames therewith--l bere the writ here.'
170004"Is it asseled?" I seide. "May men see thi lettres?'
170005"Nay.' he seide. "I seke hym that hath the seel to kepe--
170006And that is cros and Cristendom, and Crist theron to honge.
170007And whan it is asseled so, I woot wel the sothe--
170008That Luciferis lordshipe laste shal no lenger!'
170009" Lat se thi lettres,' quod I, "we myghte the lawe knowe.'
170010He plukkede forth a patente, a pece of an hard roche,
170011Whereon was writen two wordes on this wise yglosed;
170012Dilige Deum et proximum tuum--
170013This was the tixte trewely--I took ful good yeme.
170014The glose was gloriously writen with a gilt penne:
170015In hiis duobus mandatis tota lex penhet et prophete.
170016" Is here alle thi lordes lawes?' quod I. " Ye, leve me,' he seide.
170017"And whoso wet cheth after this writ, I wol undertaken,
170018Shal nevere devel hym dere, ne deeth in soule greve.
170019For though I seye it myself, I have saved with this charme
170020Of men and of wommen many score thousand.'
170021" He seith sooth,' seide this heraud, " I have yfounde it ofte.
170022Lo! here in my lappe that leeved on that charme--
170023Josue and Judith and Judas Macabeus,
170024Ye, and sixti thousand biside forth that ben noght seyen here!'
170025" Youre wordes arn wonderfulle,' quod I tho. " Which of yow is trewest,
170026And lelest to leve on for lif and for soule?
170027Abraham seith that he seigh hoolly the Trinite,
170028Thre persones in parcelles departable fro oother,
170029And alle thre but o God--thus Abraham me taughte--
170030And hath saved that bileved so and sory for hir synnes,
170031He kan noght siggen the somme, and some arn in his lappe.
170032What neded it thanne a newe lawe to brynge,
170033Sith the firste suffiseth to savacion and to blisse?
170034And now cometh Spes and speketh, that hath aspied the lawe,
170035And telleth noght of the Trinite that took hym hise lettres--
170036To bileeve and lovye in o Lord almyghty,
170037And siththe right as myself so lovye alle peple.
170038"The gorne thit gooth with o staf--he semeth in gretter heele
170039Than he that gooth with two staves, to sighte of us alle.
170040And right so, bi the roode, reson me sheweth
170041It is lighter to lewed men o lesson to knowe
170042Than for to techen hem two, and to hard to lerne the leeste!
170043It is ful hard for any man on Abraham bileve,
170044And wel awey worse yit for to love a sherewe.
170045lt is lighter to leeve in thre lovely persones
170046Than for to lovye and lene as wel lorels as lele.
170047Go thi gate, 'quod I to Spes; "so me God helpe,
170048Tho that lernen thi lawe wol litel while usen it!'
170049And as we wenten thus in the wey, wordynge togideres,
170050Thanne seighe we a Samaritan sittynge on a mule,
170051Ridynge ful rapely the righte wey we yeden,
170052Comynge from a contree that men called Jerico--
170053To a justes in Jerusalem he [j]aced awey faste.
170054Bothe the heraud and Hope and he mette atones
170055Where a man was, wounded, and with theves taken.
170056He myghte neither steppe ne stande, ne stere foot ne handes,
170057Ne helpe hymself soothly, for semyvif he semed,
170058And as naked as a nedle, and noon help abouten.
170059Feith hadde first sighte of hym, ac he fleigh aside,
170060And nolde noght neghen hym by nyne londes lengthe.
170061Hope cam hippynge after, that hadde so ybosted
170062How he with Moyses maundement hadde many men yholpe;
170063Ac whan he hadde sighte of that segge, aside he gan hym drawe
170064Dredfully, bi this day, as doke dooth fram the faucon!
170065Ac so soone so the Samaritan hadde sighte of this leode,
170066He lighte adown of lyard and ladde hym in his handes,
170067And to the wye he wente hise woundes to biholde,
170068And parceyved by his pous he was in peril to dye,
170069And but he hadde recoverer the rather, that rise sholde he nevere;
170070And breide to hise boteles, and bothe he atamede.
170071With wyn and with oille hise woundes he wasshed,
170072Enbawmed hym and bond his heed, and in his lappe hym leide,
170073And ladde hym so forth on lyard to {Lex Christi,} a graunge
170074Wel sixe mile or sevene biside the newe market;
170075Herberwed hym at an hostrie and to the hostiler called,
170076And [quod], " Have, kepe this man, til I come fro the justes,
170077And lo here silver,' he seide, "for salve to hise woundes.'
170078And he took hym two pens to liflode as it weere,
170079And seide, "What he [moore spendeth] I make thee good herafter,
170080For I may noght lette,' quod that leode--and lyard he bistrideth,
170081And raped hym to Jerusalemward the righte wey to ryde.
170082Feith folwede after faste, and fondede to mete hym,
170083And Spes spakliche hym spedde, spede if he myghte
170084To overtaken hym and talke to hym er thei to towne coome.
170085And whan I seigh this, I sojourned noght. but shoop me to renne,
170086And suwed that Samaritan that was so ful of pite,
170087And graunted hym to ben his groom. "Graunt mercy,' he seide,
170088"Ac thi frend and thi felawe,' quod he, "thow fyndest me at nede.'
170089And I thanked hym tho and siththe I hym tolde
170090How that Feith fleigh awey and Spes his felawe bothe
170091For sighte of the sorweful [segge] that robbed was with theves.
170092" Have hem excused,' quod he, "hir help may litel availle:
170093May no medicyne under molde the man to heele brynge--
170094Neither Feith ne fyn Hope, so festred be hise woundes,
170095Withouten the blood of a barn born of a mayde.
170096And be he bathed in that blood, baptised as it were,
170097And thanne plastred with penaunce and passion of that baby,
170098He sholde stonde and steppe--ac stalworthe worth he nevere
170099Til he have eten al the barn and his blood ydronke.
170100For wente nevere wye in this world thorugh that wildernesse
170101That he ne was robbed or rifled, rood he there or yede,
170102Save Feith and [myselve and] Spes [his felawe],
170103And thiself now and swiche as suwen oure werkes.
170104" For Outlawe is in the wode and under bank lotieth,
170105And may ech man see and good mark take
170106Who is bihynde and who bifore and who ben on horse--
170107For he halt hym hardier on horse than he that is a foote.
170108For he seigh me that am Samaritan suwen Feith and his felawe
170109On my capul that highte Caro--of mankynde I took it--
170110He was unhardy, that harlot, and hidde hym in Inferno.
170111Ac er this day thre daies, I dar undertaken
170112That he worth fettred, that feloun, faste with cheynes,
170113And nevere eft greve gome that gooth this ilke gate:
170113{ 0 Mors ero mors tua &c.}
170114"And thanne shal Feith be forster here and in this fryth walke,
170115And kennen out comune men that knowen noght the contree,
170116Which is the wey I wente, and wher forth to Jerusalem;
170117And Hope the hostilers man shal be ther [an helyng the man lith],
170118And alle that feble and feynte be, that Feith may noght teche,
170119Hope shal lede hem forth with love, as his lettre telleth,
170120And hostele hem and heele thorugh Holy Chirche bileve
170121Til I have salve for alle sike--and thanne shal I returne,
170122And come ayein bi this contree and conforten alle sike
170123That craveth it or coveiteth it and crieth therafter.
170124For the barn was born in Bethleem that with his blood shal save
170125Alle that lyven in Feith and folwen his felawes techynge.'
170126"A, swete sire!' I seide tho, "wher I shal bileve--
170127As Feith and his felawe enformed me bothe--
170128In thre persones departable that perpetuele were evere,
170129And alle thre but o God? Thus Abraham me taughte;
170130And Hope afterward he bad me to lovye
170131O God with al my good, and alle gomes after,
170132Lovye hem lik myselve--ac Oure Lord aboven alle.'
170133"After Abraham,' quod he, "tat heraud of armes,
170134Sette faste thi feith and ferme bileve;
170135And as Hope highte thee, I hote that thow lovye
170136Thyn evenecristene everemoore eveneforth with thiselve.
170137And if conscience carpe therayein, or kynde wit eyther,
170138Or eretikes with arguments--thyn hond thow hem shewe:
170139For God is after an hand--yheer now and knowe it.
170140"The Fader was first as a fust with o fynger foldynge,
170141Til hym lovede and liste to unlosen his fynger
170142And profrede it forth as with a pawme to what place it sholde.
170143The pawme is purely the hand, and profreth forth the fyngres,
170144To ministren and to make that myght of hand knoweth;
170145And bitokneth trewely, telle whoso liketh,
170146The Holy Goost of hevene--he is as the pawme.
170147The fyngres that fre ben to folde and to serve
170148Bitoknen soothly the Sone, that sent was til erthe,
170149That touched and tastede at techynge of the pawme
170150Seinte Marie, a mayde, and mankynde laughte:
170150{   Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c.}
170151"The Fader is thanne as a fust with fynger to touche--
170151{   Quia ""Omnia traham ad me ipsum &c''--}
170152Al that the pawme parceyveth profitable to feele.
170153Thus are thei alle but oon, as it an hand weere,
170154And thre sondry sightes in oon shewynge.
170155The pawme for he put forth fyngres and the fust bothe,
170156Right so, redily, reson it shewith,
170157How he that is Holy Goost Sire and Sone preveth.
170158And as the hand halt harde and alle thyng faste
170159Thorugh foure fyngres and a thombe forth with the pawme,
170160Right so the Fader and the Sone and Seint Spirit the thridde
170161Halt al the wide world withinne hem thre--
170162Bothe wolkne and the wynd, water and erthe,
170163Hevene and helle and al that ther is inne.
170164Thus it is--nedeth no man to trowe noon oother--
170165That thre thynges bilongeth in Oure Lord of hevene,
170166And aren serelepes by hemself, asondry were thei nevere,
170167Namoore than may an hande meve withoute fyngres.
170168"And as my fust is ful hand yfolden togideres,
170169So is the Fader a ful God, formour and shappere---
170169{Tu fabricator omnium &c--}
170170And al the myght myd hym is in makynge of thynges.
170171"The fyngres formen a ful hand to portreye or peynten;
170172Kervynge and compasynge is craft of the fyngres.
170173Right so is the Sone the science of the Fader
170174And ful God as is the Fader, no febler ne no bettre.
170175"The pawme is pureliche the hand, hath power by hymselve
170176Otherwise than the writhen fust, or werkmans ipe of fyngres;
170177For the pawme hath power to putte out the j ntes
170178And to unfolde the fust, for hym it bilongeth,
170179And receyve that the fyngres recheth and refuse bothe
170180Whan he feleth the fust and the fyngres wille.
170181"So is the Holy Goost God, neither gretter ne lasse
170182Than is the Sire or the Sone, and in the same myghte,
170183And alle are thei but o God, as is myn hand and my fyngres,
170184Unfolden or folden, my fust and my pawme--
170185Al is but an hand, howso I turne it.
170186"Ac who is hurte in the hand, evene in the myddes,
170187He may receyve right noght--reson it sheweth;
170188For the fyngres that folde sholde and the fust make,
170189For peyne of the pawme, power hem failleth
170190To clucche or to clawe, to clippe or to holde.
170191"Were the myddel of myn hand ymaymed or ypersshed,
170192I sholde receyve right noght of that I reche myghte;
170193Ac though rny thombe and my fynges bothe were toshullen
170194And the myddel of myn hand withoute male ese,
170195In many kynnes maneres I myghte myself helpe
170196Bothe meve and amende, though alle my fyngres oke.
170197"By this skile,' he seide, I se an evidence
170198That whoso synneth in the Seint Spirit, assoilled worth he nevere,
170199Neither here ne elliswhere, as I herde telle--
170199{Qui peccat in Spiritum Sanctum &c--}
170200For he priketh God as in the pawme, that peccat in Spiritu[m] Sanctu[m].
170201For God the Fader is as a fust; the Sone is as a fynger;
170202The Holy Goost of hevene is as it were the pawme.
170203So whoso synneth ayeyns the Seint Spirit, it semeth that he greveth
170204God that he grypeth with, and wolde his grace quenche.
170205"For to a torche or a tapur the Trinite is likned--
170206As wex and a weke were twyned togideres,
170207And thanne a fir flawmynge forth out of bothe.
170208And as wex and weke and warm fir togideres
170209Fostren forth a flawmbe and a fair leye
170210[That serveth thise swynkeres to se by anightes],
170211So dooth the Sire and the Sone and also Spiritus Sanctus
170212Fostren forth amonges folk love and bileve,
170213That alle kynne Cristene clenseth of synnes.
170214And as thow seest som tyme sodeynliche a torche--
170215The blase therof yblowe out, yet brenneth the weke--
170216Withouten leye or light, that [lowe] the macche brenneth;
170217So is the Holy Goost God, and grace withoute mercy
170218To alle unkynde creatures that coveite to destruye
170219Lele love or lif that Oure Lord shapte.
170220"And as glowynge gledes gladeth noght thise werkmen
170221That werchen and waken in wyntres nyghtes,
170222As dooth a kex or a candle that caught hath fir and blaseth,
170223Namoore dooth Sire ne Sone ne Seint Spirit togideres
170224Graunte no grace ne forgifnesse of synnes
170225Til the Holy Goost gynne to glowe and to blase;
170226So that the Holy Goost gloweth but as a glede
170227Til that lele love ligge on hym and blowe.
170228And thanne flawmeth he as fir on Fader and on Filius
170229And melteth hire myght into mercy-- as men may se in wyntre
170230Ysekeles in evesynges thorugh hete of the sonne
170231Melte in a mynut while to myst and to watre.
170232"So grace of the Holy Goost the greet myght of the Trinite
170233Melteth to mercy--to merciable and to noon othere.
170234And as wex withouten moore on a warm glede
170235Wol brennen and blasen, be thei togideres,
170236And solacen hem that mowe [noght] se, that sitten in derknesse,
170237So wol the Fader foryyve folk of mylde hertes
170238That rufully repenten and restitucion make,
170239In as muche as thei mowen arnenden and paien;
170240And if it suffise noght for assetz, that in swich a wille deyeth,
170241Mercy for his mekenesse wol maken good the remenaunt.
170242And as the weke and fir wol maken a warm flaumbe
170243For to murthen men with that in merke sitten,
170244So wole Crist of his curteisie, and men crye hym mercy,
170245Bothe foryyve and foryete, and yit bidde for us
170246To the Fader of hevene foryifnesse to have.
170247"Ac hewe fir at a flynt foure hundred wynter--
170248But thow have tache to take it with, tonder or broches,
170249Al thi labour is lost and al thi long travaille;
170250For may no fir flaumbe make, faille it his kynde.
170251So is the Holy Goost God and grace withouten mercy
170252To alle unkynde creatures--Crist hymself witnesseth:
170252{Amen dico vobis, nescio vos &c.}
170253"Be unkynde to thyn evenecristene, and al that thow kanst bidde--
170254Delen and do penaunce day and nyght evere,
170255And purchace al the pardon of Pampilon and Rome,
170256And indulgences ynowe, and be {ingratus} to thi kynde,
170257The Holy Goest hereth thee neght, ne help may thee by reson;
170258For unkyndenesse quencheth hym, that he kan noght shyne,
170259Ne brenne ne blase clere, for blowynge of unkyndenesse.
170260Poul the Apostel preveth wheither I lye:
170260{Si linguis hominum loquar &c.}
170261" Forthi beth war, ye wise men that with the world deleth,
170262That riche ben and reson knoweth--ruleth wel youre soule;
170263Beth noght unkynde, I conseille yow, to youre evenecristene;
170264For manye of yow riche men, by my soule, men telleth,
170265Ye brenne, but ye blase noght, and that is a blynd bekene!--
170265{Non omnis qui dicit Domine, Domine, intrabit &c.}
170266" Dives deyde dampned for his unkyndenesse
170267Of his mete and his moneie to men that it nedede.
170268Ech a riche, I rede, reward at hym take,
170269And gyveth youre good to that God that grace of ariseth.
170270For that ben unkynde to hise. hope I noon oother
170271But thei dwelle ther Dives is dayes withouten ende.
170272"Thus is unkyndenesse the contrarie that quencheth, as it were,
170273The grace of the Holy Goost, Goddes owene kynde.
170274For that kynde dooth, unkynde fordooth--as thise corsede theves,
170275Unkynde Cristene men, for coveitise and envye
170276Sleeth a man for hise moebles, with mouth or with handes.
170277For that the Holy Goost hath to kepe, tho harlotes destruyeth--
170278The which is lif and love, the leye of mannes body.
170279For every manere good man may be likned to a torche,
170280Or ellis to a tapur, to reverence the Trinite;
170281And whoso morthereth a good man, me thynketh, by myn inwit,
170282He fordooth the levest light that Oure Lord lovyeth.
170283"Ac yet in manye mo maneres men offenden the Holy Geost;
170284Ac this is the worste wise that any wight myghte
170285Synnen ayein the Seint Spirit--assenten to destruye
170286For coveitise of any kynnes thyng that Crist deere boughte.
170287How myghte he aske mercy, or any mercy hym hel
170288That wikkedliche and wilfulliche wolde mercy aniente?
170289"Innocence is next God, and nyght and day it crieth
170290""Vengeaunce ! Vengeaunce! Foryyve be it nevere
170291That shente us and shedde oure blood--forshapte us, as it semed:
170291{ Vindica sanguinem iustorum .''}
170292Thus "" Vengeaunce, vengeaunce!'' verrey charite asketh;
170293And sith Holy Chirche and charite chargeth this so soore,
170294Leve I nevere that Oure Lord wol love that charite lakketh,
170295Ne have pite for any preiere [that he pleyneth ther].'
170296"I pose I hadde synned so, and sholde now deye,
170297And now am sory that I so the Seint Spirit agulte,
170298Confesse me and crye his grace, God that al made,
170299And myldeliche his mercy aske--myghte I noght be saved?'
170300"Yis,' seide the Samaritan, "so thow myghte repente
170301That rightwisnesse thorugh repentaunce to ruthe myghte turne.
170302Ac it is but selden yseighe, ther soothnesse bereth witnesse,
170303Any creature be coupable afore a kynges justice,
170304Be raunsoned for his repentaunce ther alle reson hym dampneth.
170305For ther that partie pursueth the peel is so huge
170306That the kyng may do no mercy til bothe men acorde
170307And eyther have equite, as holy writ telleth:
170307{ Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c.}
170308Thus it fareth by swich folk that falsly al hire lyves
170309Yvele lyven and leten noght til lif hem forsake.
170310Drede of desperacion thanne dryveth awey grace,
170311That mercy in hir mynde may noght thanne falle;
170312Good hope, that helpe sholde, to wanhope torneth--
170313Noght of the nounpower of God, that he ne is myghtful
170314To amende al that amys is, and his mercy gretter
170315Thanne alle our wikkede werkes, as Holy Writ telleth--
170315{Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius--}
170316Ac er his rightwisnesse to ruthe torne, som restitucion bihoveth:
170317His sorwe is satisfaccion for [swich] that may noght paie.
170318"Thre thynges ther ben that doon a man by strengthe
170319For to fleen his owene hous, as Holy Writ sheweth.
170320That oon is a wikkede wif that wol noght be chastised:
170321Hir feere fleeth hire for feere of hir tonge.
170322And if his hous be unhiled, and reyne on his bedde,
170323He seketh and seketh til he slepe drye.
170324And whan smoke and smolder smyt in his sighte,
170325It dooth hym worse than his wif or wete to slepe.
170326For smoke and smolder smerteth hise eighen
170327Til he be bler eighed or blynde and [the borre] in the throte,
170328Cogheth and curseth that Crist gyve hym sorwe
170329That sholde brynge in bettre wode, or blowe it til it brende!
170330"Thise thre that I telle of thus ben to understonde:
170331The wif is oure wikked flessh that wol noght be chastised,
170332For kynde clyveth on hym evere to contrarie the soule.
170333And though it falle, it fynt skiles, that "" Frelete it made,''
170334And ""That is lightly foryyven and foryeten bothe
170335To man that mercy asketh and amende thenketh.''
170336"The reyn that reyneth ther we reste sholde
170337Ben siknesses and sorwes that we suffren oughte,
170338As Poul the Apostle to the peple taughte:
170338{Virtus in infirmitate perficitur.}
170339And though that men make muche doel in hir angre,
170340And ben inpacient in hir penaunce, pure reson knoweth
170341That thei han cause to contrarie, by kynde of hir siknesse;
170342And lightliche Oure Lord at hir lyves ende
170343Hath mercy on swiche men, that so yvele may suffre.
170344"Ac the smoke and the smolder that smyt in oure eighen,
170345That is coveitise and unkyndenesse, that quencheth Goddes mercy.
170346For unkyndenesse is the contrarie of alle kynnes reson;
170347For ther nys sik ne sory, ne noon so muche wrecche
170348That he ne may lovye, and hym like, and lene of his herte
170349Good wille, good word--bothe wisshen and wilnen
170350Alle manere men mercy and foryifnesse,
170351And lovye hem lik hymself, and his lif amende.
170352"I may no lenger lette!' quod he, and lyard he prikede,
170353And wente awey as wynd--and therwith I awakede.
180001Wolleward and weetshoed wente I forth after
180002As a recchelees renk that [reccheth of no wo],
180003And yede forth lik a lorel al my lif tyme,
180004Til I weex wery of the world and wilned eft to slepe,
180005And lened me to a Lenten--and longe tyme I slepte;
180006Reste me there and rutte faste til ramis palmarum.
180007Of gerlis and of Gloria, laus gretly me dremed
180008And how osanna by organye olde folk songen,
180009And of Cristes passion and penaunce, the peple that ofraughte.
180010Oon semblable to the Samaritan, and somdeel to Piers the Plowman,
180011Barefoot on an asse bak bootles cam prikye,
180012Withouten spores other spere; spakliche he loked,
180013As is the kynde of a knyght that cometh to be dubbed,
180014To geten hym gilte spores on galoches ycouped.
180015Thanne was Feith in a fenestre, and cryde "At Fili David!'
180016As dooth an heraud of armes whan aventrous cometh to iustes.
180017Olde Jewes of Jerusalem for joye thei songen,
180017{  Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.}
180018Thanne I frayned at Feith what al that fare bymente,
180019And who sholde juste in Jerusalem. "jesus,' he seide,
180020"And fecche that the fend claymeth--Piers fruyt the Plowman.'
180021"Is Piers in this place?' quod I, and he preynte on me.
180022"This Jesus of his gentries wol juste in Piers armes,
180023In his helm and in his haubergeon--humana natura.
180024That Crist be noght biknowe here for consummatus Deus,
180025In Piers paltok the Plowman this prikiere shal ryde;
180026For no dynt shal hym dere as in deitate Patris.'
180027"Who shal juste with Jesus?' quod I, "Jewes or scrybes?'
180028"Nay,' quod Feith, "but the fend and fals doom to deye.
180029Deeth seith he shal fordo and adoun brynge
180030Al that lyveth or loketh in londe or in watre.
180031Lif seith that he lieth, and leieth his lif to wedde
180032That, for al that Deeth kan do, withinne thre daies to walke
180033And fecche fro the fend Piers fruyt the Plowman,
180034And legge it ther hym liketh, and Lucifer bynde,
180035And forbete and adoun brynge bale-deeth for evere:
180035{   O Mors ero mors tua!'}
180036Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple, sedens pro tribunali,
180037To se how doghtiliche Deeth sholde do, and deme hir botheres right.
180038The Jewes and the justieeayeins Jesu thei weere,
180039And al the court on hym cryde " Crucifige!' sharpe.
180040Tho putte hym forth a p[e]lour bifore Pilat and seide,
180041"This Jesus of oure Jewes temple japed and despised,
180042To fordoon it on o day, and in thre dayes after
180043Edifie it eft newe--here he stant that seide it--
180044And yit maken it as muche in alle manere poyntes
180045Bothe as long and as large a lofte and by grounde.'
180046" Crucifige!' quod a cachepol, " I warante hym a wicche!'
180047" Tolle, tolle!' quod another, and took of kene thornes,
180048And bigan of [gr]ene thorn a garland to make,
180049And sette it sore on his heed and seide in envye,
180050"A ve, rabyt' quod that ribaud--and threw reedes at hym,
180051Nailed hym with thre nailes naked on the roode,
180052And poison on a poole thei putte up to hise lippes,
180053And beden hym drynken his deeth-yvel--hise dayes were ydone--
180054And [seiden], " If that thow sotil be, help now thiselve;
180055If thow be Crist and kynges sone, com down of the roode;
180056Thanne shul we leve that lif thee loveth and wol noght lete thee deye!'
180057" Consummatum est,' quod Crist, and comsede for to swoune,
180058Pitousliche and pale as a prison that deieth;
180059The lord of lif and of light tho leide hise eighen togideres.
180060The day for drede withdrough and derk bicam the sonne.
180061The wal waggede and cleef, and al the world quaved.
180062Dede men for that dene come out of depe graves,
180063And tolde why that tempeste so longe tyme durede.
180064"For a bitter bataille,' the dede body seide;
180065"Lif and Deeth in this derknesse, hir oon fordeoth hir oother.
180066Shal no wight wite witterly who shal have the maistrie
180067Er Sonday aboute sonne risyng'--and sank with that til erthe.
180068Some seide that he was Goddes sone, that so faire deyde:
180068{   Vere filius Dei erat iste.}
180069And some seide he was a wicche--"Good is that we assaye
180070Wher he be deed or noght deed, doun er he be taken.'
180071Two theves also tholed deeth that tyme
180072Upon a croos bisides Crist--so was the comune lawe.
180073A cachepol cam forth and craked bothe hir legges,
180074And hir armes after of either of tho theves.
180075Ac was no boy so boold Goddes body to touche;
180076For he was knyght and kynges sone, Kynde foryaf that throwe
180077That noon harlot were so hardy to leyen hond upon hym.
180078Ac ther cam forth a knyght with a kene spere ygrounde,
180079Highte Longeus, as the lettre telleth, and longe hadde lore his sight.
180080Bifore Pilat and oother peple in the place he hoved.
180081Maugree his manye teeth he was maad that tyme
180082To [justen with Jesus, this blynde Jew Longeus].
180083For alle thei were unhardy, that hoved on horse or stode,
180084To touchen hym or to tasten hym or taken hym doun of roode,
180085But this blynde bacheler, that baar hym thorugh the herte.
180086The blood sprong doun by the spere and unspered the knyghtes eighen.
180087Thanne fil the knyght upon knees and cryde Jesu mercy:
180088"Ayein my wille it was, Lord, to wownde yow so soore!"
180089He sighed and seide, " Soore it me athynketh!
180090For the dede that I have doon I do me in youre grace.
180091Have on me ruthe, rightful Jesu!'--and right with that he wepte.
180092Thanne gan Feith felly the false Jewes despise--
180093Callede hem caytyves acorsed for evere:
180094" For this foule vileynye vengeaunce to yow falle!
180095To do the blynde bete hym ybounde, it was a boyes counseille.
180096Cursede caytyves! Knyghthood was it nevere
180097To mysdo a deed body by daye or by nyghte.
180098The gree yit hath he geten, for al his grete wounde.
180099" For youre champion chivaler, chief knyght of yow alle,
180100Yilt hym recreaunt rennyng, right at Jesus wilk.
180101For be this derknesse ydo, Deeth worth yvenquisshed;
180102And ye, lurdaynes, han ylost--for Lif shal have the maistrye.
180103And youre fraunchyse, that fre was, fallen is in thraldom,
180104And ye, cherles, and youre children, cheve shulle ye nevere,
180105Ne have lordshipe in londe, ne no lond tilye,
180106But al barayne be and usurie usen,
180107Which is lif that Oure Lord in alle lawes acurseth.
180108Now youre goode dayes arn doon, as Daniel prophecied:
180109Whan Crist cam hir kyngdom the crowne sholde lese--
180109{Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit unxio vestra.'}
180110What for feere of this ferly and of the false Jewes,
180111I drow me in that derknesse to descendit ad inferna,
180112And there I saugh soothly, secundum scripturas,
180113Out of the west coste, a wenche, as me thoughte,
180114Cam walkynge in the wey; to helleward she loked.
180115Mercy highte that mayde, a meke thyng with alle,
180116A ful benigne burde, and buxom of speche.
180117Hir suster, as it semed, cam softely walkynge
180118Evene out of the est, and westward she lokede--
180119A ful comely creature [and a clene], Truthe she highte;
180120For the vertue that hire folwede, afered was she nevere.
180121Whan thise maydenes mette, Mercy and Truthe,
180122Either asked oother of this grete wonder--
180123Of the dyn and of the derknesse, and how the day rowed,
180124And which a light and a leme lay bifore helle.
180125"Ich have ferly of this fare, in feith,' seide Truthe,
180126"And am wendynge to wite what this wonder meneth.'
180127"Have no merveille', quod Mercy, "murhte it bitokneth.
180128A maiden that highte Marie, and moder withouten felyng
180129Of any kynde creature, conceyved thorugh speche
180130And grace of the Holy Goost; weex greet with childe;
180131Withouten wem into this world she broghte hym;
180132And that my tale be trewe, I take God to witnesse.
180133"Sith this barn was ybore ben thritti wynter passed,
180134Which deide and deeth tholed this day aboute mydday--
180135And that is cause of this clips that closeth now the sonne,
180136In menynge that man shal fro merknesse be drawe
180137The while this light and this leme shal Lucifer ablende.
180138For patriarkes and prophetes han preched herof often--
180139That man shal man save thorugh a maydenes helpe,
180140And that was tynt thorugh tree, tree shal it wynne,
180141And that Deeth down broughte, deeth shal releve.'
180142"That thow tellest; quod Truthe, "is but a tale of waltrot!
180143For Adam and Eve and Abraham with othere
180144Patriarkes and prophetes that in peyne liggen,
180145Leve thow nevere that yon light hem alofte brynge,
180146Ne have hem out of helle--hold thi tonge, Mercy!
180147It is but trufle that thow tellest--I, Truthe, woot the sothe.
180148For that is ones in helle, out cometh it nevere;
180149Job the prophete patriark repreveth thi sawes:
180149{Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.'}
180150Thanne Mercy ful myldely mouthed thise wordes:
180151"Thorugh experience,' quod he[o], " I hope thei shul be saved.
180152For venym fordooth venym--and that I preve by reson.
180153For of alle venymes foulest is the scorpion;
180154May no medicyne [am]e[nd]e the place ther he styngeth,
180155Til he be deed and do therto--the yvel he destruyeth,
180156The firste venymouste, thorugh vertu of hymselve.
180157So shal this deeth fordo--I dar my lif legge--
180158Al that deeth dide first thorugh the develes entisyng;
180159And right as thorugh [gilours] gil;e [bigiled was man],
180160So shal grace that al bigan make a good ende
180161[And bigile the gilour--and that is good] sleighte:
180161{ Ars ut artem falleret.'}
180162"Now suffre we!' seide Truthe, " I se, as me thynketh,
180163Out of the nyppe of the north, noght ful fer hennes,
180164Rightwisnesse corne rennynge; reste we the while,
180165For he[o] woot moore than we--he[o] was er we bothe.'
180166"That is sooth,' seide Mercy, "and I se here by sowthe
180167Where cometh Pees pleyinge, in pacience yclothed.
180168Love hath coveited hire longe--leve I noon oother
180169But [Love] sente hire som lettre, what this light bymeneth
180170That overhoveth helle thus; she us shal telle.'
180171Whan Pees in pacience yclothed approched ner hem tweyne,
180172Rightwisnesse hire reverenced for hir riche clothyng,
180173And preide Pees to telle hire to whit place she wolde
180174And in hire gaye garnements whom she grete thoughte?
180175"My wil is to wende,' quod she, "and welcome hem alle
180176That many day myghte I noght se for merknesse of synne--
180177Adam and Eve and othere mo in helle,
180178Moyses and many mo; Mercy shul [synge],
180179And I shal daunce therto--do thow so, suster!
180180For Jesus justede wel, joye bigynneth dawe:
180180{ Ah vesperum demorabitur fletus, et ad matutinum leticia.}
180181" Love, that is my lemman, swiche lettres me sente
180182That Mercy, my suster, and I mankynde sholde save,
180183And that God hath forgyven and graunted me, Pees, and Mercy
180184To be mannes meynpernour for everemoore after.
180185Lo, here the patente!' quod Pees, "ln pace in idipsum,
180186And that this dede shal dure, dormiam et requiescam.'
180187"What, ravestow?' quod Rightwisnesse; "or thow art righty dronke!
180188Levestow that yond light unlouke myghte helle
180189And save mannes soule? Suster, wene it nevere!
180190At the bigynnyng God gaf the doom hymselve--
180191That Adam and Eve and alle that hem suwede
180192Sholden deye downrighte, and dwelle in peyne after
180193If that thei touchede a tree and of the fruyt eten.
180194Adam afterward, ayeins his defence,
180195Freet of that fruyt, and forsook, as it were,
180196The love of Oure Lord and his loore bothe
180197And folwede that the fend taughte and his felawes wille
180198Ayeins reson--I, Rightwisnesse, recorde thus with Truthe
180199That hir peyne be perpetuel and no preiere hem helpe.
180200Forthi lat hem chewe as thei chosen, and chide we noght, sustres,
180201For it is botelees bale, the byte that thei eten.'
180202"And I shal preie,' quod Pees, "hir peyne moot have ende,
180203And wo into wele mowe wenden at the laste.
180204For hadde thei wist of no wo, wele hadde thei noght knowen;
180205For no wight woot what wele is, that nevere wo suffrede,
180206Ne what is hoot hunger, that hadde nevere defaute.
180207If no nyght ne weere, no man, as I leve,
180208Sholde wite witterly what day is to meene.
180209Sholde nevere right riche man that lyveth in reste and ese
180210Wite what wo is, ne were the deeth of kynde.
180211So God that bigan al of his goode wille
180212Bicam man of a mayde mankynde to save,
180213And suffrede to be sold, to se the sorwe of deying,
180214The which unknytteth alle care, and comsynge is of reste.
180215For til modicum mete with us, I may it wel avowe,
180216Woot no wight, as I wene, what is ynogh to mene.
180217" Forthi God, of his goodnesse, the firste gome Adam,
180218Sette hym in solace and in sovereyn murthe;
180219And siththe he suffred hym synne, sorwe to feele--
180220To wite what wele was, kyndeliche to knowe it.
180221And after, God auntrede hymself and took Adames kynde
180222To wite what he hath suffred in thre sondry places,
180223Bothe in hevene and in erthe--and now til helle he thenketh,
180224To wite what alle wo is, that woot of alle joye.
180225"So it shal fare by this folk: hir folie and hir synne
180226Shal lere hem what langour is, and lisse withouten ende.
180227Woot no wight what werre is ther that pees regneth,
180228Ne what is witterly wele til ""weylawey'' hym teche.'
180229Thanne was ther a wight with two brode eighen;
180230Book highte that beaupeere, a bold man of speche.
180231"By Goddes body!' quod this Book, "I wol bere witnesse
180232That tho this barn was ybore, ther blased a sterre
180233That alle the wise of this world in o wit acordeden--
180234That swich a barn was ybore in Bethleem the citee
180235That mannes soule sholde save and synne destroye.
180236"And alle the elements,' quod the Book, "herof beren witnesse.
180237That he was God that al wroghte the wolkne first shewed:
180238Tho that weren in hevene token stella comata
180239And tendeden hire as a torche to reverencen his burthe;
180240The light folwede the Lord into the lowe erthe.
180241The water witnesseth that he was God, for he wente on it;
180242Peter the Apostel parceyved his gate,
180243And as he wente on the water wel hym knew, and seide,
180244""tube me venire ad te super aquas.''
180245And lo! how the sonne gan louke hire light in hirselve
180246Whan she seigh hym suffre, that sonne and see made.
180247The erthe for hevynesse that he wolde suffre
180248Quaked as quyk thyng and al biquasshed the roche.
180249"Lo! helle myghte nat holde, but opnede tho God tholede,
180250And leet out Symondes sones to seen hym hange on roode.
180251And now shal Lucifer leve it, though hyrn looth thynke.
180252For Gigas the geaunt with a gyn engyned
180253To breke and to bete adoun that ben ayeins Jesus.
180254And I, Book, wole be brent, but Jesus rise to lyve
180255In alle myghtes of man, and his moder gladie,
180256And conforte al his kyn and out of care brynge,
180257And al the Jewene joye unjoynen and unlouken;
180258And but thei reverencen his roode and his resurexion,
180259And bileve on a newe lawe, be lost, lif and soule!'
180260"Suffre we!' seide Truthe, "1 here and see bothe
180261A spirit speketh to helle and biddeth unspere the yates:
180261{""Attolite portas.''}
180262A vois loude in that light to Lucifer crieth,
180263""Prynees of this place, unpynneth and unlouketh!
180264For here cometh with crowne that kyng is of glorie.'"
180265Thanne sikede Sathan, and seide to helle,
180266"Swich a light, ayeins oure leve, Lazar it fette;
180267Care and combraunce is comen to us alle!
180268If this kyng come in, mankynde wole he fecche,
180269And lede it ther Lazar is, and lightliche me bynde.
180270Patriarkes and prophetes han parled herof longe--
180271That swich a lord and a light shal lede hem alle hennes.'
180272"Listneth!' quod Lucifer, "for I this lord knowe;
180273Bothe this lord and this light, is longe ago I knew hym.
180274May no deeth this lord dere, ne no develes queyntise,
180275And where he wole, is his wey--ac ware hym of the perils!
180276If he reve me of my right, he robbeth me by maistrie;
180277For by right and by reson the renkes that ben here
180278Body and soule beth myne, bothe goode and ille.
180279For hymself seide, that sire is of hevene,
180280That if Adam ete the appul, alle sholde deye,
180281And dwelle [in deol] with us develes--this thretynge he made.
180282And [sithen] he that Soothnesse is seide thise wordes,
180283And I sithen iseised sevene [thousand] wynter,
180284I leeve that lawe nyl noght lete hym the leeste.'
180285"That is sooth,' seide Satan, "but I me soore drede;
180286For thow gete hem with gile, and his gardyn breke,
180287And in semblaunce of a serpent sete on the appultre,
180288And eggedest hem to ete, Eve by hirselve,
180289And toldest hire a tale--of treson were the wordes;
180290And so thou haddest hem out and hider at the laste.
180291It is noght graithly geten, ther gile is the roote!'
180292" For God wol noght be bigiled,' quod Gobelyn, " ne byjaped.
180293We have no trewe title to hem, for thorugh treson were thei dampned.'
180294" Certes, I drede me,' quod the Devel, "lest Truthe wol hem fecche.
180295Thise thritty wynter, as I wene, he wente aboute and preched.
180296I have assailled hym with synne, and som tyme I asked
180297Wheither he were God or Goddes sone--he gaf me short answere;
180298And thus hath he trolled forth thise two and thritty wynter.
180299And whan I seigh it was so, slepynge I wente
180300To warne Pilates wif what done man was Jesus;
180301For Jewes hateden hym and han doon hym to dethe.
180302I wolde have lengthed his lif--for I leved, if he deide,
180303That his soule wolde suffre no synne in his sighte;
180304For the body, while it on bones yede, aboute was evere
180305To save men from synne if hemself wolde.
180306And now I se wher a soule cometh [silynge hiderward]
180307With glorie and with gret light--God it is, I woot wel!
180308I rede we fle,' quod he, "faste alle hennes--
180309For us were bettre noght be than biden his sighte.
180310For thi lesynges, Lucifer, lost is al oure praye.
180311First thorugh the we fellen fro hevene so heighe;
180312For we leved thi lesynges, we lopen out alle with thee;
180313And now for thi laste lesynge, ylorn we have Adam,
180314And al oure lordshipe, I leve, a londe and a watre:
180314{ Nunc Princeps huius mundi eicietur foras.'}
180315Eft the light bad unlouke, and Lucifer answerde,
180316" Quis est iste ?
180317What lord artow?' quod Lucifer. The light soone seide,
180318Rex glorie,
180319The lord of myght and of mayn and alle manere vertues--
180319{Dominus virtutum.}
180320Dukes of this dymme place, anoon undo thise yates,
180321That Crist may come in, the Kynges sone of Hevene!'
180322And with that breeth helle brak, with Belialles barres--
180323For any wye or warde, wide open the yates.
180324Patriarkes and prophetes, populus in tenebris,
180325Songen Seint Johanes song, " Ecce Agnus Dei.'
180326Lucifer loke ne myghte, so light hym ablente.
180327And tho that Oure Lord lovede, into his light he laughte,
180328And seide to Sathan, "Lo! here my soule to amendes
180329For alle synfulle soules, to save tho that ben worthi.
180330Myne thei ben and of me--I may the bet hem cleyme.
180331Although reson recorde, and right of myselve,
180332That if thei ete the appul, alle sholde deye,
180333I bihighte hem noght here helle for evere.
180334For the dede that thei dide, thi deceite it made;
180335With gile thow hem gete, ageyn alle reson.
180336For in my paleis, Paradis, in persone of an addre,
180337Falsliche thow fettest there thyng that I lovede.
180338"Thus ylik a lusard with a lady visage,
180339Thefliche thow me robbedest; the Olde Lawe graunteth
180340That gilours be bigiled--and that is good reson:
180341Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo.
180341{Ergo soule shal soule quyte and synne to synne wende,}
180342And al that man hath mysdo, I, man, wole amende it.
180343Membre for membre [was amendes by the Olde Lawe],
180344And lif for lif also--and by that lawe I clayme
180345Adam and al his issue at my wille herafter.
180346And that deeth in hem fordide, my deeth shal releve,
180347And bothe quyke and quyte that queynt was thorugh synne;
180348And that grace gile destruye, good feith it asketh.
180349So leve it noght, Lucifer, ayein the lawe I fecche hem,
180350But by right and by reson raunsone here my liges:
180350{Non veni solvere legem set adimplere.}
180351"Thow fettest myne in my place ayeins alle reson--
180352Falsliche and felonliche; good feith me it taughte,
180353To recovere hem thorugh raunsoun, and by no reson ellis,
180354So that with gile thow gete, thorugh grace it is ywonne.
180355Thow, Lucifer, in liknesse of a luther addere
180356Getest bi gile tho that God lovede;
180357And I, in liknesse of a leode, that Lord am of hevene,
180358Graciousliche thi gile have quyt--go gile ayein gile!
180359And as Adam and alle thorugh a tree deyden,
180360Adam and alle thorugh a tree shal turne to lyve;
180361And gile is bigiled, and in his gile fallen:
180361{Et cecidit in foveam quam fecit.}
180362Now bigynneth thi gile ageyn thee to turne
180363And my grace to growe ay gretter and widder.
180364The bitternesse that thow hast browe, now brouke it thiselve;
180365That art doctour of deeth, drynk that thow madest!
180366"For I that am lord of lif, love is my drynke,
180367And for that drynke today, I deide upon erthe.
180368I faught so, me thursteth yet, for mannes soule sake;
180369May no drynke me moiste, ne my thurst stake,
180370Til the vendage falle in the vale of Josaphat,
180371That I drynke right ripe must, resureccio mortuorum.
180372And thanne shal I come as a kyng, crouned, with aungeles,
180373And have out of helle alle mennes soules.
180374" Fendes and fendekynes bifore me shul stande
180375And be at my biddyng wheresoevere [be] me liketh.
180376Ac to be merciable to man thanne, my kynde it asketh,
180377For we beth bretheren of blood, but noght in baptisme alle.
180378Ac alle that beth myne hole bretheren, in blood and in baptisme,
180379Shul noght be dampned to the deeth that is withouten ende:
180379{Tibi soli peccavi &c.}
180380"It is noght used on erthe to hangen a feloun
180381Ofter than ones, though he were a tretour.
180382And if the kyng of that kyngdom corne in that tyme
180383There the feloun thole sholde deeth oother juwise,
180384Lawe wolde he yeve hym lif, and he loked on hym.
180385And I that am kyng of kynges shal come swich a tyme
180386There doom to the deeth dampneth alle wikked;
180387And if lawe wole I loke on hem, it lith in my grace
180388Wheither thei deye or deye noght for that thei diden ille.
180389Be it any thyng abought, the boldnesse of hir synnes,
180390I may do mercy thorugh rightwisnesse, and alle my wordes trewe.
180391And though Holy Writ wole that I be wroke of hem that diden ille--
180391{Nullum malum impunitum &c--}
180392Thei shul be clensed clerliche and [clene] wasshen of hir synnes
180393In my prisone Purgatorie, til parce it hote.
180394And my mercy shal be shewed to manye of my bretheren;
180395For blood may suffre blood bothe hungry and acale,
180396Ac blood may noght se blood blede, but hym rewe.'
180396{ Auaivi archana verba que non iicet homini loqui.}
180397"Ac my rightwisnesse and right shal rulen al helle,
180398And mercy al mankynde bifore me in hevene.
180399For I were an unkynde kyng but I my kyn helpe---
180400And nameliche at swich a nede ther nedes help bihoveth:
180400{  Non intres in iudicium cum servo tuo.}
180401"Thus by lawe,' quod Oure Lord, "lede I wole fro hennes
180402Tho [leodes] that I lov[e] and leved in my comynge.
180403And for thi lesynge, Lucifer, that thow leighe til Eve,
180404Thow shalt abyen it bittre!"--and bond hym with cheynes.
180405As troth and al the route hidden hem in hernes;
180406They dorste noght loke on Oure Lord, the [lothli]este of hem alle,
180407But leten hym lede forth what hym liked and lete what hym liste.
180408Manye hundred of aungeles harpeden and songen,
180409" Culpat caro, purgat caro, regnat Deus Dei caro.'
180410Thanne pipede Pees of poesie a note:
180410{  " Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus;}
180410{  Post inimicicias clarior est et amor.}
180411" After sharpest shoures,' quod Pees, " moost shene is the sonne;
180412Is no weder warmer than after watry cloudes;
180413Ne no love levere; ne lever frendes
180414Than after werre and wo, whan love and pees ben maistres.
180415Was nevere werre in this world, ne wikkednesse so kene,
180416"That Love, and hym liste, to laughyng ne broughte,
180417And Pees, thorugh pacience, alle perils stoppede.'
180418" Trewes!' quod Truthe; " thow tellest us sooth, by Jesus!
180419Clippe we in covenaunt, and ech of us kisse oother.'
180420"And lete no peple,' quod Pees, "parceyve that we chidde;
180421For inpossible is no thyng to Hym that is almyghty.'
180422"Thow seist sooth,' seide Rightwisnesse, and reverentliche hire kiste,
180423Pees, and Pees h[i]re, per secula seculorum.
180423{ Misericordia et Veritas obviaverunt sibi, justicia et Pax osculate sunt.}
180424Truthe trumpede tho and song Te Deum laudamus,
180425And thanne lutede Love in a loud note,
180425{ " Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum &c.'}
180426Til the day dawed thise damyseles carolden,
180427That men rongen to the resurexion--and right with that I wakede,
180428And called Kytte my wif and Calote my doghter:
180430"Ariseth and reverenceth Goddes resurexion,
180431And crepeth to the cros on knees, and kisseth it for a juwel!
180432For Goddes blik body it bar for eure body,
180433And it afereth the fend--for swich is the myghte,
180434May no grisly goost glide there it shadweth!'
190001Thus I awaked and wroot what I hadde ydremed,
190002And dighte me derely, and dide me to chirche,
190003To here holly the masse and to be housled after.
190004In myddes of the masse, tho men yede to offryng,
190005I fel eftsoones aslepe--and sodeynly me mette
190006That Piers the Plowman was peynted al blody,
190007And com in with a cros bifore the comune peple,
190008And right lik in alle lymes to Oure Lord Jesu.
190009And thanne called I Conscience to kenne me the sothe:
190010"Is this Jesus the justere,' quod I, "that Jewes dide to dethe?
190011Or it is Piers the Plowman! Who peynted hym so rede?'
190012Quod Conscience, and kneled tho, " Thise arn Piers armes--
190013Hise colours and his cote armure; ac he that cometh so blody
190014Is Crist with his cros, conquerour of Cristene.'
190015"Why calle ye hym Crist?' quod l, "sithen Jewes called hym Jesus?
190016Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied bifore
190017That alle kynne creatures sholden knelen and bowen
190018Anoon as men nempned the name of God Jesu.
190019Ergo is no name to the name of Jesus,
190020Ne noon so nedeful to nempne by nyghte ne by daye.
190021For alle derke develes arn adrad to heren it,
190022And synfulle aren solaced and saved by that name;
190023And ye callen hym Crist; for what cause, telleth me?
190024Is Crist moore of myght and moore worthi name
190025Than Jesu or Jesus, that al oure joye com of?'
190026"Thow knowest wel,' quod Conscience, "and thow konne reson,
190027That knyght, kyng, conquerour may be o persone.
190028To be called a knyght is fair, for men shul knele to hym;
190029To be called a kyng is fairer, for he may knyghtes make;
190030Ac to be conquerour called, that cometh of special grace,
190031And of hardynesse of herte and of hendemesse--
190032To make lordes of laddes, of lond that he wynneth,
190033And fre men foule thralles, that folwen noght hise lawes.
190034'The Jewes, that were gentil men, Jesu thei despised--
190035Bothe his loore and his lawe; now are thei lowe cherles.
190036As wide as the world is, wonyeth ther noon
190037But under tribut and taillage as tikes and cherles;
190038And tho that bicome Cristene bi counseil of the Baptiste
190039Aren frankeleyns, free men thorugh fullynge that thei toke
190040And gentil men with Jesu--for Jesus was yfulled
190041And upon Calvarie on cros ycrouned kyng of Jewes.
190042" lt bicometh to a kyng to kepe and to defende,
190043And conqueror of his conquest hise lawes and his large.
190044And so dide Jesus the Jewes--he justified and taughte hem
190045The lawe of lif that laste shal evere,
190046And fended from foule yveles, feveres and fiuxes,
190047And from fendes that in hem was, and false bileve.
190048Tho was he Jesus of Jewes called, gentile prophete,
190049And kyng of hir kyngdom, and croune bar of thornes.
190050"And tho conquered he on cros as conquerour noble;
190051Mighte no deeth hym fordo, ne adoun brynge,
190052That he n'aroos and regnede and ravysshed helle.
190053And tho was he conquerour called of quyke and of dede.
190054For he yaf Adam and Eve and othere mo blisse
190055That longe hadde yleyen bifore as Luciferis cherles.
190056And took [Lucifer the lothly], that lord was of helle,
190057And bond [hym] as [he is bounde], with bondes of yrene.
190058Who was hardiere than he? His herte blood he shadde
190059To maken alle folk free that folwen his lawe.
190060And sith he yeveth largely al his lele liges
190061Places in Paradis at hir partynge hennes,
190062He my wel be called conquerour--and that is " Crist ' to mene.
190063"Ac the cause that he cometh thus with cros of his passion
190064Is to wissen us therwith, that whan we ben tempted,
190065Therwith to fighte and fenden us fro fallynge into synne,
190066And se bi his sorve that whoso loveth joye,
190067To penaunce and to poverte he moste puten hymselven,
190068And muche wo in this world wilnen and suffren.
190069"Ac to carpe moore of Crist, and how he com to that name,
190070Faithly for to speke, his firste name was jesus.
190071Tho he was born in Bethleem, as the Book telleth,
190072And cam to take mankynde, kynges and aungeles
190073Reverenced hym right faire with richesses of erthe.
190074Aungeles out of hevene come knelynge and songe,
190074{Gloria in excelsis Deo &c.}
190075"Kynges come after, knelede and offrede sense,
190076Mirre and muche gold withouten mercy askynge
190077Or any kynnes catel, but knoweliched[en] hym sovereyn
190078Both of sond, sonne and see, and sithenes thei wente
190079Into hir kyngene kith by counseil of aungeles.
190080And there was that word fulfilled the which thow of speke--
190080{Omnia celestia, terrestria, flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu.}
190081" For alle the aungeles of hevene at his burthe knelede,
190082And al the wit of the world was in tho thre kynges.
190083Reson and Rightwisnesse and Ruthe thei offrede,
190084Wherfore and why wise men that tyme
190085Maistres and lettred men, Magi hem callede.
190086" That o kyng cam with Reson, covered under sense.
190087The seconde kyng siththe soothliche offrede
190088Rightwisnesse under reed gold, Resones felawe.
190089Gold is likned to Leautee that laste shal evere,
190090And Reson to riche[ls]--to right and to truthe.
190091"The thridde kyng tho kam, and knelede to Jesu,
190092And presented hym with Pitee, apperynge by mirre;
190093For mirre is mercy to mene, and mylde speche of tonge.
190094Ertheliche honeste thynges was offred thus at ones
190095Thorugh thre kynne kynges knelynge to Jesu.
190096"Ac for alle thise preciouse presents Oure Lord Prynce Jesus
190097Was neither kyng ne conquerour til he [comsede] wexe
190098In the manere of a man, and that by muchel sleighte--
190099As it bicometh a conquerour to konne manye sleightes,
190100And manye wiles and wit, that wole ben a ledere;
190101And so dide Jesu in hise dayes, whoso hadde tyme to telle it.
190102"Som tyme he suffrede, and som tyme he hidde hym,
190103And som tyme he faught faste, and fleigh outherwhile,
190104And som tyme he gaf good and grauntede heele bothe,
190105Lif and lyme--as hym liste he wroghte.
190106As kynde is of a conquerour, so comsede Jesu
190107Til he hadde alle hem that he for bledde.
190108" ln his juventee this Jesus at Jewene feeste
190109Water into wyn turnede, as Holy Writ telleth,
190110And there bigan God of his grace to do wel.
190111For wyn is likned to lawe and lifholynesse;
190112And lawe lakkede tho, for men lovede noght hir enemys;
190113And Crist counseileth thus--and comaundeth bothe--
190114Bothe to lered and to lewede, to lovyen oure enemys.
190115So at that feeste first, as I bifore tolde,
190116Bigan God of his grace and goodnesse to dowel:
190117And tho was he cleped and called noght oonly Crist but Jesu--
190118A fauntekyn ful of wit, filius Marie.
190119For bifore his moder Marie made he that wonder,
190120That she first and formest sholde ferme bileve
190121That he thorugh Grace was gete, and of no gome ellis.
190122He wroghte that by no wit but thorugh word one,
190123After the kynde that he cam of; there comsede he Dowel.
190124"And whan he was woxen moore, in his moder absence,
190125He made lame to lepe and yaf light to blynde,
190126And fedde with two fisshes and with fyve lowes
190127Sore afyngred folk, mo than fyve thousand.
190128Thus he confortede carefulle and caughte a gretter name,
190129The which was Dobet, where that he wente.
190130For deve thorugh hise doynges and dombe speke and herde,
190131And alle he heeled and halp that hym of grace askede.
190132And tho was he called in contre of the comune peple,
190133For the dedes that he dide, Fili David, lhesus.
190134For David was doghtiest of dedes in his tyme,
190135The burdes tho songe, Saul interfecit mille et David decem milia.
190136Forthi the contree ther Jesu cam called hym fili David,
190137And nempned hym of Nazareth--and no man so worthi
190138To be kaiser or kyng of the kyngdom of Juda,
190139Ne over Jewes justice, as Jesus was, hem thoughte.
190140"Wherof hadde Cayphas envye, and othere of the Jewes,
190141And for to doon hym to dethe day and nyght thei casten;
190142And killeden hym on cros wise at Calvarie on Friday,
190143And sithen buriede his body, and beden that men sholde
190144Kepen it fro nyghtcomeris with knyghtes yarmed,
190145For no frend sholde it fecche; for prophetes hem tolde
190146That that blissede body of burieles sholde risen,
190147And goon into Galilee and gladen hise Apostles
190148And his moder Marie--thus men bifore demede.
190149"The knyghtes that kepten it biknewe hemselven
190150That aungeles and archaungeles er the day spronge
190151Come knelynge to that corps and songen
190152Christus resurgens--and it aroos after,
190153Verray man bifore hem alle, and forth with hem he yede.
190154"The Jewes preide hem of pees, and [pre-ide] the knyghtes
190155Telle the comune that ther cam a compaignie of hise Apostles
190156And biwicched hem as thei woke, and awey stolen it.
190157"Ac Marie Maudeleyne mette hym by the weye
190158Goynge toward Galilee in godhede and manhede,
190159And lyves and lokynge--and she aloud cride
190160In ech a compaignie ther she cam, "" Christus resurgens!''
190161Thus cam it out that Crist overcoom, recoverede and lyvede:
190161{ Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare &c.}
190162For that wommen witeth may noght wel be counseille!
190163"Peter parceyved al this and pursued after,
190164Bothe James and Johan, Jesu for to seke.
190165Thaddee and ten mo. with Thomas of Inde.
190166And as alle thise wise wyes weren togideres
190167In an hous al bishet and hir dore ybarred,
190168Crist cam in--and al closed both dore and yates--
190169To Peter and to hise Apostles, and seide, "" Pax vobis;'
190170And took Thomas by the hind and taughte hym to grope.
190171And feele with hise fyngres his flesshliche herte.
190172"Thomas touched it, and with his tonge seide,
190173" Dominus meus et Deus meus.
190174Thow art my lord, I bileve, God Lord Jesu!
190175Thow deidest and deeth tholedest and deme shalt us alle,
190176And now art lyvynge and lokynge, and laste shalt evere!'
190177"Crist carpede thanne, and curteisliche seide,
190178""Thomas, for thow trowest this and treweliche bilevest it,
190179Blessed mote thow be, and be shalt for evere.
190180And blessed mote thei be, in body and in soule,
190181That nevere shul se me in sighte as thow seest nowthe,
190182And lelliche bileve al this I love hem and blesse hem:
190182{ Beati qui non viderunt et crediderunt.''}
190183"And whan this dede was doon, Dobest he [thou]ghte,
190184And yaf Piers power, and pardon he grauntede:
190185To alle maner men, mercy and foryifnesse;
190186[To] hym, myghte men to assoille of alle manere synnes.
190187In covenaunt that thei come and kneweliche to paye
190188To Piers pardon the Plowman--Redde quod debes.
190189"Thus hath Piers power, be his pardon paied,
190190To bynde and unbynde bothe here and ellis,
190191And assoille men of alle synnes save of dette one.
190192"Anoon after an heigh up into hevene
190193He wente, and wonyeth there, and wol come at the laste,
190194And rewarde hym right wel that reddit quod debet--
190195Paieth parfitly, as pure truthe wolde.
190196And what persone paieth it nought, punysshen he thenketh,
190197And demen hem at domesday, bothe quyke and dede--
190198The goode to the Godhede and to greet joye,
190199And wikkede to wonye in wo withouten ende.'
190200Thus Conscience of Crist and of the cros carpede,
190201And counseiled me to knele therto; and thanne cam, me thoughte,
190202Oon Spiritus Paraclitus to Piers and to hise felawes.
190203In liknesse of a lightnynge he lighte on hem alle
190204And made hem konne and knowe alle kynne langages.
190205I wondred what that was, and waggede Conscience,
190206And was afered of the light, for in fires liknesse
190207Spiritus Paraclitus overspradde hem alle.
190208Quod Conscience, and knelede, "This is Cristes messager,
190209And cometh fro the grete God--Grace is his name.
190210Knele now,' quod Conscience, "and if thow kanst synge,
190211Welcome hym and worshipe hym with Veni Creator Spiritus !'
190212Thanne song I that song, and so dide manye hundred,
190213And cride with Conscience, " Help us, God of grace!'
190214And thanne bigan Grace to go with Piers Plowman,
190215And counseillede hym and Conscience the comune to sompne:
190216"For I wole dele today and dyvyde grace
190217To alle kynne creatures that kan hise fyve wittes--
190218Tresour to lyve by to hir lyves ende.
190219And wepne to fighte with that wole nevere faille.
190220For Antecrist and hise al the world shul greve,
190221And acombre thee, Conscience, but if Crist thee helpe.
190222"And false prophetes fele, flatereris and gloseris,
190223Shullen come and be curatours over kynges and erles.
190224And thanne shal Pride be Pope and prynce of Holy Chirche,
190225Coveitise and Unkyndenesse Cardinals hym to lede.
190226Forthi,' quod Grace, "er I go, I wol gyve yow tresor,
190227And wepne to fighte with whan Antecrist yow assailleth.'
190228And gaf ech man a grace to gye with hymselven,
190229That Ydelnesse encombre hym noght, ne Envye ne Pride:
190229{Divisiones graciarum sunt.}
190230Some [wyes] he yaf wit, with wordes to shewe--
190231Wit to wynne hir liflode with, as the world asketh,
190232As prechours and preestes, and prentices of lawe--
190233They lelly to lyve by labour of tonge,
190234And by wit to wissen othere is grace hem wolde teche.
190235And some he kennede craft and konnynge of sighte.
190236With sellynge and [by] buggynge hir bilyve to wynne.
190237And some he lered to laboure on lond and on watre,
190238And lyve by that labour--a lele lif and a trewe.
190239And some he taughte to tilie, to dyche and to thecche,
190240To wynne with hir liflode bi loore of his techynge.
190241And some to devyne and divide, [diverse] noumbres to kenne:
190242And some to compace craftily, and colours to make;
190243And some to se and to seye whit sholde bifalle,
190244Bothe of wele and of wo, telle it [wel] er it felle--
190245As astronomyens thorugh astronomye, and philosofres wise.
190246And some to ryde and to recovere that unrightfully was wonne:
190247He wissed hem wynne it ayein thorugh wightnesse of handes,
190248And fecchen it fro false men with Folvyles lawes.
190249And some he lered to lyve in longynge to ben hennes,
190250In poverte and in pacience to preie for alle Cristene.
190251And alle he lered to be lele, and ech a craft love oother,
190252And forbad hem alle debat--that noon [be] among hem.
190253"Though some be clenner than some, ye se wel," quod Grace,
190254"That he that useth the faireste craft, to the fouleste I kouthe have put hym.
190255Thynketh [that alle craftes, quod Grace]. "cometh of my yifte;
190256Loketh that noon lakke oother, but loveth alle as bretheren.
190257"And who that moost maistries kan, be myldest of berynge;
190258And crouneth Conscience kyng, and maketh Craft youre stiward,
190259And after Craftes conseil clotheth yow and fede.
190260For I make Piers the Plowman my procuratour and my reve,
190261And registrer to receyve redde quod debes.
190262My prowor and my plowman Piers shal ben on erthe,
190263And for to tilie truthe a teeme shal he have.'
190264Grace gaf Piers a teeme--foure grete oxen.
190265That oon was Luk, a large beest and a lowe chered,
190266And Mark, and Mathew the thridde--myghty beestes bothe;
190267And joyned to hem oon Johan, moost gentil of alle,
190268The pris neet of Piers plow, passynge alle othere.
190269And yit Grace of his goodnesse gaf Piers foure stottes--
190270Al that hise oxen eriede, thei to harewen after.
190271Oon highte Austyn, and Ambrose another,
190272Gregori the grete clerk, and [the goode Jerom].
190273Thise foure, the feith to teche, folweth Piers teme,
190274And harewede in an handwhile al Holy Scripture
190275With two [aithes] that thei hadde, an oold and a newe,
190275{Id est, Vetus Testamentum et Novum.}
190276And Grace gaf Piers greynes--cardynales vertues,
190277And sew it in mannes soule, and sithen he tolde hir names.
190278Spiritus Prudencie the firste seed highte;
190279And whoso ete that, ymagynen he sholde,
190280Er he dide any dede, devyse wel the ende;
190281And lerned men a ladel bugge with a long stele
190282That caste for to kepe a crokke, and save the fatte above.
190283The seconde seed highte Spiritus Temperancie.
190284He that etc of that seed hadde swich a kynde,
190285Sholde nevere mete ne meschief make hym to swelle;
190286Ne sholde no scornere out of skile hym brynge;
190287Ne wynnynge ne wele of worldliche richesse,
190288Waste word of ydelnesse ne wikked speche moeve;
190289Sholde no curious clooth comen on his rugge,
190290Ne no mete in his mouth that Maister Johan spicede.
190291The thridde seed that Piers sew was Spiritus Fortitudinis;
190292And whoso ete of that seed hardy was evere
190293To suffren al that God sente, siknesse and angres.
190294Mighte no lesynges, ne lyere, ne los of worldly catel.
190295Maken hym, for any mournynge, that he nas murie in soule,
190296And bold and abidynge bismares to suffre,
190297And pletede al with pacience and Parce michi, Domine,
190298And covered hym under conseille of Caton the wise:
190298{Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique.}
190299The ferthe seed that Piers sew was Spiritus Iusticie,
190300And he that ete of that seed sholde be evere trewe
190301With God, and naught agast but of gile one.
190302For gile gooth so pryvely that geod feith outher while
190303May nought ben espied [thorugh] Spiritus Iusticie.
190304Spiritus justicie spareth noght to spille hem that ben gilty,
190305And for to correcte the kyng if he falle in [any kynnes] gilt.
190306For counteth he no kynges wrathe whan he in court sitteth
190307To demen as a domesman--adrad was he nevere
190308Neither of duc ne of deeth, that he ne dide the lawe;
190309For present or for preiere or any prynces lettres,
190310He dide equyte to alle eveneforth his power.
190311Thise foure sedes Piers sex, and siththe he dide hem harewe
190312With Olde Lawe and Newe Lawe, that love myghte wexe
190313Among thise foure vertues, and vices destruye.
190314" For comunliche in contrees cammokes and wedes
190315Foulen the fruyt in the feld ther thei growen togideres;
190316And so doon vices vertues--[f]orthi,' quod Piers,
190317"Hareweth alle that konneth kynde wit by conseil of thise doctours,
190318And tilieth after hir techynge the cardynale vertues.'
190319"Ayeins thi greynes,' quod Grace, " bigynneth for to ripe,
190320Ordeigne thee an hous, Piers, to herberwe inne thi cornes.
190321"By God! Grace,' quod Piers, 'ye moten gyve tymber,
190322And ordeigne that hous er ye hennes wende.'
190323And Grace gaf hym the cros, with the croune of thornes,
190324That Crist upon Calvarie for mankynde on pyned;
190325And of his baptisme and blood that he bledde on roode
190326He made a manere morter, and mercy it highte.
190327And therwith Grace bigan to make a good foundement,
190328And watlede it and walled it with hise peynes and his passion,
190329And of al Holy Writ he made a roof after,
190330And called that hous Unite--Holy Chirche on Englissh.
190331And whan this dede was doon, Grace devysede
190332A cart highte Cristendom, to carie home Piers sheves,
190333And gaf hym caples to his carte, Contricion and Confession;
190334And made Preesthod hayward, the while hymself wente
190335As wide as the world is, with Piers to tilie truthe
190336And the lo[nd] of bileve, the lawe of Holy Chirche.
190337Now is Piers to the plow. Pride it aspide
190338And gadered hym a greet oost: greven he thynketh
190339Conscience and alle Cristene and Cardinale Vertues--
190340Blowe hem doun and breke hem and bite atwo the mores;
190341And sente forth Surquidous, his sergeaunt of armes,
190342And his spye Spille-Love, oon Spek-yvel-bihynde.
190343Thise two coome to Conscience and to Cristen peple,
190344And tolde hem tidynges--that tyne thei sholde
190345The sedes that [Sire] Piers sew, the Cardynale Vertues:
190346"And Piers bern worth ybroke, and thei that ben in Unitee
190347Shulle come out, and Conscience; and youre [caples two],
190348Confession and Contricion, and youre carte the Bileeve
190349Shal be coloured so queyntely and covered under oure sophistrie,
190350That Conscience shal noght knowe by Contricion
190351Ne by Confession who is Cristene or hethene;
190352Ne no manere marchaunt that with moneye deleth
190353Wheither he wynne with right, with wrong or with usure.'
190354With swiche colours and queyntise cometh Pride y-armed,
190355With the lord that lyveth after the lust of his body--
190356"To wasten on welfare and on wikked kepynge
190357Al the world in a while thorugh oure wit!' quod Pryde.
190358Quod Conseience to alle Cristene tho, " My counseil is to wende
190359Hastiliche into Unitee and holde we us there,
190360And praye we that a pees weere in Piers berne the Plowman.
190361For witterly, I woot wel, we beth noght of strengthe
190362To goon agayn Pride, but Grace weere with us.'
190363And thanne kam Kynde Wit Conscience to teche,
190364And cryde, and comaundede alle Cristene  peple
190365For to delven and dyche depe aboute Unitee
190366That Holy Chirche stode in [holynesse], as it a pyl weere.
190367Conscience comaundede tho alle Cristene to delve,
190368And make a muche moot that myghte ben a strengthe
190369To helpe Holy Chirche and hem that it kepeth.
190370Thanne alle kynne Cristene--save comune wommen--
190371Repenteden and refusede synne, [right] save thei one,
190372And [a sisour and a somonour] that were forsworen ofte;
190373Witynge and wilfully with the false [thei] helden,
190374And for silver were forswore--soothly thei wiste it!
190375Ther nas no Cristene creature that kynde wit hadde--
190376Save sherewes one swiche as I spak of--
190377That he ne halp a quantite holynesse to wexe:
190378Some by bedes biddynge and some by pilgrymage
190379And other pryve penaunce, and somme thorugh penyes delynge.
190380And thanne wellede water for wikkede werkes,
190381Egreliche ernynge out of mennes eighen.
190382Clennesse of the comune and clerkes clene lyvynge
190383Made Unitee Holy Chirche in holynesse stonde.
190384" I care noght,' quod Conscience, " though Pride come nouthe;
190385The lord of lust shal be letted al this Lente, I hope.
190386Cometh,' quod Conscience, "ye Cristene, and dyneth,
190387That han laboured lelly al this Lenten tyme.
190388Here is breed yblessed, and Goddes body therunder.
190389Grace, thorugh Goddes word, gaf Piers power,
190390Myght to maken it, and men to ete it after
190391In helpe of hir heele ones in a monthe,
190392Or as ofte as thei hadde nede, tho that hadde ypaied
190393To Piers pardon the Plowman, redde quod debes.'
190394" How?' quod al the comune. "Thow conseillest us to yelde
190395Al that we owen any wight er we go to housel?'
190396"That is my conseil,' quod Conscience, "and Cardinale Vertues;
190397That ech man foryyve oother, and that wole the Paternoster--
190397{ Et dimitte nobis debita nostra &c--}
190398And so to ben assoilled, and siththen ben houseled.'
190399" Ye? Baw!' quod a brewere, " I wol noght be ruled,
190400By Jesu! for al youre janglynge, with Spiritus Iusticie,
190401Ne after Conscience, by Crist! while I kan selle
190402Bothe dregges and draf, and drawe at oon hole
190403Thikke ale and thynne ale; that is my kynde,
190404And noght hakke after holynesse--hold thi tonge, Conscience!
190405Of Spiritus Iusticie thow spekest muche on ydel.'
190406" Caytif! ' quod Conscience, "cursede wrecche!
190407Unblessed artow, brewere, but if thee God helpe.
190408But thow lyve by loore of Spiritus Iusticie,
190409The chief seed that Piers sew, ysaved worstow nevere.
190410But Conscience be the comune fode, and Cardinale Vertues,
190411Leve it wel, thei ben lost, bothe lif and soule.'
190412"Thanne is many [leode] lost!" quod a lewed vicory.
190413"I am a curatour of Holy Kirke, and cam nevere in my tyme
190414Man to me that me kouthe telle of Cardinale Vertues,
190415Or that acountede Conscience at a cokkes fethere!
190416I knew nevere Cardynal that he ne cam fro the Pope:
190417And we clerkes, whan thei come, for hir comunes paieth,
190418For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete and pilours that hem folweth.
190419The comune clamat cotidie, ech a man til oother,
190420""The contree is the corseder that cardinals come inne,
190421And ther thei ligge and lenge moost lecherie there regneth!"'
190422" Forthi,' quod this vicory, " by verray God! I wolde
190423That no cardynal coome among the comune peple,
190424But in hir holynesse helden hem stille
190425At Avynoun among Jewes--Cum sancto sanctus eris &c--
190426Or in Rome, as hir rule wole, the relikes to kepe;
190427And thow Conscience in kynges court, and sholdest nevere come thennes;
190428And Grace, that thow gredest so of, gyour of alle clerkes ;
190429And Piers with his newe plough and ek with his olde
190430Emperour of al the world--that alle men were Cristene.
190431"Inparfit is that Pope, that al peple sholde helpe,
190432And s[ou]deth hem that sleeth swiche as he sholde save.
190433A[c] wel worthe Piers the Plowman, that pursueth God in doynge,
190434Qui pluit super iustos et iniustos at ones,
190435And sent the sonne to save a cursed mannes tilthe
190436As brighte as to the beste man or to the beste womman.
190437Right so Piers the Plowrnan peyneth hym to tilye
190438As wel for a wastour and wenches of the stewes
190439As for hymself and hise servaunts, save he is first yserved.
190440[So blessed be Piers Plowman, that peyneth hym to tilye],
190441And travailleth and tilieth for a tretour also soore
190442As for a trewe tidy man, alle tymes ylike.
190443And worshiped be He that wroghte al, bothe good and wikke,
190444And suffreth that synfulle be til som tyme that thei repente.
190445And God [the Pope amende], that pileth Holy Kirke,
190446And cleymeth bifore the kyng to be kepere over Cristene,
190447And counteth noght though Cristene ben killed and robbed,
190448And fynt folk to fighte and Cristen blood to spille
190449Ayein the Olde Lawe and Newe Lawe, as Luc bereth witnesse:
190449{Non occides : mihi vindictam &c.}
190450It semeth, bi so hymself hadde his wille,
190451That he ne reccheth right noght of al the remenaunt.
190452"And Crist of his curtesie the cardinals save,
190453And torne hir wit to wisdom and to welthe of soule!
190454For the comune,' quod this curatour, "counten ful litel
190455The counseil of Conscience or Cardinale Vertues
190456But if thei sowne, as by sighte, somwhat to wynnyng.
190457Of gile ne of gabbyng gyve thei nevere tale,
190458For Spiritus Prudencie among the peple is gyle,
190459And alle tho faire vertues, as vices thei semeth.
190460Ech man subtileth a sleighte synne to hide,
190461And coloureth it for a konnynge and a clene lyvynge.'
190462Thanne lough ther a lord, and "By this light! seide,
190463I holde it right and reson of my reve to take
190464Al that myn auditour or ellis my styward
190465Counseilleth me bi hir acounte and my clerkes writynge.
190466With Spiritus Intellectus thei toke the reves rolles,
190467And with Spiritus Fortitudinis fecche it--wole [he, nel he]."
190468And thanne cam ther a kyng and by his croune seide,
190469"I am kyng with croune the comune to rule,
190470And Holy Kirke and clergie fro cursed men to defende.
190471And if me lakketh to lyve by, the lawe wole I take it
190472Ther I may hastilokest it have--for I am heed of lawe:
190473For ye ben but membres and I above alle.
190474And sith I am youre aller heed, I am youre aller heele,
190475And Holy Chirches chief help and chieftayn of the comune.
190476And what I take of yow two, I take it at the techynge
190477Of Spiritus Iusticie--for I jugge yow alle.
190478So I may boldely be housled, for I borwe nevere,
190479Ne crave of my comune but as my kynde asketh.'
190480"In condicion,' quod Conscience, "that thow [the comune] defende,
190481And rule thi reaume in reson, right wol and truthe
190482That thow [have thyn askyng], as the lawe asketh:
190483Omnia sunt tua ad defendendum set non ad deprehendendum.'
190484The viker hadde fer hoom, and faire took his leeve--
190485And I awakned therwith, and wroot as me mette.
200001Thanne as I wente by the way, whan I was thus awaked,
200002Hevy chered I yede, and elenge in herte;
200003For I ne wiste wher to ete ne at what place,
200004And it neghed neigh the noon, and with Nede I mette,
200005That afrounted me foule and faitour me called.
200006"Coudestow noght excuse thee, as dide the kyng and othere--
200007That thow toke to thy bilyve, to clothes and to sustenaunce,
200008Was by techynge and by tellynge of Spiritus Temperancie,
200009And that thow nome na moore than nede thee taughte,
200010And nede ne hath no lawe, ne nevere shal falle in dette
200011For thre thynges he taketh his lif for to save?--
200012That is, mete whan men hym werneth, and he no moneye weldeth,
200013Ne wight noon wol ben his borugh, ne wed hath noon to legge;
200014And he ca[cch]e in that caas and come therto by sleighte,
200015He synneth noght, soothliche, that so wynneth his foode.
200016And though he come so to a clooth, and kan no bettre chevyssaunce,
200017Nede anoon righte nymeth hym under maynprise.
200018And if hym list for to lape, the lawe of kynde wolde
200019That he dronke at ech dych, er he [deide for thurst].
200020So Nede, at gret nede, may nymen as for his owene,
200021Withouten conseil of Conscience or Cardynale Vertues--
200022So that he sewe and save Spiritus Temperancie.
200023"For is no vertue bi fer to Spiritus Temperancie--
200024Neither Spiritus Iusticie ne Spiritus Fortitudinis.
200025For Spiritus Fortitudinis forfeteth ful ofte:
200026He shal do moore than mesure many tyme and ofte,
200027And bete men over bittre, and som body to litel,
200028And greve men gretter than good feith it wolde.
200029"And Spiritus Iusticie shal juggen, wole he, nel he,
200030After the kynges counseil and the comune like.
200031And Spiritus Prudencie in many a point shal faille
200032Of that he weneth wolde falle if his wit ne weere.
200033Wenynge is no wysdom, ne wys ymaginacion:
200033{Homo proponit et Deus disponit--}
200034[God] governeth alle goode vertues;
200035And Nede is next hym, for anoon he meketh
200036And as lowe as a lomb, for lakkyng that hym nedeth;
200037For nede maketh nede fele nedes lowe-herted.
200038Philosophres forsoke welthe for thei wolde be nedy,
200039And woneden wel elengely and wolde noght be riche.
200040"And God al his grete joye goostliche he lefte,
200041And cam and took mankynde and bicam nedy."
200042So he was nedy, as seith the Book, in manye sondry places,
200043That he seide in his some on the selve roode,
200044"'the Fox and fowel may fle to hole and crepe,
200045And the fissh hath fyn to flete with to reste,
200046Ther nede hath ynome me, that I moot nede abide
200047And suffre sorwes ful soure, that shal to joye torne.''
200048Forthi be noght abasshed to bide and to be nedy,
200049Sith he that wroghte al the world was wilfulliche nedy,
200050Ne nevere noon so nedy ne poverer deide.'
200051Whan Nede hadde undernome rne thus, anoon I fil aslepe,
200052And mette ful merveillously that in mannes forme
200053Antecrist cam thanne, and al the crop of truthe
200054Torned it [tid] up-so-doun, and overtilte the roote,
200055And made fals sprynge and sprede and spede mennes nedes.
200056In ech a contree ther he cam he kutte awey truthe.
200057And gerte gile growe there as he a god weere.
200058Freres folwede that fend, for he gaf hem copes,
200059And religiouse reverenced hym and rongen hir belles,
200060And al the covent cam to welcome that tyraunt,
200061And alle hise as wel as hym--save oonly fooles;
200062Whiche fooles were wel gladdere to deye
200063Than to lyve lenger sith Leute was so rebuked,
200064And a fals fend Antecrist over alle folk regnede.
200065And that were rnylde men and holye, that no meschief dradden,
200066Defyed alle falsnesse and folk that it usede;
200067And what kyng that hem conforted, knowynge h[ir] gile,
200068They cursed, and hir conseil--were it clerk or lewed.
200069Antecrist hadde thus soone hundredes at his baner,
200070And Pride bar it bare boldely aboute,
200071With a lord that lyveth after likyng of body,
200072That cam ayein Conscience, that kepere was and gyour
200073Over kynde Cristene and Cardynale Vertues.
200074"I conseille,' quod Conscience tho, "cometh with me, ye fooles,
200075Into Unite Holy Chirche, and holde we us there.
200076And crye we to Kynde that he come and defende us
200077Fooles fro thise fendes lymes, for Piers love the Plowman.
200078And crye we on al the comune that thei come to Unitee,
200079And there abide and bikere ayeins Beliales children.'
200080Kynde Conscience tho herde, and cam out of the planetes,
200081And sente forth his forreyours -- feveres and fluxes,
200082Coughes and cardiacles, crampes and toothaches,
200083Rewmes and radegundes and roynouse scalles,
200084Biles and bocches and brennynge agues,
200085Frenesies and foule yveles--forageres of Kynde
200086Hadde ypriked and prayed polles of peple;
200087Largeliche a legion lees hir lif soone.
200088There was " Harrow!' and " Help! Here cometh Kynde,
200089With Deeth that is dredful, to undo us alle!'
200090The lord that lyved after lust tho aloud cryde
200091After Confort, a knyght, to come and bere his baner.
200092"Alarme! Alarme!' quod that lord, "ech lif kepe his owene!'
200093Thanne mette thise men, er mynstrals myghte pipe,
200094And er heraudes of armes hadden discryved lordes,
200095Elde the hoore; he was in the vauntwarde,
200096And bar the baner bifore Deeth--bi right he it cleymede.
200097Kynde cam after hym, with many kene soores,
200098As pokkes and pestilences--and muche peple shente;
200099So Kynde thorugh corrupcions kilde ful manye,
200100Deeth cam dryvynge after and al to duste passhed
200101Kynges and knyghtes, kaysers and popes.
200102Lered ne lewed, he lefte no man stonde
200103That he hitte evene, that evere stired after.
200104Manye a lovely lady and [hir] lemmans knyghtes
200105Swowned and swelted for sorwe of Dethes dyntes.
200106Conscience of his curteisie to Kynde he bisoughte
200107To cesse and suffre, and see wher thei wo1de
200108Leve Pride pryvely and be parfite Cristene.
200109And Kynde cessede tho, to se the peple amende.
200110Fortune gan flatere thanne tho fewe that were alyve,
200111And bihighte hem long lif--and lecherie h
200112Amonges alle manere men, wedded and unwedded,
200113And gaderede a greet hoost al agayn Conscience.
200114"This Lecherie leide on with laughynge chiere
200115And with pryvee speche and peyntede wordes,
200116And armede hym in ydelnesse and in heigh berynge.
200117He bar a bowe in his hand and manye brode arewes,
200118Weren fethered with fair biheste and many a fals truthe.
200119With untidy tales he tened ful ofte
200120Conscience and his compaignye, of Holy Kirke the techeris.
200121Thanne cam Coveitise and caste how he myghte
200122Overcome Conscience and Cardinale Vertues,
200123And armed hym in avarice and hungriliche lyvede.
200124His wepne was al wiles, to wynnen and to hiden;
200125With glosynges and with gabbynges he giled the peple.
200126Symonye hym s[ue]de to assaille Conscience,
200127And preched to the peple, and prelates thei hem maden
200128To holden with Antecrist, hir temporaltees to save;
200129And cam to the kynges counseille as a kene baroun,
200130And kneled to Conscience in Court afore hem alle,
200131And garte Good Feith flee and Fals to abide;
200132And boldeliche bar adoun with many a bright noble
200133Muche of the wit and wisdom of Westmynstre Halle.
200134He jogged til a justice and justed in his eere,
200135And overtilte al his truthe with "Tak this up amendement.'
200136And to the Arches in haste he yede anoon after,
200137And tornede Cyvyle into Symonye, and siththe he took the Official:
200138For a menever mantel he made lele matrymoyne
200139Departen er deeth cam, and a devors shapte.
200140"Allas!' quod Conscience, and cryde tho, "wolde Crist of his grace
200141That Coveitise were Cristene, that is so kene to fighte,
200142And boold and bidynge the while his bagge lasteth!'
200143And thanne lough Lyf, and leet daggen hise clothes,
200144And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes,
200145And heeld Holynesse a jape and Hendenesse a wastour,
200146And leet Leautee a cherl and Lyere a fre man;
200147Conscience and counseil, he counted it folye.
200148Thus relyede Lif for a litel fortune,
200149And priked forth with Pride--preiseth he no vertue,
200150Ne careth noght how Kynde slow, and shal come at the laste
200151And kille alle erthely creature save Conscience oone.
200152Lyf lepte aside and laughte hym a lemman.
200153"Heele and I,' quod he, "and heighnesse of herte
200154Shal do thee noght drede neither deeth ne elde.
200155And to foryyte sorwe and yyve noght of synne."
200156This likede Lif and his lemman Fortune,
200157And geten in hir glorie a gadelyng at the laste,
200158Oon that muche wo wroughte, Sleuthe was his name.
200159Sleuthe wax wonder yerne and soone was of age,
200160And wedded oon Wanhope, a wenche of the stuwes.
200161Hir sire was a sysour that nevere swoor truthe---
200162Oon Tomme Two-tonge, atteynt at ech a queste.
200163This Sleuthe was war of werre, and a slynge made.
200164And threw drede of dispair a dozeyne myle aboute.
200165For care Conscience tho cryde upon Elde,
200166And bad hym fonde to fighte and afere Wanhope.
200167And Elde hente good hope, and hastiliche he shifte hym,
200168And wayved awey Wanhope and with Lif he fighteth.
200169And Lif fleigh for feere to Phisik after helpe,
200170And bisoughte hym of socour, and of his salve hadde,
200171And gaf hym gold good woon that gladede his herte--
200172And thei gyven hym ageyn a glazene howve.
200173Lyf leeved that lechecraft lette sholde Elde,
200174And dryven awey deeth with dyas and drogges.
200175And Elde auntred hym on Lyf--and at the laste he hitte
200176A phisicien with a furred hood, that he fel in a palsie,
200177And there dyed that doctour er thre dayes after.
200178"Now I se,' seide Lif, "that surgerie ne phisik
200179May noght a myte availle to medle ayein Elde.'
200180And in hope of his heele good herte he hente
200181And rood so to Revel, a riche place and a murye--
200182The compaignye of confort men cleped it som tyme--
200183And Elde anoon after hym, and over myn heed yede,
200184And made me balled bifore and bare on the croune:
200185So harde he yede over myn heed it wol be sene evere.
200186"Sire yvele ytaught Elde!' quod I, "unhende go with the!
200187Sith whanne was the wey over menne heddes?
200188Haddestow be hende,' quod I, "thow woldest have asked leeve!'
200189"Ye--leve, lurdeyn?' quod he, and leyde on me with age,
200190And hitte me under the ere--unnethe may ich here.
200191Helbuffetted me aboute the mouth and bette out my wangteeth,
200192And gyved me in goutes--I may noght goon at large.
200193And of the wo that I was inne my wif hadde ruthe,
200194And wisshed wel witterly that I were in hevene.
200195For the lyme that she loved me fore, and leef was to feele--
200196On nyghtes, namely, whan we naked weere--
200197I ne myghte in no manere maken it at hir wille,
200198So Elde and he[o] hadden it forbeten.
200199And as I seet in this sorwe, I saugh how Kynde passede,
200200And deeth drogh neigh me--for drede gan I quake,
200201And cryde to Kynde, "Out of care me brynge!
200202Lo! how Elde the hoore hath me biseye:
200203Awreke me if youre wille be, for I wolde ben hennes!
200204"If thow wolt be wroken, wend into Unitee,
200205And hold thee there evere, til I sende for thee;
200206And loke thow konne som craft er thow come thennes.'
200207"Counseille me, Kynde,' quod I, "what craft be best to lerne?'
200208"Lerne to love,' quod Kynde, "and leef alle othere.'
200209"How shal I come to catel so, toclothe me and to feede?'
200210"And thow love lelly, lakke shal thee nevere
200211Weede ne worldly mete, while thi lif lasteth.'
200212And there by conseil of Kynde I comsed to rome
200213Thorugh Contricion and Confession til I cam to Unitee.
200214And there was Conscience conestable Cristene to save,
200215And bisegede soo[r]ly with sevene grete geaunts
200216That with Antecrist helden harde ayein Conscience.
200217Sleuthe with his slynge an hard saut he made.
200218Proude preestes coome with hym--pange an hundred
200219In paltokes and pyked shoes and pisseris longe knyves
200220Coomen ayein Conscience--with Coveitise thei helden.
200221"By the Marie!' quod a mansed preest, was of the march of Irlonde,
200222"I counte na moore Conscience, by so I cacche silver,
200223Than I do to drynke a draughte of good ale!'
200224And so seiden sixty of the same contree,
200225And shotten ayein with shot, many a sheef of othes,
200226And brode hoked arwes--Goddes herte and hise nayles--
200227And hadden almoost Unitee and holynesse adown.
200228Conscience cryede, " Help, Clergie. or ellis I falle
200229Thorugh inparfite preestes and prelates of Holy Chirche!
200230Freres herden hym crye, and comen hym to helpe--
200231Ac for thei kouthe noght wel hir craft, Conscience forsook hem.
200232Nede neghede tho neer, and Conscience he tolde
200233That thei come for coveitise to have cure of soules.
200234"And for thei are povere, paraventure, for patrymoyne hem failleth,
200235Thei wol flatere, to fare wel, folk that ben riche.
200236And sithen thei chosen chele and cheitiftee, poverte--
200237Lat hem chewe as thei chose, and charge hem with no cure!
200238For lomere he lyeth, that liflode moot begge,
200239Than he that laboureth for liflode and leneth it beggeres.
200240And sithen freres forsoke the felicite of erthe,
200241Lat hem be as beggeris, or lyve by aungeles foode!'
200242Conscience of this counseil tho comsede for to laughe,
200243And curteisliche conforted hem and called in alle freres,
200244And seide, Sires, soothly welcome be ye alle
200245To Unitee and Holy Chirche--ac o thyng I yow preye:
200246Holdeth yow in unitee, and haveth noon envye
200247To lered ne to lewed, but lyveth after youre reule.
200248And I wol be youre borugh, ye shal have breed and clothes
200249And othere necessaries ynowe--yow shal no thyng lakke,
200250With that ye leve logik and lerneth for to lovye.
200251For love lafte thei lordshipe, bothe lond and scole--
200252Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk--for love to be holye.
200253"And if ye coveite cure, Kynde wol yow telle
200254That in mesure God made alle manere thynges,
200255And sette it at a certein and at a siker nombre,
200256And nempnede hem names newe, and noumbrede the sterres:
200256{Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum et omnibus eis &c.}
200257"Kynges and knyghtes, that kepen and defenden,
200258Han officers under hem, and ech of hem a certein.
200259And if thei wage men to werre, thei write hem in noumbre;
200260Wol no tresorere taken hem wages, travaille thei never so soore,
200261[But thei ben nempned in the noumbre of hem that ben ywaged].
200262Alle othere in bataille ben yholde brybours--
200263Pylours and pykeharneys, in ech a parisshe ycursed.
200264" Monkes and moniales and alle men of religion--
200265Hir ordre and hir reu1e wole to han a certein noumbre;
200266Of lewed and of lered the lawe wole and asketh
200267A certein for a certein--save oonliche of freres!
200268Forthi,' quod Conscience, "by Crist! kynde wit me telleth
200269It is wikked to wage yow--ye wexen out of noumbre!
200270Hevene hath evene noumbre, and helle is withoute noumbre;
200271Forthi I wolde witterly that ye were in the registre
200272And youre noumbre under notarie sygne, and neither mo ne lasse!'
200273Envye herde this and heet freres go to scole
200274And lerne logyk and lawe--and ek contemplacion--
200275And preche men of Plato, and preve it by Seneca
200276That alle thynges under hevene oughte to ben in cornune.
200277He lyeth, as I leve, that to the lewed so precheth:
200278For God made to men a lawe and Moyses it taughte--
200279Non concupisces rem proximi tui.
200280And yvele is this yholde in parisshes of Engelonde;
200281For persons and parissh preestes, that sholde the peple shryve,
200282Ben curatours called to knowe and to hele.
200283Alle that ben hir parisshens penaunces enjoigne,
200284And ben ashamed in hir shrift; ac shame maketh hem wende
200285And fleen to the freres---as fals folk to Westmynstre,
200286That borweth, and bereth it thider, and thanne biddeth frendes
200287Yerne of foryifnesse or lenger yeres leve.
200288Ac while he is in Westmynstre he wol be bifore
200289And maken hym murie with oother menne goodes.
200290And so it fareth with muche folk that to freres shryveth;
200291As sisours and executours--thei shul yyve the freres
200292A parcel to preye for hem, and [purchace] hem mur[th]e
200293With the remenaunt that othere [renkes] biswonke,
200294And suffre the dede in dette to the day of doome.
200295Envye herfore hatede Conscience,
200296And freres to philosophie he fond hem to scole,
200297The while Coveitise and Unkyndenesse Conscience assaillede.
200298In Unitee Holy Chirche Conscience held hym,
200299And made Pees porter to pynne the yates
200300Of alle taletelleris and titeleris in ydel.
200301Ypocrisie and h[ii] an hard saut thei made.
200302Ypocrisie at the yate harde gan fighte,
200303And woundede wel wikkedly many a wise techere
200304That with Conscience acordede and Cardynale Vertues.
200305Conscience called a leche, that coude wel shryve,
200306To go salve tho that sike were and thorugh synne ywounded.
200307Shrift shoop sharp salve, and made men do penaunce
200308For hire mysdedes that thei wroght hadde,
200309And that Piers [pardon] were ypayed, redde quod debes.
200310Some liked noght this leche, and lettres thei sente,
200311If any surgien were in the sege that softer koude plastre.
200312Sire Leef-to-lyve-in-lecherie lay there and gronede;
200313For fastynge of a Fryday he ferde as he wolde deye:
200314"Ther is a surgien in this sege that softe kan handle,
200315And moore of phisik bi fer, and fairer he plastreth--
200316Oon Frere Flaterere, is phisicien and surgien.'
200317Quod Contricion to Conscience, "Do hym come to Unitee;
200318For here is many a man hurt thorugh Ypocrisye.'
200319"We han no nede,' quod Conscience, "I woot no bettre leche
200320Than person or parissh preest, penitauncer or bisshop--
200321Save Piers the Plowman, that hath power over alle,
200322And indulgence may do, but if dette lette it.
200323I may wel suffre,' seide Conscience, "syn ye desiren,
200324That Frere Flaterere be fet and phisike yow sike.'
200325The frere herof herde and hiede faste
200326To a lord for a lettre, leve to have to curen
200327As a curatour he were, and cam with his lettre
200328Boldely to the bisshop, and his brief hadde,
200329In contrees ther he coome, confessions to here--
200330And cam there Conseience was, and knokked at the yate.
200331Pees unpynned it, was porter of Unitee,
200332And in haste askede what his wille were.
200333"In faith,' quod this frere, "for profit and for helthe
200334Carpe I wolde with Contricion, and therfore cam I hider,'
200335"He is sik,' seide Pees, "and so are manye othere;
200336Ypocrisie hath hurt hem--ful hard is if thei kevere.'
200337"I am a surgien,' seide the frere, "and salves can make.
200338Conscience knoweth me wel and what I kan do bothe.'
200339"I praye thee,' quod Pees tho, "er thow passe ferther,
200340What hattestow? I praye thee, hele noght thi name.'
200341"Certes,' seide his felawe, " Sire Penetrans-domos.'
200342"Ye? Go thi gate!' quod Pees, "by God, for al thi phisik,
200343But thow konne any craft, thow comest nought herinne!
200344I knew swich oon ones, noght eighte wynter passed,
200345Coom in thus ycoped at a court there I dwelde,
200346And was my lordes leche--and my ladies bothe.
200347And at the laste this lymytour, tho my lord was oute,
200348He salvede so oure wommen til some were with childe.'
200349Hende-Speche heet Pees tho, " Opene the yates.
200350Lat in the frere and his felawe, and make hem fair cheere.
200351He may se and here here, so may bifalle,
200352That Lif thorugh his loore shal leve coveitise,
200353And be adrad of deeth and withdrawe hym fram pryde,
200354And acorde with Conseience and kisse hir either oother.'
200355Thus thorugh Hende-Speche entred the frere,
200356And cam in to Conseience and curteisly hym grette.
200357" Thow art welcome,' quod Conscience, "kanstow heele sike?
200358Here is Contricion,' quod Conscience, "my cosyn, ywounded.
200359Conforte hym,' quod Conscience, "and take kepe to hise soores.
200360The plastres of the person and poudres ben to soore,
200361And lat hem ligge overlonge and looth is to chaunge hem;
200362Fro Lenten to Lenten he lat his plastres bite.'
200363"That is overlonge!' quod this lymytour, " I leve--I shal amende it'--
200364And gooth, gropeth Contricion, and gaf hym a plastre
200365Of "A pryvee paiement, and I shal praye for yow,
200366And for al [hem] that ye ben holden to, al my lif tyme,
200367And make yow [and] my Lady in masse and in matyns
200368As freres of oure fraternytee for a litel silver.'
200369Thus he gooth and gadereth, and gloseth there he shryveth--
200370Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten to crye and to wepe,
200371And wake for hise wikked werkes as he was wont to doone.
200372For confort of his confessour contricion he lafte,
200373That is the soverayneste salve for alle[s]kynnes synnes.
200374Sleuth seigh that, and so dide Pryde,
200375And comen with a kene wille Conscience to assaille.
200376Conseience cryed eft [Clergie come] helpe hym,
200377And [bad] Contricion [come] to kepe the yate.
200378" He lith adreynt,' seide Pees, "and so do manye othere;
200379The frere with his phisyk this folk hath enchaunted,
200380And plastred hem so esily [that hii] drede no synne!'
200381"By Crist!' quod Conscience tho, " I wole bicome a pilgrym,
200382And walken as wide as the world lasteth,
200383To seken Piers the Plowman, that Pryde myghte destruye,
200384And that freres hadde a fyndyng, that for nede flateren
200385And countrepledeth me, Conscience. Now Kynde me avenge,
200386And sende me hap and heele, til I have Piers the P1owman!'
200387And siththe he gradde after Grace, til I gan awake.