P,1  In a somer seson, whan softe was the sonne,
P,2  I shoop me into shroudes as I a sheep were,
P,3  In habite as an heremite unholy of werkes,
P,4  Wente wide in this world wondres to here.
P,5  Ac on a May morwenynge on Malverne hilles
P,6  Me bifel a ferly, of Fairye me thoghte.
P,7  I was wery forwandred and wente me to reste
P,8  Under a brood bank by a bourne syde;
P,9  And as I lay and lenede and loked on the watres,
P,10  I slombred into a slepyng, it sweyed so murye.
P,11  Thanne gan I meten a merveillous swevene--
P,12  That I was in a wildernesse, wiste I nevere where.
P,13  A[c] as I biheeld into the eest an heigh to the sonne,
P,14  I seigh a tour on a toft trieliche ymaked,
P,15  A deep dale bynethe, a dongeon therinne,
P,16  With depe diches and derke and dredfulle of sighte.
P,17  A fair feeld ful of folk fond I ther bitwene--
P,18  Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche,
P,19  Werchynge and wandrynge as the world asketh.
P,20  Somme putten hem to the plough, pleiden ful selde,
P,21  In settynge and sowynge swonken ful harde,
P,22  And wonnen that thise wastours with glotonye destruyeth
P,23  And somme putten hem to pride, apparailed hem therafter,
P,24  In contenaunce of clothynge comen disgised-
P,25  In preieres and penaunce putten hem manye,
P,26  Al for the love of Oure Lord lyveden ful streyte
P,27  In hope to have heveneriche blisse--
P,28  As ancres and heremites that holden hem in hire selles,
P,29  Coveiten noght in contree to cairen aboute
P,30  For no likerous liflode hire likame to plese.
P,31  And somme chosen chaffare; they cheveden the bettre--
P,32  As it semeth to oure sight that swiche men thryveth;
P,33  And somme murthes to make as mynstralles konne,
P,34  And geten gold with hire glee-- [gilt]lees, I leeve-
P,35  Ac japeres and jangeleres, Judas children,
P,36  Feynen hem fantasies, and fooles hem maketh--
P,37  And han wit at wille to werken if they wolde.
P,38  That Poul precheth of hem I wol nat preve it here:
P,39     {Qui loquitur turpiloquium} is Luciferes hyne-
P,40  Bidderes and beggeres faste aboute yede
P,41  [Til] hire bely and hire bagge  [were] bredful ycrammed,
P,42  Faiteden for hire foode, foughten at the ale.
P,43  In glotonye, God woot, go thei to bedde,
P,44  And risen with ribaudie, tho Roberdes knaves;
P,45  Sleep and sory sleuthe seweth hem evere.
P,46  Pilgrymes and palmeres plighten hem togidere
P,47  For to seken Seint Jame and seintes at Rome;
P,48  Wenten forth in hire wey with many wise tales,
P,49  And hadden leve to lyen al hire lif after.
P,50  I seigh somme that seiden thei hadde ysought seintes:
P,51  To ech a tale that thei tolde hire tonge was tempred to lye
P,52  Moore than to seye sooth, it semed bi hire speche.
P,53  Heremytes on an heep with hoked staves,
P,54  Wenten to Walsyngham--and hire wenches after:
P,55  Grete lobies and longe that lothe were to swynke
P,56  Clothed hem in copes to ben knowen from othere,
P,57  And shopen hem heremytes hire ese to have.
P,58  I fond there freres, alle the foure ordres,
P,59  Prechynge the peple for profit of [the wombe]:
P,60  Glosed the gospel as hem good liked;
P,61  For coveitise of copes construwed it as thei wolde.
P,62  Manye of thise maistres mowe clothen hem at likyng
P,63  For hire moneie and hire marchaundise marchen togideres.
P,64  Sith charite hath ben chapman and chief to shryve lordes
P,65  Manye ferlies han fallen in a fewe yeres.
P,66  But Holy Chirche and hii holde bettre togidres
P,67  The mooste meschief on molde is mountynge up faste.
P,68  Ther preched a pardoner as he a preest were:
P,69  Broughte forth a bulle with bisshopes seles,
P,70  And seide that hymself myghte assoillen hem alle
P,71  Of falshede of fastynge, of avowes ybroken. -
P,72  Lewed men leved hym wel and liked hise wordes,
P,73  Comen up knelynge to kissen his bulle.
P,74  He bonched hem with his brevet and blered hire eighen,
P,75  And raughte with his rageman rynges and broches.
P,76  --Thus ye gyven youre gold glotons to helpe,
P,77  And leneth it losels that leccherie haunten"
P,78  Were the bisshop yblessed and worth bothe his eris,
P,79  His seel sholde noght be sent to deceyve the peple.
P,80  Ac it is noght by the bisshop that the boy precheth--
P,81  For the parisshe preest and the pardoner parten the silver
P,82  That the povere [peple] of the parissche sholde have if they ne were.
P,83  Persons and parisshe preestes pleyned hem to the bisshop
P,84  That hire parisshes weren povere sith the pestilence tyme,
P,85  To have a licence and leve at London to dwelle,
P,86  And syngen ther for symonie, for silver is swete.
P,87  Bisshopes and bachelers, bothe maistres and doctours--
P,88  That han cure under Crist, and crownynge in tokene
P,89  And signe that thei sholden shryven hire parisshens,
P,90  Prechen and praye for hem, and the povere fede--
P,91  Liggen at Londoun in Lenten and ellis.
P,92  Somme serven the King and his silver tellen,
P,93  In Cheker and in Chauncelrie chalangen his dettes
P,94  Of wardes and of wardemotes, weyves and streyves.
P,95  And somme serven as servaunts lordes and ladies,
P,96  And in stede of stywardes sitten and demen.
P,97  Hire messe and hire matyns and many of hire houres
P,98  Arn doone undevoutliche; drede is at the laste
P,99  Lest Crist in Consistorie acorse ful manye"
P,100  I parceyved of the power that Peter hadde to kepe--
P,101  To bynden and unbynden, as the Book telleth--
P,102  How he it lefte with love as Oure Lord highte
P,103  Amonges foure vertues, most vertuous of alle vertues,
P,104  That cardinals ben called and closynge yates
P,105  There Crist is in kyngdom, to close and to shette,
P,106  And to opene it to hem and hevene blisse shewe.
P,107  Ac of the Cardinals at court that kaughte of that name
P,108  And power presumed in hem a Pope to make
P,109  To han the power that Peter hadde. impugnen I nelle--
P,110  For in love and in lettrure the eleccion bilongeth;
P,111  Forthi I kan and kan naught of court speke moore.
P,112  Thanne kam ther a Kyng: Knyghthod hym ladde;
P,113  Might of the communes made hym to regne.
P,114  And thanne cam Kynde Wit and clerkes he made,
P,115  For to counseillen the Kyng and the Commune save.
P,116  The Kyng and Knyghthod and Clergie bothe
P,117  Casten that the Commune sholde hem [communes] fynde.
P,118  The Commune contreved of Kynde Wit craftes,
P,119  And for profit of al the peple plowmen ordeyned
P,120  To tilie and to travaille as trewe lif asketh.
P,121  The Kyng and the Commune and Kynde Wit the thridde
P,122  Shopen lawe and leaute--ech lif to knowe his owene.
P,123  Thanne loked up a lunatik, a leene thyng withalle,
P,124  And knelynge to the Kyng clergially he seide,
P,125  "Crist kepe thee, sire Kyng, and thi kyngryche,
P,126  And lene thee lede thi lond so leaute thee lovye,
P,127  And for thi rightful rulyng be rewarded in hevene"'
P,128  And sithen in the eyr on heigh an aungel of hevene
P,129  Lowed to speke in Latyn--for lewed men ne koude
P,130  Jangle ne jugge that justifie hem sholde,
P,131  But suffren and serven--forthi seide the aungel:
P,132  "  {Sum Rex, sum Princeps",- neutrum fortasse deinceps!"}
P,133     {O qui iura regis Christi specialia regis,}
P,134     {Hoc quod agas melius--iustus es, esto pius!"}
P,135     {Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate.}
P,136     {Qualia vis metere, talia grana sere:}
P,137     {Si ius nudatur, nudo de iure metatur;}
P,138     {Si seritur pietas, de pietate metas'.}
P,139  Thanne greved hym a goliardeis, a gloton of wordes,
P,140  And to the aungel an heigh answerde after:
P,141  "  {Dum} " {rex" a " regere} " {dicatur nomen habere,}
P,142     {Nomen habet sine re nisi studet iura tenere'.}
P,143  Thanne [c]an al the commune crye in vers of Latyn
P,144  To the Kynges counseil--construe whoso wolde--
P,145     {"Precepta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis"'}
P,146  With that ran ther a route of ratons at ones
P,147  And smale mees myd hem: mo than a thousand
P,148  Comen to a counseil for the commune profit;
P,149  For a cat of a court cam whan hym liked
P,150  And overleep hem lightliche and laughte hem at his wille,
P,151  And pleide with hem perillousli and possed aboute.
P,152  "For doute of diverse dredes we dar noght wel loke"
P,153  And if we grucche of his gamen he wol greven us alle--
P,154  Cracchen us or clawen us and in hise clouches holde.
P,155  That us lotheth the lif er he late us passe.
P,156  Mighte we with any wit his wille withstonde,
P,157  We myghte be lordes olofte and lyven at oure ese'.
P,158  A raton of renoun, moost renable of tonge,
P,159  Seide for a sovereyn [salve] to hem alle,
P,160  "I have yseyen segges', quod he, "in the Cite of Londoun
P,161  Beren beighes ful brighte abouten hire nekkes,
P,162  And somme colers of crafty work; uncoupled they wenden
P,163  Bothe in wareyne and in waast where hem leve liketh,
P,164  And outher while thei arn elliswhere, as I here telle.
P,165  Were ther a belle on hire beighe, by Jesus, as me thynketh,
P,166  Men myghte witen wher thei wente and awey renne.
P,167  And right so', quod that raton, "reson me sheweth
P,168  To bugge a belle of bras or of bright silver
P,169  And knytten it on a coler for oure commune profit
P,170  And hangen it upon the cattes hals--thanne here we mowen
P,171  Wher he ryt or rest or rometh to pleye;
P,172  And if hym list for to laike, thanne loke we mowen
P,173  And peeren in his presence the while hym pleye liketh,
P,174  And if hym wratheth, be war and his wey shonye'.
P,175  Al the route of ratons to this reson assented;
P,176  Ac tho the belle was ybrought and on the beighe hanged
P,177  Ther ne was raton in al the route, for al the reaume of France,
P,178  That dorste have bounden the belle aboute the cattes nekke,
P,179  Ne hangen it aboute his hals al Engelond to wynne,
P,180  [Ac] helden hem unhardy and hir counseil feble,
P,181  And leten hire laboure lost and al hire longe studie.
P,182  A mous that muche good kouthe, as me tho thoughte,
P,183  Strook forth sternely and stood bifore hem alle,
P,184  And to the route of ratons reherced thise wordes:
P,185  "Though we hadde ykilled the cat, yet sholde ther come another
P,186  To cracchen us and al oure kynde, though we cropen under benches.
P,187  Forthi I counseille al the commune to late the cat worthe,
P,188  And be we nevere so bolde the belle hym to shewe.
P,189  The while he caccheth conynges he coveiteth noght oure caroyne,
P,190  But fedeth hym al with venyson; defame we hym nevere.
P,191  For bettre is a litel los than a long sorwe:
P,192  The maze among us alle, theigh we mysse a sherewe!
P,193  For I herde my sire seyn, is seven yeer ypassed,
P,194  ""Ther the cat is a kitoun, the court is ful elenge''.
P,195  That witnesseth Holy Writ, whoso wole it rede--
P,196     {Ve terre ubi puer rex est, {&c.}}
P,197  For may no renk ther reste have for ratons by nyghte.
P,198  For many mennes malt we mees wolde destruye,
P,199  And also ye route of ratons rende mennes clothes,
P,200  Nere the cat of the court that kan you overlepe;
P,201  For hadde ye rattes youre [raik] ye kouthe noght rule yowselve.
P,202  "I seye for me', quod the mous, " I se so muchel after,
P,203  Shal nevere the cat ne the kiton by my counseil be greved,
P,204  Ne carpynge of this coler that costed me nevere.
P,205  And though it costned me catel, biknowen it I nolde,
P,206  But suffren as hymself wolde [s]o doon as hym liketh--
P,207  Coupled and uncoupled to cacche what thei mowe.
P,208  Forthi ech a wis wight I warne--wite wel his owene!'
P,209  (What this metels bymeneth, ye men that ben murye,
P,210  Devyne ye--for I ne dar, by deere God in hevene)!
P,211  Yet hoved ther an hundred in howves of selk--
P,212  Sergeants, it semed, that serveden at the Barre,
P,213  Pleteden for penyes and pounded the lawe,
P,214  And noght for love of Oure Lord unlose hire lippes ones.
P,215  Thow myghtest bettre meete myst on Malverne Hilles
P,216  Than get a "mom' of hire mouth til moneie be shewed!
P,217  Barins and burgeises and bondemen als
P,218  I seigh in this assemblee, as ye shul here after;
P,219  Baksteres and brewesteres and bochiers manye,
P,220  Wollen webbesters and weveres of lynnen,
P,221  Taillours and tynkers and tollers in markettes,
P,222  Masons and mynours and many othere craftes:
P,223  Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers lopen forth somme-
P,224  As dykeres and delveres that doon hire dedes ille
P,225  And dryveth forth the longe day with "Dieu save Dame Emme!'
P,226  Cokes and hire knaves cryden, " Hote pies, hote!
P,227  Goode gees and grys! Go we dyne, go we!'
P,228  Taverners until hem tolden the same:
P,229  "Whit wyn of Oseye and wyn of Gascoigne,
P,230  Of the Ryn and of the Rochel, the roost to defie!'
P,231  --Al this I seigh slepyng, and sevene sythes more.
1,1  What this mountaigne bymeneth and the merke dale
1,2  And the feld ful of folk, I shal yow faire shewe.
1,3  A lovely lady of leere in lynnen yclothed
1,4  Cam doun fom [the] castel and called me faire,
1,5  And seide, "Sone, slepestow? Sestow this peple-
1,6  How bisie they ben aboute the maze?
1,7  The mooste partie of this peple that passeth on this erthe,
1,8  Have thei worship in this world, thei wilne no bettre;
1,9  Of oother hevene than here holde thei no tale'. -
1,10  I was afeed of hire face, theigh she faire weere,
1,11  And seide, " Mercy, madame, what [may] this [be] to mene?'
1,12  "The tour upon the toft', quod she, "Truthe is therinne,
1,13  And wolde that ye wroughte as his word techeth.
1,14  For he is fader of feith and formed yow alle
1,15  Bothe with fel and with face and yaf yow fyve wittes
1,16  For to worshipe hym therwith while that ye ben here.
1,17  And therfore he highte the erthe to helpe yow echone
1,18  Of wollene, of lynnen, of liflode at nede
1,19  In mesurable manere to make yow at ese;
1,20  And comaunded of his curteisie in commune three thynges:
1,21  Are none nedfulle but tho, and nempne hem I thynke,
1,22  And rekene hem by reson--reherce thow hem after.
1,23  "That oon is vesture from chele thee to save,
1,24  And mete at meel for mysese of thiselve,
1,25  And drynke whan thow driest--ac do noght out of reson,
1,26  That thow worthe the wers whan thow werche sholdest.
1,27  For Lot in hise lifdayes, for likynge of drynke,
1,28  Dide by hise doughtres that the devel liked:
1,29  Delited hym in drynke as the devel wolde,
1,30  And leccherie hym laughte, and lay by hem bothe--
1,31  And al he witte it the wyn, that wikked dede:
1,31  {Inebriemus eum vino dormiamusque cum eo, ut}
1,31  {servare possimus de patre nostro semen.}
1,32  Thorugh wyn and thorugh wommen ther was Loth acombred,
1,33  And there gat in glotonie gerles that were cherles.
1,34  Forthi dred delitable drynke and thow shalt do the bettre.
1,35  Mesure is medicine, though thow muchel yerne.
1,36  Al is nought good to the goost that the gut asketh,
1,37  Ne liflode to the likame that leef is to the soule.
1,38  Leve nought thi likame, for a liere hym techeth--
1,39  That is the wrecched world, wolde thee bitraye.
1,40  For the fend and thi flessh folwen togidere,
1,41  And that [shendeth] thi soule; set it in thin herte.
1,42  And for thow sholdest ben ywar, I wisse thee the beste.'
1,43  "A, madame, mercy,' quod I, " me liketh wel youre wordes.
1,44  Ac the moneie of this molde that men so faste holdeth--
1,45  Telleth me to whom that tresour appendeth.'
1,46  Go to the Gospel,' quod she, "that God seide hymselven,
1,47  Tho the poeple hym apposede with a peny in the Temple
1,48  Wheither thei sholde therwith worshipe the kyng Cesar.
1,49  And God asked of hem, of whom spak the lettre,
1,50  And the ymage ylike that therinne stondeth?
1,51  Cesares, thei seiden, "we seen it wel echone.'
1,52  ""Reddite Cesari,'' quod God, "" that Cesari bifalleth,
1,53  Et que sunt Dei Deo, or ellis ye don ille.'
1,54  --For rightfully Reson sholde rule yow alle,
1,55  And Kynde Wit be wardeyn youre welthe to kepe,
1,56  And tutour of youre tresor, and take it yow at nede,
1,57  For housbondrie and he holden togidres.'
1,58  Thanne I frayned hire faire, for Hym that hire made,
1,59  "That dongeon in the dale that dredful is of sighte--
1,60  What may it bemeene, madame, I yow biseche?'
1,61  "That is the castel of care--whoso comth therinne
1,62  May banne that he born was to bodi or to soule!
1,63  Therinne wonyeth a wight that Wrong is yhote,
1,64  Fader of falshede--and founded it hymselve.
1,65  Adam and Eve he egged to ille,
1,66  Counseilled Kaym to killen his brother,
1,67  Judas he japed with Jewen silver,
1,68  And sithen on an eller hanged hym after.
1,69  He is lettere of love and lieth hem alle:
1,70  That trusten on his tresour bitrayed arn sonnest.'
1,71  Thanne hadde I wonder in my wit what womman it weere
1,72  That swiche wise wordes of Holy Writ shewed,
1,73  And halsede hire on the heighe name, er she thennes yede,
1,74  What she were witterly that wissed me so faire.
1,75  "Holi Chirche I am,' quod she, thow oughtest me to knowe.
1,76  I underfeng thee first and the feith taughte.
1,77  Thow broughtest me borwes my biddyng to fulfille,
1,78  And to loven me leelly the while thi lif dureth.'
1,79  Thanne I courbed on my knees and cried hire of grace,
1,80  And preide hire pitously to preye for my synnes,
1,81  And also kenne me kyndely on Crist to bileve,
1,82  That I myghte werchen His wille that wroghte me to man:
1,83  "Teche me to no tresor, but tel me this ilke =
1,84  How I may save my soule, that seint art yholden.'
1,85  "Whan alle tresors arn tried,' quod she, -Treuthe is the beste.
1,86  I do it on Deus caritas to deme the sothe;
1,87  It is as dereworthe a drury as deere God hymselven.
1,88  Who is trewe of his tonge and telleth noon oother,
1,89  And dooth the werkes therwith and wilneth no man ille,
1,90  He is a god by the Gospel, agrounde and olofte,
1,91  And ylik to Oure Lord, by Seint Lukes wordes.
1,92  The clerkes that knowen this sholde kennen it aboute,
1,93  For Cristen and uncristen cleymeth it echone.
1,94  " Kynges and knyghtes sholde kepen it by reson--
1,95  Riden and rappen doun in reaumes aboute,
1,96  And taken transgressores and tyen hem faste
1,97  Til treuthe hadde ytermyned hire trespas to the ende.
1,98  For David in hise dayes dubbed knyghtes,
1,99  And dide hem sweren on hir swerd to serven truthe evere.
1,100  And that is the profession apertly that apendeth to knyghtes,
1,101  And naught to Fasten o Friday in fyve score wynter,
1,102  But holden with hym and with here that wolden alle truthe,
1,103  And never leve hem for love ne for lacchynge of silver--
1,104  And whoso passe[th] that point is apostata in the ordre.
1,105  - But Crist, kyngene kyng, knyghted ten--
1,106  Cherubyn and Seraphyn, swiche sevene and another,
1,107  And yaf hem myght in his majestee--the murier hem thoughte--
1,108  And over his meene meynee made hem archangeles;
1,109  Taughte hem by the Trinitee treuthe to knowe,
1,110  To be buxom at his biddyng--he bad hem nought ellis.
1,111  "Lucifer with legions lerned it in hevene,
1,112  [And was the lovelokest to loke after Oure Lord (one)]
1,113  Til he brak buxomnesse; his blisse gan he tyne,
1,114  And fel fro that felawshipe in a fendes liknesse
1,115  into a deep derk helle to dwelle there for evere.
1,116  And mo thousandes myd hym than man kouthe nombre
1,117  Lopen out with Lucifer in lothliche forme
1,118  For thei leveden upon hym that lyed in this manere:
1,119     {Ponam pedem in aquilone, et similis ero Altissimo.}
1,120  And alle that hoped it myghte be so, noon hevene myghte hem holde,
1,121  But fellen out in fendes liknesse [ful] nyne dayes togideres,
1,122  Til God of his goodnesse [garte the hevene to stekie
1,123  And gan stable it and stynte] and stonden in quiete.
1,124  " Whan thise wikkede wenten out, wonderwise thei fellen--
1,125  Somme in eyr, somme in erthe, somme in helle depe;
1,126  Ac Lucifer lowest lith of hem alle:
1,127  For pride that he putte out, his peyne hath noon ende.
1,128  And alle that werchen with wrong wende thei shulle
1,129  After hir deth day and dwelle with that sherewe;
1,130  Ac tho that werche wel as Holy Writ telleth,
1,131  And enden as I er seide in truthe, that is the beste,
1,132  Mowe be siker that hire soules shul wende to hevene,
1,133  Ther Treuthe is in Trinitee and troneth hem alle.
1,134  Forthi I seye, as I seyde er, by sighte of thise textes--
1,135  Whan alle tresors arn tried, Truthe is the beste.
1,136  Lereth it th[u]s lewed men, for lettred it knoweth--
1,137  That Treuthe is tresor the trieste on erthe.'
1,138  "Yet have I no kynde knowynge,' quod I, "ye mote kenne me bettre
1,139  By what craft in my cors it comseth, and where.'
1,140  "Thow doted daffe!' quod she, dulle are thi wittes.
1,141  To litel Latyn thow lernedest, leode, in thi youthe:
1,141  {Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuvenilem!}
1,142  It is a kynde knowynge that kenneth in thyn herte
1,143  For to loven thi Lord levere than thiselve,
1,144  No dedly synne to do, deye theigh thow sholdest--
1,145  This I trowe be truthe; who kan teche thee bettre,
1,146  Loke thow suffre hym to seye, and sithen lere it after;
1,147  For thus witnesseth his word; worche thow therafter.
1,148  " For Truthe telleth that love is triacle of hevene:
1,149  May no synne be on hym seene that that spice useth.
1,150  And alle his werkes he wroughte with love as hym liste,
1,151  And lered it Moyses for the leveste thyng and moost lik to hevene,
1,152  And also the plante of pees, moost precious of vertues :
1,153  For hevene myghte nat holden it, so was it hevy of hymself,
1,154  Til it hadde of the erthe eten his fille.
1,155  And whan it hadde of this fold flessh and blood taken,
1,156  Was nevere leef upon lynde lighter therafter,
1,157  And portatif and persaunt as the point of a nedle,
1,158  That myghte noon armure it lette ne none heighe walles.
1,159  " Forthi is love ledere of the Lordes folk of hevene,
1,160  And a meene, as the mair is, [inmiddes] the kyng and the commune;
1,161  Right so is love a ledere and the lawe shapeth:
1,162  Upon man for hise mysdedes the mercyment he taxeth.
1,163  And for to knowen it kyndely--it comseth by myght,
1,164  And in the herte, there is the heed and the heighe welle.
1,165  For in kynde knowynge in herte ther [coms]eth a myght--
1,166  And that falleth to the Fader that formed us alle,
1,167  Loked on us with love and leet his sone dye
1,168  Mekely for oure mysdedes, to amenden us alle.
1,169  And yet wolde he hem no wo that wroughte hym that peyne,
1,170  But mekely with mouthe mercy he bisoughte,
1,171  To have pite of that peple that peyned hym to dethe.
1,172  " Here myghtow sen ensample in hymself oone--
1,173  That he was myghtful and meke, and mercy gan graunte
1,174  To hem that hengen hym heigh and his herte thirled.
1,175  " Forthi I rede yow riche, haveth ruthe of the povere,
1,176  Though ye be myghty to mote, beeth meke in youre werkes,
1,177  For the same mesure that ye mete, amys outher ellis,
1,178  Ye shulle ben weyen therwith whan ye wenden hennes:
1,178  {Eadem mensura qua mensifueritis remecietur vobis.}
1,179  For though ye be trewe of youre tonge and treweliche wynne,
1,180  And as chaste as a child that in chirche wepeth,
1,181  But if ye loven leelly and lene the povere
1,182  Of swich good as God sent, goodliche parteth,
1,183  Ye ne have na moore merite in Masse ne in houres
1,184  Than Malkyn of hire maydenhede, that no man desireth.
1,185  For James the gentile jugged in hise bokes
1,186  That feith withouten feetis (feblere] than nought,
1,187  And as deed as a dorenail but if the dedes folwe:
1,187  {Fides sine operibus mortua est &c.}
1,188  "Forthi chastite withouten charite worth cheyned in helle;
1,189  It is as lewed as a lampe that no light is inne.
1,190  Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, ac charite is aweye;
1,191  Are none hardere than hii whan [hii] ben avaunced:
1,192  Unkynde to hire kyn and to alle Cristene,
1,193  Chewen hire charite and chiden after moore--
1,194  Swich chastite withouten charite worth cheyned in helle.
1,195  Manye curatours kepen hem clene of hire bodies;
1,196  Thei ben acombred with coveitise, thei konne noght out crepe,
1,197  So harde hath avarice yhasped hem togideres.
1,198  And that is no truthe of the Trinite, but tricherie of helle,
1,199  And lernynge to lewed men the latter for to deele.
1,200  For [thise ben wordes] writen in the [Euaungelie]:
1,201    "{Date, et dabitur vobis}--for I deele yow alle.
1,202  And that is the lok of love that leteth out my grace,
1,203  To conforten the carefulle acombred with synne.''
1,204  Love is leche of lif and next Oure Lord selve,
1,205  And also the graithe gate that goth into hevene.
1,206  Forthi I seye as I seide er by sighte of the textes:
1,207  Whan alle tresors ben tried, Treuthe is the beste.
1,208  "Now have I told thee what truthe is--that no tresor is bettre--
1,209  I may no lenger lenge thee with; now loke thee Oure Lord!'
2,1  Yet I courbed on my knees and cried hire of grace,
2,2  And seide, " Mercy, madame, for Marie love of hevene,
2,3  That bar that blisful barn that boughte us on the Rode--
2,4  Kenne me by som craft to knowe the false.'
2,5  Loke upon thi left half, and lo where he stondeth--
2,6  Bothe Fals and Favel, and hire feeres manye!'
2,7  I loked on my left half as the Lady me taughte,
2,8  And was war of a womman wonderliche yclothed--
2,9  Purfiled with pelure, the pureste on erthe,
2,10  Ycorouned with a coroune, the Kyng hath noon bettre.
2,11  Fetisliche hire fyngres were fretted with gold wyr,
2,12  And thereon rede rubies as rede as any gleede,
2,13  And diamaundes of derrest pris and double manere saphires,
2,14  Orientals and ewages envenymes to destroye.
2,15  Hire robe was ful riche, of reed scarlet engreyned,
2,16  With ribanes of reed gold and of riche stones.
2,17  Hire array me ravysshed, swich richesse saugh I newere.
2,18  I hadde wonder what she was and whos wif she were.
2,19  "What is this womman,' quod I, so worthili atired?'
2,20  "That is Mede the mayde.' quod she, hath noyed me ful ofte,
2,21  And ylakked my lemman that Leautee is hoten,
2,22  And bilowen h[ym] to lordes that lawes han to kepe.
2,23  In the Popes paleis she is pryvee as myselve,
2,24  But soothnesse wolde noght so--for she is a bastard,
2,25  For Fals was hire fader that hath a fikel tonge,
2,26  And nevere sooth seide sithen he com to erthe;
2,27  And Mede is manered after hym, right as [asketh kynde]:
2,27  {Qualis pater, talis filius. Bona arbor bonum fructum facit.}
2,28  "I oughte ben hyere than [heo]--I kam of a bettre.
2,29  My fader the grete God is and ground of alle graces,
2,30  Oo God withouten gynnyng, and I his goode doughter,
2,31  And hath yeven me Mercy to marie with myselve;
2,32  And what man be merciful and leelly me love
2,33  Shal be my lord and I his leef in the heighe hevene;
2,34  And what man taketh Mede. myn heed dar I legge
2,35  That he shal lese for hire love a lappe of Caritatis.
2,36  "How construeth David the King of men that [cacch]eth Mede,
2,37  And men of this moolde that maynteneth truthe,
2,38  And how ye shul save yourself? The Sauter bereth witnesse:
2,39     {Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, &c.}
2,40  "And now worth this Mede ymaried to a mansed sherewe,
2,41  To oon Fals Fikel-tonge, a fendes biyete.
2,42  Favel thorugh his faire speche hath this folk enchaunted,
2,43  And al is Lieres ledynge that [lady] is thus ywedded.
2,44  Tomorwe worth ymaked the maydenes bridale;
2,45  And there myghtow witen if thow wilt whiche thei ben alle
2,46  That longen to that lordshipe, the lasse and the moore.
2,47  Knowe hem there if thow kanst, and kepe [thee from hem alle],
2,48  And lakke hem noght but lat hem worthe, til Leaute be Justice
2,49  And have power to punysshe hem--thanne put forth thi reson.
2,50  Now I bikenne thee Crist,' quod she, "and his clene moder,
2,51  And lat no conscience acombre thee for coveitise of Mede.'
2,52  Thus lefte me that lady liggynge aslepe,
2,53  And how Mede was ymaried in metels me thoughte--
2,54  That al the riche retenaunce that regneth with the False
2,55  Were boden to the bridale on bothe two sides,
2,56  Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche.
2,57  To marien this mayde was many man assembled,
2,58  As of knyghtes and of clerkes and oother commune peple,
2,59  As sisours and somonours, sherreves and hire clerkes,
2,60  Bedelles and baillifs and brocours of chaffare,
2,61  Forgoers and vitaillers and vokettes of the Arches;
2,62  I kan noght rekene the route that ran aboute Mede.
2,63  Ac Symonie and Cyvylle and sisours of courtes
2,64  Were moost pryvee with Mede of any men, me thoughte.
2,65  Ac Favel was the firste that fette hire out of boure
2,66  And as a brocour broughte hire to be with Fals enjoyned.
2,67  Whan Symonye and Cyvylle seighe hir bother wille,
2,68  Thei assented for silver to seye as bothe wolde.
2,69  Thanne leep Liere forth and seide, "Lo! here a chartre
2,70  That Gile with his grete othes gaf hem togidere,'--
2,71  And preide Cyvylle to see and Symonye to rede it.
2,72  Thanne Symonye and Cyvylle stonden forth bothe
2,73  And unfoldeth the feffement that Fals hath ymaked,
2,74  And thus bigynnen thise gomes to greden ful heighe:
2,74  {"Sciant presentes & futuri, &c.}
2,75  Witeth and witnesseth, that wonieth upon this erthe,
2,76  That Mede is ymaried moore for hire goodes
2,77  Than for any vertue or fairnesse or any free kynde.
2,78  Falsnesse is fayn of hire for he woot hire riche;
2,79  And Favel with his fikel speche feffeth by this chartre
2,80  To be Princes in Pride, and poverte to despise,
2,81  To bakbite and to bosten and bere fals witnesse,
2,82  To scorne and to scolde and sclaundre to make,
2,83  Unbuxome and bolde to breke the ten hestes.
2,84  And the erldom of Envye and Wrathe togideres,
2,85  With the chastilet of cheste and chaterynge out of reson.
2,86  The countee of Coveitise and alle the costes about--
2,87  That is usure and avarice--al I hem graunte
2,88  In bargaynes and in brocages with al the burghe of thefte,
2,89  And al the lordshipe of Leccherie in lengthe and in brede--
2,90  As in werkes and in wordes and in waitynges with eighes,
2,91  And in wedes and in wisshynges and with ydel thoughtes
2,92  Ther as wil wolde and werkmanshipe faylith.'
2,93  Glotonye he gaf hem ek and grete othes togidere,
2,94  And al day to drynken at diverse tavernes,
2,95  And there to jangle and jape and jugge hir evencristen,
2,96  And in fastynge dayes to frete er ful tyme were.
2,97  And thanne to sitten and soupen til sleep hem assaille,
2,98  And breden at burgh swyn, and bedden hem esily,
2,99  Til Sleuthe and sleep sliken hise sydes;
2,100  And thanne wanhope to awaken hym so with no wil to amende,
2,101  For he leveth be lost--this is his laste ende.
2,102  "And thei to have and to holde, and hire heires after,
2,103  A dwellynge with the devel, and dampned be for evere,
2,104  With alle the appurtinaunces of Purgatorie into the pyne of helle-
2,105  Yeldynge for this thyng at one yeres ende
2,106  Hire soules to Sathan, to suffre with hym peynes,
2,107  And with hym to wonye with wo while God is in hevene.'
2,108  In witnesse of which thyng Wrong was the firste,
2,109  And Piers the Pardoner of Paulynes doctrine,
2,110  Bette the Bedel of Bokynghamshire,
2,111  Reynald the Reve of Rutland Sokene,
2,112  Munde the Millere--and many mo othere.
2,113  'In the date of the devel this dede I assele
2,114  By sighte of Sire Symonie and Cyvyles leeve.'
2,115  Thanne tened hym Theologie whan he this tale herde, -
2,116  And seide to Cyvyle, "Now sorwe mote thow have--
2,117  Swiche weddynges to werche to wrathe with Truthe!
2,118  And er this weddynge be wroght, wo thee bitide!
2,119  For Mede is muliere, of Amendes engendred;
2,120  And God graunted to gyve Mede to truthe,
2,121  And thow hast gyven hire to a gilour--now God gyve thee sorwe!
2,122  The text telleth thee noght so, Truthe woot the sothe,
2,123  For Dignus est operarius his hire to have--
2,124  And thow hast fest hire to Fals; fy on thi lawe!
2,125  For al bi lesynges thow lyvest and lecherouse werkes.
2,126  Symonye and thiself shenden Holi Chirche,
2,127  The notaries and ye noyen the peple.
2,128  Ye shul abiggen bothe, by God that me made!
2,129  " Wel ye witen, wernardes, but if youre wit faille,
2,130  That Fals is feithlees and fikel in hise werkes
2,131  And as a bastarde ybore of Belsabubbes kynne.
2,132  And Mede is muliere, a maiden of goode,
2,133  And myghte kisse the Kyng for cosyn and she wolde.
2,134  Forthi wercheth by wisdom and by wit also,
2,135  And ledeth hire to Londoun, there lawe is yshewed,
2,136  If any lawe wol loke thei ligge togideres.
2,137  And though justices juggen hire to be joyned with Fals,
2,138  Yet be war of the weddynge--for witty is Truthe,
2,139  And Conscience is of his counseil and knoweth yow echone,
2,140  And if he fynde yow in defaute and with the false holde,
2,141  It shal bisitte youre soules ful soure at the laste.'
2,142  Herto assenteth Cyvyle, ac Symonye ne wolde,
2,143  Til he hadde silver for his se[el] and [signes] of notaries.
2,144  Thanne fette Favel forth floryns ynowe
2,145  And bad Gile, "Go gyve gold al aboute,
2,146  And namely to the notaries, that hem noon faille;
2,147  And feffe Fals-witnesse with floryns ynowe,
2,148  For he may Mede amaistrye and maken at my wille.'
2,149  Tho this gold was ygyve, gret was the thonkyng
2,150  To Fals and to Favel for hire faire yiftes,
2,151  And comen to conforten from care the- False,
2,152  And seiden, "Certes, sire, cessen shul we nevere,
2,153  Til Mede be thi wedded wif thorugh wit of us alle;
2,154  For we have Mede amaistried with oure murie speche,
2,155  That she graunteth to goon with a good wille
2,156  To London, to loken if the lawe wolde
2,157  Juggen yow joyntly in joie for evere.'
2,158  Thanne was Falsnesse fayn and Favel as blithe,
2,159  And leten somone alle segges in shires aboute,
2,160  And bad hem alle be bown, beggers and othere,
2,161  To wenden with hem to Westmynstre to witnesse this dede.
2,162  Ac thanne cared thei for caples to carien hem thider;
2,163  And Favel fette forth thanne foles ynowe
2,164  And sette Mede upon a sherreve shoed al newe,
2,165  And Fals sat on a sisour that softeli trotted
2,166  And Favel on a flaterere fetisly atired.
2,167  Tho hadde notaries none; anoyed thei were
2,168  For Symonye and Cyvylle sholde on hire feet gange.
2,169  Ac thanne swoor Symonye and Cyvylle bothe
2,170  That somonours golde be sadeled and serven hem echone.
2,171  "And late apparaille thise provisours in palfreyes wise;
2,172  Sire Symonye hymself shal sitte upon hir bakkes.
2,173  Denes and southdenes, drawe yow togideres;
2,174  Erchedekenes and officials and alle youre registrers,
2,175  Lat sadle hem with silver oure synne to suffre--
2,176  As devoutrye and divorses and derne usurie--
2,177  To bere bisshopes aboute abrood in visitynge.
2,178  Paulynes pryvees for pleintes in consistorie
2,179  Shul serven myself that Cyvyle is nempned.
2,180  And cartsadle the commissarie--oure cart shal he [drawe],
2,181  And fecchen us vitailles at fornicatores,
2,182  And maketh of Lyere a lang cart to leden alle thise othere,
2,183  As fobberes and faitours that on hire feet rennen.'
2,184  And thus Fals and Favel fareth forth togideres,
2,185  And Mede in the middes and alle thise men after.
2,186  I have no tome to telle the tail that hem folweth,
2,187  Of many maner man that on this molde libbeth,
2,188  Ac Gyle was forgoer and gyed hem alle.
2,189  Sothnesse seigh hem wel, and seide but litel,
2,190  A[c] priked his palfrey and passed hem alle,
2,191  And com to the Kynges court and Conscience it tolde,
2,192  And Conscience to the Kyng carped it after.
2,193  " Now, by Cryst!' quod the Kyng, "and I cacche myghte
2,194  Fals or Favel or any of hise feeris,
2,195  I wolde be wroken of tho wrecches that wercheth so ille,
2,196  And doon hem hange by the hals and alle that hem maynteneth.
2,197  Shal nevere man of this molde meynprise the leeste,
2,198  But right as the lawe loke[th], lat falle on hem alle!'
2,199  And comaunded a constable that com at the firste,
2,200  To attachen tho tyraunts: "For any [tresor], I hote,
2,201  Fettreth Falsnesse faste, for any kynnes yiftes,
2,202  And girdeth of Gyles heed--lat hym go no ferther;
2,203  And bringeth Mede to me maugree hem alle!
2,204  And if ye lacche Lyere, lat hym noght ascapen
2,205  Er he be put on the pillory, for any preyere, I hote.'
2,206  Drede at the dore stood and the doom herde,
2,207  And how the Kyng comaunded constables and sergeaunts
2,208  Falsnesse and his Felawship to fettren and to bynden.
2,209  Thanne Drede wente wyghtliche and warned the False,
2,210  And bad hym fle for fere, and hise feeris alle.
2,211  Falsnesse for fere thanne fleigh to the freres
2,212  And Gyle dooth hym to go, agast for to dye.
2,213  Ac marchaunts metten with hym and made hym abyde,
2,214  And bishetten hym in hire shoppes to shewen hire ware,
2,215  Apparailed hym as a prentice the peple to serve.
2,216  Lightliche Lyere leep awey thennes,
2,217  Lurkynge thorugh lanes, tolugged of manye.
2,218  He was nowher welcome for his manye tales,
2,219  Over al yhonted and yhote trusse,
2,220  Til pardoners hadde pite, and pulled hym into house.
2,221  They wesshen hym and wiped hym and wounden hym in cloutes,
2,222  And senten hym [on Sondayes with seles] to chirches,
2,223  And gaf pardoun for pens poundemele aboute.
2,224  Thanne lourede leches, and lettres thei sente
2,225  That he sholde wonye with hem watres to loke.
2,226  Spycers speken with hym to spien hire ware,
2,227  For he kouthe on hir craft and knew manye gommes.
2,228  Ac mynstrales and messagers mette with hym ones,
2,229  And [with]helden hym an half yeer and ellevene dayes.
2,230  Freres with fair speche fetten hym thennes,
2,231  And for knowynge of comeres coped hym as a frere;
2,232  Ac he hath leve to lepen out as ofte as hym liketh,
2,233  And is welcome whan he wile, and woneth with hem ofte.
2,234  Alle fledden for fere and flowen into hernes;
2,235  Save Mede the mayde na mo dorste abide.
2,236  Ac trewely to telIe, she trembled for fere,
2,237  And ek wepte and wrong whan she was attached.
3,1  Now is Mede the mayde and no mo of hem alle,
3,2  With bedeles and baillies brought bifore the Kyng.
3,3  The Kyng called a clerk--I kan noght his name--
3,4  To take Mede the maide and maken hire at ese.
3,5  I shal assayen hire myself and soothliche appose
3,6  What man of this world that hire were levest.
3,7  And if she werche bi wit and my wil folwe
3,8  I wol forgyven hire this gilt, so me God helpe!'
3,9  Curteisly the clerk thanne, as the Kyng highte,
3,10  Took Mede bi the myddel and broghte hire into chambre.
3,11  Ac ther was murthe and mynstralcie Mede to plese;
3,12  That wonyeth at Westmynstre worshipeth hire alle.
3,13  Gentilliche with joye the justices somme
3,14  Busked hem to the bour ther the burde dwellede,
3,15  Conforted hyre kyndely by Clergies leve,
3,16  And seiden, " Mourne noght, Mede, ne make thow no sorwe,
3,17  For we wol wisse the Kyng and thi wey shape
3,18  To be wedded at thi wille and wher thee leef liketh
3,19  For al Conscienees cast or craft, as I trowe.'
3,20  Mildely Mede thanne merciede hem alle
3,21  Of hire grete goodnesse--and gaf hem echone
3,22  Coupes of clene gold and coppes of silver,
3,23  Rynges with rubies and richesses manye,
3,24  The leeste man of hire meynee a moton of golde.
3,25  Thanne laughte thei leve thise lordes at Mede.
3,26  With that comen clerkes to conforten hire the same,
3,27  And beden hire be blithe-- "For we beth thyne owene
3,28  For to werche thi wille the while thow myght laste.'
3,29  Hendiliche heo thanne bihighte hem the same--
3,30  To loven hem lelly and lordes to make,
3,31  And in the consistorie at the court do callen hire names.
3,32  " Shal no lewednesse lette the clerke that I lovye,
3,33  That he ne worth first avaunced for I am biknowen
3,34  Ther konnynge clerkes shul clokke bihynde.'
3,35  Thanne cam ther a confessour coped as a frere;
3,36  To Mede the mayde [mekeliche he loutede]
3,37  And seide ful softely, in shrift as it were,
3,38  "Theigh lewed men and lered men hadde leyen by thee bothe.
3,39  And Falshede hadde yfolwed thee alle thise fifty wynter,
3,40  I shal assoille thee myself for a seem of whete,
3,41  And also be thi bedeman, and bere wel thyn er[ende],
3,42  Amonges knyghtes and clerkes, Conscience to torne.
3,43  Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes to that man kneled,
3,44  And shrof hire of hire sherewednesse--shamelees, I trowe;
3,45  Tolde hym a tale and took hym a noble
3,46  For to ben hire bedeman and hire brocour als.
3,47  Thanne he assoiled hire soone and sithen he seide,
3,48  " We have a wyndow in werchynge, wole stonden us ful hye;
3,49  Woldestow glaze that gable and grave therinne thy name,
3,50  Sykir sholde thi soule be hevene to have.'
3,51  " Wiste I that,' quod the womman, - I wolde noght spare
3,52  For to be youre frend, frere, and faile yow nevere
3,53  While ye love lordes that lecherie haunten
3,54  And lakketh noght ladies that loven wel the same.
3,55  lt is a freletee of flessh--ye fynden it in bokes--
3,56  And a cours of kynde. wherof we comen alle.
3,57  Who may scape the sclaundre, the scathe is soone amended;
3,58  It is synne of the sevene sonnest relessed.
3,59  Have mercy,' quod Mede, of men that it haunteth
3,60  And I shal covere youre kirk, youre cloistre do maken,
3,61  Wowes do whiten and wyndowes glazen,
3,62  Do peynten and portraye [who paied] for the makynge,
3,63  That every segge shall see I am suster of youre house.'
3,64  Ac God to alle good folk swich gravynge defendeth--
3,65  To writen in wyndowes of hir wel dedes--
3,66  An aventure pride be peynted there, and pomp of the world;
3,67  For God knoweth thi conscience and thi kynde wille,
3,68  And thi cost and thi coveitise and who the catel oughte.
3,69  Forthi I lere yow lordes, leveth swiche w[rityng]es--
3,70  To writen in wyndowes of youre wel dedes
3,71  Or to greden after Goddes men whan ye [gyve] doles,
3,72  On aventure ye have youre hire here and youre hevene als.
3,72  {Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra:}
3,73  Lat noght thi left half, late ne rathe,
3,74  Wite what thow werchest with thi right syde--
3,75  For thus bit the Gospel goode men doon hir almesse.
3,76  Maires and maceres, that menes ben bitwene
3,77  The kyng and the comune to kepe the lawes,
3,78  To punysshe on pillories and on pynynge stooles
3,79  Brewesters and baksters, bochiers and cokes--
3,80  For thise are men on this molde that moost harm wercheth
3,81  To the povere peple that parcelmele buggen.
3,82  For thei poisone the peple pryveliche and ofte,
3,83  Thei richen thorugh regratrie and rentes hem biggen
3,84  With that the povere peple sholde putte in hire wombe.
3,85  For toke thei on trewely, thei tymbred nought so heighe,
3,86  Ne boughte none burgages--be ye ful certeyne!
3,87  Ac Mede the mayde the mair h[eo] bisought[e]
3,88  Of alle swiche selleris silver to take,
3,89  Or presents withouten pens--as pieces of silver,
3,90  Rynges or oother richesse the regratiers to mayntene.
3,91  " For my love,' quod that lady, love hem echone,
3,92  And suffre hem to selle somdel ayeins reson.'
3,93  Salamon the sage a sermon he made
3,94  For to amenden maires and men that kepen lawes,
3,95  And tolde hem this teme that I telle thynke:
3,96     {Ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, &c.}
3,97  Among thise lettrede leodes this Latyn is to mene
3,98  That fir shall falle and [for]brenne al to bloo askes
3,99  The houses and the homes of hem that desireth
3,100  Yiftes or yeresyeves because of hire offices.
3,101  The Kyng fro counseil cam, and called after Mede,
3,102  And ofsente hire as swithe with sergeaunts manye
3,103  That broughte hire to boure with blisse and with joye.
3,104  Curteisly the Kyng thanne comsed to telle;
3,105  To Mede the mayde he melleth thise wordes:
3,106  " Unwittily, womman, wroght hastow ofte;
3,107  Ac worse wroghtest thow nevere than tho thow Fals toke.
3,108  But I forgyve thee that gilt, and graunte thee my grace;
3,109  Hennes to thi deeth day do so na moore!
3,110  I have a knyght, Conscience, cam late fro biyonde;
3,111  If he wilneth thee to wif, wiltow hym have?'
3,112  "Ye, lord,' quod that lady, " Lord forbede it ellis!
3,113  But I be holly at youre heste, lat hange me soone!'
3,114  Thanne was Conscience called to come and appere
3,115  Bifore the Kyng and his conseil, as clerkes and othere.
3,116  Knelynge Conscience to the Kyng louted,
3,117  To wite what his wille were and what he do sholde.
3,118  "Woltow wedde this womman,' quod the Kyng, "if I wole assente?
3,119  For she is fayn of thi felaweshipe, for to be thi make.'
3,120  Quod Conscience to the-Kyng, "Crist it me forbede!
3,121  Er I wedde swich a wif, wo me bitide!
3,122  For she is frele of hire feith, fikel of hire speche,
3,123  And maketh men mysdo many score tymes.
3,124  In trust of hire tresor she t[en]eth ful manye:
3,125  Wyves and widewes wantounnesse she techeth,
3,126  And lereth hem lecherie that loveth hire yiftes.
3,127  Poure fader she felled thorugh false biheste,
3,128  And hath apoisoned popes and peired Holy Chirche.
3,129  Is noght a bettre baude, by Hym that me made,
3,130  Bitwene hevene and helle, in erthe though men soghte!
3,131  For she is tikel of hire tail, talewis of tonge,
3,132  As commune as the cartwey to [knaves and to alle]--
3,133  To monkes, to mynstrales, to meseles in hegges;
3,134  Sisours and somonours, swiche men hire preiseth,
3,135  Sherreves of shires were shent if she ne were--
3,136  For she dooth men lese hire lond and hire lif bothe.
3,137  She leteth passe prisoners and paieth for hem ofte,
3,138  And gyveth the gailers gold and grotes togidres
3,139  To unfettre the Fals--fle where hym liketh;
3,140  And taketh the trewe bi the top and tieth hym faste,
3,141  And hangeth hym for hatrede that harm[e]de nevere.
3,142  "To be cursed in consistorie she counteth noght a russhe
3,143  For she copeth the commissarie and coteth hise clerkes.
3,144  She is assoiled as soone as hireself liketh;
3,145  She may neigh as muche do in a monthe ones
3,146  As youre secret seel in sixe score dayes!
3,147  She is pryvee with the Pope--provisours it knoweth,
3,148  For Sire Symonie and hirselve seleth hire bulles.
3,149  She blesseth thise bisshopes, theigh thei be lewed;
3,150  Provendreth persones and preestes she maynteneth
3,151  To h[old]e lemmans and lotebies alle hire lif daies
3,152  And bryngen forth barnes ayein forbode lawes.
3,153  "Ther she is wel with the kyng, wo is the reaume--
3,154  For she is favorable to Fals and defouleth truthe ofte.
3,155  By Jesus! with hire jeweles youre justice she shendeth
3,156  And lith ayein the lawe and letteth hym the gate,
3,157  That feith may noght have his forth, hire floryns go so thinke.
3,158  She ledeth the lawe as hire list and lovedaies maketh,
3,159  And doth men lese thorugh hire love that lawe myghte wynne--
3,160  The maze for a mene man, though he mote evere!
3,161  Lawe is so lordlich, and looth to maken ende:
3,162  Withouten presents or pens he pleseth wel fewe.
3,163  "Barons and burgeises she bryngeth in sorwe,
3,164  And al the comune in care that coveiten lyve in truthe,
3,165  For cIergie and coveitise she coupleth togidres.
3,166  This is the lif of that lady--now Lord yyve hire sorwe,
3,167  And alle that maynteneth hire men, meschaunee hem bitide!
3,168  For povere men may have no power to pleyne though thei smerte,
3,169  Swich a maister is Mede among men of goode.'
3,170  Thanne mournede Mede and mened hire to the Kynge
3,171  To have space to speke, spede if she myghte.
3,172  The Kyng graunted hire grace with a good wille:
3,173  "Excuse thee if thow kanst; I kan namoore seggen,
3,174  For Conscience accuseth thee, to congeien thee for evere.'
3,175  "Nay, lord,' quod that lady, "leveth hym the werse
3,176  Whan ye witen witterly wher the wrong liggeth.
3,177  Ther that meschief is gret, Mede may helpe.
3,178  And thow knowest, Conscience, I kam noght to chide,
3,179  Ne to deprave thi persone with a proud herte.
3,180  WeI thow woost, wernard, but if thow wolt gabbe,
3,181  Thow hast hanged on myn half ellevene tymes,
3,182  And also griped my gold, and gyve it where thee liked.
3,183  ow wrathest thee now, wonder me thynketh !
3,184  Yet I may, as I myghte, menske thee with yiftes
3,185  And mayntene thi manhode moore than thow knowest.
3,186  "Ac thow hast famed me foule bifore the Kyng here;
3,187  For killed I nevere no kyng, ne counseiled therafter,
3,188  Ne dide as thow demest--I do it on the Kynge.
3,189  In Normandie was he noght noyed for my sake--
3,190  Ac thow thiself, soothly, shamedest hym ofte:
3,191  Crope into a cabane for cold of thi nayles,
3,192  Wendest that wynter wolde han ylasted evere,
3,193  And dreddest to be ded for a dym cloude,
3,194  And hyedest homward for hunger of thi wombe.
3,195  Withouten pite, pilour, povere men thow robbedest
3,196  And bere hire bras at thi bak to Caleis to selle,
3,197  Ther I lafte with my lord his lif for to save.
3,198  I made his men murye and mournynge lette;
3,199  I batred hem on the bak and boldede hire hertes,
3,200  And dide hem hoppe for hope to have me at wille.
3,201  Hadde I ben marchal of his men, by Marie of hevene!
3,202  I dorste have leyd my lif and no lasse wedde,
3,203  He sholde have be lord of that lond in lengthe and in brede,
3,204  And also kyng of that kith his kyn for to helpe--
3,205  The leeste brol of his blood a barones piere!
3,206  Cowardly thow, Conscience, conseiledest hym thennes--
3,207  To leven his lordshipe for a litel silver,
3,208  That is the richeste reaume that reyn overhoveth.
3,209  "It bicometh to a kyng that kepeth a reaume
3,210  To yeve [men mede] that mekely hym serveth--
3,211  To aliens and to alle men, to honouren hem with yiftes;
3,212  Mede maketh hym biloved and for a man holden.
3,213  Emperours and erles and alle manere lordes
3,214  Thorugh yiftes han yonge men to yerne and to ryde.
3,215  The Pope and alle prelates presents underfongen
3,216  And medeth men hemselven to mayntene hir lawes,
3,217  Servaunts for hire servyce, we seeth wel the sothe,
3,218  Taken mede of hir maistres, as thei mowe acorde.
3,219  Beggeres for hir biddynge bidden men mede.
3,220  Mynstrales for hir myrthe mede thei aske.
3,221  The Kyng hath mede of his men to make pees in londe.
3,222  Men that [kenne clerkes] craven of hem mede.
3,223  Preestes that prechen the peple to goode
3,224  Asken mede and massepens and hire mete [also].
3,225  Alle kyn crafty men craven mede for hir prentices.
3,226  Marchaundise and mede mote nede go togideres:
3,227  No wight, es I wene, withouten Mede may libbe!
3,228  Quod the Kyng to Conscience, "By Crist, as me thynketh,
3,229  Mede is worthi the maistrie to have!-
3,230  "Nay,' quod Conscience to the Kyng and kneled to the erthe,
3,231  "Ther are two manere of medes, my lord, by youre leve.
3,232  That oon God of his grace graunteth in his blisse
3,233  To tho that wel werchen while thei ben here.
3,234  The Prophete precheth therof and putte it in the Sauter:
3,234  {Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?}
3,235  Lord, who shal wonye in thi wones with thyne holy seintes
3,236  Or resten in thyne holy hilles?--This asketh David.
3,237  And David assoileth it hymself, as the Sauter telleth:
3,237  {Qui ingreditur sine macula et operatur iusticiam.}
3,238  Tho that entren of o colour and of one wille,
3,239  And han ywroght werkes with right and with reson,
3,240  And he that useth noght the lyf of usurie
3,241  And enformeth povere men and pursueth truthe:
3,241  {Qui pecuniam fuam non dedis ad usuram, et munera super inflocentem &c.}
3,242  And alle that helpen the innocent and holden with the rightfulle,
3,243  Withouten mede doth hem good and the truthe helpeth--
3,244  Swiche manere men, my lord, shul have this firste mede
3,245  Of God at a gret nede, whan thei gon hennes.
3,246  "Ther is another mede mesurelees, that maistres desireth:
3,247  To mayntene mysdoers mede thei take,
3,248  And therof seith the Sauter in a salmes ende--
3,249      {In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt; dextra eorum repleta est muneribus:}
3,250  And he that gripeth hir gold, so me God helpe,
3,251  Shal abien it bittre, or the Book lieth!
3,252  Preestes and persons that plesynge desireth,
3,253  That taken mede and moneie for masses that thei syngeth,
3,254  Taken hire mede here as Mathew us techeth:
3,254  {Amen, amen, receperunt mercedem suam.}
3,255  That laborers and lewede [leodes] taken of hire maistres,
3,256  It is no manere mede but a mesurable hire.
3,257  In marchaundise is no mede, I may it wel avowe:
3,258  It is a permutacion apertly--a penyworth for another.
3,259  "Ac reddestow nevere Regum, thow recrayed Mede,
3,260  Whi the vengeaunce fel on Saul and on his children?
3,261  God sente to Saul by Samuel the prophete
3,262  That Agag of Amalec and al his peple after
3,263  Sholden deye for a dede that doon hadde hire eldres.
3,264  "Forthi,' seide Samuel to Saul, "God hymself hoteth thee
3,265  To be buxom at his biddynge, his wil to fulfille.
3,266  Weend to Amalec with thyn oost, and what thow fyndest there--sle it:
3,267  Burnes and beestes--bren hem to dethe!
3,268  Widwes and wyves, wommen and children,
3,269  Moebles and unmoebles, and al thow myght fynde--
3,270  Bren it, bere it noght awey, be it never so riche;
3,271  For mede ne for monee, loke thow destruye it!
3,272  Spille it and spare it noght--thow shalt spede the bettre.''
3,273  And for he coveited hir catel and the kyng spared,
3,274  Forbar hym and his beestes bothe as the Bible witnesseth
3,275  Otherwise than he was warned of the prophete,
3,276  God seide to Samuel that Saul sholde deye,
3,277  And al his seed for that synne shenfulliche ende.
3,278  Swich a meschief Mede made the kyng to have
3,279  That God hated hym for evere and alle his heires after.
3,280  "The {culorum} of this cas kepe I noght to shewe;
3,281  On aventure it noyed me, noon ende wol I make,
3,282  For so is this wor1d went with hem that han power
3,283  That whoso seith hem sothest is sonnest yblamed!
3,284  "I, Conscience, knowe this, for Kynde Wit it me taughte--
3,285  That Reson shal regne and reaumes governe,
3,286  And right as Agag hadde, happe shul somme:
3,287  Samuel shal sleen hym and Saul shal be blamed,
3,288  And David shal be diademed and daunten hem alle,
3,289  And oon Cristene kyng kepen [us] echone.
3,290  Shal na moore Mede be maister as she is nouthe,
3,291  Ac love and lowenesse and leautee togideres--
3,292  Thise shul ben maistres on moolde [trewe men] to save.
3,293  And whoso trespaseth ayein truthe or taketh ayein his wille,
3,294  Leaute shal don hym lawe, and no lif ellis.
3,295  Shal no sergeant for his service were a sik howve,
3,296  Ne no pelure in his [paviloun] for pledynge at the barre.
3,297  " Mede of mysdoeres maketh manye lordes,
3,298  And over lordes lawes [led]eth the reaumes.
3,299  Ac kynde love shal come yit and Conscience togideres
3,300  And make of lawe a laborer; swich love shal arise
3,301  And swich pees among the peple and a parfit truthe
3,302  That Jewes shul wene in hire wit, and wexen wonder glade,
3,303  That Moyses or Messie be come into this erthe,
3,304  And have wonder in hire hertes that men beth so trewe.
3,305  "Alle that beren baselard, brood swerd or launce,
3,306  Ax outher hachet or any wepene ellis,
3,307  Shal be demed to the deeth but if he do it smythye
3,308  into sikel or to sithe, to shaar or to kultour--
3,308  {Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, &c--}
3,309  Ech man to pleye with a plow, pykoise or spade,
3,310  Spynne, or sprede donge, or spille hymself with sleuthe;
3,311  Preestes and persons with Placebo to hunte,
3,312  And dyngen upon David eche day til eve.
3,313  Huntynge or haukyng if any of hem use,
3,314  His boost of his benefice worth bynomen hym after.
3,315  "Shal neither kyng ne knyght, constable ne meire
3,316  Over[carke] the commune ne to the court sompne,
3,317  Ne putte hem in panel to doon hem plighte hir truthe;
3,318  But after the dede that is doon oon doom shal rewarde
3,319  Mercy or no mercy as Truthe [moste] acorde.
3,320  " Kynges court and commune court, consistorie and chapitle--
3,321  Al shal be but oon court, and oon b[ur]n be justice:
3,322  That worth Trewe-tonge, a tidy man that tened me nevere.
3,323  Batailles shul none be, ne no man bere wepene,
3,324  And what smyth that any smytheth be smyte therwith to dethe!
3,324  { Non levabit gens contra gentem gladium &c.}
3,325  "And er this fortune falle, fynde men shul the worste,
3,326  By sixe sonnes and a ship and half a shef of arwes;
3,327  And the myddel of a moone shal make the Jewes torne,
3,328  And Sarsynes for that sighte shul synge Gloria in excelsis &c--
3,329  For Makometh and Mede myshappe shul that tyme;
3,330  For Melius est bonum nomen quam divicie multe.'
3,331  Also wroth as the wynd weex Mede in a while.
3,332  " I kan no Latyn?' quod she. "Clerkes wite the sothe!
3,333  Se what Salomon seith in Sapience bokes:
3,334  That thei that yyven yiftes the victorie wynneth,
3,335  And muche worshipe have therwith, as Holy Writ telleth--
3,336     {Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, &c.'}
3,337  " I leve wel, lady,' quod Conscience, "that thi Latyn be trewe.
3,338  Ac thow art lik a lady that radde a lesson ones,
3,339  Was omnia probate, and that plesed hire herte--
3,340  For that lyne was no lenger at the leves ende.
3,341  Hadde she loked that other half and the leef torned,
3,342  She sholde have founden fele wordes folwynge therafter:
3,343  Quod bonum est tenete--Truthe that text made.
3,344  And so [mys]ferde ye, madame--ye kouthe na moore fynde
3,345  Tho ye loked on Sapience, sittynge in youre studie.
3,346  This text that ye han told were [tidy] for lordes,
3,347  Ac yow failed a konnynge clerk that kouthe the leef han torned.
3,348  And if ye seche Sapience eft, fynde shul ye that folweth.
3,349  A ful tenefuI text to hem that taketh mede:
3,350  And that is {Animam autem aufert accipientium &c.}
3,351  And that is the tail of the text of that tale ye shewed--
3,352  That theigh we wynne worshipe and with mede have victorie,
3,353  The soule that the soude taketh by so muche is bounde.-
4,1  " Cesseth!' seide the Kyng, " I suffre yow no lenger.
4,2  Ye shul saughtne, forsothe, and serve me bothe.
4,3  Kis hire,' quod the Kyng, "Conscience, I hote!'
4,4  " Nay, by Crist!' quod Conscience, " congeye me rather!
4,5  But Reson rede me therto, rather wol I deye.'
4,6  "And I comaunde thee,' quod the Kyng to Conscience thanne,
4,7  "Rape thee to ryde, and Reson that thow fecche.
4,8  Comaunde hym that he come my counseil to here,
4,9  For he shal rule my reaume and rede me the beste
4,10  Mede and of mo othere, what man shal hire wedde,
4,11  And acounte with thee, Conscience, so me Crist helpe,
4,12  How thow lernest the peple, the lered and the lewed!'
4,13  "I am fayn of that foreward,' seide the freke thanne,
4,14  And ryt right to Reson and rouneth in his ere,
4,15  And seide hym as the Kyng seide, and sithen took his leve.
4,16  "I shal arraye me to ryde,' quod Reson, -reste thee a while,'
4,17  And called Caton his knave, curteis of speche,
4,18  And also Tomme Trewe-tonge-tel-me-no-tales
4,19  Ne lesynge-to-laughen-of-for-I-loved-hem-nevere.
4,20  " Set my sadel upon Suffre-til-I-se-my-tyme,
4,21  And lat warroke hym wel with witty-wordes gerthes.
4,22  Hange on hym the hevy brydel to holde his heed lowe,
4,23  For he wol make ""wehee'' twies er he be there.'
4,24  Thanne Conscience on his capul caireth forth faste,
4,25  And Reson with hym ryt, rownynge togideres
4,26  Whiche maistries Mede maketh on this erthe.
4,27  Oon Waryn Wisdom and Witty his fere
4,28  Folwed hem faste, for thei hadde to doone
4,29  In th'Escheker and in the Chauncerye, to ben descharged of thynges,
4,30  And riden faste for Reson sholde rede hem the beste
4,31  For to save hem for silver from shame and from harmes.
4,32  A[c] Conscience knew hem wel, thei loved coveitise,
4,33  And bad Reson ryde faste and recche of hir neither:
4,34  "Ther are wiles in hire wordes, and with Mede thei dweneth--
4,35  Ther as wrathe and wranglynge is, ther wynne thei silver;
4,36  Ac there is love and leautee, thei wol noght come there:
4,36  {Contricio et infelicitas in viis eorum &c.}
4,37  Thei ne gyveth noght of God one goose wynge:
4,37  {Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum &c.}
4,38  For thei wolde do moore for a dozeyne chiknes
4,39  Than for the love of Oure Lorde or alle hise leeve seintes!
4,40  Forthi, Reson, lat hem ride, tho riche by hemselve--
4,41  For Conscience knoweth hem noght, ne Crist, as I trowe.'
4,42  And thanne Reson rood faste the righte heighe gate,
4,43  As Conscience hym kenned, til thei come to the Kynge.
4,44  Curteisly the Kyng thanne com ayeins Reson,
4,45  And bitwene hymself and his sone sette hym on benche,
4,46  And wordeden wel wisely a gret while togideres.
4,47  And thame com Pees into parliment and putte up a bill-
4,48  How Wrong ayeins his wille hadde his wif taken,
4,49  And how he ravysshede Rose, Reignaldes love,
4,50  And Margrete of hir maydenhede maugree hire chekes.
4,51  " Bothe my gees and my grys hise gadelynges feccheth;
4,52  I dar noght for fere of hem fighte ne chide.
4,53  He borwed of me bayard and broughte hym hom nevere
4,54  Ne no ferthyng therfore, for nought I koude plede.
4,55  He maynteneth hise men to murthere myne hewen,
4,56  Forstalleth my feires and fighteth in my chepyng,
4,57  And breketh up my berne dores and bereth awey my whete,
4,58  And taketh me but a taille for ten quarters otes.
4,59  And yet he beteth me therto and lyth by my mayde;
4,60  I am noght hardy for hym unnethe to loke!'
4,61  The Kyng knew he seide sooth. for Conscience hym tolde
4,62  That Wrong was a wikked luft and wroghte muche sorwe.
4,63  Wrong was afered thanne, and Wisdom he soughte
4,64  To maken pees with hise pens, and profred hym manye,
4,65  And seide, "Hadde I love of my lord the Kyng, litel wolde I recche
4,66  Theigh Pees and his power pleyned hym evere!'
4,67  Tho wan Wisdom and Sire Waryn the Witty,
4,68  For that Wrong hadde ywroght so wikked a dede,
4,69  And warnede Wrong tho with swich a wis tale--
4,70  "Whoso wercheth by wille, writhe maketh ofte.
4,71  I seye it by myself--thow shalt it wel fynde:
4,72  But if Mede it make, thi meschief is uppe;
4,73  For bothe thi lif and thi lond lyth in his grace.'
4,74  Thanne wowede Wrong Wisdom ful yerne
4,75  To maken his pees with his pens, handy dandy payed.
4,76  Wisdom and Wit thanne wenten togidres,
4,77  And token Mede myd hem mercy to wynne.
4,78  Pees putte forth his heed and his panne blody:
4,79  "Withouten gilt, God woot, gat I this scathe.'
4,80  Conscience and the commune knowen wel the sothe,
4,81  Ac Wisdom and Wit were aboute faste
4,82  To overcomen the Kyng with catel, if thei myghte.
4,83  The Kyng swor by Crist and by his crowne bothe
4,84  That Wrong for hise werkes sholde wo tholie,
4,85  And comaundede a constable to casten hym in irens,
4,86  "And lete hym noght this seven yer seen his feet ones.
4,87  "God woot,' quod Wisdom, "that were noght the beste!
4,88  And he amendes mowe make, lat Maynprise hym have
4,89  And be borgh for his bale, and buggen hym boote,
4,90  And so amenden that is mysdo, and everemoore the bettre.'
4,91  Wit acorded therwith, and seide the same,
4,92  "Bettre is that boote bale adoun brynge
4,93  Than baIe be ybet, and boote nevere the bettre!'
4,94  Thanne gan Mede to meken hire, and mercy bisoughte,
4,95  And profrede Pees a present al of pure golde.
4,96  "Have this, man, of me,' quod she, "to amenden thi scathe,
4,97  For I wol wage for Wrong, he woI do so na moore.'
4,98  Pitously Pees thanne preyde to the Kynge
4,99  To have mercy on that man that mysdide hym so ofte.
4,100  "For he hath waged me wel, as Wisdom hym taughte,
4,101  And I forgyve hym that gilt with a good wille.
4,102  So that the Kyng assente, I kan seye no bettre,
4,103  For Mede hath maad myne amendes--I may na moore axe.'
4,104  "Nay', quod the Kyng tho, "so me Crist helpe!
4,105  Wrong wendeth noghtawey er I wite more.
4,106  Lope he so lightly, laughen he wolde,
4,107  And eft the boldere be to bete myne hewen.
4,108  But Reson have ruthe on hym, he shal reste in my stokkes
4,109  As longe as [I] lyve, but lowenesse hym borwe.'
4,110  Somme radde Reson tho to have ruthe on that shrewe,
4,111  And for to counseille the Kyng and Conscience after
4,112  That Mede moste be maynpernour, Reson thei bisoughte.
4,113  " Reed me noght,' quod Reson, "no ruthe to have
4,114  Til lordes and ladies loven alle truthe
4,115  And haten alle harlotrie, to heren or to mouthen it;
4,116  Til Pernelles purfill be put in hire hucche
4,117  And childrene cherissynge be chastised with yerdes,
4,118  And harlottes holynesse be holden for an hyne;
4,119  Til clerkene coveitise be to clothe the povere and fede,
4,120  And religiouse romeris Recordare in hir cloistres
4,121  As Seynt Beneyt hem bad, Bernard and Fraunceis;
4,122  And til prechours prechynge be preved on hemselve;
4,123  Til the Kynges counseil be the commune profit;
4,124  Til bisshopes bayardes ben beggeris chaumbres,
4,125  Hire haukes and hire houndes help to povere religious;
4,126  And til Seint James be sought there I shal assigne--
4,127  That no man go to Galis but if he go for evere;
4,128  And alle Rome renneres for robberes of biyonde
4,129  Bere no silver over see that signe of kyng sheweth--
4,130  Neither grave ne ungrave, gold neither silver--
4,131  Upon forfeture of that fee, who fynt hym at Dovere,
4,132  But if it be marchaunt or his man, or messager with lettres,
4,133  Provysour or preest, or penaunt for hise synnes.
4,134  "And yet,' quod Reson, "by the Rode! I shal no ruthe have
4,135  Whiff Mede hath the maistrie in this moot-halle.
4,136  Ac I may shewe ensamples as I se outher.
4,137  I seye it by myself,' quod he, "and it so were
4,138  That I were kyng with coroune to kepen a reaume,
4,139  Sholde nevere Wrong in this world that I wite myghte
4,140  Ben unpunysshed in my power, for peril of my soule,
4,141  Ne gete my grace thorugh giftes, so me God save!
4,142  Ne for no mede have mercy, but mekenesse it made;
4,143  For ""Nullum molum the man mette with inpunitum
4,144  And bad {Nullum bonum} be irremuneratum.''
4,145  Lat thi confessour, sire Kyng, construe this [E]ngl[ys]sed,
4,146  And if ye werchen it in werk, I wedde myne eris
4,147  That Lawe shal ben a laborer and lede afeld donge
4,148  And Love shal lede thi lond as the leef liketh.'
4,149  Clerkes that were confessours coupled hem togideres
4,150  Al to construe this clause, and for the Kynges profit,
4,151  Ac noght for confort of the commune, ne for the Kynges soule,
4,152  For I seigh Mede in the moot-halle on men of lawe wynke,
4,153  And thei laughynge lope to hire and lefte Reson manye.
4,154  Waryn Wisdom wynked upon Mede
4,155  And seide, " Madame, I am youre man, what so my mouth jangle;
4,156  I falle in floryns,' quod that freke, "and faile speche ofte.'
4,157  Alle rightfulle recorded that Reson truthe tolde.
4,158  [Kynde] Wit acorded therwith and comendede hise wordes,
4,159  And the mooste peple in the halle and manye of the grete,
4,160  And leten Mekenesse a maister and Mede a mansed sherewe.
4,161  Love leet of hire light, and Leaute yet lasse,
4,162  And seide it so heighe that all the halle it herde:
4,163  "Whoso wilneth hire to wyve, For welthe of hire goodes--
4,164  But he be knowe for a cokewold, kut of my nose!'
4,165  Mede mornede tho, and made hevy chere,
4,166  For the mooste commune of that court called hire an hore.
4,167  Ac a sisour and a somonour sued hire faste,
4,168  And a sherreves clerk bisherewed al the route:
4,169  " For ofte have I,' quod he, 'holpen yow at the barre,
4,170  And yet yeve ye me nevere the worth of a risshe!'
4,171  The Kyng callede Conscience and afterward Reson,
4,172  And recordede that Reson hadde rightfully shewed ;
4,173  And modiliche upon Mede with myght the Kyng loked,
4,174  And gan wexe wroth with Lawe, for Mede almoost hadde shent it,
4,175  And seide, -Thorugh youre lawe, as I leve, I lese manye chetes;
4,176  Mede overmaistreth Lawe and muche truthe letteth.
4,177  Ac Reson shal rekene with yow, if I regne any while,   -
4,178  And deme yow, bi this day, as ye han deserved.
4,179  Mede shal noght maynprise yow, by the Marie of hevene!
4,180  I wole have leaute in lawe, and lete be al youre jangling,
4,181  And as moost folk witnesseth wel, Wrong shal be demed.'
4,182  Quod Conscience to the Kyng, 'But the commune wole assente,-
4,183  It is ful hard, by myn heed, herto to brynge it,
4,184  [And] alle youre lige leodes to lede thus evene.'
4,185  "By Hym that raughte on the Rood!' quod Reson to the Kynge,
4,186  But if I rule thus youre reaume, rende out my guttes--
4,187  If ye bidden buxomnesse be of myn assent.'
4,188  "And I assente,' seith the Kyng, " by Seinte Marie my lady,
4,189  Be my Counseil comen of clerkes and of erles.
4,190  Ac redily, Reson, thow shalt noght ride hennes;
4,191  For as longe as I lyve, lete thee I nelle.'
4,192  'I am al redy.' quod Reson, "to reste with yow evere;
4,193  So Conscience be of oure counceil, I kepe no bettre.'
4,194  "And I graunte,' quod the Kyng, "Goddes forbode he faile!
4,195  Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, lyve we togideres!'
5,1  The Kyng and hise knyghtes to the kirke wente
5,2  To here matyns of the day and the masse after.
5,3  Thanne w~aked I of my wynkyng and wo was withalle
5,4  That I ne hadde slept sadder and yseighen moore.
5,5  Ac er I hadde faren a furlong, feyntise me hente,
5,6  That I ne myghte ferther a foot for defaute of slepynge.
5,7  I sat softely adoun and seide my bileve,
5,8  And so I bablede on my bedes, thei broughte me aslepe.
5,9  And thanne saugh I muche moore than I bifore tolde--
5,10  For I seigh the feld ful of folk that I before of seide,
5,11  And how Reson gan arayen hym al the reaume to preche,
5,12  And with a cros afore the Kyng comsede thus to techen.
5,13  He preved that thise pestilences were For pure synne,
5,14  And the south-westrene wynd on Saterday at even
5,15  Was pertliche for pride and for no point ellis.
5,16  Pyries and plum-trees were puffed to the erthe
5,17  In ensample, ye segges, ye sholden do the bettre.
5,18  Beches and brode okes were blowen to the grounde
5,19  And turned upward here tail in tokenynge of drede
5,20  That dedly synne er domesday shal fordoon hem alle.
5,21  Of this matere I myghte mamelen ful longe,
5,22  Ac I shal seye as I saugh, so me God helpe,
5,23  How pertly afore the peple prechen gan Reson.
5,24  He bad Wastour go werche what he best kouthe
5,25  And wynnen his wastyng with som maner crafte.
5,26  He preide Pernele hir purfil to lete,
5,27  And kepe it in hire cofre for catel at hire nede.
5,28  Tomme Stowue he taughte to take two staves
5,29  And fecche Felice hom fro wyvene pyne.
5,30  He warnede Watte his wif was to blame
5,31  For hire heed was worth half marc and his hood noght worth a grote,
5,32  And bad Bette kutte a bough outher tweye
5,33  And bete Beton therwith but if she wolde werche.
5,34  And thanne he chargede chapmen to chastisen hir children:
5,35  "Late no wynnyng forwanye hem while thei be yonge,
5,36  Ne for no poustee of pestilence plese hem noght out of reson.
5,37  My sire seide so to me, and so dide my dame,
5,38  That the levere child the moore loore bihoveth;
5,39  And Salamon seide the same, that Sapience made--
5,39  {" Qui parcit virge odit filium.}
5,40  Whoso spareth the spryng spilleth hise children."'
5,41  And sithen he preide prelates and preestes togideres,
5,42  ' That ye prechen to the peple, preve it yowselve,
5,43  And dooth it in dede--it shal drawe yow to goode.
5,44  If ye leven as ye leren us, we shul leve yow the bettre.'
5,45  And sithen he radde Religion hir rule to holde--
5,46  'Lest the Kyng and his Conseil youre comunes apeire
5,47  And be stywards of youre stedes til ye be [stew]ed bettre.'
5,48  And sithen he counseiled the Kyng his commune to lovye:
5,49  'It is thi tresor, if treson ne were, and tryacle at thy nede.'
5,50  And sithen he preide the Pope have pite on Holy Chirche,
5,51  And er he gyve any grace, governe first hymselve.
5,52  'And ye that han lawes to kepe, lat Truthe be youre coveitise
5,53  Moore than gold outher giftes if ye wol God plese;
5,54  For whoso contrarieth Truthe. He telleth in the Gospel,
5,55  Amen dico vobis, nescio Vos.
5,56  And ye that seke Seynt James and seyntes of Rome,
5,57  Seketh Seynt Truthe, for he may save yow alle.
5,58  Qui cum Patre et Filio--that faire hem bifalle
5,59  That seweth my sermon'--and thus seyde Reson."
5,60  Thanne ran Repentaunce and reherced his teme
5,61  And gart Wille to wepe water with hise eighen.
5,62  Pernele Proud-herte platte hire to the erthe
5,63  And lay longe er she loked, and - Lord, mercy!' cryde,
5,64  And bihighte to Hym that us alle made
5,65  She sholde unsowen hir serk and sette there an heyre
5,66  To affaiten hire flessh that fiers was to synne.
5,67  " Shal nevere heigh herte me hente, but holde me lowe
5,68  And suffre to be mysseyd--and so dide I nevere.
5,69  But now wole I meke me and mercy biseche
5,70  For al that I have hated in myn herte.'
5,71  Thanne Lechour seide "Allas!' and on Oure Lady cryde,
5,72  To maken mercy for hise mysdedes bitwene God and his soule
5,73  With that he sholde the Saterday seven yer therafter
5,74  Drynke but myd the doke and dyne but ones.
5,75  Envye with hevy herte asked after shrifte
5,76  And carefully {mea culpa} he comsed to shewe.
5,77  He was as pale as a pelet, in the palsy he semed,
5,78  And clothed in a kaurymaury--I kouthe it nought discryve--
5,79  In kirtel and courtepy, and a knyf by his syde;
5,80  Of a freres frokke were the foresleves.
5,81  And as a leek that hadde yleye longe in the sonne,
5,82  So loked he with lene chekes, lourynge foule.
5,83  His body was to-bollen for wrathe, that he   boot hise lippes,
5,84  And wryngynge he yede with the fust--to wreke hymself he thoughte
5,85  With werkes or with wordes whan he seyghe his tyme.
5,86  Ech a word that he warp was of a neddres tonge;
5,87  Of chidynge and of chalangynge was his chief liflode,
5,88  With bakbitynge and bismere and berynge of fals witnesse:
5,89  This was al his curteisie where that evere he shewed hym.
5,90  "I wolde ben yshryve,' quod this sherewe, "and I for shame dorste.
5,91  I wolde be gladder, by God! that Gybbe hadde meschaunce
5,92  Than though I hadde this wouke ywonne a weye of Essex chese.
5,93  I have a neghebore neigh me, I have anoyed hym ofte,
5,94  And lowen on hym to lordes to doon hym lese his silver,
5,95  And maad his frendes be his foon thorugh my false tonge.
5,96  His grace and his goode happes greven me ful soore.
5,97  Bitwene mayne and mayne I make debate ofte,
5,98  That bothe lif and lyme is lost thorugh my speche.
5,99  And whan I mete hym in market that I moost hate,
5,100  I hailse hym hendely, as I his frend were;
5,101  For he is doughtier than I, I dar do noon oother;
5,102  Ac hadde I maistrie and myght--God woot my wille!
5,103  "And whan I come to the kirk and sholde knele to the Roode
5,104  And preye for the peple as the preest techeth--
5,105  For pilgrymes and for palmeres, for al the peple after--
5,106  Thanne I crye on my knees that Crist yyve hem sorwe
5,107  That baren awey my bolle and my broke shete.
5,108  Awey fro the auter thanne turne I myne eighen
5,109  And biholde how [Hayne hath a newe cote;
5,110  I wisshe thanne it were myn, and al the web after.
5,111  And of his lesynge I laughe--that li[ght]eth myn herte;
5,112  Ac for his wynnynge I wepe and waille the tyme;
5,113  And deme men that thei doon ille, there I do wel werse:
5,114  Whoso undernymeth me herof, I hate hym dedly after.
5,115  I wolde that ech a wight were my knave,
5,116  For whoso hath moore than I, that angreth me soore.
5,117  And thus I lyve lovelees like a luther dogge
5,118  That al my body bolneth for bitter of my galle.
5,119  I myghte noght ete many yeres as a man oughte,
5,120  For envye and yvel wil is yvel to defie.
5,121  May no sugre ne swete thyng aswage my swellyng,
5,122  Ne no diapenidion dryve it fro myn herte,
5,123  Ne neither shrifte ne shame, but whoso shrape my mawe?'
5,124  "Yis, redily!' quod Repentaunce, and radde hym to the beste,
5,125  " Sorwe for synnes is savacion of soules.'
5,126  " I am evere sory,' quod [Envye], " I am but selde oother,
5,127  And that maketh me thus megre, for I ne may me venge.
5,128  Amonges burgeises have I be, [bigg]yng at Londoun,
5,129  And gart bakbityng be a brocour to blame mennes ware.
5,130  Whan he solde and I nought, thanne was I redy
5,131  To lye and to loure on my neghebore and to lakke his chaffare.
5,132  I wole amende this if I may, thorugh myght of God Almyghty.'
5,133  Now awaketh Wrathe, with two white eighen,
5,134  And nevelynge with the nose, and his nekke hangyng.
5,135  "I am Wrathe,' quod he, "I was som tyme a frere,
5,136  And the coventes gardyner for to graffen impes.
5,137  On lymitours and listres lesynges I ymped,
5,138  Til thei beere leves of lowe speche, lordes to plese,
5,139  And sithen thei blosmede abrood in boure to here shriftes.
5,140  And now is fallen therof a fruyt--that folk han wel levere
5,141  Shewen hire shriftes to hem than shryve hem to hir persons.
5,142  And now persons han parceyved that freres parte with hem,
5,143  Thise possessioners preche and deprave freres;
5,144  And freres fyndeth hem in defaute, as folk bereth witnesse,
5,145  That whan thei preche the peple in many places aboue'
5,146  I, Wrathe, walke with hem and wisse hem o
5,147  Thus thei speken of spiritualte, that either despiseth oother,
5,148  Til thei be bothe beggers and by my spiritualte libben,
5,149  Or ellis al riche and ryden aboute; I, Wrathe, reste nevere
5,150  That I ne moste folwe this wikked folk. For swich is my grace.
5,151  "I have an aunte to nonne and an abbesse:
5,152  Hir were levere swowe or swelte than suffre any peyne.
5,153  I have be cook in hir kichene and the covent served
5,154  Manye monthes with hem. and with monkes bothe.
5,155  I was the prioresse potager and other povere ladies,
5,156  And maad hem joutes of janglyng--that Dame Johane was a bastard,
5,157  And Dame Clarice a knyghtes doughter--ac a cokewold was hir sire,
5,158  And Dame Pernele a preestes fyle--Prioresse worth she nevere,
5,159  For she hadde child in chirie-tyme, al oure Chapitre it wiste!
5,160  Of wikkede wordes I Wrathe hire wortes made,
5,161  Til ""Thow lixt!'' and ""Thow lixt!'' lopen out at ones
5,162  And either hitte oother under the cheke;
5,163  Hadde thei had knyves, by Crist! hir either hadde kild oother.
5,164  Seint Gregory was a good pope, and hadde a good forwit
5,165  That no Prioresse were preest--for that he [purveiede]:
5,166  Thei hadde thanne ben infumis the firste day, thei kan so yvele hele counseil.
5,167  "Among monkes I myghte be, ac manye tyme I shonye,
5,168  For ther ben manye felle frekes my feeris to aspie--
5,169  Bothe Priour and Suppriour and oure {Pater Abbas;}
5,170  And if I telle any tales, thei taken hem togideres,
5,171  And doon me faste Frydayes to breed and to watre;
5,172  And am chalanged in the Chapitrehous as I a child were,
5,173  And baleised on the bare ers--and no brech bitwene!
5,174  Forthi have I no likyng with tho leodes to wonye;
5,175  I ete there unthende fissh and feble ale drynke.
5,176  Ac outher while whan wyn cometh, whan I drynke wyn at eve,
5,177  I have a flux of a foul mouth wel fyve dayes after.
5,178  Al the wikkednesse that I woot by any of oure bretheren,
5,179  I cou[gh]e it in oure cloistre, that al oure covent woot it.'
5,180  "Now repente thee,' quod Repentaunce, "and reherce thow nevere
5,181  Counseil that thow knowest, by contenaunce ne by speche;
5,182  And drynk nat over delicatly, ne to depe neither,
5,183  That thi wille by cause therof to wrathe myghte turne.
5,184  Esto sobrius!' he seide, and assoiled me after,
5,185  And bad me wilne to wepe my wikkednesse to amende.
5,186  And thanne cam Coveitise, I kan hym naght discryve--
5,187  So hungrily and holwe Sire Hervy hym loked.
5,188  He was bitelbrowed and baberlipped, with two blered eighen;
5,189  And as a letheren purs lolled hise chekes--
5,190  Wel sidder than his chyn thei chyveled for elde;
5,191  And as a bondeman of his bacon his berd was bidraveled;
5,192  With an hood on his heed, a lousy hat above,
5,193  In a [torn] tabard of twelf wynter age;
5,194  But if a lous couthe lepe the bettre,
5,195  She sholde noght wa[ndr]e on that Welche, so was it thredbare!
5,196  " I have ben coveitous,' quod this caytif, " I biknowe it here;
5,197  For som tyme I served Symme-atte-Style,
5,198  And was his prentice yplight his profit to wayte.
5,199  First I lerned to lye a leef outher tweyne:
5,200  Wikkedly to weye was my firste lesson.
5,201  To Wy and to Wynchestre I wente to the feyre
5,202  With many manere marchaundise, as my maister me highte.
5,203  Ne hadde the grace of gyle ygo amonges my ware,
5,204  It hadde ben unsold this seven yer, so me God helpe!
5,205  "Thanne drough I me among drapiers, my Donet to lerne,
5,206  To drawe the liser along--the lenger it semed;
5,207  Among the riche rayes I rendred a lesson--
5,208  To broche hem with a pak-nedle, and playte hem togideres,
5,209  And putte hem in a press[our] and pyned hem therinne
5,210  Til ten yerdes or twelve tolled out thrittene.
5,211  "My wif was a webbe and wollen cloth made;
5,212  She spak to spynnesteres to spynnen it oute.
5,213  The pound that she paied by peised a quartron moore
5,214  Than myn owene auncer wh[an I] weyed truthe.
5,215  "I boughte hire barly--she brew it to selle.
5,216  Peny ale and puddyng ale she poured togideres;
5,217  For laborers and lowe folk, that lay by hymselve.
5,218  The beste ale lay in my bour or in my bedchambre,
5,219  And whoso burned therof boughte it therafter--
5,220  A galon for a grote, God woot, no lesse,
5,221  [Whan] it cam in cuppemele--this craft my wif used!
5,222  Rose the Regrater was hir righte name;
5,223  She hath holden hukkerye [this ellevene wynter].
5,224  Ac I swere now (so thee Ik!) that synne wol I lete,
5,225  And nevere wikkedly weye ne wikke chaffare use,
5,226  But wenden to Walsyngham, and my wif als,
5,227  And bidde the Roode of Bromholm brynge me out of dette.'
5,228  - Repentedestow evere? ' quod Repentaunce, " or restitucion madest? '
5,229  Yis: ones I was yherbemed', quod he. with an heep of charmen:
5,230  I  roos whan thei were al-reste and riflede hire malest
5,231  "That was no restitucion,' quod Repentaunce, "but a robberis thefte;
5,232  Thow haddest be bettre worthi ben hanged therfore
5,233  Than for al that that thow hast here shewed! '
5,234  -I wende riflynge were restitucion.' quod he, "for I lerned nevere rede on
5,235  And I kan no Frenssh. in feith, but of the Fertheste ende of Northfolk.'
5,236  " Usedestow evere usurie,' quod Repentaunce. - in al thi lif tyme? '
5,237  " Nay, sothly,' he seide, "save in my youthe;
5,238  I lerned among Lumbardes a lesson, and of Jewes--
5,239  To weye pens with a peis. and pare the hevyeste,
5,240  And lene it for love of the cros, to legge a wed and lese it.
5,241  Swiche dedes I dide write if he his day breke;
5,242  I have mo manoirs thorugh rerages than thorugh Miseretur et commodat.
5,243  I have lent lordes and ladies my chaffare,
5,244  And ben hire brocour after, and bought it myselve.
5,245  Eschaunges and chevysaunces--with swich chaffare I dele,
5,246  And lene folk that lese wole a lippe at every noble.
5,247  And with Lumbardes lettres I ladde gold to Rome,
5,248  And took it by tale here and told hem there lasse.'
5,249  " Lentestow evere lordes for love of hire mayntenaunce?'
5,250  "Ye, I have lent lordes. loved me nevere after,
5,251  And have ymaad many a knyght bothe mercer and draper
5,252  That payed nevere For his prentishode noght a peire of gloves!'
5,253  "Hastow pite on povere men that [purely] mote nedes borwe?'
5,254  "I have as muche pite of povere men as pedlere hath of cattes,
5,255  That wolde kille hem, if he cacche hem myghte, for coveitise of hir skynnes!
5,256  "Artow manlich among thi neghebores of thi mete and drynke?'
5,257  " I am holden,' quod he, "as hende as hounde is in kichene;
5,258  Amonges my neghebores namely swich a name ich have.'
5,259  "Now [but thow repente the rather,' quod Repentaunce, "God lene thee -   neve
5,260  The grace on this grounde thi good wel to bisette,
5,261  Ne thyne heires after thee have joie of that thow wynnest,
5,262  Ne thyne executours wel bisette the silver that thow hem levest:
5,263  And that was wonne with wrong, with wikked men be despended.
5,264  For were I a frere of that hous ther good feith and charite is,
5,265  I nolde cope us with thi catel, ne oure kirk amende,
5,266  Ne have a peny to my pitaunce, so God [pyne] my soule in helle,
5,267  For the beste book in oure hous, theigh brent gold were the leves,
5,268  And I wiste witterly thow were swich as thow tellest!
5,268  {Servus es alterius, cum fercula pinguia queris.}
5,268  {Pane tuo pocius vescere, liber eris.}
5,269  "Thow art an unkynde creature--I kan thee noght assoille
5,270  Til thow make restitucion' quod Repentaunce, -and rekene with hem alle.
5,271  And sithen that Reson rolle it in the Registre of hevene
5,272  That thow hast maad ech man good, I may thee noght assoille.
5,272  {Non dimittitur peccatum donec restituatur ablatum.}
5,273  For alle that han of thi good, have God my trouthe,
5,274  Ben holden at the heighe doom to helpe thee to restitue;
5,275  And who so leveth noght this be sooth, loke in the Sauter glose,
5,276  In Miserere mei, Deus, wher I mene truthe:
5,276  {Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, &c.}
5,277  Shal nevere werkman in this world thryve with that thow wynnest.
5,278  Cum sancto sanctus eris construwe me this on Englissh.'
5,279  Thanne weex that sherewe in wanhope and wolde han hanged hymself
5,280  Ne hadde Repentaunce the rather reconforted hym in this manere:
5,281  " Have mercy in thi mynde, and with thi mouth biseche it,
5,282  For [his] mercy is moore than alle hise othere werkes--
5,282  {Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius, &c--}
5,283  And al the wikkednesse in this world that man myghte werche or thynke
5,284  Nis na moore to the mercy of God than in[middes] the see a gleede:
5,284  {Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam Dei est quasi scintilla in medio maris
5,285  Forthi have mercy in thy mynde--and marchaundise, leve it!
5,286  For thow hast no good ground to gete thee with a wastel
5,287  But if it were with thi tonge or ellis with thi two hondes.
5,288  For the good that thow hast geten bigan al with falshede,
5,289  And as longe as thow lyvest therwith, thow yeldest noght but borwest.
5,290  And if thow wite nevere to wh[om] ne wh[ere] to restitue,
5,291  Ber it to the Bisshop, and bid hym of his grace
5,292  Bisette it hymself as best is for thi soule.
5,293  For he shal answere for thee at the heighe dome,
5,294  For thee and for many mo that man shal yeve a rekenyng:
5,295  What he lerned yow in Lente, leve thow noon oother,
5,296  And what he lente yow of Oure Lordes good, to lette yow fro synne'.
5,297  Now bigynneth Gloton for to go to shrifte,
5,298  And kaireth hym to kirkewarde his coupe to shewe.
5,299  Ac Beton the Brewestere bad hym good morwe
5,300  And asked of hym with that, whiderward he wolde.
5,301  'To holy chirche,' quod he, 'for to here masse,
5,302  And sithen I wole be shryven, and synne na moore.'
5,303  " I have good ale, gossib,' quod she, " Gloton, woltow assaye?'
5,304  " Hastow,' quod he, "any hote spices?'
5,305  "I have pepir and pione,' quod she, "and a pound of garleek,
5,306  A ferthyngworth of fenel seed for fastynge dayes.
5,307  Thanne goth Gloton in, and grete othes after.
5,308  Cesse the Souteresse sat on the benche,
5,309  Watte the Warner and his wif bothe,
5,310  Tymme the Tynkere and tweyne of his [knav]es,
5,311  Hikke the Hakeneyman and Hugh the Nedlere,
5,312  Clarice of Cokkeslane and the Clerk of the chirche,
5,313  Sire Piers of Pridie and PerneIe of Flaundres,
5,314  Dawe the Dykere, and a dozeyne othere--
5,315  A Ribibour, a Ratoner, a Rakiere of Chepe,
5,316  A Ropere, a Redyngkyng, and Rose the Dysshere,
5,317  Godefray of Garlekhithe and Griffyn the Walshe,
5,318  And [of] upholderes an heep, erly by the morwe,
5,319  Geve Gloton with glad chere good ale to hanselle.
5,320  Clement the Cobelere caste of his cloke,
5,321  And at the newe feire nempned it to selle.
5,322  Hikke the Hakeneyman hitte his hood after,
5,323  And bad Bette the Bocher ben on his syde.
5,324  Ther were chapmen ychose this chaffare to preise:
5,325  Whoso hadde the hood sholde han amendes of the cloke.
5,326  Tho risen up in rape and rouned togideres,
5,327  And preised the penyworthes apart by hemselve.
5,328  [There were othes an heep, for oon sholde have the werse];
5,329  Thei kouthe noght by hir conscience acorden in truthe,
5,330  Til Robyn the Ropere arise the[i by]sou[ght]e,
5,331  And nempned hym for a nounpere, that no debat nere.
5,332  Hikke the Hostiler hadde the cloke
5,333  In covenaunt that Clement sholde the cuppe fille
5,334  And have Hikkes hood the Hostiler, and holden hym yserved;
5,335  And whoso repented rathest shoulde aryse after
5,336  And greten Sire Gloton with a galon ale.
5,337  There was laughynge and lourynge and " Lat go the cuppe!'
5,338  [Bargaynes and beverages bigonne to arise;]
5,339  And seten so til evensong, and songen umwhile,
5,340  Til Gloton hadde yglubbed a galon and a gille.
5,341  His guttes bigonne to gothelen as two gredy sowes;
5,342  He pissed a potel in a Paternoster-while,
5,343  And blew his rounde ruwet at his ruggebones ende,
5,344  That alle that herde that horn helde hir nose after
5,345  And wisshed it hadde ben wexed with a wispe of firses!
5,346  He myghte neither steppe ne stonde er he his staf hadde,
5,347  And thanne gan he to go like a glemannes bicche
5,348  Som tyme aside and som tyme arere,
5,349  As whoso leith lynes for to lacche foweles.
5,350  And whan he drough to the dore, thanne dymmed hise eighen;
5,351  He [thr]umbled on the thresshfold and threw to the erthe.
5,352  Clement the Cobelere kaughte hym by the myddel
5,353  For to liften hym olofte, and leyde hym on his knowes.
5,354  Ac Gloton was a gret cherl and a grym in the liftyng,
5,355  And koughed up a cawdel in Clementes lappe.
5,356  Is noon so hungry hound in Hertfordshire
5,357  Dorste lape of that levynge, so unlovely it smaughte!
5,358  With al the wo of this world, his wif and his wenche
5,359  Baren hym to his bed and broughte hym therinne;
5,360  And after al this excesse he had an accidie.
5,361  That he sleep Saterday and Sonday, till sonne yede to reste.
5,362  Thanne waked he of his wynkyng and wiped hise eighen;
5,363  The first word that he spak was--'Where is the bolle?'
5,364  His wif [and his wit] edwyte[d] hym tho how wikkedly he lyvede.
5,365  And Repentaunce right so rebuked hym that tyme:
5,366  "As thow with wordes and werkes hast wroght yvele in thi lyve,
5,367  Shryve thee and be shamed therof, and shewe it with thi mouthe.'
5,368  'I, Gloton,' quod the gome, 'gilty me yelde--
5,369  That I have trespased with my tonge, I kan noght telle how ofte
5,370  Sworen ""Goddes soule and his sydes!' and "So helpe me God and halidome!'
5,371  Ther no nede was nyne hyndred tymes;
5,372  And overseyen me at my soper and som tyme at Nones,
5,373  That I, Gloton, girte it up er I hadde gon a myle,
5,374  And yspilt that myghte be spared and spended on som hungry;
5,375  Over delicatly on f[ee]styng dayes dronken and eten bothe,
5,376  And sat som tyme so long there that I sleep and eet at ones.
5,377  For love of tales in tavernes [in]to drynke the moore I dy[v]ed;
5,378  And hyed to the mete er noon [on] fastyng dayes.'
5,379  " This shewynge shrift,' quod Repentaunce, " shal be meryt to the.'
5,380  And thanne gan Gloton greete, and gret doel to make
5,381  For his luther lif that he lyved hadde,
5,382  And avowed to faste--"For hunger or for thurste,
5,383  Shal never fyssh on Fryday defyen in my wombe
5,384  Til Abstinence myn aunte have yyve me leeve--
5,385  And yet have I hated hire al my lif tyme!-
5,386  Thanne cam Sleuthe al bislabered, with two slymy eighen.
5,387  "I moste sitte,' seide the segge, "or ellis sholde I nappe.
5,388  I may noght stonde ne stoupe ne withoute a stool knele.
5,389  Were I brought abedde, but if my tailende it made,
5,390  Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse er I were ripe to dyne.'
5,391  He bigan Benedicite with a bolk, and his brest knokked,
5,392  Raxed and rored--and rutte at the laste.
5,393  -What, awake, renk!- quod Repentaunce, 'and rape thee to shryfte!'
5,394  "If I sholde deye bi this day,' quod he, "me list nought to loke.
5,395  I kan noght parfitly my Paternoster as the preest it syngeth,
5,396  But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood and Randolf Erl of Chestre,
5,397  Ac neither of Oure Lord ne of Oure Lady the leeste that evere was maked.
5,398  I have maad avowes fourty, and foryete hem on the morwe;
5,399  I parfournede nevere penaunce as the preest me highte,
5,400  Ne right sory for my synnes, yet [seye I] was I nevere.
5,401  And if I bidde any bedes, but if it be in wrathe,
5,402  That I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myn herte.
5,403  I am ocupied eche day, halyday and oother,
5,404  With ydel tales at the ale and outherwhile in chirches;
5,405  Goddes peyne and his passion, [pure] selde thenke I on it;
5,406  I visited nevere feble men ne fettred folk in puttes;
5,407  I have levere here an harlotrye or a somer game of souters,
5,408  Or lesynges to laughen of and bilye my neghebores,
5,409  Than al that evere Marc made, Mathew, Johan and Lucas.
5,410  And vigilies and fastyng dayes--alle thise late I passe,
5,411  And ligge abedde in Lenten and my lemman in myne armes
5,412  Til matyns and masse be do, and thanne moste to the Freres;
5,413  Come I to {Ite, missa} est I holde me yserved.
5,414  I am noght shryven som tyme, but if siknesse it make,
5,415  Noght twyes in two yer, and thanne [telle I up gesse].
5,416  "I have be preest and person passynge thritty wynter,
5,417  Yet kan I neyther solve ne synge ne seintes lyves rede,
5,418  But I kan fynden in a feld or in a furlang an hare
5,419  Bettre than in {Beatus vir} or in Beati omnes
5,420  Construe clausemeI[e] and kenne it to my parisshens,
5,421  I kan holde lovedayes and here a reves rekenyng,
5,422  Ac in Canoun nor in Decretals I kan noght rede a lyne.
5,423  "If I bygge and borwe aught, but if it be ytailed,
5,424  I foryete it as yerne, and yif men me it axe
5,425  Sixe sithes or sevene, I forsake it with othes;
5,426  And thus tene I trewe men ten hundred tymes.
5,427  And my servaunts som tyme, hir salarie is bihynde:
5,428  Ruthe is to here the rekenyng whan we shal rede acountes,
5,429  So with wikked wil and wrathe my werkmen I paye!
5,430  "If any man dooth me a bienfait or helpeth me at nede,
5,431  I am unkynde ayeins his curteisie and kan nought understonden it;
5,432  For I have and have had somdel haukes maneres--
5,433  I am noght lured with love but ther ligge aught under the thombe.
5,434  The kyndenesse that myn evenecristene kidde me fernyere
5,435  Sixty sithes I, Sleuthe, have foryete it siththe
5,436  In speche and in sparynge of speche; yspilt many a tyme
5,437  Bothe flessh and fissh and manye othere vitailles,
5,438  Bothe bred and ale. buttre, melk and chese
5,439  Forsleuthed in my service til it myghte serve no man.
5,440  I [yarn] aboute in youthe, and yaf me naught to lerne
5,441  And evere sitthe have I be beggere [be] my foule sleuthe:
5,441  { Heu michi quia serilem vitam duxi iuvenilem !'}
5,442  "Repentedestow the noght?' quod Repentaunce--and right with that he swowned
5,443  Til Vigilate the veille fette water at hise eighen
5,444  And flatte it on his face and faste on hym cryde
5,445  And seide, 'Ware thee--for Wanhope wolde thee bitraye.
5,446  ""I am sory for my synnes'', seye to thiselve,
5,447  And beet thiself on the brest, and bidde Hym of grace,
5,448  For is no gilt here so gret that his goodnesse nys moore.'
5,449  Thanne sat Sleuthe up and seyned hym swithe,
5,450  And made avow tofore God for his foule sleuthe:
5,451  "Shal no Sonday be this seven yer, but siknesse it [make],
5,452  That I ne shal do me er day to the deere chirche
5,453  And here matyns and masse as I a monk were.
5,454  Shal noon ale after mete holde me thennes
5,455  Til I have evensong herd--I bihote to the Roode!
5,456  And yet wole I yelde ayein. [y]if I so muche have,
5,457  Al that I wikkedly wan sithen I wit hadde;
5,458  And though my liflode lakke, leten I nelle
5,459  That ech man shal have his er I hennes wende;
5,460  And with the residue and the remenaunt, bi the Rode of Chestre,
5,461  I shal seken truthe erst er I se Rome!'
5,462  Roberd the Robbere on Reddite loked,
5,463  And for ther was noght wher[with], he wepte swithe soore.
5,464  And yet the synfulle sherewe seide to hymselve:
5,465  "Crist, that on Calvarie upon the cros deidest,
5,466  Tho Dysmas my brother bisoughte thee of grace,
5,467  And haddest mercy on that man for {Memento} sake;
5,468  So rewe on this Rober[d] that Reddere ne have,
5,469  Ne nevere wene to wynne with craft that I knowe;
5,470  But for thi muchel mercy mitigacion I biseche:
5,471  Dampne me noght at Domesday for that I dide so ille!'
5,472  What bifel of this feloun I kan noght faire shewe.
5,473  Wel I woot he wepte faste water with hise eighen,
5,474  And knoweliched his [coupe] to Crist yet eftsoones,
5,475  That {Penitencia} his pik he sholde polshe newe
5,476  And lepe with hym over lond al his lif tyme,
5,477  For he hadde leyen by {Latro, Luciferis Aunte.}
5,478  And thanne hadde Repentaunce ruthe and redde hem alle to knele.
5,479  " For I shal biseche for alle synfulle Oure Saveour of grace
5,480  To amenden us of oure mysdedes and do mercy to us alle.
5,481  Now God,' quod he, "that of Thi goodnesse gonne the world make,
5,482  And of naught madest aught and man moost lik to thiselve,
5,483  And sithen suffredest hym to synne, a siknesse to us alle--
5,484  And al for the beste, as I bileve, whatevere the Book telleth:
5,484  {0 felix culpa ! 0 necessarium peccatum Ade !}
5,485  For thorugh that synne thi sone sent was to this erthe
5,486  And bicam man of a maide mankynde to save--
5,487  And madest Thiself with Thi sone us synfulle yliche:
5,487  {Faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram; Et anoi}
5,487  {Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, et Deus in eo;}
5,488  And siththe with Thi selve sone in oure sute deidest
5,489  On Good Fryday for mannes sake at ful tym~ of the day;
5,490  Ther Thiself ne Thi sone no sorwe in deeth feledest,
5,491  But in oure secte was the sorwe, and Thi sone it ladde:
5,491  {Captivum duxit captivitatem.}
5,492  The sonne for sorwe therof lees sight for a tyme
5,493  Aboute mydday whan moost light is and meel-tyme of seintes--
5,494  Feddest tho with Thi fresshe blood oure forefadres in derknesse:
5,494  {Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam.}
5,495  And the light that lepe out of Thee, Lucifer it blente,
5,496  And blewe alle Thi blessed into the blisse of Paradys!
5,497  "The thridde day therafter Thow yedest in oure sute:
5,498  A synful Marie The seigh er Seynte Marie Thi dame,
5,499  And al to solace synfulle Thow suffredest it so were--
5,499  {Non veni vocare iustos set peccatores ad penitenciam.}
5,500  "And al that Marc hath ymaad, Mathew, Johan and Lucas
5,501  Of Thyne doughtiest dedes was doon in oure armes:
5,501  {Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis.}
5,502  And by so muche it semeth the sikerer we mowe
5,503  Bidde and biseche, if it be Thi wille
5,504  That art oure fader and oure brother--be merciable to us,
5,505  And have ruthe on thise ribaudes that repenten hem soore
5,506  That evere thei wrathed Thee in this world, in word, thought or dede!'
5,507  Thanne hente Hope an horn of {Deus tu conversus vivificabis nos}
5,508  And blew it with {Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitate}
5,509  That alle Seintes in hevene songen at ones
5,509  {'Homines et iumenta salvabis, quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, Deus!'}
5,510  A thousand of men tho thrungen togideres,
5,511  Cride upward to Crist and to his clene moder
5,512  To have grace to go [seke Truthe--God leve that they moten!]
5,513  Ac there was wight noon so wys, the wey thider kouthe,
5,514  But blustreden forth as beestes over ba[ch]es and hilles,
5,515  Til late was and longe, that thei a leode mette
5,516  Apparailled as a paynym in pilgrymes wise.
5,517  He bar a burdoun ybounde with a brood liste
5,518  In a withwynde wise ywounden aboute.
5,519  A bolle and a bagge he bar by his syde.
5,520  An hundred of ampulles on his hat seten,
5,521  Signes of Synay and shelles of Galice,
5,522  And many a crouch on his cloke, and keyes of Rome,
5,523  And the vernicle bifore, for men sholde knowe
5,524  And se bi hise signes whom he sought hadde.
5,525  This folk frayned hym first fro whennes he come.
5,526  " Fram Synay,' he seide, " and fram [the] Sepulcre.
5,527  In Bethlem and in Babiloyne, I have ben in bothe,
5,528  In Armonye, in Alisaundre, in manye othere places.
5,529  Ye may se by my signes that sitten on myn hatte
5,530  That I have walked ful wide in weet and in drye
5,531  And sought goode Seintes for my soule helthe.'
5,532  " Knowestow aught a corsaint,' [quod thei], " that men calle Truthe?
5,533  Koudestow wissen us the wey wher that wye dwelleth?'
5,534  "Nay, so me God helpe!' seide the gome thanne.
5,535  "I seigh nevere palmere with pyk ne with scrippe
5,536  Asken after hym er now in this place.'
5,537  "Peter!' quod a Plowman, and putte forth his hed,
5,538  "I knowe hym as kyndely as clerc doth hise bokes.
5,539  Conscience and Kynde Wit kenned me to his place
5,540  And diden me suren hym si[ththen] to serven hym for evere,
5,541  Bothe to sowe and to sette the while I swynke myghte.
5,542  I have ben his folwere al this fourty wynter--
5,543  Bothe ysowen his seed and suwed hise beestes,
5,544  Withinne and withouten waited his profit,
5,545  Idyke[d] and id[o]lve, ido that he hoteth.
5,546  Som tyme I sowe and som tyme I thresshe,
5,547  In taillours craft and tynkeris craft, what Truthe kan devyse,
5,548  I weve and I wynde and do what Truthe hoteth.
5,549  For though I seye it myself, I serve hym to paye;
5,550  I have myn hire of hym wel and outherwhiles moore.
5,551  He is the presteste paiere that povere men knoweth:
5,552  He withhalt noon hewe his hire that he ne hath it at even.
5,553  He is as lowe as a lomb and lovelich of speche.
5,554  And if ye wilneth to wite where that he dwelleth,
5,555  I [wol] wisse yow [wel right] to his place.'
5,556  'Ye, leve Piers!' quod thise pilgrimes, and profred hym huyre.
5,557  'Nay, by [the peril of] my soule!' quod Piers and gan to swere,
5,558  " I nolde fange a ferthyng, for Seint Thomas shryne!
5,559  Truthe woIde love me the lasse a long tyme after.
5,560  Ac if ye wilneth to wende wel, this is the wey thider:
5,561  Ye moten go thorugh Mekenesse, bothe men and wyves,
5,562  Til ye come into Conscience, that Crist wite the sothe,
5,563  That ye loven Oure Lord God levest of alle thynges,
5,564  And thanne youre neghebores next in none wise apeire
5,565  Otherwise than thow woldest h[ii] wroughte to thiselve.
5,566  "And so boweth forth by a brook, "" Beth-buxom-of-speche',
5,567  [Forto] ye fynden a ford, " Youre-fadres-honoureth' :
5,567  { Honora patrem et matrem &c.}
5,568  Wadeth in that water and wassheth yow wel there,
5,569  And ye shul lepe the lightloker al youre lif ty
5,570  And so shaltow se "Swere-noght-but-if-it-be-for-nede-
5,571  And-nameliche-on-ydel-the-name-of-God-Almyghty.''
5,572  "Thanne shaltow come by a croft, but come thow noght therinne:
5,573  The croft hatte "" Coveite-noght-mennes-catel-ne-hire-wyves-
5,574  Ne-noon-of-hire-servaunts-that-noyen-hem-myghte.''
5,575  Loke thow breke no bowes there but if it be [thyn] owene.
5,576  "Two stokkes ther stondeth. ac stynte th[ow] noght there:
5,577  Thei highte ""Stele-noght'' and "" Sle-noght''--strik forth by bothe,
5,578  And leve hem on thi lift half and loke noght therafter,
5,579  And hold wel thyn haliday heighe til even.
5,580  'Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh, "Bere-no-fals-witnesse";
5,581  He is frythed in with floryns and othere fees manye:
5,582  Loke thow plukke no plaunte there, for peril of thi soule.
5,583  'Thanne shalt thow see "Seye-sooth-so-it-be-to-doone
5,584  In-no-manere-ellis-noght-for-no-mannes-biddyng."
5,585  "Thanne shaltow come to a court as cler as the sonne.
5,586  The moot is of Mercy the manoir aboute,
5,587  And alle the walles ben of Wit to holden Wil oute,
5,588  And kerneled with Cristendom that kynde to save,
5,589  Botrased with "" Bileef-so-or-thow-beest-noght-saved.''
5,590  "And alle the houses ben hiled, halles and chambres,
5,591  With no leed but with love and lowe speche, as bretheren [of o wombe].
5,592  The brugge is of " Bidde-wel-the-bet-may-thow-spede;''
5,593  Ech piler is of penaunce, of preieres to seyntes;
5,594  Of almesdedes are the hokes that the gates hangen on.
5,595  "Grace hatte the gateward, a good man for sothe;
5,596  His man hatte ""Amende-yow''--many man hym knoweth.
5,597  Telleth hym this tokene: "Truthe [woot] the sothe--
5,598  I parfourned the penaunce that the preest me enjoyned
5,599  And am sory for my synnes and so I shal evere
5,600  Whan I thynke theron, theigh I were a Pope.'
5,601  "Biddeth Amende-yow meke hym til his maister ones
5,602  To wayven up the wiket that the womman shette
5,603  Tho Adam and Eve eten apples unrosted:
5,603  {Per Evam cunctis clausa est et per Mariam virginem iterum patefacta est.}
5,604  For he hath the keye and the cliket, though the kyng slepe.
5,605  And if Grace graunte thee to go in in this wise
5,606  Thow shalt see in thiselve Truthe sitte in thyn herte
5,607  In a cheyne of charite, as thow a child were,
5,608  To suffren hym and segge noght ayein thi sires wille.
5,609  "Ac be war thanne of Wrathe, that wikked sherewe:
5,610  He hath envye to hym that in thyn herte sitteth,
5,611  And poketh forth pride to preise thiselven.
5,612  The boldnesse of thi bienfetes maketh thee blynd thanne
5,613  And [so] worstow dryven out as dew, and the dore closed,
5,614  Keyed and cliketted to kepe thee withouten
5,615  Happily an hundred wynter er thow eft entre!
5,616  Thus myghtestow lesen his love, to lete wel by thiselve,
5,617  And [gete it ayein thorugh] grace [ac thorugh no gifte ellis].
5,618  "Ac ther are seven sustren that serven Truthe evere
5,619  And arn porters of the posternes that to the place longeth.
5,620  That oon hatte Abstinence, and Humilite another;
5,621  Charite and Chastite ben hise chief maydenes;
5,622  Pacience and Pees, muche peple thei helpeth;
5,623  Largenesse the lady, she let in ful manye--
5,624  Heo hath holpe a thousand out of the develes punfolde.
5,625  "And who is sib to thise sevene, so me God helpe,
5,626  He is wonderly welcome and faire underfongen.
5,627  And but if ye be sibbe to some of thise sevene--
5,628  It is ful hard, by myn heed,' quod Piers, "for any of yow alle
5,629  To geten ingong at any gate but grace be the moore!'
5,630  "Now, by Crist!' quod a kuttepurs, - I have no kyn there.'
5,631  " Ne I', quod an apeward, - by aught that I knowe.'
5,632  "Wite God,' quod a wafrestere, "wiste I this for sothe,
5,633  Sholde I never ferther a foot for no freres prechyng.'
5,634  " Yis! ' quod Piers the Plowman, and poked hem alle to goode,
5,635  "Mercy is a maiden there, hath myght over hem alle;
5,636  And she is sib to alle synfulle, and hire sone also,
5,637  And thorugh the help of hem two--hope thow noon oother--
5,638  Thow myght gete grace there--so thow go bityme.'
5,639  "Bi Seint Poul!' quod a pardoner, paraventure I be noght knowe there:
5,640  I wol go fecche my box with my brevettes and a bulle with bisshopes lettres.
5,641  "By Crist!' quod a commune womman, thi compaignie wol I folwe.
5,642  Thow shalt seye I am thi suster.' I ne woot where thei bicome.
6,1  "This were a wikkede wey but whoso hadde a gyde
6,2  That [myghte] folwen us ech a foot'--thus this folk hem mened.
6,3  Quod Perkyn the Plowman, " By Seint Peter of Rome!
6,4  I have an half acre to erie by the heighe weye;
6,5  Hadde I cryed this half acre and sowen it after,
6,6  I wolde wende with yow and the wey teche.'
6,7  "This were a long lettyng,' quod a lady in a scleyre;
6,8  "What sholde we wommen werche the while?'
6,9  "Somme shul sowe the sak ' quod Piers, " for shedyng of the whete;
6,10  And ye lovely ladies with youre longe fyngres,
6,11  That ye have silk and sandel to sowe whan tyme is
6,12  Chesibles for chapeleyns chirches to honoure.
6,13  Wyves and widewes, wolle and flex spynneth:
6,14  Maketh cloth, I counseille yow, and kenneth so youre doughtres.
6,15  The nedy and the naked, nymeth hede how thei liggeth,
6,16  And casteth hem clothes, for so commaundeth Truthe.
6,17  For I shal lenen hem liflode, but if the lond faille,
6,18  As longe as I lyve, for the Lordes love of hevene.
6,19  And alle manere of men that by mete and drynke libbeth,
6,20  Helpeth hym to werche wightliche that wynneth youre foode.'
6,21  "By Crist!' quod a knyght thoo, "he kenneth us the beste;
6,22  Ac on the teme, trewely, taught was I nevere.
6,23  Ac kenne me,' quod the knyght, "and by Crist I wole assaye!'
6,24  "By Seint Poul!' quod Perkyn, "Ye profre yow so faire
6,25  That I shal swynke and swete and sowe for us bothe,
6,26  And [ek] labour[e] for thi love al my lif tyme,
6,27  In covenaunt that thow kepe Holy Kirke and myselve
6,28  Fro wastours and fro wikked men that this world destruyeth;
6,29  And go hunte hardiliche to hares and foxes,
6,30  To bores and to bukkes that breken down myne hegges;
6,31  And go affaite thi faucons wilde foweles to kille,
6,32  For thei cometh to my croft and croppeth my whete.'
6,33  Curteisly the knyght thanne co[nseyved] thise wordes:
6,34  "By my power, Piers, I plighte thee my trouthe
6,35  To fulfille this forward, though I fighte sholde;
6,36  Als longe as I lyve I shal thee mayntene.'
6,37  " Ye, and yet a point,' quod Piers, "I preye yow of moore:
6,38  Loke ye tene no tenaunt but Truthe wole assente;
6,39  And though ye mowe amercy hem, lat mercy be taxour
6,40  And mekenesse thi maister, maugree Medes chekes.
6,41  And though povere men profre yow presentes and yiftes,
6,42  Nyme it noght, an aventure thow mowe it noght deserve;
6,43  For thow shalt yelde it ayein at one yeres ende
6,44  In a ful perilous place--Purgatorie it hatte.
6,45  And mysbede noght thi bondemen--the bettre may thow spede;
6,46  Though he be thyn underlyng here, wel may happe in hevene
6,47  That he worth worthier set and with moore blisse:
6,47  {   Amice, ascende superius.}
6,48  For in charnel at chirche cherles ben yvel to knowe,
6,49  Or a knyght from a knave there--knowe this in thyn herte.
6,50  And that thow be trewe of thi tonge, and tales that thow hatie,
6,51  But if thei ben of wisdom or of wit, thi werkmen to chaste.
6,52  Hold with none harlotes ne here noght hir tales,
6,53  And namely at the mete swiche men eschuwe--
6,54  For it ben the develes disours, I do the to understonde.'
6,55  "I assente, by Seint Jame,' seide the knyght thanne,
6,56  "For to werche by thi wordes the while my lif dureth.'
6,57  "And I shal apparaille me,' quod Perkyn, "in pilgrymes wise
6,58  And wende with yow I wile til we fynde Truthe.'
6,59  [He] caste on [hise] clothes, yclouted and hole,
6,60  [Hise] cokeres and [hise] coffes for coId of [hise] nailes,
6,61  And [heng his] hoper at [his] hals in stede of a scryppe:
6,62  "A busshel of bred corn brynge me therinne,
6,63  For I wol sowe it myself, and sithenes wol I wende
6,64  To pilgrymage as palmeres doon, pardon for to have.
6,65  And whoso helpeth me to erie or sowen here er I wende,
6,66  Shal have leve, by Oure Lord, to lese here in hervest
6,67  And make hym murie thermyd, maugree whoso bigruccheth it.
6,68  And alle kynne crafty men that konne lyven in truthe,
6,69  I shal fynden hem fode that feithfulliche libbeth--
6,70  Save Jakke the Jogelour and Jonette of the Stuwes,
6,71  And Danyel the Dees-pleyere and Denote the Baude,
6,72  And Frere the Faitour, and folk of his ordre,
6,73  And Robin the Ribaudour, for hise rusty wordes.
6,74  Truthe tolde me ones and bad me telle it forth:
6,75  Deleantur de libro vivencium}--I sholde noght dele with hem,
6,76  For Holy Chirche is hote, of hem no tithe to aske,
6,76  {Quia cum iustis non scribantur.}
6,77  Thei ben ascaped good aventure--now God hem amende!'
6,78  Dame Werch-whan-tyme-is Piers wif highte;
6,79  His doughter highte Do-right-so-or-thi-dame-shal-thee-bete;
6,80  His sone highte Suffre-thi-Sovereyns-to-haven-hir-wille:
6,81  Deme-hem-noght-for-if-thow-doost-thow-shalt-it-deere-abugge;
6,82  Lat-God-yworthe-with-al-for-so-His-word-techeth.
6,83  "For now I am old and hoor and have of myn owene,
6,84  To penaunce and to pilgrimage I wol passe with thise othere;
6,85  Forthi I wole er I wende do write my biqueste.
6,86  In Dei nomine, Amen, I make it myselve.
6,87  ' He shal have my soule that best hath deserved it,
6,88  And [defende it fro the fend], for so I bileve,
6,89  Til I come to hise acountes as my crede me telleth,
6,90  To have a relees and a remission--on that rental I leve.
6,91  "The kirke shal have my caroyne, and kepe my bones,
6,92  For of my corn and catel he craved the tithe.
6,93  I paide it hym prestly, for peril of my soule;
6,94  Forthi is he holden, I hope, to have me in his masse
6,95  And mengen me in his memorie amonges alle Cristene.
6,96  " My wif shal have of that I wan with truthe, and namoore,
6,97  And dele among my doughtres and my deere children;
6,98  For though I deye today, my dettes are quyte;
6,99  I bar hom that I borwed er I to bedde yede.
6,100  And with the residue and the remenaunt, by the Rode of Lukes!
6,101  I wol worshipe therwith Truthe by my lyve,
6,102  And ben His pilgrym atte plow for povere mennes sake.
6,103  My plowpote shal be my pikstaf, and picche atwo the rotes,
6,104  And helpe my cultour to kerve and clense the furwes.'
6,105  Now is Perkyn and thise pilgrimes to the plow faren.
6,106  To erie this half-acre holpen hym manye;
6,107  Dikeres and delveres digged up the balkes;
6,108  Therwith was Perkyn apayed and preised hem faste.
6,109  Othere werkmen ther were that wroghten ful yerne:
6,110  Ech man in his manere made hymself to doone,
6,111  And somme to plese Perkyn piked up the wedes.
6,112  At heigh prime Piers leet the plough stonde,
6,113  To oversen hem hymself; whoso best wroghte,
6,114  He sholde be hired therafter, whan hervest tyme come.
6,115  Thanne seten somme and songen atte nale,
6,116  And holpen ere this half acre with "How trolly lolly!'
6,117  "Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers al in pure tene,
6,118  "But ye arise the rather and rape yow to werche,
6,119  Shal no greyn that here groweth glade yow at nede,
6,120  And though ye deye for doel, the devel have that recche!'
6,121  Tho were faitours afered, and feyned hem blynde;
6,122  Somme leide hir legges aliry, as swiche losels konneth,
6,123  And made hir [pleynt] to Piers and preide hym of grace:
6,124  "For we have no lymes to laboure with, lord, ygraced be ye!
6,125  Ac we preie for yow, Piers, and for youre plowgh bothe,
6,126  That God of his grace youre greyn multiplie
6,127  And yelde yow of youre almesse that ye yyve us here;
6,128  For we may neither swynke ne swete, swich siknesse us eyleth.'
6,129  If it be sooth.' quod Piers, "that ye seyn, I shal it soone aspie.
6,130  Ye ben wastours, I woot wel, and Truthe woot the sothe;
6,131  And I am his olde hyne and highte hym to warne
6,132  Whiche thei were in this world hise werkmen apeired.
6,133  Ye wasten that men wynnen with travaille and with tene;
6,134  Ac Truthe shal teche yow his teme to dryve,
6,135  Or ye shul eten barly breed and of the broke drynke;
6,136  But if he be blynd or brokelegged or bolted with irens,
6,137  He shal ete whete breed and [with myselve drynke]
6,138  Til God of his goodnesse garisoun] hym sende.
6,139  Ac ye myghte travaille as Truthe wolde and take mete and hyre
6,140  To kepe kyen in the feld, the corn fro the bestes,
6,141  Diken or delven or dyngen upon sheves,
6,142  Or helpe make morter or bere muk afeld.
6,143  In lecherie and losengerie ye lyven, and in sleuthe,
6,144  And al is thorugh suffraunce that vengeaunce yow ne taketh!
6,145  "Ac ancres and heremites that eten but at Nones
6,146  And na moore er morwe--myn almesse shul thei have,
6,147  And of my catel to cope hem with that han cloistres and chirches.
6,148  Ac Robert Renaboute shal [right] noght have of myne,
6,149  Ne postles, but thei preche konne and have power of the bisshop:
6,150  Thei shul have payn and potage and [put] hemself at ese--
6,151  For it is an unresonable Religion that hath right noght of certein.'
6,152  Thanne gan Wastour to wrathen hym and wolde have yfoughte,
6,153  And to Piers the Plowman he profrede his glove.
6,154  A Bretoner, a braggere, abosted Piers als
6,155  And bad hym go pissen with his plowgh, forpynede sherewe!
6,156  'Wiltow or neltow, we wol have oure wille
6,157  Of thi flour and of thi flesshe--fecche whanne us liketh,
6,158  And maken us murye thermyde, maugree thi chekes.'
6,159  Thanne Piers the Plowman pleyned hym to the knyghte
6,160  To kepen hym as covenaunt was fro cursede sherewes
6,161  And fro thise wastours wolveskynnes that maketh the world deere:
6,162  " For tho wasten and wynnen noght, and that [while ilke]
6,163  Worth nevere plentee among the peple the while my plowgh liggeth.'
6,164  Curteisly the knyght thanne, as his kynde wolde,
6,165  Warnede Wastour and wissed hym bettre:
6,166  "Or thow shalt abigge by the lawe, by the ordre that I bere!'
6,167  " I was noght wont to werche,' quod Wastour, "and now wol I noght bigynne! '-
6,168  And leet light of the lawe, and lasse of the knyghte,
6,169  And sette Piers at a pese, and his plowgh bothe,
6,170  And manaced Piers and his men if thei mette eftsoone.
6,171  " Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers, " I shal apeire yow alle'--
6,172  And houped after Hunger, that herde hym at the firste.
6,173  "Awreke me of thise wastours,' quod he, "that this world shendeth!'
6,174  Hunger in haste thoo hente Wastour by the mawe
6,175  And wrong hym so by the wombe that al watrede hise eighen.
6,176  He buffetted the Bretoner aboute the chekes
6,177  That he loked lik a lanterne al his lif after.
6,178  He bette hem so bothe, he brast ner hire guttes;
6,179  Ne hadde Piers with a pese loof preyed [hym bileve],
6,180  They hadde be dolven bothe--ne deme thow noon oother.
6,181  'Suffre hem lyve,' he seide 'and lat hem etc with hogges,
6,182  Or ellis benes and bren ybaken togideres.'
6,183  Faitours for fere herof flowen into bernes
6,184  And flapten on with flailes fro morwe til even,
6,185  That hunger was noght hardy on hem for to loke
6,186  For a potful of peses that Piers hadde ymaked.
6,187  An heep of heremytes henten hem spades
6,188  And kitten hir copes and courtepies hem maked.
6,189  And wente as werkmen with spades and with shoveles,
6,190  And dolven and dikeden to dryve awey Hunger.
6,191  Blynde and bedreden were bootned a thousand,
6,192  That seten to begge silver, soone were thei heeled ;
6,193  For that was bake for Bayard was boote for many hungry;
6,194  And many a beggere for benes buxum was to swynke,
6,195  And ech a povere man wel apaied to have pesen for his hyre,
6,196  And what Piers preide hem to do as prest as a sperhauk.
6,197  And [Piers was proud therof ], and putte hem to werke
6,198  And yaf hem mete as he myghte aforthe and mesurable hyre.
6,199  Thanne hadde Piers pite, and preide Hunger to wende
6,200  Hoom into his owene erd and holden hym there [evere]:
6,201  " For I am wel awroke of wastours thorugh thy myghte.
6,202  Ac I preie thee, er thow passe,' quod Piers to Hunger,
6,203  "Of beggeris and of bidderis what best be to doone?
6,204  For I woot wel, be thow went, thei wol werche ful ille;
6,205  Meschief it maketh thei be so meke nouthe,
6,206  And for defaute of hire foode this folk is at my wille.
6,207  [And] it are my blody bretheren, for God boughte us alle.
6,208  Truthe taughte me ones to loven hem ech one
6,209  And to helpen hem of alle thyng, ay as hem nedeth.
6,210  Now wolde I wite of thee, what were the beste,
6,211  And how I myghte amaistren hem and make hem to werche.'
6,212  " Here now,' quod Hunger, "and hoold it for a wisdom:
6,213  Bolde beggeris and bigge that mowe hir breed biswynke,
6,214  With houndes breed and horse breed hoold up hir hertes--
6,215  Aba[v]e hem with benes, for bollynge of hir wombe;
6,216  And if the gomes grucche, bidde hem go swynke,
6,217  And he shal soupe swetter whan he it hath deserved.
6,218  "Ac if thow fynde any freke that Fortune hath apeired
6,219  Or any manere false men, fonde thow swiche to knowe:
6,220  Conforte hem with thi catel for Cristes love of hevene;
6,221  Love hem and lene hem, for so lawe of [kynde wolde]:
6,221  {Alter alterius onera portate.}
6,222  And alle manere of men that thow myght aspie
6,223  That nedy ben [or naked, and nought han to spende,
6,224  With or with mone lat make hem fare the bettre].
6,225  Love hem and lakke hem noght--lat God take the vengeaunce;
6,226  Theigh thei doon yvele, lat thow God yworthe:
6,226  { Michi vindictam et ego retribuam.}
6,227  And if thow wilt be gracious to God, do as the Gospel techeth,
6,228  And bilove thee amonges lowe men--so shaltow lacche grace:
6,228  { Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.'}
6,229  "I wolde noght greve God,' quod Piers, -for al the good on grounde!'
6,230  Mighte I synnelees do as thow seist?' seide Piers thanne.
6,231  "Ye, I bihote thee,' quod Hunger, "or ellis the Bible lieth
6,232  Go to Genesis the geaunt, the engendrour of us alle:
6,233  ""In sudore and swynk thow shalt thi mete tilie,
6,234  And laboure for thi liflode,'' and so Oure Lord highte.
6,235  And Sapience seith the same--I seigh it in the Bible:
6,236  "   {Piger pro frigore}no feeld nolde tilie--
6,237  And therfore he shal begge and bidde, and no man bete his hunger."
6,238  "Mathew with mannes face moutheth thise wordes--
6,239  That {servus nequam} hadde a mnam, and for he wolde noght chaffare,
6,240  He hadde maugree of his maister everemoore after;
6,241  And bynam hym his mnam for he ne wolde werche,
6,242  And yaf that mnam to hym that ten mnames hadde,
6,243  And with that he seide, that Holy Chirche it herde:
6,244  "He that hath shal have and helpe there it nedeth;
6,245  And he that noght hath shal noght have, and no man hym helpe,
6,246  And that he weneth weI to have, I wole it hym bireve.''
6,247  'Kynde Wit wolde that ech a wight wroghte,
6,248  Or in [te]chynge or in [tell]ynge or travaillynge in preieres--
6,249  Contemplatif lif or Actif lif, Crist wolde men wroghte.
6,250  The Sauter seith in the psalme of {Beat omnes},
6,251  The freke that fedeth hymself with his feithful labour,
6,252  He is blessed by the book in body and in soule:
6,252  {Labores manuum tuarum &c.'}
6,253  " Yet I preie yow,' quod Piers, {"pur charite}, and ye konne
6,254  Any leef of lechecraft, lere it me, my deere;
6,255  For some of my servaunts and myself bothe
6,256  Of al a wike werche noght, so oure wombe aketh.'
6,257  "I woot wel,' quod Hunger, "what siknesse yow eyleth;
6,258  Ye han manged over muche--that maketh yow grone.
6,259  Ac I hote thee,' quod Hunger, "as thow thyn hele wilnest,
6,260  That thow drynke no day er thow dyne somwhat.
6,261  Ete noght, I hote thee, er hunger thee take
6,262  And sende thee of his sauce to savore with thi lippes;
6,263  And keep som til soper tyme and sitte noght to longe;
6,264  Arys up er appetit have eten his fille.
6,265  Lat noght Sire Surfet sitten at thi borde--
6,266  Love hym noght, for he is lecherous and likerous of tonge,
6,267  And after many maner metes his mawe is afyngred.
6,268  "And if thow diete thee thus, I dar legge myn eris
6,269  That Phisik shal his furred hood for his fode selle,
6,270  And his cloke of Calabre with alle the knappes of golde,
6,271  And be fayn, by my feith, his phisik to lete,
6,272  And lerne to laboure with lond [lest] liflode [hym faille].
6,273  Ther aren mo [li]eres than leches--Lord hem amende!
6,274  They do men deye thorugh hir drynkes er destynee it wolde.'
6,275  " By Seint Poul,' quod Piers, "thise arn profitable wordes!
6,276  For this is a lovely lesson, Lord it thee foryelde!
6,277  Wend now, Hunger, whan thow wolt, that wel be thow evere.'
6,278  " I bihote God,' quod Hunger, " hennes ne wole I wende
6,279  [Er] I have dyned bi this day and ydronke bothe.'
6,280  " I have no peny,' quod Piers, "pulettes to bugge,
6,281  Neither gees ne grys, but two grene cheses,
6,282  A fewe cruddes and creme and [a cake of otes],
6,283  And two loves of benes and bran ybake for my fauntes.
6,284  And yet I seye, by my soule, I have no salt bacon
6,285  Ne no cokeney, by Crist, coloppes to maken!
6,286  Ac I have percile and porettes and manye [plaunte coles],
6,287  And ek a cow and a calf, and a cart mare
6,288  To drawe afeld my donge the while the droghte lasteth.
6,289  By this liflode we mote lyve til Lammesse tyme.
6,290  And by that I hope to have hervest in my crofte;
6,291  Thanne may I dighte thi dyner as me deere liketh.'
6,292  Al the povere peple tho pescoddes fetten;
6,293  Benes and baken apples thei broghte in hir lappes,
6,294  Chibolles and chervelles and ripe chiries manye,
6,295  And profrede Piers this present to plese with Hunger.
6,296  Al Hunger eet in haste and axed after moore.
6,297  Thanne povere folk for fere fedden Hunger yerne;
6,298  With grene poret and pesen to poisone hym thei thoghte!
6,299  By that it neghed neer hervest and newe corn cam to chepyng;
6,300  Thanne was folk fayn, and fedde Hunger with the beste--
6,301  With good ale, as Gloton taghte--and garte Hunger to slepe.
6,302  And tho wolde Wastour noght werche, but wandren aboute,
6,303  Ne no beggere ete breed that benes inne were,
6,304  But of coket and clermatyn or ellis of clene whete,
6,305  Ne noon halfpeny ale in none wise drynke,
6,306  But of the beste and of the brunneste that [brewesteres] selle.
6,307  Laborers that have no land to lyve on but hire handes
6,308  Deyned nought to dyne aday nyght-olde wortes;
6,309  May no peny ale hem paie, ne no pece of bacoun,
6,310  But if it be fressh flessh outher fissh fryed outher ybake--
6,311  And that chaud and plus chaud, for chillynge of hir mawe.
6,312  And but if he be heighliche hyred, ellis wole he chide--
6,313  And that he was werkman wroght wa[ri]e the tyme.
6,314  Ayeins Catons counseil comseth he to jangle:
6,314  {Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento.}
6,315  He greveth hym ageyn God and gruccheth ageyn Reson.
6,316  And thanne corseth he the Kyng and al his Counseil after
6,317  Swiche lawes to loke, laborers to greve.
6,318  Ac whiles Hunger was hir maister, ther wolde noon of hem chide,
6,319  Ne stryven ayeins his statut, so sterneliche he loked!
6,320  Ac I warne yow werkmen--wynneth whil ye mowe,
6,321  For Hunger hiderward hasteth hym faste!
6,322  He shal awake [thorugh] water, wastours to chaste,
6,323  Er fyve yer be fulfilled swich famyn shal aryse:
6,324  Thorugh flodes and thorugh foule wedres, fruytes shul faille--
6,325  And so seith Saturne and sent yow to warne:
6,326  Whan ye se the [mo]ne amys and two monkes heddes,
6,327  And a mayde have the maistrie, and multiplie by eighte,
6,328  Thanne shal deeth withdrawe and derthe be justice,
6,329  And Dawe the Dykere deye for hunger--
6,330  But if God of his goodnesse graunte us a trewe.
7,1  Treuthe herde telle herof, and to Piers sente
7,2  To taken his teme and tilien the erthe,
7,3  And purchaced hym {a pardoun a pena et a culpa}
7,4  For hym and for hyse heirs for ever oore after-
7,5  And bad hym holde hym at home and erien hise leyes,
7,6  And alle that holpen hym to erye, to sette or to sowe,
7,7  or any [man]er mestier that myghte Piers availe--
7,8  Pardon with Piers Plowman Truthe hath ygraunted.
7,9  Kynges and knyghtes that kepen Holy Chirche
7,10  And rightfully in remes rulen the peple,
7,11  Han pardon thorugh purgatorie to passen ful lightly,
7,12  With patriarkes and prophetes in paradis to be felawe.
7,13  Bysshopes yblessed, if thei ben as thei sholde
7,14  Legistres of bothe lawes, the lewed therwith to preche,
7,15  And in as muche as thei mowe amenden alle synfulle,
7,16  Arn peres with the Apostles--this pardon Piers sheweth--
7,17  And at the day of dome at the heighe deys to sitte.
7,18  Marchaunts in the margyne hadde manye yeres,
7,19  Ac noon {A pena et a culpa} the Pope nolde hem graunte.
7,20  For thei holde noght hir halidayes as Holy Chirche techeth,
7,21  And for thei swere 'by hir soule' and -so God moste hem helpe'
7,22  Ayein clene Conscience, hir catel to selle.
7,23  Ac under his secret seel Truthe sente hem a lettre,
7,24  [And bad hem] buggen boldely what hem best liked
7,25  And sithenes selle it ayein and save the wynnyng,
7,26  And amende mesondieux thermyd and myseise folk helpe;
7,27  And wikkede weyes wightly amende,
7,28  And do boote to brugges that tobroke were;
7,29  Marien maydenes or maken hem nonnes;
7,30  Povere peple and prisons fynden hem hir foode,
7,31  And sette scolers to scole or to som othere craftes;
7,32  Releve Religion and renten hem bettre.
7,33  "And I shal sende yow myselve Seynt Michel myn angel,
7,34  That no devel shal yow dere ne [in youre deying fere yow],
7,35  And witen yow fro wanhope, if ye wol thus werche,
7,36  And sende youre soules in saufte to my Seintes in joye.'
7,37  Thanne were marchaunts murie--manye wepten for joye-
7,38  And preiseden Piers the Plowman, that purchaced this bulle.
7,39  Men of lawe leest pardon hadde that pleteden for mede,
7,40  For the Sauter saveth hem noght, swiche as take yiftes,
7,41  And nameliche of innocents that noon yvel ne konneth:
7,41  {Super innocentem munera non accipies.}
7,42  Pledours sholde peynen hem to plede for swiche and helpe;
7,43  Princes and prelates sholde paie for hire travaille:
7,43  {A regibus et principibus erit merces eorum.}
7,44  Ac many a justice and jurour wolde for Johan do moore
7,45  Than {pro Dei pietate} -- leve thow noon oother!
7,46  Ac he that spendeth his speche and speketh for the povere
7,47  That is innocent and nedy and no man apeireth,
7,48  Conforteth hym in that caas, coveit[eth noght hise] yiftes,
7,49  And [for Oure Lordes love lawe for hym sheweth]--
7,50  Shal no devel at his deeth day deren hym a myte
7,51  That he ne worth saaf and his soule, the Sauter bereth witnesse:
7,51  {Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo ?}
7,52  Ac to bugge water, ne wynd, ne wit, ne fir the ferthe--
7,53  Thise foure the Fader of Hevene made to this foold in commune:
7,54  Thise ben Truthes tresores trewe folk to helpe,
7,55  That nevere shul wex ne wanye withouten God hymselve.
7,56  Whan thei drawen on to the deth, and indulgences wolde have,
7,57  His pardon is ful petit at his partyng hennes
7,58  That any mede of mene men for hir motyng taketh.
7,59  Ye legistres and lawieres, [if I lye witeth Mathew]:
7,59  {Quodcumque vultis utfaciant vobis homines, facite eis.}
7,60  Alle libbynge laborers that lyven with hir hondes,
7,61  That treweliche taken and treweliche wynnen,
7,62  And lyven in love and in lawe, for hir lowe herte
7,63  Haveth the same absolucion that sent was to Piers.
7,64  Beggeres and bidderes beth noght in the bulle
7,65  But if the suggestion be sooth that shapeth hem to begge:
7,66  For he that beggeth or bit, but it he have nede,
7,67  He is fals with the feend and defraudeth the nedy,
7,68  And also gileth the gyvere ageynes his wille;
7,69  For if he wiste he were noght nedy he wolde [that yyve]
7,70  Another that were moore nedy than he--so the nedieste sholde be holpe.
7,71  Caton kenneth me thus, and the Clerc of the Stories:
7,72  Cui des, videto is Catons techyng;
7,73  And in the Stories he techeth to bistowe thyn almesse:
7,73  {Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des.}
7,74  Ac Gregory was a good man, and bad us gyven alle
7,75  That asketh for His love that us al leneth:
7,75  {Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur}
7,75  { accipere; quia incertum est pro quo Deo magis placeas.}
7,76  For wite ye nevere who is worthi - ac God woot who hath nede.
7,77  In hym that taketh is the trecherie, if any treson walke -
7,78  For he that yeveth, yeldeth, and yarketh hym to reste,
7,79  And he that biddeth, borweth, and bryngeth hymself in dette.
7,80  For beggeres borwen everemo, and hir borgh is God Almyghty-
7,81  To yelden hem that yeveth hem, and yet usure moore:
7,81  {Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam, ut}
7,81  {ego veniens cum usuris exegissem utique illam?}
7,82  Forthi biddeth noght, ye beggeres, but if ye have gret nede.
7,83  For whoso hath to buggen hym breed - the Book bereth witnesse-
7,84  He hath ynough that hath breed ynough, though he have noght ellis:
7,84  {Satis dives est qui non indiget pane.}
7,85  Lat usage be your solas of seintes lyves redyng;
7,86  The Book banneth beggerie, and blameth hem in this manere:
7,87     {Iunior fui etenim senui, et non vidi iustum derelictum}
7,87  {nec semen eius querens panem.}
7,88  For [thei] lyve in no love, ne no lawe holde:
7,89  [Thei] ne wedde no womman that [thei] with deele,
7,90  But as wilde bestes with "wehee" worthen uppe and werchen,
7,91  And bryngen forth barnes that bastardes men calleth.
7,92  Or the bak or som soon their breketh in his youthe,
7,93  And goon [and] faiten with hire fauntes for everemoore after.
7,94  Ther is moore mysshapen amonges thise beggeres
7,95  Than of alle [othere] manere men that on this moolde walketh.
7,96  Tho that lyve thus hir lif mowe lothe the tyme
7,97  That evere he was man wroght, whan he shal hennes fare.
7,98  Ac olde men and hore that helplees ben of strengthe,
7,99  And wommen with childe that werche ne mowe,
7,100  Blynde and bedreden and broken hire membres,
7,101  That taken this myschief mekeliche, as mesels and othere,
7,102  Han as pleyn pardon as the Plowman hymselve.
7,103  For love of hir lowe hertes Oure Lord hath hem graunted
7,104  Hir penaunce and hir Purgatorie upon this [pure] erthe.
7,105  " Piers,' quod a preest thoo, " thi pardon moste I rede;
7,106  For I shal construe ech clause and kenne it thee on Englissh.'
7,107  And Piers at his preiere the pardon unfoldeth--
7,108  And I bihynde hem bothe biheld al the bull
7,109  In two lynes it lay, and noght a le[ttre] moore,
7,110  And was writen right thus in witnesse of truthe:
7,110  {Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam.}
7,110  {Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.}
7,111  " Peter! ' quod the preest thoo, " I kan no pardon fynde
7,112  But "-Do wel and have wel. and God shal have thi soule,'
7,113  And " Do yvel and have yvel, and hope thow noon oother
7,114  That after thi deeth day the devel shal have thi soule!'
7,115  And Piers for pure tene pulled it atweyne
7,116  And seide, - Si ambulavero in medio umbre mortis
7,117  Non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es.
7,118  "I shal cessen of my sowyng,' quod Piers, "and swynke noght so harde,
7,119  Ne aboute my bely joye so bisy be na moore;
7,120  Of preieres and of penaunce my plough shal ben herafter,
7,121  And wepen whan I sholde slepe, though whete breed me faille.
7,122  "The prophete his payn eet in penaunce and in sorwe,
7,123  By that the Sauter seith--so dide othere manye.
7,124  That loveth God lelly, his liflode is ful esy:
7,124  {Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte.}
7,125  "And but if Luc lye, he lereth us by foweles
7,126  We sholde noght be to bisy aboute the worldes blisse:
7,127  Ne soliciti sitis, he seith in the Gospel
7,128  And sheweth us by ensamples us selve to wisse.
7,129  The foweles in the feld, who fynt hem mete at wynter?
7,130  Have thei no gerner to go to, but God fynt hem alle.'
7,131  "What!' quod the preest to Perkyn, "Peter! as me thynketh,
7,132  Thow art lettred a litel--who lerned thee on boke?'
7,133  "Abstynence the Abbesse,' quod Piers, -myn a.b.c. me taughte,
7,134  And Conscience cam afterward and kenned me muche moore.'
7,135  " Were thow a preest, Piers,' quod he, " thow myghtest preche where thow   sh
7,136  As divinour in divinite, with Dixit insipiens to thi teme.'
7,137  " Lewed lorel!' quod Piers, "litel lokestow on the Bible;
7,138  On Salomons sawes selden thow biholdest--
7,138  {Eice derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c.'}
7,139  The preest and Perkyn apposeden either oother--
7,140  And I thorugh hir wordes awook, and waited aboute,
7,141  And seigh the sonne in the south sitte that tyme.
7,142  Metelees and moneilees on Malverne hulles,
7,143  Musynge on this metels a my[le] wey ich yede.
7,144  Many tyme this metels hath maked me to studie
7,145  Of that I seigh slepynge--if it so be myghte;
7,146  And for Piers the Plowman ful pencif in herte,
7,147  And which a pardon Piers hadde, al the peple to conforte,
7,148  And how the preest inpugned it with two propre wordes.
7,149  Ac I have no savour in songewarie, for I se it ofte faille;
7,150  Caton and canonistres counseillen us to leve
7,151  To sette sadnesse in songewarie--for {sompnia ne cures.}
7,152  Ac for the book Bible bereth witnesse
7,153  How Daniel divined the dremes of a kyng
7,154  That was Nabugodonosor nempned of clerkes . . .
7,155  Daniel seide, "Sire Kyng, thi dremels bitokneth
7,156  That unkouthe knyghtes shul come thi kyngdom to cleyme;
7,157  Amonges lower lordes thi lond shal be departed.'
7,158  And as Daniel divined, in dede it fel after:
7,159  The kyng lees his lordshipe, and lower men it hadde.
7,160  And Joseph mette merveillously how the moone and the sonne
7,161  And the ellevene sterres hailsed hym alle.
7,162  Thanne Jacob jugged Josephes swevene :
7,163  "   {Beau fiz,'} quod his fader, " for defaute we shullen--
7,164  I myself and my sones--seche thee for nede.'
7,165  It bifel as his fader seide, in Pharaoes tyme,
7,166  That Joseph was Justice Egipte to loke:
7,167  It bifel as his fader tolde--hise frendes there hym soughte.
7,168  Al this maketh me on metels to thynke--
7,169  And how the preest preved no pardon to Dowel,
7,170  And demed that Dowel indulgences passed,
7,171  Biennals and triennals and bisshopes lettres,
7,172  And how Dowel at the Day of Dome is digneliche underfongen,
7,173  And passeth al the pardon of Seint Petres cherche.
7,174  Now hath the Pope power pardon to graunte
7,175  The peple, withouten penaunce to ja into [joye];
7,176  This is [a leef of] oure bileve, as lettred men us techeth:
7,176  {Quodcumque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum et in celis &c.}
7,177  And so leve leelly (Lord forbede ellis!)
7,178  That pardon and penaunce and preieres doon save
7,179  Soules that have synned seven sithes dedly.
7,180  Ac to trust on thise triennals--trewely, me thynketh,
7,181  It is noght so siker for the soule, certes, as is Dowel.
7,182  Forthi I rede yow renkes that riche ben on this erthe,
7,183  Upon trust of youre tresor triennals to have,
7,184  Be ye never the bolder to breke the ten hestes;
7,185  And namely ye maistres, meires and jugges,
7,186  That have the welthe of this world and wise men ben holden,
7,187  To purchace yow pardon and the Popes bulles.
7,188  At the dredful dome, whan dede shulle arise
7,189  And comen alle bifore Crist acountes to yelde--
7,190  How thow laddest thi lif here and hise lawes keptest,
7,191  And how thow didest day by day the doom wole reherce.
7,192  A pokeful of pardon there, ne provincials lettres,
7,193  Theigh ye be founde in the fraternite of alle the foure ordres
7,194  And have indulgences doublefold--but Dowel yow helpe,
7,195  I sette youre patentes and youre pardon at one pies hele!
7,196  Forthi I counseille alle Cristene to crie God mercy,
7,197  And Marie his moder be oure meene bitwene,
7,198  That God gyve us grace here, er we go hennes,
7,199  Swiche werkes to werche, while we ben here,
7,200  That after oure deth day, Dowel reherce
7,201  At the day of dome, we dide as he highte.
8,1  Thus yrobed in russet I romed aboute
8,2  Al a somer seson for to seke Dowel,
8,3  And frayned ful ofte of folk that I mette
8,4  If any wight wiste wher Dowel was at inne,
8,5  And what man he myghte be of many man I asked.
8,6  Was nevere wight as I wente that me wisse kouthe
8,7  Where this leode lenged, lasse ne moore--
8,8  Til it bifel on a Friday two freres I mette,
8,9  Maistres of the Menours, men of grete witte.
8,10  I hailsed hem hendely, as I hadde ylerned,
8,11  And preide hem, {par charite}, er thei passed ferther,
8,12  If they knewe any contree or costes [aboute]
8,13  Where that Dowel dwelieth--"Dooth me to witene;
8,14  For [ye] be men of this moolde that moost wide walken,
8,15  And knowen contrees and courtes and many kynnes places--
8,16  Bothe princes paleises and povere mennes cotes,
8,17  And Dowel and Do-yvele, wher thei dwelle bothe.'
8,18  "[Marie!]', quod the Menours, " [amonges us he dwelleth],
8,19  And evere hath, as I hope, and evere shal herafter.'
8,20  "Contra!' quod I as a clerc, and comsed to disputen,
8,21  And seide, {"Soothly, Sepcies in die cadit iustus.}
8,22  Sevene sithes, seith the Book, synneth the rightfulle,
8,23  And whoso synneth,' I seide, " [certes] dooth yvele, as me thynketh,
8,24  And Dowel and Do-yvele mowe noght dwelle togideres.
8,25  Ergo he nys noght alwey at hoom amonges yow freres:
8,26  He is outherwhile elliswhere to wisse the peple.'
8,27  'I shal seye thee, my sone,' seide the frere thanne,
8,28  "How Seven sithes the sadde man synneth on the day.
8,29  By a forbisne,' quod the frere, 'I shal thee faire shewe.
8,30  'Lat brynge a man in a boot amydde a brode watre:
8,31  The wynd and the water and the [waggyng of the boot]
8,32  Maketh the man many tyme to falle and to stonde.
8,33  For stonde he never so stif, he stumbleth if he meve--
8,34  Ac yet is he saaf and sound, and so hym bihoveth;
8,35  For if he ne arise the rather and raughte to the steere,
8,36  The wynd wolde with the water the boot overthrowe,
8,37  And thanne were his lif lost thorugh lachesse of hymselve.
8,38  " Right thus it fareth,' quod the frere, " by folk here on erthe.
8,39  The water is Iikned to the world, that wanyeth and wexeth;
8,40  The goodes of this grounde arn lik the grete wawes
8,41  That as wyndes and wedres walweth aboute;
8,42  The boot is likned to oure body that brotel is of kynde,
8,43  That thorugh the fend and the flessh and the frele worlde
8,44  Synneth the sadde man [seven sithes a day].
8,45  "Ac dedly synne doth he noght, for Dowel hym kepeth,
8,46  And that is charite the champion, chief help ayein synne;
8,47  For he strengtheth man to stonde, and steereth mannes soule
8,48  That, though thi body bowe as boot dooth in the watre,
8,49  Ay is thi soule saaf but thow thiselve wole
8,50  Folwe thi flessh and the fend after-
8,51  Do a deedly synne and drenche so thiselve.
8,52  God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe, if thiself liketh;
8,53  For he yaf thee to yeresyyve to yeme wel thiselve--
8,54  And that is wit and free will, to every wight a porcion,
8,55  To fleynge foweles, to fisshes and to beestes;
8,56  Ac man hath moost therof, and moost is to blame
8,57  But if he werche wel therwith, as Dowel hym techeth.'
8,58  I have no kynde knowyng,' quod I, "to conceyve alle thi wordes,
8,59  Ac if I may lyve and loke, I shal go lerne bettre.'
8,60  "I bikenne thee Crist,' quod he, that on the cros deyde.'
8,61  And I seide, -The same save yow fro myschaunce,
8,62  And yyve yow grace on this grounde goode men to worthe!'
8,63  And thus I wente widewher, walkyng myn one,
8,64  By a wilde wildernesse, and by a wodes side;
8,65  Blisse of the briddes abide me made,
8,66  And under a lynde upon a launde lened I a stounde
8,67  To lythe the layes tho lovely foweles made.
8,68  Murthe of hire mouthes made me ther to slepe;
8,69  The merveillouseste meteIs mette me thanne
8,70  That ever dremed [dr]ight in [doute], as I wene.
8,71  A muche man, as me thoughte, lik to myselve,
8,72  Cam and called me by my kynde name.
8,73  " What art thow?' quod I tho, " that thow my name knowest?'
8,74  "That thow woost wel,' quod he, "and no wight bettre.'
8,75  "Woot I,' [quod I, "who art thow?'] "Thought,' seide he thanne.
8,76  "I have sued thee this seven yeer; seye thow me no rather?'
8,77  "Art thow Thought?' quod I, "thoo thow koudest me wisse
8,78  Where that Dowel dwelleth, and do me to knowe.'
8,79  "Dowel,' quod he, "and Dobet and Dobest the thridde
8,80  Arn thre faire vertues, and ben noght fer to fynde.
8,81  Whoso is trewe of his tunge and of his two handes,
8,82  And thorugh his labour or thorugh his land his liflode wynneth,
8,83  And is trusty of his tailende, taketh but his owene,
8,84  And is noght dronkelewe ne dedeynous--Dowel hym folweth.
8,85  "Dobet dooth right thus, ac he dooth muche moore;
8,86  He is as lowe as a lomb and lovelich of speche,
8,87  And helpeth alle men after that hem nedeth.
8,88  The bagges and the bigirdles, he hath tobroke hem alle
8,89  That the Erl Avarous heeld, and hise heires;
8,90  And with Mammonaes moneie he hath maad hym frendes,
8,91  And is ronne into Religion, and hath rendred the Bible,
8,92  And precheth to the peple Seint Poules wordes--
8,93  Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes.
8,94  [Ye wise], suffreth the unwise with yow to libbe,
8,95  And with glad wille dooth hem good, for so God yow hoteth.
8,96  "Dobest is above bothe and bereth a bisshopes cro[c]e,
8,97  Is hoked on that oon ende to halie men fro helle.
8,98  A pik is on that potente, to pulte adown the wikked
8,99  That waiten any wikkednesse Dowel to tene.
8,100  And Dowel and Dobet amonges hem ordeyned
8,101  To crowne oon to be kyng to [kepen] hem bothe,
8,102  That if Dowel or Dobet dide ayein Dobest,
8,103  Thanne shal the kyng come and casten hem in irens,
8,104  And but if Dobest bede for hem, thei to be ther for evere.
8,105  Thus Dowel and Dobet and Dobest the thridde
8,106  Crowned oon to be kyng to kepen hem alle
8,107  And rule the reme by [rede of hire] wittes,
8,108  And ootherwise [ne ellis noght], but as thei thre assented.'
8,109  I thonked Thoght tho that he me [so] taughte.
8,110  "Ac yet savoreth me noght thi seying, so me Crist helpe!
8,111  For more kynde knowynge I coveite to lerne--
8,112  How Dowel, Dobet and Dobest doon among the peple.'
8,113  "But Wit konne wisse thee.' quod Thoght, " where tho thre dwelle;
8,114  Ellis [n]oot I noon that kan, that now is alyve.'
8,115  Thoght and I thus thre daies we yeden
8,116  Disputyng upon Dowel day after oother--
8,117  And er we war were, with Wit gonne we mete.
8,118  He was long and lene, lik to noon oother;
8,119  Was no pride on his apparaille, ne poverte neither;
8,120  Sad of his semblaunt and of [a] softe [speche].
8,121  I dorste meve no matere to maken hym to jangle
8,122  But as I bad Thoght thoo be mene bitwene
8,123  And pute forth som purpos to preven hise wittes,
8,124  What was Dowel fro Dobet, and Dobest from hem bothe.
8,125  Thanne Thoght in that tyme seide thise wordes:
8,126  " Wher Dowel and Dobet and Dobest ben in londe
8,127  Here is Wil wolde wite if Wit koude teche;
8,128  And wheither he be man or no man this man wolde aspie,
8,129  And werchen as thei thre wolde--this is his entente.'
9,1  "Sire Dowel dwelleth,' quod Wit, "noght a day hennes
9,2  In a castel that Kynde made of foure kynnes thynges.
9,3  Of erthe and eyr is it maad, medled togideres,
9,4  With wynd and with water wittily enjoyned.
9,5  Kynde hath closed therinne craftily withalle
9,6  A lemman that he loveth lik to hymselve.
9,7  Anima she hatte; [to hir hath envye]
9,8  A proud prikere of Fraunce, {Princeps huius mundi},
9,9  And wolde wynne hire awey with wiles and he myghte.
9,10  "Ac Kynde knoweth this wel and kepeth hire the bettre,
9,11  And hath doon hire with Sire Dowel, Duc of thise marches.
9,12  Dobet is hire damyselle, Sire Doweles doughter,
9,13  To serven this lady leelly bothe late and rathe.
9,14  Dobest is above bothe, a bisshopes peere;
9,15  That he bit moot be do--he [bidd]eth hem alle.
9,16  [By his leryng] is lad [that lady Anima].
9,17  "Ac the Constable of that castel, that kepeth [hem alle],
9,18  Is a wis knyght withalle--Sire Inwit he hatte,
9,19  And hath fyve faire sones by his firste wyve:
9,20  Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel, and Here-wel the hende,
9,21  Sire Werch-wel-with-thyn-hand, a wight man of strengthe,
9,22  And Sire Godefray Go-wel--grete lordes [alle].
9,23  Thise sixe ben set to save this lady {Anima}
9,24  Til Kynde come or sende to kepen hire hymselve.'
9,25  "What kynnes thyng is Kynde?' quod, "kanstow me telle?'
9,26  " Kynde,' quod Wit, "is creatour of alle kynnes thynges,
9,27  Fader and formour of al that evere was maked--
9,28  And that is the grete God that gynnyng hadde nevere,
9,29  Lord of lif and of light, of lisse and of peyne.
9,30  Aungeles and alle thyng arn at his wille,
9,31  Ac man is hym moost lik of marc and of shape.
9,32  For thorugh the word that he [warp] woxen forth beestes:
9,32  {   Dixit et facta sunt.}
9,33  "A[c] he made man [moost] li[k] to hymself,
9,34  And Eve of his ryb bon withouten any mene.
9,35  For he was synguler hymself and seide {Faciamus} --
9,36  As who seith, "Moore moot herto than my word oone:
9,37  My myght moot helpe now with my speche."
9,38  Right as a lord sholde make lettres, and hym lakked [no] parchemyn,
9,39  Though he [wiste] write never so wel, if he hadde no penne,
9,40  The lettre, for al the lordshipe, I leve were nevere ymaked!
9,41  "And so it semeth [there he seide, as the Bible telleth,
9,42  Faciamus hominem ad imaginem nostram]--
9,43  He moste werche with his word and his wit shewe.
9,44  And in this manere was man maad thorugh myght of God almyghty,
9,45  With his word and werkmanshipe and with lif to laste.
9,46  And thus God gaf hym a goost, of the godhede of hevene,
9,47  And of his grete grace graunted hym blisse--
9,48  And that is lif that ay shal laste to al his lynage after.
9,49  And that is the castel that Kynde made, Caro it hatte,
9,50  And is as muche to mene as "man with a soule."
9,51  And that he wroghte with werk and with word bothe:
9,52  Thorgh myght of the mageste man was ymaked.
9,53  " Inwit and alle wittes yclosed ben therinne
9,54  For love of the lady {Anima}, that lif is ynempned.
9,55  Over al in mannes body he[o] walketh and wandreth,
9,56  Ac in the herte is hir hoom and hir mooste reste.
9,57  Ac Inwit is in the heed, and to the herte he loketh
9,58  What Anima is leef or looth--he lat hire at his wille;
9,59  For after the grace of God, the gretteste is Inwit.
9,60  "Muche wo worth that man that mysruleth his Inwit,
9,61  And that ben glotons glubberes--hir God is hire wombe:
9,61  {Quorum deus venter est.}
9,62  For thei serven Sathan, hir soules shal he have:
9,63  That lyven synful lif here, hir soule is lich the devel.
9,64  And alle that lyven good lif are lik to God almyghty:
9,64  {Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet &c.}
9,65  "Allas! that drynke shal fordo that God deere boughte,
9,66  And dooth God forsaken hem that he shoop to his liknesse:
9,66  {Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi, Et dimisi eos}
9,66  {secundum desideria eorum.}
9,67  " Fooles that fauten Inwit, I fynde that Holy Chirche
9,68  Sholde fynden hem that hem fauteth, and faderlese children,
9,69  And widewes that han noght wherwith to wynnen hem hir foode,
9,70  Madde men and maydenes that helplese were--
9,71  Alle thise lakken Inwit, and loore bihoveth.
9,72  "Of this matere I myghte make a long tale
9,73  And fynde fele witnesses among the foure doctours,
9,74  And that I lye noght of that I lere thee, Luc bereth witnesse.
9,75  "Godfader and godmoder that seen hire godchildren
9,76  At myseise and at myschief and mowe hem amende
9,77  Shul [pre]ve penaunce in purgatorie, but thei hem helpe.
9,78  For moore bilongeth to the liteI barn er he the lawe knowe
9,79  Than nempnynge of a name, and he never the wiser!
9,80  Sholde no Cristene creature cryen at the yate
9,81  Ne faille payn ne potage, and prelates dide as thei sholden.
9,82  A Jew wolde noght se a Jew go janglyng for defaute
9,83  For alle the mebles on this moolde, and he amende it myghte.
9,84  "Allas that a Cristene creature shal be unkynde til another!
9,85  Syn Jewes, that we jugge Judas felawes,
9,86  Eyther helpeth oother of that that hym nedeth.
9,87  Whi nel we Cristene of Cristes good [as kynde be]
9,88  As Jewes, that ben oure loresmen? Shame to us alle!
9,89  The commune for hir unkyndenesse, I drede me, shul abye.
9,90  " Bisshopes shul be blamed for beggeres sake;
9,91  He is [jugged] wors than Judas that yyveth a japer silver
9,92  And biddeth the beggere go, for his broke clothes:
9,92  {   Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium Christi}
9,92  {   minus distribuit. Et alibi, Perniciosus dispensator est}
9,92  {   qui res pauperum Christi inutiliter consumit.}
9,93  He dooth noght wel that dooth thus, ne drat noght God almyghty,
9,94  Ne loveth noght Salomons sawes, that Sapience taughte:
9,94  {   Inicium sapiencie timor Domini.}
9,95  "That dredeth God, he dooth wel; that dredeth hym for love
9,96  And noght for drede of vengeaunce, dooth therfore the bettre.
9,97  He dooth best that withdraweth hym by daye and by nyghte
9,98  To spille any speche or any space of tyme:
9,98  {Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.}
9,99  " [Tyn]ynge of tyme, Truthe woot the sothe,
9,100  Is moost yhated upon erthe of hem that ben in hevene;
9,101  And siththe to spille speche, that spire is of grace,
9,102  And Goddes gleman and a game of hevene.
9,103  Wolde nevere the feithful fader his fithele were untempred,
9,104  Ne his gleman a gedelyng, a goere to tavernes.
9,105  "To alle trewe tidy men that travaille desiren,
9,106  Oure Lord loveth hem and lent, loude outher stille,
9,107  Grace to go to hem and of gon hir liflode:
9,107  {Inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono.}
9,108  "In this world is Dowel trewe wedded libbynge folk],
9,109  For thei mote werche and wynne and the world sustene.
9,110  For of hir kynde thei come that Confessours ben nempned,
9,111  Kynges and knyghtes, kaysers and clerkes,
9,112  Maidenes and martires--out of o man come.
9,113  The wif was maad the w[y]e for to helpe werche,
9,114  And thus was wedlok ywroght with a mene persone--
9,115  First by the fadres wille and the frendes conseille,
9,116  And sithenes by assent of hemself, as thei two myghte acorde;
9,117  And thus was wedlok ywroght, and God hymself it made;
9,118  In erthe the heven is--hymself was the witnesse.
9,119  "Ac fals folk feithlees, theves and lyeres,
9,120  Wastours and wrecches out of wedlok, I trowe,
9,121  Conceyved ben in yvel tyme, as Caym was on Eve.
9,122  Of swiche synfulle sherewes the Sauter maketh mynde:
9,122  {Concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem.}
9,123  And alle that come of that Caym come to yvel ende.
9,124  'For God sente to Seem and seide by an aungel,
9,125  "Thyn issue in thyn issue, I woI that thei be wedded,
9,126  And noght thi kynde with Caymes ycoupled ne yspoused."
9,127  'Yet some, ayein the sonde of Oure Saveour of hevene,
9,128  Caymes kynde and his kynde coupled togideres--
9,129  Til God wrathed with hir werkes, and swich a word seide,
9,130  " That I makede man, now it me forthynketh:
9,130  { Penitet me fecisse hominem.'}
9,131  "And com to Noe anon and bad hym noght lette:
9,132  "Swithe go shape a ship of shides and of bordes.
9,133  Thyself and thi sones thre and sithen youre wyves,
9,134  Busketh yow to that boot and bideth therinne
9,135  Til fourty daies be fulfild, that flood have ywasshen
9,136  Clene awey the corsed blood that Caym hath ymaked.
9,137  "Bestes that now ben shul banne the tyme
9,138  That evere that cursed Caym coom on this erthe.
9,139  Alle shul deye for his dedes by dales and hulles,
9,140  And the foweles that fleen forth with othere beestes,
9,141  Excepte oonliche of ech kynde a couple
9,142  That in thi shyngled ship shul ben ysaved.'
9,143  "Here aboughte the barn the belsires giltes,
9,144  And alle for hir forefadres thei ferden the werse..
9,145  The Gospel is heragein in o degre, I fynde:
9,146  Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris et pater non portabit iniquitatem filii.
9,147  Ac I fynde, if the fader be fals and a sherewe,
9,148  That somdel the sone shal have the sires tacches.
9,149  Impe on an ellere, and if thyn appul be swete
9,150  Muchel merveille me thynketh; and moore of a sherewe
9,151  That bryngeth forth any barn, but if he be the same
9,152  And have a savour after the sire--selde sestow oother:
9,152  { Numquam colligunt de spinis uvas nec de tribulis ficus.}
9,153  "And thus thorugh cursed Caym cam care upon erthe,
9,154  And al for thei wroghte wedlokes ayein [the wille of God].
9,155  Forthi have thei maugre of hir mariages, that marie so hir children.
9,156  For some, as I se now, sooth for to telle,
9,157  For coveitise of catel unkyndely ben wedded.
9,158  As careful concepcion cometh of swiche mariages
9,159  As bit-el of the folk that I bifore of tolde.
9,160  For goode sholde wedde goode, though thei no good hadde;
9,161  "I am via et veritas,'' seith Crist, "I may avaunce alle.''
9,162  "It is an uncomly couple. by Crist! as me thynketh--
9,163  To yeven a yong wenche to an [y]olde feble,
9,164  Or wedden any wodewe for welthe of hir goodes
9,165  That nevere shal barn bere but if it be in armes!
9,166  In jelousie joyelees and janglynge on bedde,
9,167  Many a peire sithen the pestilence han plight hem togideres.
9,168  The fruyt that thei brynge forth arn.[manye] foule wordes;
9,169  Have thei no children but cheeste and chopp[es] hem bitwene.
9,170  Though thei do hem to Dunmowe, but if the devel helpe
9,171  To folwen after the flicche, fecche thei it nevere;
9,172  But thei bothe be forswore, that bacon thei tyne.
9,173  " Forthi I counseille alle Cristene coveite noght be wedded
9,174  For coveitise of catel ne of kynrede riche;
9,175  Ac maidenes and maydenes macche yow togideres;
9,176  Wideweres and wodewes, wercheth the same;
9,177  For no londes, but for love, loke ye be wedded,
9,178  And thanne gete ye the grace of God, and good ynough to live with.
9,179  "And every maner seculer that may noght continue,
9,180  Wisely go wedde, and ware hym fro synne;
9,181  For lecherie in likynge is lymeyerd of helle.
9,182  Whiles thow art yong, and thi wepene kene,
9,183  Wreke thee with wyvyng, if thow wolt ben excused:
9,183  { Dum sis vir fortis, ne des tua robora scortis.}
9,183  { Scribitur in poriis, meretrix est ianua mortis.}
9,184  "Whan ye han wyved, beth war, and wercheth in tyme--
9,185  Noght as Adam and Eve whan Caym was engendred.
9,186  For in untyme, trewely, bitwene man and womman
9,187  Ne sholde no [bedbourde] be: but if thei bothe were clene
9,188  Of lif and in [love of] soule, and in [lawe also],
9,189  That ilke derne dede do no man ne sholde.
9,190  Ac if thei leden thus hir lif, it liketh God almyghty,
9,191  For he made wedlok first and hymself it seide:
9,192  Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem.
9,193  "That othergates ben geten, for gedelynges arn holden,
9,194  And fals folk, fondlynges, faitours and lieres,
9,195  Ungracious to gete good or love of the peple;
9,196  Wandren and wasten what thei cacche mowe.
9,197  Ayeins Dowel thei doon yvel and the devel serve,
9,198  And after hir deeth day shul dwelle with the same
9,199  But God gyve hem grace here hemself  to amende.
9,200  "Dowel, my frend, is to doon as lawe techeth.
9,201  To love thi frend and thi foo--leve me, that is Dobet.
9,202  To yyven and to yemen bothe yonge and olde,
9,203  To helen and to helpen, is Dobest of alle.
9,204  "And thus Dowel is to drede God, and Dobet to suffre,
9,205  And so cometh Dobest of bothe, and bryngeth adoun the mody--
9,206  And that is wikked wille that many werk shendeth,
9,207  And dryveth awey Dowel thorugh dedliche synnes.'
10,1  Thanne hadde Wit a wif, was hote Dame Studie,
10,2  That lene was of lere and of liche bothe.
10,3  She was wonderly wroth that Wit me thus taughte,
10,4  And al staiynge Dame Studie sterneliche seide.
10,5  "Wel artow wis,' quod she to Wit, "any wisdomes to telle
10,6  To flatereres or to fooles that frenetike ben of wittes!'--
10,7  And blamed hym and banned hym and bad hym be stille--
10,8  "With swiche wise wordes to wissen any sottes!'
10,9  And seide, " {Noti mittere}, man, margery perles
10,10  Among hogges that han hawes at wille.
10,11  Thei doon but dryvele theron--draf were hem levere
10,12  Than al the precious perree that in paradis wexeth.
10,13  I seye it by swiche,' quod she, "that sheweth by hir werkes
10,14  That hem were levere lond and lordshipe on erthe,
10,15  Or richesse or rentes and reste at hir wille
10,16  Than alle the sooth sawes that Salamon seide evere.
10,17  "Wisdom and wit now is noght worth a kerse
10,18  But if it be carded with coveitise as clotheres kemben hir wolle.
10,19  Whoso can contreve deceites and conspire wronges
10,20  And lede forth a loveday to lette with truthe--   .
10,21  That swiche craftes kan to counseil [are] cleped ;
10,22  Thei lede lordes with lesynges and bilieth truthe.
10,23  " Job the gentile in hise gestes witnesseth
10,24  That wikked men, thei welden the welthe of this worlde,
10,25  And that thei ben lordes of ech a lond, that out of lawe libbeth:
10,25  {Quare impii vivunt ? bene est omnibus qui prevaricantur et inique agunt ?}
10,26  "The Sauter seith the same by swiche that doon ille:
10,26  {Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt divicias.}
10,27  " Lo!' seith holy lettrure, " whiche lordes beth thise sherewes!'
10,28  Thilke that God moost gyveth, leest good thei deleth,
10,29  And moost unkynde to the commune, that moost catel weldeth:
10,29  {Que perfecisti destruxerunt, iustus autem &c.}
10,30  "Harlotes for hir harlotrie may have of hir goodes,
10,31  And japeris and jogelours and jangleris of gestes;
10,32  Ac he that hath Holy Writ ay in his mouthe
10,33  And kan telle of Tobye and of the twelve Apostles
10,34  Or prechen of the penaunce that Pilat wroghte
10,35  To Jesu the gentile, that Jewes todrowe--
10,36  Litel is he loved that swich a lesson sheweth,
10,37  Or daunted or drawe forth--I do it on God hymselve!
10,38  "But thoo that feynen hem foolis and with faityng libbeth
10,39  Ayein the lawe of Oure Lord, and lyen on hemselve,
10,40  Spitten and spuen and speke foule wordes,
10,41  Drynken and drevelen and do men for to gape,
10,42  Likne men and lye on hem that leneth hem no yiftes--
10,43  Thei konne na moore mynstralcie ne musik men to glade
10,44  Than Munde the Millere of Multa fecit Deus.
10,45  Ne were hir vile harlotrye, have God my trouthe,
10,46  Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght ne canon of Seint Poules
10,47  Yyve hem to hir yeresyyve the value of a grote!
10,48  "Ac murthe and mynstralcie amonges men is nouthe
10,49  Lecherie, losengerye and losels tales--
10,50  Glotonye and grete othes, this [game] they lovyeth.
10,51  "Ac if thei carpen of Crist, thise clerkes and thise lewed,
10,52  At mete in hir murthe whan mynstrals beth stille,
10,53  Thanne telleth thei of the Trinite [how two slowe the thridde],
10,54  And bryngen forth a balled reson, and taken Bernard to witnesse,
10,55  And puten forth a presumpcion to preve the sothe.
10,56  Thus thei dryvele at hir deys the deitee to knowe,
10,57  And gnawen God with the gorge whanne hir guttes fullen.
10,58  "Ac the carefulle may crie and carpen at the yate,
10,59  Bothe afyngred and afurst, and for chele quake;
10,60  Is non to nyme hym neer his noy to amende,
10,61  But hun[s]en hym as an hound and hoten hym go thennes.
10,62  Litel loveth he that Lord that lent hym al that blisse,
10,63  That thus parteth with the povere a parcell whan hym nedeth !
10,64  Ne were mercy in meene men moore than in riche,
10,65  Mendinaunts metelees myghte go to bedde.
10,66  God is muche in the gorge of thise grete maistres,
10,67  Ac amonges meene men his mercy and hise werkes.
10,68  And so seith the Sauter--I have seighen it [in Memento]:
10,68  {Ecce audivimus eam in Effrata; invenimus eam in campis silve.}
10,69  Clerkes and othere kynnes men carpen of God faste,
10,70  And have hym muche in hire mouth, ac meene men in herte.
10,71  " Freres and faitours han founde [up] swiche questions
10,72  To plese with proude men syn the pestilence tyme,
10,73  And prechen at Seint Poules, for pure envye of clerkes,
10,74  That folk is noght fermed in the feith, ne free of hire goodes,
10,75  Ne sory for hire synnes; so is pride woxen
10,76  In religion and in al the reme amonges riche and povere
10,77  That preieres have no power thise pestilences to lette.
10,78  For God is deef nowadayes and deyneth noght his eres to opene,
10,79  That girles for hire giltes he forgrynt hem alle.
10,80  And yet the wrecches of this world is noon ywar by oother,
10,81  Ne for drede of the deeth withdrawe noght hir pride,
10,82  Ne beth plentevouse to the povere as pure charite wolde,
10,83  But in gaynesse and glotonye forglutten hir good hemselve,
10,84  And breketh noght to the beggere as the Book techeth:
10,84  {Frange esurienti panem tuum &c.}
10,85  And the moore he wynneth and welt welthes and richesse
10,86  And lordeth in ledes and londes, the lasse good he deleth.
10,87  " Tobye techeth yow noght so! Taketh hede, ye riche,
10,88  How the book Bible of hym bereth witnesse:
10,88  {Si tibi sit copia, habundantur tribue; si autem exiguum, illud impertiri libente
10,89  Whoso hath muche, spende manliche--so meneth Tobye--
10,90  And whoso litel weldeth, [loke] hym therafter,
10,91  For we have no lettre of oure lif, how longe it shal dure.
10,92  Swiche lessons lordes sholde lovye to here,
10,93  And how he myghte moost meynee manliche fynde---
10,94  Noght to fare as a fithelere or a frere for to seke festes,
10,95  Homliche at othere mennes houses, and hatien hir owene.
10,96  "Elenge is the halle, ech day in the wike,
10,97  Ther the lord ne the lady liketh noght to sitte.
10,98  Now hath ech riche a rule--to eten by hymselve
10,99  In a pryvee parlour for povere mennes sake,
10,100  Or in a chambre with a chymenee, and leve the chief halle
10,101  That was maad for meles, men to eten inne,
10,102  And al to spare to spille that spende shal another.
10,103  "I have yherd heighe men etyng at the table
10,104  Carpen as thei clerkes were of Crist and of hise myghtes,
10,105  And leyden fautes upon the fader that formede us alle,
10,106  And carpen ayein clerkes crabbede wordes:
10,107  " Why wolde Oure Saveour suffre swich a worm in his blisse,
10,108  That bi[w]iled the womman and the [wye] after,
10,109  Thorugh whiche wiles and wordes thei wente to helle,
10,110  And al hir seed for hir synne the same deeth suffrede?
10,111  " Here lyeth youre lore,' thise lordes gynneth dispute,
10,112  " Of that ye clerkes us kenneth of Crist by the Gospel:
10,112  {Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c.}
10,113  Why sholde we that now ben, for the werkes of Adam
10,114  Roten and torende? Reson wolde it nevere!
10,114  {Unusquisque portabit onus suum &c.'}
10,115  "Swiche motyves they meve, thise maistres in hir glorie,
10,116  And maken men in mysbileve that muse muche on hire wordes.
10,117  Ymaginatif herafterward shal answere to youre purpos.
10,118  "Austyn to swiche argueres, he telleth hem this teme:
10,118  {Non plus sapere quam oport.}
10,119  Wilneth nevere to wite why that God wolde
10,120  Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile;
10,121  Ac bileveth lelly in the loore of Holy Chirche,
10,122  And preie hym of pardon and penaunce in thi lyve,
10,123  And for his muche mercy to amende yow here.
10,124  For alle that wilneth to wite the whyes of God almyghty,
10,125  I wolde his eighe were in his ers and his fynger after
10,126  That evere wilneth to wite why that God wolde
10,127  Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile,
10,128  Or Judas the Jew Jesu bitraye.
10,129  Al was as he wolde--Lord, yworshiped be thow--
10,130  And al worth as thow wolt whatso we dispute.
10,131  "And tho that useth thise havylons to [a]blende mennes wittes
10,132  What is Dowel fro Dobet, now deef mote he worthe,
10,133  Siththe he wilneth to wite whiche thei ben alle.
10,134  But if he lyve in the lif that longeth to Dowel,
10,135  I dar ben his bolde borgh that Dobet wole he nevere,
10,136  Theigh Dobest drawe on hym day after oother.'
10,137  And whan that Wit was ywar what Dame Studie tolde,
10,138  He bicom so confus he kouthe noght loke,
10,139  And as doumb as a dore nail drough hym aside.
10,140  And for no carpyng I kouthe after, ne knelyng to the grounde,
10,141  I myghte gete no greyn of his grete wittes,
10,142  But al laughynge he louted and loked upon Studie
10,143  In signe that I sholde bisechen hire of grace.
10,144  And whan I was war of his wille, to his wif gan I loute,
10,145  And seide, " Mercy, madame; youre man shal I worthe
10,146  As longe as I lyve, bothe late and rathe,
10,147  For to werche youre wille the while my lif dureth,
10,148  With that ye kenne me kyndely to knowe what is Dowel.'
10,149  " For thi mekenesse, man,' quod she, "and for thi mylde speche,
10,150  I shal kenne thee to my cosyn that Clergie is hoten.
10,151  He hath wedded a wif withinne thise sixe monthes,
10,152  Is sib to the sevene arts--Scripture is hir name.
10,153  They two, as I hope, after my techyng,
10,154  Shullen wissen thee to Dowel, I dar wel undertake.'
10,155  Thanne was I as fayn as fowel of fair morwe,
10,156  Gladder than the gleman that gold hath to yifte,
10,157  And asked hire the heighe wey where that Clergie dwelte,
10,158  "And tel me som tokene,' quod I, "for tyme is that I wende.'
10,159  "Aske the heighe wey,' quod she, -hennes to Suffre-
10,160  Bothe-wele-and-wo, if that thow wolt lerne;
10,161  And ryd forth by richesse, ac rest thow noght therinne,
10,162  For if thow couplest thee therwith to Clergie comestow nevere.
10,163  "And also the likerouse launde that Lecherie hatte--
10,164  Leve hym on thi left half a large myle or moore,
10,165  Til thow come to a court, Kepe-wel-thi-tunge-
10,166  Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche-and-likerouse-drynkes.
10,167  Thanne shaltow se Sobretee and Sympletee-of-speche,
10,168  That ech wight be in wille his wit thee to shewe;
10,169  And thus shaltow come to Clergie, that kan manye thynges.
10,170  "Seye hym this signe: I sette hym to scole,
10,171  And that I grete wel his wif, for I wroot hire [the bible],
10,172  And sette hire to Sapience and to the Sauter glosed.
10,173  Logyk I lerned hire, and [al the Lawe after],
10,174  And alle the musons in Musik I made hire to knowe.
10,175  "Plato the poete, I putte hym first to boke;
10,176  Aristotle and othere mo to argue I taughte.
10,177  Grammer for girles I garte first write,
10,178  And bette hem with a baleys but if thei wolde lerne.
10,179  Of alle kynne craftes I contreved tooles--
10,180  Of carpentrie, of kerveres, and compased masons,
10,181  And lerned hem level and lyne, though I loke dymme.
10,182  "Ac Theologie hath tened me ten score tymes:
10,183  The moore I muse therinne, the myst[lok]er it semeth,
10,184  And the depper I devyne, the derker me it thynketh.
10,185  lt is no science, forsothe, for to sotile inne.
10,186  [If that love nere, that lith therinne, a ful lethi thyng it were];
10,187  Ac for it let best by love, I love it the bettre,
10,188  For there that love is ledere, ne lakked nevere grace.
10,189  Loke thow love lelly, if thee liketh Dowel,
10,190  For Dobet and Dobest ben of loves k[e]nn[yng].
10,191  "In oother science it seith--I seigh it in Catoun--
10,191  {Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus,}
10,191  {Tu quoque fac simile; sic ars deluditur arte:}
10,192  Whoso gloseth as gylours doon, go me to the same,
10,193  And so shaltow fals folk and feithlees bigile--
10,194  This is Catons kennyng to clerkes that he lereth.
10,195  Ac Theologie techeth noght so, whoso taketh yeme;
10,196  He kenneth us the contrarie ayein Catons wordes,
10,197  For he biddeth us be as bretheren, and bidde for oure enemys,
10,198  And loven hem that lyen on us, and lene hem whan hem nedeth,
10,199  And to do good agein yvel--God hymself hoteth:
10,199  {Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes,}
10,199  {maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.}
10,200  "Poul preched the peple, that parfitnesse lovede,
10,201  To do good for Goddes love and gywen den that asked,
10,202  And [sovereyn]ly to swiche that suwen oure bileve,
10,203  And alle that lakketh us or lyeth us, Oure Lord techeth us to lovye,
10,204  And noght to greven hem that greveth us--God hymself forbad it:
10,204  {Michi vindictam et ego retribuam.}
10,205  Forthi loke thow lovye as longe as thow durest,
10,206  For is no science under sonne so sovereyn for the soule.
10,207  "Ac Astronomye is hard thyng, and yvel for to knowe:
10,208  Geometry and Geomesie is gynful of speche;
10,209  Whoso thynketh werche with tho t[hre] thryveth ful late--
10,210  For sorcerie is the sovereyn book that to the science bilongeth.
10,211  " Yet ar ther fibicches in forceres of fele mennes makynge,
10,212  Experiments of Alkenamye the peple to deceyve;
10,213  If thow thynke to dowel, deel therwith nevere!
10,214  Alle thise sciences I myself sotilede and ordeynede,
10,215  And founded hem formest folk to deceyve.
10,216  "Tel Clergie thise tokenes, and to Scripture after,
10,217  To counseille thee kyndely to knowe what is Dowel.'
10,218  I seide, " Graunt mercy, madame,' and mekely hir grette,
10,219  And wente wightly my wey withoute moore lettyng--
10,220  And til I com to Clergie I koude nevere stynte.
10,221  I grette the goode man as the goode wif me taughte,
10,222  And afterwardes the wif, and worshiped hem bothe,
10,223  And tolde hem the tokenes that me taught were.
10,224  Was nevere gome upon this ground, sith God made the worlde,
10,225  Fairer underfongen ne frendloker at ese
10,226  Than myself, soothly, soone so he wiste
10,227  That I was of Wittes hous and with his wif Dame Studie.
10,228  I seide to hem soothly that sent was I thider
10,229  Dowel and Dobet and Dobest to lerne.
10,230  'It is a commune lyf,' quod Clergie, 'on Holy Chirche to bileve,
10,231  With alle the articles of the feith that falleth to be knowe:
10,232  And that is to bileve lelly, bothe lered and lewed,
10,233  On the grete God that gynnyng hadde nevere,
10,234  And on the soothfast Sone that saved mankynde
10,235  Fro the dedly deeth and the develes power
10,236  Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost, the which goost is of bothe--
10,237  Thre propre persones, ac noght in plurel nombre,
10,238  For al is but oon God and ech is God hymselve:
10,238  { Deus Pater, Deus Filius, Deus Spiritus Sanctus--}
10,239  God the Fader, God the Sone, God Holy Goost of bothe,
10,240  Maker of mankynde and of [animal]es bothe.
10,241  "Austyn the olde herof made bokes,
10,242  And hymself ordeyned to sadde us in bileve.
10,243  Who was his auctour? Alle the foure Evaungelistes;
10,244  And Crist cleped hymself so, the [same] bereth witnesse:
10,244  { Ego in patre et pater in me est, et qui videt me}
10,244  { videt et patrem meum.}
10,245  "Alle the clerkes under Crist ne koude this assoille,
10,246  But thus it bilongeth to bileve to lewed that willen dowel.
10,247  For hadde nevere freke fyn wit the feith to dispute,
10,248  Ne man hadde no merite, myghte it ben ypreved:
10,248  { fides non habet meritum ubi humana racio prebet experimentum.}
10,249  "[Siththen] is Dobet to suffre for thi soules helthe
10,250  Al that the Book bit bi Holi Cherches techyng--
10,251  And that is, man, bi thy myght, for mercies sake,
10,252  Loke thow werche it in werk that thi word sheweth;
10,253  Swich as thow semest in sighte be in assay yfounde:
10,253  {  Appare quod es vel esto quod appares.}
10,254  And lat no body be by thi beryng bigiled,
10,255  But be swich in thi soule as thow semest withoute.
10,256  "Thanne is Dobest to be boold to blame the gilty,
10,257  Sythenes thow seest thiself as in soule clene;
10,258  Ac blame thow nevere body and thow be blameworthy:
10,258  {Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cavebis,}
10,258  {Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet.}
10,259  God in the Gospel grymly repreveth
10,260  Alle that lakketh any lif and lakkes han hemselve:
10,260  {Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui, trabem in}
10,260  {oculo tuo, &c.}
10,261  Why mevestow thi mood for a mote in thi brotheres eighe,
10,262  Sithen a beem in thyn owene ablyndeth thiselve?
10,262  {Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo, &c.}
10,263  Which letteth thee to loke, lasse outher moore?
10,264  " I rede ech a blynd bosard do boote to hymselve--
10,265  As persons and parissh preestes, that preche sholde and teche
10,266  Alle maner men to amenden, bi hire myghte.
10,267  This text was told yow to ben war, er ye taughte,
10,268  That ye were swiche as ye seyde to salve with othere.
10,269  For Goddes word wolde noght be lost--for that wercheth evere;
10,270  If it availled noght the commune, it myghte availle yowselve.
10,271  "Ac it semeth now soothly, to [sighte of the worlde],
10,272  That Goddes word wercheth no [wi]ght on lered ne on lewed
10,273  But in swich a manere as Marc meneth in the Gospel:
10,273  {Dum cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foveam cadunt.}
10,274  "Lewed men may likne yow thus--that the beem lith in youre eighen,
10,275  And the festu is fallen, for youre defaute,
10,276  In alle manere men thorugh mansede preestes.
10,277  The Bible bereth witnesse that alle the [barnes] of Israel
10,278  Bittre aboughte the giltes of two badde preestes,
10,279  Offyn and Fynes--for hir coveitise
10,280  Archa Dei myshapped and Ely brak his nekke.
10,281  " Forthi, ye correctours, claweth heron, and correcteth first yowselve,
10,282  And thanne mowe ye manliche seye, as David made the Sauter:
10,283     {Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis: Arguam te,et
10,283  {statuam contra faciem tuam.
10,284  "And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed to blame yow or to greve,
10,285  And carpen noght as thei carpe now, and calle yow doumbe houndes--
10,285  {Canes non valentes latrare--}
10,286  And drede to wrathe yow in any word, youre werkmanshipe to lette,
10,287  And be prester at youre preiere than for a pound of nobles.
10,288  And al for youre holynesse--have ye this in herte.
10,289  "Amonges rightful religious this rule sholde be holde.
10,290  Gregorie, the grete clerk and the goode pope,
10,291  Of religioun the rule reherseth in his Morales
10,292  And seith it in ensample for thei sholde do therafter:
10,293  " Whan fisshes faillen the flood or the fresshe water,
10,294  Thei deyen for droughte, whan thei drie ligge;
10,295  Right so religion ro[i]leth [and] sterveth
10,296  That out of covent and cloistre coveiten to libbe.''
10,297  For if hevene be on this erthe, and ese to any soule,
10,298  It is in cloistre or in scole, by manye skiles I fynde.
10,299  For in cloistre cometh no man to chide ne to fighte,
10,300  But al is buxomnesse there and bokes, to rede and to lerne.
10,301  "In scole there is scorn but if a clerk wol lerne,
10,302  And gret love and likyng, for ech of hem l[er]eth oother.
10,303  Ac now is Religion a rydere, a romere by stretes,
10,304  A ledere of lovedayes and a lond buggere,
10,305  A prikere on a palfrey fro manere to manere,
10,306  An heep of houndes at his ers as he a lord were;
10,307  And but if his knave knele that shal his coppe brynge,
10,308  He loureth on hym and asketh hym who taughte hym curteisie?
10,309  Litel hadde lordes to doon to yyve lond from hire heires
10,310  To religious that han no routhe though it reyne on hir auters.
10,311  "In many places ther thei persons ben, by hemself at ese,
10,312  Of the povere have thei no pite--and that is hir pure charite,
10,313  Ac thei leten hem as lordes, hir lond lith so brode.
10,314  "Ac ther shal come a kyng and confesse yow religiouses,
10,315  And bete yow, as the Bible telleth, for brekynge of youre rule,
10,316  And amende monyals, monkes and chanons,
10,317  And puten hem to hir penaunce--Ad pristinum statum ire,
10,318  And barons with erles beten hem, thorugh Beatus virres techyng,
10,319  [Biyeten] that hir barnes claymen, and blame yow foule:
10,319  {Hii in curribus et hii in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c.}
10,320  "And thanne freres in hir fraytour shul fynden a keye
10,321  Of Costantyns cofres, in which [the catel is]
10,322  That Gregories godchildren [g]an yvele despende.
10,323  "And thanne shal the Abbot of Abyngdoun and al his issue for evere
10,324  Have a knok of a kyng, and incurable the wounde.
10,325  That this worth sooth, seke ye that ofte overse the Bible:
10,325  {Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievit tributum? Contrivit Dominus}
10,325  {baculum impiorum, et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili.}
10,326  "Ac er that kyng come Caym shal awake,
10,327  Ac Dowel shal dyngen hym adoun and destruye his myghte.'
10,328  "Thanne is Dowel and Dobet,' quod I, "dominus and knyghthode?'
10,329  " I nel noght scorne,' quod Scripture; " but if scryveynes lye,
10,330  Kynghod ne knyghthod, by noght I kan awayte,
10,331  Helpeth noght to heveneward oone heeris ende,
10,332  Ne richesse right noght, ne reautee of lordes.
10,333  " Poul preveth it impossible--riche men to have hevene.
10,334  Salamon seith also that silver is worst to lovye:
10,334  {Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam:}
10,335  And Caton kenneth us to coveiten it naught but as nede techeth:
10,335  {Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam.}
10,336  And patriarkes and prophetes and poetes bothe
10,337  Writen to wissen us to wilne no richesse,
10,338  And preiseden poverte with pacience; the Apostles bereth witnesse
10,339  That thei han eritage in hevene--and by trewe righte,
10,340  Ther riche men no right may cleyme, but of ruthe and grace.'
10,341  " Contra,' quod I, " by Crist! That kan I repreve,
10,342  And preven it by Peter and by Poul bothe:
10,343  That is baptized beth saaf, be he riche or povere.'
10,344  "That is in extremis,' quod Scripture, " amonges Sarsens and Jewes--
10,345  They mowen be saved so, and [so] is oure bileve:
10,346  That an uncristene in that caas may cristen an hethen,
10,347  And for his lele bileve, whan he the lif tyneth,
10,348  Have the heritage of hevene as any man Cristene.
10,349  "Ac Cristene men withoute moore maye noght come to hevene,
10,350  For that Crist for Cristene men deide, and confermed the lawe
10,351  That whoso wolde and wilneth with Crist to arise--
10,351  {Si cum Christo surrexistis &c--}
10,352  He sholde lovye and lene and the lawe fulfille.
10,353  That is, love thi Lord God levest aboven alle,
10,354  And after, alle Cristene creatures in commune, ech man oother;
10,355  And thus bilongeth to lovye, that leveth to be saved.
10,356  And but we do thus in dede er the day of dome,
10,357  It shal bisitten us ful soure, the silver that we kepen,
10,358  And oure bakkes that mothe-eten be, and seen beggeris go naked,
10,359  Or delit in wyn and wildefowel, and wite any in defaute.
10,360  For every Cristene creature sholde be kynde til oother,
10,361  And sithen hethen to helpe in hope of amendement.
10,362  -God hoteth heighe and lowe that no man hurte oother,
10,363  And seith, "Slee noght that semblable is to myn owene liknesse,
10,364  But if I sende thee som tokene,' and seith " Non mecaberis--
10,365  Is slee noght but suffre, and al[so] for the beste,
10,366  For Michi vindictam et ego retribuam.
10,367  ""For I shal punysshe in purgatorie or in the put of helle
10,368  Ech man for hise mysdedes, but mercy it lette.'
10,369  " This is a long lesson.' quod I, " and litel am I the wiser!
10,370  Where Dowel is or Dobet derkliche ye shewen.
10,371  Manye tales ye tellen that Theologie lerneth,
10,372  And that I man maad was, and my name yentred
10,373  In the legende of lif longe er I were,
10,374  Or ellis unwriten for som wikkednesse, as Holy Writ witnesseth:
10,374  {Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit.}
10,375  "And I leve it wel, by Oure Lord and on no lettrure bettre.
10,376  For Salomon the Sage that Sapienee [made]
10,377  God gaf hym grace of wit and alle goodes after
10,378  To rule the reume and riche to make;
10,379  He demed wel and wisely, as Holy Writ telleth.
10,380  Aristotle and he--who wissed men bettre?
10,381  Maistres that of Goddes mercy techen men and prechen,
10,382  Of hir wordes thei wissen us for wisest as in hir tyme--
10,383  And al Holy Chirche holdeth hem bothe [in helle]!
10,384  And if I sholde werche by hir werkes to wynne me hevene,
10,385  That for hir werkes and wit now wonyeth in pyne--
10,386  Thanne wroughte I unwisly. whatsoevere ye preche!
10,387  "Ac of fele witty, in feith, litel ferly I have
10,388  Though hir goost be ungracious God for to plese.
10,389  For many men on this moolde moore setten hir herte
10,390  In good than in God--forthi hem grace failleth
10,391  At hir mooste meschief, whan [men] shal lif lete,
10,392  As Salamon dide and swiche othere, that shewed grete wittes,
10,393  Ac hir werkes, as Holy Writ seith, was evere the contrarie.
10,394  Forthi wise witted men and wel ylettred clerkes
10,395  As thei seyen hemself selde doon therafter:
10,395  {Super cathedram Moysi &c.}
10,396  "Ac I wene it worth of manye as was in Noes tyme
10,397  Tho he shoop that ship of shides and of bordes:
10,398  Was nevere wrighte saved that wroghte theron, ne oother werkman ellis,
10,399  But briddes and beestes and the blissed Noe
10,400  And his wif with hise sones and also hire wyves:
10,401  Of wrightes that it wroghte was noon of hem ysaved.
10,402  "God lene it fare noght so bi folk that the feith techeth
10,403  Of Holi Chirche, that herberwe is and Goddes hous to save
10,404  And shilden us from shame therinne, as Noes ship dide beestes.
10,405  And men that maden it amydde the flood adreynten.
10,406  The culorum of this clause curatours is to mene,
10,407  That ben carpenters Holy Kirk to make for Cristes owene beestes:
10,407  {Homines et iumenta salvabis, Domine, &c.}
10,408  At domesday the deluvye worth of deth and fir at ones;
10,409  Forthi I counseille yow clerkes, of Holy [Kirke] the wrightes,
10,410  Wercheth ye werkes as ye sen ywrite, lest ye worthe noght therinne!
10,411  "On Good Friday, I fynde, a felon was ysaved
10,412  That hadde lyved al his lif with lesynges and with thefte;
10,413  And for he beknew on the cros and to Crist shrof hym,
10,414  He was sonner ysaved than Seint Johan the Baptist
10,415  And or Adam or Ysaye or any of the prophetes,
10,416  That hadde yleyen with Lucifer many longe yeres.
10,417  A robbere was yraunsoned rather than thei alle
10,418  Withouten penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse.
10,419  " Than Marie Maudeleyne wh[o myghte do] werse?
10,420  Or who worse dide than David, that Uries deeth conspired?
10,421  Or Poul the Apostle that no pite hadde
10,422  Cristene kynde to kille to dethe?
10,423  And now ben thise as sovereyns with seintes in hevene--
10,424  Tho that wroughte wikkedlokest in world tho thei were;
10,425  And tho that wisely wordeden and writen manye bokes
10,426  Of wit and of wisedom, with dampned soules wonye.
10,427  - That Salomon seith I trowe be sooth and certein of us alle:
10,427  {Sunt iusti atque sapientes, et opera eorum in manu Dei sunt, &c.}
10,428  Ther are witty and wel libbynge, ac hire werkes ben yhudde
10,429  In the hondes of almyghty God, and he woot the sothe--
10,430  Wher for love a man worth allowed there and hise lele werkes,
10,431  Or ellis for his yvel wille and envye of herte,
10,432  And be allowed as he lyved so, for by luthere men knoweth the goode
10,433  "And wherby wiste men which is whit, if alle thyng blak were,
10,434  And who were a good man but if ther were som sherewe?
10,435  Forthi lyve we forth with lithere men--I leve fewe ben goode--
10,436  For "quant OPORTET vient en place il ny ad que PATI,"
10,437  And he that may al amende, have mercy on us alle!
10,438  For sothest word that ever God seide was tho he seide Nemo bonus.
10,439  "[And yet have I forgete ferther of fyve wittes techyng
10,440  That] Clergie of Cristes mouth comended was it [nevere];
10,441  For he seide to Seint Peter and to swiche as he lovede,
10,441  {" Dum steteritis ante reges et presides &c.}
10,442  Though ye come bifore kynges and clerkes of the lawe,
10,443  Beth noght abasshed, for I shal be in youre mouthes,
10,444  And yyve yow wit at wille [with] konnyng to conclude hem
10,445  Alle that ayeins yow of Cristendom disputen.'
10,446  "David maketh mencion, he spak amonges kynges,
10,447  And myghte no kyng overcomen hym as by konnynge of speche.
10,448  But wit ne wisedom wan nevere the maistrie
10,449  When man was at meschief withoute the moore grace.
10,450  "The doughtieste doctour and devinour of the Trinitee,
10,451  Was Austyn the olde, and heighest of the foure,
10,452  Seide thus in a sermon--I seigh it writen ones--
10,452  {" Ecce ipsi idiote rapiunt celum ubi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur'}
10,453  And is to mene to Englissh men, moore ne lesse,
10,454  Arn none rather yravysshed fro the righte bileve
10,455  Than are thise konnynge clerkes that konne manye bokes,
10,456  Ne none sonner saved, ne sadder of bileve
10,457  Than plowmen and pastours and povere commune laborers,
10,458  Souteres and shepherdes--swiche lewed juttes
10,459  Perce with a Paternoster the paleys of hevene
10,460  And passen purgatorie penauncelees at hir hennes partyng
10,461  Into the blisse of paradis for hir pure bileve,
10,462  That inparfitly here knewe and ek lyvede.
10,463  " Ye, men knowe clerkes that han corsed the tyme
10,464  That evere thei kouthe or knewe moore than Credo in Deum patrem
10,465  And principally hir paternoster--many a persone hath wisshed.
10,466  "I se ensamples myself and so may manye othere,
10,467  That servaunts that serven lordes selde fallen in arerage
10,468  But tho that kepen the lordes catel--clerkes and reves.
10,469  Right so lewed men and of litel knowyng,
10,470  Selden falle thei so foule and so fer in synne
10,471  As clerkes of Holy Kirke that kepen Cristes tresor--
10,472  The which is mannes soule to save, as God seith in the Gospel:
10,473  ""Ite vos in vineam meam.'''
11,1  Thanne Scripture scorned me and a skile tolde,
11,2  And lakked me in Latyn and light by me sette,
11,3  And seide, " Multi multa sciunt et seipsos nesciunt.'
11,4  Tho wepte I for wo and wrathe of hir speche
11,5  And in a wynkynge w[o]rth til I [weex] aslepe.
11,6  A merveillous metels mette me thanne.
11,7  For I was ravysshed right there--for Fortune me fette
11,8  And into the lond of longynge and love she me broughte,
11,9  And in a mirour that highte Middelerthe she made me to biholde.
11,10  Sithen she seide to me, -Here myghtow se wondres,
11,11  And knowe that thow coveitest, and come therto, peraunter.'
11,12  Thanne hadde Fortune folwynge hire two faire damyseles:
11,13  Concupiscencia Carnis men called the elder mayde,
11,14  And Coveitise of Eighes ycalled was that oother.
11,15  Pride of Parfit Lyvynge pursued hem bothe,
11,16  And bad me for my contenaunce acounten Clergie lighte.
11,17  Concupiscencia Carnis colled me aboute the nekke
11,18  And seide, "Thow art yong and yeep and hast yeres ynowe
11,19  For to lyve longe and ladies to lovye;
11,20  And in this mirour thow might se myrthes ful manye
11,21  That leden thee wole to likynge al thi lif tyme.'
11,22  The secounde seide the same: " I shal sewe thi wille;
11,23  Til thow be a lord and have lond, leten thee I nelle
11,24  That I ne shal folwe thi felawship, if Fortune it like.'
11,25  " He shal fynde me his frend,' quod Fortune therafter;
11,26  "The freke that folwede my wille failled nevere blisse.'
11,27  Thanne was ther oon that highte Elde, that hevy was of chere,
11,28  " Man,' quod he, "if I mete with thee, by Marie of hevene
11,29  Thow shalt fynde Fortune thee faille at thi mooste nede,
11,30  And Concupiscencia Carnis clene thee forsake.
11,31  Bittrely shaltow banne thanne, bothe dayes and nyghtes,
11,32  Coveitise of Eighe, that evere thow hir knewe;
11,33  And Pride of Parfit Lyvynge to muche peril thee brynge.'
11,34  " Ye? Recche thee nevere!' quod Rechelesnesse, stood forth in raggede  clothes
11,35  " Folwe forth that Fortune wole--thow has wel fer til Elde.
11,36  A man may stoupe tyme ynogh whan he shal tyne the crowne.
11,37  ""Homo proponit,'' quod a poete, and Plato he highte,
11,38  ""And Deus disponit'' quod he, "lat God doon his wille.''
11,39  If Truthe wol witnesse it be wel do, Fortune to folwe,
11,40  Concupiscencia Carnis ne Coveitise of Eighes
11,41  Ne shal noght greve thee graithly, ne bigile thee but thow wolt.'
11,42  " Ye, farewel Phippe! ' quod Faunteltee, and forth gan me drawe,
11,43  Til Concupiscencia Carnis acorded til alle my werkes.
11,44  "Allas, eighe!' quod Elde and Holynesse bothe,
11,45  "That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse for wil to have his likyng!'
11,46  Coveitise of Eighes conforted me anoon after
11,47  And folwed me fourty wynter and a fifte moore,
11,48  That of Dowel ne Dobet no deyntee me thoughte.
11,49  I hadde no likyng, leve me, [o]f the leste of hem ought to knowe.
11,50  Coveitise of Eighes com ofter in mynde
11,51  Than Dowel or Dobet among my dedes alle.
11,52  Coveitise of Eighes conforted me ofte,
11,53  And seide, " Have no conscience how thow come to goode.
11,54  Go confesse thee to som frere and shewe hym thi synnes.
11,55  For whiles Fortune is thi frend freres wol thee lovye,
11,56  And fe[stn]e thee in hir fraternitee and for thee biseke
11,57  To hir Priour Provincial a pardon for to have,
11,58  And preien for thee pol by pol if thow be pecuniosus.
11,58  {   Pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis.}
11,59  By wissynge of this wenche I dide, hir wordes were so swete,
11,60  Til I foryat youthe and yarn into elde.
11,61  And thanne was Fortune my foo, for al hir faire biheste,
11,62  And poverte pursued me and putte me lowe.
11,63  And tho fond I the frere afered and flittynge bothe
11,64  Ayeins oure firste forward, for I seide I nolde
11,65  Be buried at hire hous but at my parisshe chirche
11,66  (For I herde ones how Conscience it tolde
11,67  That there a man were cristned, by kynde he sholde be buryed).
11,68  And for I seide thus to freres, a fool thei me helden,
11,69  And loved me the lasse for my lele speche.
11,70  Ac yet I cryde on my confessour that [so konnyng heeld hymself].
11,71  "By my feith, frere!' quod I, " ye faren lik thise woweris
11,72  That wedde none widwes but for to welden hir goodes.
11,73  Right so, by the roode, roughte ye nevere  '
11,74  Where my body were buryed, by so ye hadde my silver!
11,75  Ich have muche merveille of yow, and so hath many another,
11,76  Whi youre covent coveiteth to confesse and to burye
11,77  Rather than to baptize barnes that ben catecumelynges.
11,78  Baptizynge and buryinge bothe beth ful nedefulle;
11,79  Ac muche moore meritorie me thynketh it is to baptize;  -
11,80  For a baptized man may, as maistres telleth, .
11,81  Thorugh contricion come to the heighe hevene--
11,81  {Sola contricio delet peccatum--}
11,82  Ac a barn withouten bapteme may noght so be saved--
11,82  {Nisi quis renatus fuerit.}
11,83  Loke, ye lettred men, wheither I lye or do noght.'
11,84  And Lewte tho lo[ugh] on me, for I loured after.
11,85  "Wherfore lourestow?' quod Lewtee and loked on me harde.
11,86  "If I dorste [amonges men,' quod I], "this metels avowe!'
11,87  " Yis, by Peter and by Poul!' quod he, " and take hem bothe to witnesse:
11,88  Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo set publice argue illos.'
11,89  "They wole aleggen also,' quod I, " and by the Gospel preven:
11,90     {Nolite iudicure quemquam.}
11,91  "And wherof serveth lawe,' quod Lewtee, if no lif undertoke it--
11,92  Falsnesse ne faiterie? For somwhat the Apostle seide
11,93     {Non oderis fratrem.}
11,94  And in the Sauter also seith David the prophete
11,95     {Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c.}
11,96  It is licitum for lewed men to [l]egge the sothe
11,97  If hem liketh and lest--ech a lawe it graunteth'.
11,98  Except persons and preestes and prelates of Holy Chirche:
11,99  It falleth noght for that folk no tales to telle--
11,100  Though the tale were trewe--and it touched synne.
11,101  "Thyng that al the world woot, wherfore sholdestow spare
11,102  To reden it in retorik to arate dedly synne?
11,103  Ac be neveremoore the firste the defaute to blame;
11,104  Though thow se yvel, seye it noght first--be sory it nere amended.
11,105  No thyng that is pryve, publice thow it nevere;-
11,106  Neither for love laude it noght, ne lakke it For envye:
11,106  { Parum lauda; vitupero parcius.'}
11,107  " He seith sooth,' quod Scripture tho, and skipte an heigh and preched;
11,108  Ac the matere that she meved, if lewed men it knewe,
11,109  The lasse, as I leve, lovyen thei wolde
11,110  The bileve o[f Oure] Lord that lettred men techeth.
11,111  This was hir teme and hir text--I took ful good hede:
11,112  "Multi to a mangerie and to the mete were sompned;
11,113  And whan the peple was plener comen, the porter unpynned the yate
11,114  And plukked in Pauci pryveliche and leet the remenaunt go rome.'
11,115  Al for tene of hir text trembled myn herte,
11,116  And in a weer gan I wexe, and with myself to dispute
11,117  Wheither I were chose or noght chose; on Holy Chirche I thoughte,
11,118  That underfeng me atte font for oon of Goddes chosene.
11,119  For Crist cleped us alle, come if we wolde--
11,120  Sarsens and scismatikes, and so he dide the Jewes:
11,120  { 0 vos omnes sicientes, venite &c;}
11,121  And bad hem souke for synne sa[l]ve at his breste.
11,122  And drynke boote for bale, brouke it whoso myghte.
11,123  "Thanne may alle Cristene come,' quod I, -and cleyme there entree
11,124  By the blood that he boughte us with and thorugh bapteme after:
11,124  { Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit &c.}
11,125  For though a Cristen man coveited his Cristendom to reneye,
11,126  Rightfully to reneye no reson it wolde.
11,127  " For may no cherl chartre make, ne his c[h]atel selle
11,128  Withouten leve of his lord--no lawe wol it graunte.
11,129  Ac he may renne in arerage and rome fro home,
11,130  And as a reneyed caytif recchelesly aboute.
11,131  Ac Reson shal rekene with hym and rebuken hym at the laste,
11,132  And Conscience acounte with hym and casten hym in arerage,
11,133  And putten hym after in prison in purgatorie to brenne,
11,134  For his arerages rewarden hym there right to the day of dome,
11,135  But if Contricion wol come and crye by his lyve
11,136  Mercy for hise mysdedes with mouthe or with herte.'
11,137  " That is sooth,' seide Scripture; " may no synne lette
11,138  Mercy al to amende, and mekenesse hir folwe;
11,139  For thei beth, as oure bokes telleth, above Goddes werkes: -
11,139  { Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius.'}
11,140  "Ye, baw for bokes!' quod oon was broken out of helle.
11,141  " I Troianus, a trewe knyght, take witnesse at a pope
11,142  How I was ded and dampned to dwellen in pyne  '
11,143  For an uncristene creature; clerkes wite the sothe--
11,144  That al the clergie under Crist ne myghte me cracche fro helle
11,145  But oonliche love and leautee and my laweful domes.
11,146  "Gregorie wiste this wel, and wilned to my soule
11,147  Savacion for soothnesse that he seigh in my werkes.
11,148  And after that he wepte and wilned me were graunted grace,
11,149  Withouten any bede biddyng his boone was underfongen,
11,150  And I saved, as ye may see, withouten syngynge of masses,
11,151  By love and by lernyng of my lyvynge in truthe,
11,152  Broughte me fro bitter peyne ther no biddyng myghte
11,153  " Lo! ye lordes, what leautee dide by an Emperour of Rome
11,154  That was an uncristene creature, as clerkes fyndeth in bokes.
11,155  Nought thorugh preiere of a pope but for his pure truthe
11,156  Was that Sarsen saved, as Seint Gregorie bereth witnesse.
11,157  Wel oughte ye lordes that lawes kepe this lesson to have in mynde,
11,158  And on Troianus truthe to thenke; and do truthe to the peple.
11,159  "This matere is merk for many of yow--ac, men of Holy Chirche,
11,160  The Legend[a] Sanctorum yow lereth more largere than I yow telle.
11,161  Ac thus leel love and lyvyng in truthe
11,162  Pulte out of pyne a paynym of Rome.
11,163  Yblissed be truthe that so brak helle yates
11,164  And saved the Sarsyn from Sathanas and his power,
11,165  Ther no clergie ne kouthe, ne konnyng of lawes!
11,166  Love and leautee is a leel science,
11,167  For that is the book blissed of blisse and of joye:
11,168  God wroughte it and wroot it with his owene fynger
11,169  And took it to Moises upon the mount, alle men to lere.
11,170  "Lawe withouten love,' quod Troianus, "ley ther a bene--
11,171  Or any science under sonne, the seven arts and alle!
11,172  --But thei ben lerned for Oure Lordes love, lost is al the tyme,
11,173  For no cause to cacche silver therby, ne to be called a maister,
11,174  But al for love of Oure Lord and the bet to love the peple.
11,175  "For Seint Johan seide it, and sothe arn hise wordes:
11,175  { Qui non diligit manet in morte.}
11,176  Whoso loveth noght, leve me, he lyveth in deeth deyinge;
11,177  And that alle manere men, enemyes and frendes,
11,178  Love hir eyther oother, and lene hem as hemselve.
11,179  Whoso leneth noght, he loveth noght, Oure Lord woot the sothe
11,180  And comaundeth ech creature to conformen hym to lovye  -
11,181  His neighebour as hymselve and hise enemyes after.
11,182  For hem that haten us is oure merite to lovye,
11,183  And sovereynly povere peple to plese--hir preieres maye us helpe.
11,184  For oure joy and oure [ju]ele, Jesu Crist of hevene,
11,185  In a povere mannes apparaille pursueth us evere,
11,186  And loketh on us in hir liknesse and that with lovely chere,
11,187  To knowen us by oure kynde herte and castynge of oure eighen,
11,188  Wheither we love the lordes here bifore the Lord of blis
11,189  And exciteth us by the Evangelie that whan we maken festes,
11,190  We sholde noght clepe oure kyn therto, ne none kynnes riche:
11,190  {   Cum facitis conviva, nolite invitare amicos.}
11,191  ""Ac calleth the carefulle therto, the croked and the povere;
11,192  For youre frendes wol feden yow, and founde yow to quyte
11,193  Youre festynge and youre faire yifte--ech frend quyteth so oother.
11,194  Ac for the povere I shal paie, and pure wel quyte hir travaille
11,195  That yyveth hem mete or moneie and loveth hem for my sake.'
11,196  "Almighty God myghte ha[ve] maad riche alle men, if he wolde,
11,197  Ac for the beste ben som riche and some beggeres and povere.
11,198  For alle arc we Cristes creatures, and of his cofres riche,
11,199  And bretheren as of oo blood, as wel beggeres as erles.
11,200  For at Calvarie of Cristes blood Cristendom gan sprynge,
11,201  And blody bretheren we bicome there, of o body ywonne,
11,202  As quasi modo geniti gentil men echone--
11,203  No beggere ne boye amonges us but if it synne made.
11,203  {Qui facit peccatum servus est peccati.}
11,204  ln the olde lawe, as the lettre telleth, "mennes sones'' men called us,
11,205  Of Adames issue and Eve, ay til God-Man deide;
11,206  And after his resurexcion Redemptor was his name.
11,207  And we hise bretheren thorugh hym ybought, bothe riche and povere.
11,208  Forthi love we as leve children shal, and ech man laughe of oother,
11,209  And of that ech man may forbere, amende there it nedeth,
11,210  And every man helpe oother--for hennes shul we alle:
11,210  { Alter alterius onera portate.}
11,211  And be we noght unkynde of oure catel, ne of oure konnyng neither,
11,212  For woot no man how neigh it is to ben ynome fro bothe.
11,213  Forthi lakke no lif oother, though he moore Latyn knowe,
11,214  Ne undernyme noght foule, for is noon withoute defaute.
11,215  For whatevere clerkes carpe of Cristendom or ellis,
11,216  Crist to a commune womman seide in commune at a feste
11,217  That Fides sua sholde saven hire and salven hire of synnes.
11,218  "Thanne is bileve a lele help, above logyk or lawe.
11,219  Of logyk ne of lawe in Legendo Sanctorum
11,220  Is litel alowaunce maad, but if bileve hem helpe;
11,221  For it is overlonge er logyk any lesson assoille,
11,222  And lawe is looth to lovye but if he lacche silver.
11,223  Bothe logyk and lawe, that loveth noght to lye,
11,224  I conseille alle Cristene, clyve noght theron to soore,
11,225  For some wordes I fynde writen, were of Feithes techyng,
11,226  That saved synful men, as Seint Johan bereth witnesse:
11,227     {Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis.}
11,228  Forthi lerne we the lawe of love as Oure Lord taughte;
11,229  And as Seint Gregorie seide, for mannes soule helthe,
11,229  {Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum.}
11,230  "Why I meve this matere is moost for the povere;
11,231  For in hir liknesse Oure Lord ofte hath ben yknowe.
11,232  Witnesse in the Pask wyke whan he yede to Emaus--
11,233  Cleophas ne knew hym noght, that he Crist were,
11,234  For his povere apparaille and pilgrymes wedes,
11,235  Til he blessede and brak the breed that thei eten.
11,236  So bi hise werkes thei wisten that he was Jesus,
11,237  Ac by clothyng thei knewe hym noght, ne by carpynge of tonge.
11,238  And al was ensample, for sooth, to us synfulle here,
11,239  That we sholde be lowe and loveliche of speche,
11,240  And apparaille us noght over proudly--for pilgrymes are we alle.
11,241  And in the apparaille of a povere man and pilgrymes liknesse
11,242  Many tyme God hath ben met among nedy peple,
11,243  Ther nevere segge hym seigh in secte of the riche.
11,244  "Seint Johan and othere seintes were seyen in poore clothyng,
11,245  And as povere pilgrymes preyed mennes goodes.
11,246  Jesu Crist on a Jewes doghter lighte: gentil womman though she were,
11,247  Was a pure povere maide and to a povere man ywedded.
11,248  "Martha on Marie Maudelayne an huge pleynt she made,
11,249  And to Oure Saveour self seide thise wordes:
11,250     {Domine, non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare?}
11,251  And hastily God answerde, and eitheres wille ful [wel lo]wed,
11,252  Bothe Marthaes and Maries, as Mathew bereth witnesse;
11,253  Ac poverte God putte bifore, and preised it the bettre:
11,253  { Maria optimam partem elegit, que non auferetur ab ea.}
11,254  'And alle the wise that evere were, by aught I kan aspye,
11,255  Preisen poverte for best lif, if Pacience it folwe,
11,256  And bothe bettre and blesseder by many fold than Richesse.
11,257  Although it be sour to suffre, ther cometh swete after;
11,258  As on a walnote--withoute is a bitter barke,
11,259  And after that bitter bark, be the shelle aweye,
11,260  is a kernel of confort kynde to restore.
11,261  So is after poverte or penaunce paciently ytake,
11,262  Maketh a man to have mynde in God and a gret wille
11,263  To wepe and to wel bidde, wherof wexeth mercy,
11,264  Of which Crist is a kernell to conforte the soule.
11,265  And wel sikerer he slepeth, the segge that is povere,
11,266  And lasse he dredeth deeth and in derke to ben yrobbed
11,267  Than he that is right riche--Reson bereth witnesse:
11,268     {Pauper ego ludo dum tu dives meditaris.}
11,269  "Although Salomon seide, as folk seeth in the Bible,
11,269  {Divicias nec paupertates &c,}
11,270  Wiser than Salomon was bereth witnesse and taughte
11,271  That parfit poverte was no possession to have,
11,272  And lif moost likynge to God, as Luc bereth witnesse:
11,272  {Si vis perfectus esse, vade et vende &c--}
11,273  And is to mene to men that on this moolde lyven,
11,274  Whoso wole he pure parfit moot possession forsake.
11,275  Or selle it, as seith the Book. and the silver dele
11,276  To beggeris that goon and begge and bidden good for Goddes love.
11,277  For failed nevere man mete that myghtful God serveth,
11,278  As David seith in the Sauter; to swiche that ben in wille
11,279  To serve God goodliche, ne greveth hym no penaunce--
11,279  {Nichil inpossibile volenti--}
11,280  Ne lakketh nevere liflode, lynnen ne wollen:
11,280  {Inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono.}
11,281  "If preestes weren wise, thei wolde no silver take
11,282  For masses ne for matyns, noght hir mete of usureres,
11,283  Ne neither kirtel ne cote, theigh thei for cold sholde deye,
11,284  And thei hir devoir dide, as David seith in the Sauter:
11,284  {Iudica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam.}
11,285  "Spera in Deo speketh of preestes that have no spendyng silver
11,286  That if thei travaille truweliche and truste in God almyghty,
11,287  Hem sholde lakke no liflode, neyther lynnen ne wollen.
11,288  And the title that ye take ordres by telleth ye ben avaunced;
11,289  Thanne nedeth yow noght to [nyme] silver for masses that ye syngen.
11,290  For he that took yow youre title sholde take yow youre wages,
11,291  Or the bisshop that blessed yow, if that ye ben worthi.
11,292  "For made nevere kyng no knyght but he hadde catel to spende
11,293  As bifel for a knyght, or foond hym for his strengthe.
11,294  It is a careful knyght, and of a caytif kynges makyng,
11,295  That hath no lond ne lynage riche ne good loos of hise handes.
11,296  The same I segge for sothe by alle swiche preestes
11,297  That han neither konnynge ne kyn, but a crowne one
11,298  And a title, a tale of noght, to his liflode at meschief.
11,299  He hath moore bileve, as I leve, to lacche thorugh his croune
11,300  Cure than for konnynge or "knowen for clene of berynge.'
11,301  I Have wonder for why and wherfore the bisshop
11,302  Maketh swiche preestes, that lewed men bitrayen !
11,303  "A chartre is chalangeable bifore a chief justice:
11,304  If fals Latyn be in that lettre, the lawe it impugneth,
11,305  Or peynted parentrelynarie, parcelles overskipped.
11,306  The gome that gloseth so chartres for a goky is holden.
11,307  'So is it a goky, by God! that in his gospel failleth
11,308  Or in masse or in matyns maketh any defaute:
11,308  { Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.}
11,309  And also in the Sauter seith David to overskipperis,
11,310     {Psallite Deo nostro, psallite; quoniam rex terrae Deus}
11,310  {Israel, psallite sapienter.}
11,311  "The bisshop shal be blamed bifore God, as I leve,
11,312  That crouneth swiche Goddes knyghtes that konneth noght sapienter
11,313  Synge, ne psalmes rede, ne seye a masse of the day.
11,314  Ac never neither is blamelees, the bisshop ne the chapeleyn;
11,315  For hir either is endited, and that of "Ignorancia
11,316  Non excusat episcopos nec ydiotes preestes.'
11,317  "This lokynge on lewed preestes hath doon me lepe from poverte--
11,318  The which I preise, ther pacience is, moore parfit than richesse.'
11,319  Ac muche moore in metynge thus with me gan oon dispute--
11,320  And slepynge I seigh al this; and sithen cam Kynde
11,321  And nempned me by my name, and bad me nymen hede,
11,322  And thorugh the wondres of this world wit for to take.
11,323  And en a mountaigne that Myddelerthe highte, as me tho thoughte,
11,324  I was fet forth by ensaumples to knowe,
11,325  Thorugh ech a creature, Kynde my creatour to lovye.
11,326  I seigh the sonne and the see and the sond after,
11,327  And where that briddes and beestes by hir make thei yeden,
11,328  Wilde wormes in wodes, and wonderful foweles
11,329  With fleckede fetheres and of fele colours.
11,330  Man and his make I myghte se bothe;
11,331  Poverte and plentee, both pees and werre,
11,332  Blisse and bale -- bothe I seigh at ones,
11,333  And how men token Mede and Mercy refused.
11,334  Reson I seigh soothly sewen all beestes
11,335  In etynge, in drynkynge and in engendrynge of kynde.
11,336  And after cours of concepcion noon toke kepe of oother
11,337  As whan thei hadde ryde in rotey tyme; anoonright therafter
11,338  Males drowen hem to males amornynge by hemselve,
11,339  And [femelles to femelles ferded and drowe].
11,340  Ther ne was cow ne cowkynde that conceyved hadde
11,341  That wolde belwe after bole, ne boor after sowe.
11,342  Both hors and houndes and alle othere beestes
11,343  Medled noght with hir makes that [mid] fole were.
11,344  Briddes I biheld that in buskes made nestes;
11,345  Hadde nevere wye wit to werche the leese.
11,346  I hadde wonder at whom and wher the pye
11,347  Lerned to legge the stikkes in which she leyeth and bredeth.
11,348  Ther nys wrighte, as I wene, sholde werche hir nest to paye;
11,349  If any mason made a molde therto, muche wonder it were.
11,350  And yet me merveilled moore: many othere briddes
11,351  Hidden and hileden hir egges ful derne
11,352  In mareys and moores for men sholde hem noght fynde,
11,353  And hidden hir egges whan thei therfro wente,
11,354  For fere of othere foweles and for wilde beestes.
11,355  And some troden hir makes and on trees bredden
11,356  And broughten forth hir briddes so al above the grounde.
11,357  And some briddes at the bile thorugh brethyng conceyved,
11,358  And some caukede; I took kepe how pecokkes bredden.
11,359  Muche merveilled me what maister thei hadde,
11,360  And who taughte hem on trees to tymbre so heighe
11,361  That neither burn ne beest may hir briddes rechen.
11,362  And sithen I loked on the see and so forth on the sterres;
11,363  Manye selkouthes I seigh, ben noght to seye nouthe.
11,364  I seigh floures in the fryth and hir faire colours,
11,365  And how among the grene gras growed so manye hewes,
11,366  And some soure and some swete--selkouth me thoughte.
11,367  Of hir kynde and hir colour to carpe it were to longe.
11,368  Ac that moost meved me and my mood chaunged--
11,369  That Reson rewarded and ruled alle beestes
11,370  Save man and his make: many tyme and ofte
11,371  No Reson hem folwede, [neither riche ne povere].
11,372  And thanne I rebukede Reson, and right til hymselven I seyde.
11,373  "I have wonder of thee, that witty art holden,
11,374  Why thow ne sewest man and his make, that no mysfeet hem folwe.'
11,375  And Reson arated me, and seide, "Recche thee nevere
11,376  Why I suffre or noght suffre--thiself hast noght to doone.
11,377  Amende thow it if thow myght, for my tyme is to abide.
11,378  Suffraunce is a soverayn vertue, and a swift vengeaunce.
11,379  Who suffreth moore than God?' quod he; "no gome, as I leeve.
11,380  He myghte amende in a minute while al that mysstandeth,
11,381  Ac he suffreth for som mannes goode, ad so is oure bettre.
11,382  " Holy Writ,' quod that wye, "wisseth men to suffre:
11,383     {Propter Deum subiecti estote omni creature.}
11,384  Frenche men and fre men affaiteth thus hire children:
11,384  { Bele vertue est suffraunce; mal dire est petite vengeance.}
11,384  { Bien dire et bien suffrir fait lui suffrant a bien venir.}
11,385  Forthi I rede,' quod Reson, "thow rule thi tonge bettre,
11,386  And er thow lakke my lif, loke if thow be to preise.
11,387  For is no creature under Crist can formen hymselven,
11,388  And if a man myghte make hymself good,
11,389  Ech a lif wolde be laklees--leeve thow non other.
11,390  Ne thow shalt fynde but fewe fayne for to here
11,391  Of here defautes foule bifore hem reherced.
11,392  "The wise and the witty wroot thus in the Bible:-
11,393  De re que te non molestat noli certare.
11,394  For be a man fair or foul. it falleth noght to lakke
11,395  The shap ne the shaft that God shoop hymselve;
11,396  For al that he wrought was wel ydo, as Holy Writ witnesseth:
11,396  { Et vidit Deus cuncta que fecerat, et erant valde bona.}
11,397  And bad every creature in his kynde encreesse,
11,398  Al to murthe with man that moste wo tholie
11,399  In fondynge of the flessh and of the fend bothe.
11,400  For man was maad of swich a matere he may noght wel asterte
11,401  That som tyme hym bitit to folwen his kynde.
11,402  Caton acordeth therwith--Nemo sine crimine vivit!'
11,403  Tho caughte I colour anoon and comsed to ben ashamed,
11,404  And awaked therwith. Wo was me thanne
11,405  That I in metels ne myghte moore have yknowen.
11,406  And thanne seide I to myself, and [sherewe]de that tyme,
11,407  "Now I woot what Dowel is,' quod I, " by deere God, as me thynketh!'
11,408  And as I caste up myne eighen, oon loked on me and asked
11,409  Of me, what thyng it were? " Ywis, sire,' I seyde,
11,410  "To se muche and suffre moore, certes,' quod I, "is Dowel.'
11,411  "Haddestow suffred,' he seide, "slepynge tho thow were.
11,412  Thow sholdest have knowen that Clergie kan and conceyved moore thorugh Reson-
11,413  For Reson wolde have reherced thee right as Clergie seide.
11,414  Ac for thyn entremetynge here artow forsake:
11,414  {Philosophus esses, si tacuisses.}
11,415  "Adam, whiles he spak noght, hadde paradis at wille;
11,416  Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete and entremeted to knowe
11,417  The wisedom and the wit of God, he was put fram blisse.
11,418  And right so ferde Reson bi thee--thow with thi rude speche
11,419  Lakkedest and losedest thyng that longed noght to doone.
11,420  Tho hadde he no likyng for to lere the moore.
11,421  " Pryde now and presumpcion paraventure wol thee appele,
11,422  That Clergie thi compaignye ne kepeth noght to suwe.
11,423  For shal nevere chalangynge ne chidynge chaste a man so soone
11,424  As shal shame, and shenden hym, and shape hym to amende.
11,425  For lat a dronken daffe in a dyk falle,
11,426  Lat hym ligge, loke noght on hym til hym liste aryse.
11,427  For though Reson rebuked hym thanne, reccheth he nevere;
11,428  Of Clergie ne of his counseil he counteth noght a risshe.
11,429  [To blame] or for to bete hym thanne, it were but pure synne.
11,430  Ac whan nede nymeth hym up, for doute leste he [ne] sterve,
11,431  And shame shrapeth hise clothes and hise shynes wassheth,
11,432  Thanne woot the dronken daffe wherfore he is to blame.'
11,433  "Ye siggen sooth, by my soule,' quod I, "Ich have yseyen it ofte.
11,434  Ther smyt no thyng so smerte, ne smelleth so foule
11,435  As shame, there he sheweth hym--for ech man shonyeth his felaweshipe.
11,436  Why ye wisse me thus,' quod I, "was for I rebuked Reson.'
11,437  "Certes,' quod he, "that is sooth,' and shoop hym for to walken.
11,438  And I aroos up right with that and [raughte] hym after,
11,439  And preyde hym [if his wille were, he wolde] telle me his name.
12,1  " I am Ymaginatif,' quod he, "ydel was I nevere,
12,2  Though I sitte by myself, in siknesse nor in helthe.
12,3  I have folwed thee, in feith, thise fyve and fourty wynter,
12,4  And manye tymes have meved thee to [m]yn[n]e on thyn ende,
12,5  And how fele fernyeres are faren, and so fewe to come:
12,6  And of thi wilde wantownesse [whan] thow yong were,
12,7  To amende it in thi myddel age, lest myght the faille
12,8  In thyn olde elde, that yvele kan suffre
12,9  Poverte or penaunce, or preyeres bidde:
12,9  {Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda &c.}
12,10  "Amende thee while thow myght; thow hast ben warned ofte
12,11  With poustees of pestilences, with poverte and with angres--
12,12  And with thise bittre baleises God beteth his deere children:
12,12  {   Quem diligo, castiga.}
12,13  And David in the Sauter seith, of swiche that loveth Jesus,
12,13  {   "" Virga tua et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt.}
12,14  Although thow strike me with thi staf, with stikke or with yerde,
12,15  It is but murthe as for me to amende my soule.''
12,16  And thow medlest thee with makynges--and myghtest go seye thi Sauter,
12,17  And bidde for hem that yyveth thee breed; for ther are bokes ynowe
12,18  To telle men what Dowel is, Dobet and Dobest bothe,
12,19  And prechours to preve what it is, of many a peire freres.'
12,20  I seigh wel he seide me sooth and, somwhat me to excuse,
12,21  Seide, "Caton conforted his sone that, clerk though he were,
12,22  To solacen hym som tyme--a[lso] I do whan I make:
12,22  {   Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis.}
12,23  "And of holy men I herde,' quod I, "how thei outherwhile
12,24  Pleyden, the parfiter to ben, in [places manye].
12,25  Ac if ther were any wight that wolde me telle
12,26  What were Dowel and Dobet and Dobest at the laste,
12,27  Wolde I nevere do werk, but wende to holi chirche
12,28  And there bidde my bedes but whan ich ete or slepe.'
12,29  "Poul in his pistle,' quod he, "preveth what is Dowel:
12,29  {   Fides, spes, caritas, et maior horum &c--}
12,30  Feith, hope and charitee, and alle ben goode,
12,31  And saven men sondry tymes, ac noon so soone as charite.
12,32  For he dooth wel, withouten doute, that dooth as lewte techeth;
12,33  That is, if thow be man maryed, thi make thow lovye,
12,34  And lyve forth as lawe wole while ye lyven bothe.
12,35  " Right so, if thow be religious, ren thow nevere ferther
12,36  To Rome ne to Rochemador, but as thi rule techeth,
12,37  And holde thee under obedience, that heigh wey is to hevene.
12,38  "And if thow be maiden to marye, and myght wel continue,
12,39  Seke thow nevere seint ferther for no soule helthe!
12,40  For what made Lucifer to lese the heighe hevene,
12,41  Or Salomon his sapience, or Sampson his strengthe?
12,42  job the Jew his joye deere he it aboughte;
12,43  Aristotle and othere mo, Ypocras and Virgile,
12,44  Alisaundre that al wan, elengliche ended.
12,45  Catel and kynde wit was combraunce to hem alle.
12,46  " Felice hir fairnesse fel hire al to sclaundre,
12,47  And Rosamounde right so reufulliche bisette
12,48  The beaute of hir body; in baddenesse she despended.
12,49  Of manye swiche I may rede--of men and or wommen--
12,50  That wise wordes wolde shewe and werche the contrarie:
12,50  {Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes.}
12,51  "And riche renkes right so gaderen and sparen,
12,52  And tho men that thei moost haten mynistren it at the laste;
12,53  And for thei suffren and see so manye nedy folkes
12,54  And love hem noght as Oure Lord bit, lesen hir soules:
12,54  {   Date et dabitur vobis.}
12,55  So catel and kynde wit acombreth ful manye;
12,56  Wo is hym that hem weldeth but he hem wel despende:
12,56  {Scient[es] et non facient[es] variis flagellis vapulab[un]t.}
12,57  Sapience, seith the Bok, swelleth a mannes soule:
12,57  {Sapiencia inflat &c.}
12,58  And richesse right so, but if the roote be trewe.
12,59  "Ac grace is a gras therfore, tho grevaunces to abate.
12,60  Ac grace ne groweth noght but amonges [gomes] lowe:
12,61  Pacience and poverte the place is ther groweth,
12,62  And in lele lyvynge men and in lif holy,
12,63  And thorugh the gifte of the Holy Goost, as the Gospel telleth:
12,63  {   Spiritus ubi vult spirat.}
12,64  "Clergie and kynde wit cometh of sighte and techyng,
12,65  As the Book bereth witnesse to burnes that kan rede:
12,65  {Quod scimus loquimur, quod vidimus testamur.}
12,66  Of quod scimus cometh clergie, a konnynge of hevene,
12,67  And of quod vidimus cometh kynde wit, of sighte of diverse peple.
12,68  Ac grace is a gifte of God, and of greet love spryngeth;
12,69  Knew nevere clerk how it cometh forth, ne kynde wit the weyes:
12,69  {   Nescit aliquis unde venit aut quo vadit &c.}
12,70  "Ac yet is clergie to comende, and kynde wit bothe,
12,71  And namely clergie for Cristes love, that of clergie is roote.
12,72  For Moyses witnesseth that God wroot for to wisse the peple
12,73  ln the Olde Lawe, as the lettre telleth, that was the lawe of Jewes,
12,74  That what womman were in avoutrye taken, were she riche or poore,
12,75  With stones men sholde hir strike. and stone hire to dethe.
12,76  A womman, as we fynden, was gilty of that dede;
12,77  Ac Crist of his curteisie thorugh clergie hir saved.
12,78  For thorugh caractes that Crist wroot, the Jewes knewe hemselve
12,79  Giltier as afore God and gretter in synne
12,80  Than the womman that there was, and wenten awey for shame.
12,81  The clergie that there was conforted the womman.
12,82  Holy Kirke knoweth this--that Cristes writyng saved;
12,83  So clergie is confort to creatures that repenten,
12,84  And to mansede men meschief at hire ende.
12,85  "For Goddes body myghte noght ben of breed withouten clergie,
12,86  The which body is bothe boote to the rightfulle,
12,87  And deeth and dampnacion to hem that deyeth yvele;
12,88  As Cristes caracte confortede and bothe coupable shewed
12,89  The womman that the Jewes broughte, that Jesus thoughte to save:
12,89  {   Nolite iudicare et nan iudicabimini.}
12,90  Right so Goddes body, bretheren, but it be worthili taken,
12,91  Dampneth us at the day of dome as dide the caractes the Jewes.
12,92  "Forthi I counseille thee for Cristes sake. clergie that thow lovye,
12,93  For kynde wit is of his kyn and neighe cosynes bothe
12,94  To Oure Lord, leve me--forthi love hem, I rede.
12,95  For bothe ben as mirours to amenden oure defautes,
12,96  And lederes for lewed men and for lettred bothe.
12,97  "Forthi lakke thow nevere logik, lawe ne hise custumes,
12,98  Ne countreplede clerkes--I counseille thee for evere!
12,99  For as a man may noght see that mysseth hise eighen.
12,100  Na moore kan no clerk but if he caughte it first thorugh bokes.
12,101  Although men made bokes, God was the maister,
12,102  And Seint Spirit the samplarie, and seide what men sholde write.
12,103  And right as sight serveth a man to se the heighe strete,
12,104  Right so lereth lettrure lewed men to reson.
12,105  And as a blynd man in bataille bereth wepne to fighte,
12,106  And hath noon hap with his ax his enemy to hitte,
12,107  Na moore kan a kynde witted man, but clerkes hym teche,
12,108  Come, for al his kynde wit, to Cristendom and be saved--
12,109  Which is the cofre of Cristes tresor, and clerkes kepe the keyes,
12,110  To unloken it at hir likyng, and to the lewed peple
12,111  Yyve mercy for hire mysdedes, if men it wole aske
12,112  Buxomliche and benigneliche, and bidden it of grace.
12,113  "Archa Dei in the Olde Lawe, Levites it kepten;
12,114  Hadde nevere lewed man leve to leggen hond on that cheste
12,115  But he were preest or preestes sone, patriark or prophete.
12,116  "Saul, for he sacrificed, sorwe hym bitidde,
12,117  And his sones also for that synne mischeved,
12,118  And manye mo other men that were no Levites,
12,119  That with archa Dei yeden, in reverence and in worship,
12,120  And leiden hond theron to liften it up--and loren hir lif after.
12,121  "Forthi I conseille alle creatures no clergie to dispise,
12,122  Ne sette short by hir science, whatso thei don hemselve.
12,123  Take we hir wordes at worth, for hire witnesses be trewe,
12,124  And medle we noght muche with hem to meven any wrathe,
12,125  Lest cheste cha[f]en us to choppe ech man other:
12,125  {Nolite tangere christos meos &c.}
12,126  " For clergie is kepere under Crist of hevene;
12,127  [Com] ther nevere no knyght but clergie hym made.
12,128  Ac kynde wit cometh of alle kynnes sightes--
12,129  Of briddes and of beestes, [of blisse and of sorwe],
12,130  Of tastes of truthe and [oft] of deceites.
12,131  "[Olde] lyveris toforn us useden to marke
12,132  The selkouthes that thei seighen, hir sones for to teche,
12,133  And helden it an heigh science hir wittes to knowe.
12,134  Ac thorugh hir science soothly was nevere no soule ysaved,
12,135  Ne broght by hir bokes to blisse ne to joye;
12,136  For alle hir kynde knowyng com but of diverse sightes.
12,137  " Patriarkes and prophetes repreveden hir science,
12,138  And seiden hir wordes ne hir wisdomes was but a folye;
12,139  As to the clergie of Crist, counted it but a trufle:
12,139  {Sapiencia huius mundi stultitia est apud Deum.}
12,140  "For the heighe Holy Goost hevene shal tocleve,
12,141  And love shal lepe out after into this lowe erthe,
12,142  And clennesse shal cacchen it and clerkes shullen it fynde:
12,142  { Pastores laquebantur ad invicem.}
12,143  " He speketh there of riche men right noght, ne of right witty,
12,144  Ne of lordes that were lewed men, but of the hyeste lettred oute:
12,145     {Ibant magi ab oriente.}
12,146  (If any frere were founde there, I yyve thee fyve shillynges!)
12,147  Ne in none beggers cote was that barn born,
12,148  But in a burgeises place, of Bethlem the beste:
12,148  { Sed non erat ei locus in diversorio--et pauper nan habet   diversorium.}
12,149  "To pastours and to poetes appered the aungel,
12,150  And bad hem go to Bethlem Goddes burthe to honoure,
12,151  And songe a song of solas, Gloria in excelsis Deo.!
12,152  Riche men rutte tho and in hir reste were,
12,153  Tho it shon to shepherdes, a shewer of blisse.
12,154  Clerkes knewen it wel and comen with hir presents,
12,155  And diden hir homage honurably to hym that was almyghty.
12,156  'Why I have told thee I this--I took ful good hede
12,157  How thow contrariedest clergie with crabbede wordes,
12,158  How that lewed men lightloker than lettrede were saved,
12,159  Than clerkes or kynde witted men, of Cristene peple.
12,160  And thow seidest sooth of somme--ac se in what manere.
12,161  "Tak two stronge men and in Themese cast hem,
12,162  And bothe naked as a nedle, hir noon sikerer than other;
12,163  That oon hath konnynge and kan swymmen and dyven,
12,164  That oother is lewed of that labour, lerned nevere swymme.
12,165  Which trowestow of tho two in Themese is in moost drede--
12,166  He that nevere ne dyved ne noght kan of swymmyng
12,167  Or the swymmere that is saff by so hymself like,
12,168  Ther his felawe fleteth forth as the flood liketh,
12,169  And is in drede to drenche, that nevere dide swymme?'
12,170  "That swymme kan noght,' I seide, "it semeth to my wittes.'
12,171  " Right so,' quod the renk, " reson it sheweth,
12,172  That he that knoweth clergie kan sonner arise
12,173  Out of synne and be saaf, though he synne ofte,
12,174  If hym liketh and lest, than any lewed, leelly.
12,175  For if the clerk be konnynge, he knoweth what is synne,
12,176  And how contricion withoute confession conforteth the soule,
12,177  As thow seest in the Sauter in salmes oon or tweyne,
12,178  How contricion is comended for it cacheth awey synne:
12,178  {Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates et quorum tecta sunt peccata.}
12,179  And this conforteth ech a clerk and kevereth hym fro wanhope,
12,180  In which flood the fend fondeth a man hardest;
12,181  Ther the lewed lith stille and loketh after Lente,
12,182  And hath no contricion er he come to shrifte--and thanne kan he litel telle,
12,183  But as his loresman lereth hym bileveth and troweth,
12,184  And that is after person or parissh preest, and paraventure bothe unkonnynge
12,185  To lere lewed men, as Luc bereth witnesse:
12,185  { Dum cecus ducit cecum &c.}
12,186  "Wo was hym marked that wade moot with the lewed!
12,187  Wel may the barn blesse that hym to book sette,
12,188  That lyvynge after lettrure saved hym lif and soule.
12,189  Dominus pars hereditatis mee is a murye verset
12,190  That hath take fro Tybourne twenty stronge theves,
12,191  Ther lewed theves ben lolled up--loke how thei be saved!
12,192  "The thef that hadde grace of God on Good Fryday as thow speke,
12,193  Was for he yald hym creaunt to Crist on the cros and knewliched hym gilty,
12,194  And grace asked of God, that to graunten is evere redy
12,195  To hem that buxomliche biddeth it, and ben in wille to amenden hem.
12,196  Ac though that theef hadde hevene, he hadde noon heigh blisse,
12,197  As Seint Johan and othere seintes that deserved hadde bettre.
12,198  Right as som man yeve me mete and sette me amydde the floor:
12,199  I hadde mete moore than ynough. ac noght so muche worshipe
12,200  As tho that seten at the syde table or with the sovereynes of the halle,
12,201  But sete as a beggere bordlees by myself on the grounde.
12,202  So it fareth by that felon that a Good Friday was saved:
12,203  He sit neither with Seint Johan, Symond ne Jude,
12,204  Ne with maydenes ne with martires ne confessours ne wydewes,
12,205  But by hymself as a soleyn, and served on the erthe.
12,206  For he that is ones a thef is everemoore in daunger,
12,207  And as lawe liketh to lyve or to deye:
12,207  { De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu.}
12,208  And for to serven a seint and swich a thef togideres--
12,209  It were neither reson ne right to rewarde both yliche.
12,210  "And right as Troianus the trewe knyght tilde noght depe in helle
12,211  That Oure Lord ne hadde hym lightly out, so leve I [by] the thef in hevene:
12,212  For he is in the loweste of hevene, if oure bileve be trewe,
12,213  And wel losely he lolleth there, by the lawe of Holy Chirche,
12,213  {Quia reddit unicuique iuxta opera sua.}
12,214  "Ac why that oon theef on the cros creaunt hym yald
12,215  Rather than that oother theef, though thow woldest appose,
12,216  Alle the clerkes under Crist ne kouthe the skile assoille:
12,216  {Quare placuit ? Quia voluit.}
12,217  And so I seye by thee, that sekest after the whyes,   -
12,218  And aresonedest Reson, a rebukynge as it were,
12,219  And willest of briddes and of beestes and of hir bredyng knowe,
12,220  Why some be alough and some aloft, thi likyng it were;
12,221  And of the floures in the fryth and of hire faire hewes--
12,222  Wherof thei cacche hir colours so clere and so brighte,
12,223  And of the stones and of the sterres--thow studiest, as I leve,
12,224  How evere beest outher brid hath so breme wittes . . .
12,225  "Clergie ne Kynde Wit ne knew nevere the cause,
12,226  Ac Kynde knoweth the cause hymself and no creature ellis.
12,227  He is the pies patron and putteth it in hir ere
12,228  That there the thorn is thikkest to buylden and brede.
12,229  And Kynde kenned the pecok to cauken in swich a kynde,
12,230  And Kynde kenned Adam to knowe his pryve membres,
12,231  And taughte hym and Eve to helien hem with leves.
12,232  " Lewed men many tymes maistres thei apposen, .
12,233  Whi Adam ne hiled noght first his mouth that eet the appul,
12,234  Rather than his likame alogh?--lewed asken thus clerkes.
12,235  Kynde knoweth whi he dide so, ac no clerk ellis!
12,236  "Ac of briddes and of beestes men by olde tyme
12,237  Ensamples token and termes, as telleth thise poetes,
12,238  And that the faireste fowel foulest engendreth,
12,239  And feblest fowel of flight is that fleeth or swymmeth.
12,240  And that is the pecok and the pehen -- proude riche men thei bitokneth
12,241  For the pecok and men pursue hym may noght flee heighe:
12,242  For the trailynge of his tail overtaken is he soone.
12,243  And his flessh is foul flessh, and his feet bothe,
12,244  And unlovelich of ledene and looth for to here.
12,245  "Right so the riche, if he his richesse kepe
12,246  And deleth it noght til his deeth day, the tail of alle is sorwe.
12,247  Right as the pennes of the pecok peyneth hym in his flight,
12,248  So is possession peyne of pens and of nobles
12,249  To alle hem that it holdeth til hir tail be plukked.
12,250  And though the riche repente thanne and birewe the tyme
12,251  That evere he gadered so grete and gaf therof so litel,
12,252  Though he crye to Crist thanne with kene wil, I leve
12,253  His ledene be in Oure Lordes ere lik a pies chiteryng;
12,254  And whan his caroyne shal come in cave to be buryed,
12,255  I leve it flawme ful foule the fold al aboute,
12,256  And alle the othere ther it lith envenymeth thorugh his attre.
12,257  By the po feet is understande, as I have lerned in Avynet,
12,258  Executours--false frendes that fulfille noght his wille
12,259  That was writen, and thei witnesse to werche right as it wolde.
12,260  Thus the poete preveth that the pecok for his fetheres is reverenced;
12,261  Right so is the riche by reson of hise goodes.
12,262  "The larke, that is a lasse fowel, is moore lovelich of ledene,
12,263  And wel awey of wynge swifter than the pecok,
12,264  And of flessh by felefold fatter and swetter;
12,265  To lowe libbynge men the larke is resembled.
12,266  ["Swiche tales he telleth, Aristotle the grete clerk];
12,267  Thus he likneth in his logik the leeste fowel oute.
12,268  And wheither he be saaf or noght saaf, the sothe woot no clergie,
12,269  Ne of Sortes ne of Salamon no scripture kan telle.
12,270  Ac God is so good, I hope that siththe he gaf hem wittes
12,271  To wissen us wyes therwith, that wisshen to be saved,
12,272  (And the bettre for hir bokes to bidden we ben holden)
12,273  That God for his grace gyve hir soules reste--
12,274  For lettred men were lewed yet, ne were loore of hir bokes.'
12,275  "Alle thise clerkes,' quod I tho, "that on Crist leven.
12,276  Seyen in hir sermons that neither Sarsens ne Jewes
12,277  Ne no creature of Cristes liknesse withouten Cristendom worth saved.'
12,278  " Contra.! quod Ymaginatif thoo, and comsed for to loure,
12,279  And seide, " Salvabitur vix iustus in die iudicii,
12,280  Ergo--salvabitur!' quod he, and seide no moore Latyn.
12,281  "Troianus was a trewe knyght and took nevere Cristendom,
12,282  And he is saaf, so seith the book, and his soule in hevene.
12,283  Ac ther is fullynge of font and fullynge in blood shedyng,
12,284  And thorugh fir is fullyng, and that is ferme bileve:
12,284  {Advenit ignis divinus, non comburens set illuminans &c.}
12,285  "Ac truthe that trespased nevere ne traversed ayeins his lawe,
12,286  But lyveth as his lawe techeth and leveth ther be no bettre,
12,287  (And if ther were, he wolde amende) and in swich wille deieth--
12,288  Ne wolde nevere trewe God but trewe truthe were allowed.
12,289  And wheither it worth or noght worth, the bileve is gret of truthe,
12,290  And an hope hangynge therinne to have a mede for his truthe;
12,291  For Deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis, hoc est fidelibus.
12,291  {Et alibi, Si ambulavero in medio umbre mortis &c.}
12,292  The glose graunteth upon that vers a greet mede to truthe.
12,293  And wit and wisdom,' quod that wye, " was som tyme tresor
12,294  To kepe with a commune--no catel was holde bettre--
12,295  And muche murthe and manhod'--and right with that he vanysshed.
13,1  And I awaked therwith, witlees nerhande,
13,2  And as a freke that fey were, forth gan I walke
13,3  In manere of a mendynaunt many yer after,
13,4  And of this metyng many tyme muche thought I hadde:
13,5  First how Fortune me failed at my mooste nede,
13,6  And how that Elde manaced me, myghte we evere mete;
13,7  And how that freres folwede folk that was riche,
13,8  And [peple] that was povere at litel pris thei sette,
13,9  And no corps in hir kirkyerd ne in hir kirk was buryed
13,10  But quik he biquethe hem aught or sholde helpe quyte hir dettes;
13,11  And how this coveitise overcom clerkes and preestes;
13,12  And how that lewed men ben lad, but Oure Lord hem helpe,
13,13  Thorugh unkonnynge curatours to incurable peynes;
13,14  And how that Ymaginatif in dremels me tolde
13,15  Of Kynde and of his konnynge, and how curteis he is to bestes,
13,16  And how lovynge he is to bestes on londe and on watre:
13,17  Leneth he no lif lasse ne moore;
13,18  The creatures that crepen of Kynde ben engendred;
13,19  And sithen how Ymaginatif seide, " Vix iustus salvabitur,'
13,20  And whan he hadde seid so, how sodeynliche he passed.
13,21  I lay down longe in this thoght, and at the laste I slepte;
13,22  And as Crist wolde ther com Conscience to conforte me that tyme,
13,23  And bad me come to his court--with Clergie sholde I dyne.
13,24  And for Conscience of Clergie spak, I com wel the rather;
13,25  And there I [merkede] a maister--what man he was I nyste--
13,26  That lowe louted and loveliche to Scripture.
13,27  Conscience knew hym wel and welcomed hym faire;
13,28  Thei wesshen and wipeden and wenten to the dyner.
13,29  Ac Pacience in the paleis stood in pilgrymes clothes,
13,30  And preyde mete par charite for a povere heremyte.
13,31  Conscience called hym in, and curteisliche seide,
13,32  " Welcome, wye, go and wassh; thow shalt sitte soone.'
13,33  This maister was maad sitte as for the mooste worthi,
13,34  And thanne Clergie and Conscience and Pacience cam after.
13,35  Pacience and I were put to be mettes,
13,36  And seten bi oureselve at a side borde.
13,37  Conscience called after mete, and thanne cam Scripture
13,38  And served hem thus soone of sondry metes manye--
13,39  Of Austyn, of Ambrose, of alle the foure Evaungelistes:
13,39  {   Ehentes et bibentes que apud eos sunt.}
13,40  Ac this maister ne his man no maner flessh eten,
13,41  Ac thei eten mete of moore cost--mortrews and potages:
13,42  Of that men myswonne thei made hem wel at ese.
13,43  Ac hir sauce was over sour and unsavourly grounde
13,44  In a morter, Post mortem, of many bitter peyne--
13,45  But if thei synge for tho soules and wepe salte teris:
13,45  {Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas et}
13,45  {   oraciones effuderitis, ea que in deliciis comeditis, in tormentis evometis.}
13,46  Conscience ful curteisly tho commaunded Scripture
13,47  Bifore Pacience breed to brynge and me that was his mette.
13,48  He sette a sour loof toforn us and seide, "Agite penitenciam,'
13,49  And siththe he drough us drynke: "Dia perseverans--
13,50  As longe,' quod he,-"as lif and lycame may dure.'
13,51  " Here is propre service,' quod Pacience, "ther fareth no prince bettre!'
13,52  And he broughte us of Beati quorum of Beatus virres makyng,
13,53  And thanne he broughte us forth a mees of oother mete, of Miserere mei, Deus
13,53  {   Et quorum tecta sunt peccata}
13,54  In a dissh of derne shrifte, Dixi et confitebor tibi.
13,55  "Bryng Pacience som pitaunce,' pryveliche quod Conscience;
13,56  And thanne hadde Pacience a pitaunce, Pro hac orabit ad te
13,56  {   omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno.}
13,57  And Conscience conforted us, and carped us murye tales:
13,57  {   Cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.}
13,58  Pacience was proude of that propre service,
13,59  And made hym murthe with his mete; ac I mornede evere,
13,60  For this doctour on the heighe dees drank wyn so faste:
13,60  {   Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum !}
13,61  He eet manye sondry metes, mortrews and puddynges,
13,62  Wombe cloutes and wilde brawen and egges yfryed with grece.
13,63  Thanne seide I to myself so Pacience it herde,
13,64  " It is noght foure dayes that this freke, bifore the deen of Poules,
13,65  Preched of penaunces that Paul the Apostle suffrede--
13,66  In fame et frigore and flappes of scourges:
13,67  Ter cesus sum et a Iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c;
13,68  Ac o word thei overhuppen at ech a tyme that thei preche
13,69  That Poul in his Pistle to al the peple tolde--
13,69  {Periculum est in falsis fratribus!'}
13,70  (Holi Writ bit men be war--I wol noght write it here
13,71  In Englissh, on aventure it sholde be reherced to ofte
13,72  And greve therwith that goode men ben--ac gramariens shul rede:
13,72  {   Unusquisque a fratre se custodiat, quia, ut dicitur,}
13,72  {   periculum est in falsis fratribus.}
13,73  Ac I wiste nevere freke that as a frere yede bifore men on Englissh
13,74  Taken it for his teme, and telle it withouten glosyng!
13,75  They prechen that penaunce is profitable to the soule,
13,76  And what meschief and maleese Crist for man tholede).
13,77  "Ac this Goddes gloton,' quod I, "with hise grete chekes,
13,78  Hath no pite on us povere; he parfourneth yvele.
13,79  That he precheth, he preveth noght,' to Pacience I tolde,
13,80  And wisshed witterly, with wille ful egre,
13,81  That disshes and doublers bifore this doctour
13,82  Were molten leed in his mawe, and Mahoun amyddes!
13,83  "I shal jangle to this jurdan with his juste wombe
13,84  To telle me what penaunce is, of which he preched rather!'
13,85  Pacience parceyved what I thoughte, and [preynte] on me to be stille,
13,86  And seide, "Thow shalt see thus soone, whan he may na moore,
13,87  He shal have a penaunce in his paunche and puffe at ech a worde,
13,88  And thanne shullen his guttes gothele, and he shal galpen after;
13,89  For now he hath dronken so depe he wole devyne soone
13,90  And preven it by hir Pocalips and passion of Seint Avereys
13,91  That neither bacon ne braun ne blancmanger ne mortrews
13,92  Is neither fissh ne flessh but fode for a penaunt.
13,93  And thanne shal he testifie of a trinite, and take his felawe to witnesse
13,94  What he fond in a f[or]el after a freres lyvyng;
13,95  And but the first leef be lesyng, leve me nevere after!
13,96  And thanne is tyme to take and to appose this doctour
13,97  Of Dowel and Dobet and if Dobest be any penaunce.'
13,98  And I sat stille as Pacience seide, and thus soone this doctour,
13,99  As rody as a rose ruddede hise chekes,
13,100  Coughed and carped; and Conscience hym herde,
13,101  And tolde hym of a trinite, and toward us he loked.
13,102  "What is Dowel, sire doctour?' quod I; "is Dobest any penaunce?'
13,103  " Dowel?' quod this doctour--and drank after--
13,104  " Do noon yvel to thyn evencristen--nought by thi power.'
13,105  "By this day, sire doctour,' quod I, "thanne [in Dowel be ye noght]!
13,106  For ye han harmed us two in that ye eten the puddyng,
13,107  Mortrews and oother mete--and we no morsel hadde.
13,108  And if ye fare so in youre fermerye, ferly me thynketh
13,109  But cheeste be ther charite sholde be, and yonge children dorste pleyne!
13,110  I wolde permute my penaunce with youre--for I am in point to dowel.'
13,111  Thanne Conscience ful curteisly a contenaunce he made,
13,112  And preynte upon Pacience to preie me to be stille,
13,113  And seide hymself, "Sire doctour, and it be youre wille,
13,114  What is Dowel and Dobet? Ye dyvynours knoweth.'
13,115  "Dowel?' quod this doctour; "do as clerkes techeth;
13,116  And Dobet is he that techeth and travailleth to teche othere;
13,117  And Dobest doth hymself so as he seith and precheth:
13,117  {Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum.'}
13,118  "Now thow, Clergie,' quod Conscience. "carpe us what is Dowel.'
13,119  " I have sevene sones,' he seide, "serven in a castel
13,120  Ther the lord of lif wonyeth, to leren hem what is Dowel.
13,121  Til I se tho sevene and myself acorde
13,122  I am unhardy,' quod he, "to any wight to preven it.
13,123  For oon Piers the Plowman hath impugned us alle,
13,124  And set alle sciences at a sop save love one;
13,125  And no text ne taketh to mayntene his cause
13,126  But Dilige Deum and Domine quis habitabit;
13,127  And seith that Dowel and Dobet arn two infinites,
13,128  Whiche infinites with a feith fynden out Dobest,
13,129  Which shal save mannes soule--thus seith Piers the Plowman.'
13,130  " I kan noght heron,' quod Conscience, "ac I knowe wel Piers.
13,131  He wol noght ayein Holy Writ speken, I dar x el undertake.
13,132  Thanne passe we over til Piers come and preve this in dede.
13,133  Pacience hath be in many place, and paraunter knoweth
13,134  That no clerk ne kan, as Crist bereth witnesse:
13,134  {Pacientes vincunt &c.'}
13,135  "At youre preiere,' quod Pacience tho, "so no man displese hym:
13,136  Disce,' quod he, " doce; dilige inimicos.
13,137  Disce, and Dowel; doce, and Dobet;
13,138  Dilige, and Dobest--[do] thus taughte me ones
13,139  A lemman that I lovede--Love was hir name.
13,140  ""With wordes and with werkes,'' quod she, "and wil of thyn herte
13,141  Thow love leelly thi soule al thi lif tyme.
13,142  And so thow lere the to lovye, for the Lordes love of hevene,
13,143  Thyn enemy in alle wise eveneforth with thiselve.
13,144  Cast coles on his heed of alle kynde speche;
13,145  Bothe with werkes and with wordes fonde his love to wynne,
13,146  And leye on him thus with love til he laughe on the;
13,147  And but he bowe for this betyng, blynd mote he worthe!'
13,148  "Ac for to fare thus with thi frend--folie it were;
13,149  For he that loveth thee leelly, litel of thyne coveiteth.
13,150  Kynde love coveiteth noght no catel but speche.
13,151  With half a laumpe lyne in Latyn, Ex vi transicionis,
13,152  I bere ther, in a bou[s]te, faste ybounde Dowel,
13,153  In a signe of the Saterday that sette first the kalender,
13,154  And al the wit of the Wodnesday of the nexte wike after;
13,155  The myddel of the moone is the myght of bothe.
13,156  And herwith am I welcome ther I have it with me.
13,157  " Undo it--lat this doctour deme if Dowel be therinne;
13,158  For, by hym that me made, myghte nevere poverte,
13,159  Misese ne mischief ne man with his tonge,
13,160  Coold, ne care, ne compaignye of theves.
13,161  Ne neither hete, ne hayl, ne noon helle pouke,
13,162  Ne neither fuyr, ne flood, ne feere of thyn enemy.
13,163  Tene thee any tyme, and thow take it with the:
13,163  {   Caritas nichil timet.}
13,164  "And ek, have God my soule! and thow wilt it crave,
13,165  Ther nys neither emperour ne emperesse, erl ne baroun,
13,166  Pope ne patriark, that pure reson ne shal make thee
13,167  Maister of alle tho men thorugh myght of this redels--
13,168  Nought thorugh wicchecraft but thorugh wit; and thow wilt thiselve
13,169  Do kyng and quene and alle the comune after
13,170  Yyve thee al that thei may yyve, as thee for best yemere,
13,171  And as thow demest wil thei do alle hir dayes after:
13,171  {   Pacientes vincunt.'}
13,172  " It is but a dido,' quod this doctour, "a disours tale!
13,173  Al the wit of this world and wight mennes strengthe
13,174  Kan noght [par]formen a pees bitwene the Pope and hise enemys,
13,175  Ne bitwene two Cristene kynges kan no wight pees make
13,176  Profitable to either peple--and putte the table fro hym,
13,177  And took Clergie and Conscience to conseil, as it were,
13,178  That Pacience tho most passe--for pilgrymes konne wel lye.'
13,179  Ac Conscience carped loude and curteisliche seide,
13,180  " Frendes, fareth wel,' and faire spak to Clergie,
13,181  " For I wol go with this gome, if God wol yeve me grace,
13,182  And be pilgrym with Pacience til I have preved moore.'
13,183  "What! ' quod Clergie to Conscience, "are ye coveitous nouthe
13,184  After yeresyeves or yiftes. or yernen to rede redels?
13,185  I shal brynge yow a Bible, a book of the olde lawe,
13,186  And lere yow, if yow like, the leeste point to knowe,
13,187  That Pacience the pilgrym parfitly knew nevere.'
13,188  " Nay, by Crist!' quod Conscience to Clergie, " God thee foryelde.
13,189  For al that Pacience me profreth, proud am I litel;
13,190  Ac the wil of the wye and the wil of folk here
13,191  Hath meved my mood to moorne for my synnes.
13,192  The goode wil of a wight was nevere bought to the fulle:
13,193  For ther nys no tresour therto to a trewe wille.
13,194  "Hadde noght Marie Maudeleyne moore for a box of salve
13,195  Than Zacheus for he seide, "Dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus,"
13,196  And the poore widewe for a peire of mytes
13,197  Than alle tho that offrede into gazophilacium ?'
13,198  Thus curteisliche Conscience congeyed first the frere,
13,199  And sithen softeliche he seide in Clergies ere,
13,200  "Me were levere, by Oure Lord, and I lyve sholde,
13,201  Have pacience parfitliche than half thi pak of bokes! '
13,202  Clergie of Conscience no congie wolde take,
13,203  But seide ful sobreliche, "Thow shalt se the tyme
13,204  Whan thow art wery forwalked, wilne me to counseille.'
13,205  "That is sooth,' seide Conscience, "so me God helpe!
13,206  If Pacience be oure partyng felawe and pryve with us bothe,
13,207  Ther nys wo in this world that we ne sholde amende,
13,208  And conformen kynges to pees, and alle kynnes londes--
13,209  Sarsens and Surre, and so forth alle the Jewes--
13,210  Turne into the trewe feith and intil oon bileve.'
13,211  "That is sooth,' quod Clergie, "I se what thow menest.
13,212  I shall dwelle as I do, my devoir to shewe,
13,213  And confermen fauntekyns oother folk ylered
13,214  Til Pacience have preved thee and parfit thee maked.'
13,215  Conscience tho with Pacience passed, pilgrymes as it were.
13,216  Thanne hadde Pacience, as pilgrymes han, in his poke vitailles:
13,217  Sobretee and symple speche and soothfast bileve,
13,218  To conforte hym and Conscience if thei come in place
13,219  There unkyndenesse and coveitise is, hungry contrees bothe.
13,220  And as thei wente by the weye, of Dowel thei carped;
13,221  Thei mette with a mynstral, as me tho thoughte.
13,222  Pacience apposed hym first and preyde he sholde telle
13,223  fo Conscience what craft he kouthe, and to what contree he wolde.
13,224  "I am a mynstral,' quod that man, "my name is Activa Vita.
13,225  Al ydel ich hatie, for of Actif is my name,
13,226  A wafrer, wol ye wite, and serve manye lordes--
13,227  And fewe robes I fonge or furrede gownes.
13,228  Couthe I lye and do men laughe, thanne lacchen I sholde
13,229  Outher mantel or moneie amonges lordes mynstrals.
13,230  Ac for I kan neither taboure ne trompe ne telle no gestes,
13,231  Farten ne fithelen at festes, ne harpen,
13,232  Jape ne jogele ne gentilliche pipe,
13,233  Ne neither saille ne sautrie ne synge with the gyterne,
13,234  I have no goode giftes of thise grete lordes
13,235  For no breed that I brynge forth--save a benyson on the Sonday,
13,236  Whan the preest preieth the peple hir Paternoster to bidde
13,237  For Piers the Plowman and that hym profit waiten--
13,238  And that am I, Actif, that ydelnesse hatie;
13,239  For alle trewe travaillours and tiliers of the erthe,
13,240  Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmesse I fynde hem with wafres.
13,241  "Beggeris and bidderis of my breed craven,
13,242  Faitours and freres and folk with brode crounes.
13,243  I fynde payn for the Pope and provendre for his palfrey,
13,244  And I hadde nevere of hym, have God my trouthe,
13,245  Neither provendre ne personage yet of the Popes yifte,
13,246  Save a pardon with a peis of leed and two polles amyddes!
13,247  Hadde ich a clerc that couthe write I wolde caste hym a bille
13,248  That he sente me under his seel a salve for the pestilence,
13,249  And that his blessynge and hise bulles bocches myghte destruye:
13,249  {In nomine meo demonia eicient et super egros manus imponent et bene habebunt.}
13,250  And thanne wolde I be prest to the peple, paast for to make,
13,251  And buxom and busy aboute breed and drynke
13,252  For hym and for alle hise, founde I that his pardoun
13,253  Mighte lechen a man--as I bileve it sholde.
13,254  For sith he hath the power that Peter hadde, he hath the pot with the salve:
13,254  {Argentum et aurum non est michi: quod autem habeo,}
13,254  {tibi do: In nomine Domini surge et ambula.}
13,255  "Ac if myght of myracle hym faille, it is for men ben noght worthi
13,256  To have the grace of God, and no gilt of the Pope.
13,257  For may no blessynge doon us boote but if we wile amende,
13,258  Ne mannes masse make pees among Cristene peple,
13,259  Til pride be pureliche fordo, and that thorugh payn defaute.
13,260  For er I have breed of mele, ofte moot I swete,
13,261  And er the commune have corn ynough many a cold morwenyng;
13,262  So, er my wafres be ywroght, muche wo I tholye.
13,263  "Al Londoun, I leve, liketh wel my wafres,
13,264  And louren whan thei lakken hem; it is noght longe ypassed
13,265  There was a careful commune whan no cart com to towne
13,266  With bake breed fro Stratford; tho gonnen beggeris wepe,
13,267  And werkmen were agast a lite--this wole be thought longe;
13,268  In the date of Oure Drighte, in a drye Aprill,
13,269  A thousand and thre hundred, twies thritty and ten,
13,270  My wafres there were gesene, whan Chichestre was maire.'
13,271  I took greet kepe, by Crist, and Conscience bothe,
13,272  Of Haukyn the Actif Man, and how he was yclothed.
13,273  He hadde a cote of Cristendom as Holy Kirke bileveth;
13,274  Ac it was moled in many places with manye sondry plottes--
13,275  Of pride here a plot, and there a plot of unbuxom speche,
13,276  Of scornyng and of scoffyng and of unskilful berynge;
13,277  As in apparaill and in porte proud amonges the peple;
13,278  Ootherwise than he hath with herte or sighte shewynge;
13,279  Hym wilnyng that alle men wende he were that he is noght,
13,280  Forwhy he bosteth and braggeth with manye bolde othes;
13,281  And inobedient to ben undernome of any lif lyvynge;
13,282  And so singuler by hymself as to sighte of the peple
13,283  Was noon swich as hymself, ne noon so pope holy;
13,284  Yhabited as an heremyte, an ordre by hymselve--
13,285  Religion saunz rule and resonable obedience;
13,286  Lakkynge lettrede men and lewed men bothe;
13,287  In likynge of lele lif and a liere in soule;
13,288  With inwit and with outwit ymagynen and studie
13,289  As best for his body be to have a bold name;
13,290  And entremetten hym over al ther he hath noght to doone;
13,291  Wilnynge that men wende his wit were the beste,
13,292  Or for his crafty konnynge or of clerkes the wisest,
13,293  Or strengest on stede, or styvest under girdel,
13,294  And lovelokest to loken on and lelest of werkes,
13,295  And noon so holy as he ne of lif clennere,
13,296  Or feirest of feitures, of forme and of shafte,
13,297  And most sotil of song other sleyest of hondes,
13,298  And large to lene lo[o]s therby to cacche;
13,299  And if he gyveth ought to povere gomes, [go] telle what he deleth;
13,300  Povere of possession in purs and in cofre,"
13,301  And as a lyoun on to loke and lordlich of speche;
13,302  Boldest of beggeris, a bostere that noght hath,
13,303  In towne and in tavernes tales to telle
13,304  And segge thyng that he nevere seigh and for sothe sweren it,
13,305  Of dedes that he nevere dide demen and bosten,
13,306  And of werkes that he wel dide witnesse and siggen,
13,307  "Lo! if ye leve me noght, or that I lye wenen,
13,308  Asketh at hym or at hym, and he yow kan telle
13,309  What I suffrede and seigh and somtymes hadde,
13,310  And what I kouthe and knew, and what kyn I com of.'
13,311  Al he wolde that men wiste of werkes and of wordes  -
13,312  Which myghte plese the peple and preisen hymselve:
13,312  { Si hominibus placerem, Christi servus non essem. Et alibi:}
13,312  { Nemo potest duobus dominis servire.}
13,313  "By Crist!' quod Conscience tho, "thi beste cote, Haukyn,
13,314  Hath manye moles and spottes--it moste ben ywasshe!'
13,315  "Ye, whoso toke hede,' quod Haukyn, "bihynde and bifore,
13,316  What on bak and what on body half and by the two sides--
13,317  Men sholde fynde manye frounces and manye foule plottes.'
13,318  And he torned hym as tyd, and thanne took I hede;
13,319  It was fouler bi fele fold than it first semed.
13,320  It was bidropped with wrathe and wikkede wille,
13,321  With envye and yvel speche entisynge to fighte,
13,322  Lying and lakkynge and leve tonge to chide;
13,323  Al that he wiste wikked by any wight, tellen it,
13,324  And blame men bihynde hir bak and bidden hem meschaunce;
13,325  And that he wiste by Wille, [to Watte tellen it],
13,326  And that Watte wiste, Wille wiste it after,
13,327  And made of frendes foes thorugh a fals tonge:
13,328  "Or with myght of mouth or thorugh mannes strengthe
13,329  Avenged me fele tymes, other frete myselve withinne
13,330  As a shepsteres shere, ysherewed men and  cursed hem.'
13,330  { Cuius malediccione os plenum est et amaritudine; sub lingua}
13,330  {  eius labor et dolor. Et alibi: Filii hominum dentes eorum}
13,330  { arma et sagitte et lingua eorum gladius acutus.}
13,331  "Ther is no lif that I lovye lastynge any while;
13,332  For tales that I telle no man trusteth to me.
13,333  And whan I may noght have the maistrie, swich malencolie I take
13,334  That I cacche the crampe, the cardiacle som tyme,
13,335  Or an ague in swich an angre, and som tyme a fevere
13,336  That taketh me al a twelvemonthe, til that I despise
13,337  Lechecraft of Oure Lord and leve on a wicche,
13,338  And seye that no clerc ne kan--ne Crist, as I leve--
13,339  To the Soutere of Southwerk, or of Shordych Dame Emme,
13,340  And seye that [God ne] Goddes word gaf me nevere boute,
13,341  But thorugh a charme hadde I chaunce and my chief heele.'
13,342  I waitede wisloker, and thanne was it soilled
13,343  With likynge of lecherie as by lokynge of his eighe.
13,344  For ech a maide that he mette, he made hire a signe
13,345  Semynge to synneward, and somtyme he gan taste
13,346  Aboute the mouth or bynethe bigynneth to grope,
13,347  Til eitheres wille wexeth kene, and to the werke yeden,
13,348  As wel fastyng dayes as Fridaies and forboden nyghtes,
13,349  And as lef in Lente as out of Lente, alle tymes yliche:
13,350  Swiche werkes with hem were nevere out of seson,
13,351  Til thei myghte na moore--and thanne hadde murye tales,
13,352  And how that lecchours lovye laughen and japen,
13,353  And of hir harlotrye and horedom in hir elde tellen.
13,354  Thanne Pacience parceyved, of pointes his cote
13,355  Was colomy thorugh coveitise and unkynde desiryng.
13,356  Moore to good than to God the gome his love caste,
13,357  And ymagynede how he it myghte have
13,358  With false mesures and met, and [mid] fals witnesse
13,359  Lened for love of the wed and looth to do truthe,
13,360  And awaited thorugh w[itte]s wyes to bigile,
13,361  And menged his marchaundise and made a good moustre:
13,362  "The worst withinne was--a greet wit I let it!
13,363  And if my neghebore hadde an hyne, or any beest ellis,
13,364  Moore profitable than myn, manye sleightes I made
13,365  How I myghte have it--al my wit I caste;
13,366  And but I it hadde by oother wey, at the laste I stale it,
13,367  Or pryveliche his purs shook, unpikede hise lokes;
13,368  Or by nyghte or by daye, aboute was ich evere
13,369  Thorugh gile to gaderen the good that ich have.
13,370  "If I yede to the plowgh, I pynched so narwe
13,371  That a foot lond or a forow fecchen I wolde
13,372  Of my nexte neghebore, nymen of his erthe;
13,373  And if I rope, overreche, or yaf hem reed that ropen
13,374  To seise to me with hir sikel that I ne sew nevere.
13,375  "And whoso borwed of me aboughte the tyme
13,376  With presentes pryvely, or paide som certeyn--
13,377  So wolde he or noght wolde he, wynnen I wolde;
13,378  And bothe to kith and to kyn unkynde of that ich hadde.
13,379  "And whoso cheped my chaffare, chiden I wolde
13,380  But he profrede to paie a peny or tweyne
13,381  Moore than it was worth, and yet wolde I swere
13,382  That it coste me muche moore--swoor manye othes.
13,383  "In haly daies at holy chirche, whan ich herde masse
13,384  Hadde I nevere wille, woot God, witterly to biseche
13,385  Mercy for my mysdedes, that I ne moorned moore
13,386  For losse of good, leve me, than for likames giltes;
13,387  As, if I hadde dedly synne doon, I dredde noght that so soore
13,388  As whan I lened and leved it lost or longe er it were paied.
13,389  So if I kidde any kyndenesse myn evencristen to helpe,
13,390  Upon a cruwel coveitise my conscience gan hange.
13,391  "And if I sente over see my servaunts to Brugges,
13,392  Or into Prucelond my Prentis my profit to waiten,
13,393  To marchaunden with moneie and maken here eschaunges,
13,394  Mighte nevere me conforte in the mene tyme
13,395  Neither masse ne matynes, ne none maner sightes;
13,396  Ne nevere penaunce parfournede ne Paternoster seide
13,397  That my mynde ne was moore on my good in a doute
13,398  Than in the grace of God and hise grete helpes.'
13,398  {Ubi thesaurus tuus, ibi et cor tuum.}
13,399  Yet that glotoun with grete othes his garnement hadde soiled
13,400  And foule beflobered it, as with fals speche,
13,401  As, there no nede ne was, Goddes name an idel--
13,402  Swoor therby swithe ofte and al biswatte his cote;
13,403  And moore mete eet and dronk than kynde myghte defie--
13,404  "And kaughte siknesse somtyme for my surfetes ofte;
13,405  And thanne I dradde to deye in dedlich synne'--
13,406  That into wanhope he w[orth] and wende nought to be saved,
13,407  The whiche is sleuthe, so slow that may no sleightes helpe it,
13,408  Ne no mercy amenden the man that so deieth.
13,409  Ac whiche ben the braunches that bryngen a man to sleuthe?
13,410  Is whan a man moorneth noght for hise mysdedes, ne maketh no sorwe,
13,411  Ac penaunce that the preest enjoyneth parfourneth yvele,
13,412  Dooth non almesdede, dred hym of no synne,
13,413  Lyveth ayein the bileve and no lawe holdeth.
13,414  Ech day is halyday with hym or an heigh ferye,   "
13,415  And if he aught wol here, it is an harlotes tonge.
13,416  Whan men carpen of Crist, or of clennesse of soule,
13,417  He wexeth wroth and wol noght here but wordes of murthe.
13,418  Penaunce and povere men and the passion of seintes--
13,419  He hateth to here therof and alle that it telleth.
13,420  Thise been the braunches, beth war! that bryngen a man to wanhope.
13,421  Ye lordes and ladies and legates of Holy Chirche
13,422  That fedeth fooles sages, flatereris and lieris,
13,423  And han likynge to lithen hem [in hope] to do yow laughe--
13,423  {Ve vobis qui ridetis &c--}
13,424  And yyveth hem mete and mede, and povere men refuse,
13,425  In youre deeth deyinge, I drede me soore
13,426  Lest tho thre maner men to muche sorwe yow brynge:
13,426  {Consencientes et agentes pari pena punientur.}
13,427  Patriarkes and prophetes, prechours of Goddes wordes,
13,428  Saven thorugh hir sermon mannes soule fro helle;
13,429  Right so flatereris and fooles arn the fendes disciples
13,430  To entice men thorugh hir tales to synne and harlotrie.
13,431  Ac clerkes, that knowen Holy Writ, sholde kenne lordes
13,432  What David seith of swiche men, as the Sauter telleth:
13,432  {Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam; qui loquitur iniqua . . .}
13,433  Sholde noon harlot have audience in halle ne in chambre
13,434  Ther wise men were--witnesseth Goddes wordes--
13,435  Ne no mysproud min amonges lordes ben allowed.
13,436  Clerkes and knyghtes welcometh kynges minstrales,
13,437  And for love of hir lord litheth hem at festes;
13,438  Muche moore, me thynketh, riche men sholde
13,439  Have beggeres bifore hem, the whiche ben Goddes minstrales,
13,440  As he seith hymself--Seynt Johan bereth witnesse:
13,440  {Qui vos spernit me spernit.}
13,441  Forthi I rede yow riche, reveles whan ye maketh,
13,442  For to solace youre soules, swiche minstrales to have--
13,443  The povere for a fool sage sittynge at th[i] table,
13,444  And a lered man to lere thee what Oure Lord suffred
13,445  For to save thi soule fram Sathan thyn enemy,
13,446  And fithele thee, withoute fl,terynge, of Good Friday the storye,
13,447  And a blynd man for a bourdeour, or a bedrede womman
13,448  To crie a largesse bifore Oure Lord, your good loos to shewe.
13,449  Thise thre maner minstrales maketh a man to laughe,
13,450  And in his deeth deyinge thei don hym gret confort
13,451  That bi his lyve lithed hem and loved hem to here.
13,452  Thise solaceth the soule til hymself be falle
13,453  In a welhope, [for he wroghte so], amonges worthi seyntes,
13,454  There flatereres and fooles thorugh hir foule wordes
13,455  Leden tho that loved hem to Luciferis feste
13,456  With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe, and Luciferis fithele.
13,457  Thus Haukyn the actif man hadde ysoiled his cote,
13,458  Til Conscience acouped hym therof in a curteis manere,
13,459  Why he ne hadde wasshen it or wiped it with a brusshe.
14,1  "I have but oon hool hater,' quod Haukyn, "I am the lasse to blame
14,2  Though it be soiled and selde clene--I slepe therinne o nyghtes;
14,3  And also I have an houswif, hewen and children--
14,3  { Uxorem duxi, et ideo non possum venire--}
14,4  That wollen bymolen it many tyme, maugree my chekes.
14,5  It hath be laved in Lente and out of Lente bothe
14,6  With the sope of siknesse, that seketh wonder depe,
14,7  And with the losse of catel, that looth me w[ere]
14,8  For to agulte God or any good man, by aught that I wiste;
14,9  And was shryven of the preest, that [for my synnes gaf me]
14,10  To penaunce, pacience, and povere men to fede,
14,11  Al for coveitise of my Cristendom in clennesse to kepen it.
14,12  And kouthe I nevere, by Crist! kepen it clene an houre,
14,13  That I ne soiled it with sighte or som ydel speche,
14,14  Or thorugh werk or thorugh word, or wille of myn herte,
14,15  That I ne flobre it foule fro morwe til even.'
14,16  "And I shal kenne thee,' quod Conscience, "of Contricion to make
14,17  That shal clawe thi cote of alle kynnes filthe--
14,17  {Cordis contricio &c;}
14,18  Dowel shal wasshen it and wryngen it thorugh a wis confessour--
14,18  {Oris confessio &c;}
14,19  Dobet shal beten it and bouken it as bright as any scarlet,
14,20  And engreynen it with good wille and Goddes grace to amende the,
14,21  And sithen sende thee to Satisfaccion for to sonnen it after:
14,21  {Satisfaccio.}
14,22  "And Dobest kepe[th] clene from unkynde werkes.
14,23  Shal nevere my[te] bymolen it, ne mothe after biten it,
14,24  Ne fend ne fals man defoulen it in thi lyve.
14,25  Shal noon heraud ne harpour have a fairer garnement
14,26  Than Haukyn the Actif man, and thow do by my techyng,
14,27  Ne no mynstrall be moore worth amonges povere and riche
14,28  Than Haukyn wi[l] the wafrer, which is Activa Vita.'
14,29  "And I shal purveie thee paast,' quod Pacience, "though no plough erye,
14,30  And flour to fede folk with as best be for the soule;
14,31  Though nevere greyn growed, ne grape upon vyne,
14,32  Alle that lyveth and loketh liflode wolde I fynde,
14,33  And that ynogh--shal noon faille of thyng that hem nedeth.
14,34  We sholde noght be to bisy abouten oure liflode:
14,34  {Ne soliciti sitis &c; Volucres celi Deus pascit &c; Pacientes vincunt &c;}
14,35  Thanne laughed Haukyn a litel, and lightly gan swerye,
14,36  "Whoso leveth yow, by Oure Lord, I leve noght he be blessed!'
14,37  "No?' quod Pacience paciently, and out of his poke hente
14,38  Vitailles of grete vertues for alle manere beestes,
14,39  And seide, " Lo! here liflode ynogh, if oure bileve be trewe.
14,40  For lent nevere was lif but liflode were shapen,
14,41  Wherof or wherfore or wherby to libbe.
14,42  " First the wilde worm under weet erthe,
14,43  Fissh to lyve in the flood, and in the fir the criket,
14,44  The corlew by kynde of the eyr, moost clennest flessh of briddes,
14,45  And bestes by gras and by greyn and by grene rootes,
14,46  In menynge that alle men myghte the same
14,47  Lyve thorugh leel bileve and love, as God witnesseth:
14,47  {Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c; Et alibi, Non}
14,47  {in solo pane vivit homo, set in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore Dei;'}
14,48  But I lokede what liflode it was that Pacience so preisede;
14,49  And thanne was it a pece of the Paternoster--{Fiat voluntas tua.}
14,50  "Have, Haukyn,' quod Pacience, "and et this whan the hungreth,
14,51  Or whan thow clomsest for cold or clyngest for droughte;
14,52  And shul nevere gyves thee greve ne gret lordes wrathe,
14,53  Aison ne peyne--for pacientes vincunt.
14,54  By so that thow be sobre of sighte and of tonge,
14,55  In [ond]ynge and in handlynge and in alle thi fyve wittes,
14,56  Darstow nevere care for corn ne lynnen cloth ne wollen,
14,57  Ne for drynke, ne deeth drede, but deye as God liketh,
14,58  Or thorugh hunger or thorugh hete--at his wille be it.
14,59  For if thow lyvest after his loore, the shorter lif the bettre:
14,59  {Si quis amat Christum mundum non diligit istum.}
14,60  "For thorugh his breeth beestes woxen and abrood yeden:
14,60  {Dixit et facta sunt, &c.}
14,61  Ergo thorugh his breeth mowen [bothe] men and beestes lyven,
14,62  As Holy Writ witnesseth whan men seye hir graces:
14,62  {Aperis tu manum tuam, et imples omne animal benediccione.}
14,63  "It is founden that fourty wynter folk lyvede withouten tulying,
14,64  And out of the flynt sprong the flood that folk and beestes dronken;
14,65  And in Elyes tyme hevene was yclosed,
14,66  That no reyn ne roon--thus rede men in bokes,
14,67  That manye wyntres men lyveden and no mete ne tulieden.
14,68  "Sevene slepe, as seith the book, sevene hundred wynter,
14,69  And lyveden withouten liflode--and at the laste thei woken.
14,70  And if men lyvede as mesure wolde, sholde nevere moore be defaute
14,71  Amonges Cristene creatures, if Cristes wordes ben trewe.
14,72  Ac unkyndenesse {caristiam} maketh amonges Cristen peple,
14,73  And over-plentee maketh pryde amonges poore and riche;
14,74  Ac mesure is so muche worth it may noght be to deere;
14,75  For the meschief and the meschaunce amonges men of Sodome
14,76  Weex thorugh plentee of payn and of pure sleuthe:
14,76  {Ociositas et habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutrivit.}
14,77  For thei mesured noght hemself of that thei ete and dronke,
14,78  Diden dedly synne that the devel liked,
14,79  Vengeaunce fil upon hem for hir vile synnes;
14,80  [So] thei sonken into helle, the citees echone.
14,81  " Forthi mesure we us wel and make oure feith oure sheltrom;
14,82  And thorugh feith cometh contricion, conscience woot wel,
14,83  Which dryveth awey dedly synne and dooth it to be venial.
14,84  And though a man myghte noght speke, contricion myghte hym save,
14,85  And brynge his soule to blisse, by so that feith bere witnesse
14,86  That whiles he lyvede he bilevede in the loore of Holy Chirche.
14,87  Ergo contricion, feith and conscience is kyndeliche Dowel,
14,88  And surgiens for dedly synnes whan shrift of mouthe failleth.
14,89  Ac shrift of mouth moore worthi is, if man be ynliche contrit,
14,90  For shrift of mouthe sleeth synne be it never so dedly--
14,91  Per confessionem to a preest peccata occiduntur--
14,92  Ther contricion dooth but dryveth it doun into a venial synne,
14,93  As David seith in the Sauter, et quorum tecta sunt peccata.
14,94  Ac satisfaccion seketh out the roote, and bothe sleeth and voideth,
14,95  And as it nevere [n]adde ybe, to noghte bryngeth dedly synne,
14,96  That it nevere eft is sene ne soor, but semeth a wounde yheeled.'
14,97  "Where wonyeth Charite?' quod Haukyn. "I wiste nevere in my lyve
14,98  Man that with hym spak, as wide as I have passed.'
14,99  "Ther parfit truthe and poore herte is, and pacience of tonge--
14,100  There is Chante the chief, chaumbrere for God hymselve.'
14,101  "Wheither paciente poverte,' quod Haukyn, "be moore plesaunt to Oure   Dright
14,102  Than richesse rightfulliche wonne and resonably despended?'
14,103  " Ye--quis est ille?' quod Pacience, " quik--laudabimus eum !
14,104  Though men rede of richesse right to the worldes ende,
14,105  I wiste nevere renk that riche was, that whan he rekene sholde,
14,106  Whan he drogh to his deeth day, that he ne dredde hym soore,
14,107  And that at the rekenyng in arrerage fel, rather than out of dette.
14,108  Ther the poore dar plede, and preve by pure reson
14,109  To have allowaunce of his lord; by the lawe he it cleymeth:
14,110  Joye, that nevere joye hadde, of rightful jugge he asketh,
14,111  And seith, ""Lo! briddes and beestes, that no blisse ne knoweth,
14,112  And wilde wormes in wodes, thorugh wyntres thow hem grevest,
14,113  And makest hem wel neigh meke and mylde for defaute,
14,114  And after thow sendest hem somer, that is hir sovereyn joye,
14,115  And blisse to alle that ben, bothe wilde and tame."
14,116  "Thanne may beggeris, as beestes, after boote waiten,
14,117  That al hir lif han lyved in langour and in defaute.
14,118  But God sente hem som tyme som manere joye
14,119  Outher here or elliswhere, kynde wolde it nevere;
14,120  For to wrotherhele was he wroght that nevere was joye shapen!
14,121  "Aungeles that in helle now ben hadden joye som tyme,
14,122  And Dives in deyntees lyvede and in douce vie;
14,123  Right so reson sheweth that tho men that [riche were]
14,124  And hir makes also lyvede hir lif in murthe.
14,125  "Ac God is of a wonder wille, by that kynde wit sheweth,
14,126  To yyve many men his mercymonye er he it have deserved.
14,127  Right so fareth God by some riche: ruthe me it thynketh--
14,128  For thei han hir hire heer, and hevene, as it were,
14,129  And greet likynge to lyve withouten labour of bodye,
14,130  And whan he dyeth, ben disalowed, as David seith in the Sauter:
14,130  {  Dormierunt et nichil in venerunt; et alibi, Velud sompnum surgencium,}
14,130  {  Domine, in civitate tua, et ad nichilum rediges &c.}
14,131  Allas, that richesse shal reve and robbe mannes soule
14,132  From the love of Oure Lord at his laste ende!
14,133  " Hewen that han hir hire afore arn everemoore nedy;
14,134  And selden deyeth he out of dette that dyneth er he deserve it
14,135  And til he have doon his devoir and his dayes journee.
14,136  For whan a werkman hath wroght, than may men se the sothe--
14,137  What he were worthi for his werk, and what he hath deserved,
14,138  And noght to fonge bifore, for drede of disalowyng.
14,139  "So I seye by yow riche--it semeth noght that ye shulle
14,140  Have hevene in youre here-beyng and hevene therafter,
14,141  Right as a servaunt taketh his salarie bifore, and siththe wolde clayme moore,
14,142  As he that noon hadde, and hath hire at the laste.
14,143  It may noght be, ye riche men, or Mathew on God lyeth:
14,143  { De deliciis ad delicias difficile est transire !}
14,144  "Ac if ye riche have ruthe, and rewarde wel the poore,
14,145  And lyven as lawe techeth, doon leaute to hem alle,
14,146  Crist of his curteisie shal conforte yow at the laste
14,147  And rewarden alle double richesse that rewful hertes habbeth.
14,148  And as an hyne that hadde his hire er he bigonne,
14,149  And whan he hath doon his devoir wel, men dooth hym oother bountee--
14,150  Yyveth hym a cote above his covenaunt--right so Crist yyveth hevene
14,151  Bothe to riche and to noght riche that rewfulliche libbeth;
14,152  And alle that doon hir devoir wel han double hire for hir travaille--
14,153  Here forgifnesse of hir synnes, and hevene blisse after.
14,154  "Ac it is but selde yseien, as by holy seintes bokes,
14,155  That God rewarded double reste to any riche wye.
14,156  For muche murthe is amonges riche, as in mete and clothyng,
14,157  And muche murthe in May is amonges wilde beestes,
14,158  And so forth while somer lasteth hir solace dureth.
14,159  Ac beggeris aboute Midsomer bredlees thei soupe,
14,160  And yet is wynter for hem worse, for weetshoed thei gauge,
14,161  Afurst soore and afyngred, and foule yrebuked
14,162  And arated of riche men, that ruthe is to here . . .
14,163  Now, Lord, sende hem somer, and som maner joye,
14,164  Hevene after hir hennes goyng, that here han swich defaute!
14,165  For alle myghtestow have maad noon mener than oother,
14,166  And yliche witty and wise, if thee wel hadde liked.
14,167  And have ruthe on thise riche men that rewarde noght thi prisoners;
14,168  Of the good that thow hem gyvest ingrati ben manye;
14,169  Ac God, of thi goodnesse, gyve hem grace to amende.
14,170  For may no derthe be hem deere, droghte ne weet,
14,171  Ne neither hete ne hayll, have thei hir heele;
14,172  Of that thei wilne and wolde wanteth hem noght here.
14,173  "Ac poore peple, thi prisoners, Lord, in the put of meschief--
14,174  Conforte tho creatures that muche care suffren
14,175  Thorugh derthe, thorugh droghte, alle hir dayes here,
14,176  Wo in wynter tymes for wantynge of clothes,
14,177  And in somer tyme selde soupen to the fulle;
14,178  Conforte thi carefulle, Crist, in thi riche--
14,179  For how thow confortest alle creatures clerkes bereth witnesse:
14,179  { Convertimini ad mi et salvi eritis.}
14,180  "Thus in genere of gentries Jesu Crist seide
14,181  To robberis and to reveris, to riche and to poore,
14,182  To hores, to harlotes, to alle maner peple,
14,183  Thou taughtest hem in the Trinite to taken bapteme
14,184  And be clene thorugh that cristnyng of alle kynnes synne,
14,185  And if us fille thorugh folie to falle in synne after,
14,186  Confession and knowlichynge and cravynge thi mercy
14,187  Shulde amenden us as manye sithes as man wolde desire.
14,188  Ac if the pouke wolde plede herayein, and punysshe us in conscience,
14,189  We sholde take the acquitaunce as quyk and to the queed shewen it--
14,189  { Pateat &c: Per passionem Domini--}
14,190  And putten of so the pouke, and preven us under borwe.
14,191  Ac the parchemyn of this patente of poverte be moste,
14,192  And of pure pacience and parfit bileve.
14,193  Of pompe and of pride the parchemyn decourreth,
14,194  And principalliche of alle peple; but thei be poore of herte.
14,195  Ellis is al on ydel, al that evere we wr[ogh]ten--
14,196  Paternostres and penaunce and pilgrimage to Rome,
14,197  But oure spences and spendynge sprynge of a trewe welle;
14,198  Ellis is al oure labour lost--lo, how men writeth
14,199  ln fenestres at the freres!--if fals be the foundement.
14,200  Forthi Cristene sholde be in commune riche, noon coveitous for hymselve.
14,201  " For sevene synnes ther ben, that assaillen us evere;
14,202  The fend folweth hem alle and fondeth hem to helpe,
14,203  Ac with richesse tho ribaudes rathest men bigileth.
14,204  For ther that richesse regneth, reverences folweth,
14,205  And that is plesaunt to pride, in poore and in riche.
14,206  And the riche is reverenced by reson of his richesse
14,207  Ther the poore is put bihynde, and paraventure kan moore
14,208  Of wit and of wisdom, that fer awey is bettre
14,209  Than richesse or reautee, and rather yherd in hevene.
14,210  For the riche hath muche to rekene, and right softe walketh;
14,211  The heighe wey to heveneward ofte richesse letteth--
14,211  { Ita inpossibile diviti &c--}
14,212  Ther the poore preesseth bifore, with a pak at his rugge--
14,212  { Opera enim illorum sequuntur illos--}
14,213  Batauntliche, as beggeris doon, and boldeliche he craveth
14,214  For his poverte and his pacience a perpetuel blisse:
14,214  { Beati pauperes: quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum.}
14,215  "And pride in richesse regneth rather than in poverte:
14,216  Or in the maister or in the man som mansion he haveth.
14,217  Ac in poverte ther pacience is, Pride hath no myghte,
14,218  Ne none of the sevene synnes sitten ne mowe ther longe,
14,219  Ne have power in poverte, if pacience it folwe.
14,220  For the poore is ay prest to plese the riche,
14,221  And buxom at his biddyng for his broke loves;
14,222  And buxomnesse and boost ben everemoore at werre,
14,223  And either hateth oother in alle maner werkes.
14,224  If Wrathe wrastle with the poore he hath the worse ende,
14,225  For if thei bothe pleyne, the poore is but feble,
14,226  And if he chide or chatre, hym cheveth the worse,
14,227  For lowliche he loketh and lovelich is his speche
14,228  That mete or money of othere men moot asken.
14,229  "And if Glotonie greve poverte, he gadereth the lasse.
14,230  For his rentes wol naught reche no riche metes to bigge;
14,231  And though his glotonye be to good ale, he goth to cold beddyng,
14,232  And his heved unheled, unesiliche ywrye--
14,233  For whan he streyneth hym to strecche, the strawe is his shetes.
14,234  So for his Glotome and his greete Sleuthe he hath a grevous penaunce,
14,235  That is welawo whan he waketh and wepeth for colde--
14,236  And som tyme for his synnes--so he is nevere murie
14,237  Withoute mournynge amonge and meschief to bote.
14,238  "And though Coveitise wolde cacche the poore, thei may noght come   togideres
14,239  And by the nekke, namely, hir noon may hente oother.
14,240  For men knowen wel that Coveitise is of a kene wille,
14,241  And hath hondes and armes of a long lengthe,
14,242  And Poverte nys but a petit thyng, apereth noght to his navele--
14,243  And lovely layk was it nevere bitwene the longe and the shorte.
14,244  And though Avarice wolde angre the poore, he hath but litel myghte,
14,245  For Poverte hath but pokes to putten in hise goodes,
14,246  Ther Avarice hath almaries and yren-bounden cofres.
14,247  And wheither be lighter to breke? Lasse boost it maketh--
14,248  A beggeris bagge than an yren-bounde cofre!
14,249  'Lecherie loveth hym noght, for he yyveth but litel silver,
14,250  Ne dooth hym noght dyne delicatly ne drynke wyn ofte.
14,251  A straw for the stuwes! It stoode noght, I trowe,
14,252  Hadde thei noon [haunt] but of poore men--hir houses stoode untyled!
14,253  "And though Sleuthe suwe Poverte, and serve noght God to paie,
14,254  Meschief is his maister, and maketh hym to thynke
14,255  That God is his grettest help and no gorne ellis,
14,256  And he his servaunt, as he seith, and of his sute bothe.
14,257  And wheither he be or be noght, he bereth the signe of poverte,
14,258  And in that secte Oure Saveour saved al mankynde.
14,259  Forthi al poore that pacient is, may [asken and cleymen],
14,260  After hir endynge here, heveneriche blisse.
14,261  "Muche hardier may he asken, that here myghte have his wille
14,262  In lond and in lordshipe and likynge of bodie,
14,263  And for Goddes love leveth al and lyveth as a beggere.
14,264  And as a mayde for mannes love hire moder forsaketh,
14,265  Hir fader and alle hire frendes, and folweth hir make--
14,266  Muche is that maide to love of [a man] that swich oon taketh,
14,267  Moore than a maiden is that is maried thorugh brocage,
14,268  As by assent of sondry parties and silver to boote,
14,269  Moore for coveitise of good than kynde love of bothe--
14,270  So it fareth by ech a persone that possession forsaketh
14,271  And put hym to be pacient, and poverte weddeth,
14,272  The which is sib to God hymself, and so neigh is poverte.'
14,273  "Have God-my trouthe,' quod Haukyn, "I here ye preise faste poverte.
14,274  What is poverte, Pacience,' quod he, "proprely to mene?'
14,275     {"Paupertas.'} quod Pacience, {" est odibile bonum--}
14,275  { Remocio curarum, possessio sine calumpnia, donum Dei,}
14,275  { sanitatis mater, absque sollicitudine semita, sapiencie}
14,275  { temperatrix, negocium sine dampno, incerta fortuna,}
14,275  { absque sollicitudine felicitas.'}
14,276  "I kan noght construe al this,' quod Haukyn, "ye moste kenne me this on   Englis
14,277  " In Englissh,' quod Pacience, "it is wel hard, wel to expounen,
14,278  Ac somdeel I shal seyen it, by so thow understonde.
14,279  Poverte is the firste point that Pride moost hateth;
14,280  Thanne is it good by good skile--al that agasteth pride.
14,281  Right as contricion is confortable thyng, conscience woot wel,
14,282  And a sorwe of hymself, and a solace to the soule,
14,283  So poverte propreliche penaunce [is to the body
14,284  And joye also to the soule], pure spiritual helthe,
14,285  And contricion confort, and cura animarum:
14,285  { Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum.}
14,286  "Selde sit poverte the sothe to declare,
14,287  Or as justice to jugge men enjoyned is no poore,
14,288  Ne to be mair above men, ne mynystre under kynges;
14,289  Selde is any poore yput to punysshen any peple;
14,289  { Remocio curarum.}
14,290  Ergo poverte and poore men parfournen the comaundement--
14,290  { Nolite iudicare quemquam.}
14,291  "Selde is poore right riche but of rightful heritage:
14,292  Wynneth he noght with wightes false ne with unseled mesures,
14,293  Ne borweth of hise neighebores but that he may wel paie:
14,293  {  Possessio sine calumpnia.}
14,294  "The ferthe is afor-tune that florissheth the soule
14,295  With sobretee fram alle synne and also yit moore;
14,296  It afaiteth the flessh fram folies ful manye--
14,297  A collateral confort, Cristes owene yifte:
14,297  {  Donum Dei.}
14,298  "The fifte is moder of [myght and of mannes] hele,
14,299  A frend in alle fondynges, [of foule yveles leche],
14,300  And for the lewde evere yliche a lemman of alle clennesse:
14,300  {  Sanitatis mater.}
14,301  "The sixte is a path of pees--ye, thorugh the paas of Aulton
14,302  Poverte myghte passe withouten peril of robbyng!
14,303  For ther that Poverte passeth pees folweth after,
14,304  And ever the lasse that he [led]eth, the [light]er he is of herte--
14,304  {  Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator--}
14,305  And an hardy man of herte among an heep of theves;
14,306  Forthi seith Seneca Paupertas est absque sollicitudine semita.
14,307  "The seventhe is welle of wisedom and fewe wordes sheweth,
14,308  For lordes alloweth hym litel or listneth to his reson.
14,309  He tempreth the tonge to trutheward, that no tresor coveiteth:
14,309  {  Sapiencie temperatrix.}
14,310  "The eightethe is a lele labour and looth to take moore
14,311  Than he may [sothly] deserve, in somer or in wynter,
14,312  And if he chaffareth, he chargeth no losse mowe he charite wynne:
14,312  { Negocium sine dampno.}
14,313  "The nynthe is swete to the soule, no sugre is swetter;
14,314  For pacience is payn for poverte hymselve,
14,315  And sobretee swete drynke and good leche in siknesse.
14,316  Thus lered me a lered man for Oure Lordes love, Seint Austyn--
14,317  A blessed lif withouten bisynesse for body and for soule:
14,317  { Absque sollicitudine felicitas.}
14,318  Now God, that alle good gyveth, graunte his soule reste
14,319  That thus first wroot to wissen men what Poverte was to mene!'
14,320  "Allas,' quod Haukyn the Actif Man tho, "that after my cristendom
14,321  I ne hadde be deed and dolven for Dowelis sake!
14,322  So hard it is,' quod Haukyn, "to lyve and to do synne.
14,323  Synne seweth us evere,' quod he, and sory gan wexe,
14,324  And wepte water with hise eighen and weyled the tyme
14,325  That evere he dide dede that deere God displesed--
14,326  Swouned and sobbed and siked ful ofte
14,327  That evere he hadde lond or lordshipe, lasse other moore,
14,328  Or maistrie over any man mo than of hymselve..
14,329  " I were noght worthi, woot God,' quod Haukyn, " to werien any clothes,
14,330  Ne neither sherte ne shoon, save for shame one
14,331  To covere my careyne', quod he, and cride mercy faste,
14,332  And wepte and  wailede--and therwith I awakede.
15,1  Ac after my wakynge it was wonder longe
15,2  Er I koude kyndely knowe what was Dowel.
15,3  And so my wit weex and wanyed til I a fool weere;
15,4  And some lakked my lif--allowed it fewe--
15,5  And leten me for a lorel and looth to reverencen
15,6  Lordes or ladies or any lif ellis--
15,7  As persons in pelure with pendaunts of silver;
15,8  To sergeaunts ne to swiche seide noght ones,
15,9  " God loke yow, lordes!'--ne loutede faire,
15,10  That folk helden me a fool; and in that folie I raved,
15,11  Til reson hadde ruthe on me and rokked me aslepe,
15,12  Til I seigh, as it sorcerie were, a sotil thyng withalle--
15,13  Oon withouten tonge and teeth, tolde me whider I sholde
15,14  And wherof I cam and of what kynde. I conjured hym at the laste,
15,15  If he were Cristes creature for Cristes love me to tellen.
15,16  " I am Cristes creature,' quod he, "and Cristene in many a place,
15,17  In Cristes court yknowe wel, and of his kyn a party.
15,18  Is neither Peter the Porter, ne Poul with the fauchon,
15,19  That wole defende me the dore, dynge I never so late.
15,20  At mydnyght, at mydday, my vois is so yknowe
15,21  That ech a creature of his court welcometh me faire.'
15,22  "What are ye called?' quod I, "in that court among Cristes peple?'
15,23  "The whiles I quykne the cors,' quod he, "called am I Anima;
15,24  And whan I wilne and wolde, Animus ich hatte;
15,25  And for that I kan and knowe, called am I Mens;
15,26  And whan I make mone to God, Memoria is my name;
15,27  And whan I deme domes and do as truthe techeth,
15,28  Thanne is Racio my righte name--""reson'" on Englissh;
15,29  And whan I feele that folk telleth, my firste name is Sensus--
15,30  And that is wit and wisdom, the welle of alle craftes;
15,31  And whan I chalange or chalange noght, chepe or refuse,
15,32  Thanne am I Conscience ycalled, Goddes clerk and his notarie;
15,33  And whan I love leelly Oure Lord and alle othere,
15,34  Thanne is ""lele Love'' my name, and in Latyn Amor;
15,35  And whan I flee fro the flessh and forsake the careyne,
15,36  Thanne am I spirit spechelees--and Spiritus thanne ich hatte.
15,37  Austyn and Ysodorus, either of hem bothe
15,38  Nempnede me thus to name--now thow myght chese
15,39  How thow coveitest to calle me, now thow knowest alle my names.
15,39  {Anima pro diversis accionibus diversa nomina sortitur: dum}
15,39  {vivificat corpus, anima est; dum vult, animus est; dum scit,}
15,39  {mens est; dum recolit, memoria est; dum iudicat, racio est;}
15,39  {dum sentit, sensus est; dum amat, Amor est ; dum negat vel}
15,39  {consentit, consciencia est; dum spirat, spiritus est.'}
15,40  "Ye ben as a bisshop,' quod I, al bourdynge that tyme,
15,41  " For bisshopes yblessed, thei bereth manye names--
15,42  Presul and Pontifex and Metropolitanus,
15,43  And othere names an heep, Episcopus and Pastor.'
15,44  "That is sooth,' seide he, "now I se thi wille!
15,45  Thow woldest knowe and konne the cause of alle hire names,
15,46  And of myne, if thow myghtest, me thynketh by thi speche!'
15,47  " Ye, sire,' I seide, "by so no man were greved,
15,48  Alle the sciences under sonne and alle the sotile craftes
15,49  I wolde I knewe and kouthe kyndely in myn herte!"
15,50  "Thanne artow inparfit,' quod he, "and oon of Prides knyghtes!
15,51  For swich a lust and likyng Lucifer fel from hevene:
15,51  {Ponam pedem meum in aquilone et simiiis ero Altissimo.}
15,52  "It were ayeins kynde,' quod he, "and alle kynnes reson
15,53  That any creature sholde konne al, except Crist oone.
15,54  Ayein swiche Salomon speketh, and despiseth hir wittes,
15,55  And seith, Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum,
15,55  {Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria.}
15,56  "To Englisshe men this is to mene, that mowen speke and here,
15,57  The man that muche hony eteth his mawe it engleymeth,
15,58  And the moore that a man of good matere hereth,
15,59  But he do therafter it dooth hym double scathe.
15,60  "Beatus est," seith Seint Bernard, "qui scripturas legit
15,61  Et verba vertit in opera fulliche to his power."
15,62  Coveitise to konne and to knowe science
15,63  Putte out of Paradis Adam and Eve:
15,63  {Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliavit.}
15,64  "And right as hony is yvel to defie and engleymeth the mawe,
15,65  Right so that thorugh reson wolde the roote knowe
15,66  Of God and of hise grete myghtes--hise graces it letteth.
15,67  For in the likynge lith a pride and licames coveitise
15,68  Ayein Cristes counseil and alle clerkes techynge--
15,69  That is {Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.}
15,70  'Freres and fele othere maistres that to the lewed men prechen,
15,71  Ye moeven materes unmesurable to tellen of the Trinite,
15,72  That oftetymes the lewed peple of hir bileve doute.
15,73  Bettre it were by many doctours to bileven swich techyng
15,74  And tellen men of the ten comaundements, and touchen the sevene synnes,
15,75  And of the braunches that burjoneth of hem and bryngen men to helle,
15,76  And how that folk in folies mysspenden hir fyve wittes--
15,77  As wel freres as oother folk, foliliche spenden
15,78  In housynge, in haterynge, in to heigh clergie shewynge
15,79  Moore for pompe than for pure charite--the peple woot the sothe!
15,80  That I lye noght, loo!--for lordes ye plesen,
15,81  And reverencen the riche the rather for hir silver:
15,81  {Confundantur omines qui adorant sculptilia. Et alibi,}
15,81  {Ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et queritis mendam?}
15,82  "Goeth to the glose of the vers, ye grete clerkes;
15,83  If I lye on yow to my lewed wit, ledeth me to brennyng!
15,84  For as it semeth ye forsaketh no mannes almesse--
15,85  Of usurers, of hoores, of varouse chapmen--
15,86  And louten to thise lordes that mowen lene yow nobles
15,87  Aye in youre rule and religion--I take record at Jesus,
15,88  That seide to hise disciples, "" Ne sitis acceptores personarum.''
15,89  Of this matere I myghte make a long bible;
15,90  Ac of curatours of Cristen peple, as clerkes bereth witnesse,
15,91  I shal tellen it for truthes sake--take hede whoso liketh!
15,92  "As holynesse and honeste out of Holy Chirche spredeth
15,93  Thorugh lele libbynge men that Goddes lawe techen,
15,94  Right so out of Holy Chirche alle yveles spredeth
15,95  There inparfit preesthode is, prechours and techeris.
15,96  And se it by ensaumple in somer tyme on trowes:
15,97  Ther some bowes ben leved and some bereth none,
15,98  Ther is a meschief in the more of swiche manere bowes.
15,99  Right so persons and preestes and prechours of Holi Chirche
15,100  Is the roote of the right feith to rule the peple;
15,101  Ac ther the roote is roten, reson woot the sothe,
15,102  Shal nevere flour ne fruyt, ne fair leef be grene.
15,103  "Forthi wolde ye lettrede leve the lecherie of clothyng,
15,104  And be kynde as bifel for clerkes and curteise of Cristes goodes,
15,105  Trewe of youre tonge and of youre tail bothe,
15,106  And hatien to here harlotrie, and aught to underfonge
15,107  Tithes of untrewe thyng ytilied or chaffared--
15,108  Lothe were lewed men but thei youre loore folwede
15,109  And amenden hem that thei mysdoon, moore for youre ensaumples
15,110  Than for to prechen and to preven it noght--ypocrisie it semeth!
15,111  For ypocrisie in Latyn is likned to a dongehill
15,112  That were bisnewed with snow, and snakes withinne,
15,113  Or to a wal that were whitlymed and were foul withinne.
15,114  Right so manye preestes, prechours and prelates--
15,115  Ye [b]en enblaunched with bele paroles and with clothes,
15,116  Ac youre werkes and wordes therunder aren ful w[o]lveliche.
15,117  Johannes Crisostomus of clerkes speketh and preestes:
15,118     {Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic de templo omne}
15,118  { malum procedit. Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret}
15,118  { ecclesia; si autem corruptum fuerit, omnium fides marcida est.}
15,118  { Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis, totus populus con vertitur}
15,118  { ad peccandum. Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam et marcidam}
15,118  { intelligis quod vicium habet in radice, ita cum videris}
15,118  { populum indisciplinatum et irreligiosum, sine dubio}
15,118  { sacerdocium eius non est sanum.}
15,119  "If lewed men wiste what this Latyn meneth,
15,120  And who was myn auctour, muche wonder me thinketh
15,121  But if many preest beere, for hir baselardes and hir broches,
15,122  A peire of bedes in hir hand and a book under hir arme.
15,123  Sire Johan and Sire Geffrey hath a girdel of silver,
15,124  A baselard or a ballok-knyf with botons overgilte.
15,125  Ac a porthors that sholde be his plow, Placebo to sigge,
15,126  Hadde he nevere, [his] service to [h]ave,
15,127  [And save he have] silver therto, seith it with ydel wille.
15,128  "Allas, ye lewed men, muche lese ye on preestes!
15,129  Ac thing that wikkedly is wonne, and with false sleightes,
15,130  Wolde nevere the wit of witty God but wikkede men it hadde--
15,131  The whiche arn preestes inparfite and prechours after silver,
15,132  Executours and sodenes, somonours and hir lemmannes.
15,133  This that with gile was geten, ungraciousliche is spended.
15,134  So harlotes and hores arn holpe with swiche goodes,
15,135  Ac Goddes folk for defaute therof forfaren and spillen.
15,136  "Curatours of Holy Kirke, and clerkes that ben avarouse,
15,137  Lightliche that thei leven, losels it habbeth,
15,138  Or deieth intestate, and thanne [entreth the bisshop]
15,139  And maketh murthe therwith, and hise meyne both,
15,140  And seyen, ""He was a nygard, that no good myghte aspare
15,141  To frend ne to fremmed--the fend have his soule!
15,142  For a wrecehede hous he held al his lif tyme,
15,143  And that he spared and bispered, spende we in murthe!''
15,144  "By lered, by lewed, that looth is to spende--
15,145  Thus goon hire goodes, be the goost faren.
15,146  Ac for goode men, God woot, greet doel men maken,
15,147  And bymeneth goode meteyyveres, and in mynde haveth
15,148  In preieres and in penaunces and in parfit charite.'
15,149  " What is charite?' quod I tho. "A childissh thyng,' he seide--
15,149  {" Nisi efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum celorum--}
15,150  Withouten fauntelte or folie a fre liberal wille.'
15,151  "Where sholde men fynde swich a frend with so fre an herte?
15,152  I have lyved in londe,' quod I, "my name is Longe Wille--
15,153  And fond I nevere ful charite, bifore ne bihynde.
15,154  Men beth merciable to mendinaunts and to poore,
15,155  And wollen lene ther thei leve lelly to ben paied.
15,156  Ac charite that Poul preiseth best and moost plesaunt to Oure Saveour--
15,157  As Non inflatur, non est ambiciosa, non querit que sua sunt--
15,158  I seigh nevere swich a man, so me God helpe,
15,159  That he ne wolde aske after his, and outherwhile coveite
15,160  Thyng that neded hym noght--and nyme it, if he myghte!
15,161  "Clerkes kenne me that Crist is in alle places;
15,162  Ac I seigh hym nevere soothly but as myself in a mirour:
15,162  { Hic in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem.}
15,163  And so I trowe trewely, by that men telleth of charite,
15,164  It is noght chaumpions fight, ne chaffare, as I trowe.'
15,165  "Charite,' quod he, "ne chaffareth noght, ne chalangeth, ne craveth;
15,166  As proud of a peny as of a pound of golde,
15,167  And is as glad of a gowne of a gray russet
15,168  As of a tunycle of Tarse of of trie scarlet.
15,169  He is glad with alle glade and good til alle wikkede,
15,170  And leneth and loveth alle that Oure Lord made.
15,171  Corseth he no creature, ne he kan bere no wrathe,
15,172  Ne no likynge hath to lye ne laughe men to scorne.
15,173  Al that men seyn, he leet it sooth, and in solace taketh,
15,174  And alle manere meschiefs in myldenesse he suffreth.
15,175  Coveiteth he noon erthely good but heveneriche blisse.'
15,176  "Hath he any rentes or richesse, or any riche frendes?'
15,177  "Of rentes ne of richesse rekketh he nevere,
15,178  For a frend that fyndeth hym, failed hym nevere at nede:
15,179  Fiat voluntas tua fynt hym everemoore,
15,180  And if he soupeth, eteth but a sop of Spera in Deo.
15,181  He kan portreye wel the Paternoster and peynte it with Aves,
15,182  And outherwhile he is woned to wenden on pilgrymages
15,183  Ther poore men and prisons liggeth, hir pardon to have;
15,184  Though he bere hem no breed, he bereth hem swetter liflode,
15,185  Loveth hem as Oure Lord biddeth and loketh how thei fare.
15,186  "And whan he is wery of that werk than wole he som tyme
15,187  Labouren in a lavendrye wel the lengthe of a mile,
15,188  And yerne into youthe, and yepeliche seche
15,189  Pride, with al the appurtenaunces, and pakken hem togideres,
15,190  And bouken hem at his brest and beten hem clene,
15,191  And leggen on longe with {Laboravi in gemitu memo, }
15,192  And with warm water at hise eighen wasshen hem after.
15,193  Thanne he syngeth whan he doth so, and som tyme seith wepynge,
15,194     {Cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.'}
15,195  "By Crist! I wolde that I knewe hym,' quod I, "no creature levere!'
15,196  "Withouten help of Piers Plowman,' quod he, "his persone sestow nevere.'
15,197  "Wheither clerkes knowen hym,' quod I, "that kepen Holi Kirke?'
15,198  "Clerkes have no knowyng,' quod he, "but by werkes and by wordes.
15,199  Ac Piers the Plowman parceyveth moore depper
15,200  What is the wille, and wherfore that many wight suffreth:
15,200  { Et vidit Deus cogitaciones eorum.}
15,201  For ther are ful proude herted men, pacient of tonge
15,202  And buxome as of berynge to burgeises and to lordes,
15,203  And to poore peple han pepir in the nose,
15,204  And as a lyoun he loketh ther men lakken hise werkes.
15,205  " For ther are beggeris and bidderis, bedemen as it were,
15,206  Loken as lambren and semen lif-holy--
15,207  Ac it is moore to have hir mete on swich an esy manere
15,208  Than for penaunce and parfitnesse, the poverte that swiche taketh.
15,209  "Therfore by colour ne by clergie knowe shaltow hym nevere,
15,210  Neither thorugh wordes ne werkes, but thorugh wil oone,
15,211  And that knoweth no clerk ne creature on erthe
15,212  But Piers the Plowman--Petrus, id est, Christus.
15,213  For he nys noght in lolleris ne in londleperis heremytes,
15,214  Ne at ancres there a box hangeth--alle swiche thei faiten.
15,215  Fy on faitours and in fautores suos!
15,216  For Charite is Goddes champion, and as a good child hende,
15,217  And the murieste of mouth at mete where he sitteth.
15,218  The love that lith in his herte maketh hym light of speche,
15,219  And is compaignable and confortatif, as Crist bit hymselve:
15,219  { Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c.}
15,220  For I have seyen hym in silk and som tyme in russet,
15,221  Bothe in grey, and in grys, and in gilt harneis--
15,222  And as gladliche he it gaf to gomes that it neded.
15,223  " Edmund and Edward, either were kynges
15,224  And seintes yset--[s]til[le] charite hem folwede.
15,225  "I have yseyen charite also syngen and reden,
15,226  Riden, and rennen in raggede wedes;
15,227  Ac biddynge as beggeris biheld I hym nevere.
15,228  Ac in riche robes rathest he walketh,
15,229  Ycalled and ycrymyled and his crowne yshave.
15,230  And in a freres frokke he was yfounden ones--
15,231  Ac it is fern ago, in Seint Fraunceis tyme;
15,232  In that secte siththe to selde hath he ben knowen.
15,233  " Riche men he recomendeth, and of hir robes taketh
15,234  That withouten wiles ledeth hir lyves:
15,234  { Beatus est dives qui, &c.}
15,235  "In kynges court he cometh ofte, ther the counseil is trewe;
15,236  Ac if coveitise be of the counseil he wol noght come therinne.
15,237  In court amonges japeris he cometh but selde,
15,238  For braulynge and bakbitynge and berynge of fals witnesse.
15,239  "In the consistorie bifore the commissarie he cometh noght ful ofte,
15,240  For hir lawe dureth overlonge but if thei lacchen silver,
15,241  And matrimoyne for moneie maken and unmaken,
15,242  And that conscience and Crist hath yknyt faste,
15,243  Thei undoon it un[digne]ly, tho doctours of lawe.
15,244  "Amonges erchebisshopes and other bisshopes and prelates of Holy Chirche,
15,245  For to wonye with hem his wone was som tyme,
15,246  And Cristes patrimonye to the poore parcelmele dele.
15,247  Ac avarice hath the keyes now and kepeth for his kynnesmen
15,248  And for his seketoures and his servaunts, and som for hir children.
15,249  "Ac I ne lakke no lif, but, Lord, amende us alle.
15,250  And gyve us grace, goode God, charite to folwe!
15,251  For whoso myghte meete with hym, swiche maneres hym eileth--
15,252  Neither he blameth ne banneth, bosteth ne preiseth,
15,253  Lakketh, ne loseth, ne loketh up sterne,
15,254  Craveth, ne coveiteth, ne crieth after moore:
15,254  { In pace in idipsum dormiam &c.}
15,255  The mooste liflode that he lyveth by is love in Goddes passion;
15,256  Neither he biddeth, ne beggeth, ne borweth to yelde;
15,257  Misdooth he no man, ne with his mouth greveth.
15,258  "Amonges Cristene men this myldenesse sholde laste,
15,259  In alle manere angres have this at herte--
15,260  That theigh thei suffrede al this, God suffrede for us moore
15,261  In ensample we sholde do so, and take no vengeaunce
15,262  Of oure foes that dooth us falsnesse--that is oure fadres wille.
15,263  For wel may every man wite, if God hadde wold hymselve,
15,264  Sholde nevere Judas ne Jew have Jesu doon on roode,
15,265  Ne han martired Peter ne Poul, ne in prison holden.
15,266  Ac he suffre in ensample that we sholde suffren also,
15,267  And seide to swiche that suffre wolde that Pacientes vincunt.
15,268  " Verbi gratia,' quod he--and verred ensamples manye.
15,269  "In Legenda Sanctorum, the lif of holy seintes,
15,270  What penaunce and poverte and passion thei suffrede--
15,271  In hunger, in hete, in alle manere angres.
15,272  "Antony and Egidie and othere holy fadres
15,273  Woneden in wildernesse among wilde beestes;
15,274  Monkes and mendinaunts. men by hemselve
15,275  In spekes and in spelonkes, selde speken togideres.
15,276  Ac neither Antony ne Egidie ne heremyte that tyme
15,277  Of leons ne of leopardes no liflode ne toke,
15,278  But of foweles that fleeth--thus fyndeth men in bokes--
15,279  Except that Egidie after an hynde cride,
15,280  And thorugh the mylk of that mylde beest the man was sustened;
15,281  And day bi day hadde he hire noght his hunger for to slake,
15,282  But selden and sondry tymes, as seith the book and techeth.
15,283  Antony adayes aboute noon tyme
15,284  Hadde a brid that broughte hym breed that he by lyvede;
15,285  And though the gome hadde a gest, God fond hem bothe.
15,286  "Poul {primus heremita} hadde parroked hymselve,
15,287  That no man myghte hym se for mosse and for leves.
15,288  Foweles hym fedde fele wyntres with alle
15,289  Til he foundede freres of Austynes ordre.
15,290  Poul, after his prechyng, paniers he made,
15,291  And wan with hise hondes that his wombe neded.
15,292  Peter fisshed for his foode, and his felawe Andrew:
15,293  Som thei solde and som thei soden, and so thei lyved bothe.
15,294  And also Marie Maudeleyne by mores lyvede and dewes,
15,295  Ac moost thorugh devocion and mynde of God Almyghty.
15,296  I sholde noght thise seven daies siggen hem alle
15,297  That lyveden thus for Oure Lordes love many longe yeres.
15,298  "Ac ther ne was leoun ne leopard that on laundes wenten,
15,299  Neither bere, ne boor, ne oother beest wilde
15,300  That ne fil to hir feet and fawned with the tailles;
15,301  And if thei kouthe han ycarped, by Crist, as I trowe,
15,302  Thei wolde have yfed that folk bifore wilde foweles.
15,303  For al the curteisie that beestes konne, thei kidde that folk ofte,
15,304  In likkyng and in lowynge, there thei on laundes yede.
15,305  Ac God sente hem foode by foweles, and by no fierse beestes,
15,306  In menynge that meke thyng mylde thyng sholde fede.
15,307  As who seith religious rightfulle men sholde fynde,
15,308  And lawefulle men to lif-holy men liflode brynge;
15,309  And thanne wolde lordes and ladies be looth to agulte,
15,310  And to taken of hir tenaunts more than trouthe wolde,
15,311  Founde thei that freres wolde forsake hir almesses,
15,312  And bidden hem bere it there it was yborwed.
15,313  For we ben Goddes foles and abiden alwey,
15,314  Til briddes brynge us that we sholde [by lyve].
15,315  For hadde ye potage and payn ynogh, and peny ale to drynke,
15,316  And a mees thermyd of o maner kynde,
15,317  Ye hadde right ynogh ye religiouse--and so youre rule me tolde.
15,317  {Numquid, dicit Job rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam ?}
15,317  {Aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit ? Brutorum}
15,317  {animalium natura te condempnat, quia cum eis pabulum commune}
15,317  {sufficiat; ex adipe prodiit iniquitas tua.}
15,318  "If lewed men knewe this Latyn, thei wolde loke whom thei yeve,
15,319  And avisen hem bifore a fyve dayes or sixe
15,320  Er thei amortisede [moore] to monkes or chanons hir rentes.
15,321  Allas! lordes and ladies, lewed counseil have ye
15,322  To yyve from youre heires that youre aiels you lefte,
15,323  And yyveth to bidde for yow to swiche that ben riche,
15,324  And ben founded and feffed ek to bidde for othere!
15,325  "Who parfourneth this prophecie, of the peple that now libbeth--
15,326  Dispersit, dedit pauperibus ?
15,327  If any peple parfourne that tent, it are thise poore freres:
15,328  For that thei beggen aboute, in buyldynge thei spende,
15,329  And on hemself som, and swiche as ben hir laborers;
15,330  And of hem that habbeth thei taken, and yyveth hem that ne habbeth!
15,331  "Ac clerkes and knyghtes, and communers that ben riche,
15,332  Fele of yow fareth as if I a forest hadde
15,333  That were ful of faire trees, and I fondede and caste
15,334  How I myghte mo therinne amonges hem sette.
15,335  Right so ye riche--ye robeth that ben riche,
15,336  And helpeth hem that helpeth yow, and yyveth ther no nede is;
15,337  As whoso filled a tonne ful of a fressh ryver,
15,338  And wente forth with that water to woke with Themese.
15,339  Right so ye riche, ye robeth and fedeth
15,340  Hem that han as ye han--hem ye make at ese.
15,341  "Ac religiouse that riche ben sholde rather feeste beggeris
15,342  Than burgeises that riche ben, as the book techeth:
15,342  {Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare.}
15,342  {Item: peccatoribus dare est demonibus immolare.}
15,342  {Item: monache, si indiges et accipis, pocius das quam accipis;}
15,342  {Si autem non eges et accipis, rapis.}
15,342  {Porro non indiget monachus, si habeat quod nature sufficit.}
15,343  " Forthi I counseille alle Cristene to conformen hem to charite--
15,344  For charite withouten chalangynge unchargeth the soule,
15,345  And many a prison fram purgatorie thorugh hise preieres he delivereth.
15,346  Ac ther is a defaute in the folk that the feith kepeth,
15,347  Wherfore folk is the febler, and noght ferm of bileve.
15,348  As in lussheburwes is a luther alay, and yet loketh he lik a sterlyng:
15,349  The merk of that monee is good, ac the metal is feble.
15,350  And so it fareth by som folk now: thei han a fair speche,
15,351  Crowne and Cristendom, the kynges mark of hevene,
15,352  Ac the metal, that is mannes soule, with [many] synne is foule[d].
15,353  Bothe lettred and lewed beth alayed now with synne,
15,354  That no lif loveth oother, ne Oure Lord, as it semeth.
15,355  For what thorugh werre and wikkede werkes and wederes unresonable,
15,356  Wederwise shipmen and witty clerkes also
15,357  Have no bileve to the lifte, ne to the loore of philosophres.
15,358  "Astronomiens alday in hir art faillen
15,359  That whilom warned bifore what sholde falle after;
15,360  Shipmen and shepherdes, that with ship and sheep wenten,
15,361  Wisten by the walkne what sholde bitide,
15,362  Tilieris that tiled the erthe tolden hir maistres
15,363  By the seed that thei sewe whit thei selle myghte,
15,364  And what to leve and to lyve by, the lond was so trewe;
15,365  Now failleth the folk of the flood and of the lond bothe--
15,366  Shepherdes and shipmen, and so do thise tilieris:
15,367  Neither thei konneth ne knoweth oon cours bifore another.
15,368  "Astronomyens also aren at hir wittes ende:
15,369  Of that was calculed of the clem[a]t, the contrarie thei fynde.
15,370  Grammer, the ground of al, bigileth now children:
15,371  For is noon of thise newe clerkes--whoso nymeth hede--
15,372  That kan versifye faire ne formaliche enditen,
15,373  Ne naught oon among an hundred that an auctour kan construwe,
15,374  Ne rede a lettre in any langage but in Latyn or in Englissh.
15,375  "Go now to any degree, and but if gile be maister,
15,376  And flaterere his felawe [to fourmen under hym],
15,377  Muche wonder me thynketh amonges us alle!
15,378  Doctours of decrees and of divinite maistres,
15,379  That sholde konne and knowe alle kynnes clergie,
15,380  And answere to arguments and also to a quodlibet--
15,381  I dar noght siggen it for shame--if swiche were apposed,
15,382  Thei sholde faillen of hir Philosophie, and in Phisik bothe.
15,383  "Wherfore I am afered of folk of Holy Kirke,
15,384  Lest thei overhuppen, as oothere doon, in Office and in Houres.
15,385  Ac if thei overhuppe--as I hope noght--oure bileve suffiseth;
15,386  As clerkes in Corpus Christi feeste syngen and reden
15,387  That sola fides sufficit to save with lewed peple--
15,388  And so may Sarsens be saved, scribes and Jewes.
15,389  "Allas thanne! but oure looresmen lyve as thei leren us,
15,390  And for hir lyvynge that lewed men be the lother God agulten.
15,391  For Sarsens han somwhat semynge to oure bileve,
15,392  For thei love and bileve in o [Lede] almyghty,
15,393  And we, lered and lewed, [bileveth in oon God]--
15,394  Cristene and uncristene on oon [creatour] bileveth.
15,395  Ac oon Makometh, a man, in mysbileve
15,396  Broughte Sarsens of Surree--and see in what manere.
15,397  "This Makometh was a Cristene man and for he moste noght ben a pope,
15,398  Into Surrie he soughte. and thorugh hise sotile wittes
15,399  Daunted a dowve, and day and nyght hire fedde.
15,400  The corn that she croppede, he caste it in his ere;
15,401  And if he among the peple preched, or in places come,
15,402  Thanne wolde the colvere come to the clerkes ere
15,403  Menynge as after mete--thus Makometh hire enchauntede,
15,404  And dide folk thanne falle on knees, for he swoor in his prechyng
15,405  That the colvere that com so com from God of hevene
15,406  As messager to Makometh, men for to teche.
15,407  And thus thorugh wiles of his wit and a whit dowve
15,408  Makometh in mysbileve men and wommen broughte,
15,409  That lered there and lewed yit leeven on hise lawes.
15,410  "And siththe Oure Saveour suffred the Sarsens so bigiled
15,411  Thorugh a Cristene clerk acorsed in his soule--
15,412  Ac for drede of the deeth I dar noght telle truthe,
15,413  How Englisshe clerkes a colvere fede that Coveitise highte,
15,414  And ben manered after Makometh, that no man useth trouthe.
15,415  "Ancres and heremytes, and monkes and freres
15,416  Peeren to Apostles thorugh hire parfit lyvynge.
15,417  Wolde nevere the feithful Fader that hise ministres sholde
15,418  Of tiraunts that teneth trewe men taken any almesse,
15,419  But doon as Antony dide, Dominyk and Fraunceys,
15,420  Beneit and Bernard [bo]the, whiche hem first taughte
15,421  To lyve by litel and in lowe houses by lele mennes almesse.
15,422  Grace sholde growe and be grene thorugh hir goode lyvynge,
15,423  And folkes sholden fynde, that ben in diverse siknesse,
15,424  The bettre for hir biddynges in body and in soule.
15,425  Hir preieres and hir penaunces to pees sholde brynge
15,426  Alle that ben at debaat, and bedemen were trewe:
15,426  {Petite et accipietis &c.}
15,427  " Salt saveth catel,' siggen thise wyves ;
15,427  { Vos estis sal terre &c.}
15,428  The hevedes of Holy Chirche--and thei holy were--
15,429  Crist calleth hem salt for Cristene soules,
15,429  { Et si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur ? }
15,430  Ac fressh flessh outher fissh, whan it salt failleth,
15,431  It is unsavory, for sothe, ysoden or ybake;
15,432  So is mannes soule, soothly, that seeth no good ensample
15,433  Of hem of Holi Chirche that the heighe wey sholde teche
15,434  And be gide, and go bifore as a good banyer,
15,435  And hardie hem that bihynde ben, and yyve hem good evidence.
15,436  " Ellevene holy men al the world tornede
15,437  Into lele bileve; the lightloker, me thynketh.
15,438  Sholde alle maner men, we han so manye maistres-
15,439  Preestes and prechours, and a pope above,
15,440  That Goddes salt sholde be, to save mannes soule.
15,441  "Al was hethynesse som tyme Engelond and Walis,
15,442  Til Gregory garte clerkes to go here and preche.
15,443  Austyn [cristnede the kyng at Caunterbury],
15,444  And thorugh miracles, as men mow rede, al that marche he tornede
15,445  To Crist and to Cristendom, and cros to honoure,
15,446  And follede folk faste, and the feith taughte
15,447  Moore thorugh miracles than thorugh muche prechyng,
15,448  As wel thorugh hise werkes as with hise holy wordes,
15,449  And [fourmed] what fullynge and feith was to mene.
15,450  "Clooth that cometh fro the wevyng is noght comly to were
15,451  Til it be fulled under foot or in fullyng stokkes,
15,452  Wasshen wel with water and with taseles cracched,
15,453  Ytouked and yteynted and under taillours hande;
15,454  And so it fareth by a barn that born is of wombe:
15,455  Til it be cristned in Cristes name and confermed of the bisshop,
15,456  It is hethene as to heveneward, and helplees to the soule.
15,457  "Hethen" is to mene after heeth and untiled erthe--
15,458  As In wilde wildernesse wexeth wilde beestes,
15,459  Rude and unresonable, rennynge withouten keperes.
15,460  "Ye mynnen wel how Mathew seith, how a man made a feste:
15,461  He fedde hem with no venyson, ne fesaunts ybake,
15,462  But with foweles that fram hym nolde, but folwede his whistlyng:
15,462  {Ecce altilia mea et omnia parata sunt--}
15,463  And with calves flessh he fedde the folk that he lovede.
15,464  "The calf bitokneth clennesse in hem that kepeth lawes;
15,465  For as the cow thorugh kynde mylk the calf norisseth til an oxe,
15,466  So love and leaute lele men susteneth;
15,467  And maidenes and mylde men mercy desiren
15,468  Right as the cow-calf coveiteth swete melk--
15,469  So [muche] don rightfulle men mercy and truthe.
15,470  And by the hond-fedde foweles his folk understonde
15,471  That looth ben to lovye withouten lernynge of ensaumples.
15,472  Right as capons in a court cometh to mennes whistlynge--
15,473  In menynge after mete folweth men that whistlen--
15,474  Right so rude men that litel reson konneth
15,475  Loven and bileven by lettred mennes doynges,
15,476  And by hire wordes and werkes wenen and trowen:
15,477  And as tho foweles to fynde foode after whistlynge,
15,478  So hope thei to have hevene thorugh hir [wiss]ynge.
15,479  And the man that made the feste the mageste bymeneth--
15,480  That is God, of his grace gyveth alle men blisse.
15,481  With wederes and with wondres he warneth us with a whistlere
15,482  Where that his wil is, to worshipen us alle,
15,483  And feden us and festen us for everemoore at oones.
15,484  "Ac who beth that excuseth hem that arn persons and preestes
15,485  (That hevedes of Holy Chirche ben) that han hir wil here
15,486  Withouten travaille the tithe deel that trewe men biswynken--
15,487  Thei wol be wrooth for I write thus-ac to witnesse I take
15,488  Bothe Mathew and Mark and Memento Domine David:
15,488  {Ecce audivimus e[a]m in Effrata &c.}
15,489  What pope or prelate now parfourneth that Crist highte-
15,489  {Ite in universum mundum et predicate &c?}
15,490  "Allas, that men so longe on Makometh sholde bileve!
15,491  So manye prelates to preche as the Pope maketh--
15,492  Of Nazareth, of Nynyve, of Neptalym and Damaske.
15,493  That thei ne wente as Crist wisseth--sithen thei wilne a name--
15,494  To be pastours and preche the passion of Jesus,
15,495  And as hymself seide, so to lyve and dye:
15,496  Bonus pastor animam suam ponit &c,
15,497  And seide it in salvacion of Sarsens and othere--
15,498  For Cristene and uncristene, Crist seide to prechours,
15,498  {Ite vos in vineam meam &c.}
15,499  "And sith that thise Sarsens, scribes and Jewes
15,500  Han a lippe of oure bileve, the lightloker, me thynketh, .
15,501  Thei sholde turne, whoso travaile wolde to teche hem of the Trinite:
15,501  {Querite et invenietis &c.}
15,502  For alle paynymes preieth and parfitly bileweth
15,503  In the [grete holy] God, and his grace asken,
15,504  And make hir mone to Makometh, hir message to shewe.
15,505  Thus in a feith leveth that folk, and in a fals mene,
15,506  And that is routhe for rightful men that in the reawme wonyen,
15,507  And a peril to the Pope and prelates that he maketh,
15,508  That bere bisshopes names of Bethleem and Babiloigne.
15,509  "Whan the hye kyng of hevene sente his sone to erthe,
15,510  Many miracles he wroughte man for to turne,
15,511  In ensaumple that men sholde se by sadde reson
15,512  Men myghte noght be saved but thorugh mercy and grace,
15,513  And thorugh penaunce, and passion, and parfit byleve;
15,514  And bicam man of a mayde, and metropolitanus,
15,515  And baptised and bishined with the blode of his herte
15,516  Alle that wilned and wolde with inwit bileve it.
15,517  Many a seynt siththen hath suffred to deye,
15,518  Al for to enforme the feith in fele contrees deyeden--
15,519  In Inde, and in Alisaundre, in Ermonye and in Spayne,
15,520  In doelful deth deyeden for hir feith sake.
15,521  In savacion of the feith Seint Thomas was ymartired:
15,522  Amonges unkynde Cristene for Cristes love he deyede,
15,523  And for the right of al this reume and alle reumes Cristene.
15,524  Holy Chirche is honoured heighliche thorugh his deying;
15,525  He is a forbisene to alle bisshopes and a bright myrour,
15,526  And sovereynliche to swiche that of Surrye bereth the name,
15,527  And naught to huppe aboute in Engelond to halwe mennes auteres,
15,528  And crepe in amonges curatours and confessen ageyn the lawe:
15,528  {Nolite mittere falsem in messem alienam &c.}
15,529  Many man for Cristes love was martired amonges Romaynes
15,530  Er Cristendom were knowe ther or any cros honoured.
15,531  "It is ruthe to rede how rihtwise men lyved--
15,532  How thei defouled hir flessh, forsoke hir owene wille,
15,533  Fer fro kyth and fro kyn yvele yclothed yeden,
15,534  Baddely ybedded, no book but conscience,
15,535  Ne no richesse but the roode to rejoisse hem inne:
15,535  {Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri &c.}
15,536  "And tho was plentee and pees amonges poore and riche;
15,537  And now is routhe to rede how the rede noble
15,538  Is reverenced er the roode, receyved for the worthier
15,539  Than Cristes cros that overcam deeth and dedly synne.
15,540  And now is werre and wo, and whoso why asketh--
15,541  For coveitise after cros; the croune stant in golde.
15,542  Bothe riche and religious, that roode thei honoure
15,543  That in grotes is ygrave and in gold nobles.
15,544  For coveitise of that cros [clerkes] of Holy Kirke
15,545  Shul torne as Templers dide--the tyme approcheth faste.
15,546  " [Mynne] ye noght, wise men, how tho men honoured
15,547  Moore tresor than trouthe? I dar noght telle the sothe;
15,548  Reson and rightful doom tho religious demede.
15,549  Right so, ye clerkes, for youre coveitise, er [come aught] longe,
15,550  Shal thei demen dos ecclesie, and [depose youre pride]:
15,550  {Deposuit potentes de sede &c.}
15,551  "If knyghthod and kynde wit, and the commune and conscience
15,552  Togideres love leelly, leveth it wel, ye bisshopes--
15,553  The lordshipe of londes [lese ye shul for evere],
15,554  And lyven as Levitici, as Oure Lord yow techeth:
15,554  {Per primicias et decimas &c.}
15,555  "Whan Costantyn of curteisie Holy Kirke dowed
15,556  With londes and ledes, lordshipes and rentes,
15,557  An aungel men herden an heigh at Rome crye,
15,558  " Dos ecclesie this day hath ydronke venym,
15,559  And tho that han Petres power arn apoisoned alle!'
15,560  A medicyne moot therto that may amende prelates,
15,561  That sholden preie for the pees; possession hem letteth.
15,562  Taketh hire landes, ye lordes, and leteth hem lyve by dymes;
15,563  If possession be poison, and inparfite hem make,
15,564  Good were to deschargen hem for Holy Chirches sake,
15,565  And purgen hem of poison, er moore peril falle.
15,566  If preesthode were parfit, the peple sholde amende,
15,567  That contrarien Cristes lawe, and Cristendom dispise.
15,568  "Every bisshop that bereth cros, by that he is holden
15,569  Thorugh his province to passe, and to his peple to shewe hym,
15,570  Tellen hem and techen hem on the Trinite to bileve,
15,571  And feden hem with goostly foode, and nedy folk to fynden.
15,572  Ac Ysaie of yow speketh and Osias bothe,
15,573  That no man sholde be bisshop but if he hadde bothe
15,574  Bodily foode and goostly foode to gyve there it nedeth:
15,574  {In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum, et ideo nolite constituere me   re
15,575  Osias seith for swiche that sike ben and feble,
15,576     {Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum, ut sit cibus in domo mea.}
15,577  "Ac we Cristene creatures, that on the cros bileven,
15,578  Arn ferme as in the feith-Goddes forbode ellis!--
15,579  And han clerkes to kepen us therinne, and hem that shul come after us.
15,580  And Jewes lyven in lele lawe - Oure Lord wroot it hymselve
15,581  In stoon, for it stedefast was, and stonde sholde evere--
15,582  Dilige Deum et proximum, is parfit Jewen lawe--
15,583  And took it Moyses to teche men, til Messie coome
15,584  And on that lawe thei leve, and leten it for the beste.
15,585  And yit knewe thei Crist, that Cristendom taughte,
15,586  And for a parfit prophete that muche peple savede
15,587  Of selkouthe sores; thei seighen it ofte--
15,588  Bothe of miracles and merveilles, and how he men festede,
15,589  With two fisshes and fyve loves fyve thousand peple--
15,590  And by that mangerie thei myghte wel se that Messie he semede;
15,591  And whan he lifte up Lazar, that leid was in grave,
15,592  And under stoon deed and stank, with stif vois hym callede,
15,592  {Lazare, veni foras,}
15,593  Dide hym rise and rome right bifore the Jewes.
15,594  Ac thei seiden and sworen, with sorcerie he wroughte,
15,595  And studieden to struyen hym--and struyden hemselve,
15,596  And thorugh his pacience hir power to pure noght he broughte:
15,596  {Pacientes vincunt.}
15,597  "Daniel of hire undoynge devyned and seide,
15,598  Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit unxio vestra.
15,599  And yit wenen tho wrecches that he were pseudo-propheta
15,600  And that his loore be lesynges, and lakken it alle,
15,601  And hopen that he be to come that shal hem releve--
15,602  Moyses eft or Messie hir maistres devyneth.
15,603  "Ac pharisees and sarsens, scribes and Jewes
15,604  Arn folk of oon feith--the fader God thei honouren.
15,605  And sithen that the Sarsens and also the Jewes
15,606  Konne the firste clause of oure bileve, {Credo in Deum patrem omnipotentem,}
15,607  Prelates of Cristene provinces sholde preve, if thei myghte,
15,608  Lere hem litlum and litlum {Et in Jesum Christum filium},
15,609  Til thei kouthe speke and spelle {Et in Spiritum sanctum},
15,610  And rendren it and recorden it with {remissionem peccatorum,}
15,610  {Carnis resurreccionem et vitam eternam. Amen.'}
16,1  "Now faire falle yow,' quod I tho, "for youre faire shewyng!
16,2  For Haukyns love the Actif Man evere I shal yow lovye.
16,3  Ac yit am I in a weer what charite is to mene.'
16,4  "It is a ful trie tree,' quod he, "trewely to telle.
16,5  Mercy is the more therof; the myddul stok is ruthe;
16,6  The leves ben lele wordes, the lawe of Holy Chirche;
16,7  The blosmes beth buxom speche and benigne lokynge;
16,8  Pacience hatte the pure tree, and pore symple of herte,
16,9  And so thorugh God and thorugh goode men groweth the fruyt Charite.'
16,10  "I wolde travaille,' quod I, "this tree to se, twenty hundred myle,
16,11  And to have my fulle of that fruyt forsake al other saulee.
16,12  Lord !' quod I, " if any wight wite whiderout it groweth?'
16,13  "It groweth in a gardyn,' quod he, "that God made hymselve;
16,14  Amyddes mannes body the more is of that stokke.
16,15  Herte highte the herber that it inne groweth,
16,16  And Liberum Arbitrium hath the lond to ferme,
16,17  Under Piers the Plowman to piken it and to weden it.'
16,18  " Piers the Plowman!' quod I tho, and al for pure joye
16,19  That I herde nempne his name anoon I swowned after,
16,20  And lay longe in a lone dreem; and at the laste me thoughte
16,21  That Piers the Plowman al the place me shewed,
16,22  And bad me toten on the tree, on top and on roote.
16,23  With thre piles was it underpight--I parceyved it soone.
16,24  'Piers,' quod I, 'I preie thee--whi stonde thise piles here?'
16,25  " For wyndes, wiltow wite,' quod he, 'to witen it fro fallyng--
16,25  {Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur quia Dominus supponit manum suam--}
16,26  And in blowyng tyme abite the flowres, but- if thise piles helpe.
16,27  The world is a wikked wynd to hem that willen truthe:
16,28  Coveitise comth of that wynd and crepeth among the leves
16,29  And forfreteth neigh the fruyt thorugh manye faire sightes.
16,30  Thanne with the firste pil I palle hym doun--that is Potencia Dei Patris.
16,31  "The flessh is a fel wynd, and in flouryng tyme,
16,32  Thorugh likynge and lustes so loude he gynneth blowe
16,33  That it norisseth nyce sightes and som tyme wordes,
16,34  And wikkede werkes therof, wormes of synne,
16,35  And forbiteth the blosmes right to the bare leves.
16,36  "Thanne sette I to the secounde pil, Sapiencia Dei Patris--
16,37  That is the passion and the power of oure prince Jesu.
16,38  Thorugh preieres and thorugh penaunces and Goddes passion in mynde,
16,39  I save it til I se it ripen and somdel yfruyted.
16,40  "And thanne fondeth the fend my fruyt to destruye
16,41  With alle the wiles that he kan, and waggeth the roote,
16,42  And casteth up to the crop unkynde neighebores,
16,43  Bakbiteris brewecheste, brawleris and chideris,
16,44  And leith a laddre therto--of lesynges are the ronges--
16,45  And feccheth awey my floures somtyme bifore bothe myne eighen.
16,45  {Ac Liberum Arbitrium letteth hym som tyme,}
16,46  That is lieutenaunt to loken it wel, bi leve of myselve:
16,46  {Videatis qui peccat in Spiritum Sanctum numquam remittetur}
16,47  &c,- hoc est idem, qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat.
16,48  "Ac whan the fend and the flessh forth with the world
16,49  Manacen bihynde me, my fruyt for to fecche,
16,50  Thanne Liberum Arbitrium laccheth the thridde planke
16,51  And palleth adoun the pouke pureliche thorugh grace
16,52  And help of the Holy Goost--and thus have I the maistrie.'
16,53  "Now faire falle yow, Piers!' quod I, "so faire ye discryven
16,54  The power of thise postes and hire propre myghte.
16,55  Ac I have thoughtes a threve of thise thre piles--
16,56  In what wode thei woxen, and where that thei growed,
16,57  For alle are thei aliche longe, noon lasse than oother,
16,58  And to my mynde, as me thynketh, on o more thei growed;
16,59  And of o greetnesse and grene of greyn thei semen.'
16,60  "That is sooth,' seide Piers, "so it may bifalle.
16,61  I shal telle thee as tid what this tree highte.
16,62  The ground there it groweth, goodnesse it hatte;
16,63  And I have told thee what highte the tree: the Trinite it meneth'--
16,64  And egreliche he loked on me, and therfore I spared
16,65  To asken hym any moore therof, and bad hym ful faire
16,66  To di[ff]yne the fruyt that so faire hangeth.
16,67  " Heer now bynethe,' quod he tho, "if I nede hadde,
16,68  Matrimoyne I may nyme, a moiste fruyt withalle.
16,69  Thanne Continence is neer the crop as kaylewey bastard.
16,70  Thanne bereth the crop kynde fruyt and clennest of alle--
16,71  Maidenhode, aungeles peeris, and [ar]est wole be ripe,
16,72  And swete withouten swellyng--sour worth it nevere.'
16,73  I preide Piers to pulle adoun an appul, and he wolde,
16,74  And suffre me to assaien what savour it hadde.
16,75  And Piers caste to the crop, and thanne comsed it to crye;
16,76  And waggede widwehode, and it wepte after;
16,77  And whan he meved matrimoyne, it made a foul noise,
16,78  That I hadde ruthe whan Piers rogged, it gradde so rufulliche.
16,79  For evere as thei dropped adoun the devel was redy,
16,80  And gadrede hem alle togideres, bothe grete and smale--
16,81  Adam and Abraham and Ysaye the prophete,
16,82  Sampson and Samuel, and Seint Johan the Baptist;
16,83  Bar hem forth boldely--no body hym letted--
16,84  And made of holy men his hoord in Limbo Inferni,
16,85  There is derknesse and drede and the devel maister.
16,86  And Piers, for pure tene, that a pil he laughte,
16,87  And hitte after hym, happe how it myghte,
16,88     {Filius} by the Fader wille and frenesse of {Spiritus Sancti,}
16,89  To go robbe that rageman and reve the fruyt fro hym.
16,90  And thanne spak {Spiritus Sanctus} in Gabrielis mouthe
16,91  To a maide that highte Marie, a meke thyng withalle,
16,92  That oon Jesus, a justices some, moste jouke in hir chambre
16,93  Til {plenitudo temporis} tyme comen were
16,94  That Piers fruyt floured and felle to be rype.
16,95  And thanne sholde Jesus juste therfore, bi juggement of armes,
16,96  Wheither sholde fonge the fruyt--the fend or hymselve.
16,97  The maide myldeliche tho the messager graunted,
16,98  And seide hendeliche to hym, "Lo me his handmaiden
16,99  For to werchen his wille withouten any synne:
16,99  {Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat michi &c.'}
16,100  And in the wombe of that wenche was he fourty woukes,
16,101  Til he weex a faunt thorugh hir flessh, and of fightyng kouthe,
16,102  To have yfoughte with the fend er ful tyme come.
16,103  And Piers the Plowman parceyved plener tyme,
16,104  And lered hym lechecraft. his lif for to save,
16,105  That though he were wounded with his enemy, to warisshen hymselve;
16,106  And dide hym assaie his surgenrie on hem that sike were,
16,107  Til he was parfit praktisour, if any peril fille;
16,108  And soughte out the sike and synfulle bothe,
16,109  And salvede sike and synfulle, bothe blynde and crokede,
16,110  And commune wommen convertede [to goode]:
16,110  {Non est sanis opus medicus, set male habentibus.}
16,111  Bothe meseles and mute, and in the menyson blody--
16,112  Ofte he heeled swiche, he ne held it for no maistrie,
16,113  Save tho he leched Lazar, that hadde yleye in grave
16,114  Quatriduanus quelt--quyk dide hym walke.
16,115  Ac a[r] he made the maistrie, mestus cepit esse,
16,116  And wepte water with hise eighen- -ther seighen it manye.
16,117  Some that the sighte seighen seiden that tyme
16,118  That he was leche of lif, and lord of heigh hevene.
16,119  Jewes jangled therayein that juggede lawes,
16,120  And seide he wroghte thorugh wichecraft and with the develes myghte:
16,120  {Demonium habes &c.}
16,121  "Thanne are ye cherles,' quod Jesus, "and youre children bothe,
16,122  And Sathan youre Saveour--yowself now ye witnessen:
16,123  For I have saved yowself, and youre sones after,
16,124  Youre bodies. youre beestes, and blynde men holpen,
16,125  And fed yow with fisshes and with fyve loves,
16,126  And lefte baskettes ful of broke mete--bere awey whoso wolde--'
16,127  And mysseide the Jewes manliche, and manaced hem to bete,
16,128  And knokked on hem with a corde, and caste adoun hir stalles
16,129  That in chirche chaffareden or chaungeden any moneie,
16,130  And seide it in sighte of hem alle, so that alle herden,
16,131  " I shal overturne this temple and adoun throwe,
16,132  And in thre daies after edifie it newe,
16,133  And maken it as muche outher moore in alle manere poyntes
16,134  As evere it was, and as wid-wherfore I hote yow,
16,135  Of preieres and of parfitnesse this place that ye callen:
16,135  {Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur.'}
16,136  Envye and yvel wil ar[ne] in the Jewes:
16,137  Thei casten and contreveden to kulle hym whan thei myghte;
16,138  Eche day after oother hir tyme thei awaiteden,
16,139  Til it bifel on a Friday, a litel bifore Pasqe.
16,140  The Thursday bifore, there he made his cene,
16,141  Sittynge at the soper he seide thise wordes:
16,142  "I am sold thorugh so[m] of yow--he shal the tyme rewe
16,143  That evere he his Saveour solde for silver or ellis.'
16,144  Judas jangled therayein, ac Jesus hym tolde
16,145  It was hymself soothly, and seide, " Tu dicis.'
16,146  Thanne wente forth that wikked man and with the Jewes mette,
16,147  And tolde hem a tokne how to knowe with Jesus,
16,148  The which tokne to this day to muche is yused--
16,149  That is, kissynge and fair countenaunce and unkynde wille.
16,150  And so was with Judas tho, that Jesus bitrayed:
16,151  " Ave, raby,' quod that ribaud, and right to hym he yede,
16,152  And kiste hym, to be caught therby and kulled of the Jewes.
16,153  Thanne Jesus to Judas and to the Jewes seide,
16,154  " Falsnesse I fynde in thi faire speche,
16,155  And gile in thi glad chere, and galle is in thi laughyng.
16,156  Thow shalt be myrour to many, men to deceyve,
16,157  Ac the worse, and thi wikkednesse shal worthe upon thiselve:
16,157  {Necesse est ut veniant scandala: ve homini illi, per quem scandalum venit.}
16,158  Though I bi treson be take, and [to] youre owene wille,
16,159  Suffreth myne apostles in pays, and in pees gange.'
16,160  On a Thursday in thesternesse thus was he taken .
16,161  Thorugh Judas and Jewes--Jesus was his name
16,162  That on the Friday folwynge for mankyndes sake
16,163  Justed in Jerusalem, a joye to us alle.
16,164  On cros upon Calvarie Crist took the bataille
16,165  Ayeins deeth and the devel, destruyed hir botheres myghtes--
16,166  Deide, and deeth fordide, and day of nyght made.
16,167  And I awaked therwith, and wiped myne eighen,
16,168  And after Piers the Plowman pried and stared,
16,169  Estward and westward I waited after faste,
16,170  And yede forth as an ydiot, in contree to aspie
16,171  After Piers the Plowman--many a place I soughte.
16,172  And thanne mette I with a man, a myd-Lenten Sonday,
16,173  As hoor as an hawethorn, and Abraham he highte.
16,174  I frayned hym first fram whennes he come,
16,175  And of whennes he were, and whider that he thoughte.
16,176  "I am Feith,' quod that freke, "it falleth noght me to lye,
16,177  And of Abrahames hous an heraud of armes.
16,178  I seke after a segge that I seigh ones,
16,179  A ful bold bacheler--I knew hym by his blasen.'
16,180  " What berth that buyrn,' quod I tho, " so blisse thee bitide?'
16,181  " Thre leodes in oon lyth, noon lenger than oother,
16,182  Of oon muchel and myght in mesure and in lengthe.
16,183  That oon dooth, alle dooth, and ech dooth bi his one.
16,184  The firste hath myght and majestee, makere of alle thynges:
16,185  Pater is his propre name, a persone by hymselve.
16,186  The secounde of that sire is Sothfastnesse Filius,
16,187  Wardeyn of that wit hath, was evere withouten gynnyng.
16,188  The thridde highte the Holi Goost, a persone by hymselve,
16,189  The light of al that lif hath a londe and a watre,
16,190  Confortour of creatures--of hym cometh alle blisse.
16,191  "So thre bilongeth for a lord that lordshipe cleymeth:
16,192  Might, and a mene [his owene myghte to knowe],
16,193  Of hymself and of his servaunt, and what suffreth hem bothe.
16,194  So God, that gynnyng hadde nevere, but tho hym good thoughte,
16,195  Sente forth his sone as for servaunt that tyme,
16,196  To ocupien hym here til issue were spronge--
16,197  That is, children of charite, and Holi Chirche the moder.
16,198  Patriarkes and prophetes and apostles were the children,
16,199  And Crist and Cristendom and alle Cristene Holy Chirche
16,200  In menynge that man moste on o God bileve,
16,201  And there hym likede and lovede, in thre [leodes] hym shewede.
16,202  And that it may be so and sooth [sheweth it manhode]:
16,203  Wedlok and widwehode with virginite ynempned,
16,204  In tokenynge of the Trinite was taken out of o man--
16,205  Adam, oure alle fader; Eve was of hymselve,
16,206  And the issue that thei hadde it was of hem bothe,
16,207  And either is otheres joye in thre sondry persones,
16,208  And in hevene and here oon singuler name.
16,209  And thus is mankynde and manhede of matrimoyne yspronge,
16,210  And bitokneth the Trinite and trewe bileve.
16,211  "Might is it in matrimoyne, that multiplieth the erthe,
16,212  And bitokneth trewely, telle if I dorste,
16,213  Hym that first formed al, the Fader of hevene.
16,214  The Sone, if I it dorste seye, resembleth wel the widewe:
16,214  {Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me ?}
16,215  That is, creatour weex creature to knowe what was bothe.
16,216  As widewe withouten wedlok was nevere yit yseyghe,
16,217  Na moore myghte God be man but if he moder hadde.
16,218  So widewe withouten wedlok may noght wel stande,
16,219  Ne matrimoyne withouten muliere is noght muche to preise:
16,219  {Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in Israel.}
16,220  "Thus in thre persones is parfitliche pure manhede--
16,221  That is, man and his make and mulliere hir children.
16,222  And is noght but gendre of a generacion, bifore Jesu Crist in hevene;
16,223  So is the fader forth with the Sone and Fre Wille of bothe--
16,223  {Spiritus procedens a Patre et Filio &c--}
16,224  Which is the Holy Goost of alle, and alle is but o God.
16,225  "Thus in a somer I hym seigh as I sat in my porche.
16,226  I roos up and reverenced hym, and right faire hym grette.
16,227  Thre men, to my sighte, I made wel at ese,
16,228  Wessh hir feet and wiped hem, and afterward thei eten
16,229  Calves flessh and cakebreed, and knewe what I thoughte.
16,230  Ful trewe toknes betwene us is, to telle whan me liketh.
16,231  " First he fonded me, if I lovede bettre
16,232  Hym or Ysaak myn heir, the which he highte me kulle.
16,233  He wiste my wille bi hym; he wol me it allowe;
16,234  I am ful siker in my soule therof, and my sone bothe.
16,235  "I circumcised my sone sithen for his sake--
16,236  Myself and my meynee and alle that male weere
16,237  Bledden blood for that Lordes love, and hope to blisse the tyme.
16,238  affiaunce and my feith is ferme in this bileve,
16,239  For hymself bihighte to me and to myn issue bothe
16,240  Lond and lordshipe and lif withouten ende.
16,241  To me and to myn issue moore yet he me grauntede--
16,242  Mercy for oure mysdedes as many tyme as we asken:
16,242  {Quam olim Abrahe promisisti et semini eius.}
16,243  "And siththe he sente me, to seye I sholde do sacrifise,
16,244  And doon hym worship with breed and with wyn bothe,
16,245  And called me the foot of his feith, his folk for to save,
16,246  And defende hem fro the fend, folk that on me leveden.
16,247  "Thus have I ben his heraud here and in helle,
16,248  And conforted many a careful that after his comynge waiten;
16,249  And thus I seke hym,' he seide, "for I herde seyn late
16,250  Of a buyrn that baptised hym--Johan Baptist was his name--
16,251  That to patriarkes and to prophetes and to oother peple in derknesse
16,252  Seide, that he seigh here that sholde save us alle:
16,252  {Ecce Agnus Dei &c.'}
16,253  I hadde wonder of hise wordes, and of hise wide clothes;
16,254  For in his bosom he bar a thyng, and that he blissed evere.
16,255  And I loked in his lappe: a lazar lay therinne
16,256  Amonges patriarkes and prophetes pleyinge togideres.
16,257  "What awaitestow?' quod he, " and what woldestow have?'
16,258  "I wolde wite,' quod I tho, "what is in youre lappe.'
16,259  " Lo!' quod he--and leet me se. " Lord, mercy!' I seide.
16,260  "This is a present of muche pris; what prynce shal it have?'
16,261  "It is a precious present,' quod he, "ac the pouke it hath attached,
16,262  And me therwith,' quod that wye, "may no wed us quyte,
16,263  Ne no buyrn be oure borgh, ne brynge us fram his daunger;
16,264  Out of the poukes pondfold no maynprise may us fecche
16,265  Til he come that I carpe of: Crist is his name
16,266  That shal delivere us som day out of the develes power,
16,267  And bettre wed for us [wa]ge than we ben alle worthi--
16,268  That is, lif for lif--or ligge thus evere
16,269  Lollynge in my lappe, til swich a lord us fecche.'
16,270  "Allas!' I seide, "that synne so longe shall lette
16,271  The myght of Goddes mercy, that myghte us alle amende!'
16,272  I wepte for hise wordes. With that saugh I another
16,273  Rapeliche renne forth the righte wey he wente.
16,274  I affrayned hym first fram whennes he come,
16,275  What he highte and whider he wolde--and wightly he tolde.
17,1  "I am Spes, a spie,' quod he, "and spire after a knyght
17,2  That took me a maundement upon the mount of Synay
17,3  To rule alle reames therewith--I bere the writ here.'
17,4  "Is it asseled?" I seide. "May men see thi lettres?'
17,5  "Nay.' he seide. "I seke hym that hath the seel to kepe--
17,6  And that is cros and Cristendom, and Crist theron to honge.
17,7  And whan it is asseled so, I woot wel the sothe--
17,8  That Luciferis lordshipe laste shal no lenger!'
17,9  " Lat se thi lettres,' quod I, "we myghte the lawe knowe.'
17,10  He plukkede forth a patente, a pece of an hard roche,
17,11  Whereon was writen two wordes on this wise yglosed;
17,12  Dilige Deum et proximum tuum--
17,13  This was the tixte trewely--I took ful good yeme.
17,14  The glose was gloriously writen with a gilt penne:
17,15  In hiis duobus mandatis tota lex pendet et prophete.
17,16  'Is here alle thi lordes lawes?' quod I. 'Ye, leve me,' he seide.
17,17  'And whoso wercheth after this writ, I wol undertaken,
17,18  Shal nevere devel hym dere, ne deeth in soule greve.
17,19  For though I seye it myself, I have saved with this charme
17,20  Of men and of wommen many score thousand.'
17,21  'He seith sooth,' seide this heraud, 'I have yfounde it ofte.
17,22  Lo! here in my lappe that leeved on that charme--
17,23  Josue and Judith and Judas Macabeus,
17,24  Ye, and sixti thousand biside forth that ben noght seyen here!'
17,25  " Youre wordes arn wonderfulle,' quod I tho. " Which of yow is trewest,
17,26  And lelest to leve on for lif and for soule?
17,27  Abraham seith that he seigh hoolly the Trinite,
17,28  Thre persones in parcelles departable fro oother,
17,29  And alle thre but o God--thus Abraham me taughte--
17,30  And hath saved that bileved so and sory for hir synnes,
17,31  He kan noght siggen the somme, and some arn in his lappe.
17,32  What neded it thanne a newe lawe to brynge,
17,33  Sith the firste suffiseth to savacion and to blisse?
17,34  And now cometh Spes and speketh, that hath aspied the lawe,
17,35  And telleth noght of the Trinite that took hym hise lettres--
17,36  To bileeve and lovye in o Lord almyghty,
17,37  And siththe right as myself so lovye alle peple.
17,38  'The gome that gooth with o staf--he semeth in gretter heele
17,39  Than he that gooth with two staves, to sighte of us alle.
17,40  And right so, bi the roode, reson me sheweth
17,41  It is lighter to lewed men o lesson to knowe
17,42  Than for to techen hem two, and to hard to lerne the leeste!
17,43  It is ful hard for any man on Abraham bileve,
17,44  And wel awey worse yit for to love a sherewe.
17,45  lt is lighter to leeve in thre lovely persones
17,46  Than for to lovye and lene as wel lorels as lele.
17,47  Go thi gate, 'quod I to Spes; "so me God helpe,
17,48  Tho that lernen thi lawe wol litel while usen it!'
17,49  And as we wenten thus in the wey, wordynge togideres,
17,50  Thanne seighe we a Samaritan sittynge on a mule,
17,51  Ridynge ful rapely the righte wey we yeden,
17,52  Comynge from a contree that men called Jerico--
17,53  To a justes in Jerusalem he [j]aced awey faste.
17,54  Bothe the heraud and Hope and he mette atones
17,55  Where a man was, wounded, and with theves taken.
17,56  He myghte neither steppe ne stande, ne stere foot ne handes,
17,57  Ne helpe hymself soothly, for semyvif he semed,
17,58  And as naked as a nedle, and noon help abouten.
17,59  Feith hadde first sighte of hym, ac he fleigh aside,
17,60  And nolde noght neghen hym by nyne londes lengthe.
17,61  Hope cam hippynge after, that hadde so ybosted
17,62  How he with Moyses maundement hadde many men yholpe;
17,63  Ac whan he hadde sighte of that segge, aside he gan hym drawe
17,64  Dredfully, bi this day, as doke dooth fram the faucon!
17,65  Ac so soone so the Samaritan hadde sighte of this leode,
17,66  He lighte adown of lyard and ladde hym in his handes,
17,67  And to the wye he wente hise woundes to biholde,
17,68  And parceyved by his pous he was in peril to dye,
17,69  And but he hadde recoverer the rather, that rise sholde he nevere;
17,70  And breide to hise boteles, and bothe he atamede.
17,71  With wyn and with oille hise woundes he wasshed,
17,72  Enbawmed hym and bond his heed, and in his lappe hym leide,
17,73  And ladde hym so forth on lyard to {Lex Christi,} a graunge
17,74  Wel sixe mile or sevene biside the newe market;
17,75  Herberwed hym at an hostrie and to the hostiler called,
17,76  And [quod], " Have, kepe this man, til I come fro the justes,
17,77  And lo here silver,' he seide, "for salve to hise woundes.'
17,78  And he took hym two pens to liflode as it weere,
17,79  And seide, "What he [moore spendeth] I make thee good herafter,
17,80  For I may noght lette,' quod that leode--and lyard he bistrideth,
17,81  And raped hym to Jerusalemward the righte wey to ryde.
17,82  Feith folwede after faste, and fondede to mete hym,
17,83  And Spes spakliche hym spedde, spede if he myghte
17,84  To overtaken hym and talke to hym er thei to towne coome.
17,85  And whan I seigh this, I sojourned noght. but shoop me to renne,
17,86  And suwed that Samaritan that was so ful of pite,
17,87  And graunted hym to ben his groom. "Graunt mercy,' he seide,
17,88  "Ac thi frend and thi felawe,' quod he, "thow fyndest me at nede.'
17,89  And I thanked hym tho and siththe I hym tolde
17,90  How that Feith fleigh awey and Spes his felawe bothe
17,91  For sighte of the sorweful [segge] that robbed was with theves.
17,92  " Have hem excused,' quod he, "hir help may litel availle:
17,93  May no medicyne under molde the man to heele brynge--
17,94  Neither Feith ne fyn Hope, so festred be hise woundes,
17,95  Withouten the blood of a barn born of a mayde.
17,96  And be he bathed in that blood, baptised as it were,
17,97  And thanne plastred with penaunce and passion of that baby,
17,98  He sholde stonde and steppe--ac stalworthe worth he nevere
17,99  Til he have eten al the barn and his blood ydronke.
17,100  For wente nevere wye in this world thorugh that wildernesse
17,101  That he ne was robbed or rifled, rood he there or yede,
17,102  Save Feith and [myselve and] Spes [his felawe],
17,103  And thiself now and swiche as suwen oure werkes.
17,104  " For Outlawe is in the wode and under bank lotieth,
17,105  And may ech man see and good mark take
17,106  Who is bihynde and who bifore and who ben on horse--
17,107  For he halt hym hardier on horse than he that is a foote.
17,108  For he seigh me that am Samaritan suwen Feith and his felawe
17,109  On my capul that highte Caro--of mankynde I took it--
17,110  He was unhardy, that harlot, and hidde hym in Inferno.
17,111  Ac er this day thre daies, I dar undertaken
17,112  That he worth fettred, that feloun, faste with cheynes,
17,113  And nevere eft greve gome that gooth this ilke gate:
17,113  { 0 Mors ero mors tua &c.}
17,114  "And thanne shal Feith be forster here and in this fryth walke,
17,115  And kennen out comune men that knowen noght the contree,
17,116  Which is the wey I wente, and wher forth to Jerusalem;
17,117  And Hope the hostilers man shal be ther [an helyng the man lith],
17,118  And alle that feble and feynte be, that Feith may noght teche,
17,119  Hope shal lede hem forth with love, as his lettre telleth,
17,120  And hostele hem and heele thorugh Holy Chirche bileve
17,121  Til I have salve for alle sike--and thanne shal I returne,
17,122  And come ayein bi this contree and conforten alle sike
17,123  That craveth it or coveiteth it and crieth therafter.
17,124  For the barn was born in Bethleem that with his blood shal save
17,125  Alle that lyven in Feith and folwen his felawes techynge.'
17,126  "A, swete sire!' I seide tho, "wher I shal bileve--
17,127  As Feith and his felawe enformed me bothe--
17,128  In thre persones departable that perpetuele were evere,
17,129  And alle thre but o God? Thus Abraham me taughte;
17,130  And Hope afterward he bad me to lovye
17,131  O God with al my good, and alle gomes after,
17,132  Lovye hem lik myselve--ac Oure Lord aboven alle.'
17,133  'After Abraham,' quod he, 'that heraud of armes,
17,134  Sette faste thi feith and ferme bileve;
17,135  And as Hope highte thee, I hote that thow lovye
17,136  Thyn evenecristene everemoore eveneforth with thiselve.
17,137  And if conscience carpe therayein, or kynde wit eyther,
17,138  Or eretikes with arguments--thyn hond thow hem shewe:
17,139  For God is after an hand--yheer now and knowe it.
17,140  "The Fader was first as a fust with o fynger foldynge,
17,141  Til hym lovede and liste to unlosen his fynger
17,142  And profrede it forth as with a pawme to what place it sholde.
17,143  The pawme is purely the hand, and profreth forth the fyngres,
17,144  To ministren and to make that myght of hand knoweth;
17,145  And bitokneth trewely, telle whoso liketh,
17,146  The Holy Goost of hevene--he is as the pawme.
17,147  The fyngres that fre ben to folde and to serve
17,148  Bitoknen soothly the Sone, that sent was til erthe,
17,149  That touched and tastede at techynge of the pawme
17,150  Seinte Marie, a mayde, and mankynde laughte:
17,150  {   Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c.}
17,151  "The Fader is thanne as a fust with fynger to touche--
17,151  {   Quia ""Omnia traham ad me ipsum &c''--}
17,152  Al that the pawme parceyveth profitable to feele.
17,153  Thus are thei alle but oon, as it an hand weere,
17,154  And thre sondry sightes in oon shewynge.
17,155  The pawme for he put forth fyngres and the fust bothe,
17,156  Right so, redily, reson it shewith,
17,157  How he that is Holy Goost Sire and Sone preveth.
17,158  And as the hand halt harde and alle thyng faste
17,159  Thorugh foure fyngres and a thombe forth with the pawme,
17,160  Right so the Fader and the Sone and Seint Spirit the thridde
17,161  Halt al the wide world withinne hem thre--
17,162  Bothe wolkne and the wynd, water and erthe,
17,163  Hevene and helle and al that ther is inne.
17,164  Thus it is--nedeth no man to trowe noon oother--
17,165  That thre thynges bilongeth in Oure Lord of hevene,
17,166  And aren serelepes by hemself, asondry were thei nevere,
17,167  Namoore than may an hande meve withoute fyngres.
17,168  "And as my fust is ful hand yfolden togideres,
17,169  So is the Fader a ful God, formour and shappere---
17,169  {Tu fabricator omnium &c--}
17,170  And al the myght myd hym is in makynge of thynges.
17,171  "The fyngres formen a ful hand to portreye or peynten;
17,172  Kervynge and compasynge is craft of the fyngres.
17,173  Right so is the Sone the science of the Fader
17,174  And ful God as is the Fader, no febler ne no bettre.
17,175  "The pawme is pureliche the hand, hath power by hymselve
17,176  Otherwise than the writhen fust, or werkmanshipe of fyngres;
17,177  For the pawme hath power to putte out the joyntes
17,178  And to unfolde the fust, for hym it bilongeth,
17,179  And receyve that the fyngres recheth and refuse bothe
17,180  Whan he feleth the fust and the fyngres wille.
17,181  "So is the Holy Goost God, neither gretter ne lasse
17,182  Than is the Sire or the Sone, and in the same myghte,
17,183  And alle are thei but o God, as is myn hand and my fyngres,
17,184  Unfolden or folden, my fust and my pawme--
17,185  Al is but an hand, howso I turne it.
17,186  "Ac who is hurte in the hand, evene in the myddes,
17,187  He may receyve right noght--reson it sheweth;
17,188  For the fyngres that folde sholde and the fust make,
17,189  For peyne of the pawme, power hem failleth
17,190  To clucche or to clawe, to clippe or to holde.
17,191  "Were the myddel of myn hand ymaymed or ypersshed,
17,192  I sholde receyve right noght of that I reche myghte;
17,193  Ac though my thombe and my fynges bothe were toshullen
17,194  And the myddel of myn hand withoute male ese,
17,195  In many kynnes maneres I myghte myself helpe
17,196  Bothe meve and amende, though alle my fyngres oke.
17,197  "By this skile,' he seide, I se an evidence
17,198  That whoso synneth in the Seint Spirit, assoilled worth he nevere,
17,199  Neither here ne elliswhere, as I herde telle--
17,199  {Qui peccat in Spiritum Sanctum &c--}
17,200  For he priketh God as in the pawme, that peccat in Spiritu[m] Sanctu[m].
17,201  For God the Fader is as a fust; the Sone is as a fynger;
17,202  The Holy Goost of hevene is as it were the pawme.
17,203  So whoso synneth ayeyns the Seint Spirit, it semeth that he greveth
17,204  God that he grypeth with, and wolde his grace quenche.
17,205  "For to a torche or a tapur the Trinite is likned--
17,206  As wex and a weke were twyned togideres,
17,207  And thanne a fir flawmynge forth out of bothe.
17,208  And as wex and weke and warm fir togideres
17,209  Fostren forth a flawmbe and a fair leye
17,210  [That serveth thise swynkeres to se by anightes],
17,211  So dooth the Sire and the Sone and also Spiritus Sanctus
17,212  Fostren forth amonges folk love and bileve,
17,213  That alle kynne Cristene clenseth of synnes.
17,214  And as thow seest som tyme sodeynliche a torche--
17,215  The blase therof yblowe out, yet brenneth the weke--
17,216  Withouten leye or light, that [lowe] the macche brenneth;
17,217  So is the Holy Goost God, and grace withoute mercy
17,218  To alle unkynde creatures that coveite to destruye
17,219  Lele love or lif that Oure Lord shapte.
17,220  "And as glowynge gledes gladeth noght thise werkmen
17,221  That werchen and waken in wyntres nyghtes,
17,222  As dooth a kex or a candle that caught hath fir and blaseth,
17,223  Namoore dooth Sire ne Sone ne Seint Spirit togideres
17,224  Graunte no grace ne forgifnesse of synnes
17,225  Til the Holy Goost gynne to glowe and to blase;
17,226  So that the Holy Goost gloweth but as a glede
17,227  Til that lele love ligge on hym and blowe.
17,228  And thanne flawmeth he as fir on Fader and on Filius
17,229  And melteth hire myght into mercy-- as men may se in wyntre
17,230  Ysekeles in evesynges thorugh hete of the sonne
17,231  Melte in a mynut while to myst and to watre.
17,232  "So grace of the Holy Goost the greet myght of the Trinite
17,233  Melteth to mercy--to merciable and to noon othere.
17,234  And as wex withouten moore on a warm glede
17,235  Wol brennen and blasen, be thei togideres,
17,236  And solacen hem that mowe [noght] se, that sitten in derknesse,
17,237  So wol the Fader foryyve folk of mylde hertes
17,238  That rufully repenten and restitucion make,
17,239  In as muche as thei mowen amenden and paien;
17,240  And if it suffise noght for assetz, that in swich a wille deyeth,
17,241  Mercy for his mekenesse wol maken good the remenaunt.
17,242  And as the weke and fir wol maken a warm flaumbe
17,243  For to murthen men with that in merke sitten,
17,244  So wole Crist of his curteisie, and men crye hym mercy,
17,245  Bothe foryyve and foryete, and yit bidde for us
17,246  To the Fader of hevene foryifnesse to have.
17,247  "Ac hewe fir at a flynt foure hundred wynter--
17,248  But thow have tache to take it with, tonder or broches,
17,249  Al thi labour is lost and al thi long travaille;
17,250  For may no fir flaumbe make, faille it his kynde.
17,251  So is the Holy Goost God and grace withouten mercy
17,252  To alle unkynde creatures--Crist hymself witnesseth:
17,252  {Amen dico vobis, nescio vos &c.}
17,253  "Be unkynde to thyn evenecristene, and al that thow kanst bidde--
17,254  Delen and do penaunce day and nyght evere,
17,255  And purchace al the pardon of Pampilon and Rome,
17,256  And indulgences ynowe, and be {ingratus} to thi kynde,
17,257  The Holy Goost hereth thee noght, ne help may thee by reson;
17,258  For unkyndenesse quencheth hym, that he kan noght shyne,
17,259  Ne brenne ne blase clere, for blowynge of unkyndenesse.
17,260  Poul the Apostel preveth wheither I lye:
17,260  {Si linguis hominum loquar &c.}
17,261  " Forthi beth war, ye wise men that with the world deleth,
17,262  That riche ben and reson knoweth--ruleth wel youre soule;
17,263  Beth noght unkynde, I conseille yow, to youre evenecristene;
17,264  For manye of yow riche men, by my soule, men telleth,
17,265  Ye brenne, but ye blase noght, and that is a blynd bekene!--
17,265  {Non omnis qui dicit Domine, Domine, intrabit &c.}
17,266  " Dives deyde dampned for his unkyndenesse
17,267  Of his mete and his moneie to men that it nedede.
17,268  Ech a riche, I rede, reward at hym take,
17,269  And gyveth youre good to that God that grace of ariseth.
17,270  For that ben unkynde to hise. hope I noon oother
17,271  But thei dwelle ther Dives is dayes withouten ende.
17,272  "Thus is unkyndenesse the contrarie that quencheth, as it were,
17,273  The grace of the Holy Goost, Goddes owene kynde.
17,274  For that kynde dooth, unkynde fordooth--as thise corsede theves,
17,275  Unkynde Cristene men, for coveitise and envye
17,276  Sleeth a man for hise moebles, with mouth or with handes.
17,277  For that the Holy Goost hath to kepe, tho harlotes destruyeth--
17,278  The which is lif and love, the leye of mannes body.
17,279  For every manere good man may be likned to a torche,
17,280  Or ellis to a tapur, to reverence the Trinite;
17,281  And whoso morthereth a good man, me thynketh, by myn inwit,
17,282  He fordooth the levest light that Oure Lord lovyeth.
17,283  "Ac yet in manye mo maneres men offenden the Holy Goost;
17,284  Ac this is the worste wise that any wight myghte
17,285  Synnen ayein the Seint Spirit--assenten to destruye
17,286  For coveitise of any kynnes thyng that Crist deere boughte.
17,287  How myghte he aske mercy, or any mercy hym hel
17,288  That wikkedliche and wilfulliche wolde mercy aniente?
17,289  "Innocence is next God, and nyght and day it crieth
17,290  ""Vengeaunce ! Vengeaunce! Foryyve be it nevere
17,291  That shente us and shedde oure blood--forshapte us, as it semed:
17,291  { Vindica sanguinem iustorum .''}
17,292  Thus "" Vengeaunce, vengeaunce!'' verrey charite asketh;
17,293  And sith Holy Chirche and charite chargeth this so soore,
17,294  Leve I nevere that Oure Lord wol love that charite lakketh,
17,295  Ne have pite for any preiere [that he pleyneth ther].'
17,296  "I pose I hadde synned so, and sholde now deye,
17,297  And now am sory that I so the Seint Spirit agulte,
17,298  Confesse me and crye his grace, God that al made,
17,299  And myldeliche his mercy aske--myghte I noght be saved?'
17,300  "Yis,' seide the Samaritan, "so thow myghte repente
17,301  That rightwisnesse thorugh repentaunce to ruthe myghte turne.
17,302  Ac it is but selden yseighe, ther soothnesse bereth witnesse,
17,303  Any creature be coupable afore a kynges justice,
17,304  Be raunsoned for his repentaunce ther alle reson hym dampneth.
17,305  For ther that partie pursueth the peel is so huge
17,306  That the kyng may do no mercy til bothe men acorde
17,307  And eyther have equite, as holy writ telleth:
17,307  { Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c.}
17,308  Thus it fareth by swich folk that falsly al hire lyves
17,309  Yvele lyven and leten noght til lif hem forsake.
17,310  Drede of desperacion thanne dryveth awey grace,
17,311  That mercy in hir mynde may noght thanne falle;
17,312  Good hope, that helpe sholde, to wanhope torneth--
17,313  Noght of the nounpower of God, that he ne is myghtful
17,314  To amende al that amys is, and his mercy gretter
17,315  Thanne alle our wikkede werkes, as Holy Writ telleth--
17,315  {Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius--}
17,316  Ac er his rightwisnesse to ruthe torne, som restitucion bihoveth:
17,317  His sorwe is satisfaccion for [swich] that may noght paie.
17,318  "Thre thynges ther ben that doon a man by strengthe
17,319  For to fleen his owene hous, as Holy Writ sheweth.
17,320  That oon is a wikkede wif that wol noght be chastised:
17,321  Hir feere fleeth hire for feere of hir tonge.
17,322  And if his hous be unhiled, and reyne on his bedde,
17,323  He seketh and seketh til he slepe drye.
17,324  And whan smoke and smolder smyt in his sighte,
17,325  It dooth hym worse than his wif or wete to slepe.
17,326  For smoke and smolder smerteth hise eighen
17,327  Til he be bler eighed or blynde and [the borre] in the throte,
17,328  Cogheth and curseth that Crist gyve hym sorwe
17,329  That sholde brynge in bettre wode, or blowe it til it brende!
17,330  "Thise thre that I telle of thus ben to understonde:
17,331  The wif is oure wikked flessh that wol noght be chastised,
17,332  For kynde clyveth on hym evere to contrarie the soule.
17,333  And though it falle, it fynt skiles, that "" Frelete it made,''
17,334  And ""That is lightly foryyven and foryeten bothe
17,335  To man that mercy asketh and amende thenketh.''
17,336  "The reyn that reyneth ther we reste sholde
17,337  Ben siknesses and sorwes that we suffren oughte,
17,338  As Poul the Apostle to the peple taughte:
17,338  {Virtus in infirmitate perficitur.}
17,339  And though that men make muche doel in hir angre,
17,340  And ben inpacient in hir penaunce, pure reson knoweth
17,341  That thei han cause to contrarie, by kynde of hir siknesse;
17,342  And lightliche Oure Lord at hir lyves ende
17,343  Hath mercy on swiche men, that so yvele may suffre.
17,344  "Ac the smoke and the smolder that smyt in oure eighen,
17,345  That is coveitise and unkyndenesse, that quencheth Goddes mercy.
17,346  For unkyndenesse is the contrarie of alle kynnes reson;
17,347  For ther nys sik ne sory, ne noon so muche wrecche
17,348  That he ne may lovye, and hym like, and lene of his herte
17,349  Good wille, good word--bothe wisshen and wilnen
17,350  Alle manere men mercy and foryifnesse,
17,351  And lovye hem lik hymself, and his lif amende.
17,352  "I may no lenger lette!' quod he, and lyard he prikede,
17,353  And wente awey as wynd--and therwith I awakede.
18,1  Wolleward and weetshoed wente I forth after
18,2  As a recchelees renk that [reccheth of no wo],
18,3  And yede forth lik a lorel al my lif tyme,
18,4  Til I weex wery of the world and wilned eft to slepe,
18,5  And lened me to a Lenten--and longe tyme I slepte;
18,6  Reste me there and rutte faste til ramis palmarum.
18,7  Of gerlis and of Gloria, laus gretly me dremed
18,8  And how osanna by organye olde folk songen,
18,9  And of Cristes passion and penaunce, the peple that ofraughte.
18,10  Oon semblable to the Samaritan, and somdeel to Piers the Plowman,
18,11  Barefoot on an asse bak bootles cam prikye,
18,12  Withouten spores other spere; spakliche he loked,
18,13  As is the kynde of a knyght that cometh to be dubbed,
18,14  To geten hym gilte spores on galoches ycouped.
18,15  Thanne was Feith in a fenestre, and cryde "At Fili David!'
18,16  As dooth an heraud of armes whan aventrous cometh to iustes.
18,17  Olde Jewes of Jerusalem for joye thei songen,
18,17  {  Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.}
18,18  Thanne I frayned at Feith what al that fare bymente,
18,19  And who sholde juste in Jerusalem. "jesus,' he seide,
18,20  "And fecche that the fend claymeth--Piers fruyt the Plowman.'
18,21  "Is Piers in this place?' quod I, and he preynte on me.
18,22  "This Jesus of his gentries wol juste in Piers armes,
18,23  In his helm and in his haubergeon--humana natura.
18,24  That Crist be noght biknowe here for consummatus Deus,
18,25  In Piers paltok the Plowman this prikiere shal ryde;
18,26  For no dynt shal hym dere as in deitate Patris.'
18,27  "Who shal juste with Jesus?' quod I, "Jewes or scrybes?'
18,28  "Nay,' quod Feith, "but the fend and fals doom to deye.
18,29  Deeth seith he shal fordo and adoun brynge
18,30  Al that lyveth or loketh in londe or in watre.
18,31  Lif seith that he lieth, and leieth his lif to wedde
18,32  That, for al that Deeth kan do, withinne thre daies to walke
18,33  And fecche fro the fend Piers fruyt the Plowman,
18,34  And legge it ther hym liketh, and Lucifer bynde,
18,35  And forbete and adoun brynge bale-deeth for evere:
18,35  {   O Mors ero mors tua!'}
18,36  Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple, sedens pro tribunali,
18,37  To se how doghtiliche Deeth sholde do, and deme hir botheres right.
18,38  The Jewes and the justice ayeins Jesu thei weere,
18,39  And al the court on hym cryde 'Crucifige!' sharpe.
18,40  Tho putte hym forth a p[e]lour bifore Pilat and seide,
18,41  "This Jesus of oure Jewes temple japed and despised,
18,42  To fordoon it on o day, and in thre dayes after
18,43  Edifie it eft newe--here he stant that seide it--
18,44  And yit maken it as muche in alle manere poyntes
18,45  Bothe as long and as large a lofte and by grounde.'
18,46  " Crucifige!' quod a cachepol, " I warante hym a wicche!'
18,47  " Tolle, tolle!' quod another, and took of kene thornes,
18,48  And bigan of [gr]ene thorn a garland to make,
18,49  And sette it sore on his heed and seide in envye,
18,50  "A ve, rabyt' quod that ribaud--and threw reedes at hym,
18,51  Nailed hym with thre nailes naked on the roode,
18,52  And poison on a poole thei putte up to hise lippes,
18,53  And beden hym drynken his deeth-yvel--hise dayes were ydone--
18,54  And [seiden], " If that thow sotil be, help now thiselve;
18,55  If thow be Crist and kynges sone, com down of the roode;
18,56  Thanne shul we leve that lif thee loveth and wol noght lete thee deye!'
18,57  " Consummatum est,' quod Crist, and comsede for to swoune,
18,58  Pitousliche and pale as a prison that deieth;
18,59  The lord of lif and of light tho leide hise eighen togideres.
18,60  The day for drede withdrough and derk bicam the sonne.
18,61  The wal waggede and cleef, and al the world quaved.
18,62  Dede men for that dene come out of depe graves,
18,63  And tolde why that tempeste so longe tyme durede.
18,64  "For a bitter bataille,' the dede body seide;
18,65  "Lif and Deeth in this derknesse, hir oon fordooth hir oother.
18,66  Shal no wight wite witterly who shal have the maistrie
18,67  Er Sonday aboute sonne risyng'--and sank with that til erthe.
18,68  Some seide that he was Goddes sone, that so faire deyde:
18,68  {   Vere filius Dei erat iste.}
18,69  And some seide he was a wicche--"Good is that we assaye
18,70  Wher he be deed or noght deed, doun er he be taken.'
18,71  Two theves also tholed deeth that tyme
18,72  Upon a croos bisides Crist--so was the comune lawe.
18,73  A cachepol cam forth and craked bothe hir legges,
18,74  And hir armes after of either of tho theves.
18,75  Ac was no boy so boold Goddes body to touche;
18,76  For he was knyght and kynges sone, Kynde foryaf that throwe
18,77  That noon harlot were so hardy to leyen hond upon hym.
18,78  Ac ther cam forth a knyght with a kene spere ygrounde,
18,79  Highte Longeus, as the lettre telleth, and longe hadde lore his sight.
18,80  Bifore Pilat and oother peple in the place he hoved.
18,81  Maugree his manye teeth he was maad that tyme
18,82  To [justen with Jesus, this blynde Jew Longeus].
18,83  For alle thei were unhardy, that hoved on horse or stode,
18,84  To touchen hym or to tasten hym or taken hym doun of roode,
18,85  But this blynde bacheler, that baar hym thorugh the herte.
18,86  The blood sprong doun by the spere and unspered the knyghtes eighen.
18,87  Thanne fil the knyght upon knees and cryde Jesu mercy:
18,88  "Ayein my wille it was, Lord, to wownde yow so soore!"
18,89  He sighed and seide, " Soore it me athynketh!
18,90  For the dede that I have doon I do me in youre grace.
18,91  Have on me ruthe, rightful Jesu!'--and right with that he wepte.
18,92  Thanne gan Feith felly the false Jewes despise--
18,93  Callede hem caytyves acorsed for evere:
18,94  " For this foule vileynye vengeaunce to yow falle!
18,95  To do the blynde bete hym ybounde, it was a boyes counseille.
18,96  Cursede caytyves! Knyghthood was it nevere
18,97  To mysdo a deed body by daye or by nyghte.
18,98  The gree yit hath he geten, for al his grete wounde.
18,99  " For youre champion chivaler, chief knyght of yow alle,
18,100  Yilt hym recreaunt rennyng, right at Jesus wille.
18,101  For be this derknesse ydo, Deeth worth yvenquisshed;
18,102  And ye, lurdaynes, han ylost--for Lif shal have the maistrye.
18,103  And youre fraunchyse, that fre was, fallen is in thraldom,
18,104  And ye, cherles, and youre children, cheve shulle ye nevere,
18,105  Ne have lordshipe in londe, ne no lond tilye,
18,106  But al barayne be and usurie usen,
18,107  Which is lif that Oure Lord in alle lawes acurseth.
18,108  Now youre goode dayes arn doon, as Daniel prophecied:
18,109  Whan Crist cam hir kyngdom the crowne sholde lese--
18,109  {Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit unxio vestra.'}
18,110  What for feere of this ferly and of the false Jewes,
18,111  I drow me in that derknesse to descendit ad inferna,
18,112  And there I saugh soothly, secundum scripturas,
18,113  Out of the west coste, a wenche, as me thoughte,
18,114  Cam walkynge in the wey; to helleward she loked.
18,115  Mercy highte that mayde, a meke thyng with alle,
18,116  A ful benigne burde, and buxom of speche.
18,117  Hir suster, as it semed, cam softely walkynge
18,118  Evene out of the est, and westward she lokede--
18,119  A ful comely creature [and a clene], Truthe she highte;
18,120  For the vertue that hire folwede, afered was she nevere.
18,121  Whan thise maydenes mette, Mercy and Truthe,
18,122  Either asked oother of this grete wonder--
18,123  Of the dyn and of the derknesse, and how the day rowed,
18,124  And which a light and a leme lay bifore helle.
18,125  "Ich have ferly of this fare, in feith,' seide Truthe,
18,126  "And am wendynge to wite what this wonder meneth.'
18,127  "Have no merveille', quod Mercy, "murthe it bitokneth.
18,128  A maiden that highte Marie, and moder withouten felyng
18,129  Of any kynde creature, conceyved thorugh speche
18,130  And grace of the Holy Goost; weex greet with childe;
18,131  Withouten wem into this world she broghte hym;
18,132  And that my tale be trewe, I take God to witnesse.
18,133  "Sith this barn was ybore ben thritti wynter passed,
18,134  Which deide and deeth tholed this day aboute mydday--
18,135  And that is cause of this clips that closeth now the sonne,
18,136  In menynge that man shal fro merknesse be drawe
18,137  The while this light and this leme shal Lucifer ablende.
18,138  For patriarkes and prophetes han preched herof often--
18,139  That man shal man save thorugh a maydenes helpe,
18,140  And that was tynt thorugh tree, tree shal it wynne,
18,141  And that Deeth down broughte, deeth shal releve.'
18,142  "That thow tellest; quod Truthe, "is but a tale of waltrot!
18,143  For Adam and Eve and Abraham with othere
18,144  Patriarkes and prophetes that in peyne liggen,
18,145  Leve thow nevere that yon light hem alofte brynge,
18,146  Ne have hem out of helle--hold thi tonge, Mercy!
18,147  It is but trufle that thow tellest--I, Truthe, woot the sothe.
18,148  For that is ones in helle, out cometh it nevere;
18,149  Job the prophete patriark repreveth thi sawes:
18,149  {Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.'}
18,150  Thanne Mercy ful myldely mouthed thise wordes:
18,151  "Thorugh experience,' quod he[o], " I hope thei shul be saved.
18,152  For venym fordooth venym--and that I preve by reson.
18,153  For of alle venymes foulest is the scorpion;
18,154  May no medicyne [am]e[nd]e the place ther he styngeth,
18,155  Til he be deed and do therto--the yvel he destruyeth,
18,156  The firste venymouste, thorugh vertu of hymselve.
18,157  So shal this deeth fordo--I dar my lif legge--
18,158  Al that deeth dide first thorugh the develes entisyng;
18,159  And right as thorugh [gilours] gil;e [bigiled was man],
18,160  So shal grace that al bigan make a good ende
18,161  [And bigile the gilour--and that is good] sleighte:
18,161  { Ars ut artem falleret.'}
18,162  "Now suffre we!' seide Truthe, " I se, as me thynketh,
18,163  Out of the nyppe of the north, noght ful fer hennes,
18,164  Rightwisnesse come rennynge; reste we the while,
18,165  For he[o] woot moore than we--he[o] was er we bothe.'
18,166  "That is sooth,' seide Mercy, "and I se here by sowthe
18,167  Where cometh Pees pleyinge, in pacience yclothed.
18,168  Love hath coveited hire longe--leve I noon oother
18,169  But [Love] sente hire som lettre, what this light bymeneth
18,170  That overhoveth helle thus; she us shal telle.'
18,171  Whan Pees in pacience yclothed approched ner hem tweyne,
18,172  Rightwisnesse hire reverenced for hir riche clothyng,
18,173  And preide Pees to telle hire to whit place she wolde
18,174  And in hire gaye garnements whom she grete thoughte?
18,175  "My wil is to wende,' quod she, "and welcome hem alle
18,176  That many day myghte I noght se for merknesse of synne--
18,177  Adam and Eve and othere mo in helle,
18,178  Moyses and many mo; Mercy shul [synge],
18,179  And I shal daunce therto--do thow so, suster!
18,180  For Jesus justede wel, joye bigynneth dawe:
18,180  { Ah vesperum demorabitur fletus, et ad matutinum leticia.}
18,181  " Love, that is my lemman, swiche lettres me sente
18,182  That Mercy, my suster, and I mankynde sholde save,
18,183  And that God hath forgyven and graunted me, Pees, and Mercy
18,184  To be mannes meynpernour for everemoore after.
18,185  Lo, here the patente!' quod Pees, "In pace in idipsum,
18,186  And that this dede shal dure, dormiam et requiescam.'
18,187  "What, ravestow?' quod Rightwisnesse; "or thow art righty dronke!
18,188  Levestow that yond light unlouke myghte helle
18,189  And save mannes soule? Suster, wene it nevere!
18,190  At the bigynnyng God gaf the doom hymselve--
18,191  That Adam and Eve and alle that hem suwede
18,192  Sholden deye downrighte, and dwelle in peyne after
18,193  If that thei touchede a tree and of the fruyt eten.
18,194  Adam afterward, ayeins his defence,
18,195  Freet of that fruyt, and forsook, as it were,
18,196  The love of Oure Lord and his loore bothe
18,197  And folwede that the fend taughte and his felawes wille
18,198  Ayeins reson--I, Rightwisnesse, recorde thus with Truthe
18,199  That hir peyne be perpetuel and no preiere hem helpe.
18,200  Forthi lat hem chewe as thei chosen, and chide we noght, sustres,
18,201  For it is botelees bale, the byte that thei eten.'
18,202  "And I shal preie,' quod Pees, "hir peyne moot have ende,
18,203  And wo into wele mowe wenden at the laste.
18,204  For hadde thei wist of no wo, wele hadde thei noght knowen;
18,205  For no wight woot what wele is, that nevere wo suffrede,
18,206  Ne what is hoot hunger, that hadde nevere defaute.
18,207  If no nyght ne weere, no man, as I leve,
18,208  Sholde wite witterly what day is to meene.
18,209  Sholde nevere right riche man that lyveth in reste and ese
18,210  Wite what wo is, ne were the deeth of kynde.
18,211  So God that bigan al of his goode wille
18,212  Bicam man of a mayde mankynde to save,
18,213  And suffrede to be sold, to se the sorwe of deying,
18,214  The which unknytteth alle care, and comsynge is of reste.
18,215  For til modicum mete with us, I may it wel avowe,
18,216  Woot no wight, as I wene, what is ynogh to mene.
18,217  " Forthi God, of his goodnesse, the firste gome Adam,
18,218  Sette hym in solace and in sovereyn murthe;
18,219  And siththe he suffred hym synne, sorwe to feele--
18,220  To wite what wele was, kyndeliche to knowe it.
18,221  And after, God auntrede hymself and took Adames kynde
18,222  To wite what he hath suffred in thre sondry places,
18,223  Bothe in hevene and in erthe--and now til helle he thenketh,
18,224  To wite what alle wo is, that woot of alle joye.
18,225  "So it shal fare by this folk: hir folie and hir synne
18,226  Shal lere hem what langour is, and lisse withouten ende.
18,227  Woot no wight what werre is ther that pees regneth,
18,228  Ne what is witterly wele til ""weylawey'' hym teche.'
18,229  Thanne was ther a wight with two brode eighen;
18,230  Book highte that beaupeere, a bold man of speche.
18,231  "By Goddes body!' quod this Book, "I wol bere witnesse
18,232  That tho this barn was ybore, ther blased a sterre
18,233  That alle the wise of this world in o wit acordeden--
18,234  That swich a barn was ybore in Bethleem the citee
18,235  That mannes soule sholde save and synne destroye.
18,236  "And alle the elements,' quod the Book, "herof beren witnesse.
18,237  That he was God that al wroghte the wolkne first shewed:
18,238  Tho that weren in hevene token {stella comata}
18,239  And tendeden hire as a torche to reverencen his burthe;
18,240  The light folwede the Lord into the lowe erthe.
18,241  The water witnesseth that he was God, for he wente on it;
18,242  Peter the Apostel parceyved his gate,
18,243  And as he wente on the water wel hym knew, and seide,
18,244  ""tube me venire ad te super aquas.''
18,245  And lo! how the sonne gan louke hire light in hirselve
18,246  Whan she seigh hym suffre, that sonne and see made.
18,247  The erthe for hevynesse that he wolde suffre
18,248  Quaked as quyk thyng and al biquasshed the roche.
18,249  "Lo! helle myghte nat holde, but opnede tho God tholede,
18,250  And leet out Symondes sones to seen hym hange on roode.
18,251  And now shal Lucifer leve it, though hym looth thynke.
18,252  For Gigas the geaunt with a gyn engyned
18,253  To breke and to bete adoun that ben ayeins Jesus.
18,254  And I, Book, wole be brent, but Jesus rise to lyve
18,255  In alle myghtes of man, and his moder gladie,
18,256  And conforte al his kyn and out of care brynge,
18,257  And al the Jewene joye unjoynen and unlouken;
18,258  And but thei reverencen his roode and his resurexion,
18,259  And bileve on a newe lawe, be lost, lif and soule!'
18,260  "Suffre we!' seide Truthe, "I here and see bothe
18,261  A spirit speketh to helle and biddeth unspere the yates:
18,261  {"Attolite portas."}
18,262  A vois loude in that light to Lucifer crieth,
18,263  ""Prynces of this place, unpynneth and unlouketh!
18,264  For here cometh with crowne that kyng is of glorie.'"
18,265  Thanne sikede Sathan, and seide to helle,
18,266  "Swich a light, ayeins oure leve, Lazar it fette;
18,267  Care and combraunce is comen to us alle!
18,268  If this kyng come in, mankynde wole he fecche,
18,269  And lede it ther Lazar is, and lightliche me bynde.
18,270  Patriarkes and prophetes han parled herof longe--
18,271  That swich a lord and a light shal lede hem alle hennes.'
18,272  "Listneth!' quod Lucifer, "for I this lord knowe;
18,273  Bothe this lord and this light, is longe ago I knew hym.
18,274  May no deeth this lord dere, ne no develes queyntise,
18,275  And where he wole, is his wey--ac ware hym of the perils!
18,276  If he reve me of my right, he robbeth me by maistrie;
18,277  For by right and by reson the renkes that ben here
18,278  Body and soule beth myne, bothe goode and ille.
18,279  For hymself seide, that sire is of hevene,
18,280  That if Adam ete the appul, alle sholde deye,
18,281  And dwelle [in deol] with us develes--this thretynge he made.
18,282  And [sithen] he that Soothnesse is seide thise wordes,
18,283  And I sithen iseised sevene [thousand] wynter,
18,284  I leeve that lawe nyl noght lete hym the leeste.'
18,285  "That is sooth,' seide Satan, "but I me soore drede;
18,286  For thow gete hem with gile, and his gardyn breke,
18,287  And in semblaunce of a serpent sete on the appultre,
18,288  And eggedest hem to ete, Eve by hirselve,
18,289  And toldest hire a tale--of treson were the wordes;
18,290  And so thou haddest hem out and hider at the laste.
18,291  It is noght graithly geten, ther gile is the roote!'
18,292  " For God wol noght be bigiled,' quod Gobelyn, " ne byjaped.
18,293  We have no trewe title to hem, for thorugh treson were thei dampned.'
18,294  " Certes, I drede me,' quod the Devel, "lest Truthe wol hem fecche.
18,295  Thise thritty wynter, as I wene, he wente aboute and preched.
18,296  I have assailled hym with synne, and som tyme I asked
18,297  Wheither he were God or Goddes sone--he gaf me short answere;
18,298  And thus hath he trolled forth thise two and thritty wynter.
18,299  And whan I seigh it was so, slepynge I wente
18,300  To warne Pilates wif what done man was Jesus;
18,301  For Jewes hateden hym and han doon hym to dethe.
18,302  I wolde have lengthed his lif--for I leved, if he deide,
18,303  That his soule wolde suffre no synne in his sighte;
18,304  For the body, while it on bones yede, aboute was evere
18,305  To save men from synne if hemself wolde.
18,306  And now I se wher a soule cometh [silynge hiderward]
18,307  With glorie and with gret light--God it is, I woot wel!
18,308  I rede we fle,' quod he, "faste alle hennes--
18,309  For us were bettre noght be than biden his sighte.
18,310  For thi lesynges, Lucifer, lost is al oure praye.
18,311  First thorugh the we fellen fro hevene so heighe;
18,312  For we leved thi lesynges, we lopen out alle with thee;
18,313  And now for thi laste lesynge, ylorn we have Adam,
18,314  And al oure lordshipe, I leve, a londe and a watre:
18,314  { Nunc Princeps huius mundi eicietur foras.'}
18,315  Eft the light bad unlouke, and Lucifer answerde,
18,316  " Quis est iste ?
18,317  What lord artow?' quod Lucifer. The light soone seide,
18,318  Rex glorie,
18,319  The lord of myght and of mayn and alle manere vertues--
18,319  {Dominus virtutum.}
18,320  Dukes of this dymme place, anoon undo thise yates,
18,321  That Crist may come in, the Kynges sone of Hevene!'
18,322  And with that breeth helle brak, with Belialles barres--
18,323  For any wye or warde, wide open the yates.
18,324  Patriarkes and prophetes, populus in tenebris,
18,325  Songen Seint Johanes song, " Ecce Agnus Dei.'
18,326  Lucifer loke ne myghte, so light hym ablente.
18,327  And tho that Oure Lord lovede, into his light he laughte,
18,328  And seide to Sathan, "Lo! here my soule to amendes
18,329  For alle synfulle soules, to save tho that ben worthi.
18,330  Myne thei ben and of me--I may the bet hem cleyme.
18,331  Although reson recorde, and right of myselve,
18,332  That if thei ete the appul, alle sholde deye,
18,333  I bihighte hem noght here helle for evere.
18,334  For the dede that thei dide, thi deceite it made;
18,335  With gile thow hem gete, ageyn alle reson.
18,336  For in my paleis, Paradis, in persone of an addre,
18,337  Falsliche thow fettest there thyng that I lovede.
18,338  "Thus ylik a lusard with a lady visage,
18,339  Thefliche thow me robbedest; the Olde Lawe graunteth
18,340  That gilours be bigiled--and that is good reson:
18,341  Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo.
18,341  {Ergo soule shal soule quyte and synne to synne wende,}
18,342  And al that man hath mysdo, I, man, wole amende it.
18,343  Membre for membre [was amendes by the Olde Lawe],
18,344  And lif for lif also--and by that lawe I clayme
18,345  Adam and al his issue at my wille herafter.
18,346  And that deeth in hem fordide, my deeth shal releve,
18,347  And bothe quyke and quyte that queynt was thorugh synne;
18,348  And that grace gile destruye, good feith it asketh.
18,349  So leve it noght, Lucifer, ayein the lawe I fecche hem,
18,350  But by right and by reson raunsone here my liges:
18,350  {Non veni solvere legem set adimplere.}
18,351  "Thow fettest myne in my place ayeins alle reson--
18,352  Falsliche and felonliche; good feith me it taughte,
18,353  To recovere hem thorugh raunsoun, and by no reson ellis,
18,354  So that with gile thow gete, thorugh grace it is ywonne.
18,355  Thow, Lucifer, in liknesse of a luther addere
18,356  Getest bi gile tho that God lovede;
18,357  And I, in liknesse of a leode, that Lord am of hevene,
18,358  Graciousliche thi gile have quyt--go gile ayein gile!
18,359  And as Adam and alle thorugh a tree deyden,
18,360  Adam and alle thorugh a tree shal turne to lyve;
18,361  And gile is bigiled, and in his gile fallen:
18,361  {Et cecidit in foveam quam fecit.}
18,362  Now bigynneth thi gile ageyn thee to turne
18,363  And my grace to growe ay gretter and widder.
18,364  The bitternesse that thow hast browe, now brouke it thiselve;
18,365  That art doctour of deeth, drynk that thow madest!
18,366  "For I that am lord of lif, love is my drynke,
18,367  And for that drynke today, I deide upon erthe.
18,368  I faught so, me thursteth yet, for mannes soule sake;
18,369  May no drynke me moiste, ne my thurst stake,
18,370  Til the vendage falle in the vale of Josaphat,
18,371  That I drynke right ripe must, resureccio mortuorum.
18,372  And thanne shal I come as a kyng, crouned, with aungeles,
18,373  And have out of helle alle mennes soules.
18,374  " Fendes and fendekynes bifore me shul stande
18,375  And be at my biddyng wheresoevere [be] me liketh.
18,376  Ac to be merciable to man thanne, my kynde it asketh,
18,377  For we beth bretheren of blood, but noght in baptisme alle.
18,378  Ac alle that beth myne hole bretheren, in blood and in baptisme,
18,379  Shul noght be dampned to the deeth that is withouten ende:
18,379  {Tibi soli peccavi &c.}
18,380  "It is noght used on erthe to hangen a feloun
18,381  Ofter than ones, though he were a tretour.
18,382  And if the kyng of that kyngdom come in that tyme
18,383  There the feloun thole sholde deeth oother juwise,
18,384  Lawe wolde he yeve hym lif, and he loked on hym.
18,385  And I that am kyng of kynges shal come swich a tyme
18,386  There doom to the deeth dampneth alle wikked;
18,387  And if lawe wole I loke on hem, it lith in my grace
18,388  Wheither thei deye or deye noght for that thei diden ille.
18,389  Be it any thyng abought, the boldnesse of hir synnes,
18,390  I may do mercy thorugh rightwisnesse, and alle my wordes trewe.
18,391  And though Holy Writ wole that I be wroke of hem that diden ille--
18,391  {Nullum malum impunitum &c--}
18,392  Thei shul be clensed clerliche and [clene] wasshen of hir synnes
18,393  In my prisone Purgatorie, til {parce} it hote.
18,394  And my mercy shal be shewed to manye of my bretheren;
18,395  For blood may suffre blood bothe hungry and acale,
18,396  Ac blood may noght se blood blede, but hym rewe.'
18,396  { Audivi archana verba que non licet homini loqui.}
18,397  "Ac my rightwisnesse and right shal rulen al helle,
18,398  And mercy al mankynde bifore me in hevene.
18,399  For I were an unkynde kyng but I my kyn helpe---
18,400  And nameliche at swich a nede ther nedes help bihoveth:
18,400  {  Non intres in iudicium cum servo tuo.}
18,401  "Thus by lawe,' quod Oure Lord, "lede I wole fro hennes
18,402  Tho [leodes] that I lov[e] and leved in my comynge.
18,403  And for thi lesynge, Lucifer, that thow leighe til Eve,
18,404  Thow shalt abyen it bittre!"--and bond hym with cheynes.
18,405  As troth and al the route hidden hem in hernes;
18,406  They dorste noght loke on Oure Lord, the [lothli]este of hem alle,
18,407  But leten hym lede forth what hym liked and lete what hym liste.
18,408  Manye hundred of aungeles harpeden and songen,
18,409  " Culpat caro, purgat caro, regnat Deus Dei caro.'
18,410  Thanne pipede Pees of poesie a note:
18,410  {  " Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus;}
18,410  {  Post inimicicias clarior est et amor.}
18,411  " After sharpest shoures,' quod Pees, " moost shene is the sonne;
18,412  Is no weder warmer than after watry cloudes;
18,413  Ne no love levere; ne lever frendes
18,414  Than after werre and wo, whan love and pees ben maistres.
18,415  Was nevere werre in this world, ne wikkednesse so kene,
18,416  "That Love, and hym liste, to laughyng ne broughte,
18,417  And Pees, thorugh pacience, alle perils stoppede.'
18,418  " Trewes!' quod Truthe; " thow tellest us sooth, by Jesus!
18,419  Clippe we in covenaunt, and ech of us kisse oother.'
18,420  "And lete no peple,' quod Pees, "parceyve that we chidde;
18,421  For inpossible is no thyng to Hym that is almyghty.'
18,422  "Thow seist sooth,' seide Rightwisnesse, and reverentliche hire kiste,
18,423  Pees, and Pees h[i]re, per secula seculorum.
18,423  { Misericordia et Veritas obviaverunt sibi, justicia et Pax osculate sunt.}
18,424  Truthe trumpede tho and song Te Deum laudamus,
18,425  And thanne lutede Love in a loud note,
18,426     {'Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum &c.'}
18,427  Til the day dawed thise damyseles carolden,
18,428  That men rongen to the resurexion--and right with that I wakede,
18,429  And called Kytte my wif and Calote my doghter:
18,430  "Ariseth and reverenceth Goddes resurexion,
18,431  And crepeth to the cros on knees, and kisseth it for a juwel!
18,432  For Goddes blissede body it bar for oure boote,
18,433  And it afereth the fend--for swich is the myghte,
18,434  May no grisly goost glide there it shadweth!'
19,1  Thus I awaked and wroot what I hadde ydremed,
19,2  And dighte me derely, and dide me to chirche,
19,3  To here holly the masse and to be housled after.
19,4  In myddes of the masse, tho men yede to offryng,
19,5  I fel eftsoones aslepe--and sodeynly me mette
19,6  That Piers the Plowman was peynted al blody,
19,7  And com in with a cros bifore the comune peple,
19,8  And right lik in alle lymes to Oure Lord Jesu.
19,9  And thanne called I Conscience to kenne me the sothe:
19,10  "Is this Jesus the justere,' quod I, "that Jewes dide to dethe?
19,11  Or it is Piers the Plowman! Who peynted hym so rede?'
19,12  Quod Conscience, and kneled tho, " Thise arn Piers armes--
19,13  Hise colours and his cote armure; ac he that cometh so blody
19,14  Is Crist with his cros, conquerour of Cristene.'
19,15  "Why calle ye hym Crist?' quod I, "sithen Jewes called hym Jesus?
19,16  Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied bifore
19,17  That alle kynne creatures sholden knelen and bowen
19,18  Anoon as men nempned the name of God Jesu.
19,19  Ergo is no name to the name of Jesus,
19,20  Ne noon so nedeful to nempne by nyghte ne by daye.
19,21  For alle derke develes arn adrad to heren it,
19,22  And synfulle aren solaced and saved by that name;
19,23  And ye callen hym Crist; for what cause, telleth me?
19,24  Is Crist moore of myght and moore worthi name
19,25  Than Jesu or Jesus, that al oure joye com of?'
19,26  "Thow knowest wel,' quod Conscience, "and thow konne reson,
19,27  That knyght, kyng, conquerour may be o persone.
19,28  To be called a knyght is fair, for men shul knele to hym;
19,29  To be called a kyng is fairer, for he may knyghtes make;
19,30  Ac to be conquerour called, that cometh of special grace,
19,31  And of hardynesse of herte and of hendemesse--
19,32  To make lordes of laddes, of lond that he wynneth,
19,33  And fre men foule thralles, that folwen noght hise lawes.
19,34  'The Jewes, that were gentil men, Jesu thei despised--
19,35  Bothe his loore and his lawe; now are thei lowe cherles.
19,36  As wide as the world is, wonyeth ther noon
19,37  But under tribut and taillage as tikes and cherles;
19,38  And tho that bicome Cristene bi counseil of the Baptiste
19,39  Aren frankeleyns, free men thorugh fullynge that thei toke
19,40  And gentil men with Jesu--for Jesus was yfulled
19,41  And upon Calvarie on cros ycrouned kyng of Jewes.
19,42  " It bicometh to a kyng to kepe and to defende,
19,43  And conqueror of his conquest hise lawes and his large.
19,44  And so dide Jesus the Jewes--he justified and taughte hem
19,45  The lawe of lif that laste shal evere,
19,46  And fended from foule yveles, feveres and fluxes,
19,47  And from fendes that in hem was, and false bileve.
19,48  Tho was he Jesus of Jewes called, gentile prophete,
19,49  And kyng of hir kyngdom, and croune bar of thornes.
19,50  "And tho conquered he on cros as conquerour noble;
19,51  Mighte no deeth hym fordo, ne adoun brynge,
19,52  That he n'aroos and regnede and ravysshed helle.
19,53  And tho was he conquerour called of quyke and of dede.
19,54  For he yaf Adam and Eve and othere mo blisse
19,55  That longe hadde yleyen bifore as Luciferis cherles.
19,56  And took [Lucifer the lothly], that lord was of helle,
19,57  And bond [hym] as [he is bounde], with bondes of yrene.
19,58  Who was hardiere than he? His herte blood he shadde
19,59  To maken alle folk free that folwen his lawe.
19,60  And sith he yeveth largely al his lele liges
19,61  Places in Paradis at hir partynge hennes,
19,62  He my wel be called conquerour--and that is " Crist ' to mene.
19,63  "Ac the cause that he cometh thus with cros of his passion
19,64  Is to wissen us therwith, that whan we ben tempted,
19,65  Therwith to fighte and fenden us fro fallynge into synne,
19,66  And se bi his sorwe that whoso loveth joye,
19,67  To penaunce and to poverte he moste puten hymselven,
19,68  And muche wo in this world wilnen and suffren.
19,69  "Ac to carpe moore of Crist, and how he com to that name,
19,70  Faithly for to speke, his firste name was jesus.
19,71  Tho he was born in Bethleem, as the Book telleth,
19,72  And cam to take mankynde, kynges and aungeles
19,73  Reverenced hym right faire with richesses of erthe.
19,74  Aungeles out of hevene come knelynge and songe,
19,74  {Gloria in excelsis Deo &c.}
19,75  "Kynges come after, knelede and offrede sense,
19,76  Mirre and muche gold withouten mercy askynge
19,77  Or any kynnes catel, but knoweliched[en] hym sovereyn
19,78  Both of sond, sonne and see, and sithenes thei wente
19,79  Into hir kyngene kith by counseil of aungeles.
19,80  And there was that word fulfilled the which thow of speke--
19,80  {Omnia celestia, terrestria, flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu.}
19,81  " For alle the aungeles of hevene at his burthe knelede,
19,82  And al the wit of the world was in tho thre kynges.
19,83  Reson and Rightwisnesse and Ruthe thei offrede,
19,84  Wherfore and why wise men that tyme
19,85  Maistres and lettred men, Magi hem callede.
19,86  " That o kyng cam with Reson, covered under sense.
19,87  The seconde kyng siththe soothliche offrede
19,88  Rightwisnesse under reed gold, Resones felawe.
19,89  Gold is likned to Leautee that laste shal evere,
19,90  And Reson to riche[ls]--to right and to truthe.
19,91  "The thridde kyng tho kam, and knelede to Jesu,
19,92  And presented hym with Pitee, apperynge by mirre;
19,93  For mirre is mercy to mene, and mylde speche of tonge.
19,94  Ertheliche honeste thynges was offred thus at ones
19,95  Thorugh thre kynne kynges knelynge to Jesu.
19,96  "Ac for alle thise preciouse presents Oure Lord Prynce Jesus
19,97  Was neither kyng ne conquerour til he [comsede] wexe
19,98  In the manere of a man, and that by muchel sleighte--
19,99  As it bicometh a conquerour to konne manye sleightes,
19,100  And manye wiles and wit, that wole ben a ledere;
19,101  And so dide Jesu in hise dayes, whoso hadde tyme to telle it.
19,102  "Som tyme he suffrede, and som tyme he hidde hym,
19,103  And som tyme he faught faste, and fleigh outherwhile,
19,104  And som tyme he gaf good and grauntede heele bothe,
19,105  Lif and lyme--as hym liste he wroghte.
19,106  As kynde is of a conquerour, so comsede Jesu
19,107  Til he hadde alle hem that he for bledde.
19,108  " In his juventee this Jesus at Jewene feeste
19,109  Water into wyn turnede, as Holy Writ telleth,
19,110  And there bigan God of his grace to do wel.
19,111  For wyn is likned to lawe and lifholynesse;
19,112  And lawe lakkede tho, for men lovede noght hir enemys;
19,113  And Crist counseileth thus--and comaundeth bothe--
19,114  Bothe to lered and to lewede, to lovyen oure enemys.
19,115  So at that feeste first, as I bifore tolde,
19,116  Bigan God of his grace and goodnesse to dowel:
19,117  And tho was he cleped and called noght oonly Crist but Jesu--
19,118  A fauntekyn ful of wit, filius Marie.
19,119  For bifore his moder Marie made he that wonder,
19,120  That she first and formest sholde ferme bileve
19,121  That he thorugh Grace was gete, and of no gome ellis.
19,122  He wroghte that by no wit but thorugh word one,
19,123  After the kynde that he cam of; there comsede he Dowel.
19,124  "And whan he was woxen moore, in his moder absence,
19,125  He made lame to lepe and yaf light to blynde,
19,126  And fedde with two fisshes and with fyve lowes
19,127  Sore afyngred folk, mo than fyve thousand.
19,128  Thus he confortede carefulle and caughte a gretter name,
19,129  The which was Dobet, where that he wente.
19,130  For deve thorugh hise doynges and dombe speke and herde,
19,131  And alle he heeled and halp that hym of grace askede.
19,132  And tho was he called in contre of the comune peple,
19,133  For the dedes that he dide, Fili David, Ihesus.
19,134  For David was doghtiest of dedes in his tyme,
19,135  The burdes tho songe, Saul interfecit mille et David decem milia.
19,136  Forthi the contree ther Jesu cam called hym fili David,
19,137  And nempned hym of Nazareth--and no man so worthi
19,138  To be kaiser or kyng of the kyngdom of Juda,
19,139  Ne over Jewes justice, as Jesus was, hem thoughte.
19,140  "Wherof hadde Cayphas envye, and othere of the Jewes,
19,141  And for to doon hym to dethe day and nyght thei casten;
19,142  And killeden hym on cros wise at Calvarie on Friday,
19,143  And sithen buriede his body, and beden that men sholde
19,144  Kepen it fro nyghtcomeris with knyghtes yarmed,
19,145  For no frend sholde it fecche; for prophetes hem tolde
19,146  That that blissede body of burieles sholde risen,
19,147  And goon into Galilee and gladen hise Apostles
19,148  And his moder Marie--thus men bifore demede.
19,149  "The knyghtes that kepten it biknewe hemselven
19,150  That aungeles and archaungeles er the day spronge
19,151  Come knelynge to that corps and songen
19,152  Christus resurgens--and it aroos after,
19,153  Verray man bifore hem alle, and forth with hem he yede.
19,154  "The Jewes preide hem of pees, and [pre-ide] the knyghtes
19,155  Telle the comune that ther cam a compaignie of hise Apostles
19,156  And biwicched hem as thei woke, and awey stolen it.
19,157  "Ac Marie Maudeleyne mette hym by the weye
19,158  Goynge toward Galilee in godhede and manhede,
19,159  And lyves and lokynge--and she aloud cride
19,160  In ech a compaignie ther she cam, "" Christus resurgens!''
19,161  Thus cam it out that Crist overcoom, recoverede and lyvede:
19,161  { Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare &c.}
19,162  For that wommen witeth may noght wel be counseille!
19,163  "Peter parceyved al this and pursued after,
19,164  Bothe James and Johan, Jesu for to seke.
19,165  Thaddee and ten mo. with Thomas of Inde.
19,166  And as alle thise wise wyes weren togideres
19,167  In an hous al bishet and hir dore ybarred,
19,168  Crist cam in--and al closed both dore and yates--
19,169  To Peter and to hise Apostles, and seide, "" Pax vobis;'
19,170  And took Thomas by the hind and taughte hym to grope.
19,171  And feele with hise fyngres his flesshliche herte.
19,172  "Thomas touched it, and with his tonge seide,
19,173  " Dominus meus et Deus meus.
19,174  Thow art my lord, I bileve, God Lord Jesu!
19,175  Thow deidest and deeth tholedest and deme shalt us alle,
19,176  And now art lyvynge and lokynge, and laste shalt evere!'
19,177  "Crist carpede thanne, and curteisliche seide,
19,178  ""Thomas, for thow trowest this and treweliche bilevest it,
19,179  Blessed mote thow be, and be shalt for evere.
19,180  And blessed mote thei be, in body and in soule,
19,181  That nevere shul se me in sighte as thow seest nowthe,
19,182  And lelliche bileve al this I love hem and blesse hem:
19,182  { Beati qui non viderunt et crediderunt.''}
19,183  "And whan this dede was doon, Dobest he [thou]ghte,
19,184  And yaf Piers power, and pardon he grauntede:
19,185  To alle maner men, mercy and foryifnesse;
19,186  [To] hym, myghte men to assoille of alle manere synnes.
19,187  In covenaunt that thei come and kneweliche to paye
19,188  To Piers pardon the Plowman--Redde quod debes.
19,189  "Thus hath Piers power, be his pardon paied,
19,190  To bynde and unbynde bothe here and ellis,
19,191  And assoille men of alle synnes save of dette one.
19,192  "Anoon after an heigh up into hevene
19,193  He wente, and wonyeth there, and wol come at the laste,
19,194  And rewarde hym right wel that reddit quod debet--
19,195  Paieth parfitly, as pure truthe wolde.
19,196  And what persone paieth it nought, punysshen he thenketh,
19,197  And demen hem at domesday, bothe quyke and dede--
19,198  The goode to the Godhede and to greet joye,
19,199  And wikkede to wonye in wo withouten ende.'
19,200  Thus Conscience of Crist and of the cros carpede,
19,201  And counseiled me to knele therto; and thanne cam, me thoughte,
19,202  Oon Spiritus Paraclitus to Piers and to hise felawes.
19,203  In liknesse of a lightnynge he lighte on hem alle
19,204  And made hem konne and knowe alle kynne langages.
19,205  I wondred what that was, and waggede Conscience,
19,206  And was afered of the light, for in fires liknesse
19,207  Spiritus Paraclitus overspradde hem alle.
19,208  Quod Conscience, and knelede, "This is Cristes messager,
19,209  And cometh fro the grete God--Grace is his name.
19,210  Knele now,' quod Conscience, "and if thow kanst synge,
19,211  Welcome hym and worshipe hym with Veni Creator Spiritus !'
19,212  Thanne song I that song, and so dide manye hundred,
19,213  And cride with Conscience, " Help us, God of grace!'
19,214  And thanne bigan Grace to go with Piers Plowman,
19,215  And counseillede hym and Conscience the comune to sompne:
19,216  "For I wole dele today and dyvyde grace
19,217  To alle kynne creatures that kan hise fyve wittes--
19,218  Tresour to lyve by to hir lyves ende.
19,219  And wepne to fighte with that wole nevere faille.
19,220  For Antecrist and hise al the world shul greve,
19,221  And acombre thee, Conscience, but if Crist thee helpe.
19,222  "And false prophetes fele, flatereris and gloseris,
19,223  Shullen come and be curatours over kynges and erles.
19,224  And thanne shal Pride be Pope and prynce of Holy Chirche,
19,225  Coveitise and Unkyndenesse Cardinals hym to lede.
19,226  Forthi,' quod Grace, "er I go, I wol gyve yow tresor,
19,227  And wepne to fighte with whan Antecrist yow assailleth.'
19,228  And gaf ech man a grace to gye with hymselven,
19,229  That Ydelnesse encombre hym noght, ne Envye ne Pride:
19,229  {Divisiones graciarum sunt.}
19,230  Some [wyes] he yaf wit, with wordes to shewe--
19,231  Wit to wynne hir liflode with, as the world asketh,
19,232  As prechours and preestes, and prentices of lawe--
19,233  They lelly to lyve by labour of tonge,
19,234  And by wit to wissen othere is grace hem wolde teche.
19,235  And some he kennede craft and konnynge of sighte.
19,236  With sellynge and [by] buggynge hir bilyve to wynne.
19,237  And some he lered to laboure on lond and on watre,
19,238  And lyve by that labour--a lele lif and a trewe.
19,239  And some he taughte to tilie, to dyche and to thecche,
19,240  To wynne with hir liflode bi loore of his techynge.
19,241  And some to devyne and divide, [diverse] noumbres to kenne:
19,242  And some to compace craftily, and colours to make;
19,243  And some to se and to seye whit sholde bifalle,
19,244  Bothe of wele and of wo, telle it [wel] er it felle--
19,245  As astronomyens thorugh astronomye, and philosofres wise.
19,246  And some to ryde and to recovere that unrightfully was wonne:
19,247  He wissed hem wynne it ayein thorugh wightnesse of handes,
19,248  And fecchen it fro false men with Folvyles lawes.
19,249  And some he lered to lyve in longynge to ben hennes,
19,250  In poverte and in pacience to preie for alle Cristene.
19,251  And alle he lered to be lele, and ech a craft love oother,
19,252  And forbad hem alle debat--that noon [be] among hem.
19,253  "Though some be clenner than some, ye se wel," quod Grace,
19,254  "That he that useth the faireste craft, to the fouleste I kouthe have put hym.
19,255  Thynketh [that alle craftes, quod Grace]. "cometh of my yifte;
19,256  Loketh that noon lakke oother, but loveth alle as bretheren.
19,257  "And who that moost maistries kan, be myldest of berynge;
19,258  And crouneth Conscience kyng, and maketh Craft youre stiward,
19,259  And after Craftes conseil clotheth yow and fede.
19,260  For I make Piers the Plowman my procuratour and my reve,
19,261  And registrer to receyve redde quod debes.
19,262  My prowor and my plowman Piers shal ben on erthe,
19,263  And for to tilie truthe a teeme shal he have.'
19,264  Grace gaf Piers a teeme--foure grete oxen.
19,265  That oon was Luk, a large beest and a lowe chered,
19,266  And Mark, and Mathew the thridde--myghty beestes bothe;
19,267  And joyned to hem oon Johan, moost gentil of alle,
19,268  The pris neet of Piers plow, passynge alle othere.
19,269  And yit Grace of his goodnesse gaf Piers foure stottes--
19,270  Al that hise oxen eriede, thei to harewen after.
19,271  Oon highte Austyn, and Ambrose another,
19,272  Gregori the grete clerk, and [the goode Jerom].
19,273  Thise foure, the feith to teche, folweth Piers teme,
19,274  And harewede in an handwhile al Holy Scripture
19,275  With two [aithes] that thei hadde, an oold and a newe,
19,275  {Id est, Vetus Testamentum et Novum.}
19,276  And Grace gaf Piers greynes--cardynales vertues,
19,277  And sew it in mannes soule, and sithen he tolde hir names.
19,278  Spiritus Prudencie the firste seed highte;
19,279  And whoso ete that, ymagynen he sholde,
19,280  Er he dide any dede, devyse wel the ende;
19,281  And lerned men a ladel bugge with a long stele
19,282  That caste for to kepe a crokke, and save the fatte above.
19,283  The seconde seed highte Spiritus Temperancie.
19,284  He that etc of that seed hadde swich a kynde,
19,285  Sholde nevere mete ne meschief make hym to swelle;
19,286  Ne sholde no scornere out of skile hym brynge;
19,287  Ne wynnynge ne wele of worldliche richesse,
19,288  Waste word of ydelnesse ne wikked speche moeve;
19,289  Sholde no curious clooth comen on his rugge,
19,290  Ne no mete in his mouth that Maister Johan spicede.
19,291  The thridde seed that Piers sew was Spiritus Fortitudinis;
19,292  And whoso ete of that seed hardy was evere
19,293  To suffren al that God sente, siknesse and angres.
19,294  Mighte no lesynges, ne lyere, ne los of worldly catel.
19,295  Maken hym, for any mournynge, that he nas murie in soule,
19,296  And bold and abidynge bismares to suffre,
19,297  And pletede al with pacience and Parce michi, Domine,
19,298  And covered hym under conseille of Caton the wise:
19,298  {Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique.}
19,299  The ferthe seed that Piers sew was Spiritus Iusticie,
19,300  And he that ete of that seed sholde be evere trewe
19,301  With God, and naught agast but of gile one.
19,302  For gile gooth so pryvely that geod feith outher while
19,303  May nought ben espied [thorugh] Spiritus Iusticie.
19,304  Spiritus justicie spareth noght to spille hem that ben gilty,
19,305  And for to correcte the kyng if he falle in [any kynnes] gilt.
19,306  For counteth he no kynges wrathe whan he in court sitteth
19,307  To demen as a domesman--adrad was he nevere
19,308  Neither of duc ne of deeth, that he ne dide the lawe;
19,309  For present or for preiere or any prynces lettres,
19,310  He dide equyte to alle eveneforth his power.
19,311  Thise foure sedes Piers sew, and siththe he dide hem harewe
19,312  With Olde Lawe and Newe Lawe, that love myghte wexe
19,313  Among thise foure vertues, and vices destruye.
19,314  " For comunliche in contrees cammokes and wedes
19,315  Foulen the fruyt in the feld ther thei growen togideres;
19,316  And so doon vices vertues--[f]orthi,' quod Piers,
19,317  "Hareweth alle that konneth kynde wit by conseil of thise doctours,
19,318  And tilieth after hir techynge the cardynale vertues.'
19,319  "Ayeins thi greynes,' quod Grace, " bigynneth for to ripe,
19,320  Ordeigne thee an hous, Piers, to herberwe inne thi cornes.
19,321  "By God! Grace,' quod Piers, 'ye moten gyve tymber,
19,322  And ordeigne that hous er ye hennes wende.'
19,323  And Grace gaf hym the cros, with the croune of thornes,
19,324  That Crist upon Calvarie for mankynde on pyned;
19,325  And of his baptisme and blood that he bledde on roode
19,326  He made a manere morter, and mercy it highte.
19,327  And therwith Grace bigan to make a good foundement,
19,328  And watlede it and walled it with hise peynes and his passion,
19,329  And of al Holy Writ he made a roof after,
19,330  And called that hous Unite--Holy Chirche on Englissh.
19,331  And whan this dede was doon, Grace devysede
19,332  A cart highte Cristendom, to carie home Piers sheves,
19,333  And gaf hym caples to his carte, Contricion and Confession;
19,334  And made Preesthod hayward, the while hymself wente
19,335  As wide as the world is, with Piers to tilie truthe
19,336  And the lo[nd] of bileve, the lawe of Holy Chirche.
19,337  Now is Piers to the plow. Pride it aspide
19,338  And gadered hym a greet oost: greven he thynketh
19,339  Conscience and alle Cristene and Cardinale Vertues--
19,340  Blowe hem doun and breke hem and bite atwo the mores;
19,341  And sente forth Surquidous, his sergeaunt of armes,
19,342  And his spye Spille-Love, oon Spek-yvel-bihynde.
19,343  Thise two coome to Conscience and to Cristen peple,
19,344  And tolde hem tidynges--that tyne thei sholde
19,345  The sedes that [Sire] Piers sew, the Cardynale Vertues:
19,346  "And Piers bern worth ybroke, and thei that ben in Unitee
19,347  Shulle come out, and Conscience; and youre [caples two],
19,348  Confession and Contricion, and youre carte the Bileeve
19,349  Shal be coloured so queyntely and covered under oure sophistrie,
19,350  That Conscience shal noght knowe by Contricion
19,351  Ne by Confession who is Cristene or hethene;
19,352  Ne no manere marchaunt that with moneye deleth
19,353  Wheither he wynne with right, with wrong or with usure.'
19,354  With swiche colours and queyntise cometh Pride y-armed,
19,355  With the lord that lyveth after the lust of his body--
19,356  "To wasten on welfare and on wikked kepynge
19,357  Al the world in a while thorugh oure wit!' quod Pryde.
19,358  Quod Conscience to alle Cristene tho, " My counseil is to wende
19,359  Hastiliche into Unitee and holde we us there,
19,360  And praye we that a pees weere in Piers berne the Plowman.
19,361  For witterly, I woot wel, we beth noght of strengthe
19,362  To goon agayn Pride, but Grace weere with us.'
19,363  And thanne kam Kynde Wit Conscience to teche,
19,364  And cryde, and comaundede alle Cristene  peple
19,365  For to delven and dyche depe aboute Unitee
19,366  That Holy Chirche stode in [holynesse], as it a pyl weere.
19,367  Conscience comaundede tho alle Cristene to delve,
19,368  And make a muche moot that myghte ben a strengthe
19,369  To helpe Holy Chirche and hem that it kepeth.
19,370  Thanne alle kynne Cristene--save comune wommen--
19,371  Repenteden and refusede synne, [right] save thei one,
19,372  And [a sisour and a somonour] that were forsworen ofte;
19,373  Witynge and wilfully with the false [thei] helden,
19,374  And for silver were forswore--soothly thei wiste it!
19,375  Ther nas no Cristene creature that kynde wit hadde--
19,376  Save sherewes one swiche as I spak of--
19,377  That he ne halp a quantite holynesse to wexe:
19,378  Some by bedes biddynge and some by pilgrymage
19,379  And other pryve penaunce, and somme thorugh penyes delynge.
19,380  And thanne wellede water for wikkede werkes,
19,381  Egreliche ernynge out of mennes eighen.
19,382  Clennesse of the comune and clerkes clene lyvynge
19,383  Made Unitee Holy Chirche in holynesse stonde.
19,384  " I care noght,' quod Conscience, " though Pride come nouthe;
19,385  The lord of lust shal be letted al this Lente, I hope.
19,386  Cometh,' quod Conscience, "ye Cristene, and dyneth,
19,387  That han laboured lelly al this Lenten tyme.
19,388  Here is breed yblessed, and Goddes body therunder.
19,389  Grace, thorugh Goddes word, gaf Piers power,
19,390  Myght to maken it, and men to ete it after
19,391  In helpe of hir heele ones in a monthe,
19,392  Or as ofte as thei hadde nede, tho that hadde ypaied
19,393  To Piers pardon the Plowman, redde quod debes.'
19,394  " How?' quod al the comune. "Thow conseillest us to yelde
19,395  Al that we owen any wight er we go to housel?'
19,396  "That is my conseil,' quod Conscience, "and Cardinale Vertues;
19,397  That ech man foryyve oother, and that wole the Paternoster--
19,397  { Et dimitte nobis debita nostra &c--}
19,398  And so to ben assoilled, and siththen ben houseled.'
19,399  " Ye? Baw!' quod a brewere, " I wol noght be ruled,
19,400  By Jesu! for al youre janglynge, with Spiritus Iusticie,
19,401  Ne after Conscience, by Crist! while I kan selle
19,402  Bothe dregges and draf, and drawe at oon hole
19,403  Thikke ale and thynne ale; that is my kynde,
19,404  And noght hakke after holynesse--hold thi tonge, Conscience!
19,405  Of Spiritus Iusticie thow spekest muche on ydel.'
19,406  " Caytif! ' quod Conscience, "cursede wrecche!
19,407  Unblessed artow, brewere, but if thee God helpe.
19,408  But thow lyve by loore of Spiritus Iusticie,
19,409  The chief seed that Piers sew, ysaved worstow nevere.
19,410  But Conscience be the comune fode, and Cardinale Vertues,
19,411  Leve it wel, thei ben lost, bothe lif and soule.'
19,412  "Thanne is many [leode] lost!" quod a lewed vicory.
19,413  "I am a curatour of Holy Kirke, and cam nevere in my tyme
19,414  Man to me that me kouthe telle of Cardinale Vertues,
19,415  Or that acountede Conscience at a cokkes fethere!
19,416  I knew nevere Cardynal that he ne cam fro the Pope:
19,417  And we clerkes, whan thei come, for hir comunes paieth,
19,418  For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete and pilours that hem folweth.
19,419  The comune clamat cotidie, ech a man til oother,
19,420  ""The contree is the corseder that cardinals come inne,
19,421  And ther thei ligge and lenge moost lecherie there regneth!"'
19,422  " Forthi,' quod this vicory, " by verray God! I wolde
19,423  That no cardynal coome among the comune peple,
19,424  But in hir holynesse helden hem stille
19,425  At Avynoun among Jewes--Cum sancto sanctus eris &c--
19,426  Or in Rome, as hir rule wole, the relikes to kepe;
19,427  And thow Conscience in kynges court, and sholdest nevere come thennes;
19,428  And Grace, that thow gredest so of, gyour of alle clerkes ;
19,429  And Piers with his newe plough and ek with his olde
19,430  Emperour of al the world--that alle men were Cristene.
19,431  "Inparfit is that Pope, that al peple sholde helpe,
19,432  And s[ou]deth hem that sleeth swiche as he sholde save.
19,433  A[c] wel worthe Piers the Plowman, that pursueth God in doynge,
19,434  Qui pluit super iustos et iniustos at ones,
19,435  And sent the sonne to save a cursed mannes tilthe
19,436  As brighte as to the beste man or to the beste womman.
19,437  Right so Piers the Plowman peyneth hym to tilye
19,438  As wel for a wastour and wenches of the stewes
19,439  As for hymself and hise servaunts, save he is first yserved.
19,440  [So blessed be Piers Plowman, that peyneth hym to tilye],
19,441  And travailleth and tilieth for a tretour also soore
19,442  As for a trewe tidy man, alle tymes ylike.
19,443  And worshiped be He that wroghte al, bothe good and wikke,
19,444  And suffreth that synfulle be til som tyme that thei repente.
19,445  And God [the Pope amende], that pileth Holy Kirke,
19,446  And cleymeth bifore the kyng to be kepere over Cristene,
19,447  And counteth noght though Cristene ben killed and robbed,
19,448  And fynt folk to fighte and Cristen blood to spille
19,449  Ayein the Olde Lawe and Newe Lawe, as Luc bereth witnesse:
19,449  {Non occides : mihi vindictam &c.}
19,450  It semeth, bi so hymself hadde his wille,
19,451  That he ne reccheth right noght of al the remenaunt.
19,452  "And Crist of his curtesie the cardinals save,
19,453  And torne hir wit to wisdom and to welthe of soule!
19,454  For the comune,' quod this curatour, "counten ful litel
19,455  The counseil of Conscience or Cardinale Vertues
19,456  But if thei sowne, as by sighte, somwhat to wynnyng.
19,457  Of gile ne of gabbyng gyve thei nevere tale,
19,458  For Spiritus Prudencie among the peple is gyle,
19,459  And alle tho faire vertues, as vices thei semeth.
19,460  Ech man subtileth a sleighte synne to hide,
19,461  And coloureth it for a konnynge and a clene lyvynge.'
19,462  Thanne lough ther a lord, and "By this light! seide,
19,463  I holde it right and reson of my reve to take
19,464  Al that myn auditour or ellis my styward
19,465  Counseilleth me bi hir acounte and my clerkes writynge.
19,466  With Spiritus Intellectus thei toke the reves rolles,
19,467  And with Spiritus Fortitudinis fecche it--wole [he, nel he]."
19,468  And thanne cam ther a kyng and by his croune seide,
19,469  "I am kyng with croune the comune to rule,
19,470  And Holy Kirke and clergie fro cursed men to defende.
19,471  And if me lakketh to lyve by, the lawe wole I take it
19,472  Ther I may hastilokest it have--for I am heed of lawe:
19,473  For ye ben but membres and I above alle.
19,474  And sith I am youre aller heed, I am youre aller heele,
19,475  And Holy Chirches chief help and chieftayn of the comune.
19,476  And what I take of yow two, I take it at the techynge
19,477  Of Spiritus Iusticie--for I jugge yow alle.
19,478  So I may boldely be housled, for I borwe nevere,
19,479  Ne crave of my comune but as my kynde asketh.'
19,480  "In condicion,' quod Conscience, "that thow [the comune] defende,
19,481  And rule thi reaume in reson, right wol and truthe
19,482  That thow [have thyn askyng], as the lawe asketh:
19,483  Omnia sunt tua ad defendendum set non ad deprehendendum.'
19,484  The viker hadde fer hoom, and faire took his leeve--
19,485  And I awakned therwith, and wroot as me mette.
20,1  Thanne as I wente by the way, whan I was thus awaked,
20,2  Hevy chered I yede, and elenge in herte;
20,3  For I ne wiste wher to ete ne at what place,
20,4  And it neghed neigh the noon, and with Nede I mette,
20,5  That afrounted me foule and faitour me called.
20,6  "Coudestow noght excuse thee, as dide the kyng and othere--
20,7  That thow toke to thy bilyve, to clothes and to sustenaunce,
20,8  Was by techynge and by tellynge of Spiritus Temperancie,
20,9  And that thow nome na moore than nede thee taughte,
20,10  And nede ne hath no lawe, ne nevere shal falle in dette
20,11  For thre thynges he taketh his lif for to save?--
20,12  That is, mete whan men hym werneth, and he no moneye weldeth,
20,13  Ne wight noon wol ben his borugh, ne wed hath noon to legge;
20,14  And he ca[cch]e in that caas and come therto by sleighte,
20,15  He synneth noght, soothliche, that so wynneth his foode.
20,16  And though he come so to a clooth, and kan no bettre chevyssaunce,
20,17  Nede anoon righte nymeth hym under maynprise.
20,18  And if hym list for to lape, the lawe of kynde wolde
20,19  That he dronke at ech dych, er he [deide for thurst].
20,20  So Nede, at gret nede, may nymen as for his owene,
20,21  Withouten conseil of Conscience or Cardynale Vertues--
20,22  So that he sewe and save Spiritus Temperancie.
20,23  "For is no vertue bi fer to Spiritus Temperancie--
20,24  Neither Spiritus Iusticie ne Spiritus Fortitudinis.
20,25  For Spiritus Fortitudinis forfeteth ful ofte:
20,26  He shal do moore than mesure many tyme and ofte,
20,27  And bete men over bittre, and som body to litel,
20,28  And greve men gretter than good feith it wolde.
20,29  "And Spiritus Iusticie shal juggen, wole he, nel he,
20,30  After the kynges counseil and the comune like.
20,31  And Spiritus Prudencie in many a point shal faille
20,32  Of that he weneth wolde falle if his wit ne weere.
20,33  Wenynge is no wysdom, ne wys ymaginacion:
20,33  {Homo proponit et Deus disponit--}
20,34  [God] governeth alle goode vertues;
20,35  And Nede is next hym, for anoon he meketh
20,36  And as lowe as a lomb, for lakkyng that hym nedeth;
20,37  For nede maketh nede fele nedes lowe-herted.
20,38  Philosophres forsoke welthe for thei wolde be nedy,
20,39  And woneden wel elengely and wolde noght be riche.
20,40  "And God al his grete joye goostliche he lefte,
20,41  And cam and took mankynde and bicam nedy."
20,42  So he was nedy, as seith the Book, in manye sondry places,
20,43  That he seide in his some on the selve roode,
20,44  "'the Fox and fowel may fle to hole and crepe,
20,45  And the fissh hath fyn to flete with to reste,
20,46  Ther nede hath ynome me, that I moot nede abide
20,47  And suffre sorwes ful soure, that shal to joye torne.''
20,48  Forthi be noght abasshed to bide and to be nedy,
20,49  Sith he that wroghte al the world was wilfulliche nedy,
20,50  Ne nevere noon so nedy ne poverer deide.'
20,51  Whan Nede hadde undernome me thus, anoon I fil aslepe,
20,52  And mette ful merveillously that in mannes forme
20,53  Antecrist cam thanne, and al the crop of truthe
20,54  Torned it [tid] up-so-doun, and overtilte the roote,
20,55  And made fals sprynge and sprede and spede mennes nedes.
20,56  In ech a contree ther he cam he kutte awey truthe.
20,57  And gerte gile growe there as he a god weere.
20,58  Freres folwede that fend, for he gaf hem copes,
20,59  And religiouse reverenced hym and rongen hir belles,
20,60  And al the covent cam to welcome that tyraunt,
20,61  And alle hise as wel as hym--save oonly fooles;
20,62  Whiche fooles were wel gladdere to deye
20,63  Than to lyve lenger sith Leute was so rebuked,
20,64  And a fals fend Antecrist over alle folk regnede.
20,65  And that were mylde men and holye, that no meschief dradden,
20,66  Defyed alle falsnesse and folk that it usede;
20,67  And what kyng that hem conforted, knowynge h[ir] gile,
20,68  They cursed, and hir conseil--were it clerk or lewed.
20,69  Antecrist hadde thus soone hundredes at his baner,
20,70  And Pride bar it bare boldely aboute,
20,71  With a lord that lyveth after likyng of body,
20,72  That cam ayein Conscience, that kepere was and gyour
20,73  Over kynde Cristene and Cardynale Vertues.
20,74  "I conseille,' quod Conscience tho, "cometh with me, ye fooles,
20,75  Into Unite Holy Chirche, and holde we us there.
20,76  And crye we to Kynde that he come and defende us
20,77  Fooles fro thise fendes lymes, for Piers love the Plowman.
20,78  And crye we on al the comune that thei come to Unitee,
20,79  And there abide and bikere ayeins Beliales children.'
20,80  Kynde Conscience tho herde, and cam out of the planetes,
20,81  And sente forth his forreyours -- feveres and fluxes,
20,82  Coughes and cardiacles, crampes and toothaches,
20,83  Rewmes and radegundes and roynouse scalles,
20,84  Biles and bocches and brennynge agues,
20,85  Frenesies and foule yveles--forageres of Kynde
20,86  Hadde ypriked and prayed polles of peple;
20,87  Largeliche a legion lees hir lif soone.
20,88  There was " Harrow!' and " Help! Here cometh Kynde,
20,89  With Deeth that is dredful, to undo us alle!'
20,90  The lord that lyved after lust tho aloud cryde
20,91  After Confort, a knyght, to come and bere his baner.
20,92  "Alarme! Alarme!' quod that lord, "ech lif kepe his owene!'
20,93  Thanne mette thise men, er mynstrals myghte pipe,
20,94  And er heraudes of armes hadden discryved lordes,
20,95  Elde the hoore; he was in the vauntwarde,
20,96  And bar the baner bifore Deeth--bi right he it cleymede.
20,97  Kynde cam after hym, with many kene soores,
20,98  As pokkes and pestilences--and muche peple shente;
20,99  So Kynde thorugh corrupcions kilde ful manye,
20,100  Deeth cam dryvynge after and al to duste passhed
20,101  Kynges and knyghtes, kaysers and popes.
20,102  Lered ne lewed, he lefte no man stonde
20,103  That he hitte evene, that evere stired after.
20,104  Manye a lovely lady and [hir] lemmans knyghtes
20,105  Swowned and swelted for sorwe of Dethes dyntes.
20,106  Conscience of his curteisie to Kynde he bisoughte
20,107  To cesse and suffre, and see wher thei wolde
20,108  Leve Pride pryvely and be parfite Cristene.
20,109  And Kynde cessede tho, to se the peple amende.
20,110  Fortune gan flatere thanne tho fewe that were alyve,
20,111  And bihighte hem long lif--and lecherie h
20,112  Amonges alle manere men, wedded and unwedded,
20,113  And gaderede a greet hoost al agayn Conscience.
20,114  "This Lecherie leide on with laughynge chiere
20,115  And with pryvee speche and peyntede wordes,
20,116  And armede hym in ydelnesse and in heigh berynge.
20,117  He bar a bowe in his hand and manye brode arewes,
20,118  Weren fethered with fair biheste and many a fals truthe.
20,119  With untidy tales he tened ful ofte
20,120  Conscience and his compaignye, of Holy Kirke the techeris.
20,121  Thanne cam Coveitise and caste how he myghte
20,122  Overcome Conscience and Cardinale Vertues,
20,123  And armed hym in avarice and hungriliche lyvede.
20,124  His wepne was al wiles, to wynnen and to hiden;
20,125  With glosynges and with gabbynges he giled the peple.
20,126  Symonye hym s[ue]de to assaille Conscience,
20,127  And preched to the peple, and prelates thei hem maden
20,128  To holden with Antecrist, hir temporaltees to save;
20,129  And cam to the kynges counseille as a kene baroun,
20,130  And kneled to Conscience in Court afore hem alle,
20,131  And garte Good Feith flee and Fals to abide;
20,132  And boldeliche bar adoun with many a bright noble
20,133  Muche of the wit and wisdom of Westmynstre Halle.
20,134  He jogged til a justice and justed in his eere,
20,135  And overtilte al his truthe with "Tak this up amendement.'
20,136  And to the Arches in haste he yede anoon after,
20,137  And tornede Cyvyle into Symonye, and siththe he took the Official:
20,138  For a menever mantel he made lele matrymoyne
20,139  Departen er deeth cam, and a devors shapte.
20,140  "Allas!' quod Conscience, and cryde tho, "wolde Crist of his grace
20,141  That Coveitise were Cristene, that is so kene to fighte,
20,142  And boold and bidynge the while his bagge lasteth!'
20,143  And thanne lough Lyf, and leet daggen hise clothes,
20,144  And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes,
20,145  And heeld Holynesse a jape and Hendenesse a wastour,
20,146  And leet Leautee a cherl and Lyere a fre man;
20,147  Conscience and counseil, he counted it folye.
20,148  Thus relyede Lif for a litel fortune,
20,149  And priked forth with Pride--preiseth he no vertue,
20,150  Ne careth noght how Kynde slow, and shal come at the laste
20,151  And kille alle erthely creature save Conscience oone.
20,152  Lyf lepte aside and laughte hym a lemman.
20,153  "Heele and I,' quod he, "and heighnesse of herte
20,154  Shal do thee noght drede neither deeth ne elde.
20,155  And to foryyte sorwe and yyve noght of synne."
20,156  This likede Lif and his lemman Fortune,
20,157  And geten in hir glorie a gadelyng at the laste,
20,158  Oon that muche wo wroughte, Sleuthe was his name.
20,159  Sleuthe wax wonder yerne and soone was of age,
20,160  And wedded oon Wanhope, a wenche of the stuwes.
20,161  Hir sire was a sysour that nevere swoor truthe---
20,162  Oon Tomme Two-tonge, atteynt at ech a queste.
20,163  This Sleuthe was war of werre, and a slynge made.
20,164  And threw drede of dispair a dozeyne myle aboute.
20,165  For care Conscience tho cryde upon Elde,
20,166  And bad hym fonde to fighte and afere Wanhope.
20,167  And Elde hente good hope, and hastiliche he shifte hym,
20,168  And wayved awey Wanhope and with Lif he fighteth.
20,169  And Lif fleigh for feere to Phisik after helpe,
20,170  And bisoughte hym of socour, and of his salve hadde,
20,171  And gaf hym gold good woon that gladede his herte--
20,172  And thei gyven hym ageyn a glazene howve.
20,173  Lyf leeved that lechecraft lette sholde Elde,
20,174  And dryven awey deeth with dyas and drogges.
20,175  And Elde auntred hym on Lyf--and at the laste he hitte
20,176  A phisicien with a furred hood, that he fel in a palsie,
20,177  And there dyed that doctour er thre dayes after.
20,178  "Now I se,' seide Lif, "that surgerie ne phisik
20,179  May noght a myte availle to medle ayein Elde.'
20,180  And in hope of his heele good herte he hente
20,181  And rood so to Revel, a riche place and a murye--
20,182  The compaignye of confort men cleped it som tyme--
20,183  And Elde anoon after hym, and over myn heed yede,
20,184  And made me balled bifore and bare on the croune:
20,185  So harde he yede over myn heed it wol be sene evere.
20,186  "Sire yvele ytaught Elde!' quod I, "unhende go with the!
20,187  Sith whanne was the wey over menne heddes?
20,188  Haddestow be hende,' quod I, "thow woldest have asked leeve!'
20,189  "Ye--leve, lurdeyn?' quod he, and leyde on me with age,
20,190  And hitte me under the ere--unnethe may ich here.
20,191  Helbuffetted me aboute the mouth and bette out my wangteeth,
20,192  And gyved me in goutes--I may noght goon at large.
20,193  And of the wo that I was inne my wif hadde ruthe,
20,194  And wisshed wel witterly that I were in hevene.
20,195  For the lyme that she loved me fore, and leef was to feele--
20,196  On nyghtes, namely, whan we naked weere--
20,197  I ne myghte in no manere maken it at hir wille,
20,198  So Elde and he[o] hadden it forbeten.
20,199  And as I seet in this sorwe, I saugh how Kynde passede,
20,200  And deeth drogh neigh me--for drede gan I quake,
20,201  And cryde to Kynde, "Out of care me brynge!
20,202  Lo! how Elde the hoore hath me biseye:
20,203  Awreke me if youre wille be, for I wolde ben hennes!
20,204  "If thow wolt be wroken, wend into Unitee,
20,205  And hold thee there evere, til I sende for thee;
20,206  And loke thow konne som craft er thow come thennes.'
20,207  "Counseille me, Kynde,' quod I, "what craft be best to lerne?'
20,208  "Lerne to love,' quod Kynde, "and leef alle othere.'
20,209  "How shal I come to catel so, toclothe me and to feede?'
20,210  "And thow love lelly, lakke shal thee nevere
20,211  Weede ne worldly mete, while thi lif lasteth.'
20,212  And there by conseil of Kynde I comsed to rome
20,213  Thorugh Contricion and Confession til I cam to Unitee.
20,214  And there was Conscience conestable Cristene to save,
20,215  And bisegede soo[r]ly with sevene grete geaunts
20,216  That with Antecrist helden harde ayein Conscience.
20,217  Sleuthe with his slynge an hard saut he made.
20,218  Proude preestes coome with hym--pange an hundred
20,219  In paltokes and pyked shoes and pisseris longe knyves
20,220  Coomen ayein Conscience--with Coveitise thei helden.
20,221  "By the Marie!' quod a mansed preest, was of the march of Irlonde,
20,222  "I counte na moore Conscience, by so I cacche silver,
20,223  Than I do to drynke a draughte of good ale!'
20,224  And so seiden sixty of the same contree,
20,225  And shotten ayein with shot, many a sheef of othes,
20,226  And brode hoked arwes--Goddes herte and hise nayles--
20,227  And hadden almoost Unitee and holynesse adown.
20,228  Conscience cryede, " Help, Clergie. or ellis I falle
20,229  Thorugh inparfite preestes and prelates of Holy Chirche!
20,230  Freres herden hym crye, and comen hym to helpe--
20,231  Ac for thei kouthe noght wel hir craft, Conscience forsook hem.
20,232  Nede neghede tho neer, and Conscience he tolde
20,233  That thei come for coveitise to have cure of soules.
20,234  "And for thei are povere, paraventure, for patrymoyne hem failleth,
20,235  Thei wol flatere, to fare wel, folk that ben riche.
20,236  And sithen thei chosen chele and cheitiftee, poverte--
20,237  Lat hem chewe as thei chose, and charge hem with no cure!
20,238  For lomere he lyeth, that liflode moot begge,
20,239  Than he that laboureth for liflode and leneth it beggeres.
20,240  And sithen freres forsoke the felicite of erthe,
20,241  Lat hem be as beggeris, or lyve by aungeles foode!'
20,242  Conscience of this counseil tho comsede for to laughe,
20,243  And curteisliche conforted hem and called in alle freres,
20,244  And seide, Sires, soothly welcome be ye alle
20,245  To Unitee and Holy Chirche--ac o thyng I yow preye:
20,246  Holdeth yow in unitee, and haveth noon envye
20,247  To lered ne to lewed, but lyveth after youre reule.
20,248  And I wol be youre borugh, ye shal have breed and clothes
20,249  And othere necessaries ynowe--yow shal no thyng lakke,
20,250  With that ye leve logik and lerneth for to lovye.
20,251  For love lafte thei lordshipe, bothe lond and scole--
20,252  Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk--for love to be holye.
20,253  "And if ye coveite cure, Kynde wol yow telle
20,254  That in mesure God made alle manere thynges,
20,255  And sette it at a certein and at a siker nombre,
20,256  And nempnede hem names newe, and noumbrede the sterres:
20,256  {Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum et omnibus eis &c.}
20,257  "Kynges and knyghtes, that kepen and defenden,
20,258  Han officers under hem, and ech of hem a certein.
20,259  And if thei wage men to werre, thei write hem in noumbre;
20,260  Wol no tresorere taken hem wages, travaille thei never so soore,
20,261  [But thei ben nempned in the noumbre of hem that ben ywaged].
20,262  Alle othere in bataille ben yholde brybours--
20,263  Pylours and pykeharneys, in ech a parisshe ycursed.
20,264  " Monkes and moniales and alle men of religion--
20,265  Hir ordre and hir reule wole to han a certein noumbre;
20,266  Of lewed and of lered the lawe wole and asketh
20,267  A certein for a certein--save oonliche of freres!
20,268  Forthi,' quod Conscience, "by Crist! kynde wit me telleth
20,269  It is wikked to wage yow--ye wexen out of noumbre!
20,270  Hevene hath evene noumbre, and helle is withoute noumbre;
20,271  Forthi I wolde witterly that ye were in the registre
20,272  And youre noumbre under notarie sygne, and neither mo ne lasse!'
20,273  Envye herde this and heet freres go to scole
20,274  And lerne logyk and lawe--and ek contemplacion--
20,275  And preche men of Plato, and preve it by Seneca
20,276  That alle thynges under hevene oughte to ben in comune.
20,277  He lyeth, as I leve, that to the lewed so precheth:
20,278  For God made to men a lawe and Moyses it taughte--
20,279     {Non concupisces rem proximi tui}.
20,280  And yvele is this yholde in parisshes of Engelonde;
20,281  For persons and parissh preestes, that sholde the peple shryve,
20,282  Ben curatours called to knowe and to hele.
20,283  Alle that ben hir parisshens penaunces enjoigne,
20,284  And ben ashamed in hir shrift; ac shame maketh hem wende
20,285  And fleen to the freres---as fals folk to Westmynstre,
20,286  That borweth, and bereth it thider, and thanne biddeth frendes
20,287  Yerne of foryifnesse or lenger yeres leve.
20,288  Ac while he is in Westmynstre he wol be bifore
20,289  And maken hym murie with oother menne goodes.
20,290  And so it fareth with muche folk that to freres shryveth;
20,291  As sisours and executours--thei shul yyve the freres
20,292  A parcel to preye for hem, and [purchace] hem mur[th]e
20,293  With the remenaunt that othere [renkes] biswonke,
20,294  And suffre the dede in dette to the day of doome.
20,295  Envye herfore hatede Conscience,
20,296  And freres to philosophie he fond hem to scole,
20,297  The while Coveitise and Unkyndenesse Conscience assaillede.
20,298  In Unitee Holy Chirche Conscience held hym,
20,299  And made Pees porter to pynne the yates
20,300  Of alle taletelleris and titeleris in ydel.
20,301  Ypocrisie and h[ii] an hard saut thei made.
20,302  Ypocrisie at the yate harde gan fighte,
20,303  And woundede wel wikkedly many a wise techere
20,304  That with Conscience acordede and Cardynale Vertues.
20,305  Conscience called a leche, that coude wel shryve,
20,306  To go salve tho that sike were and thorugh synne ywounded.
20,307  Shrift shoop sharp salve, and made men do penaunce
20,308  For hire mysdedes that thei wroght hadde,
20,309  And that Piers [pardon] were ypayed, redde quod debes.
20,310  Some liked noght this leche, and lettres thei sente,
20,311  If any surgien were in the sege that softer koude plastre.
20,312  Sire Leef-to-lyve-in-lecherie lay there and gronede;
20,313  For fastynge of a Fryday he ferde as he wolde deye:
20,314  "Ther is a surgien in this sege that softe kan handle,
20,315  And moore of phisik bi fer, and fairer he plastreth--
20,316  Oon Frere Flaterere, is phisicien and surgien.'
20,317  Quod Contricion to Conscience, "Do hym come to Unitee;
20,318  For here is many a man hurt thorugh Ypocrisye.'
20,319  "We han no nede,' quod Conscience, "I woot no bettre leche
20,320  Than person or parissh preest, penitauncer or bisshop--
20,321  Save Piers the Plowman, that hath power over alle,
20,322  And indulgence may do, but if dette lette it.
20,323  I may wel suffre,' seide Conscience, "syn ye desiren,
20,324  That Frere Flaterere be fet and phisike yow sike.'
20,325  The frere herof herde and hiede faste
20,326  To a lord for a lettre, leve to have to curen
20,327  As a curatour he were, and cam with his lettre
20,328  Boldely to the bisshop, and his brief hadde,
20,329  In contrees ther he coome, confessions to here--
20,330  And cam there Conscience was, and knokked at the yate.
20,331  Pees unpynned it, was porter of Unitee,
20,332  And in haste askede what his wille were.
20,333  "In faith,' quod this frere, "for profit and for helthe
20,334  Carpe I wolde with Contricion, and therfore cam I hider,'
20,335  "He is sik,' seide Pees, "and so are manye othere;
20,336  Ypocrisie hath hurt hem--ful hard is if thei kevere.'
20,337  "I am a surgien,' seide the frere, "and salves can make.
20,338  Conscience knoweth me wel and what I kan do bothe.'
20,339  "I praye thee,' quod Pees tho, "er thow passe ferther,
20,340  What hattestow? I praye thee, hele noght thi name.'
20,341  "Certes,' seide his felawe, " Sire Penetrans-domos.'
20,342  "Ye? Go thi gate!' quod Pees, "by God, for al thi phisik,
20,343  But thow konne any craft, thow comest nought herinne!
20,344  I knew swich oon ones, noght eighte wynter passed,
20,345  Coom in thus ycoped at a court there I dwelde,
20,346  And was my lordes leche--and my ladies bothe.
20,347  And at the laste this lymytour, tho my lord was oute,
20,348  He salvede so oure wommen til some were with childe.'
20,349  Hende-Speche heet Pees tho, " Opene the yates.
20,350  Lat in the frere and his felawe, and make hem fair cheere.
20,351  He may se and here here, so may bifalle,
20,352  That Lif thorugh his loore shal leve coveitise,
20,353  And be adrad of deeth and withdrawe hym fram pryde,
20,354  And acorde with Conscience and kisse hir either oother.'
20,355  Thus thorugh Hende-Speche entred the frere,
20,356  And cam in to Conscience and curteisly hym grette.
20,357  " Thow art welcome,' quod Conscience, "kanstow heele sike?
20,358  Here is Contricion,' quod Conscience, "my cosyn, ywounded.
20,359  Conforte hym,' quod Conscience, "and take kepe to hise soores.
20,360  The plastres of the person and poudres ben to soore,
20,361  And lat hem ligge overlonge and looth is to chaunge hem;
20,362  Fro Lenten to Lenten he lat his plastres bite.'
20,363  "That is overlonge!' quod this lymytour, " I leve--I shal amende it'--
20,364  And gooth, gropeth Contricion, and gaf hym a plastre
20,365  Of "A pryvee paiement, and I shal praye for yow,
20,366  And for al [hem] that ye ben holden to, al my lif tyme,
20,367  And make yow [and] my Lady in masse and in matyns
20,368  As freres of oure fraternytee for a litel silver.'
20,369  Thus he gooth and gadereth, and gloseth there he shryveth--
20,370  Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten to crye and to wepe,
20,371  And wake for hise wikked werkes as he was wont to doone.
20,372  For confort of his confessour contricion he lafte,
20,373  That is the soverayneste salve for alle[s]kynnes synnes.
20,374  Sleuth seigh that, and so dide Pryde,
20,375  And comen with a kene wille Conscience to assaille.
20,376  Conscience cryed eft [Clergie come] helpe hym,
20,377  And [bad] Contricion [come] to kepe the yate.
20,378  " He lith adreynt,' seide Pees, "and so do manye othere;
20,379  The frere with his phisyk this folk hath enchaunted,
20,380  And plastred hem so esily [that hii] drede no synne!'
20,381  "By Crist!' quod Conscience tho, " I wole bicome a pilgrym,
20,382  And walken as wide as the world lasteth,
20,383  To seken Piers the Plowman, that Pryde myghte destruye,
20,384  And that freres hadde a fyndyng, that for nede flateren
20,385  And countrepledeth me, Conscience. Now Kynde me avenge,
20,386  And sende me hap and heele, til I have Piers the Plowman!'
20,387  And siththe he gradde after Grace, til I gan awake.