Prologue

	In a somur sesoun whan softe was e sonne
Y shope me into shroudes as y a shep were;
In abite as an heremite, vnholy of werkes,
Wente forth in e world wondres to here,  
And say many sellies and selkouthe thynges.  (C Prol.5)
Ac on a May mornyng on Maluerne hulles
Me biful for to slepe, for werynesse of-walked;
And in a launde as y lay, lened y and slepte,
And merueylousliche me mette, as y may telle.
Al e welthe of the world and e wo bothe  (C Prol.10)
Wynkyng, as hit were, witterliche y sigh hit;
Of treuthe and tricherye, tresoun and gyle,
Al y say slepynge, as y shal telle.
	Estward y beheld aftir e sonne
And say a tour--as y trowed, Treuthe was there-ynne.  (C Prol.15)
Westward y waytede in a while aftir
And seigh a depe dale--Deth, as y leue,
Woned in tho wones, and wikkede spiritus.
A fair feld ful of folk fond y er bytwene
Of alle manere men, e mene and e pore,  (C Prol.20)
Worchyng and wandryng as is world ascuth.
	Somme potte hem to e plogh, playde ful selde,
In settynge and in sowynge swonken ful harde
And wonne at is wastors with glotony destrueth.
And summe putte hem to pruyde and parayled hem er-aftir  (C
Prol.25)
In continance of clothyng in many kyne gyse.
In preiers and penaunces potten hem mony,
Al for loue of oure lord lyueden swythe harde
In hope to haue a good ende and heuenriche blisse;
As ankeres and eremites at holdeth hem in here selles,  (C
Prol.30)
Coueyten no3t in contreys to cayren aboute
For no likerous liflode here lycame to plese.
	And summe chesen chaffare--ei cheueth e bettre,
As it seme to oure sighte that suche men ythryueth;
And summe murthes to make as mynstrels conneth,  (C Prol.35)
Wolleth neyther swynke ne swete, bote sweren grete othes,
Fyndeth out foule fantasyes and foles hem maketh
And hath wytt at wille to worche yf ei wolde.
That Poule prechede of hem preue hit y myhte;
Qui turpiloquium loquitur is Luciferes knaue.  (C Prol.40)
	Bidders and beggars fast aboute 3ede
Til here bagge and here bely was bretful ycrammed,
Fayteden for here fode and foughten at e ale.
In glotonye o gomus goth ei to bedde
And ryse with rybaudrye o Robardus knaues;  (C Prol.45)
Slep and also slewthe sueth such euer.
	Pilgrymes and palmers plighten hem togyderes
To seke seynt Iame and seyntes of Rome,
Wenten forth on here way with many wyse tales
And hadde leue to lye aftir, al here lyf-tyme.  (C Prol.50)
Eremites on an hep with hokede staues
Wenten to Walsyngham, and here wenches aftir;
Grete lobies and longe at loth were to swynke
Clothed hem in copis to be knowe fram othere
And made hemself heremites, here ese to haue.  (C Prol.55)
	I fonde er of freris alle e foure ordres,
Prechyng e peple for profyt of e wombe,
And glosede e gospel as hem good likede;
For coueytise of copis contraryed somme doctours.
Mony of ise maistres of mendenant freres  (C Prol.60)
Here moneye and marchandise marchen togyderes.
Ac sith charite hath be chapman and chief to shryue lordes
Mony ferlyes han falle in a fewe 3eres,
And but holi chirche and charite choppe adoun such shryuars
The moste meschief on molde mountheth vp faste.  (C Prol.65)
	Ther prechede a pardoner as he a prest were
And brouth forth a bulle with bischopis selys,
Sayde at hymself myhte assoylen hem alle
Of falsnesses of fastynges, of vowes ybrokene.
Lewed men leued hym wel and lykede his wordes  (C Prol.70)
And comen and knelede to kyssen his bulles;
A bounchede hem with his bulles and blered here yes
And raughte with his rageman rynges and broches.
Thus 3e gyue 3oure gold glotons to helpe
And leneth hit lorelles at lecherye haunten.  (C Prol.75)
Were e bischop yblessed and worth bothe his eres
His seel sholde nau3t be ysent in deseyte of e people.
Ac it is nou3t by e bischop, y leue, at e boy preche,
For e parsche prest and e pardoner parten e seluer
That e peple in parsches sholde haue, yf ei ne were.  (C Prol.80)
	Persones and parsche prestis pleyned to e bischop
That here parsches were pore sithe is pestelence tyme,
To haue a licence and a leue in Londoun to dwelle
And synge er for symonye while seluer is so swete.
	Bischopes and bachelers, bothe maystres and doctours,  (C Prol.85)
That han cure vnder Crist and crownyng in tokene
And ben charged with holy chirche charite to tylie,
That is lele loue and lyfe among lered and lewed,
Leyen in Londoun in lenton and elles.
Summe seruen e kynge and his siluer tellen,  (C Prol.90)
In e cheker and in e chancerye chalengen his dettes
Of wardus and of wardemotis, wayues and strayues;
And summe aren as seneschalles and seruen oer lordes
And ben in stede of stewardus and sitten and demen.
	Consience cam and cused hem--and e comune herde hit--  (C
Prol.95)
And seide, `Ydolatrie 3e soffren in sondrye places manye
And boxes ben yset forth ybounde with yren
To vndertake e tol of vntrewe sacrefice.
In menynge of myracles muche wex hangeth there:
Al e world wot wel hit myghte nou3t be trewe,  (C Prol.100)
And for it profite 3ow into pursward 3e prelates soffren
That lewed men in mysbeleue lyuen and dyen.
I leue by oure lord for loue of 3oure coueytise
That al e world be the wors, as holy writ telleth
What cheste and meschaunce to e children of Israel  (C Prol.105)
Ful on hem at fre were thorwe two fals prestis.
For Offnies synne and Fines his brother
Thei were discomfited in batayle and losten Archa domini.
And for here syre sey hem synne and suffred hem do ille
And chastisid hem noght erof and nolde noght rebuken hem,  (C
Prol.110)
Anon as it was tolde hym that e children of Israel
Were disconfit in batayle and Archa domini lorn
And his sones slawe ther, anon he ful for sorwe
Fro his chayere er he sat and brake his nekke atwene;
And al was for vengeance he bet noght his children.  (C Prol.115)
And for ei were prestis and men of holy chirche
God was wel e wrother and took e raer vengeance.
	Forthy y sey 3e prestes and men of holy churche
That soffreth men do sacrefyce and worschipe maumettes,
And 3e shulde be here fadres and techen hem betre,  (C Prol.120)
God shal take vengeaunce on alle suche prestis
Wel hardere and grettere on such shrewed faderes
Than euere he dede on Offnies and Fines his fader,
For 3oure shrewed soffraunce and 3oure oune synne.
3oure masse and 3our matynes and many of 3oure oures  (C Prol.125)
Ar don vndeuouteliche; drede is at e laste
Lest Crist in his constorie acorse of hem manye.
	I parsceyued of e power that Peter hadde to kepe,
To bynde and to vnbynde, as e boke telleth,
Hou he it lefte with loue as oure lord wolde  (C Prol.130)
Amonge foure vertues most vertuous of vertues
That cardinales ben cald and closyng-3ates
Thare Crist is in kynedom to close with heuene.
Ac of e cardinales at court at caught han such a name
And power presumen in hemself a pope to make,   (C Prol.135)
To haue e power at Peter hadde inpugne hem y nelle,
For in loue and lettrure lith e grete eleccoun;
Contreplede hit noght,' quod Consience, `for holi chirche sake.'
	Thenne cam ther a kyng, knyghthede hym ladde,
Myght of tho men made hym to regne.  (C Prol.140)
And thenne cam Kynde Wytt and clerkus he made
And Conscience and Kynde Wit and knyghthed togedres
Caste at e comunes sholde here comunes fynde.
Kynde Wytt and e comune contreued alle craftes
And for most profitable a plogh gonne ei make,  (C Prol.145)
With lele labour to lyue while lif on londe lasteth.
	Thenne Kynde Witt to e kynge and to e comune saide,
`Crist kepe e, kynge, and thy kyneriche
And leue the lede so y londe at Lewte e louye
And for thy rightful ruylynge be rewardid in heuene.'  (C Prol.150)
	Consience to clergie and to e kynge sayde,
`Sum Rex, sum princeps: neutrum fortasse deinceps.
O qui iura regis christi specialia regis,
Hoc vt agas melius, iustus es, esto pius.
Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate.  (C Prol.155)
Qualia vis metere talia grana sere.
Si seritur pietas de pietate metas.'
	Consience and e kynge in to court wente
Where houed an hundrid in houes of selke,
Seriantz it semede that serueth at e barre,  (C Prol.160)
Plededen for penyes and poundes e lawe
And nat for loue of oure lord vnlose here lyppes ones.
Thow myghtest betre meten myst on Maluerne hulles
Than gete a mum of here mouth ar moneye were hem shewed.
	Than ran er a route of ratones as hit were  (C Prol.165)
And smale muys with hem, mo then a thousend
Comen til a conseyl for here comune profyt.
For a cat of a court cam whan hym likede
And ouerlep hem lightliche and laghte hem alle at wille
And playde with somme perilously and potte hem er hym lykede.  (C
Prol.170)
`And yf we groche of his game a wol greue vs sore,
To his clees clawe vs and in his cloches vs halde
That vs lotheth e lyf ar he lette vs passe.
Myghte we with eny wyt his wille withsytte
We myhte be lordes a-lofte and lyue as vs luste.'  (C Prol.175)
	A ratoun of renown moste resonable of tonge
Sayde, `Y haue seyen grete syres in cytees and in townes
Bere beyus of bryghte gold al aboute here nekkes
And colers of crafty werk, bothe knyghtes and squieres.
Wer ther a belle on here beygh, by Iesu, as me thynketh,  (C
Prol.180)
Men myghte ywete where ei wente and here way roume.
Ry3t so,' quath the raton, `reison me shewith
A belle to byggen of bras other of bryghte syluer
And knytten hit on a coler for oure comune profyt
And hongen hit aboute e cattes halse, thanne here we mowe  (C
Prol.185)
Wher he riht othere reste or rometh to pleye;
And yf hym lust for to layke than loke we mowe
And apere in his presence e while hym pleye lyketh
And yf hym wratheth ben we war and his way roume.'
	Alle thise route of ratones to is resoune ei assentide,  (C
Prol.190)
Ac tho e belle was ybroughte and on e beygh hangid
Ther ne was non of al e route for al e reame of Fraunce
That derste haue ybounde e belle aboute e kattes nekke
Ne haue hanged it aboute his hals al Yngelond to wynne;
And leten here labour ylost and al here longe study.  (C Prol.195)
	A mous at much good couthe, as me tho thoughte,
Strok forth sturnely and stod byfore hem alle
And to e route of ratones rehersede thise wordes:
`Thow we hadde ykuld e cat 3ut shulde ther come another
To crache vs and alle our kynde thogh we crope vnder benches.  (C
Prol.200)
Forthy y conseile for oure comune profit lat e cat yworthe
And be neuere so bold the belle hym to shewe.
For y herde my syre sayn, seuene 3er ypassed,
Ther e cat is but a kytoun e court is ful elynge.
Wyttenesse at holy wryt, who-so kan rede:  (C Prol.205)
Ve terre vbi puer est Rex.
Y seye it for me,' quod e mous, `y se so muche aftur,
Shal neuer e cat ne kytoun be my conseil be greued
Ne carpen of here colers at costede me neuere.
And thow hit costed my catel, byknowen y ne wolde  (C Prol.210)
But soffre and sey nou3t and that is e beste
Til at meschief amende hem at many man chasteth.
For many mannys malt we muys wolde distruye
And e route of ratones of reste men awake
Ne were e cat of e court and 3onge kitones toward;  (C Prol.215)
For hadde 3e ratones 3oure reik, 3e couthe nat reule 3ow-suluen.'
	What is meteles bymeneth, 3e men at ben merye,
Deuyne 3e, for y ne dar, by dere god almyhten.
	3ut mette me more of mene and of riche,
As barones and burgeys and bondemen of thorpes,  (C Prol.220)
Al y say slepynge as 3e shal here heraftur:
Both bakeres and breweres, bochers and other,
Webbesteres and walkeres and wynners with handes,
As taylers and tanners and tulyers of e erthe,
As dykers and deluers at doth here dedis ylle  (C Prol.225)
And dryueth forth here days with `Dew vous saue, dame Emme.'
Cokes and here knaues cryded, `hote pyes, hote!
Goode gees and grys! ga we dyne, ga we!'
Tauerners til hem tolde e same:
`Whit wyn of Oseye and wyn of Gascoyne,  (C Prol.230)
Of e Reule and of e Rochele the roost to defye!'
Al is y say sleping and seuyn sythes more.

                         C Pearsall Passus 1

                                Passus 1
Passus Primus de visione Pers le Ploghman
What the montaigne bymeneth and e merke dale
And e feld ful of folk y shal 3ou fair shewe.
A louely lady of lere in lynnene yclothed
Cam doun fro e castel and calde me by name
And sayde, `Will, slepestou? seestow is peple,  (C 1.5)
Hou bisy ei ben aboute e mase?
The moste party of this peple at passeth on is erthe,
Haue thei worschip in this world, thei wilneth no bettere;
Of othere heuene then here thei halde no tale.'
	Y was afeerd of here face, thow she fayre were,  (C 1.10)
And sayde, `Mercy, madame, what may this be to mene?'
	`The tour vppon e tofte,' quod she, `Treuthe is er-ynne,
And wolde at 3e wroghton as his word techeth.
For he is fader of fayth and formor of alle;
To be fayful to hym 3af 3ou fyue wittes  (C 1.15)
For to worschipe hym er-with e whiles 3e lyuen here.
Wherfore he hette e elementis to helpe 3ow alle tymes
And brynge forth 3oure bilyue, bothe lynnen and wollene,
And in mesure, thow much were, to make 3ow attese;
And comaundede of his cortesye in comune thre thynges;  (C 1.20)
Aren non nidefole but tho thre, and nemne hem y thenke
And rekene hem by rewe--reherse hem wher e liketh.
	The firste is fode, and vesture e seconde,
And drynke at doth the good--and drynke nat out of tyme.
Loot in his lyue thorw likerous drynke  (C 1.25)
Wykkede wroghte and wrathed god almyhty.
In his dronkenesse a day his doughteres he dighte
And lay by hem bothe, as e boke telleth,
In his glotonye bygat gurles that were cherles,
And al he witte e wyn his wikkede dede.  (C 1.30)
 Inebriemus eum vino et dormiamus cum eo, vt seruare possimus de patre
 nostro semen.  Genesis.
Thorw wyn and thorw woman there was Loot acombred;
Forthy drede delitable drynke bothe day and nyghtes.
	Mesure is medecyne, thogh ow muche 3erne;  
Al is nat good to e gost at e gott ascuth,
Ne liflode to e lycame at lef is e soule.  (C 1.35)
Leef nat thy lycame, for a lyare hym techeth,
Which is e wrecchede world, wolde e bigyle;
For the fend and thy flesch folewen togederes,
And at seeth e soule and sayth hit the in herte
And wysseth e to ben ywar what wolde e desseyue.'  (C 1.40)
	`A madame, mercy, me lyketh wel 3oure wordes.
Ac e moneye of is molde, at men so faste kepen,
Telleth me to wham at tresour bylongeth?'
	`Go to e gospel,' quod she, `and se what god sayde,
Whenne e peple aposed hym of a peny in e temple,  (C 1.45)
And god askede at hem hoes was e koyne.
"Cesares," thei sayde, "sothliche we knoweth."
"Reddite Cesare," sayde god, "at Cesar byfalleth,
Et que sunt dei deo, or 3e don ylle."
For ri3tfulliche resoun sholde reule 3ow alle  (C 1.50)
And kynde witte be wardeyn, 3oure welthe to kepe,
And tutor of 3oure tresor, and take it 3ow at nede;
For hosbondrye and he holdeth togederes.'
	Y fraynede her fayr tho, for hym at here made,
`The dep dale and e derke, so vnsemely to se to,  (C 1.55)
What may hit bymene, madame, y byseche?'
	`That is e castel of care--whoso cometh er-ynne
May banne at he born was in body and in soule.
Ther-ynne wonyeth a wyghte at Wrong is his name,
Fader of falshede, fond hit firste of alle.  (C 1.60)
Adam and Eue he eggede to ylle
And conseylede Caym to cullen his brother.
Iudas he byiapede thorw Iewene suluer
And afturward anhengede hym hey vppon an hellerne.
He is lettere of loue and lyeth alle tymes;  (C 1.65)
That tristeth in tresor of erthe he bytrayeth sonest;
To combre men with coueytise, at is his kynde and his lore.'
	Thenne hadde y wonder in my wit what woman she were
That suche wyse wordes of holy writ shewede,
And y halsede here on the hey name or she thennes wente  (C 1.70)
What she were wytterly, at wissede me so and tauhte.
	`Holy churche y am,' quod she, `ou oughtest me to knowe;
Y undirfenge e formeste and fre man the made.
Thow broughtest me borewes my biddyng to fulfille,
Leue on me and loue me al thy lyf-tyme.'  (C 1.75)
	Thenne y knelede on my knees and criede here of grace
And preyede here pitously to preye for me to amende
And also kenne me kyndly on Crist to bileue:
`Teche me to no tresor, but telle me this ilke,
How y may saue my soule, at saynt art yholde.'  (C 1.80)
	`When alle tresores ben tried, Treuthe is e beste--
I do hit vppon Deus caritas, to deme e sothe.
Hit is as derworthe a druerie as dere god hymseluen.
For who is trewe of his tonge and of his two handes
And doth e werkes erwith and wilneth no man ylle,  (C 1.85)
He is a god by e gospel and graunte may hele
And also lyk oure lord, by saynt Lukes wordes.
Clerkes at knowen his is thus sholde kenne it aboute,
For cristene and vncristene claymeth it echone.
	Kynges and knyghtes sholde kepen hit by resoun,  (C 1.90)
Rydon and rappe adoun in reumes aboute
And take transgressores and teyen hem faste
Til Treuthe hadde termyned here trespas to e ende,
And halden with hem and here at han trewe accion
And for no lordene loue leue e trewe partie.  (C 1.95)
Treweliche to take and treweliche to fyghte
Is e professioun and puyr ordre that apendeth to knyghtes,
And ho-so passeth at poynt is appostata of knyghthed;
For thei sholde nother faste ne forbere the serk but fyghte and fende 
treuthe  
And neuer leue for loue in hope to lacche syluer.  (C 1.100)
	Dauid in his daies dobbed knyghtes,
Dede hem swere on here swerd to serue treuthe euere.
And god, whan he bigan heuene in at grete blisse,
Made knyghtes in his couert creatures tene,
Cherubyn amd seraphyn, suche seuene and anoer--  (C 1.105)
Lucifer, louelokest tho, ac litel while it duyred.
He was an archangel of heuene, on of goddes knyghtes;
He and oer with hym helden nat with treuthe,
Lepen out in lothly forme for his fals wille
That hadde lust to be lyke his lord at was almyghty.  (C 1.110)
	Ponam pedem meum in aquilone, et similus ero altissimo.'
	`Lord! why wolde he tho, at wykkede Lucifer,
Luppen alofte in e north syde
Thenne sitten in e sonne syde ere e day roweth?'
	`Nere hit for northerne men, anon y wolde 3ow telle--  
Ac y wol lacky no lyf,' quod at lady sothly.  (C 1.115)
`Hit is sikerore bi southe er e sonne regneth
Then in e north by many notes, no man leue other;
For theder as e fende fly his fote for to sette,
Ther he faylede and ful and his felawes alle,
And helle is er he is, and he ere ybounde.  (C 1.120)
Euene e contarie sitteth Crist, clerkes wyteth e sothe.
	Dixit dominus domino meo, sede a dextris meis.
Ac of is matere no more nemnen y nelle;
Hewes in e haliday after hete wayten,
Ac thei caren nat thow hit be cold, knaues, when ei worche.  
	Wonder wyse holy wryt telleth how ei fullen,  (C 1.125)
Summe in erthe, summe in ayr, summe in helle depe.
Ac Lucifer lowest lith of hem alle;
For pruyde that hym pokede his payne hath non ende.
And alle at worchen at wikked is, wenden thei sholle
Aftur here deth-day and dwelle ther Wrong is,  (C 1.130)
And alle at han wel ywrouhte, wende ey sholle
Estward til heuene, euere to abyde
There Treuthe is, e tour that trinite ynne sitteth.
Lere hit thus lewed men, for lettred hit knoweth,
Than treuthe and trewe loue is no tresor bettre.'  (C 1.135)
	`I haue no kynde knowynge,' quod y, `3ut mot 3e kenne me bettere
By what wey it wexeth and wheder out of my menynges.'
	`Thow dotede daffe,' quod she, `dulle aren thy wittes.
To lyte lernedest ow, y leue, Latyn in thy 3owthe:
Heu michi, quod sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem!  (C 1.140)
Hit is a kynde knowynge that kenet in thyn herte
For to louye thy lord leuest of alle,
Dey rather en do eny dedly synne.
	Melius est mori quam male viuere.
And this y trowe be treuth: ho-so kan tecche e bettre,  
Lok ow soffre hym to seye and so thow myht lerne.  (C 1.145)
	For Treuthe telleth at loue ys triacle to abate synne
And most souerayne salue for soule and for body.
Loue is plonte of pees, most precious of vertues,
For heuene holde hit ne myghte, so heuy hit first semede,
Til hit hadde of erthe y3oten hitsilue.  (C 1.150)
Was neuer lef vppon lynde lyhtere ther-aftur,
As when hit hadde of e folde flesch and blode taken.
Tho was hit portatif and persaunt as is e poynt of a nelde;
May non armure hit lette ne none heye walles.
	Forthi is loue ledare of oure lordes folke of heuene,  (C 1.155)
And a mene, as e mayre is, bitwene e kyng and e comune;
Ryht so is loue ledare and e lawe shapeth;
Vp man for his mysdedes the mercement he taxeth.
	And for to knowe hit kyndly, hit comeseth by myhte,
And in e hert er is e hed and e heye welle.  (C 1.160)
For of kynde knowynge of herte ther comseth a myhte
And at falleth to e fader at formede vs alle,
Lokede on vs with loue, let his sone deye
Mekeliche for oure mysdedes to amende vs alle,
And 3ut wolde hem no wo at wrouhte hym al at tene  (C 1.165)
Bote mekeliche with mouth mercy he bysoughte
To haue pitee on at peple at paynede hym to dethe.
	Here myhtow se ensaumples in hymself one
That he was myhtfull and meke, and mercy gan graunte
To hem at hengen hym hye and his herte thorlede.  (C 1.170)
Forthy y rede 3ow riche, haueth reuthe vppon e pore;
Thow 3e be myhty to mote, beth meke in 3oure werkes,
For e same mesure at 3e meteth, amis other elles,
3e shal be weye er-with whenne 3e wende hennes.
	Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur vobis.  
	For thow 3e ben trewe of 3oure tonges and treweliche wynne  (C 1.175)
And ben as chast as a child at chyht noer ne fyhteth,
But yf 3e louye leeliche and lene e pore,
Of such good as god 3ow sent goodliche parte,
3e na haueth na more meryte in masse ne in oures
Then Malkyn of here maydenheed when no man here couayteth.  (C 1.180)
	For Iames e gentele iugeth in his bokes
That fayth withouten e feet is feblore then nautht
And as ded a dore-nayl but yf e dedes folowe:
	Fides sine operibus mortua est.
Chastite withouten charite worth cheyned in helle;
Hit is as lewed thyng as a laumpe at no liht is ynne.  (C 1.185)
Mony chapeleynes aren chaste, ac charite hem fayleth;
Aren none hardore ne hungriore then men of holy chirche,  
Auerous and euel-willed when ei ben avaunsed,  
Vnkynde to here kyn and to alle cristene,
Chewen here charite and chiden aftur more,  (C 1.190)
And ben acombred with coueytise--thei can nou3t crepe out,
So harde ha auaryce yhapsed hem togederes.
And at is no treuthe of e trinite, but triccherye, synne,
And a luther ensaumple, leef me, as for e lewed peple.
	For this aren wordes ywryten in e ewangelie:  (C 1.195)
"Date et dabitur vobis--for y dele 3ow alle."
And at is e lok of loue and vnloseth grace,
That conforteth alle carefole acombred with synne.
	So loue is lecche of lyf and lysse of alle payne
And e graffe of grace and graest way to heuene.  (C 1.200)
Forthi y may seye, as y said eer, by siht of this textes,
"Whenne alle tresores ben tried, treuthe is e beste."
Loue hit,' quod at lady, `lette may y no lengore
To lere the what loue is'--and leue at me she lauhte.

                          C Pearsall  Passus 2


Passus secundus de visione vbi prius
And thenne y kneled vppon my knees and cried to here of grace
And sayde, `Mercy, madame, for Mary loue of heuene
That bar at blessid barn at bouhte vs on e rode,
Kenne me by sum craft to knowe e false.'
	`Loke vppon thy left half and loo where he standeth.  (C 2.5)
Fals and Fauel and fikel-tonge Lyare
And mony mo of here maners of men and of wymmen.'
	Y lokede vppon my luft half as e lady me tauhte 
And say a womman as hit were wonderly yclothed.
She was purfiled in pelure, non puyrere on erthe,  (C 2.10)
And crouned with a croune, e kyng ha non bettre;
On alle here fyue fyngeres ful richeliche yrynged
And thereon rede rubies and othere riche stones.
Here robynge was rychere en y rede couthe,
For to telle of here atyer no tyme haue y nouthe;  (C 2.15)
Here aray with here rychesse raueschede my herte.
Whos wyf a were and what was here name,
`Leue lady,' quod y tho, `layn nought yf 3e knowen.'
	`That is Mede e mayde, hath niyed me ful ofte
And ylow on my lemman at Leute is hoten  (C 2.20)
And lakketh hym to lordes at lawes han to kepe,
In kynges court, in comune court contrarieth my techynge,
In e popes palays she is pryue as mysulue,
Ac sothnesse wolde nat so for she is a bastard.
Oon Fauel was her fader at hath a fykel tonge  (C 2.25)
And selde soth sayth bote yf he souche gyle,
And Mede is manered aftur hym, as men of kynde carpeth:
	Talis pater, talis filia.
For shal neuer breere bere berye as a vine
Ne on a croked kene thorn kynde fyge wexe:  
	Bona arbor bonum fructum facit.
Y ouhte ben herrore then she, y com of a bettere;  (C 2.30)
The fader at me forth brouhte filius dei hoteth,
That neuere lyede ne lauhede in al his lyf-tyme,
And y am his dere doughter, ducchesse of heuene,
That what man me louyeth and my wille folewith
Shal haue grace to good ynow and a good ende,  (C 2.35)
And what man Mede loueth, my lyf y dar wedde,
He shal lese for here loue a lippe of trewe charite.
That helpeth man moste to heuene Mede most letteth--
Y do hit vppon Dauyd, the doumbe wil no3t lyen:
	Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo.  
And Dauyd vndoth hymself, as e doumbe sheweth:  (C 2.40)
	Et super innocentem munera non accepit.
	Tomorwe worth Mede ymaried to a mansed wrecche,
To oon Fals Faythlesse of e fendes kynne.
Fauel thorw his flaterynge speche hath Mede foule enchaunted
And al is Lyares ledynge this lady is thus ywedded.  
Soffre and thow shalt see suche as ben apayed  (C 2.45)
That Mede is thus ymaried, tomorwe ou shalt aspye.
Knowe hem well yf ow kanst and kepe the fro hem alle
That loueth here lordschipe, lasse other more.
Lacke hem nat but lat hem worthe til Leutee be justice
And haue power to punyshe hem, thenne pot forth thy resoun.  (C 2.50)
For y bykenne the Crist,' quod she, `and his clene moder,
And acombre thow neuere thy consience for coueityse of mede.'
	Thus lefte me that lady lyggynge as aslepe
And y say how Mede was maried, metyng as it were.
Al e riche retenaunce at rotheth hem o fals lyuynge  (C 2.55)
Were beden to e bridale a bothe half e contre,
Of many manere men at of Mede kynne were,
Of knyghtes, of clerkes, of other comune peple,
As sysores, sompnores, shyryues and here clerkes,
Bydels and bailifs and brokeres of chaffares,  (C 2.60)
Vorgoers and vitalers and voketes of the Arches,
Y kan nou3t rykene e route at ran aboute Mede.
Ac Simonye and Syuile and sysores of contrees
Were most pryue with Mede of eny men, me thoghte.
Ac Fauel was e furste at fette here out of chambre  (C 2.65)
And as a brokor brouhte here forth to be ioyned wi False.
When Simonye and Syuile ysey er bothe wille
Thei assentede hit were so at sylueres preyere.
	Thenne lup Lyare forth and saide, `Loo! here a chartre
That Gyle hath gyue to Falsnesse and grauntid also Mede,'  (C 2.70)
And preyeth Syuile to se hit and Syimonye to rede hit.
Thenne Simonye and Syuyle standeth forth bothe
And vnfoldeth the feffament at Fals hath ymaked.
Thenne saide Symonye at Syuyle it herde:
`Al at loueth and byleueth vp lykyng of Mede,  (C 2.75)
Leueth hit lelly this worth here laste mede
That foleweth Falsnesse, Fauel and Lyare,
Mede and suche men at aftur mede wayten.
	Sciant presentes et futuri, etc.
	Wyten and witnessen at wonyen on erthe  
That Mede is maried more for here richesse  (C 2.80)
Then for holynesse oer hendenesse oer for hey kynde.
Falsnesse is fayn of here for he wot here ryche
And Fauel at hat a fals speche feffeth hem by is lettre
To ben princes in pruyde and pouert to dispice,
To bacbite and to boste and bere fals witnesse,  (C 2.85)
To skorne and to skolde and sklaundre to make,
Vnbuxum and bold to breke e ten hestes.
The erldom of enuye and yre he hem graunteth
With the chastel of cheste and chaterynge out of resoun.
The counte of coueytise he consenteth to hem bothe,  (C 2.90)
With vsurye and auaryce and other fals sleythus
In bargaynes and brocages with the borw of thefte,
With al the lordschip of leccherye in lenghe and in brede,
As in werkes and in wordes and in waytynges of yes,
In woldes and in weschynges and with ydel thouhtes  (C 2.95)
There at wille wolde and werkmanschip faileth.
Glotonye a gyueth hem and grete othes togedres,
Al day to drynke at diuerse tauernes
And there to iangele and to iape and iuge here emcristene
And fastyng-dayes to frete before noone and drynke  (C 2.100)
With spiserye, speke ydelnesse, in vayne speke and spene,
And sue forth suche felawschipe til they ben falle in slewthe
And awake with wanhope and no wille to amende
For a leueth be lost when he his lyf leteth.
This lyf to folowe Falsnesse and folke at on hym leueth,  (C 2.105)
After here deth ay dwellen day withouten ende
In lordschip with Lucifer, as this lettre sheweth,
With alle e appurtinaunces of purgatorye and e peyne of helle.'
	In wittenesse of is thyng Wrong was the furste
And Peres e pardoner of Paulines queste,  (C 2.110)
Butte e bedel of Bannebury sokene,
Raynald e reue and redyng-kynges manye,
Munde e mullere and monye mo othere.
`In e date of e deuel is ded is aseled,
By syhte of sire Simonye and Syuyles leue.'  (C 2.115)
	Thenne tened hym Teologie when he this tales herde
And sayde to Symonye, `Now sorwe mot thow haue,
Such a weddyng to worche at wrathe myhte treuthe;
And ar this weddyng be wrouhte, wo to al 3oure consayle!
For Mede is moilere, Amendes was here dame.  (C 2.120)
Althow Fals were here fader and Fikel-tonge her belsyre,
Amendes was here moder, by trewe menne lokynge,
And withouten here moder Amendes Mede may not be wedded.
For Treuthe plyhte here treuthe to wedde on of here douhteres
And god graunte hit were so, so no gyle were.  (C 2.125)
And thow haste gyue here as Gyle tauhte, now god 3eue e sorwe!
For Syuyle and thi-sylue selde fulfulleth
That god wolde were ydo withoute som deseyte.
	Y Theologie e tixt knowe, yf trewe doom wittenesseth,
That Laurence the leuyte, that lay on e gredyre,  (C 2.130)
Lokede vp to oure lord and alowed sayde:
"God of thy grace heuene gates opene
For y, man, of thy mercy mede haue diserued."
And sethe man may, an heye, mede of god diserue
Hit semeth sothly ri3t so on erthe  (C 2.135)
That Mede may be wedded to no man bot Treuthe;
And thow hast feffed here with Fals, fy on suche lawe!
For by lesynges 3e lacchen largeliche mede.
That 3e nymeth, and the notaries, to nauhte gynneth brynge
Holy Churche, and charite 3e cheweth and deuoreth.  (C 2.140)
3e shall abyggen hit bothe but 3e amende e sonner.
For wel 3e wyte, wernardus, as holy writ telleth,
That Fals is faythles, the fende is his syre,
And as a bastard ybore by3ete was he neuere.
And Mede is moylore amd mayden of gode;  (C 2.145)
A myhte kusse the kyng as for his kynneswomman.
	Forthy worcheth by wisdom and by witt also
And ledeth here to Londone there lawe may declare
Where matrymonye may be of Mede and of Falshede.
And thow iustices enioynen hem thorw iuroures othes  (C 2.150)
3ut beth ywar of e weddynge for witty is Treuthe
And Consience is of his consayl and knoweth 3ow alle;
And yf he fynde 3ow in defaute and with the fals holde
Hit shall sitte 3oure soules ful sore at e laste.'
	Here-to assenteth Syuyle, ac Symonye ne wolde  (C 2.155)
Til he hadde seluer for the seel and signes of notaries.
Tho fette Fauel forth floreynes ynowe
And bade Gyle to gyue gold al aboute,
`And nameliche to notaries at noon of hem fayle,
And feffe Fals Witnesse with floreynes ynowe  (C 2.160)
For he may Mede amaystrye with his merye speche.'
	Tho this gold was ygyue grete was the thonkynge
That Fauel and Fals hadde for her fayre 3eftes,
And comen ful courteysly to conforte the false
And sayde softly, `Sese shal we neuere,  (C 2.165)
Til Mede be thy wedded wyf wolle we nat stunte,
For we haue Mede amaystred thorw oure mery tonge
That she graunte to go with a goode wille
To Londone and to loke yf lawe wille iugge;
To be maried for mone Med hath assented.'  (C 2.170)
	Thenne was Fauel fayn and Falsnesse blythe
And leten somne alle his segges in vche syde aboute
And bade hem alle be bowen, beggares and othere,
To wende with hym to Westminstre his weddyng to honoure.
	Ac hakeneys hadde thei none bote hakeneys to huyre;  (C 2.175)
Thenne gan Gyle to borwen hors at many gret maystres
And shop at a shereue sholde bere Mede
Softliche in saunbure fram syse to syse,
And Fals and Fauel fecche forth sysores
And ryde on hem and on reues righte faste by Mede.  (C 2.180)
Symonye and Syuyle seyden and sworen
That prestis and prouisores sholden prelates serue,
`And y my-sulue, Syuyle, and Symonye my felawe
Wol ryde vppon rectores and ryche men deuoutours,
And notaries on persones at permuten ofte  (C 2.185)
And on pore prouisores and on appeles in e Arches.
Somnours and sodenes that supersedeas taketh,
On hem at loueth leccherye lyppeth vp and rydeth,
On secatours and such men cometh softly aftur.
And lat cople e commissarie, oure cart shal he drawe  (C 2.190)
And fecchen oure vitailes at fornicatores.
And maketh of Lyare a lang cart to lede al this othere,
As fobbes and faytours at on her feet rennen.'
	Thenne Fals and Fauel ryde forth togedres
And Mede in e myddes and al this men aftur.  (C 2.195)
Y haue no tome to telle the tayl at hem folewede
Of many maner men, for Mede sake sende aftur,
Ac Gyle was forgoere to gyen al this peple
For to wisse hem e way and with Mede abyde.
	Sothnesse seyh hem alle and sayde but lytel  (C 2.200)
And prykede forth on pacience and passed hem alle
And kam to e kynges court and Consience tolde
And Consience to e kyng carpede hit aftur.
`Now by Crist,' quod e kyng, `and y cacche myhte
Fals or Fauel or here felawe Lyare,  (C 2.205)
Y wolde be awreke on tho wreches and on here werkes alle
And do hem hange by e halse and alle at hem maynteyneth.
Shal neuere man on is molde maynpryse e leste,
But riht as e lawe loketh lat falle on hem alle.'
And comaundede a constable that cam at e furste,  (C 2.210)
`Go atache tho tyrauntes, for eny tresor, y hote.
Lat fetere Falsnesse faste for enys-kynes 3eftes
And gurdeth of Gyles heed, lat hym goo no wyddore,
And bryngeth Mede to me, maugrey hem alle,
And yf 3e lacchen Lyare lat hym nat askape  (C 2.215)
Ar he be put on e pylorye, for eny preyere, ich hote.'
	Drede stod at e dore and e dene herde,  
What was e kynges wille, and wyghtliche wente
And bad Falsnesse to fle and his feres alle.
	Falsnesse for fere tho fleyh to e freres  (C 2.220)
And Gyle doth hym to gone, agaste for to deye.
Ac marchauntes mette with hym and made hym abyde
And byschytten hym in here shoppes to shewen here ware
And paraylede hym lyke here prentys the peple to serue.
	Lyhtliche Lyare lep awey thenne,  (C 2.225)
Lorkyng thorw lanes, to-logged of moneye.
He was nawher welcome for his many tales,
Oueral yhouted and yhote trusse,
Tyl pardoners hadde pite on hym and polleden hym into house.
Thei woschen hym and wypeden hym and wonden hym in cloutes  (C 2.230)
And senten hym on Sonendayes with seeles to churche
And gaf pardon for pans, pound-mele aboute.
Thenne lourede leches and lettres thei sente
That Lyare sholde wonye with hem, watres to loke.
Spysours speken to hym to aspye her ware,  (C 2.235)
For a can on here craft and knoweth manye gommes.
Ac mynstrals and mesagers mette with Lyare ones
And of-helden hym half-3ere and eleue dayes.
	Ac freres thorw fayre speche fetten hym thennes
And for knowyng of comeres they copeden hym as a frere.  (C 2.240)
Ac he hath leue to lep out as ofte as hym liketh
And is welcome when he cometh and woneth with hem ofte.
	Symonye and Syuile senten to Rome
And putte hem thorw appeles in e popes grace.
Ac Consience to e kyng accused hem bothe  (C 2.245)
And sayde, `Syre kyng, by Crist, but clerkes amende  
Thy kynedom thorw here coueytise wol out of kynde wende
And holy churche thorw hem worth harmed for euere.'
	Alle fledde for fere and flowen into hernes;
Saue Mede e mayde no ma durste abyde.  (C 2.250)
Ac treuliche to telle a tremblede for fere
And bothe wepte and wrang when she was attached.

                           C Pearsall Passus 3

                                Passus 3
Passus tertius de visione vt prius
Now is Mede e mayde and na mo of hem alle
Thorw bedeles and baylifs ybrouhte byfor e kyng.
The kyng callede a clerke--y can nat his name--
To take Mede e mayde and maken here at ese.
`Y shal asaye here mysulue and sothliche appose  (C 3.5)
What man of this world at here leuest hadde,
And yf she worche wysely and by wys man consayl
Y wol forgyue here alle gultes, so me god helpe.'
	Cortesliche e clerk thenne, as the kyng hyhte,
Took Mede by e myddel and myldeliche here brouhte  (C 3.10)
Into boure with blisse and by here gan sitte.
Ac there was myrthe and mynstracie Mede to plese;
That wendeth to Westmynstre worschipede here monye.
Genteliche with ioye the iustices somme
Boskede hem to e bour ther this buyrd dwelte  (C 3.15)
And confortede here as they couthe, by the clerkes leue,
And sayden, `Mourne nat, Mede, ne make thow no sorwe
For we wol wisse the kyng and thy way shape
For to wedde at thy wille where the leef licketh
For al Consiences cast and craft, as y trowe.'  (C 3.20)
	Myldeliche Mede thenne mercyede hem alle
Of here grete goodnesse and gaf hem vchone
Coupes of clene gold, coppes of syluer,
Rynges with rubees and othere riche 3eftes,
The leste man of here mayne a motoun of gold.  (C 3.25)
	Whenne they hadde lauhte here leue at this lady Mede
Thenne come clerkes to conforte here the same
And beden here be blythe, `for we beth thyn owene
For to worche thy wille the while ou myhte dure.'
And Mede hendeliche behyhte hem e same,  (C 3.30)
To louye hem leeliche and lordes to make,
`And purchace 3ow prouendres while 3oure panes lasteth
And bygge 3ow benefices, pluralite to haue,
And in e constorie at court do calle 3oure names.
Shal no lewedenesse lette e clerk at y louye  (C 3.35)
That he ne worth furste vaunsed, for y am byknowe
There connynge clerkes shal clokke byhynde.'
	Thenne come er a confessour ycoped as a frere,
To Mede e mayde myldliche he sayde:
`Thow lewed men and lered men haued layn by the bothe,  (C 3.40)
And Falshede yfonde the al this fourty wyntur,
Y shal assoyle the mysulue for a seem whete
And 3ut be thy bedman and brynge adoun Consience
Amonge kynges and knyhtes and clerkes, and the lyke.'
	Thenne Mede for here mysdedes to this man knelede,  (C 3.45)
Shrofe here of here synne, shameless, y leue,
Tolde hym a tale a toke hym a noble
For to ben here bedman and to bere wel here ernde,
Among knyhtes and clerkes Consience to turne.
	And he assoiled here sone and sethen a sayde:  (C 3.50)
`We han a wyndowe a worchynge wol stande vs ful heye;
Wolde 3e glase at gable and graue ther 3oure name
In masse and in mataynes for Mede we shal synge
Solempneliche and softlyche as for a suster of oure ordre.'
	Loueliche at lady laghynge sayde:  (C 3.55)
`Y shal be 3oure frende, frere, and fayle 3ow neuere
The whiles 3e louyen this lordes that lecherye haunteth
And lacketh nat this ladyes at louyeth e same.
Hit is but frelete of fleysche, 3e fyndeth wel by bokes,
And a cours of kynde wherof we comen alle.  (C 3.60)
Ho may askape e sclaundre, e skathe myhte sone be mended;
Hit is synne as of seuene noon sannour relesed.
Haueth mercy,' quod Mede, `on men at hit haunteth
And y shal cuuere 3oure kyrke and 3oure cloistre make,
Bothe wyndowes and wowes y wol amende and glase  (C 3.65)
And peynten and purtrayen ho payede for e makyng
That euery seg shal se y am a sustre of 3oure ordre.'
	Ac god to alle good folk suche grauynge defendeth,
To writen on wyndowes of eny wel dedes,
An auntur pruyde be paynted there and pomp of the world;  (C 3.70)
For god knoweth thi consience and thy kynde wille,
Thi cost and here couetyse and ho e catel ouhte.
Forthy, leue lordes, leueth suche writynges;
God in e gospel suche grauynge nou3t alloueth,
	Nesciat dextra quid faciat sinistra.  
Lat nat thy lyft hand, oure lord techeth,  (C 3.75)
Ywyte what thow delest with thi ryhte syde.
	3ut Mede the mayr myldeliche she bysouhte,
Bothe schyreues and seriauntes and suche as kepeth lawes
To punischen vppon pilories and vppon pynyng stoles,
As bakeres and breweres, bocheres and cokes;  (C 3.80)
For thyse men don most harm to e mene peple,
Rychen thorw regraterye and rentes hem beggeth
With that e pore peple sholde potte in here wombe.
For tok thei on trewely they tymbred nat so heye,
Ne bouhte none burgages, be 3e ful sertayn.  (C 3.85)
Ne thei han no pite on the peple at parselmele mot begge,
And thow thei take hem vntidy thyng no tresoun ei ne halden hit;
And thow thei fillen nat ful at for lawe is seled,
A grypeth erfore as gret as for e grayeth treuthe.
	Many sondry sorwes in citees falleth ofte,  (C 3.90)
Bothe thorw fuyr and thorw flood, al thorw fals peple
That bygyleth goode men and greueth hem wrongly,
The whiche at crien on here knees at Crist hem auenge
Here on this erthe or elles in helle
That so bigileth hem of here goed, at god on hem sende  (C 3.95)
Feuer of fouler euel other fuyr on here houses,
Morreyne or other meschaunces; and mony tymes hit falleth
That innocence is herde in heuene amonge seyntes
That louten for hem to oure lord and to oure lady bothe,
Graunte gylours on erthe grace to amende  (C 3.100)
And haue here penaunce on puyre erthe and nat e peyne of helle.
And thenne falleth ther fuyr on fals men houses
And goode mennes for here gultes gloweth on fuyr aftur.
Al this haue we seyn, at som tyme thorw a breware
Many burgages ybrent and bodies er-ynne,  (C 3.105)
And thorw a candle clemynge in a cursed place
Ful adoun and forbrent forth alle e rewe.
	Forthy mayres at maketh fre men, me thynketh at 3e ouhten
For to spyre and to aspye, for eny speche of suluer,
What maner muster oer marchandise he vsed  (C 3.110)
Ar he were vnderfonge fre and felawe in 3oure rolles.
Hit is nat seemely for soth in citee or in borw-toun
That vsurers oer regraters, for enys-kynes 3eftes,
Be yfranchised for a fre man and haue a fals name.
	Ac Mede e mayde e mayre a bisowte  (C 3.115)
Of alle suche sullers seluer to take
Or presentes without pans and oer priue 3eftes.
`Haue reuthe on this regraters at han riche handes--
	In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt--
Loue hem for my loue,' quod this lady Mede,  
`And soffre hem som tyme to selle a3eyne e lawe.'  (C 3.120)
	Salamon e sage a sarmoun he made
In amendement of mayres and oer stywardes
And wittenesseth what worth of hem at wolleth take mede:
	Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera.
Amonge thise lettred lordes this Latyn is to mene  
That fuyr shal falle and forbrenne al to blew aysches  (C 3.125)
The houses and e homes of hem at taketh 3eftes.
	The kyng fram conseyl come, calde aftur Mede
And sente to se here--y myhte nat se at ladde here.
Fol corteisliche e kynge, as his kynde wolde,
Lacked here a litel whith for at she louede gyle  (C 3.130)
And wilned to be wedded withouten his leue
And til Treuthe hadde ytolde here a tokene fram hymsulue;
And saide, `Vnwittiliche, woman, wroft hastow ofte
And monye a gulte y haue the forgyue and my grace graunted
Bothe to the and to thyne in hope thow shost amende,  (C 3.135)
And ay the lengur y late the go the lasse treuthe is with the,
For wors wrouhtestou neuere then now, tho thow Fals toke.
3ut y forgyue the is gult, god forbede eny more
Thow tene me and Treuthe; and thow mowe be a-take,
In the castel of Corf y shal do close the as an ancre  (C 3.140)
Or in a wel wors woen, be seynte Mary my lady,
That alle wantowen women shal be war be e one
And bitterliche banne the and alle at bereth thy name
And teche the to louye treuthe and take consail of resoun.
Y haue a knyght, Consience, cam late fro be3ende;  (C 3.145)
Yf he wilneth the to wyue, wolt thow hym haue?'
	`3e, lord,' quod that lady, `lord hit me forbede
But y be holly at thyn heste, lat hange me elles!'
	Thenne was Consience ykald to come and apere
Byfore e kyng and his consayl, as clerkes and oere.  (C 3.150)
Knelyng, Consience to e kyng loutede,
What his wille were and what he do sholde.
	`Woltow wedde this Mede yf y wol assente?
For she is fayn of thy felawschipe and for to be thy make.'
	Quod Consience to the kyng, `Crist hit me forbede!  (C 3.155)
Ar y wedde such a wyf, wo me bytyde!
For she is frele of here fayth and fikel of here speche
And maketh men mysdo manye score tymes.
In trist of here tresor she teneth fol monye;
Wyues and wedewes wantonnesse she techeth  (C 3.160)
And lereth hem to lecherye at louyeth here 3eftes.
3oure fader she afelde, Fals and she togederes;
She hath apoisend popes, she appeyreth holy churche.
Is nat a bettere baud, by hym at me made,
Bytwene heuene and helle, and erthe thogh men soughte.  (C 3.165)
For she is tikel of here tayl, talewys of tonge,
As comyn as e cartway to knaues and to alle,
To monekes, to alle men, 3e, musels in hegge;
Lyggeth by here when hem lust lered and lewed.
	Sysores and somnours, suche men hire preiseth;  (C 3.170)
Shyreues of shyres were shent yf she nere,  
For she doth men lesen here lond and here lyf bothe.
She lat passe prisones, paieth for hem ofte,
And gyueth the gaylers gold and grotes togederes
To vnfetere the fals and fle wher hym liketh;  (C 3.175)
And taketh treuthe by the top and teieth hym faste
And hangeth hym for hatrede at harmede nere.
To be cursed in e constorie a counteth nat a rusche;
For a copeth e commissarie and coteth his clerkes
She is assoiled thus sone as heresulue lyketh.  (C 3.180)
She may ny as muche do in a monthe ones
As 3oure secrete seel in sixe score dayes.
She is priue with e pope, prouysours it knoweth,
For Symonye and heresulue seleth here bulles.
She blesseth this bischopes thow thei ben ny lewede;  (C 3.185)
She prouendreth persones and prestes she maynteneth
To holde lemmanes and lotebyes al here lyf-dayes,
And bringeth forth barnes a3enes forbodene lawes.
Sunt infelices, quia matres sunt meretrices.
There she is wel with eny kyng, wo is at rewme  (C 3.190)
For she is fauerable to e fals, the whiche defouleth treuthe.
	By Iesu! with here ieweles the iustices she shendeth;
She lyth a3eyne e lawe and lettith hym e gate
That fayth may nat haue his forth, here floreynes goth so thykke;
And leet e lawe as here luste and louedayes maketh.  (C 3.195)
Thorw which loueday is loste at Leute myhte wynne--
The mase for a mene man thow mote euere!
Lawe is so lordliche and loth to make eny ende;
Withoute presentes oer pans he pleseth ful fewe.
	Trewe burgeys and bonde she bryngeth to nauhte ofte  (C 3.200)
And al e comune in care and in coueytise.
Religioun she al to-reueth and oute of reule to lybbe.
Ther ne is cite vnder sonne ne noon so ryche reume
Ther she is alowed and ylet by at laste shal eny while
Withouten werre oer wo oer wickede lawes  (C 3.205)
And custumes of coueytise e comune to destruye.
Vnsittyng soffraunce, here suster, and heresulue
Han almest mad, but Marye the helpe,
That no lond ne loueth the and 3ut leeste thyn owene.
For clerkes and coueitise Mede hath knet togederes  (C 3.210)
That al e witt of the world is woxe into gyle.
Thus lereth this lady thi lond, now lord 3eue here sorwe!
For pore men dar nat pleyne ne no pleynt shewe,
Such a maister is Mede among men of gode.'
	Thenne mournede Mede and menede here to e kyng  (C 3.215)
To haue space to speke, spede yf a myhte.
The kyng grauntede here grace with a goode wille:
`Excuce the yf thow kanst, y can no more segge,
For Consience acuseth the to congeye the for euere.'
	`Nay, lord,' quod at lady, `leueth hym e worse  (C 3.220)
When 3e wyte witterly in whom e wrong liggeth.
Ther at meschief is greet Mede may helpe;
And at knowestou, Consience, y cam nat to chyde
Ne to depraue thy persone with a proed herte.
Wel thow wost, weye, but yf thow wille gabbe,  (C 3.225)
Thow hast hanged on my half enleuene tymes
And also grypen my gold and gyue hit where e liked.
Why thow wrathest e now wonder me thynketh;
3ut y may, as y myhte, menske e with 3eftes
And maynteyne thi manhede more then thow knowest.  (C 3.230)
	Ac thow hast famed me foule byfore e kyng here
For kulde y neuere no kyng ne conseilede so to done,
Ac y haue saued myselue sixty thousand lyues
Bothe here and elles-where in alle kyne londes.
Ac thow thysulue sothly, ho hit segge durste,  (C 3.235)
Hast arwed many hardy man at hadde wille to fyhte,
To berne and to bruttene, to bete adoun strenghtes.
In contrees there the kyng cam Consience hym lette
That he ne felde nat his foes tho fortune hit wolde
And as his wyrdus were ordeyned at e wille of oure lorde.  (C 3.240)
Caytifliche thow, Consience, conseiledest e kyng to leten
In his enemyes handes his heritage of Fraunce.
Vnconnynge is at Consience a kyndom to sulle,
For at is conquered thorw a comune helpe, a kyndom or ducherie,
Hit may nat be sold sothliche, so many part asketh  (C 3.245)
Of folk at fauht erfore and folwede e kynges wille.
The leste ladde at longeth with hym, be e londe ywonne,
Loketh aftur lordschipe or oer large mede
Wherby he may as a man for eueremore lyue aftur.
And at is e kynde of a kyng at conquereth on his enemys,  (C 3.250) 

To helpe heyliche alle his oste or elles graunte
Al at his men may wynne, do therwith here beste.
Forthy y consayl no kynge eny conseyl aske
At Concience, at coueiteth to conquere a reume.
For sholde neuere Consience by my constable were y a kyng,' quod Mede, 

`Ne be marschal ouer my men there y moste fyhte.  (C 3.256)
	Ac hadde y, Mede, ben his marchel ouer his men in Fraunce
Y durste haue yleyd my lyf and no lasse wedde
He sholde haue be lord of at lond a lenghe and a brede
And also kyng of at kuth his kyn for to helpe,  (C 3.260)
The leeste brolle of his blod a barones pere.
Vnconnyngliche thow, Consience, conseiledest hym thenne
To lete so his lordschipe for a litel mone.
	Hit bycometh for a kyng at shal kepe a reume
To 3eue men mede at meekliche hym serueth,  (C 3.265)
To aliens and to alle men, to honoure hem with 3eftes;
Mede maketh hym be byloued and for a man yholde.
Emperours and erles and alle manere lordes
Thorw 3eftes haen 3emen to 3erne and to ryde.
The pope and alle prelates presentes vnderfongen  (C 3.270)
And 3euen mede to men to meyntene here lawes.
Seruantes for here seruyse mede they asken
And taken mede of here maistres as ei mowen acorde.
Bothe begeres and bedemen crauen mede for here preyeres;
Munstrals for here minstracie a mede thei asken;  (C 3.275)
Maistres at kenneth clerkes craueth therfore mede;
Prestes at prechen and e peple techen
Asken mede and mas-pans and here mete bothe.
Alle kyn crafty men crauen mede for here prentises;
Marchaundise and mede mot nede togederes.  (C 3.280)
Is no lede at leueth at he ne loueth mede
And glad for to grype here, gret lord oer pore.'
	Quod e kyng to Consience, `By Crist, as me thynketh,
Mede is worthy, me thynketh, e maistrye to haue.'
	`Nay,' quod Consience to e kyng, `clerkes witeth e sothe  (C 3.285)
That Mede is euermore a mayntenour of gyle,
As e sauhter sayth by such at 3eueth mede:
That vnlaufulliche lyuen hauen large handes
To 3eue men mede more oer lasse.
	Ac ther is mede and mercede, and bothe men demen  (C 3.290)
A desert for som doynge, derne oer elles.
Mede many tymes men 3eueth bifore e doynge
And at is nother resoun ne ryhte ne in no rewme lawe
That eny man mede toke but he hit myhte deserue,
And for to vndertake to trauile for another  (C 3.295)
And wot neuere witterly where he lyue so longe
Ne haue hap to his hele mede to deserue.
Y halde hym ouer-hardy or elles nat trewe
That pre manibus is paied or his pay asketh.
Harlotes and hoores and also fals leches  (C 3.300)
They asken here huyre ar thei hit haue deserued,
And gylours gyuen byfore and goode men at e ende
When e dede is ydo and e day endit;
And at is no mede but a mercede, a manere dewe dette,
And but hit prestly be ypayed e payere is to blame,  (C 3.305)
As by the book at byt nobody with-holde
The huyre of his hewe ouer eue til amorwe:
	Non morabitur opus mersenarii.
And ther is resoun as a reue rewardynge treuthe
That bothe the lord and the laborer be leely yserued.  
The mede at many prest taken for masses at thei syngen,  (C 3.310)
Amen Amen, Matheu seyth, mercedem suam recipiunt.
In marchandise is no mede, y may hit wel avowe,
Hit is as a permutacoun apertly, on peneworth for another.
	And thow the kyng of his cortesye, cayser or pope,
3eue lond or lordschipe oer large 3eftes  (C 3.315)
To here lele and to lege, loue ys the cause,
And yf the lele and lege be luyther men aftur
Bothe kyng and cayser and e crouned pope
May desalowe that thei dede and dowe erwith another
And bynyme hit hem anone, and neuere-more aftur  (C 3.320)
Noyther eny of here ayres hardy to claymen
That kyng oer kayser hem gaf catel oer rente.
For god gaf Salomon grace vpon erthe,
Richesse and resoun the while he ryhte lyuede,
And as sone as god seyh a sewed nat his wille  (C 3.325)
A refte hym of his richesse and of his ryhte mynde
And soffred him lyue in mysbileue--y leue he be in helle.
So god gyueth nothyng at si ne is the glose
And ryhte so sothly may kyng and pope
Bothe gyue and graunte there his grace lyketh  (C 3.330)
And efte haue hit a3eyne of hem at don ylle.
	Thus is mede and mercede as two maner relacions,
Rect and indirect, reninde bothe
On a sad and a siker semblable to hemsuluen,
As adiectif and sustantif vnite asken  (C 3.335)
And acordance in kynde, in case and in nombre,
And ayther is otheres helpe--of hem cometh retribucoun,
And that e gyft at god gyueth to alle lele lyuynge,
Grace of good ende and gret ioye aftur.
	Retribuere dignare, domine deus.'  
	Quod the kyng to Consience, `Knowen y wolde  (C 3.340)
What is relacion rect and indirect aftur,
Thenne adiectyf, and sustantyf, for Englisch was it neuere.'
	`Relacoun rect,' quod Consience, `is a record of treuthe,
	Quia ante late rei recordatiuum est,
Folowynge and fyndynge out e fundement of a strenghe,  
And styfliche stande forth to strenghe e fundement  (C 3.345)
In kynde and in case and in e cours of nombre.
As a leel laborer byleueth at his maister
In his pay and in his pite and in his puyr treuthe
To pay hym yf he parforme and haue pite yf he faileth
And take hym for his trauaile al at treuthe wolde;  (C 3.350)
So of holy herte cometh hope, and hardy relacoun
Seketh and seweth his sustantif sauacioun,
That is god the ground of al, a graciouse antecedent.
And man is relatif rect yf he be rihte trewe:
He acordeth with Crist in kynde, Verbum caro factum est;  (C 3.355)
In case, Credere in ecclesia, in holy kyrke to bileue;
In nombre, rotye and aryse and remissioun to haue,
Of oure sory synnes to be assoiled and yclansed
And lyue as oure crede vs kenneth with Crist withouten ende.
This is relacion rect, ryht as adiectyf and sustantyf  (C 3.360)
Acordeth in alle kyndes with his antecedent.
	Indirect thyng is as ho-so coueytede
Alle kyn kynde to knowe and to folowe
And withoute cause to cache and come to bothe nombres;
In whiche ben gode and nat gode to graunte here neyer will.  (C 3.365)
And at is nat resonable ne rect to refuse my syre name,
Sethe y am his sone and his seruant sewe for his ryhte.
For ho-so wolde to wyue haue my worliche douhter
I wolde feffe hym with alle here fayre and here foule taylende.
So indirect is inlyche to coueyte  (C 3.370)
To acorde in alle kynde and in alle kyn nombre,
Withouten coest and care and alle kyn trauayle.
	Ac relacoun rect is a ryhtful custume,
As a kyng to clayme the comune at his wille
To folowe and to fynde hym and fecche at hem his consayl  (C 3.375)
That here loue to his lawe thorw al e lond acorde.
So comune claymeth of a kyng thre kyne thynges,
Lawe, loue, lewete, and hym lord antecedent,
Bothe heued and here kyng, haldyng with no partey3e
Bote standynge as a stake at stikede in a mere  (C 3.380)
Bytwene two lordes for a trewe marke.
	Ac e moste partie of peple now puyr indirect semeth.
For they wilnen and wolden as beste were for hemsulue
Thow the kyng and e comune al the coest hadde.
Such inparfit peple repreueth alle resoun  (C 3.385)
And halt hem vnstedefast for hem lakketh case.
As relacoynes indirect reccheth thei neuere
Of the cours of case so thei cache suluer.
Be the peccunie ypaied, thow parties chyde,
He at mede may lacche maketh lytel tale.  (C 3.390)
Nyme he a noumbre of nobles or of shillynges,
How at cliauntes acorde acounteth mede litel.
	Ac adiectyf and sustantyf is as y her tolde,
That is vnite acordaunde in case, in gendre and in noumbre,
And is to mene in oure mouth more no mynne  (C 3.395)
But at alle maner men, wymmen and childrene
Sholde confourme hem to o kynde on holy kyrke to bileue
And coueyte e case when thei couthe vnderstande
To syke for her synnes and soffre harde penaunces
For at lordes loue that for oure loue deyede  (C 3.400)
And coueytede oure kynde and be kald in oure name,
	Deus homo,
And nyme hym into oure noumbre now and eueremore.
	Qui in caritate manet in deo manet et deus in eo.
Thus is he man, and mankynde in maner of sustantyf  
As hic et hec homo askyng an adiectyf
Of thre trewe termisones, trinitas unus deus;  (C 3.405)
	Nominatiuo, pater et filius et spiritus sanctus.
	Ac ho-so rat of Regum, rede me may of Mede
How she Absoloun to hangynge brouhte;
And sethe, for Sauel saued a kyng for mede
Agaynes godes comandement, god tok such a vengeaunce  
That Saul for at synne and his sone deyede,  (C 3.410)
And 3af the kyndom to his knaue at kept shep and lambren;
As me ret in Regum, aftur Ruth, of kynges,
How god sente to Sauel be Samuel e prophete
That Agag of Amalek and alle his leege peple
Sholde deye derfly for dedes of here eldres.  (C 3.415)
	"Sauel," quod Samuel, "god hymsulue hoteth
To be buxum at my byddyng his bone to fulfille.
Haste the with al thyn oste to e lond of Amalek
And alle at leueth on at lond oure lorde wol at thow sle hit,
Man and woman and wyf, childe, wedewe and bestes,  (C 3.420)
Mebles and vnmebles, man and alle inges,
Bern hit, bere hit nat awey be hit neuer so riche,
For eny mede of money; al that thow myhte,
Spille hit, spare hit nat and thow shalt spede the bettere."
	And for a coueytede here catel and the kyng sparede,  (C 3.425)
Forbar hym and his beste bestes, as e byble wittenesseth,
Otherwyse then god wolde and warnede hym by e prophete,
God sayde to Samuel at Sauel sholde deye
And al his seed for at synne shentfolyche ende.
Thus was kyng Sauel ouercome thorw coueytise of mede  (C 3.430)
That god hated hym for euere and alle his eyres aftur.
The culorum of this kaes kepe y nat to shewe,
An auntur hit nuyede me noen ende wol y make.
For so is the world went with hem at han e power
That he at sayth men sothest is sonnest yblamed.  (C 3.435)
	I, Consience, knowe this, for Kynde Wit me tauhte
That resoun shal regne and reumes gouerne
And riht as Agag hadde happe shal somme;
Samuel shal sle hym and Sauel shal be yblamed
And Dauid shal be ydyademed and adaunte alle oure enemyes  (C 3.440)
And o cristene kyng kepe vs echone.
Shal no Mede be maister neueremore aftur,
Ac loue and lownesse and lewete togyderes,
Tho shal be maistres on molde, trewe men to helpe.
And ho-so taketh a3eyne treuthe or transuerseth a3eyns resoun  (C
3.445)
Lewete shal do hym lawe and no lyf elles.
Shal no seriaunt for at seruicie werie a selk houe
Ne no pelure in his paueloun for pledyng at e barre.
Muche euel is thorw Mede mony tymes ysoffred
And letteth the lawe thorw here large 3eftes.  (C 3.450)
	Ac kynde loue shal come 3ut and Consience togyderes
And maky of lawe a laborer, such loue shal aryse
And such pees among e peple and a parfit treuthe,
That Iewes shal wene in her wit and wexen so glade
That here kyng be ycome fro e court of heuene,  (C 3.455)
That ilk Moises or Messie, at men ben so trewe.
For alle at bereth baslard, briht swerd oer launce,
Ax oer hachet or eny kyne wypne,
Shal be demed to e deth but yf he do hit smythye
Into sykel of into sythe, to shar oer to coltur.  (C 3.460)
	Conflabunt gladios suos in uomeres et lancias in falces.
Vche man to pley with a plogh, a pikois oer a spade,
Spynne oer speke of god and spille no tyme.
	Prestes and persones placebo and dirige,
Here sauter and here seuene psalmes for alle synful preyen;  
Haukyng or huntyng yf eny of hem hit vse  (C 3.465)
Shal lese erfore his lyflode and his lyf parauntur.
Shal nother kyng ne knyght, constable ne mayre
Ouerkarke e comune ne to e court sompne
Ne potte men in panele to do men plihte here treuthe,
But aftur e dede at is ydo the doom shal recorde  (C 3.470)
Mercy or no mercy as most trewe acorden.
Kynges court and comune court, constorie and chapitre
Al shal be but a court and o buyrne be iustice
And at worth Trewe-tonge, a tydy man, at tened me neuere.
Batailes sholle neuere eft be, ne man bere eg-toel,  (C 3.475)
And yf eny smyth smethen hit, be smyte erwith to dethe.
	Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium, nec exercebuntur vltra ad
prelium
	Ac ar this fortune falle fynde me shal the worste
Be sixe sonnes and ship and half a shef of arwes;
And the myddell of e mone shal make e Iewes turne  
And Saresines for at syhte shal syng Credo in spiritum sanctum,  (C
3.480)
For Machameth and Mede shullen mishap at tyme,
	Quia melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe.'
	As wroth as wynd wax Mede eraftur:
`Loo! what Salamon sayth,' quod she, `in Sapiense, in e bible:
"That 3eueth 3eftes, taketh 3eme, the victorie a wynneth  
And muche worschipe therwith," as holy write telleth:  (C 3.485)
	Honorem adquiret qui dat munera.'
	`I leue the, lady,' quod Consience, `for at Latyn is trewe.
Thow art lyk a lady at a lessoun radde,
Was omnia probate, at plesede here herte;
That line was no lengur and at e leues ende.  
Ac hadde she loked in e luft half and e lef turned  (C 3.490)
A sholde haue yfonde folwynge felle wordes aftur,
Quod bonum est tenete, a tixst of Treuthes makynge.
So ho-so secheth Sapience fynde he shall foloweth
A ful teneful tyxst to hem at taketh mede,
The which at hatte, as y haue rad, and oer at can rede,  (C 3.495)
	Animam aufert accipiencium.
Worschipe a wynneth at wol 3eue mede,
Ac he at resceyueth here or recheth here is rescettour of gyle.'

                          C Pearsall  Passus 4

Passus quartus de visione vt prius
`Cesseth,' saide e kynge, `Y soffre 3ow no lengore;
3e shal sauhtene for sothe and serue me bothe.
Kusse here,' quod the kyng, `Consience, y hote.'
	`Nay, by Crist,' quod Consience, `congeie me rathir!
But Resoun rede me er-tyl rather wolde y dey.'  (C 4.5)
	`And y comaunde,' quod the kyng to Consience thenne,
`Rape the to ryde and Resoun at thow fecche.
Comaunde hym at he come my consayle to here
For he shal reulen my rewme and rede me the beste
Of Mede and of mo othere and what man shal here wedde  (C 4.10)
And acounte with the, Consience, so me Crist helpe,
How thow ledest my peple, lered and lewed.'
	`Y am fayn of that foroward, in fayth,' tho quod Consience,
And rood forth to Resoun and rouned in his ere
And sayde hym as e kyng sayde and sennes he took his leue.  (C 4.15)
	`Y shal aray me to ryde,' quod Resoun, `reste the while';
And kalde Catoun his knaue, corteys of speche,
And also Tomme Trewe-tonge-telle-me-no-tales-
Ne-lesynges-to-lauhe-of-for-y-louede-hit-neuere;
`And sette my sadel vpon Soffre-tyl-y-se-my-tyme  (C 4.20)
And lat warrokye hym weel with Auyseth-e-byfore,
For hit is e wone of wil to wynse and to kyke;
Forthy lat peytrele wil and pole hym with peynted withes.'
	Thenne Consience on his capel comesed to pryke
And Resoun with hym ry3t, rounynge togederes  (C 4.25)
Whiche a maister Mede was amonges pore and riche.
	Ooen Wareyn Wisman and Wily-man his felawe
Fayn were to folowe hem and faste ryden aftur,
To take reed of resoun at recorde sholde
Byfore e kyng and Consience yf e comune playne  (C 4.30)
Oon Wily-man and Witty-man and Wareyne Wryng-lawe.
Ac Consience knewe hem wel and carped to Resoun:
`Here cometh,' quod Consience, `at coueytise seruen.
Ryde forth, syre Resoun, and rech nat of here tales
For there is wrath and wranglynge there wol they abyde,  (C 4.35)
Ac there is loue and leutee hit lyketh nat here hertes.
	Contricio et infelicitas in viis eorum et viam pacis non cognouerunt;
 non est timor dei ante oculos eorum.
They gyue nat of good fayth, woet god the sothe,
For ey wolde do for a dyner oer a doseyne of capones  
More then for oure lordes loue oer oure lady, goddes moder.'
Thenne Resoun rood forth and took reward of no man  (C 4.40)
Bute dede as Consience hym kennede til he e kyng mette.
	Corteyslyche e kyng thenne cam and grette Resoun
And bytwene hymsulue and his sone sette tho sire Resoun
And speke wyse wordes a longe while togederes.
	And thenne cam Pees into parlement and putte vp a bille  (C 4.45)
How Wrong wilfully hadde his wyf forleyn
And how he raueschede Rose the ryche wydewe by nyhte
And Margarete of here maydenhod as he mette here late.
`Bothe my gees and my grys and my gras he taketh.
Y dar nat for his felawschipe, in fayth,' Pees sayde,  (C 4.50)
`Bere sikerlyche eny seluer to seynt Gyles doune;
And a wayteth ful wel when y seluer take,
What wey y wende wel 3erne he aspyeth
To robbe me or to ruyfle me yf y ryde softe.
3ut is he bold for to borw ac baddelyche he payeth  (C 4.55)
For he borwed of me bayard, a brouhte hym hom neuere
Ne no ferthyng therfore, for nouhte y couthe plede.
A meynteyneth his men to morthere myn hewes
And forstalleth my fayres and fyhteth in my chepynges
And breketh vp my bernys dores and bereth awey my whete  (C 4.60)
And taketh me but a tayle for ten quarteres otes,
And 3ut he manascheth me and myne and a lyth be my mayde.
Y am nat hardy for hym vnnethe to loke.'
e kyng knew that he saide so, for Conscience him tolde
How Wrong was a wykked man and muche wo wrouhte.  (C 4.65)
	Tho was Wrong afered and Wisdom a souhte;
On men of lawe Wrong lokede and largelyche hem profered
And for to haue here helpe handy-dandy payde.
`Hadde y loue of the lord lytel wolde y reche
Of Pees and his power thow he pleyne euere!'  (C 4.70)
Thorw Wrong and his werkes there was Mede yknowe,
For Wysdom and Wyt tho wenton togyderes
And token Mede with hem, mercy to wynne.
	3ut Pees put forth his heued and his panne blody:
`Withouten gult, god wot, was gyue me this schathe;  (C 4.75)
Consience knoweth hit wel and al e comune trewe.'
Ac Wyles and Wyt were aboute faste
To ouercome e kyng thorw catel yf they myhte.
	The kyng swor by Crist and by his croune bothe
That Wrong for his werkes sholde wo tholye,  (C 4.80)
And comaundede a constable to caste Wronge in yrones
Ther he sholde nat in seuene 3er see his feet ne handes.
	`God woot,' quod a wys oen, `at were nat the beste;
Yf he amendes may do lat maynprise hym haue
And be borw for his bale and buggen hym bote  (C 4.85)
And amende at is mysdo and eueremore e betere.'
Witt acordede therwith and witnessede e same:
`Betere is at bote bale adoun brynge
Then bale be ybete and bote neuer e betere.'
	Then gan Mede to meken here and mercy she bisouhte  (C 4.90)
And profrede Pees a present al of puyre golde.
`Haue this, man, of me,' quod she, `to amende thy scathe,
For y wol wage for Wrong he wol do so no mare.'
	Pitousliche Pees tho preyede the kyng
To haue mercy on at man that many tymes hym greuede:  (C 4.95)
`For he ha waged me wel as Wysdom hym tauhte
And Mede hath made my mendes, y may no more asken,
So alle my claymes ben quyt by so e kyng assente.'
	`Nay, by Crist,' quod e kyng, `for Consiences sake
Wrong goth nat so away ar y wete more.  (C 4.100)
Lope he so lihtliche, lawen he wolde
And efte the baldore be to bete myn hewes.
Bute Resoun haue reuth on hym he shal reste in my stokkes
As longe as y lyue for his luther werkes.'
	Summe men radden Resoun tho to haue reuthe vppon at shrewe  (C 4.105)
And for to consayle e kynge on Consience thei lokede;
That Mede myhte be maynpernour Reson thei bysouhte.
	`Rede me nat,' quod Resoun, `no reuthe to haue
Til lordes and ladies louen alle treuthe
And hatien alle harlotrie, to heren hit oer to mouthen hit,  (C 4.110)
And tyl Purnele porfiel be putte in here whicche
And childron chersyng be chasted with 3erdes
And harlotes holynesse be an heye ferie;
Til clerkene coueytise be cloth for e pore
And here pelure and here palfrayes pore menne lyflode  (C 4.115)
And religious outryderes be reclused in here cloistres
And be as Benet hem bad, Dominik and Fraunceys;
Til at lerede men lyue as thei lere and teche
And til e kynges consyal be alle comune profit
And til byschopes ben bakeres, brewares and taylours,  (C 4.120)
For alle manere men at me fynt neodefole;
And til saynt Iames be souhte there pore sykke lyggen,
In prisones and in pore cotes be pilgrimages to Rome
So at noon go to Galys but yf he go for euere;
And alle Rome-rennares for ruyflares in France  (C 4.125)
To bere no seluer ouer see at sygne of kyng sheweth,  
Nother ygraue ne vngraue, of gold oer suluer,
Vp forfeture of at fee, ho fyndeth hem ouerward,
But he be marchaunt or his man or messager with lettres, 
Prouisour or preest oer penaunt for his synnes.  (C 4.130)
And,' quod Resoun, `by e rode, y shal no reuthe haue
Whiles Mede hath the maistrie er motyng is at barres.
	Ac y may seyen ensaumples as y see othere;
Y sey it for mysulf,' quod Resoun, `and it so were
That y were kyng with croune to kepe my reume,  (C 4.135)
Shulde neuere wrong in this worlde at y wyte myhte
Be vnpunisched in my power for perel of my soule
Ne gete my grace thorw eny gyfte ne glosynge speche
Ne thorw mede haue mercy, by Marie of heuene.
For nullum malum, man, mette with inpunitum  (C 4.140)
And bad nullum bonum be irremuneratum.
Lat thy confessour, syre kyng, construe this in Englische
And yf 3e worche it in werke y wedde bothe myn handes
That lawe shal ben a laborer and lede afelde donge
And loue shal lede thi land as the leef lyketh.'  (C 4.145)
	Clerkes that were confessours couplede hem togederes
To construe this clause kyndeliche what it meneth.
Mede in the mot-halle tho on men of law gan wynke
In signe at thei sholde with som sotil speche
Reherce ther anon ryhte at myhte Resoun stoppe.  (C 4.150)
Ac al ryhtful recordede at Resoun treuthe sayde
And Kynde Wit and Consience corteysliche thonkede;
Resoun for his ryhtful speche ryche and pore hym louede
And sayden, `We seyn wel, syre Resoun, be thi wordes,
That mekenesse worth mayster ouer Mede at e laste.'  (C 4.155)
Loue lette of Mede tho lyhte and Leutee 3ut lasse
And cryede to Consience, the kyng myhte hit here:
`Ho-so wilneth here to wyue,' quod he, `for welthe of here goodes,
But he be knowe for a cokewold, kut of my nose.'
	Mede mornede tho and made an heuy chere,  (C 4.160)
For e comune calde here queynte comune hore.
A sysour and a somnour tho softliche forth 3ede
With Mede e mayde tho out of e moet-halle.
A shyreues clerk cryede, `A! capias Mede
Et saluo custodias set non cum carceratis.'  (C 4.165)
	The kyng to consayl tho toek Consience and Resoun
And modiliche vppon Mede many tymes lokede
And lourede vppon men of lawe and lyhtlych sayde:
`Thorw 3oure lawe, as y leue, y lese many chetes;
Mede and men of 3oure craft muche treuthe letteth.  (C 4.170)
Ac Resoun shal rykene with 3ow yf y regne eny while
And deme 3ow, by this day, as 3e haen deserued.
Mede shal nat maynprise 3ow, by Marye of heuene!
Y wol haue leutee for my lawe and late be al 3oure iangling
And by lele and lyf-holy my lawe shal be demed.'  (C 4.175)
	Quod Consience to e kyng, `Withoute e comune helpe
Hit is ful hard, by myn heued, herto to bryngen hit
And alle 3oure lege lordes to lede thus euene.'
	`By hym at rauhte vp e rode,' quod Resoun to the kyng,
`But ich reule thus alle reumes, reueth me my syhte,  (C 4.180)
And brynge alle men to bowe withouten bittere wounde,
Withouten mercement or manslauht amende alle reumes.'
	`Y wolde hit were,' quod the kynge, `wel al aboute.
Forthy, Resoun, redyly thow shalt nat ryden hennes
But be my cheef chaunceller in cheker and in parlement  (C 4.185)
And Consience in alle my courtes be a kynges iustice.'
	`Y assente,' sayde Resoun, `by so 3owsulue yhere,
Audiatis alteram partem amonges aldremen and comeneres,
And at vnsittynge suffraunce ne sele 3oure priue lettres
Ne no supersedeas sende but y assente,' quod Resoun.  (C 4.190)
`And y dar lege my lyf at loue wol lene e seluer
To wage thyn and helpe wynne at thow wilnest aftur
More then alle thy marchauntes or thy mytrede bysshopes
Or Lumbardus of Lukes at leuen by lone as Iewes.'
	The kyng comaundede Consience tho to congeye alle his offeceres  (C
4.195)
And receyue tho that Resoun louede, and riht with at y wakede.  

                          C Pearsall   Passus 5


Passus quintus de visione vbi prius
Thus y awakede, woet god, whan y wonede in Cornehull,
Kytte and y in a cote, yclothed as a lollare,
And lytel ylet by, leueth me for sothe,
Amonges lollares of Londone and lewede ermytes,
For y made of tho men as resoun me tauhte. (C 5.5)
For as y cam by Consience with Resoun y mette  
In an hot heruest whenne y hadde myn hele
And lymes to labory with and louede wel fare
And no dede to do but drynke and to slepe.
In hele and in inwitt oen me apposede;  (C 5.10)
Romynge in remembraunce, thus Resoun me aratede.
	`Can thow seruen,' he sayde, `or syngen in a churche,
Or koke for my cokeres or to e cart piche,
Mowen or mywen or make bond to sheues,
Repe or been a rypereue and aryse erly,  (C 5.15)
Or haue an horn and be hayward and lygge eroute nyhtes
And kepe my corn in my croft fro pykares and theues?
Or shap shon or cloth, or shep and kyne kepe,
Heggen or harwen, or swyn or gees dryue,
Or eny other kynes craft at to e comune nedeth,  (C 5.20)
That ou betere therby at byleue the fynden?'
	`Sertes,' y sayde, `and so me god helpe,
Y am to wayke to worche with sykel or with sythe
And to long, lef me, lowe to stoupe,
To wurche as a werkeman eny while to duyren.'  (C 5.25)
	`Thenne hastow londes to lyue by,' quod Resoun, `or lynage ryche
That fynde the thy fode? For an ydel man ow semest,
A spendour at spene mot or a spille-tyme,
Or beggest thy bylyue aboute at men hacches  
Or faytest vppon Frydayes or feste-dayes in churches,  (C 5.30)
The whiche is lollarne lyf, at lytel is preysed
There ryhtfulnesse rewardeth ryht as men deserueth.
	Reddet unicuique iuxta opera sua.
Or thow art broke, so may be, in body or in membre
Or ymaymed thorw som myshap, whereby thow myhte be excused?'  
	`When y 3ong was, many 3er hennes,  (C 5.35)
My fader and my frendes foende me to scole,
Tyl y wyste witterly what holy writ menede
And what is beste for the body, as the boek telleth,
And sykerost for e soule, by so y wol contenue.
And foend y neere, in fayth, seth my frendes deyede,  (C 5.40)
Lyf at me lykede but in this longe clothes.
And yf y be labour sholde lyuen and lyflode deseruen,
That laboure at y lerned beste erwith lyuen y sholde.
	In eadem vocacione in qua vocati estis.
And so y leue yn London and opelond bothe;  
The lomes at y labore with and lyflode deserue  (C 5.45)
Is pater-noster and my prymer, placebo and dirige,
And my sauter som tyme and my seuene psalmes.
This y segge for here soules of such as me helpeth,
And tho at fynden me my fode fouchen-saf, y trowe,
To be welcome when y come, oer-while in a monthe,  (C 5.50)
Now with hym, now with here; on this wyse y begge
Withoute bagge or botel but my wombe one.
	And also moreouer me thynketh, syre Resoun,
Me sholde constrayne no clerc to no knaues werkes,
For by e lawe of Levyticy at oure lorde ordeynede,  (C 5.55)
Clerkes ycrouned, of kynde vnderstondynge,
Sholde nother swynke ne swete ne swerien at enquestes
Ne fyhte in no vawarde ne his foe greue.
	Non reddas malum pro malo.
For hit ben eyres of heuene, alle at ben ycrouned,  
And in a quoer and in kyrkes Cristes mynistres.  (C 5.60)
	Dominus pars hereditatis mee.  Et alibi: Clemencia non constringit.
Hit bycometh for clerkes Crist for to serue
And knaues vncrounede to carte and to worche.
For sholde no clerke be crouned but yf he come were
Of frankeleynes and fre men and of folke ywedded.  
Bondemen and bastardus and beggares children,  (C 5.65)
Thyse bylongeth to labory, and lordes kyn to serue
God and good men, as here degre asketh,
Somme to synge masses or sitten and wryten,
Redon and resceyuen at resoun ouhte to spene.
Ac sythe bondemen barnes haen be mad bisshopes  (C 5.70)
And barnes bastardus haen be erchedekenes
And soutares and here sones for suluer han be knyhtes
And lordes sones here laboreres and leyde here rentes wedde,
For the ryhte of this reume ryden a3eyn oure enemyes
In confort of the comune and the kynges worschipe,  (C 5.75)
And monkes and moniales, at mendenantes sholde fynde,
Imade here kyn knyhtes and knyhtes-fees ypurchased,
Popes and patrones pore gentel blood refused
And taken Symondes sones seyntwarie to kepe,
Lyf-holynesse and loue hath be longe hennes,  (C 5.80)
And wol, til hit be wered out, or oerwyse ychaunged.
	Forthy rebuke me ryhte nauhte, Resoun, y 3ow praye,
For in my consience y knowe what Crist wolde y wrouhte.
Preyeres of a parfit man and penaunce discret
Is the leuest labour at oure lord pleseth.  (C 5.85)
Non de solo,' y sayde, `for sothe viuit homo,
Nec in pane et in pabulo, the pater-noster wittenesseth;
Fiat voluntas dei--at fynt vs all thynges.'
	Quod Consience, `By Crist, y can nat se this lyeth;
Ac it semeth no sad parfitnesse in citees to begge,  (C 5.90)
But he be obediencer to prior or to mynistre.'
	`That is soth,' y saide, `and so y beknowe
That y haue ytynt tyme and tyme myspened;
Ac 3ut, I hope, as he at ofte hath ychaffared
And ay loste and loste, and at e laste hym happed  (C 5.95)
A bouhte suche a bargayn he was e bet euere,
And sette al his los at a leef at the laste ende,
Suche a wynnyng hym warth thorw wordes of grace.
	Simile est regnum celorum thesauro abscondito in agro.  Mulier que
 inuenit dragmam, etc.
So hope y to haue of hym at is almyghty  
A gobet of his grace, and bigynne a tyme  (C 5.100)
That alle tymes of my tyme to profit shal turne.'
	`Y rede the,' quod Resoun tho, `rape the to bigynne
The lyif at is louable and leele to thy soule'--
`3e, and contynue,' quod Consience; and to e kyrke y wente.
	And to e kyrke y gan go, god to honoure,  (C 5.105)
Byfore e cross on my knees knokked y my brest,
Sy3ing for my synnes, seggyng my pater-noster,
Wepyng and waylyng til y was aslepe.
	And thenne mette me muche more then y byfore tolde
Of e matere at me mette furste on Maluerne hulles.  (C 5.110)
Y saw e felde ful of folk fram ende til oer
And Resoun yreuestede ryht as a pope
And Consience his crocer byfore e kyng stande.
	Resoun reuerentliche tofore al e reume prechede,
And preuede at this pestelences was for puyre synne  (C 5.115)
And the south-weste wynde on a Saturday at euene
Was pertliche for pruyde and for no poynt elles.
Pere-trees and plum-trees were poffed to e erthe
In ensaunple, segges, at we shoulde do e bettere.
Beches and brode okes were blowe to e grounde  (C 5.120)
And turned vpward here tayl in tokenynge of drede
That dedly synne ar domesday shal fordon hem alle.
Of this mater y myhte mamele longe,
Ac y shal sey as y sayh, slepynge as hit were,
How Resoun radde al the reume to heuene.  (C 5.125)
	He bad wastoures to worche and wynne here sustinaunce
Thorw som trewe trauail and no tyme spille.
He preyde Purnele here purfyel to leue
And kepe hit in here cofre for catel at here nede.
Tomme Stoue he tauhte to take two staues  (C 5.130)
And fette Felyce hoem fram wyuene pyne.
He warnede Watte his wyf was to blame
For here hod was worth half-marc and his hoed nat a grote.
He bad Butte to kutte a bowhe or twene
And bete Betene erwith but yf a wolde worche.  (C 5.135)
He chargede chapmen to chasten here children:
`Late no wynnynge forwanyen hem the while thei ben 3onge,
For ho-so spareth the spryg spilleth here children
And so wrot the wyse to wyssen vs alle:
	Qui parcit virge odit filium.'  
And sethe a preide prelates and prestes togyderes:  (C 5.140)
`That 3e prechen to e peple preue hit 3owsylue;
Lyue 3e as 3e lereth vs--we shal leue 3ow e bettere.'
And sethe he radde religioun here reule to holde,
`Laste e kyng and his consayl 3oure comunes apayre
And be stewardus of 3oure stedes til 3e be stewed bettere.  (C 5.145)
	Gregory e grete clerk gart wryte in bokes
The reule of alle religious, rihtful and obedient:
"Ryht as fysches in e floed whan hem fayleth water
Dyen for drouthe whenne they drye lygge,
Ryht so religioun roteth and sterueth  (C 5.150)
That out of conuent and of cloystre coueyteth to dwelle."
For yf heuene be on this erthe or eny ese to e soule
Hit is in cloystre or in scole, by many skilles y fynde.
For in cloystre cometh no man to chyde ne to fyhte;
In scole is loue and louhnesse and lykyng to lerne.  (C 5.155)
Ac mony day, men telleth, bothe monkes and chanons
Haen ryde out of aray, here reule euele yholde,
Ledares of lawedays and londes ypurchaced
And pryked about on palfrayes fram places to maneres,
An hep of houndes at here ers as he a lord were,  (C 5.160)
And but if his knaue knele at shal his coppe holde
He loketh al lourynge and lordeyne hym calleth.
Lytel hadde lordes a-do to 3eue lond fro here heyres
To religious at haen no reuthe thow it ryne on here auters.
In many places ther thei persones ben, be hemsulue at ese,  (C 5.165)
Of e pore haueth thei no pite and at is here puyre chartre.
Ac 3e leten 3ow alle as lordes, 3oure lond lyth so brode.
	Ac er shal come a kyng and confesse 3ow alle
And bete 3ow, as e bible telleth, for brekynge of 3oure reule
And amende 3owe monkes, bothe moniales and chanons,  (C 5.170)
And potte 3owe to 3oure penaunce, Ad pristinum statum ire,
And barones and here barnes blame 3ow and repreue.
	Hii in curribus et hii in equis; ipsi obligati sunt et ceciderunt.
Freres in here fraytour shal fynde at tyme
Bred withouten beggynge to lyue by euere aftur  
And Constantyn shal be here cook and couerour of here churches,  (C
5.175)
For e abbot of Engelonde and the abbesse his nese
Shal haue a knok vppon here crounes and incurable e wounde.
	Contriuit dominus baculum impiorum, virgam dominancium, plaga
 insanabili.
Ac ar at kyng come, as cronicles me tolde,
Clerkes and holy churche shal be clothed newe.'
	And sethe a consailede e kyng his comune to louie:  (C 5.180)
`For e comune is the kynges tresor, Consience woet wel.
And also,' quod Resoun, `y rede 3ow ryche
And comuners to acorde in alle kyn treuthe.
Lat no kyne consayl ne couetyse 3ow parte,
That o wit and o wil al 3oure wardes kepe.  (C 5.185)
Lo, in heuene an heyh was an holy comune
Til Lucifer e lyare leued at hymsulue
Were wittiore and worthiore then he at as his maister.
Holde 3ow in vnite, and he at oer wolde
Is cause of alle combraunces to confounde a reume.'  (C 5.190)
	And sethe a preyede e pope haue pite on holy chirche
And no grace ne graunte til good loue were
Amonges alle kyne kynges ouer cristene peple.
`Comaunde at alle confessours at eny kyng shryueth
Enioyne hem pees for here penaunce and perpetuel for3euenesse  (C
5.195)
Of alle maner accions, and eche man loue other.
And 3e at seketh seynt Iames and seyntes of Rome,
Seketh seynt Treuthe in sauacoun of 3oure soules;
Qui cum patre et filio, at fayre hem byfalle
That sueth my sarmon.' Thus endede Resoun.  (C 5.200)

                          C Pearsall   Passus 6

Passus sextus de visione
Ryht with at ran Repentaunce and rehersede his teme
And made Will to wepe water with his eyes.
	Purnele proude-herte platte here to e erthe
And long was ar she lokede vp and `lord, mercy!' cryede
And bihyhte to hym at vs alle made  (C 6.5)
A sholde vnsowen here serk and sette eron an hayre
To affayten here flesshe at fers was to synne.
`Shal neuere heyh herte me hente, but holde me lowe
And soffre to be mysseyde, and so dyde y neuere.
But now wol y meke me and mercy byseche  (C 6.10)
Of alle at y haue hated in myn herte.'
	`Repente e,' quod Repentaunce, `as Resoun e tauhte
And shryue the sharpeliche and shak of alle pruyde.'
	`Y, Pruyde, pacientlyche penaunce aske;
For y formost and furste to my fader and to my moder  (C 6.15)
Haue be vnbuxum, y byseche god of mercy,
And vnbuxum ybe, nat abaschet to agulte
God and goode men, so gret was myn herte;
Inobedient to holy churche and to hem at er serueth;
Demed for here vuel vices and exitede oere  (C 6.20)
Thorw my word and my witt here euel werkes to shewe,
And scornede hem and oere yf y a skil founde,
Lauhyng al aloude for lewede men sholde
Wene y were witty and wiser then another;
Scornare and vnskilful to hem at skil shewede,  (C 6.25)
In alle manere maneres my name to be knowe;
Semyng a souerayn oen where-so me byfull
To telle eny tale, y trowed me wysor
To carpe and to consayle then eny clerk or lewed;
Proud of aparayle in port amonges e peple  (C 6.30)
Otherwyse then y haue withynne or withouten,
Me wilnynge at men wente y were, as in auer,
Ryche and resonable and ryhtful of lyuynge;
Bostyng and braggynge with many bolde othes,
Vantyng vp my vaynglorie for eny vnder-nymynge  (C 6.35)
And 3ut so synguler be mysulue, as to syhte of peple,
Was non such as mysulue ne non so pop-holy;
Summe tyme in o sekte, summe tyme in another;
In alle kyne couent contreuede how y myhte
Be holden for holy and honoured by at enchesoun;  (C 6.40)
Wilnynge at men wente myne werkes weren e beste,
And e connyngest of my craft, clerkysh oer other,
And strengest vppon stede and styuest vnder gyrdel
And louelokest to loke vppon and lykyngest abedde,
And likynge of such a lyf at no lawe preiseth,  (C 6.45)
Prout of my fayre fetures and for y song shille.  
And what y gaf for godes loue to gossipes y tolde,
They to wene at y were wel holy and wel almesfull,
And non so bolde a beggare to bidde and to craue,
Tales to telle in tauernes and in stretes,  (C 6.50)
Thyng at neuere ne was thouhte and 3ut y swor y seyh hit
And lyed o my lycame and on my lyf bothe;
Of werkes at y wel dede witnesses take
And sygge to suche at sytte me byside,
"Lo, yf 3e leue me nat or at y lye wenen,  (C 6.55)
Ascuth at hym or at here and he 3ow can telle
What y soffrede and seyh and some tymes hadde
And what y couthe and knewe and of what kyn y cam of."'
Of al a wolde at men wiste when it to pruyde souneth,
As to be preised amonges e peple thow he pore seme.  (C 6.60)
	Si hominibus placerem Christi seruus non essem.  Nemo potest duobus
 dominis seruire.
	`Now god for his goodnesse gyue the grace to amende,'
Quod Repentaunce riht with at, and thenne aroos Enuye.
	Enuye with heuy herte asked aftur shrifte
And cryede `mea culpa,' corsynge alle his enemyes.
His clothes were of corsed men and of kene wordes.  (C 6.65)
A wroth his fust vppon Wrath; hadde he wesches at wille
Sholde no lyf lyue at on his lond passede.
Chidynge and chalengynge, at was his cheef lyflode,
And blame men byhynde here bak and bidde hem meschaunce.
And at a wiste by Wille to Watekyn he tolde hit  (C 6.70)
And al at he wiste by Watte tolde hit Wille aftur
And made of frendes foes thorw fikel and fals tonge;
`Or thorw myhte of mouthe or thorw mannes sleythes
Venged me vele tymes other vrete myself withynne
Lyke a schupestares sharre, and shrewed myn euen-cristene  (C 6.75)
A3eyn e consayl of Crist, as clerkes fyndeth in bokes:
	Cuius maledictione os plenum est et amaritudine; sub lingua eius labor
 et dolor.
	Filii hominum, dentes eorum arma et sagitte; et lingua eorum gladius
 acutus.
And when y may nat haue e maystrie suche malecolie y take
That y cache e crompe, the cardiacle sume tyme
Or an ague in suche angre and som tyme a feuere
That taketh me al twel-monthe, til at y despise  (C 6.80)
Lechecraft of oure lord and leue on a wycche
And segge at no clerk ne can, ne Crist, as y leue,
To the soutere of Southewerk, suche is his grace,
For god ne goddes word ne gras helpe me neuere
Bot thorw a charme hadde y chaunce and my chef hele.  (C 6.85)
Y myhte nat ete many 3er as a man ouhte
For enuye and euyl wil is euel to defye.
May no sugre ne swete thyng aswage my swellynge
Ne derworth drynke dryue hit fro myn herte
Ne noer shame ne shryfte, but ho-so shrapede my mawe?'  (C 6.90)
	`3us, redily,' quod Repentaunce, `and thow be ryht sory
For thy synnes souereynly and biseke god of mercy.'
	`I am euere sory,' sayde Enuye, `y am selde othur,
And at maketh me so megre for y ne may me venge.
3ut am y brokour of bakbytynge and to blame menne ware  (C 6.95)
Amonges marchauntes many tymes and nameliche in Londone.
When he solde and y nat, thenne was y aredy
To lye and to loure and to lakke myn neyhebores,
Here werkes and here wordes, where at y seete.
Now hit athynketh me in my thouhte at euere y so wrouhte.  (C 6.100)
Lord, ar y lyf lete, for loue of thysulue,
Graunte me, gode lord, grace of amendement.'
	 Thenne awakede Wrathe, with two whyte eyes
And with a niuilynge nose, nippynge his lippes.
	`I am Wrothe,' quod at weye, `wol gladliche smyte  (C 6.105)
Bothe with stoon and with staf, and stele vppon myn enemye;
To sle hym sleyliche sleythes y bythenke.
Thow y sitte this seuene 3er I sholde nat wel telle
The harm at y haue do with hand and with tonge;
Inpacient in alle penaunces, and pleyned, as hit were,  (C 6.110)
On god, when me greued auht, and grochede of his sonde,
As som tyme in somur and also in heruest,
But y hadde weder at my wille, y witte god e cause
In alle manere angres at y hadde or felede.
	Amonges alle manere men my dwellyng is some tyme,  (C 6.115)
With lewed and lered at leef ben to here
Harm of eny man, byhynde of bifore.
Freres folewen my fore fele tyme and ofte
And preuen inparfit prelates of holy churche;
And prelates pleyneth on hem for they here parschiens shryuen  (C
6.120)
Withoute licence and leue, and herby lyueth wrathe.  
Thus thei speke and dispute at vchon dispiseth oer.
Thus beggares and barones at debat aren ofte
Til y, Wrathe, wexe an hey and walke with hem bothe.
Or til they bothe be beggares and by spiritualte libbe  (C 6.125)
Or alle riche and ryde, reste shal y nat, Wrathe,
That y ne mot folowe this folk--my fortune is non oer.
	Y haue an aunte to nonne and an abbesse;
Here were leuer swowe or swelte then soffre eny payne.
Y haue be coek in here kychene and the couent serued,  (C 6.130)
Mony monthes with hem and with monkes bothe.
I was the prioresse potager and oer pore ladies,
And made hem ioutes of iangelynge: "Dame Ione was a bastard,
And dame Clarice a knyhtes douhter, a cokewolde was here syre,
And dame Purnele a prestis fyle--prioresse worth she neuere;  (C 6.135)
For she hadde childe in the chapun-cote she worth chalenged at e 	
eleccioun."
Thus sytte they, o sustres, sum tyme, and disputen
Til "thow lixt" and "thow lixt" be lady ouer hem alle;
And thenne awake y, Wrathe, and wolde be avenged.
And thenne y crye and crache with my kene nayles,  (C 6.140))
Byte and bete and brynge forth suche thewes
That alle ladyes me lotheth at louyet eny worschipe.
	Amonges wyues and wydewes y am woned to sitte
Yparroked in pues; the persone hit knoweth
How lytel y louye Letyse at e style;  (C 6.145)
For she had haly-bred ar y, my herte gan change.
Aftur mete aftirward she and she chydde
And y, Wrath, was war, and wrathe on hem bothe,
Tyl ayer clepede oer "hore" and on with the clawes
Til bothe here hedes were bar and blody here chekes.  (C 6.150)
	Amonges monkes y myhte be, ac mony tyme y spare,
For there aren many felle frekes myne aferes to aspye,
That is, priour and suppriour and oure pater abbas.
And yf y telle eny tales they taken hem togyderes
And doen me faste Fridayes to bred and to water.  (C 6.155)
3ut am y chalenged in oure chapitre-hous as y a childe were
And balayshed on e bare ers and no brech bytwene.
Y haue no luste, lef me, to longe amonges monkes,
For y ete more fysch then flesche there, and feble ale drynke.
Ac other-while when wyn cometh and when y drynke late at euen  (C
6.160)
Y haue a flux of a foul mouth wel fyue daies aftur,
And al at y wiste wykked by eny of oure couent
Y cough hit vp in oure cloystre, at al e couent woet hit.'
	`Now repente,' quod Repentaunce, `and reherce neuere
Consayl at thow knowest, by continaunce ne by speche.  (C 6.165)
And drynke nat ouer-delycatly no to depe neyther,
That thy wil ne thy wit to wrathe myhte turne.
Esto sobrius,' he saide, and assoiled hym aftur,
And bad hym bid to god, be his help to amende.
	Thenne seyde Lecherye `Alas!' and to oure lady cryede,  (C 6.170)
`Lady, to thy leue sone loute for me nouthe,
That he haue pite on me, putour, of his puyr mercy,
With at y shal,' quod that shrewe, `Saturdayes, for thy moder loue,
Drynke but with e doke and dyne but ones.
	Y, gulty in gost, to god y me shryue  (C 6.175)
As in likynge of lecherye my lycames gultes,
In word and in wedes, in waytynge of eyes.
For eche mayde at y mette y made here a signe
Semyng to synneward, and summe y gan taste
Aboute e mouthe, and bynethe bygan y to grope,  (C 6.180)
Til bothe our wil was oen and to e werk we 3eden,
As wel fastyng-dayes as Frydayes and heye-festes euenes,
As leef in lente as out of lente, alle tymes ylyche--
Such werkes with vs were neuere out of sesoun--
Til we myhte no more; thenne hadde we mery tales  (C 6.185)
Of putrie and of paramours, and preueden thorw speche
And handlyng and halsyng and also thorw kyssyng,
Exited either oer til oure olde synne;
Sotiled songes and sente out olde baudes
To wynne to my wille wymmen with gyle,  (C 6.190)
By sorserie sum tyme and sum tyme by maistrie.
Y lay by e louelokest and louede here neuere aftur.
When y was olde and hoor and hadde ylore at kynde,
Y hadde likyng to lythe of lecherye tales.
Now lord, for thy lewete, on lechours haue mercy!'  (C 6.195)
	Thenne cam Couetyse--y can hym nat descreue,
So hungrily and holow sire Heruy hym lokede.
He was bitelbrowed and baburlippid, with two blered eyes,
And as a letherne pors lollede his chekes,
Wel syddore then his chyn ycheueled for elde;  (C 6.200)
And as a bondemannes bacoun his berd was yshaue,
With his hood on his heued and his hat bothe,
In a tore tabard of twelue wynter age--
But yf a lous couthe lepe, y leue and y trow,
He ne sholde wandre vppon at walch, so was hit thredbare.  (C 6.205)
	`Y haue be couetous,' quod this kaytif, `y biknowe hit here.
For som tyme y serued Symme at e style
And was his pretis yplyht, his profit to wayte.
Furste y lerned to lye a leef oer tweye;
Wykkedliche to waye was my furste lessoun.  (C 6.210)
To Wy and Wynchestre y wente to e fayre
With many manere marchandise, as my maistre hyhte;
Ne hadde e grace of gyle go among my ware,
Hit hadde be vnsold this seuene 3er, so me god helpe!
	Thenne drow y me amonge drapers, my donet to lere,  (C 6.215)
To drawe the lyst along, the lenger hit semede.
Amonges the ryche rayes y rendrede a lessoun,
To brochen hem with a bat-nelde and bande hem togyderes,
Potte hem in pressoures and pynne hem er-ynne,
Til ten 3erde other twelue tolde out threttene.  (C 6.220)
	My wyf was a webbe and wollone cloth made;
Sche spak to e spynnesteres to spynnen it oute.
The pound at she payede hem by peysed a quarter
More then myn auncel, when y wayed treuthe.
	Y bouhte here barly, she brew hit to sulle;  (C 6.225)
Peny-ale and poddyng-ale she poured togederes,
For laboreres and for louh folke--at lay by hymsulue.
Ac e beste ale lay in my bour and in my bedchaunbre
And ho-so bommode thereof a bouhte hit eraftur
A galon for a grote--and 3ut no grayth mesure  (C 6.230)
When hit cam in coppe-mele; this crafte my wyf vsede.
Rose e regrater was here ryhte name;
Sche hadde holde hokkerye this eleuene wynter.'
	`Repentedestow neuere?' quod Repentaunce, `ne restitucioun madest?'
	`3us, ones y was herberwed,' quod he, `with an heep of chapmen;  (C
6.235)
Y roes and ryflede here males when they a-reste were.'
	`That was a rufol restitucioun,' quod Repentaunce, `for sothe;
Thow wolt be hanged heye erfore, here oer in helle!
Vsedestow euere vsurye in al thy lyf-tyme?'
	`Nay sothly,' he saide, `saue in my 3outhe  (C 6.240)
Y lernede among Lumbardus a lessoun of Iewes
To weye pans with a peyse and parede e heuegeste
And lente for loue of e wed, the whych y lette bettere
And more worth then the moneye or men at y lenede.
Y lene folk at lese wold a lyppe of vch a noble  (C 6.245)
And with Lumbardus lettres lene gold to Rome,
So what buyrn of me borewede a bouhte the tyme.'
	`Lenedest euere eny lord for loue of his mayntenaunce?'
	`Y haue lent lordes and ladyes at louede me neuere aftur
And haue ymad many a knyht bothe mercer and draper,  (C 6.250)
Payed neuere for his prentished nat a payre gloues;
That chaffared with my cheuesaunces cheued selde aftur.'
	`Now redily,' quod Repentaunce, `and by e rode, y leue,
Shal neuere seketoure wel bysette the syluer at thow hem leuest
Ne thyn heyres, as y hope, haue ioye of at thow wonne,  (C 6.255)
For e pope with alle his pentauncers power hem fayleth
To assoyle the of this synne sine restitucione.
	Numquam dimittitur peccatum, nisi restituatur ablatum.'
	`With false wordes and weyhtes haue y ywonne my godes
And with gyle and glosynge ygadered at y haue;
Meddeled my marchaundyse and made a good mostre,  (C 6.260)
The worste lay withynne, a greet wit y lat hit.
And yf my neyhebore hadde an hyne or eny beste elles
More profitable then myn, y made many wentes,
How y myhte haue hit al my wit y caste,
And but y hit hadde by other wey at the laste y stale hit  (C 6.265)
Or priueliche his pors shoke and vnpiked his lokes.
And yf y 3ede to e plough y pynched on his half aker,
That a foet lond or a forw fecchen y wolde
Of my neyhebore nexst, nymen of his erthe;
And yf y raap, ouer-reche, or 3af hem red at repe  (C 6.270)
To sese to me with here sikel at y ne sewe neuere.
	In haly dayes at holy churche when y herde masse
Ne hadde y neuere will witterly to byseche
Mercy for my mysdedes at y ne mourned ofter
For loos of good, leef me, then for lycames gultes.  (C 6.275)
As, thow y deddly synne dede, y dradde nat so sore.
As whenne y lenede and leuede hit lost or longe or hit were payed.
And yf y sente ouer see my seruauntes to Bruges
Or in Pruys-lond my prenties my profit to awayte,
To marchaunde with my moneye and maken here eschaunges,  (C 6.280)
Myhte neuere me comforte in the mene tyme
Nother matynes ne masse ne no maner syhtes;
Ne neuere penaunce parformede ne pater-noster sayde
That my muynde ne was more in my godes in a doute
Then in the grace of god and in his grete myhte.'  (C 6.285)
	Vbi tezaurus tuus ibi cor tuum.
	`Now redily,' quod Repentaunce, `y haue reuthe of thy lyuynge.
Were y a frere, in good fayth, for al e gold on erthe
Y ne wolde cope me with thy catel ne oure kyrke mende
Ne take a meles mete of thyn, and myn herte hit wiste.
3if thow were such as thow sayst y sholde rather sterue.  (C 6.290)
	Melius est mori quam male viuere.
Y rede no faythful frere at thy feste to sytte.
3ut were me leuer, by oure lord, lyue al by welle-cresses
Then haue my fode and my fyndynge of fals menne wynnynges.
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris;
Pane tuo pocius vescere, liber eris.  (C 6.295)
	Thow art an vnkynde creature; y can the nat assoile
Til thow haue ymad by thy myhte to alle men restitucioun;
For alle that hauen of thy good, haue god my treuthe,
Ys haldyng at the heye dome to helpe the restitue.
3e, e prest at thy tythe toek, trowe y non other,  (C 6.300)
Shal parte with the in purgatorye and helpe paye thy dette
Yf he wiste thow were such when he resseyued thyn offrynge.
And what lede leueth at y lye, look in e sauter glosed, on
	Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti,
And there shal he wite witterly what vsure is to mene,
And what penaunce the prest shal haue at proud is of his tithes.  (C
6.305)
For an hore of here ers-wynnynge may hardilikor tythe
Then an errant vsurer, haue god my treuthe,
And arste shal come to heuene, by Cryst that me made.'
	Thenne was there a Walschman was wonderly sory,
Hyhte 3euan-3elde-a3eyn-yf-so-moche-haue-  (C 6.310)
Al-at-y-wikkedly-wan-sithen-y-witte-hadde:
`And thow me lyflode lakke, leten y nelle
That eche man ne shal haue his ar y hennes wende,
For me is leuere in this lyue as a lorel begge
Then in lysse to lyue and lese lyf and soule.'  (C 6.315)
	Robert the ruyflare on reddite lokede
And for er was nat wherwith a wep swythe sore.
Ac 3ut at synful shrewe saide to the heuene:
`Crist at on Caluarie on e crosse deyedest
Tho Dysmas my brother bisouhte 3ow of grace  (C 6.320)
And haddest mercy vppon at man for memento his sake,
So rewe on Robert at reddere ne haue
Ne neuere wene to wynne with craft at y knowe.
For thy mochel mercy mitigacioun y biseche;
Dampne me nat at domesday for at y dede so ylle.'  (C 6.325)
	What byful of this feloun y can nat fayre shewe;
Wel y woet a wepte faste water with his yes
And knolechede to Crist his coupe 3ut eftsones,
That Repentaunce is pyk-staff a wolde polesche newe,
For he hadde lay3e by Latro, Luciferes aunte.  (C 6.330)
	`Be e rode,' quod Repentaunce, `thow romest toward heuene
By so hit be in thyn herte as y here thy tonge.
Trist in his mechel mercy and 3ut ou myhte be saued.
For al the wrecchednesse of this world and wikkede dedes
Fareth as fonk of fuyr at ful amydde Temese  (C 6.335)
And deyede with a drop water; so doth alle synnes
Of alle manere men at with goode wille confessen hem
And cryen hym mercy, shal neuere come in helle.
	Omnis iniquitas quoad misericordiam dei est quasi sintilla in medio
maris.
	Repente e anon,' quod Repentaunce ryhte to the vsurer,
`And haue his mercy in thy mynde and marchaundise, leue hit,  (C 6.340)
For thow hast no good, by good fayth, to gete the with a wastel.
For the good that thow hast gete bygan al with falshede
And as longe as thow lyuest therwith ou 3eldest nat bote borwest.
And 3if thow wyte neuere to whom ne where to restitue,
Bere hit to thy bischop and bide hym of his grace  (C 6.345)
To bysetten hit hymsulue as beste be for thy soule;
For he shal onswerie for the at the hey dome,
For the and for many mo at man shal 3eue a rykenynge
What a lered 3ow to lyue with and to lette 3ow fram thefte.'
	Now bygynneth Glotoun for to go to shryfte  (C 6.350)
And kayres hym to kyrke-ward, his cowpe to shewe.
Fastyng on a Friday forth gan he wende
By Betene hous the brewestere, at bad hym good morwen,
And whodeward he wolde the breuh-wyf hym askede.
	`To holy churche,' quod he, `for to here masse,  (C 6.355)
And sennes sitte and be shryue and synege no more.'
	`Y haue good ale, gossip Glotoun, woltow assaye?'
	`Hastow,' quod he, `eny hote spyces?'
	`Y haue pepur and pyonie and a pound of garlek,
A ferthyng-worth fenkelsedes, for fastyng-dayes y bouhte hit.'  (C
6.360)
	Thenne goth Glotoun in and grete othes aftur.
Sesse e souhteres saet on e benche,
Watte e wernare and his wyf dronke,
Tymme e tynekare and tweyne of his knaues,
Hicke e hackenayman and Hewe e nedlare,  (C 6.365)
Claryce of Cockes-lane and the clerc of e churche,
Syre Peres of Prydie and Purnele of Flaundres,
An hayward, and heremyte, the hangeman of Tybourne,
Dawe e dikere, with a dosoyne harlotes
Of portours and of pikeporses and of pilede toth-draweres,  (C 6.370)
A rybibour and a ratoner, a rakeare and his knaue,
A ropere and a redyngkynge and Rose e disshere,
Godefray e garlek-monger and Gryffyth e Walshe,
And of vphalderes an heep, herly by e morwe
Geuen Glotoun with glad chere good ale to hansull.  (C 6.375)
	Clement e coblere cast of his cloke
And to e newe fayre nempnede hit forth to sull.
Hicke e hackenayman hit his hod aftur
And bade Bitte e bochere ben on his syde.
There were chapmen ychose this chaffare to preyse,  (C 6.380)
That ho-so hadde the hood sholde nat haue e cloke,
And that the bettere thyng, be arbitreres, bote sholde e worse.
Tho rysen vp rape and rounned togyderes
And preisede this peniworths apart by hemsulue,
And there were othes an heep, for on sholde haue e worse.  (C 6.385)
They couthe nat by here consience acorden for treuthe
Til Robyn e ropere aryse they bisouhte
And nempned hym for a noumper, at no debat were.
	Hicke e hostiler hadde e cloke,
In couenaunt at Clement sholde the coppe fulle,  (C 6.390)
And haue Hickes hook e hostiler and holde hym yserued;
And ho-so repentede hym rathest sholde aryse aftur
And grete syre Glotoun with a galon of ale.
	There was leyhing and louryng and `lat go the coppe!'
Bargaynes and beuereges bygan tho to awake,  (C 6.395)
And seten so til euensong, and songen vmbywhile,
Til Glotoun hadde yglobbed a galoun and a gylle.
His gottes gan to gothly as two grydy sowes;
A pissede a potel in a pater-noster whyle,
A blew his rownd ruet at his rygebones ende,  (C 6.400)
That alle at herde e horne helde here nose aftur
And wesched hit hadde be wasche with a weps of breres.
He myhte noer steppe ne stande til he a staf hadde,
And thenne gan he go lyke a glemans byche,
Sum tyme asyde and sum tyme arere,  (C 6.405)
As ho-so layth lynes for to lacche foules.
	And when he drow to the dore, thenne dymmede his yes,
And thromblede at the thresfold and threw to e erthe,
And Clement e coblere cauhte hym by e myddel
And for to lyfte hym aloft leyde hym on his knees.  (C 6.410)
Ac Gloton was a greet cherl and greued in e luftynge
And cowed vp a caudel in Clementis lappe;
Ys none so hungry hound in Hertfordshyre
Durste lape of at lyuynge, so vnlouely hit smauhte.
	With alle e wo of this world his wyf and his wenche  (C 6.415)
Baren hym to his bed and brouhten hym er-ynne,
And aftur al this exces he hadde an accidie aftur;
A sleep Saturday and Sonenday til e sonne 3ede to reste.
Then gan he wake wel wanne and wolde haue ydronke;
The furste word that he spake was `Who halt e bolle?'  (C 6.420)
His wif and his inwit edwitede hym of his synne;
A wax ashamed, at shrewe, and shrofe hym as swythe
To Repentaunce ryht thus: `Haue reuthe on me,' he saide,
`Thow lord that aloft art and alle lyues shope!
	To the, god, y, Glotoun, gulty me 3elde  (C 6.425)
Of at y haue trespased with tonge, y can nat telle how ofte,
Sworn "Godes soule and his sides!" and "So helpe me, god almyhty!"
There no nede ne was, many sythe falsly;
And ouer-sopped at my soper and som tyme at nones
More then my kynde myhte deffye,  (C 6.430)
And as an hound at eet gras so gan y to brake
And spilde at y aspele myhte--y kan nat speke for shame
The vilony of my foule mouthe and of my foule mawe--
And fastyng-dayes bifore noen fedde me with ale
Out of resoun, among rybaudes, here rybaudrye to here.  (C 6.435)
	Herof, gode god, graunte me for3euenesse
Of all my luyther lyf in al my lyf-tyme
For y vowe to verray god, for eny hungur or furste,
Shal neuere fysch in e Fryday defyen in my wombe
Til Abstinence myn aunte haue 3eue me leue--  (C 6.440)
And 3ut haue y hated here al my lyf-tyme.'

                          C Pearsall  Passus 7

Passus septimus de visione
Thenne cam Sleuthe al byslobered with two slimed yes.
`Y moste sitte to be shryue or elles sholde y nappe;
Y may nat wel stande ne stoupe ne withouten a stoel knele.
Were y brouhte in my bed, but yf my tayl-ende hit made,
Sholde no ryngyng do me to ryse til y were rype to dyne.'  (C 7.5)
A bigan benedicite with a bolk and his breste knokkede,
Roxlede and romede and rotte at e last.
`What! awake, renke!' quod Repentaunce, `and rape e to shryfte!'
	`Yf y sholde deye be is day y drede me sore;
Y can nat parfitly my pater-noster as e prest hit syngeth.  (C 7.10)
Y can rymes of Robyn Hode and of Randolph erle of Chestre,
Ac of oure lord ne of oure lady e leste at euere was maked.
Y haue voued voues fourty and for3eten hem a-morwen.
Y parfourmede neuere penaunces at e prest me hihte
Ne ryht sory for my synnes, y seyh neuere e tyme.  (C 7.15)
And yf y bidde eny bedes, but yf hit be in wrath,
That y telle with my tonge is ten myle fro myn herte.
Y am occuepied vch a day, haliday and oere,
With ydele tales at e ale and oer-while in chirches.
Goddes payne and his passioun is puyre selde in my thouhte.  (C 7.20)
	Y visited neuere feble man ne fetered man in prisone.
Y hadde leuere here an harlotrye or a lesyng to lauhen of
Or to lacke men or to likene hem in vnlikyng manere
Than al at euere Mark made, Matheu, Iohn or Lucas.
Vigilies and fastyng-dayes y can for3eten hem alle  (C 7.25)
And ligge abedde in lente and my lemman in myn armes
Til matynes and masse be ydo, thenne haue y a memorie at e freres.
Y am nat shryue som tyme, but yf seknesse hit make,
Nat twies in ten 3er and thenne telle y nat e haluendele.
	I haue be prest and persoun passynge thritty wyntur  (C 7.30)
3ut kan y nother solfe ne synge ne a seyntes lyf rede.
Ac y can fynden in a feld and in a forlong an hare
And holden a knyhtes court and acounte with e reue.
Ac y can nat construe Catoun ne clergialiche reden.
	Yf y begge and borwe ouht, but yf hit be ytayled,  (C 7.35)
I for3ete hit as 3erne, and yf eny man hit aske
Sixe sithe oer seuene y forsake hit with othes,
And thus haue y tened trewe men ten hundrit tymes.
And my seruauntes som-tyme here salerie is bihynde:
Reuthe is to here rekenynge when we shal rede acountes,  (C 7.40)
So with wikkede will my werkemen y paye.
Yf eny man do me a been-feet or helpeth me at nede
Y am vnkynde a3en his cortesie, y can nat vnderstande hit,
For y haue and haue yhad sumdel haukes maners;
Y am nat luyred with loue but er lygge ouht vnder e tumbe.  (C 7.45)
The kyndenesse at myn emcristen kud me ferne-3er,
Sixty sythes y, Sleuthe, haue for3eten hit sethe
In speche and in sparyng of speche; yspilde many a tyme
Bothe flesch and fysch, and vitailes kepte so longe
Til eche lyf hit lothed to loke eron or smylle hit;  (C 7.50)
Bothe bred and ale, botere, mylke and chese
Forsleuthed in my seruice, and yset hows a-fuyre,
And 3ede aboute in my 3outhe and 3af me to no thedom,
And sethe a beggare haue ybe for my foule sleuthe.
Heu michi quod sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem.'  (C 7.55)
	`Repentest the nat?' quod Repentaunce, and ryht with at he swowened,
Til Vigilate the veile fette water at his eyus
And flatte hit on his face and faste on hym cryede
And sayde, `War the for wanhope at wolde the bytraye!
"Y am sory for my synnes," sey to thysuluen  (C 7.60)
And bete thysulue vppon e breste and bidde hym of grace,
For is no gult so greet at his goodnesse is more.'
	Thenne sat Sleuthe vp and seynede hym ofte
And made vowe tofore god for his foule sleuthe:
`Shal no Sonday be this seuene 3ere, but yf seknesse hit make,  (C
7.65)
That y ne shal do me ar day to e dere chirche
And here mateynes and masse as y a monke were.
Shal non ale aftur mete holde me thennes
Til y haue euensong yherd, y bihote to e rode.'
	Ac wheche been e braunches at bryngeth men to sleuthe?  (C 7.70)
Is when men mourneth not for his mysdedes,
The penaunces at e prest enioyneth parformeth euele,
Doth non almesdede, drat hym nat of synne,
Lyueth a3en e bileue and no lawe kepeth
And hath no likynge to lerne ne of oure lord to here  (C 7.75)
But to harlotrie and to horedom or elles of som wynnynge.
When me carpeth of Crist or of clannesse of soule
A wexeth wroth and wol not here but wordes of murthe.
Penaunse and pore men and the passioun of seyntes
He hateth to here thereof and alle at erof carpeth.  (C 7.80)
This beth e braunches, beth ywar, at bryngeth a man to wanhope.
	3e lordes and ladies and legates of holy churche
That feden foel sages, flateres and lyares,
And han lykyng to lythen hem in hope to do 3ow lawhe--
	Ve vobis qui ridetis--
And 3eueth such mede and mete and pore men refuse,  (C 7.85)
In 3oure deth-deynge y drede me sore
Laste tho manere men to muche sorwe 3ow brynge.
	Consencientes et agentes pari pena punientur.
Patriarkes and prophetes, precheours of goddes wordes,
Sauen thorw here sarmon mannes soule fram helle;
Ryht so flateres and fooles aren e fendes procuratours  (C 7.90)
To entise men thorw here tales to synne and to harlotrie.
Clerkes at knoweth this sholde kenne lordes
What Dauid sayth of such men, and e sauter telleth:
	Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam, qui loquitur
 iniqua.
Sholde non harlote haue audiense in halle ne in chaumbre
There at wyse men were, wittnesseth goddes wordes,  (C 7.95)
Ne no mysproud man amonges lordes be alouede.
	Clerkes and knyhtes welcometh kynges munstrals
And for loue of here lord lieth hem at festes;
Muche more me thynketh riche men ouhte
Haue beggares byfore hem e whiche ben goddes munstrals,  (C 7.100)
As he sayth hymsulf, seynt Ion bereth witnesse:
	Qui vos spernit me spernit.
Forthy y rede 3ow ryche, reueles when 3e maketh,
For to solace 3oure soules suche munstrals to haue:
The pore for a foul sage sittynge at thy table,
With a lered man to lere the what oure lord suffrede  (C 7.105)
For to saue thy soule from Satan thyn enemye
And fithele the withoute flaterynge of god Friday e geste,
And a blynd man for a bordor or a bedredene womman
To crye a largesse tofore oure lord, 3oure good loos to shewe.
Thise thre manere munstrals maketh a man to lauhe  (C 7.110)
And in his deth-deynge they don hym greet confort
That by his lyue lened hem and louede hem to here.
Thise solaseth e soule til hymsulue be yfalle
In a wel hope, for a wrouhte so, amonges worthy seyntes,
There flaterers and foles with here foule wordes  (C 7.115)
Leden tho that lythed hem to Luciferes feste
With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe and Luciferes fythele,
To perpetuel payne or purgatorie as wikke,
For a lythed and louede at godes lawe despiseth.
	Dare histrionibus.
	Tho was Repentaunce aredy and redde hem alle to knele:  (C 7.120)
`Y shal byseke for alle synnefole oure sauiour of grace,
To amende vs of oure mysdedes, do mercy to vs alle.
	God, at of thi goodnesse gonne e world make
And madest of nauhte auhte and man liche thysulue,
And sethe soffredeste hym to synege, a sykenesse to vs alle--  (C
7.125)
And for oure beste, as y beleue, what-so e boek telle:
	O felix culpa, et necessarium peccatum Ade!
For thorw at synne thy sone ysent was til erthe
And bicam man of a mayde, mankynde to amende--
And madest thysulue, with thy sone, oure soule and oure body ilych:
	Ego in patre, et pater in me; et qui me videt, videt patrem meum;
And sethe in oure secte, as hit semed, deyedest,  (C 7.130)
On a Friday, in fourme of man, feledest oure sorwe.
	Captiuam duxit captiuitatem.
The sonne for sorwe erof lees liht for a tyme,
Aboute mydday, when most liht is, and mel-tyme of sayntes;
Feddest tho with thy flesch and blood oure forfadres in helle.
	Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, vidit lucem magnam.
The lihte at lup oute of the, Lucifer hit blente  (C 7.135)
And brouhte thyne yblessed fro thennes into e blisse of heuene.
The thridde day eraftur thow 3edest into oure sekte;
A synful Marie e sey ar seynte Marye y dame,
And al so to solace synfole thow soffredest it so were.
	Non veni vocare iustos, set peccatores.
And al at Mark hath ymade, Matheu, Ion and Lucas,  (C 7.140)
Of thy douhtiest dedes, was don in oure sekte.
	Verbum caro factum est.
And by so muche hit semeth the sykerloker we mowe
Bidde and biseche the, yf hit be thy wille,
That art furste oure fadur and of flesch oure broer,
And sethen oure sauyour, and seydest hit with thy tonge  (C 7.145)
That what tyme we synnefole men wolden be sory
For dedes that we han don ylle, dampned sholde we ben neuere,
Yf we knowlechede and cryde Crist er-fore mercy.
	Quandocumque ingemuerit peccator, omnes iniquitates eius non
 recordabor amplius.
And for i muchel mercy and Marie loue thi moder,
Haue reuthe of alle these rybaudes that repenten hem sore  (C 7.150)
That euere thei gulte a3eyne e, god, in gost or in dede.'
	Thenne hente Hope an horn of Deus, tu conuersus viuificabis nos,
And blewe hit with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates et quorum
tecta sunt peccata,
That alle seyntes for synfol songen with Dauid:
	Homines et iumenta saluabis; quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam
 tuam, deus!
A thousend of men tho throngen togyderes,  (C 7.155)
Criede vpward to Crist and to his clene moder
To haue grace to go to Treuthe--god leue at they mote!
	Ac er was wye non so wys at the way thider couthe,
But blostrede forth as bestes ouer baches and hulles,
Til late was and longe at thei a lede mette,  (C 7.160)
Yparayled as a paynyem in pilgrimes wyse.
	He bar a bordoun ybounde with a brood liste,
In a wethewynde wyse ywrithe al aboute.
A bolle and a bagge a bar by his syde;
An hundret of aunpolles on his hat sette,  (C 7.165)
Signes of Syse and shelles of Galys,
And many a crouch on his cloke, kayes of Rome,
And e vernicle bifore, for men sholde yknowe
And se by e signes wham a souht hadde.
	This folk frayned hym furste fro whennes he come.  (C 7.170)
`Fro Sinoye,' he sayde, `and fro e sepulcre of oure lord.
In Bedlem and in Babiloyne y haue be in bothe,
In Armonye, in Alisaundre, and in Damascle.
3e may se be e signes at sitten on my cappe
Y haue souht gode seyntes for my soule helthe  (C 7.175)
And ywalked ful wyde in wete and in drye.'
	`Knowest thow auht a cor-seynt,' quod they, `at men calleth Treuthe?
Kouthest wissen vs the way whoder out Treuth woneth?'
	`Nay, so me god helpe,' sayde e gome thenne,
`I saw neuere palmere with pyk ne with scrippe  (C 7.180)
Axen aftur hym but now in is place.'
	`Peter!' quod a plouhman, and potte forth his heued,
`I knowe hym as kyndely as clerk doth his bokes.
Consience and Kynde Wyt kenned me to his place.
And maden me sykeren sethen to seruen hym for euere,  (C 7.185)
Bothe to sowe and to sette e while y swynke myhte,
And to sowen his seed, suewen his bestes,
Withynne and withouten to wayten his profit,
Iich haue ybe his foloware al this fourty wynter
And yserued Treuthe sothly, somdel to paye.  (C 7.190)
In alle kyne craftes at he couthe deuise
Profitable as for the plouh, a potte me to lerne,
And, thow I sey hit mysulf, y serue hym to paye.
Y haue myn huyre of hym wel and oer whiles more.
He is e presteste payere at eny pore man knoweth;  (C 7.195)
He with-halt non hewe his huyre ouer euen.
He is as louh as a lombe and leel of his tonge,
And ho-so wilneth to wyte where at Treuthe woneth,
Y wol wissen 3ow wel ryht to his place.'
	`3e, leue Peres,' quod thise pilgrimes, and profrede Peres mede.  (C
7.200)
	`Nay, bi e perel of my soule!' Peres gan swerie,
`Y ne wol fonge a ferthynge, for seynt Thomas shryne!
Were it itolde Treuthe at y toke mede
A wolde loue me e lasse a long tyme aftur.
	Ac ho-so wol wende er Treuthe is, this is e way theder.  (C 7.205)
	3e mote go thorw Mekenesse, alle men and wommen,
Til 3e come into Consience, yknowe of god sulue,
That 3e louye hym as lord leely aboue alle;
That is to sey sothly, 3e sholde rather deye
Thenne eny dedly synne do, for drede or for preyere.  (C 7.210)
And thenne 3oure neyhebores nexst in none wyse apayre
Otherwyse then 3e wolden they wrouhte 3ow alle tymes.
	And so goth forth by e brok, a brugge as it were,
Forto 3e fynde a ford, 3oure-fader-honoureth;
Wadeth in at at water and wascheth 3ow wel there  (C 7.215)
And 3e shal lepe e lihtloker al 3oure lyf-tyme.
	Honora patrem et matrem.
	And thenne shalt thow se Swere-nat-but-if-it-be-for nede-
And-nameliche-an-ydel-e-name-of-god-almyhty.
	Thenne shalt thow come by a croft, ac com thow nat er-ynne;
The croft hatte Coueyte-nat-menne-catel-ne-here-wyues-  (C 7.220)
Ne-none-of-here-seruauntes-at-nuye-hem-myhte;
Loke ou bere nat ere away, but yf hit be thyn owene.
	Two stokkes ere stondeth, ac stynte thow nat ere;
Thei hatte Stele-nat and Sle-nat--stryk forth by bothe
And leueth hem on e luft hand and loke nat eraftur,  (C 7.225)
And hold wel in haliday heye til euen.
	Thenne shaltow blenche at a berw, Bere-no-fals-witnesse,
Is frithed in with floreynes and othere fees monye;
Loke thow plokke no plonte ere, for perel of thy soule.
	Thenne shaltow se Say-soth-so-hit-be-to-done-  (C 7.230)
In-none-manere-elles-nat-for-no-mannes-preyre.
	And so shaltow come to a court as cleer as e sonne.
The mote is of Mercy, the manere in e myddes,
And al e wallyng is of Wyt, for Wil ne sholde hit wynne.
The carneles ben of Cristendom, at kynde to saue,  (C 7.235)
Ybotresed with Bileue-so-or-ow-best-not-ysaued;
And alle e hous been yheled, halles and chaumbres,
With no leed but with loue, and with lele-speche.
The barres aren of buxumnesse, as bretherne of o wombe.
The brygge hatte Byde-wel-the-bet-may-ow-spede;  (C 7.240)
Vche a piler is of penaunces and preyeres to seyntes;
The hokes aren almes-dedes at e 3ates hange on.
	Grace hatte e gateward, a goed man for sothe;
His man hatte Amende-3ow, many man hym knoweth.
Tel hym this ilke tokene: "Treuthe woet e sothe,  (C 7.245)
Y am sory of my synnes and so y shal euere,
And parformed e penaunce at e prest me hihte."
Biddeth Amende-3ow to meke hym to his maister Grace,
To opene and vndo e hye gate of heuene
That Adam and Eue a3enes vs alle shette.  (C 7.250)
	Per Euam cunctis clausa est, et per Mariam virginem iterum patefacta
 est.
A ful leel lady vnlek hit of grace,
And she hath e keye and e clycat, thow e kynge slepe,
And may lede in at she loueth as here lef lyketh.
	And yf Grace graunte the to go in in this wyse
Thow shalt se Treuthe sitte in thy sulue herte,  (C 7.255)
And solace thy soule and saue the fram payne,
And charge Charite a churche to make
In thyne hole herte, to herborwe alle trewe
And fynde alle manere folke fode to here soules,
3ef loue and leute and oure lawe be trewe:  (C 7.260)
	Quodcumque petieritis in nomine meo, dabitur enim vobis.
	Ac be war thenne of Wrath, at wikkede shrewe,
For he hath enuye to hym at in thyn herte setteth
And poketh forth pruyde to preyse thysuluen.
The boldnesse of thy been-fetes maketh the blynd thenne;
So worth thow dryuen out as deux, and e dore yclosed,  (C 7.265)
Ykeyed and yclyketed to close the withouten,
Hapliche an hundred wyntur ar thow eft entre.
Thus myhte thow lesen his loue, to lete wel by thysulue,
And geten hit agayne thorw grace, ac thorw no gifte elles.
	Ac ther ben seuene susteres at seruen Treuthe euere  (C 7.270)
And aren porteres ouer e posternes at to at place bilongen.
That on hatte Abstinence and Vmbletee annoer,
Charite and Chastite ben his chief maydenes,
Pacience and Pees muche peple ei helpe,
Largenesse at lady lat in ful monye--  (C 7.275)
Noen of hem alle helpe may in betere,
For she payeth for prisones in puttes and in peynes.
And ho is sib to is seuene, so me god helpe,
Is wonderliche welcome and fayre vnderfonge.
Ho is nat syb to this seuene, sothly to telle,  (C 7.280)
Hit is ful hard, be myn heued, eny of 3ow alle
To geten ingang at eny 3ate, bote grace be e more.'
	`By Crist,' quod a cotte-pors, `y haue no kyn there.'
	`Ne y,' quod an hapeward, `by auht at y know!'
	`Wyte god,' quod a wafrestere, `wiste y this for sothe,  (C 7.285)
Wolde y neuere forthere no foet for no frere prechynge!'
	`3us,' quod Perus e plouhman, and pokede hem alle to gode,
`Mercy is a mayden there hath myhte ouer hem alle,
And she is sib to alle synfole, and here sone bothe.
And thorw e helpes of hem two, hope ou non oer,  (C 7.290)
Thow myhte gete grace there, so thow go bytymes.'
	`3e, villam emi,' quod oen, `and now y moste thedre
To loke how me liketh hit'; and toek his leue at Peres.
Anoer anoen riht nede he sayde he hadde
To falewe with fiue 3okes, `Forthy me bihoueth  (C 7.295)
To goo with a good wil and graytheliche hem dryue.
Forthy y pray 3ow, Peres, parauntur 3if 3e meten
Treuth, telleth hym this, at y be excused.'
	Thenne was oen hihte Actif, an hosbande he semede:
`Y haue wedded a wyf, wel wantowen of maneres;  (C 7.300)
Were y seuen nyhte fro here syhte, sighen she wolde
And loure on me and lihtly chyde and sygge y louede another.
Forthy, Peres the plouhman, y preye the telle hit Treuthe
I may nat come for a Kitte so a cleueth on me.
	Vxorem duxi et ideo non possum venire.'
	Quod Contemplacioun, `By Crist, ogh y care soffre,  (C 7.305)
Famyne and defaute, folwen y wol Peres.
Ac e way is ful wikked, but ho-so hadde a gyde
That myhte folowe vs vch a fote for drede of mysturnynge.'

                          C Pearsall   Passus 8

Passus octauus vt prius
Quod Perkyn e plouhman, `Be seynt Petur of Rome!
Ich haue an half-aker to erye by e heye waye;
Haued ich y-ered is half-aker and ysowed hit aftur,
Y wolde wende with 3ow and e way teche.'
	`That were a long lettyng,' quod a lady in a sclayre,  (C 8.5)
`What sholde we wommen worche e whiles?'
	`Y preye 3ow, for 3oure profit,' quod Peres to e ladyes,
`That somme sowe e sak for shedynge of the whete,
And 3e worthily wymmen with 3oure longe fyngres
That 3e han selk and sendel to sowe whan tyme is  (C 8.10)
Chesibles for chapeleynes churches to honoure.
Wyues and wyddewes wolle an flex spynneth;
Consience conseyleth 3ow cloth for to make
For profit of the pore and plesaunce of 3owsuluen.
For y shal lene hem lyflode, but e lond faylle,  (C 8.15)
As longe as y leue, for the lordes loue of heuene.
And alle manere men at by e molde is susteyned
Helpeth hym worche wittiliche at wynneth 3oure fode.'
	`By Crist,' quod a knyhte tho, `a kenneth vs e beste;
Ac on e teme treuely ytauhte was y neuere.  (C 8.20)
Y wolde y couthe,' quod the knyhte, `by Crist and his moder;
Y wolde assaie som tyme for solace as hit were.'
	`Sikerliche, sire knyhte,' sayde Peris thenne,
`Y shal swynke and swete and sowe for vs bothe
And labory for tho thow louest al my lyf-tyme,  (C 8.25)
In couenant at thow kepe holy kerke and mysulue
Fro wastores and fro wikked men at is world struyen,
And go hunte hardelyche to hares and to foxes,
To bores and to bokkes at breketh adoun myn hegges,
And afayte thy faucones to culle e wylde foules  (C 8.30)
For ey cometh to my croft my corn to diffoule.'
	Courteisliche the knyhte thenne comesed thise wordes:
`By my power, Peres, y plyhte the my treuthe
To defende e in fayth, fyhte thow y sholde.'
	`And 3ut a poynt,' quod Peres, `y preye 3ow of more:  (C 8.35)
Loke 3e tene no tenaunt but treuthe wol assente
And when 3e mersyen eny man late mercy be taxour
And mekenesse thy mayster, maugre Mede chekes.
And thogh pore men profre 3ow presentes and 3yftes
Nym hit nat an auntur thow mowe hit nauht deserue,  (C 8.40)
For thow shalt 3elden hit so may be of sumdel abuggen hit.
Misbede nat thy bondeman, the bette may the spede;
Thogh he be here thyn vnderlynge, in heuene parauntur
He worth rather reseyued and reuerentloker sitte.
	Amice, ascende superius.
At churche in the charnel cherles aren euele to knowe  (C 8.45)
Or a knyhte fro a knaue or a quene fram a queene.
Hit bicometh to the, knyhte, to be corteys and hende,
Treuwe of thy tonge and tales loth to here
Bute they be of bounte, of batayles or of treuthe.
Hoold nat with non harlotes ne here nat here tales,  (C 8.50)
Ac nameliche at e mete suche men eschewe
For hit bee e deueles dysors to drawe men to synne.
Ne countreplede nat Consience ne holy kyrke ryhtes.'
	`Y assente, by seynt Gyle,' sayde the knyht thenne,
`For to worche by thy wit and my wyf bothe.'  (C 8.55)
	`And y shal parayle me,' quod Perkyn, `in pilgrimes wyse
And wende with alle tho at wolden lyue in treuthe.'
And caste on hym his clothes of alle kyn craftes,
His cokeres and his coffes, as Kynde Wit hym tauhte,
And heng his hopur on his hales in stede of a scryppe;  (C 8.60)
A buschel of breedcorn brouht was er-ynne.
`For y wol sowen hit mysulf and sethe wol y wende
To pilgrimages, as palmeres doen, pardon to wynne.
My plouh pote shal be my pyk-staff and pyche a-to e rotes
And helpe my coltur to kerue and clanse e forwes.  (C 8.65)
And alle at helpen me erye or elles to wedy
Shal haue leue by oure lord to go and glene aftur me
And maken hym merye er-myde, maugrey ho bigruchen hit.
And alle kyne crafty men at conne lyue in treuthe
Y shal fynde hem fode at fayfulleche libbeth,  (C 8.70)
Saue Iacke e iogelour and Ionet of e stuyues
And Danyel e dees-playere and Denote e baude
And frere faytour and folk of at ordre,
That lollares and loseles lele men holdeth,
And Robyn e rybauder for his rousty wordes.  (C 8.75)
Treuthe telde me ones and bad me telle hit forthere:
Deleantur de libro viuencium, y sholde nat dele with hem,
For holy chirche is hote of hem no tythe to aske,
	Quia cum iustis non scribantur.
They ben ascaped good auntur, now god hem amende!'
	Dame Worch-when-tyme-is Peres wyf hehte;  (C 8.80)
His douhter hihte Do-rihte-so-or-thy-dame-shal-e-bete;
His sone hihte Soffre-thy-souereynes-haue-her-wille-
Deme-hem-nat-yf-thow-doest-thow-shalt-hit-dere-abygge.
`Consayle nat so e comune e kyng to desplese,
Ne hem at han lawes to loke lacke hem nat, y hote e.  (C 8.85)
Lat god yworthe with al, as holy wryt techeth:
	Super cathedram Moysi sedent.
Maystres, as e mayres ben, and grete menne, senatours,
What ei comaunde as by e kyng countreplede hit neuere;
Al at they hoten, y hote, heiliche thow suffre hem
And aftur here warnynge and wordynge worche ou eraftur.  (C 8.90)
	Omnia que dicunt facite et seruate.
Ac aftur here doynge ne do thow nat, my dere sone,' quod Peres.
	`For now y am olde and hoer and haue of myn owene,
To penaunces and pilgrimages y wol passe with this oere.
Forthy y wol ar y wende do wryte my biqueste.
	In dei nomine amen: y make hit mysulue.  (C 8.95)
He shal haue my soule at alle soules made
And defenden hit as fro e fende, and so is my beleue,
Til y come til his acountes as my crede telleth
To haue a remissioun and a relees on at rental y leue.
The kyrke shal haue my caroyne and kepe my bones  (C 8.100)
For of my corn and my catel he craued my tythe.
Y payede hit prestly for perel of my soule;
He is holdyng, y hope, to haue me on his masse
And menege me in his memorie amonges alle cristene.
My wyf shal haue of at y wan with treuthe and no more  (C 8.105)
And delen hit amonges my douhteres and my dere childres.
For thouh y dey today my dette is yquited;
I bar hoem at y borwed ar y to bedde 3ede.
And with e resudue and e remenant, by the rode of Lukes!
Y wol worschipe erwith Treuthe al my lyue  (C 8.110)
And ben a pilgrym at e plouh for profit to pore and ryche.'
	Now is Perkyn and is pilgrimes to e plouh faren;
To erien this half-aker holpen hym monye.
Dikeres and deluares digged vp e balkes;
Therwith was Perkyn apayed and payede wel hem here huyre.  (C 8.115)
Oer werkemen er were at wrouhten fol 3erne,
Vch man in his manere made hymsulue to done
And somme to plese Perkyn afeelde pykede wedes.
	At hey prime Peres leet e plouh stande
And ouersey hem hymsulue; ho-so best wrouhte  (C 8.120)
He shoulde be huyred eraftur when heruost tyme come.
	And thenne seet somme and songen at the ale
And holpe erye this half-aker with `hey trollilolly!'
Quod Peres e plouhman al in puyre tene:
`But 3e aryse e rather and rape 3ow to worche  (C 8.125)
Shal no grayn at here groweth gladyen 3ow at nede,
And thow 3e deye for deul, e deuel haue at reche!'
	Tho were faytours aferd and fayned hem blynde
And leyde here legges alery as suche lorelles conneth
And maden here mone to Peres how ei may nat worche:  (C 8.130)
`And we praye for 3ow, Peres, and for 3oure plouh bothe
That god for his grace 3oure grayn multiplye
And 3elde 3ow of 3oure almesse at 3e 3euen vs here.
We may nother swynke ne swete, suche sekenes vs ayleth,
Ne none lymes to labory with, lord god we thonketh.'  (C 8.135)
	`3oure preyeres,' quod Peres, `and 3e parfyt weren,
Myhte helpe, as y hope, ac hey Treuthe wolde
That no faytrye were founde in folk at goth a-beggeth.
3e ben wastours, y woet wel, and waste and deuouren
What lele land-tilynge men leely byswynken.  (C 8.140)
Ac Treuthe shal teche 3ow his teme to dryue
Or 3e shal ete barly breed and of e broke drynke,
But yf he be blynde or broke-legged or bolted with yren--
Suche poore,' quod Peres, `shal parte with my godes,
Both of my corn and of my cloth to kepe hem fram defaute.  (C 8.145)
And ankerus and eremytes at eten but at nones
And freres at flateren nat and pore folke syke,
What! y and myn wolle fynde hem what hem nedeth.'
	Thenne gan Wastor to wrath hym and wolde haue yfauhte
And to Peres e plouhman profrede to fyhte  (C 8.150)
And bad hym go pisse with his plogh, pyuische shrewe!
A Bretener cam braggyng, a bostede Peres also:
`Wolle thow, nulle thow,' quod he, `we wol haue oure wille,
And thy flour and thy flesch feche whenne vs liketh
And maken vs murye er-myde, maugreye ho begrucheth.'  (C 8.155)
	Peres the plouhman tho pleynede hym to e knyhte
To kepe hym and his catel as couenant was bitwene hem:
`Awreke me of this wastors at maketh this world dere;
They acounteth nat of corsynges ne holy kyrke nat dredeth.
For ther worth no plente,' quod Perus, `and e plouh lygge.'  (C 8.160)
	Courteisliche the knyhte thenne, as his kynde wolde,
Warnede Wastour and wissede hym betere:
`Or y shal bete the by the lawe and brynge e in stokkes.'
	`I was nat woned to worche,' quod Wastour, 'and now wol y nat
bygynne!'
And leet lyhte of e lawe and lasse of the knyhte  (C 8.165)
And sette Peres at a pes to playne hym whare he wolde.
	`Now by Crist,' quod Peres the plouhman, `y shal apayre 3ow alle,'
And houped aftur Hunger at herde hym at the furste.
`Y preye the,' quod Perus tho, `pur charite, sire Hunger,
Awreke me of this wastors, for e knyhte wil nat.'  (C 8.170)
	Hunger in haste tho hente Wastour by e mawe
And wronge hym so by the wombe at al watrede his yes.
A boffatede e Bretoner aboute the chekes
at a lokede lyke a lenterne al his lyf aftur,
And beet hym so bothe he barste ner her gottes  (C 8.175)
Ne hadde Peres with a pese-loof preyede hym blyne.
`Haue mercy on hem, Hunger,' quod Peres, `and lat me 3eue hem benes,
And at was bake for bayard hit may be here bote.'
	Tho were faytours afered and flowen into Peres bernes
And flapton on with flales fro morwen til euen,  (C 8.180)
That Hunger was nat hardy on hem for to loke.
For a potte ful of potage at Peres wyf made
An heep of eremytes henten hem spades,
Sputeden and spradden donge in dispit of Hunger.
They coruen here copes and courtepies hem made  (C 8.185)
And wenten as werkemen to wedynge and to mowynge
Al for drede of here deth, such duntes 3af Hunger.
Blynde and broke-legged he botened a thousend
And lame men he lechede with longes of bestes.
Prestes and oer peple towarde Peres they drowe  (C 8.190)
And freres of all e fyue ordres, all for fere of Hunger.
For at was bake for bayard was bote for many hungry,
Drosenes and dregges drynke for many beggares.
There was no ladde at lyuede at ne lowede hym to Peres
To be his holde hewe thow he hadde no more  (C 8.195)
But lyflode for his labour and his lone at nones.
	Tho was Peres proude and potte hem alle a-werke
In daubynge and in deluynge, in donge afeld berynge,
In threschynge, in thekynge, in thwytinge of pynnes,
In alle kyne trewe craft at man couthe deuyse.  (C 8.200)
Was no beggare so bold, but yf a blynde were,
at durste withsitte at Peres sayde for fere of syre Hunger.
And Peres was proud erof and potte hem alle to swynke
And 3af hem mete and money as ei myhte deserue.
	Tho hadde Peres pitee vppon alle pore peple  (C 8.205)
And bade Hunger in haste hye hym out of contraye
Hoem to his owene 3erd and halde hym there euere.
`Y am wel awroke of wastours thorw thy myhte.
Ac y preye the,' quod Peres, `Hunger, ar thow wende,
Of beggares and biddares what beste be to done?    (C 8.210)
For y woet wel, be Hunger went, worche ei wol ful ille.
Meschef hit maketh they ben so meke nouthe
And for defaute this folk folweth myn hestes.
Hit is nat for loue, leue hit, thei labore thus faste
But for fere of famyen, in fayth,' sayde Peres.  (C 8.215)
`Ther is no filial loue with this folk, for al here fayre speche;
And hit are my blody bretherne, for god bouhte vs alle.
Treuthe tauhte me ones to louye hem vchone
And to helpe hem of alle thynges ay as hem nedeth.
Now wolde y wyte ar thow wendest what were e beste,  (C 8.220)
How y myhte amayster hem to louye and to labory
For here lyflode, lere me now, sire Hunger.'
	`Now herkene,' quod Hunger, `and holde hit for a wysdom.
Bolde beggares and bygge at mowe here breed byswynke,
With houndes bred and hors breed hele hem when ei hungren  (C 8.225)
And abaue hem with benes for bollyng of here wombe;
And yf e gromes gruche bide hem go and swynke
And he shal soupe swettere when he hit hath deserued.
Ac yf thow fynde eny folke at fals men han apayred
Conforte hem with thy catel for so comaundeth Treuthe,  (C 8.230)
Loue hem and lene hem, and so lawe of kynde wolde:
	Alter alterius onera portate.
And alle manere men at thow myhte aspye
In mischief or in mal-ese, and thow mowe hem helpe,
Loke by thy lyue lat hem nat forfare.
Yf thow hast wonne auht wikkedliche, wiseliche despene hit.  (C 8.235)
	Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.'
	`Y wolde nat greue god,' quod Peres, `for al e good on erthe!
Myhte y synneles do as thow sayst?' sayde Peres e plouhman.
	`3e, y bihote the,' quod Hunger, `or elles e bible lyeth.
Go to oure bygynnynge tho god the world made,
As wyse men haen wryten and as witnesseth Genesis,  (C 8.240)
at sayth with swynke and with swoet and swetynge face
Bytulye and bytrauayle trewely oure lyflode:
	In sudore and labore vultus tui vesceris pane tuo.
And Salomon e sage with e same acordeth:
The slowe caytif for colde a wolde no corn tylye;
In somer for his sleuthe he shal haue defaute  (C 8.245)
And go a-bribeth and a-beggeth and no man beten his hunger.
	Piger proper frigus noluit arare; mendicabit in yeme et non dabitur
ei.
Mathew maketh mencioun of a man at lente
His suluer to thre maner men and menyng they sholden
Chaffere and cheue erwith in chele and in hete,
And at best labored best was alloued  (C 8.250)
And ledares for here laboryng ouer al e lordes godes.
Ac he at was a wreche and wolde nat trauaile
The lord for his lachesse and his luther sleuthe
Bynom hym al at he hadde and 3af hit to his felawe
at leely hadde ylabored, and thenne the lord sayde:  (C 8.255)
"He at hath shal haue and helpe er hym liketh
And he at nauht hath shal nauht haue and no man 3ut helpen hym
And at he weneth wel to haue y wol hit hym bireue."
And lo, what e sauter sayth to swynkares with handes:
"Yblessed be al tho that here bylyue biswynketh  (C 8.260)
Thorw eny lele labour as thorw lymes and handes."
	Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis.
This aren euidences,' quod Hunger, `for hem at wolle nat swynke
That here lyflode be lene and lyte worth here clothes.'
	`By Crist,' quod Peres e plouhman tho, `this prouerbis y wol shewe
To beggares and to boys at loth ben to worche.  (C 8.265)
Ac 3ut y praye 3ow,' quod Peres, `pur charite, syre Hunger,
Yf 3e can or knowe eny kyne thynges of fisyk,
For somme of my seruauntes and mysulf bothe
Of al a woke worche nat, so oure wombe greueth vs.'
	`Y wot wel,' quod Hunger, `what sekenesse 3ow ayleth.  (C 8.270)
3e han manged ouer-muche--at maketh 3ow to be syke.
Ac ete nat, y hote, ar hunger the take
And sende the of his sauce to sauery with thy lyppes.
And kepe som til soper tyme and site nat to longe
At noon ne at no tyme, and nameliche at e sopere  (C 8.275)
Lat nat sire Sorfeet sittien at thy borde,
And loke ou drynke no day ar thow dyne sumwhat.
And thenk at Diues for his delicat lyf to e deuel wente
And Lazar e lene beggare at longede after croumes--
And 3ut hadde he hem nat, for y, Hunger, culde hym,  (C 8.280)
And sethen y say hym sitte as he a syre were
In al manere ese in Abrahames lappe.
And 3if thow haue pouer, Peres, y e rede,
Alle at grat in thy gate for godes loue aftur fode,
Part with hem of thy payne, of potage or of sowl,  (C 8.285)
Lene hem som of thy loef thouh thow e lasse chewe.
And thouh lyares and lach-draweres and lollares knocke,
Lat hem abyde til the bord be drawe ac bere hem none croumes
Til alle thyne nedy neyhbores haue noen ymaked.
And yf thow dyete the thus y dar legge myn eres  (C 8.290)
That Fysik shal his forred hodes for his fode sulle
And his cloke of Callabre for his comune legge
And be fayn, be my fayth, his fysik to leete
And lerne to labory with lond lest lyflode hem fayle.
Ther ar many luther leches ac lele leches fewe;  (C 8.295)
They don men deye thorw here drynkes ar destyne hit wolde.'
	`By seynte Poul,' quod Peres, `Thow poyntest neyh e treuthe
And leelyche sayst, as y leue, lord hit e for3eld!
Wende nouthe when thow wold and wel thow be euere
For thow hast wel awroke me and also wel ytauhte me.'  (C 8.300)
	`Y behote the,' quod Hunger, `at hennes ne wol y wende
Ar y haue ydyned be is day and ydronke bothe.'
	`Y haue no peny,' quod Peres, `polettes for to begge,
Ne noer goos ne gries but two grene cheses
And a fewe croddes and craym and a cake of otes  (C 8.305)
And bred for my barnes of benes and of peses.
And 3ut y say, be my soule, y haue no salt bacoun
Ne no cokeney, be Crist, collopes to make.
Ac y haue poret-ployntes, parsilie and skalones,
Chibolles and chiruulles and cheries sam-rede,  (C 8.310)
And a cow with a calf and a cart-mare
To drawe afeld my donge e while e drouthe lasteth.
And by this lyflode we mote lyue til Lamasse tyme
And by that y hope to haue heruost in my croftes;
Thenne may y dyhte my dyner as me dere lyketh.'  (C 8.315)
	Alle e pore peple tho pese-coddes fette;
Benes and bake aples they brouhten in here lappe,
And profrede Pers this present to plese with Honger.
Hunger eet al in haste and askede aftur more.
Pore folk for fere tho fedde Honger 3erne  (C 8.320)
With craym and with croddes, with cresses and oere erbes.
By that hit nyhed neyh heruost and newe corn cam to chepyng
And thenne were folke fayn and fedde Hunger dentiesliche,
And thenne Gloton with gode ale garte Hunger slepe.
	And tho wolde Wastor nat worche bote wandren aboute,  (C 8.325)
Ne no beggare eten bred at benes ynne were,
Bote of cler-matyn and coket and of clene whete,
Ne noon halpenny ale in none wyse drynke
Bote of the beste and of e brouneste at brewestares sullen.
Laborers at han no lond to lyue on but here handes  (C 8.330)
Deynede no3t to dyne a-day of nyhte-olde wortes;
May no peny-ale hem pay ne no pece of bacoun
But hit be fresh flesch or fisch, yfried or ybake,
And at chaut or pluchaut for chillyng of his mawe.
And but yf he be heyliche yhuyred elles wol he chydde  (C 8.335)
And at he was werkeman ywrouhte warien e tyme.
A3eynes Catones consayle comseth he to gruche:
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento.
And thenne a corseth e kyng and alle e kynges iustices,
Suche lawes to lerne, laboreres to greue.  (C 8.340)
Ac whiles Hunger was here maister ther wolde non chyde,
Ne stryue a3eynes his statuyt, a lokede so sturne.
	Ac y warne 3ow werkmen, wynneth while 3e mowe,
For Hunger hiderwardes hasteth hym faste.
He shal awake thorw water, wastors to chaste,  (C 8.345)
And ar fewe 3eres be fulfeld famyne shal aryse,
And so sayth Saturne and sente vs to warne.
Thorw flodes and thorw foule wederes fruyttes shollen fayle;
Pruyde and pestilences shal moche peple feche.
Thre shypes and a schaef with an viii folwynge  (C 8.350)
Shal brynge bane and batayle on bothe half e mone.
And thenne shal deth withdrawe and derthe be iustice
And Dawe e deluare dey for defaute
But yf god of his goodnesse graunte vs a trewe.

                          C Pearsall  Passus 9

Passus nonus vt prius
Treuthe herde telle her-of and to Peres sente
To taken his teme and tilion e erthe,
And purchasede hym a pardoun a pena et a culpa,
For hym and his ayres for euere to ben assoiled,
And bad hym holden hym at hoem and eryen his leyes (C 9.5)
And alle at holpe him to erye, to sette or to sowe
Or eny manere mester at myhte Peres auayle,
Pardoun with Peres e plouhman perpetuelly he graunteth.
	Kynges and knyhtes at holy kyrke defenden
And ryhtfulliche in reumes ruylen e comune  (C 9.10)
Haen pardon thorw purgatorye to passe ful lyhtly,
With patriarkes and prophetes in paradis to sitton.
	Bishopis yblessed, yf they ben as they sholde,
Lele and fol of loue and no lord drede,
Merciable to meke and mylde to e gode  (C 9.15)
And bitynge in badde men but yf they wol amende,
Drede nat for no deth to distruye by here power
Lechery amonges lordes and here luyther custumes,
And suche liue as ei lereth men, oure lord Treuthe hem graunteth
To be peres to e apostles, alle peple to reule  (C 9.20)
And deme with hem at domesday bothe quyke and dede.
	Marchauntes in e margine hadde many 3eres,
Ac no pena et a culpa no Treuthe wolde hem graunte
For they holde nat here haliday as holi chirch hem hoteth,
And for they swere by here soule and god mote hem helpe  (C 9.25)
A3en clene consience for couetyse of wynnynge.
Ac vnder his secrete seal Treuthe sente hem a lettre
That bad hem bugge boldly what hem best likede
And sethe sullen hit a3eyn and saue e wynnynges,
Amende meson-dewes erwith and myseyse men fynde  (C 9.30)
And wyckede wayes with here goed amende
And brugges tobrokene by the heye wayes
Amende in som manere wyse and maydones helpe,
Pore peple bedredene and prisones in stokkes
Fynde hem for godes loue, and fauntkynes to scole,  (C 9.35)
Releue religion and renten hem bettere:
`And y shal sende 3ow mysulue seynt Mihel myn angel
That no deuel shal 3ow dere ne despeyre in 3oure deynge
And sethe sende 3oure soules er y mysulue dwelle
And abyde er in my blisse, body and soule for euere.'  (C 9.40)
Tho were marchauntes mury; many wopen for ioye
And preyde for Peres the plouhman at purchased hem is bulles.
	Alle e peple hadde pardon ynow at parfitliche lyuede.
Men of lawe hadde lest at loth were to plede
But they pre manibus were payed for pledynge at e barre.  (C 9.45)
Ac he at speneth his speche and speketh for e pore
That innocent and nedy is and no man harm wolde,
That conforteth suche in eny caes and coueyteth nat here 3iftes
And for e loue of oure lord lawe for hem declareth
Shal haue grace of a good ende and greet ioye aftur.  (C 9.50)
Beth ywar, 3e wis men and witty of e lawe,
For whenne 3e drawe to e deth and indulgences wolde haue
His pardoun is ful petyt at his partynge hennes
That mede of mene men for here motynge taken.
For hit is symonye to sulle at sent is of grace,  (C 9.55)
And at is wit and water and wynde and fuyre the ferthe;
Thise foure sholde be fre to alle folk at hit nede.
	Alle libbyng laborers at lyuen with here handes
Lellyche and lauhfollyche, oure lord Treuthe hem graunteth
Pardoun perpetuel, riht as Peres the plouhman.  (C 9.60)
	Beggares and biddares beth nat in at bulle
Bote the sugestioun be soth at shapeth hym to begge.
For he at begeth or biddeth, but yf he haue nede,
He is fals and faytour and defraudeth the nedy
And also gileth hym at gyueth and taketh agayne his wille.  (C 9.65)
For he at gyueth for goddes loue wolde nat gyue, his thankes,
Bote ther he wiste were wel grete nede
And most merytorie to men at he 3eueth fore.
Catoun acordeth therwith: Cui des, videto.
	Woet no man, as y wene, who is worthy to haue;  (C 9.70)
Ac at most neden aren oure nayhebores, and we nyme gode hede,
As prisones in puttes and pore folk in cotes,
Charged with childrene and chief lordes rente;
at they with spynnyng may spare, spenen hit on hous-huyre,
Bothe in mylke and in mele, to make with papelotes  (C 9.75)
To aglotye with here gurles that greden aftur fode.
And hemsulue also soffre muche hunger,
And wo in wynter-tymes, and wakynge on nyhtes
To rise to e reule to rokke e cradel,
Bothe to carde and to kembe, to cloute and to wasche,  (C 9.80)
And to rybbe and to rele, rusches to pylie,
That reuthe is to rede or in ryme shewe
The wo of this wommen at wonyeth in cotes;
And of monye oer men at moche wo soffren,
Bothe afyngred and afurste, to turne e fayre outward,  (C 9.85)
And ben abasched for to begge and wollen nat be aknowe
What hem nedeth at here neyhebores at noon and at eue.
	This I woet witterly, as e world techeth,
What other byhoueth at hath many childrene
And hath no catel but his craft to clothe hem and to fede,  (C 9.90)
And fele to fonge er-to, and fewe panes taketh.
There is payne and peny-ale as for a pytaunce ytake,
And colde flesche and fische as venisoun were bake.
Fridays and fastyng-days a ferthing-worth of moskeles
Were a feste with suche folk, or so fele cockes.  (C 9.95)
These are almusse, to helpe at han suche charges
And to conforte such coterelles and crokede men and blynde.
	Ac beggares with bagges, e whiche brewhous ben here churches,
But they be blynde or tobroke or elles be syke,
Thouh he falle for defaute at fayteth for his lyflode,  (C 9.100)
Reche 3e neuere, 3e riche, thouh suche lollares sterue.
For alle at haen here hele and here ye-syhte
And lymes to labory with, and lollares lyf vsen,
Lyuen a3en goddes lawe and e lore of holi churche.
	And 3ut are ther oere beggares, in hele, as hit semeth,  (C 9.105)
Ac hem wanteth wyt, men and women bothe,
The whiche aren lunatyk lollares and lepares aboute,
And madden as e mone sit, more other lasse.
Careth they for no colde ne counteth of non hete
And aren meuynge aftur e mone; moneyeles ey walke,  (C 9.110)
With a good will, witteles, mony wyde contreyes,
Riht as Peter dede and Poul, saue at ey preche nat
Ne none muracles maken--ac many tymes hem happeth
To profecye of e peple, pleyinge, as hit were.
And to oure syhte, as hit semeth, seth god hath e myhte  (C 9.115)
To 3eue vch a wyht wyt, welthe, and his hele,
And suffreth suche go so, it semeth, to myn inwyt,
Hit aren as his postles, suche peple, or as his priue disciples.
For a sent hem forth seluerles in a somur garnement
Withoute bagge and bred, as e book telleth:  (C 9.120)
	Quando misi vos sine pane et pera.
Barfoot and bredles, beggeth they of no man.
And thauh a mete with the mayre ameddes e strete,
A reuerenseth hym ryht nauht, no rather then another.
	Neminem salutaueritis per viam.
Suche manere men, Matheu vs techeth,
We sholde haue hem to house and helpe hem when they come.  (C 9.125)
	Et egenos vagosque induc in domum tuam.
For hit aren merye-mouthed men, munstrals of heuene,
And godes boys, bourdyors, as the book telleth.
	Si quis videtur sapiens, fiet stultus vt sit sapiens.
	And alle manere munstrals, me woet wel e sothe,
To vnderfongen hem fayre byfalleth for e ryche,
For e lordes loue or e ladyes at they with longen.  (C 9.130)
Me suffreth al at suche sayen and in solace taketh,
And 3ut more to suche men me doth ar they passe;
Men gyueth hem giftes and gold for grete lordes sake.
	Ryht so, 3e ryche, 3ut rather 3e sholde
Welcomen and worschipen and with 3oure goed helpen  (C 9.135)
Godes munstrals and his mesagers and his mery bordiours,
The whiche arn lunatyk loreles and lepares aboute,
For vnder godes secret seal here synnes ben keuered.
	For they bereth none bagges ne boteles vnder clokes,
The whiche is lollarne lyf and lewede ermytes,  (C 9.140)
at loken louhliche to lache men almesse,
In hope to sitte at euen by e hote coles,
Vnlouke his legges abrood or ligge at his ese,
Reste hym and roste him and his rug turne,
Drynke druie and depe and drawe hym thenne to bedde,  (C 9.145)
And whenne hym lyketh and luste, his leue is to ryse,
And when he is rysen, rometh out and ri3t wel aspyeth
Where he may rathest haue a repaest or a ronde of bacoun,
Suluer or sode mete and sum tyme bothe,
Loef oer half-loef other a lompe of chese;  (C 9.150)
And caryeth hit hoem to his cote and cast hym to lyuene
In idelnesse and in ese and by otheres trauayle.
	And what freke on this folde fiscuth aboute
With a bagge at his bak a begyneld wyse,
And can eny craft in caes he wolde hit vse,  (C 9.155)
Thorw which craft a couthe come to bred and to ale
And ouer-more to an hater to hele with his bonis,
And lyueth lyke a lollare, goddes lawe hym dampneth.
	`Forthy lollares at lyuen in sleuthe and ouer-land strikares
Buth nat in this bulle,' quod Peres, `til they ben amended,  (C 9.160)
Ne no beggare that beggeth, but yf they haue nede.'
	The boek banneth beggarie and blameth hit in this manere:
	Iunior fui, etenim senui.  Et alibi: Infirmata est virtus mea in
 paupertate.
Hit nedeth nat nouthe anoon for to preche
And lere this lewede men what is Latyn meneth,
For hit blameth all beggarie, be 3e ful certayn.  (C 9.165)
For they lyue in no loue, ne no lawe holden,
Ne weddeth none wymmen at they with deleth;
Bringeth forth bastardus, beggares of kynde,
Or e bak of some bon ey breke of here children
And goen and fayten with here fauntes for eueremore aftur.  (C 9.170)
Ther aren mo mysshape amonges suche beggares
Then of many oere men at on this molde walken.
And tho at lyueth thus here lyf, leue 3e non other,
ai haue no part of pardoun, ne of preyeres ne of penaunces.
	Ac olde and hore, at helples ben and nedy,  (C 9.175)
And wymmen with childe at worche ne mowe,
Blynde and bedredne and broken in here membres,
And alle pore pacient, apayed of goddes sonde,
As mesels and mendenantes, men yfalle in meschief,
As prisones and pilgrimes and parauntur men yrobbed  (C 9.180)
Or bylowe thorw luther men and lost here catel after,
Or thorw fuyr or thorw floed yfalle into pouerte,
That taketh thise meschiefes mekeliche and myldeliche at herte,
For loue of here lowe hertes oure lord hath hem ygraunted
Here penaunce and here purgatorye vppon this puyre erthe  (C 9.185)
And pardon with the plouhman a pena et a culpa.
	And alle holy eremytes haue shal e same.
Ac ermytes at inhabiten by the heye weye
And in borwes among brewesteres, and beggen in churches--
Al at holy ermytes hatede and despisede,  (C 9.190)
As rychesses and reuerences and ryche menne almesse,
Thise lollares, lache-draweres, lewede ermytes
Coueyten e contrarye, for as coterelles they libbeth.
For hit ben but boyes, bollares at e ale,
Noyther of lynage ne of lettrure, ne lyf-holy as ermytes  (C 9.195)
That wonede whilom in wodes with beres and lyons.
Summe hadde lyflode of his lynage and of no lyf elles
And summe lyuede by here lettrure and labour of here handes
And somme hadde foreynes to frendes at hem fode sente
And briddes brouhte somme bred at they by lyuede.  (C 9.200)
Althey holy ermytes were of heye kynne,
Forsoken lond and lordschipe and alle lykynges of body.
	Ac thise ermytes at edifien thus by the heye weye
Whilen were werkmen, webbes and taylours
And carteres knaues and clerkes withouten grace,  (C 9.205)
Holden ful hungry hous and hadde much defaute,
Long labour and litte wynnynge, and at the laste they aspyde
That faytede in frere clothinge hadde fatte chekes.
Forthy lefte they here labour, thise lewede knaues,
And clothed hem in copes, clerkes as hit were,  (C 9.210)
Or oen of som ordre or elles a profete,
A3en e lawe of Leuey, yf Latyn be trewe:
	Non licet uobis legem voluntati, set voluntatem coniungere legi.
Kyndeliche, by Crist, ben suche ycald `lollares',
As by e Engelisch of oure eldres, of olde mennes techynge.
He at lolleth is lame or his leg out of ioynte  (C 9.215)
Or ymaymed in som membre, for to meschief hit souneth.
Rihte so sothly such manere ermytes
Lollen a3en e byleue and e lawe of holy churche.
	For holy churche hoteth alle manere peple
Vnder obedience to be and buxum to e lawe;  (C 9.220)
Furste, religious of religioun a reule to holde
And vnder obedience be by dayes and by nyhtes;
Lewede men to labory, lordes to honte
In frithes and in forestes for fox and and other bestes
That in wilde wodes been or in waste places,  (C 9.225)
As wolues at woryeth men, wymmen and childrene;
And vppon Sonendayes to cese, goddes seruice to here,
Bothe matynes and masse, and aftir mete in churches
To heren here euensong euery man ouhte.
Thus hit bylongeth for lordes, for lered and for lewed,  (C 9.230)
Vcche haly day to here holly e seruise,
Vigilies and fastyng-days forthermore to knowe
And fulfille tho fastynges, but infirmite hit made,
Pouerte or oer penaunces as pilgrimages and trauayles.
Vnder this obedience ar we vchone  (C 9.235)
And ho-so breketh this, be wel waer, but yf he repente,
Amenden hym and mercy aske and mekeliche hym shryue,
Y drede me, and he dey, hit worth for o dedly synne
Acounted byfore Crist, but Consience excuse hym.
	Loke now where this lollares and lewede ermites,  (C 9.240)
Yf they breke is obedience at beth so fer fram chirche.
Where se we hem on Sonendayes the seruise to here,
As matynes by e morwe? Til masse bygynne,
Or Sonendayes at euensong, se we wel fewe,
Or labory for here lyflode as e lawe wolde.  (C 9.245)
Ac aboute mydday at mele-tyme y mette with hem ofte,
Come in his cope as he a clerk were;
A bacheler or a bew-pere beste hym bysemede,
And for e cloth at keuereth hym kald he is a frere,
Wascheth and wypeth and with e furste sitteth.  (C 9.250)
Ac while a wrouhte in e world and wan his mete with treuthe
He sat at e syde benche and at e seconde table.
Cam no wyn in his wombe thorw e woke longe
Ne no blanked on his bed ne whyte bred byfore hym.
	The cause of al this caytiftee cometh of many bischopes  (C 9.255)
That soffreth suche sottes and oere synnes regne.
Certes, ho-so durste sygge hit, Simon quasi dormit;
Vigilare were fayrere, for thow haste a greet charge.
For many wakere wolues ar wroken into thy foldes;
Thy berkeres aren as blynde that bringeth forth thy lombren,  (C 9.260)
Dispergentur oues, e dogge dar nat berke.
The tarre is vntydy at to e shep bylongeth;
Here salue is of supersedeas in sumnoures boxes.
Thy shep ben ner al shabbede, the wolf shyt e wolle.
	Sub molli pastore lupus lanam cacat, et grex  (C 9.265)
	In-custoditus dilaceratur eo.
How, herde! where is thyn hound and thyn hardy herte
For to go worye e wolf that the wolle fouleth?
Y leue for thy lacchesse thow lesest many wetheres
And many a fayre flees falsliche is ywasche.  (C 9.270)
When thy lord loketh to haue allouaunce of his bestes
And of e moneye thow haddest therwith his mebles to saue
And e wolle worth weye, wo is the thenne!
Redde racionem villicacionis or in arrerage fall.
Thyn huyre, herde, as y hope, hath nat to quyte thy dette  (C 9.275)
Ther as mede ne mercy may nat a myte availle,
But `haue this for at tho at thow toke
Mercy for mede, and my lawe breke.'
Loke now for thy lacchesse what lawe wol the graunte,
Purgatorye for thy paie ore perpetuel helle,  (C 9.280)
For shal no pardon preye for 3ow there ne no princes lettres.
`Peres,' quod a prest tho, `thy pardon moste y rede,
For y can construe vch a word and kennen hit the an Englische.'
And Peres at his preyre the pardon vnfoldeth
And y byhynde hem bothe byheld alle e bulle  (C 9.285)
In two lynes as hit lay and nat a lettre more,
And was ywryte ryhte thus in witnesse of Treuthe:
	Qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam;
	Qui vero mala in ignem eternum.
`Peter!' quod the prest tho, `y kan no pardoun fynde,  (C 9.290)
Bote "Dowel and haue wel and god shal haue thy soule
And do yuele and haue euele and hope thow non oere
Bote he at euele lyueth euele shal ende."'
	The prest thus and Perkyn of e pardon iangelede
And y thorw here wordes awoke and waytede aboute  (C 9.295)
And seyh the sonne in the southe sitte at tyme.
Meteles and moneyles on Maluerne hulles
Musyng on this meteles a myle way y 3ede.
Mony tyme this meteles hath maked me to studie
Of that y seyh slepynge, if hit so be myhte,  (C 9.300)
And of Peres the plouhman fol pencyf in herte
And which a pardoun Peres hadde the peple to glade
And how e prest impugnede hit thorw two propre wordes.
	Ac men setteth nat by sowngewarie for me seth hit often fayle;
Caton counteth hit at nauht and canonistres at lasse.  (C 9.305)
Ac for e boek-bible bereth witnesse
How Danyel deuynede and vndede e dremes of kynges,
Of Nabugodonasor at no pere hadde,
And sethen aftur his sones, and sayde hem what they thouhte.--
And Ioseph mette merueilously how e mone and e sonne  (C 9.310)
And the eleuene sterres haylsede hym alle,
And thenne Iacob iuged Iosepes sweuene:
`Beau fitz,' quod the fadur, `for defaute we shal,
Y mysulue and my sones, seche the for nede.'
Hit biful as his fadur saide in Farao his tyme  (C 9.315)
That Ioseph was iustice, Egipte to saue;
His eleuene bretherne hym for nede souhte
And his fadur Israel and also his dame.--
	Al this maketh me on meteles to studie
And how e prest preuede no pardon to Dowel  (C 9.320)
And demede at Dowel indulgences passeth,
Bionales and trionales and bisshopes lettres.
For ho-so doth wel here at e day of dome
Worth fayre vnderfonge byfore god at tyme.
So Dowel passeth pardoun and pilgrimages to Rome.  (C 9.325)
3ut hath e pope power pardoun to graunte
To peple withouten penaunce to passe into ioye,
As lettrede men vs lereth and lawe of holi churche:
	Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum et in celis.
And so y leue lely, lord forbede elles,
That pardoun and penaunces and preyere don saue  (C 9.330)
Soules at haue syneged seuene sythes dedly.
Ac to truste vp this trionales, treuly me thynketh
Hit is nat so syker for e soule, certes, as ys Dowel.
	Forthy y rede 3ow renkes at riche ben on this erthe,
Vp truste of 3oure tresor trionales to haue,  (C 9.335)
Be 3e neuere e baldere to breke e ten hestes;
And nameliche 3e maistres, mayres and iuges,
That haen the welthe of this world and wise men ben holde
To purchase 3ow pardoun and the popes bulles.
At e dredful dome when dede shullen ryse  (C 9.340)
And comen alle bifore Crist acountes to 3elde,
How we ladde oure lyf here and his lawes kepte
And how we dede day be day the doem wol reherce.
A pouhe-ful of pardon there, ne prouinciales lettres,
Thow we be founden in the fraternite of alle fyue ordres  (C 9.345)
And haue indulgences doublefold, but Dowel vs helpe
Y sette nat by pardon a pese ne nat a pye-hele!
	Forthy y consayle alle cristene to crye god mercy,
And Marie his moder be oure mene to hym
That god gyue vs grace here ar we go hennes  (C 9.350)
Suche werkes to worche the while we ben here
That aftur oure deth-day Dowel reherce
At e day of dome we dede as he tauhte.  Amen.
Explicit visio Willelmi .W. de Petro le plouhman
Et hic incipit visio eiusdem de Dowel.

                          C Pearsall  Passus 10

Thus yrobed in russet y romede aboute
Alle a somur seson for to seke Dowel,
And fraynede ful ofte of folke at y mette
Yf eny wiht wiste where Dowel was at ynne,
And what man a myhte be of mony men y askede.  (C 10.5)
	Was neuere wihte in is worlde at me wisse couthe
Where this leode longed, lasse ne more,
Til hit biful on a Fryday two freres y mette,
Maystres of e Menores, men of gret witte.
Y haylsede hem hendly, as y hadde ylered,  (C 10.10)
And preyde hem, pur charite, ar they passede forthere
Yf they knewe eny contre oer costes aboute
Wher at Dowel dwelleth, `Dere frendes, telleth me,
For 3e ar men of this molde at moste wyde walken
And knowen contrees and courtes and many kynne plases,  (C 10.15)
Bothe princes paleis and pore menne cotes,
And Dowel and Do-euele, where ei dwellen both.'
	`Sothly,' saide e frere, `a soiourneth with vs freres
And euere hath, as y hope, and euere wol hereaftur.'
	`Contra,' quod y as a clerk, and comsed to despute,  (C 10.20)
And saide sothly, `Septies in die cadit iustus,
Fallyng fro ioye, Iesu woet e sothe!
"Seuene sithe," sayth e boek, "synegeth day by day
The rihtfulluste reng at regneth in erthe."
And ho-so synegeth,' y sayde, `certes, he doth nat wel;  (C 10.25)
For ho-so synegeth, sicurly doth euele,
And Dowel and Do-euele may nat dwelle togyderes.
Ergo, he is nat alwey at hom amonges 3ow freres;
He is other-while elleswher to wisse the peple.'
	`Y shal sey e, my sone,' sayde e frere thenne,  (C 10.30)
`How seuene sithes e sad man synegeth on e day.
By a forbisne,' quod e frere, `y shal the fayre shewe.
	Lat bryng a man in a boet amydde a brood water;
The wynde and e water and wagyng of the bote
Maketh e man many tyme to stomble, yf he stande.  (C 10.35)
For stonde he neuere so stifliche, thorw steryng of e bote
He bendeth and boweth, the body is so vnstable,
And 3ut is he saef and sound; and so hit fareth by e rihtfole.
Thow he falle, he falleth nat but as ho-so ful in a boet
That ay is saef and sound, at sitte withynne e borde.  (C 10.40)
So hit fareth,' quod e frere, `by e ryhtful mannes fallynge;
Thow he thorw fondynges falle, he falleth nat out of charite,
So dedly synne doth he nat, for Dowel hym helpeth.
The water is likned to e world, at wanyeth and waxeth;
The godes of this grounde ar like e grete wawes,  (C 10.45)
That as wyndes and wederes waleweth aboute;
The boet is liknet to oure body, at bretil is of kynde,
That thorw the fend and oure flesch and this freel worlde
Synegeth seue sithe e saddest man on erthe
And e lyf-holiest of lyf at lyueth vnder sonne.  (C 10.50)
	Ac fre wil and fre wit foleweth man euere
To repenten and to arise and rowe out of synne
To contricion, to confessioun, til he come til his ende.
For rather haue we no reste til we restitue
Oure lyf to oure lord god for oure lycames gultes.'  (C 10.55)
	`Y haue no kynde knowlechyng to conseyue al this speche,
Ac yf y may lyue and loke y shal go lerne bettere.'
	`Y bykenne the Crist,' quod he, `at on e cross deyede.'
And y sayde, `e same saue 3ow fro meschaunce,
And gyue me grace on is grounde with good ende to deye.'  (C 10.60)
	I wente forth wyde-whare, walkynge myn one,
By a wilde wildernesse and by a wode-syde.
Blisse of e briddes abyde me made,
And vnder lynde vpon a launde lened y a stounde
To lythen here layes and here louely notes.  (C 10.65)
Murthe of here mouthes made me ther to slepe,
And merueilousliche me mette amyddes al at blisse.
	A muche man, as me thoghte ylike to mysulue,
Cam and calde me by my kynde name.
`What art thow?' quod y, `at thow my name knowest?'  (C 10.70)
`That wost ou, Wille,' quod he, `and no wyht bettere.'
`Woet y,' quod y, `who art thow?' `Thouhte,' sayde he thenne;
`Y haue sued the this seuen 3er, saw thow me no rather?'
	`Art thow Thouht?' quod y tho; `thow couthest me wisse
Where at Dowel dwelleth, and do me to knowe.'  (C 10.75)
	`Dowel and Dobet,' quod he, `and Dobest the thridde
Aren thre fayre vertues and ben nat fer to fynde.
Ho is trewe of his tonge and of his two handes
And thorw lele labour lyueth and loueth his emcristene
And therto trewe of his tayl and take but his owene  (C 10.80)
And is nat dronklewe ne dedeynous, Dowel him foleweth.
	Dobet doth al this, ac 3ut he doth more;
He is logh as a lomb and loueliche of speche,
And helpeth alle men of at he may spare.
The bagges and e bigerdeles he hath tobroken hem alle,  (C 10.85)
at e erl Auerous held, and his ayres,
And of Mammonaes money maked hym many frendes,
And is ronne into religioun and hath rendred e bible
And precheth to e peple seynt Paules wordes:
	Libenter suffertis insipientes.
	"3e wordliche wyse, vnwyse at 3e soffre,  (C 10.90)
Lene hem and loue hem," this Latyn is to mene.
	Dobest bere sholde e bisshopes crose
And halie with e hoked ende alle men to gode,
And with the pyk pulte adoun preuaricatores legis.
Lordes at lyuen as hem lust and no lawe acounten,  (C 10.95)
For here mok and here mebles suche men thenketh
Sholde no bisshop be, here biddynges to withsite.
Ac Dobest sholde drede hem nat, but do as god hihte.
	Nolite timere eos qui possunt occidere corpus.
	Thus Dowel and Dobet demede as Dobest
And crounede oen to be kyng, to kull withoute synne  (C 10.100)
That wolde nat do as Dobest deuinede and tauhte.
Thus Dowel and Dobet and Dobest the thridde
Crounede oen to be a kyng to kepen vs alle,
And to reule alle reumes by here thre wittes,
Bute oere wise ne elles nat, but as they thre assentede.'  (C 10.105)
	Y thonkede Thoght tho, at he me so tauhte:
`Ac 3ut sauereth nat me thy sawes, so me Crist spede;
A more kyndore knowynge coueyte y to here
Of Dowel and Dobet and ho doth best of alle.'
	`Bote yf Wit wol the wisse,' quod Thouhte, `where tho thre dwelleth, 
(C 10.110)
Elles know y noen at can, in none kyneryche.'
	Thouht and y thus thre dayes we 3eden,
Disputyng vppon Dowel day aftur other,
And ar we ywar were, with Wit gan we mete.
He was long and lene, ylyk to noon other;  (C 10.115)
Was no pruyde on his parail, no pouerte noythere;
Sad of his semblant, and with a softe speche.
Y durste meue no matere to maken hym to iangle,
Bote as y bad Thouht tho to be mene betwene
And potte forth som purpos to preuen his wittes,  (C 10.120)
What was Dowel fro Dobet and Dobest fro hem bothe.
	Thenne Thouht in at tyme sayde this wordes:
`Whare Dowel and Dobet and Dobest ben in londe,
Here is oen wolde ywyte, yf Wit couthe teche;
And what lyues they lyue and what lawe ei vsen,  (C 10.125)
And what ey drede and doute, dere sire, telleth.'
	`Sire Dowel dwelleth,' quod Wit, `nat a day hennes
In a castel at Kynde made of foure kyne thynges.
Of erthe and ayer is hit maed, ymedled togyderes,
With wynd and with water wittyly enioyned.  (C 10.130)
Kynde hath closed ther-ynne, craftily withalle,
A lemman at he louyeth ylyke to hymsulue.
Anima she hatte; to here hath enuye
A proued prikeare of Fraunce, princeps huius mundi,
And wole wynne here awaye with wyles, and he myhte.  (C 10.135)
And Kynde knoweth this wel and kepeth here e betere
And hath do here with sire Dowel, duk of his marches.
Dobet is here damysele, sire Doweles douhtur,
To serue at lady leely boe late and rathe.
Dobest is aboue bothe, a bishopis pere,  (C 10.140)
And by his leryng is lad at ilke lady Anima.
Ac e constable of at castel at kepeth hem alle
Is a wise knyhte withalle, sire Inwit he hatte,
And hath fyue fayre sones by his furste wyue:
Sire Se-wel and Sey-wel, sire Here-wel e ende,  (C 10.145)
Sire Worch-wel-with-thyn-hand, a wyht man of strenghe,
And sire Goed-fayth Go-wel, grete lordes alle.
Thise sixe ben sette for to saue Anima
Til Kynde come or sende and kepe here hymsulue.'
	`What kynne thyng is Kynde?' quod y; `canst thow me telle?'  (C
10.150)
	`Kynde is creatour,' quod Wit, `of alle kyne thynges,
Fader and formour of al at forth groweth,
The which is god grettest, bygynnynge hadde he neuere,
Lord of lyf and of lyht, of lisse and of payne.
Angeles and alle thyng aren at his wille;  (C 10.155)
Man is hym most lyk of membres and of face
And semblable in soule to god but if synne hit make.
And as thow seest the sonne sumtyme for cloudes
May nat shyne ne shewe on schawes on erthe,
So let lecherye and other luther synnes  (C 10.160)
That god sheweth nat suche synnefole men and soffreth hem mysfare,
And somme hangeth hemsulue and oer-while adrencheth.
God wol nat of hem wyte bute lat hem yworthe,
As e sauter sayth by synnefole shrewes:
	Et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum.
Such lyther-lyuyng men lome been ryche  (C 10.165)
Of gold and of oer goed, ac goddes grace hem fayleth,
For they louyeth and bylyueth al here lyf-tyme
On catel more then on Kynde, that alle kyne thynges wrouhte,
The which is loue and lyf at last withouten ende.
	Inwit and alle wittes closed been erynne;  (C 10.170)
By loue and by leute, erby lyueth Anima,
And lyf lyueth by inwit and leryng of Kynde;
Inwit is in the heued and Anima in herte.
And moche wo worth hym at inwit myspeneth,
For at is goddes oune goed, his grace and his tresour,  (C 10.175)
That many a lede leseth thorw lykerous drynke,
As Lote dede and Noe; and Herodes e daffe
3af his douhter for a daunsynge in a disch e heued
Of at blessed Baptist bifore alle his gestes.
Euery man at hath inwit and his hele bothe  (C 10.180)
Hath tresor ynow of Treuthe to fynden hymsulue.
	Ac fauntokynes and foles e which at fauten inwit,
Frendes shal fynde hem and fram folye kepe
And holy churche helpe to, so sholde no man begge
Ne spille speche ne tyme, ne myspende noyther  (C 10.185)
Meble ne vnmeble, mete noer drynke.
	And thenne dede we alle wel, and wel bet 3ut to louye
Oure enemyes enterely and helpe hem at here nede.
And 3ut were best to ben aboute and brynge hit to hepe
That alle landes loueden and in on lawe bileuede.  (C 10.190)
Bishopes sholde ben hereaboute and bryng this to hepe,
For to lese erfore her lond and her lyf aftur.
The catel that Crist hadde thre clothes hit were;
Therof was he robbed and ruyfled or he on rode deyede
And seth he lees his lyf for lawe sholde loue wexe.  (C 10.195)
Prelates and prestes and princes of holy churche
Sholde nat doute no deth ne no dere 3eres
To wende as wyde as e worlde were
To tulie e erthe with tonge and teche men to louye;
For ho-so loueth, leueth hit wel, god wol nat laton hym sterue  (C
10.200)
In meschief for defaute of mete ne for myssyng of clothes.
	Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono.
	Ho-so lyueth in lawe and in loue doth wel,
As this wedded men at this world susteyneth,
For of here kynde ey come, bothe confessours and martres,
Prophetus and patriarkes, popes and maydenes.  (C 10.205)
For god saith hymsulue, "Shal neuere goed appel
Thorw no sotil sciense on sour stok growe";
And is no more to mene but men at ben bygeten
Out of matrimonye, nat moyloure, mowen nat haue e grace
That lele legityme by e lawe may claymen.  (C 10.210)
And at my sawe is soth e sauter bereth witnesse:
	Concepit in dolore et peperit iniquitatem.
Caym e corsede creature conseyued was in synne
Aftur at Adam and Eue hadden ysyneged;
Withouten repentaunce of here rechelesnesse a rybaud ei engendrede.
As an hewe at erieth nat auntreth hym to sowe  (C 10.215)
On a leye-land a3eynes his lordes wille,
So was Caym conseyued and so ben corsed wreches
at lycame haen a3en e lawe at oure lord ordeynede.
	Alle at come of Caym caytyue were euere
And for e synne of Caymes seed sayede god to Noe,  (C 10.220)
	Penitet me fecisse hominem,
And bad go shapen a ship of shides and bordes.
"Thysulue and thy sones thre and sethen 3oure wyues,
Boske 3ow to at boet and abideth erynne
Til fourty daies be fulfild and floed haue ywasche
Clene awey e corsed bloed at of Caym spronge.  (C 10.225)
Bestes at now beth shal banne e tyme
That euere at corsed Caym cam on is erthe;
Alle sholle deye for his dedes by dales and by hulles
And e foules at flyeth forth with oer bestes,
Excepte onliche of vch a kynde a payre  (C 10.230)
That on thi chingled ship shal be with e ysaued."
	Here aboughte e barn the belsires gultes
And al for here forfadres ferden e worse.
The gospel is here-agayn, as gomes may rede:
	Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris.
Holy writ witnesseth at for no wikkede dede  (C 10.235)
That e sire by hymsulue doth e sone sholde be e worse.
Ac Westminstre lawe, y woet wel, worcheth e contrarye
For thogh e fader be a frankeleyn and for a felon be hanged
The eritage at e eyer sholde haue is at e kynges wille.
Ac e gospel is a glose ther and huydeth e grayth treuthe,  (C 10.240)
For god seid ensaumple of suche manere issue,
That kynde folweth kynde and contrarieth neuere.
	Numquam colligunt de spinis vuas.  Et alibi: Bona arbor bonum fructum
facit.
	Ac why e world was adreynt holy writ telleth
Was for mariages makynge at men made at tyme.
Aftur at Caym at corsed hadde ykuld Abel,  (C 10.245)
Seth, Adames sone, seth was engendred
And god sente to Seth so sone he was of age
That for no kyne catel ne no kyne byheste
Soffre his seed seden with Caymes seed his brother.
And seth for he soffred hit god sayde, "Me forthynketh  (C 10.250)
at y man made or matrimonye soffrede,
For goode sholde wedde goode thouh they no goode ne hadde,
For y am via et veritas and may avauncen alle."
	Ac fewe folk now folweth this, for thei 3eue her childrene
For coueytise of catel and connynge chapmen.  (C 10.255)
Of kyn ne of kynrede counteth man bote litel
And thogh she be louelich to loken on and lossum abedde,
A mayde and wel ymanered and of gode men yspronge,
Bote she haue oer goed haue wol here no ryche.
Ac lat here be vnlouely and vnlossom abedde,  (C 10.260)
A bastard, a bond oen, a begeneldes douhter,
That no cortesye ne can, bute late here be knowe
For riche or yrented wil, thouh she be reueled for elde
Ther ne is squier ne knyhte in contreye aboute
That he ne wol bowe to at bonde to beden here an hosebonde  (C 10.265)
And wedden here for here welthe and weschen on e morwe
That his wyf were wexe or a walet ful of nobles.
In ielosye, ioyles, and iangelynge abedde,
Many a payre sethe this pestelences han plyhte treuthe to louye,
Ac they lyen lely, here neyther lyketh other.  (C 10.270)
The fruyt at they brynge forth aren many foule wordes;
Haen ei no childerne bute cheste and choppes hem bitwene.
Thogh they do hem to Donemowe, bote e deuel hem helpe,
To folwe for e flicche, feccheth they hit neuere;
Bote they bothe be forswore at bacon ei tyne.  (C 10.275)
	Forthy y conseyle alle cristene coueyte neuere be wedded
For no coueytise of catel in none kyne wyse;
Bote maydones and maydones marie 3ow togyderes
And wedewes and wedewares weddeth 3ow ayer oer,
And loke at loue be more e cause then lond oer nobles.  (C 10.280)
And euery maner seculer man at may nat contynue
Wisely go wedde and war e fro at synne
That lecherye is, a lykyng thynge, a lym-3erd of helle.
And whil ou art 3ong an 3ep and thy wepene kene
Awreke the erwith on wyfyng, for godes werk y holde hit.  (C 10.285)
Dum sis fortis, ne des tua robora scortis;
Scribitur in portis, meretrix est ianua mortis.
	And 3e at han wyues, ben war and worcheth nat out of tyme,
As Adam dede and Eue, as y whil er 3ow tolde.
For sholde no bed-bourde be, bote yf they bothe were  (C 10.290)
Clene of lyf and in loue of soule and in lele wedlok.
For at dede derne do no man sholde
Bote wyues and wedded men, as holy writ techeth:
	Bonum est vt unusquisque uxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem.
That oergatus ben gete for gadelynges ben holden
And fals folk and fondlynges, faytors and lyares,  (C 10.295)
Vngracious to gete goed or gete loue of peple,
Awayten and wasten alle at they cacche mowe;
A3en Dowel they do yuele and e deuel serue
And after her deth-day dwellen shollen in helle
Bote god 3eue hem grace here goynge here to amende.  (C 10.300)
	And thus is Dowel, my frende, to do as lawe techeth,
To louye and to loue the and no lyf to greue.
Ac to louye and to lene, leef me, at is Dobet.
Ac to 3eue and to 3eme bothe 3onge and olde,
Helen and helpen, is Dobest of alle.  (C 10.305)
For e more a man may do, by so at a do hit,
The more he is worthy and worth, of wyse and of goed ypresed.'

                         C Pearsall   Passus 11

Passus primus de visione de dowel
Thenne hadde Wit a wyf was hote dame Studie,
That ful lene lokede and lyf-holy semede.
She was wonderly wroth at Wit me so tauhte.
Al staryng dame Studie sturneliche sayde:
`Wel artow wyse,' quod she to Wyt, `suche wysdomes to shewe  (C 11.5)
To eny foel or to flaterere or to frentike peple!'
And sayde: `Nolite mittere, 3e men, margerie-perles
Among hogges at han hawes at wille;
They do bote dreuele eron--draf were hem leuere
Then al e preciouse perye at eny prince weldeth.  (C 11.10)
Y syg hit by suche,' quod she, `at sheweth by here werkes
Thei louyen lond and lordschipe and lykynge of body
More then holynesse or hendenesse or al at seyntes techeth.
	Wysdom and wit now is nat worth a carse
Bote hit be cardet with coueytise, as clotheres kemben here wolle.  (C
11.15)
Ho can caste and contreue to disseyue e rightfole
And lette with a loue-day treuthe, and bigile,
That coueite can and caste thus ar cleped into e consayle.
Qui sapiunt nugas et crimina lege vocantur;
Qui recte sapiunt, lex iubet ire foras.  (C 11.20)
He is reuerensed and yrobed at can robbe e peple
Thorw fallas and fals questes and thorw fikel speche.
	Iob e gentele in his gestes witnesseth
What shal worthen of suche when ei lyf leten:
	Ducunt in bonis dies suos, et in fine descendunt ad infernum.
The sauter saith e same of alle suche ryche:  (C 11.25)
	Ibunt in progenies patrum suorum, et usque in eternum non videbunt
lumen.
	Et alibi: Ecce ipsi peccatores!
"Lo!" saith holy letrure, "whiche lordes beth this schrewes!"
Tho at god most goed 3eueth, greueth most riht and treuthe.
	Que perfecisti, destruxerunt.
Harlotes for here harlotrye aren holpe ar nedy pore;
And at is no riht ne resoun, for rather me sholde
Helpe hym at hath nauhte then tho that haen no nede.  (C 11.30)
	Ac he at hath holy writ ay in his mouth
And can telle of Treuthe and of e twelue aposteles
Or of e passioun of Crist or of purgatorie e peynes,
Litel is he loued or leet her-fore among lordes at festes.
	Nowe is e manere at e mete, when munstrals ben stille,  (C 11.35)
The lewed a3en e lered e holy lore to dispute,
And tellen of e trinite how two slowe e thridde
And brynge forth ballede resones, taken Bernard to witnesse,
And putten forth presumpcioun to preue e sothe.
Thus they dreuele at the deyes, the deite to knowe,  (C 11.40)
And gnawen god with gorge when here gottes fullen.
	Ac e carfole may crye and quake at e 3ate,
Bothe afyngred and afurst, and for defaute spille;
Is non so hende to haue hym yn, but hote hym go er god is!
Thenne semeth hit to my sihte, to suche at so biddeth,  (C 11.45)
God is nat in at hoem, ne his helpe nother.
Lytel loueth he at lord at lente hym al at blisse
That so parteth with e pore a parsel, when hym nedeth.
Ne were mercy in mene men more then in riht riche,
Mony tymes mendenauntes myhte goen afyngred;  (C 11.50)
And so saith e sauter, y say hit in Memento:
	Ecce audivimus eam (C 11.i.e. caritatem) in Effrata.
	Clerkes and knyhtes carpen of god ofte
And haen muche in here mouth, ac mene in her herte.
Freres and faytours haen founde vp suche questions
To plese with proude men senes this pestelences,  (C 11.55)
And prechyng at seynt Poules for puyr enuye of clerkes,
That folk is nat ferme in e faith ne fre of here godes
Ne sory for here synnes; so ys pruyde enhanced
In religion and in al e reume amonges riche and pore
That preyeres haen no power this pestilences to lette.  (C 11.60)
For god is deef nowadayes and deyneth vs nat to here
And gode men for oure gultes he al togrynt to deth.
And 3ut this wreches of this world, is noen ywar by oer,
Ne for drede of eny deth withdraweth hym fro pruyde
Ne parteth with e pore, as puyr charite wolde,  (C 11.65)
Bote in gaynesse and in glotonye forglotten here godes
And breketh nat here bred to e pore, as e boke hoteth:
	Frange esurienti panem tuum.
Ac e more a wynneth and hath e world at his wille
And lordeth in ledes, the lasse goed he deleth.
	Tobie techeth nat so; taketh hede, 3e ryche,  (C 11.70)
How he tolde in a tyme and tauhte his sone dele:
	Si tibi sit copia, habundanter tribue; si autem exiguum, illud
impertiri libenter stude.
And is to mene no more bote "Who muche goed weldeth,
Be large erof whil hit lasteth to ledes at ben nedy;
And yf thow haue litel, leue sone, loke by y lyue
Get e loue erwith, thogh thow worse fare."  (C 11.75)
Ac lust no lord now ne lettred man of suche lore to here,
Bote lythen how ey myhte lerne leest god spene.
And at loueth lordes now and leten hit a Dowel,
For is no wit worth now but if hit of wynnynge soune,
And capped wi clergie to conspire wronge.  (C 11.80)
Forthy, Wit,' quod she, `be waer holy writ to shewe
Amonges hem at haen hawes at wille,
The which is a lykyng and a luste and loue of e world.'
	And when Wit was ywar what Studie menede,
I myhte gete no grayn of Wittes grete wittes,  (C 11.85)
But al lauhynge he louted and loked vppon Studie,
Semyng at y sholde bysechen here of grace.
	And when y was war of his wille, to at womman gan y louten,
And saide, `Mercy, madame, 3oure man shal y worthen
As longe as y lyue, bothe late and rathe,  (C 11.90)
And for to worche 3oure wille e while my lyf duyreth,
With at 3e kenne me kyndeliche to knowe what is Dowel.'
	`For thy mekenesse, man,' quod she, `and for thy mylde speche
Y shal kenne e to Clergie, my cosyn, at knoweth
Alle kynne kunnynges and comsynges of Dowel,  (C 11.95)
Of Dobet, of Dobest, for doctour he is knowe,
And ouer Skripture e skilfole and screueynes were trewe.
For she is sib to e seuene ars and also my suster
And Clergices wedded wyf, as wyse as hymsulue
Of lore and of lettrure, of lawe and of resoun.  (C 11.100)
So with at Clergie can and consail of Scripture
Thow shalt kunne and knowe kyndeliche Dowel.'
	Thenne was y as fayn as foul of faire morwen,
Gladdere then gleman at gold hath to 3efte,
And askede of here e hey way whare at Clergie dwelte:  (C 11.105)
`And telle me som tokene,' quod y, `for tyme is at y wende.'
	`Aske e hey wey hennes to Soffre-
Bothe-wele-and-wo-yf-ou-wilt-lerne,
And ryde forth by Rychesse, reste nat erynne,
For yf thow coueytest to be ryche to Clergie comest thow neuere.  (C
11.110)
Bothe wymmen and wyn, wrothe, ire and slewthe,
Yf thow hit vse oer haunte, haue god my treuthe,
To Clergie shaltow neuere come ne knowe what is Dowel.
Ac if ow happe,' quod she, `at ou hitte on Clergie
And hast vnderstandyng what a wolde mene,  (C 11.115)
Sey hym thysulue ouerseye my bokes
And sey y grette wel his wyf, for y wrot here a bible
And sette here to Sapience and to e sauter yglosed.
	Logyk y lerned here and al e lawe aftur
And alle e musons in musyk y made here for to knowe.  (C 11.120)
Plato e poete y putte hym furste to boke;
Aristotel and oere to arguen y tauhte.
Gramer for gurles y gart furste write
And beet hem with a baleyse bute yf ei wolde lerne.
Of alle kyne craftes y contreuede here toles,  (C 11.125)
Of carpentrie, of keruers, and contreuede e compas,
And caste mette by squire, bothe lyne and leuele.
Thus thorw my lore ben men ylered thogh y loke demme.
	Ac Teologie hath tened me ten score tymes;
e more y muse eron the mystiloker hit semeth  (C 11.130)
And e deppore y deuine the derkore me thynketh hit.
Hit is no science sothly bote a sothfaste bileue,
Ac for hit lereth men to louie y beleue eron e bettere,
For loue is a lykyng thyng and loth for to greue.
Lerne for to louie yf e lik Dowel,  (C 11.135)
For of Dobet and Dobest here doctour is dere loue.'
	Tho wente y my way withouten more lettynge
And to Clergie y cam as clerkes me saide.
Y grette hym goodly and graythly y hym tolde
How at Wit and his wyf wissede me to hym  (C 11.140)
To kenne and to knowe kyndeliche Dowel.
	`By Crist,' quod Clergie, `yf thow coueyte Dowel
Kepe e ten comaundementis and kepe e fro synne
And byleef lely how goddes sone alyhte
On e maide Marie for mankynde sake  (C 11.145)
And bycam a man of at maide withoute mankynde.
And al at holi churche herof can e lere
Leue hit lelly and loke ou do eraftur.
	Austyn e olde herof made bokes:
Ho was his autor and hym of god tauhte?  (C 11.150)
Patriarkes and prophetes, apostles and angelis--
And e trewe trinite to Austyn apperede
And he vs saide as he sey, and so y bileue,
That he seyh e fader and e sone and e seynt spirit togederes
And alle thre bot o god, and herof he made bokes,  (C 11.155)
3e, busiliche bokes! ho beth his witnesses?
	Ego in patre et pater in me est; et qui me vidit, patrem meum vidit
qui in celis est.
Alle e clerkes vnder Crist ne couthe this assoile,
Bote thus hit bilongeth to bileue alle at liketh to Dowel.
For hadde neuere frek fyn wit the faith to dispute,
Ne man mouhte haue meryhte erof, mouhte hit be ypreued:  (C 11.160)
	Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum.
Thus bileue and leute and loue is the thridde
That maketh men to Dowel and Dobet and Dobest.'
	Thenne Scripture scorned me and mony skiles shewed
And continuance made on Clergie to congeie me, hit semede,
And lakkede me in Latyn and lyhte by me sette  (C 11.165)
And saide `Multi multa sciunt et seipsos nesciunt.'
	Tho wepte y for wo and wrathe of here wordes
And in a wynkynge y warth and wonderliche me mette,
For y was rauysched rihte there, for Fortune me fette
And in to e lond of longyng alone she me brouhte  (C 11.170)
And in a myrrour at hihte Myddelerd she made me to loke
And senes she saide to me, `Here myhte thow se wondres
And knowe at ou coueytest and come erto parauntur.'
	Thenne hadde Fortune folwyng here two fayre maydenes:
Concupiscencia carnis men calde e eldre maide  (C 11.175)
And Coueytise-of-yes ycalde was at oer.
And Pruyde-of-parfit-lyuynge pursuede me faste
And bade me for my continence counte clerkes techyng lihte.
Concupiscencia carnis confortede me of this manere
And saide, `ou art 3ong and 3ep and hast 3eres ynowe  (C 11.180)
For to lyue longe and ladyes to louye,
And in is myrrour thow myhte se murthes fol monye
That lede e wol to lykynge al thy lyf-tyme.'
The seconde saide e same: `Y shal sewe thy wille;
Til thow be a lord and haue lond, leten y the nelle  (C 11.185)
That y ne shal folowe thy felowschipe yf Fortune lyke.'
`A shal fynde me his frende,' quod Fortune eraftur;
`The man at me liketh to helpe myhte nat myshappe.'
	Thenne was ere oen at hihte Elde, at heuy was of chere.
`Man,' quod Elde, `yf y mette with the, by Marie of heuene,  (C 11.190)
Thow shalt fynde Fortune e fayle at thy moste nede
And Concupiscencia carnis clene the forsake;
Bitterliche shaltow banne thenne bothe dayes and nyhtes
Couetyse-of-yes at euere thow here knewe;
And Pruyde-of-parfit-lyuynge to moche perel the brynge.'  (C 11.195)
	`3e? reche e neuere,' quod Rechelesnesse, stod forth in ragged
clothes;
`Folowe forth at Fortune wole, ou hast ful fer to elde;
A man may stoupe tyme ynowe when he shal tyne e croune!'
Sir Wanhope was sib to hym as som men me tolde,
For Rechelesnesse in his rybaudie riht thus he saide:  (C 11.200)
`Go y to helle or to heuene y shal nat go myn one!
Were hit al soth at 3e seyn, thow Scripture and thow Clergie,
Y leue neuere at lord ne lady at lyueth her in erthe
Sholde sitte in goddis sihte ne se god in his blisse.
	Ita possible est diuiti intrare in regnum celorum sicut camelus, etc.
For Clergie saith at he seyh in e seynt euaungelie  (C 11.205)
That y man ymaed was and my nam y-entred
In e legende of lyf longe ar y were.
Predestinaet thei prechen, prechours at this sheweth,
Or prescient inparfit, pult out of grace,
Vnwriten for som wikkednesse, as holy writ sheweth.  (C 11.210)
	Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit.
And y leue hit wel, by oure lord, and on no lettrure bettere.
	For Salomon e sage at Sapience made,
God gaf him grace of wit and of goed aftur,
Neuere to man so moche at man can of telle,
To reule alle reumes and ryche to make,  (C 11.215)
And demede wel and wysly, wymmen bereth wittenesse:
	Nec michi nec tibi, set diuidatur.
Aristotel and he, ho tauhte men bettere?
Maistres at men techen of goddis mercy and prechen
Wittenesseth at here wordes and here werkes bothe
Were wonder goed and wisest in here tymes,  (C 11.220)
And holi churche, as y here, haldeth bothe in helle!
And yf we sholde worche aftur here werkes to wynnen vs heuene
That for here werkes and wyt wonyeth now in payne
Thenne wrouhte y vnwysly for alle 3oure wyse techynge.
	Ac y countresegge the nat, Clergie, ne thy connyng, Scripture,  (C
11.225)
That ho-so doth by 3oure doctrine doth wel, y leue.
Ac me were leuere, by oure lord, a lyppe of goddes grace
Thenne al e kynde wyt at 3e can bothe and kunnyng of 3oure bokes.
For of fele witty, in faith, litel ferly y haue
Thogh here gost be vngracious god for to plese.  (C 11.230)
For mony men in this molde more sette here herte
In goed then in god; forthy hem grace faileth.
At here moste meschef mercy were e beste
And mercy of mercy nedes moet aryse,
As holy writ witnesseth, goddes word in e gospel:  (C 11.235)
	Eadem mensura, etc.
Wel ywitted men and wel ylettred clerkes,
Seldom are they seyen so lyue as they lere.
Wittnesseth godes word at was neuere vntrewe:
	Super cathedram Moysi, etc.
	Ac y wene hit worth of monye as was in Noes tyme
Tho he shoop e ship of shides and bordes:  (C 11.240)
Was neuere wrihte at eron wrouhte ne werkman ysaued
Bote briddes and bestis and e blessed Noe
And his wyf with his sones and his sones wyues;
Of wryhtes at hit wrouhte was noen of hem ysaued.
God leue hit fare nat so by folk at e faith techen  (C 11.245)
Of holy kirke, at sholde kepe alle cristene soules.
For Archa Noe, nymeth hede, ys no more to mene
Bote holy churche, herborw to alle at ben yblessed.
The culorum of this clause curatores is to mene,
That ben carpentares vnder Crist, holy kirke to make  (C 11.250)
For lewed folk, goddes foles and his fre bestes.
	Homines et iumenta saluabis.
At domesday a deluuye worth of deth and fuyr at ones;
Worcheth, 3e wrihtes of holy churche, as holy writ techeth,
Laste 3e be loste as e laboreres were at labered vnder Noe.
	A Gode Friday, y fynde, a feloun was ysaued  (C 11.255)
That vnlawefulliche hadde ylyued al his lyf-tyme,
And for he biknewe on e croes and to Crist shrof hym
He was sunnere ysaued then seynt Iohn e Baptiste
And ar Adam oer Ysaye oer eny of the profetes
That hadde yley with Lucifer mony longe 3eres.  (C 11.260)
A robbare was yraunsomed rather then thei alle;
Withoute penaunce oer passioun oer eny other peyne
Passet forth paciently to perpetuel blisse.
	Then Marie Maudelene who myhte do worse
As in likyng of lecherye, no lyf denyede?  (C 11.265)
Or Dauid e douhty at deuyned how Vrye
Mouhte sleylokeste be slawe and sente hym to worre,
Lelly, as by his lokes, with a lettre of gyle?
Poul e apostel, that no pite ne hadde
Cristene peple to culle to dethe?  (C 11.270)
And now beth this seyntes, by that men saith, and souereynes in heuene,
Tho that worste wrouhten e while at thei here were.
By that at Salamon saith hit semeth at no wyht
Woet ho is worthy for wele or for wykkede,
Wheer he is worthy to wele or to wykkede pyne.  (C 11.275)
	Sunt iusti atque sapientes et opera eorum in manu dei sunt.
	Thus y, Rechelesnesse, haue yrad registres and bokes
And fonde y neuere in faith, for to telle treuthe,
That clergie of Cristes mouthe comaunded was euere.
For Crist saide to sayntes and to suche as he louede:
	Dum steteritis ante reges vel presides, etc.
"Thogh 3e come bifore kynges and clerkes of e lawe  (C 11.280)
Beth nat aferd of at folk for y shal 3eue 3ow tonge
And connyng and clergie to conclude suche alle."
Dauid maketh mensioun he spake among kynges
And myhte no kyng ouercome hym as in connynge of speche.
Sothly,' saide Rechelesnesse, `3e se by many euydences  (C 11.285)
That wit ne wihtnesse wan neuere e maistrie
Withoute e gifte of god which is grace of fortune.
	For he at most sey and saide of the sothfaste trinite
Was Austyn e oelde at euere man wiste,
Saide thus in his sarmon for ensaunple of grete clerkes:  (C 11.290)
	Ecce ipsi idiote rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur.
And is to mene no more to men at beth lewed,
"Aren noen rather yraueschid fro e rihte bileue
Comuneliche then clerkes most knowyng in konnyng,
Ne none sonnere ysaued ne none saddere in bileue
Then ploughmen an pastours and pore comune peple."  (C 11.295)
Lewed lele laboreres and land-tulyng peple
Persen with a pater-noster paradys oer heuene
And passen thorgh purgatorie penaunceles for here parfit bileue.
	Breuis oratio penetrat celum.
	Selde falleth e seruant so depe in arrerage
As doth the reue or contrerollor at rykene moet and acounten  (C
11.300)
Of al at they haen had of hym at is here maister.
So lewede laborers of litel vnderstondyng
Selde falleth so foule and so depe in synne
As clerkes of holy chirche at kepe sholde and saue
Lewede men in good bileue and lene hem at here nede.'  (C 11.305)
	`Homo proponit,' quod a poete tho, and Plato he hihte,
`Et deus disponit,' quod he, `lat god do his wille.
All at Treuth attacheth and testifieth for gode,
Thow thei folowe at Fortune wole, no folye ich it holde.
Ne Concupiscencia carnis ne Coueytise-of-yes  (C 11.310)
Ne shal nat greue the grettly, ne bigyle the, but yf thow wolle.'
	`3e, farewel, Fyppe!' quod Fauntelete, and forth gan me drawe
Til Concupiscencia carnis acorded til al my werkes.
Of Dowel ne of Dobet no deynte me ne thouhte,
Ne Clergie ne his conseile--y counted hit ful litel!  (C 11.315)
                          C Pearsall Passus 12

Passus secundus de Dowel
`Allas, eye!' quod Elde and Holynesse bothe,
`That wit shal turne to wrechednesse for Wil hath al his wille!'
	Couetyse-of-yes conforted me aftur
And saide, `Rechelesnesse, reche the neuere; by so thow riche were,
Haue no consience how ou comst to good--confesse the to som frere;  (C
12.5)
He shal asoile the thus sone how so euere thow wynne hit.
For while Fortune is thy frende freres wol the louye
And festene the in ther fraternite and for the byseche
To here priour prouincial his pardoun to haue
And preye for the, pol by pol, yf thow be peccuniosus.'  (C 12.10)
	Pena peccuniaria non sufficit.
	By wissyng of this wenche y dede, here wordes were so swete,
Til y for3et 3outhe and 3orn into elde.
And thenne was Fortune my foo for al her fayre biheste
And pouerte pursuede me and potte me to be lowe.
And flittyng fond y the frere at me confessede  (C 12.15)
And saide he myhte nat me assoile but y suluer hadde
To restitue resonably for al vnrihtfole wynnynge.
	`Ouh!' quod y tho to hym and myn heued waggede,
`By my faith, frere,' quod y, `3e fare lyke e woware
That wilneth nat e wedewe bote for to welde here godes.  (C 12.20)
Riht so, by e rode,' quod y, `rouhte 3e neuere
Wher my body were yberied by so 3e hadde my godes.'
	And thenne louhe Leaute for y loured on e frere:
`Why lourest ou? quod Leaute. `Leue sire,' y saide,
`For this frere flaterede me e while he fond me ryche  (C 12.25)
And now y am pore and penyles at litel pris he sette me.  
Y wolde it were no synne,' y saide, `to seien at were treuthe;
The sauter sayth hit is no synne for suche men at ben trewe
To segge as they seen and saue only prestis:
	Existimasti inique quod ero tibi similis; arguam te et statuam contra 
faciem tuam.
Thei wolle allegge also and by e gospel preuen hit,  (C 12.30)
	Nolite iudicare quemquam.'
	`And wherof serueth lawe,' quod Leaute, `and no lyf vndertoke
Falsnesse ne faytrye? for sumwhat e apostel saide:
	Non oderis fratrem tuum secrete in corde.
Thyng at al e world woet wherfore sholdest thow spare
To rehercen hit al by retoryk to arate dedly synne?
Ac be neuere more e furste the defaute to blame;  (C 12.35)
Thouh thowe se, say nat sum tyme, at is treuthe.
Thyng at wolde be pryue publische thow hit neuere,
Nother for loue labbe it out ne lacke hit nat for enuye.
	Parum lauda, vitupera parcius.'
	`A saith soth,' quod Scripture tho, and skypte an heyh and prechede.
Ac e matere at she meuede, if lewede men hit knewe,  (C 12.40)
The lasse, as y leue, louyon ey wolde
The bileue of oure lord at lettred men techeth.
Of here teme and here tales y took ful good hede;
She saide in here sarmon selcouthe wordes:
`Multi to a mangerye and to e mete were sompned  (C 12.45)
And whan e peple was plenere ycome e porter vnpynnede e gate
And plihte in pauci priueiliche and lette e remenaunt go rome.'
	Al for tene of here tyxst tremblede myn herte
And in a wer gan y wex and with mysulue to despute
Where y were chose or not chose; on Holy Churche y thouhte  (C 12.50)
That vnderfeng me at e fonte for on of godes chosene.
For Crist clepede vs alle, come yf we wolde,
Sarrasynes and sismatikes, and so a ded e Iewes,
And bad hem souke for synne sauete at his breste
And drynke bote for bale, brouke hit ho-so myhte:  (C 12.55)
	O vos omnes sicientes, venite ad aquas.
	`Thenne may alle cristene come and clayme erto entre
By at bloed he bouhte vs with and bapteme as he tauhte:
	Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit etc.
For thogh a cristene man coueitede his cristendom to renoye,
Rihtfolliche to renoye no resoun hit wolde.
For may no cherl chartre make ne his chatel sulle  (C 12.60)
Withouten leue of e lord; no lawe wol hit graunte.
Ac he may renne in arrerage and rome fro home
As a recheles caytyf other reneyed, as hit semeth;
Ac reson shal rekene with hym and rebuken hym at e laste
And consience acounte with hym and casten hym in arrerages  (C 12.65)
And potten hym aftur in prisoun in purgatorie to brenne
And for his rechelesnes rewarde hym ere riht to e day of dome,
Bote yf contricioun and confessioun crye by his lyue
Mercy for his mysdedes with mouthe and with herte.'
	`That is soth,' saide Scripture; `may no synne lette  (C 12.70)
Mercy at she ne may al amende, and mekenesse her folowe.
They bothe, as oure bokes telleth, are aboue godes werkes:
	Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius.'
	`3e? bawe for bokes!' quod oen, was broken out of helle.
`I, Troianes, a trewe knyht, y take witnesse of a pope
How y was ded and dampned to dwellen in hell  (C 12.75)
For an vncristene creature, seynt Gregori woet e soe,
That al e cristendoem vnder Crist ne myhte me crache fro thenne
Bote onlyche loue and leaute as in my lawes demynge.
Gregori wiste this wel and wilned to my soule
Sauacion for e soethnesse a sey in my werkes.  (C 12.80)
And for a wilnede wepynge at y were ysaued
God of his goodnesse ysey his grete will
And withouten mo bedes-biddyng his bone was vnderfonge
And y saued as 3e may se withoute syngynge of mo masses.
Loue withoute lele bileue as my lawe rihtfoel  (C 12.85)
Saued me, Sarrasyn, soule and body bothe.'
	`Lo lordes, what leute dede and leele dome y-used!
Wel ouhte 3e lordes at lawes kepeth this lesson to haue in mynde
And on Troianes treuthe to thenke alle tyme in 3oure lyue
And louye for oure lordes loue and do leute euermore.  (C 12.90)
For lawe withouten leutee, ley er a bene!
Or eny science vnder sonne, the seuene ars and alle,
Bote loue and leute hem lede ylost is al e tyme
Of hym at trauaileth heron bote treuthe be his lyuynge.
So loue and leute hit ben oure lordes bokes  (C 12.95)
And Cristis oune clergie, he cam fro heuene to teche hit,
And seynt Ion sethen saide hit of his techyng:
	Qui non diligit manet in morte.
	And nameliche pore peple, here preyeres may vs helpe.
For god, as e gospel saith, goth ay as e pore,
And as e euaungelie witnesseth, when we maken festes  (C 12.100)
We sholde nat clepie knyhtes erto ne none kyne ryche:
	Cum facitis conuiuia, nolite vocare amicos.
"Ac calleth the carefole erto, the crokede and the pore.
For vch a frende fedeth other, and fondeth hou beste to quite
Meles and manschipes, vch a riche man oer;
Ac for e pore may nat paye y wol pay mysulue;  (C 12.105)
That louieth and leneth hem largeliche shal y quyte."
	In Caluarie of Cristis bloed cristendoem gan sprynge
And blody bretherne we bycome there of o body ywonne,
As quasi modo geniti gentel men vchone,
No beggare ne boy among vs but hit synne make.  (C 12.110)
	Qui facit peccatum seruus est pecccati.
In e olde lawe, as e lettre telleth, mennes sones me calde vs
Of Adames issue and Eue ay til god man deyede,
And aftur his resureccoun redemptor was his name
And we his blody bretherne, as wel beggares as lordes.
Forthy loue we as leue childerne, lene hem at nedeth,  (C 12.115)
And euery man helpe other for hennes shal we alle
To haue as we haen serued as holy chirche witnesseth:
	Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt, etc.
	Forthy lerne we e lawe of loue as oure lord tauhte
And pore peple fayle we nat while eny peny vs lasteth,
For in here likenesse oure lord lome hath be yknowe.  (C 12.120)
Witnesse in e Paske-woke when he 3ede to Emaux:
Cleophas ne knewe hym nat at he Crist were
For his pore parail and pilgrimes clothes
Til at he blessed here bred and brake hit hem bitwene.
So by his werkes thei wisten at he was Iesu  (C 12.125)
Ac by clothyng they knewe hym nat, so caytifliche he 3ede.
And al was ensample sothly to vs synfole here
That we sholde be low and louelich, and lele, vch man til oer,
And pacient as pilgrimes for pilgrimes are we alle.
In e parail of a pilgrime and in pore likenesse  (C 12.130)
Holy seyntes hym sey, ac neuere in secte of riche.
	And seynt Marie his moder, as Mathew bereth witnesse,
Was a puyre pore mayde and to a pore man ywedded.
Marthe on Marie Maudelene an huge pleynte she made
And to oure sauyour sulue saide is wordes:  (C 12.135)
	Domine, non est tibi cure quod soror, etc.
And here aytheres wille hastilich god assoiled
And aitheres werkes and will riht wel alowede,
Ac pouerte god potte byfore and preuede for e betere:
	Maria optimam partem elegit, que non, etc.
	And alle e wyse at euere were, by auhte y can aspye,
Preisede pouerte for beste, if pacience hit folowe,  (C 12.140)
And bothe bettere and blessedere by manyfold then richesse.
Althouh he be sour to soffre, er cometh a swete aftur.
As on a walnote withoute is a bittere barke
And aftur at bittere barke, be e scale aweye,
Is a cornel of confort, kynde to restore;  (C 12.145)
So aftur, penaunce and pouerte, pacientliche ytake,
Maketh man to haue mynde in god and his mercy to craue,
The which is e cornel of confort for alle cristene soules.
And wel sikorere he slepeth, e segg at is pore,
And lasse drat by day or in derke to be yrobbed,  (C 12.150)
Then he at is rihte ryche, reson bereth witnesse:
	Pauper ego ludo, dum to diues meditaris.
	Holy Churche witnesseth, "Ho-so forsaketh
His fader or his frendes, fremde oer sybbe,
Or eny welthe in this world, his wyf or his childrene,  (C 12.155)
For e loue of oure lord loteth hym to be pore,
He shal haue an hundred fold of heuene-ryche blisse
And lyf lastyng for euere byfore oure lord in heuene."
	Quicunque relinquit patrem et matrem, etc.
Crist acordeth efte herwith; clerkes wyteth e sothe,
What god saide hymsulue to a segg at he louede:  (C 12.160)
"Yf thow likest to lyue," quod god, "e lyf at is parfit,
Al at thow haste here, hastly go and sulle hit;
3ef pore peple e panes, erof pors ou none,
Ac 3ef hem forth to pore folk at for my loue hit aske;
Forsaek al and sue me and so is thi beste."  (C 12.165)
	Si vis perfectus esse, vade et vende, etc.
3ut conseileth Crist in commen vs all:
"Ho-so coueiteth to come to my kyneriche
He moet forsaken hymsulue his suster and his broer
And al at e world wolde, and my will folowe."
	Nisi renunciaueritis omnia que possidetis, etc.
	Mo prouerbes y myhte haue of mony holy seyntes  (C 12.170)
To testifie for treuthe e tale at y shewe,
And poetes to preuen hit, Porfirie and Plato;
Aristotel, Ennedy, enleuene hundred,
Tulius, Tolomeus, y can nat tell here names,
Preueth pacient pouerte prince of alle vertues.  (C 12.175)
	And by e grayn at groweth god vs all techeth
Meschiefes on molde mekeliche to soffren:
	Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terram mortuum fuerit etc.
Bote if e seed at sowen is in the sloo sterue,
Shal neuere spir sprynge vp, ne spiek on straw kerne.
Sholde neuere whete wexe but whete furste deyede,  (C 12.180)
And oer sedes also in e same wyse,
That ben layd in louhe erthe, ylore as hit were,
And thorw e grace of god and grayn dede on erthe
At the laste launceth vp whereby we lyuen all.
	Ac sedes at ben sowen and mowen soffre wyntres  (C 12.185)
Aren tidiore and touore to mannes byhofte
Then sedes at sowe ben and mowen nat with forstes,
Ne wynde ne wederes, as in wynter tymes;
As lyn-sed, lek-sed, and lente-sedes all
Aren not so worthy as whete, ne so wel mowe  (C 12.190)
In e feld with e forst, and hit frese longe.
Riht so, sothly, at soffry may penaunces
Worth allowed of oure lord at here laste ende
And for here pacience ben ypresed as for puyr martir,
Or for a confessour ykud, at counteth nat a ruche  (C 12.195)
Fere ne famyne ne fals mennes tonges.
But as an hosebonde hopeth aftur an hard wynter,
Yf god gyueth hym e lyf, to haue a goed heruost,
So preueth this profetes at pacientliche soffren,
Mescheues and myshappes and many tribulacounes  (C 12.200)
Bitokeneth treuly in tyme comyng aftur
Murthe for his mornyng and at muche plentee.
For Crist saide tho seyntes at for his sake tholeden
Pouerte and penaunce and persecucoun of body
Schullen haue more worschipe to wages [and worthier ben yholde]  (C
12.205)
Then angelis in here owen degre; on this wyse hem grette:
	Tristicia vestra vertetur in gaudium.
"3oure sorwe into solace shal turne at e laste
And out of wo into wele 3oure wirdes shal chaunge."
	Ac ho-so rat of the ryche, the reuers may fynde,
How god, as e gospelle telleth, gyueth hym foel to name,  (C 12.210)
And at his gost shal go and goed bileue,
And asketh hym hertely, "Ho shal hit haue,
The catel at he kepeth so in coffres and in bernis,
And art so loth to leue that lete shal thow nedes?
	O stulte, ista nocte anima tua egredietur.
	Tezaurisat, et ignorat, etc.
An unredy reue thy residue shal spene,  (C 12.215)
That many mothe was maister ynne, in a mynte-whyle;
Vpholderes on e hulle shal haue hit to sulle."
	Lo, lordes, lo! and ladyes, taketh hede,
Hit lasteth nat longe at is lycour swete,
As pesecoddes, pere-ionettes, plomes and cheries.  (C 12.220)
That lihtlich launseth vp litel while dureth,
And at rathest rypest rotieth most sonnest.
On fat lond ful of donge foulest wedes groweth:
Riht so, sothly, suche at ben bischopes,
Erles and erchedekenes and oere riche clerkes,  (C 12.225)
That chaffaren as chapmen and chide bote they wynne
And haen e world at her wille oerwyse to leuene.
Riht as wedes waxeth in wose and in donge,
So of rychesse ope rychesse arisen alle vices.
Lo, lond ouerleyd with marl and with donge,  (C 12.230)
Whete at eron wexeth worth lygge ar hit rype;
Riht so, sothly, for to segge treuthe,
Ouer-plente pruyde norischeth, er pouerte hit distrueth.
	For how hit euere be ywonne, but hit be wel dispendid,
Worldly wele ys wykked thyng to hem at hit kepeth.  (C 12.235)
For if he be fer erfro, fol ofte hath he drede
That fals folk fecche awaye felonliche his godes;
And 3ut more hit maketh men mony tymes and ofte
To synege, and to souche sotiltees of gyle,
For coueytyse of at catel to culle hym at hit kepeth.  (C 12.240)
And so is many man ymorthred for his moneye and his godes
And tho that dede e dede ydampned erfore aftur,
And he for his hard holdyng in helle, parauntur.
So coueytise of catel was combraunce to hem alle.
Lo, how pans purchaseth fayre places and grete,  (C 12.245)
That rote is of robbares the rychesses withynne.

                          C Pearsall  Passus 13
Passus tercius de Dowel
Ac wel worth Pouerte! for he may walke vnrobbed
Among pilours in pees, yf pacience hym folowe.
Oure prince Iesu pouerte chees, and his apostles alle,
And ay e lengere they lyuede the lasse goed they hadde.
	Tanquam nichil habentes.
	3ut ret me at Abraham and Iob weren wonder ryche,  (5)
And out of nombre tho men many mebles hadden.
Abraham for his au3te hadde moche tene,
For in greet pouerte he was put; a prince, as hit were,
Bynoem his hosewyf and Abraham not hardy ones to letten hym
Ne for brihtnesse of here beaute here spousehod to byknowe.  (C 13.10)
And for he soffrede and saide nauht, oure lord sente tookene,
That the kynde comely kynge criede hym mercy
And delyuered the weye his wyf, with moche welthe aftur.
	Iob e gentele, what ioye hadde he on erthe!
And how bittere he hit abouhte, as e book telleth.  (C 13.15)
And for a song in his sorwe, "Si bona accepimus a domino,
Derworthe and dere god! do we so mala,"
Alle his sorwe to solace thorw that song turnede,
And Iob bykam as a iolyf man, and al his ioye newe.
	Lo, how pacience in here pouerte thise patriarkes releuede   (C 13.20)
And broughte hem all aboue, at in bale rotede.
As grayn at lith in greut and thorw grace at the laste
Spryngeth and spredeth, so spedde e fader Abraham
And e gentel Iob; here ioye hath non ende.
	Ac leueth nat, lewede men, at y lacke rychesse  (C 13.25)
Thogh y preyse pouerte thus and preue hit by ensaunples
Worthiore as by holy writ and wyse fylosofres.
Bothe ei ben gode, be 3e ful certeyn,
And lyues at oure lord loueth and large weyes to heuene.
Ac e pore pacient purgatorye passeth  (C 13.30)
Rather then e ryche thogh they renne at ones.
	For yf a marchant and a mesager metten togyderes
And sholden wende o wey where bothe mosten reste
And rikene byfore resoun a resonable acounte
What oen hath, what anoer hath, and what they hadde bothe,  (C 13.35)
The marchaunt mote nede be ylet lenger then the messager,
For e parcel of his paper and oer pryue dettes
Wol lette hym, as y leue, the lenghe of a myle,
Ther e messager doth no more but with his mouth telleth his erende
And his lettre sheweth and is anoon delyuered.  (C 13.40)
And thogh they wente by the wey tho two togederes,
Thogh the messager make his way amydde the fayre whete
Wol no wys man be wroth ne his wed take--
	Necessitas non habet legem--
Ne non haiward is hote his wed for to taken.
Ac if e marchaunt make his way ouer menne corne  (C 13.45)
And e hayward happe with hym for to mete,
Oer his hatt or his hoed or elles his gloues
The marchaunt more forgo or moneye of his porse,
And 3ut be ylette, as y leue, for the lawe asketh
Marchauntz for here marchaundyse in many place to tolle.  (C 13.50)
	And 3ut thow they wende o way as to Wynchestre fayre
The marchaunt with his marchauntdyse may nat go so swythe
As e messager may ne with so moche ese.
For at on bereth but a box, a breuet erynne,
Ther e marchaunt latte a male with many kyne thynges  (C 13.55)
And dredeth to be ded er-fore and he in derke mette
With robbares and reuares at ryche men despoilen,
Ther e messager is ay merye and his mouth ful of songes
And leueth for his lettres at no lede wole hym greue.
Ac 3ut myhte e marchaunt thorw his moneye and other 3eftes  (C 13.60)
Haue hors and hardy men--thogh he mette theues
Wolde noon suche assailen hym for such as hym foloweth,
And as safly as e messager and as sone at his hostiele come.
	3e wyte, 3e wyse men, what this is to mene:
The marchaunt is no more to mene but men at ben ryche  (C 13.65)
Aren alle acountable to Crist and to e kyng of heuene,
That holde mote e hey way, euene the ten hestes,
Bothe louye and lene lele and vnlele
And haue reuthe and releue with his rychesse by his power
All maner men yn meschief yfalle;  (C 13.70)
Fynde beggares bred, bakkes for e colde,
Tythen here goed treuthliche, a tol, as hit semeth,
That oure lord loketh aftur of vch a lyf at wynneth
Withoute wyles or wronges or wymmen at e stuyues;
And 3ut more, to maken pees and quyten menne dettes  (C 13.75)
And spele and spare to spene vppon e nedfole
As Crist hymsulf comaundeth alle cristene peple"
	Alter alterius onera portate.
The messager aren this mendenantz at lyuen by menne almesse,
Beth nat ybounde as beth 3e ryche to bowe to e lawes,
To lene ne to lerne ne lentones to faste  (C 13.80)
And other pryue penaunces e which e prest woet wel
That e lawe 3eueth leue such low folk to be excused,
As none tythes to tythe ne to clothe the nakede
Ne in none enquestes to come ne contuimax thogh he worche
Haly day or holy euene his mete to discerue.  (C 13.85)
For if he loueth and byleueth as the lawe techeth--
	Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, etc.--
Telleth e lord a tale as a trewe messager
And sheweth be seel and seth by lettre with what lord he dwelleth
And knowelecheth hym cristene and of holy kirke byleue,
Ther is no lawe, as y leue, wol lette hym e gate  (C 13.90)
Ther god is gateward hymsulf and vch a gome knoweth.
So e pore of puyr reuthe may parforme e lawe
In at a wilneth and wolde vch a wyht as hymsulue.
For e wil is as moche worthe of a wrecche beggare
As al at e ryche may rayme and rihtfuly dele,  (C 13.95)
And as moche mede for a myte er he offreth
As e ryche man for al his mone and more as by e gospell:
	Amen dico vobis, quia hec vidua paupercula, etc.
	So pore and pacient parfitest lyf is of alle;
Vch a parfit prest to pouerte sholde drawe.
For spera in deo speketh of prestis at han no spendynge suluer  (C
13.100)
That yf thay trauaile treulyche and trist in god almyhty
Hem sholde neuere lacke lyflode noer lynnen ne wollene.
The tytle 3e take 3oure ordres by telleth 3e ben avaunsed
And nedeth nat to nyme siluer for masses at 3e synge.
For he that toek 3ow a title sholde take 3ow wages  (C 13.105)
Or e bischop at blessed 3ow and enbaumed 3oure fyngeres.
	For made neuere kyng no knyhte but he hadde catel to spene
As byful for a knyht, or fond hym for his strenthe;
For hit is a carfol knyhte and of a caytif kynges makynge
That hath noer lond ne lynage ryche ne good los of his handes.  (C
13.110)
The same y segge for sothe by suche e beth prestes
That han nother connyng ne kyn bote a croune one
And a title, a tale of nauht, to his lyflode as hit were.
Euele beth thei ysoffred, suche at shendeth e masse
Thorw here luyther lyuynge and lewede vnderstondynge.  (C 13.115)
	A chartre is chaleniable byfore a chief iustice;
Yf fals Latyn be in at lettre e lawe hit enpugneth,
Or peynted par-entrelynarie, parseles ouerskipped.
The gome at gloseth so chartres for a goky is halden.
So hit is a goky, by god! at in the gospel fayleth  (C 13.120)
Or in masse or in matynes maketh eny defaute.
	Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus.
For ouerskipperes also in e sauter sayth Dauid:
	Psallite deo nostro, psallite; quia Rex terre deus, psallite
sapienter.
The bishop shal be blamed before god, as u leue,
That crouneth suche for goddes knyhtes that conne sapienter
Nother syng ne rede ne seye a masse of e day.  (C 13.125)
Ac neuer noer is blameles, the bischop ne e chapeleyn,
For ignorancia non excusat, as ych haue herd in bokes.'
	Thus Rechelesnesse in a rage aresenede Clergie
And Scripture scornede at many skilles shewede,
Til at Kynde cam Clergie to helpe  (C 13.130)
And in e myrour of Mydelerthe made hym efte to loke,
To knowe by vch a creature Kynde to louye.
	And y bowed my body, bihelte al aboute,
And seyhe e sonne and e see and e sond aftur,
And where at briddes and bestis by here make ei 3eden,  (C 13.135)
Wilde wormes in wodes and wondurfol foules
With flekede fetheres and of fele colours.
Man and his make y myhte se bothe,
Pouerte and plente, bothe pees and werre,
Blisse and bale bothe y sey at ones,  (C 13.140)
And how at men mede toke and mercy refusede.
	Resoun y sey sothly sewe alle bestes
In etynge and drynkyng, in engendrure of kynde.
Aftur cors of concepcion noon toek kepe of oer,
As when ei hadde roteyed anon they reste aftur;  (C 13.145)
Males drow hem to males a morwenynge by hemsulue,
And femeles to femeles ferddede and drowe.
Ther ne was cow ne cow-kynde at conseyued hadde
That wolde bere aftur bole, ne boer aftur sowe.
Ther ne was no kyne kynde that conseyued hadde  (C 13.150)
That ne lees the lykynge of lost of flesch, as hit were,
Saue man and his make; and erof me wondrede,
For out of resoun they ryde and rechelesliche taken on,
As in derne dedes, bothe in drynkyng and elles.
	Briddes y beheld at in bosches made nestes;  (C 13.155)
Hadde neuere weye wyt to worche e leste.
Y hadde wonder at wham and where e pye
Lernede to legge stikkes at ley on here neste;
Ther is no wriht, as y wene, sholde worch here nest to paye.
Yf eny mason made a molde erto, moche wonder me thynketh.  (C 13.160)
	And 3ut me merueyled more, mony of e briddes
Hudden and helede here egges dernely
For no foul sholde hit fynde but his fere and hymsulue.
And som treden, y toke kepe, and on trees bredde,
And brouhte forth here briddes al aboue e grounde.  (C 13.165)
In mareys and in mores, in myres and in watres,
Dompynges dyuede; `Dere god,' y sayde,
`Where hadde thise wilde suche wit, and at what scole?'
And how e pecok caukede, erof toke y kepe,
How vncorteysliche at cok his kynde for-strened,  (C 13.170)
And ferlyede of his fayrenesse and of his foul ledene.
	And sethe y lokede on e see and so forth on sterres;
Mony selcouthes y seyh, aren nat to segge nouthe,
Ne what on floures on felde, and of here fayre coloures,
And how out of greeut and of gras growe so many hewes,  (C 13.175)
And some soure and some swete, selcouthe me thouhte.
Of here kynde and of here colour to carpe hit were to longe.
	Ac at moste meuede me and my moed chaungede
Was at y seyh Resoun sewen alle bestes
Saue man and mankynde; mony tymes me thouhte  (C 13.180)
Resoun reuled hem nat, noer ryche ne pore.
	Thenne y resonede Resoun and ryht til hym y sayde:
`Y haue wonder in my wit, so wys as thow art holden,
Wherefore and why, as wyde as thow regneste,
That thow ne reuledest rather renkes then other bestes?  (C 13.185)
Y se non so ofte sorfeten, sothly, so mankynde;
In mete out of mesure and mony tymes in drynke,
In wommen, in wedes, and in wordes bothe,
They ouerdoen hit day and nyhte and so doth nat oer bestes;
They reule hem al by resoun, ac renkes ful fewe.  (C 13.190)
And erfore merueileth me, for man is moste yliche the of wit and of
werkes,
Why he ne loueth thy lore and leueth as ou techest?'
	And Resoun aresounede me and sayde: `Reche e neuere
Why y soffre or nat soffre--certes,' he sayde,
`Vch a segge for hymsulue, Salamon vs techeth:  (C 13.195)
	De re que te non molestat, noli te certare.
Ho soffreth more then god?' quod he; `no gome, as y leue!
He myhte amende in a mynte-while al at amys standeth,
Ac he soffreth, in ensaumple at we sholde soffren alle.
	Is no vertue so fair, ne of valewe ne profit,
So is soffrance souereynliche, so hit be for godes loue.  (C 13.200)
And so witnesseth wyse and wisseth e Frenche:
Bele vertue est suffrance, mal dire est petit vengeance;
Ben dire e ben suffrer fait lui suffrable a bien venir.
Forthy,' quod Resoun, `y rede thow reule thy tonge euere,
And ar thow lacke eny lyfe, loke ho is to preyse.  (C 13.205)
For is no creature vnder Crist at can hymsulue make,
And if creatures cristene couth make hemsulue
Vch a lede wolde be lacles, leef thow non other!
Man was made of such matere he may nat wel asterte
That some tyme hym bitit to folewen his kynde;  (C 13.210)
Caton acordeth therwith--Nemo sine crimine viuit.'
	Tho cauhte y colour anoen and comesede to ben aschamed,
And awakede erwith; wo was me thenne
That y ne hadde met more, so murye as y slepte,
And saide anoen to mysulue, `Slepynge hadde y grace  (C 13.215)
To wyte what Dowel is, ac wakynge neuere!'
	And thenne was ther a wyhte, what he was y neste.
`What is Dowel?' quod that wyhte. `Ywis, sire,' y saide,
To se moche and soffre al, certes, is Dowel.'
	`Haddestow soffred,' he sayde, `slepynge tho thow were,  (C 13.220)
Thow sholdest haye yknowe at Clergie can, and conseyued mor oru3
Resoun;
For Resoun wolde haue rehersed e riht as Clergie seide.
Ac for thyn entermetynge her artow forsake:
	Philosophus esses, si tacuisses.  Et alibi: Locutum me aliquando
penituit, tacuisse nunquam.
Adam, e whiles he spak nat, hadde paradys at wille,
Ac when he mamelede aboute mete and musede for to knowe  (C 13.225))
The wisdom and the wit of god, he was pot out of blisse.
Rihte so ferde Resoun by the for thy rude speche,
And for thow woldest wyte why of Resones preuete.
For pruyde or presompcioun of thy parfit lyuynge
Resoun refusede the and wolde nat reste with the,  (C 13.230)
Ne Clergie of his connynge kepeth he nat shewe.
For shal neuere, ar shame come, a shrewe wel be chaste.
For lat a dronkene daffe in a dykke falle,
Lat hym lygge, lok nat on hym til hym luste to ryse;
For thogh Resoun rebuke hym thenne, recheth he neuere,  (C 13.235)
Ne of Clergie ne of Kynde Wyt counteth he nat a rusche;
To blame hym or to bete hym thenne y halde hit but synne.
Ac when Nede nymeth hym vp, anoen he is aschamed,
And thenne woet he wherfore and why he is to blame.'
`3e seggeth soth, be my soule,' quod y, `I haue sey hit ofte:  (C
13.240)
Ther smyt no thyng so smerte, ne smelleth so foule 
As Shame; ther he sheweth hym, vch man shoneth his companye.
Why 3e worden to me thus was for y aresonede Resoun.'
	`3e, certes,' quod he, `at is soth,' and shop hym to walke;
And y aroes vp riht with that and reuerensed hym fayre,  (C 13.245)
And yf his wille were, a wolde his name tell?

                          C Pearsall  Passus 14

Passus quartus de dowel vbi prius
`I am Ymagenatyf,' quod he; `ydel was y neuere
Thogh y sete by mysulue, such is my grace.
Y haue folewed the, in fayth, mo then fourty wynter
And wissed the fol ofte what Dowel was to mene
And conseyled the for Cristes sake no creature to bygile,  (C 14.5)
Noer to lye ne to lacke ne lere at is defended
Ne to spille no speche, as for the speke an ydel,
Ne no tyme to tyne ne trewe thyng tene,
Lowe the and leue forth in e lawe of holy chirche,
And thenne dost thow wel, withoute drede, ho can do bet, no force!  (C
14.10)
Clerkes at conne al, y hope they can do bettere,
Ac hit suffiseth to be saued and be such as y tauhte.
Ac for louye and to lene and lyue wel and byleue
Is ycalde Caritas, Kynde Loue an Engelysche,
And at is Dobet, yf eny suche be, a blessed man at helpeth  (C 14.15)
That pees be and pacience and pore withoute defaute.
	Beacius est dare quam petere.
	Ac catel and kynde wit acombreth fol monye;
Wo is hym at hem weldeth, but he hem wel despene!
	Scientes et non facientes variis flagellis vapulabant.
Ac comunlyche connynge and vnkynde rychesse--
As loreles to be lordes and lewede men techares  (C 14.20)
And holy chirche horen helpe, auerous and coueytous--
Druyeth vp Dowel and distruyeth Dobest.
Ac grace is a graes er-fore to don hem ofte growe;
Ac grace ne groweth nat til gode-wil gyue reyne
And woky thorw gode werkes wikkede hertes.  (C 14.25)
Ac ar such a wil wexe worcheth god sulue
And sent forth the seynt espirit to do loue sprynge:
	Spiritus vbi vult spirat.
So grace withouten grace of god and also gode werkes
May nat be, be ow syker, thogh we bidde euere.
	Ac clergie cometh bote of syhte and kynde wit of sterres,  (C 14.30)
As to be bore or bygete in such a constillacioun,
That wit wexeth therof and oer wordes bothe.
	Vultus huius seculi sunt subiecti vultibus celestibus.
So grace is a gifte of god and kynde wit a chaunce
And clergie a connynge of kynde wittes techyng.
	And 3ut is clergie to comende for Cristes loue more  (C 14.35)
Then eny connyng of kynde wit but clergi hit reule.
For Moyses witnesseth at god wroet and Crist with his fynger;
Lawe of loue oure lorde wroet long ar Crist were,
And Crist cam and confermede and holy kyrke made
And in soend a signe wroet and saide to e Iewes:  (C 14.40)
"That seth hymsulue synnelees, sese nat, y hote,
To strike with stoen or with staf this strompet to dethe."
	Quis vestrum sine peccato est.
Forthy y conseile vch a creature clergie to honoure.
	For as a man may nat se at misseth his yes
No more can no clerk but if hit come of bokes.  (C 14.45)
Al-ei3 men made bokis god was here mayster
And e seynt spirit e saumplare and saide what men sholde wryte.
And riht as syht serueth a man to se e hye strete,
Riht so lereth lettrure lewed men to resoun.
And as a blynde man in bataile bereth wepene to fyhte  (C 14.50)
And hath non hap with his ax his enemye to hutte,
No more can a kynde-witted man but clerkes hym teche
Come for al his kynde wit thorw cristendoem to be saued,
The whiche is coffre of Cristis tresor, and clerkes kepeth e keyes
To vnlouken hit at here lykynge, the lewed and lered to helpe,  (C
14.55)
To 3eue mercy for mysdedes 3if men hit wol aske
Buxumliche and benyngnelyche and bidden hit of grace.
	Arca dei in e olde lawe Leuytes hit kepte;
Hadde neuere lewede leue to legge hand on at cheste
Bote hit were prestis or prestis sone, patriarke or prophete.  (C
14.60)
Saul for he sacreficede sorwe hym bytydde
And his sones for his synnes sorwe hem bytydde
And all lewede at leide hand eron loren lyf aftir.
	Forthy y conseyle all creatures no clerk to despice
Ne sette shorte be here science, what-so ei doen hemsulue.  (C 14.60)
Take we here wordes at worthe, for here wittenesses be trewe,
And medle we nat moche with hem to meuen eny wrathe
Laste cheste chaufen vs alle to chide and schoppe vch man oer.
And do we as Dauid techeth for doute of godes veniance:
	Nolite tangere Christos meos.
For clergy is Cristes vycary to conforte and to cure;  (C 14.70)
Both lewede and lerede were lost yf clergie ne were.
	Kynde-wittede men han a clergie by hemsulue;
Of cloudes and of costumes they contreuede mony thynges
And markede hit in here manere and mused eron to knowe.
And of the selcouthes at ei sye, here sones erof ei tauhten  (C
14.75)
For they helden hit for an hey science here sotiltees to knowe.
Ac thorw here science sothly was neuere soule ysaued
Ne brouhte by here bokes to blisse ne to ioye.
For al here kynde knowyng cam bote of diuerse syhtes
Of briddes and of bestes, of blisse and of sorwe.  (C 14.80)
Patriarkes and prophetus repreuede here science
And saide here wordes ne here wysdomes was but a folye;
As to e clergie of Crist thei counted hit but a tryfle.
	Sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum.
	For the hey holi gost heuene shal to-cleue
And loue shal lepe out aftur into is lowe erthe  (C 14.85))
And clennesse shal cach hit and clerkes shollen hit fynde:
	Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem.
Hit speketh er of ryche men riht nouht, ne of ryche lordes,
Bote of clennesse of clerkes and kepares of bestes.
	Ibant magi ab oriente.
Yf eny frere wer founde ere y 3eue the fyue shillynges!
Ne in no cote ne caytyfs hous Crist was ybore  (C 14.90)
But in a burgeis hous, the beste of e toune.
To pastours and to poetes appered e angel
And bad hem go to Bedlem goddes berthe to honoure
And song a song of solace, Gloria in excelsis deo.
Ryche men rotte tho and in here reste were  (C 14.95)
Tho hit shoen to e shepherdes, a sheware of blisse.
Clerkes knewe e comet and comen with here presentes
And deden here homage honerably to hym at was almyhty.
	Why y haue tolde e al is, y toek fol gode hede
How ou contaridest Clergie with crabbed wordes,  (C 14.100)
That is, how lewede men and luyther lyhtloker were ysaued
Then connynge of clerkes of kynde vnderstondynge.
And thow saidest sothe of somme, ac yse in what manere.
Take two stronge men and in Temese cast hem
And bothe naked as a nedle, here noen heuegore then othere;  (C 14.105)
That oen hath connyng and can swymmen and dyuen,
That oer is lewed as of at labour and lerned neuere to swymme;
Which trowest of tho two in Temese is in moste drede?'
	`He at can nat swymmen, y sayde, `hit semeth to alle wittes.'
	`Riht so,' quod at renk, `resoun hit sheweth  (C 14.110)
at he at knoweth clergie conne sounore aryse
Out of synne, and be saef thogh he synege ofte,
Yf hym liketh and luste, then eny lewede sothly.
	For yf e clerke be connynge he knoweth what is synne
And how contricion withoute confessioun conforteth e soule,  (C
14.115)
And we seen in e sauter, in psalmes oen or tweyne,
How contricioun is comended for hit cacheth awey synne:
	Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates.
And at conforteth vch a clerk and keuereth fro wanhope,
In whiche floed e fende fondeth man hardest,
There e lewede lyth stille and loketh aftur lente  (C 14.120)
And hath no contricion ar he come to shrifte, and thenne can he lytel
telle,
But as his loresman hym lereth byleueth and troweth,
And at is aftur his person other his parsche preest, and parauntur
bothe lewede
To lere lewede men, as Luk bereth witnesse:
	Dum cecus ducit cecum, etc.
	Fol muchel wo was hym marked at wade shal with e lewede!  (C 14.125)
Well may e barne blesse at hym to boek sette,
That lyuynge aftur lettrure saued hym lyf and soule!
Dominus pars hereditatis is a merye verset,
Hit hath take fro Tybourne twenty stronge theues;
There lewede theues ben lolled vp, loke how ei ben saued!  (C 14.130)
	The thef at hadde grace of god a Gode Fryday, as thow toldest,
Was for a 3eld hym creaunt to Crist and his grace askede.
And god is ay gracious to alle at gredeth to hym
And wol no wikkede man be lost, bote if he wol hymsulue.
	Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Ac thogh the theef hadde heuene he hadde noen hey blisse  (C 14.135)
Ac seynt Iohan and oer seyntes at haen serued bettere.
Riht as sum man 3eueth me mete and sette me amydde e flore,
Ich haue mete more then ynow ac nat with so muche worschipe
As tho at sitten at e syde table or with e souereyns in halle,
Bote as a beggare bordles be mysulue on e grounde.  (C 14.140)
So hit ferde by e feloun at a Goed Fryday was saued;
A sit noer with seynte Iohn ne with Simond ne Iude
Ne with maydenes ne with martires ne with mylde weddewes,
Bote as a soleyn by hymsulue yserued vppon e grounde.
For he at is ones a thef is eueremore in daunger,  (C 14.145)
And as e lawe lyketh to lyue oer to dye.
	De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu.
And for to seruen a seynt and suche a thef togyderes,
Hit were no resoun ne riht to rewarde bothe ylyche.
And riht as Troianes e trewe knyhte telde nat depe in helle
That oure lord ne hauede hym lihtliche out, so lyue at thef in
heuene.  (C 14.150)
For he is in e loweste of heuene, yf oure byleue be trewe,
And wel losliche he lolleth ere as by e lawe of holy churche.
	Et reddet unicuique iuxta opera sua.
	Ac why at on theef vppon e cros cryant hym 3elde
Rather then at oer, thogh thow woldest apose,
Alle e clerkes vnder Crist ne couthe hit assoille.  (C 14.155)
	Quare placuit? quia voluit.
And so y sey by e at sekest aftur e whyes
How creatures han kynde wit and how clerkes come to bokes
And how e floures in e fryth cometh to fayre hewes;
Was neuere creature vnder Crist at knewe wel e bygynnyng
Bote Kynde at contreuede hit furst of his corteyse wille.  (C 14.160)
He tauhte e tortle to trede, the pocok to cauke,
And Adam and Eue and alle othere bestes
A cantel of kynde wyt here kynde to saue.
Of goed and of wykke Kynde was e furste,
Sey hit and soffred hit and saide hit be sholde.  (C 14.165)
	Dixit et facta sunt.
Ac why a wolde at wykke were, y wene and y leue
Was neuere man vppon molde at myhte hit aspie.
	Ac longe-lybbynge men lykened men lyuynge
To briddes and to bestes, as here bokes telleth
at e fayrest foul foulest engendreth  (C 14.170)
And feblest foul of flyht is at fleeth oer swymmeth;
That is, e pocok and e popeiay with here proude fetheres
Bytokenen riht ryche men at reygne here on erthe.
For pursue a pocock or a pohen to cacche
And haue hem an haste at yn owen wille,  (C 14.175)
For ey may nat fle fer ne ful hey neyther,
For here fetheres at fayre beth to fle fer hem letteth.
His ledene is vnloueliche and lothliche his careyne,
Ac for his peynted pennes e pecok is honoured
More an for his fayre flesch or for his merye note.  (C 14.180)
Riht so men reuerenceth more e ryche for here mebles
Then for eny kyn he come of or for his kynde wittes.
Thus e poete praiseth e pecok for his fetheres
And e ryche man for his rentes or for his rychesse in his shoppes.
The larke at is a lasse foul is louelokere of ledene  (C 14.185)
And swettore of sauour and swyftore of wenges.
To lowe-lyuynge men e larke is resembled
And to lele and lyf-holy at louyeth alle treuthe.
Thus Porfirie and Plato and poetes monye
Likneth in here logik e leste foul outen.  (C 14.190)
	And wher he be saef or nat saef e soth woet no clergie,
Ne of Sortes ne of Salamon no scripture can telle
Wher at ey ben in hell or in heuene, or Aristotel e wyse.
Ac god is so gode, y hope at seth he gaf hem wittes
To wissen vs weyes erwith at wenen to be saued  (C 14.195)
And e bettere for here bokes, to bidden we ben yholde
That god for his grace gyue here soules reste,
For letrede men were as lewede men 3ut, ne were e lore of tho
clerkes.'
	`Alle thise clerkes,' quod y tho, `at in Crist leuen
Segen in here sarmons at noer Saresynes ne Iewes  (C 14.200)
Withoute bapteme, as by here bokes, beth nat ysaued.'
	`Contra,' quod Ymaginatif tho, and comesed to loure,
And saide, `Vix saluabitur iustus in die iudicii;
Ergo saluabitur,' quod he, and saide no more Latyn.
`Troianes was a trewe knyhte and toek neuere cristendoem  (C 14.205)
And he is saef, saith the boek, and his soule in heuene.
Ac er is follyng of fonte and follyng in bloed-chedyng
And thorw fuyr is fullyng, and al is ferme bileue.
	Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans.
Ac treuth at trespassed neuere ne trauersede a3ens his lawe
Bote lyuede as his lawe tauhte and leueth er be no bettere,  (C
14.210)
And yf er were, a wolde leue, and in suche a wille deyeth--
Ne wolde neuere trewe god bote trewe treuthe were alloued,
And wher hit worth or worth nat, the bileue is gret of treuthe
And hope hangeth ay eron to haue at treuthe deserueth.
	Quia super pauca fuisti fidelis, etc.
And at is loue and large huyre, yf e lord be trewe,  (C 14.215)
And a corteyse more en couenant was, what so clerkes carpe,
For al worth as god wol'; and erwith vanschede.

                          C Pearsall Passus 15

Passus quintus de visione vt supra
And y awakede erwith, witteles ner-hande,
And as a freke at fay were forth can y walken
In manere of a mendenaunt mony 3er aftur.
And many tymes of this meteles moche thouhte y hadde;
Furste how Fortune me faylede at my moste nede  (C 15.5)
And how Elde manased me--so myhte happe
That y lyuede longe--leue me byhynde
And vansche alle my vertues and my fayre lokes.
And how at freres folewede folk at was ryche
And people at was pore at litel pris setten,  (C 15.10)
Ne no cors of pore comune in here kyrke-3erde most lygge
Bote quyke he byquath hem auht or wolde helpe quyte here dettes.
And how is coueytyse ouercome al kyne sectes,
As wel lered as lewede, and lorde as e boende.
And how at lewede men ben lad, but oure lorde hem helpe,  (C 15.15)
Thorw vnkunynge curatours to incurable peynes.
And how at Ymaginatyf in dremeles me tolde
Of Kynde and his connynge, and what connynge he 3af bestes,
And how louyng he is to vch a lyf, a londe and o watere,
For alle a wisseth and 3eueth with at walketh oer crepeth.  (C 15.20)
And y merueyled in herte how Ymaginatyf saide
That iustus bifore Iesu in die iudicii
Non saluabitur bote if vix helpe;
And when he hadde ysaide so, how sodeynliche he vanschede.
And so y musede vppon is matere, at me lust to slepe.  (C 15.25)
	And thenne cam Concyence, and Clergie aftur,
And beden me ryse vp and rome, and with Reson sholde y dyne.
And y aroos and romede forth and with Resoun we mette.
We reuerensede Resoun and romede forth softly
And metten with a mayster, a man lyk a frere.  (C 15.30)
Concience knewe hym, welcomede hym fayre;
They woschen and wypeden and wenten to e dyner.
	And there cam Pacience as a pore thyng and preyede mete pur charite,
Ilyk Peres the ploghman, as he a palmere were,
Crauede and cryede, for Cristes loue of heuene,  (C 15.35)
A meles mete for a pore man, or moneye, yf they hadde.
Concience knewe him wel and welcomede hem all,
Woschen and wipeden and wenten to sytten.
	The maister was maed sitte furste, as for e moste worthy;
Resoun stoed and styhlede, as for styward of halle.  (C 15.40)
Pacience and y prestly was pot to be mettes,
And seten by ouresulue at a syde-table.
	Clergie cald aftur mete and thenne cam Scripture
And serued hem thus sone of sondry metes monye,
Of Austyn, of Ambrose, of alle e foure euaungelies,  (C 15.45)
	Edentes et bibentes que apud eos sunt.
Ac of this mete at mayster myhte nat wel chewe;
Forthy eet he mete of more cost, mortrewes and potages.
Of at men myswonne they made hem wel at ese;
Ac here sauce was ouer-sour and vnsauerly ygrounde
In a morter, post-mortem, of many bittere peynes  (C 15.50)
Bote yf they synge for tho soules and wepe salte teres.
	Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas et orationes
 effuderitis, ea que in deliciis comeditis, in tormentis euometis.
	Thenne was Resoun radde, anoon riht aftur,
That Consience comaunde sholde to do come Scripture
And bringe breed for Pacience, bytynge apartye,
And to me at was his mette tho, and oer mete bothe.  (C 15.55)
He sette a sour loef, and saide, `Agite penitenciam,'
And sethe he drow vs drynke, diu perseverans:
`As longe,' quod he, `as lyf and lycame may duyre.'
`This is a semely seruyce!' saide Pacience.
Thenne cam Contricion, at hadd coked for hem all,  (C 15.60)
And brouhte forth a pytaunce, was Pro hac orabit omnis sanctus in
tempore oportuno.
Thenne Consience confortede vs, bothe Clergie and Scripture,
And saide, `Cor contritum et humiliatum, deus, non despicies.'
	Pacience was wel apayed of this propre seruice
And made mery with this mete; ac y mournede euere  (C 15.65)
For a doctour at at e hey deys dranke wyn faste--
	Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum!--
And ete manye sondry metes, mortrewes and poddynges,
Brawen and bloed of gees, bacon and colhoppes.
	Thenne saide y to mysulue, so Pacience hit herde:
`Hit is nat thre daies doen, this doctour at he prechede  (C 15.70)
At Poules byfore e peple what penaunce they soffrede,
Alle at coueyte to come to eny kyne ioye;
And how at Poul e apostel, what penaunce he tholede
For oure lordes loue, as holy lettre telleth:
	In fame and in frygore, etc.
Ac me wondreth in my wit why at they ne preche  (C 15.75)
As Poul e apostle prechede to e peple ofte:
	Periculum est in falsis fratribus!
Holy writ byt men be waer and wysly hem kepe
That no fals frere throw flaterynge hem byglyle;
Ac me thynketh loth, thogh y Latyn knowe, to lacken eny secte,
For alle be we brethrene, thogh we be diuersely clothed.  (C 15.80)
Ac y wiste neuere freek at frere is ycald of e fyue mendynantz
That toek this for his teme and tolde hit withoute glose.
They preche at penaunce is profitable to e soule,
And what meschief and male-ese Crist for man tholede,
Ac this doctour and dyvynour,' quod y, `and decretistre of canoen  (C
15.85)
(And also a gnedy glotoun with two grete chekes)
Hath no pyte on vs pore; he parformeth euele
That a precheth and preueth nat compacience,' ich tolde,
And wischede witterly with will ful egre
at in e mawe of at mayster alle o metes were,  (C 15.90)
Bothe disches and dobelares, with alle e deyntees aftur!
	`Y schal iangle to is iurdan, with his iuyste wombe,
And apose hym what penaunce is and purgatorie on erthe,
And why a lyueth nat as a lereth!' `Lat be,' quod Pacience,
And saide, `Thow shalt se thus sone, when he may no more,  (C 15.95)
He shal haue a penaunce in his foule paunche, and poffe at vch a worde,
And thenne shal gothelen his gottes, and gynnen to galpe.
Now he hath dronke so depe a wol deuyne sone
And preuen hit by here Pocalips and e passioun of seynt Aueroy
That noer bacon ne brawn ne blaunmanger ne mortrewes  (C 15.100)
Is noer fische ne flesche, but fode for penantes;
And take wittenesse at a trinite and take his felowe to witnesse
What a fond in a forel of a frere lyuynge,
And bote e furste leef be lesynges, leue me neuere aftur!
And thenne is tyme to take and to appose this doctour  (C 15.105)
Of Dowel and of Dobet, and yf Dobest do eny penaunce.'
	Y sat stille, as Pacience wolde, and thus sone this doctour,
As rody as a rose rodded his chekes,
Cowhede and carpede, and Consience hym herde
And tolde hym of a trinite and toward me he lokede.  (C 15.110)
`What is Dowel, sire doctour?' quod y.  `Is Dobest eny penaunce?'
	`Dowel?' quod this doctour, and he dronke aftur,
`Do thy neyhebore non harm, ne thysulue nother.
And thenne dost thow wel and wysly, y dar hit wel avowe.'
	`Certes, sire,' thenne saide y, `hit semeth nouhte here,  (C 15.115)
In at 3e parteth nat with vs pore, at 3e passeth Dowel,
Ne lyueth nat as 3e lereth, as oure lord wolde.
	Et visitauit et fecit redempcionem plebis sue.
And 3e fare thus with 3oure syke freres, ferly me thynketh
But Dowel wol endite 3ow in die iudicii.'
	Thenne Consience ful corteyslyche a continaunce he made  (C 15.120)
And preynte vppon Pacience to preie me be stille,
And saide hymsulue, `Sire doctour, be so hit be 3oure wille,
What is Dowel and Dobet? 3e deuynours knoweth.'
	`Y have yseide,' quod at segg, `y can sey no bettre,
Bote do as doctours techeth for Dowel y hit holde;  (C 15.125)
That trauayleth to teche oere y halde hit for a Dobet;
And he at doth as he techeth, y halde hit for e beste.
	Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur.'
	`Now ou, Clergie,' quod Consience, `carpe what is Dowel.'
	`Haue me excused,' quod Clergie, `be Crist, but in scole,
Shal no such motyef be meued for me, bote ere,  (C 15.130)
For Peres loue e palmare 3ent, at inpugnede ones
Alle kyne connynges and alle kyne craftes,
Saue loue and leute and lowenesse of herte,
And no tixst ne taketh to preue this for trewe
Bote dilige deum et proximum, and domine, quis habitabit,  (C 15.135)
And preueth by puyre skile inparfyt alle thynges,
	Nemo bonus,
Bote lele loue and treuthe, that loth is to be founde.'
	Quod Peres the ploghman: `Pacientes vincunt.
Byfore perpetuel pees y shal preue at y saide
And avowe byfore god, and forsaken hit neuere,  (C 15.140)
That disce, doce, dilige deum
And thyn enemy helpe emforth thy myhte.
Caste hote coles on his heued of alle kyn speche,
Fond thorw wit and word his loue to wynne,
3ef hym eft and eft, euere at his nede,  (C 15.145)
Conforte hym with thy catel and with thy kynde speche,
And ley on hym thus with loue til he lauhe on e;
And bote he bowe for this betynge, blynde mote he worthen!'
	And whan he hadde yworded thus, wiste no man aftur
Where Peres the plogman bycam, so priueyliche he wente.  (C 15.150)
And Resoun ran aftur and riht with hym 3ede;
Saue Concience and Clergie y couthe no mo aspye.
	Saue Pacience properliche spak, tho Peres was thus ypassed:
`That loueth lely,' quod he, `bote litel thyng coueyteth.
Y wolde, and y will hadde to, wynnen all Fraunce  (C 15.155)
Withoute bruttenynge of buyren or eny bloed-shedynge;
Y take wittenesse,' quod he, `of holy writ a partye:
	Pacientes vincunt.
For, by hym at me made, myhte neuere pouerte,
Meseyse ne meschief, ne man with his tonge
Tene e eny tyme and ou take pacience  (C 15.160)
And bere hit in thy bosom aboute wher ou wendest
In e corner of a cart-whel, with a crow croune.
Shal neuere buyren be abasched at hath this abouten hym,
Ne neuere hete ne hayl ne helle-pouke hym greue,
Noer fuyr ne floed, ne be aferd of enemye.  (C 15.165)
	Caritas expellit omnem timorem.
Be er is wyht in this world at wolde the lette
To haue alle londes at thy likyng, and the here lord make
And maister of alle here mebles and of here moneye aftur,
The kyng and alle e comune and clergie to e loute
As for here lord and here ledare, and liue as thow techest.'  (C
15.170)
	`This is a Dido,' quod this doctour, `a dysores tale!
Al the wit of this worlde and wyhte menne strenghe
Can nat parfourme a pees of the pope and his enemyes
Profitable for bothe parties'--and potte e boerd fro hym
And toek Clergie and Consience to conseyle, as hit were.  (C 15.175)
	Ac Concience, y toek kepe, conieyod sone this doctour
And sethe a saide to Clergie, so that y hit herde,
`By Crist,' quod Consience, `Clergie, y wol nat lye,
Me were leuere, by oure lorde, and y leue sholde,
Haue pacience parfitlyche then half thy pak of bokes!  (C 15.180)
Lettrure and longe studie letteth fol monye,
That they knoweth nat,' quod Concience, `what is kynde Pacience.
Forthy,' quod Concience, `Crist y the byteche,
With Pacience wol y passe, parfitnesse to fynde.'
	And wneten forth in here way, with grete wille y folowede.  (C 15.185)
Thenne hadde Pacience, as pilgrimes haen in here poke vitayles,
Sobrete and symple speche and sothfaste byleue,
To conforte hym and Consience yf they come in place
There vnkyndenesse and coueytise is, hungry contreys bothe.
	And as they wente by the way of Dowel can they carpe;  (C 15.190)
They mette with a mynstral, as me tho thoughte.
Pacience apposede hym and preyede a sholde telle
What craft at he couthe, and corteysliche he saide:
`Ich am a mynstral,' quod this man, `my name is Actiua Vita,
Peres prentys e plouhman, alle peple to conforte.'  (C 15.195)
	`What manere munstracye, my dere frende,' quod Concience,
`Hastow vsed or haunted al thy lyf-tyme?'
	`Munstracye can y nat moche bote make men merye;
As a wafrrer with wafres ay welcome godes gestes.
Of my labour thei louhe, e lasse and e more.  (C 15.200)
The pore and they ryche y plese and payn fynde
And fewe robes y fonge or forrede gounes.
Wolde y lye and do men lawhe thenne lacchen y scholde
Or mantel or mone amonges lordes munstrals.
Y can nat tabre ne trompy ne telle fayre gestes,  (C 15.205)
Farten ne fythelen at festes, ne harpe,
Iape ne iogele ne genteliche pipe,
Ne noer sayle ne sautrien ne syngen with e geterne.
Y haue no gode giftes of thise grete lordes
For no breed at y betrauaile furste to bryng byfore lordes,  (C
15.210)
Nere hit at e parsche preyeth for me on Sonendayes.
Y am sory at y sowe or sette but for mysulue,
Ac e prest and oere peple preyeth for Peres e plouheman
And for me, Actyf, his man, at ydelnesse hate;
Lordes and lorelles, luther and gode,  (C 15.215)
Fro Mihel-masse to Mihel-masse y fynde mete and drynke.
	Y fynde payn for e pope and preyen hym ych wolde
That pestilences to pees and parfyt loue turnen.
For founde y at his blessynge and his bulle myhte
Lette this luythere eir and leche e sike--  (C 15.220)
As e boek bereth witnesse at he bere myhte
In his mouthe mercy and amende vs alle,
	Super egros manus ponebant et bene habebunt--
And thenne wolde y be bysy and buxum to helpe
Vch a kyne creature at on Crist leueth.
For sethe he hath e power at Peter hadde he hath e pott with e
salue.  (C 15.225)
	Argentum et aurum non est michi; quod habeo tibi do
Ac yf myhte of myracle hym fayle hit is for men beth not worthy
To haue e grace of god, and no gulte of e pope.
For may no blessynge doen vs bote but yf we wol amende,
Ne mannes prayere maky pees amonges cristene peple
Til pruyde be puyreliche fordo and at thorw payn defaute.  (C 15.230)
	Habundancia panis et vini turpissimum peccatum aduenit.
Plente of payn the peple of Sodoume
And reste and ryche metes rebaudes hem made.'
	`Pees!' quod Pacience, `Y preye 3ow, sire Actyf!
For o3 nere payn ne plouh ne potage were,
Pruyde wolde potte hymsulf forth thogh no plough erye.  (C 15.235)
Hit am y at fynde alle folke and fram hunger saue
Thorw the helpe of hym at me hyder sente.'
And saide, `Lo, here lyflode ynow, yf oure beleue be trewe.
For lente neuere was here lyf but lyflode were shape
Wherof or wherfore and wherwith to lyuene:  (C 15.240)
e worm atg woneth vnder erthe and in water fisches,
The cryket by kynde of e fuyr and corleu by e wynde,
Bestes by gras and by grayn and by grene rotes,
In menynge at alle men myhte e same
Leue thorw lele beleue as oure lord wittenesseth:  (C 15.245)
 Quodcumque pecieritis in nomine meo dabitur enim vobis.  Et alibi:
 Non in solo pane viuit homo.'
	`Hastow,' quod Actyf, `ay such mete with the?"
	`3e,' quod Pacience, and oute of his poke hente
A pece of e pater-noster and profred hit to vs alle.
And y lystnede and lokede what lyflode hit were
And thenne was hit fiat voluntas tua at sholde fynde vs alle.  (C
15.250)
	`Haue, Actyf,' quod Pacience, `and eet this when e hungreth
Or when thow claumsest for colde or clingest for eny drouthe,
And shal neuere gyues the greue ne grete lordes wrathe,
Prisoun ne oer payne, for pacientes vincunt.
By so at ou be sobre of syhte and of tonge,  (C 15.255)
In ondynge and handlynge, in alle thy fyue wittes,
Dar e nat care for no corn ne for cloth ne for drynke,
Ne deth drede ne deuel, deye as god liketh
Wheer thorw hunger or hete, at his wille be hit;
For if thow lyuest aftur his lore the shortere lyf e betere.  (C
15.260)
Si quis amat Christum mundum non diligit istum.
Thorw his breth bestes wexe and abroed 3eden:
	Dixit et facta fuerunt.
Ergo, thorw his breth bestes lyueth, bothe men and fisches,
As witnesseth holy writ when we seggeth oure graces:
	Aperis tu manum tuam, et imples omne animal benedictione.
	Hit is founde at fourty wynter folke lyuede and tylde nat,  (C
15.265)
And oute of e flynte spronge e floed at folk and bestes dronke.
And in Elies tyme heuene was yclosed
That no reyn ne roen; thus rat men on bokes,
That manye wynter men lyuede and no mete ne tylede.
Seuene slepen, as saith e boek, more then syxty wynter,  (C 15.270)
Lyuede withouten lyflode and at the laste awakede.
And yf men lyuede as mesure wolde sholde neuere be defaute
Amonges cristene creatures, yf Cristes wordes be trewe:
	Dabo tibi secundum peticionem tuam.'
	`What is parfit pacience?' quod Actiua Vita.
`Meeknesse and mylde speche and men of o will,  (C 15.275)
The whiche wil loue lat to oure lordes place,
And at is charite, chaumpion, chief of all vertues;
And at is pore pacient, alle perelles to soffre.'
	`Where pouerte and pacience plese more god almyhty
Then rihtfullyche rychesse and resonablelyche to spene?'  (C 15.280)
	`3e, quis est ille?' quod Pacience, `quik laudamus eum!
Thogh men rede of rychesse rihte to e worldes ende
I wiste neuere renke at riche was, at whan he rekene sholde
Then when he drow to e deth, that he ne dradd hym sarrore
Then eny pore pacient, and at preue y be resoun.  (C 15.285)
Hit are but fewe folk of this ryche that ne falleth in arrerage,
There e pore dar plede and preue by puyr resoun
To haue allouaunce of his lord; by puyre lawe he claymeth
Ioye at neuere ioye hadde; of rihtfull iuge he asketh
And saith, "Loo! briddes and bestes at no blisse ne knoweth  (C
15.290)
And wilde wormes in wodes, thorw wyntres thow hem greuest
And makest hem wel-neyh meke and mylde for defaute.
Theraftur thow sendest hem somer at is here souereyne ioye
And blisse to all at been, bothe to wilde and to tame."
Thenne may beggares, as bestes, aftur a blisse aske  (C 15.295)
That al here lyf haen lyued in langour and defaute.
Bote god sende hem somtyme sum manere ioye
Other here or elliswher, elles hit were reuthe.
For to wroer-hele was he wrouht at neuere was ioye yschape.
Angeles at in helle now ben hadden somtyme ioye,  (C 15.300)
And Dyues in his deyntees lyuede and in douce vie
And now he buyth hit bittere, he is a beggare of helle.
Many man hath his ioye here for al here wel dedes
And lordes and ladyes ben cald for ledes at they haue
And slepeth as hit semeth and somur euere hem folleweth.  (C 15.305)
Ac when deth awaketh hem of here wele at were er so ryche
Then aren hit puyre pore thynges in purgatorie or in hell.
Dauid in e sauter of suche maketh mynde,
And sayth, Dormierunt et nichil inuenerunt.  Et alibi: Velud sompnum
surgencium, etc.

                          C Pearsall Passus 16

Passus sextus de Dowel
Allas! at rychesse shal reue and robbe mannes soule
Fro e loue of oure lord at his laste ende.
Hewen at haen here huyre byfore aren eueremore pore
And selde deyeth oute of dette at dyneth ar he deserue hit.
When his dyuer is doen and his dayes iourne  (C 16.5)
Thenne may men wyte what he is worth and what he hath deserued,
Ac nat to fonge byfore for drede of dessallouwynge.
So y sey by 3ow ryche, hit semeth nat at 3e sholle
Haue two heuenes for 3oure here-beynge.
Muche murthe is in May amonge wilde bestes  (C 16.10)
And so forth whiles somur laste here solace duyreth,
And moche murthe among ryche men is at han meble ynow and hele.
Ac beggares aboute myssomur bredles they soupe,
And 3ut is wynter for hem worse, for weet-shoed ey gone,
Afurste and afyngered and foule rebuked  (C 16.15)
Of this world-ryche men, at reuthe is to here.
Now lord, sende hem somur somtyme to solace and to ioye
That al here lyf leden in lownesse and in pouerte!
For al myhtest ou haue ymad men of grete welthe
And yliche witty and wys and lyue withoute nede--  (C 16.20)
Ac for e beste, as y hope, aren some pore and ryche.
	Riht so haue reuthe on i renkis alle
And amende vs for thy mercy and make vs alle meke,
Lowe and lele and louynge and of herte pore.
And sende vs contricion to clanse with oure soules  (C 16.25)
And confessioun to kulle alle kyne synnes
And satisfaccioun e whiche folfilleth e fader will of heuene.
And these ben Dowel and Dobet and Dobest of alle.
Cordis contricio cometh of sorughe of herte
And oris confessio, at cometh of shrifte of mouthe  (C 16.30)
And satisfaccion, at for soules paieth and for alle synnes quyteth.
Cordis contricio, Oris confessio, Operis satisfaccio:
Thise thre withoute doute tholieth alle pouerte
And lereth lewed and lered, hey and lowe to knowe
Ho doth wel or bet or beste aboue alle;  (C 16.35)
And holy churche and charite herof a chartre made.
And bote these thre at y spak of at domesday vs defende
Elles is al an ydel al oure lyuynge here,
Oure preyeres and oure penances and pilgrimages to Rome.
Bote oure spensis and oure spendyng sprynge of a trewe welle  (C 16.40)
Elles is alle oure labour loest--loo, how men writeth
In fenestres at e freres yf fals be e fondement!
Forthy cristene sholde be in comune ryche, noon coueytous for hymsulue,
For seuene synnes at er ben at assailen vs euere;
The fend folleweth hem alle and fondeth hem to helpe,  (C 16.45)
Ac with rychesse tho rybaudes rathest men bigileth.
	For ere at rychesses regneth reuerences folleweth,
And at is plesant to Pruyde, in pore and in ryche;
Ac e ryche is reuerenced by resoun aof his rychesse
There e pore is potte behynde and parauntur can more  (C 16.50)
Of wit and wisdoem, at fer away is bettere
Then rychesse or ryalte, and rather yherde in heuene.
For e ryche hath moche to rykene and riht softe walketh;
The hey way to heuene-ward he halt hit nat fol euene,
There e pore preseth byfore with a pak at his rugge--  (C 16.55)
	Opera eorum sequuntur illos--
Batauntliche, as beggares doen, and baldeliche he craueth
For his pouerte and his pacience perpetuel ioye.
	And Pruyde in rychesse regneth rather then in pouerte;
Or in e mayster or in e man som mansion he haueth.
Ac in pouerte e pacience is Pruyde hath no myhte  (C 16.60)
Ne none of e seuene synnes sitte ne may er longe
Ne haue power in pouerte yf pacience hym folewe.
For e pore is ay prest to plese e ryche
And buxum at his biddyng for his breed and his drynke,
And buxumnesse and boost aren eueremore at werre  (C 16.65)
And ayther hateth oer and may nat wone togyderes.
	Yf Wrathe wrastle with e pore he hath e worse end,
For yf they bothe pleyne the pore is bote feble
And yf he chyde or chattere hym cheueth e worse.
For louelyche he loketh and lowe is his speche  (C 16.70)
That mete or moneye of straunge men moet begge.
	And yf Glotonye greue pouerte he gadereth e lasse
For his rentes wol nat reche ryche metes to bugge.
And thogh his glotonye by of gode ale he goth to a colde beddynge
And his heued vnheled, vnesylyche ywrye  (C 16.75)
For when he streyneth hym to strecche the strawe is his shetes.
So for his glotonye and his grete synne he hath a greuous penaunce,
at is welowo when he awaketh and wepeth for colde;
So he is neuere merye, so meschief hym folleweth.
	And thogh Coueytyse wolde with e pore wrastle they may nat come
togyderes  (C 16.80)
And by e nekke namelyche here noen may henten other;
For men knowen wel at Coueytise is of a kene will
And hath hondes and armes of a longe lenthe
And pouerte is bote a pety thyng, appereth nat to his nauele,
And louely layk was hit neuere bytwene a longe and a short one.  (C
16.85)
And thogh Auaryce wolde angry pouerte he hath bote lytel myhte
For pouerte hath bote pokes to potten in his godes
There Auaryce hath almaries and yre-bounden coffres.
And where be bettere to breke? lasse boest hit maketh
To breke a beggares bagge then an yre-bounden coffre.  (C 16.90)
	And Lecherye loueth no pore for he hath bote litel siluer
Ne doth men dyne delicatlyche ne drynke wyne ofte.
A straw for the stuyues! hit stoed nat hadde they noen haunte bote of
pore!
	And thow Sleuthe sewe pouerte, and serue nat god to paye,
Meschief is ay a mene and maketh hym to thenke  (C 16.95)
That god is his gretteste helpe and no gome elles,
And he his seruant alway, he saith, and of his secte bothe.
And where he be or be nat, a bereth e signe of pouerte
And in at secte oure saueour saued al mankynde.
	Forthy alle pore at pacient is of puyr rihte may claymen  (C 16.100)
Aftur here endynge here heuene-ryche blisse.
Moche hardyore may he aske at here myhte haue his wille
In lond and in lordschipe, in lykynge of body,
And for goddes loue leueth al and lyueth as a beggare.
As a mayde for a mannes loue here moder forsoke,  (C 16.105)
Here fader and alle here frendes and goth forth with here paramours:
Moche is suche a mayde to louye of a man at such oen taketh,
More then at mayde is at is maried by brocage,
As by assente of sondry persones and suluer to bote,
More for coueytise of catel then kynde loue of e mariage.  (C 16.110)
So hit fareth by vch a persone at possession forsaketh
And potte hym to be pacient and pouerte weddeth,
The whiche is syb to Crist sulue and semblable bothe.'
	Quod Actyf tho al angryliche and arguinge as hit were:
`What is pouerte, Pacience?' quod he, y preye at thow telle hit.'  (C
16.115)
`Paupertas,' quod Pacience, `est odibile bonum, remocio curarum,
possesio 		sine calumpnia, donum dei, sanitatis mater, absque
                solicitudine semita, sapiencie temperatrix, negocium
                sine dampno, incerta fortuna, absque solicitudine
                felicitas.'
`Y can nat construe al this,' quod Actiua Vita.
`Parfay,' quod Pacience, `propreliche to telle hit,
Al this in Engelysch, hit is ful hard, ac sumdel y shal telle the.
	Pouerte is the furste poynte at pruyde moest hateth;  (C 16.120)
Thenne is pouerte goed, by goed skill, thouh hit greue a litel,
Al at may potte of pruyde in eny place er he regneth.
	Remocio curarum.
Selde syt pouerte e sothe to declare,
Or a iustice to iuge men, me enioyneth erto no pore,
Ne to be a mair ouer men ne mynistre vnder kynges.  (C 16.125)
Selde is eny pore ypot to punyshe eny peple,
Ergo pouerte and pore men parforme e comandement
	Nolite iudicare quemquam.
	Possessio sine calumpnia.
Selde is e pore rihte ryche but of his rihtfole eritage;
Wynneth he nat with wightes false ne with vnselede mesures
Ne boreweth of his neyhebore but at he may wel paye,  (C 16.130)
And me leneth lyhtly fewe men and me wene hem pore.
	The furthe hit is a fortune at florischeth e soule
With sobrete fro alle synnes and also 3ut more:
Hit defendeth e flesche fram folies ful monye,
A collateral confort, Cristes oune sonde:  (C 16.135)
	Donum dei.
3ut is hit moder of myhte and of mannes helthe
And frende in alle fondynges and of foule eueles leche:
	Sanitatis mater.
The sixte hit is a path of pees, 3e! thorwe e pase of Aultoun
Pouerte myhte passe withoute perel of robbynge.
For er as pouerte passeth pes folleweth comunely  (C 16.140)
And euere e lasse at on lede e lihtere his herte is there,
As he at woet neuere with wham on nyhtes tyme to mete.
	Seneca: Paupertas est absque solicitudine semita.
The seuethe is a welle of wysdoem and fewe wordes sheweth
For lordes alloueth hym litel or leggeth ere to his resoun;
A tempreth e tonge to treuthe-ward at no tresore coueyteth.  (C
16.145)
	The ey3te hit is a lel labour and loeth to take more
Then he may sothly deserue in somur or in wynter,
And thogh he chaffre, he chargeth no loes, may he charite wynne:
	Negocium sine dampno.
The nythe hit is swete to soules ne no sucre swettore,
For pacience is his paniter and pouerte payn here fyndeth  (C 16.150)
And sobrete 3eueth here swete drynke and solaceth here in all angrys.
Thus lered me a lered man for oure lordes loue, seynt Austyn,
That puyre pouerte and pacience was a louh lyuynge on erthe,
A blessed lyf withoute bisinesse bote onelyche for e soule:
	Absque solicitudine felicitas.
Now god at al gyueth graunte his soule reste (C 16.155)
That wroet thus to wisse men what pouerte was to mene!'
	Thenne hadde Actyf a ledare at hihte Liberum Arbitrium;
A knewe Consience ful wel and Clergie bothe.
`He at hath lond and lordschipe,' quod he, `at e laste ende
Shal be porest of power at his partynge hennes.'  (C 16.160)
Thenne hadde y wonder what he was, at Liberum Arbitrium,
And preyde Pacience at y apose hym moste.
And he soffrede me and saide, `Assay his oer name.'
`Leue Liberum Arbitrium,' quod y, `of what lond ar 3e?
And yf thow be Cristes creature, for Cristes loue telle me.'  (C
16.165)
	`Y am Cristes creature,' quod he, `and of his kynne a party,
And in Cristes court yknowe wel and of cristene in mony a place.
Is noer Peter the porter ne Poul with the fauchen
That wol defend me heuene dore, dynge y neuere so late.
At mydnyhte, at mydday, my vois is so yknowe  (C 16.170)
That vch a creature at loueth Crist welcometh me faire.'
	`Whareof serue 3e?' y saide, `sire Liberum Arbitrium?'
	`Of som tyme to fihte,' quod he, `falsnesse to destruye,
And som tyme to soffre bothe tene and sorwe,
Layk of leue, at my lykyng chese  (C 16.175)
To do wel or wykke, a will with a resoun,
And may nat be withoute a body to bere me where hym liketh.'
	`Thenne is at body bettere en ou?' quod y.  `Nay,' quod he, `no
bettere,
Bote as wode were afuyre thenne worcheth bothe
And ayther is otheres hete and also of o will;  (C 16.180)
And so is man at hath his mynde myd Liberum Arbitrium.
	And whiles y quyke e cors ycald am y Anima,
And when y wilne and wolde Animus y hatte,
And for at y can and knowe ycald am y Mens,
And when y make mone to god, Memoria y hatte,  (C 16.185)
And when y deme domes and do as treuthe techeth
Thenne ys Racio my rihte name, Reson on Englische.
And when y fele at folke telleth my furste name is Sensus
And at is wit and wysdoem, the welle of alle craftes.
And when y chalenge or chalenge nat, chepe or refuse,  (C 16.190)
Thenne am y Concience ycald, goddes clerk and his notarie.
And when y wol do or do nat gode dedes or ille
Thenne am y Liberum Arbitrium, as lered men telleth.
And when y louye lelly oure lord and alle oere
Thenne is Lele Loue my name, and in Latyn, Amor.  (C 16.195)
And when y fle fro e body and feye leue e caroyne
Thenne am y spirit spechelees and Spiritus then y hote.
Austyn and Ysodorus, either of hem bothe
Nempned me thus to name; now ou myhte chese
How ou coueytest to calle me, now ou knowest al my names.  (C 16.200)
	Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur: dum viuificat
 corpus, Anima est; dum vult, Animus est; dum scit, Mens est; dum
 recolit, Memoria est; dum iudicat, Racio est; dum sentit, Sensus est;
 dum amat, Amor est; dum declinat de malo ad bonum, Liberum Arbitrium
 est; dum negat vel consentit, Consciencia est; dum spirat, Spiritus
 est.'
	`3e beth as a bischop!,' quod y, al bourdynge at tyme,
`For bisshopes yblessed they bereth many names,
Presul and pontifex and metropolitanus
And oere names an heep, episcopus and pastor.'
	`That is soth,' he sayde.  `Now y se thy wille:  (C 16.205)
Thow woldest knowe and connne e cause of all here names
And of myn yf thow myhteste, me thynketh by thy speche.'
	`3e, sire!' y sayde, `by so no man were ygreued,
Alle e sciences vnder sonne and alle e sotil craftes
Y wolde y knewe and couthe kyndeliche in myn herte.'  (C 16.210)
	`Thenne artow inparfit,' quod he, `and oen of Pruydes knyhtes;
For such a lust and lykynge Lucifer ful fram heuene.
	Ponam pedem meum in aquilone.
Hit were a3eyns kynde,' quod he, `and alle kyne resoun
That eny creature sholde conne al, excepte Crist one.
A3enes alle such Salamon speketh and despiseth here wittes  (C 16.215)
And sayth: Sicut qui mel comedit multum, non est ei bonum; sic qui 
		scrutator est magestatis, opprimetur a gloria.
To Engelische men this is to mene, at mowen speke and here,
"The man at moche hony eet his mawe hit engleymeth;
The wittiore at eny wihte is, but yf he worche eraftur,
The bittorere he shal abugge, but yf he wel worche."  (C 16.220)
"Beatus," saith seynt Bernard, "qui scripturas legit
Et verba vertit in opera emforth his power."
Coueytyse to conne and to knowe sciences
Potte out of Paradys Adam and Eue.
	Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloriam spoliauit.
And riht as hony is euel to defie,  (C 16.225)
Riht so sothly sciences swelleth a mannes soule
And doth hym to be deynous and deme at beth nat lered.
"Non plus sapere," saide e wyse,
"Quam oportet sapere, laste synne of pruyde wexe."
	Freres fele tymes to e folk er they prechen  (C 16.230)
Mouen motyues mony tymes, insolibles and falaes,
That bothe lewed and lered of here beleue douten.
To teche e ten comaundementz ten sythe were bettere,
And how that folk folliche here fyue wittes myspenen,
As wel freres as oer folk, foliliche spenden  (C 16.235)
In housynge, in helynge, in high clergie schewynge
More for pompe and pruyde, as e peple woet wel.
That y lye nat, loo! for lordes 3e plese
And reuerence e ryche e rather for here suluer,
A3en e consayl of Crist as holy clergie witnesseth:  (C 16.240)
	Ne sitis acceptores personarum.
Lo, what holy writ wittnesseth of wikkede techares:
As holiness and honestee out of holy churche
Spryngeth and spredeth and enspireth e peple
Thorw parfit preesthoed and prelates of holy churche,
Riht so oute of holy churche al euel spredeth  (C 16.245)
There inparfit preesthoed is, prechares and techares.
And se hit by ensample in somur tyme on trees,
ere som bowes bereth leues and som bereth none;
Tho bowes at bereth nat and beth nat grene yleued,
There is a meschief in e more of suche manere stokkes.  (C 16.250)
Riht so persones and prestes and prechours of holy churche
Is e rote of rihte fayth to reule e peple;
Ac er e rote is roton, resoun woet e sothe,
Shal neuere flour ne fruyt wexe ne fayre leue be grene.
	For wolde 3e lettered leue e lecherye of clothyng  (C 16.255)
And be corteys and kynde of holy kyrke godes,
Parte with e pore and 3oure pruyde leue
And erto trewe of 3oure tonge and of 3oure tayl also
And hatien harlotrie and to vnderfonge e tythes
Of vsererus, of hores, of alle euel wynnynges,  (C 16.260)
Loeth were lewed bote they 3oure lore folweden
And amenden of here mysdedes more for ensaumples
Then for to prechen and preue hit nat--ypocrisye hit semth.
Ypocrisye is a braunche of pruyde, and most amonges clerkes,
And is ylikned in Latyn to a lothly dong-hep  (C 16.265)
That were bysnewed with snowe and snakes withynne,
Or to a wal ywhitlymed and were blak withynne;
Riht so many prestes, prechours and prelates,
That be enblaunched with bele paroles and with bele clothes
And as lambes they loke and lyuen as wolues.  (C 16.270)
Iohannes Crisostomus carpeth thus of clerkes:
	Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic de templo omne malum
 procedit.  Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret ecclesia; si
 autem corruptum fuerit, omnium fides marcida est.  Si sacerdocium
 fuerit in peccatis, totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum.  Sicut cum
 videris arborem pallidam et marcidam, intelligis quod uicium habet in
 radice, ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum et irreligiosum, sine
 dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum.
Allas! lewed men, moche lese 3e at fynde
Vnkunnynge curatours to be kepares of 3oure soules.
Ac thyng at wykkedliche is wonne and with fals sleythes
Wolde neuere oerwyse god but wikkede men hit hadde,  (C 16.275)
As inparfite prestes and prechours aftur suluer,
Seketours and sodenes, somnours and here lemmanes,
And at with gyle was gete vngraciousliche be yspened.
Curatours of holy churche and clerkes at ben auerous,
Lihtliche at they leue loseles hit deuoureth.  (C 16.280)
Leueth hit wel, lordes, both lewed and lered,
That thus goth here godes at e laste ende
That lyuen a3en holy lore and e loue of charite.'
	`Charite,' quod y tho, `at is a thyng forsothe
That maistres commenden moche; where may hit be yfounde?  (C 16.285)
Ich haue yleued in Londone mony longe 3eres
And fonde y neuere, in faith, as freres hit precheth,
Charite, at chargeth naught, ne chyt, thow me greue hym,
As Poul in his pistul of hym bereth wittenesse:
	Non inflatur, non est ambiciosa.
I knewe neuere, by Crist, clerk noer lewed  (C 16.290)
That he ne askede aftur his and oere-whiles coueytede
Thyng that nedede hym nauhte, and nyme hit, yf a myhte!
For thogh me souhte alle e sektes of susturne and of brethurne,
And fynde hym, but figuratyfly, a ferly me thynketh;
	Hic in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem.
And so y trowe treuly, by that me telleth of Charite.'  (C 16.295)
	`Charite is a childische thyng, as holy churche witnesseth,
	Nisi efficiamini sicut parvuli, etc.
As proude of a peny as of a pounde of golde,
And as glad of a goune of a gray russet
As of a cote of camaca or of clene scarlet.
He is glad with alle glade, as gurles at lawhen alle,  (C 16.300)
And sory when he seth men sory--as thow seest childerne
Lawhe er men lawheth and loure er oere louren.
And when a man swereth for soth, for sooth he hit troweth;
Weneth he at no wyhte wolde lye and swerie,
Ne at eny gome wolde gyle oere, ne greue,  (C 16.305)
For drede of god at so goed is, and thus-gates vs techeth:
	Quodcunque vultis vt faciant vobis homines, facite eis.
Hath he no lykynge to lawhe ne to likene men to scorne.
Alle seknesses and sorwes for solaces he hit taketh,
And alle manere meschiefs as munstracie of heuene.
Of deth ne of derthe drad was he neuere,  (C 16.310)
Ne mysliked thogh he lore, or lened at ilke
That neuere payed peny a3eyn in places er he borwede.'
	`Who fynt hym his fode?' quod y, `or what frendes hath he,
Rentes other richesse to releue him at his nede?'
	`Of rentes ne of oere rychesse ne reccheth he neuere.  (C 16.315)
A frende he hath at fynd him at faylede hym neuere:
Oen Aperis-tu-manum alle thynges hym fyndeth;
Fiat-voluntas-tua festeth hym vch a daye.
And also a can clergie, credo-in-deum-patrem,
And purtraye wel e pater-noster and peynten hit with auees.  (C
16.320)
And oer-while his wone is to wynde in pilgrimages
There pore men and prisones ben, and paye for here fode,
Clotheth hem and conforteth hem and of Crist precheth hem,
What sorwe he soffrede in ensaumple of vs alle
That pouerte and penaunce, pacientlyche ytake,  (C 16.325)
Worth moche meryte to at man at hit may soffre.
And when he hath visited thus fetered folke and oer folke pore,
Thenne 3erneth he into 3outhe and 3eepliche he secheth
Pruyde, with alle purtinaunces, and pakketh hem togyderes
And laueth hem in e lauendrie, laboraui-in-gemitu-meo,  (C 16.330)
Bouketh hem at his breste and beteth hit ofte,
And with warm water of his yes woketh hit til he white.
	Lauabis me, et super niuem dealbabor.
And thenne syngeth he when he doth so, and some tyme wepynge:
	Cor contritum et humiliatum, deus, non despicies.'
	`Were y with hym, by Crist,' quod y, `y wolde neuere fro hym,
Thogh y my byliue sholde begge aboute at menne hacches.  (C 16.335)
Where clerkes knowe hym nat,' quod y `at kepen holy churche?'
	`Peres the plouhman,' quod he, `moste parfitlyche hym knoweth.
	Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum.
By clothyng ne by carpynge knowe shaltow hym neuere,
Ac thorw werkes thow myhte wyte wher-forth he walketh.
	Operis credite.
He is e murieste of mouthe at mete er he sitteth,  (C 16.340)
And compenable in companye, as Crist hymsulue techeth:
	Nolite tristes fieri, sicut ypocrite.
Ych haue ysey hym mysulue somtyme in russet,
Bothe in gray and in grys and in gult harneys,
And also gladliche he hit gaf to gomes at hit nedede.
Edmond and Edward, ayer were seyntes,  (C 16.345)
And cheef charite with hem, and chaste all here lyues.
Ich haue yseye Charite also syngen and rede,
Ryden, and rennen in raggede clothes;
Ac biddyng als a beggare byhelde y hym neuere.
Ac in riche robes rathest he walketh,  (C 16.350)
Ycalled and ycrimyled and his croune yshaue.
And in frere frocke he was founde ones,
Ac hit is fer and fele 3er, in Franceys tyme;
In at sekte sethe to selde hath he be founde.
Riche men a recomendeth, and of her robes taketh,  (C 16.355)
Of tho that leleyche lyuen and louen and byleuon.
	Beatus est diues sine macula.
In kynges court a cometh, yf his consaile be trewe,
Ac yf couetyse be of his consaile a wol nat come erynne.
Amonges e comune in court a cometh bote selde,
For braulyng and bac-bitynge and berynge of fals witnesse.  (C 16.360)
In constorie bifore commissarie a cometh nat ful ofte,
For ouer-longe is here lawe but yf ay lacche suluer.
With bisshopes a wolde be, for beggares sake,
Ac auaris oer-whiles halt hym withoute e gate.
Kynges and cardynals knewen hym sum tyme,  (C 16.365)
Ac thorw coueytyse and his consaile ycongeyed is he ofte.
	And ho-so coueyteth to knowe him, such a kynde hym foleweth
As y tolde e with tonge, a litel tyme ypassed;
For noer he ne beggeth ne biddeth, ne borweth to 3elde.
He halt hit for a vyce and a foule shame  (C 16.370)
To begge or to borwe, but of god one.
	Panem nostrum cotidianum, etc.'

                          C Pearsall  Passus 17

Passus vii de dowel et explicit
`There is no such,' y sayde, `at som tyme ne borweth
Or beggeth and biddeth, be he ryche or pore,
And 3ut oer-while wroeth withouten eny synne.'
	`Ho is wroeth and wolde be awreke, holy writ preueth,' quod he,
`A passeth cheef charite, yf holy churche be trewe.  (C 17.5)
	Caritas omnia suffert.
Holy writ witnesseth er were suche eremytes,
Solitarie by hemsulue in here selles lyuede
Withoute borwynge or beggynge bote of god one,
Excepte at Egide a hynde oer-while
To his selle selde cam and soffred be mylked.  (C 17.10)
Elles foules fedde hem in frythes er they wonede,
Bothe Antony and Arseny and oer fol monye.
Paul primus heremita hadde yparrokede hymsulue
That no man myhte se hym for moes and for leues;
Foules hym fedde, yf frere Austynes be trewe,  (C 17.15)
For he ordeyned at ordre or elles ey gabben.
Paul aftur his prechyng paniars he made
And wan with his handes al at hym nedede.
Peter fischede for his fode and his fere Androwe;
Som they sode and some they solde and so they lyuede bothe.  (C 17.20)
Marie Maudeleyne by mores lyuede and dewes;
Loue and lele byleue held lyf and soule togyderes.
Marie Egipciaca eet in thritty wynter
Bote thre litle loues and loue was here soule.
	Y can nat rykene hem ri3t now ne reherse here names  (C 17.25)
That lyueden thus for oure lordes loue monye longe 3eres
Withoute borwynge or beggynge, or e boek lyeth,
And woneden in wildernesses amonges wilde bestes.
Ac durste no beste byte hem by day ne by nyhte
Bote myldelyche when ey metten maden lowe chere  (C 17.30)
And faire byfore tho men faunede with e tayles.
Ac bestes brouhte hem no mete bute onliche e foules
In tokenynge at trewe man alle tymes sholde
Fynde honest men and holy men and oer rihtfole peple.
For wolde neuere faythfull god at freres and monkes  (C 17.35)
Toke lyflode of luyther wynnynges in all here lyf-tyme.
	As wittnesseth holy writ what Tobie saide to his wyf,
When he was blynde, he herde a lambe blete:
"Wyf! be ywar!" quod he, "what haue we herynne?
Lord leue," quod at lede, "no stole thynge be herynne!"  (C 17.40)
	Videte ne furtum sit.  Et alibi: Melius est mori quam male viuere.
This is no more to mene bote men of holy churche
Sholde reseue riht nauht but at riht wolde
And refuse reuerences and raueners offrynges.
Thenne wolde lordes and ladyes be loth for to agulte
And to take of here tenauntes more then treuthe wolde,  (C 17.45)
And marchauntz merciable wolde be and men of lawe bothe,
Wolde religious refuse rauenours almesses.
And thenne grace sholde growe 3ut and grene-leued wexe
And charite at chield is now sholde chaufen of hymsulue
Anc conforte alle cristene, wolde holy churche amende.  (C 17.50)
	Iob e parfite patriarke this prouerbe wroet and tauhte
To make men louye mesure at monkes ben and freres:
	"Nunquam," dicit Iob, "rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam, aut mugiet
 bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit?"  Brutorum animalium natura te
 condempnat, quia cum pabulum comune sufficiat, ex adipe prodiit
 iniquitas tua.
Yf lewede men knewe this Latyn, a litel they wolden auysen hem
Ar they amorteysed eny more for monkes or for chanons.
Allas! lordes and ladyes, lewede consayle haue 3e  (C 17.55)
To feffe suche and fede at founded ben to e fulle
With at 3oure bernes and 3oure bloed by goed lawe may clayme!
For god bad his blessed, as e boek techeth--
	Honora patrem et matrem--
To helpe thy fader formost byfore freres or monkes
Or ar prestes or pardoners or eny peple elles.  (C 17.60)
Helpe thy kyn, Crist bid, for er bigynneth charite,
And afturward awayte ho hath moest nede
And er help yf thow haste, and at halde y charite.
	Lo! Laurence for his largenesse, as holy lore telleth
That his mede and his manhede for eueremore shal laste:  (C 17.65)
	Iusticia eius manet in eternum.
He gaf goddes men goddes goodes and nat grete lordes
And fedde at afyngred were and in defaute lyuede.
Y dar nat carpe of clerkes now at Cristes tresor kepe
That pore peple of puyre riht here part myhte aske.
Of at at holy churche of e olde lawe claymeth  (C 17.70)
Prestes on aparayl and on Purnele now spene.
	Me may now likene lettred men to a Loscheborw oer worse
And to a badde peny with a gode printe:
Of moche mone at is mad e metal is nauhte
And 3ut is e printe puyr trewe and parfitliche ygraue.  (C 17.75)
And so hit fareth by false cristene: here follynge trewe,
Cristendoem of holy kyrke, the kynges marke of heuene,
Ac e metal, at is mannes soule, of many of this techares
Is alayed with leccherye and oer lustes of synne,
That god coueyteth nat e coyne at Crist hymsulue printede  (C 17.80)
And for e synne of e soule forsaketh his oune coyne.
Thus ar 3e luyer ylikned to Lossheborwes sterlynges
That fayre byfore folk prechen and techen
And worcheth nat as 3e fyndeth ywryte and wisseth e peple.
	For what thorw werre and wrake and wikkede hefdes,  (C 17.85)
May no preyere pees make in no place, hit semeth.
Lewed men han no byleue and lettred men erren;
Noer see ne sond ne e seed 3eldeth
As they ywoned were--in wham is defaute?
Nat in god, at he ne is goed, and e grounde bothe;  (C 17.90)
And e se and the seed, e sonne and e mone
Doen her deuer day and nyhte--dede we so also
There sholde be plente and pees perpetuel euere.
Weder-wyse shipmen now and oer witty peple
Haen no byleue to e lyft ne to e lode-sterres.  (C 17.95)
Astronomiens alday in here arte faylen
That whilum warnede men byfore what sholde byfalle aftur.
Shipmen and sheepherdes by e seuene sterres
Wisten wel and tolde when hit sholde ryne.
Tilyares at tilede e erthe tolden here maystres  (C 17.100)
By the seed at they sewe what ey sulle myhte
And what lyue by and lene, the londe was so trewe.
	Now failleth this folk, bothe follwares and shipmen,
Noer they ne knoweth ne conneth a cours by anoer.
Astronamyens also aren at here wittes ende;  (C 17.105)
Of at was kalculed of e clymat e contrarie ey fynde.
Gramer, e grounde of al, bigileth nouthe childrene,
For is noon of ise newe clerkes, ho-so nymeth hede,
at can versifye fayre or formallych endite
Ne construe kyndelyche at poetes made.  (C 17.110)
	Go we now to eny degre and bote Gyle be holde a maister
And Flaterere for his vscher, ferly me thynketh.
Doctours of decre and of diuinite maistres,
That sholde e seuene ars conne and assoile a quodlibet,
Bote they fayle in philosophie--and philosoferes lyuede  (C 17.115)
And wolde wel examene hem--wonder me thynketh!
Lord lete at this prestes lelly seien here masse
That thy ouerhippe nat for hastite, as y hope they do nat--
Thogh hit suffice for oure sauacioun soethfaste byleue,
As clerkes in Corpus Cristi feste syngen and reden  (C 17.120)
That sola fides sufficit to saue with lewede peple.
	Ac 3if prestes doen here deuer wel we shal do e bettre,
For Sarrasynes may be saued so yf they so byleued
In e letynge of here lyf to leue on holy churche.'
	`What is holy churche, chere frende?' quod y.  `Charite,' he saide; 
(C 17.125)
Lief and loue and leutee in o byleue and lawe,
A loue-knotte of leutee and of lele byleue,
Alle kyne cristene cleuynge on o will,
Withoute gyle and gabbyng gyue and sulle and lene.
Loue lawe withoute leutee allouable was hit neuere;  (C 17.130)
God lereth no lyf to louye withouten lele cause.
	Iewes and gentel Sarresines iugen hemsulue
That lelyche they byleue, and 3ut here lawe diuerseth,
And o god at al bygan with gode herte they honoureth
And ayther loueth and byleueth in o god almyhty.  (C 17.135)
Ac oure lord aloueth no loue but lawe be e cause:
For lechours louyen a3en e lawe and at e laste  ben dampned,
And theues louyen and leute haten and at e laste ben hanged,
And lele men lyue as lawe techeth and loue erof aryseth,
The whiche is e heued of charite and hele of mannes soule.  (C 17.140)
	Dilige deum propter deum, id est propter veritatem; Et inimicum tuum
 propter mandatum, id est propter legem; Et amicum propter amorem, id
 est propter caritatem.
Loue god for he is goed and grounde of alle treuthe;
Loue thyn enemye entierly, goddes heste to fulfille;
Loue thy frende at folleweth thy wille, that is thy fayre soule.
For when alle frendes faylen and fleen away in deynge
Thenne seweth the soule to sorwe or to ioye  (C 17.145)
And ay hopeth eft to be with here body at e laste
In murthe or in mournynge and neuere eft to departe.
And at is charite, leue chield, to be cher ouer thy soule;
Contrarie her nat, as in consience, yf thow wold come to heuene.'
	`Where Sarresynes,' y saide, `yse nat what is charite?'  (C 17.150)
	`Hit may be so at Sarrasynes haen such a manere charite,
Louen as by lawe of kynde oure lord god almyhty.
Hit is kyndly thyng creature his creatour to honoure,
For er is no man at mynde hath at ne meketh him and bysecheth
To at lord at hym lyf lente, lyflode hym sende.  (C 17.155)
Ac many manere men er ben, as Sarresynes and Iewes,
Louyeth nat at lord aryht as by e Legende Sanctorum
And lyuen oute of lele byleue for they leue on a mene.
A man at hihte Makameth for Messie they hym holdeth
And aftur his leryng they lyue and by lawe of kynde,  (C 17.160)
And when kynde hath his cours and no contrarie fyndeth
Thenne islawe ylefte and leute vnknowe.
Beaute sanz bounte blessed was hit neuere
Ne kynde sanz cortesie in no contreye is preysed.
	Me fynde wel at Macometh was a man ycristened  (C 17.165)
And a cardinal of court, a gret clerk withalle,
And pursued to haue be pope, prince of holy chirche.
Ac for he was lyk a Lossheborw y leue oure lord hym lette.
Forthy souhte he into Surie and sotiled how he myhte
Be maister ouer alle tho men and on this manere a wrouhte.  (C 17.170)
He endaunted a douue and a day and nyhte here fedde;
In ayer of his eres priueliche he hadde
Corn at e coluere eet when he come in places.
And in what place he prechede and the peple tauhte
Thenne sholde e coluere come to e clerkes ere,  (C 17.175)
Menyng as aftur mete, thus Macumeth here enchauntede.
And when e coluer cam thus then knelede e peple,
For Macometh to men swaer hit was a messager of heuene
And sothliche at god sulue in suche a coluere lyknesse
Tolde hym and tauhte him how to teche e peple.  (C 17.180)
Thus Macumeth in misbileue man and woman brouhte
And on his lore thei lyuen 3ut, as wel lered as lewed.
And seth oure saueour soffrede such a fals cristene
Disceue so the Sarrasyns, sothlyche me thynketh
Holy men, as y hope, thorw helpe of the holy goste  (C 17.185)
Sholden conuerte hem to Crist and cristendoem to take.
	Allas! at men so longe on Macometh bileueth,
So manye prelates to preche as e pope maketh,
Of Nasareth, of Nyneue, of Neptalym, of Damaske,
That they ne wente in world as holy writ byd:  (C 17.190)
Ite in vniversum mundum, sethe 3e wilne e name
To be prelates, and preche the passioun of Iesus,
And as hymsulue saide so to lyue and deye.
	Bonus pastor animam suam ponit pro ouibus suis.
	Hit is reuthe to rede how riht holy men lyuede,
How they deffouled here flesche, fosoke here owne wille,  (C 17.195)
Fer fro couthe and fro kyn euele yclothed 3eden,
Baddeliche ybedded, no boek but here consience
Ne no rychesse but e rode to reioysen hem ynne.
	Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri.
And tho was pees and plente amonges pore and ryche;
And now is reuthe to rede how e rede noble  (C 17.200)
Is reuerenced byfore the rode and resceyued for the worthiore
To amende and to make, as with men of holy churche,
Thenne Cristes cros at ouercome deth and dedly synne.
	And now is werre and wo, and who-so why asketh--
For couetyse aftur a cros; the corone stand in golde.  (C 17.205)
Bothe riche and religioues at rode they honouren
That in grotes is graue and in golde nobles.
For couetyse of that croes clerkes of holi churche
Sholle ouerturne as e Templers dede, e tyme approcheth faste.
Minne 3e not, lettred men, how tho men honourede  (C 17.210)
More tresor then treuthe? y dar nat telle e sothe
How tho corsede cristene catel and richesse worschipede;
Resoun and rihtfol doem tho religious dampnede.
Riht so, 3e clerkes, 3oure coueytise, ar come auht longe,
Shal dampne dos ecclesie and depose 3ow for 3oure pruyde.  (C 17.215)
	Deposuit potentes de sede.
3if knyhthoed and kynde wit and e comune and consience
Togederes louyen lelelyche, leueth hit, bisshopes,
The lordschipe of londes lese 3e shal for euer
And lyuen as Leuitici dede and as oure lord 3ow techeth:
	Per primicias et decimas.
	Whan Constantyn of his cortesye holy kirke dowede  (C 17.220)
With londes and ledes, lordschipes and rentes,
And angel men herde an hye at Rome crye:
"Dos ecclesie this day hath ydronke venym
And at haen Petres power aren apoisened alle."
A medecyne moste erto at myhte amende o prelates  (C 17.225)
That sholde preye for e pees and possession hem letteth.
Taketh here londe, 3e lordes, and lat hem lyue by dymes
Yf the kynges coueyte in Cristes pees to lyuene.
For if possession be poysen and inparfit hem make,
The heuedes of holy churche and tho that ben vnder hem,  (C 17.230)
Hit were charite to deschargen hem for holy churche sake
And purge hem of e olde poysen ar more perel falle.
For were presthode more parfyte, that is, e pope formost
That with moneye maynteyneth men to werre vppon cristene
A3en e lore of oure lord as seynt Luk witnesseth,  (C 17.235)
	Michi vindictam,
His preyeres with his pacience to pees sholde brynge
Alle londes into loue and at in lytel tyme;
The pope with alle prestes pax vobis sholde make.
	And take hede how Macometh thorw a mylde dowue
Hadde al Surie as hymsulue wolde and Sarrasines in equitee.  (C 17.240)
Naught thorw manslaght and mannes strenghe Macometh hadde e maistrie
Bote thorw pacience and priue gyle he was prince ouer hem all.
In such manere me thynketh moste e pope,
Prelates and prestis preye and biseche
Deuouteliche day and nyhte and withdrawe hem fro synne  (C 17.245)
And crie to Crist a wolde his coluer sende,
The whiche is e hy holy gost at out of heuene descendet
To make a perpetuel pees bitwene e prince of heuene
And alle maner men at on this molde libbeth.
Yf prestehode were parfyt and preyede thus, the peple sholde amende  (C
17.250)
That contraryen now Cristes lawes and cristendoem dispisen.
	For sethe at this Sarrasines, scribz and this Iewes
Haen a lyppe of oure bileue, the lihtlokour me thynketh
They sholde turne, ho-so trauayle wolde and of e trinite teche hem.
For alle paynyme preyeth and parfitliche bileueth  (C 17.255)
In e grete god of heuene and his grace asken
And maken here mone to Macometh here message to shewe.
Thus in a fayth lyueth at folk and in a fals mene,
And at is reuthe for tho rihtfole men at in at reume wonyeth
And a perel for prelates at e pope maketh  (C 17.260)
That bereth name of Neptalym, of Niniue, of Damaske.
	For when e hye kyng of heuene sente his sone til erthe
Mony myracles a wrouhte, men for to torne,
In ensaumple at men sholde se by sad resoen
That men myhte nat be saued but thorw mercy and grace  (C 17.265)
And thorw penaunce and passioun and parfyt bileue;
And bicam man of a mayde and metropolitanus
And baptisede and bissheinede with e bloed of his herte
Alle at wilnede and wolde with inwit bileue hit.
Mony seynte sethe soffrede deth also,  (C 17.270)
For to enferme e fayth ful wyde-whare deyede,
In Ynde, in Alisandre, in Armonye, in Spayne,
And fro mysbileue mony men turnede.
In sauacioun of mannes soule seynte Thomas of Canterbury
Amonges vnkynde cristene in holy churche was slawe,  (C 17.275)
And alle holy kirke honoured thorw that deyng.
He is a forbisene to alle bisshopis and a briht myrrour
And souereynliche to suche at of Surie bereth e name,
And nat in Ingelond to huppe aboute and halewe men auters
And crepe in amonges curatours and confessen a3eyn e lawe,  (C 17.280)
	Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam.
Many man for Cristes loue was martired amonges Romaynes
Or cristendoem were knowe ere or eny croos honoured.
	Euery bisshope bi e lawe sholde buxumliche walke
And pacientliche thorw his prouynce and to his peple hym shewe,
Feden hem and follen hem and fere hem fro synne--  (C 17.285)
	Baculi forma sit, presul, hec tibi norma:
Fer, trahe, punge gregem, seruando per omnia legem--
And enchaunten hem to charite on holy churche to bileue.
For as e kynde is of a knyhte or for a kynge to be take
And amonges here enemyes in mortel batayles  (C 17.290)
To be culd and ouercome the comune to defende,
So is e kynde of a curatour for Criste loue to preche
And deye for his dere childrene to destruye dedly synne
	Bonus pastor,
And nameliche er at lewede lyuen and no lawe ne knoweth.
Ac we cristene conneth e lawe and haen of oure tonge  (C 17.295)
Bischopes and bokes the bileue to teche.
	Iewes lyuen in e lawe at oure lord tauhte
Moises to be maister erof til Messie come,
And on at lawe they leue and leten hit for e beste.
And 3ut knewe they Crist at cristendoem tauhte  (C 17.300)
And for a parfit profete that moche peple sauede
And of selcouthe sores saued men fol ofte.
By e myracles at he made Messie he semede
Tho he luft vp Lasar at layde was in graue
Quadriduanus coeld, quyk dede hym walke.  (C 17.305)
Iewes sayde at hit seye with soercerye he wrouhte
And studeden how to struye hym and struyden hemsulue
And her power thorw his pacience to puyr nauht brouhte.
	And 3ut they seyen sothly and so doen e Sarrasynes
That Iesus was bote a iogelour, a iapere amonges e comune,  (C 17.310)
And a sofistre of soercerie and a pseudo-propheta,
And that his lore was lesynges and lakken hit alle
And hopen at he be to come at shal hem releue;
Moises oer Macometh here maystres deuyneth,
And haen a suspectioun to be saef, bothe Sarresynes and Iewes,  (C
17.315)
Thorw Moises and Macometh and myhte of god at made al.
	And sethe at this Sarresynes and also e Iewes
Conne e furste clause of oure bileue, Credo in deum patrem,
Prelates and prestes sholde preue yf they myhte
Lere hem littelum and littelum et in Iesum Christum filium,  (C 17.320)
Til they couthe speke and spele et in Spiritum sanctum,
Recorden hit and rendren hit with remissionem peccatorum,
	Carnis resurrectionem et vitam eternam.  Amen.'

                          C Pearsall  Passus 18


Passus primus de Dobet
`Leue Liberum Arbitrium, quod y, `y leue, as y hope,
Thow couthest telle me and teche me to Charite, as y leue?'
	Thenne louh Liberum Arbitrium and ladde me forth with tales
Til we cam into a contre, Cor-hominis hit heihte,
Erber of alle pryuatees and of holynesse.
Euene in e myddes an ympe, as hit were,
That hihte Ymago-dei, graciousliche hit growede.
	Thenne gan y aske what hit hihte, and he me sone tolde.
`The tree hatte Trewe-loue,' quod he, `the trinite hit sette;
Thorw louely lokynges hit lyueth and launseth vp blosmes,
The whiche blosmes buirnes Benigne-speche hit calleth.
And erof cometh a goed fruyt, e whiche men calleth werkes
Of holynesse, of hendenesse, of helpe-hym-at-nedeth,
The whiche is Caritas ykald, Cristes oune fode,
And solaceth alle soules sorwful in purgatory.'
	`Now, certes,' y sayde, and si3te for ioye,
`Y thonke 3ow a thousand sethe that 3e me hider kende,
And sethen at 3e fouchensaef to sey me as hit hoteth.'
And he thonkede me tho.  Bote thenne toek y hede,
Hit hadde schoriares to shuyuen hit vp, thre shides of o lenghe
And of o kyne colour and kynde, as me thoghte,
Alle thre yliche long and yliche large.
Moche merueyled me on what more thei growede,
And askede eft of hym of what wode they were?
	`Thise thre shorriares,' quod he `that bereth vp this plonte,
Bytokeneth trewely the trinite of heuene,
Thre persones indepartable, perpetuel were euere,
Of o will, of o wit; and herwith y kepe
The fruyt of this fayre tre fro thre wikkede wyndes,
And fro falling e stok, hit faile not of his myght.
The World is a wikkede wynd to hem at wolde treuthe;
Couetyse cometh of at wynde, and Caritas hit abiteth
And forfret at fruyt thorw many fayre sihtes;
And with e furste planke y palle hym down, Potencia-dei-patris.
Thenne is e Flesch a fel wynde, and in flouryng-tyme
Thorw lecherie and lustes so loude he gynneth blowe
That hit norischeth nise sihtes and som tyme wordes
And many wikkede werkes, wormes of synne,
And al forbet Caritas rihte to e bare stalke;
Thenne sette y e seconde planke, Sapiencia-dei-patris,
The which is e passioun and e penaunce and e parfitnesse of Iesus,
And erwith y warde hit oer-while til hit waxe rype.
And thenne fondeth the Fende my fruyte to destruye,
And leyth a laddere erto, of lesynges ben e ronges,
And with alle e wyles at he can, waggeth e rote
Thorw bakbitares and brauleres and thorw bolde chidares,
And shaketh hit; ne were hit vnder-shored, hit sholde nat stande.
So this lordeynes lithereth erto, at alle e leues falleth,
And feccheth away e fruyt som tyme byfore bothe myn yes.
And thenne palle y adoune the pouke with the thridde shoriere,
The whiche is Spiritus-sanctus and sothfaste bileue,
And that is grace of e Holy Gost; and thus gete y the maystrye.'
	I toted vpon at tree tho, and thenne toek y hede
Where e fruyt were fayre or foul for to loke on.
And e fruyt was fayre, non fayrere be myhte;
Ac in thre degrees hit grewe, grete ferly me thouhte,
And askede efte tho, where hit were all o kynde?
	`3e, sertes,' he sayde, `and sothliche leue hit,
Hit is al of o kynde, and at shal y preuen,
Ac somme ar swettore then somme and sonnere wollen rotye.
Me may se on an appul-tree, mony tyme and ofte,
Of o kynde apples aren and nat iliche grete,
Ne suynge smale, ne of o swettenesse swete.
Tho that sitten in e sonne-syde sannore aren rype,
Swettore and saueriore and also more grettore
Then tho that selde haen e sonne and sitten in e north half;
And so hit fareth sothly, sone, by oure kynde.
Adam was as tre, and we aren as his apples,
Somme of vs soethfaste and some variable,
Summe litel, somme large, ylik apples of oen kynde.
As weddede men and wedewes and riht worthy maydones,
The whiche e Seynt Spirit seweth, the sonne of al heuene,
And conforteth hem in here continence at lyuen in contemplacoun,
As monkes and monyals, men of holy churche;
These haen e hete of e Holi Goest as hath e crop of tre e sonne.
Wedewes and wedewares, at here ownere wil forsaken
And chaste leden here lyf, is lyf of contemplacioun,
And more lykynde to oure lorde then lyue as kynde asketh
And folewe at the flesche wole and fruyt forth brynge,
That Actiua lyf lettred men in here langage hit calleth.'
	`3e, sire,' y sayde, `and sethen er aren but tweyne lyues
That oure lorde alloweth, as lered men vs techeth,
Actiua Vita and Contemplatiua Vita,
Why groweth this fruyt in thre degrees?'  `A goed skil,' he saide;
`Here beneth y may nyme, yf y nede hadde,
Matrimonye, a moist fruyt, at multiplieth e peple.
And thenne aboue is bettere fruyt (ac bothe two ben gode),
Wydewhode, more worthiore then wedlok, as in heuene,
For at is euene with angelis, and angeles pere.
Hit was e furste fruyte at e fader of heuene blessed,
And bad hit be, of a bat of erthe, a man and a maide,
In menynge at the fayrest thyng the furste thynge shold honoure,
And e clennest creature furste creatour knowe.
In kynges court and in knyhtes, the clenneste men and fayreste
Shollen serue for e lord sulue, and so fareth god almyhty.
Maydones and martres ministrede him here on erthe
And in hey heuene is priueoste and next hym by resoun,
And for e fayrest fruyte byfore hym, as of erthe,
And swete withoute swellynge, sour worth hit neuere.'
	`This is a propre plonte,' quod y, `and priueliche hit bloweth,
And bryngeth forth fruyt, folk of alle nacion,
Bothe parfit and inparfit; puyr fayn y wolde
Assay what sauour hit hadde,' and saide at tyme,
`Leue Liberum Arbitrium, lat some lyf hit shake.'
	And anoon he hihte Elde an hy for to clymbe,
And shaken hit sharpeliche, the rype sholden falle.
And Elde clemp to e crop-ward, thenne comsed hit to crye.
A waggede Wedewhed, and hit wepte aftur;
A meued Matrimonye, hit made a foule noyse;
For euere as Elde hadde eny down, e deuel was wel redy
And gadered hem alle togyderes, bothe grete and smale,
Adam and Abraham and Ysaye e prophete,
Sampson and Samuel and seynt Iohn e Baptiste,
And baer hem forth baldly, nobody hym lette,
And made of holy men his hoerd in limbo inferni,
There is derkenesse and drede, and e deuel maister.
	Thenne moued hym moed in magestate dei,
That Libera-Voluntas-Dei lauhte e myddel shoriare
And hit aftur e fende, happe how hit myhte.
Filius, by e fadres wille, fley with Spiritus Sanctus
To go ransake at ragman and reue hym of his apples,
That thorw fals biheste and fruyt furste man disseyued.
	And thenne spak Spiritus Sanctus in Gabrieles mouthe
To a mayde at hihte Marie, a meke thyng withalle,
That oen Iesus, a iustices sone, moste iouken in here chaumbre,
Til plenitudo temporis tyme ycome were
That Elde felde efte e fruyt, or full to be rype,
That Iesus sholde iouste er-fore, and by iugement of armes,
Who sholde fecche this fruyt, the fende or Iesus suluen.
The mayde myldeliche the messager she grauntede
And saide hendely to hym, `Lo, me, his hondmayden
For to worchen his wille withouten eny synne.
	Ecce ancilla domini.'
And in e wombe of at wenche was he fourty wokes
And bycam man of at maide, mankynde to saue,
Byg and abydyng, and bold in his barnhoed
To haue yfouthte with e fende ar fol tyme come.
	Ac Liberum Arbitrium lechecraeft hym tauhte
Til plenitudo temporis hy tyme aprochede,
That suche a surgien sethen ysaye was er neuere
Ne noon so faythfol fisciscyen, for all at bysouhte hym
A lechede hem of here langour bothe lasares and blynde,
	Claudi ambulant, leprosi mundantur,
And comen wommen conuertede and clansed hem of synne
And luft vp Lazar at lay in his tombe
Quadriduanus coeld, quyk dede hym rome.
	Ac ar he made at miracle mestus cepit esse
And wepte watur with yes, the why weten fewe.
Ac tho that sey that selcouth sayde at tyme
That he was god or godes sone for at grete wonder,
And some Iewes saide with sorserie he wrouhte
And thorw the myhte of Mahond and thorw misbileue.
	Demonium habes.
Thenne is Saton 3oure saueour,' quod Iesu, `and hath ysaued 3ow ofte,
As y saued 3ow sondry tymes and also y fede 3ow
With fyue fisches and loues, fyue thousendes at ones,
And y lefte basketes ful of broke mete, bere awey ho-so wolde.
Vnkynde and vnkunnynge!' quod Crist, and with a roep smoet hem
And ouerturned in e temple here tables and here stalles
And drof hem out alle at er bouhte and solde,
And saide, `This is an hous of orysones and of holynesse
And when at my will is y wol hit ouerthrowe
And ar thre dayes aftur edefye hit newe.'
The Iewes tolde e iustice how at Iesus saide,
Ac e ouerturnynge of the temple bitokened his resureccioun.
	Enuye and euel wil ern in e Iewes,
And pursuede hym priueliche and for pans hym bouhte--
	Ne forte tumultus fieret in populo--
Of Ieudas e Iew, Iesus oune disciple.
This biful on a Fryday, a litel bifore Pasche,
That Iudas and Iewes Iesus thei mette:
`Aue, raby,' quod the ribaudes and riht til hym they 3ede
And kuste Iesus to be knowe erby and cauht of e Iewes.
Thenne Iesus to Iudas and to e Iewes sayde,
`Falsnesse y fynde in thy fayre speche
And kene care in thy kissyng and combraunce to thysulue.
Thow shalt be myrrour to monye, men to disceue;
Wo to tho at thy wyles vysen to e worldes ende!
	Ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit.
Sethe y be tresoun am take and to 3oure will, Iewes,
Soffreth my postles in pays and in pees gange.'
This Iewes to e iustices Iesus they ladde.
	With moche noyse at nyhte nere frentyk y wakede;
In inwit and in alle wittes aftur Liberum Arbitrium
Y waytede witterly, ac whoder he wende y ne wiste.
And thenne mette y with a man a Mydde-lentones Sonenday,
As hoer as an hauthorn and Abraham he hihte.
`Of whennes artow?' quod y, and hendeliche hym grette.
`I am with fayth,' quod at freke, '`hit falleth nat me to lye,
An heraud of armes ar eny lawe were.'
`What is his conysaunce,' quod y, `in his cote armure?'
`Thre persones in o pensel,' quod he, `departable fram oere;
O speche and spirit springeth out of alle,
Of o wit and o will, were neuere a-twynne,
And sondry to se vpon, solus deus he hoteth.'
`Suthe they ben suyrelepes,' quod y, `then haen sondry names?'
`That is soth,' saide he thenne, `the syre hatte pater,
And e seconde is a sone of e sire, filius;
The thridde is at halt al a thyng by hymsulue,
Holy Goest is his name and he is in all.'
`This is myrke thyng for me,' quod y, `and for many anoer,
How o lord myhte lyue o thre; y leue hit nat,' y sayde.
	`Muse nat to moche eron,' quod Faith, `til thow more knowe,
Ac leue hit lelly al thy lyf-tyme.
Thre bilongeth to a lord at leiaunce claymeth:
Mi3te, and a mene to se his owne myhte,
Of hymsulue and his seruant, and what soffreth hem bothe.
God, at bigynnyng hadde neuere bote tho hym goed thouhte,
Sente forth his sone as for seruant at tyme
To ocupien hym here til issue were spronge,
The whiche aren childrene of charite and holy church e moder.
Patriarches and prophetes and apostles were the childrene,
And Crist and cristendoem and alle cristene, holy churche--
Bitokeneth e trinite and trewe bileue.
O god almyhty at man made and wrouhte
Semblable to hymsulue ar eny synne were,
A thre he is er he is and hereof bereth wittnesse
The werkes at hymsulue wrouhte and this world bothe:
	Celi enarrant gloriam dei.
	That he is thre persones departable y preue hit by mankynde,
And o god almyhty, if alle men ben of Adam.
Eue of Adam was and out of hym ydrawe
And Abel of hem bothe and alle thre o kynde;
And thise thre at y carp of, Adam and Eue
And Abel here issue, aren bote oen in manhede.
Matrimonye withoute moylere is nauht moche to preyse,
As e bible bereth witnesse, a boek of e olde lawe,
That acorsede alle couples at no kynde forth brouhte:
	Maledictus sit homo qui non reliquit semen in Israel.
And man withoute a make myhte nat wel of kynde
Multiplie ne moreouer withoute a make louye
Ne withoute a soware be suche seed, this we seen alle.
Now go we to godhede: in god, fader of heuene,
Was e sone in hymsulue in a simile as Eue
Was, when god wolde oute of e wey ydrawe.
And as Abel of Adam and of his wyf Eue
Sprang forth and spak, a spyer of hem tweyne,
So oute of e syre and e sone e seynt spirit of hem bothe
Is and ay was and wor withouten ende.
And as thre persones palpable is puyrlich bote o mankynde,
The which is man and his make and moilere here issue,
So is god godes sone, in thre persones the trinite.
In matrimonie aren thre and of o man cam alle thre
And to godhede goth thre, and o god is all thre.
Lo, treys encountre treys,' quod he, `in godhede and in manhede.'
	`Hastow ysey this?' y seyde, `alle thre and o god?'
	`In a somur y hym seyh,' quod he, `as y saet in my porche,
Where god cam gangynge a thre ri3t be my gate.
	Tres vidit et unum adorauit.
Y roos vp and reuerensed god and ri3t fayre hym grette,
Wosch her feet and wypede hem and afturward they eten,
And what y thouhte and my wyf he vs wel tolde.
He behihte vs issue and ayr in oure olde age;
Fol trewe tokenes bitwene vs is when tyme cometh at y mete hym,
How he fondede me furste--my fayre sone Ysaak
To make sacrefice of hym he heet me, hym to honoure.
I withsaet nat his heste; y hope and bileue
Where y walke in this worlde a wol hit me allowe.
Y circumsised my sone also for his sake,
Mysulue and my mayne; and alle at male were
Bledden bloed for at lordes loue, y hope to blisse at tyme.
Myen affiaunce and my faith is ferme in his bileue,
For hymsulue saide y sholde haue, y and myn issue bothe,
Lond and lordschip ynow and lyf withouten ende.
	To me and myn issue more he my bihihte,
Mercy for oure mysdedes as many tymes
As we wilnede and wolde with mouthe and herte aske.
And sethe a sente me to seyn and saide that y sholde
Worschipe hym with wyn and with breed bothe
At ones on an auter in worschipe of the trinite,
And make sacrefice so--somwhat hit bitokneth;
I leue at ilke lord thenketh a newe lawe to make.
	Fiet vnum ouile et vnus pastor.
Thus haue y ben his heraud here and in helle
And conforted many a carfol ere at aftur his comyng lokede.
Forthy y seke hym,' he saide, `for seynt Iohn e Baptiste
Saide at a seyh here at sholde saue vs alle:
	Ecce agnus dei.'
	Thenne hadde y wonder of his wordes and of his wyde clothes,
For in his bosome a baer thyng and at blessede ofte.
And y lokede in his lappe; a lazar lay erynne,
With patriarkes and profetes pleynge togyderes.
`What waytest thow?' quod Fayth, `and what wost thow haue?'
`I wolde ywyte,' quod y tho, `what is in thy lappe?'
`Loo!' quod he, and lette me see. `Lord, mercy!' y saide,
`This is a present of moche pris, what prince shal it haue?'
`Hit is a preciouse present,' quod he, `ac the pouke hit hath atached,
And me erwith,' quod the weye; `may no wed vs quyte
Ne noen bern ben oure borw ne bryngen vs out of at daunger;
Fro e poukes pondefold no maynprise may vs feche
Til he come at y carpe of, Crist is his name,
That shal delyuere vs som day out of e deueles power
And bettere wed for vs wagen then we ben alle worthy,
And at is lyf for lyf; or ligge thys euere,
Lollyng in my lappe thus til suche a lord vs feche.'
	`Allas!' y saide, `at synne so longe shal lette
The myhte of goddes mercy that myhte vs all amende!'
And wepte for his wordes.  With at saw y another
Rappliche renne e ri3t way we wente.
And y fraynede hym furste fro whennes he come,
What he hihte and whoder he wolde, and wihtliche he vs tolde.

                          C Pearsall  Passus 19

Passus secundus de dobet
`I am Spes, a spie,' quod he, `and spere aftur a kny3te
That toek me a maundement vpon e mont of Synay
To reule alle reumes erwith in ri3hte and in resoun.
Lo, here the lettre,' quod he, `a Latyn and Ebrew;
That that y sey is soeth se ho-so liketh.'
	`Is hit asseled?' y saide; `may men yse thy lettres?'
	`Nay,' he saide,' y seke hym at hath e seel to kepe,
The which is Crist and cristendoem and croes er-an yhanged.
Were hit erwith aseled y woet wel e sothe
That Luciferes lordschipe lowe sholde lygge.'
	`Let se thy lettres,' quod y, we myhte e lawe knowe.'
A pluhte forth a patente, a pece of an hard roche
Whereon was writen two wordes and on this wyse yglosed:
	Dilige deum et proximum.
This was the tyxt trewly, y toek ful good gome.
The glose was gloriously writen with a gult penne:
	In hiis duobus pependit tota lex.
`Is here al thy lordes lettres?' quod y. `3e, leef me,' he saide,
And ho worcheth aftur this writ, y wol vndertaken,
Shal neuere deuel hym dere ne deth in soule greue.
For thogh y sey hit mysulue, y haue saued with this charme
Of men and of wommen meny score thousend.'
	`He seyth soth,' saide Fayth, `y haue yfounde hit trewe.
Lo! here in my lappe,' quod Fayth, `at leuede vpon at lettre,
Bothe Iosue and Ieudith and Iudas Macabeus
And six thousand mo,' quod Fayth, 'y can nat seyn here names.'
	`3oure wordes aren wonderfol,' quod y tho.  `Where eny of 3ow be trewe
And lele to bileue on for lif or for soule?
Abraham saith at he seyh holly e trinitee,
Thre persones parselmele, departable fram oere,
And alle thre bote o god; thus Abraham bereth witenesse,
And hath ysaued at bileued so and sory for here synnes,
He can no certeyn somme telle aand somme aren in his lappe.
What nedede hit thanne a newe lawe to brynge
Sethe the furste sufficede to bileue and be saued?
And now cometh this Spees that hath aspyed e lawe,
That of no trinite ne telleth ne taketh mo persones
To godhede bot o god and on god almyhty
The which alle men aren holde ouer al thyng to honoure;
And seth to louye and to lene for at lordes sake
Alle manere men as moche as ouresulue.
And for to louye and bileue in o lord almyhty
Hit is liht for lewed and for lered bothe.
Ac for to bileue in o lord at lyueth in thre persones
And lereth at we louye sholde as wel lyares as lele--
Go thy gate,' quod y to Spes, `so me god helpe,
Tho at lerneth thy lawe wollen litel while hit vse!'
	And as we wenten in e way thus wordyng of this matere,
Thenne sey we a Samaritaen cam sittynge on a muyle,
Rydynge ful raply e rihte way we 3eden,
Comynge fram a contreye at men callide Ierico;
To ioust in Ierusalem he iaced awey ful faste.
Bothe Abraham and Spees and he mette at ones
In a wilde wildernesse where theues hadde ybounde
A man, as me tho thouhte, to moche care they brouhte;
For he ne myhte stepe ne stande ne stere foet ne handes
Ne helpe hymsulue sothly, for semyuief he semede,
And as naked as an nedle, and noen helpe abouten.
	Fayth furst had of hym siht, ac he fleyh asyde
And nolde nat neyhele hym by nyne londes lenghe.
	Hope cam huppynge aftur, at hadde so ybosted
How he with Moyses maundement hadde mony men yholpe;
Ac when he hadde siht of this syke, asyde he gan hym drawe
And dredfully withdrow hym tho and durste go ne nerre hym.
	Ac so sone so the Samaritaen hadde sihte of this carefole,
A lihte anoen of lyard and ladde hym in his handes
And to this wey a wente, his woundes to byholde,
And perseued by his poues he was in perel to deye
And bote if he hadde recouerer the raer at ryse sholde he neuere,
And vnbokelede his boteles and bothe he atamede;
With wyn and with oyle his wounds he can lithe,
Enbaumed hym and boend his heued and on bayard hym sette
And ladde hym forth to lavacrum-lex-dei, a grange,
Is syxe myle or seuene bisyde e newe marcat,
And lefte hym ere a-lechyng, to lyue yf he myhte;
And toek two pans the hostiler to take kepe to hym,
`And at more goth for his medicyne y make the good ageynward,
For y may nat lette,' quod that lede, and lyard he bystrideth,
And rapede hym to ryde the rihte way to Ierusalem.
Bothe Fayth and his felawe Spes folewede faste aftur,
Ac y sewede the Samaritaen and saide how they bothe
Were afered, and flowe fram e man ywounded.
	`Haue hem excused,' quod he, the Samaritaen, `here helpe may nat
availe,
Ne no medicyne vnder mone the man to hele brynge,
Noer Faith ne fyn Hope, so festred aren his woundes.
Withoute e bloed of a barn he beth nat ysaued,
The whiche barn mote nedes be born of a mayde,
And with e bloed of at barn enbaumed and ybaptised.
And thouh he stande and steppe, ri3t stronge worth he neuere
Til he haue eten al at barn and his bloed dronken,
And 3ut be plasterud with pacience when fondynges hym priketh,
(For wente neuere man this way at he ne was here yruyfled,
Saue mysulue soethly, and such as y louede),
And 3ut bote they leue lelly vpon at litel baby,
That his lycame shal lechen at e laste vs alle.'
	`A, sire,' y saide, `shal nat we bileue,
As Faith and his felawe Spes enfourmede me bothe,
In thre persones a parceles departable fram oere
And alle thre bote a god?  Thus Abraham me tauhte.
And Hope afturward of o god more me toelde
And lered me for his loue to louye al mankynde
And hym aboue alle and hem as mysulue;
Noer lacke ne alose, ne leue at er were
Eny wikkedere in e worlde then y were mysulue,
And moest inparfyt of alle persones, and pacientliche soffre
Alle manere men, and thogh y myhte venge
Y sholde tholye and thonken hem at me euel wolden.'
	`A saide soeth,' quod the Samaritain, `and so y rede the also.
And as Abraham e olde of o god the tauhte,
Loke thow louye and bileue al thy lyf-tyme.
And yf Kynde Wit carpe here-a3en or eny kyne thouhtes
Or eretikes with argumentis, thien hoend that thow hem shewe.
	For god at al bygan in bigynnynge of the worlde
Ferde furste as a fuste, and 3ut is, as y leue,
	Mundum pugillo continens,
As with a fuste with a fynger yfolde togyderes,
Til hym likede and luste to vnlose that fynger
And profered hit forth as with the paume to what place hit sholde.
The paume is the pethe of the hand and profereth the fyngeres
To ministre and to make at myhte of hand knoweth,
And bitokeneth trewly, telle ho-so liketh,
The holy goest of heuene: he is as e paume.
The fyngres at fre ben to folde and to cluche
Bitokneth soethly the sone at sente was til erthe,
Touchede and tastede, at techyng of the paume,
Seynte Marie, a mayden, and mankynde lauhte.
	Natus est ex Maria virgine.
The fader is thenne as e fuste, with fynger and with paume
To huyde and to holde as holy writ telleth:
	Omnia traham ad me ipsum.
And at the fynger gropeth he grypeth bote yf hit greue e paume.
Thus are they alle bote oen as hit an hand were,
A fuste with a fynger and a fol paume.
And as e fuste is a ful hand yfolde togyderes,
So is e fader a fol god, the furste of hem alle;
As my fuste is furste ar y my fyngores shewe,
So is he fader and formeour, e furste of alle thynges,
	Tu fabricator omnium,
And al e myhte with hym is, was and worth euere.
	The fyngeres is a fol hand, for failed they her thombe,
Portrey ne peynte parfitliche, y leue,
Sholde ne wright worche were they awey.
Riht so failed e sone, the syre be ne myhte
Ne holde ne helpe ne hente at he louede.
	Dextere dei tu digitus.
The paume is puyrliche the hand and hath power by hymsulue
Oerwyse then e writhen fuste or werkmanschupe of fyngres.
For e paume hath power to pulte out e ioyntes
And to vnfolde e fust, for hym hit bilongeth,
And receue at the fyngeres recheth and refuse yf him liketh;
Alle at e fyngeres and e fust feleth and toucheth,
Be he greued with here grype, the holy goost lat falle.
And thus is the holy goste god, noyther grettore ne lassore
Then is the syre or the sone and of e same myhte,
And alle thre is bote o god, as myn hoend and my fyngeres,
Vnfolden or folden, a fuste wyse or elles,
Al is hit bote oen hoend, how-so y turne hit.
	Ac ho is herte in the hand euene in e myddes 
He may resceyue riht nauhte, resoun hit sheweth;
For e fyngeres at folde sholde and e fust make
For peyne of e paume power hem fayleth
To cluche or to clawe, to clippe or to holde.
Were e myddel of myn hand withoute male-ese
In many kyne manere y myhte mysulfe helpe,
Bothe meue and amende, thogh alle my fyngeres oke.
Bi this simile,' he saide, 'y se an euydence
That ho-so synegeth in e seynt spirit assoiled worth he neuere
Noer here ne elleswhere, as y herde telle:
	Qui peccat in spiritum sanctum, etc.
For he priketh god as in his paume that peccat in spiritum sanctum.
For god the fader is as e fust, e sone is as e fynger,
The holy gost of heuene he is as e paume.
So ho-so synegeth a3eyn e seynt spirit hit semeth at he greueth
God erwith he gripeth and wolde his grace quenche.
	For to a torche or to a taper e trinite is likned,
As wexe and a weke were twyned togyderes
And thenne flaumynge fuyr forth of hem bothe.
And as wex and weke and warm fuyr togyderes
Fostren forth a flaume and a feyr lye
That serueth this swynkares to se by a nyhtes,
So doth e sire and e sone and seynt spirit togyderes
Fostren forth amonges folke fyn loue and bileue
That alle kyne cristene clanseth of synne.
And as thow seest som tyme sodeynliche of a torche
The blase be yblowen out, 3ut brenneth e weke--
Withouten leye and lihte lith fuyr in e mache--
So is e holi gost god and grace withouten mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures at coueyten to destruye
Leel lycame and lyf at oure lord shupte.
And as glowyng gledes gladeth nat this werkmen
That worchen and waken in wynteres nyhtes
As doth a kix or a candle at cauht hath fuyr and blaseth,
No more doth e sire ne e sone ne seynt spirit togyderes
Graunten eny grace ne forgeuenesse of synnes
Til at the holy goest gynne to glowe and blase.
So at the holy gost gloweth but as a glede
Til at loue and bileue leliche to hym blowe,
And thenne flaumeth he as fuyr on fader and on filius
And melteth myhte into mercy, as we may se a wynter
Isekeles in euesynges thorwe hete of the sonne
Melteth in a mynt-while to myst and to water.
So grace of e holi gost the grete myhte of e trinite
Melteth al to mercy to merciable and to non oere.
	And as wex withouten more vpon a warm glede
Wol brennen and blasen, be they togyderes,
And solacen at mowen nat se sittynge in derkenesse,
So wol e fader for3eue folke of mylde hertes
That reufulliche repenten and restitucion make,
In as moche as they mowen amenden and payen;
And yf hit sufficeth nat for asseth at in suche a will deyeth
Mercy for his mekenesse wol maky good e remenaunt.
And as e wyke and warm fuyr wil make a fayre flaume
For to murthe men with at in merke sitten,
So wol Crist of his cortesye, and men crien hym mercy,
Bothe for3eue and for3ete and 3ut bidde for vs
To e fader of heuene for3euenesse to haue.
	Ac hewe fuyr at a flynt foure hundret wynter,
Bote thow haue trasch to take hit with, tender and broches,
Al thy labor is loste and all thy longe trauaile;
For may no fuyr flaume make, faile hit his kynde.
So is e holy gost god and grace withouten mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures, as Crist hymsulue witnesseth:
	Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.
Be vnkynde to thyn emcristene and al at ow canst bidde,
Dele and do penaunce day and nyht euere
And purchase al the pardoun of Pampilon and of Rome
And indulgences ynowe, and be ingratis to thy kynde,
The holy goest hereth the nat ne helpeth the, be thow certeyne.
For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym at he can nat shine
Ne brenne ne blase clere for blowynge of vnkyndenesse.
Paul the apostel preueth where y lye:
	Si linguis hominum loquar, etc.
	Forthy beth ywar, 3e wyse men at with the world deleth,
That rich ben and resoun knoweth--reule wel 3oure soules.
Beth nay vnkynde, y conseyle 3ow, to 3oure emcristene.
For mony of 3ow riche men, by my soule y lye nat,
3e brenneth ac 3e blaseth nat and at is a blynde bekne.
	Non omnis qui dicit, Domine, Domine, intrabit in regnum celorum.
Minne 3e nat, riche men, to which a myschaunce
That Diues deyede, and dampned for his vnkyndenesse
Of his mete and his mone to men at hit nedede?
3ut wan he nat with wrong ne with queynte sleythes,
But ri3tfulliche, as men rat, al his richesse cam hym,
And on hymsulue, as sayth the boek, sotiled how he myhte
Moste lordliche lyue and 3ut on his lycame werie
Clothes of moest cost, as clerkes bereth witnesse:
	Epulabatur splendide et induebatur bisso.
And for he was a nygard and a nythynge to the nedfol pore,
For godes tretor he is told for al his trewe catel
And dampned a dwelleth with e deuel in helle.
And sethe he withoute wyles wan and wel myhte atymye
Lordliche for to lyue and lykyngliche be clothed,
And is in helle for al at, how wol riche nouthe
Excuse hem at ben vnkynde and 3ut here catell ywonne
With wyles and with luyther wittes, and 3ut wollen nat atymye
To go semeliche ne sitte, seth holy writ techeth
That wykkidliche is wonne to wasten it and make frendis?
	Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.
Vch a riche, y rede, reward herof take
And gyueth 3oure goed to at god at grace of aryseth.
For at ben vnhynde to hise, hope 3e noen oer
Bote they dwelle there Diues is, dayes withouten ende.
	Thus is vnkyndenesse e contrarie at quencheth, as hit were,
The grace of the holy goest, godes owene kynde;
For at kynde doth, vnkynde fordoth, as this corsede theues,
Vnkynde cristene men, for coueytise and enuye
Sleth a man for his mebles with mouthe or with handes.
For that the holy goest hath to kepe tho harlotes distruyeth,
The which is lyf and loue, the leye of mannes body.
For euery manere goed man may be likned to a torche
Or elles to a taper to reuerense with the trinite.
And ho-so morthereth a goed man, me thynketh bi myn inwit,
A fordoth the lihte at oure lord loketh to haue worschipe of.
And 3ut in mo maneres men offenden e holy gost;
Ac this is the worste wyse at eny wiht myhte
Synegen a3en e seynte spirit--assente to destruye,
For coueytise of eny kyne thynge, at Crist dere bouhte.
How myhte he aske mercy or eny mercy hym defende
That wikkedliche and wilfulliche wolde mercy anyente?
Innocence is next god and nyht and day hit crieth
"Veniaunce! veniaunce! for3eue be hit neuere
That shent vs and shedde oure bloed, forschupte vs as hit semede:
	Vindica sanguinem iustorum!"
Thus "veniaunce! veniaunce!" verray charite asketh;
And sethe charite, at holy churche is, chargeth this so sore
Leue y neuere at oure lord at e laste ende
Wol louye at lyf at loue and charite destruyeth.'
	`Y pose y hadde syneged so,' quod y, `and sholde nouthe deye,
And now am y sory at y so the seynte spirit agulte,
Confesse me and crye his grace, god at al made,
And myldeliche his mercy aske, myhte y nat be saued?'
	`3us,' saide e Samaritaen, `so thow myhtest repente,
That rihtwisnesse thorw repentaunce to reuthe myhte turne.
Ac hit is bote selde yseyen, there sothnesse bereth witnesse,
Eny creature be coupable bifore a kynges iustice,
Be yraunsomed for his repentaunce er alle resoun hym dampneth.
Ther at partye pursueth the apeel is so huge
That may no kynge mercy graunte til bothe men acorde,
That eyer partye haue equitee, as holy writ witnesseth:
	Nunquam dimittitur peccatum.
Thus hit fareth bi such folk at folewen here owene will,
That euele lyuen and leten nat til lif hem forsake;
Som drede of disperacion thenne dryueth awey grace
That mercy in here mynde may nat thenne falle.
For goed hope, that helpe thenne scholde, to wanhope er turneth,
And nat of e nownpower of god at he ne is ful of myhte
To amende al at amys is, and his mercy grettore
Thenne al oure wikkede werkes, as holy writ telleth:
	Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius.
Ac ar his rihtwisnesse to reuthe turne, restitucion hit maketh,
As sorwe of herte is satisfaccioun for suche at may nat paye.
	Ac thre thynges ther ben at doth a man to sterte
Out of his oune house, as holy writ sheweth:
That is a wikkede wyf at wol nat be chasted--
Here fere fleeth here for fere of here tonge;
And if his hous be vnheled and reyne on his bedde
A seketh and seketh til he slepe druye;
Ac when smoke and smolder smyt in his yes
Hit doth him worse en his wif or wete to slepe,
For orgh smoke and smolder smerteth his sihte
Til he be bler-eyede or blynde and e borre in his throte,
Coueth and corseth at Crist 3eue hym sorwe
That sholde brynge in bettere wode or blowen hit til hit brente.
	Thise thre that y telle of thus ben to vnderstonde:
The wyf is oure wikkede flesche, wol nat be chasted
For kynde cleueth on hym euere to contrarie e soule,
And thogh he falle he fynte skiles at freelete hit made,
And at is lihtliche for3eue and for3ete bothe
To man at mercy asketh and amende thenketh.
The rayne at rayneth ere we reste sholde
Been seeknesses and oere sorwes at we soffren ouhte,
As Paul e apostel in his episteles techeth:
	Virtus in infirmitate perficitur.
And thogh that men make moche deul in here anger
And be inpacient in here penaunces, puyr resoun knoweth
That they haen cause to contrarien bi kynde of here seknesses,
And lihtliche oure lord at here lyues ende
Haeth mercy on suche men at euele may soffre.
Ac e smoke and e smolder at smyt in oure yes,
That is coueytise and vnkyndenesse whiche quencheth godes mercy;
For vnkyndenesse is e contrarie of alle kyne resoun.
For er ne is sike ne sory ne non so moche wrecche
That he ne may louye, and hym like, and lene of his herte
Goed wil, goed word bothe, wischen and wilnen
Alle manere men mercy and for3euenesse,
And louye hym yliche hymsulue, that his lyf amende.
	Y may no lengore lette,' quod he, and lyard a prikede
And wente away as wynd, and erwith y awakede.

                          C Pearsall  Passus 20

Passus tercius de dobet
Wollewaerd and watschoed wente y forth aftur
As a recheles renk at recheth nat of sorwe,
And 3ede forth ylike a lorel al my lyf-tyme
Til y waxe wery of the world and wilnede eefte to slepe
And lened me to lenten and long tyme y slepte.
	Of gurles and of gloria laus greetliche me dremede
And how osanna by orgene oelde folke songe.
Oen semblable to e Samaritaen and somdeel to Pers e plouhman
Barfoet on an asse bake boetles cam prikynge
Withouten spores oer spere--sprakeliche he lokede,
As is e kynde of a knyhte at cometh to be dobbet,
To geten here gult spores and galoches ycouped.
And thenne was Faith in a fenestre and criede `A, filii Dauid!'
As doth an heraud of armes when auntrous cometh to ioustes.
Olde Iewes of Ierusalem for ioye they songen,
	Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini.
	Thenne y afraynede at Fayth what al at fare bymente,
And ho sholde iouste in Ierusalem? `Iesus,' he saide,
`And feche at e fende claymeth, Pers fruyt e plouhman.'
	`Is Peres in this place?' quod y, and he prente on me:
`Liberum-dei-arbitrium for loue hath vndertake
That this Iesus of his gentrice shal iouste in Pers armes,
In his helm and in his haberion, humana natura;
That Crist be nat yknowe for consummatus deus,
In Pers plates the plouhman this prikiare shal ryde,
For no dount shal hym dere as in deitate patris.'
	`Who shal iouste with Iesus,' quod y, `Iewes, or scribz?'
	`Nay,' quod Faith, `bote the fende, and Fals-doem-to-deye.
Deth saith a wol fordo and adown brynge
Alle at lyueth or loketh, a londe or a watre.
Lyf saith at a lyeth and hath leide his lyf to wedde,
That for al at Deth can do, withynne thre dayes to walke
And feche fro e fende Peres fruyt e plouhman,
And legge hit ere hym liketh and Lucifer bynde
And forbete adown and brynge bale deth for euere.
	O mors, mors tuo ero, morsus!'
	Thenne cam Pilatus with moche peple, sedens pro tribunali,
To se how douhtyliche Deth sholde do, and demen er beyre rihte.
The Iewes and e iustices a3eyns Iesus ey were,
And alle e court cryede `Crucifige!' loude.
Thenne potte hym forth a pelour bifore Pilatus and saide:
`This Iesu of oure Iewene temple iaped and despised,
To fordoen hit on a day, and in thre dayes aftur
Edefien hit eft newe--here he stant at saide hit--
And 3ut maken hit as moche in alle manere poyntes,
Bothe as longe and as large, a loofte and o grounde,
And as wyde as hit euere was; this we witnesseth alle.'
	`Crucifige!' quod a cachepol, `he can of wycchecrafte.'
`Tolle, tolle!' quod another, and toek of kene thornes
And bigan of grene thorn a garlond to make
And sette hit sore on his heued, and sethe saide in enuye,
`Aue, raby,' quod at ribaud, and redes shotte vp to his yes;
And nayled hym with thre nayles naked vpon a rode
And, with a pole, poysen potten vp to his lippes
And beden hym drynke, his deth to lette and his dayes lenghe,
And saiden, `Yf he sotil be, hymsulue now he wol helpe';
And `Yf thow be Crist--and Crist, godes sone--
Come adoun of this rode and thenne shal we leue
That Lyf e loueth and wol nat late the deye.'
	`Consummatum est,' quod Crist, and comsed for to swoene.
Pitousliche and pale, as prisoun at deyeth,
The lord of lyf and of liht tho leyde his eyes togederes.
The daye for drede erof withdrouh and derke bicam e sonne;
The wal of the temple to-cleyef euene al to peces,
The hard roch al to-roef, and riht derk nyht hit semede.
The erthe to-quasche and quoek as hit quyk were
And dede men for at dene cam oute of depe graues
And tolde why e tempest so longe tyme durede:
`For a bittur bataile,' e ded bodye saide;
`Lyf and Deth, in this derkenesse here oen fordoth her oer,
Ac shal no wyht wyte witturlich ho shal haue e maistry
Ar a Soneday, aboute the sonne-rysynge,' and sank with at til erthe.
Somme saide he was godes sone at so fayre deyede,
	Vere filius dei erat iste,
And somme saide, `He can of soercerie; goed is at we assaie
Wher he be ded or nat ded, down or he be taken.'
	Two theues tho tholed deth at tyme
Vppon cros bisyde Crist, so was e comune lawe.
A cachepol cam and craked a-to her legges
And here armes aftur, of euereche of tho theues.
Ac was no boie so bold godes body to touche;
For he was knyht and kynges sone, Kynde for3af at tyme
That hadde no boie hardynesse hym to touche in deynge.
	Ac er cam forth a blynde knyhte with a kene spere ygrounde,
Hihte Longius, as e lettre telleth, and longe hadde lore his sihte;
Bifore Pilatus and oere peple in e place he houed.
Maugre his mony teth he was mad at tyme
Iouste with Iesus, this blynde Iewe Longius;
For alle were they vnhardy at houed er or stode
To touche hym or to trinen hym or to taken hym down and grauen hym,
Bote this blynde bacheler, that bar hym thorw the herte.
The bloed sprang down by the spere and vnspered the knyhte yes;
Tho ful the knyhte vppon knees and criede Iesu mercy--
`A3eyn my will hit was,' quod he, `at y 3ow wounde made!'
And syhed and saide, `Sore hit me forthenketh;
Of e dede at y haue do y do me in 3oure grace.
Bothe my lond and my licame at 3oure likynge taketh hit,
And haue mercy on me, ri3tfol Iesu!' and riht with at a wepte.
	Thenne gan Faith fouely e false Iewes to dispice,
Calde hem caytyues, acorsed for euere:
`For is was a vyl vilanye; vengeaunce 3ow bifall
That made e blynde bete the dede--this was a boyes dede!
Corsede caytifues! knyhthoed was hit neuere
To bete a body ybounde, with eny briht wypene.
The gre 3ut hath he geten for al his grete woundes,
For 3oure chaumpioun chiualer, chief knyht of 3ow alle,
3elde hym recreaunt remyng, riht at Iesu wille.
For be this derkenesse ydo, Deth worth yvenkused,
And 3e, lordeyns, haen lost, for Lyf shal haue maistrie,
And 3oure franchise at fre was yfallen is into thraldoem,
And alle 3oure childerne, cherles, cheue shall neuere,
Ne haue lordeschipe in londe ne no londe tulye,
And as bareyne be, and by vsure libbe,
The which is lif at oure lord in all lawes defendeth.
Now ben 3oure gode dayes ydoen, as Daniel of 3ow telleth,
When Crist thorw croos ouercam, 3oure kyndoem sholde to-cleue.
	Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum, cessat, etc.'
	What for fere of this ferly and of e false Iewes
Y withdrow in at derkenesse to descendit ad inferna,
And there y seyh sothly, secundum scripturas,
Out of e west, as it were, a wenche, as me thouhte,
Cam walkynge in e way, to hellward she lokede.
Mercy hihte at mayde, a mylde thynge with-alle
And a ful benyngne buyrde and buxum of speche.
Here suster, as hit semede, cam softly walkynge
Euene oute of e eest, and westward she thouhte,
A comely creature and a clene, Treuthe she hihte;
For e vertue at her folewede, afered was she neuere.
When this maydones metten, Mercy and Treuthe,
Ayer asked oer of this grete wonder,
Of the dene and the derknesse and how e day roued,
And which a lihte and a leem lay bifore helle.
	`Y haue ferly of this fare, in faith,' seide Treuthe,
`And am wendynge to wyte what is wonder meneth.'
	`Haue no merueyle erof,' quod Mercy, `murthe hit bitokneth.
A mayde at hoteth Marie, and moder withouten velynge
Of eny kynde creature, conceyued thorw speche
And grace of the holy gost, wax grete with childe,
Withouten wommane wem into this world brouhte hym;
And at my tale is trewe y take god to witnesse.
Sethe this barn was ybore ben thritty wynter ypassed,
Deyede and deth tholede this day aboute mydday;
And at is e cause of this clips at overcloseth now e sonne,
In menynge at man shal fro merkenesse be ydrawe
The while this lihte and this lowe shal Lucifer ablende.
For patriarkes and prophetes haen preched herof ofte,
That was tynt thorw tre, tre shal hit wynne,
And at deth down brouhte, deth shal releue.'
	`That thow tellest,' quod Treuthe, `is bote a tale of Walterot!
For Adam and Eue and Abraham with oere
Patriarkes and prophetes at in peyne liggen,
Leue hit neuere that 3one liht hem alofte brynge
Ne haue hem out of helle--holde thy tonge, Mercy!
Hit is bote truyfle at thow tellest; y, Treuthe, woet e sothe,
That thyng at ones is in helle out cometh hit neuere.
Iob e parfit patriarke repreueth thy sawes:
	Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.'
	Thenne Mercy fol myldely mouthed this wordes:
`Thorw experiense,' quod she, `y hope they shal ben saued;
For venym fordoth venym, er feche y euydence
That Adam and Eue haue shullen bote.
For of alle fretynge venymes the vilest is the scorpioun;
May no medecyne amende the place there he styngeth
Til he be ded and do erto, and thenne he destruyeth
The verste venemouste thorw vertu of hymsulue.
And so shal this deth fordo, y dar my lyf legge,
Al at Deth and e deuel dede formost to Eue.
And riht as the gylour thorw gyle bigiled man formost,
So shal grace, at bigan al, maken a goed ende
And bigile e gilour, and at is a goed sleythe:
	Ars vt artem falleret.'
	`Now soffre we,' saide Treuthe; `y se, as me thynketh,
Out of e nype of e north, nat ful fer hennes,
Rihtwisnesse come rennynge.  Reste we the while,
For she woet more then we--she was ar we bothe.'
	`That is soth,' saide Mercy, `and y se here by southe
Where cometh Pees pleiynge, in pacience yclothed;
Loue hath coueyted here longe--leue y non oere
Bote Loue haue ysente her som lettre what this liht bymeneth
That ouerhoueth helle thus; she vs shal telle.'
	Whenne Pees, in pacience yclothed, aproched her ayer oer,
Rihtwisnesse reuerenced Pees in here rich clothyng
And preyede Pees to tellen hire to what place she sholde
And in here gay garnementes wham she gladie thouhte?
	`My wil is to wende,' quod Pees, `and welcomen hem alle
That many day myhte y nat se for merkenesse of synne,
Adam and Eue and other mo in helle.
Moises and many moo mery shal synge
And y shal daunse erto--do thow so, suster!
For Iesus ioustede wel, ioy bigynneth dawe.
	Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus, et ad matutinum leticia.
Loue, at is my lemman, such lettres he me sente
That Mercy, my suster, and y mankynde shal saue,
And at god hath forgyue and graunted to alle mankynde,
Mercy, my suster, and me to maynprisen hem alle;
And at Crist hath conuerted the kynde of rihtwisnesse
Into pees and pyte, of his puyr grace.
Loo, here e patente!' quod Pees, `in pace in idipsum--
And that this dede shal duyre--dormiam et requiescam.'
	`Rauest thow?' quod Rihtwisnesse, `or thow art riht dronke!
Leuest thow at 3one lihte vnlouke myhte helle
And saue mannes soule? suster, wene hit neuere!
At the bigynnynge of the world, god gaf the doem hymsulue
That Adam and Eue and al his issue
Sholde deye down-riht and dwellen in payne euere
Yf that thei touched at tre and of e fruyt eten.
Adam afturward, a3enes his defense,
Freet of the fruyt and forsoke, as hit were,
The loue of oure lord and his lore bothe,
And folewede at e fend and his flesch will, 
A3eynes resoun; y Rihtwysnesse, recorde hit with treuthe
That her peyne is perpetuel--no preyer may hem helpe.
Forthy let hem chewe as they chose and chyde we nat, sustres,
For hit is boteles bale, the byte that they eten.'
	`And y shal preue,' quod Pees, `here payne moet haue ende,
And at her wo into wele moet wende at e laste.
For hadde they wist of no wo, wele hadde thay nat knowen;
For no wiht woet what wele is at neuere wo soffrede,
Ne what is hoet hunger at hadde neuere defaute.
Ho couthe kyndeliche with colour descreve
Yf all e world were whit or swan-whit all thynges?
Yf no nyht ne were, no man, y leue,
Sholde ywyte witterly what day is to mene;
Ne hadde god ysoffred of som oer then hymsulue,
He hadde nat wist witterly where deth were sour or swete.
For sholde neuere ri3t riche man, at lyueth in rest and in hele,
Ywyte wat wo is, ne were e deth of kynde.
So god, at bigan al, of his gode wille
Bycam man of a mayde, mankynde to saue,
And soffred to be sold to se e sorwe of deynge,
The which vnknytteth alle care and comsyng is of reste.
For til moreyne mete with vs, y may hit wel avowe,
Ne woet no wyht, as y wene, what is ynow to mene.
	Forthy god of his goednesse e furste gom Adam
Sette hym in solace furste and in souereyne merthe;
And sethe he soffrede hym to synne, sorwe to fele,
To wyte what wele was ther-thorw, kyndeliche to knowe.
And aftur, god auntred hymsulue and toek Adames kynde
To wyte what he hath soffred in thre sundry places,
Bothe in heuene and in erthe--and now to helle he thenketh,
To wyte what al wo is, at woet of alle ioye.
	Omnia probate; quod bonum est tenete.
So hit shal fare by this folk: here folye and here synne
Shal lere hem what loue is and lisse withouten ende.
For woet no wiht what werre is, er as pees regneth
Ne what is witterliche wele til wel-a-way hym teche.'
	Thenne was ther a wihte with two brode yes;
Boek hihte at beau-pere, a bolde man of speche.
`By godes body,' quod this Boek, `y wol bere witnesse,
Tho at this barn was ybore er blased a sterre
That alle e wyse of the world in o wit acordede
That such a barn was ybore in Bethleem e citee
Than mannes soule sholde saue and synne distruye.
And all e elementis,' quod the Boed, `hereof bereth witnesse.
That he was god at al wrouhte the welkene furst shewede:
Tho at weren in heuene token stella comata
And tenden hit as a torche to reuerensen his burthe;
The lihte folewede e lord into e lowe erthe.
The water witnesseth at he was god, for a wente on hym druye:
Peter e apostel parseyued his gate
And as he wente on e watur wel hym knewe, and saide,
	"Domine, iube me venire ad te."
And lo, how e sonne gan louke here lihte in heresulue
When she sye hym soffre, at sonne, and se made!
Lo, e erthe for heuynesse at he wolde soffre
Quakid as a quyk thynge and also to-quasch e roches!
Loo, helle myhte nat holde, bote opened tho god tholede
And lette out Symondes sones to sen hym honge on rode.
	Non visurum se mortem.
	And now shal Lucifer leue hit, thogh hym loeth thynk;
For Iesus as a geaunt with a gyn cometh 3ende
To breke and to bete adoun all at ben agaynes hym
And to haue out of helle alle of hem at hym liketh.
And 3ut, y Boek, wol be brente bote he aryse to lyue
And comforte alle his kyn and out of care brynge
And alle e Iewene ioye vnioynen and vnlouken,
And bote they reuerense this resurexioun and e rode honoure
And bileue on a newe lawe, be ylost lyf and soule.'
	`Soffre we,' sayde Treuthe; `y here and se bothe
A spirit speketh to helle and bit to vnspere e 3ates.'
	Atollite portas.
	A vois loude in at liht to Lucifer saide:
`Princepes of this place, prest vndo this gates,
For here a cometh with croune, e kynge of all glorie!'
	Thenne syhed Satoun and saide to Helle,
`Suche a lyht a3enes oure leue Lazar hit fette;
Care and combraunce is come to vs all.
Yf this kyng come in, mankynde wol he fecche
And lede hit er Lazar is and lihtliche me bynde.
Patriarkes and prophetes haen parled herof longe
That such a lord and a lihte shal lede hem all hennes.
Ac arise vp, Ragamoffyn, and areche me all e barres
That Belial thy beel-syre beet with thy dame,
And y shal lette this loerd and his liht stoppe.
Ar we thorw brihtnesse be blente, go barre we e 3ates.
Cheke we and cheyne we and vch a chine stoppe
That no liht lepe in a louer ne at loupe.
Astarot, hoet out, and haue out oure knaues,
Coltyng and al his kyn, the castel to saue.
Brumstoen boylaunt brennyng out cast hit
Al hoet on here hedes at entrith ney e walles.
Setteth bowes of brake and brasene gonnes
And sheteth out shot ynow his sheltrom to blende.
Set Mahond at e mangenel and mullestones throweth
And with crokes and kalketrappes acloye we hem vchone!'
	`Lustneth,' quod Lucifer, `for y this lord knowe;
Bothe this lord and this lihte, ys longe ygo y knewe hym.
May no deth this lord dere, ne no deueles quentyse,
And where he wol is his way--ac waer hym of e perelles:
Yf he reue me of my rihte, a robbeth me of his maistrie.
For bi riht and by resoun e renkes at ben here
Body and soule beth myne, bothe gode and ille.
For hymsulue said hit, at sire is of heuene,
That Adam and Eue and all his issue
Sholde deye with doel and here dwelle euere
Yf they touched a tre or toek erof an appul.
Thus this lord of liht such a lawe made,
And sethe he is a lele lord y leue at he wol nat
Reuen vs of oure riht, sethe resoun hem dampnede.
And sethen we haen ben sesed seuene thousand wynter,
And neuere was er-a3eyne and now wolde bigynne,
Thenne were he vnwrast of his word, at witnesse is of treuthe.'
	`That is soeth,' saide Satoun, `bote y me sore doute,
For thow gete hem with gyle and his gardyn breke;
A3eyne his loue and his leue on his londe 3edest,
Not in fourme of a fende bote in fourme of an addre
And entisedest Eue to eten by her one--
	Ve soli!--
And byhihtest here and hym aftur to knowe
As two godes, with god, bothe goed and ille.
Thus with treson and tricherie thow troyledest hem bothe
And dust hem breke here buxumnesse thorw fals bihestes,
And so haddest hem out and hiddere at e laste.'
	`Hit is nat graythly ygete ther gyle is e rote,
And god wol nat be gylde,' quod Gobelyne, `ne byiaped.
We haen no trewe title to hem, for thy tresoun hit maketh.
Forthy y drede me, quod e deuel, `laste Treuthe wol hem fecche.
And as thowe bigyledest godes ymages in goynge of an addre,
So hath god bigiled vs alle in goynge of a weye.
For god hath go,' quod Gobelyne, `in gome liknesse
This thritty wynter, as y wene, and wente aboute and prechede.
Y haue assayled hym with synne, and som tyme ich askede
Where he were god or godes sone?  He gaf me short answere.
Thus hath he trolled forth like a tydy man this two and thritty wynter;
And when y seyh hit was so, y sotiled how y myhte
Lette hem at louede hym nat, laste they wolde hym martre.
Y wolde haue lenghed his lyf, for y leued, yf he deyede,
That if his soule hider cam hit sholde shende vs all.
For e body, whiles hit on bones 3ede, aboute was hit euere
To lere men to be lele and vch man to louye oer;
The which lyf and lawe, be hit longe y-vysed,
Hit shal vndo vs deueles and down bryngen vs all.'
	`And now y se where his soule cometh sylinge hidward
With glorie and with gret lihte--god hit is, ich woet wel.
Y rede we flee,' quod the fende, `faste all hennes,
For vs were bettere nat to be then abyde in his sihte.
For thy lesinges, Lucifer, we losten furst oure ioye,
And out of heuene hidore thy pryde made vs falle;
For we leued on thy lesynges, ere loste we oure blisse.
And now, for a lattere lesing at thow lowe til Eue,
We haen ylost oure lordschipe a londe and in helle.
	Nunc princeps huius mundi, etc.'
	Sethe at Satan myssaide thus foule
Lucifer for his lesynges, leue y noen oer
Bote oure lord at e laste lyares here rebuke
And wyte hem al e wrechednesse that wrouhte is her on erthe.
Beth ywaer, 3e wyse clerkes and 3e witty men of lawe,
That 3e belyen nat this lewed men, for at the laste Dauid
Witnesseth in his writynges what is lyares mede:
	Odisti omnes qui operantur iniquitatem; perdes omnes qui loquuntur
 mendacium.
(A litel y ouer-leep for lesynges sake,
That y ne sygge nat as y syhe, suynde my teme!)
	For efte at lihte bade vnlouke, and Lucifer answeride.
`What lord artow?' quod Lucifer. A voys aloude saide:
`The lord of myhte and of mayne, at made alle thynges.
Dukes of this demme place, anoen vndoth this 3ates
That Crist may come in, the kynges sone of heuene.'
	And with at breth helle braek with alle Belialles barres;
For eny wey or warde, wyde open e 3ates.
Patriarkes and profetes, populus in tenebris,
Songen with seynt Iohan `Ecce agnus dei!'
Lucifer loke ne myhte, so liht hym ablende;
And tho that oure lord louede forth with at liht flowen.
	`Lo! me here,' quod oure lord, `lyf and soule bothe,
For alle synfole soules to saue oure bothe rihte.
Myne they were and of me; y may e bet hem clayme.
Althouh resoun recordede, and rihte of mysulue,
That if they ete e appul alle sholde deye,
Y bihihte hem nat here helle for euere.
For the dedly synne that they dede, thi deseite hit made;
With gyle thow hem gete agaynes all resoun.
For in my palays, paradys, in persone of an addere
Falsliche thou fettest there at me biful to loke,
Byglosedest hem and bigiledest hem and my gardyne breke
A3eyne my loue and my leue.  e olde lawe techeth 
That gylours be bigiled and yn here gyle falle,
And ho-so hit out a mannes eye or elles his fore-teth
Or eny manere membre maymeth oer herteth,
The same sore shal he haue at eny so smyteth.
	Dentem pro dente, et oculum pro oculo.
So lyf shal lyf lete ther lyf hath lyf anyented,
So at lyf quyte lyf--e olde law hit asketh.
Ergo, soule shal soule quyte and synne to synne wende,
And al at men mysdede, y man to amenden hit;
And at deth fordede my deth to releue
And bothe quykie and quyte that queynte was thorw synne,
And gyle be bigyled thorw grace at e laste.
	Ars ut artem falleret.
	So leue hit nat, Lucifer, a3eyne e lawe y feche
Here eny synfole soule souereynliche by maistrie,
Bote thorw riht and thorw resoun raunsome here myn lege.
	Non veni solvere legem, set adimplere.
So at with gyle was gete, thorw grace is now ywonne.
And as Adam and alle thorwe a tre deyede,
Adam and alle thorw a tre shal turne to lyue.
And now bygynneth thy gyle agayne on the to turne
And my grace to growe ay wyddore and wyddore.
The bitternesse at thow hast browe, no brouk hit thysulue;
That art doctour of deth, drynke at thow madest!
	For y at am lord of lyf, loue is my drynke,
And for at drynke today y deyede, as hit semede.
Ac y wol drynke of no dische ne of deep clergyse,
Bote of comune coppes, alle cristene soules;
Ac thy drynke worth deth and depe helle thy bolle. 
Y fauht so, me fursteth 3ut, for mannes soule sake.
	Sicio.
May no pyement ne pomade ne preciouse drynkes
Moiste me to e fulle ne my furst slokke
Til e ventage valle in e vale of Iosophat,
And I drynke riht rype must, resureccio mortuorum.
And thenne shal y come as kynge, with croune and with angeles,
And haue out of helle alle mennes soules.
	Fendes and fendekynes byfore me shal stande
And be at my biddynge, at blisse or at payne.
Ac to be merciable to man thenne my kynde asketh,
For we beth brethrene of o bloed, ac nat in baptisme alle.
Ac alle at beth myn hole brethrene, in bloed and in baptisme,
Shal neuere in helle eft come, be he ones oute.
	Tibi soli peccaui, et malum coram te feci.
Hit is nat vsed on erthe to hangen eny felones
Oftur then ones, thogh they were tretours.
And yf e kynge of e kyngdoem come in e tyme
Ther a theif tholie sholde deth oer iewyse,
Lawe wolde he 3oue hym lyf and he loked on hym.
And y at am kynge ouer kynges shal come such a tyme
Ther at doem to e deth dampneth alle wikkede,
And if lawe wol y loke on hem hit lith in my grace
Where they deye or dey nat, dede they neuere so ille.
Be hit enythyng abouhte, the boldenesse of here synne,
Y may do mercy of my rihtwysnesse and alle myn wordes trewe.
	For holy writ wol at y be wreke of hem at wrouhte ille,
As nullam malum impunitum, et nullam bonum irremuneratum.
And so of alle wykkede y wol here take veniaunce.
And 3ut my kynde in my kene ire shal constrayne my will--
	Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me--
To be merciable to monye of my halue-bretherne.
For bloed may se bloed bothe afurst and acale
Ac bloed may nat se bloed blede, bot hym rewe.
	Audivi archana verba, que non licet homini loqui.
Ac my rihtwysnesse and rihte shal regnen in helle,
And mercy al mankynde bifore me in heuene.
For y wer an vnkynde kyng bote y my kyn helpe,
And namliche at such a nede at nedes helpe asketh.
	Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo.
	Thus by lawe,' quod oure lord, `lede y wol fro hennes
Tho ledis at y louye and leued in my comynge.
Ac for e lesynge at thow low, Lucifer, til Eue,
Thow shal abyye bittere,' quod god, and bonde hym with chaynes.
Astarot and alle oere hidden hem in hernes;
They dorste nat loke on oure lord, the lest of hem alle,
Bote leten hym lede forth which hym luste and leue which hym likede.
	Many hundret of angels harpeden tho and songen,
Culpat caro, purgat caro, regnat deus dei caro.
Thenne piped Pees of poetes a note:
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula Phebus;
Post inimicitias clarior est et amor.
`Aftur sharpest shoures,' quod Pees, `most shene is e sonne;
Is no wedore warmore then aftur watri cloudes,
Ne no loue leuore, ne no leuore frendes,
Then aftur werre and wrake when loue and pees ben maistres.
Was neuere werre in this world ne wikkedere enuye
That Loue, and hym luste, to louhynge it ne brouhte,
And Pees thorw pacience alle perelles stopede.'
	`Trewes,' quod Treuthe, `thow tellest vs soeth, by Iesus!
Cluppe we in couenaunt and vch of vs kusse oere!'
	`And lat no peple,' quod Pees, `parseyue at we chydde,
For inposible is no thynge to hym at is almyhty.'
	`Thowe saiste soeth,` saide Rihtwisnesse, and reuerentlich here custe,
Pees, and Pees here, per secula seculorum.
	Misericordia et veritas obuiauerunt sibi; iusticia et pax osculate
sunt.
Treuthe trompede tho and song Te deum laudamus,
And thenne lutede Loue in a loude note,
	Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum est, etc.
	Til e day dawed thes damoyseles caroled
That men rang to e resureccioun, and riht with at y wakede
And calde Kitte my wyf and Calote my douhter:
`Arise, and go reuerense godes resureccioun,
And crepe to e croes on knees and kusse hit for a iewel
And rihtfullokest a relyk, noon richore on erthe.
For godes blessed body hit baer for oure bote,
And hit afereth the fende, for such is e myhte
May no grisly goest glyde er hit shaddeweth!'

                          C Pearsall  Passus 21

Explicit dobet et incipit dobest
Thus y wakede and wrot what y hadde ydremed
And dihte me derely and dede me to kyrke
To here holly e masse and to be hoseled aftur.
In myddes of e masse, tho men 3ede to offrynge,
Y ful eftesones aslepe and sodeynliche me mette
That Peres e plouhman was peynted al blody
And cam in with a cros bifore e comune peple
And riht lyke in alle lymes to oure lord Iesu.
And thenne calde y Consience to kenne me e sothe:
`Is this Iesus the ioustare,' quod y, at Iewes dede to dethe?
Or hit is Peres e plouhman? who paynted hym so rede?'
	Quod Conciense and knelede tho: `This aren Peres armes,
His colours and his cote armoure, ac he at cometh so blody
Is Crist with his croes, conquerour of cristene.'
	`Whi calle 3e hym Crist, sennes Iewes callede hym Iesus?
Patriarkes and prophetes profecied bifore
at alle kyn creatures sholde knelen and bowen
Anoon as men nemned e name of god Iesu.
Ergo is no name to e name of Iesus
Ne noen so nedfole to nemnie by nyhte ne by day,
For alle derke deueles aren drad for to heren hit
And synfole ben solaced and saued by at name.
And 3e callen hym Crist--for what cause, telleth me?
Is Crist more of myhte and more worthiore name
Then Iesu or Iesus, at all oure ioye cam of?'
	`Thow knowest wel,' quod Concience, `and ou kunne resoun,
That knyht, kyng, conquerour may be o persone.
To be cald a knyht is fayr, for men shal knele to hym;
To be cald a kyng is fairor, for he may knyhtes make;
Ac to be conquerour cald, at cometh of special grace,
And of hardiness of herte and of hendenesse,
To make lordes of laddes of lond at he wynneth
And fre men foule thralles at folleweth nat his lawes.
The Iewes, at were gentel men, Iesu thei dispisede,
Bothe his lore and his lawe--now are they lowe cherles;
As wyde as e worlde is wonyeth er none
Bote vnder tribuyt and talage as tykes and cherles.
And tho at bycome cristene bi consail of e Baptist
Aren frankeleynes and fre men thorw follyng at they toke
And ientel men with Iesu, for Iesu was yfolled
And vpon Caluarie on cros ycrouned kyng of Iewes.
	Hit bicometh for a kyng to kepe and to defende
And conquerour of his conqueste his layes and his large.
And so dede Iesus e Iewes: he iustified and tauhte hem
The lawe of lyf that laste shal euere,
And fended hem fro foule eueles, feueres and fluxes,
And fro fendes at in hem was and false bileue.
Tho was he Iesu of Iewes cald, gentel profete,
And kyng of here kyngdoem and croune baer of thornes.
And tho conquerede he on cros as conqerour noble;
Myhte no deth hym fordo ne adown brynge 
That he ne aroos and regnede and raueschede helle. 
And tho was he conquerour cald of quyke and of dede, 
For he 3af Adam and Eue and oere mo blisse
That longe hadden leye bifore as Luciferes cherles 
And toek Lucifer the loethliche at lord was of helle 
And bonde him as he is bounde with bondes of yre. 
Ho was hardior then he? his herte bloed he shedde 
To make alle folk fre at folweth his lawe. 
And sethe he 3eueth largeliche all his lele lege 
Places in paradys at here partyng hennes 
He may be wel called conquerour, and that is Crist to mene. 
	Ac the cause that he cometh thus, with his cros and his passioun, 
Is to wissen vs erwith at when we ben ytempted 
Therwith to fihte and fende vs fro fallyng into synne, 
And se bi his sorwe at ho-so loueth ioye 
To penaunce and to pouerte he mot putte hymsuluen 
And moche wo in this world wilnen and soffren. 
	Ac to carpe more of Crist and how he cam to at name, 
Faythly for to speke, his furste name was Iesus. 
Tho he was bore in Bedlehem, as e boek telleth, 
And cam to take mankynde, kynges and angeles 
Reuerensed hym riht fayre with richesses of erthe. 
Angels out of heuene come, kneled and songe, 
	Gloria in excelsis deo. 
Kynges cam aftur, knelede and offrede sense, 
Mirre and moche golde, withouten mercy askynge 
Or eny kyne catel, bote knoweleched hym souereyn 
Bothe of sand, sonne and see, and sennes ei wente 
Into here kyngene kuth by consail of angelis. 
And er was at word fulfuld e which ou of speke: 
	Omnia celestia, terrestria, flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu. 
For alle e angelis of heuene at his burthe knelede 
And al e wit of the world was in tho thre kynges. 
Resoun and rihtfulnesse and reuthe thei offrede; 
Wherefore and why wyse men at tyme, 
Maistres and lettred men, Magi hem calde. 
	That o kyng cam with resoun, ykyuered vnder ensense. 
The secounde kyng seth soethliche offrede 
Rihtwisnesse vnder reed gold, resones felawe; 
Gold is likened to lewetee that laste shal euere 
And resoun to richeles, to riht and to treuthe. 
The thridde kyng cam and kneled to Iesu 
And presented hym with pyte, apperynge bi mirre, 
For mirre is mercy to mene and mylde speche of tonge. 
Ertheliche honeste thynges was offred thus at ones 
Thorw thre kyne kynges knelyng to Iesu. 
	Ac for all this preciouse presentes oure lord prince Iesu 
Was noer kyng ne conquerour til he comsed wexe 
In e manere of a man, and at by moche sleythe, 
As hit bicometh for a conquerour to conne mony sleythes 
And many wyles and wyt at wol be a ledare. 
And so dede Iesu in his dayes, who-so durste tellen hit. 
Som tyme he soffrede and som tyme he hudde hym 
And som tyme he fauht faste and fley oer-while 
And som tyme he gaf goed and graunted hele bothe; 
Lyf and lyme, as hym luste, he wrouhte. 
As kynde is of a conquerour so comesede Iesu
Til he hadde all hem at he fore bledde. 
	In his iuuentee this Iesus at Iewene feste 
Turned watur into wyn, as holy writ telleth; 
And er bigan god of his grace to dowel. 
For wyn is likned to lawe and lyf-holinesse,
And law lakked tho, for men loued nat her enemyes,
And Crist consayleth vs and comaundeth bothe,
Bothe to lered and to lewed, to louye oure enemyes.
So at at feste furste, as y before tolde,
Bigan god of his grace and goodnesse to dowel.
And tho was he cleped and calde not only Crist but Iesu,
A fauntekyn ful of wyt, filius Marie.
For bifore his moder Marie made he at wonder
That she furste and the formoste sholde ferme bileue
That he thorw grace was gete and of no gome elles.
He wrouhte at by no wyt bote thorw word one,
Aftur e kynde at he cam of.  er comsede he dowel.
	And when he was wexen more, in his moder absence
He made lame to lepe and 3af liht to blynde
And fedde with two fisches and with fyue loues
Sore afyngered folk, mo then fyue thousend.
Thus he comfortede carefole and cauhte a grettere name,
The which was Dobet, where at he wente.
For deue thorw his doynges and dombe speke and herde
And all he heled and halp at hym of grace asked.
And tho was he cald in contreye of e comune peple,
For e dedes at he dede, fili Dauid, Iesus.
For Dauid was the douhtiest of dedes in his tyme;
The buyrdes tho songe Saul interfecit mille, et Dauid decem milia.
Forthy e contre er Iesu cam calde hym fili Dauid
And nempned hym of Nazareth, and no man so worthy
To be cayser or kyng of the kyngdoem of Iuda
Ne ouer Iewes iustice as Iesus was, hem thouhte.
	Hereof hadde Cayphas enuye and oer Iewes
And for to do hym to dethe day and nyhte they casten
And culden hym on cros-wyse at Caluarie on a Fryday
And sethen burieden his body and beden at men sholde
Kepen hit fro nyhte-comares with knyhtes y-armed
For no frende sholde hit fecche; for profetes hem tolde
That at blessed body of buyrielles sholde ryse
And goen into Galilee and gladien his apostlis
And his moder Marie--thus men bifore deuyned.
The knyhtes at kepten hit biknewen hemsuluen
That angeles and archangeles, ar the day spronge,
Comen knelyng to at cors and songen
Christus resurgens, and hit aroos aftur,
Verray man bifore hem alle, and forth with hem 3ede.
The Iewes preyed hem of pees and preyede tho knyhtes
Telle e comune at er cam a companie of his apostles
And bywiched hem as they woke and away stelen hit.
Ac Marie Maudeleyne mette hym by e weye,
Goynge toward Galilee in godhede and in manhede
And lyues and lokynge, and aloude criede
In vch a companye er she cam, Christus resurgens!
Thus cam hit out at Crist ouerkam, rekeuerede and lyuede--
	Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare, etc.--
For at woman witeth hit may nat wel be conseyl!
	Peter parseyued al this and pursuede aftur,
Bothe Iames and Iohan, Iesu to seke,
Taddee and ten mo, with Thomas of Ynde.
And as al thise wyse weyes weren togyderes
In an hous al bishut and here dore ybarred,
Crist cam in--and al closed, bothe dore and 3ates--
To Peter and to his apostlis and saide Pax vobis,
And toek Thomas by the hoende and tauhte hym to grope
And fele with his fyngeres his flescheliche herte.
Thomas touched hit and with his tonge saide:
	"Dominus meus et deus meus.
Thow art my lord, y bileue, god, lord Iesu,
Deyedest and deth tholedest and deme shalt vs all
And now art lyuynge and lokynge and laste shalt euere."
Crist carpede thenne and corteysliche saide:
"Thomas, for thow trowest this and treweliche bileuest hit
Yblessed mote thow be and be shalt for euere.
And yblessed mote they be in body and in soule
That neuere shal se me in sihte as thowe seste nowthe
And leelliche bileuen al this--y loue hem and blesse hem.
	Beati qui non viderunt et crediderunt."
	And when this dede was doen, dobest he thouhte
And 3af Peres power and pardoun he graunted
To alle manere men, mercy and for3euenesse;
3af hym myhte men to assoyle of alle manere synnes
In couenaunt at they come and knoleched to pay
To Peres pardoun e plouhman Redde quod debes.
Thus hath Peres power, be his pardoun payed,
To bynde and to vnbynde bothe here and elles
And assoile men of alle sunnes, saue of dette one.
Anoon aftur an heyh vp into heuene
He wente, and woneth there, and wol come at e laste
And rewarde hym riht wel that reddet quod debet,
Payeth parfitly as puyr treuthe wolde.
And what persone payth hit nat punischen he thenketh
And demen hem at domesday, bothe quyke and dede,
The gode to godhede and to grete ioye
And wikked to wonye in wo withouten ende.'
	Thus Consience of Crist and of e cros carpede
And conseyled me to knelw erto; and thenne cam, me thouhte,
Oen Spiritus paraclitus to Peres and to his felawes.
In liknesse of a lihtnynge a lihte on hem alle
And made hem konne and knowe alle kyne langages.
Y wondred what at was and wagged Consience
And was afered for the lihte, for in fuyres liknesse
Spiritus paraclitus ouerspradde hem alle.
Quod Consience and knelede: `This is Cristes messager
And cometh from the grete god, Grace is his name.
Knele now,' quod Consience, `and yf thow canst synge
Welcome hym and worschipe hym with Veni creator spiritus.'
And y sang at song and so dede many hundret
And criden with Consience, `Helpe vs, god, of grace!'
	And thenne bigan Grace to go with Peres the plouhman
And conseilede hym and Consience the comune to sompne:
`For y wol dele today and deuyde grace
To alle kynes creature at can his fyue wittes,
Tresor to lyue by to here lyues ende
And wepne to fihte with at wol neuere fayle.
For Auntecrist and hise al the world shal greue
And acombre e, Consience, bote yf Crist the helpe.
And false profetes fele, flateres and glosares,
Shal come and be curatours ouer kynges and erles.
And thenne shal pryde be pope and prince of holy chirche,
Coueytise and vnkyndenesse cardynales hym to lede.
Forthy,' quod Grace, `or y go y wol gyue 3ow tresor
And wepne to fihte with at wol neuere fayle.
And 3af vch man a grace to gye with hymsuluen
That ydelnesse encombre hem nat, ne enuye ne pryde.
	Diuisiones graciarum sunt.
	Som men he 3af wyt with wordes to shewe,
To wynne with treuthe at the world asketh,
As prechours and prestes and prentises of lawe:
They leely to lyue bi labour of tonge
And bi wit to wissen oere as grace hem wolde teche.
And somme he kende hem craft and konnynge of syhte,
With sullyng and buggynge here bileue to wynne.
And som he lered to laboure a londe and a watre
And lyue by at laboure a leele lyf and a trewe.
And somme he tauhte to tuleye, to ecche and to coke,
As here wit wolde when e tyme come.
And somme to deuyne and to deuyde noumbres,
To kerue and to compace and coloures to make.
And some to se and to saye what sholde bifalle
Bothe of wele and of wo and be ywaer bifore,
As astronomens thorw astronomye, and philosopheres wyse.
And somme to ryde and somme to rekeuere that vnrihtfulliche was wonne;
He wissede men wynne hit a3eyn thorw wihtnesse of handes
And fechen hit fro false men with Foleuiles lawes.
And somme he lered to lyue in longyng to be hennes,
In pouerte and in pacience to preye for alle cristene.
And al he lered to be lele, and vch a craft loue oere,
Ne no boest ne debaet be among hem alle.
	`Thouh somme be clenner then somme, 3e sen wel,' quod Grace,
`That all craft and connyng cam of my 3efte.
Loke at noen lacke oere bute loueth as bretherne
And he at moest maistries can, be myldest of berynge.
And crouneth Consience kyng and maketh Craft 3oure styward
And aftur Craftes consail clotheth 3ow and fedeth.
For y make Peres the plouhman my procuratour and my reue,
And registrer to reseyuen Redde quod debes.
My prowour and my plouhman Peres shal ben on erthe
And for to tulye treuthe a teme shal he haue.'
	Grace gaf Peres a teme, foure grete oxen:
That oen was Luc, a large beste and a lou-chered,
And Marc, and Mathewe the thridde, myhty bestes bothe,
And ioyned til hem oen Iohan, most gentill of all,
The pris neet of Peres plouh, passynge alle oere.
	And sethe Grace of his goednesse gaef Peres foure stottes,
All at his oxes erede they to harwen aftur.
Oen hihte Austyn and Ambrosie anoer,
Gregory the grete clerk and Ieroem e gode.
Thise foure, the fayth to teche, folewede Peres teme
And harwed in an hand-while al holy scripture
With two aythes at they hadde, an oelde and a newe,
	Id est vetus testamentum et nouum.
	And Grace gaf Peres graynes, cardinales vertues,
And sewe hit in mannes soule, and sethe he toelde here names.
	Spiritus prudencie the furste seed hihte,
That ho-so ete at, ymageny he sholde,
Ar he dede eny dede deuyse wel e ende;
And lered men a ladel bugge with a longe stale
That caste for to kele a crok and saue e fatte aboue.
	The seconde seed hihte Spiritus temperancie;
He at eet of that seed hadde such a kynde,
Sholde neuere mete ne meschief maken hym to swelle,
Ne sholde no scornare out of skille hym brynge;
Ne neuere wynnynge ne welthe of wordliche richesse,
Waste word of ydelnesse ne wikede speche meue.
Sholde no curious cloth comen on his rugge
Ne no mete in his mouth at maister Iohan spyced.
	The thridde seed that Peres sewe was Spiritus fortitudinis
And ho-so ete of at seed hardy was euere
To soffre al at god sente, seeknesse and angeres.
Myhte no lyare with lesynges ne losse of worldly catel
Makyn hym, for eny mornynge, at he ne was murye in soule,
And bold and abidynge busmares to soffre; 
And pleded al with pacience and Parce michi, domine,
And keuered hym vnder consayl of Caton the wyse:
Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique.
	The ferthe seed that Peres sewe was Spiritus iusticie,
And he at ete of at seed sholde be euene trewe
With god, and nat agast bote of gyle one
(For gyle goth so priuely at goed fayth oer-while
May nat be aspyed thorw Spiritus iusticie).
Spiritus iusticie spareth nat to spille hem at be gulty
And for to corecte the kyng, and the kyng falle in any agulte.
For counteth he no kynges wreth when he in court sitteth,
To demen as a domesman; adrad was he neuere
Noer of deuk ne of deth at he ne dede e lawe,
For presente or for preyere or eny prinses lettres;
He dede equite to alle euene-forth his knowyng.
	Thise foure sedes Peres sewe and sennes he dede hem harewe
With olde lawe and newe lawe that loue myhte wexe
Among thise foure vertues and vices destruye.
`For comunliche in contrayes cammokes and wedes
Fouleth the fruyt in the feld ther thei growe togyderes,
And so doth vices vertues; forthy,' quod Peres,
`Harweth alle at conneth kynde wit bi consail of is doctours
And tulieth aftur here techynge the cardinal vertues.'
	`A3eynes thy graynes,' quod Grace, `bigynneth for to rype,
Ordeyne the an hous, Peres, to herborwe in thy cornes.'
	`By god! Grace,' quod Peres, `3e moet gyue tymber
And ordeyne at hous ar 3e hennes wende.'
	And Grace gaf hym e cros with croune of thornes
That Crist vpon Caluary for mankynde on peyned;
And of his bapteme and bloed at he bledde on rode
He made a manere morter, and mercy hit hihte.
And erwith Grace bigan to make a goode foundement
And wateled hit and walled hit with his paynes and his passioun,
And of all holy writ he made a roof aftur
And calde at hous Vnite, Holy Chirche an Englisch.
And when this dede was doen Grace deuysed
A cart hihte Cristendoem to carie hoem Peres sheues,
And gaf hym caples to his carte, Contrissioun and Confessioun,
And made presthoed hayward the while hymsulue wente
As wyde as the world is with Peres to tulye treuthe
And e londe of bileue, the lawe of holi churche.
	Now is Peres to the plouh--Pryde hit aspiede
And gadered hym a grete oeste; greue he thenketh
Consience and alle cristene and cardinale vertues,
Blowe hem doun and breke hem and bite a-to e mores;
And sente forth Surquidous, his seriaunte of armes,
And his spye Spille-loue, oen Speke-euele-bihynde.
Thise two cam to Consience and to cristene peple
And toelde hem tydynges, at tyne thei sholde
e sedes that sire Peres sewe, e cardinale vertues:
`And Peres berne worth broke, and ei at ben in Vnite
Shal come oute, and Consience and 3oure two caples,
Confessioun and Contricioun, and 3oure carte the bileue
Shal be coloured so queyntly and keuered vnder oure sophistrie
That Consience shal nat knowe (be contricioun ne bi confessioun) ho is
cristene or hethene,
Ne no manere marchaunt at with moneye deleth
Where he wynne with riht, with wrong or with vsure!
With such colours and queyntises cometh Pruyde y-armed,
With the lord at lyueth aftur the lust of his body,
To waston on wel-fare and in wikkede kepynge
Alle the world in a while thorw oure wit,' quod Pruyde.
	Quod Consience to alle cristene tho, `My consayl is at we wende
Hastiliche to Vnite and holde we vs there.
Preye we at a pees were in Peres berne e plouhman,
For witterly y woet wel we be nat of strenghe
To goen agayn Pruyde bute Grace were with vs.'
	And thenne cam Kynde Wit Consience to teche,
And cryede and comaundede alle cristene peple
To deluen a dich depe aboute Vnite
That holi churche stoed in holinesse as hit were a pile.
	Consience commaundede tho alle cristene to delue
And make a moche moet at myhte be a strenghe
To helpe holi churche and hem at hit kepeth.
Thenne alle kyne cristene, saue commune wommen,
Repenteden and refused synne; saue thei one--
And a sisour and sompnour at weren forsworen ofte;
Wytyng and wilfully with the false thei helden
And for suluer weren forswore, soth thei wisten hit--
Ther ne was cristene creature that kynde wit hadde
That he ne halpe a quantite holinesse to wexe,
Somme thorw bedes-biddynge and bi pilgrimages
Or oer priue penaunses and somme thorw pans-delyng.
And thenne walled watur for wikked werkes,
Egrelich ernynge oute at menne yes.
Clannesse of e comune and clerkes clene lyuynge
Made Vnite holi churche in holinesse stande.
	`Y care nat now,' quod Consience, `thow Pryde come nouthe;
The lord of lust shal be ylette al this lente, y hope.
Cometh,' quod Consience, `3e cristene, and dyneth,
That haen labored lelly al this lenten tyme.
Here is bred yblessed and godes body erunder.
Grace thorw godes word gaf Peres plouhman power,
Myhte to make hit and men for to eten hit
In helpe of here hele ones in a monthe
Or as ofte as they hadden nede, tho at hadde payed
To Peres pardon e plouhman Redde quod debes.'
	`How?' quod alle e comune, `thow conseylest vs to 3elde
Al at we owen eny wyhte or at we go to hosele?'
	`That is my conseil,' quod Consience, `and cardinale vertues;
Or vch man for3eue oer, and at wol e pater-noster,
	Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
And so to ben assoiled and sennes to be hoseled.'
	`3e? bawe!' quod a breware, `y wol nat be yruled,
By Iesu! for al 3oure iangelyng, aftur Spiritus iusticie
Ne aftur Consience, bi Crist, while y can sulle
Bothe dregges and draf and drawe at on hole
Thikke ale or thynne ale; and at is my kynde
And nat to hacky aftur holinesse--hold thy tonge, Consience!
Of Spiritus iusticie thow spekest moche an ydel.'
	`Caytyf!' quod Consience, `corsede wreche!
Vnblessed art thow, breware, but yf the god helpe.
Bote thow lyue by lore of Spiritus iusticie,
The cheef seed at Peres sewe, ysaued worst ou neuere.
Bote Consience thy comune fynde and cardinale vertues,
Leue hit, ow art lost bothe lyf and soule.'
	`Thenne is many man ylost,' quod a lewed vicory.
`Ich am a curatour of holi churche and cam neuer in my tyme
Man to me at me couthe telle of cardinales vertues
Or at acounted Consience a cokkes fether or an hennes.
Y knewe neuere cardinale at he ne cam fro e pope
And we clerkes when they come for here comunes paieth,
For here pelure and palfrayes mete and pelours at hem folweth.
The comune clamat cotidie, vch man to oer:
"The contreye is e corsedore at cardinals cometh ynne
And er they lygge and lenge moest lecherye er regneth."
Forthy,' quod this vicory, `bi verray god y wolde
That no cardinal come among e comune peple,
Bote in here holinesse holden hem stille
At Auenon among Iewes (cum sancto sanctus eris, etc.)
Or in Rome, as here reule wolde, e relikes to kepe;
And thow, Consience, in kynges court and sholdest neuer come thennes,
And Grace, that thow gredest so of, gyour of all clerkes,
And Peres with his newe plouh and also his olde
Emperour of al e world at all men were cristene.
	Inparfit is at pope at all peple sholde helpe
And soudeth hem at sleeth suche as he sholde saue.
Ac wel worth Peres the plouhman at pursueth god in doynges,
Qui pluit super iustos et iniustos at ones,
And sente e sonne to saue a corsed mannes tulthe
As brihte as to e beste man or to e beste womman.
Rihte so Peres the plouhman payneth hym to tulie
As wel for a wastour or for a wenche of the stuyves
As for hymsulue and his seruauntes, saue he is furste yserued.
So yblessed be Peres the plouhman at peyneth hym to tulie
And trauaileth and tulieth for a tretour also sore
As for a trewe tydy man, alle tymes ylyke.
And worschiped be he at wrouhte all, bothe gode and wicke,
And soffreth at synnefole be til som tyme at ei repente.
	And god amende e pope at pileth holi churche
And claymeth bifore e kynge to be kepare ouer cristene
And counteth nat thow cristene be culde and yrobbed
And fynde folke to fihte and cristene bloed to spille,
A3en e olde lawe and e newe lawe, as Luk bereth witnesse:
	Non occides.  Michi vindictam.
Hit semeth, bi so hymsulue hadde his wille,
He rekketh riht nauht of e remenaunt.
And Crist of his cortesye e cardinals saue
And turne here wit to wisdoem and to wele for e soule.
For the comune,' quod this curatour, `counteth ful litel
The conseyl of Consience or cardinals vertues
Bote hit sowne, as bi sihte, somwhat to wynnynge.
Of gyle ne of gabbynges gyueth they neuer tale
For Spiritus prudencie among e peple is gyle
And al tho fayre vertues as vises thei semeth.
For vch man sotileth a sleythe, synne to huyde.
And coloureth hit for a connyng and a clene lyuynge.'
	Thenne lowh ther a lord and `Bi this lihte' saide,
`Y halde hit riht and resoun of my reue to take
Al at myn auditour or elles my styward
Conseileth me bi here acounte and my clerkes writyng.
With Spiritus intellectus they toke e reues rolles
And with Spiritus fortitudinis fecche hit, wolle he, null he.'
	And thenne cam er a kyng and bi his corone saide:
`Y am kyng with croune the comune to reule
And holy kyrke and clerge fro cursed men to defende.
And yf me lakketh to lyue by, e lawe wol at y take hit
Ther y may hastilokest hit haue, for y am heed of lawe
And 3e ben bote membres and y aboue alle.
And sethe y am 3oure alere heued y am 3oure alere hele
And holy churche cheef helpe and cheuenteyn of e comune
And what y take of 3ow two y take hit at e techynge
Of Spiritus iusticie, for y iuge 3ow alle.
So y may boldely be hoseled for y borwe neuere
Ne craue of my comune bote as my kynde asketh.'
	`In condicioun,' quod Consience, `at ou e comune defende
And rewle thy rewme in resoun riht wel and in treuthe,
Than haue thow al thyn askyng as thy lawe asketh.
	Omnia sunt tua ad defendum sed non ad deprehendum.'
	The vicory hadde fer hoem and fair toek his leue,
And y wakned erwith and wroet as me mette.

                          C Pearsall  Passus 22

Passus secundus de dobest
And as y wente by the way when y was thus awaked,
Heuy-chered y 3ede and elyng in herte,
For y ne wiste where to ete ne at what place.
And hit neyhed neyh e noen and with Nede y mette
That afrounted me foule and faytour me calde:
`Couthest thow nat excuse the, as dede the kyng and oere,
That thow toke to lyue by, clothes and to sustinaunce,
Was bi techyng and by tellyng of Spiritus temperancie
And at thow nome no more then nede the tauhte?
And nede ne hath no lawe ne neuere shal falle in dette
For thre thynges at he taketh his lyf for to saue:
That is mete, when men hym werneth for he no money weldeth,
Ne wyht at now wol be his borwe ne no wed hath to legge;
And he cacche in at caes and come therto by sleithe
He synegeth nat sothlich at so wynneth his fode.
And thow he come so to a cloth and can no bettere cheuesaunce,
Nede anoen-riht nymeth hym vnder maynprise.
And yf him lust for to lape the lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at vch a dysch ar he deye for furste.
	So nede at greet nede may nyme as for his owne
Withouten consail of Consience or cardinale vertues,
So at he sewe and saue Spiritus temperancie.
For is no vertu be ver to Spiritus temperancie,
Noyther Spiritus iusticie ne Spiritus fortitudinis.
For Spiritus fortitudinis forfeteth wel ofte;
He shal do more en mesure mony tymes and often
And bete men ouer-bitere and som body to litel
And greue men grettore then goed faith hit wolde.
And Spiritus iusticie shal iugen, wol he, nel he,
Aftur e kynges conseyl and e comune lyke.
And Spiritus prudencie in many a poynt shal faile
Of at he weneth wolde falle yf his wit ne were.
Wenyng is no wisdoem ne wyse ymaginacioun:
	Homo proponit, deus disposuit;
God gouerneth all gode vertues.
	And Nede ys nexst hym, for anoen he meketh
And as louh as a lamb for lakkyng at hym nedeth,
For Nede maketh neede fele nedes louh-herted.
Philosopheres forsoke welthe for they wolde be nedy
And woneden wel elyngly and wolden nat be riche.
And god al his grete ioye goestliche he lefte
And cam and toek mankynde and bicam nedy.
So he was nedy, as saith the boek in mony sondry places,
That he saide in his sorwe on e sulue rode:
"Bothe fox and foule may fle to hole and crepe
And e fisch hath fyn to flete with to reste,
There nede hath ynome me at y moet nede abyde
And soffre sorwes ful soure, at shal to ioye torne."
Forthy be nat abasched to byde and to be nedy
Sethe he at wrouhte al e worlde was willefolliche nedy,
Ne neuere noen so nedy ne porore deyede.'
	Whenne Nede hadde vndernome me thus, anoen y ful aslepe
And mette ful merueylousely at in mannes fourme
Auntecrist cam thenne, and al the crop of treuthe
Turned hit tyd vp-so-down, and ouertulde e rote,
And made fals sprynge and sprede and spede menne nedes;
In vch a contrey ther he cam, kutte awey treuthe
And garte gyle growe ere as he a god were.
	Freres folewed at fende, for he 3af hem copes,
And religious reuerensed hym and rongen here belles
And al e couent cam to welcome a tyraunt
And alle hise as wel as hym, saue onelich foles;
The whiche foles were wel gladere to deye
Then to lyue lengere, sethe leautee was so rebuked
And a fals fende Auntecrist ouer all folke regnede.
And at were mylde men and holy at no meschief dradden,
Defyede all falsenesse and folke at hit vsede,
And what kyng at hem confortede, knowynge here gyle,
Thei corsede, and here consail, were hit clerk or lewed.
	Auntecrist hadde thus sone hondredes at his baner
And Pryde hit baer baldly aboute
With a lord at lyueth aftur likyng of body,
That can a3en Consience, at kepar was and gyour
Ouer kynde cristene and cardinale vertues.
	`Y consail,' quod Consience tho, `cometh with me, 3e foles,
Into Vnite holi churche, and halde we vs there.
And crye we to Kynde at he come and defende vs
Foles fro this fendes lymes, for Peres loue the plouhman;
And crye we on al e comune at thei come to Vnite
And ere abyde and bikere a3eyn Beliales childrene.'
	Kynde Consience tho herde and cam oute of the planetes
And sente forth his forreours, feueres and fluxes,
Cowhes and cardiacles, crampes and toeth-aches,
Reumes and radegoundes and roynouse scabbes,
Byles and boches and brennynge aguwes;
Freneseyes and foule eueles, forageres of Kynde,
Hadde ypriked and preyed polles of peple;
Largeliche a legioun lees the lyf sone.
	There was `Harow!' and `Helpe!' here cometh Kynde
With Deth at is dredful to vndoen vs alle!'
The lord at lyuede aftur lust tho aloud cryede
Aftur Conforte, a knyhte, come and beer his baner.
`Alarme! alarme!' quod at lord, `vch lyf kepe his owene!'
Thenne mette thise men, ar munstrals myhte pype
And ar heroudes of armes hadden descreued lordes,
Elde e hore; he was in e vawwarde
And baer e baner bifore Deth--bi riht he hit claymede.
Kynde cam aftur hym with many kyne sores,
As pokkes and pestilences, and moche peple shente;
So Kynde thorw corupcions kulde for mony.
Deth cam dryuyng aftur and al to duste paschte
Kynges and knyhtes, caysers and popes.
Lered ne lewed he lefte no man stande
That he hitte euene, at euere stured aftur.
Many a louly lady and here lemmanes knyhtes
Swowened and swelte for sorwe of dethes duntes.
	Concience of his cortesye tho Kynde he bisouhte
To sese and soffre, and se wher they wolde
Leue pruyde priueyliche and be parfyt cristene.
And Kynde sesede tho, to se e peple amende.
	Fortune gan flateren thenne tho fewe at were alyue
And bihihte hem long lyf, and Lecherye he sente
Amonges alle manere men, wedded and vnwedded,
And gaderet a greet oest alle agayn Consience.
This Lecherye leyde oen with lauhyng chere
And with priue speche and paynted wordes,
And armed hym in ydelnesse and in hey berynge.
He baer a bowe in his hoend, and many brode arwes,
Weren fythered with fayre biheste and many a fals treuthe,
And with vntidy tales he tened ful ofte
Consience and his companye, of holy churche e techares.
	Thenne cam Couetyse and caste how he myhte
Ouercome Consience and cardinal vertues;
And armed hym in auarice and hungriliche lyuede.
His wepne was al wyles, to wynnen and to hyden;
With glosynges and gabbynges he gyled e peple.
Symonye hym suede to assaile Consience
And presed on e pope and prelates their made
To holde with Auntecrist, here temperaltee to saue;
And cam to e kynges consail as a kene baroun
And knokked Consience in court bifore hem alle,
And gert Goed Faith fle and Fals to abyde
And baldelich baer adoun, with many a brihte noble,
Moche of e wyt and wisdoem of Westministre halle.
He iogged til a iustice and iustede in his ere
And ouertulde al his treuthe with `Taek this on amendement';
And into e Arches in haste he 3ede anoen aftur
And turnede syuyle into symonye, and sethe he toek e official
And for a meneuer mantel he made leele matrimonye
Departen ar dethe come, and a deuors shupte.
	`Allas!' quod Consience tho, and cryede, `Wolde Crist of his grace
That Coueytyse were cristene at is so kene to fihte,
And bolde and abydynge e while his bagge lasteth.'
	And thenne lowh Lyf and lette dagge his clothes,
And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes,
And helde Holinesse a iape, and Hendenesse a wastour,
And leet Leautee a cherl, and Lyare a freman;
Consience and conseil, he counted hit folye.
Thus relyed Lyf for a litel fortune
And priketh forth with Pruyde--preyseth he no vertue
Ne careth nat how Kynde slowh and shal come at e laste
And culle all erthely creature, saue Consience one.
	Lyf lepte asyde and lauhte hym a lemman:
`Hele and y,' quod he, `and heynesse of herte
Shal do the nat drede noer Deth ne Elde,
And to for3ete ou3t and 3eue nat of synne.'
This likede Lyf and his lemman Fortune
And geten in here glorie a gadlyng at e laste,
Oen at moche wo wrouhte, Sleuthe was his name.
Sleuthe wax wonder 3erne and sone was of age
And wedded oen Wanhope, a wenche of e stuyves;
Here syre was a sysour at neuere swoer treuthe,
Oen Tomme Two-tonge, ateynt at vch enqueste.
This Sleuthe was sley of werre and a slynge made,
And throw drede of dispayr a doysayne myle aboute.
	For care Consience tho cryede vpon Elde
And bad hym fonde to fihte and afere Wanhope.
And Elde hente gode hope and hastiliche shroef hym
And wayued away Wanhope, and with Lyf he fihteth.
And Lyf fley for fere to Fisyk aftur helpe
And bisouhte hym of socour, and of here salue hadde,
And gaef hym goelde goed woen at gladede here hertes,
And they gyuen hym agayne a glasene houe.
Lyf leuede at lechecraft lette sholde Elde
And dryue awey Deth with dyaes and drogges.
	And Elde auntered hym on Lyf, and at e laste he hitte
A fisician with a forred hoed that he ful in a palesye,
And ere deyede at doctour ar thre dayes aftur.
`Now y see,' saide Lyf, `that surgerie ne fysyke
May nat a myte avayle to medlen a3en Elde.'
And in hope of his hele gode herte he hente
And roed so to Reuel, a ryche place and a murye,
(The compeny of Comfort men clepede hit some tyme),
And Elde aftur hym, and ouer myn heued 3ede
And made me balled bifore and baer in e crowne;
So harde he 3ede ouer myn heued hit wol be sene euere!
	`Syre euele-tau3t Elde,' quod y, `vnhende go with the!
Sennes whanne was e way ouer menne heuedes?
Haddest thow be hende,' quod y, `thow wost haue asked leue.'
	`3e, leue? lordeyne!' quod he, and leide on me with age,
And hitte me vnder e ere--vnnethe may ich here.
He boffeded me aboute e mouthe and beet out my wang-teeth,
And gyued me in gowtes--y may nat go at large.
And of e wo at y was ynne my wyf hadde reuthe
And wesched wel witterly at y were in heuene.
For e lyme at she loued me fore and leef was to fele
(A nyhtes, nameliche, when we naked were),
Y ne myhte in none manere maken hit at here wille,
So Elde and she hit hadde forbete.
	And as y saet in this sorwe y say how Kynde passede
And Deth drow ney me; for drede gan y quaken
And cryede to Kynde out of care me brynge:
`Lo, how Elde e hore hath me byseye;
Awreke me, 3if 3oure wille be, for y wolde be hennes.'
	`Yf thow wolde be wreke, wende into Vnite
And halde the there euere til y sende for the,
And loke thow conne som craft ar thow come thennes.'
	`Consaileth me, Kynde,' quod y, `what craft be beste to lere?'
	`Lerne to loue,' quod Kynde, `and leef all othere.'
	`How shal y come to catel so, to clothe me and to fede?'
	`And thow loue lelly, lacke shal the neuere
Wede ne worldly mete while thy lif lasteth.'
And y bi conseil of Kynde comsed to rome
Throw Contricion and Confessioun til y cam to Vnite.
And there was Consience constable, cristene to saue,
And biseged soethly with seuene grete geauntes
That with Auntecrist helden harde a3eyn Consience.
	Sleuthe with his slynge an hard sawt he made.
Proute prestes cam with hym--passyng an hundred
In paltokes and pikede shoes and pissares longe knyues
Comen a3en Consience; with Couetyse they helden.
`By e Marie,' quod a mansed prest, was of e march of Ireland,
`Y counte no more Consience, bi so y cache suluer,
Then y do to drynke a drauht of goed ale!'
And so sayde syxty of e same contreye,
And shoten a3eynes hym with shotte, many a shef of othes,
And brode-hokede arwes--goddes herte, and his nayles--
And hadden almost Vnite and holynesse adowne.
	Consience cryede, `Helpe, Clergie, or y falle
Thorw inparfit prestes and prelates of holy churche!'
Freres herde hym crye and comen hym to helpe,
Ac for they couthe nat wel here crafte Consience forsoek hem.
Nede neyhede tho ner and Conscience he toelde
That they cam for couetyse to haue cure of soules:
`And for thei aren pore, parauntur, for patrimonye hem faileth,
Thei wol flatere, to fare wel, folk at ben riche.
And sethen thei chosen chele and cheytyftee
Late hem chewe as thei chose and charge hem with no cure!
For lomere he lyeth at lyflode moet begge
Then he at laboreth for lyflode and leneth hit beggares.
And senne freres forsoke the felicite of erthe
Lat hem be as beggares or lyue by aungeles fode!'
	Consience of this consail tho comesed for to lawhe,
And corteysliche confortede hem and calde hem in, all freres,
And saide, `Syres, soethly welcome be 3e alle
To Vnite and holi churche, ac o thyng y 3ow preye--
Holdeth 3ow in Vnite and haueth noen enuye
To lered ne to lewed, but lyueth aftur 3oure reule.
Y wol be 3oure borwh; 3e shal haue breed and clothes
And oere necessaries ynowe; 3ow shal no thyng lakke
With at 3e leue logyk and lerneth for to louye.
For loue lefte they lordschipe, bothe lond and scole,
Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk, for loue to be holy.
	And yf 3e coueiteth cure, Kynde wol 3ow telle
That in mesure god made alle manere thynges
And sette hit at a serteyne and at a syker nombre
And nempned hem names and nombred e sterres.
	Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum.
Kynges and knyhtes, at kepen and defenden,
Haen officerys vnder hem and vch of hem a certeyne.
And yf thei wage men to werre thei writen hem in nombre;
Wol no tresorer taken hem wages, trauayle they neuere so sore,
Bote hy ben nempned in e nombre of hem at been ywaged.
Alle oere in bataile been yholde brybours,
Pilours and pike-harneys, in vch a parsch acorsed.
Monkes and monyales and alle men of religioun,
Here ordre and here reule wol to haue a certeyne nombre.
Of lewed and of lered the lawe wol and asketh
A certeyne for a certeyne--saue oenliche of freres!
Forthy,' quod Consience, `bi Crist, kynde wit me telleth
Hit is wikked to wage 3ow, 3e wexeth out of nombre.
Heuen hath euene nombre and helle ys withouten nombre;
Forthy y wolde witterly at 3e were in registre
And 3oure nombre vnder notarie sygne and noer mo ne lasse!'
	Enuye herde this, and heete freres go to scole
And lerne logyk and lawe and eke contemplacioun,
And preche men of Plato and preuen hit by Seneca
That alle thynges vnder heuene ouhte to be in comune.
	He lyeth, as y leue, at to e lewed so precheth,
For god made to men a lawe and Moyses hit tauhte:
	Non concupisces rem proximi tui.
And euele is this yholde in parsches of Yngelond,
For persones and parsche prestes, at sholde e peple shryue,
They ben curatours cald, to knowe and to hele,
Alle at been here parschienes penaunses enioynen
And be aschamed in here shryft; ac shame maketh hem wende
And fle to e freres, as fals folk to Westmynstre,
That borweth and bereth hit theddere and thenne biddeth frendes
3erne of for3euenesse or lengore 3eres leue.
Ac while he is in Westmynstre he wol be bifore
And maken hym murye with oere menne godes.
And so hit fareth with moche folke at to freres shryuen,
As sisours and secutours; they shal 3eue e freres
A parcel to preye for hem, and make hem merye
With e remenaunt that oere men biswonke,
And soffren e dede in dette to e day of dome.
	Enuye herfore hatede Consience,
And freres to filosophye he foend hem to scole,
The while Couetyse and Vnkyndenesse Consience assailede.
In Vnite holi church Consience heeld hym
And made Pees porter to pynne e 3ates
Of all tale-tellares and titerares an ydel.
Ypocrisye and they an hard sawt they 3euen.
Ypocrisye at e 3ate harde gan fyhte
And wounded wel wykkedly many a wys techare
That with Consience acordede and cardinal vertues.
Consience calde a leche at couthe wel shryue
To salue tho at syke were and thorw synne ywounded.
Shrift schupte scharp salue and made men do penaunses
For here mysdedes that thei wrouht hadde,
And at Peres pardon were ypayd, redde quod debes.
	Somme liked nat this leche and letteres they sente
Yf eny surgien were in e sege that softur couthe plastre.
Sir Lyf-to-lyue-in-lecherye lay er and groned;
For fastyng of a Fryday a feerde as he wolde deye.
`Ther is a surgien in the sege that softe can handele,
And more of fysyk bi fer, and fayror he plastereth;
Oen frere Flatrere is fiscicien and surgien.'
Quod Contricion to Consience, `Do hym come to Vnite,
For here is many man hert thorw Ypocrisye.'
`We haen no nede,' quod Consience; `y woet no bettere leche
Then person oer parsche prest, penytauncer or bischope,
Saue Peres the plouhman, at haeth power ouer alle
And indulgence may do, but yf dette lette hit.
Y may wel soffre,' sayde Consience, `sennes 3e desiren,
That frere Flaterare be fet and fisyk 3ow seke.'
	The frere herof herde and hyede faste
To a lord for a lettre, leue to haue to curen
As a curatour a were, and kam with his lettre
Baldly to e bishope and his breef hadde
In contreys er he cam confessiones to here;
And cam er Consience was and knokked at e 3ate.
Pees vnpynned hyt, was porter of Vnite,
And in haste asked what his wille were?
	`In fayth,' quod this frere, `for profyt and for helthe,
Karpe y wolde with Contricioun and erfore y cam heddere.'
	`He is syke,' saide Pees, `and so ar many other;
Ypocrysye haeth herte hem--ful hard is yf thei keuere.'
	`Y am a surgien,' saide the frere, `and salues can make;
Consience knoweth me wel and what y can bothe.'
	`Y preye the,' quod Pees tho, `ar thow passe forere,
What hattest tho? y praye the, hele nat thy name.'
	`Certes,' saide his felawe, `sire Penetrans-domos.'
	`3e? go thy gate!' quod Pees, `bi god, for al this fisyk,
Bote thow conne eny craft thow comest nat here-ynne!
Y knewe such oen ones, nat eyhte wynter passed,
Cam ynne thus ycoped at a court er y dwelte,
And was my lordes leche and my ladyes bothe.
And at e laste this lymytour, tho my lord was oute,
He salued so oure wymmen til some were with childe!'
	Hende-speche heet Pees tho opene the 3ates:
`Lat in e frere and his felawe and make hem fayere chiere.
He may se and here here, so may bifalle,
That Lyf thorw his lore shal leue Couetyse
And be adrad of Deth and withdrawe hym fro Pruyde
And acorde with Consience and kusse here ayther oer.'
	Thus thorw Hende-speche entred the frere
And cam to Consience and corteyslich hym grette.
`Thow art welcome,' quod Consience; `can thow hele syke?
Here is Contricioun,' quod Consience, `my cosyn, ywounded;
Conforte hym,' quod Consience, `and taek kepe to his sores.
The plasteres of the persoun, and poudres, ben to sore,
And lat hem lygge ouer-longe and loeth is to chaungen;
Fro lente to lente he lat his plastres byte.'
	`That is ouer-longe,' quod this lymitour, `y leue.  Y shal amenden
hit';
And goeth gropeth Contricion and gaf hym a plastre
Of a pryue payement and `Y shal preye for 3ow,
And for hem at 3e aren holde to, al my lyf-tyme,
And make 3ow my Ladye in masse and in matynes
Of freres of oure fraternite, for a litel suluer.'
Thus he goeth and gedereth and gloseth er he shryueth
Til Contricioun hadde clene for3ete to crye and to wepe
And wake for his wikkede werkes, as he was woned bifore.
For confort of his confessour, Contricioun he lefte,
That is the souereyne salue for alle kyne synnes.
	Sleuthe seyh at, and so dede Pruyde,
And comen with a kene wil, Consience to assaile.
Consience cryede efte Clergie come help hym,
And baed Contricioun to come to helpe kepe e 3ate.
`He lyeth adreint,' saide Pees, `and so doth mony oere;
The frere with his fisyk this folk hath enchaunted
And doth men drynke dwale, at men drat no synne.'
	`By Crist,' quod Consience tho, `y wol bicome a pilgrime,
And wenden as wyde as e world regneth
To seke Peres the plouhman, at Pruyde myhte destruye,
And at freres hadde a fyndynge, at for nede flateren
And countrepledeth me, Consience.  Now Kynde me avenge,
And seende me hap and hele til y haue Peres plouhman.'
And sethe he gradde aftur Grace tyl y gan awake.