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diff --git a/43660-0.txt b/43660-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f699398 --- /dev/null +++ b/43660-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11221 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43660 *** + +Transcriber's note: A few obvious typographical errors have been corrected: +they are listed at the end of the text. + +In this edition line numbers are displayed on every tenth line--in the +printed work they were synchronised to the pagination, with sometimes only +one number per page. Lines marked = were printed AND COUNTED as two lines. + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). In the main text of +The Vision, the numbers of the original pages are enclosed in curly +brackets to facilitate the use of the glossary. + +Project Gutenberg has the other volume of this work. +Volume II: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43661 + + * * * * * + + +Library of Old Authors. + +[Illustration: Spede the plough & send us korne enough] + + THE VISION AND CREED + + OF + + PIERS PLOUGHMAN. + + EDITED, + FROM A CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT, + WITH A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION, + NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY, + + BY THOMAS WRIGHT, M.A. F.S.A. &c. + + Corresponding Member of the Imperial Institute of France, + Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + + VOL. I. + + _SECOND AND REVISED EDITION._ + + LONDON: + REEVES AND TURNER, 196 STRAND. + 1887. + +_PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION._ + +It is now thirteen years since the first edition of the following text of +this important poem was published by the late Mr. Pickering, during which +time the study of our old literature and history has undergone considerable +development, and it is believed that a reprint at a more moderate price +would be acceptable to the public. Holding still the same opinion which he +has always held with regard to the superior character of the manuscript +from which this text was taken, the editor has done no more than carefully +reprint it, but, in order to make it as useful as he could, he has revised +and made additions to both the Notes and the Glossary. + +The remarkable poem of The Vision of Piers Ploughman is not only so +interesting a monument of the English language and literature, but it is +also so important an illustration of the political history of our country +during the fourteenth century, that it deserves to be read far more +generally than it has been, and the editor will rejoice sincerely if he +should have contributed by this new edition to render it more popular, and +place it within the reach of a greater number of readers. Independent of +its historical and literary importance, it contains many beauties which +will fully repay the slight labour required to master its partially +obsolete language, and, as one of the purest works in the English tongue as +it existed during the century in which it was composed, it is to be hoped +that, when the time shall at length arrive when English antiquities and +English philology and literary history are at length to be made a part of +the studies in our universities and in the higher classes of our schools, +the work of the Monk of Malvern, as a link between the poetry and language +of the Anglo-Saxon and those of modern England, will be made a prominent +text-book. + +THOMAS WRIGHT. + + 14, SYDNEY STREET, BROMPTON, + _Nov. 1855_. + +_INTRODUCTION._ + +The History of the Middle Ages in England, as in other countries, +represents to us a series of great consecutive political movements, +coexistent with a similar series of intellectual revolutions in the mass of +the people. The vast mental development caused by the universities in the +twelfth century led the way for the struggle to obtain religious and +political liberty in the thirteenth. The numerous political songs of that +period which have escaped the hand of time, and above all the mass of +satirical ballads against the Church of Rome, which commonly go under the +name of Walter Mapes, are remarkable monuments of the intellectual history +of our forefathers. Those ballads are written in Latin; for it was the most +learned class of the community which made the first great stand against the +encroachments and corruptions of the papacy and the increasing influence of +the monks. We know that the struggle alluded to was historically +unsuccessful. The baronial wars ended in the entire destruction of the +popular leaders; but their cause did not expire at Evesham; they had laid +foundations which no storm could overthrow, not placed hastily on the +uncertain surface of popular favour, but fixed deeply in the public mind. +The barons, who had fought so often and so staunchly for the great charter, +had lost their power; even the learning of the universities had faded under +the withering grasp of monachism; but the remembrance of the old contest +remained, and what was more, its literature was left, the songs which had +spread abroad the principles for which, or against which, Englishmen had +fought, carried them down (a precious legacy) to their posterity. Society +itself had undergone an important change; it was no longer a feudal +aristocracy which held the destinies of the country in its iron hand. The +plant which had been cut off took root again in another (a healthier) soil; +and the intelligence which had lost its force in the higher ranks of +society began to spread itself among the commons. Even in the thirteenth +century, before the close of the baronial wars, the complaints so +vigorously expressed in the Latin songs, had begun, both in England and +France, to appear in the language of the people. Many of the satirical +poems of Rutebeuf and other contemporary writers against the monks, are +little more than translations of the Latin poems which go under the name of +Walter Mapes. + +During the successive reigns of the first three Edwards, the public mind in +England was in a state of constant fermentation. On the one hand, the +monks, supported by the popish church, had become an incubus upon the +country. Their corruptness and immorality were notorious: the description +of their vices given in the satirical writings of the thirteenth and +fourteenth centuries exceeds even the bitterest calumnies of the age of +Rabelais or the reports of the commissioners of Henry the Eighth.[1] The +populace, held in awe by the imposing appearance of the popish church, and +by the religious belief which had been instilled into them from their +infancy, were opposed to the monks and clergy by a multitude of personal +griefs and jealousies: these frequently led to open hostility, and in the +chronicles of those days we read of the slaughter of monks, and the burning +of abbeys, by the insurgent towns-people or peasantry. At the same time, +while the monks in revenge treated the commons with contempt, there were +numerous people who, under the name of Lollards and other such +appellations,--led sometimes by the love of mischief and disorder, but more +frequently by religious enthusiasm,--whose doctrines were simple and +reasonable (although the church would fain have branded them all with the +title of heretics),--went abroad among the people preaching not only +against the corruptions of the monks, but against the most vital doctrines +of the church of Rome, and, as might be expected, they found abundance of +listeners. On the other hand, a new political system, and the +embarrassments of a continued series of foreign wars, were adding to the +general ferment. Instead of merely calling together the great feudal barons +to lead their retainers to battle, the king was now obliged to appeal more +directly to the people; and at the same time the latter began to feel the +weight of taxation, and consequently they began to talk of the defects and +the corruptions of the government, and to raise the cries, which have since +so often been heard, against the king's "evil advisers." These cries were +justified by many real and great oppressions under which the commons, and +more particularly the peasantry, suffered; and (as the king and aristocracy +were too much interested in the continuance of the abuses complained of to +be easily induced to agree to an effective remedy), the commons began to +feel that their own interests were equally opposed to those of the church, +of the aristocracy, and of the crown, and amidst the other popular +doctrines none were more loudly or more violently espoused than those of +levellers and democrats. These, though comparatively few, aggravated the +evil, by affording a pretence for persecution. The history of England +during the fourteenth century is a stirring picture; its dark side is the +increasing corruption of the popish church; its bright side, the general +spread of popular intelligence, and the firm stand made by the commons in +the defence of their liberties, and in the determination to obtain a +redress of grievances. + +Under these circumstances appeared PIERS PLOUGHMAN. It is not to be +supposed that all the other classes of society were hostile to the commons. +The people, with the characteristic attachment of the Anglo-Saxons to the +family of their princes, wished to believe that their king was always their +friend, when not actuated by the counsels of his "evil advisers;"[2] +several of the most powerful barons stood forward as the champions of +popular liberty; and many of the monks quitted their monasteries to +advocate the cause of the reformation. It appears to be generally agreed +that a monk was the author of the poem of Piers Ploughman; but the +question, one perhaps but of secondary importance, as to its true writer, +is involved in much obscurity.[3] Several local allusions and other +circumstances seem to prove that it was composed on the borders of Wales, +where had originated most of the great political struggles, and we can +hardly doubt that its author resided in the neighbourhood of "Malverne +hilles." We have less difficulty in ascertaining its date. At ll. +1735-1782, we have, without doubt, an allusion to the treaty of Bretigny, +in 1360, and to the events which preceded it: in the earlier part of this +passage there is an allusion to the sufferings of the English army in the +previous winter campaign, to the retreat which followed, and the want of +provisions which accompanied it, and to the tempest which they encountered +near Chartres (the "dym cloude" of the poem). The "pestilences" mentioned +at l. 2497 were the great plague which happened in 1348-9 (and which had +previously been alluded to in the opening of the poem, l. 168), and that of +1361-2,--the first two of the three great pestilences which devastated our +island in the fourteenth century. The south-western wind, mentioned in l. +2500, occurred on the fifteenth day of January 1362. It is probable that +the poem of Piers Ploughman was composed in the latter part of this year, +when the effects of the great wind were fresh in people's memory, and when +the treaty of Bretigny had become a subject of popular discontent.[4] + +The poem was given to the world under a name which could not fail to draw +the attention of the people. Amid the oppressive injustice of the great and +the vices of their idle retainers, the corruptions of the clergy, and the +dishonesty which too frequently characterised the dealings of merchants and +traders, the simple unsophisticated heart of the ploughman is held forth as +the dwelling of virtue and truth. It was the ploughman, and not the pope +with his proud hierarchy, who represented on earth the Saviour who had +descended into this world as the son of the carpenter, who had lived a life +of humility, who had wandered on foot or ridden on an ass. "While God +wandered on earth," says one of the political songs of the beginning of the +fourteenth century,[5] "what was the reason that he would not ride?" The +answer expresses the whole force of the popular sentiment of the age: +"because he would not have a retinue of greedy attendants by his side, in +the shape of grooms and servants, to insult and oppress the peasantry." + +At the period when this poem was first published, England, in common with +the rest of Europe, had been struck with a succession of calamities. Little +more than twelve years had passed since a terrible pestilence had swept +away perhaps not less than one-half of the population.[6] The lower +classes, ill fed and neglected, perished by thousands, while the higher +ranks--the proud and pampered nobility--escaped; "he who was ill nourished +with unsubstantial food," says a contemporary writer, "fell before the +slightest breath of the destroyer; to the poor, death was welcome, for life +is to them more cruel than death. But death respected princes, nobles, +knights, judges, gentlemen; of these few die, because their life is one of +enjoyment."[7] It was the general belief that this fearful visitation had +been sent by God as a punishment for the sins which had more particularly +characterised the higher orders of society; yet instead of profiting by the +warning, they became, during the years which followed, prouder, more cruel +and oppressive, and more licentious, than before. Another pestilence came, +which visited the classes that had before escaped, and at the same time a +tempest such as had seldom been witnessed seemed to announce the vengeance +of heaven. The streets and roads were filled with zealots who preached and +prophesied of other misfortunes, to people who had scarcely recovered from +the terror of those which were past. At this moment the satirist stepped +forth, and laid open with unsparing knife the sins and corruptions which +provoked them. + +From what has been said, it will be seen that the Latin poems attributed to +Walter Mapes, and the Collection of Political Songs, form an introduction +to the Vision of Piers Ploughman. It seems clear that the writer was well +acquainted with the former, and that he not unfrequently imitates them. The +Poem on the Evil Times of Edward II. already alluded to (in the Political +Songs) contains within a small compass all his chief points of accusation +against the different orders of society. But a new mode of composition had +been brought into fashion since the appearance of the famous "Roman de la +Rose," and the author makes his attacks less directly, under an allegorical +clothing. The condition of society is revealed to the writer in a dream, as +in the singular poem just mentioned, and as in the still older satire, the +_Apocalypsis Goliæ_; but in Piers Ploughman the allegory follows no +systematic plot, it is rather a succession of pictures in which the +allegorical painting sometimes disappears altogether, than a whole like the +Roman de la Rose, and it is on that account less tedious to the modern +reader, while the vigorous descriptions, the picturesque ideas, and +numerous other beauties of different kinds, cause us to lose sight of the +general defects of this class of writings. + +Piers Ploughman is, in fact, rather a succession of dreams, than one simple +vision. The dreamer, weary of the world, falls asleep beside a stream amid +the beautiful scenery of Malvern Hills. In his vision, the people of the +world are represented to him by a vast multitude assembled in a fair +meadow; on one side stands the tower of Truth, elevated on a mountain, the +right aim of man's pilgrimage, while on the other side is the dungeon of +Care, the dwelling place of Wrong. In the first sections (_passus_) of the +poem are pictured the origin of society, the foundation and dignity of +kingly power, and the separation into different classes and orders. In the +midst of his astonishment at what he sees, a fair lady, the personification +of "holy church," approaches, to instruct the dreamer. She explains to him +the meaning of the different objects which had presented themselves to his +view, and shows by exhortations and examples the merit of content and +moderation, the danger of disobedience (exemplified in the story of +Lucifer's fall), and the efficacy of love and charity. In the midst of his +conversation with his instructor, a lady makes her appearance on the scene. +This is lady Mede, the personification of that mistaken object at which so +large a portion of mankind direct their aim--the origin of most of the +corruptions and evil deeds in the world--not the just remuneration of our +actions which we look forward to in a future life, but the reward which is +sought by those who set all their hopes on the present. Holy Church now +quits the dreamer, who is left to observe what is taking place amid the +crowd in the field. (_Passus II._) They all pay their court to lady Mede, +who, by the intermediation of Cyvyle, or the law, is betrothed in marriage +to Falsehood. The marriage is forbidden by Theology, and Cyvyle agrees to +carry the cause to London for judgment, contrary to the desire of Simony. +Falsehood and Flattery bribe the lawyers to aid the former in his suit, but +their designs are baffled by Conscience, at whose suggestion the king takes +the lady into his own custody, and drives away Falsehood and his greedy +followers. Mede soon finds favour at court (_Passus III._), and especially +with the friars, who are ready to absolve her of all her sins for a proper +consideration. The king proposes to marry her to Conscience; who, however, +declines the match, and as a reason for his refusal gives a very +unfavourable picture of the lady's previous life and private character. +Mede defends herself, and accuses Conscience of thwarting and opposing the +will and designs of kings and great people. The dispute becoming hot, the +king interferes and orders Mede and Conscience to be reconciled and kiss +each other. (_Passus IV._) This Conscience refuses to do, unless by the +advice of Reason; on whose arrival, Peace comes into the parliament to make +his complaint against the cruel oppressions of Wrong. Wrong is condemned, +but Mede and the lawyers attempt to get him off with the payment of a sum +of money. The king, however, allows himself to be guided by Reason and +Conscience, expresses his dissatisfaction that law is influenced by Mede, +and his determination to govern his realm by the counsel of Reason. + +In a second vision (_Passus V._), the dreamer is again carried to the +"field full of folk," where Reason has taken upon himself the character of +a preacher, and, fortified with the king's authority, induces the various +classes of sinners to confess and repent. The personification of the +different sins forms perhaps the most remarkable part of the whole poem. +The multitude being thus converted from their evil courses, are persuaded +by Repentance and Hope to set out on a pilgrimage in search of Truth. In +their ignorance of the path which they must follow in this search, they +apply to a palmer who had wandered over a large portion of the world in +search of different saints; but they find him as little acquainted with the +way as themselves. They are helped out of this dilemma by Piers the +Ploughman, who, seeing them terrified by the difficulties of the road, +offers to be their guide, if they will wait till he has sown his half acre. +(_Passus VI._) In the mean time all the pilgrims who have strength and +skill, are employed on some useful works, except the knight, who +undertakes, in return for the support which he is to derive from the +ploughman's labours, to watch and protect him against plunderers and +foreign enemies. The peace of the labourers is first disturbed by Waster, +who refuses to perform the conditions by which the others are bound: the +aid of the knight being found inefficient against this turbulent gentleman, +the Ploughman is obliged to send for Hunger, who effectually humbles him. +This section of the poem is a continued allusion to the effects of the +famine and pestilence, and a satire upon the luxurious and extravagant life +of our forefathers in the fourteenth century. (_Passus VII._) Truth, +hearing of the intentions of Piers the Ploughman to leave his labours in +order to serve as a guide to the pilgrims in their journey, sends him a +messenger, exhorting him to remain at home and continue his labours, and +giving him a "pardon" which was to embrace all those who aided him +honestly, by their works, and who should carry on their various avocations +in purity of heart. The writer here takes occasion to sneer at the +"pardons" of the pope, then so much in vogue; a priest questions the +legitimacy of Piers' bull of pardon, and the altercation between them +becomes so loud that the dreamer awakes. The pardon of Piers Ploughman is +granted to those who do good works: the dreamer is lost in the speculation +on the question as to what the good works are, and he becomes engaged in a +new pilgrimage, in search of a person who has not appeared +before,--Do-well. + +(_Passus VIII._) All his inquiries after Do-well are fruitless: even the +friars, to whom he addresses himself, give but a confused account; and, +weary with wandering about, the dreamer is again overtaken by slumber. +Thought now appears to him, and recommends him to Wit, who describes to him +the residence of Do-well, Do-better, and Do-best, and enumerates their +companions and attendants. (_Passus IX._) The Castle of Do-well is an +allegorical representation of man (the individual), in which lady Anima +(the soul) is placed for safety, and guarded by a keeper named Kynde +(nature). With Do-well, the representative of those who live according to +truth in honest wedlock, are contrasted the people who live in lust and +wickedness, the descendants of the murderer Cain, who was begotten by Adam +in an evil hour. (_Passus X._) Wit has a wife named lady Study, who is +angry that her spouse should lay open his high truths to those who are +uninitiated--it is no better than "throwing pearls to swine, which would +rather have hawes." Wit is daunted by his wife's long lecture, and leaves +the dreamer to pursue his own suit. This he does with so much meekness and +humility, that the wrath of dame Study is appeased, and she sends him to +Clergy, with a token of recommendation from herself. Clergy receives the +pilgrim, and entertains him with a long declamation on the character of +Do-well, Do-better, and Do-best, and on the corruptions of the church and +the monkish orders, in the course of which is uttered the remarkable +prophecy of the king who was to "confess and beat" the monks, and give them +an "incurable knock," which was after less than two centuries so exactly +fulfilled in the dissolution of the monasteries. The wanderer confesses +himself "little the wiser" for Clergy's lecture, and by his pertness of +reply merits a reproof from Scripture. (_Passus XI._) In another vision the +dreamer is exposed to the seductions of Fortune, whose two fair damsels, +Concupiscentia-carnis and Covetousness-of-the-Eyes, persuade him to enjoy +the present moment, and lead him entirely from his previous pursuit. He is +only recalled from his error by the approach of Old Age, and then he falls +into the contemplation of a series of subjects, the covetousness of the +friars who gave absolution from motives of personal interest, +predestination, &c. Then Kynde, or Nature, came and carried him to a +mountain, which represented the world, and there showed him how all other +animals but man followed Reason; and Imaginative came after, and told him +that all his present doubt and anxiety had been brought upon him for +contending with Reason and suffering himself to be led astray by Fortune. +(_Passus XII._) The whole of the next section of the poem is occupied with +a long exhortation by Imaginative, concerning God's chastisements, the +merits of Charity and Mercy, the greater responsibility before God of those +who are learned and cannot sin ignorantly, the difficulty for the rich man +to enter heaven. + +(_Passus XIII._) In another vision, Conscience meets with the dreamer, and +takes him to dine with Clergy. Patience comes to the feast in beggar's +weeds, but is seated in the most honourable place at the table. A doctor of +the church is of the party, and distinguishes himself by his gluttony; and +by discussing theological questions after dinner. At length Conscience and +Patience go on a pilgrimage. In their way they meet with a minstrel, named +Activa Vita, or Haukyn the Active-man, with a coat covered with spots of +dirt, whom they question on his mode of life. (_Passus XIV._) Haukyn the +Active-man, the representative of that class of people who neglect their +souls for their worldly affairs, excuses the dirtiness of his apparel on +the ground that he has none to change, and that he has too many occupations +to allow him time to have it cleaned. Conscience and Patience teach him a +method to clean his coat, inform him where charity is to be found, and +recommend patient poverty to him, showing him the advantage of poverty over +riches. Haukyn's repentance and lamentation for the neglect of his duties +awake the dreamer. + +(_Passus XV._) Amid his anxiety to know something more certain of Do-well, +the dreamer has another vision, in which Soul appears to him, and enters +into a long relation of the corruptions and negligence of the clergy. +(_Passus XVI._) Soul finally sends him to Piers the Ploughman, who +possesses the garden in which the tree of Charity grows, and which is +rented under him by Free-will. Piers explains to him the nature of the +tree, and of the props which support it; and shakes down some of the fruit +for him. The allegory then changes, and we are introduced to the birth and +passion of the Saviour, as arising out of the fruit of Charity. At this +moment the dreamer awakes, and therewith loses sight of Piers the +Ploughman; in his anxiety to find Piers, he meets with Faith, in the garb +of Abraham, who was in search of God, now incarnate, and who waited for his +passion in order to be delivered from hell. (_Passus XVII._) Then comes +Spes, or Hope, who also was in search of the knight that was to vanquish +the evil one. As they go along the way towards Jerusalem to the "justes," +discoursing on the obligations of the old and new law and the abrogation of +the former, they meet with a man who had been left helpless by thieves, +wounded and naked: Faith and Hope passed by without helping him, but the +Samaritan, who was also riding to the "justes," descended from his horse, +bound his wounds, and deposited him in an inn at the grange named _Lex +Christi_. The Samaritan gives the dreamer a singular explanation of the +mysteries of the Trinity; and, after having represented to him the +heinousness of sins against the different persons, and the necessity of +making reparation, he pursues his way to Jerusalem. + +(_Passus XVIII._) The vision which forms the eighteenth section or +_passus_, and in which the character of Piers the Ploughman is identified +with that of the Saviour, is entirely occupied with an allegorical +description of Christ's Passion, and his descent into Hell. (_Passus XIX._) +In the next section the history of Christ's passion and victory, and his +figurative representative Piers the Ploughman, is continued. Grace, through +Piers the Ploughman, descends upon the people, and lays the foundation of +the Church, which is cultivated by Piers with his four oxen (the four +Evangelists). Piers is attacked by Pride, who gathers a great host to +assail the Church. Conscience advises the people who follow Piers (the +Church), to take shelter in the stronghold of Unity, and make preparations +for their defence. By the counsel of Kind-wit and Conscience they dig a +great ditch around Unity. The measures of Surety are embarrassed by the +unreasonable opposition of some members or parts of the community, who +oppose Pier's doctrine of restitution--the brewer will not repent of the +tricks which he puts on his customers, the vicar adheres to his simony, the +lord will continue to oppress his tenants, and the king will not be +restrained by his laws. (__Passus XX.__) In the last section of the poem, +the dreamer, after having been accosted by Need, who preaches on the +virtues of temperance, has a vision of Antichrist, who comes to attack the +Castle of Unity. It must be remembered that at this period many people +supposed that Antichrist was already on the earth, and that he was the +cause of all the evils with which mankind was then visited, so that this +last notion brought the allegory home to people's feelings. The +standard-bearer of Antichrist was Pride. Conscience called Kynde, or +Nature, to his aid, who brought an army of diseases and pestilences. Death, +one of his chief soldiers, made terrible havoc. At length Kynde ceased his +ravages; and a horde of enemies immediately arose against Conscience, such +as Fortune, Lechery, Covetousness, Simony. Life, with his mistress Fortune, +indulged in all kinds of excess, until he was visited by Age and Despair, +who treated him very roughly. The dreamer, forsaken by Fortune, and +participating in the misfortunes of Life, by the advice of Kynde takes +shelter with Conscience in the castle of Unity, which is threatened by an +army of priests and monks. At length this stronghold is endangered by the +entrance of Flattery, who is admitted in the disguise of a Physician. +Conscience, unable to retain possession, embarks upon another pilgrimage in +search of Piers the Ploughman, and the dreamer awakes. This is the +conclusion of the poem. Whitaker thought that it should have had a more +consoling end; but it must be remembered that the writer of Piers Ploughman +designed to paint the world as it was, and to describe the numerous +obstacles which lay in the way of the improvement and amelioration of +mankind when he wrote. + +While one member of the monastic order was thus contributing by his +satirical pen towards producing a reform among his countrymen, another monk +was beginning to preach in a still bolder manner against the popish system. +This was John Wycliffe, under whom the despised lollards became an +important sect. This attempt at religious reformation only formed part of +the great movement of the fourteenth century, which soon afterwards broke +out in the popular commotions of the reign of Richard II. The writer of +Piers Ploughman was neither a sower of sedition, nor one who would be +characterised by his contemporaries as a heretic. The doctrines inculcated +throughout the book are so far from democratic, that he constantly preaches +the Christian doctrine of obedience to rulers. Yet its tendency to debase +the great, and to raise the commons in public consideration, must have +rendered it popular among the latter: and, although no single important +doctrine of the popish religion is attacked, yet the unsparing manner in +which the vices and corruptions of the church are laid open, must have +helped in no small degree the cause of the Reformation. Of the ancient +popularity of Piers Ploughman we have a proof in the great number of copies +which still exist, most of them written in the latter part of the +fourteenth century; and the circumstance that the manuscripts are seldom +executed in a superior style of writing, and scarcely ever ornamented with +painted initial letters, may perhaps be taken as a proof that they were not +written for the higher classes of society. From the time when it was +published, the name of Piers Ploughman became a favourite among the popular +reformers.[8] The earliest instance of the adoption of that name for +another satirical work is found in the Creed of Piers Ploughman, printed +also in the present volume, and in which even the form of verse of the +Vision is imitated. + +In this latter poem, which was undoubtedly written by a Wycliffite, Piers +Ploughman is no longer an allegorical personage--he is the simple +representative of the peasant rising up to judge and act for himself--the +English _sans-culotte_ of the fourteenth century, if we may be allowed the +comparison. When it was written, a period of great excitement had passed +since the age of Langlande, the reputed author of the Vision--a period +characterised by the turbulence of the peasantry--which had witnessed in +France the fearful insurrection of the _Jacquerie_, and in England the +rebellion of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw.[9] + +In Piers Ploughman's Creed it is the church simply, and not the state, +which is the object of attack. The clergy--and more particularly the +monks--are accused of having falsified religion, and of being actuated +solely by worldly passions--pride, covetousness, self-love. The writer, +placing himself in the position of one who has just learnt the first +grounds of religious knowledge, is anxious to find a person capable of +instructing him in his creed, and with this object he addresses himself to +the different orders of friars. He applies first to the Minorites, who +abuse the Carmelites, and pride themselves in their own holiness. Disgusted +with their jealousies and self-sufficiency, the inquirer seeks the +Preachers, or Dominicans; amid their stately buildings, and under their +sleek and well filled skins, he finds the same want of Christian charity: +their pride drives him to the order of St. Austin. The Austin Friars, as +well as the Carmelites, will only instruct him for money, and, shocked at +their covetousness, he continues his wanderings, until at last he meets +with a poor Ploughman, in whom he finds the charity and knowledge after +which he has been seeking. The Ploughman enters into a bitter attack on the +vices of all the four orders of friars: he describes their spirit of +persecution, exemplified in the case of Wycliffe and others, and their +simony; speaks of Wycliffe and Walter Brute as preachers of the truth; and +finishes by teaching the inquirer his simple creed. + +The Creed of Piers Ploughman was written by one who approved the opinions +of Wycliffe, and it seems to have been carefully proscribed. There does not +appear to exist any manuscript older than the first printed edition. + +The great popularity of the Vision of Piers Ploughman in the fourteenth +century, and its political influence, are proved by another close +imitation, which was composed immediately after the capture, and previous +to the deposition, of king Richard II. This poem also appears to have been +proscribed, and we have only a fragment left, which was printed from an +unique manuscript for the Camden Society. It also is composed in +alliterative verse, and its meaning is rendered obscure by a confused +allegorical style. It was evidently written towards the Welsh Border, +perhaps at Bristol, which is mentioned in the opening lines; and it appears +to have been intended as a continuation of, or as a sequel to, Piers +Ploughman, which it immediately follows in the only manuscript in which it +is preserved. + +Another early poem, of which the Ploughman is the hero, was inserted in the +works of Chaucer under the title of the Ploughman's Tale. This, like the +Creed, is free from allegory; and it differs from the others also in being +written in rhyme, and not in alliterative verse. The Ploughman's Tale was +probably written in the earlier half of the fifteenth century.[10] It is a +coarse attack on the different orders of the clergy, for their pride, +covetousness, and other vices. Its versification has little merit; and +there appears to be no good reason for inserting it among the Canterbury +Tales. + +The vision of Piers Ploughman appears to have continued to enjoy a wide +popularity down to the middle of the fifteenth century. We hear nothing of +it from that period to the middle of the sixteenth, when it was printed by +the reformers, and received with so much favour, that no less than three +editions, or rather three impressions, are said to have been sold in the +course of one year. Another edition was printed at the beginning of the +reign of Queen Elizabeth; and it appears to have been much read in the +latter part of the sixteenth century, and even at the beginning of the +seventeenth. The name of Piers Ploughman is not uncommon in the political +tracts of that period.[11] + +The Poem of Piers Ploughman is peculiarly a national work. It is the most +remarkable monument of the public spirit of our forefathers in the middle, +or, as they are often termed, dark ages. It is a pure specimen of the +English language at a period when it had sustained few of the corruptions +which have disfigured it since we have had writers of "Grammars;" and in it +we may study with advantage many of the difficulties of the language which +these writers have misunderstood. It is, moreover, the finest example left +of the kind of versification which was purely English, inasmuch as it had +been the only one in use among our Anglo-Saxon progenitors, in common with +the other people of the North. To many readers it will be perhaps necessary +to explain that rhyming verse was not in use among the Anglo-Saxons. In +place of rhyme, they had a system of verse of which the characteristic was +a very regular _alliteration_, so arranged that, in every couplet, there +should be two principal words in the first line beginning with the same +letter, which letter must also be the initial of the first word on which +the stress of the voice falls in the second line. There has, as yet, been +discovered no system of foot-measure in Anglo-Saxon verse, but the common +metre consists apparently in having two rises and two falls of the voice in +each line. These characteristics are accurately preserved in the verse of +Piers Ploughman; and the measure appears to be the same, if we make +allowance for the change of the slow and impressive pronunciation of the +Anglo-Saxon for the quicker pronunciation of Middle English, which +therefore required a greater number of syllables to fill up the same space +of time. + +We can trace the history of alliterative verse in England with tolerable +certainty. The Anglo-Normans first brought in rhymes, which they employed +in their own poetry. The adoption of this new system into the English +language was gradual, but it appears to have commenced in the first half of +the twelfth century. It was, at first, mixed with alliterative couplets: +that is, in the same poem were used sometimes rhyming couplets, which were +suddenly changed for alliterative couplets, and then, after awhile, rhyme +was again brought in, and so on. Of this kind of poetry we have four very +remarkable examples, the _Proverbs of King Alfred_, a poem which was +certainly in existence in the first half of the twelfth century;[12] the +_Early English Bestiary_;[13] the Poem on the _Debate between the Body and +the Soul_;[14] and the grand work of Layamon.[15] The following lines from +the Bestiary may serve as a specimen of the manner in which the two systems +are intermixed; they form part of the account of the spider:-- + + "ðanne _r_enneð ge _r_apelike, + for ge is ai _r_edi, + _n_imeð anon to ðe _n_et, + and _n_imeð hem ðere, + _b_itterlike ge hem _b_it + and here _b_ane wurðeð, + _d_repeð and _d_rinkeð hire _blod_, + _d_oð ge hire non oðer _god_, + bute fret hire _fille_, + and dareð siðen _stille_." + . . . . . . + "Cethegrande is a _fis_ + ðe moste ðat in water _is_; + ðat tu wuldes seien _get_, + gef ðu it soge wan it _flet_," etc. + +This kind of poetry appears to have been common until the middle of the +thirteenth century; after which period we only find alliteration in songs, +not used in simple alliterative couplets, but mixed up in the same lines +with rhyme in an irregular and playful manner.[16] But there appears little +room for doubting that during the whole of this time the pure alliterative +poetry was in use among the lower classes of society; and its revival +towards the middle of the fourteenth century appears to have been a part of +the political movement which then took place. In this point of view, the +poem of Piers Ploughman becomes still more worthy of attention as a +document of contemporary literary history. The old alliterative verse came +so much into fashion at this period that it was adopted for the composition +of long romances, of which several still remain.[17] The use of this kind +of verse was continued in the fifteenth century, and was imitated in +Scotland as late as the time of Dunbar, but the later writers were +evidently unacquainted with the strict rules of this species of +composition. + +The Anglo-Saxons, who used this kind of verse only, wrote their poetry +invariably as prose. But the scribe was in the habit of indicating the +division of the lines by a dot. Among modern scholars a question has arisen +as to the propriety of printing the alliterative couplet in two short +lines, or in one long one. It appears to me that the mode in which the dot +is used in the manuscripts decides the question in favour of the short +lines. The manner in which the alliterative couplet is intermixed with the +rhyming couplet in the poems of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries (which +also are written in the manuscripts in the same form as prose), seems to me +a strong confirmation of this opinion; at least in these last-mentioned +cases, the verse must have been considered as written in short lines. As +the scribes quitted the custom of writing poetry in their manuscripts as +prose, with the divisions of lines indicated by dots, to adopt that of +arranging them in lines as we do at present, these short lines were found +very inconvenient because they were obliged either to waste a great deal of +parchment, or to write in several narrow columns. To remedy this, they fell +perhaps gradually into the custom of writing the two parts of the +alliterative couplet in one line, always, however, marking the division by +a dot. They followed the same method with the shorter rhyming lines, as is +the case with the old English Metrical Romance of Horn in a manuscript in +the Harleian Collection.[18] All the alliterative poetry of the fourteenth +and fifteenth centuries is found written in these long lines, with the dot +of division in the middle. In the fifteenth century the meaning of this dot +appears to have been forgotten, and the system of alliteration so far +misunderstood, that the writers thought it only necessary to have _at +least_ three alliterative words in a long line, without any consideration +of their position in the line. I say _at least_, because they not +unfrequently inserted four or five alliterative words in the same line, +which would certainly have been considered a defect in the earlier writers. +It is my opinion, that a modern editor is wrong in printing the verses of +Piers Ploughman in long lines, as they stand in the manuscripts, unless he +profess to give them as a fac-simile of the manuscripts themselves, or he +plead the same excuse of convenience from the shape of his book. In either +case, he must carefully preserve the dots of separation in the middle of +the lines, which are more inconvenient than the length of the lines, +because they interfere with the punctuation of the modern editor. If, as +appears to be the case, these dots are merely marks to indicate the +division of the couplet, their purpose is much better served by printing +the lines in couplets. The construction of the earlier Anglo-Saxon verse, +the analogy of the mixed rhyming and alliterative verses of the semi-Saxon +poems, and the use of these dots in the middle of the lines in the +manuscripts of Piers Ploughman, appear to me convincing proofs that it +ought to be printed so. I think moreover that the alliterative verse reads +much more harmoniously in the short couplets than in the long lines. + +The manuscripts of the Vision of Piers Ploughman are extremely numerous +both in public and in private collections. There are at least eight in the +British Museum: there are ten or twelve in the Cambridge Libraries; and +they are not less numerous at Oxford. As might be expected in a popular +work like this, the manuscripts are in general full of variations; but +there are two classes of manuscripts which give two texts that are widely +different from each other, those variations commencing even with the first +lines of the poem. One of these texts, which was adopted in the early +printed editions, is given in the present volumes; the other text was +selected for publication by Dr. Whitaker. The following extract, comprising +the first lines of the poem,[19] will show how each text begins, and will +enable those who possess manuscripts of Piers Ploughman to ascertain at +once to which text they belong:-- + + TEXT I. TEXT II. + + In a somer seson In a somè seyson, + Whan softe was the sonne, Whan softe was the sonne, + I shop me into shroudes Y shop into shrobbis + As I a sheep weere, As y shepherde were. + In habite as an heremite In abit az an ermite + Unholy of werkes, Unholy of werkes, + Wente wide in this world That wente forthe in the worle + Wonders to here, Wondres to hure, + Ac on a May morwenynge And sawe meny cellis + On Malverne hilles And selcouthe thynges. + Me bifel a ferly, Ac on a May morwenyng + Of fairye me thoghte. On Malverne hulles + I was wery for-wandred, Me by-fel for to slepe, + And wente me to reste For weyrynesse of wandryng, + Under a broode bank And in a lande as ich lay + By a bournes syde, Lenede ich and slepte, + And as I lay and lenede, And merveylously me mette, + And loked on the watres, As ich may yow telle. + I slombred into a slepyng, Al the welthe of this worlde, + It sweyed so murye. And the woo bothe, + Thanne gan I meten Wynkyng as it were + A merveillous swevene, Wyterly ich saw hyt, + That I was in a wildernesse Of truyth and of tricherye, + Wiste I nevere where; Of tresoun and of gyle, + And as I biheld in to the eest Al ich saw slepyng, + An heigh to the sonne, As ich shal yow telle. + I seigh a tour on a toft, etc. Esteward ich behulde + After the sonne, + And sawe a tour as ich trowede, etc. + +Besides such variations as appear in the foregoing specimen, there are in +the second text many considerable additions, omissions, and transpositions. +It would not be easy to account for the existence of two texts differing so +much; but it is my impression that the first was the one published by the +author, and that the variations were made by some other person, who was +perhaps induced by his own political sentiments to modify passages, and was +gradually led on to publish a revision of the whole. It is certain that in +some parts of Text II. the strong sentiments or expressions of the first +text are softened down. We may give as an example of this, the statement of +the popular opinion of the origin and purpose of kingly government:-- + + TEXT I. TEXT II. + + Thanne kam ther a kyng, Thanne cam ther a kyng, + Knyghthod hym ladde, Knyghtod hym ladde, + Might of the communes The meche myghte of the men + Made hym to regne. Made hym to regne. + And thanne cam kynde wit, And thanne cam a kynde witte, + And clerkes he made, And clerkus he made, + For to counseillen the kyng, And concience and kynde wit, + And the commune save. And knyghthod to-gederes, + The kyng and knyghthod, Caste that the comune + And clergie bothe, Sholde hure comunes fynde. + Casten that the commune Kynde wit and the comune + Sholde hem self fynde. Contrevede alle craftes, + The commune contreved And for most profitable to the puple, + Of kynde wit craftes, A plouh thei gonne make, + And for profit of al the peple Wit leil labour to lyve, + Plowmen ordeyned, Wyl lyve and londe lasteth. + To tilie and to travaille, + As trewe lif asketh. + The kyng and the commune, + And kynde wit the thridde, + Shopen lawe and leauté, + Ech man to knowe his owene. + +Nobody, I think, can deny that in this instance the doctrine is stated far +more distinctly and far more boldly in the first text than in the second. +In general the first text is the best, whether we look at the mode in which +the sentiments are stated, or at the poetry and language. + +As far as I have been able to examine the remaining manuscripts of Piers +Ploughman, at London and in the Universities, I think that nearly +two-thirds of those which remain are of the _fourteenth_ century; and the +greater number, particularly of those written in the fourteenth century, +present what I have distinguished as the first text, that given in the +present volumes. I am by no means inclined to coincide in the reasons which +led Dr. Whitaker to prefer the second text; if I were disposed to admit, as +barely possible (the supposition is quite a gratuitous one), "that the +first edition of this work appeared when its author was a young man, and +that he lived and continued in the habit of transcribing to extreme old +age" (Pref.), I cannot agree with an editor in adopting a copy which he +believes to be "a faithful representation of the work as it came first from +the author," and which not only abounds in words and idioms which he +afterwards altered, but which contains also "many original passages which +the greater maturity of the author's judgment induced him to expunge." + +I know only of two manuscripts of the Creed of Piers Ploughman, one in the +British Museum (MS. Reg. 18, B. XVII.), the other in the Library of Trinity +College, Cambridge, both on paper, and written long after the date of the +printed editions, from which they appear to have been copied. + +The first printed edition of the Vision was that of Robert Crowley, in +1550; and it was so favourably received, that there is reason for believing +that no less than three editions (or rather three impressions[20]) were +sold in the course of the year. It is clear that Crowley had obtained an +excellent manuscript; the printer has changed the orthography at will, and +has evidently altered a word at times, but on the whole this printed text +differs very little from the one we now publish. + +Three years after the appearance of the Vision, another printer, Reynold +Wolfe, published the first edition of the Creed, in the same form as +Crowley's edition of the Vision.[21] + +After the stormy reign of Mary was past, in the beginning of that of +Elizabeth, the call for a new edition, and perhaps the destruction of many +copies of the old one, led the well-known printer Owen Rogers to reprint +the Vision and the Creed together.[22] The impression was probably large, +for it is still by no means a rare book. It was evidently much read during +the reign of Elizabeth, and is not unfrequently alluded to by the writers +of that age. + +No other edition of this popular poem appeared, until it was published by +Dr. Whitaker, in 1813,[23] from a manuscript then in the possession of Mr. +Heber,[24] which contained the second text, written in a rather broad +provincial dialect. This edition was printed in black-letter, in a very +large and expensive form. In 1814, a reprint of the old edition of the +Creed was published in the same form, as a companion to the Vision. It is +not generally known that Dr. Whitaker projected an edition of the same text +and paraphrase which are given in his 4to edition, in 8vo, with Roman type +instead of black-letter. After a few sheets had been composed, the design +was abandoned, as it is said, in favour of the larger form. A copy of the +proof sheets, formerly belonging to Mr. Haslewood, is now in the possession +of Sir Frederick Madden. I am told that a rival edition was also begun, but +not persevered in. + +An attempt at a modernization, or rather a translation, of Piers Ploughman, +was made in the earlier years of the present century, but only a few +specimens appear to have been executed. The following lines, which possess +some merit (though not very literal or correct), are the modern version the +author proposed to give of ll. 2847-2870 of the poem. They were +communicated to me by Sir Henry Ellis. + + "Next AVARICE came: but how he look'd, to say, + Words do I want that rightly shall portray: + Like leathern purse his shrivell'd cheeks did shew, + Thick lipp'd, with two blear eyes and beetle brow: + In a torn threadbare tabard was he clad, + Which twelve whole winters now in wear he had; + French scarlet 'twas, its colour well it kept, + So smooth that louse upon its surface crept." + +It will be necessary, in conclusion, to say a few words on the edition now +offered to the public. Without taking into consideration the inaccuracies +and imperfections of Whitaker's edition, its inconvenient size and high +price made it altogether inaccessible to the general reader; and there +appeared to be a wish for one in a more convenient and less expensive form. +At the same time it was desired that a good text of a work so important for +the history of our language and literature should be selected. Dr. Whitaker +was not well qualified for this undertaking; he also laboured under many +disadvantages; he had access to only three manuscripts, and those not very +good ones; and he has not chosen the best text even of those. Unless he had +some reason to believe that the book was originally written in a particular +dialect, he ought to have given a preference to that among the oldest +manuscripts which presents the purest language; but we cannot allow that +manuscript to be chosen on a ground so capricious as "that the orthography +and dialect in which it is written approach very near to that semi-Saxon +jargon in the midst of which the editor was brought up, and which he +continues to hear daily spoken on the confines of Lancashire, and the West +Riding of the county of York." (Pref.) This could not have been the +language employed by a monk of Malvern. + +The present editor has endeavoured, in the leisure moments which he has +been able to snatch from other employments, to supply the deficiency as +well, and in as unassuming manner, as he could. He has chosen for his text +a manuscript belonging to the valuable library of Trinity College, +Cambridge (where its shelf-mark is B. 15, 17), because it appears to him to +be the best and oldest manuscript now in existence. It is a fine folio +manuscript, on vellum, written in a large hand, undoubtedly contemporary +with the author of the poem, and in remarkably pure English, with +ornamented initial letters. His object has been to give the poem as popular +a form as is consistent with philological correctness. He has added a few +notes which occurred to him in the course of editing the text, and which he +hopes may render the meaning and allusions sometimes clearer to the general +reader, for whom more especially they are intended. They might have been +enlarged and rendered more complete, if he had been master of sufficient +leisure to enable him to undertake extensive researches. But there are +allusions, as well as words, in both poems to which it would be difficult +at present to give any certain explanation. It has been thought advisable +to give in the notes the important variations of the second text, from Dr. +Whitaker's edition; and a few readings are added from a second manuscript +in Trinity College Library (R. 3, 14). The editor has hoped to add to the +utility of the book by a copious glossary. He has been unwillingly obliged +to leave a few words without explanation; all our early alliterative poetry +abounds in difficult words. In this point he has to acknowledge the kind +assistance of Sir Frederick Madden, whom no person equals in profound +knowledge of English glossography, and than whom no one is more generous to +advise and assist those who are in need of his aid. To Sir Henry Ellis, who +kindly lent him his own manuscript notes on Piers Ploughman, the editor +also owes his grateful acknowledgments; and he regrets that at the time he +received them the notes were already so far printed as to hinder him from +making as much use of them as he could have wished. + + _London, June 1, 1842._ + + * * * * * + + +THE VISION OF PIERS PLOUGHMAN + + * * * * * + + +{1} + +THE VISION OF + +PIERS PLOUGHMAN. + + In a somer seson, 1 + Whan softe was the sonne, + I shoop me into shroudes + As I a sheep weere, + In habite as an heremite + Unholy of werkes, + Wente wide in this world + Wondres to here; + Ac on a May morwenynge + On Malverne hilles 10 + Me bifel a ferly, + Of fairye me thoghte. + I was wery for-wandred, + And wente me to reste + Under a brood bank + By a bournes syde; + And as I lay and lenede, + And loked on the watres, + I slombred into a slepyng, + It sweyed so murye. 20 + {2} + + Thanne gan I meten + A merveillous swevene, + That I was in a wildernesse, + Wiste I nevere where, + And as I biheeld into the eest + An heigh to the sonne, + I seigh a tour on a toft + Trieliche y-maked, + A deep dale bynethe, + A dongeon therinne, 30 + With depe diches and derke + And dredfulle of sighte. + A fair feeld ful of folk + Fond I ther bitwene, + Of alle manere of men, + The meene and the riche, + Werchynge and wandrynge, + As the world asketh. + + Some putten hem to the plough, + Pleiden ful selde, 40 + In settynge and sowynge + Swonken ful harde, + And wonnen that wastours + With glotonye destruyeth. + + And somme putten hem to pride, + Apparailed hem therafter, + In contenaunce of clothynge + Comen degised. + + In preires and penaunces + Putten hem manye, 50 + Al for the love of oure Lord + Lyveden ful streyte, + In hope to have after + Hevene riche blisse; + {3} + As ancres and heremites + That holden hem in hire selles, + And coveiten noght in contree + To carien aboute, + For no likerous liflode + Hire likame to plese. 60 + + And somme chosen chaffare; + Thei cheveden the bettre, + As it semeth to our sight + That swiche men thryveth. + + And somme murthes to make, + As mynstralles konne, + And geten gold with hire glee, + Giltles, I leeve. + + Ac japeres and jangeleres, + Judas children, 70 + Feynen hem fantasies, + And fooles hem maketh, + And han hire wit at wille + To werken, if thei wolde. + That Poul precheth of hem + I wol nat preve it here; + But _Qui loquitur turpiloquium_ + Is Luciferes hyne. + + Bidderes and beggeres + Faste aboute yede, 80 + With hire belies and hire bagges + Of breed ful y-crammed; + Faiteden for hire foode, + Foughten at the ale. + In glotonye, God woot, + Go thei to bedde, + And risen with ribaudie, + Tho Roberdes knaves; + {4} + Sleep and sory sleuthe + Seweth hem evere. 90 + + Pilgrymes and palmeres + Plighten hem togidere, + For to seken seint Jame, + And seintes at Rome. + They wenten forth in hire wey, + With many wise tales, + And hadden leve to lyen + Al hire lif after. + + I seigh somme that seiden + Thei hadde y-sought seintes; 100 + To ech a tale that thei tolde + Hire tonge was tempred to lye, + Moore than to seye sooth, + It semed bi hire speche. + + Heremytes on an heep + With hoked staves + Wenten to Walsyngham, + And hire wenches after, + Grete lobies and longe + That lothe were to swynke; 110 + Clothed hem in copes, + To ben knowen from othere; + And shopen hem heremytes, + Hire ese to have. + + I fond there freres, + Alle the foure ordres, + Prechynge the peple + For profit of hemselve; + Glosed the gospel, + As hem good liked; 120 + For coveitise of copes, + Construwed it as thei wolde. + {5} + Many of thise maistre freres + Now clothen hem at likyng, + For hire moneie and hire marchaundize + Marchen togideres. + For sith charité hath ben chapman, + And chief to shryve lordes, + Manye ferlies han fallen + In a fewe yeres; 130 + But holy chirche and hii + Holde bettre togidres, + The mooste meschief on molde + Is mountynge wel faste. + + Ther preched a pardoner, + As he a preest were; + Broughte forth a bulle + With many bisshopes seles, + And seide that hymself myghte + Assoillen hem alle, 140 + Of falshede, of fastynge, + Of avowes y-broken. + + Lewed men leved it wel, + And liked hise wordes; + Comen up knelynge + To kissen hise bulles. + He bouched hem with his brevet, + And blered hire eighen, + And raughte with his rageman + Rynges and broches. 150 + + Thus thei gyven hire gold + Glotons to kepe, + And leveth in swiche losels + As leccherie haunten. + + Were the bisshope y-blessed, + And worth bothe hise eris, + {6} + His seel sholde noght be sent + To deceyve the peple. + Ac it is noght by the bisshope + That the boy precheth; 160 + For the parisshe preest and the pardoner + Parten the silver, + That the poraille of the parisshe + Sholde have, if thei ne were. + + Parsons and parisshe preestes + Pleyned hem to the bisshope, + That hire parisshes weren povere + Sith the pestilence tyme, + To have a licence and leve + At London to dwelle, 170 + And syngen ther for symonie; + For silver is swete. + + Bisshopes and bachelers, + Bothe maistres and doctours, + That han cure under Crist, + And crownynge in tokene + And signe that thei sholden + Shryven hire parisshens, + Prechen and praye for hem, + And the povere fede, 180 + Liggen at Londone + In Lenten and ellis. + + Somme serven the kyng, + And his silver tellen + In cheker and in chauncelrie, + Chalangen hise dettes + Of wardes and of wardemotes, + Weyves and streyves. + + And somme serven as servauntz + Lordes and ladies, 190 + {7} + And in stede of stywardes + Sitten and demen; + Hire messe and hire matyns + And many of hire houres + Arn doon un-devoutliche; + Drede is at the laste, + Lest Crist in consistorie + A-corse ful manye. + + I perceyved of the power + That Peter hadde to kepe, 200 + To bynden and unbynden, + As the book telleth; + How he it lefte with love, + As oure Lord highte, + Amonges foure vertues, + The beste of alle vertues, + That cardinals ben called, + And closynge yates. + There is Crist in his kingdom + To close and to shette, 210 + And to opene it to hem, + And hevene blisse shewe. + + Ac of the cardinals at court + That kaughte of that name, + And power presumed in hem + A pope to make, + To han that power that Peter hadde, + Impugnen I nelle; + For in love and in lettrure + The election bilongeth, 220 + For-thi I kan and kan naught + Of court speke moore. + + Thanne kam ther a kyng, + Knyghthod hym ladde, + {8} + Might of the communes + Made hym to regne. + + And thanne cam kynde wit, + And clerkes he made, + For to counseillen the kyng, + And the commune save. 230 + + The kyng and knyghthod, + And clergie bothe, + Casten that the commune + Sholde hemself fynde. + + The commune contreved + Of kynde wit craftes, + And for profit of al the peple + Plowmen ordeyned, + To tilie and to travaille, + As trewe lif asketh. 240 + + The kyng and the commune, + And kynde wit the thridde, + Shopen lawe and leauté, + Ech man to knowe his owene. + + Thanne loked up a lunatik, + A leene thyng with-alle, + And, knelynge to the kyng, + Clergially he seide: + + "Crist kepe thee, sire kyng! + And thi kyng-ryche, 250 + And lene thee lede thi lond, + So leauté thee lovye, + And for thi rightful rulyng + Be rewarded in hevene." + + And sithen in the eyr an heigh + An aungel of hevene + Lowed to speke in Latyn, + For lewed men ne koude + {9} + Jangle ne jugge, + That justifie hem sholde, 260 + But suffren and serven; + For-thi seide the aungel: + _Sum rex, sum princeps, + Neutrum fortasse deinceps; + O qui jura regis + Christi specialia regis, + Hoc quod agas melius, + Justus es, esto pius. + Nudum jus a te + Vestiri vult pietate; 270 + Qualia vis metere, + Talia grana sere. + Si jus nudatur, + Nudo de jure metatur; + Si seritur pietas, + De pietate metas._ + + Thanne greved hym a goliardeis, + A gloton of wordes, + And to the aungel an heigh + Answerde after: 280 + _Dum rex a regere + Dicatur nomen habere; + Nomen habet sine re, + Nisi studet jura tenere._ + + Thanne gan al the commune + Crye in vers of Latyn, + To the kynges counseil; + Construe who so wolde: + _Præcepta regis + Sunt nobis vincula legis._ 290 + + With that ran ther a route + Of ratons at ones, + {10} + And smale mees myd hem + Mo than a thousand, + And comen to a counseil + For the commune profit; + For a cat of a contree + Cam whan hym liked, + And overleep hem lightliche, + And laughte hem at his wille, 300 + And pleide with hem perillousli, + And possed aboute. + "For doute of diverse dredes, + We dar noght wel loke; + And if we grucche of his gamen, + He wol greven us alle, + Cracchen us or clawen us, + And in hise clouches holde, + That us lotheth the lif + Er he late us passe. 310 + Mighte we with any wit + His wille withstonde, + We mighte be lordes o-lofte, + And lyven at oure ese." + + A raton of renoun, + Moost renable of tonge, + Seide for a sovereyn + Help to hymselve: + + "I have y-seyen segges," quod he + "In the cité of Londone, 320 + Beren beighes ful brighte + Abouten hire nekkes, + And somme colers of crafty werk; + Uncoupled thei wenten + Bothe in wareyne and in waast + Where hemself liked. + {11} + And outher while thei arn ellis-where, + As I here telle; + Were ther a belle on hire beighe, + By Jhesu, as me thynketh, 330 + Men myghte witen wher thei wente, + And awey renne!" + + "And right so," quod that raton, + "Reson me sheweth, + To bugge a belle of bras, + Or of bright silver, + And knytten it on a coler + For oure commune profit, + Wher he ryt or rest, + Or renneth to pleye; 340 + And if hym list for to laike, + Thanne loke we mowen, + And peeren in his presence + The while him pleye liketh: + And, if hym wratheth, be war, + And his way shonye." + + Al this route of ratons + To this reson thei assented. + Ac tho the belle was y-brought, + And on the beighe hanged, 350 + Ther ne was raton in al the route, + For al the reaume of Fraunce, + That dorste have bounden the belle + About the cattes nekke, + Ne hangen it aboute the cattes hals, + Al Engelond to wynne. + Alle helden hem un-hardy, + And hir counseil feble; + And leten hire labour lost + And al hire longe studie. 360 + {12} + + A mous that muche good + Kouthe, as me thoughte, + Strook forth sternely, + And stood bifore hem alle, + And to the route of ratons + Reherced thise wordes: + + "Though we killen the cat, + Yet sholde ther come another + To cacchen us and al oure kynde, + Though we cropen under benches. 370 + For-thi I counseille al the commune + To late the cat worthe; + And be we nevere bolde + The belle hym to shewe; + For I herde my sire seyn, + Is seven yeer y-passed, + Ther the cat is a kitone + The court is ful elenge; + That witnesseth holy writ, + Who so wole it rede: 380 + _Væ terræ ubi puer rex est! etc._ + For may no renk ther reste have + For ratons by nyghte; + The while he caccheth conynges, + He coveiteth noght youre caroyne, + But fedeth hym al with venyson: + Defame we hym nevere. + For better is a litel los + Than a long sorwe, + The maze among us alle, 390 + Theigh we mysse a sherewe; + For many mennes malt + We mees wolde destruye, + And also ye route of ratons + {13} + Rende mennes clothes, + Nere the cat of that court + That can yow over-lepe; + For hadde ye rattes youre wille, + Ye kouthe noght rule yow selve." + + "I seye for me," quod the mous, 400 + "I se so muchel after, + Shal nevere the cat ne the kiton + By my counseil be greved, + Thorugh carpynge of this coler + That costed me nevere + And though it hadde costned me catel, + Bi-knowen it I nolde, + But suffren, as hymself wolde, + To doon as hym liketh, + Coupled and uncoupled 410 + To cacche what thei mowe. + For-thi ech a wis wight I warne, + Wite wel his owene." + + What this metels by-meneth, + Ye men that ben murye + Devyne ye, for I ne dar, + By deere God in hevene. + + Yet hoved ther an hundred + In howves of selk, + Sergeantz it bi-semed 420 + That serveden at the barre, + Pleteden for penyes + And poundes the lawe; + And noght for love of our Lord + Unclose hire lippes ones. + Thow myghtest bettre meete myst + On Malverne hilles, + Than gete a mom of hire mouth, + {14} + Til moneie be shewed. + + Barons and burgeises, 430 + And bonde-men als, + I seigh in this assemblee, + As ye shul here after: + Baksteres and brewesteres, + And bochiers manye; + Wollen webbesters, + And weveres of lynnen, + Taillours and tynkers, + And tollers in markettes, + Masons and mynours, 440 + And many othere craftes. + Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers + Lopen forth somme, + As dikeres and delveres, + That doon hire dedes ille, + And dryveth forth the longe day + With _Dieu save dame Emme_. + + Cokes and hire knaves + Cryden, "Hote pies, hote! + Goode gees and grys! 450 + Gowe, dyne, gowe!" + + Taverners until hem + Trewely tolden the same, + Whit wyn of Oseye, + And reed wyn of Gascoigne, + Of the Ryn and of the Rochel, + The roost to defie. + [Al this I saugh slepynge, + And seve sithes more.] 459 + + * * * * * + +{15} + + _Passus Primus de Visione._ + + What this mountaigne by-meneth 460 + And the merke dale, + And the feld ful of folk, + I shal yow faire shewe. + + A lovely lady of leere, + In lynnen y-clothed, + Cam doun from a castel + And called me faire, + And seide, "Sone, slepestow? + Sestow this peple, + How bisie thei ben 470 + Alle aboute the maze? + The mooste partie of this peple + That passeth on this erthe, + Have thei worship in this world, + Thei wilne no bettre; + Of oother hevene than here + Holde thei no tale." + + I was a-fered of hire face, + Theigh she fair weere, + And seide, "Mercy, madame, 480 + What is this to meene?" + + "The tour on the toft," quod she, + "Truthe is therinne; + {16} + And wolde that ye wroughte, + As his word techeth! + For he is fader of feith, + And formed yow alle + Bothe with fel and with face, + And yaf yow fyve wittes, + For to worshipe hym therwith, 490 + While that ye ben here. + And therfore he highte the erthe + To helpe yow echone, + Of wollene, of lynnen, + Of liflode at nede, + In mesurable manere + To make yow at ese; + And comaunded of his curteisie + In commune three thynges, + Are none nedfulle but tho, 500 + And nempne hem I thynke, + And rekene hem by reson; + Reherce thow hem after. + + "That oon vesture, + From cold thee to save; + And mete at meel + For mysese of thiselve; + And drynke whan thow driest; + Ac do noght out of reson, + That thow worthe the wers 510 + Whan thow werche sholdest. + + "For Lot in hise lif-dayes, + For likynge of drynke, + Dide by hise doughtres + That the devel liked, + Delited hym in drynke + As the devel wolde, + {17} + And leccherie hym laughte, + And lay by hem bothe, + And al he witte it the wyn 520 + That wikked dede. + _Inebriamus eum vino, dormiamusque + cum eo, ut servare possimus de + patre nostro semen._ + Thorugh wyn and thorugh wommen + Ther was Loth acombred, + And there gat in glotonie + Gerles that were cherles. + + "For-thi dred delitable drynke, + And thow shalt do the bettre. 530 + Mesure is medicine, + Though thow muchel yerne. + It is nought al good to the goost + That the gut asketh, + Ne liflode to thi likame; + For a liere hym techeth, + That is the wrecched world + Wolde thee bitraye. + For the fend and thi flesshe + Folwen togidere. 540 + This and that seeth thi soule, + And seith it in thin herte; + And for thow sholdest ben y-war, + I wisse thee the beste." + + "Madame, mercy!" quod I, + "Me liketh wel youre wordes; + Ac the moneie of this molde + That men so faste holdeth, + Tel me to whom, madame, + That tresour appendeth." 550 + + "Go to the gospel," quod she, + {18} + "That God seide hymselven; + Tho the poeple hym apposede + With a peny in the temple, + Wheither thei sholde therwith + Worshipe the kyng Cesar. + + "And God asked of hym, + Of whom spak the lettre, + And the ymage was lik + That therinne stondeth. 560 + + "'Cesares,' thei seiden, + 'We seen it wel echone.' + + "'_Reddite Cæsari_,' quod God, + 'That _Cæsari_ bifalleth, + _Et quæ sunt Dei Deo_,' + Or ellis ye don ille; + For rightfully reson + Sholde rule yow alle, + And kynde wit be wardeyn + Youre welthe to kepe, 570 + And tutour of youre tresor, + And take it yow at nede, + For housbondrie and hii + Holden togidres." + + Thanne I frayned hire faire, + For hym that me made, + "That dongeon in the dale, + That dredful is of sighte, + What may it be to meene, + Madame, I yow biseche?" 580 + + "That is the castel of Care; + Who so comth therinne + May banne that he born was, + To bodi or to soule. + Therinne wonyeth a wight + {19} + That Wrong is y-hote, + Fader of falshede, + And founded it hymselve. + Adam and Eve + He egged to ille; 590 + Counseilled Kaym + To killen his brother; + Judas he japed + With Jewen silver, + And sithen on an eller + Hanged hymselve. + He is lettere of love, + And lieth hem alle + That trusten on his tresour; + Bitrayeth he hem sonnest." 600 + + Thanne hadde I wonder in my wit + What womman it weere, + That swiche wise wordes + Of holy writ shewed; + And asked hire on the heighe name, + Er she thennes yede, + What she were witterly + That wissed me so faire. + + "Holi chirche I am," quod she, + "Thow oughtest me to knowe; 610 + I underfeng thee first, + And the feith taughte; + And broughtest me borwes + My biddyng to fulfille, + And to loven me leelly + The while thi lif dureth." + + Thanne I courbed on my knees, + And cried hire of grace; + And preide hire pitously + {20} + Preye for my sinnes, 620 + And also kenne me kyndely + On Crist to bi-leve, + That I myghte werchen his wille + That wroghte me to man. + "Teche me to no tresor, + But tel me this ilke, + How I may save my soule, + That seint art y-holden." + + "Whan alle tresors arn tried," quod she, + "Treuthe is the beste; 630 + I do it on _Deus caritas_, + To deme the sothe, + It is as dereworthe a drury + As deere God hymselven. + + "Who is trewe of his tonge, + And telleth noon oother, + And dooth the werkes therwith, + And wilneth no man ille, + He is a God by the gospel + A-grounde and o-lofte, 640 + And y-lik to oure Lord, + By seint Lukes wordes. + The clerkes that knowen this, + Sholde kennen it aboute, + For cristen and un-cristen + Cleymeth it echone. + + "Kynges and knyghtes + Sholde kepen it by reson, + Riden and rappen doun + In reaumes aboute, 650 + And taken _transgressores_, + And tyen hem faste, + Til treuthe hadde y-termyned + {21} + Hire trespas to the ende. + And that is profession apertli + That apendeth to knyghtes; + And naught to fasten o friday + In fyve score wynter, + But holden with hym and with here + That wolden alle truthe, 660 + And nevere leve hem for love + Ne for lacchynge of silver. + For David in hise dayes + Dubbed knyghtes, + And dide hem sweren on hir swerdes + To serven truthe evere; + And who so passed that point + Was apostata in the ordre. + + "But Crist kyngene kyng + Knyghted ten, 670 + Cherubyn and seraphyn, + Swiche sevene and othere + And yaf hem myght in his majestee, + The murier hem thoughte, + And over his meene meynee + Made hem archangeles; + Taughte hem by the Trinitee + Treuthe to knowe; + To be buxom at his biddyng, + He bad hem nought ellis. 680 + + "Lucifer with legions + Lerned it in hevene; + But for he brak buxomnesse + His blisse gan he tyne, + And fel fro that felawshipe + In a fendes liknesse, + Into a deep derk helle, + {22} + To dwelle there for evere; + And mo thousandes myd hym + Than man kouthe nombre 690 + Lopen out with Lucifer + In lothliche forme, + For thei leveden upon hym + That lyed in this manere: + _Ponam pedem in aquilone, et similis ero altissimo._ = + + "And alle that hoped it myghte be so, + Noon hevene myghte hem holde, + But fellen out in fendes liknesse + Nyne dayes togideres, 700 + Til God of his goodnesse + Gan stablisse and stynte, + And garte the hevene to stekie + And stonden in quiete. + + "Whan thise wikkede wenten out, + In wonder wise thei fellen; + Somme in the eyr, somme in erthe, + And somme in helle depe; + Ac Lucifer lowest lith + Yet of hem alle, 710 + For pride that he putte out, + His peyne hath noon ende. + And alle that werchen with wrong, + Wende thei shulle, + After hir deth day + And dwelle with that sherewe. + + "And tho that werche wel, + As holy writ telleth, + And enden as I er seide + In truthe, that is the beste, 720 + Mowe be siker that hire soules + {23} + Shul wende to hevene, + Ther treuthe is in trinitee, + And troneth hem alle. + For-thi I seye, as I seyde er, + By sighte of thise textes, + Whan alle tresors arn tried, + Truthe is the beste; + Lereth it thise lewed men, + For lettred men it knoweth, 730 + That treuthe is tresor + The trieste on erthe." + + "Yet have I no kynde knowyng." quod I, + "Ye mote kenne me bettre, + By what craft in my cors + It comseth, and where." + + "Thow doted daffe," quod she, + "Dulle are thi wittes; + To litel Latyn thow lernedest, + Leode, in thi youthe." 740 + _Heu michi! quia sterilem duxi vitam juvenilem._ = + + "It is a kynde knowyng," quod she, + "That kenneth in thyn herte, + For to loven thi Lord + Levere than thiselve, + No dedly synne to do, + Deye theigh thow sholdest; + This I trowe be truthe. + Who kan teche thee bettre, 750 + Loke thow suffre hym to seye, + And sithen lere it after; + For truthe telleth that love + Is triacle of hevene. + May no synne be on hym seene, + {24} + That useth that spice, + And alle hise werkes be wroughte + With love as hym liste; + And lered it Moyses for the leveste thyng, + And moost lik to hevene, 760 + And al so the plentee of pees + Moost precious of vertues; + For hevene myghte nat holden it, + It was so hevy of hymself, + Til it hadde of the erthe + Eten his fille. + + "And whan it hadde of this fold + Flesshe and blood taken, + Was nevere leef upon lynde + Lighter therafter, 770 + And portatif and persaunt + As the point of a nedle, + That myghte noon armure it lette, + Ne none heighe walles. + + "For-thi is love ledere + Of the Lordes folk of hevene, + And a meene, as the mair is + Bitwene the kyng and the commune; + Right so is love a ledere, + And the law shapeth, 780 + Upon man for hise mysdedes + The mercyment he taxeth. + And for to knowen it kyndely + It comseth by myght, + And in the herte there is the heed + And the heighe welle; + For in kynde knowynge in herte, + Ther a myght bigynneth; + And that falleth to the fader + {25} + That formed us alle, 790 + Loked on us with love, + And leet his sone dye + Mekely for oure mysdedes, + To amenden us alle. + And yet wolde he hem no wo + That wroughte hym that peyne, + But mekely with mouthe + Mercy bisoughte, + To have pité of that peple + That peyned hym to dethe. 800 + + "There myghtow sen ensample + In hymself oone, + That he was myghtful and meke, + And mercy gan graunte + To hem that hengen hym on heigh + And his herte thirled. + + "For-thi I rede yow, riche, + Haveth ruthe of the povere; + Though ye be myghtful to mote, + Beeth meke in youre werkes, 810 + For the same mesures that ye mete, + Amys outher ellis, + Ye shulle ben weyen therwith + Whan ye wenden hennes. + _Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remetietur vobis._ = + + "For though ye be trewe of youre tonge + And treweliche wynne, + And as chaste as a child + That in chirche wepeth, 820 + But if ye loven leelly + And lene the povere, + Swich good as God yow sent + {26} + Goodliche parteth, + Ye ne have namoore merite + In masse nor in houres, + Than Malkyn of hire maydenhede + That no man desireth. + + "For James the gentile + Jugged in hise bokes, 830 + That feith withouten the feet + Is right no thyng worthi, + And as deed as a dore-tree, + But if the dedes folwe. + _Fides sine operibus mortua est, etc._ + + "For-thi chastité withouten charité + Worth cheyned in helle; + It is as lewed as a lampe + That no light is inne. + Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, 840 + Ac charité is aweye; + Are no men avarouser than hii + Whan thei ben avaunced, + Unkynde to hire kyn, + And to alle cristene + Chewen hire charité, + And chiden after moore; + Swiche chastité withouten charité + Worth cheyned in helle. + + "Manye curatours kepen hem 850 + Clene of hire bodies; + Thei ben acombred with coveitise, + Thei konne noght doon it from hem, + So harde hath avarice + Y-hasped hem togideres; + And that is no truthe of the Trinité, + But tricherie of helle, + {27} + And lernynge to lewed men + The latter for to deele. + For-thi thise wordes 860 + Ben writen in the gospel, + _Date, et dabitur vobis_, + For I deele yow alle, + And that is the lok of love, + And leteth out my grace, + To conforten the carefulle + A-combred with synne. + + "Love is leche of lif, + And next oure Lord selve, + And also the graithe gate 870 + That goth into hevene; + For-thi I seye, as I seide + Er by the textes, + Whan alle tresors ben tried, + Treuthe is the beste. + + "Now have I told thee what truthe is, + That no tresor is bettre; + I may no lenger lenge thee with, + Now loke thee oure Lorde." 879 + + * * * * * + +{28} + + _Passus Secundus de Visione, ut supra._ + + Yet I courbed on my knees, 880 + And cried hire of grace, + And seide, "Mercy, madame, + For Marie love of hevene, + That bar that blisful barn + That boughte us on the rode, + Kenne me by som craft + To knowe the false." + + "Loke up on thi left half, + And lo where he stondeth! + Bothe Fals and Favel, 890 + And hire feeres manye." + + I loked on my left half, + As the lady me taughte, + And was war of a womman + Worthiliche y-clothed, + Purfiled with pelure + The fyneste upon erthe, + Y-corouned with a coroune, + The kyng hath noon bettre; + Fetisliche hire fyngres 900 + Were fretted with gold wyr, + And theron rede rubies + As rede as any gleede, + {29} + And diamaundes of derrest pris, + And double manere saphires, + Orientals and ewages, + Envenymes to destroye. + + Hire robe was ful riche, + Of reed scarlet engreyned, + With ribanes of reed gold 910 + And of riche stones. + Hire array me ravysshed, + Swich richesse saugh I nevere; + I hadde wonder what she was, + And whos wif she were. + + "What is this womman," quod I, + "So worthili atired?" + + "That is Mede the mayde," quod she, + "Hath noyed me ful ofte, + And y-lakked my lemman 920 + That Leautee is hoten, + And bi-lowen hire to lordes + That lawes han to kepe. + + "In the popes paleis + She is pryvee as myselve; + But soothnesse wolde noght so, + For she is a bastarde; + For fals was hire fader + That hath a fikel tonge, + And nevere sooth seide 930 + Sithen he com to erthe; + And Mede is manered after hym, + Right as kynde asketh + _Qualis pater talis filius. + Bonus arbor bonum fructum facit._ + + "I oughte ben hyere than she, + I kam of a bettre; + {30} + My fader the grete God is + And ground of alle graces, + So God withouten gynnyng, 940 + And I his goode doughter, + And hath yeven me mercy + To marie with myselve, + And what man be merciful + And leelly me love, + Shal be my lord and I his leef + In the heighe hevene. + + "And what man taketh Mede, + Myn heed dar I legge, + That he shal lese for hire love 950 + A lappe of _caritatis_. + + "How construeth David the king + Of men that taketh Mede, + And men of this moolde + That maynteneth truthe, + And how ye shul save yourself, + The sauter bereth witnesse: + _Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, etc._ = + + "And now worth this Mede y-maried 960 + Unto a mansed sherewe, + To oon fals fikel tonge, + A fendes biyete; + Favel thorugh his faire speche + Hath this folk enchaunted, + And al is Lieres ledynge, + That she is thus y-wedded. + + "To-morwe worth y-maked + The maydenes bridale, + And there myghtow witen, if thow wilt, 970 + Whiche thei ben alle + {31} + That longen to that lordshipe, + The lasse and the moore. + Knowe hem there, if thow kanst, + And kepe thow thi tonge, + And lakke hem noght, but lat hem worthe + Till leauté be justice, + And have power to punysshe hem, + Thanne put forth thi reson. + Now I bikenne thee Crist," quod she, 980 + "And his clene moder, + And lat no conscience acombre thee + For coveitise of Mede." + + Thus lefte me that lady + Liggynge a-slepe; + And how Mede was y-maried + In metels me thoughte, + That al the riche retenaunce + That regneth with the false, + Were boden to the bridale 990 + On bothe two sides, + Of alle manere of men + The meene and the riche; + To marien this mayde + Were many men assembled, + As of knyghtes and of clerkes, + And oother commune peple, + As sisours and somonours, + Sherreves and hire clerkes, + Bedelles and baillifs, 1000 + And brocours of chaffare, + Forgoers and vitaillers, + And advokettes of the arches; + I kan noght rekene the route + That ran aboute Mede. + {32} + + Ac Symonie and Cyvylle, + And sisours of courtes, + Were moost pryvee with Mede + Of any men, me thoughte. + Ac Favel was the firste 1010 + That fette hire out of boure, + And as a brocour broughte hire + To be with Fals enjoyned. + + Whan Symonye and Cyvylle + Seighe hir bothe wille, + Thei assented, for silver, + To seye as bothe wolde. + + Thanne leep Liere forth, and seide, + "Lo here a chartre!" + That Gile with hise grete othes 1020 + Gaf hem togidere, + And preide Cyvylle to see, + And Symonye to rede it. + + Thanne Symonye and Cyvylle + Stonden forth bothe, + And unfoldeth the feffement + That Fals hath y-maked, + And thus bigynnen thise gomes + To greden ful heighe: + _Sciant præsentes et futuri, etc._ 1030 + + Witeth and witnesseth, + That wonieth upon this erthe, + That Mede is y-maried + Moore for hire goodes + Than for any vertue or fairnesse, + Or any free kynde. + Falsnesse is fayn of hire, + For he woot hire riche; + And Favel with his fikel speche + {33} + Feffeth by this chartre, 1040 + To be princes in pride + And poverte to despise, + To bakbite and to bosten, + And bere fals witnesse, + To scorne and to scolde, + And sclaundre to make, + Unbuxome and bolde + To breke the ten hestes. + + And the erldom of Envye + And Wrathe togideres, 1050 + With the chastilet of Cheste, + And Chaterynge out of reson. + + The countee of Coveitise, + And alle the costes aboute, + That is Usure and Avarice, + Al I hem graunte, + In bargaynes and in brocages, + With al the burghe of Thefte, + + And al the lordshipe of Leccherie + In lengthe and in brede, 1060 + As in werkes and in wordes, + And in waitynges with eighes, + And in wedes and in wisshynges, + And with ydel thoughtes, + There as wil wolde + And werkmanshipe fayleth. + + Glotonye he gaf hem ek, + And grete othes togidere, + And al day to drynken + At diverse tavernes, 1070 + And there to jangle and jape, + And jugge hir even cristen; + And in fastynge dayes to frete + {34} + Er ful tyme were, + And thanne to sitten and soupen + Til sleep hem assaille; + And breden as burghe swyn, + And bedden hem esily, + Til sleuthe and sleep + Sliken hise sydes, 1080 + And thanne wanhope to awaken hem so + With no wil to amende, + For he leveth be lost, + This is hir laste ende. + + And thei to have and to holde, + And hire heires after, + A dwellynge with the devel, + And dampned be for evere, + With alle the appurtinaunces of purgatorie = + Into the pyne of helle. 1091 + + Yeldynge for this thyng, + At one dayes tyme, + Hire soules to Sathan, + To suffre with hym peynes, + And with hym to wonye with wo + While God is in hevene. + + In witnesse of which thyng, + Wrong was the firste, + And Piers the pardoner 1100 + Of Paulynes doctrine, + Bette the bedel + Of Bokyngham shire, + Reynald the reve + Of Rutland sokene, + Maude the millere, + And many mo othere. + {35} + + In the date of the devel + This dede I ensele, + By sighte of Sire Symonie 1110 + And Cyvyles leeve. + + Thanne tened hym Theologie, + Whan he this tale herde; + And seide unto Cyvyle, + "Now sorwe mote thow have, + Swiche weddynges to werche, + To wrathe with truthe; + And er this weddynge be wroght, + Wo thee bitide! + + "For Mede is muliere 1120 + Of Amendes engendred, + And God graunteth to gyve + Mede to Truthe; + And thow hast gyven hire to a gilour; + Now God gyve thee sorwe! + Thi text telleth thee noght so, + Truthe woot the sothe; + For _Dignus est operarius_ + His hire to have, + And thow hast fest hire to Fals, 1130 + Fy on thi lawe! + For al bi lesynges thow lyvest + And lecherouse werkes. + Symonye and thiself + Shenden holi chirche; + The notaries and ye + Noyen the peple; + Ye shul a-biggen it bothe, + By God that me made! + + "Wel ye witen, wernardes, 1140 + But if youre wit faille, + {36} + That Fals is feithlees + And fikel in hise werkes, + And was a bastarde y-bore + Of Belsabubbes kynne; + And Mede is muliere, + A maiden of goode, + And myghte kisse the kyng + For cosyn, and she wolde. + + "For-thi wercheth by wisdom, 1150 + And by wit also; + And ledeth hire to Londone, + There it is y-shewed, + If any lawe wol loke + Thei ligge togideres; + And though justices juggen hire + To be joyned to Fals, + Yet be war of weddynge; + For witty is Truthe, + And Conscience is of his counseil, 1160 + And knoweth yow echone, + And if he fynde yow in defaute + And with the false holde, + It shal bi-sitte youre soules + Ful soure at the laste." + + Herto assenteth Cyvyle, + Ac Symonye ne wolde, + Til he hadde silver for his service, + And also the notaries. + + Thanne fette Favel forth 1170 + Floryns ynowe, + And bad Gile to gyven + Gold al aboute, + And namely to the notaries + That hem noon ne faille, + {37} + And feffe false witnesses + With floryns ynowe, + "For thei may Mede a-maistrye, + And maken at my wille." + + Tho this gold was y-gyve, 1180 + Gret was the thonkyng + To Fals and to Favel + For hire faire giftes, + And comen to conforten + From care the false, + And seiden, "Certes, sire, + Cessen shul we nevere, + Til Mede be thi wedded wif + Thorugh wittes of us alle; + For we have Mede a-maistried 1190 + With oure murie speche, + That she graunteth to goon, + With a good wille, + To London, to loken + If the lawe wolde + Juggen yow joyntly + In joie for evere." + + Thanne was Falsnesse fayn, + And Favel as blithe, + And leten somone alle segges 1200 + In shires aboute, + And bad hem alle be bown, + Beggers and othere, + To wenden with hem to Westmynstre + To witnesse this dede. + + Ac thanne cared thei for caples + To carien hem thider, + And Favel fette forth thanne + Foles ynowe, + {38} + And sette Mede upon a sherreve 1210 + Shoed al newe. + + And Fals sat on a sisour, + That softeli trotted; + And Favel on a flaterere + Fetisly atired. + + Tho hadde notaries none, + Anoyed thei were, + For Symonye and Cyvylle + Sholde on hire feet gange. + + Ac thanne swoor Symonye, 1220 + And Cyvylle bothe, + That somonours sholde be sadeled + And serven hem echone, + And late apparaille thise provisours + In palfreyes wise, + Sire Symonye hymself + Shal sitte upon hir bakkes. + + "Denes and southdenes, + Drawe yow togideres, + Erchdekenes and officials, 1230 + And alle youre registrers, + Lat sadle hem with silver + Oure synne to suffre, + As avoutrye and divorses, + And derne usurie, + To bere bisshopes aboute + A-brood in visitynge. + + "Paulynes pryvees + For pleintes in consistorie, + Shul serven myself 1240 + That Cyvyle is nempned. + + "And cart-sadle the commissarie, + Oure cart shal he lede, + {39} + And fecchen us vitailles. + At _Fornicatores_. + And maketh of Lyere a lang cart + To leden alle thise othere, + As freres and faitours, + That on hire feet rennen." + + And thus Fals and Favel 1250 + Fareth forth togideres, + And Mede in the middes, + And alle thise men after. + + I have no tome to telle + The tail that hire folwed; + Ac Gyle was for-goer, + And gyed hem alle. + + Sothnesse seigh hem wel, + And seide but litel, + And priked his palfrey, 1260 + And passed hem alle, + And com to the kynges court, + And Conscience it tolde; + And Conscience to the kyng + Carped it after. + + "Now, by Crist," quod the kyng, + "And I cacche myghte + Fals or Favel, + Or any of hise feeris, + I wolde be wroken of tho wrecches 1270 + That wercheth so ille, + And doon hem hange by the hals, + And alle that hem maynteneth; + Shal nevere man of this molde + Meynprise the leeste, + But right as the lawe wol loke, + Lat falle on hem alle." + {40} + + And comaunded a constable + That com at the firste, + To attachen tho tyrauntz, 1280 + "For any thyng I hote, + And fettreth faste Falsnesse, + For any kynnes giftes, + And girdeth of Gyles heed, + And lat hym go no ferther; + And if ye lacche Lyere, + Lat hym noght ascapen + Er he be put on the pillory, + For any preyere, I hote; + And bryngeth Mede to me 1290 + Maugree hem alle." + + Drede at the dore stood, + And the doom herde, + And how the kyng comaunded + Constables and sergeauntz + Falsnesse and his felawshipe + To fettren and to bynden. + + Thanne Drede wente wyghtliche, + And warned the False, + And bad hym fle for fere, 1300 + And hise felawes alle. + + Falsnesse for fere thanne + Fleigh to the ffreres, + And Gyle dooth hym to go, + A-gast for to dye; + Ac marchauntz metten with hym + And made hym abide, + And bi-shetten hym in hire shoppes + To shewen hire ware, + Apparailed hym as apprentice 1310 + The peple to serve. + {41} + + Lightliche Lyere + Leep awey thanne, + Lurkynge thorugh lanes, + To-lugged of manye. + He was nowher welcome, + For his manye tales, + Over al y-honted, + And y-hote trusse, + Til pardoners hadde pité, 1320 + And pulled hym into house. + They wesshen hym and wiped hym. + And wounden hym in cloutes, + And senten hym with seles + On Sondayes to chirches, + And yeven pardoun for pens + Pounde-mele aboute. + + Thanne lourede leches, + And lettres thei sente, + That he sholde wonye with hem 1330 + Watres to loke. + + Spycers speken with hym, + To spien hire ware; + For he kouthe of hir craft, + And knewe manye gommes. + + And mynstrales and messagers + Mette with hym ones, + And helden hym an half-yeer + And ellevene dayes. + + Freres with fair speche 1340 + Fetten hym pennes, + And for knowynge of comeres + Coped hym as a frere; + Ac he hath leve to lepen out, + As ofte as hym liketh, + {42} + And is welcome whan he wile, + And woneth with hem ofte. + + Alle fledden for fere, + And flowen into hernes; + Save Mede the mayde, 1350 + Na-mo dorste abide. + Ac trewely to telle, + She trembled for drede, + And ek wepte and wrong, + Whan she was attached. 1355 + + * * * * * + +{43} + + _Passus Tertius de Visione, ut supra._ + + Now is Mede the mayde, 1356 + And na-mo of hem alle, + With bedeles and with baillies + Brought bifore the kyng. + + The kyng called a clerk, 1360 + Kan I noght his name, + To take Mede the maide + And maken hire at ese. + "I shal assayen hire myself, + And soothliche appose, + What man of this moolde + That hire were levest. + And if she werche bi wit, + And my wil folwe, + I wol forgyven hire this gilt, 1370 + So me God helpe!" + + Curteisly the clerk thanne, + As the kyng highte, + Took Mede bi the myddel + And broghte hire into chambre; + And ther was murthe and mynstralcie, + Mede to plese. + + They that wonyeth in Westmynstre = + Worshipeth hire alle, 1380 + {44} + Gentilliche with joye; + The justices somme + Busked hem to the bour + Ther the burde dwellede, + To conforten hire kyndely, + By clergies leve; + And seiden, "Mourne noght, Mede, + Ne make thow no sorwe; + For we wol wisse the kyng, + And thi wey shape, 1390 + To be wedded at thi wille, + And wher thee leef liketh, + For al Consciences cast + Or craft, as I trowe." + + Mildely Mede thanne + Merciede hem alle + Of hire grete goodnesse, + And gaf hem echone + Coupes of clene gold, + And coppes of silver, 1400 + Rynges with rubies, + And richesses manye; + The leeste man of hire meynee + A moton of golde. + Than laughte thei leve + Thise lordes at Mede. + + With that comen clerkes + To conforten hire the same, + And beden hire be blithe; + "For we beth thyne owene, 1410 + For to werche thi wille, + The while thow myght laste." + + Hendiliche heo thanne + Bi-highte hem the same, + {45} + To loven hem lelly, + And lordes to make, + And in the consistorie at the court + Do callen hire names; + "Shal no lewednesse lette + The leode that I lovye, 1420 + That he ne worth first avaunced; + For I am bi-knowen, + There konnynge clerkes + Shul clokke bi-hynde." + + Thanne cam ther a confessour, + Coped as a frere; + To Mede the mayde + He meved thise wordes, + And seide ful softely, + In shrift as it were, 1430 + "Theigh lewed men and lered men + Hadde leyen by thee bothe, + And Falsnesse hadde y-folwed thee + Alle thise fifty wynter, + I shal assoille thee myself + For a seem of whete, + And also be thi bedeman, + And bere wel thi message + Amonges knyghtes and clerkes, + Conscience to torne." 1440 + + Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes + To that man kneled, + And shrof hire of hire sherewednesse, + Shamelees, I trowe; + Tolde hym a tale, + And took hym a noble, + For to ben hire bedeman + And hire brocour als. + {46} + + Thanne he assoiled hire soone, + And sithen he seide, 1450 + "We have a wyndow in werchynge + Wole sitten us ful hye, + Woldestow glaze that gable + And grave therinne thy name, + Syker sholde thi soule be + Hevene to have." + + "Wiste I that," quod that womman, + "I wolde noght spare + For to be youre frend, frere, + And faile yow nevere, 1460 + While ye love lordes + That lecherie haunten, + And lakketh noght ladies + That loven wel the same. + It is freletee of flesshe, + Ye fynden it in bokes, + And a cours of kynde + Wherof we comen alle. + Who may scape sclaundre, + The scathe is soone amended; 1470 + It is synne of the sevene + Sonnest relessed. + + "Have mercy," quod Mede, + "Of men that it haunteth, + And I shal covere youre kirk, + Youre cloistre do maken, + Wowes do whiten, + And wyndowes glazen, + Do peynten and portraye, + And paie for the makynge, 1480 + That every segge shal seye + I am suster of youre house." + {47} + + Ac God to alle good folk + Swich gravynge defendeth, + To writen in wyndowes + Of hir wel dedes, + An aventure pride be peynted there, + And pomp of the world; + For Crist knoweth thi conscience, + And thi kynde wille, 1490 + And thi cost and thi coveitise, + And who the catel oughte. + + For-thi I lere yow, lordes, + Leveth swiche werkes; + To writen in wyndowes + Of youre wel dedes, + Or to greden after Goddes men + Whan ye dele doles, + On aventure ye have youre hire here, + And youre hevene als. 1500 + _Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra._ + + Lat noght thi left half + Late ne rathe + Wite what thow werchest + With thi right syde; + For thus by the gospel + Goode men doon hir almesse. + + Maires and maceres, + That menes ben bitwene + The kyng and the comune 1510 + To kepe the lawes, + To punysshe on pillories + And pynynge-stooles, + Brewesters and baksters, + Bochiers and cokes, + For thise are men on this molde + {48} + That moost harm wercheth + To the povere peple + That percel-mele buggen; + For thei enpoisone the peple 1520 + Pryveliche and ofte, + Thei richen thorugh regratrie, + And rentes hem biggen, + With that the povere peple + Sholde putte in hire wombe. + For toke thei on trewely, + Thei tymbred nought so heighe, + Ne boughte none burgages, + Be ye ful certeyne. + + Ac Mede the mayde 1530 + The mair hath bi-sought + Of alle swiche selleris + Silver to take, + Or presentz withouten pens, + As pieces of silver, + Rynges or oother richesse, + The regratiers to mayntene; + "For my love," quod that lady, + "Love hem echone, + And suffre hem to selle 1540 + Som del ayeins reson." + + Salomon the sage + A sermon he made, + For to amenden maires + And men that kepen lawes; + And tolde hem this teme, + That I telle thynke, + _Ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum + qui libenter accipiunt munera, + etc._ 1550 + + {49} + Among thise lettrede leodes + This Latyn is to mene, + That fir shal falle and brenne + Al to bloo askes + The houses and homes + Of hem that desireth + Yiftes or yeres-yeves + By cause of hire offices. + + The kyng fro the conseil cam, + And called after Mede, 1560 + And of sente hire as swithe + With sergeauntz manye, + And broughte hire to boure + With blisse and with joye. + + Curteisly the kyng thanne + Comsed to telle, + To Mede the mayde + He meveth thise wordes, + "Unwittily, womman, + Wroght hastow ofte, 1570 + Ac worse wroghtestow nevere + Than tho thow Fals toke. + But I forgyve thee that gilt, + And graunte thee my grace; + Hennes to thi deeth day + Do so na-moore. + + "I have a knyght Conscience, + Cam late fro biyonde; + If he wilneth thee to wif, + Wiltow hym have?" 1580 + + "Ye, lord," quod that lady, + "Lord forbede it ellis! + But I be holly at youre heste, + Lat hange me soone." + {50} + + And thanne was Conscience called + To come and appere + Bifore the kyng and his conseil, + As clerkes and othere. + + Knelynge Conscience + To the kyng louted, 1590 + To wite what his wille were, + And what he do wolde. + + "Woltow wedde this womman," quod the kyng, + "If I wole assente? + For she is fayn of thi felaweshipe, + For to be thi make." + + Quod Conscience to the kyng, + "Crist it me forbede! + Er I wedde swich a wif, + Wo me bitide! 1600 + For she is frele of hire feith, + Fikel of hire speche, + And maketh men mysdo + Many score tymes; + Trust of hire tresor + Bitrayeth ful manye. + + "Wyves and widewes + Wantonnes she techeth, + And lereth hem lecherie + That loveth hire giftes. 1610 + Youre fader she felled + Thorugh false biheste, + And hath enpoisoned popes, + And peired holy chirche. + Is noght a bettre baude, + By hym that me made! + Bitwene hevene and helle, + In erthe though men soughte. + {51} + For she is tikel of hire tail, + And tale-wis of hire tonge; 1620 + As commune as a cartwey + To ech a knave that walketh, + To monkes, to mynstrales, + To meseles in hegges. + + "Sisours and somonours, + Swiche men hire preiseth; + Sherreves of shires + Were shent if she ne were; + For she dooth men lese hire lond + And hire lif bothe; 1630 + She leteth passe prisoners, + And paieth for hem ofte, + And gyveth the gailers gold + And grotes togidres, + To unfettre the fals + Fle where hym liketh; + And taketh the trewe bi the top + And tieth hem faste, + And hangeth hem for hatrede + That harm dide nevere. 1640 + + "To be corsed in consistorie + She counteth noght a bene; + For she copeth the commissarie, + And coteth hise clerkes. + She is assoiled as soone + As hireself liketh; + And may neigh as muche do + In a monthe one, + As youre secret seel + In sixe score dayes. 1650 + For she is pryvee with the pope, + Provisours it knoweth; + {52} + For sire Symonie and hirselve + Seleth hire bulles. + + "She blesseth thise bisshopes, + Theigh thei be lewed; + Provendreth persones, + And preestes maynteneth, + To have lemmans and lotebies + Alle hire lif daies, 1660 + And bryngeth forth barnes + Ayein forbode lawes. + Ther she is wel with the kyng, + Wo is the reaume; + For she is favourable to fals, + And de-fouleth truthe ofte. + + "By Jhesus! with hire jeweles + Youre justices she shendeth, + And lith ayein the lawe, + And letteth hym the gate, 1670 + That feith may noght have his forth, + Hire floryns go so thikke. + She ledeth the lawe as hire list, + And love-daies maketh, + And doth men lese thorugh hire love, + That lawe myghte wynne + The maze for a mene man, + Though he mote hire evere. + Lawe is so lordlich + And looth to maken ende, 1680 + Withouten presentz or pens + She pleseth wel fewe. + + "Barons and burgeises + She bryngeth in sorwe, + And al the comune in care + That coveiten lyve in truthe; + {53} + For clergie and coveitise + She coupleth togidres. + This is the lif of that lady; + Now Lord gyve hire sorwe! 1690 + And alle that maynteneth hire men, + Meschaunce hem bitide! + For povere men may have no power + To pleyne hem, though thei smerte. + Swich a maister is Mede + Among men of goode." + + Thanne mournede Mede, + And mened hire to the kynge + To have space to speke, + Spede if she myghte. 1700 + + The kyng graunted hire grace, + With a good wille, + "Excuse thee, if thow kanst; + I kan na-moore seggen. + For Conscience accuseth thee, + To congeien thee for evere." + + "Nay, lord," quod that lady, + "Leveth hym the werse, + Whan ye witen witterly + Wher the wrong liggeth. 1710 + Ther that meschief is gret, + Mede may helpe. + And thow knowest, Conscience, + I kam noght to chide + Ne deprave thi persone, + With a proud herte. + Wel thow woost, wernarde, + But if thow wolt gabbe, + Thow hast hanged on myn half + Ellevene tymes, 1720 + {54} + And also griped my gold, + Gyve it where thee liked; + And whi thow wrathest thee now, + Wonder me thynketh. + Yet I may as I myghte + Menske thee with giftes, + And mayntene thi manhode + Moore than thow knowest. + + "Ac thow hast famed me foule + Bifore the kyng here; 1730 + For killed I nevere no kyng + Ne counseiled therafter, + Ne dide as thow demest + I do it on the kynge. + + "In Normandie was he noght + Noyed for my sake; + Ac thow thiself soothly + Shamedest hym ofte, + Crope into a cabane + For cold of thi nayles, 1740 + Wendest that wynter + Wolde han y-lasted evere, + And dreddest to be ded + For a dym cloude, + And hyedest homward + For hunger of thi wombe. + + "Withouten pité, pilour, + Povere men thow robbedest; + And bere hire bras at thi bak + To Caleis to selle, 1750 + Ther I lafte with my lord, + His lif for to save. + I made his men murye, + And mournynge lette; + {55} + I batred hem on the bak, + And boldede hire hertes, + And dide hem hoppe for hope + To have me at wille. + Hadde I ben marchal of his men, + By Marie of hevene! 1760 + I dorste have leyd my lif, + And no lasse wedde, + He sholde have be lord of that lond + In lengthe and in brede, + And also kyng of that kith + His kyn for to helpe, + The leeste brol of his blood + A barones piere. + + "Cowardly thow, Conscience, + Conseiledest hym thennes, 1770 + To leven his lordshipe + For a litel silver, + That is the richeste reaume + That reyn over-hoveth. + + "It bi-cometh to a kyng + That kepeth a reaume, + To yeve mede to men, + That mekely hym serveth, + To aliens and to alle men, + To honouren hem with giftes; 1780 + Mede maketh hym bi-loved + And for a man holden. + + "Emperours and erles, + And alle manere lordes, + For giftes han yonge men + To renne and to ryde. + + "The pope and alle the prelates + Presentz underfongen, + {56} + And medeth men hemselven + To mayntene hir lawes. 1790 + + "Sergeauntz for hire servyce, + We seeth wel the sothe, + Taken mede of hir maistres, + As thei mowe acorde. + + "Beggeres for hir biddynge, + Bidden men mede. + + "Mynstrales for hir myrthe, + Mede thei aske. + + "The kyng hath mede of his men, + To make pees in londe. 1800 + + "Men that teche children, + Craven after mede. + + "Preestes that prechen the peple + To goode, asken mede, + And massepens and hire mete + At the meel-tymes. + + "Alle kynne craftes men + Craven mede for hir prentices. + + "Marchauntz and Mede + Mote nede go togideres. 1810 + No wight, as I wene, + Withouten mede may libbe." + + Quod the kyng to Conscience, + "By Crist! as me thynketh, + Mede is well worthi + The maistrie to have." + + "Nay," quod Conscience to the kyng, + And kneled to the erthe, + "Ther are two manere of medes, + My lord, with youre leve. 1820 + + "That oon God of his grace + Graunteth in his blisse + {57} + To tho that wel werchen, + While thei ben here; + The prophete precheth therof, + And putte it in the Sauter, + _Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?_ = + + "Lord, who shal wonye in thi wones, + And with thyne holy seintes, 1830 + Or resten in thyne holy hilles? + This asketh David; + And David assoileth it hymself, + As the Sauter telleth. + _Qui ingreditur sine macula et operatur justitiam._ = + + "Tho that entren of o colour, + And of one wille, + And han y-wroght werkes + With right and with reson; 1840 + And he that useth noght + The lyf of usurie, + And enformeth povere men, + And pursueth truthe. + _Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad + usuram, et munera super innoc. etc._ = + + "And alle that helpen the innocent, + And holden with the rightfulle, + Withouten mede doth hem good, 1850 + And the truthe helpeth, + Swiche manere men, my lord, + Shul have this firste mede + Of God at a gret nede, + Whan thei gon hennes. + + "Ther is another mede mesurelees, + {58} + That maistres desireth, + To mayntene mysdoers + Mede thei take, + And therof seith the Sauter 1860 + In a salmes ende, + _In quorum manibus iniquitates + sunt, dextra eorum repleta est + muneribus._ + + "And he that gripeth hir gold, + So me God helpe! + Shal abien it bittre, + Or the book lieth. + + "Preestes and persons + That plesynge desireth, 1870 + That taken mede and moneie + For masses that thei syngeth, + Taken hire mede here, + As Mathew us techeth. + _Amen, Amen, recipiebant mercede suam._ = + + "That laborers and lowe folk + Taken of hire maistres, + It is no manere mede, + But a mesurable hire. 1880 + + "In marchaundise is no mede, + I may it wel avowe, + It is a permutacion apertly, + A penyworth for another. + + "Ac reddestow nevere _Regum_? + Thow recrayed Mede, + Whi the vengeaunce fel + On Saul and on his children? + God sente to Saul + By Samuel the prophete, 1890 + {59} + That Agag of Amalec, + And al his peple after, + Sholden deye for a dede + That doon hadde hire eldres. + + "For-thi seide Samuel to Saul, + 'God hymself hoteth + Thee be buxom at his biddynge, + His wil to fulfille; + Weend to Amalec with thyn oost, + And what thow fyndest there sle it, 1900 + Burnes and beestes + Bren hem to dethe, + Widwes and wyves, + Wommen and children, + Moebles and un-moebles, + And al thow myght fynde, + Bren it, bere it noght awey, + Be it never so riche, + For mede ne for monee, + Loke thow destruye it, 1910 + Spille it and spare it noght, + Thow shalt spede the bettre.' + + "And for he coveited hir catel, + And the kyng spared, + Forbar hym and his beestes bothe, + As the Bible witnesseth, + Oother wise than he was + Warned of the prophete, + God seide to Samuel + That Saul sholde deye, 1920 + And al his seed for that synne + Shenfulliche ende. + Swich a meschief Mede made + Saul the kyng to have, + {60} + That God hated hym for evere, + And alle hise heires after. + + "The culorum of this cas + Kepe I noght to telle, + On aventure it noyed men, + Noon ende wol I make, 1930 + For so is this world went + With hem that han power, + That who so seith hem sothest + Is sonnest y-blamed. + + "Conscience knowe this, + For kynde wit it me taughte, + That Reson shal regne + And reaumes governe, + And right as Agag hadde, + Happe shul somme, 1940 + Samuel shal sleen hym, + And Saul shal be blamed, + And David shal be diademed, + And daunten hem alle; + And oon cristene kyng + Kepen hem alle. + Shal na-moore Mede + Be maister, as she is nouthe; + Ac love and lowenesse + And leautee togideres, 1950 + Thise shul ben maistres on moolde, + Truthe to save. + + "And who so trespaseth ayein truthe, + Or taketh ayein his wille, + Leauté shal don hym lawe, + And no lif ellis; + Shall no sergeaunt for his service + Were a silk howve, + {61} + Ne no pelure in his cloke + For pledynge at the barre. 1960 + Mede of mysdoeres + Maketh manye lordes, + And over lordes lawes + Ruleth the reaumes. + + "Ac kynde love shal come yit, + And conscience togideres, + And make of lawe a laborer; + Swich love shal arise, + And swich a pees among the peple, + And a perfit truthe, 1970 + That Jewes shul wene in hire wit, + And wexen wonder glade, + That Moyses or Messie + Be come into this erthe, + And have wonder in hire hertes + That men beth so trewe. + + "Alle that beren baselarde, + Brood swerd or launce, + Ax outher hachet, + Or any wepene ellis, 1980 + Shal be demed to the deeth, + But if he do it smythye + Into sikel or to sithe, + To shaar or to kultour; + _Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, etc._ = + + "Ech man to pleye with a plow, + Pykoise or spade, + Spynne or sprede donge, + Or spille hymself with sleuthe. 1990 + + "Preestes and persons + With _Placebo_ to hunte, + {62} + And dyngen upon David + Eche day til eve. + Huntynge or haukynge + If any of hem use, + His boost of his benefice + Worth by-nomen hym after. + Shal neither kyng ne knyght, + Constable ne meire, 2000 + Overlede the commune, + Ne to the court sompne, + Ne putte hem in panel + To doon hem plighte hir truthe; + But after the dede that is doon + Oon doom shal rewarde, + Mercy or no mercy, + As truthe wole acorde. + + "Kynges court and commune court, + Consistorie and chapitle, 2010 + Al shal be but oon court, + And oon baron be justice. + Thanne worth Trewe-tonge a tidy man + That tened me nevere; + Batailles shul none be, + Ne no man bere wepene; + And what smyth that any smytheth, + Be smyte therwith to dethe. + _Non levabit gens contra gentem + gladium, etc._ 2020 + + "And er this fortune falle, + Fynde men shul the worste, + By sixe sonnes and a shipe, + And half a shef of arwes, + And the myddel of a moone, + Shal make the Jewes to torne, + {63} + And Sarzynes for that sighte + Shul synge _Gloria in excelsis, etc._ + For Makometh and Mede + Mys-happe shul that tyme, 2030 + For _melius est bonum nomen quam divitiæ multæ._" = + + Al so wroth as the wynd + Weex Mede in a while, + "I kan no Latyn," quod she, + "Clerkes wite the sothe; + Se what Salomon seith + In Sapience bokes, + That thei that gyven giftes + The victorie wynneth, 2040 + And moost worshipe hadde therwith + As holy writ telleth: + _Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, etc._ = + + "Leve wel, lady," quod Conscience, + "That thi Latyn be trewe; + Ac thow art lik a lady + That radde a lesson ones, + Was _omnia probate_, + And that plesed hire herte; 2050 + For that lyne was no lenger + At the leves ende. + Hadde she loked that oother half, + And the leef torned, + She sholde have founden fele wordes + Folwynge therafter, + _Quod bonum est tenete_; + Truthe that text made. + And so ferde ye, madame, + Ye kouthe na-moore fynde, 2060 + {64} + Tho ye loked on Sapience + Sittynge in youre studie. + This text that ye han told + Were good for lordes; + Ac yow fayled a konnynge clerk + That kouthe the leef han torned. + And if ye seche Sapience eft, + Fynde shul ye that folweth, + A ful teneful text + To hem that taketh mede; 2070 + And that is _animam autem aufert accipientium, etc._, = + And that is the tail of the text; + Of that that she shewed, + That theigh we wynne worshipe, + And with mede have victorie, + The soule that the sonde taketh + By so muche is bounde." 2078 + + * * * * * + +{65} + + _Passus Quartus de Visione, ut supra._ + + "Cesseth," seith the kyng, 2079 + "I suffre yow no lenger; + Ye shul saughtne for sothe, + And serve me bothe. + Kis hire," quod the kyng, + "Conscience, I hote." + + "Nay, by Crist!" quod Conscience, + "Congeye me er for evere, + But Reson rede me therto, + Rather wol I deye." + + "And I comaunde thee," quod the kyng, + To Conscience thanne, 2090 + "Rape thee to ryde, + And Reson thow fecche; + Comaunde hym that he come + My counseil to here, + For he shal rule my reaume + And rede me the beste, + And acounte with thee, Conscience, + So me Crist helpe! + How thow lernest the peple, + The lered and the lewed." 2100 + + "I am fayn of that foreward," + Seide the freke thanne, + {66} + And ryt right to Reson, + And rouneth in his ere, + And seide as the kyng bad, + And sithen took his leve. + + "I shal arraye me to ryde," quod Reson, + "Reste thee a while." + And called Caton his knave, + Curteis of speche, 2110 + And also Tomme Trewe-tonge,-- + "Tel me no tales, + Ne lesynge to laughen of, + For I loved hem nevere; + And set my sadel upon Suffre, + Til I se my tyme, + And lat warroke hym wel + With witty-wordes gerthes, + And hange on hym the hevy brydel + To holde his heed lowe, 2120 + For he wol make 'wehee!' + Twies er he be there." + + Thanne Conscience upon his capul + Carieth forth faste, + And Reson with hym ryt, + Rownynge togideres, + Whiche maistries Mede + Maketh on this erthe. + + Oon Waryn Wisdom, + And Witty his feere, 2130 + Folwed hym faste, + For thei hadde to doone + In th'escheker and in the chauncerye, + To ben descharged of thynges; + And riden faste, for Reson sholde + Rede hem the beste, + {67} + For to save hem for silver + From shame and from harmes. + And Conscience knew hem wel, + Thei loved coveitise; 2140 + And bad Reson ryde faste, + And recche of hir neither. + "Ther are wiles in hire wordes, + And with Mede thei dwelleth; + Ther as wrathe and wranglynge is, + Ther wynne thei silver; + Ac where is love and leautee, + Thei wol noght come there. + _Contritio et infelicitas in viis eorum, + etc._ 2150 + + "Thei ne yeveth noght of God + One goose wynge. + _Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum, etc._ = + + "For woot God thei wolde do moore + For a dozeyne chicknes, + Or as manye capons, + Or for a seem of otes, + Than for the love of oure Lord, + Or alle hise leeve seintes. 2160 + For-thi Reson lat hem ride, + Tho riche by hemselve, + For Conscience knoweth hem noght, + Ne Crist, as I trowe." + And thanne Reson rood faste + The righte heighe gate, + As Conscience hym kenned, + Til thei come to the kynge. + + Curteisly the kyng thanne + Com ayeins Reson, 2170 + {68} + And bitwene hymself and his sone + Sette hym on benche; + And wordeden wel wisely + A gret while togideres. + + And thanne com Pees into parlement, + And putte forth a bille, + How Wrong ayeins his wille + Hadde his wif taken, + And how he ravysshede Rose + Reginaldes loove, 2180 + And Margrete of hir maydenhede + Maugree hire chekes. + "Bothe my gees and my grys + Hise gadelynges feccheth, + I dar noght for fere of hem + Fighte ne chide. + He borwed of me Bayard, + He broughte hym hom nevere, + Ne no ferthyng therfore, + For ought I koude plede. 2190 + He maynteneth hise men + To murthere myne hewen, + Forstalleth my feires, + And fighteth in my chepyng, + And breketh up my bernes dore, + And bereth awey my whete, + And taketh me but a taillé + For ten quarters of otes; + And yet he beteth me therto, + And lyth by my mayde. 2200 + I am noght hardy for hym + Unnethe to loke." + + The kyng knew he seide sooth, + For Conscience hym tolde + {69} + That Wrong was a wikked luft, + And wroghte muche sorwe. + + Wrong was afered thanne, + And Wisdom he soughte, + To maken pees with hise pens; + And profred hym manye, 2210 + And seide, "Hadde I love of my lord the kyng, + Litel wolde I recche, + Theigh Pees and his power + Pleyned hym evere." + + Tho wente Wisdom + And sire Waryn the Witty, + For that Wrong hadde y-wroght + So wikked a dede, + And warnede Wrong tho + With swich a wis tale, 2220 + "Who so wercheth by wille, + Wrathe maketh ofte; + I sey it by myself, + Thow shalt it wel fynde; + But if Mede it make, + Thi meschief is uppe, + For bothe thi lif and thi lond + Lyth in his grace." + + Thanne wowede Wrong + Wisdom ful yerne, 2230 + To maken pees with his pens, + Handy dandy payed. + + Wisdom and Wit thanne + Wenten togidres, + And token Mede myd hem + Mercy to wynne. + + Pees putte forth his heed, + And his panne blody, + {70} + "Withouten gilt, God it woot, + Gat I this scathe; 2240 + Conscience and the commune + Knowen the sothe." + + Ac Wisdom and Wit + Were aboute faste, + To overcomen the kyng + With catel, if thei myghte. + + The kyng swor by Crist, + And by his crowne bothe, + That Wrong for hise werkes + Sholde wo tholie; 2250 + And comaundede a constable + To casten hym in irens, + And lete hym noght thise seven yer + Seen his feet ones. + + "God woot," quod Wisdom, + "That were noght the beste; + And he amendes nowe make, + Lat maynprise hym have, + And be borgh for his bale, + And buggen hym boote, 2260 + And so amenden that is mys-do + And evere moore the bettre." + + Wit acorded therwith, + And seide the same, + "Bettre is that boote + Bale a-doun brynge, + Than bale be y-bet, + And boote never the bettre." + + And thanne gan Mede to mengen hire, + And mercy she bi-soughte, 2270 + And profrede Pees a present + Al of pure golde: + {71} + "Have this, man, of me," quod she, + "To amenden thi scathe, + For I wol wage for Wrong + He wol do so na-moore." + + Pitously Pees thanne + Preyde to the kynge, + To have mercy on that man + That mys-dide hym so ofte; 2280 + "For he hath waged me wel, + As Wisdom hym taughte, + And I forgyve hym that gilt + With a good wille, + So that the kyng assente, + I kan seye no bettre; + For Mede hath me amendes maad, + I may na-moore axe." + + "Nay," quod the kyng tho, + "So me Crist helpe! 2290 + Wrong wendeth noght so a-wey, + Erst wole I wite moore. + For lope he so lightly, + Laughen he wolde; + And eft the boldere be + To bete myne hewen; + But Reson have ruthe on hym, + He shal reste in my stokkes; + And that as longe as he lyveth, + But lownesse hym borwe." 2300 + + Som men radde Reson tho + To have ruthe on that shrewe, + And for to counseille the kyng, + And Conscience after; + That Mede moste be maynpernour + Reson thei bi-soughte. + {72} + + "Reed me noght," quod Reson, + "No ruthe to have, + Til lordes and ladies + Loven alle truthe, 2310 + And haten alle harlotrie, + To heren or to mouthen it. + + "Til Parnelles purfille + Be put in hire hucche, + And childrene cherissynge + Be chastynge with yerdes, + And harlottes holynesse + Be holden for an hyne. + + "Til clerkene coveitise be + To clothe the povere and fede, 2320 + And religiouse romeris + _Recordare_ in hir cloistres, + As seynt Beneyt hem bad, + Bernard and Fraunceis, + And til prechours prechynge + Be preved on hemselve. + + "Til the kynges counseil + Be the commune profit, + Til bisshopes bayardes + Ben beggeris chaumbres, 2330 + Hire haukes and hire houndes + Help to povere religious. + + "And til seint James be sought + There I shal assigne, + That no man go to Galis + But if he go for evere;-- + And alle Rome renneres, + For robberes biyonde, + Bere no silver over see + That signe of kyng sheweth, 2340 + {73} + Neither grave ne ungrave, + Gold neither silver, + Upon forfeture of that fee, + Who so fynt it at Dovere, + But if he be marchaunt or his man, + Or messager with lettres, + Provysour or preest, + Or penaunt for hise synnes. + + "And yet," quod Reson, "by the Rode! + I shal no ruthe have, 2350 + While Mede hath the maistrie + In this moot-halle. + Ac I may shewe ensamples, + As I se outher while, + I seye it by myself," quod he, + "And it so were + That I were kyng with coroune + To kepen a reaume, + Sholde nevere Wrong in this world, + That I wite myghte, 2360 + Ben unpunysshed in my power, + For peril of my soule, + Ne gete my grace for giftes, + So me God save! + Ne for no mede have mercy, + But mekenesse it make; + For _nullum malum_ the man + Mette with _inpunitum_, + And bad _nullum bonum_ + Be _irremuneratum_. 2370 + + "Lat youre confessour, sire kyng, + Construe this unglosed; + And if ye werchen it in werk, + I wedde myne eris, + {74} + That lawe shal ben a laborer + And lede a-feld donge, + And love shal lede thi lond, + As the leef liketh." + + Clerkes that were confessours + Coupled hem togideres, 2380 + Al to construe this clause, + And for the kynges profit, + Ac noght for confort of the commune, + Ne for the kynges soule; + For I seigh Mede in the moot-halle + On men of lawe wynke, + And thei laughynge lope to hire, + And left Reson manye. + Waryn Wisdom + Wynked upon Mede, 2390 + And seide, "Madame, I am youre man, + What so my mouth jangle; + I falle in floryns," quod that freke, + "And faile speche ofte." + + Alle rightfulle recordede + That Reson truthe tolde; + And Wit acorded therwith, + And comendede hise wordes, + And the mooste peple in the halle, + And manye of the grete, 2400 + And leten Mekenesse a maister, + And Mede a mansed sherewe. + + Love leet of hire light, + And leauté yet lasse, + And seiden it so heighe + That al the halle it herde, + "Who so wilneth hire to wif, + For welthe of hire goodes, + {75} + But he be knowe for a cokewold, + Kut of my nose." 2410 + + Mede mornede tho, + And made hevy chere, + For the mooste commune of that court + Called hire an hore. + Ac a sisour and a somonour + Sued hire faste, + And a sherreves clerk + Bisherewed at the route; + "For ofte have I," quod he, + "Holpen yow at the barre, 2420 + And yet yeve ye me nevere + The worth of a risshe." + + The kyng callede Conscience, + And afterward Reson, + And recordede that Reson + Hadde rightfully shewed; + And modiliche upon Mede + With myght the kyng loked; + And gan wexe wroth with lawe, + For Mede almoost hadde shent it; 2430 + And seide, "thorugh lawe, as I leve! + I lese manye eschetes; + Mede overmaistreth lawe, + And muche Truthe letteth. + Ac Reson shal rekene with yow, + If I regne any while, + And deme yow bi this day, + As ye han deserved. + Mede shal noght maynprise yow, + By the Marie of hevene! 2440 + I wole have leauté in lawe, + And lete be al youre janglyng; + {76} + And as moost folk witnesseth wel, + Wrong shal be demed." + + Quod Conscience to the kyng, + "But the commune wole assente, + It is ful hard, by myn heed! + Hertoo to brynge it, + Alle youre lige leodes + To lede thus evene." 2450 + + "By hym that raughte on the rode!" + Quod Reson to the kynge, + "But if I rule thus youre reaume, + Rende out my guttes, + If ye bidden buxomnesse + Be of myn assent." + + "And I assente," seith the kyng, + "By seinte Marie my lady! + By my counseil commune, + Of clerkes and of erles; 2460 + Ac redily, Reson, + Thow shalt noght ride fro me, + For, as longe as I lyve, + Lete thee I nelle." + + "I am al redy," quod Reson, + "To reste with yow evere; + So Conscience be of oure counseil, + I kepe no bettre." + + "And I graunte," quod the kyng, + "Goddes forbode ellis! + Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, + Lyve we togideres." 2472 + + * * * * * + +{77} + + _Passus Quintus de Visione, ut supra._ + + The kyng and hise knyghtes 2473 + To the kirke wente, + To here matyns of the day + And the masse after. + Thanne waked I of my wynkyng, + And wo was withalle, + That I ne hadde slept sadder, + And y-seighen moore. 2480 + Ac er I hadde faren a furlong, + Feyntise me hente, + That I ne myghte ferther a foot + For defaute of slepynge, + And sat softely a-doun, + And seide my bileve, + And so I bablede on my bedes, + Thei broughte me a-slepe. + And thanne saugh I muche moore + Than I bifore of tolde, 2490 + For I seigh the feld ful of folk, + That I bifore of seide, + And how Reson gan arayen hym + Al the reaume to preche, + And with a cros afore the kyng + Comsede thus to techen. + {78} + + He preved that thise pestilences + Were for pure synne, + And the south-westrene wynd + On Saterday at even 2500 + Was pertliche for pure pride, + And for no point ellis; + Pyries and plum-trees + Were puffed to the erthe, + In ensaumple that the segges + Sholden do the bettre; + Beches and brode okes + Were blowen to the grounde, + Turned upward hire tailes, + In tokenynge of drede 2510 + That dedly synne er domes-day + Shal for-doon hem alle. + + Of this matere I myghte + Mamelen ful longe; + Ac I shal seye as I saugh, + So me God helpe! + How pertly afore the peple + Reson bigan to preche. + + He bad Wastour go werche, + What he best kouthe, 2520 + And wynnen his wastyng + With som maner crafte. + + He preide Pernele + Hir purfil to lete, + And kepe it in hire cofre + For catel at hire nede. + + Tomme Stowne he taughte + To take two staves, + And fecche Felice hom + Fro the wynen pyne. 2530 + {79} + He warnede Watte + His wif was to blame, + For hire heed was worth half marc, + And his hood noght worth a grote; + And bad Bette kutte + A bough outher tweye, + And bete Beton therwith, + But if she wolde werche. + + And thanne he chargede chapmen + To chastizen hir children, 2540 + Late no wynnyng hem for-wanye + While thei be yonge, + Ne for no poustee of pestilence + Plese hem noght out of reson. + "My sire seide so to me, + And so dide my dame, + That the levere child + The moore loore bihoveth; + And Salomon seide the same, + That _Sapience_ made, 2550 + _Qui parcit virgæ, odit filium_. + The Englissh of this Latyn is, + Who so wole it knowe + Who so spareth the spring, + Spilleth hise children." + + And sithen he prechede prelates + And preestes togideres, + "That ye prechen to the peple, + Preve it on yowselve, + And dooth it in dede, 2560 + It shal drawe yow to goode; + If ye leven as ye leren us, + We shul leve yow the bettre." + + And sithen he radde Religion + {80} + Hir rule to holde; + "Lest the kyng and his conseil + Youre comunes apeire, + And be stywardes of youre stedes, + Til ye be ruled bettre." + + And sithen he counseiled the kyng 2570 + His commune to lovye; + "It is thi trewe tresor, + And tryacle at thy nede." + + And sithen he preide the pope + Have pité on holy chirche, + And er he gyve any grace, + Governe first hymselve. + + "And ye that han lawes to kepe, + Lat truthe be youre coveitise, + Moore than gold outher giftes, 2580 + If ye wol God plese; + For who so contrarieth Truthe, + He telleth in the gospel, + That God knoweth hym noght, + Ne no seynt of hevene. + _Amen dico vobis, nescio vos._ + + "And ye that seke seynt James, + And seyntes of Rome, + Seketh seynt Truthe, + For he may save yow alle; 2590 + _Qui cum patre et filio_, + That faire hem bi-falle + That seweth my sermon." + And thus seyde Reson. + + Thanne ran Repentaunce, + And reherced his teme: + And garte Wille to wepe + Water with hise eighen. + {81} + + Pernele Proud-herte + Platte hire to the erthe, 2600 + And lay longe er she loked, + And "Lord, mercy!" cryde, + And bi-highte to hym + That us alle made, + She sholde unsowen hir serk, + And sette there an heyre, + To affaiten hire flesshe + That fiers was to synne. + "Shal nevere heigh herte me hente, + But holde I wole me lowe 2610 + And suffre to be mys-seyd, + And so dide I nevere; + And now I wole meke me, + And mercy biseche, + For al this I have + Hated in myn herte." + + Thanne Lechour seide, "Allas!" + And on oure Lady he cryde, + To maken mercy for hise mys-dedes + Bitwene God and his soule; 2620 + With that he sholde the Saterday, + Seven yer therafter, + Drynke but myd the doke, + And dyne but ones. + + Envye with hevy herte + Asked after shrifte, + And carefully _mea culpa_ + He comsed to shewe. + He was as pale as a pelet, + In the palsy he semed; 2630 + And clothed in a kaurymaury, + I kouthe it nought discryve, + {82} + In kirtel and courtepy, + And a knyf by his syde; + Of a freres frokke + Were the fore-sleves; + And as a leek that hadde y-leye + Longe in the sonne, + So loked he with lene chekes + Lourynge foule. 2640 + + His body was to-bollen for wrathe, + That he boot hise lippes; + And wryngynge he yede with the fust, + To wreke hymself he thoughte + With werkes or with wordes, + Whan he seyghe his tyme. + Ech a word that he warpe + Was of a neddres tonge; + Of chidynge and of chalangynge + Was his chief liflode, 2650 + With bakbitynge and bismere, + And berynge of fals witnesse. + + "I wolde ben y-shryve," quod this sherewe, + "And I for shame dorste; + I wolde be gladder, by God! + That Gybbe hadde meschaunce, + Than though I hadde this wouke y-wonne + A weye of Essex chese. + + "I have a neghebore by me, + I have anoyed hym ofte, 2660 + And lowen on hym to lordes + To doon hym lese his silver, + And maad his frendes be his foon + Thorugh my false tonge; + His grace and his goode happes + Greven me ful soore. + {83} + + "Bitwene manye and manye + I make debate ofte, + That bothe lif and lyme + Is lost thorugh my speche. 2670 + And whan I mete hym in market + That I moost hate, + I hailse hym hendely, + As I his frend were; + For he is doughtier than I, + I dar do noon oother; + Ac hadde I maistrie and myght, + God woot my wille! + + "And whan I come to the kirk, + And sholde knele to the roode, 2680 + And preye for the peple + As the preest techeth, + For pilgrymes and for palmeres, + For al the peple after, + Thanne I crye on my knees + That Crist gyve hem sorwe, + That beren awey my bolle + And my broke shete. + + "Awey fro the auter thanne + Turne I myne eighen, 2690 + And bi-holde Eleyne + Hath a newe cote; + I wisshe thanne it were myn, + And al the web after. + + "And of mennes lesynge I laughe, + That liketh myn herte; + And for hir wynnynge I wepe, + And waille the tyme; + And deme that thei doon ille, + There I do wel werse. 2700 + {84} + Who so under-nymeth me hero + I hate hym dedly after; + I wolde that ech a wight + Were my knave, + For who so hath moore than I, + Than angreth me soore. + And thus I lyve love-lees, + Lik a luther dogge; + That al my body bolneth, + For bitter of my galle. 2710 + + "I myghte noght ete many yeres + As a man oughte, + For envye and yvel wil + Is yvel to defie. + May no sugre ne swete thyng + Aswage my swellyng? + Ne no _diapenidion_ + Dryve it fro myn herte? + Ne neither shrifte ne shame, + But who so shrape my mawe?" 2720 + + "Yis redily," quod Repentaunce, + And radde hym to the beste, + "Sorwe of synnes + Is savacion of soules." + + "I am sory," quod that segge, + "I am but selde oother, + And that maketh me thus megre, + For I ne may me venge. + + "Amonges burgeises have I be + Dwellyng at Londone, 2730 + And gart bakbityng be a brocour + To blame mennes ware; + Whan he solde and I nought, + Thanne was I redy + {85} + To lye and to loure on my neghebore, + And to lakke his chaffare; + I wole amende this, if I may, + Thorugh myght of God almyghty." + + Now awaketh Wrathe, + With two white eighen; 2740 + And nevelynge with the nose, + And his nekke hangyng. + + "I am Wrathe," quod he, + "I was som tyme a frere, + And the coventes gardyner + For to graffen impes; + On lymitours and listres + Lesynges I ymped, + Til thei beere leves of lowe speche, + Lordes to plese, 2750 + And sithen thei blosmede a-brood + In boure to here shriftes; + And now is fallen therof a fruyt, + That folk han wel levere + Shewen hire shriftes to hem, + Than shryve hem to hir persons. + + "And now persons han perceyved + That freres parte with hem, + Thise possessioners preche + And deprave freres. 2760 + + "And freres fyndeth hem in defaute, + As folk bereth witnesse, + That whan thei preche the peple + In many places aboute, + I Wrathe walke with hem, + And wisse hem of my bokes. + Thus thei speken of my spiritualté, + That either despiseth oother, + {86} + Til thei be bothe beggers + And by my spiritualté libben, 2770 + Or ellis al riche + And ryden aboute. + I Wrathe reste nevere, + That I ne moste folwe + This wikked folk, + For swich is my grace. + + "I have an aunte to nonne, + And an abbesse bothe; + Hir hadde levere swowe or swelte, + Than suffre any peyne, 2780 + + "I have be cook in hir kichene, + And the covent served + Manye monthes with hem, + And with monkes bothe. + I was the prioresse potager, + And othere povere ladies, + And maad hem joutes of janglyng, + That dame Johane was a bastard, + And dame Clarice a knyghtes doughter, + Ac a cokewold was hir sire; 2790 + And dame Pernele a preestes fyle, + Prioresse worth she nevere, + For she hadde child in chirie-tyme, + Al our chapitre it wiste. + + "Of wikkede wordes + I Wrathe hire wortes made, + Til 'thow lixt' and 'thow lixt' + Lopen out at ones, + And either hite oother + Under the cheke; 2800 + Hadde thei had knyves, by Crist + Hir either hadde kild oother. + {87} + + "Seint Gregory was a good pope, + And hadde a good forwit, + That no prioresse were preest, + For that he ordeyned; + They hadde thanne ben _infames_ the firste day, + Thei kan so yvele hele conseil. + + "Among monkes I myghte be, + Ac many tyme I shonye it; 2810 + For there ben manye felle frekes + My feeris to aspie, + Bothe priour and suppriour + And oure _pater abbas_; + And if I telle any tales, + Thei taken hem togideres, + And doon me faste frydayes + To breed and to watre, + And am chalanged in the chapitre hous + As I a child were, 2820 + And baleised on the bare ers, + And no brech bitwene. + For-thi have I no likyng + With tho leodes to wonye. + I ete there unthende fisshe, + And feble ale drynke; + Ac outher while whan wyn cometh, + Thanne I drynke wyn at eve, + And have a flux of a foul mouth + Wel fyve dayes after. 2830 + Al the wikkednesse that I woot + By any of oure bretheren, + I couthe it in oure cloistre, + That al oure covent woot it." + + "Now repente thee," quod Repentaunce, + "And reherce thow nevere + {88} + Counseil that thow knowest + By contenaunce ne by right; + And drynk nat over delicatly, + Ne to depe neither, 2840 + That thi wille by cause therof + To wrathe myghte turne. + _Esto sobrius_," he seide, + And assoiled me after, + And bad me wilne to wepe + My wikkednesse to amende. + + And thanne cam Coveitise, + Kan I hym naght discryve, + So hungrily and holwe + Sire Hervy hym loked. 2850 + He was bitel-browed, + And baber-lipped also, + With two blered eighen + As a blynd hagge; + And as a letheren purs + Lolled hise chekes, + Wel sidder than his chyn + Thei chyveled for elde; + And as a bonde-man of his bacon + His berd was bi-draveled, 2860 + With an hood on his heed, + A lousy hat above, + And in a tawny tabard + Of twelf wynter age, + Al so torn and baudy, + And ful of lys crepyng, + But if that a lous couthe + Han lopen the bettre, + She sholde noght han walked on that welthe, + So was it thred-bare. 2870 + {89} + + "I have ben coveitous," quod this caytif, + "I bi-knowe it here, + For som tyme I served + Symme-atte-Style, + And was his prentice y-plight + His profit to wayte. + + "First I lerned to lye, + A leef outher tweyne; + Wikkedly to weye + Was my firste lesson; 2880 + To Wy and to Wynchestre + I wente to the feyre, + With many manere marchaundise, + As my maister me highte. + Ne hadde the grace of gyle y-go + Amonges my chaffare, + It hadde ben unsold this seven yer, + So me God helpe! + + "Thanne drough I me among drapiers, + My donet to lerne, 2890 + To drawe the liser along, + The lenger it semed; + Among the riche rayes + I rendred a lesson, + To broche hem with a pak-nedle, + And playte hem togideres, + And putte hem in a presse, + And pyne hem therinne, + Til ten yerdes or twelve + Hadde tolled out thrittene. 2900 + + "My wif was a webbe, + And wollen cloth made; + She spak to spynnesteres + To spynnen it oute, + {90} + Ac the pound that she paied by + Peised a quatron moore + Than myn owene auncer, + Who so weyed truthe. + + "I boughte hire barly-malt, + She brew it to selle, 2910 + Peny ale and puddyng ale + She poured togideres, + For laborers and for lowe folk + That lay by hymselve. + + "The beste ale lay in my bour, + Or in my bed-chambre; + And who so bummed therof, + Boughte it therafter, + A galon for a grote, + God woot, no lesse! 2920 + And yet it cam in cuppe-mele, + This craft my wif used. + Rose the Regrater + Was hire righte name; + She hath holden hukkerye + Al hire lif tyme. + Ac I swere now, so thee ik! + That synne wol I lete, + And nevere wikkedly weye, + Ne wikke chaffare use; 2930 + But wenden to Walsyngham, + And my wif als, + And bidde the Roode of Bromholm + Brynge me out of dette." + + "Repentedestow evere?" quod Repentaunce, + "Or restitucion madest." + + "Yis, ones I was y-herberwed," quod he, + {91} + "With an heep of chapmen, + I roos whan thei were a-reste + And riflede hire males." 2940 + + "That was no restitucion," quod Repentaunce, + "But a robberis thefte; + Thow haddest be the bettre worthi + Ben hanged therfore, + Than for al that + That thow hast here shewed." + + "I wende riflynge were restitucion," quod he, + "For I lerned nevere rede on boke; + And I kan no Frensshe, in feith, + But of the fertheste ende of Northfolk." 2950 + + "Usedestow evere usurie?" quod Repentaunce, + "In al thi lif tyme." + + "Nay sothly," he seide, + "Save in my youthe + I lerned among Lumbardes + And Jewes a lesson, + To weye pens with a peis, + And pare the hevyeste, + And lene it for love of the cros, + To legge a wed and lese it. 2960 + Swiche dedes I dide write, + If he his day breke, + I have mo manoirs thorugh rerages, + Than thorugh _miseretur et commodat_. + + "I have lent lordes + And ladies my chaffare, + And ben hire brocour after, + And bought it myselve; + {92} + Eschaunges and chevysaunces + With swich chaffare I dele, 2970 + And lene folk that lese wole + A lippe at every noble, + And with Lumbardes lettres + I ladde gold to Rome, + And took it by tale here, + And tolde hem there lasse." + + "Lentestow evere lordes, + For love of hire mayntenaunce?" + + "Ye, I have lent to lordes, + Loved me nevere after, 2980 + And have y-maad many a knyght + Bothe mercer and draper, + That payed nevere for his prentishode + Noght a peire gloves." + + "Hastow pité on povere men, + That mote nedes borwe?" + + "I have as muche pité of povere men, + As pedlere hath of cattes, + That wolde kille hem, if he cacche hem myghte, + For coveitise of hir skynnes." 2990 + + "Artow manlich among thi neghebores + Of thi mete and drynke?" + + "I am holden," quod he, "as hende + As hound is in kichene, + Amonges my neghebores, namely, + Swiche a name ich have." + + "Now God lene thee nevere," quod Repentaunce, + "But thow repente the rather, + The grace on this grounde + {93} + Thi good wel to bi-sette, 3000 + Ne thyne heires after thee + Have joie of that thow wynnest, + Ne thyne executours wel bi-sette + The silver that thow hem levest; + And that was wonne with wrong + With wikked men be despended. + For were I frere of that hous + Ther good feith and charité is, + I nolde cope us with thi catel, + Ne oure kirk amende, 3010 + Ne have a peny to my pitaunce, + So God my soule save! + For the beste book in oure hous, + Theigh brent gold were the leves, + And I wiste witterly + Thow were swich as thow tellest. + _Servus es alterius, + Dum fercula pinguia quæris; + Pane tuo potius + Vescere, liber eris._ 3020 + + "Thow art an unkynde creature, + I kan thee noght assoille, + Til thow make restitucion + And rekene with hem alle; + And sithen that Reson rolle it + In the registre of hevene, + That thow hast maad ech man good, + I may thee noght assoile. + _Non dimittitur peccatum, donec restituatur + oblatum._ 3030 + + "For alle that han of thi good, + Have God my trouthe! + Ben holden at the heighe doom + {94} + To helpe thee to restitue; + And who so leveth noght this be sooth, + Loke in the Sauter glose, + In _Miserere mei, Deus_, + Wher I mene truthe; + _Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, etc._ + Shal nevere werkman in this world 3040 + Thryve with that thow wynnest. + _Cum sancto sanctus eris;_ + Construwe me this on Englisshe." + + Thanne weex that sherewe in wanhope, + And wolde han hanged hym; + Ne hadde Repentaunce the rather + Reconforted hym in this manere. + + "Have mercy in thi mynde, + And with thi mouth biseche it; + For Goddes mercy is moore 3050 + Than alle hise othere werkes. + And al the wikkednesse in this world + That man myghte werche or thynke, + Nis na-moore to the mercy of God, + Than in the see a gleede. + _Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam + Dei, est quasi scintilla + in medio maris._ + + "For-thi have mercy in thy mynde, + And marchaundise leve it; 3060 + For thow hast no good ground + To gete thee with a wastel, + But if it were with thi tonge, + Or ellis with thi two hondes. + For the good that thow hast geten + Bigan al with falshede, + And as longe as thow lyvest therwith, + {95} + Thow yeldest noght, but borwest. + + "And if thow wite nevere to whiche, + Ne whom to restitue, 3070 + Ber it to the bisshope, + And bid hym of his grace + Bi-sette it hymself, + As best is for thi soule; + For he shal answere for thee + At the heighe dome, + For thee and for many mo + That man shal yeve a rekenyng, + What he lerned yow in Lente, + Leve thow noon oother, 3080 + And what he lente yow of oure Lordes good + To lette yow fro synne." + + Now bi-gynneth Gloton + For to go to shrifte, + And karieth hym to kirke-warde + His coupe to shewe; + And Beton the brewestere + Bad hym good morwe, + And asked at hym with that, + Whider-ward he wolde. 3090 + + "To holy chirche," quod he, + "For to here masse, + And sithen I wole be shryven, + And synne na-moore." + + "I have good ale, gossib," quod she, + "Gloton, woltow assaye?" + + "Hastow ought in thi purs?" quod he, + "Any hote spices?" + + "I have pepir and piones," quod she, + "And a pound of garleek, 3100 + And a ferthyng-worth of fenel-seed + {96} + For fastynge dayes." + + Thanne goth Glotin in, + And grete othes after. + Cesse the souteresse + Sat on the benche; + Watte the warner, + And his wif bothe; + Tymme the tynkere, + And tweyne of his prentices; 3110 + Hikke the hakeney-man, + And Hughe the nedlere; + Clarice of Cokkeslane, + And the clerk of the chirche; + Dawe the dykere, + And a dozeyne othere. + + Sire Piers of Pridie, + And Pernele of Flaundres; + A ribibour, a ratoner, + A rakiere of Chepe, 3120 + A ropere, a redyng-kyng, + And Rose the dyssheres; + Godefray of Garlekhithe, + And Griffyn the Walshe; + And upholderes an heep, + Erly by the morwe, + Geve Gloton with glad chere + Good ale to hanselle. + + Clement the Cobelere + Caste of his cloke, 3130 + And at the newe feire + He nempned it to selle, + + Hikke the hakeney-man + Hitte his hood after, + And bad Bette the bocher + {97} + Ben on his syde. + + Ther were chapmen y-chose + This chaffare to preise, + That who so hadde the hood + Sholde han amendes of the cloke. 3140 + + Two risen up in rape, + And rouned togideres, + And preised thise peny-worthes + A-part by hemselve; + Thei kouthe noght by hir conscience + Acorden in truthe, + Til Robyn the ropere + Aroos by the southe, + And nempned hym for a nounpere, + That no debat nere. 3150 + + Hikke the hostiler + Hadde the cloke, + In covenaunt that Clement + Sholde the cuppe fille, + And have Hikkes hood hostiler, + And holden hym y-served. + And who so repented rathest + Sholde aryse after, + And greten sire Gloton + With a galon ale. 3160 + + There was laughynge and lourynge, + And "lat go the cuppe;" + And seten so till even-song, + And songen umwhile, + Til Gloton hadde y-glubbed + A galon and a gille. + Hise guttes bigonne to gothelen + As two gredy sowes; + He pissed a potel + {98} + In a pater-noster while, 3170 + And blew his rounde ruwet + At his rugge-bones ende, + That alle that herde that horn + Held hir noses after, + And wisshed it hadde been wexed + With a wispe of firses. + + He myghte neither steppe ne stonde, + Er he his staf hadde; + And thanne gan he to go + Like a gle-mannes bicche, 3180 + Som tyme aside, + And som tyme arere, + As who so leith lynes + For to lacche foweles. + + And whan he drough to the dore, + Thanne dymmed his eighen; + He stumbled on the thresshfold, + And threw to the erthe. + Clement the cobelere + Kaughte hym by the myddel, 3190 + For to liften hym o-lofte; + And leyde hym on his knowes. + Ac Gloton was a gret cherl, + And a grym in the liftyng, + And koughed up a cawdel + In Clementes lappe; + Is noon so hungry hound + In Hertford shire + Dorste lape of that levynges, + So un-lovely thei smaughte. 3200 + + With al the wo of this world, + His wif and his wenche + Baren hym hom to his bed, + {99} + And broughte hym therinne; + And after al this excesse + He hadde an accidie, + That he sleep Saterday and Sonday, + Til sonne yede to reste. + + Thanne waked he of his wynkyng, + And wiped hise eighen; 3210 + The firste word that he warpe + Was "where is the bolle?" + His wif gan edwyte hym tho, + How wikkedly he lyvede; + And Repentaunce right so + Rebuked hym that tyme, + "As thow with wordes and werkes + Has wroght yvele in thi lyve, + Shryve thee, and be shamed therof, + And shewe it with thi mouthe." 3220 + + "I Gloton," quod the grom, + "Gilty me yelde, + That I have trespased with my tonge, + I kan noght telle how ofte; + Sworen Goddes soule, + And so me God helpe! + There no nede was, + Nyne hundred tymes. + + "And over-seyen me at my soper, + And som tyme at nones, 3230 + That I Gloton girte it up + Er I hadde gon a myle, + An y-spilt that myghte be spared + And spended on som hungry; + Over delicatly on fastyng-dayes + Dronken and eten bothe, + And sat som tyme so longe there, + {100} + That I sleep and eet at ones. + For love of tales in tavernes + And for drynke, the moore I dyned; 3240 + And hyed to the mete er noon, + Whan fastyng-days were." + + "This shewynge shrift," quod Repentaunce, + "Shal be meryt to the." + + And thanne gan Gloton greete, + And gret doel to make, + For his luther lif + That he lyved hadde; + And avowed to faste, + "For hunger or for thurste, 3250 + Shal nevere fyssh on Fryday + Defyen in my wombe, + Til abstinence myn aunte + Have gyve me leeve; + And yet have I hated hire + Al my lif tyme." + + Thanne cam Sleuthe al bi-slabered, + With two slymy eighen; + "I moste sitte," seide the segge, + "Or ellis sholde I nappe. 3260 + I may noght stonde ne stoupe, + Ne withoute a stool knele; + Were I brought a-bedde, + But if my tail-ende it made, + Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse + Er I were ripe to dyne." + He bigan Benedicite with a bolk, + And his brest knokked, + And raxed and rored, + And rutte at the laste. 3270 + {101} + + "What, awake, renk!" quod Repentaunce, + "And rape thee to shryfte." + + "If I sholde deye bi this day, + Me list nought to loke; + I kan noght parfitly my pater-noster, + As the preest it syngeth; + But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood, + And Randolf erl of Chestre; + Ac neither of oure Lord ne of oure Lady + The leeste that evere was maked. 3280 + + "I have maad avowes fourty, + And foryete hem on the morwe; + I perfournede nevere penaunce + As the preest me highte; + Ne right sory for my synnes + Yet was I nevere. + And if I bidde any bedes, + But if it be in wrathe, + That I telle with my tonge + Is two myle fro myn herte. 3290 + I am ocupied eche day, + Haly-day and oother, + With ydel tales at the ale, + And outher while at chirche; + Goddes peyne and his passion + Ful selde thenke I on it. + + "I visited nevere feble men, + Ne fettred folk in puttes; + I have levere here an harlotrye, + Or a somer game of souters, 3300 + Or lesynge to laughen at + And bi-lye my neghebores, + Than al that evere Marc made, + {102} + Mathew, Johan, and Lucas. + And vigilies and fastyng-dayes, + Alle thise late I passe; + And ligge a-bedde in Lenten, + And my lemman in myne armes, + Til matyns and masse be do, + And thanne go to the freres. 3310 + Come I to _Ite, missa est_, + I holde me y-served; + I nam noght shryven som tyme, + But if siknesse it make, + Nought twyes in two yer, + And thanne up gesse I shryve me. + + "I have be preest and parson + Passynge thritty wynter, + And yet can I neyther solne ne synge, + Ne seintes lyves rede; 3320 + But I kan fynden in a feld, + Or in a furlang, an hare, + Bettre than in _Beatus vir, + Or in Beati omnes_, + Construe oon clause wel + And kenne it to my parisshens. + I kan holde love-dayes, + And here a reves rekenyng; + Ac in canon nor in decretals + I kan noght rede a lyne. 3330 + + "If I bigge and borwe aught, + But if it be y-tailed, + I foryete it as yerne; + And if men me it axe + Sixe sithes or sevene, + I forsake it with othes; + And thus tene I trewe men + {103} + Ten hundred tymes. + + "And my servauntz som tyme + Hir salarie is bi-hynde; 3340 + Ruthe it is to here the rekenyng, + Whan we shul rede acountes. + So with wikked wil and wrathe, + My werkmen I paye. + + "If any man dooth me a bienfait, + Or helpeth me at nede, + I am unkynde ayeins curteisie, + And kan nought understounden it; + For I have and have had + Som del haukes maneres, 3350 + I am noght lured with love, + But ther ligge aught under the thombe. + + "The kyndenesse that myn even cristene + Kidde me fernyere, + Sixty sithes I Sleuthe + Have foryete it siththe. + In speche and in sparynge of speche + Y-spilt many a tyme + Bothe flessh and fissh, + And manye othere vitailles, 3360 + Both bred and ale, + Buttre, melk, and chese, + For-sleuthed in my service + Til it myghte serve no man. + + "I ran aboute in youthe, + And yaf me naught to lerne, + And evere siththe have I be beggere + For my foule sleuthe. + _Heu michi! quia sterilem vitam duxi + juvenilem._" 3370 + + "Repentedestow noght?" quod Repentaunce; + {104} + And right with that he swowned, + Til _Vigilate_ the veille + Fette water at hise eighen, + And flatte it on his face, + And faste on hym cryde, + And seide, "Ware thee, for Wanhope + Wolde thee bi-traye, + 'I am sory for my synnes' + Seye to thiselve, 3380 + And beet thiself on the brest, + And bidde hym of grace; + For is ne gilt here so gret + That his goodnesse nys moore." + + Thanne sat Sleuthe up, + And seyned hym swithe, + And made a vow to-fore God + For his foule sleuthe. + "Shal no Sonday be this seven yer, + But siknesse it lette, 3390 + That I ne shal do me er day + To the deere chirche; + And here matyns and masse, + As I a monk were, + Shal noon ale after mete + Holde me thennes, + Til I have even-song herd, + I bi-hote to the roode! + And yet wole I yelde ayein, + If I so much have, 3400 + Al that I wikkedly wan + Sithen I wit hadde. + + "And though my liflode lakke, + Leten I nelle, + That ech man ne shal have his, + {105} + Er I hennes wende; + And with the residue and the remenaunt, + Bi the Rode of Chestre! + I shal seken Truthe erst + Er I se Rome." 3410 + + Roberd the robbere + On _Reddite_ loked, + And for ther was noght wherof, + He wepte swithe soore; + Ac yet the synfulle sherewe + Seide to hymselve, + "Crist, that on Calvarie + Upon the cros deidest, + Tho Dysmas my brother + Bi-soughte yow of grace, 3420 + And haddest mercy on that man + For _memento_ sake, + So rewe on this robbere + That _reddere_ ne have, + Ne nevere wene to wynne + With craft that I owe; + But for thi muchel mercy + Mitigacion I bi-seche, + Ne dampne me noght at domes-day + For that I dide so ille." 3430 + + What bi-fel of this feloun + I kan noght faire shewe; + Wel I woot he wepte faste + Water with bothe hise eighen, + And knoweliched his gilt + To Crist yet eft soones, + That _Poenetentia_ his pik + He sholde polshe newe, + And lepe with hym over lond + {106} + Al his lif tyme, 3440 + For he hadde leyen by _Latro_ + Luciferis aunte. + + And thanne hadde Repentaunce ruthe, + And redde hem alle to knele; + "For I shal bi-seche for alle synfulle + Our Saveour of grace, + To amenden us of oure mysdedes, + And do mercy to us alle." + + "Now God," quod he, "that of thi goodnesse + Bi-gonne the world to make, 3450 + And of naught madest aught, and man + Moost lik to thiselve, + And sithen suffredest for to synne, + A siknesse to us alle, + And al for the beste, as I bi-leve, + What evere the book telleth. + _O felix culpa! O necessarium peccatum Adæ! etc._ = + + "For thorugh that synne thi sone + Sent was to this erthe, 3460 + And bicam man of a maide, + Mankynde to save: + And madest thiself with thi sone + And us synfulle y-liche + _Faciamus hominem ad imaginem + nostram. Et alibi. Qui manet + in caritate, in Deo manet, et + Deus in eo._ + + "And siththe with thi selve sone + In oure secte deidest, 3470 + On Good-Fryday, for mannes sake, + At ful tyme of the daye, + {107} + Ther thiself ne thi sone + No sorwe in deeth feledest, + But in oure secte was the sorwe, + And thi sone it ladde. + _Captivam duxit captivitatem._ + + "The sonne for sorwe therof + Lees light of a tyme, + Aboute mydday whan moost light is, 3480 + And meel-tyme of seintes, + Feddest with thi fresshe blood + Oure fore-fadres in derknesse. + _Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, + vidit lucem magnam._ + + "And thorugh the light that lepe out of thee + Lucifer was blent. + And blewe alle thi blessed + Into the blisse of paradys. + + "The thridde day after 3490 + Thow yedest in oure sute, + A synful Marie the seigh, + Er seynte Marie thi dame; + And al to solace synfulle + Thow suffredest it so were. + _Non veni vocare justos sed peccatores + ad poenitentiam._ + + "And al that Marc hath y-maad, + Mathew, Johan, and Lucas, + Of thyne doughty dedes 3500 + Was doon in oure armes. + _Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis._ = + + "And by so muche me semeth + The sikerer we mowe + Bidde and bi-seche, + {108} + If it be thi wille, + That art oure fader and oure brother, + Be merciable to us, + And have ruthe on thise ribaudes 3510 + That repenten hem here soore, + That evere thei wrathed thee in this world, + In word, thought, or dedes." + + Thanne hent Hope an horn + Of _Deus, tu conversus vivificabis_, + And blew it with _Beati quorum + Remissæ sunt iniquitates_, + That alle seintes in hevene + Songen at ones. + _Homines et jumenta salvabis, quemadmodum 3520 + multiplicasti misericordiam tuam._ = + + A thousand of men tho + Thrungen togideres, + Cride upward to Crist, + And to his clene moder, + To have grace to go with hem + Truthe to seke. + + Ac there was wight noon so wys + The wey thider kouthe, 3530 + But blustreden forth as beestes + Over bankes and hilles; + Til late was and longe + That thei a leode mette, + Apparailled as a paynym + In pilgrymes wise. + He bar a burdoun y-bounde + With a brood liste, + In a withwynde wise + Y-wounden aboute; 3540 + {109} + A bolle and a bagge + He bar by his syde, + And hundred of ampulles + On his hat seten, + Signes of Synay, + And shelles of Galice, + And many a crouche on his cloke, + And keyes of Rome, + And the vernycle bi-fore, + For men sholde knowe 3550 + And se bi hise signes + Whom he sought hadde. + + This folk frayned hym first, + Fro whennes he come. + + "Fram Syny," he seide, + "And fram oure Lordes sepulcre; + In Bethlem and in Babiloyne, + I have ben in bothe; + In Armonye and Alisaundre, + In manye othere places. 3560 + Ye may se by my signes, + That sitten on myn hatte, + That I have walked ful wide + In weet and in drye, + And sought goode seintes + For my soules helthe." + + "Knowestow aught a corsaint, + That men calle Truthe? + Koudestow aught wissen us the wey, + Wher that wye dwelleth?" 3570 + + "Nay, so me God helpe!" + Seide the gome thanne, + "I seigh nevere palmere, + With pyk ne with scrippe, + {110} + Asken after hym er + Til now in this place." + + "Peter!" quod a plowman, + And putte forth his hed, + "I knowe hym as kyndely + As clerk doth hise bokes; 3580 + Conscience and kynde wit + Kenned me to his place, + And diden me suren hym sikerly + To serven hym for evere, + Bothe to sowe and to sette, + The while I swynke myghte. + I have ben his folwere + Al this fifty wynter, + Bothe y-sowen his seed, + And suwed hise beestes, 3590 + Withinne and withouten + Waited his profit. + I dyke and I delve, + I do that Truthe hoteth; + Som tyme I sowe, + And som tyme I thresshe; + In taillours craft and tynkeris craft, + What Truthe kan devyse, + I weve and I wynde, + And do what Truthe hoteth, 3600 + For though I seye it myselfe, + I serve hym to paye; + I have myn hire wel, + And outher whiles moore. + He is the presteste paiere + That povere men knoweth; + He ne withhalt noon hewe his hire, + That he ne hath it at even; + {111} + He is as lowe as a lomb, + And lovelich of speche; 3610 + And if ye wilneth to wite + Where that he dwelleth, + I shal wisse you witterly + The wey to his place." + + "Ye, leve Piers," quod thise pilgrimes, + And profred hym huyre, + For to wende with hem + To Truthes dwellyng-place. + + "Nay, by my soules helpe!" quod Piers, + And gan for to swere, 3620 + "I nolde fange a ferthyng. + For seint Thomas shryne; + Truthe wolde love me the lasse + A long tyme therafter; + Ac if yow wilneth to wende wel, + This is the wey thider. + + "Ye moten go thorugh Mekenesse, + Both men and wyves, + Til ye come into Conscience, + That Crist wite the sothe 3630 + That ye loven oure Lord God + Levest of alle thynges, + And thanne youre neghebores next + In none wise apeire, + Other wise than thow woldest + He wroughte to thiselve. + + "And so boweth forth by a brook, + Beth-buxom-of-speche, + Til he fynden a ford, + Youre-fadres-honoureth, 3640 + _Honora patrem et matrem, etc._ + Wadeth in that water, + {112} + And wasshe yow wel therinne, + And ye shul lepe the lightloker + Al youre lif tyme; + And so shaltow se Swere-noght,- + But-if-it-be-for-nede,- + And-nameliche-on-ydel- + The-name-of-God-almyghty. + + "Thanne shaltow come by a croft, 3650 + But come thow noght therinne; + That croft hatte Coveite-noght- + Mennes-catel-ne-hire-wyves,- + Ne-noon-of-hire-servauntz- + That-noyen-hem-myghte; + Loke ye breke no bowes there, + But if it be youre owene. + + "Two stokkes ther stondeth, + Ac stynte ye noght there, + Thei highte Stele-noght and Sle-noght, 3660 + Strik forth by bothe, + And leve hem on thi lift half, + And loke noght therafter, + And hold wel thyn hali-day + Heighe til even. + + "Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh, + Bere-no-fals-witnesse, + He is frythed in with floryns + And othere fees manye; + Loke thow plukke no plaunte there, 3670 + For peril of thi soule; + Thanne shul ye see Seye-sooth,- + So-it-be-to-doone,- + In-good-manere,-ellis-noght- + For-no-mannes-biddyng. + + "Thanne shaltow come to a court + {113} + As cler as the sonne; + The moot is of Mercy + The manoir aboute, + And alle the walles ben of Wit, 3680 + To holden Wil oute, + And kerneled wit Cristendom, + Mankynde to save, + Botrased with Bileef-so,- + Or-thow-beest-noght-saved. + + "And alle the houses ben hiled, + Halles and chambres, + With no leed but with love, + And lowe speche as bretheren; + The brugg is of Bidde-wel,- 3690 + The-bet-may-thow-spede; + Ech piler is of penaunce, + Of preieres to seyntes; + Of almes-dedes are the hokes + That the gates hangen on. + + "Grace hatte the gatewarde, + A good man for sothe; + His man hatte Amende-yow, + For many men hym knoweth; + Telleth hym this tokene, 3700 + That Truthe wite the sothe; + 'I perfourned the penaunce + That the preest me enjoyned, + And am ful sory for my synnes, + And so I shal evere, + Whan I thynke theron, + Theigh I were a pope.' + + "Biddeth Amende-yow meke hym + Til his maister ones, + To wayven up the wiket 3710 + {114} + That the womman shette, + Tho Adam and Eve + Eten apples un-rosted. + _Per Evam cunctis clausa est, et per + Mariam virginem patefacta est._ + + "For he hath the keye and the cliket, + Though the kyng slepe. + And if grace graunte thee + To go in this wise, + Thow shalt see in thiselve 3720 + Truthe in thyn herte, + In a cheyne of charité + As thow a child were, + To suffren hym and segge noght + Ayein thi sires wille. + + "And be war thanne of Wrathe-thee, + That is a wikked sherewe; + He hath envye to hym + That in thyn herte sitteth, + And poketh forth pride 3730 + To preise thiselven. + The boldnesse of thi bienfetes + Maketh thee blynd thanne; + And thanne worstow dryven out as dew, + And the dore closed, + Keyed and cliketted, + To kepe thee withouten; + Happily an hundred wynter + Er thow eft entre. + Thus myghtestow lesen his love, 3740 + To lete wel by thiselve, + And nevere happily eft entre, + But grace thow have. + + "And ther are seven sustren + {115} + That serven Truthe evere, + And arn porters of the posternes + That to the place longeth. + + "That oon hatte Abstinence, + And Humilité another; + Charité and Chastité 3750 + Ben hise chief maydenes; + Pacience and Pees + Muche peple thei helpeth; + Largenesse the lady, + She let in ful manye, + Heo hath holpe a thousand out + Of the develes punfolde; + And who is sib to thise sevene, + So me God helpe! + He is wonderly welcome, 3760 + And faire underfongen. + And but if ye be sibbe + To some of thise sevene, + It is ful hard, by myn heed!" quod Piers, + "For any of yow alle + To geten in-going at any gate there, + But grace be the moore." + + "Now by Crist!" quod a kutte-purs + "I have no kyn there." + "Nor I," quod an ape-ward, 3770 + "By aught that I kan knowe." + "Wite God!" quod a wafrestere, + "Wiste I this for sothe, + Sholde I nevere ferther a foot, + For no freres prechyng." + + "Yis," quod Piers the Plowman, + And poked hem alle to goode, + "Mercy is a maiden there + {116} + Hath myght over alle; + And she is sib to alle synfulle, 3780 + And hire sone also, + And thorugh the help of hem two + Hope thow noon oother, + Thow myght gete grace there, + So thow go bi-tyme." + + "Bi seint Poul!" quod a pardoner, + "Peraventure I be noght knowe there; + I wol go fecche my box with my brevettes, + And a bulle with bisshopes lettres." + + "By Crist!" quod a commune womman, + "Thi compaignie wol I folwe; + Thow shalt seye I am thi suster, + I ne woot where thei bicome." 3793 + + * * * * * + +{117} + + _Passus Sextus de Visione, ut supra._ + + "This were a wikkede wey, 3794 + But who so hadde a gyde, + That wolde folwen us ech a foot;" + Thus this folke hem mened. + + Quod Perkyn the Plowman, + "By seint Peter of Rome! + I have an half acre to erie 3800 + By the heighe weye; + Hadde I eryed this half acre, + And sowen it after, + I wolde wende with yow, + And the wey teche." + + "This were a long lettyng," + Quod a lady in scleyre, + "What sholde we wommen + Werche the while?" + + "Somme shul sowe the sak," quod Piers, 3810 + "For shedyng of the whete; + And ye, lovely ladies, + With youre longe fyngres, + That ye have silk and sandel + To sowe, whan tyme is; + Chesibles for chapeleyns, + Chirches to honoure. + {118} + + "Wyves and widewes, + Wolle and flex spynneth; + Maketh cloth, I counseille yow, 3820 + And kenneth so youre doughtres; + The nedy and the naked, + Nymeth hede how thei liggeth, + And casteth hem clothes, + For so comaundeth Truthe. + For I shal leven hem liflode, + But if the lond faille, + Flesshe and breed bothe + To riche and to poore, + As long as I lyve, 3830 + For the Lordes love of hevene; + And alle manere of men + That thorugh mete and drynke libbeth, + Helpeth hym to werche wightliche, + That wynneth youre foode." + + "By Crist!" quod a knyght thoo, + "He kenneth us the beste; + Ac on the teme, trewely, + Taught was I nevere; + But kenne me," quod the knyght, 3840 + "And by Crist I wole assaye!" + + "By seint Poul!" quod Perkyn, + "Ye profre yow so faire, + That I shal swynke and swete, + And sowe for us bothe, + And othere labours do for thi love + Al my lif tyme, + In covenaunt that thow kepe + Holy kirke and myselve + Fro wastours and fro wikked men 3850 + That this world destruyeth. + {119} + And go hunte hardiliche + To hares and to foxes, + To bores and to brokkes + That breken doun myne hegges; + And so affaite thi faucons + Wilde foweles to kille; + For swiche cometh to my croft, + And croppeth my whete." + + Curteisly the knyght thanne 3860 + Comsed thise wordes; + "By my power, Piers!" quod he, + "I plighte thee my trouthe, + To fulfille this forwarde, + Though I fighte sholde; + Als longe as I lyve + I shal thee mayntene." + + "Ye, and yet a point," quod Piers, + "I preye yow of moore, + Loke ye tene no tenaunt, 3870 + But Truthe wole assente; + And though ye mowe amercy hem, + Lat mercy be taxour, + And mekenesse thi maister, + Maugree Medes chekes. + And though povere men profre yow + Presentes and giftes, + Nyme it noght, an aventure + Ye mowe it noght deserve; + For thow shalt yelde it ayein 3880 + At one yeres tyme, + In a ful perilous place, + Purgatorie it hatte. + + "And mys-bede noght thi bonde-men, + The bettre may thow spede; + {120} + Though he be thyn underlyng here, + Wel may happe in hevene + That he worth worthier set, + And with moore blisse. + _Amice, ascende superius._ 3890 + For in charnel at chirche + Cherles ben yvel to knowe, + Or a knyght from a knave there, + Knowe this in thyn herte. + And that thow be trewe of thi tonge, + And tales that thow hatie, + But if thei ben of wisdom or of wit + Thi werkmen to chaste. + Hold with none harlotes, + Ne here noght hir tales, 3900 + And namely at the mete + Swiche men eschuwe; + For it ben the develes disours, + I do the to understonde." + + "I assente, by seint Jame!" + Seide the knyght thanne, + "For to werche by thi wordes + The while my lif dureth." + + "And I shal apparaille me," quod Perkyn, + "In pilgrymes wise, 3910 + And wende with yow I wile, + Til we fynde Truthe; + And caste on my clothes + Y-clouted and hole, + My cokeres and my coffes, + For cold of my nailes; + And hange myn hoper at myn hals + In stede of a scryppe. + A busshel of bred corn + {121} + Brynge me therinne; 3920 + For I wol sowe it myself, + And sithenes wol I wende + To pilgrymage, as palmeres doon, + Pardon for to have. + And who so helpeth me to erie + And sowen here er I wende, + Shal have leve, by oure Lorde! + To lese here in hervest, + And make hem murie thermyd, + Maugree who so bi-gruccheth it. 3930 + And alle kynne crafty-men, + That konne lyven in truthe, + I shal fynden hem fode, + That feithfulliche libbeth. + + "Save Jagge the jogelour, + And Jonette of the stuwes, + And Danyel the dees-pleyere, + And Denote the baude, + And frere the faitour, + And folk of hire ordre, 3940 + And Robyn the ribaudour + For hise rusty wordes. + Truthe tolde me ones, + And bad me telle it after, + _Deleantur de libro viventium_, + I sholde noght dele with hem, + For holy chirche is hote of hem + No tithe to take; + _Qui cum justis non scribantur_; + They ben ascaped good aventure, 3950 + God hem amende!" + + Dame Werch-whan-tyme-is + Piers wif highte; + {122} + His doughter highte Do-right-so,- + Or-thi-dame-shal-thee-bete; + His sone highte Suffre-thi-sovereyns- + To-haven-hir-wille,- + Deme-hem-noght,-for-if-thow-doost,- + Thow-shalt-it-deere-abugge. + Lat God y-worthe with al, 3960 + For so his word techeth; + For now I am old and hoor, + And have of myn owene, + To penaunce and to pilgrimage + I wol passe with thise othere. + + "For-thi I wole er I wende + Do write my biqueste, + _In Dei nomine, Amen_, + I make it myselve; + He shal have my soule, 3970 + That best hath deserved it; + And fro the fend it defende, + For so I bileve, + Til I come to hise acountes, + As my Credo me telleth, + To have a relees and a remission, + On that rental I leve. + + "The kirke shal have my caroyne, + And kepe my bones; + For of my corn and catel 3980 + She craved the tithe; + I paide it ful prestly, + For peril of my soule. + For-thi is he holden I hope + To have me in his masse, + And mengen in his memorie + Amonges alle cristene. + {123} + + "My wif shal have of that I wan + With truthe, and na-moore, + And dele among my doughtres, 3990 + And my deere children; + For though I deye to day, + My dettes are quyte; + I bar hom that I borwed, + Er I to bedde yede. + + "And with the residue and the remenaunt, + By the Rode of Lukes! + I wol worshipe therwith + Truthe by my lyve, + And ben his pilgrym atte plow, 4000 + For povere mennes sake. + My plow-foot shall be my pikstaf, + And picche a-two the rotes, + And helpe my cultour to kerve + And clense the furwes." + + Now is Perkyn and hise pilgrimes + To the plow faren; + To erie his half acre + Holpen hym manye; + Dikeres and delveres 4010 + Digged up the balkes. + Therwith was Perkyn a-payed, + And preised hem faste. + + Othere werkmen ther were + That wroghten ful yerne; + Ech man in his manere + Made hymself to doone, + And somme to plese Perkyn + Piked up the wedes. + + At heigh prime Piers 4020 + Leet the plowgh stonde, + {124} + To over-sen hem hymself, + And who so best wroghte + He sholde be hired therafter, + Whan hervest tyme come. + + And thanne seten somme, + And songen atte nale, + And holpen ere this half acre + With "How, trolly lolly." + + "Now, by the peril of my soule!" quod Piers, 4030 + All in pure tene, + "But ye arise the rather + And rape yow to werche, + Shal no greyn that groweth + Glade yow at nede, + And though ye deye for doel, + The devel have that reccheth." + + Tho were faitours a-fered, + And feyned hem blynde; + Somme leide hir legges a-liry, 4040 + As swiche losels konneth, + And made hir mone to Piers, + And preide hym of grace; + "For we have no lymes to laboure with, + Lord, y-graced be the; + Ac we preie for yow, Piers, + And for youre plowgh bothe, + That God of his grace + Youre greyn multiplie, + And yelde yow for youre almesse 4050 + That ye gyve us here; + For we may noght swynke ne swete, + Swich siknesse us eyleth." + + "If it be sooth," quod Piers, "that ye seyn, + I shal it soone aspie. + {125} + Ye ben wastours, I woot wel, + And Truthe woot the sothe; + And I am his olde hyne, + And highte hym to warne, + Whiche thei were in this world 4060 + Hise werkmen apeired. + Ye wasten that men wynnen + With travaille and with tene; + Ac Truthe shal teche yow + His teme to dryve, + Or ye shul eten barley breed, + And of the broke drynke. + + "But if he be blynd or broke-legged, + Or bolted with irens, + He shall ete whete breed, 4070 + And drynke with myselve, + Til God of his goodnesse + Amendement hym sende. + Ac ye myghte travaille, as Truthe wolde, + And take mete and hyre, + To kepe kyen in the feld, + The corn fro the beestes, + Diken or delven, + Or dyngen upon sheves, + Or helpe make morter, 4080 + Or bere muk a-feld. + + "In lecherie and in losengerie + Ye lyven, and in sleuthe; + And al is thorugh suffraunce, + That vengeaunce yow ne taketh. + + "Ac ancres and heremites + That eten noght but at nones, + And na-moore er the morwe, + Myn almesse shul thei have, + {126} + And of catel to kepe hem with, 4090 + That han cloistres and chirches. + + "Ac Robert Renaboute + Shal noght have of myne, + Ne postles, but thei preche konne + And have power of the bisshope; + Thei shul have payn and potage, + And make hemself at ese, + For it is an unreasonable religion + That hath right noght of certein." + + And thanne gan Wastour to wrathen hym, 4100 + And wolde have y-foughte; + And to Piers the Plowman + He profrede his glove; + A bretoner, a braggere, + A-bosted Piers als, + And bad hym go pissen with his plowgh, + "For-pynede sherewe! + Wiltow or neltow, + We wol have oure wille + Of thi flour and of thi flesshe, 4110 + Fecche whanne us liketh; + And maken us murye thermyde, + Maugree thi chekes." + + Thanne Piers the Plowman + Pleyned hym to the knyghte, + To kepen hym as covenaunt was + Fro cursede sherewes, + And fro thise wastours wolves-kynnes + That maketh the world deere; + "For tho wasten and wynnen noght, 4120 + And that ilke while + Worth nevere plentee among the peple, + {127} + The while my plowgh liggeth." + + Curteisly the knyght thanne, + As his kynde wolde, + Warnede Wastour, + And wissed hym bettre, + "Or thow shalt abigge by the lawe, + By the ordre that I bere!" + + "I was noght wont to werche," quod Wastour, 4130 + "And now wol I noght bigynne;" + And leet light of the lawe, + And lasse of the knyghte; + And sette Piers at a pese, + And his plowgh bothe; + And manaced Piers and his men, + If thei mette eft soone. + + "Now, by the peril of my soule!" quod Piers, + "I shal apeire yow alle;" + And houped after Hunger, 4140 + That herde hym at the firste, + "A-wreke me of thise wastours," quod he, + "That this world shendeth." + + Hunger in haste thoo + Hente Wastour by the wombe, + And wrong him so by the wombe, + That bothe hise eighen watrede. + + He buffeted the bretoner + Aboute the chekes, + That he loked lik a lanterne 4150 + Al his lif after. + He bette hem so bothe, + He brast ner hire guttes; + Ne hadde Piers with a pese loof + {128} + Preyed Hunger to cesse, + They hadde be dolven, + Ne deme thow noon oother. + + "Suffre hem lyve," he seide, + "And lat hem ete with hogges, + Or ellis benes or bren 4160 + Y-baken togideres, + Or ellis melk and mene ale;" + Thus preied Piers for hem. + + Faitours for fere herof + Flowen into bernes, + And flapten on with flailes + Fro morwe til even; + That Hunger was noght so hardy + On hem for to loke, + For a potful of peses 4170 + That Piers hadde y-maked. + + An heep of heremytes + Henten hem spades, + And kitten hir copes, + And courtepies hem maked, + And wente as werkmen + With spades and with shoveles + And dolven and dikeden, + To dryve awey hunger. + + Blynde and bed-reden 4180 + Were bootned a thousande, + That seten to begge silver, + Soone were thei heeled; + For that was bake for bayarde, + Was boote for many hungry; + And many a beggere for benes + Buxum was to swynke; + And eche a povere man wel a-paied + {129} + To have pesen for his hyre, + And what Piers preide hem to do, 4190 + As prest as a sperhauk; + And therof was Piers proud, + And putte hem to werke, + And yaf hem mete as he myghte aforthe, + And mesurable hyre. + + Thanne had Piers pité, + And preide Hunger to wende + Hoom unto his owene yerd, + And holden hym there; + "For I am wel a-wroke 4200 + Of wastours, thorugh thy myghte. + Ac I preie thee, er thow passe," + Quod Piers to Hunger, + "Of beggeris and of bidderis + What best be to doone. + For I woot wel, be thow went, + Thei wol werche ful ille; + For meschief it maketh + Thei be so meke nouthe, + And for defaute of hire foode 4210 + This folk is at my wille. + + "Thei are my blody bretheren," quod Piers, + "For God boughte us alle. + Truthe taughte me ones + To loven hem echone; + And to helpen hem of alle thyng + Ay as hem nedeth. + And now wolde I wite of thee + What were the beste; + And how I myghte a-maistren hem, 4220 + And make hem to werche." + {130} + + "Here now," quod Hunger, + "And hoold it for a wisdom; + Bolde beggeris and bigge + That mowe hir breed bi-swynke, + With houndes breed and horse breed + Hoold up hir hertes; + A-bate hem with benes, + For bollynge of hir wombes; + And if the gomes grucche, 4230 + Bidde hem go swynke, + And he shal soupe swetter + Whan he it hath deserved. + + "And if thow fynde any freke + That fortune hath apeired, + Or any manere false men, + Fonde thow swiche to knowe; + Conforte hym with thi catel, + For Cristes love of hevene; + Love hem and leve hem, 4240 + So lawe of God techeth, + _Alter alterius onera portare._ + + "And alle manere of men + That thow myght aspie, + That nedy ben and noughty, + Help hem with thi goodes; + Love hem and lakke hem noght, + Lat God take the vengeaunce; + Theigh thei doon yvele, + Lat God y-worthe. 4250 + _Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam._ + + "And if thow wilt be gracious to God, + Do as the gospel techeth, + And bi-love thee amonges lewed men, + So shaltow lacche grace; + {131} + _Facite vos amicos de Mammone iniquitatis._" = + + "I wolde noght greve God," quod Piers, + "For al the good on grounde. + Mighte I synne-lees do as thow seist?" 4260 + Seide Piers thanne. + + "Ye, I bi-hote thee," quod Hunger, + "Or ellis the Bible lieth; + Go to Genesis the geaunt, + The engendrour of us alle: + _In sudore_ and swynk + Thow shalt thi mete tilie, + And laboure for thi liflode, + And so oure Lorde highte. + And Sapience seith the same, 4270 + I seigh it in the Bible, + _Piger præ frigore_ + No feeld nolde tilie, + And therfore he shal begge and bidde, + And no man bete his hunger. + + "Mathew with mannes face + Mouthed thise wordes, + That _servus nequam_ hadde a mnam, + And for he wolde noght chaffare, + He hadde maugree of his maister 4280 + Evere moore after, + And by-nam hym his mnam, + For he ne wolde werche, + And yaf that mnam to hym + That ten mnames hadde; + And with that he seide, + That holy chirche it herde, + He that hath shal have + And helpe there it nedeth; + {132} + And he that noght hath shal noght have, 4290 + And no man hym helpe, + And that he weneth wel to have + I wole it hym bi-reve. + Kynde wit wolde + That ech a wight wroghte, + Or in dikynge or in delvynge, + Or travaillynge in preieres; + Contemplatif lif or actif lif + Crist wolde thei wroghte. + The Sauter seith in the Psalme 4300 + Of _Beati omnes_, + The freke that fedeth hymself + With his feithful labour, + He is blessed by the book + In body and in soule." + _Labores manuum tuarum, etc._ + + "Yet I preie yow," quod Piers, + "_Par charité_, and ye konne + Any leef of leche-craft, + Lere it me, my deere; 4310 + For some of my servauntz, + And myself bothe, + Of al a wike werche noght, + So oure wombe aketh." + + "I woot wel," quod Hunger, + "What siknesse yow eyleth; + Ye han manged over muche, + And that maketh yow grone. + Ac I hote thee," quod Hunger, + "As thow thyn hele wilnest, 4320 + That thow drynke no day + Er thow dyne som what. + Ete noght, I hote thee, + {133} + Er hunger thee take, + And sende thee of his sauce + To savore with thi lippes; + And keep som til soper-tyme, + And sitte noght to longe, + And rys up er appetit + Have eten his fille. 4330 + Lat noght sire Surfet + Sitten at thi borde. + Leve hym noght, for he is lecherous, + And likerous of tunge, + And after many maner metes + His mawe is a-fyngred. + + "And if thow diete thee thus, + I dar legge myne eris, + That Phisik shal hise furred hodes + For his fode selle, 4340 + And his cloke of Calabre, + With alle the knappes of golde, + And be fayn, by my feith! + His phisik to lete, + And lerne to laboure with lond, + For liflode is swete. + For murthereris are manye leches, + Lord hem amende! + They do men deye thorugh hir drynkes, + Er destynee it wolde." 4350 + "By seint Poul!" quod Piers, + "Thise arn profitable wordes! + Wend now, Hunger, whan thow wolt, + That wel be thow evere! + For this is a lovely lesson, + Lord it thee for-yelde!" + + "Bi-hote God!" quod Hunger, + {134} + "Hennes ne wole I wende, + Til I have dyned bi this day, + And y-dronke bothe." 4360 + + "I have no peny," quod Piers, + "Pulettes to bugge, + Ne neither gees ne grys, + But two grene cheses, + A fewe cruddes and creme, + And an haver cake, + And two loves of benes and bran + Y-bake for my fauntes; + And yet I seye, by my soule! + I have no salt bacon, 4370 + Ne no cokeney, by Crist! + Coloppes for to maken. + + "Ac I have percile and porettes, + And manye cole plauntes, + And ek a cow and a calf, + And a cart mare + To drawe a-feld my donge, + The while the droghte lasteth; + And by this liflode we mote lyve + Til Lammesse tyme. 4380 + And by that, I hope to have + Hervest in my crofte, + And thanne may I dighte thi dyner, + As me deere liketh." + + Al the povere peple tho + Pescoddes fetten, + Benes and baken apples + Thei broghte in hir lappes, + Chibolles and chervelles, + And ripe chiries manye, 4390 + And profrede Piers this present + {135} + To plese with Hunger. + + Al Hunger eet in haste, + And axed after moore. + Thanne povere folk, for fere, + Fedden Hunger yerne, + With grene poret and pesen, + To poisone hym thei thoghte. + By that it neghed neer hervest, + And newe corn cam to chepyng; 4400 + Thanne was folk fayn, + And fedde Hunger with the beste, + With goode ale, as Gloton taghte, + And garte Hunger go slepe. + + And tho wolde Wastour noght werche, + But wandren aboute, + Ne no beggere ete breed + That benes inne were, + But of coket and cler-matyn, + Or ellis of clene whete; 4410 + Ne noon halfpeny ale + In none wise drynke, + But of the beste and of the brunneste + That in burghe is to selle. + + Laborers that have no land + To lyve on but hire handes, + Deyned noght to dyne a day + Nyght-olde wortes; + May no peny ale hem paye, + Ne no pece of bacone, 4420 + But if it be fresshe flessh outher fisshe, + Fryed outher y-bake, + And that _chaud_ and _plus chaud_, + For chillynge of hir mawe; + And but if he be heighliche hyred; + {136} + Ellis wole he chide, + And that he was werkman wroght + Waille the tyme, + Ayeins Catons counseil + Comseth he to jangle. 4430 + _Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento._ = + + He greveth hym ageyn God, + And gruccheth ageyn Reson, + And thanne corseth he the kyng, + And al his counseil after, + Swiche lawes to loke + Laborers to greve. + Ac whiles Hunger was hir maister, + Ther wolde noon of hem chide, 4440 + Ne stryven ayeins his statut, + So sterneliche he loked. + + Ac I warne yow, werkmen, + Wynneth whil ye mowe, + For Hunger hiderward + Hasteth hym faste. + He shal a-wake with water + Wastours to chaste; + Er fyve be fulfilled, + Swich famyn shal a-ryse, 4450 + Thorugh flodes and thorugh foule wedres + Fruytes shul faille, + And so seide Saturne, + And sente yow to warne. + + Whan ye se the sonne a-mys, + And two monkes heddes, + And a mayde have the maistrie, + And multiplie by eighte, + Thanne shal deeth with-drawe, + {137} + And derthe be justice, 4460 + And Dawe the dykere + Deye for hunger; + But God of his goodnesse + Graunte us a trewe. 4464 + + * * * * * + +{138} + + _Passus Septimus de Visione, ut supra._ + + Treuthe herde telle her 4465 + And to Piers he sente, + To maken his teme + And tilien the erthe, + And purchaced hym a pardone + _A poena et a culpa_, 4470 + For hym and for hise heires, + For evere moore after, + And bad hym holde hym at home, + And erien hise leyes. + And alle that holpen hym to erye, + To sette or to sowe, + Or any oother mestier + That myghte Piers availle, + Pardon with Piers Plowman + Truthe hath y-graunted. 4480 + + Kynges and knyghtes, + That kepen holy chirche, + And rightfully in remes + Rulen the peple, + Han pardon thorugh purgatorie + To passen ful lightly, + With patriarkes and prophetes + In paradis to be felawe. + {139} + + Bysshopes y-blessed, + If thei ben as thei sholde, 4490 + Legistres of bothe lawes, + The lewed therwith to preche, + And in as muche as thei mowe + Amenden alle synfulle, + Arn peres with the Apostles, + This pardon Piers sheweth, + And at the day of dome + At the heighe deys sitte. + + Marchauntz in the margyne + Hadde manye yeres, 4500 + Ac noon _a poena et a culpa_ + The pope nolde hem graunte, + For thei holde noght hir hali-dayes + As holy chirche techeth, + And for thei swere by hir soule, + And so God moste hem helpe, + Ayein clene Conscience, + Hir catel to selle. + + Ac under his secret seel + Truthe sente hem a lettre, 4510 + That thei sholde buggen boldely + That hem best liked, + And sithenes selle it ayein, + And save the wynnyng, + And amende meson-dieux thermyd, + And mys-eise folk helpe, + And wikkede weyes + Wightly amende, + And do boote to brugges + That to-broke were, 4520 + Marien maydenes, + Or maken hem nonnes, + {140} + Povere peple and prisons + Fynden hem hir foode, + And sette scolers to scole, + Or to som othere craftes, + Releve religion, + And renten hem bettre; + "And I shal sende yow myselve + Seint Michel myn archangel, 4530 + That no devel shal yow dere, + Ne fere yow in youre deying, + And witen yow fro wanhope, + If ye wol thus werche, + And sende youre soules in saufté + To my seintes in joye." + + Thanne were marchauntz murie, + Manye wepten for joye, + And preiseden Piers the Plowman, + That purchaced this bulle. 4540 + + Men of lawe leest pardon hadde, + That pleteden for Mede; + For the Sauter saveth hem noght, + Swiche as take giftes, + And nameliche of innocentz + That noon yvel ne konneth. + _Super innocentem munera non accipies._ = + + Pledours sholde peynen hem + To plede for swiche and helpe; 4550 + Princes and prelates + Sholde paie for hire travaille. + _A regibus et principibus erit merces eorum._ = + + Ac many a justice and jurour + Wolde for Johan do moore + {141} + Than _pro Dei pietate_, + Leve thow noon oother. + + Ac he that spendeth his speche, + And speketh for the povere 4560 + That is innocent and nedy, + And no man apeireth, + Conforteth hym in that caas + Withouten coveitise of giftes, + And sheweth lawe for oure Lordes love, + As he it hath y-lerned, + Shal no devel at his deeth day + Deren hym a myte, + That he ne worth saaf and his soule, + The Sauter bereth witnesse: 4570 + _Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?_ = + + Ac to bugge water, ne wynd, + Ne wit, ne fir the ferthe, + Thise foure the fader of hevene + Made to this foold in commune. + Thise ben Truthes tresores + Trewe folk to helpe, + That nevere shul wexe ne wanye, + Withouten God hymselve. 4580 + + Whan thei drawen on to deye, + And indulgences wolde have, + Hir pardon is ful petit + At hir partyng hennes, + That any mede of mene men + For hir motyng taketh. + Ye legistres and lawieres, + Holdeth this for truthe, + That if that I lye, + Mathew is to blame, 4590 + {142} + For he bad me make yow this, + And this proverbe me tolde, + _Quodcunque vultis ut faciant vobis + homines, facite eis._ + + Alle libbynge laborers + That lyven with hir hondes, + That treweliche taken, + And treweliche wynnen, + And lyven in love and in lawe, + For hir lowe hertes 4600 + Haveth the same absolucion + That sent was to Piers. + + Beggeres ne bidderes + Ne beth noght in the bulle, + But if the suggestion be sooth + That shapeth hem to begge. + For he that beggeth or bit, + But if he have nede, + He is fals with the feend, + And defraudeth the nedy; 4610 + And also he bi-gileth the gyvere, + Ageynes his wille; + For if he wiste he were noght nedy, + He wolde gyve that another + That were moore nedy than he, + So the nedieste sholde be holpe. + Caton kenneth me thus, + And the clerc of stories; + _Cui des videto_, + Is Catons techyng. 4620 + + And in the stories he techeth + To bistowe thyn almesse. + _Sit elemosina tua in manu tua, + donec studes cui des._ + {143} + + Ac Gregory was a good man, + And bad us gyven alle + That asketh for his love + That us al leneth. + _Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte + prætereas illum qui meretur 4630 + accipere. Quia incertum est + pro quo Deo magis placeas._ + + For wite ye nevere who is worthi, + Ac God woot who hath nede; + In hym that taketh is the trecherie, + If any treson walke. + For he that yeveth, yeldeth, + And yarketh hym to reste; + And he that biddeth, borweth, + And bryngeth hymself in dette. 4640 + For beggeres borwen evere mo, + And hir borgh is God almyghty, + To yelden hem that yeveth hem, + And yet usure moore. + _Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam + ad mensam, ut ego veniam cum + usuris exigere?_ + + For-thi biddeth noght, ye beggeres, + But if ye have gret nede; + For who so hath to buggen hym breed, 4650 + The book bereth witnesse, + He hath y-nough that hath breed y-nough, + Though he have noght ellis. + _Satis dives est, qui non indiget pane._ + + Lat usage be youre solas, + Of seintes lyves redyng, + The book banneth beggerie, + {144} + And blameth hem in this manere: + _Junior fui, et jam senui, et non vidi + justum derelictum, nec semen 4660 + ejus, etc._ + + For ye lyve in no love, + Ne no lawe holde; + Manye of yow ne wedde noght + The womman that ye with deele, + But as wilde bestes with 'wehee!' + Worthen uppe and werchen, + And bryngen forth barnes, + That bastardes men calleth; + Or the bak or som boon 4670 + He breketh in his youthe, + And siththe goon faiten with youre fauntes + For evere moore after. + Ther is moore mys-shapen peple + Amonges thise beggeres, + Than of alle manere men + That on this moolde walketh. + And thei that lyve thus hir lif, + Mowe lothe the tyme + That evere thei were men wroght, 4680 + Whan thei shal hennes fare. + Ac olde men and hore, + Than help-lees ben of strengthe, + And wommen with childe + That werche ne mowe, + Blynde and bed-reden, + And broken hire membres, + That taken thise myschiefs mekeliche, + As mesels and othere, + Han as pleyn pardon 4690 + As the plowman hymselve. + {145} + For love of hir lowe hertes, + Oure Lord hath hem graunted + Hir penaunce and hir purgatorie + Here on this erthe. + + "Piers," quod a preest thoo, + "Thi pardon moste I rede; + For I wol construe ech clause, + And kenne it thee on Englisshe." + + And Piers at his preiere 4700 + The pardon unfoldeth; + And I by-hynde hem bothe + Biheld al the bulle, + And in two lynes it lay, + And noght a leef more, + And was writen right thus, + In witnesse of Truthe: + _Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam eternam. = + Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum._ 4710 + + "Peter," quod the preest thoo, + "I kan no pardon fynde, + But do wel and have wel, + And God shal have thi soule, + And do yvel and have yvel, + Hope thow noon oother, + But after thi deeth-day + The devel shal have thi soule." + And Piers for pure tene + Pulled it a-tweyne, 4720 + And seide _Si ambulavero in medio + umbræ mortis, non timebo mala, + quoniam tu mecum es._ + + "I shal cessen of my sowyng," quod Piers, = + {146} + "And swynke noght so harde, + Ne aboute my bely joye + So bisy be na-moore; + Of preieres and of penaunce + My plough shal ben herafter, 4730 + And wepen whan I sholde slepe, + Though whete-breed me faille. + + "The prophete his payn eet + In penaunce and in sorwe, + By that the Sauter seith, + So dide othere manye; + That loveth God lelly, + His liflode is ful esy. + _Fuerunt mihi lacrimæ meæ panes + die ac nocte._ 4740 + + "And but if Luc lye, + He lereth us by foweles, + We sholde noght be to bisy + Aboute the worldes blisse; + _Ne soliciti sitis_, + He seith in the Gospel, + And sheweth us by ensamples + Us selve to wisse. + The foweles in the feld, + Who fynt hem mete at wynter? 4750 + Have thei no gerner to go to, + But God fynt hem alle." + + "What!" quod the preest to Perkyn, + "Peter! as me thynketh, + Thow art lettred a litel:-- + Who lerned thee on boke?" + + "Abstynence the abbesse," quod Piers, + "Myn a.b.c. me taughte; + And Conscience cam afterward, + And kenned me muche moore." 4760 + {147} + + "Were thow a preest," quod he, + "Thou myghtest preche where thou sholdest, + As divinour in divinité, + With _Dixit insipiens_ to thi teme." + + "Lewed lorel!" quod Piers, + "Litel lokestow on the Bible; + On Salomons sawes + Selden thow biholdest: + _Ejice derisores et jurgia cum eis, ne + crescant, etc._" 4770 + + The preest and Perkyn + Opposeden either oother. + And I thorugh hir wordes a-wook, + And waited aboute, + And seigh the sonne in the south + Sitte that tyme, + Mete-lees and monei-lees + On Malverne hulles, + Musynge on this metels, + And my wey ich yede. 4780 + + Many tyme this metels + Hath maked me to studie + Of that I seigh slepynge, + If it so be myghte, + And also for Piers the Plowman + Ful pencif in herte, + And which a pardon Piers hadde + Al the peple to conforte, + And how the preest impugned it + With two propre wordes. 4790 + Ac I have no savour in songewarie, + For I se it ofte faille; + Caton and canonistres + Counseillen us to leve + {148} + To sette sadnesse in songewarie, + For _sompnia ne cures_. + + Ac for the book Bible + Bereth witnesse + How Daniel divined + The dreem of a kyng, 4800 + That was Nabugodonosor + Nempned of clerkes. + + Daniel seide, "Sire kyng, + Thi dremels bitokneth + That unkouthe knyghtes shul come + Thi kyngdom to cleyme; + Amonges lower lordes + Thi lond shal be departed." + And as Daniel divined, + In dede it fel after; 4810 + The kyng lees his lordshipe, + And lower men it hadde. + + And Joseph mette merveillously + How the moone and the sonne + And the ellevene sterres + Hailsed hym alle. + + Thanne Jacob jugged + Josephes swevene. + "Beau fitz," quod his fader, + "For defaute we shullen, 4820 + I myself and my sones, + Seche thee for nede." + + It bifel as his fader seide, + In Pharaoes tyme, + That Joseph was justice + Egipte to loke; + It bifel as his fader tolde, + Hise frendes there hym soughte, + And al this maketh me + {149} + On this metels to thynke. 4830 + And how the preest preved + No pardon to Do-wel, + And demed that Do-wel + Indulgences passed, + Biennals and triennals, + And bisshopes lettres; + And how Do-wel at the day of dome + Is digneliche underfongen, + And passeth al the pardon + Of seint Petres cherche. 4840 + + Now hath the pope power + Pardon to graunte the peple, + Withouten any penaunce + To passen into hevene; + This is oure bileve, + As lettred men us techeth: + _Quodcumque ligaveris super terram, + erit ligatum et in coelis, etc._ = + + And so I leve leelly, 4850 + Lordes forbode ellis! + That pardon and penaunce + And preieres doon save + Soules that have synned + Seven sithes dedly; + Ac to truste to thise triennals, + Trewely me thynketh, + Is noght so siker for the soule, + Certes, as is Do-wel. + + For-thi I rede yow, renkes, 4860 + That riche ben on this erthe, + Upon trust of youre tresor + Triennals to have, + Be ye never the bolder + {150} + To breake the .x. hestes; + And namely ye maistres, + Meires and jugges, + That have the welthe of this world + And for wise men ben holden, + To purchace yow pardon 4870 + And the popes bulles. + At the dredful dome, + Whan dede shulle rise, + And comen alle to-fore Crist + Acountes to yelde, + How thow laddest thi lif here, + And hise lawes keptest, + And how thow didest day by day, + The doom wole reherce. + A poke ful of pardon there, 4880 + Ne provincials lettres, + Theigh ye be founde in the fraternité + Of alle the foure ordres, + And have indulgences double-fold, + But if Do-wel yow helpe, + I sette youre patentes and youre pardon + At one pies hele. + + For-thi I counseille alle Cristene + To crie God mercy, + And Marie his moder 4890 + Be oure meene bitwene, + That God gyve us grace here, + Er we go hennes, + Swiche werkes to werche + While we ben here, + That after oure deeth-day + Do-wel reherce + At the day of dome, + We dide as he highte. 4899 + + * * * * * + +{151} + + _Passus Octavus de Visione, et incipit Do-wel._ + + Thus y-robed in russet 4900 + I romed aboute + Al a somer seson + For to seke Do-wel; + And frayned ful ofte + Of folk that I mette, + If any wight wiste + Wher Do-wel was at inne; + And what man he myghte be + Of many man I asked. + + Was nevere wight, as I wente, 4910 + That me wisse kouthe + Where this leode lenged, + Lasse ne moore; + Til it bi-fel on a Friday + Two freres I mette, + Maistres of the menours, + Men of grete witte. + I hailsed hem hendely, + As I hadde y-lerned, + And preide hem _par charité_, 4920 + Er thei passed ferther, + If thei knewe any contree + Or costes, as thei wente, + {152} + "Where that Do-wel dwelleth + Dooth me to witene." + For thei be men of this moolde + That moost wide walken, + And knowen contrees and courtes, + And many kynnes places, + Bothe princes paleises 4930 + And povere mennes cotes, + And Do-wel and Do-yvele + Wher thei dwelle bothe. + + "Amonges us," quod the Menours, + "That man is dwellynge, + And evere hath, as I hope, + And evere shal herafter." + + "_Contra_," quod I as a clerc, + And comsed to disputen, + And seide hem soothly, 4940 + "_Septies in die cadit justus._ + Sevene sithes, seith the book, + Synneth the rightfulle; + And who so synneth," I seide, + "Dooth yvele, as me thynketh; + And Do-wel and Do-yvele + Mowe noght dwelle togideres. + _Ergo_ he nys noght alwey + Amonges yow freres; + He is outher while ellis where 4950 + To wisse the peple." + + "I shal seye thee, my sone," + Seide the frere thanne, + "How seven sithes the sadde man + On a day synneth; + By a forbisne," quod the frere, + "I shal thee faire shewe. + {153} + Lat brynge a man in a boot + Amydde the brode watre, + The wynd and the water 4960 + And the boot waggyng + Maketh the man many a tyme + To falle and to stonde; + For stonde he never so stif, + He stumbleth if he meve, + Ac yet is he saaf and sound, + And so hym bihoveth. + For if he ne arise the rather, + And raughte to the steere, + The wynd wolde with the water 4970 + The boot over throwe; + And thanne were his lif lost, + Through lachesse of hymselve. + + "And thus it falleth," quod the frere, + "By folk here on erthe; + The water is likned to the world + That wanyeth and wexeth; + The goodes of this grounde arn lik + To the grete wawes, + That as wyndes and wedres 4980 + Walketh aboute; + The boot is likned to oure body + That brotel is of kynde, + That thorugh the fend and the flesshe + And the frele worlde + Synneth the sadde man + A day seven sithes. + + "Ac dedly synne doth he noght, + For Do-wel hym kepeth; + And that is charité the champion, 4990 + Chief help ayein synne; + {154} + For he strengheth men to stonde, + And steereth mannes soule, + And though the body bowe + As boot dooth in the watre, + Ay is thi soule saaf, + But if thow wole thiselve + Do a deedly synne, + And drenche so thi soule, + God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe, 5000 + If thiself liketh. + For he yaf thee a yeres-gyve, + To yeme wel thiselve, + And that is wit and free-wil, + To every wight a porcion, + To fleynge foweles, + To fisshes and to beestes; + Ac man hath moost therof, + And moost is to blame, + But if he werche wel therwith, 5010 + As Do-wel hym teacheth." + + "I have no kynde knowyng," quod I, + "To conceyven alle youre wordes; + Ac if I may lyve and loke, + I shal go lerne bettre." + + "I bikenne thee Crist," quod he, + "That on cros deyde!" + And I seide, "The same + Save yow fro myschaunce, + And gyve yow grace on this grounde 5020 + Goode men to worthe!" + + And thus I wente wide wher + Walkyng myn one, + By a wilde wildernesse, + {155} + And by a wodes side; + Blisse of the briddes + Broughte me a-slepe, + And under a lynde upon a launde + Lened I a stounde, + To lythe the layes 5030 + Tho lovely foweles made. + Murthe of hire mouthes + Made me ther to sleple; + The marveillouseste metels + Mette me thanne + That ever dremed wight + In world, as I wene. + + A muche man, as me thoughte, + And lik to myselve, + Cam and called me 5040 + By my kynde name. + + "What artow?" quod I tho, + "That thow my name knowest." + + "That thou woost wel," quod he, + "And no wight bettre." + + "Woot I what thow art?" + "Thought," seide he thanne; + "I have sued thee this seven yeer, + Seye thow me no rather." + + "Artow Thought," quod I thoo, 5050 + "Thow koudest me wisse, + Where that Do-wel dwelleth, + And do me that to knowe." + + "Do-wel and Do-bet, + And Do-best the thridde," quod he, + "Arn thre fair vertues, + And ben noght fer to fynde. + Who so is trewe of his tunge, + {156} + And of his two handes, + And thorugh his labour, or thorugh his land, 5060 + His liflode wynneth, + And is trusty of his tailende, + Taketh but his owene, + And his noght dronklewe ne dedeynous, + Do-wel hym folweth. + + "Do-bet dooth right thus: + Ac he dooth muche moore; + He is as lowe as a lomb, + And lovelich of speche, + And helpeth alle men 5070 + After that hem nedeth. + The bagges and the bigirdles, + He hath to-broke hem alle, + That the erl Avarous + Heeld and hise heires. + And thus with Mammonaes moneie + He hath maad hym frendes, + And is ronne to religion, + And hath rendred the Bible, + And precheth to the peple 5080 + Seint Poules wordes: + _Libenter suffertis insipientes, cum + sitis ipsi sapientes._ + + "And suffreth the unwise + With yow for to libbe; + And with glad wille dooth hem good, + For so God yow hoteth. + + "Do-best is above bothe, + And bereth a bisshopes crosse, + Is hoked on that oon ende 5090 + To halie men fro helle; + A pik is on that potente, + {157} + To putte a-down the wikked + That waiten any wikkednesse + Do-wel to tene. + And Do-wel and Do-bet + Amonges hem han ordeyned, + To crowne oon to be kyng + To rulen hem bothe; + That if Do-wel or Do-bet 5100 + Dide ayein Do-best, + Thanne shal the kyng come + And casten hem in irens, + And but if Do-best bede for hem, + Thei to be ther for evere. + + "Thus Do-wel and Do-bet, + And Do-best the thridde, + Crouned oon to the kyng + To kepen hem alle, + And to rule the reme 5110 + By hire thre wittes, + And noon oother wise + But as thei thre assented." + + I thonked Thoght tho, + That he me thus taughte. + "Ac yet savoreth me noght thi seying; + I coveite to lerne + How Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best + Doon among the peple." + + "But Wit konne wisse thee," quod Thoght, 5120 + "Wher tho thre dwelle, + Ellis woot I noon that kan + That now is alyve." + + Thoght and I thus + Thre daies we yeden, + Disputyng upon Do-wel + {158} + Day after oother; + And ere we were war, + With Wit gonne we mete. + He was long and lene, 5130 + Lik to noon other; + Was no pride on his apparaille, + Ne poverte neither; + Sad of his semblaunt, + And of softe chere. + I dorste meve no matere + To maken hym to jangle, + But as I bad Thoght thoo + Be mene bitwene, + And pute forth som purpos 5140 + To preven hise wittes, + What was Do-wel fro Do-bet, + And Do-best from hem bothe. + + Thanne Thoght in that tyme + Seide thise wordes: + "Where Do-wel, Do-bet, + And Do-best ben in londe, + Here is Wil wolde wite, + If Wit koude teche hym; + And wheither he be man or womman + This man fayn wolde aspie, + And werchen as thei thre wolde, + Thus is his entente." 5153 + + * * * * * + +{159} + + _Passus Nonus de Visione, ut supra, et Primus de Do-wel_ + + "Sire Do-wel dwelleth," quod Wit, 5154 + "Noght a day hennes, + In a castel that Kynde made + Of four kynnes thynges; + Of erthe and of eyr it is maad, + Medled togideres, + With wynd and with water 5160 + Witterly enjoyned. + Kynde hath closed therinne + Craftily withalle + A lemman that he loveth + Lik to hymselve; + _Anima_ she hatte. + Ac envye hir hateth, + A proud prikere of Fraunce, + _Princeps hujus mundi_, + And wolde wynne hire awey 5170 + With wiles, and he myghte. + + "Ac Kynde knoweth this wel, + And kepeth hire the bettre, + And dooth hire with sire Do-wel, + Is duc of thise marches. + + "Do-bet is hire damyselle, + Sire Do-weles doughter, + {160} + To serven this lady leelly + Bothe late and rathe. + + "Do-best is above bothe, 5180 + A bisshopes peere; + That he bit moot be do, + He ruleth hem alle. + _Anima_, that lady, + Is lad by his leryng. + Ac the constable of that castel, + That kepeth al the wacche, + Is a wis knyght withalle, + Sire Inwit he hatte, + And hathe fyve faire sones 5190 + Bi his firste wyve; + Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel, + And Here-wel the hende, + Sire Werch-wel-with-thyn-hand, + A wight man of strengthe, + And sire Godefray Go-wel; + Grete lordes, for sothe. + Thise fyve ben set + To kepe this lady _Anima_, + Til Kynde come or sende 5200 + To saven hire for evere." + + "What kynnes thyng is Kynde?" quod I, + "Kanstow me telle?" + + "Kynde," quod Wit, "is a creatour + Of alle kynnes thynges, + Fader and formour + Of al that evere was maked; + And that is the grete God + That gynnyng hadde nevere, + Lord of lif and of light, 5210 + Of lisse and of peyne. + {161} + Aungeles and alle thyng + Arn at his wille; + Ac man is hym moost lik + Of marc and of shafte; + For thorugh the word that he spak + Woxen forth beestes. + _Dixit et facta sunt._ + + "And made man likkest + To hymself one, 5220 + And Eve of his ryb-bon, + Withouten any mene, + For he was synguler hymself; + And seide _faciamus_, + As who seith moore moot herto + Than my word oone, + My myght moot helpe + Forth with my speche. + Right as a lord sholde make lettres, + And hym lakked parchemyn, 5230 + Though he koude write never so wel, + If he hadde no penne, + The lettre, for al the lordshipe, + I leve were nevere y-maked. + + "And so it semeth by hym, + As the Bible telleth, + There he seide _Dixit et facta sunt_, + He moste werche with his word, + And his wit shewe. + And in this manere was man maad, 5240 + Thorugh myght of God almighty, + With his word and werkmanshipe, + And with lif to laste. + And thus God gaf hym a goost, + Thorugh the godhede of hevene, + {162} + And of his grete grace + Graunted hym blisse, + And that is lif that ay shal laste + To al his lynage after. + And that is the castel that Kynde made, 5250 + _Caro_ it hatte, + And is as muche to mene + As man with a soule; + And that he wroghte with werk, + And with word bothe, + Thorgh myght of the magesté + Man was y-maked. + + "Inwit and alle wittes + Closed ben therinne, + For love of the lady _Anima_, 5260 + That lif is y-nempned; + Over al in mannes body + He walketh and wandreth. + And in the herte is hir hoom + And hir mooste reste. + + "Ac Inwit is in the heed, + And to the herte he loketh; + What _Anima_ is leef or looth, + He lat hire at his wille; + For after the grace of God, 5270 + The gretteste is Inwit. + + "Muche wo worth that man + That mys-ruleth his Inwit; + And that ben glotons glubberes, + Hir God is hire wombe. + _Quorum deus venter est._ + + "For thei serven Sathan, + Hir soules shal he have. + That lyven synful lif here, + {163} + Hir soule is lich the devil; 5280 + And alle that lyven good lif + Are lik to God almyghty, + _Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, etc._ = + + "Alas! that drynke shal for-do + That God deere boughte, + And dooth God forsaken hem + That he shoop to his liknesse. + _Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi: + Et dimisi eos secundum desideria 5290 + eorum._ + + "Fools that fauten Inwit, + I fynde that holy chirche + Sholde fynden hem that hem fauted, + And fader-lese children, + And widewes that han noght wherwith + To wynnen hem hir foode, + Madde men, and maydenes + That help-lese were, + Alle thise lakken Inwit, 5300 + And loore bihoveth. + + "Of this matere I myghte + Make a long tale, + And fynde fele witnesses + Among the foure doctours; + And that I lye noght of that I lere thee, + Luc bereth witnesse. + + "God-fadres and god-modres, + That seen hire god-children + At mys-eise and at myschief, 5310 + And mowe hem amende, + Shul have penaunce in purgatorie + But thei hem helpe. + {164} + For moore bilongeth to the litel barn, + Er he the lawe knowe, + Than nempnynge of a name, + And he never the wiser. + Sholde no cristene creature + Cryen at the yate, + Ne faille payn ne potage, 5320 + And prelates dide as thei sholden. + A Jew wolde noght se a Jew + Go janglyng for defaute, + For alle the mebles on this moolde, + And he amende it myghte. + + "Alas! that a cristene creature + Shal be unkynde til another; + Syn Jewes, that we jugge + Judas felawes, + Eyther of hem helpeth oother 5330 + Of that that hem nedeth. + Whi nel we cristene + Of Cristes good be as kynde + As Jewes, that ben oure lores-men? + Shame to us alle! + The commune for hir unkyndenesse, + I drede me, shul abye. + + "Bisshopes shul be blamed + For beggeres sake. + He is wors than Judas, 5340 + That gyveth a japer silver, + And biddeth the beggere go, + For his broke clothes. + _Proditor est prælatus cum Juda, + qui patrimonium Christi mimis + distribuit. Et alibi: Perniciosus + dispensator est, qui res + {165} + pauperum Christi inutiliter + consumit._ + + "He dooth noght wel that dooth thus, 5350 + Ne drat noght God almyghty; + He loveth noght Salomons sawes, + That sapience taughte. + _Initium sapientiæ, timor Domini._ + + "That dredeth God, he dooth wel; + That dredeth him for love, + And noght for drede of vengeaunce, + Dooth therfore the bettre. + + "He dooth best that with-draweth hym + By daye and by nyghte, 5360 + To spille any speche + Or any space of tyme. + _Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus._ = + + "Lesynge of tyme, + Truthe woot the sothe, + Is moost y-hated upon erthe + Of hem that ben in hevene; + And siththe to spille speche, + That spicerie is of grace, 5370 + And Goddes gle-man, + And a game of hevene. + Wolde nevere the feithful fader + This fithele were un-tempred, + Ne his gle-man a gedelyng, + A goere to tavernes. + + "To alle trewe tidy men + That travaille desiren, + Oure Lord loveth hem and lent + Loude outher stille 5380 + {166} + Grace to go to hem, + And of-gon hir liflode. + _Inquirentes autem Dominum non + minuentur omni bono._ + + "Trewe wedded libbynge folk + In this world is Do-wel, + For thei mote werche and wynne, + And the world sustene. + For of hir kynde thei come + That confessours ben nempned, 5390 + Kynges and knyghtes, + Kaysers and cherles, + Maidenes and martires, + Out of o man come. + The wif was maad the weye + For to helpe werche; + And thus was wedlok y-wroght + With a mene persone, + First, by the fadres wille, + And the frendes conseille; 5400 + And sithenes by assent of hemself, + As thei two myghte acorde. + And thus was wedlok y-wroght, + And God hymself it made + In erthe and in hevene, + Hymself bereth witnesse. + + "Ac fals folk feyth-lees, + Theves and lyeres, + Wastours and wrecches, + Out of wedlok, I trowe, 5410 + Conceyved ben in yvel tyme, + As Caym was on Eve; + Of swiche synfulle sherewes + The Sauter maketh mynde: + {167} + _Concepit in dolore, et peperit iniquitatem, etc._ = + + "And alle that come of that Caym, + Come to yvel ende. + And God sente to Seem, + And seide by an aungel, 5420 + 'Thyn issue in thyn issue + I wol that thei be wedded, + And noght thi kynde with Caymes + Y-coupled nor y-spoused.' + + "Yet some, ayein the sonde + Of oure Saveour of hevene, + Caymes kynde and his kynde + Coupled togideres, + Til God wrathed for hir werkes, + And swich a word seide, 5430 + 'That I makede man + It me for-thynketh.' + _Poenitet me fecisse hominem._ + + "And com to Noe anon, + And bad hym noght lette: + 'Swith go shape a ship + Of shides and of bordes; + Thyself and thi sones, + And sithen youre wyves, + Busketh yow to that boot, 5440 + And bideth ye therinne, + Til fourty daies be fulfild, + That the flood have y-wasshen + Clene awey the corsed blood + That Caym hath y-maked. + + "'Beestes that now ben + Shul banne the tyme + That evere that cursed Caym + {168} + Coom on this erthe; + Alle shul deye for hise dedes, 5450 + By dales and by hulles, + And the foweles that fleen + Forth with othere beestes, + Excepte oonliche + Of ech kynde a couple, + That in thi shyngled ship + Shul ben y-saved.' + Here a-boughte the barn + The bel-sires giltes, + And alle for hir fadres 5460 + Thei ferden the werse; + The Gospel is her ayein, + In o degré, I fynde: + _Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, + et pater non portabit iniquitatem + filii, etc._ + + "Ac I fynde if the fader + Be fals and a sherewe, + That som del the sone + Shal have the sires tacches. 5470 + + "Impe on an ellere, + And if thyn appul be swete, + Muchel merveille me thynketh; + And moore of a sherewe + That bryngeth forth any barn, + But if he be the same, + And have a savour after the sire; + Selde sestow oother. + _Nunquam colligitur de spinis uva, + nec de tribulis ficus._ 5480 + + "And thus thorugh cursed Caym + Cam care upon erthe; + {169} + And al for thei wroghte wedlokes + Ayein Goddes wille. + For-thi have thei maugré of hir mariages + That marie so hir children. + For some, as I se now, + Sooth for to telle, + For coveitise of catel + Un-kyndely ben wedded; 5490 + As careful concepcion + Cometh of swiche mariages, + As bi-fel of the folk + That I bifore of tolde, + Therfore goode sholde wedde goode, + Though thei no good hadde; + 'I am _via et veritas_,' seith Crist, + 'I may avaunce yow alle.' + + "It is an uncomly couple, + By Crist! as me thynketh, 5500 + To yeven a yong wenche + To an old feble, + Or wedden any wodewe + For welthe of hir goodes, + That nevere shal barn bere + But if it be in hir armes. + Many a peire, sithen the pestilence, + Han plight hem togideres, + The fruyt that brynge forth + Arn foule wordes, 5510 + In jelousie joye-lees, + And janglynge on bedde, + Have thei no children but cheeste, + And clappyng hem bitwene. + And though thei do hem to Dunmowe, + But if the devel helpe, + {170} + To folwen after the flicche, + Fecche thei it nevere; + And but thi bothe be for-swore, + That bacon thei tyne. 5520 + + "For-thei I counseille alle cristene + Coveite noght be wedded + For coveitise of catel, + Ne of kyn-rede riche; + Ac maidenes and maydenes + Macche yow togideres, + Wodewes and wideweres + Wercheth the same; + For no londes, but for love, + Loke ye be wedded, 5530 + And thanne gete ye the grace of God, + And good y-nough to lyve with. + + "And every maner seculer + That may noght continue, + Wisely goo wedde, + And ware hym fro synne; + For lecherie in likynge + Is lyme-yerd of helle. + Whiles thow art yong, + And thi wepene kene, 5540 + Wreke thee with wyvyng, + If thow wolt ben excused. + _Dum sis vir fortis, + Ne des tua robora scortis; + Scribitur in portis, + Meretrix est janua mortis._ + + "Whan ye han wyved, beth war + And wercheth in tyme; + Noght as Adam and Eve, + Whan Caym was engendred. 5550 + {171} + For in un-tyme, trewely, + Bitwene man and womman, + Ne sholde no bourde or bedde be; + But if thei bothe were clene + Bothe of lif and of soule, + And in perfit charité, + That ilke derne dede do + No man ne sholde. + And if thei leden thus hir lif, + It liketh God almyghty; 5560 + For he made wedlok first, + And hymself it seide: + _Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem + suam habeat, propter + fornicationem._ + + "And thei that other gates ben geten + For gedelynges arn holden, + As fals folk fondlynges, + Faitours and lieres, + Ungracious to gete good 5570 + Or love of the peple, + Wandren and wasten + What thei cacche mowe, + Ayeins Do-wel thei doon yvel, + And the devel serve; + And after hir deeth day + Shul dwelle with the same, + But God gyve hem grace here + Hemself to amende. + + "Do-wel my frend is, 5580 + To doon as lawe techeth; + To love thi frend and thi foo, + Leve me, that is Do-bet; + To gyven and to yemen + {172} + Bothe yonge and olde, + To helen and to helpen, + Is Do-best of alle. + + "And Do-wel is to drede God, + And Do-bet to suffre, + And so cometh Do-best of bothe, 5590 + And bryngeth adoun the mody, + And that is wikked wille + That many a werk shendeth, + And dryveth awey Do-wel + Thorugh dedliche synnes." 5595 + + * * * * * + +{173} + + _Passus Decimus de Visione, et Secundus de Do-wel._ + + Thanne hadde Wit a wif, 5596 + Was hote dame Studie, + That lene was of lere, + And of liche bothe; + She was wonderly wroth 5600 + That Wit me thus taughte; + And al starynge dame Studie + Sterneliche loked. + + "Wel artow wis," quod she to Wit, + "Any wisdomes to telle + To flatereres or to fooles, + That frenetike ben of wittes." + And blamed hym and banned hym, + And bad hym be stille, + With swiche wise wordes 5610 + To wissen any sottes. + And seide, "_Noli mittere_, man, + Margery perles + Among hogges, that han + Hawes at wille; + Thei doon but dryvele theron, + Draf were hem levere + Than al the precious perree + That in paradis wexeth. + {174} + I seye it by swiche," quod she, 5620 + "That sheweth by hir werkes, + That hem were levere lond + And lordshipe on erthe, + Or richesse, or rentes, + And reste at hir wille, + Than alle the sooth sawes + That Salomon seide evere. + + "Wisdom and wit now + Is noght worth a kerse, + But if it be carded with coveitise, 5630 + As clotheres kemben hir wolle. + Who so can contreve deceites + And conspire wronges, + And lede forth a love-day + To lette with truthe, + He that swiche craftes can + To counseil is cleped. + Thei lede lordes with lesynges, + And bi-lieth Truthe. + + "Job the gentile 5640 + In his gestes witnesseth, + That wikked men thei welden + The welthe of this worlde; + And that thei ben lordes of ech a lond + That out of lawe libbeth. + _Quare impii vivunt, bene est omnibus + qui prævaricantur et inique + agunt._ + + "The Sauter seith the same + By swiche that doon ille: 5650 + _Ecce ipsi peccatores abundantes in + sæculo obtinuerunt divitias._ + + "Lo! seith holy lettrure, + {175} + Whiche beth thise sherewes? + Thilke that God gyveth moost, + Leest good thei deleth; + And moost un-kynde to the commune + That moost catel weldeth. + _Quæ perfecisti destruxerunt, justus + autem, etc._ 5660 + + "Harlotes for hir harlotrie + May have of hir goodes, + And japeris and jogelours, + And jangleris of gestes. + + "Ac he that hath holy writ + Ay in his mouthe, + And kan telle of Tobye, + And of twelve apostles, + Or prechen of the penaunce + That Pilat wikkedly wroghte 5670 + To Jhesu the gentile, + That Jewes to-drowe; + Litel is he loved + That swich a lesson sheweth, + Or daunted or drawe forth, + I do it on God hymselve. + + "But thoo that feynen hem foolis, + And with faityng libbeth, + Ayein the lawe of oure Lord, + And lyen on hemselve, 5680 + Spitten and spuen, + And speke foule wordes, + Drynken and drevelen, + And do men fer to gape, + Likne men, and lye on hem, + That leneth hem no giftes; + Thei konne na-moore mynstralcie + {176} + Ne musik men to glade, + Than Munde the millere + Of _Multa fecit Deus_. 5690 + Ne were hir vile harlotrye, + Have God my trouthe! + Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght, + Ne chanon of seint Poules, + Gyve hem to hir yeres-gyve + The gifte of a grote. + + "Ac murthe and mynstralcie + Amonges men is nouthe + Lecherie, losengerye, + And losels tales, 5700 + Glotonye and grete othes, + This murthe thei lovyeth. + + "Ac if thei carpen of Crist, + Thise clerkes and thise lewed + At mete in hir murthe, + Whan mynstrals beth stille, + Thanne telleth thei of the Trinité + A tale outher tweye, + And bryngen forth a balled reson, + And taken Bernard to witnesse, 5710 + And putten forth a presumpcion + To preve the sothe. + Thus thei dryvele at hir deys + The Deitee to knowe, + And gnawen God with the gorge, + Whanne hir guttes fullen. + + "Ac the carefulle may crie + And carpen at the yate, + Bothe a-fyngred and a-furst, + And for chele quake; 5720 + Is ther noon to nyme hym neer, + {177} + His anoy to amende, + But hunten hym as an hound, + And hoten hym go thennes. + Litel loveth he that Lord + That lent hym al that blisse, + That thus parteth with the povere + A percell whan hym nedeth. + Ne were mercy in meene men + Moore than in riche, 5730 + Mendinauntz mete-lees + Myghte go to bedde. + God is muche in the gorge + Of thise grete maistres, + Ac amonges meene men + His mercy and hise werkes. + And so seith the Sauter, + I have seighen it ofte: + _Ecce audivimus eam in Effrata, invenimus + eam in campis silvæ._ 5740 + + "Clerkes and othere kynnes men + Carpen of God faste, + And have hym muche in the mouth; + Ac meene men in herte. + + "Freres and faitours + Han founde swiche questions, + To plese with proude men, + Syn the pestilence tyme; + And prechen at seint Poules + For pure envye of clerkes; 5750 + That folk is noght fermed in the feith, + Ne free of hire goodes, + Ne sory for hire synnes; + So is pride woxen, + In religion and in al the reme, + {178} + Amonges riche and povere, + That preieres have no power + The pestilence to lette. + And yet the wrecches of this world + Is noon y-war by oother; 5760 + Ne for drede of the deeth + With-drawe noght hir pride; + Ne beth plentevouse to the povere, + As pure charité wolde; + But in gaynesse and in glotonye + For-glutten hir good hemselve, + And breketh noght to the beggere + As the Book techeth: + _Frange esurienti panem tuum, etc._ + And the moore he wynneth and welt 5770 + Welthes and richesse, + And lordeth in londes, + The lasse good he deleth. + + "Tobye telleth yow noght so, + Taketh hede, ye riche, + How the book Bible + Of hym bereth witnesse. + _Si tibi sit copia, abundanter tribue. + Si autem exiguum, illud impertiri + stude libenter._ 5780 + + "Who so hath muche, spende manliche, + So seith Tobye; + And who so litel weldeth, + Rule hym therafter. + For we have no lettre of oure lif, + How longe it shal dure, + Swiche lessons lordes sholde + Lovye to here, + And how he myghte moost meynee + {179} + Manliche fynde. 5790 + + "Nought to fare as a fithelere or a frere, + For to seke festes + Homliche at othere mennes houses, + And hatien hir owene. + Elenge is the halle + Ech day in the wike, + Ther the lord ne the lady + Liketh noght to sitte. + Now hath ech riche a rule + To eten by hymselve 5800 + In a pryvee parlour, + For povere mennes sake, + Or in a chambre with a chymenee, + And leve the chief halle + That was maad for meles, + Men to eten inne, + And al to spare to spende + That spille shal another. + + "I have y-herd heighe men, + Etynge at the table, 5810 + Carpen, as thei clerkes were, + Of Crist, and of hise myghtes; + And leyden fautes upon the fader + That formede us alle, + And carpen ayein clerkes + Crabbede wordes, + Why wolde oure Saveour suffre + Swich a worm in his blisse, + That bigiled the womman, + And the man after, 5820 + Thorugh whiche wiles and wordes + Thei wente to helle, + And al hir seed for hir synne + {180} + The same deeth suffrede. + + "Here lyeth youre lore, + Thise lordes gynneth dispute, + Of that the clerkes us kenneth + Of Crist by the Gospel: + _Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, + etc._ 5830 + + "Why sholde we that now ben, + For the werkes of Adam, + Roten and to-rende? + Reson wolde it nevere. + _Unusquisque portabit onus suum, etc._ + + "Swiche motyves thei mene, + Thise maistres in hir glorie, + And maken men in mys-bileve + That muse muche on hire wordes, + Ymaginatif herafterwarde 5840 + Shal answere to hir purpos. + + "Austyn to swiche argueres + Telleth this teme: + _Non plus sapere quam oportet._ + + "Wilneth nevere to wite + Why that God wolde + Suffre Sathan + His seed to bigile; + Ac bileveth lelly + In the loore of holy chirche, 5850 + And preie hym of pardon + And penaunce in thi lyve, + And for his muche mercy + To amende yow here. + For alle that wilneth to wite + The weyes of God almyghty, + I wolde his eighe were in his ers, + {181} + And his fynger after, + That evere wilneth to wite + Why that God wolde 5860 + Suffre Sathan + His seed to bigile, + Or Judas to the Jewes + Jhesu bitraye. + Al was as thow woldest, + Lord, y-worshiped be the! + And al worth as thow wolt, + What so we dispute. + + "And tho that useth thise hanylons + To blende mennes wittes, 5870 + What is Do-wel fro Do-bet, + That deef mote he worthe, + Siththe he wilneth to wite + Whiche thei ben bothe, + But if he lyve in the lif + That longeth to Do-wel. + For I dar ben his bolde borgh, + That do-bet wole he nevere, + Theigh Do-best drawe on hym + Day after oother." 5880 + + And whan that Wit was y-war + What dame Studie tolde, + He bicom so confus, + He kouthe noght loke, + And as doumb as deeth, + And drough hym arere; + And for no carpyng I kouthe after, + Ne knelyng to the grounde, + I myghte gete no greyn + Of his grete wittes. 5890 + But al laughynge he louted, + {182} + And loked upon Studie + In signe that I sholde + Bi-sechen hire of grace. + + And whan I was war of his wille, + To his wif gan I loute, + And seide, "Mercy, madame, + Youre man shal I worthe + As longe as I lyve, + Bothe late and rathe, 5900 + For to werche youre wille + The while my lif dureth, + With that ye kenne me kyndely + To knowe what is Do-wel." + + "For thi mekenesse, man," quod she, + "And for thi mylde speche, + I shal kenne thee to my cosyn + That Clergie is hoten. + He hath wedded a wif + Withinne thise sixe monthes, 5910 + Is sib to seven artz, + Scripture is hir name. + They two, as I hope, + After my techyng, + Shullen wissen thee to Do-wel, + I dar it undertake." + + Thanne was I al so fayn, + As fowel of fair morwe, + And gladder than the gle-man + That gold hath to gifte; 5920 + And asked hire the heighe wey + Where that Clergie dwelte, + "And tel me som tokene," quod I, + "For tyme is that I wende." + + "Aske the heighe wey," quod she, + {183} + "Hennes to Suffre- + Both-wele-and-wo, + If that thow wolt lerne, + And ryd forth by Richesse, + Ac rest thow noght therinne; 5930 + For if thow couplest thee therwith, + To Clergie comestow nevere. + + "And also the likerouse launde + That Lecherie hatte, + Leve it on thi left half + A large myle or moore, + Til thow come to a court, + Kepe-wel-thi-tunge- + Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche- + And-likerouse-drynkes. 5940 + + "Thanne shaltow se Sobretee, + And Sympletee-of-speche, + That ech wight be in wille + His wit thee to shewe; + And thus shaltow come to Clergie, + That kan manye thynges. + + "Seye hym this signe, + I sette hym to scole, + And that I grete wel his wif, + For I wroot hire manye bokes, 5950 + And sette hire to Sapience, + And to the Sauter glose; + Logyk I lerned hire, + And manye othere lawes, + And alle musons in musik + I made hire to knowe. + + "Plato the poete + I putte first to boke, + Aristotle and othere mo + {184} + To argue I taughte. 5960 + + "Grammer for girles + I garte first to write, + And bette hem with a baleys, + But if thei wolde lerne, + + "Of alle kynne craftes + I contreved tooles, + Of carpentrie, of kerveres, + And compased masons, + And lerned hem level and lyne, + Though I loke dymme. 5970 + + "Ac Theologie hath tened me + Ten score tymes; + The moore I muse therinne + The mystier it seemeth, + And the depper I devyne + The derker me it thynketh. + It is no science, for sothe, + For to sotile inne; + A ful lethi thyng it were, + If that love nere; 5980 + Ac for it leteth best bi-love, + I love it the bettre. + For there that love is ledere, + Ther lakked nevere grace. + Loke thow love lelly, + If thee liketh Do-wel; + For Do-bet and Do-best + Ben of Loves kynne. + + "In oother science it seith, + I seigh it in Caton: 5990 + _Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus, + Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte._ + {185} + + "Who so gloseth as gylours doon, + Go me to the same; + And so shaltow fals folk + And feith-lees bigile. + This is Catons kennyng + To clerkes that he lereth. + + "Ac Theologie techeth noght so, + Who so taketh yeme; 6000 + He kenneth us the contrarie, + Ayein Catons wordes. + For he biddeth us be as bretheren, + And bidde for our enemys. + And loven hem that lyen on us, + And lene hem whan hem nedeth, + And do good ayein yvel, + God hymself it hoteth. + _Dum tempus habemus, operemur + bonum ad omnes, maxime autem 6010 + ad domesticos fidei._ + Poul preched the peple + That perfitnesse lovede, + To do good for Goddes love, + And gyven men that asked, + And namely to swiche + As suwen oure bileve, + And alle that lakketh us, or lyeth, + Oure Lord techeth us to lovye. + And noght to greven hem that greveth us, 6020 + God hymself forbad it, + _Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam._ + + "For-thi loke thow lovye, + As longe as thow durest; + For is no science under sonne + So sovereyn for the soule. + {186} + + "Ac astronomye is an hard thyng, + And yvel for to knowe; + Geometrie and geomesie, + So gynful of speche, 6030 + Who so thynketh werche with tho two + Thryveth ful late, + For sorcerie is the sovereyn book + That to tho sciences bilongeth. + + "Yet ar ther fibicches in forceres + Of fele mennes makyng, + Experimentz of alkenamye + The peple to deceyve; + If thow thynke to do-wel, + Deel therwith nevere. 6040 + + "Alle thise sciences I myself + Sotilede and ordeynede, + And founded hem formest + Folk to deceyve. + Tel Clergie this tokene, + And Scripture after, + To counseille thee kyndely + To knowe what is Do-wel." + + I seide, "Graunt mercy, madame," + And mekely hir grette; 6050 + And wente wightly awey + Withoute moore lettyng, + And til I com to Clergie + I koude nevere stynte; + And grette the goode man, + As Studie me taughte, + And afterwardes the wif, + And worshiped hem bothe, + And tolde hem the tokenes + That me taught were. 6060 + {187} + Was nevere gome upon this ground, + Sith God made the worlde, + Fairer under-fongen, + Ne frendlier at ese, + Than myself, soothly, + Soone so he wiste + Than I was of Wittes hous, + And with his wif, dame Studie. + + I seide to hem soothly + That sent was I thider, 6070 + Do-wel and Do-bet + And Do-best to lerne. + + "It is a commune lyf," quod Clergie, + "On holy chirche to bileve, + With alle the articles of the feith + That falleth to be knowe; + And that is to bileve lelly, + Bothe lered and lewed, + On the grete God + That gynnyng hadde nevere, 6080 + And on the soothfast Sone + That saved mankynde + Fro the dedly deeth + And devel's power, + Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost, + The which goost is of bothe, + Thre persones, ac noght + In plurel nombre; + For al is but oon God, + And ech is God hymselve. 6090 + _Deus pater, Deus filius, Deus spiritus sanctus._ = + God the fader, God the sone, + God holy goost of bothe, + {188} + Makere of mankynde, + And of beestes bothe. + + "Austyn the olde + Herof made bokes, + And hymself ordeyned + To sadde us in bileve. 6100 + Who was his auctour? + Alle the foure euvangelistes, + And Crist cleped hymself so, + The euvangelistes bereth witnesse. + + "Alle the clerkes under Crist + Ne koude this assoille; + But thus it bi-longeth to bileve + To lewed that willen do-wel. + For hadde nevere freke fyn wit + The feith to dispute, 6110 + Ne man hadde no merite, + Myghte it ben y-preved. + _Fides non habet meritum, ubi humana + ratio præbet + experimentum._ + + "Thanne is Do-bet to suffre + For the soules helthe, + Al that the book bit + Bi holi cherches techyng; + And that is, man, bi thy myght, 6120 + For mercies sake. + Loke thow werche it in werk, + That thi word sheweth, + Swich as thow semest in sighte + Be in assay y-founde. + _Appare quod es, vel esto quod appares._ = + + "And lat no body be + {189} + By thi beryng bigiled, + But be swich in thi soule 6130 + As thow semest withoute. + + "Thanne is Do-best to be boold + To blame the gilty, + Sythenes thow seest thiself + As in soule clene; + Ac blame thow nevere body, + And thow be blame worthy. + _Si culpare velis, + Culpabilis esse cavebis; + Dogma tuum sordet, 6140 + Cum te tua culpa remordet._ + + "God in the Gospel + Grevously repreveth + Alle that lakketh any lif, + And lakkes han hemselve. + _Qui consideras festucam in oculo + fratris tui, trabem in oculo tuo, etc._ = + + "Why menestow thi mood for a mote + In thi brotheres eighe, 6150 + Sithen a beem in thyn owene + A-blyndeth thiselve. + _Ejice primo trabem in oculo tuo, etc._ = + Which letteth thee to loke + Lasse outher more. + + "I rede ech a blynd bosarde + Do boote to hymselve, + For abbotes and for priours, + And for alle manere prelates, 6160 + As persons and parisshes preestes + That preche sholde and teche + {190} + Alle maner men to amenden + Bi hire myghtes. + + "This text was told yow, + To ben y-war, er ye taughte, + That ye were swiche as ye seye, + So salve with othere; + For Goddes word wolde noght be lost, + For that wercheth evere; 6170 + If it availled noght the commune, + It myghte availle yowselve. + + "Ac it semeth now soothly + To the worldes sighte, + That Goddes word wercheth noght + On lered ne on lewed, + But in swich a manere + As Marc meneth in the gospel: + _Dum cæcus ducit cæcum, ambo in + foveam cadunt._ 6180 + + "Lewed men may likne yow thus, + That the beem lith in youre eighen; + And the festu is fallen + For youre defaute, + In alle maner men, + Thorugh mansede preestes. + The Bible bereth witnesse + That the folk of Israel + Bittre a-boughte the giltes + Of two badde preestes, 6190 + Offyn and Fynes, + For hir coveitise, + _Archa Dei_ mys-happed, + And Ely brak his nekke. + + "For-thi ye corectours claweth heron. + And corecteth first yowselve + {191} + And thanne mowe ye safly seye, + As David made in the Sauter, + _Existimasti inique quod ero tui + similis, arguam te, et statuam 6200 + contra faciem tuam._ + + "And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed + To blame yow or to greve, + And carpen noght as thei carpe now, + Ne calle yow doumbe houndes. + _Canes non valentes latrare._ + And drede to wrathe yow in any word, + Youre werkmanshipe to lette, + And be prester at youre preiere, + Than for a pound of nobles. 6210 + And al for youre holynesse, + Have ye this in herte. + + "In scole there is scorn, + But if a clerk wol lerne, + And gret love and likyng, + For ech of hem loveth oother. + + "Ac now is Religion a rydere, + A romere aboute, + A ledere of love-dayes, + And a lond-buggere, 6220 + A prikere on a palfrey + Fro manere to manere, + An heepe of houndes at his ers + As he a lord were. + And but if his knave knele + That shal his coppe brynge, + He loureth on hym, and asketh hym + Who taughte hym curteisie. + + "Litel hadde lordes to doon, + {192} + To gyve lond from hire heires 6230 + To religiouse, that han no routhe, + Though it reyne on hir auters. + + "In many places ther thei ben persons, + By hemself at ese + Of the povere have thei no pité; + And that is hir charité. + Ac thei leten hem as lordes + Hire londes lyen so brode. + + "Ac ther shal come a kyng, + And confesse yow religiouses, 6240 + And bete yow as the Bible telleth + For brekynge of youre rule; + And amende monyals, + Monkes and chanons, + And puten to hir penaunce + _Ad pristinum statum ire_; + And barons with erles beten hem, + Thorugh _Beatus-virres_ techyng, + That hir barnes claymen + And blame yow foule. 6250 + _Hi in curribus et hi in equis ipsi + obligati sunt, etc._ + + "And thanne freres in hir fraytour + Shul fynden a keye + Of Costantyns cofres, + In which is the catel + That Gregories god-children + Han yvele despended. + + "And thanne shal the abbot of Abyngdone = + And al his issue for evere, 6261 + Have a knok of a kyng, + And incurable the wounde. + {193} + + "That this worth sooth, seke ye + That ofte over-se the Bible: + _Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievit + tributum, contrivit Dominus + baculum impiorum et virgam + dominantium cædentium plaga + insanabili._ 6270 + + "Ac er that kyng come, + Caym shal awake. + But Do-wel shal dyngen hym adoun, + And destruye his myghte." + + "Thanne is Do-wel and Do-bet," quod I, + "_Dominus_ and knyghthode." + + "I nel noght scorne," quod Scripture, + "But if scryveynes lye; + Kynghod ne knyghthod, + By noght I kan a-wayte, 6280 + Helpeth noght to hevene-ward + Oone heris ende; + Ne richesse right noght, + Ne reautee of lordes. + Poul preveth it impossible + Riche men to have hevene. + Salomon seith also + That silver is worst to lovye: + _Nihil iniquius quam amare + pecuniam._ 6290 + And Caton kenneth us to coveiten it + Naught but as nede techeth, + _Dilige denarium, sed parce dilige formam._ = + And patriarkes and prophetes, + And poetes bothe, + Writen to wissen us + {194} + To wilne no richesse, + And preiseden poverte with pacience; + The apostles bereth witnesse 6300 + That thei han eritage in hevene, + And by trewe righte; + Ther riche men no right may cleyme, + But of ruthe and grace." + + "_Contra_," quod I, "by Crist! + That kan I repreve, + And preven it by Peter, + And by Poul bothe, + That is baptized beth saaf, + Be he riche or povere." 6310 + + "That is _in extremis_," quod Scripture, + "Amonges Sarzens and Jewes, + They mowen be saved so, + And that is oure bileve, + That an un-cristene in that caas + May cristen an hethen; + And for his lele bileve, + Whan he the lif tyneth, + Have the heritage of hevene + As any man cristene. 6320 + + "Ac cristene men withoute moore + Maye noght come to hevene; + For that Crist for cristene men + Deide and confermed the lawe, + That who so wolde and wilneth + With Crist to arise, + _Si cum Christo surexistis, etc._ + He sholde lovye and leve, + And the lawe fulfille. + That is, love thi lord God 6330 + Levest aboven alle; + {195} + And after, alle cristene creatures + In commune, ech man oother; + And thus bi-longeth to lovye, + That leveth be saved. + And but we do thus in dede, + At the day of dome + It shal bi-sitten us ful soure + The silver that we kepen; + And oure bakkes that mothe-eten be, 6340 + And seen beggeris go naked; + Or delit in wyn and wilde fowel, + And wite any in defaute. + For every cristene creature + Sholde be kynde til oother, + And sithen hethen to helpe, + In hope of amendement. + + "God hoteth heighe and lowe + That no man hurte oother; + And seith, 'Slee noght that semblable is 6350 + To myn owene liknesse, + But if I sende thee som tokene;' + And seith '_Non moechaberis_. + Is slee noght, but suffre, + And al for the beste; + For I shal punysshe hem in purgatorie + Or in the put of helle, + Ech man for hise mysdedes, + But mercy it lette.'" + + "This is a long lesson," quod I, 6360 + "And litel am I the wiser; + Where Do-wel is or Do-bet, + Derkliche ye shewen. + Manye tales ye tellen + {196} + That Theologie lerneth; + And that I man maad was, + And my name y-entred + In the legende of lif + Longe er I were, + Or ellis un-writen for som wikkednesse, 6370 + As Holy Writ witnesseth: + _Nemo ascendit ad coelum, nisi qui + de coelo descendit._ + + "I leve it wel," quod I, "by oure Lord! + And on no lettrure bettre. + For Salomon the sage, + That Sapience taughte, + God gat hym grace of wit, + And alle hise goodes after; + He demed wel and wisely, 6380 + As Holy Writ telleth. + Aristotle and he, + Who wissed men bettre? + Maistres that of Goddes mercy + Techen men and prechen, + Of hir wordes thei wissen us + For wisest as in hir tyme, + And al holy chirche + Holdeth hem bothe y-dampned. + + "And if I sholde werche by hir werkes 6390 + To wynne me hevene, + That for hir werkes and wit + Now wonyeth in pyne, + Thanne wroughe I un-wisly, + What so evere ye preche. + + "Ac of fele witty, in feith, + Litel ferly I have, + Though hir goost be un-gracious + {197} + God for to plese. + For many men on this moolde 6400 + Moore setten hir hertes + In good than in God; + For-thi hem grace failleth + At hir mooste meschief, + Whan thei shal lif lete. + As Salomon dide, and swiche othere + That shewed grete wittes; + Ac hir werkes, as holy writ seith, + Were evere the contrarie. + For-thi wise witted men, 6410 + And wel y-lettrede clerkes, + As thei seyen hemself, + Selde doon therafter. + _Super cathedra Moysi, etc._ + + "Ac I wene it worth of manye, + As was in Noes tyme, + Tho he shoop that shipe + Of shides and of bordes; + Was nevere wrighte saved that wroghte theron, = + Ne oothir werkman ellis, 6421 + But briddes, and beestes, + And the blissed Noe, + And his wif with hise sones, + And also hire wyves; + Of wightes that it wroghte + Was noon of hem y-saved. + + "God leve it fare noght so bi folk + That the feith techeth + Of holi chirche, that herberwe is, 6430 + And Goddes hous to save, + And shilden us from shame therinne, + {198} + As Noes ship dide beestes; + And men that maden it + A-mydde the flood a-dreynten. + The culorum of this clause + Curatours is to mene, + That ben carpenters holy kirk to make + For Cristes owene beestes: + _Homines et jumenta salvabis, Domine, etc._ = + + "On Good Friday I fynde 6442 + A felon was y-saved, + That hadde lyved al his lif + With lesynges and with thefte; + And for he beknede to the cros, + And to Crist shrof him, + He was sonner y-saved + Than seint Johan the Baptist; + And or Adam or Ysaye, 6450 + Or any of the prophetes, + That hadde y-leyen with Lucifer + Many longe yeres, + A robbere was y-raunsoned + Rather than thei alle, + Withouten any penaunce of purgatorie, + To perpetuel blisse. + + "Than Marie Maudeleyne + What womman dide werse? + Or who worse than David, 6460 + That Uries deeth conspired? + Or Poul the apostle, + That no pité hadde + Muche cristene kynde + To kille to dethe? + And now ben thise as sovereyns + With seintes in hevene, + {199} + Tho that wroughte wikkedlokest + In world tho thei were. + And tho that wisely wordeden, 6470 + And writen manye bokes + Of wit and of wisedom, + With dampned soules wonye. + That Salomon seith, I trowe be sooth + And certein of us alle: + _Sunt justi atque sapientes et opera + eorum in manu Dei sunt, etc._ + + "Ther are witty and wel libbynge, + Ac hire werkes ben y-hudde + In the hondes of almyghty God, 6480 + And he woot the sothe, + Wherfore a man worth allowed there, + And hise lele werkes, + Or ellis for his yvel wille, + And for envye of herte, + And be allowed as he lyved so; + For by the luthere men knoweth the goode. + + "And wherby wiste men which were whit, + If alle thyng blak were? + And who were a good man, 6490 + But if ther were som sherewe? + For-thi lyve we forth with othere men, + I leve fewe ben goode; + For _quant_ oportet _vient en place_, + _Il n'y ad que_ pati. + And he that may al amende, + Have mercy on us alle! + For sothest word that ever God seide + Was tho he seide _Nemo bonus_. + + "Clergie tho of Cristes mouth 6500 + Comended was it litel; + {200} + For he seide to seint Peter, + And to swiche as he lovede, + _Cum steteritis ante reges et præsides, etc._ = + Though ye come bifore kynges + And clerkes of the lawe, + Beth noght abasshed, + For I shal be in youre mouthes, + And gyve yow wit and wille, 6510 + And konnyng to conclude + Hem alle that ayeins yow + Of Cristendom disputen. + + "David maketh mencion, + He spak amonges kynges, + And myghte no kyng over-comen hym + As by konnynge of speche, + But wit and wisedom + Wan nevere the maistrie, + Whan man was at meschief, 6520 + Withoute the moore grace. + + "The doughtieste doctour + And devinour of the Trinitee + Was Austyn the olde, + And heighest of the foure, + Seide thus in a sermon, + I seigh it writen ones: + _Ecce ipsi idiotæ vi rapiunt coelum, ubi + nos sapientes in inferno + mergimur._ 6530 + + "And is to mene to men, + Moore ne lesse, + Arn none rather y-ravysshed + Fro the righte bileve, + Than are thise konnynge clerkes + That konne manye bokes. + {201} + + "Ne none sonner saved, + Ne sadder of bileve, + Than plowmen and pastours, + And othere commune laborers; 6540 + Souteres and shepherdes, + And othere lewed juttes, + Percen with a pater-noster + The paleys of hevene, + And passen purgatorie penaunce-lees + At her hennes partyng + Into the blisse of paradis, + For hir pure bileve, + That imparfitly here knewe, + And ek lyvede. 6550 + + "Ye men knowe clerkes, + That han corsed the tyme + That evere thei kouthe or knewe moore + Than _Credo in Deum patrem_; + And principally hir pater-noster + Many a persone hath wisshed. + + "I se ensamples myself, + And so may manye othere, + That servauntz that serven lordes + Selde fallen in arerage, 6560 + And tho that kepen the lordes catel, + Clerkes and reves. + + "Right so lewed men, + And of litel knowyng, + Selden falle thei so foule + And so fer in synne, + As clerkes of holy chirche + That kepen Cristes tresor, + The which is mannes soule to save, + As God seith in the Gospel: + _Ite vos in vineam meam._" 6571 + + * * * * * + +{202} + + _Passus Undecimus._ + + Thanne Scripture scorned me 6572 + And a skile tolde, + And lakked me in Latyn, + And light by me she sette, + And seide "_Multi multa sciunt + Et seipsos nesciunt._" + + Tho wepte I for wo + And wrathe of hir speche; + And in a wynkynge wrathe 6580 + Weex I a-slepe. + A merveillous metels + Mette me thanne, + That I was ravysshed right there, + And Fortune me fette, + And into the lond of longynge + Allone she me broughte, + And in a mirour that highte middel-erthe + She made me to biholde. + "Sone," she seide to me, 6590 + "Here myghtow se wondres, + And knowe that thow coveitest, + And come therto, peraunter." + + Thanne hadde Fortune folwynge hire + Two faire damyseles; + {203} + _Concupiscentia-carnis_ + Men called the elder mayde, + And Coveitise-of-eighes + Y-called was that oother. + Pride-of-parfit-lyvynge 6600 + Pursued hem bothe, + And bad me for my contenaunce + Acounten Clergie lighte. + + _Concupiscentia-carnis_ + Colled me aboute the nekke, + And seide, "Thow art yong and yeepe, + And hast yeres y-nowe + For to lyve longe, + And ladies to lovye; + And in this mirour thow myght se 6610 + Myghtes ful manye, + That leden thee wole to likynge + Al thi lif tyme." + + The secounde seide the same, + "I shal sewe thi wille; + Til thow be a lord and have lond, + Leten thee I nelle, + That I ne shal folwe thi felawshipe, + If Fortune it like." + "He shal fynde me his frend," 6620 + Quod Fortune therafter; + "The freke that folwede my wille + Failled nevere blisse." + + Thanne was ther oon that highte Elde, + That hevy was of chere; + "Man," quod he, "if I mete with thee, + By Marie of hevene! + Thow shalt fynde Fortune thee faille + At thi mooste nede, + {204} + And _Concupiscentia-carnis_ 6630 + Clene thee forsake. + Bittrely shaltow banne thanne + Bothe dayes and nyghtes + Coveitise-of-eighe, + That evere thow hir knewe, + And Pride-of-parfit-lyvynge + To muche peril thee brynge." + + "Ye, recche thee nevere," quod Rechelesnesse, + Stood forthe in raggede clothes, + "Folwe forth that Fortune wole, 6640 + Thow hast wel fer til Elde; + A man may stoupe tyme y-nogh, + Whan he shal tyne the crowne. + + "_Homo proponit_ quod a poete, + And Plato he highte, + And _Deus disponit_ quod he, + Lat God doon his wille. + If Truthe wol witnesse it be wel do + Fortune to folwe, + _Concupiscentia-carnis_, 6650 + Ne Coveitise-of-eighes, + Ne shal noght greve thee gretly, + Ne bigile, but if thow wolt thiselve." + + "Ye, fare wel Phippe and Faunteltee," + And forth gan me drawe, + Til _Concupiscentia-carnis_ + Acorded alle my werkes. + + "Alas! eighe," quod Elde + And Holynesse bothe, + "That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse, 6660 + For wil to have his likyng." + + Coveitise-of-eighes + {205} + Conforted me anoon after, + And folwed me fourty wynter + And a fifte moore, + That of Do-wel ne Do-bet + Ne deyntee me thoughte. + I hadde no likyng, leve me if thee list, + Of hem ought to knowe. + Coveitise-of-eighes 6670 + Com ofter in mynde + Than Do-wel or Do-bet, + Among my dedes alle. + + Coveitise-of-eighes + Conforted me ofte, + And seide, "Have no conscience + How thow come to goode. + Go confesse thee to som frere, + And shewe hym thi synnes; + For whiles Fortune is thi frend 6680 + Freres wol thee lovye, + And fecche thee to hir fraternitee, + And for the biseke + To hir priour provincial + A pardon for to have, + And preien for thee pol by pol, + If thow be _pecuniosus_." + _Sed poena pecuniaria non sufficit pro + spiritualibus delictis._ + + By wissynge of this wenche I wroughte, 6690 + Hir wordes were so swete, + Til I for-yat youthe, + And yarn into elde. + + And thanne was Fortune my foo, + For al hir faire speche; + {206} + And poverte pursued me, + And putte me lowe. + + And tho fond I the frere a-fered, + And flittynge bothe + Ayeins oure firste for-warde; 6700 + For I seide I nolde + Be buried at hire hous, + But at my parisshe chirche. + For I herde ones + How Conscience it tolde, + That there a man were cristned + Be kynde he sholde be buryed; + Or where he were parisshen, + Right there he sholde be graven. + And for I seide thus to freres, 6710 + A fool thei me helden, + And loved me the lasse + For my lele speche. + + Ac yet I cryde on my confessour, + That heeld hymself so konnyng; + "By my feith! frere," quod I, + "Ye faren lik thise woweris + That wedde none widwes + But for to welden hir goodes. + Right so, by the roode! 6720 + Roughte ye nevere + Where my body were buryed, + By so ye hadde my silver. + + "Ich have muche merveille of yow, + And so hath many another, + Whi youre covent coveiteth + To confesse and to burye, + Rather than to baptize barnes + That ben catecumelynges. + {207} + Baptizynge and buryinge 6730 + Bothe beth ful nedefulle; + Ac muche moore meritorie, + Me thynketh it is to baptize. + For a baptized man may, + As thise maistres telleth, + Thorugh contricion come + To the heighe hevene. + _Sola contritio, etc._ + Ac barn withouten bapteme + May noght so be saved. 6740 + _Nisi quis renatus fuerit._ + Loke ye, lettred men, + Wheither I lye or do noght." + And Lewté loked on me, + And I loured after. + + "Wherfore lourestow?" quod Lewtee, + And loked on me harde. + + "If I dorste," quod I, "amonges men + This metels avowe!" + + "Yis, by Peter and by Poul!" quod he, 6750 + And took hem bothe to witnesse. + "_Non oderis fratres secrete in corde + tuo, sed publice argue illos._" + + "They wole aleggen also," quod I, + "And by the Gospel preven: + _Nolite judicare quemquam._" + + "And wherof serveth lawe?" quod Lewtee, + "If no lif undertoke it, + Falsnesse ne faiterie, + For som what the apostle seide, 6760 + _Non oderis fratrem._ + {208} + And in the Sauter also + Seith David the prophete, + _Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis, etc._ = + + "It is _licitum_ for lewed men + To sigge the sothe, + If hem liketh and lest, + Ech a lawe it graunteth; + Excepte persons and preestes, 6770 + And prelates of holy chirche, + It falleth noght for that folk + No tales to telle, + Though the tale be trewe, + And it touche synne. + + "Thyng that al the world woot, + Wherfore sholdestow spare + To reden it in retorik + To a-rate dedly synne? + Ac be nevere moore the firste 6780 + Defaute to blame; + Though thow se yvel, seye it noght first, + Be sory it nere amended. + No thyng that is pryvé, + Publice thow it nevere; + Neither for love preise it noght, + Ne lakke it for envye. + _Parum lauda, vitupera parcius._" + + "He seith sooth," quod Scripture tho, + And skipte an heigh, and preched. 6790 + Ac the matere that she meved, + If lewed men it knewe, + The lasse, as I leve, + Lovyen it thei wolde. + {209} + + This was hir teme and hir text, + I took ful good hede; + _Multi_ to a mangerie + And to the mete were sompned; + And whan the peple was plener comen, + The porter unpynned the yate, 6800 + And plukked in _Pauci_ pryveliche, + And leet the remenaunt go rome. + + Al for tene of hir text + Trembled myn herte; + And in a weer gan I wexe, + And with myself to dispute + Wheither I were chosen or noght chosen. + On holi chirche I thoughte, + That under-fonged me atte font + For oon of Goddes chosene. 6810 + For Crist cleped us alle, + Come if we wolde, + Sarzens and scismatikes, + And so he dide the Jewes. + _O vos omnes sitientes, venite, etc._ + And bad hem souke for synne + Safly at his breste, + And drynke boote for bale, + Brouke it who so myghte. + + "Thanne may alle cristene come, quod I," = + "And cleyme there entree 6822 + By the blood that he boughte us with + And thorugh bapteme after. + _Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, etc._ = + {210} + For though a cristen man coveited + His cristendom to reneye, + Rightfully to reneye + No reson it wolde. 6830 + + "For may no cherl chartre make, + Ne his catel selle, + Withouten leve of his lord; + No lawe wol it graunte. + Ac he may renne in arerage, + And rome so fro home, + And as a reneyed caytif + Recchelesly rennen aboute. + And Reson shal rekene with hym, + And casten hym in arerage, 6840 + And putten hym after in a prison + In purgatorie to brenne, + For hise arerages rewarden hym there + To the day of dome; + But if Contricion wol come, + And crye, by his lyve, + Mercy for hise mysdedes, + With mouthe and with herte," + + "That is sooth," seide Scripture; + "May no synne lette 6850 + Mercy al to amende, + And mekenesse hir folwe. + For thei beth, as oure bokes telleth, + Above Goddes werkes." + _Misericordia ejus super omnia opera ejus._ = + + "Ye, baw for bokes," quod oon + Was broken out of helle, + Highte Trojanus, hadde ben a trewe knyght, + Took witnesse at a pope, 6860 + {211} + How he was ded and dampned + To dwellen in pyne, + For an uncristene creature; + "Clerkes wite the sothe, + That al the clergie under Crist + Ne myghte me cracche fro helle, + But oonliche love and leautee, + And my laweful domes. + + "Gregorie wiste this wel, + And wilned to my soule 6870 + Savacion for soothnesse + That he seigh in my werkes; + And after that he wepte, + And wilned me were graunted + Grace; withouten any bene biddyng + His boone was under-fongen, + And I saved, as ye see, + Withouten syngynge of masses. + By love and by lernyng + Of my lyvynge, in truthe, 6880 + Broughte me fro bitter peyne + Ther no biddyng myghte." + + Lo! ye lordes, what leautee dide + By an emperour of Rome, + That was an uncristene creature, + As clerkes fyndeth in bokes. + Nought thorugh preiere of a pope, + But for his pure truthe, + Was that Sarsen saved. + As seint Gregorie bereth witnesse. 6890 + + Wel oughte ye, lordes, that lawes kepe, + This lesson to have in mynde, + And on Trojanus truthe to thenke, + {212} + And do truthe to the peple. + "Lawe, withouten love," quod Trojanus, + "Ley ther a bene, + Or any science under sonne, + The sevene artz and alle, + But thei ben lerned for oure Lordes love, + Lost is al the tyme;" 6900 + For no cause to cacche silver therby, + Ne to be called a maister, + But al for love of oure Lord, + And the bet to love the peple, + For seint Johan seide it, + And sothe arn hise wordes. + _Qui non diligit, manet in morte._ + + Who so loveth noght, leve me, + He lyveth in deep deyinge; + And that alle manere men, 6910 + Enemyes and frendes, + Love hir eyther oother, + And leve hem, as hemselve, + Who so leveth noght, he loveth noght, + God woot the sothe! + Crist comaundeth ech a creature + To conformen hym to lovye, + And sovereynly the povere peple, + And hir enemyes after. + For hem that haten us 6920 + Is oure merite to lovye, + And povere peple to plese, + Hir preieres maye us helpe. + And oure joye and oure heele + Jhesu Crist of hevene + In a povere mannes apparaille + Pursued us evere; + {213} + And loketh on us in hir liknesse, + And that with lovely chere, + To knowen us by oure kynde herte 6930 + And castynge of oure eighen, + Wheither we love the lordes here + Bifore the Lord of blisse; + And exciteth us by the Euvangelie + That whan we maken festes, + We sholde noght clepe oure kyn therto, + Ne none kynnes riche. + _Cum facitis convivia, nolite invitare amicos._ = + "Ac calleth the carefulle therto, 6940 + The croked and the povere. + For youre frendes wol feden yow, + And fonde yow to quyte + Youre festynge and youre faire gifte; + Ech frend quyteth so oother. + + "Ac for the povere I shal paie, + And pure wel quyte hir travaille, + That gyveth hem mete or moneie, + Or loveth hem for my sake." + For the beste ben som riche, 6950 + And some beggeres and povere. + For alle are we Cristes creatures, + And of his cofres riche, + And bretheren as of oo blood, + As wel beggeres as erles. + For on Calvarie of Cristes blood + Cristendom gan sprynge, + And blody bretheren we bicomen there + Of o body y-wonne, + As _quasi modo geniti_, 6960 + And gentil-men echone; + {214} + No beggere ne boye amonges us, + But if it synne made. + _Qui facit peccatum, servus est peccati._ + + "In the olde lawe, + As holy lettre telleth, + Mennes sones + Men callen us echone, + Of Adames issue and Eve, + Ay til God man deide; 6970 + And after his resurexcion + _Redemptor_ was his name, + And we hise bretheren thorugh hym y-brought, + Bothe riche and povere. + + "For-thi love we as leve bretheren, + And ech man laughe of oother; + And of that ech man may forbere + Amende there it nedeth; + And every man helpe oother, + For hennes shul we alle. 6980 + _Alter alterius onera portate._ + + "And be we noght un-kynde of oure catel, = + Ne of oure konnyng neither. + For woot no man how neigh it is + To ben y-nome fro bothe. + For-thi lakke no lif oother, + Though he moore Latyn knowe; + Ne under-nyme noght foule; + For is noon withoute defaute. 6990 + For what evere clerkes carpe + Of cristendom or ellis, + Crist to a commune womman seide, + In commune at a feste, + {215} + That _fides sua_ sholde saven hire, + And salven hire of synnes. + + "Thanne is bileve a lele help, + Above logyk or lawe. + Of logyk or of lawe + In _Legenda Sanctorum_ 7000 + Is litel alowaunce maad, + But if bileve hem helpe. + For it is over longe er logyk + Any lesson assoille; + And lawe is looth to lovye, + But if he lacche silver. + Bothe logyk and lawe, + That loveth noght to lye, + I conseille alle cristene + Clyve noght theron to soore; 7010 + For some wordes I fynde writen, + That were of feithes techyng, + That saved synful men, + As seint Johan bereth witnesse. + _Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, + remetietur vobis._ + + "For-thi lerne we the lawe of love, + As oure Lord taughte, + And as seint Gregorie seide + For mannes soule helthe: 7020 + _Melius est scrutari scelera nostra, + quam naturas rerum._ + + "Why I meve this matere, + Is moost for the povere; + For in hir liknesse oure Lord + Ofte hath ben y-knowe. + Witnesse in the Pask wyke + Whan he yede to Emaüs; + {216} + Cleophas ne knew hym noght + That he Crist were, 7030 + For his povere apparaille, + And pilgrymes wedes, + Til he blessede and brak + The breed that thei eten; + So bi hise werkes thei wisten + That he was Jhesus, + Ac by clothyng thei knewe hym noght, + Ne by carpynge of tunge. + And al was in ensample + To us synfulle here, 7040 + That we sholde be lowe + And loveliche of speche, + And apparaille us noght over proudly, + For pilgrymes are we alle. + + "And in the apparaille of a povere man, + And pilgrymes liknesse, + Many tyme God hath ben met + Among nedy peple, + Ther nevere segge hym seigh + In secte of the riche. 7050 + + "Seint Johan and othere seintes + Were seyen in poore clothyng, + And as povere pilgrymes + Preyed mennes goodes. + + "Jhesu Crist on a Jewes doghter lighte, + Gentil womman though she were, + Was a pure povere maide, + And to a povere man y-wedded. + + "Martha on Marie Maudeleyne + An huge pleynt made, 7060 + And to oure Saveour self + Seide thise wordes: + {217} + _Domine, non est tibi curæ quod + soror mea reliquit me solam + ministrare._ + + "And hastily God answerde, + And eitheres wille folwed, + Bothe Marthaes and Maries, + As Mathew bereth witnesse; + Ac poverte God putte bifore, 7070 + And preised that the bettre. + _Maria optimam partem elegit, quæ non, etc._ = + + "And alle the wise that evere were, + By aught I kan aspye, + Preiseden poverte for best lif, + If pacience it folwed, + And bothe bettre and blesseder + By many fold than richesse. + For though it be sour to suffre, 7080 + Therafter cometh swete; + As on a walnote withoute + Is a bitter barke, + And after that bitter bark, + Be the shelle aweye, + Is a kernel of confort + Kynde to restore. + + "So is after poverte or penaunce + Paciently y-take; + For it maketh a man to have mynde 7090 + In God, and a gret wille + To wepe and to wel bidde, + Wherof wexeth mercy, + Of which Crist is a kernelle + To conforte the soule. + And wel sikerer he slepeth, + {218} + The man that is povere, + And lasse he dredeth deeth, + And in derke to ben y-robbed, + Than he that is right riche, 7100 + Reson bereth witnesse. + _Pauper ego ludo, dum tu dives meditaris._ = + + "Al though Salomon seide, + As folk seeth in the Bible, + _Divitias nec paupertates, etc._ + Wiser than Salomon was + Bereth witnesse and taughte + That parfit poverte was + No possession to have, 7110 + And lif moost likynge to God, + As Luc bereth witnesse: + _Si vis perfectus esse, vade et vende._ + + "And is to mene to men + That on this moolde lyven, + Who so wole be pure parfit + Moot possession forsake, + Or selle it, as seith the Book, + And the silver dele + To beggeris that goon and begge 7120 + And bidden good for Goddes love. + For failed nevere man mete + That myghtful God serveth, + As David seith in the Sauter + To swiche that ben in wille + To serve God goodliche, + Ne greveth hym no penaunce: + _Nihil inpossibile volenti._ + Ne lakketh nevere liflode, + Lynnen ne wollen. 7130 + {219} + _Inquirentes autem Dominum non + minuentur omni bono._ + + "If preestes weren parifite, + Thei wolde ne silver take + For masses ne for matyns, + Noght hir mete of usureres, + Ne neither kirtel ne cote, + Theigh thei for cold sholde deye, + And thei hir devoir dide, + As David seith in the Sauter: 7140 + _Judica me, Deus, et decerne causam meam._ = + + "_Spera-in-Deo_ speketh of preestes + That have no spendyng silver, + That if thei travaille truweliche + And truste in God almyghty, + Hem sholde lakke no liflode, + Neyther lynnen ne wollen. + And the title that ye take ordres by + Telleth ye ben avaunced; 7150 + Thanne nedeth yow noght to take silver + For masses that ye syngen. + For he that took yow youre title, + Sholde take yow youre wages, + Or the bisshop that blessed yow, + If that ye ben worthi. + + "For made nevere kyng no knyght, + But he hadde catel to spende + As bifel for a knyght, + Or foond hym for his strengthe. 7160 + It is a careful knyght, + And of a caytif kynges makyng, + That hath no lond ne lynage riche, + Ne good loos of hise handes. + {220} + + "The same I segge, for sothe, + By alle swiche preestes + That han neither konnynge ne kyn, + But a crowne one, + And a title, a tale of noght, + To his liflode at his meschief. 7170 + He hath moore bileve, as I leve, + To lacche through his croune + Cure, than for konnyng, + Or knowen for clene berynge. + I have wonder for why + And wherefore the bisshope + Maketh swiche preestes, + That lewed men bitrayen. + + "A chartre is chalangeable + Bifore a chief justice; 7180 + If fals Latyn be in the lettre, + The lawe it impugneth, + Or peynted parentrelynarie, + Or percelles over-skipped; + The gome that gloseth so chartres + For a goky is holden. + + "So is it a goky, by God! + That in his gospel failleth, + Or in masse or in matyns + Maketh any defaut. 7190 + _Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus._ = + + "And also in the Sauter + Seith David to over-skipperis, + _Psallite Deo nostro, psallite, quoniam + rex terræ Deus Israel, + psallite sapienter._ + + "The bisshop shal be blamed + {221} + Bifore God, as I leve, + That crouneth swiche Goddes knyghtes 7200 + That konneth noght _sapienter_ + Synge, ne psalmes rede, + Ne seye a masse of the day. + And never neither is blame-lees + The bisshope ne the chapeleyn; + For hir either is endited, + And that is, _ignorantia + Non excusat episcopos + Nec idiotes_ preestes. + + "This lokynge on lewed preestes 7210 + Hath doon me lepe from poverte, + The which I preise ther pacience is + Moore perfit than richesse." + + Ac muche moore in metynge thus + With me gan oon dispute; + And slepynge I seigh al this. + And sithen cam Kynde, + And nempned me by my name, + And bad me nymen hede, + And thorugh the wondres of this world 7220 + Wit for to take. + And on a mountaigne that myddel-erthe + Highte, as me thoughte, + I was fet forth + By ensamples to knowe + Thorugh ech a creature and kynde + My creatour to lovye. + + I seigh the sonne and the see, + And the sond after; + And where that briddes and beestes 7230 + {222} + By hir makes yeden; + Wilde wormes in wodes, + And wonderful foweles + With fleckede fetheres + And of fele colours. + + Man and his make + I myghte bothe biholde; + Poverte and plentee; + Bothe pees and werre; + Blisse and bale bothe 7240 + I seigh al at ones; + And how men token mede, + And mercy refused. + + Reson I seigh soothly + Sewen alle beestes, + In etynge, in drynkynge, + And in engendrynge of kynde; + And after cours of concepcion, + Noon took kepe of oother + As whan thei hadde ryde in rotey tyme, 7250 + Anoon right therafter + Males drowen hem to males + A-morwenynges by hemselve, + And in evenynges also + The males ben fro femelles. + Ther ne was cow ne cow-kynde + That conceyved hadde, + That wolde belwe after boles, + Ne boor after sowe; + Bothe hors and houndes, 7260 + And alle othere beestes, + Medled noght with hir makes + That with fole were. + + Briddes I biheld + {223} + That in buskes made nestes, + Hadde nevere wye wit + To werche the leeste. + I hadde wonder at whom + And wher the pye lerned + To legge the stikkes 7270 + In whiche she leyeth and bredeth. + Ther nys wrighte, as I wene, + Sholde werche hir nestes to paye; + If any mason made a molde therto, + Muche wonder it were. + + Ac yet me merveilled moore, + How many othere briddes + Hidden and hileden + Hir egges ful derne + In mareys and moores, 7280 + For men sholde hem noght fynde; + And hidden hir egges, + Whan thei therfro wente, + For fere of othere foweles, + And for wilde beestes. + + And some troden hir makes, + And on trees bredden, + And broughten forth hir briddes so + Al above the grounde; + And some briddes at the bile 7290 + Thorugh brethyng conceyved; + And some caukede; and took kepe + How pecokkes bredden. + Muche merveilled me + What maister hem made, + And who taughte hem on trees + To tymbre so heighe, + Ther neither burn ne beest + {224} + May hir briddes rechen. + + And sithen I loked upon the see, 7300 + And so forth upon the sterres; + Manye selkouthes I seigh, + Ben noght to seye nouthe. + + I seigh floures in the fryth, + And hir faire colours; + And how among the grene gras + Growed so manye hewes, + And some soure and some swete, + Selkouth me thoughte; + Of hir kynde and hir colour 7310 + To carpe it were to longe. + + Ac that moost meved me + And my mood chaunged, + That Reson rewarded + And ruled alle beestes, + Save man and his make; + Many tyme and ofte + No reson hem folwede. + And thanne I rebukede + Reson, and right 7320 + Til hymselven I seyde: + "I have wonder of thee," quod I, + "That witty art holden, + Why thow ne sewest man and his make, + That no mysfeet hem folwe." + + And Reson a-rated me, + And seide, "Recche thee nevere; + Why I suffre or noght suffre, + Thiself hast noght to doone. + Amende thow it, if thow myght, 7330 + For my tyme is to abide. + Suffraunce is a soverayn vertue, + {225} + And a swift vengeance. + Who suffrede moore than God?" quod he; + "No gome, as I leeve. + He myghte amende in a minute while + Al that mys-standeth; + Ac he suffreth for som mannes goode, + And so it is oure bettre, + The wise and the witty 7340 + Wroot thus in the Bible: + _De re quæ te non molestat, noli certare._ + + "For be a man fair or foul, = + It falleth noght for to lakke + The shap ne the shaft + That God shoop hymselve; + For al that he dide was wel y-do, + As holy writ witnesseth: + _Et vidit Deus cuncta quæ fecerat, et 7350 + erant valde bona._ + + "And bad every creature + In his kynde encreesse; + Al to murthe with man, + That moste wo tholie + In fondynge of the flessh, + And of the fend bothe. + For man was maad of swich a matere, + He may noght wel a-sterte + That ne som tyme hym bitit 7360 + To folwen his kynde. + Caton a-cordeth therwith, + _Nemo sine crimine vivit._" + + Tho caughte I colour anoon, + And comsed to ben ashamed, + And awaked therwith. + {226} + Wo was me thanne, + That I in metels ne myghte + Moore have y-knowen. + And thanne seide I to myself, 7370 + And chidde that tyme, + "Now I woot what Do-wel is," quod I, + "By deere God! as me thynketh." + + And as I caste up myne eighen, + Oon loked on me and asked + Of me, what thynge it were: + "Y-wis, sire," I seide, + "To se muche and suffre moore, + Certes," quod I, "is Do-wel." + + "Haddestow suffred," he seide, 7380 + "Slepynge tho thow were, + Thow sholdest have knowen that Clergie kan, + And contreved moore thorugh reson. + For Reson wolde have reherced thee + Right as Clergie seide. + Ac for thyn entre-metynge, + Here artow forsake. + _Philosophus esses, si tacuisses._ + + "Adam, whiles he spak noght, + Hadde paradis at wille; 7390 + Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete, + And entre-metede to knowe + The wisedom and the wit of God, + He was put fram blisse. + + "And right so ferde Reson bi thee; + Thow with thi rude speche + Lakkedest and losedest thyng + That longed the noght to doone. + Tho hadde he no likyng + For to lere the moore. 7400 + {227} + + "Pryde now and presumpcion + Peraventure wol thee appele, + That Clergie thi compaignye + Kepeth noght to suwe. + Shal nevere chalangynge ne chidynge + Chaste a man so soone, + As shal shame, and shenden hym, + And shape hym to amende. + For lat a dronken daffe + In a dyk falle, 7410 + Lat hym ligge, loke noght on hym, + Til hym liste aryse. + For though Reson rebuked hym thanne, + It were but pure synne. + Ac whan nede nymeth hym up + For doute lest he sterve, + And shame shrapeth hise clothes, + And hise shynes wassheth. + Thanne woot the dronken daffe + Wherfore he is to blame." 7420 + + "Ye siggen sooth," quod I; + "Ich have y-seyen it ofte, + Ther smyt no thyng so smerte, + Ne smelleth so soure, + As shame, there he sheweth hym; + For every man hym shonyeth. + Why ye wisse me thus," quod I, + "Was for I rebuked Reson." + + "Certes," quod he, "that is sooth;" + And shoop hym for to walken. 7430 + And I aroos up right with that, + And folwed hym after, + And preyde hym of his curteisie + To telle me his name. 7434 + + * * * * * + +{228} + + _Passus Duodecimus, etc._ + + "Iam Ymaginatif," quod he, 7435 + "Ydel was I nevere, + Though I sitte by myself, + In siknesse nor in helthe. + I have folwed thee, in feith! + Thise fyve and fourty wynter, 7440 + And manye tymes have meved thee + To thynke on thyn ende, + And how fele fernyeres are faren, + And so fewe to come; + And of thi wilde wantownesse + Tho thow yong were, + To amende it in thi middel age, + Lest myght the failled + In thyn olde elde, + That yvele kan suffre 7450 + Poverte or penaunce, + Or preyeres to bidde. + _Si non in prima vigilia, nec in secunda, etc._ = + + "Amende thee, while thow myght; + Thow hast ben warned ofte + With poustees of pestilences, + With poverte and with angres; + {229} + And with thise bittre baleises + God beteth his deere children. 7460 + _Quem diligo, castigo._ + + "And David in the Sauter seith + Of swiche that loveth Jhesus: + _Virga tua et baculus tuus ipsa me consolati sunt._ = + + "Al though thow strike me with thi staf, + With stikke or with yerde, + It is but murthe as for me, + To amende my soule. + And thow medlest thee with makynges, 7470 + And myghtest go seye thi Sauter, + And bidde for hem that gyveth thee breed, + For ther are bokes y-knowe + To telle men what Do-wel is, + Do-bet and Do-best bothe, + And prechours to preven what it is + Of many a peire freres." + + I seigh wel he seide me sooth; + And som what me to excuse, + Seide Caton conforted me his sone, 7480 + That clerk though he were, + To solacen hym som tyme, + As I do whan I make: + _Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis._ + + "And of holy men I herde, quod I," = + "How thei outher while + Pleyden the parfiter, + To ben in manye places, + Ac if ther were any wight 7490 + That wolde me telle + What were Do-wel and Do-bet + {230} + And Do-best at the laste, + Wolde I nevere do werk, + But wende to holi chirche, + And ther bidde my bedes, + But whan ich ete or slepe." + + "Poul in his pistle," quod he, + "Preveth what is Do-wel: + _Fides, spes, caritas, et major horum, etc._ = + Feith, hope, and charité; 7502 + And alle ben goode, + And saven men sondry tymes; + Ac noon so soone as charité. + For he dooth wel withouten doute, + That dooth as lewté techeth; + That is, if thow be man maryed, + Thi make thow lovye, + And lyve forth as lawe wole, 7510 + While ye lyven bothe. + + "Right so if thow be religious, + Ren thow nevere ferther + To Rome ne to Rochemador, + But as thi rule techeth; + And hold thee under obedience, + That heigh wey is to hevene. + + "And if thow be maiden to marye, + And myght wel continue, + Seke thow nevere seint ferther 7520 + For no soule helthe. + For what made Lucifer + To lese the heighe hevene? + Or Salomon his sapience, + Or Sampson his strengthe? + Job the Jew his joye + {231} + Ful deere a-boughte; + Aristotle and othere mo, + Ypocras and Virgile; + Alisaundre, that al wan, 7530 + Elengliche ended. + Catel and kynde wit + Was combraunce to hem alle. + + "Felice hir fairnesse + Fel hire al to sclaundre; + And Rosamounde right so, + Reufulliche to bileve, + The beauté of hir body + In baddenesse she despended. + Of manye swiche I may rede, 7540 + Of men and of wommen, + That wise wordes wolde shewe, + And werche the contrarie. + _Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes._ = + + "And riche renkes right so + Gaderen and sparen, + And tho men that thei moost haten + Mynistren it at the laste. + And for thei suffren and see 7550 + So manye nedy folkes, + And love hem noght as oure Lord bit, + Thei lesen hir soules. + _Date et dabitur vobis._ + + "And richesse right so, + But if the roote be trewe. + Ac grace is a gras therof + Tho grevaunces to abate. + Ac grace ne groweth noght + But amonges lowe; 7560 + {232} + Pacience and poverte + The place highte ther it groweth, + And in lele lyvynge men, + And in lif holy, + And thorugh the gifte of the Holy Goost, + As the Gospel telleth. + _Spiritus ubi vult spirat._ + + "Clergie and kynde wit + Cometh of sighte and techyng; + As the book bereth witnesse 7570 + To burnes that kan rede. + _Quod scimus loquimur, quod vidimus testamur._ = + + "Of _quod scimus_ cometh clergie + And konnynge of hevene; + And of _quod vidimus_ cometh kynde wit, + Of sighte of diverse peple. + Ac grace is a gifte of God, + And of greet love spryngeth; + Knew nevere clerk how it cometh forth, 7580 + Ne kynde wit the weyes. + _Nescit aliquis unde venit, aut quo vadit, etc._ = + + "Ac yet is clergie to comende, + And kynde wit bothe; + And namely clergie, for Cristes love + That of clergie is roote. + For Moyses witnesseth that God wroot + For to wisse the peple + In the olde lawe, as the lettre telleth, 7590 + That was the lawe of Jewes, + That what womman were in avoutrye taken, + Were she riche or poore, + With stones men sholde hir strike, + {233} + And stone hire to dethe. + + "A womman, as I fynde, + Was gilty of that dede. + Ac Crist of his curteisie + Thorugh clergie hir saved; + And thorugh caractes that Crist wroot, 7600 + The Jewes knewe hemselve + Giltier as a-fore God, + And gretter in synne, + Than the womman that there was, + And wenten awey for shame. + + "The clergie that there was, + Conforted the womman. + Holy kirke knoweth this, + That Cristes writyng saved hire. + So clergie is confort 7610 + To creatures that repenten, + And to mansede men + Meschief at hire ende. + + "For Goddes body myghte noght ben + Of breed, withouten clergie; + The which body is bothe + Boote to the rightfulle, + And deeth and dampnacion + To hem that deyeth yvele, + As Cristes caracte confortede, 7620 + And bothe coupable shewed, + The womman that the Jewes broughte, + That Jhesus thoughte to save. + _Nolite judicare, et non judicabimini._ + Right so Goddes body, bretheren, + But if it be worthili taken, + Dampneth us at the day of dome, + {234} + As the caractes dide the Jewes. + + "For-thi I counseille thee, for Cristes sake, + Clergie that thow lovye. 7630 + For kynde wit is of his kyn, + And neighe cosynes bothe + To oure Lord, leve me; + For-thi love hem, I rede. + For bothe ben as mirours + To amenden oure defautes, + And lederes for lewed men + And for lettred bothe. + + "For-thi lakke thow nevere logik, + Lawe ne hise custumes; 7640 + Ne countreplede clerkes, + I counseille thee for evere. + For as a man may noght see, + That mysseth hise eighen; + Na-moore kan no clerk, + But if he caughte it first thorugh bokes. + Al though men made bokes, + God was the maister, + And seint spirit the samplarie, + And seide what men sholde write. 7650 + + "Right so ledeth lettrure + Lewed men to reson; + And as a blynd man in bataille + Bereth wepne to fighte, + And hath noon hap with his ax + His enemy to hitte, + Na-moore kan a kynde witted man, + But clerkes hym teche, + Come for al his kynde wit + To cristendom, and be saved. 7660 + {235} + Which is the cofre of Cristes tresor, + And clerkes kepe the keyes + To unloken it at hir likyng, + And to the lewed peple + Gyve mercy for hire mysdedes, + If men it wolde aske + Buxomliche and benigneliche, + And bidden it of Grace. + + "_Archa Dei_ in the olde lawe + Levytes it kepten; 7670 + Hadde nevere lewed man leve + To leggen hond on that cheste, + But he were preest or preestes sone, + Patriark or prophete. + For clergie is kepere + Under Crist of hevene. + Was ther nevere no knyght, + But clergie hym made. + Ac kynde wit cometh + Of alle kynnes syghtes, 7680 + Of briddes and of beestes, + Of tastes of truthe and of deceites. + + "Lyveris to-forn us + Useden to marke + For selkouthes that thei seighen, + Hir sones for to teche; + And helden it an heigh science + Hir wittes to knowe. + Ac thorugh hir science soothly + Was nevere no soule y-saved, 7690 + Ne broght by hir bokes + To blisse ne to joye; + For alle hir kynde knowynges + Come but of diverse sightes. + {236} + + "Patriarkes and prophetes + Repreveden hir science, + And seiden hir wordes and hir wisdomes + Nas but a folye; + And to the clergie of Crist + Counted it but a trufle. 7700 + _Sapientia hujus mundi stultitia est apud Deum._ = + + "For the heighe Holy Goost + Hevene shal to-cleve, + And love shall lepen out after + Into the lowe erthe; + And clennesse shal cacchen it, + And clerkes shullen it fynde. + _Pastores loquebantur ad invicem._ + + "He speketh there of riche men right noght, 7710 + Ne of right witty, + Ne of lordes that were lewed men, + But of the hyeste lettred oute. + _Ibant magi ab oriente._ + + "If any frere were founde there, + I gyve thee fyve shillynges; + Ne in none burgeises cote + Was that barn born; + But in a burgeises place + Of Bethlem the beste. 7720 + _Sed non erat ei locus in diversorio, et + pauper non habet diversorium._ + + "To pastours and to poetes + Appered the aungel, + And bad hem go to Bethlem + Goddes burthe to honoure; + And songe a song of solas, + _Gloria in excelsis Deo!_ + {237} + + "Clerkes knewen it wel, + And comen with hir presentz, 7730 + And diden homage honurably + To hym that was almyghty. + + "Why I have tolde al this, + I took ful good hede + How thow contrariedest Clergie + With crabbede wordes, + How that lewde men lightloker + Than lettrede were saved, + Than clerkes or kynde witted men + Of cristene peple; 7740 + And thow seidest sooth of somme, + Ac se in what manere. + + "Tak two stronge men, + And in Themese cast hem, + And bothe naked as a nedle, + Her noon sikerer than oother; + That oon hath konnynge and kan + Swymmen and dyven; + That oother is lewed of that labour, + That lerned nevere swymme; 7750 + Which trowestow of tho two + That is in moost drede? + He that nevere ne dyved, + Ne noght kan of swymmyng? + Or the swymmere that is saaf + By so hymself like, + Ther his felawe fleteth forth + As the flood liketh, + And is in drede to drenche, + That nevere dide swymme?" 7760 + + "That swymme kan noght," I seide, + "It semeth to my wittes." + {238} + + "Right so," quod the renk. + "Reson it sheweth, + That he that knoweth clergie + Kan sonner arise + Out of synne, and be saaf, + Though he synne ofte, + If hym liketh and lest, + Than any lewed leelly. 7770 + For if the clerk be konnynge, + He knoweth what is synne, + And how contricion withoute confession + Conforteth the soule; + As thow seest in the Sauter, + In Salmes oon or tweyne, + How contricion is comended, + For it cacheth awey synne. + _Beati quorum remissæ sunt iniquitates, + et quorum tecta sunt, etc._ 7780 + + "And this conforteth ech a clerk, + And covereth hym fro wanhope. + In which flood the fend + Fondeth a man hardest. + Ther the lewed lith stille, + And loketh after lente, + And hath no contricion er he come to shrifte, + And thanne kan he litel telle, + But as his lores-man lereth hym + Bileveth and troweth; 7790 + And that is after person or parissh preest, + The whiche ben peraventure + Unkonnynge to lere lewed men, + As Luc bereth witnesse: + _Dum cæcus ducit cæcum, etc._ + + "Wo was hym marked + {239} + That wade moot with the lewed! + Wel may the barn blesse that man + That hym to book sette, + That lyvynge after lettrure 7800 + Saveth hym lif and soule. + _Dominus pars hereditatis meæ_, + Is a murye verset, + That hath take fro Tybourne + Twenty stronge theves; + Ther lewed theves ben lolled up, + Loke how thei be saved. + + "The thef that hadde grace of God + On Good-friday, as thow spekest, + Was for he yald hym creaunt to Crist on the cros, 7810 + And knewliched hym gilty, + And grace asked of God, + That to graunten it is redy + To hem that buxomliche biddeth it, + And ben in wille to amenden. + Ac though that theef hadde hevene, + He hadde noon heigh blisse, + As seint Johan and othere seintes + That deserved hadde bettre. + + "Right as som man yeve me mete, 7820 + And a-mydde the floor sette me, + And hadde mete moore than y-nough, + Ac noght so muche worshipe + As tho that seten at the syde table, + Or with the sovereynes of the halle; + But sete as a beggere bord-lees + By myself on the grounde. + So it fareth by that felon + {240} + That a Good-friday was saved. + He sit neither with seint Johan, 7830 + Symond ne Jude, + Ne with maydenes ne with martires, + Confessours ne wydewes; + But by hymself as a soleyn, + And served on erthe. + For he that is ones a thef + Is evere moore in daunger, + And, as lawe liketh, + To lyve or to deye. + _De peccato propitiato, noli esse sine metu._ = + And for to serven a seint 7842 + And swich a thef togideres, + It were neither reson ne right + To rewarde hem bothe y-liche. + + "And right as Trojanus the trewe knyght + Dwelte noght depe in helle, + That oure Lord ne hadde hym lightly out, + So leve I the thef be in hevene. + For he is in the loweste of hevene, 7850 + If oure bileve be trewe; + And wel loselly he lolleth there, + By the lawe of holy chirche. + _Qui reddit unicuique juxta opera sua, etc._ = + + "And why that oon theef on the cros + Creaunt hym yald + Rather than that oother theef, + Though thow woldest appose, + Alle the clerkes under Crist 7860 + Ne kouthe the skile assoille. + _Quare placuit, quia voluit._ + {241} + + "And so I seye by thee + That sekest after the whyes, + And a-resonedest Reson + A rebukynge as it were; + And of the floures in the fryth, + And of hire faire hewes, + Wherof thei cacche hir colours + So clere and so brighte; 7870 + And willest of briddes and of beestes, + And of hir bredyng, to knowe, + Why some be a-lough and some a-loft, + Thi likyng it were; + And of the stones and of the sterres + Thow studiest, as I leve; + How evere beest outher brid + Hath so breme wittes. + + "Clergie ne kynde wit + Ne knew nevere the cause; 7880 + Ac kynde knoweth the cause hymself, + And no creature ellis. + He is the pies patron, + And putteth it in hir ere + There the thorn is thikkest + To buylden and brede. + And kynde kenned the pecok + To cauken in swich a kynde; + And kenned Adam + To knowe his pryvé membres, 7890 + And taughte hym and Eve + To helien hem with leves. + + "Lewed men many tymes + Maistres thei apposen, + Why Adam ne hiled noght first + His mouth that eet the appul, + {242} + Rather than his likame a-logh; + Lewed asken thus clerkes. + + "Kynde knoweth whi he dide so, + Ac no clerk ellis, 7900 + Ac of briddes and of beestes + Men by olde tyme + Ensamples token and termes, + As telleth the poetes; + And that the faireste fowel + Foulest engendreth, + And feblest fowel of flight is + That fleeth or swymmeth; + And that the pecok and the pehen + Proude riche men bitokneth; 7910 + For the pecok, and men pursue hym, + May noght flee heighe, + For the trailynge of his tail + Overtaken is he soone, + And his flessh is foul flessh, + And his feet bothe, + And un-lovelich of ledene, + And looth for to here. + + "Right so the riche, + If he his richesse kepe, 7920 + And deleth it noght til his deeth-day, + The tail of alle sorwe + Right so as the pennes of the pecok + Peyneth hym in his flight. + So is possession peyne + Of pens and of nobles, + To alle hem that it holdeth, + Til hir tail be plukked. + + "And though the riche repente thanne + And bi-rewe the tyme 7930 + {243} + That evere he gadered so grete, + And gaf therof so litel; + Though he crye to Crist thanne + With kene wil, I leve, + His ledene be in oure Lordes ere + Like a pies chiteryng. + And whan his caroyne shal come + In cave to be buryed, + I leve it flawme ful foule + The fold al aboute, 7940 + And alle the othere ther it lith + Envenymeth thorugh his attre. + + "By the po feet is understande, + As I have lerned in Avynet, + Executours false frendes + That fulfille noght his wille + That was writen and thei witnesse + To werche right as it wolde. + Thus the poete preveth that the pecok + For hise fetheres is reverenced, 7950 + Right so is the riche + By reson of hise goodes. + + "The larke, that is a lasse fowel, + Is moore lovelich of ledene, + And wel a wey of wynge + Swifter than the pecok, + And of flessh by fele fold + Fatter and swetter; + To lowe libbynge men + The larke is resembled. 7960 + + "Aristotle the grete clerk + Swiche tales he telleth. + Thus he likneth in his logik + The leeste fowel oute, + {244} + And wheither he be saaf or noght saaf + The sothe woot no clergie, + Ne of Sortes ne of Salomon + No scripture kan telle. + Ac God is so good, I hope, + That siththe he gaf hem wittes 7970 + To wissen us weyes therwith + That wissen us to be saved, + And the bettre for hir bokes + To bidden we ben holden, + That God for his grace + Gyve hir soules reste. + For lettred men were lewed men yet, + Ne were loore of hir bokes." + + "Alle thise clerkes," quod I tho, + "That in Crist leven, 7980 + Seyen in hir sermons + That neither Sarsens ne Jewes + Ne no creature of Cristes liknesse + Withouten cristendom worth saved." + + "_Contra_," quod Ymaginatif thoo, + And comsed for to loure; + And seide "_Salvabitur + Vix justus in die judicii. + Ergo salvabitur_," quod he, + And seide na-moore Latyn. 7990 + + "Trojanus was a trewe knyght, + And took nevere Cristendom, + And he is saaf, so seith the book, + And his soule in hevene. + For ther is fullynge of font, + And fullynge in blood shedyng, + And thorugh fir is fullyng, + And that is ferme bileve. + {245} + _Advenit ignis divinus non comburens, + sed illuminans, etc._ 8000 + + "Ac Truthe that trespased nevere, + Ne traversed ayeins his lawe, + But lyveth as his lawe techeth, + And leveth ther be no bettre; + And if ther were, he wolde amende, + And in swich wille deieth, + Ne wolde nevere trewe god, + But truthe were allowed, + And wheither it be worth or noght worth, + The bileve is gret of truthe, 8010 + And an hope hangynge therinne + To have a mede for his truthe. + For _Deus dicitur quasi dans vitam + æternam suis, hoc est fidelibus. + Et alibi: Si ambulavero in + medio umbræ mortis._ + + "The glose graunteth upon that vers + A greet mede to Truthe, + And wit and wisdom," quod that wye, + "Was som tyme tresor 8020 + To kepe with a commune, + No catel was holde bettre, + And muche murthe and manhod;" + And right with that he vanysshed. 8024 + + * * * * * + +{246} + + _Passus Decimus Tertius, etc._ + + And I awaked therwith 8025 + Wit-lees ner-hande, + And as a freke that fre were + Forth gan I walke + In manere of a mendinaunt + Many a yer after, 8030 + And of this metyng many tyme + Muche thought I hadde. + + First how Fortune me failed + At my mooste nede; + And how that Elde manaced me, + Myghte we evere mete; + And how that freres folwede + Folk that was riche, + And folk that was povere + At litel pris thei sette; 8040 + And no corps in hir kirk-yerde + Nor in his kirk was buryed, + But quik he biquethe aught + To quyte with hir dettes; + And how this Coveitise over-com + Clerkes and preestes; + And how that lewed men ben lad, + But oure Lord hem helpe, + {247} + Thorugh un-konnynge curatours, + To incurable peynes. 8050 + + And how that Ymaginatif + In dremels me tolde + Of Kynde and of his konnynge, + And how curteis he is to bestes, + And how lovynge he is to briddes + On londe and on watre. + Leneth he no lif + Lasse ne moore. + The creatures that crepen + Of kynde ben engendred. 8060 + And sithen how Ymaginatif seide, + _Vix salvabitur_; + And whan he hadde seid so, + How sodeynliche he passed. + + I lay doun longe in this thoght, + And at the laste I slepte. + And as Crist wolde, ther com Conscience + To conforte me that tyme, + And bad me come to his court, + With Clergie sholde I dyne; 8070 + And for Conscience of Clergie spak, + I com wel the rather. + And there I seigh a maister, + What man he was I nyste, + That lowe louted + And loveliche to Scripture. + + Conscience knew hym wel, + And welcomed hym faire. + Thei wesshen and wipeden, + And wenten to the dyner. 8080 + And Pacience in the paleis stood + In pilgrymes clothes, + {248} + And preyde mete _par charité_ + For a povere heremyte. + + Conscience called hym in, + And curteisliche seide, + "Welcome! wye; go and wasshe; + Thow shalt sitte soone." + + This maister was maad sitte, + As for the mooste worthi. 8090 + And thanne Clergie and Conscience + And Pacience cam after. + + Pacience and I + Were put to be macches, + And seten bi oureselve + At the side borde. + + Conscience called after mete; + And thanne cam Scripture, + And served hem thus soone + Of sondry metes manye, 8100 + Of Austyn, of Ambrose, + And of the foure Euvangelistes, + _Edentis et bibentis quæ apud eos sunt._ = + + Ac this maister nor his man + No maner flesshe eten; + Ac thei eten mete of moore cost, + Mortrews and potages + Of that men mys-wonne + Thei made hem wel at ese. 8110 + Ac hir sauce was over sour, + And unsavourly grounde + In a morter _post mortem_ + Of many a bitter peyne, + But if thei synge for tho soules, + And wepe salte teris. + {249} + _Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis, + nisi pro eis lacrimas et orationes + effunderitis, ea quæ in + deliciis comeditis, in tormentis 8120 + evometis._ + + Conscience ful curteisly tho + Comaunded Scripture + Bifore Pacience breed to brynge + And me that was his macche. + He sette a sour loof to-forn us, + And seide, "_agite pænitentiam_." + "As longe," quod I, "as I lyve, + And lycame may dure." + "Here is propre service," quod Pacience, 8130 + "Ther fareth no prince bettre," + + And thanne he broughte us forth a mees of oother mete, + Of _Miserere mei, Deus_, + And he broughte us of _Beati quorum_, + Of _Beatus-virres_ makyng. + _Et quorum tecta sunt peccata_ in a disshe, + Of derne shrifte _Dixi et confitebor tibi_. + "Bryng Pacience som pitaunce," + Pryveliche quod Conscience. + + And thanne hadde Pacience a pitaunce. 8140 + _Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus + in tempore oportuno._ + And Conscience conforted us, + And carped us murye tales. + _Cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non despicies._ = + {250} + + Pacience was proud + Of that propre service, + And made hym murthe with his mete; + Ac I mornede evere, 8150 + For this doctour on the heighe dees + Drank wyn so faste. + _Væ vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum!_ = + He eet manye sondry metes, + Mortrews and puddynges, + Wombe-cloutes and wilde brawen, + And egges y-fryed with grece. + + Thanne seide I to myself so + Pacience it herde, 8160 + "It is noght foure dayes that this freke + Bifore the deen of Poules + Preched of penaunces + That Poul the apostle suffrede, + _In fame et frigore_ + And flappes of scourges." + _Ter cæsus sum, et a Judeis quinquies + quadragenas, etc._ + + Ac o word thei over-huppen + At ech a tyme that thei preche, 8170 + That Poul in his Pistle + To al the peple tolde: + _Periculum est in falsis fratribus._ + + Holi writ bit men be war, + I wol noght write it here + In Englisshe, on aventure + It sholde be reherced to ofte, + And greve therwith goode men, + Ac gramariens shul redde. + _Unusquisque a fratre se custodiat, 8180 + {251} + quia, ut dicitur, periculum est + in falsis fratribus._ + + Ac I wiste nevere freke that as a frere yede + Bifore men on Englisshe + Taken it for his teme, + And telle it withouten glosyng. + They prechen that penaunce is + Profitable to the soule, + And what meschief and _male ese_ + Crist for man tholede. 8190 + + "Ac this Goddes gloton," quod I, + "With hise grete chekes, + Hath no pité on us povere, + He perfourneth yvele; + That he precheth he preveth noght," + To Pacience I tolde, + And wisshed ful witterly, + With wille ful egre, + That disshes and doublers + Bifore this ilke doctour 8200 + Were molten leed in his mawe, + And Mahoun amyddes. + "I shal jangle to this jurdan + With his juste wombe, + To telle me what penaunce is, + Of which he preched rather." + + Pacience perceyved what I thoughte, + And wynked on me to be stille, + And seide, "Thow shalt see thus soone, + Whan he may na-moore, 8210 + He shal have a penaunce in his paunche, + {252} + And puffe at ech a worde; + And thanne shullen his guttes gothele, + And he shal galpen after. + For now he hath dronken so depe, + He wole devyne soone, + And preven it by hir Pocalips + And passion of seint Avereys, + That neither bacon ne braun, + Blancmanger ne mortrews, 8220 + Is neither fissh nor flesshe, + But fode for a penaunt + And thanne shal he testifie of the Trinité, + And take his felawe to witnesse, + What he fond in a frayel, + After a freres lyvyng; + And but he first lyve be lesyng, + Leve me nevere after. + And thanne is tyme to take, + And to appose this doctour 8230 + Of Do-wel and Do-bet, + And if Do-wel be any penaunce." + + And I sat stille, as Pacience seide, + And thus soone this doctour, + As rody as a rose, + Rubbede hise chekes, + Coughed and carped; + And Conscience hym herde, + And tolde hym of a Trinité, + And toward us he loked. 8240 + + "What is Do-wel, sire doctour?" quod I, + "Is it any penaunce?" + + "Do-wel," quod this doctour, + And took the cuppe and drank, + "Is do noon yvel to thyn even-cristen + {253} + Nought by thi power." + + "By this day! sire doctour," quod I, + "Thanne be ye noght in Do-wel; + For ye han harmed us two, + In that ye eten the puddyng, 8250 + Mortrews and oother mete, + And we no morsel hadde. + And if ye fare so in youre fermerye, + Ferly me thynketh, + But cheeste be ther charité sholde be. + And yonge children dorste pleyne, + I wolde permute my penaunce with youre, + For I am in point to Do-wel." + + Thanne Conscience curteisly + A contenaunce made, 8260 + And preynte upon Pacience + To preie me to be stille; + And seide hymself, "Sire doctour, + And it be youre wille, + What is Do-wel and Do-bet, + Ye dyvynours knoweth." + + "Do-wel," quod this doctour, + "Do as clerkes techeth; + And Do-bet is he that techeth, + And travailleth to teche othere; 8270 + And Do-best doth hymself so, + As he seith and precheth." + _Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur + in regno coelorum._ + + "Now thow, Clergie," quod Conscience, + "Carpest what is Do-wel. + I have sevene sones," he seide, + "Serven in a castel, + {254} + Ther the lord of lif wonyeth, + To leren what is Do-wel; 8280 + Til I se tho sevene + And myself acorde, + I am un-hardy," quod he, + "To any wight to preven it. + For oon Piers the Plowman + Hath impugned us alle, + And set alle sciences at a sope, + Save love one; + And no text ne taketh + To mayntene his cause, 8290 + But _Dilige Deum_, + And _Domine quis habitabit_. + And seith that Do-wel and Do-bet + Arn two infinités, + Whiche infinités, with a feith! + Fynden out Do-best, + Which shal save mannes soule; + Thus seith Piers the Plowman." + + "I kan noght heron," quod Conscience, + "Ac I knowe wel Piers; 8300 + He wol noght ayein holy writ speken, + I dar wel undertake. + Thanne passe we over til Piers come, + And preve this in dede. + Pacience hath be in many place, + And peraunter mouthed + That no clerk ne kan, + As Crist bereth witnesse: + _Patientes vincunt, etc._" + + "Ac youre preiere," quod Pacience tho, 8310 + "So no man displese hym. + _Disce_," quo he, "_Doce_, + {255} + _Dilige inimicos_. + _Disce_, and Do-wel; + _Doce_, and Do-bet; + _Dilige_, and Do-best; + Thus taughte me ones + A lemman that I lovede, + Love was hir name: + + "With wordes and with werkes," quod she, 8320 + "And wil of thyn herte, + Thow love leelly thi soule + Al thi lif tyme, + And so thow lere the to lovye, + For oure Lordes love of hevene, + Thyn enemy in alle wise + Evene forth with thiselve. + Cast coles on his heed + Of alle kynde speche, + Bothe with werkes and with wordes 8330 + Fonde his love to wynne; + And leye on him thus with love, + Til he laughe on the. + And but he bowe for this betyng, + Blynd mote he worthe. + + "Ac for to fare thus with thi frend, + Folie it were. + For he that loveth thee leelly, + Litel of thyne coveiteth. + Kynde love coveiteth noght 8340 + No catel but speche. + With halfe a laumpe lyne, + In Latyn, _Ex vi transitionis_, + I bere therinne aboute + Faste y-bounde Do-wel, + In a signe of the Saterday + {256} + That sette first the kalender, + And al the wit of the Wodnesday + Of the nexte wike after, + The myddel of the moone, 8350 + As the nyght of bothe, + And herwith am I welcome + Ther I have it with me, + + "Undo it, lat this doctour deme + If Do-wel be therinne. + For, by hym that me made! + Myghte nevere poverte + Misese ne meschief, + Ne no man with his tonge, + Coold ne care, 8360 + Ne compaignye of theves, + Ne neither hete ne hayl, + Ne noon helle pouke, + Ne fuyr ne flood, + Ne feere of thyn enemy, + Tene thee any tyme, + And thow take it with the. + _Caritas nihil timet, etc._" + + "It is but a dido," quod this doctour, + "A disours tale; 8370 + Al the wit of this world, + And wight mennes strengthe, + Kan noght conformen a pees + Bitwene and hise enemys, + Ne bitwene two cristene kynges + Kan no wight pees make + Profitable to either peple;" + And putte the table fro hym, + And took Clergie and Conscience + To conseil, as it were, 8380 + {257} + That Pacience thow most passe, + For pilgrymes konne wel lye. + + Ac Conscience carped loude, + And curteisliche seide, + "Frendes, fareth wel;" + And faire spak to Clergie, + "For I wol go with this gome, + If God wol yeve me grace, + And be pilgrym with Pacience, + Til I have preved moore." 8390 + + "What!" quod Clergie to Conscience, + "Ar ye coveitous nouthe + After yeres-geves, or giftes, + Or yernen to rede redels? + I shal brynge yow a Bible, + A book of the olde lawe, + And lere yow, if yow like, + The leeste point to knowe, + That Pacience the pilgrym + Parfitly knew nevere." 8400 + + "Nay, by Crist!" quod Conscience + To Clergie, "God thee for-yelde; + For al that Pacience me profreth + Proud am I litel. + Ac the wil of the wye, + And the wil of folk here, + Hath meved my mood + To moorne for my synnes. + The goode wil of a wight + Was nevere bought to the fulle. 8410 + For ther nys no tresour, for sothe, + To a trewe wille. + + "Hadde noght Maudeleyne moore + For a box of salve, + {258} + Than Zacheus for he seide + _Dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus?_ = + And the poore widewe + For a peire of mytes, + Than alle tho that offrede 8420 + Into _gazophilacium_?" + + Thus curteisliche Conscience + Congeyed first the frere, + And sithen softeliche he seide + In Clergies ere, + "Me were levere, by oure Lord! + And I lyve sholde, + Have pacience perfitliche, + Than half thi pak of bokes." + + Clergie of Conscience 8430 + No congie wolde take, + But seide ful sobreliche, + "Thow shalt se the tyme + Whan thow art wery of-walked, + Wille me to counseille." + + "That is sooth," quod Conscience, + "So me God helpe! + If Pacience be oure partyng felawe, + And pryvé with us bothe, + Ther nys wo in this world 8440 + That we ne sholde amende, + And conformen kynges to pees, + And alle kynnes londes; + Sarsens and Surré, + And so forth alle the Jewes, + Turne into the trewe feith, + And intil oon bileve." + + "That is sooth," quod Clergie, + {259} + "I se what thow menest; + I shal dwelle as I do, 8450 + My devoir to shewe, + And confermen fauntekyns, + And oother folk y-lered, + Til Pacience have preved thee, + And parfit thee maked." + + Conscience tho with Pacience passed, + Pilgrymes as it were. + Thanne hadde Pacience, as pilgrymes han, + In his poke vitailles, + Sobretee and symple speche, 8460 + And soothfast bileve, + To conforte hym and Conscience, + If thei come in place + There un-kyndenesse and coveitise is, + Hungry contrees bothe. + + And as the wente by the weye, + Of Do-wel thei carped; + Thei mette with a mynstral, + As me tho thoughte. + Pacience apposed hym first. 8470 + And preyde he sholde hem telle + To Conscience what craft he kouthe, + And to what contree he wolde. + + "I am a mynstrall," quod that man, + "My name is _Activa-vita_; + Al ydelnesse ich hatie, + For of actif is my name; + A wafrer, wol ye wite, + And serve manye lordes, + And fewe robes I fonge, 8480 + Or furrede gownes. + Couthe I lye to do men laughe, + {260} + Thanne lacchen I sholde + Outher mantel or moneie + Amonges lordes or mynstrals. + Ac for I kan neither taboure ne trompe, + Ne telle no gestes, + Farten ne fithelen + At festes, ne harpen, + Jape ne jogele, 8490 + Ne gentilliche pipe, + Ne neither saille ne saute, + Ne synge with the gyterne, + I have no goode giftes + Of thise grete lordes. + For no breed that I brynge forth, + Save a benyson on the Sonday + Whan the preest preieth the peple + Hir pater-noster to bidde + For Piers the Plowman, 8500 + And that hym profit waiten; + And that am I actif, + That ydelnesse hatie; + For alle trewe travaillours + And tiliers of the erthe, + Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmesse + I fynde hem with my wafres. + + "Beggeris and bidderis + Of my breed craven, + Faitours and freres, 8510 + And folk with brode crounes. + I fynde payn for the pope, + And provendre for his palfrey; + And I hadde nevere of hym, + Have God my trouthe! + Neither provendre ne personage + {261} + Yet of popes gifte, + Save a pardon with a peis of leed + And two polles amyddes. + Hadde ich a clerc that couthe write, 8520 + I wolde caste hym a bille, + That he sente me under his seel + A salve for the pestilence, + And that his blessynge and hise bulles + Bocches myghte destruye. + _In nomine meo dæmonia ejicient, et + super ægros manus imponent, et + bene habebunt._ + + "And thanne wolde I be prest to the peple + Paast for to make, 8530 + And buxom and busy + Aboute breed and drynke + For hym and for alle hise, + Founde I that his pardon + Mighte lechen a man, + As I bileve it sholde. + For sith he hath the power + That Peter hymself hadde, + He hath the pot with the salve, + Soothly as me thynketh. 8540 + _Argentum et aurum non est mihi; + quod autem habeo tibi do: in + nomine Domini surge et + ambula._ + + "Ac if myght of myracle hym faille, + It is for men ben noght worthi + To have the grace of God, + And no gilt of pope. + For may no blessynge doon us boote, + But if we wile amende, 8550 + {262} + Ne mannes masse make pees + Among cristene peple, + Til pride be pureliche for-do, + And thorugh payn defaute. + For er I have breed of mele, + Oft moot I swete; + And er the commune have corn y-nough, + Many a cold morwenyng. + So er my wafres be y-wroght, + Muche wo I tholye. 8560 + + "At Londone, I leve, + Liketh wel my wafres; + And louren whan thei lakken hem. + It is noght long y-passed, + There was a careful commune, + Whan no cart com to towne + With breed fro Stratforde; + Tho gonnen beggeris wepe, + And werkmen were agast a lite; + This wole be thought longe. 8570 + In the date of oure Drighte, + In a drye Aprille, + A thousand and thre hundred + Twies twenty and ten, + My wafres there were gesene + Whan Chichestre was maire." + + I took good kepe, by Crist! + And Conscience bothe, + Of Haukyn the actif man, + And how he was y-clothed. 8580 + He hadde a cote of Cristendom, + As holy kirke bileveth; + Ac it was moled in many places + With manye sondry plottes; + {263} + Of pride here a plot, + And there a plot of unbuxome speche, + Of scornyng and of scoffyng, + And of unskilful berynge, + As in apparaill and in porte + Proud amonges the peple, 8590 + Oother wise than he hym hath + With herte or sighte shewynge, + Hym willyng that alle men wende + He were that he is noght. + For-why he bosteth and braggeth + With manye bolde othes, + And inobedient to ben undernome + Of any lif lyvynge; + And noon so singuler by hymself, + Ne so pomp holy, 8600 + Y-habited as an heremyte, + An ordre by hymselve, + Religion saunz rule + Or resonable obedience, + Lakkynge lettrede men + And lewed men bothe + In likynge of lele lif, + And a liere in soule, + With inwit and with outwit + Ymagynen and studie, 8610 + As best for his body be + To have a badde name, + And entremetten hym over al + Ther he hath noght to doone, + Willynge that men wende + His wit were the beste. + And if he gyveth ought to povere gomes, + Telle what he deleth, + {264} + Povere of possession in purs + And in cofre bothe. 8620 + And as a lyoun on to loke, + And lordlich of speche, + Boldest of beggeris, + A bostere that noght hath, + In towne and in tavernes + Tales to telle, + And segge thyng that he nevere seigh, + And for sothe sweren it, + Of dedes that he nevere dide + Demen and bosten 8630 + And of werkes that he wel dide + Witnesse, and siggen-- + "Lo! if ye leve me noght, + Or that I lye wenen, + Asketh at hym or at hym, + And he yow kan telle + What I suffrede and seigh + And som tymes hadde, + And what I kouthe and knew, + And what kyn I com of." 8640 + Al he wolde that men wiste + Of werkes and of wordes + Which myghte plese the peple, + And preisen hymselve. + _Si hominibus placerem, Christi + servus non essem. Et alibi: + Nemo potest duobus dominis + servire._ + + "By Crist!" quod Conscience tho, + "Thi beste cote, Haukyn, 8650 + Hath manye moles and spottes, + It moste ben y-wasshe." + {265} + + "Ye, who so toke hede," quod Haukyn, + "Bihynde and bifore, + What on bak and what on body half, + And by the two sydes, + Men sholde fynde manye frounces, + And manye foule plottes." + + And he torned hym as tyd, + And thanne took I hede, 8660 + It was fouler bi fele fold + Than it first semed. + It was bi-dropped with wrathe + And wikkede wille, + With envye and yvel speche, + Entisynge to fighte, + Liynge and laughynge, + And leve tonge to chide, + Al that he wiste wikked + By any wight tellen it, 8670 + And blame men bihynde hir bak, + And bidden hem meschaunce, + And that he wiste by Wille + Tellen it Watte, + And that Watte wiste + Wille wiste it after, + And make of frendes foes + Thorugh a fals tonge, + Or with myght or with mouth, + Or thorugh mennes strengthe 8680 + Avenge me fele tymes, + Other frete myselve + Withinne as a shepsteres shere, + Y-sherewed man and cursed. + _Cujus maledictione os plenum est + et amaritudine, sub lingua ejus + {266} + labor et dolor. Et alibi: Filii + hominum, dentes eorum arma + et sagittæ, et lingua eorum + gladius acutus._ 8690 + + "Ther is no lif that me loveth + Lastynge any while; + For tales that I telle, + No man trusteth to me. + And whan I may noght have the maistrie, + Swich malencolie I take, + That I cacche the crampe, + And the cardiacle som tyme, + Or an ague in swich an angre, + And som tyme a fevere 8700 + That taketh me al a twelve monthe, + Til that I despise + Lechecraft of oure Lord, + And leve on a wicche, + And seye that no clerc ne kan, + Ne Crist, as I leve, + To the soutere of Southwerk, + Or of Shordyche dame Emme; + And seye that no Goddes word + Gaf me nevere boote, 8710 + But thorugh a charme hadde I chaunce + And my chief heele." + + I waitede wisloker, + And thanne was it soilled + With likynge of lecherie, + As by lokynge of his eighe. + For ech a maide that he mette + He made hire a signe + Semynge to synne-warde, + And some tyme he gan taste 8720 + {267} + Aboute the mouth, or bynethe + Bigynneth to grope, + Til eitheres wille wexeth kene, + And to the werke yeden, + As wel in fastyng dayes and Fridaies + As forboden nyghtes, + And as wel in Lente as out of Lente, + Alle tymes y-liche. + Swiche werkes with hem + Were nevere out of seson, 8730 + Til thei myghte na-moore; + And thanne murye tales, + And how that lecchours lovye + Laughen and japen, + And of hir harlotrye and horedom + In hir elde tellen. + + Thanne Pacience perceyved + Of pointes of this cote, + That were colomy thorugh coveitise + And unkynde desiryng; 8740 + Moore to good than to God + The gome his love caste, + And ymagynede how + He it myghte have + With false mesures and met, + And with fals witnesse; + Lened for love of the wed, + And looth to do truthe; + And awaited thorugh which + Wey to bigile, 8750 + And menged his marchaundise, + And made a good moustre; + "The worste withinne was, + A greet wit I let it, + {268} + And if my neghebore hadde any hyne, + Or any beest ellis, + Moore profitable than myn, + Manye sleightes I made + How I myghte have it, + Al my wit I caste. 8760 + And but I it hadde by oother wey, + At the laste I stale it; + Or priveliche his purs shook, + And unpikede hise lokes; + Or by nyghte or by daye + Aboute was ich evere, + Thorugh gile to gaderen + The good that ich have. + + "If I yede to the plowgh, + I pynched so narwe, 8770 + That a foot lond or a forow + Fecchen I wolde + Of my nexte neghebore, + And nymen of his erthe. + And if I repe, over-reche, + Of yaf hem reed that ropen + To seise to me with hir sikel + That I ne sew nevere. + + "And who so borwed of me, + A-boughte the tyme 8780 + With presentes prively, + Or paide som certeyn; + So he wolde or noght wolde, + Wynnen I wolde, + And bothe to kith and to kyn + Unkynde of that ich hadde. + + "And who so cheped my chaffare, + Chiden I wolde, + {269} + But he profrede to paie + A peny or tweyne 8790 + Moore than it was worth; + And yet wolde I swere + That it coste me muche moore, + And swoor manye othes. + + "On holy daies at holy chirche + Whan ich herde masse, + Hadde I nevere wille, woot God, + Witterly to biseche + Mercy for my mysdedes, + That I ne moorned moore 8800 + Nor losse of good, leve me, + Than for my likames giltes. + As if I hadde dedly synne doon, + I dredde noght that so soore, + As when I lened, and leved it lost, + Or longe er it were paied. + So if I kidde any kyndenesse + Myn even cristen to helpe, + Upon a cruwel coveitise + Myn herte gan hange. 8810 + + "And if I sente over see + My servauntz to Brugges, + Or into Pruce-lond my prentis, + My profit to waiten, + To marchaunden with moneie, + And maken hire eschaunges, + Mighte nevere me conforte. + In the mene while + Neither masse ne matynes, + No none maner sightes; 8820 + Ne nevere penaunce perfournede, + Ne pater-noster seide, + {270} + That my mynde ne was moore + On my good in a doute, + Than in the grace of God, + And hise grete helpes. + _Ubi thesaurus tuus, ibi et cor tuum._ + + "Whiche ben the braunches + That bryngen a man to sleuthe? + He that moorneth noght for hise mysdedes, 8830 + Ne maketh no sorwe, + And penaunce that the preest enjoyneth + Perfourneth yvele, + Dooth noon almesse, + Dred hym of no synne, + Lyveth ayein the bileve, + And no lawe holdeth, + Ech day is holy day with hym, + Or an heigh ferye; + And, if he aught wole here, 8840 + It is an harlotes tonge. + Whan men carpen of Crist, + Or of clennesse of soules, + He wexeth wroth and wol noght here + But wordes of murthe; + Penaunce of povere men, + And the passion of seintes, + He hateth to here therof, + And alle that it telleth. + Thise ben the braunches, beth war, 8850 + That bryngen a man to wanhope. + + "Ye lordes and ladies, + And legates of holy chirche, + That fedeth fooles sages, + Flatereris and lieris, + And han likynge to lithen hem + {271} + To do yow to laughe, + _Væ vobis qui ridetis, etc._ + And gyveth hem mete and mede, + And povere men refuse; 8860 + In youre deeth deyinge, + I drede me ful soore + Lest tho thre manner men + To muche sorwe yow brynge. + _Consentientes et agentes pari poena punientur._ = + + "Patriarkes and prophetes, + And prechours of Goddes wordes, + Saven thorugh hir sermons + Mannes soule fro helle. 8870 + Right so flatereris and fooles + Arn the fendes disciples + To entice men thorugh hir tales + To synne and to harlotrie. + Ac clerkes, that knowen holy writ, + Sholde kenne lordes + What David seith of swiche men, + As the Sauter telleth. + _Non habitabit in medio domus meæ, + qui facit superbiam, et qui 8880 + loquitur iniqua._ + + "Sholde noon harlot have audience + In halle nor in chambre, + Ther wise men were, + Witnesseth Goddes wordes, + Ne no mys-proud man + Amonges lordes ben allowed. + + "Ac flaterers and fooles + Thorugh hir foule wordes + Leden tho that loven hem 8890 + {272} + To Luciferis feste, + With _Turpiloquio_, a lady of sorwe, + And Luciferis fithele." + Thus Haukyn the actif man + Hadde y-soiled his cote, + Til Conscience acouped hym therof + In a curteis manere, + Why he ne hadde whasshen it, + Or wiped it with a brusshe. 8899 + + * * * * * + +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. EDINBURGH AND LONDON. + + * * * * * + +Notes + +[1] See the "Apocalypsis Goliæ" and other pieces in the poems of Walter +Mapes; the Order of Fair Ease in the Political Songs, and the Poems of +Rutebeuf; and, in English, the remarkable "Poem on the Evil Times of Edward +II." in the appendix to the Political Songs. The Poem entitled the Order of +Fair Ease bears some resemblance to the _Abbaye de Theleme_ of Rabelais. + +[2] This sentiment was perpetuated in a numerous class of ballads, in which +the monarch is represented as thrown incognito among the lower classes, as +listening to their expressions of loyalty and to the tale of their +sufferings. See the "Tale of King Edward and the Shepherd" in Hartshorne's +_Ancient Metrical Tales_; "The King and the Barker," in Ritson's _Pieces of +Ancient Popular Poetry_; "The King and the Miller," and "King Edward IV. +and the Tanner of Tamworth," in _Percy's Reliques_; &c. The earliest known +form of this tale is the story of "Henry II. and the Cistercian Abbot," +printed from Giraldus Cambrensis in the _Reliquiæ Antiquiæ_, vol. ii. p. +147. + +[3] It was at least a tradition early in the sixteenth century (for we have +no means now of ascertaining whether there were any substantial grounds for +the statement), that the author was named Robert Longlande (or Langlande), +that he was born at Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, and that (after +receiving his education at Oxford) he became a monk of Malvern. I do not +think, with Tyrwhitt and Price, that the name _Wil_, given in the poem to +the dreamer, necessarily shows that the writer's name was _William_; and +still less that the mention of "Kytte my wif" and "Calote my doghter" (p. +395 of the present volume), and of the dreamer's having resided at +Cornhill, refer to the family and residence of the author of the poem. If +he were a monk (as appears probable by his intimate acquaintance with the +Scriptures and the Fathers), he would not be married. Sir Frederick Madden +discovered a very important entry in a hand of the fifteenth century on the +fly-leaf of a manuscript of Piers Ploughman in the library of Trinity +College, Dublin, to the following effect--"Memorandum, quod Stacy de +Rokayle, pater Willielmi de Langlond, qui Stacius fuit generosus, et +morabatur in Schiptone under Whicwode, tenens domini Le Spenser in comitatu +Oxon., _qui prædictus Willielmus fecit librum qui vocatur Perys +Ploughman_."--It would perhaps be not impossible to trace the name and +history of this Stacy de Rokayle; but till that be done, I do not think +this memorandum ought to be considered as overthrowing the old tradition +relating to Robert Longlande. It may be mentioned as a remarkable specimen +of the patriotism of David Buchanan, that he lays claim to the author of +Piers Ploughman as a Scotchman:--"Robertus Langland, natione Scotus, +professione sacerdos, vir ex obscuris ortus parentibus, pius admodum et +ingeniosus et zelo divinæ gloriæ plenus; inter monachos Benedictinos +educatus in civitate Aberdonensi, vir æque erat in omni humaniore +literatura insigniter doctus, et in medicina admodum clarus, pium opus +sermone vulgare scripsit cui imposuit, || Visionem Petri Aratoris, lib. 1. +|| Pro conjugio sacerdotum. lib. 1. || Claruit anno Christi Redemptoria, +1369. Regnante Davide Secundo in Scotia."--Dav. Buchanan, _de Scriptoribus +Scotis. MS. Bibl. Univ. Edin._ + +[4] We may mention another historical allusion in Piers Ploughman, which +seems to involve a chronological difficulty; the dry April in the mayoralty +of John Chichester, 1. 8567. It appears clear that this is an allusion to a +remarkable drought in the year 1351, which answers precisely to a +calculation of the date given in the text, in which all the manuscripts +that I have consulted agree. But the only year in which Chichester is said +to have been mayor was 1368-9 according to some, or 1369-70 according to +others. Stowe (as quoted in the note on this passage) has altered the text +of Piers Ploughman to suit the year in which Chichester is known to have +been mayor: yet there can be little doubt (even from the allusion to the +treaty of Bretigny) that the poem itself was composed before that date, and +therefore the same or another Chichester had probably been mayor before. + +[5] Political Songs, p. 240. + +[6] This terrible calamity was said by the astrologers to have been brought +about by an extraordinary conjunction of Saturn with the other planets, +which happened scarcely once in a thousand years. An astrologer and +physician, who witnessed its effects, Symon de Covino, has left a Latin +poem on the subject under the title _De Judicio Solis in Conviviis +Saturni_, in which he describes Saturn as indulging his malevolence towards +the human race by obtaining a judgment against men for their sins. This +opinion is alluded to in Piers Ploughman, l. 4453, + + "And so seide Saturne, + And sente yow to warne." + +The influence of this planet was represented by astrologers as being +peculiarly noxious, as is expressed in the following old distich:-- + + "Jupiter atque Venus boni, Saturnusque malignus, + Sol et Mercurius cum Luna sunt mediocres." + +[7] + + "Qui male pastus erat fragili virtute ciborum, + Labitur exiguo percussus flamine cladis: + Indeque Saturni vulgus, pauperrima turba, + Grata morte cadunt, quia vivere talibus est mors. + Post quos lunares pereunt et mercuriales. + Et sic debilior succumbit in ordine primo: + Post alii tandem pestem secuntur eamdem. + Sed dea principibus et nobilibus, generosis, + Militibus, seu judicibus fera Parca pepercit. + Raro cadunt tales, quia talibus est data vita + Dulcis in hoc mundo, quam gloria laudat inanis." + _Symon de Covino_, in the _Bibliothèque de l'Ecole des + Chartes_, tom. ii. p 236. + +[8] We have a very remarkable proof of the popularity of Piers Ploughman +with the lower orders (among whom probably parts of it were repeated by +memory), and of its influence on the insurrections of the peasantry in the +reign of Richard II., in the seditious letter of John Ball to the commons +of Essex, preserved by Thomas Walsingham (_Hist. Angl._ p. 275). I am not +sure if "John _Schep_" may not contain an allusion to the opening of the +poem; but the second passage, here printed in Italics, refers evidently to +Passus VI. and VII., and the third is an allusion to the characters of +Do-well and Do-best. + +"John _Schep_ sometime Seint Mary priest of Yorke, and now of Colchester, +graeteth well John Namelesse, and John the Miller, and John Carter, and +biddeth them that they beware of guyle in borough, and stand together in +Gods name, and biddeth _Piers Plowman goe to his werke_, and chastise well +Hob the robber, and take with you John Trewman, and all his fellows, and no +moe. John the Miller hath y-ground, smal, small, small. The kings sonne of +heaven shal pay for all. Beware or ye be woe, know your frende fro your +foe. Have ynough, and say hoe: _And do well and better_, and flee sinne, +and seeke peace and holde you therin, and so biddeth John Trewman and all +his fellowes." + +[9] The mention of Wycliffe and of Walter Brute and other circumstances, +fix the date of Piers Ploughman's Creed with tolerable certainty in the +latter years of the reign of Richard II. It was probably written very soon +after the year 1393, the date of the persecution of Walter Brute at +Hereford; and from the particular allusion to that person we may perhaps +suppose that like the Vision it was written on the Borders of Wales. + +[10] Different circumstances connected with this poem (which also appears +to have been proscribed, for we have no early manuscript of it) lead me to +suppose that it was written in the reign of Henry IV., when the _burning_ +of heretics came into fashion, which is alluded to in the following +stanza:-- + + "Were Christ on earth here, eftsoone + These would damne him to die: + All his hestes they han for-done, + And saine his sawes ben heresie: + And ayenst his commaundements they crie, + And _damne all his to be brende_; + For it liketh not hem such losengerie, + God almighty hem amend!" + +In another passage, the writer of this poem alludes to the Creed of Piers +Ploughman as though he were the author of it, and as a piece then known to +everybody. + + "And all such other counterfaitours, + Chanons, canons, and such disguised, + Been Gods enemies and traitours, + His true religion han foule despised. + Of _freres_ I have told before, + In a _making of a Crede_; + And yet I could tell worse and more, + But men would werien it to rede." + +Perhaps, however, the writer only claims the authorship of the Creed in his +allegorical character, as the representative of that class of satirical +writers who were then attacking the monastic orders. + +[11] We may enumerate the following as specimens of such works published in +the sixteenth century. Several similar publications appeared in the century +following. + +"Pyers Plowmans Exortation vnto the lordes, knights, and burgoysses of the +parlyament house." 8vo. printed by Anthony Scholoker, in the reign of +Edward VI. + +"Newes from the North, Otherwise called the Conference between Simon +Certain, and Pierce Plowman, faithfully collected and gathered by T. F. +Student." 4to. London, John Allde, 1579. + +"The Plowmans complaint of sundry wicked livers, and especially of the bad +bringing vp of children; written in verse by R. B. printed for Hugh Corne, +1580." 8vo. + +"A goodlye Dialogue and dysputacion between Pyers Ploweman and a Popish +Preest, c[=o]cernynge the Supper of the Lorde." 8vo, without date. + +[12] Printed in the _Reliquiæ Antiquæ_, vol i. pp. 170-188. On the date of +this poem, see the _Biographia Britannica Literaria_ (by the editor of the +present work), Anglo-Saxon period, pp. 395, 396. + +[13] Printed in the _Altdeutsche Blätter_ von Moriz Haupt und Heinrich +Hoffmann, vol. ii. pp. 99-120, and in the _Reliquiæ Antiquæ_, vol. i. pp. +208-227. + +[14] Discovered in a MS. at Worcester by Sir Thomas Phillipps, who +published a small edition of it, in folio. + +[15] Edited by Sir Frederick Madden, for the Society of Antiquaries. + +[16] Many instances of this will be found in my _Specimens of Lyric +Poetry_, composed in England in the reign of Edward the First (Percy +Society Publication). + +[17] Such as _William and the Werwolf_, edited by Sir Frederick Madden; the +_Romance of Jerusalem_; that of _Alexander_; &c. + +[18] MS. Harl. 2253. In this manuscript, and in several others which I have +seen the rhyming poems in short lines, whether in English, Latin, or +French, are arranged in this manner; and I have met with instances in which +part of a poem has been arranged in this way, and other parts of the same +poem have been arranged in short lines, to suit the scribe's convenience. I +have a strong impression of having met with an early English manuscript in +which a fragment of alliterative verse was written in short couplets. + +[19] _Text I._ is from the edition now offered to the public: _Text II._ +from that edited by Dr. Whitaker. + +[20] The title of the second impression is, "The Vision of Pierce +Ploughman, nowe the seconde time imprinted by Roberte Crowley, dwellynge in +Elye rentes in Holburne. Whereunto are added certayne notes and cotations +in the mergyne gevynge light to the Reader, &c. Imprinted at London by +Roberte Crowley, dwellyng in Elye rentes in Holburne. The yere of our Lord +M.D.L. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum." 4to, 125 leaves. + +[21] The title consists merely of the words "Pierce the Ploughman's Crede," +upon a tablet in the midst of a wood-cut which had evidently been brought +from the continent. A fac-simile of the most important part of the cut is +given in Mr. Payne Collier's Bibliographical Catalogue of the Library of +Lord Francis Egerton, p. 235. The colophon, on a separate leaf, is +"Imprinted at London. By Reynold Wolfe. Anno Domini M.D.L.III." It consists +of 16 leaves in 4to. + +[22] The title of this edition is, "The Vision of Pierce Plowman, newlye +imprynted after the authours olde copy, with a brefe summary of the +principall matters set before every part called Passus. Wherevnto is also +annexed the Crede of Pierce Plowman, neuer imprinted with the booke before. +¶ Imprynted at London, by Owen Rogers, dwellyng neare vnto great Saint +Bartelmewes gate, at the sygne of the spred Egle. ¶ The yere of our Lord +God, a thousand, fyve hundred, thre score and one. The xxi. daye of the +Moneth of Februarye. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum." 4to. This +edition is not foliated, or paged; and it is remarkable that it is as +frequently found without the Creed, as with it. This edition of the Creed +is also sometimes found separate. + +[23] Whitaker's edition bears the following title,--"Visio Willielmi de +Petro Plouhman, Item Visiones ejusdem de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest. Or, The +Vision of William concerning Piers Plouhman, and The Visions of the same +concerning the Origin, Progress, and Perfection of Christian Life, &c. By +Thomas Dunham Whitaker, LL.D., &c." 4to. London. Murray, 1813. + +[24] This manuscript was bought at Heber's sale for the British Museum, +where it is classed as Additional MS. No. 10,574. + + * * * * * + + +Corrections made to printed text + +Page xxxiii, Text II: "Al the welthe of this worlde" corrected from "... +wordle". + +Page xxxix, foot: "undertake" corrected from "untertake". + +Line 935: "fructum" corrected from "fructrum". + +Line 3740: "myghtestow" corrected from "mgyhtestow". + +Headings: Passus VIII "incipit Do-wel" corrected from "Primus de Do-wel". +Passus VIII "Primus de Do-wel" corrected from "Primus de Do-bet". Passus +VIII clearly concerns Do-wel (see the Introduction); Passus XVI is the true +"Primus de Do-bet". + +Line 5058: "Who" corrected from "Whe". + +Line 5384: "minuentur" corrected from "minuenter" (Ps. 33:11). + +Line 6186: "mansede" corrected from "mausede" (noted as erratum in Volume +II). + +Line 6528: "vi rapiunt" corrected from "irapiunt" (noted as erratum in +Volume II). + +Line 7624: "Nolite judicare, et non judicabimini" corrected from "Polite +judicare, et not judicabimini" (Luke 6:37). + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vision and Creed of Piers +Ploughman, Volume I of II, by William Langland + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43660 *** |