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diff --git a/43660.txt b/43660.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9133b82..0000000 --- a/43660.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11612 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, -Volume I of II, by William Langland - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, Volume I of II - -Author: William Langland - -Editor: Thomas Wright - -Release Date: September 7, 2013 [EBook #43660] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VISION, CREED, PIERS PLOUGHMAN, VOL I *** - - - - -Produced by Mark C. Orton, Keith Edkins and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - -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_). Thorn and eth -characters (in cited passages) are expanded to th and dh respectively. 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, - Academie 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 Goliae_; 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:-- - - "dhanne _r_ennedh ge _r_apelike, - for ge is ai _r_edi, - _n_imedh anon to dhe _n_et, - and _n_imedh hem dhere, - _b_itterlike ge hem _b_it - and here _b_ane wurdhedh, - _d_repedh and _d_rinkedh hire _blod_, - _d_odh ge hire non odher _god_, - bute fret hire _fille_, - and daredh sidhen _stille_." - . . . . . . - "Cethegrande is a _fis_ - dhe moste dhat in water _is_; - dhat tu wuldes seien _get_, - gef dhu 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 some 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 leaute, - 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 charite 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 leaute, - 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 leaute 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: - _Praecepta 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 cite 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 - _Vae terrae 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 Caesari_,' quod God, - 'That _Caesari_ bifalleth, - _Et quae 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 pite 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 chastite withouten charite - Worth cheyned in helle; - It is as lewed as a lampe - That no light is inne. - Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, 840 - Ac charite is aweye; - Are no men avarouser than hii - Whan thei ben avaunced, - Unkynde to hire kyn, - And to alle cristene - Chewen hire charite, - And chiden after moore; - Swiche chastite withouten charite - 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 Trinite, - 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 leaute 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 praesentes 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 pite, 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 pite, 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, - Leaute 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 divitiae multae._" = - - 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 taille - 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 leaute 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 leaute 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 virgae, 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 pite 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 spiritualte, - That either despiseth oother, - {86} - Til thei be bothe beggers - And by my spiritualte 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 pite on povere men, - That mote nedes borwe?" - - "I have as muche pite 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 charite 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 quaeris; - 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 Adae! 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 - Remissae 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 charite - 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 Humilite another; - Charite and Chastite 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 pite, - 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 prae 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 charite_, 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 saufte - 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 - praetereas 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 - umbrae 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 lacrimae meae 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 divinite, - 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 fraternite - 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 charite_, 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 charite 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 mageste - 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 praelatus 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 sapientiae, 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 degre, 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 maugre 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 charite, - 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 praevaricantur et inique - agunt._ - - "The Sauter seith the same - By swiche that doon ille: 5650 - _Ecce ipsi peccatores abundantes in - saeculo 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. - _Quae 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 Trinite - 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 silvae._ 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 charite 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 praebet - 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 caecus ducit caecum, 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 pite; - And that is hir charite. - 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 caedentium 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 pite 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 praesides, 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 idiotae 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 Lewte 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 pryve, - 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 Emaues; - {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 curae 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, quae 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 terrae 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 quae 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 quae 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 charite; 7502 - And alle ben goode, - And saven men sondry tymes; - Ac noon so soone as charite. - For he dooth wel withouten doute, - That dooth as lewte 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 beaute 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 remissae 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 caecus ducit caecum, 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 meae_, - 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 pryve 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 - aeternam suis, hoc est fidelibus. - Et alibi: Si ambulavero in - medio umbrae 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 charite_ - 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 quae 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 quae 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 paenitentiam_." - "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. - _Vae 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 caesus 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 pite 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 Trinite, - 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 Trinite, - 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 charite 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 infinites, - Whiche infinites, 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 pryve 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 Surre, - 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 daemonia ejicient, et - super aegros 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 sagittae, 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, - _Vae 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 meae, - 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 Goliae" 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 _Reliquiae Antiquiae_, 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 praedictus 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 divinae gloriae plenus; inter monachos Benedictinos -educatus in civitate Aberdonensi, vir aeque 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 _Bibliotheque 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 _Reliquiae Antiquae_, 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 Blaetter_ von Moriz Haupt und Heinrich -Hoffmann, vol. ii. pp. 99-120, and in the _Reliquiae Antiquae_, 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. -P. Imprynted at London, by Owen Rogers, dwellyng neare vnto great Saint -Bartelmewes gate, at the sygne of the spred Egle. P. 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 THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VISION, CREED, PIERS PLOUGHMAN, VOL I *** - -***** This file should be named 43660.txt or 43660.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/6/6/43660/ - -Produced by Mark C. 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