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The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman

together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest, Secundum Wit et Resoun, By William Langland (About 1362-1380 A.D.): Edited from Numerous Manuscripts, with Prefaces, Notes and a Glossary, By the Rev. Walter W. Skeat

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“Holi churche Icham,” quaþ heo “þou ouhtest me to knowe:
Ich þe vndurfong furst and þi feiþ þe tauȝte.
Þow brouȝtest me Borwes my biddyng to worche,
And to loue me leelly While þi lyf durede.”
Þenne knelede I on my kneos and criȝed hire of grace,
And preiede hire pitously to preye for vr sunnes,
And eke to teche me kuyndely on crist to bi-leeue,

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Þat Ich his wille mihte worche þat wrouhte me to Mon.
“Tech me to no Tresour bote tel me þis ilke,
Hou I may saue my soule þat seint art I-holde.”
“Whon alle tresour is I-triȝed Treuþe is þe Beste;
I do hit on Deus Caritas to deeme þe soþe.
Hit is as derworþe a drurie as deore god him-seluen.
For hose is trewe of his tonge telleþ not elles,
Doþ his werkes þer-with and doþ no mon ille,
He is a-counted to þe gospel on grounde and on lofte,
And eke I-liknet to vr lord bi seint Lucus wordes.
Clerkes þat knowen hit scholde techen hit aboute,
For Cristene and vn-cristene him cleymeþ vchone.