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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 | The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman |  |
Kynges and knihtes scholde kepen hem bi Reson,
And Rihtfuliche Raymen þe Realmes a-bouten,
And take trespassours and [teiȝen] hem faste,
Til treuþe hedde I-termynet þe trespas to þe ende.
For Dauid, in his dayes he Dubbede knihtes,
Dude hem swere on heor swerd to serue treuþe euere.
Þat is þe perte profession þat a-pendeþ to knihtes,
And not to faste a Friday In Fyue score ȝeres,
But holden with hem and with heore þat asken þe treuþe,
And leuen for no loue ne lacching of ȝiftus;
And he þat passeþ þat poynt is a-postata in þe ordre.
[For crist, kyngene kyng knyhtide tene,]
And Rihtfuliche Raymen þe Realmes a-bouten,
And take trespassours and [teiȝen] hem faste,
Til treuþe hedde I-termynet þe trespas to þe ende.
For Dauid, in his dayes he Dubbede knihtes,
Dude hem swere on heor swerd to serue treuþe euere.
Þat is þe perte profession þat a-pendeþ to knihtes,
And not to faste a Friday In Fyue score ȝeres,
But holden with hem and with heore þat asken þe treuþe,
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And he þat passeþ þat poynt is a-postata in þe ordre.
[For crist, kyngene kyng knyhtide tene,]
Cherubin and Seraphin an al þe foure ordres,
And ȝaf hem maystrie and miht in his Maieste,
[And ouer his meyne made hem Archaungelis,]
And tauȝte [hem] þorw þe Trinite treuþe for to knowen,
And beo boxum at his biddynge he bad hem not elles.
And ȝaf hem maystrie and miht in his Maieste,
[And ouer his meyne made hem Archaungelis,]
And tauȝte [hem] þorw þe Trinite treuþe for to knowen,
And beo boxum at his biddynge he bad hem not elles.
Lucifer with legiouns lerede hit in heuene;
He was louelokest of siht aftur vr lord,
Til he brak Boxumnes þorw bost of him-seluen.
He was louelokest of siht aftur vr lord,
Til he brak Boxumnes þorw bost of him-seluen.
Þene fel he with his felawes
and fendes bi-comen,
Out of heuene in-to helle hobleden faste,
Summe in þe Eir, and summe in þe Eorþe and summe in helle deope.
Out of heuene in-to helle hobleden faste,
Summe in þe Eir, and summe in þe Eorþe and summe in helle deope.
Bote Lucifer louwest liȝþ of hem alle;
For pruide þat he put out his peyne haþ non ende;
And alle þat wrong worchen wende þei schulen
After heore deþ-day and dwellen with þat schrewe.
For pruide þat he put out his peyne haþ non ende;
And alle þat wrong worchen wende þei schulen
After heore deþ-day and dwellen with þat schrewe.
Ac heo þat worchen þat word þat holi writ techeþ,
And endeþ as Ich er seide in profitable werkes,
Mouwen be siker þat heore soules schullen to heuene,
Þer Treuþe is in Trinite and Corouneþ hem alle.
And endeþ as Ich er seide in profitable werkes,
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Þer Treuþe is in Trinite and Corouneþ hem alle.
For I sigge sikerli bi siht of þe textes,
Whon alle tresor is I-triȝet Treuþe is þe beste.
Lereþ hit þis lewed men for lettrede hit knoweþ,
Þat treuþe is tresour triedest on eorþe.”
Whon alle tresor is I-triȝet Treuþe is þe beste.
Lereþ hit þis lewed men for lettrede hit knoweþ,
Þat treuþe is tresour triedest on eorþe.”
| The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman | |