The Vision of William concerning Piers the 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 ... In four parts |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
ACCIDIA. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
ACCIDIA.
Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered with two slymy eiȝen,
“I most sitte,” seyde þe segge “or elles shulde I nappe;
I may nouþte stonde ne stoupe ne with-oute a stole knele.
Were I brouȝte abedde but if my taille-ende it made,
Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse ar I were rype to dyne.”
He bygan benedicite with a bolke and his brest knocked,
And roxed and rored and rutte atte laste.
“What! awake, renke!” quod repentance “and rape þe to shrifte.”
“I most sitte,” seyde þe segge “or elles shulde I nappe;
I may nouþte stonde ne stoupe ne with-oute a stole knele.
Were I brouȝte abedde but if my taille-ende it made,
Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse ar I were rype to dyne.”
He bygan benedicite with a bolke and his brest knocked,
And roxed and rored and rutte atte laste.
“What! awake, renke!” quod repentance “and rape þe to shrifte.”
“If I shulde deye bi þis day me liste nouȝte to loke;
I can nouȝte perfitly my pater-noster as þe prest it syngeth,
But I can rymes of Robyn hood and Randolf erle of Chestre,
Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady þe leste þat euere was made.
79
But I can rymes of Robyn hood and Randolf erle of Chestre,
Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady þe leste þat euere was made.
I haue made vowes fourty and for-ȝete hem on þe morne;
I parfourned neure penaunce as þe prest me hiȝte,
Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes ȝet was I neuere.
And ȝif I bidde any bedes but if it be in wrath,
Þat I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myne herte.
I am occupied eche day haliday and other,
With ydel tales atte ale and otherwhile in cherches;
Goddes peyne and his passioun ful selde þynke I þere-on.
I parfourned neure penaunce as þe prest me hiȝte,
Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes ȝet was I neuere.
And ȝif I bidde any bedes but if it be in wrath,
Þat I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myne herte.
I am occupied eche day haliday and other,
With ydel tales atte ale and otherwhile in cherches;
Goddes peyne and his passioun ful selde þynke I þere-on.
I visited neuere fieble men ne fettered folke in puttes,
I haue leuere here an harlotrie or a somer game of souteres,
Or lesynges to laughe at and belye my neighbore,
Þan al þat euere Marke made Mathew, John, & lucas.
And vigilies and fastyng dayes alle þise late I passe,
And ligge abedde in lenten an my lemman in myn armes,
Tyl matynes and masse be do and þanne go to þe freres;
Come I to ite, missa est I holde me yserued.
I nam nouȝte shryuen some tyme but if sekenesse it make,
Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere and þanne vp gesse I schryue me.
I haue leuere here an harlotrie or a somer game of souteres,
Or lesynges to laughe at and belye my neighbore,
Þan al þat euere Marke made Mathew, John, & lucas.
And vigilies and fastyng dayes alle þise late I passe,
And ligge abedde in lenten an my lemman in myn armes,
Tyl matynes and masse be do and þanne go to þe freres;
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I nam nouȝte shryuen some tyme but if sekenesse it make,
Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere and þanne vp gesse I schryue me.
I haue be prest and parsoun passynge thretti wynter,
Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge ne seyntes lyues rede,
But I can fynde in a felde or in a fourlonge an hare,
Better þan in beatus vir or in beati omnes
Construe oon clause wel and kenne it to my parochienes.
I can holde louedayes and here a Reues rekenynge,
Ac in canoun ne in þe decretales I can nouȝte rede a lyne.
Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge ne seyntes lyues rede,
But I can fynde in a felde or in a fourlonge an hare,
Better þan in beatus vir or in beati omnes
Construe oon clause wel and kenne it to my parochienes.
I can holde louedayes and here a Reues rekenynge,
Ac in canoun ne in þe decretales I can nouȝte rede a lyne.
Ȝif I bigge and borwe it but ȝif it be ytailled,
I forȝete it as ȝerne and ȝif men me it axe
Sixe sithes or seuene I forsake it with othes,
And þus tene I trewe men ten hundreth tymes.
I forȝete it as ȝerne and ȝif men me it axe
Sixe sithes or seuene I forsake it with othes,
And þus tene I trewe men ten hundreth tymes.
And my seruauntz some tyme her salarye is bihynde,
Reuthe is to here [þe] rekenynge whan we shal rede acomptes;
So with wikked wille and wraththe my werkmen I paye.
Reuthe is to here [þe] rekenynge whan we shal rede acomptes;
So with wikked wille and wraththe my werkmen I paye.
Ȝif any man doth me a benfait or helpeth me at nede,
I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye and can nouȝte vnderstonde it;
For I haue and haue hadde some dele haukes maneres,
I nam nouȝte lured with loue but þere ligge auȝte vnder þe thombe.
81
For I haue and haue hadde some dele haukes maneres,
I nam nouȝte lured with loue but þere ligge auȝte vnder þe thombe.
The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene kidde me [fernyere],
Sixty sythes I, sleuthe haue fo[r]ȝete it sith,
In speche and in sparynge of speche yspilte many a tyme
Bothe flesche & fissche and many other vitailles;
Bothe bred and ale butter, melke, and chese
Forsleuthed in my seruyse til it myȝte serue noman.
Sixty sythes I, sleuthe haue fo[r]ȝete it sith,
In speche and in sparynge of speche yspilte many a tyme
Bothe flesche & fissche and many other vitailles;
Bothe bred and ale butter, melke, and chese
Forsleuthed in my seruyse til it myȝte serue noman.
I ran aboute in ȝouthe and ȝaf me nouȝte to lerne,
And euere sith [haue] be beggere for my foule sleuthe;
Heu michi, [quod] sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem.
And euere sith [haue] be beggere for my foule sleuthe;
Heu michi, [quod] sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem.
“Repentestow þe nauȝte?” quod repentance and riȝte with þat he swowned,
Til vigilate þe veille fette water at his eyȝen,
And flatte it on his face and faste on hym criede,
And seide, “ware þe fram wanhope wolde þe bitraye.
‘I am sori for my synnes’ sey so to þi-selue,
And bete þi-selue on þe breste and bidde hym of grace;
For is no gult here so grete þat his goodnesse nys more.”
Til vigilate þe veille fette water at his eyȝen,
And flatte it on his face and faste on hym criede,
And seide, “ware þe fram wanhope wolde þe bitraye.
‘I am sori for my synnes’ sey so to þi-selue,
And bete þi-selue on þe breste and bidde hym of grace;
82
Þanne sat sleuthe vp and seyned hym swithe,
And made avowe to-fore god for his foule sleuthe,
“Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere but sykenesse it lette,
Þat I ne shal do me er day to þe dere cherche,
And heren matines and masse as I a monke were.
Shal none ale after mete holde me þennes,
Tyl I haue euensonge herde I behote to þe Rode.
And ȝete wil I ȝelde aȝein if I so monche haue,
Al þat I wikkedly wan sithen I wytte hadde.
And made avowe to-fore god for his foule sleuthe,
“Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere but sykenesse it lette,
Þat I ne shal do me er day to þe dere cherche,
And heren matines and masse as I a monke were.
Shal none ale after mete holde me þennes,
Tyl I haue euensonge herde I behote to þe Rode.
And ȝete wil I ȝelde aȝein if I so monche haue,
Al þat I wikkedly wan sithen I wytte hadde.
And þough my liflode lakke leten I nelle,
Þat eche man ne shal haue his ar I hennes wende:
And with þe residue and þe remenaunt bi þe Rode of chestre!
I shal seke treuthe arst ar I se Rome!”
Þat eche man ne shal haue his ar I hennes wende:
And with þe residue and þe remenaunt bi þe Rode of chestre!
I shal seke treuthe arst ar I se Rome!”
Robert þe robbere on reddite lokede,
And for þer was nouȝte wher-of he wepe swithe sore.
Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe seyde to hym-selue,
“Cryst, þat on caluarye vppon þe crosse deydest,
Tho dismas my brother bisouȝte ȝow of grace,
And haddest mercy on þat man for memento sake,
So rewe on þis robbere þat reddere no haue,
Ne neuere wene to wynne with crafte þat I owe.
But for þi mykel mercy mitigacioun I biseche;
Ne dampne me nouȝte at domesday for þat I did so ille.”
And for þer was nouȝte wher-of he wepe swithe sore.
Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe seyde to hym-selue,
“Cryst, þat on caluarye vppon þe crosse deydest,
Tho dismas my brother bisouȝte ȝow of grace,
And haddest mercy on þat man for memento sake,
So rewe on þis robbere þat reddere no haue,
Ne neuere wene to wynne with crafte þat I owe.
But for þi mykel mercy mitigacioun I biseche;
83
What bifel of þis feloun I can nouȝte faire schewe,
Wel I wote he wepte faste water with boþe his eyen,
And knowleched his gult to cryst ȝete eftsones,
Þat penitencia his pyke he shulde polsche newe,
And lepe with hym ouer londe al his lyf tyme,
For he had leyne bi latro luciferes aunte.
Wel I wote he wepte faste water with boþe his eyen,
And knowleched his gult to cryst ȝete eftsones,
Þat penitencia his pyke he shulde polsche newe,
And lepe with hym ouer londe al his lyf tyme,
For he had leyne bi latro luciferes aunte.
And þanne had repentaunce reuthe and redde hem alle to knele,
“For I shal biseche for al synful owre saueoure of grace,
To amende vs of owre mysdedes and do mercy to vs alle.
Now god,” quod he, “þat of þi goodnesse gonne þe worlde make,
“For I shal biseche for al synful owre saueoure of grace,
To amende vs of owre mysdedes and do mercy to vs alle.
And of nauȝte madest auȝte and man moste liche to þi-selue,
And sithen suffredest for to synne a sikenesse to vs alle,
And al for þe best, as I bileue what euere þe boke telleth,
O felix culpa! o necessarium peccatum ade! &c.
For þourgh þat synne þi sone sent was to þis erthe,And bicam man of a mayde mankynde to saue,
And madest þi-self with þi sone and vs synful yliche,
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram;
84
On godefryday for mannes sake at ful tyme of þe daye,
Þere þi-self ne þi sone no sorwe in deth feledest;
But in owre secte was þe sorwe and þi sone it ladde,
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem.
Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of les syȝte for a tymeAboute mydday whan most liȝte is and mele tyme of seintes;
Feddest with þi fresche blode owre forfadres in derknesse,
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, vidit lucem magnam;
And thorw þe liȝte þat lepe oute of þe lucifer was blent,And blewe alle þi blissed in-to þe blisse of paradise.
Þe thrydde daye after þow ȝedest in owre sute,
A synful Marie þe seighe ar seynte Marie þi dame,
And al to solace synful þow suffredest it so were:
Non veni vocare iustos, set peccatores ad penitenciam.
And al þat Marke hath ymade mathew, Johan, and lucas,Of þyne douȝtiest dedes were don in owre armes.
Verbum caro factum est, et habitauit in nobis.
85
Bydde and biseche if it be þi wille,
Þat art owre fader and owre brother be merciable to vs,
And haue reuthe on þise Ribaudes þat repente hem here sore,
Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worlde in worde, þouȝte, or dedes.”
Þanne hent hope an horne of deus, tu conuersus viuificabis [nos,]
And blew it with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates,
Þat alle seyntes in heuene songen at ones,
Homines & iumenta saluabis, quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, deus, &c.
A thousand of men þo thrungen togyderes;
Criede vpward to cryst and to his clene moder
To haue grace to go with hem treuthe to seke.
Criede vpward to cryst and to his clene moder
To haue grace to go with hem treuthe to seke.
Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys þe wey þider couthe,
But blustreden forth as bestes ouer bankes and hilles,
Til late was and longe þat þei a lede mette,
Apparailled as a paynym in pylgrymes wyse.
He bare a burdoun ybounde with a brode liste,
In a withewyndes wise ywounden aboute.
A bolle and a bagge he bare by his syde;
An hundreth of ampulles on his hatt seten,
Signes of synay and shelles of galice;
And many a cruche on his cloke and keyes of Rome,
And þe vernicle bifore for men shulde knowe,
And se bi his signes whom he souȝte hadde.
But blustreden forth as bestes ouer bankes and hilles,
Til late was and longe þat þei a lede mette,
Apparailled as a paynym in pylgrymes wyse.
He bare a burdoun ybounde with a brode liste,
In a withewyndes wise ywounden aboute.
A bolle and a bagge he bare by his syde;
An hundreth of ampulles on his hatt seten,
Signes of synay and shelles of galice;
86
And þe vernicle bifore for men shulde knowe,
And se bi his signes whom he souȝte hadde.
Þis folke frayned hym firste fro whennes he come?
“Fram synay,” he seyde “and fram owre lordes sepulcre;
In bethleem and in babiloyne I haue ben in bothe,
In ermonye, in Alisaundre in many other places.
Ȝe may se bi my signes þat sitten on myn hatte,
Þat I haue walked ful wyde in wete and in drye,
And souȝte gode seyntes for my soules helth.”
“Fram synay,” he seyde “and fram owre lordes sepulcre;
In bethleem and in babiloyne I haue ben in bothe,
In ermonye, in Alisaundre in many other places.
Ȝe may se bi my signes þat sitten on myn hatte,
Þat I haue walked ful wyde in wete and in drye,
And souȝte gode seyntes for my soules helth.”
“Knowestow ouȝte a corseint þat men calle treuthe?
Coudestow auȝte wissen vs þe weye where þat wy dwelleth?”
Coudestow auȝte wissen vs þe weye where þat wy dwelleth?”
“Nay, so me god helpe!” seide þe gome þanne,
“I seygh neuere palmere with pike ne with scrippe
Axen after hym er til now in þis place.”
“Peter!” quod a plowman and put forth his hed,
“I knowe hym as kyndely as clerke doþ his bokes;
Conscience and kynde witte kenned me to his place,
And deden me suren hym sikerly to serue hym for euere,
Bothe to sowe and to sette þe while I swynke myghte.
I haue ben his folwar al þis [fifty] wyntre;
Bothe ysowen his sede and sued his bestes,
With-Inne and with-outen wayted his profyt.
I dyke and I delue I do þat treuthe hoteth;
Some tyme I sowe and some tyme I thresche,
In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte what treuthe can deuyse,
I weue an I wynde and do what treuthe hoteth.
“I seygh neuere palmere with pike ne with scrippe
Axen after hym er til now in þis place.”
“Peter!” quod a plowman and put forth his hed,
“I knowe hym as kyndely as clerke doþ his bokes;
Conscience and kynde witte kenned me to his place,
And deden me suren hym sikerly to serue hym for euere,
Bothe to sowe and to sette þe while I swynke myghte.
I haue ben his folwar al þis [fifty] wyntre;
Bothe ysowen his sede and sued his bestes,
87
I dyke and I delue I do þat treuthe hoteth;
Some tyme I sowe and some tyme I thresche,
In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte what treuthe can deuyse,
I weue an I wynde and do what treuthe hoteth.
For þouȝe I seye it my-self I serue hym to paye;
Ich haue myn huire [of hym] wel and otherwhiles more;
He is þe prestest payer þat pore men knoweth;
He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre þat he ne hath it at euen.
He is as low as a lombe and loueliche of speche,
And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite where þat he dwelleth,
I shal wisse ȝow witterly þe weye to his place.”
Ich haue myn huire [of hym] wel and otherwhiles more;
He is þe prestest payer þat pore men knoweth;
He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre þat he ne hath it at euen.
He is as low as a lombe and loueliche of speche,
And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite where þat he dwelleth,
I shal wisse ȝow witterly þe weye to his place.”
“Ȝe, leue Pieres,” quod þis pilgrymes and profered hym huire
For to wende with hem to treuthes dwellyng place.
For to wende with hem to treuthes dwellyng place.
“Nay, bi my soules helth,” quod pieres and gan forto swere,
“I nolde fange a ferthynge for seynt Thomas shryne!
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse a longe tyme þere-after!
Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel þis is þe weye thider,
[Þat I shal say to yow and sette you in þe soþe.]
“I nolde fange a ferthynge for seynt Thomas shryne!
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse a longe tyme þere-after!
Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel þis is þe weye thider,
[Þat I shal say to yow and sette you in þe soþe.]
Ȝe mote go þourgh mekenesse bothe men and wyues,
Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience þat cryst wite þe sothe,
Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god leuest of alle þinges,
And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte in non wise apeyre
Otherwyse þan þow woldest he wrouȝte to þi-selue.
And so boweth forth bi a broke beth-buxum-of-speche,
Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience þat cryst wite þe sothe,
Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god leuest of alle þinges,
And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte in non wise apeyre
88
Tyl ȝe fynden a forth ȝowre-fadres-honoureth,
Honora patrem & matrem, &c.:
Wadeþ in þat water and wascheth ȝow wel þere,And ȝe shul lepe þe liȝtloker al ȝowre lyf tyme.
And so shaltow se swere-nouȝte- but-if-it-be-for-nede-
And-namelich-an-ydel- þe-name-of-god-almyȝti.
Þanne shaltow come by a crofte but come þow nouȝte þere-Inne;
That crofte hat coueyte-nouȝte- mennes-catel-ne-her-wyues-,
Ne-none-of-her-seruauntes- þat-noyen-hem-myȝte.
Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere but if it be ȝowre owne.
That crofte hat coueyte-nouȝte- mennes-catel-ne-her-wyues-,
Ne-none-of-her-seruauntes- þat-noyen-hem-myȝte.
Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere but if it be ȝowre owne.
Two stokkes þere stondeth ac stynte ȝe nouȝte þere,
They [hatte] stele-nouȝte, ne-slee-nouȝte stryke forth by bothe;
And leue hem on þi left halfe and loke nouȝte þere-after;
And holde wel þyne haliday heighe til euen.
Thanne shaltow blenche at a berghe bere-no-false-witnesse,
He is frithed in with floreines and other [fees] many;
Loke þow plukke no plante þere for peril of þi soule.
They [hatte] stele-nouȝte, ne-slee-nouȝte stryke forth by bothe;
And leue hem on þi left halfe and loke nouȝte þere-after;
And holde wel þyne haliday heighe til euen.
Thanne shaltow blenche at a berghe bere-no-false-witnesse,
He is frithed in with floreines and other [fees] many;
Loke þow plukke no plante þere for peril of þi soule.
89
Þanne shal ȝe se sey-soth- so-it-be-to-done-
In-no-manere-ellis-nauȝte- for-no-mannes-biddynge.
In-no-manere-ellis-nauȝte- for-no-mannes-biddynge.
Þanne shaltow come to a courte as clere as þe sonne,
Þe mote is of mercy þe manere aboute,
And alle þe wallis ben of witte to holden wille oute;
And kerneled with crystendome man-kynde to saue,
Boterased with bileue-so- or-þow-beest-nouȝte-ysaued.
Þe mote is of mercy þe manere aboute,
And alle þe wallis ben of witte to holden wille oute;
And kerneled with crystendome man-kynde to saue,
Boterased with bileue-so- or-þow-beest-nouȝte-ysaued.
And alle þe houses ben hiled halles and chambres,
Wit[h] no lede, but with loue and lowe-speche-as-bretheren.
Þe brugge is of bidde-wel- þe-bette-may-þow-spede;
Eche piler is of penaunce of preyeres to seyntes,
Of almes dedes ar þe hokes þat þe gates hangen on.
Wit[h] no lede, but with loue and lowe-speche-as-bretheren.
Þe brugge is of bidde-wel- þe-bette-may-þow-spede;
Eche piler is of penaunce of preyeres to seyntes,
Of almes dedes ar þe hokes þat þe gates hangen on.
Grace hatte þe gateward a gode man for sothe,
Hys man hatte amende-ȝow for many man him knoweth;
Telleth hym þis tokene þat treuthe wite þe sothe;
‘I parfourned þe penaunce þe preest me enioyned,
And am ful sori for my synnes and so I shal euere,
Whan I þinke þere-on þeighe I were a pope.’
Biddeth amende-ȝow meke him til his maistre ones,
Hys man hatte amende-ȝow for many man him knoweth;
Telleth hym þis tokene þat treuthe wite þe sothe;
‘I parfourned þe penaunce þe preest me enioyned,
And am ful sori for my synnes and so I shal euere,
Whan I þinke þere-on þeighe I were a pope.’
To wayne vp þe wiket þat þe womman shette,
Tho Adam and Eue eten apples vnrosted;
Per euam cun[c]tis clausa est, & per mariam virginem [iterum] patefacta est;
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For he hath þe keye and þe [cliket] þouȝ þe kynge slepe.
And if grace graunte þe to go in in þis wise,
Þow shalt see in þi-selue treuthe sitte in þine herte,
In a cheyne of charyte as þow a childe were,
To suffre hym and segge nouȝte aȝein þi sires wille.
And if grace graunte þe to go in in þis wise,
Þow shalt see in þi-selue treuthe sitte in þine herte,
In a cheyne of charyte as þow a childe were,
To suffre hym and segge nouȝte aȝein þi sires wille.
Ac bewar þanne of wrath-þe þat is a wikked shrewe,
He hath enuye to hym þat in þine herte sitteth;
And pukketh forþ pruyde to prayse þi-seluen.
Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes maketh þe blynde þanne,
And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew and þe dore closed,
Kayed and [cliketed] to kepe þe with-outen;
Happily an hundreth wyntre ar þow eft entre.
Þus myght þow lesen his loue to late wel by þi-selue,
And neuere happiliche efte entre but grace þow haue.
He hath enuye to hym þat in þine herte sitteth;
And pukketh forþ pruyde to prayse þi-seluen.
Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes maketh þe blynde þanne,
And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew and þe dore closed,
Kayed and [cliketed] to kepe þe with-outen;
Happily an hundreth wyntre ar þow eft entre.
Þus myght þow lesen his loue to late wel by þi-selue,
And neuere happiliche efte entre but grace þow haue.
Ac þere [aren] seuene sustren þat seruen treuthe euere,
And aren porteres of þe posternes that to þe place longeth.
Þat one hat abstenence and humilite an other,
Charite and chastite ben his chief maydenes,
Pacience and pees moche poeple þei helpeth,
Largenesse þe lady heo let in ful manye;
Heo hath hulpe a þousande oute of þe deueles pon-folde.
And aren porteres of þe posternes that to þe place longeth.
Þat one hat abstenence and humilite an other,
Charite and chastite ben his chief maydenes,
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Largenesse þe lady heo let in ful manye;
Heo hath hulpe a þousande oute of þe deueles pon-folde.
And who is sibbe to þis seuene so me god helpe!
He is wonderliche welcome and faire vnderfongen.
And but if ȝe be syb to summe of þise seuene,
It is ful harde bi myne heued,” quod Peres “for any of ȝow alle
To geten ingonge at any gate þere but grace be þe more.”
He is wonderliche welcome and faire vnderfongen.
And but if ȝe be syb to summe of þise seuene,
It is ful harde bi myne heued,” quod Peres “for any of ȝow alle
To geten ingonge at any gate þere but grace be þe more.”
“Now, bi cryst,” quod a cutpurs “I haue no kynne þere!”
“Ne I,” quod an apewarde “bi auȝte þat I knowe!”
“Ne I,” quod an apewarde “bi auȝte þat I knowe!”
“Wite god,” quod a wafrestre “wist I þis for sothe,
Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote for no freres prechynge.”
Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote for no freres prechynge.”
“Ȝus,” quod Pieres þe plowman and pukked hem alle to gode,
“Mercy is a maydene þere hath myȝte ouer hem alle;
And she is syb to alle synful and her sone also;
And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two (hope þow none other),
þow myȝte gete grace þere bi so þow go bityme.”
“Mercy is a maydene þere hath myȝte ouer hem alle;
And she is syb to alle synful and her sone also;
And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two (hope þow none other),
þow myȝte gete grace þere bi so þow go bityme.”
“By seynt Poule,” quod a pardonere “perauenture I be nouȝte knowe þere,
I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes and a bulle with bisshopes lettres!”
“By cryst,” quod a comune womman “þi companye wil I folwe,
Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre I ne wot where þei bicome.”
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“By cryst,” quod a comune womman “þi companye wil I folwe,
Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre I ne wot where þei bicome.”
| The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman | |