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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| X. | PASSUS X. (DO-WEL II.) Passus decimus de visione, & secundus [de] dowel. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
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PASSUS X. (DO-WEL II.) Passus decimus de visione, & secundus [de] dowel.
Thanne hadde witte a wyf was hote dame studye,
Þat lene was of lere and of liche bothe.
She was wonderly wroth þat witte me þus tauȝte,
And al starynge dame studye sternelich seyde,
“Wel artow wyse,” quod she to witte “any wysdomes to telle
To flatereres or to folis þat frantyk ben of wittes!”
And blamed hym and banned hym and badde hym be stylle,
With suche wise wordes to wissen any sottes;
And seyde, “noli mittere, man margerye perlis
Amanges hogges, þat han hawes at wille.
Þei don but dryuele þer-on draffe were hem leuere
Þan al þe precious perre þat in paradys wexeth.
I sey it bi suche,” quod she “þat sheweth bi her werkes,
Þat hem were leuer londe and lordship on erthe,
Or ricchesse or rentis and reste at her wille,
Þan alle þe sothe sawes þat salamon seyde euere.
Þat lene was of lere and of liche bothe.
She was wonderly wroth þat witte me þus tauȝte,
And al starynge dame studye sternelich seyde,
“Wel artow wyse,” quod she to witte “any wysdomes to telle
To flatereres or to folis þat frantyk ben of wittes!”
And blamed hym and banned hym and badde hym be stylle,
With suche wise wordes to wissen any sottes;
And seyde, “noli mittere, man margerye perlis
Amanges hogges, þat han hawes at wille.
Þei don but dryuele þer-on draffe were hem leuere
Þan al þe precious perre þat in paradys wexeth.
I sey it bi suche,” quod she “þat sheweth bi her werkes,
Þat hem were leuer londe and lordship on erthe,
Or ricchesse or rentis and reste at her wille,
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Wisdome and witte now is nouȝt worth a carse,
But if it be carded with coueytise as clotheres kemben here wolle.
Who-so can contreue deceytes an conspire wronges,
And lede forth a loue-day to latte with treuthe;
He þat suche craftes can to conseille is clepid;
Þei lede lordes with lesynges and bilyeth treuthe.
Iob þe gentel in his gestes witnesseth,
But if it be carded with coueytise as clotheres kemben here wolle.
Who-so can contreue deceytes an conspire wronges,
And lede forth a loue-day to latte with treuthe;
He þat suche craftes can to conseille is clepid;
Þei lede lordes with lesynges and bilyeth treuthe.
Þat wikked men, þei welden þe welthe of þis worlde,
And þat þei ben lordes of eche a londe þat oute of lawe libbeth;
Quare impij viuunt? bene est omnibus, qui preuaricantur & inique agunt?
Þe sauter seyth þe same bi suche þat don ille,Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes; in seculo optinuerunt diuicias.
‘Lo!’ seith holy letterrure ‘whiche lordes beth þis shrewes!’Þilke þat god moste gyueth leste good þei deleth,
And moste vnkynde to þe comune þat moste catel weldeth;
Que perfecisti, destruxerunt; iustus autem [quid fecit?]
Harlotes for her harlotrye may haue of her godis,And iaperes and iogeloures and iangelers of gestes.
Ac he þat hath holy writte ay in his mouth,
And can telle of Tobye and of þe twelue apostles,
Or prechen of þe penaunce þat pilat wrouȝt
To Ihesu þe gentil þat Iewes to-drowe:—
Litel is he loued þat suche a lessoun scheweth,
Or daunted or drawe forth I do it on god hym-self!
And can telle of Tobye and of þe twelue apostles,
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To Ihesu þe gentil þat Iewes to-drowe:—
Litel is he loued þat suche a lessoun scheweth,
Or daunted or drawe forth I do it on god hym-self!
But þo þat feynen hem folis and with faityng libbeth,
Aȝein þe lawe of owre lorde and lyen on hem-selue,
Spitten and spewen and speke foule wordes,
Drynken and dryuelen and do men for to gape,
Lickne men and lye on hem þat leneth hem no ȝiftes,
Þei conne namore mynstralcye ne musyke, men to glade,
Than Munde þe mylnere of multa fecit deus!
Ne were here vyle harlotrye haue god my treuthe,
Shulde neuere Kyng ne kniȝt ne chanoun of seynt Poules
Ȝyue hem to her ȝeresȝiue þe ȝifte of a grote!
Aȝein þe lawe of owre lorde and lyen on hem-selue,
Spitten and spewen and speke foule wordes,
Drynken and dryuelen and do men for to gape,
Lickne men and lye on hem þat leneth hem no ȝiftes,
Þei conne namore mynstralcye ne musyke, men to glade,
Than Munde þe mylnere of multa fecit deus!
Ne were here vyle harlotrye haue god my treuthe,
Shulde neuere Kyng ne kniȝt ne chanoun of seynt Poules
Ȝyue hem to her ȝeresȝiue þe ȝifte of a grote!
Ac murthe and mynstralcye amonges men is nouthe
Leccherye, losengerye and loseles tales;
Glotonye and grete othes þis murthe þei louieth.
Leccherye, losengerye and loseles tales;
Glotonye and grete othes þis murthe þei louieth.
Ac if þei carpen of cryst þis clerkis and þis lewed,
Atte mete in her murthes whan mynstralles ben stille,
Þanne telleth þei of þe trinite a tale other tweyne,
And bringen forth a balled resoun and taken Bernard to witnesse,
And putten forth a presumpsioun to preue þe sothe.
Þus þei dryuele at her deyse þe deite to knowe,
And gnawen god with þe gorge whan her gutte is fulle.
Ac þe careful may crye and carpen atte ȝate,
Atte mete in her murthes whan mynstralles ben stille,
Þanne telleth þei of þe trinite a tale other tweyne,
And bringen forth a balled resoun and taken Bernard to witnesse,
And putten forth a presumpsioun to preue þe sothe.
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And gnawen god with þe gorge whan her gutte is fulle.
Bothe afyngred and a-thurst and for chele quake;
Is none to nymen hym nere his noye to amende,
But [hoen] on hym as an hounde and hoten hym go þennes.
Litel loueth he þat lorde þat lent hym al þat blisse,
Þat þus parteth with þe pore a parcel whan hym nedeth.
Ne were mercy in mene men more þan in riche,
Mendinantȝ meteles miȝte go to bedde.
God is moche in þe gorge of þise grete maystres,
Ac amonges mene men his mercy and his werkis;
And so seith þe sauter I haue yseye it ofte,
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata, inuenimus eam in campis silue.
Clerkes and other kynnes men carpen of god faste,And haue [hym] moche in þe mouthe ac mene men in herte.
Freres and faitoures han founde suche questiouns
To plese with proude men sithen þe pestilence tyme,
And prechen at seint poules for pure enuye of clerkis,
Þat folke is nouȝte fermed in þe feith ne fre of her goodes,
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In religioun and in alle þe rewme amonges riche & pore,
Þat preyeres haue no power þe pestilence to lette.
And ȝette þe wrecches of þis worlde is none ywar bi other,
Ne for drede of þe deth withdrawe nouȝt her pryde,
Ne beth plentyuous to þe pore as pure charite wolde,
But in gaynesse and in glotonye for-glotten her goode hem-selue,
And breken nouȝte to þe beggar as þe boke techeth,
Frange esurienti panem tuum, &c.
And þe more he wynneth and welt welthes & ricchesse,And lordeth in londes þe lasse good he deleth.
Thobye telleth ȝow nouȝt so take hede, ȝe riche,
How þe boke bible of hym bereth witnesse:
Si tibi sit copia, habundanter tribue; si autem exiguum, illud impertiri stude libenter:—
Who-so hath moche, spene manliche so meneth Thobie,And who-so litel weldeth reule him þer-after;
For we haue no lettre of owre lyf how longe it shal dure.
Suche lessounes lordes shulde louie to here,
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Nouȝt to fare as a fitheler or a frere for to seke festes,
Homelich at other mennes house[s] and hatyen her owne.
Elyng is þe halle vche daye in þe wyke,
Þere þe lorde ne þe lady liketh nouȝte to sytte.
Now hath vche riche a reule to eten bi hym-selue
In a pryue pa[r]loure for pore mennes sake,
Or in a chambre with a chymneye and leue þe chief halle,
Þat was made for meles men to eten Inne;
And al to spare to spille þat spende shal an other.
Homelich at other mennes house[s] and hatyen her owne.
Elyng is þe halle vche daye in þe wyke,
Þere þe lorde ne þe lady liketh nouȝte to sytte.
Now hath vche riche a reule to eten bi hym-selue
In a pryue pa[r]loure for pore mennes sake,
Or in a chambre with a chymneye and leue þe chief halle,
Þat was made for meles men to eten Inne;
And al to spare to spille þat spende shal an other.
I haue yherde hiegh men etyng atte table,
Carpen as þei clerkes were of cryste and of his miȝtes,
And leyden fautes vppon þe fader þat fourmed vs alle,
And carpen aȝeine clerkes crabbed wordes;—
‘Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre suche a worme in his blisse,
Þat bigyled þe womman and þe man after,
Þorw whiche wyles and wordes þei went[en] to helle,
And al her sede for here synne þe same deth suffred?
Here lyeth ȝowre lore’ þise lordes gynneth dispute,
Carpen as þei clerkes were of cryste and of his miȝtes,
And leyden fautes vppon þe fader þat fourmed vs alle,
And carpen aȝeine clerkes crabbed wordes;—
‘Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre suche a worme in his blisse,
Þat bigyled þe womman and þe man after,
Þorw whiche wyles and wordes þei went[en] to helle,
And al her sede for here synne þe same deth suffred?
‘Of þat ȝe clerkes vs kenneth of cryst by þe gospel;
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, &c.
Whi shulde we þat now ben for þe werkes of AdamRoten and to-rende? resoun wolde it neuere;
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Vnusquisque portabit onus suum, &c.’
Suche motyues þei moeue þis maistres in her glorie,And maken men in mysbileue þat muse moche on her wordes;
Ymaginatyf her-afterward shal answere to ȝowre purpos.
Augustyne to suche argueres he telleth hem þis teme,
Non plus sapere quam oportet.
Wilneth neuere to wite whi þat god woldeSuffre Sathan his sede to bigyle,
Ac bileue lelly in þe lore of holicherche,
And preye hym of pardoun and penaunce in þi lyue,
And for his moche mercye to amende ȝow here.
For alle þat wilneth to wyte þe weyes of god almiȝty,
I wolde his eye were in his ers and his fynger after,
Þat euere wilneth to wite whi þat god wolde
Suffre sathan his sede to bigile,
Or iudas to þe iuwes ihesu bytraye.
Al was as þow wolde lorde, yworschiped be þow,
And al worth as þow wolte what so we dispute!
And þo þat vseth þis hanelounes to blende mennes wittes,
What is dowel fro dobet now def mote he worthe,
(Sitthe he wilneth to wyte whiche þei ben bothe),
But if he lyue in þe lyf þat longeth to dowel;
For I dar ben his bolde borgh þat dobet wil he neuere,
Þeigh dobest drawe on hym day after other.”
What is dowel fro dobet now def mote he worthe,
(Sitthe he wilneth to wyte whiche þei ben bothe),
But if he lyue in þe lyf þat longeth to dowel;
For I dar ben his bolde borgh þat dobet wil he neuere,
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And whan þat witte was ywar what dame studye tolde,
He bicome so confus he couth nouȝte loke,
And as doumbe a[s] deth and drowe hym arrere;
He bicome so confus he couth nouȝte loke,
And as doumbe a[s] deth and drowe hym arrere;
And for no carpyng I couth after ne knelyng to þe grounde,
I myȝte gete no greyne of his grete wittis,
But al laughyng he louted and loked vppon studye,
In signe þat I shulde biseche hir of grace.
I myȝte gete no greyne of his grete wittis,
But al laughyng he louted and loked vppon studye,
In signe þat I shulde biseche hir of grace.
And whan I was war of his wille to his wyf gan I loute,
And seyde, “mercy, madame ȝowre man shal I worthe,
As longe as I lyue bothe late & rathe,
Forto worche ȝowre wille þe while my lyf dureth,
With þat ȝe kenne me kyndely to knowe what is dowel.”
And seyde, “mercy, madame ȝowre man shal I worthe,
As longe as I lyue bothe late & rathe,
Forto worche ȝowre wille þe while my lyf dureth,
With þat ȝe kenne me kyndely to knowe what is dowel.”
“For þi mekenesse, man,” quod she “and for þi mylde speche,
I shal kenne þe to my cosyn þat clergye is hoten.
He hath wedded a wyf with-Inne þis syx monethes,
Is sybbe to þe seuene artz scripture is hir name.
Þei two, as I hope after my techyng,
Shullen wissen þe to dowel I dar it vndertake.”
I shal kenne þe to my cosyn þat clergye is hoten.
He hath wedded a wyf with-Inne þis syx monethes,
Is sybbe to þe seuene artz scripture is hir name.
Þei two, as I hope after my techyng,
Shullen wissen þe to dowel I dar it vndertake.”
Þanne was I also fayne as foule of faire morwe,
And gladder þan þe gleman þat golde hath to ȝifte,
And axed hir þe heighe weye where þat clergye dwelte,
“And telle me some token,” quod I “for tyme is þat I wende.”
And gladder þan þe gleman þat golde hath to ȝifte,
And axed hir þe heighe weye where þat clergye dwelte,
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“Axe þe heighe waye,” quod she “hennes to suffre-
Bothe-wel-&-wo ȝif þat þow wolt lerne,
And ryde forth by ricchesse ac rest þow nauȝt þerinne,
For if þow couplest þe þer-with to clergye comestow neuere.
Bothe-wel-&-wo ȝif þat þow wolt lerne,
And ryde forth by ricchesse ac rest þow nauȝt þerinne,
For if þow couplest þe þer-with to clergye comestow neuere.
And also þe likerouse launde þat leccherye hatte,
Leue hym on þi left halue a large myle or more,
Tyl þow come to a courte kepe-wel-þi-tonge-
Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche- and-likerouse-drynkes.
Þanne shaltow se sobrete and symplete-of-speche,
Þat eche wiȝte be in wille his witte þe to shewe,
And þus shaltow come to clergye þat can many þinges.
Leue hym on þi left halue a large myle or more,
Tyl þow come to a courte kepe-wel-þi-tonge-
Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche- and-likerouse-drynkes.
Þanne shaltow se sobrete and symplete-of-speche,
Þat eche wiȝte be in wille his witte þe to shewe,
And þus shaltow come to clergye þat can many þinges.
Saye hym þis signe I sette hym to scole,
And þat I [grete] wel his wyf for I wrote hir many bokes,
And sette hir to sapience and to þe sauter glose.
Logyke I lerned hir and many other lawes,
And alle þe musouns in mu[si]ke I made hir to knowe.
And þat I [grete] wel his wyf for I wrote hir many bokes,
And sette hir to sapience and to þe sauter glose.
Logyke I lerned hir and many other lawes,
And alle þe musouns in mu[si]ke I made hir to knowe.
Plato þe poete I put hym fyrste to boke,
Aristotle and other moo to argue I tauȝte.
Grammer for gerles I garte first wryte,
And bette hem with a baleis but if þei wolde lerne.
Of alkinnes craftes I contreued toles,
Of carpentrie, of kerueres and compassed masouns,
And lerned hem leuel and lyne þough I loke dymme.
Aristotle and other moo to argue I tauȝte.
Grammer for gerles I garte first wryte,
And bette hem with a baleis but if þei wolde lerne.
Of alkinnes craftes I contreued toles,
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And lerned hem leuel and lyne þough I loke dymme.
Ac theologie hath tened me ten score tymes,
The more I muse þere-Inne þe mistier it semeth,
And þe depper I deuyne þe derker me it þinketh;
It is no science for sothe forto sotyle Inne;
A ful lethy þinge it were ȝif þat loue nere.
Ac for it let best by loue I loue it þe bettre;
For þere þat loue is leder ne lacked neuere grace.
Loke þow loue lelly ȝif þe lyketh dowel;
For dobet and dobest ben of loues kynne.
In other science it seyth I [seigh] it in catoun,
The more I muse þere-Inne þe mistier it semeth,
And þe depper I deuyne þe derker me it þinketh;
It is no science for sothe forto sotyle Inne;
A ful lethy þinge it were ȝif þat loue nere.
Ac for it let best by loue I loue it þe bettre;
For þere þat loue is leder ne lacked neuere grace.
Loke þow loue lelly ȝif þe lyketh dowel;
For dobet and dobest ben of loues kynne.
Qui simulat verbis, [nec] corde est fidus amicus,
Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.
Who-so gloseth as gylours don go me to þe same,
And so shaltow false folke and faythlees bigyle,
Þis is catounes kennyng to clerkes þat he lereth.
Ac theologye techeth nouȝt so who-so taketh ȝeme,
He kenneth vs þe contrarye aȝein catones wordes;
For he bit vs be as bretheren and bidde for owre enemys,
And louen hem þat lyen on vs and lene hem whan hem nedeth,
And do good aȝeines yuel god hym-self it hoteth,
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Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.
Poule preched þe peple þat parfitnesse loued,To do good for goddes loue and gyuen men þat asked,
And nameliche to suche þat sueth owre bileue.
And alle þat lakketh vs or lyeth vs owre lorde techeth vs to louye,
And nouȝt to greuen hem þat greueth vs god hym-self for-badde it,
Michi vindictam, & ego retribuam.
For-þi loke þow louye as longe as þow durest,For is no science vnder sonne so souereyne for þe soule.
Ac astronomye is an harde þynge and yuel forto knowe,
Geometrie and geomesye is ginful of speche;
Who-so thenketh werche with þo two thryueth ful late.
For sorcerye is þe souereyne boke þat to þe science longeth.
Geometrie and geomesye is ginful of speche;
Who-so thenketh werche with þo two thryueth ful late.
For sorcerye is þe souereyne boke þat to þe science longeth.
Ȝet ar þere fybicches in forceres of fele mennes makynge,
Experimentz of alk[en]amye þe poeple to deceyue,
If þow þinke to dowel dele þer-with neuere.
Alle þise science[s] I my-self sotiled and ordeyned,
And founded hem formest folke to deceyue.
Experimentz of alk[en]amye þe poeple to deceyue,
If þow þinke to dowel dele þer-with neuere.
Alle þise science[s] I my-self sotiled and ordeyned,
And founded hem formest folke to deceyue.
Telle clergye þise tokenes and scripture after,
To conseille þe kyndely to knowe what is dowel.”
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I seide, “graunt mercy, madame” and mekeliche hir grette,
And went wiȝtlich awey with-oute more lettynge,
And til I come to clergye I couthe neuere stynte.
And gret[te] þe good man as studye me tauȝte,
And afterwardes þe wyf and worshiped hem bothe,
And tolde hem þe tokenes þat me tauȝte were.
Was neuere gome vppon þis grounde sith god made þe worlde,
Fairer vnder-fongen ne frendeloker at ese,
Þan my-self sothly sone so he wist
Þat I was of wittis hous and with his wyf dame studye.
I seyde to hem sothely þat sent was I þider,
Dowel and dobet and dobest to lerne.
“It is a comune lyf,” quod clergye “on holycherche to bileue,
And went wiȝtlich awey with-oute more lettynge,
And til I come to clergye I couthe neuere stynte.
And gret[te] þe good man as studye me tauȝte,
And afterwardes þe wyf and worshiped hem bothe,
And tolde hem þe tokenes þat me tauȝte were.
Was neuere gome vppon þis grounde sith god made þe worlde,
Fairer vnder-fongen ne frendeloker at ese,
Þan my-self sothly sone so he wist
Þat I was of wittis hous and with his wyf dame studye.
I seyde to hem sothely þat sent was I þider,
Dowel and dobet and dobest to lerne.
With alle þe artikles of þe feithe þat falleth to be knowe.
And þat is to bileue lelly bothe lered and lewed,
On þe grete god þat gynnyng had neuere,
And on þe sothfaste sone þat saued mankynde
Fro þe dedly deth and þe deueles power,
Þorwgh þe helpe of þe holy goste þe whiche goste is of bothe;
Three [propre] persones ac nouȝt in plurel noumbre,
For al is but on god and eche is god hym-selue;
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Deus pater, deus filius, deus spiritus sanctus;
God þe fader, god þe sone god holigoste of bothe,Maker of mankynde and of bestes bothe.
Austyn þe olde here-of he made bokes,
And hym-self ordeyned to sadde vs in bileue.
Who was his autour? alle þe foure euangelistes;
And cryst clepid hym-self so þe ewangelistes bereth witnesse:—
Ego in patre & pater in me est; &, qui videt me, videt et patrem meum.
Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst ne couthe þis assoille,But þus it bilongeth to bileue to lewed þat willen dowel.
For had neuere freke fyne wytte þe feyth to dispute,
Ne man had no merite myȝte it ben yproued:
Fides non habet meritum, vbi humana racio prebet experimentum.
Þanne is dobet to suffre for þi soules helth,Al þat þe boke bit by holycherche techyng;
And þat is—‘man, bi þi miȝte for mercies sake,
Loke þow worche it in werke þat þi worde sheweth;
Suche as þow semest in syȝte be in assay y-founde;
Appare quod es, vel esto quod appares:
And lat no body be bi þi beryng bygyled,But be suche in þi soule as þow semest with-oute.’
Þanne is dobest to be bolde to blame þe gylty,
Sithenes þow seest þi-self as in soule clene;
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Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cauebis,
Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet.
God in þe gospel grymly repreueth
Alle þat lakken any lyf and lakkes han hem-selue:
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui, trabem in oculo tuo [non vides?]
Why meuestow þi mode for a mote in þi brotheres eye,Sithen a beem in þine owne ablyndeth þi-selue?
Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo, &c.,
Whiche letteth þe to loke lasse other more.
I rede eche a blynde bosarde do bote to hym-selue;
For abbotes and for prioures and for alle manere prelates,
As parsones and parisshe prestes þat preche shulde and teche,
Alle manere men to amenden by here myȝte;
This tixte was tolde ȝow to ben war, ar ȝe tauȝte,
Þat ȝe were suche as ȝe seyde to salue with othere.
For goddis worde wolde nouȝt be loste for þat worcheth euere,
If it auailled nouȝt þe comune it myȝte auaille ȝow-seluen.
Ac it semeth now sothly to þe worldes syght,
For abbotes and for prioures and for alle manere prelates,
As parsones and parisshe prestes þat preche shulde and teche,
Alle manere men to amenden by here myȝte;
This tixte was tolde ȝow to ben war, ar ȝe tauȝte,
Þat ȝe were suche as ȝe seyde to salue with othere.
For goddis worde wolde nouȝt be loste for þat worcheth euere,
If it auailled nouȝt þe comune it myȝte auaille ȝow-seluen.
Þat goddes worde worcheth nauȝte on lered ne on lewede,
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Dum cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foueam cadunt.
Lewed men may likne ȝow þus þat þe beem lithe in ȝowre eyghen,
And þe festu is fallen for ȝowre defaute,
In alle manere men þourgh mansed prestes.
Þe bible bereth witnesse þat alle þe folke of israel
Byttere abouȝte þe gultes of two badde prestes,
Offyn and Fynes; for her coueytise,
Archa dei myshapped and ely brake his nekke.
For-þi, ȝe corectoures, claweth her-on and corecteth fyrst ȝow-seluen,
And þe festu is fallen for ȝowre defaute,
In alle manere men þourgh mansed prestes.
Þe bible bereth witnesse þat alle þe folke of israel
Byttere abouȝte þe gultes of two badde prestes,
Offyn and Fynes; for her coueytise,
Archa dei myshapped and ely brake his nekke.
And þanne mowe ȝe saufly seye as dauid made þe sauter:
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis: arguam te, & statuam contra faciem tuam.
And þanne shal borel clerkes ben abasched to blame ȝow or to greue,And carpen nouȝte as þei carpen now and calle ȝow doumbe houndes,
Canes non valentes latrare,
And drede to wratthe ȝow in any worde ȝowre werkemanship to lette,And be prestiore at ȝowre prayere þan for a pounde of nobles;
And al for ȝowre holynesse haue ȝe þis in herte.
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Amonges riȝtful religiouse þis reule schulde be holde;
Gregorie þe grete clerke and þe goed pope
Of religioun þe reule reherseth in his morales,
And seyth it in ensaumple for þei schulde do þere-after,
‘Whenne fissches failen þe flode or þe fresche water,
Þei deyen for drouthe whanne þei drie ligge;
Riȝt so, quod Gregorie religioun roileth,
Sterueth and stynketh and steleth lordes almesses,
Þat oute of couent and cloystre coueyten to libbe.’
For if heuene be on þis erthe and ese to any soule,
It is in cloistere or in scole be many skilles I fynde;
For in cloistre cometh [no] man to chide ne to fiȝte,
But alle is buxumnesse þere and bokes to rede and to lerne.]
Gregorie þe grete clerke and þe goed pope
Of religioun þe reule reherseth in his morales,
And seyth it in ensaumple for þei schulde do þere-after,
‘Whenne fissches failen þe flode or þe fresche water,
Þei deyen for drouthe whanne þei drie ligge;
Riȝt so, quod Gregorie religioun roileth,
Sterueth and stynketh and steleth lordes almesses,
Þat oute of couent and cloystre coueyten to libbe.’
For if heuene be on þis erthe and ese to any soule,
It is in cloistere or in scole be many skilles I fynde;
For in cloistre cometh [no] man to chide ne to fiȝte,
But alle is buxumnesse þere and bokes to rede and to lerne.]
In scole þere is scorne but if a clerke wil lerne,
And grete loue and lykynge for eche of hem loueth other.
Ac now is religioun a ryder a rowmer bi stretes,
A leder of louedayes and a londe-bugger,
A priker on a palfray fro manere to manere,
An heep of houndes at his ers as he a lorde were.
And but if his knaue knele þat shal his cuppe brynge,
He loureth on hym and axeth hym who tauȝte hym curteisye?
Litel had lordes to done to ȝyue londe fram her heires
To Religious, þat haue no reuthe þough it reyne on here auteres.
And grete loue and lykynge for eche of hem loueth other.
Ac now is religioun a ryder a rowmer bi stretes,
A leder of louedayes and a londe-bugger,
A priker on a palfray fro manere to manere,
An heep of houndes at his ers as he a lorde were.
And but if his knaue knele þat shal his cuppe brynge,
He loureth on hym and axeth hym who tauȝte hym curteisye?
Litel had lordes to done to ȝyue londe fram her heires
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In many places þer hij persones ben be hem-self at ese,
Of þe pore haue þei no pite and þat is her charite;
Ac þei leten hem as lordes her londe lith so brode.
Ac þere shal come a kyng and confesse ȝow religiouses,
Of þe pore haue þei no pite and þat is her charite;
Ac þei leten hem as lordes her londe lith so brode.
And bete ȝow as þe bible telleth for brekynge of ȝowre reule,
And amende monyales monkes and chanouns,
And putten hem to her penaunce ad pristinum statum ire,
And Barounes with Erles beten hem þorugh beatus virres techynge,
Þat here barnes claymen and blame ȝow foule:
Hij in curribus, [et] hij in equis; ipsi obligati sunt, &c.
And þanne Freres in here freitoure shal fynden a keye
Of costantynes coffres in which is þe catel
Þat Gregories god-children han yuel dispended.
Of costantynes coffres in which is þe catel
Þat Gregories god-children han yuel dispended.
And þanne shal þe abbot of Abyndoun and alle [his] issu for euere
Haue a knokke of a kynge and incurable þe wounde.
That þis worth soth, seke ȝe! þat oft ouer-se þe bible:
Haue a knokke of a kynge and incurable þe wounde.
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Quomodo cessauit exactor, quieuit tributum; contriuit dominus baculum impiorum, et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili, &c.
Ac ar þat kynge come cayme shal awake.
Ac dowel shal dyngen hym adoune and destruyen his myȝte.”
“Þanne is dowel and dobet,” quod I “dominus and kniȝthode.”
Ac dowel shal dyngen hym adoune and destruyen his myȝte.”
“Þanne is dowel and dobet,” quod I “dominus and kniȝthode.”
“I nel nouȝt scorne,” quod scripture “but if scryueynes lye;
Kynghod ne knyȝthod by nauȝt I can awayte,
Helpeth nouȝt to heueneward one heres ende,
Ne ricchesse riȝt nouȝt ne reaute of lordes.
Poule preueth it inpossible riche men [to] haue heuene,
Kynghod ne knyȝthod by nauȝt I can awayte,
Helpeth nouȝt to heueneward one heres ende,
Ne ricchesse riȝt nouȝt ne reaute of lordes.
Salamon seith also þat syluer is worst to louye:
Nichil iniquius quam amare peccuniam.
And caton kenneth vs to coueiten it nauȝt but as nede techeth,Dilige denarium, set parce dilige formam.
And patriarkes and prophetes and poetes bothe
Wryten to wissen vs to wilne no ricchesse,
And preyseden pouerte with pacience; þe apostles bereth witnesse,
Þat þei han heritage in heuene and bi trewe riȝte,
Þere riche men no riȝte may clayme but of reuthe and grace.”
“Contra,” quod I, “bi cryste þat can I repreue,
And preue it bi Peter and bi poule bothe,
Þat is baptized beth sauf be he riche or pore.”
And preue it bi Peter and bi poule bothe,
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“Þat is in extremis,” quod scripture “amonges saracenes and iewes;
Þei mowen be saued so and þat is owre byleue,
Þat an vncristene in þat cas may crysten an hethen,
And for his lele byleue whan he þe lyf tyneth,
Haue þe heritage of heuene as any man crystene.
Ac crysten men with-oute more may nouȝt come to heuene,
Þei mowen be saued so and þat is owre byleue,
Þat an vncristene in þat cas may crysten an hethen,
And for his lele byleue whan he þe lyf tyneth,
Haue þe heritage of heuene as any man crystene.
For þat cryst for cristen men deyde and confermed þe lawe,
Þat who-so wolde and wylneth with cryste to aryse,
Si cum Christo surrexistis, &c.,
He shulde louye & leue and þe lawe fulfille.Þat is—‘loue þi lorde god leuest aboue alle,
And after, alle crystene creatures in comune, eche man other,’
And þus bilongeth to louye þat leueth to be saued.
And but we do þus in dede ar þe daye of dome,
I[t] shal bisitten vs ful soure þe siluer þat we kepen,
And owre bakkes þat moth-eten be and sen beggers go naked,
Or delyte in wyn and wylde foule and wote any in defaute.
For euery cristene creature shulde be kynde til other,
And sithen hethen to helpe in hope of amendement.
God hoteth bothe heigh and lowe þat no man hurte other,
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But if I sende þe sum tokne’; and seith, non mecaberis,
Is, slee nouȝt, but suffre and al for þe beste.
[For, Michi vindictam, & ego retribuam.]
‘For I shal punysshen hem in purgatorie or in þe putte of helle,Vche man for his mysdedes but mercy it lette.’”
“Þis is a longe lessoun,” quod I “and litel am I þe wyser;
Where dowel is, or dobet derkelich ȝe shewen;
Many tales ȝe tellen þat theologye lerneth;
And þat I man made was and my name yentred
In þe legende of lyf longe er I were,
Or elles vnwriten for somme wikkednesse as holywrit wytnesseth,
Nemo ascendit ad celum, nisi qui de celo de[s]cendit.
I leue it wel,” quod I, “bi owre lorde and on no letterure bettere.
For Salamon þe sage þat sapience tauȝte,
God gaf hym grace of witte and alle his godes after,
[To reule þe reume and riche to make;]
He demed wel & wysely as holy writte telleth.
Aristotle & he who wissed men bettere?
Maistres þat of goddis mercy techen men and prechen,
Of here wordes þei wissen vs for wisest as in here tyme,
And al holicherche holdeth hem bothe ydampned!
For Salamon þe sage þat sapience tauȝte,
God gaf hym grace of witte and alle his godes after,
[To reule þe reume and riche to make;]
He demed wel & wysely as holy writte telleth.
Aristotle & he who wissed men bettere?
Maistres þat of goddis mercy techen men and prechen,
Of here wordes þei wissen vs for wisest as in here tyme,
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And if I shulde worke bi here werkes to wynne me heuene,
Þat for her werkes and witte now wonyeth in pyne,
Þanne wrouȝte I vnwysely what-so euere ȝe preche.
Ac of fele witty in feith litel ferly I haue,
Þat for her werkes and witte now wonyeth in pyne,
Þanne wrouȝte I vnwysely what-so euere ȝe preche.
Þough her goste be vngraciouse god for to plese.
For many men on þis molde more sette here hertis
In good þan in god for-þi hem grace failleth,
At here moste myschief whan þei shal lyf lete.
As Salamon dede, and such other þat shewed gret wittes,
Ac her werkes, as holy wrytte seyth was euere þe contrarye.
For-þi wyse witted men and wel ylettred clerkes,
As þei seyen hem-self selden done þer-after,
Super cathedra[m] moysy, &c.
Ac I wene it worth of many as was in Noes tyme,
Þo he shope þat shippe of shides and bordes;
Was neuere wriȝte saued þat wrouȝt þer-on ne oþer werkman elles,
But briddes and bestes and þe blissed Noe,
And his wyf with his sones and also here wyues;
Of wriȝtes þat it wrouȝte was none of hem ysaued.
God leue it fare nouȝt so bi folke þat þe feith techen
Þo he shope þat shippe of shides and bordes;
Was neuere wriȝte saued þat wrouȝt þer-on ne oþer werkman elles,
But briddes and bestes and þe blissed Noe,
And his wyf with his sones and also here wyues;
Of wriȝtes þat it wrouȝte was none of hem ysaued.
Of holicherche, þat he[r]berwe is and goddes hous to saue,
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And men þat maden it amydde þe flode adreynten.
Þe culorum of þis clause curatoures is to mene,
Þat ben carpenteres holykirke to make for crystes owne bestes,
Homines & iumenta saluabis, domine, &c.
[At domes-day þe [diluuye] worth of deth and [fyr] at ones;For-þi I conseil ȝow clerkes of holy cherche þe wriȝtes,
Wercheth ȝe werkes as ȝe seen I-write lest ȝe worth nauȝt þer-inne.]
On gode fridaye I fynde a feloun was ysaued,
Þat had lyued al his lyf with lesynges and with thefte;
And for he biknewe on þe crosse and to cryste sc[h]rof hym,
He was sonnere saued þan seynt Iohan [þe] Baptiste,
And or Adam or ysaye or eny of þe prophetes,
Þat hadde yleine with Lucyfer many longe ȝeres.
A robbere was yraunceouned rather þan þei alle,
With-outen any penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse.
Þat had lyued al his lyf with lesynges and with thefte;
And for he biknewe on þe crosse and to cryste sc[h]rof hym,
He was sonnere saued þan seynt Iohan [þe] Baptiste,
And or Adam or ysaye or eny of þe prophetes,
Þat hadde yleine with Lucyfer many longe ȝeres.
A robbere was yraunceouned rather þan þei alle,
With-outen any penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse.
Þanne Marye Magdaleyne what womman dede worse?
Or who worse þan dauid þat vries deth conspired?
Or Poule þe apostle þat no pitee hadde,
Moche crystene kynde to kylle to deth?
And [now] ben þise as souereynes wyth seyntes in heuene,
Þo þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest in worlde þo þei were.
And þo þat wisely wordeden and wryten many bokes
Or who worse þan dauid þat vries deth conspired?
Or Poule þe apostle þat no pitee hadde,
Moche crystene kynde to kylle to deth?
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Þo þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest in worlde þo þei were.
Of witte and of wisdome with dampned soules wonye.
Þat salamon seith, I trowe be soth and certeyne of vs alle,
[Sunt] iusti atque sapientes & opera eorum in manu dei sunt, &c.;
Þere aren witty and wel libbynge ac her werkes ben yhudde
In þe hondes of almiȝty god and he wote þe sothe
Wher for loue a man worth allowed þere and his lele werkes,
Or elles for his yuel wille & enuye of herte,
And be allowed as he lyued so; for bi lyther, men knoweth þe gode;
In þe hondes of almiȝty god and he wote þe sothe
Wher for loue a man worth allowed þere and his lele werkes,
Or elles for his yuel wille & enuye of herte,
And be allowed as he lyued so; for bi lyther, men knoweth þe gode;
And wherby wote men whiche is whyte if alle þinge blake were,
And who were a gode man but if þere were some shrewe?
For-þi lyue we forth with lither men I leue fewe ben gode.
For qant OPORTET vyent en place yl ny ad que PATI,
And he þat may al amende haue mercy on vs alle;
For sothest worde þat euere god seyde was þo he seyde, nemo bonus.
Clergye þo of crystes mouth commended was it litel,
And who were a gode man but if þere were some shrewe?
For-þi lyue we forth with lither men I leue fewe ben gode.
For qant OPORTET vyent en place yl ny ad que PATI,
And he þat may al amende haue mercy on vs alle;
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For he seyde to seynt Peter and to suche as he loued,
Dum steteritis ante Reges et presides, &c.;
Þough ȝe come bifor kynges and clerkes of þe lawe,Beth nouȝte abasched for I shal be in ȝoure mouthes,
And ȝyue ȝow witte at wille and kunnynge to conclude
Hem alle þat aȝeines ȝow of crystenedome disputen.
Dauyd maketh mencioun he spake amonges kynges,
And miȝte no kynge ouercome hym as bi kunnyng of speche.
But witte ne wisdome wan neuere þe maystrye,
Whan man was at myschief with-oute þe more grace.
Þe doughtiest doctour and deuynoure of þe trinitee,
And miȝte no kynge ouercome hym as bi kunnyng of speche.
But witte ne wisdome wan neuere þe maystrye,
Whan man was at myschief with-oute þe more grace.
Was Augustyn þe olde and heighest of þe foure,
Sayde þus in a sarmoun I seigh it writen ones,
Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur:
And is to mene to englisshe men more ne lasse,Aren none rather yrauysshed fro þe riȝte byleue
Þan ar þis cunnynge clerkes þat conne many bokes;
Ne none sonner saued ne sadder of bileue,
Þan plowmen and pastoures & pore comune laboreres.
Souteres and shep[h]erdes suche lewed iottes
Percen with a pater-noster þe paleys of heuene,
And passen purgatorie penaunceles at her hennes partynge,
In-to þe blisse of paradys for her pure byleue,
Þat inparfitly here knewe and eke lyued.
Þan plowmen and pastoures & pore comune laboreres.
Souteres and shep[h]erdes suche lewed iottes
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And passen purgatorie penaunceles at her hennes partynge,
In-to þe blisse of paradys for her pure byleue,
Þat inparfitly here knewe and eke lyued.
Ȝee men knowe clerkes þat han cursed þe tyme,
Þat euere þei couth or knewe more þan credo in deum patrem;
And pryncipaly her pater-noster many a persone hath wisshed.
I se ensamples my-self and so may many an other,
Þat euere þei couth or knewe more þan credo in deum patrem;
And pryncipaly her pater-noster many a persone hath wisshed.
Þat seruauntes þat seruen lordes selden falle in arrerage,
But þo þat kepen þe lordes catel clerkes and reues.
Riȝt so lewed men & of litel knowynge,
Selden falle þei so foule and so fer in synne,
As clerkes of holikirke þat kepen crystes tresore,
Þe which is mannes soule to saue as god seith in þe gospel:
Ite vos in vineam meam.”
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