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. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. | PASSUS XIV (DO-WEL VI). Passus xiiijus. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
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PASSUS XIV (DO-WEL VI). Passus xiiijus.
“I haue but one [hool] hatere,” quod haukyn “I am þe lasse to blameÞough it be soiled and selde clene I slepe þere-inne on niȝtes;
And also I haue an houswyf hewen and children—
Vxorem duxy, & ideo non possum venire—
Þat wolen bymolen it many tyme maugre my chekes!
It hath ben laued in lente and oute of lente bothe,
With þe sope of sykenesse þat seketh wonder depe,
And with þe losse of catel loth forto agulte
God or any gode man bi auȝte þat I wiste;
And was shryuen of þe preste þat gaue me, for my synnes,
To penaunce, pacyence and pore men to fede,
Al for coueitise of my crystenedome in clennesse to kepen it.
With þe sope of sykenesse þat seketh wonder depe,
And with þe losse of catel loth forto agulte
God or any gode man bi auȝte þat I wiste;
And was shryuen of þe preste þat gaue me, for my synnes,
To penaunce, pacyence and pore men to fede,
Al for coueitise of my crystenedome in clennesse to kepen it.
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And couthe I neuere, by cryste kepen it clene an houre,
Þat I ne soiled it with syȝte or sum ydel speche,
Or þorugh werke or þorugh worde or wille of myn herte,
Þat I ne flober it foule fro morwe tyl eue.”
“And I shal kenne þe,” quod conscience “of contricioun to make,
Þat I ne soiled it with syȝte or sum ydel speche,
Or þorugh werke or þorugh worde or wille of myn herte,
Þat I ne flober it foule fro morwe tyl eue.”
Þat shal clawe þi cote of alkynnes filthe,
Cordis contricio, &c.:—
Dowel [shal] wasshen it and wryngen it þorw a wys confessour,Oris confessio, &c.:—
Dobet shal beten it and bouken it as briȝte as any scarlet,And engreynen it with good wille and goddes grace to amende þe,
And sithen sende þe to satisfaccioun for to sowen it after,
Satisfaccio dobest.
Shal neuere myste bimolen it ne moth after biten it,
Ne fende ne false man defoulen it in þi lyue;
Shal none heraude ne harpoure haue a fairere garnement
Þan haukyn þe actyf man and þow do by my techyng;
Ne no mynstral be more worth amonges pore & riche,
Þan Haukynnes wyf þe wafrere with his actiua vita.”
“And I shal purueye þe paste,” quod pacyence “þough no plow erie,
Ne fende ne false man defoulen it in þi lyue;
Shal none heraude ne harpoure haue a fairere garnement
Þan haukyn þe actyf man and þow do by my techyng;
Ne no mynstral be more worth amonges pore & riche,
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And floure to fede folke with as best be for þe soule,
Þough neuere greyne growed ne grape vppon vyne.
Alle þat lyueth and loketh lyflode wolde I fynde,
And þat ynough shal none faille of þinge þat hem nedeth.
We shulde nouȝt be to busy a-bouten owre lyflode,
Ne solliciti sitis, &c.: volucres celi deus pascit, &c.: pacientes vincunt, &c.”
Þanne laughed haukyn a litel and liȝtly gan swerye,
“Who so leueth ȝow, by owre lorde I leue nouȝte he be blissed!”
“Who so leueth ȝow, by owre lorde I leue nouȝte he be blissed!”
“No,” quod pacyence paciently and out of his poke hente
Vitailles of grete vertues for al manere bestes,
And seyde, “lo! here lyflode ynough if owre byleue be trewe!
For lente neuere was lyf but lyflode were shapen,
Wher-of or wherfore or where-by to lybbe.
Firste þe wylde worme vnder weet erthe,
Vitailles of grete vertues for al manere bestes,
And seyde, “lo! here lyflode ynough if owre byleue be trewe!
For lente neuere was lyf but lyflode were shapen,
Wher-of or wherfore or where-by to lybbe.
Fissch to lyue in þe flode and in þe fyre þe crykat,
Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre moste clennest flesch of bryddes,
And bestes by grasse and by greyne and by grene rotis,
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Lyue þorw lele byleue and loue, as god witnesseth;
Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo, &c.: & alibi, Non in solo pane viuit homo, set in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore dei.”
But I loked what lyflode it was þat pacience so preysed,
And þanne was it a pece of þe pater-noster fiat voluntas tua.
And þanne was it a pece of þe pater-noster fiat voluntas tua.
“Haue, haukyn!” quod pacyence “and ete þis whan þe hungreth,
Or whan þow clomsest for colde or clyngest for drye.
Shal neuere gyues þe greue ne grete lordes wrath,
Prisone ne peyne for—pacientes vincunt.
Or whan þow clomsest for colde or clyngest for drye.
Shal neuere gyues þe greue ne grete lordes wrath,
Prisone ne peyne for—pacientes vincunt.
Bi so þat þow be sobre of syȝte and of tonge,
In etynge and in handlynge and in alle þi fyue wittis,
Darstow neuere care for corne ne lynnen cloth ne wollen,
Ne for drynke, ne deth drede but deye as god lyketh,
Or þorw honger or þorw hete at his wille be it;
For if þow lyuest after his lore þe [shorter] lyf þe better:
Si quis amat cristum, mundum non diligit istum.
For þorw his breth bestes wexen and abrode ȝeden,
In etynge and in handlynge and in alle þi fyue wittis,
Darstow neuere care for corne ne lynnen cloth ne wollen,
Ne for drynke, ne deth drede but deye as god lyketh,
Or þorw honger or þorw hete at his wille be it;
For if þow lyuest after his lore þe [shorter] lyf þe better:
Si quis amat cristum, mundum non diligit istum.
Dixit & facta sunt, &c.:
Ergo þorw his breth mowen men & bestes lyuen,239
Aperis tu manum tuam, & imples omne animal benediccione.
It is founden þat fourty wynter folke lyued withouten tulyinge,
And oute of þe flynte spronge þe flode þat folke & bestes dronke,
And in Elyes tyme heuene was yclosed,
Þat no reyne ne rone; þus rede men in bokes,
Þat many wyntres men lyueden and no mete ne tulyeden.
Seuene slepe, as seith þe boke seuene hundreth wynter,
And lyueden with-oute lyflode and atte laste þei woken,
And oute of þe flynte spronge þe flode þat folke & bestes dronke,
And in Elyes tyme heuene was yclosed,
Þat no reyne ne rone; þus rede men in bokes,
Þat many wyntres men lyueden and no mete ne tulyeden.
Seuene slepe, as seith þe boke seuene hundreth wynter,
And if men lyued as mesure wolde shulde neuere more be defaute
Amonges cristene creatures if crystes wordes ben trewe.
Ac vnkyndnesse [caristia] maketh amonges crystene peple,
And ouer-plente maketh pruyde amonges pore & riche;
Ac mesure is so moche worth it may nouȝte be to dere,
For þe meschief and þe meschaunce amonges men of sodome,
Wex þorw plente of payn & of pure sleuthe;
Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit.
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Diden dedly synne þat þe deuel lyked,
So vengeaunce fel vpon hem for her vyle synnes;
Þei sonken in-to helle þo citees vchone.
For-þi mesure we vs wel and make owre faithe owre scheltroun,
And þorw faith cometh contricioun conscience wote wel,
Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne and doth it to be venial.
And þough a man myȝte nouȝte speke contricioun myȝte hym saue,
And brynge his soule to blisse by so þat feith bere witnesse,
Þat, whiles he lyued, he bileued in þe lore of holycherche;
Ergo contricioun, feith, and conscience is kyndelich dowel,
And surgienes for dedly synnes whan shrifte of mouth failleth.
And þorw faith cometh contricioun conscience wote wel,
Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne and doth it to be venial.
And þough a man myȝte nouȝte speke contricioun myȝte hym saue,
And brynge his soule to blisse by so þat feith bere witnesse,
Þat, whiles he lyued, he bileued in þe lore of holycherche;
Ergo contricioun, feith, and conscience is kyndelich dowel,
And surgienes for dedly synnes whan shrifte of mouth failleth.
Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is if man be i[n]liche contrit;
For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne be it neuere so dedly;
Per confessionem to a prest peccata occiduntur,
Þere contricioun doth but dryueth it doun in-to a venial synne,
As dauid seith in þe sauter et quorum tecta sunt peccata.
Ac satisfaccioun seketh oute þe rote and bothe sleeth and voideth,
And, as it neuere had ybe to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne,
Þat it neuere eft is seen, ne sore but semeth a wounde yheled.”
For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne be it neuere so dedly;
Per confessionem to a prest peccata occiduntur,
Þere contricioun doth but dryueth it doun in-to a venial synne,
As dauid seith in þe sauter et quorum tecta sunt peccata.
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And, as it neuere had ybe to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne,
Þat it neuere eft is seen, ne sore but semeth a wounde yheled.”
“Where woneth charite?” quod haukyn “I wiste neuere in my lyue
Man þat with hym spake as wyde as I haue passed!”
Man þat with hym spake as wyde as I haue passed!”
“Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is and pacience of tonge,
Þere is charitee, þe chief chaumbrere for god hymselue!”
Þere is charitee, þe chief chaumbrere for god hymselue!”
“Whether paciente pouerte,” quod haukyn “be more plesaunte to owre driȝte
Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne and resonablelich yspended?”
Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne and resonablelich yspended?”
“Ȝe, quis est ille?” quod pacience “quik laudabimus eum.
Þough men rede of richchesse riȝt to þe worldes ende,
I wist neuere renke þat riche was þat whan he rekne sholde,
Whan it drow to his deth-day þat he ne dred hym sore,
And þat atte rekenyng in arrerage fel rather þan oute of dette.
Þough men rede of richchesse riȝt to þe worldes ende,
I wist neuere renke þat riche was þat whan he rekne sholde,
Whan it drow to his deth-day þat he ne dred hym sore,
And þat atte rekenyng in arrerage fel rather þan oute of dette.
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There þe pore dar plede and preue by pure resoun,
To haue allowaunce of his lorde by þe lawe he it cleymeth,
Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde of riȝtful iugge he axeth,
And seith, ‘lo! briddes and bestes þat no blisse ne knoweth,
And wilde wormes in wodes þorw wyntres þow hem greues,
And makest hem welnyegh meke and mylde for defaute,
And after þow sendest hem somer þat is her souereigne Ioye,
And blisse to alle þat ben bothe wilde and tame.
Þanne may beggeres, as bestes after bote waiten,
Þat al her lyf han lyued in langour and in defaute.
But god sent hem some tyme some manere ioye,
Other here or elles where kynde wolde it neuere;
For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte þat neuere was ioye shaped.
To haue allowaunce of his lorde by þe lawe he it cleymeth,
Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde of riȝtful iugge he axeth,
And seith, ‘lo! briddes and bestes þat no blisse ne knoweth,
And wilde wormes in wodes þorw wyntres þow hem greues,
And makest hem welnyegh meke and mylde for defaute,
And after þow sendest hem somer þat is her souereigne Ioye,
And blisse to alle þat ben bothe wilde and tame.
Þanne may beggeres, as bestes after bote waiten,
Þat al her lyf han lyued in langour and in defaute.
But god sent hem some tyme some manere ioye,
Other here or elles where kynde wolde it neuere;
For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte þat neuere was ioye shaped.
Angeles þat in helle now ben hadden ioye some tyme,
And diues in deyntees lyued and in douce vye;
Riȝte so resoun sheweth þat þo men þat were riche,
And her makes also lyued her lyf in murthe.
Ac god is of a wonder wille by þat kynde witte sheweth,
And diues in deyntees lyued and in douce vye;
Riȝte so resoun sheweth þat þo men þat were riche,
And her makes also lyued her lyf in murthe.
To ȝiue many men his mercymonye ar he it haue deserued.
Riȝt so fareth god by some riche reuthe me it þinketh,
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And is gret lykyng to lyue with-oute laboure of body;
And whan he deyeth, ben disalowed as dauid seith in þe sauter,
Dormierunt, & nichil inuenerunt;
And in an other stede also velud sompnum surgencium, domine, in ciuitate tua, & ad nichilum rediges.Allas! þat ricchesse shal reue and robbe mannes soule
Fram þe loue of owre lorde at his laste ende!
Hewen þat han her hyre afore aren euermore nedy,
And selden deieth he out of dette þat dyneth ar he deserue it,
And til he haue done his deuor and his dayes iourne.
For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte þanne may men se þe sothe,
What he were worthi for his werke and what he hath deserued;
And nouȝt to fonge bifore for drede of disalowynge.
So I segge by ȝow riche it semeth nouȝt þat ȝe shulle
And selden deieth he out of dette þat dyneth ar he deserue it,
And til he haue done his deuor and his dayes iourne.
For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte þanne may men se þe sothe,
What he were worthi for his werke and what he hath deserued;
And nouȝt to fonge bifore for drede of disalowynge.
Haue heuene in ȝowre here-beyng and heuene her-after;
Riȝt as a seruaunt taketh his salarye bifore & sitth wolde clayme more,
As he þat none hadde and hath huyre atte laste.
It may nouȝt be, ȝe riche men or matheu on god lyeth;
De delicijs ad delicias, [difficile] est transire.
Ac if [ye] riche haue reuthe and rewarde wel þe pore,
And lyuen as lawe techeth done leute to alle,
Criste of his curteysie shal conforte ȝow atte laste,
And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse þat reuful hertes habbeth.
And as an hyne þat hadde his hyre ar he bygonne,
And whan he hath done his deuor wel men doth hym other bounte,
Ȝyueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunte riȝte so cryst ȝiueth heuene
Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche þat rewfullich lybbeth;
And alle þat done her deuor wel han dowble hyre for her trauaille,
Here forȝyuenesse of her synnes and heuene blisse after.
244
Criste of his curteysie shal conforte ȝow atte laste,
And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse þat reuful hertes habbeth.
And as an hyne þat hadde his hyre ar he bygonne,
And whan he hath done his deuor wel men doth hym other bounte,
Ȝyueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunte riȝte so cryst ȝiueth heuene
Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche þat rewfullich lybbeth;
And alle þat done her deuor wel han dowble hyre for her trauaille,
Here forȝyuenesse of her synnes and heuene blisse after.
Ac it nys but selde yseyn as by holy seyntes bokes,
Þat god rewarded double reste to any riche wye.
For moche murthe is amonges riche as in mete and clothynge,
And moche murthe in Maye is amonges wilde bestes,
And so forth whil somer lasteth her solace dureth.
Ac beggeres aboute Midsomer bredlees þei soupe,
And ȝit is wynter for hem worse for wete-shodde þei gange,
A-fyrst sore and afyngred and foule yrebuked,
And arated of riche men þat reuthe is to here.
Now, lorde, sende hem somer and some manere ioye,
Heuene after her hennes goynge þat here han suche defaute!
For alle myȝtest þow haue made none mener þan other,
And yliche witty & wyse if þe wel hadde lyked.
And haue reuthe on þise riche men þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneres;
Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest ingrati ben manye;
Ac, god, of þi goodnesse gyue hem grace to amende.
For may no derth ben hem dere drouth, ne weet,
Ne noyther hete ne haille haue þei here hele,
Of þat þei wilne and wolde wanteth hem nouȝt here.
Ac pore peple, þi prisoneres lorde, in þe put of myschief,
Þat god rewarded double reste to any riche wye.
For moche murthe is amonges riche as in mete and clothynge,
And moche murthe in Maye is amonges wilde bestes,
And so forth whil somer lasteth her solace dureth.
Ac beggeres aboute Midsomer bredlees þei soupe,
And ȝit is wynter for hem worse for wete-shodde þei gange,
A-fyrst sore and afyngred and foule yrebuked,
And arated of riche men þat reuthe is to here.
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Heuene after her hennes goynge þat here han suche defaute!
For alle myȝtest þow haue made none mener þan other,
And yliche witty & wyse if þe wel hadde lyked.
And haue reuthe on þise riche men þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneres;
Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest ingrati ben manye;
Ac, god, of þi goodnesse gyue hem grace to amende.
For may no derth ben hem dere drouth, ne weet,
Ne noyther hete ne haille haue þei here hele,
Of þat þei wilne and wolde wanteth hem nouȝt here.
Conforte þo creatures þat moche care suffren
Þorw derth, þorw drouth alle her dayes here,
Wo in wynter tymes for wantyng of clothes,
And in somer tyme selde soupen to þe fulle;
Conforte þi careful cryst, in þi ryche,
For how þow confortest alle creatures clerkes bereth witnesse,
Conuertimini ad me, & salui eritis:
Þus, in genere of his [gentrice] Ihesu cryst seyde,To robberes and to reueres to riche and to pore.
Þow tauȝtest hem in þe Trinitee to take baptesme,
And be clene þorw þat crystennynge of alle kynnes [synnes];
246
Confessioun, and [knowlechyng] & crauyng þi mercy
Shulde amende vs as many sithes as man wolde desire.
Ac if þe [pouke] wolde plede here-aȝeine and punyssh vs in conscience,
He shulde take þe acquitance as quik and to þe qued schewe it,
Pateat, &c., per passionem domini,
And putten of so þe pouke and preuen vs vnder borwe.Ac þe perchemyn of þis patent of pouerte be moste,
And of pure pacience and parfit bileue.
Of pompe and of pruyde þe parchemyn decorreth,
And principaliche of alle peple but þei be pore of herte.
Ellis is al an ydel al þat euere we writen,
Pater-nostres and penaunce and pilgrimage to Rome.
But owre spences and spendynge sprynge of a trewe [wille],
Elles is al owre laboure loste; lo! how men writeth
In fenestres atte freres if fals be þe foundement;
For-þi crystene sholde ben in comune riche none coueitouse for hym-selue.
For seuene synnes þat þere ben assaillen vs euere,
Þe fende folweth hem alle and fondeth hem to helpe,
Ac wiþ ricchesse þat Ribaude rathest men bigyleth.
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And þat is plesaunte to pryde in pore and in riche.
And þe riche is reuerenced by resoun of his richchesse,
Þere þe pore is put bihynde and par auenture can more
Of witte and of wysdom þat fer awey is better
Þan ricchesse or reaute and rather yherde in heuene.
For þe riche hath moche to rekene and riȝte softe walketh,
Þe heigh waye to-heuene-ward oft ricchesse letteth,
Ita [in]possibile diuiti, &c.,
Þere þe pore preseth bifor þe riche with a pakke at his rugge,Opera enim illorum sequ[u]ntur illos.
Batauntliche as beggeres done and baldeliche he craueth,For his pouerte and his pacience a perpetuel blisse;
Beati pauperes, quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum.
And pryde in ricchesse regneth rather þan in pouerte,
Arst in þe Maister þan in þe man some mansioun he hath.
Ac in pouerte þere pacyence is pryde hath no myȝte,
Ne none of þe seuene synnes sitten ne mowe þere longe,
Ne haue powere in pouerte if pacyence it folwe.
For þe pore is ay prest to plese þe riche,
And buxome at his byddyng for his broke loues;
And buxomenesse and boste aren euer-more at werre,
And ayther hateth other in alle manere werkes.
If wratthe wrastel with þe pore he hath þe worse ende;
For if þey bothe pleyne þe pore is but fieble,
And if he chyde or chatre hym chieueth þe worse;
[For loulich he loketh and loueliche is his speche,
Þat mete or mone of other men mote asken.
And if glotonie greue pouerte he gadereth þe lasse,
For his rentes ne wol nauȝte reche no riche metes to bugge;
And þouȝ his glotonye be to gode ale he goth to cold beddynge,
And his heued vn-heled vn-esiliche I-wrye;
For whan he streyneth hym to streche þe strawe is his schetes;
So for his glotonie and his grete scleuthe he hath a greuous penaunce,
Þat is welawo whan he waketh and wepeth for colde,
And sum tyme for his synnes so he is neuere murie,
Withoute mornynge amonge and mischief to bote.]
Arst in þe Maister þan in þe man some mansioun he hath.
Ac in pouerte þere pacyence is pryde hath no myȝte,
Ne none of þe seuene synnes sitten ne mowe þere longe,
Ne haue powere in pouerte if pacyence it folwe.
For þe pore is ay prest to plese þe riche,
And buxome at his byddyng for his broke loues;
248
And ayther hateth other in alle manere werkes.
If wratthe wrastel with þe pore he hath þe worse ende;
For if þey bothe pleyne þe pore is but fieble,
And if he chyde or chatre hym chieueth þe worse;
[For loulich he loketh and loueliche is his speche,
Þat mete or mone of other men mote asken.
And if glotonie greue pouerte he gadereth þe lasse,
For his rentes ne wol nauȝte reche no riche metes to bugge;
And þouȝ his glotonye be to gode ale he goth to cold beddynge,
And his heued vn-heled vn-esiliche I-wrye;
For whan he streyneth hym to streche þe strawe is his schetes;
So for his glotonie and his grete scleuthe he hath a greuous penaunce,
Þat is welawo whan he waketh and wepeth for colde,
And sum tyme for his synnes so he is neuere murie,
Withoute mornynge amonge and mischief to bote.]
And if coueitise wolde cacche þe pore þei may nouȝt come togideres,
And by þe nekke namely her none may hente other.
For men knoweth wel þat coueitise is of a kene wille,
And hath hondes and armes of a longe lengthe,
And pouerte nis but a petit þinge appereth nouȝt to his naule,
And louely layke was it neuere bitwene þe longe and þe shorte.
And þough auarice wolde angre þe pore he hath but litel myȝte,
For pouerte hath but pokes to putten in his godis,
Þere auarice hath almaries and yren-bounde coffres;
And whether be liȝter to breke? lasse boste it maketh,
A beggeres bagge þan an yren-bounde coffre!
And by þe nekke namely her none may hente other.
For men knoweth wel þat coueitise is of a kene wille,
And hath hondes and armes of a longe lengthe,
And pouerte nis but a petit þinge appereth nouȝt to his naule,
And louely layke was it neuere bitwene þe longe and þe shorte.
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For pouerte hath but pokes to putten in his godis,
Þere auarice hath almaries and yren-bounde coffres;
And whether be liȝter to breke? lasse boste it maketh,
A beggeres bagge þan an yren-bounde coffre!
Lecherye loueth hym nouȝt for he ȝeueth but lytel syluer,
Ne doth hym nouȝte dyne delycatly ne drynke wyn oft.
A strawe for þe stuwes! it stode nouȝt, I trowe,
Had þei [no þyng] but of pore men her houses were vntyled!
Ne doth hym nouȝte dyne delycatly ne drynke wyn oft.
A strawe for þe stuwes! it stode nouȝt, I trowe,
Had þei [no þyng] but of pore men her houses were vntyled!
And þough sleuthe suwe pouerte and serue nouȝt god to paye,
Mischief is his maister and maketh hym to thynke,
Þat god is his grettest helpe and no gome elles,
And his seruaunt, as he seith and of his sute bothe.
And where he be or be nouȝte he bereth þe signe of pouerte,
And in þat secte owre saueoure saued al mankynde.
For-thi al pore þat paciente is may claymen and asken
After her endynge here heuene-riche blisse.
Mischief is his maister and maketh hym to thynke,
Þat god is his grettest helpe and no gome elles,
And his seruaunt, as he seith and of his sute bothe.
And where he be or be nouȝte he bereth þe signe of pouerte,
And in þat secte owre saueoure saued al mankynde.
For-thi al pore þat paciente is may claymen and asken
After her endynge here heuene-riche blisse.
Moche hardier may he axen þat here myȝte haue his wille
In londe and in lordship and likynge of bodye,
And for goddis loue leueth al an lyueth as a beggere;
And as a mayde for mannes loue her moder forsaketh,
Hir fader and alle her frendes and folweth hir make,
Moche is suche a mayde to louie of hym þat such one taketh,
More þan a mayden is þat is maried þorw brokage,
As bi assent of sondry partyes and syluer to bote,
More for coueitise of good þan kynde loue of bothe;—
In londe and in lordship and likynge of bodye,
And for goddis loue leueth al an lyueth as a beggere;
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Hir fader and alle her frendes and folweth hir make,
Moche is suche a mayde to louie of hym þat such one taketh,
More þan a mayden is þat is maried þorw brokage,
As bi assent of sondry partyes and syluer to bote,
More for coueitise of good þan kynde loue of bothe;—
So it fareth bi eche a persone þat possessioun forsaketh,
And put hym to be pacient and pouerte weddeth,
Þe which is sybbe to god hym-self and so to his seyntes.”
And put hym to be pacient and pouerte weddeth,
Þe which is sybbe to god hym-self and so to his seyntes.”
“Haue god my trouthe,” quod Haukyn “ȝe preyse faste pouerte;
What is pouerte with pacience,” quod he “proprely to mene?”
“Paupertas,” quod pacience “est odibile bonum,
What is pouerte with pacience,” quod he “proprely to mene?”
Remocio curarum, possessio sine calumpnia, donum dei, sanitatis mater; Absque solicitudine semita, sapiencie temperatrix, negocium sine dampno; Incerta fortuna, absque solicitudine felicitas.”
“I can nouȝt construe al þis,” quod Haukyn “ȝe moste kenne [me] þis on englisch.”“In englisch,” quod pacyence, “it is wel harde wel to expounen;
Ac somdel I shal seyne it by so þow vnderstonde.
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Thanne is it good by good skil al þat agasteth pryde.
Riȝte as contricioun is confortable þinge conscience wote wel,
And a sorwe of hym-self and a solace to þe sowle,
So pouerte propreliche penaunce, and ioye,
Is to þe body pure spiritual helthe,
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum,
And contricioun confort & cura animarum.Selde [sit] pouerte þe sothe to declare,
Or as iustyce to iugge men enioigned is no pore,
Ne to be a Maire aboue men ne mynystre vnder kynges;
Selden is any pore yput to punysshen any peple;
Remocio curarum.
Ergo pouerte and pore men perfornen þe comaundement,Nolite iudicare quemquam. Þe þridde:—
Selde is any pore riche but of riȝtful heritage;Wynneth he nauȝt with weghtes fals ne with vnseled mesures,
Ne borweth of his neghbores but þat he may wel paye,
Possessio sine calumpnia.
Þe fierthe is a fortune þat florissheth þe souleWyth sobrete fram al synne and also ȝit more;
It affaiteth þe flesshe fram folyes ful manye,
A collateral conforte crystes owne ȝifte,
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Donum dei.
Þe fyfte is moder of helthe a frende in alle fondynges,And for þe land euere a leche a lemman of al clennesse,
Sanitatis mater.
Þe sexte is a path of pees ȝe, þorw þe pas of altounPouerte myȝte passe with-oute peril of robbynge,
For þere þat pouerte passeth pees folweth after,
And euere þe lasse þat he bereth þe hardyer he is of herte;
For-þi seith seneca paupertas est absque solicitudine semita,
And an hardy man of herte amonge an hepe of þeues;
Cantabit [pauper] coram latrone viator.
Þe seueneth is welle of wisdome and fewe wordes sheweth,For lordes alloweth hym litel or lysteneth to his reson,
He tempreth þe tonge to-treuthe-ward and no tresore coueiteth;
Sapiencie temperatrix.
The eigteth is a lele laborere and loth to take moreÞan he may wel deserue in somer or in wynter,
And if [he] chaffareth, he chargeth no losse mowe he charite wynne;
Negocium sine dampno.
The nyneth is swete to þe soule no sugre is swettere;
For pacyence is payn for pouerte hym-selue,
And sobrete swete drynke and good leche in sykenesse,
Þus lered me a lettred man for owre lordes loue,
Seynt austyn, a blissed lyf with-outen bysynesse,
For body and for soule absque solicitudine felicitas.
Now god, þat al good gyueth graunt his soule reste,
Þat þus fyrst wrote to wyssen men what pouerte was to mene!”
For pacyence is payn for pouerte hym-selue,
And sobrete swete drynke and good leche in sykenesse,
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Seynt austyn, a blissed lyf with-outen bysynesse,
For body and for soule absque solicitudine felicitas.
Now god, þat al good gyueth graunt his soule reste,
Þat þus fyrst wrote to wyssen men what pouerte was to mene!”
“Allas!” quod haukyn þe actyf man þo “þat, after my crystendome,
I ne hadde ben ded and doluen for doweles sake!
So harde it is,” quod haukyn “to lyue and to do synne.
Synne suweth vs euere,” quod he and sori gan wexe,
And wepte water with his eyghen and weyled þe tyme,
Þat euere he dede dede þat dere god displesed;
Swowed and sobbed and syked ful ofte,
Þat euere he hadde londe or lordship lasse other more,
Or maystrye ouer any man mo þan of hym-self.
“I were nouȝt worthy, wote god,” quod haukyn “to were any clothes,
Ne noyther sherte ne shone saue for shame one,
To keure my caroigne,” quod he and cryde mercye faste,
And wepte and weyled and þere-with I awaked.
I ne hadde ben ded and doluen for doweles sake!
So harde it is,” quod haukyn “to lyue and to do synne.
Synne suweth vs euere,” quod he and sori gan wexe,
And wepte water with his eyghen and weyled þe tyme,
Þat euere he dede dede þat dere god displesed;
Swowed and sobbed and syked ful ofte,
Þat euere he hadde londe or lordship lasse other more,
Or maystrye ouer any man mo þan of hym-self.
“I were nouȝt worthy, wote god,” quod haukyn “to were any clothes,
Ne noyther sherte ne shone saue for shame one,
To keure my caroigne,” quod he and cryde mercye faste,
And wepte and weyled and þere-with I awaked.
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