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 |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
 | V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. | PASSUS XV (PROLOGUE TO DO-BET).
Passus xvus: finit dowel, & incipit dobet. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
254
PASSUS XV (PROLOGUE TO DO-BET). Passus xvus: finit dowel, & incipit dobet.
Ac after my wakyng it was wonder longe,
Ar I couth kyndely knowe what was dowel.
And so my witte wex and wanyed til I a fole were,
And somme lakked my lyf allowed it fewe,
And leten [me] for a lorel and loth to reuerencen
Lordes or ladyes or any lyf elles,
As persones in pellure with pendauntes of syluer;
To seriauntz ne to suche seyde nouȝte ones,
‘God loke ȝow, lordes!’ ne louted faire;
Þat folke helden me a fole and in þat folye I raued,
Tyl resoun hadde reuthe on me and rokked me aslepe,
Tyl I seigh, as it sorcerye were a sotyl þinge with-al,
One with-outen tonge and teeth tolde me whyder I shulde,
And wher-of I cam and of what kynde; I conjured hym atte laste,
If he were crystes creature for crystes loue me to tellen.
Ar I couth kyndely knowe what was dowel.
And so my witte wex and wanyed til I a fole were,
And somme lakked my lyf allowed it fewe,
And leten [me] for a lorel and loth to reuerencen
Lordes or ladyes or any lyf elles,
As persones in pellure with pendauntes of syluer;
To seriauntz ne to suche seyde nouȝte ones,
‘God loke ȝow, lordes!’ ne louted faire;
Þat folke helden me a fole and in þat folye I raued,
Tyl resoun hadde reuthe on me and rokked me aslepe,
Tyl I seigh, as it sorcerye were a sotyl þinge with-al,
One with-outen tonge and teeth tolde me whyder I shulde,
And wher-of I cam and of what kynde; I conjured hym atte laste,
255
“I am crystes creature,” quod he “and crystene in many a place,
In crystes courte I-knowe wel and of his kynne a partye.
Is noyther peter þe porter ne poule with his fauchoune,
Þa[t] wil defende me þe dore dynge ich neure so late.
At mydnyȝt, at mydday my voice so is yknowe,
Þat eche a creature of his courte welcometh me fayre.”
“What ar ȝe called,” quod I, “in þat courte amonges crystes peple?”
In crystes courte I-knowe wel and of his kynne a partye.
Is noyther peter þe porter ne poule with his fauchoune,
Þa[t] wil defende me þe dore dynge ich neure so late.
At mydnyȝt, at mydday my voice so is yknowe,
Þat eche a creature of his courte welcometh me fayre.”
“Þe whiles I quykke þe corps,” quod he “called am I anima;
And whan I wilne and wolde animus ich hatte;
And for þat I can and knowe called am I mens;
And whan I make mone to god memoria is my name;
And whan I deme domes and do as treuthe techeth,
Þanne is racio my riȝt name resoun an englisshe;
And whan I fele þat folke telleth my firste name is sensus,
And þat is wytte and wisdome þe welle of alle craftes;
And whan I chalange or chalange nouȝte chepe or refuse,
Þanne am I conscience ycalde goddis clerke and his notarie;
256
Þanne is lele loue my name and in latyn amor;
And whan I flye fro þe flesshe and forsake þe caroigne,
Þanne am I spirit specheles and spiritus þanne ich hatte.
Austyn and ysodorus ayther of hem bothe
Nempned me þus to name; now þow myȝte chese,
How þow coueitest to calle me now þow knowest alle my names.
Anima pro diuersis actionibus diuersa nomina sortitur: dum viuificat corpus, anima est; dum vult, animus est; dum scit, mens est; dum recolit, memoria est. Dum iudicat, racio est; dum sentit, sensus est; dum amat, amor est; dum negat vel consentit, consciencia est; dum spirat, spiritus est.”
“Ȝe ben as a bisshop,” quod I al bourdynge þat tyme,
“For bisshopes yblessed þei bereth many names,
Presul and pontifex and metropolitanus,
And other names an hepe episcopus & pastor.”
“For bisshopes yblessed þei bereth many names,
Presul and pontifex and metropolitanus,
And other names an hepe episcopus & pastor.”
“Þat is soth,” seyde he “now I se þi wille!
Þow woldest knowe and kunne þe cause of alle her names,
And of myne, if þow myȝtest me þinketh by þi speche!”
Þow woldest knowe and kunne þe cause of alle her names,
And of myne, if þow myȝtest me þinketh by þi speche!”
“Ȝe, syre,” I seyde “by so no man were greued.
Alle þe sciences vnder sonne and alle þe sotyle craftes
I wolde I knewe and couth kyndely in myne herte!”
“Þanne artow inparfit,” quod he “and one of prydes knyȝtes;
Alle þe sciences vnder sonne and alle þe sotyle craftes
257
For such a luste and lykynge lucifer fel fram heuene:
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone, & similis ero altissimo.
It were aȝeynes kynde,” quod he “and alkynnes resoun,Þat any creature shulde kunne al excepte cryste one.
Aȝein such salomon speketh and dispiseth her wittes,
And seith, sicut qui mel comedit multum, non est ei bonum: Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimitur a gloria.
To englisch men þis is to mene þat mowen speke & here,
Þe man þat moche hony eteth his mawe it engleymeth;
And þe more þat a man of good mater hereth,
But he do þer-after it doth hym double scathe:
Beatus est, seith seynt Bernard qui scripturas legit,
Et verba vertit in opera fullich to his powere.
Coueytise to kunne and to knowe science
Pulte out of paradys Adam and Eue,
Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis [gloria] spoliauit.
And riȝte as hony is yuel to defye and engleymeth þe mawe,Riȝt so þat þorw resoun wolde þe rote knowe
258
For in þe lykyng lith a pryde and a lycames coueitise,
Aȝein crystes conseille and alle clerkes techyng,
That is, non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.
Freres and fele other maistres þat to þe lewed men prechen,Ȝe moeuen materes inmesurables to tellen of þe Trinite,
Þat ofte tymes þe lewed peple of hir bileue douten.
Bettere byleue were mony doctoures such techyng,
And tellen men of þe ten comaundementz and touchen þe seuene synnes,
And of þe braunches þat burgeouneth of hem and bryngeth men to helle,
And how þat folke in folyes myspenden her fyue wittes,
As wel freres as other folke folilich spenen
In housyng, in haterynge and in-to hiegh clergye shewynge,
More for pompe þan for pure charite þe poeple wote þe sothe
Þat I lye nouȝt, loo! for lordes ȝe plesen,
And reuerencen þe riche þe rather for her syluer;
Confundantur omnes qui adorant scul[p]tilia; & alibi:
259
Vt quid diligitis vanitatem, & queritis mendacium?
Go to þe glose of þe verse ȝe grete clerkes;If I lye on ȝow to my lewed witte ledeth me to brennynge!
For as it semeth, ȝe forsaketh no mannes almesse,
Of vsureres, of hores of auarous chapmen,
And louten to þis lordes þat mowen lene ȝow nobles,
Aȝeine ȝowre reule and Religioun I take recorde at Ihesus,
Þat seide to his disciples ne sitis personarum acceptores.
Of þis matere I myȝte make a longe bible,
Ac of curatoures of crystene peple as clerkes bereth witnesse,
I shal tellen it for treuth sake take hede who so lyketh!
Ac of curatoures of crystene peple as clerkes bereth witnesse,
I shal tellen it for treuth sake take hede who so lyketh!
As holynesse and [honeste] oute of holicherche spredeth
Þorw lele libbyng men þat goddes lawe techen,
Riȝt so out of holicherche alle yueles spredeth,
There inparfyt presthod is prechoures and techeres.
And se it by ensample in somer tyme on trowes,
Þere somme bowes ben leued and somme bereth none;
Þere is a myschief in þe more of suche manere bowes.
Riȝt so persones and prestes and prechoures of holy cherche,
Þat aren rote of þe riȝte faith to reule þe peple;
Ac þere þe rote is roten reson wote þe sothe,
Shal neure floure ne frute ne faire leef be grene.
For-þi, wolde ȝe lettred leue þe leccherye of clothynge,
And be kynde, as bifel for clerkes and curteise of crystes goodes,
Trewe of ȝowre tonge and of ȝowre taille bothe,
And hatien to here harlotrye and nouȝt to vnderfonge
Tythes of vntrewe þinge ytilied or chaffared,
Þorw lele libbyng men þat goddes lawe techen,
Riȝt so out of holicherche alle yueles spredeth,
There inparfyt presthod is prechoures and techeres.
And se it by ensample in somer tyme on trowes,
Þere somme bowes ben leued and somme bereth none;
Þere is a myschief in þe more of suche manere bowes.
Riȝt so persones and prestes and prechoures of holy cherche,
Þat aren rote of þe riȝte faith to reule þe peple;
Ac þere þe rote is roten reson wote þe sothe,
260
For-þi, wolde ȝe lettred leue þe leccherye of clothynge,
And be kynde, as bifel for clerkes and curteise of crystes goodes,
Trewe of ȝowre tonge and of ȝowre taille bothe,
And hatien to here harlotrye and nouȝt to vnderfonge
Tythes of vntrewe þinge ytilied or chaffared,
Lothe were lewed men but þei ȝowre lore folwed,
And amenden hem þat mysdon more for ȝowre ensamples,
Þan forto prechen & preue it nouȝt ypocrysie it semeth.
For ypocrysie in latyn is lykned to a dongehul,
Þat were bysnewed with snowe and snakes wyth-inne;
And amenden hem þat mysdon more for ȝowre ensamples,
Þan forto prechen & preue it nouȝt ypocrysie it semeth.
For ypocrysie in latyn is lykned to a dongehul,
Þat were bysnewed with snowe and snakes wyth-inne;
Or to a wal þat were whitlymed and were foule wyth-inne.
Riȝt so many prestes prechoures and prelates,
Ȝe aren enblaunched with bele paroles and with clothes also,
Ac ȝowre werkes and ȝowre wordes þere-vnder aren ful vnlouelich.
Iohannes crysostomus of clerkes speketh and prestes,
Riȝt so many prestes prechoures and prelates,
Ȝe aren enblaunched with bele paroles and with clothes also,
Ac ȝowre werkes and ȝowre wordes þere-vnder aren ful vnlouelich.
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic de templo omne malum procedit.
261
If lewed men wist what þis latyn meneth,
And who was myn auctor moche wonder me þinketh,
But if many a prest bere for here baselardes and here broches,
A peyre bedes in her hande and a boke vnder her arme.
Sire Iohan & sire Geffray hath a gerdel of syluer,
A basellarde, or a ballokknyf with botones ouergylte.
Ac a portous þat shulde be his plow placebo to segge,
Hadde he neure seruyse to saue syluer þer-to seith it with yvel wille!
Allas! ȝe lewed men moche lese ȝe on prestes,
Ac þinge þat wykkedlich is wonne and with false sleigthes,
Wolde neuere witte of witty god but wikked men it hadde;
Þe which aren prestes inparfit and prechoures after syluer,
Sectoures and sudenes somnoures and her lemmannes.
Þis þat with gyle was geten vngraciouslich is spended;
So harlotes and hores ar hulpen with such goodis,
And goddes folke for defaute þer-of forfaren and spillen.
And who was myn auctor moche wonder me þinketh,
But if many a prest bere for here baselardes and here broches,
A peyre bedes in her hande and a boke vnder her arme.
Sire Iohan & sire Geffray hath a gerdel of syluer,
A basellarde, or a ballokknyf with botones ouergylte.
Ac a portous þat shulde be his plow placebo to segge,
Hadde he neure seruyse to saue syluer þer-to seith it with yvel wille!
Allas! ȝe lewed men moche lese ȝe on prestes,
Ac þinge þat wykkedlich is wonne and with false sleigthes,
Wolde neuere witte of witty god but wikked men it hadde;
262
Sectoures and sudenes somnoures and her lemmannes.
Þis þat with gyle was geten vngraciouslich is spended;
So harlotes and hores ar hulpen with such goodis,
And goddes folke for defaute þer-of forfaren and spillen.
Curatoures of holykirke as clerkes þat ben auerouse,
Liȝtlich þat þey leuen loselles it habbeth,
Or dyeth intestate and þanne þe bisshop entreth,
And maketh murthe þere-with and his men bothe,
And seggen, ‘he was a nygarde þat no good myȝte [aspare]
To frende ne to fremmed þe fende haue his soule!
For a wrecched hous he helde al his lyf tyme;
And þat he spared and bispered spene we in murthe.’
Liȝtlich þat þey leuen loselles it habbeth,
Or dyeth intestate and þanne þe bisshop entreth,
And maketh murthe þere-with and his men bothe,
And seggen, ‘he was a nygarde þat no good myȝte [aspare]
To frende ne to fremmed þe fende haue his soule!
For a wrecched hous he helde al his lyf tyme;
And þat he spared and bispered spene we in murthe.’
By lered, by lewed þat loth is to spende,
Þus gone her godes be þe goste faren.
Ac for good men, god wote gret dole men maken,
And bymeneth good mete-ȝyueres and in mynde haueth,
In prayers and in penaunces and in parfyt charite.”
“What is charite?” quod I þo “a childissh þinge,” he seide;
Þus gone her godes be þe goste faren.
Ac for good men, god wote gret dole men maken,
And bymeneth good mete-ȝyueres and in mynde haueth,
In prayers and in penaunces and in parfyt charite.”
263
“Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli, non intrabitis in regnum celorum;
With-outen fauntelte or foly a fre liberal wille.”
“Where shulde men fynde such a frende with so fre an herte?
I haue lyued in londe,” quod I “my name is longe wille,
And fonde I neuere ful charite bifore ne bihynde!
Men beth mercyable to mendynantz & to pore,
And wolen lene þere þei leue lelly to ben payed.
Ac charite þat poule preyseth best and most plesaunte to owre saueoure,
I haue lyued in londe,” quod I “my name is longe wille,
And fonde I neuere ful charite bifore ne bihynde!
Men beth mercyable to mendynantz & to pore,
And wolen lene þere þei leue lelly to ben payed.
As non [inflatur,] non [est] ambiciosa, non querit que sua sunt,
I seigh neuere such a man so me god helpe,That he ne wolde aske after his and otherwhile coueyte
Þinge þat neded hym nouȝt and nyme it if he myȝte!
Clerkis kenne me þat cryst is in alle places;
Ac I seygh hym neuere sothly but as my-self in a miroure,
It[a] in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem.
And so I trowe trewly by þat men telleth of charite,It is nouȝt championes fyȝte ne chaffare, as I trowe.”
“Charite,” quod he, “ne chaffareth nouȝte ne chalengeth, ne craueth.
As proude of a peny as of a pounde of golde,
And is as gladde of a goune of a graye russet
As of a tunicle of tarse or of trye scarlet.
He is gladde with alle gladde and good ty[l] alle wykked,
And leueth and loueth alle þat owre lorde made.
Curseth he no creature ne he can bere no wratthe,
Ne no lykynge hath to lye ne laughe men to scorne.
Al þat men seith, he let it soth and in solace taketh,
And alle manere meschiefs in myldenesse he suffreth;
Coueiteth he none erthly good but heuene-riche blisse.”
As proude of a peny as of a pounde of golde,
264
As of a tunicle of tarse or of trye scarlet.
He is gladde with alle gladde and good ty[l] alle wykked,
And leueth and loueth alle þat owre lorde made.
Curseth he no creature ne he can bere no wratthe,
Ne no lykynge hath to lye ne laughe men to scorne.
Al þat men seith, he let it soth and in solace taketh,
And alle manere meschiefs in myldenesse he suffreth;
Coueiteth he none erthly good but heuene-riche blisse.”
“Hath he any rentes or ricchesse or any riche frendes?”
“Of rentes ne of ricchesse ne reccheth he neuere.
For a frende þat fyndeth hym failled hym neuere at nede;
Fiat-voluntas-tua fynt hym euer more.
And if he soupeth, ette but a soppe of spera-in-deo.
He can purtreye wel þe pater-noster and peynte it with aues,
And other-while is his wone to wende in pilgrymage,
Þere pore men and prisones liggeth her pardoun to haue.
Þough he bere hem no bred he bereth hem swetter lyflode,
Loueth hem as owre lorde biddeth and loketh how þei fare.
For a frende þat fyndeth hym failled hym neuere at nede;
Fiat-voluntas-tua fynt hym euer more.
And if he soupeth, ette but a soppe of spera-in-deo.
He can purtreye wel þe pater-noster and peynte it with aues,
And other-while is his wone to wende in pilgrymage,
Þere pore men and prisones liggeth her pardoun to haue.
Þough he bere hem no bred he bereth hem swetter lyflode,
Loueth hem as owre lorde biddeth and loketh how þei fare.
265
Labory in a lauendrye wel þe lengthe of a myle,
And ȝerne in-to ȝouthe and ȝepliche speke
Pryde with al þe appurtenaunce and pakken hem togyderes,
And bouken hem at his brest and beten hem clene,
And leggen on longe with laboraui in gemitu meo,
And with warme water at his eyghen wasshen hem after.
And þanne he syngeth whan he doth so & some tyme seith wepyng,
Cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non despicies.”
“By cryst, I wolde þat I knewe hym,” quod I “no creature leuere!”
“With-outen helpe of Piers plowman,” quod he “his persone seestow neuere.”
“Where clerkes knowen hym,” quod I “þat kepen holykirke?”
“Clerkes haue no knowyng,” quod he “but by werkes and bi wordes.
Ac piers þe plowman parceyueth more depper
What is þe wille and wherfore þat many wyȝte suffreth,
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum.
For þere ar ful proude-herted men paciente of tonge,266
And to pore peple han peper in þe nose,
And as a lyoun he loketh þere men lakketh his werkes.
For þere ar beggeres and bidderes bed[e]men as it were,
Loketh as lambren and semen lyf-holy,
Ac it is more to haue her mete with such an esy manere,
Þan for penaunce and parfitnesse þe pouerte þat such taketh.
Þere-fore by coloure ne by clergye knowe shaltow hym neuere,
Loketh as lambren and semen lyf-holy,
Ac it is more to haue her mete with such an esy manere,
Þan for penaunce and parfitnesse þe pouerte þat such taketh.
Noyther þorw wordes ne werkes but þorw wille one.
And þat knoweth no clerke ne creature in erthe,
But piers þe plowman petrus, id est, christus.
For he ne is nouȝte in lolleres ne in lande-leperes hermytes,
Ne at ancres, þere a box hangeth alle suche þei faiten.
Fy on faitoures and in fautores suos!
For charyte is goddis champioun and as A good chylde hende,
And þe meryest of mouth at mete where he sitteth.
Þe loue þat lith in his herte maketh hym lyȝte of speche,
And is [companable] and confortatyf as cryst bit hymselue,
267
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite, tristes, &c.
For I haue seyn hym in sylke and somme tyme in russet,Bothe in grey and in grys and in gulte herneys,
And as gladlich he it gaf to gomes þat it neded.
Edmonde and Edwarde eyther were kynges,
And seyntes ysette tyl charite hem folwed.
And seyntes ysette tyl charite hem folwed.
I haue seyne charite also syngen and reden,
Ryden and rennen in ragged wedes,
Ac biddyng as beggeres bihelde I hym neuere.
Ac in riche robes rathest he walketh,
Ycalled and ycrimiled and his crowne shaue,
[And clenlich ycloþed in cipres & in tartaryne.]
And in a freres frokke he was yfounde ones,
Ac it is ferre agoo in seynt Fraunceys tyme;
In þat secte sitthe to selde hath he be knowen.
Riche men he recomendeth and of her robes taketh,
Ryden and rennen in ragged wedes,
Ac biddyng as beggeres bihelde I hym neuere.
Ac in riche robes rathest he walketh,
Ycalled and ycrimiled and his crowne shaue,
[And clenlich ycloþed in cipres & in tartaryne.]
And in a freres frokke he was yfounde ones,
Ac it is ferre agoo in seynt Fraunceys tyme;
In þat secte sitthe to selde hath he be knowen.
Þat with-outen wyles leden her lyues,
Beatus est diues, qui, &c.
In kynges courte he cometh ofte þere þe conseille is trewe,
Ac if coueityse be of þe conseille he wil nouȝt come þer-inne.
In courte amonge iaperes he cometh but selde,
For braulyng and bakbytyng and beryng of fals witnesse.
Ac if coueityse be of þe conseille he wil nouȝt come þer-inne.
In courte amonge iaperes he cometh but selde,
268
In þe constorie bifor þe comissarie he cometh nouȝt ful ofte,
For her lawe dureth ouer-longe but if þei lacchen syluer;
And matrimoigne for monye maken & vnmaken,
And þat conscience and cryst hath yknitte faste,
Þei vndon it vnworthily þo doctours of lawe.
For her lawe dureth ouer-longe but if þei lacchen syluer;
And matrimoigne for monye maken & vnmaken,
And þat conscience and cryst hath yknitte faste,
Þei vndon it vnworthily þo doctours of lawe.
Amonges erchebischopes and oþer bischopes And prelates of holy cherche,
For to wonye with hem his wone was sum tyme,
And cristes patrimonye to þe pore parcel-mel dele.
Ac auerice hath þe keyes now and kepeth for his kynnesmen,
And for his seketoures & his seruants & somme for here children.]
Ac I ne lakke no lyf but lorde, amende vs alle,
For to wonye with hem his wone was sum tyme,
And cristes patrimonye to þe pore parcel-mel dele.
Ac auerice hath þe keyes now and kepeth for his kynnesmen,
And for his seketoures & his seruants & somme for here children.]
And gyue vs grace, good god charite to folwe!
For who so myȝte mete with hym such maneres hym eyleth,
Noyther he blameth ne banneth bosteth, ne prayseth,
Lakketh, ne loseth ne loketh vp sterne;
Craueth, ne coueiteth ne crieth after more,
In pace in id-ipsum dormiam, &c.
Þe moste lyflode þat he lyueth by is loue in goddis passioun,Noyther he biddeth, ne beggeth ne borweth to ȝelde;
269
Amonges cristene men þis myldnesse shulde laste;
In alle manere angres haue þis at herte—
Þat þough þei suffred al þis god suffred for vs more,
In ensample we shulde do so and take no veniaunce
Of owre foes þat doth vs falsenesse þat is owre fadres wille.
For wel may euery man wite if god hadde wolde hymselue,
Sholde neuere Iudas ne iuwe haue Ihesu don on Rode,
Ne han martired peter ne Poule ne in prisoun holden.
Ac he suffred in ensample þat we shulde suffre also,
And seide to suche þat suffre wolde þat pacientes vincunt.
In alle manere angres haue þis at herte—
Þat þough þei suffred al þis god suffred for vs more,
In ensample we shulde do so and take no veniaunce
Of owre foes þat doth vs falsenesse þat is owre fadres wille.
For wel may euery man wite if god hadde wolde hymselue,
Sholde neuere Iudas ne iuwe haue Ihesu don on Rode,
Ne han martired peter ne Poule ne in prisoun holden.
Ac he suffred in ensample þat we shulde suffre also,
And seide to suche þat suffre wolde þat pacientes vincunt.
Verbi gratia,” quod he “and verrey ensamples manye,
In legenda sanctorum þe lyf of holy seyntes,
What penaunce and pouerte and passioun þei suffred,
In hunger, in hete in al manere angres.
Antony and Egidie and other holi fadres
Woneden in wildernesse amonge wilde bestes;
Monkes and mendynauntz men bi hem-selue,
In spekes an in spelonkes selden speken togideres.
Ac noyther antony ne Egidy ne hermite þat tyme
Of liouns ne of leoperdes no lyflode ne toke,
But of foules þat fleeth þus fynt men in bokes.
Excepte þat Egydie after an hynde cryede,
And þorw þe mylke of þat mylde best þe man was susteyned;
And day by day had he hir nouȝt his hunger forto slake,
But selden and sondrie tymes as seith þe boke and techeth.
In legenda sanctorum þe lyf of holy seyntes,
What penaunce and pouerte and passioun þei suffred,
In hunger, in hete in al manere angres.
Antony and Egidie and other holi fadres
Woneden in wildernesse amonge wilde bestes;
Monkes and mendynauntz men bi hem-selue,
In spekes an in spelonkes selden speken togideres.
Ac noyther antony ne Egidy ne hermite þat tyme
Of liouns ne of leoperdes no lyflode ne toke,
But of foules þat fleeth þus fynt men in bokes.
Excepte þat Egydie after an hynde cryede,
270
And day by day had he hir nouȝt his hunger forto slake,
But selden and sondrie tymes as seith þe boke and techeth.
Antony a dayes aboute none tyme,
Had a bridde þat brouȝte hym bred þat he by lyued;
And þough þe gome hadde a geste god fonde hem bothe.
Poule primus heremita had parroked hym-selue,
Had a bridde þat brouȝte hym bred þat he by lyued;
And þough þe gome hadde a geste god fonde hem bothe.
Þat no man miȝte hym se for mosse and for leues;
Foules hym fedde fele wynteres with alle,
Til he founded freres of austines ordre.
Poule, after his prechyng panyers he made,
And wan with his hondes þat his wombe neded.
Peter fisched for his fode and his felawe andrewe;
Some þei solde and some þei sothe and so þei lyued bothe.
And also Marie Magdeleyne by mores lyued and dewes,
Ac moste þorw deuocioun and mynde of god almiȝty.
I shulde nouȝt þis seuene dayes seggen hem alle,
Þat lyueden þus for owre lordes loue manye longe ȝeres.
271
Noyther bere, ne bor ne other best wilde,
Þat ne fel to her feet and fauned with þe tailles.
And if þei couth han ycarped by cryst, as I trowe,
Þei wolde haue felde þat folke bifor wilde foules.
[For alle þe curteisie þat bestes kunne þei kidde þat folke ofte
In likkyng and in lowynge þere þei on laundes ȝede.]
Ac god sent hem fode bi foules and by no fierse bestes,
In menynge þat meke þinge mylde þinge shulde fede;
As who seith, religious ryȝtful men shulde fynde,
And lawful men to lyf-holy men lyflode brynge.
And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes be loth to agulte,
And to take of her tenauntz more þan treuth wolde,
Fonde þei þat Freres wolde forsake her almesses,
And bidden hem bere it þere it was yborwed.
For we ben goddes foules and abiden alwey,
Tyl briddes brynge vs þat we shulde lyue by.
For had ȝe potage and payn ynough and peny-ale to drynke,
And a messe þere-mydde of o manere kynde,
Ȝe had riȝt ynough, ȝe Religious and so ȝowre reule me tolde:
272
Nunquam, dicit Iob, rugi[e]t [onager] cum herbam habuerit? aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit? brutorum animalium natura te condempnat, quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficiat; ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua.
If lewed men knewe þis latyn þei wolde loke whom þei ȝeue,
And auyse hem bifore a fyue dayes or sexe,
Or þei amortesed to monkes or chanouns her rentes.
Allas! lordes and ladyes lewed conseille haue ȝe
To ȝyue fram ȝowre eyres þat ȝowre ayeles ȝow lefte,
And ȝiueth to bidde for ȝow to such þat ben riche,
And ben founded and feffed eke to bidde for other.
Who perfourneth þis prophecye of the peple þat now lybbeth,
And auyse hem bifore a fyue dayes or sexe,
Or þei amortesed to monkes or chanouns her rentes.
Allas! lordes and ladyes lewed conseille haue ȝe
To ȝyue fram ȝowre eyres þat ȝowre ayeles ȝow lefte,
And ȝiueth to bidde for ȝow to such þat ben riche,
And ben founded and feffed eke to bidde for other.
Dispersit, dedit pauperibus, &c.?
If any peple perfourme þat texte it ar þis pore freres!For þat þei beggen abouten in buildynge þei spene,
And on hem-self sum and such as ben her laboreres,
And of hem þat habbeth þei taken and ȝyue hem þat ne habbeth!
Ac clerkes & knyȝtes and comuneres þat ben riche,
Fele of ȝow fareth as if I a forest hadde,
Þat were ful of faire trees and I fonded and caste
How I myȝte mo þer-inne amonges hem sette.
Riȝt so, ȝe riche ȝe robeth þat ben riche,
And helpeth hem þat helpeth ȝow and ȝiueth þere no nede is.
As who so filled a tonne of a fresshe ryuer,
And went forth with þat water to woke with themese,
Riȝt so, ȝe riche ȝe robeth and fedeth
Hem þat han as ȝe han; hem ȝe make at ese.
Ac Religious þat riche ben shulde rather feste beggeres
Fele of ȝow fareth as if I a forest hadde,
Þat were ful of faire trees and I fonded and caste
273
Riȝt so, ȝe riche ȝe robeth þat ben riche,
And helpeth hem þat helpeth ȝow and ȝiueth þere no nede is.
As who so filled a tonne of a fresshe ryuer,
And went forth with þat water to woke with themese,
Riȝt so, ȝe riche ȝe robeth and fedeth
Hem þat han as ȝe han; hem ȝe make at ese.
Þan burgeys þat riche ben as þe boke techeth;
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare. Item, peccatoribus dare, est demonibus immolare. Item, monache, si indiges et accipis, pocius das quam accipis. Si autem non eges, & accipis, rapis. Porro, non indiget Monachus, si habeat quod nature sufficit.
For-þi I conseille alle cristene to confourmen hem to charite;For charite with-oute chalengynge vnchargeth þe soule,
And many a prisone fram purgatorie þorw his preyeres he delyu[e]reth.
Ac þere is a defaute in þe folke þat þe faith kepeth;
Wherfore folke is þe feblere and nouȝt ferme of bilieue.
274
Þe merke of þat mone is good ac þe metal is fieble;
And so it fareth by some folke now þei han a faire speche,
Croune and crystendome þe kynges merke of heuene,
Ac þe metal, þat is mannes soule with synne is foule alayed;
Bothe lettred and lewede beth allayed now with synne,
That no lyf loueth other ne owre lorde, as it semeth.
For þorw werre and wykked werkes and wederes vnresonable
Wederwise shipmen and witti clerkes also
Han no bilieue to þe lifte ne to þe lore of philosofres.
Astrymyanes alday in her arte faillen,
Þat whilum warned bifore what shulde falle after.
Shipmen and shep[h]erdes þat with shipp & shepe wenten,
Wisten by þe walkene what shulde bityde;
As of wederes and wyndes þei warned men ofte.
Tilieres þat tiled þe erthe tolden her maistres,
By þe sede þat þei sewe what þei selle miȝte,
And what to lene and [what] to lyue by þe londe was so trewe.
Now failleth þe folke of þe flode and of þe londe bothe,
Shep[h]erdes and shipmen and so do þis tilieres;
Noither þei kunneth ne knoweth one cours bi-for another.
Astrymyanes also aren at her wittes ende;
Of þat was calculed of þe element þe contrarie þei fynde.
Gramer, þe grounde of al bigyleth now children;
For is none of þis newe clerkes who so nymeth hede,
Þat can versifye faire ne formalich enditen;
Ne nouȝt on amonge an hundreth þat an auctour can construe,
Ne rede a lettre in any langage but in latyn or in englissh.
Go now to any degre and but if gyle be mayster,
And flaterere his felawe vnder hym to fourmen,
Moche wonder me thynketh amonges vs alle.
Doctoures of decres and of diuinite Maistres,
Þat shulde konne and knowe alkynnes clergye,
And answere to argumentz and also to a quodlibet,
(I dar nouȝt seggen it for shame) if suche weren apposed,
Þei shulde faillen in her philosofye and in phisyk bothe.
Wher-fore I am afered of folke of holikirke,
Lest þei ouerhuppen as other don in offices & in houres.
Ac if þei ouerhuppe, as I hope nouȝte owre byleue suffiseth;
As clerkes in corpus-christi feste singen & reden,
Þat sola fides sufficit to saue with lewed peple.
Þat whilum warned bifore what shulde falle after.
Shipmen and shep[h]erdes þat with shipp & shepe wenten,
Wisten by þe walkene what shulde bityde;
As of wederes and wyndes þei warned men ofte.
Tilieres þat tiled þe erthe tolden her maistres,
By þe sede þat þei sewe what þei selle miȝte,
And what to lene and [what] to lyue by þe londe was so trewe.
Now failleth þe folke of þe flode and of þe londe bothe,
275
Noither þei kunneth ne knoweth one cours bi-for another.
Astrymyanes also aren at her wittes ende;
Of þat was calculed of þe element þe contrarie þei fynde.
Gramer, þe grounde of al bigyleth now children;
For is none of þis newe clerkes who so nymeth hede,
Þat can versifye faire ne formalich enditen;
Ne nouȝt on amonge an hundreth þat an auctour can construe,
Ne rede a lettre in any langage but in latyn or in englissh.
Go now to any degre and but if gyle be mayster,
And flaterere his felawe vnder hym to fourmen,
Moche wonder me thynketh amonges vs alle.
Doctoures of decres and of diuinite Maistres,
Þat shulde konne and knowe alkynnes clergye,
And answere to argumentz and also to a quodlibet,
(I dar nouȝt seggen it for shame) if suche weren apposed,
Þei shulde faillen in her philosofye and in phisyk bothe.
Wher-fore I am afered of folke of holikirke,
Lest þei ouerhuppen as other don in offices & in houres.
276
As clerkes in corpus-christi feste singen & reden,
Þat sola fides sufficit to saue with lewed peple.
And so may sarasenes be saued scribes and iewes;
Allas þanne! but owre loresmen lyuen as þei leren vs,
And, for her lyuynge, þat lewed men be þe lother god agulten.
For sarasenes han somwhat semynge to owre bileue,
For þei loue and bileue in o persone almiȝty;
And we, lered and lewede in on god bileueth.
Ac one Makometh, a man in mysbileue
Brouȝte sarasenes of Surre and se in what manere.
Þis Makometh was a crystene man and for he moste nouȝte be a pope,
In-to Surre he souȝte and þorw his sotil wittes
Daunted a dowue and day and nyȝte hir fedde;
Þe corne þat she cropped he caste it in his ere.
And if he amonge þe poeple preched or in places come,
Þanne wolde þe coluer come to þe clerkes ere,
Menynge as after meet þus Makometh hir enchaunted,
A[nd] dide folke þanne falle on knees for he swore in his prechynge,
Þat þe coluer þat come so come fram god of heuene
As messager to Makometh men forto teche.
And þus þorw wyles of his witte and a whyte dowue,
Makometh in mysbileue men and wommen brouȝte,
Þat lered þere and lewed ȝit lyuen on his lawes.
Allas þanne! but owre loresmen lyuen as þei leren vs,
And, for her lyuynge, þat lewed men be þe lother god agulten.
For sarasenes han somwhat semynge to owre bileue,
For þei loue and bileue in o persone almiȝty;
And we, lered and lewede in on god bileueth.
Ac one Makometh, a man in mysbileue
Brouȝte sarasenes of Surre and se in what manere.
Þis Makometh was a crystene man and for he moste nouȝte be a pope,
In-to Surre he souȝte and þorw his sotil wittes
Daunted a dowue and day and nyȝte hir fedde;
Þe corne þat she cropped he caste it in his ere.
And if he amonge þe poeple preched or in places come,
Þanne wolde þe coluer come to þe clerkes ere,
Menynge as after meet þus Makometh hir enchaunted,
A[nd] dide folke þanne falle on knees for he swore in his prechynge,
Þat þe coluer þat come so come fram god of heuene
277
And þus þorw wyles of his witte and a whyte dowue,
Makometh in mysbileue men and wommen brouȝte,
Þat lered þere and lewed ȝit lyuen on his lawes.
And sitth owre saueoure suffred þe sarasenes so bigiled,
Þorw a crystene clerke acursed in his soule;
Ac for drede of þe deth I dar nouȝt telle treuthe,
How englissh clerkes a coluer feden þat coueityse hatte,
And ben manered after Makometh þat no man vseth treuth.
Ancres and hermytes and monkes and freres
Þorw a crystene clerke acursed in his soule;
Ac for drede of þe deth I dar nouȝt telle treuthe,
How englissh clerkes a coluer feden þat coueityse hatte,
And ben manered after Makometh þat no man vseth treuth.
Peren to apostles þorw her parfit lyuynge.
Wolde neuere þe faithful fader þat his min[i]stres sholde
Of tyrauntz þat teneth trewe men taken any almesse,
But done as Antony did Dominik and Fraunceys,
Benet & Bernarde þe which hem firste tauȝte
To lyue bi litel & in lowe houses by lele mennes almesse.
Grace sholde growe & be grene þorw her good lyuynge,
And folkes sholde fynde þat ben in dyuerse sykenesse,
Þe better for her byddynges in body and in soule.
Her preyeres and her penaunces to pees shulde brynge
Alle þat ben at debate and bedemen were trewe;
278
Petite & accipietis, &c.
Salt saueth catel seggen þis wyues;Vos estis sal terre, &c.
Þe heuedes of holicherche and þei holy were,Cryst calleth hem salt for crystene soules;
Et si sal euanuerit, in quo salietur.
Ac fresshe flesshe other fisshe whan it salt failleth,It is vnsauory, for soth ysothe or ybake.
So is mannes soule sothly þat seeth no good ensaumple
Of hem of holycherche þat þe heigh weye shulde teche,
And be gyde, and go bifore as a good baneoure,
And hardy hem þat bihynde ben and ȝiue hem good euydence.
Elleuene holy men al þe worlde torned
In-to lele byleue; þe liȝtloker, me thynketh,
Shulde al maner men we han so manye Maistres,
Prestes and prechoures and a pope aboue,
Þat goddes salt shulde be to saue mannes soule.
In-to lele byleue; þe liȝtloker, me thynketh,
Shulde al maner men we han so manye Maistres,
Prestes and prechoures and a pope aboue,
Þat goddes salt shulde be to saue mannes soule.
Al was hethenesse some tyme Ingelond and Wales,
Til Gregory gerte clerkes to go here and preche.
Austyn at Caunterbury crystened þe kynge,
And þorw myracles, as men may rede al þat marche he torned
To cryst and to crystendome and crosse to honoure,
And fulled folke faste and þe faith tauȝte
More þorw miracles þan þorw moche prechynge,
As wel þorw his werkes as with his holy wordes,
And seyde hem what fullynge and faith was to mene.
Til Gregory gerte clerkes to go here and preche.
Austyn at Caunterbury crystened þe kynge,
And þorw myracles, as men may rede al þat marche he torned
To cryst and to crystendome and crosse to honoure,
And fulled folke faste and þe faith tauȝte
More þorw miracles þan þorw moche prechynge,
279
And seyde hem what fullynge and faith was to mene.
Cloth þat cometh fro þe weuyng is nouȝt comly to were,
Tyl it is fulled vnder fote or in fullyng stokkes,
Wasshen wel with water and with taseles cracched,
Ytouked, and ytented & vnder tailloures hande.
And so it fareth by a barne þat borne is of wombe,
Til it be crystened in crystes name and confermed of þe bisshop,
It is hethene as to heueneward and helpelees to þe soule.
Tyl it is fulled vnder fote or in fullyng stokkes,
Wasshen wel with water and with taseles cracched,
Ytouked, and ytented & vnder tailloures hande.
And so it fareth by a barne þat borne is of wombe,
Til it be crystened in crystes name and confermed of þe bisshop,
It is hethene as to heueneward and helpelees to þe soule.
Hethene is to mene after heth and vntiled erthe;
As in wilde wildernesse wexeth wilde bestes,
Rude and vnresonable rennenge with-out [croperes].
Ȝe [mynnen] wel how matheu seith how a man made a feste;
As in wilde wildernesse wexeth wilde bestes,
Rude and vnresonable rennenge with-out [croperes].
He fedde hem with no venysoun ne fesauntes ybake,
But with foules þat fram hym nolde but folwed his whistellynge;
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt, &c.;
And wyth calues flesshe he fedde þe folke þat he loued.Þe calfe bytokeneth clennesse in hem þat kepeth lawes.
For as þe cow þorw kynde mylke þe calf norissheth til an oxe,
So loue and lewte lele men susteyneth,
And maydenes and mylde men mercy desiren;
Riȝt as þe cow-calf coueyteth swete mylke,
So don riȝtful men mercy & treuthe.
[And by þe hande-fedde foules his folk vnderstonde,
Þat loth ben to louye with-outen lernynge of ensaumples.
Riȝt as capones in a court cometh to mennes whistlynge,
In menynge after mete folweth men þat whistlen,
Riȝt so rude men þat litel reson cunneth,
Louen and by-leuen by lettred mennes doynges,
And by here wordes and werkes wenen and trowen.
And, as tho foules to fynde fode after whistlynge,
So hope þei to haue heuene þoruȝ her whistlynge.
And by þe man þat made þe feste þe mageste bymeneth;
Þat is, god of his grace gyueth al men blisse;
With wederes and with wondres he warneth vs with a whistlere,
Where þat his wille is to worschipen vs alle,
And feden vs and festen vs for euere-more at ones.]
Ac who beth þat excuseth hem þat aren persounes and prestes,
So loue and lewte lele men susteyneth,
280
Riȝt as þe cow-calf coueyteth swete mylke,
So don riȝtful men mercy & treuthe.
[And by þe hande-fedde foules his folk vnderstonde,
Þat loth ben to louye with-outen lernynge of ensaumples.
Riȝt as capones in a court cometh to mennes whistlynge,
In menynge after mete folweth men þat whistlen,
Riȝt so rude men þat litel reson cunneth,
Louen and by-leuen by lettred mennes doynges,
And by here wordes and werkes wenen and trowen.
And, as tho foules to fynde fode after whistlynge,
So hope þei to haue heuene þoruȝ her whistlynge.
And by þe man þat made þe feste þe mageste bymeneth;
Þat is, god of his grace gyueth al men blisse;
With wederes and with wondres he warneth vs with a whistlere,
Where þat his wille is to worschipen vs alle,
And feden vs and festen vs for euere-more at ones.]
Þat heuedes of holycherche ben þat han her wille here,
With-oute trauaille, þe tithe del þat trewemen biswynkyn,
Þei wil be wroth for I write þus ac to witnesse I take
Bothe Mathew and Marke and Memento-domine-dauid;
[Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata, &c.]
What Pope or prelate now perfourneth þat cryst hiȝte,281
Ite in vniversum mundum & predicate, &c.?
Allas! þat men so longe on Makometh shulde byleue,
So many prelates to preche as þe Pope maketh,
Of Nazareth, of Nynyue of Neptalim, and damaske,
Þat þei ne went as cryst wisseth sithen þei wil[ne] a name,
To be pastours and preche þe passioun of Ihesus,
So many prelates to preche as þe Pope maketh,
Of Nazareth, of Nynyue of Neptalim, and damaske,
Þat þei ne went as cryst wisseth sithen þei wil[ne] a name,
And as hym-self seyde so to lyue and deye;
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit, &c.;
And seyde it in sauacioun of sarasenes & other.For crystene & vncristene cryst seide to prechoures,
Ite vos in vineam meam
And sith þat þis sarasenes scribes, & IuwesHan a lippe of owre byleue þe liȝtloker, me thynketh,
Þei shulde torne, who so trauaille wolde to teche hem of þe Trinite,
Querite & inuenietis, &c.
It is reuth to rede how riȝtwis men lyued,How þei defouled her flessh forsoke her owne wille,
Fer fro kitth and fro kynne yuel yclothed ȝeden,
Badly ybedded no boke but conscience,
Ne no richchesse but þe Rode to reioyse hem Inne;
Absit nobis gloriari, nisi in cruce domininostri, &c.
And þo was plente & pees amonges pore & riche;
And now is routhe to rede how þe red noble
Is reuerenced or þe Rode receyued for þe worthier
Þan crystes crosse, þat ouer-cam deþ and dedly synne.
And now is routhe to rede how þe red noble
Is reuerenced or þe Rode receyued for þe worthier
282
And now is werre and wo and who so why axeth,
For coueityse after crosse þe croune stant in golde.
Bothe riche and religious þat Rode þei honoure,
Þat in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles.
For coueityse of þat crosse men of holykirke
Shul tourne as templeres did þe tyme approcheth faste.
Wyte ȝe nouȝt, wyse men how þo men honoured
For coueityse after crosse þe croune stant in golde.
Bothe riche and religious þat Rode þei honoure,
Þat in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles.
For coueityse of þat crosse men of holykirke
Shul tourne as templeres did þe tyme approcheth faste.
More tresore þan treuthe? I dar nouȝt telle þe sothe;
Resoun & riȝtful dome þo Religious demed.
Riȝt so, ȝe clerkes for ȝowre coueityse, ar longe,
Shal þei demen dos ecclesie and ȝowre pryde depose,
Deposuit potentes de sede, &c.
Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte and comune conscienceTogideres loue lelly leueth it wel, ȝe bisshopes,
Þe lordeship of londes for euere shal ȝe lese,
And lyuen as leuitici as owre lorde ȝow techeth,
Per primicias & decimas.
Whan costantyn of curteysye holykirke dowed
With londes and ledes lordeshipes and rentes,
And Angel men herde an heigh at Rome crye,
‘Dos ecclesie þis day hath ydronke venym,
And þo þat han petres powere arn apoysoned alle.’
A medecyne mote þer-to þat may amende prelates,
Þat sholden preye for þe pees; possessioun hem letteth,
Take her landes, ȝe lordes and let hem lyue by dymes.
If possessioun be poysoun & inparfit hem make,
Good were to dischargen hem for holicherche sake,
And purgen hem of poysoun or more perile falle.
With londes and ledes lordeshipes and rentes,
And Angel men herde an heigh at Rome crye,
‘Dos ecclesie þis day hath ydronke venym,
And þo þat han petres powere arn apoysoned alle.’
A medecyne mote þer-to þat may amende prelates,
Þat sholden preye for þe pees; possessioun hem letteth,
Take her landes, ȝe lordes and let hem lyue by dymes.
283
Good were to dischargen hem for holicherche sake,
And purgen hem of poysoun or more perile falle.
Ȝif presthod were parfit þe peple s[h]olde amende,
Þat contrarien crystes lawe and crystendome dispise.
For al paynym[es] prayeth and parfitly bileueth
In þe holy grete god and his grace þei asken,
And make her mone to makometh her message to shewe.
Þus in a faith lyueth þat folke and in a false mene,
And þat is routhe for riȝtful men þat in þe Rewme wonyen,
And a peril to þe pope and prelatis þat he maketh,
Þat bere bisshopes names of Bedleem & babiloigne;
Whan þe heye kynge of heuene sent his sone to erthe,
Þat contrarien crystes lawe and crystendome dispise.
For al paynym[es] prayeth and parfitly bileueth
In þe holy grete god and his grace þei asken,
And make her mone to makometh her message to shewe.
Þus in a faith lyueth þat folke and in a false mene,
And þat is routhe for riȝtful men þat in þe Rewme wonyen,
And a peril to þe pope and prelatis þat he maketh,
Þat bere bisshopes names of Bedleem & babiloigne;
Many miracles he wrouȝte man for to turne;
In ensaumple þat men shulde se þat by sadde resoun
Men miȝt nouȝt be saued but þoruȝ mercy and grace,
And thoruȝ penaunce and passion and parfit byle[f];
And by-cam man of a mayde and metropolitanus,
And baptised and [bishoped] with þe blode of his herte
Alle þat wilned, and [wolde] with inne-wit by-leue it.
284
Al for to enforme þe faith in fele contreyes deyeden,
In ynde and in alisaundre in ermonye and in Spayne,
In delfol deth deyeden for there faith sake;
In sauacion of þe fayth seynt thomas was ymartired,
Amonges vn-kende cristene for cristes loue he deyede,
And for þe riȝt of al þis reume and al reumes cristene.
Holy cherche is honoured heyȝliche þoruȝ his deynge,
He is a forbysene to alle bishopes and a briȝt myroure,
And souereyneliche to suche þat of surrye bereth þe name,]
Þat hippe aboute in Engelonde to halwe mennes auteres,
And crepe amonges curatoures [and] confessen ageyne þe lawe,
Nolite mittere fulcem in messem alienam, &c.
Many man for crystes loue was martired in Romanye,Er any crystendome was knowe þere or any crosse honoured.
Euery bisshop þat bereth crosse by þat he is holden,
Thorw his prouynce to passe and to his peple to shewe hym,
Tellen hem and techen hem on þe Trinite to bileue,
And feden hem with gostly fode [and nedy folke to fynden.
Ac ysaie of ȝow speketh and osyas bothe,
Þat no man schuld be bischope but if he hadde bothe,
285
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum, et ideo nolite constituere me regem.
Ozias seith for such þat syke ben and fieble,Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum, vt [sit] cibus in domo mea.
Ac we crystene creatures þat on þe crosse byleuen,
Aren ferme as in þe faith goddes forbode elles!
And han clerkes to kepen vs þer-Inne and hem þat shal come after vs.
Aren ferme as in þe faith goddes forbode elles!
And han clerkes to kepen vs þer-Inne and hem þat shal come after vs.
And iewes lyuen in lele lawe owre lorde wrote it hym-selue,
In stone, for it stydfast was and stonde sholde eure—
Dilige deum & proximum is parfit iewen lawe—
And toke it moyses to teche men til Messye come;
And on þat lawe þei [lyuen] ȝit and leten it þe beste.
And ȝit knewe þei cryst þat crystendome tauȝte,
In stone, for it stydfast was and stonde sholde eure—
Dilige deum & proximum is parfit iewen lawe—
And toke it moyses to teche men til Messye come;
And on þat lawe þei [lyuen] ȝit and leten it þe beste.
For a parfit prophete þat moche peple saued
Of selcouth sores þei [seyen] it ofte,
Bothe of myracles & meruailles and how he men fested
With two fisshes an fyve loues fyue thousande peple;
And bi þat maungerye men miȝte wel se þat Messye he semed.
And whan he luft vp lazar þat layde was in graue,
286
Lazare, veni foras,
Dede hym rise and rowme riȝt bifor þe iuwes.Ac þei seiden and sworen with sorcerye he wrouȝte,
And studyeden to stroyen hym and stroyden hem-self;
And þorw his pacyence her powere to pure nouȝt he brouȝte,
Pacientes vincunt.
Danyel of her vndoynge deuyned and seyde,Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat, cessabit vnxio vestra.
And ȝet wenen þo wrecches þat he were pseudo-propheta,And þat his lore be lesynges and lakken it alle,
And hopen þat he be to come þat shal hem releue,
Moyses eft, or Messye here maisteres ȝet deuyneth.
Ac pharesewes and sarasenes Scribes & Grekis
Aren folke of on faith þe fader god þei honouren;
And sitthen þat þe sarasenes and also þe iewes
Konne þe firste clause of owre bileue credo in deum patrem omnipotentem,
Prelates of crystene prouynces shulde preue, if þei myȝte,
Lere hem litlum & lytlum & in ihesum christum filium,
287
And rendren it & recorden it with remissionem peccatorum,
Carnis resurreccionem, et vitam eternam; amen.”
| The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman | |