The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest, Secundum Wit et Resoun, By William Langland (About 1362-1380 A.D.): Edited from Numerous Manuscripts, with Prefaces, Notes and a Glossary, By the Rev. Walter W. Skeat |
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 | The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman |  |
Þe kyng and his knihtes to þe Churche wenten
To heere Matyns and Masse and to þe Mete aftur.
Þenne Wakede I of my wink me was wo with alle
Þat I nedde sadloker I-slept and I-seȝe more.
Er I a Furlong hedde I-fare A Feyntise me hente,
Þat Forþer mihti not a-fote for defaute of Sleep.
I sat Softeliche a-doun and seide my beo-leeue,
And so I blaberde on my Beodes þat brouhte me a-Slepe.
Þen sauh I muche more þen I beofore tolde,
For I sauh þe Feld ful of Folk þat ich of bi-fore schewede,
And Concience with a Crois com for to preche.
To heere Matyns and Masse and to þe Mete aftur.
Þenne Wakede I of my wink me was wo with alle
Þat I nedde sadloker I-slept and I-seȝe more.
Er I a Furlong hedde I-fare A Feyntise me hente,
Þat Forþer mihti not a-fote for defaute of Sleep.
I sat Softeliche a-doun and seide my beo-leeue,
And so I blaberde on my Beodes þat brouhte me a-Slepe.
Þen sauh I muche more þen I beofore tolde,
For I sauh þe Feld ful of Folk þat ich of bi-fore schewede,
And Concience with a Crois com for to preche.
He preide þe peple haue pite of hem-selue,
And preuede þat þis pestilences weore for puire synne,
And þis souþ-Westerne wynt on a Seterday at euen
Was a-perteliche for pruide and for no poynt elles.
And preuede þat þis pestilences weore for puire synne,
And þis souþ-Westerne wynt on a Seterday at euen
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Piries and Plomtres weore passchet to þe grounde,
In ensaumple to Men þat we scholde do þe bettre.
Beches and brode okes weore blowen to þe eorþe,
And turned vpward þe tayl In toknyng of drede
Þat dedly Synne or domesday schulde fordon hem alle.
In ensaumple to Men þat we scholde do þe bettre.
Beches and brode okes weore blowen to þe eorþe,
And turned vpward þe tayl In toknyng of drede
Þat dedly Synne or domesday schulde fordon hem alle.
Of þis Matere I mihte Momele ful longe,
Bote I sigge as I sauh (so me god helpe)!
How Concience with a Cros Comsede to preche.
Bote I sigge as I sauh (so me god helpe)!
How Concience with a Cros Comsede to preche.
He bad wastors go worche what þei best couþe,
And wynne þat þei wasteden with sum maner craft.
And wynne þat þei wasteden with sum maner craft.
He preiȝede Pernel hire Porfil to leue,
And kepen hit in hire Cofre for Catel at neode.
Thomas he tauȝte to take twey [staues],
And fette hom Felice From wyuene pyne.
And kepen hit in hire Cofre for Catel at neode.
Thomas he tauȝte to take twey [staues],
And fette hom Felice From wyuene pyne.
He warnede watte his wyf was to blame,
Þat hire hed was worþ a Mark and his hod worþ A Grote.
Þat hire hed was worþ a Mark and his hod worþ A Grote.
He chargede Chapmen to Chasten heore children;
Let hem wonte non eiȝe while þat þei ben ȝonge.
Let hem wonte non eiȝe while þat þei ben ȝonge.
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He preyede Preestes and Prelates to-gedere,
Þat þei prechen þe peple to preuen hit in hem-seluen—
“And libben as ȝe lereþ vs we wolen loue ow þe betere.”
Þat þei prechen þe peple to preuen hit in hem-seluen—
“And libben as ȝe lereþ vs we wolen loue ow þe betere.”
And Seþþe he Radde Religioun þe Rule for to holde—
“Leste þe kyng and his Counseil ȝor Comunes apeire,
And beo stiward in oure stude til ȝe be stouwet betere.
“Leste þe kyng and his Counseil ȝor Comunes apeire,
And beo stiward in oure stude til ȝe be stouwet betere.
And ȝe þat secheþ seynt Iame
and seintes at Roome,
Secheþ Seint Treuþe for he may sauen ow alle;
Qui cum patre et filio feire mote you falle.”
Secheþ Seint Treuþe for he may sauen ow alle;
Qui cum patre et filio feire mote you falle.”
| The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman | |