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. | PASSUS I. Passus Primus de visione. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
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PASSUS I. Passus Primus de visione.
What this montaigne bymeneth and þe merke dale,
And þe felde ful of folke I shal ȝow faire schewe.
A loueli ladi of lere in lynnen yclothed,
Come down fram a castel and called me faire,
And seide, “Sone, slepestow sestow þis poeple,
How bisi þei ben abouten þe mase?
Þe moste partie of þis poeple þat passeth on þis erthe,
Haue þei worschip in þis worlde þei wilne no better;
Of other heuene þan here holde þei no tale.”
And þe felde ful of folke I shal ȝow faire schewe.
A loueli ladi of lere in lynnen yclothed,
Come down fram a castel and called me faire,
And seide, “Sone, slepestow sestow þis poeple,
How bisi þei ben abouten þe mase?
Þe moste partie of þis poeple þat passeth on þis erthe,
Haue þei worschip in þis worlde þei wilne no better;
Of other heuene þan here holde þei no tale.”
I was aferd of her face þeiȝ she faire were,
And seide, “mercy, Madame what is þis to mene?”
“Þe toure vp þe toft,” quod she “treuthe is þere-Inne,
And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝte as his worde techeth;
For he is fader of feith fourmed ȝow alle,
Bothe with fel and with face and ȝaf ȝow fyue wittis
Forto worschip hym þer-with þe while þat ȝe ben here.
And þerfore he hyȝte þe erthe to help ȝow vchone
Of wollen, of lynnen of lyflode at nede,
In mesurable manere to make ȝow at ese;
And seide, “mercy, Madame what is þis to mene?”
“Þe toure vp þe toft,” quod she “treuthe is þere-Inne,
And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝte as his worde techeth;
For he is fader of feith fourmed ȝow alle,
Bothe with fel and with face and ȝaf ȝow fyue wittis
Forto worschip hym þer-with þe while þat ȝe ben here.
And þerfore he hyȝte þe erthe to help ȝow vchone
Of wollen, of lynnen of lyflode at nede,
In mesurable manere to make ȝow at ese;
And comaunded of his curteisye in comune þree þinges;
Arne none nedful but þo and nempne hem I thinke,
And rekne hem bi resoun reherce þow hem after.
That one is vesture from chele þe to saue,
And mete atte mele for myseise of þi-selue,
And drynke whan þow dryest ac do nouȝt out of resoun;
That þow worth þe werse whan þow worche shuldest.
For loth in his lifdayes for likyng of drynke,
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And rekne hem bi resoun reherce þow hem after.
That one is vesture from chele þe to saue,
And mete atte mele for myseise of þi-selue,
And drynke whan þow dryest ac do nouȝt out of resoun;
That þow worth þe werse whan þow worche shuldest.
Dede bi his douȝtres þat þe deuel lyked;
Delited hym in drynke as þe deuel wolde,
And lecherye hym lauȝt and lay bi hem boþe;
And al he witt it wyn þat wikked dede.
Inebriamus eum vino, dormiamus que cum eo, Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen.
Thorw wyn and þorw women þere was loth acombred,And þere gat in glotonye gerlis þat were cherlis.
For-þi drede delitable drynke and þow shalt do þe bettere;
Mesure is medcyne þouȝ þow moche ȝerne.
It is nauȝt al gode to þe goste þat þe gutte axeþ,
Ne liflode to þi likam [þat leef is to þi soule.
Leue not þi likam] for a lyer him techeth,
That is þe wrecched worlde wolde þe bitraye.
For þe fende and þi flesch folweth þe to-gidere,
This and þat [sueth] þi soule and seith it in þin herte;
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“Madame, mercy,” quod I “me liketh wel ȝowre wordes,
Ac þe moneye of þis molde þat men so faste holdeth,
Telle me to whom, Madame þat tresore appendeth?”
Ac þe moneye of þis molde þat men so faste holdeth,
Telle me to whom, Madame þat tresore appendeth?”
“Go to þe gospel,” quod she “þat god seide hymseluen,
Tho þe poeple hym apposed wiþ a peny in þe temple,
Whether þei shulde þer-with worschip þe kyng Sesar.
And god axed of hem of whome spake þe lettre,
And þe ymage ilyke þat þere-inne stondeth?
‘Cesaris,’ þei seide ‘we sen hym wel vchone.’
Tho þe poeple hym apposed wiþ a peny in þe temple,
Whether þei shulde þer-with worschip þe kyng Sesar.
And god axed of hem of whome spake þe lettre,
And þe ymage ilyke þat þere-inne stondeth?
‘Cesaris,’ þei seide ‘we sen hym wel vchone.’
‘Reddite cesari,’ quod god ‘þat cesari bifalleth,
Et que sunt dei, deo or elles ȝe done ille.’
For riȝtful reson shulde rewle ȝow alle,
And kynde witte be wardeyne ȝowre welthe to kepe,
And tutour of ȝoure tresore and take it ȝow at nede;
For housbonderye & hij holden togideres.”
Þanne I frained hir faire for hym þat hir made,
“That dongeoun in þe dale þat dredful is of siȝte,
What may it be to mene ma-dame, I ȝow biseche?”
Et que sunt dei, deo or elles ȝe done ille.’
For riȝtful reson shulde rewle ȝow alle,
And kynde witte be wardeyne ȝowre welthe to kepe,
And tutour of ȝoure tresore and take it ȝow at nede;
For housbonderye & hij holden togideres.”
Þanne I frained hir faire for hym þat hir made,
“That dongeoun in þe dale þat dredful is of siȝte,
What may it be to mene ma-dame, I ȝow biseche?”
“Þat is þe castel of care who-so cometh þerinne
May banne þat he borne was to body or to soule.
þerinne wonieth a wiȝte þat wronge is yhote,
Fader of falshed and founded it hym-selue.
Adam and Eue he egged to ille,
Conseilled caym to kullen his brother;
Iudas he iaped with iuwen siluer,
And sithen on an eller honged hym after.
He is letter of loue and lyeth hem alle,
That trusten on his tresor bitrayeth he sonnest.”
May banne þat he borne was to body or to soule.
þerinne wonieth a wiȝte þat wronge is yhote,
Fader of falshed and founded it hym-selue.
Adam and Eue he egged to ille,
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Iudas he iaped with iuwen siluer,
And sithen on an eller honged hym after.
He is letter of loue and lyeth hem alle,
That trusten on his tresor bitrayeth he sonnest.”
Thanne had I wonder in my witt what womman it were
Þat such wise wordes of holy writ shewed;
And asked hir on þe hieȝe name ar heo þennes ȝeode,
What she were witterli þat wissed me so faire?
Þat such wise wordes of holy writ shewed;
And asked hir on þe hieȝe name ar heo þennes ȝeode,
What she were witterli þat wissed me so faire?
“Holicherche I am,” quod she “þow ouȝtest me to knowe,
I vnderfonge þe firste and þe feyth tauȝte,
And brouȝtest me borwes my biddyng to fulfille,
And to loue me lelly þe while þi lyf dureth.”
I vnderfonge þe firste and þe feyth tauȝte,
And brouȝtest me borwes my biddyng to fulfille,
And to loue me lelly þe while þi lyf dureth.”
Thanne I courbed on my knees and cryed hir of grace,
And preyed hir pitousely prey for my synnes,
And also [kenne] me kyndeli on criste to bileue,
That I miȝte worchen his wille þat wrouȝte me to man;
“Teche me to no tresore but telle me þis ilke,
How I may saue my soule þat seynt art yholden?”
And preyed hir pitousely prey for my synnes,
And also [kenne] me kyndeli on criste to bileue,
That I miȝte worchen his wille þat wrouȝte me to man;
“Teche me to no tresore but telle me þis ilke,
How I may saue my soule þat seynt art yholden?”
“Whan alle tresores aren tried,” quod she “trewthe is þe best;
I do it on deus caritas to deme þe soþe;
It is as derworth a drewery as dere god hym-seluen.
I do it on deus caritas to deme þe soþe;
It is as derworth a drewery as dere god hym-seluen.
Who-so is trewe of his tonge & telleth none other,
And doth þe werkis þer-with and wilneth no man ille,
He is a god bi þe gospel agrounde and aloft,
And ylike to owre lorde bi seynte lukes wordes.
Þe clerkes þat knoweþ þis shulde kenne it aboute,
For cristene and vncristne clameþ it vchone.
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He is a god bi þe gospel agrounde and aloft,
And ylike to owre lorde bi seynte lukes wordes.
Þe clerkes þat knoweþ þis shulde kenne it aboute,
For cristene and vncristne clameþ it vchone.
Kynges & kniȝtes shulde kepe it bi resoun,
Riden and rappe down in reumes aboute,
And taken trangressores and tyen hem faste,
Til treuthe had ytermyned her trespas to þe ende.
And þat is þe professioun appertly þat appendeth for knyȝtes,
And nouȝt to fasten a fryday in fyue score wynter;
But holden wiþ him & with hir þat wolden at treuthe,
And neuer leue hem for loue ne for lacchyng of syluer.
Riden and rappe down in reumes aboute,
And taken trangressores and tyen hem faste,
Til treuthe had ytermyned her trespas to þe ende.
And þat is þe professioun appertly þat appendeth for knyȝtes,
And nouȝt to fasten a fryday in fyue score wynter;
But holden wiþ him & with hir þat wolden at treuthe,
And neuer leue hem for loue ne for lacchyng of syluer.
For Dauid in his dayes dubbed kniȝtes,
And did hem swere on here swerde to serue trewthe euere;
And who-so passed þat poynte was apostata in þe ordre.
And did hem swere on here swerde to serue trewthe euere;
And who-so passed þat poynte was apostata in þe ordre.
But criste kingene kynge kniȝted ten,
Cherubyn and seraphin suche seuene and an-othre,
And ȝaf hem myȝte in his maieste þe muryer hem þouȝte;
And ouer his mene meyne made hem archangeles,
Tauȝte hem bi þe Trinitee treuthe to knowe,
To be buxome at his biddyng he bad hem nouȝte elles.
Lucifer wiþ legiounes lerned it in heuene,
Cherubyn and seraphin suche seuene and an-othre,
And ȝaf hem myȝte in his maieste þe muryer hem þouȝte;
And ouer his mene meyne made hem archangeles,
Tauȝte hem bi þe Trinitee treuthe to knowe,
To be buxome at his biddyng he bad hem nouȝte elles.
But for he brake buxumnesse his blisse gan he tyne,
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In-to a depe derke helle to dwelle þere for eure;
And mo þowsandes wiþ him þan man couthe noumbre,
Lopen out wiþ Lucifer in lothelich forme,
For þei leueden vpon hym þat lyed in þis manere:
Ponam pedem in aquilone, et similis ero altissimo.
And alle þat hoped it miȝte be so none heuene miȝte hem holde,
But fellen out in fendes liknesse nyne dayes togideres,
Til god of his goodnesse gan stable and stynte,
And garte þe heuene to stekye and stonden in quiete.
But fellen out in fendes liknesse nyne dayes togideres,
Til god of his goodnesse gan stable and stynte,
And garte þe heuene to stekye and stonden in quiete.
Whan thise wikked went out wonderwise þei fellen,
Somme in eyre, somme in erthe & somme in helle depe;
Ac lucifer lowest lith of hem alle;
For pryde þat he pult out his peyne hath none ende;
And alle þat worche with wronge wenden hij shulle
After her deth day and dwelle wiþ þat shrewe.
Ac þo þat worche wel as holiwritt telleth,
And enden as I ere seide in treuthe, þat is þe best,
Mowe be siker þat her soule shal wende to heuene,
Þer treuthe is in Trinitee and troneth hem alle.
For-þi I sey as I seide ere bi siȝte of þise textis,
Whan alle tresores arne ytried treuthe is þe beste.
Lereth it þis lewde men for lettred men it knowen,
Þat treuthe is tresore þe triest on erþe.”
Somme in eyre, somme in erthe & somme in helle depe;
Ac lucifer lowest lith of hem alle;
For pryde þat he pult out his peyne hath none ende;
And alle þat worche with wronge wenden hij shulle
After her deth day and dwelle wiþ þat shrewe.
Ac þo þat worche wel as holiwritt telleth,
And enden as I ere seide in treuthe, þat is þe best,
Mowe be siker þat her soule shal wende to heuene,
Þer treuthe is in Trinitee and troneth hem alle.
For-þi I sey as I seide ere bi siȝte of þise textis,
Whan alle tresores arne ytried treuthe is þe beste.
Lereth it þis lewde men for lettred men it knowen,
Þat treuthe is tresore þe triest on erþe.”
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“Ȝet haue I no kynde knowing,” quod I “ȝet mote ȝe kenne me better,
By what craft in my corps it comseth and where.”
“Þow doted daffe,” quod she “dulle arne þi wittes;
By what craft in my corps it comseth and where.”
To litel latyn þow lernedest lede, in þi ȝouthe;
Heu michi, [quod] sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem!
It is a kynde knowyng,” quod he “þat kenneth in þine herte
For to louye þi lorde leuer þan þi-selue;
No dedly synne to do dey þouȝ þow sholdest:
This I trowe be treuthe who can teche þe better,
For to louye þi lorde leuer þan þi-selue;
No dedly synne to do dey þouȝ þow sholdest:
This I trowe be treuthe who can teche þe better,
Loke þow suffre hym to sey and sithen lere it after.
For thus witnesseth his worde [worche] þow þere-after;
For trewthe telleþ þat loue is triacle of heuene;
May no synne be on him sene þat vseth þat spise,
And alle his werkes he wrouȝte with loue as him liste;
And lered it Moises for þe leuest þing and moste like to heuene,
And also þe plente of pees moste precious of vertues.
For thus witnesseth his worde [worche] þow þere-after;
For trewthe telleþ þat loue is triacle of heuene;
May no synne be on him sene þat vseth þat spise,
And alle his werkes he wrouȝte with loue as him liste;
And lered it Moises for þe leuest þing and moste like to heuene,
And also þe plente of pees moste precious of vertues.
For heuene myȝte nouȝte holden it it was so heuy of hym-self,
Tyl it hadde of þe erthe yeten his fylle.
Tyl it hadde of þe erthe yeten his fylle.
And whan it haued of þis folde flesshe & blode taken,
Was neuere leef vpon lynde liȝter þer-after,
And portatyf and persant as þe poynt of a nedle,
That myȝte non armure it lette ne none heiȝ walles.
Was neuere leef vpon lynde liȝter þer-after,
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That myȝte non armure it lette ne none heiȝ walles.
For-þi is loue leder of þe lordes folke of heuene,
And a mene, as þe Maire is bitwene þe kyng and þe comune;
Riȝt so is loue a ledere and þe lawe shapeth,
Vpon man for his mysdedes þe merciment he taxeth.
And for to knowe it kyndely it comseth bi myght,
And in þe herte þere is þe heuede and þe heiȝ welle;
And a mene, as þe Maire is bitwene þe kyng and þe comune;
Riȝt so is loue a ledere and þe lawe shapeth,
Vpon man for his mysdedes þe merciment he taxeth.
And for to knowe it kyndely it comseth bi myght,
And in þe herte þere is þe heuede and þe heiȝ welle;
For in kynde knowynge in herte þere a myȝte bigynneth.
And þat falleth to þe fader þat formed vs alle,
Loked on vs with loue and lete his sone deye
Mekely for owre mysdedes to amende vs alle;
And ȝet wolde he hem no woo þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne,
But mekelich with mouthe mercy he bisouȝte
To haue pite of þat poeple þat peyned hym to deth.
And þat falleth to þe fader þat formed vs alle,
Loked on vs with loue and lete his sone deye
Mekely for owre mysdedes to amende vs alle;
And ȝet wolde he hem no woo þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne,
But mekelich with mouthe mercy he bisouȝte
To haue pite of þat poeple þat peyned hym to deth.
Here myȝtow see ensamples in hym-selue one,
That he was miȝtful & meke and mercy gan graunte
To hem þat hongen him an heiȝ and his herte þirled.
That he was miȝtful & meke and mercy gan graunte
To hem þat hongen him an heiȝ and his herte þirled.
For-thi I rede ȝow riche haueth reuthe of þe pouere;
Thouȝ ȝe be myȝtful to mote beth meke in ȝowre werkes.
For þe same mesures þat ȝe mete amys other elles,
Thouȝ ȝe be myȝtful to mote beth meke in ȝowre werkes.
Ȝe shullen ben weyen þer-wyth whan ȝe wende hennes;
Edem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur vobis.
For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝowre tonge and trewliche wynne,
And as chaste as a childe þat in cherche wepeth,
But if ȝe louen lelliche and lene þe poure,
Such goed as god ȝow sent godelich parteth,
Ȝe ne haue na more meryte in masse ne in houres,
Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode þat no man desireth.
For Iames þe gentil iugged in his bokes,
And as chaste as a childe þat in cherche wepeth,
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Such goed as god ȝow sent godelich parteth,
Ȝe ne haue na more meryte in masse ne in houres,
Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode þat no man desireth.
That faith with-oute þe faite is riȝte no þinge worthi,
And as ded as a dore-tre but ȝif þe dedes folwe;
Fides sine operibus mortua est, &c.
For-thi chastite with-oute charite worth cheyned in helle;
It is as lewed as a laumpe þat no liȝte is Inne.
It is as lewed as a laumpe þat no liȝte is Inne.
Many chapeleynes arne chaste ac charite is awey;
Aren no men auarousere þan hij whan þei ben auaunced;
Vnkynde to her kyn and to alle cristene,
Chewen here charite and chiden after more.
Such chastite wiþ-outen charite worth cheyned in helle!
Aren no men auarousere þan hij whan þei ben auaunced;
Vnkynde to her kyn and to alle cristene,
Chewen here charite and chiden after more.
Such chastite wiþ-outen charite worth cheyned in helle!
Many curatoures kepen hem clene of here bodies,
Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise þei konne nouȝt don it fram hem,
So harde hath auarice yhasped hem togideres.
And þat is no treuthe of þe trinite but treccherye of helle,
And lernyng to lewde men þe latter for to dele.
Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise þei konne nouȝt don it fram hem,
So harde hath auarice yhasped hem togideres.
And þat is no treuthe of þe trinite but treccherye of helle,
And lernyng to lewde men þe latter for to dele.
For-þi þis wordes ben wryten in þe gospel,
Date & dabitur vobis for I dele ȝow alle.
And þat is þe lokke of loue and lateth oute my grace,
To conforte þe careful acombred wiþ synne.
Date & dabitur vobis for I dele ȝow alle.
And þat is þe lokke of loue and lateth oute my grace,
To conforte þe careful acombred wiþ synne.
Loue is leche of lyf and nexte owre lorde selue,
And also þe graith gate þat goth in-to heuene;
For-þi I sey as I seide ere by þe textis,
Whan alle tresores ben ytryed treuthe is þe beste.
Now haue I tolde þe what treuthe is þat no tresore is bettere,
I may no lenger lenge þe with now loke þe owre lorde!”
And also þe graith gate þat goth in-to heuene;
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Whan alle tresores ben ytryed treuthe is þe beste.
Now haue I tolde þe what treuthe is þat no tresore is bettere,
I may no lenger lenge þe with now loke þe owre lorde!”
| The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman | |