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 |  |
Þenne schaltou come to a Court Cleer as þe Sonne,
Þe Mot is of Merci þe maner al abouten,
And alle þe walles beþ of wit to holde wil þeroute;
Þe Carnels beþ of Cristendam þe kuynde to saue,
Brutaget with þe bileeue wher-þorw we moten beo sauet.
Alle þe houses beoþ I-hulet Halles and Chaumbres,
Wiþ no led bote with loue- as-Breþeren-of-o-wombe.
Þe Mot is of Merci þe maner al abouten,
And alle þe walles beþ of wit to holde wil þeroute;
Þe Carnels beþ of Cristendam þe kuynde to saue,
Brutaget with þe bileeue wher-þorw we moten beo sauet.
Alle þe houses beoþ I-hulet Halles and Chaumbres,
Wiþ no led bote with loue- as-Breþeren-of-o-wombe.
Þe Tour þer treuþe is Inne I-set Is aboue þe sonne,
He may do with þe day-sterre what him deore lykeþ;
Deth dar not do þing þat he defendeþ.
He may do with þe day-sterre what him deore lykeþ;
Deth dar not do þing þat he defendeþ.
Grace hette þe ȝate-ward A good mon forsoþe,
His Mon hette a-Mende-þou for mony men him knoweþ;
Tel him þis tokene for treuþe wot þe soþe:
‘I performede þe penaunce þat þe prest me en-Ioynede;
His Mon hette a-Mende-þou for mony men him knoweþ;
Tel him þis tokene for treuþe wot þe soþe:
‘I performede þe penaunce þat þe prest me en-Ioynede;
I am sori for my sunnes and so schal I euere
Whon I þenke þer-on þauȝ I weore a pope.’
Bidde a-Mende [-þou] Meken him to his Mayster ones,
To wynne vp þe wiket-ȝat þat þe wey schutte,
Þo þat Adam and Eue eeten heore bone;
For he haþ þe keye of þe cliket þauȝ þe kyng slepe.
Whon I þenke þer-on þauȝ I weore a pope.’
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To wynne vp þe wiket-ȝat þat þe wey schutte,
Þo þat Adam and Eue eeten heore bone;
For he haþ þe keye of þe cliket þauȝ þe kyng slepe.
And ȝif grace þe graunte to gon in in þis wyse,
Þou schalt seo treuþe him-self sitten in þin herte.
Þou schalt seo treuþe him-self sitten in þin herte.
Þenne loke þat þou loue him wel and his lawe holde;
Bote beo wel I-war of wraþþe [þat wykkide] Schrewe,
For he haþ Envye to him þat [in þyn herte sitteþ;]
And puiteþ forþ pruide to preisen þi-seluen.
Bote beo wel I-war of wraþþe [þat wykkide] Schrewe,
For he haþ Envye to him þat [in þyn herte sitteþ;]
And puiteþ forþ pruide to preisen þi-seluen.
Þe boldnesse of þi benfes blendeþ þin eiȝen,
And so worþestou I-driuen out and þe dore I-closet,
I-keiȝet and I-kliketed to [kepe] þe þer-oute;
Hapliche, an Hundred ȝer er þou eft entre.
And so worþestou I-driuen out and þe dore I-closet,
I-keiȝet and I-kliketed to [kepe] þe þer-oute;
Hapliche, an Hundred ȝer er þou eft entre.
Þus maihtou leosen his loue to leten wel bi þi-seluen,
Bote gete hit aȝeyn bi grace and bi no ȝift elles.
Bote gete hit aȝeyn bi grace and bi no ȝift elles.
| The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman | |