 | The Plowmans Tale |  |
II. PART II.
To accorde with this wordë “fal”
No more English can I find;
Shewe another now I shall,
For I have moche to say behind,
How preestes han the people pynd,
As curteys Christ hath me [y-]kend,
And put this matter in my mind
To make this maner men amend.
No more English can I find;
Shewe another now I shall,
For I have moche to say behind,
How preestes han the people pynd,
As curteys Christ hath me [y-]kend,
And put this matter in my mind
To make this maner men amend.
Shortly to shende hem, and shewe now
How wrongfully they worche and walke;
O hye god, nothing they tell, ne how,
But in goddes word, tell many a balke.
In hernes holde hem and in halke,
And prechin of tythes and offrend,
And untruely of the gospell talke;
For his mercy, god it amend!
How wrongfully they worche and walke;
O hye god, nothing they tell, ne how,
But in goddes word, tell many a balke.
In hernes holde hem and in halke,
And prechin of tythes and offrend,
And untruely of the gospell talke;
For his mercy, god it amend!
163
What is Antichrist to say
But evin Christes adversáry?
Such hath now ben many a day
To Christes bidding full contráry,
That from the trouthë clenë vary;
Out of the wayë they ben wend;
And Christes people untruely cary;
God, for his pitè, it amend!
But evin Christes adversáry?
Such hath now ben many a day
To Christes bidding full contráry,
That from the trouthë clenë vary;
Out of the wayë they ben wend;
And Christes people untruely cary;
God, for his pitè, it amend!
That liven contráry to Christes lyf,
In hye pride agaynst mekenesse;
Agaynst suffraunce they usen stryf,
And angre ayenst sobrenesse;
Agaynst wisdom, wilfulnesse;
To Christes tales litell tend;
Agaynst mesúre, outragiousnesse;
But whan god woll, it may amend!
In hye pride agaynst mekenesse;
Agaynst suffraunce they usen stryf,
And angre ayenst sobrenesse;
Agaynst wisdom, wilfulnesse;
To Christes tales litell tend;
Agaynst mesúre, outragiousnesse;
But whan god woll, it may amend!
Lordly lyf ayenst lowlinesse,
And demin all without mercy;
And covetyse ayenst largesse,
Agaynst trewth[e], trechery;
And agaynst almesse, envy;
Agaynst Christ they comprehend.
For chastitè, they maynteyn lechery;
God, for his gracë, this amend!
And demin all without mercy;
And covetyse ayenst largesse,
Agaynst trewth[e], trechery;
And agaynst almesse, envy;
Agaynst Christ they comprehend.
For chastitè, they maynteyn lechery;
God, for his gracë, this amend!
Ayenst penaunce they use delytes,
Ayenst suffraunce, strong defence;
Ayenst god they use yvel rightes,
Agaynst pitè, punishëments;
Open yvell ayenst continence;
Hir wicked winning wors dispend;
Sobrenesse they sette in-to dispence;
But god, for his goodnesse, it amend!
Ayenst suffraunce, strong defence;
Ayenst god they use yvel rightes,
Agaynst pitè, punishëments;
Open yvell ayenst continence;
Hir wicked winning wors dispend;
Sobrenesse they sette in-to dispence;
But god, for his goodnesse, it amend!
164
Why cleymen they hoolly his powére,
And wranglen ayenst all his hestes?
His living folowen they nothing here,
But liven wors than witles beestes.
Of fish and flesh they loven feestes,
As lordes, they ben brode y-kend;
Of goddes pore they haten gestes;
God, for his mercy, this amend!
And wranglen ayenst all his hestes?
His living folowen they nothing here,
But liven wors than witles beestes.
Of fish and flesh they loven feestes,
As lordes, they ben brode y-kend;
Of goddes pore they haten gestes;
God, for his mercy, this amend!
With Dives such shall have hir doom
That sayn that they be Christes frendes,
And do nothing as they shuld doon;
All such ben falser than ben fendes.
On the people they ley such bendes,
As god is in erthe, they han offend;
Sucour for suchë Christ now sende us,
And, for his mercy, this amend!
That sayn that they be Christes frendes,
And do nothing as they shuld doon;
All such ben falser than ben fendes.
On the people they ley such bendes,
As god is in erthe, they han offend;
Sucour for suchë Christ now sende us,
And, for his mercy, this amend!
A token of Antichrist they be,
His careckes ben now wyde y-know;
Receyved to preche shall no man be
Without[ë] token of him, I trow.
Ech Christen preest to prechen ow,
From god abovë they ben send.
Goddes word to all folk for to show,
Sinfull man for to amend.
His careckes ben now wyde y-know;
Receyved to preche shall no man be
Without[ë] token of him, I trow.
Ech Christen preest to prechen ow,
From god abovë they ben send.
Goddes word to all folk for to show,
Sinfull man for to amend.
Christ sente the pore for to preche;
The royall riche he did nat so;
Now dar no pore the people teche,
For Antichrist is over-all hir fo.
Among the people he mot go;
He hath bidden, all such suspend;
Some hath he hent, and thinketh yet mo;
But all this god may well amend
The royall riche he did nat so;
Now dar no pore the people teche,
For Antichrist is over-all hir fo.
Among the people he mot go;
He hath bidden, all such suspend;
Some hath he hent, and thinketh yet mo;
But all this god may well amend
165
All tho that han the world forsake,
And liven lo[w]ly, as god bad,
In-to hir prison shullen be take,
Betin and bounden, and forth lad.
Herof I rede no man be drad;
Christ sayd, his [servaunts] shulde be shend;
Ech man ought herof be glad;
For god ful well it woll amend.
And liven lo[w]ly, as god bad,
In-to hir prison shullen be take,
Betin and bounden, and forth lad.
Herof I rede no man be drad;
Christ sayd, his [servaunts] shulde be shend;
Ech man ought herof be glad;
For god ful well it woll amend.
They take on hem royáll powére,
And saye, they havë swerdes two,
Oon curse to hell, oon slee men here;
For at his taking Christ had no mo,
Yet Peter had [that] oon of tho.
But Christ to Peter smyte gan defend,
And in-to the sheth bad putte it tho;
And all such mischeves god amend!
And saye, they havë swerdes two,
Oon curse to hell, oon slee men here;
For at his taking Christ had no mo,
Yet Peter had [that] oon of tho.
But Christ to Peter smyte gan defend,
And in-to the sheth bad putte it tho;
And all such mischeves god amend!
Christ bad Peter kepe his sheep,
And with his swerde forbad him smyte;
Swerd is no tole with sheep to kepe
But to shep[h]erdes that sheep woll byte.
Me thinketh, suche shep[h]erdes ben to wyte
Ayen hir sheep with swerd that contend;
They dryve hir sheep with greet dispyte;
But al this god may well amend.
And with his swerde forbad him smyte;
Swerd is no tole with sheep to kepe
But to shep[h]erdes that sheep woll byte.
Me thinketh, suche shep[h]erdes ben to wyte
Ayen hir sheep with swerd that contend;
They dryve hir sheep with greet dispyte;
But al this god may well amend.
So successours to Peter be they nought
Whom [that] Christ madë cheef pastour;
A swerd no shep[h]erde usen ought
But he wold slee as a bochour.
For who-so were Peters successour
Shuld bere his sheep till his bak bend,
And shadowe hem from every shour;
And all this god may wel amend.
Whom [that] Christ madë cheef pastour;
A swerd no shep[h]erde usen ought
But he wold slee as a bochour.
For who-so were Peters successour
Shuld bere his sheep till his bak bend,
And shadowe hem from every shour;
And all this god may wel amend.
166
Successours to Peter ben these
In that that Peter Christ forsook,
That had lever the love of god [to] lese
Than a shep[h]erde had to lese his hook.
He culleth the sheep as doth the cook;
Of hem [they] taken the woll untrend,
And falsely glose the gospell-book;
God, for his mercy, hem amend!
In that that Peter Christ forsook,
That had lever the love of god [to] lese
Than a shep[h]erde had to lese his hook.
He culleth the sheep as doth the cook;
Of hem [they] taken the woll untrend,
And falsely glose the gospell-book;
God, for his mercy, hem amend!
After Christ had take Peter the kay,
Christ sayd, he mustë dye for man;
That Peter to Christ gan withsay;
Christ bad him, ‘go behind, Sathan!’
Such counsaylours many of these men han
For worldes wele, god to offend;
Peters successours they ben for-than,
But all such god may well amend.
Christ sayd, he mustë dye for man;
That Peter to Christ gan withsay;
Christ bad him, ‘go behind, Sathan!’
Such counsaylours many of these men han
For worldes wele, god to offend;
Peters successours they ben for-than,
But all such god may well amend.
For Sathan is to say no more
But he that contrary to Christ is;
In this they lernë Peters lore,
They sewen him whan he did mis;
They folowe Peter forsothe in this,
In al that Christ wolde him reprende,
Nat in that that longeth to hevin blis;
God for his mercy hem amend!
But he that contrary to Christ is;
In this they lernë Peters lore,
They sewen him whan he did mis;
They folowe Peter forsothe in this,
In al that Christ wolde him reprende,
Nat in that that longeth to hevin blis;
God for his mercy hem amend!
Some of the apostels they sewen in cas,
Of ought that I can understonde,
Him that betrayed Christ, Judas,
That bar the purse in every londe;
And al that he might sette on honde,
He hidde and stal, and [gan] mispend;
His rule these traytours han in honde;
Almighty god [now] hem amend!
Of ought that I can understonde,
Him that betrayed Christ, Judas,
That bar the purse in every londe;
And al that he might sette on honde,
He hidde and stal, and [gan] mispend;
His rule these traytours han in honde;
Almighty god [now] hem amend!
167
And at last his lord gan tray
Cursedly, through his covetyse;
So wolde these trayen him for money,
And they wisten in what wyse!
They be seker of the selfe ensyse;
From all sothnesse they ben frend;
And covetyse chaungen with queyntyse;
Almighty god all suche amend!
Cursedly, through his covetyse;
So wolde these trayen him for money,
And they wisten in what wyse!
They be seker of the selfe ensyse;
From all sothnesse they ben frend;
And covetyse chaungen with queyntyse;
Almighty god all suche amend!
Were Christ on erthë here eft-soon,
These wolde dampnë him to dye;
All his hestes they han fordon,
And sayn, his sawes ben heresy;
Ayenst his maundëments they cry,
And dampne all his to be [y-]brend;
For it lyketh nat hem, such losengery;
God almighty hem amend!
These wolde dampnë him to dye;
All his hestes they han fordon,
And sayn, his sawes ben heresy;
Ayenst his maundëments they cry,
And dampne all his to be [y-]brend;
For it lyketh nat hem, such losengery;
God almighty hem amend!
These han more might in England here
Than hath the king and all his lawe,
They han purchased hem such powére
To taken hem whom [they] list nat knawe;
And say, that heresy is hir sawe,
And so to prison woll hem send;
It was nat so by elder dawe,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
Than hath the king and all his lawe,
They han purchased hem such powére
To taken hem whom [they] list nat knawe;
And say, that heresy is hir sawe,
And so to prison woll hem send;
It was nat so by elder dawe,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
The kinges lawe wol no man deme
Angerliche, withouten answere;
But, if any man these misqueme,
He shal be baited as a bere;
And yet wel wors they woll him tere,
And in prisón woll hem [be] pend
In gyves, and in other gere;
Whan god woll, it may [a]mend.
Angerliche, withouten answere;
But, if any man these misqueme,
He shal be baited as a bere;
And yet wel wors they woll him tere,
And in prisón woll hem [be] pend
In gyves, and in other gere;
Whan god woll, it may [a]mend.
168
The king taxeth nat his men
But by assent of the comminaltè;
But these, ech yere, woll raunsom hem
Maysterfully, more than doth he;
Hir seles, by yerë, better be
Than is the kinges in extend;
Hir officers han gretter fee;
But this mischeef [may] god amend!
But by assent of the comminaltè;
But these, ech yere, woll raunsom hem
Maysterfully, more than doth he;
Hir seles, by yerë, better be
Than is the kinges in extend;
Hir officers han gretter fee;
But this mischeef [may] god amend!
For who-so woll prove a testament
Thát is natt all worth ten pound,
He shall paye for the parchëment
The third part of the money all round.
Thus the people is raunsound,
They say, such part to hem shulde apend;
There as they grypen, it goth to ground;
God, for his mercy, it amend!
Thát is natt all worth ten pound,
He shall paye for the parchëment
The third part of the money all round.
Thus the people is raunsound,
They say, such part to hem shulde apend;
There as they grypen, it goth to ground;
God, for his mercy, it amend!
A simple fornicacioun,
Twenty shillings he shall pay;
And than have an absolucioun,
And al the yere usen it forth he may!
Thus they letten hem go a-stray,
They recke nat though the soul be brend;
These kepin yvell Peters key,
And all such shep[h]erdes god amend!
Twenty shillings he shall pay;
And than have an absolucioun,
And al the yere usen it forth he may!
Thus they letten hem go a-stray,
They recke nat though the soul be brend;
These kepin yvell Peters key,
And all such shep[h]erdes god amend!
Wonder is, that the parliament
And all the lordes of this lond
Here-to taken so litell entent
To helpe the people out of hir hond;
For they ben harder in hir bond,
Wors bete[n] and [more] bitter brend
Than to the king is understond;
God him helpe this to amend!
And all the lordes of this lond
Here-to taken so litell entent
To helpe the people out of hir hond;
For they ben harder in hir bond,
Wors bete[n] and [more] bitter brend
Than to the king is understond;
God him helpe this to amend!
169
What bisshoppes, what religio[u]ns
Han in this lande as moch lay-fee,
Lordshippes, and possessio[u]ns
More than the lordes, it semeth me!
That maketh hem lese charitè,
They mowë nat to god attend;
In erthe they have so high degree,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
Han in this lande as moch lay-fee,
Lordshippes, and possessio[u]ns
More than the lordes, it semeth me!
That maketh hem lese charitè,
They mowë nat to god attend;
In erthe they have so high degree,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
The emperour yaf the pope somtyme
So hyghe lordship him about,
That, at [the] laste, the sely kyme,
The proudë popë putte him out!
So of this realme is in dout,
But lordes be ware and hem defend;
For now these folk be wonder stout,
The king and lordes now this amend!
So hyghe lordship him about,
That, at [the] laste, the sely kyme,
The proudë popë putte him out!
So of this realme is in dout,
But lordes be ware and hem defend;
For now these folk be wonder stout,
The king and lordes now this amend!
Thus endeth the seconde part of this tale, and herafter foloweth the thirde.
| The Plowmans Tale | |