 | Handlyng Synne |  |
[The Tale of Pers the Usurer.]
Seynt Ioun þe aumenere
Seyþ Pers was an okerere,
And was swyþë coueytous,
And a nygun and auarous,
And gadred pens vnto store
As okerers doun aywhore.
Seyþ Pers was an okerere,
And was swyþë coueytous,
And a nygun and auarous,
And gadred pens vnto store
As okerers doun aywhore.
Befyl hyt so, vp-on a day
Þat porë men sate yn þe way,
And spred here hatren on here barme
Aȝens þe sonnë þat was warme,
And rekened þe custome houses echoun,
At whych þey had gode, and at whyche noun;
Þere þey hadde gode, þey preysed weyl,
And þere þey hadde noght, neuer a deyl.
Þat porë men sate yn þe way,
And spred here hatren on here barme
Aȝens þe sonnë þat was warme,
And rekened þe custome houses echoun,
At whych þey had gode, and at whyche noun;
Þere þey hadde gode, þey preysed weyl,
And þere þey hadde noght, neuer a deyl.
As þey spak of many what,
Comë Pers forþ yn þat gat:
Þan seyd echoun þat sate and stode,
‘here comþ Pers, þat neuer dyd gode!’
Echoun seyd to oþer Iangland,
‘Þey toke neuer gode at Pers hand;
Ne noun pore man neuer shal haue,
Coude he neuer so weyl craue.’
Comë Pers forþ yn þat gat:
Þan seyd echoun þat sate and stode,
‘here comþ Pers, þat neuer dyd gode!’
Echoun seyd to oþer Iangland,
‘Þey toke neuer gode at Pers hand;
Ne noun pore man neuer shal haue,
Coude he neuer so weyl craue.’
One of hem began to sey
“A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley,
Þat y shal haue sum gode at hym,
Be he neuer so gryl ne grym.”
To þat waiour þey graunted alle,
To ȝyue hym a ȝyft ȝyf so myȝt befalle.
Þys man vp sterte, and toke þe gate,
Tyl he com, at Pers ȝate.
As he stode stylle, and bode þe quede,
One come with an asse charged with brede;
Þat ychë bredë Pers hade boght,
And to hys hous shuld hyt be broght.
He sagh Pers comë þerwith-alle;
Þe porë þoght ‘now aske y shal.’
“Y aske þe sum gode, pur charyte,
Pers, ȝyf þy wyl be.”
“A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley,
Þat y shal haue sum gode at hym,
Be he neuer so gryl ne grym.”
To þat waiour þey graunted alle,
To ȝyue hym a ȝyft ȝyf so myȝt befalle.
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Tyl he com, at Pers ȝate.
As he stode stylle, and bode þe quede,
One come with an asse charged with brede;
Þat ychë bredë Pers hade boght,
And to hys hous shuld hyt be broght.
He sagh Pers comë þerwith-alle;
Þe porë þoght ‘now aske y shal.’
“Y aske þe sum gode, pur charyte,
Pers, ȝyf þy wyl be.”
Pers stode, and loked on hym
Felunlyche with yȝen grym.
He stouped down to seke a stone,
But, as hap was, þan fonde he none.
For þe stone he toke a lofe,
And at þe porë man hyf drofe.
Þe pore man hente hyt vp belyue,
And was þerof ful ferly blyþe.
To hys felaws faste he ran
with þe lofe, þys porë man,
“lo,” he seydë, “what y haue
Of Pers ȝyft, so God me saue!”
Nay, þey sworë by here þryft,
Pers ȝaue neuer swych a ȝyft.
he seyd, “ȝe shul weyl vndyrstonde
Þat y hyt had, at Pers honde;
Þat dar y swere on þe halydom
Here beforë ȝow echoun.”
Gretë merueyle had þey alle,
Þat swych a chaunce myȝt hym befalle.
Felunlyche with yȝen grym.
He stouped down to seke a stone,
But, as hap was, þan fonde he none.
For þe stone he toke a lofe,
And at þe porë man hyf drofe.
Þe pore man hente hyt vp belyue,
And was þerof ful ferly blyþe.
To hys felaws faste he ran
with þe lofe, þys porë man,
“lo,” he seydë, “what y haue
Of Pers ȝyft, so God me saue!”
Nay, þey sworë by here þryft,
Pers ȝaue neuer swych a ȝyft.
he seyd, “ȝe shul weyl vndyrstonde
Þat y hyt had, at Pers honde;
Þat dar y swere on þe halydom
Here beforë ȝow echoun.”
Gretë merueyle had þey alle,
Þat swych a chaunce myȝt hym befalle.
Þe þryddë day, þus wryte hyt ys,
Pers fyl yn a grete syknes;
And, as he lay yn hys bedde,
Hym þoght weyl, þat he was ledde
with one þat aftyr hym was sent,
To come vn-to hys Iugëment.
Pers fyl yn a grete syknes;
And, as he lay yn hys bedde,
Hym þoght weyl, þat he was ledde
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To come vn-to hys Iugëment.
Before þe Iugë was he broght
To ȝelde acounte how he hadde wroght.
Pers stode ful sore a-drad,
And, was ábashed as mad;
He sagh a fende on þe to party,
Bewreyyng hym ful felunly;
Alle hyt was shewed hym before,
how he had lyued syn he wos bore;
And namely euery wykked dede
Syn fyrst he coudë hym self lede;
why he hem dyd, and for what chesun,
Of alle behoueþ hym to ȝelde a resoun.
To ȝelde acounte how he hadde wroght.
Pers stode ful sore a-drad,
And, was ábashed as mad;
He sagh a fende on þe to party,
Bewreyyng hym ful felunly;
Alle hyt was shewed hym before,
how he had lyued syn he wos bore;
And namely euery wykked dede
Syn fyrst he coudë hym self lede;
why he hem dyd, and for what chesun,
Of alle behoueþ hym to ȝelde a resoun.
On þe touþer party stode men ful bryȝt,
Þat wulde haue saued hym at here myȝt;
But þey myght no godë fynde
Þat myȝt hym sauë or vnbynde.
Þe feyre men seyd “what ys to rede?
Of hym fynde we no godë dede
Þat God ys payd of, but of a lofe
þe whych Pers at þe pore man drofe:
ȝyt ȝaue he hyt with no gode wylle,
But kast hyt aftyr hym with ylle;
For Goddys loue ȝaue he hyt noȝt,
Ne for almes dede he hyt had þoght.
Noþeles, þe porë man
Had þe lofë of Pers þan.”
Þat wulde haue saued hym at here myȝt;
But þey myght no godë fynde
Þat myȝt hym sauë or vnbynde.
Þe feyre men seyd “what ys to rede?
Of hym fynde we no godë dede
Þat God ys payd of, but of a lofe
þe whych Pers at þe pore man drofe:
ȝyt ȝaue he hyt with no gode wylle,
But kast hyt aftyr hym with ylle;
For Goddys loue ȝaue he hyt noȝt,
Ne for almes dede he hyt had þoght.
Noþeles, þe porë man
Had þe lofë of Pers þan.”
Þe fendë had leyd yn balaunce
Hys wykkede dedes and hys myschaunce;
Þey leyd þe lofe aȝens hys dedys,—
Þey had noȝt ellës, þey mote nedys—
Þe holy man telleþ vs, and seys,
Þat þe lofe made euen peys.
Hys wykkede dedes and hys myschaunce;
Þey leyd þe lofe aȝens hys dedys,—
Þey had noȝt ellës, þey mote nedys—
Þe holy man telleþ vs, and seys,
Þat þe lofe made euen peys.
Þan seyd þese feyrë men to Pers,
“ȝyf þou be wys, now þou leres
How þys lofe þe helpeþ at nede
To tylle þy soule with almës dede.”
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How þys lofe þe helpeþ at nede
To tylle þy soule with almës dede.”
Pers, of hys slepë gan blynke,
And gretly on hys dreme gan þynke—
Syghyng with mornyng chere,
As man þat was yn gretë were,—
How þat he acouped was
with fendës fele for hys trespas,
And how þey wulde haue dampned hym þere,
Ȝyf mercy of Ihesu Cryst ne were.
And gretly on hys dreme gan þynke—
Syghyng with mornyng chere,
As man þat was yn gretë were,—
How þat he acouped was
with fendës fele for hys trespas,
And how þey wulde haue dampned hym þere,
Ȝyf mercy of Ihesu Cryst ne were.
Alle þys yn hys herte he kast,
And to hym self he spak at þe laste,
“Þat, for a lofe yn eueyl wylle
Halpe me yn so grete perel,
Mochë wlde hyt helpe at nede,
with godë wyl do almës dede.
And to hym self he spak at þe laste,
“Þat, for a lofe yn eueyl wylle
Halpe me yn so grete perel,
Mochë wlde hyt helpe at nede,
with godë wyl do almës dede.
Fro þat tymë þan wax Pers
A man of so feyrë maners,
Þat no man myȝt yn hym fynde,
But to þe pore boþe meke and kynde;
A mylder man ne myȝt nat be,
Ne to þe pore, more of almes fre;
And reuful of herte also he was,
Þat mayst þou here lere yn þys pas.
A man of so feyrë maners,
Þat no man myȝt yn hym fynde,
But to þe pore boþe meke and kynde;
A mylder man ne myȝt nat be,
Ne to þe pore, more of almes fre;
And reuful of herte also he was,
Þat mayst þou here lere yn þys pas.
Pers mette, vp-on a day,
A porë man, by þe way,
As naked as he was bore,
Þat yn þe see had allë lore.
He come to Pers, þere he stode,
And asked hym sum of hys gode,—
Sumwhat of hys cloþyng,—
For þe loue of heuene kyng.
Pers, was of reuful herte,
He toke hys kyrtyl of, as smert,
And ded hyt on þe man aboue,
And bad hym were hyt for hys loue.
A porë man, by þe way,
As naked as he was bore,
Þat yn þe see had allë lore.
He come to Pers, þere he stode,
And asked hym sum of hys gode,—
Sumwhat of hys cloþyng,—
For þe loue of heuene kyng.
Pers, was of reuful herte,
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And ded hyt on þe man aboue,
And bad hym were hyt for hys loue.
Þe man hyt toke, and was ful blyþe;
He ȝede and soldë hyt asswyþe.
Pers stode and dyd beholde
How þe man þe kyrtyl solde,
And was þarwith ferly wroþe
Þat he solde so sone hys cloþe;
He myȝt no lenger for sorow stande,
But ȝedë home ful sore gretand,
And seyd, ‘hyt was an euyl sygne,
And þat hym self was nat dygne
For to be yn hys preyere,
Þerfor nolde he þe kyrtyl were.’
He ȝede and soldë hyt asswyþe.
Pers stode and dyd beholde
How þe man þe kyrtyl solde,
And was þarwith ferly wroþe
Þat he solde so sone hys cloþe;
He myȝt no lenger for sorow stande,
But ȝedë home ful sore gretand,
And seyd, ‘hyt was an euyl sygne,
And þat hym self was nat dygne
For to be yn hys preyere,
Þerfor nolde he þe kyrtyl were.’
Whan he haddë ful long grete,
And a party þerof began lete;—
For, comunlych aftyr wepe,
Fal men sone on slepe,—
As Pers lay yn hys slepyng,
Hym þoght a feyrë sweuenyng.
Hym þoght he was yn heuene lyȝt,
And of God he had a syght,
Syttyng yn hys kyrtyl clad
Þat þe pore man of hym had,
And spak to hym ful myldëly,
“why wepest þou, and art sory?
Lo, Pers,” he sayde, “þys ys þy cloth.
For he solde hyt, were þou wroth;
Know hyt weyl, ȝyf þat þou kan,
For me þou ȝaue hyt þe pore man.
Þat þou ȝaue hym yn charyte,
Euery deyl þou ȝaue hyt me.”
Pers of slepë outë breyde,
And þoght grete wunder, & seþen seyd,
“Blessyd be allë porë men,
For God almyȝty loueþ hem;
And weyl ys hem þat pore are here;
Þey are with God, boþe lefe and dere;
And y shal fonde, by nyȝt and day,
Tó be pore, ȝyf þat y may.”
And a party þerof began lete;—
For, comunlych aftyr wepe,
Fal men sone on slepe,—
As Pers lay yn hys slepyng,
Hym þoght a feyrë sweuenyng.
Hym þoght he was yn heuene lyȝt,
And of God he had a syght,
Syttyng yn hys kyrtyl clad
Þat þe pore man of hym had,
And spak to hym ful myldëly,
“why wepest þou, and art sory?
Lo, Pers,” he sayde, “þys ys þy cloth.
For he solde hyt, were þou wroth;
Know hyt weyl, ȝyf þat þou kan,
For me þou ȝaue hyt þe pore man.
Þat þou ȝaue hym yn charyte,
Euery deyl þou ȝaue hyt me.”
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And þoght grete wunder, & seþen seyd,
“Blessyd be allë porë men,
For God almyȝty loueþ hem;
And weyl ys hem þat pore are here;
Þey are with God, boþe lefe and dere;
And y shal fonde, by nyȝt and day,
Tó be pore, ȝyf þat y may.”
Hastly he tokë hys kateyl,
And ȝaue hyt to porë men echedeyl.
Pers kalled to hym hys clerk
Þat was hys notarye, and bade hym herk,
“Y shal þe shewe a pryuyte,
A þyng þat þou shalt do to me;
y wyl þat þou no man hyt telle;
My body y take þe here to selle
To sum man, as yn bondage,
To lyue in pouert and yn seruage;
But þou do þus, y wyl be wroth,
And þou and þyne shal be me loth.
Ȝyf þou do hyt, y shal þe ȝyue
Ten pownd of gold, wel with to lyue;
Þo ten pownd y take þe here,
And me to selle on bonde manere;
Y ne recchë vn-to whom,
But onlych he haue þe crystendom;
Þe raunsun þat þou shalt for me take,
Þarfore þou shalt sykernes make,
For to ȝyue hyt bleþely and weyl
To porë men, euëry deyl,
And withholde þerof no þyng,
Þe mountouns of a ferþyng.”
And ȝaue hyt to porë men echedeyl.
Pers kalled to hym hys clerk
Þat was hys notarye, and bade hym herk,
“Y shal þe shewe a pryuyte,
A þyng þat þou shalt do to me;
y wyl þat þou no man hyt telle;
My body y take þe here to selle
To sum man, as yn bondage,
To lyue in pouert and yn seruage;
But þou do þus, y wyl be wroth,
And þou and þyne shal be me loth.
Ȝyf þou do hyt, y shal þe ȝyue
Ten pownd of gold, wel with to lyue;
Þo ten pownd y take þe here,
And me to selle on bonde manere;
Y ne recchë vn-to whom,
But onlych he haue þe crystendom;
Þe raunsun þat þou shalt for me take,
Þarfore þou shalt sykernes make,
For to ȝyue hyt bleþely and weyl
To porë men, euëry deyl,
And withholde þerof no þyng,
Þe mountouns of a ferþyng.”
hys clerk was wo to do þat dede,
But only for manas and for drede.
For dredë Pers made hym hyt do,
And dede hym plyghte his trouthe þer-to.
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For dredë Pers made hym hyt do,
And dede hym plyghte his trouthe þer-to.
Whan hys clerk had made hys othe,
Pers dede on hym a foulë clothe;
Vnto a cherchë boþe þey ȝede
For to fulfylle hys wyl yn dede.
whan þat þey to þe cherchë com,
“Lorde, þoght þe clerk, now whom
Myȝt y fynde, þys ychë sele,
To whom y myȝt sellë Pers wele!”
Pers dede on hym a foulë clothe;
Vnto a cherchë boþe þey ȝede
For to fulfylle hys wyl yn dede.
whan þat þey to þe cherchë com,
“Lorde, þoght þe clerk, now whom
Myȝt y fynde, þys ychë sele,
To whom y myȝt sellë Pers wele!”
Þe clerk loked euery where,
And at þe last, he knew where;
A rychë man, þat er had be
Specyal knowlych euer betwe,
But þurgh myschauncë at a kas
Alle hys gode y-lorë was;
‘Ȝole,’ þus þat man hyghte,
And knew þe clerk wel be syghte.
And at þe last, he knew where;
A rychë man, þat er had be
Specyal knowlych euer betwe,
But þurgh myschauncë at a kas
Alle hys gode y-lorë was;
‘Ȝole,’ þus þat man hyghte,
And knew þe clerk wel be syghte.
Þey spak of oldë a-queyntaunce,
And ȝolë tolde hym of hys chaunce.
“Þe,” seyde þe clerk, “y rede þou bye
A man to do þy marchaundye,
Þat þou mayst holdë yn seruage
To restore weyl þyn dammage.”
And ȝolë tolde hym of hys chaunce.
“Þe,” seyde þe clerk, “y rede þou bye
A man to do þy marchaundye,
Þat þou mayst holdë yn seruage
To restore weyl þyn dammage.”
Þan seyde ȝole, “on swych chaffare
wulde y feyn my syluer ware.”
Þe clerkë seyd, “lo, one here,
A trew man an a dubonure,
Þat wyl seruë þe to pay,
Peyneblë, al þat he may.
‘Pers,’ shalt þou calle hys name;
For hym shalt þou haue mochë frame.
he ys a man ful gracyous,
Gode to wynne vn-to þyn hous,
And God shal ȝyue þe hys blessyng,
And foysyn, yn allë þyng.”
wulde y feyn my syluer ware.”
Þe clerkë seyd, “lo, one here,
A trew man an a dubonure,
Þat wyl seruë þe to pay,
Peyneblë, al þat he may.
‘Pers,’ shalt þou calle hys name;
For hym shalt þou haue mochë frame.
he ys a man ful gracyous,
Gode to wynne vn-to þyn hous,
And God shal ȝyue þe hys blessyng,
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Þe clerk ȝaue allë hys raunsun
To þe pore men of þe toun,
Plenerly, alle þat he toke,
wyþhelde he nat a ferþyng noke.
To þe pore men of þe toun,
Plenerly, alle þat he toke,
wyþhelde he nat a ferþyng noke.
Þe Emperoure sent hys messageres
alle aboute for to sekë Pers,
But þey ne myȝt neuer here
Of rychë Pers, þe tollere,
yn what stedë he was nome,
No whydyrward he was become;
No þe clerk wuld telle to none,
whydyrward þat Pers was gone.
alle aboute for to sekë Pers,
But þey ne myȝt neuer here
Of rychë Pers, þe tollere,
yn what stedë he was nome,
No whydyrward he was become;
No þe clerk wuld telle to none,
whydyrward þat Pers was gone.
Now ys Pers bycomë bryche,
Þat er was boþe stoute and ryche.
Alle þat euer any man hym do bade,
Pers dyd hyt with hert[ë] glad.
he wax so myldë and so meke,
A mylder man þurt no man seke;
For he meked hym self ouer skyle,
Pottes and dysshes for to swele.
To grete penaunce he gan hym take,
And mochë for to fast and wake,
And moche he loued þolmodnesse
To ryche, to pore, to more, to lesse.
Of allë men he wuld haue doute,
And to here byddyng mekly loute;
wulde þey bydde hym sytte or stande,
Euer he wuldë be bowande;
And for he bare hym so meke and softe,
Shrewës mysded hym ful ofte,
And heldë hym folted or wode,
For he was so mylde of mode.
And þey þat were hys felaus
Mysseyd hym most yn herë sawes;
And alle he suffred here vpbreyd,
And neuer naght aȝens hem seyde.
Þat er was boþe stoute and ryche.
Alle þat euer any man hym do bade,
Pers dyd hyt with hert[ë] glad.
he wax so myldë and so meke,
A mylder man þurt no man seke;
For he meked hym self ouer skyle,
Pottes and dysshes for to swele.
To grete penaunce he gan hym take,
And mochë for to fast and wake,
And moche he loued þolmodnesse
To ryche, to pore, to more, to lesse.
Of allë men he wuld haue doute,
And to here byddyng mekly loute;
wulde þey bydde hym sytte or stande,
Euer he wuldë be bowande;
And for he bare hym so meke and softe,
Shrewës mysded hym ful ofte,
And heldë hym folted or wode,
For he was so mylde of mode.
And þey þat were hys felaus
Mysseyd hym most yn herë sawes;
And alle he suffred here vpbreyd,
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Ȝole, hys lorde, wel vndyrstode
Þat al hys gracë and hys gode
Com for þe loue of Pers,
Þat was of so holy maners;
And whan he wyst of hys bounte,
He kalled Pers yn pryuyte,
“Pers,” he seyd, “þou were wurþy
For to be wurscheped more þan y,
For þou art weyl with Ihesu;
He sheweþ for þe grete vertu;
Þarfor y shal make þe fre;
Y wyl þat my felaw þou be.”
Þat al hys gracë and hys gode
Com for þe loue of Pers,
Þat was of so holy maners;
And whan he wyst of hys bounte,
He kalled Pers yn pryuyte,
“Pers,” he seyd, “þou were wurþy
For to be wurscheped more þan y,
For þou art weyl with Ihesu;
He sheweþ for þe grete vertu;
Þarfor y shal make þe fre;
Y wyl þat my felaw þou be.”
Þar-to Pers granted noght,
To be freman, as he besoght;
he wuldë be, as he was ore,
yn þat seruage for euermore.
he þanked þe lorde myldëly
For hys gretë curteysy.
To be freman, as he besoght;
he wuldë be, as he was ore,
yn þat seruage for euermore.
he þanked þe lorde myldëly
For hys gretë curteysy.
Syþþen Ihesu, þurgh hys myȝt,
Shewed hym, tó Pers syȝt,
For to be stalworþe yn hys fondyng,
And to hym haue loue longyng.
“Be nat sorowful to do penaunce;
y am with þe yn euery chaunce;
Pers, I hauë mynde of þe;
lo, here þe kyrtyl þat þou ȝaue for me;
Þerfor grace y shal þe sende,
Yn alle godenessë weyl to ende.”
Shewed hym, tó Pers syȝt,
For to be stalworþe yn hys fondyng,
And to hym haue loue longyng.
“Be nat sorowful to do penaunce;
y am with þe yn euery chaunce;
Pers, I hauë mynde of þe;
lo, here þe kyrtyl þat þou ȝaue for me;
Þerfor grace y shal þe sende,
Yn alle godenessë weyl to ende.”
Byfyl þat seriauntes and squyers
Þat were wunt to seruë Pers,
went yn pylgrymage, as yn kas,
To þat cuntre þere Pers was.
Ȝole ful feyrë gan hem kalle,
And preyde hem homë to hys halle.
Pers was þere, þat ychë sele,
And euerychone he knew hem wele.
Alle he serued hem as a knaue
Þat was wunt here seruyse to haue.
But Pers nat ȝyt þey knew,
For penaunce chaunged was hys hew;
Nat forþy þey behelde hym fast,
And oftyn to hym here yȝen þey kast,
And seyd, “he þat stontë here,
Ys lychë to Pers tollere.”
Þat were wunt to seruë Pers,
went yn pylgrymage, as yn kas,
To þat cuntre þere Pers was.
Ȝole ful feyrë gan hem kalle,
And preyde hem homë to hys halle.
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And euerychone he knew hem wele.
Alle he serued hem as a knaue
Þat was wunt here seruyse to haue.
But Pers nat ȝyt þey knew,
For penaunce chaunged was hys hew;
Nat forþy þey behelde hym fast,
And oftyn to hym here yȝen þey kast,
And seyd, “he þat stontë here,
Ys lychë to Pers tollere.”
He hydde hys vysege al þat he myȝt,
Out of knowlych of here syȝt;
Noþeles þey behelde hym more,
And knew hym weyl, al þat were þore,
And seyd, “Ȝole, ys ȝone þy page?
A ryche man ys yn þy seruage;
Þe emperoure, boþe fer and nere,
Haþ do hym seche, þat we fynde here.”
Out of knowlych of here syȝt;
Noþeles þey behelde hym more,
And knew hym weyl, al þat were þore,
And seyd, “Ȝole, ys ȝone þy page?
A ryche man ys yn þy seruage;
Þe emperoure, boþe fer and nere,
Haþ do hym seche, þat we fynde here.”
Pers lestned, and herd hem spekyng,
And þat þey had of hym knowyng;
And pryuyly a-wey he nam,
Tyl he to þe porter cam.
And þat þey had of hym knowyng;
And pryuyly a-wey he nam,
Tyl he to þe porter cam.
Þe porter had hys spechë lore,
And heryng also, syn he was bore;
But þurgh þe grace of swete Ihesu,
was shewed, for Pers, feyre vertu.
Pers seyd, “latë me furþ go.”
Þe porter spak, and seydë “ȝo.”
He þat was def, and doumbe also,
Spak, whan Pers spak hym to.
And heryng also, syn he was bore;
But þurgh þe grace of swete Ihesu,
was shewed, for Pers, feyre vertu.
Pers seyd, “latë me furþ go.”
Þe porter spak, and seydë “ȝo.”
He þat was def, and doumbe also,
Spak, whan Pers spak hym to.
Pers out at þe ȝatë wente,
And þedyr ȝede, þere God hym sente.
Þe porter ȝede vp to þe halle,
And þys merueylë tolde hem alle,
How þe squyler of þe kechyn,
Pers, þat haþ woned here yn,
“He asked leuë, ryȝt now late,
And went furþ out at þe ȝate.
Y rede ȝow alle, ȝeueþ gode tent,
whederward þat Pers ys went.
with Ihesu cryst he ys pryue,
And þat ys shewed weyl on me;
For, what tyme he to me spak,
Out of hys mouþ me þoghtë brak
A flamme of fyre bryght and clere;
Þe flaumme made me boþ speke and here;
Speke, and here, now, boþe y may,
Blessed be God and Pers to day!”
And þedyr ȝede, þere God hym sente.
Þe porter ȝede vp to þe halle,
And þys merueylë tolde hem alle,
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Pers, þat haþ woned here yn,
“He asked leuë, ryȝt now late,
And went furþ out at þe ȝate.
Y rede ȝow alle, ȝeueþ gode tent,
whederward þat Pers ys went.
with Ihesu cryst he ys pryue,
And þat ys shewed weyl on me;
For, what tyme he to me spak,
Out of hys mouþ me þoghtë brak
A flamme of fyre bryght and clere;
Þe flaumme made me boþ speke and here;
Speke, and here, now, boþe y may,
Blessed be God and Pers to day!”
Þe lordë and þe gestës alle,
One and oþer þat were yn halle,
Had merueyle þat hyt was so,
Þat he myȝte swych myrácle do.
Þan asswyþë Pers þey soght,
But al here sekyng was for noȝt;
Neuer, Pers þey ne founde,
Nyȝt ne day, yn no stounde;
For he þat toke Ennok and Ely,
He toke Pers, þurgh hys mercy,
To reste with-outyn ende to lede
For hys meknes and hys gode dede.
One and oþer þat were yn halle,
Had merueyle þat hyt was so,
Þat he myȝte swych myrácle do.
Þan asswyþë Pers þey soght,
But al here sekyng was for noȝt;
Neuer, Pers þey ne founde,
Nyȝt ne day, yn no stounde;
For he þat toke Ennok and Ely,
He toke Pers, þurgh hys mercy,
To reste with-outyn ende to lede
For hys meknes and hys gode dede.
Take ensample here, of Pers,
And parteþ with þe pore, ȝe okerers,
For ȝow shal neuer come Ioye with-ynne,
But ȝe leuë fyrst þat synne;
And ȝyue to almes þat ychë þyng
Þat ȝe haue wune wyþ okeryng.
And parteþ with þe pore, ȝe okerers,
For ȝow shal neuer come Ioye with-ynne,
But ȝe leuë fyrst þat synne;
And ȝyue to almes þat ychë þyng
Þat ȝe haue wune wyþ okeryng.
Now with God, leue we Pers;
God ȝyue vs grace to do hys maners!
God ȝyue vs grace to do hys maners!
193
Yn coueytyse synnen marchauntys mekyl,
Yn feyrë wurdys and yn fykyl,
And heteþ hym godë þat he byeþ,
And swereþ þarto, and algate lyeþ.
For fals peys and fals mesure
here soulës haue mysáuenture.
Yn feyrë wurdys and yn fykyl,
And heteþ hym godë þat he byeþ,
And swereþ þarto, and algate lyeþ.
For fals peys and fals mesure
here soulës haue mysáuenture.
Also hyt longeþ to coueytyse
Ȝyf þou hyre one out of seruyse
Þurgh ȝyft or þurgh procurment,
Þou synnest gretly yn swych atent:
Enuye hyt ys, and falsnes yn dede,
But ȝyf hyt were for þe morë nede.
Ȝyf þou hyre one out of seruyse
Þurgh ȝyft or þurgh procurment,
Þou synnest gretly yn swych atent:
Enuye hyt ys, and falsnes yn dede,
But ȝyf hyt were for þe morë nede.
ȝyf þou boghtest of any seriaunt
pryuyly, yn stylle cunnaunt,
Þyng þat þou wystyst wel was stole,
And þurgh þy byyng was forhole,
Hyt ys coueytyse and þeft pryue
To bye þyng out of commalte.
pryuyly, yn stylle cunnaunt,
Þyng þat þou wystyst wel was stole,
And þurgh þy byyng was forhole,
Hyt ys coueytyse and þeft pryue
To bye þyng out of commalte.
ȝyf þou receyuedyst any what
Of onë þat hys þyng forgat;
But þou ȝyue hyt hym aȝeyn,
Or þe valeu for certeyn,
Þou art falle þan yn þe vyce
Of, coueytyse, þeft, and auaryce.
Of onë þat hys þyng forgat;
But þou ȝyue hyt hym aȝeyn,
Or þe valeu for certeyn,
Þou art falle þan yn þe vyce
Of, coueytyse, þeft, and auaryce.
Or þou ledyst any man to þe ale
And madest hym drunk with troteuale,
And he solde hys þyng to þe
More þan he wulde yn soberte,
Hyt semeþ þou art a gylour,
And coueytous, and trechour.
And madest hym drunk with troteuale,
And he solde hys þyng to þe
More þan he wulde yn soberte,
Hyt semeþ þou art a gylour,
And coueytous, and trechour.
For men þat loue to do gylerye,
At þe alehous make þey marchaundye,
To loke ȝyf þey kunne com with-ynne,
here neghburs þyng, falsly to wynne.
At þe alehous make þey marchaundye,
To loke ȝyf þey kunne com with-ynne,
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And a ryche man hyt noyeþ oftyn tyde
Þat a porë man hat oght besyde.
Alle þat he may, with euyl he fondys
For to reue hym, and haue hys londys;
Ȝyf he may nat hem at hym bye,
He wul weyte hym oþer felunnye,
hym to sle, or to endyte,
Or þeft he wyl vpon hym wyte,
Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte,
Hys bestes for to bete or bayte,
To ete hys grasse, or foule hys corne,
So þat hys gode shal neuer be lorne:
Of swyche men, boþe wryte hyt ys & seyd,
Moche peyne ys before hem leyde;
here synne shal noþer be forȝyuen ne slakyn
Vn-to þey ȝelde þat þey haue takyn;
Here mercy ys ful on-certeyn
But þey ȝelde hem here gode aȝeyn.
Þat a porë man hat oght besyde.
Alle þat he may, with euyl he fondys
For to reue hym, and haue hys londys;
Ȝyf he may nat hem at hym bye,
He wul weyte hym oþer felunnye,
hym to sle, or to endyte,
Or þeft he wyl vpon hym wyte,
Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte,
Hys bestes for to bete or bayte,
To ete hys grasse, or foule hys corne,
So þat hys gode shal neuer be lorne:
Of swyche men, boþe wryte hyt ys & seyd,
Moche peyne ys before hem leyde;
here synne shal noþer be forȝyuen ne slakyn
Vn-to þey ȝelde þat þey haue takyn;
Here mercy ys ful on-certeyn
But þey ȝelde hem here gode aȝeyn.
Of þys, before ȝe herde me rede,
How seynt Fursyn founde hyt yn dede;
And here y shal telle a lytyl tale
Of swyche a man þat brewed hys bale.
How seynt Fursyn founde hyt yn dede;
And here y shal telle a lytyl tale
Of swyche a man þat brewed hys bale.
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