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. |
| II. |
| III. | PASSUS III. Passus tertius. |
| 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 |  |
32
PASSUS III. Passus tertius.
Now is Mede þe Mayde and namo of hem alle
With bedellus & wiþ bayllyues brouȝt bifor þe kyng.
The kyng called a clerke can I nouȝt his name,
To take Mede þe mayde and make hire at ese.
“I shal assaye hir my-self and sothelich appose
What man of þis molde þat hire were leueste.
And if she worche bi my witte and my wille folwe,
I wil forgyue hir þis gilte so me god help!”
With bedellus & wiþ bayllyues brouȝt bifor þe kyng.
The kyng called a clerke can I nouȝt his name,
To take Mede þe mayde and make hire at ese.
“I shal assaye hir my-self and sothelich appose
What man of þis molde þat hire were leueste.
And if she worche bi my witte and my wille folwe,
I wil forgyue hir þis gilte so me god help!”
Curteysliche þe clerke þanne as þe Kyng hight,
Toke Mede bi þe Middel and brouȝte hir in-to chaumbre,
And þere was myrthe and mynstralcye Mede to plese.
Toke Mede bi þe Middel and brouȝte hir in-to chaumbre,
And þere was myrthe and mynstralcye Mede to plese.
They þat wonyeth in Westmynstre worschiped hir alle;
Gentelliche wiþ ioye þe Iustices somme
Busked hem to þe boure þere þe birde dwelled,
To conforte hire kyndely by clergise leue,
And seiden, “mourne nought, Mede ne make þow no sorwe,
For we [wil] wisse þe kynge and þi wey shape,
To be wedded at þi wille and where þe leue liketh,
For al conscience caste or craft, as I trowe!”
Gentelliche wiþ ioye þe Iustices somme
Busked hem to þe boure þere þe birde dwelled,
33
And seiden, “mourne nought, Mede ne make þow no sorwe,
For we [wil] wisse þe kynge and þi wey shape,
To be wedded at þi wille and where þe leue liketh,
For al conscience caste or craft, as I trowe!”
Mildeliche Mede þanne mercyed hem alle
Of þeire gret goodnesse and gaf hem vchone
Coupes of clene golde and coppis of siluer,
Rynges with rubies and ricchesses manye,
The leste man of here meyne a motoun of golde.
Thanne lauȝte þei leue þis lordes, at Mede.
Of þeire gret goodnesse and gaf hem vchone
Coupes of clene golde and coppis of siluer,
Rynges with rubies and ricchesses manye,
The leste man of here meyne a motoun of golde.
Thanne lauȝte þei leue þis lordes, at Mede.
With that comen clerkis to conforte hir þe same,
And beden hire be blithe “for we beth þine owne,
For to worche þi wille þe while þow myȝte laste.”
Hendeliche heo þanne bihight hem þe same,
To “loue ȝow lelli and lordes to make,
And in þe consistorie atte courte do calle ȝowre names;
Shal no lewdnesse lette þe leode þat I louye,
That he ne worth first auanced for I am biknowen
Þere konnyng clerkes shul clokke bihynde.”
And beden hire be blithe “for we beth þine owne,
For to worche þi wille þe while þow myȝte laste.”
Hendeliche heo þanne bihight hem þe same,
To “loue ȝow lelli and lordes to make,
And in þe consistorie atte courte do calle ȝowre names;
Shal no lewdnesse lette þe leode þat I louye,
That he ne worth first auanced for I am biknowen
Þere konnyng clerkes shul clokke bihynde.”
Þanne come þere a confessoure coped as a Frere,
To Mede þe mayde he mellud þis wordes,
And seide ful softly in shrifte as it were,
“Theiȝ lewed men and lered men had leyne by þe bothe,
And falsenesse haued yfolwed þe al þis fyfty wyntre,
I shal assoille þe my-selue for a seme of whete,
And also be þi bedeman and bere wel þi message,
Amonges kniȝtes and clerkis conscience to torne.”
To Mede þe mayde he mellud þis wordes,
And seide ful softly in shrifte as it were,
“Theiȝ lewed men and lered men had leyne by þe bothe,
And falsenesse haued yfolwed þe al þis fyfty wyntre,
34
And also be þi bedeman and bere wel þi message,
Amonges kniȝtes and clerkis conscience to torne.”
Thanne Mede for here mysdedes to þat man kneled,
And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse shamelees, I trowe,
Tolde hym a tale and toke hym a noble,
Forto ben hire bedeman and hire brokour als.
And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse shamelees, I trowe,
Tolde hym a tale and toke hym a noble,
Forto ben hire bedeman and hire brokour als.
Thanne he assoilled hir sone and sithen he seyde,
“We han a wyndowe a wirchyng wil sitten vs [ful] heigh;
Woldestow glase þat gable and graue þere-inne þi name,
Siker sholde þi soule be heuene to haue.”
“Wist I that,” quod þat womman “I wolde nouȝt spare
For to be ȝowre frende, frere and faille ȝow neure
Whil ȝe loue lordes þat lechery haunteþ,
And lakkeþ nouȝt ladis þat loueþ wel þe same.
It is a frelete of flesche ȝe fynde it in bokes,
And a course of kynde wher-of we komen alle;
Who may scape þe sklaundre þe skaþe is sone amended;
It is synne of [þe] seuene sonnest relessed.
“We han a wyndowe a wirchyng wil sitten vs [ful] heigh;
Woldestow glase þat gable and graue þere-inne þi name,
Siker sholde þi soule be heuene to haue.”
“Wist I that,” quod þat womman “I wolde nouȝt spare
For to be ȝowre frende, frere and faille ȝow neure
Whil ȝe loue lordes þat lechery haunteþ,
And lakkeþ nouȝt ladis þat loueþ wel þe same.
It is a frelete of flesche ȝe fynde it in bokes,
And a course of kynde wher-of we komen alle;
Who may scape þe sklaundre þe skaþe is sone amended;
It is synne of [þe] seuene sonnest relessed.
Haue mercy,” quod Mede “of men þat it haunte,
And I shal keure ȝowre kirke ȝowre cloystre do maken,
Wowes do whitten and wyndowes glasen,
Do peynten and purtraye and paye for þe makynge,
That eury segge shal seyn I am sustre of ȝowre hous.”
And I shal keure ȝowre kirke ȝowre cloystre do maken,
Wowes do whitten and wyndowes glasen,
Do peynten and purtraye and paye for þe makynge,
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Ac god to alle good folke suche grauynge defendeth,
To writen in wyndowes of here wel dedes,
On auenture pruyde be peynted þere and pompe of þe worlde;
For crist knoweþ þi conscience and þi kynde wille,
And þi coste and þi coueitise and who þe catel ouȝte.
For-þi I lere ȝow, lordes leueþ suche werkes,
To writen in wyndowes of here wel dedes,
On auenture pruyde be peynted þere and pompe of þe worlde;
For crist knoweþ þi conscience and þi kynde wille,
And þi coste and þi coueitise and who þe catel ouȝte.
To writen in wyndowes of ȝowre wel dedes,
Or to greden after goddis men whan ȝe delen doles;
An auenture ȝe han ȝowre hire here and ȝoure heuene als;
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra.
Lat nouȝte þi left half late [ne] rathe,Wyte what þow worchest with þi riȝt syde;
For þus bit þe gospel gode men do here almesse.
Meires and maceres that menes ben bitwene
Þe kynge and þe comune to kepe þe lawes,
To punyschen on pillories and pynynge stoles
Brewesteres and bakesteres bocheres and cokes;
For þise aren men on þis molde þat moste harme worcheth
To þe pore peple þat parcel-mele buggen.
Þe kynge and þe comune to kepe þe lawes,
To punyschen on pillories and pynynge stoles
Brewesteres and bakesteres bocheres and cokes;
For þise aren men on þis molde þat moste harme worcheth
To þe pore peple þat parcel-mele buggen.
For they poysoun þe peple priueliche and oft,
Thei rychen þorw regraterye and rentes hem buggen
With þat þe pore people shulde put in here wombe;
For toke þei on trewly þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe,
Ne bouȝte non burgages be ȝe ful certeyne.
Thei rychen þorw regraterye and rentes hem buggen
With þat þe pore people shulde put in here wombe;
For toke þei on trewly þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe,
Ne bouȝte non burgages be ȝe ful certeyne.
36
Ac Mede þe Mayde þe Maire hath bisouȝte,
Of alle suche sellers syluer to take,
Or presentz with-oute pens as peces of siluer,
Ringes or other ricchesse þe regrateres to maynetene.
Of alle suche sellers syluer to take,
Or presentz with-oute pens as peces of siluer,
Ringes or other ricchesse þe regrateres to maynetene.
“For my loue,” quod that lady “loue hem vchone,
And soffre hem to selle somdele aȝeins resoun.”
Salamon þe sage a sarmoun he made,
And soffre hem to selle somdele aȝeins resoun.”
For to amende Maires and men þat kepen lawes,
And tolde hem þis teme þat I telle thynke;
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, &c.
Amonge þis lettered ledes þis latyn is to mene,That fyre shal falle, and [brenne] al to blo askes
The houses and þe homes of hem [þat] desireth
Ȝiftes or ȝeresȝyues bi-cause of here offices.
The kynge fro conseille cam and called after Mede,
And ofsent hir alswythe with seriauntes manye,
That brouȝten hir to bowre with blisse and with ioye.
And ofsent hir alswythe with seriauntes manye,
That brouȝten hir to bowre with blisse and with ioye.
Curteisliche þe kynge þanne comsed to telle,
To Mede þe mayde melleth þise wordes:
“Vnwittily, womman! wrouȝte hastow oft,
Ac worse wrouȝtestow neure þan þo þow fals toke.
But I forgyue [þe] þat gilte and graunte þe my grace;
Hennes to þi deth day do so namore!
To Mede þe mayde melleth þise wordes:
“Vnwittily, womman! wrouȝte hastow oft,
Ac worse wrouȝtestow neure þan þo þow fals toke.
But I forgyue [þe] þat gilte and graunte þe my grace;
Hennes to þi deth day do so namore!
I haue a knyȝte, conscience cam late fro biȝunde;
Ȝif he wilneth þe to wyf wyltow hym haue?”
“Ȝe, lorde,” quod þat lady “lorde forbede elles!
But I be holely at ȝowre heste lat hange me sone!”
Ȝif he wilneth þe to wyf wyltow hym haue?”
37
But I be holely at ȝowre heste lat hange me sone!”
And þanne was conscience calde to come and appiere
Bifor þe Kynge and his conseille as clerkes and othere.
Knelynge conscience to þe kynge louted,
To wite what his wille were and what he do shulde.
Bifor þe Kynge and his conseille as clerkes and othere.
Knelynge conscience to þe kynge louted,
To wite what his wille were and what he do shulde.
“Woltow wedde þis womman,” quod þe kynge “ȝif I wil assente,
For she is fayne of þi felawship for to be þi make?”
For she is fayne of þi felawship for to be þi make?”
Quod conscience to þe kynge “cryst it me forbede!
Ar I wedde suche a wyf wo me bityde!
For she is frele of hir feith fykel of here speche,
And maketh men mysdo many score tymes;
Truste of hire tresore treieth ful manye.
Wyues and widewes wantounes she techeth,
And lereth hem leccherye that loueth hire ȝiftes.
Ȝowre fadre she felled þorw fals biheste,
And hath apoysounde popis [&] peired holicherche;
Is nauȝt a better baude bi hym þat me made,
Bitwene heuene and helle in erthe þough men souȝte!
For she is tikil of hire taile talwis of hir tonge,
As comune as a cartwey to eche a knaue þat walketh,
To monkes, to mynst[r]alles to meseles in hegges.
Sisoures and sompnoures suche men hir preiseth;
Shireues of shires were shent ȝif she nere;
For she doþ men lese here londe and here lyf bothe.
She leteth passe prisoneres and payeth for hem ofte,
And gyueth þe gailers golde and grotes togideres,
To vnfettre þe fals fle where hym lyketh;
And takeþ þe trewe bi þe toppe and tieth hym faste,
And hangeth hym for hatred þat harme dede neure.
Ar I wedde suche a wyf wo me bityde!
For she is frele of hir feith fykel of here speche,
And maketh men mysdo many score tymes;
Truste of hire tresore treieth ful manye.
Wyues and widewes wantounes she techeth,
And lereth hem leccherye that loueth hire ȝiftes.
Ȝowre fadre she felled þorw fals biheste,
And hath apoysounde popis [&] peired holicherche;
Is nauȝt a better baude bi hym þat me made,
Bitwene heuene and helle in erthe þough men souȝte!
For she is tikil of hire taile talwis of hir tonge,
As comune as a cartwey to eche a knaue þat walketh,
To monkes, to mynst[r]alles to meseles in hegges.
Sisoures and sompnoures suche men hir preiseth;
Shireues of shires were shent ȝif she nere;
For she doþ men lese here londe and here lyf bothe.
38
And gyueth þe gailers golde and grotes togideres,
To vnfettre þe fals fle where hym lyketh;
And takeþ þe trewe bi þe toppe and tieth hym faste,
And hangeth hym for hatred þat harme dede neure.
To be cursed in consistorie she counteth nouȝte a russhe;
For she copeth þe comissarie and coteth his clerkis;
She is assoilled as sone as hir-self liketh,
And may neiȝe as moche do in a moneth one[s],
As ȝowre secret seel in syx score dayes.
For she is priue with þe pope prouisoures it knoweth,
For sire symonye and hir-selue seleth hire bulles.
For she copeth þe comissarie and coteth his clerkis;
She is assoilled as sone as hir-self liketh,
And may neiȝe as moche do in a moneth one[s],
As ȝowre secret seel in syx score dayes.
For she is priue with þe pope prouisoures it knoweth,
For sire symonye and hir-selue seleth hire bulles.
She blesseth þise bisshopes þeiȝe þey be lewed,
Prouendreth persones and prestes meynteneth,
To haue lemmannes and lotebies alle here lif dayes,
And bringen forth barnes aȝein forbode lawes.
There she is wel with þe kynge wo is þe rewme,
For she is fauorable to þe fals and fouleth trewthe ofte.
Prouendreth persones and prestes meynteneth,
To haue lemmannes and lotebies alle here lif dayes,
And bringen forth barnes aȝein forbode lawes.
There she is wel with þe kynge wo is þe rewme,
For she is fauorable to þe fals and fouleth trewthe ofte.
Bi ihesus, with here ieweles ȝowre iustices she shendeth,
And lith aȝein þe lawe and letteth hym þe gate,
That feith may nouȝte haue his forth here floreines go so þikke.
She ledeth þe lawe as hire list and louedayes maketh,
And doth men lese þorw hire loue þat lawe myȝte wynne,
Þe mase for a mene man þouȝ he mote hir eure.
Lawe is so lordeliche and loth to make ende,
With-oute presentz or pens she pleseth wel fewe.
And lith aȝein þe lawe and letteth hym þe gate,
That feith may nouȝte haue his forth here floreines go so þikke.
She ledeth þe lawe as hire list and louedayes maketh,
And doth men lese þorw hire loue þat lawe myȝte wynne,
39
Lawe is so lordeliche and loth to make ende,
With-oute presentz or pens she pleseth wel fewe.
Barounes and burgeys she bryngeth in sorwe,
And alle þe comune in kare þat coueyten lyue in trewthe;
For clergye and coueitise she coupleth togideres.
Þis is þe lyf of that lady now lorde ȝif hir sorwe!
And alle that meynteneth here men meschaunce hem bityde!
For pore men mowe haue no powere to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte;
Suche a maistre is Mede amonge men of gode.”
And alle þe comune in kare þat coueyten lyue in trewthe;
For clergye and coueitise she coupleth togideres.
Þis is þe lyf of that lady now lorde ȝif hir sorwe!
And alle that meynteneth here men meschaunce hem bityde!
For pore men mowe haue no powere to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte;
Suche a maistre is Mede amonge men of gode.”
Thanne morned Mede and mened hire to the kynge,
To haue space to speke spede if she myȝte.
To haue space to speke spede if she myȝte.
The kynge graunted hir grace with a gode wille;
“Excuse þe, ȝif þow canst I can namore seggen,
For conscience acuseth þe to congey þe for euere.”
“Excuse þe, ȝif þow canst I can namore seggen,
For conscience acuseth þe to congey þe for euere.”
“Nay, lorde,” quod þat lady “leueth hym þe worse,
Whan ȝe wyten witterly where þe wronge liggeth;
There þat myschief is grete Mede may helpe.
And þow knowest, conscience I cam nouȝt to chide,
Ne depraue þi persone with a proude herte.
Wel þow wost, wernard but ȝif þow wolt gabbe,
Þow hast hanged on myne half elleuene tymes,
And also griped my golde gyue it where þe liked;
And whi þow wratthest þe now wonder me thynketh.
Ȝit I may as I myȝte menske þe with ȝiftes,
And mayntene þi manhode more þan þow knoweste.
Whan ȝe wyten witterly where þe wronge liggeth;
There þat myschief is grete Mede may helpe.
And þow knowest, conscience I cam nouȝt to chide,
Ne depraue þi persone with a proude herte.
Wel þow wost, wernard but ȝif þow wolt gabbe,
Þow hast hanged on myne half elleuene tymes,
And also griped my golde gyue it where þe liked;
And whi þow wratthest þe now wonder me thynketh.
Ȝit I may as I myȝte menske þe with ȝiftes,
And mayntene þi manhode more þan þow knoweste.
Ac þow hast famed me foule bifor þe Kynge here.
For kulled I neuere no kynge ne conseilled þer-after,
Ne dede as þow demest I do [it] on þe kynge!
40
Ne dede as þow demest I do [it] on þe kynge!
In normandye was he nouȝte noyed for my sake;
Ac þow þi-self sothely shamedest hym ofte,
Crope in-to a kaban for colde of þi nailles,
Wendest þat wyntre wolde haue lasted euere,
And draddest to be ded for a dym cloude,
And hiedest homeward for hunger of þi wombe.
Ac þow þi-self sothely shamedest hym ofte,
Crope in-to a kaban for colde of þi nailles,
Wendest þat wyntre wolde haue lasted euere,
And draddest to be ded for a dym cloude,
And hiedest homeward for hunger of þi wombe.
Wiþ-out pite, piloure pore men þow robbedest,
And bere here bras at þi bakke to caleys to selle.
There I lafte with my lorde his lyf for to saue,
I made his men meri and mornyng lette.
I batered hem on þe bakke and bolded here hertis,
And dede hem hoppe for hope to haue me at wille.
Had I ben Marschal of his men bi Marie of heuene!
I durst haue leyde my lyf and no lasse wedde,
He shulde haue be lorde of þat londe a lengthe and a brede,
And also Kyng of þat kitthe his kynne for to helpe,
Þe leste brolle of his blode a barounes pere!
And bere here bras at þi bakke to caleys to selle.
There I lafte with my lorde his lyf for to saue,
I made his men meri and mornyng lette.
I batered hem on þe bakke and bolded here hertis,
And dede hem hoppe for hope to haue me at wille.
Had I ben Marschal of his men bi Marie of heuene!
I durst haue leyde my lyf and no lasse wedde,
He shulde haue be lorde of þat londe a lengthe and a brede,
And also Kyng of þat kitthe his kynne for to helpe,
Þe leste brolle of his blode a barounes pere!
Cowardliche þow, conscience conseiledest hym þennes,
To leuen his lordeship for a litel siluer,
That is þe richest rewme þat reyne ouer houeth!
To leuen his lordeship for a litel siluer,
That is þe richest rewme þat reyne ouer houeth!
It bicometh to a kynge þat kepeth a rewme,
To ȝiue Mede to men þat mekelich hym serueth,
To alienes and to alle men to honoure hem with ȝiftes;
Mede maketh hym biloued and for a man holden.
Emperoures and Erlis and al manere lordes
For ȝiftes han ȝonge men to renne and to ride.
The pope and alle prelatis presentz vnderfongen,
And medeth men hem-seluen to meyntene here lawes.
Seruauntz for her seruise we seth wel þe sothe,
Taken Mede of here maistre as þei mowe acorde.
Beggeres for here biddynge bidden men Mede;
Mynstralles for here murthe mede þei aske.
Þe kynge hath mede of his men to make pees in londe;
Men þat teche chyldren craue of hem mede.
Prestis þat precheth þe poeple to gode, asken mede,
And masse-pans and here mete at þe mele tymes.
Alkynnes crafty men crauen Mede for here prentis;
Marchauntz and Mede mote nede go togideres;
No wiȝte as I wene with-oute Mede may libbe.”
To ȝiue Mede to men þat mekelich hym serueth,
To alienes and to alle men to honoure hem with ȝiftes;
Mede maketh hym biloued and for a man holden.
41
For ȝiftes han ȝonge men to renne and to ride.
The pope and alle prelatis presentz vnderfongen,
And medeth men hem-seluen to meyntene here lawes.
Seruauntz for her seruise we seth wel þe sothe,
Taken Mede of here maistre as þei mowe acorde.
Beggeres for here biddynge bidden men Mede;
Mynstralles for here murthe mede þei aske.
Þe kynge hath mede of his men to make pees in londe;
Men þat teche chyldren craue of hem mede.
Prestis þat precheth þe poeple to gode, asken mede,
And masse-pans and here mete at þe mele tymes.
Alkynnes crafty men crauen Mede for here prentis;
Marchauntz and Mede mote nede go togideres;
No wiȝte as I wene with-oute Mede may libbe.”
[Quod] þe kynge to conscience “bi criste! as me thynketh,
Mede is wel worthi þe maistrye to haue!”
“Nay,” quod conscience to þe Kynge and kneled to þe erthe,
Mede is wel worthi þe maistrye to haue!”
“There aren two manere of Medes my lorde, with ȝowre leue.
Þat one, god of his grace graunteth in his blisse
To þo þat wel worchen whil þei ben here.
The prophete precheth þer-of and put it in þe sautere,
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?
‘Lorde, who shal wonye in þi wones and with þine holi seyntes,42
And dauyd assoileth it hym-self as þe sauter telleth,
Qui ingreditur sine macula, & operatur iusticiam,
Tho þat entren of o colour and of on wille,And han wrouȝte werkis with riȝte and with reson;
And he þat ne vseth nauȝte þe lyf of vsurye,
And enfourmeth pore men and pursueth treuthe;
Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram, & munera super innocentem, &c.
And alle þat helpeth þe innocent and halt with þe riȝtful,With-oute mede doth hem gode and þe trewthe helpeth—
Suche manere men, my lorde shal haue þis furst Mede
Of god at a grete nede whan þei gone hennes.
There is an-other Mede mesurelees þat maistres desireth;
To meyntene mysdoers Mede þei take;
And þere-of seith þe sauter in a salmes ende,
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt, dextera eorum repleta est muneribus;
And he þat gripeth her golde so me god helpe!Shal abie it bittere or þe boke lyeth!
Prestes and parsones þat plesynge desireth,
That taketh Mede and [moneie] for messes þat þei syngeth,
Taketh here mede here as Mathew vs techeth;
43
Amen, amen, [receperunt] mercedem suam.
That laboreres and lowe folke taketh of her maistres,
It is no manere Mede but a mesurable hire.
In marchandise is no mede I may it wel a-vowe
It is a permutacioun apertly a penyworth for an othre.
It is no manere Mede but a mesurable hire.
In marchandise is no mede I may it wel a-vowe
It is a permutacioun apertly a penyworth for an othre.
Ac reddestow neuere Regum þow recrayed Mede,
Whi þe veniaunce fel on Saul and on his children?
God sent to Saul bi Samuel þe prophete,
Þat agage of amaleke and al his peple aftre
Shulde deye for a dede þat done had here eldres.
Whi þe veniaunce fel on Saul and on his children?
God sent to Saul bi Samuel þe prophete,
Þat agage of amaleke and al his peple aftre
Shulde deye for a dede þat done had here eldres.
‘For-þi,’ seid Samuel to Saul ‘god hym-self hoteth
The, be boxome at his biddynge his wille to fulfille:
Wende to amalec with þyn oste and what þow fyndest þere, slee it;
Biernes and bestes brenne hem to ded;
Wydwes and wyues wommen and children,
Moebles and vnmoebles and al þat þow myȝte fynde,
Brenne it, bere it nouȝte awey be it neuere so riche
For mede ne for [moneie]; loke þow destruye it,
Spille it and spare it nouȝte þow shalt spede þe bettere.’
The, be boxome at his biddynge his wille to fulfille:
Wende to amalec with þyn oste and what þow fyndest þere, slee it;
Biernes and bestes brenne hem to ded;
Wydwes and wyues wommen and children,
Moebles and vnmoebles and al þat þow myȝte fynde,
Brenne it, bere it nouȝte awey be it neuere so riche
For mede ne for [moneie]; loke þow destruye it,
Spille it and spare it nouȝte þow shalt spede þe bettere.’
And for he coueyted her catel and þe kynge spared,
Forbare hym and his bestes bothe as þe bible witnesseth,
Otherwyse þan he was warned of þe prophete,
God seide to Samuel þat Saul shulde deye,
And al his sede for þat synne shenfullich ende.
Such a myschief Mede made Saul þe kynge to haue,
That god hated hym for euere and alle his eyres after.
The culorum of þis cas kepe I nouȝte to shewe;
An auenture it noyed men none ende wil I make.
For so is þis worlde went wiþ hem þat han powere,
That who-so seyth hem sothes is sonnest yblamed.
Forbare hym and his bestes bothe as þe bible witnesseth,
Otherwyse þan he was warned of þe prophete,
God seide to Samuel þat Saul shulde deye,
And al his sede for þat synne shenfullich ende.
Such a myschief Mede made Saul þe kynge to haue,
44
The culorum of þis cas kepe I nouȝte to shewe;
An auenture it noyed men none ende wil I make.
For so is þis worlde went wiþ hem þat han powere,
That who-so seyth hem sothes is sonnest yblamed.
I conscience knowe þis for kynde witt me it tauȝte,
Þat resoun shal regne and rewmes gouerne;
And riȝte as agag hadde happe shul somme.
Samuel shal sleen hym and Saul shal be blamed,
And dauid shal be diademed and daunten hem alle,
And one cristene kynge kepen hem alle.
Þat resoun shal regne and rewmes gouerne;
And riȝte as agag hadde happe shul somme.
Samuel shal sleen hym and Saul shal be blamed,
And dauid shal be diademed and daunten hem alle,
And one cristene kynge kepen hem alle.
Shal na more Mede be maistre, as she is nouthe,
Ac loue and lowenesse and lewte togederes,
Þise shul be maistres on molde treuthe to saue.
Ac loue and lowenesse and lewte togederes,
Þise shul be maistres on molde treuthe to saue.
And who-so trespasseth ayein treuthe or taketh aȝein his wille,
Leute shal don hym lawe and no lyf elles.
Shal no seriaunt for here seruyse were a silke howue,
Ne no pelure in his cloke for pledyng atte barre.
Mede of mys-doeres maketh many lordes,
And ouer lordes lawes reuleth þe rewmes.
Leute shal don hym lawe and no lyf elles.
Shal no seriaunt for here seruyse were a silke howue,
Ne no pelure in his cloke for pledyng atte barre.
Mede of mys-doeres maketh many lordes,
And ouer lordes lawes reuleth þe rewmes.
Ac kynde loue shal come ȝit and conscience togideres,
And make of lawe a laborere suche loue shal arise,
And such a pees amonge þe peple and a perfit trewthe,
Þat iewes shal wene in here witte and waxen wonder glade,
Þat Moises or Messie be come in-to þis erthe,
And haue wonder in here hertis þat men beth so trewe.
And make of lawe a laborere suche loue shal arise,
And such a pees amonge þe peple and a perfit trewthe,
Þat iewes shal wene in here witte and waxen wonder glade,
Þat Moises or Messie be come in-to þis erthe,
And haue wonder in here hertis þat men beth so trewe.
45
Axe [other] hachet or eny wepne ellis,
Shal be demed to þe deth but if he do it smythye
In-to sikul or to sithe to schare or to kulter;
Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, &c.;
Eche man to pleye with a plow pykoys or spade,Spynne, or sprede donge or spille hym-self with sleuthe.
Prestes and parsones with placebo to hunte,
And dyngen vpon dauid eche a day til eue.
Huntynge or haukynge if any of hem vse,
His boste of his benefys worth bynome hym after.
Shal neither kynge ne knyȝte constable ne Meire
Ouer-lede þe comune ne to þe courte sompne,
Ne put hem in panel to don hem pliȝte here treuthe,
But after þe dede þat is don one dome shal rewarde,
Mercy or no mercy as treuthe wil acorde.
Kynges courte and comune courte consistorie and chapitele,
And dyngen vpon dauid eche a day til eue.
Huntynge or haukynge if any of hem vse,
His boste of his benefys worth bynome hym after.
Shal neither kynge ne knyȝte constable ne Meire
Ouer-lede þe comune ne to þe courte sompne,
Ne put hem in panel to don hem pliȝte here treuthe,
But after þe dede þat is don one dome shal rewarde,
Mercy or no mercy as treuthe wil acorde.
Al shal be but one courte and one baroun be iustice;
Thanne worth trewe-tonge a tidy man þat tened me neuere.
Batailles shal non be ne no man bere wepne,
And what smyth þat ony smyt[h]eth be smyte þer-with to dethe,
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium, &c.
And er þis fortune falle fynde men shal þe worste,By syx sonnes and a schippe and half a shef of arwes;
And þe myddel of a mone shal make þe iewes to torne,
46
For Makomet & Mede myshappe shal þat tyme;
For, melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe.”
Also wroth as þe wynde wex Mede in a while,“I can no latyn,” quod she “clerkis wote þe sothe.
Se what Salamon seith in Sapience bokes,
That hij þat ȝiueth ȝiftes þe victorie wynneth,
& moche worschip had þer-with as holiwryt telleth,
Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, &c.”
“I leue wel, lady,” quod conscience “þat þi latyne be trewe;
Ac þow art like a lady þat redde a lessoun ones,
Was, omnia probate and þat plesed here herte,
For þat lyne was no lenger atte leues ende.
Had [she] loked þat other half and þe lef torned,
[She] shulde haue founden fele wordis folwyng þer-after,
Quod bonum est tenete treuthe þat texte made!
Ac þow art like a lady þat redde a lessoun ones,
Was, omnia probate and þat plesed here herte,
For þat lyne was no lenger atte leues ende.
Had [she] loked þat other half and þe lef torned,
[She] shulde haue founden fele wordis folwyng þer-after,
Quod bonum est tenete treuthe þat texte made!
And so ferde ȝe, madame! ȝe couthe namore fynde,
Tho ȝe loked on sapience sittynge in ȝoure studie.
Þis tixte þat ȝe han tolde were gode for lordes,
Ac ȝow failled a cunnyng clerke þat couthe þe lef haue torned!
And if ȝe seche sapience eft fynde shal ȝe þat folweth,
A ful teneful tixte to hem þat taketh Mede,
And þat is, animam autem aufert accipientium, &c.:
And þat is þe taille of þe tixte of þat þat ȝe schewed,
Þat þeiȝe we wynne worschip and wiþ mede haue victorie,
Þe soule þat þe sonde taketh bi so moche is bounde.”
Tho ȝe loked on sapience sittynge in ȝoure studie.
Þis tixte þat ȝe han tolde were gode for lordes,
Ac ȝow failled a cunnyng clerke þat couthe þe lef haue torned!
And if ȝe seche sapience eft fynde shal ȝe þat folweth,
A ful teneful tixte to hem þat taketh Mede,
And þat is, animam autem aufert accipientium, &c.:
47
Þat þeiȝe we wynne worschip and wiþ mede haue victorie,
Þe soule þat þe sonde taketh bi so moche is bounde.”
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