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 |  |
Þat ȝif Dowel or Dobet dude aȝeyn Dobest,
[And were vnbuxum at his biddinge and bold to don ille],
Þen schulde þe kyng comen And casten hem in prison,
And puiten [hem] þer In penaunce with-outen pite or grace,
Bote ȝif Dobest beede for [hem] a-byde þer for euere!
[And were vnbuxum at his biddinge and bold to don ille],
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And puiten [hem] þer In penaunce with-outen pite or grace,
Bote ȝif Dobest beede for [hem] a-byde þer for euere!
Þus Dowel and Dobet And Dobest þe þridde
Crounede on to beo kyng And bi heor counseil worche,
And Rule þe Reame bi Red of hem Alle,
And oþerwyse elles not bute as þei þreo assenten.”
Crounede on to beo kyng And bi heor counseil worche,
And Rule þe Reame bi Red of hem Alle,
And oþerwyse elles not bute as þei þreo assenten.”
I þonkede [þouȝt þo þat] he me so tauȝte,
“But ȝit sauereþ not me þi siggynge so me God helpe,
More kuynde knowynge I coueyte to here,
Hou Dowel and Dobet and dobest beþ on eorþe.”
“But ȝit sauereþ not me þi siggynge so me God helpe,
More kuynde knowynge I coueyte to here,
Hou Dowel and Dobet and dobest beþ on eorþe.”
“But wit con wisse þe,” quod þouȝt “wher þeos þre dwelleþ,
Elles not no Mon þat nou is alyue.”
Elles not no Mon þat nou is alyue.”
Þus þouȝt and I also þroly we eoden
Disputyng on Dowel day aftur oþer,
And er we weoren war with Wit conne we meeten.
Disputyng on Dowel day aftur oþer,
And er we weoren war with Wit conne we meeten.
He was long and lene to loken on ful symple,
[Was no pride on his apparail ne no pouert noþer],
Sad of his semblaunt and of softe speche.
I durste meue no mateere to make him to Iangle,
Bote as [I bad þouȝt] þo to beo mene bi-twene,
To putte forþ sum purpos to preuen his wittes.
[Was no pride on his apparail ne no pouert noþer],
Sad of his semblaunt and of softe speche.
I durste meue no mateere to make him to Iangle,
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To putte forþ sum purpos to preuen his wittes.
Þenne þouȝt þat tyme seide þeose wordes,
“Wher Dowel and Dobet and Dobest beoþ in londe,
Oure wille wolde I-witen ȝif wit couþe [hym] techen.”
“Wher Dowel and Dobet and Dobest beoþ in londe,
Oure wille wolde I-witen ȝif wit couþe [hym] techen.”
| The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman | |