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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| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. | PASSUS XIII (DO-WEL V). Passus terciodecimus. |
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| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
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PASSUS XIII (DO-WEL V). Passus terciodecimus.
And I awaked þere-with witles nerehande,
And as a freke þat fre were forth gan I walke
In manere of a mendynaunt many a ȝere after,
And of þis metyng many tyme moche þouȝt I hadde.
First, how fortune me failled at my moste nede,
And how þat elde manaced me myȝt we euere meten;
And how þat freris folwed folke þat was riche,
And folke þat was pore at litel prys þei sette,
And no corps in her kirkeȝerde ne in her kyrke was buryed,
But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte or shulde helpe quyte her dettes.
And how þis coueitise ouercome clerkes and prestes,
And how þat lewed men ben ladde but owre lorde hem helpe,
Þorugh vnkonnynge curatoures to incurable peynes.
And as a freke þat fre were forth gan I walke
In manere of a mendynaunt many a ȝere after,
And of þis metyng many tyme moche þouȝt I hadde.
First, how fortune me failled at my moste nede,
And how þat elde manaced me myȝt we euere meten;
And how þat freris folwed folke þat was riche,
And folke þat was pore at litel prys þei sette,
And no corps in her kirkeȝerde ne in her kyrke was buryed,
But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte or shulde helpe quyte her dettes.
And how þis coueitise ouercome clerkes and prestes,
And how þat lewed men ben ladde but owre lorde hem helpe,
Þorugh vnkonnynge curatoures to incurable peynes.
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And how þat ymagynatyf in dremeles me tolde,
Of kynde and of his connynge and how curteise he is to bestes,
And how louynge he is to bestes on londe and on water;
Leueth he no lyf lasse ne more;
Þe creatures þat crepen of kynde ben engendred.
And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde vix iustus saluabitur,
And whan he had seyde so how sodeynelich he passed.
Of kynde and of his connynge and how curteise he is to bestes,
And how louynge he is to bestes on londe and on water;
Leueth he no lyf lasse ne more;
Þe creatures þat crepen of kynde ben engendred.
And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde vix iustus saluabitur,
And whan he had seyde so how sodeynelich he passed.
I lay down longe in þis þouȝte and atte laste I slepte,
And, as cryste wolde, þere come conscience to conforte me þat tyme,
And bad me come to his courte with clergye sholde I dyne.
And, as cryste wolde, þere come conscience to conforte me þat tyme,
And bad me come to his courte with clergye sholde I dyne.
And for conscience of clergye spake I come wel þe rather,
And þere I say a maistre what man he was I neste,
Þat lowe louted and loueliche to scripture.
And þere I say a maistre what man he was I neste,
Þat lowe louted and loueliche to scripture.
Conscience knewe hym wel and welcomed hym faire;
Þei wesshen and wypeden and wenten to þe dyner.
Ac pacience in þe paleis stode in pilgrymes clothes,
And preyde mete for charite for a pore heremyte.
Þei wesshen and wypeden and wenten to þe dyner.
Ac pacience in þe paleis stode in pilgrymes clothes,
And preyde mete for charite for a pore heremyte.
Conscience called hym in and curteisliche seide,
“Welcome, [wye!] go and wasshe þow shalt sitte sone.”
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Þis maister was made sitte as for þe moste worthy,
And þanne clergye and conscience and pacience cam after.
And þanne clergye and conscience and pacience cam after.
Pacience and I were put to be macches,
And seten by owre selue at a syde-borde.
Conscience called after mete and þanne cam scripture,
And seten by owre selue at a syde-borde.
And serued hem þus sone of sondry metes manye,
Of austyn, of ambrose of alle þe foure euangelistes;
Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt.
Ac þis maister ne his man no manere flesshe eten,Ac þei ete mete of more coste mortrewes and potages;
Of þat men mys-wonne þei made hem wel at ese.
Ac her sauce was ouer soure & vnsauourely grounde,
In a morter, post-mortem of many bitter peyne,
But if þei synge for þo soules and wepe salt teres:
Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas & orationes effunderitis, ea que in delicijs comeditis, in tormentis euometis.
Conscience ful curteisly þo comaunded scriptureBifor pacience bred to brynge and me þat was his macche.
He sette a soure lof to-for vs and seyde, “agite penitenciam,”
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“As longe,” quod I, “as I lyue and lycame may dure!”
“Here is propre seruice,” quod pacience “þer fareth no prynce bettere;”
And þanne he brouȝt vs forth a mees of other mete of Miserere-mei-deus;
And he brouȝte vs of Beati-quorum of beatus-virres makynge,
Et-quorum-tecta-sunt- peccata in a disshe
Of derne shrifte, dixi and confitebor tibi!
“Brynge pacience some pitaunce” pryueliche quod conscience;
And þanne had pacience a pitaunce pro-hac-orabitad-te-omnis-sanctus-in-tempore-oportuno;
And he brouȝte vs of Beati-quorum of beatus-virres makynge,
Et-quorum-tecta-sunt- peccata in a disshe
Of derne shrifte, dixi and confitebor tibi!
“Brynge pacience some pitaunce” pryueliche quod conscience;
And conscience conforted vs and carped vs mery tales,
Cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non despicies.
Pacience was proude of þat propre seruice,And made hym muirth with his mete ac I morned euere,
For þis doctoure on þe heigh dese dranke wyn so faste;
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum!
He eet many sondry metes mortrewes and puddynges,Wombe-cloutes and wylde braune & egges yfrved with grece.
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“It is nouȝt foure dayes þat þis freke bifor þe den of poules,
Preched of penaunces þat poule þe apostle suffred,
In fame & frigore and flappes of scourges;
Ter cesus sum, & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas, &c.
Ac o worde þei ouerhuppen at ech a tyme þat þei preche,Þat poule in his pistel to al þe peple tolde;
Periculum est in falsis fratribus.
Holywrit bit men be war I wil nouȝt write it hereOn englisch, an auenture it sholde be reherced to ofte,
And greue þere-with þat good men ben ac gramarienes shul rede;
Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat, quia, vt dicitur, periculum est in falsis fratribus.
Ac I wist neuere freke þat as a frere ȝede bifor men on englisshe
Taken it for her teme and telle it with-outen glosynge.
Þei prechen þat penaunce is profitable to þe soule,
And what myschief and malese cryst for man tholed,
Ac þis goddes gloton,” quod I “with his gret chekes,
Hath no pyte on vs pore he perforneth yuel;
Þat he precheth he preueth nouȝt” to pacience I tolde,
And wisshed witterly with wille ful egre,
Þat disshes a[nd] dobleres bifor þis ilke doctour,
Were [molten] led in his maw and Mahoun amyddes!
“I shal iangle to þis Iurdan with his iust wombe,
To telle me what penaunce is of which he preched rather.”—
Pacience perceyued what I thouȝt and wynked on me to be stille,
And seyde, “þow shalt se þus sone whan he may no more,
He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche and puffe at ech a worde,
And þanne shullen his guttis godele and he shal galpen after;
For now he hath dronken so depe he wil deuyne sone,
And preuen it by her pocalips and passioun of seynt Auereys,
Þat neither bacoun ne braune blan[c]mangere ne mortrewes
Is noither fisshe [ne] flesshe but fode for a penaunte.
And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee and take his felawe to witnesse,
What he fonde in a freyel after a freres lyuynge,
And but if þe fyrst lyne be lesyng leue me neuere after!
And þanne is tyme to take and to appose þis doctoure
Of dowel and of dobet and if dobest be any penaunce.”—
Taken it for her teme and telle it with-outen glosynge.
Þei prechen þat penaunce is profitable to þe soule,
And what myschief and malese cryst for man tholed,
Ac þis goddes gloton,” quod I “with his gret chekes,
Hath no pyte on vs pore he perforneth yuel;
Þat he precheth he preueth nouȝt” to pacience I tolde,
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Þat disshes a[nd] dobleres bifor þis ilke doctour,
Were [molten] led in his maw and Mahoun amyddes!
“I shal iangle to þis Iurdan with his iust wombe,
To telle me what penaunce is of which he preched rather.”—
Pacience perceyued what I thouȝt and wynked on me to be stille,
And seyde, “þow shalt se þus sone whan he may no more,
He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche and puffe at ech a worde,
And þanne shullen his guttis godele and he shal galpen after;
For now he hath dronken so depe he wil deuyne sone,
And preuen it by her pocalips and passioun of seynt Auereys,
Þat neither bacoun ne braune blan[c]mangere ne mortrewes
Is noither fisshe [ne] flesshe but fode for a penaunte.
And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee and take his felawe to witnesse,
What he fonde in a freyel after a freres lyuynge,
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And þanne is tyme to take and to appose þis doctoure
Of dowel and of dobet and if dobest be any penaunce.”—
And I sete stille, as pacience seyde and þus sone þis doctour,
As rody as a rose rubbed his chekes,
Coughed and carped and conscience hym herde,
And tolde hym of a trinite and toward vs he loked.
As rody as a rose rubbed his chekes,
Coughed and carped and conscience hym herde,
And tolde hym of a trinite and toward vs he loked.
“What is dowel? sire doctour,” quod I “is dowel any penaunce?”
“Dowel?” quod þis doctour— and toke þe cuppe and dranke—
“Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene nouȝt by þi powere.”
“Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene nouȝt by þi powere.”
“By þis day, sire doctour,” quod I “þanne be ȝe nouȝt in dowel;
For ȝe han harmed vs two in þat ȝe eten þe puddyng,
Mortrewes, and other mete and we no [morsel] hade!
And if ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie ferly me þinketh,
But chest be þere charite shulde be & ȝonge childern dorste pleyne!
I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre for I am in poynte to dowel!”
For ȝe han harmed vs two in þat ȝe eten þe puddyng,
Mortrewes, and other mete and we no [morsel] hade!
And if ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie ferly me þinketh,
But chest be þere charite shulde be & ȝonge childern dorste pleyne!
I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre for I am in poynte to dowel!”
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Þanne conscience curteisliche a contenaunce he made,
And preynte vpon pacience to preie me to be stille,
And seyde hym-self, “sire doctour and it be ȝowre wille,
What is dowel and dobet? ȝe deuynours knoweth.”
“Dowel,” quod þis doctour “do as clerkes techeth,
And preynte vpon pacience to preie me to be stille,
And seyde hym-self, “sire doctour and it be ȝowre wille,
What is dowel and dobet? ȝe deuynours knoweth.”
And dobet is he þat techeth and trauailleth to teche other,
And dobest doth hym-self so as he seith & precheth:—
Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur in regno celorum.”
“Now þow, clergye,” quod conscience “carpest what is dowel.”
“I haue seuene sones,” he seyde “seruen in a castel,
Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth to leren hym what is dowel;
“I haue seuene sones,” he seyde “seruen in a castel,
Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth to leren hym what is dowel;
Til I se þo seuene and my-self acorden,
I am vnhardy,” quod he “to any wyȝt to preue it.
For one pieres þe ploughman hath inpugned vs alle,
And sette alle sciences at a soppe saue loue one,
And no tixte ne taketh to meyntene his cause,
But dilige deum and domine, quis habitabit, &c.
And seith þat dowel and dobet aren two infinites,
Whiche infinites, with a feith fynden oute dobest,
Which shal saue mannes soule þus seith piers þe ploughman.”
“I can nouȝt her-on,” quod conscience “ac I knowe wel pieres;
I am vnhardy,” quod he “to any wyȝt to preue it.
For one pieres þe ploughman hath inpugned vs alle,
And sette alle sciences at a soppe saue loue one,
And no tixte ne taketh to meyntene his cause,
But dilige deum and domine, quis habitabit, &c.
And seith þat dowel and dobet aren two infinites,
Whiche infinites, with a feith fynden oute dobest,
Which shal saue mannes soule þus seith piers þe ploughman.”
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Þanne passe we ouer til piers come and preue þis in dede.
Pacience hath be in many place and perauntre cnoweth
Þat no clerke ne can as cryst bereth witnesse;
Pacientes vincunt, &c.”
“At ȝowre preyere,” quod pacyence þo “so no man displese hym;Disce,” quod he, “doce dilige inimicos.
Disce, and dowel doce, & dobet;
Dilige, and dobest þus tauȝte me ones
A lemman þat I loued loue was hir name.
‘With wordes and with werkes,’ quod she ‘and wille of þyne herte,
Þow loue lelly þi soule al þi lyf tyme;
And so þow lere þe to louye for þe lordes loue of heuene,
Þine enemye in al wyse euene forth with þi-selue.
Cast coles on his hed and al kynde speche,
Bothe with werkes and with wordes fonde his loue to wynne;
And lay on hym þus with loue til he la[u]ghe on þe;
And but he bowe for þis betyng blynde mote he worthe!
Ac for to fare þus with þi frende foly it were,
For he þat loueth þe lelly lyte of þyne coueiteth.
Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte no catel but speche,
With half a laumpe lyne in latyne ex vi transicionis.’
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Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte no catel but speche,
With half a laumpe lyne in latyne ex vi transicionis.’
I bere þere-inne aboute fast ybounde dowel,
In a signe of þe saterday þat sette firste þe kalendare,
And al þe witte of þe wednesday of þe nexte wyke after;
Þe myddel of þe mone is þe miȝte of bothe.
And here-with am I welcome þere I haue it with me.”
“Vndo it, late þis doctour deme if dowel be þer-inne;
In a signe of þe saterday þat sette firste þe kalendare,
And al þe witte of þe wednesday of þe nexte wyke after;
Þe myddel of þe mone is þe miȝte of bothe.
And here-with am I welcome þere I haue it with me.”
For, bi hym þat me made miȝte neuere pouerte,
Miseise, ne myschief ne man with his tonge,
Colde, ne care ne compaignye of theues,
Ne noither hete, ne haille ne non helle pouke,
Ne noither fuire ne flode ne fere of þine enemy
Tene þe eny tyme and þow take it with þe;
Caritas nichil timet.
[And eek, haue god my soule! and þow wilt it craue,Þere nys neyther emperour ne emperesse erl, kynge, ne baroun,
Pope, ne patriarch þat puyre reson ne schal make
Þe meyster of alle þo men þoruȝ miȝt of þis redeles;
Nouȝt thoruȝ wicche-crafte, but thoruȝ wit (& þow wilt þi-selue)
Do kynge and quene and alle þe comune after
Ȝyue þe alle þat þei may ȝiue as [for þe] best ȝemere,
220
Pacientes vincunt, &c.”]
It is but a dido,” quod þis doctour “a dysoures tale.
Al þe witt of þis worlde and wiȝte mennes strengthe
Can nouȝt confourmen a pees bytwene þe pope and his enemys,
Ne bitwene two cristene kynges can no wiȝte pees make,
Profitable to ayther peple” and put þe table fro hym,
And toke clergye and conscience to conseille, as it were,
Þat pacience þo moste passe for pilgrimes kunne wel lye.
Al þe witt of þis worlde and wiȝte mennes strengthe
Can nouȝt confourmen a pees bytwene þe pope and his enemys,
Ne bitwene two cristene kynges can no wiȝte pees make,
Profitable to ayther peple” and put þe table fro hym,
And toke clergye and conscience to conseille, as it were,
Þat pacience þo moste passe for pilgrimes kunne wel lye.
Ac conscience carped loude and curteislich seide,
“Frendes, fareth wel” and faire spake to clergye,
“For I wil go with þis gome if god wil ȝiue me grace,
And be pilgryme with pacience til I haue proued more.”
“Frendes, fareth wel” and faire spake to clergye,
“For I wil go with þis gome if god wil ȝiue me grace,
And be pilgryme with pacience til I haue proued more.”
“What?” quod clergye to conscience “ar ȝe coueitouse nouthe
After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes or ȝernen to rede redeles?
I shal brynge ȝow a bible a boke of þe olde lawe,
And lere ȝow, if ȝow lyke þe leest poynte to knowe,
Þat pacience þe pilgryme perfitly knewe neuere.”
After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes or ȝernen to rede redeles?
I shal brynge ȝow a bible a boke of þe olde lawe,
And lere ȝow, if ȝow lyke þe leest poynte to knowe,
Þat pacience þe pilgryme perfitly knewe neuere.”
“Nay, bi cryste,” quod conscience to clergye “god þe forȝelde,
For al þat pacience me profreth proude am I litel.
Ac þe wille of þe wye and þe wille [of] folke here
Hath moeued my mode to mourne for my synnes.
Þe good wille of a wiȝte was neure bouȝte to þe fulle;
For þere nys no tresore þerto to a trewe wille.
For al þat pacience me profreth proude am I litel.
Ac þe wille of þe wye and þe wille [of] folke here
Hath moeued my mode to mourne for my synnes.
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For þere nys no tresore þerto to a trewe wille.
Haued nouȝt Magdeleigne more for a boxe of salue,
Þan zacheus for he seide dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus?
And þe pore widwe for a peire of mytes,
Þan alle þo that offreden in-to gazafilacium?”
Þan zacheus for he seide dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus?
And þe pore widwe for a peire of mytes,
Þan alle þo that offreden in-to gazafilacium?”
Þus curteislich conscience congeyde fyrst þe Frere,
And sithen softliche he seyde in clergyes ere,
“Me were leuer, by owre lorde and I lyue shulde,
Haue pacience perfitlich þan half þi pakke of bokes!”
And sithen softliche he seyde in clergyes ere,
“Me were leuer, by owre lorde and I lyue shulde,
Haue pacience perfitlich þan half þi pakke of bokes!”
Clergye to conscience no congeye wolde take,
But seide ful sobreliche “þow shalt se þe tyme,
Whan þow art wery for-walked wilne me to consaille.”
But seide ful sobreliche “þow shalt se þe tyme,
Whan þow art wery for-walked wilne me to consaille.”
“Þat is soth,” seyde conscience “so me god helpe!
If pacience be owre partyng felawe and pryue with vs bothe,
There nys wo in þis worlde þat we ne shulde amende,
And confourmen Kynges to pees and al kynnes londes,
Sarasenes and surre and so forth alle þe iewes
Turne in-to þe trewe feithe and in-til one byleue.”
If pacience be owre partyng felawe and pryue with vs bothe,
There nys wo in þis worlde þat we ne shulde amende,
And confourmen Kynges to pees and al kynnes londes,
Sarasenes and surre and so forth alle þe iewes
Turne in-to þe trewe feithe and in-til one byleue.”
“Þat is soth,” quod clergye “I se what þow menest,
I shal dwelle as I do my deuore to shewen,
And conformen fauntekynes and other folke ylered,
Tyl pacience haue preued þe and parfite þe maked.”
I shal dwelle as I do my deuore to shewen,
And conformen fauntekynes and other folke ylered,
Tyl pacience haue preued þe and parfite þe maked.”
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Conscience þo with pacience passed pilgrymes as it were.
Þanne had pacience, as pylgrymes han in his poke vittailles,
Sobrete, and symple speche and sothfaste byleue,
To conforte hym and conscience if þey come in place
Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is hungrye contrees bothe.
Þanne had pacience, as pylgrymes han in his poke vittailles,
Sobrete, and symple speche and sothfaste byleue,
To conforte hym and conscience if þey come in place
Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is hungrye contrees bothe.
And as þei went by þe weye of dowel þei carped;
Þei mette with a mynstral as me þo þouȝte.
Pacience apposed hym fyrste and preyed hym he sholde hem telle
To conscience, what crafte he couthe an to what contree he wolde.
Þei mette with a mynstral as me þo þouȝte.
Pacience apposed hym fyrste and preyed hym he sholde hem telle
To conscience, what crafte he couthe an to what contree he wolde.
“I am a mynstral,” quod þat man “my name is actiua vita:
Alle ydel ich hatye for of actyf is my name.
A wafrere, wil ȝe wite and serue many lordes,
And fewe robes I fonge or furred gounes.
Couthe I lye to do men laughe þanne lacchen I shulde
Other mantel or money amonges lordes mynstralles.
Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe ne telle none gestes,
Farten, ne fythelen at festes, ne harpen,
Iape ne iogly ne gentlych pype,
Ne noyther sailly ne saute ne synge with þe gyterne,
I haue none gode gyftes of þise grete lordes,
For no bred þat I brynge forth saue a beneson on þe sonday,
Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple her pater-noster to bidde
For peres þe plowman and þat hym profite wayten.
And þat am I, actyf þat ydelnesse hatye,
For alle trewe trauaillours and tilieres of þe erthe;
Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse I fynde hem with wafres.
Beggeres and bidderes of my bred crauen,
Alle ydel ich hatye for of actyf is my name.
A wafrere, wil ȝe wite and serue many lordes,
And fewe robes I fonge or furred gounes.
Couthe I lye to do men laughe þanne lacchen I shulde
Other mantel or money amonges lordes mynstralles.
Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe ne telle none gestes,
Farten, ne fythelen at festes, ne harpen,
Iape ne iogly ne gentlych pype,
Ne noyther sailly ne saute ne synge with þe gyterne,
I haue none gode gyftes of þise grete lordes,
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Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple her pater-noster to bidde
For peres þe plowman and þat hym profite wayten.
And þat am I, actyf þat ydelnesse hatye,
For alle trewe trauaillours and tilieres of þe erthe;
Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse I fynde hem with wafres.
Faitoures and freres and folke with brode crounes.
I fynde payne for þe pope and prouendre for his palfrey,
And I hadde neuere of hym haue god my treuthe,
Noither prouendre ne parsonage ȝut of þe popis ȝifte,
Saue a pardoun with a peys of led and two pollis amydde!
Hadde iche a clerke þat couthe write I wolde caste hym a bille,
Þat he sent me vnder his seel a salue for þe pestilence,
And þat his blessyng & his bulles bocches miȝte destroye:
In nomine meo demonia [eicient], & super egros manus imponent, & bene habebunt.
And þanne wolde I be prest to [þe] peple paste for to make,And buxome and busy aboute bred and drynke
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Miȝte lechen a man as I bileue it shulde.
For sith he hath þe powere þat peter hym-self hadde,
He hath þe potte with þe salue sothly, as me þinketh:
Argentum & aurum non est mihi; quod autem habeo, [hoc] tibi do; in nomine domini, surge & ambula.
Ac if miȝte of miracle hym faille it is for men ben nouȝt worthy
To haue þe grace of god & no gylte of þe pope.
For may no blyssyng done vs bote but if we wil amende,
Ne mannes masse make pees amonges cristene peple,
Tyl pruyde be purelich fordo and þat þourgh payn defaute.
To haue þe grace of god & no gylte of þe pope.
For may no blyssyng done vs bote but if we wil amende,
Ne mannes masse make pees amonges cristene peple,
Tyl pruyde be purelich fordo and þat þourgh payn defaute.
For ar I haue bred of mele ofte mote I swete,
And ar þe comune haue corne ynough many a colde mornynge;
So, ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt moche wo I tholye.
And ar þe comune haue corne ynough many a colde mornynge;
So, ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt moche wo I tholye.
Alle Londoun I leue liketh wel my wafres,
And lowren whan þei lakken [hem]— it is nouȝt longe ypassed,
Þere was a carful comune whan no carte come to toune
With [bake] bred fro stretforth þo gan beggeres wepe,
And werkmen were agaste a litel þis wil be þouȝte longe.
In þe date of owre dryȝte in a drye apprile,
A þousande and thre hondreth tweis thretty & ten,
My wafres þere were gesen whan chichestre was Maire.”
And lowren whan þei lakken [hem]— it is nouȝt longe ypassed,
Þere was a carful comune whan no carte come to toune
With [bake] bred fro stretforth þo gan beggeres wepe,
And werkmen were agaste a litel þis wil be þouȝte longe.
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A þousande and thre hondreth tweis thretty & ten,
My wafres þere were gesen whan chichestre was Maire.”
I toke gode kepe, by cryst and conscience bothe,
Of haukyn þe actyf man and how he was y-clothed.
He hadde a cote of crystendome as holykirke bileueth,
Ac it was moled in many places with many sondri plottes,
Of pruyde here a plotte, and þere a plotte of vnboxome speche,
Of scornyng and of scoffyng and of vnskilful berynge,
As in aparaille and in porte proude amonges þe peple,
Otherwyse þan he hath with herte or syȝte shewynge;
Hym willynge þat alle men wende he were þat he is nouȝte.
For-why he bosteth and braggeth with many bolde othes,
And in-obedient to ben vndernome of any lyf lyuynge,
And so syngulere by hym-self as to syȝte of þe poeple,
Was none suche as hym-self ne none so [pope]-holy,
Y-habited as an hermyte an ordre by hym-selue,
Religioun sanz reule and resonable obedience;
Lakkyng lettred men and lewed men bothe,
In lykyng of lele lyf and a lyer in soule;
With Inwit and with outwitt ymagenen and studye,
As best for his body be to haue a badde name,
And entermeten hym ouer-al þer he hath nouȝt to done,
Wilnyng þat men wende his witte were þe best,
[Or for his crafty kunnynge or of clerkes þe wisest,
Or strengest on stede or styuest vnder gurdel,
And louelokest to loken on and lelest of werkes,
And non so holy as he ne of lif clennere,
Or feyrest of feytures of fourme and of schafte,
And most sotyl of songe other sleyest of hondes,
And large to lene losse þere-by to cacche;]
And if he gyueth ouȝte pore gomes telle what he deleth;
Pore of possessioun in purse and in coffre,
And as a lyon on to loke and lordeliche of speche.
Baldest of beggeres a bostour þat nouȝt hath,
Of haukyn þe actyf man and how he was y-clothed.
He hadde a cote of crystendome as holykirke bileueth,
Ac it was moled in many places with many sondri plottes,
Of pruyde here a plotte, and þere a plotte of vnboxome speche,
Of scornyng and of scoffyng and of vnskilful berynge,
As in aparaille and in porte proude amonges þe peple,
Otherwyse þan he hath with herte or syȝte shewynge;
Hym willynge þat alle men wende he were þat he is nouȝte.
For-why he bosteth and braggeth with many bolde othes,
And in-obedient to ben vndernome of any lyf lyuynge,
And so syngulere by hym-self as to syȝte of þe poeple,
Was none suche as hym-self ne none so [pope]-holy,
Y-habited as an hermyte an ordre by hym-selue,
Religioun sanz reule and resonable obedience;
Lakkyng lettred men and lewed men bothe,
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With Inwit and with outwitt ymagenen and studye,
As best for his body be to haue a badde name,
And entermeten hym ouer-al þer he hath nouȝt to done,
Wilnyng þat men wende his witte were þe best,
[Or for his crafty kunnynge or of clerkes þe wisest,
Or strengest on stede or styuest vnder gurdel,
And louelokest to loken on and lelest of werkes,
And non so holy as he ne of lif clennere,
Or feyrest of feytures of fourme and of schafte,
And most sotyl of songe other sleyest of hondes,
And large to lene losse þere-by to cacche;]
And if he gyueth ouȝte pore gomes telle what he deleth;
Pore of possessioun in purse and in coffre,
And as a lyon on to loke and lordeliche of speche.
In towne and in tauernes tales to telle,
And segge þinge þat he neuere seigh and for soth sweren it;
Of dedes þat he neuere dyd demen and bosten,
And of werkes þat he wel dyd witnesse and seggen—
“Lo! if ȝe leue me nouȝt or þat I lye wenen,
Axeth at hym or at hym and he ȝow can telle,
What I suffred and seighe and some tymes hadde,
And what I couth and knewe and what kynne I come of.”
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Which myȝte plese þe peple and praysen hym-seluen:
Si hominibus placerem, Christi seruus non essem; Et alibi: nemo potest duobus dominis seruire.
“Bi criste,” quod conscience þo “þi best cote, haukyn,
Hath many moles and spottes it moste ben ywasshe.”
Hath many moles and spottes it moste ben ywasshe.”
“Ȝe, who so toke hede,” quod haukyn “byhynde and bifore,
What on bakke and what on bodyhalf & by þe two sydes,
Men sholde fynde many frounces and many foule plottes.”
And he torned hym as tyte and þanne toke I hede,
What on bakke and what on bodyhalf & by þe two sydes,
Men sholde fynde many frounces and many foule plottes.”
It was fouler by felefolde þan it firste semed.
It was bidropped with wratthe and wikked wille,
With enuye and yuel speche entysyng to fyȝte,
Lyinge and laughynge and leue tonge to chyde;
Al þat he wist wykked by any wiȝte, tellen it,
And blame men bihynde her bakke and bydden hem meschaunce;
And þat he wist bi wille tellen it watte,
And þat watte wiste wille wiste it after,
And made of frendes foes þorugh a false tonge,
“Or with myȝte of mouthe or þorugh mannes strengthe
Auenge me fele tymes other frete my-selue
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Cuius malediccione os plenum est, & amaritudine; sub lingua eius labor & dolor: & alibi: filij hominum, dentes eorum arma & sagitte, & lingua eorum gladius acutus:—
“Þere is no lyf þat I louye lastyng any while,
For tales þat I telle no man trusteth to me,
And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye with malencolye I take,
Þat I cacche þe crompe þe cardiacle some tyme,
Or an ague in suche an angre and some tyme a feure,
Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth tyl þat I dispyse
Lechecrafte [of] owre lorde and leue on a wicche,
And segge, þat no clerke ne can ne cryste, as I leue,
To þe souter of southwerke or of shordyche dame emme!
And segge, þat no goddes worde gaf me neuere bote,
But þorw a charme had I chaunce & my chief hele!”
For tales þat I telle no man trusteth to me,
And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye with malencolye I take,
Þat I cacche þe crompe þe cardiacle some tyme,
Or an ague in suche an angre and some tyme a feure,
Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth tyl þat I dispyse
Lechecrafte [of] owre lorde and leue on a wicche,
And segge, þat no clerke ne can ne cryste, as I leue,
To þe souter of southwerke or of shordyche dame emme!
And segge, þat no goddes worde gaf me neuere bote,
But þorw a charme had I chaunce & my chief hele!”
I wayted wisloker and þanne was it soiled
With lykyng of lecherye as by lokyng of his eye.
For vche a mayde þat he mette he made hir a signe
Semynge to-synne-ward and some tyme he gan taste
Aboute þe mouth, or bynethe bygynneth to grope,
Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene and to þe werke ȝeden,
As wel in fastyng-days & frydayes and forboden nyȝtes;
And as wel in lente as oute of lente alle tymes ylyche,
Suche werkes with hem [were] neuere oute of sesoun;
Tyl þei myȝte namore and þanne had merye tales,
And how þat lechoures louyen lauȝen an iapen,
And of her harlotrye and horedome in her elde tellen.
With lykyng of lecherye as by lokyng of his eye.
For vche a mayde þat he mette he made hir a signe
Semynge to-synne-ward and some tyme he gan taste
Aboute þe mouth, or bynethe bygynneth to grope,
Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene and to þe werke ȝeden,
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And as wel in lente as oute of lente alle tymes ylyche,
Suche werkes with hem [were] neuere oute of sesoun;
Tyl þei myȝte namore and þanne had merye tales,
And how þat lechoures louyen lauȝen an iapen,
And of her harlotrye and horedome in her elde tellen.
Thanne pacience parceyued of poyntes [of] his cote,
Was colmy þorw coueityse and v[n]kynde desyrynge;
More to good þan to god þe gome his loue caste,
And ymagyned how he it myȝte haue
With false mesures and mette and with false witnesse;
Lened for loue of þe wedde and loth to do treuthe,
And awaited þorwgh which wey to bigile,
And menged his marchaundyse and made a gode moustre;—
“Þe worste with-in was a gret witte I lete hit,
And if my neighbore had any hyne or any beste elles,
More profitable þan myne many sleightes I made,
How I myȝte haue it al my witte I caste,
And but I it had by other waye atte laste I stale it,
Or pryuiliche his purse shoke vnpiked his lokkes,
Or by nyȝt or by day aboute was ich euere,
Þorwgh gyle to gadren þe good þat ich haue.
Was colmy þorw coueityse and v[n]kynde desyrynge;
More to good þan to god þe gome his loue caste,
And ymagyned how he it myȝte haue
With false mesures and mette and with false witnesse;
Lened for loue of þe wedde and loth to do treuthe,
And awaited þorwgh which wey to bigile,
And menged his marchaundyse and made a gode moustre;—
“Þe worste with-in was a gret witte I lete hit,
And if my neighbore had any hyne or any beste elles,
More profitable þan myne many sleightes I made,
How I myȝte haue it al my witte I caste,
And but I it had by other waye atte laste I stale it,
Or pryuiliche his purse shoke vnpiked his lokkes,
Or by nyȝt or by day aboute was ich euere,
Þorwgh gyle to gadren þe good þat ich haue.
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Ȝif I ȝede to þe plow I pynched so narwe,
Þat a fote londe or a forwe fecchen I wolde,
Of my nexte neighbore nymen of his erthe;
And if [I] rope, ouer-reche or ȝaf hem red þat ropen,
To seise to me with her sykel þat I ne sewe neure.
Þat a fote londe or a forwe fecchen I wolde,
Of my nexte neighbore nymen of his erthe;
And if [I] rope, ouer-reche or ȝaf hem red þat ropen,
To seise to me with her sykel þat I ne sewe neure.
And who so [borwed] of me abou[ȝ]te þe tyme,
With presentes priueliche or payed somme certeyne.
So, walde he or nouȝt wolde he wynnen I wolde;
And bothe to kyth and to kyn vnkynde of þat ich hadde.
With presentes priueliche or payed somme certeyne.
So, walde he or nouȝt wolde he wynnen I wolde;
And bothe to kyth and to kyn vnkynde of þat ich hadde.
And who so cheped my chaffare chiden I wolde,
But he profred to paye a peny or tweyne
More þan it was worth and ȝet wolde I swere,
Þat it coste me moche more swore manye othes.
In halydayes at holicherche whan ich herde masse,
But he profred to paye a peny or tweyne
More þan it was worth and ȝet wolde I swere,
Þat it coste me moche more swore manye othes.
Hadde [I] neuere wille, wot god witterly to biseche
Mercye for my mysdedes þat I ne morned more
For losse of gode, leue me þan for my lykames giltes
As if I had dedly synne done; I dred nouȝt þat so sore,
As when I lened and leued it lost or longe ar it were payed.
So if I kydde any kyndenesse myn euen-cristene to helpe,
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And if I sent ouer see my seruauntz to Bruges,
Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys my profit to wayten,
To marchaunden with monoye and maken her eschaunges,
Miȝte neuere me conforte in þe mene tyme,
Noither messe ne matynes ne none manere siȝtes,
Ne neuere penaunce perfourned ne pater-noster seyde,
Þat my mynde ne was more on my gode, in a doute,
Þan in þe grace of god and his grete helpes:
Vbi thesaurus tuus, ibi & cor tuum.”
[Ȝet [þe] glotoun with grete othes his [garnement] hadde soyled,And foule be-flobered it as with fals speche;
Þere no nede ne was [tok] godes name an Idel,
Swore þere-by swithe ofte and al by-swatte his cote.
And more mete ete and dronke þen kende miȝt defie—
“And kauȝte seknesse sum-tyme for my sorfetes ofte;
And þanne I dradde to deye in dedlich synne”—
Þat in-to wanhope he [worthe] and wende nauȝt to be saued,
Þe whiche is sleuthe so slow þat may no slithes helpe it,
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Which ben þe braunches þat bryngeth a man to sleuth?
[Is whanne a man] morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes ne maketh no sorwe,
Ac penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth perfourneth yuel,
Doth none almes-dede dret hym of no synne,
Lyueth aȝein þe bileue and no lawe holdeth;
Vch day is haliday with hym or an heigh ferye;
And if he auȝte wole here it is an harlotes tonge.
Whan men carpeth of cryst or of clennesse of soule,
He wexeth wroth & wil nouȝte here but wordes of myrthe.
Penaunce and pore men and þe passioun of seyntes
He hateth to here þere-of and alle þat it telleth.
Þise ben þe braunches, beth war þat bryngeth a man to wanhope!
Ȝe lordes and ladyes and legates of holicherche,
Þat fedeth foles sages flatereres and lyeres,
And han likynge to lythen hem to do ȝow to lawghe;
Ve vobis qui ridetis, &c.:
And ȝiueth hem mete and Mede and pore men refuse,In ȝowre deth-deyinge I drede me ful sore,
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Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur.
Patriarkes & prophetes and prechoures of goddes wordesSauen þorw her sarmoun mannes soule fram helle;
Riȝt so flater[er]es and foles aren þe fendes disciples,
To entice men þorw her tales to synne and harlotrye.
Ac clerkes þat knowen holywryt shulde kenne lordes,
What dauid seith of suche men as þe sauter telleth:
Non habitabit in medio domus mee, qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua:
Shulde none harlote haue audience in halle ne in chambres,Þere wise men were witnesseth goddes wordes;
Ne no mysproude man amonges lordes ben allowed.
Clerkes and kniȝtes welcometh kynges ministrales,
And for loue of þe lorde litheth hem at festes;
Muche more, me thenketh riche men schulde
Haue beggeres byfore hem þe whiche ben goddes ministrales,
As he seyth hym-self seynt Iohan bereth witnesse:
Qui vos spernit, me spernit.
For-thi I rede ȝow riche reueles whan ȝe makethFor to solace ȝoure soules suche ministrales to haue;
Þe pore, for a fol sage syttynge at þe heyȝ table,
And a lered man, to lere þe what oure lorde suffred,
For to saue þi soule fram Sathan þin enemy,
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And a blynd man for a bourdeoure or a bedrede womman,
To crie a largesse by-for oure lorde ȝoure gode loos to schewe!
Þise thre maner ministrales maketh a man to lawhe,
And, in his deth-deyinge þei don him grete conforte,
Þat bi his lyue lythed hem and loued hem to here.
Þise solaseth þe soule til hym-selue be-falle
In a wel [gode] hope, [for he wrouȝte so] amonges worthi seyntes.]
Ac flat[er]eres and foles þorw her foule wordes,
Leden þo þat louen hem to luciferes feste,
With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe and luciferes fithele.
Thus haukyn þe actyf man hadde ysoiled his cote,
Til conscience acouped hym þere-of in a curteise manere,
Whi he ne hadde wasshen it or wyped it with a brusshe.
Leden þo þat louen hem to luciferes feste,
With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe and luciferes fithele.
Thus haukyn þe actyf man hadde ysoiled his cote,
Til conscience acouped hym þere-of in a curteise manere,
Whi he ne hadde wasshen it or wyped it with a brusshe.
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