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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| III. |
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| V. |
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. | PASSUS XVII. (DO-BET II.)
Passus xvijus, et secundus de do-bet. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
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PASSUS XVII. (DO-BET II.) Passus xvijus, et secundus de do-bet.
“I am spes,” quod he, “a spye and spire after a knyȝte,
That toke me a maundement vpon þe mounte of synay,
To reule alle rewmes with; I bere þe writte here.”
“Is it asseled?” I seyde “may men se þi lettres?”
“Nay,” he sayde, “I seke hym þat hath þe sele to kepe;
That toke me a maundement vpon þe mounte of synay,
To reule alle rewmes with; I bere þe writte here.”
“Is it asseled?” I seyde “may men se þi lettres?”
“Nay,” he sayde, “I seke hym þat hath þe sele to kepe;
And þat is, crosse and crystenedome And cryst þere-on to hange.
And whan it is asseled so I wote wel þe sothe,
Þat Lucyferes lordeship laste shal no lenger.”
“Late se þi lettres,” quod I “we miȝte þe lawe knowe.”
Þanne plokked he forth a patent a pece of an harde roche,
And whan it is asseled so I wote wel þe sothe,
Þat Lucyferes lordeship laste shal no lenger.”
“Late se þi lettres,” quod I “we miȝte þe lawe knowe.”
Wher-on [were] writen two wordes on þis wyse y-glosed,
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Dilige deum & proximum tuum, &c.
Þis was þe tixte trewly I toke ful gode ȝeme;Þe glose was gloriousely writen with a gilte penne,
In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophetia.
“[Ben] here alle þi lordes lawes?” quod I “ȝe, leue me wel,” he seyde,
“And who so worcheth after þis writte I wil vndertaken,
Shal neuere deuel hym dere ne deth in soule greue.
For þough I seye it my-self I haue saued with þis charme
Of men & of wommen many score þousandes.”
“And who so worcheth after þis writte I wil vndertaken,
Shal neuere deuel hym dere ne deth in soule greue.
For þough I seye it my-self I haue saued with þis charme
Of men & of wommen many score þousandes.”
“He seith soth,” seyde þis heraud “I haue yfounde it ofte;
Lo here in my lappe þat leued on þat charme,
Iosue and Iudith and Iudas Macabeus,
Ȝe, and sexty þousande bisyde forth þat ben nouȝt seyen here.”
Lo here in my lappe þat leued on þat charme,
Iosue and Iudith and Iudas Macabeus,
Ȝe, and sexty þousande bisyde forth þat ben nouȝt seyen here.”
“Ȝowre wordes aren wonderful,” quod I tho “which of ȝow is trewest,
And lelest to leue on for lyf and for soule?
Abraham seith þat he seigh holy þe Trinite,
Thre persones in parcelles departable fro other,
And alle þre but o god þus Abraham me tauȝte,
And hath saued þat bileued so and sory for her synnes,
He can nouȝte segge þe somme and some aren in his lappe.
What neded it þanne a newe lawe to bigynne,
Sith þe fyrst sufficeth to sauacioun & to blisse?
And lelest to leue on for lyf and for soule?
Abraham seith þat he seigh holy þe Trinite,
Thre persones in parcelles departable fro other,
And alle þre but o god þus Abraham me tauȝte,
And hath saued þat bileued so and sory for her synnes,
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What neded it þanne a newe lawe to bigynne,
Sith þe fyrst sufficeth to sauacioun & to blisse?
And now cometh spes, and speketh þat hath aspied þe lawe,
And telleth nouȝte of þe Trinitee þat toke hym his lettres,
‘To byleue and louye in o lorde almyȝty,
And sitthe riȝt as my-self so louye alle peple.’
And telleth nouȝte of þe Trinitee þat toke hym his lettres,
‘To byleue and louye in o lorde almyȝty,
And sitthe riȝt as my-self so louye alle peple.’
Þe gome þat goth with o staf he semeth in gretter hele
Þan he þat goth with two staues to syȝte of vs alle.
And riȝte so, by þe Rode! resoun me sheweth,
It is lyȝter to lewed men a lessoun to knowe,
Þan for to techen hem two and to harde to lerne þe leest!
It is ful harde for any man on abraham byleue,
And welawey worse ȝit for to loue a shrewe!
It is liȝter to leue in þre louely persones
Þan for to louye and leue as wel lorelles as lele.
Go þi gate,” quod I to spes “so me god helpe!
Þo þat lerneth þi lawe wil litel while vsen it!”
And as we wenten þus in þe weye wordyng togyderes,
Þanne seye we a samaritan sittende on a mule,
Rydynge ful rapely þe riȝt weye we ȝeden,
Comynge fro a cuntre þat men called Ierico;
To a iustes in iherusalem he chaced awey faste.
Bothe þe heraud and hope and he mette at ones
Where a man was wounded and with þeues taken.
He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde ne stere fote ne handes,
Ne helpe hym-self sothely for semiuyf he semed,
And as naked as a nedle and none helpe aboute hym.
Þan he þat goth with two staues to syȝte of vs alle.
And riȝte so, by þe Rode! resoun me sheweth,
It is lyȝter to lewed men a lessoun to knowe,
Þan for to techen hem two and to harde to lerne þe leest!
It is ful harde for any man on abraham byleue,
And welawey worse ȝit for to loue a shrewe!
It is liȝter to leue in þre louely persones
Þan for to louye and leue as wel lorelles as lele.
Go þi gate,” quod I to spes “so me god helpe!
Þo þat lerneth þi lawe wil litel while vsen it!”
And as we wenten þus in þe weye wordyng togyderes,
Þanne seye we a samaritan sittende on a mule,
Rydynge ful rapely þe riȝt weye we ȝeden,
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To a iustes in iherusalem he chaced awey faste.
Bothe þe heraud and hope and he mette at ones
Where a man was wounded and with þeues taken.
He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde ne stere fote ne handes,
Ne helpe hym-self sothely for semiuyf he semed,
And as naked as a nedle and none helpe aboute hym.
Feith had first siȝte of hym ac he flegh on syde,
And nolde nouȝt neighen hym by nyne londes lengthe.
And nolde nouȝt neighen hym by nyne londes lengthe.
Hope cam hippyng after þat hadde so ybosted,
How he with Moyses maundement hadde many men y-holpe;
Ac whan he hadde siȝte of þat segge a-syde he gan hym drawe,
Dredfully, by þis day! as duk doth fram þe faucoun.
How he with Moyses maundement hadde many men y-holpe;
Ac whan he hadde siȝte of þat segge a-syde he gan hym drawe,
Dredfully, by þis day! as duk doth fram þe faucoun.
Ac so sone so þe samaritan hadde siȝte of þis lede,
He liȝte adown of lyard and ladde hym in his hande,
And to þe wye he went his woundes to biholde,
And parceyued bi his pous he was in peril to deye,
And but if he hadde recourere þe rather þat rise shulde he neure;
[And breyde to his boteles and bothe he atamede;]
Wyth wyn & with oyle his woundes he wasshed,
Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed & in his lappe hym layde,
And ladde hym so forth on lyard to lex christi, a graunge,
Wel six myle or seuene biside þe newe market;
Herberwed hym at an hostrye and to þe hostellere called,
And sayde, “haue, kepe þis man til I come fro þe iustes,
And lo here syluer,” he seyde “for salue to his woundes.”
And he toke hym two pans to lyflode as it were,
And seide, “what he speneth more I make þe good here-after;
For I may nouȝt lette,” quod þat leode & lyarde he bistrydeth,
And raped hym to-iherusalem-ward þe riȝte waye to ryde.
He liȝte adown of lyard and ladde hym in his hande,
And to þe wye he went his woundes to biholde,
And parceyued bi his pous he was in peril to deye,
And but if he hadde recourere þe rather þat rise shulde he neure;
[And breyde to his boteles and bothe he atamede;]
Wyth wyn & with oyle his woundes he wasshed,
Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed & in his lappe hym layde,
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Wel six myle or seuene biside þe newe market;
Herberwed hym at an hostrye and to þe hostellere called,
And sayde, “haue, kepe þis man til I come fro þe iustes,
And lo here syluer,” he seyde “for salue to his woundes.”
And he toke hym two pans to lyflode as it were,
And seide, “what he speneth more I make þe good here-after;
For I may nouȝt lette,” quod þat leode & lyarde he bistrydeth,
And raped hym to-iherusalem-ward þe riȝte waye to ryde.
Faith folweth after faste and fonded to mete hym,
And spes spaklich hym spedde spede if he myȝte,
To ouertake hym and talke to hym ar þei to toun come.
And spes spaklich hym spedde spede if he myȝte,
To ouertake hym and talke to hym ar þei to toun come.
And whan I seyȝ þis, I soiourned nouȝte but shope me to renne,
And suwed þat samaritan þat was so ful of pite,
And graunted hym to ben his grome “gramercy,” he seyde,
“Ac þi frende and þi felawe,” quod he “þow fyndest me at nede.”
And suwed þat samaritan þat was so ful of pite,
And graunted hym to ben his grome “gramercy,” he seyde,
“Ac þi frende and þi felawe,” quod he “þow fyndest me at nede.”
And I thanked hym þo and sith I hym tolde,
How þat feith fleigh awey and spes his felaw bothe,
For siȝte of þe sorweful man þat robbed was with þeues.
“Haue hem excused,” quod he “her help may litel auaille;
May no medcyn on molde þe man to hele brynge,
Neither feith ne fyn hope so festred ben his woundis,
With-out þe blode of a barn borne of a mayde.
And be he bathed in þat blode baptised, as it were,
And þanne plastred with penaunce and passioun of þat babi,
He shulde stonde and steppe; ac stalworth worth he neure,
Tyl he haue eten al þe barn and his blode ydronke.
For went neuere wy in þis worlde þorw þat wildernesse,
Þat he ne was robbed or rifled rode he þere or ȝede,
Saue faith, & his felaw spes, and my-selue,
And þi-self now, and such as suwen owre werkis.
For outlawes in þe wode and vnder banke lotyeth,
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For siȝte of þe sorweful man þat robbed was with þeues.
“Haue hem excused,” quod he “her help may litel auaille;
May no medcyn on molde þe man to hele brynge,
Neither feith ne fyn hope so festred ben his woundis,
With-out þe blode of a barn borne of a mayde.
And be he bathed in þat blode baptised, as it were,
And þanne plastred with penaunce and passioun of þat babi,
He shulde stonde and steppe; ac stalworth worth he neure,
Tyl he haue eten al þe barn and his blode ydronke.
For went neuere wy in þis worlde þorw þat wildernesse,
Þat he ne was robbed or rifled rode he þere or ȝede,
Saue faith, & his felaw spes, and my-selue,
And þi-self now, and such as suwen owre werkis.
And may vch man se and gode merke take,
Who is bihynde and who bifore and who ben on hors,
For he halt hym hardyer on horse þan he þat is a fote.
For he seigh me, þat am samaritan suwen feith & his felaw
On my caple þat hatte caro (of mankynde I toke it),
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Ac ar þis day þre dayes I dar vndertaken,
Þat he worth fettred, þat feloune fast with cheynes,
And neure eft greue grome þat goth þis ilke gate;
[O mors, ero mors tua, &c.]
And þanne shal feith be forester here and in þis fritth walke,
And kennen out comune men þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre,
Which is þe weye þat ich went and wherforth to iherusalem.
And hope þe hostelleres man shal be þere þe man lith an helynge;
And alle þat fieble and faynt be þat faith may nouȝt teche,
Hope shal lede hem forth with loue as his lettre telleth,
And hostel hem and hele þorw holicherche bileue,
Tyl I haue salue for alle syke and þanne shal I retourne,
And come aȝein bi þis contree and confort alle syke
Þat craueth it or coueiteth it and cryeth þere-after.
For þe barne was born in bethleem þat with his blode shal saue
Alle þat lyueth in faith and folweth his felawes techynge.”
And kennen out comune men þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre,
Which is þe weye þat ich went and wherforth to iherusalem.
And hope þe hostelleres man shal be þere þe man lith an helynge;
And alle þat fieble and faynt be þat faith may nouȝt teche,
Hope shal lede hem forth with loue as his lettre telleth,
And hostel hem and hele þorw holicherche bileue,
Tyl I haue salue for alle syke and þanne shal I retourne,
And come aȝein bi þis contree and confort alle syke
Þat craueth it or coueiteth it and cryeth þere-after.
For þe barne was born in bethleem þat with his blode shal saue
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“A! swete syre!” I seyde þo “wher [shal I] byleue,
As feith and his felawe enfourmed me bothe?
In þre persones departable þat perpetuel were euere,
And alle þre but o god þus abraham me tauȝte;—
And hope afterwarde he bad me to louye
O god wyth al my good and alle gomes after,
Louye hem lyke my-selue ac owre lorde aboue alle.”
As feith and his felawe enfourmed me bothe?
In þre persones departable þat perpetuel were euere,
And alle þre but o god þus abraham me tauȝte;—
And hope afterwarde he bad me to louye
O god wyth al my good and alle gomes after,
Louye hem lyke my-selue ac owre lorde aboue alle.”
“After abraham,” quod he “þat heraud of armes,
Sette faste þi faith and ferme bileue.
And, as hope hiȝte þe I hote þat þow louye
Thyn euene-crystene euermore euene forth with þi-self.
And if conscience carpe þere-aȝein or kynde witte oyther,
Or heretykes with argumentz þin honde þow [hem] shewe;
For god is after an hande yhere now and knowe it.
Þe fader was fyrst, as a fyst with o fynger foldynge,
Sette faste þi faith and ferme bileue.
And, as hope hiȝte þe I hote þat þow louye
Thyn euene-crystene euermore euene forth with þi-self.
And if conscience carpe þere-aȝein or kynde witte oyther,
Or heretykes with argumentz þin honde þow [hem] shewe;
For god is after an hande yhere now and knowe it.
Tyl hym loued and lest to vnlosen his fynger,
And profre it forth as with a paume to what place it sholde.
Þe paume is purely þe hande and profreth forth þe fyngres
To mynystre and to make þat myȝte of hande knoweth,
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Þe holygost of heuene he is as þe paume.
Þe fyngres þat fre ben to folde and to serue,
Bitokneth sothly þe sone þat sent was til erthe,
Þat toched and tasted atte techynge of þe paume
Seynt Marie a Mayde and mankynde lauȝte;
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto, [natus,] &c.
Þe fader is þanne as a fust with fynger to touche,Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum, &c.,
Al þat þe paume parceyueth profitable to fele.Thus ar þei alle but one as it an hande were,
And þre sondry siȝtes in one shewynge.
Þe paume, for he putteth forth fyngres and þe fust bothe,
Riȝt so redily reson it sheweth,
How he þat is holygoste sire & sone preueth.
And as þe hande halt harde and al þynge faste
Þorw foure fyngres and a thombe forth with þe paume,
Riȝte so þe fader and þe sone & seynt spirit þe þridde
Halt al þe wyde worlde with-in hem thre,
Bothe welkne and þe wynde water and erthe,
Heuene & helle and al þat þere is Inne.
Þus it is, nedeth no man to trowe non other,
That thre þinges bilongeth in owre lorde of heuene,
And aren [serelepes] by hem-self asondry were neure,
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And as my fust is ful honde yfolde togideres,
So is þe fader a ful god formeour and shepper,
Tu fabricator omnium, &c.,
And al þe myȝte myd hym is in makyng of þynges.
The fyngres fourmen a ful hande to purtreye or peynten
Keruynge and compassynge as crafte of þe fyngres;
Riȝt so is þe sone þe science of þe fader,
And ful god, as is þe fader no febler ne no better.
Þe paume is purelich þe hande hath power bi hymselue,
Otherwyse þan þe wrythen fuste or werkmanschip of fyngres;
For þe paume hath powere to put oute alle þe ioyntes,
And to vnfolde þe folden fuste [for hym it bilongeth;
And receyue þat þe fyngres recheth and refuse bothe,
Whan he feleth þe fust and] þe fyngres wille.
So is þe holygoste god nother gretter ne lasse
Þan is þe sire and þe sone & in þe same myȝte,
And alle ar þei but o god as is myn hande & my fyngres,
Vnfolden or folden my fuste & myn paume,
Al is but an hande how so I torne it.
Ac who is herte in þe hande euene in þe myddes,
He may receyue riȝt nouȝte resoun it sheweth;
For þe fyngres, þat folde shulde and þe fuste make,
For peyne of þe paume powere hem failleth
To [clucche] or to clawe to clyppe or to holde.
Were þe myddel of myn honde ymaymed or ypersshed,
Keruynge and compassynge as crafte of þe fyngres;
Riȝt so is þe sone þe science of þe fader,
And ful god, as is þe fader no febler ne no better.
Þe paume is purelich þe hande hath power bi hymselue,
Otherwyse þan þe wrythen fuste or werkmanschip of fyngres;
For þe paume hath powere to put oute alle þe ioyntes,
And to vnfolde þe folden fuste [for hym it bilongeth;
And receyue þat þe fyngres recheth and refuse bothe,
Whan he feleth þe fust and] þe fyngres wille.
So is þe holygoste god nother gretter ne lasse
Þan is þe sire and þe sone & in þe same myȝte,
And alle ar þei but o god as is myn hande & my fyngres,
Vnfolden or folden my fuste & myn paume,
Al is but an hande how so I torne it.
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He may receyue riȝt nouȝte resoun it sheweth;
For þe fyngres, þat folde shulde and þe fuste make,
For peyne of þe paume powere hem failleth
To [clucche] or to clawe to clyppe or to holde.
I shulde receyue riȝte nouȝte of þat I reche myȝte.
Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres bothe were to-shullen,
And þe myddel of myn hande with-oute male ese,
In many kynnes maneres I myȝte my-self helpe,
Bothe meue and amende þough alle my fyngres oke.
Bi þis skil, me þynke[th] I se an euydence,
Þat who so synneth in þe seynt spirit assoilled worth he neure,
Noither here ne elles-where as I herde telle,
Qui peccat in [spiritum sanctum, nunquam,] &c.,
For he prikketh god as in þe paume þat peccat in [spiritum sanctum].For god þe fader is as a fuste þe sone is as a fynger,
The holy goste of heuene is, as it were, þe pawme.
So who so synneth in seynt spirit it semeth þat he greueth
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And to a torche or a tapre þe trinitee is lykned;
As wex and a weke were twyned togideres,
And þanne a fyre flaumende forth oute of bothe;
And as wex and weyke and hote fyre togyderes
Fostren forth a flaumbe and a feyre leye,
So doth þe sire & þe sone & also spiritus sanctus
Fostren forth amonges folke loue & bileue,
Þat alkyn crystene clenseth of synnes.
And as þow seest some tyme sodeynliche a torche,
The blase þere-of yblowe out ȝet brenneth þe weyke,
With-oute leye or liȝte þat þe macche brenneth,
So is þe holygost god & grace with-oute mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures þat coueite to destruye
Lele loue other lyf þat owre lorde shapte.
As wex and a weke were twyned togideres,
And þanne a fyre flaumende forth oute of bothe;
And as wex and weyke and hote fyre togyderes
Fostren forth a flaumbe and a feyre leye,
So doth þe sire & þe sone & also spiritus sanctus
Fostren forth amonges folke loue & bileue,
Þat alkyn crystene clenseth of synnes.
And as þow seest some tyme sodeynliche a torche,
The blase þere-of yblowe out ȝet brenneth þe weyke,
With-oute leye or liȝte þat þe macche brenneth,
So is þe holygost god & grace with-oute mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures þat coueite to destruye
Lele loue other lyf þat owre lorde shapte.
And as glowande gledes gladieth nouȝte þis werkmen,
Þat worchen & waken in wyntres niȝtes,
As doth a kex or a candel þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth,
Namore doth sire ne sone ne seynt spirit togyderes,
Graunteth no grace ne forȝifnesse of synnes,
Til þe holi goste gynne to glowe and to blase.
So þat þe holygoste gloweth but as a glede,
Tyl þat lele loue ligge on hym & blowe,
And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre on fader & on filius,
And melteth her myȝte in-to mercy as men may se in wyntre
Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne,
Melteth in a mynut while to myst & to watre;
So grace of þe holygoste þe grete myȝte of þe trinite
Melteth in-to mercy to mercyable, & to non other.
And as wex with-outen more on a warme glede
Wil brennen & blasen be þei to-gyderes,
And solacen hem þat may se þat sitten in derkenesse,
So wole þe fader forȝif folke of mylde hertes
Þat reufulliche repenten & restitucioun make,
In as moche as þei mowen amenden & payen.
And if it suffice nouȝte for assetz þat in suche a wille deyeth,
Mercy for his mekenesse wil make good þe remenaunte.
And as þe weyke and fyre wil make a warme flaumbe
For to myrthe men with þat in merke sitten,
So wil cryst of his curteisye and men crye hym mercy,
Bothe forȝiue & forȝete & ȝet bidde for vs
To þe fader of heuene forȝyuenesse to haue.
Ac hew fyre at a flynte fowre hundreth wyntre,
Þat worchen & waken in wyntres niȝtes,
As doth a kex or a candel þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth,
Namore doth sire ne sone ne seynt spirit togyderes,
Graunteth no grace ne forȝifnesse of synnes,
Til þe holi goste gynne to glowe and to blase.
So þat þe holygoste gloweth but as a glede,
Tyl þat lele loue ligge on hym & blowe,
And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre on fader & on filius,
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Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne,
Melteth in a mynut while to myst & to watre;
So grace of þe holygoste þe grete myȝte of þe trinite
Melteth in-to mercy to mercyable, & to non other.
And as wex with-outen more on a warme glede
Wil brennen & blasen be þei to-gyderes,
And solacen hem þat may se þat sitten in derkenesse,
So wole þe fader forȝif folke of mylde hertes
Þat reufulliche repenten & restitucioun make,
In as moche as þei mowen amenden & payen.
And if it suffice nouȝte for assetz þat in suche a wille deyeth,
Mercy for his mekenesse wil make good þe remenaunte.
And as þe weyke and fyre wil make a warme flaumbe
For to myrthe men with þat in merke sitten,
So wil cryst of his curteisye and men crye hym mercy,
Bothe forȝiue & forȝete & ȝet bidde for vs
To þe fader of heuene forȝyuenesse to haue.
Bot þow haue towe to take it with tondre or broches,
Al þi laboure is loste and al þi longe trauaille;
For may no fyre flaumbe make faille it his kynde.
So is þe holy gost god & grace with-outen mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures cryst hym-self witnesseth,
Amen dico vobis, nescio vos, &c.
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Delen & do penaunce day & nyȝte euere,
And purchace al þe pardoun of Pampiloun & Rome,
And indulgences ynowe & be ingratus to þi kynde,
Þe holy goste hereth þe nouȝt ne helpe may þe by resoun;
For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym þat he can nouȝte shyne,
Ne brenne ne blase clere for blowynge of vnkyndenesse.
Poule þe apostle preueth wher I lye,
Si linguis hominum loquar, &c.
For-thy beth war, ȝe wyse men þat with þe wo[r]lde deleth,That riche ben & resoun knoweth reuleth wel ȝowre soule.
Beth nouȝte vnkynde, I conseille ȝow to ȝowre euenecrystene.
For many of ȝow riche men bi my soule, men telleth,
Ȝe brenne, but ȝe blaseth nouȝte þat is a blynde bekene;
Non omnis qui dicit domine, domine, intrabit, &c.
Diues deyed dampned for his vnkyndenesse
Of his mete & his moneye to men that it neded.
Vch a riche I rede rewarde at hym take,
And gyueth ȝowre good to þat god þat grace of ariseth.
For [þei] þat ben vnkynde to his hope I none other,
But þei dwelle þere diues is dayes with-outen ende.
Þus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie þat quencheth, as it were,
Þe grace of þe holy gooste goddes owne kynde.
For þat kynde dothe, vnkynde fordoth as þese cursed theues,
Vnkynde cristene men for coueityse & enuye,
Sleeth a man for his moebles wyth mouth or wyth handes.
For þat þe holygoste hath to kepe þo harlotes destroyeth,
Þe which is lyf & loue þe leye of mannes bodye.
For euery manere good man may be likned to a torche,
Or elles to a tapre to reuerence þe Trinitee;
And who morthereth a good man me thynketh, by myn Inwyt,
He fordoth þe leuest lyȝte þat owre lorde loueth.
Ac ȝut in many mo maneres men offenden þe holygoste,
Of his mete & his moneye to men that it neded.
Vch a riche I rede rewarde at hym take,
And gyueth ȝowre good to þat god þat grace of ariseth.
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But þei dwelle þere diues is dayes with-outen ende.
Þus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie þat quencheth, as it were,
Þe grace of þe holy gooste goddes owne kynde.
For þat kynde dothe, vnkynde fordoth as þese cursed theues,
Vnkynde cristene men for coueityse & enuye,
Sleeth a man for his moebles wyth mouth or wyth handes.
For þat þe holygoste hath to kepe þo harlotes destroyeth,
Þe which is lyf & loue þe leye of mannes bodye.
For euery manere good man may be likned to a torche,
Or elles to a tapre to reuerence þe Trinitee;
And who morthereth a good man me thynketh, by myn Inwyt,
He fordoth þe leuest lyȝte þat owre lorde loueth.
Ac þis is þe worste wyse þat any wiȝte myȝte
Synnen aȝein þe seynt spirit assenten to destruye,
For coueityse of any kynnes þinge þat cryst dere bouȝte.
How myȝte he axe mercy or any mercy hym helpe,
Þat wykkedlich & willefullich wolde mercy anynte?
Innocence is nexte god & nyȝte and day it crieth,
‘Veniaunce, veniaunce forȝiue be it neuere,
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Vindica sanguinem iustorum!’
Thus ‘veniaunce, veniaunce’ verrey charite asketh;And sith holicherche & charite chargeth þis so sore,
Leue I neure that owre lorde wil loue þat charite lakketh,
Ne haue pite for any preyere þere þat he pleyneth.”
“I pose I hadde synned so and shulde now deye,
And now am sory, þat so þe seint spirit agulte,
Confesse me, & crye his grace god, þat al made,
And myldliche his mercy axe myȝte I nouȝte be saued?”
“Ȝus,” seide þe Samaritan “so wel þow myȝte repente,
And now am sory, þat so þe seint spirit agulte,
Confesse me, & crye his grace god, þat al made,
And myldliche his mercy axe myȝte I nouȝte be saued?”
Þat riȝtwisnesse þorw repentance to reuthe myȝte torne.
Ac it is but selden yseye þere sothenesse bereth witnesse,
Any creature þat is coupable afor a kynges iustice,
Be raunsoned for his repentaunce þere alle resoun hym dampneth.
For þere þat partye pursueth þe pele is so huge,
Þat þe kynge may do no mercy til bothe men acorde,
And eyther haue equite as holy writ telleth;
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Numquam dimittitur peccatum, [donec restituatur ablatum.]
Þus it fareth bi suche folke þat falsely al her lyuesEuel lyuen & leten nouȝte til lyf hem forsake;
[Drede of desperacion dryueth a-weye þanne grace,
Þat mercy in her mynde may nauȝt þanne falle;]
Good hope, þat helpe shulde to wanhope torneth—
Nouȝt of þe nounpowere of god þat he ne is myȝtful
To amende al þat amys is and his mercy grettere
Þan alle owre wykked werkes as holiwrit telleth,
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius—
Ac, ar his riȝtwisnesse to reuthe tourne some restitucioun bihoueth;His sorwe is satisfaccioun for hym þat may nouȝte paye.
Thre þinges þere ben þat doth a man by strengthe
Forto fleen his owne hous as holywryt sheweth.
Þat one is a wikked wyf þat wil nouȝt be chasted,
Her fiere fleeth fro hyr for fere of her tonge.
And if his hous be vnhiled and reyne on his bedde,
He seketh and seketh til he slepe drye.
And whan smoke & smolder smyt in his syȝte,
It doth hym worse þan his wyf or wete to slepe.
For smoke & smolder smyteth [in] his eyen,
Til he be blere-nyed or blynde and hors in þe throte,
Cougheth, and curseth þat cryst gyf hem sorwe
Þat sholde brynge in better wode or blowe it til it brende.
Forto fleen his owne hous as holywryt sheweth.
Þat one is a wikked wyf þat wil nouȝt be chasted,
Her fiere fleeth fro hyr for fere of her tonge.
And if his hous be vnhiled and reyne on his bedde,
He seketh and seketh til he slepe drye.
And whan smoke & smolder smyt in his syȝte,
It doth hym worse þan his wyf or wete to slepe.
For smoke & smolder smyteth [in] his eyen,
Til he be blere-nyed or blynde and hors in þe throte,
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Þat sholde brynge in better wode or blowe it til it brende.
Þise thre þat I telle of ben þus to vnderstonde.
The wyf is owre wikked flesshe þat wil nouȝt be chasted,
For kynde cleueth on hym euere to contrarie þe soule.
And þowgh it falle, it fynt skiles [þat] frelete it made,
And þat is liȝtly forȝeuen and forȝeten bothe,
To man þat mercy asketh and amende þenketh.
The reyne þat reyneth þere we reste sholde,
The wyf is owre wikked flesshe þat wil nouȝt be chasted,
For kynde cleueth on hym euere to contrarie þe soule.
And þowgh it falle, it fynt skiles [þat] frelete it made,
And þat is liȝtly forȝeuen and forȝeten bothe,
To man þat mercy asketh and amende þenketh.
Ben sikenesses & sorwes þat we suffren oft,
As Powle þe Apostle to þe peple tauȝte,
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur, &c.
And þowgh þat men make moche deol in her angre,And [ben] inpacient in here penaunce pure resoun knoweth,
Þat þei han cause to contrarie by kynde of her sykenesse.
And liȝtlich owre lorde at her lyues ende,
Hath mercy on suche men þat so yuel may suffre.
Ac þe smoke and þe smolder þat smyt in owre eyghen,
Þat is coueityse and vnkyndenesse þat quencheth goddes mercy.
For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie of alkynnes resoun;
For þere nys syke ne sori ne non so moche wrecche,
Þat he ne may louye, & hym lyke and lene of his herte
Goed wille & good worde bothe wisshen and willen
Alle manere men mercy & forȝifnesse,
And louye hem liche hym-self and his lyf amende.—
I may no lenger lette,” quod he and lyarde he pryked,
And went away as wynde and þere-with I awaked.
Þat is coueityse and vnkyndenesse þat quencheth goddes mercy.
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For þere nys syke ne sori ne non so moche wrecche,
Þat he ne may louye, & hym lyke and lene of his herte
Goed wille & good worde bothe wisshen and willen
Alle manere men mercy & forȝifnesse,
And louye hem liche hym-self and his lyf amende.—
I may no lenger lette,” quod he and lyarde he pryked,
And went away as wynde and þere-with I awaked.
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