The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman :: :: University of Virginia Library

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

Langland, William (1330?-1400?)

[section]

THE VISION OF WILLIAM CONCERNING “PERS THE PLOUHMON.”

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THE VISION OF WILLIAM CONCERNING “PERS THE PLOUHMON.”

The Vernon Text; or Text A.

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Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

[Prologus.]

In a somer sesun whon softe was þe sonne,
I schop me in-to a schroud A scheep as I were;
In Habite of an Hermite vn-holy of werkes,
Wende I wydene in þis world wondres to here.
Bote in a Mayes Morwnynge on Maluerne hulles
Me bi-fel a ferly A Feyrie me þouhte;
I was weori of wandringe and wente me to reste
Vndur a brod banke bi a Bourne syde,
And as I lay and leonede and lokede on þe watres,
I slumberde in A slepyng hit sownede so murie.

Þenne gon I Meeten A Meruelous sweuene,
Þat I was in A Wildernesse wuste I neuer where,
And as I beo-heold in-to þe Est an-heiȝ to þe sonne,
I sauh a Tour on A Toft [triȝely] I-maket;
A Deop Dale bi-neoþe A dungun þer-Inne,
With deop dich and derk and dredful of siht.

A Feir feld ful of folk fond I þer bi-twene,
Of alle maner of men þe mene and þe riche,
Worchinge and wondringe as þe world askeþ.

Summe putten hem to þe plouȝ and pleiden hem ful seldene,
In Eringe and in Sowynge swonken ful harde,
Þat monie of þeos wasturs In Glotonye distruen.

And summe putten hem to pruide apparaylden hem þer-after,
In Cuntinaunce of cloþinge queinteliche de-Gyset;
To preyere and to penaunce putten heom monye,
For loue of vr lord liueden ful harde,
In Hope for to haue Heuene-riche blisse;
As Ancres and Hermytes þat holdeþ hem in heore Celles,
Coueyte not in Cuntre to carien a-boute,
For non likerous lyflode heore licam to plese.

And summe chosen Chaffare to cheeuen þe bettre,
As hit semeþ to vre siht þat suche men scholden;
And summe Murþhes to maken as Munstrals cunne,
[And gete gold wiþ here gle giltles, I trowe.]

Bote Iapers and Iangelers Iudas Children,
Founden hem Fantasyes and fooles hem maaden,
And habbeþ wit at heor wille to worchen ȝif hem luste.

Þat Poul precheþ of hem I dar not preouen heere;
Qui loquitur turpiloquium Hee is Luciferes hyne.

Bidders and Beggers faste a-boute eoden,
Til heor Bagges and heore Balies weren [bratful] I-crommet;
Feyneden hem for heore foode fouȝten atte alle;
In Glotonye, God wot gon heo to Bedde,
And ryseth vp wiþ ribaudye þis Roberdes knaues;
Sleep and Sleuȝþe suweþ hem euere.

Pilgrimes and Palmers Plihten hem to-gederes
For to seche seint Ieme and seintes at Roome;
Wenten forþ in heore wey with mony wyse tales,
And hedden leue to lyȝen al heore lyf [aftir].
[Ermytes on an hep wiþ hokide staues,
Wenten to Walsyngham & here wenchis aftir;]

Grete lobres and longe þat loþ weore to swynke
Cloþeden hem in Copes to beo knowen for breþeren;
And summe schopen [hem] to hermytes heore ese to haue.

I Font þere Freres all þe Foure Ordres,
Prechinge þe peple for profyt of heore wombes,
Glosynge þe Gospel as hem good likeþ,

For Couetyse of Copes Construeþ hit ille;
For monye of þis Maistres mowen cloþen hem at lyking,
For Moneye and heore Marchaundie meeten ofte to-gedere.
Seþþe charite haþ be chapmon [and] cheef to schriuen lordes,
Mony ferlyes han bi-falle in a fewe ȝeres.
But holychirche bi-ginne holde bet to-gedere,
Þe moste Mischeef on molde mounteþ vp faste.

Þer prechede a pardoner as he a prest were,
And brouȝt vp a Bulle with Bisschopes seles,
And seide þat him-self mihte a-soylen hem alle
Of Falsnesse and Fastinge and of vouwes I-broken.
Þe lewede Men likede him wel and leeueþ his speche,
And comen vp knelynge and cusseden his Bulle;
He bonchede hem with his Breuet and blered heore eiȝen,
And rauhte with his Ragemon Ringes and Broches.
Þus ȝe ȝiueþ oure gold Glotonye to helpen,
And leueþ hit to losels þat lecherie haunten.
Weore þe Bisschop I-blesset and worþ boþe his Eres,
Heo scholde not beo so hardi to deceyue so þe peple.
Saue hit nis not bi þe Bisschop þat þe Boye precheþ;

Bote þe Parisch prest and he de-parte þe seluer,
Þat haue schulde þe pore parisschens ȝif þat heo ne weore.

Persones and parisch prestes playneþ to heore Bisschops,
Þat heore Parisch haþ ben pore seþþe þe Pestilence [tyme],
And askeþ leue and lycence at londun to dwelle,
To singe þer for Simonye for seluer is swete.

Þer houeþ an Hundret In Houues of selk,
Seriauns hit semeþ to seruen atte Barre;
Pleden for pons and poundes þe lawe,
Not for loue of vr lord vn-loseþ heore lippes ones.
Þow mihtest beter meten þe Myst on Maluerne hulles,
Þen geten a Mom of heore Mouþ til moneye weore schewed.

I sauh þer Bisschops Bolde and Bachilers of diuyn
Bi-coome Clerkes of A-Counte þe kyng for to seruen;
Erchedekenes and Deknes þat Dignite hauen,
To preche þe peple and pore men to feede,
Beon lopen to londun bi leue of heore Bisschopes,
To ben Clerkes of þe kynges Benche þe Cuntre to schende.

Barouns and Burgeis and Bonde-men also
I sauȝ in þat Semble as ȝe schul heren her-aftur.

Bakers, Bochers and Breusters monye,
[Wollene websteris and weueris of lynen,
Taillours, tanneris & tokkeris boþe,]
Masons, Minours and mony oþer craftes,
Dykers, and Deluers þat don heore dedes ille,
And driueþ forþ þe longe day with “deu vous saue, dam Emme!”

Cookes and heore knaues Cryen “hote pies, hote!
Goode gees and grys Gowe dyne, [Gowe]!”
Tauerners to hem tolde þe same tale
Wiþ good wyn of Gaskoyne And wyn of Oseye,
Of Ruyn a[n]d of Rochel þe Rost to defye.
[Al þis I sauȝ slepynge & seue siþes more.]

PASSUS I.

[Primus passus de visione.]

What þis Mountein be-Meneþ and þis derke Dale,
And þis feire feld, ful of folk feire I schal ow schewe.
A louely ladi on leor In linnene I-cloþed,
Com a-doun from þe [clyf] and clepte me feire,
And seide, “sone! slepest þou? Sixt þou þis peple
Al hou bisy þei ben A-boute þe Mase?
Þe moste parti of þe peple þat passeþ nou on eorþe,
Hauen heo worschupe in þis world kepe þei no betere;
Of oþer heuene þen heer [holde] þei no tale.”

Ich was a-ferd of hire Face þauh heo feir weore,
And seide, “Merci, Ma dame What is þis to mene?”

“Þis Tour and þis Toft,” quod heo “treuþe is þer-Inne,
And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝten as his word techeþ;
For he is Fader of Fei þat formed ow alle
Boþe with Fel and with Face and ȝaf ow fyue wittes,
Forte worschupen him [þerwith] while ȝe beoþ heere.

And for he hihte þe eorþe to seruen ow vchone
Of wollene, Of linnene To lyflode at neode,
In Mesurable Maner to maken ow at ese;
And Comaundet of his Cortesye In Comune þreo þinges;
Heore nomes beþ neodful and nempnen hem I þenke,
Bi Rule and bi Resun Rehersen hem her-aftur.

Þat on Clothing is from Chele ow to saue:
And þat oþur Mete at Meel for meseise of þiseluen:
And drink whon þou druiȝest but do hit not out of Resun,
Þat þou weor[þ]e þe worse whon þou worche scholdest.

For Lot in his lyf-dayes for lyking of drinke,
Dude bi his douhtren þat þe deuel louede,
Dilytede him in drinke as þe deuel wolde,
And lecherie him lauhte and lay bi hem boþe;
And al he witede hit wyn þat wikkede dede.
Dreede dilitable drinke And þou schalt do þe bettre;
Mesure is Medicine þauh þou muche ȝeor[n]e.
Al nis not good to þe gost þat þe bodi lykeþ,
Ne lyflode to þe licam þat leof is to þe soule.

Leef not þi licam for lyȝere him techeþ,

Þat is þe Wikkede word þe to bi-traye.
For þe Fend and þi Flesch folewen to-gedere,
And schendeþ þi soule seo hit in þin herte;
And for þou scholdest beo war I wisse þe þe bettre.

“A madame, Merci!” quaþ I “me likeþ wel þi wordes.
Bote þe Moneye on þis Molde þat men so faste holden,
Tel me to whom þat Tresour appendeþ?”

“Go to þe gospel,” quaþ heo “þat god seiþ himseluen,
Whon þe peple him a-posede with a peny in þe Temple,
Ȝif heo schulden worschupe þer-with Cesar heore kyng.

And he asked of hem of whom spac þe lettre,
And whom þe ymage was lyk þat þer-Inne stod.

“Ceesar, þei seiden We seoþ wel vchone.”

[Reddite ergo que sunt cesaris cesari, et que sunt dei deo.]

“þenne Reddite,” quaþ God “þat to Cesar falleþ,
Et que sunt dei deo or elles do ȝe ille.”
For Rihtfoliche Resoun schulde rulen ou alle,
And kuynde wit be wardeyn oure weolþe to kepe,
And tour of vr tresour to take hit [ȝow] at nede;
For husbondrie and he holden to-gedere.”
Þenne I fraynede hire feire for him þat hire made,
“Þat [dungun] in þat deope dale þatdredful is of siht,
What may hit Mene, Madame Ich þe bi-seche?”

“Þat is þe Castel of care,” quod heo “hose comeþ þer-Inne,
Mai Banne þat he born was to Bodi or to soule.
Þer-Inne woneþ a wiht þat wrong is I-hote,
Fader of Falsness he foundede [it] him-seluen;
Adam and Eue he eggede to don ille;
Counseilede Caym to cullen his Broþer;
Iudas he Iapede with þe Iewes seluer,
And on an Ellerne treo hongede him after.
He is a lettere of loue and lyȝeþ hem alle
Þat trusteþ in heor tresour þer no truþe is Inne.”

Þenne hedde I wonder in my wit what wommon hit weore,
Þat suche wyse wordes of holy writ me schewede;
And halsede hire in þe heiȝe nome er heo þeonne ȝeode,
What heo weore witerly þat [wisside] me so feire.

“Holi churche Icham,” quaþ heo “þou ouhtest me to knowe:
Ich þe vndurfong furst and þi feiþ þe tauȝte.
Þow brouȝtest me Borwes my biddyng to worche,
And to loue me leelly While þi lyf durede.”

Þenne knelede I on my kneos and criȝed hire of grace,
And preiede hire pitously to preye for vr sunnes,
And eke to teche me kuyndely on crist to bi-leeue,

Þat Ich his wille mihte worche þat wrouhte me to Mon.
“Tech me to no Tresour bote tel me þis ilke,
Hou I may saue my soule þat seint art I-holde.”

“Whon alle tresour is I-triȝed Treuþe is þe Beste;
I do hit on Deus Caritas to deeme þe soþe.
Hit is as derworþe a drurie as deore god him-seluen.
For hose is trewe of his tonge telleþ not elles,
Doþ his werkes þer-with and doþ no mon ille,
He is a-counted to þe gospel on grounde and on lofte,
And eke I-liknet to vr lord bi seint Lucus wordes.
Clerkes þat knowen hit scholde techen hit aboute,
For Cristene and vn-cristene him cleymeþ vchone.

Kynges and knihtes scholde kepen hem bi Reson,
And Rihtfuliche Raymen þe Realmes a-bouten,
And take trespassours and [teiȝen] hem faste,
Til treuþe hedde I-termynet þe trespas to þe ende.
For Dauid, in his dayes he Dubbede knihtes,
Dude hem swere on heor swerd to serue treuþe euere.
Þat is þe perte profession þat a-pendeþ to knihtes,
And not to faste a Friday In Fyue score ȝeres,
But holden with hem and with heore þat asken þe treuþe,

And leuen for no loue ne lacching of ȝiftus;
And he þat passeþ þat poynt is a-postata in þe ordre.
[For crist, kyngene kyng knyhtide tene,]

Cherubin and Seraphin an al þe foure ordres,
And ȝaf hem maystrie and miht in his Maieste,
[And ouer his meyne made hem Archaungelis,]
And tauȝte [hem] þorw þe Trinite treuþe for to knowen,
And beo boxum at his biddynge he bad hem not elles.

Lucifer with legiouns lerede hit in heuene;
He was louelokest of siht aftur vr lord,
Til he brak Boxumnes þorw bost of him-seluen.

Þene fel he with his felawes and fendes bi-comen,
Out of heuene in-to helle hobleden faste,
Summe in þe Eir, and summe in þe Eorþe and summe in helle deope.

Bote Lucifer louwest liȝþ of hem alle;
For pruide þat he put out his peyne haþ non ende;
And alle þat wrong worchen wende þei schulen
After heore deþ-day and dwellen with þat schrewe.

Ac heo þat worchen þat word þat holi writ techeþ,
And endeþ as Ich er seide in profitable werkes,

Mouwen be siker þat heore soules schullen to heuene,
Þer Treuþe is in Trinite and Corouneþ hem alle.

For I sigge sikerli bi siht of þe textes,
Whon alle tresor is I-triȝet Treuþe is þe beste.
Lereþ hit þis lewed men for lettrede hit knoweþ,
Þat treuþe is tresour triedest on eorþe.”

“Yit haue I no kuynde knowing,” quod I “þou most teche me betere,
Bi what Craft in my Corps hit cumseþ, and where.”
“Þou dotest daffe,” quaþ heo “Dulle are þi wittes.
Hit is a kuynde knowynge þat kenneþ þe in herte
For to loue þi louerd leuere þen þi-seluen;
No dedly sunne to do dyȝe þauȝ þou scholdest.
Þis I trouwe beo treuþe! hose con teche þe betere,
Loke þou suffre him to seye and seþþe teche hit forþure!
For þus techeþ us his word (worch þou þer-aftur)
Þat loue is þe leuest þing þat vr lord askeþ,
And eke þe playnt of pees; prechet [in] þin harpe
Þer þou art Murie at þi mete whon me biddeþ þe ȝedde;

For bi kuynde knowynge in herte Cumse[þ] þer a Fitte.

Þat Falleþ to þe Fader þat formede vs alle.
He lokede on vs with loue and lette his sone dye
Mekeliche for vre misdede[s] forte amende vs alle.
And ȝit wolde he hem no wo þat [wrouȝte] him þat pyne,
But Mekeliche with mouþe Merci he by-souȝte,
To haue pite on þat peple þat pynede him to deþe.

Her þou miht seon ensaumple in [hymselfe] one,
Hou he was mihtful and Meke þat merci gon graunte
To hem þat heengen him heiȝe and his herte þurleden.
[For-þi I rede þe riche haue reuþe on þe pore;
Þeiȝ ȝe ben miȝty to mote beþ meke of ȝour werkis;]

[Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, reme ci[e]tur uobis;]

For þe same Mesure þat ȝe Meten A-mis oþer elles,
Ȝe schul be weyen þer-with whon ȝe wenden hennes.

For þauȝ ȝe ben trewe of tonge and treweliche winne,
And eke as chast as a child þat in Chirche wepeþ,
Bote ȝe liuen trewely and eke loue þe pore,
And such good as God sent Treweliche parten,

Ȝe naue no more merit In Masse ne In houres
Þen Malkyn of hire Maydenhod þat no Mon desyreþ.

For Iames þe gentel bond hit in his Book,
Þat [Fey] withouten [fait] Is febelore þen nouȝt,
And ded as a dore-nayl but þe deede folewe.
Chastite withouten Charite (wite þou forsoþe),
Is as lewed as a Laumpe þat no liht is Inne.

Moni Chapeleyns ben chast but Charite is aweye;
Beo no men hardore þen þei whon heo beoþ avaunset;
Vn-kuynde to heore kun and to alle cristene;
Chewen heore charite and chiden after more!
Such [Chastite] withouten [Charite] worþ claymed in helle!

Curatours þat schulden kepe hem clene of heore bodies,
Þei beoþ cumbred in care and cunnen not out-crepe;
So harde heo beoþ with Auarice I-haspet to-gedere.
Þat nis no treuþe of Trinite but tricherie of helle,
And a leornyng for lewed men þe latere forte dele.

For þeos beþ wordes I-writen In þe Ewangelye,

Date et dabitur vobis for I dele ow alle.
[Ȝoure grace & ȝoure good happe ȝoure welþe for to wynne,
& þerwiþ knoweþ me kyndely of þat I ȝou sende.]
[Þat is þe lok of loue þat letiþ out my grace
To counforte þe carful Acumbrid wiþ synne.
Loue is þe leueste þinge þat our lord askiþ,
And eke þe graiþ gate þat goþ into heuene.
For-þi I seiȝe as I seide er be siȝte of þise tixtes,
Whan alle tresouris arn triȝede treuþe is þe beste.
Now haue I tolde þe what treuþe is þat no tresour is betere,
I may no lengere lenge now loke þe oure lord.”]

PASSUS II.

[Passus secundus de visione.]

Yit kneled I on my knees and cried hire of grace,
And seide, “Merci, Madame for Maries loue of heuene
Þat Bar þe blisful Barn þat bouȝt vs on þe Roode,
Teche me þe kuynde craft forte knowe þe false.”
“Loke on þe lufthond,” quod heo “and seo wher [he] stondeþ!
Boþe Fals and Fauuel and al his hole Meyne!”
I lokede on þe luft half as þe ladi me tauhte;
Þenne was I war of a wommon wonderliche cloþed,
Purfylet with pelure þe ricchest vppon eorþe,
I-Corouned with a Coroune þe kyng haþ no bettre;
Alle hir Fyue Fyngres weore frettet with Rynges,
Of þe preciousest perre þat prince wered euere;

In Red Scarlet heo Rod I-Rybaunt with gold;
Þer nis no Qweene qweyntore þat quik is alyue.

“What is þis wommon,” quod I “þus wonderliche A-tyret?”

“Þat is Meede þe Mayden,” quod heo “þat haþ me marred ofte,
A[n]d I-lakked my lore to lordes aboute.
In þe pope paleys heo is as priue as my-seluen;
And so schulde heo nouȝt for wrong was hir syre;
[Out of] wrong heo wox to wroþerhele monye.
Ich ouhte ben herre þen heo I com of a bettre.

To-morwe worþ þe Mariage I-mad Of Meede and of fals;
Fauuel with feir speche haþ brouȝt hem to-gedere,
And Gyle haþ bi-gon hire so heo graunteþ al his wille;
And al is liȝeres ledynge þat heo leuen to-gedere.

To-Morwe worth þe Mariage I-mad soþ as I þe telle,
Þat þou miht [wyte] ȝif þou wolt whuche þei ben alle
[Þat longith to þat lordschipe þe lasse and þe more.
Know hem þere ȝif þou canst and kepe þe fro hem alle,
Ȝif þou wilnest to wone with treuthe in his blisse;]
[lerne his lawe þat is so lele & siþþe teche it furþer.]

I may no lengore lette vr lord Ich þe bi-kenne;
And bi-come a good mon for eny couetyse, ich rede.”
[When heo was me fro I loked & byhelde]

Alle þis Riche [Retenaunce] þat Regneden with Fals
Weoren bede to þe Bruyt-ale on Bo two þe sydes.
Sir Simonye is of-sent to asseale þe Chartres,
Þat Fals oþur Fauuel bi eny [fyn] heolden,
And Feffe Meede þer-with In Mariage for euere.

Bote þer nas halle ne hous þat miht herborwe þe peple,
Þat vche feld nas ful of Folk al a-boute.

In middes on a Mountayne at Midmorwe tyde
Was piht vp a Pauilon A Proud for þe nones;
And Ten þousend of Tentes I-tilled be-sydes,
For knihtes of Cuntre and Comers aboute,

For Sisours, for Sumnors, for Sullers, for Buggers,
For lewede, for lerede for laborers of þropes,
[& for the flaterynge freeris alle þe foure orders],
Alle to witnesse wel What þe writ wolde,
In what manere þat Meede In Mariage was [I-feffed],
To beo fastnet with fals þe fyn was arered.

Þenne Fauuel fet hire forþ and to fals takeþ,

In Forwarde þat Falsnesse schal fynden hire for euere,
To be Boxum and Boun his Biddyng to folfulle,
In Bedde and at Borde Boxum and hende,
And as sir Simonye wol sigge [to suwen] his wille.
Now Simonye and Siuyle stondeþ forþ boþe,
Vn-Foldyng þe Feffement þat Falsnes made,
[& þus bygonnen þe gomes & gradden wel hyȝe]:

“Hit witen and witnessen þat woneþ vppon eorþe,
Þat I, Fauuel, Feffe Fals to þat Mayden Meede,
To be present in pruyde for Pore or for riche,
Wiþ þe Erldam of Envye euer forto laste,
Wiþ alle þe lordschupe of lengþe and of brede,
Wiþ þe kingdom of Couetise I Croune hem to-gedere;
Wiþ þe Yle of vsure And Auarice þe False,
Glotonye and grete oþus Ich ȝiue hem I-feere,
Wiþ alle delytes and lustes þe deuel for to serue,
In al þe seruyse of Slouþe I sese hem to-gedere:

To habben and to holden and al heore heyres aftur,
Wiþ þe purtinaunce of purgatorie in-to þe pyne of helle:
Ȝeldynge for þis þing at þe ȝeres ende,
Heore soules to sathanas to senden in-to pyne;

Þer to Wonen with Wrong whil god is in heuene.”

In witnesse of whuche þing wrong was þe furste,
Pers þe pardoner Paulynes [doctor],
Bette þe Budul of Bokynghames schire,
Rondulf þe Reue of Rotelondes sokene,
[Taberes & tomblers & tapesters fele],
Monde þe Mulnere and moni mo oþure
In þe Date of þe deuel þe Deede was a-selet,
Be siht of sir Symoni and Notaries signes.

Þen teonede him Teologye whon he þis tale herde,
And seide to Siuyle “serwe on þi lokkes,
Such Weddyng to worche to [wraþþe] with truþe;
And ar þis weddyng beo wrouȝt wo þe beo-tyde!
For Meede is a Iuweler A Mayden of goode,
God graunte vs to ȝiue hire þer treuþe wol a-signe.
And þou hast ȝiuen hire [to] a Gilour God ȝiue þe serwe!
Þe Tixt telleþ not so Treuþe wot þe soþe;

Dignus est operarius mercede sua;

Worþi is þe Werkmon his hure to haue;
And þou hast feffet hire with fals fy on þi lawe!

For lechours and lyȝers lihtliche þou leeuest,
Simonie and þi-self Schenden holichirche;

[Ȝe schule abygge it boþe by god þat me made,
at oo ȝeris ende whan ȝe reken schul];
He and þeose [Notaries] anuyȝen þe peple.
For wel þe witen, wernardes! but ȝif or wit fayle,
Þat fals is a faytur a faylere of werkes,
And a Bastard I-boren of Belsabubbes kunne.
And Meede is a Iuweler a Mayden ful gent;
Heo mihte Cusse þe kyng for Cosyn ȝif heo schulde.
Worcheþ bi wisdam and bi Wit aftur;
Ledeþ hire to londone þer lawe is I-hondlet,
Ȝif eny leute wol loken þat þei liggen to-gedere,
And ȝif þe Iustise wol Iugge hire to be Ioynet with Fals.
Ȝit be-war of þe weddyng for witti is treuþe;
For Concience is of his [counseil] and knoweþ ou vchone;
And ȝif he fynde such defaute þat ȝe with Fals holden,
Hit schal bi-sitten oure soules sore atte laste.”
[herto assentid syuyle but symonye ne wolde
tyle he had syluer for his sawes & his selynge.

Þen fet fauel forth floreynes I-nowe,
& bad gyle go to & ȝyue gold aboute,
& namely to þis notaries þat hem non lacked;
& feffe false witnesse with florens I-nowe,
For he may mede a-maysteren & make hir at his wylle;
For where falsenes is oft fownden þere feiþ fayleþ
Þoo þe gold was ȝouen grete were þe thonkes
to false & to fauel for her feyre ȝyftus.
many comen, from care to counforte þe false,
& sworen on þe hoolydom þat “cesse schul we neuere
or mede be þi weddud wyf þorouȝ witte of vs alle.
for we han mede a-maysterd wiþ oure myri wordis
Þat heo graunteþ to goo wiþ a good wille,
to london to loke if þe lawe wole
Iugge ȝou Ioyntely to be Ioyned for euer”].

Þenne was Fals fayn and Fauuel also bliþe,
And lette sompne alle men In Cuntre a-boute,
To Arayen hem redi Boþe Burgeys and Schirreues,
To weende with hem to westmunster to Witnesse þe deede.

Þenne careden heo for Caples to carien hem þider;
Bote Fauuel fette forþ Foles of þe beste,

And sette Meede on a Schirreues Bak I-schood al newe,
[& fals on a sysoures backe þat softly trotted;
(for falsnes aȝeyn þe feiþ sisoures he defouleþ,
þoruȝ comburance of couetyse clymben aȝeyn truþe,
Þat þe feiþ is defouled & falsly defamed,
& falsnes is a lord I-woxe & lyueþ as hym lykeþ):
Fauel on a feyre speche ful feyntly a-tyred;
(For feire speche þat is feiþles is falsnes broþer;
& þus sysoures ben sompned þe false to serue,
& feire-speche fauel þat moche folke desceyueth)].

Þenne Notaries none Hors hedden anuyed þei weore,
Þat Symonie and Siuile schulden go on foote.

Þenne seide Siuile and swor bi þe Roode,
Þat Sompnors schulde ben sadelet and seruen hem vchone;
“And lette apparayle prouisours on Palfreis wyse,
[Sire symonye hym-selfe shal sitte on here bakkis],
And alle Denes and Sodenes as Destreres dihten,
For þei schullen beren Bisschops and bringen hem to reste.

Paulines peple for playntes in Constorie
Schal seruen my-self þat Siuile hette;

Let Cart-sadele vr Commissarie vr Cart he schal drawe,
And fetten vr vitayles of þe Fornicatours;
And make liȝere a long cart to leden alle þis oþure
Fabulers and Faytours þat on Fote rennen.”

Now Fals and Fauuel fareþ forþ to-gedere,
And Meede in þe Middel and al þe Meyne aftur.
I haue no [tome] to telle þe Tayl þat hem folweþ,
Of so mony Maner Men þat on Molde liuen.

Bote gyle was for-goere and [gyede] hem alle.
Soþnesse sauh hem wel and seide bote luyte,
Bote prikede on his palfrey and passede hem alle,
And com to þe kynges Court and Concience tolde,
And Concience to þe kyng Carpede hit aftur.

“Now be crist,” quod þe kyng “ȝif I mihte Chacche
Fals oþur Fauwel or eny of his Feeres,
I wolde be wreken on þis wrecches þat worchen so ille,
And don hem hongen bi þe hals and al þat hem Meyntenen;
Schal neuer [mon] vppon Molde Meyntene þe leste,
But riht as þe lawe lokeþ let fallen of hem alle.

And Comaunde þe Cunstable þat Com at þe furste,
To a-Tache þe Traytours for eny Tresour,

Ich hote, ȝe Fetere Fals faste for eny kunnes ȝiftus,
And gurdeþ of gyles hed let him go no forþer;
And bringeþ Meede to me Maugre hem alle.

Symonye and Siuile I seende hem to warne,
Þat holichirche for hem worþ harmet for euere.
And ȝif ȝe chacche lyȝere let him not a-skape,
To ben set on þe pillori for eny preyere;
[I bydde þee awayte hem wele let non of hem ascape].”

Dreede at þe dore stood and þe [dume] herde,
And wihtliche wente to Warne þe False,
And bad him faste to fle and his feeres eke.
Þenne Fals for fere fleih to þe Freeres,
And gyle doþ him to go a-gast for to dyȝe;
Bote Marchaundes Metten with him and maaden him to abyden,
Bi-souȝten him in heore schoppes to sullen heore ware,
Apparayleden him as a prentis þe Peple for to serue.
Liȝtliche Lyȝere leop a-wey þennes,
Lurkede þorw lones to-logged of Monye;
He nas nouȝwher wel-come for his mony tales,
Bote ouur al I-hunted and hote to trusse.
Pardoners hedden pite and putten him to house,

Wosschen him and wrongen him and wounden him in cloutes,
And senden him on sonendayes with seales to churches,
And ȝaf pardun for pons poundmele a-boute.

Þis leornden þis leches and lettres him senden
For to [wone] with [hem] watres to loke.
Spicers speeken with him to a-spien heore ware,
For he kennede him in heore craft and kneuȝ mony gummes.

Munstrals and Messagers metten with him ones,
And with-heo[l]de him half a ȝer and elleuene wykes.

Freres with feir speches fetten him þennes;
For knowynge of Comers kepten him as a Frere;
Bote he haþ leue to lepen out as ofte as him lykeþ,
And is wel-come whon he wole and woneþ with hem ofte.
And alle fledden for fere and flowen in-to huirnes;
Saue Meede þe Mayden no mon dorste abyde;
But trewely to telle heo tremblede for fere,
And eke wepte and wrong hire hondes whon heo was a-tachet.

PASSUS III.

[Passus Tercius de Visione.]

Now is Meede þe Mayden I-nomen and no mo of hem alle,
Wiþ Beodeles and Baylyfs I-brouht to þe kyng.
Þe kyng clepet a Cler[ke] (I knowe not his nome),
To take Meede þe Mayden and Maken hire at ese.
“Ichulle assayen hire my-self and soþliche aposen
What Mon in þis world þat hire weore leouest.
And ȝif heo worche be my wit and my wil folewe,
I schal for-ȝiue hire þe gult so me god helpe!”

Corteisliche þe Clerk þo as þe kyng hihte,
Tok þe Mayden bi þe Middel and brouhte hire to chaumbre.

Þer was Murþe and Munstralsye Meede with to plese;
Heo þat woneþ at westmunstre worschipeþ hire alle.

Gentiliche with Ioye þe Iustise soone
Busked him in-to þe Bour þer þe Buyrde was Inne,

Cumfortede hire kuyndely and made hire good chere,
And seide, “Mourne þou not, Meede, ne make þou no serwe,
For we wolen wysen þe kyng and þi wey schapen,
For alle Concience Craft and Casten, as I trouwe,
[Þat þou schalt haue boþe myȝt & maystrye & make what þe likeþ
wiþ þe kynge & þe comyns & þe courte boþe].”

Mildeliche þenne Meede Merciede hem alle
Of heore grete goodnesse and ȝaf hem vchone
Coupes of clene Gold and peces of seluer,
Rynges with Rubyes and Richesses I-nouwe,
[Þe leste man of here mayne a mutoun of gold].

Þenne [lauȝten] þei leue þis lordynges, at Meede.
Wiþ þat þer come Clerkes to Cumforte þe same:
“We biddeþ þe be bliþe for we beoþ þin owne,
Forte worche þi wil while vr lyf dureþ.”

Hendeliche þenne heo be-hihte hem þe same,
To louen hem lelly and lordes to maken,
And in Constorie at Court to tellen heore names.
“Schal no lewednesse hem lette þe lewedeste þat I loue
Þat he ne worþ avaunset; for Icham I-knowe

Þer Cunnynge Clerkes schul Couche be-hynde.”

Þenne com þer a Confessour I-Copet as a Frere;
To Meede þe Mayden ful Mekeliche he loutede,
And seide ful softely in schrift as hit weore,
“Þauh lerede and lewede hedden leyen bi þe alle,
And þauȝ Fals hedde folewed þe þis Fiftene winter,
I schal asoyle þe my-self for a summe of whete,
And eke be þi Baude and Bere wel þin ernde
Among Clerkes and knihtes Concience to falle.”

Þenne Meede For hire misdede to þat Mon knelede,
And schrof hire of hir sunnes schomeliche, I trouwe.
Heo tolde him a tale and tok him a noble,
For to ben hire beode-mon and hire Baude after.

Þene he asoylede hire soone and [siþ] to hire seide,
“We han a wyndow in worching wol stonden vs ful heiȝe:
Woldustow Glase þe Gable and graue þerinne þi nome,
Siker schulde þi soule ben for to dwellen in heuene.”

“Wust I þat,” quod þe wommon “þer nis nouþur Wyndou ne Auter,
Þat I ne schulde maken oþur mende and my nome write,
Þat vche mon schulde seye Ich were suster of house.”

Bote god to alle good folk such grauynge defendet,
And seiþ, Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera.
Lete not þi luft hond late ne raþe,
Beo war what þi riht hond worcheþ or deleþ;
Bote parte hit so priueli þat pruide beo not seȝen
Nouþer in siht, ne in soule for god him-self knoweþ
Ho is Corteis, or kuynde Couetous, or elles.

For-þi I lere ȝou, lordynges such writynge ȝe leue,
To writen in Wyndouwes of ȝoure wel dedes,
Or to greden aftur Godus folk whon ȝe ȝiuen or doles;
Parauenture ȝe han oure hure þerfore here.

For vr saueour hit seiþ and him-seluen precheþ,

Amen dico vobis, receperunt mercedem suam;

[Here forsoþe þei fongen her mede forþ-wiþ].

Meires and Maistres and ȝe þat beoþ mene
Bitwene þe kyng and þe Comuns to kepe þe lawes,
As to punisschen on pillories or on pynnyng stoles
Brewesters, Bakers Bochers and Cookes;
For þeose be Men vppon Molde þat most harm worchen,
To þe pore people þat [percel-mel] buggen.

Þei punisschen þe peple priueliche and ofte,
And recheþ þorw Reg[r]atorie and Rentes hem buggeþ,
With þat þe pore people schulde puten in heore wombe.

For toke þei on trewely þei timbrede not so hye,
Ne bouȝte none Borgages beo ȝe certeyne.

Bote Meede þe Mayden þe Meir heo bi-souȝte,
Of alle suche sullers seluer to taken,
Or presentes withouten pons as peces of seluer,
Rynges with Rubyes þe Regratour to fauere.
“For my loue,” quod þe ladi “loue hem wel vchone
And soffre hem to sulle sumdel aȝeyn Resoun.”

Bote Salamon þe Sage a Sarmoun he made,
To a-Mende Meires and men þat kepeþ þe lawe;
And tolde hem þis teeme þat I wol telle nouþe:

Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera.

Among þis lewede men þis latin Amounteþ,
Þat Fuir schal falle and brenne atte laste
Þe houses and þe homes of hem þat desyreþ
For to haue ȝiftes in ȝouþe or in elde.
[Now beoþ ȝe war, if ȝe wole ȝe maysturs of þe lawe;

for þe soþe schale be souȝte of ȝoure soules so me god helpe,
Þe suffraunce þat ȝe suffre such wrongus to be wrouȝt;
While þe chaunce is in ȝoure choyse cheose ȝe þe best].

Þe king com from Counseyl and cleped aftur Meede,
And of-sente hire a-swiþe Seriauns hire to fette,
And brouȝte hire to boure with Blisse and with Ioye;
[wiþ myrþe & wiþ mynstrasye þei pleseden hir ychoone].
Corteisliche þe kyng Cumseþ to telle,
To Meede þe Mayden [meleþ þeose] Wordes:
“[Unwittily, ywys,] wrouht hastou ofte;
Bote worse wrouhtest þou neuere þen whon þou fals toke.
Ac I forȝiue þe þis gult and graunte þe my grace;
Hennes to þi deþ day do so no more.

Ichaue a kniht hette Concience com late from bi-ȝonde,
Ȝif he wilne þe to wyf wolt þou him haue?”

“Ȝe, lord,” quaþ þat ladi “[Lord] for-beode hit elles!
Bote Ich holde me to oure heste honge me sone!”

Þenne was Concience I-clepet to comen and apeeren
To-fore þe kyng and his Counsel Clerkes and oþure.
Kneolynge Concience to þe kyng loutede,
[to wyte what his wille were & what he do schulde].

“Woltou wedde þis wommon,” quod þe kyng “ȝif I wol assente?
Heo is fayn of þi felawschupe for to beo þi make.”

“Nay,” quaþ Concience to þe kyng “Crist hit me forbeode!
Er Ich wedde such a wyf wo me bi-tyde!

Heo is frele of hire Flesch Fikel of hire tonge;
Heo makeþ men misdo moni score tymes;
In trust of hire tresour teoneþ ful monye.

Wyues and widewes wantounesse heo techeþ,
Lereþ hem lecherie þat loueþ hire ȝiftes;
Vr Fader Adam heo falde wiþ Feire biheste;
Apoysende Popes and peyreþ holy chirche.
Þer nis no beter Baude (bi him þat me made!)
Bitwene heuene and helle In eorþe þauȝ men souhte.

Heo is Tikel of hire Tayl Talewys of hire tonge,
As Comuyn as þe Cart-wei to knaues and to alle;

To Preostes, to Minstrals to Mesels in hegges.
Sisours and Sumpnours suche men hire preisen;
Schirreues of schires weore schent ȝif heo nere.

Heo doþ men leosen heore lond and heore lyues after,
And leteþ passe prisons and payeþ for hem ofte.
Heo ȝeueþ þe Iayler Gold and grotes to-gedere,
To vn-Fetere þe False and fleo where hem lykeþ.
Heo takeþ þe trewe bi þe top and tiȝeþ him faste,
And hongeþ him for hate þat harmede neuere.
Heo þat ben Curset in Constorie counteþ hit not at a Russche;
For heo Copeþ þe Comissarie and Coteþ þe Clerkes;
Heo is asoyled as sone as hire-self lykeþ.

Heo may as muche do In a Mooneþ ones,
As [ȝoure] secre seal In Seuen score dayes.
Heo is priue with þe Pope Prouisours hit knowen;
Sir Simonie and hire-self asselen þe Bulles;
Heo Blessede þe Bisschopes þouȝ þat þei ben lewed.

Prouendreres, persuns Preostes heo meynteneþ,
To holde Lemmons and Lotebyes al heor lyf-dayes,

And bringeþ forþ Barnes aȝeyn forbodene lawes.
Þer heo is wel with þe kyng wo is þe Reame!
For heo is Fauerable to Fals and fouleþ Treuþe ofte.

Barouns and Burgeis heo bringeþ to serwe,
Heo Buggeþ with heore Iuweles; vr Iustises heo schendeþ.
Heo lihþ aȝeyn þe lawe and letteþ so faste,
Þat Feiþ may not han his forþ hir Florins gon so þikke.
Heo ledeþ þe lawe as hire luste and loue-dayes makeþ,
Þe Mase for a Mene mon þauȝ he mote euere.
Lawe is so lordlich and loþ to maken eende,
With-outen presentes or pons heo pleseþ ful fewe.
Clergye an Couetise heo Coupleþ to-gedere.
Þis is þe lyf of þe ladi vr lord ȝif hire serwe!
And alle þat Meynteneþ hire [myschaunce hem bytide]!
For [þe] pore may haue no pouwer to playne, þauȝ hem smerte,
Such a Mayster is Meede A-Mong Men of goode.”

Þenne Mornede Meede and Menede hire to þe kyng
To haue space to speken spede ȝif heo mihte.
Þenne þe kyng graunted hire grace with a good wille:
“Excuse þe, ȝif þou const I con no more seye;
For Concience haþ a-cuiset þe to Congeye for euere.”

“Nay, lord,” quaþ þat ladi “leef him þe worse
Whon ȝe witen witerliche Wher þe wrong lihþ.

Þer Mischef is gret lord Meede may helpe,
And þou knowest, Concience I com not to chyde,
Ne to depraue þi persone with a proud herte.

Wel þou wost, Concience (But ȝif þou wolt lyȝe),
Þow hast honged on my Nekke Enleue tymes;
And eke I-gripen of my gold and ȝiuen þer þe lykede.
Whi þou wraþþest þe now wonder me þinkeþ!
For ȝit I may as I mihte menske þe wiþ ȝiftes,
And Meyntene þi Monhede more þen þou knowest,
And þou hast famed me foule bifore the kyng heere.

For Culde I neuere no kyng ne counseilede þer-after;
Ne dude i neuere as þou dust I do hit on þe kyng!

In Normandie nas he not a-nuyȝed for my sake;
Ac þou þi-self soþliche schomedest him þere,
Creptest in-to a Caban for Colde of þi nayles,
Wendest þat wynter wolde haue last euere,
And dreddest to haue ben ded for a dim Cloude,
And hastedest hamward for hunger of þi wombe!

Withouten pite, pilour! pore Men þou robbedest,

And beere heor bras on þi Bac to Caleys to sulle.
Þer I lafte with my lord his lyf forto saue,
Maade him murþe ful muche Mournynge to lete,
Battede hem on þe Bakkes to bolden heore hertes,
Dude hem hoppe for hope to haue me at wille.
Hedde I be Marchal of his Men (bi Marie of heuene)!
I durste haue I-leid my lyf and no lasse wed,
He hedde beo lord of þat lond in lenkþe and in brede;
And eke kyng of þat cuþþe his cun for to helpe;
Þe leeste barn of his blod a Barouns pere.

Soþliche, þou Concience þou counseildest him þennes,
To leue þat lordschupe for a luitel seluer,
Þat is þe Riccheste reame þat Reyn ouer houeþ!

Hit bicomeþ For a kyng þat kepeþ a Reame
To ȝiue meede to men þat mekeliche him seruen;
To Aliens, to alle Men to honoure hem with ȝiftes.
Meede makeþ him beo bilouet and for a Mon I-holden.
Emperours and Eorles and alle maner lordes
Þorw ȝiftes han ȝonge men to renne and to ride.

Þe pope and his prelates presentes vnderfongen,
And Meedeþ men hem-seluen to meyntene heore lawes.

Seruauns for heore seruise (ȝe seon wel þe soþe),
Takeþ Meede of heore Maystres as þei mowen a-corde.
Beggers for heore biddyng Biddeþ Men [meede];
Munstrals for heor Murþe Meede þei asken.

Þe kyng Meedeþ his Men to maken pees in londe;
Men þat knoweþ Clerkes Meede hem craueþ.

Prestes þat precheþ þe peple to goode
Askeþ Meede and Masse-pons and heore Mete eke.
Alle kunne craftes men craueþ Meede for heore prentys;
Meede and Marchaundie mot [nede] go to-gedere.
Þer may no wiht, as I wene with-outen Meede libbe.”

“Now,” quod þe kyng to Concience “be crist, as me þinkeþ,
Meede is Worþi Muche Maystrie to haue!”
“Nay,” quod Concience to þe kyng and knelede to grounde;
“Þer beoþ twey maner of Meedes my lord, bi þi leue.
Þat on, good God of his grace ȝiueþ, in his blisse,
To hem þat wel worchen whil þat þei ben here.

Þe Prophete hit prechede and put hit in þe psauter,

Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram, &c.

Tak no Meede, mi lord of Men þat beoþ trewe;
Loue hem, and leeue hem for vr lordes loue of heuene;
Godes Meede and his Merci þer-with þou maiht winne.
Bote þer is a Meede Mesureles þat Maystrie desyret,
To Meyntene Misdoers Meede þei taken;
And þerof seiþ þe psauter in þe psalmes eende,

In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt; dextera eorum repleta est muneribus;

[þat here riȝthond is hepid ful of ȝeftis],
And heo þat gripeþ heore ȝiftus (so me God helpe!)
Þei schullen a-Bugge bitterly or þe Bok lyȝeþ!
Preostes and Persones þat plesyng desyreþ,
And takeþ Meede and moneye for Massen þat þei syngen,
Schullen han Meede in þis Molde þat Matheu haþ I-grauntet;

Amen dico vobis, receperunt mercedem suam.

Þat laborers and louh folk taken of heore Maystres,
Nis no Maner Meede bote Mesurable huyre.

In Marchaundise nis no Meede I may hit wel avoue;
Hit is a permutacion a peni for anoþer.

But Raddest þou neuer Regum [þou] recreiȝede Meede,
Whi þat veniaunce fel on Saul and his chi[l]dren?

God sende to seie Bi Samuels mouþe,
Þat Agag and Amalec and al his peple aftur,
Schulden dye for a dede þat don hedde his eldren
Aȝeynes Israel and Aaron and Moyses his broþer.

Samuel seide to Saul God seendeþ þe and hoteþ
To beo boxum and boun his biddyng to worche;
“Weend þider with þin host wymmen to Culle,
Children and Cheorles Chop hem to deþe,
Loke þow culle þe kyng Coueyte not his goodes
For Milions of Moneye; Morþer hem vchone.
Bernes and Beestes Brenne hem al to askes.”

And for he culde not þe kyng as crist him-self hihte,
Coueytede feir catel and [culde] not his Beestes,
Bote brouhte wiþ him þe Beestes as þe Bible telleþ,

God sende to seye þat [Saul] schulde dye,
And al his seed for þat Sunne schendfulliche ende.
Such a Mischef Meede made þe kyng to haue,
Þat God hatede him euere and his heires after.

Þe Culorum of þis [clause] kepe I not to schewe,
In Auenture hit [nuyȝed] me an ende wol I make:

And riht as Agag hedde hapne schulle summe;
Samuel schal slen him and Saul schal be blamet,
Dauid schal ben Dyademed and daunten hem alle,
And on cristene kyng kepen vs vchone.
Concience knoweþ þis; for kuynde wit me tauȝte
Þat Resun schal regne and Reames gouerne;
Schal no more Meede be Mayster vppon eorþe,
Bote loue and louhnesse and leute to-gedere.

And heo þat trespasseþ to trouþe or doþ aȝeyn his wille,
Leute schal don him lawe or leosen his lyf elles.
Schal no seriaunt for þat seruise were a selk houue,
Ne no Ray Robe wiþ Riche pelure.

Meede of misdoers makeþ men so riche,
Þat lawe is lord I-waxen and leute is pore.
Vnkuynde[n]esse is Comaundour and kuyndenesse is Banescht.
[Ac] kuynde wit schal come ȝit and Concience to-gedere,
And make of lawe a laborer such loue schal aryse!”

PASSUS IV.

[Passus Quartus de Visione.]

“Seseþ,” seide þe kyng “I suffre ȝou no more.
Ȝe schulle sauȝtene forsoþe and serue me boþe.
Cusse hire,” quaþ þe kyng “Concience, Ich hote.”
“Nay, be Crist,” quod Concience “Congeye me raþer!
Bote Reson Rede me þer-to Arst wol I dye!”

“And I comaunde þe,” quod þe kyng to Concience þenne,
“Þat þou Rape þe to ride And Reson þou fette;
Comaunde him þat he come my Counseil to here.
For he schal reule my Reame and Rede me þe beste
Of Meede, and of oþer mo and what mon schal hir wedde;
And A-Counte with Concience (so me [Crist] helpe!)
How þou ledest my peple Lered and Lewed.”

“I am Fayn of þat foreward” seide þe Freike þenne,
And Rod riht to [Reson] and Rouned in his Ere,

Seyde as þe kyng sende and seþþe tok his leue.

“I schal araye me to Ride,” quod Reson “Reste þe a while”—
And clepte Caton his knaue Curteis of speche—
“Sette my Sadel vppon Soffre- til-I-seo-my-tyme,
And loke þou warroke him wel wiþ swiþe feole gurþhes;
Hong on him an heui Bridel to bere his hed lowe,
Ȝit wol he make moni a whi er he come þere.”

Þenne Concience on his Capul Carieþ forþ Faste,
And Resun with him Rideþ Rappynge Swiþe;
Bote on a wayn [witti] and wisdame I-feere
Folweden hem faste for þei hedden to done
In Esscheker and Chauncelrie to ben descharget of þinges;
And Riden faste, for Reson schulde Reden hem þe beste
For to sauen hem-self from schome and from harme.

Bote Concience com arst to Court bi A Myle,
And Romede forþ bi Reson Riht to þe kyng.

Corteisliche þe kyng þenne com to Resoun,
Bitwene himself and his sone sette him on Benche,

And wordeden a gret while wysliche to-gedere.
Þene Pees com to parlement and put vp a Bille,
Hou þat Wrong aȝeyn his wille his wyf hedde I-take,
And [hou] he Rauischede Rose Reynaldes lemmon,
And Mergrete of hire Maydenhod maugre hire chekes.
“Boþe my Gees and my Grys [his] gadelynges fetten;
I dar not for dreede of hem fihte ne chide.
He Borwede of me Bayȝard and brouhte him neuer aȝeyn,
Ne no Ferþing him fore for nouȝt þat I con plede.
He meynteneþ his Men to Morþere myn owne,
Forstalleþ my Feire Fihteþ in my chepynges,
Brekeþ vp my Berne-dore and bereþ awei my whete,
And takeþ me bote a tayle of Ten quarter oten;
And ȝit he bat me þerto and liȝþ be my Mayden.
I nam not so hardi for him vp for to loke.”
Þe kyng kneuh he seide sooþ for Concience him tolde.

Wrong was a-Fert þo and Wisdam souhte
To Make his pees with pons and proferde forþ Moneye,

And seide, “Hedde I loue of þe kyng luite wolde I recche
Þauh pees and his pouwer playneden on me euere!”

Wisdam wente þo and so dude Wit,
And for wrong hedde I-do so wikked a dede
And warnede wrong þo with such a wys tale;
“Whose worcheþ bi wil wraþþe makeþ ofte;
I sigge hit bi þi-seluen þou schalt hit sone fynde.
Bote ȝif Meede make hit þi Mischef is vppe,
For boþe þi lyf and þi lond liȝþ in þe kynges grace.”

Wro[n]g þenne vppon Wisdom wepte to helpe,
Him for his handidandi Rediliche he payede.
Þene wisdam and wit wente to-gedere,
And nomen Meede with hem Merci to wynne.

Pees putte forþ his hed and his ponne blodi:
“Withouten gult, god wot gat I þis scaþe.”

Concience and þe kyng knewen þe soþe;
Wusten wel þat wrong was a schrewe euere.

But wisdam and wit weoren ȝeorne aboute faste

To ouercome þe kyng with [catel] ȝif heo mihten.

Þe kyng swor þo bi crist and bi his Coroune boþe,
Þat wrong for his werkes schulde wo þole,
And Comaundede A Constable to casten him in Irens.
“He ne schal þis seuen ȝer seon his feet ones.”

“God wot,” quaþ wisdam “þat weore not þe beste;
And he amendes make let Meynprise him haue;
And beo borw of his bale and buggen him bote,
And a-Menden his misdede and euer-more þe bettre.”

Wit a-Cordede herwith and seide him þe same:
“Hit is betere þat boote Bale a-doun bringe
Þen Bale be beten and boote neuer þe better.”

Þenne Meede Meokede hire And Merci bi-souhte,
And profrede pees a present al of pure Red gold:
“Haue þis of me,” quod heo “to Amende with þi scaþe,
For Ichul wage for wrong he wol do so no more.”
Pees þenne pitously preyede þe kyng
To haue merci on þat Mon þat mis-dude him ofte:
“For he haþ waget me a-mendes as wisdam him tauhte,
I Forȝiue him þat gult with a good wille;
So þat ȝe assented beo I con no more sigge;

For Meede haþ maad me amendes I may no more aske.”

“Nay,” quod þe kyng þo “(so god ȝiue me blisse!)
Wrong went not so awei til ich wite more;
Lope he so lihtliche awei lauȝwhen he wolde,
And eft be þe baldore forte beten myne [hynen;]
Bote Reson haue reuþe of him he resteþ in þe stokkes
Also longe as I lyue bote more loue hit make.”

Þenne summe Radde Reson to haue reuþe of þat schrewe,
And to Counseile þe kyng and Concience boþe,
Þat Meede moste be Meynpernour Reson heo bi-souȝte.

“Rede me not,” quod Reson “Reuþe to haue,
Til lordes, and ladies louen alle treuþe,
And perneles porfyl be put in heore whucche;
Til children Chereschinge be chastet wiþ ȝerdes,
Til harlotes holynesse be holden for an hyne;
Til Clerkes and knihtes ben Corteis of heore Mouþes,
And haten to don heor harlotrie and vsun hit no more;

Til prestes heore prechyng preuen hit in hem-seluen,
And don hit in dede to drawen vs to gode;
Til seint Iame beo I-souht þer I schal a-signe,
And no mon go to Galys bote he go for euere;
And alle Rome Renners for Robbeours of bi-ȝonde
Bere no seluer ouer see þat bereþ signe of þe kyng,
Nouþer Grotes ne gold I-graue with þe kynges Coroune,
Vppon Forfet of þat Fe hose hit fynde at douere,
Bote hit beo Marchaund oþur his men or Messager with lettres,
Or Prouisours or Preestes þat Popes a-vaunset.

And ȝit (quod Reson) bi þe Roode I schal no reuþe haue,
While Meede haþ eny Maystrie to Mooten in þis halle;
[Ac y mai schewe ȝow ensamples y seie be myselue].

For I sigge hit for my soule And hit so weore
Þat Ich weore kyng with Croune to kepen a Reame,
Scholde neuer wrong in þis world þat Ich I-wite mihte,
Ben vn-punissched beo my pouwer for peril of my soule!
Ne gete grace þorw ȝift (so me [god] helpe!)

Ne for Meede haue Merci but Mekenesse hit make.
For nullum malum þe Mon mette [with] inpunitum,
And bad nullum bonum be irremuneratum.
Let þi Clerk, sire kyng Construe þis in Englisch;
And ȝif þou worchest hit in wit Ich wedde boþe myn Eres,
Þat lawe schal ben a laborer and leden a-feld dounge,
And loue schal leden þi lond as þe leof lykeþ.”

Clerkes þat were confessours Coupled hem to-gedere,
Forte Construe þis Clause and distinkte hit after.
Whon Resun to þis Reynkes Rehersede þeose wordes,
Nas non in þat Moot-halle more ne lasse,
Þat ne held Reson a Mayster þo And Meede a muche wrecche.
Loue lette of Meede luite and louh hire to scorn,
And seide hit so loude þat soþnesse hit herde,
“Hose wilneþ hire to wyue for weolþe of hire godes,
Bote he beo A Cokewold I-kore cut of boþe myn Eres!”

Was nouþer wisdam þo ne witti his feere,

Þat couþe warpen a word to with-siggen Reson;
Bote stareden for studiing and stooden as Bestes.

Þe kyng acordede, bi crist to Resons Connynge,
And rehersede þat Reson hedde Rihtfoliche I-schewet:
“Bote hit is hard, be myn hed herto hit bringe,
Al my lige leodes to lede þus euene.”

“Bi him þat rauhte on þe Roode,” quod Reson to þe kyng,
“Bote I Rule þus þi Reame Rend out my Ribbes!
Ȝif hit beo so þat Boxumnesse beo at myn assent.”

“Ich assente,” quod þe kyng “bi seinte Marie mi ladi,
Beo my counseil I-come of Clerkes and of Erles.

Bote Rediliche Reson þou Rydest not heonnes,
For as longe as I liue lette þe I nulle.”

“Icham Redi,” quod Reson “to Reste with þe euere;
So þat Concience beo vr counseiler kepe I no betere.”

“I graunte gladly,” quod þe kyng “God forbeode he fayle
And also longe as I lyue leue we to-gedere.”

PASSUS V.

[Passus quintus de visione.]

Þe kyng and his knihtes to þe Churche wenten
To heere Matyns and Masse and to þe Mete aftur.
Þenne Wakede I of my wink me was wo with alle
Þat I nedde sadloker I-slept and I-seȝe more.
Er I a Furlong hedde I-fare A Feyntise me hente,
Þat Forþer mihti not a-fote for defaute of Sleep.
I sat Softeliche a-doun and seide my beo-leeue,
And so I blaberde on my Beodes þat brouhte me a-Slepe.
Þen sauh I muche more þen I beofore tolde,
For I sauh þe Feld ful of Folk þat ich of bi-fore schewede,
And Concience with a Crois com for to preche.

He preide þe peple haue pite of hem-selue,
And preuede þat þis pestilences weore for puire synne,
And þis souþ-Westerne wynt on a Seterday at euen

Was a-perteliche for pruide and for no poynt elles.

Piries and Plomtres weore passchet to þe grounde,
In ensaumple to Men þat we scholde do þe bettre.
Beches and brode okes weore blowen to þe eorþe,
And turned vpward þe tayl In toknyng of drede
Þat dedly Synne or domesday schulde fordon hem alle.

Of þis Matere I mihte Momele ful longe,
Bote I sigge as I sauh (so me god helpe)!
How Concience with a Cros Comsede to preche.

He bad wastors go worche what þei best couþe,
And wynne þat þei wasteden with sum maner craft.

He preiȝede Pernel hire Porfil to leue,
And kepen hit in hire Cofre for Catel at neode.
Thomas he tauȝte to take twey [staues],
And fette hom Felice From wyuene pyne.

He warnede watte his wyf was to blame,
Þat hire hed was worþ a Mark and his hod worþ A Grote.

He chargede Chapmen to Chasten heore children;
Let hem wonte non eiȝe while þat þei ben ȝonge.

He preyede Preestes and Prelates to-gedere,
Þat þei prechen þe peple to preuen hit in hem-seluen—
“And libben as ȝe lereþ vs we wolen loue ow þe betere.”

And Seþþe he Radde Religioun þe Rule for to holde—
“Leste þe kyng and his Counseil ȝor Comunes apeire,
And beo stiward in oure stude til ȝe be stouwet betere.

And ȝe þat secheþ seynt Iame and seintes at Roome,
Secheþ Seint Treuþe for he may sauen ow alle;
Qui cum patre et filio feire mote you falle.”

Þenne Ron Repentaunce and Rehersed þis teeme,
And made William to weope watur with his eȝen.
Pernel proud-herte platte hire to grounde,
And lay longe ar heo lokede and to vr ladi criede,
And beo-hiȝte to him þat vs alle maade,
Heo wolde vn-souwen hire smok and setten þer an here
Forte fayten hire Flesch þat Frele was to synne:
“Schal neuer liht herte me hente bote holde me lowe,
And suffre to beo mis-seid— and so dude I neuere.
And nou I con wel meke me and Merci be-seche
Of al þat Ichaue I-had envye in myn herte.”

Lechour seide “Allas!” and to vr ladi criede
To maken him han Merci for his misdede,
Bitwene god almihti and his pore soule,
Wiþ-þat he schulde þe seterday seuen ȝer after
Drinken bote with þe Doke and [dynen] but ones.

Envye wiþ heui herte asket aftur schrift,
And gretliche his gultus bi-ginneþ to schewe.
As pale as a pelet In a palesye he seemede,
I-cloþed in A Caurimauri I couþe him not discreue;
[A kertil & a courtepy a knyf be his side;
Of a Freris frokke were þe fore sleuys].
As a leek þat hedde I-leiȝen longe In þe sonne,
So loked he with lene chekes; lourede he foule.
His Bodi was Bolled for wraþþe he bot his lippes,
Wroþliche he wrong his fust he þouȝte him a-wreke
Wiþ werkes or with Wordes whon he seiȝ his tyme.
“Venim or vernisch or vinegre, I trouwe,
Walleþ in my wombe or waxeþ, ich wene.
I ne mihte mony day don as a mon ouhte,

Such wynt in my wombe waxeþ, er I dy[n]e.

Ichaue a neihȝebor me neih I haue anuyȝed him ofte,
Ablamed him be-hynde his bak to bringe him in disclaundre,
And peired him bi my pouwer I-punissched him ful ofte,
Bi-lowen him to lordes to make him leose Seluer,
I-don his Frendes ben his fon with my false tonge;
His grase and his good hap greueþ me ful sore.

Bitwene him and his Meyne Ichaue I-Mad wraþþe,
Boþe his lyf and his leome was lost þorw my tonge.
Whon I mette him in þe Market þat I most hate,
Ich heilede him as hendely [as I his frend] weore.
He is douȝtiore þen I i dar non harm don him.
Bote hedde I maystrie and miht I Morþerde him for euere!

Whon I come to þe churche and knele bi-fore þe Roode,
And scholde preiȝe for þe peple as þe prest vs techeþ,
Þenne I crie vppon my knes þat crist ȝiue hem serwe

Þat haþ I-bore a-wei my Bolle and my brode schete.

From the Auter I turne myn eiȝe, and bi-holde
Hou heyne haþ a newe Cote and his wyf anoþer;

Þenne I wussche hit weore myn and al þe web aftur.
Of his leosinge I lauhwe hit likeþ me in myn herte;
Ac for his wynnynge I wepe and weile þe tyme.

I deme men þat don ille and ȝit I do wel worse,
For I wolde þat vch a wiht in þis world were mi knaue,
[And who-so haþ more þanne I þat angriþ myn herte].

Þus I liue loueles lyk A luþer dogge,
Þat al my breste Bolleþ for bitter of my galle;
May no Suger so swete a-swagen hit vnneþe,
Ne no Diopendion dryue hit from myn herte;
Ȝif schri[f]t schulde hit þenne swopen out a gret wonder hit were.”

“Ȝus, rediliche,” quod Repentaunce and Radde him to goode,
“Serw for heore sunnes saueþ men ful Monye.”

“Icham sori,” quod Envye “I ne am but seldene oþer,
And þat Makeþ me so mad for I ne may me venge.”

Þenne com Couetyse I couþe him not discreue,
So hungri and so holewe sire herui him loked.
He was bitel-brouwed with twei blered eiȝen,
And lyk a leþerne pors lullede his chekes;

In A toren Tabart of twelue Wynter Age;
But ȝif a lous couþe lepe I con hit not I-leue
Heo scholde wandre on þat walk hit was so þred-bare.

“Ichaue ben Couetous,” quod þis Caityf “I beknowe hit heere;
For sum tyme I Seruede Simme atte noke,
And was his pliht prentys his profyt to loke.

Furst I leornede to Lyȝe A lessun or tweyne,
And wikkedliche for to weie was myn oþer lessun.

To Winchestre and to Wych Ich wente to þe Feire
With mony maner marchaundise as my mayster hihte;
Bote nedde þe grace of gyle I-gon a-mong my ware,
Hit hedde ben vn-sold þis seuen ȝer so me god helpe!

Þenne I drouȝ me a-mong þis drapers my Donet to leorne,
To drawe þe lyste wel along þe lengore hit semede;
Among þis Riche Rayes lernde I a Lessun,
Brochede hem with a pak-neelde and pletede hem togedere,
Putte hem in a pressour and pinnede hem þer-Inne
Til ten ȝerdes oþer twelue tolden out þrettene.

And my Wyfat Westmunstre þat Wollene cloþ made,
Spak to þe spinsters for to spinne hit softe.
Þe pound þat heo peysede [by] peisede a quartrun more
Þen myn Auncel dude whon I weyede treuþe.

I Bouhte hire Barly heo breuh hit to sulle;
Peni Ale and piriwhit heo pourede to-gedere
For laborers and louh folk þat liuen be hem-seluen.

Þe Beste in þe Bed-chaumbre lay bi þe wowe,
Hose Bummede þerof Bouȝte hit þer-after,
A Galoun for a Grote God wot, no lasse,
Whon hit com in Cuppemel; such craftes me vsede.

Rose þe Regratour Is hire rihte name;
Heo haþ holden hoxterye þis Elleuene wynter.

Bote I swere nou [soþely] þat sunne wol I lete,

And neuere wikkedliche weye ne fals chaffare vsen,
Bote weende to Walsyngham and my wyf alse,
And bidde þe Rode of Bromholm bringe me out of dette.”

Nou ginneþ þe Gloton for to go to schrifte,
And carieþ him to chircheward his schrift forte telle.
Þenne Betun þe Breustere bad him gode morwe,
And seþþen heo asked of him “Whoder þat he wolde?”

“To holi chirche,” quod he “for to here Masse
And seþþen I-chule ben I-schriuen and sunge no more.”

“Ichaue good ale, gossib,” quod heo “gloten, woltou asaye?”
“Hastou ouȝt I þi pors,” quod he “eny hote spices?”
“Ȝe, glotun, gossip,” quod heo “god wot, ful goode;
I haue peper and piane and a pound of garlek,
A Ferþing-worþ of Fenel-seed for þis Fastyng dayes.”

Þene geþ Gloton in and grete oþus after;
Sesse þe souters wyf sat on þe Benche,
Watte þe warinar and his wyf boþe,
Tomkyn þe Tinkere and tweyne of his knaues,

Hikke þe hakeney mon and hogge þe neldere,
Clarisse of Cokkes lone and þe Clerk of þe churche,
Sire Pers of pridye and pernel of Flaundres,
Dauwe þe disschere and a doseyn oþere.
[A] Ribibor, [a] Ratoner a Rakere of chepe,
A Ropere, a Redyng-kyng and Rose þe disschere,
Godfrei of Garlesschire and Griffin þe walsche,
And of vp-holders an hep erly bi þe morwe
Ȝiue þe gloton with good wille good ale to honsel.

Þenne Clement þe Cobelere caste of his cloke,
And atte newe Feire he leyde hire to sulle;
And Hikke þe Ostiler hutte his hod aftur,
And bad bette þe Bocher ben on his bi-syde.
Þer weore chapmen I-chose þe chaffare to preise;
Hose hedde þe hod schulde haue Amendes.
Þei Risen vp Raply and Rouneden to-gedere,
And preiseden be peniworþus and parteden bi hemseluen;
Þer weoren oþes an hep hose þat hit herde.
Þei couþe not bi heore concience a-corde to-gedere,
Til Robyn þe Ropere weore Rad forte a-ryse,

And nempned for a noumpere þat no de-bat neore,
[for he schulde preise þe penyworþes as hym good þouȝt].

Þenne Hikke þe Ostiler hedde þe cloke,
In Couenaunt þat Clement schulde þe Cuppe fulle,
And habbe hikkes hod þe ostiler and hold him wel I-seruet;
And he þat repenteþ Raþest schulde arysen aftur,
And greten Sir gloten with a galun of ale.

Þer was lauȝwhing and lotering and “let go þe cuppe;”
Bargeyns and Beuerages bi-gonne to aryse,
And seeten so til Euensong And songen sum while,
Til Gloten hedde I-gloupet A Galoun and a gille.
He pissede a potel In a pater-noster while,
And Bleuh þe Ronde Ruwet atte Rugge-bones ende,
Þat alle þat herde þe horn heolden heore neose after,
And weschte þat hit weore I-wipet with a wesp of Firsen.

He hedde no strengþe to stonde til he his staf hedde;
Þenne gon he for to go lyk A gleo-monnes bicche,

Sum tyme asyde and sum tyme arere,
As hose leiþ lynes to [lacche] wiþ Foules.

Whon he drouh to þe dore þen dimmede his eiȝen,
He þrompelde atte þrexwolde and þreuh to þe grounde.
[Clement þe coblere cauȝte glotoun by þe mydle,
And for to lyfte hym aloft leide hym on his knees;
And glotoun was a gret cherl and grym in þe lyftynge,
And cowhede vp a cawdel in clementis lappe,
Þat þe hungriest hound of hertforde schire
Ne durst lape of þat laueyne so vnloveli it smakith].
Þat with al þe wo of þis world his wyf and his wenche
Beeren him hom to his bed and brouhten him þer-Inne.
And after al þis surfet an Accesse he hedde,
Þat he slepte Seturday and Sonenday til sonne wente to reste.

Þenne he wakede of his wynk and wypede his eiȝen;
Þe furste word þat he spac [was] “wher is þe Cuppe?”
His wyf warnede him þo of wikkednesse and of sinne.
Þenne was he a-schomed, þat schrewe and schraped his eren,
And gon to grede grimliche and gret deol to make
For his wikkede lyf þat he I-liued hedde.

“For hungur oþer for Furst I make myn A-vou,
Schal neuer [fysch] on Frydai defyen in my mawe,
Er Abstinence myn Aunte haue I-ȝiue me leue;
And ȝit Ichaue I-hated hire al my lyf tyme.”

Sleuþe for serwe fel doun I-swowene
Til vigilate þe veil fette water at his eiȝen,
And flatte on his face and faste on him criȝede,
And seide, “war þe for wonhope þat Wol þe bi-traye.

‘Icham sori for my sunnes’ sei to þi-seluen,
And bet þi-self on þe Breste and bidde god of grace,
For nis no gult her so gret his Merci nis wel more.”

Þenne sat sleuþe vp and sikede sore,
And made a-vou bi-fore god for his foule sleuþe;
“Schal no sonenday þis seuen ȝer (bote seknesse hit make),
Þat I ne schal do me ar day to þe d[e]ore churche,
And here Matins and Masse as I a Monk were.

Schal non ale after mete holde me þennes,
Til ichaue Euensong herd I beo-hote to þe Rode.

And ȝit I-chulle ȝelden aȝeyn ȝif I so muche haue,
Al þat I wikkedliche won seþþe I wit hade.

And þauh my lyflode lakke letten I nulle
Þat vche mon schal habben his er ich henne wende:
And with þe Residue and þe remenaunt (bi þe Rode of Chester!)
I schal seche seynt Treuþe er I seo Rome!”

Robert ȝe Robbour on Reddite he lokede,
And for þer nas not Wher-with he wepte ful sore.
But ȝit þe sunfol schrewe seide to him-seluen:
“Crist, þat vppon Caluarie on þe Cros diȝedest,
Þo Dismas my broþer bi-souȝte þe of grace,
And heddest Merci of þat mon for Memento sake,
Þi wille worþ vppon me as Ich haue wel deseruet
To haue helle for euere ȝif þat hope neore.
So rewe on me, Robert þat no Red haue,
Ne neuere weene to wynne for Craft þat I knowe.
Bote for þi muchel Merci mitigacion I be-seche;
Dampne me not on domes day for I dude so ille.”

Ak what fel of þis Feloun I con not feire schewe,
But wel Ich wot he wepte faste watur with his eiȝen,
And knouhlechede his gult to Crist ȝit eft-sones,

Þat Penitencia is [pike he] schulde polissche newe,
And lepe with him ouerlond al his lyf tyme,
For he haþ leiȝen bi latro lucifers brother.

A þousent of Men þo þrongen to-geders,
Weopyng and weylyng for heore wikkede dedes,
Criȝinge vpward to Crist and to his clene moder
To haue grace to seche seint treuþe god lene þei so mote!

PASSUS VI.

[Passus Sextus de visione, vt prius.]

[Now riden þis folk & walken on fote
to seche þat seint in selcouþe londis].

Bote þer were fewe men so wys þat couþe þe wei þider,
BOte bustelyng forþ as bestes ouer valeyes and hulles,
[for while þei wente here owen wille þei wente alle amys].
Til [hit] was late and longe þat þei a Leod metten,
Apparayled as a Palmere In pilgrimes wedes.
He bar a bordun I-bounde wiþ a brod lyste,
In A weþe-bondes wyse I-wriþen aboute.
A Bagge and a Bolle he bar bi his syde;
An hundred of ampolles on his hat seeten,
Signes of Synay and Schelles of Galys;
Moni Cros on his cloke and keiȝes of Rome,
And þe vernicle bi-fore for men schulde him knowe,

And seo be his signes whom he souht hedde.

Þis Folk fraynede him feire from whenne þat he coome?
“From Synay,” he seide, “and from the Sepulcre;
From Bethleem and Babiloyne I haue ben in boþe,
In Ynde and in Assye and in mony oþer places.
Ȝe mouwe seo be my Signes þat sitteþ on myn hat,
Þat I haue walked ful wyde In weete and in druye,
And souht goode seyntes for my soule hele.”

“Knowest þou ouht A Corseynt Men calleþ Seynt Treuþe?
Const þou wissen vs þe wey wher þat he dwelleþ?”

“Nay, so God glade me!” seide þe gome þenne,
“Sauh I neuere Palmere with pyk ne with schrippe
Such a seint seche bote now in þis place.”
“Peter!” quod a Plouȝ-Mon and putte forþ his hed,
“I knowe him as kuyndeliche as Clerk doþ his bokes;
Clene Concience and wit [kende] me to his place,
And dude enseure me seþþe to serue him for euere.

Boþe to sowen and to setten while I swynke mihte,
I haue ben his felawe þis fiftene wynter;
Boþe I-sowed his seed and suwed his beestes,

And eke I-kept his Corn I-caried hit to house,
I-dyket and I-doluen I-don what he hihte,
With-Innen and withouten I-wayted his profyt;
Þer nis no laborer in þis leod þat he loueþ more,
For þauh I Sigge hit my-self I serue him to paye.

I haue myn hure of him wel and oþerwhile more;
He is þe presteste payere þat pore men habbeþ;
He with-halt non hyne his huire þat he hit naþ at euen.
He is as louh as A lomb louelich of speche,
And ȝif ȝe wolleþ I-wite wher þat he dwelleþ,
I wol wissen ow þe wey hom to his place.”

“Ye, leue pers,” quod þis palmers and profreden him huire.
“Nai, bi þe peril of my soule,” quod pers and bigon to swere,
“I nolde fonge a ferþing for seynt Thomas schrine!
Treuþe wolde loue me þe lasse a gret while after!

Bote ȝe þat wendeþ to him þis is þe wei þider:
Ȝe mote go þorw mekenesse boþe Mon and wyf,
Til ȝe come in-to Concience þat crist knowe þe soþe

Þat ȝe loueþ him leuere þen þe lyf in oure hertes,
And þenne oure neihebors next In none wyse apeire
Oþerweys þen þou woldest men wrouȝten to þi-seluen.

So Bouweþ forþ bi a brok beo-boxum-of-speche,
[Forþ til ȝe fynde a forde ȝour-fadres-honoureth];
Wadeþ in þat water wasscheþ ow wel þere,
And ȝe schul lepe þe lihtloker al oure lyf tyme.

Sone schaltou þenne I-seo swere-not-but-þou-haue neode-
And-nomeliche-In-Idel- þe-nome-of-God-Almihti.

Þenne schul ȝe come bi a Croft but cum ȝe not þer-Inne;
Þe Croft hette coueyte-not- Mennes-catel-ne-heore-wyues-
Ne-non-of-heore-seruauns- þat-nuyȝen-hem-mihte;
Loke þou breke no Bouȝ þere but ȝif hit beo þin owne.

Twei stokkes þer stondeþ but stunt þou not þere,
Þei hetten, Sle-not, ne-stel-not stryk forþ bi hem boþe;
Lef hem on þi luft half loke hem not aftur,
And hold wel þin haly-day euere til euen.

Þenne schalton Blenchen at a brok ber-no-fals-witnesse,

He is frettet with-Innen with Floreyns and oþes wel monye;
Loke þou plokke no plonte þer for peril of þi soule.

Þenne schaltou [se] sei-soþ- so-hit-beo-to-done-
And-loke-þat-þou-lyȝe-not- for-no-monnes-bidyng.

Þenne schaltou come to a Court Cleer as þe Sonne,
Þe Mot is of Merci þe maner al abouten,
And alle þe walles beþ of wit to holde wil þeroute;
Þe Carnels beþ of Cristendam þe kuynde to saue,
Brutaget with þe bileeue wher-þorw we moten beo sauet.
Alle þe houses beoþ I-hulet Halles and Chaumbres,
Wiþ no led bote with loue- as-Breþeren-of-o-wombe.

Þe Tour þer treuþe is Inne I-set Is aboue þe sonne,
He may do with þe day-sterre what him deore lykeþ;
Deth dar not do þing þat he defendeþ.

Grace hette þe ȝate-ward A good mon forsoþe,
His Mon hette a-Mende-þou for mony men him knoweþ;
Tel him þis tokene for treuþe wot þe soþe:
‘I performede þe penaunce þat þe prest me en-Ioynede;

I am sori for my sunnes and so schal I euere
Whon I þenke þer-on þauȝ I weore a pope.’

Bidde a-Mende [-þou] Meken him to his Mayster ones,
To wynne vp þe wiket-ȝat þat þe wey schutte,
Þo þat Adam and Eue eeten heore bone;
For he haþ þe keye of þe cliket þauȝ þe kyng slepe.

And ȝif grace þe graunte to gon in in þis wyse,
Þou schalt seo treuþe him-self sitten in þin herte.

Þenne loke þat þou loue him wel and his lawe holde;
Bote beo wel I-war of wraþþe [þat wykkide] Schrewe,
For he haþ Envye to him þat [in þyn herte sitteþ;]
And puiteþ forþ pruide to preisen þi-seluen.

Þe boldnesse of þi benfes blendeþ þin eiȝen,
And so worþestou I-driuen out and þe dore I-closet,
I-keiȝet and I-kliketed to [kepe] þe þer-oute;
Hapliche, an Hundred ȝer er þou eft entre.

Þus maihtou leosen his loue to leten wel bi þi-seluen,
Bote gete hit aȝeyn bi grace and bi no ȝift elles.

Ak þer beoþ seuen sustren þat seruen treuþe euere,
And ben porters at posternes þat to þe place longen.
Þat on hette Abstinence And Humilitie a-noþer,
Charite And Chastite beoþ tweyne ful Choyse Maidenes,

Pacience and Pees Muche peple helpen,
Largesse þe ladi ledeþ in ful monye.

Bote hose is sib to þis sustren so me god helpe!
Is wonderliche wel-comen and feire vnderfonge.
And bote ȝe ben sibbe to summe of þeos seuene,
Hit is ful hard, bi myn hed! eny of ow alle
To gete in-goynge at þat ȝat bote grace beo þe more.”

“Bi Crist,” quaþ a Cutte-pors “I haue no kun þere!”
“No,” quaþ an Apeward “for nout þat I knowe!”
“I-wis,” quaþ a waferer “wust I þis for soþe,
Schulde I neuere forþere a fote for no freres prechinge.”

“Ȝus,” quaþ pers þe plouȝ-mon and prechede hire to goode,
“Merci is a Mayden þer and haþ miht ouer hem alle;
Heo is sib to alle synful men an hire sone alse;
And þorw þe help of hem two (hope þou non oþer),
Þou maiȝt gete grace þer so þat þou [go] bi-tyme.”

PASSUS VII.

[Passus septimus de visione, vtprius.]

“Þis weore a wikked wei bote hose hedde a gyde,
Þat mihte folwen us vch a fote forte þat we come þere.”
Quaþ perkyn þe plouȝmon “bi peter þe Apostel,
I haue an half Aker to herie bi þe heiȝe weye;
Weore he wel I-Eried þenne with ou wolde I Wende,
And wissen ou þe rihte weye til ȝe founden treuþe.”

“Þat weore a long lettynge” quaþ a ladi in a skleir,
“What schul we wimmen worche þe while?”
“Summe schul souwe sakkes for schedyng of Whete,
And ȝe wyues þat habbeþ wolle worcheþ hit faste,
[Spynneth it spedily spareþ noght ȝour fyngres],
Bote ȝif hit beo haly day or elles holy euen.
Lokeþ forþ or Linnene And labereþ þer-on faste.
Þe Neodi and þe Nakede nym ȝeeme hou þei liggen,

And cast on hem cloþes for colde for so wolde treuþe;
For I schal lene hem lyflode But ȝif þe lond fayle,
As longe as I liue for vr lordes loue of heuene.

And ȝe, loueli Ladies with oure longe Fyngres,
Þat habbeþ selk, and sendel souweþ, whon tyme is,
Chesybles for Chapeleyns and Churches to honoure;
And alle maner of Men þat bi Mete liuen,
Helpeþ him worche wihtliche þat winneþ oure fode.”

“Bi Crist,” quaþ a kniht þo “þou [kennest] vs þe beste!
Saue o tyme trewely þus tauht was I neuere!
Bote [kenne] me,” quod þe kniht “and I-chul conne erie;
[I wol helpe þee to labore whil my lyf lastiþ.”]
“Bi seint peter,” quod Pers “for þou profrest þe so lowe,
I schal swynken and sweten and sowen for us boþe,
And eke labre for þi loue al my lyf tyme,
In Couenaunt þat þou kepe Holi chirche and my-seluen
From wastors and Wikkede men þat Wolden vs destruyen.
And go þou hunte hardily to Hares and to Foxes,

To Beores and to Bockes þat brekeþ menne hegges,
And fecche þe hom Faucuns þe Foules to quelle;
For þei comen in-to my croft And Croppen my Whete.'

Ful Curteisliche þe kniht conseiued þeose wordes;
“Be my pouwer, pers I plihte þe my trouþe
To folfulle þe Foreward while þat I may stonde!”

“But ȝit O poynt,” quod pers “I preye þe no more;
Loke þou teone no tenaunt bote treuþe wol assente:
And ȝif pore men profreþ ou presentes or ȝiftes,
Takeþ hem not, in auenture ȝe mouwen hem not deseruen;
For þou schalt ȝelden hit a-ȝeyn at one ȝeeres ende,
In a wel perilous place þat Purgatorie hette.
And mis-beode þou not þi bonde-men þe beter þou schalt spede,
And þat þi-self be trewe of tonge and tales þou hate,
Bote hit beo wisdam or wit þi werkmen to chaste.
Hold not þou with harlotes here not heore tales,
And nomeliche atte Mete suche Men eschuwe;
For þei ben þe deueles disours I do þe [to] vndurstonde.”

“Ich a-sente, be seint Iem!” seide þe kniht þenne,
“For to worche bi þi word while my lyf dureþ.”

“And I schal A-paraile me,” quod perkin “In pilgrimes wyse,
And wende with ou þe rihte wei til ȝe treuþe fynde.”
He caste on his cloþes I-clouted and I-hole,
His Cokeres and his Coffus for Colde of his nayles,
He heng an Hoper on his Bac In stude of a Scrippe,
A Busschel of Bred corn he bringeþ þer-Inne:
“For I wol souwen hit my-self and seþþen with ou wende.
For hose helpeþ me to heren or eny þing to swynken,
He schal haue, beo vr lord þe more huyre in heruest,
And make him murie with þe Corn hose hit euere bigruccheþ.
And alle kunnes Craftus men þat cunne lyuen with treuþe,
I schal fynden hem heore fode þat Fiþfuliche lyuen;

Saue Iacke þe Iogelour And Ionete of þe stuyues,
And Robert þe Ribaudour for his Rousti wordes.
Treuþe tauhte hit me ones and bad me telle hit forther,
Deleantur de libro [I ne shulde not dele wiþ hem,]
Holi churche is holden of hem no tiþe to taken;

Et cum Iustis non Scribantur;

Þei ben a-scaped good þrift god hem amende!”

Dame [werche]-whon-tyme-is Hette Pers Wyf,
His douhter hette do-riht-so- or-þi-dame-wol-þe-bete,
His sone hette Soffre-þi-souereyns- for-to-han-heor-wille-
And-deeme-hem-not-for-ȝif-þou-do- þou-schalt-hit-deore-abugge.
[“Let god worþe wiþ al for so his woord techiþ;]
For nou Icham old and hor and haue of myn owne,
To Penaunce and to pilgrimage I wol passe with þis oþure.
For-þi I wole, ar I Wende write my Testament.
In dei nomine, Amen I make hit mi-seluen.
He schal haue my soule þat best haþ deseruet,
And defende hit from þe fend for so I beo-leeue,
Til I come to myn A-Countes as my Crede me telleþ,
To ha Reles and Remission on þat Rental I be-leeue.
Þe Chirche schal haue my Careyne And kepe mi Bones;
For of my Corn and Catel heo Craueþ þe Tiþe.
I Payede him prestly for peril of my soule,

He is holden, Ich hope to haue me in Muynde,
And munge me in his memorie Among alle cristene.

Mi wyf schal haue þat I won with treuþe, and no more,
And dele A-mong my Frendes and my deore children.
For þauh I dye þis day my dettes beoþ I-quit;
I Bar hom þat I Borwede er I to bedde eode,
And with þe Residue and þe Remenaunt by þe Rode of Chestre!
I wol Worschupe þer-Wiþ Treuþe in my lyue,
And ben his pilgrym atte plouȝ for pore Mennes sake.
Mi plouh-pote schal be my pyk and posshen atte Rootes,
And helpe my coltre to kerue and close þe vorwes.”

Now is Pers and þe pilgrimes to þe plouh I-fare;
To heren þis half-Acre helpen him ful monye.
Dykers and Deluers Dikeden vp þe Balkes;
Þer-with was perkyn a-payed And preisede hem ȝerne.
Oþur werk-men þer weren þat Wrouȝten ful monye,
Vche Mon in his maner Made him to done;
And Summe, to plese perkyn pykeden vp þe weodes.

At heiȝ prime perkyn lette þe plouȝ stonde,
While þat he ouer-seȝe him-self ho þat best wrouhte;

He schulde ben huyred þer-aftur whon heruest tyme come.

Þenne seten summe And songen atte ale,
And holpen him to herien wiþ “Hey! trolly-lolly!”

“Now, be þe prince of paradys” quaþ pers þo in wraþþe,
“Bote ȝe Rysen þe raþer and Rape ȝow to worche,
Schal no greyn þat heer groweþ gladen ow at neode,
And þauh ȝe dyen for de-faute þe deuel haue þat Recche!”

Þenne weore þe faytors a-ferd And feynede hem blynde,
And summe leiden þe legges a-liri as suche losels cunne,
And playneden hem to pers with suche pitouse wordes:
“We haue no lymes to labore with vr lord we hit þonken,
Bote we preyeþ for ou, pers and for oure plouh boþe,
Þat God for his grace oure greyn multiplye,
And ȝelde ow for oure Almus þat ȝe ȝiuen vs here!
For we mowe nouþur swynke ne swete such seknes vs eileþ.”

“Ȝif hit beo soþ þat ȝe seyne,” quod pers “sone I schal a-spye!
Ȝe beoþ wastors, I wot and treuþe wot þe soþe!

Icham his holde hyne and ouȝte him to warne
Whuche wastors In world his werk-Men distruyȝen.
Ȝe eten þat þei schulden eten þat [heren] for vs alle;
Bote Treuþe schal techen ow his Teeme for to dryue,
Boþe to sowen and to setten and sauen his tilþe,
Gaste Crowen from his Corn and kepen his Beestes,
Or ȝe schulle ete Barly Bred and of þe Brok drynke.
Bote heo beo blynde or broke-schonket or bedreden liggen,
Þei schul haue as good as I so me god helpe,
[Til god of his grace gare [hem] to arise].

Ancres and Hermytes þat holdeþ hem in heore Celles
Schulen habben of myn Almus Al þe while I liue,
I-nouh vche day at Non but no more til a morwe,
Leste þe Fend and heore flesch fouleden heore soules;
Ones at Noon Is I-nouȝ þat no werk ne vseþ,
He abydeþ wel þe bet þat Bommeþ not to ofte.”

Þenne wastours gunne arise and wolden han I-fouhte;
To Pers þe plouh Mon [one] profrede his gloue,
A Brutiner, A Braggere A-Bostede him Alse,
And bad go pisse him with his plouh pillede screwe!

“For we wolen habbe of þi Flour wol þou so nulle þou,
And of þi Flesch fecche whon þat vs lykeþ,
[And make vs merye þerwiþ maugre þi chekes!”]

Þenne Pers plouh-mon playnede him to þe kniht,
To kepen him as Couenaunt was from cursede schrewes,
From wastors þat wayten winners to schende.
Curteisliche þe kniht as his kuynde wolde,
Warnede wastors and wissede hem do betere;
“Or ȝe schul a-bugge hit bi [þe] lawe bi þe Ordre þat I bere!”

“I was not wont to worche,” quod a wastour “ȝit wol I not biginne!”—
And lette luytel of þe lawe and lasse of þe kniht,
And countede pers at a peose and his plouh boþe,
And Manasede him and his men whon þat þei next metten.

“Nou be þe peril of my soule,” quaþ Pers þe plouh-Mon,
I schal a-peiren ow alle for oure proude wordes!”
And hoped aftur hunger þo þat herde him atte furste:
“A-wrek me on þis wastors,” quod pers “þat þis world schendeþ!”

Hongur in haste hente [wastor] bi þe mawe,

And wrong him so be þe wombe þat boþe his eȝen watreden,
And Buffetede þe [brutiner] aboute boþe his chekes;
He lokede lyk a Lanterne al his lyf After.
He Beot so þe Boyes he barst neih heore Ribbes,
Nedde Pers wiþ a peose lof I-preyed him to leue;
And with a Benene Bat I-bot hem by-twene,
And hutte hongur þer-with A-midde boþe his lippes,
And he bledde in-to þe Bodiward a Bolleful of gruwel;
Nedde þe Fisicien furst defendet him water
To Abate þe Barli bred and þe Benes I-grounde,
Þei hedden beo ded bi þis day and doluen al warm.

Þenne Faytors for fere flowen to Bernes,
And flapten on with fleiles from morwe til euen,
Þat Honger nas not hardi vp for to loke,
For A potful of peosun þat pers hedde I-mad.
An Hep of Hermytes henten heom spades,
And doluen drit and donge to dutte honger oute.

Blynde and Bedraden weore Botned a þousent,
Þat lyȝen for blynde and for broke-legget

Vppon softe sonenday bi þe heiȝe weye;
Hungur hem helede wiþ an hot Cake.

Lome mennes limes weore lyþet þat tyme,
And bi-come knaues to kepe pers beestes,
And preyeden for Charite with pers for to dwelle,
[Al] for Couetyse of his corn to caste a-wey hunger.

Pers was proud þer-of And put hem in offys,
And ȝaf hem mete and moneye as þei mihte deseruen.

Þenne hedde peers pite and preiede hunger to wende
Hom to his oune hurde And holden him þer for euere.

“And ȝit I preye þe,” quod pers “er þou passe henne,
Of Bidders and of beggers what is best to done?
I wot wel whon þou art I-went þei wol worchen ful ille;
And Mischef hit makeþ þei beoþ so meke nouþe,
And for de-faute of foode þus faste þei worchen;
And heo beoþ my blodi breþeren for god bouȝte vs alle.
Treuþe tauhte me ones to louen hem vchone,
And helpen hem of alle þyng aftur þat hem neodeþ.

Ȝit wolde I witen ȝif þou wustest what were þe beste,
And hou I mihte A-Maystren hem and maken hem to worche.”

“Here nou,” quod hunger “and holde hit for wisdam,
Bolde Bidders and Beggers þat mowen her mete biswinke,
With houndes bred and horse bred hold vp heor hertes,
And Bamme hem with bones for bollyng of heore wombes;
And ȝif þe gomes grucchen bidde hem go swynke,
And þei schule soupe þe swettore whon þei han hit deseruet.
And ȝif þou fyndest eny Freik þat fortune haþ a-peiret
With fuir, or with fals folk fonde suche to knowe;
Cumforte hem with þi Catel for cristes loue of heuene,
Loue hem, and lene hem so þe lawe of kuynde wole.
And alle manere of Men þat þou mayȝt aspye,
Þat neodi ben, or naket and nouȝt haue to spende,
With Mete or with Moneye mak hem fare þe betere,
Or with word or with Werk while þat þou art here.
Mak þe Frendes þer-with for so Seint Matheu techeþ,

Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.”

“I wolde not greue god,” quod pers “for al þe gold on ground;

Miht I sunneles don as þou seist?” seide pers þenne.

“Ȝe, I be-hote þe,” quod hunger “or elles þe Bible lyȝeþ;
Go to Genesis þe Ieaunt engendrure of vs alle;

In Sudore and swynk þou schalt þi mete tilie,
And labre for þi lyflode' for so vr lord hiȝte.

And Sapiens seiþ þe same I saih hit in þe Bible;
‘Piger propter frigus no feld nolde he tilie,
He schal go bidde and begge and no mon beete his hunger.’

Matheu þe Monnes face he Mommeþ þeose wordes,
‘Seruus nequam hedde npnam and for he nolde hit vsen,
He hedde Maugre of his Maister euere more aftur;

Auferte ab illo mnam, & date illi, &c.]

He bi-nom him his npnam for he nolde not worche,
And ȝaf hit him in haste þat hedde ten bi-fore;
And seþþen he þus seide his seruauns hit herden,

He þat haþ schal haue to helpe þer neod is,
And he þat nouȝt haþ, nouȝt schal haue ne no mon him helpe;

And he þat hopeþ forte haue hit him beo bi-reuet.’
For kuynde wit Wolde þat vche mon wrouhte
Wiþ techinge or with tilynge or trauaylynge of hondes,
Actyf lyf or Contemplatyf Crist wolde hit alse.
For so seiþ þe Sauter In Psalm of beati omnes,

[Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis, &c.]

He þat get his fode her with trauaylinge in Treuþe,
God ȝiueþ him his blessyng þat his lyflode so swynkeþ.”

“Yit I preye þe,” quod pers “par Charite, ȝif þou Conne
Eny lyf of leche Craft lere hit me, my deore.
For summe of my seruauns beoþ seke oþer-while,
Of alle þe wike heo Worcheþ not so heor wombe akeþ.”

“I wot wel,” quod Hungur “What seknesse hem eileþ,
Þei han I-Maunget ouur muche þat makeþ hem grone ofte.

Ac Ich hote þe,” quod Hungur “and þou þin hele wylne,
Þat þou drynke no dai til þou haue dynet sumwhat;

Ete not, Ich hote þe til hunger þe take,
And sende þe sum of his sauce to sauer þe þe betere;

Keep sum til soper tyme And [sit] þou not to Longe,
A-Rys vp ar appetyt habbe I-ȝeten his Fulle.

Let not sir Surfet sitten at þi Bord;
Loue him not, for he is a lechour and likerous of Tonge,
And aftur mony Metes his Mawe is a-longet.
And ȝif þou diȝete þe þus I dar legge boþe myn Eres,
Þat Fisyk schal his Forred hod for his [foode] sulle,
And eke his cloke of Calabre with knappes of Gold,
And beo Fayn, be my Feiþ his Fisyk to lete,
And leorne to labre wiþ lond leste lyflode Faile;
Þer beoþ mo lyȝers þen leches vr lord hem amende!
Þei don men dyȝen þoruȝ heor drinke er destenye wolde.”

“Bi seint Poul!” quod pers “þeos beoþ prophitable wordes!
Þis is a loueli lesson vr lord hit þe for-ȝelde!
Wend nou whon þi wille is Wel þe beo for euere!”
“I beo-hote þe,” quod hungur “heonnes nul I wende
Er I haue I-dynet bi þis day and I-dronke boþe.”

“I haue no peny,” quod pers “Poletes to bugge,
Nouþer gees ne grys bote twey grene cheeses,
And a fewe Cruddes and Craym and a þerf Cake,

And a lof of Benes and Bren I-Bake for my Children.

And I sigge, bi my soule I haue no salt Bacon,
Ne no Cokeneyes, bi Crist Colopus to maken.

Bot I haue porettes and percyl and moni Colplontes
And eke a Cou, and a Calf and a Cart-Mare
To drawe a-feld my donge Whil þe drouhþe lasteþ.

Bi þis lyflode I mot lyuen til lammasse tyme;
Bi þat, Ich hope forte haue heruest in my Croft;
Þenne may I dihte þi dyner as þe deore lykeþ.”

Al þe pore peple pese-coddes fetten,
Bake Benes in Bred þei brouhten in heor lappes,
Chibolles, Cheef mete and ripe chiries monye,
And proferde pers þis present to plese with hungur.

Honger eet þis in haste and asked aftur more.
Þenne þis folk for fere fetten him monye
Poretes, and Peosen for þei him plese wolden;
From þat tyme þat þulke weore eten take he schulde his leue
Til hit to heruest hiȝede þat newe corn com to chepynge.

Þenne was þat folk fayn and tedde hunger ȝeorne
With good Ale, and glotonye and gart him to slepe.
And þo nolde þe wastor worche but wandren aboute,
Ne no Beggere eten Bred þat Benes Inne coome,
Bote Coket and Cler Matin an of clene whete;
Ne non halfpeny Ale In none wyse drynke,
Bote of þe Beste and þe Brouneste þat Brewesters sullen.

Laborers þat haue no lond to liuen on Bote heore honden,
Deyne not to dyne a day niht-olde wortes.
Mai no peny Ale hem paye ne no pece of Bacun,
Bote hit weore Fresch Flesch or elles Fisch I-Friȝet,
Boþe chaud and pluschaud for chele of heore Mawe.

Bote he beo heihliche I-huret elles wol he chide,
Þat he was werkmon I-wrouȝt warie þe tyme,
And Corse ȝerne þe kyng and al his Counseil aftur,
Suche lawes to loke laborers to chaste.

Ac while hunger was Mayster heer wolde þer non chyde,
Ne striue aȝeyn þe statues so steorneliche he lokede.

I warne ȝou, alle werk-men winneþ while ȝe mowe,
Hunger hiderward aȝeyn hiȝeþ him ȝeorne.

He wole a-wake þorw watur þe wastours alle,
Er Fyue ȝer ben folfult such Famyn schal a-Ryse
Þorw Flodes and foul weder Fruites schul fayle;
And so seiþ [Saturne] and sent vs to warne.

PASSUS VIII.

[Passus Octauus de Visione, vt prius.]

Treuþe herde telle her-of And to Pers sende,
To taken his teeme and tilyen þe eorþe;
And purchasede him a pardoun A pena et a culpa
For him, and for his heires euer more aftur.
And bad holden hem at hom and heren heore leyȝes,
And al þat euere hulpen him to heren or to sowen,
Or eny maner mester þat mihte Pers helpen,
Part in þat pardoun þe Pope haþ I-graunted.

Kynges and knihtes þat kepen holi churche,
And Rihtfuliche Rulen þe Reame and þe peple,
Han pardoun þorw Purgatorie to passen ful sone,
Wiþ patriarkes in paradys to pleyen þer-aftur.

Busschops þat blessen and boþe þe lawes cunnen,
Lokeþ on þat on lawe and lereþ men þat oþer,

And bereþ hem boþe on heore bac as heore baner scheweþ,
And precheþ heore persouns þe peril of sunne,
Hou heore schabbede schep schal heore wolle saue,
Han Pardoun with þe Apostles whon þei passen hennes,
And atte day of dom with hem on deis setten.

Marchau[n]s in þis Margin hedden mony ȝeres,
Bote non A pena et a culpa þe pope nolde hem graunte,
For þei holdeþ not heore haly-day as holy churche techeþ,
And for þei sworen bi heore soule —“so God hem moste helpe!”—
Aȝeyn heore clene Concience heore catel to sulle.

Bote vndur his secre seal Treuþe sende a lettre,
And Bad hem Bugge Boldely what hem best lykede,
And seþþen sullen hit a-ȝeyn And saue þe wynnynge,
And make Meson deu þer-with Meseyse to helpe,
And wikkede wones wihtly to amende;

Beete Brugges a-Boute þat to-Broke were,
Marie Maydens or Maken hem Nonnes;

Pore widewes þat wolde beo none wyues aftur,
Fynde suche heore foode for Godes loue of heuene;

Sette scolers to scole or to sum oþer craft,
Rule Religion and Rente hem Betere;
“And I schal sende ow my-self seint Mihel myn Aungel,
Þat no deuel schal ȝou dere whon ȝe dye schulle,
Þat I ne schal sende ȝor soules saaf in-to heuene,
And bi-foren þe Face of my Fader fourmen or seetes.
Vsure And Auarice and oþes I defende,
Þat no gile go with ou Bote þe grace of treuþe.”

Þenne were Marchaundes Murie þei wopen for Ioye,
And ȝeeuen wille for his writynge wollene cloþes;
For he Copiede þus heore Cause þei couden him gret þonk.
Men of lawe hedden lest for heo beoþ [loþ
To mote for mene men but ȝif þei hadde money;]
So seiþ þe sauter and sapience boþe,

Super Innocentes munera non Accipiunt. A Regibus [et principibus erit merces (eorum).]

Of [princes] and Prelatus heor pencion schulde aryse,
And of þe pore peple no peneworþ to take.

Ac he þat spendeþ his speche and spekeþ for þe pore
Þat is Innocent and neodi and no mon haþ apeyret,
Cumforteþ him in his caas Coueiteþ not his goodes,
Bote for vr lordes loue lawe for him scheweþ,
Schal no deuel at his deþ-day deren him worþ a Myte,
Þat he ne worþ siker saaf and so seiþ þe psauter,

[Qui facit hec, non mouebitur in eternum.]

Ac to bugge water, ne wynt [ne] wit, (is þe þridde),
Nolde neuer holy writ God wot þe soþe!

Þeos þreo for þralles beo þriuen a-mong vs alle,
To waxen or to wonien wheþer God lykeþ.
His pardoun In purgatorie is petit, I trouwe,
Þat eny Meede of mene Men for Motynge receyueþ.

Ȝe Legistres and lawyers ȝe witen wher I lyȝe;
Seþþe ȝe seon þat hit is so serueþ to þe Beste.

Libbinde Laborers þat libben bi heore hondes,
Þat treuliche taken and treuliche tiþen,
And liuen in loue and in lawe for heore lowe hertes,
Hedde þe same Absolucion þat sent was to pers.

Bidders and Beggers Beoþ not in þe Bulle,
Bote þe suggestion be soþ þat schapeþ hem to Begge.

For he þat beggeþ or biddeþ bote he habbe neode,
He is Fals with þe Fend and defraudeþ þe neodi,
And eke gyleþ þe ȝiuere al aȝeyn his wille.
Þei libben [not in loue ne] no lawe holden;
Þei weddeþ no wommon þat þe with deleþ;
Bote as [wilde] Beestes, [wiþ] wo worcheþ to-gedere,
And bringeþ forþ Barnes þat Bastardes beon holden.

Or his Bac, or his Bon heo brekeþ in heore ȝouþe,
And goþ, Fayteþ with heore Fau[n]tes euer-more after.
Þer ben mo mis-happes amongus hem hose takeþ heede,
Þen of alle oþure men þat on Molde wandren.
Þei þat lyuen þus heore lyf mouwe loþe þe tyme,
Þat euere þei weore Men I-wrouȝt whon þei schul henne fare.

Bote olde Men and hore þat helples beoþ of strengþe,
And wymmen with childe þat worchen ne mowen,
Blynde and Bedreden And Broken heore membres,
Þat taken Meschef Mekeliche as Meseles or oþere,
Han as pleyn pardoun as þe plouh-mon him-seluen;
For [loue of] heore lowe hertes vr lord haþ hem graunted

Heore penaunce and heore purgatorie is her vppon eorþe.

“Pers,” quod a prest þo “þi pardon most I reden,
For I wol construe vch a clause and knowen hit in Englisch.”

And Pers at his preyere þe pardon vnfoldeþ,
And I bi-hynden hem boþe bi-heold al þe Bulle.
In two lynes hit lay and not a lettre more,
And was I-writen riht þus In witnesse of treuþe:

Et qui bona egerunt, Ibunt in vitam eternam; Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.

“Peter!” quod þe preost þo “I con no pardoun fynde,
Bote dowel, and haue wel and god schal haue þi soule,
And do vuel, and haue vuel hope þou non oþur,
Þat aftur þi deþ day to helle schaltou wende!”

And Pers, for puire teone pollede hit a-sonder,
[& siþþe he seide to hem þese semely sawis,]

“Si Ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis, non timebo [mala, quoniam tu mecum es.]

I schal sese of my sowynge,” quod pers “and swynke not so harde,
Ne aboute my lyflode so bisy beo no more!
Of preyere and of penaunce my plouh schal ben heraftur

And bi-loure þat I beo-louh er my lyf fayle.

Þe [prophete his payn eet] In penaunce and wepyng;
As þe psauter vs seiþ so dude moni oþere,
Þat loueþ God lelly his lyflode is wel muche:

Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes, die ac nocte.

And bote [ȝif luke] lyȝe he lereþ vs a-noþer;
Þat to bisi we ne schulde beo her vppon eorþe,
While we woneþ in þis world to make vs wombe Ioye.

Ne soliciti sitis he seiþ in his godspel,
And scheweþ hit by ensaumple vr soules to wisse.

Þe Foules in þe Firmament [who fynt] hem in winter?
Whon þe Forst freseþ foode hem bi-houeþ;
Haue þei no gerner to go to ȝit God fynt hem Alle.”

“What?” quod þe prest to Perkyn “peter! as me þinkeþ,
Þow art lettret a luyte ho lered þe on Boke?”
“Abstinence þe Abbesse myn A-b-ce me tauȝte,
And Concience com aftur and [kennide] me betere.”

“Weore þou a prest,” quod he “þou mihtest preche whon þe luste,

Quoniam literaturam non cognoui mihte be [þy] Teeme!”
“Lewede lorel!” quod he “luite lokestou on þe Bible,
On Salamones sawes [seldom] þou bi-holdest;
[slynge awey þese scorners, he seiþ wiþ here shrewid fliting,
for wiþ hem redely y kepe not to rest;]

[Ejice] derisores et Iurgia cum eis, [ne crescant].”

Þe Prest and Perkin þo Apposeden eiþer oþer,
And þorw heore wordes I a-wok and [waitide] aboute
And sauh þe sonne sitte souþ euene þat tyme
Meteles and Moneyeles on Maluerne hulles,
[Musyng] on þis Meeteles A myle wei Ich ȝeode.
Mony tyme þis Metels han made me to studie
For pers loue, þe plouh-mon ful pensyf in myn herte;
For þat I sauh slepynge ȝif hit so be mihte.

Bote Catoun construweþ hit nay An Canonistres boþe,
And siggen bi hem-seluen Sompnia ne cures.
Ac for þe Bible bereþ witnesse hou

100

Daniel deuynede þe Dremels of a kyng,
Þat Nabugodonosor [nempne þese clerkes.]
Daniel seide, “Sir kyng þi sweuene is to mene,
Þat vnkouþe knihtes schul come þi kin[g]dam to clayme;
Among lower lordes þi lond schal be departet.”
As Daniel diuinede hit fel in dede after,
þe kyng laste his lordschupe and lasse men hit hadden.

And Ioseph Mette Metels ful Meruilous alse,
How þe sonne and þe Mone and enleuene sterres
Falden bi-fore his Feet and heileden him alle.

“Beu fiz, quod his Fader for defaute we schulle,
I my-self, and my sones seche þe for neode.”

Hit fel as þe Fader seide In Pharaones tyme,
Þer Ioseph was Iustise Egipte to kepen.

Al þis makeþ me on Metels to þenken
Mony tyme at Midniht whon [men] schulde slepe,
On Pers þe plouh-mon and whuch a pardoun he hedde,
And hou þe preost inpugnede hit al bi pure Resoun,
And diuinede þat Dowel Indulgence passede,
Bienals and Trienals and Busschopes lettres

101

Dowel on Domesday Is digneliche I-preiset,
He passeþ al þe pardouns of seint Petrus churche.

Now haþ þe pope pouwer pardoun to graunte,
Þe peple with-oute penaunce to passe to Ioye.
Þis is a lef of vre bileeue as lettret men vs techeþ,

Quodcunque ligaueris super terram, erit ligatum et in celis.

And so bileeue I lelly (vr lord forbeode hit elles!)
Þat pardoun and penaunce and preyers don sauen
Soules þat han sunget seuen siþes dedlich.

Bote trustene to Trienals treuly me þinkeþ
Is not so syker for þe soule sertes, as do-wel.

For-þi I rede ȝow Renkes þat Riche ben on eorþe,
Vppon trust of oure tresour Trienals to haue,
Beo ȝe neuer þe Baldore to Breke þe ten hestes;

And nomeliche, ȝe Meires and ȝe Maister Iuges,
Þat han þe welþe of þis world for wyse men ben holden,
To purchasen pardoun and þe popes Bulles.
At þe dredful day of dom þer dede schullen a-rysen,
And comen alle bi-fore crist and a-Countes ȝelden,
How þou laddest þi lyf and his lawe keptest,

102

What þou dudest day bi day þe Doom þe wol rehersen;

A powhe ful of pardoun þer with Prouincials lettres,
Þauh þou be founden in Fraternite a-mong þe foure Ordres,
And habbe Indulgence I-doubled bote Dowel þe helpe,
I nolde ȝeue for þi pardoun one pye hele!

Forþi I counseile alle cristene to crie crist merci,
And Marie his Moder to beo mene bi-twene,
Þat God ȝiue vs grace er we gon hennes,
Such werkes to worche while þat we ben here,
Þat aftur vr deþ day Dowel reherce,
Þat atte day of dom we duden as he us hiȝte.

[Explicit hic visio willelmi de Petro de Plouȝman. Eciam Incipit Vita de do-wel, do-bet, & do-best, secundum wyt & resoun.]

103

PASSUS IX.

Incipit hic Dowel, Dobet, and Dobest.

[Þ]us I-Robed in Russet Romed I a-boute
Al a somer sesoun For to seche Dowel,
And [fraynide] ful ofte of [folk] þat I mette
[Ȝif any wiȝt wiste where do-wel was at Inne,
And what man he miȝte be of many man I askide].
Was neuer wiht as I wente þat me wisse couþe
Wher þis ladde loggede Lasse ne more;

Til hit fel on a Friday twei Freres I mette,
Maistres of þe Menours Men of grete wittes.
Ich heilede hem hendeli as Ich hedde I-leorned,
And preiede hem, par Charite er þei [passede furre,]
“Ȝif þei [knewen any] Cuntre or Coostes a-boute
Wher þat Dowel dwelleþ do me to wisse.”

“Mari,” quod [þe] Menour “A-mong vs he dwelleþ,

104

And euer haþ, as Ich hope and euer schal her-after.”

“Contra,” quod I as a Clerk and comsede to dispuite,

[“Sepcies in die cadit iustus;]

Seue siþes a day, seiþ þe Bok sungeþ þe rihtful mon;
And hose sungeþ,” I seide “certes, as me þinkeþ,
Þat Dowel and do vuele mowe not dwelle togedere.
Ergo, he nis not alwey [at hom] among ow Freres,
He is or while elles-wher to wisse þe peple.”

“I schal seie þe, my sone” seide þe Frere þenne,
“Hou seuen siþes þe sadde mon sungeþ in a day;
Bi [a forebisene],” seide þe frere “I schal þe feire schewe.

Let bringe a Mon In A bot A-midde a Brod water,
And þe wint and þe watur and þe waggyng of þe Bot
Makeþ þe Mon Mony tyme to stomble and to falle;
(For stonde he neuere so stif he stumbleþ in þe waggyng);
And ȝit he is saaf and sound and so him bi-houeþ;
For ȝif he ne rise þe raþer and rauhte to þe steorne,
Þe wynt wolde with þe water þe Bot ouer-þrowe;
Þer weore þe Monnes lyf I-lost þorw [lachesse] of himselue.
Riht þus hit fareþ,” quod þe Frere “bi folk her on eorþe;

105

Þe watur is liknet to þe world þat wonieþ and waxeþ;
Þe goodes in þis world ben lyk þis grete wawes,
Riht as wyndes and watres waleweþ aboute.

Þe Bot is liknet to þe Bodi þat Brutel is of kuynde;
And þorw þe fend and his Flesch and þe False world
Sungeþ þe sadde Mon seuen siþes in þe day.

But dedly sunne doþ he not for Dowel him helpeþ,
Þat is charite þe Champion cheef help aȝeyn sunne;
For he strengþeþ þe to stonde he stureþ þi soule,
Þat þauȝ þi bodi Bouwe as a Bot in þe Water,
Euer is þi soule saaf Bote ȝif þi-self wolle.

Folewe þi Flessches wil and þe fendes aftur,
And do dedlich sunne and drenche þi-seluen,
God wol soffre þe dye so for [þi-self hast þe maistrie].”

“I haue no kynde knowyng,” quod I “to conceyue þi wordes,
But ȝif I may liuen and loken I schal go lerne betere.
I beo-take ȝou to crist þat on [þe] Crois diȝede.”
And þei seiden þe same “God saue þe from mischaunce,
And ȝiue þe grace vppon grounde In good lyf to ende.”

Þus I wente wyden wher Dowel to seche;
And as I wente bi a wode walkyng myn one,
Blisse of þe Briddes made me to Abyde,

106

And vnder A Lynde, vppon A launde leonede I a stounde,
For to leorne þe layes þat louely foules maden.
Blisse of þe Briddes Brouȝten me a slepe;
Þe Meruiloste Meetynge Mette I me þenne
Þat euere dremede driht In drecchynge, I wene.

A Muche Mon, me þouhte lyk to my-seluen,
Com and clepede me be my kuynde nome.

“What art þou,” quod I “þat my nome knowest?”
“Þat þow wost wel,” quod he “and no [wiȝt] betere.”
“Wot I,” quod I, “ho art þou?” [“thought,” seide he] þenne,
“I haue suwed þe þis seuen ȝer seȝe [þou] me no raþere?”

“Art þou þouȝt?” quod I þo “const þou me telle,
Wher þat dowel dwelleþ do me to wisse?”

“Dowel,” quod he, “and Dobet and Dobest þe þridde
Beoþ þreo faire vertues and beoþ not fer to fynde.

H[o] is Meke of his Mouþ Mylde of his speche,
Trewe of his tonge and of his two hondes,
And bi his labur or bi his lond his lyflode wynneþ,
And trusti of his taylende takeþ bote his owne,

107

And is not dronkeleuh ne deynous Dowel him foleweþ.
Dobet doþ þus bote he doþ muche more;
He is as louh as a lomb louelich of speche;
While he haþ ouȝt of his owne he helpeþ þer neod is,
Þe Bagges and þe Bi-gurdeles he haþ broken hem alle
Þat þe Auerous hedde or eny of his heires;
And wiþ Mammonas moneye haþ maked him frendes,
And is Ronnen in-to Religiun And haþ Rendret þe Bible,
And precheþ þe peple seint poules wordes,

Libenter sufferte.

‘Ȝe wyse, soffreþ þe vn-wyse’ wiþ ow for to libbe,
And with glad wille doþ hem good for so god himself hiȝte.

Dobest is a-boue boþe And Bereþ A Busschopes cros,
Is hoket atte ende to holden [hem] in good lyf.
A pyk is in þe [potent] to punge a-doun þe wikkede,
Þat wayten eny wikkednesse Dowel to teone.
And as Dowel and Dobet duden hem to vnderstonde,
Þei han I-Corouned A kyng to kepen hem Alle,

Þat ȝif Dowel or Dobet dude aȝeyn Dobest,
[And were vnbuxum at his biddinge and bold to don ille],

108

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!

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.”

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 wit con wisse þe,” quod þouȝt “wher þeos þre dwelleþ,
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.

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,

109

Bote as [I bad þouȝt] þo to beo mene bi-twene,
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.”

110

PASSUS X.

[Passus primus de dowel, &c.]

Sire Dowel dwelleþ,” quod wit “not a day hennes,
In A Castel, of kuynde I-mad of foure kunne þinges,
Of Erþe and Eir hit is mad I-medelet to-gedere,
Wiþ wynt and wiþ watur ful wittiliche I-Meint.
Cuynde haþ Closet þer-In Craftiliche wiþ alle,
A loueli lemmon lyk [to] him-self,
Anima heo hette; To hire haþ Envye
A proud prikere of Fraunce Princeps huius mundi,
And wolde wynnen hire a-wei with wiles ȝif he mihti.
Bote kuynde knoweþ hit wel and kepeþ hire þe betere,
And haþ I-don hire to Sire [Dowel duke of þese marches.
Dobet is hire damysele sire] Doweles douȝter,
And serueþ þat ladi lelly boþe late and raþe.

111

Þus Dowel and Dobet and Dobest þe þridde
Beoþ Maystres of þis Manere þat Mayden to kepen.

But þe Cunstable of þe Castel þat kepeþ hem alle,
Is a wys kniht wiþ alle Sire Inwit he hette,
And haþ fyue feire sones bi his furste wyf;

Sire seowel and seywel And herewel þe [h]ende,
Sire worche-wel-with-þin-hond A wiht mon of strengþe,
And sire Godfrei Gowel grete lordes alle.

Þeose sixe ben I-set to saue þe Castel;
To kepe þis wommon þis wyse men ben Charget,
Til þat kuynde come or sende And kepe hire him-seluen.”

“What calle ȝe þe Castel,” quod I “þat kuynde haþ I-maket,
And what cunnes þing is kuynde con ȝe me telle?”

“Kuynde,” quaþ he, “is C[r]eatour of alle kunne [beestes],
Fader and Foormere þe furste of alle þing;
Þat is þe grete God þat bigynnyng hedde neuere,
Þe lord of lyf and of liht of [lisse] and of peyne.
Angeles and alle þing [arn] at his wille,

Bote Mon is him Most lyk of Marke and of schap;
For wiþ word þat he warp woxen forþ Beestes,
And alle þing at his wille was wrouȝt wiþ a speche,

Dixit et facta sunt;

112

Saue Mon þat he Made Ymage to him-seluen,
Ȝaf him goost of his Godhede and grauntede him Blisse,
Lyf þat euer schal lasten and al his lynage aftur.

Þat is þe castel þat kuynde made Caro hit hette,
And is as muche to mene As Mon wiþ a soule,
Þat he wrouhte with Werk and wiþ word boþe;

Þorw miht of his Maieste Mon was I-maket,

[Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram.]

Inwit and alle wittes ben closet þer-Inne,
For loue of þat ladi þat lyf is I-nempnet;
Þat is Anima þat ouer al in þe Bodi wandureþ,
But in þe herte is hire hom hiȝest of alle;
Heo is lyf and ledere and a lemmon of heuene.
Inwit is þe help þat Anima desyreþ;
After þe grace of God þe gretteste is Inwit.

Inwit in þe hed is and helpeþ þe soule,
For þorw his connynge he [kepeþ] Caro et Anima
In Rule and in Reson bote Recheles hit make.

He eggeþ þe [eiȝe-siht and herynge] to goode,
Of good speche and of cunnynge he is þe biginnere,
In Monnes Brayn he is most and mihtiest to knowe,
Þer he is Bremest But ȝif blod hit make.

113

For whonne Blod is Bremore þen Brayn þen is Inwit I-bounde,
And eke wantoun and wylde withouten eny Resoun.

In ȝonge Fauntes and Fooles with hem Fayleþ Inwit,
And eke in [sottes] þou miht seo þat sitteþ atte Ale;
Þei heldeþ Ale in heore hed til Inwit beo a-dreynt,
And [ben] Brayn-wode as Beestes so heore Blod waxeþ.

Þenne haþ þe Pouke pouwer Sire Princeps huius mundi,
Ouer suche Maner Men Miht in heore soules.
Bote In Fauntes ne in Fooles þe Fend haþ no miht
For no werk þat þei worchen wikked or elles;
Bote þe Fadres and þe Frendes For Fau[n]tes schul be Blamet
Bote þei witen hem from wantounesse whil þat þei ben ȝonge.

And ȝif þat þei ben pore or Catelles to kepen hem from ille,
Þenne is holy chirche a-signet to helpen hem and sauen
From Folyes, and Fynden hem til þat þei ben wysore.

Bote vche [wiȝt] in þis world þat haþ wys vnderstondinge,
Is Cheef souereyn [of] him-self his soule for to ȝeme,

114

And Cheuesschen him from charge whon he childhode passeþ,
Saue him-self from sunne for so him bi-houeþ;
For worche he wel oþer wrong þe wit is his oune.

Þene is Dowel a Duyk þat distruieþ vices,
And saueþ þe soule þat sunne haþ no miht
To Route ne to Reste ne to Rooten in þe herte;
And þat is drede of God for Dowel hit makeþ,
Hit is biginnynge of goodnesse God for to drede;
[Salamon it seide for a soþ tale],

Innicium sapiencie, timor domini.

For doute, Men doþ þe Bet; drede is such a Mayster
Þat he makeþ Men Meoke and Mylde of heore speche,
And alle kunne scolers In Scoles forte lerne;
Þenne is Dobet to beo war for betynge of ȝerdes,
And þerof seiþ þe Sauter þi-seluen þou miht reden,

[Virga tua [et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt.]

[Ac ȝif clene consience acorde þat þi-selfe dost wel],
Wilne þou neuere in þis world forte Dobetere; For, Intencio [indicat hominem].
Bi Counseil of Concience a-Cordynge with holy churche,
Loke þou wisse þi wit and þi werkes aftur;
For ȝif þou comest aȝein Concience þou Cumbrest þiseluen,

115

And so witnesseþ Godes Word And holiwrit boþe;

[Qui agit contra conscientiam, edificat ad iehennam.]

Bote ȝif þow worche bi godus word I warne þe for þe beste,
What so men worden of þe wraþþe þe neuere;
Catoun Counseileþ so tak [kepe] of his teching,

Cum recte viuas, ne cures verba malorum;

Bote suffre and sitte stille And sech þou no furre,
And beo glad of þe grace þat God haþ þe I-sent;
For ȝif þou cumse to Clymbe and Coueyte herre,
Þou miht leose þi louhnesse for a luitel pruyde.

I haue lerned hou lewede men han lered heore children,
Þat selden Moseþ þe Marbelston þat men ofte treden;

And Riht so walkers þat walken A-bouten
From Religion to Religion Recheles ben þei euere.
And men þat Cunne mony Craftes Clergie hit telleþ,
Þruft or þeodam with hem selden is I-seye;

Qui circuit omne genus, [nullius est generis.]

Poul þe Apostel In his pistel wrot
In ensaumple of suche Rennars a-boute,
And for wisdam Is writen as witnesseþ Clerkes,

116

[In ea vocacione qua vocati estis, in eadem permaneatis].

Ȝif þou beo Mon I-Mariet Monk, oþur chanoun,
Hold þe stable and studefast And strengþe þi-seluen
To beo blesset for þi beryng ȝe, Beggere þauh þou weore!
Loke þou grucche not on god þauȝ he þe ȝeue luytel,
Beo payed wiþ þi porcion porore or Ricchore.
Þus in drede lyþ Dowel And Dobet to soffren,
For þorw soffraunce seo þou miht hou souereyn[es] Ariseþ;

Qui se humiliat, [exaltabitur, &c.];

And so lerede vs luc þat lyȝede neuere.
And þus of drede and his dede Dobest aryseþ,
Whuch is Flour and Fruit I-fostred of Boþe.

Riht as þe Rose þat Red is and swote,
Out of a Ragged Roote and of Rouwe Breres
Springeþ and spredeþ þat spicers desyreþ.

Or as whete out of a weod waxeþ vppon eorþe,
So Dobest out of Dowel and Dobet doþ springe
A-Mong men of þis [molde] þat Meke ben, or kuynde;
For loue of heore louhnesse vr lord ȝiueþ hem grace
Such werkes to worche þat he is with apayet.

117

Furst and foreward to folk þat ben I-weddet,
And libbeþ as heore lawe wole hit likeþ God almihti;
For þorw wedlac þe world stont hose wol hit I-knowe.
Þei ben Ricchest in Reame and þe Rote of dowel;
For of heore kuynde þei come þat confessours beþ nempned,
Boþe Maydens and Martires Monkes an Ancres,
Kynges and Knihtes and alle cunne Clerkes,
Barouns and Burgeis and Bonde Men of tounes.

Fals folk and Feiþles þeoues and lyȝers
Ben Conseyuet in Curset tyme as Caym was on Eue,
After þat Adam and Eue hedden eten of þe Appel
Aȝeyn þe heste of him þat hem of nouȝt made.

An Angel in haste þennes hem tornde
In-to þis wrecchede world to wonen and to libben
[In tene & in trauaile to here lyues ende];
In þat Corsede Constellacion þei knewen to-gedere,
And Brouȝten forþ [a barn] þat muche bale [wrouȝte.]

Caym men cleped him In Cursed tyme engendret,
And so seiþ þe sauter seo hit whon þe likeþ,

Concepit in dolore, [et peperit iniquitatem, &c.]

And alle þat come of þat Caym Crist hem hatede Aftur,
And Mony Milions mo of Men and of Wymmen

118

Þat of Seth and his Suster seþþen forþ coome;
For þei Marieden to corsed Men þat comen of Caymes kuynde.
For alle þat comen of þat Caym A-Cursed þei weren,
And alle þat couplede hem to þat kun crist hem hatede dedliche.

Forþi he sende to [Seth] And seide him bi an Angel,
To kepe his cun from Caymes þat þei coupled not to-gedere.

And seþþen [Seth] and his suster sed weren spoused to Caymes,
A-ȝeyn Godes heste Gurles þei geeten,
Þat God was wroþ with heor werk And suche wordes seide,

Penitet me [fecisse hominem];

And is þus muche to Mene A-monges ȝou alle,
Þat I makede Mon nou hit me for-þinkeþ;

And com to Noe Anon And bad him not lette
Swiþe to schapen A schup of schides and Bordes;
Him-self and his sones þre And seþþen heore wyues,
Bringen hem to þe Bot And byden þer-Inne,
Til Fourti dawes ben folfuld [þat] þe flod haue I-wassche
Clene awey þe cursede blod þat Caym haþ I-maket.

119

‘Beestes þat now ben mouwen [banne] þe tyme
Þat euere þat Cursede Caym Com vppon eorþe;
Alle schulen dye for his dedes Bi Dounes and hulles,
Boþe Fisch and Foules forþ wiþ oþer beestes,
Out-taken Eihte soules And of vche beest A Couple,
Þat in þe schynglede schup schullen ben I-saued;
Elles schal al dye and to helle weende.’

Þus þorw Cursede Caym Com Care vppon alle;
For [Seth] and his suster children spouseden eiþer oþer,
Aȝeyn þe lawe of vr lord lyȝen to-gedere,
And weoren Maried at Mischef as Men doþ now heore children.
For summe as I seo nou soþ for to tellen,
For Couetise of Catel vnkuyndeliche beoþ maried,
And Careful Concepcion comeþ of such weddyng,

Also bifel of þat folk þat I beo-fore schewede.
Hit is an vn-Comely Couple be Cryst, as me þinkeþ,
To ȝeuen a ȝong wenche to an old feble Mon,
Or to wedden an Old widewe for weolþe of hire goodes,
Þat neuer schal Child bere bote hit beo in hire Armes.

In Ielesye Ioyeles and Ianglynge in Bedde

120

Mony peire seþþen þe pestilence han pliht hem togedere;
Þe Fruit þat þei bringen forþ ben mony foule wordes,
Han þei none children bote chestes and choppes hem bitwene.

Þauȝ þei don hem to [donmowe but þe deuel helpe]
To folewen aftur þe Flucchen fecche þei hit neuere;
Bote ȝif þei boþe ben forswore [þat bacoun þei tyne].

Forþi I Counseile alle Cristene coueite not ben Iweddet
For Couetyse of Catel ne of kun Riche;
Bote Maydens and [Maydens maccheþ ou ysamme,]
Widewers and widewes [wercheþ riȝt] also,
And þenne glade ȝe god þat alle goodes sendeþ!

For in vn-tyme treweli bi-twene Mon and wommon
Schulde no Bed-bourde be bote Boþe weore clene
Of lyf and eke in loue and in lawe alse.
Þat deede derne do no mon scholde,
As is vset, bi-twene sengle and sengle;

121

Seþþen lawe haþ I-loket þat vche mon haue a make
In Mariage and Matrimoyne I-Medlet to-gedere,
And worche þat with his wyf and with no wommon elles.

Þat oþer-gates ben I-geten [for gadelynges ben holden,
Þat ben false folke and false heires] fyndlynges and lyȝers,
Vn-Gracios to gete loue or eni good elles,

Bote wandren as wolues and wasten ȝif þei mouwen.
A-ȝeyn Dowel þei don vuele and þe deuel plesen,
And aftur heore deþ day schul dwelle wiþ þe schrewe,
Bute God ȝiue hem Grace heer to A-Mende.

Þenne is Dowel to dreden and Dobet to suffren,
And so comeþ Dobest aboute And bringeþ a-doun Modi,
And þat is wikkede wil þat Mony [werke] schendeþ.”

122

PASSUS XI.

[Passus secundus de dowel, &c.]

Þenne hedde wit A wyf was hoten dam Studie,
Þat [lene was of lich] and of louh chere.
Heo was wonderliche wroþ þat wit me þus tauhte,
And al starinde Dam Studie steorneliche seide,

“Wel artou witti,” quod heo “wisdom to telle
To Fayturs or to Fooles þat Frentik ben of wittes!”
And Blamede him for his Beere And Bad him beo stille
Wiþ suche wyse wordes to wisse eny fooles.

And seide, “Noli mittere Margeri perles
Among hogges þat han hawes at heore wille;
Þei don bot drauele þeron draf weore hem leuere
Þen al þe presciouse Peerles þat in paradys waxen.

I sigge hit bi þulke,” quod heo “þat bi heore werkes schewen
Þat hem weore leuere lond and lordschupe on eorþe,
Richesse, Rentes or Reste at heore wille
Þen Al þe soþ sawes þat Salamon seide euere.

123

Wisdam and wit nou is not worþ a Russche
But hit beo [cardet] with Couetise as cloþers doþ heor wolle,
Þat Conterfeteþ disseites and Conspiret wronges,
And ledeþ forþ A loueday to lette þe treweþe;
Þat suche craftes cunnen to counseil beoþ I-clept,
And ben serued as syres þat serueþ þe deuel.

Iob þe Ientel in his Ieestes seide,

Quare via impiorum prosperatur, bene est omnibus qui praue et inique agunt?

Ac he þat holy writ haþ euer in his mouþe,
And con tellen of Tobie And þe Twelue Apostles,
And prechen of þe penaunce þat Pilatus wrouhte
To Iesu þe Ientil þat Iewes to-drowe
On Cros vppon Caluarie as Clerkes vs telleþ;—

Luytel is he loued or leten bi þat such a lessun Redeþ,
Or Daunseled or Drawen forþ þis Disours witen þe soþe;
For ȝif Harlotrie ne Holpe hem þe bet (haue God my soule!)
More þen Musyk or Makyng of Crist,
Wolde neuer kyng ne kniht ne Canoun of Seynt poules
Ȝeuen hem to heore ȝeres-ȝiue þe value of a grote!

Bote Munstralsye and Murþe A-Mong Men is nouþe;
Lecherie and losengrie and loseles tales,
And geten gold with grete oþes beoþ gamus nou A dayes.

124

But ȝif þei Carpen of Crist (þis Clerkes and þis lewede)
Atte Mete in heor Murþe whon Munstrals beoþ stille,

Þenne telleþ þei of þe Trinite hou two slowen þe þridde,
And Bringeþ forþ Ballede Resouns tak Bernard to witnesse,
And puyteþ forþ presumpciun to preue þe soþe.

Þus þei drauelen on heore deys þe Deite to knowe,
And demeþ God in-to þe gorge whon heore Gottus follen.
But Carful Mon may crien and clepen atte ȝate
Boþe of hungur and of þurst and for chele quake;
Nis no Mon him neih his nuy to Amende,
Bote honesschen him as an hound and hoten him go þennes!

Luyte loueþ he þat lord þat leneþ him þat Blisse,
Þat þus parteþ with þe pore A parcel whon him neodeþ.
Neore Merci In Mene Men More þen in Riche,
Wiþ Mony defauti Meeles Mihte þei go to bedde.
God is muche in þe gorge of þeose grete Maystres,
Bote A-Mong Mene Men his Merci and his werkes;
And so seiþ þe psauter sech hit In “Memento,”

Ecce Audiuimus eam in effrata, inuenimus [eam] in campis silue.

Clerkes and kete men Carpen of God ofte,

125

And han him muche in heore Mouþ bote Mene men in herte.
Freres and Faytors han founden suche questions
To plese with þis proude men seþþe pestilence tyme;
Þei de-Foulen vre Fey at Festes þer þei sitten.

For nou is vche Boye Bold Broþel an oþer,
To talken of þe Trinite to beon holden A syre,
And fyndeþ forþ fantasyes vr feiþ to Apeyre;
And eke de-Fameþ þe Fader þat vs alle made,
And Craken aȝeyn þe Clergie Crabbede wordes.

‘Whi wolde God vr saueour suffre such a worm
In such a wrong wyse þe wommon to bi-gyle?
Boþe hir hosebonde and heo to helle þorw him wenten,
And heore seed for þat sunne þe same wo drien.’

Suche Motyues þei meuen þis Maistres in heor glorie,
And makeþ Men Misbileeue þat [musen on] heore wordes.

But Austin þe Olde for alle suche precheþ,
And for suche tale tellers such a teeme scheweþ,

Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.

Þis wilneþ ȝe neuer to wite whi þat God wolde
Soffre Sathan his sed to bi-gyle;

126

But leeueþ on þat lore þat lereþ holichirche,
And preye him of pardoun and penaunce in þi lyue,
And for his muchele Merci to amenden vs heere.
For alle þat wilneþ [to wite þe] weyes of god Almihti,
I wolde his eȝe weore in his ers and his heele aftur;
Þat euer eft Wilneþ to wite whi þat God wolde
Soffre Sathan his seed to bi-gyle,
Or Iudas þe Ieuȝ Iesu bi-traye;
Al was as he wolde lord, I-heried be þou!
And al [worþ] as þou wolt what so we tellen!

And nou comeþ a Conioun and wolde cacchen of [my] wittes,
What is Dowel from Dobet! nou daffe mot he worþe,
[Siþen] he wilneþ to wite whuche þei ben alle!
Bote he liue in þe leste degre þat longeþ to Dowel,
I dar ben his borw þat Dobet nul he neuere,
Þauȝ Dobest drawe on him day aftur oþur.”

And whon þat wit was I-war hou his wyf tolde,
He bi-com so confoundet he couþe not [mele],
And as doumbe as a dore drouȝ him asyde.
Bote for no Craft þat I couþe ne knelyng to grounde,
I mihte gete no greyn of [his] grete wittes,
But al lauȝwhinge he loutede and lokede vppon Studie,
In signe þat I schulde bi-sechen hire of grace.

127

And whon I wuste of his wil to his wyf con I knele,
And seide, “Merci, Madame, ȝoure mon schal I [worþe],
To worchen ȝoure wille while my lyf dureþ;
[Kenne] me kuyndely to knowen what Is Dowel.”

“For þi Mekenesse, Mon,” quod heo “and for þi Milde speche,
I schal [kenne] þe to my Cosyn þat Clergye is I-hoten.
He haþ wedded a wyf wiþ-Inne þis wikes sixe,
Is sib to þe seuen Ars þat scripture is I-nempnet;
Þei two, as Ich hope after my be-sechyng,
Schul wisse þe to Dowel I dar vndertake.”

Þenne was I as Fayn as Foul on feir morwen,
Gladdore þen þe gleo-Mon is of his grete ȝiftes,
And askede hire þe heiȝe wey wher Clergye dwelleþ,
“And tel me sum tokne to him for tyme is þat I wende.”

“I schal teche þe þe heiȝe wey,” quod heo “from hennes to soffre-
Boþe-weole-and-wo ȝif þat þou wolt leorne,
And Ryd forþ bi Richesse Reste þe nouȝt þer-Inne;
For ȝif þou Couple þe to him to Clergie comestou neuere.
And eke þe longe launde þat Lecherie hette,
Leue him on þi luft half A large myle or more,
Forte þou come to a Court kep-wel-þi-tonge-
From-lesynges-and-lyȝeres-speche- and-lykerous-drinke.

Þenne schaltou seo Sobre And Symple-of-speche,

128

Þat [eche wyȝt] beo in wil his wit þe to schewe.

So schalt þou come to Clergye þat con mony þinges;
Sei him þis [signe] þat I sette him to scole,
And þat I grette wel his wyf for I wrot hire a Bulle,
And sette hire to sapience and to hire psauter I-gloset.

Lo! logyk I lered hire and al þe lawe after,
And alle Musons In Musyk I made hire to knowe.
Plato þe Poyete I put him furste to Boke,
Aristotle and oþer mo to Arguen I tauȝte;
Gramer for [gurles] I gon furste to write,
And Beot hem wiþ a Baleys But ȝif þei wolde lernen.

Of alle Maner Craftus I con Counterfeten heor tooles,
Of Carpunters and keruers; I [kende] furst Masouns,
And lered hem liuel and lyne þauȝ I loke dimme.

Bote Teologye haþ teoned me ten score tymes;
For þe more I [muse] þeron þe [mistiloker] hit semeþ,
And þe deppore I diuinede þe [derkore] me þouȝte.
Hit is no science forsoþe to sotilen þer-Inne,
Ncore þe loue þat lyhþ þerinne a lewed þing hit weore.
Bote for hit [let] best bi loue I leeue hit þe betere;

129

For þat loue is þe lord þat lakkede neuer grace;

Leef wel þer-vppon ȝif þou þenke Dowel;
For Dobet and Dobest beoþ drawen of [loue] scole.
In oþer science hit seiþ seo hit in Catoun,

Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est [fidus] Amicus, [Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.]

But Theologie techeþ not so hose takeþ kepe,
He [kenneþ] us þe contrarie aȝeyn Catons wordes,
And biddeþ [vs] ben as Breþeren and Blessen vr enemys,
And louen hem þat lyȝen on vs lellyche at heor neode,
And do good aȝeyn vuel; God him-self hoteþ,
And seide hit him-self In ensaumple for þe beste,

Necesse est vt veniant scandala.

Bote Astronomye is hard þing and vuel to knowe,
Gemetrie and Gemensye is gynful of speche,
Þat worcheþ with þeose þreo þriueþ he late,
For sorcerye Is þe souereyn [bok þat to þat science longiþ,
Ȝet arn þere febicchis of Forellis] of mony mennes wittes.

Experimentis of Alconomye Of Alberdes makynge,
Nigromancye and perimancie þe pouke to Rise makeþ;

130

Ȝif þou þenche Dowel dele with hem neuere.
Alle þeose sciences siker, I my-seluen
Haue I-founded hem furst folk to deceyue.

I be-take þe to crist,” quod heo “I con teche þe no betere.”
I seide, “graunt Merci, Madame” And Mekeliche hire grette,
And wente forþ on my wei withouten more lettynge,
And fond as heo fore-tolde and forþ gon I wende,

And ar I coome to clergye couþe I neuer stunte.
I grette þe goode mon as þe gode wyf me tauȝte,
And afterward his wyf I worschupet hem boþe,
And tolde hire þe tokenes þat me I-tauȝt were.
Was neuer gome vppon grounde seþþen God made heuene,
Feirore vndurfonge ne frendloker maad at ese,
Þen I my-self soþli so sone as heo wuste
Þat I was of wittes hous and with his wif Dam Studie.

Curteisliche Clergye Clupte me and Custe,
And asked hou wit ferde and eke his wyf Studie.
And I seide soþlyche “þei sende me hider
To leorne at ȝou Dowel and Dobet after,
And seþþen Afturward to seo sumwhat of Dobest.”

“Hit is a wel feir lyf,” quod heo “Among þe lewed peple,

131

[Actif it] is I-hoten hosebondes hit vsen;
[Trewe tilieris on erþe taillours & souteris,
And alle kyne crafty men þat cunne here foode wynne,
Wiþ any trewe trauaille toille for here foode,
Diken or deluen do-wel it hatte
To breke beggeris bred & bakken hem with cloþis,
Counforte þe carful þat in castel ben fetterid,
And seken out þe seke & sende hem þat hem nediþ;
Obedient as breþeren & sustren to oþere;
Þus bed þe do-bet so beriþ witnesse þe sauter;

Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum, habitare, Fratres, in vnum.

Sike with þe sory singe with þe glade,

Gaudere cum gaudentibus; Et flere cum flentibus,

[Dredles, is dobet dobest wot þe sothe!]
Sire dobest haþ benefices so is he best worþi,
be þat god in þe gospel grauntiþ & techiþ;

Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur in regno celorum.

Forþi is dobest [a] bisshopis pere,
Prince ouer godis peple to prechen or to chaste.
Dobet doþ ful wel & dewid he is also,
And haþ possessions & pluralites for pore menis sake.

132

For mendynaunt; at mischiefe þe men were dewid;
And þat is riȝtful religioun none renneris aboute,
Ne no leperis ouer lond ladies to shryue.
Gregory þe grete clerke a good pope in his tyme,
Of religioun þe rewele he reherside in his morals,
And seide it in ensaumple þat þei shulde do þe betere:
‘Whanne fisshes faile þe flood or þe fresshe watir,
Þei diȝe for þe drouȝte whanne þei dreiȝe lengen;
Riȝt so be religioun it roileþ and steruiþ,
Þat out of couent & cloistre coueiten to libben’.
Ac now is religioun a ridere & a rennere aboute,
A ledere of [louedayes] and a lond biggere,
Poperiþ on a palfrey to toune & to toune,
A bidowe or a baselard he beriþ be his side;
Godis flessh & his fet & hise fyue woundis
Arn more in his mynde þan þe memorie of his foundours.
Þis is þe lif of þis lordis þat lyuen shulde wiþ do-bet,
And wel-a-wey wers and I shulde al telle.
I wende þat kinghed & kniȝthed & caiseris wiþ Erlis
Wern do-wel & do-bet & do-best of hem alle;
For I haue seiȝe it my-selfe & siþþen red it aftir,
How Crist counseilliþ þe comune & kenneþ hem þis tale,

Super cathedram moisi sederunt principes.

For-þi I wende þat þo wyes wern do-best of alle!

133

I nile not scorne,” quod scripture “but scryueyns liȝe;
Kinghod & kniȝthod for auȝt I can aspie,
Helpiþ nouȝt to heuene at one ȝeris ende,
Ne richesse ne rentis ne realte of lordis.
Poul prouiþ it is vnpossible riche men in heuene,
Ac pore men in pacience & penaunce togidere
Hauen eritage in heuene ac riche men non.”—
“Contra,” quod I, “be Crist! þat can I þe wisse,
And prouen it be þe pistil þat petir is nempnid;

Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, saluus erit.”

“Þat is in extremis,” quod scripture “as sarisines & Iewis
Mowe be sauid so & so is oure beleue;
Þat [an] vncristene in þat cas may cristene an heþene,
And for his lele beleue whanne he his lif tyneþ,
Haue eritage in heuene as an heiȝ cristene.
Ac cristene men, god wot comiþ not so to heuene;
For cristene han a degre & is þe comun speche,

Dilige deum, etc., Et proximum tuum sicut teipsum.

Godis word witnessiþ we shuln ȝiue & dele oure enemys,
And alle men þat arn nedy [as] pore men & suche,

Dum tempus est, operemur bonum ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.

Alle kynne creatures þat to crist beleuiþ

134

We be holde heiȝly to herie & honoure,
And ȝiuen hem of oure good as good as oure seluen,
And souereynliche to suche þat sewen oure beleue;
Þat is, iche cristene man be kynde to oþer,
And siþen hem to helpe in hope hem to amende.
To harme hem ne slen hem god hiȝte vs neuere;
For he seiþ it hym-selfe in his ten hestis,
[Non] mecaberis, ne sle nouȝt is þe kynde englissh,

For, Michi [vindicta], et ego retribuam;

I shal punisshen in purcatory or in þe put of helle
Eche man for his misdede but mercy it make.”
“Ȝet am I neuere þe ner for nouȝt I haue walkid
To wyte what is do-wel witterly in herte;
For how so I werche in þis world [wrong] oþer ellis,
I was markid, withoute mercy & myn name entrid
In þe legende of lif longe er I were;
Or ellis vndir-writen for wykkid as witnessiþ þe gospel,

Nemo ascendet ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit.

And I leue on oure lord & on no lettrure betere;
For salamon þe sage þat sapience made,
God ȝaf [hym] grace & richesse to-gidere
For to reule his reaum riȝt at his wille;
Dede he not wel & wisly as holy chirche techiþ,
Boþe in werke & in woord in world in his tyme?
Aristotle & he who wrouȝte betere?

135

And al holy chirche holden hem in helle!
And was þere neuere in þis world to wysere of werkis;
For alle cunnynge clerkis siþþe crist ȝede on erþe
Taken ensaumples of here sawis in sarmonis þat þei maken,
And be here werkis & here wordis wissen vs to dowel;
And ȝif I shal werke be here werkis to wynne me heuene,
And for here werkis & for here wyt wende to pyne,
Þanne wrouȝte I vnwisly wiþ alle þe wyt þat I lere!
A goode friday, I fynde a feloun was sauid
Þat hadde lyued al his lyf wiþ lesinges & þeftis;
And for he kneuȝ on þe crois & to crist shref hym,
Sonnere hadde he saluacion þanne seint Ion þe baptist,
Or Adam or ysaye or any of þe prophetis,
Þat hadde leyn with lucifer manye longe ȝeris;
A robbere hadde remission raþere þanne þei alle,
Withoute penaunce of purcatorie to haue paradis for euere.
Þanne marie þe maudeleyn who miȝte do wers?
Or who dede wers þanne dauid þat vrie destroyede?
Or poule þe apostil þat no pite ne hadde,
Cristene kynde to kille to deþe?
And arn [none] for soþe souereynes in heuene,
As þise þat wrouȝte wykkidly in world whanne þei were.
And ȝet I forget [ferþere] of fyue wyttis techinge,

136

Þat clergie of cristis mouþ comendite [was euer];
For he seide it hym-selfe to summe of his disciplis,

[Cum] steteritis ante presides, nolite cogitare [quid loquamini];

And is as muche to mene to men þat ben lewid,
‘Wheþer ȝe ben aposid of princes or of prestis of þe lawe,
For to answere hem haue ȝe no doute,
For I shal graunte ȝow grace of god þat ȝe seruen,
Þe help of þe holy gost to answere hem at wille.’
Þe douȝtiest doctour or dyuynour of þe trinite,
Þat Austyn þe olde & hiȝeste of þe foure,
Seide þis for a sarmoun (so me god helpe!)

Ecce ipsi [ydiote] rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapientes in infernum mergemur;

And is to mene in oure mouþ more ne lesse,
‘Arn none raþere yrauisshid fro þe riȝte beleue
Þanne arn þise grete clerkis þat conne many bokis;
Ne none sonnere ysauid ne saddere of consience,
Þanne pore peple as plouȝmen and pastours of bestis.’
Souteris & seweris suche lewide iottis
Percen wiþ a pater noster þe paleis of heuene,
Wiþoute penaunce, at here partynge in-to heiȝe blisse!

Breuis oracio penetrat celum.”