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Piers Plowman
William Langland
The Prologue
P.1: In a somer seson, whan softe was the sonne,
P.2: I shoop me into shroudes as I a sheep were,
P.3: In habite as an heremite unholy of werkes,
P.4: Wente wide in this world wondres to here.
P.5: Ac on a May morwenynge on Malverne hilles
P.6: Me bifel a ferly, of Fairye me thoghte.
P.7: I was wery forwandred and wente me to reste
P.8: Under a brood bank by a bourne syde;
P.9: And as I lay and lenede and loked on the watres,
P.10: I slombred into a slepyng, it sweyed so murye.
P.11: Thanne gan I meten a merveillous swevene —
P.12: That I was in a wildernesse, wiste I nevere where.
P.13: A[c] as I biheeld into the eest an heigh to the sonne,
P.14: I seigh a tour on a toft trieliche ymaked,
P.15: A deep dale bynethe, a dongeon therinne,
P.16: With depe diches and derke and dredfulle of sighte.
P.17: A fair feeld ful of folk fond I ther bitwene —
P.18: Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche,
P.19: Werchynge and wandrynge as the world asketh.
P.20: Somme putten hem to the plough, pleiden ful selde,
P.21: In settynge and sowynge swonken ful harde,
P.22: And wonnen that thise wastours with glotonye destruyeth
P.23: And somme putten hem to pride, apparailed hem therafter,
P.24: In contenaunce of clothynge comen disgised-
P.25: In preieres and penaunce putten hem manye,
P.26: Al for the love of Oure Lord lyveden ful streyte
P.27: In hope to have heveneriche blisse —
P.28: As ancres and heremites that holden hem in hire selles,
P.29: Coveiten noght in contree to cairen aboute
P.30: For no likerous liflode hire likame to plese.
P.31: And somme chosen chaffare; they cheveden the bettre —
P.32: As it semeth to oure sight that swiche men thryveth;
P.33: And somme murthes to make as mynstralles konne,
P.34: And geten gold with hire glee — [gilt]lees, I leeve-
P.35: Ac japeres and jangeleres, Judas children,
P.36: Feynen hem fantasies, and fooles hem maketh —
P.37: And han wit at wille to werken if they wolde.
P.38: That Poul precheth of hem I wol nat preve it here:
P.39: Qui loquitur turpiloquium is Luciferes hyne-
P.40: Bidderes and beggeres faste aboute yede
P.41: [Til] hire bely and hire bagge [were] bredful ycrammed,
P.42: Faiteden for hire foode, foughten at the ale.
P.43: In glotonye, God woot, go thei to bedde,
P.44: And risen with ribaudie, tho Roberdes knaves;
P.45: Sleep and sory sleuthe seweth hem evere.
P.46: Pilgrymes and palmeres plighten hem togidere
P.47: For to seken Seint Jame and seintes at Rome;
P.48: Wenten forth in hire wey with many wise tales,
P.49: And hadden leve to lyen al hire lif after.
P.50: I seigh somme that seiden thei hadde ysought seintes:
P.51: To ech a tale that thei tolde hire tonge was tempred to lye
P.52: Moore than to seye sooth, it semed bi hire speche.
P.53: Heremytes on an heep with hoked staves ,
P.54: Wenten to Walsyngham — and hire wenches after:
P.55: Grete lobies and longe that lothe were to swynke
P.56: Clothed hem in copes to ben knowen from othere,
P.57: And shopen hem heremytes hire ese to have.
P.58: I fond there freres, alle the foure ordres,
P.59: Prechynge the peple for profit of [the wombe]:
P.60: Glosed the gospel as hem good liked;
P.61: For coveitise of copes construwed it as thei wolde.
P.62: Manye of thise maistres mowe clothen hem at likyng
P.63: For hire moneie and hire marchaundise marchen togideres.
P.64: Sith charite hath ben chapman and chief to shryve lordes
P.65: Manye ferlies han fallen in a fewe yeres.
P.66: But Holy Chirche and hii holde bettre togidres
P.67: The mooste meschief on molde is mountynge up faste.
P.68: Ther preched a pardoner as he a preest were:
P.69: Broughte forth a bulle with bisshopes seles,
P.70: And seide that hymself myghte assoillen hem alle
P.71: Of falshede of fastynge, of avowes ybroken. -
P.72: Lewed men leved hym wel and liked hise wordes,
P.73: Comen up knelynge to kissen his bulle.
P.74: He bonched hem with his brevet and blered hire eighen,
P.75: And raughte with his rageman rynges and broches.
P.76: — Thus ye gyven youre gold glotons to helpe,
P.77: And leneth it losels that leccherie haunten"
P.78: Were the bisshop yblessed and worth bothe his eris,
P.79: His seel sholde noght be sent to deceyve the peple.
P.80: Ac it is noght by the bisshop that the boy precheth —
P.81: For the parisshe preest and the pardoner parten the silver
P.82: That the povere [peple] of the parissche sholde have if they ne were.
P.83: Persons and parisshe preestes pleyned hem to the bisshop
P.84: That hire parisshes weren povere sith the pestilence tyme,
P.85: To have a licence and leve at London to dwelle,
P.86: And syngen ther for symonie, for silver is swete.
P.87: Bisshopes and bachelers, bothe maistres and doctours —
P.88: That han cure under Crist, and crownynge in tokene
P.89: And signe that thei sholden shryven hire parisshens,
P.90: Prechen and praye for hem, and the povere fede —
P.91: Liggen at Londoun in Lenten and ellis.
P.92: Somme serven the King and his silver tellen,
P.93: In Cheker and in Chauncelrie chalangen his dettes
P.94: Of wardes and of wardemotes, weyves and streyves.
P.95: And somme serven as servaunts lordes and ladies,
P.96: And in stede of stywardes sitten and demen.
P.97: Hire messe and hire matyns and many of hire houres
P.98: Arn doone undevoutliche; drede is at the laste
P.99: Lest Crist in Consistorie acorse ful manye"
P.100: I parceyved of the power that Peter hadde to kepe —
P.101: To bynden and unbynden, as the Book telleth —
P.102: How he it lefte with love as Oure Lord highte
P.103: Amonges foure vertues, most vertuous of alle vertues,
P.104: That cardinals ben called and closynge yates
P.105: There Crist is in kyngdom, to close and to shette,
P.106: And to opene it to hem and hevene blisse shewe.
P.107: Ac of the Cardinals at court that kaughte of that name
P.108: And power presumed in hem a Pope to make
P.109: To han the power that Peter hadde. impugnen I nelle —
P.110: For in love and in lettrure the eleccion bilongeth;
P.111: Forthi I kan and kan naught of court speke moore.
P.112: Thanne kam ther a Kyng: Knyghthod hym ladde;
P.113: Might of the communes made hym to regne.
P.114: And thanne cam Kynde Wit and clerkes he made,
P.115: For to counseillen the Kyng and the Commune save.
P.116: The Kyng and Knyghthod and Clergie bothe
P.117: Casten that the Commune sholde hem [communes] fynde.
P.118: The Commune contreved of Kynde Wit craftes,
P.119: And for profit of al the peple plowmen ordeyned
P.120: To tilie and to travaille as trewe lif asketh.
P.121: The Kyng and the Commune and Kynde Wit the thridde
P.122: Shopen lawe and leaute — eeh lif to knowe his owene.
P.123: Thanne loked up a lunatik, a leene thyng withalle,
P.124: And knelynge to the Kyng clergially he seide,
P.125: "Crist kepe thee, sire Kyng, and thi kyngryche,
P.126: And lene thee lede thi lond so leaute thee lovye,
P.127: And for thi rightful rulyng be rewarded in hevene"'
P.128: And sithen in the eyr on heigh an aungel of hevene
P.129: Lowed to speke in Latyn — for lewed men ne koude
P.130: Jangle ne jugge that justifie hem sholde,
P.131: But suffren and serven — forthi seide the aungel:
P.132: " Sum Rex, sum Princeps",-neutrum fortasse deinceps "
P.132: O qui iura regis Christi specialia regis,
P.132: Hoc quod agas melius — iustus es, esto pius "
P.135: Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate.
P.135: Qualia vis metere, talia grana sere:
P.135: Si ius nudatur, nudo de iure metatur;
P.135: Si seritur pietas, de pietate metas'.
P.136: Thanne greved hym a goliardeis, a gloton of wordes,
P.140: And to the aungel an heigh answerde after:
P.141: " Dum " rex" a " regere " dicatur nomen habere,
P.141: Nomen habet sine re nisi studet iura tenere'.
P.142: Thanne [c]an al the commune crye in vers of Latyn
P.143: To the Kynges counseil — construe whoso wolde —
P.143: "Precepta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis"'
P.144: With that ran ther a route of ratons at ones
P.145: And smale mees myd hem: mo than a thousand
P.146: Comen to a counseil for the commune profit;
P.147: For a cat of a court cam whan hym liked
P.150: And overleep hem lightliche and laughte hem at his wille,
P.151: And pleide with hem perillousli and possed aboute.
P.152: "For doute of diverse dredes we dar noght wel loke"
P.153: And if we grucche of his gamen he wol greven us alle —
P.154: Cracchen us or clawen us and in hise clouches holde.
P.155: That us lotheth the lif er he late us passe.
P.156: Mighte we with any wit his wille withstonde,
P.157: We myghte be lordes olofte and lyven at oure ese'.
P.158: A raton of renoun, moost renable of tonge,
P.159: Seide for a sovereyn [salve] to hem alle,
P.160: "I have yseyen segges', quod he, "in the Cite of Londoun
P.161: Beren beighes ful brighte abouten hire nekkes,
P.162: And somme colers of crafty work; uncoupled they wenden
P.163: Bothe in wareyne and in waast where hem leve liketh,
P.164: And outher while thei arn elliswhere, as I here telle.
P.165: Were ther a belle on hire beighe, by Jesus, as me thynketh,
P.166: Men myghte witen wher thei wente and awey renne.
P.167: And right so', quod that raton, "reson me sheweth
P.168: To bugge a belle of bras or of bright silver
P.169: And knytten it on a coler for oure commune profit
P.170: And hangen it upon the cattes hals — thanne here we mowen
P.171: Wher he ryt or rest or rometh to pleye;
P.172: And if hym list for to laike, thanne loke we mowen
P.173: And peeren in his presence the while hym pleye liketh,
P.174: And if hym wratheth, be war and his wey shonye'.
P.175: Al the route of ratons to this reson assented;
P.176: Ac tho the belle was ybrought and on the beighe hanged
P.177: Ther ne was raton in al the route, for al the reaume of France,
P.178: That dorste have bounden the belle aboute the cattes nekke,
P.179: Ne hangen it aboute his hals al Engelond to wynne,
P.180: [Ac] helden hem unhardy and hir counseil feble,
P.181: And leten hire laboure lost and al hire longe studie.
P.182: A mous that muche good kouthe, as me tho thoughte,
P.183: Strook forth sternely and stood bifore hem alle,
P.184: And to the route of ratons reherced thise wordes:
P.185: "Though we hadde ykilled the cat, yet sholde ther come another
P.186: To cracchen us and al oure kynde, though we cropen under benches.
P.187: Forthi I counseille al the commune to late the cat worthe,
P.188: And be we nevere so bolde the belle hym to shewe.
P.188: The Vision of Piers Plowman
P.189: The while he caccheth conynges he coveiteth noght oure caroyne,
P.190: But fedeth hym al with venyson; defame we hym nevere.
P.191: For bettre is a litel los than a long sorwe:
P.192: The maze among us alle, theigh we mysse a sherewe!
P.193: For I herde my sire seyn, is seven yeer ypassed,
P.194: ""Ther the cat is a kitoun, the court is ful elenge''.
P.195: That witnesseth Holy Writ, whoso wole it rede —
P.196: Ve terre ubi puer rex est, &c.
P.197: For may no renk ther reste have for ratons by nyghte.
P.198: For many mennes malt we mees wolde destruye,
P.199: And also ye route of ratons rende mennes clothes,
P.200: Nere the cat of the court that kan you overlepe;
P.201: For hadde ye rattes youre [raik] ye kouthe noght rule yowselve.
P.202: "I seye for me', quod the mous, " I se so muchel after,
P.203: Shal nevere the cat ne the kiton by my counseil be greved,
P.204: Ne carpynge of this coler that costed me nevere.
P.205: And though it costned me catel, biknowen it I nolde,
P.206: But suffren as hymself wolde [s]o doon as hym liketh —
P.207: Coupled and uncoupled to cacche what thei mowe.
P.208: Forthi ech a wis wight I warne — wite wel his owene!'
P.209: (What this metels bymeneth, ye men that ben murye,
P.210: Devyne ye — for I ne dar, by deere God in hevene)!
P.211: Yet hoved ther an hundred in howves of selk —
P.212: Sergeants, it semed, that serveden at the Barre,
P.213: Pleteden for penyes and pounded the lawe,
P.214: And noght for love of Oure Lord unlose hire lippes ones.
P.215: Thow myghtest bettre meete myst on Malverne Hilles
P.216: Than get a "mom' of hire mouth til moneie be shewed!
P.217: Barins and burgeises and bondemen als
P.218: I seigh in this assemblee, as ye shul here after;
P.219: Baksteres and brewesteres and bochiers manye,
P.220: Wollen webbesters and weveres of lynnen,
P.221: Taillours and tynkers and tollers in markettes,
P.222: Masons and mynours and many othere craftes:
P.223: Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers lopen forth somme-
P.224: As dykeres and delveres that doon hire dedes ille
P.225: And dryveth forth the longe day with "Dieu save Dame Emme!'
P.226: Cokes and hire knaves cryden, " Hote pies, hote!
P.227: Goode gees and grys! Go we dyne, go we!'
P.228: Taverners until hem tolden the same:
P.229: "Whit wyn of Oseye and wyn of Gascoigne,
P.230: Of the Ryn and of the Rochel, the roost to defie!'
P.231: — Al this I seigh slepyng, and sevene sythes more.
Piers the Ploughman
Passus One
1.001: What this mountaigne bymeneth and the merke dale
1.002: And the feld ful of folk, I shal yow faire shewe.
1.003: A lovely lady of leere in lynnen yclothed
1.004: Cam doun fom [the] castel and called me faire,
1.005: And seide, "Sone, slepestow? Sestow this peple-
1.006: How bisie they ben aboute the maze?
1.007: The mooste partie of this peple that passeth on this erthe,
1.008: Have thei worship in this world, thei wilne no bettre;
1.009: Of oother hevene than here holde thei no tale'.-
1.010: I was afeed of hire face, theigh she faire weere,
1.011: And seide, " Mercy, madame, what [may] this [be] to mene?'
1.012: "The tour upon the toft', quod she, "Truthe is therinne,
1.013: And wolde that ye wroughte as his word techeth.
1.014: For he is fader of feith and formed yow alle
1.015: Bothe with fel and with face and yaf yow fyve wittes
1.016: For to worshipe hym therwith while that ye ben here.
1.017: And therfore he highte the erthe to helpe yow echone
1.018: Of woilene, of lynnen, of liflode at nede
1.019: In mesurable manere to make yow at ese;
1.020: And comaunded of his curteisie in commune three thynges:
1.021: Are none nedfulle but tho, and nempne hem I thynke,
1.022: And rekene hem by reson — reherce thow hem after.
1.023: "That oon is vesture from chele thee to save,
1.024: And mete at meel for mysese of thiselve,
1.025: And drynke whan thow driest — ac do noght out of reson,
1.026: That thow worthe the wers whan thow werche sholdest.
1.027: For Lot in hise lifdayes, for likynge of drynke,
1.028: Dide by hise doughtres that the devel liked:
1.029: Delited hym in drynke as the devel wolde,
1.030: And leccherie hym laughte, and lay by hem bothe —
1.031: And al he witte it the wyn, that wikked dede:
1.031: Inebriemus eum vino dormiamusque cum eo, ut
1.031: servare possimus de patre nostro semen.
1.032: Thorugh wyn and thorugh wommen ther was Loth acombred,
1.033: And there gat in glotonie gerles that were cherles.
1.034: Forthi dred delitable drynke and thow shalt do the bettre.
1.035: Mesure is medicine, though thow muchel yerne.
1.036: Al is nought good to the goost that the gut asketh,
1.037: Ne liflode to the likame that leef is to the soule.
1.038: Leve nought thi likame, for a liere hym techeth —
1.039: That is the wrecched world, wolde thee bitraye.
1.040: For the fend and thi flessh folwen togidere,
1.041: And that [shendeth] thi soule; set it in thin herte.
1.042: And for thow sholdest ben ywar, I wisse thee the beste.'
1.043: "A, madame, mercy,' quod I, " me liketh wel youre wordes.
1.044: Ac the moneie of this molde that men so faste holdeth —
1.045: Telleth me to whom that tresour appendeth.'
1.046: Go to the Gospel,' quod she, "that God seide hymselven,
1.047: Tho the poeple hym apposede with a peny in the Temple
1.048: Wheither thei sholde therwith worshipe the kyng Cesar.
1.049: And God asked of hem, of whom spak the lettre,
1.050: And the ymage ylike that therinne stondeth?
1.051: Cesares, thei seiden, "we seen it wel echone.'
1.052: ""Reddite Cesari,'' quod God, "" that Cesari bifalleth,
1.053: Et que sunt Dei Deo, or ellis ye don ille.'
1.054: — For rightfully Reson sholde rule yow alle,
1.055: And Kynde Wit be wardeyn youre welthe to kepe,
1.056: And tutour of youre tresor, and take it yow at nede,
1.057: For housbondrie and he holden togidres.'
1.058: Thanne I frayned hire faire, for Hym that hire made,
1.059: "That dongeon in the dale that dredful is of sighte —
1.060: What may it bemeene, madame, I yow biseche?'
1.061: "That is the castel of care — whoso comth therinne
1.062: May banne that he born was to bodi or to soule!
1.063: Therinne wonyeth a wight that Wrong is yhote,
1.064: Fader of falshede — and founded it hymselve.
1.065: Adam and Eve he egged to ille,
1.066: Counseilled Kaym to killen his brother,
1.067: Judas he japed with Jewen silver,
1.068: And sithen on an eller hanged hym after.
1.069: He is lettere of love and lieth hem alle:
1.070: That trusten on his tresour bitrayed arn sonnest.'
1.071: Thanne hadde I wonder in my wit what womman it weere
1.072: That swiche wise wordes of Holy Writ shewed,
1.073: And halsede hire on the heighe name, er she thennes yede,
1.074: What she were witterly that wissed me so faire.
1.075: "Holi Chirche I am,' quod she, thow oughtest me to knowe.
1.076: I underfeng thee first and the feith taughte.
1.077: Thow broughtest me borwes my biddyng to fulfille,
1.078: And to loven me leelly the while thi lif dureth.'
1.079: Thanne I courbed on my knees and cried hire of grace,
1.080: And preide hire pitously to preye for my synnes,
1.081: And also kenne me kyndely on Crist to bileve,
1.082: That I myghte werchen His wille that wroghte me to man:
1.083: "Teche me to no tresor, but tel me this ilke =
1.084: How I may save my soule, that seint art yholden.'
1.085: "Whan alle tresors arn tried,' quod she,-Treuthe is the beste.
1.086: I do it on Deus caritas to deme the sothe;
1.087: It is as dereworthe a drury as deere God hymselven.
1.088: Who is trewe of his tonge and telleth noon oother,
1.089: And dooth the werkes therwith and wilneth no man ille,
1.090: He is a god by the Gospel, agrounde and olofte,
1.091: And ylik to Oure Lord, by Seint Lukes wordes.
1.092: The clerkes that knowen this sholde kennen it aboute,
1.093: For Cristen and uncristen cleymeth it echone.
1.094: " Kynges and knyghtes sholde kepen it by reson —
1.095: Riden and rappen doun in reaumes aboute,
1.096: And taken transgressores and tyen hem faste
1.097: Til treuthe hadde ytermyned hire trespas to the ende.
1.098: For David in hise dayes dubbed knyghtes,
1.099: And dide hem sweren on hir swerd to serven truthe evere.
1.100: And that is the profession apertly that apendeth to knyghtes,
1.101: And naught to Fasten o Friday in fyve score wynter,
1.102: But holden with hym and with here that wolden alle truthe,
1.103: And never leve hem for love ne for lacchynge of silver —
1.104: And whoso passe[th] that point is apostata in the ordre.
1.105: -But Crist, kyngene kyng, knyghted ten —
1.106: Cherubyn and Seraphyn, swiche sevene and another,
1.107: And yaf hem myght in his majestee — the murier hem thoughte —
1.108: And over his meene meynee made hem archangeles;
1.109: Taughte hem by the Trinitee treuthe to knowe,
1.110: To be buxom at his biddyng — he bad hem nought ellis.
1.111: "Lucifer with legions lerned it in hevene,
1.112: [And was the lovelokest to loke after Oure Lord (one)]
1.113: Til he brak buxomnesse; his blisse gan he tyne,
1.114: And fel fro that felawshipe in a fendes liknesse
1.115: into a deep derk helle to dwelle there for evere.
1.116: And mo thousandes myd hym than man kouthe nombre
1.117: Lopen out with Lucifer in lothliche forme
1.118: For thei leveden upon hym that lyed in this manere:
1.119: Ponam pedem in aquilone, et similis ero Altissimo.
1.120: And alle that hoped it myghte be so, noon hevene myghte hem holde,
1.121: But fellen out in fendes liknesse [ful] nyne dayes togideres,
1.122: Til God of his goodnesse [garte the hevene to stekie
1.123: And gan stable it and stynte] and stonden in quiete.
1.124: " Whan thise wikkede wenten out, wonderwise thei fellen —
1.125: Somme in eyr, somme in erthe, somme in helle depe;
1.126: Ac Lucifer lowest lith of hem alle:
1.127: For pride that he putte out, his peyne hath noon ende.
1.128: And alle that werchen with wrong wende thei shulle
1.129: After hir deth day and dwelle with that sherewe;
1.130: Ac tho that werche wel as Holy Writ telleth,
1.131: And enden as I er seide in truthe, that is the beste,
1.132: Mowe be siker that hire soules shul wende to hevene,
1.133: Ther Treuthe is in Trinitee and troneth hem alle.
1.134: Forthi I seye, as I seyde er, by sighte of thise textes —
1.135: Whan alle tresors arn tried, Truthe is the beste.
1.136: Lereth it th[u]s lewed men, for lettred it knoweth —
1.137: That Treuthe is tresor the trieste on erthe.'
1.138: "Yet have I no kynde knowynge,' quod I, "ye mote kenne me bettre
1.139: By what craft in my cors it comseth, and where.'
1.140: "Thow doted daffe!' quod she, dulle are thi wittes.
1.141: To litel Latyn thow lernedest, leode, in thi youthe:
1.141: Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuvenilem!
1.142: It is a kynde knowynge that kenneth in thyn herte
1.143: For to loven thi Lord levere than thiselve,
1.144: No dedly synne to do, deye theigh thow sholdest —
1.145: This I trowe be truthe; who kan teche thee bettre,
1.146: Loke thow suffre hym to seye, and sithen lere it after;
1.147: For thus witnesseth his word; worche thow therafter.
1.148: " For Truthe telleth that love is triacle of hevene:
1.149: May no synne be on hym seene that that spice useth.
1.150: And alle his werkes he wroughte with love as hym liste,
1.151: And lered it Moyses for the leveste thyng and moost lik to hevene,
1.152: And also the plante of pees, moost precious of vertues :
1.153: For hevene myghte nat holden it, so was it hevy of hymself,
1.154: Til it hadde of the erthe eten his fille.
1.155: And whan it hadde of this fold flessh and blood taken,
1.156: Was nevere leef upon lynde lighter therafter,
1.157: And portatif and persaunt as the point of a nedle,
1.158: That myghte noon armure it lette ne none heighe walles.
1.159: " Forthi is love ledere of the Lordes folk of hevene,
1.160: And a meene, as the mair is, [inmiddes] the kyng and the commune;
1.161: Right so is love a ledere and the lawe shapeth:
1.162: Upon man for hise mysdedes the mercyment he taxeth.
1.163: And for to knowen it kyndely — it comseth by myght,
1.164: And in the herte, there is the heed and the heighe welle.
1.165: For in kynde knowynge in herte ther [coms]eth a myght —
1.166: And that falleth to the Fader that formed us alle,
1.167: Loked on us with love and leet his sone dye
1.168: Mekely for oure mysdedes, to amenden us alle.
1.169: And yet wolde he hem no wo that wroughte hym that peyne,
1.170: But mekely with mouthe mercy he bisoughte,
1.171: To have pite of that peple that peyned hym to dethe.
1.172: " Here myghtow sen ensample in hymself oone —
1.173: That he was myghtful and meke, and mercy gan graunte
1.174: To hem that hengen hym heigh and his herte thirled.
1.175: " Forthi I rede yow riche, haveth ruthe of the povere,
1.176: Though ye be myghty to mote, beeth meke in youre werkes,
1.177: For the same mesure that ye mete, amys outher ellis,
1.178: Ye shulle ben weyen therwith whan ye wenden hennes:
1.178: Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis.
1.179: For though ye be trewe of youre tonge and treweliche wynne,
1.180: And as chaste as a child that in chirche wepeth,
1.181: But if ye loven leelly and lene the povere
1.182: Of swich good as God sent, goodliche parteth,
1.183: Ye ne have na moore merite in Masse ne in houres
1.184: Than Malkyn of hire maydenhede, that no man desireth.
1.185: For James the gentile jugged in hise bokes
1.186: That feith withouten feetis (feblere] than nought,
1.187: And as deed as a dorenai but if the dedes folwe:
1.187: Fides sine operibus mortua est &c.
1.188: "Forthi chastite withouten charite worth cheyned in helle;
1.189: It is as lewed as a lampe that no light is inne.
1.190: Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, ac charite is aweye;
1.191: Are none hardere than hii whan [hii] ben avaunced:
1.192: Unkynde to hire kyn and to alle Cristene,
1.193: Chewen hire charite and chiden after moore —
1.194: Swich chastite withouten charite worth cheyned in helle.
1.195: Manye curatours kepen hem clene of hire bodies;
1.196: Thei ben acombred with coveitise, thei konne noght out crepe,
1.197: So harde hath avarice yhasped hem togideres.
1.198: And that is no truthe of the Trinite, but tricherie of helle,
1.199: And lernynge to lewed men the latter for to deele.
1.200: For [thise ben wordes] writen in the [Euaungelie]:
1.201: "" Date, et dabitur vobis — for I deele yow alle.
1.202: And that is the lok of love that leteth out my grace,
1.203: To conforten the carefulle acombred with synne.''
1.204: Love is leche of lif and next Oure Lord selve,
1.205: And also the graithe gate that goth into hevene.
1.206: Forthi I seye as I seide er by sighte of the textes:
1.207: Whan alle tresors ben tried, Treuthe is the beste.
1.208: "Now have I told thee what truthe is — that no tresor is bettre —
1.209: I may no lenger lenge thee with; now loke thee Oure Lord!'
Passus Two
2.001: Yet I courbed on my knees and cried hire of grace,
2.002: And seide, " Mercy, madame, for Marie love of hevene,
2.003: That bar that blisful barn that boughte us on the Rode —
2.004: Kenne me by sorn craft to knowe the false.'
2.005: Loke upon thi let-t half, and lo where he stondeth —
2.006: Bothe Fals and Favel, and hire feeres manye!'
2.007: I loked on my left half as the Lady me taughte,
2.008: And was war of a womman wonderliche yclothed —
2.009: Purfiled with pelure, the pureste on erthe,
2.010: Ycorouned with a coroune, the Kyng hath noon bettre.
2.011: Fetisliche hire fyngres were fretted with gold wyr,
2.012: And thereon rede rubies as rede as any gleede,
2.013: And diamaundes of derrest pris and double manere saphires,
2.014: Orientals and ewages envenymes to destroye.
2.015: Hire robe was ful riche, of reed scarlet engreyned,
2.016: With ribanes of reed gold and of riche stones.
2.017: Hire array me ravysshed, swich richesse saugh I newere.
2.018: I hadde wonder what she was and whos wif she were.
2.019: "What is this womman,' quod I, so worthili atired?'
2.020: "That is Mede the mayde.' quod she, hath noyed me ful ofte,
2.021: And ylakked my lemman that Leautee is hoten,
2.022: And bilowen h[ym] to lordes that lawes han to kepe.
2.023: In the Popes paleis she is pryvee as myselve,
2.024: But soothnesse wolde noght so — for she is a bastard,
2.025: For Fals was hire fader that hath a fikel tonge,
2.026: And nevere sooth seide sithen he com to erthe;
2.027: And Mede is manered after hym, right as [asketh kynde]:
2.027: Qualis pater, talis filius. Bona arbor bonum fructum facit.
2.028: "I oughte ben hyere than [heo] — I kam of a bettre.
2.029: My fader the grete God is and ground of alle graces,
2.030: Oo God withouten gynnyng, and I his goode doughter,
2.031: And hath yeven me Mercy to marie with myselve;
2.032: And what man be merciful and leelly me love
2.033: Shal be mylord and I his leef in the heighe hevene;
2.034: And what man taketh Mede. myn heed dar I legge
2.035: That he shal lese for hire love a lappe of Caritatis.
2.036: "How construeth David the King of men that [cacch]eth Mede,
2.037: And men of this moolde that maynteneth truthe,
2.038: And how ye shul save yourself? The Sauter bereth witnesse:
2.038: Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, &c.
2.040: "And now worth this Mede ymaried to a mansed sherewe,
2.041: To oon Fals Fikel-tonge, a fendes biyete.
2.042: Favel thorugh his faire speche hath this folk enchaunted,
2.043: And al is Lieres ledynge that [lady] is thus ywedded.
2.044: Tomorwe worth ymaked the maydenes bridale;
2.045: And there myghtow witen if thow wilt whiche thei ben alle
2.046: That longen to that lordshipe, the lasse and the moore.
2.047: Knowe hem there if thow kanst, and kepe [thee from hem alle],
2.048: And lakke hem noght but lat hem worthe, til Leaute oe Justice
2.049: And have power to punysshe hem — thanne put forth thi reson.
2.050: Now I bikenne thee Crist,' quod she, "and his clene moder,
2.051: And lat no conscience acombre thee for coveitise of Mede.'
2.052: Thus lefte me that lady liggynge aslepe,
2.053: And how Mede was ymaried in metels me thoughte —
2.054: That al the riche retenaunce that regneth with the False
2.055: Were boden to the bridale on bothe two sides,
2.056: Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche.
2.057: To marien this mayde was many man assembled,
2.058: As of knyghtes and of clerkes and oother commune peple,
2.059: As sisours and somonours, sherreves and hire clerkes,
2.060: Bedelles and baillifs and brocours of chaffare,
2.061: Forgoers and vitaillers and vokettes of the Arches;
2.062: I kan noght rekene the route that ran aboute Mede.
2.063: Ac Symonie and Cyvylle and sisours of courtes
2.064: Were moost pryvee with Mede of any men, me thoughte.
2.065: Ac Favel was the firste that fette hire out of boure
2.066: And as a brocour broughte hire to be with Fals enjoyned.
2.067: Whan Symonye and Cyvylle seighe hir bother wille,
2.068: Thei assented for silver to seye as bothe wolde.
2.069: Thanne leep Liere forth and seide, "Lo! here a chartre
2.070: That Gile with his grete othes gaf hem togidere,' —
2.071: And preide Cyvylle to see and Symonye to rede it.
2.072: Thanne Symonye and Cyvylle stonden forth bothe
2.073: And unfoldeth the feffement that Fals hath ymaked,
2.074: And thus bigynnen thise gomes to greden ful heighe:
2.074: "Sciant presentes & futuri, &c.
2.075: Witeth and witnesseth, that wonieth upon this erthe,
2.076: That Mede is ymaried moore for hire goodes
2.077: Than for any vertue or fairnesse or any free kynde.
2.078: Falsnesse is fayn of hire for he woot hire riche;
2.079: And Favel with his fikel speche feffeth by this chartre
2.080: To be Princes in Pride, and poverte to despise,
2.081: To bakbite and to bosten and bere fals witnesse,
2.082: To scorne and to scolde and sclaundre to make,
2.083: Unbuxome and bolde to breke the ten hestes.
2.084: And the erldom of Envye and Wrathe togideres,
2.085: With the chastilet of cheste and chaterynge out of reson.
2.086: The countee of Coveitise and alle the costes about —
2.087: That is usure and avarice — al I hem graunte
2.088: In bargaynes and in brocages with al the burghe of thefte,
2.089: And al the lordshipe of Leccherie in lengthe and in brede —
2.090: As in werkes and in wordes and in waitynges with eighes,
2.091: And in wedes and in wisshynges and with ydel thoughtes
2.092: Ther as wil wolde and werkmanshipe faylith.'
2.093: Glotonye he gaf hem ek and grete othes togidere,
2.094: And al day to drynken at diverse tavernes,
2.095: And there to jangle and jape and jugge hir evencristen,
2.096: And in fastynge dayes to frete er ful tyme were.
2.097: And thanne to sitten and soupen til sleep hem assaille,
2.098: And breden at burgh swyn, and bedden hem esily,
2.099: Til Sleuthe and sleep sliken hise sydes;
2.100: And thanne wanhope to awaken hym so with no wil to amende,
2.101: For he leveth be lost — this is his laste ende.
2.102: "And thei to have and to holde, and hire heires after,
2.103: A dwellynge with the devel, and dampned be for evere,
2.104: With alle the appurtinaunces of Purgatorie into the pyne of helle-
2.105: Yeldynge for this thyng at one yeres ende
2.106: Hire soules to Sathan, to suffre with hym peynes,
2.107: And with hym to wonye with wo while God is in hevene.'
2.108: In witnesse of which thyng Wrong was the firste,
2.109: And Piers the Pardoner of Paulynes doctrine,
2.110: Bette the Bedel of Bokynghamshire,
2.111: Reynald the Reve of Rutland Sokene,
2.112: Munde the Millere — and many mo othere.
2.113: "In the date of the devel this dede I assele
2.114: By sighte of Sire Symonie and Cyvyles leeve.'
2.115: Thanne tened hym Theologie whan he this tale herde,-
2.116: And seide to Cyvyle, "Now sorwe mote thow have —
2.117: Swiche weddynges to werche to wrathe with Truthe!
2.118: And er this weddynge be wroght, wo thee bitide!
2.119: For Mede is muliere, of Amendes engendred;
2.120: And God graunted to gyve Mede to truthe,
2.121: And thow hast gyven hire to a gilour — now God gyve thee sorwe!
2.122: The text telleth thee noght so, Truthe woot the sothe,
2.123: For Dignus est operarius his hire to have —
2.124: And thow hast fest hire to Fals; fy on thi lawe!
2.125: For al bi lesynges thow lyvest and lecherouse werkes.
2.126: Symonye and thiself shenden Holi Chirche,
2.127: The notaries and ye noyen the peple.
2.128: Ye shul abiggen bothe, by God that me made!
2.129: " Wel ye witen, wernardes, but if youre wit faille,
2.130: That Fals is feithlees and fikel in hise werkes
2.131: And as a bastarde ybore of Belsabubbes kynne.
2.132: And Mede is muliere, a maiden of goode,
2.133: And myghte kisse the Kyng for cosyn and she wolde.
2.134: Forthi wercheth by wisdom and by wit also,
2.135: And ledeth hire to Londoun, there lawe is yshewed,
2.136: If any lawe wol loke thei ligge togideres.
2.137: And though justices juggen hire to be joyned with Fals,
2.138: Yet be war of the weddynge — for witty is Truthe,
2.139: And Conscience is of his counseil and knoweth yow echone,
2.140: And if he fynde yow in defaute and with the false holde,
2.141: It shal bisitte youre soules ful soure at the laste.'
2.142: Herto assenteth Cyvyle, ac Symonye ne wolde,
2.143: Til he hadde silver for his se[el] and [signes] of notaries.
2.144: Thanne fette Favel forth floryns ynowe
2.145: And bad Gile, "Go gyve gold al aboute,
2.146: And namely to the notaries, that hem noon faille;
2.147: And feffe Fals-witnesse with floryns ynowe,
2.148: For he may Mede amaistrye and maken at my wille.'
2.149: Tho this gold was ygyve, gret was the thonkyng
2.150: To Fals and to Favel for hire faire yiftes,
2.151: And comen to conforten from care the-False,
2.152: And seiden, "Certes, sire, cessen shul we nevere,
2.153: Til Mede be thi wedded wif thorugh wit of us alle;
2.154: For we have Mede amaistried with oure murie speche,
2.155: That she graunteth to goon with a good wille
2.156: To London, to loken if the lawe wolde
2.157: Juggen yow joyntly in joie for evere.'
2.158: Thanne was Falsnesse fayn and Favel as blithe,
2.159: And leten somone alle segges in shires aboute,
2.160: And bad hem alle be bown, beggers and othere,
2.161: To wenden with hem to Westmynstre to witnesse this dede.
2.162: Ac thanne cared thei for caples to carien hem thider;
2.163: And Favel fette forth thanne foles ynowe
2.164: And sette Mede upon a sherreve shoed al newe,
2.165: And Fals sat on a sisour that softeli trotted
2.166: And Favel on a flaterere fetisly atired.
2.167: Tho hadde notaries none; anoyed thei were
2.168: For Symonye and Cyvylle sholde on hire feet gange.
2.169: Ac thanne swoor Symonye and Cyvylle bothe
2.170: That somonours golde be sadeled and serven hem echone.
2.171: "And late apparaille thise provisours in palfreyes wise;
2.172: Sire Symonye hymself shal sitte upon hir bakkes.
2.173: Denes and southdenes, drawe yow togideres;
2.174: Erchedekenes and officials and alle youre registrers,
2.175: Lat sadle hem with silver oure synne to suffre —
2.176: As devoutrye and divorses and derne usurie —
2.177: To bere bisshopes aboute abrood in visitynge.
2.178: Paulynes pryvees for pleintes in consistorie
2.179: Shul serven myself that Cyvyle is nempned.
2.180: And cartsadle the commissarie — oure cart shal he [drawe],
2.181: And fecchen us vitailles at fornicatores,
2.182: And maketh of Lyere a lang cart to leden alle thise othere,
2.183: As fobberes and faitours that on hire feet rennen.'
2.184: And thus Fals and Favel fareth forth togideres,
2.185: And Mede in the middes and alle thise men after.
2.186: I have no tome to telle the tail that hem folweth,
2.187: Of many maner man that on this molde libbeth,
2.188: Ac Gyle was forgoer and gyed hem alle.
2.189: Sothnesse seigh hem wel, and seide but litel,
2.190: A[c] priked his palfrey and passed hem alle,
2.191: And com to the Kynges court and Conseience it tolde,
2.192: And Conseience to the Kyng carped it after.
2.193: " Now, by Cryst!' quod the Kyng, "and I cacche myghte
2.194: Fals or Favel or any of hise feeris,
2.195: I wolde be wroken of tho wrecches that wercheth so ille,
2.196: And doon hem hange by the hals and alle that hem maynteneth.
2.197: Shal nevere man of this molde meynprise the leeste,
2.198: But right as the lawe loke[th], lat falle on hem alle!'
2.199: And comaunded a constable that com at the firste,
2.200: To attachen tho tyraunts: "For any [tresor], I hote,
2.201: Fettreth Falsnesse faste, for any kynnes yiftes,
2.202: And girdeth of Gyles heed — lat hym go no ferther;
2.203: And bringeth Mede to me maugree hem alle!
2.204: And if ye lacche Lyere, lat hym noght ascapen
2.205: Er he be put on the pillory, for any preyere, I hote.'
2.206: Drede at the dore stood and the doom herde,
2.207: And how the Kyng comaunded constables and sergeaunts
2.208: Falsnesse and his Felawship to fettren and to bynden.
2.209: Thanne Drede wente wyghtliche and warned the False,
2.210: And bad hym fle for fere, and hise feeris alle.
2.211: Falsnesse for fere thanne fleigh to the freres
2.212: And Gyle dooth hym to go, agast for to dye.
2.213: Ac marchaunts metten with hym and made hym abyde,
2.214: And bishetten hym in hire shoppes to shewen hire ware,
2.215: Apparailed hym as a prentice the peple to serve.
2.216: Lightliche Lyere leep awey thennes,
2.217: Lurkynge thorugh lanes, tolugged of manye.
2.218: He was nowher welcome for his manye tales,
2.219: Over al yhonted and yhote trusse,
2.220: Til pardoners hadde pite, and pulled hym into house.
2.221: They wesshen hym and wiped hym and wounden hym in cloutes,
2.222: And senten hym [on Sondayes with seles] to chirches,
2.223: And gaf pardoun for pens poundemele aboute.
2.224: Thanne lourede leches, and lettres thei sente
2.225: That he sholde wonye with hem watres to loke.
2.226: Spycers speken with hym to spien hire ware,
2.227: For he kouthe on hir craft and knew manye gommes.
2.228: Ac mynstrales and messagers mette with hym ones,
2.229: And [with]helden hym an half yeer and ellevene dayes.
2.230: Freres with fair speche fetten hymthen,
2.231: And for knowynge of comeres coped hym as a frere;
2.232: Ac he hath leve to lepen out as ofte as hym liketh,
2.233: And is welcome whan he wile, and woneth with hem ofte.
2.234: Alle fledden for fere and flowen into hernes;
2.235: Save Mede the mayde na mo dorste abide.
2.236: Ac trewely to telle, she trembled for fere,
2.237: And ek wepte and wrong whan she was attached.
Passus Three
3.001: Now is Mede the mayde and no mo of hem alle,
3.002: With bedeles and baillies brought bifore the Kyng.
3.003: The Kyng called a clerk — l kan noght his name —
3.004: To take Mede the maide and maken hire at ese.
3.005: I shal assayen hire myself and soothliche appose
3.006: What man of this world that hire were levest.
3.007: And if she werche bi wit and my wil folwe
3.008: I wol forgyven hire this gilt, so me God helpe!'
3.009: Curteisly the clerk thanne, as the Kyng highte,
3.010: Took Mede bi the myddel and broghte hire into chambre.
3.011: Ac ther was murthe and mynstralcie Mede to plese;
3.012: That wonyeth at Westmynstre worshipeth hire alle.
3.013: Gentilliche with joye the justices somme
3.014: Busked hem to the bour ther the burde dwellede,
3.015: Conforted hyre kyndely by Clergies leve,
3.016: And seiden, " Mourne noght, Mede, ne make thow no sorwe,
3.017: For we wol wisse the Kyng and thi wey shape
3.018: To be wedded at thi wille and wher thee leef liketh
3.019: For al Conscienees cast or craft, as I trowe.'
3.020: Mildely Mede thanne merciede hem alle
3.021: Of hire grete goodnesse — and gaf hem echone
3.022: Coupes of clene gold and coppes of silver,
3.023: Rynges with rubies and richesses manye,
3.024: The Ieeste man of hire meynee a moton of golde.
3.025: Thanne laughte thei leve thise lordes at Mede.
3.026: With that comenclerkes to conforten hire the same,
3.027: And beden hire be blithe — "For we beth thyne owene
3.028: For to werche thi wille the while thow myght laste.'
3.029: Hendiliche heo thanne bihighte hem the same —
3.030: To loven hem lelly and lordes to make,
3.031: And in the consistorie at the court do callen hire names.
3.032: " Shal no lewednesse lette the clerke that I lovye,
3.033: That he ne worth first avaunced for I am biknowen
3.034: Ther konnynge clerkes shul clokke bihynde.'
3.035: Thanne cam ther a confessour coped as a frere;
3.036: To Mede the mayde [mekeliche he loutede]
3.037: And seide ful softely, in shrift as it were,
3.038: "Theigh lewed men and lered men hadde leyen by thee bothe.
3.039: And Falshede hadde yfolwed thee alle thise fifty wynter,
3.040: I shal assoille thee myself for a seem of whete,
3.041: And also be thi bedeman, and bere wel thyn er[ende],
3.042: Amonges knyghtes and clerkes, Conscience to torne.
3.043: Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes to that man kneled,
3.044: And shrof hire of hire sherewednesse — shamelees, I trowe;
3.045: Tolde hym a tale and took hym a noble
3.046: For to ben hire bedeman and hire brocour als.
3.047: Thanne he assoiled hire soone and sithen he seide,
3.048: " We have a wyndow in werchynge, wole stonden us ful hye;
3.049: Woldestow glaze that gable and grave therinne thy name,
3.050: Sykir sholde thi soule be hevene to have.'
3.051: " Wiste I that,' quod the womman,-I wolde noght spare
3.052: For to be youre frend, frere, and faile yow nevere
3.053: While ye love lordes that lecherie haunten
3.054: And lakketh noght ladies that loven wel the same.
3.055: It is a freletee of flessh — ye fynden it in bokes —
3.056: And a cours of kynde. wherof we comen alle.
3.057: Who may scape the sclaundre, the scathe is soone amended;
3.058: It is synne of the sevene sonnest relessed.
3.059: Have mercy,' quod Mede, of men that it haunteth
3.060: And I shal covere youre kirk, youre cloistre do maken,
3.061: Wowes do whiten and wyndowes glazen,
3.062: Do peynten and portraye [who paied] for the makynge,
3.063: That every segge shall see I am suster of youre house.'
3.064: Ac God to alle good folk swich gravynge defendeth —
3.065: To writen in wyndowes of hir wel dedes —
3.066: An aventure pride be peynted there, and pomp of the world;
3.067: For God knoweth thi conscience and thi kynde wille,
3.068: And thi cost and thi coveitise and who the catel oughte.
3.069: Forthi I lere yow lordes, leveth swiche w[rityng]es —
3.070: To writen in wyndowes of youre wel dedes
3.071: Or to greden after Goddes men whan ye [gyve] doles,
3.072: On aventure ye have youre hire here and youre hevene als.
3.072: Nesciat sinsitra quid faciat dextra:
3.073: Lat noght thi left half, late ne rathe,
3.074: Wite what thow werchest with thi right syde —
3.075: For thus bit the Gospel goode men doon hir almesse.
3.076: Maires and maceres, that menes ben bitwene
3.077: The kyng and the comune to kepe the lawes,
3.078: To punysshe on pillories and on pynynge stooles
3.079: Brewesters and baksters, bochiers and cokes —
3.080: For thise are men on this molde that moost harm wercheth
3.081: To the povere peple that parcelmele buggen.
3.082: For thei poisone the peple pryveliche and ofte,
3.083: Thei richen thorugh regratrie and rentes hem biggen
3.084: With that the povere peple sholde putte in hire wombe.
3.085: For toke thei on trewely, thei tymbred nought so heighe,
3.086: Ne boughte none burgages — be ye ful certeyne!
3.087: Ac Mede the mayde the mair h[eo] bisought[e]
3.088: Of alle swiche selleris silver to take,
3.089: Or presents withouten pens — as pieces of silver,
3.090: Rynges or oother richesse the regratiers to mayntene.
3.091: " For my love,' quod that lady, love hem echone,
3.092: And suffre hem to selle somdel ayeins reson.'
3.093: Salamon the sage a sermon he made
3.094: For to amenden maires and men that kepen lawes,
3.095: And tolde hem this teme that I telle thynke:
3.095: Ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, &c.
3.096: Among thise lettrede leodes this Latyn is to mene
3.097: That fir shall falle and [for]brenne al to bloo askes
3.098: The houses and the homes of hem that desireth
3.100: Yiftes or yeresyeves because of hire offices.
3.101: The Kyng fro counseil cam, and called after Mede,
3.102: And ofsente hire as swithe with sergeaunts manye
3.103: That broughte hire to boure with blisse and with joye.
3.104: Curteisly the Kyng thanne comsed to telle;
3.105: To Mede the mayde he melleth thise wordes:
3.106: " Unwittily, womman, wroght hastow ofte;
3.107: Ac worse wroghtest thow nevere than tho thow Fals toke.
3.108: But I forgyve thee that gilt, and graunte thee my grace;
3.109: Hennes to thi deeth day do so na moore!
3.110: I have a knyght, Conscience, cam late fro biyonde;
3.111: If he wilneth thee to wif, wiltow hym have?'
3.112: "Ye, Iord,' quod that lady, " Lord forbede it ellis!
3.113: But I be holly at youre heste, lat hange me soone!'
3.114: Thanne was Conscience called to come and appere
3.115: Bifore the Kyng and his conseil, as clerkes and othere.
3.116: Knelynge Conseience to the Kyng louted,
3.117: To wite what his wille were and what he do sholde.
3.118: "Woltow wedde this womman,' quod the Kyng, "if I wole assente?
3.119: For she is fayn of thi felaweshipe, for to be thi make.'
3.120: Quod Conscience to the-Kyng, "Crist it me forbede!
3.121: Er I wedde swich a wif, wo me bitide!
3.122: For she is frele of hire feith, fikel of hire speche,
3.123: And maketh men mysdo many score tymes.
3.124: In trust of hire tresor she t[en]eth ful manye:
3.125: Wyves and widewes wantounnesse she techeth,
3.126: And lereth hem lecherie that loveth hire yiftes.
3.127: Poure fader she felled thorugh false biheste,
3.128: And hath apoisoned popes and peired Holy Chirche.
3.129: Is noght a bettre baude, by Hym that me made,
3.130: Bitwene hevene and helle, in erthe though men soghte!
3.131: For she is tikel of hire tail, talewis of tonge,
3.132: As commune as the cartwey to [knaves and to alle] —
3.133: To monkes, to mynstrales, to meseles in hegges;
3.134: Sisours and somonours, swiche men hire preiseth,
3.135: Sherreves of shires were shent if she ne were —
3.136: For she dooth men lese hire lond and hire lif bothe.
3.137: She leteth passe prisoners and paieth for hem ofte,
3.138: And gyveth the gailers gold and grotes togidres
3.139: To unfettre the Fals — fle where hym liketh;
3.140: And taketh the trewe bi the top and tieth hym faste,
3.141: And hangeth hym for hatrede that harm[e]de nevere.
3.142: "To be cursed in consistorie she counteth noght a russhe
3.143: For she copeth the commissarie and coteth hise clerkes.
3.144: She is assoiled as soone as hireself liketh;
3.145: She may neigh as muche do in a monthe ones
3.146: As youre secret seel in sixe seore dayes!
3.147: She is pryvee with the Pope — provisours it knoweth,
3.148: For Sire Symonie and hirselve seleth hire bulles.
3.149: She blesseth thise bisshopes, theigh thei be lewed;
3.150: Provendreth persones and preestes she maynteneth
3.151: To h[old]e lemmans and lotebies alle hire lif daies
3.152: And bryngen forth barnes ayein forbode lawes.
3.153: "Ther she is wel with the kyng, wo is the reaume —
3.154: For she is favorable to Fals and defouleth truthe ofte.
3.155: By Jesus! with hire jeweles youre justice she shendeth
3.156: And lith ayein the lawe and letteth hym the gate,
3.157: That feith may noght have his forth, hire floryns go so thinke.
3.158: She ledeth the lawe as hire list and lovedaies maketh,
3.159: And doth men lese thorugh hire love that lawe myghte wynne —
3.160: The maze for a mene man, though he mote evere!
3.161: Lawe is so lordlich, and looth to maken ende:
3.162: Withouten presents or pens he pleseth wel fewe.
3.163: "Barons and burgeises she bryngeth in sorwe,
3.164: And al the comune in care that coveiten lyve in truthe,
3.165: For clergie and coveitise she coupleth togidres.
3.166: This is the lif of that lady — now Lord yyve hire sorwe,
3.167: And alle that maynteneth hire men, meschaunee hem bitide!
3.168: For povere men may have no power to pleyne though thei smerte,
3.169: Swich a maister is Mede among men of goode.'
3.170: Thanne mournede Mede and mened hire to the Kynge
3.171: To have space to speke, spede if she myghte.
3.172: The Kyng graunted hire grace with a good wille:
3.173: "Excuse thee if thow kanst; I kan namoore seggen,
3.174: For Conscience accuseth thee, to congeien thee for evere.'
3.175: "Nay, lord,' quod that lady, "leveth hym the werse
3.176: Whan ye witen witterly wher the wrong liggeth.
3.177: Ther that meschief is gret, Mede may helpe.
3.178: And thow knowest, Conscience, I kam noght to chide,
3.179: Ne to deprave thi persone with a proud herte.
3.180: Wel thow woost, wernard, but if thow wolt gabbe,
3.181: Thow hast hanged on myn half ellevene tymes,
3.182: And also griped my gold, and gyve it where thee liked.
3.183: ow wrathest thee now, wonder me thynketh !
3.184: Yet I may, as I myghte, menske thee with yiftes
3.185: And mayntene thi manhode moore than thow knowest.
3.186: "Ac thow hast famed me foule bifore the Kyng here;
3.187: For killed I nevere no kyng, ne counseiled therafter,
3.188: Ne dide as thow demest — I do it on the Kynge.
3.189: In Normandie was he noght noyed for my sake —
3.190: Ac thow thiself, soothly, shamedest hym ofte:
3.191: Crope into a cabane for cold of thi nayles,
3.192: Wendest that wynter wolde han ylasted evere,
3.193: And dreddest to be ded for a dym cloude,
3.194: And hyedest homward for hunger of thi wombe.
3.195: Withouten pite, pilour, povere men thow robbedest
3.196: And bere hire bras at thi bak to Caleis to selle,
3.197: Ther I lafte with my lord his lif for to save.
3.198: I made his men murye and mournynge lette;
3.199: I batred hem on the bak and boldede hire hertes,
3.200: And dide hem hoppe for hope to have me at wille.
3.201: Hadde I ben marchal of his men, by Marie of hevene!
3.202: I dorste have leyd my lif and no lasse wedde,
3.203: He sholde have be lord of that lond in lengthe and in brede,
3.204: And also kyng of that kith his kyn for to helpe —
3.205: The leeste brol of his blood a barones piere!
3.206: Cowardly thow, Conscience, conseiledest hym thennes —
3.207: To leven his lordshipe for a litel silver,
3.208: That is the richeste reaume that reyn overhoveth.
3.209: "It bicometh to a kyng that kepeth a reaume
3.210: To yeve [men mede] that mekely hym serveth —
3.211: To aliens and to alle men, to honouren hem with yiftes;
3.212: Mede maketh hym biloved and for a man holden.
3.213: Emperours and erles and alle manere lordes
3.214: Thorugh yiftes han yonge men to yerne and to ryde.
3.215: The Pope and alle prelates presents underfongen
3.216: And medeth men hemselven to mayntene hir lawes,
3.217: Servaunts for hire servyce, we seeth wel the sothe,
3.218: Taken mede of hir maistres, as thei mowe acorde.
3.219: Beggeres for hir biddynge bidden men mede.
3.220: Mynstrales for hir myrthe mede thei aske.
3.221: The Kyng hath mede of his men to make pees in londe.
3.222: Men that [kenne clerkes] craven of hem mede.
3.223: Preestes that prechen the peple to goode
3.224: Asken mede and massepens and hire mete [also].
3.225: Alle kyn crafty men craven mede for hir prentices.
3.226: Marchaundise and mede mote nede go togideres:
3.227: No wight, es I wene, withouten Mede may libbe!
3.228: Quod the Kyng to Conscience, "By Crist, as me thynketh,
3.229: Mede is worthi the maistrie to have!-
3.230: "Nay,' quod Conscience to the Kyng and kneled to the erthe,
3.231: "Ther are two manere of medes, my Iord, by youre leve.
3.232: That oon God of his grace graunteth in his blisse
3.233: To tho that wel werchen while thei ben here.
3.234: The Prophete precheth therof and putte it in the Sauter:
3.234: Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?
3.235: Lord, who shal wonye in thi wones with thyne holy seintes
3.236: Or resten in thyne holy hilles? — This asketh David.
3.237: And David assoileth it hymself, as the Sauter telleth:
3.237: Qui ingreditur sine macula et operatur iusticiam.
3.238: Tho that entren of o colour and of one wille,
3.239: And han ywroght werkes with right and with reson,
3.240: And he that useth noght the lyf of usurie
3.241: And enformeth povere men and pursueth truthe:
3.241: Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad usuram, et munera super innocentem &c.
3.242: And alle that helpen the innocent and holden with the rightfulle,
3.243: Withouten mede doth hem good and the truthe helpeth —
3.244: Swiche manere men, my lord, shul have this firste mede
3.245: Of God at a gret nede, whan thei gon hennes.
3.246: "Ther is another mede mesurelees, that maistres desireth:
3.247: To mayntene mysdoers mede thei take,
3.248: And therof seith the Sauter in a salmes ende —
3.248: In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt; dextra eorum repleta est muneribus:
3.250: And he that gripeth hir gold, so me God helpe,
3.251: Shal abien it bittre, or the Book lieth!
3.252: Preestes and persons that plesynge desireth,
3.253: That taken mede and moneie for masses that thei syngeth,
3.254: Taken hire mede here as Mathew us techeth:
3.254: Amen, amen, receperunt mercedem suam.
3.255: That laborers and lewede [leodes] taken of hire maistres,
3.256: It is no manere mede but a mesurable hire.
3.257: In marchaundise is no mede, I may it wel avowe:
3.258: It is a permutacion apertly — a penyworth for another.
3.259: "Ac reddestow nevere Regum, thow recrayed Mede,
3.260: Whi the vengeaunce fel on Saul and on his children?
3.261: God sente to Saul by Samuel the prophete
3.262: That Agag of Amalec and al his peple after
3.263: Sholden deye for a dede that doon hadde hire eldres.
3.264: "Forthi,' seide Samuel to Saul, "God hymself hoteth thee
3.265: To be buxom at his biddynge, his wil to fulfille.
3.266: Weend to Amalec with thyn oost, and what thow fyndest there — sle it:
3.267: Burnes and beestes — bren hem to dethe!
3.268: Widwes and wyves, wommen and children,
3.269: Moebles and unmoebles, and al thow myght fynde —
3.270: Bren it, bere it noght awey, be it never so riche;
3.271: For mede ne for monee, loke thow destruye it!
3.272: Spille it and spare it noght — thow shalt spede the bettre.''
3.273: And for he coveited hir catel and the kyng spared,
3.274: Forbar hym and his beestes bothe as the Bible witnesseth
3.275: Otherwise than he was warned of the prophete,
3.276: God seide to Samuel that Saul sholde deye,
3.277: And al his seed for that synne shenfulliche ende.
3.278: Swich a meschief Mede made the kyng to have
3.279: That God hated hym for evere and alle his heires after.
3.280: "The culorum of this cas kepe I noght to shewe;
3.281: On aventure it noyed me, noon ende wol I make,
3.282: For so is this world went with hem that han power
3.283: That whoso seith hem sothest is sonnest yblamed!
3.284: "I, Conseience, knowe this, for Kynde Wit it me taughte —
3.285: That Reson shal regne and reaumes governe,
3.286: And right as Agag hadde, happe shul somme:
3.287: Samuel shal sleen hym and Saul shal be blamed,
3.288: And David shal be diademed and daunten hem alle,
3.289: And oon Cristene kyng kepen [us] echone.
3.290: Shal na moore Mede be maister as she is nouthe,
3.291: Ac love and lowenesse and leautee togideres —
3.292: Thise shul ben raaistres on moolde [trewe men] to save.
3.293: And whoso trespaseth ayein truthe or taketh ayein his wille,
3.294: Leaute shal don hym lawe, and no lif ellis.
3.295: Shal no sergeant for his service were a sik howve,
3.296: Ne no pelure in his [paviloun] for pledynge at the barre.
3.297: " Mede of mysdoeres maketh manye lordes,
3.298: And over lordes Iawes [led]eth the reaumes.
3.299: Ac kynde love shal come yit and Conscience togideres
3.300: And make of lawe a laborer; swich love shal arise
3.301: And swich pees among the peple and a parfit truthe
3.302: That Jewes shul wene in hire wit, and wexen wonder glade,
3.303: That Moyses or Messie be come into this erthe,
3.304: And have wonder in hire hertes that men beth so trewe.
3.305: "Alle that beren baselard, brood swerd or launce,
3.306: Ax outher hachet or any wepene ellis,
3.307: Shal be demed to the deeth but if he do it smythye
3.308: into sikel or to sithe, to shaar or to kultour —
3.308: Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, &c —
3.309: Ech man to pleye with a plow, pykoise or spade,
3.310: Spynne, or sprede donge, or spille hymself with sleuthe;
3.311: Preestes and persons with Plucebo to hunte,
3.312: And dyngen upon David eche day til eve.
3.313: Huntynge or haukyng if any of hem use,
3.314: His boost of his benefice worth bynomen hym after.
3.315: "Shal neither kyng ne knyght, constable ne meire
3.316: Over[carke] the commune ne to the court sompne,
3.317: Ne putte hem in panel to doon hem plighte hir truthe;
3.318: But after the dede that is doon oon doom shal rewarde
3.319: Mercy or no mercy as Truthe [moste] acorde.
3.320: " Kynges court and commune court, consistorie and chapitle —
3.321: Al shal be but oon court, and oon b[ur]n be justice:
3.322: That worth Trewe-tonge, a tidy man that tened me nevere.
3.323: Batailles shul none be, ne no man bere wepene,
3.324: And what smyth that any smytheth be smyte therwith to dethe!
3.324: Non levabit gens contra gentem gladium &c.
3.325: "And er this fortune falle, fynde men shul the worste,
3.326: By sixe sonnes and a ship and half a shef of arwes;
3.327: And the myddel of a moone shal make the Jewes torne,
3.328: And Sarsynes for that sighte shul synge Gloria in excelsis &c —
3.329: For Makometh and Mede myshappe shul that tyme;
3.330: For Melius est bonum nomen quam divicie multe.'
3.331: Also wroth as the wynd weex Mede in a while.
3.332: " I kan no Latyn?' quod she. "Clerkes wite the sothe!
3.333: Se what Salomon seith in Sapience bokes:
3.334: That thei that yyven yiftes the victorie wynneth,
3.335: And muche worshipe have therwith, as Holy Writ telleth —
3.335: Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, &c.'
3.336: " I leve wel, lady,' quod Conscience, "that thi Latyn be trewe.
3.337: Ac thow art lik a lady that radde a lesson ones,
3.338: Was omnia probate, and that plesed hire herte —
3.340: For that lyne was no lenger at the leves ende.
3.341: Hadde she loked that other half and the leef torned,
3.342: She sholde have founden fele wordes folwynge therafter:
3.343: Quod bonum est tenete — Truthe that text made.
3.344: And so [mys]ferde ye, madame — ye kouthe na moore fynde
3.345: Tho ye loked on Sapience, sittynge in youre studie.
3.346: This text that ye han told were [tidy] for lordes,
3.347: Ac yow failed a konnynge clerk that kouthe the leef han torned.
3.348: And if ye seche Sapience eft, fynde shul ye that folweth.
3.349: A ful teneful text to hem that taketh mede:
3.349: 350 And that is Animam autem aufert accipientium &c.
3.350: And that is the tail of the text of that tale ye shewed —
3.351: That theigh we wynne worshipe and with mede have victorie,
3.352: The soule that the soude taketh by so muche is bounde.-
Passus Four
4.001: " Cesseth!' seide the Kyng, " I suffre yow no lenger.
4.002: Ye shul saughtne, forsothe, and serve me bothe.
4.003: Kis hire,' quod the Kyng, "Conscience, I hote!'
4.004: " Nay, by Crist!' quod Conscience, " congeye me rather!
4.005: But Reson rede me therto, rather wol I deye.'
4.006: "And I comaunde thee,' quod the Kyng to Conseience thanne,
4.007: "Rape thee to ryde, and Reson that thow fecche.
4.008: Comaunde hym that he come my counseil to here,
4.009: For he shal rule my reaume and rede me the beste
4.010: Mede and of mo othere, what man shal hire wedde,
4.011: And acounte with thee, Conscience, so me Crist helpe,
4.012: How thow lernest the peple, the lered and the lewed!'
4.013: "I am fayn of that foreward,' seide the freke thanne,
4.014: And ryt right to Reson and rouneth in his ere,
4.015: And seide hym as the Kyng seide, and sithen took his leve.
4.016: "I shal arraye me to ryde,' quod Reson,-reste thee a while,'
4.017: And called Caton his knave, curteis of speche,
4.018: And also Tomme Trewe-tonge-tel-me-no-tales
4.019: Ne lesynge-to-laughen-of-for-I-loved-hem-nevere.
4.020: " Set my sadel upon Suffre-til-I-se-my-tyme,
4.021: And lat warroke hym wel with witty-wordes gerthes.
4.022: Hange on hym the hevy brydel to holde his heed lowe,
4.023: For he wol make ""wehee'' twies er he be there.'
4.024: Thanne Conscience on his capul caireth forth faste,
4.025: And Reson with hym ryt, rownynge togideres
4.026: Whiche maistries Mede maketh on this erthe.
4.027: Oon Waryn Wisdom and Witty his fere
4.028: Folwed hem faste, for thei hadde to doone
4.029: In th'Eseheker and in the Chauncerye, to ben descharged of thynges,
4.030: And riden faste for Reson sholde rede hem the beste
4.031: For to save hem for silver from shame and from harmes.
4.032: A[c] Conscience knew hem wel, thei loved coveitise,
4.033: And bad Reson ryde faste and recche of hir neither:
4.034: "Ther are wiles in hire wordes, and with Mede thei dweneth —
4.035: Ther as wrathe and wranglynge is, ther wynne thei silver;
4.036: Ac there is love and leautee, thei wol noght come there:
4.036: Contricio et infelicitas in viis eorum &c.
4.037: Thei ne gyveth noght of God one goose wynge:
4.037: Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum &c.
4.038: For thei wolde do moore for a dozeyne chiknes
4.039: Than for the love of Oure Lorde or alle hise leeve seintes!
4.040: Forthi, Reson, lat hem ride, tho riche by hemselve —
4.041: For Conscience knoweth hem noght, ne Crist, as I trowe.'
4.042: And thanne Reson rood faste the righte heighe gate,
4.043: As Conscience hym kenned, til thei come to the Kynge.
4.044: Curteisly the Kyng thanne com ayeins Reson,
4.045: And bitwene hymsel and his sone sette hym on benche,
4.046: And wordeden wel wisely a gret while togideres.
4.047: And thame com Pees into parliment and putte up a bill-
4.048: How Wrong ayeins his wille hadde his wif taken,
4.049: And how he ravysshede Rose, Reignaldes loove,
4.050: And Margrete of hir maydenhede maugree hire chekes.
4.051: " Bothe my gees and my grys hise gadelynges feccheth;
4.052: I dar noght for fere of hem fighte ne chide.
4.053: He borwed of me bayard and broughte hym hom nevere
4.054: Ne no ferthyng therfore, for nought I koude plede.
4.055: He maynteneth hise men to murthere myne hewen,
4.056: Forstalleth my feires and fighteth in my chepyng,
4.057: And breketh up my berne dores and bereth awey my whete,
4.058: And taketh me but a taille for ten quarters otes.
4.059: And yet he beteth me therto and lyth by my mayde;
4.060: I am noght hardy for hym unnethe to loke!'
4.061: The Kyng knew he seide sooth. for Conscience hym tolde
4.062: That Wrong was a wikked luft and wroghte muche sorwe.
4.063: Wrong was afered thanne, and Wisdom he soughte
4.064: To maken pees with hise pens, and profred hym manye,
4.065: And seide, "Hadde I love of my lord the Kyng, litel wolde I recche
4.066: Theigh Pees and his power pleyned hym evere!'
4.067: Tho wan Wisdom and Sire Waryn the Witty,
4.068: For that Wrong hadde ywroght so wikked a dede,
4.069: And warnede Wrong tho with swich a wis tale —
4.070: "Whoso wereheth by wille, writhe maketh ofte.
4.071: I seye it by myself — thow shalt it wel fynde:
4.072: But if Mede it make, thi meschief is uppe;
4.073: For bothe thi lif and thi lond lyth in his grace.'
4.074: Thanne wowede Wrong Wisdom ful yerne
4.075: To maken his pees with his pens, handy dandy payed.
4.076: Wisdom and Wit thanne wenten togidres,
4.077: And token Mede myd hem mercy to wynne.
4.078: Pees putte forth his heed and his panne blody:
4.079: "Withouten gilt, God woot, gat I this seathe.'
4.080: Conseicnce and the commune knowen wel the sothe,
4.081: Ac Wisdom and Wit were aboute faste
4.082: To overcomen the Kyng with catel, if thei myghte.
4.083: The Kyng swor by Crist and by his crowne bothe
4.084: That Wrong for hise werkes sholde wo tholie,
4.085: And combundede a eonstable to casten hym in irens,
4.086: "And lete hym noght this seven yer seen his feet ones.
4.087: "God woot,' quod Wisdom, "that were noght the beste!
4.088: And he amendes mowe make, Iat Maynprise hym have
4.089: And be borgh for his bale, and buggen hym boote,
4.090: And so amenden that is mysdo, and everemoore the bettre.'
4.091: Wit acorded therwith, and seide the same,
4.092: "Bettre is that boote bale adoun brynge
4.093: Than bale be ybet, and boote nevere the bettre!'
4.094: Thanne gan Mede to meken hire, and mercy bisoughte,
4.095: And profrede Pees a present al of pure golde.
4.096: "Have this, man, of me,' quod she, "to amenden thi scathe,
4.097: For I wol wage for Wrong, he wol do so na moore.'
4.098: Pitously Pees thanne preyde to the Kynge
4.099: To have mercy on that man that mysdide hym so ofte.
4.100: "For he hath waged me wel, as Wisdom hym taughte,
4.101: And I forgyve hym that gilt with a good wille.
4.102: So that the Kyng assente, I kan seye no bettre,
4.103: For Mede hath maad myne amendes — I may na moore axe.'
4.104: "Nay', quod the Kyng tho, "so me Crist helpe!
4.105: Wrong wendeth noghtawey er I wite more.
4.106: Lope he so lightly, laughen he wolde,
4.107: And eft the boldere be to bete myne hewen.
4.108: But Reson have ruthe on hym, he shal reste in my stokkes
4.109: As longe as [I] lyve, but lowenesse hym borwe.'
4.110: Somme radde Reson tho to have ruthe on that shrewe,
4.111: And for to counseille the Kyng and Conscience after
4.112: That Mede moste be maynpernour, Reson thei bisoughte.
4.113: " Reed me noght,' quod Reson, "no ruthe to have
4.114: Til lordes and ladies loven alle truthe
4.115: And haten alle harlotrie, to heren or to mouthen it;
4.116: Til Pernelles purfill be put in hire hucche
4.117: And childrene cherissynge be chastised with yerdes,
4.118: And harlottes holynesse be holden for an hyne;
4.119: Til clerkene coveitise be to clothe the povere and fede,
4.120: And religiouse romeris Recordare in hir cloistres
4.121: As Seynt Beneyt hem bad, Bernard and Fraunceis;
4.122: And til prechours prechynge be preved on hemselve;
4.123: Til the Kynges counseil be the commune profit;
4.124: Til bisshopes bayardes ben beggeris chaumbres,
4.125: Hire haukes and hire houndes help to povere religious;
4.126: And til Seint James be sought there I shal assigne —
4.127: That no man go to Galis but if he go for evere;
4.128: And alle Rome renneres for robberes of biyonde
4.129: Bere no silver over see that signe of kyng sheweth —
4.130: Neither grave ne ungrave, gold neither silver —
4.131: Upon forfeture of that fee, who fynt hym at Dovere,
4.132: But if it be marchaunt or his man, or messager with lettres,
4.133: Provysour or preest, or penaunt for hise synnes.
4.134: "And yet,' quod Reson, "by the Rode! I shal no ruthe have
4.135: Whiff Mede hath the maistrie in this moot-halle.
4.136: Ac I may shewe ensamples as I se outher.
4.137: I seye it by myself,' quod he, "and it so were
4.138: That I were kyng with coroune to kepen a reaume,
4.139: Sholde nevere Wrong in this world that I wite myghte
4.140: Ben unpunysshed in my power, for peril of my soule,
4.141: Ne gete my grace thorugh giftes, so me God save!
4.142: Ne for no mede have mercy, but mekenesse it made;
4.143: For ""Nullum molum the man mette with inpunitum
4.144: And bad Nullum bonum be irremuneratum.''
4.145: Lat thi confessour, sire Kyng, construe this [E]ngl[ys]sed,
4.146: And if ye werchen it in werk, I wedde myne eris
4.147: That Lawe shal ben a laborer and lede afeld donge
4.148: And Love shal lede thi lond as the leef liketh.'
4.149: Clerkes that were confessours coupled hem togideres
4.150: Al to construe this clause, and for the Kynges profit,
4.151: Ac noght for confort of the cornmune, ne for the Kynges soule,
4.152: For I seigh Mede in the moot-halle on men of lawe wynke,
4.153: And thei laughynge lope to hire and lefte Reson manye.
4.154: Waryn Wisdom wynked upon Mede
4.155: And seide, " Madame, I am youre man, what so my mouth jangle;
4.156: I falle in floryns,' quod that freke, "and faile speche ofte.'
4.157: Alle rightfulle recorded that Reson truthe tolde.
4.158: [Kynde] Wit acorded therwith and comendede hise wordes,
4.159: And the mooste peple in the halle and manye of the grete,
4.160: And leten Mekenesse a maister and Mede a mansed sherewe.
4.161: Love leet of hire light, and Leaute yet lasse,
4.162: And seide it so heighc that all the halle it herde:
4.163: "Whoso wilneth hire to wyve, For welthe of hire goodes —
4.164: But he be knowe for a cokewold, kut of my nose!'
4.165: Mede mornede tho, and made hevy chere,
4.166: For the mooste commune of that court called hire an hore.
4.167: Ac a sisour and a somonour sued hire faste,
4.168: And a sherreves clerk bisherewed al the route:
4.169: " For ofte have I,' quod he, 'holpen yow at the barre,
4.170: And yet yeve ye me nevere the worth of a risshe!'
4.171: The Kyng callede Conseience and afterward Reson,
4.172: And recordede that Reson hadde rightfully shewed ;
4.173: And modiliche upon Mede with myght the Kyng loked,
4.174: And gan wexe wroth with Lawe, for Mede almoost hadde shent it,
4.175: And seide,-Thorugh youre lawe, as I leve, I lese manye chetes;
4.176: Mede overmaistreth Lawe and muche truthe letteth.
4.177: Ac Reson shal rekene with yow, if I regne any while, -
4.178: And deme yow, bi this day, as ye han deserved.
4.179: Mede shal noght maynprise yow, by the Marie of hevene!
4.180: I wole have leaute in lawe, and lete be al youre jangling,
4.181: And as moost folk witnesseth wel, Wrong shal be demed.'
4.182: Quod Conscience to the Kyng, 'But the commune wole assente,-
4.183: It is ful hard, by myn heed, herto to brynge it,
4.184: [And] alle youre lige leodes to lede thus evene.'
4.185: "By Hym that raughte on the Rood!' quod Reson to the Kynge,
4.186: But if I rule thus youre reaume, rende out my guttes —
4.187: If ye bidden buxomnesse be of myn assent.'
4.188: "And I assente,' seith the Kyng, " by Seinte Marie my lady,
4.189: Be my Counseil comen of clerkes and of erles.
4.190: Ac redily, Reson, thow shalt noght ride hennes;
4.191: For as longe as I lyve, lete thee I nelle.'
4.192: 'I am al redy.' quod Reson, "to reste with yow evere;
4.193: So Conscience be of oure counceil, I kepe no bettre.'
4.194: "And I graunte,' quod the Kyng, "Goddes forbode he faile!
4.195: Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, lyve we togideres!'
Passus Five
5.001: The Kyng and hise knyghtes to the kirke wente
5.002: To here matyns of the day and the masse after.
5.003: Thanne w~ked I of my wynkyng and wo was withalle
5.004: That I ne hadde slept sadder and yseighen moore.
5.005: Ac er I hadde faren a furlong, feyntise me hente,
5.006: That I ne myghte ferther a foot for defaute of slepynge.
5.007: I sat softely adoun and seide my bileve,
5.008: And so I bablede on my bedes, thei broughte me aslepe.
5.009: And thanne saugh I muche moore than I bifore tolde —
5.010: For I seigh the feld ful of folk that I before of seide,
5.011: And how Reson gan arayen hym al the reaume to preche,
5.012: And with a cros afore the Kyng comsede thus to techen.
5.013: He preved that thise pestilences were For pure synne,
5.014: And the south-westrene wynd on Saterday at even
5.015: Was pertliche for pride and for no point ellis.
5.016: Pyries and plum-trees were puffed to the erthe
5.017: In ensample, ye segges, ye sholden do the bettre.
5.018: Beches and brode okes were blowen to the grounde
5.019: And turned upward here tail in tokenynge of drede
5.020: That dedly synne er domesday shal fordoon hem alle.
5.021: Of this matere I myghte mamelen ful longe,
5.022: Ac I shal seye as I saugh, so me God helpe,
5.023: How pertly afore the peple prechen gan Reson.
5.024: He bad Wastour go werche what he best kouthe
5.025: And wynnen his wastyng with som maner crafte.
5.026: He preide Pemele hir purfil to lete,
5.027: And kepe it in hire cofre for catel at hire nede.
5.028: Tomme Stowue he taughte to take two staves
5.029: And fecche Felice horn fro wyve pyne.
5.030: He warnede Watte his wif was to blame
5.031: For hire heed was worth half marc and his hood noght worth a grote,
5.032: And bad Bette kutte a bough outher tweye
5.033: And bete Beton therwith but if she wolde werche.
5.034: And thanne he chargede chapmen to chastisen hir children:
5.035: "Late no wynnyng forwanye hem while thei be yonge,
5.036: Ne for no poustee of pestilence plese hem noght out of reson.
5.037: My sire seide so to me, and so dide my dame,
5.038: That the levere child the moore loore bihoveth;
5.039: And Salamon seide the same, that Sapience made —
5.039: " Qui parcit virge odit filium.
5.040: Whoso spareth the spryng spilleth hise children.'''
5.041: And sithen he preide prelates and preestes togideres,
5.042: " That ye prechen to the peple, preve it yowselve,
5.043: And dooth it in dede — it shal drawe yow to goode.
5.044: If ye leven as ye leren us, we shul leve yow the bettre.'
5.045: And sithen he radde Religion hir rule to holde —
5.046: " Lest the Kyng and his Conseil youre comunes apeire
5.047: And be stywards of youre stedes til ye be [stew]ed bettre.'
5.048: And sithen he counseiled the Kyng his commune to lovye:
5.049: "It is thi tresor, if treson ne were, and tryacle at thy nede.'
5.050: And sithen he preide the Pope have pite on Holy Chirche,
5.051: And er he gyve any grace, governe first hymselve.
5.052: "And ye that han lawes to kepe, lat Truthe be youre coveitise
5.053: Moore than gold outher giftes if ye wol God plese;
5.054: For whoso contrarieth Truthe. He telleth in the Gospel,
5.055: Amen dico vobis, nescio Vos.
5.056: And ye that seke Seynt James and seyntes of Rome,
5.057: Seketh Seynt Truthe, for he may save yow alle.
5.058: Qui cum Patre et Filio — that faire hem bifalle
5.059: That seweth my sermon' — and thus seyde Reson."
5.060: Thanne ran Repentaunce and reherced his teme
5.061: And gart Wille to wepe water with hise eighen.
5.062: Pernele Proud-herte platte hire to the erthe
5.063: And lay longe er she loked, and-Lord, mercy!' cryde,
5.064: And bihighte to Hym that us alle made
5.065: She sholde unsowen hir serk and sette there an heyre
5.066: To affaiten hire flessh that fiers was to synne.
5.067: " Shal nevere heigh herte me hente, but holde me lowe
5.068: And suffre to be mysseyd — and so dide I nevere.
5.069: But now wole I meke me and mercy biseche
5.070: For al that I have hated in myn herte.'
5.071: Thanne Lechour seide "Allas!' and on Oure Lady cryde,
5.072: To maken mercy for hise mysdedes bitwene God and his soule
5.073: With that he sholde the Saterday seven yer therafter
5.074: Drynke but myd the doke and dyne but ones.
5.075: Envye with hevy herte asked after shrifte
5.076: And carefully mea culpa he comsed to shewe.
5.077: He was as pale as a pelet, in the palsy he semed,
5.078: And clothed in a kaurymaury — l kouthe it nought discryve —
5.079: In kirtel and courtepy, and a knyf by his syde;
5.080: Of a freres frokke were the foresleves.
5.081: And as a leek that hadde yleye longe in the sonne,
5.082: So loked he with lene chekes, lourynge foule.
5.083: His body was to-bollen for wrathe, that he boot hise lippes,
5.084: And wryngynge he yede with the fust — to wreke hymself he thoughte
5.085: With werkes or with wordes whan he seyghe his tyme.
5.086: Ech a word that he warp was of a neddres tonge;
5.087: Of chidynge and of chalangynge was his chief liflode,
5.088: With bakbitynge and bismere and berynge of fals witnesse:
5.089: This was al his curteisie where that evere he shewed hym.
5.090: "I wolde ben yshryve,' quod this sherewe, "and I for shame dorste.
5.091: I wolde be gladder, by God! that Gybbe hadde meschaunce
5.092: Than though I hadde this wouke ywonne a weye of Essex chese.
5.093: I have a neghebore neigh me, I have anoyed hym ofte,
5.094: And lowen on hym to lordes to doon hym lese his silver,
5.095: And maad his frendes be his foon thorugh my false tonge.
5.096: His grace and his goode happes greven me ful soore.
5.097: Bitwene mayne and mayne I make debate ofte,
5.098: That bothe lif and lyme is lost thorugh my speche.
5.099: And whan I mete hym in market that I moost hate,
5.100: I hailse hym hendely, as I his frend were;
5.101: For he is doughtier than I, I dar do noon oother;
5.102: Ac hadde I maistrie and myght — God woot my wille!
5.103: "And whan I come to the kirk and sholde knele to the Roode
5.104: And preye for the peple as the preest techeth —
5.105: For pilgrymes and for palmeres, for al the peple after —
5.106: Thanne I crye on my knees that Crist yyve hem sorwe
5.107: That baren awey my bolle and my broke shete.
5.108: Awey fro the auter thanne turne I myne eighen
5.109: And biholde how [Hayne hath a newe cote;
5.110: I wisshe thanne it were myn, and al the web after.
5.111: And of his lesynge I laughe — that li[ght]eth myn herte;
5.112: Ac for his wynnynge I wepe and waille the tyme;
5.113: And deme men that thei doon ille, there I do wel werse:
5.114: Whoso undernymeth me herof, I hate hym dedly after.
5.115: I wolde that ech a wight were my knave,
5.116: For whoso hath moore than I, that angreth me soore.
5.117: And thus I lyve lovelees like a luther dogge
5.118: That al my body bolneth for bitter of my galle.
5.119: I myghte noght ete many yeres as a man oughte,
5.120: For envye and yvel wil is yvel to defie.
5.121: May no sugre ne swete thyng aswage my swellyng,
5.122: Ne no diapenidion dryve it fro myn herte,
5.123: Ne neither shrifte ne shame, but whoso shrape my mawe?'
5.124: "Yis, redily!' quod Repentaunce, and radde hym to the beste,
5.125: " Sorwe for synnes is savacion of soules.'
5.126: " I am evere sory,' quod [Envye], " I am but selde oother,
5.127: And that maketh me thus megre, for I ne may me venge.
5.128: Amonges burgeises have I be, [bigg]yng at Londoun,
5.129: And gart bakbityng be a brocour to blame mennes ware.
5.130: Whan he solde and I nought, thanne was I redy
5.131: To lye and to loure on my neghebore and to lakke his chaffare.
5.132: I wole amende this if I may, thorugh myght of God Almyghty.'
5.133: Now awaketh Wrathe, with two white eighen,
5.134: And nevelynge with the nose, and his nekke hangyng.
5.135: "I am Wrathe,' quod he, "I was som tyme a frere,
5.136: And the coventes gardyner for to graffen impes.
5.137: On lymitours and listres lesynges I ymped,
5.138: Til thei beere leves of lowe speche, lordes to plese,
5.139: And sithen thei blosmede abrood in boure to here shriftes.
5.140: And now is fallen therof a fruyt — that folk han wel levere
5.141: Shewen hire shriftes to hem than shryve hem to hir persons.
5.142: And now persons han parceyved that freres parte with hem,
5.143: Thise possessioners preche and deprave freres;
5.144: And freres fyndeth hem in defaute, as folk bereth witnesse,
5.145: That whan thei preche the peple in many places aboue'
5.146: I, Wrathe, walke with hem and wisse hem o
5.147: Thus thei speken of spiritualte, that either despiseth oother,
5.148: Til thei be bothe beggers and by my spiritualte libben,
5.149: Or ellis al riche and ryden aboute; I, Wrathe, reste nevere
5.150: That I ne moste folwe this wikked folk. For swich is my grace.
5.151: "I have an aunte to nonne and an abbesse:
5.152: Hir were levere swowe or swelte than suffre any peyne.
5.153: I have be cook in hir kichene and the covent served
5.154: Manye monthes with hem. and with monkes bothe.
5.155: I was the prioresse potager and other povere ladies,
5.156: And maad hem joutes of janglyng — that Dame Johane was a bastard,
5.157: And Dame Clarice a knyghtes doughter — ac a cokewold was hir sire,
5.158: And Dame Pernele a preestes fyle — Prioresse worth she nevere,
5.159: For she hadde child in chirie-tyme, al oure Chapitre it wiste!
5.160: Of wikkede wordes I Wrathe hire wortes made,
5.161: Til ""Thow lixt!'' and ""Thow lixt!'' lopen out at ones
5.162: And either hitte oother under the cheke;
5.163: Hadde thei had knyves, by Crist! hir either hadde kild oother.
5.164: Seint Gregory was a good pope, and hadde a good forwit
5.165: That no Prioresse were preest — for that he [purveiede]:
5.166: Thei hadde thanne ben infumis the firste day, thei kan so yvele hele counseil.
5.167: "Among monkes I myghte be, ac manye tyme I shonye,
5.168: For ther ben manye felle frekes my feeris to aspie —
5.169: Bothe Priour and Suppriour and oure Pater Abbas;
5.170: And if I telle any tales, thei taken hem togideres,
5.171: And doon me faste Frydayes to breed and to watre;
5.172: And am chalanged in the Chapitrehous as I a child were,
5.173: And baleised on the bare ers — and no brech bitwene!
5.174: Forthi have I no likyng with tho leodes to wonye;
5.175: I ete there unthende fissh and feble ale drynke.
5.176: Ac outher while whan wyn cometh, whan I drynke wyn at eve,
5.177: I have a flux of a foul mouth wel fyve dayes after.
5.178: Al the wikkednesse that I woot by any of oure bretheren,
5.179: I cou[gh]e it in oure cloistre, that al oure covent woot it.'
5.180: "Now repente thee,' quod Repentaunce, "and reherce thow nevere
5.181: Counseil that thow knowest, by contenaunce ne by speche;
5.182: And drynk nat over delicatly, ne to depe neither,
5.183: That thi wille by cause therof to wrathe myghte turne.
5.184: Esto sobrius!' he seide, and assoiled me after,
5.185: And bad me wilne to wepe my wikkednesse to amende.
5.186: And thanne cam Coveitise, I kan hym naght discryve —
5.187: So hungrily and holwe Sire Hervy hym loked.
5.188: He was bitelbrowed and baberlipped, with two blered eighen;
5.189: And as a letheren purs lolled hise chekes —
5.190: Wel sidder than his chyn thei chyveled for elde;
5.191: And as a bondeman of his bacon his berd was bidraveled;
5.192: With an hood on his heed, a lousy hat above,
5.193: In a [torn] tabard of twelf wynter age;
5.194: But if a lous couthe lepe the bettre,
5.195: She sholde noght wa[ndr]e on that Welche, so was it thredbare!
5.196: " I have ben coveitous,' quod this caytif, " I biknowe it here;
5.197: For som tyme I served Symme-atte-Style,
5.198: And was his prentice yplight his profit to wayte.
5.199: First I lerned to lye a leef outher tweyne:
5.200: Wikkedly to weye was my firste lesson.
5.201: To Wy and to Wynchestre I wente to the feyre
5.202: With many manere marchaundise, as my maister me highte.
5.203: Ne hadde the grace of gyle ygo amonges my ware,
5.204: It hadde ben unsold this seven yer, so me God helpe!
5.205: "Thanne drough I me among drapiers, my Donet to lerne,
5.206: To drawe the liser along — the lenger it semed;
5.207: Among the riche rayes I rendred a lesson —
5.208: To broche hem with a pak-nedle, and playte hem togideres,
5.209: And putte hem in a press[our] and pyned hem therinne
5.210: Til ten yerdes or twelve tolled out thrittene.
5.211: "My wif was a webbe and wollen cloth made;
5.212: She spak to spynnesteres to spynnen it oute.
5.213: The pound that she paied by peised a quartron moore
5.214: Than myn owene auncer wh[an I] weyed truthe.
5.215: "I boughte hire barly — she brew it to selle.
5.216: Peny ale and puddyng ale she poured togideres;
5.217: For laborers and lowe folk, that lay by hymselve.
5.218: The beste ale lay in my bour or in my bedchambre,
5.219: And whoso burned therof boughte it therafter —
5.220: A galon for a grote, God woot, no lesse,
5.221: [Whan] it cam in cuppemele — this craft my wif used!
5.222: Rose the Regrater was hir righte name;
5.223: She hath holden hukkerye [this ellevene wynter].
5.224: Ac I swere now (so thee Ik!) that synne wol I lete,
5.225: And nevere wikkedly weye ne wikke chaffare use,
5.226: But wenden to Walsyngham, and my wif als,
5.227: And bidde the Roode of Bromholm brynge me out of dette.'
5.228: -Repentedestow evere? ' quod Repentaunce, " or restitucion madest? '
5.229: Yis: ones I was yherbemed', quod he. with an heep of charmen:
5.230: I roos whan thei were al-reste and riflede hire malest
5.231: "That was no restitucion,' quod Repentaunce, "but a robberis thefte;
5.232: Thow haddest be bettre worthi ben hanged therfore
5.233: Than for al that that thow hast here shewed! '
5.234: -I wende riflynge were restitucion.' quod he, "for I lerned nevere rede on
5.235: And I kan no Frenssh. in feith, but of the Fertheste ende of Northfolk.'
5.236: " Usedestow evere usurie,' quod Repentaunce.-in al thi lif tyme? '
5.237: " Nay, sothly,' he seide, "save in my youthe;
5.238: I lerned among Lumbardes a lesson, and of Jewes —
5.239: To weye pens with a peis. and pare the hevyeste,
5.240: And lene it for love of the cros, to legge a wed and lese it.
5.241: Swiche dedes I dide write if he his day breke;
5.242: I have mo manoirs thorugh rerages than thorugh Miseretur et commodat.
5.243: I have lent lordes and ladies my chaffare,
5.244: And ben hire brocour after, and bought it myselve.
5.245: Eschaunges and chevysaunces — with swich chaffare I dele,
5.246: And lene folk that lese wole a lippe at every noble.
5.247: And with Lumbardes lettres I ladde gold to Rome,
5.248: And took it by tale here and told hem there lasse.'
5.249: " Lentestow evere lordes for love of hire mayntenaunce?'
5.250: "Ye, I have lent lordes. loved me nevere after,
5.251: And have ymaad many a knyght bothe mercer and draper
5.252: That payed nevere For his prentishode noght a peire of gloves!'
5.253: "Hastow pite on povere men that [purely] mote nedes borwe?'
5.254: "I have as muche pite of povere men as pedlere hath of cattes,
5.255: That wolde kille hem, if he cacche hem myghte, for coveitise of hir skynnes!
5.256: "Artow manlich among thi neghebores of thi mete and drynke?'
5.257: " I am holden,' quod he, "as hende as hounde is in kichene;
5.258: Amonges my neghebores namely swich a name ich have.'
5.259: "Now [but thow repente the rather,' quod Repentaunce, "God lene thee- nevere]
5.260: The grace on this grounde thi good wel to bisette,
5.261: Ne thyne heires after thee have joie of that thow wynnest,
5.262: Ne thyne executours wel bisette the silver that thow hem levest:
5.263: And that was wonne with wrong, with wikked men be despended.
5.264: For were I a frere of that hous ther good feith and charite is,
5.265: I nolde cope us with thi catel, ne oure kirk amende,
5.266: Ne have a peny to my pitaunce, so God [pyne] my soule in helle,
5.267: For the beste book in oure hous, theigh brent gold were the leves,
5.268: And I wiste witterly thow were swich as thow tellest!
5.268: Servus es alterius, cum fercula pinguia queris.
5.268: Pane tuo pocius vescere, liber eris.
5.269: "Thow art an unkynde creature — I kan thee noght assoille
5.270: Til thow make restitucion' quod Repentaunce,-and rekene with hem alle.
5.271: And sithen that Reson rolle it in the Registre of hevene
5.272: That thow hast maad ech man good, I may thee noght assoille.
5.272: Non dimittitur peccatum donec restituatur ablatum.
5.273: For alle that han of thi good, have God my trouthe,
5.274: Ben holden at the heighe doom to helpe thee to restitue;
5.275: And who so leveth noght this be sooth, loke in the Sauter glose,
5.276: In Miserere mei, Deus, wher I mene truthe:
5.276: Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, &c.
5.277: Shal nevere werkman in this world thryve with that thow wynnest.
5.278: Cum sancto sanctus eris construwe me this on Englissh.'
5.279: Thanne weex that sherewe in wanhope and wolde han hanged hymself
5.280: Ne hadde Repentaunce the rather reconforted hym in this manere:
5.281: " Have mercy in thi mynde, and with thi mouth biseche it,
5.282: For [his] mercy is moore than alle hise othere werkes —
5.282: Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius, &c —
5.283: And al the wikkednesse in this world that man myghte werche or thynke
5.284: Nis na moore to the mercy of God than in[middes] the see a gleede:
5.285: Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam Dei est quasi scintilla in medio maris
5.285: Forthi have mercy in thy mynde — and marchaundise, leve it!
5.286: For thow hast no good ground to gete thee with a wastel
5.287: But if it were with thi tonge or ellis with thi two hondes.
5.288: For the good that thow hast geten bigan al with falshede,
5.289: And as longe as thow lyvest therwith, thow yeldest noght but borwest.
5.290: And if thow wite nevere to wh[om] ne wh[ere] to restitue,
5.291: Ber it to the Bisshop, and bid hym of his grace
5.292: Bisette it hymself as best is for thi soule.
5.293: For he shal answere for thee at the heighe dome,
5.294: For thee and for many mo that man shal yeve a rekenyng:
5.295: What he lerned yow in Lente, leve thow noon oother,
5.296: And what he lente yow of Oure Lordes good, to lette yow fro synne'.
5.297: Now bigynneth Gloton for togoto shrifte,
5.298: And kaireth hym to kirkewarde his coupe to shewe.
5.299: Ac Beton the Brewestere bad hym good morwe
5.300: And asked of hym with that, whiderward he wolde.
5.301: "To holy chirche,' quod he, "for to here masse,
5.302: And sithen I wole be shryven, and synne na moore.'
5.303: " I have good ale, gossib,' quod she, " Gloton, woltow assaye?'
5.304: " Hastow,' quod he, "any hote spices?'
5.305: "I have pepir and pione,' quod she, "and a pound of garleek,
5.306: A ferthyngworth of fenel seed for fastynge dayes.
5.307: Thanne goth Gloton in, and grete othes after.
5.308: Cesse the Souteresse sat on the benche,
5.309: Watte the Warner and his wif bothe,
5.310: Tymme the Tynkere and tweyne of his [knav]es,
5.311: Hikke the Hakeneyman and Hugh the Nedlere,
5.312: Clarice of Cokkeslane and the Clerk of the chirche,
5.313: Sire Piers of Pridie and Pernele of Flaundres,
5.314: Dawe the Dykere, and a dozeyne othere —
5.315: A Ribibour, a Ratoner, a Rakiere of Chepe,
5.316: A Ropere, a Redyngkyng, and Rose the Dysshere,
5.317: Godefray of Garlekhithe and Griffyn the Walshe,
5.318: And [of] upholderes an heep, erly by the morwe,
5.319: Geve Gloton with glad chere good ale to hanselle.
5.320: Clement the Cobelere caste of his cloke,
5.321: And at the newe feire nempned it to selle.
5.322: Hikke the Hakeneyman hitte his hood after,
5.323: And bad Bette the Bocher ben on his syde.
5.324: Ther were chapmen ychose this chaffare to preise:
5.325: Whoso hadde the hood sholde han amcndes of the cloke.
5.326: Tho risen up in rape and rouned togideres,
5.327: And preised the penyworthes apart by hemselve.
5.328: [There were othes an heep, for oon sholde have the werse];
5.329: Thei kouthe noght by hir conscience acorden in truthe,
5.330: Til Robyn the Ropere arise the[i by]sou[ght]e,
5.331: And nempned hym for a nounpere, that no debat nere.
5.332: Hikke the Hostiler hadde the cloke
5.333: In covenaunt that Clement sholde the cuppe fille
5.334: And have Hikkes hood the Hostiler, and holden hym yserved;
5.335: And whoso repented rathest shoulde aryse after
5.336: And greten Sire Gloton with a galon ale.
5.337: There was laughynge and lourynge and " Lat go the cuppe!'
5.338: [Bargaynes and beverages bigonne to arise;]
5.339: And seten so til evensong, and songen umwhile,
5.340: Til Gloton hadde yglubbed a galon and a gille.
5.341: His guttes bigonne to gothelen as two gredy sowes;
5.342: He pissed a potel in a Paternoster-while,
5.343: And blew his rounde ruwet at his ruggebones ende,
5.344: That alle that herde that horn helde hir nose after
5.345: And wisshed it hadde ben wexed with a wispe of firses!
5.346: He myghte neither steppe ne stonde er he his staf hadde,
5.347: And thanne gan he to go like a glemannes bicche
5.348: Som tyme aside and som tyme arere,
5.349: As whoso leith lynes for to lacche foweles.
5.350: And whan he drough to the dore, thanne dymmed hise eighen;
5.351: He [thr]umbled on the thresshfold and threw to the erthe.
5.352: Clement the Cobelere kaughte hym by the myddel
5.353: For to liften hym olofte, and leyde hym on his knowes.
5.354: Ac Gloton was a gret cherl and a grym in the liftyng,
5.355: And koughed up a cawdel in Clementes lappe.
5.356: Is noon so hungry hound in Hertfordshire
5.357: Dorste lape of that levynge, so unlovely it smaughte!
5.358: With al the wo of this world, his wif and his wenche
5.359: Baren hym to his bed and broughte hym therinne;
5.360: And after al this excesse he had an accidie.
5.361: That he sleep Saterday and Sonday, till sonne yede to reste.
5.362: Thanne waked he of his wynkyng and wiped hise eighen;
5.363: The first word that he spak was — 'Where is the bolle?'
5.364: His wif [and his wit] edwyte[d] hym tho how wikkedly he lyvede.
5.365: And Repentaunce right so rebuked hym that tyme:
5.366: "As thow with wordes and werkes hast wroght yvele in thi lyve,
5.367: Shryve thee and be shamed therof, and shewe it with thi mouthe.'
5.368: 'I, Gloton,' quod the gome, 'gilty me yelde —
5.369: That I have trespased with my tonge, I kan noght telle how ofte
5.370: Sworen ""Goddes soule and his sydes!' and "So helpe me God and halidome!'
5.371: Ther no nede was nyne hyndred tymes;
5.372: And overseyen me at my soper and som tyme at Nones,
5.373: That I, Gloton, girte it up er I hadde gon a myle,
5.374: And yspilt that myghte be spared and spended on som hungry;
5.375: Over delicatly on f[ee]styng dayes dronken and eten bothe,
5.376: And sat som tyme so long there that I sleep and eet at ones.
5.377: For love of tales in tavernes [in]to drynke the moore I dy[v]ed;
5.378: And hyed to the mete er noon [on] fastyng dayes.'
5.379: " This shewynge shrift,' quod Repentaunce, " shal be meryt to the.'
5.380: And thanne gan Gloton greete, and gret dcel to make
5.381: For his Iuther Iif that he lyved hadde,
5.382: And avowed to faste — "For hunger or for thurste,
5.383: Shal never fyssh on Fryday defyen in my wombe
5.384: Til Abstinence myn aunte have yyve me leeve —
5.385: And yet have I hated hire al my lif tyme!-
5.386: Thanne cam Sleuthe al bislabered, with two slymy eighen.
5.387: "l moste sitte,' seide the segge, "or ellis sholde I nappe.
5.388: I may noght stonde ne stoupe ne withoute a stool knele.
5.389: Were I brought abedde, but if my tailende it made,
5.390: Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse er I were ripe to dyne.'
5.391: He bigan Benedicite with a bolk, and his brest knokked,
5.392: Raxed and rored — and rutte at the laste.
5.393: -What, awake, renk!-quod Repentaunce, 'and rape thee to shryfte!'
5.394: "If I sholde deye bi this day,' quod he, "me list nought to loke.
5.395: I kan noght parfitly my Paternoster as the preest it syngeth,
5.396: But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood and Randolf Erl of Chestre,
5.397: Ac neither of Oure Lord ne of Oure Lady the leeste that evere was maked.
5.398: I have maad avowes fourty, and foryete hem on the morwe;
5.399: I parfournede nevere penaunce as the preest me highte,
5.400: Ne right sory for my synnes, yet [seye I] was I nevere.
5.401: And if I bidde any bedes, but if it be in wrathe,
5.402: That I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myn herte.
5.403: I am ocupied eche day, halyday and oother,
5.404: With ydel tales at the ale and outherwhile in chirches;
5.405: Goddes peyne and his passion, [pure] selde thenke I on it;
5.406: I visited nevere feble men ne fettred folk in puttes;
5.407: I have levere here an harlotrye or a somer game of souters,
5.408: Or lesynges to laughen of and bilye my neghebores,
5.409: Than al that evere Marc made, Mathew, Johan and Lucas.
5.410: And vigilies and fastyng dayes — alle thise late I passe,
5.411: And ligge abedde in Lenten and my lemman in myne armes
5.412: Til matyns and masse be do, and thanne moste to the Freres;
5.413: Come I to Ite, missa est I holde me yserved.
5.414: I am noght shryven som tyme, but if siknesse it make,
5.415: Noght twyes in two yer, and thanne [telle I up gesse].
5.416: "I have be preest and person passynge thritty wynter,
5.417: Yet kan I neyther solve ne synge ne seintes lyves rede,
5.418: But I kan fynden in a feld or in a furlang an hare
5.419: Bettre than in Beutus vir or in Beati omnes
5.420: Construe clausemel[e] and kenne it to my parisshens,
5.421: I kan holde lovedayes and here a reves rekenyng,
5.422: Ac in Canoun nor in Decretals I kan noght rede a lyne.
5.423: "If I bygge and borwe aught, but if it be ytailed,
5.424: I foryete it as yerne, and yif men me it axe
5.425: Sixe sithes or sevene, I forsake it with othes;
5.426: And thus tene I trewe men ten hundred tymes.
5.427: And my servaunts som tyme, hir salarie is bihynde:
5.428: Ruthe is to here the rekenyng whan we shal rede acountes,
5.429: So with wikked wil and wrathe my werkmen I paye!
5.430: "If any man dooth me a bienfait or helpeth me at nede,
5.431: I am unkynde ayeins his curteisie and kan nought understonden it;
5.432: For I have and have had somdel haukes maneres —
5.433: I am noght lured with love but ther ligge aught under the thombe.
5.434: The kyndenesse that myn evenecristene kidde me fernyere
5.435: Sixty sithes I, Sleuthe, have foryete it siththe
5.436: In speche and insparge of speche; yspilt many a tyme
5.437: Bothe flessh and fissh and manye othere vitailles,
5.438: Bothe bred and ale. buttre, melk and chese
5.439: Forsleuthed in my service til it myghte serve no man.
5.440: I [yarn] aboute in youthe, and yaf me naught to lerne
5.441: And evere sitthe have I be beggere [be] my foule sleuthe:
5.441: Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi iuvenilem !'
5.442: "Repentedestow the noght?' quod Repentaunce — and right with that he swowned
5.443: Til Vigilate the veille fette water at hise eighen
5.444: And flatte it on his face and faste on hym cryde
5.445: And seide, 'Ware thee — for Wanhope wolde thee bitraye.
5.446: ""I am sory for my synnes'', seye to thiselve,
5.447: And beet thiself on the brest, and bidde Hym of grace,
5.448: For is no gilt here so gret that his goodnesse nys moore.'
5.449: Thanne sat Sleuthe up and seyned hym swithe,
5.450: And made avow tofore God for his foule sleuthe:
5.451: "Shal no Sonday be this seven yer, but siknesse it [make],
5.452: That I ne shal do me er day to the deere chirche
5.453: And here matyns and masse as I a monk were.
5.454: Shal noon ale after mete holde me thennes
5.455: Til I have evensong herd — I bihote to the Roode!
5.456: And yet wole I yelde ayein. [y]if I so muche have,
5.457: Al that I wikkedly wan sithen I wit hadde;
5.458: And though my liflode lakke, leten I nelle
5.459: That ech man shal have his er I hennes wende;
5.460: And with the residue and the remenaunt, bi the Rode of Chestre,
5.461: I shal seken truthe erst er I se Rome!'
5.462: Roberd the Robbere on Reddite loked,
5.463: And for ther was noght wher[with], he wepte swithe soore.
5.464: And yet the synfulle sherewe seide to hymselve:
5.465: "Crist, that on Calvarie upon the cros deidest,
5.466: Tho Dysmas my brother bisoughte thee of grace,
5.467: And haddest mercy on that man for Memento sake;
5.468: So rewe on this Rober[d] that Reddere ne have,
5.469: Ne nevere wene to wynne with craft that I knowe;
5.470: But for thi muchel mercy mitigacion I biseche:
5.471: Dampne me noght at Domesday for that I dide so ille!'
5.472: What bifel of this feloun I kan noght faire shewe.
5.473: Wel I woot he wepte faste water with hise eighen,
5.474: And knoweliched his [coupe] to Crist yet eftsoones,
5.475: That Penitencia his pik he sholde polshe newe
5.476: And lepe with hym over lond al his lif tyme,
5.477: For he hadde leyen by Latro, Luciferis Aunte.
5.478: And thanne hadde Repentaunce ruthe and redde hem alle to knele.
5.479: " For I shal biseche for alle synfulle Oure Saveour of grace
5.480: To amenden us of oure mysdedes and do mercy to us alle.
5.481: Now God,' quod he, "that of Thi goodnesse gonne the world make,
5.482: And of naught madest aught and man moost lik to thiselve,
5.483: And sithen suffredest hym to synne, a siknesse to us alle —
5.484: And al for the beste, as I bileve, whatevere the Book telleth:
5.484: O felix culpa ! O necessarium peccutum Ade !
5.485: For thorugh that synne thi sone sent was to this erthe
5.486: And bicam man of a maide mankynde to save —
5.487: And madest Thiself with Thi sone us synfulle yliche:
5.487: Faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram; Et alibi
5.487: Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, et Deus in eo;
5.488: And siththe with Thi selve sone in oure sute deidest
5.489: On Good Fryday for mannes sake at ful tym~ of the day;
5.490: Ther Thiself ne Thi sone no sorwe in deeth feledest,
5.491: But in oure secte was the sorwe, and Thi sone it ladde:
5.491: Captivum duxit captivitatem.
5.492: The sonne for sorwe therof lees sight for a tyme
5.493: Aboute mydday whan moost light is and meel-tyme of seintes —
5.494: Feddest tho with Thi fresshe blood oure forefadres in derknesse:
5.494: Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam.
5.495: And the light that lepe out of Thee, Lucifer it blente,
5.496: And blewe alle Thi blessed into the blisse of Paradys!
5.497: "The thridde day therafter Thow yedest in oure sute:
5.498: A synful Marie The seigh er Seynte Marie Thi dame,
5.499: And al to solace synfulle Thow suffredest it so were —
5.499: Non veni vocare iustos set peccatores ad penitenciam.
5.500: "And al that Marc hath ymaad, Mathew, Johan and Lucas
5.501: Of Thyne doughtiest dedes was doon in oure armes:
5.501: Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis.
5.502: And by so muche it semeth the sikerer we mowe
5.503: Bidde and biseche, if it be Thi wille
5.504: That art oure fader and oure brother — be merciable to us,
5.505: And have ruthe on thise ribaudes that repenten hem soore
5.506: That evere thei wrathed Thee in this world, in word, thought or dede!'
5.507: Thanne hente Hope an horn of Deus tu conversus vivificabis nos
5.508: And blew it with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates
5.509: That alle Seintes in hevene songen at ones
5.510: "Homines et iumenta salvabis, quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, Deus
5.510: A thousand of men tho thrungen togideres,
5.511: Cride upward to Crist and to his clene moder
5.512: To have grace to go [seke Truthe — God leve that they moten!]
5.513: Ac there was wight noon so wys, the wey thider kouthe,
5.514: But blustreden forth as beestes over ba[ch]es and hilles,
5.515: Til late was and longe, that thei a leode mette
5.516: Apparailled as a paynym in pilgrymes wise.
5.517: He bar a burdoun ybounde with a brood liste
5.518: In a withwynde wise ywounden aboute.
5.519: A bolle and a bagge he bar by his syde.
5.520: An hundred of ampulles on his hat seten,
5.521: Signes of Synay and shelles of Galice,
5.522: And many a crouch on his cloke, and keyes of Rome,
5.523: And the vernicle bifore, for men sholde knowe
5.524: And se bi hise signes whom he sought hadde.
5.525: This folk frayned hym first fro whennes he come.
5.526: " Fram Synay,' he seide, " and fram [the] Sepulcre.
5.527: In Bethlem and in Babiloyne, I have ben in bothe,
5.528: In Armonye, in Alisaundre, in manye othere places.
5.529: Ye may se by my signes that sitten on myn hatte
5.530: That I have walked ful wide in weet and in drye
5.531: And sought goode Seintes for my soule helthe.'
5.532: " Knowestow aught a corsaint,' [quod thei], " that men calle Truthe?
5.533: Koudestow wissen us the wey wher that wye dwelleth?'
5.534: "Nay, so me God helpe!' seide the gome thanne.
5.535: "I seigh nevere palmere with pyk ne with scrippe
5.536: Asken after hym er now in this place.'
5.537: "Peter!' quod a Plowman, and putte forth his hed,
5.538: "I knowe hym as kyndely as clerc doth hise bokes.
5.539: Conscience and Kynde Wit kenned me to his place
5.540: And diden me suren hym si[ththen] to serven hym for evere,
5.541: Bothe to sowe and to sette the while I swynke myghte.
5.542: I have ben his folwere al this fourty wynter —
5.543: Bothe ysowen his seed and suwed hise beestes,
5.544: Withinne and withouten waited his profit,
5.545: Idyke[d] and id[o]lve, ido that he hoteth.
5.546: Som tyme I sowe and som tyme I thresshe,
5.547: In taillours craft and tynkeris craft, what Truthe kan devyse,
5.548: I weve and I wynde and do what Truthe hoteth.
5.549: For though I seye it myself, I serve hym to paye;
5.550: I have myn hire of hym wel and outherwhiles moore.
5.551: He is the presteste paiere that povere men knoweth:
5.552: He withhalt noon hewe his hire that he ne hath it at even.
5.553: He is as lowe as a lomb and lovelich of speche.
5.554: And if ye wilneth to wite where that he dwelleth,
5.555: I [wol] wisse yow [wel right] to his place.'
5.556: 'Ye, leve Piers!' quod thise pilgrimes, and profred hym huyre.
5.557: 'Nay, by [the peril of] my soule!' quod Piers and gan to swere,
5.558: " I nolde fange a ferthyng, for Seint Thomas shryne!
5.559: Truthe wolde love me the lasse a long tyme after.
5.560: Ac if ye wilneth to wende wel, this is the wey thider:
5.561: Ye moten go thorugh Mekenesse, bothe men and wyves,
5.562: Til ye come into Conscience, that Crist wite the sothe,
5.563: That ye loven Oure Lord God levest of alle thynges,
5.564: And thanne youre neghebores next in none wise apeire
5.565: Otherwise than thow woldest h[ii] wroughte to thiselve.
5.566: "And so boweth forth by a brook, "" Beth-buxom-of-speche',
5.567: [Forto] ye fynden a ford, " Youre-fadres-honoureth' :
5.567: Honora patrem et matrem &c.
5.568: Wadeth in that water and wassheth yow wel there,
5.569: And ye shul lepe the lightloker al youre lif ty
5.570: And so shaltow se "Swere-noght-but-if-it-be-for-nede-
5.571: And-nameliche-on-ydel-the-name-of-God-Almyghty.''
5.572: "Thanne shaltow come by a croft, but come thow noght therinne:
5.573: The croft hatte "" Coveite-noght-mennes-catel-ne-hire-wyves-
5.574: Ne-noon-of-hire-servaunts-that-noyen-hem-myghte.''
5.575: Loke thow breke no bowes there but if it be [thyn] owene.
5.576: "Two stokkes ther stondeth. ac stynte th[ow] noght there:
5.577: Thei highte ""Stele-noght'' and "" Sle-noght'' — strik forth by bothe,
5.578: And leve hem on thi lift half and loke noght therafter,
5.579: And hold wel thyn haliday heighe til even.
5.580: "Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh, "Bere-no-t-ais-witnesse'';
5.581: He is frythed in with floryns and othere fees manye:
5.582: Loke thow plukke no plaunte there, for peril of thi soule.
5.583: " Thanne shalt thow see "" Seye-sooth-so-it-be-to-doone
5.584: In-no-manere-ellis-noght-for-no-mannes-biddyng.''
5.585: "Thanne shaltow come to a court as cler as the sonne.
5.586: The moot is of Mercy the rnanoir aboute,
5.587: And alle the walles ben of Wit to holden Wil oute,
5.588: And kerneled with Cristendom that kynde to save,
5.589: Botrased with "" Bileef-so-or-thow-beest-noght-saved.''
5.590: "And alle the houses ben hiled, halles and chambres,
5.591: With no leed but with love and lowe speche, as bretheren [of o wombe].
5.592: The brugge is of " Bidde-wel-the-bet-may-thow-spede;''
5.593: Ech piler is of penaunce, of preieres to seyntes;
5.594: Of almesdedes are the hokes that the gates hangen on.
5.595: "Grace hatte the gateward, a good man for sothe;
5.596: His man hatte ""Amende-yow'' — many man hym knoweth.
5.597: Telleth hym this tokene: ""Truthe[w] the sothe —
5.598: I parfourned the penaunce that the preest me enjoyned
5.599: And am sory for my synnes and so I shal evere
5.600: Whan I thynke theron, theigh I were a Pope.'
5.601: "Biddeth Amende-yow meke hym til his maister ones
5.602: To wayven up the wiket that the womman shette
5.603: Tho Adam and Eve eten apples unrosted:
5.603: Per Evam cunctis clausa est et per Mariam virginem iterum patefacta est.
5.604: For he hath the keye and the cliket, though the kyng slepe.
5.605: And if Grace graunte thee to go in in this wise
5.606: Thow shalt see in thiselve Truthe sitte in thyn herte
5.607: In a cheyne of charite, as thow a child were,
5.608: To suffren hym and segge noght ayein thi sires wille.
5.609: "Ac be war thanne of Wrathe, that wikked sherewe:
5.610: He hath envye to hym that in thyn herte sitteth,
5.611: And poketh forth pride to preise thiselven.
5.612: The boldnesse of thi bienfetes maketh thee blynd thanne
5.613: And [so] worstow dryven out as dew, and the dore closed,
5.614: Keyed and cliketted to kepe thee withouten
5.615: Happily an hundred wynter er thow eft entre!
5.616: Thus myghtestow lesen his love, to lete wel by thiselve,
5.617: And [gete it ayein thorugh] grace [ac thorugh no gifte ellis].
5.618: "Ac ther are seven sustren that serven Truthe evere
5.619: And arn porters of the posternes that to the place longeth.
5.620: That oon hatte Abstinence, and Humilite another;
5.621: Charite and Chastite ben hise chief maydenes;
5.622: Pacience and Pees, muche peple thei helpeth;
5.623: Largenesse the lady, she let in ful manye —
5.624: Heo hath holpe a thousand out of the develes punfolde.
5.625: "And who is sib to thise sevene, so me God helpe,
5.626: He is wonderly welcome and faire underfongen.
5.627: And but if ye be sibbe to some of thise sevene —
5.628: It is ful hard, by myn heed,' quod Piers, "for any of yow alle
5.629: To geten ingong at any gate but grace be the moore!'
5.630: "Now, by Crist!' quod a kuttepurs,-I have no kyn there.'
5.631: " Ne I', quod an apeward,-by aught that I knowe.'
5.632: "Wite God,' quod a wafrestere, "wiste I this for sothe,
5.633: Sholde I never ferther a foot for no freres prechyng.'
5.634: " Yis! ' quod Piers the Plowman, and poked hem alle to goode,
5.635: "Mercy is a maiden there, hath myght over hem alle;
5.636: And she is sib to alle synfulle, and hire sone also,
5.637: And thorugh the help of hem two — hope thow noon oother —
5.638: Thow myght gete grace there — so thow go bityme.'
5.639: "Bi Seint Poul!' quod a pardoner, paraventure I be noght knowe there:
5.640: I wol go fecche my box with my brevettes and a bulle with bisshopes lettres.
5.641: "By Crist!' quod a commune womman, thi compaignie wol I folwe.
5.642: Thow shalt seye I am thi suster.' I ne woot where thei bicome.
Passus Six
6.001: "This were a wikkede wey but whoso hadde a gyde
6.002: That [myghte] folwen us ech a foot' — thus this folk hem mened.
6.003: Quod Perkyn the Plowman, " By Seint Peter of Rome!
6.004: I have an half acre to erie by the heighe weye;
6.005: Hadde I cryed this half acre and sowen it after,
6.006: I wolde wende with yow and the wey teche.'
6.007: "This were a long lettyng,' quod a lady in a scleyre;
6.008: "What sholde we wommen werche the while?'
6.009: "Somme shul sowe the sak ' quod Piers, " for shedyng of the whete;
6.010: And ye lovely ladies with youre longe fyngres,
6.011: That ye have silk and sandel to sowe whan tyme is
6.012: Chesibles for chapeleyns chirches to honoure.
6.013: Wyves and widewes, wolle and flex spynneth:
6.014: Maketh cloth, I counseille yow, and kenneth so youre doughtres.
6.015: The nedy and the naked, nymeth hede how thei liggeth,
6.016: And casteth hem clothes, for so commaundeth Truthe.
6.017: For I shal lenen hem liflode, but if the lond faille,
6.018: As longe as I lyve, for the Lordes love of hevene.
6.019: And alle manere of men that by mete and drynke libbeth,
6.020: Helpeth hym to werche wightliche that wynneth youre foode.'
6.021: "By Crist!' quod a knyght thoo, "he kenneth us the beste;
6.022: Ac on the teme, trewely, taught was I nevere.
6.023: Ac kenne me,' quod the knyght, "and by Crist I wole assaye!'
6.024: "By Seint Poul!' quod Perkyn, "Ye profre yow so faire
6.025: That I shal swynke and swete and sowe for us bothe,
6.026: And [ek] labour[e] for thi love al my lif tyme,
6.027: In covenaunt that thow kepe Holy Kirke and myselve
6.028: Fro wastours and fro wikked men that this world destruyeth;
6.029: And go hunte hardiliche to hares and foxes,
6.030: To bores and to bukkes that breken down myne hegges;
6.031: And go affaite thi faucons wilde foweles to kille,
6.032: For thei cometh to my croft and croppeth my whete.'
6.033: Curteisly the knyght thanne co[nseyved] thise wordes:
6.034: "By my power, Piers, I plighte thee my trouthe
6.035: To fulfille this forward, though I fighte sholde;
6.036: Als longe as I lyve I shal thee mayntene.'
6.037: " Ye, and yet a point,' quod Piers, "I preye yow of moore:
6.038: Loke ye tene no tenaunt but Truthe wole assente;
6.039: And though ye mowe amercy hem, lat mercy be taxour
6.040: And mekenesse thi maister, maugree Medes chekes.
6.041: And though povere men profre yow presentes and yiftes,
6.042: Nyme it noght, an aventure thow mowe it noght deserve;
6.043: For thow shalt yelde it ayein at one yeres ende
6.044: In a ful perilous place — Purgatorie it hatte.
6.045: And mysbede noght thi bondemen — the bettre may thow spede;
6.046: Though he be thyn underlyng here, wel may happe in hevene
6.047: That he worth worthier set and with moore blisse:
6.047: Amice, ascende superius.
6.048: For in charnel at chirche cherles ben yvel to knowe,
6.049: Or a knyght from a knave there — knowe this in thyn herte.
6.050: And that thow be trewe of thi tonge, and tales that thow hatie,
6.051: But if thei ben of wisdom or of wit, thi werkmen to chaste.
6.052: Hold with none harlotes ne here noght hir tales,
6.053: And namely at the mete swiche men eschuwe —
6.054: For it ben the develes disours, I do the to understonde.'
6.055: "I assente, by Seint Jame,' seide the knyght thanne,
6.056: "For to werche by thi wordes the while my lif dureth.'
6.057: "And I shal apparaille me,' quod Perkyn, "in pilgrymes wise
6.058: And wende with yow I wile til we fynde Truthe.'
6.059: [He] caste on [hise] clothes, yclouted and hole,
6.060: [Hise] cokeres and [hise] coffes for cold of [hise] nailes,
6.061: And [heng his] hoper at [his] hals in stede of a scryppe:
6.062: "A busshel of bred corn brynge me therinne,
6.063: For I wol sowe it myself, and sithenes wol I wende
6.064: To pilgrymage as palmeres doon, pardon for to have.
6.065: And whoso helpeth me to erie or sowen here er I wende,
6.066: Shal have leve, by Oure Lord, to lese here in hervest
6.067: And make hym murie thermyd, maugree whoso bigruccheth it.
6.068: And alle kynne crafty men that konne lyven in truthe,
6.069: I shal fynden hem fode that feithfulliche libbeth —
6.070: Save Jakke the Jogelour and Jonette of the Stuwes,
6.071: And Danyel the Dees-pleyere and Denote the Baude,
6.072: And Frere the Faitour, and folk of his ordre,
6.073: And Robin the Ribaudour, for hise rusty wordes.
6.074: Truthe tolde me ones and bad me telle it forth:
6.075: Deleantur de libro vivencium — I sholde noght dele with hem,
6.076: For Holy Chirche is hote, of hem no tithe to aske,
6.076: Quia cum iustis non scribantur.
6.077: Thei ben ascaped good aventure — now God hem amende!'
6.078: Dame Werch-whan-tyme-is Piers wif highte;
6.079: His doughter highte Do-right-so-or-thi-dame-shal-thee-bete;
6.080: His sone highte Suffre-thi-Sovereyns-to-haven-hir-wille:
6.081: Deme-hem-noght-for-if-thow-doost-thow-shalt-it-deere-abugge;
6.082: Lat-God-yworthe-with-al-for-so-His-word-techeth.
6.083: "For now I am old and hoor and have of myn owene,
6.084: To penaunce and to pilgrimage I wol passe with thise othere;
6.085: Forthi I wole er I wende do write my biqueste.
6.086: In Dei nomine, Amen, I make it myselve.
6.087: ' He shal have my soule that best hath deserved it,
6.088: And [defende it fro the fend], for so I bileve,
6.089: Til I come to hise acountes as my crede me telleth,
6.090: To have a relees and a remission — on that rental I leve.
6.091: "The kirke shal have my caroyne, and kepe my bones,
6.092: For of my corn and catel he craved the tithe.
6.093: I paide it hym prestly, for peril of my soule;
6.094: Forthi is he holden, I hope, to have me in his masse
6.095: And mengen me in his memorie amonges alle Cristene.
6.096: " My wif shal have of that I wan with truthe, and namoore,
6.097: And dele among my doughtres and my deere children;
6.098: For though I deye today, my dettes are quyte;
6.099: I bar hom that I borwed er I to bedde yede.
6.100: And with the residue and the remenaunt, by the Rode of Lukes!
6.101: I wol worshipe therwith Truthe by my lyve,
6.102: And ben His pilgrym atte plow for povere mennes sake.
6.103: My plowpote shal be my pikstaf, and picche atwo the rotes,
6.104: And helpe my cultour to kerve and clense the furwes.'
6.105: Now is Perkyn and thise pilgrimes to the plow faren.
6.106: To erie this half-acre holpen hym manye;
6.107: Dikeres and delveres digged up the balkes;
6.108: Therwith was Perkyn apayed and preised hem faste.
6.109: Othere werkmen ther were that wroghten ful yerne:
6.110: Ech man in his manere made hymself to doone,
6.111: And somme to plese Perkyn piked up the wedes.
6.112: At heigh prime Piers leet the plough stonde,
6.113: To oversen hem hymself; whoso best wroghte,
6.114: He sholde be hired therafter, whan hervest tyme come.
6.115: Thanne seten somme and songen atte nale,
6.116: And holpen ere this half acre with "How trolly lolly!'
6.117: "Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers al in pure tene,
6.118: "But ye arise the rather and rape yow to werche,
6.119: Shal no greyn that here groweth glade yow at nede,
6.120: And though ye deye for doel, the devel have that recche!'
6.121: Tho were faitours afered, and feyned hem blynde;
6.122: Somme leide hir legges aliry, as swiche losels konneth,
6.123: And made hir [pleynt] to Piers and preide hym of grace:
6.124: "For we have no lymes to laboure with, lord, ygraced be ye!
6.125: Ac we preie for yow, Piers, and for youre plowgh bothe,
6.126: That God of his grace youre greyn multiplie
6.127: And yelde yow of youre almesse that ye yyve us here;
6.128: For we may neither swynke ne swete, swich siknesse us eyleth.'
6.129: If it be sooth.' quod Piers, "that ye seyn, I shal it soone aspie.
6.130: Ye ben wastours, I woot wel, and Truthe woot the sothe;
6.131: And I am his olde hyne and highte hym to warne
6.132: Whiche thei were in this world hise werkmen apeired.
6.133: Ye wasten that men wynnen with travaille and with tene;
6.134: Ac Truthe shal teche yow his teme to dryve,
6.135: Or ye shul eten barly breed and of the broke drynke;
6.136: But if he be blynd or brokelegged or bolted with irens,
6.137: He shal ete whete breed and [with myselve drynke]
6.138: Til God of his goodnesse garisoun] hym sende.
6.139: Ac ye myghte travaille as Truthe wolde and take mete and hyre
6.140: To kepe kyen in the feld, the corn fro the bestes,
6.141: Diken or delven or dyngen upon sheves,
6.142: Or helpe make morter or bere muk afeld.
6.143: In lecherie and losengerie ye lyven, and in sleuthe,
6.144: And al is thorugh suffraunce that vengeaunce yow ne taketh!
6.145: "Ac ancres and heremites that eten but at Nones
6.146: And na moore er morwe — myn almesse shul thei have,
6.147: And of my catel to cope hem with that han cloistres and chirches.
6.148: Ac Robert Renaboute shal [right] noght have of myne,
6.149: Ne postles, but thei preche konne and have power of the bisshop:
6.150: Thei shul have payn and potage and [put] hemself at ese —
6.151: For it is an unresonable Religion that hath right noght of certein.'
6.152: Thanne gan Wastour to wrathen hym and wolde have yfoughte,
6.153: And to Piers the Plowman he profrede his glove.
6.154: A Bretoner, a braggere, abosted Piers als
6.155: And bad hym go pissen with his plowgh, forpynede sherewe!
6.156: 'Wiltow or neltow, we wol have oure wille
6.157: Of thi flour and of thi flesshe — fecche whanne us liketh,
6.158: And maken us murye thermyde, maugree thi chekes.'
6.159: Thanne Piers the Plowman pleyned hym to the knyghte
6.160: To kepen hym as covenaunt was fro cursede sherewes
6.161: And fro thise wastours wolveskynnes that maketh the world deere:
6.162: " For tho wasten and wynnen noght, and that [while ilke]
6.163: Worth nevere plentee among the peple the while my plowgh liggeth.'
6.164: Curteisly the knyght thanne, as his kynde wolde,
6.165: Warnede Wastour and wissed hym bettre:
6.166: "Or thow shalt abigge by the lawe, by the ordre that I bere!'
6.167: " I was noght wont to werche,' quod Wastour, "and now wol I noght bigynne! '-
6.168: And leet light of the lawe, and lasse of the knyghte,
6.169: And sette Piers at a pese, and his plowgh bothe,
6.170: And manaced Piers and his men if thei mette eftsoone.
6.171: " Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers, " I shal apeire yow alle' —
6.172: And houped after Hunger, that herde hym at the firste.
6.173: "Awreke me of thise wastours,' quod he, "that this world shendeth!'
6.174: Hunger in haste thoo hente Wastour by the mawe
6.175: And wrong hym so by the wombe that al watrede hise eighen.
6.176: He buffetted the Bretoner aboute the chekes
6.177: That he loked lik a lanterne al his lif after.
6.178: He bette hem so bothe, he brast ner hire guttes;
6.179: Ne hadde Piers with a pese loot-preyed [hym bileve],
6.180: They hadde be dolven bothe — ne deme thow noon oother.
6.181: "Suffre hem lyve,' he seide-and lat hem etc with hogges,
6.182: Or ellis benes and bren ybaken togideres.'
6.183: Faitours for fere herof flowen into bernes
6.184: And flapten on with flailes fro morwe til even,
6.185: That hunger was noght hardy on hem for to loke
6.186: For a potful of peses that Piers hadde ymaked.
6.187: An heep of herernytes henten hem spades
6.188: And kitten hir copes and courtepies hem maked.
6.189: And wente as werkmen with spades and with shoveles,
6.190: And dolven and dikeden to dryve awey Hunger.
6.191: Blynde and bedreden were bootned a thousand,
6.192: That seten to begge silver, soone were thei heeled ;
6.193: For that was bake for Bayard was boote for many hungry;
6.194: And many a beggere for benes buxum was to swynke,
6.195: And ech a povere man wel apaied to have pesen for his hyre,
6.196: And what Piers preide hem to do as prest as a sperhauk.
6.197: And [Piers was proud therof ], and putte hem to werke
6.198: And yaf hem mete as he myghte aforthe and mesurable hyre.
6.199: Thanne hadde Piers pite, and preide Hunger to wende
6.200: Hoom into his owene erd and holden hym there [evere]:
6.201: " For I am wel awroke of wastours thorugh thy myghte.
6.202: Ac I preie thee, er thow passe,' quod Piers to Hunger,
6.203: "Of beggeris and of bidderis what best be to doone?
6.204: For I woot wel, be thow went, thei wol werche ful ille;
6.205: Meschief it maketh thei be so meke nouthe,
6.206: And for defaute of hire foode this folk is at my wille.
6.207: [And] it are my blody bretheren, for God boughte us alle.
6.208: Truthe taughte me ones to loven hem ech one
6.209: And to helpen hem of alle thyng, ay as hem nedeth.
6.210: Now wolde I wite of thee, what were the beste,
6.211: And how I myghte amaistren hem and make hem to werche.'
6.212: " Here now,' quod Hunger, "and hoold it for a wisdom:
6.213: Bolde beggeris and bigge that mowe hir breed biswynke,
6.214: With houndes breed and horse breed hoold up hir hertes —
6.215: Aba[v]e hem with benes, for bollynge of hir wombe;
6.216: And if the gomes grucche, bidde hem go swynke,
6.217: And he shal soupe swetter whan he it hath deserved.
6.218: "Ac if thow fynde any freke that Fortune hath apeired
6.219: Or any manere false men, fonde thow swiche to knowe:
6.220: Conforte hem with thi catel for Cristes love of hevene;
6.221: Love hem and lene hem, for so Iawe of [kynde wolde]:
6.222: Alter alterius onlera portate.
6.223: And alle manere of men that thow myght aspie
6.224: That nedy ben [or naked, and nought han to spende,
6.225: Love hem and lakke hem noght — lat God take the vengeaunce;
6.226: Theigh thei doon yvele, lat thow God yworthe:
6.226: Michi vindictam et ego retribuam.
6.227: And if thow wilt be gracious to God, do as the Gospel techeth,
6.228: And bilove thee amonges lowe men — so shaltow lacche grace:
6.228: Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.'
6.229: "I wolde noght greve God,' quod Piers,-for al the good on grounde!'
6.230: Mighte I synnelees do as thow seist?' seide Piers thanne.
6.231: "Ye, I bihote thee,' quod Hunger, "or ellis the Bible lieth
6.232: Go to Genesis the geaunt, the engendrour of us alle:
6.233: ""In sudore and swynk thow shalt thi mete tilie,
6.234: And laboure for thi liflode,'' and so Oure Lord highte.
6.235: And Sapience seith the same — I seigh it in the Bible:
6.236: "" Piger pro frigore no feeld nolde tilie —
6.237: And therfore he shal begge and bidde, and no man bete his hunger.''
6.238: " Mathew with mannes face moutheth thise wordes —
6.239: That servus nequam hadde a mnam, and for he wolde noght chaffare,
6.240: He hadde maugree of his maister everemoore after;
6.241: And bynam hym his mnam for he ne wolde werche,
6.242: And yaf that mnam to hym that ten mnames hadde,
6.243: And with that he seide, that Holy Chirche it herde:
6.244: "" He that hath shal have and helpe there it nedeth;
6.245: And he that noght hath shal noght have, and no man hym helpe,
6.246: And that he weneth wel to have, I wole it hym bireve.''
6.247: " Kynde Wit wolde that ech a wight wroghte,
6.248: Or in [te]chynge or in [tell]ynge or travaillynge in preieres —
6.249: Contemplatif lif or Actif lif, Crist wolde men wroghte.
6.250: The Sauter seith in the psalme of Beati omnes,
6.251: The freke that fedeth hymself with his feithful labour,
6.252: He is blessed by the book in body and in soule:
6.252: Labores manuum tuarum &c.'
6.253: " Yet I preie yow,' quod Fiers, "pur charite, and ye konne
6.254: Any leef of lechecraft, lere it me, my deere;
6.255: For some of my servaunts and myself bothe
6.256: Of al a wike werche noght, so oure wombe aketh.'
6.257: "I woot wel,' quod Hunger, "what siknesse yow eyleth;
6.258: Ye han manged over muche — that maketh yow grone.
6.259: Ac I hote thee,' quod Hunger, "as thow thyn hele wilnest,
6.260: That thow drynke no day er thow dyne somwhat.
6.261: Ete noght, I hote thee, er hunger thee take
6.262: And sende thee of his sauce to savore with thi lippes;
6.263: And keep som til soper tyme and sitte noght to longe;
6.264: Arys up er appetit have eten his fille.
6.265: Lat noght Sire Surfet sitten at thi borde —
6.266: Love hym noght, for he is lecherous and likerous of tonge,
6.267: And after many maner metes his mawe is afyngred.
6.268: "And if thow diete thee thus, I dar legge myn eris
6.269: That Phisik shal his furred hood for his fode selle,
6.270: And his cloke of Calabre with alle the knappes of golde,
6.271: And be fayn, by my feith, his phisik to lete,
6.272: And lerne to laboure with lond [lest] liflode [hym faille].
6.273: Ther aren mo [li]eres than leches — Lord hem amende!
6.274: They do men deye thorugh hir drynkes er destynee it wolde.'
6.275: " By Seint Poul,' quod Piers, "thise arn profitable wordes!
6.276: For this is a lovely lesson, Lord it thee foryelde!
6.277: Wend now, Hunger, whan thow wolt, that wel be thow evere.'
6.278: " I bihote God,' quod Hunger, " hennes ne wole I wende
6.279: [Er] I have dyned bi this day and ydronke bothe.'
6.280: " I have no peny,' quod Piers, "pulettes to bugge,
6.281: Neither gees ne grys, but two grene cheses,
6.282: A fewe cruddes and creme and [a cake of otes],
6.283: And two loves of benes and bran ybake for my fauntes.
6.284: And yet I seye, by my soule, I have no salt bacon
6.285: Ne no cokeney, by Crist, coloppes to maken!
6.286: Ac I have percile and porettes and manye [plaunte coles],
6.287: And ek a cow and a calf, and a cart mare
6.288: To drawe afeld my donge the while the droghte lasteth.
6.289: By this liflode we mote lyve til Lammesse tyme.
6.290: And by that I hope to have hervest in my crofte;
6.291: Thanne may I dighte thi dyner as me deere liketh.'
6.292: Al the povere peple tho pescoddes fetten;
6.293: Benes and baken apples thei broghte in hir lappes,
6.294: Chibolles and chervelles and ripe chiries manye,
6.295: And profrede Piers this present to plese with Hunger.
6.296: Al Hunger eet in haste and axed after moore.
6.297: Thanne povere folk for fere fedden Hunger yerne;
6.298: With grene poret and pesen to poisone hym thei thoghte!
6.299: By that it neghed neer hervest and newe corn cam to chepyng;
6.300: Thanne was folk fayn, and fedde Hunger with the beste —
6.301: With good ale, as Gloton taghte — and garte Hunger to slepe.
6.302: And tho wolde Wastour noght werche, but wandren aboute,
6.303: Ne no beggere ete breed that benes inne were,
6.304: But of coket and clermatyn or ellis of clene whete,
6.305: Ne noon halfpeny ale in none wise drynke,
6.306: But of the beste and of the brunneste that [brewesteres] selle.
6.307: Laborers that have no land to lyve on but hire handes
6.308: Deyned nought to dyne aday nyght-olde wortes;
6.309: May no peny ale hem paie, ne no pece of bacoun,
6.310: But if it be fressh flessh outher fissh fryed outher ybake —
6.311: And that chaud and plus chaud, for chillynge of hir mawe.
6.312: And but if he be heighliche hyred, ellis wole he chide —
6.313: And that he was werkman wroght wa[ri]e the tyme.
6.314: Ayeins Catons counseil comseth he to jangle:
6.314: Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento.
6.315: He greveth hym ageyn God and gruccheth ageyn Reson.
6.316: And thanne corseth he the Kyng and al his Counseil after
6.317: Swiche lawes to loke, laborers to greve.
6.318: Ac whiles Hunger was hir maister, ther wolde noon of hem chide,
6.319: Ne stryven ayeins his statut, so sterneliche he loked!
6.320: Ac I warne yow werkmen — wynneth whil ye mowe,
6.321: For Hunger hiderward hasteth hym faste!
6.322: He shal awake [thorugh] water, wastours to chaste,
6.323: Er fyve yer be fulfilled swich famyn shal aryse:
6.324: Thorugh flodes and thorugh foule wedres, fruytes shul faille —
6.325: And so seith Saturne and sent yow to warne:
6.326: Whan ye se the [mo]ne amys and two monkes heddes,
6.327: And a mayde have the maistrie, and multiplie by eighte,
6.328: Thanne shal deeth withdrawe and derthe be justice,
6.329: And Dawe the Dykere deye for hunger —
6.330: But if God of his goodnesse graunte us a trewe.
Passus Seven
7.001: Treuthe herde telle herof, and to Piers sente
7.002: To taken his teme and tilien the erthe,
7.003: And purchaced hym a pardoun a pena et a culpa
7.004: For hym and for hyse heirs for ever oore after-
7.005: And bad hym holde hym at home and erien hise Ieyes,
7.006: And alle that holpen hym to erye, to sette or to sowe,
7.007: or any [man]er mestier that myghte Piers availe —
7.008: Pardon with Piers Plowman Truthe hath ygraunted.
7.009: Kynges and knyghtes that kepen Holy Chirche
7.010: And rightfully in remes rulen the peple,
7.011: Han pardon thorugh purgatorie to passen ful lightly,
7.012: With patriarkes and prophetes in paradis to be felawe.
7.013: Bysshopes yblessed, if thei ben as thei sholde
7.014: Legistres of bothe lawes, the lewed therwith to preche,
7.015: And in as muche as thei mowe amenden alle synfulle,
7.016: Arn peres with the Apostles — this pardon Piers sheweth —
7.017: And at the day of dome at the heighe deys to sitte.
7.018: Marchaunts in the margyne hadde manye yeres,
7.019: Ac noon A pena et a culpa the Pope nolde hem graunte.
7.020: For thei holde noght hir halidayes as Holy Chirche techeth,
7.021: And for thei swere 'by hir soule' and-so God moste hem helpe'
7.022: Ayein clene Conseience, hir catel to selle.
7.023: Ac under his secret seel Truthe sente hem a lettre,
7.024: [And bad hem] buggen boldely what hem best liked
7.025: And sithenes selle it ayein and save the wynnyng,
7.026: And amende mesondieux thermyd and myseise folk helpe;
7.027: And wikkede weyes wightly amende,
7.028: And do boote to brugges that tobroke were;
7.029: Marien maydenes or maken hem nonnes;
7.030: Povere peple and prisons fynden hem hir foode,
7.031: And sette soolers to scole or to som othere craftes;
7.032: Releve Religion and renten hem bettre.
7.033: "And I shal sende yow myselve Seynt Michel myn angel,
7.034: That no devel shal yow dere ne [in youre deying fere yow],
7.035: And witen yow fro wanhope, if ye wol thus werche,
7.036: And sende youre soules in saufte to my Seintes in joye.'
7.037: Thanne were marchaunts murie — manye wepten for joye-
7.038: And preiseden Piers the Plowman, that purchaced this bulle.
7.039: Men of lawe leest pardon hadde that pleteden for mede,
7.040: For the Sauter saveth hem noght, swiche as take yiftes,
7.041: And nameliche of innocents that noon yvel ne konneth:
7.041: Super innocentem munera non accipies.
7.042: Pledours sholde peynen hem to plede for swiche and helpe;
7.043: Princes and prelates sholde paie for hire travaille:
7.043: A regibus et principibus erit merces eorum.
7.044: Ac many a justice and jurour wolde for Johan do moore
7.045: Than pro Deipietate — leve thow noon oother!
7.046: Ac he that spendeth his speche and speketh for the povere
7.047: That is innocent and nedy and no man apeireth,
7.048: Conforteth hym in that caas, coveit[eth noght hise] yiftes,
7.049: And [for Oure Lordes love lawe for hym sheweth] —
7.050: Shal no devel at his deeth day deren hym a myte
7.051: That he ne worth saaf and his soule, the Sauter bereth witnesse:
7.051: Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo ?
7.052: Ac to bugge water, ne wynd, ne wit, ne fir the ferthe —
7.053: Thise foure the Fader of Hevene made to this foold in commune:
7.054: Thise ben Truthes tresores trewe folk to helpe,
7.055: That nevere shul wex ne wanye withouten God hymselve.
7.056: Whan thei drawen on to the deth, and indulgences wolde have,
7.057: His pardon is ful petit at his partyng hennes
7.058: That any mede of mene men for hir motyng taketh.
7.059: Ye legistres and lawieres, [if I lye witeth Mathew]:
7.059: Quodcumque vultis ut faciant vobis homines, facite eis.
7.060: Alle libbynge laborers that lyven with hir hondes,
7.061: That treweliche taken and treweliche wynnen,
7.062: And lyven in love and in lawe, for hir lowe herte
7.063: Haveth the same absolucion that sent was to Piers.
7.064: Beggeres and bidderes beth noght in the bulle
7.065: But if the suggestion be sooth that shapeth hem to begge:
7.066: For he that beggeth or bit, but it he have nede,
7.067: He is fals with the feend and defraudeth the nedy,
7.068: And also gileth the gyvere ageynes his wille;
7.069: For if he wiste he were noght nedy he wolde [that yyve]
7.070: Another that were moore nedy than he — so the nedieste sholde be holpe.
7.071: Caton kenneth me thus, and the Clerc of the Stories:
7.072: Cui des, videto is Catons techyng;
7.073: And in the Stories he techeth to bistowe thyn almesse:
7.073: Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des.
7.074: Ac Gregory was a good man, and bad us gyven alle
7.075: That asketh for His love that us al leneth:
7.075: Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur
7.075: accipere; quia incertum est pro quo Deo magis placeas.
7.076: For wite ye nevere who is worthi-ac God woot who hath nede.
7.077: In hym that taketh is the trecherie, if any treson walke-
7.078: For he that yeveth, yeldeth, and yarketh hym to reste,
7.079: And he that biddeth, borweth, and bryngeth hymself in dette.
7.080: For beggeres borwen everemo, and hir borgh is God Almyghty-
7.081: To yelden hem that yeveth hem, and yet usure moore:
7.081: Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam, ut
7.081: ego ueniens cum usuris exegissem utique illam?
7.082: Forthi biddeth noght, ye beggeres, but if ye have gret nede.
7.083: For whoso hath to buggen hym breed-the Book bereth witnesse-
7.084: He hath ynough that hath breed ynough, though he have noght ellis:
7.084: Satis dives est qui non indiget pane.
7.085: Lat usage be your solas of seintes lyves redyng;
7.086: The Book banneth beggerie, and blameth hem in this manere:
7.086: Iunior fui etenim senui, et non vidi iustum derelictum nec
7.086: semen eius querens panem.
7.087: For [thei] lyve in no love, ne no lawe holde:
7.088: [Thei] ne wedde no womman that [thei] with deele,
7.090: But as wilde bestes with "wehee" worthen uppe and werchen,
7.091: And bryngen forth barnes that bastardes men calleth.
7.092: Or the bak or som soon their breketh in his youthe,
7.093: And goon [and] faiten with hire fauntes for everemoore after.
7.094: Ther is moore mysshapen amonges thise beggeres
7.095: Than of alle [othere] manere men that on this moolde walketh.
7.096: Tho that lyve thus hir lif mowe lothe the tyme
7.097: That evere he was man wroght, whan he shal hennes fare.
7.098: Ac olde men and hore that helplees ben of strengthe,
7.099: And wommen with childe that werche ne mowe,
7.100: Blynde and bedreden and broken hire membres,
7.101: That taken this myschief mekeliche, as mesels and othere,
7.102: Han as pleyn pardon as the Plowman hymselve.
7.103: For Iove of hir lowe hertes Oure Lord hath hem graunted
7.104: Hir penaunce and hir Purgatorie upon this [pure] erthe.
7.105: " Piers,' quod a preest thoo, " thi pardon moste I rede;
7.106: For I shal construe ech clause and kenne it thee on Englissh.'
7.107: And Piers at his preiere the pardon unfoldeth —
7.108: And I bihynde hem bothe biheld al the bull
7.109: In two lynes it lay, and noght a le[ttre] moore,
7.110: And was writen right thus in witnesse of truthe:
7.110: Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam.
7.110: Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.
7.111: " Peter! ' quod the preest thoo, " I kan no pardon fynde
7.112: But "-Do wel and have wel. and God shal have thi soule,'
7.113: And " Do yvel and have yvel, and hope thow noon oother
7.114: That after thi deeth day the devel shal have thi soule!'
7.115: And Piers for pure tene pulled it atweyne
7.116: And seide,-Si ambulavero in medio umbre mortis
7.117: Non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es.
7.118: "I shal cessen of my sowyng,' quod Piers, "and swynke noght so harde,
7.119: Ne aboute my bely joye so bisy be na moore;
7.120: Of preieres and of penaunce my plough shal ben herafter,
7.121: And wepen whan I sholde slepe, though whete breed me faille.
7.122: "The prophete his payn eet in penaunce and in sorwe,
7.123: By that the Sauter seith — so dide othere manye.
7.124: That loveth God lelly, his lifiode is ful esy:
7.124: Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte.
7.125: "And but if Luc lye, he lereth us by foweles
7.126: We sholde noght be to bisy aboute the worldes blisse:
7.127: Ne soliciti sitis, he seith in the Gospel
7.128: And sheweth us by ensamples us selve to wisse.
7.129: The foweles in the feld, who fynt hem mete at wynter?
7.130: Have thei no gerner to go to, but God fynt hem alle.'
7.131: "What!' quod the preest to Perkyn, "Peter! as me thynketh,
7.132: Thow art lettred a litel — who lerned thee on boke?'
7.133: "Abstynence the Abbesse,' quod Piers,-myn a.b.c. me taughte,
7.134: And Conscience cam afterward and kenned me muche moore.'
7.135: " Were thow a preest, Piers,' quod he, " thow myghtest preche where thow sh
7.136: As divinour in divinite, with Dixit insipiens to thi teme.'
7.137: " Lewed lorel!' quod Piers, "litel lokestow on the Bible;
7.138: On Salomons sawes selden thow biholdest —
7.138: Eice derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c.'
7.139: The preest and Perkyn apposeden either oother —
7.140: And I thorugh hir wordes awook, and waited aboute,
7.141: And seigh the sonne in the south sitte that tyme.
7.142: Metelees and moneilees on Malverne hulles,
7.143: Musynge on this metels a my[le] wey ich yede.
7.144: Many tyme this metels hath maked me to studie
7.145: Of that I seigh slepynge — if it so be myghte;
7.146: And for Piers the Plowman ful pencif in herte,
7.147: And which a pardon Piers hadde, al the peple to conforte,
7.148: And how the preest inpugned it with two propre wordes.
7.149: Ac I have no savour in songewarie, for I se it ofte faille;
7.150: Caton and canonistres counseillen us to leve
7.151: To sette sadnesse in songewarie — for sompnia ne cures.
7.152: Ac for the book Bible bereth witnesse
7.153: How Daniel divined the dremes of a kyng
7.154: That was Nabugodonosor nempned of clerkes …
7.155: Daniel seide, "Sire Kyng, thi dremels bitokneth
7.156: That unkouthe knyghtes shul come thi kyngdom to cleyme;
7.157: Amonges lower lordes thi lond shal be departed.'
7.158: And as Daniel divined, in dede it fel after:
7.159: The kyng lees his lordshipe, and lower men it hadde.
7.160: And Joseph mette merveillously how the moone and the sonne
7.161: And the ellevene sterres hailsed hym alle.
7.162: Thanne Jacob jugged Josephes swevene :
7.163: " Beau fiz,' quod his fader, " for defaute we shullen —
7.164: I myself and my sones — seche thee for nede.'
7.165: It bifel as his fader seide, in Pharaoes tyme,
7.166: That Joseph was Justice Egipte to loke:
7.167: It bifel as his fader tolde — hise frendes there hym soughte.
7.168: Al this maketh me on metels to thynke —
7.169: And how the preest preved no pardon to Dowel,
7.170: And demed that Dowel indulgences passed,
7.171: Biennals and triennals and bisshopes lettres,
7.172: And how Dowel at the Day of Dome is digneliche underfongen,
7.173: And passeth al the pardon of Seint Petres cherche.
7.174: Now hath the Pope power pardon to graunte
7.175: The peple, withouten penaunce to ja into [joye];
7.176: This is [a leef of] oure bileve, as lettred men us techeth:
7.176: Quodcumque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum et in celis &c.
7.177: And so I leve leelly (Lord forbede ellis!)
7.178: That pardon and penaunce and preieres doon save
7.179: Soules that have synned seven sithes dedly.
7.180: Ac to trust on thise triennals — trewely, me thynketh,
7.181: It is noght so siker for the soule, certes, as is Dowel.
7.182: Forthi I rede yow renkes that riche ben on this erthe,
7.183: Upon trust of youre tresor triennals to have,
7.184: Be ye never the bolder to breke the ten hestes;
7.185: And namely ye maistres, meires and jugges,
7.186: That have the welthe of this world and wise men ben holden,
7.187: To purchace yow pardon and the Popes bulles.
7.188: At the dredful dome, whan dede shulle arise
7.189: And comen alle bifore Crist acountes to yelde —
7.190: How thow laddest thi lif here and hise lawes keptest,
7.191: And how thow didest day by day the doom wole reherce.
7.192: A pokeful of pardon there, ne provincials lettres,
7.193: Theigh ye be founde in the fraternite of alle the foure ordres
7.194: And have indulgences doublefold — but Dowel yow helpe,
7.195: I sette youre patentes and youre pardon at one pies hele!
7.196: Forthi I counseille alle Cristene to crie God mercy,
7.197: And Marie his moder be oure meene bitwene,
7.198: That God gyve us grace here, er we go hennes,
7.199: Swiche werkes to werche, while we ben here,
7.200: That after oure deth day, Dowel reherce
7.201: At the day of dome, we dide as he highte.
Passus Eight
8.001: Thus yrobed in russet I romed aboute
8.002: Al a somer seson for to seke Dowel,
8.003: And frayned ful ofte of folk that I mette
8.004: If any wight wiste wher Dowel was at inne,
8.005: And what man he myghte be of many man I asked.
8.006: Was nevere wight as I wente that me wisse kouthe
8.007: Where this leode lenged, lasse ne moore —
8.008: Til it bifel on a Friday two freres I mette,
8.009: Maistres of the Menours, men of grete witte.
8.010: I hailsed hem hendely, as I hadde ylerned,
8.011: And preide hem, pur churite, er thei passed ferther,
8.012: If they knewe any contree or costes [aboute]
8.013: Where that Dowel dwelieth — "Dooth me to witene;
8.014: For [ye] be men of this moolde that moost wide walken,
8.015: And knowen contrees and courtes and many kynnes places —
8.016: Bothe princes paleises and povere mennes cotes,
8.017: And Dowel and Do-yvele, wher thei dwelle bothe.'
8.018: "[Marie!]', quod the Menours, " [amonges us he dwelleth],
8.019: And evere hath, as I hope, and evere shal herafter.'
8.020: "Contra!' quod I as a clerc, and comsed to disputen,
8.021: And seide, "Soothly, Sepcies in die cadit iustus.
8.022: Sevene sithes, seith the Book, synneth the rightfulle,
8.023: And whoso synneth,' I seide, " [certes] dooth yvele, as me thynketh,
8.024: And Dowel and Do-yvele mowe noght dwelle togideres.
8.025: Ergo he nys noght alwey at hoom amonges yow freres:
8.026: He is outhemhile elliswhere to wisse the peple.'
8.027: " I shal seye thee, my sone,' seide the frere thanne,
8.028: "How seven sithes the sadde man synneth on the day.
8.029: By a forbisne,' quod the frere, "I shal thee faire shewe.
8.030: "Lat brynge a man in a boot amydde a brode watre:
8.031: The wynd and the water and the [waggyng of the boot]
8.032: Maketh the man many tyme to falle and to stonde.
8.033: For stonde he never so stif, he stumbleth if he meve —
8.034: Ac yet is he saaf and sound, and so hym bihoveth;
8.035: For if he ne arise the rather and raughte to the steere,
8.036: The wynd wolde with the water the boot overthrowe,
8.037: And thanne were his lif lost thorugh lachesse of hymselve.
8.038: " Right thus it fareth,' quod the frere, " by folk here on erthe.
8.039: The water is Iikned to the world, that wanyeth and wexeth;
8.040: The goodes of this grounde arn lik the grete wawes
8.041: That as wyndes and wedres walweth aboute;
8.042: The boot is likned to oure body that brotel is of kynde,
8.043: That thorugh the fend and the flessh and the frele worlde
8.044: Synneth the sadde man [seven sithes a day].
8.045: "Ac dedly synne doth he noght, for Dowel hym kepeth,
8.046: And that is charite the champion, chief help ayein synne;
8.047: For he strengtheth man to stonde, and steereth mannes soule
8.048: That, though thi body bowe as boot dooth in the watre,
8.049: Ay is thi soule saaf but thow thiselve wole
8.050: Folwe thi flessh and the fend after-
8.051: Do a deedly synne and drenche so thiselve.
8.052: God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe, if thiself liketh;
8.053: For he yaf thee to yeresyyve to yeme wel thiselve —
8.054: And that is wit and free will, to every wight a porcion,
8.055: To fleynge foweles, to fisshes and to beestes;
8.056: Ac man hath moost therof, and moost is to blame
8.057: But if he werche wel therwith, as Dowel hym techeth.'
8.058: I have no kynde knowyng,' quod I, "to conceyve alle thi wordes,
8.059: Ac if I may lyve and loke, I shal go lerne bettre.'
8.060: "I bikenne thee Crist,' quod he, that on the cros deyde.'
8.061: And I seide,-The same save yow fro myschaunce,
8.062: And yyve yow grace on this grounde goode men to worthe!'
8.063: And thus I wente widewher, walkyng myn one,
8.064: By a wilde wildernesse, and by a wodes side;
8.065: Blisse of the briddes abide me made,
8.066: And under a lynde upon a launde lened I a stounde
8.067: To lythe the layes tho lovely foweles made.
8.068: Murthe of hire mouthes made me ther to slepe;
8.069: The merveillouseste metels mette me thanne
8.070: That ever dremed [dr]ight in [doute], as I wene.
8.071: A muche man, as me thoughte, lik to myselve,
8.072: Cam and called me by my kynde name.
8.073: " What art thow?' quod I tho, " that thow my name knowest?'
8.074: "That thow woost wel,' quod he, "and no wight bettre.'
8.075: "Woot I,' [quod I, "who art thow?'] "Thought,' seide he thanne.
8.076: "I have sued thee this seven yeer; seye thow me no rather?'
8.077: "Art thow Thought?' quod I, "thoo thow koudest me wisse
8.078: Where that Dowel dwelleth, and do me to knowe.'
8.079: "Dowel,' quod he, "and Dobet and Dobest the thridde
8.080: Arn thre faire vertues, and ben noght fer to fynde.
8.081: Whoso is trewe of his tunge and of his two handes,
8.082: And thorugh his labour or thorugh his land his liflode wynneth,
8.083: And is trusty of his tailende, taketh but his owene,
8.084: And is noght dronkelewe ne dedeynous — Dowel hym folweth.
8.085: "Dobet dooth right thus, ac he dooth muche moore;
8.086: He is as lowe as a lomb and lovelich of speche,
8.087: And helpeth alle men after that hem nedeth.
8.088: The bagges and the bigirdles, he hath tobroke hem alle
8.089: That the Erl Avarous heeld, and hise heires;
8.090: And with Mammonaes moneie he hath maad hym frendes,
8.091: And is ronne into Religion, and hath rendred the Bible,
8.092: And precheth to the peple Seint Poules wordes —
8.093: Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes.
8.094: [Ye wise], suffreth the unwise with yow to libbe,
8.095: And with glad wille dooth hem good, for so God yow hoteth.
8.096: "Dobest is above bothe and bereth a bisshopes cro[c]e,
8.097: is hoked on that oon ende to halie men fro helle.
8.098: A pik is on that potente, to pulte adown the wikked
8.099: That waiten any wikkednesse Dowel to tene.
8.100: And Dowel and Dobet amonges hem ordeyned
8.101: To crowne oon to be kyng to [kepen] hem bothe,
8.102: That if Dowel or Dobet dide ayein Dobest,
8.103: Thanne shal the kyng come and casten hem in irens,
8.104: And but if Dobest bede for hem, thei to be ther for evere.
8.105: Thus Dowel and Dobet and Dobest the thridde
8.106: Crowned oon to be kyng to kepen hem alle
8.107: And rule the reme by [rede of hire] wittes,
8.108: And ootherwise [ne ellis noght], but as thei thre assented.'
8.109: I thonked Thoght tho that he me [so] taughte.
8.110: "Ac yet savoreth me noght thi seying, so me Crist helpe!
8.111: For more kynde knowynge I coveite to lerne —
8.112: How Dowel, Dobet and Dobest doon among the peple.'
8.113: "But Wit konne wisse thee.' quod Thoght, " where tho thre dwelle;
8.114: Ellis [n]oot I noon that kan, that now is alyve.'
8.115: Thoght and I thus thre daies we yeden
8.116: Disputyng upon Dowel day after oother —
8.117: And er we war were, with Wit gonne we mete.
8.118: He was long and lene, lik to noon oother;
8.119: Was no pride on his apparaille, ne poverte neither;
8.120: Sad of his semblaunt and of [a] softe [speche].
8.121: I dorste meve no matere to maken hym to jangle
8.122: But as I bad Thoght thoo be mene bitwene
8.123: And pute forth som purpos to preven hise wittes,
8.124: What was Dowel fro Dobet, and Dobest from hem bothe.
8.125: Thanne Thoght in that tyme seide thise wordes:
8.126: " Wher Dowel and Dobet and Dobest ben in londe
8.127: Here is Wil wolde wite if Wit koude teche;
8.128: And wheither he be man or no manthis man wolde as
8.129: And werchen as thei thre wolde — this is his entente.'
