The vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman, together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest, secundum Wit et Resoun, by William Langland (about 1362-1393 A. D.)

PASSUS XII. (DO-WEL II.)

[

OBS. The readings marked K are from MS. Digby 171.

TITLE. Incipit passus secundus PE; Incipit secundus F; M adds—de do|wel; S adds—de eodem; I has—Passus primus de visione Dowel, &c.

] Incipit passus secundus [de dowel].

THenne hadde wit a wif · was hote dame studie, [A page 122] [B page 143] [hote] i-hote M. was hote] men callid here F.] That ful lene lokede · and lif-holy semede; Hue was wonderliche wroth · þat wit so me tauhte. [Hue] Sche IM; Heo FK. wonderliche] wonder M. so me] me so I.] Al starynge dame studie · sterneliche seide, [starynge IES] staryng MF; star|yenge P. sterneliche IESM] sturne|liche PF. seide] sche seide M.] Line 4 "Wel art þow wys," quaþ hue to Wit · "suche wis|dome [to] shewe [to Wit] SF om. wisdome] wis|domes KFS. [to IMFSEGK] P om.] To eny fol other flaterere · oþer to frentik puple;" [other] or to I.] And seide, "nolite mittere, ȝe men · margerie-perles [mittere] mittere in viam I. ȝe men] ȝemmen & E (wrongly).] A-monge hogges þat hauen · hawes at wille; [hogges] swyn M. hawes] hawen S. at] at heore M. at wille] I|nowe F.] Line 8 Thei don bote dreuele þeron · draf were hem leuere [dreuele I] dreuel K; dreuelen E; dryuele F; drauele M; dreuely S; dreuelyn P.] Þan al þe preciouse perreye · þat eny prince weldeþ. Ich segge hit by suche," quaþ studie · "þat shewen by here werkus, [hit] M om. studie] witte I (wrongly). werkus] werk I.] [Þei] loueþ lond and lordshup · and lykyng of body more [[Þei M] That PEIFSK; cf. B|text. loueþ] louen but M. body more] heore bodi M.] Line 12

Line 12 Than holynesse oþer hendenesse · oþer al þat seintes techeþ. [B page 144] Wysdom and Wit now · is nat worth a carse [A page 123] [carse] crasse M; kerse F.] Bote hit be carded with couetyse · as cloþers kemben wolle. [kemben] M om. wolle] here wolle I.] Line 15 He þat can contreeue and caste · to deceyue þe puple, [Ho] He M. þat] so S. and] a F. puple] rightful I. S omits from to deceyue to thus in l. 18.] And lette with a loueday · treuthe, and by-gyle hym, [hym] IK om. F has—& lette trewþe with louedaies · & begile þe leel trewe.] That can coueite and caste thus · aren cleped in-to counsail. [coueite MEKG] coueyty P; not in IS; F has coniecte, which, how|ever, lacks support. and] an P. aren] ben EMS. cleped] i-called M; called F.] Qui sapiunt nugas · & crimina lege uocantur, Qui recte sapiunt · lex iubet ire foras. [recte sapiunt] sapiunt recte S.] Line 20 He is reuerenced and robed · þat can robbe þe peuple Þorw fallas and false questes · and þorw fykel speche. [fallas] fallasse M; fallace F. questes] enquestes M. fykel] false S (wrongly).] Iob þe gentil and wys · in hus gestes wytnesseþ [and wys] I om. hus] a M. gestes] geste EMSK; geest F.] What shal worthe of suche · whenne þei lyf leten;

Ducunt in bonis dies suos, & in fine descendunt ad infernum.

[whenne] wenne P. lyf] þe lijf M. fine] puncto S. descendunt] descendent F. ad] in EMF. in|fernum] inferna S.] Line 24 The sauter seith þe same · of alle suche ryche;

Ibunt in progenies patrum suorum, & usque in eternum non uidebunt lumen: Et alibi: Ecce ipsi peccatores, & cet.

[progenies EIF] progenie PM SK. uidebunt] uidebit M.] 'Lo!' holy lettrure seith · 'whiche lordes been these shrewes! [holy—seith] saiþ holy letterure I. whiche] wiche P; swiche M. these MSFK] thees P; þise I; þis E.] Line 26 Tho þat [god] most good gyueþ · most greue ryght and treuthe:'

Que perfecisti, destruxerunt; [iustus autem quid fecit?]

[[god IMFSKG] PE om. gyueþ] ȝifþ I; doþ M. most greue] greueth most I. [iustus—fecit S] iustus, &c. M; iustus autem, &c. F; iustitiam P (wrongly); I om.] And harlotes for [hure] harlotrie · aren holpen er nedy poure; [And] I om. [hure S] here IKG; heore M; her F; PE om. aren] K om. er] or FSE. nedy IMFSEK] nudy P.] Line 28 And þat is no ryght ne reson · for raþer men sholde Help hem þat hath nouht · þan þo þat han no neede. [hem] him IMFEK. þo] hem S; him M.] Ac he þat haþ holy writ · aye in hus mouthe, [aye] as it were F.] Line 31 And can telle of treuthe · and of þe twelue apostels, Oþer of þe passion of crist · oþer of purgatorie peynes, [B page 145] [peynes] þe peynes I.] Lytel is he a-lowed þere-fore · among lordes [at] festes. [alowed] loued K; loued or leet I. þerefore] herfore I. [at IMFG] ate S; of PE; K om.] Nowe is þe manere atte mete · when mynstralles ben stylle, [A page 124] [atte E] ate F; at þe IM; at SK; atte þe P.] Line 35 The lewede a-ȝens þe lered · þe holy lore to dispute, And tellen of þe trinite · how two slowe þe þridde, [two] tweyne M.] And brynge forth ballede resones · and taken bernarde to witnesse, [ballede resones] a balled resoun K. and] IK om. witnesse] witt|nesse P.] And putteþ forþ presompcions · to preouen þe sothe. Thus thei dreuelen atte deyes · þe deyte to knowe, [B page 146] [atte] at þe MF; as þe (wrongly) I; at S. deyes] dee M. deyte] diete F; dette (!) IS.] Line 40 And gnawen god with gorge · when here guttes fullen. [when] while þei M; whan þei F. here guttes] þe wombe F.] Ac þe carful mai crie · and quaken atte ȝate, Boþe a-fyngred and a-furst · and for defaute spille, [a-fyngred] so PFK; a-fyngryd S; a-fyngered E; of-hongret M; an|hungred I. a-furst] so PSK; a-first F; aþurste E; a-þruste I; a-þrest M.] Ys non so hende to haue hym yn · bote hote hym go þer god is! [yn] I om. hote] bidde M. hote hym] S om.] Line 44 Thenne semeþ hit to my syght · to suche as so biddeþ, [to (2)] bi M. as] þat IS.] God is nat in þat hom · ne hus help neither!

Lytel loueþ he þat lorde · that lente hym [al] þat blisse, [al IMFSEKG] P om.] That so parteþ with þe poure · a parcel, whenne hym nedeþ. [whenne] wenne P. hym] hem I. nedeþ IMFSE] nudeþ P; neodeþ K.] Line 48 Ne were mercy in mene men · more þan in ryght ryche, [ryght] M om.] Meny time mendynans · myghte gon a-fyngred; [time] tymes I. mendynans] mendynantz I; mendynauntus F; mendenauntus S. a-fyngred] of|hongred M; anhungred I; see l. 43.] And so seith þe sauter · ich sauh hit in memento,

Ecce audiuimus eam (.i. caritatem) in effrata; inuenimus eam in campis silue.

[sauh] seyh I; sai MS; saw F. i. caritatem] FS om.] Clerkus and knyghtes · carpen of god ofte, [god ofte] good hostes I (wrongly).] Line 52 And haueþ hym muche in hure mouthe · ac mene men in herte. [A page 125] [hym] IK om. ac] and M. men in] in here I.] Freres and faitours · han founde vp suche questiones [vp] F om. questiones] de|maundus F.] To plese with proute men · sitthe þe pestilences, [proute] prut E; proude MISK; þe prowde F. þe] þis I; MFS om. pestilences] pestelences P; pestilence time M; cf. l. 60.] [And preching at seint poules · in pure enuye of clerkes,] [From I; also in KGS; inserted in F after l. 57; PEM omit. And preching] So þei preche F. in FSG] miswritten and IK.] That folk is nouht ferm in þe feith · ne free of here goodes, [nouht] S om. ferm] in-ferme (!) E. þe] K om.] Line 57 Ne sory for here synnes; · so is pruyde en-hansed [B page 147] [for] of SK. pruyde] pryuyde P; but see l. 64. is pruyde] pride is I.] In religion and al þe reame · among ryche and poure, [and] in M. al] in al IK.] That preyeres han no power · these pestilences to lette. [these] thees P; M om. pesti|lences] pestelences P. lette] bete K.] For god is def now a dayes · and deyneþ nouht ous to huyre, [nouht] SK om. huyre] hure IKE; here MF.] Line 61 And good men for oure gultes · he al to-grynt to deþe; [gultes] giit F. he] M om. deþe IMFSEK] dyþe P.]

And ȝut þese wrecches of þys worlde · is non y-war by oþer, [þese MFK] þees P; þis ISE. y-war IK] i-war M; awar F; war ES; miswritten whar P; cf. B-text.] Ne for drede of eny deþ · with-draweþ hem fro pruyde, [hem] him I.] Ne parteþ with þe poure · as pure charyte wolde, Line 65 Bote in gayenesse and in glotenye · for-glotten here goodes, [in (2)] IMFSK om. for-glot|ten] for-glutten FS; for-glwten E.] And brekeþ nat here bred to þe poure · as þe book hoteþ;

[Frange esurienti panem tuum; et egenos vagos|que induc in domum tuam.]

[nat here] no F. hoteþ] telleþ E. [Frange—tuam] from E; not in P. et—tuam] IMSKG om. in—tuam] F om.] Ac þe more he hath, and wynneþ · þe world at hus wylle, [hath—wynneþ] wynneþ and haþ I. and] or S.] Line 68 And lordeþ in leedes · the lasse good he deleþ. [lordeþ] lord is M.] Tobie tauhte nat so · takeþ hede, ȝe ryche, How he tolde in a tyme · and tauhte hus sone dele:

Si tibi sit copia, abundanter tribue: si autem exiguum, illud impertiri libenter stude.

[dele] to dele S. stude] S om.] And þis is no more to mene · bote 'ho so muche good weldeþ, [þis] MFSK om. no—mene] to mene no more IFSK. bote—so] who I.] Line 72 Be large þer-of while hit last · to leedes þat been needy. [last MFSK] laste P; lasteþ I. leedes] hem E; men K.] Yf þow haue lytel, leue sone · loke by þy lyue [leue] apparently miswritten loue P.] Get þe loue þer-with · þauh þou fare þe werse.' [þe] M om. þer-with] þer-wiþ here M. fare—werse] þe werse fare IMFSK.] Line 75 Ac lust no lord ne lewed man · of suche lore nou to hure, [ne] now ne I. lewed] lettred I; leered FK. man] men I. nou] I om. to] M om. hure] huyre S; here IMF.] Bote lythen how þey myghte lerne · lest good to spene. [lythen] leten M. lest good] best here goode E. spene] spende M.] And so lyuen lordes now · and leten hit a dowel; [so lyuen] þat loueþ loueþ (sic) I.]

For is no wit worth now · bote hit of wynnynge soune, [is] nys M. wit] wynnyng M (wrongly). bote] but if I. soune] come I; conne K.] [And capped wiþ clergie · to conspire wronge.] [In I only.] Line 80 For-thi," quaþ hue to wit, "be war · holy writ to shewe [For-thi] For-whi EM; Þere|fore I. quaþ—wit] witte, quoþ sche I.] Amonges hem þat hauen · hawes atte wille, [hawes] hawen S. atte] at heore MF; at EK.] [

Here I has—

To foles and flaterers · þat frentike aren of wittes,

And saide, nolite mittere · margery|perles,

þey done but dreuely þer-on · draffe were here leuere,

Among hegges (sic) þat han · hawes at wille,

þan alle þe preciouse perrye · in paradise groweth.

These lines are repeated from ll. 6—10 above, lines 8 and 9 being trans|posed.

] The whiche is a lykynge and a lust · and loue of þe worlde." [

Here I has—

To foles and flaterers · þat frentike aren of wittes,

And saide, nolite mittere · margery|perles,

þey done but dreuely þer-on · draffe were here leuere,

Among hegges (sic) þat han · hawes at wille,

þan alle þe preciouse perrye · in paradise groweth.

These lines are repeated from ll. 6—10 above, lines 8 and 9 being trans|posed.

] [whiche] wiche P. and a] in M; and SFK. lust MFSK] loust P.] And whanne wit was y-war · what studie menede, [A page 126] [B page 150] [And] An P. whanne] wanne P; whan þat M. was] is E. y-war IK] i-war M; a-war F; war ES; whar P; cf. l. 63.] Line 84 Ich myghte gete no greyn · of wittes grete wittes, [wittes (2)] connynge I.] Bote al lauhwynge he loutede · and loked vp-on studie, [lauhwynge] laweynge I; lauh|ynge M; lawhyng F; lauȝynge S; lawynge E. loutede] lotede PE; but see l. 88.] Semynge þat ich sholde · by-sechen hure of grace. When ich was war of hus wille · to þat womman ich loutede, [A page 127] [When] And whan IS. hus] hire IF. þat womman] his wif S. ich loutede] gan I lowten I; gan y knele S.] Line 88 And seide, "mercy, ma dame · ȝoure man shal ich worthe As longe as ich lyue · bothe late and rathe, [S omits.] And for to worche ȝoure wil · the while my lyf dureþ, [And] FS om. the] SMF om. dureþ] duyreþ P; endureth F.] With þat ȝe kenne me kyndeliche · to knowe what is dowel." Line 92 "For thi meeknesse," quaþ hue · "and for thi mylde speche, [for] M om.] Ich shal þe kenne to clergie · my cosyn, þat knoweth [þe kenne] kenne þe IEK.]

Alle kyne konnynges · and comsynges of dowel, [comsynges] comsyng M.] Of dobet and dobest · for doctor he is yknowe, [and] and of MEFS; of I.] Line 96 And of scripture þe skylful · and scryuaynes were trewe. [of] ouer IK. skylful] scilfulest M; skyful P. trewe] trywe P.] For hue is sybbe to þe seuen ars · and also my soster, [þe] al þe S; M om.] And cleregies wedded wif · as wys as hym-selue [cleregies] clergises F.] Of lore and of letterure · of lawe and of reson. Line 100 So with þat þat cleregie can · and counsail of scripture [þat þat] þat þe F; þat IK.] Thow shalt conne and knowe · kyndeliche dowel." [kyndeliche] kendeliche P.] Thenne was ich al so fayn · as foul of fair morwenynge, [al so] as IK. morwenynge] morwe I; morwen K; morewe S.] Gladder þan gleo-man · þat gold haþ to gyfte, [gleo-man] a gleman MS; þe gleman F.] Line 104 And asked of hure þe heye way · wher þat cleregie dwelte— [of] at EFSK. dwelte] dwelleþ M; duelled I.] "And tel me som tokne," quaþ ich · "for tyme is þat ich wende." [B page 151] "Aske þe heye wey," quaþ hue · "hennes to suffre| [quaþ hue] I om.] Bothe-wele-and-moche-wo · yf þow wolt lerne. [moche] michel M; muchel F; I om. yf] ȝif þat MF. wolt] wol I; wil F.] Line 108 And ryd forth by richesse · and rest nouht þer-ynne; [And] Ac M. and] ac FSK; but M; I om.] Yf þow coueite to be riche · to cleregie comst þow neuere. [S omits. Yf] For if IK. coueite MFEK] coueitest I; coueity P.] Bothe wommen and wyn · wratthe, yre, and slewthe, [Bothe] But I; With E. wom|men] miswritten wommon P.] Yf þow [hem] vse oþer haunte · haue god my treuthe! [M omits. [hem FS] hit PEIKG. oþer] or elles F.] To clergie shult þow neuere come · ne knowe what ys dowel. [shult þow] schal y K.] Line 113 Ac yf þou happe," quaþ hue · "þat þow hitte on clergie, [A page 128] [hitte] hutte M.] And hast vnderstondyng · what he wolde mene,

Sey to hym þy-self · ouer-see my bokes, [to] I om. þy-self] þi-self þanne F. ouer] oueer P. my] manye IK.] Line 116 And seye ich grette wel hus wif · ich wrot hure a byble, [grette] grete FSK. ich] for i I.] And sette hure to sapience · and to þe sauter glosed. [þe] E om. glosed] glosede P; y-glosed IM.] Logyk ich lerede hure · and al þe lawe after, [lerede] lernede MI.] Alle þe musons in musyk · ich made hure to knowe. [Alle] And alle I. to] for to I.] Plato þe poete · ich putte hym ferst to booke, Line 121 Aristotle and oþere · to arguen ich tauhte. Grammere for gurles · ich gart furst wryte, [wryte] to write MFS.] And bet hem with a baleyse · bote yf þei wolde lerne. Of alle kyne craftes · ich contreeuede here tooles, Line 125 Of carpentrie, of kerueres · and contreeuede þe compas, [B page 152] [of kerueres] & keruerus S; and of coruyng M. and] i M.] And cast out by squire · boþe lyne and leuell. [out] mette I. by] by þe F.] Thus þorw my lore beþ men ylered · þauh ich loke dymme. [ylered] i-lerned MF. beþ—ylered] men lerede K. dymme] holewe M.] Ac theologie haþ teened me · ten score tymes, [teened] i-tened M.] Line 129 The more ich muse þer-on · the mystiloker hit semeþ, [The] For þe F. muse] musede M. mystiloker] maisterliker M; mystlokur F.] And þe deppere ich deuyne · the derker me þynkeþ hit. [þe] K om. ich] in M. derker] deerker P. þynkeþ hit] it þenketh F.] Hit is no science sothliche · bote a sothfast by-leyue; [science] conscience E. soth|fast] stedefast M. by-leyue] by-lyue P; but see next line.] Ac for hit lereþ men to louye · ich by-leyue þer-on þe bettere. [lereþ] lerede I; lerneþ M. men] me M. by-leyue] leue M; leeue F.] Line 133 For loue is a lykynge thyng · and loth for to greue; [A page 129] Lerne for to louye · yf þe lyke dowel, [þe] þow M. dowel] to dowel PE; but IMFSK omit to; cf. l. 142.] For of dobet and of dobest · here doctor is dere loue." [of (2)] IFMK om.] Tho wente ich my way · with-oute more lettynge, [A page 130] [B page 154] [wente] wende E.] Line 137 And to clergie ich kam · as clerkes me seide,

And ich grette hym goodliche · and greiþliche hym told, [And] I om. ich] M om. greiþliche] greiliche P.] How þat wit and hus wif · wissed me to hym, [wissed] had wissed F. to hym] him tille M.] Line 140 To [kenne] and to knowe · kyndeliche dowel. [[kenne IMFS] kowe (sic) P; kow KE; cf. l. 102.] "By cryst," quaþ clergie · "yf þow coueyte dowel, [E omits. cryst] crist þo FSK. clergie] clergiȝe þo M.] Kep þe ten commaundemens · and kep þe fro synne; [fro] out of M. kep—synne] care no forþere I.] And by-leyf leelly · how godes sone a-lyghte Line 144 On þe mayde marie · for mankynnes sake, [mankynnes] mankynde I.] And by-cam man of þat mayde · with-oute mannes kynde. [man] S om. mannes kynde] mankynde IK; makynde (sic) S.] And al þat holy churche · here-of can þe lere, [lere] lerne MF.] By-leyf lelly þere-on · and look þow do þer-after. [By-leyf—þere-on] Leeue it leely I. lelly—on] þer-on lelly K.] Line 148 Her-of austin þe olde · made bokes and bokes; [B page 155] [Austyn þe olde · here-of made bokes I.] Ho was hus autor · and him of god tauhte? [Ho] But ho F; Sche M (wrongly). and] þat FS.] Patriarkes and prophetes · aposteles and angeles And þe holy trinite · to austyn appeirede, [holy] trewe IFSK; truwe M. appeirede] y-perede S; þat apperede F] Line 152 And he ous seide as he seih · and so ich by-leyue, [he] y S. seih] say I; si M; sy F; seyȝ S; seiȝe E (and in l. 154).] That he seih þe syre and þe sone · and seynte spirit to|gederes, [That] M om. þe] F om. (twice). syre] fader I. spirit] espirit IKS.] And alle þre bote on God · and her-of made he bokes, [made he] he made I. bokes] þe bokes E.] Ȝe, busiliche bokes; · ho [beþ] hus wytnesses?

Ego in patre & pater in me [est;] et qui me vidit, patrem meum uidit qui in celis est.

[Ȝe] Ac ȝe F. Ȝe—bokes] I om. ho] ȝe M. [beþ IFKG] ben M; buþ S; miswritten but (for buth) P; bot E; cf. l. 150. [est IM] PEFSK om. me uidit] uidit me M; videt me FS. patrem—uidit] uidet & patrem meum S; videt & patrem F; uidit & patrem M. qui in—est] qui, &c. E; FS om.] Line 156

Line 156 Alle þe clerkes vnder crist · ne couthe this asoile; [couthe] coude M; cowde F.] Bote thus by-longeþ to by-leyue · alle þat lykeþ dowel. [thus] þis MF; þus it I. lykeþ] liken to M; loueþ S.] For hadde neuere frek fyn wit · þe faith to dispute, [hadde] ne hadde M.] Ne man myghte haue no merit þer-of · myghte hit be preoued;

Fides non habet meritum ubi humana racio [pre|bet experimentum.]

[myghte (1)] mouȝthe I. no] IF om. haue—þer-of] meryt haue þerof F. myghte (2)] mouȝt FK. preoued] preouede P; preued FK; y-preuyd S; i-preued M. humana racio] humanum M. [prebet, &c. EMFS] possidet dnium P; K om.] Line 160 Thus by-leyue and leaute · and loue is þe þridde, [by-leyue—lcaute] in bileue lele (sic) I.] That makeþ men to dowel · dobet, and dobest." [That] þei F. men] EF om. to] S om. dobet] and dobett I; do|bet boþe F.] [Þanne] scripture scorned me · and many skyles shewede, [B page 168] [[Þanne MF] Þenne ISKG; The PE; cf. B. xi. 1.] And contynaunce made to clergie · to congie me, hit semede, [to (1)] on I. congie] conge MS; congeie IK; cunge F. hit] as it F.] Line 164 And lakkede me in latyn · and lyght by me sette,

And seide, "multi multa sapiunt, & seipsos nesciunt."

[me] I om. in] a IF. lyght] lite E.] Tho wepte ich for wo · and wraþede of [here] wordes, [wraþede] wraþþe ISK. [here I] hus P; his MKS; þis E; þese F; cf. B. xi. 3.] And in a wynkynge ich worth · and wonderliche ich mette. [worth MS] wurthe F; wrathe K; warth PI. and] an P. ich (2)] me I; ESK om. mette EMIFSK] mete P.] For ich was raueshed ryght þer; · fortune me fette, [raueshed] raueshede P; raue|schyd S; rauyssched IK; i-raueisshed M. fortune] for fortune I; as for|tune F.] Line 168 In-to þe londe of longynge · and loue hue me brouhte, [In-to] And in-to I. þe] a M; S om. and loue] a-lone IM. hue] heo FK; sche I; he MS.] And in a myrour, hihte myddelerd · hue made me to loke, [hihte] þat highte I; hatte S. myddelerd] myddulerþe SF. hue] heo F; sche IM; scheo K; he S.]

And sutthe seide to me · "her myghte þou see wondres, [sutthe] sennes he I; syþþe he S. seide] seide þus F. myghte þou] þou myȝt FS.] And knowe þat þow coueitest · and come þer-to, par|aunter." [knewe] i-knowe M.] Line 172 Thenne hadde fortune folwynge hure · two faire maidenes, [B page 169] [hure] M om.] Concupiscentia-carnis · me calde þe eldere mayde, [Concupiscentia-carnis IMFS KG] Carnis concupiscentia PE; but see l. 178. me] so also E; men IMFSK. calde] so also EI; called FSK; calleden M. mayde] F om.] And couetyse-of-eyen · ycald was þat oþere. [ycald] y-called IMF; S om.] And pruyde-of-parfit-lyuynge · pursewede [me] faste, [[me IMFSK] in PE.] Line 176 And bad me for my contynence · counte clergies lore lyght. [lyght] at liȝte MF; litel K. counte—lyght] coueyte clerkes tech|ing I.] Concupiscentia-carnis · comfortyde me in þys wyse, [in—wyse] of þis manere I.] And seide, "þow art ȝong and ȝep · and hast ȝeris ynowe [art] ert PEK.] For to lyue longe · and ladyes to louye. Line 180 And in þis mirour þow myȝt see · murthes ful menye, [myȝt MESIK] may F; myst P.] That lede þe wol to lykynge · al þy lyf-tyme." [þe] S om. wol] wolde I.] The secounde mayde seide · "ich shal sewe þi wil; [mayde seide] saide þe same ISK; maide seide þe same F. sewe MF] sew S; suwe K; schewe I; suwye E; sywe P.] Til þow be a lord of londe · leten þe ich nelle, [a] E om. of] and haue I.] Line 184 That ich ne shal folwie þy felaushupe · yf fortune lyke." [þy] I om. lyke] it like F.] "He shal fynde me hus frende" · quaþ fortune her|after; [He IMFSEK] Hue (by mis|take) P. her] þer I.] "That man þat me lykeþ helpe · myghte nat mys|happe." [That] Þe M. helpe] to helpe MS. myghte] mai M.] Line 187 Thenne was þer on hiht elde · þat heuy was of chere; [hiht] þat hyȝte SK. heuy] miswritten euy P.]

"Man," quaþ elde, "mete ich with þe · by marie of heuene! [mete IMFSEK] mette P. mete ich] if I mete I. of heuene] modur mylde F.] Thou shalt fynde fortune · faile at þy moste neede, [faile] þe faile I.] And concupiscentia-carnis · clene the for-sake! Byterliche shalt þow banne þenne · boþe [dayes] and nyghtes [Byterliche] Withterli M. banne] curse K. [dayes IM] a daye PK; day E; by day SF. nyghtes] nyȝte F; be nyȝtus S.] Line 192 Couetyse-of-eyen · that euere þow hure knewe, [Couetyse] For coueytise S. knewe] sye F.] And pruyde-of-parfit-lyuynge · to muche peril þe brynge." "Ȝe, recche the neuere," quaþ rechelesness · stod forth in raggede cloþes, [recche IK] reche S; rechche F; rech M; reccheþ PE (wrongly).] "Folwe forþ þat fortune wol · thou hast ful fer to elde; [fer IMFK] feer P; ferre E. ful fer] fele ȝere S.] A man may stoupe tyme ynowe · when he shal tyne þe corone!" [B page 170] [tyme] tymes I. when] wen P. þe] his MF. corone] croune MI SF; croon E; crone K.] Line 197 Syre wanhope was sibbe to hym · as som men me tolde, For rechelesnesse in hus rybaudrie · ryht þus he seide, [rybaudrie] rybaudrye S; mis|written rybaurdrie P; ribaudie IFK; rebaudie E. þus] þus sum tyme F.] "Go ich to helle, go ich to heuene · ich shal nouht [go] myn one! [Go—heuene] Go y to heuene go y to helle SF. go ich] or I. [go IMFSKG] PE om. myn one] allone E; me-selue M.] Line 200 Were hit al soþ þat ȝe seyen · thou scripture and clergie, [hit] M om. thou] S om. and] and þou I.] Ich leyue neuere þat lorde ne ladie · þat lyueþ her on erthe [neuere þat] þat no M; þat K. ladie] ladies E. on] in I. erthe] eerthe P.] Sholde sitte in godes sete · ne see god in hus blysse;

Ita impossibile est diuiti intrare in regnum celorum, sicut camelus foramen acus.

[sitte] sette S. in] on MFSK. godes] good M. sete] sight I. blysse] face S. impossibile] so also F; possibile MISK. regnum] regno I. foramen acus] IMFK om. S has—Ita possibile est camelum transire per foramen acus sicud diuitem in regnum celorum; E has—Facilius est came|lum per foramen acus intrare quam diuitem ad regnum celorum. impossibile] turn back to p. 207.] For clergie seith þat he seih · in þe seynt euangelie, [seih] sey F; seyȝ S; seyhȝ K; si M; saith (sic) I. seynt] M om.] Þat ich man maked was · and my name y-entred [A page 134] [B page 162] [maked] made IK; I-maked F. y-entred EI] yentrede P; entred MFSK.] Line 205 In þe legende of lif · longe er ich were. [ich] he M.] Predestinat thei prechen · prechours þat þis shewen, [Predestinat] Prodestinat P. shewen] schewede S.] Or prechen inparfit · ypult out of grace, [ypult] pulte I; puylt K; i-put MFS. out] K om.] Line 208 Vnwryten for som wikkednesse · as holy writ sheweth,

Nemo ascendit in celum nisi qui de celo descendit.

[wikkednesse] vnkyndenesse M. Nemo—celo] M om.; but cf. footnote to l. 215. de—descendit IFS] de|scendit de celo PEMK; but cf. B|text.] Ich leyue hit wel, by oure lorde · and no lettrure bettere. [Ich leyue] And I leue IK. no] non M; on no IK.] For salomon þe sage · þat sapience made, [þe] S om.] God gaf hym grace of wit · and of good after, [after] auntur aftur S.] Line 212 Neuere to man so muche · that man can of telle, [man (1)] erthely man F. man can] men coude M.] To rewele alle reames · and ryche to make, [rewele] so PI; rewle FS; rule EMK.] And deme wel and wislyche · wommen bereþ witnesse;

Non michi nec tibi, sed diuidatur.

[deme] demed I. wommen] as women F. Non, &c.] Here M wrongly inserts the rubric above (l. 209)— Nemo, &c. Non] Nec E.] Aristotle and he · hij tauhten men boþe; [hij] hy ESK; þei MF; who I.] Line 216 Maisters þat techen men · of godes muchel mercy [techen men] men prechen I.] Witnessen þat here wordes · and here werkes boþe [Witnessen] Whitnessen P.] Weren wonder goode · and wise in here tyme, [wise] wisest I.] And holychurche, as ich huyre · haldeþ boþe in helle! [A page 135] [B page 163] [huyre] hure EK; here MIF.] Yf we sholden worchen after here workes · to wynnen ous heuene, [Yf] And if I. to] for to F.] Line 221

Line 221 That for hure werkes and witt · wonyeþ now in peyne, [werkes] work S. witt] heore wit M.] Then wroghte we vnwisliche · for al ȝoure wyse tech|ynge. [we] i I; y K. ȝoure] oure M.] Ac ich countresegge þe nat, cleregie · ne þy connynge, scripture; [countresegge] contresyngge E. nat] þat (!) E. þy] þe M.] Line 224 That ho so doþ by ȝoure doctrine · doþ wel, ich leyue. [doþ (2)] he doþ MF.] Ac me were leuere, by oure lorde · a lippe of godes grace [lippe] lappe M.] Than al þe kynde witt þat ȝe can boþe · and connynge of ȝoure bokes. [can] cunne M.] For of fele witty, in faith · litel ferly ich haue, Line 228 Thauh here gost be vngraciouse · god for to plese. For meny men of þis molde · setten more here herte [of] in I; on F. setten more] more sette I.] In worldliche good þan in god · for-þy grace hem failleþ. [worldliche] I om. for-þy] for-whi M; & for-þi F. grace hem] hem grace I.] At here moste meschef · mercy were þe beste; [moste EMFSK] meste P; more I.] Line 232 And mercy of mercy · needes mot aryse, [And] But S. mot] moste M.] As holy writ wittnesseþ · godes word in the godspelle;

Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur uobis.

[godes word] god M; holi writ F. the] I om. Eadem, &c.] in|serted in M after l. 228. fueritis] fueritis alijs S. uobis] & vobis F.] Ryght wel ywittede men · and wel lettred clerkes, [Ryght] I om. lettred] y|lettered IK; i-lettred MFS.] Selde arn þei seien · so lyue as þei lere; [Selde] Seilde P; Seldom I; see l. 301. arn] as M. seien] so PE; seyn IMK; seie F; seyȝ S. so] to IF.] Line 236 Witnesse on godes wordes · þat was neuere vntrewe:

Super cathedram moysi [sederunt,] &c. [A page 132]

[Witnesse on] Witnesseþ I. wordes] word MIS. vntrewe] vn|triwe P. moysi] S om. [sederunt] in F only.] [Ac] ich wene hit worth of menye · as was in Noes tyme, [[Ac IMFKGS] And PE.]

Tho þat he shop þe schip · of shides and of bordes, [þat] I om. schip IMFSE] shup P; schup K. of (2)] ISK om.] Was neuere wright þat þer-on wrouhte · ne workman y|saued, [wright] miswritten writ P; but see l. 243; wriȝt ES; writht M; wiȝt F; I om.] Line 240 Bote briddes and bestes · [and] þe blessed Noe, [[and IMFSKG] þat PE. M has in the margin—Contra prelatos.] And hus wif with hus sones · and hus sones wyues; [Of] wrightes þat hit wroghten · was non ysaued. [[Of IMFSKG] And PE. non] þer non M; non of hem I.] God leyue hit fare nat so by folke · that þe faith techen [leyue] leue IMSEK; leeue F. by] by þis I.] Of holychurche, þat sholde kepe · alle cristine saules; For archa noe, nymeþ hede · ys no more to mene [nymeþ MFSK] nemeþ P.] Line 246 Bote holychurche, herbergh · to alle þat ben blessede. [herbergh] is herborȝ E. alle] E om. blessede] i-blessed M.] The culorum of this c[l]ause · curatores ys to mene, [B page 164] [clause FSK] cause PE; cf. B-text. curatores] written in red in MK (as a Latin word); curatours E; curatoures IS; creatours (!) F.] That ben carpenters vnder criste · holy [kirke] to make [ben] E om. [kirke I] churche PEFSK; chirche M.] For lewede folke, godes foules · and hus free bestes;

Homines & iumenta saluabis, domine, &c.

[foules] folys I; folus S; foolus F (wrongly).] At domes day a dyluuye worth · of deþ and fuyr at ones; [At] A SK. dyluuye] delful time M. fuyr] of fuyr PE; but IMSKG omit of.] Line 251 Worcheþ, ȝe wryghtes of holichurche · as holy writ techeþ, [as] to make as S. techeþ] ȝow techeth F.] Lest ȝe be loste as þe laborers were · þat labored vnder Noe. [be loste] ben i-lost M. þe] MF om. labored—Noe] wiþ noe wrouten M.] A goode fryday, ich fynde · a felon was ysaued, [A page 135] [A] On M. ysaued] ysauede P.] That vnlawefulliche hadde ylyued · al hus lyf-tyme; And for he by-knew on þe crois · and to crist schrof hym, [And] M om. schrof EMIF SK] shroue P.] Line 256

Line 256 He was sonnere ysaued · þan seynt Iohan þe Baptist, And er Adam oþer ysaie · oþer eny of þe prophetes, That hadden leye with lucyfer · meny longe ȝeres. [leye] ley EF; lye S; i-leiȝe M.] A robber was y-raunsoned · raþer þan þei alle; Line 260 With-oute penaunce oþer passion · oþer eny oþer peyne [oute] outhe P. oþer (1)] and I.] He passede forth pacientliche · to perpetuel blisse. [He passede] Passeþ I. to] in-to F.] Al-so marie Magdelene · ho myghte do worsse [Al-so] Þan I. ho] ȝo E. myghte] myde (sic) M. do] do no E; ha do F.] As in lykynge of lecherye · no lyf denyede? [denyede MSIK] denoyede P; denyed it F.] Line 264 And dauid þe douhty · þat deuynede how vrye [And] Or I.] Mighte slilokeste be slayn · and sente hym to werre [slilokeste] sleylokest EISK; slylikest M. werre] worþe I.] Leelliche as by hus lok · with a lettere of gyle; [lok] book M; bokes I. Leel|liche—lok] Slylich al with slyþe S. lettere] lyare I.] Paul þe apostel, þat no pite hadde · cristene peuple to culle; [þat] IK om. pite] piete I. cristene] crustene P. culle] kille FS; culle to deþe I.] Line 268 Now beeþ þese seintes, as men seyen · and souereynes in heuene, [B page 165] [Now] And now I. þese M] þise I; þis SE; þei F; þees P. as] by þat I. and] as E. souereynes] seynours M.] Tho þat worst wroghten · while þei weren here. [Tho] And þo F; I om. while] wile P; þe while þat I; while þat MF. weren here] here were I.] By þat þat salamon seith · hit semeþ þat no wyght [þat þat] þat I.] Wot ho is worthi · for wele oþer for wicke, [wicke] wicked I. S omits from for to worthi in next line.] Line 272 Whether he is worthi to wele · oþer to wickede pyne:

Sunt iusti atque sapientes, & opera eorum in manu Dei sunt.

[is] be F. wickede] walle in F. pyne] so PI; peyne EMFSK. iusti—sapientes] & sapientes iusti M; see note to l. 277. atque] et IK.] Thus ich, rechelesnesse, haue rad · registres and bokes, [A leaf lost in I, down to xiii. 20. rad] y-rad SK; I-redde F.]

And fond ich neuere, in faith · for to telle treuthe, [And] Ac F. treuthe] of treuthe P; but MFSEK omit of.] Line 275 That clergie of cristes mouth · comended was euere. [A page 136] [B page 166] [comended] comsed M.] For crist seide to seintes · and to suche as he louede,

Dum steteritis ante reges et presides, [nolite cogi|tare quomodo aut quid loquamini,] & cetera:

[Dum, &c.] Here M has the rubric quoted above, l. 273. steteritis FSKG] steteris PE. [nolite cogitare EFS] PK om. [quomodo, &c.] in S only.] 'Thauh ȝe come by-fore kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe, Beeþ nat a-ferd of þat folke · for ich shal ȝeue ȝow tonge, [ȝow] S om.] Connynge and clergie · to conclude hem alle.' Line 280 Dauid makeþ mencion · he spak among kynges, [makeþ] made M. he] and M.] And myghte no kynge hym ouer-come · as in connynge speche. [speche] of speche F.] Sothly," seide rechelesnesse · "ich see by menye euydences, [menye] myn S; F om. euy|dences MSKG] euedences P.] Line 283 That noþer wit ne wyghtnesse · wan neuere þe maistrie [noþer] K om.] With-oute þe grete gyfte of god · with hus grace and fortune. [þe] FS om. grete] KG om. and] and his M.] For he þat most [seih] and seide · of þe sothfast trinite [[seih] si M; say S; miswritten seith PEFKG; but see l. 154.] Was Austyn þe olde · þat euere man wiste. He saide thus in hus sarmon · for ensample of grete clerkes,

Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur.

[He] KG om. for] in M. en|sample] saumple F. idioti] ydioti E; ydiote MFS. rapiunt] rapiunt nobis S. sapientes] FS om.] Line 288 This is to mene no more · to men þat ben lewede, 'Aren none raþere raueshed · fro þe ryghte by-leyue [raþere raueshed] rauysched raþur FS. raueshed] i-rauessched M.] Cominliche þan clerkes · most knowynge and connynge; [Cominliche] Comenliche S; Comuneliche MF. and] of FS.] And none sonnere ysaued · ne saddere in þe by-leyue [And] Ne F. þe] F om.]

Than plouhmen and pastours · and poure comune peuple;' [poure comune] oþer pore M; oþur comen S.] Line 293 And lewede leele laborers · and land-tylynge peuple [F omits. And] MSK om. tyl|ynge] tylyinge SK.] Persen with a pater-noster · paradys oþer heuene, [B page 167] [Persen] þei peersen F; Passen M. oþer] after (sic) E; of KG.] Passinge purgatorie penaunceles · for here parfit by|leyue,

Breuis oratio penetrat celum.

Line 296 Selde falleþ þe seruant · so deepe in arerages [OBS. Here in some MSS (T, H₂, and Digby 145) the A-text and C-text are pieced together. See A|text, pref. pp. xviii, xx, xxiv. Read|ings from T are here given, to show how the Passus ends. arerages] ari|rages E; areragis S; rerages F; a|rerage M; arerage TK; arrirages P (but see xiii. 66).] As doþ þe reyue oþer þe conterroller · þat rekene mot and a-counte [reyue] reue MESTKG; reeue F. oþer] & T. þe (2)] a M; FK om. conterroller]. counteroller MS; coun|trollour TF; counterrollers E. a|counte] acompte T; counte FS.] Of al þat þei hauen had · of hym þat is here maister. [had TSKG] hadd P; i-had MF.] Ac þese lewede laborers · of lytel vnderstondynge [þese MFS] þees P; TK om. lytel] lewde S. vnderstondynge] vn|durfongynge F; vndirstonde (sic) T.] Line 300 Selde fallen so foule · and so deepe in synne As clerkes of holy churche · þat kepen sholde and saue [of] dooth of F.] Lewede men in good by-leyue · and lene hem at here. neede. [good] rith M. neede] wille T.] 'Homo proponit,' quaþ [a] poete þo · and plato he hihte, [B page 170] [Homo] Ȝe homo F. [a MTF ESKG] þe P. þo] T om.] Line 304 'Et deus disponit,' quaþ he · 'let god do hus wille.' [Et] Set M. he] he þo F. hus] al his M.] Al þat treuthe a-tacheþ · and testifieþ for goode, [a-tacheþ] techiþ T.] Thauh thei folwe þat fortune wole · no folie ich hit holde. [Thauh—folwe] Þan þe folke (!) E. wole] wolde F; T om.] And concupiscentia-carnis · shal þe nat greue [And] Ne T. shal—greue] ne shal not greue þe T.] Line 308

Line 308 Gretlich, ne by-gyly þe · bote yf þy-self wolle." [Gretlich ne] Graithly to F. by-gyly] bigyle FK; by-gile ne naþur (sic) S; begile T; greuen (repeated from last line) M. þe] FS om. yf þy-self] þou T. wolle] woldest M.] "Ȝe, farewel, fyppe!" quath fauntelet · and forth gan me drawe, [Ȝe] Tho T. fauntelet] a fauntlet S; a fauntekyn M.] Til concupiscentia-carnis · a-corded to alle my werkes. [to] til TKG; with S. werkes] wordes M.] Of dowel ne of dobet · no deynte me þouhte, [ne] and M. me] me ne T.] Line 312 Clergie and hus consail · ich countede ful lytel! [Clergie and] Of clergie & F; Ne clergie ne T. ich countede] a|countede M; I counte it T. lytel] lite M.]

Hic explicit passus secundus de dowel. [MT omit. Hic] EFSK om. de dowel] FK om.]