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 XIV. (DO-WEL IV.)

[TITLE. So in KF; M prefixes Hic; Incipit passus quartus PE; to which S adds de eodem; Passus tercius de Dowel I; T om.] Incipit passus quartus [de dowel].

AC wel worth pouerte! · for he may walke vn|robbed [Ac] As (wrongly) I; But T. vnrobbed] vnrobbede P.] Among pilours in pees · yf pacience hym folwe. Oure prynce iesu pouerte chees · and hus aposteles alle, [chees] ches MIESKT.] And ay þe lenger þei lyueden · the lasse good þei hadde;

Tanquam nichil habentes, & omnia possidentes.

[þei (1)] þat þei F. Tanquam, &c.] M om. &—possidentes] IKT om.] Line 4 Ȝut men [rat þat] abraam and Iob · were wonder ryche, [Ȝut] & ȝit F. [rat þat MKT] ret þat I; reedith þat FG; miswritten þat of PE; see Pass. iv. 410, 416. men—þat] ret me þat I; rat me þat T; S om] And out of numbre þo men · menye meobles hadden. Abráám for al hus good · hadde muche teene, [Abraam] Ac abraham F. al—good] his (sic) I; his auȝte T. muche] mykel M; muchel F.] In gret pouerte [he] was yput; · a pryns, as hit were, [In] For in IT. [he MIKFST] PE om. yput] i-put M; put KTFS; putte I. pryns] prisoun M (wrongly).] Line 8 By-nom hym ys housewif · and heeld here hym-self, [By-nom—housewif] A king bi|nom him his wijf M. I omits the last half of lines 9 and 10; T omits last half of l. 9.] And abráám nat hardy · ones to letten hym, [hardy] so hardy F. hardy ones] onus hardy S; ones so hardy T. to—hym] him to lette F.] Ne for brightnesse of here beaute · here spouse to be by-knowe. [spouse—by-knowe] spousehod to beknowe T.]

And for he suffrede and seide nouht · our Lord sente tokne, [he] E om.] Line 12 That þe kynge cride · to abráám mercy, [cride] cride þo F. to] S om. mercy] of merci MF. I has—Þat þe kynde (sic) cried him mercy þat time; T has—Þat kynde comely kyng · criede hym mercy.] And deliuerede hym hus wif · with muche welthe after. [welthe] Ioye S.] And also Iob þe gentel · what ioye hadde he on erthe, [And] K om. And also] IT om.] How bittere he hit bouhte · as þe book telleþ! [How] And how IT. bouhte] aboghte IT; abouȝht K; bouȝt also F.] Line 16 And for he songe in hus sorwe · 'si bona [accepimus] a domino, [T has—And for he suffride so mekly · his sorewe ouerȝede. And] Ac M. in] K om. [accepimus MK FETG] accipiam (?) P; suscepimus S.] Dere-worthe dere God! · do we so mala,' [dere] and dere I.] Al hus sorwe to solas · þorgh þat songe turnede, [to—songe] þorw þat song · to solace hit M.] And Iob by-cam a iolif man · and al hus ioye newe. [a] as T. iolif] ioli MF; gen|til S. al] E om.] Line 20 Lo, how pacience in here pouerte · these patriarkes releuede, [in here] and IT. these] thees P.] And brouhte hem al aboue · þat in bale rotede. [rotede] so in all.] As greyn þat lyth in þe greot · and þorgh grace, atte laste, [As] As a F. þe] IEFS om. greot] grete E; gret M; grut KSF; grounde IT.] Spryngeþ vp and spredeþ · so spedde þe fader abráám, [vp] IT om. spedde] sprad F; dude M. þe—abraam] abraham þe goode F.] And al-so þe gentel Iob; · here ioie hath non ende. [al-so] IT om.] Line 25 Ac leueþ nouht, ȝe lewede men · þat ich lacke richesse, [ȝe] IKT om.] Thauh ich preise pouerte þus · and preoue hit by ensamples [ensamples] ensample ES.] Worthiour, as by holy writ · and wise philosopheres. [as] M om.] Bothe two [beþ] goode · be ȝe ful certayn, [[beþ ES] ben MIT; beon K; be F; miswritten but P. goode] ful goode FS. ful] wel T.] Line 29

Line 29 And lyues þat our lorde loueþ · and large weyes to heuene. [And] As E. weyes] wey T. to] ȝeueþ to M.] Ac þe poure pacient · purgatorye passeþ [þe] E om. purgatorye] þe purgatory I.] Raþere þan þe ryche · þauh thei renne at ones. [thei] ȝe F.] Line 32 For yf a marchaunt and a messager · metten to-gederes, [metten] so PIMK; mette F; meten ET; mete S.] And scholde wenden o way · where both mosten reste, [o way] on wai M; awey S. mosten reste MIKS] moste reste FG; muste resten T; written most . . rest P (the margin of the leaf being cut off).] And rekene byfore reson · a resonable acounte, [a MKFT] cut off in PI. acounte MIKF] acompte T; mis|written acountes P. a—acounte] acounte þat is resonable S.] What one haþ, what anoþer haþ · and what hy hadde boþe, [what] & what S. anoþer] oþer MTKF; þat oþur S. haþ] T om. hy] þei MIKTFS.] Line 36 The marchante mote nede be lette · lengere þen þe messagere; [34—37. E omits. In P, these lines are written in the margin, but by the same scribe; Whitaker omits them.] [be] by S. lette] I-lette I; let MKFST. þe messagere] þat oþur F.] For þe parcels of hus paper · and oþer pryuey dettes [þe] S om. paper] paupere E.] Wol lette hym, as ich leyue · the lengthe of a myle. [leyue] leue MKSET; leeue F.] The messager doþ na more · bote [with] hus mouth telleþ [The] Þere þe KT. doþ] he dooth F. [with EIMKFST] P om.] Line 40 Hus [erande], and hus [lettere] sheweþ · and is a-non delyuered. [[erande] erende IK; arnede (sic) T; lettere PE; letture S; lettre F; letteres M. [lettere] lettre KT; erande E; eraunde S; ernde PM; arende F.] And thauh þei wende by þe wey · tho two to-gederes, [wende] so PEKFT; wend S; wenten M; wente I. tho] þei MF; þe E.] Thauh þe messager make hus wey · a-mydde þe whete, [amydde] amyde P; amonge T. whete] fayre whete IT.] Wole no wys man wroth be · ne hus wed take; [wroth be] be wroth ITKFS.] Line 44

Line 44 Ys non haiwarde yhote · hus wed for to take;

Necessitas non habet legem.

[Ys] Ne T. yhote] hote I; is hoten T. to] K om. take] nyme M. Most MSS. agree in making lines 44 and 45 end nearly alike; but ITKFG insert Necessitas—legem between them; M omits this quotation alto|gether.] Ac yf þe marchaunt make hus way · ouere menne corne, [yf] & S. menne] so PIK; mennes F; menes M; menis T; men ES. corne] cornne P.] And þe haywarde happe · with hym for to mete, Line 47 Oþer hus hatt oþer hus [hode] · oþere elles hus gloues [[hode EK] hod MG; hood ITFS; hed (!) P. hus (3)] K om.] The marchaunt mot for-go · oþer moneye of hus porse, [mot] he moot F.] And ȝut be lett, as ich leyue · for þe lawe askeþ [ȝut] K om. lett] i-letted M. leyue] leue ITMKSE; leeue F.] Marchauns for here merchaundise · in meny place to tollen. [in] E om. place] places MEFS. to] KFS om. tollen TESG] tolle IMF; tullen P; tellen K.] Line 51 Ȝut þauh þei wenden on way · as to wynchestre fayre, [Ȝut] & ȝit IFT. þauh] þer I; E om. on] o IK; a FT; þe M.] The marchaunt with hus marchaundise · may nat go so swithe [may] he may F.] As þe messager may · ne with so mochel ese. [mochel] mychel ES; muchel FT; mykel M; moche I.] For þat on bereþ bote a boxe · a breuet þer-ynne, [þat on] þe one K.] Ther þe marchaunt ledeþ a male · with meny kynne þynges, [ledeþ] let IT; lat KF. meny kynne] many skenis T.] Line 56 And dredeþ to be ded þere-fore · and he in derke mete With robbours and reuers · þat riche men dispoilen; [reuers] with reuers P; but MKFSET omit with. þat] & F.] Ther þe messager is ay murye · hus mouthe ful of songes, [ay] euer S. hus] & his FT.] And leyueþ for hus letteres · þat no wight wol hym greue. [

So PEMIK. The alliteration is imperfect, unless we put lede for wight, as in T; F has—

& leeueth for his lettres · ay to be welcome,

& þat no wiȝt wole him greue · walkyng on weies.

S has the same, but with euer for ay, and omitting & before þat.

] Line 60

Line 60 Ac ȝut, myghte þe merchaunt · þorgh monye and oþer ȝiftes, [Ac] & EF. monye] his money IT. monye and] many S. oþer] F om. ȝiftes EIMFKS] ȝeftes P; ȝeftis T.] Haue hors and hardy men; · þauh he mette þeoues, Wolde non suche a-sailen hym · for hem þat hym folweþ, [hem þat] suche as KT. folweþ] folwede M.] As safliche passe as the messager · and as sone at hus hostil. [As] And as IT. safliche] saf S. passe] IK om. the] F om. at] in S. hostil] hostel MK; ostel EFT.] Line 64 Ȝe wyten wel, ȝe wyse men · what this is to mene, The marchaunt is no more to mene · bote men þat ben ryche [is—mene] meeneth na more F.] Aren a-countable to crist · and to þe kyng of heuene, [Aren] Þei beþ E; Aren alle IKT. and—þe] þat is M.] That holden mote þe heye weye · euene [þe] ten hestes, [þe] þan (sic) E. euene] euene to MS. [þe IMKFTG] PES om.; cf. rubric to Pass. viii. 204.] Boþe louye and lene · þe leelle and þe vnleelle, [lene] eke leene F. þe (1)] IT om. þe (2)] ITKS om.] Line 69 And haue reuthe, and releue · with hus grete richesse, [grete] IT om.] By hus power, alle manere men · in meschief yfalle; [By—power] I om. in] þat beth in F; in a S; þat in T. yfalle] falliþ T.] Fynde beggars bred · backes for þe colde, [Fynde] & fynde F. bred] here breed F. backes] & cloþus S; & bakkis T. þe] T om.] Line 72 Tythen here goodes treweliche · a tol, as hit semeþ, [Tythen] & tiþen FT; Teþen M. goodes] good IT. treweliche] try|weliche P. semeþ] were FS.] That oure lord lokeþ after · of eche a lyf þat wynneþ [a] MF om.] With-oute wyles oþer wrong · oþer wommen atte stuwes; [wrong] wronges IT. atte] at þe IMST. stuwes] stiwes K; stuyues E; styues MS; stewus F; stewis T.] And ȝut more, to make pees · and quyte menne dettes, [ȝut] K om. quyte] to quyten I. menne] so PK; mennus F; menes M; menis T; men ES.] Boþe spele and spare · to spene vpon þe needful, [Boþe] And IT. spare] eke spare F. spene] spenden M; spende ITF. needful] needy F.] Line 77

Line 77 As crist [him]self comaundeþ · to alle cristene peuple,

Alter alterius onera portate, [& sic adimplebitis legem christi].

[[him MITKFSE] P om. to] IT om. [&—christi] in F only.] The messagers aren þe mendinans · þat lyueþ by menne almesse, [messagers] messangers IT; messager K; massager M. aren] ben ES. menne] see l. 76.] Beþ nat ybounde as beþ þe riche · to bothe þe two lawes, [beþ F] by I; ben T; be MK; beeþ P; S om. þe (1)] ȝe M. þe (2)] KS om. two] I om. þe two] to þe MFT.] Line 80 To lene ne to lere · ne lentenes to faste, [lere] lerne ITK. lentenes] to lentenes E; in lentenys T; in lenten M; lentoun F; lente S. to] for to F.] And oþere pryuey penaunces · þe whiche þe preest wot wel [þe (1)] KF om.] That þe lawe ȝeueþ leue · suche lowe folke to be ex|cused; [to] KT om.] As, none tythes to tythen · ne cloþe þe nakede, [As] Ne M. to tythen] tethe|gen K. cloþe] to cloþe I; for to cloþe F. þe] none M; F om.] Line 84 Ne in enquestes to come · ne contumax, þauh he worche [enquestes] none enquestes I; none questes M; no queste T. to] for to F.] Haly day oþer holy eue · hus mete to deserue. For yf he loueþ and by-leyueþ · as the lawe techeþ,

Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit, [saluus erit,] & cetera,

[K omits. yf] T om. and] or F. [saluus erit MF] hic saluus erit S; PEITK om.] Telleþ þe lord a tale · as a trewe messager, [trewe] triwe P.] Line 88 And sheweþ by seel and sitthe by lettere · with what lord he dwelleþ, [Knowelecheþ] hym cristene · and of holy [kirke] by|leyue, [[Knowelecheþ KF] Knowe|lechiþ T; Knewlechuþ S; Knowleche M; Kneweleche PE. of] on MF. [kirke I] churche PEFS; chirche MKT. byleyue] by-leueþ SF.] Ther is no lawe, as ich leyue · wol lette hym þe gate, [Ther is] Þat S; Þer nys M.] Ther god is gatwarde hym-self · and eche a gome knoweth; Line 92

Line 92 The porter of pure reuthe · may parforme þe lawe, [reuthe] trewþe E; truþe K.] In þat he wilneþ and wolde · ech wight as him-self. [Here eight leaves are wanting in F, down to xvi. 178. ech] ech a IS; eche a K. wight] wy T. him] miswritten hem P.] For þe wil is as muche worth · of a wrecche beggere, [S places is after worth. a] I om.] As al þat þe ryche may reyme · and ryghtfulliche dele; [þat] S om. may] K om. reyme] reome M; rayne I; rayme T.] And as muche mede · for a myte þat he offreþ [as] also M. mede] me E. þat] þer IT. he offreþ] offred S; ich offre E.] Line 97 As þe riche man for al his moneye · and more, as by þe godspel; [A page 221]

Amen dico uobis, quia hec uidua paupercula [misit plus omnibus qui miserunt in gasophi|lacium;]

[his] is P. as] ITS om. Amen—quia] S om. [misit—omnibus E] plus omnibus misit S; PMIKT om. [qui—gasophilacium] in S only.] So þat poure pacient · is parfitest lif of alle, [þat] þat þe S; T om. par|fitest] parfiith M.] And alle parfite preestes · to pouerte sholde drawe; [A page 183] [And] S om. And alle] Eche a T. preestes] preste IT. sholde] shulle S.] For spera-in-deo spekeþ of prestes · þat han no spend|yng seluer, [spera] speraui M. seluer] siluer IET.] Line 101 That yf þay trauaile treweliche · and tristen in god almyghty, [in] til E; to M; on T. god almyghty] almyghty god I.] Hem sholde neuere lackye lyflode · noþer lynnen ne wollene. [lackye] lacky E; lakke IK ST; lacke M. lynnen] lynne P; but see ii. 18. wollene] wulle S.] The title þat ȝe takeþ ȝoure ordres by · telleþ ȝe beþ [auaunced,] [title IMTES] titel K; titile P. þat] IKT om. telleþ] til S; tille K. [auaunced MT] auaunsed IKEG; auaunsid S; amanced P; cf. B-text.] Line 104 And needeþ nat to nyme seluer · for masses þat ȝe syngen; For he þat tok ȝow title · sholde take ȝow wages, [title ME] titel K; titile P; a title IT; þat title S.]

Oþer þe bisshop þat blessed ȝow · and enbaumede ȝoure fyngeres. [blessed] blesseþ M; blesse (sic) E. and] or K. enbaumede] enbaumeþ M.] For made neuere kyng knyght · bote he hadde catel to spene, [knyght] no knyȝt IT; ne knyȝht K. spene] dispende M.] Line 108 As by-fel for a knyght · oþer fond hym for hus strengþe; [A page 184] [by-fel KS] bi-fulle M; befelle I; befel T; hit byfelle E; by-feel P. fond] so PIMS; fonde EK.] For hit is a carful knyght · and of a caitif kynges makynge, [hit is] ȝif (sic) M. is] S om. and] þat (sic) E; M om. caitif] carful MS.] That hath no londe ne lynage riche · ne good loos of hus hondes. [no] noyþer I; noþer T. loos] los MT.] Line 111 The same ich seye for soþe · by suche þat ben preestes, [þat ben] as beþ S.] Þat han noþer konnynge ne kyn · bote a corone one, [han] I om. kyn] kiþ T. co|rone] croune ITE; crone K; crowne M.] And a title, a tale of nouht · to hus liflode, as hit were. [title] titile P.] Vuele ben þei suffred · suche þat schenden masses [K omits. Vuele] Euele MT; Iuel E. þat] as S. schenden EMS] shenden T; shynden P. masses] þe masse T.] Throgh hure luþer lyuynge · and lewede vnder stondyng! Line 116 A charter is chalangable · by-fore a chief Iustice, Yf fals latyn be in [þat lettere] · þe lawe hit enpugneþ, [[þat lettere MIKSEG] þe let|tre T; þe letteres P. enpugneþ] in|pugneþ S; empugned I.] Oþer peynted par-entrelignarie · parcels ouer-skipped; [par-entrelignarie] or enter|lyned M.] The gome þat so gloseþ chartres · a goky he is yholden [so gloseþ] gloseþ so IT. goky] gouky E; gokow S. a—he] for a goky is T. he is] is he K.] So is he a goky, by god · þat in the godspel failleþ, [he] it IT; hit K. goky] gouky E; gokow S.] Line 121 In masse oþer in matynes · maketh eny defaute;

Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.

[In] Oþer in T. In—in] Or in a messe or in a I. S omits the rubric and l. 123.]

And ouer-skippers al-so · in þe sauter seith dauid,

Psallite Deo nostro psallite, quia rex terre deus; psallite sapienter.

[S omits. And] For IT. quia] qui est ME; quoniam I. quia—sa|pienter] S om. psallite sapienter M] psallite IT; E om. (represented in PK by the abbreviation s.s., where s = sallite, for psallite).] The bishop shal be blamed · by-fore god, as ich leyue, [blamed] i-blamed M. T omits l. 124, and runs ll. 125 and 126 into one.] Þat coroneþ suche clerkes · as for godes knyghtes, [coroneþ] crouneþ IE; croneþ K; crownen M. clerkes as] IT om.] Line 125 Þat conneþ nat sapienter · noþer synge ne rede. [A page 185] [sapienter] o sapiencia M; T om.] Ac neyþer is al blameles · þe bisshop ne þe chapeleyn; [neyþer] noþer E; neuer neyþer I; nere neiþer T. is] buþ M. al] IT om. þe (2)] his S.] For ignorantia non excusat · as ich haue herd in bookes."— [herd] i-herd ME.] Line 128 Thus rechelessnesse in a rage · a-resonede clergie, [a-resonede] a-ratede S.] And scornede scripture · þat meny skyles shewede, [scornede scripture] scripture scornede I; scripture scornide it T.] Til þat kynde cam · clergie to helpen, And in þe myrour of myddel-erde · made hym eft to loke, [myddel] mydel P. erde] erþe IST. eft] ofte T; S om. to] KT om.] To knowe by ech creature · kynde to louye. [ech] eche a I; iche a T.] Line 133 And ich bowede my body · by-holdynge al a-boute, [by-holdynge] by-holde K; bi|helde I; & beheld T. al] T om.] And seih þe sonne and þe see · and þe sand after, [seih] si M; say S; sithe I. sand] londe E.] Wher þat briddes and bestes · by here makes ȝeden, [Wher] And where IKT. ȝeden EMS] ȝeeden P; ȝeoden K; þey ȝede IT.] Wilde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foules Line 137 With fleckede fetheres · and of fele colours; [fetheres EIMKS] fetthers P.] Man and hus make · ich myghte see boþe, [see] i-seo M.] Pouerte and plente · bothe pees and werre, [A page 186] Line 140 Blisse and biter bale · bothe ich seih at ones; [biter] IT om. seih] si M; seye I.] And how þat men mede token · and mercy refuseden. [men] I om. mede] me (!) S.]

Reson ich seih sothliche · suwen alle bestes [Reson] And resoun I. seih] here written sauh P (but see ll. 135, 141); si M. sothliche] sotthliche P. I omits last half of l. 143, and first half of l. 144.] In etynge, [in] drynkyng · in gendrynge of kynde; [[in KES] and PTM. gen|drynge] engendryng MKS; engen|durer I; engendrure T.] Line 144 After cours of concepcion · non tok kepe of oþer [cours] þe cours M. kepe] hede M.] As when þei hadde ruteyed; · a-non þei resten after. [As] And T. ruteyed] roteyed I; roteide K; yrotied ET; i-roteied M. after] ayþer I.] Maules drowen hem to maules · on morwenynge by hem-self, [Maules] so PEKSG; Males MIT (twice). on] in M; a T; and (!) I. morwenynge] mornyng I; morewnynges M; morwnynges E; morows S. hem] hym S.] And femeles to femeles · herdeyed and drow. [herdeyed] herdyede S; her|deiede M; herdyyng E; herdede K; ferdide T; ferdedede (sic) I; herk|nede G. and] an P. drow] rowe E.] Line 148 Ther ne was kow ne kow-kynde · þat conceyued hadde, [K omits (but the lines are added in a much later hand). ne was] nas E.] That [wolde bere] after bole · ne bor after sowe. [K omits (but the lines are added in a much later hand). ne was] nas E.] [[wolde bere T] wuld bere S; wolte beere (in a much later hand) K; belwede M; beere P; beþer (!) E; not in I; cf. B-text. bole—sowe] bore · ne sow aftur bore (wrongly) S.] Ther was no [kynne] kynde · þat conceyued hadde, [was] ne was KT. [kynne MES] kyne K; kyn T; kynde P.] That ne lees þe lykynge of lust · of flesch, as hit were, [ne MEKST] apparently no P. lees] so PEK; les MST. þe] S om. lust MIKST] loust PE.] Saue man and hus make; · and þer-of me wondrede. For out of reson þei ryde · and rechelesliche taken on, [ryde] redde E. rechelesliche] richelich E. taken] token IMEST; toke K.] As in durne dedes · bothe drynkynge and elles. [durne] derne MKST. bothe] apparently bethe P; boþe in T; K om.] Briddes ich by-helde · in bosshes maden nestes, [by-helde] by-heelde P. bos|shes] bussches I; busches EKS; buskes M; buskis T. nestes] neestes P.] Line 156 Hadde neaere weye wit · to worche þe leste. [weye] we E; wie K; wiȝ T; withg M. neuere weye] we neuer E.] Ich hadde wonder at wham · and wher þat þe pye [at—wher] wher · and at wham P (but the rest have the arrangement given; cf. B-text). and—þat] whan and where I.]

Lernede legge styckes · þat leyen in here neste; [Lernede] Lernede to MST; apparently Lornede P. in] on IMK. here] heore M; his K. neste EIKSG] nest MT; neestes P (but see next line).] Ther is no wryght, as ich wene · sholde worche here nest to paye. [is] nys MT. wryght] wyȝt S; wiȝt ET; withg M.] Line 160 Yf eny mason þer-to · makede a molde [I has— . . . masoun made a molde þer-to · moche wonder me þenkeþ; as in B-text. T has the same, beginning ȝif any masoun.] [þer-to makede] þer-to maken E; make þer-to M.] With alle here wyse castes · wonder me þynkeþ! [I has— . . . masoun made a molde þer-to · moche wonder me þenkeþ; as in B-text. T has the same, beginning ȝif any masoun.] [here] so PK; hure S; his E; hise M; (here castes = her con|trivances).] And ȝut ich meruaillede more · menye of þo bryddes [ȝut] S om. ich meruaillede] ich merueile þe E; me meruaileth I; me merueilide T. þo] þe IMKT.] Hudden and heleden · durneliche here egges, [Hudden] Hidden KT. heleden] hileden I. durneliche—egges] derworþliche hure egges M; derneliche hure nestus & eggus S; here egges dernely IT.] Line 164 For no foul sholde hem fynde · bote hus fere and hym-self. [hem] it IT; K om. hus] hire T. hym] hire T.] And some treden, ich tok kepe · and on trees bredden, And brouhten forth here bryddes · al aboue þe grounde. [al] & alle S.] In mareis and in mores · in myres and in wateres [A page 187] [mareis] maries E; mariis M. and (1)] M om. mores] moores I; meores K. myres] medes E. in wateres] watres M.] Line 168 Dompynges dyueden; · "deere god," ich sayde, [Dompynges] Dumpynges M; Doppynges E; Dompus S. dyueden] dyuyden P; dyuede IT; diuyde K; dyuede in M.] "Wher hadden þese wilde suche witt · and at what scole?" [þese MKS] þees P; þis IE; þise T.] And whan þe pocok caukede · þer-of ich took kepe, [whan] how IT. ich took] tok y SIT; toke y K.] How vn-corteisliche þe cok · hus kynde forth strenede, [þe] þat I. hus] his IMKSET; miswritten hud P. strenede MIK] better than strenide T; strende P; streynde E; strewede (put for streuede, a mistake for strenede) S.] And ferliche hadde of hus fairnesse · and of hus foule ledene. [ferliche hadde] ferkoyed (!) I; ferliede T. ledene MKG] lidun S; leedene P; leodene E; lenede (mis|written for ledene) I; lenide T.] Line 173

Line 173 And siþþe ich loked on þe see · and so forþ on þe sterres, [þe (2)] I om.] Meny selcouth ich seih · aren nouht to seggen nouthe; [selcouth] selcouþes MKT. ich] ic P; but see l. 174. seih] si M; say S. aren] ben E; beþ S. nouht] none T. seggen] sayn E; seie M; sey T.] Ne what on floures in feldes · and [of] hure faire coloures, [what on] so PEIKST; what of M. feldes] felde MIT. [of ITMKEG] on S; P om.] Line 176 How out of greot and of gras · grewe-so meny huwes, [How] And how IT. greot] so PK; greet E; gret M; greut T; grut S; grith I. of (2)] M om. grewe] groweþ ME; growe IT.] Somme soure and somme swete · selcouþ me þouhte; [Somme] And some IKT. sel|couþ] selcouhþ P; see l. 175.] Of here kynde and of here colours · to carpen hit were to longe. [of] K om. colours] colour IT. to] IT om.] Ac þat þat [moste] meuede me · and my mod chaungede, [þat þat] þat at K; þe (sic) I; þis T. [moste I] most SKT; moost G; man (sic) E; PM om.] Was þat ich seih reson · suwen alle bestes [Was] Whanne T. seih] si M.] Line 181 Saue man and mankynde; · meny tymes me þouhte, [tymes] time ME.] Reson rewelede hem nat · noþer riche ne poure. [rewelede] reuled E; reulede S; rewlide T; rulede K; reule (sic) M; reued reuelede (sic) I.] Then ich aresonede reson · and right til hym ich seide, [aresonede] resoned I. til] to ST. ich] MT om.] "Ich haue wonder in my witt · so wis as þow art holde, [art TMS] ert EK; miswritten herte P. holde] i-holde M; holden T.] Wher-for and why · so wide as þow regnest, [so] as IKT.] Line 186 Þat þow ne ruelest raþer · renkes þan oþer beestes. [ne] I om. ruelest] rulest MK; reulest S; reweledest I; rewel|ist T.] For ich see noone so ofte sorfeten · soþliche so man|kynde; [For] IKTS om. sorfeten] sorfete K; surfaiten T; surfete MS; sorfeteþ G; apparently forfeten PEI (but alliteration decides it). so (2)] as S.] Line 188 In mete out of mesure · and meny tymes in drynke, [tymes] time M.] In wommen, in wedes · and in wordes boþe [wordes] werkes M.]

Thei ouerdon hit day and nyght · and so doþ noon oþere. [noon] nat I; not T. oþere] oþer bestis T.] Line 191 Bestes ruwelen hem al by reson · and renkes ful fewe. [Bestes] Þey IT. ruwelen] ruelen EKS; rulen M; rewele I; rewle T. and] ac I; but T.] And þer-fore meruaileþ me · for man, as in [makynge,] [[makynge KS] makyng ME; mankynde PG.] Is most yliche þe · in wit and in werkes, [Is EITKMS] His P. yliche] i-lik M; lyk T. þe] þo K; T om. in (1)] of IMKT; S om. wit] witt P; wordes E. in (2)] of IMKST. werkes] werkus boþe S.] Whi he ne loueþ þy lore · and lyueþ as þow techest?" [

193—195. I has—

And þerfore merueileth me · for man is most yliche þe

Of wille and of werkes · why he ne loueth þy lore;

T has the same, except lyk for yliche þe, and wyt for wille.

] [ne] S om. lyueþ—techest] leueþ þi techyng M.] And reson aresonede me · and seide, "recche þe neuere [A page 188] Whi ich suffre oþer nat suffre:"— · "certes," ich seide, [ich (2)] he MIKT; but ich seems quite right.] "Ech a seg for hym-self · salamon ous techeþ;

De re que te non molestat, noli certare."

[seg] man M. noli] nolite KT; noli te I.] Line 198 "Ho suffreþ more þan God?" quaþ he · "no gome, as ich leyue! [suffreþ] suffred S.] He myght a-mende in a mynt-while · al þat amys stondes; [a] K om. mynt] so PET; mynte IS; myn K; myte M.] Line 200 Ac he suffreþ, in ensaumple · þat we sholde alle suffren. [alle suffren] soffren alle I; suffre alle T.] Ys no vertue so feyr · of value ne of profit, [of (1)] ne of IT. of—profit] ne of profit neuer þe mo S. of (2)] I om.] As ys suffrance souereynliche · so hit be for godes loue. [As] So IKT.] And so witnesseþ þe wyse · and wysseþ þe frenshe, [witnesseþ] wittnesseþ P. þe (1)] wel T; IK om. wysseþ] wisse S.] Line 204 Bele uertue est suffraunce · mal dire est petite ueniaunce; [petite] petit MT; pety K.] Bien dire e bien suffrir · fait ly suffrable a bien uenir. [suffrir] suffrier I; soffreire K; suffrer PTMEG; but suffrir seems the best form. ly] luy IKT; le M. uenir IT] venier M; veneir K; uener PEG.]

For-þi," quaþ reson, "ich rede the · rewele þi tonge euere; [For-þi] For-whi M. the rewele] þow reule I.] And er þow lakke eny lyf · loke ho is to preise. [ho] who-so K.] Line 208 For is no creature vnder cryst · þat can hym-selue make; [is no] y not S. creature] curatour T (wrongly).] And yf cristene creatures · couthen make hem-selue, [And yf] For and M; And K. cristene creatures] creatures cristene IT.] Eche lede wolde be lacles · leyf þow non oþere! [Eche] Eche a MK; Ech a I; Iche a T. wolde] wolle S. lede—lacles] wolde lede lackes (sic) E.] Man was mad of suche matere · he may nat wel a-sterte [A page 189] [suche] suche a KT.] That som tymes hym tit · to folwen hus kynde; [tymes] time MT. tit] betyt I; ne betit T; tid E.] Line 213 Caton a-cordeþ her-with · nemo sine crimine uiuit." [her-with] þer-wiþ MK; kyndely þerwiþ T.] Tho cauhte ich colour a-non · and comsed to be ashamed, [ich] y a S.] And awaked þer-wiþ; · wo was me þenne, [wo] and wo I.] Line 216 That ich ne hadde ymet more · so murye as ich slepte, [ymet] met KT; mete S.] And sayde a-non to my-self · "slepynge, ich hadde grace [ich hadde] hadde y ST; had i I.] To wite what dowel ys · ac wakynge neuere!" And þenne was þer a wiȝt · what he was ich nuste:— [wiȝt EI] wiȝht K; withg M; wiȝ T; whiȝt P; so in l. 221. nuste] nyste IT; ne wiste M.] "What ys dowel?" quaþ þat wiȝt · "y-wys, syre," ich seyde, [What] Þat M. ich] he MK (wrongly).] Line 221 "To see muche and suffren al · certes, syre, ys dowel." [syre] þat S; IT om.] "Haddest þow suffred," he seide · "slepyng þo þow were, [suffred] suffrede P; i-suffred M. þo] þaw M.] Þow sholdest haue knowe þat cleregye can · and more conceyued þorwe reson. [knowe] i-knowe M. and—þorwe] þat conseyued more þan I; & conceyued more þourȝ KT.] Line 224

Line 224 For reson wolde haue reherced to þe · ryght as cleregie seide; [A page 190] [M omits. to] IKT omit.] Ac for þyn entermetyng · her art þow for-sake:

Philosophus fuisses, si tacuisses; et alibi: Locutum me aliquando penituit, tacuisse nunquam.

[

Ac] T om. her] þer E. art MKST] ert PE. art þow] artow I. S has — Si tacuisses, philosophus fuisses; Me aliquando locutum fuisse penituit, siluisse nunquam. me] est (wrongly; for esse) M.

OBS. One leaf lost in G, down to xv. 40.

] Adam, whiles he spak nat · hadde paradys at wylle; [whiles] þe whiles IT; while M. nat] nout M. at] att P.] Ac whanne he mamelede a-boute mete · and musede for to knowe [whanne] wanne P. mame|lede] momelede S. and] he T. for] T om.] Line 228 The wisdome and þe wit of God · he was putte out of blisse. [wit] witt P.] Ryght so ferde reson by þe · for þi rude speche, [ferde] fariþ T. rude] proude M.] And for þow woldest wyte why · of resones pryuete. [woldest wyte] wost ywite (sic) E. of—pryuete] resones preuede (sic) I; resoun is preuyte T.] For pruyde and presompcion · of þy parfit lyuynge [For] IT om. and] or IT.] Line 232 Reson refusede þe · and wolde nat reste with the, [wolde] wul S.] Ne cleregie of hus connynge · kepeþ þe nat shewe. [hus] E om. þe] I om. nat] not to T.] For shal neuere, er shame come · a shrewe wel be chasted; [wel] K om. chasted] ychasted EK. be chasted] chaste IT.] For let a dronken daffe · in a diche falle, [diche] dike I.] Line 236 Let hym lygge, lok nat [on] hym · til hym luste aryse; [Let MKST] Late I; Leet P. [on IMKST] in PE. luste] liste ET; luste to M; lust to IS. aryse] rise I.] And þauh reson rebuke hym þenne · reccheþ he neuere, [And] For IMKST. rebuke IMKST] rebuky P. he] ȝe S.] Of clergie ne of kynde witt · counteþ he nat a russhe; [Of] Ne of IT. ne] & E. counteþ] acounteþ MS. he] I om. russhe] rische EKS; ruyssche M; ressche I; risshe T.]

To blame hym oþer to bete hym þenne · ich halde hit bote synne. [A page 191] [oþer] K om. hym (2)] M om. halde] ne holde T. bote] but a MS.] Line 240 Ac when neede nymeþ hym vp · a-non he ys a-shamed, And þenne wot he wher-fore · and whi he is to blame." [Ac] And M; But T. a|shamed] a-shamede P.] "Ȝe seggeþ soþ, by my soule," quaþ ich · "ich haue seyen hit ofte, [seggeþ] seien M. soule] selfe I. seyen] Isey E; iseiȝe MT; y-seie K; sey S.] [Þer] smyt no þynge so smerte · ne smelleþ so foule [[Þer IMKST] Her PE; cf. B-text. ne] & T.] Line 244 As shame; þer he sheweþ hym · ech man shoneþ hus companye. Whi ȝe worden to me þus · was for ich aresonede reson." "Ȝe, certes," quaþ he, "þat is soþ"—· and shop hym to walke, And ich a-roos vp ryght with þat · and reuerencede hym fayre, [ich] S om. a-roos] a-ros MKS; arros (sic) I. vp ryght] ryght vp PT; but the rest transpose the words; cf. B-text.] Line 248 And yf hus wil were · he wolde hus name telle? [name] tale K. he—name] his name he wolde M.]

Hic explicit passus quartus de dowel. [IMT om. Hic] EKS om. de dowel] KS om.]