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 XV. (DO-WEL V.)

[TITLE. Incipit passus quintus PE; M prefixes Hic; MSK add de do|wel; Passus quartus de Dowel IT.] Incipit passus quintus [de dowel.]

"Ich am ymaginatif," quaþ he · "ydel was ich neuere, [A page 192] Þauh [ich sitte] by my-self · suche is my grace; [[ich sitte] i sitte MT; ich sitt E; I sete I; y sete KS; ysete P.] Ich haue yfolwed þe in faiþ · more þan fourty wynter, [yfolwed EM] yfolwede P; folwed IK; folwyd S; folewid T.] And wissede þe ful ofte · what dowel was to mene, Line 4 And counsailede þe for cristes sake · no creature to by-gyle, [counsailede] i-conseiled M; counsalede P. for] ofte for S.] Noþer to lye noþer to lacke · ne lere þat is defendid, [noþer] ne EIKT. ne] to I.] Ne to spille speche · as to speke an ydel, [Ne to] Noþur S. speche] speches E; no speche IT. as] as for ITK. an] on MS.] And no tyme to [tyne] · ne trewe þyng to teenen; [And] Ne IT. to (1)] T om. [tyne EMIKTS] tene P. trewe] trywe P. to (2)] IT om. teenen] tenen E; teone K; tene MITS.] Line 8 Lowe þe to lyue forth · in þe lawe of holychurche; [to] and to M; and ITK; for to S. lyue] þe lynde (!) E.] Þenne dost þow wel, with-oute drede · ho can do bet, no forse! [Þenne] And þanne IT. bet] bett PI.] Clerkes þat connen al · ich hope þei conne do bettere; Ac hit suffiseþ to be saued · and to be suche as ich tauhte. [saued] i-saued M. and] S om. to (2)] MITK om.] Line 12

Line 12 Ac for to louye and lene · and lyue wel and by-leyue, [and (1)] and to MSK; and for to I. and (2)] an P. lyue] liþe M. and by-leyue] I beleue I.] Ys ycallid caritas · kynde loue in english; [ycallid] y-callyd S; ycalid P; ycald EMITK. in] an I; on MKT.] And þat is dobet, yf eny suche be · a blessed man, þat helpeþ [suche] man schulde T.] [Þat] pees be and pacience · and poure with-oute de|faute;

Beatius est dare quam petere.

[[Þat IMKST] And PE. with|oute] out of T. petere] recipere M; accipere S.] Line 16 Ac catel and kynde witt · encombreþ ful menye; [A page 195] [encombreþ] accombreþ I; acombreþ KS; accumbriþ T.] Woo is hym þat hem weldeþ · bote he [hem] wel dis|peyne;

Scientes & non facientes uariis flagellis uapula|bunt.

[[hem IMKST] miswritten hym PE. dispeyne] dispene E; despene K; dispende MT; despende I. flagellis] penis M. Scientes, &c.] Scienti & non facienti variis flagellis vapulabitur IT.] Ac comunliche connynge · and vnkynde rychesse, As, loreles to be lordes · and lewede men techeres, Line 20 And holy churche horen help · auerous and coueytous, [auerous] & auerous S.] Droweþ vp dowel · and distruyeþ dobest. [Droweþ] so PKS; Draweþ E; Drieþ M; Dryueþ T. distruyeþ] de|stroyeþ IT; distrieþ vp M. dobest] do-bet T.] Ac grace is a gras þer-fore · to don hem eft growe; [T omits. eft] ofte K; oft to S.] Ac grace groweþ nat · til [goode wil] gynne reyne, [[goode wil K] goode wille E; goud wille S; better than god wol PI; god wole M; god wile T. The true reading is decided by l. 26. gynne] gunne E; ȝiue T; þat hit M; S om.] Line 24 And wokie þorwe good werkes · wikkede hertes. [wokie] wakye E; waky KS; but see B. xv. 332. good] godus S. wikkede] þise wykkide T.] Ac er suche a wil wexe · god hym-self worcheþ, [wil MKST] better than will wol P; wille wol E. god—worcheþ] worcheþ good silue I; werchiþ good ȝour seluen T.] And sent forþ seint espirit · to don loue sprynge; [A page 196]

Spiritus ubi uult spirat, et cetera.

[sent EKST] send PM. seint] þe seynt MKT. espirit] espiryȝt S. loue] þe lef T.]

So grace, with-oute grace · of god and of good werkes, [with-oute] with S. of (2)] also I; MKS om. werkes] werk M.] May nat bee, bee þow siker · þauh we bidde euere. [bee (1)] buryone S. bee þow] so T.] Line 29 Cleregie comeþ bote of siht · and kynde witt of sterres, [comeþ] come not S. witt of] with-out E.] As to be bore oþer bygete · in suche constellacion, [oþer] & T. bygete] biȝite E; gete S. suche] such a IKST.] That wit wexeþ þer-of · and oþere [wyrdes] boþe;

Uultus huius seculi sunt subiecti uultibus celestibus.

[[wyrdes] wirdes K; wyrdus S; wordes PEIT (wyrdes = destinies).] Line 32 So grace is a gyfte of god · and kynde witt a chaunce, [29—33. M omits.] And cleregye and connyng · of kynde wittes techynge. [and] a IST. techynge] tech|inges I.] And ȝut is cleregie to comende · for cristes loue, more [for] fore PM.] Þan eny connynge of kynde witt · bote cleregie hit ruwele. [ruwele] reule EIS; rule M.] Line 36 For moyses wittnesseþ þat god wrot · in stoon with hus fynger, [in stoon] and crist IT; in a ston S.] Lawe of loue oure lorde wrot · longe er crist were. [loue] I om.] And crist cam and confermede · and holy [kirke] made, [[kirke I] churche PEIS; chirche MT.] And in sond a sygne wrot · and seide to þe Iewes, [A page 197] [a] I om.] Line 40 'That seeþ hym-self synneles · cesse nat, ich hote, [G begins again. cesse] sese IST.] To stryke with stoon oþer with staf · this strompet to deþe'; [33—42. K omits.]

Qui uestrum sine peccato est [mittat in eam lapidem,] & cetera.

[strompet] strompett P. [mit|tat—lapidem] in E only.] For-thi ich consaile alle cristene · cleregie to honoure; [For-thi] For-whi M; For T. consaile] consaily P; but see l. 63. alle cristene] eche creature KG; ich a creature IT.] For as a man may nat seo · þat mysseþ hus eyen, [A page 198] Line 44 No more can no clerkes · bote [if] hit be of bookes. [clerkes] clere IT. [if IKG] ȝif EMT; PS om. be] come IT (which suits the alliteration better).]

And thauh men maden bokes · god was here maister, [And thauh] Þaw M; Al-þouȝ SKTG. And—bokes] I om.] And seynte spirit þe saumplarie · and seide what men sholde wryte. [And] And þe MSI. spirit] espirit MG; esprit I. þe saumplarie] heore ensamplarie M. what] þat M. men] me E.] And ryght as syht serueþ a man · to see þe hye strete, [G omits. And] But M. syht] a siȝht K. strete] weiȝe M.] Ryght so lereþ lettrure · lewede men to reson. [G omits. lereþ] lerneþ M.] Line 49 And as a blynde man in batayle · bereþ wepne to fyghte, [And] For G; I om.] And haþ non hap wiþ hus axe · hus enemy to hitte; [haþ] S om. enemy] enmy M.] No more can a kynde-witted man · bote clerkes hym teche, [clerkes] werkes I (wrongly).] Come for alle hus kynde wyttes · þorwe cristendom to be saued; [for] þoruȝ S. wyttes] witte I; wyt T. saued] sauede P; see l. 76.] The whiche is cofre of cristes tresour · and clerkes kepen þe keyes, [The] T om. The whiche] For hit G. is] IK om. cofre] þe cofre I; þe coffre T.] Line 54 To vnlouke hit at here lykynge · þe lewede and lerede to helpe, [vnlouke] vnloke ES; vnlokken I; louken T.] To ȝeue mercy for mysdedes · yf men wolde hit aske [G omits ll. 56—63. for] for his M. wolde] wolle I; wol K; wul S; wile T.] Buxumliche and benygneliche · and bydden hit of grace. Archa dei in þe olde lawe · leuites hit kepten; Hadde neuere lewede man leue · to legge honde [on] þat cheste, [to] T om. legge] leyen M; leyn T. [on IMKT] in PES; cf. B-text.] Bote hit were preeste oþer preestes sone · patriarck oþer prophete. [A page 199] [preeste] prest MK; preestes PEIST.] Line 60 Saul, for he sacrifisede · sorwe hym by-tydde, And hus sones for hus synnes · sorwe þey hadden; [þey hadden] hem bitidde IK (repeated from l. 61); hem betauȝte T.] [And alle lewede þat leyde hond þeron · loren lyf after.] [From I (which has hane for hond); also in KT. This seems but a fragment of the three lines in B. xii. 120—123, which are correctly pre|served in MS. R only; see B-text.]

For-þy ich consaille alle creatures · no clerk to dispise, [For-þy] For-whi M. clerk] clerkes I.] Ne sette short by here science · what so þei don hem|selue. Line 65 Take we here wordes a worth · for here wittnesses ben trewe, [a] at IT. wittnesses] witnesse TKG. trewe] trywe P.] And medle we nat moche with hem · to meeuen eny wratthe, Leste cheste chaufe ous so · and choppe ech man oþere; [chaufe—so] chaste vs so ES; cause vs to chide I; achaufe us so MG; chauufen vs in wo T. and—man] þat eche man choppe M.] And do we as dauid techeþ · for doute of godes veniaunce;

Nolite tangere cristos meos, &c.

[Here M repeats ll. 30—32, 64, 68, and then 69 again.] Line 69 For cleregie is cristes vikery · to conforte and to curen; [vikery] vicarie EG; vicary I; uicori M; vicorie KS; viccorie T. to (2)] KG om.] Boþe lered and lewed were lost · yf cleregie ne were. [were (1)] we S. lost] i-lost M.] Kynde-wittede men han · a cleregie by hem-selue; Of cloudes and of custumes · þei contreuede meny þynges, [of] G om. contreuede] con|treuen M; contreueþ S.] Line 73 And markede hit in here manere · and mused þer-on to knowe. [markede] makede M; markeþ S. þer-on] on E.] And of þe selcouþe[s] þat þei seyen · here sones þer-of þei tauhte, [þe] M om. selcouþes MEKSTG] silkouthes I; selcouþe P. seyen] sien M. tauhte] to teche E.] Þei helden hit for an hey science · here soteltes to knowe. [Þei] For þey IT; And G. S omits last half of l. 75, and first half of l. 76.] Line 76 Ac þorw here science soþliche · was neuere soule ysaued, Ne brouht þorwe here bokes · to blisse ne to ioye. [A page 200] [þorwe] be T.] For al here kynde knowyng · cam bote of diuerse sightes [al] MS om. cam] ne cam PE; but IMKSTG omit ne.]

Of briddes and [of] bestes · of blisse and of sorwe. [and (1)] or I. [of IMKSTG] PE om.] Line 80 Patriarkes and prophetes · reprouede here science, And seide here wordes and here wysdomes · ne was bote al folye; [seide] E om. and] ne I; for T; G om. wysdomes] wisdom MG. ne was] nas K; was IST. bote al] al but M. al] a IKSTG.] As to þe cleregie of cryst · þei countede hit bote a trufle;

Sapientia huius mundi stultitia est apud deum.

[As] And MG. countede hit] a-counten M. a] T om. trufle] trefele M; trifle STG. est] KT om.] For þe hye holygost · shall heuene to-cleue, [shall heuene] heuen schal IKTG; þe heuene schal S.] Line 84 And loue shal leepe out after · in-to þis lowe erthe, [out after] aftur out S. after] T om. þis] þe S.] And clannesse shal cacchen hit · and clerkes shullen hit fynde;

Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem, et cet.

[and] as E.] Hit spekeþ of riche men ryght nouht · ne of riche lordes, [Hit] He S. of] þer of IT. riche] grete S; þe T.] Bote of clennesse and of clerkes · and kepers of bestes;

Ibant magi ab oriente, et cetera.

[and (1)] I om. of (2)] ST om. After oriente I adds—De natiuitate domini.] Line 88 Yf eny frere were founde þere · ich ȝeue [þe] fyue shyllinges! [founde] i-fonde M. [þe IMS KTG] PE om.] Noþer in cote noþer in caytyf hous · was crist y-bore, [Noþer] Ne IT. cote] no cote T. noþer in] ne in K; ne IT. cay|tyf] caytifes IT. was crist] crist was KTG.] Bote in a burgeises hous · þe beste of alle þe toune. [burgeises] burgeys S; borgeis M; burgeis T. of] in M. alle] IKTG om.] To pastours and to poetes · aperede þe angel, [to] K om. þe] an G.] Line 92 And bad hem go to bedlehem · godes burþe to honoure, [bedlehem] bethleem MEK; bedleem I; bedlem STG.] And [songen] a song of solas · Gloria in excelsis deo! [A page 201] [[songen M] songe IT; song S; syngen PEK; singe G.] Riche men routten þo · and in here reste were, [routten] routte K; rutten M; rotte I; routen E; routed S; routide T; rutte G. in] K om.]

Þo hit shon to þe shepehurdes · a shewere of blisse. Clerkes knewen the comete · and comen with here presentes, Line 97 And dude here homage honorably · to hym þat was al|myghty. [here] hem K; G om. honor|ably] S om. to] & to K. was] is M.] Whi ich haue ytold þe al þis · ich took ful good hede, [þe] ȝow T; M om. ful] wel M.] How þow contrariedest cleregie · with crabbede wordes, Þat is, how lewede men and luþere · lyghtloker were saued [Þat is] E om. luþere] leþere M; liþere T. lyghtloker] miswritten lyghlokere P. lyghtloker were] were lithliker M. saued] sauede P; i|saued MEG; y-sauede I.] Line 101 Þan connynge clerkes · of kynde vnderstondyng; And þow seidest soþ of somme · ac ich seye in what manere. [þow] S om. ac] & E; but T. seye] so PS; seie K; say E; se IT; si M; wot G.] Take two stronge men · and in temese cast hem, [two STG] tuo I; to PEMK. temese] temse EM; themese IG; tempse T.] Line 104 And boþe naked as a nelde · here noþer heuyour þan oþer; [nelde] nedele IE; nedle M. here noþer] here none IKT; and non M; non of hem S. heuyour] heue|gour K; heuegur S; heuegere T.] That on haþ connynge · and can swimmen and dyuen, That oþer is lewede of þat labour · and lernede neuere swymme; [of] as of I. neuere swymme] hit neuere M.] Which is, trowest þow, of þo two · in temese most in drede?" [þow] IEKS om. þo] þe S. two STK] tuo I; to PEM. most—drede] is in moste drede I; is most in dred T (which omit is after Which).] Line 108 "He þat can nat swymme," ich seyde · "hit semeþ to alle wittes." [A page 202] [semeþ] semede I.] "Ryght so," quaþ þat renke · "reson hit sheweþ, [so] S om. þat] þe S; G om.] That he þat knoweþ cleregie · can sonnere a-ryse [sonnere] sennere M; sannur S.]

Out of synne, and be saf · þow he synegy ofte, [synegy] synege KG; synwe S; synny E; synne IMT.] Line 112 If hym lykeþ and lust · þan eny lewede sothliche. [lewede] lewed man M.] For yf þe clerk be connynge · and knoweþ what is synne, And hou contricion with-oute confession · conforteþ þe soule, As we seen in þe sauter · in psalmes on oþer tweye, [As] And S.] How contricion is comended · for hit caccheþ a-wey synne,

Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates, [et quorum tecta sunt peccata,] &c.:

[caccheþ MIKSG] cacchiþ T; chacheþ P; casteþ E; see B-text. [et—peccata] from E.] Line 117 And þat comforteþ ech [a] clerk · and keuereþ fro wanhope, [[a IKST] PEMG om. keuereþ EISTG] koeuereþ P; keouereþ K; couereþ him M.] In whiche flood þe feend · fondeþ man hardest, [hardest] fastest M.] Þer þe lewede lyeth stille · and lokeþ after lente, [lyeth] liif M; liþ T.] Line 120 And haþ no contricion · ar he come to shryfte; [G omits ll. 121—123. ar] er ST; or E: til M. he] þei T (wrong|ly).] And þan can he lytel telle · of on oþer of oþer, [And] M om. IT omit last half of the line.] Bote as his loresman lereþ hym · he by-leyueþ and troweþ; [lereþ hym] hym lereþ I. he] I om. T omits last half of the line.] And þat is after person oþer pareshe-preest · and par|aunter boþe beþ lewede [person oþer] his persoun oþer his I. beþ] ben M; IT om.] Line 124 For to lere lewede men · as luc bereþ wittnesse;

Si cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foueam cadent: [A page 203]

[For] IKTG om. lere] lerne M. luc] booke I. Si] Dum IMKTG; Cum S. ducit cecum] ceco ducatum prestet E. ambo—cadent] IKSTG om. cadent] cadunt EM.] For muche woo was hym marked · þat wade shal with þe lewede. [For muche] Ful mochel I. woo] S om.]

Wel may þe barn blesse · þat hym to book sette; That lyuynge after lettrure · sauede hym lyf and soule! [That] Þe S. lyuynge] lyuyng haþ M. sauede] saueþ M.] Dominus pars hereditatis mee · ys a murye verset, [mee] IM om. verset] versett P; uers M; vers T.] Line 129 Hit haþ ytake fro tyborne · twenty stronge þeeues; [Hit] For it T.] Þer lewede þeeues ben lollid vp · loke how þei been sauede! [lollid] i-lolled M. sauede] i-saued M.] Þe þeef þat hadde grace of god · a goode fryday, as þow toldest, [a] on MT; & (!) E. as—toldest] to be i-saued M.] Line 132 Was, for he ȝelde hym creaunt to crist · and hus grace askede. [ȝelde EIKG] ȝeld S; ȝuld P; ȝald T; held M; see l. 153. hym EIMKSTG] miswritten hem P. and] as M.] And god is ay gracious · to alle þat gredeþ to hym, [ay] euer S; G om. alle—hym] hem þat to him gredeþ M.] He wol no wickede man be lost · bote yf he wol hym-self;

Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed ut magis conuertatur & uiuat.

[He] And IT. wol] wile þat M. yf] KSG om. sed—uiuat] IKSTG om.] And þauh þe þeef hadde heuene · he hadde non hye blisse [And] Ac MKSG; But T. non hye] not so hy S.] Line 136 As seynt Iohan and oþer seyntes · þat han a-serued bettere. [Iohan] Ion EM. a-serued EMK] a-seruede P; serued ITG; de|seruyd S.] Ryght as som man ȝyueþ me mete · and set me a-mydde þe floor, [man] KG om. set MST] sett P; sette IKG; setteþ E. a-mydde] inmyddes M.] Ich haue mete more þan ynowe · ac nat with so muche worshup [nat with] with noȝt E. so] IT om.] As þo þat sytten at þe syd-table · oþer with þe souereynes in halle, [at þe] ate S; at K. table] bord M. þe] M om. souereynes] souereyntees I; souerayn T. in halle] S om.] Line 140

Line 140 Bote, as a beggere, bordles · by my-self vpon þe grounde. [A page 204] [G omits. a] T om. vpon] on MITS.] So hit ferde by þe felon · þat a goode fryday was saued; [a] on MT. saued] sauede P; i-saued M.] He [sit] noþer with seynt Iohan · with symon ne with Iude, [He] Hit E; A I. [sit IMK STG] sitte E; sat P. seynt] K om. Iohan] Ion M. with symon] ne with Symond I; ne wiþ symon T. ne with] ne wiþ seynt M; ne IT.] Ne with maydenes ne with Martris · ne with mylde wydewes, [Ne] M om.] Line 144 Bote as a soleyn by hym-self · and serued vp-on þe grounde. [a] S om. hym-self] silf S. and] I om. serued] seruede P; i-serued MI; yseruid T. vp-on] on T.] For he þat ys ones a þeef · is euere more in daunger, And as þe lawe lykeþ · to lyue oþer to deye,

De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu;

And for to seruen a seynt · and suche a þeef to-gederes, [for] so M. a (1)] swich a S.] Hit were no reson ne ryght · to rewarde boþe [y]liche. [yliche IKSEG] ylich T; i-like M; liche P.] Ryȝt as traianus, þe trewe knyght · tulde nat deep in helle, [Ryȝt] And right IT. tra|ianus] troianus SKTG; troianes IM; þe troianes (!) E. trewe] trywe P. tulde] so PEKSG; tillede M; telde IT.] Line 150 That oure lord ne hadde hym lyghtliche out · so leyueþ of þe þeef in heuene. [leyueþ] leueþ E; leue i MIKS. of þe] þat þe K; þat IT; of þat ES; of M. leyueþ—þeef] lyueþ þat þef T.] For he ys in the lowest heuene · yf oure byleyue beo trewe, [heuene] of heuene IT. trewe] trywe P.] And wel loseliche lolleþ þere · as by þe lawe of holy|churche;

Et [reddet] unicuique secundum opera sua.

[loseliche K] losliche P; lous|lich E; loslich S; lifliche I; loueliche MT. þe] M om. [reddet EIKMST] reddit PG. secundum] iuxta IMT.] Line 153 Ac whi þat [one] þeef vp-on þe croys · creaunt hym ȝelde [þat] þe S. [one I] o T; PEMSKG om. vp-on] on MT.] Raþer þan þat oþer · þauh þou woldest apose,

Alle þe clerkes vnder Crist · ne couþe þys asoile;

Quare placuit, quia uoluit, etc.

[couþe] shulde M. þys] it I.] Line 156 And so ich seye by þe · þat sekest after weyes, [A page 205] [þe] þi-self T. weyes] þe weyes I; þe wiȝes T.] How creatures [han] kynde witt · and clerkes comen to bokes, [[han IKG] hadde T; and PEMS. and] and how ITKG.] And how þe floures in þe fritth · comeþ to feyre hewes; [T omits. þe] þat M (twice). floures] foules KG.] Was neuere creature vnder cryst · þat knew wel þe bygynnynge [bygynnynge] gynnyng T.] Line 160 Bote kynde, þat contreeuede hit furst · of corteise wil. [hit] M om. furst] I om. of] of his IMT; or S. corteise ES] cortese K; curteis MI; korteis G; miswritten cortesie P; kynde T.] He tauhte þe tortle to trede · þe pokok to cauke, [pokok] pecok KTG.] And Adam and eue · and oþer bestes alle [oþer—alle] alle oþere bestes IT.] A cantel of kynde witt · here kynde to saue. Line 164 Of good and of wikke · kynde was þe ferste, He seih hit and suffrede hit · and seide hit bee sholde;

Quia ipse dixit, & facta sunt; ipse mandauit, & creata sunt.

[He] IKTG om. seih] si M. RUBRIC. Dixit et facta sunt IKSTG; M om.] Ac whi he wolde þat wikkede were · ich wene and ich leyue, [were] S om. and] as M. leuye] leue EIMTG; leoue K; be|leue S.] Was neuere man vpon molde · þat myghte hit aspye. Ac longe-lybbynge men · lyknede mennes lyuynge [A page 206] [lybbynge] lyuynge MST. mennes] menne K; men IS; manes M; menis T.] Line 169 To bryddes and to bestes · as here bokes telleþ, Þat the fayrest fowel · foulest engendreþ, [fowel] foule EIMKS; foul TG.] And feblest fowel of flicht is · þat [fleeþ] oþere swymmeþ. [feblest] þe febleste T. flicht] flight I; fliȝt T; fliȝht K; flith M; flyȝt G. [fleeþ IM] fleþ ET; fleuþ S; flucht P; fluȝht K; flyyt G.] Line 172 That is, þe pokok and þe popeiay · with here proude federes [pokok] pecok KTG; pookoc P. with] withe P.]

By-tokneþ ryght riche men · þat regnen here on erþe. [regnen—on] dwelleþ vpon S.] For porsewe a pocok · oþer a pohen to cacche, [For] To E.] And haue hem in haste · at þyn owene wil; [hem] hym S. in] in an I. owene] I om.] Line 176 For þei may nat fleo fer · ne ful hye noþer, [þei] he ne M. fer IMSTG] ferre E; feer K; fur P. ful] wel MG.] For here feþeres þat faire ben · to fle fer hem letteþ. [fer IMSTG] ferre E; feor K; feer P.] Hus leedene is vnloueliche · and lothliche hus caroigne; [leedene] leodene KE; ledene M; lethene I; Iudene S; leden T. vnloueliche] vncomelich S. loth|liche] lodli M. hus] is to S; ys his G.] Ac for hus peyntede [pennes] · þe pocok is honoured [A page 207] [[pennes IT] feþeres PEMSKG; but observe the alliteration; and cf. B. xii. 247. is honoured] miswritten his honourede P.] More þan for hus faire flesch · oþer for hus murye note. [murye] faire T. note] notus S.] Ryght so men reuerenceþ more þe ryche · for hus muche meeble [hus] here I; hure S. muche meeble] moebles I; meble T.] Line 182 Þan for þe kyn þat he cam of · oþer for hus kynde wittes. [þe] eny I; any T. kyn] kynde M. þat] IT om. for (2)] fore P.] Thus þe poete preiseþ · þe pocok for hus federes, [pocok] pecok ETG.] And þe riche for hus rentes · oþere rychesse in hus [schoppe]. [þe] S om. riche] riche man IT. for] fore P. rentes] rente MT. oþere] or for IST. [schoppe EMKSG] shoppe T; schoppes I; sheepe P.] Line 185 Þe larke, þat is a lasse fowel · is loueloker of lydene, [loueloker] loueliker M; loue|lokest I. lydene] ledene IEMSG; leodene K; ledon T.] And swettur of sauour · and swyfter of wynge. [wynge] wynges I.] To lowe-lyuynge men · þe larke is resembled, [resembled] y-semblid S.] Line 188 And to leelle and to lyf-holy · þat louen alle treuþe. [And] Al S. leelle] lowe M; leue T. to (2)] IMTG om.] Þus porfirie and plato · and poetes menye [porfirie] porphirie IS; pur|phirie M; porphorie T.] Lykneþ in here logyk · þe leeste fowel oute. [Lykneþ] Liknede M.] And wheþer hij be saf oþer nat saf · þe soþe wot nat clergie, [wheþer] weþer P; wher IKG. hij] hy E; þei M; he IKSTG. saf] sad M; saufe I; sauf T (twice). nat (2)] no S.] Line 192

Line 192 Ne of sortes, ne of salamon · no scripture can telle Wheþer þei be in helle oþer in heuene; · oþere aristotle þe wise. [

Wheþer] Weþer P. þei] hy S; þat þey I. helle—heuene] heuene or in helle SG.

After l. 194 S alone inserts these five lines—

Iob was a paynym · & plesede god a prys,

And aristele (sic) al-so · sewede þe same secte,

And lad ful holy lyf · aftur lawe of kynde,

Where-fore hit semeþ soþly · by sondry skylus to schewe

Þat he is saf as was Iob · I can not seye þe soþe.

] Ac god is so good, ich hope · sitthe he gaf hem wittes [sitthe] þat seþþe I; þat siþþe T. hem] him I.] To wissen ous weyes þer-with · þat wenen to be saued, [ous] vs IST; us M. weyes] wyes KT. þer-with] G om. saued] sauede P; i-saued MG.] And þe bettere for here bookes— · to bidden we been holde [holde] y-holde IG; i-holde M.] Line 197 Þat God for hus grace · gyue here saules reste; [Þat] To G. for] of M. gyue MS] ȝyue K; ȝeue I; ȝiue T; gyf P (which is bad grammar). M adds—nota argumentum pro infidelibus.] For lettred men were but lewede men ȝut · ne were þe lore of þo clerkes." [were (1)] ne were M; nere E. but] as IKTG. men (2)] T om. ȝut] ȝet T; ȝit I; E om. þe] STG om. þo] þe IE. þo clerkes] bokes KG; here bokis T. ne—clerkes] ȝif þat þei ne were M.] "Alle þese clerkes," quaþ ich þo · "þat on crist by|leyuen, [A page 208] [þese] þeese P; þe T. by|leyuen] leuen ITG; lyuen S; leouen K.] Line 200 Seggen in here sarmons · þat noþer sarrasyns ne Iewes [in] witoute (!) I.] With-oute baptisme, as by here bokes · beeþ nat ysaued." [beeþ] ne beþ T.] "Contra," quaþ ymaginatif þo · and comsed to loure,

And seide, "uix saluabitur iustus in die iudicii;

Ergo saluabitur," quaþ he · and seide no more latyn. [seide] spac M.] "Traianus was a trewe knyght · and took neuere crystendome, [Traianus] Troianus MEKSTG; Troianes I. trewe] triwe P; but see l. 211.] Line 205 And he is saf, seith þe bok · and his soule in heuene. [his] is P.]

Ther is follyng of font · and follyng [in] blod-shedynge, [Ther] And þer I; Ac þer KG; But þere T. follyng] fullyng M (twice). of] in S. [in IMKSETG] of P; see B-text.] And þorw fuyr is follyng · and al is ferm by-leyue;

Aduenit ignis diuinus, non comburens sed illuminans.

[fuyr] fire I; fure E; feor M. follyng] fullyng EMI; folewyng T. is] T om. ferm] heren (!) E.] Ac treuthe, þat trespassede neuere · ne transuersede aȝens þe lawe, [transuersede] trauerssede M; trauersed I. þe] his I.] Line 209 Bote lyuede as [his] lawe tauhte · and leyue[þ] þer be no bettere, [lyuede IT] leuede MG; leued E; leouede K; lyueþ S; miswritten leyuede P; (but lyuede = lived here; cf. B-text.) [his IMKSG] þe ET; P om. leyueþ] leueþ MIS; leuiþ T; leoueþ K; leuede G. miswritten leyue P; leue E.] And yf þer were, he wolde · and in suche a wil deyeþ— [G omits.] [he] a I. wolde] so in all but T; not as in B-text; T has—wolde leue.] Wolde neuere trewe god · bote trewe treuthe were a-lowed. [G omits.] [Wolde] Ne wolde ITK. a|lowed] a-lowede P.] Line 212 And where hit worth oþer nat worth · þe by-leyue is gret of treuthe, [oþer] were it T. nat worth] worþe nat I; worth noȝht K. by|leyue] bileue EMISG; beleue T.] And hope hongeþ ay þer-on · to haue þat treuthe deserueþ; [A page 209]

Quia super pauca fidelis fuisti, supra multa te constituam:

[hongeþ ay] ay honguþ S; chaungeþ ay K. deserueþ] desireþ M. fidelis fuisti] fuisti fidelis IMSTG. supra, &c.] I om.] And þat is loue and large huyre · yf the lord be trewe, [huyre] hure I. yf—trewe] of þe lord of truþe M.] And cortesie more þan couenant was · what so clerkes carpen; [cortesie] a cortesie KS; a curtasie M; a curteisie T.] Line 216 For al worth as god wole"— · and þer-with he vanshede. [vanshede] vansched E; vanys|sched I; vanesschede MS; vanisshide T; vanyschede K.]

Hic explicit passus quintus de dowel. [So PG; IM omit. Hic] EKS om. de dowel] KS om.]