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.)

DISTINCTIO PAUPERTATIS.

Pouerte is þe firste poynte · þat prude most hateþ; [A page 251] 'Thanne is pouerte good,' quaþ good skyle · 'þauh hit greue a lytel, [quaþ] be T. quaþ—skyle] & goostliche F.] Al þat may putten of pruyde · in place þer he regneþ.'

Remocio curarum:—

For selde sitt pouerte · þe sothe to declare; [For] TG om. selde EG] seelde F; seilde P; Shulde (wrongly) T. sitt] sitte E; sitteth F; sette (wrongly) T; sit G.] Line 124 As a Iustice to Iuge men · men enioyneþ þer-to no poure, [G omits. As a] Or as T. men (2)] me T. enioyneþ þerto] ioyn|eth so F.] Ne to be a mayre ouere men · ne Mynistre vnder kynges. [a] T om.] Selde is þe poure [yput] · to punysshe eny peuple, [Selde ETG] Seilde P; Ful seelde F. þe] any T. [yput TG] I-put F; pitt P; potte E; but see l. 50.]

Ergo pouerte and poure men · parfournen þe comaunde|ment,

Nolite iudicare quemquam.

Possessio sine calumpnia:—

Line 128 Selde is þe poure ryght riche · bote of hus [riȝtful] heritage, [Selde ETG] Seelde F; Seilde P. ryght] F om. [riȝtful FT] ryght PE; G om.; cf. B-text.] He wynneþ nat with wyghtes fals · ne with vnseled mesures, [G omits. He wynneþ] Wyn|neþ he T. with] whit P (twice). wyghtes] whyghtes P; wiȝtes EF; wyttes (wrongly) T. vnseled EF] vnselide P.] Ne borweþ of his neyghebore · bote þat he may wel paye, [borweþ] borowe E. his] is P.] And lyghtly men leneþ to fewe men · and men [wene] hym poure. [lyghtly] miswritten lyghly P. lyghtly—to] selde me leneþ G; me leniþ liȝtly T. And—men (2)] Nat liȝtly me leeneth to a man F. to] bot to E. and] ȝif F. men (3)] me TG. [wene EFTG] P om. hym] hem EG; he be F.] Line 132 The feorthe is a fortune · þat florisshiþ þe soule [is] it is FG.] With sobrete [from] alle synnes · and al-so ȝut more; [G omits. With] Whit P. [from FT] aȝen E; whith P; cf. B-text.] Hit defendeth þe flessh · fro folyes ful menye: [defendeth FET] defendiþ G; defendit P. ful] riȝt FG.] And a collateral confort · crystes owen sonde;

Donum dei. [A page 252]

[And] TG om. confort] com|fort is F.] Line 136 Ȝut hit is moder of myȝt · and of mannes helthe, [Ȝut] & ȝit F. hit] T om. myȝt EFG] miȝt; myȝth P. helthe] hele T; help G.] And Frende in alle fondynges · and of foule vueles leche;

Sanitatis mater.

[in] of (wrongly) T. and] F om. vueles] yueles E; eueles FTG.] The syxte, hit is a paþ of pees · ȝe, þorw þe pas of [altoun] [pas] paies T. [altoun EF] aueltone T; aultone G; haultone P.] Line 139 Pouerte myghte passe · with-oute peril of robbynge. [Pouerte myghte] For þere myȝt pouert (see l. 141) F. with] whit P.]

For þer as pouerte passeþ · pees folweþ commenliche, [commenliche] comunly T. pees—commenliche] folweth pees oft tyme F.] And euere þe lasse þat eny lyf ledeþ · the lyghter hus herte is þere, [þat eny] a F. lyf] G om. eny—ledeþ] on lede T.] As he þat wot neuere with wham · in [nyghtes] to mete;

Paupertas est sine solicitudine semita: Seneca.

[G omits. neuere] nere T. with] whit P. in] on T. [nyghtes] nyȝtes E; niȝtes tyme T; miȝti tyme (sic) F; myghtes P. Paupertas est] F om. sine] absque EFG. solicitu|dine] solitudine T. Seneca] F om.] The seueþe, hit is a welle of wysedome · and fewe wordes sheweþ, [The seueþe] The seuenethe F; It semiþ T. hit] F om. welle EFTG] weelle P.] Line 144 For lordes aloweþ hym lytel · oþer leyth ere to hus reisone; [leyth] leiþ E; leyen F; lig|geþ T.] He tempreþ hus tonge to-treuthe-ward · þat no tresour coueyteþ;

Sapiencie temperatrix.

[hus] þe T. ward] G om. Sa|piencie, &c.] ETG om.] The eyhteþe, hit is a leel labour · and loþ to take more [eyhteþe] eiȝte T; oþer G. hit] EG om.] Than he may sothliche deserue · in somer oþer in wynter; Line 148 And þauh he chaffare, he chargeþ no los · mowe he charite wynne;

Negocium sine dampno.

[los] lost E.] Þe nyethe, hit is swete to soules · [is] no suger swettere; [Þe] Ne (!) T. nyeþe] nyþe EF; neiþe T. Þe—hit] Anoþer G. swete] so swete F. soules] soule F. [is T] þer is F; PEG om.] For pacience is hus paneter · and payn to pouerte fyndeth, [hus] TG om. paneter] panter EFT; paniter G. payn—pouerte] pouert payn he T; pouerte payn G.] And sobrete ȝeueþ here swete drynke · and solaceþ here in alle angres. [here (1)] heere P; here EF; hire T. drynke] drynkus F. here (2)] heere P; hire T; hem E; F om. alle angres] angre G.] Line 152

Line 152 Thus leryde me a lerede man · for oure lordes loue, seint austyn, [A page 253] That pure pouerte and pacience · was a louh lyuynge in erthe, [lyuynge] G om. in] on FT.] A blessid lyf with-oute busynesse · bote oneliche for þe soule;

Absque solicitudine felicitas.

[with] whit P. Absque solici|tudine] Solitudine T.] Line 155 Now god þat al þynge gyueþ · graunte hus saule reste, [þynge] T om. G places god after saule.] That wrot þis to wisse men · what pouerte was to mene!" [þis] þus EG.] Thenne hadde actyf a ledere · þat heyhte liberum arbitrium, [A page 254] [ledere EFTG] apparently lodere T. heyhte] hiȝte EFT; het G. liberum arbitrium] arbitrium liberum E.] That knewe conscience ful wel · and clergie boþe; [That] He TFG.] "He þat haþ londe and lordshep," quaþ he · "at the laste ende [Here M begins again. He] Þe M. londe] lonnde P. londe and] G om. lordshep] lordschepe boþe M.] Line 160 Shal be pourest of power · at hus partyng hennes." [hennes] elles G.] Thenne ich wondrede what he was · this Liberum Arbitrium, [ich] T om. wondrede] hadde wondir T. this] miswritten thees P; þat T.] And prayede pacience · þat ich a-pose hym moste. [prayede] preide to F. ich] M om. T is corrupt here.] And [he] suffrede me and seide · "assay hus oþer name." [[he MFTG] PE om. me] F om.] "Leue liberum arbitrium," quaþ ich · "of what londe ar ye? Line 165 Ȝif þow be cristes creature · for cristes loue, tel me." [A page 255] [Ȝif] And ȝif T. tel me] telle hit me E; me telleþ M.] "Ich am cristes creature," quaþ he · "and cristine in menye place, [place] so PTFG; a place E; places M.] And in cristes court yknowe · and of hus kynne a partye; [yknowe] ich know (wrongly) E; Iknowe wel T.]

Is noþer peter þe porter · ne paul with his fauchon, [Is] Nis M. þe] ne (!) E. with] whit P. his] þe T.] That wolde defende me heuene dore · dynge ich neuere so late. [wolde] wole MG; wile T. dore] dere M.] Line 170 At myd-nyȝt, at mydday · my uoise is so yknowe, [G omits. nyȝt EF] niȝt T; nyth M; nyȝth P. at] ne at M. uoise] vois EFT; voys M.] Þat eche creature þat loueþ criste · welcomeþ me faire." [G omits. welcomeþ] wol|comeþ P.] "Wher-of serue ȝe?" ich seide · "syre liberum arbi|trium?" Line 173 "Of som tyme to fyghte," quaþ he · "falsnesse to de|struye, [Of] MF om. he] y G; he þo F.] And som tyme to suffre · boþe sorwe and teene, [suffre] suffre also F. sorwe—teene] tene & sorewe T.] Layke oþer leue · at my lykynge chese, [G omits. leue] bi-leue M. F has—Where I wol laike or leue · at my likyng I chese.] Line 176 To do wel oþer wikke · a wil with a reyson, [wikke T] wicke EM; wike P; wik F; wikkede G. a wil] he wile (wrongly) T.] And may nat be with-oute a body · to bere me wher hym lykeþ." [wher—lykeþ] aboute F. hym] me G.] "Thenne is þat body bettere þan þow," quaþ ich · "nay," quaþ he, "no betere; [bettere (1)] bet MF.] Bote as a wode were a fure · þenne worchen [þei] boþe, [a (1)] F om. a fure] on fuyre M; in fire T. [þei M] PEFTG omit; but it makes the sense clear.] And ayþer is oþeres heete · and also of a wil; [heete] help M. a] on M; o EFG; T om.] Line 181 And so is man þat haþ hus mynde · myd liberum arbitrium. [myd] myþ T; with F; wiþ G.] And þe whyle ich quyke þe cors · cald am ich anima; [F omits. þe whyle] while MG; whiles T; þe wyle P. quyke] am quyk in T. cors TG] corps M; cours P. cald—ich] I am cald T.] And whenne ich wilne oþer wolde · animus ich hyhte, [whenne] wenne P. oþer] and MTG. hyhte] hiȝte MF; hatte T. animus—hyhte] cald am y Animus G.]

And for þat ich can and knowe · cald ich am 'mannys þouht;' [M omits. And] F om. knowe] eke knowe F. cald—am] I cald am in (sic) T. mannys] F om.] Line 185 And whan ich make mone to god · memoria ich hatte; [whan] whanne þat T. mone] so PEMTG; moone F. hatte] so PEMFTG (not as in l. 184).] And when ich deme domes · and do as treuthe techeþ, [G omits this and l. 190. techeþ] telliþ T.] Then is racio my ryhte name · 'reson' in englissh; [in] on T.] And whenne ich fele þat folke telleþ · my furste name is sensus, [whenne] wenne P. þat] what F. my—is] þan am i F.] Line 189 And þat is witte and wisedome · the welle of alle craftes; And when ich chalange oþer nat chalange · chepe oþer refuse, [nat chalange] chalenge nout MFG. chepe] so PEMFG; chese M.] Þanne am ich conscientia cald · godes clerk and hus notarie; [am ich] i am M. con|scientia] concience MT.] Line 192 And when ich wol do oþer nat do · goode dedes oþer ille, [wol] wel M; E om. nat] wol noȝt E. dedes] dede T.] Then am ich liberum arbitrium · as lettrede men tellen; [lettrede] lered MG. tellen] me tellith FT.] And when ich loue leelly · oure lord and alle oþere, [A page 256] [And] E om.] Then is 'leel loue' my name · in latyn þat is amor; [þat] hit M. in—is] & in latyn T.] And when ich flee fro þe body · and feye leue þe caroygne, [body] flesch F. feye] fei M; vey E. feye leue] fayle G. þe (2)] my M.] Line 197 Then am ich a spirit specheles · and spiritus þenne ich hote. [a] FG om. hote] hoote F (not as in ll. 184, 186).] Austyn and ysidorus · ayþer of hem bothe [ayþer] eiþer oþer T.] Nempnede me þis to name · þow now myght cheese [me] G om. þis] þus F. name] names G. þow now] now þow MG; & now þou F.]

How þow coueitest to calle me · now knowest þow alle myne names.

Anima pro diuersis actionibus diuersa nomina sortitur; dum uiuificat corpus, anima est. dum uult, animus est; dum recolit, memoria est; dum iudicat, racio est; dum sentit, sensus est; dum amat, amor est; dum de|clinat a malo ad bonum, liberum arbitrium est; dum negat uel consentit, consciencia est; dum spirat, spiritus est."

[now] MG om. knowest þow] þow knowest MTG. sortitur] uo|catur M. a malo] de malo T.] Line 201 "Ȝe ben as a bischop," quaþ ich · al bordynge þat tyme, [ben] baw (!) M. bischop EF] bisshop TG; busshop M; badly spelt bihsshep P. bordynge] louryng T; bourdyng F.] "For bischopes blessed · thei bereþ meny names, [bischopes E] bisshopes GT; bischops F; busshopes M; badly spelt bihsshopes P. blessed] i-blessed MG; þat beth blessed F. þei] G om.] Presul and pontifex · and metropolitanus, [Presul] As presul F.] Line 204 And oþer names an hepe · episcopus and pastor." [an] a gret F.] "That is soth," he seide · "now ich seo þy wil [seide] seide þo · & F.] How þow woldest know and conne · þe cause of alle here names, [How] T om. cause] clause T. here] M om.] And of myne, yf þow myghtest · me þynkeþ by þy speche!" [G omits.] Line 208 "Ȝe, syre," ich seyde, "by so · þat no man were a-greued, [a-greued] a-greuede P.] Alle þe science vnder sonne · and alle sotile craftes [science] sciences MG. alle] alle þe T.] Ich wolde ich knewe and couthe · kyndeliche in myn herte." [A page 257] [wolde] wold þat F. and] or F. kyndeliche] soþlich G.] "Thanne art þow inparfyt," quaþ he · "and on of prydes knyghtes; [art MFT] ert PEG. inpar|fyt GT] inparfijt M; inparfyȝt P; vnparfit E; imparfit F.] Line 212

Line 212 For suche a luste and lykynge · lucifer fel fro heuene;

Ponam pedem meum in aquilone, & ero similis altissimo.

[luste E] lust MFT; louste P. and] & a T; of F. fel] miswritten feel P; ful M. & ero, &c.] MTG om.] Hit were a-geyn kynde," quaþ he · "and alle kynne resoun [resoun EFT] reson MG; rei|soune P.] That eny creature sholde conne al · excepte cryst one. [conne] kunne E; cunne FMG. one] al oone F.] Aȝene alle suche salamon spekeþ · and dispiseþ here wittes, And seith,

sicut qui mel comedit multum, non ei bonum est: Sic qui scrutator est magestatis, opprimatur a gloria.

[G omits. Aȝene] Aȝens ET; A-ȝe F. alle] T om. dispiseþ] spiceth F. And seith] For seiþ sala|mon þus G. sicut—est] G om. mel—non MFT] comedit multum mel & P; so also E, omitting mel. est] put before ei in MF; T om. oppri|matur] so in all; read opprimetur. a gloria] &c. M.] Line 216 To englissh-men this is to [mene] · þat mowen speke and huyre, [G omits. [mene MFT] mete PE. huyre] hure E; here MT; heere F.] The man þat muche hony eet · his mawe hit engleymeþ: [G omits. The] Þat T. The—þat] Þat ho so F. eet] so PM; eteþ E; ette F. hony eet] honieþ (!) T. his] is P. hit engleymeþ] is engleymed E.] The wyttiour that eny wight is · bote yf he worche þer-after, [wyttiour] whyttiour P; with|tiere M. wight] whight P; withg (sic) M; wit G; wy T. worche] do M.] The biterour he shal a-bygge · bote yf he [wel] worche; [biterour] bitturlokur F. [wel M] wol PETG; but this is too close to l. 219. bote—worche] whan he is brouȝt in graue F (a remarkable variation).] Beatus, seith seynt bernard · qui scripturas legit, [seith] quod M.] Line 221 Et uerba uertit in opera · emforth his power. [Et] Vt M. emforþ] euene|forþ M.] Couetise to conne · and to knowe science[s] Putte oute of paradys · adam and eue; [ll. 223-224.One line in T, omitting and to knowe. conne] cunne ME. [sciences EMTFG] science P; see l. 226.] Line 224

Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis [gloria] spoliauit.

[Putte EM] Pute P; Put FTG. adam] boþe adam F. [gloria MFT] gloriam PEG. spoliauit] expoliauit E.] Line 224 And ryght so as hony · is vuel to defie, [so] TG om. vuel] yuel EG; euel MFT.] Line 225 Ryght so sothly sciences · swelleþ in a mannes saule, [Ryght—sothly] Soothli riȝt so F. sothly sciences] litel science T. sciences] science G. in] MFTG om.] And doþ hym to be deynous · and deme þat beth nat lerede; [G omits. And doþ] Don M. hym] hem T.] Non plus sapere · seide þe wyse, [A page 258] [Non] For non F.] Line 228 Quam oportet sapere · lest synne of pruyde wexe. [synne—pruyde] pruyde of synne E; pride & synne F. of pruyde] G om.] Freres fele sithes · to þe folke þat þei prechen [Freres] For fals frerus F. sithes] tymes T. þe] F om. folke] peple G. þat] þere T.] Meuen motifs meny tymes · Insolibles and fallaces, [motifs] motynges M. tymes] time MF. meny tymes] G om. In|solibles] insollible F; & solibles (!) E. fallaces] falaces E; fallas MF; infallaes (!) T.] That boþe lered and lewed · of here by-leyue douten; [lewed] eke lewed F. douten] doten T.] To teche þe ten commaundemens · were ten sithe bettere, [were] where P. were—sithe] ten siþe wer it F; ton (sic) siþe were T; ten siþe were G.] And how [þat] folke folyliche · here fif wittes myspenden, [[þat EMFTG] þe P; cf. B-text. myspenden] dispenden M; spenden F.] Line 234 As wel freres as oþer folk · foliliche spenden [foliliche ME] folliliche PG (but see last line); folliche T. foli|liche spenden] & feel of hem wurse F; but cf. B-text. spenden] lyuen M; worchen G.] In housyng and in helyynge · in hih cleregie shew|ynge, [and] M om. in helyynge] in heliyngge M; in hellynge E; in he|lyng F; helynge G; T om. in (2)] & E. hih] hi M; hy F; hey E; heiȝ T; hyȝ G. cleregie shewynge] herte of pride F.] More for pomp and prude · as þe peuple wot wel [and] & for E. and prude] of þat place F. peuple] peple MF; pepe (!) E.] That ich lye nat, loo · for lordes þei plesen, [F omits. lye] leiȝe T. þei] ȝe T. plesen EM] plese T; plesyn P.] Line 238 And reuerenceþ þe ryche · þe rather for here seluer, [F omits. lye] leiȝe T. þei] ȝe T. plesen EM] plese T; plesyn P.]

Aȝens þe counsail of cryst · as holy cleregye witnesseþ; [A page 259] [Aȝens] Ageyn M; Aȝe F. cleregye] chirche M; writ F. wit|nesseþ E] whittnesseþ P; telleth F. Ne] Non M.]

Ne sitis acceptores personarum.

[237—240. G omits.] Line 240 Loo, what holy wryt wyttnesseþ · of wikked techeres; [what] wiþ (!) T. holy—wytt|nesseþ] witnesseth holy writ F. techeres] tecches M.] As holyness and honeste · out of holy churche [honeste EMFTG] miswritten honestete P.] Spryngeþ and spredeþ · and enspireþ þe peuple Þorgh parfit preest-hood · and prelates of holichurche, [parfit] T om.] Ryght so out of holychurche · al vuel spredeþ, [G omits. al] as (!) E. vuel] yuel E; euel MFT.] Line 245 Ther inparfit preest-hod is · prechours and techours. [G omits. Ther EMFT] Theer P; so also in ll. 248, 250. inparfit] in (!) T. techours] oþure F.] And seo hit by ensample · of trees in somer tyme, [And—by] Tak þou G. of] on MG. in] a G. of—tyme] in somer tyme on tres T.] Ther somme bowes bereþ leues · and somme bereþ none; Line 248 The bowes þat bereþ nat · and beeþ nat grene-leuede, [G omits. The] Þo F. nat] non E. leuede] i-leued MT.] Ther is a myschif in þe more · of suche manere stockes. [G omits.] Ryght so persones and preestes · and prechers of holy churche [persones and] in persones & in E.] Ys þe rote of [þe] ryght feithe · to reuwele þe peuple; [Ys] so PETG (probably by intention); Ben M; Beth F. [þe MTF] PEG om. ryght] ryghit P. reuwele] reule ET; rule MFG.] Ac þer þe rote is roten · reson wot þe sothe, Line 253 Shal neuere floure ne frut wexe · ne fair leef be grene. [A page 260] [be] ne F; be and M.] For wolde [ȝe] letteride leue · the lecherie of cloþinge, [[ȝe MT] þe (wrongly) PEG; F om. the—of] lecherie · and ȝoure gai M.] And be courteis and kynde · of holy[kirke] goodes, [E omits. [kirke T] churche PG; chirches M; churches F.] Parte [with the] poure · and ȝoure pruyde leue, [G omits. Parte] To parte F. [with the EMFT] miswritten whithe P.] Line 257 And þerto trewe of ȝoure tonge · and of ȝoure tail also, [þerto] G om. trewe] trywe P. ȝoure] here G (twice). tail] so in all MSS; but F turns tail also into tailasse.]

And haten harlotrie · [and] to vnderfonge þe tyþes [And] & also G. haten] hate al F. [and MFTG] PE om. to] G om. þe] no M; G om.] Of vserers and of hores · and of al vuel wynnynges, [and (1)] & eke F; TG om. and (2)] T om. of (3)] MEG om. al] F om. vuel] euele MF; euile T; vnclene E.] Loth were lewede men · bote þei ȝoure lore folweden, [were] were þe F. lore] wil G.] And a-menden hem of here mysdedes · more for ȝoure ensamples [G omits. amenden hem] amendit T. more] þe more F.] Line 262 Þan for to preche and preuen hit nat; · ypocrisie hit semeþ! Ypocrisie is a braunche of pruyde · and most among clerkes, Line 264 And [is] ylikned in latyn · to a lothliche dounghep, [[is MFT] PEG om. in] as in F. a] E om. lothliche] lodli M.] That were by-snywe al with snow · and snakes with|ynne, [G omits. bysnywe] so PE; bisnewe F; besnewid T; i-snewed M. snow] snouȝ T. snakes] smatte M.] [Or to a wal whit-lymed · & were blak with-inne.] [In T only; but see B-text.] Ryȝt so meny preestes · prechours and prelates, Line 268 Þat beþ enblaunched with bele paroles · and with bele cloþes; [beþ] ben MT. enblaunched] encumbred M. bele (2)] faire M.] And as lambes þei loken · and lyuen as wolues. [And] G om. as (2)] as do F.] Iohannes crisostomus · karpeþ þus of clerkes,

Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic de [A page 261] templo omne malum procedit. Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret ecclesia; si autem corruptum fuerit, omnium fides marcida est. Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis, totus popu|lus conuertitur ad peccandum. Sicut cum uideris arborem pallidam & marcidam, intel|ligis quod uicium habet in radice, Ita cum

uideris populum indisciplinatum & irreligio|sum, sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum.

[F prefixes Loo. þus] riȝt þus F. procedit] cedit G. M omits fuerit after corruptum. sacerdocium (2)] sacerdos T. peccatis] peccato T. sanum] integrum vel sanum G.] Alas! lewede men · muche leese ȝe þat fynden [men] men alas F.] Line 272 Vnkynde creatures · to beo kepers of ȝoure soules! [creatures] curatours T. kepers] leders E.] Ac þyng þat wikkedliche is wonne · and with false sleithes, [wikkedliche] wiþ wickednesse M.] Wolde neuere oþer-wise god · bote wicked men hit hadde, [PE insert þat after neuere, which MFTG omit. bote] bute þat G.] As imparfit preestes · and prechers after seluer, [A page 262] [after] for M.] Line 276 Secutours and sodenes · somners and here lemmannes; [sodenes] soudenes M; south|denis T. somners] somenours E; somnours MFG; sompnours T.] And þat with gyle was gete · vngraciousliche be dispended. [gete] geten M; bigete F. be dispended] he dispend it F; mys|pende T.] Line 278 Curatours of holychurche · and clerkus þat ben auarous, [Curatours] For curatours F. auarous] auerous PG.] Lightliche þat þei leue · loseles hit deuouren. [þat] G om. hit] to G. de|uouren EG] deuowren M; deuoureth F; deuoren P.] Leyueþ hit wel, lordes · boþe lered and lewede, [Leyueþ] Leueþ MT; Leeueth F; Lyueþ E.] Line 281 Þat þus goþ here godes · atte laste ende, [atte] at þe MTF.] [Þat] lyuen a-ȝens holy lore · and þe loue of charite." [281—283. G omits.] [[Þat MFT] And PE. a-ȝens] a-ȝe þe F.] "Charite," quaþ ich þo · "þat is a þing for sothe Line 284 That maistres comenden muche; · wher may hit be founde? [A page 263] [wher] but whare F. hit] he F.] Ich haue lyued in [london] · meny longe ȝeres, [haue] aue P. lyued] i-lyued M; lyuede P. [london M] londoun F; lundoun T; londen PEG.] And founde ich neuere in faith · as freres hit precheþ, [ich] i hit MF.] Charite, þat chargeþ nat · ne chit, þauh men greue hym, [þat] þei (sic) T. chargeþ] chaungeþ G. þauh] & G. men] me TG. greue hym] him greue F.]

As paul in a pistele · of hym bereþ witnesse;

Non inflatur, non est ambiciosa, non querit que sua sunt.

[paul] seint poul F. a] his T. pistele] pistel EMFG; pistil T. non querit—sunt] MTG om.] Line 289 Ich [knew] neuere, by cryst · clerk noþer lewede, [[knew EMFG] kneuȝ T; knowe P. clerk] miswritten clek P.] That he ne askede after hus · and oþer-whyle coueytede [whyle] wyle P; whiles T.] Thyng þat needede hym nat · and nyme hit, yf he myghte! [needede hym] hym neded EF. and] to M.] Line 292 [For þoȝ men soȝt al sectes · of sustren & of breþeren,] [From E; also in MFGT; P omits. sectes] þe sektis T; folc M. of (2)] T om.] And [þow] fynde hym, bote figuratifliche · a ferly me þynkeþ;

Hic in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem:—

[[þow M] þou F; PETG om. hym] hem M. bote] G om. figura|tifliche] furatif (!) T; fugynatijf (!) M. a ferly] wonder M. Hic] Quia hic per speculum F.] And so ich trowe trewely · by that men tellen of charite." [And so] Also M. so] E om. men] me G. of charite] þer-offe F.] "Charite is a childish thing · as holichurche witt|nesseþ, [A page 262]

Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli, [non intrabitis in regnum celorum:] [A page 263]

[childish] childlich M; childes FG. sicut] ut M. [non—celorum] from E; F has—non intrabitis, &c.; MTG om. [Distinctio, &c.] from M; PEFTG om.] Line 296