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.)

CONFESSIO AUARICIE. [A page 58] [B page 67]

Thenne cam couetyse · ich can nat hym discryue, [Thenne] And þanne F.] Line 196 So hongerliche and so holwe · heruy hym-self lokede. [hongerliche] hongri MF. and] an P; I om. so] IMFS om. heruy hym-self] sir heruy him I; syr heruy he F. heruy—lokede] heruy was his name M.] He was bytelbrowed and baberlupped · with two blery eyen, [He was] F om. bytelbrowed] Bittur-browed F. with] whit P. two] tueye I. blery] blered IMFS.] And as a leþerene pors · lollid hus chekus, [a] S om.] [Wel] sydder þan hys chyn · ychiueled for elde: [[Wel IMFSEG] Al P. hys] ys P. ychiueled] he chyuelede F; i-reueled M.] Line 200 As bondemenne bacon · hus berd was yshaue, [As] As a M; And as a I. bondemenne] bedemones M.] With hus hod on his heued · and hus hatte boþe; [With] Whit P.] In a toren tabarde · of twelue wynter age; [But ȝif a lous couþe lepe · I leue hit, as y trowe, [From S; also in IMFG; PE omit.] [couþe] I om. hit] IM om. as] I om.] Line 204 He scholde not wandre on þat welch · so was hit þrede-bare.] [From S; also in IMFG; PE omit.] [not] I om. wandre] walke M. on] vp I. welch] walk I; welþe F; cloþ G.] "Ich haue be coueitous," quaþ þis caityf · "Ich by|know hit here. [þis caityf] þat caitijf M; þe caytif E; heo F.] For som tyme ich serued · symme at þe style, [at þe] atte F; at S.] Line 207 And was his prentys yplyght · hus profyt to waite. [his] is P. yplyght] truþe|plith M. waite] awayte S.] Furst ich lerned to lye · a lesyng oþer tweye; [lesyng] lees I. a—tweye] and leuyng al truþe M.] Wickedliche to weye · was my furst lesson. [to] for to F. weye] wynne M. furst] S om.] To wy and to winchestre · ich wente to þe faire [B page 68] [wy] þe weo M. ich wente] went i F. wente] wende E.] With many [maner] marchandises · as my [maister] heghte; [[maner MIFSEG] P om. marchandises] marchandise IF. [maister MIFSEG] maistres P.] Line 212

Line 212 Ne hadde þe grace of gyle · gon among my ware, [þe] F om.] Hit hadde ben vnsold þys seuen ȝer · so me god helpe! [hadde—vnsold] nad be sold F.] Ich drow me among drapers · my donet to lerne, [A page 59] [Ich drow me] Þan drogh I me I. among] to F. lerne] lere I.] To drawe þe lisure a-longe · þe lenger it semed. [lisure] lesure E; liste M.] Line 216 Among þe riche rayes · ich rendred a lesson, To brochen hem with a batte-nelde · and bond hem to|gederes; [hem (1)] S om. batte-nelde] batnedele I; paknelde M; packe|nedle SF. bond] bynde F; band I.] Ich putte hem in pressours · and pynned hem þer|ynne, [Ich] And S; IMF om. hem (1)] E om. pressours] a pres|sour I. pynned] pennede M; pynne F. þer-ynne] with-ynne F.] Tyl ten [ȝerdes] oþer twelue · tilled out þrettyne. [[ȝerdes IMFSE] ȝorde P. twelue] miswritten twlue P; tewlue S. tilled] so FMSE; tolde I. out] hem E.] Line 220 My wif was a webbe · and wollen cloþ made; Hue spak to þe spynnesters · to spynnen hit oute. [Hue] ȝo E; Sche M; Heo F; And I. spynnesters] spinnere M. hit oute] here oute M; hit softe F.] Þe pound þat hue paiede hem by · peysed a quarter [hue] I F; cf. l. 222.] More þan myn Auncel · whenne ich weied treuthe. [Auncel] auncer MIS. whenne] wenne P. weied] way F.] Line 224 Ich bouhte hure barliche · hue brew hit to selle, [hue] sche IMFS; ȝo E; so in ll. 226, 233. to selle] here selue F.] Peny-ale and podyng-ale · hue pourede to-geders, [F omits. pourede] putte M.] For laborers and lowe folke · that laye by hem-selue. [F omits. lowe folke] looþfolc M. hem-selue] hym-silue E.] The beste laye in my bour · and in my bed-chambre, [The beste] Ac þe best ale I.] And [who] so bommede þer-of · he bouht yt þer-after, [[who IMFSG] PE om.] A galon for a grote · and ȝut no grayþ mesure, [B page 69] [grayþ] gret M.] Whanne it cam in coppe-mel; · þis craft my wif vsede. [Whanne] Wanne P. in] on I.] Rose þe regratour · was hure ryght name; Line 232 Hue hath yholde hockerye · þis eleuene wynter." [hath] hadde I. hockerye] hukkerye F; huckustrye S. þis] al þis F; þes P. eleuene] endeleuen I; enleuene M; elleue E; enleue S.]

"Repentest þow neuere?" quaþ repentaunce · "ne restitucion madest?" [Repentest þow] Rependestow I. madest] made F.] "Ȝus, ones," quaþ he, "ich was yherborwed · with an hep of chapmen; [he IM] hue PS; ȝo E; heo F. with] among M.] Ich a-ros and rifled here males · whenne þei a reste were." [a-ros] ros IS; roos F. males] ware S. a] on M; at I; in E.] Line 236 "Þat was a reufol restitucion" · quaþ repentaunce, "for soþe; [a] F om. a reufol] an vn|riȝtful M.] Thow wolt hongy heye þer-fore · her oþer in helle! [hongy] honge MES; hange F; be honged I.] Vsedest þow euere vserie · in al þy lyf-tyme?" [Vsedest þow] Vsedestow I. þow euere] euer þou E; euere M.] "Nay, sothliche," he sayde · "saf in my ȝouþe. [B page 70] [he IME] hue PS; heo F.] Line 240 Ich lerned among lumbardes · a lesson, and of Iewes, [among] of F; among þe M.] To weie pans with a peis · and pared þe heuyeste, [pared] pare MF. heuyeste] heuye F.] And lente for loue of þe wed · þe whiche ich let betere, [lente] lene F.] And more worth þan þe moneye · oþer men þat ich lenede. [lenede] lenede or lonede P; lened ES; leenede F; lente M.] Line 244 Ich lenede folk þat lese wolde · a lippe in eche noble, [lenede] lenede or lonede P; lonede or louede F; lene I; lened E; lenede S; lente M. wolde] wole I. in eche] of ich a I.] And with lombardes letters · ich lenede gold at rome; [ich] IS om. lenede] lente FM; lene I. at] to I.] So what bern of me borwed · he bouhte þe tyme." [bern] so E; barn MSF; buyrn I. borwed] borwe M.] "Lenedest þow euere to eny lorde · for loue of men|teynaunce?" [Lenedest] Lentest MFS; Lenest E. þow] I om. to] I om. of] of his I. menteynaunce] mayn|tenance I.] Line 248 "Ich haue ylent to lordes and to ladies · þat louede me neure after. [ylent] lent IFS. to] IM om. (twice). and—ladies] F om. me] M om.]

Ich haue mad meny [a] knyght · boþe mercer and draper, [Ich—mad] And i haue mad MSF; And haue y-made I. [a EIMS] PF om.] Payede neuere for here prentishode · nauht a payre gloues; [Payede] þat payede S; þat made F. neuere] F om. here] his I; M om. nauht] nat ȝeue (!) F. payre] payere P; paire I; peire MFSE.] Þat chaffared with my chyuesaunce · cheuede selde after." [chaffared] chaffaren M. chyuesaunce] cheuyssances I. che|uede] þryuen M. selde] euel F.] Line 252 "Now redelich," quaþ repentaunce · "and by þe rode, ich leyue, [B page 71] [leyue] leue IMFSE.] Shal neuere executor wel by-sette · þe suluer þat þow hym leuest, [executor] secutour I; seke|tour SF. wel] F om. suluer] siluer IF; seluer ME. hym] MF om.] Ne þyn ayres, as ich hope · haue ioye of þat þow wan. [ayres] eyres EMS; heires IF; ayeres P. wan] wonne MI; weldest F.] For þe pope and alle hus penetauncers · power hem faylleþ, [For] F om. alle] MF om.] Line 256 To a-soyle þe of þy synnes · sine restitutione;' [B page 72]

Nunquam dimittitur peccatum, nisi restituatur ablatum."

[synnes] synne I.] "With false wordes and wittes · ich haue wonne my goodes, [wittes] weyhtes I; wyȝtus F. ich haue] haue i I.] And with gyle and glosynge · gadered þat ich haue, [gyle and] S om. gadered] i|gadered MI.] Meddled my marchaundise · and mad a good moustre; [B page 229] [moustre] maystre S.] The werst lay with-ynne · a gret wit ich let hit. [a] and M. let hit] hit lette M; heeld hit S.] Line 261 And yf my neyhȝebore hadde an hyne · oþer eny best ellys [And] F om. hadde] haue S. an] eny M.] More profitable þan myn · ich made meny wentes,

How ich myght haue hit · al my wit ich caste. [How] & how F. hit] hym S. ich] I om.] Line 264 And bote ich hadde hit by [oþer wey] · atte laste ich stal hit, [And] F om. hadde hit] it hadde IFS. [oþer wey IMFSG] oþes a-way PE; see B-text, xiii. 367.] Oþer pryuyliche hus pors shok · vnpiked hus lokes. [vnpiked] and vnpiked IMS.] And yf ich ȝede to þe plouh · ich pynchede on hus half acre, [B page 230] [And—þe] & atte F. on] vp|on F.] Þat a fot londe oþer a forwe · fecchen ich wolde, Line 268 Of my neyhȝeboris next · nymen of hus erthe. [nymen] and nymen MF.] And yf y repe, ouere-reche · oþer ȝaf hem red þat repen [And] Or F. repe] so ES; rope F; raape I; ripe M. oþer] and M. þat repen] so EMS; to repe I; þat wrouȝten F. (But we should rather read rope, ropen, as in B-text, xiii. 374.)] To sese to me with here sykel · þat ich sew neuere. [sew] ne sewe I.] In halydayes at holy churche · whenne ich hurde messe, [In] On MS. whenne] wenne P. messe] þe masse E.] Ich hadde neuere [wil] witerlich · to by-seche mercy [[wil IMFSE] wit G; P om. to] forte M. to—mercy] mercy to beseche F.] For my mysdedes · þat ich ne mornede ofter [ofter] after IES (wrongly).] Line 274 For lost of good, leyue me · þen for lycames gultes. [lost] losse I. leyue] more leeue I; leef MF; lef S. leyue me] by loue (!) E. lycames] my licam F.] Þauh ich dedliche synne dude · ich dradde hit nat so sore [Þauh] Whan M. dude] so ESM; dede IF.] Line 276 As whenne ich lenede and leyuede hit lost · oþer longe er hit were paied. [lenede] lente IMF. leyuede] leue S; M om. oþer—paied] or hit were longe vnpaied M.] And yf [ich] sente ouer see · my seruaunt to brugges, [B page 231] [[ich ESIFG] PM om. see] þe se M. to] in-to F. brugges] bruges S; brigges MFE.] Oþer in-to prus my prentys · my profit to a-waite, [in-to] in I. prus] pruys-lond I; spruce FE; spruys M; spris S. a-waite] auaile M.] Line 279 To marchaunde with monye · and maken here eschaunge, [To] So to I. with] with my IF. here] þere M. eschaunge] es|changez I.] Myghte neuere man comforty me · in þe meyn tyme, [man—me] me comforte I.]

Neiþer matyns ne masse · ne oþere manere syghtes, [ne] noþer E. oþere] no I.] And neuere penaunse performede · ne pater-noster seyde, [And] Ne IM. pater-noster] M om.] That my mynde ne was · more in my goodes [in] on MF. goodes] goodes, in a dowte I.] Line 284 Þan in godes grace · And hus grete myghte.

Ubi thesaurus tuus, ibi [&] cor tuum."

[in] on F. godes grace] þe grace of my god I. And] or in M; or of F; and in I. myghte] trewþe F. Ubi] Vbi est M. [& MFE] PSIG om. tuum] tuum est M.] "Now redeliche," quaþ repentaunce · "ich haue reuthe of þy lyuynge. [ich] I om. ich—reuthe] I rewe F. of] on I.] Were ich a frere, in good faith · for al þe gold on erthe [B page 71] Ich nolde cope me with þy catell · ne oure [kirke] amende, [nolde] ne wolde IM. [kirke IMF] churche PS; churches E.] Line 288 Ne take a meles mete of þyne · And myn herte hit wiste Þat þow were such as þow seist; · ich sholde raþere sterue:

Melius est mori quam male uiuere.

[Þat] And F; I om.] Ich rede no faithful frere · at þy feste sytte; [no] þat no E. faithful] faitthful P.] Line 291 Ȝut were me leuere, by oure lord · lyue by welle-carse[s] [Ȝut] Hit M. lyue] leue al I. carses EG] carsus S; carse P; kersus F; cresses I. lyue—carses] ete water-crasses M.] Þan haue my fode and my fyndynge · of false menne wynnynges: [my (2)] F om. fyndynge] fedyng M. menne] mannes I; menes M.] Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia queris, [fercula] fercucula P.] Pane tuo potius · uescere, liber eris. Line 295 Thow art an vnkynde creature · ich can þe nat assoyle [art IMFS] ert PE. þe nat] nouȝt þe M.] Tyl þow haue ymad, by þy myght · to alle men resti|tucion; [B page 72] For alle þat hauen of þy good · (haue god my treuthe!) Beeþ holden at þe hye dome · to helpe the restitue. [Beeþ] Ben EM; Is IFS. holden] i-holde M; haldyng I; hold|yng F. restitue] to restitue S; re|stituere E.] Line 299

Line 299 The preest þat þy tythe takeþ · trowe ich non oþer, [The] Ȝe þe I. takeþ] took I. trowe] ne trowe M.] Shal parte with þe in purgatorie · and help paye þy dette, [paye] to paie MFS.] Line 301 Yf he wist þow were suche · when he reseyuyde þyn offrynge. [þow] þat þow M. when] wen P. he] M om. reseyuyde] receyueth F.] What lede leyueþ þat ich lye · loke in þe sauter glosed

On ecce enim ueritatem dilexisti.

[What] And what I. leyueþ] leueþ MFSE. On] Lo I aleie F; I om.] Ther he shal wite witerliche · what vsure is to mene, [Ther] And þer I. he shal] schal he I; ȝe mowe M.] And what penaunce þe prest shal haue · þat prout is of [þi tythes]. [what] I om. prout] prut E; proud MIFS. [þi tythes] þi tiþus F; þe tethes P; þe teþs E; his tiþes MS; cf. l. 300.] Line 305 For an hore of hure ers-wynnynge · may hardiloker tythe [For—wynnynge] & for pu|teynes of here yuel wynnyng E. wynnynge] F om.] Þan an erraunt vsurer · (haue god my treuthe!) [an erraunt] a comune E; an (sic) I.] And erest shal come to heuene · by cryst þat me made!" Then was þer a walishman · was wonderliche sory, [A page 65] [B page 82] [walishman] walsch man IF; walsman M.] Line 309 He highte 'ȝyuan ȝeld-aȝeyn · if ich so moche haue, [He] IMFS om. ȝyuan] ȝeuan IMFS. ich] I om.] Al þat ich wickeddelich wan · sytthen ich [wit] hadde; [wan] gat M. [wit G] witt E; wyt S; witte I; hit PMF. hadde] haue F.] And þauh my liflode lacke · leten ich nelle, [And] F om. leten] lyuen S. nelle] ne wile M; wille (!) F.] Line 312 Þat ech man shal haue hus · er ich hennes wende. [Þat] & F. shal] ne schal I.] For me ys leuere in this lif · as a lorel beggen, [this] my F.] Þan in lysse to lyue · and lese lyf and soule.' [lysse] liking F; blisse E.] Roberd þe ryfeler · on reddite lokede, [ryfeler] riflere þo F.] Line 316 And for þer was nat wher-with · he wepte ful sore; [þer] þat þer S. was] nas I. ful] wonder I; wel M.]

And ȝut þat synful shrewe · seide to heuene, [And ȝut] Ac M; Ac ȝit I. seide to] saide to the I; criede vp to M. to heuene] with soor herte F.] "Crist, þat on caluarye · on þe croys deidest, Tho Dismas my broþer · by-souhte þe of grace, [þe] ȝou I.] Line 320 And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake, [on] vpon I. memento] me|mento his I.] So rewe on me, Roberd · þat reddere ne haue, [on—Roberd] vpon Robert I.] Ne neuere wene to wynne · with craft þat ich knowe. [with] wit P. craft] werk F. knowe EIMFS] miswritten kowe P.] For þy muchel mercy · mytigacion ich by-seche, Line 324 Dampne me nouht at domys day · for þat ich dude so ille." [B page 83] [þat] M om.] What by-fel of þis felon · ich can nouht faire shewe; [of] on F.] Wel ich wot he wepte faste · water with hus eyen, [with] wit P. eyen] yes I; yen S.] And to crist knowlechede · hus coupe ȝut eft-sone, [to—knowlechede] knowleched to crist I. hus coupe] in care F. ȝut] M om.] Line 328 Þat penaunce hus pyk-staf · he wolde polische newe, [A page 66] [penaunce] repentance I. he] M om. polische] pulsche FS.] For he hadde leye by latro · lucifers aunte. [lucifers] was lucifers F.] "By þe rode," quaþ repentaunce · "þow romest toward heuene, Line 331 By so þat hit be in þyn herte · as ich hure þy tonge. [By] MF om. þat—be] þou haue it F; hit be S. hure] here IMFS. þy] in þi F.] Trist in his mochel mercy · and ȝut myght þow be saued. [and] an P. myght þow] þow myȝt MI; maistow F.] For al þe wrecchednesse of þis worlde · and wickede dedes [B page 72] [wrecchednesse] wrecchede F.] Fareþ as a fonk of fuyr · þat ful a-myde temese, [a] F om. fonk] flonke I. fuyr] þe fuyre F. ful] fil IF.] And deide for a drop of water; · so doþ alle synnes [And deide] Deieþ M. for] wiþ I. of] I om. so] and so M.] Of alle manere men · þat with good wille [men] of men I; men of moolde F. with] with a F; wiþ a M.] Line 337

Line 337 Confessen hem and crien mercy · shullen neuere come in helle.

Omnis iniquitas quoad misericordiam dei est quasi sintilla in medio maris. [crien] crien him I. crien mercy] mercy crie F.] [B page 73]

Repente þe anon," quaþ repentaunce · ryȝt so to þe vsurer, [ryȝt—vsurer] & riȝt so go to schrifte F. so] IG om. to þe] þou S.] "And haue hus mercy in þy mynde · and marchaun|dise, leue hit; [PE place haue after mynde. leue hit] þou leue F.] Line 340 For þow hast no good, by good faith! · to bygge þe with a wastell. [hast] ne hast M. by] in F. bygge] gete I; this improves the alliteration, but appears rather to belong to the next line. þe] S om.] The good þat þow hauest ygete · by-gan al with fals|hede; [The] For þe I. ygete] gete I; geten M. falshede] falsnesse M; false S.] As longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nat, bote borwest. [As] And as I. bote] bote þow P; but IMFSE omit þow.] And yf þow wite neuere to wham · ne where [to] restitue, [[to IMFSG] þow sholde P; þou shalt E.] Line 344 Bere hit to þe bischop · and bid hym of hus grace, [þe] thy I; þi M. bid IMF] bide PS; bidde E.] To by-setten hit hym-selue · as best be for þy soule; [be] is M. þy] þe EM.] For he shal answere for þe · at þe hye dome, For þe and for meny mo · þat man shal ȝeue rekenynge, [þat—ȝeue] he schal make F. rekenynge] a rekenyng I.] What he lerede ȝow to lyue with · and to lette ȝow fro þufþe." [lerede] lefte F; lernede MS. and to] & F; to M. þufþe] þefte IFS; synne M.] Line 349