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 XI.

[Passus secundus de dowel, &c.] [Passus, &c.] so in TH₂. OBS. The readings of H₂ are the same as those of T, except when specially given as different.]

ÞEnne hedde wit A wyf · was hoten dam Studie, [was hoten] þat hatte T.] Þat [lene was of lich] · and of louh chere. [lene—lich] so in TH₂; V has euer was I-liche. louh] loþly T.] Heo was wonderliche wroþ · þat wit me þus tauhte, [me þus] so me H₂; so T.] And al starinde Dam Studie · steorneliche seide, [And sterneliche staringe · dame studie seide T.] Line 4 ¶ "Wel artou witti," quod heo · "wisdom to telle [artou witti] art þou wys, wyt T. wisdome] any wisdomis T.] To Fayturs or to Fooles · þat Frentik ben of wittes!" [Fayturs] flatereris T.] And Blamede him for his Beere · And Bad him beo stille [for his Beere] bitterly T.] Wiþ suche wyse wordes · to wisse eny fooles. Line 8 ¶ And seide, "Noli mittere · Margeri perles [Noli mittere] Nolite mittere. man T.] Among hogges þat han · hawes at heore wille; [heore] T omits.] Þei don bot drauele þeron · draf weore hem leuere Þen al þe presciouse Peerles · þat in paradys waxen. [presciouse Peerles] precious perrie T. waxen] wexiþ T; wexit H₂.] Line 12 ¶ I sigge hit bi þulke," quod heo · "þat bi heore werkes schewen [hit—þulke] be þo T. bi—schewen] shewen be here werkis T; schewen here werkis H₂.] Þat hem weore leuere lond · and lordschupe on eorþe, Richesse, Rentes · or Reste at heore wille [Or ricchesse or rentis · & reste at here wille T.] Þen Al þe soþ sawes · þat Salamon seide euere. Line 16

Line 16 ¶ Wisdam and wit nou · is not worþ a Russche But hit beo [cardet] with Couetise · as cloþers doþ heor wolle, [[cardet] cardit TH₂; carket V.] Þat Conterfeteþ disseites · and Conspiret wronges, [Conterfeteþ] can construe þe T; conspiret] conspire T.] And ledeþ forþ A loueday · to lette þe treweþe; [ledeþ] lede T.] Line 20 Þat suche craftes cunnen · to counseil beoþ I-clept, [to—Iclept] ben yclepid to counseil T.] And ben serued as syres · þat serueþ þe deuel. [þat] and H₂.] ¶ Iob þe Ientel · in his Ieestes seide,

Quare via impiorum prosperatur, bene est omnibus qui praue et inique agunt?

[seide] seide it T. bene] ve TU. praue] peruerse U. (This quotation oc|curs in U elsewhere; see note to Pass. X. l. 145.)] ¶ Ac he þat holy writ haþ · euer in his mouþe, [folio 401b:1] [holy—euer] haþ holy writ ay T.] Line 24 And con tellen of Tobie · And þe Twelue Apostles, [And þe] & of þe T.] And prechen of þe penaunce · þat Pilatus wrouhte [And] Or T. Pilatus] pilatis T.] To Iesu þe Ientil · þat Iewes to-drowe On Cros vppon Caluarie · as Clerkes vs telleþ;— [telleþ] techiþ T.] Line 28 ¶ Luytel is he loued or leten bi · þat such a lessun Redeþ, [Redeþ] techiþ T.] Or Daunseled or Drawen forþ · þis Disours witen þe soþe; [Daunseled] dauntid T.] For ȝif Harlotrie ne Holpe hem þe bet · (haue God my soule!) [þe bet] betere T. soule] trouþe T.] More þen Musyk · or Makyng of Crist, [Crist] god almiȝt T; god al|myȝty H₂.] Line 32 Wolde neuer kyng ne kniht · ne Canoun of Seynt poules Ȝeuen hem to heore ȝeres-ȝiue · þe value of a grote!

BOte Munstralsye and Murþe · A-Mong Men is nouþe; [Bote] T omits.] Lecherie and losengrie · and loseles tales, Line 36 And geten gold with grete oþes · beoþ gamus nou A dayes. [And—with] Glotonye & T. beoþ] þise arn T.]

But ȝif þei Carpen of Crist · (þis Clerkes and þis lewede) Atte Mete in heor Murþe · whon Munstrals beoþ stille, [Atte—murþe] At þe mete & at murþe T.] ¶ Þenne telleþ þei of þe Trinite · hou two slowen þe þridde, Line 40 And Bringeþ forþ Ballede Resouns · tak Bernard to witnesse, [Ballede—tak] a ballid resoun · toke T.] And puyteþ forþ presumpciun · to preue þe soþe. [puyteþ] putte T.] ¶ Þus þei drauelen on heore deys · þe Deite to knowe, [drauelen on] dryuelen at T.] And demeþ God in-to þe gorge · whon heore Gottus follen. [And gnawen god in here þrote · whanne here guttis fullen T.] Line 44 But Carful Mon may crien · and clepen atte ȝate [But—Mon] Ac þe carful T. clepen atte] carpe at þe T.] Boþe of hungur and of þurst · and for chele quake; [of] for T. of] for T. quake] quakiþ T.] Nis no Mon him neih · his nuy to Amende, [

Is non to nymen him In · ne his anguyssh amende T; H₂ omits him.

OBS. Here collation with U recom|mences.

] Bote honesschen him as an hound · and hoten him go þennes! [honesschen] honysche U; hunsen T.] Line 48

Luyte loueþ he þat lord · þat leneþ him þat Blisse, [þat blisse] al þat blisse T.] Þat þus parteþ with þe pore · A parcel whon him neodeþ. Neore Merci In Mene Men · More þen in Riche, [Neore] Ne were U.] Wiþ Mony defauti Meeles · Mihte þei go to bedde. [Manye men meteles · miȝte go to bedde T; Manye mendinaw[n]tes meteles · myȝte go to bedde U.] Line 52 God is muche in þe gorge · of þeose grete Maystres, [þe] his U. gorge] þrote T; gorge H₂.] Bote A-Mong Mene Men · his Merci and his werkes; [U omits. mene] TH₂ omit.] And so seiþ þe psauter · sech hit In "Memento,"

Ecce Audiuimus eam in effrata, inuenimus [eam] in campis silue.

[sech] seek U; se T. [eam TUH₂] eum V.] ¶ Clerkes and kete men · Carpen of God ofte, [kete] kid T; kedde U; kyd H₂. ofte] faste TU.] Line 56

Line 56 And han him muche in heore Mouþ · bote Mene men in herte. [him] TU omit; H₂ retains.] Freres and Faytors · han founden suche questions [founden] founden vp TU; fonden H₂.] To plese with þis proude men · seþþe pestilence tyme; [þis] TU omit. seþþe] siþen þe T; siþ þe U.] Þei de-Foulen vre Fey · at Festes þer þei sitten. [þei] þat TU. Fey] false (!) T; feyth U. festes] þe feste T.] Line 60

For nou is vche Boye Bold · Broþel an oþer, [Broþel—oþer] & he be riche TU.] To talken of þe Trinite · to beon holden A syre, [talken] tellen TU.] And fyndeþ forþ fantasyes · vr feiþ to Apeyre; And eke de-Fameþ þe Fader · þat vs alle made, [eke defameþ] defame T; to de|fame U.] Line 64 And Craken aȝeyn þe Clergie · Crabbede wordes. [craken—þe] carpide aȝens T; carpen of U.] ¶ 'Whi wolde God vr saueour · suffre such a worm [God] TU omit. worm] worm in his blisse TU.] In such a wrong wyse · þe wommon to bi-gyle? [þat he gilide þe womman · & þe wy aftir T; þat begyles þe womman · & þe man after U.] Boþe hir hosebonde and heo · to helle þorw him wenten, [þoruȝ whiche a werke & wille · þei wenten to helle TU.] And heore seed for þat sunne · þe same wo drien.' [And] And alle TU. þat] here T. drien] suffride TU.] Line 69 ¶ Suche Motyues þei meuen · þis Maistres in heor glorie, [motyues] motifs T; motes U.] And makeþ Men Misbileeue · þat [musen on] heore wordes. [[musen on T] mousen on U; leeuen in V; H₂ torn away.]

But Austin þe Olde · for alle suche precheþ, [precheþ] prechide T; prechet U.] Line 72 And for suche tale tellers · such a teeme scheweþ,

Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.

[scheweþ] shewide T. Non] Nolite U. oportet] V really has oporteþ, of course by mistake.] Þis wilneþ ȝe neuer to wite · whi þat God wolde [That is to seyn ne wilneþ neuere · for to wyte why TU; see next line, and l. 81.] Soffre Sathan · his sed to bi-gyle; [Soffre] That god wold suffre TU.]

¶ But leeueþ on þat lore · þat lereþ holichirche, [Ac beleue lelly of lore · of holy chirche T; And be-leef lely on þe lord · of holy chyrche U.] Line 76 And preye him of pardoun · and penaunce in þi lyue, [him] H₂ omits. of] of his U. in] be TU.] And for his muchele Merci · to amenden vs heere. For alle þat wilneþ [to wite · þe] weyes of god Almihti, [[to wite þe UTH₂] two V; see ll. 73, 81, 88. weyes] werkes T.] I wolde his eȝe weore in his ers · and his heele aftur; [eȝe were] eiȝen wern T.] Þat euer eft Wilneþ to wite · whi þat God wolde [whi þat] why T. þat—wolde] Begins l. 82 in U; cf. l. 74.] Line 81 Soffre Sathan · his seed to bi-gyle, Or Iudas þe Ieuȝ · Iesu bi-traye; [Or] Er T. bitraye] betrayede T.] Al was as he wolde · lord, I-heried be þou! [Iheried—þou] yworsshipid be þou T; I-wyrchepid þou be U.] Line 84 And al [worþ] as þou wolt · what so we tellen! [al] U om. [worþ TUH₂] beo V.] ¶ And nou comeþ a Conioun · and wolde cacchen of [my] wittes, [[my TH₂] me V.] What is Dowel from Dobet! · nou daffe mot he worþe, [nou] U om. daffe] defe TU.] [Siþen] he wilneþ to wite · whuche þei ben alle! [[Siþen T] siþþe U; sithen H₂; V has Sire.] Line 88 Bote he liue in þe leste degre · þat longeþ to Dowel, [Bote—degre] But ȝif he lyue lely in þe last day U.] I dar ben his borw · þat Dobet nul he neuere, [I] For I U. borw] bolde boruȝ TU. þat] TU omit. nul] wile TU.] Þauȝ Dobest drawe on him · day aftur oþur."

And whon þat wit was I-war · hou his wyf tolde, Line 92 He bi-com so confoundet · he couþe not [mele], [He—confoundet] He becomeþ so confus T; He come so confuse U. [mele TUH₂] medle V.] And as doumbe as a dore · drouȝ him asyde. [And as] Also T; And also U. dore] dore-nayl and H₂.] Bote for no Craft þat I couþe · ne knelyng to grounde, [Bote—þat] Ac for no carpinge T; And for no carpyng U. to] to þe TU.] I mihte gete no greyn · of [his] grete wittes, [greyn] gayn T. [his TUH₂] hire V.] Line 96 But al lauȝwhinge he loutede · and lokede vppon Studie, [lauȝwhinge] lauȝinge T; lour|yng U.] In signe þat I schulde · bi-sechen hire of grace. [of] of his T; of H₂.]

¶ And whon I wuste of his wil · to his wyf con I knele, [wuste] was war TU.] And seide, "Merci, Madame, ȝoure mon schal I [worþe], [[worþe TUH₂] beo V; see l. 85.] To worchen ȝoure wille · while my lyf dureþ; [while] þer whiles T.] Line 101 [Kenne] me kuyndely · to knowen what Is Dowel." [folio 401b:2] [[Kenne TH₂] To kenne U; Teche V.] ¶ "For þi Mekenesse, Mon," quod heo · "and for þi Milde speche, I schal [kenne] þe to my Cosyn · þat Clergye is I-hoten. [[kenne TUH₂] teche V. is I|hoten] hoteþ U.] He haþ wedded a wyf · wiþ-Inne þis wikes sixe, Line 105 Is sib to þe seuen Ars · þat scripture is I-nempnet; [Is] þat is U.] Þei two, as Ich hope · after my be-sechyng, [as] TU omit.] Schul wisse þe to Dowel · I dar vndertake." [dar] dar wel TU.]

ÞEnne was I as Fayn · as Foul on feir morwen, [on] of TU.] Line 109 Gladdore þen þe gleo-Mon is · of his grete ȝiftes, [is—ȝiftes] þat gold haþ to ȝifte TU.] And askede hire þe heiȝe wey · wher Clergye dwelleþ, [askede] axide TU. dwelleþ] wonide T; wonde U.] "And tel me sum tokne to him · for tyme is þat I wende." Line 112 ¶ "I schal teche þe þe heiȝe wey," quod heo · "from hennes to soffre [I—teche þe] Axe TU.] Boþe-weole-and-wo · ȝif þat þou wolt leorne, And Ryd forþ bi Richesse · Reste þe nouȝt þer-Inne; For ȝif þou Couple þe to him · to Clergie comestou neuere. [ȝif] U om. to] with UH₂.] Line 116 And eke þe longe launde · þat Lecherie hette, Leue him on þi luft half · A large myle or more, Forte þou come to a Court · kep-wel-þi-tonge [Forte] Foor til U; Til T.] Line 119 From-lesynges-and-lyȝeres-speche- · and-lykerous-drinke. [From] For T; fro U. speche] U om.] ¶ Þenne schaltou seo Sobre · And Symple-of-speche, [sobre—symple] sobirte & sim|plite T; soberte of symplesse U.]

Þat [eche wyȝt] beo in wil · his wit þe to schewe. [[eche wyȝt UTH₂] eueri mon V.]

So schalt þou come to Clergye · þat con mony þinges; [þinges] wyttes T.] Sei him þis [signe] · þat I sette him to scole, [[signe TUH₂] tokene V. þat] TU omit.] Line 124 And þat I grette wel his wyf · for I wrot hire a Bulle, [U omits. And—grette] And þat þou grete T; And if thou grete H₂. a Bulle] þe bible T.] And sette hire to sapience · and to hire psauter I-gloset. [to hire] to þe U.] ¶ Lo! logyk I lered hire · and al þe lawe after, [Lo] TUH₂ omit.] And alle Musons In Musyk · I made hire to knowe. [alle—in] alle þe musons of T; alle þe musonys of U. to knowe] knowe alse T.] Line 128 Plato þe Poyete · I put him furste to Boke, Aristotle and oþer mo · to Arguen I tauȝte; [to—tauȝte] I tawte ferst to argue U.] Gramer for [gurles] · I gon furste to write, [[gurles H₂TU] children V; see P. X. l. 155. to] TU omit.] And Beot hem wiþ a Baleys · But ȝif þei wolde lernen. ¶ Of alle Maner Craftus · I con Counterfeten heor tooles, [

And alle kynne craftis · I contreuide here,

Tolis of carpenteris & kerueris · & kende ferst masons T;

And alle kynne craftis · I con|strued hure ferst to lere,

Tolis of carpenteris, & kerue · I tauþte (sic) ferst masouns U. [kende TH₂] tauȝte V

] Line 133 Of Carpunters and keruers; · I [kende] furst Masouns, [

And alle kynne craftis · I contreuide here,

Tolis of carpenteris & kerueris · & kende ferst masons T;

And alle kynne craftis · I con|strued hure ferst to lere,

Tolis of carpenteris, & kerue · I tauþte (sic) ferst masouns U. [kende TH₂] tauȝte V

] And lered hem liuel and lyne · þauȝ I loke dimme. [lered] lernide TU. liuel—lyne] lyne & leuel U. loke] lokyd U.]

Bote Teologye haþ teoned me · ten score tymes; Line 136 For þe more I [muse] þeron · þe [mistiloker] hit semeþ, [The words mistiloker and derkore both occur in V, but in the wrong lines; see various readings.] [[muse TUH₂] studie V. [mis|tiloker] mistlokere TU; derkore V.] And þe deppore I diuinede · þe [derkore] me þouȝte. [The words mistiloker and derkore both occur in V, but in the wrong lines; see various readings.] [[derkore] derkere T; deppere U; mistiloker V. me] I U.] Hit is no science forsoþe · to sotilen þer-Inne, Neore þe loue þat lyhþ þerinne · a lewed þing hit weore. [U omits. lewed] wel lewid T.] Bote for hit [let] best bi loue · I leeue hit þe betere; [[let] lat T; last U; see l. 29. leeue] loue TU.] Line 141

Line 141 For þat loue is þe lord · þat lakkede neuer grace; [For þere þat loue is lord · lakkiþ neuere grace TU; H₂ the same, but with lakkede for lakkiþ.] ¶ Leef wel þer-vppon · ȝif þou þenke Dowel; [wel þervppon] lelly þeron TU.] For Dobet and Dobest · beoþ drawen of [loue] scole. [[loue scole U] lore in scole V; louis skile T; loues skyle H₂; see note.] In oþer science hit seiþ · seo hit in Catoun,

Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est [fidus] Amicus, [Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.]

[seo] I saiȝ T; I saw U. [fidus TU] fidelis V. [Tu—arte] Omitted in VTUH₂, but given in D.] Line 145 But Theologie techeþ not so · hose takeþ kepe, [techeþ] techiþ vs TU; techit it H₂. hose] who T; who so U. kepe] heed TU.] He [kenneþ] us þe contrarie · aȝeyn Catons wordes, [[kenneþ] kenniþ T; kennes U; techeþ V. us] U om.] And biddeþ [vs] ben as Breþeren · and Blessen vr enemys, [biddeþ] bit U; biddith H₂; T omits. [vs TUH₂] V om.] And louen hem þat lyȝen on vs · lellyche at heor neode, [hem] U om. lellyche] & lenen hem TU.] And do good aȝeyn vuel; · God him-self hoteþ, Line 150 And seide hit him-self · In ensaumple for þe beste,

Necesse est vt veniant scandala.

[hit himself] himself hit V; TH₂ transpose the words; see note. Necesse—scandala] Dilige dominum deum tuum ex toto corde tuo U (see l. 236).] ¶ Bote Astronomye is hard þing · and vuel to knowe, [Bote] Ac U; T omits.] Gemetrie and Gemensye · is gynful of speche, [Gemetrie] Geometrie TU. Gemensye] geomesie T; gemessie U. gynful] gryfful U.] Line 153 Þat worcheþ with þeose þreo · þriueþ he late, [worcheþ—þeose] þinkeþ werche wiþ þo T; þenkeþ to werche with þo U; thynkist dele with tho H₂. he] wel T; wol U.] For sorcerye Is þe souereyn [bok · þat to þat science longiþ, [[bok—forellis] From T; also in UH₂; V omits. febicchis] fibeches U; febucches H₂.] Ȝet arn þere febicchis of Forellis] · of mony mennes wittes. [[bok—forellis] From T; also in UH₂; V omits. febicchis] fibeches U; febucches H₂.] [U omits the last half of l. 156, and the first half of l. 157. al|conomye] alkenemye T; alknamye H₂.] Line 156 ¶ Experimentis of Alconomye · Of Alberdes makynge, [U omits the last half of l. 156, and the first half of l. 157. al|conomye] alkenemye T; alknamye H₂.] Nigromancye and perimancie · þe pouke to Rise makeþ; [Rise makeþ] reisen TU; a-reysen H₂.]

Ȝif þou þenche Dowel · dele with hem neuere. [with hem] þerwith TU.] Alle þeose sciences · siker, I my-seluen [siker] sykerly U. my-seluen] my-self foundit TU.] Line 160 Haue I-founded hem furst · folk to deceyue. [Hem formest · folke for to desceyue T; þurw hem formest · folk to deceyuen U (see note to l. 160).]

I be-take þe to crist," quod heo · "I con teche þe no betere." [betake—to] bekenne þe TU.] I seide, "graunt Merci, Madame" · And Mekeliche hire grette, And wente forþ on my wei · withouten more lettynge, [forþ on] wiȝtly T; wiȝth in U.] And fond as heo fore-tolde · and forþ gon I wende, [foretolde] fayre tolde U.] Line 165 ¶ And ar I coome to clergye · couþe I neuer stunte. I grette þe goode mon · as þe gode wyf me tauȝte, [I] And U.] And afterward his wyf · I worschupet hem boþe, [I] & U. hem] T omits.] Line 168 And tolde hire þe tokenes · þat me I-tauȝt were. Was neuer gome vppon grounde · seþþen God made heuene, [gome vppon] grom vpon þis TU.] Feirore vndurfonge · ne frendloker maad at ese, [frendloker] frendliere T; frendlekere (sic) U; frendloker H₂.] Þen I my-self soþli · so sone as heo wuste [I] TU omit. so] as U. as heo] heo it T.] Line 172 Þat I was of wittes hous · and with his wif Dam Studie. [with] U om.]

Curteisliche Clergye · Clupte me and Custe, [Clergye] clergise T; clergie H₂. Clupte] collide H₂; callide T; calde U.] And asked hou wit ferde · and eke his wyf Studie. [asked] axide T; asked me U. ferde] U omits (by mistake); it also omits wyf. eke—wyf] his wif T; his wif dame H₂.] And I seide soþlyche · "þei sende me hider [seide] seiȝe T; seide H₂; seyde hem U. sende] sente TU. hider] þeder U.] Line 176 To leorne at ȝou Dowel · and Dobet after, [leorne] lere TU. Dowel] to dowel U. after] þere aftir TU.] And seþþen Afturward to seo · sumwhat of Dobest." ¶ "Hit is a wel feir lyf," quod heo · "Among þe lewed peple, [feir] lelly T; lely U.]

[Actif it] is I-hoten · hosebondes hit vsen; [

[Actif it TUH₂D] A lyf V; (by mere mistake). hosebondes] lewide men T.

OBS. Here, most unfortunately, the Vernon text ceases; for the rest, the Trinity MS. (T) is taken to form the text, and it is collated with UDH₂.

] Line 180 [Trewe tilieris on erþe · taillours & souteris, [folio 50b] [taillours] as taliours U. &] or D.] And alle kyne crafty men · þat cunne here foode wynne, [here foode] with here craft U.] Wiþ any trewe trauaille · toille for here foode, [toille] tilie U.] Diken or deluen · do-wel it hatte [hatte] hyȝte U; hattith H₂.] Line 184 To breke beggeris bred · & bakken hem with cloþis, [bakken hem] bak hym D; bachem U.] Counforte þe carful · þat in castel ben fetterid, [Counforte] confortid H₂ (wrongly). þat in] þat in þe U; in D. ben] is U.] And seken out þe seke · & sende hem þat hem nediþ; [seke] D omits (by mistake).] Obedient as breþeren · & sustren to oþere; [breþeren] broþer D; brothren H₂. sustren] sistres U. oþere] alle othir H₂.] Line 188 Þus bed þe do-bet · so beriþ witnesse þe sauter;

Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum, habitare, Fratres, in vnum.

[þus—þe] Thus byt D; Thus bad the H₂; þese ben þat U. so] þus U.] Sike with þe sory · singe with þe glade,

Gaudere cum gaudentibus; Et flere cum flentibus,

[Dredles, is dobet · dobest wot þe sothe!] [From MS. Harl. 3954, fol. 122. TH₂UD have only a half-line, viz. God wot, þis is dobet; and they divide ll. 192, 193 wrongly.] Sire dobest haþ benefices · so is he best worþi, Line 192 be þat god in þe gospel · grauntiþ & techiþ;

Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur in regno celorum.

[U omits this line, and the Latin. docuerit] docuit D.] Forþi is dobest · [a] bisshopis pere, [For þis dobest is a bysschopis pere U. [a UD] TH₂ omit.] Prince ouer godis peple · to prechen or to chaste. [ouer] of U. or—chaste] & to techyn U.] Dobet doþ ful wel · & dewid he is also, [folio 51a] [dewid] dewyd H₂; dowel UD.] Line 196 And haþ possessions & pluralites · for pore menis sake.

For mendynauntȝ at mischiefe · þe men were dewid; [þe—dewid] þo men were I|dued U; þat men were sumtyme D.] And þat is riȝtful religioun · none renneris aboute, Ne no leperis ouer lond · ladies to shryue. Line 200 Gregory þe grete clerke · a good pope in his tyme, Of religioun þe rewele · he reherside in his morals, And seide it in ensaumple · þat þei shulde do þe betere: [seide it] seiþ hym U. þei] men U. do þe] do D.] 'Whanne fisshes faile þe flood · or þe fresshe watir, [or þe] of þe H₂.] Þei diȝe for þe drouȝte · whanne þei dreiȝe lengen; [þei—lengen] þey drye lyggyn D; thei dreiȝe leggen H₂; it dryheþ longe U.] Line 205 Riȝt so be religioun · it roileþ and steruiþ, [it roileþ] þat roxleþ, (loosely written for royleþ) U.] Þat out of couent & cloistre · coueiten to libben'. Ac now is religioun a ridere · & a rennere aboute, [aboute] be strete D; be stretis U.] Line 208 A ledere of [louedayes] · and a lond biggere, [[louedayes H₂; lufdayes U] ladies TD; see l. 20. lond biggere] lond-beggere D.] Poperiþ on a palfrey · to toune & to toune, [to—to] fro toun to H₂UD.] A bidowe or a baselard · he beriþ be his side; Godis flessh & his fet · & hise fyue woundis [fet] feet H₂UD.] Line 212 Arn more in his mynde · þan þe memorie of his found|ours. [Arn] Buþ D. þan þe] þan UD.] Þis is þe lif of þis lordis · þat lyuen shulde wiþ do-bet, And wel-a-wey wers · and I shulde al telle. [shulde] wold D; see note.] I wende þat kinghed & kniȝthed · & caiseris wiþ Erlis [D transposes kniȝthed and kinghed; U reads, I wende kyngis & knythis · and kayseres and Erles.] Wern do-wel & do-bet · & do-best of hem alle; [of] ouer U.] Line 217 For I haue seiȝe it my-selfe · & siþþen red it aftir, [seiȝe it] it sen U; seyn it H₂D. red it] i-rad U.] How Crist counseilliþ þe comune · & kenneþ hem þis tale,

Super cathedram moisi sederunt principes.

[counseilliþ] conseylede U. þis tale] þese lawes U. In U a blank space is left for the Latin.] For-þi I wende þat þo wyes · wern do-best of alle! Line 220

Line 220 I nile not scorne," quod scripture · "but scryueyns liȝe; [nile] nel D; wele U.] Kinghod & kniȝthod · for auȝt I can aspie, [auȝt] nouȝt D.] Helpiþ nouȝt to heuene · at one ȝeris ende, [heuene] hefne-ward U.] Ne richesse ne rentis · ne realte of lordis. Line 224 Poul prouiþ it is vnpossible · riche men in heuene, [it is] U om. is] D om. riche—heuene] þe riche to comen in hefne U.] Ac pore men in pacience · & penaunce togidere [men] D omits. penaunce] U repeats pacience.'] Hauen eritage in heuene · ac riche men non."— [Hauen] han here U. ac] and U.] "Contra," quod I, "be Crist! · þat can I þe wisse, [þat—wisse] i kan þe withseye U. þe] D omits.] Line 228 And prouen it be þe pistil · þat petir is nempnid;

Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, saluus erit."

[þe pistil] apostil U. is nemp|nid] it nemnyþ D. saluus erit] U omits.] "Þat is in extremis," quod scripture · "as sarisines & Iewis [is] U omits. as] among U.] Mowe be sauid so · & so is oure beleue; [so is] þat U (omitting is).] Þat [an] vncristene in þat cas · may cristene an heþene, [þat—cas] þat oon cristen in cas U. [an] oon U; arn TH₂; buþ D; see note.] And for his lele beleue · whanne he his lif tyneþ, Line 233 Haue eritage in heuene · as an heiȝ cristene. [Haue] Haue an U.] Ac cristene men, god wot · comiþ not so to heuene; For cristene han a degre · & is þe comun speche,

Dilige deum, etc., Et proximum tuum sicut teipsum.

[degre] dirige U. is þe] our U. Dilige, &c.] Nemo, &c. U (see l. 255).] Godis word witnessiþ we shuln ȝiue · & dele oure enemys, [we—ȝiue] þat we schal þeue (!) U (by error for yeue).] Line 237 And alle men þat arn nedy · [as] pore men & suche, [folio 51b]

Dum tempus est, operemur bonum ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.

[[as H₂U] & T; D omits. fidei] H₂ omits.] Alle kynne creatures · þat to crist beleuiþ [Alle kynde creatours þat crist ben y-lyche U. beleuiþ] longen D.]

We be holde heiȝly · to herie & honoure, [We—holde] We ben I-holde U; Ben holde D.] Line 240 And ȝiuen hem of oure good · as good as oure seluen, [oure] here D. oure seluen] hem-seluen D.] And souereynliche to suche · þat sewen oure beleue; [þat sewen] as suen U.] Þat is, iche cristene man · be kynde to oþer, [is] U omits. kynde] kende U.] And siþen hem to helpe · in hope hem to amende. [to helpe] helpyn D. to] D omits.] Line 244 To harme hem ne slen hem · god hiȝte vs neuere; [ne] ne to H₂; or to U.] For he seiþ it hym-selfe · in his ten hestis, [For] U omits.] [Non] mecaberis, ne sle nouȝt · is þe kynde englissh,

For, Michi [vindicta], et ego retribuam;

[[Non UD] Ne TH₂. mecaberis] Sic; (the mistake is the author's). kynde] D om. [vindicta] vindictam TH₂UD (all wrong).] I shal punisshen in purcatory · or in þe put of helle [punisshen] pyne U.] Eche man for his misdede · but mercy it make." [Eche] Euery U.] Line 249 "Ȝet am I neuere þe ner · for nouȝt I haue walkid [nouȝt] nowth þat U.] To wyte what is do-wel · witterly in herte; For how so I werche in þis world · [wrong] oþer ellis, [So the line stands in D; TH₂ omit wrong; U reads, For how so I werche · wrong or ellis.] I was markid, withoute mercy · & myn name entrid [withoute] with U.] Line 253 In þe legende of lif · longe er I were; [þe] H₂ omits. were] ded ware U.] Or ellis vndir-writen for wykkid · as witnessiþ þe gospel,

Nemo ascendet ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit.

[vndirwriten] vnwrite U. wykkid—gospel] wiled · þus seiþ þe gospel U.] And I leue on oure lord · & on no lettrure betere; [And—on] And I leue it, be D; And beleue on H₂. lettrure] lettere U.] Line 256 For salamon þe sage · þat sapience made, God ȝaf [hym] grace · & richesse to-gidere [[hym UD] hem TH₂.] For to reule his reaum · riȝt at his wille; Dede he not wel & wisly · as holy chirche techiþ, [& wisly] ne wysly D.] Line 260 Boþe in werke & in woord · in world in his tyme? Aristotle & he · who wrouȝte betere?

And al holy chirche · holden hem in helle! [al] U omits. hem] hym D.] And was þere neuere in þis world · to wysere of werkis; [þere] U omits. to] two D; no U.] For alle cunnynge clerkis · siþþe crist ȝede on erþe Line 265 Taken ensaumples of here sawis · in sarmonis þat þei maken, [ensaumples] ensaumple H₂; exsample U. maken] maden H₂.] And be here werkis & here wordis · wissen vs to dowel; And ȝif I shal werke be here werkis · to wynne me heuene, [werkis] werk U; wordes D.] Line 268 And for here werkis & for here wyt · wende to pyne, [And I for here werkis · wende to pyne U.] Þanne wrouȝte I vnwisly · wiþ alle þe wyt þat I lere! [þanne—I] þan wroutty U. vnwisly] vnwittily U. þat] D om.] A goode friday, I fynde · a feloun was sauid Þat hadde lyued al his lyf · wiþ lesinges & þeftis; [U omits this line.] Line 272 And for he kneuȝ on þe crois · & to crist shref hym, [And—on] For he knelyd to U. kneuȝ] knew H₂D. shref] so in TDH₂; schrof U.] Sonnere hadde he saluacion · þanne seint Ion þe baptist, [he] UD omit.] Or Adam or ysaye · or any of þe prophetis, [þe] þese U; those H₂.] Þat hadde leyn with lucifer · manye longe ȝeris; [with] be U.] Line 276 A robbere hadde remission · raþere þanne þei alle, [folio 52a] Withoute penaunce of purcatorie · to haue paradis for euere. [of] in U.] Þanne marie þe maudeleyn · who miȝte do wers? [þe] UD omit.] Or who dede wers þanne dauid · þat vrie destroyede? [who] U omits.] Or poule þe apostil · þat no pite ne hadde, [ne] UD omit.] Line 281 Cristene kynde · to kille to deþe? And arn [none] for soþe · souereynes in heuene, [[none U; non DH₂] now T. souereynes] souereyn D. Arn none for sothe · so fer in hefne U.] As þise þat wrouȝte wykkidly · in world whanne þei were. Line 284 And ȝet I forget [ferþere] · of fyue wyttis techinge, [These two lines are corruptly given in all the MSS. See Critical Note.]

Þat clergie of cristis mouþ · comendite [was euer]; [These two lines are corruptly given in all the MSS. See Critical Note.] For he seide it hym-selfe · to summe of his disciplis, [285—287. U omits.]

[Cum] steteritis ante presides, nolite cogitare [quid loquamini];

[[Cum U] Dum TH₂D. [quid loquamini] In U only.] And is as muche to mene · to men þat ben lewid, [And] It U. as] H₂ omits.] Line 288 'Wheþer ȝe ben aposid of princes · or of prestis of þe lawe, [Wheþer] Whar D; Whan U. or of] othir of H₂; or UD.] For to answere hem · haue ȝe no doute, [hem] hym D.] For I shal graunte ȝow grace · of god þat ȝe seruen, Þe help of þe holy gost · to answere hem at wille.' [at wille] alle UD.] Line 292 Þe douȝtiest doctour · or dyuynour of þe trinite, [or—trinite] dempnour of þe lawe U] Þat Austyn þe olde · & hiȝeste of þe foure, [þat] þat was U. hiȝeste] þe heist U.] Seide þis for a sarmoun · (so me god helpe!)

Ecce ipsi [ydiote] rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapientes in infernum mergemur;

[Seide þis] And seide þus U. [ydiote U] ydioti TH₂; Idioti D. rapiunt] rapuerunt H₂. vbi—merge|mur] et nos cum doctrinis nostris demergemur in infernum U.] And is to mene in oure mouþ · more ne lesse, Line 296 'Arn none raþere yrauisshid · fro þe riȝte beleue [Arn] Buþ D. fro] for D.] Þanne arn þise grete clerkis · þat conne many bokis; [þanne—þise] þan þese U; Than buþ D.] Ne none sonnere ysauid · ne saddere of consience, Þanne pore peple as plouȝmen · and pastours of bestis.' [and] or D.] Souteris & seweris · suche lewide iottis [suche] and swiche U. iottis] Iuttis U.] Line 301 Percen wiþ a pater noster · þe paleis of heuene, [Percen] Pasen U.] Wiþoute penaunce, at here partynge · in-to heiȝe blisse!

Breuis oracio penetrat celum."

[

heiȝe] þe heye U; the heȝe H₂. Breuis—celum] UD omit.

OBS. See Critical Notes as to this ending.

]