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 IX. (DO-WEL I.)

[TITLE. Passus nonus LO; Passus Nonus de visione, vt supra CR; to which W adds et primus de Do-bet (an obvious mistake); B adds, et se|cundus de Dowel. But Crowley has the correct title.] Passus nonus [de visione; et primus de dowel.]

"Sire dowel dwelleth," quod witte · "nouȝt a day hennes, [A page 110] In a castel þat kynde made · of foure kynnes þinges; [kynnes] maner R.] Of erthe and eyre is it made · medled togideres, [eyre] of Eyr WB; heyer R. is it] is it (printed it is) W.] With wynde and with water · witterly enioyned. Line 4 Kynde hath closed þere-Inne · craftily with-alle, A lemman þat he loueth · like to hym-selue, [like] y-liche R.] Anima she hatte · ac enuye hir hateth, [hatte] hatteth R.] A proude pryker of Fraunce · prynceps huius mundi, Line 8 And wolde winne hir awey · with wyles, and he myȝte. [folio 35] ¶ Ac kynde knoweth þis wel · and kepeth hir þe bettere, [Ac] And CR.] And hath do hir with sire dowel · is duke of þis marches. [And—do] And hath I-do R; As does C; And dooþ W; As doþ B. sire] R om. þis] þe R.] Dobet is hir damoisele · sire doweles douȝter, Line 12 To serue þis lady lelly · bothe late and rathe. Dobest is aboue bothe · a bisschopes pere; [A page 111] [aboue] aboute R.] Þat he bit, mote be do · he reuleth hem alle; [do] don B; doon O. reuleth] reule C.] Anima þat lady · is ladde bi his lerynge. [lerynge] lernyng R.] Line 16

Line 16 ¶ Ac þe constable of þat castel · þat kepeth al þe wacche, Is a wys kniȝte with-al · sire Inwitte he hatte, And hath fyue feyre sones · bi his first wyf; Sire sewel and saywel · and herewel þe hende, [herewel] sire here-wel R.] Line 20 Sire worche-wel-wyth-þine-hande · a wiȝte man of strengthe, [Sire] And CB.] And sire godfrey gowel · gret lordes for sothe. [gret lordes] a grete lord R.] Þise fyue ben sette · to saue þis lady anima, [saue] kepe W. lady] R om.] Tyl kynde come or sende · to saue hir for euere." Line 24 ¶ "What kynnes thyng is kynde," quod I · "canstow me telle?" [kynnes] kynne R; COB om.] ¶ "Kynde," quod witte, "is a creatour · of alle kynnes þinges; [creatour] creature COB. alle kynnes] alkynge C; alkynne R; alkyns O.] Fader and fourmour · of al þat euere was maked; And þat is þe gret god · gynnynge had neuere, [þat—gret] þe get (sic) R.] Line 28 Lorde of lyf and of lyȝte · of lysse and of peyne. [lysse] blisse RB.] [Transposed in B.] Angeles and al þing · aren at his wille. [Transposed in B.] Ac man is hym moste lyke · of marke and of schafte; [hym moste] most hym R. schafte] schape C.] For þorugh þe worde þat he spake · wexen forth bestes,

Dixit, & facta sunt;

[wexen] so in LRO; woxen WCB. Dixit] Et dixit B. sunt] sunt, &c. CB.] ¶ And made man likkest · to hym-self one, [A page 112] [likkest] I-likest R.] Line 33 And Eue of his ribbe-bon · with-outen eny mene. [mene] mede B.] For he was synguler hym-self · and seyde faciamus, [and] R om.] As who seith, 'more mote here-to · þan my worde one; [mote here-to] mut þerto O.] My myȝte mote helpe · now with my speche.' [now] forþ W.] Line 37 Riȝte as a lorde sholde make lettres · and hym lakked parchemyn, [a] C om.]

Þough he couth write neuere so wel · ȝif he had no penne, [no] a CB.] Þe lettre[s] for al þe lordship · I leue were neuere ymaked. [lettres O] lettre LWCRB; Crowley has letters; see l. 38.] Line 40 ¶ And so it semeth bi hym · as þe bible telleth,Þere he seyde,

dixit, & facta sunt;

[semeth] semed R. bible] book COB. he seyde] it sayes C; hit seiþ B; he seyþ O.] He moste worche with his worde · and his witte shewe. And in þis manere was man made · þorugh myȝte of god almiȝti, With his worde and werkemanschip · and with lyf to laste. Line 44 And þus god gaf hym a goost · of þe godhed of heuene, [of] þoruȝ W. godhed] godded R.] And of his grete grace · graunted hym blisse, [folio 35b] And þat is lyf þat ay shal last · to al [his] lynage after. [[his WR] LCOB om. lynage] lynages CO.] And þat is þe castel þat kynde made · caro it hatte, [þat] þis R. castel] catel (!) RB.] Line 48 And is as moche to mene · as man with a soule; [is] þat is O.] And þat he wrouȝt with werke · and with worde bothe, [worde] his wordes R.] Þorugh myȝte of þe maieste · man was ymaked. ¶ Inwit and alle wittes · closed ben þer-inne, [Inwit] In-wyttis B. closed] I-clothed R.] Line 52 For loue of þe lady anima · þat lyf is ynempned; Ouer al in mannes body · he walketh and wandreth, [CB omit.] Ac in þe herte is hir home · and hir moste reste. [Ac] And WC. hir (1)] his C; B om. hir (2)] his CB.] Ac Inwitte is in þe hed · and to the herte he loketh, [Inwitte] wytt B. he] R om.] What anima is lief or loth · he lat hir at his wille; [or] & O. his] hire R.] Line 57 For after þe grace of god · þe grettest is Inwitte. ¶ Moche wo worth þat man · þat mys-reuleth his In|witte, [man] wiȝt R.] And þat be glotouns globbares · her god is her wombe;

Quorum deus venter est.

[globbares] glubberes WO; glob|bers C; clobberis B. venter] venter eorum B.] For þei seruen sathan · her soule shal he haue; [soule] so in R; soules WCOB.] Line 61 Þat liueth synful lyf here · her soule is liche þe deuel. [soule] soules C. deuel] deuelis O.] And alle þat lyuen good lyf · aren like god almiȝti,

Qui manet in caritate, in deo manet, &c.

[like] lik to WCOB.] ¶ Allas! þat drynke shal for-do · þat god dere bouȝte, [bouȝte] abouȝte COB.] And doth god forsaken hem · þat he shope to his lik|nesse;

Amen dico vobis, nescio vos: & alibi: et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum.

[he shope] schope hem R. & alibi—eorum] R om. eorum] &c. CB.] Line 65 ¶ Foles þat fauten Inwitte · I fynde þat holicherche [A page 113] [fauten] faylen B.] Shulde fynden hem þat hem [fauteth] · and faderelees children; [hem (2)] R om. [fauteth RCOB] fauted LW; marked in L.] And wydwes þat han nouȝte wher-with · to wynnen hem her fode, [CB omit.] Line 68 Madde men, and maydenes · þat helplees were; Alle þise lakken Inwitte · and lore bihoueth. ¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · make a longe tale, And fynde fele witnesses · amonges þe foure doctours, [witnesses] witnesse CR.] And þat I lye nouȝt of þat I lere þe · luke bereth wit|nesse. [of—þe] I lerethe (sic) R.] Line 73 ¶ Godfader and godmoder · þat sen her godchildren [Godfader] Godfadir OB; God|fadres W. godmoder] godmodir OB; godmodres W.] At myseise and at mischief · and mowe hem amende, [At] þat is R. at] COB om.] Shal haue penaunce in purgatorie · but ȝif þei hem helpe. [ȝif] if COB; W om.] Line 76 For more bilongeth to þe litel barne · ar he þe lawe knowe, Þan nempnyng of a name · and he neuere þe wiser! [he] CB om.] Shulde no crystene creature · crien atte ȝate,

Ne faille payn ne potage · and prelates did as þei shulden. [Ne] And R.] Line 80 A Iuwe wolde nouȝte se a Iuwe · go iangelyng for de|faute, For alle þe moebles on þis molde · and he amende it miȝte. [folio 36] [moebles] mebles WOB; nobles (!) R. on] of RB.] ¶ Allas! þat a cristene creature · shal be vnkynde til an other, [cristene WCROB] spelt cres|tene in L. be] be so OB. til] to CB.] Sitthen Iuwes þat we iugge · Iudas felawes, [Sitthen] Syn W.] Line 84 Ayther of hem helpeth other · of þat þat hym nedeth. [Ayther—hem] þat ayther R. þat þat] hem þat R. hym] hem W.] Whi nel we cristene · of cristes good be as kynde [nel] nyl C; nylen O; ne wil R; ne wille B.] As Iuwes, þat ben owre lores-men? · shame to vs alle! [shame] to schame R.] Þe comune for her vnkyndenesse · I drede me, shul abye. [vnkyndenesse] wikkednesse CB. abye] abide B.] Line 88 ¶ Bisschopes shul be blamed · for beggeres sake; He is worse þan Iudas · þat ȝiueth a iaper siluer, [a iaper] Iapers COB.] And biddeth þe begger go · for his broke clothes:

Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda, qui patrimo|nium christi minus distribuit: & alibi:

Perniciosus dispensator est, qui res pauperum Christi inutiliter consumit.

[biddeth] bit R. begger] beg|geris B. go] go forþ B. minus] minus LCROB; minus or mimis W. est] O om. Christi] COB om.] He doth nouȝt wel þat doth þus · ne drat nouȝt god almiȝty, [drat] drad R; drat, altered to drad C.] Line 92 Ne loueth nouȝt salamones sawes · þat sapience tauȝte; [A page 114]

Inicium sapiencie, timor domini:

[Ne] He W.] ¶ Þat dredeth god, he doth wel; · þat dredeth hym for loue, [COB have one long line— Dred god for loue & þou doste wel · but nouȝt for vengeaunce, and þou dost bet.] [dredeth] drat R (bis).]

And nouȝt for drede of veniaunce · doth þer-fore þe bettere; [COB have one long line— Dred god for loue & þou doste wel · but nouȝt for vengeaunce, and þou dost bet.] [R has—And drad hym nauȝt for loue of vengeance · to do þe bettere.] He doth best, þat with-draweth hym · by day and bi nyȝte [He doth] thow dost COB. þat—hym] if þow withdrawe COB.] Line 96 To spille any speche · or any space of tyme;

Qui offendit in [vno], in omnibus est reus.

[[vno WCOB] verbo LR; see p. 184. in—est] est in omnibus COB.] ¶ Lesyng of tyme · treuthe wote þe sothe! Is moste yhated vp erthe · of hem þat beth in heuene, [yhated] hatid O. vp] vpon WOB.] And sitthe to spille speche · þat spyre is of grace, [sitthe] seche R. spyre] spire CROB; spicerie W.] Line 100 And goddes gleman · and a game of heuene; Wolde neuere þe faithful fader · his fithel were vn|tempred, [his] þis W. vntempred] vn|tymbred R.] Ne his gleman a gedelynge · a goer to tauernes! [101—103. C omits from and in 101 to gleman in 103.] ¶ To alle trew tidy men · þat trauaille desyren, Line 104 Owre lorde loueth hem and lent · loude other stille, [hem] O om. other] eiþer O.] Grace to go to hem · and agon her lyflode;

Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono.

[to hem] to hem tille R. agon] agoon RO; ofgon W.] ¶ Trewe wedded libbing folk · in þis worlde is dowel; [A page 117] For þei mote worche & wynne · and þe worlde susteyne. [mote] musten O.] For of her kynde þei come · þat confessoures ben nempned, [þei] he R.] Line 109 Kynges and kniȝtes · kayseres and cherles, [Kaysers and kyngis · knyȝttis and clerkis B.] Maydenes and martires · out of o man come. [o] a COB.] Þe wyf was made þe weye · for to help worche, Line 112 And þus was wedloke ywrouȝt · with a mene persone; First bi þe faderes wille · and þe frendes conseille,

And sytthenes bi assent of hem-self · as þei two myȝte acorde. And thus was wedloke ywrouȝte · and god hym-self it made; [folio 36b] [113—116. R omits from with a mene to ywrouȝte.] Line 116 In erthe þe heuene is · hym-self was þe witnesse. [þe—is] þere heuen is R; and in heuene W. was þe] bereþ WCB.] ¶ Ac fals folke faithlees · theues and lieres, [faithlees] and faithles R.] Wastoures and wrecches · out of wedloke, I trowe, Conceyued ben in yuel tyme · as caym was on Eue. [in] R om. on] and B.] Line 120 Of such synful shrewes · þe sauter maketh mynde,

Concepit in dolore, et peperit iniquitatem, &c.:

[in dolore] dolorem R. &c.] RB om.] And alle þat come of þat caym · come to yuel ende. [A page 118] For god sent to seem · and seyde bi an angel, [For] And W. seem] sem B. an] þe CB.] Þyne issue in þyne issue · I wil þat þei be wedded, And nouȝt þi kynde with caymes · ycoupled ne yspoused. [caymes] caym R. ne] nor W.] Line 125 ¶ Ȝet some, aȝein þe sonde · of owre saueoure of heuene, [saueoure] lorde CB.] Caymes kynde & his kynde · coupled togideres, [his] her B.] Tyl god wratthed for her werkis · and suche a worde seyde, [CB have one long line— Til god saide for wrathe · þat I maked man me a-thynkes.] [for] wiþ O.] Line 128 'Þat I maked man · now it me athynketh, [CB have one long line— Til god saide for wrathe · þat I maked man me a-thynkes.]

Penitet me fecisse hominem.'

[now] W om. athynketh] for|þynkeþ W; þinketh R.] ¶ And come to Noe anon · and bad hym nouȝt lette: [come] somme C; sente B.] 'Swithe go shape a shippe · of shides and of bordes. [of (2)] CB om.] Þi self and þi sones three · and sithen ȝowre wyues, [self] folk B. three] þre (not printed) W; B om.] Buske ȝow to þat bote · and bideth ȝe þer-inne, Line 133 Tyl fourty dayes be fulfilde · þat [þe] flode haue ywasshen [[þe W] LCROB om. Crowley retains it. ywasshen] Iwasted R.] Clene awey þe cursed blode · þat caym hath ymaked.

¶ Bestes þat now ben · shulle banne þe tyme, [A page 119] Line 136 Þat euere þat cursed caym · come on þis erthe; Alle shal deye for his dedes · bi dales and bi hulles, [bi (2)] R om.] And þe foules þat fleeghen · for[th] with other bestes, [forth] so in CWROB; L has for, but the line is marked.] Excepte oneliche · of eche kynde a couple, [of eche kynde] of ich a kynde & O. eche] on R.] Line 140 Þat in þi shyngled shippe · shul ben ysaued.' [þi] þis R.] Here abouȝt[e] þe barne · þe belsyres gultes, [abouȝte] WCRB; bouȝte O; abouȝt L. belsyres] belsire C. gultes] giltes WCRB.] And alle for her forfadres · þei ferden þe worse. [forfadres] fadres W. her for|fadres] his sake B.] Þe gospel is here-ageine · in o degre, I fynde,

Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, & pater non portabit iniquitatem filii, &c.

[&—portabit] nec pater R. portabit iniq: filii, &c] &c C; por|tabit, &c O; B om.] Line 144 ¶ Ac I fynde, if þe fader · be false and a shrewe, Þat somdel þe sone · shal haue þe sires tacches. [þe] of þe B. sires] sire CR.] Line 146 ¶ Impe on an ellerne · and if þine apple be swete, [on] in C; vpon R. ellerne] Ellere W; ellern tree B. if] B om. ] Mochel merueile me þynketh · & more of a schrewe, [þynketh] thynk C.] Þat bryngeth forth any barne · but if he be þe same, And haue a sauoure after þe sire · selde seestow other;

Numquam [colligimus] de spinis vuas, nec de tribulis fycus.

[[colligimus COB] colligitur LWR. vuas] vua W.] And þus þourw cursed caym · cam care vppon erthe; [folio 37] And al for þei wrouȝt wedlokes · aȝein goddis wille. [wedlokes] wedlok COB.] For-þi haue þei maugre for here mariages · þat marye so her childeren; [For-þi—þei] For þei haue þe B. for] of W. for—mariages] COB om. marye so] so marien CO; marien B. þat—so] as men marien now R.] Line 153 For some, as I se now · soth for to telle, For coueitise of catel · vnkyndeliche ben wedded. As careful concepcioun · cometh of suche mariages, [As] Ac OB; And C. of suche] to þat R.] Line 156

Line 156 As bifel of þe folke · þat I bifore of tolde. [þe] þat R.] [i. boni] [i. bonas] ¶ For goode shulde wedde goode · þough hij no good hadde; [R omits.] [For] Ther-fore W. The gloss i. boni means id est, boni. hij] þei WO; huy B.] 'I am via & veritas,' seith cryst · 'I may auaunce alle.' [R omits.] [I] For I CB. seith] seid B. seith cryst] O om. alle] yow alle W. I—alle] as me þynkeþ B.] ¶ It is an oncomely couple · bi cryst, as me þinketh, [B transposes these lines.] [an oncomely] an vnkouþe C; a wondur B. cryst] Ihesus R.] To ȝyuen a ȝonge wenche · to an olde feble, [B transposes these lines.] [feble] febil man B.] Line 161 Or wedden any widwe · for welth of hir goodis, [widwe] wodewe W.] Þat neuere shal barne bere · but if it be in armes! [if] B om. in] in hir W.] Many a peire sithen þe pestilence · han pliȝt hem to|gideres; [A page 120] [þe] B om.] Line 164 Þe fruit þat þei brynge forth · aren foule wordes, [þei] W om.] In ialousye ioyeles · and ianglyng on bedde. [R omits. ioyeles] geolous B. on bedde] abedde CB.] Haue þei no children but cheste · an choppyng hem bitwene. [cheste] cheeste W; chydes C; iangelynge R. choppyng] clappyng W; gaying (sic) R.] ¶ And þough þei don hem to donmowe · but if þe deuel help Line 168 To folwen after þe flicche · fecche þei it neuere; And but þei bothe be forsworne · þat bacoun þei tyne. [168—170. R has— And for to go to dunmowe · to fecche hom here bakon, And whan þei haue brouȝt it hom · to whom is best to selle it, And þus þei lyuen in coueytise · þe deuel and þei to-gyderes.] [And] B om.] ¶ For-þi I conseille alle crystene · coueite nouȝt be wedded [crystene] cristen men B. be] to be R.] For coueitise of catel · ne of kynrede riche. [catel] no catel B. kynrede] no kynrede B.] Line 172 Ac maydenes and maydenes · macche ȝow togideres, [macche] make R.] Widwes and widwers · worcheth þe same. [Widwes—widwers] Wydeweres and wydewes R.]

For no londes, but for loue · loke ȝe be wedded, [londes] laudes (for landes) C. ȝe] þat ȝe R.] And þanne gete ȝe þe grace of god · and good ynogh to lyue with. [þe] R om.] Line 176 ¶ And euery maner seculer · þat may nouȝt continue, [continue] contene O; con|teyne B.] Wysly go wedde · and war hym fro synne; [go] to B.] For leccherye in likyng · is lymeȝerde of helle. [likyng] lokyng COB.] Whiles þow art ȝonge · and þi wepne kene, Line 180 Wreke þe with wyuynge · ȝif þow [wilt] ben excused. [Wreke] Werke O. [wilt O] wolt WCB; wil L. Dum] Cum CB.] Dum sis vir fortis · ne des tua robora scortis, Scribitur in portis · meretrix est ianua mortis. ¶ Whan ȝe haue wyued, bewar · and worcheth in tyme; Line 184 Nouȝt as Adam & Eue · whan caym was engendred. [177—185. R omits.] For in vntyme, trewli · bitwene man & womman, [For] And R. in vntyme] vnite (!) CB.] Ne shulde no bourde on bedde be; · but if þei bothe were clene [bourde] berde R. on bedde] a-bedde R; on (printed or) bedde W. bothe] CB om.] Bothe of lyf and of soule · and in parfyte charitee, [Bothe] R om. and] L really has & and, evidently by mistake.] Line 188 Þat ilke derne dede · do noman ne sholde. [ne] R om.] And if þei leden þus her lyf · it [likeþ] god almiȝti; [folio 37b] [And] But CB. leden] ledden R. [likeþ WOB] likes C; liked LR.] For he made wedloke firste · and him-self it seide; [A page 121]

Bonum est vt unusquisque vxorem suam habeat, propter fornicacionem.

[propter, &c.] R om.] ¶ And þei þat oþergatis ben geten · for gedelynges ben holden, Line 192 As false folke fondelynges · faitoures and lyars; [As] And RB.] Vngracious to gete goode · or loue of þe poeple, Wandren and wasten · what þei cacche mowe. [þei] þe C.]

Aȝeines dowel þei don yuel · and þe deuel serue, Line 196 And after her deth-day · shulle dwelle with þe same, [shulle dwelle] soule dwelles C; þe soule shal dwelle B. same] deuel R.] But god gyue hem grace here · hem-self to amende. [hem] hym C.] ¶ Dowel, my frende, is · to don as lawe techeth, [to] CB om. as] as þe COB.] To loue þi frende and þi foo · leue me, þat is dobet. To ȝiuen and to ȝemen · bothe ȝonge and olde, Line 201 To helen and to helpen · is dobest of alle. [199—202. R omits.] ¶ And dowel is to drede god · and dobet to suffre, [dowel is] þus is dowel R. to] (2)] is to COB.] And so cometh dobest of bothe · and bryngeth adoun þe mody, Line 204 And þat is wikked wille · þat many werke shendeth, [werke] a werk W; werkes R.] And dryueth away dowel · þorugh dedliche synnes." [dryueth] dryue C. þorugh] with CB. synnes] syne COB.]