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 XIII (DO-WEL V).

[TITLE. Passus terciodecimus LCO; Passus xiijus, &c. W; Passus duode|cimus (!) de visione, vt supra R; Passus tercius decimus et Sextus [read Quintus] de dowel B.] Passus terciodecimus.

And I awaked þere-with · witles nerehande, [awaked] wakede O.] And as a freke þat fre were · forth gan I walke [a] C om. fre] fere R; fey B. walke] walken R.] In manere of a mendynaunt · many a ȝere after, [a mendynaunt] amendement (!) B. a (2)] RCOB om.] And of þis metyng many tyme · moche þouȝt I hadde. [tyme] tymes R.] Line 4 First, how fortune me failled · at my moste nede, And how þat elde manaced me · myȝt we euere meten; [manaced] mansed R. myȝt—euere] we miȝte neuere COB.] And how þat freris folwed · folke þat was riche, [was] weren O.] And folke þat was pore · at litel prys þei sette, [was] weren O.] Line 8 And no corps in her kirkeȝerde · ne in her kyrke was buryed, [ne] nor W. her (2)] hir (printed his) W; C om. was] were R.] But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte · or shulde helpe quyte her dettes. [folio 53] [quikke] þei quyk B. he] CB om. hem] hym B; W om. or—quyte] to quyte wiþ W.] And how þis coueitise ouercome · clerkes and prestes, [þis] COB om.; þus R.] And how þat lewed men ben ladde · but owre lorde hem helpe, Line 12 Þorugh vnkonnynge curatoures · to incurable peynes. [peynes] peyne C.]

¶ And how þat ymagynatyf · in dremeles me tolde, [dremeles] dremes C.] Of kynde and of his connynge · and how curteise he is to bestes, [his] COB om.] And how louynge he is to bestes · on londe and on water; [is] his C. bestes] briddes W.] Line 16 Leueth he no lyf · lasse ne more; [Leueth] Leueþ or Leneþ (printed Leneth) W.] Þe creatures þat crepen · of kynde ben engendred. And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde · vix iustus sal|uabitur, [sitthen] COB om. iustus] W om.] And whan he had seyde so · how sodeynelich he passed. [14—20. R omits.] Line 20 ¶ I lay down longe in þis þouȝte · and atte laste I slepte, [down] CB om.] And, as cryste wolde, þere come conscience · to conforte me þat tyme, [þat] in þat R.] And bad me come to his courte · with clergye sholde I dyne. [me] O om. sholde] shul C.] ¶ And for conscience of clergye spake · I come wel þe rather, [come] com WC; cam RB.] Line 24 And þere I say a maistre · what man he was I neste, [say] seiȝ WCO. neste] so in LRC; nyste WOB.] Þat lowe louted · and loueliche to scripture. [louted] a-loutid B.] ¶ Conscience knewe hym wel · and welcomed hym faire; [Conscience] Conscien C. wel] B om.] Þei wesshen and wypeden · and wenten to þe dyner. [wesshen] wasscheden O; wes|shenden (sic) C. wypeden] wipten B. wenten] wente R; went C. þe] COB om.] Line 28 Ac pacience in þe paleis stode · in pilgrymes clothes, [Ac] And WC.] And preyde mete for charite · for a pore heremyte. [for (1)] par WO; pur B.] ¶ Conscience called hym in · and curteisliche seide,

"Welcome, [wye!] go and wasshe · þow shalt sitte sone." [[wye WO] weye R; wy C; L wye, altered to wyel ȝe; B om.] Line 32 ¶ Þis maister was made sitte · as for þe moste worthy, [as] and COB.] And þanne clergye and conscience · and pacience cam after. [And] COB om.] ¶ Pacience and I · were put to be macches, [put] pote R. be macches] ben mettes R.] And seten by owre selue · at a syde-borde. [seten] sitten C. a] þe W] Line 36 ¶ Conscience called after mete · and þanne cam scripture, And serued hem þus sone · of sondry metes manye, [hem] hym R.] Of austyn, of ambrose · of alle þe foure euangelistes;

Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt.

[of alle] and of W. Edentes] Edentes (printed Edentis) W.] Ac þis maister ne his man · no manere flesshe eten, [Ac] And C. ne] nor W.] Line 40 Ac þei ete mete of more coste · mortrewes and potages; [Ac] And C. ete mete] hadde metes R. mortrewes] mortreux C.] Of þat men mys-wonne · þei made hem wel at ese. [wel] B om.] Ac her sauce was ouer soure · & vnsauourely grounde, [Ac] And C. ouer] euere COB. grounde] y-grounde CB.] In a morter, post-mortem · of many bitter peyne, [many] many a W. peyne] peynes O.] Line 44 But if þei synge for þo soules · and wepe salt teres:

Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas & orationes effunderitis, ea que in delicijs comeditis, in tormentis euometis.

[þo] the COB. and wepe] with many R. lacrimas] lacrimis C. L has in the margin—contra sacerdotes.] Conscience ful curteisly þo · comaunded scripture [ful] L has for altered to ful; ful WR; COB om.] Bifor pacience bred to brynge · and me þat was his macche. [folio 53b] [macche] make COB; mete R.] He sette a soure lof to-for vs · and seyde, "agite peni|tenciam," [lof] lafe C. to-for] to-forn W.] Line 48

Line 48 And sith he drough vs drynke · [diu]-perseuerans. [W has—And siþþe he brouȝte vs drynke · Dia perseuerans—(omit|ted in printed copy). [diu OB] dia LWR; dya C.] "As longe," quod I, "as I lyue · and lycame may dure!" [As] Also B. I (1)] he RO. I lyue] lif R.] "Here is propre seruice," quod pacience · "þer fareth no prynce bettere;" [is] C om.] ¶ And þanne he brouȝt vs forth a mees of other mete · of Miserere-mei-deus; [vs] COB om. a mees of] COB om. deus] R om.] Line 52 And he brouȝte vs of Beati-quorum · of beatus-virres makynge, [he—vs] COB om. vs] R om. of (2)] and of R. virres] so in LW; vir COB; vir his R.] Et-quorum-tecta-sunt- · peccata in a disshe [Et] And R.] Of derne shrifte, dixi · and confitebor tibi! [and] & W.] "Brynge pacience some pitaunce" · pryueliche quod conscience; [Brynge] And brynge CB. pitaunce] CB om. pryueliche] O om.] Line 56 ¶ And þanne had pacience a pitaunce · pro-hac-orabit|ad-te-omnis-sanctus-in-tempore-oportuno; [And] R om. C begins—And thanne come to pacience · a pitaunce ybroughte; O has the same; B the same, with com þer for come. pro] Of pro COB. ad te] R om.] And conscience conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales,

Cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non de|spicies.

[humiliatum] miswritten humi|litatum in L.] ¶ Pacience was proude · of þat propre seruice, And made hym muirth with his mete · ac I morned euere, [mete] mene R. ac] and C.] Line 60 For þis doctoure on þe heigh dese · dranke wyn so faste;

Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum!

[on—dese] vp-on þis hey deyes R. dranke] dronk R vinum] CB om.] ¶ He eet many sondry metes · mortrewes and puddynges, [He] And R. eet] ete CB. mor|trewes] mortreux C; mortrels B.] Wombe-cloutes and wylde braune · & egges yfrved with grece. [yfryed] fryed R; fried CB]

Þanne seide I to my-self · so pacience it herde, Line 64 "It is nouȝt foure dayes þat þis freke · bifor þe den of poules, [is] C om. den] deen WB; dene C. of] of seynt R.] Preched of penaunces · þat poule þe apostle suffred, [penaunces] penaunce C.] In fame & frigore · and flappes of scourges;

Ter cesus sum, & a iudeis quinquies quadra|genas, &c.

[&] and C; et R.] ¶ Ac o worde þei ouerhuppen · at ech a tyme þat þei preche, [Ac] And C. ouerhuppen] ouerhippen CB. a] CB om. preche] prechen RCB.] Line 68 Þat poule in his pistel · to al þe peple tolde;

Periculum est in falsis fratribus.

[pistel] epistle O. al] O om. Periculum—in] Et in periculo R. in] O om.] Holywrit bit men be war · I wil nouȝt write it here [bit] biddiþ B; bides C. write] writen R; writte C.] On englisch, an auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte, [On] In WRB. an] on W; in B. auenture] aunter O.] And greue þere-with þat good men ben · ac gramarienes shul rede;

Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat, quia, vt dicitur, periculum est in falsis fratribus.

[þat] W om. men] COB om. ben] W om. ac] an C. rede] redde W.] Line 72 ¶ Ac I wist neuere freke þat as a frere ȝede · bifor men on englisshe [Ac] And C; R om. a] R om. on] an R.] Taken it for her teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge. [her] his W. telle] tellen R.] Þei prechen þat penaunce · is profitable to þe soule, [þei] Ac þei R.] And what myschief and malese · cryst for man tholed, [and] or COB. malese] male ese WRO; mal esse C; malaise B. tholed] tholde C.] Ac þis goddes gloton," quod I · "with his gret chekes, [Ac] And C.] Hath no pyte on vs pore · he perforneth yuel; [pore] pore men OB; pouere men C. perforneth] performeþ B.] Line 78 Þat he precheth he preueth nouȝt" · to pacience I tolde, [he—nouȝt] and preueth R.]

And wisshed witterly · with wille ful egre, [wisshed] wissed C. witterly] ful witterly W. ful] for (corrected to ful) L; ful WCROB.] Line 80 Þat disshes a[nd] dobleres · bifor þis ilke doctour, [and] miswritten a in L. do|bleres] doublers WC; doubleris O; dubbleris B. ilke] ille B; R om.] Were [molten] led in his maw · and Mahoun amyddes! [[molten WCOB] molte R; moltoun L. led] leded (!) C. his] here R.] "I shal iangle to þis Iurdan · with his iust wombe, [iust] mysty R; Iutte, corrected to Iuste O.] To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched rather."— [folio 54] [me] men O. rather] þere ay R.] Line 84 Pacience perceyued what I thouȝt · and wynked on me to be stille, [wynked—to] bad me R.] And seyde, "þow shalt se þus sone · whan he may no more, [shalt] salt C.] He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche · and puffe at ech a worde, [a (1)] C om. a (2)] CB om.] And þanne shullen his guttis godele · and he shal galpen after; [godele] godle R; goþele WC; groþele O; gruwe B.] Line 88 For now he hath dronken so depe · he wil deuyne sone, [wil] wole WRB. deuyne] dyuye (sic) B. In the margin of O—Doc|tours of freris.] And preuen it by her pocalips · and passioun of seynt Auereys, [by] R om.; by-for C. her pocalips] þe appocalipsis B.] Þat neither bacoun ne braune · blan[c]mangere ne mor|trewes [blancmangere] so in WCO; blaumanger or blanmanger L; bla|manger B; ne blanmanger R. mor|trewes] mortreux C; mortrels B.] Is noither fisshe [ne] flesshe · but fode for a penaunte. [fisshe] fisse C. [ne CROB] nor W; no L. fisshe—flesshe] fleisch ne fisch B. a penaunte] þe penauntes R; a penaunce C.] And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee · and take his felawe to witnesse, [þanne] C om. a] þe W. felawe] felawes COB.] Line 93 What he fonde in a freyel · after a freres lyuynge, [freyel] frayel WCB; freiel R. a (2)] COB om. freres lyuynge] frere leuynge R.]

And but if þe fyrst lyne be lesyng · leue me neuere after! [if] W om. þe—lyne] he first lyue W; þe first leef O; the first lif C; þe frust lif B.] And þanne is tyme to take · and to appose þis doctoure [take] talke R. to (2)] COB om.] Of dowel and of dobet · and if dobest be any pe|naunce."— [of (2)] WO om. dobest] dowel W. be] do B.] Line 97 ¶ And I sete stille, as pacience seyde · and þus sone þis doctour, [sete] sat WCROB. as] an (sic) C.] As rody as a rose · rubbed his chekes, [As] Al so B. rubbed] robbed R.] Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde, [Coughed] Couȝwede R; Com|sed B.] Line 100 And tolde hym of a trinite · and toward vs he loked. [vs] vs al C; vs alle B.] ¶ "What is dowel? sire doctour," quod I · "is dowel any penaunce?" [is (1)] his C. dowel] do-best R; it W.] ¶ "Dowel?" quod þis doctour— · and toke þe cuppe and dranke— [toke—dranke] dronk after R.] "Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene · nouȝt by þi powere." [Do] Is do W; Crowley also inserts Is; but see C-Text; and cf. l. 115.] Line 104 ¶ "By þis day, sire doctour," quod I · "þanne be ȝe nouȝt in dowel; [day] O om. þanne] COB om.] For ȝe han harmed vs two · in þat ȝe eten þe pud|dyng, [han] haue R.] Mortrewes, and other mete · and we no [morsel] hade! [Mortrewes] Mortreux C; Mor|trels B. [morsel WCB] mussel LRO.] And if ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie · ferly me þinketh, [if] R om. fermorie] Fer|merye WCR.] But chest be þere charite shulde be · & ȝonge childern dorste pleyne! [chest] cheeste W. be] O om. ȝonge] CB om.] Line 109 I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre · for I am in poynte to dowel!"

¶ Þanne conscience curteisliche · a contenaunce he made, [curteisliche] ful curteislich R. he] WCOB om.] And preynte vpon pacience · to preie me to be stille, [preynte] prentede R; prynkid B. pacience] penaunce B. to (2)] COB om.] And seyde hym-self, "sire doctour · and it be ȝowre wille, Line 113 What is dowel and dobet? · ȝe deuynours knoweth." ¶ "Dowel," quod þis doctour · "do as clerkes techeth, [do] dos R.] And dobet is he þat techeth · and trauailleth to teche other, Line 116 And dobest doth hym-self so · as he seith & precheth:—

Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur in regno celorum."

[doth] doo C.] ¶ "Now þow, clergye," quod conscience · "carpest what is dowel." [carpest] capest (by mistake) C.] "I haue seuene sones," he seyde · "seruen in a castel, [seuene] R om. in] at COB.] Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth · to leren hym what is dowel; [wonyeth] woneth CB. leren] lerne COB. hym] hem CB; WO om.] Line 120 ¶ Til I se þo seuene · and my-self acorden, I am vnhardy," quod he · "to any wyȝt to preue it. [to preue] proue R.] For one pieres þe ploughman · hath inpugned vs alle, [folio 54b] And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue one, [sciences] science RO. soppe] soep R; sope W.] Line 124 And no tixte ne taketh · to meyntene his cause, [taketh] takees C.] But dilige deum · and domine, quis habitabit, &c. And seith þat dowel and dobet · aren two infinites, [seith] seigh C. þat] O om. two] twa C.] Whiche infinites, with a feith · fynden oute dobest, [a] oo B.] Line 128 Which shal saue mannes soule · þus seith piers þe ploughman." [þe] CB om.] ¶ "I can nouȝt her-on," quod conscience · "ac I knowe wel pieres; [ac] and C. wel] COB om.]

He wil nouȝt aȝein holy writ speken · I dar wel vnder|take; [aȝein] aȝeynes R. dar wel] dar O; CB om. vndertake] vnder|stonde B.] Þanne passe we ouer til piers come · and preue þis in dede. Line 132 Pacience hath be in many place · and perauntre cnoweth [place] places CB; a place R. perauntre] par auenture RCO. cnoweth] knoweth RO; knowiþ B; knowes C; mouþed W.] Þat no clerke ne can · as cryst bereth witnesse;

Pacientes vincunt, &c."

[ne can] can R; knoweþ O.] "At ȝowre preyere," quod pacyence þo · "so no man displese hym; [At] so in CROB; written like Ac in LW. hym] hem R.] Disce," quod he, "doce · dilige inimicos. [quod] quod (printed quo) W. doce] & doce O. dilige] and dilige COB. In margin of L—disce, doce, et dilige.] Line 136 Disce, and dowel · doce, & dobet; Dilige, and dobest · þus tauȝte me ones [O omits.] A lemman þat I loued · loue was hir name. 'With wordes and with werkes,' quod she · 'and wille of þyne herte, [with (2)] COB om.] Line 140 Þow loue lelly þi soule · al þi lyf tyme; [þow] R om.] And so þow lere þe to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene, [þow] to R. þe (1)] and R. þe (2)] oure W.] Þine enemye in al wyse · euene forth with þi-selue. Cast coles on his hed · and al kynde speche, [and] of WRB.] Line 144 Bothe with werkes and with wordes · fonde his loue to wynne; [werkes—wordes] werke and word COB.] And lay on hym þus with loue · til he la[u]ghe on þe; [lay] ley R; leye WO; lye C; beie B. laughe C] lauȝe W; lauȝhe R; lawȝhe O; lauȝghe B; laghe L.] And but he bowe for þis betyng · blynde mote he worthe! ¶ Ac for to fare þus with þi frende · foly it were, [Ac] And C.] Line 148

Line 148 For he þat loueth þe lelly · lyte of þyne coueiteth. [lyte] litel WCB; litil O. coueiteth] desireth R.] Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte · no catel but speche, With half a laumpe lyne in latyne · ex vi transicionis.' [transicionis] transgressionis O.] ¶ I bere þere-inne aboute · fast ybounde dowel, [aboute] a beaut C; a beaute B. In margin of L—Solucion.] Line 152 In a signe of þe saterday · þat sette firste þe kalendare, And al þe witte of þe wednesday · of þe nexte wyke after; [And] In O. þe (2)] C om. wed|nesday] wodnesday W; wedenesday R. wyke] woke O.] Þe myddel of þe mone · is þe miȝte of bothe. And here-with am I welcome · þere I haue it with me." [is] as W. miȝte] nyght WCB.] ¶ "Vndo it, late þis doctour deme · if dowel be þer|inne; [late] and late R. deme] dem C; se R; sen (altered to deme) L. if] where R. þer-inne] here-inne R.] For, bi hym þat me made · miȝte neuere pouerte, Line 158 Miseise, ne myschief · ne man with his tonge, [Miseise] Misaise B. ne] ne no W.] Colde, ne care · ne compaignye of theues, Ne noither hete, ne haille · ne non helle pouke, [noither] nother R; neiþer WOB; nouther C.] Ne noither fuire ne flode · ne fere of þine enemy [noither] nother R; neiþer OCB; W om. enemy] enemyes O.] Line 162 Tene þe eny tyme · and þow take it with þe;

Caritas nichil timet.

[And eek, haue god my soule! · and þow wilt it craue, Þere nys neyther emperour ne emperesse · erl, kynge, ne baroun, Line 165 Pope, ne patriarch · þat puyre reson ne schal make Þe meyster of alle þo men · þoruȝ miȝt of þis redeles; Nouȝt thoruȝ wicche-crafte, but thoruȝ wit · (& þow wilt þi-selue) Line 168 Do kynge and quene · and alle þe comune after Ȝyue þe alle þat þei may ȝiue · as [for þe] best ȝemere, [[for þe] such is my conjecture; the MS has þe for.]

And, as þou demest, wil þei do · alle here dayes after;

Pacientes vincunt, &c."]

[164—171. In R only; but cf. C|Text, which has a passage epitomized from it.] ¶ "It is but a dido," quod þis doctour · "a dysoures tale. Al þe witt of þis worlde · and wiȝte mennes strengthe [folio 55] [and] ne R. wiȝte] wiþ O; wiȝth B.] Can nouȝt confourmen a pees · bytwene þe pope and his enemys, [þe pope] W om. cnemys] enmye B; enemye C.] Line 174 Ne bitwene two cristene kynges · can no wiȝte pees make, [wiȝte] wiȝth B.] Profitable to ayther peple" · and put þe table fro hym, And toke clergye and conscience · to conseille, as it were, Line 177 Þat pacience þo moste passe · for pilgrimes kunne wel lye. [pacience] pacien (sic) C. þo] þoo O; þow W. moste] moost C; mote R.] ¶ Ac conscience carped loude · and curteislich seide, [Ac] And C. loude] aloude R.] "Frendes, fareth wel" · and faire spake to clergye, Line 180 "For I wil go with þis gome · if god wil ȝiue me grace, [me] the CB.] And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued more." ¶ "What?" quod clergye to conscience · "ar ȝe coueitouse nouthe [ar] er C.] After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes · or ȝernen to rede redeles? [or (1)] an C; & O; and B. or (2)] other R. to] ye to C; ȝe to B. redeles] rideles CO.] I shal brynge ȝow a bible · a boke of þe olde lawe, Line 185 And lere ȝow, if ȝow lyke · þe leest poynte to knowe, [ȝow lyke] ȝe liken R. leest] best COB.] Þat pacience þe pilgryme · perfitly knewe neuere." [þat] R om. neuere] euere R.] ¶ "Nay, bi cryste," quod conscience to clergye · "god þe forȝelde, [to clergye] CB om.] Line 188 For al þat pacience me profreth · proude am I litel. [litel] ful litil O; but litile CB.] Ac þe wille of þe wye · and þe wille [of] folke here [Ac] And C. þe (2)] that CB. þe wille (2)] ȝe wolen O; ye wille CB. [of WO] LCRB om.] Hath moeued my mode · to mourne for my synnes. [moeued] meued WRO; moued C.]

Þe good wille of a wiȝte · was neure bouȝte to þe fulle; [a] vch a R. neure] nere R.] For þere nys no tresore þerto · to a trewe wille. [nys] is CB. þerto] for soþe W.] Line 193 ¶ Haued nouȝt Magdeleigne more · for a boxe of salue, [Haued] Hadde WCOB. Mag|deleigne] marie magdeleyne R; Mau|deleyne W.] Þan zacheus for he seide · dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus? [do] da C.] And þe pore widwe · for a peire of mytes, Line 196 Þan alle þo that offreden · in-to gazafilacium?" [gazafilacium] Gazophilacium W; gazofilacium R.] ¶ Þus curteislich conscience · congeyde fyrst þe Frere, [fyrst] O om.] And sithen softliche he seyde · in clergyes ere, [softliche] sothliche CB.] "Me were leuer, by owre lorde · and I lyue shulde, Line 200 Haue pacience perfitlich · þan half þi pakke of bokes!" [þi] this CB.] ¶ Clergye to conscience · no congeye wolde take, [to] of W; and R.] But seide ful sobreliche · "þow shalt se þe tyme, Whan þow art wery for-walked · wilne me to con|saille." [for-walked] of-walked W. wilne] wille W.] Line 204 ¶ "Þat is soth," seyde conscience · "so me god helpe! [seyde] quod WCOB.] If pacience be owre partyng felawe · and pryue with vs bothe, There nys wo in þis worlde · þat we ne shulde amende, [nys] ne is R; is no COB.] And confourmen Kynges to pees · and al kynnes londes, [al kynnes] alle kynnes W; alle kynne R; al kyns O.] Sarasenes and surre · and so forth alle þe iewes [Sarasenes] And Sarasynes R. surre] al Surrie B; surry C; Surrie R. þe] R om.] Line 209 Turne in-to þe trewe feithe · and in-til one byleue." [Turne] Turnen R; Torne C. one] oure B.] ¶ "Þat is soth," quod clergye · "I se what þow menest, I shal dwelle as I do · my deuore to shewen, [deuore] deuoir WCOB; deuer R.] Line 212 And conformen fauntekynes · and other folke ylered, [folio 55b] [conformen] so in R; confer|men WCO; confirmen B; cf. l. 208.] Tyl pacience haue preued þe · and parfite þe maked." [preued] serued O.]

¶ Conscience þo with pacience passed · pilgrymes as it were. [passed] passiþ B.] Þanne had pacience, as pylgrymes han · in his poke vittailles, Line 216 Sobrete, and symple speche · and sothfaste byleue, To conforte hym and conscience · if þey come in place Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is · hungrye contrees bothe. [hungrye contrees] honger con|treyes R.] ¶ And as þei went by þe weye · of dowel þei carped; [þei] þe W. of] and of R. þei (2)] R om. carped] carpeden O.] Þei mette with a mynstral · as me þo þouȝte. [mette] metten RO. mynstral] ministrale R. þo] B om.] Line 221 Pacience apposed hym fyrste · and preyed hym he sholde hem telle [fyrste] þoo O. hym (2)] CB om.] To conscience, what crafte he couthe · an to what contree he wolde. ¶ "I am a mynstral," quod þat man · "my name is actiua vita: Line 224 Alle ydel ich hatye · for of actyf is my name. [Alle] And alle O. ydel] ydel|nesse W. of] O om.] A wafrere, wil ȝe wite · and serue many lordes, [wil] wol WCB; welle R.] And fewe robes I fonge · or furred gounes. [And] I C; A B.] Line 227 Couthe I lye to do men laughe · þanne lacchen I shulde [Couthe] Coude R. lye] lee C. to] and R.] Other mantel or money · amonges lordes mynstralles. [money] mone R. mynstralles] or mynstrals W.] Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe · ne telle none gestes, [Ac] And C. tabre] taborne C. none] no WO; noon C.] Farten, ne fythelen · at festes, ne harpen, Iape ne iogly · ne gentlych pype, [CB om. iogly] Iogele WO; iangele R.] Line 232 Ne noyther sailly ne saute · ne synge with þe gyterne, [sailly] saille WO; sayle RB. saute] sautre C.] I haue none gode gyftes · of þise grete lordes, [none] no WO; na C. þise] þis RC.]

For no bred þat I brynge forth · saue a beneson on þe sonday, [brynge] brouȝt R.] Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple · her pater-noster to bidde [preyeth] preches C; prechiþ B.] Line 236 For peres þe plowman · and þat hym profite wayten. [peres] pier C. þat] þo þat B. wayten] wayteth RB.] And þat am I, actyf · þat ydelnesse hatye, [am I] I am CROB.] For alle trewe trauaillours · and tilieres of þe erthe; [For] Of R. þe] COB om.] Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse · I fynde hem with wafres. [with] wiþ my W; O om.] Line 240 ¶ Beggeres and bidderes · of my bred crauen, [bidderes] bilderis B.] Faitoures and freres · and folke with brode crounes. I fynde payne for þe pope · and prouendre for his palfrey, [prouendre] prouende B.] And I hadde neuere of hym · haue god my treuthe, Line 244 Noither prouendre ne parsonage · ȝut of þe popis ȝifte, [þe] W om. ȝifte] ȝiftes R.] Saue a pardoun with a peys of led · and two pollis amydde! [peys] payes C. amydde] amyddes W.] Hadde iche a clerke þat couthe write · I wolde caste hym a bille, [iche] ech C; ich WR.] Þat he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for þe pesti|lence, [sent] sende B. In margin of R—laus & vis Indulgenciarum.] Line 248 And þat his blessyng & his bulles · bocches miȝte de|stroye:

In nomine meo demonia [eicient], & super egros manus imponent, & bene habebunt.

[And] R om. þat] B om. bocches miȝte] myȝte bocches O. [eicient] so in WCROB; eiciunt L.] And þanne wolde I be prest to [þe] peple · paste for to make, [[þe WCROB] L om. paste] paast W; past B.] And buxome and busy · aboute bred and drynke [busy] bisy be B.]

For hym and for alle his · fonde I þat his pardoun [his (1)] hisse C; hise B.] Line 252 Miȝte lechen a man · as I bileue it shulde. [I] B om. it] O om.] For sith he hath þe powere · þat peter hym-self hadde, [sith] sethe R.] He hath þe potte with þe salue · sothly, as me þinketh:

Argentum & aurum non est mihi; quod autem [folio 56] habeo, [hoc] tibi do; in nomine domini, surge & ambula.

[hath] hase C. potte] poot B. [hoc RO] LWCB om. in—domini] O om.] ¶ Ac if miȝte of miracle hym faille · it is for men ben nouȝt worthy [Ac] And C. ben] beth R.] Line 256 To haue þe grace of god · & no gylte of þe pope. [þe (1)] no R. þe (2)] W om.] For may no blyssyng done vs bote · but if we wil amende, [For] R om. wil] wolen B.] Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristene peple, Tyl pruyde be purelich fordo · and þat þourgh payn defaute. [purelich] priueliche R. þat] alle R; W om.] Line 260 ¶ For ar I haue bred of mele · ofte mote I swete, [B omits. ar] er WCO. ofte] erst CO.] And ar þe comune haue corne ynough · many a colde mornynge; [ar] er WCOB. a] COB om. colde] calde C.] So, ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt · moche wo I tholye. [ar] er WCOB. ywrouȝt] wrought COB. wo] wa C.] ¶ Alle Londoun I leue · liketh wel my wafres, [Alle] Al (printed At) W; Al COB.] Line 264 And lowren whan þei lakken [hem]— · it is nouȝt longe ypassed, [CB omit. [hem WR] it LO.] Þere was a carful comune · whan no carte come to toune With [bake] bred fro stretforth · þo gan beggeres wepe, [[bake R] LWCOB om.; but it improves the line. stretforth] Strat|forde WCOB; statforde R. gan] gon|nen WCO; gunnen B.] And werkmen were agaste a litel · þis wil be þouȝte longe. [litel] lite W; litil COB. wil] wel R. þouȝte] þouȝt on B.] Line 268

Line 268 In þe date of owre dryȝte · in a drye apprile, [drye apprile] druye auerel R.] A þousande and thre hondreth · tweis thretty & ten, [hondreth] hundred WOB; hondrede R. thretty] so also in R; twenty WCB; twenti O.] My wafres þere were gesen · whan chichestre was Maire." [þere] COB om. gesen] gesene WR; looks like gefene in B. was] were R.] Line 271 ¶ I toke gode kepe, by cryst · and conscience bothe, [gode] grete R.] Of haukyn þe actyf man · and how he was y-clothed. [haukyn] in L, this word (here and elsewhere) looks more like hankyn. y-clothed] clothed CB.] He hadde a cote of crystendome · as holykirke bileueth, [cote] Cite (!) C; citee B. kirke] chirche CB.] Ac it was moled in many places · with many sondri plottes, [Ac] And C. places] place R.] Of pruyde here a plotte, and þere a plotte · of vnboxome speche, [here] hire C; he R.] Line 276 Of scornyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful berynge, As in aparaille and in porte · proude amonges þe peple, Otherwyse þan he hath · with herte or syȝte shewynge; [hath] hym haþ W. with] wytt B. or] and R. syȝte] eye C; ye O; eiȝe B.] Hym willynge þat alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝte. [willynge] wilnynge R. wende] wenden O; wente R. nouȝte] not O.] Line 280 For-why he bosteth and braggeth · with many bolde othes, [bosteth] bosted C. braggeth] bragged C.] And in-obedient to ben vndernome · of any lyf lyuynge, And so syngulere by hym-self · as to syȝte of þe poeple, [W has—And noon so singuler by hym-self · ne so pomp holy; COB have—And so singuler by hym-self · ne noon so poppe (sic) holy. L and R are alike, except that for pompe (L) we find pope in R, a read|ing which I have adopted. See Criti|cal Note.] Was none suche as hym-self · ne none so [pope]-holy, [W has—And noon so singuler by hym-self · ne so pomp holy; COB have—And so singuler by hym-self · ne noon so poppe (sic) holy. L and R are alike, except that for pompe (L) we find pope in R, a read|ing which I have adopted. See Criti|cal Note.] Y-habited as an hermyte · an ordre by hym-selue, [Y-habited] In habyte O; In abite B. an (2)] and C.] Line 285 Religioun sanz reule · and resonable obedience; [and] or W.] Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe,

In lykyng of lele lyf · and a lyer in soule; Line 288 With Inwit and with outwitt · ymagenen and studye, [With (1)] B om. with (2)] R om.; Crowley also omits. with outwitt] with oute wit C.] As best for his body be · to haue a badde name, [badde] bolde R.] And entermeten hym ouer-al · þer he hath nouȝt to done, [to] do B.] Wilnyng þat men wende · his witte were þe best, [Wilnyng] Willynge WCB; wilnynge R.] Line 292 [Or for his crafty kunnynge · or of clerkes þe wisest, Or strengest on stede · or styuest vnder gurdel, And louelokest to loken on · and lelest of werkes, And non so holy as he · ne of lif clennere, Line 296 Or feyrest of feytures · of fourme and of schafte, And most sotyl of songe · other sleyest of hondes, And large to lene · losse þere-by to cacche;] [293—299. In R only; yet found in the C-text in a different part of the poem; see Critical Note.] And if he gyueth ouȝte pore gomes · telle what he deleth; [gyueth] gyue O; gyfues C. pore] to pouere W; the pouere CB. telle] til C; telliþ B. deleth] delet C.] Line 300 Pore of possessioun · in purse and in coffre, [coffre] cofre boþe W; coffres bothe COB.] And as a lyon on to loke · and lordeliche of speche. [on] R om.; vppon B.] ¶ Baldest of beggeres · a bostour þat nouȝt hath, [Baldest] Boldest WCROB. a] as a B.] In towne and in tauernes · tales to telle, Line 304 And segge þinge þat he neuere seigh · and for soth sweren it; [folio 56b] [segge] saies C. seigh] er sawe C; sauȝ B.] Of dedes þat he neuere dyd · demen and bosten, And of werkes þat he wel dyd · witnesse and seggen— [seggen] siggen W.] "Lo! if ȝe leue me nouȝt · or þat I lye wenen, [ȝe] þou OB; thow C. wenen] ȝee wenen B.] Line 308 Axeth at hym or at hym · and he ȝow can telle, What I suffred and seighe · and some tymes hadde, [What] Whan C. tymes] tym C.] And what I couth and knewe · and what kynne I come of." [knewe] knowe C.] Line 311

Line 311 Al he wolde þat men wiste · of werkes and of wordes, [of (2)] R om.] Which myȝte plese þe peple · and praysen hym|seluen:

Si hominibus placerem, Christi seruus non essem; Et alibi: nemo potest duobus dominis seruire.

[hym-seluen] hem-seluen CRO.] Line 313 ¶ "Bi criste," quod conscience þo · "þi best cote, haukyn, Hath many moles and spottes · it moste ben ywasshe." [it] and B. ywasshe] ywasshen C; ywaischen B; ywasschid O; wa|schen R.] ¶ "Ȝe, who so toke hede," quod haukyn · "byhynde and bifore, [ȝe] ȝhe O; ȝee B.] Line 316 What on bakke and what on bodyhalf · & by þe two sydes, [and] C om. what] RO. om. bodyhalf] bodye CB. two] to R.] Men sholde fynde many frounces · and many foule plottes." ¶ And he torned hym as tyte · and þanne toke I hede, [tyte] tit CB; tijt O; tyd W.] It was fouler by felefolde · þan it firste semed. [felefolde] felfolde R.] Line 320 It was bidropped with wratthe · and wikked wille, With enuye and yuel speche · entysyng to fyȝte, [enuye] eneuye R.] Lyinge and laughynge · and leue tonge to chyde; [Lyinge] Lyȝynge R. laugh|ynge] lakkynge R (which is perhaps the true reading). and leue] a lef R; and leef O.] Al þat he wist wykked · by any wiȝte, tellen it, [þat] the that C. tellen] to tellen B.] Line 324 And blame men bihynde her bakke · and bydden hem meschaunce; And þat he wist bi wille · tellen it watte, [it] it to ROB.] And þat watte wiste · wille wiste it after, And made of frendes foes · þorugh a false tonge, [of] B om. þorugh] throught C.] Line 328 "Or with myȝte of mouthe · or þorugh mannes strengthe [of] or with W. mannes] mennes W.] Auenge me fele tymes · other frete my-selue [Auenge] Auenged R.]

Wyth-inne, as a shepster shere;"— · I-shrewed men & cursed!

Cuius malediccione os plenum est, & amaritudine; sub lingua eius labor & dolor:

& alibi: filij hominum, dentes eorum arma & sagitte, & lingua eorum gladius acutus:—

[shepster] shepsteres WO; shapsteris B. I-] In B. men] man W; cf. C-Text. & (1)] R om. labor & dolor] &c COB. & alibi—acutus] R om. gladius acutus] &c O.] ¶ "Þere is no lyf þat I louye · lastyng any while, [I louye] I loue RC; me loueþ W.] Line 332 For tales þat I telle · no man trusteth to me, And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye · with malen|colye I take, [with] which R; swich W.] Þat I cacche þe crompe · þe cardiacle some tyme, [þe (2)] and þe W.] Or an ague in suche an angre · and some tyme a feure, [ague] aguwe B. suche] swich WCO.] Line 336 Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth · tyl þat I dispyse [taketh] hit holdeþ B.] Lechecrafte [of] owre lorde · and leue on a wicche, [[of WCOB] or LR; but the line is marked for correction in L.] And segge, þat no clerke ne can · ne cryste, as I leue, [segge] seye WB; seggeþ O.] To þe souter of southwerke · or of shordyche dame emme! [shordyche] sordich O.] Line 340 And segge, þat no goddes worde · gaf me neuere bote, [segge] seye WB; saye; seggeþ O. no] none of B. worde] B om. gaf me] ȝauen B.] But þorw a charme had I chaunce · & my chief hele!" ¶ I wayted wisloker · and þanne was it soiled [wisloker] bisiloker CB. þanne was] that C. it soiled] I-soyled R.] With lykyng of lecherye · as by lokyng of his eye. [as by] and by CO; and B. his] myn R. Here follows the catch|word in L—for eche a mayde þat he mette.] Line 344 For vche a mayde þat he mette · he made hir a signe [folio 57] [signe] syngne R.] Semynge to-synne-ward · and some tyme he gan taste Aboute þe mouth, or bynethe · bygynneth to grope, Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene · and to þe werke ȝeden, [eytheres] either C.]

As wel in fastyng-days & frydayes · and forboden nyȝtes; [in] R om. &] as COB. and] as W.] Line 349 And as wel in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes ylyche, [as (1)] also B. wel] lef R. lente] leynten B (twice).] Suche werkes with hem · [were] neuere oute of sesoun; [Suche] Swiche WCO; Seche B. hem] hym C. [were WRCB] weren O; was L.] Tyl þei myȝte namore · and þanne had merye tales, [had] hadde R; hadden OB; W om.] Line 352 And how þat lechoures louyen · lauȝen an iapen, [lechoures] leccherous C. lauȝen] lawen R. iapen] Iapeng (sic) C.] And of her harlotrye and horedome · in her elde tellen. [And—harlotrye] Or herlotrie R. in] and in R.] ¶ Thanne pacience parceyued · of poyntes [of] his cote, [[of WCOB] LR om.] Was colmy þorw coueityse · and v[n]kynde desyrynge; [Was] so in LRCOB; That were W. colmy] colomy WC; culmy O. vnkynde] vkynde L; but marked for correction.] More to good þan to god · þe gome his loue caste, Line 357 And ymagyned how · he it myȝte haue With false mesures and mette · and with false witnesse; [mesures] mesure O. mette] met WCO.] Lened for loue of þe wedde · and loth to do treuthe, [for] it for O. wedde] weed B.] And awaited þorwgh which · wey to bigile, [awaited] I awaytede O; way|tid B. which] whitus R. wey] weyus R. to] he myȝte best B.] Line 361 And menged his marchaundyse · and made a gode moustre;— "Þe worste with-in was · a gret witte I lete hit, [a] O om.] And if my neighbore had any hyne · or any beste elles, [if] CO om. any] an R.] More profitable þan myne · many sleightes I made, Line 365 How I myȝte haue it · al my witte I caste, And but I it had by other waye · atte laste I stale it, [I] if I R. it] COB om. other] ooþer W; a-noþer B.] Or pryuiliche his purse shoke · vnpiked his lokkes, [shoke] schoke R; shook WC O; shok B. vnpiked] and vnpikede W.] Line 368 Or by nyȝt or by day · aboute was ich euere, [Or] Other R (twice).] Þorwgh gyle to gadren · þe good þat ich haue.

¶ Ȝif I ȝede to þe plow · I pynched so narwe, [pynched] puched C; pikid B.] Þat a fote londe or a forwe · fecchen I wolde, [fecchen I] fecche Ich R.] Line 372 Of my nexte neighbore · nymen of his erthe; [nymen—reche] R om. nymen] and nymen W. [I WCOB] L om. rope] so in C; repe WO; ripye B. ouer-reche] y ouerreche B. or] or (printed of) W; & O. red] reed WO; rede R. ropen] repen RB. Line 374 is marked for correction in L.] And if [I] rope, ouer-reche · or ȝaf hem red þat ropen, [nymen—reche] R om. nymen] and nymen W. [I WCOB] L om. rope] so in C; repe WO; ripye B. ouer-reche] y ouerreche B. or] or (printed of) W; & O. red] reed WO; rede R. ropen] repen RB. Line 374 is marked for correction in L.] To seise to me with her sykel · þat I ne sewe neure. [To] And COB. seise] seysed B. her] my COB. ne] OB om.] ¶ And who so [borwed] of me · abou[ȝ]te þe tyme, [[borwed WR] borweth LCOB. abouȝte] he bouȝte B; miswritten aboute in LR.] Line 376 With presentes priueliche · or payed somme certeyne. [presentes] present CB.] So, walde he or nouȝt wolde he · wynnen I wolde; [walde he] so in R; wolde he COB; he wolde W. he (2)] R om. nouȝt—he] he nolde COB.] And bothe to kyth and to kyn · vnkynde of þat ich hadde. ¶ And who so cheped my chaffare · childen I wolde, But he profred to paye · a peny or tweyne [to] me to COB.] Line 381 More þan it was worth · and ȝet wolde I swere, Þat it coste me moche more · swore manye othes. [me] R om. swore] and so swoor W; & swore OB.] ¶ In halydayes at holicherche · whan ich herde masse, [In] On W. at] in O; and CB. herde] here O.] Hadde [I] neuere wille, wot god · witterly to biseche [[I WCOB] LR om.; but the line is marked in L. neuere] nere R.] Mercye for my mysdedes · þat I ne morned more Line 386 For losse of gode, leue me · þan for my lykames giltes [For] For (printed Nor) W. my] R om. giltes] gilte CB.] As if I had dedly synne done; · I dred nouȝt þat so sore, [folio 57b] [As] And C. dred] dredde WO; drede CB; dradde R.] Line 388 As when I lened and leued it lost · or longe ar it were payed. [lened—it (1)] haue lent hit and is B. and] CO om. were] be B.] So if I kydde any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristene to helpe,

Vpon a cruel coueityse · myn herte gan hange. [a] O om. herte] consience R.] And if I sent ouer see · my seruauntz to Bruges, [if] O om. see] sehe O. ser|uauntz] seruaunt B.] Line 392 Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys · my profit to wayten, [Pruslonde] pruys londe R; Pruce lond W; spruce land (sic) C.] To marchaunden with monoye · and maken her es|chaunges, [marchaunden] marchaundisen B. monoye] so in R; moneie WCOB. eschaunges] chaunges R.] Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene tyme, [neuere] nere R. tyme] while W.] Noither messe ne matynes · ne none manere siȝtes, [none] no RC. siȝtes] shytes R.] Line 396 Ne neuere penaunce perfourned · ne pater-noster seyde, Þat my mynde ne was more · on my gode, in a doute, [on] in R. a] O om.] Þan in þe grace of god · and his grete helpes:

Vbi thesaurus tuus, ibi & cor tuum."

[Vbi] Vbi est R.] [Ȝet [þe] glotoun with grete othes · his [garnement] hadde soyled, [[þe] must be inserted; R om. [garnement] miswritten granement; but garnement ( = garment) is right.] Line 400 And foule be-flobered it · as with fals speche; Þere no nede ne was · [tok] godes name an Idel, [þere] miswritten As þere, which is nonsense; it is repeated from Pass. V. l. 377, which see. [tok] must be inserted; R om.] Swore þere-by swithe ofte · and al by-swatte his cote. And more mete ete and dronke · þen kende miȝt defie— [kende] such is the usual spell|ing in R, wherever L has kynde.] Line 404 "And kauȝte seknesse sum-tyme · for my sorfetes ofte; [sorfetes] miswritten forfetes; but sense and alliteration decide it.] And þanne I dradde to deye · in dedlich synne"— Þat in-to wanhope he [worthe] · and wende nauȝt to be saued, [[worthe] miswritten wrathe in R.] Þe whiche is sleuthe so slow · þat may no slithes helpe it, [slithes] a better spelling is sleiȝtes ( = sleights); cf. l. 365.] Line 408

Line 408 Ne no mercy amenden · þe man þat so deyeth.] [400—409. In R only, and the text is corrupt. The reason for inserting it is given in the Critical Note.] ¶ Which ben þe braunches · þat bryngeth a man to sleuth? [Which] Ac whiche R. bryng|eth] bryngen WOB; brynges C.] Line 410 [Is whanne a man] morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes · ne maketh no sorwe, [[Is whanne a man O] Is whan man B; He þat W; LRC have the extraordinary false reading His wo|man; but, fortunately, the C-Text helps us out. (Is = it is, as else|where.) mysdedes] dedis O.] Ac penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth · perfourneth yuel, [Ac] And WRC. enioigneth] enioyned B. perfourneth yuel] per|forme hij nylleþ B; parfourned C.] Doth none almes-dede · dret hym of no synne, [Doth] Doos C. almes-dede] almesse W. dret] drat R; dred W; drede CB; drediþ O.] Line 413 Lyueth aȝein þe bileue · and no lawe holdeth; [holdeth] haldes C.] Vch day is haliday with hym · or an heigh ferye; [Vch—is] Ilce day or Ilc C; Eche day or eche B. is] is an O. with hym] O om. or] & O; as B.] And if he auȝte wole here · it is an harlotes tonge. Line 416 Whan men carpeth of cryst · or of clennesse of soule, [Whan] And whanne O. carp|eth] carpen WCOB. of (2)] COB om. soule] saule C; soules W.] He wexeth wroth & wil nouȝte here · but wordes of myrthe. [wexeth] waxes C; waxiþ B.] Penaunce and pore men · and þe passioun of seyntes [and (1)] of W. þe] O om. passioun] possessioun C.] He hateth to here þere-of · and alle þat it telleth. Line 420 Þise ben þe braunches, beth war · þat bryngeth a man to wanhope! [beth] be CB.] Ȝe lordes and ladyes · and legates of holicherche, [ȝe] þe R; also R repeats þe lordes. cherche] cherches R; kirce C.] Þat fedeth foles sages · flatereres and lyeres, [foles] fole R. sages] sage O. lyeres] leers C.] Line 423 And han likynge to lythen hem · to do ȝow to lawghe;

Ve vobis qui ridetis, &c.:

[han] hase C. lythen] heren B; listem (sic) C. to (3)] R om.] And ȝiueth hem mete and Mede · and pore men refuse, In ȝowre deth-deyinge · I drede me ful sore, [ful] R om.]

Lest þo thre maner men · to moche sorwe ȝow brynge:

Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur.

[þo] þe CO. to moche] to muche to mykil (sic) C. ȝow] R om. punientur] puniendi sunt R.] Patriarkes & prophetes · and prechoures of goddes wordes Line 428 Sauen þorw her sarmoun · mannes soule fram helle; [sarmoun] sermons W; ser|moun CO; sermon B. mannes soule] manne saule C.] Riȝt so flater[er]es and foles · aren þe fendes disciples, [flatereres] miswritten flateres in L; but the line is marked for cor|rection. aren] and CO.] To entice men þorw her tales · to synne and harlotrye. [entice] eten (!) C. and] and to WB.] Ac clerkes þat knowen holywryt · shulde kenne lordes, [Ac] And C.] What dauid seith of suche men · as þe sauter telleth:

Non habitabit in medio domus mee, qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua:

[suche] swiche WO; swilc C. &] R om.] Shulde none harlote haue audience · in halle ne in chambres, [harlote] harlotes CB. ne] nor WR. chambres] chambre WB.] Þere wise men were · witnesseth goddes wordes; [witnesseth] witnesse C.] Line 435 Ne no mysproude man · amonges lordes ben allowed. [¶ Clerkes and kniȝtes · welcometh kynges ministrales, And for loue of þe lorde · litheth hem at festes; Muche more, me thenketh · riche men schulde Haue beggeres byfore hem · þe whiche ben goddes ministrales, Line 440 As he seyth hym-self · seynt Iohan bereth witnesse:

Qui vos spernit, me spernit.

For-thi I rede ȝow riche · reueles whan ȝe maketh [reueles] at reueles R; but at should probably be omitted, as in MS. Cotton Vesp. B 16.] For to solace ȝoure soules · suche ministrales to haue; Þe pore, for a fol sage · syttynge at þe heyȝ table, Line 444 And a lered man, to lere þe · what oure lorde suffred, For to saue þi soule · fram Sathan þin enemy,

And fithel þe, with-out flaterynge · of gode friday þe storye; And a blynd man for a bourdeoure · or a bedrede womman, Line 448 To crie a largesse by-for oure lorde · ȝoure gode loos to schewe! Þise thre maner ministrales · maketh a man to lawhe, And, in his deth-deyinge · þei don him grete conforte, Þat bi his lyue lythed hem · and loued hem to here. Þise solaseth þe soule · til hym-selue be-falle Line 453 In a wel [gode] hope, [for he wrouȝte so] · amonges worthi seyntes.] [437—454. In R only; but found in C-Text. The passage is fairly cor|rect.] [[gode] R om. [for he wrouȝte so] R om. But cf. C-Text.] ¶ Ac flat[er]eres and foles · þorw her foule wordes, [Ac] And C; Þere R. flat|ereres] miswritten flateres in LR.] Leden þo þat louen hem · to luciferes feste, [louen] loued R.] Line 456 With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe · and luciferes fithele. [lay] lady (sic in MS.) W. sorwe] sowe (sic) R.] Thus haukyn þe actyf man · hadde ysoiled his cote, [folio 58] [ysoiled] soyled R; ysuyled O.] Til conscience acouped hym þere-of · in a curteise manere, Whi he ne hadde wasshen it · or wyped it with a brusshe. [wasshen] whasshen W; wais|chen B; wasched R. it (2)] O om.] Line 460