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 XIV (DO-WEL VI).

[TITLE. Passus quarto-decimus de visione, vt supra CR (but R has xiijus); Passus xiiijus, &c WO; B adds et vijus [read vjus] de dowel.] Passus xiiij ^us.

"I Haue but one [hool] hatere," quod haukyn · "I am þe lasse to blame [one] oon WC; on RB; an O. [hool WCOB] LR om.] Þough it be soiled and selde clene · I slepe þere-inne on niȝtes; [soiled] soulid B; suyled C. selde clene] foule COB. on] o W.] And also I haue an houswyf · hewen and children—

Vxorem duxy, & ideo non possum venire—

[an houswyf] a wif CB; a wijf O. hewen] and hewen B. venire] &c. R.] Þat wolen bymolen it many tyme · maugre my chekes! [wolen] walden C; wolden O. bymolen] bifoule C; defoule B. tyme] tymes R. maugre] maugree W; magre B.] ¶ It hath ben laued in lente · and oute of lente bothe, [lente] lenten R; leaute B (twice).] With þe sope of sykenesse · þat seketh wonder depe, [seketh] sekest CB.] Line 6 And with þe losse of catel · loth forto agulte [loth] bathe C; boþe B.] God or any gode man · bi auȝte þat I wiste; [or] ar R; or (indistinct, and printed of) W.] And was shryuen of þe preste · þat gaue me, for my synnes, To penaunce, pacyence · and pore men to fede, Line 10 Al for coueitise of my crystenedome · in clennesse to kepen it.

¶ And couthe I neuere, by cryste · kepen it clene an houre, [couthe] coude R. neuere] nouȝt R. kepen it] precedes bi crist in B.] Line 12 Þat I ne soiled it with syȝte · or sum ydel speche, [soiled] soulid B; fouled C.] Or þorugh werke or þorugh worde · or wille of myn herte, [þorugh (2)] CROB om. worde] thouȝt R. or (3)] and other R.] Þat I ne flober it foule · fro morwe tyl eue." [þat] But CO. flober] floboure C.] ¶ "And I shal kenne þe," quod conscience · "of con|tricioun to make, [kenne] telle B.] Line 16 Þat shal clawe þi cote · of alkynnes filthe,

Cordis contricio, &c.:—

[clawe þi cote] þi cote make clene B. clawe] C om.] Dowel [shal] wasshen it and wryngen it · þorw a wys confessour,

Oris confessio, &c.:—

[[shal W] schal O; LCRB om. it (1)] it (but omitted in printing) W.] Dobet shal beten it and bouken it · as briȝte as any scarlet, [shal] þat schal R. it (1)] R om.] And engreynen it with good wille · and goddes grace to amende þe, [engreynen] engreynen or en|greyuen (printed engreyven) W.] Line 20 And sithen sende þe to satisfaccioun · for to sowen it after,

Satisfaccio dobest.

[sowen] sewe O; souuen R. Satisfaccio dobest] Satisfaccio &c. COB.] ¶ Shal neuere myste bimolen it · ne moth after biten it, [Shal] Do-best shal C; Dobet schal B. myste] cheeste W. bimolen] bynolnen CB; by-mole R. moth] mought C; moche B. biten] beten B.] Ne fende ne false man · defoulen it in þi lyue; Shal none heraude ne harpoure · haue a fairere garne|ment [none] no CRB. garnement] garment R.] Line 24 Þan haukyn þe actyf man · and þow do by my techyng; [þow] þo B. by] C om.] Ne no mynstral be more worth · amonges pore & riche,

Þan Haukynnes wyf þe wafrere · with his actiua vita." [with his] which is R.] ¶ "And I shal purueye þe paste," quod pacyence · "þough no plow erie, [þe] þee W. þough] þouȝ þow R.] Line 28 And floure to fede folke with · as best be for þe soule, [þe] thy COB.] Þough neuere greyne growed · ne grape vppon vyne. [growed] growe B. vyne] þe vyne B.] Alle þat lyueth and loketh · lyflode wolde I fynde, [Alle] To alle W.] And þat ynough shal none faille · of þinge þat hem nedeth. [ynough] Inought C; y B; I|now R.] Line 32 We shulde nouȝt be to busy · a-bouten owre lyflode,

Ne solliciti sitis, &c.: volucres celi deus pascit, &c.: pacientes vincunt, &c." [folio 58b]

[Ne] Dum B.] ¶ Þanne laughed haukyn a litel · and liȝtly gan swerye, [laughed] lawhed R; lowȝ O. swerye] swere RCOB.] "Who so leueth ȝow, by owre lorde · I leue nouȝte he be blissed!" [leueth] loueþ B. by] noþer be R.] ¶ "No," quod pacyence paciently · and out of his poke hente Line 36 Vitailles of grete vertues · for al manere bestes, [Vitailles] Vitales R.] And seyde, "lo! here lyflode ynough · if owre byleue be trewe! [ynough] I-nowe RB.] For lente neuere was lyf · but lyflode were shapen, [neuere] nere R. lyf] þere lif R.] Wher-of or wherfore · or where-by to lybbe. [or (2)] and RO.] Line 40 ¶ Firste þe wylde worme · vnder weet erthe, [weet] þe wete B.] Fissch to lyue in þe flode · and in þe fyre þe crykat, [fyre] fuir R; fyer B. crykat] criket WO; crikat RCB.] Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre · moste clennest flesch of bryddes, [corlue] Corlew WR; curlowe C; curlu B.] And bestes by grasse and by greyne · and by grene rotis, [by (2)] COB om.] Line 44

Line 44 In menynge þat alle men · myȝte þe same [myȝte] myȝt se CB; myȝten do O. þe] C om.] Line 45 Lyue þorw lele byleue · and loue, as god witnesseth;

Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo, &c.: & alibi,

Non in solo pane viuit homo, set in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore dei."

[a patre] R om. de ore dei] &c CB.] ¶ But I loked what lyflode it was · þat pacience so preysed, [what] what þat R. it] R om.] And þanne was it a pece of þe pater-noster · fiat voluntas tua. [it] R om.] Line 48 ¶ "Haue, haukyn!" quod pacyence · "and ete þis whan þe hungreth, [ete] et W.] Or whan þow clomsest for colde · or clyngest for drye. [clyngest] chillist O. drye] drouȝthe R.] Shal neuere gyues þe greue · ne grete lordes wrath, [Shal] And schal R; Schulden O; Shulde B; Shul C. gyues] fey|toures R; gomes O; synne B.] Prisone ne peyne · for—pacientes vincunt. Line 52 ¶ Bi so þat þow be sobre · of syȝte and of tonge, In etynge and in handlynge · and in alle þi fyue wittis, [in (3)] COB om.] Darstow neuere care for corne · ne lynnen cloth ne wollen, [Darstow] Thardestow C; Tharst þow ROB.] Ne for drynke, ne deth drede · but deye as god lyketh, Or þorw honger or þorw hete · at his wille be it; Line 57 For if þow lyuest after his lore · þe [shorter] lyf þe better: [lyuest] lyue W. [shorter WC] schorter ORB; miswritten shot|ter in L, but the line is marked for correction. better] leuere R.] Si quis amat cristum, mundum non diligit istum. ¶ For þorw his breth bestes wexen · and abrode ȝeden,

Dixit & facta sunt, &c.:

[bestes] mowen men and bestis B. wexen] woxen W; wexeth R.] Ergo þorw his breth mowen · men & bestes lyuen, [lyuen] libben R.] Line 61

Line 61 As holywrit witnesseth · whan men segge her graces,

Aperis tu manum tuam, & imples omne animal benediccione.

[witnesseth] witnesse C. segge] seye WOB; sayes C. graces] grace R.] ¶ It is founden þat fourty wynter · folke lyued with|outen tulyinge, [tulyinge] tiliyng OB; tilynge C.] And oute of þe flynte spronge þe flode · þat folke & bestes dronke, [bestes] best B.] Line 64 And in Elyes tyme · heuene was yclosed, [Elyes] helyes CB.] Þat no reyne ne rone; · þus rede men in bokes, [rone] roon W; roen R; raynde C; ron B. rede] rett R. in] on R.] Þat many wyntres men lyueden · and no mete ne tulyeden. [wyntres] wynter R. lyueden] lyued R. tulycden] teleden R; tylied C; tiliden O; tilieden B.] Seuene slepe, as seith þe boke · seuene hundreth wynter, [slepe] slepen ROB. seith] sayes C. hundreth] hundred WOB; hun|dre C.] ¶ And lyueden with-oute lyflode · and atte laste þei woken, [folio 59] [atte] at þe WROB; þe C.] Line 69 And if men lyued as mesure wolde · shulde neuere more be defaute [more] COB om. be defaute] defaute be B.] Amonges cristene creatures · if crystes wordes ben trewe. Ac vnkyndnesse [caristia] maketh · amonges crystene peple, [Ac] And C. [caristia RCOB] caristiam W; carestia L. crystene] cristes R.] Line 72 And ouer-plente maketh pruyde · amonges pore & riche; [pruyde] pryde WO; CB om.] Ac mesure is so moche worth · it may nouȝte be to dere, [Ac] Ther-fore W; And C. so] W om.] For þe meschief and þe meschaunce · amonges men of sodome, [In margin of O—Of Sodom & Gomor.] Wex þorw plente of payn · & of pure sleuthe;

Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpis simum nutriuit.

Line 76

Line 76 For þei mesured nouȝt hem-self · of þat þei ete and dronke, Diden dedly synne · þat þe deuel lyked, [Diden] Thei diden W.] So vengeaunce fel vpon hem · for her vyle synnes; [So] And B. fel] fil W. synnes] synne B.] Þei sonken in-to helle · þo citees vchone. [þo] þe WROB. vchone] Ilcone C.] Line 80 ¶ For-þi mesure we vs wel · and make owre faithe owre scheltroun, [scheltroun] sheltrom WO; shyltroun C; sheltrun B.] And þorw faith cometh contricioun · conscience wote wel, [wote] woot it O.] Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne · and doth it to be venial. And þough a man myȝte nouȝte speke · contricioun myȝte hym saue, [CB omit.] Line 84 And brynge his soule to blisse · by so þat feith bere witnesse, [by] for W; COB om. bere] heer O.] Þat, whiles he lyued, he bileued · in þe lore of holy|cherche; [in] COB om. þe] CO om.] Ergo contricioun, feith, and conscience · is kyndelich dowel, And surgienes for dedly synnes · whan shrifte of mouth failleth. [surgienes] surgyanes R; surgien O. synnes] synne RB. failleth] faylede O.] Line 88 ¶ Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is · if man be i[n]liche contrit; [Ac] And C. is] C om. be] C R om. inliche] in-lich R; inlich O; y-liche WC; iliche L; ilich B.] For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne · be it neuere so dedly; [synne] synnes CB. it] þei CB.] Per confessionem to a prest · peccata occiduntur, Þere contricioun doth but dryueth it doun · in-to a venial synne, [dryueth] dryues C. doun] CB om.] Line 92 As dauid seith in þe sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata. [As] And COB.]

Ac satisfaccioun seketh oute þe rote · and bothe sleeth and voideth, [Ac] And C.] And, as it neuere had ybe · to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne, [And] And (printed An) W. ybe] be R.] Þat it neuere eft is seen, ne sore · but semeth a wounde yheled." [it] it is COB. is] COB om. ne] COB om. semeth] semees C; as B. yheled] heled CB.] Line 96 ¶ "Where woneth charite?" quod haukyn · "I wiste neuere in my lyue [Where] ȝe where R. woneth] wonyeþ W; wonnes C. In margin of O—Where is charite. neuere] nere R.] Man þat with hym spake · as wyde as I haue passed!" ¶ "Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge, [and] & þanne O.] Þere is charitee, þe chief chaumbrere · for god hym|selue!" [þe] B om. chaumbrere] chamber C; chaumbre R; chaum|ber B.] Line 100 ¶ "Whether paciente pouerte," quod haukyn · "be more plesaunte to owre driȝte [paciente] pacience and R; pacience or B; pacience C. driȝte] lord R; sight C; siȝt B.] Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne · and resonablelich yspended?" [ywonne] I-wonne R; wonne WCB; wonnen O. yspended] de|spended W; spende C; spendid OB.] ¶ "Ȝe, quis est ille?" quod pacience · "quik laudabi|mus eum. [ȝe] ȝhe O; ȝee B.] Þough men rede of richchesse · riȝt to þe worldes ende, [þough] Thouȝt C. rede] red|den O.] I wist neuere renke þat riche was · þat whan he rekne sholde, [renke] freik B. þat (2)] þan B.] Line 105 Whan it drow to his deth-day · þat he ne dred hym sore, [it] he WCOB. drow] drogh W; droue C; drouȝ B. dred] dredde WOB; dradde R.] And þat atte rekenyng in arrerage fel · rather þan oute of dette. [þat] R om. atte] at þe WRC OB.]

¶ There þe pore dar plede · and preue by pure resoun, To haue allowaunce of his lorde · by þe lawe he it cleymeth, [folio 59b] Line 109 Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde · of riȝtful iugge he axeth, And seith, 'lo! briddes and bestes · þat no blisse ne knoweth, [knoweth] couthe COB.] And wilde wormes in wodes · þorw wyntres þow hem greues, [hem] hym B.] Line 112 And makest hem welnyegh meke · and mylde for defaute, And after þow sendest hem somer · þat is her souereigne Ioye, [hem] hym CB. her] B om.] And blisse to alle þat ben · bothe wilde and tame. Þanne may beggeres, as bestes · after bote waiten, [as] and RCOB. bestes] bid|ders (corrected to beestes) O. bote] bothe C.] Line 116 Þat al her lyf han lyued · in langour and in defaute. [langour] hungur B. in (2)] B om.] But god sent hem some tyme · some manere ioye, [hem] hym CB.] Other here or elles where · kynde wolde it neuere; For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was ioye shaped. [wrotherhele] wo other wel C; woo oþer wele B; ouer myche woo O. was ioye] ioye was R.] Line 120 ¶ Angeles þat in helle now ben · hadden ioye some tyme, And diues in deyntees lyued · and in douce vye; [in (1)] in (printed in the) W. douce vye] doute vrrie (sic) B.] Riȝte so resoun sheweth · þat þo men þat were riche, [þo] þe W; þoo O. þat—riche] R om.] And her makes also lyued · her lyf in murthe. Line 124 ¶ Ac god is of a wonder wille · by þat kynde witte sheweth, [Ac] And C. a] W om.] To ȝiue many men his mercymonye · ar he it haue de|serued. [men—mercymonye] man his mede W.] Riȝt so fareth god by some riche · reuthe me it þinketh,

For þei han her hyre here · an heuene as it were, [her—here] here her salarium B. an] and WCO; her B.] And is gret lykyng to lyue · with-oute laboure of body; [is] his B; eke O; W om. lyue] þe lif R.] And whan he deyeth, ben disalowed · as dauid seith in þe sauter,

Dormierunt, & nichil inuenerunt;

Line 130 And in an other stede also · velud sompnum surgencium, domine, in ciuitate tua, & ad nichilum rediges. [&] RO om. rediges] eorum rediges R. See Note.] Allas! þat ricchesse shal reue · and robbe mannes soule Fram þe loue of owre lorde · at his laste ende! Line 133 ¶ Hewen þat han her hyre afore · aren euermore nedy, [Hewen] þay B. hyre afore] huire to-fore R.] And selden deieth he out of dette · þat dyneth ar he deserue it, [he (1)] R om. ar he] or þei R.] And til he haue done his deuor · and his dayes iourne. [deuor] deuoir WC; deuer RB. dayes] C om.] For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte · þanne may men se þe sothe, [may] mowen O; may (printed many) W. may men] men may B.] Line 137 What he were worthi for his werke · and what he hath deserued; [he were] were he B.] And nouȝt to fonge bifore · for drede of disalowynge. ¶ So I segge by ȝow riche · it semeth nouȝt þat ȝe shulle [nouȝt] R om.] Haue heuene in ȝowre here-beyng · and heuene her-after; [heuene in] to heuenes for R. here] hiȝe B; hee C. beyng] beryng CB; dwellyng W. heuene (2)] heuene also W. her-after] þer-after WR.] Riȝt as a seruaunt taketh his salarye bifore · & sitth wolde clayme more, [as] so as W. salarye] hire C. sitth] after C. more] huire R.] Line 142 As he þat none hadde · and hath huyre atte laste. [none] non ne R. huyre] heuene R. atte] at þe WROB.] It may nouȝt be, ȝe riche men · or matheu on god lyeth;

De delicijs ad delicias, [difficile] est transire.

[god] yow CB. De] De (printed Væ) W. [difficile WCROB] deficile L. transire] ascendere R.] ¶ Ac if [ye] riche haue reuthe · and rewarde wel þe pore, [Ac] And C. [ye WCROB] þe L.]

And lyuen as lawe techeth · done leute to alle, [lawe] þe lawe CB. done] and doon WB. leute] leaute WCB; lewte O. to] to hem WCOB.] Line 146 Criste of his curteysie · shal conforte ȝow atte laste, [atte] at þe WOB; att þe R.] And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse · þat reuful hertes habbeth. [habbeth] hases (sic) C.] Line 148 And as an hyne þat hadde his hyre · ar he bygonne, [folio 60] [þat] O om.] And whan he hath done his deuor wel · men doth hym other bounte, Ȝyueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunte · riȝte so cryst ȝiueth heuene [ȝyueth] Gyfe C. cote] Cite C; citee B.] Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche · þat rewfullich lybbeth; [to nouȝte] noȝt to B. rew|fullich] riȝtfullich R.] Line 152 And alle þat done her deuor wel · han dowble hyre for her trauaille, [deuor] connande C. hyre] B om.] Here forȝyuenesse of her synnes · and heuene blisse after. [Here] CB om.] ¶ Ac it nys but selde yseyn · as by holy seyntes bokes, [Ac] And C. nys] is W. selde] seldom B. yseyn] so seyn C; so seien B. bokes] lyues O.] Þat god rewarded double reste · to any riche wye. Line 156 For moche murthe is amonges riche · as in mete and clothynge, And moche murthe in Maye is · amonges wilde bestes, [moche] mykyl C.] And so forth whil somer lasteth · her solace dureth. [155—159. R omits.] Ac beggeres aboute Midsomer · bredlees þei soupe, [Ac] And C; R om. Mid|somer] myssomer CR. soupe] soupen O; slepe W.] Line 160 And ȝit is wynter for hem worse · for wete-shodde þei gange, [wete-shodde] watschod R. gange] gangen O; gone W.] A-fyrst sore and afyngred · and foule yrebuked, [A-fyrst] A-first CO; A-furst WR; a-frust B. A-fyrst sore] Sore a-frust B. afyngred] affyngred CR; an-hungrid B. foule yrebuked] foul|iche rebuked COB.] And arated of riche men · þat reuthe is to here. [men] O om.] Line 163

Line 163 Now, lorde, sende hem somer · and some manere ioye, Heuene after her hennes goynge · þat here han suche defaute! For alle myȝtest þow haue made · none mener þan other, And yliche witty & wyse · if þe wel hadde lyked. [þe wel] thy wille COB.] And haue reuthe on þise riche men · þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneres; [And] But lord W. on] of CB. prisoneres] prisones R.] Line 168 Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest · ingrati ben manye; [ingrati] vnkynde O.] Ac, god, of þi goodnesse · gyue hem grace to amende. [Ac] And C. hem] vs O.] For may no derth ben hem dere · drouth, ne weet, [ben] O om. weet] weet hem greue W.] Ne noyther hete ne haille · haue þei here hele, [Ne] B om. ne] nor C.] Line 172 Of þat þei wilne and wolde · wanteth hem nouȝt here. ¶ Ac pore peple, þi prisoneres · lorde, in þe put of myschief, [Ac] And C. þi] þei B. pri|soneres] prisones R.] Conforte þo creatures · þat moche care suffren Þorw derth, þorw drouth · alle her dayes here, [þorw (2)] and CO; of B. drouth] drouȝþe OB.] Line 176 Wo in wynter tymes · for wantyng of clothes, [wynter tymes] wyntres tyme R.] And in somer tyme selde · soupen to þe fulle; [selde] seldeu C.] Conforte þi careful · cryst, in þi ryche, [þi (2)] B om. ryche] richesse W.] For how þow confortest alle creatures · clerkes bereth witnesse,

Conuertimini ad me, & salui eritis:

Line 180 ¶ Þus, in genere of his [gentrice] · Ihesu cryst seyde, [his] alle his R; WCOB om. [gentrice O] gentries W; gentrise CB; genitrice LR.] To robberes and to reucres · to riche and to pore. [and] R om. reueres] reueris WCOB. After l. 182, R adds—To hores, to harlotes · to alle maner poeple.] Þow tauȝtest hem in þe Trinitee · to take baptesme, And be clene þorw þat crystennynge · of alle kynnes [synnes]; [be] to be W. [synnes RCO] synne WB; L om.; but the line is marked.] Line 184

Line 184 And [if] vs fel þorw folye · to falle in synne after, [[if WR] LCOB om. fel] fille W. synne] som C; somer (!) B.] Confessioun, and [knowlechyng] · & crauyng þi mercy [[knowlechyng CORB] mis|written knelechyng in L; but the line is marked; knowlichynge W. Con|fessioun—knowlechyng] Knowlech|ynge and confession R. &] in W.] Shulde amende vs as many sithes · as man wolde desire. [as (2)] B om.] Ac if þe [pouke] wolde plede here-aȝeine · and punyssh vs in conscience, [Ac] And WCR. [pouke R] pope (!!!) LWCOB; see l. 190. here|aȝeine] þere-aȝeine RB; her-ayein (printed ayein) W. punyssh] pun|ischen on R.] Line 188 He shulde take þe acquitance as quik · and to þe qued schewe it,

Pateat, &c., per passionem domini,

[He] Ho R. to] do R.] And putten of so þe pouke · and preuen vs vnder borwe. [so] COB om.] Ac þe perchemyn of þis patent · of pouerte be moste, [Ac] And C. moste] muste O.] And of pure pacience · and parfit bileue. [folio 60b] [pure] pouere C; pore B.] Line 192 Of pompe and of pruyde · þe parchemyn decorreth, [decorreth] decourreþ WR.] And principaliche of alle peple · but þei be pore of herte. [alle] al þe W.] Ellis is al an ydel · al þat euere we writen, [we] W om. writen] written C.] Pater-nostres and penaunce · and pilgrimage to Rome. [Pater-nostres] Pater noster CROB. penaunce] penaunces R. pil|grimage] Pilgrymages W.] But owre spences and spendynge · sprynge of a trewe [wille], [But] And R. spences] spence C. and] and oure RB. [wille WCO] welle LRB.] Line 197 Elles is al owre laboure loste; · lo! how men writeth In fenestres atte freres · if fals be þe foundement; [atte] at þe WCROB.] For-þi crystene sholde ben in comune riche · none coueitouse for hym-selue. [ben] O om. coueitouse] coueite COB.] Line 200 ¶ For seuene synnes þat þere ben · assaillen vs euere, [þat] WCOB om. ben] ben þat W. vs] þee O.] Þe fende folweth hem alle · and fondeth hem to helpe, Ac wiþ ricchesse þat Ribaude · rathest men bigyleth. [Ac] And C. þat] þo R. Ribaude] ribalde C; ribaudes R. rathest] he raþest W.]

For þere þat richesse regneth · reuerence folweth, [reuerence] reuerences R.] Line 204 And þat is plesaunte to pryde · in pore and in riche. [pore] pouerte C; pouert B.] And þe riche is reuerenced · by resoun of his richchesse, [And] Ac R. reuerenced] yreuerenced C.] Þere þe pore is put bihynde · and par auenture can more [þere] That C.] Of witte and of wysdom · þat fer awey is better [fer] B om. awey] wei R.] Line 208 Þan ricchesse or reaute · and rather yherde in heuene. [reaute] realte O; rente B. yherde] herde C; herd OB.] For þe riche hath moche to rekene · and riȝte softe walketh, [riȝte softe] many tyme hym þat W.] Þe heigh waye to-heuene-ward · oft ricchesse letteth,

Ita [in]possibile diuiti, &c.,

[heigh] riȝt R. oft] W om. ricchesse] riche R; Richesse hym W. [inpossibile W] possibile LCROB.] ¶ Þere þe pore preseth bifor þe riche · with a pakke at his rugge,

Opera enim illorum sequ[u]ntur illos.

[preseth] precheth R. rugge] rygge CO. sequuntur] sequntur LCRB.] Line 212 Batauntliche as beggeres done · and baldeliche he craueth, [Batauntliche] Batanlich C.] For his pouerte and his pacience · a perpetuel blisse;

Beati pauperes, quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum.

[his (2)] COB om.] ¶ And pryde in ricchesse regneth · rather þan in pouerte, [And] Ac R. pouerte] pouert RB.] Arst in þe Maister þan in þe man · some mansioun he hath. [Arst] Or R. þan] or R. þe] O om. he] R om. hath] haueþ WR; has C.] Line 216 Ac in pouerte þere pacyence is · pryde hath no myȝte, [Ac] And C.] Ne none of þe seuene synnes · sitten ne mowe þere longe, Ne haue powere in pouerte · if pacyence it folwe. [it] W om.] For þe pore is ay prest · to plese þe riche, Line 220 And buxome at his byddyng · for his broke loues; [byddyng] biddynges W. loues] looues O.]

And buxomenesse and boste · aren euer-more at werre, [more] CB om.] And ayther hateth other · in alle manere werkes. [ayther] eiþer WOB.] If wratthe wrastel with þe pore · he hath þe worse ende; [wrastel] wrystel C.] Line 224 For if þey bothe pleyne · þe pore is but fieble, [For] And WO.] And if he chyde or chatre · hym chieueth þe worse; [For loulich he loketh · and loueliche is his speche, Þat mete or mone · of other men mote asken. Line 228 And if glotonie greue pouerte · he gadereth þe lasse, For his rentes ne wol nauȝte reche · no riche metes to bugge; And þouȝ his glotonye be to gode ale · he goth to cold beddynge, And his heued vn-heled · vn-esiliche I-wrye; Line 232 For whan he streyneth hym to streche · þe strawe is his schetes; So for his glotonie and his grete scleuthe · he hath a greuous penaunce, Þat is welawo whan he waketh · and wepeth for colde, And sum tyme for his synnes · so he is neuere murie, Withoute mornynge amonge · and mischief to bote.] [227—237. In R only. Cf. C-Text.] ¶ And if coueitise wolde cacche þe pore · þei may nouȝt come togideres, [if] þouȝ R. wolde] walde R; WCOB om.] Line 238 And by þe nekke namely · her none may hente other. [her] for B. hente] henten R.] For men knoweth wel þat coueitise · is of a kene wille, [wel] O om. a] W om.] And hath hondes and armes · of a longe lengthe, [a longe] longe R; ful greet W.] And pouerte nis but a petit þinge · appereth nouȝt to his naule, [nis] ne is R; is O. a] O om. petit] pety R. naule] nauele WCR; name (!) B; in margin of L—vmbili|cus.] Line 242 And louely layke was it neuere · bitwene þe longe and þe shorte. [it] COB om.]

And þough auarice wolde angre þe pore · he hath but litel myȝte, [folio 61] [angre] C om. but] but a B.] Line 244 For pouerte hath but pokes · to putten in his godis, [godis] soddes C; soddis B.] Þere auarice hath almaries · and yren-bounde coffres; And whether be liȝter to breke? · lasse boste it maketh, [lasse—it] so in LCROB; and lasse boost W.] A beggeres bagge · þan an yren-bounde coffre! [beggeres] begger C. coffre] coffires (sic) C.] Line 248 ¶ Lecherye loueth hym nouȝt · for he ȝeueth but lytel syluer, Ne doth hym nouȝte dyne delycatly · ne drynke wyn oft. [nouȝte] B om.] A strawe for þe stuwes! · it stode nouȝt, I trowe, [R omits. stuwes] styue|hous B. it] hit ne B; þei W. [no þyng WCOB] none L. pore men] a pore man B. were] stoode W; stood C; stoden O; stonden B; probably owing to stode in l. 251. vntyled] vnhiled O; which is perhaps right.]] Had þei [no þyng] but of pore men · her houses were vntyled! [R omits. stuwes] styue|hous B. it] hit ne B; þei W. [no þyng WCOB] none L. pore men] a pore man B. were] stoode W; stood C; stoden O; stonden B; probably owing to stode in l. 251. vntyled] vnhiled O; which is perhaps right.]] Line 252 ¶ And þough sleuthe suwe pouerte · and serue nouȝt god to paye, [god] C om.] Mischief is his maister · and maketh hym to thynke, Þat god is his grettest helpe · and no gome elles, [his] RB om. gome] man C; with i. gome above it.] And his seruaunt, as he seith · and of his sute bothe. [Follows l. 257 in B. his (1)] so in LOB; is C; he his (printed he is) W; he is R. sute bothe] suyte bethe C; suyte boþe B.] And where he be or be nouȝte · he bereth þe signe of pouerte, [where] wheiþer WC; wheþer OB. be (2)] C omits.] Line 257 And in þat secte owre saueoure · saued al mankynde. For-thi al pore þat paciente is · may claymen and asken [al pore] alle pore R; euery poore W; al pouerte COB. paciente] paciens C.] After her endynge here · heuene-riche blisse. ¶ Moche hardier may he axen · þat here myȝte haue his wille In londe and in lordship · and likynge of bodye, [londe] lorde R.] Line 262 And for goddis loue leueth al · an lyueth as a beggere; [an] and WCROB.]

And as a mayde for mannes loue · her moder forsaketh, [for] for a R.] Hir fader and alle her frendes · and folweth hir make, [Hir] And O. folweth] folowes C; folwed R.] Moche is suche a mayde to louie · of hym þat such one taketh, [suche a] þat R. Moche—louie] Muche moore is to loue W.] Line 266 More þan a mayden is · þat is maried þorw brokage, [More—is] Than is þat maiden W. is (2)] C om.] As bi assent of sondry partyes · and syluer to bote, [As] And COB.] More for coueitise of good · þan kynde loue of bothe;— ¶ So it fareth bi eche a persone · þat possessioun for|saketh, Line 270 And put hym to be pacient · and pouerte weddeth, [put] puttes C; puttiþ OB.] Þe which is sybbe to god hym-self · and so to his seyntes." [þe] R om. to—seyntes] neyȝ is pouerte R.] ¶ "Haue god my trouthe," quod Haukyn · "ȝe preyse faste pouerte; [ȝe—faste] þat huyre faste preyse R.] What is pouerte with pacience," quod he · "proprely to mene?" [with] R om. quod he] O om.] Line 274 ¶ "Paupertas," quod pacience · "est odibile bonum,

Remocio curarum, possessio sine calumpnia, donum dei, sanitatis mater;

Absque solicitudine semita, sapiencie temperatrix, negocium sine dampno;

Incerta fortuna, absque solicitudine felicitas."

[sanitatis] sanitas CB (also sanitas in MS. W); semita R. so|licitudine] solitudine R (once); B (twice).] ¶ "I can nouȝt construe al þis," quod Haukyn · "ȝe moste kenne [me] þis on englisch." [al] COB om. ȝe] þe R. kenne me þis] so in WR; kenne þis L; seye it O; seyn hit B; sayn C.] Line 276 "In englisch," quod pacyence, "it is wel harde · wel to expounen; [wel (1)] ful B.] Ac somdel I shal seyne it · by so þow vnderstonde. [Ac] And CR. þow] ye C; ȝee B.]

Pouerte is þe first poynte · þat pryde moste hateth, Thanne is it good by good skil · al þat agasteth pryde. [it] C om.] Riȝte as contricioun is confortable þinge · conscience wote wel, [wote] it woot O.] Line 281 And a sorwe of hym-self · and a solace to þe sowle, [folio 61b] [a (2)] COB om.] So pouerte propreliche · penaunce, and ioye, Is to þe body · pure spiritual helthe,

Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum,

[spiritual] perpetuel O.] Line 284 And contricioun confort · & cura animarum. [animarum] COB add the words the secounde, which is really only a title to the paragraph follow|ing. Cf. l. 290.] ¶ Selde [sit] pouerte · þe sothe to declare, [[sit WR] sitte (which is in|ferior spelling) LCO; sytteþ B.] Or as iustyce to iugge men · enioigned is no pore, [Or] For W. as] a B. en|ioigned—pore] R om.] Ne to be a Maire aboue men · ne mynystre vnder kynges; [to] for to R. a] W om. aboue] ouere R. kynges] kyng O.] Selden is any pore yput · to punysshen any peple;

Remocio curarum.

[any] enemye (!) R. yput] putte CB.] Line 289 Ergo pouerte and pore men · perfornen þe comaunde|ment,

Nolite iudicare quemquam. Þe þridde:—

[The words þe þridde are really only a title to the paragraph follow|ing. Cf. l. 294.] ¶ Selde is any pore riche · but of riȝtful heritage; [any pore] pore riȝt R. of] of his R.] Wynneth he nauȝt with weghtes fals · ne with vnseled mesures, [weghtes] wiȝtes W; weightes C; weyȝtis OB; wittes R. with (2)] COB om.] Line 292 Ne borweth of his neghbores · but þat he may wel paye,

Possessio sine calumpnia.

¶ Þe fierthe is a fortune · þat florissheth þe soule [fierthe] ferþe WROB; ferde C. is] it is R. a] B om.] Wyth sobrete fram al synne · and also ȝit more; [synne] synnes O.] It affaiteth þe flesshe · fram folyes ful manye, Line 296 A collateral conforte · crystes owne ȝifte,

Donum dei.

¶ Þe fyfte is moder of helthe · a frende in alle fondynges, [is] it is þe R. helthe] hele R.] And for þe land euere a leche · a lemman of al clennesse,

Sanitatis mater.

[land] so in W; lawde RC; lewede O; lewid B. Sanitatis] Sani|tas CB (and in MS. W).] ¶ Þe sexte is a path of pees · ȝe, þorw þe pas of altoun [sexte] sixte it R. path] paþþe O; paaþ B. pas of] pa (sic) R. altoun] Aultone WC; aultoun O; altone RB.] Pouerte myȝte passe · with-oute peril of robbynge, Line 301 For þere þat pouerte passeth · pees folweth after, And euere þe lasse þat he bereth · þe hardyer he is of herte; [þat] O om. he (2)] R om.] For-þi seith seneca · paupertas est absque solicitudine semita, [solicitudine] solitudine ROB.] Line 304 And an hardy man of herte · amonge an hepe of þeues;

Cantabit [pauper] coram latrone viator.

[[pauper O] paupertas LWCR B; see Note. viator] viatore W.] ¶ Þe seueneth is welle of wisdome · and fewe wordes sheweth, [is] it is R. welle] wille CB.] For lordes alloweth hym litel · or lysteneth to his reson, [For] Ther-fore W. litel] lite R.] He tempreth þe tonge to-treuthe-ward · and no tresore coueiteth;

Sapiencie temperatrix.

[He] For he W. and] þat R. Sapiencie, &c.] R om.] Line 308 ¶ The eigteth is a lele laborere · and loth to take more [eigteth] eighte CB. is] it is R. a] B om. laborere] labour WCOB.] Þan he may wel deserue · in somer or in wynter, And if [he] chaffareth, he chargeth no losse · mowe he charite wynne;

Negocium sine dampno.

[[he WCROB] L om.; but the line is marked. chaffareth] chaffare COB. wynne] wynte R.] ¶ The nyneth is swete to þe soule · no sugre is swettere; [nyneth] nythe it (sic) R; ny|ȝente B. to] for O. is (2)] COB om.] For pacyence is payn · for pouerte hym-selue, [folio 62] Line 313 And sobrete swete drynke · and good leche in sykenesse,

Þus lered me a lettred man · for owre lordes loue, [lettred] lered R. loue] loue of heuene W.] Seynt austyn, a blissed lyf · with-outen bysynesse, [a] CB om. bysynesse] bisy|nesse ladde W. Cf. C-Text.] Line 316 For body and for soule · absque solicitudine felicitas. [for (2)] COB om. absque] R om. solicitudine] solitudine B.] Now god, þat al good gyueth · graunt his soule reste, Þat þus fyrst wrote to wyssen men · what pouerte was to mene!" [þus] þis WCO.] ¶ "Allas!" quod haukyn þe actyf man þo · "þat, after my crystendome, [þe—þo] R om.] Line 320 I ne hadde ben ded and doluen · for doweles sake! [doweles] dowel C.] So harde it is," quod haukyn · "to lyue and to do synne. [do] do (printed do no) W. See Note.] Synne suweth vs euere," quod he · and sori gan wexe, [suweth] scheweth R.] And wepte water with his eyghen · and weyled þe tyme, [tyme] thyme C.] Þat euere he dede dede · þat dere god displesed; [euere he] he euere WO. dede dede] dide dede WCO.] Line 325 Swowed and sobbed · and syked ful ofte, [Swowed] Swouned (printed Swound) W; Swonde C; He swowned B.] Þat euere he hadde londe or lordship · lasse other more, [or] ouþer W. lordship] larde (corrected to lord) O.] Or maystrye ouer any man · mo þan of hym-self. Line 328 "I were nouȝt worthy, wote god," quod haukyn · "to were any clothes, [wote god] wite god R; COB om. were] werien W; werie CR.] Ne noyther sherte ne shone · saue for shame one, [Ne] B om. noyther] nouther C; neiþer WOB.] To keure my caroigne," quod he · and cryde mercye faste, [caroigne] cariogne C; careyne W; caroyne R; caroyne wiþ B. mercye faste] fast mercye COB.] And wepte and weyled · and þere-with I awaked. [awaked] waked C.] Line 332