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 XVII. (DO-BET II.)

[TITLE. Passus xvijus OCYB; Passus xvjus de visione vt supra R; W adds —et ijus de Do-bet; B adds — et tercius de dobet.] Passus xvij ^us, et secundus de do-bet.

"I am spes," quod he, "a spye · and spire after a knyȝte, [quod—spye] a spie, quod he R. and spire] spere R.] That toke me a maundement · vpon þe mounte of synay, To reule alle rewmes with; · I bere þe writte here." [with] þere-with R. þe writte] it writen O; it write Y.] "Is it asseled?" I seyde · "may men se þi lettres?" [asseled] enseled W. þi] the COB.] Line 4 "Nay," he sayde, "I seke hym · þat hath þe sele to kepe; [I] W om. þe sele] þeal (!) C.] ¶ And þat is, crosse and crystenedome · And cryst þere-on to hange. [folio 72b] And whan it is asseled so · I wote wel þe sothe, [asseled] enseled W. I—sothe] R om.] Þat Lucyferes lordeship · laste shal no lenger." [R has—Sathanas power schal last no lenger, And þus my lettre meneth. See Critical Note.] Line 8 "Late se þi lettres," quod I · "we miȝte þe lawe knowe." [þi lettres] þat lettre R.] ¶ Þanne plokked he forth a patent · a pece of an harde roche, [Þanne—he] A plucked R. patent] pauntelet B.] Wher-on [were] writen two wordes · on þis wyse y|glosed,

Dilige deum & proximum tuum, &c.

[[were WCBY] weren O; was LR.]

Þis was þe tixte trewly · I toke ful gode ȝeme; [ȝeme] gome R.] Line 12 Þe glose was gloriousely writen · with a gilte penne,

In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & pro|phetia.

[writen] I-write R. mandatis] R om. tota—pendet] pendet tota lex R. prophetia] prophete CB.] ¶ "[Ben] here alle þi lordes lawes?" quod I · "ȝe, leue me wel," he seyde, [[Ben WCBY] Been O; Is LR. leue] lef R. wel] wille C; R om.] "And who so worcheth after þis writte · I wil vnder|taken, [And] COB om. þis writte] my wit R.] Line 15 Shal neuere deuel hym dere · ne deth in soule greue. [deth] dette COB; deet Y.] For þough I seye it my-self · I haue saued with þis charme Of men & of wommen · many score þousandes." [of (2)] CB om. þousandes] þousand W.] ¶ "He seith soth," seyde þis heraud · "I haue yfounde it ofte; [He seith] Ye seien W. seyde þis] sayed þe C; seide þe B; seiþ þe O. yfounde] founded CBY; founden O.] Lo here in my lappe · þat leued on þat charme, [on] of R.] Line 20 Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Macabeus, Ȝe, and sexty þousande bisyde forth · þat ben nouȝt seyen here." [ȝe] R om.] ¶ "Ȝowre wordes aren wonderful," quod I tho · "which of ȝow is trewest, [aren] be C; ben B; been O. tho] CB om.] And lelest to leue on · for lyf and for soule? [on] so W.] Line 24 Abraham seith þat he seigh · holy þe Trinite, [holy] hoolly W.] Thre persones in parcelles · departable fro other, [departable] despartable B.] And alle þre but o god · þus Abraham me tauȝte, And hath saued þat bileued so · and sory for her synnes, [þat] þat I CB. bileued] bi|leueth R. synnes] synne COB.] Line 28

Line 28 He can nouȝte segge þe somme · and some aren in his lappe. [He] I O. and some] of þo þat B. his] my O.] What neded it þanne · a newe lawe to bigynne, [neded it] nediþ þee O; nedes it C; nediþ it B. bigynne] bringe R.] Sith þe fyrst sufficeth · to sauacioun & to blisse? ¶ And now cometh spes, and speketh · þat hath aspied þe lawe, [cometh] bigynneþ OY; bi|cometh CB. hath] W om.] Line 32 And telleth nouȝte of þe Trinitee · þat toke hym his lettres, 'To byleue and louye · in o lorde almyȝty, And sitthe riȝt as my-self · so louye alle peple.' ¶ Þe gome þat goth with o staf · he semeth in gretter hele [gome] mane C. goth] gaes C. o] a COB. in] in a B.] Line 36 Þan he þat goth with two staues · to syȝte of vs alle. [goth] gos C.] And riȝte so, by þe Rode! · resoun me sheweth, It is lyȝter to lewed men · a lessoun to knowe, [It] That it W. a] o W. knowe] lere B.] Þan for to techen hem two · and to harde to lerne þe leest! [lerne] lere C; here B. þe] þe (printed to the) W.] Line 40 It is ful harde for any man · on abraham byleue, And welawey worse ȝit · for to loue a shrewe! [welawey] waylawey C; wel awey W; weiloway B.] It is liȝter to leue · in þre louely persones [liȝter] written liȝtor; cf. l. 39.] Þan for to louye and leue · as wel lorelles as lele. [leue] leue or lene (uncertain in the MSS.) lele] lelles O; leles CB.] Line 44 Go þi gate," quod I to spes · "so me god helpe! [I] erased in B. to] COB om.] Þo þat lerneth þi lawe · wil litel while vsen it!" [36—46. R omits.] [wil] wol W; wel B; O om.] And as we wenten þus in þe weye · wordyng togyderes, [folio 73] [wenten] wente vs B.] Þanne seye we a samaritan · sittende on a mule, [sittende] so in R; sittynge WCOB.] Line 48 Rydynge ful rapely · þe riȝt weye we ȝeden, [Rydynge] Ryden R.]

Comynge fro a cuntre · þat men called Ierico; [Comynge] Com CB.] To a iustes in iherusalem · he chaced awey faste. Bothe þe heraud and hope · and he mette at ones [þe] CB om. and (2)] B om. he] glossed by .i. xpc. (meaning id est Christus) in LWR.] Line 52 Where a man was wounded · and with þeues taken. [wounded] I-wounded R.] He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · ne stere fote ne handes, [He] A R. stere] stire C; sterie B. handes] hand B.] Ne helpe hym-self sothely · for semiuyf he semed, Line 55 And as naked as a nedle · and none helpe aboute hym. [hym] R om.] ¶ Feith had first siȝte of hym · ac he flegh on syde, [of] on R. ac] and C. flegh] fled C. on] a W.] And nolde nouȝt neighen hym · by nyne londes lengthe. [nolde] walde C. by] B om.] ¶ Hope cam hippyng after · þat hadde so ybosted, [þat] & O.] How he with Moyses maundement · hadde many men y-holpe; Line 60 Ac whan he hadde siȝte of þat segge · a-syde he gan hym drawe, [segge] grome C.] Dredfully, by þis day! as duk · doth fram þe faucoun. [Dredfully] Dredful B. duk] doke WCRO; a doke B.] ¶ Ac so sone so þe samaritan · hadde siȝte of þis lede, He liȝte adown of lyard · and ladde hym in his hande, [of] B om. ladde] CB om. hande] handes R.] And to þe wye he went · his woundes to biholde, [to þe] with þat R.] Line 65 And parceyued bi his pous · he was in peril to deye, [bi] in R.] And but if he hadde recourere þe rather · þat rise shulde he neure; [if] ȝif R; WB om. recourere] recouerer WOY; recouered B; socur C. rather] rapelier W.] [And breyde to his boteles · and bothe he atamede;] [In R only; but see C-text.] Line 68 Wyth wyn & with oyle · his woundes he wasshed, Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed · & in his lappe hym layde, [hym (2)] he CB.]

And ladde hym so forth on lyard · to lex christi, a graunge, Wel six myle or seuene · biside þe newe market; Line 72 Herberwed hym at an hostrye · and to þe hostellere called, [hostrye] ostrie COB. to] R om. hostellere] ostiler CB.] And sayde, "haue, kepe þis man · til I come fro þe iustes, [haue] there is a point after this word in C and O.] And lo here syluer," he seyde · "for salue to his woundes." And he toke hym two pans · to lyflode as it were, [pans] pens WCO.] Line 76 And seide, "what he speneth more · I make þe good here-after; [speneth] spendeþ WB; spendes C.] For I may nouȝt lette," quod þat leode · & lyarde he bistrydeth, [lette] O om. (!) bistrydeth] bistroode C; bistrode OB.] And raped hym to-iherusalem-ward · þe riȝte waye to ryde. ¶ Faith folweth after faste · and fonded to mete hym, [folweth] folwede WCOB.] Line 80 And spes spaklich hym spedde · spede if he myȝte, [spaklich] sparkliche R; scharpli B.] To ouertake hym and talke to hym · ar þei to toun come. [to (2)] til COB.] ¶ And whan I seyȝ þis, I soiourned nouȝte · but shope me to renne, [to] C om.] And suwed þat samaritan · þat was so ful of pite, [þat (1)] þe R. pite] piete C.] Line 84 And graunted hym to ben his grome · "gramercy," he seyde, [grome] gome R. gramercy] graunt mercy WCRO.] "Ac þi frende and þi felawe," quod he · "þow fyndest me at nede." [quod he] he saide CB; O om.] ¶ And I thanked hym þo · and sith I hym tolde,

How þat feith fleigh awey · and spes his felaw bothe, [fleigh] fleed C; fleȝ R.] For siȝte of þe sorweful man · þat robbed was with þeues. [þe] þat W.] Line 89 "Haue hem excused," quod he · "her help may litel auaille; [folio 73b] May no medcyn on molde · þe man to hele brynge, [on] vnder R.] Neither feith ne fyn hope · so festred ben his woundis, With-out þe blode of a barn · borne of a mayde. [mayde] mayden O.] Line 93 And be he bathed in þat blode · baptised, as it were, [be he] he be COB; be he (printed he be) W. he] R om.] And þanne plastred with penaunce · and passioun of þat babi, [plastred] pastrid B. and] and þe R.] He shulde stonde and steppe; · ac stalworth worth he neure, [ac] and CC2.] Line 96 Tyl he haue eten al þe barn · and his blode ydronke. [ydronke] drūnkyn C2.] For went neuere wy in þis worlde · þorw þat wilder|nesse, Þat he ne was robbed or rifled · rode he þere or ȝede, [or (1)] ne R.] Saue faith, & his felaw · spes, and my-selue, Line 100 And þi-self now, and such · as suwen owre werkis. [as] þat RC2.] ¶ For outlawes in þe wode · and vnder banke lotyeth, [outlawes] outlawe is R. loty|eth] lowted C.] And may vch man se · and gode merke take, [may] mowen W; mowe C; mown C2.] Line 103 Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on hors, [who (2)] wo is B.] For he halt hym hardyer on horse · þan he þat is a fote. [halt] haldes C. a] on YBC2; at C; W om.] For he seigh me, þat am samaritan · suwen feith & his felaw [seigh] seith RC2. feith] forth Y.] Line 106 On my caple þat hatte caro · (of mankynde I toke it), [hatte] hattiþ B; highte W.]

He was vnhardy, þat harlot · and hudde hym in in|ferno. [vnhardy—harlot] vn harlot (by mistake) R. hudde] hud R; hidde WYC2B; hid C.] Line 108 Ac ar þis day þre dayes · I dar vndertaken, [Ac] And CC2. þis—dayes] þise daies þre B; thise dayes thre dayes C.] Þat he worth fettred, þat feloune · fast with cheynes, And neure eft greue grome · þat goth þis ilke gate;

[O mors, ero mors tua, &c.]

[grome] gome WRC2. [O—tua] in R only.] ¶ And þanne shal feith be forester here · and in þis fritth walke, [forester] forster WCC2Y. walke] C om.] Line 112 And kennen out comune men · þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre, [out] CC2BY om. comune] vn|kunnande (miswritten unkunmande) B.] Which is þe weye þat ich went · and wherforth to iherusalem. And hope þe hostelleres man shal be · þere þe man lith an helynge; [an] in Y; to CC2B.] And alle þat fieble and faynt be · þat faith may nouȝt teche, Line 116 Hope shal lede hem forth with loue · as his lettre telleth, [telleth] hem telles CB.] And hostel hem and hele · þorw holicherche bileue, [hostel] herber C. hele] hel hem C; heele hem B. holicherche] holichirchis B.] Tyl I haue salue for alle syke · and þanne shal I re|tourne, [retourne] turne W.] Line 119 And come aȝein bi þis contree · and confort alle syke Þat craueth it or coueiteth it · and cryeth þere-after. [it (1)] C2 om. or] and W. and] or W.] For þe barne was born in bethleem · þat with his blode shal saue

Alle þat lyueth in faith and folweth · his felawes tech|ynge." [ll.122, 123.

For the barne was borne in Bethlem · of a clene mayde,That shal with his blood · saue alle þat lyuen in feith,And foloweth the techynge · of holpe þat is his felawe Y.

So also CC2B; but C omits borne, C2 omits the first his, C the second his, and all three rightly have hope for holpe. LW are alike, and better.] [112—123. R omits.] ¶ "A! swete syre!" I seyde þo · "wher [shal I] byleue, [I seyde] seide I B. wher] whether R. [shal I YCC2B] I shal LWR.] Line 124 As feith and his felawe · enfourmed me bothe? [enfourmed] enformen CBYC2.] In þre persones departable · þat perpetuel were euere, And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte;— [þre] this C; þis is B.] And hope afterwarde · he bad me to louye Line 128 O god wyth al my good · and alle gomes after, [C2 omits.] Louye hem lyke my-selue · ac owre lorde aboue alle." [my-selue] my-suluen R. ac] and CC2.] ¶ "After abraham," quod he · "þat heraud of armes, Sette faste þi faith · and ferme bileue. [faste] fully W.] Line 132 And, as hope hiȝte þe · I hote þat þow louye [hiȝte] bihiȝt R.] Thyn euene-crystene euermore · euene forth with þi|self. [folio 74] And if conscience carpe þere-aȝein · or kynde witte oyther, Or heretykes with argumentz · þin honde þow [hem] shewe; [[hem WR] hym LCC2B.] Line 136 For god is after an hande · yhere now and knowe it. ¶ Þe fader was fyrst, as a fyst · with o fynger fold|ynge, [as] CC2Y om. o] a CYB. foldynge] folden R.] Tyl hym loued and lest · to vnlosen his fynger, [loued] leued R. lest] liste WCC2BY; luste R. vnlosen] vn|closen B.] And profre it forth as with a paume · to what place it sholde. [profre] profered R.] Line 140 Þe paume is purely þe hande · and profreth forth þe fyngres [profreth] profer C.] To mynystre and to make · þat myȝte of hande knoweth, [mynystre] minstre R; myns|tre Y.]

And bitokneth trewly · telle who so liketh, [liketh] it liketh Y; it liked CB.] Þe holygost of heuene · he is as þe paume. [he] C2 om.] Line 144 Þe fyngres þat fre ben · to folde and to serue, Bitokneth sothly þe sone · þat sent was til erthe, [til] to C2.] Þat toched and tasted · atte techynge of þe paume [145—147. CB om.] [atte] and R.] Seynt Marie a Mayde · and mankynde lauȝte;

Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto, [natus,] &c.

[[natus CBY] LWRC2 om.] Line 148 Þe fader is þanne as a fust · with fynger to touche,

Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum, &c.,

[þanne] pawme W. a] R om. touche] thouche R.] Al þat þe paume parceyueth · profitable to fele. Thus ar þei alle but one · as it an hande were, [an hande] a fust R.] And þre sondry siȝtes · in one shewynge. [in one] in oen in R.] Line 152 Þe paume, for he putteth forth fyngres · and þe fust bothe, [he] it W. he putteth] þe paume put (!) R.] Riȝt so redily · reson it sheweth, How he þat is holygoste · sire & sone preueth. And as þe hande halt harde · and al þynge faste [halt] haldes C.] Line 156 Þorw foure fyngres and a thombe · forth with þe paume, [a] B om.] Riȝte so þe fader and þe sone · & seynt spirit þe þridde Halt al þe wyde worlde · with-in hem thre, [Halt] Haldes C; W om. with-in] with R. thre] þre holden W.] Bothe welkne and þe wynde · water and erthe, [welkne] wolkne WR; þe welk|ene B; welken CC2.] Line 160 Heuene & helle · and al þat þere is Inne. [þere is Inne] so in R; is þer|Inne W; ther-Inne is CYC2B.] Þus it is, nedeth no man · to trowe non other, [is] RCB om. nedeth] it nedeþ C2. to] WCB om.] That thre þinges bilongeth · in owre lorde of heuene, And aren [serelepes] by hem-self · asondry were neure, [[serelepes] so in Y; serelopes W; surleps R; sereples CC2B; ser|clepes L (but marked for correction). were] were þei WCYC2B.]

Namore þan myn hande may · meue with-outen fyngeres. [myn—may] may an hand R. fyngeres] my fyngres WCC2YB.] Line 165 ¶ And as my fust is ful honde · yfolde togideres, [And] B om. fust] neef C. yfolde] y-holden W.] So is þe fader a ful god · formeour and shepper,

Tu fabricator omnium, &c.,

[shepper] scheppere R; shap|pere WC2; chappere B; shapeour Y; schipper C.] And al þe myȝte myd hym is · in makyng of þynges. [And] CYC2B om. myd] with C. of] of alle CYC2B.] Line 168 ¶ The fyngres fourmen a ful hande · to purtreye or peynten [or] or to CC2B.] Keruynge and compassynge · as crafte of þe fyngres; [and] or R. as] is R. crafte] crist C.] Riȝt so is þe sone · þe science of þe fader, And ful god, as is þe fader · no febler ne no better. Line 172 Þe paume is purelich þe hande · hath power bi hymselue, [hath] and haþ WC2.] Otherwyse þan þe wrythen fuste · or werkmanschip of fyngres; [þe wrythen] he writhes þe C; he wriþeþ þe B; þe writen R.] For þe paume hath powere · to put oute alle þe ioyntes, [þe paume] he W. put] pult R. alle] R om. After l. 175 B in|serts—and to strecche out þe synwes · and weynes boþe.] And to vnfolde þe folden fuste · [for hym it bilongeth; [folio 74b] [folden] R om. fuste] Neue C.] And receyue þat þe fyngres recheth · and refuse bothe, Whan he feleth þe fust · and] þe fyngres wille. [176—178. [for—and] in R only; but cf. C-text.] [and] atte L; at WC2; as CYB.] Line 178 So is þe holygoste god · nother gretter ne lasse [So] To (!) C.] Þan is þe sire and þe sone · & in þe same myȝte, [and] or R.] And alle ar þei but o god · as is myn hande & my fyngres, [my] C om.] Vnfolden or folden · my fuste & myn paume, Line 182 Al is but an hande · how so I torne it. [is] is it R. an] so in WR; on CC2B; oon Y.] [how so—þe hande] WCC2YB omit; retained in R and Crowley.]

Ac who is herte in þe hande · euene in þe myddes, [how so—þe hande] WCC2YB omit; retained in R and Crowley.] Line 184 He may receyue riȝt nouȝte · resoun it sheweth; [CC2YB omit.] For þe fyngres, þat folde shulde · and þe fuste make, [fuste] Neeue C.] For peyne of þe paume · powere hem failleth [paume] loofe C.] To [clucche] or to clawe · to clyppe or to holde. [[clucche WY] cluche RC2; cleuche CB; clicche L. to (3)] or CB.] Line 188 ¶ Were þe myddel of myn honde · ymaymed or ypersshed, [ymaymed] ymayheymed (sic) C. ypersshed] ypersed R; I-perisshed Y; y-perissed WC; perished C2B.] I shulde receyue riȝte nouȝte · of þat I reche myȝte. [of] and of CB.] Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres · bothe were to|shullen, [Ac] And C2; As C. to|shullen] to-schiruerd (sic) C; to|swolle R.] And þe myddel of myn hande · with-oute male ese, [male ese] ma layse (sic) B.] Line 192 In many kynnes maneres · I myȝte my-self helpe, Bothe meue and amende · þough alle my fyngres oke. [meue] moeue CY; meue (printed mene) W; moue C2. oke] oken C2.] Bi þis skil, me þynke[th] · I se an euydence, [þynketh] so in WCC2YB; þynke L; but see l. 278. skil—þynk|eth] kile he seyde (sic) R.] Þat who so synneth in þe seynt spirit · assoilled worth he neure, [þe] CC2YB om.] Line 196 Noither here ne elles-where · as I herde telle,

Qui peccat in [spiritum sanctum, nunquam,] &c.,

[herde] here C2. [spiritum sanctum] most MSS. have spiritu sancto; but C2 has the right reading here, though not in the next line. [nunquam] in R only.] For he prikketh god as in þe paume · þat peccat in [spiritum sanctum]. [as] C2 om.] [as in—fader] C om. a fynger] the fynger CC2YB.] For god þe fader is as a fuste · þe sone is as a fynger, [as in—fader] C om. a fynger] the fynger CC2YB.] The holy goste of heuene · is, as it were, þe pawme. [þe] C2 om.] So who so synneth in seynt spirit · it semeth þat he greueth [so] C2 om. in] in þe WCB; aȝeynes þe R.] Line 201

Line 201 God, þat he grypeth with · and wolde his grace quenche. ¶ And to a torche or a tapre · þe trinitee is lykned; [And] For R. or] or to R. lykned] ylikned CYB.] As wex and a weke · were twyned togideres, Line 204 And þanne a fyre flaumende · forth oute of bothe; [fyre] fere R. flaumende] flawmende R; flawmynge WB; flaum|yng CC2Y. oute] ouȝt R.] And as wex and weyke · and hote fyre togyderes [hote fyre] warme fere R.] Fostren forth a flaumbe · and a feyre leye, [a (2)] B om. leye] lowe C; light C2.] So doth þe sire & þe sone · & also spiritus sanctus Line 208 Fostren forth amonges folke · loue & bileue, [W omits. Fostren] Brynges C. bileue] loiale bileue C2.] Þat alkyn crystene · clenseth of synnes. [þat] C2 om. clenseth] clens|ede R.] And as þow seest some tyme · sodeynliche a torche, The blase þere-of yblowe out · ȝet brenneth þe weyke, With-oute leye or liȝte · þat þe macche brenneth, [leye] lowe C. macche] smacche C2Y. brenneth] swellith C2.] Line 213 So is þe holygost god · & grace with-oute mercy To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueite to destruye Lele loue other lyf · þat owre lorde shapte. [other] or W; eiþer B. shapte] schupte R; ȝaf C2.] Line 216 ¶ And as glowande gledes · gladieth nouȝte þis werk|men, [as] as a CC2BY. glowande] glowynge WCC2B. gledes] glede CC2BY. gladieth] ne gladeth CC2BY.] Þat worchen & waken · in wyntres niȝtes, As doth a kex or a candel · þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth, [kex] kyse C2; kixe B.] Namore doth sire ne sone · ne seynt spirit togyderes, Graunteth no grace · ne forȝifnesse of synnes, [Graunteth] Graunte WCC2B.] Line 221 Til þe holi goste gynne · to glowe and to blase. [folio 75] So þat þe holygoste · gloweth but as a glede, [þat] doth C2. gloweth] glowe B. glede] glade W.] Tyl þat lele loue · ligge on hym & blowe, Line 224 And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre · on fader & on filius, [fader] pater YC2.]

And melteth her myȝte in-to mercy · as men may se in wyntre [in-to] to C2YB; o C.] Ysekeles in eueses · þorw hete of þe sonne, [Ysekeles] Iseyokels C. in] and W. eueses] euesynges WCC2B. þe] CB om.] Melteth in a mynut while · to myst & to watre; [Melteth] Melte W.] Line 228 So grace of þe holygoste · þe grete myȝte of þe trinite Melteth in-to mercy · to mercyable, & to non other. [in-to] to WCC2BY. non] W om.] And as wex with-outen more · on a warme glede Wil brennen & blasen · be þei to-gyderes, Line 232 And solacen hem þat may se · þat sitten in derkenesse, So wole þe fader forȝif · folke of mylde hertes Þat reufulliche repenten · & restitucioun make, In as moche as þei mowen · amenden & payen. [In] þi B.] Line 236 And if it suffice nouȝte for assetz · þat in suche a wille deyeth, [assetz] assetth C; aseth C2; to a-seeþ B. þat] Y om. a] CC2BY om.] Mercy for his mekenesse · wil make good þe reme|naunte. [wil] & Y.] And as þe weyke and fyre · wil make a warme flaumbe [warme] faire Y.] For to myrthe men with · þat in merke sitten, [myrthe] norische B. with] myd W. merke] þe derke W.] Line 240 So wil cryst of his curteisye · and men crye hym mercy, Bothe forȝiue & forȝete · & ȝet bidde for vs To þe fader of heuene · forȝyuenesse to haue. [217—243. R omits.] ¶ Ac hew fyre at a flynte · fowre hundreth wyntre, [Ac] And C; But C2. fyre—a] fuyr and R.] Line 244 Bot þow haue towe to take it with · tondre or broches, [towe] tacche R. tondre] tunder R.] Al þi laboure is loste · and al þi longe trauaille; For may no fyre flaumbe make · faille it his kynde. [his] is WC.] So is þe holy gost god · & grace with-outen mercy Line 248 To alle vnkynde creatures · cryst hym-self witnesseth,

Amen dico vobis, nescio vos, &c.

¶ Be vnkynde to þin euene-cristene · and al þat þow canst bidden, [þat] C2B om. þow] þau B.] Delen & do penaunce · day & nyȝte euere, [& (1)] or CC2BY. & (2)] or B.] Line 251 And purchace al þe pardoun · of Pampiloun & Rome, [Pampiloun] paemploen R.] And indulgences ynowe · & be ingratus to þi kynde, [ingratus] ingratis CY; in|grat R. kynde] kynne R.] Þe holy goste hereth þe nouȝt · ne helpe may þe by resoun; For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym · þat he can nouȝte shyne, [quencheth hym] qwenche hem R.] Ne brenne ne blase clere · for blowynge of vnkynde|nesse. [for] but Y.] Line 256 Poule þe apostle · preueth wher I lye,

Si linguis hominum loquar, &c.

[wher] wheiþer W. linguis] lingua B.] For-thy beth war, ȝe wyse men · þat with þe wo[r]lde deleth, [worlde] CWRC2YB; miswrit|ten wolde L (but marked).] That riche ben & resoun knoweth · reuleth wel ȝowre soule. [soule] soulis B; self C2.] Beth nouȝte vnkynde, I conseille ȝow · to ȝowre euene|crystene. Line 260 For many of ȝow riche men · bi my soule, men telleth, Ȝe brenne, but ȝe blaseth nouȝte · þat is a blynde be|kene;

Non omnis qui dicit domine, domine, intrabit, &c.

[þat] & þat R. a blynde] an vnkynde CB. intrabit] CC2BY om.] ¶ Diues deyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse [dampned] Idampned R.] Of his mete & his moneye · to men that it neded. [folio 75b] [his (2)] of his WC2; RY om. neded] nedes C; nediþ B.] Line 264 Vch a riche I rede · rewarde at hym take, [a riche] riche man B.] And gyueth ȝowre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseth. [grace of ariseth] alle grace of riseth B.]

For [þei] þat ben vnkynde to his · hope I none other, [[þei WCC2BY] LR om] But þei dwelle þere diues is · dayes with-outen ende. [þei] thay schul CC2Y; þat þei shal B.] Þus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie · þat quencheth, as it were, [vnkyndenesse] kyndenesse (!) B.] Line 269 Þe grace of þe holy gooste · goddes owne kynde. For þat kynde dothe, vnkynde fordoth · as þese cursed theues, [dothe] deth R. cursed] cor|sede W.] Vnkynde cristene men · for coueityse & enuye, [&] of C2.] Line 272 Sleeth a man for his moebles · wyth mouth or wyth handes. For þat þe holygoste hath to kepe · þo harlotes de|stroyeth, [þo] þe WC2.] Þe which is lyf & loue · þe leye of mannes bodye. [lyf] þe lif CB.] For euery manere good man · may be likned to a torche, Or elles to a tapre · to reuerence þe Trinitee; Line 277 And who morthereth a good man · me thynketh, by myn Inwyt, [who] who-so CBC2Y; ho-so R.] He fordoth þe leuest lyȝte · þat owre lorde loueth. ¶ Ac ȝut in many mo maneres · men offenden þe holy|goste, [Ac] But C2; And WC.] Line 280 Ac þis is þe worste wyse · þat any wiȝte myȝte [Ac] And C; But C2.] Synnen aȝein þe seynt spirit · assenten to destruye, [Synnen] Synegen R. þe] CBYC2 om.] For coueityse of any kynnes þinge · þat cryst dere bouȝte. [kynnes] CYC2B om.] Line 283 How myȝte he axe mercy · or any mercy hym helpe, [Also in R; WCYC2B omit; Crowley retains it.] Þat wykkedlich & willefullich · wolde mercy anynte? [anynte] so in R; aniente WC; anientice YC2B.] Innocence is nexte god · & nyȝte and day it crieth, [nexte] nex C.] 'Veniaunce, veniaunce · forȝiue be it neuere,

That shent vs & shadde owre blode · forshapte vs, as it were;

Vindica sanguinem iustorum!'

[vs (1)] R om. shadde] shad CYB; shedde WR; schede C2. for|shapte] for-schupte R. were] semed R. Vindica] Vindicta CB.] Line 288 Thus 'veniaunce, veniaunce' · verrey charite asketh; And sith holicherche & charite · chargeth þis so sore, [sith] sit C.] Leue I neure that owre lorde wil loue þat charite lakketh, [lakketh] hattes C; hatiþ B.] Line 291 Ne haue pite for any preyere · þere þat he pleyneth." ¶ "I pose I hadde synned so · and shulde now deye, [pose] sopose C2. synned] syneged R, now] nouȝt (!) C; nouȝth C2; noȝt B; nouȝ R.] And now am sory, þat so · þe seint spirit agulte, [now] nouȝt (!) R. am] I am W. so] I so WCC2YB. spirit] Spiriȝt I R.] Confesse me, & crye his grace · god, þat al made, [grace] mercy C2.] And myldliche his mercy axe · myȝte I nouȝte be saued?" [mercy] grace C2, saued] I|saued R.] Line 296 ¶ "Ȝus," seide þe Samaritan · "so wel þow myȝte repente, [ȝus] Thus (!) C; þus B; ȝis WYC2. wel] R om. myȝte] miȝtest R.] Þat riȝtwisnesse þorw repentance · to reuthe myȝte torne. [þorw] to R.] Ac it is but selden yseye · þere sothenesse bereth wit|nesse, [Ac] And C; But ȝet C2. it is] is it B. yseye] yseiȝe W; seyen CB; seie C2Y. þere] the CB; that Y.] Any creature þat is coupable · afor a kynges iustice, [þat is] be R. afor] by-for R. iustice] Iustices C.] Be raunsoned for his repentaunce · þere alle resoun hym dampneth. [repentaunce] R om. (!). dampneth] dampned Y.] Line 301 For þere þat partye pursueth · þe pele is so huge, [pele] peel R; peple WC2YB; pepile C; Crowley has plee. is] his C.] Þat þe kynge may do no mercy · til bothe men acorde, And eyther haue equite · as holy writ telleth; Line 304

Numquam dimittitur peccatum, [donec restitu|atur ablatum.]

[eyther] neither (!) C. donec] in Y only; the two words following are supplied from Pass. V. 279.] Line 304 Þus it fareth bi suche folke · þat falsely al her lyues [lyues] lyue R.] Euel lyuen & leten nouȝte · til lyf hem forsake; [Euel lyuen] I wulle leuen C2.] [Drede of desperacion · dryueth a-weye þanne grace, [In R only; but see C-text.] Þat mercy in her mynde · may nauȝt þanne falle;] [In R only; but see C-text.] Line 308 Good hope, þat helpe shulde · to wanhope torneth— [folio 76] [þat helpe] CB om. torneth] turne B.] Nouȝt of þe nounpowere of god · þat he ne is myȝtful [þe nounpowere] noun power Y; þe nounper R.] To amende al þat amys is · and his mercy grettere Þan alle owre wykked werkes · as holiwrit telleth,

Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius—

[eius (1)] domini R.] Line 312 Ac, ar his riȝtwisnesse to reuthe tourne · some restitu|cioun bihoueth; [Ac] But C2; And C. riȝt|wisnesse] rightfulnesse CYC2B.] His sorwe is satisfaccioun · for hym þat may nouȝte paye. [R omits.] ¶ Thre þinges þere ben · þat doth a man by strengthe [þere] that C. In the margin of L is—Fumus, Mulier, & stillicidia Expellunt hominem a domo pro[pria].] Forto fleen his owne hous · as holywryt sheweth. [Forto] C2 om. hous] W om.] Line 316 Þat one is a wikked wyf · þat wil nouȝt be chasted, [chasted] so in R; chastised W; schastisid C2; chastied C.] Her fiere fleeth fro hyr · for fere of her tonge. [fiere] so in C2B; feere WCY; fere R. fleeth] flien B. fro] R om.] And if his hous be vnhiled · and reyne on his bedde, [his] C om. vnhiled] vnhilled CC2Y; vnheled RB. on] in CBY.] He seketh and seketh · til he slepe drye. [and seketh] al aboute CC2BY. slepe] ligge CY; liggith C2; liegge B.] Line 320 And whan smoke & smolder · smyt in his syȝte, [&] or CC2BY. smyt] smitte RC2. Y omits from smyt to smolder in l. 323.] It doth hym worse þan his wyf · or wete to slepe. For smoke & smolder · smyteth [in] his eyen, [smyteth] smerteth R. [in WC2YB] LRC om. Cf. l. 341.] Til he be blere-nyed or blynde · and hors in þe throte, [blere-nyed] blereneyed R; blereighed WCC2Y; blerid B. hors] hoos CY; hos C2B; cowȝhe R. þe] his B.]

Cougheth, and curseth · þat cryst gyf hem sorwe [Cougheth] He kouȝeth R; Coughees C; Coughed Y; Than Cougheth he C2. þat] and bit B. hem] hym CRC2Y.] Line 325 Þat sholde brynge in better wode · or blowe it til it brende. [it (1)] B om. brende] brenne BC2Y.] ¶ Þise thre þat I telle of · ben þus to vnderstonde. [ben þus] þus ben R. to] CR om.] The wyf is owre wikked flesshe · þat wil nouȝt be chasted, [The] þre B. þat] R om. chasted] chastised WB; schastisid C2.] Line 328 For kynde cleueth on hym euere · to contrarie þe soule. [cleueth] clyueþ W.] And þowgh it falle, it fynt skiles · [þat] frelete it made, [[þat WCRC2BY] þe L. it] is CC2Y.] And þat is liȝtly forȝeuen · and forȝeten bothe, To man þat mercy asketh · and amende þenketh. [amende] to amende hym B; to amende C2.] Line 332 ¶ The reyne þat reyneth · þere we reste sholde, Ben sikenesses & sorwes · þat we suffren oft, [sikenesses] siknesse WCC2Y. &] and other R. oft] ouȝte R.] As Powle þe Apostle · to þe peple tauȝte,

Virtus in infirmitate perficitur, &c.

[in] retained in MS. W. per|ficitur] C om.] And þowgh þat men make · moche deol in her angre, [deol] doel WC2RY; dole C; dol B. her] C om.] And [ben] inpacient in here penaunce · pure resoun knoweth, [[ben W] be R; LCC2YB om.] Line 337 Þat þei han cause to contrarie · by kynde of her syke|nesse. [cause] resoun R.] And liȝtlich owre lorde · at her lyues ende, [liȝtlich] ful liȝtli B.] Hath mercy on suche men · þat so yuel may suffre. [96—340. Here MS. O has lost three leaves; this portion is collated with MSS. C2 and Y.] [so] CB om. Here collation with O recommences, and with C2 and Y ceases.] Line 340 ¶ Ac þe smoke and þe smolder · þat smyt in owre eyghen, [Ac] And C. smyt] smitte R.] Þat is coueityse and vnkyndenesse · þat quencheth goddes mercy. [þat (1)] COB om. is] R om. þat (2)] R om.]

For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie · of alkynnes resoun; For þere nys syke ne sori · ne non so moche wrecche, [moche] yuele a O. wrecche] werche (!) C.] Þat he ne may louye, & hym lyke · and lene of his herte [lene] lene or leue in the MSS.] Goed wille & good worde · bothe wisshen and willen [&] R om. bothe] and W. willen] wilnen R.] Alle manere men · mercy & forȝifnesse, Line 347 And louye hem liche hym-self · and his lyf amende.— I may no lenger lette," quod he · and lyarde he pryked, [lyarde—pryked] harde priked CB; harde prikede forþ O.] And went away as wynde · and þere-with I awaked. [away] O om. awaked] wakede R; awakiþ B.]