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 XX (DO-BEST I).

[TITLE. So in W. CBY omit de vi|sione. O has only Passus vicesimus.] Passus xx ^us de visione, & primus de dobest.

Thanne as I went by þe way · whan I was þus awaked, [þus] B om.] Heuy-chered I ȝede · and elynge in herte; [chered] chere (!) C. elynge] elenge WCOBY.] I ne wiste where to ete · ne at what place. And it neighed nyeghe þe none · & with nede I mette, [nyeghe] neiȝ W; nere CY; neer O; ne B.] Line 4 That afronted me foule · and faitour me called. [afronted] afrounted WCBY; frountede O. foule] wel foule CBY. faitour] a faytour B.] "Coudestow nouȝte excuse þe · as dede þe Kynge & other, [Coudestow] Kanstow WCY; kanst þou O; kant þou B. In mar|gin of O—Necessitas.] Þat þow toke to þi bylyf · to clothes and to sustenance, [bylyf] bilyue WO; bileue CBY.] As by techynge & by tellynge · of spiritus temperancie, [As] And WOBY; but Crowley reads As. by (2)] CB om.] And þow nome namore · þan nede þe tauȝte, [nome] take C.] Line 9 And nede ne hath no lawe · ne neure shal falle in dette? [ne (1)] O om.; ne (printed he) W.] For þre thynges he taketh · his lyf forto saue, [thynges] kyngis (!) B.] That is mete, whan men hym werneth · & he no moneye weldeth, [werneth] warnen O; warnes C; warneþ YB.] Line 12 ¶ Ne wyght none wil ben his borwe · ne wedde hath none to legge. [folio 87b] [none (1)] ne B. wedde] wede C. none (2)] ne non B.]

And he cauȝte in þat cas · & come þere-to by sleighte, He synneth nouȝte sothelich · þat so wynneth his fode. And þough he come so to a clothe · and can no better cheuysaunce, [come] comeþ B. a] B om. cheuysaunce] che (!) C.] Line 16 Nede anon riȝte · nymeth hym vnder meynpryse. [nymeth] takes C.] And if hym lyst for to lape · þe lawe of kynde wolde [lyst] lif (!) B. for] CBY om.] That he dronke at eche diche · ar he for thurste deyde. [dronke] drinke O. eche] ech a Y.] So nede, at grete nede · may nymen as for his owne, [at] at (printed al) W.] Line 20 Wyth-oute conseille of conscience · or cardynale vertues, So þat he suwe & saue · spiritus temperancie. [suwe] sewe WC; sue O; swe Y.] ¶ For is no vertue by fer · to spiritus temperancie, [is] þer is B.] Neither spiritus iusticie · ne spiritus fortitudinis; [Neither] Ne WO.] Line 24 For spiritus fortitudinis · forfaiteth ful oft, [forfaiteth] forfeteþ WOYB; forfetes C.] He shal do more þan mesure · many tyme & ofte, [C omits. more] no more (!) B.] And bete men ouer bitter · and somme of hem to litel, [Here collation with Y ceases, and with R recommences. bete] bette C. ouer bitter] ful bitterli O; ouer|betterli B. of hem] body R; but this is a C-text reading.] And greue men gretter · þan goode faith it wolde. [it] COB om.] Line 28 ¶ And spiritus iusticie · shal iuggen, wolhe, nolhe, [wolhe nolhe] wol he nol he R; wole he nel he (printed wol he nele he) W; wole he or nyle he O; wil he nyl he B; wol wyl he nel he (sic) C.] After þe kynges conseille · & þe comune lyke. And spiritus prudencie · in many a poynte shal faille [a] C om.] Of þat he weneth wolde falle · if his wytte ne were. Line 32 Wenynge is no wysdome · ne wyse ymagynacioun, Homo proponit & deus disponit · & gouerneth alle good vertues. Ac nede is next hym · for anon he meketh, [Ac] and R; (but C has Ac).] Line 35 And as low as a lombe · for lakkyng of þat hym nedeth. [as (1)] also B. of] R om. After this line R has—For nede maketh nede · fele nedes lowh-herted. But this is a C-text line, and the second nede should be nedy.]

Wyse men forsoke wele · for þey wolde be nedy, [Wyse men] Filosofres R (as in C-text). forsoke] forsoken OB. wele] welth R. C repeats this line.] And woneden in wildernesse · & wolde nouȝte be riche. [in wildernesse] wel elengly R (as in C-text).] ¶ And god al his grete ioye · gostliche he left, [god al] þo god of B.] And cam & toke mankynde · and bycam nedy. Line 40 So nedy he was, as seyth þe boke · in many sondry places, [nedy he was] he was nedy R.] Þat he seyde in his sorwe · on þe selue Rode, 'Bothe fox & foule · may fleighe to hole & crepe, [foule] foughel C; gray B. fleighe] fle WRCO; go B.] And þe fisshe hath fyn · to flete with to reste, [to flete] it fleet C; þat it fletiþ B. to (2)] or to R.] Line 44 Þere nede hath ynome me · þat I mote nede abyde, And suffre sorwes ful sowre · þat shal to ioye tourne.' [sowre] sore B. þat] to B.] For-þi be nouȝte abasshed · to byd[d]e and to be nedy; [bydde] bidde RCOB; bide W; byde L.] Syth he þat wrouȝte al þe worlde · was wilfullich nedy, Ne neuer none so nedy · ne pouerere deyde." [pouerere] porere B; also porer O.] Line 49 ¶ Whan nede had vndernome me þus · Anon I felle aslepe, [had] haþ W. me] R om. I felle] I fel RC; I fil W; a fel B.] And mette ful merueillously · þat, in mannes forme, Antecryst cam þanne · and al þe croppe of treuthe [al þe] alle R; al CB. In mar|gin of O—Antecrist. Ieronimus super illud Dan. 12. beatus qui expectat & peruenit vsque ad dies .1335. beatus, inquit, qui, interfecto antichristo, dies supra numerum prefinitum .45. pre|stolatur, quibus & dominus saluator in sua magestate venturus est. [See S. Jerome on Dan. xii. 12.]] Line 52 Torned it vp so doune · and ouertilte þe rote, [it] C om.] And [made] fals sprynge & sprede · & spede mennes nedes; [[made R] LWCOB om. sprynge] spronge O; spryngiþ B. sprede] sprediþ B; spredde O. spede] spedde COB.] In eche a contre þere he cam · he cutte awey treuthe, [contre] Court CB.] And gert gyle growe þere · as he a god were. [gert] syet or gyet (!) B. growe] grew B. god] god (printed Good) W.] Line 56

Line 56 Freres folwed þat fende · for he ȝaf hem copes, [folio 88] And religiouse reuerenced hym · and rongen here belles, [religiouse] religiouses R.] And al þe couent forth cam · to welcome þat tyraunt, [forth] R om. þat] a R.] And alle hise, as wel as hym · saue onlich folis; [as (1)] also B.] Line 60 Which folis were wel leuer · to deye þan to lyue [wel leuer] gladdere R.] [Lenger], sith [leute] · was so rebuked, [[Lenger WCOB] Lengore LR. sith] þan O. [leute] leute or lente RB; lenten LWCO; but cf. C-text, and see l. 145. O has—Lenger þan lenten · to be so rebuked, which agrees with Crowley. rebuked] robbid and reued B.] And a fals fende antecriste · ouer alle folke regned; [a] as a W.] And þat were mylde men & holy · þat no myschief dredden, [And] Saue W. were] we R. myschief] mesch of (!) B.] Line 64 Defyed al falsenesse · and folke þat it vsed, And what Kynge þat hem conforted · knowynge hem any while, [any while] gyle R.] They cursed, and her conseille · were it clerke or lewed. ¶ Antecriste hadde thus sone · hundredes at his banere, Line 68 And Pryde it bare · boldely aboute, [boldely] ful buldli B.] With a lorde þat lyueth · after lykynge of body, [after] after · lust & O.] That cam aȝein conscience · þat kepere was & gyoure [gyoure] gwiour C.] Ouer kynde crystene · and cardynale vertues. [cardynale] cardinales R.] Line 72 ¶ "I conseille," quod conscience þo · "cometh with me, ȝe foles, [cometh] comes C.] In-to vnyte holy-cherche · and holde we vs there, And crye we to kynde · þat he come & defende vs, Line 75 Foles, fro þis fendes lymes · for Piers loue þe plowman. [þis] þe O. fendes] feend C.] And crye we to alle þe comune · þat þei come to vnite, [to (1)] on R.] And þere abide and bikere · aȝein beliales children." ¶ Kynd conscience þo herde · and cam out of þe planetes,

And sent forth his foreioures · feures & fluxes, [foreioures] forreyours W; for|reouris O; forreores R.] Line 80 Coughes, and cardiacles · crampes, and tothaches, Rewmes, & radegoundes · and roynouse scalles, [roynouse] ronyouse C; ruy|nouse O. scalles] scabbes W.] Byles, and bocches · and brennyng agues; Frenesyes, & foule yueles · forageres of kynde, Line 84 Hadde yprykked and prayed · polles of peple, [yprykked] priked O. of] of the COB.] Þat largelich a legioun · lese her lyf sone. [þat] R om. lese] lose R; loste W; loren CO; lorn B.] ¶ There was—"harrow and help! · here cometh kynde, With deth þat is dredful · to vndone vs alle!" [vndone] vndoen R; vndon CB; vndo WO.] Line 88 ¶ The lorde that lyued after lust · tho alowde cryde After conforte, a knyghte · to come and bere his banere. [conforte a] R om.] "Al-arme! alarme!" quod þat lorde · "eche lyf kepe his owne." [Al-arme] Alarme COB; A larme WR. alarme] a larme W.] ¶ And þanne mette þis men · ar mynstralles myȝte pipe, [And] R om.] Line 92 And ar heraudes of armes · hadden descreued lordes. ¶ Elde þe hore · he was in þe vauntwarde, [COB omit.] [hore] horel R. he] þat W. þe] R om.] And bare þe banere bifor deth · by riȝte he it claymed. [COB omit.] Kynde come after · with many kene sores, [come after] cam after hym R.] Line 96 As pokkes and pestilences · and moche poeple shente; [and] þat O.] So kynde þorw corupciouns · kulled ful manye. [folio 88b] [kulled] killede OB; kilde W.] ¶ Deth cam dryuende after · and al to doust passhed [dryuende] driuende R; dry|uynge WCOB. doust] duste WR; dust COB. passhed] paschte (altered to daschte) R; passid B.] Kynges & knyȝtes · kayseres and popes; Line 100 Lered ne lewed · he let no man stonde, [ne] and W. let] leet WC; left R.] That he hitte euene · þat euere stired after. [hitte] ne hitte O. euere stired] stirred neuer CB.]

Many a louely lady · and lemmanes of knyghtes [lady] R om. of] R om.] Swouned and swelted · for sorwe of dethes dyntes. [Swouned] Swowed B. dethes] dethe C; hise W.] Line 104 ¶ Conscience of his curteisye · to kynde he bisouȝte, To cesse & suffre · and see where þei wolde [cesse &] se and to C; see and B.] Leue pryde pryuely · and be parfite cristene. ¶ And kynde cessed tho · to se þe peple amende. Line 108 Fortune gan flateren thenne · þo fewe þat were alyue, [alyue] on lyue OB.] And byhight hem longe lyf · and lecherye he sent, Amonges al manere men · wedded & vnwedded, And gadered a gret hoste · al agayne conscience. Line 112 ¶ This lecherye leyde on · with a laughyng chiere, [a] R om. laughyng] lawh|ynge R; lawynge O; Ianglynge W.] And with pryue speche · and peynted wordes, And armed hym in ydelnesse · and in hiegh berynge. He bare a bowe in his hande · and manye blody arwes, [blody] brode W.] Weren fethered with faire biheste · and many a false truthe. Line 117 Wit[h] his vntydy tales · he tened ful ofte [With] so in WCROB; Wit L. his] R om.] Conscience and his compaignye · of holicherche þe techeres. ¶ Thanne cam coueityse · and caste how he myȝte Line 120 Ouercome conscience · and cardynal vertues, [cardynal] cardinales R.] And armed hym in auaryce · and hungriliche lyued. [And] B om. hungriliche] vngriseliche R; vngreliche C.] His wepne was al wiles · to wynnen & to hyden; [wiles] whyles O. wynnen] wynnyng B. hyden] holden B.] With glosynges and with gabbynges · he gyled þe peple. [with (2)] RCOB om. he gyled] to bigyle O.] Line 124 Symonye hym sent[e] · to assaille conscience, [sente] so in WCOB; sent L; sende R.] And preched to þe peple · and prelates þei hem maden, [þei] CB om.] To holden with antecryste · her temperaltes to saue;

And come to þe kynges conseille · as a kene baroun, [come] cam W; coomen O.] And kneled to conscience · in courte afor hem alle, [kneled] kneleden O. afor] bifore C; bi-forin B.] And gart gode feith flee · and fals to abide, Line 130 And boldeliche bar adown · with many a briȝte noble [a] CB om. briȝte] rede R. noble] noblis B.] Moche of þe witte and wisdome · of westmynster halle. He iugged til a iustice · and iusted in his ere, [iugged] Iogged W. til] to WO.] Line 133 And ouertilte al his treuthe · with "take þis vp amende|ment." [with] B om. vp] vpon B.] And to þe arches in haste · he ȝede anone after, [to] into R.] And torned Ciuile in-to Symonye · and sitthe he toke þe official; [Ciuile in-to] B om.] Line 136 For a [mantel] of menyuere · he made lele matrimonye [[mantel WCROB] mentel L. mantel—menyuere] menyuere mantel R. he] and W. lele] an vnleele B; a lele C.] Departen ar deth cam · & deuo[r]s shupte. [deuors] deuos L; a deuos R; deuors W; diuorce COB. shupte] schupte R; shapte WC; schapte O; shappe B.] ¶ "Allas!" quod conscience, & cried þo · "wolde criste, of his grace, [his] R om.] Line 139 That coueityse were cristene · þat is so kene a fiȝter, [folio 89] [a fiȝter] to fiȝte R.] And bolde and bidyng · while his bagge lasteth." [bidyng] abydynge ROB. while] þe while R. bagge] bake C.] ¶ And þanne lowgh lyf · and leet dagge his clothes, And armed hym in haste · in harlotes wordes, [in (1)] an W. in (2)] wiþ W.] And helde holynesse a iape · and hendenesse a wastour, Line 144 And lete leute a cherle · and lyer a fre man; [leute] leautee W; leaute C.] Conscience and conseille · he counted it a folye. [and] and his W. a] RCOB om. it—folye] at a flye W.] ¶ Thus relyed lyf · for a litel fortune,

And pryked forth with pryde · preyseth he no vertue, [pryked] prikeþ W.] [Ne] careth nouȝte how kynde slow · and shal come atte laste, [[Ne WR] He CO; And B; A (= he) L. slow] slawe C. slow—come] shal come · and sle hym B.] Line 149 And culle alle erthely creature[s] · saue conscience one. [culle] kille WCOB; calle R. creatures] so in WCOB; creature LR.] Lyf leep asyde · and lauȝte hym a lemman, [leep] lep CB; lepte W. leep asyde] seith occide (!) R.] "Heel & I," quod he · "and hieghnesse of herte Line 152 Shal do þe nouȝte drede · noyther deth ne elde, And to forȝete sorwe · and ȝyue nouȝte of synne." [And] But O.] ¶ This lyked lyf · and his lemman fortune, And geten in her glorie · a gadelyng atte laste, Line 156 One þat moche wo wrouȝte · sleuthe was his name. [wo] R om.] Sleuthe wex wonder ȝerne · and sone was of age, And wedded one wanhope · a wenche of þe stuwes. [stuwes] stif-hous B.] Her syre was a sysour · þat neure swore treuthe, Line 160 One Thomme two-tonge · ateynte at vch a queste. [two-tonge] two-tonges B. a queste] enqueste W.] ¶ This sleuthe was war of werre · and a slynge made, [was] wex COB. war—werre] werre & werre O.] And threwe drede of dyspayre · a dozein myle aboute. [threwe] drow B. of] & O.] For care conscience þo · cryed vpon elde, Line 164 And bad hym fonde to fyȝte · and afere wanhope. [hym] R om.] ¶ And elde hent good hope · and hastilich he shifte hym, [elde] helpe B. he] O om. shifte] chifte B.] And wayued awey wanhope · and with lyf he fyȝteth, [fyȝteth] fighted CB.] And lyf fleigh for fere · to fysyke after helpe, Line 168 And bisouȝte hym of socoure · and of his salue hadde, [hadde] he hadde W.] And gaf hym golde, good woon · þat gladded his herte, [And] He W. golde] goel R. his herte] here hertes R.] And þei gyuen hym agayne · a glasen houve. [gyuen] gafyn B. houve] howue WCOB; houe R.]

Lyf leued þat lechecrafte · lette shulde elde, Line 172 And dryuen awey deth · with dyas and dragges. [dryuen] to-driue R. dyas] so in W; dias CO; dayes R; diagrag|mator (!) B. dragges] drogges W.] ¶ And elde auntred hym on lyf · and atte laste he hitte [auntred] aduenturid B. hitte] hette B.] A Fisicien with a forred hood · þat he fel in a palsye, [a (3)] the CB; O om.] And þere deyed þat doctour · ar thre dayes after. Line 176 "Now I see," seyde lyf · "þat surgerye ne Fisyke [surgerye] surgiens CB.] May nouȝte a myte auaille · to medle aȝein elde;" [a] oo B. medle] medele CO; mede W.] And in hope of his hele · gode herte he hente, [herte] hope O. he] RB om.] And rode so to reuel · a ryche place and a merye, [so] forþ W. reuel] a reuel W.] Line 180 The companye of conforte · men cleped it sumtyme. [folio 89b] [conforte] court CO; court of (!) B. men] B om.] And elde anone after me · and ouer myne heed ȝede, [me] hym R. ȝede] he ȝede O.] And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe croune, [on] vppon B.] So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed · it wil be seen eure. [eure] euene B.] ¶ "Sire euel-ytauȝte elde," quod I · "vnhende go with the! Line 185 Sith whanne was þe way · ouer [mennes] hedes? [þe] þi O. [mennes] so in WCROB; men L; cf. l. 286.] Haddestow be hende," quod I · "þow woldest haue asked leue!" ¶ "Ȝe! leue lordeyne," quod he · and leyde on me with age, [lordeyne] so in R; lurdeyn W; lordyng COB.] Line 188 And hitte me vnder þe ere · vnethe may ich here; [may] myȝte W; but see l. 191.] He buffeted me aboute þe mouthe · & bett[e] out my tethe, [me] me so W. bette WCO] bett L; bet RB. out my] me on the COB. tethe] wange-tethe R. &—tethe] þat out my teeþ he bette W.] And gyued me in goutes · I may nouȝte go at large. [gyued] gyede O.] And of þe wo þat I was in · my wyf had reuthe, [had] hadde (printed hande) W.] Line 192 And wisshed ful witterly · þat I were in heuene. [ful] wel R.]

For þe lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to fele, [lyme] leeme B.] On nyȝtes namely · whan we naked were, [we] sche O.] I ne myght in no manere · maken it at hir wille, [at] B om.] Line 196 So elde and she sothly · hadden it forbeten. [she—forbeten] hee it hadde forbete R. forbeten] for-boden B.] ¶ And as I seet in þis sorwe · I say how kynde passed, [as] was (!) R. seet] so in WR; sat CB; satte O. say] so in R; seyȝ O; seigh C; sauȝ WB.] And deth drowgh niegh me · for drede gan I quake, And cried to kynde · out of care me brynge. Line 200 "Loo! elde þe hoore · hath me biseye, [me biseye] my lif seye R.] Awreke me, if ȝowre wille be · for I wolde ben hennes." ¶ "Ȝif þow wilt ben ywroken · wende in-to vnite, [ywroken] I-wreke R; wroken W; wroke B.] And holde þe þere eure · tyl I sende for þe, [holde] halde R.] Line 204 And loke þow conne somme crafte · ar þow come þennes." [conne] cunne OB; cune R. ar] er WB; or CO.] "Conseille me, kynde," quod I · "what crafte is best to lerne?" [Conseille] Conseileth R. is] be R.] ¶ "Lerne to loue," quod kynde · "& leue of alle othre." [leue] lief C; leef W. of] R om.] ¶ "How shal I come to catel so · to clothe me and to fede?" Line 208 "And þow loue lelly," quod he · "lakke shal þe neure [quod he] quod I B; R om.] Mete ne wor[l]dly wede · whil þi lyf lasteth." [Mete] Wede R. worldly WROB] wordly LC; but cf. P. xix. 287. wede] mete R.] ¶ And þere, by conseille of kynde · I comsed to rowme [I] R om. rowme] roome O; rome WCRB.] Thorw contricioun & confessioun · tyl I cam to vnite; And þere was conscience constable · cristene to saue, [conscience] R om. to] for to O.] And biseged sothly · with seuene grete gyauntz, [gyauntz] geauntz W; geauntes RCO; giauntes B.] Line 214 Þat with Antecrist helden · hard aȝein conscience.

¶ Sleuth with his slynge · an hard saut he made, [an] and (!) CB. saut] saute R; assaut WCOB. he] COB om.] Line 216 Proude prestes come with hym · moo þan a thousand, [moo—thousand] passynge a hundreth R; a correction made by the author; see C-Text.] In paltokes & pyked shoes · & pisseres longe knyues, [pisseres] pisseris WB; pissers CO.] Comen aȝein conscience; · with coueityse þei helden. [helden] holde B.] ¶ "By Marie," quod a mansed preste · of þe marche of yrlonde, [folio 90] [Marie] þe marie R. mansed] mased CB. of] was of R. yrlonde] erland R; Irlande CB; irloond O; Walys W.] Line 220 "I counte namore conscience · bi so I cacche syluer, [namore] no more bi OB. I (2)] þat y B.] Than I do to drynke · a drauȝte of good ale!" And so seide sexty · of þe same contreye, Line 223 And shoten aȝein with shotte · many a shef of othes, [aȝein] ayein hym COB. many—shef] with many schef COB. of othes] arwes B.] And brode hoked arwes · goddes herte, & his nayles, [nayles] bones B.] And hadden almost vnyte · and holynesse adowne. ¶ Conscience cryed, "helpe · clergye, or ellis I falle Thorw inparfit prestes · and prelates of holicherche." Freres herden hym crye · and comen hym to helpe, [and] B om.] Ac for þei couth nouȝte wel her craft · conscience for|soke hem. [Ac] And COB.] Line 230 ¶ Nede neghed tho nere · and conscience he tolde [tho] to C. nere] þere B.] That þei come for coueityse · to haue cure of soules [for] for no (!) R.] "And for þei arn poure, par auenture · for patrimoigne hem failleth, [hem failleth] þei faille W.] Line 233 Thei wil flatre, to fare wel · folke þat ben riche; [to] and W. folke] wiþ folk W.] And sithen þei chosen chele · and [cheytif] pouerte, [sithen] seyn CB. [cheytif] cheitif C; chaytijf O; cheytifte LR; cheitiftee W (which must be a slip). cheytif pouerte] pore cheitifte B.] Lat hem chewe as þei chese · and charge hem with no cure! [chese] so in R; chose W; chosen COB.] Line 236

[i. sepius] Line 236 For lomer he lyeth · þat lyflode mote begge, [R omits. begge] bigge O. it] it to O.] Þan he þat laboureth for lyflode · & leneth it beggeres. [R omits. begge] bigge O. it] it to O.] And sithen Freres forsoke · þe felicite of erthe, [And sithen] For sitth R. þe] R om.] Lat hem be as beggeres · or lyue by angeles fode!" Line 240 ¶ Conscience of þis conseille þo · comsed forto laughe, [þo] R om. laughe] lauȝte (!) B.] And curtei[s]lich conforted hem · and called in alle freres, [curteislich] curteilich (marked for correction) L.] And seide, "sires, sothly · welcome be ȝe alle To vnite and holicherche · ac on thyng I ȝow preye, [and] and to C. ac] and C.] Holdeth ȝow in vnyte · and haueth none envye Line 245 To lered ne to lewed · but lyueth after ȝowre rewle. And I wil be ȝowre borghe · ȝe shal haue bred and clothes, [shal] shullen B.] And other necessaries [I-nowe] · ȝow shal no thyng faille, [[I-nowe R] I-now C; ynowe WOB; better than anowe L. ȝow shal] þow schalt R. faille] lakke R.] Line 248 With þat ȝe leue logyk · and lerneth for to louye. For loue laft þei lordship · bothe londe and scole, [laft] þer-of lofte B.] Frere Fraunceys and Dominyk · for loue to ben holy. [Frere] Freres COB.] ¶ And if ȝe coueyteth cure · kynde wil ȝow teche, [coueyteth] coueites C; coueite WOR. teche] telle R.] Line 252 That in mesure god made · alle manere thynges, [thynges] þynge B.] And sette [hem] at a certeyne · and at a syker noumbre, [[hem W] it LCROB. at (2)] WO om. a (2)] C om.] And nempned names newe · and noumbred þe sterres;

Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum, & omnibus eis [nomina vocat], &c.

[names — noumbred] hem names · and newe nombre R. sterres] prestes (!) COB. Qui] Quis R. &—eis] RO om. [nomina CB] LWRO om. [vocat] not in the MSS.] ¶ Kynges & knyghtes · þat kepen and defenden, [kepen] kepten R.] Line 256 Han officers vnder hem · and vch of hem certeyne; [hem (1)] hym RB. vch] of iche O. certeyne] a certein WOB.]

And if þei wage men to werre · þei write hem in noumbre, [Or] wil no tresorere hem paye · trauaille þei neure so sore. [[Or] LWCROB omit; but it is necessary to the sense, and may be found in Crowley; WOB surmount the difficulty by placing l. 259 after l. 261; the C-text inserts an additional line. Or wil] And þer-fore wolen men B. tresorere] so in R; tresour|erer O; tresore CB; man tresore W. hem paye] taken hym wages R. so sore] C om.] Alle other in bataille · ben yholde bribours, [bataille] batililis (!) B. bri|bours] brokouris O.] Line 260 Pilours and pykehernois · in eche a place ycursed. [folio 90b] [a] CB om. place] parische R. ycursed] acursed ROB; a-corsed C.] ¶ Monkes and monyals · and alle men of Religioun Her ordre and her reule wil · to han a certeyne noumbre. [Her ordre and] Heraude (!) R.] Of lewed and of lered · þe lawe wol and axeth [wol] it wole O.] Line 264 A certeyn for a certeyne · saue onelich of freres. [onelich] holiche B.] For-þi," quod conscience, "by cryst · kynde witte me telleth, It is wikked to wage ȝow · ȝe wexeth out of noumbre! [out of] of on R.] Heuene hath euene noumbre · and helle is with-out noumbre; [Heuene] Euene O.] Line 268 For-þi I wolde witterly · þat ȝe were in þe Registre, [þe] O om.] And ȝowre noumbre vndre notarie[s] sygne · & noyther mo ne lasse!" [notaries] so in WCOB; notarie L; notari R. sygne] signes CB.] ¶ Enuye herd þis · and heet freres to go to scole, [heet] heit R; het B; leete O. to (1)] RB om.; and perhaps it is better omitted.] Line 271 And lerne logyk and lawe · and eke contemplacioun, [contemplacioun] constellacion (!) O.] And preche men of plato · and preue it by Seneca, Þat alle þinges vnder heuene · ouȝte to ben in comune. [alle] CB om. to] O om.] ¶ And ȝit he lyeth, as I leue · þat to þe lewed so precheth, [And ȝit] R om.] Line 275

Line 275 For god made to men a lawe · and Moyses it tauȝte,

Non concupisces rem proximi tui.

[god made] made god B.] And euele is þis yholde · in parisches of engelonde, [is] is (printed in) W. yholde] ȝolden B. engelonde] englonde R; englond OB.] For persones and parishprestes · þat shulde þe peple shryue, [shulde] shullen B.] Line 278 Ben curatoures called · to knowe and to hele, [to (2)] B om.] Alle þat ben her parisshiens · penaunce to enioigne, [penaunce] penaunces R. to] hem to B; and C; R om.] And shulden be ashamed in her shrifte; · ac shame maketh hem wende, [shulden] shullen B; R om. her] hir (printed his) W. ac] and C.] Line 281 And fleen to þe freres · as fals folke to westmynstre, [And] To CB. as] and B. westmynstre] Westmynyster O.] That borweth and bereth it þider · and þanne biddeth frendes [it] COB om.] Ȝerne of forȝifnesse · or lenger ȝeres [lone]; [[lone O] loone WC; of lone B; leue or lene LR.] Line 284 ¶ Ac whil he is in westmynstre · he wil be bifore, [westmynstre] Westmynyster OB.] And make hym merye · with other mennes goodis. [mennes] men R.] And so it fareth with moche folke · þat to þe freres shryueth, [þe] R om. shryueth] hem shryueþ WO.] As sysours and excecutours · þei wil [ȝyue þe] freres [wil] schul R. [ȝyue þe WRO] ȝeue þe B; geue þe C; L has þe, with ue written above, but the line is marked for correction.] Line 288 A parcel to preye for hem · & make hem-self myrye [hem-self] hem R.] With þe residue and þe remenaunt · þat other men biswonke, [þe (1)] R om. þe (2)] R om.] And suffre þe ded in dette · to þe day of dome. ¶ Enuye herfore · hated conscience, [herfore] here-fore CR.] Line 292 And freres to philosofye · he fonde hem to scole, [philosofye] philosophires C. hem] þanne W; O om.]

The while coueytise and vnkyndenesse · conscience as|sailled. [conscience] B om.] In vnite holycherche · conscience helde hym, And made pees porter · to pynne þe ȝates [pynne] penne B.] Line 296 Of alle taletellers · and tyterers in ydel. [Of] For O. tyterers] so in O; tytereres RB; titeleris W; tutelers C. in] an R.] Ypocrisye and he · an hard saut þei made. [an hard] and haid (!) B. saut] sawte R; saute O; assaut WCB.] Ypocrysie atte ȝate · hard gan fiȝte, [W omits. atte] at þe RCOB. fiȝte] to fiȝte OB.] And wounded wel wykkedly · many [a] wise techer, [[a WRB] LCO om. techer] techeris O.] Þat with conscience acorded · and cardinale vertues. [cardinale] cardinales R.] Conscience called a leche · þat coude wel shryue, [folio 91] [coude wel] wel kouthe COB.] Line 302 "Go salue þo þat syke ben · [and] þorw synne ywounded." [Go] To go W; To CB. ben] were R. [and WR] LCOB om. ywounded] & woundid O.] Shrifte shope sharpe salue · and made men do penaunce [shope] shoop W; shuppte R; shep B. men] B om.] For her mysdedes · þat þei wrouȝte hadden, Line 305 And þat piers were payed · redde quod debes. [piers] Pieris þe ploughman B; piers þe (!) C. payed] y-payed W.] ¶ Somme lyked nouȝte þis leche · and lettres þei sent, Ȝif any surgien were [in] þe sege · þat softer couth plastre. [[in R] LWCOB om.; but see l. 311. þe sege] B om. sege] so in R; segge WCO. couth] koude WR.] Line 308 Sire lief-to-lyue-in-leccherye · lay þere and groned; [lief] lif R; leef WCO.] For fastyng of a fryday · he ferde as he wolde deye. [For] For þe B. a] o R.] "Ther is a surgiene in þis sege · þat soft[e] can handle, [softe] so in WRCOB; soft L.] And more of phisyke bi fer · and fairer he plastreth, [more] can more B.] One frere flaterere · is phisiciene and surgiene." Line 313 Quod contricioun to conscience · "do hym come to vnyte, [Quod] Quatȝ R.]

For here is many a man · herte þorw ypocrisie." ¶ "We han no nede," quod conscience · "I wote no better leche Line 316 Than persoun or parissh prest · penytancere or bisshop, [penytancere] penitauncer WC OB; penauncer R; resembles peny|tantere in L.] Saue Piers þe plowman · þat hath powere ouer hem alle, [hath] haueth R. hem] R om.] And indulgence may do · but if dette lette it. Line 319 I may wel suffre," seyde conscience · "syn ȝe desiren, [syn] synnes R; sith C; siþe B.] That frere flaterer be fette · and phisike ȝow syke." [syke] seke R.] ¶ The Frere her-of herde · and hyed faste [hyed] hiȝed hym B.] To a lorde for a lettre · leue to haue to curen, [to curen] curen C; cure OB.] As a curatour he were · and cam with his lettres [As] And as CB. lettres] let|tere R.] Line 324 Baldly to þe bisshop · & his brief hadde, [Baldly] Boldely WCRB; Booldli O.] In contrees þere he come in · confessiouns to here, [come] cam RCB; coome WO. in] Inne COB; WR om. confes|siouns] confessioun O. to here] R om.] And cam þere conscience was · and knokked atte ȝate. [atte] at þe WCROB.] ¶ Pees vnpynned it · was porter of vnyte, [Pees] Pieris B.] Line 328 And in haste asked · "what his wille were?" "In faith," quod þis frere · "for profit and for helthe [frere] freris B. helthe] hele O.] Carpe I wolde with contricioun · & þerfore come I hider." Line 331 ¶ "He is sike," seide pees · "and so ar many other, Ypocrisie hath herte hem · ful harde is if þei keure." [is] it is B.] "I am a surgien," seide þe segge · "and salues can make; [seide] y (!) B. segge] frere R.] Conscience knoweth me wel · and what I can do bothe." "I preye þe," quod pees þo · "ar þow passe ferther, What hattestow, I preye þe? · hele nouȝte þi name." [hattestow] hattest þou OB.] ¶ "Certes," seyde his felow · "sire penetrans-domos." [Certes] Sire B. seyde—felow] felaw seyde he O; saide he felawe C.]

"Ȝe, go þi gate," quod pees · "bi god, for al þi phisyk, [pees] piers CB. þi (2)] B om.] But þow conne somme crafte · þow comest nouȝt her|Inne! [somme] any R; som ooþer W. her-Inne] he Inne (sic) R; ther-Inne CB.] Line 340 I knewe such one ones · nouȝte eighte wynter passed, [passed] hennes W.] Come in þus ycoped · at a courte þere I dwelt, [Come] And cam B. I] þat y B. dwelt] dwelde W.] And was my lordes leche · & my ladyes bothe. [folio 91b] [lordes] ladyes CB; lady O. ladyes] lordes C; lordis OB.] And at þe last þis limitour · þo my lorde was out, Line 344 He salued so owre wommen · til somme were with childe!" Hende-speche het pees · opene þe ȝates— [het] heet WRC; heete O. pees] pees þo R. opene] to opene O; vppon B.] "Late in þe frere and his felawe · and make hem faire chere. [þe] R om.] He may se and here · so it may bifalle, [here] here her R. it] R om.] Line 348 That lyf þorw his lore · shal leue coueityse, And be adradde of deth · and with-drawe hym fram pryde, And acorde with conscience · and kisse her either other." [her] B om.] Thus thorw hende-speche · entred þe frere, Line 352 And cam in-to conscience · and curteisly hym grette, [grette] grete C.] "Þow art welcome," quod conscience · "canstow hele þe syke? [canstow] canst þou OB. þe] R om.] Here is contricioun," quod conscience · "my cosyn, ywounded, Conforte hym," quod conscience · "and take kepe to his sores; [and] O om.] Line 356 The plastres of þe persoun · and poudres biten to sore, [plastres] plastre B. biten] bitten C; ben R.]

He lat hem ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaunge hem; [He] And R. lat] leet C; leete O; lett B. hem (1)] hym C.] Fro lenten to lenten · he lat his plastres bite." [lenten] lente R (twice). lat] latte O; lette R; letiþ B. bite] bitte R.] ¶ "That is ouerlonge," quod this limitour · "I leue I shal amende it;"— [That] This C.] Line 360 And goth and gropeth contricioun · and gaf hym a plastre [and (2)] R om.] Of "a pryue payement · and I shal praye for ȝow, For alle þat ȝe ben holde to · al my lyf tyme, [For] And for COB.] And make ȝow, my lady · in masse and in matynes, As freres of owre fraternite · for a litel syluer." [freres] frere WO.] Line 365 ¶ Thus he goth and gadereth · and gloseth þere he shryueth, [goth] gooþ WO; goos C. gadereth] gadderes C.] Tyl contricioun hadde clene forȝeten · to crye & to wepe, And wake for his wykked werkes · as he was wont to done. [wake] awake C; a-wakid B. was wont] was woned B; woned R.] Line 368 For confort of his confessour · contricioun he lafte, [lafte] lefte R.] Þat is þe souereynest salue · for alkyn synnes. [for] of O. alkyn] alle kynne WROB; alkynne C.] ¶ Sleuth seigh þat · and so did pryde, [seigh] seye R; see C; sei B; þanne saw O. so] also O.] And come with a kene wille · conscience to assaille. Conscience cryde eft · and bad clergye help hym, [hym] COB om.] Line 373 And also contricioun · forto kepe þe ȝate. "He lith and dremeth," seyde pees · "and so do many other; [dremeth] dreint (!) B.] The Frere with his phisik · þis folke hath enchaunted, [hath] hath so R.] And plastred hem so esyly · þei drede no synne." [esyly] hesily RB. þei] the C.] Line 377 ¶ "Bi cryste," quod conscience þo · "I wil bicome a pilgryme,

And walken as wyde · as al þe [worlde] lasteth, [as (1)] al so B. al] alle R; WO om. [worlde R] world WCOB; wordle L.] To seke Piers þe plowman · þat pryde may destruye, [seke] seche B. may] myȝte R.] And þat freres hadde a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren, [And] B om.] And contrepleteth me, conscience; · now kynde me auenge, [contrepleteth] conterpledes C.] Line 382 And sende me happe and hele · til I haue piers þe plowman!" And sitthe he gradde after grace · til I gan awake.

Explicit hic dialogus petri plowman. [So in WCO; Explicit hic B; Passus ijus de Do-best R; O adds—Lauderis Christe · quia finitur liber iste.]