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 III.

[

TITLE; Passus tertius O; Passus iijus L; Passus Tertius de visione, C; to which W adds vt supra; and R adds petri plowman, vt supra, &c.

OBS. Occasional readings from MS. B (Bodley 814) are given in lines 1-86; after which it is more closely collated. See Note.

] Passus tertius.

Now is Mede þe Mayde · and namo of hem alle [A page 28] Line 1 With bedellus & wiþ bayllyues · brouȝt bifor þe kyng. [wiþ] BO om. bayllyues] baillies W; baylis O; baillifs C. brouȝt] ybrouȝt RB.] The kyng called a clerke · can I nouȝt his name, To take Mede þe mayde · and make hire at ese. Line 4 "I shal assaye hir my-self · and sothelich appose [sothelich] couthliche R.] What man of þis molde · þat hire were leueste. [þis] C om. molde] world RB.] And if she worche bi my witte · and my wille folwe, [B omits. my (1)] W om.] I wil forgyue hir þis gilte · so me god help!" [þis gilte] þis gultes R; þe gilt B.] Line 8 ¶ Curteysliche þe clerke þanne · as þe Kyng hight, [þanne] C om. hight] hym hyȝt B.] Toke Mede bi þe Middel · and brouȝte hir in-to chaumbre, [into] in O; to B.] And þere was myrthe and mynstralcye · Mede to plese. [to] forto B.] ¶ They þat wonyeth in Westmynstre · worschiped hir alle; [folio 10] [worschiped] worschipeden O; worshipeþ WB.] Line 12 Gentelliche wiþ ioye · þe Iustices somme [somme] comen O; sone B.] Busked hem to þe boure · þere þe birde dwelled, [hem] hym B. birde] burde W; buyrde R; berde B; bryde O; bred C2.]

To conforte hire kyndely · by clergise leue, [A page 29] And seiden, "mourne nought, Mede · ne make þow no sorwe, Line 16 For we [wil] wisse þe kynge · and þi wey shape, [[wil R] willen B; wol W; LCO om. shape] make B.] To be wedded at þi wille · and where þe leue liketh, [B omits. leue] leef W.] For al conscience caste · or craft, as I trowe!" [conscience] Consciences W. caste—craft] crafte · and cast R; cast a craft B.] ¶ Mildeliche Mede þanne · mercyed hem alle Line 20 Of þeire gret goodnesse · and gaf hem vchone [þeire] hire W; her O.] Coupes of clene golde · and coppis of siluer, [coppis] cuppes RO; pecis B.] Rynges with rubies · and ricchesses manye, The leste man of here meyne · a motoun of golde. Line 24 Thanne lauȝte þei leue · þis lordes, at Mede. ¶ With that comen clerkis · to conforte hir þe same, And beden hire be blithe · "for we beth þine owne, [beden] biden C.] For to worche þi wille · þe while þow myȝte laste." [þe—laste] while our lif lasteþ B.] Line 28 Hendeliche heo þanne · bihight hem þe same, [heo] sho C; sche O; she B.] To "loue ȝow lelli · and lordes to make, [ȝow] hem WCOB. lelly] lealy C; lely R; leely B.] And in þe consistorie atte courte · do calle ȝowre names; [And] O om. consistorie] con|storie RB. ȝowre] hire W. names] name O.] Shal no lewdnesse lette · þe leode þat I louye, Line 32 That he ne worth first auanced · for I am biknowen [ne] R om. auanced] vaunsed R.] Þere konnyng clerkes · shul clokke bihynde." [A page 30] [clokke] so in LWCROB.] ¶ Þanne come þere a confessoure · coped as a Frere, [come] cam W; com RB. coped] ycoped R; caped C.] To Mede þe mayde · he mellud þis wordes, [mellud] melled C; mellid B; mened W; medelede O.] Line 36 And seide ful softly · in shrifte as it were, [softly] sotely R.] "Theiȝ lewed men and lered men · had leyne by þe bothe, And falsenesse haued yfolwed þe · al þis fyfty wyntre, [B omits. falsenesse] falsede R.]

I shal assoille þe my-selue · for a seme of whete, Line 40 And also be þi bedeman · and bere wel þi message, Amonges kniȝtes and clerkis · conscience to torne." [torne] turne ROB.] ¶ Thanne Mede for here mysdedes · to þat man kneled, And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse · shamelees, I trowe, [shroue] shrof WR; shroof B.] Line 44 Tolde hym a tale · and toke hym a noble, Forto ben hire bedeman · and hire brokour als. ¶ Thanne he assoilled hir sone · and sithen he seyde, [he seyde] a sayde R.] "We han a wyndowe a wirchyng · wil sitten vs [ful] heigh; [a (2)] in W. [ful] So in WCROB; L has wel. Cf. Text A.] Line 48 Woldestow glase þat gable · and graue þere-inne þi name, Siker sholde þi soule be · heuene to haue." "Wist I that," quod þat womman · "I wolde nouȝt spare [folio 10b] For to be ȝowre frende, frere · and faille ȝow neure Line 52 Whil ȝe loue lordes · þat lechery haunteþ, And lakkeþ nouȝt ladis · þat loueþ wel þe same. It is a frelete of flesche · ȝe fynde it in bokes, [a] W retains a, omitted in the printed copy. ȝe] þei B.] And a course of kynde · wher-of we komen alle; Line 56 Who may scape þe sklaundre · þe skaþe is sone amended; [þe (1)] W om.] It is synne of [þe] seuene · sonnest relessed. [B omits. [þe] inserted in WOC₂; LC om. sonnest] is sonnest O. relessed] for-gyuene C.] ¶ Haue mercy," quod Mede · "of men þat it haunte, And I shal keure ȝowre kirke · ȝowre cloystre do maken, [keure] keuere O; kouere C; couere W. ȝowre (2)] & ȝoure O.] Wowes do whitten · and wyndowes glasen, Line 61 Do peynten and purtraye · and paye for þe makynge,

That eury segge shal seyn · I am sustre of ȝowre hous." [A page 31] [

51—63. R has only these four lines—

Wist I þat, quatȝ mede · þere nys wyn|dow no wowȝ,

þat y ne wolde make and amende · it with of myne,

And my name write · openliche þere|Inne,

þat vch a segge schal I-se · Ich am suster to ȝow alle.

] [seyn] seye WCO.] ¶ Ac god to alle good folke · suche grauynge defendeth, [Ac] And C.] To writen in wyndowes · of here wel dedes, Line 65 On auenture pruyde be peynted þere · and pompe of þe worlde; [On] An W; And CR; In B. peynted] ypeynted R.] For crist knoweþ þi conscience · and þi kynde wille, [crist] god R. kynde] kende R.] And þi coste and þi coueitise · and who þe catel ouȝte. [And] R om.] ¶ For-þi I lere ȝow, lordes · leueþ suche werkes, Line 69 To writen in wyndowes · of ȝowre wel dedes, Or to greden after goddis men · whan ȝe delen doles; An auenture ȝe han ȝowre hire here · and ȝoure heuene als;

Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra.

[An] On WCO; In B. han] haue W.] Line 72 Lat nouȝte þi left half · late [ne] rathe, [[ne] so in WCRB; LO have no. Cf. Text A.] Wyte what þow worchest · with þi riȝt syde; For þus bit þe gospel · gode men do here almesse. [For] And O. bit] bitt R; bid|diþ B. In W miswritten by, as printed.] ¶ Meires and maceres · that menes ben bitwene Line 76 Þe kynge and þe comune · to kepe þe lawes, [kepe] kepe wel O.] To punyschen on pillories · and pynynge stoles [on] vppon R.] Brewesteres and bakesteres · bocheres and cokes; [bakesteres] baxters C.] For þise aren men on þis molde · þat moste harme worcheth [on] vppon R; of B.] Line 80 To þe pore peple · þat parcel-mele buggen. ¶ For they poysoun þe peple · priueliche and oft, [A page 32] [For—poysoun] And also poy|sene R. poysoun] enpoisone W; punyschen O.] Thei rychen þorw regraterye · and rentes hem buggen [buggen] biggen WO; bieggen B.] With þat þe pore people · shulde put in here wombe; For toke þei on trewly · þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe, Line 85 Ne bouȝte non burgages · be ȝe ful certeyne. [burgages] burgage R.]

¶ Ac Mede þe Mayde · þe Maire hath bisouȝte, [Ac] And C.] Of alle suche sellers · syluer to take, Line 88 Or presentȝ with-oute pens · as peces of siluer, [folio 11] [or] And B. pens] pans R.] Ringes or other ricchesse · þe regrateres to maynetene. [or other] other othere R.] ¶ "For my loue," quod that lady · "loue hem vchone, [loue] lord R.] And soffre hem to selle · somdele aȝeins resoun." Line 92 ¶ Salamon þe sage · a sarmoun he made, For to amende Maires · and men þat kepen lawes, And tolde hem þis teme · þat I telle thynke;

Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, &c.

[thynke] written thynko in L; þynke W; thenke CRO. accipiunt munera] R om.] Amonge þis lettered ledes · þis latyn is to mene, [O omits. ledes] lede R.] Line 96 That fyre shal falle, and [brenne] · al to blo askes [That] þat is O. [brenne WCOB] preferable to berne, as in L.] The houses and þe homes · of hem [þat] desireth [þe homes] homes W. [þat WCROB] L om.] Ȝiftes or ȝeresȝyues · bi-cause of here offices. [ȝeresȝyues] ȝereȝiftes R; yeres|yiftes C. offices] office R.] ¶ The kynge fro conseille cam · and called after Mede, [A page 33] [fro] fro þe W.] And ofsent hir alswythe · with seriauntes manye, [alswythe] as swiþe WC; also swiþe B. seriauntes] sergeauntz W; sergeauntes CO; seruauntis B.] Line 101 That brouȝten hir to bowre · with blisse and with ioye. [That] And W.] ¶ Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · comsed to telle, To Mede þe mayde · melleth þise wordes: [melleth] he meneþ W.] Line 104 "Vnwittily, womman! · wrouȝte hastow oft, Ac worse wrouȝtestow neure · þan þo þow fals toke. [Ac] And C.] But I forgyue [þe] þat gilte · and graunte þe my grace; [[þe] þee WO; þe R; þo (by mistake for þe) CB; L om. Cf. Text A. þat] þis O.] Hennes to þi deth day · do so namore! [do] to do R.] Line 108 ¶ I haue a knyȝte, conscience · cam late fro biȝunde; [biȝunde LR] biyonde WCO.] Ȝif he wilneth þe to wyf · wyltow hym haue?" [wyf] wyue RB.]

"Ȝe, lorde," quod þat lady · "lorde forbede elles! [forbede] forbede it W. lorde—elles] lord it me forbede R.] Line 111 But I be holely at ȝowre heste · lat hange me sone!" ¶ And þanne was conscience calde · to come and appiere [A page 34] [calde] called WCO; Icalled R.] Bifor þe Kynge and his conseille · as clerkes and othere. Knelynge conscience · to þe kynge louted, [louted] a-lowtid B.] Line 115 To wite what his wille were · and what he do shulde. [shulde] wolde W.] ¶ "Woltow wedde þis womman," quod þe kynge · "ȝif I wil assente, [I] she B. Woltow] Wiltow CR; wilt þou OB.] Line 117 For she is fayne of þi felawship · for to be þi make?" [fayne] R om.] ¶ Quod conscience to þe kynge · "cryst it me forbede! Ar I wedde suche a wyf · wo me bityde! [Ar] Er WCROB.] Line 120 For she is frele of hir feith · fykel of here speche, [fykel] and fykel R.] And maketh men mysdo · many score tymes; Truste of hire tresore · treieth ful manye. [treieth] bitrayeþ W; bitraieþ B.] Wyues and widewes · wantounes she techeth, [folio 11b] [wantounes] It may be wanton|nes, the reading being uncertain in W and C; but cf. wantownesse RO.] Line 124 And lereth hem leccherye · that loueth hire ȝiftes. Ȝowre fadre she felled · þorw fals biheste, [she] he R; O om. fals] faire R; hire fals B.] And hath apoysounde popis · [&] peired holicherche; [apoysounde] a-poysowned O; apoisunde C; appoysond R; apoisoned B; enpoisoned W. peired] and peired WO; and appayreth R. L omits &.] Is nauȝt a better baude · bi hym þat me made, Line 128 Bitwene heuene and helle · in erthe þough men souȝte! [in] and R.] For she is tikil of hire taile · talwis of hir tonge, [tikil] fikil O. talwis] and talewis W. hir] R om.] As comune as a cartwey · to eche a knaue þat walketh, To monkes, to mynst[r]alles · to meseles in hegges. [A page 35] [to (2)] and to R.] Line 132 Sisoures and sompnoures · suche men hir preiseth; [sompnoures] Somonours W.] Shireues of shires · were shent ȝif she nere; [nere] ne were W.] For she doþ men lese here londe · and here lyf bothe.

She leteth passe prisoneres · and payeth for hem ofte, [leteth] lat R; lates C; lateþ B. prisoneres] prisons R.] And gyueth þe gailers golde · and grotes togideres, Line 137 To vnfettre þe fals · fle where hym lyketh; And takeþ þe trewe bi þe toppe · and tieth hym faste, [þe trewe] trewthe R. hym] hem W.] And hangeth hym for hatred · þat harme dede neure. [hym] hem W.] ¶ To be cursed in consistorie · she counteth nouȝte a russhe; [consistorie] constorie RB. she] he R. russhe] resshe C; rische O; reische B; bene W.] Line 141 For she copeth þe comissarie · and coteth his clerkis; [she] he R.] She is assoilled as sone · as hir-self liketh, [as (1)] al-so B.] And may neiȝe as moche do · in a moneth one[s], [neize] nee C. as] al-so B. [ones ROB] one LWC. Cf. Text A.] Line 144 As ȝowre secret seel · in syx score dayes. [ȝowre] oure O.] For she is priue with þe pope · prouisoures it knoweth, [she] he R.] For sire symonye and hir-selue · seleth hire bulles. ¶ She blesseth þise bisshopes · þeiȝe þey be lewed, [þeiȝe—persones] R om.] Line 148 Prouendreth persones · and prestes meynteneth, [þeiȝe—persones] R om.] To haue lemmannes and lotebies · alle here lif dayes, [lif dayes] lyues dayes C.] And bringen forth barnes · aȝein forbode lawes. [A page 36] [bringen] bryngeþ WB. for|bode] forboden O.] There she is wel with þe kynge · wo is þe rewme, [rewme] reaume W; reame C.] Line 152 For she is fauorable to þe fals · and fouleth trewthe ofte. [þe] W om. fouleth] defouleþ W; folweþ CB.] ¶ Bi ihesus, with here ieweles · ȝowre iustices she shendeth, [ȝowre] þe R. she] heo R.] And lith aȝein þe lawe · and letteth hym þe gate, [letteth] let R.] That feith may nouȝte haue his forth · here floreines go so þikke. Line 156 She ledeth þe lawe as hire list · and louedayes maketh, [ledeth] let R.] And doth men lese þorw hire loue · þat lawe myȝte wynne,

Þe mase for a mene man · þouȝ he mote hir eure. [mote hire] moote heer O; mute here C2.] Lawe is so lordeliche · and loth to make ende, [make] make an O.] Line 160 With-oute presentȝ or pens · she pleseth wel fewe. [pens] pans R. she] he R.] ¶ Barounes and burgeys · she bryngeth in sorwe, [burgeys] burgeises W. she] heo R.] And alle þe comune in kare · þat coueyten lyue in trewthe; [comune in] comunes into O.] For clergye and coueitise · she coupleth togideres. Line 164 Þis is þe lyf of that lady · now lorde ȝif hir sorwe! [folio 12] And alle that meynteneth here men · meschaunce hem bityde! For pore men mowe haue no powere · to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte; [pore] pouere W. hem] B om.] Suche a maistre is Mede · amonge men of gode." Line 168 ¶ Thanne morned Mede · and mened hire to the kynge, To haue space to speke · spede if she myȝte. [she] a R.] ¶ The kynge graunted hir grace · with a gode wille; "Excuse þe, ȝif þow canst · I can namore seggen, Line 172 For conscience acuseth þe · to congey þe for euere." [A page 37] [congey] congeien W.] ¶ "Nay, lorde," quod þat lady · "leueth hym þe worse, [leueth] leue R; leues C.] Whan ȝe wyten witterly · where þe wronge liggeth; There þat myschief is grete · Mede may helpe. Line 176 And þow knowest, conscience · I cam nouȝt to chide, [þow] þat þow R.] Ne depraue þi persone · with a proude herte. Wel þow wost, wernard · but ȝif þow wolt gabbe, [wost] woost W.] Þow hast hanged on myne half · elleuene tymes, Line 180 And also griped my golde · gyue it where þe liked; [griped] Igripe R. gyue] and ȝaf B.] And whi þow wratthest þe now · wonder me thynketh. Ȝit I may as I myȝte · menske þe with ȝiftes, [menske] amende B.] Line 183 And mayntene þi manhode · more þan þow knoweste. ¶ Ac þow hast famed me foule · bifor þe Kynge here. [Ac] And C.]

For kulled I neuere no kynge · ne conseilled þer-after, [kynge] kniȝt R.] Ne dede as þow demest · I do [it] on þe kynge! [[it WRO; hit B] LC om.] Line 187 ¶ In normandye was he nouȝte · noyed for my sake; [noyed] Inuyed R; anoied B.] Ac þow þi-self sothely · shamedest hym ofte, [Ac] And C.] Crope in-to a kaban · for colde of þi nailles, [Crope] And crope B. kabane] Cabane W; caban CO.] Wendest þat wyntre · wolde haue lasted euere, [haue lasted] han y-lasted W; a last R. lasted] durid O.] And draddest to be ded · for a dym cloude, Line 192 And hiedest homeward · for hunger of þi wombe. [hiedest] hyedest þee O.] ¶ Wiþ-out pite, piloure · pore men þow robbedest, And bere here bras at þi bakke · to caleys to selle. [A page 38] [bere] bare CO.] There I lafte with my lorde · his lyf for to saue, [lafte] lefte R.] Line 196 I made his men meri · and mornyng lette. [lette] lettede O.] I batered hem on þe bakke · and bolded here hertis, [I] And I O. batered] batred W.] And dede hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille. Had I ben Marschal of his men · bi Marie of heuene! [his] O om.] I durst haue leyde my lyf · and no lasse wedde, Line 201 He shulde haue be lorde of þat londe · a lengthe and a brede, [a] in (in both places) W. of] of al B.] And also Kyng of þat kitthe · his kynne for to helpe, [of] of al B. kitthe] kiþ WB · kyth R; kiþþe O.] Þe leste brolle of his blode · a barounes pere! [folio 12b] [brolle] brol WR. blode] kynne CB. pere] piere WC.] Line 204 ¶ Cowardliche þow, conscience · conseiledest hym þennes, [þennes] þanne O.] To leuen his lordeship · for a litel siluer, That is þe richest rewme · þat reyne ouer houeth! ¶ It bicometh to a kynge · þat kepeth a rewme, [a (2)] þe COB.] Line 208 To ȝiue Mede to men · þat mekelich hym serueth, To alienes and to alle men · to honoure hem with ȝiftes; Mede makoth hym biloued · and for a man holden.

Emperoures and Erlis · and al manere lordes Line 212 For ȝiftes han ȝonge men · to renne and to ride. [For] þurȝ R. ȝonge men] ȝoumen R. renne] ȝernen R.] The pope and alle prelatis · presentȝ vnderfongen, [alle] alle þe W.] And medeth men hem-seluen · to meyntene here lawes. Seruauntz for her seruise · we seth wel þe sothe, [A page 39] [Seruauntz] Sergeauntz W. seth] se C.] Line 216 Taken Mede of here maistre · as þei mowe acorde. [maistre] mayster O; maistres WCB; meystres R.] Beggeres for here biddynge · bidden men Mede; Mynstralles for here murthe · mede þei aske. Þe kynge hath mede of his men · to make pees in londe; Line 220 Men þat teche chyldren · craue of hem mede. [of hem] after W.] Prestis þat precheth þe poeple · to gode, asken mede, And masse-pans and here mete · at þe mele tymes. [þe] R om. mele] male O.] Alkynnes crafty men · crauen Mede for here prentis; [Alkynnes] Alle kynne W; Alle kyns O. crafty] craftes W. prentis] Prentices WO; prentyces R.] Marchauntz and Mede · mote nede go togideres; [mote] most R.] Line 225 No wiȝte as I wene · with-oute Mede may libbe." ¶ [Quod] þe kynge to conscience · "bi criste! as me thynketh, [[Quod WCROB] Quatȝ L.] Mede is wel worthi · þe maistrye to haue!" [wel] R om. 230. with] by R.] Line 228 ¶ "Nay," quod conscience to þe Kynge · and kneled to þe erthe, "There aren two manere of Medes · my lorde, with ȝowre leue. Þat one, god of his grace · graunteth in his blisse To þo þat wel worchen · whil þei ben here. Line 232 The prophete precheth þer-of · and put it in þe sautere,

Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?

'Lorde, who shal wonye in þi wones · and with þine holi seyntes, [and] R om.]

Or resten on þi holy hilles?' · þis asketh dauid; [on] in WCOB.] Line 235 ¶ And dauyd assoileth it hym-self · as þe sauter telleth,

Qui ingreditur sine macula, & operatur ius|ticiam,

Tho þat entren of o colour · and of on wille, And han wrouȝte werkis · with riȝte and with reson; [wrouȝte] y-wroght W; Iwrouȝt R.] And he þat ne vseth nauȝte · þe lyf of vsurye, [ne] W om.] And enfourmeth pore men · and pursueth treuthe;

Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram, & munera super innocentem, &c.

[innocentem] innocentem B; innocentes O; innoc: LWCR.] Line 240 And alle þat helpeth þe innocent · and halt with þe riȝtful, [folio 13] [helpeth] helpen WO. halt] holt R; hold C; holden W; holdiþ B.] With-oute mede doth hem gode · and þe trewthe helpeth— [þe] O om. trewthe] trewe R.] Suche manere men, my lorde · shal haue þis furst Mede [þis] þe O.] Of god at a grete nede · whan þei gone hennes. [a] þe B; O om.] Line 244 There is an-other Mede mesurelees · þat maistres de|sireth; [A page 40] [an-other] and other C.] To meyntene mysdoers · Mede þei take; And þere-of seith þe sauter · in a salmes ende,

In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt, dextera eorum repleta est-muneribus;

[þere-of] þer B. sunt] C om.] And he þat gripeth her golde · so me god helpe! Line 248 Shal abie it bittere · or þe boke lyeth! [bittere] bittirli O; ful bittere R; ful bytterly B. lyeth] lees C.] ¶ Prestes and parsones · þat plesynge desireth, That taketh Mede and [moneie] · for messes þat þei syngeth, [taketh] taken WO; takes C; taked R. [moneie WC] money O; moneye B; this seems preferable to the spelling mone LR.] Taketh here mede here · as Mathew vs techeth; [Taketh] Taken WO; Takes C. ] Line 252

Amen, amen, [receperunt] mercedem suam.

[receperunt O] recipiebant LWCRB.] Line 252 ¶ That laboreres and lowe folke · taketh of her maistres, [lowe] lewed R. taketh] taken WO.] It is no manere Mede · but a mesurable hire. [is] nis R. mesurable] reson|abile CB.] In marchandise is no mede · I may it wel a-vowe Line 255 It is a permutacioun apertly · a penyworth for an othre. [a] R om.] ¶ Ac reddestow neuere Regum · þow recrayed Mede, [A page 41] [Ac] And C.] Whi þe veniaunce fel · on Saul and on his children? [veniaunce] vengeaunce WC.] God sent to Saul · bi Samuel þe prophete, Þat agage of amaleke · and al his peple aftre [al] R om.] Line 260 Shulde deye for a dede · þat done had here eldres. ¶ 'For-þi,' seid Samuel to Saul · 'god hym-self hoteth The, be boxome at his biddynge · his wille to fulfille: [be] to be O. his] is C. his—to] & his wille O.] Wende to amalec with þyn oste · and what þow fyndest þere, slee it; [fyndest] fynst R.] Line 264 Biernes and bestes · brenne hem to ded; [brenne] bren W; brynne C. ded] dede CROB; deþe W.] Wydwes and wyues · wommen and children, Moebles and vnmoebles · and al þat þow myȝte fynde, [Moebles] Mobles C; Mebles ROB. vnmoebles] vnmobles C; vn|mebles ROB. þat] WO om.] Brenne it, bere it nouȝte awey · be it neuere so riche For mede ne for [moneie]; · loke þow destruye it, [ne] nor C. [moneie C] money OB; monee W; mone LR.] Line 269 Spille it and spare it nouȝte · þow shalt spede þe bettere.' ¶ And for he coueyted her catel · and þe kynge spared, Forbare hym and his bestes bothe · as þe bible wit|nesseth, Line 272 Otherwyse þan he was · warned of þe prophete, God seide to Samuel · þat Saul shulde deye, And al his sede for þat synne · shenfullich ende. [shenfullich] shendfulliche B; shentfulliche R; shenfuliche C. ende] endede R.] Such a myschief Mede made · Saul þe kynge to haue,

That god hated hym for euere · and alle his eyres after. [eyres] eires O; heires WCRB.] The culorum of þis cas · kepe I nouȝte to shewe; [shewe] telle W.] Line 278 An auenture it noyed men · none ende wil I make. [A page 42] [folio 13b] [An] On WO; R om. auen|ture] Aunter R.] For so is þis worlde went · wiþ hem þat han powere, That who-so seyth hem sothes · is sonnest yblamed. [sothes] soþest W.] Line 281 ¶ I conscience knowe þis · for kynde witt me it tauȝte, [I] retained in W (but not in the printed copy). me it] it me W. it tauȝte] tauȝte it O.] Þat resoun shal regne · and rewmes gouerne; And riȝte as agag hadde · happe shul somme. Line 284 Samuel shal sleen hym · and Saul shal be blamed, And dauid shal be diademed · and daunten hem alle, And one cristene kynge · kepen hem alle. ¶ Shal na more Mede · be maistre, as she is nouthe, [she] he R; scho C.] Ac loue and lowenesse · and lewte togederes, [Ac] And C. lowenesse] lewed|nese C; lewidnesse B. lewte] leautee W; leaute CB.] Line 289 Þise shul be maistres on molde · treuthe to saue. [on] of CB.] ¶ And who-so trespasseth ayein treuthe · or taketh aȝein his wille, Leute shal don hym lawe · and no lyf elles. [lyf] lif WRB; lief C; lijf O.] Line 292 Shal no seriaunt for here seruyse · were a silke howue, [seriaunt] sergeant W; ser|geant CB. here] his W.] Ne no pelure in his cloke · for pledyng atte barre. [atte] at þe WOB.] Mede of mys-doeres · maketh many lordes, And ouer lordes lawes · reuleth þe rewmes. Line 296 ¶ Ac kynde loue shal come ȝit · and conscience to|gideres, [Ac] And C. kynde] kende R.] And make of lawe a laborere · suche loue shal arise, And such a pees amonge þe peple · and a perfit trewthe, [a] R om.] Þat iewes shal wene in here witte · and waxen wonder glade, Line 300 Þat Moises or Messie · be come in-to þis erthe, And haue wonder in here hertis · þat men beth so trewe.

¶ Alle þat bereth baslarde · brode swerde or launce, [baslarde] baslard R; base|larde W; baselard CB; basalard O.] Axe [other] hachet · or eny wepne ellis, [[other R; oþer OB] ouþer WC; orther L (corruptly).] Line 304 Shal be demed to þe deth · but if he do it smythye In-to sikul or to sithe · to schare or to kulter;

Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, &c.;

Eche man to pleye with a plow · pykoys or spade, [B omits.] [pykoys] pykoise W; pikeys CO; pycoys R.] Spynne, or sprede donge · or spille hym-self with sleuthe. [B omits.] [or (2)] other R. spille] lese R.] Line 308 ¶ Prestes and parsones · with placebo to hunte, And dyngen vpon dauid · eche a day til eue. [a] W om.] Huntynge or haukynge · if any of hem vse, His boste of his benefys · worth bynome hym after. Shal neither kynge ne knyȝte · constable ne Meire Line 313 Ouer-lede þe comune · ne to þe courte sompne, Ne put hem in panel · to don hem pliȝte here treuthe, But after þe dede þat is don · one dome shal rewarde, Mercy or no mercy · as treuthe wil acorde. [folio 14] Line 317 ¶ Kynges courte and comune courte · consistorie and chapitele, [consistorie] constorie R. chapitele LR] Chapitle WCO.] [consistorie—courte] B omits.] Al shal be but one courte · and one baroun be iustice; [consistorie—courte] B omits.] [one] oon WC; on R; o O. baroun] C om.] Thanne worth trewe-tonge a tidy man · þat tened me neuere. Batailles shal non be · ne no man bere wepne, Line 321 And what smyth þat ony smyt[h]eth · be smyte þer|with to dethe,

Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium, &c.

[smytheth] smyþeþ WO; smi|thie R; smyteth LCB. smyte] smiten R.] ¶ And er þis fortune falle · fynde men shal þe worste, By syx sonnes and a schippe · and half a shef of arwes; And þe myddel of a mone · shal make þe iewes to torne, [to] R om.]

And saracenes for þat siȝte · shulle synge gloria in excelsis, &c., [þat] þe R.] Line 326 For Makomet & Mede · myshappe shal þat tyme;

For, melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe."

[For] And CB.] ¶ Also wroth as þe wynde · wex Mede in a while, "I can no latyn," quod she · "clerkis wote þe sothe. [wote] wite W; wyten B.] Se what Salamon seith · in Sapience bokes, Line 330 That hij þat ȝiueth ȝiftes · þe victorie wynneth, [hij] þei WB; he O. ȝiueth] ȝyuen W; ȝeuen B.] & moche worschip had þer-with · as holiwryt telleth,

Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, &c."

[moche] moost W; myche O.] ¶ "I leue wel, lady," quod conscience · "þat þi latyne be trewe; [I] retained in W (but not in the printed copy).] Line 333 Ac þow art like a lady · þat redde a lessoun ones, [Ac] An C.] Was, omnia probate · and þat plesed here herte, For þat lyne was no lenger · atte leues ende. [no] O om. (!)] Line 336 Had [she] loked þat other half · and þe lef torned, [[she WC] sche RO; ȝe LB (corruptly). torned] Iturned R.] [She] shulde haue founden fele wordis · folwyng þer|after, [[she WC] sche RO; ȝe LB (corruptly). torned] Iturned R.] Quod bonum est tenete · treuthe þat texte made! ¶ And so ferde ȝe, madame! · ȝe couthe namore fynde, [couthe] koude C; coude RO.] Line 340 Tho ȝe loked on sapience · sittynge in ȝoure studie. Þis tixte þat ȝe han tolde · were gode for lordes, [han told] haue Itolde R. couthe] coude R.] Ac ȝow failled a cunnyng clerke · þat couthe þe lef haue torned! [Ac] And C. haue torned] attorned (contr. from a torned) R.] And if ȝe seche sapience eft · fynde shal ȝe þat folweth, Line 344 A ful teneful tixte · to hem þat taketh Mede, [B omits. taketh] taken O.] And þat is, animam autem aufert · accipientium, &c.:

And þat is þe taille of þe tixte · of þat þat ȝe schewed, [ȝe] she W. schewed] scheweden O; schede (!) R.] Þat þeiȝe we wynne worschip · and wiþ mede haue victorie, [mede] me (!) R.] Line 348 Þe soule þat þe sonde taketh · bi so moche is bounde." [sonde] sonȝd (miswritten for sondz?) R.]