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 VI.

[TITLE. Passus Sextus LOB; C adds, de visione; WR add, de visione, vt supra.] Passus Sextus.

"This were a wikked way · but who-so hadde a gyde [A page 74] That wolde folwen vs eche a fote;" · þus þis folke hem mened. Quatȝ Perkyn þe plouman · "bi seynt Peter of Rome, [CB omit.] I haue an half acre to erye · bi þe heighe way; [folio 26] Line 4 Hadde I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after, [eried] hered R. sowen] I-sowen R.] I [wolde] wende with ȝow · and þe way teche." [wolde WOB] wil LR; wyl C.] ¶ "Þis were a longe lettynge" · quod a lady in a sklayre, [a (3)] retained in W (but omitted in the printed edition). sklayre] Scleyre W; slaire C.] "What sholde we wommen · worche þere whiles?" [CB omit. þere whiles] so in R; þe whyles O; þe while W.] Line 8 ¶ "Somme shal sowe [þe] sakke," quod Piers · "for shedyng of þe whete; [shal] schal R; shul WC; shullen B. [þe WCROB] L om. þe whete] whete CB.] And ȝe, louely ladyes · with ȝoure longe fyngres, [ladyes] lady B.] Þat ȝe han silke and sendal · to sowe, whan tyme is, [han] haue WRCB. sendal] sandel WC.] Chesibles for chapelleynes · cherches to honoure. Line 12 ¶ Wyues and wydwes · wolle & flex spynneth,

Maketh cloth, I conseille ȝow · and kenneth so ȝowre douȝtres; [Maketh] Make C. kenneth so] kennes C; kennyþ B.] Þe nedy and þe naked · nymmeth hede how hij liggeth, [nymmeth] takes C. hij lig|geth] þei liggeþ W; þey ligge COB; a lyggeth R.] And casteth hem clothes · for so comaundeth treuthe. [A page 75] [casteth] castes C. hem] hym R. comaundeth] biddiþ O; com|aunde C.] Line 16 For I shal lene hem lyflode · but ȝif þe londe faille, [lene] so in LOB; lene or leue RC; lenen or leuen (printed leven) W.] Flesshe and bred bothe · to riche and to pore, As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene. [þe] oure O.] ¶ And alle manere of men · þat þorw mete and drynke lybbeth, [lybbeth] lyues C.] Line 20 Helpith hym to worche wiȝtliche · þat wynneth ȝowre fode." [Helpith] Helpes C. wynneth] wynnes C.] ¶ "Bi crist," quod a knyȝte þo · "he kenneth vs þe best; Ac on þe teme trewly · tauȝte was I neuere. [Ac] And C. tauȝte] caught (so miswritten) C.] Ac kenne me," quod þe knyȝte · "and, bi cryst, I wil assaye!" [Ac] But W; And C. bi cryst] COB om.] Line 24 ¶ "Bi seynt Poule," quod Perkyn · "ȝe profre ȝow so faire, Þat I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs bothe, [sowe] saw C.] And oþer laboures do for þi loue · al my lyf tyme, [laboures] laboreres R.] In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holikirke and my-selue [In the margin of O—þe lyuyng of trewe knyȝtis. my] þy C.] Line 28 Fro wastoures and fro wykked men · þat þis worlde struyeth. [fro] COB om. struyeth] strueth R; struthes C; stroyen O; stroieþ B; destruyeþ W.] ¶ And go hunte hardiliche · to hares and to foxes, To bores and to brockes · þat breketh adown myne hegges, [A page 76] [brockes] bukkes R. adown] doun W. myne] men B.]

And go affaite þe faucones · wilde foules to kille; [go] so W. þe] þi WR; þy C. foules] foweles W; bestis O.] Line 32 For suche cometh to my croft · and croppeth my whete." [suche] swiche WR; swilce C.] ¶ Curteislich þe knyȝte þanne · comsed þise wordes, [þise] hise O.] "By my power, Pieres," quod he · "I pliȝte þe my treuthe To fulfille þis forward · þowȝ I fiȝte sholde; Line 36 Als longe as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene." [Als] Al-so B; As CR.] ¶ "Ȝe, and ȝit a poynt," quod Pieres · "I preye ȝow of more; [ȝe] ȝhe O; ȝee B. a] C om.] Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt · but treuthe wil assent. [Loke] Lokiþ þat B.] And þowgh ȝe mowe amercy hem · late mercy be taxoure, [folio 26b] [hem] men R; CB om.] Line 40 And mekenesse þi mayster · maugre medes chekes, [þi] þe CB; ȝoure R. medes] mede R.] And þowgh pore men profre ȝow · presentis and ȝiftis, Nym it nauȝte, an auenture · ȝe mowe it nauȝte deserue; [Nym] Nemeþ B. an auenture] in aduenture B. ȝe] þow R.] For þow shalt ȝelde it aȝein · at one ȝeres ende, Line 44 In a ful perillous place · purgatorie it hatte. [hatte] hatteth RB.] ¶ And mysbede nouȝte þi bonde-men · þe better may þow spede; [And] COB om. bonde-men] bonde-man R. may] mayst OB.] Þowgh he be þyn vnderlynge here · wel may happe in heuene, [happe] happen B.] Þat he worth worthier sette · and with more blisse, [worth—sette] worthier sit CO; worþiere sitteþ B.] Line 48 [Þan þow, bot þou do bette · And lyue as þow shulde;] [LWRO omit. Copied from C; found also in BC₂, and in Crowley's text. In CBC₂ it is wrongly placed after the Latin quotation; rightly placed in Crowley. shulde] sholdust B.]

Amice, ascende superius.

For in charnel atte chirche · cherles ben yuel to knowe, [charnel] a chanel (!) R. atte] at WR; and in CB. cherles] clerkes R.] Or a kniȝte fram a knaue þere · knowe þis in þin herte. [þere] COB om.]

And þat þow be trewe of þi tonge · and tales þat þow hatie, [þat þow] COB om. þi] R om. tales—hatie] loke þow tales hatye CO; loke talis þat þow hate B.] Line 52 But if þei ben of wisdome or of witte · þi werkmen to chaste. [þei] it COB. of (1)] C om. of (2)] COB om. chaste] chastie CR; chastise OB.] Holde with none harlotes · ne here nouȝte her tales, [with] nauȝt with R.] And nameliche atte mete · suche men eschue; [atte] at þe WCR; at O; at þi B.] For it ben þe deueles disoures · I do þe to vnder|stande." [it ben] it beth R. þe (1)] þo B. vnderstande] vnderstone C.] Line 56 ¶ "I assente, bi seynt Iame" · seyde þe kniȝte þanne, [seyde—kniȝte] þe knyȝt sayde COB.] "Forto worche bi þi wordes · þe while my lyf dureth." ¶ "And I shal apparaille me," quod Perkyn · "in pilgrimes wise, [A page 77] [In margin of O—How peers gooþ on pilgrimage. And] COB om.] And wende with ȝow I wil · til we fynde treuthe; Line 60 ¶ And cast on me my clothes · yclouted and hole, [me] WCOB om. cast—clothes] on my cloþis caste B. yclouted] boþe clowtede B. hole] I-hole R.] My cokeres and my coffes · for colde of my nailles, [coffes] cuffes CRO; cuffus B.] And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a scrippe; [hoper] glossed in OC2—i. a seed leep. a] þe B.] A busshel of bredcorne · brynge me þer-inne; Line 64 For I wil sowe it my-self · and sitthenes wil I wende [sowe] saw C. and] B om. sitthenes] siþenes W; sytthen R; siþen C; seþen B.] To pylgrymage as palmers don · pardoun forto haue. [To] On B. for] O om.] ¶ Ac who so helpeth me to erie · or sowen here ar I wende, [Ac] And WCB. or] and W. here] CB om. ar] er WCOB; ere R.] Shal haue leue, bi owre lorde · to lese here in heruest, [lese here] lacche her C; lacche hire OB.] Line 68 And make hem mery þere-mydde · maugre who-so bigruccheth it. [And] Ac B. hem] COB om.; hym R. þere-mydde] þer-with C. bigruccheth it] grucches C; grucchiþ O; grucche B; it be-grucche R.]

¶ And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyuen in treuthe, [alkyn] alle kynne WOR.] I shal fynden hem fode · þat feithfulliche libbeth. [libbeth] lyuees C.] ¶ Saue Iakke þe iogeloure · and Ionet of þe stues, [Iakke] Iagge W. stues] stuwes W; stewes C; stiues R; styuehous B.] Line 72 And danyel þe dys-playere · and denote þe baude, [dys-playere] dees-pleyere WCO. denote] Enote CB; euot O.] And frere þe faytoure · and folke of his ordre, [his] hire W. B has—And þe frere faytour · wiþ al his hool ordre.] And Robyn þe Rybaudoure · for his rusty wordes. Treuthe tolde me ones · and bad me tellen it after, [it] hit forþ B.] Line 76 Deleantur de libro viuentium · I shulde nouȝte dele with hem; [I—hem] CB om.] For holicherche is hote of hem · no tythe to take, [folio 27]

Quia cum iustis non scribantur;

[hote] hoten O. take] aske R. Quia] so in W; misprinted Qui.] [A page 78] They ben ascaped good auenture · now god hem amende!" [now] but O; WCB om.] ¶ Dame worche-whan-tyme-is · Pieres wyf hiȝte, [worche] werche wel B.] Line 80 His douȝter hiȝte do-riȝte-so-. or-þi-dame-shal-þe-bete, His sone hiȝte suffre-þi-souereynes-· to-hauen-her-wille| [souereynes] suffereignes C. to] RO om.] Deme-hem-nouȝte-for-if-þow-doste-· þow-shalt-it-dere|abugge. [doste] do CB. it] ful O; is C. abugge] a-bygge C; abiegge B.] "Late god yworth with al · for so his worde techeth; [CB omit. so] O om.] Line 84 ¶ For now I am olde and hore · and haue of myn owen, To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wil passe with þise other. [to] CO om.] For-þi I wil, or I wende · do wryte my biqueste. [or] er WCOB; ar R. biqueste] queste R.] In dei nomine, amen · I make it my-seluen. [In—soule] one line in R.] Line 88 He shal haue my soule · þat best hath yserued it, [In—soule] one line in R.] [Þat best, &c.] one line in R. yserued] deserued W. it defende—bileue] I-keped it R.] And fro þe fende it defende · for so I bileue, [Þat best, &c.] one line in R. yserued] deserued W. it defende—bileue] I-keped it R.] Til I come to his acountes · as my credo me telleth, [credo me] crede R.]

To haue a relees and a remissioun · on þat rental I leue. [a (2)] O om. leue] bileue CB.] Line 92 ¶ Þe kirke shal haue my caroigne · and kepe my bones; [caroigne] cariogne C; carayne RB.] For of my corne and catel · he craued þe tythe. [he] she WB. þe] R om.] I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my soule, [hym] ful W; hem B.] For-thy is he holden, I hope · to haue me in his masse, [A page 79] Line 96 And mengen in his memorye · amonge alle crystene. ¶ My wyf shal haue of þat I wan · with treuthe and nomore, And dele amonge my douȝtres · and my dere children. [children] childres R; childerne C.] For þowghe I deye to-daye · my dettes ar quitte, [deye] deyede R. dettes—quitte] dette is I-quited R; dettes are quyte W.] Line 100 I bare home þat I borwed · ar I to bedde ȝede. [ar] er WCOB.] ¶ And with þe residue and þe remenaunte · bi þe Rode of Lukes! [and] of CB.] I wil worschip þer-with · treuthe bi my lyue, And ben his pilgryme atte plow · for pore mennes sake. [atte] at þe RB; at CO.] Line 104 My plow-fote shal be my pyk-staf · and picche atwo þe rotes, [plow-fote] ploughwes foot B; plow-pote R; plow-foot WC. pyk|staf] pikid staf B. and—rotes] to picche a-two rotis B. atwo] at R.] And helpe my culter to kerue · and clense þe forwes." ¶ Now is perkyn and his pilgrymes · to þe plowe faren; [his] hise WC; þese R.] To erie þis halue acre · holpyn hym manye. [þis] so in W; misprinted his. holpyn] þer helpen B.] Line 108 Dikeres & delueres · digged vp þe balkes; [digged] digges C. balkes] baukys B.] Þere-with was perkyn apayed · and preysed hem faste. Other werkemen þere were · þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne, [ȝerne] faste C.]

Eche man in his manere · made hym-self to done, [Eche] Elke C.] Line 112 And some to plese perkyn · piked vp þe wedes. ¶ At heighe pryme peres · lete þe plowe stonde, To ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wrouȝte, [folio 27b] [To] And ȝeed to R. and] B om.] He shulde be huyred þer-after · whan heruest-tyme come. [A page 80] [He] For he B.] Line 116 ¶ And þanne seten somme · and songen atte nale, [atte nale] at þe nale ROB; at þe ale R.] And hulpen erie his half acre · with "how! trolli|lolli!" [hulpen] holpen WCOB; ho helpen R. erie] herie C: ere W; to erye RB. his] þis W. how] hey O.] ¶ "Now, bi þe peril of my soule!" quod Pieres · al in pure tene, "But ȝe arise þe rather · and rape ȝow to worche, Line 120 Shal no greyne þat groweth · glade ȝow at nede; And þough ȝe deye for dole · þe deuel haue þat rec|cheth!" [deye] deyede R. dole] doel W; deul R; deel O; defaute B. haue] hym haue B. reccheth] recches C; recche R.] ¶ Tho were faitoures aferde · and feyned hem blynde, [Tho] Two C. aferde] afered W.] Somme leyde here legges aliri · as suche loseles conneth, [aliri] a-liry W; a-lyrye C. conneth] knoues C.] And made her mone to pieres · and preyde hym of grace: Line 125 "For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lorde, y-graced be ȝe! [y-graced] graced R; graceful B. ȝe] þe W.] ¶ Ac we preye for ȝow pieres · and for ȝowre plow bothe, [Ac we] And C. for (2)] O om.] Þat god of his grace · ȝowre grayne multiplye, Line 128 And ȝelde ȝow of ȝowre almesse · þat ȝe ȝiue vs here; [of] for W. ȝowre] O om. almesse] almose C.] For we may nouȝte swynke ne swete · suche sikenesse vs eyleth." [nouȝte] neiþer B. eyleth] C om.; ayleth R.]

¶ "If it be soth," quod pieres, "þat ȝe seyne · I shal it sone asspye! [If it] If þis CB. þat—seyne] CB om. In margin of O—Of ydel beggers.] Ȝe ben wastoures, I wote wel · and treuthe wote þe sothe! [ȝe] þo R. wote (2)] wot wel R.] Line 132 And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne [A page 81] Which þei were in þis worlde · his werkemen appeyred. [his] þat his B. appeyred] apayreth R.] ¶ Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and with tene, [with (2)] COB om.] Ac treuthe shal teche ȝow · his teme to dryue, Line 136 Or ȝe shal ete barly bred · and of þe broke drynke. But if he be blynde [or] broke-legged · or bolted with yrnes, [[or WCROB] and L.] He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue, [whete] swete O.] Tyl god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende. Line 140 Ac ȝe myȝte trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & huyre To kepe kyne in þe felde · þe corne fro þe bestes, [kyne] kyene C; ken R kyen WB; kijn O.] Diken or deluen · or dyngen vppon sheues, [dyngen vppon] picchen vp B.] Or helpe make morter · or bere mukke a-felde. [make] to make B.] Line 144 ¶ In lecherye and in losengerye · ȝe lyuen, and in sleuthe, [in (2)] COB om. ȝe lyuen] lyue R.] And al is þorw suffrance · þat veniaunce ȝow ne taketh. ¶ Ac ancres and heremytes · þat eten [noȝt] but at nones, [Ac] As C. [noȝt WCOB] LR omit.] And namore er morwe · myne almesse shul þei haue, [er] er þe W.] And of my catel to cope hem with · þat han cloistres and cherches. [of my] COB om.; of W. cope] kepe W. and cherches] in kerkes R.] Line 149 Ac robert renne-aboute · shal nowȝte haue of myne,

Ne posteles, but þey preche conne · and haue powere of þe bisschop; [haue] ȝut haue R.] They shal haue payne and potage · and make hem-self at ese, [folio 28] [hem-self] hem COB.] Line 152 For it is an vnresonable Religioun · þat hath riȝte nouȝte of certeyne." [riȝte—of] no thyng in COB.] ¶ And þanne gan a wastoure to wrath hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte, [And] COB om. a] W om. to] CB om.] And to Pieres þe plowman · he profered his gloue; [þe] O om. he] O om.] A Brytonere, a braggere · a-bosted pieres als, [Brytonere] Bretoner WRB.] Line 156 And bad hym go pissen with his plow · for-pyned schrewe! [with] on R.] "Wiltow or neltow · we wil haue owre wille, [A page 82] [Wiltow—neltow] wil þow or nelle þow R; wilt þou or nylt þou O.] Of þi flowre and of þi flessche · fecche whan vs liketh, [Of] And of R. fecche] facche C; fette hit B.] And make vs myrie þer-myde · maugre þi chekes!" [þer-myde] þer-with CB.] Line 160 ¶ Thanne Pieres þe plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte, [þe] O om.] To kepe hym, as couenaunte was · fram cursed shrewes, And fro þis wastoures wolueskynnes · þat maketh þe worlde dere: [wolueskynnes] wolf skynnes CO; of wolues kynne B. þe] þis R.] "For þo waste and wynnen nouȝte · and þat ilke while [þat] B om.] Line 164 Worth neuere plente amonge þe poeple · þer-while my plow liggeth." [þe] R om. þer-while] þe while WROB. liggeth] lieþ B; legges C.] ¶ Curteisly þe knyȝte þanne · as his kynde wolde, [as] C om.] Warned wastoure · and wissed hym bettere, [bettere] þe better O.] "Or þow shalt abugge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere!" [abugge] abigge WCO; abiegge B. by (1)] with R.] Line 168

Line 168 ¶ "I was nouȝt wont to worche," quod wastour · "and now wil I nouȝt bigynne!"— [was] nas O. wont] woned B; wone R. wil—nouȝt] I nyl COB.] And lete liȝte of þe lawe · and lasse of þe knyȝte, And sette Pieres at a pees · and his plow bothe, [pees] pese WCRCB. plow] plowht C.] And manaced pieres and his men · ȝif þei mette eft sone. [manaced] manseyd R.] Line 172 ¶ "Now, by þe peril of my soule!" quod pieres · "I shal apeyre ȝow alle!" [Now] R om.] And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste: "A-wreke me of þise wastoures," quod he · "þat þis worlde schendeth!" [schendeth] schenden R; shendes C.] ¶ Hunger in haste þo · hent wastour bi þe mawe, [þo] þan B. mawe] wombe W.] Line 176 And wronge hym so bi þe wombe · þat bothe his eyen wattered; [A page 83] [And] And he B. bothe—wattered] al waterred his eyȝes R.] He buffeted þe Britoner · aboute þe chekes, [Britoner] Bretoner WRB.] Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lyf after. [after] tyme B.] He bette hem so bothe · he barste nere here guttes; [he] þat he B. barste] brast C.] Line 180 Ne hadde Pieres with a pese-lof · preyed hunger to cesse, [lof] loof WO; lafe C; lofe R. to cesse] sese R.] They hadde ben doluen bothe · ne deme þow non other. [bothe] W om. ne—þow] wilne þou B.] "Suffre hem lyue," he seyde · "and lete hem ete with hogges, [lyue] to lyue B. and] B om.] Or elles benes and bren · ybaken togideres, [and] an C; or W. bren] bran COB.] Line 184 Or elles melke and mene ale" · þus preyed pieres for hem. [mene] meyne ROB; meynye C.] ¶ Faitoures for fere her-of · flowen in-to bernes, [her-of] þer-of COB. into] in R.] And flapten on with flayles · fram morwe til euen, [flapten] flapped C; flappiden B.]

That hunger was nouȝt so hardy · on hem for to loke, [so] R om. for to] fort B.] Line 188 For a potful of peses · þat peres hadde ymaked. [peses] pesen O; pisen B; pese C.] An heep of heremites · henten hem spades, [folio 28b] [An] And C.] And ketten here copes · and courtpies hem made, [ketten] kutten CB; kitten WO. copes] capes C. courtpies] curtepies B; curtbyes CO; curtebies R. made] maked W.] And wenten as werkemen · with spades and with schoueles, [with (2)] COB om.] Line 192 And doluen and dykeden · to dryue aweye hunger. [doluen] dolueden O.] ¶ Blynde and bedreden · were botened a þousande, [bedreden] bedrede B; bedered O. botened] botoned C; bootned W.] Þat seten to begge syluer · sone were þei heled. [þat] And C. seten to] re|peated in L, by mistake.] For þat was bake for bayarde · was bote for many hungry, [A page 84] [bote for] bote to R.] Line 196 And many a beggere for benes · buxome was to swynke, [a] CO om. buxome] fayne R. was] were B.] And eche a pore man wel apayed · to haue pesen for his huyre, [eche] elke C. apayed] payed CO. his] her O.] And what pieres preyed hem to do · as prest as a sper|hauke. [to] for to R. as (1)] also B.] Line 199 And þere-of was peres proude · and put hem to werke, [peres] pieris so B.] And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforth · and mesurable huyre. [mesurable] resounable O.] ¶ Þanne hadde peres pite · and preyed hunger to wende Home in-to his owne erde · and holden hym þere. [in-to] vn-to W. erde] erþe COB; yerd W.] "For I am wel awroke now · of wastoures, þorw þi myȝte. [now] W om.] Line 204 Ac I preye þe, ar þow passe" · quod Pieres to hunger, [ar] er WO; or CB. to] þo to R.] "Of beggeres and of bidderes · what best be [to] done? [and] O om. of] CB om. be] is R. [to WCROB] L om.]

For I wote wel, be þow went · þei wil worche ful ille; [wil worche] wolen do O.] For myschief it maketh · þei beth so meke nouthe, Line 208 And for defaute of her fode · þis folke is at my wille. Þey are my blody bretheren," quod pieres · "for god bouȝte vs alle; [þey are] It aren R; And ȝit þei arn O. bretheren] brether C. for] & R.] Treuthe tauȝte me ones · to louye hem vchone, And to helpen hem of alle þinge · ay as hem nedeth. And now wolde I witen of þe · what were þe best, Line 213 An[d] how I myȝte amaistrien hem · and make hem to worche." [And] An L; but marked for correction. amaistrien] amaystrien R; a-maistren W; a-mastrie O; maistre B; maister C.] ¶ "Here now," quod hunger · "and holde it for a wisdome: [A page 85] [Here] I here R; Here me B.] Bolde beggeres and bigge · þat mowe her bred bi|swynke, Line 216 With houndes bred and hors bred · holde vp her hertis, Abate hem with benes · for bollyng of her wombe; [bollyng] bolnyng CB. wombe] wombes W.] And ȝif þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynke, [þe—grucche] þey grucche þanne COB. go] go and R.] And he shal soupe swettere · whan he it hath deseruid. [R omits.] ¶ And if þow fynde any freke · þat fortune hath ap|peyred, [And] Ac R. fortune] falshed R.] Line 221 Or any maner fals men · fonde þow suche to cnowe; [CB omit.] [fals] fawti O. cnowe] knowe WRO.] Conforte [hem] with þi catel · for crystes loue of heuene, [CB omit.] [[hem RO] hym LW.] Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeth:—

Alter alterius onera portate.

[Loue] Hire B. hem] hym CB (in both places). so—god] for so þe lawe COB. onera] honera R portate] so in W, but misprinted portare.] And alle maner of men · þat þow myȝte asspye, [of] RB om. þat] CO om. myȝte] myȝtist O.] Line 225 That nedy ben, and nauȝty · helpe hem with þi godis, [nauȝty] noȝt han B.]

Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝte · late god take þe veniaunce; Theigh þei done yuel · late þow god [y-worþe]:—

Michi vindictam, & ego retribuam.

[þow] WCOB om. [y-worþe W] better than aworthe LR; CO have worthe; B has worche.] Line 228 And if þow wil[t] be graciouse to god · do as þe gospel techeth, [folio 29] [And] Ac O. wilt] WCO; wolt B; wil L; R om.] And [biloue] þe amonges low men · so shaltow lacche grace,

Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis."

[[biloue WCOB] bilow L; by|lowe R; in L, the line is marked for correction. low] lewed W. vobis] vos W. mamona] mammona (printed Mammone) W.] ¶ "I wolde nouȝt greue god," quod piers · "for al þe good on grounde; Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist?" · seyde pieres þanne. [A page 86] Line 232 ¶ "Ȝe, I bihote þe," quod hunger · "or ellis þe bible lieth; [bihote þe] þe bihote B. þe] god R.] Go to Genesis þe gyaunt · þe engendroure of vs alle; 'In sudore and swynke · þow shalt þi mete tilye, [and] & in OR.] And laboure for þi lyflode' · and so owre lorde hyȝte. Line 236 And sapience seyth þe same · I seigh it in þe bible; [seigh] se CB. it] R om.] 'Piger pro frigore · no felde nolde tilye, [pro] pro (printed præ) W. nolde] wolde R.] And þerfore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger.' [he shal] shal he CB.] ¶ Mathew with mannes face · mouthed þise wordes, [a besaunt] [mouthed] mouthe C; mouth|eth R.] Line 240 Þat seruus nequam had a nam · and for he wolde nouȝte chaffare, [nam] Mnam WC; man (!) RB. wolde] nolde COB.] He had maugre of his maistre · for euermore after; [for] WCB om.] And binam [hym] his Mnam · for he ne wolde worche, [[hym WCROB] L om. Mnam] napm (sic) R; nam O. ne] C om.]

And ȝaf þat Mnam to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde, [Mnam] nam RO. Mnames] Mnammes CB; napmes R; nammes O.] And with þat he seyde · þat holicherche it herde, Line 245 'He þat hath shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeth, And he þat nouȝt hath, shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym helpe; [þat] C om. nouȝt hath] hath nouȝt CB.] And þat he weneth wel to haue · I wil it hym bireue.' [A page 87] [wel] for R.] ¶ Kynde witt wolde · þat eche a wyght wrouȝte Line 249 Or in dykynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preyeres, [in (2)] CB om.] Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf · cryst wolde men wrouȝte. [lyf (2)] COB om. men] þei WCOB.] Þe sauter seyth in þe psalme · of beati omnes, [þe] a R.] Line 252 Þe freke þat fedeth hym-self · with his feythful laboure, [þat] B om. his] C om.] He is blessed by þe boke · in body and in soule:

Labores manuum tuarum, &c."

¶ "Ȝet I prey ȝow," quod pieres · "par charite, and ȝe kunne Eny leef of lechecraft · lere it me, my dere. Line 256 For somme of my seruauntz · and my-self bothe [bothe] been seek oþer while O.] Of al a wyke worche nouȝt · so owre wombe aketh." [a] þe O. wyke] woke R.] ¶ "I wote wel," quod hunger · "what sykenesse ȝow eyleth, Ȝe han maunged ouer-moche · and þat maketh ȝow grone. [ouer] to COB. and] B om. grone] to grone COB.] Line 260 Ac I hote þe," quod hunger · "as þow þyne hele wilnest, [Ac] And COB.] Þat þow drynke no day · ar þow dyne somwhat. Ete nouȝte, I hote þe · ar hunger þe take, [þe (2)] R om.] Line 263 And sende þe of his sauce · to sauoure with þi lippes; And kepe some tyl soper-tyme · and sitte nouȝt to longe, [tyl] to RO; for CB.] [A page 88]

Arise vp ar appetit · haue eten his fulle. [folio 29b] [Arise] And rys W; And rise COB. eten] I-ete R.] Lat nouȝt sire surfait · sitten at þi borde; Leue him nouȝt, for he is lecherous · and likerous of tonge, [lecherous] likerous CB. likerous] lecherous CB. of] of his COB.] Line 268 And after many manere metes · his maw is afyngred. [afyngred] a-fyngerd C.] ¶ And ȝif þow diete þe þus · I dar legge myne eres, [þe] C om.] Þat phisik shal his furred hodes · for his fode selle, [hodes] hood B.] And his cloke of calabre · with alle þe knappes of golde, [þe] R om. knappes] knoppes CB.] Line 272 And be fayne, bi my feith · his phisik to lete, And lerne to laboure with londe · for lyflode is swete; [lerne] lere CO; to lere B. laboure] labori R.] For morthereres aren mony leches · lorde hem amende! [For] R om. morthereres—leches] many lechis ben morþereris B; þer aren mo morareres (sic) þan leches R.] Þei do men deye þorw here drynkes · ar destine it wolde." [do men] maken men to B. drynkes] drynkyngis B. destine] here desteny B. it] COB om.] Line 276 ¶ "By seynt Poule," quod pieres · "þise aren profit|able wordis! [pieres] Piers W; perkyn CB.] Wende now, hunger, whan þow wolt · þat wel be þow euere! [be þow] þow be R; be þee O; be þe B.] For þis is a louely lessoun · lorde it þe for-ȝelde!" [it] CB om.] ¶ "By-hote god," quod hunger · "hennes ne wil I wende, [By-hote] I bihote B. ne wil I] wol I nat COB.] Line 280 Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke bothe." ¶ "I haue no peny," quod peres · "poletes forto bigge, [forto] to W.] Ne neyther gees ne grys · but two grene cheses, [CB omit. gees] goos O. grys] grijs O.] A fewe cruddes and creem · and an hauer cake, Line 284

Line 284 And two loues of benes and bran · y-bake for my fauntis. [A page 89] [bran] of bran B. y-bake] I take CB.] And ȝet I sey, by my soule · I haue no salt bacoun, Ne no kokeney, bi cryst · coloppes forto maken. Line 287 Ac I haue percil and porettes · and many kole-plantes, [Ac] And C. percil] percile WR; percelle C; persoly B. porettes] porett R; porete B. kole-plantes] cale-plantes C; queynte herbes R.] And eke a cow and a kalf · and a cart-mare To drawe a-felde my donge · þe while þe drought lasteth. [a-felde] on feld B. þe (1)] B om. þe (2)] C om. drought last|eth] weder is drye COB.] And bi þis lyflode we mot lyue · til lammasse tyme; [til—tyme] to heruest tyme CB; til heruest tyme come O.] And bi þat, I hope to haue · heruest in my croft; Line 292 And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me dere liketh." [liketh] likes C; lykede B.] Alle þe pore peple þo · pesecoddes fetten, [fetten] to fette B.] Benes and baken apples · þei brouȝte in her lappes, [Only one line in CB; thus—Benes, Chibolles, and cherueles · and many oþer herbes.] [lappes] lappe R.] Chibolles and cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye, [Only one line in CB; thus—Benes, Chibolles, and cherueles · and many oþer herbes.] Line 296 And profred peres þis present · to plese with hunger. [And—þis] To make Piers a COB. with] with his COB.] ¶ Al hunger eet in hast · and axed after more. [Al] An C; Ac B. axed] asked C; askiþ B.] Þanne pore folke for fere · fedde hunger ȝerne With grene poret and pesen · to poysoun hunger þei þouȝte. [poret] porettes COB. and] and wiþ B. to—hunger] to poisone hym W; hunger þey CB. þouȝte] souȝte B.] Line 300 By þat it neighed nere heruest · newe corne cam to chepynge; [it—nere] neighed C; neyȝhede it O; hit neighed B. newe] & newe W; CB om.] Þanne was folke fayne · and fedde hunger with þe best, [A page 90] [B omits. hunger with] hem of CO.] With good ale, as glotoun tauȝte · and gerte hunger go slepe. [CB omit. gerte] garte W.]

¶ And þo wolde wastour nouȝt werche · but wandren aboute, [wolde—nouȝt] ne wolde no wastour R; wolde nouȝt (omitting wastour) C; þei wolden noȝt B. wandren] wandred COB.] Line 304 Ne no begger ete bred · þat benes Inne were, [folio 30] But of coket or clerematyn · or elles of clene whete; [But of coket or clene whete · and drynke of þe beste ale C; B the same, with or of for or.] [or (1)] or of R; and W.] Ne none halpeny ale · in none wise drynke, [But of coket or clene whete · and drynke of þe beste ale C; B the same, with or of for or.] [halpeny] so also in RO; half|peny W.] But of þe best and of þe brounest · þat in borghe is to selle. [of (2)] O om.] Line 308 ¶ Laboreres þat haue no lande · to lyue on but her handes, [haue] hadde O. to—but] but lyue wiþ O.] Deyned nouȝt to dyne a-day · nyȝt-olde wortes. [Wolden ete no nyȝt olde wortis · ne drynke no peny ale OC₂. nouȝt] R om. (by mistake).] May no peny ale hem paye · ne no pece of bakoun, [308—311. CB omit.] [Wolden ete no nyȝt olde wortis · ne drynke no peny ale OC₂. nouȝt] R om. (by mistake).] But if it be fresch flesch other fische · fryed other bake, [if it be] COB om. bake] y-bake WB; baken O.] [fryed—chaud] R om. or] and W. here] his R.] Line 312 And þat chaude or plus chaud · for chillyng of here mawe. [fryed—chaud] R om. or] and W. here] his R.] ¶ And but if he be heighlich huyred · ellis wil he chyde, [if] CO om. heighlich] hye O.] And þat he was werkman wrouȝt · waille þe tyme, [COB omit.] Aȝeines catones conseille · comseth he to iangle:—

Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento.

Line 316 ¶ He greueth hym aȝeines god · and gruccheth aȝeines resoun, [gruccheth] grucchede B.] And þanne curseth he þe kynge · and al his conseille after, [And] R om. þanne—he] he corses þe C; he curseþ þe O; he cursed þe B.] Suche lawes to loke · laboreres to greue. [loke] look C.] Line 319

Line 319 Ac whiles hunger was her maister · þere wolde none of hem chyde, [Ac] And COB. þere—hem] wolde þey nat COB.] Line 320 Ne stryue aȝeines his statut · so sterneliche he loked. [A page 91] [his] þe B.] ¶ Ac I warne ȝow, werkemen · wynneth while ȝe mowe, [Ac] And C.] For hunger hide[r]ward · hasteth hym faste, [hiderward] so in WCROB; hideward L. faste] ful faste R.] He shal awake with water · wastoures to chaste. [water] wat R. chaste] chastie C; chastise OB.] Line 324 Ar fyue [ȝere] be fulfilled · suche famyn shal aryse, [fyue] fewe B. [ȝere R] ȝeer OB; LWC om.; Crowley has yere. suche] CB om.] Thorwgh flodes and þourgh foule wederes · frutes shul faille, [þourgh] CROB om. foule wederes] foule werdis O; foolis wordis B.] And so sayde saturne · and sent ȝow to warne: [sent] sende B.] Line 327 Whan ȝe se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes, And a Mayde haue þe maistrie · and multiplie bi eight, [multiplie] so in WCOB; LR have multiplied; Crowley has mul|tiply. bi] be R.] Þanne shal deth withdrawe · and derthe be iustice, [ll. 329,330. Transposed in B.] And dawe þe dyker · deye for hunger, [deye] shal dye B.] But if god of his goodnesse · graunt vs a trewe. [But] And R. if] W om.] Line 332