William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 9

"Sire Dowel dwelleth,' quod Wit, "noght a day hennes Line 9.001 In a castel that Kynde made of foure kynnes thynges. Line 9.002 Of erthe and eyr is it maad, medled togideres, Line 9.003 With wynd and with water wittily enjoyned. Line 9.004 Kynde hath closed therinne craftily withalle Line 9.005 A lemman that he loveth lik to hymselve. Line 9.006 Anima she hatte; [to hir hath envye] Line 9.007 A proud prikere of Fraunce, Princeps huius mundi, Line 9.008 And wolde wynne hire awey with wiles and he myghte. Line 9.009 "Ac Kynde knoweth this wel and kepeth hire the bettre, Line 9.010 And hath doon hire with Sire Dowel, Duc of thise marches. Line 9.011 Dobet is hire damyselle, Sire Doweles doughter, Line 9.012 To serven this Iady leelly bothe late and rathe. Line 9.013 Dobest is above bothe, a bisshopes peere; Line 9.014 That he bit moot be do--he [bidd]eth hem alle. Line 9.015 [By his leryng] is lad [that lady Anima]. Line 9.016 "Ac the Constable of that castel, that kepeth [hem alle], Line 9.017 Is a wis knyght withal1e--Sire 1nwit he hatte, Line 9.018 And hath fyve faire sones by his firste wyve: Line 9.019 Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel, and Here-wel the hende, Line 9.020 Sire Werch-wel-with-thyn-hand, a wight man of strengthe, Line 9.021 And Sire Godefray Go-wel--grete lordes [alle]. Line 9.022 Thise sixe ben set to save this lady Anima Line 9.023 Til Kynde come or sende to kepen hire hymselve.' Line 9.024 "What kynnes thyng is Kynde?' quod, "kanstow me telle?' Line 9.025 " Kynde,' quod Wit, "is creatour of alle kynnes thynges, Line 9.026 Fader and formour of al that evere was maked-- Line 9.027

Line 9.027 And that is the grete God that gynnyng hadde nevere, Line 9.028 Lord of lif and of light, of lisse and of peyne. Line 9.029 Aungeles and alle thyng arn at his wille, Line 9.030 Ac man is hym moost lik of marc and of shape. Line 9.031 For thorugh the word that he [warp] woxen forth beestes: Line 9.032 Dixit et facta sunt. Line 9.032 "A[c] he made man [moost] li[k] to hymself, Line 9.033 And Eve of his ryb bon withouten any mene. Line 9.034 For he was synguler hymself and seide Eaciamus-- Line 9.035 As who seith, "" Moore moot herto than my word oone: Line 9.036 My myght moot helpe now with my speche.'' Line 9.037 Right as a lord sholde make lettres, and hym lakked [no] parchemyn, Line 9.038 Though he [wiste] write never so wel, if he hadde no penne, Line 9.039 The lettre, for al the lordshipe, I leve were nevere ymaked! Line 9.040 "And so it semeth [there he seide, as the Bible telleth, Line 9.041 Faciamus hominem ad imaginem nostram]-- Line 9.042 He moste werche with his word and his wit shewe. Line 9.043 And in this manere was man maad thorugh myght of God almyghty, Line 9.044 With his word and werkmanshipe and with lif to 1aste. Line 9.045 And thus God gaf hym a goost, of the godhede of hevene, Line 9.046 And of his grete grace graunted hym blisse-- Line 9.047 And that is lif that ay shal 1aste to al his lynage after. Line 9.048 And that is the castel that Kynde made, Caro it hatte, Line 9.049 And is as muche to mene as "man with a soule." Line 9.050

Line 9.050 And that he wroghte with werk and with word bothe: Line 9.051 Thorgh myght of the mageste man was ymaked. Line 9.052 " Inwit and alle wittes yclosed ben therinne Line 9.053 For love of the lady Anima, that lif is ynempned. Line 9.054 Over al in mannes body he[o] walketh and wandreth, Line 9.055 Ac in the herte is hir hoom and hir mooste reste. Line 9.056 Ac Inwit is in the heed, and to the herte he loketh Line 9.057 What Anima is leef or looth--he Iat hire at his wille; Line 9.058 For after the grace of God, the gretteste is Inwit. Line 9.059 "Muche wo worth that man that mysruleth his Inwit, Line 9.060 And that ben glotons glubberes--hir God is hire wombe: Line 9.061 Quorum deus venter est. Line 9.061 For thei serven Sathan, hir soules shal he have: Line 9.062 That lyven synful lif here, hir soule is lich the devel. Line 9.063 And alle that lyven good lif are lik to God almyghty: Line 9.064 Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet &c. Line 9.064 "Allas! that drynke sha1 fordo that God deere boughte, Line 9.065 And dooth God forsaken hem that he shoop to his liknesse: Line 9.066 Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi, Et dimisi eos Line 9.066 secundum desideria eorum. Line 9.066 " Fooles that fauten Inwit, I fynde that Holy Chirche Line 9.067 Sholde fynden hem that hem fauteth, and faderlese children, Line 9.068 And widewes that han noght wherwith to wynnen hem hir foode, Line 9.069 Madde men and maydenes that helplese were-- Line 9.070 Alle thise lakken Inwit, and loore bihoveth. Line 9.071 "Of this matere I myghte make a long tale Line 9.072 And fynde fele witnesses among the foure doctours, Line 9.073 And that I lye noght of that I lere thee, Luc bereth witnesse. Line 9.074

Line 9.074 "Godfader and godmoder that seen hire godchildren Line 9.075 At myseise and at myschief and mowe hem amende Line 9.076 Shul [pre]ve penaunce in purgatorie, but thei hem helpe. Line 9.077 For moore bilongeth to the liteI barn er he the lawe knowe Line 9.078 Than nempnynge of a name, and he never the wiser! Line 9.079 Sholde no Cristene creature cryen at the yate Line 9.080 Ne faille payn ne potage, and prelates dide as thei sholden. Line 9.081 A Jew wolde noght se a Jew go janglyng for defaute Line 9.082 For alle the mebles on this moolde, and he amende it myghte. Line 9.083 "Allas that a Cristene creature shal be unkynde til another! Line 9.084 Syn Jewes, that we jugge Judas felawes, Line 9.085 Eyther helpeth oother of that that hym nedeth. Line 9.086 Whi nel we Cristene of Cristes good [as kynde be] Line 9.087 As Jewes, that ben oure loresmen? Shame to us alle! Line 9.088 The commune for hir unkyndenesse, I drede me, shul abye. Line 9.089 " Bisshopes shul be blamed for beggeres sake; Line 9.090 He is [jugged] wors than Judas that yyveth a japer silver Line 9.091 And biddeth the beggere go, for his broke clothes: Line 9.092 Proditor est prelatus cum Iudu qui patrimonium Christi Line 9.092 minus distribuit. Et alibi, Perniciosus dispensator est Line 9.092 qui res pauperum Christi inutiliter consumit. Line 9.092 He dooth noght wel that dooth thus, ne drat noght God almyghty, Line 9.093 Ne loveth noght Salomons sawes, that Sapience taughte: Line 9.094 Inicium sapiencie timor Domini. Line 9.094 "That dredeth God, he dooth wel; that dredeth hym for love Line 9.095 And noght for drede of vengeaunce, dooth therfore the bettre. Line 9.096 He dooth best that withdraweth hym by daye and by nyghte Line 9.097

Line 9.097 To spille any speche or any space of tyme: Line 9.098 Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus. Line 9.098 " [Tyn]ynge of tyme, Truthe woot the sothe, Line 9.099 Is moost yhated upon erthe of hem that ben in hevene; Line 9.100 And siththe to spille speche, that spire is of grace, Line 9.101 And Goddes gleman and a game of hevene. Line 9.102 Wolde nevere the feithful fader his fithele were untempred, Line 9.103 Ne his gleman a gedelyng, a goere to tavernes. Line 9.104 "To alle trewe tidy men that travaille desiren, Line 9.105 Oure Lord loveth hem and lent, loude outher stille, Line 9.106 Grace to go to hem and of gon hir liflode: Line 9.107 Inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono. Line 9.107 "In this world is Dowel trewe wedded libbynge folk], Line 9.108 For thei mote werche and wynne and the world sustene. Line 9.109 For of hir kynde thei come that Confessours ben nempned, Line 9.110 Kynges and knyghtes, kaysers and clerkes, Line 9.111 Maidenes and martires--out of o man come. Line 9.112 The wif was maad the w[y]e for to helpe werche, Line 9.113 And thus was wedlok ywroght with a mene persone-- Line 9.114 First by the fadres wille and the frendes conseille, Line 9.115 And sithenes by assent of hemself, as thei two myghte acorde; Line 9.116 And thus was wedlok ywroght, and God hymself it made; Line 9.117 In erthe the heven is--hymself was the witnesse. Line 9.118 "Ac fals folk feithlees, theves and lyeres, Line 9.119 Wastours and wrecches out of wedlok, I trowe, Line 9.120 Conceyved ben in yvel tyme, as Caym was on Eve. Line 9.121 Of swiche synfulle sherewes the Sauter maketh mynde: Line 9.122 Concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem. Line 9.122 And alle that come of that Caym come to yvel ende. Line 9.123

Line 9.123 "For God sente to Seem and seide by an aungel, Line 9.124 "Thyn issue in thyn issue, I woI that thei be wedded, Line 9.125 And noght thi kynde with Caymes ycoupled ne yspoused.'' Line 9.126 " Yet some, ayein the sonde of Oure Saveour of hevene, Line 9.127 Caymes kynde and his kynde coupIed togideres-- Line 9.128 Til God wrathed with hir werkes, and swich a word seide, Line 9.129 " That I makede man, now it me forthynketh: Line 9.130 Penitet me fecisse hominem.' Line 9.130 "And com to Noe anon and bad hym noght lette: Line 9.131 "Swithe go shape a ship of shides and of bordes. Line 9.132 Thyself and thi sones thre and sithen youre wyves, Line 9.133 Busketh yow to that boot and bideth therinne Line 9.134 Til fourty daies be fulfild, that flood have ywasshen Line 9.135 Clene awey the corsed blood that Caym hath ymaked. Line 9.136 "Bestes that now ben shul banne the tyme Line 9.137 That evere that cursed Caym coom on this erthe. Line 9.138 Alle shul deye for his dedes by dales and hulles, Line 9.139 And the foweles that fleen forth with othere beestes, Line 9.140 Excepte oonliche of ech kynde a couple Line 9.141 That in thi shyngled ship shul ben ysaved.' Line 9.142 "Here aboughte the barn the belsires giltes, Line 9.143 And alle for hir forefadres thei ferden the werse.. Line 9.144 The Gospel is heragein in o degre, I fynde: Line 9.145 Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris et pater non portabit iniquitatem filii. Line 9.146 Ac I fynde, if the fader be fals and a sherewe, Line 9.147 That somdel the sone shal have the sires tacches. Line 9.148 Impe on an ellere, and if thyn appul be swete Line 9.149 Muchel merveille me thynketh; and moore of a sherewe Line 9.150 That bryngeth forth any barn, but if he be the same Line 9.151 And have a savour after the sire--selde sestow oother: Line 9.152 Numquam colligunt de spinis uvas nec de tribulis ficus. Line 9.152

Line 9.152 "And thus thorugh cursed Caym cam care upon erthe, Line 9.153 And al for thei wroghte wedlokes ayein [the wille of God]. Line 9.154 Forthi have thei maugre of hir mariages, that marie so hir children. Line 9.155 For some, as I se now, sooth for to telle, Line 9.156 For coveitise of catel unkyndely ben wedded. Line 9.157 As careful concepcion cometh of swiche mariages Line 9.158 As bit-el of the folk that I bifore of tolde. Line 9.159 For goode sholde wedde goode, though thei no good hadde; Line 9.160 "I am via et veritas,'' seith Crist, "I may avaunce alle.'' Line 9.161 "It is an uncomly couple. by Crist! as me thynketh-- Line 9.162 To yeven a yong wenche to an [y]olde feble, Line 9.163 Or wedden any wodewe for welthe of hir goodes Line 9.164 That nevere shal barn bere but if it be in armes! Line 9.165 In jelousie joyelees and janglynge on bedde, Line 9.166 Many a peire sithen the pestilence han plight hem togideres. Line 9.167 The fruyt that thei brynge forth arn.[manye] foule wordes; Line 9.168 Have thei no children but cheeste and chopp[es] hem bitwene. Line 9.169 Though thei do hem to Dunmowe, but if the devel helpe Line 9.170 To folwen after the flicche, fecche thei it nevere; Line 9.171 But thei bothe be forswore, that bacon thei tyne. Line 9.172 " Forthi I counseille alle Cristene coveite noght be wedded Line 9.173 For coveitise of catel ne of kynrede riche; Line 9.174 Ac maidenes and maydenes macche yow togideres; Line 9.175 Wideweres and wodewes, wercheth the same; Line 9.176 For no londes, but for love, loke ye be wedded, Line 9.177 And thanne gete ye the grace of God, and good ynough to live with. Line 9.178

Line 9.178 "And every maner seculer that may noght continue, Line 9.179 Wisely go wedde, and ware hym fro synne; Line 9.180 For lecherie in likynge is lymeyerd of helle. Line 9.181 Whiles thow art yong, and thi wepene kene, Line 9.182 Wreke thee with wyvyng, if thow wolt ben excused: Line 9.183 Dum sis vir fortis, ne des tua robora scortis. Line 9.183 Scribitur in poriis, meretrix est ianua mortis. Line 9.183 "Whan ye han wyved, beth war, and wercheth in tyme-- Line 9.184 Noght as Adam and Eve whan Caym was engendred. Line 9.185 For in untyme, trewely, bitwene man and womman Line 9.186 Ne sholde no [bedbourde] be: but if thei bothe were clene Line 9.187 Of lif and in [love of] soule, and in [lawe also], Line 9.188 That ilke derne dede do no man ne sholde. Line 9.189 Ac if thei leden thus hir lif, it liketh God almyghty, Line 9.190 For he made wedlok first and hymself it seide: Line 9.191 Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem. Line 9.192 "That othergates ben geten, for gedelynges arn holden, Line 9.193 And fals folk, fondlynges, faitours and lieres, Line 9.194 Ungracious to gete good or love of the peple; Line 9.195 Wandren and wasten what thei cacche mowe. Line 9.196 Ayeins Dowel thei doon yvel and the devel serve, Line 9.197 And after hir deeth day shul dwelle with the same Line 9.198 But God gyve hem grace here hemself to amende. Line 9.199

Line 9.199 "Dowel, my frend, is to doon as lawe techeth. Line 9.200 To love thi frend and thi foo--leve me, that is Dobet. Line 9.201 To yyven and to yemen bothe yonge and olde, Line 9.202 To helen and to helpen, is Dobest of alle. Line 9.203 "And thus Dowel is to drede God, and Dobet to suffre, Line 9.204 And so cometh Dobest of bothe, and bryngeth adoun the mody-- Line 9.205 And that is wikked wille that many werk shendeth, Line 9.206 And dryveth awey Dowel thorugh dedliche synnes.' Line 9.207