William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 10

Thanne hadde Wit a wif, was hote Dame Studie, Line 10.001 That lene was of lere and of liche bothe. Line 10.002 She was wonderly wroth that Wit me thus taughte, Line 10.003 And al staiynge Dame Studie sterneliche seide. Line 10.004 "Wel artow wis,' quod she to Wit, "any wisdomes to telle Line 10.005 To flatereres or to fooles that frenetike ben of wittes!'-- Line 10.006 And blamed hym and banned hym and bad hym be stille-- Line 10.007 "With swiche wise wordes to wissen any sottes!' Line 10.008 And seide, " Noti mittere, man, margery perles Line 10.009 Among hogges that han hawes at wille. Line 10.010 Thei doon but dryvele theron--draf were hem levere Line 10.011 Than al the precious perree that in paradis wexeth. Line 10.012 I seye it by swiche,' quod she, "that sheweth by hir werkes Line 10.013 That hem were levere lond and lordshipe on erthe, Line 10.014 Or richesse or rentes and reste at hir wille Line 10.015 Than alle the sooth sawes that Salamon seide evere. Line 10.016

Line 10.016 "Wisdom and wit now is noght worth a kerse Line 10.017 But if it be carded with coveitise as clotheres kemben hir wolle. Line 10.018 Whoso can contreve deceites and conspire wronges Line 10.019 And lede forth a loveday to lette with truthe-- . Line 10.020 That swiche craftes kan to counseil [are] cleped ; Line 10.021 Thei lede lordes with lesynges and bilieth truthe. Line 10.022 " Job the gentile in hise gestes witnesseth Line 10.023 That wikked men, thei welden the welthe of this worlde, Line 10.024 And that thei ben lordes of ech a lond, that out of lawe libbeth: Line 10.025 Quare impii vivunt ? bene est omnibus qui prevaricantur et inique agunt ? Line 10.025 "The Sauter seith the same by swiche that doon ille: Line 10.026 Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt divicias. Line 10.026 " Lo!' seith holy lettrure, " whiche lordes beth thise sherewes!' Line 10.027 Thilke that God moost gyveth, leest good thei deleth, Line 10.028 And moost unkynde to the commune, that moost catel weldeth: Line 10.029 Que perfecisti destruxerunt, iustus autem &c. Line 10.029 "Harlotes for hir harlotrie may have of hir goodes, Line 10.030 And japeris and jogelours and jangleris of gestes; Line 10.031 Ac he that hath Holy Writ ay in his mouthe Line 10.032 And kan telle of Tobye and of the twelve Apostles Line 10.033 Or prechen of the penaunce that Pilat wroghte Line 10.034 To Jesu the gentile, that Jewes todrowe-- Line 10.035 Litel is he loved that swich a lesson sheweth, Line 10.036 Or daunted or drawe forth--I do it on God hymselve! Line 10.037 "But thoo that feynen hem foolis and with faityng libbeth Line 10.038 Ayein the lawe of Oure Lord, and lyen on hemselve, Line 10.039 Spitten and spuen and speke foule wordes, Line 10.040 Drynken and drevelen and do men for to gape, Line 10.041 Likne men and lye on hem that leneth hem no yiftes-- Line 10.042 Thei konne na moore mynstralcie ne musik men to glade Line 10.043

Line 10.043 Than Munde the Millere of Multa fecit Deus. Line 10.044 Ne were hir vile harlotrye, have God my trouthe, Line 10.045 Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght ne canon of Seint Poules Line 10.046 Yyve hem to hir yeresyyve the value of a grote! Line 10.047 "Ac murthe and mynstralcie amonges men is nouthe Line 10.048 Lecherie, losengerye and losels tales-- Line 10.049 Glotonye and grete othes, this [game] they lovyeth. Line 10.050 "Ac if thei carpen of Crist, thise clerkes and thise lewed, Line 10.051 At mete in hir murthe whan mynstrals beth stille, Line 10.052 Thanne telleth thei of the Trinite [how two slowe the thridde], Line 10.053 And bryngen forth a balled reson, and taken Bernard to witnesse, Line 10.054 And puten forth a presumpcion to preve the sothe. Line 10.055 Thus thei dryvele at hir deys the deitee to knowe, Line 10.056 And gnawen God with the gorge whanne hir guttes fullen. Line 10.057 "Ac the carefu1le may crie and carpen at the yate, Line 10.058 Bothe afyngred and afurst, and for chele quake; Line 10.059 Is non to nyme hym neer his noy to amende, Line 10.060 But hun[s]en hym as an hound and hoten hym go thennes. Line 10.061 Litel loveth he that Lord that lent hym al that blisse, Line 10.062 That thus parteth with the povere a parcell whan hym nedeth ! Line 10.063 Ne were mercy in meene men moore than in riche, Line 10.064 Mendinaunts metelees myghte go to bedde. Line 10.065 God is muche in the gorge of thise grete maistres, Line 10.066 Ac amonges meene men his mercy and hise werkes. Line 10.067 And so seith the Sauter--I have seighen it [in Memento]: Line 10.068 * Ecce audivimus eam in Effrata; invenimus eam in campis silve. Line 10.068 Clerkes and othere kynnes men carpen of zgod faste, Line 10.069 And have hym muche in hire mouth, ac meene men in herte. Line 10.070

Line 10.070 " Freres and faitours han founde [up] swiche questions Line 10.071 To plese with proude men syn the pestilence tyme, Line 10.072 And prechen at Seint Poules, for pure envye of clerkes, Line 10.073 That folk is noght fermed in the feith, ne free of hire goodes, Line 10.074 Ne sory for hire synnes; so is pride woxen Line 10.075 In religion and in al the reme amonges riche and povere Line 10.076 That preieres have no power thise pestilences to lette. Line 10.077 For God is deef nowadayes and deyneth noght his eres to opene, Line 10.078 That girles for hire giltes he forgrynt hem alle. Line 10.079 And yet the wrecches of this world is noon ywar by oother, Line 10.080 Ne for drede of the deeth withdrawe noght hir pride, Line 10.081 Ne beth plentevouse to the povere as pure charite wolde, Line 10.082 But in gaynesse and glotonye forglutten hir good hemseIve, Line 10.083 And breketh noght to the beggere as the Book techeth: Line 10.084 Frange esurienti panem tuum &c. Line 10.084 And the moore he wynneth and welt welthes and richesse Line 10.085 And lordeth in ledes and londes, the lasse good he deleth. Line 10.086 " Tobye techeth yow noght so! Taketh hede, ye riche, Line 10.087 How the book Bible of hym bereth witnesse: Line 10.088 Si tibi sit copia, habundantur tribue; si autem exiguum,illud impertiri libente Line 10.089 Whoso hath muche, spende manliche--so meneth Tobye-- Line 10.090 And whoso litel weldeth, [loke] hym therafter, Line 10.090 For we have no lettre of oure lif, how longe it shal dure. Line 10.091

Line 10.091 Swiche lessons lordes sholde lovye to here, Line 10.092 And how he myghte moost meynee manliche fynde--- Line 10.093 Noght to fare as a fithelere or a frere for to seke festes, Line 10.094 Homliche at othere mennes houses, and hatien hir owene. Line 10.095 "Elenge is the halle, ech day in the wike, Line 10.096 Ther the lord ne the lady liketh noght to sitte. Line 10.097 Now hath ech riche a rule--to eten by hymselve Line 10.098 In a pryvee parlour for povere mennes sake, Line 10.099 Or in a chambre with a chymenee, and leve the chief ha1le Line 10.100 That was maad for meles, men to eten inne, Line 10.101 And al to spare to spille that spende shal another. Line 10.102 "I have yherd heighe men etyng at the table Line 10.103 Carpen as thei clerkes were of Crist and of hise myghtes, Line 10.104 And leyden fautes upon the fader that formede us alle, Line 10.105 And carpen ayein clerkes crabbede wordes: Line 10.106 " Why wolde Oure Saveour suffre swich a worm in his blisse, Line 10.107 That bi[w]iled the womman and the [wye] after, Line 10.108 Thorugh whiche wiles and wordes thei wente to helle, Line 10.109 And al hir seed for hir synne the same deeth suffrede? Line 10.110 " Here lyeth youre lore,' thise lordes gynneth dispute, Line 10.111 " Of that ye clerkes us kenneth of Crist by the Gospel: Line 10.112 Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c. Line 10.112 Why sholde we that now ben, for the werkes of Adam Line 10.113 Roten and torende? Reson wolde it nevere! Line 10.114 Unusquisque portabit onus suum &c.' Line 10.114 "Swiche motyves they meve, thise maistres in hir glorie, Line 10.115 And maken men in mysbileve that muse muche on hire wordes. Line 10.116 Ymaginatif herafterward shal answere to youre purpos. Line 10.117 "Austyn to swiche argueres, he telleth hem this teme: Line 10.118 Non plus sapere quam oport. Line 10.118 Wilneth nevere to wite why that God wolde Line 10.119

Line 10.119 Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile; Line 10.120 Ac bileveth lelly in the loore of Holy Chirche, Line 10.121 And preie hym of pardon and penaunce in thi lyve, Line 10.122 And for his muche mercy to amende yow here. Line 10.123 For alle that wilneth to wite the whyes of God almyghty, Line 10.124 I wolde his eighe were in his ers and his fynger after Line 10.125 That evere wilneth to wite why that God wolde Line 10.126 Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile, Line 10.127 Or Judas the Jew Jesu bitraye. Line 10.128 Al was as he wolde--Lord, yworshiped be thow-- Line 10.129 And al worth as thow wolt whatso we dispute. Line 10.130 "And tho that useth thise havylons to [a]blende mennes wittes Line 10.131 What is Dowel fro Dobet, now deef mote he worthe, Line 10.132 Siththe he wilneth to wite whiche thei ben alle. Line 10.133 But if he lyve in the lif that longeth to Dowel, Line 10.134 I dar ben his bolde borgh that Dobet wole he nevere, Line 10.135 Theigh Dobest drawe on hym day after oother.' Line 10.136 And whan that Wit was ywar what Dame Studie tolde, Line 10.137 He bicom so confus he kouthe noght loke, Line 10.138 And as doumb as a dore nail drough hym aside. Line 10.139 And for no carpyng I kouthe after, ne knelyng to the grounde, Line 10.140 I myghte gete no greyn of his grete wittes, Line 10.141 But al laughynge he louted and loked upon Studie Line 10.142 In signe that I sholde bisechen hire of grace. Line 10.143 And whan I was war of his wille, to his wif gan I loute, Line 10.144 And seide, " Mercy, madame; youre man shal I worthe Line 10.145 As longe as I lyve, bothe late and rathe, Line 10.146 For to werche youre wille the while my lif dureth, Line 10.147 With that ye kenne me kyndely to knowe what is Dowel.' Line 10.148 " For thi mekenesse, man,' quod she, "and for thi mylde speche, Line 10.149 I shal kenne thee to my cosyn that Clergie is hoten. Line 10.150 He hath wedded a wif withinne thise sixe monthes, Line 10.151 Is sib to the sevene arts--Scripture is hir name. Line 10.152 They two, as I hope, after my techyng, Line 10.153

Line 10.153 Shullen wissen thee to Dowel, I dar wel undertake.' Line 10.154 Thanne was I as fayn as fowel of fair morwe, Line 10.155 Gladder than the gleman that gold hath to yifte, Line 10.156 And asked hire the heighe wey where that Clergie dwelte, Line 10.157 "And tel me som tokene,' quod I, "for tyme is that I wende.' Line 10.158 "Aske the heighe wey,' quod she, -hennes to Suffre- Line 10.159 Bothe-wele-and-wo, if that thow wolt lerne; Line 10.160 And ryd forth by richesse, ac rest thow noght therinne, Line 10.161 For if thow couplest thee therwith to Clergie comestow nevere. Line 10.162 "And also the likerouse launde that Lecherie hatte-- Line 10.163 Leve hym on thi left half a large myle or moore, Line 10.164 Til thow come to a court, Kepe-wel-thi-tunge- Line 10.165 Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche-and-likerouse-drynkes. Line 10.166 Thanne shaltow se Sobretee and Sympletee-of-speche, Line 10.167 That ech wight be in wille his wit thee to shewe; Line 10.168 And thus shaltow come to Clergie, that kan manye thynges. Line 10.169 "Seye hym this signe: I sette hym to scole, Line 10.170 And that I grete wel his wif, for I wroot hire [the bible], Line 10.171 And sette hire to Sapience and to the Sauter glosed. Line 10.172 Logyk I lerned hire, and [al the Lawe after], Line 10.173 And alle the musons in Musik I made hire to knowe. Line 10.174 "Plato the poete, I putte hym first to boke; Line 10.175 Aristotle and othere mo to argue I taughte. Line 10.176 Grammer for girles I garte first write, Line 10.177 And bette hem with a baleys but if thei wolde lerne. Line 10.178 Of alle kynne craftes I contreved tooles-- Line 10.179 Of carpentrie, of kerveres, and compased masons, Line 10.180 And lerned hem level and lyne, though I loke dymme. Line 10.181

Line 10.181 "Ac Theologie hath tened me ten score tymes: Line 10.182 The moore I muse therinne, the myst[lok]er it semeth, Line 10.183 And the depper I devyne, the derker me it thynketh. Line 10.184 lt is no science, forsothe, for to sotile inne. Line 10.185 [If that love nere, that lith therinne, a ful lethi thyng it were]; Line 10.186 Ac for it let best by love, I love it the bettre, Line 10.187 For there that love is ledere, ne lakked nevere grace. Line 10.188 Loke thow love lelly, if thee liketh Dowel, Line 10.189 For Dobet and Dobest ben of loves k[e]nn[yng]. Line 10.190 "In oother seience it seith--I seigh it in Catoun-- Line 10.191 Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus, Line 10.191 Tu quoque fac simile; sic ars deluditur arte: Line 10.191 Whoso gloseth as gylours doon, go me to the same, Line 10.192 And so shaltow fals folk and feithlees bigile-- Line 10.193 This is Catons kennyng to clerkes that he lereth. Line 10.194 Ac Theologie techeth noght so, whoso taketh yeme; Line 10.195 He kenneth us the contrarie ayein Catons wordes, Line 10.196 For he biddeth us be as bretheren, and bidde for oure enemys, Line 10.197 And loven hem that lyen on us, and lene hem whan hem nedeth, Line 10.198 And to do good agein yvel--God hymself hoteth: Line 10.199 Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes, Line 10.199 maxime autem ad domesticos fidei. Line 10.199 "Poul preched the peple, that parfitnesse lovede, Line 10.200 To do good for Goddes love and gywen den that asked, Line 10.201 And [sovereyn]ly to swiche that suwen oure bileve, Line 10.202 And alle that lakketh us or lyeth us, Oure Lord techeth us to lovye, Line 10.203

Line 10.203 And noght to greven hem that greveth us--God hymself forbad it: Line 10.204 Michi vindictam et ego retribuam. Line 10.204 Forthi loke thow lovye as longe as thow durest, Line 10.205 For is no science under sonne so sovereyn for the soule. Line 10.206 "Ac Astronomye is hard thyng, and yvel for to knowe: Line 10.207 Geometry and Geomesie is gynful of speche; Line 10.208 Whoso thynketh werche with tho t[hre] thryveth ful late-- Line 10.209 For sorcerie is the sovereyn book that to the science bilongeth. Line 10.210 " Yet ar ther fibicches in forceres of fele mennes makynge, Line 10.211 Experiments of Alkenamye the peple to deceyve; Line 10.212 If thow thynke to dowel, deel therwith nevere! Line 10.213 Alle thise sciences I myself sotilede and ordeynede, Line 10.214 And founded hem formest folk to deceyve. Line 10.215 "Tel Clergie thise tokenes, and to Scripture after, Line 10.216 To counseille thee kyndely to knowe what is Dowel.' Line 10.217 I seide, " Graunt mercy, madame,' and mekely hir grette, Line 10.218 And wente wightly my wey withoute moore lettyng-- Line 10.219 And til I com to Clergie I koude nevere stynte. Line 10.220 I grette the goode man as the goode wif me taughte, Line 10.221 And afterwardes the wif, and worshiped hem bothe, Line 10.222 And tolde hem the tokenes that me taught were. Line 10.223 Was nevere gome upon this ground, sith God made the worlde, Line 10.224 Fairer underfongen ne frendloker at ese Line 10.225 Than myself, soothly, soone so he wiste Line 10.226 That I was of Wittes hous and with his wif Dame Studie. Line 10.227 I seide to hem soothly that sent was I thider Line 10.228 Dowel and I and Dobt to leme. Line 10.229 "It is a commune lyf,' quod Mergie, "on Holy Chirche to bileve, Line 10.230

Line 10.230 With alle the articles of the feith that falleth to be knowe: Line 10.231 And that is to bileve lelly, bothe lered and lewed, Line 10.232 On the grete God that gynnyng hadde nevere, Line 10.233 And on the soothfast Sone that saved mankynde Line 10.234 Fro the dedly deeth and the develes power Line 10.235 Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost, the which goost is of bothe-- Line 10.236 Thre propre persones, ac noght in plurel nombre, Line 10.237 For al is but oon God and ech is God hymselve: Line 10.238 Deus Pater, Deus Filius, Deus Spiritus Sanctus-- Line 10.238 God the Fader, God the Sone, God Holy Goost of bothe, Line 10.239 Maker of mankynde and of [animal]es bothe. Line 10.240 "Austyn the olde herof made bokes, Line 10.241 And hymself ordeyned to sadde us in bileve. Line 10.242 Who was his auctour? Alle the foure Evaungelistes; Line 10.243 And Crist cleped hymself so, the [same] bereth witnesse: Line 10.244 Ego in patre et pater in me est, et qui videt me Line 10.244 videt et patrem meum. Line 10.244 "Alle the clerkes under Crist ne koude this assoille, Line 10.245 But thus it bilongeth to bileve to lewed that willen dowel. Line 10.246 For hadde nevere freke fyn wit the feith to dispute, Line 10.247 Ne man hadde no merite, myghte it ben ypreved: Line 10.248 fides non habet meritum ubi humana racio prebet experimentum. Line 10.248 "[Siththen] is Dobet to suffre for thi soules helthe Line 10.249 Al that the Book bit bi Holi Cherches techyng-- Line 10.250 And that is, man, bi thy myght, for mercies sake, Line 10.251 Loke thow werche it in werk that thi word sheweth; Line 10.252 Swich as thow semest in sighte be in assay yfounde: Line 10.253 Appare quod es vel esto quod appares. Line 10.253

Line 10.253 And lat no body be by thi beryng bigiled, Line 10.254 But be swich in thi soule as thow semest withoute. Line 10.255 "Thanne is Dobest to be boold to blame the gilty, Line 10.256 Sythenes thow seest thiself as in souIe clene; Line 10.257 Ac blame thow nevere body and thow be blameworthy: Line 10.258 Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cavebis, Line 10.258 Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet. Line 10.258 God in the Gospel grymly repreveth Line 10.259 Alle that lakketh any lif and lakkes han hemselve: Line 10.260 Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui, trabem in Line 10.260 oculo tuo, &c. Line 10.260 Why mevestow thi mood for a mote in thi brotheres eighe, Line 10.261 Sithen a beem in thyn owene ablyndeth thiselve? Line 10.262 Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo, &c. Line 10.262 Which letteth thee to loke, lasse outher moore? Line 10.263 " I rede ech a blynd bosard do boote to hymselve-- Line 10.264 As persons and parissh preestes, that preche sholde and teche Line 10.265 Alle maner men to amenden, bi hire myghte. Line 10.266 This text was told yow to ben war, er ye taughte, Line 10.267 That ye were swiche as ye seyde to salve with othere. Line 10.268 For Goddes word wolde noght be lost--for that wercheth evere; Line 10.269 If it availled noght the commune, it myghte availle yowselve. Line 10.270 "Ac it semeth now soothly, to [sighte of the worlde], Line 10.271 That Goddes word wercheth no [wi]ght on lered ne on lewed Line 10.272 But in swich a manere as Marc meneth in the Gospel: Line 10.273 Dum cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foveam cadunt. Line 10.273 "Lewed men rnay likne yow thus--that the beem lith in youre eighen, Line 10.274 And the festu is fallen, for youre defaute, Line 10.275

Line 10.275 In alle manere men thorugh mansede preestes. Line 10.276 The Bible bereth witnesse that alle the [barnes] of Israel Line 10.277 Bittre aboughte the giltes of two badde preestes, Line 10.278 Offyn and Fynes--for hir coveitise Line 10.279 Archa Dei myshapped and Ely brak his nekke. Line 10.280 " Forthi, ye correctours, claweth heron, and correcteth first yowselve, Line 10.281 And thanne mowe ye manliche seye, as David made the Sauter: Line 10.282 Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis: Arguam te, et statuam contra faciem t Line 10.283 "And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed to blame yow or to greve, Line 10.284 And carpen noght as thei carpe now, and calle yow doumbe hounoes-- Line 10.285 Canes non valentes latrare-- Line 10.285 And drede to wrathe yow in any word, youre werkmanshipe to lette, Line 10.286 And be prester at youre preiere than for a pound of nobles. Line 10.287 And al for youre holynesse--have ye this in herte. Line 10.288 "Amonges rightful religious this rule sholde be holde. Line 10.289 Gregorie, the grete clerk and the goode pope, Line 10.290 Of religioun the rule reherseth in his Morales Line 10.291 And seith it in ensample for thei sholde do therafter: Line 10.292 " Whan fisshes faillen the flood or the fresshe water, Line 10.293 Thei deyen for droughte, whan thei drie ligge; Line 10.294 Right so religion ro[i]leth [and] sterveth Line 10.295

Line 10.295 That out of covent and cloistre coveiten to libbe.'' Line 10.296 For if hevene be on this erthe, and ese to any soule, Line 10.297 It is in cloistre or in scole, by manye skiles I fynde. Line 10.298 For in cloistre cometh no man to chide ne to fighte, Line 10.299 But al is buxomnesse there and bokes, to rede and to lerne. Line 10.300 "In scole there is scorn but if a clerk wol lerne, Line 10.301 And gret love and likyng, for ech of hem l[er]eth oother. Line 10.302 Ac now is Religion a rydere, a romere by stretes, Line 10.303 A ledere of lovedayes and a lond buggere, Line 10.304 A prikere on a palfrey fro manere to manere, Line 10.305 An heep of houndes at his ers as he a lord were; Line 10.306 And but if his knave knele that shal his coppe brynge, Line 10.307 He loureth on hym and asketh hym who taughte hym curteisie? Line 10.308 Litel hadde lordes to doon to yyve lond from hire heires Line 10.309 To religious that han no routhe though it reyne on hir auters. Line 10.310 "In many places ther thei persons ben, by hemself at ese, Line 10.311 Of the povere have thei no pite--and that is hir pure charite, Line 10.312 Ac thei leten hem as lordes, hir lond lith so brode. Line 10.313 "Ac ther shal come a kyng and confesse yow religiouses, Line 10.314 And bete yow, as the Bible telleth, for brekynge of youre rule, Line 10.315 And amende monyals, monkes and chanons, Line 10.316 And puten hem to hir penaunce--Ad pristinum statum ire, Line 10.317 And barons with erles beten hem, thorugh Beatus virres techyng, Line 10.318 [Biyeten] that hir barnes clayrnen, and blame yow foule: Line 10.319 Hii in curribus et hii in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c. Line 10.319

Line 10.319 "And thanne freres in hir fraytour shul fynden a keye Line 10.320 Of Costantyns cofres, in which [the catel is] Line 10.321 That Gregories godchildren [g]an yvele despende. Line 10.322 "And thanne shal the Abbot of Abyngdoun and al his issue for evere Line 10.323 Have a knok of a kyng, and incurable the wounde. Line 10.324 That this worth sooth, seke ye that ofte overse the Bible: Line 10.325 Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievit tributum? Contrivit Dominus Line 10.325 baculum impiorum, et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili. Line 10.325 "Ac er that kyng come Caym shal awake, Line 10.326 Ac Dowel shal dyngen hym adoun and destruye his myghte.' Line 10.327 "Thanne is Dowel and Dobet,' quod I, "dominus and knyghthode?' Line 10.328 " I nel noght scorne,' quod Scripture; " but if scryveynes lye, Line 10.329 Kynghod ne knyghthod, by noght I kan awayte, Line 10.330 Helpeth noght to heveneward oone heeris ende, Line 10.331 Ne richesse right noght, ne reautee of lordes. Line 10.332 " Poul preveth it impossible--riche men to have hevene. Line 10.333 Salamon seith also that silver is worst to lovye: Line 10.334 Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam: Line 10.334 And Caton kenneth us to coveiten it naught but as nede techeth: Line 10.335 Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam. Line 10.335 And patriarkes and prophetes and poetes bothe Line 10.336 Writen to wissen us to wilne no richesse, Line 10.337 And preiseden poverte with pacience; the Apostles bereth witnesse Line 10.338 That thei han eritage in hevene--and by trewe righte, Line 10.339 Ther riche men no right may cleyme, but of ruthe and grace.' Line 10.340 " Contra,' quod I, " by Crist! That kan I repreve, Line 10.341 And preven it by Peter and by Poul bothe: Line 10.342 That is baptized beth saaf, be he riche or povere.' Line 10.343 "That is in extremis,' quod Scripture, " amonges Sarsens and Jewes-- Line 10.344 They mowen be saved so, and [so] is oure bileve: Line 10.345 That an uncristene in that caas may cristen an hethen, Line 10.346 And for his lele bileve, whan he the lif tyneth, Line 10.347 Have the heritage of hevene as any man Cristene. Line 10.348 "Ac Cristene men withoute moore maye noght come to hevene, Line 10.349

Line 10.349 For that Crist for Cristene men deide, and confermed the lawe Line 10.350 That whoso wolde and wilneth with Crist to arise-- Line 10.351 Si cum Christo surrexistis &c-- Line 10.351 He sholde lovye and lene and the lawe fulfille. Line 10.352 That is, love thi Lord God levest aboven alle, Line 10.353 And after, alle Cristene creatures in commune, ech man oother; Line 10.354 And thus bilongeth to lovye, that leveth to be saved. Line 10.355 And but we do thus in dede er the day of dome, Line 10.356 It shal bisitten us ful soure, the silver that we kepen, Line 10.357 And oure bakkes that mothe-eten be, and seen beggeris go naked, Line 10.358 Or delit in wyn and wildefowel, and wite any in defaute. Line 10.359 For every Cristene creature sholde be kynde til oother, Line 10.360 And sithen hethen to helpe in hope of amendement. Line 10.361 -God hoteth heighe and lowe that no man hurte oother, Line 10.362 And seith, "Slee noght that semblable is to myn owene liknesse, Line 10.363 But if I sende thee som tokene,' and seith " Non mecaberis-- Line 10.364 Is slee noght but suffre, and al[so] for the beste, Line 10.365 For Michi vindictam et ego retribuam. Line 10.366 ""For I shal punysshe in purgatorie or in the put of helle Line 10.367 Ech man for hise mysdedes, but mercy it lette.' Line 10.368 " This is a long lesson.' quod I, " and litel am I the wiser! Line 10.369 Where Dowel is or Dobet derkliche ye shewen. Line 10.370 Manye tales ye tellen that Theologie lerneth, Line 10.371 And that I man maad was, and my name yentred Line 10.372 In the legende of lif longe er I were, Line 10.373 Or ellis unwriten for som wikkednesse, as Holy Writ witnesseth: Line 10.374 Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit. Line 10.374 "And I leve it wel, by Oure Lord and on no lettrure bettre. Line 10.375 For Salomon the Sage that Sapienee [made] Line 10.376

Line 10.376 God gaf hym grace of wit and alle goodes after Line 10.377 To rule the reume and riche to make; Line 10.378 He demed wel and wisely, as Holy Writ telleth. Line 10.379 Aristotle and he--who wissed men bettre? Line 10.380 Maistres that of Goddes mercy techen men and prechen, Line 10.381 Of hir wordes thei wissen us for wisest as in hir tyme-- Line 10.382 And al Holy Chirche holdeth hem bothe [in helle]! Line 10.383 And if I sholde werche by hir werkes to wynne me hevene, Line 10.384 That for hir werkes and wit now wonyeth in pyne-- Line 10.385 Thanne wroughte I unwisly. whatsoevere ye preche! Line 10.386 "Ac of fele witty, in feith, litel ferly I have Line 10.387 Though hir goost be ungracious God for to plese. Line 10.388 For many men on this moolde moore setten hir herte Line 10.389 In good than in God--forthi hem grace failleth Line 10.390 At hir mooste mesehief, whan [men] shal lif lete, Line 10.391 As Salamon dide and swiche othere, that shewed grete wittes, Line 10.392 Ac hir werkes, as Holy Writ seith, was evere the contrarie. Line 10.393 Forthi wise witted men and wel ylettred clerkes Line 10.394 As thei seyen hemself selde doon therafter: Line 10.395 Super cathedram Moysi &c. Line 10.395 "Ac I wene it worth of manye as was in Noes tyme Line 10.396 Tho he shoop that ship of shides and of bordes: Line 10.397 Was nevere wrighte saved that wroghte theron, ne oother werkman ellis, Line 10.398 But briddes and beestes and the blissed Noe Line 10.399 And his wif with hise sones and also hire wyves: Line 10.400 Of wrightes that it wroghte was noon of hem ysaved. Line 10.401 "God lene it fare noght so bi folk that the feith techeth Line 10.402 Of Holi Chirche, that herberwe is and Goddes hous to save Line 10.403 And shilden us from shame therinne, as Noes ship dide beestes. Line 10.404 And men that maden it amydde the flood adreynten. Line 10.405 The culorum of this clause curatours is to mene, Line 10.406 That ben carpenters Holy Kirk to rnake for Cristes owene beestes: Line 10.407 Homines et iumenta salvabis, Domine, &c. Line 10.407

Line 10.407 At domesday the deluvye worth of deth and fir at ones; Line 10.408 Forthi I counseille yow clerkes, of Holy [Kirke] the wrightes, Line 10.409 Wercheth ye werkes as ye sen ywrite, lest ye worthe noght therinne! Line 10.410 "On Good Friday, I fynde, a felon was ysaved Line 10.411 That hadde lyved al his lif with lesynges and with thefte; Line 10.412 And for he beknew on the cros and to Crist shrof hym, Line 10.413 He was sonner ysaved than Seint Johan the Baptist Line 10.414 And or Adam or Ysaye or any of the prophetes, Line 10.415 That hadde yleyen with Lucifer many longe yeres. Line 10.416 A robbere was yraunsoned rather than thei alle Line 10.417 Withouten penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse. Line 10.418 " Than Marie Maudeleyne wh[o myghte do] werse? Line 10.419 Or who worse dide than David, that Uries deeth conspired? Line 10.420 Or Poul the Apostle that no pite hadde Line 10.421 Cristene kynde to kille to dethe? Line 10.422 And now ben thise as sovereyns with seintes in hevene-- Line 10.423 Tho that wroughte wikkedlokest in world tho thei were; Line 10.424 And tho that wisely wordeden and writen manye bokes Line 10.425 Of wit and of wisedom, with dampned soules wonye. Line 10.426 - That Salomon seith I trowe be sooth and certein of us alle: Line 10.427 Sunt iusti atque sapientes, et opera eorum in manu Dei sunt, &c. Line 10.427 Ther are witty and wel libbynge, ac hire werkes ben yhudde Line 10.428 In the hondes of almyghty God, and he woot the sothe-- Line 10.429 Wher for love a man worth allowed there and hise lele werkes, Line 10.430 Or ellis for his yvel wille and envye of herte, Line 10.431 And be allowed as he lyved so, for by luthere men knoweth the goode Line 10.432 "And wherby wiste men which is whit, if alle thyng blak were, Line 10.433

Line 10.433 And who were a good man but if ther were som sherewe? Line 10.434 Forthi lyve we forth with lithere men--I leve fewe ben goode-- Line 10.435 For "quant OPOR TET vient en place il ny ad que PA TI,' Line 10.436 And he that may al amende, have mercy on us alle! Line 10.437 For sothest word that ever God seide was tho he seide Nemo bonus. Line 10.438 "[And yet have I forgete ferther of fyve wittes techyng Line 10.439 That] Clergie of Cristes mouth comended was it [nevere]; Line 10.440 For he seide to Seint Peter and to swiche as he lovede, Line 10.441 " Dum steteritis ante reges et presides &c. Line 10.441 Though ye come bifore kynges and clerkes of the lawe, Line 10.442 Beth noght abasshed, for I shal be in youre mouthes, Line 10.443 And yyve yow wit at wille [with] konnyng to conclude hem Line 10.444 Alle that ayeins yow of Cristendom disputen.' Line 10.445 "David maketh mencion, he spak amonges kynges, Line 10.446 And myghte no kyng overcomen hym as by konnynge of speche. Line 10.447 But wit ne wisedom wan nevere the maistrie Line 10.448 When man was at meschief withoute the moore grace. Line 10.449 "The doughtieste doctour and devinour of the Trinitee, Line 10.450 Was Austyn the olde, and heighest of the foure, Line 10.451 Seide thus in a sermon--I seigh it writen ones-- Line 10.452 " Ecce ipsi idiote rapiunt celum ubi nos sapientes in inbferno mergimur' Line 10.452 And is to mene to Englissh men, moore ne lesse, Line 10.453 Arn none rather yravysshed fro the righte bileve Line 10.454 Than an thise konnynge clerkes that konne manye bokes, Line 10.455 Ne none sonner saved, ne sadder of bileve Line 10.456 Than plowmen and pastours and povere commune laborers, Line 10.457 Souteres and shepherdes--swiche lewed juttes Line 10.458 Perce with a Paternoster the paleys of hevene Line 10.459

Line 10.459 And passen purgatorie penauncelees at hir hennes partyng Line 10.460 Into the blisse of paradis for hir pure bileve, Line 10.461 That inparfitly here knewe and ek lyvede. Line 10.462 " Ye, men knowe clerkes that han corsed the tyme Line 10.463 That evere thei kouthe or knewe moore than Credo in Deum patrem Line 10.464 And principally hir paternoster--many a persone hath wisshed. Line 10.465 "I se ensamples myself and so may manye othere, Line 10.466 That servaunts that serven lordes selde fallen in arerage Line 10.467 But tho that kepen the lordes catel--clerkes and reves. Line 10.468 Right so lewed men and of litel knowyng, Line 10.469 Selden falle thei so foule and so fer in synne Line 10.470 As clerkes of Holy Kirke that kepen Cristes tresor-- Line 10.471 The which is mannes soule to save, as God seith in the Gospel: Line 10.472 ""Ite vos in vineam meam.''' Line 10.473