William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 14

"I have but oon hool hater,' quod Haukyn, "1 am the lasse to blame Line 14.001 Though it be soiled and selde clene--I slepe therinne o nyghtes; Line 14.002 And also I have an houswif, hewen and children-- Line 14.003 Uxorem duxi, et ideo non possum venire-- Line 14.003 That wollen bymolen it many tyme, maugree my chekes. Line 14.004

Line 14.004 It hath be laved in Lente and out of Lente bothe Line 14.005 With the sope of siknesse, that seketh wonder depe, Line 14.006 And with the losse of catel, that looth me w[ere] Line 14.007 For to agulte God or any good man, by aught that I wiste; Line 14.008 And was shryven of the preest, that [for my synnes gaf me] Line 14.009 To penaunce, pacience, and povere men to fede, Line 14.010 Al for coveitise of my Cristendom in clennesse to kepen it. Line 14.011 And kouthe I nevere, by Crist! kepen it clene an houre, Line 14.012 That I ne soiled it with sighte or som ydel speche, Line 14.013 Or thorugh werk or thorugh word, or wille of myn herte, Line 14.014 That I ne flobre it foule fro morwe til even.' Line 14.015 "And I shal kenne thee,' quod Conscience, "of Contricion to make Line 14.016 That shal clawe thi cote of alle kynnes filthe-- Line 14.017 Cordis contricio &c; Line 14.017 Dowel shal wasshen it and wryngen it thorugh a wis confessour-- Line 14.018 Oris confessio &c; Line 14.018 Dobet shal beten it and bouken it as bright as any scarlet, Line 14.019 And engreynen it with good wille and Goddes grace to amende the, Line 14.020 And sithen sende thee to Satisfaccion for to sonnen it after: Line 14.021 Satisfaccio. Line 14.021 "And Dobest kepe[th] clene from unkynde werkes. Line 14.022 Shal nevere my[te] bymolen it, ne mothe after biten it, Line 14.023 Ne fend ne fals man defoulen it in thi lyve. Line 14.024 Shal noon heraud ne harpour have a fairer garnement Line 14.025 Than Haukyn the Actif man, and thow do by my techyng, Line 14.026 Ne no mynstrall be moore worth amonges povere and riche Line 14.027 Than Haukyn wi[l] the wafrer, which is Activa Vita.' Line 14.028 "And I shal purveie thee paast,' quod Pacience, "though no plough erye, Line 14.029 And flour to fede folk with as best be for the soule; Line 14.030 Though nevere greyn growed, ne grape upon vyne, Line 14.031 Alle that lyveth and loketh liflode wolde I fynde, Line 14.032 And that ynogh--shal noon faille of thyng that hem nedeth. Line 14.033

Line 14.033 We sholde noght be to bisy abouten oure liflode: Line 14.034 Ne soliciti sitis &c; Volucres celi Deus pascit &c; Pacientes vincunt &c; Line 14.034 Thanne laughed Haukyn a litel, and lightly gan swerye, Line 14.035 "Whoso leveth yow, by Oure Lord, I leve noght he be blessed!' Line 14.036 "No?' quod Pacience paciently, and out of his poke hente Line 14.037 Vitailles of grete vertues for alle manere beestes, Line 14.038 And seide, " Lo! here liflode ynogh, if oure bileve be trewe. Line 14.039 For lent nevere was lif but liflode were shapen, Line 14.040 Wherof or wherfore or wherby to libbe. Line 14.041 " First the wilde worm under weet erthe, Line 14.042 Fissh to lyve in the flood, and in the fir the criket, Line 14.043 The corlew by kynde of the eyr, moost clennest flessh of briddes, Line 14.044 And bestes by gras and by greyn and by grene rootes, Line 14.045 In menynge that alle men myghte the same Line 14.046 Lyve thorugh leel bileve and love, as God witnesseth: Line 14.047 Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c; Et alibi, Non Line 14.047 in solo pane vivit homo, set in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore Dei;' Line 14.047 But I lokede what liflode it was that Pacience so preisede; Line 14.048 And thanne was it a pece of the Paternoster-- Fiat voluntas tua. Line 14.049 "Have, Haukyn,' quod Pacience, "and et this whan the hungreth, Line 14.050 Or whan thow clomsest for cold or clyngest for droughte; Line 14.051 And shul nevere gyves thee greve ne gret lordes wrathe, Line 14.052 Aison ne peyne--for pacientes vincunt. Line 14.053 By so that thow be sobre of sighte and of tonge, Line 14.054 In [ond]ynge and in handlynge and in alle thi fyve wittes, Line 14.055 Darstow nevere care for corn ne lynnen cloth ne wollen, Line 14.056 Ne for drynke, ne deeth drede, but deye as God liketh, Line 14.057 Or thorugh hunger or thorugh hete--at his wille be it. Line 14.058 For if thow lyvest after his loore, the shorter lif the bettre: Line 14.059 Si quis amat Christum mundum non diligit istum. Line 14.059

Line 14.059 "For thorugh his breeth beestes woxen and abrood yeden: Line 14.060 Dixit et facta sunt, &c. Line 14.060 Ergo thorugh his breeth mowen [bothe] men and beestes lyven, Line 14.061 As Holy Writ witnesseth whan men seye hir graces: Line 14.062 *Aperis tu manum tuam, et imples omne animal benediccione. Line 14.062 "It is founden that fourty wynter folk lyvede withouten tulying, Line 14.063 And out of the flynt sprong the flood that folk and beestes dronken; Line 14.064 And in Elyes tyme hevene was yclosed, Line 14.065 That no reyn ne roon--thus rede men in bokes, Line 14.066 That manye wyntres men lyveden and no mete ne tulieden. Line 14.067 "Sevene slepe, as seith the book, sevene hundred wynter, Line 14.068 And lyveden withouten lifiode--and at the laste thei woken. Line 14.069 And if men lyvede as mesure wolde, sholde nevere moore be defaute Line 14.070 Amonges Cristene creatures, if Cristes wordes ben trewe. Line 14.071 Ac unkyndenesse caristiam maketh amonges Cristen peple, Line 14.072 And over-plentee maketh pryde amonges poore and riche; Line 14.073 Ac mesure is so muche worth it may noght be to deere; Line 14.074 For the meschief and the meschaunce amonges men of Sodome Line 14.075 Weex thorugh plentee of payn and of pure sleuthe: Line 14.076 Ociositas et habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutrivit. Line 14.076 For thei mesured noght hemself of that thei ete and dronke, Line 14.077 Diden dedly synne that the devel liked, Line 14.078 Vengeaunce fil upon hem for hir vile synnes; Line 14.079 [So] thei sonken into helle, the citees echone. Line 14.080 " Forthi mesure we us wel and make oure feith oure sheltrom; Line 14.081 And thorugh feith cometh contricion, conscience woot wel, Line 14.082 Which dryveth awey dedly synne and dooth it to be venial. Line 14.083 And though a man myghte noght speke, contricion myghte hym save, Line 14.084

Line 14.084 And brynge his soule to blisse, by so that feith bere witnesse Line 14.085 That whiles he lyvede he bilevede in the loore of Holy Chirche. Line 14.086 Ergo contricion, feith and conscience is kyndeliche Dowel, Line 14.087 And surgiens for dedly synnes whan shrift of mouthe failleth. Line 14.088 Ac shrift of mouth moore worthi is, if man be ynliche contrit, Line 14.089 For shrift of mouthe sleeth synne be it never so dedly-- Line 14.090 Per confessionem to a preest peccata occiduntur-- Line 14.091 Ther contricion dooth but dryveth it doun into a venial synne, Line 14.092 As David seith in the Sauter, et quorum tecta sunt peccata. Line 14.093 Ac satisfaccion seketh out the roote, and bothe sleeth and voideth, Line 14.094 And as it nevere [n]adde ybe, to noghte bryngeth dedly synne, Line 14.095 That it nevere eft is sene ne soor, but semeth a wounde yheeled.' Line 14.096 "Where wonyeth Charite?' quod Haukyn. "I wiste nevere in my lyve Line 14.097 Man that with hym spak, as wide as I have passed.' Line 14.098 "Ther parfit truthe and poore herte is, and pacience of tonge-- Line 14.099 There is Chante the chief, chaumbrere for God hymselve.' Line 14.100 "Wheither paciente poverte,' quod Haukyn, "be moore plesaunt to Oure Dright Line 14.101 Than richesse rightfulliche wonne and resonably despended?' Line 14.102 " Ye--quis est ilie?' quod Pacience, " quik--laudabimus eum ! Line 14.103 Though men rede of richesse right to the worldes ende, Line 14.104 I wiste nevere renk that riche was, that whan he rekene sholde, Line 14.105 Whan he drogh to his deeth day, that he ne dredde hym soore, Line 14.106 And that at the rekenyng in arrerage fel, rather than out of dette. Line 14.107 Ther the poore dar plede, and preve by pure reson Line 14.108 To have allowaunce of his lord; by the lawe he it cleymeth: Line 14.109 Joye, that nevere joye hadde, of rightful jugge he asketh, Line 14.110 And seith, ""Lo! briddes and beestes, that no blisse ne knoweth, Line 14.111 And wilde wormes in wodes, thorugh wyntres thow hem grevest, Line 14.112 And makest hem wel neigh meke and mylde fer defaute, Line 14.113 And after thew sedet hem somer, that is hir soveyn joye, Line 14.114

Line 14.114 And blisse to alle that ben, bothe wilde and tame.' Line 14.115 "Thanne may boggeris, as beestes, after boote waiten, Line 14.116 That al hir lif han lyved in langour and in defaute. Line 14.117 But God sente hem som tyme som manere joye Line 14.118 Outher here or elliswhere, kynde wolde it nevere; Line 14.119 For to wrotherhele was he wroght that nevere was joye shapen! Line 14.120 "Aungeles that in helle now ben hadden joye som tyme, Line 14.121 And Dives in deyntees lyvede and in douce vie; Line 14.122 Right so reson sheweth that tho men that [riche were] Line 14.123 And hir makes also lyvede hir lif in murthe. Line 14.124 "Ac God is of a wonder wille, by that kynde wit sheweth, Line 14.125 To yyve many men his mercymonye er he it have deserved. Line 14.126 Right so fareth God by some riche: ruthe me it thynketh-- Line 14.127 For thei han hir hire heer, and hevene, as it were, Line 14.128 And greet likynge to lyve withouten labour of bodye, Line 14.129 And whan he dyeth, ben disalowed, as David seith in the Sauter: Line 14.130 Dormierunt et nichil in venerunt; et alibi, Velud sompnum surgencium, Line 14.130 Domine, in civitate tua, et ad nichilum rediges &c. Line 14.130 Allas, that richesse shal reve and robbe mannes soule Line 14.131 From the love of Oure Lord at his laste ende! Line 14.132 " Hewen that han hir hire afore arn everemoore nedy; Line 14.133 And selden deyeth he out of dette that dyneth er he deserve it Line 14.134 And til he have doon his devoir and his dayes journee. Line 14.135 For whan a werkman hath wroght, than may men se the sothe-- Line 14.136 What he were worthi for his werk, and what he hath deserved, Line 14.137 And noght to fonge bifore, for drede of disalowyng. Line 14.138 "So I seye by yow riche--it semeth noght that ye shulle Line 14.139 Have hevene in youre here-beyng and hevene therafter, Line 14.140

Line 14.140 Right as a servaunt taketh his salarie bifore, and siththe wolde clayme moore, Line 14.141 As he that noon hadde, and hath hire at the laste. Line 14.142 It may noght be, ye riche men, or Mathew on God lyeth: Line 14.143 De deliciis ad delicias aifficile est transire ! Line 14.143 "Ac if ye riche have ruthe, and rewarde wel the poore, Line 14.144 And lyven as lawe techeth, doon leaute to hem alle, Line 14.145 Crist of his curteisie shal conforte yow at the laste Line 14.146 And rewarden alle double richesse that rewful hertes habbeth. Line 14.147 And as an hyne that hadde his hire er he bigonne, Line 14.148 And whan he hath doon his devoir wel, men dooth hym oother bountee-- Line 14.149 Yyveth hym a cote above his covenaunt--right so Crist yyveth hevene Line 14.150 Bothe to riche and to noght riche that rewfulliche libbeth; Line 14.151 And alle that doon hir devoir wel han double hire for hir travaille-- Line 14.152 Here forgifnesse of hir synnes, and hevene blisse after. Line 14.153 "Ac it is but selde yseien, as by holy seintes bokes, Line 14.154 That God rewarded double reste to any riche wye. Line 14.155 For muche murthe is amonges riche, as in mete and clothyng, Line 14.156 And muche murthe in May is amonges wilde beestes, Line 14.157 And so forth while somer lasteth hir solace dureth. Line 14.158 Ac beggeris aboute Midsomer bredlees thei soupe, Line 14.159 And yet is wynter for hem worse, for weetshoed thei gauge, Line 14.160 Afurst soore and afyngred, and foule yrebuked Line 14.161 And arated of riche men, that ruthe is to here . . . Line 14.162 Now, Lord, sende hem somer, and som maner joye, Line 14.163 Hevene after hir hennes goyng, that here han swich defaute! Line 14.164 For alle myghtestow have maad noon mener than oother, Line 14.165 And yliche witty and wise, if thee wel hadde liked. Line 14.166 And have ruthe on thise riche men that rewarde noght thi prisoners; Line 14.167 Of the good that thow hem gyvest ingrati ben manye; Line 14.168 Ac God, of thi goodnesse, gyve hem grace to amende. Line 14.169 For may no derthe be hem deere, droghte ne weet, Line 14.170 Ne neither hete ne hayll, have thei hir heele; Line 14.171 Of that thei wilne and wolde wanteth hem noght here. Line 14.172 "Ac poore peple, thi prisoners, Lord, in the put of meschief-- Line 14.173

Line 14.173 Conforte tho creatures that muche care suffren Line 14.174 Thorugh derthe, thorugh droghte, alle hir dayes here, Line 14.175 Wo in wynter tymes for wantynge of clothes, Line 14.176 And in somer tyme selde soupen to the fulle; Line 14.177 Conforte thi carefulle, Crist, in thi riche-- Line 14.178 For how thow confortest alle creatures clerkes bereth witnesse: Line 14.179 Convertimini ad mi et salvi eritis. Line 14.179 "Thus in genere of gentries Jesu Crist seide Line 14.180 To robberis and to reveris, to riche and to poore, Line 14.181 To hores, to harlotes, to alle maner peple, Line 14.182 Thou taughtest hem in the Trinite to taken bapteme Line 14.183 And be clene thorugh that cristnyng of alle kynnes synne, Line 14.184 And if us fille thorugh folie to falle in synne after, Line 14.185 Confession and knowlichynge and cravynge thi mercy Line 14.186 Shulde amenden us as manye sithes as man wolde desire. Line 14.187 Ac if the pouke wolde plede herayein, and punysshe us in conscience, Line 14.188 We sholde take the acquitaunce as quyk and to the queed shewen it-- Line 14.189 Pateat &c: Per passionem Domini-- Line 14.189 And putten of so the pouke, and preven us under borwe. Line 14.190 Ac the parchemyn of this patente of poverte be moste, Line 14.191 And of pure pacience and parfit bileve. Line 14.192 Of pompe and of pride the parchemyn decourreth, Line 14.193 And principalliche of alle peple; but thei be poore of herte. Line 14.194 Ellis is al on ydel, al that evere we wr[ogh]ten-- Line 14.195 Paternostres and penaunce and pilgrimage to Rome, Line 14.196

Line 14.196 But oure spences and spendynge sprynge of a trewe welle; Line 14.197 Ellis is al oure labour lost--lo, how men writeth Line 14.198 ln fenestres at the freres!--if fals be the foundement. Line 14.199 Forthi Cristene sholde be in commune riche, noon coveitous for hymselve. Line 14.200 " For sevene synnes ther ben, that assaillen us evere; Line 14.201 The fend folweth hem alle and fondeth hem to helpe, Line 14.202 Ac with richesse tho ribaudes rathest men bigileth. Line 14.203 For ther that richesse regneth, reverences folweth, Line 14.204 And that is plesaunt to pride, in poore and in riche. Line 14.205 And the riche is reverenced by reson of his richesse Line 14.206 Ther the poore is put bihynde, and paraventure kan moore Line 14.207 Of wit and of wisdom, that fer awey is bettre Line 14.208 Than richesse or reautee, and rather yherd in hevene. Line 14.209 For the riche hath muche to rekene, and right softe walketh; Line 14.210 The heighe wey to heveneward ofte richesse letteth-- Line 14.211 Ita inpossibile diviti &c-- Line 14.211 Ther the poore preesseth bifore, with a pak at his rugge-- Line 14.212 Opera enim iilorum sequuntur illos-- Line 14.212 Batauntliche, as beggeris doon, and boldeliche he craveth Line 14.213 For his poverte and his pacience a perpetuel blisse: Line 14.214 Beati pauperes: quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum. Line 14.214 "And pride in richesse regneth rather than in poverte: Line 14.215 Or in the maister or in the man som mansion he haveth. Line 14.216 Ac in poverte ther pacience is, Pride hath no mygte, Line 14.217 Ne none of the sevene synnes sitten ne mowe ther longe, Line 14.218 Ne have power in poverte, if pacience it folwe. Line 14.219 For the poore is ay prest to plese the riche, Line 14.220

Line 14.220 And buxom at his biddyng for his broke loves; Line 14.221 And buxomnesse and boost ben everemoore at werre, Line 14.222 And either hateth oother in alle maner werkes. Line 14.223 If Wrathe wrastle with the poore he hath the worse ende, Line 14.224 For if thei bothe pleyne, the poore is but feble, Line 14.225 And if he chide or chatre, hym cheveth the worse, Line 14.226 For lowliche he loketh and lovelich is his speche Line 14.227 That mete or money of othere men moot asken. Line 14.228 "And if Glotonie greve poverte, he gadereth the lasse. Line 14.229 For his rentes wol naught reche no riche metes to bigge; Line 14.230 And though his glotonye be to good ale, he goth to cold beddyng, Line 14.231 And his heved unheled, unesiliche ywrye-- Line 14.232 For whan he streyneth hym to strecche, the strawe is his shetes. Line 14.233 So for his Glotome and his greete Sleuthe he hath a grevous penaunce, Line 14.234 That is welawo whan he waketh and wepeth for colde-- Line 14.235 And som tyme for his synnes--so he is nevere murie Line 14.236 Withoute mournynge amonge and meschief to bote. Line 14.237 "And though Coveitise wolde cacche the poore, thei may noght come togideres Line 14.238 And by the nekke, namely, hir noon may hente oother. Line 14.239 For men knowen wel that Coveitise is of a kene wille, Line 14.240 And hath hondes and armes of a long lengthe, Line 14.241 And Poverte nys but a petit thyng, apereth noght to his navele-- Line 14.242 And lovely layk was it nevere bitwene the longe and the shorte. Line 14.243 And though Avarice wolde angre the poore, he hath but litel myghte, Line 14.244 Fer Poverte hath but pokes to putten in hise goodes, Line 14.245

Line 14.245 Ther Avarice hath almaries and yren-bounden cofres. Line 14.246 And wheither be lighter to breke? Lasse boost it maketh-- Line 14.247 A beggeris baggethan an yren-bounde cofre ! Line 14.248 " Lecherie loveth hym noght, for he yyveth but litel silver, Line 14.249 Ne dooth hym noght dyne delicatly ne drynke wyn ofte. Line 14.250 A straw for the stuwes! lt stoode noght, I trowe, Line 14.251 Hadde thei noon [haunt] but of poore men--hir houses stoode untyled! Line 14.252 "And though Sleuthe suwe Poverte, and serve noght God to paie, Line 14.253 Meschief is his maister, and maketh hym to thynke Line 14.254 That God is his grettest help and no gorne ellis, Line 14.255 And he his servaunt, as he seith, and of his sute bothe. Line 14.256 And wheither he be or be noght, he bereth the signe of poverte, Line 14.257 And in that secte Oure Saveour saved al mankynde. Line 14.258 Forthi al poore that pacient is, may [asken and cleymen], Line 14.259 After hir endynge here, heveneriche blisse. Line 14.260 "Muche hardier may he asken, that here myghte have his wille Line 14.261 In lond and in lordshipe and likynge of bodie, Line 14.262 And for Goddes love leveth al and lyveth as a beggere. Line 14.263 And as a mayde for mannes love hire moder forsaketh, Line 14.264 Hir fader and alle hire frendes, and folweth hir make-- Line 14.265 Muche is that maide to love of [a man] that swich oon taketh, Line 14.266 Moore than a maiden is that is maried thorugh brocage, Line 14.267 As by assent of sondry parties and silver to boote, Line 14.268 Moore for coveitise of good than kynde love of bothe-- Line 14.269 So it fareth by ech a persone that possession forsaketh Line 14.270 And put hym to be pacient, and poverte weddeth, Line 14.271

Line 14.271 The which is sib to God hymself, and so neigh is poverte.' Line 14.272 "Have God-my trouthe,' quod Haukyn, "l here ye preise faste poverte. Line 14.273 What is poverte, Pacience,' quod he, "proprely to mene?' Line 14.274 " Paupertas.' quod Pacience, " est odibile bonum-- Line 14.275 Remocio curarum, possessio sine calumpnia, donum Dei, Line 14.275 sanitatis mater, absque sollicitudine semita, sapiencie Line 14.275 temperatrix, negocium sine dampno, incerta fortuna, Line 14.275 absque sollicitudine felicitas.' Line 14.275 "I kan noght construe al this,' quod Haukyn, "ye moste kenne me this on Englis Line 14.276 " In Englissh,' quod Pacience, "it is wel hard, wel to expounen, Line 14.277 Ac somdeel I shal seyen it, by so thow understonde. Line 14.278 Poverte is the firste point that Pride moost hateth; Line 14.279 Thanne is it good by good skile--al that agasteth pride. Line 14.280 Right as contricion is confortable thyng, conseience woot wel, Line 14.281 And a sorwe of hymself, and a solace to the soule, Line 14.282 So poverte propreliche penaunce [is to the body Line 14.283 And joye also to the soule], pure spiritual helthe, Line 14.284 And contricion confort, and cura animarum: Line 14.285 Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum. Line 14.285 "Selde sit poverte the sothe to declare, Line 14.286 Or as justice to jugge men enjoyned is no poore, Line 14.287 Ne to be mair above men, ne mynystre under kynges; Line 14.288

Line 14.288 Selde is any poore yput to punysshen any peple; Line 14.289 Remocio curarum. Line 14.289 Ergo poverte and poore men parfournen the comaundement-- Line 14.290

Line 14.290 Nolite iudicare quemquam. Line 14.290 "Selde is poore right riche but of rightful heritage: Line 14.291 Wynneth he noght with wightes false ne with unseled mesures, Line 14.292 Ne borweth of hise neighebores but that he may wel paie: Line 14.293 Possessio sine calumpnia. Line 14.293 "The ferthe is afor-tune that florissheth the soule Line 14.294 With sobretee fram alle synne and also yit moore; Line 14.295 It afaiteth the flessh fram folies ful manye-- Line 14.296 A collateral confort, Cristes owene yifte: Line 14.297 Donum Dei. Line 14.297 "The fifte is moder of [myght and of mannes] hele, Line 14.298 A frend in alle fondynges, [of foule yveles leche], Line 14.299 And for the lewde evere yliche a lemman of alle clennesse: Line 14.300 Sanitatis mater. Line 14.300 "The sixte is a path of pees--ye, thorugh the paas of Aulton Line 14.301 Poverte myghte passe withouten peril of robbyng! Line 14.302 For ther that Poverte passeth pees folweth after, Line 14.303 And ever the lasse that he [led]eth, the [light]er he is of herte-- Line 14.304 Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator-- Line 14.304 And an hardy man of herte among an heep of theves; Line 14.305 Forthi seith Seneca Paupertas est absque sollicitudine semita. Line 14.306 "The seventhe is welle of wisedorn and fewe wordes sheweth, Line 14.307 For lordes alloweth hym litel or listneth to his reson. Line 14.308 He tempreth the tonge to trutheward, that no tresor coveiteth: Line 14.309 Sapiencie temperatrix. Line 14.309 "The eightethe is a lele labour and looth to take moore Line 14.310

Line 14.310 Than he may [sothly] deserve, in somer or in wynter, Line 14.311 And if he chaffareth, he chargeth no losse mowe he charite wynne: Line 14.312 Negocium sine dampno. Line 14.312 "The nynthe is swete to the soule, no sugre is swetter; Line 14.313 For pacience is payn for poverte hymselve, Line 14.314 And sobretee swete drynke and good leche in siknesse. Line 14.315 Thus lered me a lered man for Oure Lordes love, Seint Austyn-- Line 14.316 A blessed lif withouten bisynesse for body and for soule: Line 14.317 Absque sollicitudine feiicitas. Line 14.317 Now God, that alle good gyveth, graunte his soule reste Line 14.318 That thus first wroot to wissen men what Poverte was to mene!' Line 14.319 "Allas,' quod Haukyn the Actif Man tho, "that after my cristendom Line 14.320 I ne hadde be deed and dolven for Dowelis sake! Line 14.321 So hard it is,' quod Haukyn, "to lyve and to do synne. Line 14.322 Synne seweth us evere,' quod he, and sory gan wexe, Line 14.323 And wepte water with hise eighen and weyled the tyme Line 14.324 That evere he dide dede that deere God displesed-- Line 14.325 Swouned and sobbed and siked ful ofte Line 14.326 That evere he hadde lond or lordshipe, lasse other moore, Line 14.327 Or maistrie over any man mo than of hymselve.. Line 14.328 " I were noght worthi, woot God,' quod Haukyn, " to werien any clothes, Line 14.329 Ne neither sherte ne shoon, save for shame one Line 14.330 To covere my careyne', quod he, and cride mercy faste, Line 14.331 And wepte and wailede--and therwith I awakede. Line 14.332