Passus 15
Ac after my wakynge it was wonder longe
15.001
Er I koude kyndely knowe what was Dowel.
15.002
And so my wit weex and wanyed til I a fool weere;
15.003
And some lakked my lif--allowed it fewe--
15.004
And leten me for a lorel and looth to reverencen
15.005
Lordes or ladies or any lif ellis--
15.006
As persons in pelure with pendaunts of silver;
15.007
To sergeaunts ne to swiche seide noght ones,
15.008
" God loke yow, lordes!'--ne loutede faire,
15.009
That folk helden me a fool; and in that folie I raved,
15.010
Til reson hadde ruthe on me and rokked me aslepe,
15.011
Til I seigh, as it sorcerie were, a sotil thyng withalle--
15.012
Oon withouten tonge and teeth, tolde me whider I sholde
15.013
And wherof I cam and of what kynde. I conjured hym at the laste,
15.014
If he were Cristes creature for Cristes love me to tellen.
15.015
" I am Cristes creature,' quod he, "and Cristene in many a place,
15.016
In Cristes court yknowe wel, and of his kyn a party.
15.017
Is neither Peter the Porter, ne Poul with the fauchon,
15.018
That wole defende me the dore, dynge I never so late.
15.019
At mydnyght, at mydday, my vois is so yknowe
15.020
That ech a creature of his court welcometh me faire.'
15.021
"What are ye called?' quod I, "in that court among Cristes peple?'
15.022
"The whiles I quykne the cors,' quod he, "called am I Anima;
15.023
And whan I wilne and wolde, Animus ich hatte;
15.024
And for that I kan and knowe, called am I Mens;
15.025
And whan I make mone to God, Memoria is my name;
15.026
And whan I deme domes and do as truthe techeth,
15.027
Thanne is Racio my righte name--""reson'" on Englissh;
15.028
And whan I feele that folk telleth, my firste name is Sensus--
15.029
And that is wit and wisdom, the welle of alle craftes;
15.030
And whan I chalange or chalange noght, chepe or refuse, Page 177
15.031
Thanne am I Conseience ycalled, Goddes clerk and his notarie;
15.032
And whan I love leelly Oure Lord and alle othere,
15.033
Thanne is ""lele Love'' my name, and in Latyn Amor;
15.034
And whan I flee fro the flessh and forsake the careyne,
15.035
Thanne am I spirit spechelees--and Spiritus thanne ich hatte.
15.036
Austyn and Ysodorus, either of hem bothe
15.037
Nempnede me thus to name--now thow myght chese
15.038
How thow coveitest to calle me, now thow knowest alle my names.
15.039
Anima pro diversis accionibus diversa nomina sortitur: dum
15.039
vivificat corpus, anima est; dum vult, animus est; dum seit,
15.039
mens est; dum recoIit, memoria est; dum iudicat, racio est;
15.039
dum sentit, sensus est; dum amat, Amor est ; dum negat vel
15.039
consentit, consciencia est; dum spirat, spiritus est.'
15.039
"Ye ben as a bisshop,' quod I, al bourdynge that tyme,
15.040
" For bisshopes yblessed, thei bereth manye names--
15.041
Presul and Pontifex and Metropolitanus,
15.042
And othere names an heep, Episcopus and Pastor.'
15.043
"That is sooth,' seide he, "now I se thi wille!
15.044
Thow woldest knowe and konne the cause of alle hire names,
15.045
And of myne, if thow myghtest, me thynketh by thi speche!'
15.046
" Ye, sire,' I seide, "by so no man were greved,
15.047
Alle the sciences under sonne and alle the sotile craftes
15.048
I wolde I knewe and kouthe kyndely in myn herte!"
15.049
"Thanne artow inparfit,' quod he, "and oon of Prides knyghtes!
15.050
For swich a lust and likyng Lucifer fel from hevene:
15.051
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone et simiiis ero Altissimo.
15.051
"It were ayeins kynde,' quod he, "and alle kynnes reson
15.052
That any creature sholde konne al, except Crist oone.
15.053
Ayein swiche Salomon speketh, and despiseth hir wittes,
15.054
And seith, Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum,
15.055
Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria.
15.055
"To Englisshe men this is to mene, that mowen speke and here, Page 178
15.056
The man that muche hony eteth his mawe it engleymeth,
15.057
And the moore that a man of good matere hereth,
15.058
But he do therafter it dooth hym doubie scathe.
15.059
"" Beatus est,' seith Seint Bernard, "" qui scripturas iegit
15.060
Et verba vertit in opera fulliche to his power."
15.061
Coveitise to konne and to knowe science
15.062
Putte out of Paridis Adam and Eve:
15.063
Sciencic appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliavit.
15.063
"And right as hony is yvel to defie and engleymeth the mawe,
15.064
Right so that thorugh reson wolde the roote knowe
15.065
Of God and of hise grete myghtes--hise graces it letteth.
15.066
For in the likynge lith a pride and licames coveitise
15.067
Ayein Cristes counseil and alle clerkes techynge--
15.068
That is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.
15.069
" Freres and fele othere maistres that to the lewed men prechen,
15.070
Ye moeven materes unmesurable to tellen of the Trinite,
15.071
That oftetymes the lewed peple of hir bileve doute.
15.072
Bettre it were by many doctours to bileven swich techyng
15.073
And tellen men of the ten comaundements, and touchen the sevene synnes,
15.074
And of the braunches that burjoneth of hem and bryngen men to helle,
15.075
And how that folk in folies mysspenden hir fyve wittes--
15.076
As wel freres as oother folk, foliliche spenden
15.077
In housynge, in haterynge, in to heigh clergie shewynge
15.078
Moore for pompe than for pure charite--the peple woot the sothe!
15.079
That I lye noght, loo!--for lordes ye plesen,
15.080
And reverencen the riche the rather for hir silver:
15.081
Confundantur omines qui adorant sculptilia. Et alibi,
15.081
Ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et queritis mendam?
15.081
"Goeth to the glose of the vers, ye grete clerkes; Page 179
15.082
If I lye on yow to my lewed wit, ledeth me to brennyng!
15.083
For as it semeth ye forsaketh no mannes almesse--
15.084
Of usurers, of hoores, of varouse chapmen--
15.085
And louten to thise lordes that mowen lene yow nobles
15.086
Aye in youre rule and religion--I take record at Jesus,
15.087
That seide to hise disciples, "" Ne sitis acceptores personarum.''
15.088
Of this matere I myghte make a long bible;
15.089
Ac of curatours of Cristen peple, as clerkes bereth witnesse,
15.090
I shal tellen it for truthes sake--take hede whoso liketh!
15.091
"As holynesse and honeste out of Holy Chirche spredeth
15.092
Thorugh lele libbynge men that Goddes lawe techen,
15.093
Right so out of Holy Chirche alle yveles spredeth
15.094
There inparfit preesthode is, prechours and techeris.
15.095
And se it by ensaumple in somer tyme on trowes:
15.096
Ther some bowes ben leved and some bereth none,
15.097
Ther is a meschief in the more of swiche manere bowes.
15.098
Right so persons and preestes and prechours of Holi Chirche
15.099
Is the roote of the right feith to rule the peple;
15.100
Ac ther the roote is roten, reson woot the sothe,
15.101
Shal nevere fiour ne fruyt, ne fair leef be grene.
15.102
"Forthi wolde ye lettrede leve the lecherie of clothyng,
15.103
And be kynde as bifel for clerkes and curteise of Cristes goodes,
15.104
Trewe of youre tonge and of youre tail bothe,
15.105
And hatien to here harlotrie, and aught to underfonge
15.106
Tithes of untrewe thyng ytilied or chaffared--
15.107
Lothe were lewed men but thei youre loore folwede
15.108
And amenden hem that thei mysdoon, moore for youre ensaumples
15.109
Than for to prechen and to preven it noght--ypocrisie it semeth!
15.110
For ypocrisie in Latyn is likned to a dongehill
15.111
That were bisnewed with snow, and snakes withinne, Page 180
15.112
Or to a wal that were whitlymed and were foul withinne.
15.113
Right so manye preestes, prechours and prelates--
15.114
Ye [b]en enblaunched with bele paroles and with clothes,
15.115
Ac youre werkes and wordes therunder aren ful w[o]lveliche.
15.116
Johannes Crisostomus of clerkes speketh and preestes:
15.117
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic de templo omne
15.117
malum procedit. Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret
15.117
ecclesia; si autem corruptum fuerit, omnium fides marcida est.
15.117
Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis, totus populus con vertitur
15.117
ad peccandum. Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam et marcidam
15.117
intelligis quod vicium habet in radice, ita cum videris
15.117
populum inaisciplinatum et irreligiosum, sine dubio
15.117
sacerdocium eius non est sanum.
15.117
"If lewed men wiste what this Latyn meneth,
15.118
And who was myn auctour, muche wonder me thinketh
15.120
But if many preest beere, for hir baselardes and hir broches,
15.121
A peire of bedes in hir hand and a book under hir arme.
15.122
Sire Johan and Sire Geffrey hath a girdel of silver,
15.123
A baselard or a ballok-knyf with botons overgilte.
15.124
Ac a porthors that sholde be his plow, Placebo to sigge,
15.125
Hadde he nevere, [his] service to [h]ave,
15.126
[And save he have] silver therto, seith it with ydel wille.
15.127
"Allas, ye lewed men, muche lese ye on preestes!
15.128
Ac thing that wikkedly is wonne, and with false sleightes,
15.129
Wolde nevere the wit of witty God but wikkede men it hadde-- Page 181
15.130
The whiche arn preestes inparfite and prechours after silver,
15.131
Executours and sodenes, somonours and hir lemmannes.
15.132
This that with gile was geten, ungraciousliche is spended.
15.133
So harlotes and hores arn holpe with swiche goodes,
15.134
Ac Goddes folk for defaute therof forfaren and spillen.
15.135
"Curatours of Holy Kirke, and clerkes that ben avarouse,
15.136
Lightliche that thei leven, losels it habbeth,
15.137
Or deieth intestate, and thanne [entreth the bisshop]
15.138
And maketh murthe therwith, and hise meyne both,
15.139
And seyen, ""He was a nygard, that no good myghte aspare
15.140
To frend ne to fremmed--the fend have his soule!
15.141
For a wrecehede hous he held al his lif tyme,
15.142
And that he spared and bispered, spende we in murthe!''
15.143
"By lered, by lewed, that looth is to spende--
15.144
Thus goon hire goodes, be the goost faren.
15.145
Ac for goode men, God woot, greet doel men maken,
15.146
And bymeneth goode meteyyveres, and in mynde haveth
15.147
In preieres and in penaunces and in parfit charite.'
15.148
" What is charite?' quod I tho. "A childissh thyng,' he seide--
15.149
" Nisi efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum celorum--
15.149
Withouten fauntelte or folie a fre liberal wille.'
15.150
"Where sholde men fynde swich a frend with so fre an herte?
15.151
I have lyved in londe,' quod I, "my name is Longe Wille--
15.152
And fond I nevere ful charite, bifore ne bihynde.
15.153
Men beth merciable to mendinaunts and to poore,
15.154
And wollen lenc ther thei leve lelly to ben paied.
15.155
Ac charite that Poul preiseth best and moost plesaunt to Oure Saveour--
15.156
As Non inflatur, non est ambiciosa, non querit que sua sunt--
15.157
I seigh nevere swich a man, so me God helpe, Page 182
15.158
That he ne wolde aske after his, and outherwhile coveite
15.159
Thyng that neded hym noght--and nyme it, if he myghte!
15.160
"Clerkes kenne me that Crist is in alle places;
15.161
Ac I seigh hym nevere soothly but as myself in a mirour:
15.162
Hic in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem.
15.162
And so I trowe trewely, by that men telleth of charite,
15.163
It is noght chaumpions fight, ne chaffare, as I trowe.'
15.164
"Charite,' quod he, "ne chaffareth noght, ne chalangeth, ne craveth;
15.165
As proud of a peny as of a pound df golde,
15.166
And is as glad of a gowne of a gray russet
15.167
As of a tunycle of Tarse of of trie scarlet.
15.168
He is glad with alle glade and good til alle wikkede,
15.169
And leneth and loveth alle that Oure Lord made.
15.170
Corseth he no creature, ne he kan bere no wrathe,
15.171
Ne no likynge hath to lye ne laughe men to scorne.
15.172
Al that men seyn, he leet it sooth, and in solace taketh,
15.173
And alle manere meschiefs in myldenesse he suffreth.
15.174
Coveiteth he noon erthely good but heveneriche blisse.'
15.175
"Hath he any rentes or richesse, or any riche frendes?'
15.176
"Of rentes ne of richesse rekketh he nevere,
15.177
For a frend that fyndeth hym, failed hym nevere at nede:
15.178
Fiat voluntas tua fynt hym everemoore,
15.179
And if he soupeth, eteth but a sop of Spera in Deo.
15.180
He kan portreye wel the Paternoster and peynte it with Aves,
15.181
And outherwhile he is woned to wenden on pilgrymages
15.182
Ther poore men and prisons liggeth, hir pardon to have;
15.183
Though he bere hem no breed, he bereth hem swetter liflode,
15.184
Loveth hem as Oure Lord biddeth and loketh how thei fare.
15.185
"And whan he is wery of that werk than wole he som tyme
15.186
Labouren in a lavendrye wel the lengthe of a mile,
15.187
And yerne into youthe, and yepeliche seche
15.188
Pride, with al the appurtenaunces, and pakken hem togideres,
15.189
And bouken hem at his brest and beten hern clene,
15.190
And leggen on longe with Laboravi in gemitu memo, Page 183
15.191
And with warm water at hise eighen wasshen hem after.
15.192
Thanne he syngeth whan he doth so, and som tyme seith wepynge,
15.193
Cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.'
15.193
"By Crist! I wolde that I knewe hym,' quod I, "no creature levere!'
15.195
"Withouten help of Piers Plowman,' quod he, "his persone sestow nevere.'
15.196
"Wheither clerkes knowen hym,' quod I, "that kepen Holi Kirke?'
15.197
"Clerkes have no knowyng,' quod he, "but by werkes and by wordes.
15.198
Ac Piers the Plowman parceyveth moore depper
15.199
What is the wille, and wherfore that many wight suffreth:
15.200
Et vidit Deus cogitaciones eorum.
15.200
For ther are ful proude herted men, pacient of tonge
15.201
And buxome as of berynge to burgeises and to lordes,
15.202
And to poore peple han pepir in the nose,
15.203
And as a lyoun he loketh ther men lakken hise werkes.
15.204
" For ther are beggeris and bidderis, bedemen as it were,
15.205
Loken as lambren and semen lif-holy--
15.206
Ac it is moore to have hir mete on swich an esy manere
15.207
Than for penaunce and parfitnesse, the poverte that swiche taketh.
15.208
"Therfore by colour ne by clergie knowe shaltow hym nevere,
15.209
Neither thorugh wordes ne werkes, but thorugh wil oone,
15.210
And that knoweth no clerk ne creature on erthe
15.211
But Piers the Plowman--Petrus, id est, Christus.
15.212
For he nys noght in lolleris ne in londleperis heremytes,
15.213
Ne at ancres there a box hangeth--alle swiche thei faiten.
15.214
Fy on faitours and infautores suos!
15.215
For Charite is Goddes champion, and as a good child hende,
15.216
And the murieste of mouth at mete where he sitteth.
15.217
The 1ove that lith in his herte maketh hym light of speche,
15.218
And is compaignable and confortatif, as Crist bit hymselve:
15.219
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c.
15.219
For I have seyen hym in silk and som tyme in russet,
15.220
Bothe in grey, and in grys, and in gilt harneis--
15.221
And as gladliche he it gaf to gomes that it neded.
15.222
" Edmund and Edward, either were kynges Page 184
15.223
And seintes yset--[s]til[le] charite hem folwede.
15.224
"I have yseyen charite also syngen and reden,
15.225
Riden, and rennen in raggede wedes;
15.226
Ac biddynge as beggeris biheld I hym nevere.
15.227
Ac in riche robes rathest he walketh,
15.228
Ycalled and ycrymyled and his crowne yshave.
15.229
And in a freres frokke he was yfounden ones--
15.230
Ac it is fern ago, in Seint Fraunceis tyme;
15.231
In that secte siththe to selde hath he ben knowen.
15.232
" Riche men he recomendeth, and of hir robes taketh
15.233
That withouten wiles ledeth hir lyves:
15.234
Beatus est dives qui, &c.
15.234
"In kynges court he cometh ofte, ther the counseil is trewe;
15.235
Ac if coveitise be of the counseil he wol noght come therinne.
15.236
In court amonges japeris he cometh but selde,
15.237
For braulynge and bakbitynge and berynge of fals witnesse.
15.238
"In the consistorie bifore the commissarie he corneth noght ful ofte,
15.239
For hir lawe dureth overlonge but if thei lacchen silver,
15.240
And matrimoyne for moneie maken and unmaken,
15.241
And that conseience and Crist hath yknyt faste,
15.242
Thei undoon it un[digne]ly, tho doctours of lawe.
15.243
"Amonges erchebisshopes and other bisshopes and prelates of Holy Chirche,
15.244
For to wonye with hem his wone was som tyme,
15.245
And Cristes patrimonye to the poore parcelmele dele.
15.246
Ac avarice hath the keyes now and kepeth for his kynnesmen
15.247
And for his seketoures and his servaunts, and som for hir children.
15.248
"Ac I ne lakke no lif, but, Lord, amende us alle.
15.249
And gyve us grace, goode God, charite to folwe!
15.250
For whoso myghte meete with hym, swiche maneres hym eileth-- Page 185
15.251
Neither he blameth ne banneth, bosteth ne preiseth,
15.252
Lakketh, ne loseth, ne loketh up sterne,
15.253
Craveth, ne coveiteth, ne crieth after moore:
15.254
In pace in idipsum dormiam &c.
15.254
The mooste liflode that he lyveth by is love in Goddes passion;
15.255
Neither he biddeth, ne beggeth, ne borweth to yelde;
15.256
Misdooth he no man, ne with his mouth greveth.
15.257
"Amonges Cristene men this myldenesse sholde laste,
15.258
In alle manere angres have this at herte--
15.259
That theigh thei suffrede al this, God suffrede for us moore
15.260
In ensample we sholde do so, and take no vengeaunce
15.261
Of oure foes that dooth us falsnesse--that is oure fadres wille.
15.262
For wel may every man wite, if God hadde wold hymselve,
15.263
Sholde nevere Judas ne Jew have Jesu doon on roode,
15.264
Ne han martired Peter ne Poul, ne in prison holden.
15.265
Ac he suffre in ensample that we sholde suffren also,
15.266
And seide to swiche that suffre wolde that Pacientes vincunt.
15.267
" Verbi gratia,' quod he--and verred ensamples manye.
15.268
"In Legenda Sanctorum, the lif of holy seintes,
15.269
What penaunce and poverte and passion thei suffrede--
15.270
In hunger, in hete, in alle manere angres.
15.271
"Antony and Egidie and othere holy fadres
15.272
Woneden in wildernesse among wilde beestes;
15.273
Monkes and mendinaunts. men by hemselve
15.274
In spekes and in spelonkes, selde speken togideres.
15.275
Ac neither Antony ne Egidie ne heremyte that tyme
15.276
Of leons ne of leopardes no liflode ne toke,
15.277
But of foweles that fleeth--thus fyndeth men in bokes--
15.278
Except that Egidie after an hynde cride,
15.279
And thorugh the mylk of that mylde beest the man was sustened;
15.280
And day bi day hadde he hire noght his hunger for to slake,
15.281
But selden and sondry tymes, as seith the book and techeth.
15.282
Antony adayes aboute noon tyme
15.283
Hadde a brid that broughte hym breed that he by lyvede;
15.284
And though the gome hadde a gest, God fond hem bothe.
15.285
"Poul primus heremita hadde parroked hymselve, Page 186
15.286
That no man myghte hym se for mosse and for leves.
15.287
Foweles hym fedde fele wyntres with alle
15.288
Til he foundede freres of Austynes ordre.
15.289
Poul, after his prechyng, paniers he made,
15.290
And wan with hise hondes that his wornbe neded.
15.291
Peter fisshed for his foode, and his felawe Andrew:
15.292
Som thei solde and som thei soden, and so thei lyved bothe.
15.293
And also Marie Maudeleyne by mores lyvede and dewes,
15.294
Ac moost thorugh devocion and mynde of God Almyghty.
15.295
I sholde noght thise seven daies siggen hem alle
15.296
That lyveden thus for Oure Lordes love many longe yeres.
15.297
"Ac ther ne was leoun ne leopard that on laundes wenten,
15.298
Neither bere, ne boor, ne oother beest wilde
15.299
That ne fil to hir feet and fawned with the tailles;
15.300
And if thei kouthe han ycarped, by Crist, as I trowe,
15.301
Thei wolde have yfed that folk bifore wilde foweles.
15.302
For al the curteisie that beestes konne, thei kidde that folk ofte,
15.303
In likkyng and in lowynge, there thei on laundes yede.
15.304
Ac God sente hem foode by foweles, and by no fierse beestes,
15.305
In menynge that meke thyng mylde thyng sholde fede.
15.306
As who seith religious rightfulle men sholde fynde,
15.307
And lawefulle men to lif-holy rnen liflode brynge;
15.308
And thanne wolde lordes and ladies be looth to agulte,
15.309
And to taken of hir tenaunts more than trouthe wolde,
15.310
Founde thei that freres wolde forsake hir almesses,
15.311
And bidden hem bere it there it was yborwed.
15.312
For we ben Goddes foles and abiden alwey,
15.313
Til briddes brynge us that we sholde [by lyve].
15.314
For hadde ye potage and payn ynogh, and peny ale to drynke,
15.315
And a mees thermyd of o maner kynde, Page 187
15.316
Ye hadde right ynogh ye religiouse--and so youre rule me tolde.
15.317
Numquid, dicit Job rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam ?
15.317
Aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit ? Brutorum
15.317
animalium natura te condempnat, quia cum eis pabulum commune
15.317
sufficiat; ex adipe prodiit iniquitas tua.
15.317
"If lewed men knewe this Latyn, thei wolde loke whom thei yeve,
15.318
And avisen hem bifore a fyve dayes or sixe
15.319
Er thei amortisede [moore] to monkes or chanons hir rentes.
15.320
Allas! lordes and ladies, lewed counseil have ye
15.321
To yyve from youre heires that youre aiels you lefte,
15.322
And yyveth to bidde for yow to swiche that ben riche,
15.323
And ben founded and feffed ek to bidde for othere!
15.324
"Who parfourneth this prophecie, of the peple that now libbeth--
15.325
Dispersit, dedit pauperibus ?
15.326
If any peple parfourne that tent, it are thise poore freres:
15.327
For that thei beggen aboute, in buyldynge thei spende,
15.328
And on hemself som, and swiche as ben hir laborers;
15.329
And of hem that habbeth thei taken, and yyveth hem that ne habbeth!
15.330
"Ac clerkes and knyghtes, and communers that ben riche,
15.331
Fele of yow fareth as if I a forest hadde
15.332
That were ful of faire trees, and I fondede and caste
15.333
How I myghte mo therinne amonges hem sette.
15.334
Right so ye riche--ye robeth that ben riche,
15.335
And helpeth hem that helpeth yow, and yyveth ther no nede is;
15.336
As whoso filled a tonne ful of a fressh ryver,
15.337
And wente forth with that water to woke with Themese.
15.338
Right so ye riche, ye robeth and fedeth Page 188
15.339
Hem that han as ye han--hem ye make at ese.
15.340
"Ac religiouse that riche ben sholde rather feeste beggeris
15.341
Than burgeises that riche ben, as the book techeth:
15.342
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare.
15.342
Item: peccatoribus dare est demonibus immolare.
15.342
Item: monache, si indiges et accipis, pocius das quam accipis;
15.342
Si autem non eges et accipis, rapis.
15.342
Porro non indiget monachus, si habeat quod nature sufficit.
15.342
" Forthi I counseille alle Cristene to conformen hem to charite--
15.343
For charite withouten chalangynge unchargeth the soule,
15.344
And many a prison fram purgatorie thorugh hise preieres he delivereth.
15.345
Ac ther is a defaute in the folk that the feith kepeth,
15.346
Wherfore folk is the febler, and noght ferm of bileve.
15.347
As in lussheburwes is a luther alay, and yet loketh he lik a sterlyng:
15.348
The merk of that monee is good, ac the metal is feble.
15.349
And so it fareth by som folk now: thci han a fair speche,
15.350
Crowne and Cristendom, the kynges mark of hevene,
15.351
Ac the metal, that is mannes soule, with [many] synne is foule[d].
15.352
Bothe lettred and lewed beth alayed now with synne,
15.353
That no lif loveth oother, ne Oure Lord, as it semeth.
15.354
For what thorugh werre and wikkede werkes and wederes unresonable,
15.355
Wederwise shipmen and witty clerkes also
15.356
Have no bileve to the lifte, ne to the loore of philosophres.
15.357
"Astronomiens alday in hir art faillen
15.358
That whilom warned bifore what sholde falle after;
15.359
Shipmen and shepherdes, that with ship and sheep wenten,
15.360
Wisten by the walkne what sholde bitide,
15.361
Tilieris that tiled the erthe tolden hir maistres
15.362
By the seed that thei sewe whit thei selle myghte,
15.363
And what to leve and to lyve by, the lond was so trewe; Page 189
15.364
Now failleth the folk of the flood and of the lond bothe--
15.365
Shepherdes and shipmen, and so do thise tilieris:
15.366
Neither thei konneth ne knoweth oon cours bifore another.
15.367
"Astronomyens also aren at hir wittes ende:
15.368
Of that was calculed of the clem[a]t, the contrarie thei fynde.
15.369
Grammer, the ground of al, bigileth now children:
15.370
For is noon of thise newe clerkes--whoso nymeth hede--
15.371
That kan versifye faire ne formaliche enditen,
15.372
Ne naught oon among an hundred that an auctour kan construwe,
15.373
Ne rede a lettre in any langage but in Latyn or in Englissh.
15.374
"Go now to any degree, and but if gile be maister,
15.375
And flaterere his felawe [to fourmen under hym],
15.376
Muche wonder me thynketh amonges us alle!
15.377
Doctours of decrees and of divinite maistres,
15.378
That sholde konne and knowe alle kynnes clergie,
15.379
And answere to arguments and a1so to a quodlibet--
15.380
I dar noght siggen it for shame--if swiche were apposed,
15.381
Thei sholde faillen of hir Philosophie, and in Phisik bothe.
15.382
"Wherfore I am afered of folk of Holy Kirke,
15.383
Lest thei overhuppen, as oothere doon, in Office and in Houres.
15.384
Ac if thei overhuppe--as I hope noght--oure bileve suffiseth;
15.385
As clerkes in Corpus Christi feeste syngen and reden
15.386
That sola fides sufficit to save with lewed peple--
15.387
And so may Sarsens be saved, scribes and Jewes.
15.388
"Allas thanne! but oure looresmen lyve as thei leren us,
15.389
And for hir lyvynge that lewed men be the lother God agulten.
15.390
For Sarsens han somwhat semynge to oure bileve,
15.391
For thei love and bileve in o [Lede] almyghty,
15.392
And we, lered and lewed, [bileveth in oon God]--
15.393
Cristene and uncristene on oon [creatour] bileveth. Page 190
15.394
Ac oon Makometh, a man, in mysbileve
15.395
Broughte Sarsens of Surree--and see in what manere.
15.396
"This Makometh was a Cristene man and for he moste noght ben a pope,
15.397
Into Surrie he soughte. and thorugh hise sotile wittes
15.398
Daunted a dowve, and day and nyght hire fedde.
15.399
The corn that she croppede, he caste it in his ere;
15.400
And if he among the peple preched, or in places come,
15.401
Thanne wolde the colvere come to the clerkes ere
15.402
Menynge as after mete--thus Makometh hire enchauntede,
15.403
And dide folk thanne falle on knees, for he swoor in his prechyng
15.404
That the colvere that com so com from God of hevene
15.405
As messager to Makometh, men for to teche.
15.406
And thus thorugh wiles of his wit and a whit dowve
15.407
Makometh in mysbileve men and wommen broughte,
15.408
That lered there and lewed yit leeven on hise lawes.
15.409
"And siththe Oure Saveour suffred the Sarsens so bigiled
15.410
Thorugh a Cristene clerk acorsed in his soule--
15.411
Ac for drede of the deeth I dar noght telle truthe,
15.412
How Englisshe clerkes a colvere fede that Coveitise highte,
15.413
And ben manered after Makometh, that no man useth trouthe.
15.414
"Ancres and heremytes, and monkes and freres
15.415
Peeren to Apostles thorugh hire parfit lyvynge.
15.416
Wolde nevere the feithful Fader that hise ministres sholde
15.417
Of tiraunts that teneth trewe men taken any almesse,
15.418
But doon as Antony dide, Dominyk and Fraunceys,
15.419
Beneit and Bernard [bo]the, whiche hem first taughte
15.420
To lyve by litel and in lowe houses by lele mennes almesse.
15.421
Grace sholde growe and be grene thorugh hir goode lyvynge,
15.422
And folkes sholden fynde, that ben in diverse siknesse,
15.423
The bettre for hir biddynges in body and in soule.
15.424
Hir preieres and hir penaunces to pees sholde brynge
15.425
Alle that ben at debaat, and bedemen were trewe:
15.426
Petite et accipietis &c.Page 191
15.426
" Salt saveth catel,' siggen thise wyves ;
15.427
Vos estis sal terre &c.
15.427
The hevedes of Holy Chirche--and thei holy were--
15.428
Crist calleth hem salt for Cristene soules,
15.429
Et si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur ?
15.429
Ac fressh flessh outher fissh, whan it salt failleth,
15.430
It is unsavory, for sothe, ysoden or ybake;
15.431
So is mannes soule, soothly, that seeth no good ensample
15.432
Of hem of Holi Chirche that the heighe wey sholde teche
15.433
And be gide, and go bifore as a good banyer,
15.434
And hardie hem that bihynde ben, and yyve hem good evidence.
15.435
" Ellevene holy men al the world tornede
15.436
Into lele bileve; the lightloker, me thynketh.
15.437
Sholde alle maner men, we han so manye maistres-
15.438
Preestes and prechours, and a pope above,
15.439
That Goddes salt sholde be, to save mannes soule.
15.440
"Al was hethynesse som tyme Engelond and Walis,
15.441
Til Gregory garte clerkes to go here and preche.
15.442
Austyn [cristnede the kyng at Caunterbury],
15.443
And thorugh miracles, as men mow rede, al that marche he tornede
15.444
To Crist and to Cristendom, and cros to honoure,
15.445
And follede folk faste, and the feith taughte
15.446
Moore thorugh miracles than thorugh muche prechyng,
15.447
As wel thorugh hise werkes as with hise holy wordes,
15.448
And [fourmed] what fullynge and feith was to mene.
15.449
"Clooth that cometh fro the wevyng is noght comly to were
15.450
Til it be fulled under foot or in fullyng stokkes,
15.451
Wasshen wel with water and with taseles cracched,
15.452
Ytouked and yteynted and under taillours hande;
15.453
And so it fareth by a barn that born is of wombe:
15.454
Til it be cristned in Cristes name and confermed of the bisshop,
15.455
It is hethene as to heveneward, and helplees to the soule.
15.456
" Hethen' is to mene after heeth and untiled erthe--
15.457
As In wilde wildernesse wexeth wilde beess, Page 192
15.458
Rude and unresonable, rennynge withouten keperes.
15.459
"Ye mynnen wel how Mathew seith, how a man made a feste:
15.460
He fedde hem with no venyson, ne fesaunts ybake,
15.461
But with foweles that fram hym nolde, but folwede his whistlyng:
15.462
Ecce altilia mea et omnia parata sunt--
15.462
And with calves flessh he fedde the folk that he lovede.
15.463
"The calf bitokneth clennesse in hem that kepeth lawes;
15.464
For as the cow thorugh kynde mylk the calf norisseth til an oxe,
15.465
So love and leaute lele men susteneth;
15.466
And maidenes and mylde men mercy desiren
15.467
Right as the cow-calf coveiteth swete melk--
15.468
So [muche] don rightfulle men mercy and truthe.
15.469
And by the hond-fedde foweles his folk understonde
15.470
That looth ben to lovye withouten lernynge of ensaumples.
15.471
Right as capons in a court cometh to mennes whistlynge--
15.472
In menynge after mete folweth men that whistlen--
15.473
Right so rude men that litel reson konneth
15.474
Loven and bileven by lettred mennes doynges,
15.475
And by hire wordes and werkes wenen and trowen:
15.476
And as tho foweles to fynde foode after whistlynge,
15.477
So hope thei to have hevene thorugh hir [wiss]ynge.
15.478
And the man that made the feste the mageste bymeneth--
15.479
That is God, of his grace gyveth alle men blisse.
15.480
With wederes and with wondres he warneth us with a whistlere
15.481
Where that his wil is, to worshipen us alle,
15.482
And feden us and festen us for everemoore at oones.
15.483
"Ac who beth that excuseth hem that arn persons and preestes
15.484
(That hevedes of Holy Chirche ben) that han hir wil here
15.485
Withouten travaille the tithe deel that trewe men biswynken--
15.486
Thei wol be wrooth for I write thus-ac to witnesse I take Page 193
15.487
Bothe Mathew and Mark and Memento Domine David:
15.488
Ecce auaivimus e[a]m in Effrata &c.
15.488
What pope or prelate now parfourneth that Crist highte-
15.489
Ite in universum mundum et predicate &c?
15.489
"Allas, that men so longe on Makometh sholde bileve!
15.490
So manye prelates to preche as the Pope maketh--
15.491
Of Nazareth, of Nynyve, of Neptalym and Damaske.
15.492
That thei ne wente as Crist wisseth--sithen thei wilne a name--
15.493
To be pastours and preche the passion of Jesus,
15.494
And as hymself seide, so to lyve and dye:
15.495
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit &c,
15.496
And seide it in salvacion of Sarsens and othere--
15.497
For Cristene and uncristene, Crist seide to prechours,
15.498
Ite vos in vineam meam &c.
15.498
"And sith that thise Sarsens, scribes and Jewes
15.499
Han a lippe of oure bileve, the lightloker, me thynketh, .
15.500
Thei sholde turne, whoso travaile wolde to teche hem of the Trinite:
15.501
Querite et invenietis &c.
15.501
For alle paynymes preieth and parfitly bileweth
15.502
In the [grete holy] God, and his grace asken,
15.503
And make hir mone to Makometh, hir message to shewe.
15.504
Thus in a feith leveth that folk, and in a fals mene,
15.505
And that is routhe for rightful men that in the reawme wonyen,
15.506
And a peril to the Pope and prelates that he maketh,
15.507
That bere bisshopes names of Bethleem and Babiloigne. Page 194
15.508
"Whan the hye kyng of hevene sente his sone to erthe,
15.509
Many miracles he wroughte man for to turne,
15.510
In ensaumple that men sholde se by sadde reson
15.511
Men myghte noght be saved but thorugh mercy and grace,
15.512
And thorugh penaunce, and passion, and parfit byleve;
15.513
And bicam man of a mayde, and metropolitanus,
15.514
And baptised and bishined with the blode of his herte
15.515
Alle that wilned and wolde with inwit bileve it.
15.516
Many a seynt siththen hath suffred to deye,
15.517
Al for to enforme the feith in fele contrees deyeden--
15.518
In Inde, and in Alisaundre, in Ermonye and in Spayne,
15.519
In doelful deth deyeden for hir feith sake.
15.520
In savacion of the feith Seint Thomas was ymartired:
15.521
Amonges unkynde Cristene for Cristes love he deyede,
15.522
And for the right of al this reume and alle reumes Cristene.
15.523
Holy Chirche is honoured heighliche thorugh his deying;
15.524
He is a forbisene to alle bisshopes and a bright myrour,
15.525
And sovereynliche to swiche that of Surrye bereth the name,
15.526
And naught to huppe aboute in Engelond to halwe mennes auteres,
15.527
And crepe in amonges curatours and confessen ageyn the lawe:
15.528
Nolite mitterefalsem in messem alienam &c.
15.528
Many man for Cristes love was martired amonges Romaynes
15.529
Er Cristendom were knowe ther or any cros honoured.
15.530
"It is ruthe to rede how rihtwise men lyved-- Page 195
15.531
How thei defouled hir flessh, forsoke hir owene wille,
15.532
Fer fro kyth and fro kyn yvele yclothed yeden,
15.533
Baddely ybedded, no book but conscience,
15.534
Ne no richesse but the roode to rejoisse hem inne:
15.535
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri &c.
15.535
"And tho was plentee and pees amonges poore and riche;
15.536
And now is routhe to rede how the rede noble
15.537
Is reverenced er the roode, receyved for the worthier
15.538
Than Cristes cros that overcam deeth and dedly synne.
15.539
And now is werre and wo, and whoso why asketh--
15.540
For coveitise after cros; the croune stant in golde.
15.541
Bothe richc and religious, that roode thei honoure
15.542
That in grotes is ygrave and in gold nobles.
15.543
For coveitise of that cros [clerkes] of Holy Kirke
15.544
Shul torne as Templers dide--the tyme approcheth faste.
15.545
" [Mynne] ye noght, wise men, how tho men honoured
15.546
Moore tresor than trouthe? I dar noght telle the sothe;
15.547
Reson and rightful doom tho religious demede.
15.548
Right so, ye clerkes, for youre coveitise, er [come aught] longe,
15.549
Shal thei demen dos ecclesie, and [depose youre pride]:
15.550
Deposuit potentes de sede &c.
15.550
"If knyghthod and kynde wit, and the commune and conscience
15.551
Togideres love leelly, leveth it wel, ye bisshopes--
15.552
The lordshipe of londes [lese ye shul for evere],
15.553
And lyven as Levitici, as Oure Lord yow techeth:
15.554
Per primicias et decimas &c.
15.554
"Whan Costantyn of curteisie Holy Kirke dowed
15.555
With londes and ledes, lordshipes and rentes,
15.556
An aungel men herden an heigh at Rome crye, Page 196
15.557
" Dos ecclesie this day hath ydronke venym,
15.558
And tho that han Petres power arn apoisoned alle!'
15.559
A medicyne moot therto that may amende prelates,
15.560
That sholden preie for the pees; possession hem letteth.
15.561
Taketh hire landes, ye lordes, and leteth hem lyve by dymes;
15.562
If possession be poison, and inparfite hem make,
15.563
Good were to deschargen hem for Holy Chirehes sake,
15.564
And purgen hem of poison, er moore peril falle.
15.565
If preesthode were parfit, the peple sholde amende,
15.566
That contrarien Cristes lawe, and Cristendom dispise.
15.567
"Every bisshop that bereth cros, by that he is holden
15.568
Thorugh his province to passe, and to his peple to shewe hym,
15.569
Tellen hem and techen hem on the Trinite to bileve,
15.570
And feden hem with goostly foode, and nedy folk to fynden.
15.571
Ac Ysaie of yow speketh and Osias bothe,
15.572
That no man sholde be bisshop but if he hadde bothe
15.573
Bodily foode and goostly foode to gyve there it nedeth:
15.574
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum, et ideo nolite constituere me re
15.575
Osias seith for swiche that sike ben and feble,
15.575
Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum, ut sit cibus in domo mea.
15.575
"Ac we Cristene creatures, that on the cros bileven,
15.576
Arn ferme as in the feith-Goddes forbode ellis!--
15.577
And han clerkes to kepen us therinne, and hem that shul come after us.
15.578
And Jewes lyven in lele lawe-0ure Lord wroot it hymselve
15.580
In stoon, for it stedefast was, and stonde sholde evere--
15.581
Dilige Deum et proximum, is parfit Jewen lawe--
15.582
And teok it Moyses to teche men, til Messie coom
15.583
And on that lawe thei leve, and leten it for the beste. Page 197
15.584
And yit knewe thei Crist, that Cristendom taughte,
15.585
And for a parfit prophete that muche peple savede
15.586
Of selkouthe sores; thei seighen it ofte--
15.587
Bothe of miracles and merveilles, and how he men festede,
15.588
With two fisshes and fyve loves fyve thousand peple--
15.589
And by that mangerie thei myghte wel se that Messie he semede;
15.590
And whan he lifte up Lazar, that leid was in grave,
15.591
And under stoon deed and stank, with stif vois hym callede,
15.592
Lazare, veniforas,
15.592
Dide hym rise and rome right bifore the Jewes.
15.593
Ac thei seiden and sworen, with sorcerie he wroughte,
15.594
And studieden to struyen hym--and struyden hemselve,
15.595
And thorugh his pacience hir power to pure noght he broughte:
15.596
Pacientes vincunt.
15.596
"Daniel of hire undoynge devyned and seide,
15.597
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit unxio vestra.
15.598
And yit wenen tho wrecches that he were pseudo-propheta
15.599
And that his loore be lesynges, and lakken it alle,
15.600
And hopen that he be to come that shal hem releve--
15.601
Moyses eft or Messie hir maistres devyneth.
15.602
"Ac pharisees and sarsens, scribes and Jewes
15.603
Arn folk of oon feith--the fader God thei honouren.
15.604
And sithen that the Sarsens and also the Jewes
15.605
Konne the firste clause of oure bileve, Credo in Deum patrem omnipotentem,
15.606
Prelates of Cristene provinces sholde preve, if thei myghte,
15.607
Lere hem litlum and litlum Et in Jesum Chrisium filium,
15.608
Til thei kouthe speke and spelle Et in Spiritum santum,
15.609
And rendren it and recorden it with remissionem peccatorum,
15.610
Carnis resurreccionem et vitam eternam. Amen.'
15.610
