William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 16

"Now faire falle yow,' quod I tho, "for youre faire shewyng! Line 16.001 For Haukyns love the Actif Man evere I shal yow lovye. Line 16.002 Ac yit am I in a weer what charite is to mene.' Line 16.003 "It is a ful trie tree,' quod he, "trewely to telle. Line 16.004 Mercy is the more therof; the myddul stok is ruthe; Line 16.005 The leves ben lele wordes, the lawe of Holy Chirche; Line 16.006 The blosmes beth buxom speche and benigne lokynge; Line 16.007 Pacience hatte the pure tree, and pore symple of herte, Line 16.008 And so thorugh God and thorugh goode men groweth the fruyt Charite.' Line 16.009 "I wolde travaille,' quod 1, "this tree to se, twenty hundred myle, Line 16.010 And to have my fulle of that fruyt forsake a1 other saulee. Line 16.011 Lord !' quod I, " if any wight wite whiderout it groweth?' Line 16.012 "It groweth in a gardyn,' quod he, "that God made hymselve; Line 16.013 Amyddes mannes body the more is of that stokke. Line 16.014 Herte highte the herber that it inne groweth, Line 16.015 And Liberum Arbitrium hath the lond to ferme, Line 16.016 Under Piers the Plowman to piken it and to weden it.' Line 16.017 " Piers the Plowman!' quod I tho, and al for pure joye Line 16.018 That I herde nempne his name anoon I swowned after, Line 16.019 And lay longe in a lone dreem; and at the laste me thoughte Line 16.020 That Piers the Plowman al the place me shewed, Line 16.021 And bad me toten on the tree, on top and on roote. Line 16.022 With thre piles was it underpight--I parceyved it soone. Line 16.023 " Piers,' quod I, " I preie thee--whi stonde thise piles here?' Line 16.024 " For wynde, wiltew wite,' quod he, "to witen it fro fallyng-- Line 16.025 Cum ceciderit iustus non eollidetur quia Dominus supponit manum suam-- Line 16.025 And in blowyng tyme abite the flowres, but- if thise piles helpe. Line 16.026

Line 16.026 The world is a wikked wynd to hem that willen truthe: Line 16.027 Coveitise comth of that wynd and crepeth among the leves Line 16.028 And forfreteth neigh the fruyt thorugh manye faire sightes. Line 16.029 Thanne with the firste pil I palle hym doun--that is Potencia Dei Patris. Line 16.030 "The flessh is a fel wynd, and in flouryng tyme, Line 16.031 Thorugh likynge and lustes so loude he gynneth blowe Line 16.032 That it norisseth nyce sightes and som tyme wordes, Line 16.033 And wikkede werkes therof, wormes of synne, Line 16.034 And forbiteth the blosmes right to the bare leves. Line 16.035 "Thanne sette I to the secounde pil, Sapiencia Dei Patris-- Line 16.036 That is the passion and the power of oure prince Jesu. Line 16.037 Thorugh preieres and thorugh penaunces and Goddes passion in mynde, Line 16.038 I save it til I se it ripen and somdel yfruyted. Line 16.039 "And thanne fondeth the fend my fruyt to destruye Line 16.040 With alle the wiles that he kan, and waggeth the roote, Line 16.041 And casteth up to the crop unkynde neighebores, Line 16.042 Bakbiteris brewecheste, brawleris and chideris, Line 16.043 And leith a laddre therto--of lesynges are the ronges-- Line 16.044 And feccheth awey my floures somtyme bifore bothe myne eighen. Line 16.045 Ac Liberum Arbitrium letteth hym som tyme, Line 16.045 That is lieutenaunt to loken it wel, bi leve of myselve: Line 16.046 Videatis qui peccat in Spiritum Sanctum numquam remittetur Line 16.046 &c,- hoc est idem, qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat. Line 16.047 "Ac whan the fend and the flessh forth with the world Line 16.048 Manacen bihynde me, my fruyt for to fecche, Line 16.049 Thanne Liberum Arbitrium laccheth the thridde planke Line 16.050 And palleth adoun the pouke pureliche thorugh grace Line 16.051 And help of the Holy Goost--and thus have I the maistrie.' Line 16.052 "Now faire falle yow, Piers!' quod I, "so faire ye discryven Line 16.053 The power of thise postes and hire propre myghte. Line 16.054 Ac I have thoughtes a threve af thise thre piles-- Line 16.055 In what wode thei woxen, and where that thei 8rowed, Line 16.056 For alle are thei aliche longe, noon lasse than oother, Line 16.057 And to my mynde, as me thynketh, on o more thei growed; Line 16.058 And of o greetnesse and grene of greyn thei semen.' Line 16.059

Line 16.059 "That is sooth,' seide Piers, "so it may bifalle. Line 16.060 I shal telle thee as tid what this tree highte. Line 16.061 The ground there it groweth, goodnesse it hatte; Line 16.062 And I have told thee what highte the tree: the Trinite it meneth'-- Line 16.063 And egreliche he loked on me, and therfore I spared Line 16.064 To asken hym any moore therof, and bad hym ful faire Line 16.065 To di[ff]yne the fruyt that so faire hangeth. Line 16.066 " Heer now bynethe,' quod he tho, "if I nede hadde, Line 16.067 Matrimoyne I may nyme, a moiste fruyt withalle. Line 16.068 Thanne Continence is neer the crop as kaylewey bastard. Line 16.069 Thanne bereth the crop kynde fruyt and clennest of alle-- Line 16.070 Maidenhode, aungeles peeris, and [ar]est wole be ripe, Line 16.071 And swete withouten swellyng--sour worth it nevere.' Line 16.072 I preide Piers to pulle adoun an appul, and he wolde, Line 16.073 And suffre me to assaien what savour it hadde. Line 16.074 And Piers caste to the crop, and thanne comsed it to crye; Line 16.075 And waggede widwehode, and it wepte after; Line 16.076 And whan he meved matrimoyne, it made a foul noise, Line 16.077 That I hadde ruthe whan Piers rogged, it gradde so rufulliche. Line 16.078 For evere as thei dropped adoun the devel was redy, Line 16.079 And gadrede hem alle togideres, bothe grete and smale-- Line 16.080 Adam and Abraham and Ysaye the prophete, Line 16.081 Sampson and Samuel, and Seint Johan the Baptist; Line 16.082 Bar hem forth boldely--no body hym letted-- Line 16.083 And made of holy men his hoord in Limbo Inferni, Line 16.084 There is derknesse and drede and the devel maister. Line 16.085 And Piers, for pure tene, that a pil he laughte, Line 16.086 And hitte after hym, happe how it myghte, Line 16.087 Eilius by the Fader wille and frenesse of Spiritus Sancti, Line 16.088 To go robbe that rageman and reve the fruyt fro hym. Line 16.089 And thanne spak Spiritus Sanctus in Gabrielis mouthe Line 16.090 To a maide that highte Marie, a meke thyng withalle, Line 16.091 That oon Jesus, a justices some, mostejouke in hir chambre Line 16.092 Til plenitudo temporis tyme comen were Line 16.093

Line 16.093 That Piers fruyt floured and felle to be rype. Line 16.094 And thanne sholde Jesus juste therfore, bi juggement of armes, Line 16.095 Wheither sholde fonge the fruyt--the fend or hymselve. Line 16.096 The maide myldeliche tho the messager graunted, Line 16.097 And seide hendeliche to hym, "Lo me his handmaiden Line 16.098 For to werchen his wille withouten any synne: Line 16.099 Ecce ancilla Domini, fat michi &c.' Line 16.099 And in the wombe of that wenche was he fourty woukes, Line 16.100 Til he weex a faunt thorugh hir flessh, and of fightyng kouthe, Line 16.101 To have yfoughte with the fend er ful tyme come. Line 16.102 And Piers the Plowman parceyved plener tyme, Line 16.103 And lered hym lechecraft. his lif for to save, Line 16.104 That though he were wounded with his enemy, to warisshen hymselve; Line 16.105 And dide hym assaie his surgenrie on hem that sike were, Line 16.106 Til he was parfit praktisour, if any peril fille; Line 16.107 And soughte out the sike and synfulle bothe, Line 16.108 And salvede sike and synfulle, bothe blynde and crokede, Line 16.109 And commune wommen convertede [to goode]: Line 16.110 Non est sanis opus medicus, set male habentibus. Line 16.110 Bothe meseles and mute, and in the menyson blody-- Line 16.111 Ofte he heeled swiche, he ne held it for no maistrie, Line 16.112 Save tho he leched Lazar, that hadde yleye in grave Line 16.113 Quatriduanus quelt--quyk dide hym walke. Line 16.114 Ac a[r] he made the maistrie, mestus cepit esse, Line 16.115 And wepte water with hise eighen- -ther seighen it manye. Line 16.116 Some that the sighte seighen seiden that tyme Line 16.117 That he was leche of lif, and lord of heigh hevene. Line 16.118 Jewes jangled therayein that juggede lawes, Line 16.119 And seide he wroghte thorugh wichecraft and with the develes myghte: Line 16.120 Demonium habes &c. Line 16.120

Line 16.120 "Thanne are ye cherles,' quod Jesus, "and youre children bothe, Line 16.121 And Sathan youre Saveour--yowself now ye witnessen: Line 16.122 For I have saved yowself, and youre sones after, Line 16.123 Youre bodies. youre beestes, and blynde men holpen, Line 16.124 And fed yow with fisshes and with fyve loves, Line 16.125 And lefte baskettes ful of broke mete--bere awey whoso wolde--' Line 16.126 And mysseide the Jewes manliche, and manaced hem to bete, Line 16.127 And knokked on hem with a corde, and caste adoun hir stalles Line 16.128 That in chirche chaffareden or chaungeden any moneie, Line 16.129 And seide it in sighte of hem alle, so that alle herden, Line 16.130 " I shal overturne this temple and adoun throwe, Line 16.131 And in thre daies after edifie it newe, Line 16.132 And maken it as muche outher moore in alle manere poyntes Line 16.133 As evere it was, and as wid-wherfore I hote yow, Line 16.134 Of preieres and of parfitnesse this place that ye callen: Line 16.135 Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur.' Line 16.135 Envye and yvel wil ar[ne] in the Jewes: Line 16.136 Thei casten and contreveden to kulle hym whan thei myghte; Line 16.137 Eche day after oother hir tyme thei awaiteden, Line 16.138 Til it bifel on a Friday, a litel bifore Pasqe. Line 16.139 The Thursday bifore, there he made his cene, Line 16.140 Sittynge at the soper he seide thise wordes: Line 16.141 "I am sold thorugh so[m] of yow--he shal the tyme rewe Line 16.142 That evere he his Saveour solde for silver or ellis.' Line 16.143 Judas jangled therayein, ac Jesus hym tolde Line 16.144 It was hymself soothly, and seide, " Tu dicis.' Line 16.145 Thanne wente forth that wikked man and with the Jewes mette, Line 16.146 And tolde hem a tokne how to knowe with Jesus, Line 16.147 The which tokne to this day to muche is yused-- Line 16.148 That is, kissynge and fair countenaunce and unkynde wille. Line 16.149 And so was with Judas tho, that Jesus bitrayed: Line 16.150 " Ave, raby,' quod that ribaud, and right to hym he yede, Line 16.151

Line 16.151 And kiste hym, to be caught therby and kulled of the Jewes. Line 16.152 Thanne Jesus to Judas and to the Jewes seide, Line 16.153 " Falsnesse I fynde in thi faire speche, Line 16.154 And gile in thi glad chere, and galle is in thi laughyng. Line 16.155 Thow shalt be myrour to many, men to deceyve, Line 16.156 Ac the worse, and thi wikkednesse shal worthe upon thiselve: Line 16.157 Necesse est ut veniant scandala: ve homini illi, per quem scandalum venit. Line 16.157 Though I bi treson be take, and [to] youre owene wille, Line 16.158 Suffreth myne apostles in pays, and in pees gange.' Line 16.159 On a Thursday in thesternesse thus was he taken . Line 16.160 Thorugh Judas and Jewes--Jesus was his name Line 16.161 That on the Friday folwynge for mankyndes sake Line 16.162 Justed in Jerusalem, a joye to us alle. Line 16.163 On cros upon Calvarie Crist took the bataille Line 16.164 Ayeins deeth and the devel, destruyed hir botheres myghtes-- Line 16.165 Deide, and deeth fordide, and day of nyght made. Line 16.166 And I awaked therwith, and wiped myne eighen, Line 16.167 And after Piers the Plowman pried and stared, Line 16.168 Estward and westward I waited after faste, Line 16.169 And yede forth as an ydiot, in contree to aspie Line 16.170 After Piers the Plowman--many a place I soughte. Line 16.171 And thanne mette I with a man, a myd-Lenten Sonday, Line 16.172 As hoor as an hawethorn, and Abraham he highte. Line 16.173 I frayned hym first fram whennes he come, Line 16.174 And of whennes he were, and whider that he thoughte. Line 16.175 "I am Feith,' quod that freke, "it falleth noght me to lye, Line 16.176 And of Abrahames hous an heraud of armes. Line 16.177 I seke after a segge that I seigh ones, Line 16.178 A ful bold bacheler--I knew hym by his blasen.' Line 16.179 " What berth that buyrn,' quod I tho, " so blisse thee bitide?' Line 16.180 " Thre leodes in oon lyth, noon lenger than oother, Line 16.181 Of oon muchel and myght in mesure and in lengthe. Line 16.182 That oon dooth, alle dooth, and ech dooth bi his one. Line 16.183 The firste hath myght and majestee, makere of alle thynges: Line 16.184

Line 16.184 Pater is his propre name, a persone by hymselve. Line 16.185 The secounde of that sire is Sothfastnesse Filius, Line 16.186 Wardeyn of that wit hath, was evere withouten gynnyng. Line 16.187 The thridde highte the Holi Goost, a persone by hymselve, Line 16.188 The light of al that lif hath a londe and a watre, Line 16.189 Confortour of creatures--of hym cometh alle blisse. Line 16.190 "So thre bilongeth for a lord that lordshipe cleymeth: Line 16.191 Might, and a mene [his owene myghte to knowe], Line 16.192 Of hymself and of his servaunt, and what suffreth hem bothe. Line 16.193 So God, that gynnyng hadde nevere, but tho hym good thoughte, Line 16.194 Sente forth his sone as for servaunt that tyme, Line 16.195 To ocupien hym here til issue were spronge-- Line 16.196 That is, children of charite, and Holi Chirche the moder. Line 16.197 Patriarkes and prophetes and apostles were the children, Line 16.198 And Crist and Cristendom and alle Cristene Holy Chirche Line 16.199 In menynge that man moste on o God bileve, Line 16.200 And there hym likede and lovede, in thre [leodes] hym shewede. Line 16.201 And that it may be so and sooth [sheweth it manhode]: Line 16.202 Wedlok and widwehode with virginite ynempned, Line 16.203 In tokenynge of the Trinite was taken out of o man-- Line 16.204 Adam, oure alle fader; Eve was of hymselve, Line 16.205 And the issue that thei hadde it was of hem bothe, Line 16.206 And either is otheres joye in thre sondry persones, Line 16.207 And in hevene and here oon singuler name. Line 16.208 And thus is mankynde and manhede of matrimoyne yspronge, Line 16.209 And bitokneth the Trinite and trewe bileve. Line 16.210 "Might is it in matrimoyne, that multiplieth the erthe, Line 16.211 And bitokneth trewely, telle if I dorste, Line 16.212 Hym that first formed al, the Fader of hevene. Line 16.213

Line 16.213 The Sone, if I it dorste seye, resembleth wel the widewe: Line 16.214 Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me ? Line 16.214 That is, creatour weex creature to knowe what was bothe. Line 16.215 As widewe withouten wedlok was nevere yit yseyghe, Line 16.216 Na moore myghte God be man but if he moder hadde. Line 16.217 So widewe withouten wedlok may noght wel stande, Line 16.218 Ne matrimoyne withouten muliere is noght muche to preise: Line 16.219 Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in Israel. Line 16.219 "Thus in thre persones is parfitliche pure manhede-- Line 16.220 That is, man and his make and mulliere hir children. Line 16.221 And is noght but gendre of a generacion, bifore Jesu Crist in hevene; Line 16.222 So is the fader forth with the Sone and Fre Wille of bothe-- Line 16.223 Spiritus procedens a Patre et Filio &c-- Line 16.223 Which is the Holy Goost of alle, and alle is but o God. Line 16.224 "Thus in a somer I hym seigh as I sat in my porche. Line 16.225 I roos up and reverenced hym, and right faire hym grette. Line 16.226 Thre men, to my sighte, I made wel at ese, Line 16.227 Wessh hir feet and wiped hem, and afterward thei eten Line 16.228 Calves flessh and cakebreed, and knewe what I thoughte. Line 16.229 Ful trewe toknes betwene us is, to telle whan me liketh. Line 16.230 " First he fonded me, if I lovede bettre Line 16.231 Hym or Ysaak myn heir, the which he highte me kulle. Line 16.232 He wiste my wille bi hym; he wol me it allowe; Line 16.233 I am ful siker in my soule therof, and my sone bothe. Line 16.234 "I circumcised my sone sithen for his sake-- Line 16.235 Myself and my meynee and alle that male weere Line 16.236 Bledden blood for that Lordes love, and hope to blisse the tyme. Line 16.237 affiaunce and my feith is ferme in this bileve, Line 16.238 For hymself bihighte to me and to myn issue bothe Line 16.239 Lond and lordshipe and lif withouten ende. Line 16.240

Line 16.240 To me and to myn issue moore yet he me grauntede-- Line 16.241 Mercy for oure mysdedes as many tyme as we asken: Line 16.242 Quam olim Abrahe promisisti et semini eius. Line 16.242 "And siththe he sente me, to seye I sholde do sacrifise, Line 16.243 And doon hym worship with breed and with wyn bothe, Line 16.244 And called me the foot of his feith, his folk for to save, Line 16.245 And defende hem fro the fend, folk that on me leveden. Line 16.246 "Thus have I ben his heraud here and in helle, Line 16.247 And conforted many a careful that after his comynge waiten; Line 16.248 And thus I seke hym,' he seide, "for I herde seyn late Line 16.249 Of a buyrn that baptised hym--Johan Baptist was his name-- Line 16.250 That to patriarkes and to prophetes and to oother peple in derknesse Line 16.251 Seide, that he seigh here that sholde save us alle: Line 16.252 Ecce Agnus Dei &c.' Line 16.252 I hadde wonder of hise wordes, and of hise wide clothes; Line 16.253 For in his bosom he bar a thyng, and that he blissed evere. Line 16.254 And I loked in his lappe: a lazar lay therinne Line 16.255 Amonges patriarkes and prophetes pleyinge togideres. Line 16.256 "What awaitestow?' quod he, " and what woldestow have?' Line 16.257 "I wolde wite,' quod I tho, "what is in youre lappe.' Line 16.258 " Lo!' quod he--and leet me se. " Lord, mercy!' I seide. Line 16.259 "This is a present of muche pris; what prynce shal it have?' Line 16.260 "It is a precious present,' quod he, "ac the pouke it hath attached, Line 16.261 And me thenvith,' quod that wye, "may no wed us quyte, Line 16.262 Ne no buyrn be oure borgh, ne brynge us fram his daunger; Line 16.263 Out of the poukes pondfold no maynprise may us fecche Line 16.264 Til he come that I carpe of: Crist is his name Line 16.265 That shal delivere us som day out of the develes power, Line 16.266 And bettre wed for us [wa]ge than we ben alle worthi-- Line 16.267 That is, lif for lif--or ligge thus evere Line 16.268

Line 16.268 Lollynge in my lappe, til swich a lrd us fecche.' Line 16.269 "Allas!' I seide, "that synne so longe shall lette Line 16.270 The myght of Goddes mercy, that myghte us alle amende!' Line 16.271 I wepte for hise wordes. With that saugh I another Line 16.272 Rapeliche renne forth the righte wey he wente. Line 16.273 I affrayned hym first fram whennes he come, Line 16.274 What he highte and whider he wolde--and wightly he tolde. Line 16.275