William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 17

"I am Spes, a spie,' quod he, "and spire after a knyght Line 17.001 That took me a maundement upon the mount of Synay Line 17.002 To rule alle reames therewith--l bere the writ here.' Line 17.003 "Is it asseled?" I seide. "May men see thi lettres?' Line 17.004 "Nay.' he seide. "I seke hym that hath the seel to kepe-- Line 17.005 And that is cros and Cristendom, and Crist theron to honge. Line 17.006 And whan it is asseled so, I woot wel the sothe-- Line 17.007 That Luciferis lordshipe laste shal no lenger!' Line 17.008 " Lat se thi lettres,' quod I, "we myghte the lawe knowe.' Line 17.009 He plukkede forth a patente, a pece of an hard roche, Line 17.010 Whereon was writen two wordes on this wise yglosed; Line 17.011

Line 17.011 Dilige Deum et proximum tuum-- Line 17.012 This was the tixte trewely--I took ful good yeme. Line 17.013 The glose was gloriously writen with a gilt penne: Line 17.014 In hiis duobus mandatis tota lex penhet et prophete. Line 17.015 " Is here alle thi lordes lawes?' quod I. " Ye, leve me,' he seide. Line 17.016 "And whoso wet cheth after this writ, I wol undertaken, Line 17.017 Shal nevere devel hym dere, ne deeth in soule greve. Line 17.018 For though I seye it myself, I have saved with this charme Line 17.019 Of men and of wommen many score thousand.' Line 17.020 " He seith sooth,' seide this heraud, " I have yfounde it ofte. Line 17.021 Lo! here in my lappe that leeved on that charme-- Line 17.022 Josue and Judith and Judas Macabeus, Line 17.023 Ye, and sixti thousand biside forth that ben noght seyen here!' Line 17.024 " Youre wordes arn wonderfulle,' quod I tho. " Which of yow is trewest, Line 17.025 And lelest to leve on for lif and for soule? Line 17.026 Abraham seith that he seigh hoolly the Trinite, Line 17.027 Thre persones in parcelles departable fro oother, Line 17.028 And alle thre but o God--thus Abraham me taughte-- Line 17.029 And hath saved that bileved so and sory for hir synnes, Line 17.030 He kan noght siggen the somme, and some arn in his lappe. Line 17.031 What neded it thanne a newe lawe to brynge, Line 17.032 Sith the firste suffiseth to savacion and to blisse? Line 17.033 And now cometh Spes and speketh, that hath aspied the lawe, Line 17.034 And telleth noght of the Trinite that took hym hise lettres-- Line 17.035 To bileeve and lovye in o Lord almyghty, Line 17.036 And siththe right as myself so lovye alle peple. Line 17.037 "The gorne thit gooth with o staf--he semeth in gretter heele Line 17.038 Than he that gooth with two staves, to sighte of us alle. Line 17.039 And right so, bi the roode, reson me sheweth Line 17.040 It is lighter to lewed men o lesson to knowe Line 17.041 Than for to techen hem two, and to hard to lerne the leeste! Line 17.042 It is ful hard for any man on Abraham bileve, Line 17.043

Line 17.043 And wel awey worse yit for to love a sherewe. Line 17.044 lt is lighter to leeve in thre lovely persones Line 17.045 Than for to lovye and lene as wel lorels as lele. Line 17.046 Go thi gate, 'quod I to Spes; "so me God helpe, Line 17.047 Tho that lernen thi lawe wol litel while usen it!' Line 17.048 And as we wenten thus in the wey, wordynge togideres, Line 17.049 Thanne seighe we a Samaritan sittynge on a mule, Line 17.050 Ridynge ful rapely the righte wey we yeden, Line 17.051 Comynge from a contree that men called Jerico-- Line 17.052 To a justes in Jerusalem he [j]aced awey faste. Line 17.053 Bothe the heraud and Hope and he mette atones Line 17.054 Where a man was, wounded, and with theves taken. Line 17.055 He myghte neither steppe ne stande, ne stere foot ne handes, Line 17.056 Ne helpe hymself soothly, for semyvif he semed, Line 17.057 And as naked as a nedle, and noon help abouten. Line 17.058 Feith hadde first sighte of hym, ac he fleigh aside, Line 17.059 And nolde noght neghen hym by nyne londes lengthe. Line 17.060 Hope cam hippynge after, that hadde so ybosted Line 17.061 How he with Moyses maundement hadde many men yholpe; Line 17.062 Ac whan he hadde sighte of that segge, aside he gan hym drawe Line 17.063 Dredfully, bi this day, as doke dooth fram the faucon! Line 17.064 Ac so soone so the Samaritan hadde sighte of this leode, Line 17.065 He lighte adown of lyard and ladde hym in his handes, Line 17.066 And to the wye he wente hise woundes to biholde, Line 17.067 And parceyved by his pous he was in peril to dye, Line 17.068 And but he hadde recoverer the rather, that rise sholde he nevere; Line 17.069 And breide to hise boteles, and bothe he atamede. Line 17.070 With wyn and with oille hise woundes he wasshed, Line 17.071 Enbawmed hym and bond his heed, and in his lappe hym leide, Line 17.072 And ladde hym so forth on lyard to Lex Christi, a graunge Line 17.073 Wel sixe mile or sevene biside the newe market; Line 17.074 Herberwed hym at an hostrie and to the hostiler called, Line 17.075

Line 17.075 And [quod], " Have, kepe this man, til I come fro the justes, Line 17.076 And lo here silver,' he seide, "for salve to hise woundes.' Line 17.077 And he took hym two pens to liflode as it weere, Line 17.078 And seide, "What he [moore spendeth] I make thee good herafter, Line 17.079 For I may noght lette,' quod that leode--and lyard he bistrideth, Line 17.080 And raped hym to Jerusalemward the righte wey to ryde. Line 17.081 Feith folwede after faste, and fondede to mete hym, Line 17.082 And Spes spakliche hym spedde, spede if he myghte Line 17.083 To overtaken hym and talke to hym er thei to towne coome. Line 17.084 And whan I seigh this, I sojourned noght. but shoop me to renne, Line 17.085 And suwed that Samaritan that was so ful of pite, Line 17.086 And graunted hym to ben his groom. "Graunt mercy,' he seide, Line 17.087 "Ac thi frend and thi felawe,' quod he, "thow fyndest me at nede.' Line 17.088 And I thanked hym tho and siththe I hym tolde Line 17.089 How that Feith fleigh awey and Spes his felawe bothe Line 17.090 For sighte of the sorweful [segge] that robbed was with theves. Line 17.091 " Have hem excused,' quod he, "hir help may litel availle: Line 17.092 May no medicyne under molde the man to heele brynge-- Line 17.093 Neither Feith ne fyn Hope, so festred be hise woundes, Line 17.094 Withouten the blood of a barn born of a mayde. Line 17.095 And be he bathed in that blood, baptised as it were, Line 17.096 And thanne plastred with penaunce and passion of that baby, Line 17.097 He sholde stonde and steppe--ac stalworthe worth he nevere Line 17.098 Til he have eten al the barn and his blood ydronke. Line 17.099 For wente nevere wye in this world thorugh that wildernesse Line 17.100 That he ne was robbed or rifled, rood he there or yede, Line 17.101 Save Feith and [myselve and] Spes [his felawe], Line 17.102 And thiself now and swiche as suwen oure werkes. Line 17.103 " For Outlawe is in the wode and under bank lotieth, Line 17.104 And may ech man see and good mark take Line 17.105 Who is bihynde and who bifore and who ben on horse-- Line 17.106

Line 17.106 For he halt hym hardier on horse than he that is a foote. Line 17.107 For he seigh me that am Samaritan suwen Feith and his felawe Line 17.108 On my capul that highte Caro--of mankynde I took it-- Line 17.109 He was unhardy, that harlot, and hidde hym in Inferno. Line 17.110 Ac er this day thre daies, I dar undertaken Line 17.111 That he worth fettred, that feloun, faste with cheynes, Line 17.112 And nevere eft greve gome that gooth this ilke gate: Line 17.113 0 Mors ero mors tua &c. Line 17.113 "And thanne shal Feith be forster here and in this fryth walke, Line 17.114 And kennen out comune men that knowen noght the contree, Line 17.115 Which is the wey I wente, and wher forth to Jerusalem; Line 17.116 And Hope the hostilers man shal be ther [an helyng the man lith], Line 17.117 And alle that feble and feynte be, that Feith may noght teche, Line 17.118 Hope shal lede hem forth with love, as his lettre telleth, Line 17.119 And hostele hem and heele thorugh Holy Chirche bileve Line 17.120 Til I have salve for alle sike--and thanne shal I returne, Line 17.121 And come ayein bi this contree and conforten alle sike Line 17.122 That craveth it or coveiteth it and crieth therafter. Line 17.123 For the barn was born in Bethleem that with his blood shal save Line 17.124 Alle that lyven in Feith and folwen his felawes techynge.' Line 17.125 "A, swete sire!' I seide tho, "wher I shal bileve-- Line 17.126 As Feith and his felawe enformed me bothe-- Line 17.127 In thre persones departable that perpetuele were evere, Line 17.128 And alle thre but o God? Thus Abraham me taughte; Line 17.129 And Hope afterward he bad me to lovye Line 17.130 O God with al my good, and alle gomes after, Line 17.131 Lovye hem lik myselve--ac Oure Lord aboven alle.' Line 17.132 "After Abraham,' quod he, "tat heraud of armes, Line 17.133 Sette faste thi feith and ferme bileve; Line 17.134 And as Hope highte thee, I hote that thow lovye Line 17.135 Thyn evenecristene everemoore eveneforth with thiselve. Line 17.136

Line 17.136 And if conscience carpe therayein, or kynde wit eyther, Line 17.137 Or eretikes with arguments--thyn hond thow hem shewe: Line 17.138 For God is after an hand--yheer now and knowe it. Line 17.139 "The Fader was first as a fust with o fynger foldynge, Line 17.140 Til hym lovede and liste to unlosen his fynger Line 17.141 And profrede it forth as with a pawme to what place it sholde. Line 17.142 The pawme is purely the hand, and profreth forth the fyngres, Line 17.143 To ministren and to make that myght of hand knoweth; Line 17.144 And bitokneth trewely, telle whoso liketh, Line 17.145 The Holy Goost of hevene--he is as the pawme. Line 17.146 The fyngres that fre ben to folde and to serve Line 17.147 Bitoknen soothly the Sone, that sent was til erthe, Line 17.148 That touched and tastede at techynge of the pawme Line 17.149 Seinte Marie, a mayde, and mankynde laughte: Line 17.150 Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c. Line 17.150 "The Fader is thanne as a fust with fynger to touche-- Line 17.151 Quia ""Omnia traham ad me ipsum &c''-- Line 17.151 Al that the pawme parceyveth profitable to feele. Line 17.152 Thus are thei alle but oon, as it an hand weere, Line 17.153 And thre sondry sightes in oon shewynge. Line 17.154 The pawme for he put forth fyngres and the fust bothe, Line 17.155 Right so, redily, reson it shewith, Line 17.156 How he that is Holy Goost Sire and Sone preveth. Line 17.157 And as the hand halt harde and alle thyng faste Line 17.158 Thorugh foure fyngres and a thombe forth with the pawme, Line 17.159 Right so the Fader and the Sone and Seint Spirit the thridde Line 17.160 Halt al the wide world withinne hem thre-- Line 17.161 Bothe wolkne and the wynd, water and erthe, Line 17.162 Hevene and helle and al that ther is inne. Line 17.163 Thus it is--nedeth no man to trowe noon oother-- Line 17.164 That thre thynges bilongeth in Oure Lord of hevene, Line 17.165 And aren serelepes by hemself, asondry were thei nevere, Line 17.166

Line 17.166 Namoore than may an hande meve withoute fyngres. Line 17.167 "And as my fust is ful hand yfolden togideres, Line 17.168 So is the Fader a ful God, formour and shappere--- Line 17.169 Tu fabricator omnium &c-- Line 17.169 And al the myght myd hym is in makynge of thynges. Line 17.170 "The fyngres formen a ful hand to portreye or peynten; Line 17.171 Kervynge and compasynge is craft of the fyngres. Line 17.172 Right so is the Sone the science of the Fader Line 17.173 And ful God as is the Fader, no febler ne no bettre. Line 17.174 "The pawme is pureliche the hand, hath power by hymselve Line 17.175 Otherwise than the writhen fust, or werkmans ipe of fyngres; Line 17.176 For the pawme hath power to putte out the j ntes Line 17.177 And to unfolde the fust, for hym it bilongeth, Line 17.178 And receyve that the fyngres recheth and refuse bothe Line 17.179 Whan he feleth the fust and the fyngres wille. Line 17.180 "So is the Holy Goost God, neither gretter ne lasse Line 17.181 Than is the Sire or the Sone, and in the same myghte, Line 17.182 And alle are thei but o God, as is myn hand and my fyngres, Line 17.183 Unfolden or folden, my fust and my pawme-- Line 17.184 Al is but an hand, howso I turne it. Line 17.185 "Ac who is hurte in the hand, evene in the myddes, Line 17.186 He may receyve right noght--reson it sheweth; Line 17.187 For the fyngres that folde sholde and the fust make, Line 17.188 For peyne of the pawme, power hem failleth Line 17.189 To clucche or to clawe, to clippe or to holde. Line 17.190 "Were the myddel of myn hand ymaymed or ypersshed, Line 17.191 I sholde receyve right noght of that I reche myghte; Line 17.192 Ac though rny thombe and my fynges bothe were toshullen Line 17.193

Line 17.193 And the myddel of myn hand withoute male ese, Line 17.194 In many kynnes maneres I myghte myself helpe Line 17.195 Bothe meve and amende, though alle my fyngres oke. Line 17.196 "By this skile,' he seide, I se an evidence Line 17.197 That whoso synneth in the Seint Spirit, assoilled worth he nevere, Line 17.198 Neither here ne elliswhere, as I herde telle-- Line 17.199 Qui peccat in Spiritum Sanctum &c-- Line 17.199 For he priketh God as in the pawme, that peccat in Spiritu[m] Sanctu[m]. Line 17.200 For God the Fader is as a fust; the Sone is as a fynger; Line 17.201 The Holy Goost of hevene is as it were the pawme. Line 17.202 So whoso synneth ayeyns the Seint Spirit, it semeth that he greveth Line 17.203 God that he grypeth with, and wolde his grace quenche. Line 17.204 "For to a torche or a tapur the Trinite is likned-- Line 17.205 As wex and a weke were twyned togideres, Line 17.206 And thanne a fir flawmynge forth out of bothe. Line 17.207 And as wex and weke and warm fir togideres Line 17.208 Fostren forth a flawmbe and a fair leye Line 17.209 [That serveth thise swynkeres to se by anightes], Line 17.210 So dooth the Sire and the Sone and also Spiritus Sanctus Line 17.211 Fostren forth amonges folk love and bileve, Line 17.212 That alle kynne Cristene clenseth of synnes. Line 17.213 And as thow seest som tyme sodeynliche a torche-- Line 17.214 The blase therof yblowe out, yet brenneth the weke-- Line 17.215 Withouten leye or light, that [lowe] the macche brenneth; Line 17.216 So is the Holy Goost God, and grace withoute mercy Line 17.217 To alle unkynde creatures that coveite to destruye Line 17.218 Lele love or lif that Oure Lord shapte. Line 17.219 "And as glowynge gledes gladeth noght thise werkmen Line 17.220 That werchen and waken in wyntres nyghtes, Line 17.221 As dooth a kex or a candle that caught hath fir and blaseth, Line 17.222 Namoore dooth Sire ne Sone ne Seint Spirit togideres Line 17.223 Graunte no grace ne forgifnesse of synnes Line 17.224 Til the Holy Goost gynne to glowe and to blase; Line 17.225

Line 17.225 So that the Holy Goost gloweth but as a glede Line 17.226 Til that lele love ligge on hym and blowe. Line 17.227 And thanne flawmeth he as fir on Fader and on Filius Line 17.228 And melteth hire myght into mercy-- as men may se in wyntre Line 17.229 Ysekeles in evesynges thorugh hete of the sonne Line 17.230 Melte in a mynut while to myst and to watre. Line 17.231 "So grace of the Holy Goost the greet myght of the Trinite Line 17.232 Melteth to mercy--to merciable and to noon othere. Line 17.233 And as wex withouten moore on a warm glede Line 17.234 Wol brennen and blasen, be thei togideres, Line 17.235 And solacen hem that mowe [noght] se, that sitten in derknesse, Line 17.236 So wol the Fader foryyve folk of mylde hertes Line 17.237 That rufully repenten and restitucion make, Line 17.238 In as muche as thei mowen arnenden and paien; Line 17.239 And if it suffise noght for assetz, that in swich a wille deyeth, Line 17.240 Mercy for his mekenesse wol maken good the remenaunt. Line 17.241 And as the weke and fir wol maken a warm flaumbe Line 17.242 For to murthen men with that in merke sitten, Line 17.243 So wole Crist of his curteisie, and men crye hym mercy, Line 17.244 Bothe foryyve and foryete, and yit bidde for us Line 17.245 To the Fader of hevene foryifnesse to have. Line 17.246 "Ac hewe fir at a flynt foure hundred wynter-- Line 17.247 But thow have tache to take it with, tonder or broches, Line 17.248 Al thi labour is lost and al thi long travaille; Line 17.249 For may no fir flaumbe make, faille it his kynde. Line 17.250 So is the Holy Goost God and grace withouten mercy Line 17.251 To alle unkynde creatures--Crist hymself witnesseth: Line 17.252 Amen dico vobis, nescio vos &c. Line 17.252 "Be unkynde to thyn evenecristene, and al that thow kanst bidde-- Line 17.253 Delen and do penaunce day and nyght evere, Line 17.254 And purchace al the pardon of Pampilon and Rome, Line 17.255 And indulgences ynowe, and be ingratus to thi kynde, Line 17.256 The Holy Goest hereth thee neght, ne help may thee by reson; Line 17.257

Line 17.257 For unkyndenesse quencheth hym, that he kan noght shyne, Line 17.258 Ne brenne ne blase clere, for blowynge of unkyndenesse. Line 17.259 Poul the Apostel preveth wheither I lye: Line 17.260 Si linguis hominum loquar &c. Line 17.260 " Forthi beth war, ye wise men that with the world deleth, Line 17.261 That riche ben and reson knoweth--ruleth wel youre soule; Line 17.262 Beth noght unkynde, I conseille yow, to youre evenecristene; Line 17.263 For manye of yow riche men, by my soule, men telleth, Line 17.264 Ye brenne, but ye blase noght, and that is a blynd bekene!-- Line 17.265 Non omnis qui dicit Domine, Domine, intrabit &c. Line 17.265 " Dives deyde dampned for his unkyndenesse Line 17.266 Of his mete and his moneie to men that it nedede. Line 17.267 Ech a riche, I rede, reward at hym take, Line 17.268 And gyveth youre good to that God that grace of ariseth. Line 17.269 For that ben unkynde to hise. hope I noon oother Line 17.270 But thei dwelle ther Dives is dayes withouten ende. Line 17.271 "Thus is unkyndenesse the contrarie that quencheth, as it were, Line 17.272 The grace of the Holy Goost, Goddes owene kynde. Line 17.273 For that kynde dooth, unkynde fordooth--as thise corsede theves, Line 17.274 Unkynde Cristene men, for coveitise and envye Line 17.275 Sleeth a man for hise moebles, with mouth or with handes. Line 17.276 For that the Holy Goost hath to kepe, tho harlotes destruyeth-- Line 17.277 The which is lif and love, the leye of mannes body. Line 17.278 For every manere good man may be likned to a torche, Line 17.279 Or ellis to a tapur, to reverence the Trinite; Line 17.280 And whoso morthereth a good man, me thynketh, by myn inwit, Line 17.281 He fordooth the levest light that Oure Lord lovyeth. Line 17.282 "Ac yet in manye mo maneres men offenden the Holy Geost; Line 17.283 Ac this is the worste wise that any wight myghte Line 17.284 Synnen ayein the Seint Spirit--assenten to destruye Line 17.285 For coveitise of any kynnes thyng that Crist deere boughte. Line 17.286

Line 17.286 How myghte he aske mercy, or any mercy hym hel Line 17.287 That wikkedliche and wilfulliche wolde mercy aniente? Line 17.288 "Innocence is next God, and nyght and day it crieth Line 17.289 ""Vengeaunce ! Vengeaunce! Foryyve be it nevere Line 17.290 That shente us and shedde oure blood--forshapte us, as it semed: Line 17.291 Vindica sanguinem iustorum .'' Line 17.291 Thus "" Vengeaunce, vengeaunce!'' verrey charite asketh; Line 17.292 And sith Holy Chirche and charite chargeth this so soore, Line 17.293 Leve I nevere that Oure Lord wol love that charite lakketh, Line 17.294 Ne have pite for any preiere [that he pleyneth ther].' Line 17.295 "I pose I hadde synned so, and sholde now deye, Line 17.296 And now am sory that I so the Seint Spirit agulte, Line 17.297 Confesse me and crye his grace, God that al made, Line 17.298 And myldeliche his mercy aske--myghte I noght be saved?' Line 17.299 "Yis,' seide the Samaritan, "so thow myghte repente Line 17.300 That rightwisnesse thorugh repentaunce to ruthe myghte turne. Line 17.301 Ac it is but selden yseighe, ther soothnesse bereth witnesse, Line 17.302 Any creature be coupable afore a kynges justice, Line 17.303 Be raunsoned for his repentaunce ther alle reson hym dampneth. Line 17.304 For ther that partie pursueth the peel is so huge Line 17.305 That the kyng may do no mercy til bothe men acorde Line 17.306 And eyther have equite, as holy writ telleth: Line 17.307 Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c. Line 17.307 Thus it fareth by swich folk that falsly al hire lyves Line 17.308 Yvele lyven and leten noght til lif hem forsake. Line 17.309 Drede of desperacion thanne dryveth awey grace, Line 17.310 That mercy in hir mynde may noght thanne falle; Line 17.311 Good hope, that helpe sholde, to wanhope torneth-- Line 17.312

Line 17.312 Noght of the nounpower of God, that he ne is myghtful Line 17.313 To amende al that amys is, and his mercy gretter Line 17.314 Thanne alle our wikkede werkes, as Holy Writ telleth-- Line 17.315 Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius-- Line 17.315 Ac er his rightwisnesse to ruthe torne, som restitucion bihoveth: Line 17.316 His sorwe is satisfaccion for [swich] that may noght paie. Line 17.317 "Thre thynges ther ben that doon a man by strengthe Line 17.318 For to fleen his owene hous, as Holy Writ sheweth. Line 17.319 That oon is a wikkede wif that wol noght be chastised: Line 17.320 Hir feere fleeth hire for feere of hir tonge. Line 17.321 And if his hous be unhiled, and reyne on his bedde, Line 17.322 He seketh and seketh til he slepe drye. Line 17.323 And whan smoke and smolder smyt in his sighte, Line 17.324 It dooth hym worse than his wif or wete to slepe. Line 17.325 For smoke and smolder smerteth hise eighen Line 17.326 Til he be bler eighed or blynde and [the borre] in the throte, Line 17.327 Cogheth and curseth that Crist gyve hym sorwe Line 17.328 That sholde brynge in bettre wode, or blowe it til it brende! Line 17.329 "Thise thre that I telle of thus ben to understonde: Line 17.330 The wif is oure wikked flessh that wol noght be chastised, Line 17.331 For kynde clyveth on hym evere to contrarie the soule. Line 17.332 And though it falle, it fynt skiles, that "" Frelete it made,'' Line 17.333 And ""That is lightly foryyven and foryeten bothe Line 17.334 To man that mercy asketh and amende thenketh.'' Line 17.335 "The reyn that reyneth ther we reste sholde Line 17.336 Ben siknesses and sorwes that we suffren oughte, Line 17.337 As Poul the Apostle to the peple taughte: Line 17.338 Virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Line 17.338 And though that men make muche doel in hir angre, Line 17.339 And ben inpacient in hir penaunce, pure reson knoweth Line 17.340 That thei han cause to contrarie, by kynde of hir siknesse; Line 17.341

Line 17.341 And lightliche Oure Lord at hir lyves ende Line 17.342 Hath mercy on swiche men, that so yvele may suffre. Line 17.343 "Ac the smoke and the smolder that smyt in oure eighen, Line 17.344 That is coveitise and unkyndenesse, that quencheth Goddes mercy. Line 17.345 For unkyndenesse is the contrarie of alle kynnes reson; Line 17.346 For ther nys sik ne sory, ne noon so muche wrecche Line 17.347 That he ne may lovye, and hym like, and lene of his herte Line 17.348 Good wille, good word--bothe wisshen and wilnen Line 17.349 Alle manere men mercy and foryifnesse, Line 17.350 And lovye hem lik hymself, and his lif amende. Line 17.351 "I may no lenger lette!' quod he, and lyard he prikede, Line 17.352 And wente awey as wynd--and therwith I awakede. Line 17.353