William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 20

Thanne as I wente by the way, whan I was thus awaked, Line 20.001 Hevy chered I yede, and elenge in herte; Line 20.002 For I ne wiste wher to ete ne at what place, Line 20.003 And it neghed neigh the noon, and with Nede I mette, Line 20.004 That afrounted me foule and faitour me called. Line 20.005 "Coudestow noght excuse thee, as dide the kyng and othere-- Line 20.006 That thow toke to thy bilyve, to clothes and to sustenaunce, Line 20.007 Was by techynge and by tellynge of Spiritus Temperancie, Line 20.008 And that thow nome na moore than nede thee taughte, Line 20.009 And nede ne hath no lawe, ne nevere shal falle in dette Line 20.010 For thre thynges he taketh his lif for to save?-- Line 20.011 That is, mete whan men hym werneth, and he no moneye weldeth, Line 20.012 Ne wight noon wol ben his borugh, ne wed hath noon to legge; Line 20.013 And he ca[cch]e in that caas and come therto by sleighte, Line 20.014

Line 20.014 He synneth noght, soothliche, that so wynneth his foode. Line 20.015 And though he come so to a clooth, and kan no bettre chevyssaunce, Line 20.016 Nede anoon righte nymeth hym under maynprise. Line 20.017 And if hym list for to lape, the lawe of kynde wolde Line 20.018 That he dronke at ech dych, er he [deide for thurst]. Line 20.019 So Nede, at gret nede, may nymen as for his owene, Line 20.020 Withouten conseil of Conscience or Cardynale Vertues-- Line 20.021 So that he sewe and save Spiritus Temperancie. Line 20.022 "For is no vertue bi fer to Spiritus Temperancie-- Line 20.023 Neither Spiritus Iusticie ne Spiritus Fortitudinis. Line 20.024 For Spiritus Fortitudinis forfeteth ful ofte: Line 20.025 He shal do moore than mesure many tyme and ofte, Line 20.026 And bete men over bittre, and som body to litel, Line 20.027 And greve men gretter than good feith it wolde. Line 20.028 "And Spiritus Iusticie shal juggen, wole he, nel he, Line 20.029 After the kynges counseil and the comune like. Line 20.030 And Spiritus Prudencie in many a point shal faille Line 20.031 Of that he weneth wolde falle if his wit ne weere. Line 20.032 Wenynge is no wysdom, ne wys ymaginacion: Line 20.033 Homo proponit et Deus disponit-- Line 20.033 [God] governeth alle goode vertues; Line 20.034 And Nede is next hym, for anoon he meketh Line 20.035 And as lowe as a lomb, for lakkyng that hym nedeth; Line 20.036 For nede maketh nede fele nedes lowe-herted. Line 20.037 Philosophres forsoke welthe for thei wolde be nedy, Line 20.038 And woneden wel elengely and wolde noght be riche. Line 20.039 "And God al his grete joye goostliche he lefte, Line 20.040 And cam and took mankynde and bicam nedy." Line 20.041 So he was nedy, as seith the Book, in manye sondry places, Line 20.042 That he seide in his some on the selve roode, Line 20.043 "'the Fox and fowel may fle to hole and crepe, Line 20.044

Line 20.044 And the fissh hath fyn to flete with to reste, Line 20.045 Ther nede hath ynome me, that I moot nede abide Line 20.046 And suffre sorwes ful soure, that shal to joye torne.'' Line 20.047 Forthi be noght abasshed to bide and to be nedy, Line 20.048 Sith he that wroghte al the world was wilfulliche nedy, Line 20.049 Ne nevere noon so nedy ne poverer deide.' Line 20.050 Whan Nede hadde undernome rne thus, anoon I fil aslepe, Line 20.051 And mette ful merveillously that in mannes forme Line 20.052 Antecrist cam thanne, and al the crop of truthe Line 20.053 Torned it [tid] up-so-doun, and overtilte the roote, Line 20.054 And made fals sprynge and sprede and spede mennes nedes. Line 20.055 In ech a contree ther he cam he kutte awey truthe. Line 20.056 And gerte gile growe there as he a god weere. Line 20.057 Freres folwede that fend, for he gaf hem copes, Line 20.058 And religiouse reverenced hym and rongen hir belles, Line 20.059 And al the covent cam to welcome that tyraunt, Line 20.060 And alle hise as wel as hym--save oonly fooles; Line 20.061 Whiche fooles were wel gladdere to deye Line 20.062 Than to lyve lenger sith Leute was so rebuked, Line 20.063 And a fals fend Antecrist over alle folk regnede. Line 20.064 And that were rnylde men and holye, that no meschief dradden, Line 20.065 Defyed alle falsnesse and folk that it usede; Line 20.066 And what kyng that hem conforted, knowynge h[ir] gile, Line 20.067 They cursed, and hir conseil--were it clerk or lewed. Line 20.068 Antecrist hadde thus soone hundredes at his baner, Line 20.069 And Pride bar it bare boldely aboute, Line 20.070 With a lord that lyveth after likyng of body, Line 20.071 That cam ayein Conscience, that kepere was and gyour Line 20.072 Over kynde Cristene and Cardynale Vertues. Line 20.073 "I conseille,' quod Conscience tho, "cometh with me, ye fooles, Line 20.074 Into Unite Holy Chirche, and holde we us there. Line 20.075 And crye we to Kynde that he come and defende us Line 20.076 Fooles fro thise fendes lymes, for Piers love the Plowman. Line 20.077 And crye we on al the comune that thei come to Unitee, Line 20.078 And there abide and bikere ayeins Beliales children.' Line 20.079

Line 20.079 Kynde Conscience tho herde, and cam out of the planetes, Line 20.080 And sente forth his forreyours -- feveres and fluxes, Line 20.081 Coughes and cardiacles, crampes and toothaches, Line 20.082 Rewmes and radegundes and roynouse scalles, Line 20.083 Biles and bocches and brennynge agues, Line 20.084 Frenesies and foule yveles--forageres of Kynde Line 20.085 Hadde ypriked and prayed polles of peple; Line 20.086 Largeliche a legion lees hir lif soone. Line 20.087 There was " Harrow!' and " Help! Here cometh Kynde, Line 20.088 With Deeth that is dredful, to undo us alle!' Line 20.089 The lord that lyved after lust tho aloud cryde Line 20.090 After Confort, a knyght, to come and bere his baner. Line 20.091 "Alarme! Alarme!' quod that lord, "ech lif kepe his owene!' Line 20.092 Thanne mette thise men, er mynstrals myghte pipe, Line 20.093 And er heraudes of armes hadden discryved lordes, Line 20.094 Elde the hoore; he was in the vauntwarde, Line 20.095 And bar the baner bifore Deeth--bi right he it cleymede. Line 20.096 Kynde cam after hym, with many kene soores, Line 20.097 As pokkes and pestilences--and muche peple shente; Line 20.098 So Kynde thorugh corrupcions kilde ful manye, Line 20.099 Deeth cam dryvynge after and al to duste passhed Line 20.100 Kynges and knyghtes, kaysers and popes. Line 20.101 Lered ne lewed, he lefte no man stonde Line 20.102 That he hitte evene, that evere stired after. Line 20.103 Manye a lovely lady and [hir] lemmans knyghtes Line 20.104 Swowned and swelted for sorwe of Dethes dyntes. Line 20.105 Conscience of his curteisie to Kynde he bisoughte Line 20.106 To cesse and suffre, and see wher thei wo1de Line 20.107 Leve Pride pryvely and be parfite Cristene. Line 20.108 And Kynde cessede tho, to se the peple amende. Line 20.109 Fortune gan flatere thanne tho fewe that were alyve, Line 20.110 And bihighte hem long lif--and lecherie h Line 20.111 Amonges alle manere men, wedded and unwedded, Line 20.112

Line 20.112 And gaderede a greet hoost al agayn Conscience. Line 20.113 "This Lecherie leide on with laughynge chiere Line 20.114 And with pryvee speche and peyntede wordes, Line 20.115 And armede hym in ydelnesse and in heigh berynge. Line 20.116 He bar a bowe in his hand and manye brode arewes, Line 20.117 Weren fethered with fair biheste and many a fals truthe. Line 20.118 With untidy tales he tened ful ofte Line 20.119 Conscience and his compaignye, of Holy Kirke the techeris. Line 20.120 Thanne cam Coveitise and caste how he myghte Line 20.121 Overcome Conscience and Cardinale Vertues, Line 20.122 And armed hym in avarice and hungriliche lyvede. Line 20.123 His wepne was al wiles, to wynnen and to hiden; Line 20.124 With glosynges and with gabbynges he giled the peple. Line 20.125 Symonye hym s[ue]de to assaille Conscience, Line 20.126 And preched to the peple, and prelates thei hem maden Line 20.127 To holden with Antecrist, hir temporaltees to save; Line 20.128 And cam to the kynges counseille as a kene baroun, Line 20.129 And kneled to Conscience in Court afore hem alle, Line 20.130 And garte Good Feith flee and Fals to abide; Line 20.131 And boldeliche bar adoun with many a bright noble Line 20.132 Muche of the wit and wisdom of Westmynstre Halle. Line 20.133 He jogged til a justice and justed in his eere, Line 20.134 And overtilte al his truthe with "Tak this up amendement.' Line 20.135 And to the Arches in haste he yede anoon after, Line 20.136 And tornede Cyvyle into Symonye, and siththe he took the Official: Line 20.137 For a menever mantel he made lele matrymoyne Line 20.138 Departen er deeth cam, and a devors shapte. Line 20.139 "Allas!' quod Conscience, and cryde tho, "wolde Crist of his grace Line 20.140 That Coveitise were Cristene, that is so kene to fighte, Line 20.141 And boold and bidynge the while his bagge lasteth!' Line 20.142 And thanne lough Lyf, and leet daggen hise clothes, Line 20.143

Line 20.143 And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes, Line 20.144 And heeld Holynesse a jape and Hendenesse a wastour, Line 20.145 And leet Leautee a cherl and Lyere a fre man; Line 20.146 Conscience and counseil, he counted it folye. Line 20.147 Thus relyede Lif for a litel fortune, Line 20.148 And priked forth with Pride--preiseth he no vertue, Line 20.149 Ne careth noght how Kynde slow, and shal come at the laste Line 20.150 And kille alle erthely creature save Conscience oone. Line 20.151 Lyf lepte aside and laughte hym a lemman. Line 20.152 "Heele and I,' quod he, "and heighnesse of herte Line 20.153 Shal do thee noght drede neither deeth ne elde. Line 20.154 And to foryyte sorwe and yyve noght of synne." Line 20.155 This likede Lif and his lemman Fortune, Line 20.156 And geten in hir glorie a gadelyng at the laste, Line 20.157 Oon that muche wo wroughte, Sleuthe was his name. Line 20.158 Sleuthe wax wonder yerne and soone was of age, Line 20.159 And wedded oon Wanhope, a wenche of the stuwes. Line 20.160 Hir sire was a sysour that nevere swoor truthe--- Line 20.161 Oon Tomme Two-tonge, atteynt at ech a queste. Line 20.162 This Sleuthe was war of werre, and a slynge made. Line 20.163 And threw drede of dispair a dozeyne myle aboute. Line 20.164 For care Conscience tho cryde upon Elde, Line 20.165 And bad hym fonde to fighte and afere Wanhope. Line 20.166 And Elde hente good hope, and hastiliche he shifte hym, Line 20.167 And wayved awey Wanhope and with Lif he fighteth. Line 20.168 And Lif fleigh for feere to Phisik after helpe, Line 20.169 And bisoughte hym of socour, and of his salve hadde, Line 20.170 And gaf hym gold good woon that gladede his herte-- Line 20.171 And thei gyven hym ageyn a glazene howve. Line 20.172 Lyf leeved that lechecraft lette sholde Elde, Line 20.173 And dryven awey deeth with dyas and drogges. Line 20.174 And Elde auntred hym on Lyf--and at the laste he hitte Line 20.175 A phisicien with a furred hood, that he fel in a palsie, Line 20.176 And there dyed that doctour er thre dayes after. Line 20.177 "Now I se,' seide Lif, "that surgerie ne phisik Line 20.178

Line 20.178 May noght a myte availle to medle ayein Elde.' Line 20.179 And in hope of his heele good herte he hente Line 20.180 And rood so to Revel, a riche place and a murye-- Line 20.181 The compaignye of confort men cleped it som tyme-- Line 20.182 And Elde anoon after hym, and over myn heed yede, Line 20.183 And made me balled bifore and bare on the croune: Line 20.184 So harde he yede over myn heed it wol be sene evere. Line 20.185 "Sire yvele ytaught Elde!' quod I, "unhende go with the! Line 20.186 Sith whanne was the wey over menne heddes? Line 20.187 Haddestow be hende,' quod I, "thow woldest have asked leeve!' Line 20.188 "Ye--leve, lurdeyn?' quod he, and leyde on me with age, Line 20.189 And hitte me under the ere--unnethe may ich here. Line 20.190 Helbuffetted me aboute the mouth and bette out my wangteeth, Line 20.191 And gyved me in goutes--I may noght goon at large. Line 20.192 And of the wo that I was inne my wif hadde ruthe, Line 20.193 And wisshed wel witterly that I were in hevene. Line 20.194 For the lyme that she loved me fore, and leef was to feele-- Line 20.195 On nyghtes, namely, whan we naked weere-- Line 20.196 I ne myghte in no manere maken it at hir wille, Line 20.197 So Elde and he[o] hadden it forbeten. Line 20.198 And as I seet in this sorwe, I saugh how Kynde passede, Line 20.199 And deeth drogh neigh me--for drede gan I quake, Line 20.200 And cryde to Kynde, "Out of care me brynge! Line 20.201 Lo! how Elde the hoore hath me biseye: Line 20.202 Awreke me if youre wille be, for I wolde ben hennes! Line 20.203 "If thow wolt be wroken, wend into Unitee, Line 20.204 And hold thee there evere, til I sende for thee; Line 20.205 And loke thow konne som craft er thow come thennes.' Line 20.206 "Counseille me, Kynde,' quod I, "what craft be best to lerne?' Line 20.207 "Lerne to love,' quod Kynde, "and leef alle othere.' Line 20.208 "How shal I come to catel so, toclothe me and to feede?' Line 20.209 "And thow love lelly, lakke shal thee nevere Line 20.210 Weede ne worldly mete, while thi lif lasteth.' Line 20.211

Line 20.211 And there by conseil of Kynde I comsed to rome Line 20.212 Thorugh Contricion and Confession til I cam to Unitee. Line 20.213 And there was Conscience conestable Cristene to save, Line 20.214 And bisegede soo[r]ly with sevene grete geaunts Line 20.215 That with Antecrist helden harde ayein Conscience. Line 20.216 Sleuthe with his slynge an hard saut he made. Line 20.217 Proude preestes coome with hym--pange an hundred Line 20.218 In paltokes and pyked shoes and pisseris longe knyves Line 20.219 Coomen ayein Conscience--with Coveitise thei helden. Line 20.220 "By the Marie!' quod a mansed preest, was of the march of Irlonde, Line 20.221 "I counte na moore Conscience, by so I cacche silver, Line 20.222 Than I do to drynke a draughte of good ale!' Line 20.223 And so seiden sixty of the same contree, Line 20.224 And shotten ayein with shot, many a sheef of othes, Line 20.225 And brode hoked arwes--Goddes herte and hise nayles-- Line 20.226 And hadden almoost Unitee and holynesse adown. Line 20.227 Conscience cryede, " Help, Clergie. or ellis I falle Line 20.228 Thorugh inparfite preestes and prelates of Holy Chirche! Line 20.229 Freres herden hym crye, and comen hym to helpe-- Line 20.230 Ac for thei kouthe noght wel hir craft, Conscience forsook hem. Line 20.231 Nede neghede tho neer, and Conscience he tolde Line 20.232 That thei come for coveitise to have cure of soules. Line 20.233 "And for thei are povere, paraventure, for patrymoyne hem failleth, Line 20.234 Thei wol flatere, to fare wel, folk that ben riche. Line 20.235 And sithen thei chosen chele and cheitiftee, poverte-- Line 20.236 Lat hem chewe as thei chose, and charge hem with no cure! Line 20.237 For lomere he lyeth, that liflode moot begge, Line 20.238 Than he that laboureth for liflode and leneth it beggeres. Line 20.239 And sithen freres forsoke the felicite of erthe, Line 20.240

Line 20.240 Lat hem be as beggeris, or lyve by aungeles foode!' Line 20.241 Conscience of this counseil tho comsede for to laughe, Line 20.242 And curteisliche conforted hem and called in alle freres, Line 20.243 And seide, Sires, soothly welcome be ye alle Line 20.244 To Unitee and Holy Chirche--ac o thyng I yow preye: Line 20.245 Holdeth yow in unitee, and haveth noon envye Line 20.246 To lered ne to lewed, but lyveth after youre reule. Line 20.247 And I wol be youre borugh, ye shal have breed and clothes Line 20.248 And othere necessaries ynowe--yow shal no thyng lakke, Line 20.249 With that ye leve logik and lerneth for to lovye. Line 20.250 For love lafte thei lordshipe, bothe lond and scole-- Line 20.251 Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk--for love to be holye. Line 20.252 "And if ye coveite cure, Kynde wol yow telle Line 20.253 That in mesure God made alle manere thynges, Line 20.254 And sette it at a certein and at a siker nombre, Line 20.255 And nempnede hem names newe, and noumbrede the sterres: Line 20.256 Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum et omnibus eis &c. Line 20.256 "Kynges and knyghtes, that kepen and defenden, Line 20.257 Han officers under hem, and ech of hem a certein. Line 20.258 And if thei wage men to werre, thei write hem in noumbre; Line 20.259 Wol no tresorere taken hem wages, travaille thei never so soore, Line 20.260 [But thei ben nempned in the noumbre of hem that ben ywaged]. Line 20.261 Alle othere in bataille ben yholde brybours-- Line 20.262 Pylours and pykeharneys, in ech a parisshe ycursed. Line 20.263 " Monkes and moniales and alle men of religion-- Line 20.264 Hir ordre and hir reu1e wole to han a certein noumbre; Line 20.265 Of lewed and of lered the lawe wole and asketh Line 20.266 A certein for a certein--save oonliche of freres! Line 20.267

Line 20.267 Forthi,' quod Conscience, "by Crist! kynde wit me telleth Line 20.268 It is wikked to wage yow--ye wexen out of noumbre! Line 20.269 Hevene hath evene noumbre, and helle is withoute noumbre; Line 20.270 Forthi I wolde witterly that ye were in the registre Line 20.271 And youre noumbre under notarie sygne, and neither mo ne lasse!' Line 20.272 Envye herde this and heet freres go to scole Line 20.273 And lerne logyk and lawe--and ek contemplacion-- Line 20.274 And preche men of Plato, and preve it by Seneca Line 20.275 That alle thynges under hevene oughte to ben in cornune. Line 20.276 He lyeth, as I leve, that to the lewed so precheth: Line 20.277 For God made to men a lawe and Moyses it taughte-- Line 20.278 Non concupisces rem proximi tui. Line 20.279 And yvele is this yholde in parisshes of Engelonde; Line 20.280 For persons and parissh preestes, that sholde the peple shryve, Line 20.281 Ben curatours called to knowe and to hele. Line 20.282 Alle that ben hir parisshens penaunces enjoigne, Line 20.283 And ben ashamed in hir shrift; ac shame maketh hem wende Line 20.284 And fleen to the freres---as fals folk to Westmynstre, Line 20.285 That borweth, and bereth it thider, and thanne biddeth frendes Line 20.286 Yerne of foryifnesse or lenger yeres leve. Line 20.287 Ac while he is in Westmynstre he wol be bifore Line 20.288 And maken hym murie with oother menne goodes. Line 20.289 And so it fareth with muche folk that to freres shryveth; Line 20.290 As sisours and executours--thei shul yyve the freres Line 20.291

Line 20.291 A parcel to preye for hem, and [purchace] hem mur[th]e Line 20.292 With the remenaunt that othere [renkes] biswonke, Line 20.293 And suffre the dede in dette to the day of doome. Line 20.294 Envye herfore hatede Conscience, Line 20.295 And freres to philosophie he fond hem to scole, Line 20.296 The while Coveitise and Unkyndenesse Conscience assaillede. Line 20.297 In Unitee Holy Chirche Conscience held hym, Line 20.298 And made Pees porter to pynne the yates Line 20.299 Of alle taletelleris and titeleris in ydel. Line 20.300 Ypocrisie and h[ii] an hard saut thei made. Line 20.301 Ypocrisie at the yate harde gan fighte, Line 20.302 And woundede wel wikkedly many a wise techere Line 20.303 That with Conscience acordede and Cardynale Vertues. Line 20.304 Conscience called a leche, that coude wel shryve, Line 20.305 To go salve tho that sike were and thorugh synne ywounded. Line 20.306 Shrift shoop sharp salve, and made men do penaunce Line 20.307 For hire mysdedes that thei wroght hadde, Line 20.308 And that Piers [pardon] were ypayed, redde quod debes. Line 20.309 Some liked noght this leche, and lettres thei sente, Line 20.310 If any surgien were in the sege that softer koude plastre. Line 20.311 Sire Leef-to-lyve-in-lecherie lay there and gronede; Line 20.312 For fastynge of a Fryday he ferde as he wolde deye: Line 20.313 "Ther is a surgien in this sege that softe kan handle, Line 20.314 And moore of phisik bi fer, and fairer he plastreth-- Line 20.315 Oon Frere Flaterere, is phisicien and surgien.' Line 20.316 Quod Contricion to Conscience, "Do hym come to Unitee; Line 20.317 For here is many a man hurt thorugh Ypocrisye.' Line 20.318 "We han no nede,' quod Conscience, "I woot no bettre leche Line 20.319 Than person or parissh preest, penitauncer or bisshop-- Line 20.320 Save Piers the Plowman, that hath power over alle, Line 20.321 And indulgence may do, but if dette lette it. Line 20.322

Line 20.322 I may wel suffre,' seide Conscience, "syn ye desiren, Line 20.323 That Frere Flaterere be fet and phisike yow sike.' Line 20.324 The frere herof herde and hiede faste Line 20.325 To a lord for a lettre, leve to have to curen Line 20.326 As a curatour he were, and cam with his lettre Line 20.327 Boldely to the bisshop, and his brief hadde, Line 20.328 In contrees ther he coome, confessions to here-- Line 20.329 And cam there Conseience was, and knokked at the yate. Line 20.330 Pees unpynned it, was porter of Unitee, Line 20.331 And in haste askede what his wille were. Line 20.332 "In faith,' quod this frere, "for profit and for helthe Line 20.333 Carpe I wolde with Contricion, and therfore cam I hider,' Line 20.334 "He is sik,' seide Pees, "and so are manye othere; Line 20.335 Ypocrisie hath hurt hem--ful hard is if thei kevere.' Line 20.336 "I am a surgien,' seide the frere, "and salves can make. Line 20.337 Conscience knoweth me wel and what I kan do bothe.' Line 20.338 "I praye thee,' quod Pees tho, "er thow passe ferther, Line 20.339 What hattestow? I praye thee, hele noght thi name.' Line 20.340 "Certes,' seide his felawe, " Sire Penetrans-domos.' Line 20.341 "Ye? Go thi gate!' quod Pees, "by God, for al thi phisik, Line 20.342 But thow konne any craft, thow comest nought herinne! Line 20.343 I knew swich oon ones, noght eighte wynter passed, Line 20.344 Coom in thus ycoped at a court there I dwelde, Line 20.345 And was my lordes leche--and my ladies bothe. Line 20.346 And at the laste this lymytour, tho my lord was oute, Line 20.347 He salvede so oure wommen til some were with childe.' Line 20.348 Hende-Speche heet Pees tho, " Opene the yates. Line 20.349 Lat in the frere and his felawe, and make hem fair cheere. Line 20.350 He may se and here here, so may bifalle, Line 20.351 That Lif thorugh his loore shal leve coveitise, Line 20.352 And be adrad of deeth and withdrawe hym fram pryde, Line 20.353 And acorde with Conseience and kisse hir either oother.' Line 20.354 Thus thorugh Hende-Speche entred the frere, Line 20.355 And cam in to Conseience and curteisly hym grette. Line 20.356 " Thow art welcome,' quod Conscience, "kanstow heele sike? Line 20.357 Here is Contricion,' quod Conscience, "my cosyn, ywounded. Line 20.358 Conforte hym,' quod Conscience, "and take kepe to hise soores. Line 20.359 The plastres of the person and poudres ben to soore, Line 20.360

Line 20.360 And lat hem ligge overlonge and looth is to chaunge hem; Line 20.361 Fro Lenten to Lenten he lat his plastres bite.' Line 20.362 "That is overlonge!' quod this lymytour, " I leve--I shal amende it'-- Line 20.363 And gooth, gropeth Contricion, and gaf hym a plastre Line 20.364 Of "A pryvee paiement, and I shal praye for yow, Line 20.365 And for al [hem] that ye ben holden to, al my lif tyme, Line 20.366 And make yow [and] my Lady in masse and in matyns Line 20.367 As freres of oure fraternytee for a litel silver.' Line 20.368 Thus he gooth and gadereth, and gloseth there he shryveth-- Line 20.369 Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten to crye and to wepe, Line 20.370 And wake for hise wikked werkes as he was wont to doone. Line 20.371 For confort of his confessour contricion he lafte, Line 20.372 That is the soverayneste salve for alle[s]kynnes synnes. Line 20.373 Sleuth seigh that, and so dide Pryde, Line 20.374 And comen with a kene wille Conscience to assaille. Line 20.375 Conseience cryed eft [Clergie come] helpe hym, Line 20.376 And [bad] Contricion [come] to kepe the yate. Line 20.377 " He lith adreynt,' seide Pees, "and so do manye othere; Line 20.378 The frere with his phisyk this folk hath enchaunted, Line 20.379 And plastred hem so esily [that hii] drede no synne!' Line 20.380 "By Crist!' quod Conscience tho, " I wole bicome a pilgrym, Line 20.381 And walken as wide as the world lasteth, Line 20.382 To seken Piers the Plowman, that Pryde myghte destruye, Line 20.383 And that freres hadde a fyndyng, that for nede flateren Line 20.384 And countrepledeth me, Conscience. Now Kynde me avenge, Line 20.385 And sende me hap and heele, til I have Piers the P1owman!' Line 20.386 And siththe he gradde after Grace, til I gan awake. Line 20.387