William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 4

" Cesseth!' seide the Kyng, " I suffre yow no lenger. Line 4.001 Ye shul saughtne, forsothe, and serve me bothe. Line 4.002 Kis hire,' quod the Kyng, "Conscience, I hote!' Line 4.003 " Nay, by Crist!' quod Conscience, " congeye me rather! Line 4.004 But Reson rede me therto, rather wol I deye.' Line 4.005 "And I comaunde thee,' quod the Kyng to Conseience thanne, Line 4.006 "Rape thee to ryde, and Reson that thow fecche. Line 4.007 Comaunde hym that he come my counseil to here, Line 4.008 For he shal rule my reaume and rede me the beste Line 4.009 Mede and of mo othere, what man shal hire wedde, Line 4.010

Line 4.010 And acounte with thee, Conscience, so me Crist helpe, Line 4.011 How thow lernest the peple, the lered and the lewed!' Line 4.012 "I am fayn of that foreward,' seide the freke thanne, Line 4.013 And ryt right to Reson and rouneth in his ere, Line 4.014 And seide hym as the Kyng seide, and sithen took his leve. Line 4.015 "I shal arraye me to ryde,' quod Reson, -reste thee a while,' Line 4.016 And called Caton his knave, curteis of speche, Line 4.017 And also Tomme Trewe-tonge-tel-me-no-tales Line 4.018 Ne lesynge-to-laughen-of-for-I-loved-hem-nevere. Line 4.019 " Set my sadel upon Suffre-til-l-se-my-tyme, Line 4.020 And lat warroke hym wel with witty-wordes gerthes. Line 4.021 Hange on hym the hevy brydel to holde his heed lowe, Line 4.022 For he wol make ""wehee'' twies er he be there.' Line 4.023 Thanne Conscience on his capul caireth forth faste, Line 4.024 And Reson with hym ryt, rownynge togideres Line 4.025 Whiche maistries Mede maketh on this erthe. Line 4.026 Oon Waryn Wisdom and Witty his fere Line 4.027 Folwed hem faste, for thei hadde to doone Line 4.028 In th'Eseheker and in the Chauncerye, to ben descharged of thynges, Line 4.029 And riden faste for Reson sholde rede hem the beste Line 4.030 For to save hem for silver from shame and from harmes. Line 4.031 A[c] Conscience knew hem wel, thei loved coveitise, Line 4.032 And bad Reson ryde faste and recche of hir neither: Line 4.033 "Ther are wiles in hire wordes, and with Mede thei dweneth-- Line 4.034 Ther as wrathe and wranglynge is, ther wynne thei silver; Line 4.035 Ac there is love and leautee, thei wol noght come there: Line 4.036 Contricio et infelicitas in viis eorum &c. Line 4.036 Thei ne gyveth noght of God one goose wynge: Line 4.037 Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum &c. Line 4.037 For thei wolde do moore for a dozeyne chiknes Line 4.038 Than for the love of Oure Lorde or alle hise leeve seintes! Line 4.039

Line 4.039 Forthi, Reson, lat hem ride, tho riche by hemselve-- Line 4.040 For Conscience knoweth hem noght, ne Crist, as I trowe.' Line 4.041 And thanne Reson rood faste the righte heighe gate, Line 4.042 As Conscience hym kenned, til thei come to the Kynge. Line 4.043 Curteisly the Kyng thanne com ayeins Reson, Line 4.044 And bitwene hymsel and his sone sette hym on benche, Line 4.045 And wordeden wel wisely a gret while togideres. Line 4.046 And thame com Pees into parliment and putte up a bill- Line 4.047 How Wrong ayeins his wille hadde his wif taken, Line 4.048 Aad how he ravysshede Rose, Reignaldes loove, Line 4.049 And Margrete of hir maydenhede maugree hire chekes. Line 4.050 " Bothe my gees and my grys hise gadelynges feccheth; Line 4.051 I dar noght for fere of hem fighte ne chide. Line 4.052 He borwed of me bayard and broughte hym hom nevere Line 4.053 Ne no ferthyng therfore, for nought I koude plede. Line 4.054 He maynteneth hise men to murthere myne hewen, Line 4.055 Forstalleth my feires and fighteth in my chepyng, Line 4.056 And breketh up my berne dores and bereth awey my whete, Line 4.057 And taketh me but a taille for ten quarters otes. Line 4.058 And yet he beteth me therto and lyth by my mayde; Line 4.059 I am noght hardy for hym unnethe to loke!' Line 4.060 The Kyng knew he seide sooth. for Conscience hym tolde Line 4.061 That Wrong was a wikked luft and wroghte muche sorwe. Line 4.062 Wrong was afered thanne, and Wisdom he soughte Line 4.063 To maken pees with hise pens, and profred hym manye, Line 4.064 And seide, "Hadde I love of my lord the Kyng, litel wolde I recche Line 4.065 Theigh Pees and his power pleyned hym evere!' Line 4.066 Tho wan Wisdom and Sire Waryn the Witty, Line 4.067 For that Wrong hadde ywroght so wikked a dede, Line 4.068 And warnede Wrong tho with swich a wis tale-- Line 4.069 "Whoso wereheth by wille, writhe maketh ofte. Line 4.070

Line 4.070 I seye it by myself--thow shalt it wel fynde: Line 4.071 But if Mede it make, thi meschief is uppe; Line 4.072 For bothe thi lif and thi lond lyth in his grace.' Line 4.073 Thanne wowede Wrong Wisdom ful yerne Line 4.074 To maken his pees with his pens, handy dandy payed. Line 4.075 Wisdom and Wit thanne wenten togidres, Line 4.076 And token Mede myd hem mercy to wynne. Line 4.077 Pees putte forth his heed and his panne blody: Line 4.078 "Withouten gilt, God woot, gat I this seathe.' Line 4.079 Conseicnce and the commune knowen wel the sothe, Line 4.080 Ac Wisdom and Wit were aboute faste Line 4.081 To overcomen the Kyng with catel, if thei myghte. Line 4.082 The Kyng swor by Crist and by his crowne bothe Line 4.083 That Wrong for hise werkes sholde wo tholie, Line 4.084 And combundede a eonstable to casten hym in irens, Line 4.085 "And lete hym noght this seven yer seen his feet ones. Line 4.086 "God woot,' quod Wisdom, "that were noght the beste! Line 4.087 And he amendes mowe make, Iat Maynprise hym have Line 4.088 And be borgh for his bale, and buggen hym boote, Line 4.089 And so amenden that is mysdo, and everemoore the bettre.' Line 4.090 Wit acorded therwith, and seide the same, Line 4.091 "Bettre is that boote bale adoun brynge Line 4.092 Than baIe be ybet, and boote nevere the bettre!' Line 4.093 Thanne gan Mede to meken hire, and mercy bisoughte, Line 4.094 And profrede Pees a present al of pure golde. Line 4.095 "Have this, man, of me,' quod she, "to amenden thi scathe, Line 4.096 For I wol wage for Wrong, he woI do so na moore.' Line 4.097 Pitously Pees thanne preyde to the Kynge Line 4.098 To have mercy on that man that mysdide hym so ofte. Line 4.099 "For he hath waged me wel, as Wisdom hym taughte, Line 4.100 And I forgyve hym that gilt with a good wille. Line 4.101 So that the Kyng assente, I kan seye no bettre, Line 4.102

Line 4.102 For Mede hath maad myne amendes--I may na moore axe.' Line 4.103 "Nay', quod the Kyng tho, "so me Crist helpe! Line 4.104 Wrong wendeth noghtawey er I wite more. Line 4.105 Lope he so lightly, laughen he wolde, Line 4.106 And eft the boldere be to bete myne hewen. Line 4.107 But Reson have ruthe on hym, he shal reste in my stokkes Line 4.108 As longe as [I] lyve, but lowenesse hym borwe.' Line 4.109 Somme radde Reson tho to have ruthe on that shrewe, Line 4.110 And for to counseille the Kyng and Conscience after Line 4.111 That Mede moste be maynpernour, Reson thei bisoughte. Line 4.112 " Reed me noght,' quod Reson, "no ruthe to have Line 4.113 Til lordes and ladies loven alle truthe Line 4.114 And haten alle harlotrie, to heren or to mouthen it; Line 4.115 Til Pernelles purfill be put in hire hucche Line 4.116 And childrene cherissynge be chastised with yerdes, Line 4.117 And harlottes holynesse be holden for an hyne; Line 4.118 Til clerkene coveitise be to clothe the povere and fede, Line 4.119 And religiouse romeris Recordare in hir cloistres Line 4.120 As Seynt Beneyt hem bad, Bernard and Fraunceis; Line 4.121 And til prechours prechynge be preved on hemselve; Line 4.122 Til the Kynges counseil be the commune profit; Line 4.123 Til bisshopes bayardes ben beggeris chaumbres, Line 4.124 Hire haukes and hire houndes help to povere religious; Line 4.125 And til Seint James be sought there I shal assigne-- Line 4.126 That no man go to Galis but if he go for evere; Line 4.127 And alle Rome renneres for robberes of biyonde Line 4.128

Line 4.128 Bere no silver over see that signe of kyng sheweth-- Line 4.129 Neither grave ne ungrave, gold neither silver-- Line 4.130 Upon forfeture of that fee, who fynt hym at Dovere, Line 4.131 But if it be marchaunt or his man, or messager with lettres, Line 4.132 Provysour or preest, or penaunt for hise synnes. Line 4.133 "And yet,' quod Reson, "by the Rode! I shal no ruthe have Line 4.134 Whiff Mede hath the maistrie in this moot-halle. Line 4.135 Ac I may shewe ensamples as I se outher. Line 4.136 I seye it by myself,' quod he, "and it so were Line 4.137 That I were kyng with coroune to kepen a reaume, Line 4.138 Sholde nevere Wrong in this world that I wite myghte Line 4.139 Ben unpunysshed in my power, for peril of my soule, Line 4.140 Ne gete my grace thorugh giftes, so me God save! Line 4.141 Ne for no mede have mercy, but mekenesse it made; Line 4.142 For ""Nullum molum the man mette with inpunitum Line 4.143 And bad Nullum bonum be irremuneratum.'' Line 4.144 Lat thi confessour, sire Kyng, construe this [E]ngl[ys]sed, Line 4.145 And if ye werchen it in werk, I wedde myne eris Line 4.146 That Lawe shal ben a laborer and lede afeld donge Line 4.147 And Love shal lede thi lond as the leef liketh.' Line 4.148 Clerkes that were confessours coupled hem togideres Line 4.149 Al to construe this clause, and for the Kynges profit, Line 4.150 Ac noght for confort of the cornmune, ne for the Kynges soule, Line 4.151 For I seigh Mede in the moot-halle on men of lawe wynke, Line 4.152 And thei laughynge lope to hire and lefte Reson manye. Line 4.153 Waryn Wisdom wynked upon Mede Line 4.154 And seide, " Madame, I am youre man, what so my mouth jangle; Line 4.155 I falle in floryns,' quod that freke, "and faile speche ofte.' Line 4.156 Alle rightfulle recorded that Reson truthe tolde. Line 4.157 [Kynde] Wit acorded therwith and comendede hise wordes, Line 4.158 And the mooste peple in the halle and manye of the grete, Line 4.159 And leten Mekenesse a maister and Mede a mansed sherewe. Line 4.160 Love leet of hire light, and Leaute yet lasse, Line 4.161 And seide it so heighc that a1l the halle it herde: Line 4.162

Line 4.162 "Whoso wilneth hire to wyve, For welthe of hire goodes-- Line 4.163 But he be knowe for a cokewold, kut of my nose!' Line 4.164 Mede mornede tho, and made hevy chere, Line 4.165 For the mooste commune of that court called hire an hore. Line 4.166 Ac a sisour and a somonour sued hire faste, Line 4.167 And a sherreves clerk bisherewed al the route: Line 4.168 " For ofte have I,' quod he, 'holpen yow at the barre, Line 4.169 And yet yeve ye me nevere the worth of a risshe!' Line 4.170 The Kyng callede Conseience and afterward Reson, Line 4.171 And recordede that Reson hadde rightfully shewed ; Line 4.172 And modiliche upon Mede with myght the Kyng loked, Line 4.173 And gan wexe wroth with Lawe, for Mede almoost hadde shent it, Line 4.174 And seide, -Thorugh youre lawe, as I leve, I lese manye chetes; Line 4.175 Mede overmaistreth Lawe and muche truthe letteth. Line 4.176 Ac Reson shal rekene with yow, if I regne any while, - Line 4.177 And deme yow, bi this day, as ye han deserved. Line 4.178 Mede shal noght maynprise yow, by the Marie of hevene! Line 4.179 I wole have leaute in lawe, and lete be al youre jangling, Line 4.180 And as moost folk witnesseth wel, Wrong shal be demed.' Line 4.181 Quod Conscience to the Kyng, 'But the commune wole assente,- Line 4.182 It is ful hard, by myn heed, herto to brynge it, Line 4.183 [And] alle youre lige leodes to lede thus evene.' Line 4.184 "By Hym that raughte on the Rood!' quod Reson to the Kynge, Line 4.185 But if I rule thus youre reaume, rende out my guttes-- Line 4.186 If ye bidden buxomnesse be of myn assent.' Line 4.187 "And I assente,' seith the Kyng, " by Seinte Marie my lady, Line 4.188 Be my Counseil comen of clerkes and of erles. Line 4.189 Ac redily, Reson, thow shalt noght ride hennes; Line 4.190 For as longe as I lyve, lete thee I nelle.' Line 4.191 'I am al redy.' quod Reson, "to reste with yow evere; Line 4.192 So Conscience be of oure counceil, I kepe no bettre.' Line 4.193 "And I graunte,' quod the Kyng, "Goddes forbode he faile! Line 4.194 Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, lyve we togideres!' Line 4.195