William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman

Passus 6

"This were a wikkede wey but whoso hadde a gyde Line 6.001 That [myghte] folwen us ech a foot'--thus this folk hem mened. Line 6.002 Quod Perkyn the Plowman, " By Seint Peter of Rome! Line 6.003 I have an half acre to erie by the heighe weye; Line 6.004 Hadde I cryed this half acre and sowen it after, Line 6.005 I wolde wende with yow and the wey teche.' Line 6.006 "This were a long lettyng,' quod a lady in a scleyre; Line 6.007

Line 6.007 "What sholde we wommen werche the while?' Line 6.008 "Somme shul sowe the sak ' quod Piers, " for shedyng of the whete; Line 6.009 And ye lovely ladies with youre longe fyngres, Line 6.010 That ye have silk and sandel to sowe whan tyme is Line 6.011 Chesibles for chapeleyns chirches to honoure. Line 6.012 Wyves and widewes, wolle and flex spynneth: Line 6.013 Maketh cloth, I counseille yow, and kenneth so youre doughtres. Line 6.014 The nedy and the naked, nymeth hede how thei liggeth, Line 6.015 And casteth hem clothes, for so commaundeth Truthe. Line 6.016 For I shal lenen hem liflode, but if the lond faille, Line 6.017 As longe as I lyve, for the Lordes love of hevene. Line 6.018 And alle manere of men that by mete and drynke libbeth, Line 6.019 Helpeth hym to werche wightliche that wynneth youre foode.' Line 6.020 "By Crist!' quod a knyght thoo, "he kenneth us the beste; Line 6.021 Ac on the teme, trewely, taught was I nevere. Line 6.022 Ac kenne me,' quod the knyght, "and by Crist I wole assaye!' Line 6.023 "By Seint Poul!' quod Perkyn, "Ye profre yow so faire Line 6.024 That I shal swynke and swete and sowe for us bothe, Line 6.025 And [ek] labour[e] for thi love al my lif tyme, Line 6.026 In covenaunt that thow kepe Holy Kirke and myselve Line 6.027 Fro wastours and fro wikked men that this world destruyeth; Line 6.028 And go hunte hardiliche to hares and foxes, Line 6.029 To bores and to bukkes that breken down myne hegges; Line 6.030 And go affaite thi faucons wilde foweles to kille, Line 6.031 For thei cometh to my croft and croppeth my whete.' Line 6.032 Curteisly the knyght thanne co[nseyved] thise wordes: Line 6.033 "By my power, Piers, I plighte thee my trouthe Line 6.034 To fulfille this forward, though I fighte sholde; Line 6.035 Als longe as I lyve I shal thee mayntene.' Line 6.036 " Ye, and yet a point,' quod Piers, "I preye yow of moore: Line 6.037

Line 6.037 Loke ye tene no tenaunt but Truthe wole assente; Line 6.038 And though ye mowe amercy hem, lat mercy be taxour Line 6.039 And mekenesse thi maister, maugree Medes chekes. Line 6.040 And though povere men profre yow presentes and yiftes, Line 6.041 Nyme it noght, an aventure thow mowe it noght deserve; Line 6.042 For thow shalt yelde it ayein at one yeres ende Line 6.043 In a ful perilous place--Purgatorie it hatte. Line 6.044 And mysbede noght thi bondemen--the bettre may thow spede; Line 6.045 Though he be thyn underlyng here, wel may happe in hevene Line 6.046 That he worth worthier set and with moore blisse: Line 6.047 Amice, ascende superius. Line 6.047 For in charnel at chirche cherles ben yvel to knowe, Line 6.048 Or a knyght from a knave there--knowe this in thyn herte. Line 6.049 And that thow be trewe of thi tonge, and tales that thow hatie, Line 6.050 But if thei ben of wisdom or of wit, thi werkmen to chaste. Line 6.051 Hold with none harlotes ne here noght hir tales, Line 6.052 And namely at the mete swiche men eschuwe-- Line 6.053 For it ben the develes disours, I do the to understonde.' Line 6.054 "I assente, by Seint Jame,' seide the knyght thanne, Line 6.055 "For to werche by thi wordes the while my lif dureth.' Line 6.056 "And I shal apparaille me,' quod Perkyn, "in pilgrymes wise Line 6.057 And wende with yow I wile til we fynde Truthe.' Line 6.058 [He] caste on [hise] clothes, yclouted and hole, Line 6.059 [Hise] cokeres and [hise] coffes for coId of [hise] nailes, Line 6.060 And [heng his] hoper at [his] hals in stede of a scryppe: Line 6.061

Line 6.061 "A busshel of bred corn brynge me therinne, Line 6.062 For I wol sowe it myself, and sithenes wol I wende Line 6.063 To pilgrymage as palmeres doon, pardon for to have. Line 6.064 And whoso helpeth me to erie or sowen here er I wende, Line 6.065 Shal have leve, by Oure Lord, to lese here in hervest Line 6.066 And make hym murie thermyd, maugree whoso bigruccheth it. Line 6.067 And alle kynne crafty men that konne lyven in truthe, Line 6.068 I shal fynden hem fode that feithfulliche libbeth-- Line 6.069 Save Jakke the Jogelour and Jonette of the Stuwes, Line 6.070 And Danyel the Dees-pleyere and Denote the Baude, Line 6.071 And Frere the Faitour, and folk of his ordre, Line 6.072 And Robin the Ribaudour, for hise rusty wordes. Line 6.073 Truthe tolde me ones and bad me telle it forth: Line 6.074 Deleantur de libro vivencium--I sholde noght dele with hem, Line 6.075 For Holy Chirche is hote, of hem no tithe to aske, Line 6.076 Quia cum iustis non scribantur. Line 6.076 Thei ben ascaped good aventure--now God hem amende!' Line 6.077 Dame Werch-whan-tyme-is Piers wif highte; Line 6.078 His doughter highte Do-right-so-or-thi-dame-shal-thee-bete; Line 6.079 His sone highte Suffre-thi-Sovereyns-to-haven-hir-wille: Line 6.080 Deme-hem-noght-for-if-thow-doost-thow-shalt-it-deere-abugge; Line 6.081 Lat-God-yworthe-with-al-for-so-His-word-techeth. Line 6.082 "For now I am old and hoor and have of myn owene, Line 6.083 To penaunce and to pilgrimage I wol passe with thise othere; Line 6.084 Forthi I wole er I wende do write my biqueste. Line 6.085 In Dei nomine, Amen, I make it myselve. Line 6.086 ' He shal have my soule that best hath deserved it, Line 6.087 And [defende it fro the fend], for so I bileve, Line 6.088 Til I come to hise acountes as my crede me telleth, Line 6.089

Line 6.089 To have a relees and a remission--on that rental I leve. Line 6.090 "The kirke shal have my caroyne, and kepe my bones, Line 6.091 For of my corn and catel he craved the tithe. Line 6.092 I paide it hym prestly, for peril of my soule; Line 6.093 Forthi is he holden, I hope, to have me in his masse Line 6.094 And mengen me in his memorie amonges alle Cristene. Line 6.095 " My wif shal have of that I wan with truthe, and namoore, Line 6.096 And dele among my doughtres and my deere children; Line 6.097 For though I deye today, my dettes are quyte; Line 6.098 I bar hom that I borwed er I to bedde yede. Line 6.099 And with the residue and the remenaunt, by the Rode of Lukes! Line 6.100 I wol worshipe therwith Truthe by my lyve, Line 6.101 And ben His pilgrym atte plow for povere mennes sake. Line 6.102 My plowpote shal be my pikstaf, and picche atwo the rotes, Line 6.103 And helpe my cultour to kerve and clense the furwes.' Line 6.104 Now is Perkyn and thise pilgrimes to the plow faren. Line 6.105 To erie this half-acre holpen hym manye; Line 6.106 Dikeres and delveres digged up the balkes; Line 6.107 Therwith was Perkyn apayed and preised hem faste. Line 6.108 Othere werkmen ther were that wroghten ful yerne: Line 6.109 Ech man in his manere made hymself to doone, Line 6.110 And somme to plese Perkyn piked up the wedes. Line 6.111 At heigh prime Piers leet the plough stonde, Line 6.112 To oversen hem hymself; whoso best wroghte, Line 6.113 He sholde be hired therafter, whan hervest tyme come. Line 6.114 Thanne seten somme and songen atte nale, Line 6.115 And holpen ere this half acre with "How trol1y lolly!' Line 6.116

Line 6.116 "Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers al in pure tene, Line 6.117 "But ye arise the rather and rape yow to werche, Line 6.118 Shal no greyn that here groweth glade yow at nede, Line 6.119 And though ye deye for doel, the devel have that recche!' Line 6.120 Tho were faitours afered, and feyned hem blynde; Line 6.121 Somme leide hir legges aliry, as swiche losels konneth, Line 6.122 And made hir [pleynt] to Piers and preide hym of grace: Line 6.123 "For we have no lymes to laboure with, lord, ygraced be ye! Line 6.124 Ac we preie for yow, Piers, and for youre plowgh bothe, Line 6.125 That God of his grace youre greyn multiplie Line 6.126 And ye1de yow of youre almesse that ye yyve us here; Line 6.127 For we may neither swynke ne swete, swich siknesse us eyleth.' Line 6.128 If it be sooth.' quod Piers, "that ye seyn, I shal it soone aspie. Line 6.129 Ye ben wastours, I woot wel, and Truthe woot the sothe; Line 6.130 And I am his olde hyne and highte hym to warne Line 6.131 Whiche thei were in this world hise werkmen apeired. Line 6.132 Ye wasten that men wynnen with travaille and with tene; Line 6.133 Ac Truthe shal teche yow his teme to dryve, Line 6.134 Or ye shul eten barly breed and of the broke drynke; Line 6.135 But if he be blynd or brokelegged or bolted with irens, Line 6.136 He shal ete whete breed and [with myselve drynke] Line 6.137 Til God of his goodnesse garisoun] hym sende. Line 6.138 Ac ye myghte travaille as Truthe wolde and take mete and hyre Line 6.139 To kepe kyen in the feld, the corn fro the bestes, Line 6.140 Diken or delven or dyngen upon sheves, Line 6.141 Or helpe make morter or bere muk afeld. Line 6.142 In lecherie and losengerie ye lyven, and in sleuthe, Line 6.143 And al is thorugh suffraunce that vengeaunce yow ne taketh! Line 6.144 "Ac ancres and heremites that eten but at Nones Line 6.145

Line 6.145 And na moore er morwe--myn almesse shul thei have, Line 6.146 And of my catel to cope hem with that han cloistres and chirches. Line 6.147 Ac Robert Renaboute shal [right] noght have of myne, Line 6.148 Ne postles, but thei preche konne and have power of the bisshop: Line 6.149 Thei shul have payn and potage and [put] hemself at ese-- Line 6.150 For it is an unresonable Religion that hath right noght of certein.' Line 6.151 Thanne gan Wastour to wrathen hym and wolde have yfoughte, Line 6.152 And to Piers the Plowman he profrede his glove. Line 6.153 A Bretoner, a braggere, abosted Piers als Line 6.154 And bad hym go pissen with his plowgh, forpynede sherewe! Line 6.155 'Wiltow or neltow, we wol have oure wille Line 6.156 Of thi flour and of thi flesshe--fecche whanne us liketh, Line 6.157 And maken us murye thermyde, maugree thi chekes.' Line 6.158 Thanne Piers the Plowman pleyned hym to the knyghte Line 6.159 To kepen hym as covenaunt was fro cursede sherewes Line 6.160 And fro thise wastours wolveskynnes that maketh the world deere: Line 6.161 " For tho wasten and wynnen noght, and that [while ilke] Line 6.162 Worth nevere pIentee among the peple the while my plowgh liggeth.' Line 6.163 Curteisly the knyght thanne, as his kynde wolde, Line 6.164 Warnede Wastour and wissed hym bettre: Line 6.165 "Or thow shalt abigge by the lawe, by the ordre that I bere!' Line 6.166 " I was noght wont to werche,' quod Wastour, "and now wol I noght bigynne! '- Line 6.167 And leet light of the lawe, and lasse of the knyghte, Line 6.168 And sette Piers at a pese, and his plowgh bothe, Line 6.169 And manaced Piers and his men if thei mette eftsoone. Line 6.170 " Now, by the peril of my soule!' quod Piers, " I shal apeire yow alle'-- Line 6.171 And houped after Hunger, that herde hym at the firste. Line 6.172 "Awreke me of thise wastours,' quod he, "that this world shendeth!' Line 6.173 Hunger in haste thoo hente Wastour by the mawe Line 6.174

Line 6.174 And wrong hym so by the wombe that al watrede hise eighen. Line 6.175 He buffetted the Bretoner aboute the chekes Line 6.176 That he loked lik a lanterne al his lif after. Line 6.177 He bette hem so bothe, he brast ner hire guttes; Line 6.178 Ne hadde Piers with a pese loot- preyed [hym bileve], Line 6.179 They hadde be dolven bothe--ne deme thow noon oother. Line 6.180 "Suffre hem lyve,' he seide -and lat hem etc with hogges, Line 6.181 Or ellis benes and bren ybaken togideres.' Line 6.182 Faitours for fere herof flowen into bernes Line 6.183 And flapten on with flailes fro morwe til even, Line 6.184 That hunger was noght hardy on hem for to loke Line 6.185 For a potful of peses that Piers hadde ymaked. Line 6.186 An heep of herernytes henten hem spades Line 6.187 And kitten hir copes and courtepies hem maked. Line 6.188 And wente as werkmen with spades and with shoveles, Line 6.189 And dolven and dikeden to dryve awey Hunger. Line 6.190 Blynde and bedreden were bootned a thousand, Line 6.191 That seten to begge silver, soone were thei heeled ; Line 6.192 For that was bake for Bayard was boote for many hungry; Line 6.193 And many a beggere for benes buxum was to swynke, Line 6.194 And ech a povere man wel apaied to have pesen for his hyre, Line 6.195 And what Piers preide hem to do as prest as a sperhauk. Line 6.196 And [Piers was proud therof ], and putte hem to werke Line 6.197 And yaf hem mete as he myghte aforthe and mesurable hyre. Line 6.198 Thanne hadde Piers pite, and preide Hunger to wende Line 6.199 Hoom into his owene erd and holden hym there [evere]: Line 6.200 " For I am wel awroke of wastours thorugh thy myghte. Line 6.201 Ac I preie thee, er thow passe,' quod Piers to Hunger, Line 6.202 "Of beggeris and of bidderis what best be to doone? Line 6.203 For I woot wel, be thow went, thei wol werche ful ille; Line 6.204 Meschief it maketh thei be so meke nouthe, Line 6.205 And for defaute of hire foode this folk is at my wille. Line 6.206

Line 6.206 [And] it are my blody bretheren, for God boughte us alle. Line 6.207 Truthe taughte me ones to loven hem ech one Line 6.208 And to helpen hem of alle thyng, ay as hem nedeth. Line 6.209 Now wolde I wite of thee, what were the beste, Line 6.210 And how I myghte amaistren hem and make hem to werche.' Line 6.211 " Here now,' quod Hunger, "and hoold it for a wisdom: Line 6.212 Bolde beggeris and bigge that mowe hir breed biswynke, Line 6.213 With houndes breed and horse breed hoold up hir hertes-- Line 6.214 Aba[v]e hem with benes, for bollynge of hir wombe; Line 6.215 And if the gomes grucche, bidde hem go swynke, Line 6.216 And he shal soupe swetter whan he it hath deserved. Line 6.217 "Ac if thow fynde any freke that Fortune hath apeired Line 6.218 Or any manere false men, fonde thow swiche to knowe: Line 6.219 Conforte hem with thi catel for Cristes love of hevene; Line 6.220 Love hem and lene hem, for so Iawe of [kynde wolde]: Line 6.221 Alter alterius onlera portate. Line 6.222 And alle manere of men that thow myght aspie Line 6.223 That nedy ben [or naked, and nought han to spende, Line 6.224 Love hem and lakke hem noght--lat God take the vengeaunce; Line 6.225 Theigh thei doon yvele, lat thow God yworthe: Line 6.226 Michi vindictam et ego retribuam. Line 6.226 And if thow wilt be gracious to God, do as the Gospel techeth, Line 6.227 And bilove thee amonges lowe men--so shaltow lacche grace: Line 6.228 Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.' Line 6.228

Line 6.228 "I wolde noght greve God,' quod Piers, -for al the good on grounde!' Line 6.229 Mighte I synnelees do as thow seist?' seide Piers thanne. Line 6.230 "Ye, I bihote thee,' quod Hunger, "or ellis the Bible lieth Line 6.231 Go to Genesis the geaunt, the engendrour of us alle: Line 6.232 ""In sudore and swynk thow shalt thi mete tilie, Line 6.233 And laboure for thi liflode,'' and so Oure Lord highte. Line 6.234 And Sapience seith the same--I seigh it in the Bible: Line 6.235 "" Piger pro frigore no feeld nolde tilie-- Line 6.236 And therfore he shal begge and bidde, and no man bete his hunger.'' Line 6.237 " Mathew with mannes face moutheth thise wordes-- Line 6.238 That servus nequam hadde a mnam, and for he wolde noght chaffare, Line 6.239 He hadde maugree of his maister everemoore after; Line 6.240 And bynam hym his mnam for he ne wolde werche, Line 6.241 And yaf that mnam to hym that ten mnames hadde, Line 6.242 And with that he seide, that Holy Chirche it herde: Line 6.243 "" He that hath shal have and helpe there it nedeth; Line 6.244 And he that noght hath shal noght have, and no man hym helpe, Line 6.245 And that he weneth weI to have, I wole it hym bireve.'' Line 6.246 " Kynde Wit wolde that ech a wight wroghte, Line 6.247 Or in [te]chynge or in [tell]ynge or travaillynge in preieres-- Line 6.248 Contemplatif lif or Actif lif, Crist wolde men wroghte. Line 6.249 The Sauter seith in the psalme of Beat omnes, Line 6.250 The freke that fedeth hymself with his feithful labour, Line 6.251 He is blessed by the book in body and in soule: Line 6.252 Labores manuum tuarum &c.' Line 6.252 " Yet I preie yow,' quod Fiers, "pur charite, and ye konne Line 6.253 Any leef of lechecraft, lere it me, my deere; Line 6.254 For some of my servaunts and myself bothe Line 6.255 Of al a wike werche noght, so oure wombe aketh.' Line 6.256

Line 6.256 "I woot wel,' quod Hunger, "what siknesse yow eyleth; Line 6.257 Ye han manged over muche--that maketh yow grone. Line 6.258 Ac I hote thee,' quod Hunger, "as thow thyn hele wilnest, Line 6.259 That thow drynke no day er thow dyne somwhat. Line 6.260 Ete noght, I hote thee, er hunger thee take Line 6.261 And sende thee of his sauce to savore with thi lippes; Line 6.262 And keep som til soper tyme and sitte noght to longe; Line 6.263 Arys up er appetit have eten his fille. Line 6.264 Lat noght Sire Surfet sitten at thi borde-- Line 6.265 Love hym noght, for he is lecherous and likerous of tonge, Line 6.266 And after many maner metes his mawe is afyngred. Line 6.267 "And if thow diete thee thus, I dar legge myn eris Line 6.268 That Phisik shal his furred hood for his fode selle, Line 6.269 And his cloke of Calabre with alle the knappes of golde, Line 6.270 And be fayn, by my feith, his phisik to lete, Line 6.271 And lerne to laboure with lond [lest] liflode [hym faille]. Line 6.272 Ther aren mo [li]eres than leches--Lord hem amende! Line 6.273 They do men deye thorugh hir drynkes er destynee it wolde.' Line 6.274 " By Seint Poul,' quod Piers, "thise arn profitable wordes! Line 6.275 For this is a lovely lesson, Lord it thee foryelde! Line 6.276 Wend now, Hunger, whan thow wolt, that wel be thow evere.' Line 6.277 " I bihote God,' quod Hunger, " hennes ne wole I wende Line 6.278 [Er] I have dyned bi this day and ydronke bothe.' Line 6.279 " I have no peny,' quod Piers, "pulettes to bugge, Line 6.280 Neither gees ne grys, but two grene cheses, Line 6.281 A fewe cruddes and creme and [a cake of otes], Line 6.282 And two loves of benes and bran ybake for my fauntes. Line 6.283 And yet I seye, by my soule, I have no salt bacon Line 6.284 Ne no cokeney, by Crist, coloppes to maken! Line 6.285

Line 6.285 Ac I have percile and porettes and manye [plaunte coles], Line 6.286 And ek a cow and a calf, and a cart mare Line 6.287 To drawe afeld my donge the while the droghte lasteth. Line 6.288 By this liflode we mote lyve til Lammesse tyme. Line 6.289 And by that I hope to have hervest in my crofte; Line 6.290 Thanne may I dighte thi dyner as me deere liketh.' Line 6.291 Al the povere peple tho pescoddes fetten; Line 6.292 Benes and baken apples thei broghte in hir lappes, Line 6.293 Chibolles and chervelles and ripe chiries manye, Line 6.294 And profrede Piers this present to plese with Hunger. Line 6.295 Al Hunger eet in haste and axed after moore. Line 6.296 Thanne povere folk for fere fedden Hunger yerne; Line 6.297 With grene poret and pesen to poisone hym thei thoghte! Line 6.298 By that it neghed neer hervest and newe corn cam to chepyng; Line 6.299 Thanne was folk fayn, and fedde Hunger with the beste-- Line 6.300 With good ale, as Gloton taghte--and garte Hunger to slepe. Line 6.301 And tho wolde Wastour noght werche, but wandren aboute, Line 6.302 Ne no beggere ete breed that benes inne were, Line 6.303 But of coket and clermatyn or ellis of clene whete, Line 6.304 Ne noon halfpeny ale in none wise drynke, Line 6.305 But of the beste and of the brunneste that [brewesteres] selle. Line 6.306 Laborers that have no land to lyve on but hire handes Line 6.307 Deyned nought to dyne aday nyght-olde wortes; Line 6.308 May no peny ale hem paie, ne no pece of bacoun, Line 6.309 But if it be fressh flessh outher fissh fryed outher ybake-- Line 6.310 And that chaud and plus chaud, for chillynge of hir mawe. Line 6.311 And but if he be heighliche hyred, ellis wole he chide-- Line 6.312 And that he was werkman wroght wa[ri]e the tyme. Line 6.313

Line 6.313 Ayeins Catons counseil comseth he to jangle: Line 6.314 Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento. Line 6.314 He greveth hym ageyn God and gruccheth ageyn Reson. Line 6.315 And thanne corseth he the Kyng and al his Counseil after Line 6.316 Swiche lawes to loke, laborers to greve. Line 6.317 Ac whiles Hunger was hir maister, ther wolde noon of hem chide, Line 6.318 Ne stryven ayeins his statut, so sterneliche he loked! Line 6.319 Ac I warne yow werkmen--wynneth whil ye mowe, Line 6.320 For Hunger hiderward hasteth hym faste! Line 6.321 He shal awake [thorugh] water, wastours to chaste, Line 6.322 Er fyve yer be fulfilled swich famyn shal aryse: Line 6.323 Thorugh flodes and thorugh foule wedres, fruytes shul faille-- Line 6.324 And so seith Saturne and sent yow to warne: Line 6.325 Whan ye se the [mo]ne amys and two monkes heddes, Line 6.326 And a mayde have the maistrie, and multiplie by eighte, Line 6.327 Thanne shal deeth withdrawe and derthe be justice, Line 6.328 And Dawe the Dykere deye for hunger-- Line 6.329 But if God of his goodnesse graunte us a trewe. Line 6.330