Chapter 6

Filler.

Passus Octavus de Visione, etincipit Do-wel.T4900HUS y-robed in russetI romed abouteAl a somer sesonFor to seke Do-wel;And frayned ful ofteOf folk that I mette,If any wight wisteWher Do-wel was at inne;And what man he myghte beOf many man I asked.4910Was nevere wight, as I wente,That me wisse koutheWhere this leode lenged,Lasse ne moore;Til it bi-fel on a FridayTwo freres I mette,Maistres of the menours,Men of grete witte.I hailsed hem hendely,As I hadde y-lerned,4920And preide hempar charité,Er thei passed ferther,If thei knewe any contreeOr costes, as thei wente,"Where that Do-wel dwellethDooth me to witene."For thei be men of this mooldeThat moost wide walken,And knowen contrees and courtes,And many kynnes places,4930Bothe princes paleisesAnd povere mennes cotes,And Do-wel and Do-yveleWher thei dwelle bothe."Amonges us," quod the Menours,"That man is dwellynge,And evere hath, as I hope,And evere shal herafter.""Contra," quod I as a clerc,And comsed to disputen,4940And seide hem soothly,"Septies in die cadit justus.Sevene sithes, seith the book,Synneth the rightfulle;And who so synneth," I seide,"Dooth yvele, as me thynketh;And Do-wel and Do-yveleMowe noght dwelle togideres.Ergohe nys noght alweyAmonges yow freres;4950He is outher while ellis whereTo wisse the peple.""I shal seye thee, my sone,"Seide the frere thanne,"How seven sithes the sadde manOn a day synneth;By a forbisne," quod the frere,"I shal thee faire shewe.Lat brynge a man in a bootAmydde the brode watre,4960The wynd and the waterAnd the boot waggyngMaketh the man many a tymeTo falle and to stonde;For stonde he never so stif,He stumbleth if he meve,Ac yet is he saaf and sound,And so hym bihoveth.For if he ne arise the rather,And raughte to the steere,4970The wynd wolde with the waterThe boot over throwe;And thanne were his lif lost,Through lachesse of hymselve."And thus it falleth," quod the frere,"By folk here on erthe;The water is likned to the worldThat wanyeth and wexeth;The goodes of this grounde arn likTo the grete wawes,4980That as wyndes and wedresWalketh aboute;The boot is likned to oure bodyThat brotel is of kynde,That thorugh the fend and the flessheAnd the frele worldeSynneth the sadde manA day seven sithes."Ac dedly synne doth he noght,For Do-wel hym kepeth;4990And that is charité the champion,Chief help ayein synne;For he strengheth men to stonde,And steereth mannes soule,And though the body boweAs boot dooth in the watre,Ay is thi soule saaf,But if thow wole thiselveDo a deedly synne,And drenche so thi soule,5000God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe,If thiself liketh.For he yaf thee a yeres-gyve,To yeme wel thiselve,And that is wit and free-wil,To every wight a porcion,To fleynge foweles,To fisshes and to beestes;Ac man hath moost therof,And moost is to blame,5010But if he werche wel therwith,As Do-wel hym teacheth.""I have no kynde knowyng," quod I,"To conceyven alle youre wordes;Ac if I may lyve and loke,I shal go lerne bettre.""I bikenne thee Crist," quod he,"That on cros deyde!"And I seide, "The sameSave yow fro myschaunce,5020And gyve yow grace on this groundeGoode men to worthe!"AND thus I wente wide wherWalkyng myn one,By a wilde wildernesse,And by a wodes side;Blisse of the briddesBroughte me a-slepe,And under a lynde upon a laundeLened I a stounde,5030To lythe the layesTho lovely foweles made.Murthe of hire mouthesMade me ther to sleple;The marveillouseste metelsMette me thanneThat ever dremed wightIn world, as I wene.A muche man, as me thoughte,And lik to myselve,5040Cam and called meBy my kynde name."What artow?" quod I tho,"That thow my name knowest.""That thou woost wel," quod he,"And no wight bettre.""Woot I what thow art?""Thought," seide he thanne;"I have sued thee this seven yeer,Seye thow me no rather."5050"Artow Thought," quod I thoo,"Thow koudest me wisse,Where that Do-wel dwelleth,And do me that to knowe.""Do-wel and Do-bet,And Do-best the thridde," quod he,"Arn thre fair vertues,And ben noght fer to fynde.Whoso is trewe of his tunge,And of his two handes,5060And thorugh his labour, or thorugh his land,His liflode wynneth,And is trusty of his tailende,Taketh but his owene,And his noght dronklewe ne dedeynous,Do-wel hym folweth."Do-bet dooth right thus:Ac he dooth muche moore;He is as lowe as a lomb,And lovelich of speche,5070And helpeth alle menAfter that hem nedeth.The bagges and the bigirdles,He hath to-broke hem alle,That the erl AvarousHeeld and hise heires.And thus with Mammonaes moneieHe hath maad hym frendes,And is ronne to religion,And hath rendred the Bible,5080And precheth to the pepleSeint Poules wordes:Libenter suffertis insipientes, cumsitis ipsi sapientes."And suffreth the unwiseWith yow for to libbe;And with glad wille dooth hem good,For so God yow hoteth."Do-best is above bothe,And bereth a bisshopes crosse,5090Is hoked on that oon endeTo halie men fro helle;A pik is on that potente,To putte a-down the wikkedThat waiten any wikkednesseDo-wel to tene.And Do-wel and Do-betAmonges hem han ordeyned,To crowne oon to be kyngTo rulen hem bothe;5100That if Do-wel or Do-betDide ayein Do-best,Thanne shal the kyng comeAnd casten hem in irens,And but if Do-best bede for hem,Thei to be ther for evere."Thus Do-wel and Do-bet,And Do-best the thridde,Crouned oon to the kyngTo kepen hem alle,5110And to rule the remeBy hire thre wittes,And noon oother wiseBut as thei thre assented."I thonked Thoght tho,That he me thus taughte."Ac yet savoreth me noght thi seying;I coveite to lerneHow Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-bestDoon among the peple."5120"But Wit konne wisse thee," quod Thoght,"Wher tho thre dwelle,Ellis woot I noon that kanThat now is alyve."Thoght and I thusThre daies we yeden,Disputyng upon Do-welDay after oother;And ere we were war,With Wit gonne we mete.5130He was long and lene,Lik to noon other;Was no pride on his apparaille,Ne poverte neither;Sad of his semblaunt,And of softe chere.I dorste meve no matereTo maken hym to jangle,But as I bad Thoght thooBe mene bitwene,5140And pute forth som purposTo preven hise wittes,What was Do-wel fro Do-bet,And Do-best from hem bothe.Thanne Thoght in that tymeSeide thise wordes:"Where Do-wel, Do-bet,And Do-best ben in londe,Here is Wil wolde wite,If Wit koude teche hym;And wheither he be man or wommanThis man fayn wolde aspie,And werchen as thei thre wolde,5153Thus is his entente."

Passus Octavus de Visione, etincipit Do-wel.

T4900HUS y-robed in russetI romed abouteAl a somer sesonFor to seke Do-wel;And frayned ful ofteOf folk that I mette,If any wight wisteWher Do-wel was at inne;And what man he myghte beOf many man I asked.

T4900

4900

HUS y-robed in russet

I romed aboute

Al a somer seson

For to seke Do-wel;

And frayned ful ofte

Of folk that I mette,

If any wight wiste

Wher Do-wel was at inne;

And what man he myghte be

Of many man I asked.

4910Was nevere wight, as I wente,That me wisse koutheWhere this leode lenged,Lasse ne moore;Til it bi-fel on a FridayTwo freres I mette,Maistres of the menours,Men of grete witte.I hailsed hem hendely,As I hadde y-lerned,4920And preide hempar charité,Er thei passed ferther,If thei knewe any contreeOr costes, as thei wente,"Where that Do-wel dwellethDooth me to witene."For thei be men of this mooldeThat moost wide walken,And knowen contrees and courtes,And many kynnes places,4930Bothe princes paleisesAnd povere mennes cotes,And Do-wel and Do-yveleWher thei dwelle bothe.

4910

Was nevere wight, as I wente,

That me wisse kouthe

Where this leode lenged,

Lasse ne moore;

Til it bi-fel on a Friday

Two freres I mette,

Maistres of the menours,

Men of grete witte.

I hailsed hem hendely,

As I hadde y-lerned,

4920

And preide hempar charité,

Er thei passed ferther,

If thei knewe any contree

Or costes, as thei wente,

"Where that Do-wel dwelleth

Dooth me to witene."

For thei be men of this moolde

That moost wide walken,

And knowen contrees and courtes,

And many kynnes places,

4930

Bothe princes paleises

And povere mennes cotes,

And Do-wel and Do-yvele

Wher thei dwelle bothe.

"Amonges us," quod the Menours,"That man is dwellynge,And evere hath, as I hope,And evere shal herafter."

"Amonges us," quod the Menours,

"That man is dwellynge,

And evere hath, as I hope,

And evere shal herafter."

"Contra," quod I as a clerc,And comsed to disputen,4940And seide hem soothly,"Septies in die cadit justus.Sevene sithes, seith the book,Synneth the rightfulle;And who so synneth," I seide,"Dooth yvele, as me thynketh;And Do-wel and Do-yveleMowe noght dwelle togideres.Ergohe nys noght alweyAmonges yow freres;4950He is outher while ellis whereTo wisse the peple."

"Contra," quod I as a clerc,

And comsed to disputen,

4940

And seide hem soothly,

"Septies in die cadit justus.

Sevene sithes, seith the book,

Synneth the rightfulle;

And who so synneth," I seide,

"Dooth yvele, as me thynketh;

And Do-wel and Do-yvele

Mowe noght dwelle togideres.

Ergohe nys noght alwey

Amonges yow freres;

4950

He is outher while ellis where

To wisse the peple."

"I shal seye thee, my sone,"Seide the frere thanne,"How seven sithes the sadde manOn a day synneth;By a forbisne," quod the frere,"I shal thee faire shewe.Lat brynge a man in a bootAmydde the brode watre,4960The wynd and the waterAnd the boot waggyngMaketh the man many a tymeTo falle and to stonde;For stonde he never so stif,He stumbleth if he meve,Ac yet is he saaf and sound,And so hym bihoveth.For if he ne arise the rather,And raughte to the steere,4970The wynd wolde with the waterThe boot over throwe;And thanne were his lif lost,Through lachesse of hymselve.

"I shal seye thee, my sone,"

Seide the frere thanne,

"How seven sithes the sadde man

On a day synneth;

By a forbisne," quod the frere,

"I shal thee faire shewe.

Lat brynge a man in a boot

Amydde the brode watre,

4960

The wynd and the water

And the boot waggyng

Maketh the man many a tyme

To falle and to stonde;

For stonde he never so stif,

He stumbleth if he meve,

Ac yet is he saaf and sound,

And so hym bihoveth.

For if he ne arise the rather,

And raughte to the steere,

4970

The wynd wolde with the water

The boot over throwe;

And thanne were his lif lost,

Through lachesse of hymselve.

"And thus it falleth," quod the frere,"By folk here on erthe;The water is likned to the worldThat wanyeth and wexeth;The goodes of this grounde arn likTo the grete wawes,4980That as wyndes and wedresWalketh aboute;The boot is likned to oure bodyThat brotel is of kynde,That thorugh the fend and the flessheAnd the frele worldeSynneth the sadde manA day seven sithes.

"And thus it falleth," quod the frere,

"By folk here on erthe;

The water is likned to the world

That wanyeth and wexeth;

The goodes of this grounde arn lik

To the grete wawes,

4980

That as wyndes and wedres

Walketh aboute;

The boot is likned to oure body

That brotel is of kynde,

That thorugh the fend and the flesshe

And the frele worlde

Synneth the sadde man

A day seven sithes.

"Ac dedly synne doth he noght,For Do-wel hym kepeth;4990And that is charité the champion,Chief help ayein synne;For he strengheth men to stonde,And steereth mannes soule,And though the body boweAs boot dooth in the watre,Ay is thi soule saaf,But if thow wole thiselveDo a deedly synne,And drenche so thi soule,5000God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe,If thiself liketh.For he yaf thee a yeres-gyve,To yeme wel thiselve,And that is wit and free-wil,To every wight a porcion,To fleynge foweles,To fisshes and to beestes;Ac man hath moost therof,And moost is to blame,5010But if he werche wel therwith,As Do-wel hym teacheth."

"Ac dedly synne doth he noght,

For Do-wel hym kepeth;

4990

And that is charité the champion,

Chief help ayein synne;

For he strengheth men to stonde,

And steereth mannes soule,

And though the body bowe

As boot dooth in the watre,

Ay is thi soule saaf,

But if thow wole thiselve

Do a deedly synne,

And drenche so thi soule,

5000

God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe,

If thiself liketh.

For he yaf thee a yeres-gyve,

To yeme wel thiselve,

And that is wit and free-wil,

To every wight a porcion,

To fleynge foweles,

To fisshes and to beestes;

Ac man hath moost therof,

And moost is to blame,

5010

But if he werche wel therwith,

As Do-wel hym teacheth."

"I have no kynde knowyng," quod I,"To conceyven alle youre wordes;Ac if I may lyve and loke,I shal go lerne bettre."

"I have no kynde knowyng," quod I,

"To conceyven alle youre wordes;

Ac if I may lyve and loke,

I shal go lerne bettre."

"I bikenne thee Crist," quod he,"That on cros deyde!"And I seide, "The sameSave yow fro myschaunce,5020And gyve yow grace on this groundeGoode men to worthe!"

"I bikenne thee Crist," quod he,

"That on cros deyde!"

And I seide, "The same

Save yow fro myschaunce,

5020

And gyve yow grace on this grounde

Goode men to worthe!"

AND thus I wente wide wherWalkyng myn one,By a wilde wildernesse,And by a wodes side;Blisse of the briddesBroughte me a-slepe,And under a lynde upon a laundeLened I a stounde,5030To lythe the layesTho lovely foweles made.Murthe of hire mouthesMade me ther to sleple;The marveillouseste metelsMette me thanneThat ever dremed wightIn world, as I wene.

ND thus I wente wide wher

Walkyng myn one,

By a wilde wildernesse,

And by a wodes side;

Blisse of the briddes

Broughte me a-slepe,

And under a lynde upon a launde

Lened I a stounde,

5030

To lythe the layes

Tho lovely foweles made.

Murthe of hire mouthes

Made me ther to sleple;

The marveillouseste metels

Mette me thanne

That ever dremed wight

In world, as I wene.

A muche man, as me thoughte,And lik to myselve,5040Cam and called meBy my kynde name.

A muche man, as me thoughte,

And lik to myselve,

5040

Cam and called me

By my kynde name.

"What artow?" quod I tho,"That thow my name knowest."

"What artow?" quod I tho,

"That thow my name knowest."

"That thou woost wel," quod he,"And no wight bettre."

"That thou woost wel," quod he,

"And no wight bettre."

"Woot I what thow art?""Thought," seide he thanne;"I have sued thee this seven yeer,Seye thow me no rather."

"Woot I what thow art?"

"Thought," seide he thanne;

"I have sued thee this seven yeer,

Seye thow me no rather."

5050"Artow Thought," quod I thoo,"Thow koudest me wisse,Where that Do-wel dwelleth,And do me that to knowe."

5050

"Artow Thought," quod I thoo,

"Thow koudest me wisse,

Where that Do-wel dwelleth,

And do me that to knowe."

"Do-wel and Do-bet,And Do-best the thridde," quod he,"Arn thre fair vertues,And ben noght fer to fynde.Whoso is trewe of his tunge,And of his two handes,5060And thorugh his labour, or thorugh his land,His liflode wynneth,And is trusty of his tailende,Taketh but his owene,And his noght dronklewe ne dedeynous,Do-wel hym folweth.

"Do-wel and Do-bet,

And Do-best the thridde," quod he,

"Arn thre fair vertues,

And ben noght fer to fynde.

Whoso is trewe of his tunge,

And of his two handes,

5060

And thorugh his labour, or thorugh his land,

His liflode wynneth,

And is trusty of his tailende,

Taketh but his owene,

And his noght dronklewe ne dedeynous,

Do-wel hym folweth.

"Do-bet dooth right thus:Ac he dooth muche moore;He is as lowe as a lomb,And lovelich of speche,5070And helpeth alle menAfter that hem nedeth.The bagges and the bigirdles,He hath to-broke hem alle,That the erl AvarousHeeld and hise heires.And thus with Mammonaes moneieHe hath maad hym frendes,And is ronne to religion,And hath rendred the Bible,5080And precheth to the pepleSeint Poules wordes:Libenter suffertis insipientes, cumsitis ipsi sapientes.

"Do-bet dooth right thus:

Ac he dooth muche moore;

He is as lowe as a lomb,

And lovelich of speche,

5070

And helpeth alle men

After that hem nedeth.

The bagges and the bigirdles,

He hath to-broke hem alle,

That the erl Avarous

Heeld and hise heires.

And thus with Mammonaes moneie

He hath maad hym frendes,

And is ronne to religion,

And hath rendred the Bible,

5080

And precheth to the peple

Seint Poules wordes:

Libenter suffertis insipientes, cum

sitis ipsi sapientes.

"And suffreth the unwiseWith yow for to libbe;And with glad wille dooth hem good,For so God yow hoteth.

"And suffreth the unwise

With yow for to libbe;

And with glad wille dooth hem good,

For so God yow hoteth.

"Do-best is above bothe,And bereth a bisshopes crosse,5090Is hoked on that oon endeTo halie men fro helle;A pik is on that potente,To putte a-down the wikkedThat waiten any wikkednesseDo-wel to tene.And Do-wel and Do-betAmonges hem han ordeyned,To crowne oon to be kyngTo rulen hem bothe;5100That if Do-wel or Do-betDide ayein Do-best,Thanne shal the kyng comeAnd casten hem in irens,And but if Do-best bede for hem,Thei to be ther for evere.

"Do-best is above bothe,

And bereth a bisshopes crosse,

5090

Is hoked on that oon ende

To halie men fro helle;

A pik is on that potente,

To putte a-down the wikked

That waiten any wikkednesse

Do-wel to tene.

And Do-wel and Do-bet

Amonges hem han ordeyned,

To crowne oon to be kyng

To rulen hem bothe;

5100

That if Do-wel or Do-bet

Dide ayein Do-best,

Thanne shal the kyng come

And casten hem in irens,

And but if Do-best bede for hem,

Thei to be ther for evere.

"Thus Do-wel and Do-bet,And Do-best the thridde,Crouned oon to the kyngTo kepen hem alle,5110And to rule the remeBy hire thre wittes,And noon oother wiseBut as thei thre assented."

"Thus Do-wel and Do-bet,

And Do-best the thridde,

Crouned oon to the kyng

To kepen hem alle,

5110

And to rule the reme

By hire thre wittes,

And noon oother wise

But as thei thre assented."

I thonked Thoght tho,That he me thus taughte."Ac yet savoreth me noght thi seying;I coveite to lerneHow Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-bestDoon among the peple."

I thonked Thoght tho,

That he me thus taughte.

"Ac yet savoreth me noght thi seying;

I coveite to lerne

How Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best

Doon among the peple."

5120"But Wit konne wisse thee," quod Thoght,"Wher tho thre dwelle,Ellis woot I noon that kanThat now is alyve."

5120

"But Wit konne wisse thee," quod Thoght,

"Wher tho thre dwelle,

Ellis woot I noon that kan

That now is alyve."

Thoght and I thusThre daies we yeden,Disputyng upon Do-welDay after oother;And ere we were war,With Wit gonne we mete.5130He was long and lene,Lik to noon other;Was no pride on his apparaille,Ne poverte neither;Sad of his semblaunt,And of softe chere.I dorste meve no matereTo maken hym to jangle,But as I bad Thoght thooBe mene bitwene,5140And pute forth som purposTo preven hise wittes,What was Do-wel fro Do-bet,And Do-best from hem bothe.

Thoght and I thus

Thre daies we yeden,

Disputyng upon Do-wel

Day after oother;

And ere we were war,

With Wit gonne we mete.

5130

He was long and lene,

Lik to noon other;

Was no pride on his apparaille,

Ne poverte neither;

Sad of his semblaunt,

And of softe chere.

I dorste meve no matere

To maken hym to jangle,

But as I bad Thoght thoo

Be mene bitwene,

5140

And pute forth som purpos

To preven hise wittes,

What was Do-wel fro Do-bet,

And Do-best from hem bothe.

Thanne Thoght in that tymeSeide thise wordes:"Where Do-wel, Do-bet,And Do-best ben in londe,Here is Wil wolde wite,If Wit koude teche hym;And wheither he be man or wommanThis man fayn wolde aspie,And werchen as thei thre wolde,5153Thus is his entente."

Thanne Thoght in that tyme

Seide thise wordes:

"Where Do-wel, Do-bet,

And Do-best ben in londe,

Here is Wil wolde wite,

If Wit koude teche hym;

And wheither he be man or womman

This man fayn wolde aspie,

And werchen as thei thre wolde,

5153

Thus is his entente."

Filler.

Passus Nonus de Visione, ut supra, et Primus deDo-wel"S5154IRE Do-wel dwelleth," quod Wit,"Noght a day hennes,In a castel that Kynde madeOf four kynnes thynges;Of erthe and of eyr it is maad,Medled togideres,5160With wynd and with waterWitterly enjoyned.Kynde hath closed therinneCraftily withalleA lemman that he lovethLik to hymselve;Animashe hatte.Ac envye hir hateth,A proud prikere of Fraunce,Princeps hujus mundi,5170And wolde wynne hire aweyWith wiles, and he myghte."Ac Kynde knoweth this wel,And kepeth hire the bettre,And dooth hire with sire Do-wel,Is duc of thise marches."Do-bet is hire damyselle,Sire Do-weles doughter,To serven this lady leellyBothe late and rathe.5180"Do-best is above bothe,A bisshopes peere;That he bit moot be do,He ruleth hem alle.Anima, that lady,Is lad by his leryng.Ac the constable of that castel,That kepeth al the wacche,Is a wis knyght withalle,Sire Inwit he hatte,5190And hathe fyve faire sonesBi his firste wyve;Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel,And Here-wel the hende,Sire Werch-wel-with-thyn-hand,A wight man of strengthe,And sire Godefray Go-wel;Grete lordes, for sothe.Thise fyve ben setTo kepe this ladyAnima,5200Til Kynde come or sendeTo saven hire for evere.""What kynnes thyng is Kynde?" quod I,"Kanstow me telle?""Kynde," quod Wit, "is a creatourOf alle kynnes thynges,Fader and formourOf al that evere was maked;And that is the grete GodThat gynnyng hadde nevere,5210Lord of lif and of light,Of lisse and of peyne.Aungeles and alle thyngArn at his wille;Ac man is hym moost likOf marc and of shafte;For thorugh the word that he spakWoxen forth beestes.Dixit et facta sunt."And made man likkest5220To hymself one,And Eve of his ryb-bon,Withouten any mene,For he was synguler hymself;And seidefaciamus,As who seith moore moot hertoThan my word oone,My myght moot helpeForth with my speche.Right as a lord sholde make lettres,5230And hym lakked parchemyn,Though he koude write never so wel,If he hadde no penne,The lettre, for al the lordshipe,I leve were nevere y-maked."And so it semeth by hym,As the Bible telleth,There he seideDixit et facta sunt,He moste werche with his word,And his wit shewe.5240And in this manere was man maad,Thorugh myght of God almighty,With his word and werkmanshipe,And with lif to laste.And thus God gaf hym a goost,Thorugh the godhede of hevene,And of his grete graceGraunted hym blisse,And that is lif that ay shal lasteTo al his lynage after.5250And that is the castel that Kynde made,Caroit hatte,And is as muche to meneAs man with a soule;And that he wroghte with werk,And with word bothe,Thorgh myght of the magestéMan was y-maked."Inwit and alle wittesClosed ben therinne,5260For love of the ladyAnima,That lif is y-nempned;Over al in mannes bodyHe walketh and wandreth.And in the herte is hir hoomAnd hir mooste reste."Ac Inwit is in the heed,And to the herte he loketh;WhatAnimais leef or looth,He lat hire at his wille;5270For after the grace of God,The gretteste is Inwit."Muche wo worth that manThat mys-ruleth his Inwit;And that ben glotons glubberes,Hir God is hire wombe.Quorum deus venter est."For thei serven Sathan,Hir soules shal he have.That lyven synful lif here,5280Hir soule is lich the devil;And alle that lyven good lifAre lik to God almyghty,=Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, etc."Alas! that drynke shal for-doThat God deere boughte,And dooth God forsaken hemThat he shoop to his liknesse.Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi:5290Et dimisi eos secundum desideriaeorum."Fools that fauten Inwit,I fynde that holy chircheSholde fynden hem that hem fauted,And fader-lese children,And widewes that han noght wherwithTo wynnen hem hir foode,Madde men, and maydenesThat help-lese were,5300Alle thise lakken Inwit,And loore bihoveth."Of this matere I myghteMake a long tale,And fynde fele witnessesAmongthe foure doctours;And that I lye noght of that I lere thee,Luc bereth witnesse."God-fadres and god-modres,That seen hire god-children5310At mys-eise and at myschief,And mowe hem amende,Shul have penaunce in purgatorieBut thei hem helpe.For moore bilongeth to the litel barn,Er he the lawe knowe,Than nempnynge of a name,And he never the wiser.Sholde no cristene creatureCryen at the yate,5320Ne faille payn ne potage,And prelates dide as thei sholden.A Jew wolde noght se a JewGo janglyng for defaute,For alle the mebles on this moolde,And he amende it myghte."Alas! that a cristene creatureShal be unkynde til another;Syn Jewes, that we juggeJudas felawes,5330Eyther of hem helpeth ootherOf that that hem nedeth.Whi nel we cristeneOf Cristes good be as kyndeAs Jewes, that ben oure lores-men?Shame to us alle!The commune for hir unkyndenesse,I drede me, shul abye."Bisshopes shul be blamedFor beggeres sake.5340He is wors than Judas,That gyveth a japer silver,And biddeth the beggere go,For his broke clothes.Proditor est prælatus cum Juda,qui patrimonium Christi mimisdistribuit. Et alibi: Perniciosusdispensator est, qui respauperum Christi inutiliterconsumit.5350"He dooth noght wel that dooth thus,Ne drat noght God almyghty;He loveth noght Salomons sawes,That sapience taughte.Initium sapientiæ, timor Domini."That dredeth God, he dooth wel;That dredeth him for love,And noght for drede of vengeaunce,Dooth therfore the bettre."He dooth best that with-draweth hym5360By daye and by nyghte,To spille any specheOr any space of tyme.=Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus."Lesynge of tyme,Truthe woot the sothe,Is moost y-hated upon ertheOf hem that ben in hevene;And siththe to spille speche,5370That spicerie is of grace,And Goddes gle-man,And a game of hevene.Wolde nevere the feithful faderThis fithele were un-tempred,Ne his gle-man a gedelyng,A goere to tavernes."To alle trewe tidy menThat travaille desiren,Oure Lord loveth hem and lent5380Loude outher stilleGrace to go to hem,And of-gon hir liflode.Inquirentes autem Dominum nonminuenturomni bono."Trewe wedded libbynge folkIn this world is Do-wel,For thei mote werche and wynne,And the world sustene.For of hir kynde thei come5390That confessours ben nempned,Kynges and knyghtes,Kaysers and cherles,Maidenes and martires,Out of o man come.The wif was maad the weyeFor to helpe werche;And thus was wedlok y-wroghtWith a mene persone,First, by the fadres wille,5400And the frendes conseille;And sithenes by assent of hemself,As thei two myghte acorde.And thus was wedlok y-wroght,And God hymself it madeIn erthe and in hevene,Hymself bereth witnesse."Ac fals folk feyth-lees,Theves and lyeres,Wastours and wrecches,5410Out of wedlok, I trowe,Conceyved ben in yvel tyme,As Caym was on Eve;Of swiche synfulle sherewesThe Sauter maketh mynde:=Concepit in dolore, et peperit iniquitatem, etc."And alle that come of that Caym,Come to yvel ende.And God sente to Seem,5420And seide by an aungel,'Thyn issue in thyn issueI wol that thei be wedded,And noght thi kynde with CaymesY-coupled nor y-spoused.'"Yet some, ayein the sondeOf oure Saveour of hevene,Caymes kynde and his kyndeCoupled togideres,Til God wrathed for hir werkes,5430And swich a word seide,'That I makede manIt me for-thynketh.'Pœnitet me fecisse hominem."And com to Noe anon,And bad hym noght lette:'Swith go shape a shipOf shides and of bordes;Thyself and thi sones,And sithen youre wyves,5440Busketh yow to that boot,And bideth ye therinne,Til fourty daies be fulfild,That the flood have y-wasshenClene awey the corsed bloodThat Caym hath y-maked."'Beestes that now benShul banne the tymeThat evere that cursed CaymCoom on this erthe;5450Alle shul deye for hise dedes,By dales and by hulles,And the foweles that fleenForth with othere beestes,Excepte oonlicheOf ech kynde a couple,That in thi shyngled shipShul ben y-saved.'Here a-boughte the barnThe bel-sires giltes,5460And alle for hir fadresThei ferden the werse;The Gospel is her ayein,In o degré, I fynde:Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris,et pater non portabit iniquitatemfilii, etc."Ac I fynde if the faderBe fals and a sherewe,That som del the sone5470Shal have the sires tacches."Impe on an ellere,And if thyn appul be swete,Muchel merveille me thynketh;And moore of a shereweThat bryngeth forth any barn,But if he be the same,And have a savour after the sire;Selde sestow oother.Nunquam colligitur de spinis uva,5480nec de tribulis ficus."And thus thorugh cursed CaymCam care upon erthe;And al for thei wroghte wedlokesAyein Goddes wille.For-thi have thei maugré of hir mariagesThat marie so hir children.For some, as I se now,Sooth for to telle,For coveitise of catel5490Un-kyndely ben wedded;As careful concepcionCometh of swiche mariages,As bi-fel of the folkThat I bifore of tolde,Therfore goode sholde wedde goode,Though thei no good hadde;'I amvia et veritas,' seith Crist,'I may avaunce yow alle.'"It is an uncomly couple,5500By Crist! as me thynketh,To yeven a yong wencheTo an old feble,Or wedden any wodeweFor welthe of hir goodes,That nevere shal barn bereBut if it be in hir armes.Many a peire, sithen the pestilence,Han plight hem togideres,The fruyt that brynge forth5510Arn foule wordes,In jelousie joye-lees,And janglynge on bedde,Have thei no children but cheeste,And clappyng hem bitwene.And though thei do hem to Dunmowe,But if the devel helpe,To folwen after the flicche,Fecche thei it nevere;And but thi bothe be for-swore,5520That bacon thei tyne."For-thei I counseille alle cristeneCoveite noght be weddedFor coveitise of catel,Ne of kyn-rede riche;Ac maidenes and maydenesMacche yow togideres,Wodewes and wideweresWercheth the same;For no londes, but for love,5530Loke ye be wedded,And thanne gete ye the grace of God,And good y-nough to lyve with."And every maner seculerThat may noght continue,Wisely goo wedde,And ware hym fro synne;For lecherie in likyngeIs lyme-yerd of helle.Whiles thow art yong,5540And thi wepene kene,Wreke thee with wyvyng,If thow wolt ben excused.Dum sis vir fortis,Ne des tua robora scortis;Scribitur in portis,Meretrix est janua mortis."Whan ye han wyved, beth warAnd wercheth in tyme;Noght as Adam and Eve,5550Whan Caym was engendred.For in un-tyme, trewely,Bitwene man and womman,Ne sholde no bourde or bedde be;But if thei bothe were cleneBothe of lif and of soule,And in perfit charité,That ilke derne dede doNo man ne sholde.And if thei leden thus hir lif,5560It liketh God almyghty;For he made wedlok first,And hymself it seide:Bonum est ut unusquisque uxoremsuam habeat, propterfornicationem."And thei that other gates ben getenFor gedelynges arn holden,As fals folk fondlynges,Faitours and lieres,5570Ungracious to gete goodOr love of the peple,Wandren and wastenWhat thei cacche mowe,Ayeins Do-wel thei doon yvel,And the devel serve;And after hir deeth dayShul dwelle with the same,But God gyve hem grace hereHemself to amende.5580"Do-wel my frend is,To doon as lawe techeth;To love thi frend and thi foo,Leve me, that is Do-bet;To gyven and to yemenBothe yonge and olde,To helen and to helpen,Is Do-best of alle."And Do-wel is to drede God,And Do-bet to suffre,5590And so cometh Do-best of bothe,And bryngeth adoun the mody,And that is wikked willeThat many a werk shendeth,And dryveth awey Do-wel5595Thorugh dedliche synnes."

Passus Nonus de Visione, ut supra, et Primus deDo-wel

"S5154IRE Do-wel dwelleth," quod Wit,"Noght a day hennes,In a castel that Kynde madeOf four kynnes thynges;Of erthe and of eyr it is maad,Medled togideres,5160With wynd and with waterWitterly enjoyned.Kynde hath closed therinneCraftily withalleA lemman that he lovethLik to hymselve;Animashe hatte.Ac envye hir hateth,A proud prikere of Fraunce,Princeps hujus mundi,5170And wolde wynne hire aweyWith wiles, and he myghte.

"S5154

5154

IRE Do-wel dwelleth," quod Wit,

"Noght a day hennes,

In a castel that Kynde made

Of four kynnes thynges;

Of erthe and of eyr it is maad,

Medled togideres,

5160

With wynd and with water

Witterly enjoyned.

Kynde hath closed therinne

Craftily withalle

A lemman that he loveth

Lik to hymselve;

Animashe hatte.

Ac envye hir hateth,

A proud prikere of Fraunce,

Princeps hujus mundi,

5170

And wolde wynne hire awey

With wiles, and he myghte.

"Ac Kynde knoweth this wel,And kepeth hire the bettre,And dooth hire with sire Do-wel,Is duc of thise marches.

"Ac Kynde knoweth this wel,

And kepeth hire the bettre,

And dooth hire with sire Do-wel,

Is duc of thise marches.

"Do-bet is hire damyselle,Sire Do-weles doughter,To serven this lady leellyBothe late and rathe.

"Do-bet is hire damyselle,

Sire Do-weles doughter,

To serven this lady leelly

Bothe late and rathe.

5180"Do-best is above bothe,A bisshopes peere;That he bit moot be do,He ruleth hem alle.Anima, that lady,Is lad by his leryng.Ac the constable of that castel,That kepeth al the wacche,Is a wis knyght withalle,Sire Inwit he hatte,5190And hathe fyve faire sonesBi his firste wyve;Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel,And Here-wel the hende,Sire Werch-wel-with-thyn-hand,A wight man of strengthe,And sire Godefray Go-wel;Grete lordes, for sothe.Thise fyve ben setTo kepe this ladyAnima,5200Til Kynde come or sendeTo saven hire for evere."

5180

"Do-best is above bothe,

A bisshopes peere;

That he bit moot be do,

He ruleth hem alle.

Anima, that lady,

Is lad by his leryng.

Ac the constable of that castel,

That kepeth al the wacche,

Is a wis knyght withalle,

Sire Inwit he hatte,

5190

And hathe fyve faire sones

Bi his firste wyve;

Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel,

And Here-wel the hende,

Sire Werch-wel-with-thyn-hand,

A wight man of strengthe,

And sire Godefray Go-wel;

Grete lordes, for sothe.

Thise fyve ben set

To kepe this ladyAnima,

5200

Til Kynde come or sende

To saven hire for evere."

"What kynnes thyng is Kynde?" quod I,"Kanstow me telle?"

"What kynnes thyng is Kynde?" quod I,

"Kanstow me telle?"

"Kynde," quod Wit, "is a creatourOf alle kynnes thynges,Fader and formourOf al that evere was maked;And that is the grete GodThat gynnyng hadde nevere,5210Lord of lif and of light,Of lisse and of peyne.Aungeles and alle thyngArn at his wille;Ac man is hym moost likOf marc and of shafte;For thorugh the word that he spakWoxen forth beestes.Dixit et facta sunt.

"Kynde," quod Wit, "is a creatour

Of alle kynnes thynges,

Fader and formour

Of al that evere was maked;

And that is the grete God

That gynnyng hadde nevere,

5210

Lord of lif and of light,

Of lisse and of peyne.

Aungeles and alle thyng

Arn at his wille;

Ac man is hym moost lik

Of marc and of shafte;

For thorugh the word that he spak

Woxen forth beestes.

Dixit et facta sunt.

"And made man likkest5220To hymself one,And Eve of his ryb-bon,Withouten any mene,For he was synguler hymself;And seidefaciamus,As who seith moore moot hertoThan my word oone,My myght moot helpeForth with my speche.Right as a lord sholde make lettres,5230And hym lakked parchemyn,Though he koude write never so wel,If he hadde no penne,The lettre, for al the lordshipe,I leve were nevere y-maked.

"And made man likkest

5220

To hymself one,

And Eve of his ryb-bon,

Withouten any mene,

For he was synguler hymself;

And seidefaciamus,

As who seith moore moot herto

Than my word oone,

My myght moot helpe

Forth with my speche.

Right as a lord sholde make lettres,

5230

And hym lakked parchemyn,

Though he koude write never so wel,

If he hadde no penne,

The lettre, for al the lordshipe,

I leve were nevere y-maked.

"And so it semeth by hym,As the Bible telleth,There he seideDixit et facta sunt,He moste werche with his word,And his wit shewe.5240And in this manere was man maad,Thorugh myght of God almighty,With his word and werkmanshipe,And with lif to laste.And thus God gaf hym a goost,Thorugh the godhede of hevene,And of his grete graceGraunted hym blisse,And that is lif that ay shal lasteTo al his lynage after.5250And that is the castel that Kynde made,Caroit hatte,And is as muche to meneAs man with a soule;And that he wroghte with werk,And with word bothe,Thorgh myght of the magestéMan was y-maked.

"And so it semeth by hym,

As the Bible telleth,

There he seideDixit et facta sunt,

He moste werche with his word,

And his wit shewe.

5240

And in this manere was man maad,

Thorugh myght of God almighty,

With his word and werkmanshipe,

And with lif to laste.

And thus God gaf hym a goost,

Thorugh the godhede of hevene,

And of his grete grace

Graunted hym blisse,

And that is lif that ay shal laste

To al his lynage after.

5250

And that is the castel that Kynde made,

Caroit hatte,

And is as muche to mene

As man with a soule;

And that he wroghte with werk,

And with word bothe,

Thorgh myght of the magesté

Man was y-maked.

"Inwit and alle wittesClosed ben therinne,5260For love of the ladyAnima,That lif is y-nempned;Over al in mannes bodyHe walketh and wandreth.And in the herte is hir hoomAnd hir mooste reste.

"Inwit and alle wittes

Closed ben therinne,

5260

For love of the ladyAnima,

That lif is y-nempned;

Over al in mannes body

He walketh and wandreth.

And in the herte is hir hoom

And hir mooste reste.

"Ac Inwit is in the heed,And to the herte he loketh;WhatAnimais leef or looth,He lat hire at his wille;5270For after the grace of God,The gretteste is Inwit.

"Ac Inwit is in the heed,

And to the herte he loketh;

WhatAnimais leef or looth,

He lat hire at his wille;

5270

For after the grace of God,

The gretteste is Inwit.

"Muche wo worth that manThat mys-ruleth his Inwit;And that ben glotons glubberes,Hir God is hire wombe.Quorum deus venter est.

"Muche wo worth that man

That mys-ruleth his Inwit;

And that ben glotons glubberes,

Hir God is hire wombe.

Quorum deus venter est.

"For thei serven Sathan,Hir soules shal he have.That lyven synful lif here,5280Hir soule is lich the devil;And alle that lyven good lifAre lik to God almyghty,=Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, etc.

"For thei serven Sathan,

Hir soules shal he have.

That lyven synful lif here,

5280

Hir soule is lich the devil;

And alle that lyven good lif

Are lik to God almyghty,

Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, etc.

"Alas! that drynke shal for-doThat God deere boughte,And dooth God forsaken hemThat he shoop to his liknesse.Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi:5290Et dimisi eos secundum desideriaeorum.

"Alas! that drynke shal for-do

That God deere boughte,

And dooth God forsaken hem

That he shoop to his liknesse.

Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi:

5290

Et dimisi eos secundum desideria

eorum.

"Fools that fauten Inwit,I fynde that holy chircheSholde fynden hem that hem fauted,And fader-lese children,And widewes that han noght wherwithTo wynnen hem hir foode,Madde men, and maydenesThat help-lese were,5300Alle thise lakken Inwit,And loore bihoveth.

"Fools that fauten Inwit,

I fynde that holy chirche

Sholde fynden hem that hem fauted,

And fader-lese children,

And widewes that han noght wherwith

To wynnen hem hir foode,

Madde men, and maydenes

That help-lese were,

5300

Alle thise lakken Inwit,

And loore bihoveth.

"Of this matere I myghteMake a long tale,And fynde fele witnessesAmongthe foure doctours;And that I lye noght of that I lere thee,Luc bereth witnesse.

"Of this matere I myghte

Make a long tale,

And fynde fele witnesses

Amongthe foure doctours;

And that I lye noght of that I lere thee,

Luc bereth witnesse.

"God-fadres and god-modres,That seen hire god-children5310At mys-eise and at myschief,And mowe hem amende,Shul have penaunce in purgatorieBut thei hem helpe.For moore bilongeth to the litel barn,Er he the lawe knowe,Than nempnynge of a name,And he never the wiser.Sholde no cristene creatureCryen at the yate,5320Ne faille payn ne potage,And prelates dide as thei sholden.A Jew wolde noght se a JewGo janglyng for defaute,For alle the mebles on this moolde,And he amende it myghte.

"God-fadres and god-modres,

That seen hire god-children

5310

At mys-eise and at myschief,

And mowe hem amende,

Shul have penaunce in purgatorie

But thei hem helpe.

For moore bilongeth to the litel barn,

Er he the lawe knowe,

Than nempnynge of a name,

And he never the wiser.

Sholde no cristene creature

Cryen at the yate,

5320

Ne faille payn ne potage,

And prelates dide as thei sholden.

A Jew wolde noght se a Jew

Go janglyng for defaute,

For alle the mebles on this moolde,

And he amende it myghte.

"Alas! that a cristene creatureShal be unkynde til another;Syn Jewes, that we juggeJudas felawes,5330Eyther of hem helpeth ootherOf that that hem nedeth.Whi nel we cristeneOf Cristes good be as kyndeAs Jewes, that ben oure lores-men?Shame to us alle!The commune for hir unkyndenesse,I drede me, shul abye.

"Alas! that a cristene creature

Shal be unkynde til another;

Syn Jewes, that we jugge

Judas felawes,

5330

Eyther of hem helpeth oother

Of that that hem nedeth.

Whi nel we cristene

Of Cristes good be as kynde

As Jewes, that ben oure lores-men?

Shame to us alle!

The commune for hir unkyndenesse,

I drede me, shul abye.

"Bisshopes shul be blamedFor beggeres sake.5340He is wors than Judas,That gyveth a japer silver,And biddeth the beggere go,For his broke clothes.Proditor est prælatus cum Juda,qui patrimonium Christi mimisdistribuit. Et alibi: Perniciosusdispensator est, qui respauperum Christi inutiliterconsumit.

"Bisshopes shul be blamed

For beggeres sake.

5340

He is wors than Judas,

That gyveth a japer silver,

And biddeth the beggere go,

For his broke clothes.

Proditor est prælatus cum Juda,

qui patrimonium Christi mimis

distribuit. Et alibi: Perniciosus

dispensator est, qui res

pauperum Christi inutiliter

consumit.

5350"He dooth noght wel that dooth thus,Ne drat noght God almyghty;He loveth noght Salomons sawes,That sapience taughte.Initium sapientiæ, timor Domini.

5350

"He dooth noght wel that dooth thus,

Ne drat noght God almyghty;

He loveth noght Salomons sawes,

That sapience taughte.

Initium sapientiæ, timor Domini.

"That dredeth God, he dooth wel;That dredeth him for love,And noght for drede of vengeaunce,Dooth therfore the bettre.

"That dredeth God, he dooth wel;

That dredeth him for love,

And noght for drede of vengeaunce,

Dooth therfore the bettre.

"He dooth best that with-draweth hym5360By daye and by nyghte,To spille any specheOr any space of tyme.=Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.

"He dooth best that with-draweth hym

5360

By daye and by nyghte,

To spille any speche

Or any space of tyme.

Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.

"Lesynge of tyme,Truthe woot the sothe,Is moost y-hated upon ertheOf hem that ben in hevene;And siththe to spille speche,5370That spicerie is of grace,And Goddes gle-man,And a game of hevene.Wolde nevere the feithful faderThis fithele were un-tempred,Ne his gle-man a gedelyng,A goere to tavernes.

"Lesynge of tyme,

Truthe woot the sothe,

Is moost y-hated upon erthe

Of hem that ben in hevene;

And siththe to spille speche,

5370

That spicerie is of grace,

And Goddes gle-man,

And a game of hevene.

Wolde nevere the feithful fader

This fithele were un-tempred,

Ne his gle-man a gedelyng,

A goere to tavernes.

"To alle trewe tidy menThat travaille desiren,Oure Lord loveth hem and lent5380Loude outher stilleGrace to go to hem,And of-gon hir liflode.Inquirentes autem Dominum nonminuenturomni bono.

"To alle trewe tidy men

That travaille desiren,

Oure Lord loveth hem and lent

5380

Loude outher stille

Grace to go to hem,

And of-gon hir liflode.

Inquirentes autem Dominum non

minuenturomni bono.

"Trewe wedded libbynge folkIn this world is Do-wel,For thei mote werche and wynne,And the world sustene.For of hir kynde thei come5390That confessours ben nempned,Kynges and knyghtes,Kaysers and cherles,Maidenes and martires,Out of o man come.The wif was maad the weyeFor to helpe werche;And thus was wedlok y-wroghtWith a mene persone,First, by the fadres wille,5400And the frendes conseille;And sithenes by assent of hemself,As thei two myghte acorde.And thus was wedlok y-wroght,And God hymself it madeIn erthe and in hevene,Hymself bereth witnesse.

"Trewe wedded libbynge folk

In this world is Do-wel,

For thei mote werche and wynne,

And the world sustene.

For of hir kynde thei come

5390

That confessours ben nempned,

Kynges and knyghtes,

Kaysers and cherles,

Maidenes and martires,

Out of o man come.

The wif was maad the weye

For to helpe werche;

And thus was wedlok y-wroght

With a mene persone,

First, by the fadres wille,

5400

And the frendes conseille;

And sithenes by assent of hemself,

As thei two myghte acorde.

And thus was wedlok y-wroght,

And God hymself it made

In erthe and in hevene,

Hymself bereth witnesse.

"Ac fals folk feyth-lees,Theves and lyeres,Wastours and wrecches,5410Out of wedlok, I trowe,Conceyved ben in yvel tyme,As Caym was on Eve;Of swiche synfulle sherewesThe Sauter maketh mynde:=Concepit in dolore, et peperit iniquitatem, etc.

"Ac fals folk feyth-lees,

Theves and lyeres,

Wastours and wrecches,

5410

Out of wedlok, I trowe,

Conceyved ben in yvel tyme,

As Caym was on Eve;

Of swiche synfulle sherewes

The Sauter maketh mynde:

Concepit in dolore, et peperit iniquitatem, etc.

"And alle that come of that Caym,Come to yvel ende.And God sente to Seem,5420And seide by an aungel,'Thyn issue in thyn issueI wol that thei be wedded,And noght thi kynde with CaymesY-coupled nor y-spoused.'

"And alle that come of that Caym,

Come to yvel ende.

And God sente to Seem,

5420

And seide by an aungel,

'Thyn issue in thyn issue

I wol that thei be wedded,

And noght thi kynde with Caymes

Y-coupled nor y-spoused.'

"Yet some, ayein the sondeOf oure Saveour of hevene,Caymes kynde and his kyndeCoupled togideres,Til God wrathed for hir werkes,5430And swich a word seide,'That I makede manIt me for-thynketh.'Pœnitet me fecisse hominem.

"Yet some, ayein the sonde

Of oure Saveour of hevene,

Caymes kynde and his kynde

Coupled togideres,

Til God wrathed for hir werkes,

5430

And swich a word seide,

'That I makede man

It me for-thynketh.'

Pœnitet me fecisse hominem.

"And com to Noe anon,And bad hym noght lette:'Swith go shape a shipOf shides and of bordes;Thyself and thi sones,And sithen youre wyves,5440Busketh yow to that boot,And bideth ye therinne,Til fourty daies be fulfild,That the flood have y-wasshenClene awey the corsed bloodThat Caym hath y-maked.

"And com to Noe anon,

And bad hym noght lette:

'Swith go shape a ship

Of shides and of bordes;

Thyself and thi sones,

And sithen youre wyves,

5440

Busketh yow to that boot,

And bideth ye therinne,

Til fourty daies be fulfild,

That the flood have y-wasshen

Clene awey the corsed blood

That Caym hath y-maked.

"'Beestes that now benShul banne the tymeThat evere that cursed CaymCoom on this erthe;5450Alle shul deye for hise dedes,By dales and by hulles,And the foweles that fleenForth with othere beestes,Excepte oonlicheOf ech kynde a couple,That in thi shyngled shipShul ben y-saved.'Here a-boughte the barnThe bel-sires giltes,5460And alle for hir fadresThei ferden the werse;The Gospel is her ayein,In o degré, I fynde:Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris,et pater non portabit iniquitatemfilii, etc.

"'Beestes that now ben

Shul banne the tyme

That evere that cursed Caym

Coom on this erthe;

5450

Alle shul deye for hise dedes,

By dales and by hulles,

And the foweles that fleen

Forth with othere beestes,

Excepte oonliche

Of ech kynde a couple,

That in thi shyngled ship

Shul ben y-saved.'

Here a-boughte the barn

The bel-sires giltes,

5460

And alle for hir fadres

Thei ferden the werse;

The Gospel is her ayein,

In o degré, I fynde:

Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris,

et pater non portabit iniquitatem

filii, etc.

"Ac I fynde if the faderBe fals and a sherewe,That som del the sone5470Shal have the sires tacches.

"Ac I fynde if the fader

Be fals and a sherewe,

That som del the sone

5470

Shal have the sires tacches.

"Impe on an ellere,And if thyn appul be swete,Muchel merveille me thynketh;And moore of a shereweThat bryngeth forth any barn,But if he be the same,And have a savour after the sire;Selde sestow oother.Nunquam colligitur de spinis uva,5480nec de tribulis ficus.

"Impe on an ellere,

And if thyn appul be swete,

Muchel merveille me thynketh;

And moore of a sherewe

That bryngeth forth any barn,

But if he be the same,

And have a savour after the sire;

Selde sestow oother.

Nunquam colligitur de spinis uva,

5480

nec de tribulis ficus.

"And thus thorugh cursed CaymCam care upon erthe;And al for thei wroghte wedlokesAyein Goddes wille.For-thi have thei maugré of hir mariagesThat marie so hir children.For some, as I se now,Sooth for to telle,For coveitise of catel5490Un-kyndely ben wedded;As careful concepcionCometh of swiche mariages,As bi-fel of the folkThat I bifore of tolde,Therfore goode sholde wedde goode,Though thei no good hadde;'I amvia et veritas,' seith Crist,'I may avaunce yow alle.'

"And thus thorugh cursed Caym

Cam care upon erthe;

And al for thei wroghte wedlokes

Ayein Goddes wille.

For-thi have thei maugré of hir mariages

That marie so hir children.

For some, as I se now,

Sooth for to telle,

For coveitise of catel

5490

Un-kyndely ben wedded;

As careful concepcion

Cometh of swiche mariages,

As bi-fel of the folk

That I bifore of tolde,

Therfore goode sholde wedde goode,

Though thei no good hadde;

'I amvia et veritas,' seith Crist,

'I may avaunce yow alle.'

"It is an uncomly couple,5500By Crist! as me thynketh,To yeven a yong wencheTo an old feble,Or wedden any wodeweFor welthe of hir goodes,That nevere shal barn bereBut if it be in hir armes.Many a peire, sithen the pestilence,Han plight hem togideres,The fruyt that brynge forth5510Arn foule wordes,In jelousie joye-lees,And janglynge on bedde,Have thei no children but cheeste,And clappyng hem bitwene.And though thei do hem to Dunmowe,But if the devel helpe,To folwen after the flicche,Fecche thei it nevere;And but thi bothe be for-swore,5520That bacon thei tyne.

"It is an uncomly couple,

5500

By Crist! as me thynketh,

To yeven a yong wenche

To an old feble,

Or wedden any wodewe

For welthe of hir goodes,

That nevere shal barn bere

But if it be in hir armes.

Many a peire, sithen the pestilence,

Han plight hem togideres,

The fruyt that brynge forth

5510

Arn foule wordes,

In jelousie joye-lees,

And janglynge on bedde,

Have thei no children but cheeste,

And clappyng hem bitwene.

And though thei do hem to Dunmowe,

But if the devel helpe,

To folwen after the flicche,

Fecche thei it nevere;

And but thi bothe be for-swore,

5520

That bacon thei tyne.

"For-thei I counseille alle cristeneCoveite noght be weddedFor coveitise of catel,Ne of kyn-rede riche;Ac maidenes and maydenesMacche yow togideres,Wodewes and wideweresWercheth the same;For no londes, but for love,5530Loke ye be wedded,And thanne gete ye the grace of God,And good y-nough to lyve with.

"For-thei I counseille alle cristene

Coveite noght be wedded

For coveitise of catel,

Ne of kyn-rede riche;

Ac maidenes and maydenes

Macche yow togideres,

Wodewes and wideweres

Wercheth the same;

For no londes, but for love,

5530

Loke ye be wedded,

And thanne gete ye the grace of God,

And good y-nough to lyve with.

"And every maner seculerThat may noght continue,Wisely goo wedde,And ware hym fro synne;For lecherie in likyngeIs lyme-yerd of helle.Whiles thow art yong,5540And thi wepene kene,Wreke thee with wyvyng,If thow wolt ben excused.Dum sis vir fortis,Ne des tua robora scortis;Scribitur in portis,Meretrix est janua mortis.

"And every maner seculer

That may noght continue,

Wisely goo wedde,

And ware hym fro synne;

For lecherie in likynge

Is lyme-yerd of helle.

Whiles thow art yong,

5540

And thi wepene kene,

Wreke thee with wyvyng,

If thow wolt ben excused.

Dum sis vir fortis,

Ne des tua robora scortis;

Scribitur in portis,

Meretrix est janua mortis.

"Whan ye han wyved, beth warAnd wercheth in tyme;Noght as Adam and Eve,5550Whan Caym was engendred.For in un-tyme, trewely,Bitwene man and womman,Ne sholde no bourde or bedde be;But if thei bothe were cleneBothe of lif and of soule,And in perfit charité,That ilke derne dede doNo man ne sholde.And if thei leden thus hir lif,5560It liketh God almyghty;For he made wedlok first,And hymself it seide:Bonum est ut unusquisque uxoremsuam habeat, propterfornicationem.

"Whan ye han wyved, beth war

And wercheth in tyme;

Noght as Adam and Eve,

5550

Whan Caym was engendred.

For in un-tyme, trewely,

Bitwene man and womman,

Ne sholde no bourde or bedde be;

But if thei bothe were clene

Bothe of lif and of soule,

And in perfit charité,

That ilke derne dede do

No man ne sholde.

And if thei leden thus hir lif,

5560

It liketh God almyghty;

For he made wedlok first,

And hymself it seide:

Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem

suam habeat, propter

fornicationem.

"And thei that other gates ben getenFor gedelynges arn holden,As fals folk fondlynges,Faitours and lieres,5570Ungracious to gete goodOr love of the peple,Wandren and wastenWhat thei cacche mowe,Ayeins Do-wel thei doon yvel,And the devel serve;And after hir deeth dayShul dwelle with the same,But God gyve hem grace hereHemself to amende.

"And thei that other gates ben geten

For gedelynges arn holden,

As fals folk fondlynges,

Faitours and lieres,

5570

Ungracious to gete good

Or love of the peple,

Wandren and wasten

What thei cacche mowe,

Ayeins Do-wel thei doon yvel,

And the devel serve;

And after hir deeth day

Shul dwelle with the same,

But God gyve hem grace here

Hemself to amende.

5580"Do-wel my frend is,To doon as lawe techeth;To love thi frend and thi foo,Leve me, that is Do-bet;To gyven and to yemenBothe yonge and olde,To helen and to helpen,Is Do-best of alle.

5580

"Do-wel my frend is,

To doon as lawe techeth;

To love thi frend and thi foo,

Leve me, that is Do-bet;

To gyven and to yemen

Bothe yonge and olde,

To helen and to helpen,

Is Do-best of alle.

"And Do-wel is to drede God,And Do-bet to suffre,5590And so cometh Do-best of bothe,And bryngeth adoun the mody,And that is wikked willeThat many a werk shendeth,And dryveth awey Do-wel5595Thorugh dedliche synnes."

"And Do-wel is to drede God,

And Do-bet to suffre,

5590

And so cometh Do-best of bothe,

And bryngeth adoun the mody,

And that is wikked wille

That many a werk shendeth,

And dryveth awey Do-wel

5595

Thorugh dedliche synnes."

Filler.

Passus Decimus de Visione, et Secundus de Do-wel.T5596HANNE hadde Wit a wif,Was hote dame Studie,That lene was of lere,And of liche bothe;5600She was wonderly wrothThat Wit me thus taughte;And al starynge dame StudieSterneliche loked."Wel artow wis," quod she to Wit,"Any wisdomes to telleTo flatereres or to fooles,That frenetike ben of wittes."And blamed hym and banned hym,And bad hym be stille,5610With swiche wise wordesTo wissen any sottes.And seide, "Noli mittere, man,Margery perlesAmong hogges, that hanHawes at wille;Thei doon but dryvele theron,Draf were hem levereThan al the precious perreeThat in paradis wexeth.5620I seye it by swiche," quod she,"That sheweth by hir werkes,That hem were levere londAnd lordshipe on erthe,Or richesse, or rentes,And reste at hir wille,Than alle the sooth sawesThat Salomon seide evere."Wisdom and wit nowIs noght worth a kerse,5630But if it be carded with coveitise,As clotheres kemben hir wolle.Who so can contreve deceitesAnd conspire wronges,And lede fortha love-dayTo lette with truthe,He that swiche craftes canTo counseil is cleped.Thei lede lordes with lesynges,And bi-lieth Truthe.5640"Job the gentileIn his gestes witnesseth,That wikked men thei weldenThe welthe of this worlde;And that thei ben lordes of ech a londThat out of lawe libbeth.Quare impii vivunt, bene est omnibusqui prævaricantur et iniqueagunt."The Sauter seith the same5650By swiche that doon ille:Ecce ipsi peccatores abundantes insæculo obtinuerunt divitias."Lo! seith holy lettrure,Whiche beth thise sherewes?Thilke that God gyveth moost,Leest good thei deleth;And moost un-kynde to the communeThat moost catel weldeth.Quæ perfecisti destruxerunt, justus5660autem, etc."Harlotes for hir harlotrieMay have of hir goodes,And japeris and jogelours,And jangleris of gestes."Ac he that hath holy writAy in his mouthe,And kan telle of Tobye,And of twelve apostles,Or prechen of the penaunce5670That Pilat wikkedly wroghteTo Jhesu the gentile,That Jewes to-drowe;Litel is he lovedThat swich a lesson sheweth,Or daunted or drawe forth,I do it on God hymselve."But thoo that feynen hem foolis,And with faityng libbeth,Ayein the lawe of oure Lord,5680And lyen on hemselve,Spitten and spuen,And speke foule wordes,Drynken and drevelen,And do men fer to gape,Likne men, and lye on hem,That leneth hem no giftes;Thei konne na-moore mynstralcieNe musik men to glade,Than Munde the millere5690OfMulta fecit Deus.Ne were hir vile harlotrye,Have God my trouthe!Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght,Ne chanon of seint Poules,Gyve hem to hir yeres-gyveThe gifte of a grote."Ac murthe and mynstralcieAmonges men is noutheLecherie, losengerye,5700And losels tales,Glotonye and grete othes,This murthe thei lovyeth."Ac if thei carpen of Crist,Thise clerkes and thise lewedAt mete in hir murthe,Whan mynstrals beth stille,Thanne telleth thei of the TrinitéA tale outher tweye,And bryngen forth a balled reson,5710And taken Bernard to witnesse,And putten forth a presumpcionTo preve the sothe.Thus thei dryvele at hir deysThe Deitee to knowe,And gnawen God with the gorge,Whanne hir guttes fullen."Ac the carefulle may crieAnd carpen at the yate,Bothe a-fyngred and a-furst,5720And for chele quake;Is ther noon to nyme hym neer,His anoy to amende,But hunten hym as an hound,And hoten hym go thennes.Litel loveth he that LordThat lent hym al that blisse,That thus parteth with the povereA percell whan hym nedeth.Ne were mercy in meene men5730Moore than in riche,Mendinauntz mete-leesMyghte go to bedde.God is muche in the gorgeOf thise grete maistres,Ac amonges meene menHis mercy and hise werkes.And so seith the Sauter,I have seighen it ofte:Ecce audivimus eam in Effrata, invenimus5740eam in campis silvæ."Clerkes and othere kynnes menCarpen of God faste,And have hym muche in the mouth;Ac meene men in herte."Freres and faitoursHan founde swiche questions,To plese with proude men,Syn the pestilence tyme;And prechen at seint Poules5750For pure envye of clerkes;That folk is noght fermed in the feith,Ne free of hire goodes,Ne sory for hire synnes;So is pride woxen,In religion and in al the reme,Amonges riche and povere,That preieres have no powerThe pestilence to lette.And yet the wrecches of this world5760Is noon y-war by oother;Ne for drede of the deethWith-drawe noght hir pride;Ne beth plentevouse to the povere,As pure charité wolde;But in gaynesse and in glotonyeFor-glutten hir good hemselve,And breketh noght to the beggereAs the Book techeth:Frange esurienti panem tuum, etc.5770And the moore he wynneth and weltWelthes and richesse,And lordeth in londes,The lasse good he deleth."Tobye telleth yow noght so,Taketh hede, ye riche,How the book BibleOf hym bereth witnesse.Si tibi sit copia, abundanter tribue.Si autem exiguum, illud impertiri5780stude libenter."Who so hath muche, spende manliche,So seith Tobye;And who so litel weldeth,Rule hym therafter.For we have no lettre of oure lif,How longe it shal dure,Swiche lessons lordes sholdeLovye to here,And how he myghte moost meynee5790Manliche fynde."Nought to fare as a fithelere or a frere,For to seke festesHomliche at othere mennes houses,And hatien hir owene.Elenge is the halleEch day in the wike,Ther the lord ne the ladyLiketh noght to sitte.Now hath ech riche a rule5800To eten by hymselveIn a pryvee parlour,For povere mennes sake,Or in a chambre with a chymenee,And leve the chief halleThat was maad for meles,Men to eten inne,And al to spare to spendeThat spille shal another."I have y-herd heighe men,5810Etynge at the table,Carpen, as thei clerkes were,Of Crist, and of hise myghtes;And leyden fautes upon the faderThat formede us alle,And carpen ayein clerkesCrabbede wordes,Why wolde oure Saveour suffreSwich a worm in his blisse,That bigiled the womman,5820And the man after,Thorugh whiche wiles and wordesThei wente to helle,And al hir seed for hir synneThe same deeth suffrede."Here lyeth youre lore,Thise lordes gynneth dispute,Of that the clerkes us kennethOf Crist by the Gospel:Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris,5830etc."Why sholde we that now ben,For the werkes of Adam,Roten and to-rende?Reson wolde it nevere.Unusquisque portabit onus suum, etc."Swiche motyves thei mene,Thise maistres in hir glorie,And maken men in mys-bileveThat muse muche on hire wordes,5840Ymaginatif herafterwardeShal answere to hir purpos."Austyn to swiche argueresTelleth this teme:Non plus sapere quam oportet."Wilneth nevere to witeWhy that God woldeSuffre SathanHis seed to bigile;Ac bileveth lelly5850In the loore of holy chirche,And preie hym of pardonAnd penaunce in thi lyve,And for his muche mercyTo amende yow here.For alle that wilneth to witeThe weyes of God almyghty,I wolde his eighe were in his ers,And his fynger after,That evere wilneth to wite5860Why that God woldeSuffre SathanHis seed to bigile,Or Judas to the JewesJhesu bitraye.Al was as thow woldest,Lord, y-worshiped be the!And al worth as thow wolt,What so we dispute."And tho that useth thise hanylons5870To blende mennes wittes,What is Do-wel fro Do-bet,That deef mote he worthe,Siththe he wilneth to witeWhiche thei ben bothe,But if he lyve in the lifThat longeth to Do-wel.For I dar ben his bolde borgh,That do-bet wole he nevere,Theigh Do-best drawe on hym5880Day after oother."And whan that Wit was y-warWhat dame Studie tolde,He bicom so confus,He kouthe noght loke,And as doumb as deeth,And drough hym arere;And for no carpyng I kouthe after,Ne knelyng to the grounde,I myghte gete no greyn5890Of his grete wittes.But al laughynge he louted,And loked upon StudieIn signe that I sholdeBi-sechen hire of grace.And whan I was war of his wille,To his wif gan I loute,And seide, "Mercy, madame,Youre man shal I wortheAs longe as I lyve,5900Bothe late and rathe,For to werche youre willeThe while my lif dureth,With that ye kenne me kyndelyTo knowe what is Do-wel.""For thi mekenesse, man," quod she,"And for thi mylde speche,I shal kenne thee to my cosynThat Clergie is hoten.He hath wedded a wif5910Withinne thise sixe monthes,Is sib toseven artz,Scripture is hir name.They two, as I hope,After my techyng,Shullen wissen thee to Do-wel,I dar it undertake."Thanne was I al so fayn,As fowel of fair morwe,And gladder than the gle-man5920That gold hath to gifte;And asked hire the heighe weyWhere that Clergie dwelte,"And tel me som tokene," quod I,"For tyme is that I wende.""Aske the heighe wey," quod she,"Hennes to Suffre-Both-wele-and-wo,If that thow wolt lerne,And ryd forth by Richesse,5930Ac rest thow noght therinne;For if thow couplest thee therwith,To Clergie comestow nevere."And also the likerouse laundeThat Lecherie hatte,Leve it on thi left halfA large myle or moore,Til thow come to a court,Kepe-wel-thi-tunge-Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche-5940And-likerouse-drynkes."Thanne shaltow se Sobretee,And Sympletee-of-speche,That ech wight be in willeHis wit thee to shewe;And thus shaltow come to Clergie,That kan manye thynges."Seye hym this signe,I sette hym to scole,And that I grete wel his wif,5950For I wroot hire manye bokes,And sette hire to Sapience,And to the Sauter glose;Logyk I lerned hire,And manye othere lawes,And alle musons in musikI made hire to knowe."Plato the poeteI putte first to boke,Aristotle and othere mo5960To argue I taughte."Grammer for girlesI garte first to write,And bette hem with a baleys,But if thei wolde lerne,"Of alle kynne craftesI contreved tooles,Of carpentrie, of kerveres,And compased masons,And lerned hem level and lyne,5970Though I loke dymme."Ac Theologie hath tened meTen score tymes;The moore I muse therinneThe mystier it seemeth,And the depper I devyneThe derker me it thynketh.It is no science, for sothe,For to sotile inne;A ful lethi thyng it were,5980If that love nere;Ac for it leteth best bi-love,I love it the bettre.For there that love is ledere,Ther lakked nevere grace.Loke thow love lelly,If thee liketh Do-wel;For Do-bet and Do-bestBen of Loves kynne."In oother science it seith,5990I seigh it in Caton:Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus,Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte."Who so gloseth as gylours doon,Go me to the same;And so shaltow fals folkAnd feith-lees bigile.This is Catons kennyngTo clerkes that he lereth."Ac Theologie techeth noght so,6000Who so taketh yeme;He kenneth us the contrarie,Ayein Catons wordes.For he biddeth us be as bretheren,And bidde for our enemys.And loven hem that lyen on us,And lene hem whan hem nedeth,And do good ayein yvel,God hymself it hoteth.Dum tempus habemus, operemur6010bonum ad omnes, maxime autemad domesticos fidei.Poul preched the pepleThat perfitnesse lovede,To do good for Goddes love,And gyven men that asked,And namely to swicheAs suwen oure bileve,And alle that lakketh us, or lyeth,Oure Lord techeth us to lovye.6020And noght to greven hem that greveth us,God hymself forbad it,Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam."For-thi loke thow lovye,As longe as thow durest;For is no science under sonneSo sovereyn for the soule."Ac astronomye is an hard thyng,And yvel for to knowe;Geometrie and geomesie,6030So gynful of speche,Who so thynketh werche with tho twoThryveth ful late,For sorcerie is the sovereyn bookThat to tho sciences bilongeth."Yet ar ther fibicches in forceresOf fele mennes makyng,Experimentz of alkenamyeThe peple to deceyve;If thow thynke to do-wel,6040Deel therwith nevere."Alle thise sciences I myselfSotilede and ordeynede,And founded hem formestFolk to deceyve.Tel Clergie this tokene,And Scripture after,To counseille thee kyndelyTo knowe what is Do-wel."I seide, "Graunt mercy, madame,"6050And mekely hir grette;And wente wightly aweyWithoute moore lettyng,And til I com to ClergieI koude nevere stynte;And grette the goode man,As Studie me taughte,And afterwardes the wif,And worshiped hem bothe,And tolde hem the tokenes6060That me taught were.Was nevere gome upon this ground,Sith God made the worlde,Fairer under-fongen,Ne frendlier at ese,Than myself, soothly,Soone so he wisteThan I was of Wittes hous,And with his wif, dame Studie.I seide to hem soothly6070That sent was I thider,Do-wel and Do-betAnd Do-best to lerne."It is a commune lyf," quod Clergie,"On holy chirche to bileve,With alle the articles of the feithThat falleth to be knowe;And that is to bileve lelly,Bothe lered and lewed,On the grete God6080That gynnyng hadde nevere,And on the soothfast SoneThat saved mankyndeFro the dedly deethAnd devel's power,Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost,The which goost is of bothe,Thre persones, ac noghtIn plurel nombre;For al is but oon God,6090And ech is God hymselve.=Deus pater, Deus filius, Deus spiritus sanctus.God the fader, God the sone,God holy goost of bothe,Makere of mankynde,And of beestes bothe."Austyn the oldeHerof made bokes,And hymself ordeyned6100To sadde us in bileve.Who was his auctour?Alle the foure euvangelistes,And Crist cleped hymself so,The euvangelistes bereth witnesse."Alle the clerkes under CristNe koude this assoille;But thus it bi-longeth to bileveTo lewed that willen do-wel.For hadde nevere freke fyn wit6110The feith to dispute,Ne man hadde no merite,Myghte it ben y-preved.Fides non habet meritum, ubi humanaratio præbetexperimentum."Thanne is Do-bet to suffreFor the soules helthe,Al that the book bitBi holi cherches techyng;6120And that is, man, bi thy myght,For mercies sake.Loke thow werche it in werk,That thi word sheweth,Swich as thow semest in sighteBe in assay y-founde.=Appare quod es, vel esto quod appares."And lat no body beBy thi beryng bigiled,6130But be swich in thi souleAs thow semest withoute."Thanne is Do-best to be booldTo blame the gilty,Sythenes thow seest thiselfAs in soule clene;Ac blame thow nevere body,And thow be blame worthy.Si culpare velis,Culpabilis esse cavebis;6140Dogma tuum sordet,Cum te tua culpa remordet."God in the GospelGrevously reprevethAlle that lakketh any lif,And lakkes han hemselve.Qui consideras festucam in oculo=fratris tui, trabem in oculo tuo, etc."Why menestow thi mood for a mote6150In thi brotheres eighe,Sithen a beem in thyn oweneA-blyndeth thiselve.=Ejice primo trabem in oculo tuo, etc.Which letteth thee to lokeLasse outher more."I rede ech a blynd bosardeDo boote to hymselve,For abbotes and for priours,6160And for alle manere prelates,As persons and parisshes preestesThat preche sholde and techeAlle maner men to amendenBi hire myghtes."This text was told yow,To ben y-war, er ye taughte,That ye were swiche as ye seye,So salve with othere;For Goddes word wolde noght be lost,6170For that wercheth evere;If it availled noght the commune,It myghte availle yowselve."Ac it semeth now soothlyTo the worldes sighte,That Goddes word wercheth noghtOn lered ne on lewed,But in swich a manereAs Marc meneth in the gospel:Dum cæcus ducit cæcum, ambo in6180foveam cadunt."Lewed men may likne yow thus,That the beem lith in youre eighen;And the festu is fallenFor youre defaute,In alle maner men,Thorughmansedepreestes.The Bible bereth witnesseThat the folk of IsraelBittre a-boughte the giltes6190Of two badde preestes,Offyn and Fynes,For hir coveitise,Archa Deimys-happed,And Ely brak his nekke."For-thi ye corectours claweth heron.And corecteth first yowselveAnd thanne mowe ye safly seye,As David made in the Sauter,Existimasti inique quod ero tui6200similis, arguam te, et statuamcontra faciem tuam."And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshedTo blame yow or to greve,And carpen noght as thei carpe now,Ne calle yow doumbe houndes.Canes non valentes latrare.And drede to wrathe yow in any word,Youre werkmanshipe to lette,And be prester at youre preiere,6210Than for a pound of nobles.And al for youre holynesse,Have ye this in herte."In scole there is scorn,But if a clerk wol lerne,And gret love and likyng,For ech of hem loveth oother."Ac now is Religion a rydere,A romere aboute,A ledere of love-dayes,6220And a lond-buggere,A prikere on a palfreyFro manere to manere,An heepe of houndesat his ersAs he a lord were.And but if his knave kneleThat shal his coppe brynge,He loureth on hym, and asketh hymWho taughte hym curteisie."Litel hadde lordes to doon,6230To gyve lond from hire heiresTo religiouse, that han no routhe,Though it reyne on hir auters."In many places ther thei ben persons,By hemself at eseOf the povere have thei no pité;And that is hir charité.Ac thei leten hem as lordesHire londes lyen so brode."Ac ther shal come a kyng,6240And confesse yow religiouses,And bete yow as the Bible tellethFor brekynge of youre rule;And amende monyals,Monkes and chanons,And puten to hir penaunceAd pristinum statum ire;And barons with erles beten hem,ThorughBeatus-virrestechyng,That hir barnes claymen6250And blame yow foule.Hi in curribus et hi in equis ipsiobligati sunt, etc."And thanne freres in hir fraytourShul fynden a keyeOf Costantyns cofres,In which is the catelThat Gregories god-childrenHan yvele despended.="And thanne shalthe abbot of Abyngdone6261And al his issue for evere,Have a knok of a kyng,And incurable the wounde."That this worth sooth, seke yeThat ofte over-se the Bible:Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievittributum, contrivit Dominusbaculum impiorum et virgamdominantium cædentium plaga6270insanabili."Ac er that kyng come,Caym shal awake.But Do-wel shal dyngen hym adoun,And destruye his myghte.""Thanne is Do-wel and Do-bet," quod I,"Dominusand knyghthode.""I nel noght scorne," quod Scripture,"But if scryveynes lye;Kynghod ne knyghthod,6280By noght I kan a-wayte,Helpeth noght to hevene-wardOone heris ende;Ne richesse right noght,Ne reautee of lordes.Poul preveth it impossibleRiche men to have hevene.Salomon seith alsoThat silver is worst to lovye:Nihil iniquius quam amare6290pecuniam.And Caton kenneth us to coveiten itNaught but as nede techeth,=Dilige denarium, sed parce dilige formam.And patriarkes and prophetes,And poetes bothe,Writen to wissen usTo wilne no richesse,And preiseden poverte with pacience;6300The apostles bereth witnesseThat thei han eritage in hevene,And by trewe righte;Ther riche men no right may cleyme,But of ruthe and grace.""Contra," quod I, "by Crist!That kan I repreve,And preven it by Peter,And by Poul bothe,That is baptized beth saaf,6310Be he riche or povere.""That isin extremis," quod Scripture,"Amonges Sarzens and Jewes,They mowen be saved so,And that is oure bileve,That an un-cristene in that caasMay cristen an hethen;And for his lele bileve,Whan he the lif tyneth,Have the heritage of hevene6320As any man cristene."Ac cristene men withoute mooreMaye noght come to hevene;For that Crist for cristene menDeide and confermed the lawe,That who so wolde and wilnethWith Crist to arise,Si cum Christo surexistis, etc.He sholde lovye and leve,And the lawe fulfille.6330That is, love thi lord GodLevest aboven alle;And after, alle cristene creaturesIn commune, ech man oother;And thus bi-longeth to lovye,That leveth be saved.And but we do thus in dede,At the day of domeIt shal bi-sitten us ful soureThe silver that we kepen;6340And oure bakkes that mothe-eten be,And seen beggeris go naked;Or delit in wyn and wilde fowel,And wite any in defaute.For every cristene creatureSholde be kynde til oother,And sithen hethen to helpe,In hope of amendement."God hoteth heighe and loweThat no man hurte oother;6350And seith, 'Slee noght that semblable isTo myn owene liknesse,But if I sende thee som tokene;'And seith'Non mœchaberis.Is slee noght, but suffre,And al for the beste;For I shal punysshe hem in purgatorieOr in the put of helle,Ech man for hise mysdedes,But mercy it lette.'""T6360HIS is a long lesson," quod I,"And litel am I the wiser;Where Do-wel is or Do-bet,Derkliche ye shewen.Manye tales ye tellenThat Theologie lerneth;And that I man maad was,And my name y-entredIn the legende of lifLonge er I were,6370Or ellis un-writen for som wikkednesse,As Holy Writ witnesseth:Nemo ascendit ad cœlum, nisi quide cœlo descendit."I leve it wel," quod I, "by oure Lord!And on no lettrure bettre.For Salomon the sage,That Sapience taughte,God gat hym grace of wit,And alle hise goodes after;6380He demed wel and wisely,As Holy Writ telleth.Aristotle and he,Who wissed men bettre?Maistres that of Goddes mercyTechen men and prechen,Of hir wordes thei wissen usFor wisest as in hir tyme,And al holy chircheHoldeth hem bothe y-dampned.6390"And if I sholde werche by hir werkesTo wynne me hevene,That for hir werkes and witNow wonyeth in pyne,Thanne wroughe I un-wisly,What so evere ye preche."Ac of fele witty, in feith,Litel ferly I have,Though hir goost be un-graciousGod for to plese.6400For many men on this mooldeMoore setten hir hertesIn good than in God;For-thi hem grace faillethAt hir mooste meschief,Whan thei shal lif lete.As Salomon dide, and swiche othereThat shewed grete wittes;Ac hir werkes, as holy writ seith,Were evere the contrarie.6410For-thi wise witted men,And wel y-lettrede clerkes,As thei seyen hemself,Selde doon therafter.Super cathedra Moysi, etc."Ac I wene it worth of manye,As was in Noes tyme,Tho he shoop that shipeOf shides and of bordes;=Was nevere wrighte saved that wroghte theron,6421Ne oothir werkman ellis,But briddes, and beestes,And the blissed Noe,And his wif with hise sones,And also hire wyves;Of wightes that it wroghteWas noon of hem y-saved."God leve it fare noght so bi folkThat the feith techeth6430Of holi chirche, that herberwe is,And Goddes hous to save,And shilden us from shame therinne,As Noes ship dide beestes;And men that maden itA-mydde the flood a-dreynten.The culorum of this clauseCuratours is to mene,That ben carpenters holy kirk to makeFor Cristes owene beestes:=Homines et jumenta salvabis, Domine, etc.6442"On Good Friday I fyndeA felon was y-saved,That hadde lyved al his lifWith lesynges and with thefte;And for he beknede to the cros,And to Crist shrof him,He was sonner y-savedThan seint Johan the Baptist;6450And or Adam or Ysaye,Or any of the prophetes,That hadde y-leyen with LuciferMany longe yeres,A robbere was y-raunsonedRather than thei alle,Withouten any penaunce of purgatorie,To perpetuel blisse."Than Marie MaudeleyneWhat womman dide werse?6460Or who worse than David,That Uries deeth conspired?Or Poul the apostle,That no pité haddeMuche cristene kyndeTo kille to dethe?And now ben thise as sovereynsWith seintes in hevene,Tho that wroughte wikkedlokestIn world tho thei were.6470And tho that wisely wordeden,And writen manye bokesOf wit and of wisedom,With dampned soules wonye.That Salomon seith, I trowe be soothAnd certein of us alle:Sunt justi atque sapientes et operaeorum in manu Dei sunt, etc."Ther are witty and wel libbynge,Ac hire werkes ben y-hudde6480In the hondes of almyghty God,And he woot the sothe,Wherfore a man worth allowed there,And hise lele werkes,Or ellis for his yvel wille,And for envye of herte,And be allowed as he lyved so;For by the luthere men knoweth the goode."And wherby wiste men which were whit,If alle thyng blak were?6490And who were a good man,But if ther were som sherewe?For-thi lyve we forth with othere men,I leve fewe ben goode;Forquantoportetvient en place,Il n'y ad quepati.And he that may al amende,Have mercy on us alle!For sothest word that ever God seideWas tho he seideNemo bonus.6500"Clergie tho of Cristes mouthComended was it litel;For he seide to seint Peter,And to swiche as he lovede,=Cum steteritis ante reges et præsides, etc.Though ye come bifore kyngesAnd clerkes of the lawe,Beth noght abasshed,For I shal be in youre mouthes,6510And gyve yow wit and wille,And konnyng to concludeHem alle that ayeins yowOf Cristendom disputen."David maketh mencion,He spak amonges kynges,And myghte no kyng over-comen hymAs by konnynge of speche,But wit and wisedomWan nevere the maistrie,6520Whan man was at meschief,Withoute the moore grace."The doughtieste doctourAnd devinour of the TriniteeWas Austyn the olde,And heighest of the foure,Seide thus in a sermon,I seigh it writen ones:Ecce ipsi idiotævi rapiuntcœlum, ubinos sapientes in inferno6530mergimur."And is to mene to men,Moore ne lesse,Arn none rather y-ravysshedFro the righte bileve,Than are thise konnynge clerkesThat konne manye bokes."Ne none sonner saved,Ne sadder of bileve,Than plowmen and pastours,6540And othere commune laborers;Souteres and shepherdes,And othere lewed juttes,Percen with a pater-nosterThe paleys of hevene,And passen purgatorie penaunce-leesAt her hennes partyngInto the blisse of paradis,For hir pure bileve,That imparfitly here knewe,6550And ek lyvede."Ye men knowe clerkes,That han corsed the tymeThat evere thei kouthe or knewe mooreThanCredo in Deum patrem;And principally hir pater-nosterMany a persone hath wisshed."I se ensamples myself,And so may manye othere,That servauntz that serven lordes6560Selde fallen in arerage,And tho that kepen the lordes catel,Clerkes and reves."Right so lewed men,And of litel knowyng,Selden falle thei so fouleAnd so fer in synne,As clerkes of holy chircheThat kepen Cristes tresor,The which is mannes soule to save,As God seith in the Gospel:6571Ite vos in vineam meam."

Passus Decimus de Visione, et Secundus de Do-wel.

T5596HANNE hadde Wit a wif,Was hote dame Studie,That lene was of lere,And of liche bothe;5600She was wonderly wrothThat Wit me thus taughte;And al starynge dame StudieSterneliche loked.

T5596

5596

HANNE hadde Wit a wif,

Was hote dame Studie,

That lene was of lere,

And of liche bothe;

5600

She was wonderly wroth

That Wit me thus taughte;

And al starynge dame Studie

Sterneliche loked.

"Wel artow wis," quod she to Wit,"Any wisdomes to telleTo flatereres or to fooles,That frenetike ben of wittes."And blamed hym and banned hym,And bad hym be stille,5610With swiche wise wordesTo wissen any sottes.And seide, "Noli mittere, man,Margery perlesAmong hogges, that hanHawes at wille;Thei doon but dryvele theron,Draf were hem levereThan al the precious perreeThat in paradis wexeth.5620I seye it by swiche," quod she,"That sheweth by hir werkes,That hem were levere londAnd lordshipe on erthe,Or richesse, or rentes,And reste at hir wille,Than alle the sooth sawesThat Salomon seide evere.

"Wel artow wis," quod she to Wit,

"Any wisdomes to telle

To flatereres or to fooles,

That frenetike ben of wittes."

And blamed hym and banned hym,

And bad hym be stille,

5610

With swiche wise wordes

To wissen any sottes.

And seide, "Noli mittere, man,

Margery perles

Among hogges, that han

Hawes at wille;

Thei doon but dryvele theron,

Draf were hem levere

Than al the precious perree

That in paradis wexeth.

5620

I seye it by swiche," quod she,

"That sheweth by hir werkes,

That hem were levere lond

And lordshipe on erthe,

Or richesse, or rentes,

And reste at hir wille,

Than alle the sooth sawes

That Salomon seide evere.

"Wisdom and wit nowIs noght worth a kerse,5630But if it be carded with coveitise,As clotheres kemben hir wolle.Who so can contreve deceitesAnd conspire wronges,And lede fortha love-dayTo lette with truthe,He that swiche craftes canTo counseil is cleped.Thei lede lordes with lesynges,And bi-lieth Truthe.

"Wisdom and wit now

Is noght worth a kerse,

5630

But if it be carded with coveitise,

As clotheres kemben hir wolle.

Who so can contreve deceites

And conspire wronges,

And lede fortha love-day

To lette with truthe,

He that swiche craftes can

To counseil is cleped.

Thei lede lordes with lesynges,

And bi-lieth Truthe.

5640"Job the gentileIn his gestes witnesseth,That wikked men thei weldenThe welthe of this worlde;And that thei ben lordes of ech a londThat out of lawe libbeth.Quare impii vivunt, bene est omnibusqui prævaricantur et iniqueagunt.

5640

"Job the gentile

In his gestes witnesseth,

That wikked men thei welden

The welthe of this worlde;

And that thei ben lordes of ech a lond

That out of lawe libbeth.

Quare impii vivunt, bene est omnibus

qui prævaricantur et inique

agunt.

"The Sauter seith the same5650By swiche that doon ille:Ecce ipsi peccatores abundantes insæculo obtinuerunt divitias.

"The Sauter seith the same

5650

By swiche that doon ille:

Ecce ipsi peccatores abundantes in

sæculo obtinuerunt divitias.

"Lo! seith holy lettrure,Whiche beth thise sherewes?Thilke that God gyveth moost,Leest good thei deleth;And moost un-kynde to the communeThat moost catel weldeth.Quæ perfecisti destruxerunt, justus5660autem, etc.

"Lo! seith holy lettrure,

Whiche beth thise sherewes?

Thilke that God gyveth moost,

Leest good thei deleth;

And moost un-kynde to the commune

That moost catel weldeth.

Quæ perfecisti destruxerunt, justus

5660

autem, etc.

"Harlotes for hir harlotrieMay have of hir goodes,And japeris and jogelours,And jangleris of gestes.

"Harlotes for hir harlotrie

May have of hir goodes,

And japeris and jogelours,

And jangleris of gestes.

"Ac he that hath holy writAy in his mouthe,And kan telle of Tobye,And of twelve apostles,Or prechen of the penaunce5670That Pilat wikkedly wroghteTo Jhesu the gentile,That Jewes to-drowe;Litel is he lovedThat swich a lesson sheweth,Or daunted or drawe forth,I do it on God hymselve.

"Ac he that hath holy writ

Ay in his mouthe,

And kan telle of Tobye,

And of twelve apostles,

Or prechen of the penaunce

5670

That Pilat wikkedly wroghte

To Jhesu the gentile,

That Jewes to-drowe;

Litel is he loved

That swich a lesson sheweth,

Or daunted or drawe forth,

I do it on God hymselve.

"But thoo that feynen hem foolis,And with faityng libbeth,Ayein the lawe of oure Lord,5680And lyen on hemselve,Spitten and spuen,And speke foule wordes,Drynken and drevelen,And do men fer to gape,Likne men, and lye on hem,That leneth hem no giftes;Thei konne na-moore mynstralcieNe musik men to glade,Than Munde the millere5690OfMulta fecit Deus.Ne were hir vile harlotrye,Have God my trouthe!Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght,Ne chanon of seint Poules,Gyve hem to hir yeres-gyveThe gifte of a grote.

"But thoo that feynen hem foolis,

And with faityng libbeth,

Ayein the lawe of oure Lord,

5680

And lyen on hemselve,

Spitten and spuen,

And speke foule wordes,

Drynken and drevelen,

And do men fer to gape,

Likne men, and lye on hem,

That leneth hem no giftes;

Thei konne na-moore mynstralcie

Ne musik men to glade,

Than Munde the millere

5690

OfMulta fecit Deus.

Ne were hir vile harlotrye,

Have God my trouthe!

Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght,

Ne chanon of seint Poules,

Gyve hem to hir yeres-gyve

The gifte of a grote.

"Ac murthe and mynstralcieAmonges men is noutheLecherie, losengerye,5700And losels tales,Glotonye and grete othes,This murthe thei lovyeth.

"Ac murthe and mynstralcie

Amonges men is nouthe

Lecherie, losengerye,

5700

And losels tales,

Glotonye and grete othes,

This murthe thei lovyeth.

"Ac if thei carpen of Crist,Thise clerkes and thise lewedAt mete in hir murthe,Whan mynstrals beth stille,Thanne telleth thei of the TrinitéA tale outher tweye,And bryngen forth a balled reson,5710And taken Bernard to witnesse,And putten forth a presumpcionTo preve the sothe.Thus thei dryvele at hir deysThe Deitee to knowe,And gnawen God with the gorge,Whanne hir guttes fullen.

"Ac if thei carpen of Crist,

Thise clerkes and thise lewed

At mete in hir murthe,

Whan mynstrals beth stille,

Thanne telleth thei of the Trinité

A tale outher tweye,

And bryngen forth a balled reson,

5710

And taken Bernard to witnesse,

And putten forth a presumpcion

To preve the sothe.

Thus thei dryvele at hir deys

The Deitee to knowe,

And gnawen God with the gorge,

Whanne hir guttes fullen.

"Ac the carefulle may crieAnd carpen at the yate,Bothe a-fyngred and a-furst,5720And for chele quake;Is ther noon to nyme hym neer,His anoy to amende,But hunten hym as an hound,And hoten hym go thennes.Litel loveth he that LordThat lent hym al that blisse,That thus parteth with the povereA percell whan hym nedeth.Ne were mercy in meene men5730Moore than in riche,Mendinauntz mete-leesMyghte go to bedde.God is muche in the gorgeOf thise grete maistres,Ac amonges meene menHis mercy and hise werkes.And so seith the Sauter,I have seighen it ofte:Ecce audivimus eam in Effrata, invenimus5740eam in campis silvæ.

"Ac the carefulle may crie

And carpen at the yate,

Bothe a-fyngred and a-furst,

5720

And for chele quake;

Is ther noon to nyme hym neer,

His anoy to amende,

But hunten hym as an hound,

And hoten hym go thennes.

Litel loveth he that Lord

That lent hym al that blisse,

That thus parteth with the povere

A percell whan hym nedeth.

Ne were mercy in meene men

5730

Moore than in riche,

Mendinauntz mete-lees

Myghte go to bedde.

God is muche in the gorge

Of thise grete maistres,

Ac amonges meene men

His mercy and hise werkes.

And so seith the Sauter,

I have seighen it ofte:

Ecce audivimus eam in Effrata, invenimus

5740

eam in campis silvæ.

"Clerkes and othere kynnes menCarpen of God faste,And have hym muche in the mouth;Ac meene men in herte.

"Clerkes and othere kynnes men

Carpen of God faste,

And have hym muche in the mouth;

Ac meene men in herte.

"Freres and faitoursHan founde swiche questions,To plese with proude men,Syn the pestilence tyme;And prechen at seint Poules5750For pure envye of clerkes;That folk is noght fermed in the feith,Ne free of hire goodes,Ne sory for hire synnes;So is pride woxen,In religion and in al the reme,Amonges riche and povere,That preieres have no powerThe pestilence to lette.And yet the wrecches of this world5760Is noon y-war by oother;Ne for drede of the deethWith-drawe noght hir pride;Ne beth plentevouse to the povere,As pure charité wolde;But in gaynesse and in glotonyeFor-glutten hir good hemselve,And breketh noght to the beggereAs the Book techeth:Frange esurienti panem tuum, etc.5770And the moore he wynneth and weltWelthes and richesse,And lordeth in londes,The lasse good he deleth.

"Freres and faitours

Han founde swiche questions,

To plese with proude men,

Syn the pestilence tyme;

And prechen at seint Poules

5750

For pure envye of clerkes;

That folk is noght fermed in the feith,

Ne free of hire goodes,

Ne sory for hire synnes;

So is pride woxen,

In religion and in al the reme,

Amonges riche and povere,

That preieres have no power

The pestilence to lette.

And yet the wrecches of this world

5760

Is noon y-war by oother;

Ne for drede of the deeth

With-drawe noght hir pride;

Ne beth plentevouse to the povere,

As pure charité wolde;

But in gaynesse and in glotonye

For-glutten hir good hemselve,

And breketh noght to the beggere

As the Book techeth:

Frange esurienti panem tuum, etc.

5770

And the moore he wynneth and welt

Welthes and richesse,

And lordeth in londes,

The lasse good he deleth.

"Tobye telleth yow noght so,Taketh hede, ye riche,How the book BibleOf hym bereth witnesse.Si tibi sit copia, abundanter tribue.Si autem exiguum, illud impertiri5780stude libenter.

"Tobye telleth yow noght so,

Taketh hede, ye riche,

How the book Bible

Of hym bereth witnesse.

Si tibi sit copia, abundanter tribue.

Si autem exiguum, illud impertiri

5780

stude libenter.

"Who so hath muche, spende manliche,So seith Tobye;And who so litel weldeth,Rule hym therafter.For we have no lettre of oure lif,How longe it shal dure,Swiche lessons lordes sholdeLovye to here,And how he myghte moost meynee5790Manliche fynde.

"Who so hath muche, spende manliche,

So seith Tobye;

And who so litel weldeth,

Rule hym therafter.

For we have no lettre of oure lif,

How longe it shal dure,

Swiche lessons lordes sholde

Lovye to here,

And how he myghte moost meynee

5790

Manliche fynde.

"Nought to fare as a fithelere or a frere,For to seke festesHomliche at othere mennes houses,And hatien hir owene.Elenge is the halleEch day in the wike,Ther the lord ne the ladyLiketh noght to sitte.Now hath ech riche a rule5800To eten by hymselveIn a pryvee parlour,For povere mennes sake,Or in a chambre with a chymenee,And leve the chief halleThat was maad for meles,Men to eten inne,And al to spare to spendeThat spille shal another.

"Nought to fare as a fithelere or a frere,

For to seke festes

Homliche at othere mennes houses,

And hatien hir owene.

Elenge is the halle

Ech day in the wike,

Ther the lord ne the lady

Liketh noght to sitte.

Now hath ech riche a rule

5800

To eten by hymselve

In a pryvee parlour,

For povere mennes sake,

Or in a chambre with a chymenee,

And leve the chief halle

That was maad for meles,

Men to eten inne,

And al to spare to spende

That spille shal another.

"I have y-herd heighe men,5810Etynge at the table,Carpen, as thei clerkes were,Of Crist, and of hise myghtes;And leyden fautes upon the faderThat formede us alle,And carpen ayein clerkesCrabbede wordes,Why wolde oure Saveour suffreSwich a worm in his blisse,That bigiled the womman,5820And the man after,Thorugh whiche wiles and wordesThei wente to helle,And al hir seed for hir synneThe same deeth suffrede.

"I have y-herd heighe men,

5810

Etynge at the table,

Carpen, as thei clerkes were,

Of Crist, and of hise myghtes;

And leyden fautes upon the fader

That formede us alle,

And carpen ayein clerkes

Crabbede wordes,

Why wolde oure Saveour suffre

Swich a worm in his blisse,

That bigiled the womman,

5820

And the man after,

Thorugh whiche wiles and wordes

Thei wente to helle,

And al hir seed for hir synne

The same deeth suffrede.

"Here lyeth youre lore,Thise lordes gynneth dispute,Of that the clerkes us kennethOf Crist by the Gospel:Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris,5830etc.

"Here lyeth youre lore,

Thise lordes gynneth dispute,

Of that the clerkes us kenneth

Of Crist by the Gospel:

Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris,

5830

etc.

"Why sholde we that now ben,For the werkes of Adam,Roten and to-rende?Reson wolde it nevere.Unusquisque portabit onus suum, etc.

"Why sholde we that now ben,

For the werkes of Adam,

Roten and to-rende?

Reson wolde it nevere.

Unusquisque portabit onus suum, etc.

"Swiche motyves thei mene,Thise maistres in hir glorie,And maken men in mys-bileveThat muse muche on hire wordes,5840Ymaginatif herafterwardeShal answere to hir purpos.

"Swiche motyves thei mene,

Thise maistres in hir glorie,

And maken men in mys-bileve

That muse muche on hire wordes,

5840

Ymaginatif herafterwarde

Shal answere to hir purpos.

"Austyn to swiche argueresTelleth this teme:Non plus sapere quam oportet.

"Austyn to swiche argueres

Telleth this teme:

Non plus sapere quam oportet.

"Wilneth nevere to witeWhy that God woldeSuffre SathanHis seed to bigile;Ac bileveth lelly5850In the loore of holy chirche,And preie hym of pardonAnd penaunce in thi lyve,And for his muche mercyTo amende yow here.For alle that wilneth to witeThe weyes of God almyghty,I wolde his eighe were in his ers,And his fynger after,That evere wilneth to wite5860Why that God woldeSuffre SathanHis seed to bigile,Or Judas to the JewesJhesu bitraye.Al was as thow woldest,Lord, y-worshiped be the!And al worth as thow wolt,What so we dispute.

"Wilneth nevere to wite

Why that God wolde

Suffre Sathan

His seed to bigile;

Ac bileveth lelly

5850

In the loore of holy chirche,

And preie hym of pardon

And penaunce in thi lyve,

And for his muche mercy

To amende yow here.

For alle that wilneth to wite

The weyes of God almyghty,

I wolde his eighe were in his ers,

And his fynger after,

That evere wilneth to wite

5860

Why that God wolde

Suffre Sathan

His seed to bigile,

Or Judas to the Jewes

Jhesu bitraye.

Al was as thow woldest,

Lord, y-worshiped be the!

And al worth as thow wolt,

What so we dispute.

"And tho that useth thise hanylons5870To blende mennes wittes,What is Do-wel fro Do-bet,That deef mote he worthe,Siththe he wilneth to witeWhiche thei ben bothe,But if he lyve in the lifThat longeth to Do-wel.For I dar ben his bolde borgh,That do-bet wole he nevere,Theigh Do-best drawe on hym5880Day after oother."

"And tho that useth thise hanylons

5870

To blende mennes wittes,

What is Do-wel fro Do-bet,

That deef mote he worthe,

Siththe he wilneth to wite

Whiche thei ben bothe,

But if he lyve in the lif

That longeth to Do-wel.

For I dar ben his bolde borgh,

That do-bet wole he nevere,

Theigh Do-best drawe on hym

5880

Day after oother."

And whan that Wit was y-warWhat dame Studie tolde,He bicom so confus,He kouthe noght loke,And as doumb as deeth,And drough hym arere;And for no carpyng I kouthe after,Ne knelyng to the grounde,I myghte gete no greyn5890Of his grete wittes.But al laughynge he louted,And loked upon StudieIn signe that I sholdeBi-sechen hire of grace.

And whan that Wit was y-war

What dame Studie tolde,

He bicom so confus,

He kouthe noght loke,

And as doumb as deeth,

And drough hym arere;

And for no carpyng I kouthe after,

Ne knelyng to the grounde,

I myghte gete no greyn

5890

Of his grete wittes.

But al laughynge he louted,

And loked upon Studie

In signe that I sholde

Bi-sechen hire of grace.

And whan I was war of his wille,To his wif gan I loute,And seide, "Mercy, madame,Youre man shal I wortheAs longe as I lyve,5900Bothe late and rathe,For to werche youre willeThe while my lif dureth,With that ye kenne me kyndelyTo knowe what is Do-wel."

And whan I was war of his wille,

To his wif gan I loute,

And seide, "Mercy, madame,

Youre man shal I worthe

As longe as I lyve,

5900

Bothe late and rathe,

For to werche youre wille

The while my lif dureth,

With that ye kenne me kyndely

To knowe what is Do-wel."

"For thi mekenesse, man," quod she,"And for thi mylde speche,I shal kenne thee to my cosynThat Clergie is hoten.He hath wedded a wif5910Withinne thise sixe monthes,Is sib toseven artz,Scripture is hir name.They two, as I hope,After my techyng,Shullen wissen thee to Do-wel,I dar it undertake."

"For thi mekenesse, man," quod she,

"And for thi mylde speche,

I shal kenne thee to my cosyn

That Clergie is hoten.

He hath wedded a wif

5910

Withinne thise sixe monthes,

Is sib toseven artz,

Scripture is hir name.

They two, as I hope,

After my techyng,

Shullen wissen thee to Do-wel,

I dar it undertake."

Thanne was I al so fayn,As fowel of fair morwe,And gladder than the gle-man5920That gold hath to gifte;And asked hire the heighe weyWhere that Clergie dwelte,"And tel me som tokene," quod I,"For tyme is that I wende."

Thanne was I al so fayn,

As fowel of fair morwe,

And gladder than the gle-man

5920

That gold hath to gifte;

And asked hire the heighe wey

Where that Clergie dwelte,

"And tel me som tokene," quod I,

"For tyme is that I wende."

"Aske the heighe wey," quod she,"Hennes to Suffre-Both-wele-and-wo,If that thow wolt lerne,And ryd forth by Richesse,5930Ac rest thow noght therinne;For if thow couplest thee therwith,To Clergie comestow nevere.

"Aske the heighe wey," quod she,

"Hennes to Suffre-

Both-wele-and-wo,

If that thow wolt lerne,

And ryd forth by Richesse,

5930

Ac rest thow noght therinne;

For if thow couplest thee therwith,

To Clergie comestow nevere.

"And also the likerouse laundeThat Lecherie hatte,Leve it on thi left halfA large myle or moore,Til thow come to a court,Kepe-wel-thi-tunge-Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche-5940And-likerouse-drynkes.

"And also the likerouse launde

That Lecherie hatte,

Leve it on thi left half

A large myle or moore,

Til thow come to a court,

Kepe-wel-thi-tunge-

Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche-

5940

And-likerouse-drynkes.

"Thanne shaltow se Sobretee,And Sympletee-of-speche,That ech wight be in willeHis wit thee to shewe;And thus shaltow come to Clergie,That kan manye thynges.

"Thanne shaltow se Sobretee,

And Sympletee-of-speche,

That ech wight be in wille

His wit thee to shewe;

And thus shaltow come to Clergie,

That kan manye thynges.

"Seye hym this signe,I sette hym to scole,And that I grete wel his wif,5950For I wroot hire manye bokes,And sette hire to Sapience,And to the Sauter glose;Logyk I lerned hire,And manye othere lawes,And alle musons in musikI made hire to knowe.

"Seye hym this signe,

I sette hym to scole,

And that I grete wel his wif,

5950

For I wroot hire manye bokes,

And sette hire to Sapience,

And to the Sauter glose;

Logyk I lerned hire,

And manye othere lawes,

And alle musons in musik

I made hire to knowe.

"Plato the poeteI putte first to boke,Aristotle and othere mo5960To argue I taughte.

"Plato the poete

I putte first to boke,

Aristotle and othere mo

5960

To argue I taughte.

"Grammer for girlesI garte first to write,And bette hem with a baleys,But if thei wolde lerne,

"Grammer for girles

I garte first to write,

And bette hem with a baleys,

But if thei wolde lerne,

"Of alle kynne craftesI contreved tooles,Of carpentrie, of kerveres,And compased masons,And lerned hem level and lyne,5970Though I loke dymme.

"Of alle kynne craftes

I contreved tooles,

Of carpentrie, of kerveres,

And compased masons,

And lerned hem level and lyne,

5970

Though I loke dymme.

"Ac Theologie hath tened meTen score tymes;The moore I muse therinneThe mystier it seemeth,And the depper I devyneThe derker me it thynketh.It is no science, for sothe,For to sotile inne;A ful lethi thyng it were,5980If that love nere;Ac for it leteth best bi-love,I love it the bettre.For there that love is ledere,Ther lakked nevere grace.Loke thow love lelly,If thee liketh Do-wel;For Do-bet and Do-bestBen of Loves kynne.

"Ac Theologie hath tened me

Ten score tymes;

The moore I muse therinne

The mystier it seemeth,

And the depper I devyne

The derker me it thynketh.

It is no science, for sothe,

For to sotile inne;

A ful lethi thyng it were,

5980

If that love nere;

Ac for it leteth best bi-love,

I love it the bettre.

For there that love is ledere,

Ther lakked nevere grace.

Loke thow love lelly,

If thee liketh Do-wel;

For Do-bet and Do-best

Ben of Loves kynne.

"In oother science it seith,5990I seigh it in Caton:Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus,Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.

"In oother science it seith,

5990

I seigh it in Caton:

Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus,

Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.

"Who so gloseth as gylours doon,Go me to the same;And so shaltow fals folkAnd feith-lees bigile.This is Catons kennyngTo clerkes that he lereth.

"Who so gloseth as gylours doon,

Go me to the same;

And so shaltow fals folk

And feith-lees bigile.

This is Catons kennyng

To clerkes that he lereth.

"Ac Theologie techeth noght so,6000Who so taketh yeme;He kenneth us the contrarie,Ayein Catons wordes.For he biddeth us be as bretheren,And bidde for our enemys.And loven hem that lyen on us,And lene hem whan hem nedeth,And do good ayein yvel,God hymself it hoteth.Dum tempus habemus, operemur6010bonum ad omnes, maxime autemad domesticos fidei.Poul preched the pepleThat perfitnesse lovede,To do good for Goddes love,And gyven men that asked,And namely to swicheAs suwen oure bileve,And alle that lakketh us, or lyeth,Oure Lord techeth us to lovye.6020And noght to greven hem that greveth us,God hymself forbad it,Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam.

"Ac Theologie techeth noght so,

6000

Who so taketh yeme;

He kenneth us the contrarie,

Ayein Catons wordes.

For he biddeth us be as bretheren,

And bidde for our enemys.

And loven hem that lyen on us,

And lene hem whan hem nedeth,

And do good ayein yvel,

God hymself it hoteth.

Dum tempus habemus, operemur

6010

bonum ad omnes, maxime autem

ad domesticos fidei.

Poul preched the peple

That perfitnesse lovede,

To do good for Goddes love,

And gyven men that asked,

And namely to swiche

As suwen oure bileve,

And alle that lakketh us, or lyeth,

Oure Lord techeth us to lovye.

6020

And noght to greven hem that greveth us,

God hymself forbad it,

Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam.

"For-thi loke thow lovye,As longe as thow durest;For is no science under sonneSo sovereyn for the soule.

"For-thi loke thow lovye,

As longe as thow durest;

For is no science under sonne

So sovereyn for the soule.

"Ac astronomye is an hard thyng,And yvel for to knowe;Geometrie and geomesie,6030So gynful of speche,Who so thynketh werche with tho twoThryveth ful late,For sorcerie is the sovereyn bookThat to tho sciences bilongeth.

"Ac astronomye is an hard thyng,

And yvel for to knowe;

Geometrie and geomesie,

6030

So gynful of speche,

Who so thynketh werche with tho two

Thryveth ful late,

For sorcerie is the sovereyn book

That to tho sciences bilongeth.

"Yet ar ther fibicches in forceresOf fele mennes makyng,Experimentz of alkenamyeThe peple to deceyve;If thow thynke to do-wel,6040Deel therwith nevere.

"Yet ar ther fibicches in forceres

Of fele mennes makyng,

Experimentz of alkenamye

The peple to deceyve;

If thow thynke to do-wel,

6040

Deel therwith nevere.

"Alle thise sciences I myselfSotilede and ordeynede,And founded hem formestFolk to deceyve.Tel Clergie this tokene,And Scripture after,To counseille thee kyndelyTo knowe what is Do-wel."

"Alle thise sciences I myself

Sotilede and ordeynede,

And founded hem formest

Folk to deceyve.

Tel Clergie this tokene,

And Scripture after,

To counseille thee kyndely

To knowe what is Do-wel."

I seide, "Graunt mercy, madame,"6050And mekely hir grette;And wente wightly aweyWithoute moore lettyng,And til I com to ClergieI koude nevere stynte;And grette the goode man,As Studie me taughte,And afterwardes the wif,And worshiped hem bothe,And tolde hem the tokenes6060That me taught were.Was nevere gome upon this ground,Sith God made the worlde,Fairer under-fongen,Ne frendlier at ese,Than myself, soothly,Soone so he wisteThan I was of Wittes hous,And with his wif, dame Studie.

I seide, "Graunt mercy, madame,"

6050

And mekely hir grette;

And wente wightly awey

Withoute moore lettyng,

And til I com to Clergie

I koude nevere stynte;

And grette the goode man,

As Studie me taughte,

And afterwardes the wif,

And worshiped hem bothe,

And tolde hem the tokenes

6060

That me taught were.

Was nevere gome upon this ground,

Sith God made the worlde,

Fairer under-fongen,

Ne frendlier at ese,

Than myself, soothly,

Soone so he wiste

Than I was of Wittes hous,

And with his wif, dame Studie.

I seide to hem soothly6070That sent was I thider,Do-wel and Do-betAnd Do-best to lerne.

I seide to hem soothly

6070

That sent was I thider,

Do-wel and Do-bet

And Do-best to lerne.

"It is a commune lyf," quod Clergie,"On holy chirche to bileve,With alle the articles of the feithThat falleth to be knowe;And that is to bileve lelly,Bothe lered and lewed,On the grete God6080That gynnyng hadde nevere,And on the soothfast SoneThat saved mankyndeFro the dedly deethAnd devel's power,Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost,The which goost is of bothe,Thre persones, ac noghtIn plurel nombre;For al is but oon God,6090And ech is God hymselve.=Deus pater, Deus filius, Deus spiritus sanctus.God the fader, God the sone,God holy goost of bothe,Makere of mankynde,And of beestes bothe.

"It is a commune lyf," quod Clergie,

"On holy chirche to bileve,

With alle the articles of the feith

That falleth to be knowe;

And that is to bileve lelly,

Bothe lered and lewed,

On the grete God

6080

That gynnyng hadde nevere,

And on the soothfast Sone

That saved mankynde

Fro the dedly deeth

And devel's power,

Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost,

The which goost is of bothe,

Thre persones, ac noght

In plurel nombre;

For al is but oon God,

6090

And ech is God hymselve.

Deus pater, Deus filius, Deus spiritus sanctus.

God the fader, God the sone,

God holy goost of bothe,

Makere of mankynde,

And of beestes bothe.

"Austyn the oldeHerof made bokes,And hymself ordeyned6100To sadde us in bileve.Who was his auctour?Alle the foure euvangelistes,And Crist cleped hymself so,The euvangelistes bereth witnesse.

"Austyn the olde

Herof made bokes,

And hymself ordeyned

6100

To sadde us in bileve.

Who was his auctour?

Alle the foure euvangelistes,

And Crist cleped hymself so,

The euvangelistes bereth witnesse.

"Alle the clerkes under CristNe koude this assoille;But thus it bi-longeth to bileveTo lewed that willen do-wel.For hadde nevere freke fyn wit6110The feith to dispute,Ne man hadde no merite,Myghte it ben y-preved.Fides non habet meritum, ubi humanaratio præbetexperimentum.

"Alle the clerkes under Crist

Ne koude this assoille;

But thus it bi-longeth to bileve

To lewed that willen do-wel.

For hadde nevere freke fyn wit

6110

The feith to dispute,

Ne man hadde no merite,

Myghte it ben y-preved.

Fides non habet meritum, ubi humana

ratio præbet

experimentum.

"Thanne is Do-bet to suffreFor the soules helthe,Al that the book bitBi holi cherches techyng;6120And that is, man, bi thy myght,For mercies sake.Loke thow werche it in werk,That thi word sheweth,Swich as thow semest in sighteBe in assay y-founde.=Appare quod es, vel esto quod appares.

"Thanne is Do-bet to suffre

For the soules helthe,

Al that the book bit

Bi holi cherches techyng;

6120

And that is, man, bi thy myght,

For mercies sake.

Loke thow werche it in werk,

That thi word sheweth,

Swich as thow semest in sighte

Be in assay y-founde.

Appare quod es, vel esto quod appares.

"And lat no body beBy thi beryng bigiled,6130But be swich in thi souleAs thow semest withoute.

"And lat no body be

By thi beryng bigiled,

6130

But be swich in thi soule

As thow semest withoute.

"Thanne is Do-best to be booldTo blame the gilty,Sythenes thow seest thiselfAs in soule clene;Ac blame thow nevere body,And thow be blame worthy.Si culpare velis,Culpabilis esse cavebis;6140Dogma tuum sordet,Cum te tua culpa remordet.

"Thanne is Do-best to be boold

To blame the gilty,

Sythenes thow seest thiself

As in soule clene;

Ac blame thow nevere body,

And thow be blame worthy.

Si culpare velis,

Culpabilis esse cavebis;

6140

Dogma tuum sordet,

Cum te tua culpa remordet.

"God in the GospelGrevously reprevethAlle that lakketh any lif,And lakkes han hemselve.Qui consideras festucam in oculo=fratris tui, trabem in oculo tuo, etc.

"God in the Gospel

Grevously repreveth

Alle that lakketh any lif,

And lakkes han hemselve.

Qui consideras festucam in oculo

fratris tui, trabem in oculo tuo, etc.

"Why menestow thi mood for a mote6150In thi brotheres eighe,Sithen a beem in thyn oweneA-blyndeth thiselve.=Ejice primo trabem in oculo tuo, etc.Which letteth thee to lokeLasse outher more.

"Why menestow thi mood for a mote

6150

In thi brotheres eighe,

Sithen a beem in thyn owene

A-blyndeth thiselve.

Ejice primo trabem in oculo tuo, etc.

Which letteth thee to loke

Lasse outher more.

"I rede ech a blynd bosardeDo boote to hymselve,For abbotes and for priours,6160And for alle manere prelates,As persons and parisshes preestesThat preche sholde and techeAlle maner men to amendenBi hire myghtes.

"I rede ech a blynd bosarde

Do boote to hymselve,

For abbotes and for priours,

6160

And for alle manere prelates,

As persons and parisshes preestes

That preche sholde and teche

Alle maner men to amenden

Bi hire myghtes.

"This text was told yow,To ben y-war, er ye taughte,That ye were swiche as ye seye,So salve with othere;For Goddes word wolde noght be lost,6170For that wercheth evere;If it availled noght the commune,It myghte availle yowselve.

"This text was told yow,

To ben y-war, er ye taughte,

That ye were swiche as ye seye,

So salve with othere;

For Goddes word wolde noght be lost,

6170

For that wercheth evere;

If it availled noght the commune,

It myghte availle yowselve.

"Ac it semeth now soothlyTo the worldes sighte,That Goddes word wercheth noghtOn lered ne on lewed,But in swich a manereAs Marc meneth in the gospel:Dum cæcus ducit cæcum, ambo in6180foveam cadunt.

"Ac it semeth now soothly

To the worldes sighte,

That Goddes word wercheth noght

On lered ne on lewed,

But in swich a manere

As Marc meneth in the gospel:

Dum cæcus ducit cæcum, ambo in

6180

foveam cadunt.

"Lewed men may likne yow thus,That the beem lith in youre eighen;And the festu is fallenFor youre defaute,In alle maner men,Thorughmansedepreestes.The Bible bereth witnesseThat the folk of IsraelBittre a-boughte the giltes6190Of two badde preestes,Offyn and Fynes,For hir coveitise,Archa Deimys-happed,And Ely brak his nekke.

"Lewed men may likne yow thus,

That the beem lith in youre eighen;

And the festu is fallen

For youre defaute,

In alle maner men,

Thorughmansedepreestes.

The Bible bereth witnesse

That the folk of Israel

Bittre a-boughte the giltes

6190

Of two badde preestes,

Offyn and Fynes,

For hir coveitise,

Archa Deimys-happed,

And Ely brak his nekke.

"For-thi ye corectours claweth heron.And corecteth first yowselveAnd thanne mowe ye safly seye,As David made in the Sauter,Existimasti inique quod ero tui6200similis, arguam te, et statuamcontra faciem tuam.

"For-thi ye corectours claweth heron.

And corecteth first yowselve

And thanne mowe ye safly seye,

As David made in the Sauter,

Existimasti inique quod ero tui

6200

similis, arguam te, et statuam

contra faciem tuam.

"And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshedTo blame yow or to greve,And carpen noght as thei carpe now,Ne calle yow doumbe houndes.Canes non valentes latrare.And drede to wrathe yow in any word,Youre werkmanshipe to lette,And be prester at youre preiere,6210Than for a pound of nobles.And al for youre holynesse,Have ye this in herte.

"And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed

To blame yow or to greve,

And carpen noght as thei carpe now,

Ne calle yow doumbe houndes.

Canes non valentes latrare.

And drede to wrathe yow in any word,

Youre werkmanshipe to lette,

And be prester at youre preiere,

6210

Than for a pound of nobles.

And al for youre holynesse,

Have ye this in herte.

"In scole there is scorn,But if a clerk wol lerne,And gret love and likyng,For ech of hem loveth oother.

"In scole there is scorn,

But if a clerk wol lerne,

And gret love and likyng,

For ech of hem loveth oother.

"Ac now is Religion a rydere,A romere aboute,A ledere of love-dayes,6220And a lond-buggere,A prikere on a palfreyFro manere to manere,An heepe of houndesat his ersAs he a lord were.And but if his knave kneleThat shal his coppe brynge,He loureth on hym, and asketh hymWho taughte hym curteisie.

"Ac now is Religion a rydere,

A romere aboute,

A ledere of love-dayes,

6220

And a lond-buggere,

A prikere on a palfrey

Fro manere to manere,

An heepe of houndesat his ers

As he a lord were.

And but if his knave knele

That shal his coppe brynge,

He loureth on hym, and asketh hym

Who taughte hym curteisie.

"Litel hadde lordes to doon,6230To gyve lond from hire heiresTo religiouse, that han no routhe,Though it reyne on hir auters.

"Litel hadde lordes to doon,

6230

To gyve lond from hire heires

To religiouse, that han no routhe,

Though it reyne on hir auters.

"In many places ther thei ben persons,By hemself at eseOf the povere have thei no pité;And that is hir charité.Ac thei leten hem as lordesHire londes lyen so brode.

"In many places ther thei ben persons,

By hemself at ese

Of the povere have thei no pité;

And that is hir charité.

Ac thei leten hem as lordes

Hire londes lyen so brode.

"Ac ther shal come a kyng,6240And confesse yow religiouses,And bete yow as the Bible tellethFor brekynge of youre rule;And amende monyals,Monkes and chanons,And puten to hir penaunceAd pristinum statum ire;And barons with erles beten hem,ThorughBeatus-virrestechyng,That hir barnes claymen6250And blame yow foule.Hi in curribus et hi in equis ipsiobligati sunt, etc.

"Ac ther shal come a kyng,

6240

And confesse yow religiouses,

And bete yow as the Bible telleth

For brekynge of youre rule;

And amende monyals,

Monkes and chanons,

And puten to hir penaunce

Ad pristinum statum ire;

And barons with erles beten hem,

ThorughBeatus-virrestechyng,

That hir barnes claymen

6250

And blame yow foule.

Hi in curribus et hi in equis ipsi

obligati sunt, etc.

"And thanne freres in hir fraytourShul fynden a keyeOf Costantyns cofres,In which is the catelThat Gregories god-childrenHan yvele despended.

"And thanne freres in hir fraytour

Shul fynden a keye

Of Costantyns cofres,

In which is the catel

That Gregories god-children

Han yvele despended.

="And thanne shalthe abbot of Abyngdone6261And al his issue for evere,Have a knok of a kyng,And incurable the wounde.

"And thanne shalthe abbot of Abyngdone

6261

And al his issue for evere,

Have a knok of a kyng,

And incurable the wounde.

"That this worth sooth, seke yeThat ofte over-se the Bible:Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievittributum, contrivit Dominusbaculum impiorum et virgamdominantium cædentium plaga6270insanabili.

"That this worth sooth, seke ye

That ofte over-se the Bible:

Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievit

tributum, contrivit Dominus

baculum impiorum et virgam

dominantium cædentium plaga

6270

insanabili.

"Ac er that kyng come,Caym shal awake.But Do-wel shal dyngen hym adoun,And destruye his myghte."

"Ac er that kyng come,

Caym shal awake.

But Do-wel shal dyngen hym adoun,

And destruye his myghte."

"Thanne is Do-wel and Do-bet," quod I,"Dominusand knyghthode."

"Thanne is Do-wel and Do-bet," quod I,

"Dominusand knyghthode."

"I nel noght scorne," quod Scripture,"But if scryveynes lye;Kynghod ne knyghthod,6280By noght I kan a-wayte,Helpeth noght to hevene-wardOone heris ende;Ne richesse right noght,Ne reautee of lordes.Poul preveth it impossibleRiche men to have hevene.Salomon seith alsoThat silver is worst to lovye:Nihil iniquius quam amare6290pecuniam.And Caton kenneth us to coveiten itNaught but as nede techeth,=Dilige denarium, sed parce dilige formam.And patriarkes and prophetes,And poetes bothe,Writen to wissen usTo wilne no richesse,And preiseden poverte with pacience;6300The apostles bereth witnesseThat thei han eritage in hevene,And by trewe righte;Ther riche men no right may cleyme,But of ruthe and grace."

"I nel noght scorne," quod Scripture,

"But if scryveynes lye;

Kynghod ne knyghthod,

6280

By noght I kan a-wayte,

Helpeth noght to hevene-ward

Oone heris ende;

Ne richesse right noght,

Ne reautee of lordes.

Poul preveth it impossible

Riche men to have hevene.

Salomon seith also

That silver is worst to lovye:

Nihil iniquius quam amare

6290

pecuniam.

And Caton kenneth us to coveiten it

Naught but as nede techeth,

Dilige denarium, sed parce dilige formam.

And patriarkes and prophetes,

And poetes bothe,

Writen to wissen us

To wilne no richesse,

And preiseden poverte with pacience;

6300

The apostles bereth witnesse

That thei han eritage in hevene,

And by trewe righte;

Ther riche men no right may cleyme,

But of ruthe and grace."

"Contra," quod I, "by Crist!That kan I repreve,And preven it by Peter,And by Poul bothe,That is baptized beth saaf,6310Be he riche or povere."

"Contra," quod I, "by Crist!

That kan I repreve,

And preven it by Peter,

And by Poul bothe,

That is baptized beth saaf,

6310

Be he riche or povere."

"That isin extremis," quod Scripture,"Amonges Sarzens and Jewes,They mowen be saved so,And that is oure bileve,That an un-cristene in that caasMay cristen an hethen;And for his lele bileve,Whan he the lif tyneth,Have the heritage of hevene6320As any man cristene.

"That isin extremis," quod Scripture,

"Amonges Sarzens and Jewes,

They mowen be saved so,

And that is oure bileve,

That an un-cristene in that caas

May cristen an hethen;

And for his lele bileve,

Whan he the lif tyneth,

Have the heritage of hevene

6320

As any man cristene.

"Ac cristene men withoute mooreMaye noght come to hevene;For that Crist for cristene menDeide and confermed the lawe,That who so wolde and wilnethWith Crist to arise,Si cum Christo surexistis, etc.He sholde lovye and leve,And the lawe fulfille.6330That is, love thi lord GodLevest aboven alle;And after, alle cristene creaturesIn commune, ech man oother;And thus bi-longeth to lovye,That leveth be saved.And but we do thus in dede,At the day of domeIt shal bi-sitten us ful soureThe silver that we kepen;6340And oure bakkes that mothe-eten be,And seen beggeris go naked;Or delit in wyn and wilde fowel,And wite any in defaute.For every cristene creatureSholde be kynde til oother,And sithen hethen to helpe,In hope of amendement.

"Ac cristene men withoute moore

Maye noght come to hevene;

For that Crist for cristene men

Deide and confermed the lawe,

That who so wolde and wilneth

With Crist to arise,

Si cum Christo surexistis, etc.

He sholde lovye and leve,

And the lawe fulfille.

6330

That is, love thi lord God

Levest aboven alle;

And after, alle cristene creatures

In commune, ech man oother;

And thus bi-longeth to lovye,

That leveth be saved.

And but we do thus in dede,

At the day of dome

It shal bi-sitten us ful soure

The silver that we kepen;

6340

And oure bakkes that mothe-eten be,

And seen beggeris go naked;

Or delit in wyn and wilde fowel,

And wite any in defaute.

For every cristene creature

Sholde be kynde til oother,

And sithen hethen to helpe,

In hope of amendement.

"God hoteth heighe and loweThat no man hurte oother;6350And seith, 'Slee noght that semblable isTo myn owene liknesse,But if I sende thee som tokene;'And seith'Non mœchaberis.Is slee noght, but suffre,And al for the beste;For I shal punysshe hem in purgatorieOr in the put of helle,Ech man for hise mysdedes,But mercy it lette.'"

"God hoteth heighe and lowe

That no man hurte oother;

6350

And seith, 'Slee noght that semblable is

To myn owene liknesse,

But if I sende thee som tokene;'

And seith'Non mœchaberis.

Is slee noght, but suffre,

And al for the beste;

For I shal punysshe hem in purgatorie

Or in the put of helle,

Ech man for hise mysdedes,

But mercy it lette.'"

"T6360HIS is a long lesson," quod I,"And litel am I the wiser;Where Do-wel is or Do-bet,Derkliche ye shewen.Manye tales ye tellenThat Theologie lerneth;And that I man maad was,And my name y-entredIn the legende of lifLonge er I were,6370Or ellis un-writen for som wikkednesse,As Holy Writ witnesseth:Nemo ascendit ad cœlum, nisi quide cœlo descendit.

"T6360

6360

HIS is a long lesson," quod I,

"And litel am I the wiser;

Where Do-wel is or Do-bet,

Derkliche ye shewen.

Manye tales ye tellen

That Theologie lerneth;

And that I man maad was,

And my name y-entred

In the legende of lif

Longe er I were,

6370

Or ellis un-writen for som wikkednesse,

As Holy Writ witnesseth:

Nemo ascendit ad cœlum, nisi qui

de cœlo descendit.

"I leve it wel," quod I, "by oure Lord!And on no lettrure bettre.For Salomon the sage,That Sapience taughte,God gat hym grace of wit,And alle hise goodes after;6380He demed wel and wisely,As Holy Writ telleth.Aristotle and he,Who wissed men bettre?Maistres that of Goddes mercyTechen men and prechen,Of hir wordes thei wissen usFor wisest as in hir tyme,And al holy chircheHoldeth hem bothe y-dampned.

"I leve it wel," quod I, "by oure Lord!

And on no lettrure bettre.

For Salomon the sage,

That Sapience taughte,

God gat hym grace of wit,

And alle hise goodes after;

6380

He demed wel and wisely,

As Holy Writ telleth.

Aristotle and he,

Who wissed men bettre?

Maistres that of Goddes mercy

Techen men and prechen,

Of hir wordes thei wissen us

For wisest as in hir tyme,

And al holy chirche

Holdeth hem bothe y-dampned.

6390"And if I sholde werche by hir werkesTo wynne me hevene,That for hir werkes and witNow wonyeth in pyne,Thanne wroughe I un-wisly,What so evere ye preche.

6390

"And if I sholde werche by hir werkes

To wynne me hevene,

That for hir werkes and wit

Now wonyeth in pyne,

Thanne wroughe I un-wisly,

What so evere ye preche.

"Ac of fele witty, in feith,Litel ferly I have,Though hir goost be un-graciousGod for to plese.6400For many men on this mooldeMoore setten hir hertesIn good than in God;For-thi hem grace faillethAt hir mooste meschief,Whan thei shal lif lete.As Salomon dide, and swiche othereThat shewed grete wittes;Ac hir werkes, as holy writ seith,Were evere the contrarie.6410For-thi wise witted men,And wel y-lettrede clerkes,As thei seyen hemself,Selde doon therafter.Super cathedra Moysi, etc.

"Ac of fele witty, in feith,

Litel ferly I have,

Though hir goost be un-gracious

God for to plese.

6400

For many men on this moolde

Moore setten hir hertes

In good than in God;

For-thi hem grace failleth

At hir mooste meschief,

Whan thei shal lif lete.

As Salomon dide, and swiche othere

That shewed grete wittes;

Ac hir werkes, as holy writ seith,

Were evere the contrarie.

6410

For-thi wise witted men,

And wel y-lettrede clerkes,

As thei seyen hemself,

Selde doon therafter.

Super cathedra Moysi, etc.

"Ac I wene it worth of manye,As was in Noes tyme,Tho he shoop that shipeOf shides and of bordes;=Was nevere wrighte saved that wroghte theron,6421Ne oothir werkman ellis,But briddes, and beestes,And the blissed Noe,And his wif with hise sones,And also hire wyves;Of wightes that it wroghteWas noon of hem y-saved.

"Ac I wene it worth of manye,

As was in Noes tyme,

Tho he shoop that shipe

Of shides and of bordes;

Was nevere wrighte saved that wroghte theron,

6421

Ne oothir werkman ellis,

But briddes, and beestes,

And the blissed Noe,

And his wif with hise sones,

And also hire wyves;

Of wightes that it wroghte

Was noon of hem y-saved.

"God leve it fare noght so bi folkThat the feith techeth6430Of holi chirche, that herberwe is,And Goddes hous to save,And shilden us from shame therinne,As Noes ship dide beestes;And men that maden itA-mydde the flood a-dreynten.The culorum of this clauseCuratours is to mene,That ben carpenters holy kirk to makeFor Cristes owene beestes:=Homines et jumenta salvabis, Domine, etc.

"God leve it fare noght so bi folk

That the feith techeth

6430

Of holi chirche, that herberwe is,

And Goddes hous to save,

And shilden us from shame therinne,

As Noes ship dide beestes;

And men that maden it

A-mydde the flood a-dreynten.

The culorum of this clause

Curatours is to mene,

That ben carpenters holy kirk to make

For Cristes owene beestes:

Homines et jumenta salvabis, Domine, etc.

6442"On Good Friday I fyndeA felon was y-saved,That hadde lyved al his lifWith lesynges and with thefte;And for he beknede to the cros,And to Crist shrof him,He was sonner y-savedThan seint Johan the Baptist;6450And or Adam or Ysaye,Or any of the prophetes,That hadde y-leyen with LuciferMany longe yeres,A robbere was y-raunsonedRather than thei alle,Withouten any penaunce of purgatorie,To perpetuel blisse.

6442

"On Good Friday I fynde

A felon was y-saved,

That hadde lyved al his lif

With lesynges and with thefte;

And for he beknede to the cros,

And to Crist shrof him,

He was sonner y-saved

Than seint Johan the Baptist;

6450

And or Adam or Ysaye,

Or any of the prophetes,

That hadde y-leyen with Lucifer

Many longe yeres,

A robbere was y-raunsoned

Rather than thei alle,

Withouten any penaunce of purgatorie,

To perpetuel blisse.

"Than Marie MaudeleyneWhat womman dide werse?6460Or who worse than David,That Uries deeth conspired?Or Poul the apostle,That no pité haddeMuche cristene kyndeTo kille to dethe?And now ben thise as sovereynsWith seintes in hevene,Tho that wroughte wikkedlokestIn world tho thei were.6470And tho that wisely wordeden,And writen manye bokesOf wit and of wisedom,With dampned soules wonye.That Salomon seith, I trowe be soothAnd certein of us alle:Sunt justi atque sapientes et operaeorum in manu Dei sunt, etc.

"Than Marie Maudeleyne

What womman dide werse?

6460

Or who worse than David,

That Uries deeth conspired?

Or Poul the apostle,

That no pité hadde

Muche cristene kynde

To kille to dethe?

And now ben thise as sovereyns

With seintes in hevene,

Tho that wroughte wikkedlokest

In world tho thei were.

6470

And tho that wisely wordeden,

And writen manye bokes

Of wit and of wisedom,

With dampned soules wonye.

That Salomon seith, I trowe be sooth

And certein of us alle:

Sunt justi atque sapientes et opera

eorum in manu Dei sunt, etc.

"Ther are witty and wel libbynge,Ac hire werkes ben y-hudde6480In the hondes of almyghty God,And he woot the sothe,Wherfore a man worth allowed there,And hise lele werkes,Or ellis for his yvel wille,And for envye of herte,And be allowed as he lyved so;For by the luthere men knoweth the goode.

"Ther are witty and wel libbynge,

Ac hire werkes ben y-hudde

6480

In the hondes of almyghty God,

And he woot the sothe,

Wherfore a man worth allowed there,

And hise lele werkes,

Or ellis for his yvel wille,

And for envye of herte,

And be allowed as he lyved so;

For by the luthere men knoweth the goode.

"And wherby wiste men which were whit,If alle thyng blak were?6490And who were a good man,But if ther were som sherewe?For-thi lyve we forth with othere men,I leve fewe ben goode;Forquantoportetvient en place,Il n'y ad quepati.And he that may al amende,Have mercy on us alle!For sothest word that ever God seideWas tho he seideNemo bonus.

"And wherby wiste men which were whit,

If alle thyng blak were?

6490

And who were a good man,

But if ther were som sherewe?

For-thi lyve we forth with othere men,

I leve fewe ben goode;

Forquantoportetvient en place,

Il n'y ad quepati.

And he that may al amende,

Have mercy on us alle!

For sothest word that ever God seide

Was tho he seideNemo bonus.

6500"Clergie tho of Cristes mouthComended was it litel;For he seide to seint Peter,And to swiche as he lovede,=Cum steteritis ante reges et præsides, etc.Though ye come bifore kyngesAnd clerkes of the lawe,Beth noght abasshed,For I shal be in youre mouthes,6510And gyve yow wit and wille,And konnyng to concludeHem alle that ayeins yowOf Cristendom disputen.

6500

"Clergie tho of Cristes mouth

Comended was it litel;

For he seide to seint Peter,

And to swiche as he lovede,

Cum steteritis ante reges et præsides, etc.

Though ye come bifore kynges

And clerkes of the lawe,

Beth noght abasshed,

For I shal be in youre mouthes,

6510

And gyve yow wit and wille,

And konnyng to conclude

Hem alle that ayeins yow

Of Cristendom disputen.

"David maketh mencion,He spak amonges kynges,And myghte no kyng over-comen hymAs by konnynge of speche,But wit and wisedomWan nevere the maistrie,6520Whan man was at meschief,Withoute the moore grace.

"David maketh mencion,

He spak amonges kynges,

And myghte no kyng over-comen hym

As by konnynge of speche,

But wit and wisedom

Wan nevere the maistrie,

6520

Whan man was at meschief,

Withoute the moore grace.

"The doughtieste doctourAnd devinour of the TriniteeWas Austyn the olde,And heighest of the foure,Seide thus in a sermon,I seigh it writen ones:Ecce ipsi idiotævi rapiuntcœlum, ubinos sapientes in inferno6530mergimur.

"The doughtieste doctour

And devinour of the Trinitee

Was Austyn the olde,

And heighest of the foure,

Seide thus in a sermon,

I seigh it writen ones:

Ecce ipsi idiotævi rapiuntcœlum, ubi

nos sapientes in inferno

6530

mergimur.

"And is to mene to men,Moore ne lesse,Arn none rather y-ravysshedFro the righte bileve,Than are thise konnynge clerkesThat konne manye bokes.

"And is to mene to men,

Moore ne lesse,

Arn none rather y-ravysshed

Fro the righte bileve,

Than are thise konnynge clerkes

That konne manye bokes.

"Ne none sonner saved,Ne sadder of bileve,Than plowmen and pastours,6540And othere commune laborers;Souteres and shepherdes,And othere lewed juttes,Percen with a pater-nosterThe paleys of hevene,And passen purgatorie penaunce-leesAt her hennes partyngInto the blisse of paradis,For hir pure bileve,That imparfitly here knewe,6550And ek lyvede.

"Ne none sonner saved,

Ne sadder of bileve,

Than plowmen and pastours,

6540

And othere commune laborers;

Souteres and shepherdes,

And othere lewed juttes,

Percen with a pater-noster

The paleys of hevene,

And passen purgatorie penaunce-lees

At her hennes partyng

Into the blisse of paradis,

For hir pure bileve,

That imparfitly here knewe,

6550

And ek lyvede.

"Ye men knowe clerkes,That han corsed the tymeThat evere thei kouthe or knewe mooreThanCredo in Deum patrem;And principally hir pater-nosterMany a persone hath wisshed.

"Ye men knowe clerkes,

That han corsed the tyme

That evere thei kouthe or knewe moore

ThanCredo in Deum patrem;

And principally hir pater-noster

Many a persone hath wisshed.

"I se ensamples myself,And so may manye othere,That servauntz that serven lordes6560Selde fallen in arerage,And tho that kepen the lordes catel,Clerkes and reves.

"I se ensamples myself,

And so may manye othere,

That servauntz that serven lordes

6560

Selde fallen in arerage,

And tho that kepen the lordes catel,

Clerkes and reves.

"Right so lewed men,And of litel knowyng,Selden falle thei so fouleAnd so fer in synne,As clerkes of holy chircheThat kepen Cristes tresor,The which is mannes soule to save,As God seith in the Gospel:6571Ite vos in vineam meam."

"Right so lewed men,

And of litel knowyng,

Selden falle thei so foule

And so fer in synne,

As clerkes of holy chirche

That kepen Cristes tresor,

The which is mannes soule to save,

As God seith in the Gospel:

6571

Ite vos in vineam meam."

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