Chapter 4

Filler.

Passus Decimus Octavus, etc. et Tertius de Do-bet.W=OLLEWARD and weet-shoed12073Wente I forth after,As a recchelees renkThat of no wo roughte,And yede forth lik a lorelAl my lif tyme,Til I weex wery of the world,And wilned eft to slepe,12080And lened me to a lenten,And longe tyme I slepte;And of Cristes passion and penaunce,The peple that of raughte,Reste me there, and rutte fasteTilramis palmarum.Of gerlis and ofgloria lausGretly me dremed,And howhosannaby organyeOlde folk songen.12090Oon semblable to the Samaritan,And som deel to Piers the Plowman,Bare-foot on an asse bakBoot-les cam prikye,Withouten spores other spere,Spakliche he lokede,As is the kynde of a knyghtThat cometh to be dubbed,To geten hym gilte spores,Or galoches y-couped.12100Thanne was Feith in a fenestre,And cryde afili David,As dooth an heraud of armes,Whan aventrous cometh to justes.Old Jewes of JerusalemFor joye thei songen,=Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.Thanne I frayned at Feith,What al that fare by-mente,12110And who sholde juste in Jerusalem."Jhesus," he seide,"And fecche that the fend claymeth,Piers fruyt the Plowman.""Is Piers in this place?" quod I.And he preynte on me:"This Jhesus of his gentriesWol juste in Piers armes,In his helm and in his haubergeon,Humana natura;12120That Crist be noght bi-knowe hereForconsummatus Deus.In Piers paltok the PlowmanThis prikiere shal ryde.For no dynt shal hym dere,Asin deitate Patris.""Who shal juste with Jhesus?" quod I,"Jewes or scrybes?""Nay," quod he; "The foule fend,And fals doom and deeth.12130Deeth seith he shal for-doAnd a-doun bryngeAl that lyveth and lokethIn londe and in watre."Lif seith that he lieth,And leieth his lif to wedde,That for al that deeth kan doWithinne thre daiesTo walke and fecche fro the fendPiers fruyt the Plowman,12140And legge it ther hym liketh,And Lucifer bynde,And for-bete and a-doun bryngeBale deeth for evere."O mors, ero mors tua.Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple,Sedens pro tribunali,To se how doghtiliche Deeth sholde do,And deme hir botheres right.The Jewes and the justice12150Ayeins Jhesu thei weere,And al the court on hym crydeCrucifigesharpe.Tho putte hym forth a pilourBifore Pilat, and seide,"This Jhesus of oure Jewes templeHath japed and despised,To for-doon it on o day,And in thre dayes afterEdifie it eft newe;12160Here he stant that seide it;And yit maken it as mucheIn alle manere poyntes,Bothe as long and as large,Bi lofte and by grounde.""Crucifige!" quod a cachepol;"I warrante hym a wicche.""Tolle! tolle!" quod another,And took of kene thornes,And bigan of kene thorn12170A garland to make,And sette it sore on his heed,And seide in envye,"Ave, Raby," quod that rybaud,And threw reedes at hym,Nailed hym with thre nailesNaked on the roode,And poison on a pooleThei putte up to hise lippes,And beden hym drynken his deeth yvel,12180Hise daies were y-done,"And if that thow sotil be,Help now thiselve;If thow be Crist and kynges sone,Com down of the roode;Thanne shul we leve that lif thee loveth,And wol noght lete thee deye.""Consummatum est," quod Crist,And comsede for to swounePitousliche and pale,12190As a prison that deieth.The lord of lif and of lightTho leide hise eighen togideres.The day for drede withdrough,And derk bicam the sonne;The wal waggede and cleef,And al the world quaved;Dede men for that deneCome out of depe graves,And tolde why that tempeste12200So longe tyme durede;"For a bitter bataille,"The dede body seide,"Lif and deeth in this derknesseHir oon for-dooth hir oother.Shal no wight wite witterlyWho shal have the maistrieEr Sonday aboute sonne risyng;"And sank with that til erthe.Some seide that he was Goddes sone12210That so faire deide.Vere filius Dei erat iste.And some seide he was a wicche,"Good is that we assayeWher he be deed or noght deed,Doun er he be taken."Two theves alsoTholed deeth that tyme,Upon a croos besides Crist,So was the comune lawe.12220A cachepol cam forthAnd craked bothe hire legges,And the armes afterOf either of tho theves.Ac was no body so booldGoddes body to touche;For he was knyght and kynges sone,Kynde for-yaf that tyme,That noon harlot were so hardyTo leyen hond upon hym.12230Ac ther cam forth a knyght,With a kene spere y-grounde,HighteLongeus, as the lettre telleth,And longe hadde lore his sighte.Bifore Pilat and oother pepleIn the place he hoved;Maugree his manye teeth,He was maad that tymeTo take the spere in his hond,And justen with Jhesus.12240For alle thei were unhardy,That hoved on horse or stode,To touchen hym or to tasten hym,Or taken doun of roode.Butthis blynde bachelerBaar hym thorugh the herte;The blood sprong doun by the spere,And unspered the knyghtes eighen.Thanne fil the knyght upon knees,And cryde hym mercy;12250"Ayein my wille it was, Lord,To wownde yow so soore."He sighed and seide,"Soore it me a-thynketh,For the dede that I have doonI do me in youre grace.Have on me ruthe! rightful Jhesu!"And right with that he wepte.Thanne gan Feith fellyThe false Jewes despise,12260Callede hem caytyvesAcorsed for evere;"For this foule vileynyeVengeaunce to yow falle!To do the blynde bete hym y-bounde,It was a boyes counseille.Cursede caytif!Knyghthood was it nevereTo mys-do a deed bodyBy daye or by nyghte.12270The gree yit hath he geten,For al his grete wounde."For youre champion chivaler,Chief knyght of yow alle,Yilt hym recreaunt rennyngRight at Jhesus wille.For be this derknesse y-do,His deeth worth avenged;And ye, lurdaynes, han y-lost,For lif shal have the maistrye;12280And youre fraunchise, that fre was,Fallen is in thraldom,And ye, cherles, and youre childrenCheve shulle nevereTo have lordshipe in londe,Ne no lond tilye,But al barayne be,And usurie usen,Which is lif that oure LordIn alle lawes acurseth.12290Now youre goode dayes arn doon,As Daniel prophecied,Whan Crist cam, of hir kyngdomThe crowne sholde cesse."Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum, cessabitunctio vestra.What for feere of this ferly,And of the false Jewes,I drow me in that derknesseTodescendit ad inferna;12300And there I saugh soothlySecundum ScripturasOut of the west costeA wenche, as me thoughte,Cam walkynge in the wey,To helle-ward she loked.Mercy highte that mayde,A meke thyng withalle,A ful benigne burde,And buxom of speche.12310Hir suster, as it semed,Cam soothly walkynge.Evene out of the est,And west-ward she lokede,A ful comely creature,Truthe she highte,For the vertue that hire folwedeA-fered was she nevere.Whan thise maydenes mette,Mercy and Truthe,12320Either asked ootherOf this grete wonder,Of the dyn and of the derknesse,And how the day rowed,And which a light and a lemeLay bifore helle."Ich have ferly of this fare,In feith!" seide Truthe,"And am wendynge to witeWhat this wonder meneth."12330"Have no merveille," quod Mercy,"Murth it bitokneth.A maiden that highte Marie,And moder withouten felyngOf any kynnes creature,Conceyved thorugh specheAnd grace of the Holy Goost,Weex greet with childe,Withouten wemInto this world she broghte hym;12340And that my tale be trewe,I take God to witnesse."Sith this barn was y-boreBen .xxx.tiwynter passed,Which deide and deeth tholedThis day aboute myd-day,And that is cause of this clipsThat closeth now the sonne,In menynge that man shalFro merknesse be drawe,12350The while this light and this lemeShal Lucifer a-blende.For patriarkes and prophetesHan preched herof ofte:That man shal man saveThorugh a maydenes helpe;And that was tynt thorugh tree,Tree shal it wynne;And that deeth a-down broughte,Deeth shal releve."12360"That thow tellest," quod Truthe,"Is buta tale of Waltrot.For Adam and Eve,And Abraham, with othere,Patriarkes and prophetes,That in peyne liggen,Leve thow nevere that yon lightHem a-lofte brynge,Ne have hem out of helle.Hold thi tonge, Mercy!12370It is but a trufle that thow tellest;I, Truthe, woot the sothe.For he that is ones in helle,Out cometh he nevere.Job the prophete patriarkRepreveth thi sawes."Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio.Thanne Mercy ful myldelyMouthed thise wordes,"Thorugh experience," quod she,12380"I hope thei shul be saved.For venym for-dooth venym;And that preve I by reson.For of alle venymesFoulest is the scorpion,May no medicyne helpeThe place ther he styngeth,Til he be deed, and do therto,The yvel he destruyeth,The firste venymousté12390Thorugh venym of hymselve."So shal this deeth for-do,I dar my lif legge,Al that deeth for-dide firstThorugh the develes entisyng;And right as thorugh gileMan was bi-giled,So shal grace that bi-ganMake a good sleighte."Ars ut artem falleret.12400"Now suffre we," seide Truthe;"I se, as me thynketh,Out of the nyppe of the northNoght ful her hennesRightwisnesse come rennynge.Reste we the while;For he woot moore than we,He was er we bothe.""That is sooth," seide Mercy;"And I se here by sowthe12410Where Pees cometh pleyinge,In pacience y-clothed.Love hath coveited hire longe,Leve I noon oother,But he sente hire som lettre,What this light by-menethThat over-hoveth helle thus,She us shal telle."WhenPeesin pacience y-clothedApproched ner hem tweyne,12420Rightwisnessehire reverenced,By hir riche clothyng,And preide Pees to telle hireTo what place she wolde,And in hire gaye garnementzWhom she grete thoughte."My wil is to wende," quod she,"And welcome hem alleThat many day myghte I noght seFor merknesse of synne,12430Adam and Eve,And othere mo in helle;Moyses and many moMercy shul have,And I shal daunce therto,Do thow so, suster,For Jhesus justede wel,Joy bigynneth dawe.Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus, etad matutinum lætitia.12440"Love, that is my lemman,Swiche lettres me sente,That Mercy, my suster, and IMankynde sholde save,And that God hath for-gyvenAnd graunted me pees and mercy,To be mannes meynpernourFor evere moore after.Lo here the patente!" quod Pees,"In pace in idipsum.12450And that this dede shal dure,Dormiam et requiescam.""What! ravestow?" quod Rightwisnesse,"Or thow art right dronke?Levestow that yond lightUnlouke myghte helle,And save mannes soule?Suster, wene it nevere.For God the bigynnereGaf the doom hymselve,12460That Adam and Eve,And alle that hem suwede,Sholden deye down righte,And dwelle in pyne after,If that thei touchede a tree,And the fruyt eten."Adam afterwardAyeins his defenceFreet of that fruyt,And forsook, as it weere,12470The love of oure LordAnd his loore bothe,And folwede that the fend taughte,And his felawes wille,Ayeins reson and rightwisnesse,Recorde thus with truthe,That hir peyne be perpetuel,And no preiere hem helpe.For-thi lat hem chewe as thei chosen,And chide we noght, sustres;12480For it is bote-lees bale,The byte that thei eten.""And I shal preve," quod Pees,"Hir peyne moot have ende,And from wo into weleMowe wenden at the laste.For hadde thei wist of no wo,Wele hadde the noght knowen.For no wight woot what wele is,That nevere wo suffrede;12490Ne what is hoot hunger,That hadde nevere defaute."If no nyght ne weere,No man, as I leeve,Sholde nevere wite witterlyWhat day is to meene.Sholde nevere right riche man,That lyveth in reste and ese,Wite what wo is,Ne were the deeth of kynde.12500"So God, that bigan alOf his goode wille,Bicam man of a maydeMankynde to save;And suffrede to be sold,To se the sorwe of deying,The which unknytteth alle care,And comsynge is of reste.For tilmodicummete with us,I may it wel avowe,12510Woot no wight, as I wene,What y-nogh is to mene."For-thi God of his goodnesseThe firste gome AdamSette hym in solace,And in sovereyn murthe;And siththe he suffred hym synne,Sorwe to feele,To wite what wele wasKyndeliche and knowe it.12520And after God auntrede hymself,And took Adames kynde,To wite what he hath suffredIn thre sondry places,Bothe in hevene and in erthe,And now til helle he thenkethTo wite what alle wo is,And what is alle joye."So it shal fare by this folk,Hir folie and hir synne12530Shal lere hem what langour isAnd lisse withouten ende.Woot no wight what werre isTher that pees regneth,Ne what is witterly weleTil weylawey! hym teche."Thanne was ther a wightWith two brode eighen,Book highte that beau-peere,A bold man of speche;12540"By Goddes body!" quod this Book,"I wol bere witnesseThat tho this barn was y-bore,Ther blased a sterreThat alle the wise of this worldIn o wit acorden,That swich a barn was y-boreIn Bethleem the citee,That mannes soule sholde save,And synne destroye.12550And alle the elementz," quod the Book,"Herof beren witnesse,That he was God that al wroghte,The wolkne first shewed."Tho that weren in heveneTokenstella cometa,And tendeden it as a torcheTo reverencen his burthe;The light folwede the LordInto the lowe erthe.12560"The water witnessed that he was God,For he wente on it.Peter the apostelParceyved his gate,And as he wente on the water,Wel hym knew, and seide,Jube me venire ad te super aquas."And lo! how the sonne gan loukeHire light in hirselve,Whan she seigh hym suffre,12570That sonne and see made."The erthe for hevynesseThat he wolde suffre,Quaked as quyk thyng,And al biquasshed the roche."Lo! helle myghte nat holde,But opnede tho God tholede,And leet out Symondes soneTo seen hym hange on roode.And now shal Lucifer leve it,12580Though hym looth thynke;ForGigasthe geauntWith a gyn hath engynedTo breke and to bete a-dounThat ben ayeins Jhesus.And I, Book, wole be brent,But Jhesus rise to lyveIn alle myghtes of man,And his moder gladie,And conforte al his kyn12590And out of care brynge,And al the Jewene joyeUnjoynen and unlouken,And but thei reversen his roode,And his resurexion,And bileve on a newe lawe,Be lost lif and soule.""Suffre we," seide Truthe;"I here and see botheHow a spirit speketh to helle,12600And biddeth unspere the yates."Attolite portas, etc.A vois loude in that lightTo Lucifer crieth,"Prynces of this place,Unpynneth and unlouketh!For here cometh with crowneThat kyng is of glorie."Thanne sikede Sathan,And seide to hem alle,12610"Swich a light ayeins oure leveLazar out fette;Care and encombraunceIs comen to us alle!If this kyng come in,Mankynde wole he fecche,And lede it ther hym liketh,And lightliche me bynde.Patriarkes and ProphetesHan parled herof longe,12620That swich a lord and lightSholde lede hem alle hennes.""Listneth," quod Lucifer,"For I this lord knowe.Bothe this lord and this light,Is longe a-go I knew hym.May no deeth hym dere,Ne no develes queyntise;And where he wole is his wey,Ac ware hym of the perils.12630If he reveth me my right,He robbeth me by maistrie;For by right and by resonThe renkes that ben hereBody and soule beth myne,Bothe goode and ille.For hymself seide,That sire is of hevene,If Adam ete the appul,Alle sholde deye12640And dwelle with us develes;This thretynge he made.And he that soothnesse is,Seide thise wordes.And sithen I seisedSevene hundred wynter,I leeve that lawe nyl noghtLete hym the leeste.""That is sooth," seide Sathan;"But I me soore drede.12650For thow gete hem with gile,And his gardyn breke,And in semblaunce of a serpentSete upon the appul-tree,And eggedest hem to ete,Eve by hirselve;And toldest hire a tale,Of treson were the wordes;And so thow haddest hem out,And hider at the laste.12660It is noght graithly geten,Ther gile is the roote.For God wol noght be bi-giled,"QuodGobelyn, "ne by-japed;We have no trewe title to hem,=For thorugh treson were thei dampned.""Certes, I drede me," quod the devel,"Lest Truthe wol hem fecche;Thisethritty wynter, as I wene,12670Hath he gon and preched.I have assailled hym with synne,And som tyme y-askedWheither he were God or Goddes sone;He yaf me short answere.And thus hath he trolled forthThisetwo and thritty wynter.And whan I seigh it was so,Lepynge I wenteTo warne Pilates wif12680What done man was Jhesus.For Jewes hateden hym,And han doon hym to dethe.I wolde have lengthed his lif;For I leved if he deide,That his soule wolde suffreNo synne in his sighte.For the body, while it on bones yede,Aboute was evereTo save men from synne,12690If hemself wolde.And now I se wher a souleCometh hiderward seillynge,With glorie and with gret light,—God it is, I woot wel.I rede that we fle," quod he,"Faste alle hennes;For us were bettre noght be,Than biden his sighte.For thi lesynges, Lucifer,12700Lost is al oure praye."First thorugh the we fellenFro hevene so heighe,For we leved on thi lesynges;Y-lorn we have Adam,And al oure lordshipe, I leve,A-londe and a-watre."Nunc princeps hujus mundi ejicietur foras.Eft the light bad unlouke;And Lucifer answerede,12710"What lord artow?" quod Lucifer.Quis est iste?"Rex Gloriæ,"The light soone seide,"And lord of myght and of man,And alle manere vertues.Dominus virtutum.Dukes of this dymme place,Anoon undo thise yates,That Crist may come in,12720The kynges sone of hevene!"And with that breeth helle brak,With Belialles barres,For any wye or warde,Wide opned the yates.Patriarkes and prophetes,Populus in tenebris,Songen seint Johanes song,Ecce agnus Dei.Lucifer loke ne myghte,12730So light hym a-blente.And tho that oure Lord lovedeInto his light he laughte;And seide to Sathan,"Lo! here my soule to amendesFor alle synfulle soules,To save tho that ben worthi.Myne thei ben and of me,I may the bet hem cleyme.And though Reson recorde12740And Right, of myselve,That if he ete the appulAlle sholde deye;I bi-highte hem noght hereHelle for evere.For the dede that thei dide,Thi deceite it made;With gile thow hem gete,Ageyn alle reson.For in my paleis Paradis,12750In persone of an addre,Falsliche thow fettestThyng that I lovede."Thusy-lik a lusard,With a lady visage,Thefliche thow me robbedest;And the olde lawe grauntethThat gilours be bigiled,And that is good reson.=Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo.12761Ergosoule shal soule quyte,And synne to synne wende,And al that man hath mys-doI, man, wole amende;Membre for membreBy the olde lawe was amendes,And lif for lif also,And by that lawe I clayme it,Adam and al his issue12770At my wille herafter,And that deeth in hem for-dideMy deeth shal releve,And bothe quykne and quyteThat queynt was thorugh synne.And that grace gile destruye,Good feith it asketh.So leve I noght, Lucifer,Ayein the lawe I fecche hem;But by right and by reson12780Raunsone here my liges.=Non veni solvere legem, sed adimplere."Thow fettest myne in my placeAyeins alle reson,Falsliche and felonliche;Good feith me it taughte,To recovere hem thorugh raunson,And by no reson ellis.So that thorugh gile thow gete,12790Thorugh grace it is y-wonne.Thow Lucifer in liknesseOf a luther addereGetest bi gileTho that God lovede."And I in liknesse of a leode,That lord am of hevene,Graciousliche thi gile have quyt;Go gile ayein gile.And as Adam and alle12800Thorugh a tree deyden;Adam and allethorugh a treeShul turne ayein to lyve;And gile is bi-giled,And in his gile fallen.Et cecidit in foveam quam fecit."Now bi-gynneth thi gileAgeyn thee to turne,And my grace to groweAy gretter and widder;12810That art doctour of deeth,Drynk that thow madest."For I that am lord of lif,Love is my drynke;And for that drynke to-dayI deide upon erthe.I faught so, me thursteth yit,For mannes soule sake;May no drynke me moiste,Ne my thurst slake,12820Til the vendage falleIn the vale of Josaphat,That I drynke right ripe must,Resurrectio mortuorum;And thanne shal I come as a kyng,Crouned with aungeles,And have out of helleAlle mennes soules."Fendes and fyndekynesBifore me shul stande,12830And be at my biddyngWher so evere me liketh;And to be merciable to manThanne my kynde asketh.For we beth bretheren of blood,But noght in baptisme alle.Ac alle that beth myne hole bretherenIn blood and in baptisme.Shul noght be dampned to the deethThat is withouten ende.12840Tibi soli peccavi, etc."It is noght used in erthe,To hangen a felounOfter than ones,Though he were a tretour.And if the kyng of that kyngdomCome in that tymeThere feloun thole sholdeDeeth or oother juwise,Lawe wolde he yeve hym lif,12850If he loked on hym.And I, that am kyng of kynges,Shal come swich a tymeTher doom to the deethDampneth alle the wikked;And if lawe wole I loke on hem,It lith in my graceWheither thei deye or deye noghtFor that thei diden ille;Be it any thyng a-bought12860The boldnesse of hir synnes,I do mercy thorugh rightwisnesse,And alle my wordes trewe;And though holy writ wole that I be wrokeOf hem that diden ille,—Nullum malum impunitum, etc.—Thei shul be clensed clerliche,And wasshen of hir synnes,In my prisone Purgatorie,Tilparceit hote,12870And my mercy shal be shewedTo manye of my bretheren.For blood may suffre blood,Bothe hungry and a-cale;Ac blood may noght se bloodBlede, but hym rewe.Audivi arcana verba quæ non licethomini loqui."Ac my rightwisnesse and rightShul rulen al helle,12880And mercy al mankyndeBifore me in hevene.For I were an unkynde kyng,But I my kynde helpe,And nameliche at swich a nede.Ther nedes help bihoveth.=Non intres in judicium cum servo tuo."Thus by lawe," quod oure Lord,"Lede I wole fro hennes12890Tho that me lovedeAnd leved in my comynge.And for thi lesynge, Lucifer,That thow leighe til Eve,Thow shalt abyen it bittre;"—And bond hym with cheynes.Astrothand al the routeHidden hem in hernes;They dorste noght loke on oure Lord,The boldeste of hem alle,12900But leten hym lede forth whom hym liked,And lete whom hym liste.Manye hundred of aungelesHarpeden and songen,Culpat caro, purgat caro,Regnat Deus Dei caro.Thanne pipede PeesOf Poesie a note,=Clarior est solito post maxima nebula Phœbus,12910Post inimicitias, etc."After sharpe shoures," quod Pees,"Moost shene is the sonne;Is no weder warmerThan after watry cloudes;Ne no love levere,Ne lever frendes,Than after werre and wo,Whan Love and Pees ben maistres.Was nevere werre in this world,12920Ne wikkednesse so kene,That ne Love, and hym liste,To laughynge ne broughte,And pees thorugh pacienceAlle perils stoppeth.""Trewes," quod Truthe;"Thow tellest us sooth, by Jhesus!Clippe we in covenaunt,And ech of us clippe oother.""And leteth no peple," quod Pees,12930"Perceyve that we chidde.For inpossible is no thyngTo hym that is almyghty.""Thow seist sooth," quod Rightwisnesse;And reverentliche hire kiste."Pees and pees here!Per sæcula sæculorum."Misericordia et veritas obviaveruntsibi, justitia et pax osculatæ sunt.Truthe trumpede tho,12940And songTe Deum laudamus;And thanne lutede,In a loud note,Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum, etc.Til the day dawedThise damyseles dauncede,That men rongen to the resurexion.And right with that I wakede,And callede Kytte my wif,And Calote my doghter;12950And bad hem rise and reverenceGoddes resurexion;And crepe to the cros on knees,And kisse it for a juwel,For Goddes blissede bodyIt bar for oure boote;And it a-fereth the fend,For swich is the myghte,May no grisly goost12959Glide there it walketh.

Passus Decimus Octavus, etc. et Tertius de Do-bet.

W=OLLEWARD and weet-shoed12073Wente I forth after,As a recchelees renkThat of no wo roughte,And yede forth lik a lorelAl my lif tyme,Til I weex wery of the world,And wilned eft to slepe,12080And lened me to a lenten,And longe tyme I slepte;And of Cristes passion and penaunce,The peple that of raughte,Reste me there, and rutte fasteTilramis palmarum.Of gerlis and ofgloria lausGretly me dremed,And howhosannaby organyeOlde folk songen.

OLLEWARD and weet-shoed

12073

Wente I forth after,

As a recchelees renk

That of no wo roughte,

And yede forth lik a lorel

Al my lif tyme,

Til I weex wery of the world,

And wilned eft to slepe,

12080

And lened me to a lenten,

And longe tyme I slepte;

And of Cristes passion and penaunce,

The peple that of raughte,

Reste me there, and rutte faste

Tilramis palmarum.

Of gerlis and ofgloria laus

Gretly me dremed,

And howhosannaby organye

Olde folk songen.

12090Oon semblable to the Samaritan,And som deel to Piers the Plowman,Bare-foot on an asse bakBoot-les cam prikye,Withouten spores other spere,Spakliche he lokede,As is the kynde of a knyghtThat cometh to be dubbed,To geten hym gilte spores,Or galoches y-couped.

12090

Oon semblable to the Samaritan,

And som deel to Piers the Plowman,

Bare-foot on an asse bak

Boot-les cam prikye,

Withouten spores other spere,

Spakliche he lokede,

As is the kynde of a knyght

That cometh to be dubbed,

To geten hym gilte spores,

Or galoches y-couped.

12100Thanne was Feith in a fenestre,And cryde afili David,As dooth an heraud of armes,Whan aventrous cometh to justes.Old Jewes of JerusalemFor joye thei songen,=Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

12100

Thanne was Feith in a fenestre,

And cryde afili David,

As dooth an heraud of armes,

Whan aventrous cometh to justes.

Old Jewes of Jerusalem

For joye thei songen,

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Thanne I frayned at Feith,What al that fare by-mente,12110And who sholde juste in Jerusalem."Jhesus," he seide,"And fecche that the fend claymeth,Piers fruyt the Plowman."

Thanne I frayned at Feith,

What al that fare by-mente,

12110

And who sholde juste in Jerusalem.

"Jhesus," he seide,

"And fecche that the fend claymeth,

Piers fruyt the Plowman."

"Is Piers in this place?" quod I.And he preynte on me:"This Jhesus of his gentriesWol juste in Piers armes,In his helm and in his haubergeon,Humana natura;12120That Crist be noght bi-knowe hereForconsummatus Deus.In Piers paltok the PlowmanThis prikiere shal ryde.For no dynt shal hym dere,Asin deitate Patris."

"Is Piers in this place?" quod I.

And he preynte on me:

"This Jhesus of his gentries

Wol juste in Piers armes,

In his helm and in his haubergeon,

Humana natura;

12120

That Crist be noght bi-knowe here

Forconsummatus Deus.

In Piers paltok the Plowman

This prikiere shal ryde.

For no dynt shal hym dere,

Asin deitate Patris."

"Who shal juste with Jhesus?" quod I,"Jewes or scrybes?"

"Who shal juste with Jhesus?" quod I,

"Jewes or scrybes?"

"Nay," quod he; "The foule fend,And fals doom and deeth.12130Deeth seith he shal for-doAnd a-doun bryngeAl that lyveth and lokethIn londe and in watre.

"Nay," quod he; "The foule fend,

And fals doom and deeth.

12130

Deeth seith he shal for-do

And a-doun brynge

Al that lyveth and loketh

In londe and in watre.

"Lif seith that he lieth,And leieth his lif to wedde,That for al that deeth kan doWithinne thre daiesTo walke and fecche fro the fendPiers fruyt the Plowman,12140And legge it ther hym liketh,And Lucifer bynde,And for-bete and a-doun bryngeBale deeth for evere."O mors, ero mors tua.

"Lif seith that he lieth,

And leieth his lif to wedde,

That for al that deeth kan do

Withinne thre daies

To walke and fecche fro the fend

Piers fruyt the Plowman,

12140

And legge it ther hym liketh,

And Lucifer bynde,

And for-bete and a-doun brynge

Bale deeth for evere."

O mors, ero mors tua.

Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple,Sedens pro tribunali,To se how doghtiliche Deeth sholde do,And deme hir botheres right.

Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple,

Sedens pro tribunali,

To se how doghtiliche Deeth sholde do,

And deme hir botheres right.

The Jewes and the justice12150Ayeins Jhesu thei weere,And al the court on hym crydeCrucifigesharpe.Tho putte hym forth a pilourBifore Pilat, and seide,"This Jhesus of oure Jewes templeHath japed and despised,To for-doon it on o day,And in thre dayes afterEdifie it eft newe;12160Here he stant that seide it;And yit maken it as mucheIn alle manere poyntes,Bothe as long and as large,Bi lofte and by grounde."

The Jewes and the justice

12150

Ayeins Jhesu thei weere,

And al the court on hym cryde

Crucifigesharpe.

Tho putte hym forth a pilour

Bifore Pilat, and seide,

"This Jhesus of oure Jewes temple

Hath japed and despised,

To for-doon it on o day,

And in thre dayes after

Edifie it eft newe;

12160

Here he stant that seide it;

And yit maken it as muche

In alle manere poyntes,

Bothe as long and as large,

Bi lofte and by grounde."

"Crucifige!" quod a cachepol;"I warrante hym a wicche."

"Crucifige!" quod a cachepol;

"I warrante hym a wicche."

"Tolle! tolle!" quod another,And took of kene thornes,And bigan of kene thorn12170A garland to make,And sette it sore on his heed,And seide in envye,"Ave, Raby," quod that rybaud,And threw reedes at hym,Nailed hym with thre nailesNaked on the roode,And poison on a pooleThei putte up to hise lippes,And beden hym drynken his deeth yvel,12180Hise daies were y-done,"And if that thow sotil be,Help now thiselve;If thow be Crist and kynges sone,Com down of the roode;Thanne shul we leve that lif thee loveth,And wol noght lete thee deye."

"Tolle! tolle!" quod another,

And took of kene thornes,

And bigan of kene thorn

12170

A garland to make,

And sette it sore on his heed,

And seide in envye,

"Ave, Raby," quod that rybaud,

And threw reedes at hym,

Nailed hym with thre nailes

Naked on the roode,

And poison on a poole

Thei putte up to hise lippes,

And beden hym drynken his deeth yvel,

12180

Hise daies were y-done,

"And if that thow sotil be,

Help now thiselve;

If thow be Crist and kynges sone,

Com down of the roode;

Thanne shul we leve that lif thee loveth,

And wol noght lete thee deye."

"Consummatum est," quod Crist,And comsede for to swounePitousliche and pale,12190As a prison that deieth.The lord of lif and of lightTho leide hise eighen togideres.The day for drede withdrough,And derk bicam the sonne;The wal waggede and cleef,And al the world quaved;Dede men for that deneCome out of depe graves,And tolde why that tempeste12200So longe tyme durede;"For a bitter bataille,"The dede body seide,"Lif and deeth in this derknesseHir oon for-dooth hir oother.Shal no wight wite witterlyWho shal have the maistrieEr Sonday aboute sonne risyng;"And sank with that til erthe.

"Consummatum est," quod Crist,

And comsede for to swoune

Pitousliche and pale,

12190

As a prison that deieth.

The lord of lif and of light

Tho leide hise eighen togideres.

The day for drede withdrough,

And derk bicam the sonne;

The wal waggede and cleef,

And al the world quaved;

Dede men for that dene

Come out of depe graves,

And tolde why that tempeste

12200

So longe tyme durede;

"For a bitter bataille,"

The dede body seide,

"Lif and deeth in this derknesse

Hir oon for-dooth hir oother.

Shal no wight wite witterly

Who shal have the maistrie

Er Sonday aboute sonne risyng;"

And sank with that til erthe.

Some seide that he was Goddes sone12210That so faire deide.Vere filius Dei erat iste.And some seide he was a wicche,"Good is that we assayeWher he be deed or noght deed,Doun er he be taken."

Some seide that he was Goddes sone

12210

That so faire deide.

Vere filius Dei erat iste.

And some seide he was a wicche,

"Good is that we assaye

Wher he be deed or noght deed,

Doun er he be taken."

Two theves alsoTholed deeth that tyme,Upon a croos besides Crist,So was the comune lawe.12220A cachepol cam forthAnd craked bothe hire legges,And the armes afterOf either of tho theves.Ac was no body so booldGoddes body to touche;For he was knyght and kynges sone,Kynde for-yaf that tyme,That noon harlot were so hardyTo leyen hond upon hym.

Two theves also

Tholed deeth that tyme,

Upon a croos besides Crist,

So was the comune lawe.

12220

A cachepol cam forth

And craked bothe hire legges,

And the armes after

Of either of tho theves.

Ac was no body so boold

Goddes body to touche;

For he was knyght and kynges sone,

Kynde for-yaf that tyme,

That noon harlot were so hardy

To leyen hond upon hym.

12230Ac ther cam forth a knyght,With a kene spere y-grounde,HighteLongeus, as the lettre telleth,And longe hadde lore his sighte.Bifore Pilat and oother pepleIn the place he hoved;Maugree his manye teeth,He was maad that tymeTo take the spere in his hond,And justen with Jhesus.12240For alle thei were unhardy,That hoved on horse or stode,To touchen hym or to tasten hym,Or taken doun of roode.Butthis blynde bachelerBaar hym thorugh the herte;The blood sprong doun by the spere,And unspered the knyghtes eighen.

12230

Ac ther cam forth a knyght,

With a kene spere y-grounde,

HighteLongeus, as the lettre telleth,

And longe hadde lore his sighte.

Bifore Pilat and oother peple

In the place he hoved;

Maugree his manye teeth,

He was maad that tyme

To take the spere in his hond,

And justen with Jhesus.

12240

For alle thei were unhardy,

That hoved on horse or stode,

To touchen hym or to tasten hym,

Or taken doun of roode.

Butthis blynde bacheler

Baar hym thorugh the herte;

The blood sprong doun by the spere,

And unspered the knyghtes eighen.

Thanne fil the knyght upon knees,And cryde hym mercy;12250"Ayein my wille it was, Lord,To wownde yow so soore."He sighed and seide,"Soore it me a-thynketh,For the dede that I have doonI do me in youre grace.Have on me ruthe! rightful Jhesu!"And right with that he wepte.

Thanne fil the knyght upon knees,

And cryde hym mercy;

12250

"Ayein my wille it was, Lord,

To wownde yow so soore."

He sighed and seide,

"Soore it me a-thynketh,

For the dede that I have doon

I do me in youre grace.

Have on me ruthe! rightful Jhesu!"

And right with that he wepte.

Thanne gan Feith fellyThe false Jewes despise,12260Callede hem caytyvesAcorsed for evere;"For this foule vileynyeVengeaunce to yow falle!To do the blynde bete hym y-bounde,It was a boyes counseille.Cursede caytif!Knyghthood was it nevereTo mys-do a deed bodyBy daye or by nyghte.12270The gree yit hath he geten,For al his grete wounde.

Thanne gan Feith felly

The false Jewes despise,

12260

Callede hem caytyves

Acorsed for evere;

"For this foule vileynye

Vengeaunce to yow falle!

To do the blynde bete hym y-bounde,

It was a boyes counseille.

Cursede caytif!

Knyghthood was it nevere

To mys-do a deed body

By daye or by nyghte.

12270

The gree yit hath he geten,

For al his grete wounde.

"For youre champion chivaler,Chief knyght of yow alle,Yilt hym recreaunt rennyngRight at Jhesus wille.For be this derknesse y-do,His deeth worth avenged;And ye, lurdaynes, han y-lost,For lif shal have the maistrye;12280And youre fraunchise, that fre was,Fallen is in thraldom,And ye, cherles, and youre childrenCheve shulle nevereTo have lordshipe in londe,Ne no lond tilye,But al barayne be,And usurie usen,Which is lif that oure LordIn alle lawes acurseth.12290Now youre goode dayes arn doon,As Daniel prophecied,Whan Crist cam, of hir kyngdomThe crowne sholde cesse."Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum, cessabitunctio vestra.

"For youre champion chivaler,

Chief knyght of yow alle,

Yilt hym recreaunt rennyng

Right at Jhesus wille.

For be this derknesse y-do,

His deeth worth avenged;

And ye, lurdaynes, han y-lost,

For lif shal have the maistrye;

12280

And youre fraunchise, that fre was,

Fallen is in thraldom,

And ye, cherles, and youre children

Cheve shulle nevere

To have lordshipe in londe,

Ne no lond tilye,

But al barayne be,

And usurie usen,

Which is lif that oure Lord

In alle lawes acurseth.

12290

Now youre goode dayes arn doon,

As Daniel prophecied,

Whan Crist cam, of hir kyngdom

The crowne sholde cesse."

Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum, cessabit

unctio vestra.

What for feere of this ferly,And of the false Jewes,I drow me in that derknesseTodescendit ad inferna;12300And there I saugh soothlySecundum ScripturasOut of the west costeA wenche, as me thoughte,Cam walkynge in the wey,To helle-ward she loked.Mercy highte that mayde,A meke thyng withalle,A ful benigne burde,And buxom of speche.

What for feere of this ferly,

And of the false Jewes,

I drow me in that derknesse

Todescendit ad inferna;

12300

And there I saugh soothly

Secundum Scripturas

Out of the west coste

A wenche, as me thoughte,

Cam walkynge in the wey,

To helle-ward she loked.

Mercy highte that mayde,

A meke thyng withalle,

A ful benigne burde,

And buxom of speche.

12310Hir suster, as it semed,Cam soothly walkynge.Evene out of the est,And west-ward she lokede,A ful comely creature,Truthe she highte,For the vertue that hire folwedeA-fered was she nevere.

12310

Hir suster, as it semed,

Cam soothly walkynge.

Evene out of the est,

And west-ward she lokede,

A ful comely creature,

Truthe she highte,

For the vertue that hire folwede

A-fered was she nevere.

Whan thise maydenes mette,Mercy and Truthe,12320Either asked ootherOf this grete wonder,Of the dyn and of the derknesse,And how the day rowed,And which a light and a lemeLay bifore helle."Ich have ferly of this fare,In feith!" seide Truthe,"And am wendynge to witeWhat this wonder meneth."

Whan thise maydenes mette,

Mercy and Truthe,

12320

Either asked oother

Of this grete wonder,

Of the dyn and of the derknesse,

And how the day rowed,

And which a light and a leme

Lay bifore helle.

"Ich have ferly of this fare,

In feith!" seide Truthe,

"And am wendynge to wite

What this wonder meneth."

12330"Have no merveille," quod Mercy,"Murth it bitokneth.A maiden that highte Marie,And moder withouten felyngOf any kynnes creature,Conceyved thorugh specheAnd grace of the Holy Goost,Weex greet with childe,Withouten wemInto this world she broghte hym;12340And that my tale be trewe,I take God to witnesse.

12330

"Have no merveille," quod Mercy,

"Murth it bitokneth.

A maiden that highte Marie,

And moder withouten felyng

Of any kynnes creature,

Conceyved thorugh speche

And grace of the Holy Goost,

Weex greet with childe,

Withouten wem

Into this world she broghte hym;

12340

And that my tale be trewe,

I take God to witnesse.

"Sith this barn was y-boreBen .xxx.tiwynter passed,Which deide and deeth tholedThis day aboute myd-day,And that is cause of this clipsThat closeth now the sonne,In menynge that man shalFro merknesse be drawe,12350The while this light and this lemeShal Lucifer a-blende.For patriarkes and prophetesHan preched herof ofte:That man shal man saveThorugh a maydenes helpe;And that was tynt thorugh tree,Tree shal it wynne;And that deeth a-down broughte,Deeth shal releve."

"Sith this barn was y-bore

Ben .xxx.tiwynter passed,

Which deide and deeth tholed

This day aboute myd-day,

And that is cause of this clips

That closeth now the sonne,

In menynge that man shal

Fro merknesse be drawe,

12350

The while this light and this leme

Shal Lucifer a-blende.

For patriarkes and prophetes

Han preched herof ofte:

That man shal man save

Thorugh a maydenes helpe;

And that was tynt thorugh tree,

Tree shal it wynne;

And that deeth a-down broughte,

Deeth shal releve."

12360"That thow tellest," quod Truthe,"Is buta tale of Waltrot.For Adam and Eve,And Abraham, with othere,Patriarkes and prophetes,That in peyne liggen,Leve thow nevere that yon lightHem a-lofte brynge,Ne have hem out of helle.Hold thi tonge, Mercy!12370It is but a trufle that thow tellest;I, Truthe, woot the sothe.For he that is ones in helle,Out cometh he nevere.Job the prophete patriarkRepreveth thi sawes."Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio.

12360

"That thow tellest," quod Truthe,

"Is buta tale of Waltrot.

For Adam and Eve,

And Abraham, with othere,

Patriarkes and prophetes,

That in peyne liggen,

Leve thow nevere that yon light

Hem a-lofte brynge,

Ne have hem out of helle.

Hold thi tonge, Mercy!

12370

It is but a trufle that thow tellest;

I, Truthe, woot the sothe.

For he that is ones in helle,

Out cometh he nevere.

Job the prophete patriark

Repreveth thi sawes."

Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio.

Thanne Mercy ful myldelyMouthed thise wordes,"Thorugh experience," quod she,12380"I hope thei shul be saved.For venym for-dooth venym;And that preve I by reson.For of alle venymesFoulest is the scorpion,May no medicyne helpeThe place ther he styngeth,Til he be deed, and do therto,The yvel he destruyeth,The firste venymousté12390Thorugh venym of hymselve.

Thanne Mercy ful myldely

Mouthed thise wordes,

"Thorugh experience," quod she,

12380

"I hope thei shul be saved.

For venym for-dooth venym;

And that preve I by reson.

For of alle venymes

Foulest is the scorpion,

May no medicyne helpe

The place ther he styngeth,

Til he be deed, and do therto,

The yvel he destruyeth,

The firste venymousté

12390

Thorugh venym of hymselve.

"So shal this deeth for-do,I dar my lif legge,Al that deeth for-dide firstThorugh the develes entisyng;And right as thorugh gileMan was bi-giled,So shal grace that bi-ganMake a good sleighte."Ars ut artem falleret.

"So shal this deeth for-do,

I dar my lif legge,

Al that deeth for-dide first

Thorugh the develes entisyng;

And right as thorugh gile

Man was bi-giled,

So shal grace that bi-gan

Make a good sleighte."

Ars ut artem falleret.

12400"Now suffre we," seide Truthe;"I se, as me thynketh,Out of the nyppe of the northNoght ful her hennesRightwisnesse come rennynge.Reste we the while;For he woot moore than we,He was er we bothe."

12400

"Now suffre we," seide Truthe;

"I se, as me thynketh,

Out of the nyppe of the north

Noght ful her hennes

Rightwisnesse come rennynge.

Reste we the while;

For he woot moore than we,

He was er we bothe."

"That is sooth," seide Mercy;"And I se here by sowthe12410Where Pees cometh pleyinge,In pacience y-clothed.Love hath coveited hire longe,Leve I noon oother,But he sente hire som lettre,What this light by-menethThat over-hoveth helle thus,She us shal telle."

"That is sooth," seide Mercy;

"And I se here by sowthe

12410

Where Pees cometh pleyinge,

In pacience y-clothed.

Love hath coveited hire longe,

Leve I noon oother,

But he sente hire som lettre,

What this light by-meneth

That over-hoveth helle thus,

She us shal telle."

WhenPeesin pacience y-clothedApproched ner hem tweyne,12420Rightwisnessehire reverenced,By hir riche clothyng,And preide Pees to telle hireTo what place she wolde,And in hire gaye garnementzWhom she grete thoughte.

WhenPeesin pacience y-clothed

Approched ner hem tweyne,

12420

Rightwisnessehire reverenced,

By hir riche clothyng,

And preide Pees to telle hire

To what place she wolde,

And in hire gaye garnementz

Whom she grete thoughte.

"My wil is to wende," quod she,"And welcome hem alleThat many day myghte I noght seFor merknesse of synne,12430Adam and Eve,And othere mo in helle;Moyses and many moMercy shul have,And I shal daunce therto,Do thow so, suster,For Jhesus justede wel,Joy bigynneth dawe.Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus, etad matutinum lætitia.

"My wil is to wende," quod she,

"And welcome hem alle

That many day myghte I noght se

For merknesse of synne,

12430

Adam and Eve,

And othere mo in helle;

Moyses and many mo

Mercy shul have,

And I shal daunce therto,

Do thow so, suster,

For Jhesus justede wel,

Joy bigynneth dawe.

Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus, et

ad matutinum lætitia.

12440"Love, that is my lemman,Swiche lettres me sente,That Mercy, my suster, and IMankynde sholde save,And that God hath for-gyvenAnd graunted me pees and mercy,To be mannes meynpernourFor evere moore after.Lo here the patente!" quod Pees,"In pace in idipsum.12450And that this dede shal dure,Dormiam et requiescam."

12440

"Love, that is my lemman,

Swiche lettres me sente,

That Mercy, my suster, and I

Mankynde sholde save,

And that God hath for-gyven

And graunted me pees and mercy,

To be mannes meynpernour

For evere moore after.

Lo here the patente!" quod Pees,

"In pace in idipsum.

12450

And that this dede shal dure,

Dormiam et requiescam."

"What! ravestow?" quod Rightwisnesse,"Or thow art right dronke?Levestow that yond lightUnlouke myghte helle,And save mannes soule?Suster, wene it nevere.For God the bigynnereGaf the doom hymselve,12460That Adam and Eve,And alle that hem suwede,Sholden deye down righte,And dwelle in pyne after,If that thei touchede a tree,And the fruyt eten.

"What! ravestow?" quod Rightwisnesse,

"Or thow art right dronke?

Levestow that yond light

Unlouke myghte helle,

And save mannes soule?

Suster, wene it nevere.

For God the bigynnere

Gaf the doom hymselve,

12460

That Adam and Eve,

And alle that hem suwede,

Sholden deye down righte,

And dwelle in pyne after,

If that thei touchede a tree,

And the fruyt eten.

"Adam afterwardAyeins his defenceFreet of that fruyt,And forsook, as it weere,12470The love of oure LordAnd his loore bothe,And folwede that the fend taughte,And his felawes wille,Ayeins reson and rightwisnesse,Recorde thus with truthe,That hir peyne be perpetuel,And no preiere hem helpe.For-thi lat hem chewe as thei chosen,And chide we noght, sustres;12480For it is bote-lees bale,The byte that thei eten."

"Adam afterward

Ayeins his defence

Freet of that fruyt,

And forsook, as it weere,

12470

The love of oure Lord

And his loore bothe,

And folwede that the fend taughte,

And his felawes wille,

Ayeins reson and rightwisnesse,

Recorde thus with truthe,

That hir peyne be perpetuel,

And no preiere hem helpe.

For-thi lat hem chewe as thei chosen,

And chide we noght, sustres;

12480

For it is bote-lees bale,

The byte that thei eten."

"And I shal preve," quod Pees,"Hir peyne moot have ende,And from wo into weleMowe wenden at the laste.For hadde thei wist of no wo,Wele hadde the noght knowen.For no wight woot what wele is,That nevere wo suffrede;12490Ne what is hoot hunger,That hadde nevere defaute.

"And I shal preve," quod Pees,

"Hir peyne moot have ende,

And from wo into wele

Mowe wenden at the laste.

For hadde thei wist of no wo,

Wele hadde the noght knowen.

For no wight woot what wele is,

That nevere wo suffrede;

12490

Ne what is hoot hunger,

That hadde nevere defaute.

"If no nyght ne weere,No man, as I leeve,Sholde nevere wite witterlyWhat day is to meene.Sholde nevere right riche man,That lyveth in reste and ese,Wite what wo is,Ne were the deeth of kynde.

"If no nyght ne weere,

No man, as I leeve,

Sholde nevere wite witterly

What day is to meene.

Sholde nevere right riche man,

That lyveth in reste and ese,

Wite what wo is,

Ne were the deeth of kynde.

12500"So God, that bigan alOf his goode wille,Bicam man of a maydeMankynde to save;And suffrede to be sold,To se the sorwe of deying,The which unknytteth alle care,And comsynge is of reste.For tilmodicummete with us,I may it wel avowe,12510Woot no wight, as I wene,What y-nogh is to mene.

12500

"So God, that bigan al

Of his goode wille,

Bicam man of a mayde

Mankynde to save;

And suffrede to be sold,

To se the sorwe of deying,

The which unknytteth alle care,

And comsynge is of reste.

For tilmodicummete with us,

I may it wel avowe,

12510

Woot no wight, as I wene,

What y-nogh is to mene.

"For-thi God of his goodnesseThe firste gome AdamSette hym in solace,And in sovereyn murthe;And siththe he suffred hym synne,Sorwe to feele,To wite what wele wasKyndeliche and knowe it.12520And after God auntrede hymself,And took Adames kynde,To wite what he hath suffredIn thre sondry places,Bothe in hevene and in erthe,And now til helle he thenkethTo wite what alle wo is,And what is alle joye.

"For-thi God of his goodnesse

The firste gome Adam

Sette hym in solace,

And in sovereyn murthe;

And siththe he suffred hym synne,

Sorwe to feele,

To wite what wele was

Kyndeliche and knowe it.

12520

And after God auntrede hymself,

And took Adames kynde,

To wite what he hath suffred

In thre sondry places,

Bothe in hevene and in erthe,

And now til helle he thenketh

To wite what alle wo is,

And what is alle joye.

"So it shal fare by this folk,Hir folie and hir synne12530Shal lere hem what langour isAnd lisse withouten ende.Woot no wight what werre isTher that pees regneth,Ne what is witterly weleTil weylawey! hym teche."

"So it shal fare by this folk,

Hir folie and hir synne

12530

Shal lere hem what langour is

And lisse withouten ende.

Woot no wight what werre is

Ther that pees regneth,

Ne what is witterly wele

Til weylawey! hym teche."

Thanne was ther a wightWith two brode eighen,Book highte that beau-peere,A bold man of speche;12540"By Goddes body!" quod this Book,"I wol bere witnesseThat tho this barn was y-bore,Ther blased a sterreThat alle the wise of this worldIn o wit acorden,That swich a barn was y-boreIn Bethleem the citee,That mannes soule sholde save,And synne destroye.12550And alle the elementz," quod the Book,"Herof beren witnesse,That he was God that al wroghte,The wolkne first shewed.

Thanne was ther a wight

With two brode eighen,

Book highte that beau-peere,

A bold man of speche;

12540

"By Goddes body!" quod this Book,

"I wol bere witnesse

That tho this barn was y-bore,

Ther blased a sterre

That alle the wise of this world

In o wit acorden,

That swich a barn was y-bore

In Bethleem the citee,

That mannes soule sholde save,

And synne destroye.

12550

And alle the elementz," quod the Book,

"Herof beren witnesse,

That he was God that al wroghte,

The wolkne first shewed.

"Tho that weren in heveneTokenstella cometa,And tendeden it as a torcheTo reverencen his burthe;The light folwede the LordInto the lowe erthe.

"Tho that weren in hevene

Tokenstella cometa,

And tendeden it as a torche

To reverencen his burthe;

The light folwede the Lord

Into the lowe erthe.

12560"The water witnessed that he was God,For he wente on it.Peter the apostelParceyved his gate,And as he wente on the water,Wel hym knew, and seide,Jube me venire ad te super aquas.

12560

"The water witnessed that he was God,

For he wente on it.

Peter the apostel

Parceyved his gate,

And as he wente on the water,

Wel hym knew, and seide,

Jube me venire ad te super aquas.

"And lo! how the sonne gan loukeHire light in hirselve,Whan she seigh hym suffre,12570That sonne and see made.

"And lo! how the sonne gan louke

Hire light in hirselve,

Whan she seigh hym suffre,

12570

That sonne and see made.

"The erthe for hevynesseThat he wolde suffre,Quaked as quyk thyng,And al biquasshed the roche.

"The erthe for hevynesse

That he wolde suffre,

Quaked as quyk thyng,

And al biquasshed the roche.

"Lo! helle myghte nat holde,But opnede tho God tholede,And leet out Symondes soneTo seen hym hange on roode.And now shal Lucifer leve it,12580Though hym looth thynke;ForGigasthe geauntWith a gyn hath engynedTo breke and to bete a-dounThat ben ayeins Jhesus.And I, Book, wole be brent,But Jhesus rise to lyveIn alle myghtes of man,And his moder gladie,And conforte al his kyn12590And out of care brynge,And al the Jewene joyeUnjoynen and unlouken,And but thei reversen his roode,And his resurexion,And bileve on a newe lawe,Be lost lif and soule."

"Lo! helle myghte nat holde,

But opnede tho God tholede,

And leet out Symondes sone

To seen hym hange on roode.

And now shal Lucifer leve it,

12580

Though hym looth thynke;

ForGigasthe geaunt

With a gyn hath engyned

To breke and to bete a-doun

That ben ayeins Jhesus.

And I, Book, wole be brent,

But Jhesus rise to lyve

In alle myghtes of man,

And his moder gladie,

And conforte al his kyn

12590

And out of care brynge,

And al the Jewene joye

Unjoynen and unlouken,

And but thei reversen his roode,

And his resurexion,

And bileve on a newe lawe,

Be lost lif and soule."

"Suffre we," seide Truthe;"I here and see botheHow a spirit speketh to helle,12600And biddeth unspere the yates."Attolite portas, etc.

"Suffre we," seide Truthe;

"I here and see bothe

How a spirit speketh to helle,

12600

And biddeth unspere the yates."

Attolite portas, etc.

A vois loude in that lightTo Lucifer crieth,"Prynces of this place,Unpynneth and unlouketh!For here cometh with crowneThat kyng is of glorie."

A vois loude in that light

To Lucifer crieth,

"Prynces of this place,

Unpynneth and unlouketh!

For here cometh with crowne

That kyng is of glorie."

Thanne sikede Sathan,And seide to hem alle,12610"Swich a light ayeins oure leveLazar out fette;Care and encombraunceIs comen to us alle!If this kyng come in,Mankynde wole he fecche,And lede it ther hym liketh,And lightliche me bynde.Patriarkes and ProphetesHan parled herof longe,12620That swich a lord and lightSholde lede hem alle hennes."

Thanne sikede Sathan,

And seide to hem alle,

12610

"Swich a light ayeins oure leve

Lazar out fette;

Care and encombraunce

Is comen to us alle!

If this kyng come in,

Mankynde wole he fecche,

And lede it ther hym liketh,

And lightliche me bynde.

Patriarkes and Prophetes

Han parled herof longe,

12620

That swich a lord and light

Sholde lede hem alle hennes."

"Listneth," quod Lucifer,"For I this lord knowe.Bothe this lord and this light,Is longe a-go I knew hym.May no deeth hym dere,Ne no develes queyntise;And where he wole is his wey,Ac ware hym of the perils.12630If he reveth me my right,He robbeth me by maistrie;For by right and by resonThe renkes that ben hereBody and soule beth myne,Bothe goode and ille.For hymself seide,That sire is of hevene,If Adam ete the appul,Alle sholde deye12640And dwelle with us develes;This thretynge he made.And he that soothnesse is,Seide thise wordes.And sithen I seisedSevene hundred wynter,I leeve that lawe nyl noghtLete hym the leeste."

"Listneth," quod Lucifer,

"For I this lord knowe.

Bothe this lord and this light,

Is longe a-go I knew hym.

May no deeth hym dere,

Ne no develes queyntise;

And where he wole is his wey,

Ac ware hym of the perils.

12630

If he reveth me my right,

He robbeth me by maistrie;

For by right and by reson

The renkes that ben here

Body and soule beth myne,

Bothe goode and ille.

For hymself seide,

That sire is of hevene,

If Adam ete the appul,

Alle sholde deye

12640

And dwelle with us develes;

This thretynge he made.

And he that soothnesse is,

Seide thise wordes.

And sithen I seised

Sevene hundred wynter,

I leeve that lawe nyl noght

Lete hym the leeste."

"That is sooth," seide Sathan;"But I me soore drede.12650For thow gete hem with gile,And his gardyn breke,And in semblaunce of a serpentSete upon the appul-tree,And eggedest hem to ete,Eve by hirselve;And toldest hire a tale,Of treson were the wordes;And so thow haddest hem out,And hider at the laste.12660It is noght graithly geten,Ther gile is the roote.For God wol noght be bi-giled,"QuodGobelyn, "ne by-japed;We have no trewe title to hem,=For thorugh treson were thei dampned."

"That is sooth," seide Sathan;

"But I me soore drede.

12650

For thow gete hem with gile,

And his gardyn breke,

And in semblaunce of a serpent

Sete upon the appul-tree,

And eggedest hem to ete,

Eve by hirselve;

And toldest hire a tale,

Of treson were the wordes;

And so thow haddest hem out,

And hider at the laste.

12660

It is noght graithly geten,

Ther gile is the roote.

For God wol noght be bi-giled,"

QuodGobelyn, "ne by-japed;

We have no trewe title to hem,

For thorugh treson were thei dampned."

"Certes, I drede me," quod the devel,"Lest Truthe wol hem fecche;Thisethritty wynter, as I wene,12670Hath he gon and preched.I have assailled hym with synne,And som tyme y-askedWheither he were God or Goddes sone;He yaf me short answere.And thus hath he trolled forthThisetwo and thritty wynter.And whan I seigh it was so,Lepynge I wenteTo warne Pilates wif12680What done man was Jhesus.For Jewes hateden hym,And han doon hym to dethe.I wolde have lengthed his lif;For I leved if he deide,That his soule wolde suffreNo synne in his sighte.For the body, while it on bones yede,Aboute was evereTo save men from synne,12690If hemself wolde.And now I se wher a souleCometh hiderward seillynge,With glorie and with gret light,—God it is, I woot wel.I rede that we fle," quod he,"Faste alle hennes;For us were bettre noght be,Than biden his sighte.For thi lesynges, Lucifer,12700Lost is al oure praye.

"Certes, I drede me," quod the devel,

"Lest Truthe wol hem fecche;

Thisethritty wynter, as I wene,

12670

Hath he gon and preched.

I have assailled hym with synne,

And som tyme y-asked

Wheither he were God or Goddes sone;

He yaf me short answere.

And thus hath he trolled forth

Thisetwo and thritty wynter.

And whan I seigh it was so,

Lepynge I wente

To warne Pilates wif

12680

What done man was Jhesus.

For Jewes hateden hym,

And han doon hym to dethe.

I wolde have lengthed his lif;

For I leved if he deide,

That his soule wolde suffre

No synne in his sighte.

For the body, while it on bones yede,

Aboute was evere

To save men from synne,

12690

If hemself wolde.

And now I se wher a soule

Cometh hiderward seillynge,

With glorie and with gret light,—

God it is, I woot wel.

I rede that we fle," quod he,

"Faste alle hennes;

For us were bettre noght be,

Than biden his sighte.

For thi lesynges, Lucifer,

12700

Lost is al oure praye.

"First thorugh the we fellenFro hevene so heighe,For we leved on thi lesynges;Y-lorn we have Adam,And al oure lordshipe, I leve,A-londe and a-watre."Nunc princeps hujus mundi ejicietur foras.

"First thorugh the we fellen

Fro hevene so heighe,

For we leved on thi lesynges;

Y-lorn we have Adam,

And al oure lordshipe, I leve,

A-londe and a-watre."

Nunc princeps hujus mundi ejicietur foras.

Eft the light bad unlouke;And Lucifer answerede,12710"What lord artow?" quod Lucifer.Quis est iste?"Rex Gloriæ,"The light soone seide,"And lord of myght and of man,And alle manere vertues.Dominus virtutum.Dukes of this dymme place,Anoon undo thise yates,That Crist may come in,12720The kynges sone of hevene!"

Eft the light bad unlouke;

And Lucifer answerede,

12710

"What lord artow?" quod Lucifer.

Quis est iste?

"Rex Gloriæ,"

The light soone seide,

"And lord of myght and of man,

And alle manere vertues.

Dominus virtutum.

Dukes of this dymme place,

Anoon undo thise yates,

That Crist may come in,

12720

The kynges sone of hevene!"

And with that breeth helle brak,With Belialles barres,For any wye or warde,Wide opned the yates.

And with that breeth helle brak,

With Belialles barres,

For any wye or warde,

Wide opned the yates.

Patriarkes and prophetes,Populus in tenebris,Songen seint Johanes song,Ecce agnus Dei.Lucifer loke ne myghte,12730So light hym a-blente.

Patriarkes and prophetes,

Populus in tenebris,

Songen seint Johanes song,

Ecce agnus Dei.

Lucifer loke ne myghte,

12730

So light hym a-blente.

And tho that oure Lord lovedeInto his light he laughte;And seide to Sathan,"Lo! here my soule to amendesFor alle synfulle soules,To save tho that ben worthi.Myne thei ben and of me,I may the bet hem cleyme.And though Reson recorde12740And Right, of myselve,That if he ete the appulAlle sholde deye;I bi-highte hem noght hereHelle for evere.For the dede that thei dide,Thi deceite it made;With gile thow hem gete,Ageyn alle reson.For in my paleis Paradis,12750In persone of an addre,Falsliche thow fettestThyng that I lovede.

And tho that oure Lord lovede

Into his light he laughte;

And seide to Sathan,

"Lo! here my soule to amendes

For alle synfulle soules,

To save tho that ben worthi.

Myne thei ben and of me,

I may the bet hem cleyme.

And though Reson recorde

12740

And Right, of myselve,

That if he ete the appul

Alle sholde deye;

I bi-highte hem noght here

Helle for evere.

For the dede that thei dide,

Thi deceite it made;

With gile thow hem gete,

Ageyn alle reson.

For in my paleis Paradis,

12750

In persone of an addre,

Falsliche thow fettest

Thyng that I lovede.

"Thusy-lik a lusard,With a lady visage,Thefliche thow me robbedest;And the olde lawe grauntethThat gilours be bigiled,And that is good reson.=Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo.12761Ergosoule shal soule quyte,And synne to synne wende,And al that man hath mys-doI, man, wole amende;Membre for membreBy the olde lawe was amendes,And lif for lif also,And by that lawe I clayme it,Adam and al his issue12770At my wille herafter,And that deeth in hem for-dideMy deeth shal releve,And bothe quykne and quyteThat queynt was thorugh synne.And that grace gile destruye,Good feith it asketh.So leve I noght, Lucifer,Ayein the lawe I fecche hem;But by right and by reson12780Raunsone here my liges.=Non veni solvere legem, sed adimplere.

"Thusy-lik a lusard,

With a lady visage,

Thefliche thow me robbedest;

And the olde lawe graunteth

That gilours be bigiled,

And that is good reson.

Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo.

12761

Ergosoule shal soule quyte,

And synne to synne wende,

And al that man hath mys-do

I, man, wole amende;

Membre for membre

By the olde lawe was amendes,

And lif for lif also,

And by that lawe I clayme it,

Adam and al his issue

12770

At my wille herafter,

And that deeth in hem for-dide

My deeth shal releve,

And bothe quykne and quyte

That queynt was thorugh synne.

And that grace gile destruye,

Good feith it asketh.

So leve I noght, Lucifer,

Ayein the lawe I fecche hem;

But by right and by reson

12780

Raunsone here my liges.

Non veni solvere legem, sed adimplere.

"Thow fettest myne in my placeAyeins alle reson,Falsliche and felonliche;Good feith me it taughte,To recovere hem thorugh raunson,And by no reson ellis.So that thorugh gile thow gete,12790Thorugh grace it is y-wonne.Thow Lucifer in liknesseOf a luther addereGetest bi gileTho that God lovede.

"Thow fettest myne in my place

Ayeins alle reson,

Falsliche and felonliche;

Good feith me it taughte,

To recovere hem thorugh raunson,

And by no reson ellis.

So that thorugh gile thow gete,

12790

Thorugh grace it is y-wonne.

Thow Lucifer in liknesse

Of a luther addere

Getest bi gile

Tho that God lovede.

"And I in liknesse of a leode,That lord am of hevene,Graciousliche thi gile have quyt;Go gile ayein gile.And as Adam and alle12800Thorugh a tree deyden;Adam and allethorugh a treeShul turne ayein to lyve;And gile is bi-giled,And in his gile fallen.Et cecidit in foveam quam fecit.

"And I in liknesse of a leode,

That lord am of hevene,

Graciousliche thi gile have quyt;

Go gile ayein gile.

And as Adam and alle

12800

Thorugh a tree deyden;

Adam and allethorugh a tree

Shul turne ayein to lyve;

And gile is bi-giled,

And in his gile fallen.

Et cecidit in foveam quam fecit.

"Now bi-gynneth thi gileAgeyn thee to turne,And my grace to groweAy gretter and widder;12810That art doctour of deeth,Drynk that thow madest.

"Now bi-gynneth thi gile

Ageyn thee to turne,

And my grace to growe

Ay gretter and widder;

12810

That art doctour of deeth,

Drynk that thow madest.

"For I that am lord of lif,Love is my drynke;And for that drynke to-dayI deide upon erthe.I faught so, me thursteth yit,For mannes soule sake;May no drynke me moiste,Ne my thurst slake,12820Til the vendage falleIn the vale of Josaphat,That I drynke right ripe must,Resurrectio mortuorum;And thanne shal I come as a kyng,Crouned with aungeles,And have out of helleAlle mennes soules.

"For I that am lord of lif,

Love is my drynke;

And for that drynke to-day

I deide upon erthe.

I faught so, me thursteth yit,

For mannes soule sake;

May no drynke me moiste,

Ne my thurst slake,

12820

Til the vendage falle

In the vale of Josaphat,

That I drynke right ripe must,

Resurrectio mortuorum;

And thanne shal I come as a kyng,

Crouned with aungeles,

And have out of helle

Alle mennes soules.

"Fendes and fyndekynesBifore me shul stande,12830And be at my biddyngWher so evere me liketh;And to be merciable to manThanne my kynde asketh.For we beth bretheren of blood,But noght in baptisme alle.Ac alle that beth myne hole bretherenIn blood and in baptisme.Shul noght be dampned to the deethThat is withouten ende.12840Tibi soli peccavi, etc.

"Fendes and fyndekynes

Bifore me shul stande,

12830

And be at my biddyng

Wher so evere me liketh;

And to be merciable to man

Thanne my kynde asketh.

For we beth bretheren of blood,

But noght in baptisme alle.

Ac alle that beth myne hole bretheren

In blood and in baptisme.

Shul noght be dampned to the deeth

That is withouten ende.

12840

Tibi soli peccavi, etc.

"It is noght used in erthe,To hangen a felounOfter than ones,Though he were a tretour.And if the kyng of that kyngdomCome in that tymeThere feloun thole sholdeDeeth or oother juwise,Lawe wolde he yeve hym lif,12850If he loked on hym.And I, that am kyng of kynges,Shal come swich a tymeTher doom to the deethDampneth alle the wikked;And if lawe wole I loke on hem,It lith in my graceWheither thei deye or deye noghtFor that thei diden ille;Be it any thyng a-bought12860The boldnesse of hir synnes,I do mercy thorugh rightwisnesse,And alle my wordes trewe;And though holy writ wole that I be wrokeOf hem that diden ille,—Nullum malum impunitum, etc.—Thei shul be clensed clerliche,And wasshen of hir synnes,In my prisone Purgatorie,Tilparceit hote,12870And my mercy shal be shewedTo manye of my bretheren.For blood may suffre blood,Bothe hungry and a-cale;Ac blood may noght se bloodBlede, but hym rewe.Audivi arcana verba quæ non licethomini loqui.

"It is noght used in erthe,

To hangen a feloun

Ofter than ones,

Though he were a tretour.

And if the kyng of that kyngdom

Come in that tyme

There feloun thole sholde

Deeth or oother juwise,

Lawe wolde he yeve hym lif,

12850

If he loked on hym.

And I, that am kyng of kynges,

Shal come swich a tyme

Ther doom to the deeth

Dampneth alle the wikked;

And if lawe wole I loke on hem,

It lith in my grace

Wheither thei deye or deye noght

For that thei diden ille;

Be it any thyng a-bought

12860

The boldnesse of hir synnes,

I do mercy thorugh rightwisnesse,

And alle my wordes trewe;

And though holy writ wole that I be wroke

Of hem that diden ille,—

Nullum malum impunitum, etc.—

Thei shul be clensed clerliche,

And wasshen of hir synnes,

In my prisone Purgatorie,

Tilparceit hote,

12870

And my mercy shal be shewed

To manye of my bretheren.

For blood may suffre blood,

Bothe hungry and a-cale;

Ac blood may noght se blood

Blede, but hym rewe.

Audivi arcana verba quæ non licet

homini loqui.

"Ac my rightwisnesse and rightShul rulen al helle,12880And mercy al mankyndeBifore me in hevene.For I were an unkynde kyng,But I my kynde helpe,And nameliche at swich a nede.Ther nedes help bihoveth.=Non intres in judicium cum servo tuo.

"Ac my rightwisnesse and right

Shul rulen al helle,

12880

And mercy al mankynde

Bifore me in hevene.

For I were an unkynde kyng,

But I my kynde helpe,

And nameliche at swich a nede.

Ther nedes help bihoveth.

Non intres in judicium cum servo tuo.

"Thus by lawe," quod oure Lord,"Lede I wole fro hennes12890Tho that me lovedeAnd leved in my comynge.And for thi lesynge, Lucifer,That thow leighe til Eve,Thow shalt abyen it bittre;"—And bond hym with cheynes.Astrothand al the routeHidden hem in hernes;They dorste noght loke on oure Lord,The boldeste of hem alle,12900But leten hym lede forth whom hym liked,And lete whom hym liste.

"Thus by lawe," quod oure Lord,

"Lede I wole fro hennes

12890

Tho that me lovede

And leved in my comynge.

And for thi lesynge, Lucifer,

That thow leighe til Eve,

Thow shalt abyen it bittre;"—

And bond hym with cheynes.

Astrothand al the route

Hidden hem in hernes;

They dorste noght loke on oure Lord,

The boldeste of hem alle,

12900

But leten hym lede forth whom hym liked,

And lete whom hym liste.

Manye hundred of aungelesHarpeden and songen,Culpat caro, purgat caro,Regnat Deus Dei caro.

Manye hundred of aungeles

Harpeden and songen,

Culpat caro, purgat caro,

Regnat Deus Dei caro.

Thanne pipede PeesOf Poesie a note,=Clarior est solito post maxima nebula Phœbus,12910Post inimicitias, etc.

Thanne pipede Pees

Of Poesie a note,

Clarior est solito post maxima nebula Phœbus,

12910

Post inimicitias, etc.

"After sharpe shoures," quod Pees,"Moost shene is the sonne;Is no weder warmerThan after watry cloudes;Ne no love levere,Ne lever frendes,Than after werre and wo,Whan Love and Pees ben maistres.Was nevere werre in this world,12920Ne wikkednesse so kene,That ne Love, and hym liste,To laughynge ne broughte,And pees thorugh pacienceAlle perils stoppeth."

"After sharpe shoures," quod Pees,

"Moost shene is the sonne;

Is no weder warmer

Than after watry cloudes;

Ne no love levere,

Ne lever frendes,

Than after werre and wo,

Whan Love and Pees ben maistres.

Was nevere werre in this world,

12920

Ne wikkednesse so kene,

That ne Love, and hym liste,

To laughynge ne broughte,

And pees thorugh pacience

Alle perils stoppeth."

"Trewes," quod Truthe;"Thow tellest us sooth, by Jhesus!Clippe we in covenaunt,And ech of us clippe oother.""And leteth no peple," quod Pees,12930"Perceyve that we chidde.For inpossible is no thyngTo hym that is almyghty."

"Trewes," quod Truthe;

"Thow tellest us sooth, by Jhesus!

Clippe we in covenaunt,

And ech of us clippe oother."

"And leteth no peple," quod Pees,

12930

"Perceyve that we chidde.

For inpossible is no thyng

To hym that is almyghty."

"Thow seist sooth," quod Rightwisnesse;And reverentliche hire kiste."Pees and pees here!Per sæcula sæculorum."Misericordia et veritas obviaveruntsibi, justitia et pax osculatæ sunt.

"Thow seist sooth," quod Rightwisnesse;

And reverentliche hire kiste.

"Pees and pees here!

Per sæcula sæculorum."

Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt

sibi, justitia et pax osculatæ sunt.

Truthe trumpede tho,12940And songTe Deum laudamus;And thanne lutede,In a loud note,Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum, etc.

Truthe trumpede tho,

12940

And songTe Deum laudamus;

And thanne lutede,

In a loud note,

Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum, etc.

Til the day dawedThise damyseles dauncede,That men rongen to the resurexion.And right with that I wakede,And callede Kytte my wif,And Calote my doghter;12950And bad hem rise and reverenceGoddes resurexion;And crepe to the cros on knees,And kisse it for a juwel,For Goddes blissede bodyIt bar for oure boote;And it a-fereth the fend,For swich is the myghte,May no grisly goost12959Glide there it walketh.

Til the day dawed

Thise damyseles dauncede,

That men rongen to the resurexion.

And right with that I wakede,

And callede Kytte my wif,

And Calote my doghter;

12950

And bad hem rise and reverence

Goddes resurexion;

And crepe to the cros on knees,

And kisse it for a juwel,

For Goddes blissede body

It bar for oure boote;

And it a-fereth the fend,

For swich is the myghte,

May no grisly goost

12959

Glide there it walketh.

Filler.

Passus Decimus Nonus, explicit Do-bet, et incipit Do-best.T12960HUS I awaked and wrootWhat I hadde y-dremed;And dighte me derely,And dide me to chirche,To here holly the masse,And to be housled after.In myddes of the masse,Tho men yede to offryng,I fel eft-soones a-slepe;And sodeynly me mette12970That Piers the PlowmanWas peynted al blody,And com in with a crosBifore the comune peple,And right lik in alle thyngesTo oure Lord Jhesus.And thanne called I Conscience,To kenne me the sothe;"Is this Jhesus the justere," quod I,"That Jewes dide to dethe?12980Or it is Piers the Plowman.Who peynted hym so rede?"Quod Conscience, and kneled tho,"Thise arn Piers armes,Hise colours and his cote armure;Ac he that cometh so blodyIs Crist with his cros,Conquerour of cristene.""Why calle hym Crist," quod I,"Sithen Jewes calle hym Jhesus?12990Patriarkes and prophetesProphecied biforeThat alle kynne creaturesSholden knelen and bowen,Anoon as men nempnedThe name of God Jhesu.Ergois no nameTo the name of Jhesus;Ne noon so nedeful to nempneBy nyghte ne by daye.13000For alle derke develesArn a-drad to heren it;And synfulle aren solacedAnd saved by that name.And ye callen hym Crist;For what cause telleth me?Is Crist moore of myght,And moore worthi name,Than Jhesu or Jhesus,That al oure joye com of?"13010"Thow knowest wel," quod Conscience,"And thow konne reson,That knyght, kyng, conquerour,May be o persone.To be called a knyght is fair,For men shul knele to hym;To be called a kyng is fairer,For he may knyghtes make;Ac to be conquerour called,That cometh of special grace,13020And of hardynesse of herte,And of hendenesse,To make lordes of laddesOf lond that he wynneth,And fre men foule thrallesThat folwen noght hise lawes."The Jewes that were gentil men,Jhesus thei despised,Bothe his loore and his lawe;Now are thei lowe cherles.13030As wide as the world is,Noon of hem ther wonyethBut under tribut and taillage,As tikes and cherles;And tho that bicome cristeneBi counseil of the baptisme,Aren frankeleyns, free men,Thorugh fullynge that thei toke,And gentil men with Jhesu;For Jhesu was y-fulled,13040And upon Calvarie on crosY-crouned kyng of Jewes."It bicometh to a kyngTo kepe and to defende;And conquerour of conquestHise lawes and his large.And so dide Jhesus the Jewes,He justified and taughte hemThe lawe of lif,That laste shal evere;13050And defended from foule yveles,Feveres and fluxes,And from fendes that in hem were,And false bileve.Tho was he Jhesus of Jewes called,Gentile prophete,And kyng of hir kyngdom,And croune bar of thornes."And tho conquered he on cros,As conquerour noble.13060Mighte no deeth hym for-do,Ne a-doun brynge,That he naroos and regnede,And ravysshed helle:And tho was he conquerour calledOf quyke and of dede.For he yaf Adam and EveAnd othere mo blisse,That longe hadde y-leyen biforeAs Luciferis cherles.13070"And sith he yaf largelyAlle hise lele ligesPlaces in Paradis,At hir partynge hennes;He may wel be called conquerour,And that is Crist to mene."Ac the cause that he cometh thusWith cros of his passion,Is to wissen us therwithThat whan that we ben tempted,13080Therwith to fighte and defenden usFro fallynge to synne.And so bi his sorwe,That who so loveth joyeTo penaunce and to poverteHe moste puten hymselven,And muche wo in this worldTo willen and suffren."Ac to carpe moore of Crist,And how he com to that name,13090Faithly for to speke,His firste name was Jhesus;Tho he was born in Bethleem,As the book telleth,And cam to take mankynde,Kynges and aungelesReverenced hym faireWith richesses of erthe,Aungeles out of heveneCome knelynge and songe,13100Gloria in excelsis Deo, etc."Kynges that come afterKnelede, and offredeMirre and muche gold,Withouten mercy askyngeOr any kynnes catel,But knowelichynge hym sovereynBothe of lond, sonne, and see,And sithenes thei wenteInto hir kyngene kith,13110By counseil of aungeles.And there was that word fulfilledThe which thow of speke.Omnia cælestia terrestria flectanturin hoc nomine Jhesu."For alle the aungeles of heveneAt his burthe knelede,And al the wit of the worldWas in tho thre kynges,Reson and rightwisnesse13120And ruthe thei offrede;Wherfore and whyWise men that tyme,Maistres and lettred men,Magihem callede."That o kyng cam with reson,Covered under sense."The seconde kyng siththeSoothliche offredeRightwisnesse under reed gold,13130Resones felawe.For gold is likned to leauteeThat laste shal evere."The thridde kyng tho kamKnelynge to Jhesu,And presented hym with pitee,Apperynge by mirre.For mirre is mercy to meneAnd mylde speche of tonge."Thre y-liche honeste thynges13140Were offred thus at ones,Thorugh thre kynne kyngesKnelynge to Jhesu,"Ac for alle thise preciouse presentz,Oure Lord kyng JhesusWas neither kyng ne conquerour,Til he gan to wexeIn the manere of a man,And that by muchel sleighte,As it bi-cometh a conquerour13150To konne manye sleightes,And manye wiles and wit,That wole ben a ledere.And so dide Jhesu in hise dayes,Who so hadde tyme to telle it."Som tyme he suffrede,And som tyme he hidde hym;And some tyme he faught faste,And fleigh outher while;And som tyme he gaf good,13160And grauntede heele bothe,Lif and lyme,As hym liste he wroghte.As kynde is of a conquerour,So comsede Jhesu,Til he hadde alle hemThat he for bledde."In his juventee this JhesusAt Jewene feesteWater into wyn turnede,13170As holy writ telleth.And there bigan GodOf his grace to do-wel.For wyn is likned to laweAnd lif-holynesse,And lawe lakkede tho,For men lovede noght hir enemys.And Crist counseileth thus,And comaundeth bothe,To lered and to lewede13180To lovyen oure enemys.So at the feeste first,As I bifore tolde,Bigan God of his graceAnd goodnesse to do-wel.And thanne was he calledNoght holy Crist, but Jhesu,A faunt fyn ful of wit,Filius Mariæ.For bifore his moder Marie13190Made he that wonder;That she first and formestFerme sholde bileveThat he thorugh grace was gete,And of no gome ellis.He wroghte that by no wit,But thorugh word one;After the kynde that he cam of,There comsede he do-wel."And whan he woxen was moore,13200In his moder absence,He made lame to lepe,And yaf light to blynde,And fedde with two fisshes,And with fyve loves,Sore a fyngred folkMo than fyve thousand."Thus he confortede carefulleAnd caughte a gretter name,The which was Do-bet,13210Where that he wente,For deve thorugh hise doynges to hereAnd dombe speke he made,And alle he heeled and halpThat hym of grace askede.And tho was he called in contréOf the comune peple,For the dedes that he dide,Fili David, Jhesus.For David was doghtiest13220Of dedes in his tyme.The burdes tho songe,=Saul interfecit mille, et David decem millia."For-thi the contree ther Jhesu camCalled hymfili David,And nempned hym of Nazareth,And no man so worthiTo be kaiser or kyngOf the kyngdom of Juda,13230Ne over Jewes justice,As Jhesus was, hem thoughte."Wherof Cayphas hadde envye,And othere of the Jewes;And for to doon hym to detheDay and nyght thei casten,Killeden hym on cros wiseAt Calvarie on Friday,And sithen buriede his body,And beden that men sholde,13240Kepen it fro nyght comerisWith knyghtes y-armed,For no frendes sholde hym fecche.For prophetes hem toldeThat that blissede bodyOf burieles risen sholde,And goon into Galilee,And gladen hise apostles,And his moder Marie;Thus men bifore demede.13250"The knyghtes that kepten itBi-knewe it hemselven,That aungeles and archaungelesEr the day sprongeCome knelynge to the corps,And songenChristus resurgens,Verray men bifore hem alle,And forth with hem he yede."The Jewes preide hem be pees,And bi-soughte the knyghtes13260Telle the comune that ther camA compaignie of hise apostles,And bi-wicched hem as thei woke,And awey stolen it."Ac Marie MaudeleyneMette hym by the weye,Goynge toward GalileeIn godhede and manhede,And lyves and lokynge,And she a-loud cride13270In ech a compaignie ther she cam,Christus resurgens."Thus cam it out that Crist over-coom,Recoverede and lyvede=Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare, etc.For that that wommen witeth,May noght wel be counseille."Peter parceyved al this,And pursued after,13280Bothe James and Johan,Jhesu for to seke,Thaddee and ten mo,With Thomas of Inde.And as alle thise wise wyesWeren togideres,In an hous al bi-shet,And hir dore y-barred,Crist cam in, and al closedBothe dore and yates,13290To Peter and to thise apostles,And seidepax vobis!And took Thomas by the hand,And taughte hym to grope,And feele with hise fyngresHis flesshliche herte."Thomas touched it,And with his tonge seide,'Deus meus et Dominus meus—Thow art my lord, I bi-leve,13300My God, lord Jhesu;Thow deidest and deeth tholedest,And deme shalt us alle,And now art lyvynge and lokynge,And laste shalt evere.'"Crist carpede thanne,And curteisliche seide,'Thomas, for thow trowest this,And treweliche bi-levest it,Blessed mote thow be,13310And be shalt for evere;And blessed mote thei alle beIn body and in souleThat nevere shul se me in sighte,As thow doost nowthe,And lelliche bi-leve al this,I love hem and blesse hem.'Beati qui non viderunt, etc."And whan this dede was doon,Do-best he taughte,13320And yaf Piers power,And pardon he grauntede,To alle maner menMercy and forgifnesse,Hym myght to assoilleOf alle manere synne,In covenaunt that thei comeAnd kneweliched to paieTo Piers pardon the Plowman,Redde quod debes.13330"Thus hath Piers power,By his pardon paied,To bynde and unbynde,Bothe here and ellis where;And assoille men of alle synnes,Save of dette one."Anoon after an heighUp into heveneHe wente, and wonyeth there,And wol come at the laste,13340And rewarde hym right welThatreddit quod debet,Paieth parfitly,As pure truthe wolde;And what persone paieth it nought,Punysshen he thenketh,And demen hem at domes dayBothe quyke and dede.The goode to the godhedeAnd to greet joye,13350And wikkede to wonyeIn wo withouten ende."Thus Conscience of CristAnd of the cros carpede,And counseiled me to knele therto.And thanne cam, me thoughte,Oonspiritus paraclitusTo Piers and to hise felawesIn liknesse of a lightnyngeHe lighte on hem alle,13360And made hem konne and knoweAlle kynne langages.I wondred what that was,And waggede Conscience,And was a-fered of the light,For in fires lightnesseSpiritus paraclitusOver-spradde hem alle.Quod Conscience, and knelede,"This is Cristes messager,13370And cometh fro the grete God,And Grace is his name.Knele now," quod Conscience,"And if thow kanst synge,Welcome hym and worshipe hymWithVeni creator spiritus."Thanne song I that song,So dide manye hundred,And cride with Conscience,"Help us, God of Grace!"13380And thanne bigan GraceTo go with Piers Plowman,And counseillede hym and ConscienceThe comune to sompne;"For I wole dele to-dayAnd gyve divine graceTo alle kynne creaturesThat han hir fyve wittes,Tresour to lyve byTo hir lyves ende,13390And wepne to fighte withThat wole nevere faille.For Antecrist and hiseAl the world shul greve,And acombre thee, Conscience,But if Crist thee helpe."And false prophetes fele,Flatereris and gloseris,Shullen come and be curatoursOver kynges and erles,13400And Pride shal be pope,Prynce of holy chirche,Coveitise and unkyndenesseCardinals hym to lede;For-thi," quod Grace, "er I go,I wol gyve yow tresor,And wepne to fighte withWhan Antecrist yow assaileth."And gaf ech man a graceTo gide with hymselven,13410That ydelnesse encombre hym noght,Envye ne pride.Divisiones gratiarum sunt, etc.Some he yaf witWith wordes to shewe,Wit to wynne hir liflode with,As the world asketh,As prechours and preestes,And prentices of lawe,They lelly to lyve13420By labour of tonge,And by wit to wissen othereAs grace hem wolde teche.And some he kennede craftAnd konnynge of sighte,With sellynge and buggyngeHir bilyve to wynne.And some he lered to laboure,A lele lif and a trewe;And some he taughte to tilie,13430To dyche and to thecche,To wynne with her liflodeBi loore of his techynge.And some to devyne and divide,Noumbres to kenne;And some to compace craftily,And colours to make;And some to se and to seyeWhat sholde bi-falle,Bothe of wele and of wo,13440Telle it er it felle,As astronomyens thorugh astronomye,And philosofres wise.And some to ryde, and to recovereThat wrongfully was wonne;He wissed hem to wynne it ayeinThorugh wightnesse of handes,And fecchen it fro false menWith folvyles lawes.And some he lered to lyve13450In longynge to ben hennes,In poverte and in penaunce,To preie for alle cristene.And alle he lered to be lele,And ech a craft love oother;And forbad hem alle debat,That noon were among hem."Though some be clenner than some,Ye se wel," quod Grace,"That he that useth the faireste craft,13460To the fouleste I kouthe have put hym.Thynketh alle," quod Grace,"That grace cometh of my gifte;Loketh that no man lakke oother,But loveth alle as bretheren."And who that moost maistries kanBe myldest of berynge;And crouneth Conscience kyng,And maketh Craft youre stiward,And after Craftes conseil13470Clotheth yow and fede.For I make Piers the PlowmanMy procuratour and my reve,And registrer to receyve,Redde quod debes.My prowor and my plowmanPiers shal ben on erthe,And for to tilie trutheA teeme shal he have."Grace gaf Piers a teeme13480Of foure grete oxen.That oon was Luk, a large beest,And a lowe chered;And Mark, and Mathew the thridde,Myghty beestes bothe;And joyned to hem oon Johan,Moost gentil of alle,The pris neet of Piers Plow,Passynge all othere.And Grace gaf Piers13490Of his goodnesse foure stottes;Al that hise oxen eriede,Thei to harewen after.Oon highte Austyn,And Ambrose another,Gregori the grete clerk,And Jerom the goode.Thise foure the feith to techeFolweth Piers teme,And harewede in an hand while13500Al holy Scripture,With two harewes that thei hadde,An oold and a newe.Id est, vetus testamentum et novum.And Grace gaf greynes,The cardynal vertues,And sew hem in mannes soule,And sithen he tolde hir names.Spiritus prudentiæ.The firste seed highte;13510And who so ete that,Ymagynen he sholdeEr he deide any deeth,Devyse wel the ende;And lerned men a ladel buggeWith a long stele,And caste for to kepe a crokkeTo save the fatte above.The seconde seed highteSpiritus temperantiæ.13520He that ete of that seedHadde swich a kynde,Sholde nevere mete ne muchel drynkeMake hym to swelle,Ne no scornere ne scoldeOut of skile hym bringe,Ne wynnynge ne weleOf worldliche richesse,Waste word of ydelnesseNe wikked speche moeve;13530Sholde no curious cloothComen on his rugge,Ne no mete in his mouthThat maister Johan spicede.The thridde seed that Piers sewWasspiritus fortitudinis.And who ete that seed,Hardy was he evereTo suffren al that God sente,Siknesse and angres;13540Mighte no lesynges ne lyere,Ne los of worldly catel,Maken hym for any mournyngeThat he nas murie in soule,And bold and abidyngeBismares to suffre;And pleieth al with pacienceAndparce mihi domine;And covered hym under conseilleOf Caton the wise:=Esto forti animo, cum sis dampnatus inique.13552The ferthe seed that Piers sewWasspiritus justitiæ.And he that ete of that seed,Sholde be evere trewe,With God, and naught a-gast,But of gile one;For gile gooth so pryvely,That good feith outher while13560Maye nought ben espied,Forspiritus justitiæ.Spiritus justitiæ.Spareth noght to spilleHem that ben gilty,And for to correcteThe kyng, if he falleIn gilt or in trespas.For counteth he no kynges wrathe,Whan he in court sitteth13570To demen as a domesman,A-drad was he nevereNeither of duc ne of deeth,That he ne dide lawe,For present or for preiere,Or any prynces lettres;He dide equité to alleEvene forth his power.Thise foure sedes Piers sew;And siththe he dide hem harewe13580With olde lawe and newe lawe,That love myghte wexeAmong tho foure vertues,And vices destruye.For comunliche in contreesCammokes and wedesFoulen the fruyt in the feld,Ther thei growen togideres;And so doon vicesVertues worthi.Quod Piers, "Hareweth alle that konneth kynde wit,13591By conseil of thise doctours;And tilieth after hir techyngeThe cardynale vertues.""Ayeins thei greynes," quod Grace,"Bi-gynneth for to ripe,Ordeigne thee an hous, Piers,To herberwe inne thi cornes.""By God! Grace," quod Piers,"Ye moten gyve tymber,13600And ordeyne that hous,Er ye hennes wende."And Grace gaf hym the cros,With the croune of thornes,That Crist upon CalvarieFor mankynde on pyned,And of his baptisme and bloodThat he bledde on roodeHe made a manere morter,And mercy it highte.13610And therwith Grace bi-ganTo make a good foundement,And watlede it and walled itWith his peyne and his passion,And of al holy writHe made a roof after,And called that housUnitee,Holy chirche on Englisshe.And whan this dede was doon,Grace devysede13620A cart highte cristendomTo carie Piers sheves;And gaf hym caples to his carte,Contricion and confession;And made preesthod hayward,The while hymself wenteAs wide as the world isWith Piers to tilie truthe.Now is Piers to the plow;And Pride it aspide,13630And gadered hym a greet oost,For to greven he thynkethConscience and alle cristeneAnd cardinale vertues,Blowe hem doun and breke hem,And bite a-two the mores;And sente forth Surquidous,His sergeaunt of armes,And his spye Spille-love,Oon Spek-yvel bihynde.13640Thise two coome to Conscience,And to cristen peple,And tolde hem tidynges,That tyne thei sholde the sedesThat Piers there hadde y-sowen,The cardynale vertues;"And Piers bern worth y-broke,And thei that ben inUniteeShulle come out, and ConscienceAnd youre two caples,13650Confession and Contricion;And youre carte the bileeveShal be coloured so queyntely,And covered under sophistrie,That Conscience shal noghtKnowe by ContricionNe by ConfessionWho is cristene or hethene;Ne no manere marchauntThat with moneie deleth,13660Wheither he wynne with right,With wrong, or with usure."With swiche colours and queyntiseCometh Pride y-armed,With the lord that lyveth afterThe lust of his body,To wasten on welfare,And in wikked lyvynge,Al the world in a whileThorugh oure wit," quod Pryde.13670Quod Conscience to alle cristene tho,"My counseil is to wendeHastiliche into Unitee,And holde we us there;And praye we that a pees weereIn Piers berne the Plowman.For witterly I woot wel,We beth noght of strengtheTo goon agayn Pride,But Grace weere with us."13680And thanne kam Kynde WitConscience to teche,And cryde and comaundedeAlle cristene pepleFor to delven a dychDepe aboute Unitee,That holy chirche stode in Unitee,As it a pyl weere.Conscience comaundede thoAlle cristene to delve,13690And make a muche moot,That myghte ben a strengtheTo helpe holy chircheAnd hem that it kepeth.Thanne alle kynne cristene,Save comune wommen,Repenteden and refused synne,Save thei one,And false men, flatereris,Usurers, and theves,13700Lyeris, and queste-mongeresThat were for-sworen ofte,Witynge and wilfullyWith the false helden,And for silver were for-swore,Soothly they wiste it.Ther nas no cristene creatureThat kynde wit hadde,Save sherewes oneSwiche as I spak of,13710That he ne halp a quantitéHolynesse to wexe,Some thorugh bedes biddynge,And some thorugh pilgrymagesAnd othere pryvé penaunces,And somme thorugh penyes delynge.And thanne wellede waterFor wikkede werkes,Egreliche ernyngeOut of mennes eighen,13720Clennesse out of comune,And clerkes clene lyvynge,Made Unitee holy chircheIn holynesse to stonde."I care noght," quod Conscience,"Though Pride come nouthe.The lord of lust shal be lettedAl this lente, I hope.Cometh," quod Conscience,"Ye cristene, and dyneth,13730That han laboured lellyAl this lenten tyme.Here is breed y-blessed,And Goddes body therunder:Grace, thorugh Goddes word,Yaf Piers powerAnd myghtes to maken it,And men to ete it afterIn helpe of hir heeleOnes in a monthe,13740Or as ofte as thei hadde nede,Tho that hadde y-paiedTo Piers pardon the Plowman.Redde quod debes.""How?" quod al the comune,"Thow conseillest us to yeldeAl that we owen any wight,Er we go to housel?""That is my conseil," quod Conscience,"And cardinale vertues,13750That ech man for-gyve oother,And that wol the pater-noster.Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, etc.And so to ben assoilled,And siththen ben houseled.""Ye, baw!" quod a brewere,"I wol noght be ruled,By Jhesu! for al youre janglyngeWithspiritus justitiæ,Ne after Conscience, by Crist!13760While I kan selleBothe dregges and draf,And drawe it out at oon holeThikke ale and thynne ale,For that is my kynde,And noght hakke after holynesse.Hold thi tonge, Conscience!Ofspiritus justitiæ,Thow spekest muche on ydel.""Caytif!" quod Conscience,13770"Cursede wrecche!Un-blessed artow, brewere,But if thee God helpe.But thow lyve by looreOfspiritus justitiæ,The chief seed that Piers sew,Y-saved worstow nevere.But Conscience the comune fede,And cardinale vertues,Leve it wel, thei ben lost,13780Bothe lif and soule.""Thanne is many a man lost,"Quod a lewed vicory.—"I am a curatour of holy kirke,And cam nevere in my tymeMan to me, that me kouthe telleOf cardinale vertues,Or that acountede ConscienceAt a cokkes fethere or an hennes.I knew nevere cardynal,13790That he ne cam fro the pope;And we clerkes, whan thei come,For hir comunes paieth,For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete,And pilours that hem folweth."The comuneclamat cotidieEch a man til oother,The contree is the corsederThat cardinals comme inne;And ther thei ligge and lenge moost,13800Lecherie there regneth."For-thi," quod this vicory,"By verray God! I woldeThat no cardynal coomeAmong the comune peple;But in hir holynesseHelden hem stilleAt Avynone among the Jewes,—Cum sancto sanctus eris, etc.—Or in Rome, as hir rule wole,13810The relikes to kepe;And thow, Conscience, in kynges court,And sholdest nevere come thennes;And Grace, that thow graddest so of,Gyour of alle clerkes;And Piers with his newe plow,And ek with his olde,Emperour of al the world,That alle men were cristene."Inparfit is that pope13820That al the world sholde helpe,And sendeth swiche that sleeth hemThat he sholde save."And wel worthe Piers the Plowman,That pursueth God in doynge,Qui pluit super justosEt injustosat ones,And sent the sonne to saveA cursed mannes tilthe,As brighte as to the beste man,13830Or to the beste womman."Right so Piers the PlowmanPeyneth hym to tilyeAs wel for a wastourAnd wenches of the stewes,As for hymself and his servauntz,Save he is first y-served;And travailleth and tiliethFor a tretour also sooreAs for a trewe tidy man,13840Alle tymes y-like.And worshiped be he that wroghte al,Bothe good and wikke,And suffreth that synfulle be,[Tyl som tyme that thei repenten].And God amende the pope!That pileth holy kirke,And cleymeth bifore the kyngTo be kepere over cristene;And counteth noght though cristene ben13850Killed and robbed;And fynt folk to fighte,And cristen blood to spille,Ayein the olde lawe and newe lawe,As Luc therof witnesseth.Non occides, mihi vindictam, etc."It semeth, bi soHymself hadde his wille,That he reccheth right noghtOf al the remenaunt.13860And Crist of his curteisieThe cardinals save,And torne hir wit to wisdom,And to welthe of soule!For the comune," quod this curatour,"Counten ful litelThe counseil of Conscience,Or cardinale vertues.But if thei seighe, as by sighte,Som what to wynnyng,13870Of gile ne of gabbyngGyve thei nevere tale.Forspiritus prudentiæAmong the peple is gyle;And alle tho faire vertuesAs vices thei semeth.Ech man subtileth a sleighteSynne for to hide,And coloureth it for a konnynge,And a clene lyvynge."13880Thanne lough ther a lord,And "By this light!" seide,"I holde it right and resonOf my reve to takeAl that myn auditour,Or ellis my styward,Counseilleth me bi hir acounteAnd my clerkes writyng.Withspiritus intellectusThei seke the reves rolles;13890And withspiritus fortitudinisFecche it I wole after."And thanne cam ther a kyng,And, by his croune! seide,"I am kyng with crouneThe comune to rule,And holy kirke and clergieFrom cursed men to fende;And if me lakketh to lyve by,The lawe wole I take it13900Ther I may hastilokest it have.For I am heed of lawe;And ye ben but membres,And I above alle.And sith I am youre aller heed,I am youre aller heele,And holy chirches chief help,And chieftayn of the comune;And what I take of yow two,I take it at the techynge13910Ofspiritus justitiæ,For I jugge yow alle.So I may boldely be housled,For I borwe nevere,Ne crave of my comune,But as my kynde asketh.""In condicion," quod Conscience,"That thow konne defendeAnd rule thi reaume in reson,Right wel and in truthe,13920Take thow mayst in resonAs thi lawe asketh.Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum,sed non ad deprædandum."The viker hadde fer hoom,And faire took his leeve;And I awakned therwith,13927And wroot as me mette.

Passus Decimus Nonus, explicit Do-bet, et incipit Do-best.

T12960HUS I awaked and wrootWhat I hadde y-dremed;And dighte me derely,And dide me to chirche,To here holly the masse,And to be housled after.

T12960

12960

HUS I awaked and wroot

What I hadde y-dremed;

And dighte me derely,

And dide me to chirche,

To here holly the masse,

And to be housled after.

In myddes of the masse,Tho men yede to offryng,I fel eft-soones a-slepe;And sodeynly me mette12970That Piers the PlowmanWas peynted al blody,And com in with a crosBifore the comune peple,And right lik in alle thyngesTo oure Lord Jhesus.

In myddes of the masse,

Tho men yede to offryng,

I fel eft-soones a-slepe;

And sodeynly me mette

12970

That Piers the Plowman

Was peynted al blody,

And com in with a cros

Bifore the comune peple,

And right lik in alle thynges

To oure Lord Jhesus.

And thanne called I Conscience,To kenne me the sothe;"Is this Jhesus the justere," quod I,"That Jewes dide to dethe?12980Or it is Piers the Plowman.Who peynted hym so rede?"

And thanne called I Conscience,

To kenne me the sothe;

"Is this Jhesus the justere," quod I,

"That Jewes dide to dethe?

12980

Or it is Piers the Plowman.

Who peynted hym so rede?"

Quod Conscience, and kneled tho,"Thise arn Piers armes,Hise colours and his cote armure;Ac he that cometh so blodyIs Crist with his cros,Conquerour of cristene."

Quod Conscience, and kneled tho,

"Thise arn Piers armes,

Hise colours and his cote armure;

Ac he that cometh so blody

Is Crist with his cros,

Conquerour of cristene."

"Why calle hym Crist," quod I,"Sithen Jewes calle hym Jhesus?12990Patriarkes and prophetesProphecied biforeThat alle kynne creaturesSholden knelen and bowen,Anoon as men nempnedThe name of God Jhesu.Ergois no nameTo the name of Jhesus;Ne noon so nedeful to nempneBy nyghte ne by daye.13000For alle derke develesArn a-drad to heren it;And synfulle aren solacedAnd saved by that name.And ye callen hym Crist;For what cause telleth me?Is Crist moore of myght,And moore worthi name,Than Jhesu or Jhesus,That al oure joye com of?"

"Why calle hym Crist," quod I,

"Sithen Jewes calle hym Jhesus?

12990

Patriarkes and prophetes

Prophecied bifore

That alle kynne creatures

Sholden knelen and bowen,

Anoon as men nempned

The name of God Jhesu.

Ergois no name

To the name of Jhesus;

Ne noon so nedeful to nempne

By nyghte ne by daye.

13000

For alle derke develes

Arn a-drad to heren it;

And synfulle aren solaced

And saved by that name.

And ye callen hym Crist;

For what cause telleth me?

Is Crist moore of myght,

And moore worthi name,

Than Jhesu or Jhesus,

That al oure joye com of?"

13010"Thow knowest wel," quod Conscience,"And thow konne reson,That knyght, kyng, conquerour,May be o persone.To be called a knyght is fair,For men shul knele to hym;To be called a kyng is fairer,For he may knyghtes make;Ac to be conquerour called,That cometh of special grace,13020And of hardynesse of herte,And of hendenesse,To make lordes of laddesOf lond that he wynneth,And fre men foule thrallesThat folwen noght hise lawes.

13010

"Thow knowest wel," quod Conscience,

"And thow konne reson,

That knyght, kyng, conquerour,

May be o persone.

To be called a knyght is fair,

For men shul knele to hym;

To be called a kyng is fairer,

For he may knyghtes make;

Ac to be conquerour called,

That cometh of special grace,

13020

And of hardynesse of herte,

And of hendenesse,

To make lordes of laddes

Of lond that he wynneth,

And fre men foule thralles

That folwen noght hise lawes.

"The Jewes that were gentil men,Jhesus thei despised,Bothe his loore and his lawe;Now are thei lowe cherles.13030As wide as the world is,Noon of hem ther wonyethBut under tribut and taillage,As tikes and cherles;And tho that bicome cristeneBi counseil of the baptisme,Aren frankeleyns, free men,Thorugh fullynge that thei toke,And gentil men with Jhesu;For Jhesu was y-fulled,13040And upon Calvarie on crosY-crouned kyng of Jewes.

"The Jewes that were gentil men,

Jhesus thei despised,

Bothe his loore and his lawe;

Now are thei lowe cherles.

13030

As wide as the world is,

Noon of hem ther wonyeth

But under tribut and taillage,

As tikes and cherles;

And tho that bicome cristene

Bi counseil of the baptisme,

Aren frankeleyns, free men,

Thorugh fullynge that thei toke,

And gentil men with Jhesu;

For Jhesu was y-fulled,

13040

And upon Calvarie on cros

Y-crouned kyng of Jewes.

"It bicometh to a kyngTo kepe and to defende;And conquerour of conquestHise lawes and his large.And so dide Jhesus the Jewes,He justified and taughte hemThe lawe of lif,That laste shal evere;13050And defended from foule yveles,Feveres and fluxes,And from fendes that in hem were,And false bileve.Tho was he Jhesus of Jewes called,Gentile prophete,And kyng of hir kyngdom,And croune bar of thornes.

"It bicometh to a kyng

To kepe and to defende;

And conquerour of conquest

Hise lawes and his large.

And so dide Jhesus the Jewes,

He justified and taughte hem

The lawe of lif,

That laste shal evere;

13050

And defended from foule yveles,

Feveres and fluxes,

And from fendes that in hem were,

And false bileve.

Tho was he Jhesus of Jewes called,

Gentile prophete,

And kyng of hir kyngdom,

And croune bar of thornes.

"And tho conquered he on cros,As conquerour noble.13060Mighte no deeth hym for-do,Ne a-doun brynge,That he naroos and regnede,And ravysshed helle:And tho was he conquerour calledOf quyke and of dede.For he yaf Adam and EveAnd othere mo blisse,That longe hadde y-leyen biforeAs Luciferis cherles.

"And tho conquered he on cros,

As conquerour noble.

13060

Mighte no deeth hym for-do,

Ne a-doun brynge,

That he naroos and regnede,

And ravysshed helle:

And tho was he conquerour called

Of quyke and of dede.

For he yaf Adam and Eve

And othere mo blisse,

That longe hadde y-leyen bifore

As Luciferis cherles.

13070"And sith he yaf largelyAlle hise lele ligesPlaces in Paradis,At hir partynge hennes;He may wel be called conquerour,And that is Crist to mene.

13070

"And sith he yaf largely

Alle hise lele liges

Places in Paradis,

At hir partynge hennes;

He may wel be called conquerour,

And that is Crist to mene.

"Ac the cause that he cometh thusWith cros of his passion,Is to wissen us therwithThat whan that we ben tempted,13080Therwith to fighte and defenden usFro fallynge to synne.And so bi his sorwe,That who so loveth joyeTo penaunce and to poverteHe moste puten hymselven,And muche wo in this worldTo willen and suffren.

"Ac the cause that he cometh thus

With cros of his passion,

Is to wissen us therwith

That whan that we ben tempted,

13080

Therwith to fighte and defenden us

Fro fallynge to synne.

And so bi his sorwe,

That who so loveth joye

To penaunce and to poverte

He moste puten hymselven,

And muche wo in this world

To willen and suffren.

"Ac to carpe moore of Crist,And how he com to that name,13090Faithly for to speke,His firste name was Jhesus;Tho he was born in Bethleem,As the book telleth,And cam to take mankynde,Kynges and aungelesReverenced hym faireWith richesses of erthe,Aungeles out of heveneCome knelynge and songe,13100Gloria in excelsis Deo, etc.

"Ac to carpe moore of Crist,

And how he com to that name,

13090

Faithly for to speke,

His firste name was Jhesus;

Tho he was born in Bethleem,

As the book telleth,

And cam to take mankynde,

Kynges and aungeles

Reverenced hym faire

With richesses of erthe,

Aungeles out of hevene

Come knelynge and songe,

13100

Gloria in excelsis Deo, etc.

"Kynges that come afterKnelede, and offredeMirre and muche gold,Withouten mercy askyngeOr any kynnes catel,But knowelichynge hym sovereynBothe of lond, sonne, and see,And sithenes thei wenteInto hir kyngene kith,13110By counseil of aungeles.And there was that word fulfilledThe which thow of speke.Omnia cælestia terrestria flectanturin hoc nomine Jhesu.

"Kynges that come after

Knelede, and offrede

Mirre and muche gold,

Withouten mercy askynge

Or any kynnes catel,

But knowelichynge hym sovereyn

Bothe of lond, sonne, and see,

And sithenes thei wente

Into hir kyngene kith,

13110

By counseil of aungeles.

And there was that word fulfilled

The which thow of speke.

Omnia cælestia terrestria flectantur

in hoc nomine Jhesu.

"For alle the aungeles of heveneAt his burthe knelede,And al the wit of the worldWas in tho thre kynges,Reson and rightwisnesse13120And ruthe thei offrede;Wherfore and whyWise men that tyme,Maistres and lettred men,Magihem callede.

"For alle the aungeles of hevene

At his burthe knelede,

And al the wit of the world

Was in tho thre kynges,

Reson and rightwisnesse

13120

And ruthe thei offrede;

Wherfore and why

Wise men that tyme,

Maistres and lettred men,

Magihem callede.

"That o kyng cam with reson,Covered under sense.

"That o kyng cam with reson,

Covered under sense.

"The seconde kyng siththeSoothliche offredeRightwisnesse under reed gold,13130Resones felawe.For gold is likned to leauteeThat laste shal evere.

"The seconde kyng siththe

Soothliche offrede

Rightwisnesse under reed gold,

13130

Resones felawe.

For gold is likned to leautee

That laste shal evere.

"The thridde kyng tho kamKnelynge to Jhesu,And presented hym with pitee,Apperynge by mirre.For mirre is mercy to meneAnd mylde speche of tonge.

"The thridde kyng tho kam

Knelynge to Jhesu,

And presented hym with pitee,

Apperynge by mirre.

For mirre is mercy to mene

And mylde speche of tonge.

"Thre y-liche honeste thynges13140Were offred thus at ones,Thorugh thre kynne kyngesKnelynge to Jhesu,

"Thre y-liche honeste thynges

13140

Were offred thus at ones,

Thorugh thre kynne kynges

Knelynge to Jhesu,

"Ac for alle thise preciouse presentz,Oure Lord kyng JhesusWas neither kyng ne conquerour,Til he gan to wexeIn the manere of a man,And that by muchel sleighte,As it bi-cometh a conquerour13150To konne manye sleightes,And manye wiles and wit,That wole ben a ledere.And so dide Jhesu in hise dayes,Who so hadde tyme to telle it.

"Ac for alle thise preciouse presentz,

Oure Lord kyng Jhesus

Was neither kyng ne conquerour,

Til he gan to wexe

In the manere of a man,

And that by muchel sleighte,

As it bi-cometh a conquerour

13150

To konne manye sleightes,

And manye wiles and wit,

That wole ben a ledere.

And so dide Jhesu in hise dayes,

Who so hadde tyme to telle it.

"Som tyme he suffrede,And som tyme he hidde hym;And some tyme he faught faste,And fleigh outher while;And som tyme he gaf good,13160And grauntede heele bothe,Lif and lyme,As hym liste he wroghte.As kynde is of a conquerour,So comsede Jhesu,Til he hadde alle hemThat he for bledde.

"Som tyme he suffrede,

And som tyme he hidde hym;

And some tyme he faught faste,

And fleigh outher while;

And som tyme he gaf good,

13160

And grauntede heele bothe,

Lif and lyme,

As hym liste he wroghte.

As kynde is of a conquerour,

So comsede Jhesu,

Til he hadde alle hem

That he for bledde.

"In his juventee this JhesusAt Jewene feesteWater into wyn turnede,13170As holy writ telleth.And there bigan GodOf his grace to do-wel.For wyn is likned to laweAnd lif-holynesse,And lawe lakkede tho,For men lovede noght hir enemys.And Crist counseileth thus,And comaundeth bothe,To lered and to lewede13180To lovyen oure enemys.So at the feeste first,As I bifore tolde,Bigan God of his graceAnd goodnesse to do-wel.And thanne was he calledNoght holy Crist, but Jhesu,A faunt fyn ful of wit,Filius Mariæ.For bifore his moder Marie13190Made he that wonder;That she first and formestFerme sholde bileveThat he thorugh grace was gete,And of no gome ellis.He wroghte that by no wit,But thorugh word one;After the kynde that he cam of,There comsede he do-wel.

"In his juventee this Jhesus

At Jewene feeste

Water into wyn turnede,

13170

As holy writ telleth.

And there bigan God

Of his grace to do-wel.

For wyn is likned to lawe

And lif-holynesse,

And lawe lakkede tho,

For men lovede noght hir enemys.

And Crist counseileth thus,

And comaundeth bothe,

To lered and to lewede

13180

To lovyen oure enemys.

So at the feeste first,

As I bifore tolde,

Bigan God of his grace

And goodnesse to do-wel.

And thanne was he called

Noght holy Crist, but Jhesu,

A faunt fyn ful of wit,

Filius Mariæ.

For bifore his moder Marie

13190

Made he that wonder;

That she first and formest

Ferme sholde bileve

That he thorugh grace was gete,

And of no gome ellis.

He wroghte that by no wit,

But thorugh word one;

After the kynde that he cam of,

There comsede he do-wel.

"And whan he woxen was moore,13200In his moder absence,He made lame to lepe,And yaf light to blynde,And fedde with two fisshes,And with fyve loves,Sore a fyngred folkMo than fyve thousand.

"And whan he woxen was moore,

13200

In his moder absence,

He made lame to lepe,

And yaf light to blynde,

And fedde with two fisshes,

And with fyve loves,

Sore a fyngred folk

Mo than fyve thousand.

"Thus he confortede carefulleAnd caughte a gretter name,The which was Do-bet,13210Where that he wente,For deve thorugh hise doynges to hereAnd dombe speke he made,And alle he heeled and halpThat hym of grace askede.And tho was he called in contréOf the comune peple,For the dedes that he dide,Fili David, Jhesus.For David was doghtiest13220Of dedes in his tyme.The burdes tho songe,=Saul interfecit mille, et David decem millia.

"Thus he confortede carefulle

And caughte a gretter name,

The which was Do-bet,

13210

Where that he wente,

For deve thorugh hise doynges to here

And dombe speke he made,

And alle he heeled and halp

That hym of grace askede.

And tho was he called in contré

Of the comune peple,

For the dedes that he dide,

Fili David, Jhesus.

For David was doghtiest

13220

Of dedes in his tyme.

The burdes tho songe,

Saul interfecit mille, et David decem millia.

"For-thi the contree ther Jhesu camCalled hymfili David,And nempned hym of Nazareth,And no man so worthiTo be kaiser or kyngOf the kyngdom of Juda,13230Ne over Jewes justice,As Jhesus was, hem thoughte.

"For-thi the contree ther Jhesu cam

Called hymfili David,

And nempned hym of Nazareth,

And no man so worthi

To be kaiser or kyng

Of the kyngdom of Juda,

13230

Ne over Jewes justice,

As Jhesus was, hem thoughte.

"Wherof Cayphas hadde envye,And othere of the Jewes;And for to doon hym to detheDay and nyght thei casten,Killeden hym on cros wiseAt Calvarie on Friday,And sithen buriede his body,And beden that men sholde,13240Kepen it fro nyght comerisWith knyghtes y-armed,For no frendes sholde hym fecche.For prophetes hem toldeThat that blissede bodyOf burieles risen sholde,And goon into Galilee,And gladen hise apostles,And his moder Marie;Thus men bifore demede.

"Wherof Cayphas hadde envye,

And othere of the Jewes;

And for to doon hym to dethe

Day and nyght thei casten,

Killeden hym on cros wise

At Calvarie on Friday,

And sithen buriede his body,

And beden that men sholde,

13240

Kepen it fro nyght comeris

With knyghtes y-armed,

For no frendes sholde hym fecche.

For prophetes hem tolde

That that blissede body

Of burieles risen sholde,

And goon into Galilee,

And gladen hise apostles,

And his moder Marie;

Thus men bifore demede.

13250"The knyghtes that kepten itBi-knewe it hemselven,That aungeles and archaungelesEr the day sprongeCome knelynge to the corps,And songenChristus resurgens,Verray men bifore hem alle,And forth with hem he yede.

13250

"The knyghtes that kepten it

Bi-knewe it hemselven,

That aungeles and archaungeles

Er the day spronge

Come knelynge to the corps,

And songenChristus resurgens,

Verray men bifore hem alle,

And forth with hem he yede.

"The Jewes preide hem be pees,And bi-soughte the knyghtes13260Telle the comune that ther camA compaignie of hise apostles,And bi-wicched hem as thei woke,And awey stolen it.

"The Jewes preide hem be pees,

And bi-soughte the knyghtes

13260

Telle the comune that ther cam

A compaignie of hise apostles,

And bi-wicched hem as thei woke,

And awey stolen it.

"Ac Marie MaudeleyneMette hym by the weye,Goynge toward GalileeIn godhede and manhede,And lyves and lokynge,And she a-loud cride13270In ech a compaignie ther she cam,Christus resurgens.

"Ac Marie Maudeleyne

Mette hym by the weye,

Goynge toward Galilee

In godhede and manhede,

And lyves and lokynge,

And she a-loud cride

13270

In ech a compaignie ther she cam,

Christus resurgens.

"Thus cam it out that Crist over-coom,Recoverede and lyvede=Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare, etc.For that that wommen witeth,May noght wel be counseille.

"Thus cam it out that Crist over-coom,

Recoverede and lyvede

Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare, etc.

For that that wommen witeth,

May noght wel be counseille.

"Peter parceyved al this,And pursued after,13280Bothe James and Johan,Jhesu for to seke,Thaddee and ten mo,With Thomas of Inde.And as alle thise wise wyesWeren togideres,In an hous al bi-shet,And hir dore y-barred,Crist cam in, and al closedBothe dore and yates,13290To Peter and to thise apostles,And seidepax vobis!And took Thomas by the hand,And taughte hym to grope,And feele with hise fyngresHis flesshliche herte.

"Peter parceyved al this,

And pursued after,

13280

Bothe James and Johan,

Jhesu for to seke,

Thaddee and ten mo,

With Thomas of Inde.

And as alle thise wise wyes

Weren togideres,

In an hous al bi-shet,

And hir dore y-barred,

Crist cam in, and al closed

Bothe dore and yates,

13290

To Peter and to thise apostles,

And seidepax vobis!

And took Thomas by the hand,

And taughte hym to grope,

And feele with hise fyngres

His flesshliche herte.

"Thomas touched it,And with his tonge seide,'Deus meus et Dominus meus—Thow art my lord, I bi-leve,13300My God, lord Jhesu;Thow deidest and deeth tholedest,And deme shalt us alle,And now art lyvynge and lokynge,And laste shalt evere.'

"Thomas touched it,

And with his tonge seide,

'Deus meus et Dominus meus—

Thow art my lord, I bi-leve,

13300

My God, lord Jhesu;

Thow deidest and deeth tholedest,

And deme shalt us alle,

And now art lyvynge and lokynge,

And laste shalt evere.'

"Crist carpede thanne,And curteisliche seide,'Thomas, for thow trowest this,And treweliche bi-levest it,Blessed mote thow be,13310And be shalt for evere;And blessed mote thei alle beIn body and in souleThat nevere shul se me in sighte,As thow doost nowthe,And lelliche bi-leve al this,I love hem and blesse hem.'Beati qui non viderunt, etc.

"Crist carpede thanne,

And curteisliche seide,

'Thomas, for thow trowest this,

And treweliche bi-levest it,

Blessed mote thow be,

13310

And be shalt for evere;

And blessed mote thei alle be

In body and in soule

That nevere shul se me in sighte,

As thow doost nowthe,

And lelliche bi-leve al this,

I love hem and blesse hem.'

Beati qui non viderunt, etc.

"And whan this dede was doon,Do-best he taughte,13320And yaf Piers power,And pardon he grauntede,To alle maner menMercy and forgifnesse,Hym myght to assoilleOf alle manere synne,In covenaunt that thei comeAnd kneweliched to paieTo Piers pardon the Plowman,Redde quod debes.

"And whan this dede was doon,

Do-best he taughte,

13320

And yaf Piers power,

And pardon he grauntede,

To alle maner men

Mercy and forgifnesse,

Hym myght to assoille

Of alle manere synne,

In covenaunt that thei come

And kneweliched to paie

To Piers pardon the Plowman,

Redde quod debes.

13330"Thus hath Piers power,By his pardon paied,To bynde and unbynde,Bothe here and ellis where;And assoille men of alle synnes,Save of dette one.

13330

"Thus hath Piers power,

By his pardon paied,

To bynde and unbynde,

Bothe here and ellis where;

And assoille men of alle synnes,

Save of dette one.

"Anoon after an heighUp into heveneHe wente, and wonyeth there,And wol come at the laste,13340And rewarde hym right welThatreddit quod debet,Paieth parfitly,As pure truthe wolde;And what persone paieth it nought,Punysshen he thenketh,And demen hem at domes dayBothe quyke and dede.The goode to the godhedeAnd to greet joye,13350And wikkede to wonyeIn wo withouten ende."

"Anoon after an heigh

Up into hevene

He wente, and wonyeth there,

And wol come at the laste,

13340

And rewarde hym right wel

Thatreddit quod debet,

Paieth parfitly,

As pure truthe wolde;

And what persone paieth it nought,

Punysshen he thenketh,

And demen hem at domes day

Bothe quyke and dede.

The goode to the godhede

And to greet joye,

13350

And wikkede to wonye

In wo withouten ende."

Thus Conscience of CristAnd of the cros carpede,And counseiled me to knele therto.And thanne cam, me thoughte,Oonspiritus paraclitusTo Piers and to hise felawesIn liknesse of a lightnyngeHe lighte on hem alle,13360And made hem konne and knoweAlle kynne langages.I wondred what that was,And waggede Conscience,And was a-fered of the light,For in fires lightnesseSpiritus paraclitusOver-spradde hem alle.

Thus Conscience of Crist

And of the cros carpede,

And counseiled me to knele therto.

And thanne cam, me thoughte,

Oonspiritus paraclitus

To Piers and to hise felawes

In liknesse of a lightnynge

He lighte on hem alle,

13360

And made hem konne and knowe

Alle kynne langages.

I wondred what that was,

And waggede Conscience,

And was a-fered of the light,

For in fires lightnesse

Spiritus paraclitus

Over-spradde hem alle.

Quod Conscience, and knelede,"This is Cristes messager,13370And cometh fro the grete God,And Grace is his name.Knele now," quod Conscience,"And if thow kanst synge,Welcome hym and worshipe hymWithVeni creator spiritus."

Quod Conscience, and knelede,

"This is Cristes messager,

13370

And cometh fro the grete God,

And Grace is his name.

Knele now," quod Conscience,

"And if thow kanst synge,

Welcome hym and worshipe hym

WithVeni creator spiritus."

Thanne song I that song,So dide manye hundred,And cride with Conscience,"Help us, God of Grace!"

Thanne song I that song,

So dide manye hundred,

And cride with Conscience,

"Help us, God of Grace!"

13380And thanne bigan GraceTo go with Piers Plowman,And counseillede hym and ConscienceThe comune to sompne;"For I wole dele to-dayAnd gyve divine graceTo alle kynne creaturesThat han hir fyve wittes,Tresour to lyve byTo hir lyves ende,13390And wepne to fighte withThat wole nevere faille.For Antecrist and hiseAl the world shul greve,And acombre thee, Conscience,But if Crist thee helpe.

13380

And thanne bigan Grace

To go with Piers Plowman,

And counseillede hym and Conscience

The comune to sompne;

"For I wole dele to-day

And gyve divine grace

To alle kynne creatures

That han hir fyve wittes,

Tresour to lyve by

To hir lyves ende,

13390

And wepne to fighte with

That wole nevere faille.

For Antecrist and hise

Al the world shul greve,

And acombre thee, Conscience,

But if Crist thee helpe.

"And false prophetes fele,Flatereris and gloseris,Shullen come and be curatoursOver kynges and erles,13400And Pride shal be pope,Prynce of holy chirche,Coveitise and unkyndenesseCardinals hym to lede;For-thi," quod Grace, "er I go,I wol gyve yow tresor,And wepne to fighte withWhan Antecrist yow assaileth."And gaf ech man a graceTo gide with hymselven,13410That ydelnesse encombre hym noght,Envye ne pride.Divisiones gratiarum sunt, etc.

"And false prophetes fele,

Flatereris and gloseris,

Shullen come and be curatours

Over kynges and erles,

13400

And Pride shal be pope,

Prynce of holy chirche,

Coveitise and unkyndenesse

Cardinals hym to lede;

For-thi," quod Grace, "er I go,

I wol gyve yow tresor,

And wepne to fighte with

Whan Antecrist yow assaileth."

And gaf ech man a grace

To gide with hymselven,

13410

That ydelnesse encombre hym noght,

Envye ne pride.

Divisiones gratiarum sunt, etc.

Some he yaf witWith wordes to shewe,Wit to wynne hir liflode with,As the world asketh,As prechours and preestes,And prentices of lawe,They lelly to lyve13420By labour of tonge,And by wit to wissen othereAs grace hem wolde teche.

Some he yaf wit

With wordes to shewe,

Wit to wynne hir liflode with,

As the world asketh,

As prechours and preestes,

And prentices of lawe,

They lelly to lyve

13420

By labour of tonge,

And by wit to wissen othere

As grace hem wolde teche.

And some he kennede craftAnd konnynge of sighte,With sellynge and buggyngeHir bilyve to wynne.

And some he kennede craft

And konnynge of sighte,

With sellynge and buggynge

Hir bilyve to wynne.

And some he lered to laboure,A lele lif and a trewe;And some he taughte to tilie,13430To dyche and to thecche,To wynne with her liflodeBi loore of his techynge.

And some he lered to laboure,

A lele lif and a trewe;

And some he taughte to tilie,

13430

To dyche and to thecche,

To wynne with her liflode

Bi loore of his techynge.

And some to devyne and divide,Noumbres to kenne;And some to compace craftily,And colours to make;And some to se and to seyeWhat sholde bi-falle,Bothe of wele and of wo,13440Telle it er it felle,As astronomyens thorugh astronomye,And philosofres wise.

And some to devyne and divide,

Noumbres to kenne;

And some to compace craftily,

And colours to make;

And some to se and to seye

What sholde bi-falle,

Bothe of wele and of wo,

13440

Telle it er it felle,

As astronomyens thorugh astronomye,

And philosofres wise.

And some to ryde, and to recovereThat wrongfully was wonne;He wissed hem to wynne it ayeinThorugh wightnesse of handes,And fecchen it fro false menWith folvyles lawes.

And some to ryde, and to recovere

That wrongfully was wonne;

He wissed hem to wynne it ayein

Thorugh wightnesse of handes,

And fecchen it fro false men

With folvyles lawes.

And some he lered to lyve13450In longynge to ben hennes,In poverte and in penaunce,To preie for alle cristene.And alle he lered to be lele,And ech a craft love oother;And forbad hem alle debat,That noon were among hem."Though some be clenner than some,Ye se wel," quod Grace,"That he that useth the faireste craft,13460To the fouleste I kouthe have put hym.Thynketh alle," quod Grace,"That grace cometh of my gifte;Loketh that no man lakke oother,But loveth alle as bretheren.

And some he lered to lyve

13450

In longynge to ben hennes,

In poverte and in penaunce,

To preie for alle cristene.

And alle he lered to be lele,

And ech a craft love oother;

And forbad hem alle debat,

That noon were among hem.

"Though some be clenner than some,

Ye se wel," quod Grace,

"That he that useth the faireste craft,

13460

To the fouleste I kouthe have put hym.

Thynketh alle," quod Grace,

"That grace cometh of my gifte;

Loketh that no man lakke oother,

But loveth alle as bretheren.

"And who that moost maistries kanBe myldest of berynge;And crouneth Conscience kyng,And maketh Craft youre stiward,And after Craftes conseil13470Clotheth yow and fede.For I make Piers the PlowmanMy procuratour and my reve,And registrer to receyve,Redde quod debes.My prowor and my plowmanPiers shal ben on erthe,And for to tilie trutheA teeme shal he have."

"And who that moost maistries kan

Be myldest of berynge;

And crouneth Conscience kyng,

And maketh Craft youre stiward,

And after Craftes conseil

13470

Clotheth yow and fede.

For I make Piers the Plowman

My procuratour and my reve,

And registrer to receyve,

Redde quod debes.

My prowor and my plowman

Piers shal ben on erthe,

And for to tilie truthe

A teeme shal he have."

Grace gaf Piers a teeme13480Of foure grete oxen.That oon was Luk, a large beest,And a lowe chered;And Mark, and Mathew the thridde,Myghty beestes bothe;And joyned to hem oon Johan,Moost gentil of alle,The pris neet of Piers Plow,Passynge all othere.

Grace gaf Piers a teeme

13480

Of foure grete oxen.

That oon was Luk, a large beest,

And a lowe chered;

And Mark, and Mathew the thridde,

Myghty beestes bothe;

And joyned to hem oon Johan,

Moost gentil of alle,

The pris neet of Piers Plow,

Passynge all othere.

And Grace gaf Piers13490Of his goodnesse foure stottes;Al that hise oxen eriede,Thei to harewen after.Oon highte Austyn,And Ambrose another,Gregori the grete clerk,And Jerom the goode.Thise foure the feith to techeFolweth Piers teme,And harewede in an hand while13500Al holy Scripture,With two harewes that thei hadde,An oold and a newe.Id est, vetus testamentum et novum.

And Grace gaf Piers

13490

Of his goodnesse foure stottes;

Al that hise oxen eriede,

Thei to harewen after.

Oon highte Austyn,

And Ambrose another,

Gregori the grete clerk,

And Jerom the goode.

Thise foure the feith to teche

Folweth Piers teme,

And harewede in an hand while

13500

Al holy Scripture,

With two harewes that thei hadde,

An oold and a newe.

Id est, vetus testamentum et novum.

And Grace gaf greynes,The cardynal vertues,And sew hem in mannes soule,And sithen he tolde hir names.Spiritus prudentiæ.The firste seed highte;13510And who so ete that,Ymagynen he sholdeEr he deide any deeth,Devyse wel the ende;And lerned men a ladel buggeWith a long stele,And caste for to kepe a crokkeTo save the fatte above.

And Grace gaf greynes,

The cardynal vertues,

And sew hem in mannes soule,

And sithen he tolde hir names.

Spiritus prudentiæ.

The firste seed highte;

13510

And who so ete that,

Ymagynen he sholde

Er he deide any deeth,

Devyse wel the ende;

And lerned men a ladel bugge

With a long stele,

And caste for to kepe a crokke

To save the fatte above.

The seconde seed highteSpiritus temperantiæ.13520He that ete of that seedHadde swich a kynde,Sholde nevere mete ne muchel drynkeMake hym to swelle,Ne no scornere ne scoldeOut of skile hym bringe,Ne wynnynge ne weleOf worldliche richesse,Waste word of ydelnesseNe wikked speche moeve;13530Sholde no curious cloothComen on his rugge,Ne no mete in his mouthThat maister Johan spicede.

The seconde seed highte

Spiritus temperantiæ.

13520

He that ete of that seed

Hadde swich a kynde,

Sholde nevere mete ne muchel drynke

Make hym to swelle,

Ne no scornere ne scolde

Out of skile hym bringe,

Ne wynnynge ne wele

Of worldliche richesse,

Waste word of ydelnesse

Ne wikked speche moeve;

13530

Sholde no curious clooth

Comen on his rugge,

Ne no mete in his mouth

That maister Johan spicede.

The thridde seed that Piers sewWasspiritus fortitudinis.And who ete that seed,Hardy was he evereTo suffren al that God sente,Siknesse and angres;13540Mighte no lesynges ne lyere,Ne los of worldly catel,Maken hym for any mournyngeThat he nas murie in soule,And bold and abidyngeBismares to suffre;And pleieth al with pacienceAndparce mihi domine;And covered hym under conseilleOf Caton the wise:=Esto forti animo, cum sis dampnatus inique.

The thridde seed that Piers sew

Wasspiritus fortitudinis.

And who ete that seed,

Hardy was he evere

To suffren al that God sente,

Siknesse and angres;

13540

Mighte no lesynges ne lyere,

Ne los of worldly catel,

Maken hym for any mournynge

That he nas murie in soule,

And bold and abidynge

Bismares to suffre;

And pleieth al with pacience

Andparce mihi domine;

And covered hym under conseille

Of Caton the wise:

Esto forti animo, cum sis dampnatus inique.

13552The ferthe seed that Piers sewWasspiritus justitiæ.And he that ete of that seed,Sholde be evere trewe,With God, and naught a-gast,But of gile one;For gile gooth so pryvely,That good feith outher while13560Maye nought ben espied,Forspiritus justitiæ.

13552

The ferthe seed that Piers sew

Wasspiritus justitiæ.

And he that ete of that seed,

Sholde be evere trewe,

With God, and naught a-gast,

But of gile one;

For gile gooth so pryvely,

That good feith outher while

13560

Maye nought ben espied,

Forspiritus justitiæ.

Spiritus justitiæ.Spareth noght to spilleHem that ben gilty,And for to correcteThe kyng, if he falleIn gilt or in trespas.For counteth he no kynges wrathe,Whan he in court sitteth13570To demen as a domesman,A-drad was he nevereNeither of duc ne of deeth,That he ne dide lawe,For present or for preiere,Or any prynces lettres;He dide equité to alleEvene forth his power.

Spiritus justitiæ.

Spareth noght to spille

Hem that ben gilty,

And for to correcte

The kyng, if he falle

In gilt or in trespas.

For counteth he no kynges wrathe,

Whan he in court sitteth

13570

To demen as a domesman,

A-drad was he nevere

Neither of duc ne of deeth,

That he ne dide lawe,

For present or for preiere,

Or any prynces lettres;

He dide equité to alle

Evene forth his power.

Thise foure sedes Piers sew;And siththe he dide hem harewe13580With olde lawe and newe lawe,That love myghte wexeAmong tho foure vertues,And vices destruye.For comunliche in contreesCammokes and wedesFoulen the fruyt in the feld,Ther thei growen togideres;And so doon vicesVertues worthi.

Thise foure sedes Piers sew;

And siththe he dide hem harewe

13580

With olde lawe and newe lawe,

That love myghte wexe

Among tho foure vertues,

And vices destruye.

For comunliche in contrees

Cammokes and wedes

Foulen the fruyt in the feld,

Ther thei growen togideres;

And so doon vices

Vertues worthi.

Quod Piers, "Hareweth alle that konneth kynde wit,13591By conseil of thise doctours;And tilieth after hir techyngeThe cardynale vertues."

Quod Piers, "Hareweth alle that konneth kynde wit,

13591

By conseil of thise doctours;

And tilieth after hir techynge

The cardynale vertues."

"Ayeins thei greynes," quod Grace,"Bi-gynneth for to ripe,Ordeigne thee an hous, Piers,To herberwe inne thi cornes."

"Ayeins thei greynes," quod Grace,

"Bi-gynneth for to ripe,

Ordeigne thee an hous, Piers,

To herberwe inne thi cornes."

"By God! Grace," quod Piers,"Ye moten gyve tymber,13600And ordeyne that hous,Er ye hennes wende."

"By God! Grace," quod Piers,

"Ye moten gyve tymber,

13600

And ordeyne that hous,

Er ye hennes wende."

And Grace gaf hym the cros,With the croune of thornes,That Crist upon CalvarieFor mankynde on pyned,And of his baptisme and bloodThat he bledde on roodeHe made a manere morter,And mercy it highte.13610And therwith Grace bi-ganTo make a good foundement,And watlede it and walled itWith his peyne and his passion,And of al holy writHe made a roof after,And called that housUnitee,Holy chirche on Englisshe.

And Grace gaf hym the cros,

With the croune of thornes,

That Crist upon Calvarie

For mankynde on pyned,

And of his baptisme and blood

That he bledde on roode

He made a manere morter,

And mercy it highte.

13610

And therwith Grace bi-gan

To make a good foundement,

And watlede it and walled it

With his peyne and his passion,

And of al holy writ

He made a roof after,

And called that housUnitee,

Holy chirche on Englisshe.

And whan this dede was doon,Grace devysede13620A cart highte cristendomTo carie Piers sheves;And gaf hym caples to his carte,Contricion and confession;And made preesthod hayward,The while hymself wenteAs wide as the world isWith Piers to tilie truthe.

And whan this dede was doon,

Grace devysede

13620

A cart highte cristendom

To carie Piers sheves;

And gaf hym caples to his carte,

Contricion and confession;

And made preesthod hayward,

The while hymself wente

As wide as the world is

With Piers to tilie truthe.

Now is Piers to the plow;And Pride it aspide,13630And gadered hym a greet oost,For to greven he thynkethConscience and alle cristeneAnd cardinale vertues,Blowe hem doun and breke hem,And bite a-two the mores;And sente forth Surquidous,His sergeaunt of armes,And his spye Spille-love,Oon Spek-yvel bihynde.

Now is Piers to the plow;

And Pride it aspide,

13630

And gadered hym a greet oost,

For to greven he thynketh

Conscience and alle cristene

And cardinale vertues,

Blowe hem doun and breke hem,

And bite a-two the mores;

And sente forth Surquidous,

His sergeaunt of armes,

And his spye Spille-love,

Oon Spek-yvel bihynde.

13640Thise two coome to Conscience,And to cristen peple,And tolde hem tidynges,That tyne thei sholde the sedesThat Piers there hadde y-sowen,The cardynale vertues;"And Piers bern worth y-broke,And thei that ben inUniteeShulle come out, and ConscienceAnd youre two caples,13650Confession and Contricion;And youre carte the bileeveShal be coloured so queyntely,And covered under sophistrie,That Conscience shal noghtKnowe by ContricionNe by ConfessionWho is cristene or hethene;Ne no manere marchauntThat with moneie deleth,13660Wheither he wynne with right,With wrong, or with usure.

13640

Thise two coome to Conscience,

And to cristen peple,

And tolde hem tidynges,

That tyne thei sholde the sedes

That Piers there hadde y-sowen,

The cardynale vertues;

"And Piers bern worth y-broke,

And thei that ben inUnitee

Shulle come out, and Conscience

And youre two caples,

13650

Confession and Contricion;

And youre carte the bileeve

Shal be coloured so queyntely,

And covered under sophistrie,

That Conscience shal noght

Knowe by Contricion

Ne by Confession

Who is cristene or hethene;

Ne no manere marchaunt

That with moneie deleth,

13660

Wheither he wynne with right,

With wrong, or with usure.

"With swiche colours and queyntiseCometh Pride y-armed,With the lord that lyveth afterThe lust of his body,To wasten on welfare,And in wikked lyvynge,Al the world in a whileThorugh oure wit," quod Pryde.

"With swiche colours and queyntise

Cometh Pride y-armed,

With the lord that lyveth after

The lust of his body,

To wasten on welfare,

And in wikked lyvynge,

Al the world in a while

Thorugh oure wit," quod Pryde.

13670Quod Conscience to alle cristene tho,"My counseil is to wendeHastiliche into Unitee,And holde we us there;And praye we that a pees weereIn Piers berne the Plowman.For witterly I woot wel,We beth noght of strengtheTo goon agayn Pride,But Grace weere with us."

13670

Quod Conscience to alle cristene tho,

"My counseil is to wende

Hastiliche into Unitee,

And holde we us there;

And praye we that a pees weere

In Piers berne the Plowman.

For witterly I woot wel,

We beth noght of strengthe

To goon agayn Pride,

But Grace weere with us."

13680And thanne kam Kynde WitConscience to teche,And cryde and comaundedeAlle cristene pepleFor to delven a dychDepe aboute Unitee,That holy chirche stode in Unitee,As it a pyl weere.

13680

And thanne kam Kynde Wit

Conscience to teche,

And cryde and comaundede

Alle cristene peple

For to delven a dych

Depe aboute Unitee,

That holy chirche stode in Unitee,

As it a pyl weere.

Conscience comaundede thoAlle cristene to delve,13690And make a muche moot,That myghte ben a strengtheTo helpe holy chircheAnd hem that it kepeth.

Conscience comaundede tho

Alle cristene to delve,

13690

And make a muche moot,

That myghte ben a strengthe

To helpe holy chirche

And hem that it kepeth.

Thanne alle kynne cristene,Save comune wommen,Repenteden and refused synne,Save thei one,And false men, flatereris,Usurers, and theves,13700Lyeris, and queste-mongeresThat were for-sworen ofte,Witynge and wilfullyWith the false helden,And for silver were for-swore,Soothly they wiste it.

Thanne alle kynne cristene,

Save comune wommen,

Repenteden and refused synne,

Save thei one,

And false men, flatereris,

Usurers, and theves,

13700

Lyeris, and queste-mongeres

That were for-sworen ofte,

Witynge and wilfully

With the false helden,

And for silver were for-swore,

Soothly they wiste it.

Ther nas no cristene creatureThat kynde wit hadde,Save sherewes oneSwiche as I spak of,13710That he ne halp a quantitéHolynesse to wexe,Some thorugh bedes biddynge,And some thorugh pilgrymagesAnd othere pryvé penaunces,And somme thorugh penyes delynge.

Ther nas no cristene creature

That kynde wit hadde,

Save sherewes one

Swiche as I spak of,

13710

That he ne halp a quantité

Holynesse to wexe,

Some thorugh bedes biddynge,

And some thorugh pilgrymages

And othere pryvé penaunces,

And somme thorugh penyes delynge.

And thanne wellede waterFor wikkede werkes,Egreliche ernyngeOut of mennes eighen,13720Clennesse out of comune,And clerkes clene lyvynge,Made Unitee holy chircheIn holynesse to stonde.

And thanne wellede water

For wikkede werkes,

Egreliche ernynge

Out of mennes eighen,

13720

Clennesse out of comune,

And clerkes clene lyvynge,

Made Unitee holy chirche

In holynesse to stonde.

"I care noght," quod Conscience,"Though Pride come nouthe.The lord of lust shal be lettedAl this lente, I hope.Cometh," quod Conscience,"Ye cristene, and dyneth,13730That han laboured lellyAl this lenten tyme.Here is breed y-blessed,And Goddes body therunder:Grace, thorugh Goddes word,Yaf Piers powerAnd myghtes to maken it,And men to ete it afterIn helpe of hir heeleOnes in a monthe,13740Or as ofte as thei hadde nede,Tho that hadde y-paiedTo Piers pardon the Plowman.Redde quod debes."

"I care noght," quod Conscience,

"Though Pride come nouthe.

The lord of lust shal be letted

Al this lente, I hope.

Cometh," quod Conscience,

"Ye cristene, and dyneth,

13730

That han laboured lelly

Al this lenten tyme.

Here is breed y-blessed,

And Goddes body therunder:

Grace, thorugh Goddes word,

Yaf Piers power

And myghtes to maken it,

And men to ete it after

In helpe of hir heele

Ones in a monthe,

13740

Or as ofte as thei hadde nede,

Tho that hadde y-paied

To Piers pardon the Plowman.

Redde quod debes."

"How?" quod al the comune,"Thow conseillest us to yeldeAl that we owen any wight,Er we go to housel?"

"How?" quod al the comune,

"Thow conseillest us to yelde

Al that we owen any wight,

Er we go to housel?"

"That is my conseil," quod Conscience,"And cardinale vertues,13750That ech man for-gyve oother,And that wol the pater-noster.Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, etc.And so to ben assoilled,And siththen ben houseled."

"That is my conseil," quod Conscience,

"And cardinale vertues,

13750

That ech man for-gyve oother,

And that wol the pater-noster.

Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, etc.

And so to ben assoilled,

And siththen ben houseled."

"Ye, baw!" quod a brewere,"I wol noght be ruled,By Jhesu! for al youre janglyngeWithspiritus justitiæ,Ne after Conscience, by Crist!13760While I kan selleBothe dregges and draf,And drawe it out at oon holeThikke ale and thynne ale,For that is my kynde,And noght hakke after holynesse.Hold thi tonge, Conscience!Ofspiritus justitiæ,Thow spekest muche on ydel."

"Ye, baw!" quod a brewere,

"I wol noght be ruled,

By Jhesu! for al youre janglynge

Withspiritus justitiæ,

Ne after Conscience, by Crist!

13760

While I kan selle

Bothe dregges and draf,

And drawe it out at oon hole

Thikke ale and thynne ale,

For that is my kynde,

And noght hakke after holynesse.

Hold thi tonge, Conscience!

Ofspiritus justitiæ,

Thow spekest muche on ydel."

"Caytif!" quod Conscience,13770"Cursede wrecche!Un-blessed artow, brewere,But if thee God helpe.But thow lyve by looreOfspiritus justitiæ,The chief seed that Piers sew,Y-saved worstow nevere.But Conscience the comune fede,And cardinale vertues,Leve it wel, thei ben lost,13780Bothe lif and soule."

"Caytif!" quod Conscience,

13770

"Cursede wrecche!

Un-blessed artow, brewere,

But if thee God helpe.

But thow lyve by loore

Ofspiritus justitiæ,

The chief seed that Piers sew,

Y-saved worstow nevere.

But Conscience the comune fede,

And cardinale vertues,

Leve it wel, thei ben lost,

13780

Bothe lif and soule."

"Thanne is many a man lost,"Quod a lewed vicory.—"I am a curatour of holy kirke,And cam nevere in my tymeMan to me, that me kouthe telleOf cardinale vertues,Or that acountede ConscienceAt a cokkes fethere or an hennes.I knew nevere cardynal,13790That he ne cam fro the pope;And we clerkes, whan thei come,For hir comunes paieth,For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete,And pilours that hem folweth.

"Thanne is many a man lost,"

Quod a lewed vicory.—

"I am a curatour of holy kirke,

And cam nevere in my tyme

Man to me, that me kouthe telle

Of cardinale vertues,

Or that acountede Conscience

At a cokkes fethere or an hennes.

I knew nevere cardynal,

13790

That he ne cam fro the pope;

And we clerkes, whan thei come,

For hir comunes paieth,

For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete,

And pilours that hem folweth.

"The comuneclamat cotidieEch a man til oother,The contree is the corsederThat cardinals comme inne;And ther thei ligge and lenge moost,13800Lecherie there regneth.

"The comuneclamat cotidie

Ech a man til oother,

The contree is the corseder

That cardinals comme inne;

And ther thei ligge and lenge moost,

13800

Lecherie there regneth.

"For-thi," quod this vicory,"By verray God! I woldeThat no cardynal coomeAmong the comune peple;But in hir holynesseHelden hem stilleAt Avynone among the Jewes,—Cum sancto sanctus eris, etc.—Or in Rome, as hir rule wole,13810The relikes to kepe;And thow, Conscience, in kynges court,And sholdest nevere come thennes;And Grace, that thow graddest so of,Gyour of alle clerkes;And Piers with his newe plow,And ek with his olde,Emperour of al the world,That alle men were cristene.

"For-thi," quod this vicory,

"By verray God! I wolde

That no cardynal coome

Among the comune peple;

But in hir holynesse

Helden hem stille

At Avynone among the Jewes,—

Cum sancto sanctus eris, etc.—

Or in Rome, as hir rule wole,

13810

The relikes to kepe;

And thow, Conscience, in kynges court,

And sholdest nevere come thennes;

And Grace, that thow graddest so of,

Gyour of alle clerkes;

And Piers with his newe plow,

And ek with his olde,

Emperour of al the world,

That alle men were cristene.

"Inparfit is that pope13820That al the world sholde helpe,And sendeth swiche that sleeth hemThat he sholde save.

"Inparfit is that pope

13820

That al the world sholde helpe,

And sendeth swiche that sleeth hem

That he sholde save.

"And wel worthe Piers the Plowman,That pursueth God in doynge,Qui pluit super justosEt injustosat ones,And sent the sonne to saveA cursed mannes tilthe,As brighte as to the beste man,13830Or to the beste womman.

"And wel worthe Piers the Plowman,

That pursueth God in doynge,

Qui pluit super justos

Et injustosat ones,

And sent the sonne to save

A cursed mannes tilthe,

As brighte as to the beste man,

13830

Or to the beste womman.

"Right so Piers the PlowmanPeyneth hym to tilyeAs wel for a wastourAnd wenches of the stewes,As for hymself and his servauntz,Save he is first y-served;And travailleth and tiliethFor a tretour also sooreAs for a trewe tidy man,13840Alle tymes y-like.And worshiped be he that wroghte al,Bothe good and wikke,And suffreth that synfulle be,[Tyl som tyme that thei repenten].And God amende the pope!That pileth holy kirke,And cleymeth bifore the kyngTo be kepere over cristene;And counteth noght though cristene ben13850Killed and robbed;And fynt folk to fighte,And cristen blood to spille,Ayein the olde lawe and newe lawe,As Luc therof witnesseth.Non occides, mihi vindictam, etc.

"Right so Piers the Plowman

Peyneth hym to tilye

As wel for a wastour

And wenches of the stewes,

As for hymself and his servauntz,

Save he is first y-served;

And travailleth and tilieth

For a tretour also soore

As for a trewe tidy man,

13840

Alle tymes y-like.

And worshiped be he that wroghte al,

Bothe good and wikke,

And suffreth that synfulle be,

[Tyl som tyme that thei repenten].

And God amende the pope!

That pileth holy kirke,

And cleymeth bifore the kyng

To be kepere over cristene;

And counteth noght though cristene ben

13850

Killed and robbed;

And fynt folk to fighte,

And cristen blood to spille,

Ayein the olde lawe and newe lawe,

As Luc therof witnesseth.

Non occides, mihi vindictam, etc.

"It semeth, bi soHymself hadde his wille,That he reccheth right noghtOf al the remenaunt.13860And Crist of his curteisieThe cardinals save,And torne hir wit to wisdom,And to welthe of soule!For the comune," quod this curatour,"Counten ful litelThe counseil of Conscience,Or cardinale vertues.But if thei seighe, as by sighte,Som what to wynnyng,13870Of gile ne of gabbyngGyve thei nevere tale.Forspiritus prudentiæAmong the peple is gyle;And alle tho faire vertuesAs vices thei semeth.Ech man subtileth a sleighteSynne for to hide,And coloureth it for a konnynge,And a clene lyvynge."

"It semeth, bi so

Hymself hadde his wille,

That he reccheth right noght

Of al the remenaunt.

13860

And Crist of his curteisie

The cardinals save,

And torne hir wit to wisdom,

And to welthe of soule!

For the comune," quod this curatour,

"Counten ful litel

The counseil of Conscience,

Or cardinale vertues.

But if thei seighe, as by sighte,

Som what to wynnyng,

13870

Of gile ne of gabbyng

Gyve thei nevere tale.

Forspiritus prudentiæ

Among the peple is gyle;

And alle tho faire vertues

As vices thei semeth.

Ech man subtileth a sleighte

Synne for to hide,

And coloureth it for a konnynge,

And a clene lyvynge."

13880Thanne lough ther a lord,And "By this light!" seide,"I holde it right and resonOf my reve to takeAl that myn auditour,Or ellis my styward,Counseilleth me bi hir acounteAnd my clerkes writyng.Withspiritus intellectusThei seke the reves rolles;13890And withspiritus fortitudinisFecche it I wole after."

13880

Thanne lough ther a lord,

And "By this light!" seide,

"I holde it right and reson

Of my reve to take

Al that myn auditour,

Or ellis my styward,

Counseilleth me bi hir acounte

And my clerkes writyng.

Withspiritus intellectus

Thei seke the reves rolles;

13890

And withspiritus fortitudinis

Fecche it I wole after."

And thanne cam ther a kyng,And, by his croune! seide,"I am kyng with crouneThe comune to rule,And holy kirke and clergieFrom cursed men to fende;And if me lakketh to lyve by,The lawe wole I take it13900Ther I may hastilokest it have.For I am heed of lawe;And ye ben but membres,And I above alle.And sith I am youre aller heed,I am youre aller heele,And holy chirches chief help,And chieftayn of the comune;And what I take of yow two,I take it at the techynge13910Ofspiritus justitiæ,For I jugge yow alle.So I may boldely be housled,For I borwe nevere,Ne crave of my comune,But as my kynde asketh."

And thanne cam ther a kyng,

And, by his croune! seide,

"I am kyng with croune

The comune to rule,

And holy kirke and clergie

From cursed men to fende;

And if me lakketh to lyve by,

The lawe wole I take it

13900

Ther I may hastilokest it have.

For I am heed of lawe;

And ye ben but membres,

And I above alle.

And sith I am youre aller heed,

I am youre aller heele,

And holy chirches chief help,

And chieftayn of the comune;

And what I take of yow two,

I take it at the techynge

13910

Ofspiritus justitiæ,

For I jugge yow alle.

So I may boldely be housled,

For I borwe nevere,

Ne crave of my comune,

But as my kynde asketh."

"In condicion," quod Conscience,"That thow konne defendeAnd rule thi reaume in reson,Right wel and in truthe,13920Take thow mayst in resonAs thi lawe asketh.Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum,sed non ad deprædandum."The viker hadde fer hoom,And faire took his leeve;And I awakned therwith,13927And wroot as me mette.

"In condicion," quod Conscience,

"That thow konne defende

And rule thi reaume in reson,

Right wel and in truthe,

13920

Take thow mayst in reson

As thi lawe asketh.

Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum,

sed non ad deprædandum."

The viker hadde fer hoom,

And faire took his leeve;

And I awakned therwith,

13927

And wroot as me mette.

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