Filler.
Passus Vicesimus de Visione, et Primus de Do-best.T13928HANNE as I wente by the wey,Whan I was thus awaked,Hevy-chered I yede,And elenge in herte;I ne wiste wher to ete,Ne at what place,And it neghed neigh the noon,And with Nede I metteThat afrounted me foule,And faitour me called:"Kanstow noght excuse thee,As dide the kyng and othere,13940That thow toke to thy bilyve,To clothes and to sustenaunce;And by techynge and by tellyngeOfspiritus temperantiæ,And thow nome na-mooreThan nede thee taughte,And nede he hath no lawe,Ne nevere shal falle in dette;For thre thynges he taketh,His lif for to save.13950"That is mete, whan men hym wernethAnd he no moneye weldeth,Ne wight noon wol ben his borugh,Ne wed hath noon to legge;And he caughte in that caas,And come therto by sleighte,He synneth noght, soothliche,That so wynneth his foode."And though he come so to a clooth,And kan no bettre chevyssaunce,13960Nede anoon righteNymeth hym under maynprise."And if hym list for to lape,The lawe of kynde woldeThat he dronke at ech dych,Er he for thurst deide.So Nede al gret nedeMay nymen, as for his owene,Withouten counseil of ConscienceOr cardynale vertues,13970So that he sewe and saveSpiritus temperantiæ."For is no vertue bi ferTospiritus temperantiæ;Nespiritus justitiæNespiritus fortitudinis.Forspiritus fortitudinisForfeteth ful ofte.He shal do moore than mesureMany tyme and ofte,13980And bete men over bittre,And some of hem to litel,And greve men gretterThan good feith it wolde"Andspiritus justitiæShal juggen, wol he nele he,After the kynges counseil,And the comune like.Andspiritus prudentiæIn many a point shal faille13990Of that he weneth wolde falle,If his wit ne weere.Wenynge is no wysdom,Ne wys ymaginacion,Homo proponit, et Deus disponit,And governeth alle goode vertues;Ac Nede is next hym,For anoon he meketh,And as lowe as a lomb,For lakkyng of that hym nedeth.14000Wise men forsoke wele,For thei wolde be nedy,And woneden in wildernesse,And wolde noght he riche."And God al his grete joyeGoostliche he lefte,And cam and took mankynde,And bi-cam nedy.So nedy he was, as seith the book,In manye sondry places,14010That he seide in his sorweOn the selve roode,Bothe fox and fowelMay fle to hole and crepe,And the fissh hath fynTo flete with to reste,Ther Nede hath y-nome meThat I moot nede abideAnd suffre sorwes ful soureThat shal to joye torne,14020For-thi be noght abasshedTo bide and to be nedy;Sith he that wroghte al the worldWas wilfulliche nedy,Ne nevere noon so nedyNe poverer deide."WHAN Nede hath under-nome me thus,Anoon I fil a-slepe;And mette ful merveillously,That in mannes forme14030Antecrist cam thanne,And al the crop of TrutheTorned it up-so-doun,And over-tilte the roote;And fals sprynge and sprede,And spede mennes nedes,In ech a contree ther he camHe kutte awey truthe,And gerte gile growe there,As he a Good weere.14040Freres folwede that fend,For he gaf hem copes;And religiouse reverenced hym,And rongen hir belles,And al the covent forth camTo welcome that tyraunt,And alle hise as wel as hym,Save oonly fooles.Whiche foolis were wel levereTo deye than to lyve14050Lenger, sith LentenWas so rebuked.And as a fals fend, AntecristOver alle folk regnede,Save that were mylde men and holye,That no meschief dradden,Defyed alle falsnesseAnd folk that it usede;And what kyng that hem conforted,Knowynge hem any while,14060They cursed and hir conseil,Were it clerk or lewed.Antecrist hadde thus sooneHundredes at his baner,And Pride it barBoldely aboute,With a lord that lyvethAfter likyng of body,That kam ayein Conscience,That kepere was and gyour14070Over kynde cristeneAnd cardynale vertues."I conseille," quod Conscience tho,"Cometh with me, ye fooles,Into Unité holy chirche,And holde we us there;And crye we to kyndeThat he come and defende us,Fooles, fro thise fendes lymes,For Piers love the Plowman;14080And crye we to al the comune,That thei come to Unitee,And there abide and bikereAyeins Beliales children."Kynde Conscience tho herde,And cam out of the planetes,And sente forth his forreyours,Feveres and fluxes,Coughes and cardiacles,Crampes and tooth-aches,14090Rewmes and radegundes,And roynous scabbes,Biles and bocches,And brennynge agues,Frenesies and foule yveles,Forageres of kynde,Hadde y-priked and prayedPolles of peple,That largeliche a legionLoste hir lif soone.14100There was, "Harrow and help!Here cometh Kynde,With Deeth that is dredfulTo undo us alle!"The lord that lyved after lustTho aloud crydeAfter Confort, a knyght,To come and bere his baner;"A l'arme! à l'arme!" quod that lord,"Ech lif kepe his owene!"14110And thanne mette thise men,Er mynstrals myghte pipe,And er heraudes of armesHadden discryved lordes,Elde the hooreThat was in the vaunt-warde.And bar the baner bifore Deeth,Bi right he it cleymede.Kynde cam after,With many kene soores,14120As pokkes and pestilences,And muche peple shente;So Kynde thorugh corrupcionsKilde ful manye.Deeth cam dryvynge after,And al to duste passhedKynges and knyghtes,Kaysers and popes,Lered and lewed,He leet no man stonde14130That he hitte evene,That evere stired after.Manye a lovely lady,And lemmans of knyghtes,Swowned and sweltedFor sorwe of hise dyntes.Conscience of his curteisieTo Kynde he bi-soughteTo cesse and suffre,And see wher thei wolde14140Leve Pride pryvely,And be parfite cristene.And Kynde cessede thoTo se the peple amende.Fortune gan flatere thanneTho fewe that were alyve,And bi-highte hem long lif,And Lecherie he senteAmonges alle manere men,Wedded and unwedded,14150And gaderede a greet hoostAl agayn Conscience.This Lecherie leide onWith a janglynge chiere,And with pryvee specheAnd peyntede wordes;And armede hym in ydelnesse,And in heigh berynge.He bar a bowe in his hand,And manye brode arewes,14160Weren fethered with fair bi-hesteAnd many a fals truthe.With hise un-tidy talesHe tened ful ofte.Conscience and his compaignye,Of holy chirche the techeris.Thanne cam Coveitise,And caste how he myghteOvercome ConscienceAnd cardinale vertues,14170And armed hym in avarice,And hungriliche lyvede.His wepne was al wilesTo wynnen and to hiden;With glosynges and with gabbyngesHe giled the peple.Symonye hym senteTo assaille Conscience,And preched to the peple;And prelates thei hem maden14180To holden with Antecrist,His temporaltees to save;And cam to the kynges counseilleAs a kene baroun,And kneled to ConscienceIn court afore hem alle,And garte good feith flee,And fals to abide;And boldeliche bar a-doun,With many a bright noble,14190Muche of the wit and wisdomOfWestmynstre Halle.He jogged to a justice,And justed in his eere,And over-tilte al his trutheWith "Tak this up amendement."And tothe Archesin hasteHe yede anoon after,And tornede cyvyle into symonye,And siththe he took the official14200For a mantel of menever,And made lele matrymoyneDeparten er deeth cam,And devors shapte."Allas!" quod Conscience, and cryde tho,"Wolde Crist of his graceThat coveitise were cristene!That is so kene a fightere,And boold and bidyngeWhile his bagge lasteth."14210And thanne lough Lyf,And leet daggen hise clothes,And armed hym an hasteWith harlotes wordes;And heeld holynesse a jape,And hendenesse a wastour;And leet leautee a cherl,And lyere a fre man;Conscience and his counseilHe counted at a flye14220Thus relyede Lif,For a litel fortune;And priketh forth with Pride,Preiseth he no vertue,Ne careth noght how Kynde slow,And shal come at the laste,And kille alle erthely creatures,Save Conscience oone.Lyf lepte aside,And laughte hym a lemman;14230"Heele and I," quod he,"And heighnesse of herte,Shal do thee noght dredeNeither deeth ne elde,And to forgyte sorwe,And gyve noght of synne."This likede Lif,And his lemman Fortune;And geten in hir glorieA gadelyng at the laste,14240Oon that muche wo wroghte,Sleuthe was his name.Sleuthe wax wonder yerne,And soone was of age,And wedded oon Wanhope,A wenche of the stuwes.Hir sire was a sysourThat nevere swoor truthe,Oon Tomme Two-tonge,Atteynt at ech enqueste.14250This Sleuthe was war of werre,And a slynge made,And threw drede of dispairA dozeyne myle aboute.For care Conscience thoCryde upon Elde,And bad hym fonde to fighte,And a-fere Wanhope.And Elde hente good hope,And hastiliche he shifte hym,14260And wayved awey Wanhope,And with Lif he fighteth.And Lif fleigh for feereTo phisik after helpe,And bi-soughte hym of socour,And of his salve he hadde.He gaf hym gold good woon,That gladede his herte;And thei gyven hym ageynA glazene howve.14270Lyf leeved that lechecraftLette sholde elde,And dryven awey deethWith dyas and drogges.And Elde auntred hym on lyf,And at the laste he hitteA phisicien with a furred hood,That he fel in a palsie,And there dyed that doctourEr thre dayes after.14280"Now I se," seide Lif,"That surgerie ne phisikMay noght a myte availleTo mede ayein Elde."And in hope of his heeleGood herte he hente,And rood forth to a revel,A ryche place and a murye;The compaignye of confortMen cleped it som tyme.14290And Elde anoon after meAnd over myn heed yede;And made me balled bifore,And bare on the crowne.So harde he yede over myn heed,It wole be sene evere."Sire yvele y-taught, Elde!" quod I,"Unhende go with the!Sith whanne was the weyOver mennes heddes?14300Haddestow be hende," quod I,"Thow woldest have asked leeve.""Ye, leve lurdeyn!" quod he;And leyde on me with age,And hitte me under the ere,Unnethe myghte ich here.He buffetted me so aboute the mouth,That out my teeth he bette;And gyved me in goutes,I may noght goon at large.14310And of the wo that I was inneMy wifhadderuthe,And wisshed ful witterlyThat I were in hevene;For the lyme that she loved me fore,And leef was to feele,—On nyghtes, namely,Whan we naked weere,—I ne myghte in no manereMaken it at hir wille;14320So Elde and she, soothly,Hadden it for-beten.And as I seet in this sorwe,I saugh how Kynde passede;And Deeth drogh neigh me.For drede gan I quake,And cryde to Kynde,"Out of care me brynge!Lo! Elde the hooreHath me bi-seye.14330Awreke me! if youre wille be,For I wolde ben hennes.""If thow wolt be wroken,Wend into Unitee,And hold thee there evere,Til I sende for thee;And loke thow konne som craft,Er thow come thennes.""Counseille me, Kynde," quod I,"What craft is best to lerne."14340"Lerne to love," quod Kynde,"And leef of alle othere.""How shal I come to catel so,To clothe me and to feede?""And thow love lelly," quod he,"Lakke shal thee nevereMete ne worldly weede,While thi lif lasteth."And there by conseil of KyndeI comsed to rome14350Thorugh Contricion and Confession,Til I cam to Unitee.And there was Conscience conestableCristene to save,And bisegede soothlyWith sevene grete geauntzThat with Antechrist heldenHarde ayein Conscience.Sleuthe with his slyngeAn hard assaut he made.14360Proude preestes coome with hymMo than a thousand,In paltokes and pyked shoes,And pisseris longe knyves,Coomen ayein Conscience,With Coveitise thei helden."By Marie!" quod a mansed preestOf the Marche of Walys,"I counte na-moore Conscience,By so I cacche silver,14370Than I do to drynkeA draughte of good ale."And so seiden sixtyOf the same contree;And shotten ayein with shotMany a sheef of othes,And brode hoked arwes,Goddes herte and hise nayles;And hadden almoost Unitee,And holynesse a-down.14380Conscience cryede, "Helpe, Clergie!Or ellis I falle,Thorugh inparfite preestesAnd prelates of holy chirche."Freres herden hym crye,And comen hym to helpe;Ac for thei kouthe noght wel hir craft,Conscience forsook hem.Nede neghede tho neer,And Conscience he tolde14390That thei come for coveitiseTo have cure of soules;"And for thei are povere, peraventure,For patrymoyne thei faille,They wol flatere and fare welWith folk that ben riche.And sithen thei chosen cheleAnd cheitiftee poverte,Lat hem chewe as thei chose,And charge hem with no cure.14400For lomere he lyeth,That liflode moot begge,Than he that laboureth for liflode,And leneth it beggeris.And sithen freres forsokeThe felicité of erthe,Lat hem be as beggeris,Or lyve by aungeles foode."Conscience of this counseil thoComsede for to laughe,14410And curteisliche conforted hem,And called in alle freres,And seide, "Sires, soothlyWelcome be ye alleTo Unitee and holy chirche;Ac o thyng I yow preye,Holdeth yow in Unitee,And haveth noon envyeTo lered ne to lewed,But lyveth after youre reule,14420And I wol be youre borughYe shal have breed and clothesAnd othere necessaries y-nowe,Yow shal no thyng faille,With that ye leve logik,And lerneth for to lovye.For love lafte thei lordshipe,Bothe lond and scole,Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk,For love to be holye.14430"And if ye coveite cure,Kynde wol yow techeThat in mesure God madeAlle manere thynges,And sette hem at a certeinAnd a siker nombre,And nempnede names newe,And noumbrede the sterres.Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum,et omnibus eis, etc.14440"Kynges and knyghtesThat kepen and defenden,Han officers under hem,And ech of hem a certein.And if theiwage men to werre,Thei write hem in noumbre;Alle othere in batailleBen y-holde brybours,Pylours and pyke-harneys,In ech a place y-cursed,14450Wol no man tresore hem paie,Travaille thei never so soore."Monkes and moniales,And alle men of religion,Hir ordre and hir reule woleTo han a certein noumbre,Of lewed and of lered,The lawe wole and askethA certein for a certein,Save oonliche of freres.14460"For thi," quod conscience, "by Crist!Kynde wit me tellethIt is wikked to wage yow,Ye wexen out of noumbre;Hevene hath evene noumbre,And helle is withoute noumbre.For-thi I wolde witterlyThat ye were in the registre,And youre noumbre under notaries signe,And neither mo ne lasse."14470Envye herde this,And heet freres to go to scoleAnd lerne logyk and lawe,And ek contemplacion,And preche men of Plato,And preve it by Seneca,That alle thynges under heveneOughte to ben in comune.And yet he lyeth, as I leve,That to the lewed so precheth;14480For God made to men a lawe,And Moyses it taughte.Non concupisces rem proximi tui.And yvele in this y-holdeIn parisshes of Engelonde;For persons and parissh-preestesThat sholde the peple shryve,Ben curatours called,To knowe and to heleAlle that ben hir parisshens,14490Penaunce to enjoigne;And sholden be ashamed in his shrift;Ac shame maketh hem wendeAnd fleen to the freres,As fals folk to Westmynstre,That borweth, and bereth it thider,And thanne biddeth frendesYerne of forgifnesse,Or lenger yeres loone.Ac while he is in Westmynstre,14500He wol be bifore,And maken hym murieWith oother mennes goodes.And so it fareth with muche folkThat to the freres hem shryveth,As sisours and executours,Thei wol gyve the freresA parcel to preye for hem,And make hemself muryeWith the residue and the remenaunt14510That othere men bi-swonke,And suffre the dede in detteTo the day of doome.Envye herforeHatede Conscience;And freres to philosophieHe fond thanne to scole,The while Coveitise and Unkyndenesse,Conscience assaillede.In Unitee holy chirche14520Conscience held hym,And made Pees porterTo pynne the yates,Of alle tale-tellerisAnd titeleris in ydelYpocrisie and heAn hard assaut thei made,And woundede wel wikkedlyMany a wis techereThat with Conscience acordede14530And cardynale vertues.Conscience called a leche,That koude wel shryve,To go salve tho that sike benAnd thorugh synne y-woundedShrift shoop sharpe salve,And made men do penaunceFor hir mys-dedesThat thei wroght hadde,And that Piers were y-payed:14540Redde quod debes.Some liked noght this leche,And lettres thei sente,If any surgien were the seggeThat softer koude plastre.Sire Leef-to-lyve-in-lecherieLay there and gronede,For fastynge of a FrydayeHe ferde as he wolde deye."Ther is a surgien in this sege14550That softe kan handle,And moore of phisik bi ferAnd fairer he plastreth,Oon frere Flaterere,Is phisicien and surgien."Quod Contricion to Conscience,"Do hym come to Unitee;For here is many a manHurt thorugh Ypocrisye.""We han no nede," quod Conscience,14560"I woot no bettre lecheThan person or parisshe-preest,Penitauncer or bisshope,Save Piers the Plowman,That hath power over hem alle,And indulgence may do,But if dette lette it.""I may wel suffre," seide Conscience,"Syn ye desirenThat frere Flaterere be fet14570And phisike yow sike."The frere herof herdeAnd hiede fasteTo a lord for a lettre,Leve to have to curen,As a curatour he were;And cam with hise lettresBoldely to the bisshope,And his brief hadde,In contrees ther he coome14580Confessions to here,And cam there Conscience was,And knokked at the yate.Pees unpynned it,Was porter of Unitee,And in haste askedeWhat his wille were."In faith!" quod this frere,"For profit and for heltheCarpe I wolde with Contricion,14590And therfore cam I hider.""He is sik," seide Pees,"And so are manye othere.Ypocrisie hath hurt hem,Ful hard is if thei kevere.""I am a surgien," seide the segge,"And salves kan make.Conscience knoweth me wel,And what I kan do bothe.""I praye thee," quod Pees tho,14600"Er thow passe ferther,What hattestow? I praye thee;Hele noght thi name.""Certes," seide his felawe,"SirePenetrans-domos.""Ye, go thi gate," quod Pees,"By God! for al thi phisik,But thow konne som oother craft,Thow comest nought herinne.I knew swich oon ones,14610Noght eighte wynter hennes,Coom in thus y-copedAt a court there I dwelde,And was my lordes leche,And my ladies bothe.And at the lastethis lymytour,Tho my lord was oute,He salvede so oure wommenTil some were with childe."Hende-speche heet Pees14620Open the yates,"Lat in the frere and his felawe,And make hem fair cheere;He may se and here,So it may bifalleThat lif thorugh his looreShal leve Coveitise,And be a-drad of Deeth,And withdrawe hym fram Pryde,And acorde with Conscience,14630And kisse hir either oother."Thus thorugh Hende-specheEntred the frere,And cam in to Conscience,And curteisly hym grette."Thou art welcome," quod Conscience,"Kanstow heele the sike?Here is Contricion," quod Conscience,"My cosyn, y-wounded.Conforte hym," quod Conscience,14640"And tak kepe to hise soores.The plastres of the personAnd poudres biten to soore;He lat hem ligge over longe,And looth is to chaunge hem;Fro lenten to lentenHe lat hise plastres bite.""That is over longe," quod this lymytour,"I leve I shal amende it."And gooth and gropeth Contricion,14650And gaf hym a plastreOf 'a pryvee paiement,And I shal praye for yowFor al that ye ben holden to,Al my lif tyme,And make yow, my lady,In masse and in matynsAs frere of oure fraternyteeFor a litel silver.'Thus he gooth and gadereth,14660And gloseth there he shryveth,Til Contricion hadde clene foryetenTo crye and to wepe;And wake for hise wikked werkes,As he was wont to doone,For confort of his confessourContricion he lafte,That is the soverayneste salveFor alle kynne synnes.Sleuthe seigh that,14670And so dide Pryde,And comen with a kene willeConscience to assaille.Conscience cryed eft,And bad Clergie helpe hym,And also Contricion,For to kepe the yate."He lyth and dremeth," seide Pees,"And so do manye othere,The frere with his phisyk14680This folk hath enchaunted,And plastred hem so esily,Thei drede no synne.""By Crist!" quod Conscience tho,"I wole bicome a pilgrym,And walken as wideAs the world lasteth,To seken Piers the Plowman,That Pryde may destruye;And that freres hadde a fyndyng,14690That for nede flateren,And countrepledeth me, Conscience.Now Kynde me avenge,And sende me hap and heele,Til I have Piers the Plowman."And siththe he gradde after Grace,14696Til I gan awake.Explicit hic Dialogus Petri Plowman.
Passus Vicesimus de Visione, et Primus de Do-best.
Passus Vicesimus de Visione, et Primus de Do-best.
T13928HANNE as I wente by the wey,Whan I was thus awaked,Hevy-chered I yede,And elenge in herte;I ne wiste wher to ete,Ne at what place,And it neghed neigh the noon,And with Nede I metteThat afrounted me foule,And faitour me called:"Kanstow noght excuse thee,As dide the kyng and othere,13940That thow toke to thy bilyve,To clothes and to sustenaunce;And by techynge and by tellyngeOfspiritus temperantiæ,And thow nome na-mooreThan nede thee taughte,And nede he hath no lawe,Ne nevere shal falle in dette;For thre thynges he taketh,His lif for to save.
T13928
T
13928
HANNE as I wente by the wey,
Whan I was thus awaked,
Hevy-chered I yede,
And elenge in herte;
I ne wiste wher to ete,
Ne at what place,
And it neghed neigh the noon,
And with Nede I mette
That afrounted me foule,
And faitour me called:
"Kanstow noght excuse thee,
As dide the kyng and othere,
13940
13940
That thow toke to thy bilyve,
To clothes and to sustenaunce;
And by techynge and by tellynge
Ofspiritus temperantiæ,
And thow nome na-moore
Than nede thee taughte,
And nede he hath no lawe,
Ne nevere shal falle in dette;
For thre thynges he taketh,
His lif for to save.
13950"That is mete, whan men hym wernethAnd he no moneye weldeth,Ne wight noon wol ben his borugh,Ne wed hath noon to legge;And he caughte in that caas,And come therto by sleighte,He synneth noght, soothliche,That so wynneth his foode.
13950
13950
"That is mete, whan men hym werneth
And he no moneye weldeth,
Ne wight noon wol ben his borugh,
Ne wed hath noon to legge;
And he caughte in that caas,
And come therto by sleighte,
He synneth noght, soothliche,
That so wynneth his foode.
"And though he come so to a clooth,And kan no bettre chevyssaunce,13960Nede anoon righteNymeth hym under maynprise.
"And though he come so to a clooth,
And kan no bettre chevyssaunce,
13960
13960
Nede anoon righte
Nymeth hym under maynprise.
"And if hym list for to lape,The lawe of kynde woldeThat he dronke at ech dych,Er he for thurst deide.So Nede al gret nedeMay nymen, as for his owene,Withouten counseil of ConscienceOr cardynale vertues,13970So that he sewe and saveSpiritus temperantiæ.
"And if hym list for to lape,
The lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at ech dych,
Er he for thurst deide.
So Nede al gret nede
May nymen, as for his owene,
Withouten counseil of Conscience
Or cardynale vertues,
13970
13970
So that he sewe and save
Spiritus temperantiæ.
"For is no vertue bi ferTospiritus temperantiæ;Nespiritus justitiæNespiritus fortitudinis.Forspiritus fortitudinisForfeteth ful ofte.He shal do moore than mesureMany tyme and ofte,13980And bete men over bittre,And some of hem to litel,And greve men gretterThan good feith it wolde
"For is no vertue bi fer
Tospiritus temperantiæ;
Nespiritus justitiæ
Nespiritus fortitudinis.
Forspiritus fortitudinis
Forfeteth ful ofte.
He shal do moore than mesure
Many tyme and ofte,
13980
13980
And bete men over bittre,
And some of hem to litel,
And greve men gretter
Than good feith it wolde
"Andspiritus justitiæShal juggen, wol he nele he,After the kynges counseil,And the comune like.Andspiritus prudentiæIn many a point shal faille13990Of that he weneth wolde falle,If his wit ne weere.Wenynge is no wysdom,Ne wys ymaginacion,Homo proponit, et Deus disponit,And governeth alle goode vertues;Ac Nede is next hym,For anoon he meketh,And as lowe as a lomb,For lakkyng of that hym nedeth.14000Wise men forsoke wele,For thei wolde be nedy,And woneden in wildernesse,And wolde noght he riche.
"Andspiritus justitiæ
Shal juggen, wol he nele he,
After the kynges counseil,
And the comune like.
Andspiritus prudentiæ
In many a point shal faille
13990
13990
Of that he weneth wolde falle,
If his wit ne weere.
Wenynge is no wysdom,
Ne wys ymaginacion,
Homo proponit, et Deus disponit,
And governeth alle goode vertues;
Ac Nede is next hym,
For anoon he meketh,
And as lowe as a lomb,
For lakkyng of that hym nedeth.
14000
14000
Wise men forsoke wele,
For thei wolde be nedy,
And woneden in wildernesse,
And wolde noght he riche.
"And God al his grete joyeGoostliche he lefte,And cam and took mankynde,And bi-cam nedy.So nedy he was, as seith the book,In manye sondry places,14010That he seide in his sorweOn the selve roode,Bothe fox and fowelMay fle to hole and crepe,And the fissh hath fynTo flete with to reste,Ther Nede hath y-nome meThat I moot nede abideAnd suffre sorwes ful soureThat shal to joye torne,14020For-thi be noght abasshedTo bide and to be nedy;Sith he that wroghte al the worldWas wilfulliche nedy,Ne nevere noon so nedyNe poverer deide."
"And God al his grete joye
Goostliche he lefte,
And cam and took mankynde,
And bi-cam nedy.
So nedy he was, as seith the book,
In manye sondry places,
14010
14010
That he seide in his sorwe
On the selve roode,
Bothe fox and fowel
May fle to hole and crepe,
And the fissh hath fyn
To flete with to reste,
Ther Nede hath y-nome me
That I moot nede abide
And suffre sorwes ful soure
That shal to joye torne,
14020
14020
For-thi be noght abasshed
To bide and to be nedy;
Sith he that wroghte al the world
Was wilfulliche nedy,
Ne nevere noon so nedy
Ne poverer deide."
WHAN Nede hath under-nome me thus,Anoon I fil a-slepe;And mette ful merveillously,That in mannes forme14030Antecrist cam thanne,And al the crop of TrutheTorned it up-so-doun,And over-tilte the roote;And fals sprynge and sprede,And spede mennes nedes,In ech a contree ther he camHe kutte awey truthe,And gerte gile growe there,As he a Good weere.
W
W
HAN Nede hath under-nome me thus,
Anoon I fil a-slepe;
And mette ful merveillously,
That in mannes forme
14030
14030
Antecrist cam thanne,
And al the crop of Truthe
Torned it up-so-doun,
And over-tilte the roote;
And fals sprynge and sprede,
And spede mennes nedes,
In ech a contree ther he cam
He kutte awey truthe,
And gerte gile growe there,
As he a Good weere.
14040Freres folwede that fend,For he gaf hem copes;And religiouse reverenced hym,And rongen hir belles,And al the covent forth camTo welcome that tyraunt,And alle hise as wel as hym,Save oonly fooles.Whiche foolis were wel levereTo deye than to lyve14050Lenger, sith LentenWas so rebuked.And as a fals fend, AntecristOver alle folk regnede,Save that were mylde men and holye,That no meschief dradden,Defyed alle falsnesseAnd folk that it usede;And what kyng that hem conforted,Knowynge hem any while,14060They cursed and hir conseil,Were it clerk or lewed.
14040
14040
Freres folwede that fend,
For he gaf hem copes;
And religiouse reverenced hym,
And rongen hir belles,
And al the covent forth cam
To welcome that tyraunt,
And alle hise as wel as hym,
Save oonly fooles.
Whiche foolis were wel levere
To deye than to lyve
14050
14050
Lenger, sith Lenten
Was so rebuked.
And as a fals fend, Antecrist
Over alle folk regnede,
Save that were mylde men and holye,
That no meschief dradden,
Defyed alle falsnesse
And folk that it usede;
And what kyng that hem conforted,
Knowynge hem any while,
14060
14060
They cursed and hir conseil,
Were it clerk or lewed.
Antecrist hadde thus sooneHundredes at his baner,And Pride it barBoldely aboute,With a lord that lyvethAfter likyng of body,That kam ayein Conscience,That kepere was and gyour14070Over kynde cristeneAnd cardynale vertues.
Antecrist hadde thus soone
Hundredes at his baner,
And Pride it bar
Boldely aboute,
With a lord that lyveth
After likyng of body,
That kam ayein Conscience,
That kepere was and gyour
14070
14070
Over kynde cristene
And cardynale vertues.
"I conseille," quod Conscience tho,"Cometh with me, ye fooles,Into Unité holy chirche,And holde we us there;And crye we to kyndeThat he come and defende us,Fooles, fro thise fendes lymes,For Piers love the Plowman;14080And crye we to al the comune,That thei come to Unitee,And there abide and bikereAyeins Beliales children."
"I conseille," quod Conscience tho,
"Cometh with me, ye fooles,
Into Unité holy chirche,
And holde we us there;
And crye we to kynde
That he come and defende us,
Fooles, fro thise fendes lymes,
For Piers love the Plowman;
14080
14080
And crye we to al the comune,
That thei come to Unitee,
And there abide and bikere
Ayeins Beliales children."
Kynde Conscience tho herde,And cam out of the planetes,And sente forth his forreyours,Feveres and fluxes,Coughes and cardiacles,Crampes and tooth-aches,14090Rewmes and radegundes,And roynous scabbes,Biles and bocches,And brennynge agues,Frenesies and foule yveles,Forageres of kynde,Hadde y-priked and prayedPolles of peple,That largeliche a legionLoste hir lif soone.
Kynde Conscience tho herde,
And cam out of the planetes,
And sente forth his forreyours,
Feveres and fluxes,
Coughes and cardiacles,
Crampes and tooth-aches,
14090
14090
Rewmes and radegundes,
And roynous scabbes,
Biles and bocches,
And brennynge agues,
Frenesies and foule yveles,
Forageres of kynde,
Hadde y-priked and prayed
Polles of peple,
That largeliche a legion
Loste hir lif soone.
14100There was, "Harrow and help!Here cometh Kynde,With Deeth that is dredfulTo undo us alle!"
14100
14100
There was, "Harrow and help!
Here cometh Kynde,
With Deeth that is dredful
To undo us alle!"
The lord that lyved after lustTho aloud crydeAfter Confort, a knyght,To come and bere his baner;"A l'arme! à l'arme!" quod that lord,"Ech lif kepe his owene!"
The lord that lyved after lust
Tho aloud cryde
After Confort, a knyght,
To come and bere his baner;
"A l'arme! à l'arme!" quod that lord,
"Ech lif kepe his owene!"
14110And thanne mette thise men,Er mynstrals myghte pipe,And er heraudes of armesHadden discryved lordes,Elde the hooreThat was in the vaunt-warde.And bar the baner bifore Deeth,Bi right he it cleymede.
14110
14110
And thanne mette thise men,
Er mynstrals myghte pipe,
And er heraudes of armes
Hadden discryved lordes,
Elde the hoore
That was in the vaunt-warde.
And bar the baner bifore Deeth,
Bi right he it cleymede.
Kynde cam after,With many kene soores,14120As pokkes and pestilences,And muche peple shente;So Kynde thorugh corrupcionsKilde ful manye.
Kynde cam after,
With many kene soores,
14120
14120
As pokkes and pestilences,
And muche peple shente;
So Kynde thorugh corrupcions
Kilde ful manye.
Deeth cam dryvynge after,And al to duste passhedKynges and knyghtes,Kaysers and popes,Lered and lewed,He leet no man stonde14130That he hitte evene,That evere stired after.Manye a lovely lady,And lemmans of knyghtes,Swowned and sweltedFor sorwe of hise dyntes.
Deeth cam dryvynge after,
And al to duste passhed
Kynges and knyghtes,
Kaysers and popes,
Lered and lewed,
He leet no man stonde
14130
14130
That he hitte evene,
That evere stired after.
Manye a lovely lady,
And lemmans of knyghtes,
Swowned and swelted
For sorwe of hise dyntes.
Conscience of his curteisieTo Kynde he bi-soughteTo cesse and suffre,And see wher thei wolde14140Leve Pride pryvely,And be parfite cristene.
Conscience of his curteisie
To Kynde he bi-soughte
To cesse and suffre,
And see wher thei wolde
14140
14140
Leve Pride pryvely,
And be parfite cristene.
And Kynde cessede thoTo se the peple amende.Fortune gan flatere thanneTho fewe that were alyve,And bi-highte hem long lif,And Lecherie he senteAmonges alle manere men,Wedded and unwedded,14150And gaderede a greet hoostAl agayn Conscience.
And Kynde cessede tho
To se the peple amende.
Fortune gan flatere thanne
Tho fewe that were alyve,
And bi-highte hem long lif,
And Lecherie he sente
Amonges alle manere men,
Wedded and unwedded,
14150
14150
And gaderede a greet hoost
Al agayn Conscience.
This Lecherie leide onWith a janglynge chiere,And with pryvee specheAnd peyntede wordes;And armede hym in ydelnesse,And in heigh berynge.He bar a bowe in his hand,And manye brode arewes,14160Weren fethered with fair bi-hesteAnd many a fals truthe.With hise un-tidy talesHe tened ful ofte.Conscience and his compaignye,Of holy chirche the techeris.
This Lecherie leide on
With a janglynge chiere,
And with pryvee speche
And peyntede wordes;
And armede hym in ydelnesse,
And in heigh berynge.
He bar a bowe in his hand,
And manye brode arewes,
14160
14160
Weren fethered with fair bi-heste
And many a fals truthe.
With hise un-tidy tales
He tened ful ofte.
Conscience and his compaignye,
Of holy chirche the techeris.
Thanne cam Coveitise,And caste how he myghteOvercome ConscienceAnd cardinale vertues,14170And armed hym in avarice,And hungriliche lyvede.His wepne was al wilesTo wynnen and to hiden;With glosynges and with gabbyngesHe giled the peple.
Thanne cam Coveitise,
And caste how he myghte
Overcome Conscience
And cardinale vertues,
14170
14170
And armed hym in avarice,
And hungriliche lyvede.
His wepne was al wiles
To wynnen and to hiden;
With glosynges and with gabbynges
He giled the peple.
Symonye hym senteTo assaille Conscience,And preched to the peple;And prelates thei hem maden14180To holden with Antecrist,His temporaltees to save;And cam to the kynges counseilleAs a kene baroun,And kneled to ConscienceIn court afore hem alle,And garte good feith flee,And fals to abide;And boldeliche bar a-doun,With many a bright noble,14190Muche of the wit and wisdomOfWestmynstre Halle.He jogged to a justice,And justed in his eere,And over-tilte al his trutheWith "Tak this up amendement."
Symonye hym sente
To assaille Conscience,
And preched to the peple;
And prelates thei hem maden
14180
14180
To holden with Antecrist,
His temporaltees to save;
And cam to the kynges counseille
As a kene baroun,
And kneled to Conscience
In court afore hem alle,
And garte good feith flee,
And fals to abide;
And boldeliche bar a-doun,
With many a bright noble,
14190
14190
Muche of the wit and wisdom
OfWestmynstre Halle.
He jogged to a justice,
And justed in his eere,
And over-tilte al his truthe
With "Tak this up amendement."
And tothe Archesin hasteHe yede anoon after,And tornede cyvyle into symonye,And siththe he took the official14200For a mantel of menever,And made lele matrymoyneDeparten er deeth cam,And devors shapte.
And tothe Archesin haste
He yede anoon after,
And tornede cyvyle into symonye,
And siththe he took the official
14200
14200
For a mantel of menever,
And made lele matrymoyne
Departen er deeth cam,
And devors shapte.
"Allas!" quod Conscience, and cryde tho,"Wolde Crist of his graceThat coveitise were cristene!That is so kene a fightere,And boold and bidyngeWhile his bagge lasteth."
"Allas!" quod Conscience, and cryde tho,
"Wolde Crist of his grace
That coveitise were cristene!
That is so kene a fightere,
And boold and bidynge
While his bagge lasteth."
14210And thanne lough Lyf,And leet daggen hise clothes,And armed hym an hasteWith harlotes wordes;And heeld holynesse a jape,And hendenesse a wastour;And leet leautee a cherl,And lyere a fre man;Conscience and his counseilHe counted at a flye14220Thus relyede Lif,For a litel fortune;And priketh forth with Pride,Preiseth he no vertue,Ne careth noght how Kynde slow,And shal come at the laste,And kille alle erthely creatures,Save Conscience oone.Lyf lepte aside,And laughte hym a lemman;14230"Heele and I," quod he,"And heighnesse of herte,Shal do thee noght dredeNeither deeth ne elde,And to forgyte sorwe,And gyve noght of synne."
14210
14210
And thanne lough Lyf,
And leet daggen hise clothes,
And armed hym an haste
With harlotes wordes;
And heeld holynesse a jape,
And hendenesse a wastour;
And leet leautee a cherl,
And lyere a fre man;
Conscience and his counseil
He counted at a flye
14220
14220
Thus relyede Lif,
For a litel fortune;
And priketh forth with Pride,
Preiseth he no vertue,
Ne careth noght how Kynde slow,
And shal come at the laste,
And kille alle erthely creatures,
Save Conscience oone.
Lyf lepte aside,
And laughte hym a lemman;
14230
14230
"Heele and I," quod he,
"And heighnesse of herte,
Shal do thee noght drede
Neither deeth ne elde,
And to forgyte sorwe,
And gyve noght of synne."
This likede Lif,And his lemman Fortune;And geten in hir glorieA gadelyng at the laste,14240Oon that muche wo wroghte,Sleuthe was his name.Sleuthe wax wonder yerne,And soone was of age,And wedded oon Wanhope,A wenche of the stuwes.Hir sire was a sysourThat nevere swoor truthe,Oon Tomme Two-tonge,Atteynt at ech enqueste.
This likede Lif,
And his lemman Fortune;
And geten in hir glorie
A gadelyng at the laste,
14240
14240
Oon that muche wo wroghte,
Sleuthe was his name.
Sleuthe wax wonder yerne,
And soone was of age,
And wedded oon Wanhope,
A wenche of the stuwes.
Hir sire was a sysour
That nevere swoor truthe,
Oon Tomme Two-tonge,
Atteynt at ech enqueste.
14250This Sleuthe was war of werre,And a slynge made,And threw drede of dispairA dozeyne myle aboute.
14250
14250
This Sleuthe was war of werre,
And a slynge made,
And threw drede of dispair
A dozeyne myle aboute.
For care Conscience thoCryde upon Elde,And bad hym fonde to fighte,And a-fere Wanhope.
For care Conscience tho
Cryde upon Elde,
And bad hym fonde to fighte,
And a-fere Wanhope.
And Elde hente good hope,And hastiliche he shifte hym,14260And wayved awey Wanhope,And with Lif he fighteth.And Lif fleigh for feereTo phisik after helpe,And bi-soughte hym of socour,And of his salve he hadde.He gaf hym gold good woon,That gladede his herte;And thei gyven hym ageynA glazene howve.
And Elde hente good hope,
And hastiliche he shifte hym,
14260
14260
And wayved awey Wanhope,
And with Lif he fighteth.
And Lif fleigh for feere
To phisik after helpe,
And bi-soughte hym of socour,
And of his salve he hadde.
He gaf hym gold good woon,
That gladede his herte;
And thei gyven hym ageyn
A glazene howve.
14270Lyf leeved that lechecraftLette sholde elde,And dryven awey deethWith dyas and drogges.
14270
14270
Lyf leeved that lechecraft
Lette sholde elde,
And dryven awey deeth
With dyas and drogges.
And Elde auntred hym on lyf,And at the laste he hitteA phisicien with a furred hood,That he fel in a palsie,And there dyed that doctourEr thre dayes after.
And Elde auntred hym on lyf,
And at the laste he hitte
A phisicien with a furred hood,
That he fel in a palsie,
And there dyed that doctour
Er thre dayes after.
14280"Now I se," seide Lif,"That surgerie ne phisikMay noght a myte availleTo mede ayein Elde."And in hope of his heeleGood herte he hente,And rood forth to a revel,A ryche place and a murye;The compaignye of confortMen cleped it som tyme.
14280
14280
"Now I se," seide Lif,
"That surgerie ne phisik
May noght a myte availle
To mede ayein Elde."
And in hope of his heele
Good herte he hente,
And rood forth to a revel,
A ryche place and a murye;
The compaignye of confort
Men cleped it som tyme.
14290And Elde anoon after meAnd over myn heed yede;And made me balled bifore,And bare on the crowne.So harde he yede over myn heed,It wole be sene evere.
14290
14290
And Elde anoon after me
And over myn heed yede;
And made me balled bifore,
And bare on the crowne.
So harde he yede over myn heed,
It wole be sene evere.
"Sire yvele y-taught, Elde!" quod I,"Unhende go with the!Sith whanne was the weyOver mennes heddes?14300Haddestow be hende," quod I,"Thow woldest have asked leeve."
"Sire yvele y-taught, Elde!" quod I,
"Unhende go with the!
Sith whanne was the wey
Over mennes heddes?
14300
14300
Haddestow be hende," quod I,
"Thow woldest have asked leeve."
"Ye, leve lurdeyn!" quod he;And leyde on me with age,And hitte me under the ere,Unnethe myghte ich here.He buffetted me so aboute the mouth,That out my teeth he bette;And gyved me in goutes,I may noght goon at large.14310And of the wo that I was inneMy wifhadderuthe,And wisshed ful witterlyThat I were in hevene;For the lyme that she loved me fore,And leef was to feele,—On nyghtes, namely,Whan we naked weere,—I ne myghte in no manereMaken it at hir wille;14320So Elde and she, soothly,Hadden it for-beten.
"Ye, leve lurdeyn!" quod he;
And leyde on me with age,
And hitte me under the ere,
Unnethe myghte ich here.
He buffetted me so aboute the mouth,
That out my teeth he bette;
And gyved me in goutes,
I may noght goon at large.
14310
14310
And of the wo that I was inne
My wifhadderuthe,
And wisshed ful witterly
That I were in hevene;
For the lyme that she loved me fore,
And leef was to feele,—
On nyghtes, namely,
Whan we naked weere,—
I ne myghte in no manere
Maken it at hir wille;
14320
14320
So Elde and she, soothly,
Hadden it for-beten.
And as I seet in this sorwe,I saugh how Kynde passede;And Deeth drogh neigh me.For drede gan I quake,And cryde to Kynde,"Out of care me brynge!Lo! Elde the hooreHath me bi-seye.14330Awreke me! if youre wille be,For I wolde ben hennes."
And as I seet in this sorwe,
I saugh how Kynde passede;
And Deeth drogh neigh me.
For drede gan I quake,
And cryde to Kynde,
"Out of care me brynge!
Lo! Elde the hoore
Hath me bi-seye.
14330
14330
Awreke me! if youre wille be,
For I wolde ben hennes."
"If thow wolt be wroken,Wend into Unitee,And hold thee there evere,Til I sende for thee;And loke thow konne som craft,Er thow come thennes."
"If thow wolt be wroken,
Wend into Unitee,
And hold thee there evere,
Til I sende for thee;
And loke thow konne som craft,
Er thow come thennes."
"Counseille me, Kynde," quod I,"What craft is best to lerne."
"Counseille me, Kynde," quod I,
"What craft is best to lerne."
14340"Lerne to love," quod Kynde,"And leef of alle othere."
14340
14340
"Lerne to love," quod Kynde,
"And leef of alle othere."
"How shal I come to catel so,To clothe me and to feede?"
"How shal I come to catel so,
To clothe me and to feede?"
"And thow love lelly," quod he,"Lakke shal thee nevereMete ne worldly weede,While thi lif lasteth."
"And thow love lelly," quod he,
"Lakke shal thee nevere
Mete ne worldly weede,
While thi lif lasteth."
And there by conseil of KyndeI comsed to rome14350Thorugh Contricion and Confession,Til I cam to Unitee.And there was Conscience conestableCristene to save,And bisegede soothlyWith sevene grete geauntzThat with Antechrist heldenHarde ayein Conscience.
And there by conseil of Kynde
I comsed to rome
14350
14350
Thorugh Contricion and Confession,
Til I cam to Unitee.
And there was Conscience conestable
Cristene to save,
And bisegede soothly
With sevene grete geauntz
That with Antechrist helden
Harde ayein Conscience.
Sleuthe with his slyngeAn hard assaut he made.14360Proude preestes coome with hymMo than a thousand,In paltokes and pyked shoes,And pisseris longe knyves,Coomen ayein Conscience,With Coveitise thei helden.
Sleuthe with his slynge
An hard assaut he made.
14360
14360
Proude preestes coome with hym
Mo than a thousand,
In paltokes and pyked shoes,
And pisseris longe knyves,
Coomen ayein Conscience,
With Coveitise thei helden.
"By Marie!" quod a mansed preestOf the Marche of Walys,"I counte na-moore Conscience,By so I cacche silver,14370Than I do to drynkeA draughte of good ale."And so seiden sixtyOf the same contree;And shotten ayein with shotMany a sheef of othes,And brode hoked arwes,Goddes herte and hise nayles;And hadden almoost Unitee,And holynesse a-down.
"By Marie!" quod a mansed preest
Of the Marche of Walys,
"I counte na-moore Conscience,
By so I cacche silver,
14370
14370
Than I do to drynke
A draughte of good ale."
And so seiden sixty
Of the same contree;
And shotten ayein with shot
Many a sheef of othes,
And brode hoked arwes,
Goddes herte and hise nayles;
And hadden almoost Unitee,
And holynesse a-down.
14380Conscience cryede, "Helpe, Clergie!Or ellis I falle,Thorugh inparfite preestesAnd prelates of holy chirche."Freres herden hym crye,And comen hym to helpe;Ac for thei kouthe noght wel hir craft,Conscience forsook hem.
14380
14380
Conscience cryede, "Helpe, Clergie!
Or ellis I falle,
Thorugh inparfite preestes
And prelates of holy chirche."
Freres herden hym crye,
And comen hym to helpe;
Ac for thei kouthe noght wel hir craft,
Conscience forsook hem.
Nede neghede tho neer,And Conscience he tolde14390That thei come for coveitiseTo have cure of soules;"And for thei are povere, peraventure,For patrymoyne thei faille,They wol flatere and fare welWith folk that ben riche.And sithen thei chosen cheleAnd cheitiftee poverte,Lat hem chewe as thei chose,And charge hem with no cure.14400For lomere he lyeth,That liflode moot begge,Than he that laboureth for liflode,And leneth it beggeris.And sithen freres forsokeThe felicité of erthe,Lat hem be as beggeris,Or lyve by aungeles foode."
Nede neghede tho neer,
And Conscience he tolde
14390
14390
That thei come for coveitise
To have cure of soules;
"And for thei are povere, peraventure,
For patrymoyne thei faille,
They wol flatere and fare wel
With folk that ben riche.
And sithen thei chosen chele
And cheitiftee poverte,
Lat hem chewe as thei chose,
And charge hem with no cure.
14400
14400
For lomere he lyeth,
That liflode moot begge,
Than he that laboureth for liflode,
And leneth it beggeris.
And sithen freres forsoke
The felicité of erthe,
Lat hem be as beggeris,
Or lyve by aungeles foode."
Conscience of this counseil thoComsede for to laughe,14410And curteisliche conforted hem,And called in alle freres,And seide, "Sires, soothlyWelcome be ye alleTo Unitee and holy chirche;Ac o thyng I yow preye,Holdeth yow in Unitee,And haveth noon envyeTo lered ne to lewed,But lyveth after youre reule,14420And I wol be youre borughYe shal have breed and clothesAnd othere necessaries y-nowe,Yow shal no thyng faille,With that ye leve logik,And lerneth for to lovye.For love lafte thei lordshipe,Bothe lond and scole,Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk,For love to be holye.
Conscience of this counseil tho
Comsede for to laughe,
14410
14410
And curteisliche conforted hem,
And called in alle freres,
And seide, "Sires, soothly
Welcome be ye alle
To Unitee and holy chirche;
Ac o thyng I yow preye,
Holdeth yow in Unitee,
And haveth noon envye
To lered ne to lewed,
But lyveth after youre reule,
14420
14420
And I wol be youre borugh
Ye shal have breed and clothes
And othere necessaries y-nowe,
Yow shal no thyng faille,
With that ye leve logik,
And lerneth for to lovye.
For love lafte thei lordshipe,
Bothe lond and scole,
Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk,
For love to be holye.
14430"And if ye coveite cure,Kynde wol yow techeThat in mesure God madeAlle manere thynges,And sette hem at a certeinAnd a siker nombre,And nempnede names newe,And noumbrede the sterres.Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum,et omnibus eis, etc.
14430
14430
"And if ye coveite cure,
Kynde wol yow teche
That in mesure God made
Alle manere thynges,
And sette hem at a certein
And a siker nombre,
And nempnede names newe,
And noumbrede the sterres.
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum,
et omnibus eis, etc.
14440"Kynges and knyghtesThat kepen and defenden,Han officers under hem,And ech of hem a certein.And if theiwage men to werre,Thei write hem in noumbre;Alle othere in batailleBen y-holde brybours,Pylours and pyke-harneys,In ech a place y-cursed,14450Wol no man tresore hem paie,Travaille thei never so soore.
14440
14440
"Kynges and knyghtes
That kepen and defenden,
Han officers under hem,
And ech of hem a certein.
And if theiwage men to werre,
Thei write hem in noumbre;
Alle othere in bataille
Ben y-holde brybours,
Pylours and pyke-harneys,
In ech a place y-cursed,
14450
14450
Wol no man tresore hem paie,
Travaille thei never so soore.
"Monkes and moniales,And alle men of religion,Hir ordre and hir reule woleTo han a certein noumbre,Of lewed and of lered,The lawe wole and askethA certein for a certein,Save oonliche of freres.
"Monkes and moniales,
And alle men of religion,
Hir ordre and hir reule wole
To han a certein noumbre,
Of lewed and of lered,
The lawe wole and asketh
A certein for a certein,
Save oonliche of freres.
14460"For thi," quod conscience, "by Crist!Kynde wit me tellethIt is wikked to wage yow,Ye wexen out of noumbre;Hevene hath evene noumbre,And helle is withoute noumbre.For-thi I wolde witterlyThat ye were in the registre,And youre noumbre under notaries signe,And neither mo ne lasse."
14460
14460
"For thi," quod conscience, "by Crist!
Kynde wit me telleth
It is wikked to wage yow,
Ye wexen out of noumbre;
Hevene hath evene noumbre,
And helle is withoute noumbre.
For-thi I wolde witterly
That ye were in the registre,
And youre noumbre under notaries signe,
And neither mo ne lasse."
14470Envye herde this,And heet freres to go to scoleAnd lerne logyk and lawe,And ek contemplacion,And preche men of Plato,And preve it by Seneca,That alle thynges under heveneOughte to ben in comune.
14470
14470
Envye herde this,
And heet freres to go to scole
And lerne logyk and lawe,
And ek contemplacion,
And preche men of Plato,
And preve it by Seneca,
That alle thynges under hevene
Oughte to ben in comune.
And yet he lyeth, as I leve,That to the lewed so precheth;14480For God made to men a lawe,And Moyses it taughte.Non concupisces rem proximi tui.
And yet he lyeth, as I leve,
That to the lewed so precheth;
14480
14480
For God made to men a lawe,
And Moyses it taughte.
Non concupisces rem proximi tui.
And yvele in this y-holdeIn parisshes of Engelonde;For persons and parissh-preestesThat sholde the peple shryve,Ben curatours called,To knowe and to heleAlle that ben hir parisshens,14490Penaunce to enjoigne;And sholden be ashamed in his shrift;Ac shame maketh hem wendeAnd fleen to the freres,As fals folk to Westmynstre,That borweth, and bereth it thider,And thanne biddeth frendesYerne of forgifnesse,Or lenger yeres loone.Ac while he is in Westmynstre,14500He wol be bifore,And maken hym murieWith oother mennes goodes.
And yvele in this y-holde
In parisshes of Engelonde;
For persons and parissh-preestes
That sholde the peple shryve,
Ben curatours called,
To knowe and to hele
Alle that ben hir parisshens,
14490
14490
Penaunce to enjoigne;
And sholden be ashamed in his shrift;
Ac shame maketh hem wende
And fleen to the freres,
As fals folk to Westmynstre,
That borweth, and bereth it thider,
And thanne biddeth frendes
Yerne of forgifnesse,
Or lenger yeres loone.
Ac while he is in Westmynstre,
14500
14500
He wol be bifore,
And maken hym murie
With oother mennes goodes.
And so it fareth with muche folkThat to the freres hem shryveth,As sisours and executours,Thei wol gyve the freresA parcel to preye for hem,And make hemself muryeWith the residue and the remenaunt14510That othere men bi-swonke,And suffre the dede in detteTo the day of doome.
And so it fareth with muche folk
That to the freres hem shryveth,
As sisours and executours,
Thei wol gyve the freres
A parcel to preye for hem,
And make hemself murye
With the residue and the remenaunt
14510
14510
That othere men bi-swonke,
And suffre the dede in dette
To the day of doome.
Envye herforeHatede Conscience;And freres to philosophieHe fond thanne to scole,The while Coveitise and Unkyndenesse,Conscience assaillede.In Unitee holy chirche14520Conscience held hym,And made Pees porterTo pynne the yates,Of alle tale-tellerisAnd titeleris in ydelYpocrisie and heAn hard assaut thei made,And woundede wel wikkedlyMany a wis techereThat with Conscience acordede14530And cardynale vertues.
Envye herfore
Hatede Conscience;
And freres to philosophie
He fond thanne to scole,
The while Coveitise and Unkyndenesse,
Conscience assaillede.
In Unitee holy chirche
14520
14520
Conscience held hym,
And made Pees porter
To pynne the yates,
Of alle tale-telleris
And titeleris in ydel
Ypocrisie and he
An hard assaut thei made,
And woundede wel wikkedly
Many a wis techere
That with Conscience acordede
14530
14530
And cardynale vertues.
Conscience called a leche,That koude wel shryve,To go salve tho that sike benAnd thorugh synne y-woundedShrift shoop sharpe salve,And made men do penaunceFor hir mys-dedesThat thei wroght hadde,And that Piers were y-payed:14540Redde quod debes.
Conscience called a leche,
That koude wel shryve,
To go salve tho that sike ben
And thorugh synne y-wounded
Shrift shoop sharpe salve,
And made men do penaunce
For hir mys-dedes
That thei wroght hadde,
And that Piers were y-payed:
14540
14540
Redde quod debes.
Some liked noght this leche,And lettres thei sente,If any surgien were the seggeThat softer koude plastre.Sire Leef-to-lyve-in-lecherieLay there and gronede,For fastynge of a FrydayeHe ferde as he wolde deye.
Some liked noght this leche,
And lettres thei sente,
If any surgien were the segge
That softer koude plastre.
Sire Leef-to-lyve-in-lecherie
Lay there and gronede,
For fastynge of a Frydaye
He ferde as he wolde deye.
"Ther is a surgien in this sege14550That softe kan handle,And moore of phisik bi ferAnd fairer he plastreth,Oon frere Flaterere,Is phisicien and surgien."
"Ther is a surgien in this sege
14550
14550
That softe kan handle,
And moore of phisik bi fer
And fairer he plastreth,
Oon frere Flaterere,
Is phisicien and surgien."
Quod Contricion to Conscience,"Do hym come to Unitee;For here is many a manHurt thorugh Ypocrisye."
Quod Contricion to Conscience,
"Do hym come to Unitee;
For here is many a man
Hurt thorugh Ypocrisye."
"We han no nede," quod Conscience,14560"I woot no bettre lecheThan person or parisshe-preest,Penitauncer or bisshope,Save Piers the Plowman,That hath power over hem alle,And indulgence may do,But if dette lette it."
"We han no nede," quod Conscience,
14560
14560
"I woot no bettre leche
Than person or parisshe-preest,
Penitauncer or bisshope,
Save Piers the Plowman,
That hath power over hem alle,
And indulgence may do,
But if dette lette it."
"I may wel suffre," seide Conscience,"Syn ye desirenThat frere Flaterere be fet14570And phisike yow sike."
"I may wel suffre," seide Conscience,
"Syn ye desiren
That frere Flaterere be fet
14570
14570
And phisike yow sike."
The frere herof herdeAnd hiede fasteTo a lord for a lettre,Leve to have to curen,As a curatour he were;And cam with hise lettresBoldely to the bisshope,And his brief hadde,In contrees ther he coome14580Confessions to here,And cam there Conscience was,And knokked at the yate.
The frere herof herde
And hiede faste
To a lord for a lettre,
Leve to have to curen,
As a curatour he were;
And cam with hise lettres
Boldely to the bisshope,
And his brief hadde,
In contrees ther he coome
14580
14580
Confessions to here,
And cam there Conscience was,
And knokked at the yate.
Pees unpynned it,Was porter of Unitee,And in haste askedeWhat his wille were.
Pees unpynned it,
Was porter of Unitee,
And in haste askede
What his wille were.
"In faith!" quod this frere,"For profit and for heltheCarpe I wolde with Contricion,14590And therfore cam I hider."
"In faith!" quod this frere,
"For profit and for helthe
Carpe I wolde with Contricion,
14590
14590
And therfore cam I hider."
"He is sik," seide Pees,"And so are manye othere.Ypocrisie hath hurt hem,Ful hard is if thei kevere."
"He is sik," seide Pees,
"And so are manye othere.
Ypocrisie hath hurt hem,
Ful hard is if thei kevere."
"I am a surgien," seide the segge,"And salves kan make.Conscience knoweth me wel,And what I kan do bothe."
"I am a surgien," seide the segge,
"And salves kan make.
Conscience knoweth me wel,
And what I kan do bothe."
"I praye thee," quod Pees tho,14600"Er thow passe ferther,What hattestow? I praye thee;Hele noght thi name."
"I praye thee," quod Pees tho,
14600
14600
"Er thow passe ferther,
What hattestow? I praye thee;
Hele noght thi name."
"Certes," seide his felawe,"SirePenetrans-domos."
"Certes," seide his felawe,
"SirePenetrans-domos."
"Ye, go thi gate," quod Pees,"By God! for al thi phisik,But thow konne som oother craft,Thow comest nought herinne.I knew swich oon ones,14610Noght eighte wynter hennes,Coom in thus y-copedAt a court there I dwelde,And was my lordes leche,And my ladies bothe.And at the lastethis lymytour,Tho my lord was oute,He salvede so oure wommenTil some were with childe."
"Ye, go thi gate," quod Pees,
"By God! for al thi phisik,
But thow konne som oother craft,
Thow comest nought herinne.
I knew swich oon ones,
14610
14610
Noght eighte wynter hennes,
Coom in thus y-coped
At a court there I dwelde,
And was my lordes leche,
And my ladies bothe.
And at the lastethis lymytour,
Tho my lord was oute,
He salvede so oure wommen
Til some were with childe."
Hende-speche heet Pees14620Open the yates,"Lat in the frere and his felawe,And make hem fair cheere;He may se and here,So it may bifalleThat lif thorugh his looreShal leve Coveitise,And be a-drad of Deeth,And withdrawe hym fram Pryde,And acorde with Conscience,14630And kisse hir either oother."
Hende-speche heet Pees
14620
14620
Open the yates,
"Lat in the frere and his felawe,
And make hem fair cheere;
He may se and here,
So it may bifalle
That lif thorugh his loore
Shal leve Coveitise,
And be a-drad of Deeth,
And withdrawe hym fram Pryde,
And acorde with Conscience,
14630
14630
And kisse hir either oother."
Thus thorugh Hende-specheEntred the frere,And cam in to Conscience,And curteisly hym grette.
Thus thorugh Hende-speche
Entred the frere,
And cam in to Conscience,
And curteisly hym grette.
"Thou art welcome," quod Conscience,"Kanstow heele the sike?Here is Contricion," quod Conscience,"My cosyn, y-wounded.Conforte hym," quod Conscience,14640"And tak kepe to hise soores.The plastres of the personAnd poudres biten to soore;He lat hem ligge over longe,And looth is to chaunge hem;Fro lenten to lentenHe lat hise plastres bite."
"Thou art welcome," quod Conscience,
"Kanstow heele the sike?
Here is Contricion," quod Conscience,
"My cosyn, y-wounded.
Conforte hym," quod Conscience,
14640
14640
"And tak kepe to hise soores.
The plastres of the person
And poudres biten to soore;
He lat hem ligge over longe,
And looth is to chaunge hem;
Fro lenten to lenten
He lat hise plastres bite."
"That is over longe," quod this lymytour,"I leve I shal amende it."And gooth and gropeth Contricion,14650And gaf hym a plastreOf 'a pryvee paiement,And I shal praye for yowFor al that ye ben holden to,Al my lif tyme,And make yow, my lady,In masse and in matynsAs frere of oure fraternyteeFor a litel silver.'
"That is over longe," quod this lymytour,
"I leve I shal amende it."
And gooth and gropeth Contricion,
14650
14650
And gaf hym a plastre
Of 'a pryvee paiement,
And I shal praye for yow
For al that ye ben holden to,
Al my lif tyme,
And make yow, my lady,
In masse and in matyns
As frere of oure fraternytee
For a litel silver.'
Thus he gooth and gadereth,14660And gloseth there he shryveth,Til Contricion hadde clene foryetenTo crye and to wepe;And wake for hise wikked werkes,As he was wont to doone,For confort of his confessourContricion he lafte,That is the soverayneste salveFor alle kynne synnes.
Thus he gooth and gadereth,
14660
14660
And gloseth there he shryveth,
Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten
To crye and to wepe;
And wake for hise wikked werkes,
As he was wont to doone,
For confort of his confessour
Contricion he lafte,
That is the soverayneste salve
For alle kynne synnes.
Sleuthe seigh that,14670And so dide Pryde,And comen with a kene willeConscience to assaille.
Sleuthe seigh that,
14670
14670
And so dide Pryde,
And comen with a kene wille
Conscience to assaille.
Conscience cryed eft,And bad Clergie helpe hym,And also Contricion,For to kepe the yate.
Conscience cryed eft,
And bad Clergie helpe hym,
And also Contricion,
For to kepe the yate.
"He lyth and dremeth," seide Pees,"And so do manye othere,The frere with his phisyk14680This folk hath enchaunted,And plastred hem so esily,Thei drede no synne."
"He lyth and dremeth," seide Pees,
"And so do manye othere,
The frere with his phisyk
14680
14680
This folk hath enchaunted,
And plastred hem so esily,
Thei drede no synne."
"By Crist!" quod Conscience tho,"I wole bicome a pilgrym,And walken as wideAs the world lasteth,To seken Piers the Plowman,That Pryde may destruye;And that freres hadde a fyndyng,14690That for nede flateren,And countrepledeth me, Conscience.Now Kynde me avenge,And sende me hap and heele,Til I have Piers the Plowman."And siththe he gradde after Grace,14696Til I gan awake.
"By Crist!" quod Conscience tho,
"I wole bicome a pilgrym,
And walken as wide
As the world lasteth,
To seken Piers the Plowman,
That Pryde may destruye;
And that freres hadde a fyndyng,
14690
14690
That for nede flateren,
And countrepledeth me, Conscience.
Now Kynde me avenge,
And sende me hap and heele,
Til I have Piers the Plowman."
And siththe he gradde after Grace,
14696
14696
Til I gan awake.
Explicit hic Dialogus Petri Plowman.
Explicit hic Dialogus Petri Plowman.
Filler.
Filler.
THE CREED OF PIERSPLOUGHMAN.
Filler.
Filler.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN'SCREED.