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Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 4

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Passus quartus de visione vt supra

W4.1 (KD4.1)CEsseþ seiþ þe kyng · I suffre yow no lenger
W4.2 (KD4.2) Ye shul sauȝtne for-soþe · and serue me boþe
W4.3 (KD4.3) Kis hire quod þe kyng · Conscience I hote

W4.4 (KD4.4)Nay by crist quod Conscience · congeye me er for euere96
W4.5 (KD4.5) But Reson rede me þer-to · raþer wol I deye

W4.6 (KD4.6)¶ And I comaunde þee quod þe kyng · to Conscience þanne
W4.7 (KD4.7) Rape þee to ryde · and Reson þow fecche
W4.8 (KD4.8) Comaunde hym þat he come · my counseil to here
W4.9 (KD4.9) For he shal rule my Reaume · and rede me þe beste
W4.10 (KD4.11) And acounte wiþ þee Conscience · so me crist helpe
W4.11 (KD4.12) How þow lernest þe peple · þe lered and þe lewed

W4.12 (KD4.13)¶ I am fayn of þat foreward · seide þe freke þanne
W4.13 (KD4.14) And ryt riȝt to Reson · and rouneþ in his ere
W4.14 (KD4.15) And seide as þe kyng bad · and siþen took his leue

W4.15 (KD4.16)¶ I shal arraye me to ryde quod Reson · reste þee a while
W4.16 (KD4.17) And called Caton his knaue · curteis of speche
W4.17 (KD4.18) And also Tomme trewe tonge · tel me no tales
W4.18 (KD4.19) Ne lesynge to lauȝen of · for I loued hem neuere
W4.19 (KD4.20) And set my Sadel vp-on suffre · til I se my tyme

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W4.20 (KD4.21) And lat warroke hym wel · wiþ witty wordes gerþes
W4.21 (KD4.22) And hange on hym þe heuy brydel · to holde his heed lowe
W4.22 (KD4.23) For he wol make wehee · twies er he be þere
W4.23 (KD4.24)¶ Thanne Conscience vp-on his capul · carieþ forþ faste
W4.24 (KD4.25) And Reson wiþ hym ryt · rownynge togideres
W4.25 (KD4.26) Whiche Maistries Mede · makeþ on þis erþe

W4.26 (KD4.27)¶ Oon waryn wisdom · and witty his feere
W4.27 (KD4.28) Folwed hym faste · for þei hadde to doone
W4.28 (KD4.29) In thescheker and in þe Chauncerye · to ben descharged of þynges
W4.29 (KD4.30) And riden faste for Reson sholde · rede hem þe beste
W4.30 (KD4.31) For to saue hem for siluer · from shame and from harmes
W4.31 (KD4.32) And Conscience knew hem wel · þei loued coueitise
W4.32 (KD4.33) And bad Reson ryde faste . and recche of hir neiþer
W4.33 (KD4.34) Ther are wiles in hire wordes . and with Mede þei dwelleþ
W4.34 (KD4.35) Ther-as wraþe and wranglynge is · þer wynne þei siluer           97(n)
W4.35 (KD4.36) Ac where is loue and leautee · þei wol noȝt come þere           98(n)
W4.36 (KD4.36α)Contricio & infelicitas in viis eorum &c

W4.37 (KD4.37)¶ Thei ne yeueþ noȝt of god · one goose wynge
W4.38 (KD4.37α)Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum &c

W4.39 (KD4.38)¶ For woot god þei wolde do moore · for a dozeyne chiknes           99(n)
W4.40 (KD4.38.1) Or as manye capons · or for a Seem of Otes
W4.41 (KD4.39) Than for þe loue of oure lord · or alle hise leeue Seintes
W4.42 (KD4.40) For-þi Reson lat hem ride · þo riche by hem-selue
W4.43 (KD4.41) For Conscience knoweþ hem noȝt · ne crist as I trowe
W4.44 (KD4.42) And þanne Reson rood faste · þe riȝte heiȝe gate
W4.45 (KD4.43) As Conscience hym kenned · til þei come to þe kynge

W4.46 (KD4.44)¶ Curteisly þe kyng þanne · com ayeins Reson
W4.47 (KD4.45) And bitwene hym-self and his sone · sette hym on benche

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W4.48 (KD4.46) And wordeden wel wisely · a gret while togideres
W4.49 (KD4.47)¶ And þanne com pees in-to parlement · and putte forþ a bille
W4.50 (KD4.48) How wrong ayeins his wille · hadde his wif taken
W4.51 (KD4.49) And how he rauysshede Rose · Reignaldes looue
W4.52 (KD4.50) And Margrete of hir maydenhede · maugree hire chekes
W4.53 (KD4.51) Boþe my gees and my grys · hise gadelynges feccheþ
W4.54 (KD4.52) I dar noȝt for fere of hem · fiȝte ne chide
W4.55 (KD4.53) He borwed of me bayard · he brouȝte hym hom neuere
W4.56 (KD4.54) Ne no ferþyng þer-fore · for ouȝt I koude plede
W4.57 (KD4.55) He maynteneþ hise men · to murþere myne hewen
W4.58 (KD4.56) Forstalleþ my feires · and fiȝteþ in my Chepyng
W4.59 (KD4.57) And brekeþ vp my bernes dore · and bereþ awey my whete
W4.60 (KD4.58) And takeþ me but a taille · for ten quarters of Otes
W4.61 (KD4.59) And yet he beteþ me þer-to · and lyþ by my mayde
W4.62 (KD4.60) I am noȝt hardy for hym · vnneþe to loke

W4.63 (KD4.61)¶ The kyng knew he seide sooþ · for Conscience hym tolde
W4.64 (KD4.62) That wrong was a wikked luft · and wroȝte muche sorwe

W4.65 (KD4.63)¶ Wrong was afered þanne · and wisdom he souȝte
W4.66 (KD4.64) To maken pees with hise pens · and profred hym manye
W4.67 (KD4.65) And seide100(p) hadde I loue of my lord þe kyng · litel wolde I recche
W4.68 (KD4.66) Theiȝ pees and his power · pleyned hym euere

W4.69 (KD4.67)¶ Tho wente Wisdom · and sire waryn þe witty
W4.70 (KD4.68) For þat wrong hadde ywroȝt · so wikked a dede
W4.71 (KD4.69) And warnede wrong þo · with swich a wis tale
W4.72 (KD4.70) Who-so wercheþ by wille · wraþe makeþ ofte           101(n)
W4.73 (KD4.71) I seye it by my-self · þow shalt it wel fynde
W4.74 (KD4.72) But if Mede it make · þi meschief is vppe
W4.75 (KD4.73) For boþe þi lif and þi lond · lyþ in his grace

W4.76 (KD4.74)¶ Thanne wowede wrong · wisdom ful yerne

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W4.77 (KD4.75) To maken pees wiþ his pens · handy-dandy payed
W4.78 (KD4.76)¶ Wisdom and wit þanne · wenten togidres
W4.79 (KD4.77) And token Mede myd hem · mercy to wynne

W4.80 (KD4.78)¶ Pees putte forþ his heed · and his panne blody
W4.81 (KD4.79) Wiþ-outen gilt god it woot · gat I þis scaþe
W4.82 (KD4.80) Conscience and þe commune · knowen þe soþe

W4.83 (KD4.81)¶ Ac wisdom and wit · were aboute faste
W4.84 (KD4.82) To ouercomen þe kyng · wiþ catel if þei myȝte

W4.85 (KD4.83)¶ The kyng swor by crist · and by his crowne boþe
W4.86 (KD4.84) That wrong for hise werkes · sholde wo þolie
W4.87 (KD4.85) And comaundede a Constable · to casten hym in Irens
W4.88 (KD4.86) And lete hym noȝt þise seuen yer · seen his feet ones

W4.89 (KD4.87)¶ God woot quod wisdom · þat were noȝt þe beste
W4.90 (KD4.88) And he amendes mowe make · lat maynprise hym haue
W4.91 (KD4.89) And be borȝ for his bale · and buggen hym boote
W4.92 (KD4.90) And so amenden þat is mysdo · and euere-moore þe bettre           102(n)

W4.93 (KD4.91)¶ Wit acorded þer-wiþ · and seide þe same
W4.94 (KD4.92) Bettre is þat boote · bale adoun brynge
W4.95 (KD4.93) Than bale be ybet · and boote neuer þe bettre

W4.96 (KD4.94)¶ And þanne gan Mede to mengen hire · and mercy she bisouȝte
W4.97 (KD4.95) And profrede Pees a present · al of pure golde
W4.98 (KD4.96) Haue þis man of me quod she · to amenden þi scaþe
W4.99 (KD4.97) For I wol wage for wrong · he wol do so namoore

W4.100 (KD4.98)¶ Pitously Pees þanne · preyde to þe kynge
W4.101 (KD4.99) To haue mercy on þat man · þat mysdide hym so ofte
W4.102 (KD4.100) For he haþ waged me wel · as wisdom hym tauȝte

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W4.103 (KD4.101) And I forgyue hym þat gilt · wiþ a good wille
W4.104 (KD4.102) So þat þe kyng assente · I kan seye no bettre
W4.105 (KD4.103) For Mede haþ me amendes maad · I may namoore axe           103(n)
W4.106 (KD4.104)¶ Nay quod þe kyng þo · so me crist helpe
W4.107 (KD4.105) Wrong wendeþ noȝt so awey · erst wole I wite moore           104(n)
W4.108 (KD4.106) For lope he so liȝtly · lauȝen he wolde
W4.109 (KD4.107) And eft þe boldere be · to bete myne hewen
W4.110 (KD4.108) But Reson haue ruþe on hym · he shal reste in my stokkes
W4.111 (KD4.109) And þat as longe as he lyueþ · but lowenesse hym borwe

W4.112 (KD4.110)¶ Som men radde Reson þo · to haue ruþe on þat shrewe
W4.113 (KD4.111) And for to counseille þe kyng · and Conscience after
W4.114 (KD4.112) That Mede moste be maynpernour · Reson þei bisouȝte

W4.115 (KD4.113)¶ Reed me noȝt quod Reson · no ruþe to haue           105(n)
W4.116 (KD4.114) Til lordes and ladies · louen alle truþe
W4.117 (KD4.115) And haten alle harlotrie · to heren or to mouþen it

W4.118 (KD4.116)¶ Til pernelles purfille · be put in hire hucche
W4.119 (KD4.117) And childrene cherissynge · be chastynge wiþ yerdes
W4.120 (KD4.118) And harlottes holynesse · be holden for an hyne

W4.121 (KD4.119)¶ Til clerkene coueitise be · to cloþe þe pouere and fede
W4.122 (KD4.120) And Religiouse Romeris · Recordare in hir cloistres
W4.123 (KD4.121) As Seynt Beneyt hem bad · Bernard and Fraunceis
W4.124 (KD4.122) And til prechours prechynge · be preued on hem-selue

W4.125 (KD4.123)¶ Til þe kynges counseil · be þe commune profit
W4.126 (KD4.124) Til Bisshopes Bayardes · ben beggeris Chaumbres
W4.127 (KD4.125) Hire haukes and hire houndes · help to pouere Religious

W4.128 (KD4.126)¶ And til Seint Iames be souȝt · þere I shal assigne106(c)
W4.129 (KD4.127) That no man go to Galis · but if he go for euere

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W4.130 (KD4.128)And alle Rome renneres · for Robberes biyonde
W4.131 (KD4.129) Bere no siluer ouer see · þat signe of kyng sheweþ
W4.132 (KD4.130) Neiþer graue ne vngraue · gold neiþer siluer
W4.133 (KD4.131) Vp-on forfeture of þat fee · who-so fynt it at Douere
W4.134 (KD4.132) But if it be Marchaunt or his man · or Messager wiþ lettres
W4.135 (KD4.133) Prouysour or preest · or penaunt for hise synnes
W4.136 (KD4.134)¶ And yet quod Reson by þe Rode · I shal no ruþe haue
W4.137 (KD4.135) While Mede haþ þe maistrie · in þis moot halle
W4.138 (KD4.136) Ac I may shewe ensamples · as I se ouþer-while
W4.139 (KD4.137) I seye it by my-self quod he · and it so were
W4.140 (KD4.138) That I were kyng with coroune · to kepen a Reaume
W4.141 (KD4.139) Sholde neuere wrong in þis world · þat I wite myȝte
W4.142 (KD4.140) Ben vnpunysshed in my power · for peril of my soule
W4.143 (KD4.141) Ne gete my grace for giftes · so me god saue
W4.144 (KD4.142) Ne for no Mede haue mercy · but mekenesse it make
W4.145 (KD4.143) For Nullum malum · þe man · mette wiþ inpunitum           107(n)
W4.146 (KD4.144) And bad Nullum bonum . be irremuneratum           108(n)

W4.147 (KD4.145)¶ Lat youre Confessour sire kyng · construe þis vnglosed
W4.148 (KD4.146) And if ye werchen it in werk · I wedde myne eris109(c)
W4.149 (KD4.147) That lawe shal ben a laborer · and lede afeld donge
W4.150 (KD4.148) And loue shal lede þi lond · as þe leef likeþ

W4.151 (KD4.149)¶ Clerkes þat were Confessours · coupled hem togideres
W4.152 (KD4.150) Al to construe þis clause · and for þe kynges profit
W4.153 (KD4.151) Ac noȝt for confort of þe commune · ne for þe kynges soule
W4.154 (KD4.152) For I seiȝ Mede in þe moot halle · on men of lawe wynke
W4.155 (KD4.153) And þei lauȝynge lope to hire · and lefte Reson manye
W4.156 (KD4.154) Waryn wisdom · wynked vp-on Mede
W4.157 (KD4.155) And seide madame I am youre man · what so my mouþ Iangle
W4.158 (KD4.156) I falle in floryns quod þat freke · and faile speche ofte110(c)

W4.159 (KD4.157)¶ Alle riȝtfulle recordede · þat Reson truþe tolde

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W4.160 (KD4.158) And wit acorded þer-wiþ · and comendede hise wordes
W4.161 (KD4.159) And þe mooste peple in þe halle · and manye of þe grete
W4.162 (KD4.160) And leten Mekenesse a maister · and Mede a mansed sherewe
W4.163 (KD4.161)¶ Loue leet of hire liȝt · and leaute yet lasse
W4.164 (KD4.162) And seiden it so heiȝe · þat al þe halle it herde
W4.165 (KD4.163) Who-so wilneþ hire to wif · for welþe of hire goodes           111(n)
W4.166 (KD4.164) But he be knowe for a Cokewold · kut of my nose           112(n)

W4.167 (KD4.165)¶ Mede mornede þo · and made heuy chere
W4.168 (KD4.166) For þe mooste commune of þat court · called hire an hore
W4.169 (KD4.167) Ac a Sisour and a Somonour · sued hire faste
W4.170 (KD4.168) And a Sherreues clerk · bisherewed al þe route
W4.171 (KD4.169) For ofte haue I quod he · holpen yow at þe barre
W4.172 (KD4.170) And yet yeue ye me neuere · þe worþ of a risshe

W4.173 (KD4.171)¶ The kyng callede Conscience · and afterward Reson
W4.174 (KD4.172) And recordede þat Reson · hadde riȝtfully shewed
W4.175 (KD4.173) And modiliche vp-on Mede · wiþ myȝt þe kyng loked
W4.176 (KD4.174) And gan wexe wroþ with lawe · for Mede almoost hadde shent it
W4.177 (KD4.175) And seide þoruȝ lawe as I leue · I lese manye eschetes
W4.178 (KD4.176) Mede ouer-maistreþ lawe · and muche truþe letteþ           113(n)
W4.179 (KD4.177) Ac Reson shal rekene wiþ yow · if I regne any while
W4.180 (KD4.178) And deme yow bi þis day · as ye han deserued
W4.181 (KD4.179) Mede shal noȝt maynprise yow · by þe marie of heuene
W4.182 (KD4.180) I wole haue leaute in lawe · and lete be al youre ianglyng
W4.183 (KD4.181) And as moost folk witnesseþ wel · wrong shal be demed

W4.184 (KD4.182)¶ Quod Conscience to þe kyng · but þe commune wole assente
W4.185 (KD4.183) It is ful hard by myn heed · her-too · to brynge it
W4.186 (KD4.184) Alle youre lige leodes · to lede þus euene

W4.187 (KD4.185)¶ By hym þat rauȝte on þe Rode · quod Reson to þe kynge
W4.188 (KD4.186) But if I rule þus youre Reaume · rende out my guttes

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W4.189 (KD4.187) If ye bidden buxomnesse · be of myn assent
W4.190 (KD4.188)¶ And I assente seiþ þe kyng · by Seinte Marie my lady
W4.191 (KD4.189) By my counseil commune · of clerkes and of Erles
W4.192 (KD4.190) Ac redily Reson · þow shalt noȝt ride fro me
W4.193 (KD4.191) For as longe as I lyue · lete þee I nelle

W4.194 (KD4.192)¶ I am al redy quod Reson · to reste wiþ yow euere
W4.195 (KD4.193) So Conscience be of oure counseil · I kepe no bettre

W4.196 (KD4.194)¶ And I graunte quod þe kyng · goddes forbode ellis114
W4.197 (KD4.195) Als longe as oure lyf lasteþ · lyue we togideres

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