Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 1

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Passus primus de visione

W1.1 (KD1.1)What þis Mountaigne bymeneþ · and þe merke dale
W1.2 (KD1.2) And þe feld ful of folk · I shal yow faire shewe

W1.3 (KD1.3)¶ A louely lady of leere · in lynnen ycloþed
W1.4 (KD1.4) Cam doun from a Castel · and called me faire
W1.5 (KD1.5) And seide sone slepestow · sestow þis peple
W1.6 (KD1.6) How bisie þei ben · alle aboute þe maze
W1.7 (KD1.7) The mooste partie of þis peple · þat passeþ on þis erþe
W1.8 (KD1.8) Haue þei worship in þis world · þei wilne no bettre
W1.9 (KD1.9) Of ooþer heuene þan here · holde þei no tale

W1.10 (KD1.10)¶ I was afered of hire face · þeiȝ she fair weere
W1.11 (KD1.11) And seide mercy madame · what is þis to meene

W1.12 (KD1.12)¶ The tour on þe toft quod she · truþe is þer-Inne
W1.13 (KD1.13) And wolde þat ye wrouȝte · as his word techeþ
W1.14 (KD1.14) For he is fader of feiþ · and formed yow alle
W1.15 (KD1.15) Boþe with fel and with face · and yaf yow fyue wittes
W1.16 (KD1.16) For to worshipe hym þer-wiþ · while þat ye ben here
W1.17 (KD1.17) And þerfore he hiȝte þe erþe · to helpe yow echone
W1.18 (KD1.18) Of wollene of lynnen · of liflode at nede
W1.19 (KD1.19) In mesurable manere · to make yow at ese
W1.20 (KD1.20) And comaunded of his curteisie · in commune þree þynges
W1.21 (KD1.21) Are none nedfulle but þo · and nempne hem I þynke
W1.22 (KD1.22) And rekene hem by reson · reherce þow hem after

W1.23 (KD1.23)¶ That oon26 vesture · from cold27 þee to saue
W1.24 (KD1.24) And mete at meel · for mysese of þi-selue

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W1.25 (KD1.25) And drynke whan þow driest · ac do noȝt out of reson
W1.26 (KD1.26) That þow worþe þe wers · whan þow werche sholdest
W1.27 (KD1.27)¶ For Lot28(c) in hise lifdayes · for likynge of drynke
W1.28 (KD1.28) Dide by hise douȝtres · þat þe deuel liked
W1.29 (KD1.29) Delited hym in drynke · as þe deuel wolde
W1.30 (KD1.30) And Leccherie hym lauȝte · and lay by hem boþe
W1.31 (KD1.31) And al he witte it þe wyn · þat wikked dede
W1.32 (KD1.31α)Inebriamus eum vino · dormiamusque cum eo
W1.33 (KD1.31β)Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen

W1.34 (KD1.32)¶ Thoruȝ wyn and þoruȝ wommen · þer was loth acombred
W1.35 (KD1.33) And þere gat in glotonie · gerles þat were cherles

W1.36 (KD1.34)¶ For-þi dred delitable drynke · and þow shalt do þe bettre
W1.37 (KD1.35) Mesure is medicine · þouȝ þow muchel yerne
W1.38 (KD1.36) It is nouȝt al good to þe goost · þat þe gut askeþ29(c)
W1.39 (KD1.37-38) Ne liflode to þi likame · for a liere hym techeþ30
W1.40 (KD1.39) That is þe wrecched world · wolde þee bitraye
W1.41 (KD1.40) For þe fend and þi flessh · folwen togidere
W1.42 (KD1.41) This and that seeþ þi soule · and seith it in þin herte
W1.43 (KD1.42) And for þow sholdest ben ywar · I wisse þee þe beste

W1.44 (KD1.43)¶ Madame mercy quod I · me likeþ wel youre wordes
W1.45 (KD1.44) Ac þe moneie of þis molde · þat men so faste holdeþ
W1.46 (KD1.45) Tel me to whom madame · þat tresour appendeþ

W1.47 (KD1.46)¶ Go to þe gospel quod she · þat god seide hym-seluen
W1.48 (KD1.47) Tho þe poeple hym apposede · wiþ a peny in þe temple
W1.49 (KD1.48) Wheiþer þei sholde þer-wiþ · worshipe þe kyng Cesar

W1.50 (KD1.49)¶ And god asked of hym31 · of whom spak þe lettre
W1.51 (KD1.50) And þe ymage was lik · þat þer-Inne stondeþ

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W1.52 (KD1.51)¶ Cesares þei seiden · we seen it wel echone

W1.53 (KD1.52)Reddite Cesari · quod god · þat Cesari bifalleþ
W1.54 (KD1.53)Et que sunt dei deo · or ellis ye don ille
W1.55 (KD1.54) For riȝtfully32 reson · sholde rule yow alle
W1.56 (KD1.55) And kynde wit be wardeyn · youre welþe to kepe
W1.57 (KD1.56) And tutour of youre tresor · and take it yow at nede
W1.58 (KD1.57) For housbondrie and hij · holden togidres

W1.59 (KD1.58)¶ Thanne I frayned hire faire · for hym þat me made
W1.60 (KD1.59) That dongeon in þe dale · þat dredful is of siȝte
W1.61 (KD1.60) What may it be to meene · madame I yow biseche

W1.62 (KD1.61)¶ That is þe castel of care · who-so comþ þer-Inne
W1.63 (KD1.62) May banne þat he born was · to bodi or to soule
W1.64 (KD1.63) Ther-Inne wonyeþ a wight · þat wrong is yhote
W1.65 (KD1.64) Fader of falshede · and founded it hym-selue
W1.66 (KD1.65) Adam and Eue · he egged to ille
W1.67 (KD1.66) Counseilled Kaym · to killen his broþer
W1.68 (KD1.67) Iudas he iaped · wiþ Iewen siluer
W1.69 (KD1.68) And siþen on an Eller · hanged hym-selue
W1.70 (KD1.69) He is lettere of loue · and lieþ hem alle
W1.71 (KD1.70) That trusten on his tresour · bitrayeþ he hem sonnest

W1.72 (KD1.71)¶ Thanne hadde I wonder in my wit · what womman it weere
W1.73 (KD1.72) That swiche wise wordes · of holy writ shewed
W1.74 (KD1.73) And asked hire on þe heiȝe name · er she þennes yede
W1.75 (KD1.74) What she were witterly · þat wissed me so faire

W1.76 (KD1.75)¶ Holi chirche I am quod she · þow ouȝtest me to knowe
W1.77 (KD1.76) I vnderfeng þee first · and þe feiþ tauȝte
W1.78 (KD1.77) And brouȝtest me borwes · my biddyng to fulfille
W1.79 (KD1.78) And to louen me leelly · þe while þi lif dureþ

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W1.80 (KD1.79)¶ Thanne I courbed on my knees · and cried hire of grace
W1.81 (KD1.80) And preide hire pitously · preye for my synnes
W1.82 (KD1.81) And also kenne me kyndely · on crist to bileue
W1.83 (KD1.82) That I myȝte werchen his wille · þat wroȝte me to man
W1.84 (KD1.83) Teche me to no tresor · but tel me þis ilke
W1.85 (KD1.84) How I may saue my soule · þat Seint art yholden

W1.86 (KD1.85)¶ Whan alle tresors arn tried quod she · treuþe is þe beste33(c)
W1.87 (KD1.86) I do it on Deus caritas · to deme þe soþe
W1.88 (KD1.87) It is as dereworþe a drury · as deere god hym-seluen

W1.89 (KD1.88)¶ Who is trewe of his tonge · and telleþ noon ooþer           34(n)
W1.90 (KD1.89) And dooþ þe werkes þer-wiþ · and wilneþ no man ille           35(n)
W1.91 (KD1.90) He is a god by þe gospel · a grounde and olofte
W1.92 (KD1.91) And ylik to oure lord · by Seint Lukes wordes
W1.93 (KD1.92) The clerkes þat knowen þis · sholde kennen it aboute
W1.94 (KD1.93) For cristen and vncristen · cleymeþ it echone

W1.95 (KD1.94)¶ Kynges and knyȝtes · sholde kepen it by reson
W1.96 (KD1.95) Riden and rappen doun · in Reaumes aboute
W1.97 (KD1.96) And taken transgressores · and tyen hem faste
W1.98 (KD1.97) Til treuþe hadde y-termyned · hire trespas to þe ende           36(n)
W1.99 (KD1.100) And þat is37 profession apertli · þat apendeþ to knyȝtes
W1.100 (KD1.101) And nauȝt to fasten o friday · in fyue score wynter
W1.101 (KD1.102) But holden wiþ hym and with here · þat wolden alle truþe
W1.102 (KD1.103) And neuere leue hem for loue · ne for lacchynge of siluer
W1.103 (KD1.98) For Dauid in hise dayes · dubbed knyȝtes
W1.104 (KD1.99) And dide hem sweren on hir swerd · to seruen truþe euere
W1.105 (KD1.104) And who-so passed þat point · was Apostata in þe ordre

W1.106 (KD1.105)¶ But crist kyngene kyng · knyȝted ten
W1.107 (KD1.106) Cherubyn and Seraphyn · swiche seuene & oþere
W1.108 (KD1.107) And yaf hem myȝt in his maiestee · þe murier hem þouȝte
W1.109 (KD1.108) And ouer his meene meynee · made hem Archangeles

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W1.110 (KD1.109) Tauȝte hem by þe Trinitee · treuþe to knowe
W1.111 (KD1.110) To be buxom at his biddyng · he bad hem nouȝt ellis
W1.112 (KD1.111)¶ Lucifer wiþ legions · lerned it in heuene
W1.113 (KD1.113) But for he brak buxomnesse · his blisse gan he tyne
W1.114 (KD1.114) And fel fro þat felawshipe · in a fendes liknesse
W1.115 (KD1.115) In-to a deep derk helle · to dwelle þere for euere
W1.116 (KD1.116) And mo þousandes myd38 hym · þan man kouþe nombre
W1.117 (KD1.117) Lopen out wiþ Lucifer · in loþliche forme
W1.118 (KD1.118) For þei leueden vp-on hym · þat lyed in þis manere
W1.119 (KD1.119)Ponam pedem in aquilone · & similis ero altissimo ·

W1.120 (KD1.120)¶ And alle þat hoped it myȝte be so · noon heuene myȝte hem holde
W1.121 (KD1.121) But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togideres
W1.122 (KD1.122) Til god of his goodnesse · gan stablisse39 and stynte
W1.123 (KD1.123) And garte þe heuene to stekie · and stonden in quiete

W1.124 (KD1.124)¶ Whan þise wikkede wenten out · in wonder-wise þei fellen
W1.125 (KD1.125) Somme in þe Eyr somme in erþe · and somme in helle depe
W1.126 (KD1.126) Ac Lucifer lowest liþ · yet of hem alle
W1.127 (KD1.127) For pride þat he putte out · his peyne haþ noon ende
W1.128 (KD1.128) And alle þat werchen with wrong · wende þei shulle
W1.129 (KD1.129) After hir deþ-day · and dwelle with þat sherewe

W1.130 (KD1.130)¶ And þo þat werche wel · as holy writ telleþ
W1.131 (KD1.131) And enden as I er seide · in truþe þat is þe beste
W1.132 (KD1.132) Mowe be siker þat hire soules · shul wende to heuene
W1.133 (KD1.133) Ther Treuþe is in Trinitee · and troneþ hem alle
W1.134 (KD1.134) For-þi I seye as I seyde er · by siȝte of þise textes
W1.135 (KD1.135) Whan alle tresors arn tried · truþe is þe beste           40(n)
W1.136 (KD1.136) Lereþ it þise lewed men · for lettred men it knoweþ
W1.137 (KD1.137) That Treuþe is tresor · þe trieste on erþe

W1.138 (KD1.138)¶ Yet41(p) haue I no kynde knowyng quod I · ye mote kenne me bettre

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W1.139 (KD1.139) By what craft in my cors · it comseþ and where
W1.140 (KD1.140)¶ Thow doted daffe quod she · dulle are þi wittes
W1.141 (KD1.141) To litel latyn þow lernedest · leode in þi youþe
W1.142 (KD1.141α)Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam Iuuenilem

W1.143 (KD1.142)¶ It is a kynde knowyng quod she · þat kenneþ in þyn herte
W1.144 (KD1.143) For to louen þi lord · leuere þan þi-selue
W1.145 (KD1.144) No dedly synne to do · deye þeiȝ þow sholdest
W1.146 (KD1.145) This I trowe be truþe · who kan teche þee bettre

W1.147 (KD1.146)¶ Loke þow suffre hym to seye · and siþen lere it after
W1.148 (KD1.148) For truþe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene           42(n)
W1.149 (KD1.149) May no synne be on hym seene · þat vseþ þat spice           43(n)
W1.150 (KD1.150) And alle hise werkes he wrouȝte · with loue as hym liste
W1.151 (KD1.151) And lered it Moyses for þe leueste þyng · and moost lik to heuene
W1.152 (KD1.152) And also þe plentee of pees · moost precious of vertues
W1.153 (KD1.153) For heuene myȝte nat holden it · it was so heuy of hym-self
W1.154 (KD1.154) Til it hadde of þe erþe · eten his fille

W1.155 (KD1.155)¶ And whan it hadde of þis fold · flessh and blood taken
W1.156 (KD1.156) Was neuere leef vp-on lynde · lighter þer-after
W1.157 (KD1.157) And portatif and persaunt · as þe point of a nedle
W1.158 (KD1.158) That myȝte noon Armure it lette · ne none heiȝe walles

W1.159 (KD1.159)¶ For-þi is loue ledere · of þe lordes folk of heuene
W1.160 (KD1.160) And a meene as þe Mair is · bitwene þe kyng & þe commune           44(n)
W1.161 (KD1.161) Right so is loue a ledere · and þe lawe shapeþ
W1.162 (KD1.162) Vp-on man for hise mysdedes · þe mercyment he taxeþ
W1.163 (KD1.163) And for to knowen it kyndely · it comseþ by myght
W1.164 (KD1.164) And in þe herte þere is þe heed · and þe heiȝe welle
W1.165 (KD1.165) For in kynde knowynge in herte · þer a myȝt bigynneþ           45(n)
W1.166 (KD1.166) And þat falleþ to þe fader · þat formed vs alle
W1.167 (KD1.167) Loked on vs wiþ loue · and leet his sone dye

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W1.168 (KD1.168)¶ Mekely for oure mysdedes · to amenden vs alle
W1.169 (KD1.169) And yet wolde he hem no wo · þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne
W1.170 (KD1.170) But mekely wiþ mouþe · mercy bisouȝte46
W1.171 (KD1.171) To haue pite of þat peple þat peyned hym to deþe

W1.172 (KD1.172)¶ Here myȝtow sen ensample · in hym-self oone
W1.173 (KD1.173) That he was myȝtful and meke · and mercy gan graunte
W1.174 (KD1.174) To hem þat hengen hym on heiȝ · and his herte þirled

W1.175 (KD1.175)¶ For-þi I rede yow riche · haueþ ruþe of þe pouere           47(n)
W1.176 (KD1.176) Thouȝ ye be myȝtful to mote · beeþ meke in youre werkes
W1.177 (KD1.177) For þe same mesures þat ye mete · amys ouþer ellis
W1.178 (KD1.178) Ye shulle ben weyen þer-wiþ · whan ye wenden hennes
W1.179 (KD1.178α)Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis · remecietur vobis

W1.180 (KD1.179)¶ For þouȝ ye be trewe of youre tonge · and treweliche wynne
W1.181 (KD1.180) And as chaste as a child · þat in chirche wepeþ
W1.182 (KD1.181) But if ye louen leelly · and lene þe pouere
W1.183 (KD1.182) Swich good as god yow sent · goodliche parteþ
W1.184 (KD1.183) Ye ne haue namoore merite · in masse nor in houres
W1.185 (KD1.184) Than Malkyn of hire maydenhede · þat no man desireþ

W1.186 (KD1.185)¶ For Iames þe gentile · Iugged in hise bokes
W1.187 (KD1.186) That Feiþ with-outen þe feet · is riȝt no-þyng worþi           48(n)
W1.188 (KD1.187) And as deed as a dore tree · but if þe dedes folwe
W1.189 (KD1.187α)Fides sine operibus mortua est &c

W1.190 (KD1.188)¶ For-þi chastite wiþ-outen charite · worþ cheyned in helle           49(n)
W1.191 (KD1.189) It is as lewed as a lampe · þat no liȝt is Inne           50(n)
W1.192 (KD1.190) Manye Chapeleyns arn chaste · ac charite is aweye
W1.193 (KD1.191) Are no men Auarouser þan hij · whan þei ben auaunced
W1.194 (KD1.192) Vnkynde to hire kyn · and to alle cristene
W1.195 (KD1.193) Chewen hire charite · and chiden after moore
W1.196 (KD1.194) Swich chastite wiþ-outen charite · worþ cheyned in helle

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W1.197 (KD1.195)¶ Manye curatours kepen hem · clene of hire bodies
W1.198 (KD1.196) Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise · þei konne noȝt doon it from hem
W1.199 (KD1.197) So harde haþ Auarice · yhasped hem togideres
W1.200 (KD1.198) And þat is no truþe of þe Trinite · but tricherie of helle
W1.201 (KD1.199) And lernynge to lewed men · þe latter for to deele
W1.202 (KD1.200) For-þi þise wordes · ben writen in þe gospel
W1.203 (KD1.201)Date & dabitur vobis · for I deele yow alle
W1.204 (KD1.202) And þat is þe lok of loue · and leteþ out my grace
W1.205 (KD1.203) To conforten þe carefulle · acombred wiþ synne

W1.206 (KD1.204)¶ Loue is leche of lif51(c) · and next52(c) oure lord selue
W1.207 (KD1.205) And also þe graiþe gate · þat goþ in-to heuene
W1.208 (KD1.206) For-þi I seye as I seide · er by þe textes
W1.209 (KD1.207) Whan alle tresors ben tried · treuþe is þe beste           53(n)

W1.210 (KD1.208)¶ Now haue I told þee what truþe is · þat no tresor is bettre
W1.211 (KD1.209) I may no lenger lenge þee wiþ · now loke þee oure lord

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Last updated: Sept. 27, 2000.
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