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Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 9

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Passus nonus de visione vt supra & primus de Dobet

W9.1 (KD9.1)SIre dowel dwelleþ quod wit · noȝt a day hennes
W9.2 (KD9.2) In a Castel þat kynde made · of foure kynnes þynges
W9.3 (KD9.3) Of erþe and of Eyr is it maad · medled togideres
W9.4 (KD9.4) Wiþ wynd and wiþ water · witterly enioyned
W9.5 (KD9.5) Kynde haþ closed þer-Inne · craftily wiþ-alle
W9.6 (KD9.6) A lemman þat he loueþ · lik to hym-selue
W9.7 (KD9.7)Anima she hatte · ac enuye hir hateþ
W9.8 (KD9.8) A proud prikere of Fraunce · Princeps huius mundi
W9.9 (KD9.9) And wolde wynne hire awey · wiþ wiles and he myȝte

W9.10 (KD9.10)¶ Ac kynde knoweþ þis wel · and kepeþ hire þe bettre
W9.11 (KD9.11) And dooþ hire wiþ sire dowel · is duc of þise Marches

W9.12 (KD9.12)¶ Dobet is hire damyselle · Sire doweles douȝter
W9.13 (KD9.13) To seruen þis lady leelly · boþe late and raþe

W9.14 (KD9.14)¶ Do-best is aboue boþe · a Bisshopes peere
W9.15 (KD9.15) That he bit303(p) moot be do · he ruleþ hem alle
W9.16 (KD9.16)Anima · þat lady · is lad by his leryng
W9.17 (KD9.17) Ac þe Constable of þat Castel · þat kepeþ al þe wacche
W9.18 (KD9.18) Is a wis knyȝt wiþ-alle · sire Inwit he hatte
W9.19 (KD9.19) And haþ fyue faire sones · bi his firste wyue
W9.20 (KD9.20) Sire Sewel and Seywel · and here wel þe hende
W9.21 (KD9.21) Sire werch wel wiþ þyn hand · a wiȝt man of strengþe
W9.22 (KD9.22) And sire Godefray Gowel · grete lordes for-soþe
W9.23 (KD9.23) Thise fyue ben set · to kepe304 þis lady anima
W9.24 (KD9.24) Til kynde come or sende · to sauen hire for euere

W9.25 (KD9.25)What kynnes þyng is kynde quod I · kanstow me telle

W9.26 (KD9.26)¶ Kynde quod wit is a creatour · of alle kynnes þynges
W9.27 (KD9.27) Fader and formour · of al þat euere was maked
W9.28 (KD9.28) And þat is þe grete god · þat gynnyng hadde neuere
W9.29 (KD9.29) Lord of lif and of liȝt · of lisse and of peyne
W9.30 (KD9.30) Aungeles and alle þyng · arn at his wille
W9.31 (KD9.31) Ac man is hym moost lik · of marc and of shafte
W9.32 (KD9.32) For þoruȝ þe word þat he spak · woxen forþ beestes
W9.33 (KD9.33α)Dixit & facta sunt

W9.34 (KD9.34)¶ And made man likkest · to hym-self one
W9.35 (KD9.35) And Eue of his ryb-bon · wiþ-outen any mene
W9.36 (KD9.36) For he was synguler hym-self · and seide faciamus
W9.37 (KD9.37) As who seiþ moore moot her-to · þan my word oone
W9.38 (KD9.38) My myȝt moot helpe · forþ wiþ my speche          305(n)
W9.39 (KD9.39) Right as a lord sholde make lettres · and hym lakked parchemyn          306(n)
W9.40 (KD9.40) Thouȝ he koude write neuer so wel · if he hadde no penne          307(n)
W9.41 (KD9.41) The lettre for al þe lordshipe · I leue were neuere y-maked           308(n)

W9.42 (KD9.42)¶ And so it semeþ by hym · as þe bible telleþ
W9.43 (KD9.43) There he seide · Dixit & facta sunt

W9.44 (KD9.44)¶ He moste werche wiþ his word · and his wit shewe
W9.45 (KD9.45) And in þis manere was man maad · þoruȝ myȝt of god almyȝty
W9.46 (KD9.46) Wiþ his word and werkmanshipe · and wiþ lif to laste
W9.47 (KD9.47) And þus god gaf hym a goost · þoruȝ309 þe godhede of heuene
W9.48 (KD9.48) And of his grete grace · graunted hym blisse
W9.49 (KD9.49) And þat is lif þat ay shal laste · to al his lynage after
W9.50 (KD9.50) And þat is þe Castel þat kynde made · caro it hatte
W9.51 (KD9.51) And is as muche to mene · as man wiþ a Soule
W9.52 (KD9.52) And þat he wroȝte wiþ werk · and wiþ word boþe
W9.53 (KD9.53) Thorgh myȝt of þe mageste · man was ymaked

W9.54 (KD9.54)¶ Inwit and alle wittes · closed ben þer-Inne
W9.55 (KD9.55) For loue of þe lady anima · þat lif is ynempned
W9.56 (KD9.56) Ouer al in mannes body · he walkeþ and wandreþ
W9.57 (KD9.57) And in þe herte is hir hoom · and hir mooste reste

W9.58 (KD9.58)¶ Ac Inwit is in þe heed · and to þe herte he lokeþ
W9.59 (KD9.59) What anima is leef or looþ · he lat hire at his wille
W9.60 (KD9.60) For after þe grace of god · þe gretteste is Inwit

W9.61 (KD9.61)¶ Muche wo worþ þat man · þat mysruleþ his Inwit          310(n)
W9.62 (KD9.62) And þat ben glotons glubberes · hir god is hire wombe          311(n)
W9.63 (KD9.62α)Quorum deus venter est ·

W9.64 (KD9.63)¶ For þei seruen Sathan · hir soules shal he haue
W9.65 (KD9.64) That lyuen synful lif here · hir soule is lich þe deuel
W9.66 (KD9.65) And alle þat lyuen good lif · are lik to god almyȝty
W9.67 (KD9.65α)Qui manet in caritate in deo manet &c

W9.68 (KD9.66)¶ Allas þat drynke shal fordo · þat god deere bouȝte          312(n)
W9.69 (KD9.67) And dooþ god forsaken hem · þat he shoop to his liknesse          313(n)

W9.70 (KD9.67α)Amen dico vobis · nescio vos / · Et alibi  Et
dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum

W9.71 (KD9.68-69)¶ Fooles þat fauten Inwit · I fynde þat holy chirche
W9.72 (KD9.70) Sholde fynden hem þat hem fauted · and faderlese children
W9.73 (KD9.71) And widewes þat han noȝt wher-with · to wynnen hem hir foode
W9.74 (KD9.72) Madde men and maydenes · þat helplese were
W9.75 (KD9.73) Alle þise lakken Inwit · and loore bihoueþ

W9.76 (KD9.74)¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · make a long tale
W9.77 (KD9.75) And fynde fele witnesses · among þe foure doctours
W9.78 (KD9.76) And þat I lye noȝt of þat I lere þee · luc bereþ witnesse

W9.79 (KD9.77)¶ Godfadres and godmodres · þat seen hire godchildren
W9.80 (KD9.78) At myseise and at myschief · and mowe hem amende
W9.81 (KD9.79) Shul haue penaunce in purgatorie · but þei hem helpe
W9.82 (KD9.80) For moore bilongeþ to þe litel barn · er he þe lawe knowe          314(n)
W9.83 (KD9.81) Than nempnynge of a name · and he neuer þe wiser           315(n)
W9.84 (KD9.82) Sholde no cristene creature · cryen at þe yate
W9.85 (KD9.83) Ne faille payn ne potage · and prelates dide as þei sholden
W9.86 (KD9.84) A Iew wolde noȝt se a Iew · go Ianglyng for defaute          316(n)
W9.87 (KD9.85) For alle þe mebles on þis moolde · and he amende it myȝte

W9.88 (KD9.86)¶ Allas þat a cristene creature · shal be vnkynde til anoþer          317(n)
W9.89 (KD9.87) Syn Iewes þat we Iugge · Iudas felawes          318(n)
W9.90 (KD9.88) Eyþer of hem helpeþ ooþer · of þat þat hem nedeþ          319(n)
W9.91 (KD9.89) Whi nel we cristene · of cristes good be as kynde          320(n)
W9.92 (KD9.90) As Iewes þat ben oure lores-men · shame to vs alle          321(n)
W9.93 (KD9.91) The commune for hir vnkyndenesse · I drede me shul abye

W9.94 (KD9.92)¶ Bisshopes shul be blamed · for beggeres sake
W9.95 (KD9.93) He is wors þan Iudas · þat ȝyueþ a Iaper siluer
W9.96 (KD9.94) And biddeþ þe beggere go · for his broke cloþes

W9.97 (KD9.94α)Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium
christi minus distribuit  Et alibi  Perniciosus dis-
pensator est qui res pauperum christi inutiliter consumit

he doþ noȝt wel
W9.98 (KD9.95)¶ He dooþ noȝt wel þat dooþ þus · ne drat noȝt god almyȝty
W9.99 (KD9.96) He loueþ noȝt Salomons sawes · þat Sapience tauȝte
W9.100 (KD9.96α)Inicium sapiencie timor domini

W9.101 (KD9.97)¶ That dredeþ god he dooþ wel · þat dredeþ hym for loue           322(n)
W9.102 (KD9.98) And noȝt for drede of vengeaunce · dooþ þer-fore þe bettre          323(n)

W9.103 (KD9.99)¶ He dooþ best þat wiþ-draweþ hym · by daye and by nyȝte          324(n)
W9.104 (KD9.100) To spille any speche · or any space of tyme          325(n)
W9.105 (KD9.100α)Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus

W9.106 (KD9.101)¶ Lesynge of tyme · truþe woot þe soþe
W9.107 (KD9.102) Is moost yhated vp-on erþe · of hem þat ben in heuene
W9.108 (KD9.103) And siþþe to spille speche · þat spicerie326 is of grace
W9.109 (KD9.104) And goddes gleman · and a game of heuene
W9.110 (KD9.105) Wolde neuere þe feiþful fader · þis fiþele were vntempred
W9.111 (KD9.106) Ne his gleman a gedelyng · a goere to tauernes

W9.112 (KD9.107)¶ To alle trewe tidy men · þat trauaille desiren
W9.113 (KD9.108) Oure lord loueþ hem and lent · loude ouþer stille
W9.114 (KD9.109) Grace to go to hem · and ofgon hir liflode

W9.115 (KD9.109α)Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono

W9.116 (KD9.110)¶ Trewe wedded libbynge folk · in þis world is dowel
W9.117 (KD9.111) For þei mote werche and wynne · and þe world sustene
W9.118 (KD9.112) For of hir kynde þei come · þat Confessours ben nempned
W9.119 (KD9.113) Kynges and knyȝtes · kaysers and cherles
W9.120 (KD9.114) Maidenes and martires · out of o man come
W9.121 (KD9.115) The wif was maad þe weye · for to helpe werche
W9.122 (KD9.116) And þus was wedlok y-wroȝt · wiþ a mene persone
W9.123 (KD9.117) First by þe fadres wille · and þe frendes conseille          327(n)
W9.124 (KD9.118) And siþenes by assent of hem-self · as þei two myȝte acorde          328(n)
W9.125 (KD9.119) And þus was wedlok ywroȝt · and god hym-self it made          329(n)

fol.49v

W9.126 (KD9.120)In erþe · and in heuene · hym-self bereþ witnesse
W9.127 (KD9.121)¶ Ac fals folk feiþlees · þeues and lyeres
W9.128 (KD9.122) Wastours and wrecches · out of wedlok I trowe
W9.129 (KD9.123) Conceyued ben in yuel tyme · as Caym was on Eue
W9.130 (KD9.125) Of swiche synfulle sherewes · þe Sauter makeþ mynde

W9.131 (KD9.125α)Concepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem &c          330(n)

W9.132 (KD9.126)¶ And alle þat come of þat Caym · come to yuel ende
W9.133 (KD9.127) And331 god sente to Seem · and seide by an Aungel
W9.134 (KD9.128) Thyn issue in þyn issue · I wol þat þei be wedded
W9.135 (KD9.129) And noȝt þi kynde wiþ Caymes · ycoupled nor yspoused

W9.136 (KD9.130)¶ Yet some ayein þe sonde · of oure Saueour of heuene
W9.137 (KD9.131) Caymes kynde and his kynde · coupled togideres
W9.138 (KD9.132) Til god wraþed for hir werkes · and swich a word seide
W9.139 (KD9.133) That I makede man · it me forþynkeþ
W9.140 (KD9.133α)Penitet me fecisse hominem ·

W9.141 (KD9.134)¶ And com to Noe anon · and bad hym noȝt lette
W9.142 (KD9.135) Swiþe go shape a ship · of shides and of bordes
W9.143 (KD9.136) Thy-self and þi sones þre · and siþen youre wyues
W9.144 (KD9.137) Buskeþ yow to þat boot · and bideþ ye þer-Inne
W9.145 (KD9.138) Til fourty daies be fulfild · þat þe flood haue ywasshen
W9.146 (KD9.139) Clene awey þe corsed blood · þat Caym haþ ymaked

W9.147 (KD9.140)¶ Beestes þat now ben · shul banne þe tyme
W9.148 (KD9.141) That euere þat cursed Caym · coom on þis erþe
W9.149 (KD9.142) Alle shul deye for hise dedes · by dales and by hulles
W9.150 (KD9.143) And þe foweles þat fleen · forþ wiþ oþere beestes
W9.151 (KD9.144) Excepte oonliche · of ech kynde a couple
W9.152 (KD9.145) That in þi shyngled ship · shul ben ysaued
W9.153 (KD9.146) Here abouȝte þe barn · þe belsires giltes

W9.154 (KD9.147)¶ And alle for hir fadres · þei ferden þe werse
W9.155 (KD9.148) The gospel is her-ayein · in o degre I fynde

W9.156 (KD9.149)Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris · et pater non portabit iniquitatem filij &c

W9.157 (KD9.150)¶ Ac I fynde if þe fader · be fals and a sherewe          332(n)
W9.158 (KD9.151) That somdel þe sone · shal haue þe sires tacches          333(n)

W9.159 (KD9.152)¶ Impe on an Ellere · and if þyn appul be swete
W9.160 (KD9.153) Muchel merueille me þynkeþ · and moore of a sherewe          334(n)
W9.161 (KD9.154) That bryngeþ forþ any barn · but if he be þe same          335(n)
W9.162 (KD9.155) And haue a Sauour after þe sire · selde sestow ooþer          336(n)

W9.163 (KD9.155α)Numquam colligitur de spinis vua337 nec de tribulis ficus

W9.164 (KD9.156)¶ And þus þoruȝ cursed Caym · cam care vp-on erþe
W9.165 (KD9.157) And al for þei wroȝte wedlokes · ayein goddes wille
W9.166 (KD9.158) For-þi haue þei maugre of hir mariages · þat marie so hir children
W9.167 (KD9.159) For some as I se now · sooþ for to telle
W9.168 (KD9.160) For coueitise of catel · vnkyndely ben wedded          338(n)
W9.169 (KD9.161) As careful concepcion · comeþ of swiche mariages
W9.170 (KD9.162) As bifel of þe folk · þat I bifore of tolde
W9.171 (KD9.163) Ther-fore339 goode sholde wedde goode · þouȝ þei no good hadde          340(n)
W9.172 (KD9.164) I am via & veritas seiþ crist · I may auaunce yow341 alle          342(n)

W9.173 (KD9.165)¶ It is an vncomly couple · by crist as me þynkeþ          343(n)
W9.174 (KD9.166) To yeuen a yong wenche · to an old feble          344(n)
W9.175 (KD9.167) Or wedden any wodewe · for welþe of hir goodes          345(n)
W9.176 (KD9.168) That neuere shal barn bere · but if it be in hir armes           346(n)
W9.177 (KD9.170) Many a peire siþen þe pestilence · han pliȝt hem togideres
W9.178 (KD9.171) The fruyt þat347 brynge forþ · arn foule wordes          348(n)
W9.179 (KD9.169) In Ielousie ioyelees · and ianglynge on bedde
W9.180 (KD9.172) Haue þei no children but cheeste · and clappyng349 hem bitwene

fol.50v

W9.181 (KD9.173) And þouȝ þei do hem to Dunmowe · but if þe deuel helpe
W9.182 (KD9.174) To folwen after þe flicche · fecche þei it neuere
W9.183 (KD9.175) And but þei boþe be forswore · þat bacon þei tyne
W9.184 (KD9.176)¶ For-þi I counseille alle cristene · coueite noȝt be wedded
W9.185 (KD9.177) For coueitise of catel · ne of kynrede riche          350(n)
W9.186 (KD9.178) Ac maidenes and maydenes · macche yow togideres          351(n)
W9.187 (KD9.179) Wodewes and wideweres · wercheþ þe same          352(n)
W9.188 (KD9.180) For no londes but for loue · loke ye be wedded          353(n)
W9.189 (KD9.181) And þanne gete ye þe grace of god · and good ynouȝ to lyue wiþ          354(n)

W9.190 (KD9.182)¶ And euery maner seculer · þat may noȝt continue          355(n)
W9.191 (KD9.183) Wisely go wedde · and ware hym fro synne          356(n)
W9.192 (KD9.184)Fo[r] lecherie in likynge · is lymeyerd of helle
W9.193 (KD9.185) Whiles þow art yong · and þi wepene kene           357(n)
W9.194 (KD9.186) Wreke þee wiþ wyuyng · if þow wolt ben excused           358(n)

W9.195 (KD9.186α)¶ Dum sis vir fortis ne des tua robora scortis           359(n)
W9.196 (KD9.186β)Scribitur in portis meretrix est ianua mortis           360(n)

W9.197 (KD9.187)¶ Whan ye han wyued beþ war · and wercheþ in tyme
W9.198 (KD9.188) Noȝt as Adam and Eue · whan Caym was engendred
W9.199 (KD9.189) For in vntyme trewely · bitwene man and womman
W9.200 (KD9.190) Ne sholde no bourde on bedde be · but if þei boþe were clene
W9.201 (KD9.191) Boþe of lif and of soule · and in parfit charite
W9.202 (KD9.192) That ilke derne dede do · no man ne sholde
W9.203 (KD9.193) And if þei leden þus hir lif · it likeþ god almyȝty
W9.204 (KD9.194) For he made wedlok first · and hym-self it seide

W9.205 (KD9.194α)¶ Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem

W9.206 (KD9.195)¶ And þei þat oþer-gates ben geten · for gedelynges arn holden
W9.207 (KD9.196) As fals folk fondlynges · faitours and lieres
W9.208 (KD9.197) Vngracious to gete good · or loue of þe peple

W9.209 (KD9.198)¶ Wandren and wasten · what þei cacche mowe
W9.210 (KD9.199) Ayeins dowel þei doon yuel · and þe deuel serue          361(n)
W9.211 (KD9.200) And after hir deeþ-day · shul dwelle wiþ þe same           362(n)
W9.212 (KD9.201) But god gyue hem grace here · hem-self to amende          363(n)

W9.213 (KD9.202)¶ Dowel my frend is · to doon as lawe techeþ          364(n)
W9.214 (KD9.203-204) To loue þi frend and þi foo · leue me þat is dobet           365(n)
W9.215 (KD9.205) To ȝyuen and to yemen · boþe yonge and olde
W9.216 (KD9.206) To helen and to helpen · is do-best of alle

W9.217 (KD9.207)¶ And do-wel is to drede god · and do-bet to suffre          366(n)
W9.218 (KD9.208) And so comeþ do-best of boþe · and bryngeþ adoun þe mody
W9.219 (KD9.209) And þat is wikked wille · þat many a werk shendeþ          367(n)
W9.220 (KD9.210) And dryueþ awey do-wel · þoruȝ dedliche synnes

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