Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 11

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Passus vndecimus
W11.1 (KD11.1)	Thanne Scripture scorned me · and a skile tolde
W11.2 (KD11.2)	And lakked me in latyn · and liȝt by me she sette
W11.3 (KD11.3)	And seide Multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt


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W11.4 (KD11.4)	¶ Tho wepte I for wo · and wraþe of hir speche
W11.5 (KD11.5)	And in a wynkynge wraþe · weex I aslepe
W11.6 (KD11.6)	A merueillous metels mette me þanne
W11.7 (KD11.7)	That I was rauysshed riȝt þere · and Fortune me fette
W11.8 (KD11.8)	And in-to þe lond of longynge · allone she me brouȝte
W11.9 (KD11.9)	And in a Mirour þat hiȝte middelerþe · she made me to biholde
W11.10 (KD11.10)	Sone⁵⁴³ she seide to me · here myȝtow se wondres
W11.11 (KD11.11)	And knowe þat þow coueitest · and come þer-to paraunter


W11.12 (KD11.12)	¶ Thanne hadde Fortune folwynge hire · two faire damyseles
W11.13 (KD11.13)	Concupiscencia carnis · men called þe elder mayde
W11.14 (KD11.14)	And Coueitise of eiȝes · ycalled was þat ooþer
W11.15 (KD11.15)	Pride of parfit lyuynge · pursued hem boþe
W11.16 (KD11.16)	And bad me for my contenaunce · acounten Clergie liȝte


W11.17 (KD11.17)	¶ Concupiscencia carnis · colled me aboute þe nekke
W11.18 (KD11.18)	And seide þow art yong and yeep · and hast yeres ynowe ⁵⁴⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.19 (KD11.19)	For to lyue longe · and ladies to louye ⁵⁴⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.20 (KD11.20)	And in þis Mirour þow myȝt se · myȝtes ful manye
W11.21 (KD11.21)	That leden þee wole to likynge · al þi lif-tyme


W11.22 (KD11.22)	¶ The secounde seide þe same · I shal sewe þi wille
W11.23 (KD11.23)	Til þow be a lord and haue lond · leten þee I nelle
W11.24 (KD11.24)	That I ne shal folwe þi felawship · if Fortune it like
W11.25 (KD11.25)	He shal fynde me his frend · quod Fortune þer-after
W11.26 (KD11.26)	The freke þat folwede my wille · failled neuere blisse ⁵⁴⁶⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.27 (KD11.27)	¶ Thanne was þer oon þat hiȝte Elde · þat heuy was of chere
W11.28 (KD11.28)	Man quod he if I mete wiþ þe · by Marie of heuene
W11.29 (KD11.29)	Thow shalt fynde Fortune þee faille · at þi mooste nede
W11.30 (KD11.30)	And Concupiscencia carnis · clene þee forsake
W11.31 (KD11.31)	Bittrely shaltow banne þanne · boþe dayes and nyȝtes
W11.32 (KD11.32)	Coueitise of eiȝe · þat euere þow hir knewe
W11.33 (KD11.33)	And pride of parfit lyuynge · to muche peril þee brynge


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W11.34 (KD11.34)	¶ Ye recche þee neuere quod Rechelesnesse · stood forþ in raggede cloþes
W11.35 (KD11.35)	Folwe forþ þat Fortune wole · þow hast wel fer til Elde
W11.36 (KD11.36)	A man may stoupe tyme ynoȝ · whan he shal tyne þe crowne ⁵⁴⁷⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.37 (KD11.37)	¶ Homo proponit quod a poete · and Plato he hiȝte
W11.38 (KD11.38)	And Deus disponit quod he · lat god doon his wille
W11.39 (KD11.39)	If truþe wol witnesse it be wel do · Fortune to folwe
W11.40 (KD11.40)	Concupiscencia carnis · ne Coueitise of eiȝes
W11.41 (KD11.41)	Ne shal noȝt greue þee gretly · ne bigile⁵⁴⁸ but if þow wolt þi-selue⁵⁴⁹


W11.42 (KD11.42)	¶ Ye fare-wel Phippe quod Faunteltee · and forþ gan me drawe
W11.43 (KD11.43)	Til Concupiscencia carnis · acorded alle my werkes


W11.44 (KD11.44)	¶ Allas eiȝe quod Elde · and holynesse boþe
W11.45 (KD11.45)	That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse · for wil to haue his likyng ⁵⁵⁰⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.46 (KD11.46)	¶ Coueitise of eiȝes · conforted me anoon after
W11.47 (KD11.47)	And folwed me fourty wynter · and a fifte moore
W11.48 (KD11.48)	That of dowel ne dobet · no deyntee me þouȝte
W11.49 (KD11.49)	I hadde no likyng leue me if þee list · of hem ouȝt to knowe
W11.50 (KD11.50)	Coueitise of eiȝes · com ofter in mynde
W11.51 (KD11.51)	Than dowel or dobet · among my dedes alle


W11.52 (KD11.52)	¶ Coueitise of eiȝes · conforted me ofte ⁵⁵¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.53 (KD11.53)	And seide haue no conscience · how þow come to goode ⁵⁵²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.54 (KD11.54)	Go confesse þee to som frere · and shewe hym þi synnes ⁵⁵³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.55 (KD11.55)	For whiles Fortune is þi frend · freres wol þee louye ⁵⁵⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.56 (KD11.56)	And fecche þee to hir Fraternitee · and for þe biseke ⁵⁵⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.57 (KD11.57)	To hir Priour prouincial · a pardon for to haue ⁵⁵⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.58 (KD11.58)	And preien for þee pol by pol · if þow be pecuniosus ⁵⁵⁷⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.59 (KD11.58α)	Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis


W11.60 (KD11.59)	¶ By wissynge of þis wenche I wrouȝte · hir wordes were so swete
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W11.61 (KD11.60)	Til I foryat youþe · and yarn in-to Elde


W11.62 (KD11.61)	¶ And þanne was Fortune my foo · for al hir faire speche⁵⁵⁸ ⁵⁵⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.63 (KD11.62)	And pouerte pursued me · and putte me lowe ⁵⁶⁰⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.64 (KD11.63)	¶ And þo fond I þe frere afered · and flittynge boþe
W11.65 (KD11.64)	Ayeins oure firste forward · for I seide I nolde
W11.66 (KD11.65)	Be buried at hire hous · but at my parisshe chirche
W11.67 (KD11.66)	For I herde ones · how Conscience it tolde
W11.68 (KD11.67)	That þere a man were cristned · by kynde he sholde be buryed
W11.69 (KD11.67.1)	Or where he were parisshen · riȝt þere he sholde be grauen
W11.70 (KD11.68)	And for I seide þus to freres · a fool þei me helden
W11.71 (KD11.69)	And loued me þe lasse · for my lele speche


W11.72 (KD11.70)	¶ Ac yet I cryde on my Confessour · þat heeld hym-self so konnyng ⁵⁶¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.73 (KD11.71)	By my feiþ frere quod I · ye faren lik þise woweris ⁵⁶²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.74 (KD11.72)	That wedde none widwes · but for to welden hir goodes ⁵⁶³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.75 (KD11.73)	Riȝt so by þe roode · rouȝte ye neuere ⁵⁶⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.76 (KD11.74)	Where my body were buryed · by so ye hadde my siluer ⁵⁶⁵⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.77 (KD11.75)	¶ Ich haue muche merueille of yow · and so haþ many anoþer
W11.78 (KD11.76)	Whi youre Couent coueiteþ · to confesse and to burye
W11.79 (KD11.77)	Raþer þan to baptize barnes · þat ben Catecumelynges
W11.80 (KD11.78)	Baptizynge and buryinge · boþe beþ ful nedefulle
W11.81 (KD11.79)	Ac muche moore meritorie · me þynkeþ it is to baptize
W11.82 (KD11.80)	For a baptized man may · as þise maistres telleþ
W11.83 (KD11.81)	Thoruȝ contricion come · to þe heiȝe heuene
W11.84 (KD11.81α)	^566(c)Sola contricio &c
W11.85 (KD11.82)	Ac barn wiþ-outen bapteme · may noȝt so be saued
W11.86 (KD11.82α-83)	Nisi quis renatus fuerit · loke ye lettred men · wheiþer I lye or do noȝt ·
W11.87 (KD11.84)	And lewte loked on me · and I loured after


W11.88 (KD11.85)	¶ Wher-fore lourestow quod lewtee · and loked on me harde


W11.89 (KD11.86)	¶ If I dorste quod I amonges men · þis metels auowe


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W11.90 (KD11.87)	¶ Ȝis by Peter and by Poul quod he · and took hem boþe to witnesse
W11.91 (KD11.88)	Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo · set publice argue illos


W11.92 (KD11.89)	¶ They wole aleggen also quod I · and by þe gospel preuen
W11.93 (KD11.90)	Nolite iudicare quemquam ·


W11.94 (KD11.91)	¶ And wher-of serueþ lawe quod lewtee · if no lif vndertoke it
W11.95 (KD11.92)	Falsnesse ne faiterie · for som-what þe Apostle seide
W11.96 (KD11.93-94)	Non oderis fratrem · And in þe Sauter also · seiþ dauid þe prophete
W11.97 (KD11.95)	Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c


W11.98 (KD11.96)	¶ It is licitum for lewed men · to sigge þe soþe ⁵⁶⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.99 (KD11.97)	If hem likeþ and lest · ech a lawe it graunteþ ⁵⁶⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.100 (KD11.98)	Excepte persons and preestes · and prelates of holy chirche ⁵⁶⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.101 (KD11.99)	It falleþ noȝt for þat folk · no tales to telle ⁵⁷⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.102 (KD11.100)	Thouȝ þe tale be trewe · and it touche synne ⁵⁷¹⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.103 (KD11.101)	¶ Þyng þat al þe world woot · wher-fore sholdestow spare
W11.104 (KD11.102)	To reden it in Retorik · to arate dedly synne
W11.105 (KD11.103)	Ac be neuere-moore þe firste · defaute⁵⁷² to blame
W11.106 (KD11.104)	Thouȝ þow se yuel seye it noȝt first · be sory it nere amended
W11.107 (KD11.105)	No þyng þat is pryue · publice þow it neuere ⁵⁷³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.108 (KD11.106)	Neiþer for loue preise⁵⁷⁴ it noȝt · ne lakke it for enuye ⁵⁷⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.109 (KD11.106α)	Parum lauda vitupera parcius


W11.110 (KD11.107)	¶ He seiþ sooþ quod Scripture þo · and skipte an heiȝ and preched
W11.111 (KD11.108)	Ac þe matere þat she meued · if lewed men it knewe
W11.112 (KD11.109)	Þe lasse as I leue · louyen it þei wolde


W11.113 (KD11.111)	¶ This was hir teme and hir text · I took ful good hede
W11.114 (KD11.112)	Multi to a mangerie · and to þe mete were sompned
W11.115 (KD11.113)	And whan þe peple was plener comen · þe porter vnpynned þe yate
W11.116 (KD11.114)	And plukked In Pauci pryueliche · and leet þe remenaunt go rome


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W11.117 (KD11.115)	¶ Al for tene of hir text · trembled myn herte
W11.118 (KD11.116)	And in a weer gan I wexe · and wiþ my-self to dispute
W11.119 (KD11.117)	Wheiþer I were chosen or noȝt chosen · on holichirche I þouȝte
W11.120 (KD11.118)	That vnderfonged me atte font · for oon of goddes chosene
W11.121 (KD11.119)	For crist cleped vs alle · come if we wolde
W11.122 (KD11.120)	Sarzens and scismatikes · and so he dide þe Iewes
W11.123 (KD11.120α)	O vos omnes sicientes venite &c
W11.124 (KD11.121)	And bad hem souke for synne · safly at his breste
W11.125 (KD11.122)	And drynke boote for bale · brouke it who-so myȝte


W11.126 (KD11.123)	¶ Thanne may alle cristene come quod I · and cleyme þere entree
W11.127 (KD11.124)	By þe blood þat he bouȝte vs wiþ · and þoruȝ bapteme after
W11.128 (KD11.124α)	Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit &c
W11.129 (KD11.125)	For þouȝ a cristen man coueited · his cristendom to reneye
W11.130 (KD11.126)	Riȝtfully to reneye · no reson it wolde


W11.131 (KD11.127)	¶ For may no cherl chartre make · ne his catel selle
W11.132 (KD11.128)	Wiþ-outen leue of his lord · no lawe wol it graunte
W11.133 (KD11.129)	Ac he may renne in arerage · and rome so fro home
W11.134 (KD11.130)	And as a reneyed caytif · recchelesly rennen aboute
W11.135 (KD11.131-132)	And reson shal rekene wiþ hym · and casten hym in arerage
W11.136 (KD11.133)	And putten hym after in a prison · in purgatorie to brenne
W11.137 (KD11.134)	For hise arerages rewarden hym þere · to þe day of dome
W11.138 (KD11.135)	But if Contricion wol come · and crye by his lyue
W11.139 (KD11.136)	Mercy for hise mysdedes · wiþ mouþe and wiþ herte


W11.140 (KD11.137)	¶ That is sooþ seide Scripture · may no synne lette
W11.141 (KD11.138)	Mercy al to amende · and Mekenesse hir folwe
W11.142 (KD11.139)	For þei beþ as oure bokes telleþ · aboue goddes werkes
W11.143 (KD11.139α)	Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius


W11.144 (KD11.140)	¶ Ye baw for bokes quod oon · was broken out of helle
W11.145 (KD11.141)	Hiȝte Troianus hadde ben a trewe knyȝt · took witnesse at a pope
W11.146 (KD11.142)	How he was ded and dampned · to dwellen in pyne


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W11.147 (KD11.143)	For an vncristene creature · clerkes wite þe soþe
W11.148 (KD11.144)	That al þe clergie vnder crist · ne myȝte me cracche fro helle
W11.149 (KD11.145)	But oonliche loue and leautee · and my laweful domes


W11.150 (KD11.146)	¶ Gregorie wiste þis wel · and wilned to my soule
W11.151 (KD11.147)	Sauacion for sooþnesse · þat he seiȝ in my werkes
W11.152 (KD11.148)	And after þat he wepte · and wilned me were graunted
W11.153 (KD11.149-150)	Grace · wiþ-outen any bede biddyng · his boone was vnderfongen
W11.154 (KD11.151)	And I saued as ye see · wiþ-outen syngynge of masses
W11.155 (KD11.152)	By loue and by lernyng · of my lyuynge in truþe ⁵⁷⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.156 (KD11.153)	Brouȝte me fro bitter peyne · þer no biddyng myȝte ⁵⁷⁷⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.157 (KD11.154)	¶ Lo ye lordes what leautee dide · by an Emperour of Rome
W11.158 (KD11.155)	That was an vncristene creature · as clerkes fyndeþ in bokes
W11.159 (KD11.156)	Nouȝt þoruȝ preiere of a pope · but for his pure truþe
W11.160 (KD11.157)	Was þat Sarsen saued · as Seint Gregorie bereþ witnesse


W11.161 (KD11.158)	¶ Wel ouȝte ye lordes þat lawes kepe · þis lesson to haue in mynde
W11.162 (KD11.159)	And on Troianus truþe to þenke · and do truþe to þe peple
W11.163 (KD11.171)	Lawe wiþ-outen loue quod Troianus · ley þer a bene ⁵⁷⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.164 (KD11.172)	Or any Science vnder sonne · þe seuene artz and alle
W11.165 (KD11.173)	But þei ben lerned for oure lordes loue · lost is al þe tyme
W11.166 (KD11.174)	For no cause to cacche siluer þer-by · ne to be called a maister
W11.167 (KD11.175)	But al for loue of oure lord · and þe bet to loue þe peple
W11.168 (KD11.176)	For Seint Iohan seide it · and soþe arn hise wordes
W11.169 (KD11.176α)	Qui non diligit manet in morte


W11.170 (KD11.177)	¶ Who-so loueþ noȝt leue me · he lyueþ in deeþ-deyinge
W11.171 (KD11.178)	And þat alle manere men · enemyes and frendes ⁵⁷⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.172 (KD11.179)	Loue hir eyþer ooþer · and lene hem as hem-selue ⁵⁸⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.173 (KD11.180)	Who-so leneþ noȝt he loueþ noȝt · god woot þe soþe ⁵⁸¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.174 (KD11.181)	Crist⁵⁸² comaundeþ ech a creature · to conformen hym to louye ⁵⁸³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.175 (KD11.182)	And souereynly þe pouere peple · and hir enemyes after ⁵⁸⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.176 (KD11.183)	For hem þat haten vs · is oure merite to louye ⁵⁸⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
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W11.177 (KD11.184)	And pouere peple to plese · hir preieres maye vs helpe ⁵⁸⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.178 (KD11.185)	And oure Ioye and oure heele · Iesu crist of heuene ⁵⁸⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.179 (KD11.186)	In a pouere mannes apparaille · pursued vs euere ⁵⁸⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.180 (KD11.187)	And lokeþ on vs in hir liknesse · and þat wiþ louely chere ⁵⁸⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.181 (KD11.188)	To knowen vs by oure kynde herte · and castynge of oure eiȝen ⁵⁹⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.182 (KD11.189)	Wheiþer we loue þe lordes here · bifore þe lord of blisse ⁵⁹¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.183 (KD11.190)	And exciteþ vs by þe Euaungelie · þat whan we maken festes
W11.184 (KD11.191)	We sholde noȝt clepe oure kyn þer-to · ne none kynnes riche


W11.185 (KD11.191α)	¶ Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos
W11.186 (KD11.192)	Ac calleþ þe carefulle þer-to · þe croked and þe pouere ⁵⁹²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.187 (KD11.193)	For youre frendes wol feden yow · and fonde yow to quyte
W11.188 (KD11.194)	Youre festynge and youre faire ȝifte · ech frend quyteþ so ooþer


W11.189 (KD11.195)	¶ Ac for þe pouere I shal paie · and pure wel quyte hir trauaille ⁵⁹³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.190 (KD11.196)	That ȝyueþ hem mete or moneie · or loueþ hem for my sake ⁵⁹⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.191 (KD11.198)	For þe beste ben som riche · and some beggeres and pouere ⁵⁹⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.192 (KD11.199)	For alle are we cristes creatures · and of his cofres riche ⁵⁹⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.193 (KD11.200)	And breþeren as of oo blood · as wel beggeres as Erles ⁵⁹⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.194 (KD11.201)	For on Caluarie of cristes blood · cristendom gan sprynge ⁵⁹⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.195 (KD11.202)	And blody breþeren we bicome þere · of o body ywonne ⁵⁹⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.196 (KD11.203)	As quasi modo geniti · and gentil men echone ⁶⁰⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.197 (KD11.204)	No beggere ne boye amonges vs · but if it synne made
W11.198 (KD11.204α)	Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati &c


W11.199 (KD11.205)	¶ In þe olde lawe · as holy lettre telleþ
W11.200 (KD11.205)	Mennes sones · men callen⁶⁰¹ vs echone
W11.201 (KD11.206)	Of Adames issue and Eue · ay til god-man deide
W11.202 (KD11.207)	And after his resurexcion · Redemptor was his name
W11.203 (KD11.208)	And we hise breþeren þoruȝ hym ybouȝt · boþe riche and pouere


W11.204 (KD11.209)	¶ For-þi loue we as leue breþeren · and ech man laughe of ooþer ⁶⁰²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.205 (KD11.210)	And of þat ech man may forbere · amende þere it nedeþ ⁶⁰³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.206 (KD11.211)	And euery man helpe ooþer · for hennes shul we alle ⁶⁰⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.207 (KD11.211α)	Alter alterius onera portate


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W11.208 (KD11.212)	¶ And be we noȝt vnkynde of oure catel · ne of oure konnyng neiþer ⁶⁰⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.209 (KD11.213)	For woot no man how neiȝ it is · to ben ynome fro boþe ⁶⁰⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.210 (KD11.214)	For-þi lakke no lif ooþer · þouȝ he moore latyn knowe
W11.211 (KD11.215)	Ne vndernyme noȝt foule · for is noon wiþ-oute defaute
W11.212 (KD11.216)	For what-euere clerkes carpe · of cristendom or ellis
W11.213 (KD11.217)	Crist to a commune womman seide · in commune at a feste
W11.214 (KD11.218)	That Fides sua sholde sauen hire · and saluen hire of synnes


W11.215 (KD11.219)	¶ Thanne is bileue a lele help · aboue logyk or lawe


W11.216 (KD11.220)	Of logyk or of lawe · in legenda sanctorum
W11.217 (KD11.221)	Is litel alowaunce maad · but if bileue hem helpe
W11.218 (KD11.222)	For it is ouer-longe er logyk · any lesson assoille
W11.219 (KD11.223)	And lawe is looþ to louye · but if he lacche siluer
W11.220 (KD11.224)	Boþe logyk and lawe · þat loueþ noȝt to lye
W11.221 (KD11.225)	I conseille alle cristene · clyue noȝt þer-on to soore
W11.222 (KD11.226)	For some wordes I fynde writen · þat were of Feiþes techyng
W11.223 (KD11.227)	That saued synful men · as Seint Iohan bereþ witnesse


W11.224 (KD11.228)	¶ Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis


W11.225 (KD11.229)	¶ For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue · as oure lord tauȝte ⁶⁰⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.226 (KD11.230)	And as Seint Gregorie seide · for mannes soule helþe ⁶⁰⁸⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.227 (KD11.231)	¶ Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum


W11.228 (KD11.232)	¶ Why I meue þis matere · is moost for þe pouere
W11.229 (KD11.233)	For in hir liknesse oure lord · ofte haþ ben yknowe
W11.230 (KD11.234)	Witnesse in þe Pask wyke · whan he yede to Emaus
W11.231 (KD11.235)	Cleophas ne knew hym noȝt · þat he crist were
W11.232 (KD11.236)	For his pouere apparaille · and pilgrymes wedes
W11.233 (KD11.237)	Til he blessede and brak · þe breed þat þei eten
W11.234 (KD11.238)	So bi hise werkes þei wisten · þat he was Iesus
W11.235 (KD11.239)	Ac by cloþyng þei knewe hym noȝt · ne by carpynge of tunge


fol.64r


W11.236 (KD11.240)	¶ And al was in ensample · to vs synfulle here ⁶⁰⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.237 (KD11.241)	That we sholde be lowe · and loueliche of speche ⁶¹⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.238 (KD11.242)	And apparaille vs noȝt ouer-proudly · for pilgrymes are we alle ⁶¹¹⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.239 (KD11.243)	¶ And in þe apparaille of a pouere man · and pilgrymes liknesse ⁶¹²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.240 (KD11.244)	Many tyme god haþ ben met · among nedy peple ⁶¹³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.241 (KD11.245)	Ther neuere segge hym seiȝ · in secte of þe riche ⁶¹⁴⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.242 (KD11.246)	¶ Seint Iohan and oþere seintes · were seyen in poore cloþyng
W11.243 (KD11.247)	And as pouere pilgrymes · preyed mennes goodes


W11.244 (KD11.248)	¶ Iesu crist on a Iewes doȝter liȝte · gentil womman þouȝ she were
W11.245 (KD11.249)	Was a pure pouere maide · and to a pouere man ywedded


W11.246 (KD11.250)	¶ Martha on Marie Maudeleyne · an huge pleynt made
W11.247 (KD11.251)	And to oure Saueour self · seide þise wordes


W11.248 (KD11.252)	¶ Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare


W11.249 (KD11.253)	¶ And hastily god answerde · and eiþeres wille folwed
W11.250 (KD11.254)	Boþe Marthaes and Maries · as Mathew bereþ witnesse
W11.251 (KD11.255)	Ac pouerte god putte bifore · and preised þat þe bettre ⁶¹⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.252 (KD11.255α)	Maria optimam partem elegit que non &c


W11.253 (KD11.256)	¶ And alle þe wise þat euere were · by auȝt I kan aspye
W11.254 (KD11.257)	Preiseden⁶¹⁶ pouerte for best lif · if Pacience it folwed⁶¹⁷
W11.255 (KD11.258)	And boþe bettre and blesseder · by many fold þan Richesse
W11.256 (KD11.259)	For⁶¹⁸ þouȝ it be sour to suffre · þer-after comeþ swete ⁶¹⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.257 (KD11.260)	As on a walnote wiþ-oute · is a bitter barke ⁶²⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.258 (KD11.261)	And after þat bitter bark · be þe shelle aweye ⁶²¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.259 (KD11.262)	Is a kernel of confort · kynde to restore ⁶²²⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.260 (KD11.263)	¶ So is after pouerte or penaunce · paciently ytake ⁶²³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.261 (KD11.264)	For it makeþ a man to haue mynde · in god and a gret wille ⁶²⁴⁽ⁿ⁾


fol.64v


W11.262 (KD11.265)	¶ To wepe and to wel bidde · wher-of wexeþ Mercy ⁶²⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.263 (KD11.266)	Of which crist is a kernelle · to conforte þe soule ⁶²⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.264 (KD11.267)	And wel sikerer he slepeþ · þe man þat is pouere
W11.265 (KD11.268)	And lasse he dredeþ deeþ · and in derke to ben yrobbed ⁶²⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.266 (KD11.269)	Than he þat is riȝt riche · Reson bereþ witnesse ⁶²⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.267 (KD11.269α)	Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris


W11.268 (KD11.270)	¶ Al-þouȝ Salomon seide · as folk seeþ in þe bible
W11.269 (KD11.271)	Diuicias nec paupertates &c
W11.270 (KD11.272)	Wiser þan Salomon was · bereþ witnesse and tauȝte
W11.271 (KD11.273)	That parfit pouerte was · no possession to haue ⁶²⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.272 (KD11.274)	And lif moost likynge to god · as luc bereþ witnesse ⁶³⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.273 (KD11.274α)	Si vis perfectus esse · vade & vende⁶³¹


W11.274 (KD11.275)	¶ And is to mene to men · þat on þis moolde lyuen
W11.275 (KD11.276)	Who-so wole be pure parfit · moot possession forsake
W11.276 (KD11.277)	Or selle it as seiþ þe book · and þe siluer dele
W11.277 (KD11.278)	To beggeris þat goon and begge · and bidden good for goddes loue
W11.278 (KD11.279)	For failed neuere man mete · þat myȝtful god serueþ ⁶³²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.279 (KD11.280)	As Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter · to swiche þat ben in wille
W11.280 (KD11.281)	To serue god goodliche · ne greueþ hym no penaunce
W11.281 (KD11.281α)	Nichil inpossibile volenti
W11.282 (KD11.282)	Ne lakkeþ neuere liflode · lynnen ne wollen
W11.283 (KD11.282α)	Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono


W11.284 (KD11.283)	¶ If preestes weren parfite · þei wolde no siluer take ⁶³³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.285 (KD11.284)	For masses ne for matyns · noȝt hir mete of vsureres ⁶³⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.286 (KD11.285)	Ne neiþer kirtel ne cote · þeiȝ þei for cold sholde deye
W11.287 (KD11.286)	And þei hir deuoir dide · as Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter
W11.288 (KD11.286α)	Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam


W11.289 (KD11.287)	¶ Spera in deo · spekeþ of preestes · þat haue no spendyng siluer
W11.290 (KD11.288)	That if þei trauaille truweliche · and truste in god almyȝty ⁶³⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.291 (KD11.289)	Hem sholde lakke no liflode · neyþer lynnen ne wollen ⁶³⁶⁽ⁿ⁾


And þe title þat þei


fol.65r


W11.292 (KD11.290)	¶ And þe title þat ye⁶³⁷ take ordres by · telleþ ye ben auaunced
W11.293 (KD11.291)	Thanne nedeþ yow noȝt to take siluer · for masses þat ye syngen
W11.294 (KD11.292)	For he þat took yow youre title · sholde take yow youre wages
W11.295 (KD11.293)	Or þe bisshop þat blessed yow · if þat ye ben worþi


W11.296 (KD11.294)	¶ For made neuere kyng no knyȝt · but he hadde catel to spende ⁶³⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.297 (KD11.295)	As bifel for a knyȝt · or foond hym for his strengþe
W11.298 (KD11.296)	It is a careful knyȝt · and of a caytif kynges makyng ⁶³⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.299 (KD11.297)	That haþ no lond ne lynage riche · ne good loos of hise handes ⁶⁴⁰⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.300 (KD11.298)	¶ The same I segge for-soþe · by alle swiche preestes ⁶⁴¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.301 (KD11.299)	That han neiþer konnynge ne kyn · but a crowne one ⁶⁴²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.302 (KD11.300)	And a title a tale of noȝt · to his liflode at his meschief ⁶⁴³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.303 (KD11.301)	He haþ moore bileue as I leue · to lacche þoruȝ his croune ⁶⁴⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.304 (KD11.302)	Cure · þan for konnyng · or knowen for clene berynge ⁶⁴⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.305 (KD11.302.1)	I haue wonder for why⁶⁴⁶ · and wher-fore þe bisshop · ⁶⁴⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.306 (KD11.302.2)	Makeþ swiche preestes · þat lewed men bitrayen ⁶⁴⁸⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.307 (KD11.303)	¶ A chartre is chalangeable · bifore a chief Iustice ⁶⁴⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.308 (KD11.304)	If fals latyn be in þat lettre · þe lawe it impugneþ ⁶⁵⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.309 (KD11.305)	Or peynted parentrelynarie · or parcelles ouer-skipped
W11.310 (KD11.306)	The gome þat gloseþ so chartres · for a goky is holden


W11.311 (KD11.307)	¶ So is it a goky by god · þat in his gospel failleþ ⁶⁵¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.312 (KD11.308)	Or in masse or in matyns · makeþ any defaute ⁶⁵²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.313 (KD11.309)	Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus


W11.314 (KD11.310)	¶ And also in þe sauter · seiþ dauid to ouerskipperis
W11.315 (KD11.311)	Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus Israel psallite sapien[ter]^653(c)


W11.316 (KD11.312)	¶ The bisshop shal be blamed · bifore god as I leue ⁶⁵⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.317 (KD11.313)	That crouneþ swiche goddes knyȝtes · þat konneþ noȝt sapienter ⁶⁵⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.318 (KD11.314)	Synge ne psalmes rede · ne seye a masse of þe day ⁶⁵⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.319 (KD11.315)	And neuer neiþer is blamelees · þe bisshop ne þe Chapeleyn ⁶⁵⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
fol.65v
W11.320 (KD11.316)	For hir eiþer is endited · and that is Ignorancia ⁶⁵⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.321 (KD11.317)	Non excusat episcopos nec ydiot⁶⁵⁹ preestes


W11.322 (KD11.318)	¶ This lokynge on lewed preestes · haþ doon me lepe from pouerte
W11.323 (KD11.319)	The which I preise þer pacience is · moore parfit þan richesse


W11.324 (KD11.320)	Ac muche moore in metynge þus · wiþ me gan oon dispute
W11.325 (KD11.321)	And slepynge I seiȝ al þis · and siþen cam kynde
W11.326 (KD11.322)	And nempned me by my name · and bad me nymen hede
W11.327 (KD11.323)	And þoruȝ þe wondres of þis world · wit for to take
W11.328 (KD11.324)	And on a mountaigne þat myddel-erþe · hiȝte as me þouȝte
W11.329 (KD11.325)	I was fet forþ · by ensamples to knowe
W11.330 (KD11.326)	Thorugh ech a creature and kynde · my creatour to louye


W11.331 (KD11.327)	¶ I seiȝ þe sonne and þe see · and þe sond after
W11.332 (KD11.328)	And where þat briddes and beestes · by hir makes yeden
W11.333 (KD11.329)	Wilde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foweles
W11.334 (KD11.330)	Wiþ fleckede feþeres · and of fele colours


W11.335 (KD11.331)	¶ Man and his make · I myȝte boþe biholde
W11.336 (KD11.332)	Pouerte and plentee · boþe pees and werre
W11.337 (KD11.333)	Blisse and bale boþe · I seiȝ al at ones
W11.338 (KD11.334)	And how men token Mede · and Mercy refused


W11.339 (KD11.335)	¶ Reson I seiȝ sooþly · sewen alle beestes
W11.340 (KD11.336)	In etynge in drynkynge · and in engendrynge of kynde
W11.341 (KD11.337)	And after cours of concepcion · noon took kepe of ooþer
W11.342 (KD11.338)	As whan þei hadde ryde in Rotey-tyme · anoon riȝt þer-after
W11.343 (KD11.339)	Males drowen hem to males · amorwenynges by hem-selue
W11.344 (KD11.340)	And in euenynges also · þe males ben fro femelles
W11.345 (KD11.341)	Ther ne was cow ne cowkynde · þat conceyued hadde
W11.346 (KD11.342)	That wolde belwe after boles · ne boor after sowe
W11.347 (KD11.343)	Boþe hors and houndes · and alle oþere beestes
W11.348 (KD11.344)	Medled noȝt wiþ hir makes · þat wiþ fole were
fol.66r
W11.349 (KD11.345)	¶ Briddes I biheld · þat in buskes made nestes
W11.350 (KD11.346)	Hadde neuere wye wit · to werche þe leeste
W11.351 (KD11.347)	I hadde wonder at whom · and wher þe pye lerned
W11.352 (KD11.348)	To legge þe stikkes · in whiche she leyeþ and bredeþ
W11.353 (KD11.349)	Ther nys wriȝte as I wene · sholde werche hir nestes to paye
W11.354 (KD11.350)	If any Mason made a molde þer-to · muche wonder it were


W11.355 (KD11.351)	¶ Ac⁶⁶⁰ yet me merueilled moore · how many oþere briddes
W11.356 (KD11.352)	Hidden and hileden · hir egges ful derne
W11.357 (KD11.353-354)	In Mareys and moores · for men sholde hem noȝt fynde
W11.358 (KD11.353-354)	And hidden hir egges · whan þei þer-fro wente
W11.359 (KD11.355)	For fere of oþere foweles · and for wilde beestes


W11.360 (KD11.356)	¶ And some troden hir makes · and on trees bredden
W11.361 (KD11.357)	And brouȝten forþ hir briddes so · al aboue þe grounde
W11.362 (KD11.358)	And some briddes at þe bile · þoruȝ breþyng conceyued
W11.363 (KD11.359)	And some caukede I took kepe · how pecokkes bredden
W11.364 (KD11.360)	Muche merueilled me · what maister hem made⁶⁶¹
W11.365 (KD11.361)	And who tauȝte hem on trees · to tymbre so heiȝe
W11.366 (KD11.362)	Ther neiþer burn ne beest · may hir briddes rechen


W11.367 (KD11.363)	¶ And siþen I loked vp-on þe see · and so forþ vp-on þe sterres
W11.368 (KD11.364)	Manye selkouþes I seiȝ · ben noȝt to seye nouþe


W11.369 (KD11.365)	¶ I seiȝ floures in þe fryth · and hir faire colours
W11.370 (KD11.366)	And how among þe grene gras · growed so manye hewes
W11.371 (KD11.367)	And some soure and some swete · selkouþ me þouȝte
W11.372 (KD11.368)	Of hir kynde and hir colour · to carpe it were to longe


W11.373 (KD11.369)	¶ Ac þat moost meued me · and my mood chaunged
W11.374 (KD11.370)	That Reson rewarded · and ruled alle beestes ⁶⁶²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.375 (KD11.371)	Saue man and his make · many tyme and ofte ⁶⁶³⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.376 (KD11.372-373)	No Reson hem folwede · and þanne I rebukede ⁶⁶⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.377 (KD11.373)	Reson / · and riȝt til hym-seluen I seyde ⁶⁶⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
fol.66v
W11.378 (KD11.374)	¶ I haue wonder of þee quod I · þat witty art holden
W11.379 (KD11.375)	Why þow ne sewest man and his make · þat no mysfeet hem folwe


W11.380 (KD11.376)	¶ And Reson arated me · and seide recche þee neuere
W11.381 (KD11.377)	Why I suffre or noȝt suffre · þi-self hast noȝt to doone ⁶⁶⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.382 (KD11.378)	Amende þow it if þow myȝt · for my tyme is to abide ⁶⁶⁷⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.383 (KD11.379)	Suffraunce is a souerayn vertue · and a swift vengeaunce
W11.384 (KD11.380)	Who suffrede moore þan god quod he · no gome as I leeue
W11.385 (KD11.381)	He myȝte amende in a Minute-while · al þat mysstandeþ
W11.386 (KD11.382)	Ac he suffreþ for som mannes goode · and so it⁶⁶⁸ is oure bettre
W11.387 (KD11.394)	The wise and þe witty · wroot þus in þe bible
W11.388 (KD11.395)	De re que te non molestat noli certare


W11.389 (KD11.396)	¶ For be a man fair or foul · it falleþ noȝt for to lakke
W11.390 (KD11.397)	The shap ne þe shaft · þat god shoop hym-selue
W11.391 (KD11.398)	For al þat he dide was wel ydo · as holy writ witnesseþ
W11.392 (KD11.398α)	Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat & erant valde bona


W11.393 (KD11.399)	¶ And bad euery creature · in his kynde encreesse
W11.394 (KD11.400)	Al to murþe wiþ man · þat moste wo þolie
W11.395 (KD11.401)	In fondynge of þe flessh · and of þe fend boþe
W11.396 (KD11.402)	For man was maad of swich a matere · he may noȝt wel asterte
W11.397 (KD11.403)	That ne som-tyme hym bitit · to folwen his kynde
W11.398 (KD11.404)	Caton acordeþ þer-wiþ · Nemo sine crimine viuit


W11.399 (KD11.405)	¶ Tho cauȝte I colour anoon · and comsed to ben ashamed
W11.400 (KD11.406)	And awaked þer-wiþ · wo was me þanne
W11.401 (KD11.407)	That I in metels ne myȝte · moore haue yknowen
W11.402 (KD11.408)	And þanne seide I to my-self · and chidde þat tyme
W11.403 (KD11.409)	Now I woot what dowel is quod I · by deere god as me þynkeþ


W11.404 (KD11.410)	¶ And as I caste vp myne eiȝen · oon loked on me and asked
W11.405 (KD11.411)	Of me what þyng it were · ywis sire I seide
W11.406 (KD11.412)	To se muche and suffre moore · certes quod I is dowel ⁶⁶⁹⁽ⁿ⁾


fol.67r


W11.407 (KD11.413)	¶ Haddestow suffred he seide . slepynge þo þow were
W11.408 (KD11.414)	Thow sholdest haue knowen þat clergie kan · & contreued moore þoruȝ Res[on]^670(c)
W11.409 (KD11.415)	For Reson wolde haue reherced þee · riȝt as Clergie seide
W11.410 (KD11.416)	Ac for þyn entremetynge · here artow forsake
W11.411 (KD11.416α)	Philosophus esses si tacuisses


W11.412 (KD11.417)	¶ Adam whiles he spak noȝt · hadde paradis at wille ⁶⁷¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.413 (KD11.418)	Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete · and entremetede to knowe ⁶⁷²⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.414 (KD11.419)	The wisedom and þe wit of god · he was put fram blisse ⁶⁷³⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.415 (KD11.420)	¶ And riȝt so ferde Reson bi þee · þow wiþ þi rude speche
W11.416 (KD11.421)	Lakkedest and losedest þyng · þat longed þe noȝt to doone
W11.417 (KD11.422)	Tho hadde he no likyng · for to lere þe moore


W11.418 (KD11.423)	¶ Pryde now and presumpcion · parauenture wol þee appele
W11.419 (KD11.424)	That Clergie þi compaignye · kepeþ noȝt to suwe
W11.420 (KD11.425)	Shal neuere chalangynge ne chidynge · chaste a man so soone ⁶⁷⁴⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.421 (KD11.426)	As shal shame and shenden hym · and shape hym to amende ⁶⁷⁵⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.422 (KD11.427)	For lat a dronken daffe · in a dyk falle ⁶⁷⁶⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.423 (KD11.428)	Lat hym ligge loke noȝt on hym · til hym liste aryse⁶⁷⁷ ⁶⁷⁸⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.424 (KD11.429,431)	For þouȝ Reson rebuked hym þanne · it were but pure synne ⁶⁷⁹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.425 (KD11.432)	Ac whan nede nymeþ hym vp · for doute lest he sterue ⁶⁸⁰⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.426 (KD11.433)	And shame shrapeþ hise cloþes · and hise shynes wassheþ ⁶⁸¹⁽ⁿ⁾
W11.427 (KD11.434)	Thanne woot þe dronken daffe · wher-fore he is to blame ⁶⁸²⁽ⁿ⁾


W11.428 (KD11.435)	¶ Ye siggen sooþ quod I · ich haue yseyen it ofte
W11.429 (KD11.436)	Ther smyt no þyng so smerte · ne smelleþ so soure
W11.430 (KD11.437)	As shame þere he sheweþ hym · for euery man hym shonyeþ
W11.431 (KD11.438)	Why ye wisse me þus quod I · was for I rebuked Reson


W11.432 (KD11.439)	¶ Certes quod he þat is sooþ · and shoop hym for to walken
W11.433 (KD11.440)	And I aroos vp riȝt wiþ þat · and folwed hym after
W11.434 (KD11.441)	And preyde hym of his curteisie · to telle me his name

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