Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 10

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Passus .xus. de visione · et ijus de Dowel

W10.1Thanne hadde wit a wif · was hote dame Studie
W10.2 That lene was of lere · and of liche boþe
W10.3 She was wonderly wroþ · þat wit me þus tauȝte
W10.4 And al starynge dame Studie · sterneliche loked368

W10.5 Wel artow wis quod she to wit · any wisdomes to telle
W10.6 To flatereres or to fooles · þat frenetike ben of wittes
W10.7 And blamed hym and banned hym · and bad hym be stille
W10.8 Wiþ swiche wise wordes · to wissen any sottes
W10.9 And seide noli mittere man · margery perles
W10.10 Among hogges þat han · hawes at wille
W10.11 Thei doon but dryuele þer-on · draf were hem leuere
W10.12 Than al þe precious perree · þat in paradis wexeþ
W10.13 I seye it by swiche quod she · þat sheweþ by hir werkes
W10.14 That hem were leuere lond · and lordshipe on erþe
W10.15 Or richesse or rentes · and reste at hir wille
W10.16 Than alle þe sooþ sawes · þat Salomon seide euere

W10.17 Wisdom and wit now · is noȝt worþ a kerse           369(n)
W10.18 But if it be carded wiþ coueitise · as cloþeres kemben hir wolle           370(n)
W10.19 Who-so kan contreue deceites · and conspire wronges           371(n)
W10.20 And lede forþ a loue-day · to lette wiþ truþe           372(n)
W10.21 He þat swiche craftes kan · to counseil is cleped           373(n)
W10.22 Thei lede lordes wiþ lesynges · and bilieþ truþe           374(n)

W10.23 Iob þe gentile · in hise gestes witnesseþ           375(n)
W10.24 That wikked men þei welden · þe welþe of þis worlde           376(n)
W10.25 And þat þei ben lordes of ech a lond · þat out of lawe libbeþ           377(n)

W10.26 Quare impij viuunt bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt

W10.27 The Sauter seiþ þe same · by swiche þat doon ille

W10.28 Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt diuicias

W10.29 Lo seiþ holy lettrure · whiche beþ þise sherewes           378(n)
W10.30 Thilke þat god gyueþ moost · leest good þei deleþ           379(n)
W10.31 And moost vnkynde to þe commune · þat moost catel weldeþ           380(n)

W10.32 Que perfecisti destruxerunt · iustus autem &c

W10.33 Harlotes for hir harlotrie · may haue of hir goodes           381(n)
W10.34 And Iaperis and Iogelours · and Iangleris of gestes           382(n)

W10.35 Ac he þat haþ holy writ · ay in his mouþe           383(n)
W10.36 And kan telle of Tobye · and of twelue Apostles           384(n)
W10.37 Or prechen of þe penaunce · þat Pilat wikkedly385 wroȝte           386(n)
W10.38 To Iesu þe gentile · þat Iewes todrowe           387(n)
W10.39 Litel is he loued · þat swich a lesson sheweþ           388(n)
W10.40 Or daunted or drawe forþ · I do it on god hym-selue           389(n)

W10.41 But þoo þat feynen hem foolis · and wiþ faityng libbeþ           390(n)

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W10.42Ayein þe lawe of oure lord · and lyen on hem-selue           391(n)
W10.43 Spitten and spuen · and speke foule wordes           392(n)
W10.44 Drynken and dreuelen · and do men for to gape           393(n)
W10.45 Likne men and lye on hem · þat leneþ hem no ȝiftes           394(n)
W10.46 Thei konne namoore mynstralcie · ne Musik men to glade           395(n)
W10.47 Than Munde þe Millere · of Multa fecit deus
W10.48 Ne were hir vile harlotrye · haue god my trouþe
W10.49 Sholde neuere kyng ne knyȝt · ne Chanon of Seint Poules
W10.50 Ȝyue hem to hir yeresȝyue · þe ȝifte of a grote
W10.51 Ac murþe and mynstralcie · amonges men is nouþe           396(n)
W10.52 Lecherie · losengerye · and losels tales           397(n)
W10.53 Glotonye and grete oþes · þis murþe þei louyeþ           398(n)

W10.54 Ac if þei carpen of crist · þise clerkes and þise lewed           399(n)
W10.55 At mete in hir murþe · whan Mynstrals beþ stille           400(n)
W10.56 Thanne telleþ þei of þe Trinite · a tale ouþer tweye           401(n)
W10.57 And bryngen forþ a balled reson · and taken Bernard to witnesse           402(n)
W10.58 And puten forþ a presumpcion · to preue þe soþe           403(n)
W10.59 Thus þei dryuele at hir deys · þe deitee to knowe           404(n)
W10.60 And gnawen god wiþ þe gorge · whanne hir guttes fullen           405(n)

W10.61 Ac þe carefulle may crie · and carpen at þe yate           406(n)
W10.62 Boþe afyngred and a-furst · and for chele quake           407(n)
W10.63 Is þer noon to nyme hym neer · his anoy408 to amende           409(n)
W10.64 But hunten hym as an hound · and hoten hym go þennes           410(n)
W10.65 Litel loueþ he þat lord · þat lent hym al þat blisse           411(n)
W10.66 That þus parteþ wiþ þe pouere a parcelle whan hym nedeþ           412(n)
W10.67 Ne were mercy in meene men · moore þan in riche           413(n)
W10.68 Mendinauntz metelees · myȝte go to bedde           414(n)
W10.69 God is muche in þe gorge · of þise grete maistres           415(n)
W10.70 Ac amonges meene men · his mercy and hise werkes           416(n)
W10.71 And so seiþ þe Sauter · I haue seiȝen it ofte           417(n)
W10.72Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata inuenimus eam in campis silue418

W10.73 Clerkes and oþere kynnes men · carpen of god faste
W10.74 And haue hym muche in þe mouþ · ac meene men in herte

W10.75 Freres and faitours · han founde swiche questions           419(n)
W10.76 To plese wiþ proude men · syn þe pestilence tyme           420(n)
W10.77 And prechen at Seint Poules · for pure enuye of clerkes           421(n)
W10.78 That folk is noȝt fermed in þe feiþ · ne free of hire goodes           422(n)
W10.79 Ne sory for hire synnes · so is pride woxen           423(n)
W10.80 In Religion and in al þe Reme · amonges riche and pouere           424(n)
W10.81 That preieres haue no power · þe pestilence to lette           425(n)
W10.82 And yet þe wrecches of þis world · is noon ywar by ooþer           426(n)
W10.83 Ne for drede of þe deeþ · wiþ-drawe noȝt hir pride           427(n)
W10.84 Ne beþ plenteuouse to þe pouere · as pure charite wolde           428(n)
W10.85 But in gaynesse and in glotonye · forglutten hir good hem-selue           429(n)
W10.86 And brekeþ noȝt to þe beggere · as þe book techeþ           430(n)
W10.87Frange esurienti panem tuum &c           431(n)
W10.88 And þe moore he wynneþ and welt · welþes and richesse           432(n)
W10.89 And lordeþ in londes · þe lasse good he deleþ           433(n)

W10.90 Tobye telleþ yow noȝt so · takeþ hede ye riche
W10.91 How þe book bible · of hym bereþ witnesse

W10.92 Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue
W10.93Si autem exiguum illud impertiri stude libenter

W10.94 Who-so haþ muche spende manliche · so seiþ Tobye           434(n)
W10.95 And who-so litel weldeþ · rule hym þer-after           435(n)
W10.96 For we haue no lettre of oure lif · how longe it shal dure           436(n)
W10.97 Swiche lessons lordes sholde · louye to here           437(n)
W10.98 And how he myȝte moost meynee · manliche fynde           438(n)

W10.99 Nouȝt to fare as a fiþelere or a frere · for to seke festes
W10.100 Homliche at oþere mennes houses · and hatien hir owene
W10.101 Elenge is þe halle · ech day in þe wike

W10.102 Ther þe lord ne þe lady · likeþ noȝt to sitte
W10.103 Now haþ ech riche a rule · to eten by hym-selue           439(n)
W10.104 In a pryuee parlour · for pouere mennes sake           440(n)
W10.105 Or in a chambre wiþ a chymenee · and leue þe chief halle           441(n)
W10.106 That was maad for meles · men to eten Inne           442(n)
W10.107 And al to spare to spende · þat spille shal anoþer           443(n)

W10.108 I haue yherd heiȝe men · etynge at þe table
W10.109 Carpen as þei clerkes were · of crist and of hise myȝtes
W10.110 And leyden fautes vp-on þe fader · þat formede vs alle
W10.111 And carpen ayein clerkes · crabbede wordes
W10.112 Why wolde oure Saueour suffre · swich a worm in his blisse
W10.113 That bigiled þe womman · and þe man after
W10.114 Thoruȝ whiche wiles and wordes · þei wente to helle
W10.115 And al hir seed for hir synne · þe same deeþ suffrede

W10.116 Here lyeþ youre lore · þise lordes gynneþ dispute
W10.117 Of þat þe clerkes vs kenneþ · of crist by þe gospel
W10.118Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c

W10.119 Why sholde we þat now ben · for þe werkes of Adam
W10.120 Roten and to-rende · Reson wolde it neuere
W10.121Vnusquisque portabit onus suum &c

W10.122 Swiche motyues þei meue444 · þise maistres in hir glorie
W10.123 And maken men in mysbileue · þat muse muche on hire wordes
W10.124 Ymaginatif her-afterward · shal answere to hir445 purpos

W10.125 Austyn to swiche Argueres · telleþ þis teme
W10.126Non plus sapere quam oportet

W10.127 Wilneþ neuere to wite · why þat god wolde
W10.128 Suffre Sathan · his seed to bigile
W10.129 Ac bileueþ lelly · in þe loore of holy chirche

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W10.130And preie hym of pardon · and penaunce in þi lyue
W10.131 And for his muche mercy · to amende yow here
W10.132 For alle þat wilneþ to wite · þe weyes of god almyȝty
W10.133 I wolde his eiȝe were in his ers · and his fynger after
W10.134 That euere wilneþ to wite · why þat god wolde
W10.135 Suffre Sathan · his seed to bigile
W10.136 Or Iudas to þe Iewes · Iesu bitraye
W10.137 Al was as þow woldest · lord yworshiped be þe446
W10.138 And al worþ as þow wolt · what-so we dispute
W10.139 And þo þat vseþ þise hauylons · to blende mennes wittes
W10.140 What is dowel fro dobet · þat447 deef mote he worþe
W10.141 Siþþe he wilneþ to wite · whiche þei ben boþe
W10.142 But if he lyue in þe lif · þat longeþ to dowel
W10.143 For I dar ben his bolde borgh · þat dobet wole he neuere
W10.144 Theiȝ dobest drawe on hym · day after ooþer

W10.145 And whan þat wit was ywar · what dame Studie tolde
W10.146 He bicom so confus · he kouþe noȝt loke
W10.147 And as doumb as deeþ · and drouȝ hym arere
W10.148 And for no carpyng I · kouþe after · ne knelyng to þe grounde
W10.149 I myȝte gete no greyn · of his grete wittes
W10.150 But al lauȝynge he louted · and loked vp-on Studie
W10.151 In signe þat I sholde · bisechen hire of grace

W10.152 And whan I was war of his wille · to his wif gan I loute
W10.153 And seide mercy madame · youre man shal I worþe
W10.154 As longe as I lyue · boþe late and raþe
W10.155 For to werche youre wille · þe while my lif dureþ
W10.156 Wiþ þat ye kenne me kyndely · to knowe what is dowel

W10.157 For þi mekenesse man quod she · and for þi mylde speche
W10.158 I shal kenne þee to my Cosyn · þat Clergie is hoten
W10.159 He haþ wedded a wif · wiþ-Inne þise sixe monþes

W10.160 Is sib to448 seuen artz · Scripture is hir name
W10.161 They two as I hope · after my techyng
W10.162 Shullen wissen þee to dowel · I dar it vnder-take

W10.163 Thanne was he al-so fayn · as fowel of fair morwe
W10.164 And gladder þan þe gleman · þat gold haþ to ȝifte
W10.165 And asked hire þe heighe wey · where þat Clergie dwelte
W10.166 And tel me som tokene quod I · for tyme is þat I wende

W10.167 Aske þe heighe wey quod she · hennes to Suffre
W10.168 Boþe wele and wo · if þat þow wolt lerne
W10.169 And ryd forþ by richesse · ac rest þow noȝt þer-Inne
W10.170 For if þow couplest þee þer-wiþ · to clergie comestow neuere

W10.171 And also þe likerouse launde · þat lecherie hatte
W10.172 Leue it on þi left half · a large myle or moore
W10.173 Til þow come to a court · kepe wel þi tunge
W10.174 Fro lesynges and liþer speche · and likerouse drynkes

W10.175 Thanne shaltow se Sobretee · and Sympletee of speche
W10.176 That ech wight be in wille · his wit þee to shewe
W10.177 And þus shaltow come to Clergie · þat kan manye þynges

W10.178 Seye hym þis signe · I sette hym to Scole
W10.179 And þat I grete wel his wif · for I wroot hire manye bokes
W10.180 And sette hire to Sapience · and to þe Sauter glose
W10.181 Logyk I lerned hire · and manye oþere lawes
W10.182 And alle449 Musons in Musik · I made hire to knowe

W10.183 Plato þe poete · I putte450 first to boke
W10.184 Aristotle and oþere mo to argue I tauȝte

W10.185 Grammer for girles · I garte first to write
W10.186 And bette hem wiþ a baleys · but if þei wolde lerne

W10.187 Of alle kynne craftes · I contreued tooles
W10.188 Of Carpentrie of kerueres · and compased Masons
W10.189 And lerned hem leuel and lyne · þouȝ I loke dymme

W10.190 Ac Theologie haþ tened me · ten score tymes
W10.191 The moore I muse þer-Inne · þe mystier it semeþ           451(n)
W10.192 And þe depper I deuyne · þe derker me it þynkeþ           452(n)
W10.193 It is no Science for-soþe · for to sotile Inne
W10.194 A ful leþi þyng it were · if þat loue nere
W10.195 Ac for it leteþ453 best bi loue · I loue it þe bettre
W10.196 For þere þat loue is ledere · þer lakked neuere grace           454(n)
W10.197 Loke þow loue lelly · if þee likeþ dowel           455(n)
W10.198 For do-bet and do-best · ben of loues kynne

W10.199 In ooþer Science it seiþ · I seiȝ it in Catoun
W10.200Qui simulat verbis vel corde est fidus amicus
W10.201Tu quoque fac simile · sic ars deluditur arte

W10.202 Who-so gloseþ as gylours doon · go me to þe same           456(n)
W10.203 And so shaltow fals folk · and feiþlees bigile           457(n)
W10.204 This is Catons kennyng · to clerkes þat he lereþ

W10.205 Ac Theologie techeþ noȝt so · who-so takeþ yeme
W10.206 He kenneþ vs þe contrarie · ayein Catons wordes
W10.207 For he biddeþ vs be as breþeren · and bidde for oure enemys           458(n)
W10.208 And louen hem þat lyen on vs · and lene hem whan hem nedeþ           459(n)
W10.209 And do good ayein yuel · god hym-self it hoteþ           460(n)

W10.210Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes · maxime autem ad domesticos fidei

W10.211 Poul preched þe peple · þat parfitnesse louede
W10.212 To do good for goddes loue · and gyuen men þat asked           461(n)
W10.213 And namely to swiche · as suwen oure bileue
W10.214 And alle þat lakkeþ vs or lyeþ · oure lord techeþ vs to louye           462(n)

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W10.215And noȝt to greuen hem þat greueþ vs · god hym-self forbad it           463(n)
W10.216Michi vindictam & ego retribuam
W10.217 For-þi loke þow louye · as longe as þow durest           464(n)
W10.218 For is no science vnder sonne · so souereyn for þe soule           465(n)

W10.219 Ac Astronomye is an hard þyng · and yuel for to knowe
W10.220 Geometrie and Geomesie · so gynful of speche           466(n)
W10.221 Who-so þynkeþ werche with þo two · þryueþ ful late           467(n)
W10.222 For sorcerie is þe Souereyn book · þat to þo Sciences bilongeþ

W10.223 Yet ar þer fibicches in forceres · of fele mennes makyng
W10.224 Experimentz of Alkenamye · þe peple to deceyue
W10.225 If þow þynke to dowel · deel þer-wiþ neuere

W10.226 Alle þise Sciences I my-self · sotilede and ordeynede
W10.227 And founded hem formest · folk to deceyue
W10.228 Tel Clergie þis tokene · and Scripture after
W10.229 To counseille þee kyndely · to knowe what is dowel

W10.230 I seide grant mercy madame · and mekely hir grette
W10.231 And wente wightly awey · wiþ-oute moore lettyng
W10.232 And til I com to clergie · I koude neuere stynte
W10.233 And grette þe goode man · as Studie me tauȝte
W10.234 And afterwardes þe wif · and worshiped hem boþe
W10.235 And tolde hem þe tokenes · þat me tauȝt were
W10.236 Was neuere gome vp-on þis ground · siþ god made þe worlde
W10.237 Fairer vnderfongen · ne frendlier atese
W10.238 Than my-self sooþly · soone so he wiste
W10.239 That I was of wittes hous · and wiþ his wif dame Studie

W10.240 I seide to hem sooþly · þat sent was I þider
W10.241 Do-wel and dobet · and dobest to lerne

W10.242 It is a commune lyf quod Clergie · on holy chirche to bileue
W10.243 Wiþ alle þe articles of þe feiþ · þat falleþ to be knowe
W10.244 And þat is to bileue lelly · boþe lered and lewed
W10.245 On þe grete god · þat gynnyng hadde neuere
W10.246 And on þe sooþfast sone · þat saued man-kynde
W10.247 Fro þe dedly deeþ · and468 deueles power
W10.248 Thoruȝ þe help of þe holy goost · þe which goost is of boþe
W10.249 Thre persones · ac noȝt in plurel nombre
W10.250 For al is but oon god · and ech is god hym-selue
W10.251Deus pater / deus filius / deus spiritus sanctus
W10.252 God þe fader / god þe sone · god holy goost of boþe
W10.253 Makere of man-kynde · and of beestes boþe

W10.254 Austyn þe olde · her-of made bokes
W10.255 And hym-self ordeyned · to sadde vs in bileue
W10.256 Who was his Auctour · alle þe foure Euaungelistes
W10.257 And Crist cleped hym-self so · þe Euaungelistes bereþ witnesse469

W10.258 Alle þe clerkes vnder crist · ne koude þis assoille
W10.259 But þus it bilongeþ to bileue · to lewed þat willen dowel
W10.260 For hadde neuere freke fyn wit · þe feiþ to dispute
W10.261 Ne man hadde no merite · myȝte it ben ypreued

W10.262 Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum

W10.263 Thanne is dobet to suffre · for þe soules helþe
W10.264 Al þat þe book bit · bi holi cherches techyng ·
W10.265 And þat is man bi þy myȝt · for mercies sake
W10.266 Loke þow werche it in werk · þat þi word sheweþ           470(n)
W10.267 Swich as þow semest in siȝte · be in assay y-founde
W10.268Appare quod es vel esto quod appares

W10.269 And lat no body be · by þi beryng bigiled           471(n)
W10.270 But be swich in þi soule · as þow semest wiþ-oute           472(n)

W10.271 Thanne is dobest to be boold · to blame þe gilty
W10.272 Syþenes þow seest þi-self · as in soule clene           473(n)
W10.273 Ac blame þow neuere body · and þow be blame-worþy           474(n)

W10.274 Si culpare velis · culpabilis esto cauebis475(c)
W10.275Dogma tuum sordet · cum te tua culpa remordet

W10.276 God in þe gospel · greuously repreueþ
W10.277 Alle þat lakkeþ any lif · and lakkes han hem-selue

W10.278 Qui consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui · trabem in oculo tuo &c

W10.279 Why meuestow þi mood for a mote · in þi broþeres eiȝe           476(n)
W10.280 Siþen a beem in þyn owene · ablyndeþ þi-selue477(c)           478(n)
W10.281Eice primo trabem in oculo tuo &c
W10.282 Which letteþ þee to loke · lasse ouþer moore           479(n)

W10.283 I rede ech a blynd bosard · do boote to hym-selue
W10.284 For Abbotes and for Priours · and for alle manere prelates
W10.285 As persons and parissh preestes · þat preche sholde and teche
W10.286 Alle maner men to amenden · bi hire myȝtes

W10.287 This text was told yow · to ben ywar480 er ye tauȝte
W10.288 That ye were swiche as ye seye481 · to salue wiþ oþere
W10.289 For goddes word wolde noȝt be lost · for þat wercheþ euere
W10.290 If it auailled noȝt þe commune · it myȝte auaille yow-selue

W10.291 Ac it semeþ now sooþly · to þe worldes siȝte
W10.292 That goddes word wercheþ noȝt · on lered ne on lewed
W10.293 But in swich a manere · as Marc meneþ in þe gospel
W10.294Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt           482(n)

W10.295 Lewed men may likne yow þus · þat þe beem liþ in youre eiȝen
W10.296 And þe festu is fallen · for youre defaute

W10.297 In alle maner men · þoruȝ mansede preestes
W10.298 The bible bereþ witnesse · þat al þe folk of Israel
W10.299 Bittre abouȝte þe giltes · of two badde preestes
W10.300 Offyn and Fynes · for hir coueitise
W10.301Archa dei myshapped · and Ely brak his nekke

W10.302 For-þi ye Correctours claweþ her-on · and correcteþ first yow-selue
W10.303 And þanne mowe ye safly seye · as Dauid made in þe Sauter

W10.304Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam

W10.305 And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed · to blame yow or to greue
W10.306 And carpen noȝt as þei carpe now · ne483 calle yow doumbe houndes
W10.307Canes non valentes latrare
W10.308 And drede to wraþe yow in any word · youre werkmanship to lette
W10.309 And be prester at youre preiere · þan for a pound of nobles
W10.310 And al for youre holynesse · haue ye þis in herte

W10.311 In scole þere is scorn · but if a clerk wol lerne           484(n)
W10.312 And gret loue and likyng · for ech of hem loueþ ooþer           485(n)

W10.313 Ac now is Religion a rydere · a Romere aboute486           487(n)
W10.314 A ledere of louedayes · and a lond buggere           488(n)
W10.315 A prikere on a palfrey · fro Manere to Manere           489(n)
W10.316Anheep of houndes at his ers · as he a lord were           490(n)
W10.317 And but if his knaue knele · þat shal his coppe brynge           491(n)
W10.318 He loureþ on hym and askeþ hym · who tauȝte hym curteisie           492(n)

W10.319 Litel hadde lordes to doon · to ȝyue lond from hire heires
W10.320 To Religiouse þat han no rouþe · þouȝ it reyne on hir Auters           493(n)

W10.321 In many places þer þei ben persons494 · be hem-self atese           495(n)
W10.322 Of þe pouere haue þei no pite · and þat is hir charite           496(n)
W10.323 Ac þei leten hem as lordes · hire londes lyen so brode           497(n)

Ac þer shal come
W10.324 Ac þer shal come a kyng · and confesse yow Religiouses498           499(n)
W10.325 And bete yow as þe bible telleþ · for brekynge of youre rule           500(n)
W10.326 And amende Monyals · Monkes and Chanons           501(n)
W10.327 And puten to502 hir penaunce · Ad pristinum statum ire           503(n)
W10.328 And Barons wiþ Erles beten hem · þoruȝ Beatus virres techyng           504(n)
W10.329 That hir barnes claymen · and blame yow foule           505(n)

W10.330 Hij in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c

W10.331 And þanne Freres in hir fraytour · shul fynden a keye           506(n)
W10.332 Of Costantyns cofres · in which is þe catel           507(n)
W10.333 That Gregories godchildren · han yuele despended           508(n)

W10.334 And þanne shal þe Abbot of Abyngdoun · and al his issue for euere509(c)           510(n)
W10.335 Haue a knok of a kyng · and incurable þe wounde           511(n)

W10.336 That þis worþ sooþ seke ye · þat ofte ouer-se þe bible
W10.337Quomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributum · contriuit dominus
baculum impiorum · et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili

W10.338 Ac er þat kyng come · Caym shal awake
W10.339 But dowel shal dyngen hym adoun · and destruye his myȝte

W10.340 Thanne is dowel and do-bet · quod I · dominus and knyȝthode

W10.341 I nel noȝt scorne quod Scripture · but if scryueynes lye
W10.342 Kynghod ne knyȝthod · by noȝt I kan awayte
W10.343 Helpeþ noȝt to heueneward · oone heris ende
W10.344 Ne richesse riȝt noȝt · ne Reautee of lordes
W10.345 Poul preueþ it impossible · riche men to haue heuene           512(n)
W10.346 Salomon seiþ also · þat siluer is worst to louye           513(n)
W10.347Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam
W10.348 And Caton kenneþ vs to coueiten it · nauȝt but as nede techeþ
W10.349Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam

fol.57v

W10.350 And Patriarkes and prophetes · and Poetes boþe
W10.351 Writen to wissen vs · to wilne no richesse
W10.352 And preiseden pouerte with pacience · þe Apostles bereþ witnesse
W10.353 That þei han Eritage in heuene · and by trewe riȝte
W10.354 Ther riche men no riȝt may cleyme · but of ruþe and grace
W10.355 Contra quod I by crist · þat kan I repreue
W10.356 And preuen it by Peter · and by Poul boþe
W10.357 That is baptized beþ saaf · be he riche or pouere

W10.358 That is in extremis quod Scripture · amonges Sarzens & Iewes
W10.359 They mowen be saued so · and þat is oure bileue
W10.360 That an vncristene in þat caas · may cristen an heþen
W10.361 And for his lele bileue · whan he þe lif tyneþ
W10.362 Haue þe heritage of heuene · as any man cristene

W10.363 Ac cristene men wiþ-oute moore · maye noȝt come to heuene
W10.364 For þat crist for cristene men · deide and confermed þe lawe
W10.365 That who-so wolde and wilneþ · wiþ crist to arise
W10.366Si cum Christo surexistis &c

W10.367 He sholde louye and lene · and þe lawe fulfille
W10.368 That is loue þi lord god · leuest abouen alle
W10.369 And after alle cristene creatures · in commune ech man ooþer
W10.370 And þus bilongeþ to louye · þat leueþ be514 saued
W10.371 And but we do þus in dede · at515 þe day of dome
W10.372 It shal bisitten vs ful soure · þe siluer þat we kepen
W10.373 And oure bakkes þat moþe-eten be · and seen beggeris go naked
W10.374 Or delit in wyn and wilde fowel · and wite any in defaute
W10.375 For euery cristene creature · sholde be kynde til ooþer           516(n)
W10.376 And siþen heþen to helpe · in hope of amendement

W10.377 God hoteþ heiȝe and lowe · þat no man hurte ooþer
W10.378 And seiþ slee noȝt þat semblable is · to myn owene liknesse

fol.58r

W10.379 But if I sende þee som tokene · and seiþ Non mecaberis517
W10.380 Is slee noȝt but suffre · and al for þe beste           518(n)
W10.381 For I shal punysshe hem in purgatorie · or in þe put of helle
W10.382 Ech man for hise mysdedes · but mercy it lette
W10.383This is a long lesson quod I · and litel am I þe wiser
W10.384 Where dowel is or dobet · derkliche ye shewen
W10.385 Manye tales ye tellen · þat Theologie lerneþ
W10.386 And þat I man maad was · and my name yentred
W10.387 In þe legende of lif · longe er I were
W10.388 Or ellis vnwriten for som wikkednesse · as holy writ witnesseþ
W10.389Nemo ascendit ad celum · nisi qui de celo descendit

W10.390 I leue it wel quod I by oure lord · and on no lettrure bettre
W10.391 For Salomon þe sage · þat Sapience tauȝte
W10.392 God gaf hym grace of wit · and alle hise goodes after
W10.393 He demed wel and wisely · as holy writ telleþ
W10.394 Aristotle and he · who wissed men bettre
W10.395 Maistres þat of goddes mercy · techen men and prechen
W10.396 Of hir wordes þei wissen vs · for wisest as in hir tyme
W10.397 And al holy chirche · holdeþ hem boþe ydampned

W10.398 And if I sholde werche by hir werkes · to wynne me heuene
W10.399 That for hir werkes and wit · now wonyeþ in pyne
W10.400 Thanne wrouȝte I vnwisly · what-so-euere ye preche

W10.401 Ac of fele witty in feiþ · litel ferly I haue
W10.402 Thouȝ hir goost be vngracious · god for to plese
W10.403 For many men on þis moolde · moore setten hir hertes           519(n)
W10.404 In good þan in god · for-þi hem grace failleþ           520(n)
W10.405 At hir mooste meschief · whan þei shal lif lete
W10.406 As Salomon dide and swiche oþere · þat shewed grete wittes
W10.407 Ac hir werkes as holy writ seiþ · were euere þe contrarie

fol.58v

W10.408For-þi wise witted men · and wel ylettrede clerkes
W10.409 As þei seyen hem-self · selde doon þer-after
W10.410Super cathedra Moysi &c
W10.411 Ac I wene it worþ of manye · as was in Noes tyme
W10.412 Tho he shoop þat ship · of shides and of bordes
W10.413 Was neuere wrighte saued þat wroȝte þer-on · ne ooþer werkman ellis
W10.414 But briddes and beestes · and þe blissed Noe
W10.415 And his wif wiþ hise sones · and also hire wyues
W10.416 Of wightes þat it wroȝte · was noon of hem ysaued

W10.417 God lene521 it fare noȝt so bi folk · þat þe feiþ techeþ
W10.418 Of holi chirche þat herberwe is · and goddes hous to saue522(p)
W10.419 And shilden vs from shame þer-inne · as Noes ship dide beestes
W10.420 And men þat maden it · amydde þe flood adreynten
W10.421 The culorum of þis clause · curatours is to mene
W10.422 That ben Carpenters holy kirk to make · for cristes owene beestes
W10.423Homines & iumenta saluabis domine &c

W10.424 On good Friday I fynde · a felon was ysaued
W10.425 That hadde lyued al his lif · wiþ lesynges and with þefte
W10.426 And for he beknede to þe cros · and to crist shrof hym
W10.427 He was sonner ysaued · þan Seint Iohan þe Baptist
W10.428 And or Adam or Ysaye · or any of þe prophetes
W10.429 That hadde yleyen wiþ lucifer · many longe yeres
W10.430 A Robbere was y-raunsoned · raþer þan þei alle
W10.431 Wiþ-outen any penaunce of purgatorie · to perpetuel blisse

W10.432 Than Marie Maudeleyne · what womman dide werse
W10.433 Or who worse þan Dauid · þat vries deeþ conspired
W10.434 Or Poul þe Apostle · þat no pite hadde
W10.435 Muche cristene kynde · to kille to deþe
W10.436 And now ben þise as Souereyns · wiþ Seintes in heuene
W10.437 Tho þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest · in world þo þei were

W10.438 And þo þat wisely wordeden · and writen manye bokes
W10.439 Of wit and of wisedom · wiþ dampned soules wonye
W10.440 That Salomon seiþ I trowe be sooþ · and certein of vs alle

W10.441Sine523 iusti atque sapientes · & opera eorum in manu dei sunt &c

W10.442 Ther are witty and wel libbynge · ac hire werkes ben yhudde
W10.443 In þe hondes of almyȝty god · and he woot þe soþe
W10.444 Wher-fore a man worþ allowed þere · and hise lele werkes
W10.445 Or ellis for his yuel wille · and for enuye of herte
W10.446 And be allowed as he lyued so · for by þe524 luþere men knoweþ þe goode

W10.447 And wher-by wiste men which were525 whit · if alle þyng blak were
W10.448 And who were a good man · but if þer were som sherewe
W10.449 For-þi lyue we forþ wiþ oþere men · I leue fewe ben goode
W10.450 For quant / oportet / vient en place · il nyad que / pati526
W10.451 And he þat may al amende · haue mercy on vs alle
W10.452 For soþest word þat euer god seide · was þo he seide Nemo bonus

W10.453 Clergie þo of cristes mouþ · comended was it litel
W10.454 For he seide to Seint Peter · and to swiche as he louede
W10.455Cum steteritis ante Reges & presides &c
W10.456 Thouȝ ye come bifore kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe
W10.457 Beþ noȝt abasshed · for I shal be in youre mouþes
W10.458 And ȝyue yow wit and wille · and konnyng to conclude
W10.459 Hem alle þat ayeins yow · of cristendom disputen

W10.460 Dauid makeþ mencion · he spak amonges kynges
W10.461 And myȝte no kyng ouercomen hym · as by konnynge of speche
W10.462 But wit and wisedom · wan neuere þe maistrie
W10.463 Whan man was at meschief · wiþ-oute þe moore grace

W10.464 The douȝtieste doctour · and deuinour of þe trinitee
W10.465 Was Austyn þe olde · and heiȝest of þe foure

W10.466 Seide þus in a sermon · I seigh it writen ones

W10.467Ecce ipsi ydioti rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur

W10.468527(c) And is to mene to men528 · moore ne lesse
W10.469 Arn none raþer yrauysshed · fro þe riȝte bileue           529(n)
W10.470 Than are þise konnynge clerkes · þat konne manye bokes           530(n)

W10.471 Ne none sonner saued · ne sadder of bileue           531(n)
W10.472 Than Plowmen and pastours · and oþere commune laborers           532(n)
W10.473 Souteres and shepherdes · and oþere533 lewed Iuttes           534(n)
W10.474 Percen wiþ a Pater noster · þe paleys of heuene           535(n)
W10.475 And passen Purgatorie penauncelees · at hir hennes partyng
W10.476 In-to þe blisse of Paradis · for hir pure bileue
W10.477 That inparfitly here knewe · and ek lyuede

W10.478 Ye men knowe clerkes · þat han corsed þe tyme
W10.479 That euere þe kouþe or knewe moore · þan Credo in deum patrem
W10.480 And principally hir pater noster · many a persone haþ wisshed

W10.481 I se ensamples my-self · and so may manye oþere           536(n)
W10.482 That seruauntz þat seruen lordes · selde fallen in arerage           537(n)
W10.483 But þo þat kepen þe lordes catel · clerkes and Reues           538(n)

W10.484 Right so lewed men · and of litel knowyng           539(n)
W10.485 Selden falle þei so foule · and so fer in synne           540(n)
W10.486 As clerkes of holy chirche · þat kepen cristes tresor           541(n)
W10.487 The which is mannes soule to saue · as god seiþ in þe gospel
W10.488542(c)Ite vos in vineam meam

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